KitchenAid Artisan Series Empire Red Stand Mixer

Nothing says comfort like the smell of fresh pie baking in the oven at home. If you’ve been too intimidated to bake a pie from scratch in your own kitchen before, then have no fear, as the following tips will help you make a homemade pie that you and your family can enjoy.

Gather ingredients

Before you run to the grocery store to buy ingredients, you need to decide what type of pie to make. Cherry, apple, peach, berry, banana cream, chocolate cream, Mississippi Mud, mince meat… the options are endless for pies. Depending on the type of pie you wish to make, the ingredients will differ. The basic ingredients to make a fruit pie are piecrust dough (either homemade or store-bought), filling made from fruit filling or fresh fruits, and spices.

Assembling the pie

Find a pie recipe from a cookbook or the Internet that whets your appetite. If you are using a cookbook, a cookbook stand is useful to have in the kitchen so you can refer back to the recipe while baking.

Preheat oven. Roll out piecrust dough into a circle larger than the pie dish.  Instead of an aluminum pie tray, a pie dish is better to use when baking pies because it is sturdier, reusable and doubles as a serving dish.

Lay rolled dough over pie dish and push in, making sure that the dough is touching every surface of the dish without pulling the dough too much. Cut off excess dough. Bake piecrust in oven as directed by recipe instructions.

Mix ingredients together for filling using a stand mixer or hand mixer. After pie crust is done baking, fill with mixture, and bake or chill depending on the type of pie.

Cut pie using a cake/pie server and serve on dessert plates. Serve with a scoop of ice cream if desired.

At-a-Glance " Today Is" Daily Wall Calendar

A place for everything and everything in its place” might be a perfect motto for this new year if you’re looking to organize your life a bit better. For those of us who are still struggling making the change, here are a few tools that will start us on our way to an organized new year.

Whether you’re a young professional, student or mother of three, a datebook or planner will streamline your days. Carry it everywhere in your bag and add tasks or errands as you think of them to each day’s to-do list. Also add in all your appointments, lunch dates, and activities immediately, which will allow you to throw away the paper invitation or note. Everything will be in one convenient place.

On that note, you’ll need a visible calendar at your office, on your fridge or on your door so that you’ll see all those appointments and dates in one place at the beginning of your day. And while it may seem like a no-brainer, a garbage can is necessary to maintaining an organized environment. Throw out those sticky notes and invitations once you’ve jotted it down in your planner and calendar.

A few extra tools to keep you organized include drawer organizers to maintain order to your collection of pens, paper clips and everything else rolling around in your desk drawers, as well as a charging station on your desk or bookcase to place all of your electronic devices in one place.

An ideaI love that I have borrowed from my sister is placing a 2-shelf bookcase by the door to your apartment to use as a landing dock. She added hooks above hers for backpacks, her dog’s leash and a light scarf to grab and go. On the bookshelf, she kept a box for keys and sunglasses along with another box for dog treats. She also keeps a shoe rack by the door for easy and organized use, but you can also use a basket and add umbrellas, if you prefer.

Start off this year right by getting rid of odds and ends and then organizing your home with these few easy tools. Take it slow and start getting in the habit of using one or two of these items and slowly work up to employing a whole system of self organization.

Archipelago Botanicals Pillar Candle - Fiji

Despite popular notions, you don’t need a particular holiday or occasion to pamper yourself. Frankly, you should take a little bit of the day for yourself every day. Though you’re probably not hard-pressed for ideas of how to spend some time pampering yourself, here are a few easy ideas to get you started.

My favorite way to pamper myself is to paint my toenails a bright color. Not only is it relaxing, but it also quickly makes me feel fun and pretty every time I see the color poking through my sandals.( a little cold for sandals?) Try it yourself with a complete manicure-pedicure set and some bright nail polish colors. Likewise, you don’t need a man to massage your feet while you read in bed. With a home foot massager, you can enjoy a foot massage whenever you want.

If you have a little bit more time to spare, pick a night you are at home, fill your bathtub with hot water and dump in bubble bath and  find a few scented candles in your home. Once your bubble bath is ready, carefully place and lite the candles around your bathroom. If you prefer calming music to silence, set an iPod stereo or speakers on your counter top (away from any candles, of course). You can always bring along a magazine or hot tea and chocolates for some extra enjoyment.

If you have a little bit less time than most, there’s no excuse to not make yourself a hot cup of coffee a before everyone gets up and read the newspaper or a book. Whether its a few extra minutes each morning or a rare hour in your week, don’t forget to pamper yourself each and every day.

Hamilton Beach 2 Speed Juice Extractor

A well-equipped kitchen makes for a more fun kitchen. These days you can find all sorts of gadgets and appliances made for the kitchen. Whether or not some of these gadgets are useful is a whole different story, but there are other neat appliances that one should have in their kitchen to make cooking a little easier.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you don’t have lots of time in the mornings to make yourself a large breakfast, then drink a glass of fresh fruit and vegetable juice using a juicer . A juicer is a useful appliance to own when you want to create healthy, delicious juices or soups.

Frying foods at home can be a mess, especially when using a pot on the stovetop. To fry food quickly without oil splattering everywhere, a deep fryer is the perfect appliance to have for your kitchen.

Every kitchen should have a mixer, whether it be a stand mixer or hand mixer. These appliances make whisking, blending and stirring much easier, less time consuming and less physically draining.

No kitchen is complete without a food processor. If you don’t like to manually chop, dice, slice, grind, shred, mince, mix or julienne by hand, then a food processor is the must-have appliance. A food processor is a multi-function appliance, acting as a blender, a whisk, a knife, a grater and many other kitchen appliances all rolled into one.

The available appliances for one’s kitchen are high in number, so the best way to narrow down the choices is to purchase the appliances that are going to be the most useful  in the kitchen.

Tapas Sticky Mat, Emerald Green Yoga Mat, Hugger Mugger Yoga Products

There’s nothing more convenient than having your own gym at home. With a home gym, you don’t have to deal with the hassles common at a public gym, including membership fees, gas costs to drive to the gym, too many exercise enthusiasts, and dirty equipment. However, a home gym complete with the latest exercise equipment can leave a serious mark on one’s wallet. To avoid going broke in the name of fitness, follow these tips to set up a home gym on a budget.

Invest in one exercise machine. Instead of having different types of exercise machines costing thousands of dollars in your gym, invest in one machine that you know you will use regularly. For example, treadmills are great for runners while exercise bikes are perfect for those who like to bike.

Buy an exercise mat or yoga mat to do stretches after your main workout. Stretching helps relax muscles after an intense workout.

If you are into strength training but weight machines are beyond your budget, buy a medicine ball or dumbbells to work out your abdominal muscles, legs and arms.

Besides exercise equipment to put in your home gym, buy a mirror or multiple mirrors to observe your workout routine and also check for body improvements over time. Also, every home gym needs a scale to monitor your weight loss

Farberware 12-cup Mini Muffin Pan

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re featuring a cupcake that screams love and romance. Red velvet cupcakes are perfect for Valentine’s Day, and we happen to love this recipe on Allrecipes.com with a little help for yummy cream cheese frosting from Paula Deen on foodnetwork.com. Of course you can always  buy red velvet cake mix at the market and add your own touch with the frosting or decorative toppings.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 fluid ounce red food coloring
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
1 pound cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
Chopped pecans and fresh raspberries or strawberries, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 12 cup muffin pans (should say cupcake pans) or line with 20 cupcake liners (there should be a link to these as well).
2) In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, buttermilk, red food coloring and vanilla. Stir in the baking soda and vinegar. Combine the flour, cocoa powder and salt; stir into the batter until blended.
3) Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, dividing evenly.
4) Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan. When cool, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter and frost.

For the frosting…
5) In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until evenly smooth again. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy. You can mix by hand with a whisk if you would like!
6) Frost the cupcakes with a butter knife or pipe it on using a plastic sandwich bag cutting away one corner.
7) Garnish with chopped pecans and a fresh raspberry or strawberry.

These bright red cupcakes are perfect additions to a romantic evening or a great way to start off Valentine’s Day morning. You can also give them out to friends and family to show that you’re thinking of them too. You’ll enjoy them just as much as they will.

Waterford Arrington Gold 8" Candlestick, Pair

Coming up with date ideas for Valentine’s Day is difficult but your best bet is to treat it like any other day and just plan a fun date day that you’ll both enjoy. If you’re still stumped for ideas, try some of our few favorites that we’ve listed for your enjoyment. These are easy date ideas that you can do from the comfort of your own home (mostly!).

1) Heck, my beau and I make dinner together all the time because we love to cook. Recently, we made a day out of it and picked up ingredients to make pot stickers at our local farmer’s market and a Japanese market. To make this date really special, you can set out a tablecloth and candlesticks on your dining room table. Tack on a romantic bubble bath after your couples dinner and you’ve got yourselves a wonderful night in.

2) Start off the day right with breakfast in bed. You can either slink out of bed to surprise your partner with the smell of blueberry waffles and orange juice or you can wake up together, make your feast and carry it back into bed for a lazy morning. All you’ll need is a sturdy bed tray to balance your breakfast in bed, a comfortable stack of pillows, and a waffle iron.

3) There is nothing wrong with a fun movie night, even on Valentine’s Day. The point is to have a good time together, remembering why you care about one another. Whether you re-watch the movie you saw on your first date or make a tradition of scouring Netflix for the night’s movie pick, plan a nice evening, complete with popcorn and your favorite movie candy.
4) This creative idea is a personal favorite. Sometimes its just too cold out for a romantic picnic, especially in February. So why not bring the picnic indoors? A carpet picnic is a fun idea for nature enthusiasts who don’t want to brave the snow outside. If you don’t have a carpet, you can always use a soft rug and lay out a spread with all the picnic foods. I may just pop in Planet Earth to watch as my boyfriend and I enjoy our impromptu indoor picnic.

Whatever you do this weekend, by personalizing your date to include your favorite foods or activities, you’re bound to have a fun and low-stress time with your significant other. Forget all the expectations of Valentine’s Day and just have a good time with your partner.

FULL TILT Chiffon Hair Clips

You’ve bought the perfect outfit for your big date this weekend. Or maybe you’re relentlessly looking for something to spruce up an old favorite dress to wear. Either way, you’ll need a few accent pieces to make it truly the perfect outfit. Have fun mixing and matching the accessory ideas below.

If your outfit is eye-catching or you want it to be, you ought to stick with simple jewelry or one piece of statement jewelry like a long necklace. However, a simple black dress may call for a pair of drop earrings or a set of silver bangles.

Personally, I love accessorizing with a playful scarf , flirty hat or knit beanie. A colorful silk scarf can instantly add elegance and flair to an otherwise plain or casual outfit. These are also perfect options for cool winter dates.

You may think that you can’t pull off wearing a belt, which is exactly what I thought until I started trying out a variety of belts with different outfits. A belt should call attention to the smallest point around your waist without pinching your torso in two. Try on belts with different widths that sit on your hips or around your waist.

Perhaps you already have a basket of hair accessories at your disposal, like I do. This season flower hair clips and hair pins as well as over-sized flower, feathered and elegant headbands are popular on the red carpets as well as on streets. These hair accessories are great for long and short hairstyles alike, which makes it my first pick for accessorizing the perfect date night outfit.

Whichever accessories you finally choose, be sure that you’re not overdoing it. Too many accessories(delete this space)can stifle an outfit and draw your date’s eye in too many directions when you want them to be looking at you. Most importantly, you want to be appropriate and comfortable in your outfit so use your best judgment when dressing for your big date and enjoy!

AHAVA - Muscle Soothing Eucalyptus Mineral Bath Salts

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, but you don’t need an excuse to plan a perfectly romantic evening with your significant other. There are a few must-haves that simply set the mood for an evening that genuinely says I really care. Mix and match the following few items to put your own flare on the evening.

Wouldn’t you love to come home after a long day at work (or school) to find a beautiful dinner ready for you complete with candle sticks, elegant place settings, and champagne chilling nearby? Of course you would! And so would your girlfriend or boyfriend. If you can’t afford nice dishes or fancy candlesticks, throw a tablecloth on your dinner table and make it fancy with a few tea candles in the center. If you’re going to spring for a bottle of champagne, be sure to have a corkscrew nearby or you’ll be out of luck.

Reuse those tea candles to border the bathtub for a romantic bath for two or invest in a couple of scented candles. Whichever you choose, be sure to pour in some bubble bath to complete the romantic picture. I love adding bath salts as well to add a silky texture to the water.

As far as I’m concerned, you just need to add some romantic music and you’ve got the perfect evening. You can get creative with your choice playlist, but be sure to add all the songs that make you think of your significant other. These little additions really show the other person that you care enough to prepare this relaxing night. Not only do you convey a very sweet message but you also get to benefit from all the work when you sink into the steaming bubble bath. Enjoy!

EO French Lavender Bubble Bath 12 oz

Valentine’s Day is coming up quickly, but don’t sweat! We’ve got everything you need to not only make it through the day, but to make it unforgettable. Here are some gift ideas for that special person in your life. We encourage  you to personalize them anyway you can for an added touch.

GFor Him…
Valentine’s Day is about making your partner feel special- that means him too! Skip the stuffed animals and little books that say, “I love you” 12 different ways. He’d much prefer a useful gift personalized to show you thought of him. A leather wallet or monogrammed briefcase may be just what he wanted this season. Likewise whether you’re guy is a nature buff or a high-profile executive, he may be secretly eyeing a new watch.If you’re shopping for the man who has everything, give him the gift he can’t get himself and slip into some sexy lingerie for a romantic night in. A Kindle or Nook is also a great gift for him you can personalize it by downloading some of his favorite books to start off his collection.

For Her…
Valentine’s Day gifts may be daunting for guys trying to buy their love something special. Some advice: don’t over think it. Take a few minutes to think of her and what she loves to do and wishes she has and try to incorporate it into a gift. If she’s an adventurer, plan a weekend or day trip somewhere she loves or to somewhere she has never been. If she’s a workaholic, perhaps a relaxing day at home is the perfect gift, complete with romantic dinner and bubble bath. If you’re going to invest in some jewelry this holiday, be sure it’s the style, stone and metal she likes. Perhaps take one of her favorite earrings to the store and let the clerk help you find a necklace or bracelet that will match. Lockets are perfect gifts to personalize by adding an inscription or photo of you two together.
For the gift that keeps on giving, hide post- it notes that say sweet and quarky reasons why you love her or how she makes you feel around her apartment and even at work. She’ll find one months later and it’ll make her day.

Valentine’s Day should be fun so lose the stress and enjoy thinking up creative and thoughtful gifts for your sweetheart or personalize one of the ideas above. Happy Valentine’s Day!