5 Tips for an End of Summer Declutter!

The time for spring cleaning has clearly passed, but it may be time for an end of summer declutter. Although sorting through piles of stuff doesn't compare to a blissful day at the beach, take on the task a little at a time by following these 5 tips—come the fall, you'll be happy you did.

Get organized. You know those stacks of junk mail, piles of magazines, scattered post-its, and shopping bags that have been sitting around for months, collecting dust? Spend 20 minutes a day, go pile by pile, and make this your mantra: sort, recycle, trash.

Take on one room at a time. Not only will the job be much more thorough, but after seeing the results of decluttering the first room, you'll be much more motivated to start on the next.

Donate, donate, donate. Bring all of the clothing, shoes, and more that you KNOW you'll never wear again to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Not only will there be more room in your closet for the shiny and new, but your unwanted items will go to those who can really use it. The same goes for books, board games, and anything else that you don't need, but someone else might.

Clean up after yourself. The chaotic messes in your home usually don't form all at once, but bit by bit. The juice glass on the coffee table, the dog toys strewn all over the floor, the towel you meant to throw in the hamper. After you've cleaned it all up, make a conscious effort to put things away as you use them—to prevent the mess from happening in the first place.

Friends are the best weapon for clutter. Everyone has an attachment to certain tchotchkes and tokens. But when you haven't acknowledged the existence of the Mickey Mouse piggy bank your mother's uncle (or was it your father's uncle?) gave you on your eighth birthday, it might mean sayonara to Mr. Mouse. Friends are the ones who will not only explain why Mickey has no place in your life anymore, but who will pry him from your clenched fingers and place him in the garbage pile.

Coakley's Restaurant and Irish Pub: A Casual Irish Pub With Fun for All

Coakley's Restaurant and Irish Pub promises fun times for all. The menu is as classic as you can get with everything from steak sandwiches to pub pretzels, sliders, buffalo chicken dip, and even Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs served warm with a side of fries. A few local treats include Pittsburgh Pillows (fried pierogies) and an unbeatable French dip sandwich. Nightly drink specials offer up classic beers in cheap pitchers and pints along with marked down food offerings, while ongoing game nights and special sports events keep the atmosphere lively and socially involved. Coakley's is the place to come with good friends and good spirits.

Coakley's Restaurant and Irish Pub
305 Bridge Street
New Cumberland, PA 17070
(717) 774-5556
www.coakleys.com

The Best Online Sample Sale Sites: Buy Designer Goods For Less!

These days, many budget-conscious shoppers are counting every penny. The good new is, your personal sense of style doesn’t have to suffer just because a slow economy has forced you to downsize your clothing budget. With online sample sale sites, you can get a lot of bang for your fashion buck. Check out these favorites for top labels at bargain-basement prices.

Ideeli.com: This members-only site offers limited-edition samples from many of the most prestigious décor and design brands for up to 80% off. A free membership is required to access the site.

Editorscloset.com: There is a definite air of mystery surrounding this exclusive site. Enter your email for a membership and find out whether you’re invited to their next 70%-off blowout sale.

Hautelook.com: One of the most universally beloved sample-sale sites, Haute Look offers top designers’ castoffs at 50% to 75% off retail.

Gilt.com: When it comes to the secretive world of online sample sales, it doesn’t get any better than the Gilt Group. This site’s drastically reduced designer duds and home décor items have won it a fanatically loyal following.

Although the offerings on sample-sale sites can be hit or miss, checking them out can be a fun way to wile away an afternoon on the Internet. Happy shopping! 

Spice: The Only Place in Town Serving a 15 lb. Lobster

There’s nothing small about Spice, a refined dining establishment with a lot of bite for each buck. Health-dedicated chef Jeff Utzman (formerly the personal chef for exercise guru Richard Simmons), turns out hearty plates of simply prepared, yet filling choices. Modern American meets the Mediterranean in mindful creations such as the crabacado salad (crab meat and avocado with tomatoes, mozzarella, and mixed greens in a lime-cilantro-champagne vinaigrette) and lemon chicken Tuscany (sautéed chicken in a Tuscan lemon cream sauce served over pasta) for an overall dining experience that is at once nutritiously balanced and deliciously satisfying. Oh, and a word to the wise—if you want to try the specialty of the house, a 13-15 pound lobster stuffed with crab (it feeds 4-6 people) call up and order it in advance.

Spice
201 North Second St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 441-1556
www.spiceharrisburg.com

You Can't Go Wrong With a Thoughtful Gift Card

Looking for a present that offers the recipient some freedom and flexibility, but conveys a little more thought and premeditation than an envelope stuffed with cash? If so, a gift certificate or a gift card may be just the thing. Here are a few ideas for those seeking gift-card inspiration.

Her favorite spa. Whether your recipient is a high-maintenance girly-girl or an outdoorsy type who hates makeup, she’ll love a spa gift certificate that will allow her to choose from an array of beauty treatments or relaxation-boosting massages.

His favorite music. What do you get for the guy who has everything? You can’t go wrong with an iTunes gift card. Apple’s flagship mp3 store offers full episodes of your favorite TV shows, blockbuster movies, top 40 pop hits, so-obscure-it-hurts indie bands, and absolutely everything in between.

Everyone loves to eat. Do a little detective work and find out where your recipient loves to go out to eat. Even the smallest local establishments are usually happy to arrange for the purchase of a gift certificate.

If all else fails, go to Amazon.com. This modern-day version of the bazaar offers everything under the sun and then some. The emailable version of the Amazon gift certificate is an excellent last-minute gift idea, as well.

Wildwood Park: Become One With Nature (Without Having to Sleep Outside)

Get up close and personal with the beauty of the natural world at Wildwood Park (formerly known as the Wildwood Lake Sanctuary). Situated just outside Harrisburg, this is a great place to experience the great outdoors without the hassle of packing and camping. With local wildlife and vegetation as well as several endangered species, this is a stunning sanctuary for nature lovers of all persuasions—bring a camera, a walking stick, and a pair of binoculars to watch the birds for a full day of fun. The nearby Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center is also a great place to go for further learning opportunities.

Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 221-0292
www.wildwoodlake.org

Play A Round at The Best Golf Courses in the United States

Golf season is well under way, and though there are definitely some great local places to play, there are a handful of top-notch courses that all golfers should add to their list. Here’s a look at a few of the top golf destinations around the country that are truly a hole in one.

Pebble Beach Resort; Pebble Beach, CA. The site of the 2010 U.S. Open, this course is legendary—and if it’s good enough for the pros, it must be worth a round. Check the website for more information about the gorgeous Pebble Beach resort and a once-in-a-lifetime golf experience.

Whistling Straits; Haven, WI. The PGA Championship is returning to the Straits Course for 2010, so you know this place must be a golfer’s heaven. Both the Straits course and the Irish course at Whistlng Straits are ranked among the best in the United States, and may remind golfers of courses found in Ireland. Click here for more information.

Bandon Dunes; Bandon, OR. Inspired by Scottish tradition, the Bandon Dunes course sits atop a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and is surrounded by breathtaking beauty and nature. Not only is it a superb place to play, it is part of a secluded southern Oregon resort that includes three more challenging courses to try. Click here to find out more!

Pinehurst Resort and Country Club; Pinehurst, NC. This beautiful North Carolina golf destination features eight amazing and unique courses, as well as several luxury hotels, a spa, and a variety of dining options. Click here to check out the website and start planning your golfing getaway!

For more great places to play, click here to check out Golf Digest’s "100 Greatest Golf Courses in America."

Pavone's: Serving Authentic Italian Food For Over 30 Years

For more than 30 years, Pavone's has been serving authentic Italian food, fresh seafood, and USDA choice steaks to its loyal customers. From comfort classics like hand-breaded provolone and peel & eat shrimp to mouth-watering pork chops and smoky, flame-grilled ham steak, the menu is full of filling options for hungry diners. Though the carefully categorized menu—including sections called “butcher’s block” and “low carb”—offers hefty choices for everyone, be sure to save from room for the dessert, which changes up daily.  The Garden Room is a nice smoke-free escape for family meals, whereas Ruby’s Red Garter Saloon is a fun, old timey lounge and bar. Take your pick—whatever you’re in the mood for, Pavone's has you covered.

Pavone's
300 South Hershey Rd.
Harrisburg, PA 17112
(717) 545-2338
www.pavones1.com

Liked the Books? You'll Love the Movie Too!

Whether you’re a book lover, a movie buff, or a little bit of both, it’s always interesting to watch films that are based on novels, short stories, or kids’ books. If you’re looking for entertainment experiences that bring the best of the written word to the silver screen, here are a few of the critics’ favorite contenders.

The Harry Potter series. Although purists and super-fans may have a few quibbles with the movie versions of J.K. Rowling’s young-adult fantasy series, the films do a remarkably impressive job of bringing her imagined world of witches and wizards to life on the big screen.

The Shining. An A-list Hollywood pedigree—including director Stanley Kubrick and leading man Jack Nicholson—helped translate this horror classic from Stephen King to the silver screen.

Pride and Prejudice. The original chick-lit novel from British author Jane Austen has been made into several different film versions; most critics prefer the 1996 A&E miniseries starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.

The Shawshank Redemption. This uplifting prison-break drama starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman started out as a Stephen King novella entitled, “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.”

The Lord of the Rings trilogy. This critically acclaimed fantasy epic first came into being as a series of World War II-era novels written by British professor J.R.R. Tolkien.

  

Susquehanna Outfitters: Your Ticket to the Great Outdoors

If you're planning a trip to the activity packed City Island Park or just want to explore Harrisburg at large, be sure to visit Susquehanna Outfitters. This fully equipped sports center offers equipment for all outdoors needs—the hard part is deciding what you want to do first. Water lovers can kayak or canoe on the placid river or enjoy swimming, fishing, and a lazy picnic at any of the river's secluded island spots. Bicycle fiends, meanwhile, can rent a pair of wheels to explore Riverfront Park and the Capital Area Greenbelt. And if you're geared up for a more elaborate expedition, sign on for one of the company's eco and heritage tours. If you’re on your own, this is a great way to meet new people or you can arrange to have a big outing with a group of friends—either way you're bound to have a blast.

Susquehanna Outfitters
City Island
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 503-0066
www.susquehannaoutfitters.com

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