The Top 10 Exercise Myths: An Infographic

Exercise is good for you - but everyone already knew that. Exercising on a regular basis is linked to maintaining a healthy weight, combating heart problems, raising our energy levels, and just improving our moods in general. All in all, exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun.

Of course, getting in shape gets a whole lot more complicated once you move beyond those basics. There’s so many things to keep straight and remember. How many calories did you eat today? Should you focus on weight lifting or cardio in your workouts? Does your weight say anything about your health and fitness level? And is a protein shake the best thing to pick up after a workout?

While we can’t address all of the workout myths and facts, we can address 10 of the most common and important ones - and we can present them in a fun little infographic! Which of these facts surprised you the most? Will you use these tips to improve your workouts?

Click here to view a larger version of the image. (Image courtesy of simondamborg.com.)

The Story of the Seattle Space Needle: An Infographic

If there’s one thing everyone has seen - at least from a distance - in Seattle, it’s the Space Needle. Built in 1962, the Space Needle has since become the symbol of Seattle, and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

The Space Needle is a recognized must-see for anyone visiting or living in the area. And, of course, there’s a lot of cool history and facts surrounding the Space Needle. For example, did you know that the Space Needle was originally drawn on a napkin? Or that when you ride in the Needle’s elevators while it’s snowing outside, it appears to be snowing up?

Here’s just a few more quirky historical and interesting facts about the Space Needle, all in an easy-to-read infographic:

Image courtesy of www.hotels.com

Enjoy Your Day Off. Really Enjoy It. Here’s How.

Image courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com

When was the last time you enjoyed a day off? We mean, totally unplugged from work, didn’t worry about errands or chores, and just enjoyed your day off?

It doesn’t happen nearly as often as we’d like, unfortunately; it seems that any and all “days off” inevitably become time for us to get something done, rather than focusing on recharging our batteries. Not to worry, though: we have some tips here to help you ensure that your next day off is a day to be enjoyed to the fullest.

Apartmenttherapy.com recommends trying any of the below during your day off:

● Stay in bed as long you want - no "shoulds" or "have to's" allowed.

● Have a leisurely breakfast, read the paper (or your iPad), listen to music, take your time.

● Take a long bath or brisk shower, put on your favorite feel-good outfit.

● Head out for a walk around your neighborhood - maybe try and check out a destination that you don't feel you have time to investigate during busy work days and chore-filled weekends - a park, a cafe, a new shop or maybe just a street of homes that appeal to you. Have fun; explore, observe and investigate.

● Spend the afternoon doing whatever you feel like - no more, no less. A selection of sample perfect lazy afternoon activities:
○ see a movie
○ explore a bookstore
○ eat a light lunch, alfresco
○ take a nap
○ do a mini-marathon of that show you've been wanting to watch
○ bake a batch of cookies
○ be creative: knit, sew, craft, make music, blog, pin
○ meet a friend for coffee or a cocktail

● For dinner, either call in your favorite delivery option or make a simple, yet satisfying home cooked meal that you'll really have time to savor - like a roast chicken or a new-to-you pasta dish.

● Head to bed early with a good book, relaxed and ready for a good nights rest.

Do you have your own way of enjoying a day off? Please tell us in the comments; we’d love to hear about it! But just remember: no matter what you do on them, days off are times to be savored. Enjoy them!

6 Ways You Can Reduce and Prevent Food Waste

Image courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com

It happens to the best of us: you go shopping at the grocery store or farmers market and before you know it, you find a bunch of wonderful items and ingredients you can’t wait to use. Next thing you know, you’ve waited too long and some of those amazing purchases are going bad.

No one likes wasting food. Fortunately, a few tricks and habits can save you food and money! Those tricks, as written by thekitchn.com, are:

1. Make a plan. Set aside a regular time to plan your meals and shopping lists so you buy only what you need. When choosing recipes, look for ways to fully use perishable groceries like bunches of herbs, root vegetables and their tops, and dairy products. If you like the flexibility of seeing what's good at the market, you might create a shopping list with general notes like "2x green vegetables."

2. Wash and prep ingredients. Before stashing away groceries, tackle ingredients that you'll be more likely to eat if you clean and prep them first. For example, wash and dry lettuce for salads, cut carrot sticks for snacks, or roast vegetables to use throughout the week.

3. Organize by freshness. Adopt a "first in first out" system in the refrigerator and pantry. Place older foods in front so you use them more quickly, and store newer, fresher ones in back. Or create an "eat me first" box or basket for quick-to-expire ingredients and foods.

4. Use your freezer. Get in the habit of anticipating when you're likely to have an excess of food, and freeze it before it has a chance to rot or go stale. Good candidates for the freezer include leftovers, big batches of soup and casseroles, bread, fresh herbs, and scraps that can be turned into stock.

5. Pickle it. Prolong the life of vegetables by making easy refrigerator pickles. Though pickling is often associated with windfalls of produce, it can also be done in small batches. Got an extra half a cucumber, a few pieces of cauliflower, or a handful of radishes? Yes, we can pickle that.

6. Label everything. Use big, clear labels to eliminate the problem of mystery leftovers, to add a well-visible expiration date to a carton of milk, to draw attention to items you want family members to eat, to organize entire shelves in the fridge — anything that will remind you to eat the food you have.