When you think of all the fun and games smartphones have to offer, it's easy to forget that they also make a great tool for getting things done. With utilities like document scanners, calendars, to-do lists, office apps, and password managers, that little computer you carry around in your pocket has the potential to increase your productivity levels in all aspects of life.
Brand loyalty is one of the main factors behind our decision to choose a particular mobile device, but it doesn't have to be the entire equation. Educated consumers know that certain devices simply fit their budget and usage better than others, which means you can't always let a logo dictate what kind of phone or tablet you buy.
Dinner is meant to be enjoyed after a long day away from home—it shouldn't cause stress or fuss. But for many, that's exactly what a home-cooked meal represents, especially on a work night. The prep work, the steps involved in following the recipe, the numerous amount of bowls, pots, and pans you use, and... worst of all, a sink full of dishes to clean.
The first written account of "stock" as a culinary staple goes back to 1653, when La Varenne's Cookery described boiling mushroom stems and table scraps with other ingredients (such as herbs and basic vegetables) in water to use for sauces. But really, the concept of stock has probably been around for as long as people have been using water to boil food.
With T-Day on the horizon and approaching rapidly, you are probably in one of two camps. The one that is eagerly awaiting the holiday feast with barely-contained drool. Or the one that involves breathing heavily into a paper bag while worrying about your lack of oven and stovetop real estate, while also bemoaning the lack of multiples of you to get all the prep work done.
Windows 10 is officially here, and frankly, there's a ton of new features in Microsoft's latest operating system. From the return of the Start menu to the new Edge browser, Windows 10 can take some getting used to.
Ironing is a serious chore: hot, unpleasant, and frustrating all in one, but necessary if you don't want to look like you crawled out of bed just before work. While you might only turn to your flatiron when faced with wrinkled clothing, this little appliance packs the power to tackle even greater challenges—and here are our 10 favorites.
Sometimes it's hard to remember that lasagna, pizza, cannoli, and other dishes are actually Italian in origin; they're so much a part of the American culinary landscape at this point. Wherever they come from, Americans of all kinds love to eat 'em. This guy was released from a North Korean prison, and after two years, the first thing he wanted to eat was fast-food pizza.
Fall is my favorite time of year, yet I cringe every time it begins. Why? Because it seems like every business is in a frenzy to start the Christmas shopping season the day after Halloween ends. For those of us who are fans of pumpkins, that's a buzzkill.
You can find chili peppers in practically every cuisine. From the sweet Italian variety to the spicy Thai bird's chili and the smoky Mexican chipotle, peppers are ubiquitous and universally loved. But if you find the range and scope of these little fireballs overwhelming, you're not alone.
A few years ago I went hog-wild trying to achieve a zero-waste lifestyle. I didn't succeed, but the experiment taught me that we throw away things we could—and should—be using more.
By now, you've probably already installed 10.10 Yosemite, the newest version of Mac OS X, on your computer. While you most certainly noticed the visual changes, you might have missed some of the really cool additions.
I am an English major physically allergic to all algebraic formulas, so you're unlikely to get any help from me when it comes to solving any expressions. But in the glorious technological age we live in, there are plenty of apps that actually make math and problem solving fun, even a little bit addictive.
Gatorade: its popular red flavor can stain the whitest fabric, and its sweet taste is oddly refreshing after breaking a sweat. If you've ever participated in a sport, you probably spent halftime at games and practice breaks chugging the stuff. Though it made its name as a sports drink, Gatorade is also a well-known hangover helper—but its beneficial and interesting uses don't end there. The brightly colored drink can do so much more than just hydrate you.
French toast is one of those things that everybody kind of knows how to make, but few people know how to do really well. And while the dish originally does hail from France (its original name, pain perdu, means lost or wasted bread), it has become a beloved American breakfast dish.
Apple's newest mobile operating system, iOS 8, is out for the general public, and we've got a rundown on the best new features you can use on your iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. While there's not a huge visual change as there was from iOS 6 to iOS 7, there's still plenty of cool new features in iOS 8 to be excited about.
Climbing into bed and shutting your eyes each night is heavenly—but waking up the next morning isn't. We all hate dragging ourselves out of the comfort of sleep and into the groggy, exhausting work day. Yet starting your day doesn't have to be awful if you know how to hack your sleep cycles and get the most out of your shut-eye.
It may sound irrational, but I bet a lot of you actually avoid doing any work at work—but not on purpose. You might be simply struggling with motivation, or you might just be overdosing on the caffeine. Whatever the issue, getting focused takes lots of time and effort.
Marinades are among my all-time favorite tricks as a cook for several reasons. They're easy like Sunday morning, they let time do what it's supposed to, which is work for you, and you get a huge return for relatively little effort on your part.
Instant ramen has been popular in the States for decades, and restaurants that serve the real thing in any variety you can imagine have been popping up everywhere in the last few years. But you don't have to go out or cook all day to have a gourmet ramen experience.
There are definitely some great things about iOS 7, but like any good piece of software, it's got some things to kink out—and how wallpapers work seems to be one of the biggest issues, since it's so much different than in previous iOS versions.
The first film I saw without any parental supervision was Pokémon: The First Movie. At the time, there wasn't a 5th grader around who didn't know who Pikachu was or what Pokémon was all about. The franchise was one of the most popular video games of all time, right after Mario.
Nothing can beat a portable system designed specifically for gaming. There are tons of emulators available on Google Play, but most have awkward controls, large game files, resolution issues, and hardware compatibility problems. The list could go on...
Over the past several weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of test driving Samsung’s next big thing, the Galaxy S4. After putting the GS4 through its paces, I have a clear picture of what this device is capable of. I’ve covered the features of the device before, and now I’ll tell you why I believe it's currently the best Android phone on the market. Initial Impressions
Italian dressing is so tasty, but did you know it's easy to make on your own? In this tutorial, learn how to make the seasoning mix, which can be used for dressing, salad and pasta toppings, or even marinades.
Candy is not just for the kiddies. You’re wedding guests will feel like they’re in Candyland when they are presented with the whimsical wonderment of a candy buffet. You can easily match candy to your wedding’s color scheme and theme.
Looking for a few new April Fool’s Day pranks? You’ll be sure to get a startled look on friends faces when you catch them off guard with some unexpected alterations to their favorite foods. Just remember that what goes around comes around.
Most of us aren’t lucky enough to get clothes tailored for our bodies so to get your skirts just the right length you may need to change the hemline yourself. In one evening you can change a mediocre skirt into your favorite piece of clothing.
Show your antique porcelain and pottery a little TLC. Spruce up your favorite antiques with these safe cleaning techniques. Remove the dirt and let the beauty of porcelain and history shine through. Just because your pottery is old, doesn’t mean in needs to look like it came out of a tomb.
You don't need a stock pile of kindling to hold the flame and really get your fire started. There are a variety of creative yet effective substitutes. Leftover chips from lunch, an extra toilet paper roll, these are only a few ideas on how to start your next fire.
This video is about cooking the perfect turkey using an infusion roaster. We're going to cook the turkey in an infusion roaster by Sante.
Learn to make some delicious homemade bread that's shaped like a flower. This Sri Lankan recipe for bread is easy to make and will be a family favorite for years to come. Watch for a simple slideshow of the recipe in action, and follow the directions below.
Give your League of Legends champion a new look! Alter the .dds files in the game directory so you can import custom skins. This video walks you through the process for obtaining and installing custom skins. Be aware that this will only change the way champions appear to you.
Photo books are a great way to consolidate your favorite moments into one place, and there's no need to buy those clunky photograph books anymore, especially when the whole world of photography has turned digital. That's where Lulu comes in.
Marinate your pork chops before grilling to really make them tender and flavorful. Your family won’t be disappointed when they sit down to a dinner of hot chops just off the grill, so fire up the grill and get started.
You have your gift and a card and now all you need that special cake for mom on Mother’s Day. You’ve tried other cakes now try a hat cake. This festive and spring inspired hat cake is sure to make this year’s Mother’s Day a memorable one.
One of the hardest parts about drawing the famous manga character Naruto is his eyes. No matter how hard you try, it seems they're never quite right, but with a little practice, those anime eyes will be perfect. DragoArt has this video tutorial on how to draw Naruto character eyes. Get more detailed instructions on the step-by-step cartoon drawing here.
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob SquarePants! SpongeBob is one of Nickelodeon's more popular cartoon characters. If you want to learn how to draw this magnificent sea specimen, you've come to the right place. DragoArt has this video tutorial on how to draw SpongeBob SquarePants. Get more detailed instructions on the step-by-step cartoon drawing here.
If you can't get out into the garden, or you want to get the kids involved on a wet day, why not sprout some seeds?
In this video series, our expert chef will teach you how to make Chinese braised pigs feet. This unique dish may become a new family favorite.
