Saturday, February 2, 2013
Plan the perfect event for The Big Game, for guests from football lovers to newbies to couldn't-care-lesses.
The Big Game. America's Game. The Super Bowl. The NFL's championship match up is such a big deal that it's trademarked, and it's often used as a measure of greatness and grandeur: The Super Bowl of (insert noun here). The Super Bowl is virtually only sporting event we collectively watch - attracting over 90 million viewers - whether our teams are playing, or watching at home from the couch just like us. It's also just about the only game for which we throw annual parties. In the spirit of that tradition, Patch has some great ideas to make your Super Bowl party one that will keep your guests talking until next year, no matter the outcome of the game. Free printables! - Print cupcake toppers, food labels, water-bottle labels, art banners and…
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Follow these easy steps to an organized home.
If your New Year's Resolution is to get organized, you're in good company. Of the 45 percent of Americans who usually make resolutions, getting organized typically tops the most-resolved list, second only to losing weight. But only 8 percent of those who make New Year's resolutions keep them long enough to reach a goal. Don't be one of the 92 percent of people who fail at achieving their resolutions. Getting your life and home organized can bring such peace and relief. "A place for everything, and everything in its place," means that you - and everyone else in your house - can find anything anytime, because you know where to look. It can start with organizing a junk drawer and end with a balanced checkbook, a streamlined calendar and …
Monday, November 19, 2012
The Times Herald has set up a Pinterest board with mug shots of some of local police departments' most wanted criminals.
In an effort to serve the community, The Times Herald has launched a "Wanted by Police" Pinterest board. Given the widespread use of social media these days, the Herald is hoping to help local law enforcement agencies spread the word about wanted criminals. You don't need to have a Pinterst account to access the board or see the mug shots. We think it's a great idea, and while Norristown Patch doesn't have a Pinterest board, Patch will be contacting local law enforcement agencies to see how we can help spread the information here on our site and via our Facebook page. In the meantime, check out the Herald's board and maybe you can help police locate some of the criminals they're looking for. Read more about the Herald's Pinterest board …
Saturday, June 9, 2012
It's more than just reusing grocery bags.
Upcycle: the process of converting trash into new materials or products of better quality or a higher value. In a time where we are encouraged to recycle, compost, and make superhuman efforts to reduce waste, the concept of making something nice out of what would otherwise be garbage is certainly not foreign. But upcycling is more than just reusing plastic grocery bags to pick up dog poop or dusting with your husband’s old undershirts. It’s creating something of real value out of literal junk. One of the most prolific upcyclers is Terracycle, an organization based in Trenton, N.J., with more than 20,000 volunteers. Participants “choose a waste stream,” collecting packaging from specific products – many of which were previously hard or …
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Ways to enjoy the season's yummiest fruit all summer (and beyond).
Got a refrigerator drawer full of big, fat, red strawberries? Because June is a big time for fresh strawberries in the northeastern U.S., you’ll find great deals on strawberries at your local market, or you can find a farm in your area and pick your own. Choose berries that are firm and plump and free of mold. Look for vibrantly red berries, since they will not continue to ripen once picked. Don’t purchase packages where the berries are tightly packed, which can cause crushing and premature rotting. Examine all the berries you can see in a package, not just the few which are sitting on top. Now what to do with all those berries? Well, for starters, pop off the green cap and taste a few. Strawberries are loaded with vitamin C and …
Friday, May 25, 2012
Ideas for making your Memorial Day party even more memorable
Happy Memorial Day! By now, you’re either already enjoying your holiday weekend, or gearing up for it. Are you kicking off summer with a trip to the beach? Planning to take advantage of holiday sales at car dealerships and furniture stores everywhere? Or just enjoying a family Memorial Day barbecue? If you're hosting a party, or just attending one, Patch has collected some great entertaining ideas to wax patriotic in style! Free printables – Beverage labels, hot dog wrappers, cupcake-topper pinwheels, paper snack cones – all of these red, white and blue printable projects are free! Enlist the kids to help with the cutting and pasting. Patriotic treats – Strawberries are red, blueberries are blue, and so the American-flag inspired dessert…
Friday, May 18, 2012
Ways to streamline the never-ending chore of laundry
Laundry. In my house, it’s practically a dirty word, and it’s almost always preceded or followed by an “arrugh” sound. It’s not that I mind doing the laundry, exactly, because it’s a fairly easy and mindless task. I sort it, I wash it, I dry it, I put it away. The problem is it never ends. Unless you walk around naked all the time, laundry is a pretty infinite chore. And even if you are naked, there are still sheets, towels, throws, curtains, bath mats and so on, that have to be washed every now and again. Wash, dry, fold, put away. Believe it or not, it’s possible to change the laundry routine just slightly, streamlining the process and making things just a little bit easier. An organized laundry room – If everything you need over the …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Mother's Day is Sunday. Not ready yet? Patch has got you covered.
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13, the day we honor Mom for all the amazing things she does, from the world’s greatest PB&J to always keeping you stocked with fresh, clean undies. Do you have a plan to really “wow” the mom in your life? Don’t panic. Patch has scoured Pinterest for some great Mom-pleasing ideas that you can totally handle in two days. Free Mom’s Day printables – Download and print out a questionnaire, survey and poem to fill in and make Mom smile. Add cute frames to make them keepsakes! Mini Polaroid magnets – Use this tutorial and some basic crafting supplies to create adorable personalized memory magnets for Mom. If you don’t have Photoshop, I’d skip that step and follow the instructions to make the magnets using …
Friday, May 4, 2012
It's okay, we put it off, too. But here are some ideas to make it less of a chore.
I hate cleaning. I mean, I really hate to clean. I’d rather visit the dentist than run the vacuum. I’m sure there are some of you out there who don’t hate to clean as much as I do, and who doesn’t love a clean house? But I sincerely doubt any of you actually enjoy the process. If you truly love scrubbing floors on your hands and knees and scouring the microwave, well, I’ve got scrubbable floors and a microwave due to be scoured… Unfortunately, unless you can pay someone else to do it, have an extremely cooperative spouse or children, or have a twinkling fairy godmother, if you want a clean house, you’ve got to clean it yourself. So this week, I’d like to share some cleaning shortcuts I’ve come across on Pinterest, to help you reach that …
Friday, April 13, 2012
Ideas to help you pull the game controller out of your kid's hands and kick them into the yard.
“It’s beautiful outside! Why don’t you go out and play?” “There’s nothing to do outside. Besides, I’m just about to beat this level.” Does this conversation sound familiar? According to DIY Father, it might. In a study of video-game usage in kids and teens, almost ¼ of youth admitted having an addiction to video games. The average 8- to 12-year-old spends 13 hours a week playing video games. And I don’t need to cite statistics about the epidemic of childhood obesity. You probably already know them by heart. With warm weekend weather on the way, your kids will really be missing out if they spend it sitting on the couch with a game controller in their hands. Here are some great ideas to inspire your kids (and you!) to get out and play: …
