www.ikeahackers.net

• Family Book Club: Read a book with the whole family and pick a time to discuss it. Set the mood with a menu inspired by your read.

•  DIY Water Park: set up the sprinkler and break out the hose. Add some water balloons for extra splash!

• Camping: State parks offer camp sites at very reasonable rates. Don't want to go too far from the comforts of home? Set up camp in the backyard or even in your own living room. Don't forget the smores and ghost stories.

The tradition of saving the top tier of the cake dates back to the 19th century.  The top tier was to be served at your first child's christening, assuming that it would occur within a year or so after the wedding.

One cup of almond milk has about half the calories of regular cow’s milk, no cholesterol or saturated fat, and 15% more calcium. Plus, it is creamy and delicious.  Buy it at the supermarket or make your own by blending one cup of raw, unsalted almonds (soaked in a bowl overnight) with 3 cups of water until smooth. Add vanilla or sugar to taste and you have a NUTritious substitute for milk!

Shake cocktails when they include fruit juices, cream, syrup or any other thick mixers. Shaking your cocktail creates a cloudy look at first, which will clear up within a few minutes. Stirring is a more gentle technique for mixing cocktails and is used to delicately combine distilled spirits with the perfect amount of dilution.

The top five Cosmetic Sugery Procedures:
Breast Augmentation
Nose Reshaping
Eyelid Surgery
Liposuction
Tummy Tuck
Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Being brainy has never looked so good!  This website was created by women in academia who are “on a crusade against the ill-fitting polyester suit of academic yore”.   
www.academichic.com

•    Flowers
•    Feathers
•    Antique clip or brooch
•    Hat or Fascinator

This organization collects shoes from companies, groups and individuals and “changes the world one pair at a time” by distributing them to those in need in the US and abroad.  Visit their website to find out where to ship your “gently worn” shoes, including the Village Northwest Warehouse location staffed by over 180 adults with disabilities.
  www.soles4souls.org

Acme Party Box Company provides stylish, eco-friendly party sets delivered to your door and ready to set up.  From kid’s birthdays to grown up dinner parties, party boxes contain everything from invitations to decorations.  You’ll also love their party planning checklists and resources.   
www.acmepartybox.com

Did you ask more questions about your cell phone plan than you did during your last medical appointment?  Improve the care you and your loved one’s receive by becoming an active participant in the treatment you receive.  The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s “Questions Are the Answer” tool gives you a lists of questions to ask and a tool to create your own, customized list.

Don’t you hate the dirt that gets under your nails while gardening?

Before you garden, run your nails over a bar of soap. The soap flakes will act as a natural barrier to dirt and when you are done gardening and wash your hands your nails will be squeaky clean!

Tired of ironing or you just don’t have time?  You no longer need to worry.  All you need to do is mix 1 part vinegar with 3 parts water and mist this on your wrinkled clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer.  Hang to air-dry and voila, the wrinkles are gone!

Light bulbs that break while still screwed in were tricky until now:  slice a white potato in half and push it into the broken light bulb, then unscrew.  The potato should keep your hands, fingers and nails from getting nicked.

Although they may make you look and feel fabulous at times, they may also cause headaches. Does your strap dig into your shoulder? If so, the pressure can damage those nerves, which can cause headaches or bad neck pain. Wearing thin–strapped bras too snugly can lead to severe nerve damage. To avoid this, buy wide-strapped bras with plenty of support.

When you’re wearing a tight shirt, wear loose pants, and when wearing loose pants, wear a tight shirt. Loose with loose has the potential to make you look sloppy, and tight on tight can, at times, make you look a little too showy.

When exercising, it is important that your heart works at a rate that is safe and effective. The American Heart Association recommends that your target exercise heart rate be 50 – 75% of your maximum heart rate, calculated as the number 220 minus your age.

Adding plants to a room can help improve your health and mood. Not only do they help clean the air and lessen the amount of dust, but they also make you feel less isolated. Some low-maintenance plants include:
Philodendrons
Dracaenas (dragon tree)
Scheffleras (umbrella plant)
Sansevieria (snake plant)

While the tradition is to throw rice at the newly united couple to symbolize prosperity and fertility. Consider putting your own spin on a timeless tradition by providing your guests with these alternatives:

- bubbles
- bird seed
- flower petals

- sparklers
- glow sticks
- candles

Veterinarians recommend that your dog’s teeth be cleaned regularly at home, in some cases, up two twice a week. Make sure to use a special dog toothpaste and brush to remove tartar and to keep Fido’s pearly whites healthy and strong.

Check your tires regularly for balding or uneven tread-wear, often caused by improper inflation, misaligned wheels, damaged tires, or by problems with suspension parts. For an easy check, insert a penny into a tire groove with Lincoln’s head toward the tire. If you can see Abe’s head, the tread is too worn.

We don’t all have beautiful, long, lean legs, but we can pretend we do! Create the illusion of longer legs with jeans that are a few inches too long for you paired with your favorite super-high heels. Wearing vertical stripes or patterns also helps create this long and lean illusion.

Give your children age-appropriate daily chores. Teach them how to do a load of laundry, unload the dishwasher, clean their room, make their bed, take out the trash or walk the dog. They will learn responsibility while giving you a few extra minutes each day.

Need help saying no?  Follow this 3 step process:
1) Say NO: "I'm flattered that you want me to be a board member, and I'm going to pass because I can't devote the energy to that right now."
2) Offer an alternative: "Betty Black is a big fan of your organization; you should give her a call."
3) Move on: "How are your children doing?"