How to Start a Summer Herb Garden Indoors
If you love to cook with fresh herbs, there’s a way to do it without running to the store all the time. Simply start your own garden. You don’t need any outdoor space to do it—a kitchen windowsill and a few containers will do the trick. Here’s how to get started.
- Find a sunny spot. First things first: figure out where you want the herbs to put down roots. Most herbs prefer ample amounts of sunshine, so try to find a spot in your apartment that can accommodate their thirst for the sun.
- Pick your plants. While most herbs are relatively easy to grow, some do better indoors than others. For a container garden, basic herbs like mint, chives, parsley, and basil are among the best options. But your selection should depend on your preferences, too. If you rarely cook with basil, don’t bother wasting prime windowsill space on it!
- Choose your containers. No need to run out for planters! DIY containers for your herb garden using items you have around the house. Upcycle empty cans by removing the labels and filling them with potting soil, or try mason jars instead. Even mugs will work! And feel free to decorate your chosen containers with whatever art supplies you have on hand to make your garden a bit more aesthetically pleasing.
- Water and harvest appropriately. When you start your own herb garden, it’s crucial to water each plant just enough, but not too much. You can generally figure out when herbs need more water by simply sticking your finger in the soil. If it feels dry, add enough water to make it moist. You should also do your best to pluck herbs at their peak freshness, which varies from one plant to the next. Check online to find out the best time to “harvest” a specific herb.
How to Grow Herbs Indoors [Bonnie Plants]
50 Cheap and Easy DIY Herb Garden Ideas [Prudent Penny Pincher]
How Often Should You Water Herbs? Find Out More About it! [Herbs Within]
Curbside Pickup Is Available at CAVA
Whether you're coming home at the end of a long shift or taking a lunch break while you work from home, the healthiness, affordability, and convenience of CAVA is more important than ever. With opening hours that stretch from 10:45 am to 10 pm, seven days a week, you can order salads, grain bowls, pita wraps, and more for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can even order a family meal box that feeds up to six, including protein, greens, grains, dips, toppings, dressings and six mini pitas. Add-on brownies or blondies for dessert at just $.99 each. And now, with the restaurant’s new contactless curbside pickup option, you can pick up your order even faster and more efficiently. Just choose the "Curbside" option at checkout, park in one of the designated pickup spots, and call to have your food brought out to your car. Delivery is also available via UberEats.
Find Your Favorite Groceries and More at Whole Foods
Living in Central means being right in the middle of all the conveniences of living. You’re right next to the Silver Spring Library, you have a Sports center next door, and you have access to a number of excellent restaurants like the Mandalay Restaurant and Cafe, the Olazzo, and Buena Vida to name a few.
You may love the hustle and bustle of all that Silver Spring has to offer, but sometimes there are days where you’d like to retreat to your quiet apartment haven. But before you can retreat, you’ll need food - either for home cooking or for a bounty of snack food. This is where the nearby Whole Foods comes in!
This healthy grocery store is just across the way on Wayne Avenue, a short three-minute drive, take a walk over - cutting across Fenton in only two minutes, or if you’re an Amazon Prime member - get it delivered right to your door.
You can find fresh food such as organic vegetables, sustainable meat & fish, and of course all your familiar groceries. They even have food to accommodate any special diets such as dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and vegan options. If you can’t find what you’re specifically looking for, just ask the store’s team leader, Momar Gueye, for assistance.
Whole Foods is open from 8 am to 9 pm every day except on certain holidays.
Unpack a Spring Picnic at Bullis Local Park
These days, outdoor community spaces are more important than ever. Public parks like Bullis Local Park in Silver Spring give locals a chance to get some fresh air, enjoy the sunshine, and get a bit of exercise--all of which are important for both physical and mental health. Acquired by the Montgomery County Parks and Trail System in 1976, Bullis Local Park comprises more than 4 acres of outdoor green space just east of downtown Silver Spring. In addition to the soccer, tennis, and playground facilities, you’ll find trails and walkways that create a half-mile loop for running or skating (which can easily be combined with a loop around nearby Nolte Local Park for a longer excursion).
The park's woodland areas are also a popular spot for catching a glimpse of local birds--folks are known to spot orioles, wood thrushes, red-bellied woodpeckers, and the occasional scarlet tanager.
Must-Haves for Your First Warm-Weather Run
With the weather getting warmer and warmer every day, you might be starting to take your workout routine outside on a regular basis. Here’s what you need to stay safe and comfortable while you’re exercising outdoors.
Lightweight, sweat-wicking layers. Since spring bridges the gap between winter and summer, its weather can be somewhat unpredictable in terms of temperature. Make sure you’re ready for whatever awaits you outside by dressing in breathable layers, including a lightweight spring jacket. That way you can simply shed layers if it ends up being a warmer run, but you won’t be left shivering if it’s a little chilly on any given morning. Make sure your layers are sweat-wicking to avoid skin irritation.
A hat or sunglasses. You’ll probably want to enjoy as much of that spring sunshine as possible! But maybe not when it starts to make you squint. Keep the sun off your face by donning a sweat-wicking hat or tossing on a pair of athletic sunglasses. Make sure the glasses fit well so they don’t slide down your nose as you run.
Waterproof sunscreen. Before you put on those glasses, make sure you apply a layer of sunscreen! Even when it’s not particularly hot, your skin can still be damaged by the sun—and who wants to deal with a sunburn before summer even hits? Find a waterproof sunscreen that can withstand sweating, and stick with SPF 30 or higher.
A handheld water bottle or water belt. Staying hydrated is super important any time you exercise, but even more so as the temperatures begin to rise. Make sure you take along plenty of water for your journey! Opt for a handheld water bottle, a CamelBak you carry on your back, or a water belt outfitted with several smaller water flasks.
5 Hot Weather Running Gear Tips [Active]
Outdoor Products to Promote Safety While Exercising [Very Well Fit]
The 7 Best Handheld Running Bottles of 2020 [Very Well Fit]
Order Takeout Tonight From The Eleanor
Maybe you're familiar with The Eleanor in Silver Spring as an expansion of the original location in DC's NoMa. Maybe you know it as the massive arcade and bowling bar that combines the unbridled fun of a childhood birthday party with a sophisticated food menu and an impressive list of craft beers, imported wines, and signature cocktails. What you might not know, however, is that The Eleanor is now offering takeout, curbside pickup, and delivery through UberEats, Postmates, and GrubHub.
The updated take-out and delivery menu features signature Eleanor dishes like elote hushpuppies, hot fried chicken sandwiches, and specialty wood-fired pizzas. Watching your wallet? Check out the combo delivery packages, including a $48 family pack that includes 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 kids meals. Beer, wine, and cocktails also available by the bottle or in growlers with any food order. Some basic grocery/pantry items are also available.
Spring Mocktails to Sip and Serve Right Now
The end of winter always seems to drag, but it’s safe to say the cold weather is in the rearview mirror this year. Spring has sprung, and with it, an array of fresh ingredients. Honor the season by tossing a few of those ingredients into these sweet mocktails.
Raspberry Mojito [A Sweet Pea Chef]
Fresh mint leaves and raspberries take center stage in this refreshing drink. You start by muddling them with simple syrup to create a sweet base for your beverage, then add a layer of ice. Add in raspberry or cran-raspberry juice, a few tablespoons of lime juice, and a generous pour of club soda or sparkling mineral water, and then enjoy!
Watermelon Coolers [An Alli Event]
This mocktail is mostly watermelon, so it’s basically like sipping on summer. To begin, cube and chill about four cups of seedless watermelon. Once they’re nice and cold, toss them into the blender with ice, freshly squeezed lime juice, and about a quarter-cup of creamy coconut milk. Serve the summer slushie in a glass with sugar around the rim and a fresh lime wedge!
Sparkling Cucumber Limeade [Taste & Tell]
If you love the refreshing taste of cucumber water, this is the mocktail for you. It features a thinly sliced English cucumber, which creates a crisp and subtly sweet taste. Before you start sipping, create a lime-infused simple syrup with sugar, water, and lime zest on the stove. Add fresh mint leaves and let everything mingle for a while, then strain the syrup, add fresh lime juice and the cucumber, and top with chilled sparkling water and ice.
3 DIY Projects Using Minimal Materials
If you’re in the mood to be a little artsy, harness that creativity with a fun DIY project. These projects require minimal artistic ability and few materials, so you probably already have everything you need to make at least one of them.
Paper Dahlias [HGTV]
If you have a cardboard cake circle, break it out. But if not, you can easily trace your own on a piece of cardboard. Beyond that, you just need a few pieces of paper (scrapbooking paper works best), double-sided tape, and a pair of scissors. After you cut the paper into squares, you’ll roll them into cones and then affix them to the cardboard circle. This video tutorial makes it easy to complete the task and create a beautiful new piece of decor.
Vintage Tin Can Vases [The Graphics Fairy]
If you’ve recently used some canned goods, fish the empty cans out of your recycling and upcycle them instead! Once you peel off the labels, use white or black paint to coat the cans and, if you have candle wax available, follow the instructions to distress the cans. Then print out vintage Parisian-inspired labels and use ModPodge to stick them on the cans. Voila! Vases for fresh flowers, small succulents, or anything else that needs storage.
Desk Accessory Set [HGTV]
This is another good option if you’re looking for ways to make use of empty cans or jars—and if your home office needs some help. Really any empty glass, plastic, or metal containers you have on hand will work, given that they’re about the right size for storing your desktop necessities, like pens and pencils. Although this tutorial calls for spray paint, you can use a brush and paint to complete the project indoors. It’s as simple as stripping the labels off of your containers, coating them with white paint (or really any hue), and adding embellishments, like ribbon.
Essential Spring Cleaning Tips for Renters
The end of winter always seems to drag, but it’s safe to say the cold weather is in the rearview mirror this year. Spring has sprung, and with it, an array of fresh ingredients. Honor the season by tossing a few of those ingredients into these sweet mocktails.
Raspberry Mojito [A Sweet Pea Chef]
Fresh mint leaves and raspberries take center stage in this refreshing drink. You start by muddling them with simple syrup to create a sweet base for your beverage, then add a layer of ice. Add in raspberry or cran-raspberry juice, a few tablespoons of lime juice, and a generous pour of club soda or sparkling mineral water, and then enjoy!
Watermelon Coolers [An Alli Event]
This mocktail is mostly watermelon, so it’s basically like sipping on summer. To begin, cube and chill about four cups of seedless watermelon. Once they’re nice and cold, toss them into the blender with ice, freshly squeezed lime juice, and about a quarter-cup of creamy coconut milk. Serve the summer slushie in a glass with sugar around the rim and a fresh lime wedge!
Sparkling Cucumber Limeade [Taste & Tell]
If you love the refreshing taste of cucumber water, this is the mocktail for you. It features a thinly sliced English cucumber, which creates a crisp and subtly sweet taste. Before you start sipping, create a lime-infused simple syrup with sugar, water, and lime zest on the stove. Add fresh mint leaves and let everything mingle for a while, then strain the syrup, add fresh lime juice and the cucumber, and top with chilled sparkling water and ice.
Say Farewell to Winter With These Slow-Cooker Recipes
Warmer weather is on the way! And chances are, you’re probably already enjoying the spring sunshine. But there are some good things about winter—like its hearty comfort food. Close out the cold season with these warming dishes.
Crock Pot Chili [Dinners, Dishes and Desserts]
There’s nothing like a big bowl of chili to bring the cozy vibes on a chilly evening. This slow-cooker chili makes use of pantry staples like canned beans and crushed tomatoes, combined with ground beef (or turkey, if you have that on hand). Add everything to the crockpot with spices such as cumin, coriander, and, of course, chili powder, and then simply wait for dinner to be done!
Winter Vegetable Soup [A Beautiful Plate]
Spring may be known for its bounty, but the winter months also bring their fair share of fresh veggies. This colorful soup showcases a medley of them! Carrots, Yukon gold potatoes, and zucchini join forces with celery, onion, and tomatoes to create a hearty soup. Split red lentils add a punch of protein.
Beef and Vegetable Stew [Simple Seasonal]
When all else fails, this classic never will. Tender pieces of beef chuck star in the comfort food dish, alongside supporting players like potatoes, carrots, button mushrooms, and sweet onion. Combine these ingredients with beef broth and a few herbs and spices from your pantry, set the slow cooker, and go about your day until dinnertime.