Get Some True R&R During Your Next Vacation

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Vacations are meant to be times where we take a break from normal life and just enjoy time away from our jobs and our daily worries. But for many of us, the moment we return from a vacation we feel drained and like we need to go out of town right away once more.

The problem is the pace of modern life tends to follow us everywhere we go - even on vacation. Rather than letitng your next vacation become a stressful energy drainer, we recommend using these tips from apartmenttherapy.com to ensure that you truly unwind while on vacation and then return from your trip recharged and happier:


Limit Your Technology

This tip is perhaps the most important, the most obvious, and the most difficult to actually achieve. But seriously: tuning out distractions in the form of technology is a huge part of being able to relax while you're away from home.

Turn off data roaming and/or push notifications on your phone. Don't check your email (or, if that's as unreasonable for you as it is for me, check it once a day at a predetermined time only). Purposely stay somewhere without a TV or radio — seriously, if something big happens in the world, you'll find out sooner or later anyway.

(Maybe) Don't Bring A Camera

As someone who is known among friends for near-obnoxious levels of Instagramming when on vacation, I definitely understand the instinct to capture all the exciting sights around you for posterity. Sometimes, however, we get so focused on capturing what's happening around us that we forget to fully experienceit; hardly a recipe for relaxation. Photos get damaged, deleted or lost in the archives of Facebook, but memories last forever. Make sure yours are made with all your senses, not just your viewfinder.

Don't Over-Schedule Yourself

When I'm planning for a holiday, I want to do all of the research, see all of the sights, eat in all of the restaurants, have all of the fun… I think you can see where I'm going with this. Traveling as a Type A planner can get real old, real fast. You only have so much time in any given place, and by prioritizing what you want to see and do, you'll buy yourself more time to actually enjoy it.

In fact, scheduling time to relax might be just the ticket. I'm heading to Rome with a friend in a couple weeks' time, and I'm trying a new travel tactic. Since the city is going to be hot as Hades during the day, and since I'm not exactly a fan of soaring temperatures, we've only (loosely) planned our morning and evening activities, while the afternoons will be solely devoted to lounging poolside at our rental property (chosen specifically for this reason, naturally). If we don't get to see everything we'd like to? Well, I'm pretty sure Rome will still be there next time.

Choose Like-minded Travel Mates
Some people, no matter how much love lies between them, were just not made to travel together. Finding a travel partner who enjoys a similar pace as you, whether it's that of an Energizer Bunny or a turtle, is key to avoiding disagreements that can lead to stressful situations.

For a really relaxing holiday, consider ditching the companions altogether and going it alone. Last month, a bout of gastroenteritis turned my planned girlfriends-in-Paris weekend into a solo venture, and, aside from feeling a tad guilty about my sick friend, I had an terrific time. When you travel alone, you're free to do exactly as you like on your schedule, whether that's a full day of museum-hopping or sleeping in until noon, followed by a leisurely stroll along the Seine.

Consider a Staycation
Apparently studies have shown that we sleep fewer hours per night while traveling, whether due to jet lag, busy sightseeing schedules, or just being in an unfamiliar setting. Sleep deprivation is hardly relaxing, so taking the holiday to your own home (and bed) could be a way to beat this.

Keep in mind, however, that in order to be truly relaxing, a staycation should still be a vacation, of sorts. No making endless lists of home improvements or using this time to "catch up" on work or even social engagements. Sleep in. See a movie. Try that new restaurant...

Go Somewhere You Know Well
If you're not quite ready to holiday at home, consider traveling somewhere you've enjoyed before. Familiarity breeds tranquility, and when you know a place well, you're less likely to overextend yourself or become flustered by day-to-day travel problems. My most relaxing holiday destination? Perhaps ironically, it's New York City: after having visited my best friends there for nearly seven years, I no longer feel the need to sightsee compulsively, so it's all leisurely brunches, walks around town and picnics in Central Park.

Buffer Your Vacation
Let's be honest: flying home from paradise on a Sunday evening and showing up to work at 9am the next morning is pretty much the Worst. If you possibly can, try taking an extra day off before and/or after your holiday to be at home. This gives you time to do all those un-fun, post-holiday tasks like laundry, grocery shopping, and finishing the book you started on the return flight.

What To Do This Weekend? Go To A Museum!

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There is so much to love and do in Seattle that some weekends it’s hard to even begin to pick where to go. Out for a hike? To a new coffee shop? Whale watching?

Another great option for weekends is visiting a museum; museums give us the ability to explore various topics, from art to history to science, at our own pace, alone or in a group. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of museums in Seattle to choose from! Here’s the top 10 museums in Seattle, listed by hotels.com:

• The Olympic Sculpture Park: The Seattle Art Museum transports its most dramatic sculptures to the waterfront Olympic Sculpture Park, where visitors enjoy the works for free. A sunlit sky and the blue sparkle of the Puget Sound render the oversized sculptures even more spectacular. 
• The Seattle Aquarium: Just try to resist touching the nubby, rubbery flesh of starfish or the slippery smooth rays in the Seattle Aquarium’s touch tank. The waterfront museum also exhibits fragile corals, shore birds, marine mammals and lots of fish. 
• The Museum of Glass: Delicate vases contrast with towering abstract sculptures at the Museum of Glass, dedicated to 20th- and 21st-century works. Check out the Hot Shop where glassblowers create new works in molten glass every time the museum’s doors open. 
• The Museum of Flight: The Museum of Flight highlights all forms of mechanical flight in Seattle, hometown of plane-making giant Boeing. Visitors test their physical and analytical prowess in the flight simulator, designed to showcase the demands of space travel. 
• Seattle Art Museum: Hammering Man’s black silhouette towers 50 feet outside the Seattle Art Museum. Stand beneath his shadow and watch him hammer silently, then head inside for the museum’s renowned Northwest Coast Indian artworks. 
• The Experience Music Project: At the Experience Music project, a rock ‘n’ roll museum spanning music from Ray Charles to grunge, Jimi Hendrix isn’t the only attraction but he is the star. Absorb Hendrix’s creative energy through a headset while swooning over his psychedelic costumes. 
• Woodland Park Zoo: Woodland Park’s brown bears reveal nature’s power and beauty as they fish for salmon in their own stream. The bears are just part of the zoo’s 1,100-animal collection, representing 300 individual species over the 92-acre site near Green Lake. 
• The Seattle Asian Art Museum: Asian artworks from the Neolithic period to the present bring east to west at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. The collection of jades, ceramics and snuff bottles is especially rich. 
• The Science Fiction Museum: A dozen alien spacecraft come to life with the click of a mouse in the Science Fiction Museum, their histories and literary or film origins revealed in multimedia displays. The museum also displays clothing, books and memorabilia from literary, television and film sci-fi. 
• The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture: A revolving collection fills the halls of the Burke Museum, highlighting the natural and cultural history of the American Pacific Northwest. The museum boasts a collection of colorful Northwest totems and fleshes out local history with archaeology, dinosaur and animal displays.

Here’s a bonus tip: if you’re on a budget, check out one of these three museums, which offer free admission and events throughout the month!

Are These 4 Household Urban Myths Legit?

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Do you put salt in water to make it boil faster? Do you store batteries in the fridge so they last longer?

These are just a couple of the types of things we’re told to do to make living in our apartments easier. Let’s be honest: it can be hard to tell fact from wives tales, even for the best of us. Fortunately, this article from apartmenttherapy.com addresses 4 common household myths you may have been told. The truth is out there...keep reading to find out what it is!

Myth: Adding salt to water makes it boil faster.

The Truth: Nope. Salted water actually takes a little bit longer to boil, since the salt raises the boiling point from 100°C to around 106°C. But salt water does boil hotter because when sodium chloride (salt) attaches to water molecules, it releases gas bubbles which increase movement in the water and therefore the temperature. So although you will wait a little longer for your salted water to boil, it will cook your pasta a little faster. Cool!



Myth: Store batteries in the refrigerator so they'll last longer.

The Truth: Short answer: not really. The chemical reaction within the battery (the one that creates an electrical charge to power your devices) is affected by temperature, and cold temps do slow that process; however, contrary to popular belief, batteries don't generate energy unless they're in use, so there's not much point in chilling a resting battery. In fact, until your refrigerated battery returns to room temperature, it won't be able to generate much electricity at all (just try starting your car on a freezing morning). The maximum recommended temperature for a battery is around 77°F, so drawer storage should be just fine for most people.



Myth: Microwaving a sponge kills bacteria.

The Truth: Yes! But it's a little more complicated than 10 seconds on high. Studies show it takes two full minutes for 99% of germs to bite the dust. Double that time to four for complete sterilization. Make sure your sponge is damp (microwaves work by heating water molecules) and, depending on how often you use it, nuke it every few days as a rule of thumb.



Myth: Grinding ice cubes will sharpen your disposal's blades.

The Truth: Sort of. There's no way to really sharpen the blades, but grinding up some ice cubes every now and then does clean them by knocking off built up residue, helping them to function more efficiently. Run some cold water, grind the ice for about a minute, and you should be in business. 

Were you ever taught to do something around the apartment that you found out was bad advice or an urban myth? If so tell us about it in the comments!

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.

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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

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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.