• Eat a healthy diet – include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Adults should have at least 5 servings each day.  Eat foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol.  Limit salt or sodium in your diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight – Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for heart disease.  Your doctor can calculate your body mass index (BMI) to determine whether your weight is in a healthy range.
• Exercise regularly – Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure.  It is recommended that adults engage in moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
• Monitor your blood pressure – High blood pressure often has no symptoms, so be sure to have it checked on a regular basis.  You can check your blood pressure at home, at a pharmacy, or at a doctor’s office.
• Don’t smoke – Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease.  If you don’t smoke, don’t start.  If you do smoke, quit as soon as possible.
• Limit alcohol use – Avoid drinking too much alcohol, which can increase your blood pressure.  Men should stick to no more than 2 drinks per day, and women to no more than 1.
• Have your cholesterol checked – Your health care provider should test your cholesterol levels at least once every 5 years.
• Manage your diabetes – If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels closely, and talk with your doctor about treatment options.
• Take your medicine – If you’re taking medication to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

Go Red at home with these fun red products sure to brighten up any home!

Heart Awareness Month

You can shop all of these and more at Living Direct.

Everyone should be able to find something in the list above that they can incorporate into their lives to keep their heart healthy.  When in doubt ask your doctor what they would recommend you do, as everyone is different.  We’d love to hear what steps you take to keep your heart healthy.  Please share below or on our Facebook page.

Also, check out our Pinterest board to shop these fun red products.

The post February is American Heart Month appeared first on Live Smart.

The Nesco 6 qt Porcelain Roaster with Non-Stick Cookwell and Glass Lid is perfect for any size meal.  You can slow cook, cook, roast, bake and steam in this guy.

Nesco Porcelain Roaster

The Hamilton Beach Portable Slow Cooker is perfect for the holidays or anytime you are making something to take to a party or potluck.

Portable Slow Cooker 

I’d like to share with you some of my favorite slow cooker recipes.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes

1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce

1 medium onion, chopped

1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles

1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth

1 can (15 oz) whole kernel corn

1 clove garlic, minced

1 Tb dried cilantro

2 cups water

1 Tsp cumin

½ Tsp chili powder

1 Tsp salt

¼ Tsp pepper

1 bay leaf

Dump all ingredients into the crock pot and cook on high 4-5 hours.  Remove bay leaf and discard.  Lift out the chicken pieces and shred.  Put shredded chicken back into soup.  Serve with tortilla chips and grated cheese, or your own favorite toppings!

One Pot Bean Dinner

1 lb ground beef

12 oz package of bacon, fried and chopped

1 chopped onion

2 cans pork & beans

1 can kidney beans

1 cup ketchup

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 Tb white vinegar

1 Tsp salt

Dash of pepper

Brown beef in skillet and drain fat.  Put in crockpot.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Stir together well.  Cover and cook on low in crockpot for 4 hours, or high for a shorter time.

Hawaiian Crock Pot Chicken

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 (16.5 oz) can crushed pineapple

1 (16.5 oz) bottle archer farms Hawaiian style barbeque sauce (found at Target)

Place breasts in crock pot, pour pineapple on top of chicken and then pour sauce over all.  Cook on low for 6 hours.

Mexican Crock Pot Tacos

2 frozen chicken breasts

2 cans black beans, rinsed

2 bottles salsa

Throw above ingredients in a crock pot and cook on low for 8 hours.  Shred chicken and stir together.  Serve in hard or soft shells with taco toppings (lettuce, sour cream, etc).

Chicken with Black Beans and Cream Cheese

4-5 boneless chicken breasts

1 (15.5 oz) can black beans

1 (15 oz) can corn

1 (15 oz) jar salsa, any kind

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese

Well, writing this made me hungry.  Good thing it’s almost lunchtime.

I hope you’ll give these recipes a try.  And if you do, please let me know what you think!  I’d also love it if you’d share your favorite crock pot recipes.  Just leave a comment below!

The post Top Slow Cooker Recipes appeared first on Live Smart.

Thanksgiving is upon us and with that, comes my favorite “f’” words: food, family, friends, and football! We have some big rivalry games coming up this Thanksgiving weekend, including:

• Michigan @ Ohio State
• Okhlahoma State @ Oklahoma
• Auburn @ Alabama
• Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys

If you plan on going to any of these games, or even watching from the comfort of your couch, we’ve got everything you need (short of body paint) to grab a big W for your team without even entering the stadium. A sport in its own right, tailgating is not for the faint of heart. There is no limit to what can be grilled, chilled, or painted with your team’s colors.

Step it up from the keg in the trashcan routine and drink your beer the way the brewer intended with the EdgeStar Full Size Kegerator with Stainless Steel Door.

KC2000SS- EdgeStar Stainless Steel Kegerator

Break out the Keg-a-Que Portable Stainless Steel Propane Grill at a moment’s notice to challenge any opponent to an impromptu grill-off.

Keg-a-Que Grill

NEVER run out of ice for your mixed drinks with the EdgeStar Titanium Portable Ice Maker.

IP210TI EdgeStar Portable Ice Maker

Tailgate Power Strip

 

These products can help you throw an awesome tailgate party or a thanksgiving get-together that people will be talking about for years to come. I hope you enjoy the holidays with your friends and family and may the best team win!

The post Tailgating Essentials For the Love of Football appeared first on Live Smart.

A recent addition to our line of kitchen appliances is SMEG, an Italian manufacturer that has been in the household appliance business since 1948. The brand is best known for their line of retro style refrigerators which we currently have available in ten eye popping colors (pictured are:  pastel blue, red, and pink).  Here at Living Direct, we are always looking for products that offer the maximum functionality for smaller spaces. SMEG retro refrigerators fit the ticket offering adjustable shelving, a wire bottle rack, a smaller energy footprint than regular sized refrigerators, and a clean minimalist design that works great in smaller apartments or homes.  Truly a statement piece, SMEG refrigerators are sure to liven up your kitchen by adding some retro pizazz with a burst of color.

The post Introducing SMEG Retro Refrigerators appeared first on Live Smart.

This summer we are excited to be giving away a prize package of items to help fight off the summer heat. Unlike our other giveaways though, this one isn’t as simple as just entering your name to win. We’re asking entrants to write a blog post about why they want the products and how they will use them. The winner will be voted upon by the readers leaving comments on their favorite posts.

Here’s how the giveaway works:

June 27, 2012 – July 11, 2012 – Entry Period

During this time, entries are being accepted! Write your blog post and send it in to us. Don’t just write a single word or sentence. A blog post needs to be at least a few paragraphs and the more detailed you are, the more likely you will probably be picked as a finalist.

July 11, 2012 – July 17, 2012 – Choosing the Finalists

The entry form is going to disappear on July 11 and we’re going to start going through all of the entries to narrow them down to our favorites. Out of our favorites, no more than10 entries will be chose as our Finalists. All Finalists will be notified of their qualifying by July 17.

July 18, 2012 – July 31, 2012 – Voting Period

The Finalists will have their blog posts posted to our site along with a Facebook comment box for people to use to vote for their favorite post. Finalists are encouraged to share their post wherever they can to try to get as many votes as possible! Whichever post has the most comments by midnight on July 31, will be the official Grand Prize Winner! The post with the second most comments will be the First Runner Up.

The First Runner Up will win their very own Koldfront PAC701W portable air conditioner. The Grand Prize Winner will also get a Koldfront portable air conditioner (but the AP12000S model), a Koldfront portable ice maker, a Wagan travel cooler and a Little Snowie snow cone maker!

So hurry on over to our Summer Cool Down Giveaway and send us your blog post entry. Only one week left to enter!

The post Summer Cool Down Giveaway appeared first on Live Smart.

This time of year here in Austin, and I’m sure across the country, most people want to be outside – in the evening anyways. The heat can get pretty unbearable during the day in many places, but it’s the perfect time to throw an evening cook out. Families and friends can gather outside for barbeques and other outdoor fun. That’s why I’ve put together a list of products to help your outdoor get-together go off without a hitch!

1. Patio Sets

Everyone will enjoy hanging out and chatting with each other in your beautiful patio set. The Royal Teak Collection 5 piece patio set encourages your guests to take a seat and stay for a while.

2. Grills

Your hungry friends and family will love you for cooking them up a tasty meal in this Bayou Classic smoker grill.

3. Frozen Drink Maker

Long, hot summer days will have you looking for relief. Cool off with a fun and delicious frozen drink! With this Margaritaville frozen concoction maker you can make an assortment of refreshing, cold drinks.

 4. Outdoor Lighting

Your party can go late into the night with the right lighting.  Lighting can create such a welcoming and beautiful environment.  This Real Flame Modesto fire column is sure to give your backyard a touch of flare!

5. Outdoor Electronics

What better way to entertain your guests than with an outdoor television!  You can enjoy being outdoors while still watching your favorite sports or TV shows.  This SunBrite 32″ all-weather outdoor LCD TV is a durable high definition television with aluminum casing designed for outside use.

Whether you’re hanging out with your family or entertaining friends, these items are sure to be winners.  Make your outdoor space into the welcoming oasis you’ve always wanted it to be.  And be sure to invite me over once you do!

The post Great Products for Outdoor Summer Fun appeared first on Live Smart.

Just say NO to ties! Whether your dad uses the backyard to house his grill or his garden, keeps wine or beer in stock, we have the perfect gift to make his Father’s Day extra special – and none of them can be worn around his neck (at least not comfortably). Plus, we are currently offering an extra 5% off most products that are already discounted 20% off! Break the tie tradition and get on Dad’s good side with any of these choices:

For the Beer Enthusiast:

from left to right: Krups Beertender Mini Kegerator ($141.55*), Nostalgia Electrics Kegerator ($399.99), EdgeStar Stainless Steel Double Tap Kegerator ($616.55), 28 Quart 2 Faucet Red Jockey Box ($398.05)

For the Wine Lover:

from left to right: Summit 8 Bottle Countertop Wine Chiller ($341.24), EdgeStar 26 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler ($699), Koldfront 4 Bottle Wine Cooler ($94.99), EdgeStar 155 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cooler ($1499.99)

For the Grill Master:

from left to right: Outdoor Greatroom Company 20″ Portable Gas Grill ($219), Minden Master Gas Grill ($479), Napoleon Mirage Grill w/Infrared Rear & Side Burner ($1899), Grill Dome Infinity Series Kamado Grill ($799.95)

For the Gardener:

from left to right: Exaco ECO 70 Gallon Rain Barrel ($208.99), Brill Razor Push Reel Mower ($239.99), Good Ideas Compost Wizard Standing Bin ($128.25), Exaco 39 sq ft Green House ($427.49)

*NOTE: All prices are valid as of 6/14/12, but are subject to change.

What are you getting Dad this Father’s Day?

The post Father’s Day Sale & Gift Ideas appeared first on Live Smart.

We recently added a new line of professional kitchen appliances called Verona.  Verona has been manufacturing gas and electric ranges, cooktops and built-in ovens since 1958.  These professional appliances are designed and manufactured in Italy and only recently became available in North America.  Verona prides themselves on style, affordability and quality and their instant presence in the designer appliance marketplace proves their commitment to those values.  Check out these stunning, European-designed appliances and start re-imagining that dream kitchen of yours.

The post Introducing: Verona Ranges appeared first on Live Smart.

If there is one thing that I love when I want to prepare a no hassle meal, it is having a slow cooker.  Many people I know just use their slow cooker for making queso or other dips for parties and never realize the full potential of what you can prepare with them.  Slow cookers can cook just about anything from soups, stews and chilis to whole chickens, braised lamb and roast duck.  More often than not, you are able to just throw in your ingredients and let your slow cooker do all the work.  It’s definitely a way to impress your family and/or guests and let them think that you spent hours in the kitchen cooking, when really the only thing that was cooking for hours was your slow cooker.

My go-to meal in my slow cooker is chicken and vegetables.  I use a whole chicken and whatever vegetables I have on hand at the time.  It’s so simple and the chicken is so tender when it’s done it falls right off the bone.

Whole Chicken and Vegetables

Ingredients

2 cups broth or stock (chicken or vegetable)
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 8 oz package of mushrooms
3 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika

Directions

1. Add a layer of vegetables to the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Combine all spices.
3. Rinse the whole chicken and rub with spice mixture.
4. Place chicken in slow cooker on top of the layer of vegetables.
5. Add the remaining vegetables and garlic into the slow cooker.
6. Pour the broth into the slow cooker. As the chicken cooks it will add more liquid as well.
7. Cook on low setting for 5-8 hours.
8. Use a kitchen thermometer to check if chicken is done before serving. (The internal temperature should be 180 degrees in the thickest part.)

What’s your favorite recipe to make in a slow cooker?

The post Slow Cooker Recipe: Whole Chicken & Vegetables appeared first on Live Smart.

We have exciting news about our compact refrigerator / freezer! The restaurant corporation, OSI, that owns Outback, Carrabbas, Bone Fish Grill and Flemmings is currently testing our compact refrigerator in the Houston, TX, market. So far, the results are overwhelmingly positive!

OSI has developed a new frozen cocktail that is being introduced in their Carrabbas stores. They have chosen the sleek, compact look of our CRF150SS as the storage unit for this new drink. Over the next month, we will be rolling out our unit to the national chain of Carrabbas. This is sure to be followed by Outback, Bone Fish Grill and Flemmings. So if you are at one of these fine, popular restaurants, be sure to order one of their new cocktails and take a look behind the bar – chances are you’ll see the EdgeStar CRF150SS keeping the libations frozen!

The post Top Commercial Products: EdgeStar Mini Fridge Freezer appeared first on Live Smart.