Category: Just For Fun

Throwing the Perfect Backyard Get Together

April 26, 2021

Before we know it, summertime will be here, and there’s nothing better than having your friends and family over for a backyard cookout. But if you’ve ever thrown a party, you know it can also be quite a bit of work to pull off the perfect gathering. Here are some tips to create an entertaining night without a hitch. Bring Your Yard Up to Par Your yard can say a lot about you and what you think of your guests, so you definitely don’t want them to get the wrong impression. If your lawn is looking a little shaggy, a quick once-over with the lawnmower will get it in shape. Use your bag attachment (if you have one) to collect the clippings and dispose of them so your guests don’t kick them everywhere. Don’t forget to pick up after your pets as well. The last thing you want is for someone to step in a “present” left behind by your furry friend. To give a welcoming look to your guests, spruce up your front yard too. Decorate to Keep Things Private It’s not only important to be thinking of your partygoers, but also your neighbors. While you may be having

5 Ways to Get Your Green Thumb in Gear this Spring

April 12, 2021

April is Lawn and Garden Month, so what better time to start a new landscaping project? A simple garden can add curb appeal to your home, and it’s a fun hobby for warm days. But sometimes it’s frustrating if you seem to have more of a brown thumb than a green one. Try out these tips to turn your yard into a colorful explosion of flowers this spring and break your “cultivating curse.” Know what’s in the ground around you. Mixing your garden’s soil to just the right combination of fertilizer, mulch, and other nutrients is like a balancing act. So how do you get to the sweet spot for optimal plant growth? The first step is knowing what’s in your soil naturally. Clay, sand, silt, and loam are the four main soil types, and each has their own effect on growing. Figuring out your soil’s pH balance also plays a big role in how well your plants grow. You can perform a pH test yourself, and they’ll help you gauge what other organic substances to add. You might have to experiment a bit with different mulches and compost, but when you strike soil gold you’ll be growing in no

10 Ways to Keep Your Calm in 2021

December 28, 2020

To say that 2020 was a stressful year might be an understatement. According to recent studies, almost a third of Americans and Canadians say they experienced high levels of stress during the year. For a more laid-back 2021, try these home design tips to let go of your worries. 1. Let the light shine in.Dark or dimly-lit spaces in your home can negatively impact your mood. Letting in more sunshine can boost your emotions and help you unwind after a long day. Sunlight is especially important during the shorter days of winter, which can cause Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Plus, Vitamin D is key for your immune system and natural lighting can increase your focus and take the strain off your eyes when reading or looking at screens. 2. Get your green thumb in gear. Whether they’re fresh, dried or even faux, incorporating plants and flowers in your home can have a calming effect. It’s been found that greenery can significantly lower your stress levels. Their leaves also act as a natural humidifier that enhances your indoor air quality. If you don’t have enough sunny spots, there’s lots of plants that will be fine in lower lighting. 3. Better bedding,

How to Have a Healthy and Jolly Virtual Holiday Season

December 21, 2020

More than 115 million people traveled for the holidays in 2019, but this year will look a little different. Many are forgoing their usual party plans and opting to stay at home and celebrate. But just because you might not be able to be close, doesn’t mean that you can’t still celebrate some of your favorite festive traditions. Host a virtual baking day. The holidays wouldn’t be the same without festive food. While your meals may be smaller, you can still have fun making all those delicious dishes and desserts you make just once a year. Set up a virtual event with your friends so everyone can prepare their favorite food and swap recipes. You’ll also likely learn fun facts about the history of a certain food or tradition you might not have known before! Put a new spin on holiday arts and crafts. Along with gingerbread houses, there’s an assortment of holiday projects you can do. Have each family purchase the same craft box and get to building. To make it even more exciting, set a time limit and have incentives for the winners. The shorter the time, the higher the chance for creative projects and guaranteed laughs. Stream

Haunted Places Series: Eastern State Penitentiary

October 26, 2020

Location: Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaArchitectural Style: GothicBuilt: 1829 Located near the bustling center of Philadelphia, Eastern State Penitentiary blends right in alongside the city’s historic architecture. Yet while the outside may seem picturesque, the sprawling compound’s interior is marred by a darker past. Designed to be a place for inmates to redeem themselves from their crimes, Eastern State Penitentiary turned into many a prisoner’s personal nightmare. Eastern State Paves the WayCompleted in early 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary was the first prison of its kind and remained in operation until 1971. After it was constructed, Eastern State was the most elaborate and expensive prison in the world, and it would be a model for more than 300 prisons. Eastern State was designed so that each cell would be more like solitary confinement than a typical holding cell. There were no bars to provide a view to the rest of the building, few windows to the outside and prisoners were even kept apart from each other when out of their cells. Religion and Reformation Unlike previous centers simply meant to hold an offender until their release, Eastern State took things one step further by implementing religious themes into the structure of the building and

Haunted Places Series: Jefferson Hotel

October 19, 2020

Location: Jefferson, TexasArchitectural Style: VictorianBuilt: 1850-1851 We’re off to the Lone Star State as our search continues for the most haunted places. The seemingly inconspicuous Jefferson Hotel, situated in the small town of Jefferson, Texas near the Louisiana border has served as a cotton warehouse, brothel and a speakeasy. Today it’s a lovely historical hotel, though it seems some of the hotel’s guests will be staying indefinitely. Cotton Comes to Jefferson After the original building was constructed in 1850, the now Jefferson Hotel was initially designed to be a cotton warehouse to accommodate the area’s booming industry. For over two decades, riverboats bound for New Orleans made their way down the Big Cypress, stopping at Jefferson to load up on supplies for the last leg of the journey. Being a major port along the bustling riverway for travelers of all sorts, it was only natural that the warehouse was eventually transformed into a brothel and hotel. The Jefferson Opens Its Doors While there’s some uncertainty when the Jefferson Hotel first originally opened, it was a resounding success when it did. Weary travelers looking to rest their eyes were inclined to stay longer by the women that worked at the hotel,

Haunted Places Series: Craigdarroch Castle

October 12, 2020

Location: Victoria, British Columbia, CanadaArchitectural Style: ChâteauesqueBuilt: 1887-1890 “They’re heeeere!” With the return of the spooky season comes the return of our Haunted Places series! We’re starting off on a new ghost hunting adventure by taking a trip to Canada and the famed Craigdarroch Castle. From hauntings to Hollywood, this location has attracted both the living and the dead. What better way to get in the Halloween mood than with a castle fit for Dracula? BackgroundCraigdarroch Castle is a 39-room, Victorian-era castle that spans over 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2). The castle was originally built for Scottish-immigrant turned coal-magnate Robert Dunsmuir and his wife Joan. Located atop a hill overlooking the City of Victoria, the mansion was meant to be a status symbol for all below to see. However, Robert would never get to bask in the beauty of the completed castle. He died 17 months before construction was completed, one in a string of deaths that followed the family. The original architect, Warren Heywood Williams, also died following the passing of Robert Dunsmuir. With Mr. Dunsmuir gone and the castle only halfway finished, the Dunsmuir boys Alexander and James took it upon themselves to see their father’s dream to

Handmade Haunting: Bringing the Tricks and Treats to Your Home

October 5, 2020

Halloween is normally the time where all the local ghosts and goblins make their way door to door in search of goodies. However, much like the spooky season itself, this past year has proved to be anything but normal. If you’re looking for a fun way to have your candy and eat it too, then making an at-home haunting is just what Dr. Frankenstein ordered. Get the whole family involved in the construction. While your kids may be saddened that they won’t be able to travel the neighborhood, having them create their own house of horrors will cheer them right up. It’s also a good idea to get your little ones involved in the creation since they know their own scare-level. You don’t want to create a house that scares them too much, and definitely don’t want to make a “house of snores.” Decorate with DIY spiders, ghosts and other monsters. You don’t need to head out and buy expensive animatronic spooks that will just sit in storage most of the year. You can easily create your own freaks and creeps from items around your house, with a few additional supplies from the craft store. Some grotesque guests to get

Transforming Your Unused Room into a Healthy Space

September 28, 2020

Being active and staying fit are some of the most common life goals people have today. Whether you’re young or old, finding ways to squeeze more exercise into your busy schedule can provide numerous benefits for you. Maintaining an active lifestyle can be difficult for many, but it’s easier when you bring the gym to you! Gyms Aren’t Always the Answer Gym memberships can be expensive, and you might not be getting your money’s worth if you don’t go regularly. In fact, you might not even have a gym near you that fits your needs. If the thought of fighting miles of traffic after work to get to the gym makes your eyes cross, you’ll probably be one of the many people who don’t keep up with their regimen. Put an Unused Room to Use Your house could be the solution for your workout dilemma. More and more people are beginning to realize the benefits of transforming unused space into their own gym. A basement, your garage or even a spare bedroom are all great candidates. You can easily customize these rooms to fit your requirements, and you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on high-end equipment. All it

5 Tips for Making the Perfect Remote Learning Space

September 14, 2020

Back-to-school season is now in full swing, but classrooms look much different than they did last year. As schools across the country adjust to social distancing guidelines, many are moving courses online to help keep students and teachers healthy. While remote schooling means you won’t need to pack lunches or rush your kids out the door in the morning, it does come with its own unique set of challenges. Designing the perfect study spot will help keep students of all ages on task and ready to learn. 1. What space is the best?When you start out designing your new “classroom,” it can be hard to narrow it down to one single spot, especially if you have multiple students at home. Lounging comfy beds all day may seem perfect, but just about anyone might be more inclined to take a nap than to read that next chapter. Natural lighting is good, but it can take willpower not to stare out the window all day. To avoid students constantly moving around and losing focus, make a list of what you need to best replicate their classrooms at school. In the end, after a little trial and error, it’s important that you pick