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The dinner diaries [Infographic]
Hosting a dinner party can be stressful – if your biggest fear of entertaining is burning a dish, you’re not alone. Extinguishing an entree is the primary concern of more than half (51 percent) of all hostesses. Need some help planning the perfect dinner party? Alexia Foods , a line of gourmet all-natural frozen potatoes, breads and side dishes recently surveyed 400 party hosts to find out what key ingredients are necessary to host a successful (and delicious) gathering.
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Eight easy ways to organize - and maximize - a small bath
(BPT) - The bath serves a variety of uses, from a functional room to a serene sanctuary, a storage facility to a salon. And, whether you enjoy it yourself or share with the family, every bathroom is in need of one major thing – organization. To help keep your bath feeling more serene and less insane, follow these eigh...
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Backyard oasis planning made easy
(BPT) - Hooray for a holiday. You’ve got the day off, you’ve sent out the backyard barbecue invite and all your nearest and dearest are coming over to eat, drink and be merry. So, what’s next? Whether you’re a seasoned entertaining pro or a new host, The Home Depot has tips to make your backyard an oasis for a long hol...
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Look no further than your freezer for Dad's perfect gift
(BPT) - Bill Cosby once said, “Fatherhood is pretending the present you love the most is soap-on-a-rope.” As children all over the country prepare to honor their dads for Father’s Day or a special birthday, it might be time to say “no” to the soap and ties and give him what he really loves – a home-cooked meal. In a 20...
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Do's and don'ts of shopping for dads and grads
(BPT) - Father’s Day and graduations are coming up, and that means you’ll have to think of appropriate gifts for these heralded champions. You don’t need to spend a fortune to make gift recipients happy, all you do need to do is put some thought into their presents. A few tips and tricks will help you pick out a gift th...
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The career paths that lead to everyday acts of heroism
(BPT) - Often, we don’t think about heroism until we see it in action - when disaster strikes and ordinary people exhibit extraordinary courage and compassion to help victims in their time of need. The truth is, however, that the best of human nature is on display every day in the lives of millions of Americans who work...
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Home chefs use new technology to cook with ease
(BPT) - Home cooks are spending more time in their own kitchens and less time dining out, according to the January Monthly Measuring Cup Trend Report . Nearly half of surveyed consumers said they’re dining out less this year than they did in 2012 and are relying more on their cooking skills at home. Fortunately, techno...
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Help your pet shed unhealthy weight
(BPT) - Are you killing your pet with kindness? We’re not talking about the compassion that motivates us to vaccinate our pets, or keep them warm in cold weather. Kindness that can be harmful to pets comes in the form of an overabundance of food and treats. The all-too-common result is a pet that becomes overweight or e...
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Quick tips for getting the most out of your smartphone camera
(BPT) - Today, the majority of adults have a mobile phone, and we’re using it for far more things than simply making phone calls. According to a 2012 report from The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, of the 85 percent of American adults who own a cellphone, 85 percent use their cellphones to take...
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Surprising ways hot tubs heat up relationships
(BPT) - On average, working adults spend less than an hour per day socializing and relaxing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s American Time Use Survey . Yet a host of research – and common sense – tells us that spending time together in a social, relaxing way is essential to building and maintaining healthy...
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Save money and do a world of good with reusable containers
(BPT) - Even as the country moves out of the great recession, many Americans are still in a money-saving mode – looking to conserve wherever possible. Good news. There are simple ways to save money especially if you go back to the time-honored concept of BYO – “bringing your own” container of coffee, lunch or water as ...
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Add fresh grapes for great summer dishes
(BPT) - Grapes from California are in abundant supply throughout the summer, which is welcome news for those seeking a healthy, refreshing snack. They’re also a boon to the home cook: grapes provide bright color, a sweet-tart flavor and a refreshing burst of juice to warm-weather dishes. Grapes also complement, enhan...
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By Chris Francescani NEW YORK (Reuters) - A tornado half a mile wide struck near Oklahoma City on Sunday, part of a massive storm front that hammered the central United States. News reports said at least one person had died. By early Sunday evening, 19 tornados had touched down in parts of Iowa, Oklahoma and Kansas, according to the National Weather Service and local news reports. Fox News reported that one person was killed in Shawnee, Oklahoma, east of Oklahoma City. Police in Shawnee could not immediately be reached to confirm the report. ...
By Richard Weizel BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut (Reuters) - Thousands of Connecticut commuters should brace for travel chaos on Monday as Metro-North workers repair damage on the United States' busiest rail line caused by the collision of two trains, officials warned on Sunday. Lengthy detours and hours of traffic backups were likely as many train commuters take to the road, officials said. The Friday derailment of a Metro-North passenger train that struck a commuter train between Fairfield and Bridgeport, Connecticut, injured more than 70 people and halted full service on the line indefinitely. ...
By Bernie Woodall and Karen Pierog DETROIT (Reuters) - Bond restructurings, negotiated settlements with bondholders and bond insurers, and tough talk with unionized workers are on the agenda as Detroit's emergency financial manager tries to meet a self-imposed, six-week deadline to decide whether the city can get through its financial crisis without a bankruptcy filing. Kevyn Orr, a former bankruptcy lawyer, in his first report to the state of Michigan since Governor Rick Snyder appointed him, laid out last week a bracing picture of steps he may need to take to address the city's troubles. ...