Elevate Excess Search Results

How To: 12 Weirdly Practical Uses for Potatoes

Sick of using potatoes as side dishes for your dinner meal? Left in their uncooked form, raw potatoes have a variety of weirdly practical uses, from aiding you in removing a broken light bulb from its fixture to keeping your ski goggles clear in the cold weather. A raw potato can also help with your floral arrangement, add new life to your beat-up shoes, and absorb the excess salt from your overly salted soup and stews.

How To: Live Without a Refrigerator

Believe it or not, it is absolutely possible to get by without a big refrigerator in your kitchen. After all, before refrigerators became a household staple in the last century, people somehow managed to store their perishable fruits, vegetables, legumes and meats for an extended period of time with ice boxes, root cellars, evaporative cooling pots, preserving, canning and more.

How To: String An Electric Guitar

A First Timer's Guide When some new guitarists break their first string they stash it in the closet and forget about it. Me, I put the sweaty axe back in its case and asked my parents to take me to the local music store. After a morning full of senseless racket emanating from my bedroom, my mom welcomed the drive.

How To: Make homemade crème brûlée

Right along tiramisù, crème brûlée is one of the most famous European desserts. It's really quite simple to make and had few ingredients, so don't go out and buy that prepackage crème brûlée, because it just isn't the same. Make it from scratch, right at home, with this video recipe.

How To: Make a Kobe meatloaf

Don't make a plain, old meatloaf for dinner. Make a rockstar meatloaf. This meatloaf recipe is sure to be a family favorite, and includes baking, veal, carrots, tempura, and plenty of other goodies. The perfect loaf for meat lovers.

How To: Refinish exterior lights

Are your exterior lamps looking totally out of place? Bring them back into the fold with a simple spray paint face lift. As every fashion-conscious gal knows, accessories make all the difference. The same is true for your house: the decorative touches, accent pieces, and color schemes can make the difference between a house that looks all together or altogether tacky. Exterior lights are a perfect example: do your lamps match your home like the perfect pair of earrings match your outfit? If n...

News: Become Your Own Souvenir

As a kid, my favorite thing to do at the Natural History museum was a midday stop, when my family strolled past an antiquated looking vending machine in the museum's musty basement. The Mold-A-Rama machine was oddly shaped, George Jetson-esque, and spewed out made-to-order, brightly colored plastic dinosaurs. There was such joy in watching the liquid wax pour into the mold, and then eject a warm, custom toy—well worth the dollar or two demanded. A version of this tradition was recently elevat...

How To: Do a towel crunch abs exercise

The towel crunch is similar to the traditional abdominal crunch. The purpose of the towel is to stabilize the head and provide comfort. It also takes away the tendency to want to pull the chin forward into the chest, which compromises the cervical spine.

How To: Do a bicycle crunch ab exercise

The bicycle crunch is traditionally used to work the oblique muscles. While that may be true, this exercise is good for overall abdominal strengthening. The rectus abdominis (the "six pack" portion of the abs) is probably more active than are the obliques. Nevertheless, it is still an effective ab exercise. Instructions for the bicycle crunch are listed below:

How To: Do a static V-hold ab exercise

This exercise is challenging! The static V-hold is a fairly simple exercise to perform. But if done correctly and at the right time, it can be very demanding. This exercise is most effective when performed as the last in a series of ab exercises; or basically, when the abs are completely fatigued.

How To: Do a flutter kick ab exercise

Flutter kicks are often used to work the lower abs. Generally, flutter kicks are performed at the end of an abdominal workout when the abs are fatigued. In reality, this exercise does very little for abdominal development. The main muscles worked are the hip flexors. So if you are trying to get the most out of your abs workout, there are better options.

How To: Do a supine abdominal bridge exercise

The supine abdominal bridge is a great core exercise. It is relatively easy to perform and requires no fancy equipment. While the abs are the primary focus, the supine abdominal bridge also works the thigh and hip muscles (e.g. gluteus, hamstrings, quadriceps). They each allow the "bridging" of the hips to take place. Here is how this exercise is done:

How To: Do a supine leg raise

The supine leg raise is often used to target the lower abs. However, when the legs are elevated from a supine position, the hip flexors become the prime movers, not the abs. Leg raises can put stress on the lumbar spine. Thus, alternative exercises are recommended. It is also important to note that the midsection is not divided into lower and upper halves. The rectus abdominis is one muscle.

How To: Do a supine bridge to work your gluteus maximus

The supine bridge is a great exercise for the glutes/butt. It is relatively easy to perform and requires no fancy equipment. While the butt is the primary focus, the supine bridge also works all thigh and hip muscles (e.g. hamstrings, quadriceps, etc), and even the abs. These muscles allow the "bridging" of the hips to take place. Here is how this exercise is done:

How To: Make a Basil in the Rye drink

Forget the Catcher in the Rye, try out this Basil in the Rye, which is a modern take on the classic cocktail Sazarac. If you're willing to try out new mixed drinks, then this is definitely one you need to down. Both delicious and satisfying, with an aromatic feel. And this is a stirred cocktail, not shaken, because it will ruin the flavor otherwise.

How To: Tie the improved cinch fishing knot

Watch this knot tying instructional video and learn how to tie the improved clinch knot for fishing. The improved clinch knot has become one one of the most popular fishing knots for tying terminal tackle connections. It is quick and easy to tie and is strong and reliable. The improved clinch knot can be difficult to tie in lines in excess of 30 lb test. Five+ turns around the standing line is generally recommended, four can be used in heavy line. This fishing knot is not recommended with bra...

How To: String an Electric Guitar

A First Timer's Guide When some new guitarists break their first string they stash it in the closet and forget about it. Me, I put the sweaty axe back in its case and asked my parents to take me to the local music store. After a morning full of senseless racket emanating from my bedroom, my mom welcomed the drive.

How To: Replace & Hang a Chandelier

Installing a chandelier can bring a whole new style to your home’s design. Even though it might seem like a job only a professional can do, it really is quite simple. This DIY video illustrates just how easy it can be to install the chandelier yourself.

How To: Sterilize a Sponge

In this tutorial, we learn how to sterilize a sponge with Debbie Anderson. Over time, your sponge can collect a lot of different bacteria, so sterilizing it is very important. You will need: baking soda, vinegar, measuring cups, rubber gloves, and a microwave. First, place a stopper inside of your sink and fill it up half way with hot water and add in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar. Mix this together with your hands (with gloves on them) and then place the sponges inside. Rinse the spo...