Well, with Memorial Day around the corner, that just means one thing: summer is also right around the corner. Along with taking vacation, spending time outside, going to the pool, having barbeques, and making any excuse possible to find a way to get to the beach for a day or a few days, I also love the food in the summertime.

Every single week all year long I buy fresh fruits and vegetables to either eat raw or cook. You can always count on me to have fresh fruit and vegetables in my apartment at all times. In the summertime it gets so hot the last thing I generally want to eat is something heavy, greasy, and hot which is why fruits and veggies are my favorite, as I like my food in the summertime to be light and fresh. That being said, one of my favorite foods to eat in the summer is fresh corn. There is of course, a caveat to my love for corn and that is I will only eat it off the cob and cold. I know many of you think I am crazy…that grilled corn on the cob with butter and salt is the best food ever. But I am pretty certain there are others like me out there. So for those of you like me who hate to cut the corn off the cob, I found the perfect product for us: the Corn Zipper.

The Corn Zipper strips the corn kernels off the cob, and while the corn strips, the kernels drop into an attached half cup container so you will not lose any corn. Stripping corn off the cob using the Corn Zipper is not only a great idea to get those of us who do not eat corn on the cob to actually eat it, but corn is delicious in salad, pasta salad, tacos, and soups! So, the Corn Zipper will definitely be a product to help you in the kitchen all year around.

The other day I was perusing the internet and I came across a product that really caught my attention. This is a product that has some serious potential, because it answers a reoccurring question I ask myself every morning – what is the weather? Now, with the One Touch Weather Radio that daily question can easily be answered. Other than traffic, I can’t think of any other information that could possibly be more important first thing in the morning than knowing what the weather will be for the day.

What I love about the One Touch Weather Radio is that it provides the weather instantly from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). By simply using the one-touch on/off switch, and the fine tune control to get the best signal, the One Touch Weather Radio provides the weather for the day quickly so you can get your day started on the right foot.

I am the type of person who loves knowing answers ahead of time; in this case I love knowing what the weather is before even getting out of bed. That way I have extra time to plan my outfit for the day based on the weather while I shower, etc. The One Touch Weather Radio solves this problem for me, and answers my most important question of the day.

They say a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. That’s not only true; it’s the understatement of the century. Being a good cook isn’t just a great way to nab a romantic partner, but even just to enhance the everyday lives of your friends and family.

There are few things more satisfying than having a group of friends over and cooking them a delicious and nutritious meal. There is an elemental feeling of community, comfort and safety that sharing a home-cooked meal with your friends and family brings about. This is something that the cook feels, the cook’s company feels, and that everyone takes with them throughout their day.

If you are lucky enough to know someone who is a great amateur chef, then you should do your best to support their passion. Not only will they feel great that you thought of them, but hopefully you will get to share in the bounty of what their new kitchen gadget allows them to make!

Before you think about getting any kitchen tools and gadgets for an amateur chef, however, you will want to remember one thing. If they really love cooking then they probably have all of the essentials. That means if you are going to buy something for them, you should make sure they don’t already have it. Next time you are over for a pot luck at their house, feel free to do a little snooping in the kitchen just to make sure you cover all your bases.

If you aren’t able to scope out their kitchen supplies beforehand, don’t fret. Here are a two kitchen tools and gadgets that they aren’t likely to have, but are certainly likely to love!

Digital Thermometer

While this seems like an obvious item that everyone should have in their kitchens, you would be amazed at how many amateur chefs don’t have something as simple as a digital thermometer. This, however, is one of those items that you might want to make sure they don’t have already.

Even if your friend is a vegetarian and doesn’t need a digital thermometer to make sure the turkey is done on Thanksgiving, it is still an incredibly handy device to have around. It can just as easily be used to stick in the middle of a casserole to see if the center is cooked, or to make sure the center of your frozen pizza is as done as the outside is.

This digital thermometer features a face that is about one inch across. You can set it to read in Fahrenheit or in Celsius.

Deluxe Ultimate Knife Sharpener

One thing that many people don’t realize is that a dull knife can be much more dangerous than a sharp knife. Think of it this way; if you are cutting a bell pepper into strips for your stir fry you are going to have a much easier time chopping it up with a sharp knife. Using a dull knife leads to the possibility of slipping right off that pepper and cutting a finger off.

New amateur chefs might not realize that even the finest kitchen knives need regular sharpening to keep them operating at top performance. The deluxe ultimate knife sharpener is an essential tool for every chef to optimize their cutting abilities.

This sharpener is made with incredibly strong steel carbide that has been carefully set at the perfect angle. The deluxe knife sharpener also has a non-slip grip so you can sharpener your knives with ease. It even has a 10-second sharpener so you aren’t wasting any time in the kitchen!

It’s time to repay the amateur chef you know and love for all of those amazing meals they have treated you to. These are just of a few of the amazing kitchen tools and gadgets out there to give an amateur chef!

In about one week it will be Mother’s Day! That means iIt is time to start to thinking about what to get to celebrate Mom. Some of you may have already found the perfect gift, and for those of you who haven’t there is no need to panic. I realize there is not much time, but if you keep calm it can be easy finding that perfect gift. I have created a list of some excellent gift ideas for Moms of all different ages and relationship to you that can possibly help make your decision a little easier:

Wine Rack – For the mother who loves wine or entertaining with wine, this 28 bottle wine rack is the perfect wine storage gift for any wine enthusiast.

Photo Frame Tote – For the mom who is just crazy about her family and who is also always prepared, the large three window photo frame tote will allow this mother to show off pictures of her family and stay organized all at the same time.

Jewelry Armoire – For the mother who has jewelry, of course! The Over Door Mirror Armoire will allow any mom keep her jewelry organized so she can get ready and go quickly without having to dig through jewelry boxes in a drawer to find exactly what she is looking to wear.

Water Bottle – For the mom who is always on the go, but also for the mom who always likes to fit in a workout when she can. This Personalized Polka Dot Water Bottle is the perfect addition to any mother’s gym bag or tote bag.

The Gifts Finder – Yes, I like to point you in the direction of the gift finder for women. If my suggested gift ideas just do not seem to fit the woman or women in your life you need to purchase a Mother’s Day gift for, I am not insulted! Every woman is different, so take a look at the gift finder to find the perfect gift for this Mother’s Day.

What will you surprise Mom with on her special day?

In an effort to save a little bit of money in my everyday life, there are some sacrifices that I had to make. Besides giving up my gym membership, the most difficult thing I gave up was my twice a month manicure and month pedicure appointments. Now I do my own.

So, what is the big deal? Now I paint my own nails. Unfortunately, I do not do nearly as good a job as the professionals in the salons, and my manicures last maybe a week; not nearly as long as if I got them professionally done. Also, it is not as easy as it looks to dip your nail polish brush back in the jar without smudging the already-painted nails from the other hand. In comes my search and successful find of this helpful product: the Lady Bug Nail Polish Holder. This spill proof nail polish holder is just what I need to help make painting my own nails easier. The Lady Bug Spill Proof Nail Polish Holder holds the nail polish upright, and allows the bottle to rock back and forth without spilling – awesome solution!

I know it can be very difficult to save money and sacrifice things you love in order to save what seems like a small amount of money that you can “make up” later. Making these sacrifices can seem cumbersome especially if it causes us to do extra work; but if we find helpful products to help us accomplish our goals it will definitely be worth the savings in the end.

It is that time of year when the weather is simply perfect. These perfect temperatures will not last too long, so I know I will need to make sure to make the most of the time that I have. This means lots of walks outside, walking instead of driving at every possible moment, and my all time favorite…eating outside!

It is so easy to sit, eat, and relax outside when the temperature is 70-something degrees, not humid, and not windy. There are plenty of restaurants all over the place with outdoor seating that will happily take my money and let me sit for as long as I would like.

But, would I rather sit at a restaurant, or perhaps uncover my friends’ outdoor patio furniture, dust off the grill that was hibernating all winter, and spend the whole day outside grilling, eating, drinking, and playing outside with friends? Yes, I would definitely prefer a nice and relaxing day outside enjoying the gorgeous weather with a big group of friends. And it’s always funny seeing your guy friends in front of the grill cooking delicious food, and wearing goofy aprons like this grill sergeant apron.

So, for those you lucky enough to have such beautiful weather right now, I would suggest taking full advantage of this situation before the summer heat rolls in and it gets to be too hot and humid to enjoy a long length of time outside without needing to hop in a pool to cool down. Gather your group of friends, get the kids together, and enjoy this quality time outside!

Going green isn’t about thinking you are better than everyone else or latching on to some temporary gimmick or fad. Going green is about cultivating a lifestyle where you don’t take any more than you need. It is about recycling and cutting down on consumerism and living a healthy and happy lifestyle.

In this day and age people are going green in more ways than ever before. They cut down on unnecessary spending, they recycle everything they can, they ride bikes to work instead of taking a car, and they look to weatherproof their house to save money and energy.

When most of us need something for around the house we run out to the local big box store and just buy the cheapest version we can find. We quickly deem it “good enough” and go back on our merry way.

But the plain fact is that affordable also means cheap. And a cheap price all too often means low quality. Sometimes you can actually save money in the long run by spending a little bit more in the short run and actually having something that won’t break.

Investing in a well-built product helps to reduce waste. That is exactly what the designers at OrGreenic Cookware have found. They make cooking products that will stand up to the test of time. Here are a few great reasons for going green in your kitchen by switching to OrGreenic Cookware.

OrGreenic Cookware Sets are built to Last a Lifetime

It feels like such a waste to work so hard for your money, and then waste it on a product that ends up breaking right away. Sure, that cheap mop might look like it will work perfectly fine, but you’re going to wish you ended up spending a little bit of extra cash when it breaks in a few short weeks. Not only are you wasting your money, but throwing out cheap products is also bad for the environment.

The designers at OrGreenic Cookware know this and that’s why their sets aren’t shoddily made items that will only last a couple of years. OrGreenic Cookware Sets are made to last a lifetime. When you spend your hard earned money on an OrGreenic Cookware Set you aren’t just throwing caution to the wind. You can have confidence that you’ll never have to buy another set of cookware ever again.

That is because the Orgreenic company guarantees each and every one of the products they make to last the rest of your life. If your pot breaks in fifty years and you are still alive to cook with it, just send it back to the company and they will repair it for you. Buying well-built and guaranteed products like this saves you money, time, and is a great benefit for the environment.

You Don’t Need Any More Cookware when you have the OrGreenic Set

Whether you are making a giant casserole for your whole family, a big beef stew to warm up a winter night, or even just a quick stir fry for a group of friends, you don’t need anything else but an OrGreenic Cookware set. You will be hard-pressed to find any type of cookware you might need that doesn’t come with the OrGreenic cookware set.

Ten different pieces come in the OrGreenic Cookware set. You’ll find two frying pans in the set, one that is eight inches for smaller jobs, and a larger ten inch fry pan for bigger stir frys and the like. The larger one also comes with a handy lid and an aluminum steamer. This set also has pots and lids for one and a half quarts, two and a half quarts, and a much larger one. Lids also come to fit each of these sauce pots.

Lose Weight the OrGreenic Way

Cooking at home is in its very essence a healthy way to lose weight. For one, you aren’t tempted by all of the rich and unhealthy things that you might find on a restaurant menu. It is a whole lot easier to stick to your diet when you are cooking your own meals.

But the OrGreenic Cookware set makes it even easier to drop some pounds. That’s because it has an amazing non stick coating of ceramic. Now you can backe, braise, broil, fry, steam, or sauté all of your food without having to use fattening things like grease, oil, or butter to cook in.

The OrGreenic Cookware Set is obviously a great thing for the environment, but it’s also a smart and healthy choice for your lifestyle.

Stress pops up in our lives in unexpected ways. When you head out the door in the morning you never know what you are going to run into out there in the world. Sometimes you will find beautiful instances of novelty that bring great joy into your existence, while other times you run into bad coincidences that simply end up ruining your day.

You can’t always control what you run into when you are out and about on planet Earth, but you can control the environment that you come home to. One thing that a lot of people don’t realize is that the shape their home or apartment is in can have a humongous effect on how they feel.

Some people think that if they live alone it is no problem living like a slob. They might as well leave stuff laying all over the place because no one else has to deal with it. But what they may not realize is that a messy house can subconsciously make them feel stressed out and uncomfortable.

On the other hand, when you come home to a nice and clean home you can instantly feel a little bit less stressed out from your day. Is there anything better than coming home from a rough day at work, jumping in a hot, clean shower, and then climbing into a bed of freshly cleaned sheets?

You can also make your house feel incredibly clean and welcoming by re-vamping your living room furniture. Old hand me down furniture is great for when you are getting started on your own, but after a while you will probably want to upgrade. You can pick out vintage furniture to fit your classic style or sleek and modern furniture to spice up your loft apartment. The furniture that you pick out will be a reflection of the environment you want to live in. The choice is up to you.

Of course another way to make your house more of a home is to have an adoring dog waiting for you when you come home from work. Having a pet is a tough but rewarding job. They take a whole lot of care and affection, but they also return that care and affection tenfold back upon you.

While a clean home and a happy pet can both make your house a more pleasant environment, all too often it seems that they do not go together very well. Dogs shed, and when you are gone at work all day it is pretty hard to keep your pets off of your brand new furniture. Beyond that, what is the fun of having a friendly dog if you can’t bring them up on the couch with you to chill out at night and put on a great movie?

The secret to having a clean house while still making it a happy home for your joyous pup is to cover your furniture with furniture covers. These furniture covers are perfect ways to keep your furniture free from pet dander, hair, and even dirt that they dragged in from outside.

Chocolate Quilted Suede Pet Covers

If you have a den filled with old books and antique furniture, you will probably want a furniture color with a dark tone that will match the thoughtful solace of your book-filled study. Chocolate quilted suede pet covers will be perfect so you can kick back and work on your novel while your dog snoozes at your feet.

You can find these pet covers in three different styles. That way you can keep all sorts of types of furniture clean. This is especially convenient if you have a whole set of furniture. With all these varieties in the same color you can make sure that your room still matches.

One of the best parts about this pet cover is that it is all made out of one solid piece of material. The reason for this is very simple. When dogs go to bed they don’t just lay right down. We all know they wander around in circles for a while before they finally rest for a nap. When your pet cover is made out of one piece of fabric you can be confident that it won’t mess up and come off the furniture!

Linen Pet Covers

While the chocolate suede pet covers are excellent for darker rooms, if you want to lighten up a room then the linen pet covers are a much better decision. Just like the chocolate suede style, the linen pet covers can be used on your loveseats, chairs, and even your sofas.

Both the linen and the suede styles are surprisingly easy to clean. The first step is to get out your vacuum cleaner and rid the cover of excess pet hair. Then all you have to do is wash it in the washing machine!

Don’t let your home fall into disarray because it is covered in pet hair. Keep your pet’s shedding in check with these handy furniture covers!

This past weekend I had a little taste of spring. The weather was in the high 50’s almost reaching 60. This warmer weather is great because I am more motivated to take the healthier path, for instance I’m more eager to get in a good workout and eat healthier food.

I try pretty hard to keep up a healthy lifestyle, but I will not lie, it is not easy in the freezing cold winter. When it’s cold most of the time all I want to do it get into sweats, cook up unhealthy, warm comfort food like mac and cheese or a batch of warm chocolate chip cookies, snuggle up on the couch with a warm blanket, watch movies and never leave the apartment. With all that in mind, it is not always the easiest thing to get changed into workout gear and head off to the gym on a freezing cold winter day.

But with the weather warming up, that’s starting to change as it does every year. I love taking my workouts outside, feeling the sunshine and warm air. And when it comes to healthier eating, I love making my own homemade fruit smoothies. They’re a healthy spring and summer treat to reward yourself with after a good workout, and I love making them for breakfast. It’s a quick and easy, on-the-go, homemade meal now thanks to my new favorite kitchen gadget, the NutriBullet.

Spring is definitely putting some pep in my step. Is it putting any in yours?

Anyone who has ever roughed it on a camping trip, worked a long day at tough blue collar job, or even just went to the gym for an extra vigorous workout, is sure to know how good it feels to come home to a clean house.

When you come home covered in dirt and grime the only thing on your mind is getting your clothes quickly into the laundry basket and getting your body a nice hot shower. The minute you get out of that shower, dry off with a clean towel and lay down in your bed of freshly washed linens, you feel like you just fell into a little slice of heaven.

For as wonderful as a clean house feels, however, it is far too often that we let our place become a mess. The bathroom is one of the first places that starts the inevitable slide downhill immediately after our normal cleaning day.

The reason for this is simply that the bathroom gets a lot of use. For many of us the first thing we do in the morning is head into the shower to wake ourselves up for the day. And we all know that the feeling of cleaning up in a messy bathroom isn’t nearly as relaxing as a refreshing shower in a nice clean bathroom.

What people need to keep their powder room looking fresh isn’t only the time to make sure you tidy up, but also to invest in brilliant bathroom housewares that are designed to help keep you bathroom clean. Take a look at these examples of great ways to freshen up your powder room.

Keep the Water off the Floor with a Microfiber Absorbing Bathmat

Whether you own your own house or rent an apartment, everyone knows that water damage can cause havoc in your place. It seeps into the walls and can cause mold buildup and even pest problems. Not only that but it just isn’t very pleasant to have puddles of standing water around your house.

One place that often gathers water in a home is around your shower. This can happen from insufficient shower curtains or just from your excitement about getting right out of the shower and starting your day.

Some people lay down a towel when they get out of the shower, but that isn’t the most effective way to prevent water from getting all over. The microfiber absorbing bathmat is the perfect solution to this common problem. It soaks up water just like a sponge as soon as your foot touches down on it.

The microfiber absorbing bathmat traps water in it so it does not form into puddles. But the real beauty of this bathmat is that it dries in minutes. If you put a towel or a cotton mat down on the floor it will take practically all day to dry up. But the microfiber absorbing bathmat will dry before you know what happened!

Folding Four Tier Organizer

A leading cause to a messy powder room is often a lack of places to put all of your towels, toiletries, shower supplies, and everything else. In fact, this is the most common cause of clutter all over your castle. That is why an organization solution like the folding four tier organizer is so handy to have around the house.

You can use the folding four tier organizer in your bathroom, or really anywhere around the house. It has a compact design so that it can easily slide into all sorts of underused spaces in your home. You can use it to store spare towels, extra rolls of toilet paper, cosmetics supplies, additional shampoo and conditioner bottles, or really anything your little heart desires.

The folding four tier organizer measures 44 ¼ inches by 14 ¾ inches by 9 ½ inches. It has a wooden frame and between it the shelves are made from willow roping that was wrapped by hand.

Convertible Shower Caddy

Another essential item that you must have in your bathroom is a shower caddy. This is the case more than ever when you live with even just one additional person. Everyone has their own preferences for shower supplies, and when a few people are sharing a bathroom it can start to overflow with spare bottles of shampoo and extra fancy body washes and lotions.

This convertible shower caddy is extra convenient because you can either hang it right over your shower head, or you can flip it upside down to hang it over the edge of your shower. It even has additional suction cups so that you can affix it to the wall. This will add even more stability.

Make the most of your day, especially when you come home from an invigorating workout. Keep your powder room fresh with these handy products.