Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Holiday Checklist Part 2

Are you ready for the holidays? We have found a great Holiday countdown checklist. In this final blog, we will go over what you need to have done to prepare for the big holiday. This week we will learn about what needs to be in done in the third and fourth week of December. You can learn more at Real Simple.



ONE WEEK BEFORE

Deep clean your house.

You’ll enjoy those decorations even more if the floors are clean and the kitchen is organized. One important task: Clear out your refrigerator. Toss old leftovers to make room for big dishes and ingredients that’ll be piling up closer to the holiday.

Buy batteries for children’s toys.

If you haven’t stocked up while Christmas shopping, make sure you have all the accoutrements necessary for that handheld video game or remote-controlled car.

THREE DAYS BEFORE

Shop for fresh ingredients.

Hit the store for the last-minute vegetables or fruit you need for meals.

Set the table.

So you use those gold-rimmed goblets only once a year? Enjoy them! Go ahead and set the table. 

Make it even easier on the big day by putting a sticky note on each platter that states what dish you plan to serve on it. (That also allows people to help you without asking 12 times.)

TWO DAYS BEFORE

Start cooking.

You’ve probably socked away some things in the freezer already, but now’s the time to prep main courses and make anything that can sit for a couple of days.

Buy fresh flowers.

Whether they are for a party or a family meal, fresh flowers should always be purchased two days in advance. Blooms have time to open up, and they’ll still be lush and fragrant.

THE DAY BEFORE

Recharge the batteries on your camera or video recorder.

You don’t want to miss the reaction on a little one’s face because the battery ran out during the school pageant the week before.

Finish last-minute wrapping.

And assemble toys that will be surprises from Santa.

Finish cooking, and make a timeline for the next day.

Decide when you’ll be feasting, then count backward to determine when to put the turkey (or ham or roast beef) in the oven and what else needs to be cooked.

Sit back and relax.

Enjoy your family and friends and relish the traditions you share.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Christmas Countdown

Are you ready for the holidays? We have found a great Holiday countdown checklist. Over the next two blogs, we will go over what you need to have done to prepare for the big holiday. This week we will learn about what needs to be in done in the first and second week of December. You can learn more at Real Simple.

THREE WEEKS BEFORE (FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER)

Mail cards.

If you’re too busy to get them addressed and mailed during the first week of December, consider putting them off until after the holiday rush. People generally enjoy getting a card a few days late, when things have slowed down and they actually notice the mail.

Buy a live tree.

This is a good time to get your tree, if you want it to stay fresh and retain its needles through Christmas. Same goes for fresh greenery or garlands.

Decorate!

You may be one who decks the halls as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey carcass has been tossed. 

That’s fine, too, but by the first week of December, it’s time to get the house looking festive. Find holiday decorating ideas here.

Finalize menus.

If you’ll be serving the holiday meal make sure you know what you’ll be cooking and what family members will be bringing. Start a master grocery list.

Order a turkey or ham.

Or whatever else is the centerpeice of your holiday meal—you don’t want to get caught short.

TWO WEEKS BEFORE (SECOND WEEK OF DECEMBER)

Make sure out-of-town presents are mailed.

Try to have gifts in the mail by December 10.

Shop for nonperishable items.

Buy alcohol and any canned goods or pantry staples you’ll need.

Holiday Party Tips

Are you hosting a holiday get together this year?  You may be stressed, but there are a few things that are not worth stressing over.  Your guests want to have a good time, but they do not need everything to be perfect.  Here are three focus points for your dinner party, and a few things you should not worry about.   You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.



What to not focus on:

Having a picture-perfect setting. We all want to put our best foot forward, but holding your home to shelter mag standards is hardly necessary. So there are some half-built shelves in the living room; string some fairy lights on them and call in a feature! Putting off a party because your house isn't up to par only results in missed opportunities. Same goes for cleanliness. While I'd never advise having guests over without at least a quick clean, focus on the things that matter: a sparkling bathroom, relatively dust-free surfaces, a clutter-free living room. No one will care if your medicine cabinet or fridge are organized, and no one will notice if the walls in the entryway need a scrub. Low lighting and the distraction of good conversation can work wonders.

Whether all the food is homemade. As someone who loves to cook and entertain, I've fallen into this trap more than once. Serving an array of finger food while guests arrive? Better make three kinds of flatbreads and homemade hummus, then. Store-bought ice cream with that pie? Not at my dinner party!This, quite frankly, is exhausting and ridiculous. If you can swing a 100% homemade meal, by all means go for it, but otherwise, cut yourself some slack. Good breads, cheeses and olives always go down a treat as pre-dinner nibbles, as does a bakery-bought dessert if you're not a natural baker. Even consider ordering in the main if that's your thing: as long as it's tasty and abundant, no one will care where it came from.

The group dynamic. When mixing friend groups, it's easy to worry about whether everybody will hit it off. Equal numbers of guys and girls, whether every guest has a "buddy" other than you: my advice is not to worry about these things, and choose your guests based on their fab and mesh-able personalities. Think about it like this: you're an awesome person with awesome taste in friends. All yours friends are thus, similarly awesome. Everyone will be friends by the time dessert rolls around, anyway.

Instead, focus your energy here:

Presentation. While I'm not suggesting Martha levels of prep are always necessary, I do think that presentation is the best way to make your guests think they're getting a Michelin-star meal (even if you did buy half of it at the deli around the corner). Toss a simple salad on a beautiful platter, arrange the cheeseboard with care. Don't ignore the table either: flowers, candles, place cards if you're so inclined— all will create the sense of a considered, yet effortless, occasion.

Abundance. It's always better to have too much food and drink than too little. Offer more dessert, even if everyone is stuffed. Bring out tea and coffee. Heck, send guests home with leftovers for their lunch the next day! I keep cheap plastic take-out containers around for this purpose, and it's a huge compliment when someone eagerly takes me up on the offer.

Enjoyment. If you're enjoying yourself, so will your guests. Answer the door with a drink in your hand and a smile on your face. If you're stuck in the kitchen for a bit, take up an offer to join you and help. They came to see you, after all.

Three Gifts That Won't Break The Bank

The holiday season means there are many parties and gift giving events we all have to attend.  However, these prices can add up after attending all of your holiday functions.  We have found a few gift options that will not break the bank.  Your friends and family will also appreciate these thoughtful gifts.  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.


Give Your Time

Be it babysitting, dog walking or heck, even watering your neighbor's plants, your time is a valuable commodity and spending it for someone else, especially for something they need, is a great gift idea that will always be appreciated.

Give an Experience

Some experiences will cost you (like a trip or a show) but they don't have to. Surprising a loved one with a visit to a special place, to see a sorely-missed person or just with a unique, new experience that you can do together will probably be the best gift of the season and one they're likely remember for years to come.

Use Your Skills

Are you really good at doing something? We bet you are. We bet it's a valuable skill that other people would love to get a piece of. Why not use your baking, sewing, photography, graphic design or DIY skills to help someone you know who needs help in your area of expertise? You will feel so much more satisfied sharing something you love with someone you love than you would by charging something on your credit card.

Let's make holiday giving more about celebrating the people you love and less about the stores you shop.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you have a great Thanksgiving!  What is your favorite food?

Holiday Party Emergency Kit

Are you starting to prepare for the holiday parties this season? Make sure you are stocked up on all holiday supplies including this one. Every host should have an emergency kit to clean up stains and spills throughout the home. Keep reading to learn about what to include in the kit! You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

It's hosting season and you know what that means: your home will soon be getting a workout. Be it parties or houseguests, lots of traffic means lots of messes. Since you know spills are inevitable, do yourself a favor this year and put together an emergency cleaning kit so you'll be prepared to act fast when someone slips up.

Having this quick kit on hand has two benefits. Firstly, it'll help you deal with those messes quickly (and therefore more effectively) and more importantly, it lets you avoid the drama and embarrassment that can go along with an accident. Keeping these key things close means there's no need to frantically empty everything from under the sink in the middle of a party or family dinner (and make the spiller feel worse then they already do!).

The Emergency Kit

• Sponge or microfiber cloth
• Small handheld broom and dustbin
• Countertop cleaner
• Soda water (to dilute a stain but it's also handy to have on hand in case you run out during your party)
• Salt (combine with soda water as an effective natural stain remover)
• Laundry stain stick or wipes for clothing spills
• Masking tape for picking up those final, invisible shards of a broken glass
• Put these things in a caddy and get ready to be the graceful host who can dispatch spills and get back to the party that much quicker.

Having a Thanksgiving Apart

Travel can be expensive during the holiday season. However, you can still have a great holiday season with friends and family.  Apartment Therapy has come up with eight ideas on how to have a great Thanksgiving even if you are apart from friends and family.  Keep reading to learn more!


Phone Tag: Consult with the host on when a good time to call would be— during the cocktail hour? After dinner when everyone's lounging about? Ideally, everyone could pass the phone around for a quick holiday chat, without interrupting the festivities. If your family has Skype capabilities, so much the better.

Send Photos, Low-Tech: Your parents, grandparents, and/or other loved ones would love to see recent (printed) photos of you (and your family and friends), especially if you or they are not on social media. Don't be shy— you look awesome and you're always doing cool stuff. Pro tip: if your grandparents— or any relatives— have vision trouble, consider having your photos printed larger than you normally would.

Send Photos, High-Tech: The day of, text your family photos of yourThanksgiving, so they can imagine where you are and what you're up to. One year I sent my family photos from my morning hike up San Francisco's Twin Peaks and then from our lovely post-dinner stroll around Bernal Heights.

Send a Treat: if you always bring fudge or cookies or peanut brittle to Thanksgiving, look into making some ahead of time and shipping it. You could also send mail-order pie, cinnamon-glazed pecans, or dark chocolate chickpeas, and while this might be a bit pricey, it's nothing compared to the cost of plane tickets.

Send a Soundtrack: Who wouldn't love a custom-made mix CD to play during dinner? If I'm hosting, the last thing I want to worry about is the music.

Send a Game: At every family gathering, we wish that someone had remembered to bring board games. Come to your family's rescue by sendingQwirkle ($20 on Amazon) or Bezzerwizzer ($16 on Amazon), and reap the rewards the next time you do visit.

Gather Family Recipes Ahead of Time: Nobody makes apple pie like your uncle or rolls like your mom, but you can try your damndest. Most cooks would be beyond flattered to be asked for one of their signature recipes, and you'll insure that their dish lives on in the family.

Declare Your Own Thanksgiving: Many of us have to work on Thanksgiving, leaving little-to-no time and energy left for cooking and feasting. Celebrate Thanksgiving on whatever day you do have off, and live it up.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Fun Facts: 

There really are so-called vampire bats, but they're not from Transylvania. They live in Central and South America and feed on the blood of cattle, horses and birds. You can learn more here. 

Halloween Blondies Recipe

We love easy desserts that can be made for parties, get-togethers, or meetings.  This Halloween treat is easy to make, and it will taste delicious.  Gather these ingredients and try this recipe for your Halloween party next week.  You can learn more here. 

Get Your Pillows Clean

When is the last time you washed your pillows?  Washing a pillow periodically is a great idea for health reasons.  Washing a pillow once a year will keep them free of dust and dirt.   You will also sleep better knowing that your pillows are clean and fresh.  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.


What You Need

Materials
Mild, low-suds detergent
Tools
Washing machine or deep sink

Instructions

Remove the pillow protector (using a zippered protector plus a pillowcase helps to keep your pillows cleaner.)

Fill the sink or washing machine with very hot water. Hot water kills dust mites without the need for bleach or other harsh chemicals.

Add mild, low-suds detergent (I used Woolite).

Add the pillow and agitate.

Rinse several times.

Press excess water out of the pillow with a white terry cloth towel. If you have a feather pillow do not wring it out or twist it -you'll smash the feathers.

Place the pillow in the dryer and air dry, or hang to dry outside. Fluff manually, or toss a a few clean tennis balls in the dryer.

Tips on Cleaning Your Sink and Garbage Disposal

You may believe that running soap through your kitchen sink will get it clean.  However, this is not true.  You need to clean and sanitize  your sink and garbage disposal on a regular basis.   This helps prevent germs and bacteria from staying on your plates, silverware, and bakeware.  Keep reading and you can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

You would think your kitchen sink is relatively clean, considering the number of times per day you use it. But simply letting water run down the drain throughout the day just won't cut it with germs and bacteria—you need to sanitize! Check out our step-by-step process to get your sink clean and safe, without the use of harmful chemicals or cleaners.

What You Need

Materials

• Liquid dishwashing soap
• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Sea Salt
• Lemon (or lime)
• Ice

Tools

• Old toothbrush
• Soft sponge

Instructions

For daily cleaning, a mild soap and nylon sponge or soft rag can be used to wipe your sink down. All-purpose or glass cleaner can be used in a pinch, but it's important to avoid ammonia, bleach, or abrasive cleaners on stainless steel. Abrasive sponges should also be avoided; all of these can alter the sink's finish.

1. Thoroughly rinse out your sink. If you have a stainless sink, salt and acid in food can potentially damage the finish, so it's important to rinse food and liquids to prevent pitting.
2. Sprinkle baking soda onto the surface. Working it into a paste, rinse thoroughly.
3. Line the sink with paper towels soaked in white vinegar. Allow it to sit for 20 minutes and then dispose of the paper towels.
4. Rinse the sink with warm soapy water.
5. For the faucets and handles, wipe with a mild soapy solution. The toothbrush can be used to get in the hard-to-reach areas. If spots remain, a cloth soaked in white vinegar can be used. Once you're finished cleaning, thoroughly rinse once more time and dry with a soft rag. Your sink should now be fresh and clean!

To clean the garbage disposal:

1. Sprinkle a half cup of baking soda down the disposal then add one cup of white vinegar. The mixture will fizz and make a bit of noise, allow this to work for a few minutes while you boil a kettle of hot water. Pour boiling water down the drain.
2. Fill the drain with two cups of ice. Pour a cup of salt (rock salt is great if you have it, I improvised with coarse sea salt) over the ice cubes. Run the cold water and turn on the garbage disposal until the ice is gone. The ice/salt mixture will help loosen the grime and debris from the grinding elements
3. Cut a lemon or lime in half. With the water on and garbage disposal running, add the fruit halves, one at a time, to the disposal. The fruit will help clean and deodorize your drain.

DIY Halloween Candles

Are you a fan of DIY Crafts?  Here is a craft to make your apartment ready for Halloween.    Goblins, witches, and ghosts are just some of the images that can appear on candles around your home.  Keep reading and for more great DIY ideas check out Apartment Therapy.

Reader Krys shows you how to make these Halloween-themed DIY pillar candles for the holiday. You choose your image, and use a simple technique to make your own festive (and inexpensive) tabletop decorations.

What You Need

Materials

• Candles
• Wax Paper
• Tissue Paper

Tools

• Rubber Stamps or InkJet Printer
• Colored Pencils and Pens
• Heat/Embossing Tool or (very hot) Blowdryer

Instructions

1. Print or stamp image onto smooth, shiny side of tissue paper. Then, cut image out as close to edges as possible.

2. Place tissue paper image on candle. Secure with a bit of glue if you need to.

3. Place wax paper on top of tissue paper image (wax side down). Then, heat the area with your heat gun, embossing tool, or blow dryer until wax paper is melted and tissue paper is covered in wax. Take care not to overheat it and warp the candle itself.

4. Display and enjoy!

Head over to Krys' blog Melodrama for more photos and helpful tips for the project. And thanks for sharing Krys!

Have a really great DIY project or tutorial that you want to share with others? Let us know! We love checking out what you're making these days, and learning from our readers. When you're ready, click here to submit your project and photos.

Easy Classic Dessert

Do you love Apple Pie?  You do not need to make an entire pie to eat your favorite dessert.  Have you ever baked an apple pie in an apple?  It is possible. Keep reading and learn more at The Kitchn.



Apple pie is one of our favorite fall desserts. From a classic deep dish, to the addition of berries, caramel drizzle topping and even chocolate, we've seen a lot of apple pie variations.

But none are as adorable as this — an apple pie baked in an apple! We're pretty sure apple pie couldn't get any better if it tried. Here's how to do it.



Just 4 Ingredients!

Not only is this individual-sized apple on apple dessert the cutest thing you'll see this fall, it's also super easy to make.

I found the idea for these apple pies on Tablespoon. With an easy to follow tutorial and short ingredient list, I had to try this for myself!


→ See the original recipe: Apple Lattice Pie Baked in an Apple at Tablespoon


How to Make an Apple Pie Baked in an Apple

These lattice pies look like they should be much more involved and time consuming to make than they actually are. Here's all you need:
An apple
Canned apple pie filling
Cinnamon
Store-bought pie crust

Get started by slicing the top off each apple and scooping out the inside (I found that a paring knife and spoon worked best for this step). Mix together the apple pie filling with a little bit of cinnamon, then spoon it into each apple.

Cut the defrosted pie crust into thin strips and create a lattice topping over each apple, then trim any excess dough.

Bake for about 25 minutes at 400°F, and you've got yourself a beautiful and delicious individual apple pie. Don't forget the whipped cream and vanilla ice cream!

And of course, if you have the time you can also make your own pie crust and apple pie filling; it would be even better with those!

Recipe: Basic Pie Crust
Recipe: Double Crust Apple Pie (for the filling)

What's your favorite way to serve up apple pie?

QuickTip: Extend Life of Non Stick Appliances

Do you have a lot of non stick appliances?  Here is a quick tip on how to extend the life of those appliances.  Wax paper can help make these appliances last longer and stay cleaner.  Keep reading and  check out Apartment Therapy for more tips.

Every well-run home is teeming with tricks and shortcuts to keep it humming along. We're sharing our best quick tips — for cleaning, organizing and repairing stuff at home — to save you time and money. Click through for today's helpful hint, and links to tons more...

Fold a piece of WAX PAPER in half (waxy side out) and placing it between the plates of your warm appliance (waffle iron, panini press, etc..) for 3 seconds. The wax, unlike butter or sprays, won't burn and will give those non-stick surfaces just enough slick to release the food without the wax rubbing off on your waffle or sandwich for lunch. For appliances that don't have plates that press together, simply wipe the paper across the surface a few times and call it good. It's a quick tip that gives you a bit more slick instead of stick in the kitchen.

Please note: If your non-stick surface is flaky or damaged, don't continue to use it. This tip is only for appliances that are starting to stick more than usual...

DIY Platform Bed

Have you ever wanted a platform bed in your room?  You do not need to go out and by an expensive bed to make this happen.  We have some IKEA DIY hacks to make the perfect platform bed for your room.  You can use simple IKEA furniture and a mattress to get the look you want!  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

Here’s an idea: turn basic IKEA storage cabinets and dressers into multi-functional lofts. It's a smart way to address the problem of small space — you get both beds and storage in the same footprint. These hacks work well for studio apartments, kids rooms, and dorms. As inspiration, here are different unique ways others made it work for them:

Above, a storage bed that uses parts of IKEA’s STOLMEN closet system as its basis. Initially from Stadshem.se, via Anita Sienudzi.

A mattress placed over two MALM dressers works well for this Swedish boy’s room. Seen on Hitta-Hem.

Another STOLMEN bed hack, this time from Stil Inspiration.

An even more complex build: Ikea kitchen cabinets and doors form storage and steps up to a bed in this small apartment, from Oh Yes Blog.

Weekday Carnival came up with this configuration, with different colored kitchen cabinets (with dinosaur pulls!). To the left of the bed is also a combined desk.

And last but not least, IKEA Hackers shows us this version, with EXPEDIT bookshelves forming a ring around the edge.

A Little Bit of Fall in the Summer

People start craving anything pumpkin as soon as August hits.  However, there is more to the "pumpkin craze" than just coffee and beer.  We have found a great pumpkin recipe that you can add to your fall dinner rotation.  You can learn more here.

What are you doing this weekend?  Are you looking for some great Labor Day events around San Francisco?  We have gathered some of the best events and put them in one blog for you.  Take a peak below, and you can learn more at sfgate.

Labor Day Celebration

Saturday, Aug 30 9:30p

The Grand Night Club, San Francisco 

Join us at The Grand this Saturday for the ultimate Labor Day Celebration! Get ready for an extravagant evening with a combination of friends, the glitterati and party goers alike...

Labor Day Kick Off

Friday, Aug 29 9:30p

The Grand Night Club, San Francisco 

Wave goodbye to another amazing summer season this Friday and join us at The Grand as we kick off Labor Day weekend in Grand style...

Pier Pressure Labor Day

Sunday, Aug 31 4:00p

The Embarcadero, San Francisco 

Sunday, August 31, 2014 Pier Pressure SF Labor Day Yacht Party The Bay Areas #1 Yacht Party Labor Day Weekend 4 Decks | 6 DJs | 1 Amazing Cruise Its time to party and soak in the San Francisco Sun...

Kmel’S Labor Day White Party

Sunday, Aug 31 8:00p

San Francisco Spirit - Pier 3, San Francisco 

106 KMEL and Hornblower Cruises & Events are celebrating the summer send-off with the annual KMEL Labor Day White Party Cruise! This is a chance for partygoers to wear their best white attire and d...

Labor Day Kick-Off party

Friday, Aug 29 9:30p

Manor West, San Francisco 

Friday | Aug 29 Labor Day Weekend is officially here, kick-off the 3-day weekend with us. Enjoy a complimentary guest list before 11pm for you and your entire entourage...

Rogue Labor Day Garage Sale

Friday, Aug 29 11:00a

Rogue Ales Public House, San Francisco 

The long weekend's coming so stock up on Rogue that you can keep for yourself or take to a Labor Day party. DATES AND TIMES*: Aug. 28, 11am-7pm Aug. 29, 11am-7pm Aug. 30, 11am-7pm Aug...

Labor Day Open House

Monday, Sep 1 10:00a

Crab Cove, Alameda 

Crab Cove Visitor Center: Join us for a day of fun at the shoreline! 11am: Beach Exploration 2pm: Family Nature Fun Time ? Seaweed Science 3pm: Fish Feeding in our Aquariums...

Labor Day Sail aboard the Baylis!!!

Monday, Sep 1 12:00p

Pier 40, San Francisco 

Wylie Charters invites all you hard workers to come aboard our 65 ft. sail boat and ride the waves...

Hornblower Labor Day Beer Lunch Cruise

Monday, Sep 1 11:30a

San Francisco Spirit - Pier 3, San Francisco 

CELEBRATE A DAY ON THE BAY WITH A HORNBLOWER LABOR DAY BEER LUNCH CRUISE This send off to summer is a two-hour yacht cruise with a hearty American-style lunch buffet, free flowing beer and champa...

Doin' It After Dark: Official Labor Day Weekend Party

Sunday, Aug 31 9:00p

Mighty, San Francisco 

{ Doin' It After Dark }The Official Labor Day Weekend PartyJoin us Sunday, August 31st at Mighty for our annual Labor Day Weekend party! No school or work on Monday so lets keep the party movin'!Go...

Honey Soundsystem Labor Day Sunday

Sunday, Aug 31 10:00p

Beatbox, San Francisco 

Our Holiday Sunday Series At Beatbox Continues As Always We Are Selling A Small Amount Of Presale Tickets To Keep Lines Short Plenty Of Tickets Will Be Available At The Door Music By Honey Soundsys...

Golden Gate Park Band celebrates Labor Day!

Monday, Sep 1 7:00p

Gg Park Music Concourse/Bandshell, San Francisco 

The Golden Gate Park Band, under the direction of Michael L. Wirgler will present a concert on Monday, September 1, in Golden Gate Park at the music concourse, located at Ninth Ave...

Labor Day Open House

Monday, Sep 1 11:00a

Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley 

Tilden Nature Area Come one, come all: crafts, games, farm activities, and more will work up the family's picnic appetite...

Sausalito Artists @ Work Labor Day Festival

Saturday, Aug 30 11:00a

Industrial Center Building, Sausalito 

Visit more than twenty artists at work in their studios. Observe each artist's unique approach to the creative process. Purchase the latest works from talented, local artists...