May 5th is Cinco de Mayo. This holiday commemorates a military victory that took place during the Franco-Mexican War in which the outnumbered Mexican troops halted France's army. Festivities in U.S. communities with high Mexican-American populations tend to be bigger than those in Mexico (Cinco de Mayo is a minor holiday in its native country) and are often full of parades and historic reenactments of the battle. In fact, the prevalence of Cinco de Mayo in the U.S. just goes to show how much of an influence Mexican culture has had on its neighboring country. If you're observing the holiday, here are four ways to honor it: 1. Color your home Mexico celebrates Cinco de Mayo with colors galore, including, of course, red, green and white. Bring the joy of the holiday to your home by sporting bright and saturated tones. While the colors of the Mexican flag are a good place to start, yellow, pink, orange and blue are also up for grabs. One way to bring the brilliant hues into your home and also enjoy spring, is to decorate with fresh Cinco de Mayo flowers. Any brightly colored bouquet will make a beautiful addition to the festivities. 2. Prepare an authentic meal The conflict that took place on Cinco de Mayo in 1862 is also known as the Battle of Puebla, named after the town where the event occurred. Many celebrations of Mexico's victory include dishes native to the area, such as mole poblano. After all, according to Business Insider, Puebla is the foodie capital of Mexico, so whipping up traditional cuisine is both a tasty and appropriate way enjoy the day. Chicken tinga, chalupas and molotes are all other iconic foods to try on Cinco de Mayo. Do some research into ingredients that are native to Puebla to plan your menu. 3. Go to a museum To truly understand the history of Cinco de Mayo, or to better appreciate Mexican culture, consider seeking out a Mexican-American museum or cultural center in your community. See if the locale is holding any festivities or hosting special exhibits. If not, you can still learn a lot from the material already available. This is also a great celebration option for families with kids, as your little ones will have the opportunity to explore a new culture. Call the museum ahead of time to see if it has programs for kids. You can also create a worksheet before going to the museum for your children to fill out while you're there. 4. Enjoy local festivities In addition to observing Mexican culture by visiting a museum, you can experience Mexican-American traditions by checking out festivities where you live. Whether it's attending a parade or watching a re-enactment of the Battle of Puebla, you're sure to find something new and exciting if you live in a diverse community. If your town doesn't observe Cinco de Mayo with as much flair, you can watch parades on TV or online to enjoy the celebrations. 5. Attend a concert Discover another part of Mexican culture by attending a concert. Not only will seeing live mariachi give you more insight into Mexican culture, but it also supports the artists and can be a fun time - few things are more energizing than live music.
Spring has sprung and for many residents, de-cluttering is a big part of the Spring Cleaning task. Purging your unwanted or unnecessary items is a great way to cleanse not only your home, but your soul. But what do you do with all of the excess stuff? Consider donating your items to Goodwill. Goodwill isn't just another Thrift Store; the non-profit has helped hundreds of thousands of people "reach their full potential through education, skills training, and the power of work. Your donations will contribute to this mission! Before you donate, however, be sure to inspect your items for stains or tears, make sure they have all their pieces and parts, and that they are in good working order. While Goodwill will occasionally accept items that don't meet these standards, your items will do the most good if they do. As long as your items are in good condition, Goodwill will accept most household stuff, but you'll want to call ahead for a few things. Check out their guidelines below before dropping off your items: Accepted items: clothing shoes and boots jewelry hats, gloves, mittens and scarves books, records, compact disks, video tapes and DVDs games, toys, and sport equipment dishes, glassware, and kitchen utensils lamps small appliances collectibles, antiques, knickknacks hand tools and small power tools linens, curtains, and blankets stereos, radios, VCRs, DVD players Call before donating: vehicles personal computers computer accessories flat-panel monitor HDTVs dressers, tables, chairs, sofas and bed frames 500 Park
Foam Roller Lower Back Foam rolling where you literally roll your muscles on a piece of foam to help loosen them up might not be the most "showy" exercise on the planet (hello weightlifting), but it can play an important role in keeping your muscles loose, thereby reducing soreness and helping avoid injury. If you're searching for a way to help yourself stretch, you should consider adding foam rolling to your routine. Regularly rolling your muscles out can help you maintain flexibility and your range of motion too. Certified trainer Robbie Davis, who started his career 20 years ago working with the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, has created these four exercises that apartment renters who live in small spaces can perform. If you do these exercises a few times per week, expect to notice a significant difference in the way you move, says Davis. Consider rolling before or after exercise. What you'll need: a soft, carpeted area or a yoga mat, and a foam roller. General tips: You'll want to ensure you have proper positioning before you start rolling. It's also important to roll slowly to allow your muscles to release. Foam Roller Calves Calves Sit upright on the floor with your legs out in front of you so your body makes an "L" shape. Slide the foam roller underneath your legs so it rests right below your calves near your ankles. Place your hands flat on the ground on either side of you, and lift your weight off the ground. Slowly push yourself forward and backward, rolling up and down both your calf muscles. Tip: For added intensity, cross your feet and focus on each leg individually. Foam Roller Quads Quads Lie on the floor face down and place the foam roller between the ground and the area right above your knees. Be careful not to roll directly on the knee. Plant your hands in a push-up position, lifting yourself up so only your hands touch the ground. Use your upper-body strength to move your body back and forth, rolling across your quads. Tip: For added intensity, cross one foot behind the opposite knee so your legs make the number "4" and focus on one leg at a time. Foam Roller ITBands IT Bands Before we get into the specifics of this exercise, we want to give you some background information on your IT bands. Your iliotibial band, or IT band, is a ligament that starts at the side of your hip and ends at your shin. Tight IT bands can contribute to injuries and can be painful too. Turn so you're lying on your left side, then push your upper body up with your left hand so you're resting on your left elbow. Bend your right knee and plant your foot on the ground in front of your left knee. Lift up off your hip and place the foam roller at the top of your IT band, or just below your hip. Push your body forward and backward, slowly rolling along your IT band. Repeat on the right side. Tip: For added intensity, press firmly against the roller, inching along any tight spots. Foam Roller Foot Feet Stand up straight and place the foam roller under one bare foot. Push into the roller as your foot rolls up and down, working the heel, arch and sole. Repeat on the opposite foot. It's best to stand near a wall if both feet are on the roller so you can catch yourself should you fall. Keep one foot on the ground if balancing is something you struggle with. Tip: For added intensity, angle the foot to roll along your instep or the arched middle part of your foot. 500 Park
Crossing the threshold into adulthood is signified by many telling things. Paying off a constant bombardment of bills, for instance, and reckoning with forces like quickly decelerating metabolisms and heartburn (after just two slices of pizza, at that). It's also marked by a slow-but-sure learning process where habits shift where you begin to optimize your routines, learn what to invest time and money on, and generally how to live better. Figuring out all that stuff takes time, though, and it's much easier to just ask other people who've been there, done that. So, from someone who's been adulting for a few whole years now (and with plenty of advice from much more experienced adults), here are some of the things that are always worth the money. Eating Well I've never really found the "Think about what you put in your body!" admonishment compelling, since I often think that my body just wants a greasy cheeseburger. Instead, it's more effective to remind myself that stateside healthcare is extremely costly, and maintaining long-term wellness will mitigate those expenses. MORE WHOLESOME FOODS Spend more on meat raised without antibiotics, and use this guide to find seafood that's raised or caught with minimal chemical use and damage to habitats. When it comes to produce, buying fresh, local, and in season will provide various benefits: Not only is it cost effective, but fruits and veggies are also at peak taste and vitamin content when they're picked while ripe and consumed quickly, rather than being trundled cross-country on a truck. BETTER-FOR-YOU SNACKS Vending machine confections have passed their heyday: 40% of the snacks consumers carry these days are classified as healthy, and better-for-you snacks are readily available on supermarket shelves. If you're craving something savory, reach for nutritious picks like seaweed snacks or dry-roasted edamame. For sweet treats, indulge in Nature Valley Granola Cups, which strike the perfect balance between creamy and crunchy, decadent (chocolate and nut butter!) and wholesome (whole-grain oats and nuts). BASIC KITCHENWARES Cooking is a skill that's worth investing time in, since it's conducive both to saving money and eating healthier meals. Even if your cooking savvy is questionable, investing in a few good knives - or even just one chef's knife, which are extremely versatile - will make a significant difference in the kitchen. Here's a great guide to essential knives. A cast-iron skillet is another must-have; with proper care, the thing will last a lifetime, and it will only set you back about 20 bucks. Stuff You Spend Your Nights On Nights! They happens every 24 hours, and it's in our best interest to spend most of them sleeping. According to The Handbook of Clinical Neurology, we spend a third of our lives sleeping, or trying to do so - all the more reason to invest in things that'll make our beds more comfortable. Good mattresses will make a difference in your sleep quality, but they can be prohibitively expensive. Try retailers like Casper and Tuft & Needle, which offer 100-day trial periods before you decide whether or not to commit. Another alternative is buying a mattress topper, which can elevate a sad bed without breaking your bank. The same philosophy applies when buying pillows, comforters, and sheets - quality products will make the difference between the feel of a cheap motel and a snug, serene sleep sanctuary. (A friend of mine even "has a guy" for quality sheets.) Another thing to consider: If you're sharing a bed with a blanket-hogging partner, picking up an extra flat sheet and comforter might save your relationship. Tools That'll Make Your Home More Livable There's a reason that apartment maintenance, be it cleanliness or even interior decor, can cause so much strife between roommates and partners. Upkeep of a living space is important, and it's psychologically beneficial to retreat to a place of comfort and belonging. A VACUUM THAT WORKS My roommates and I went through a series of cheap vacuums, which all disintegrated in a matter of weeks and ended up on the curb. We've since invested in a $200 vacuum that not only works better, but has already lasted us several years with no loss in efficacy - extra important, since I'm the mother to a furry pet. HOME AUDIO A fancy surround-sound system isn't necessary unless you're a serious audiophile - but if you find yourself engaging in any type of passive listening (putting on podcasts or music while you perform chores, for instance), decent speakers are worth investing in. If you're not sure where to start looking, a good portable bluetooth speaker is a breeze to use and will serve all of your basic audio needs. BATHROOM BELLS 'N' WHISTLES Buy a heavy-duty toilet plunger before you need one. Have you ever lived with a serial toilet-and-drain-clogger? I have, and none of us were ready until it was too late. And while we're on the topic of lavatorial habits - if you haven't stocked your bathroom with strong, two-ply toilet paper, you're not living your best life
Restaurant reservations are filling up, but it's not too late to book a table for Valentine's Day dinner. Here are the restaurants in and around Baltimore that have Valentine's Day specials--some are offering specials that run before and even after the holiday. AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar in Columbia will will serve a six-course sparkling wine dinner and chef's demonstration for $85 per person from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, and a four-course prix-fixe menu Feb. 13 and 14 for $65 per person. (6741 Columbia Gateway Drive; 410-953-0500; aidabistro.com) Arturo's Trattoria in Glen Burnie will serve a four-course menu for $80 per person. (1660 Crain Highway South; 410-761-1500; arturostrattoria.com) B&O American Brasserie at the Hotel Monaco will offer a three-course prix-fixe meal for $70 per person. The menu includes offerings such as lobster carrot bisque, wagyu carpaccio, rice-crusted tuna and chocolate hazelnut cake. (2 N. Charles St.; 443-692-6172; bandorestaurant.com) Chef's Expressions will host a Valentine's Day wine supper at Gramercy Mansion. Tickets are $99.95, and a portion of the proceeds will go to Children's Scholarship Fund Baltimore. (Gramercy Mansion, 1400 Greenspring Valley Road; 410-561-2433; chefsexpressions.com) Cinnamon Tree Restaurant at the Hunt Valley Inn will offer a three-course, prix-fixe menu with champagne from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The meal is $119 per couple, including tax and gratuity. (245 Shawan Road; 410-785-7000; huntvalleywyndhamgrand.com/dining) The Corner Pantry in Lake Falls Village will offer a six-course tasting menu for $96 per person. Courses will be shared by the table, and the dinner is BYOB. (6080 Falls Road; 667-308-2331; corner-pantry.com) at the Mill No. 1 complex in Hampden will offer a four-course dinner for $100. (3000 Falls Road; 443-708-7352; cosimamill1.com) Donna's at Cross Keys will offer a three-course menu for $55. Menu choices include crab arancini, Thai duck breast and crispy noodle salad, beef carpaccio, pink peppercorn crusted filet mignon and grilled tuna Nicoise. (5100 Falls Road, 410-532-7611, donnas.com/cross-keys) The Elephant in Mount Vernon will offer a four-course tasting menu with four choices per course for $85, or $115 with wine pairings. (924 N. Charles St.; 443-447-7878; theelephantbaltimore.com) On Feb. 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Elkridge Furnace Inn in Elkridge will serve a Valentine's Prelude special with three courses for $65. On Feb. 14 the restaurant will serve two prix-fixe menu options - three courses for $75 or four courses for $85. (5745 Furnace Ave.; 410-379-9336; elkridgefurnaceinn.com) Explorer's Lounge at the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Hotel will serve a three-course, prix-fixe menu for $55 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Feb. 14. The restaurant will offer dishes such as shrimp and crab quinoa, chateaubriand steak for two and red velvet cake, as well as a complimentary glass of champagne. (550 Light St.; 410-234-0550; sonesta.com/us/maryland/baltimore/royal-sonesta-harbor-court-baltimore) Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Harbor East will offer a three-course menu starting at $79.95 per person Feb. 10-19. The menu includes a choice of salad, filet mignon, salmon or lobster tail and raspberry white chocolate bread pudding. (720 Aliceanna St.; 410-332-1666; flemingssteakhouse.com/locations/md/baltimore) The French Kitchen at the Lord Baltimore Hotel will offer a three-course menu for $75 per person. (20 W. Baltimore St.; 410-539-8400; lordbaltimorehotel.com/dining-en.html) Germano's Piattini in Little Italy will offer a five-course, prix-fixe dinner for $49, plus a cabaret performance by Steve Ross at 6 p.m. ($20). (300 S. High St.; 410-752-4515; germanospiattini.com) Gertrude's at the Baltimore Museum of Art will serve a three-course Valentine's Aphrodisiac menu for $54 Feb. 10-14. (10 Art Museum Drive; 410-889-3399; gertrudesbaltimore.com) Gunther & Co. in Canton will offer a four-course tasting menu ($75), with the option to add wine pairings ($25), an oyster course ($10 for four oysters) and/or a shellfish course ($22). (3650 Toone St.; 443-869-6874; eatatgunther.com) Joe Squared in Station North will offer a seven-course Valentine's Day dinner for $60, with optional beer and cocktail pairings for $30 extra. The prix-fixe menu, offered from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., includes cider pork belly, winter vegetables, golden tile fish, duck confit with mole sauce and ricotta cheesecake. (33 W. North Ave.; 410-454-0444; joesquared.com) La Cuchara in Woodberry will offer a four-course dinner for $79, with wine pairings available for an extra $29. The menu includes options such as tuna crudo, foie gras, lamb shoulder and coffee-caramel creme brulee. (3600 Clipper Mill Road; 443-708-3838; lacucharabaltimore.com) La Folie Wine Bar & Steak Frites in Canton will serve a $45 prix-fixe menu for two, plus complimentary champagne. (2903 O'Donnell St.; 667-212-2122; bistrolafolie.com) Le Garage in Hampden will serve a four-course menu for $59 per person featuring new dishes and house favorites. (911 W. 36th St.; 410-243-6300; legaragebaltimore.com) From Feb 10-14, Morton's the Steakhouse at the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel will offer a steak and lobster tail for $56. (300 S. Charles St.; 410-547-8255; mortons.com/baltimore) The Rowhouse Grill in Federal Hill will offer a three-course menu for $45, or $60 with drink pairings, Feb. 10-14. (1400 Light St.; 443-438-7287; therowhousegrille.com) Sullivan's Steakhouse in the Inner Harbor will offer a three-course "Wine, Dine & Be Mine" dinner from Feb. 10-14. The menu, which includes a seafood tasting, filet mignon and chocolate mousse, is $69 before 5 p.m. and $79 per person after 5 p.m. (1 E. Pratt St.; 410-962-5503; sullivanssteakhouse.com/baltimore) Sweet Caroline's in Locust Point will serve a three-course meal for $35 per person from Feb. 11-14. (1401 Clement St.; 410-244-1401; sweetcarolineslocustpoint.com) The Turn House in Columbia will serve a six-course dinner for $95 per person, with selections including scallop crudo, celery root ravioli and New York strip steak. (11130 Willow Bottom Drive; 410-740-2096; theturnhouse.com) Wit & Wisdom at the Four Seasons Baltimore will offer a three-course tasting menu for $95 per person, with wine pairings for an extra $59. The menu includes Maine lobster bisque, heirloom beets, seared diver scallops, butter-poached prime beef filet, maple pastries and more. (200 International Drive; 410-576-5800; witandwisdombaltimore.com) Woodberry Kitchen in Woodberry will offer special touches at its tables Feb. 10-14 for guests with reservations, including boxes of chocolates, Linzer heart cookies, prosecco, cocktails for two and a photobooth. (2010 Clipper Park Road; 410-464-8000; woodberrykitchen.com)
If eating healthy is one of your New Year's Resolutions, there are ways to make it easy on yourself. Eat more vegetables; cut out sugar; and cook at home. Simple, right? But then life happens. You are tired, the kids are hungry, and the pantry is empty. The reasons (excuses?) are endless. In this moment, it is so easy to give into the lure of fast food and pre-packaged meals. And your hopes of a healthy 2017 are out the window. One of the most important strategies to combat this pitfall and stay on track is to keep a well-stocked and organized pantry. If your shelves are stocked with healthy foods that are easily accessible, putting together a nutritious meal is much simpler and stress-free thank you think. Check out our 5 tips to organize and stock your pantry to make healthy eating easier on you. Tip #1: Assess Your Pantry Contents and Space First pull out everything and group like items together both in terms of type and size, and throw away out of date items and junk food (yes, the bag of cheese puffs have to go). Measure your space and determine the size of your largest and smallest pantry item then re-arrange shelves to accommodate these sizes. Tip #2: Create an Essentials List Think about the foods you use to cook with every day; the snacks you need to keep on hand and the healthy foods you want to incorporate into your diet. Make a master list of all the foods you want to store in your pantry at any given time. Download my pantry essentials list here. Finally, plan for storing all of these items within your space for a well-stocked and organized pantry. Tip #3: Use Shelf Organizers and Re-usable Containers To store all of these pantry essentials and make them accessible use gravity fed racks, lazy-susans, and shelf risers. Store small items, packets, or awkwardly shaped foods in baskets. Put essential pantry items like flour, sugar, and grains in air-tight canisters. Tip #4: Put a Label on It Put pretty labels on anything you cannot see in to or on canisters when the contents are not easily identifiable. Use large labels that include cooking instructions with measurements on them to make cooking healthy foods easier. Tip #5: Make Space for a Grocery List Designate a space to make notes about re-stocking. A chalkboard is a great idea if you have the wall space and want to incorporate a little farmhouse style into your apartment. You could also print off your master pantry essentials list. Place it on a clipboard attached to the back of a cupboard door, and then mark needed items. A well-stocked and organized pantry is key to keeping your healthy eating New Year's Resolution and to make it less of a hassle.
