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Where to Go Berry Picking
August 2, 2021
A favorite activity during spring and summer in the south is to go berry picking. It is a time to unplug, enjoy the breeze from the farm and find fresh produce to snack on or bake with. Berries are great for smoothies, too! Whether you are looking for a fun summer date or an activity for the whole family to enjoy, berry picking is an affordable and memorable way to go. There is no shortage of farms around the CSRA for your berry picking journey! Check out some of our favorites. Blue House Farm Address: 279 Old Blythe Road, Harlem, GeorgiaHours: 8:00am-1:00pm Tuesday-Saturday, also 4:00pm-7:00pm Fridays and Saturdays, weather permitting. At Blue House Farm, picking buckets are available but visitors are welcome to bring their own buckets or containers as well. Closed-toe shoes are recommended. Gurosik’s Berry PlantationAddress: 345 Briggs Road, North Augusta, South CarolinaHours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-7:00pm, Saturday 8:00am-6:00pm, Sunday 1:00pm-6:00pmBuckets are provided for picking at Gurosik’s. Remember to bring cash or a check for bucket purchases as they are not able to accept cards. Mountain View Blueberry FarmAddress: 230 Mountain View Road, Batesburg, South CarolinaHours: Saturday and Sunday from 8:00am-5:00pmMountain view offers pre-picked gallons of blueberries for $20 or you can pick them yourself for $15. There is also a picnic area, so bring a sack lunch and take a break in the middle of picking to enjoy a meal on the farm! Be sure to take pictures to capture the memory of a berry picking excursion, but leave the rest behind and take in every moment! It’s the perfect getaway to keep you from mindlessly scrolling on the couch, and you’ll end up with some yummy ingredients afterwards. Don’t forget the sunscreen when you go, too!
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Backyard BBQ on a Budget
August 2, 2021
Hosting a cookout can be a fun and easy way to gather family and friends. Having a backyard BBQ is a staple during the summer, especially in the south. It is a relaxing time to have everyone together, share stories and create new memories all while enjoying some delicious food. If you are wanting to have a backyard BBQ but the budget is tight, don’t worry! There are plenty of tips and tricks to making your cookout one to remember without breaking the bank. Use cheaper cuts of meat. You don’t have to get the best beef tenderloin or ribeye steak to have a yummy meal. Lesser known cuts, like chuck roast or sirloin flap, can be just as delicious with the right seasoning and marinade for the grill. Try chicken thighs instead of breasts- they hold flavor better, too! Create a gourmet hamburger and hot dog buffet. A little bit can really go a long way here, and your guests will like the option to customize their plates. Buy a large package of hot dogs and/or burger patties from your local grocery store or bulk warehouse and create a spread of various toppings on a table. Think beyond your typical ketchup, mustard and horseradish- try sriracha mayonnaise, barbecue ketchup, pickled vegetables, bacon, shredded cheese, or even guacamole! Try an outdoor taco party. Tacos are an easy way to make your meat go further and get more bang for your buck. With taco trucks and restaurants increasing in popularity, take some inspiration from their menus and create something a step above the usual taco. Gather ingredients like pulled pork or chicken for a delicious barbecue taco- guests can’t fit as much meat into a tortilla as they would a sandwich bun, so you can make it last longer and entertain more people! Don’t worry about feeling like you’re skimping. Guests will love the idea and be just as satisfied with the food. Keeping up with the kebabs…A great way to showcase different ingredients inexpensively is by grilling some delicious kebabs for your guests. You could even lay the ingredients out buffet-style for them to stack their own and let you grill! All you need is a good meat base and a few different fruits and veggies. Hosting a backyard BBQ does not have to be intimidating or expensive. Feel free to suggest that your guests bring sides or desserts to help lighten your load as well. Remember to look for the best deals on all of your ingredients and search for coupons, too!
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What to Know About Smart Lightbulbs
July 30, 2021
Move over, LED bulbs - smart light bulbs are the newest trend in home lighting. They add a convenience factor by being able to control them from your phone as well as better energy conservation. Here’s everything you need to know before shopping for smart bulbs for your home: Hub or No HubA hub is a device that connects to your wireless router at home. Some smart lights require this connection to be able to control them from your phone or smart device. An easy key to know if the bulbs need a hub would be if you see “Zigbee” or “Z-Wave” on the packaging. If you purchase bulbs that don’t require a hub, you’ll just need to connect them to your Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Wi-Fi bulbs tend to be a bit more reliable whereas Bluetooth would only work from your phone within a specific range. If your house is larger, a Wi-Fi connected set may be better. White or Color-ChangingClassic white smart bulbs still come with the ability to dim at different levels, but color-changing lights supply some extra mood lighting if you want more. They can amplify a themed party or be used for notifications with alarms. How Smart Are Smart Bulbs? By controlling your lightbulbs from your phone, you can create a setting for the light by your door to be a certain color depending on the weather. For example, you can set it to turn blue if you’ll need a raincoat. You can also configure the lights to turn on automatically when you get home so that you’re not fumbling in the dark to find a light switch. Not a morning person? Set the lights in your bedroom to gradually increase, simulating a natural sunrise for easier waking. The possibilities can be endless when you make the switch to smart light bulbs and discover everything you can do right from your phone. Not only do smart bulbs help save energy, they can be fun to use and cost-efficient as well. Decide what will work best for your home and enjoy your new smart light bulbs!
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Holiday Appreciation for Delivery Carriers
July 30, 2021
With the holiday season in full swing, orders will be placed nonstop. Gifts, decorations, you name it - it’s probably easier to order online to avoid the crowds. It’s also time to send holiday cards to friends and family and receive them as well. With all of this in mind, your mail carrier and delivery people are working around the clock. Why not make them feel special when they stop by your home? Try these ideas to make their day a little more happy and to let them know that they are appreciated. Gifts by the Door When larger packages are dropped off, give the delivery carrier a reason to smile. Leave a small basket on your porch with bottles of water, bags of chips, candy or other treats. Attach a sweet note to the basket to let them know you appreciate their hard work during the busy season. Encourage them to take multiple treats as well to make it through their long shift or to share with coworkers. Personal GiftsIf you know when your mail carrier arrives every day, why not wait outside to give them something special? A baked treat and a warm to-go cup of coffee is sure to make their day in the middle of the holiday rush. You can even leave a small care package inside of the mailbox for them to find when they open it up. A personalized Christmas ornament, a few pieces of candy, and a sweet card or note will do the trick during their nonstop day. Sweets Stand When it’s crunch time for the holidays and packages are arriving nonstop, why not set up a small table in your driveway? Complete with baked treats, sweets, coffee, hot cocoa and water, the delivery people will feel like they are getting a break in a cafe. Create a sign to let them know that they are welcome to stop by and enjoy a nice treat during their long drive. Mail carriers and delivery service drivers are some of the hardest workers, especially during the busy holiday season. Don’t let these holiday months go by without letting them know that you notice and appreciate all of their hard work.
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Thanksgiving vs. Materialism
July 30, 2021
The Thanksgiving holiday was originally intended for families and friends to gather and enjoy time together. It is a time to reflect on the year and express gratitude for everything you have. However, consumers have quickly taken over and Thanksgiving is more of a shopping day than a family holiday. Are we able to create a balance between being grateful for what we already have and catching a great sale for the holidays? Practice Gratitude Year-RoundGratitude journals have greatly increased in popularity over the years. Set aside a few minutes each day to open a notebook and write at least one thing you are grateful for. It can be something as simple as a beautiful sunrise that morning. The small things will add up, and you’ll have a great collection to look back on at the end of the year to see just how much you have to be grateful for. Try encouraging others to bring their gratitude journals to the Thanksgiving table and read excerpts to share with everyone. It is sure to create a special bond between friends and family that emphasizes the purpose of Thanksgiving. Embrace Generosity The original purpose of Black Friday was to find great deals for holiday gifts. However, it quickly became a time to be selfish and snag the pair of shoes you’ve had your eye on and a bunch of other things you probably don’t need. The flashing lights and word “SALE” everywhere are extremely enticing. Why not preserve the shopping time strictly for other people? If you do insist on taking the time away from family to shop, be sure it’s to purchase gifts for them. Be careful not to get lured into buying things for yourself and creating a materialistic mindset. After practicing so much gratitude, try being generous as an overflow of your thankfulness. This is merely a sliver of advice. Remember to think about what you already have and embrace everything to be thankful for before making that trip to the mall or your favorite store. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Embracing a Lifestyle of Minimalism
July 30, 2021
Over the years, the minimalist lifestyle has increased in popularity. Clutter-free homes create a welcoming aesthetic and make room in the budget for more high-quality items to decorate as opposed to loads of small things from a bargain store. If you’ve been thinking about living life as a minimalist but aren’t sure if it is for you, take a look at this post to get started. Get Rid of DuplicatesOne of the most simple ways to begin life as a minimalist is discarding the extra things that you don’t need. Take a box or bin and go through each room in your home to look for things you have multiples of. The kitchen, for example, may have two or three sets of measuring cups. You really only need one set, so toss the extras aside and donate them or throw them away. Did you go crazy during a home sale and purchase too many throw pillows for the living room? Decide which ones are your absolute favorites and put the others in the box to free up some couch space. Maybe your office area has multiple pairs of scissors or staplers. Leave one and take the rest for donation. Less to Dress The closet is typically the hardest area to tackle when becoming a minimalist. Our culture has somehow given us the idea that we always need something new and it’s strange to wear the same thing more than a few times. This is where a minimalist goes against the grain and has a few staple pieces in the closet that are versatile enough to wear over and over again. There are plenty of resources online to help you pick out those timeless items and how to style them differently to create a variety of outfits while keeping a clutter-free closet. Shop Smart at the Grocery Store Avoid eating out unless there is a special occasion or you have designated meals out in the budget. It’s important to buy the necessities at the grocery store when living life as a minimalist. Take some time at the beginning of the week to create a menu to go along with your grocery list. Cook meals that will have leftovers so that you don’t have to stop by a drive-through for lunch the next day. Shopping smart will reduce the chances of wasted food and will push you to be creative with every meal you make. There is a plethora of steps to take towards the minimalist lifestyle, but this is a starting point if you are new to the idea. Just give it a try, you may enjoy it more than you thought! Keeping things to a minimum is extremely rewarding and cultivates a comforting atmosphere in the home.
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Thanksgiving Leftover Tips
July 30, 2021
The meals and memories have been made. Once Thanksgiving has come and gone, there are surely leftovers to deal with. Do you struggle each year with deciding what to do about your leftovers? From storage tips to weekend meals, we have a few ideas to avoid wasting your hard-cooked Thanksgiving food. StorageOn Thanksgiving night when everyone is getting ready to pack leftovers, be sure all of the food has cooled down completely. Pack them into several smaller containers as opposed to one larger one and avoid stacking the containers in the refrigerator as this can trap the heat. While it may seem easier to cover casserole dishes with foil or plastic wrap, take the extra time to place them in small containers to preserve freshness and save refrigerator space. Leftovers can be kept safely in the refrigerator for up to four days. If you plan to store anything in the freezer, you’ll better avoid the growth of bacteria and your food will be safe for at least two months. Just remember to pack items in airtight freezer bags or containers and write the date on everything. UsageThe weekend after Thanksgiving is the ideal time to use those leftovers in other creative recipes for your meals. After trying some of these, your Thanksgiving food may be better the second time around!
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- Liven up a casserole with fresh herbs. Sprinkle parsley or basil on top of a green bean casserole for an extra kick with the next day’s dinner.
- Add a biscuit mix to your leftover meats and vegetables to create a delicious pot pie. This is the perfect Saturday or Sunday lunch.
- A pasta salad mix will pair deliciously with turkey and cranberries. You’ll have a fall dish to share with friends and family with a unique twist.
- Turkey sandwiches are a classic for the day or two after Thanksgiving. Add spices and herbs or a seasoned mustard to a roasted turkey sandwich for an amped-up version of the usual meat and bread.
- Use tomatoes and shredded turkey in a baked pasta using any boxed pasta from your pantry. Melt some cheese on top for the perfect touch to a delicious pasta casserole.
- It may feel easier to order pizza the weekend after Thanksgiving, but try a turkey pizza with what you already have instead! Add shredded turkey, tomato sauce, and other vegetables to bread or pizza dough for a combination that is sure to enlighten your taste buds.
Conserve Energy During the Weather Change
July 30, 2021
It should be safe to say at this point that we are officially in the fall season, and hopefully the heat won’t return for a few months. With every weather change comes a shift in the energy bill, so it is important to know how to be conservative with your energy usage. Utilize the SunlightOne way to conserve energy usage is to embrace the heat from the sun when you have it. Open curtains throughout the house during the day for the sunlight to come in and add extra warmth. This way, you won’t have to set the thermostat as high and you’ll save a little on your utility bill. Remember to close the curtains back at night to seal in the warmth and reduce the chill from cold windows. Seal DraftsFixing drafty windows is another important step to take for energy conservation. If there are gaps or openings in your windows and doors, the heater will have to work harder to keep your home warm. Seal any loose openings and install tight-fitting drapes over the windows. Weatherstripping is a quick solution for doors to prevent cold air (and bugs) from creeping in. Be Smart with the ThermostatDon’t keep the temperature on your thermostat the same nonstop. When you are home, set it as low as you can during the day while staying comfortable. When you are out of the house, drop it by 10 or 15 degrees to save around 10% a year on your average heating and cooling bills. Smart or programmable thermostats make this even easier, if you have access to one. Adjust the Water HeaterTurn down the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The standard temperature on water heaters is usually higher and contributes to higher water bills. By lowering the temperature, you’ll save money and avoid scalding your hands with water that is too hot. Use the Right Holiday LightsHoliday lighting can get expensive pretty quickly if you’re not careful. When searching for decorations, look for LED bulbs in your lights. Not only will they last longer, but your power bill won’t be as high from excessive light usage. By taking these steps, your home will still be comfortable while saving energy and money. Be prepared for the cold weather by taking care of these things as soon as possible.
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Preparing for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
July 30, 2021
The biggest shopping weekend of the year is upon us. After spending the day being thankful for what we have and enjoying a huge meal, we strap on our boots and wait in line at our favorite stores to shop for the holidays. From clothes to toys to home appliances and everything else under the sun, there will be sales galore and deals you won’t want to miss. Shop smarter this holiday season with these ideas. Black FridayOver the last few years, Black Friday has evolved into Black Thanksgiving and Black November, with some stores running sales all month long. If you are one of the few who still wants to dedicate your shopping to strictly the Friday event, good for you! It’s best to come up with a game plan ahead of time to avoid being stuck in lines for items you don’t really need or want. The benefit of the internet and social media today is that stores use these platforms to amp up their marketing and will usually provide a sneak peek of sales ads to get customers excited. Create a list of the top stores you want to visit and why, and work out a travel plan to get to each destination. If you’re going with family or a group of friends, consider carpooling to avoid additional parking stress. Another option when shopping with a group is to split up with different lists of what to buy so that you can all accomplish your goals more efficiently. Lines are usually long throughout the day, so you’ll cover more bases the more you can split up. Cyber MondayAs with Black Friday, online retailers are leaning more towards month-long sales. However, some of the best deals will still be on Cyber Monday. Currently, Cyber Monday is the largest online shopping day in the United States. It’s the perfect time to sit down at the computer or on your phone with the rest of your Thanksgiving leftovers and shop away. Bookmark your favorite stores’ websites ahead of time to ensure easy access when the deals start rolling in. If you have email notifications, check them frequently throughout the week leading up to Cyber Monday so you can save those pages and hit the site right away to get what’s on your list. Follow retailers on social media as well, since they promote sales and provide easy links for shopping while you scroll. It also provides a good visual since there are typically videos and pictures of the products in action. With a good list and game plan in mind, you’re sure to conquer the holiday shopping weekend like a pro!
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