8 Dusting Tricks That Will Make Your Home Sparkle

Grime, we are so done with you.

1.Easily Wipe Down Your Car
Use coffee filters to grab dust and dirt lurking in your dashboard.

2.How to Remove Dust From Small Vents
A foam brush is the perfect tool to collect dust in this teeny space.
3.How to Clean Lamp Shades
Bet you never thought to use a lint roller to clean lamp shades before! The tool makes this chore simple and easy.

4.Swiffer Socks Hack
Next time you find a lone fuzzy sock, save it. They're great for cleaning and easily stretch to fit over a Swiffer Sweeper.

5.How to Remove Dirt From Screens
Grime will cling to dryer sheets, leaving your electronics dust-free. Just make sure you're working with a used dryer sheet or you'll have fabric softener all over your screen!

6.Use a Doormat
Trap dirt and dust before it even enters your home by placing a doormat at every entrance.

7.How to Wipe Down a Ceiling Fan
Make dusting mess-free with this simple idea: Use a pillowcase to collect dust that falls from your fan as you clean it.

8.How to Clean Window Blinds
Quickly and efficiently clean blinds with some rags and a pair of tongs.

 

9 Things Productive & Organized People Do Before Noon

Better make the most of your morning hours – you're never going to get them back. And truly productive people know that how you spend your morning sets the tone for your whole day. Give yourself a mid-day deadline to sort out work and home, and it will help you live a happy, stress-free lifestyle forever more.

Here are 9 things productive and organized people do before noon every day:

1. They get up early.

A study from the Journal of Applied Social Psychology found that morning people are more proactive and more willing to take action than their night owl counterparts. Researchers found it doesn't really matter how much you sleep – if you can become an early riser morning-type (the kind who get up early on the weekends, even), you'll probably be more productive overall.

Getting up early also means you have more time to organize your home and your thoughts before you head out the door each morning. When you can avoid a morning rush, you have time to ensure that clothes and makeup get put back where they belong and don't end up strewn around the apartment.

2. They drink water.

Right when they wake up, actually. After going seven hours without drinking any water, your body is pretty dehydrated. Drinking 16 ounces (or more) first thing in the morning can fire up your metabolism and get your body back on track to a productive morning.

3. They eat breakfast.

It turns out 31 million people skip breakfast every day. Not good, considering that there's a proven link between eating a regular breakfast and higher levels of concentration and focus.

4. They exercise.

Getting active in the morning reduces stress and supercharges your productivity. A study out of the University of Bristol found that employees who exercise during the workday performed better than those who didn't – mainly because they were in a better mood after their morning exercise routine.

5. They make the bed.

Charles Duhigg, author of the book The Power of Habit, says making your bed every morning is "correlated with better productivity, a greater sense of well-being, and stronger skills at sticking with a budget." Our own Jennifer Hunter put his theory to the test recently and found that, yeah, coming home to a made bed made her happier and less likely to leave a mess throughout the day.

6. They tidy up.

A stack of unopened mail, a sink of dirty dishes. These are small signs of disorder, but their presence can keep you off-track and add to your stress levels throughout the day. Organized people simply take a few minutes in the morning to remove the clutter from their homes and their minds.

7. They take quiet time for themselves.

Just 10 minutes of meditation, stretching or some other quiet activity sets your mind at ease and gives you the peace of mind to be the best version of yourself for the rest of the day.

8. They avoid digital distractions.

There's a time and place for checking Facebook, and the morning ain't it. Nobody's asking you to give up browsing altogether, but to make the most of your day, save digital distractions for the afternoon so you don't set the tone for your office hours with a half-aware workflow. One surefire way to avoid the smartphone trap is to stop using your phone as an alarm clock.

9. They make a to-do list...

Visualization has been long-heralded as a habit of highly successful people. Think through what an ideal day would look like to you, then craft an actionable to-do list from your visualization. Write it down and check things off as you go.

Dad Sugar Cookies

Dad Sugar Cookies

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

3/4 teaspoon poppy seeds

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in seeds.

Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 6 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low; gradually beat in flour mixture. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or overnight.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll out dough 1 disk at a time to just under a 1/4-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Using templates, cut out letters with a paring knife. Reroll scraps; cut more letters (you'll need 14 D's and 7 A's, total). Freeze on 2 parchment-lined baking sheets until firm, 15 minutes.

Bake until edges are golden, 15 to 18 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cookies cool on sheets set onwire racks.

Top Father's Day Gifts

MVMT Watches

For the Dapper Dad
Born from a love of the timepiece and the need to eliminate markups by popular brands, meet MVMT — the watch company single handedly revolutionizing the art of the wristwatch. These leather-clad watches offer a minimal design made from high-quality materials that exude fine detailing and premium quality. So good, you'll probably want to pick one up for yourself while you're at it.
From $99.00 at MVMTWatches.com

HyperChiller Iced Coffee Maker

For the Classic Dad
Who doesn't love a chilled-to-perfection iced coffee on a hot summer day? Simple yet effective, the HyperChiller is able to chill hot coffee in about a minute — without diluting the beans. If that's not enough, it's also able to chill whiskey, wine and any other liquid vice Dad may have.
$29.99 at HyperChiller.com

Philips Norelco Vacuum Beard Trimmer

For the Classic Dad

It doesn’t hurt to have a little extra when executing facial trims. A staggering 20 length settings optimized for precision makes this Philips beard trimmer simple and enjoyable to use. A rechargeable battery provides up to one hour of cordless use on a full charge — more than enough time to get even the thickest beard under control.
$49.95 at Amazon.com

Meat: Everything You Need To Know

For the Classic Dad
While you may think dad knows everything there is to know about cooking meat, this book is guaranteed to teach dad a thing or two. Written by one of America's premier butchers Pat LaFrieda, this book features tales from the meatpacking business, tips on preparing beef, lamb, pork, poultry and veal, and 75 family-old recipes for eating them.
$22.48 at Amazon.com

Dollar Shave Club

Even the grisliest of dads need to shave. This Father’s Day, help yours look sharp with a membership to Dollar Shave Club. They're the startup that delivers high quality razors and grooming products for just a few dollars. Dad will receive replacement razor cartridges every month, so he'll get to experience the unbridled joy of shaving with a fresh new blade anytime. There's three different razors to choose from and a host of other stuff Dad will love, like face moisturizer with sunscreen and hair clay that's fortified with botanicals to help improve the health of his hair and scalp.
Starting at $3.00/month at DollarShaveClub.com

Citizen Promaster Navihawk GPS

This year, give dad a wristwear upgrade with the Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Navihawk GPS. Not only endowed with a cool name, the Navihawk features a functional, sturdy design, and some serious specs to back it up. Equipped with date and satellite GPS timekeeping (works worldwide), a silver-tone stainless steel case and rotating bezel, pristine sapphire face crystal, and is water resistant up to almost 700 feet. Not to mention, this timepiece uses natural daylight to recharge, so he'll never need to worry about replacing the battery or about being caught unawares.
$1395.00 at CitizenWatch.com

Dockers New Signature Khaki With Stretch

For the Classic Dad
Featuring a straight fit from hip to ankle, the Signature Khakis from Dockers feature a style that's unrestrictive and comfortable day in and day out. Plus, their no-wrinkle fabric means Dad will automatically receive the fresh-pressed look every single time — no ironing, no fuss. Currently 40% off.
$36.99 at JCPenney.com

Essential EDC Kit

For the Rugged Dad
Whether he has a passion for fishing or he prefers to spend his time in the wilderness hiking and camping in the bush, a paracord pod EDC (everyday carry) kit offers a subtle comfort when it comes to successfully trekking through the outdoors — with over 16 useful outdoor items wrapped into a handy and stylish kit, this is the one tool he’ll want to have on-hand at all times.
$49.98 at Huckberry.com

Smoothies With More Protein Than Two Eggs

Powerhouse Pumpkin Smoothie

Combine ½ cup canned pure pumpkin that's been frozen in an ice cube tray; 7 oz 2% Greek yogurt; ½ cup water; ¼ avocado; 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed; 1 Tbsp maple syrup; and ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice in a blender. Blend until smooth. Serves 1.

NUTRITION (per serving) 361 cal, 26 g pro, 38 g carb, 11 g fiber, 26 g sugars, 14 g fat, 4 g sat fat, 80 mg sodium

Peanut Butter–Banana Shake

Combine 1 cup fat-free milk; 1 sliced ripe banana; and 2 Tbsp creamy peanut butter in a blender. Blend until smooth. Serves 1.

NUTRITION (per serving) 391 cal, 17 g pro, 46 g carb, 5 g fiber, 28 g sugars, 17 g fat, 2 g sat fat, 250 mg sodium

Beet-Ricotta Smoothie

Combine ¾ cup water; ¾ cup orange juice; ¾ cup ricotta cheese; 2 med beets, trimmed and chopped; 1½ cups frozen strawberries; ¼ cup walnuts; 1" piece fresh ginger, peeled; and ½ tsp cinnamon in blender. Blend until smooth. Serves 2.

NUTRITION (per serving) 376 cal, 15 g pro, 33 g carb, 6 g fiber, 19 g sugars, 22 g fat, 9 g sat fat, 150 mg sodium

Maple-Cashew Smoothie

Combine 2 Tbsp raw cashews, soaked overnight in ½ cup water; 1 sm banana; 2 tsp maple syrup; 1 cup 0% plain Greek yogurt; and 1½ cups frozen strawberries in a blender. Blend until smooth. Serves 1.

NUTRITION (per serving) 400 cal, 24 g pro, 66 g carb, 8 g fiber, 40 g sugars, 7 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 90 mg sodium

5 Insanely Good Recipes to Make for Memorial Day

Sangria, 4 ways


What makes wine and fruit such a winning combo?
Take a sip from these sangria pitchers and you'll have your answer.

East Bayside Cocktail.

It never hurts to have a signature coktail, especially one
that marries fresh blueberries and gin.

Peach Sweet Tea with Bourbon

Whip up a big batch of this boozy iced tea for the grown-ups.

Tomato -Eggplant Tartines

It's like bruschetta, but way better.

Asian Beef Kaboom Kabobs

Everything tastes better on a stick, right?
Forks are so overrated

Things to do on Mother's Day in Georgia

On the day where we go out of our way to show our moms exactly how much they mean to us, Atlanta provides plenty of options. Get outside for a picnic in one of Atlanta's beautiful parks, or fill up at one of the city's delicious brunch options. The choice is yours.

Brunch 

Start the day by treating mom to a delicious meal. There's no better place to do it than in a city as renowned for its cuisine as Atlanta. The city has a restaurant option for every mom. In the past, spots like Park Tavern, South City Kitchen, and Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse, among many others, have hosted Mother's Day brunch. Don't be afraid to call your favorite place and ask.

Parks  

The city's most celebrated green space is Piedmont Park, but it's far from the only option for some time outdoors with mom. With spring in full bloom, venture south to Grant Park, perhaps with a stop at the Cyclorama or Zoo Atlanta for even more fun.

Atlanta Botanical Garden 

If you did happen to stop by Piedmont Park, you're not far from the Atlanta Botanical Garden and its dizzying array of plants and spectacular exhibitions. In a pastoral setting any mom will appreciate, enjoy this Midtown oasis in the full splendor of spring. Comfortable temperatures and lush scenery make it a necessary stop on Mother's Day.

Zoo Atlanta

On Sunday, May 8, mothers will be admitted free of charge with the purchase of any regular-priced child’s or adult’s general admission ticket ($25.99 and $17.99). Offer only available at the front gate, not available online. 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. 800 Cherokee Ave., Atlanta. 404-624-9453, zooatlanta.org/home.