Valentine's Day Market

The Valentine's Day Market is back on Saturday February 8th.  It will be located at The Waterfront in the retail space next to The Gap.  The event will start at noon, and it will end at 5pm.  This market features over 40 local artists with homemade gifts for your loved ones.  You can learn more at Living Pittsburgh.


Event: I Made It! Mine
Location: Waterfront, 143 West Bridge St, Homestead (In the retail space next to The Gap across from Starbucks in Town Center)
Date: Saturday, February 8, 2014
Time: noon until 5 p.m.
Cost: FREE admission (plus the cost of any goodies you purchase)
Description: The “I Made It! Mine” market will feature handmade gifts from over 45+ local artists. Find everything you need for a one of a kind Valentine’s Day for your sweetie. Visit I Made It! online for more information. Another great opportunity to buy local & support independent artists this Valentine’s Day. South Side Works will also offer free kids crafts at this event!

De-Clutter Your Home

Does your apartment get cluttered throughout the week?  Here are some great tips on how to slowly eliminate the clutter that builds up throughout the week.  These tips will help your apartment stay cleaner, and it will help you feel less stressed when you come home.   You can learn more at apartment therapy.

Designated Outbox: Set up a permanent basket, box, or bag by your front door to toss things that need to go. Make it part of your decor so that it's part of your daily life and doesn't just look like a messy cardboard chore lurking in the corner, sending accusing looks at you. Try emptying it once a week or at least twice a month.
Clean As You Cook: Somehow a messy kitchen with a pile of dishes is always the first stop on the ride on the messy train. Never go to bed with a sink full of dishes. Waking up to dirty dishes just sets you starting your day off wrong. Also, try to clean up as you cook so that when dinner is done you don't turn around to more work and can end your night on a good note.
Sort Mail Immediately: I am guilty as charged when it comes to piles of mail in various places that "I'll get to later." My new workflow is: pick up mail; open it over the recycle bin; put bills in a designated bill cubby; and feel good while doing it.
Tidy Up 10 Minutes a Day: You can split this up into two five-minute chunks or a full ten. Quickly shuffle through your house (preferably at the end of the day) and put away all those little things that you took out, opened, or tossed on the couch throughout the day. This way you can reset your home each evening and start fresh each morning.
Refocus Your Energy: A long time ago I heard someone say, 'it takes just as much energy to be messy and it does to be clean" and it always stuck with me. It makes total sense: when you're messy you are just delaying the energy it will take to clean it up instead of doing it immediately. I find that, when I clean as I go, I'm much happier and rest so much better without 'to do's' weighing on my mind, or seeing guilt-ridden piles of stuff.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Events

Do you have today off? You can go to these places for some Martin Luther King Jr. Day Events. Here is a calendar below of what is going on around the area. You can learn more at the Post Gazette.


Monday

* 15th Annual Prayer Breakfast, hosted by Allegheny County Bar Association's Homer S. Brown Division, Mount Ararat Baptist Church in Larimer, 271 Paulson Ave. Breakfast buffet at 7:30 a.m.; program at 8:30 a.m. Pittsburgh nonprofit Hill House Association will receive the Drum Major for Justice Award. Event is open to the public.

* Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, 10 Children's Way, Allegheny Square, has a variety of activities. Museum admission: $12 for kids, $13 for adults.

Activities include:

11 a.m. to 3 p.m., SLB Radio presents "Streaming Justice" -- live webcast exploring civil rights issues;

11 a.m. to 3 p.m., "King for a Day" read-aloud of King's speeches;

noon to 3 p.m., "Many Hands" studio art project; 2 p.m., performance by Hill Dance Academy Theatre;

3 p.m., freedom circle and singalong.

* Blood drive, St. Benedict the Moor Church, 91 Crawford St., Hill District, 1 to 6 p.m. Call 412-681-8528.

* Carnegie Mellon University Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Events to commemorate the holiday include keynote address by Jendayi Frazer, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs. All events are in the University Center, 5000 Forbes Ave.

Highlights include:

12:30 to 2 p.m., 15th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Awards Celebration and school of drama choral tribute.

2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Arts Greenhouse hip-hop performance and workshop.

4:30 p.m., keynote address and reception.

8 p.m., "MLK Late Night," featuring spoken-word artists from CMU and the Pittsburgh community.

* 12th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Park at the Schenley Park Ice Rink, 1 Overlook Drive, 1 to 4 p.m. Free ice skating, snowshoeing, educational activities and art projects.

* Day of Remembrance at Saint Vincent College, Latrobe:

11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free fused-glass workshop and art exhibit, Carey Student Center;

4:30 to 6:30 p.m., evening program and dinner, Fred M. Rogers Center, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, featuring a commemorative reflection by Kiron Skinner at 5 p.m., with dinner and student presentations to follow. Event is free but tickets required. To reserve tickets: 724-805-2564.

* Share Your Voice: Union Project's Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration, 801 N. Negley Ave., 3 to 6 p.m. Community dialogue event includes a shared meal and opportunities for open discussion in a safe environment. Free and open to all ages, with a children's art project scheduled from 3 to 4:45 p.m.

* Evening at the InterCultural House, University of Pittsburgh, 272 Dithridge St., 7 p.m. Features speeches by student InterCultural House members highlighting those who embody King's principles and ideals. Free and open to the public.

* Let Freedom Sing! concert, Norwin High School, 251 McMahon Drive, North Huntingdon, 7 p.m. Features performances by the Pittsburgh Gospel Choir, visual and spoken word artist Vanessa German, Jim Donovan, and the Saint Francis University World Drumming Ensemble. Free and open to the public.

Previous events

Saturday

* Let Freedom Sing! concert, Ebenezer Baptist Church, 2001 Wylie Ave., 7 p.m. Features performances by Pittsburgh Gospel Choir and visual and spoken word artist Vanessa German. Free and open to the public.

Sunday

* 30th annual Martin Luther King Celebration and Kelso Lecture, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 250 N. Highland Ave., East Liberty, 3:30 p.m. Hosted by East End Cooperative Ministry and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. The interfaith service features civil rights and faith leader Iva Carruthers, who will give the keynote speech. Free. Details: 412-361-5549.

* Celebration at St. Paul Cathedral, 108 N. Dithridge St. Commemorative Mass at noon followed by a reception. The Rev. Harold T. Lewis, rector emeritus of Calvary Episcopal Church, will speak, Pittsburgh Gospel Lights Choir will sing. Free and open to the public. Information: 412-681-8528.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2014/01/18/Events-abound-for-MLK-birthday-1/stories/201401180099#ixzz2qy5N3DuA

Carnegie International Program

The 2014 Carnegie International will be held January 13th-March 16th.  The 56th Annual Event is being organized by a three person curatorial team. This International festival provides a local audience with am ambitious survey of the art in today's age. You can learn more at Visit Pittsburgh.

Frozen Dinner Tips

Do you want to make meals ahead of time for the week?  Check out these great frozen dinners that will be great for you and your family throughout the week.  You can learn more at The Kitchn.

 
Folks’ thoughts turn to casseroles when they think of frozen meals. Don’t get me wrong; I love a good casserole. But you do your freezer and yourself a disservice if you limit your options to lasagnas, enchiladas, and noodle bakes, as good as they may be.

With six children ranging in age, personality, and culinary maturity, I’ve found that I need to think outside the 9x13-inch baking dish if I’m going to put a meal on the table that we’ll all enjoy. Several years ago I hit on the idea of freezing meal components, like cooked taco meat, as well as complete dinner kits to help me save time in the kitchen as well as benefit from bulk purchases of proteins I found on sale.

Homemade, frozen dinner kits can be the perfect solution to those nights when you don’t have time for extensive prep work, but want to avoid the drive-thru lane. Think of some of your favorites like tacos, fajitas, chicken stir-fry, even homemade pizza. Yes, you can make dinner kits of all these great suppers, and more if you think about your favorite recipes in a new way.

Analyze Your Dinner Repertoire: 3 Tips

Ask yourself these questions as you consider your family's favorite meals.

• What items can be cooked in advance? Taco meat, shredded chicken, pork, or beef, sautéed or grilled meats, cooked rice, and roasted vegetables can all be prepared ahead of time and used later.
• What items can be prepped, sliced, diced, chopped, or shredded to use later? Think about sliced peppers, mushrooms, and onions; shredded cheese; pizza dough; marinated meats; spice rubs and sauces.
• What commercial items are good to keep on hand and at the ready? You can easily slip a bag of tortillas or a package of pitas into the freezer next to the other components of the meal. In fact, when you combine all the items into one larger, zip-top freezer bag, you’ll have everything all ready to go with one quick reach into the freezer.

6 Favorite Dinner Kits to Freeze

I’ve made frozen meal kits with our family’s favorite meals. Consider stocking these kits in your freezer:

1. Homemade Pizza – Package balls of dough (such as this dough), shredded cheese, and sauce along with other favorite toppings individually. Place all individual packages into larger zip-top freezer bags in the freezer.
2. Fajitas – Package marinated chicken or beef strips, sliced fajita vegetables, and small flour tortillas in individual bags. Place all bags into a larger zip-top freezer bag and stash in the freezer.
3. Tacos – Individually package cooked taco meat, shredded cheese, and tortillas. Combine in a larger zip-top freezer bag in the freezer.
4. Stir-fry – Prepare smaller bags of sliced meat, chopped vegetables, cooked rice, and stirfry sauce. Store them all in a larger zip-top freezer bag in the freezer. (See The Kitchn's guide to making freezer stir-fry meals.)
5. Chicken and Rice Bake – Assemble individual packages of marinated chicken, rice and spice mix, and chopped vegetables. Store together in a larger zip-top freezer bag in the freezer. (Get a recipe for Chicken and Wild Rice Bake.)
6. Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes – Prepare a bulk batch of meatballs, gravy, and mashed potatoes. Store the three components separately in meal-size portions and freeze. (Get a recipe for Turkey Meatballs or Classic Veal Meatballs.)

There’s really no end to the possibilities of meal kits you can prepare for freezing. Just think about what you can do in advance and do that. If you’ve got time to make several batches of hamburger patties, you can save time later when it’s time to eat. Make a big batch of homemade BBQ sauce and precook the bacon. Store the frozen patties in their own bag, next to a container or sauce, a packet of bacon, a small bag of cheese, and a package of burger buns. Southwest Bacon Cheeseburgers will come together in a jiffy.

Stay Safe Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is supposed to be the coldest day in 20 years.  Make sure to prepare and stay warm on your commute tomorrow.  You can read these cold weather tips in the blog below to prevent hypothermia and other ailments.  You can learn more at wpxi.

Avoiding Hypothermia and Frostbite
Local hospitals are seeing more patients than usual thanks to the weather and Dr. Melanie Cheers of Allegheny General Hospital told WPXI hypothermia and frostbite are a concern.
"One thing that we always recommend is really staying away from alcohol as well when it's cold because it may make you feel warm and you don't protect yourself against the cold as much. We do see people that are intoxicated then end up hypothermic," said Cheers.
Doctors also give the following tips to stay warm during the cold weather:

• If you have to go outside, doctors suggest wearing as many loose-fitting layers as possible to trap air between clothes and stay warmer.
• Do not leave much skin exposed as it's easy to get frostbite in these cold conditions.
• Children and the elderly need the most attention. The doctor suggests if your kids return home with wet clothing, remove it fast. If you have older neighbors, try doing outdoor chores for them if they need it.
• Drink hot drinks like tea and hot cocoa to warm your core.

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Car Care
John Lentz, owner of ATC Sales and Service in Pittsburgh gave WPXI’s Brandon Hudson several helpful tips on how to keep your car working during the cold weather.
"When it gets cold like this, your tire pressure gets out of whack. It is important to keep an eye on that stuff. Make sure your battery is charged up. Check all your fluids under the hood," said Lentz.
In addition, Lentz told motorists to consider the following tips when it comes to traveling in your vehicle this winter:

• If you plan to start your car to warm it up, keep it running no more than 10 minutes.
• Be sure to check the tread on your tires. One way to do this is to take a penny, turn it upside down and place it between the tread on the tires. If you are able to see Lincoln's head, it is time to get new tires.

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Pet Safety
Another concern for many in these cold temperatures is the safety of their pets.
Animal Friends issued a warning urging pet owners to keep animals safe from hypothermia and frostbite during the cold weather.
Despite having fur coats, domesticated animals like dogs, cats and rabbits depend on humans for protection from the elements.
"The community should know that outdoor pets cannot withstand freezing temperatures. Animals have been known to die from exposure and for their own protection, they should be brought indoors immediately," said Kathy Hecker, humane investigations officer for Animal Friends.
Consider the following cold weather safety tips for pets:

• Do not leave pets unattended when the temperature drops below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit)Low temperatures, winds and precipitation can lead to illness, hypothermia and death. Dogs, cats, rabbits or any domesticated pet can suffer from frostbite in a matter of minutes, mainly on feet, ears and tails.
• Signs of hypothermia include: weak pulse, dilated pupils, decreased heart rate, extreme shivering, pale or blue mucus membranes, stupor and unconsciousness. If you believe your pet is suffering from hypothermia, call your veterinarian immediately.
• The salt and other chemicals used to melt snow and ice can irritate the pads of your pet's feet. Wipe paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates his/her mouth.
• Antifreeze is a deadly poison, but it has a sweet taste that may attract animals and children. Wipe up spills and store antifreeze out of reach.
• Warm engines in parked cars attract cats and small wildlife, who may crawl up under the hood. To avoid injuring any hidden animals, bang on your car's hood to scare them away before starting your engine.
• Routinely check your pet's water dish to make certain the water is fresh and unfrozen. Use plastic bowls rather than metal; when the temperature is low, your pet's tongue can stick and freeze to metal.
• If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type (small or short-haired), take them outdoors only long enough to relieve themselves. Puppies do not tolerate cold as well as adult dogs.
• Feral and outdoor cats need to stay warm as well! Because blankets, towels and pillows can get wet and freeze, straw is the best insulation against the cold and weather.

Things to Do After New Years

Are you looking for a nice activity to do this weekend?  Here are some great listings of activities in Pittsburgh over the next week.  All of these events are either low cost or free!  You can learn more at Living Pittsburgh.

Friday, January 3
Hoppy Hour– FREE
Kid’s Crafternoon: Accordion Book Making — FREE
Dreadnought’s Casual Wine Class & Tasting — $12
The Craftsman’s Guild of Pittsburgh Holiday Artist Market — FREE admission
26th Annual Holiday Train Display — $4- $6
Free Coffee Fridays — FREE
Good Fridays at The Andy Warhol Museum – 1/2 priced admission
Observatory SkyWatch at the Science Center – $1
Storytimes Around the City – FREE
Friday Night Improv at Studio Theater – $3
Salsa Fridays at Cabaret at Theater Square – $5
Kinder Klimb at REI – FREE with $20 LIFETIME membership
Line Dancing lessons at Saddle Ridge – FREE
Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Friday – $3 or less
Friday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Fridays
Saturday, January 4
The Craftsman’s Guild of Pittsburgh Holiday Artist Market — FREE admission
26th Annual Holiday Train Display — $4- $6
That’s Sew Cool!– FREE
Saturday Nights at Swing City – $10-12
Saturday Light Brigade Radio Show – FREE
Sunday, January 5
The Craftsman’s Guild of Pittsburgh Holiday Artist Market — FREE admission
26th Annual Holiday Train Display — $4- $6
Free Sunday Afternoons at the Carnegie Library – FREE
Fifty Cent Sundaze at Arsenal Bowling Lanes – $6 plus .50 cent games, shoe rental and hot dogs
Starving Artist Sunday Supper at Brillobox - $6
Sunday Brunch Deals – affordable local brunches
Sunday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Sundays
Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Sunday – $3 or less
Sunday Bloody Mary Specials in Pittsburgh – ‘Mary specials in the ‘Burgh on Sundays
Monday, January 6
S.W.A.G — Sweating With a Goal — $5
AcoustiCafe – FREE admission and drink specials
Totally Free Mondays at Steel City Improv Theater – FREE
Affordable Monday at South Side Works – Around $35 for two people
Salsa Mondays at Seviche – FREE, no cover
Storytimes Around the City – FREE
Cheap Movie Deals Around the ‘Burgh on Mondays – discounted movies on Mondays
Monday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Mondays
Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Monday – $3 or less
Cheap Monday Taco Days – taco specials in the ‘Burgh on Mondays
Tuesday, January 7
1/2 Off Tuesdays at The Mattress Factory - FREE – $7.50
2 for 1 admission to the Clayton – purchase one admission, get another FREE
Two for Tuesday at Color Me Mine – two paint for the price of one
Ceili Dance Lessons – FREE
JazzLive at the Backstage Bar – FREE
Tiny Tots at Romp N Roll Skating Rink – $5.00 for food, skating and skates
Storytimes Around the City – FREE
Terrific Tuesday in the Cultural District - Around $30-$35 for two people
Cheap Movie Deals Around the ‘Burgh on Tuesdays – discounted movies on Tuesdays
Tot Tuesdays at The Aviary - 1/2 off admission for children 5 and under w/ paying adult
Tuesday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Tuesdays
Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Tuesday – $3 or less
1/2 off Wine on Tuesday – 1/2 price wine by the bottle or glass
Cheap Tuesday Taco Days – taco specials in the ‘Burgh on Tuesdays

Wednesday, January 8
Community Night at the Union Project - Donation based
Yoga on Centre Pay-What-You-Can yoga classes – pay what you can
$1 Night at North Versailles Bowling Center – $1 games, food, drink & shoe rental specials
Pittsburgh Banjo Club Open Rehearsal – FREE
Mommy & Me Wednesdays at My Little Outback – $2 discount
Bluegrass Night at the Park House – FREE Bluegrass music
Dave & Buster’s 1/2 off game day – 1/2 priced games all day
Storytimes Around the City – FREE
Cheap Movie Deals Around the ‘Burgh on Wednesdays – discounted movies on Wednesdays
Wednesday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Wednesdays
Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Wednesday – $3 or less
1/2 off Wine on Wednesday – 1/2 price wine by the bottle or glass
Cheap Wednesday Taco Days – taco specials in the ‘Burgh on Wednesdays
Thursday, January 9
Entrepreneurial Thursdays at Little E’s – $5
Senior discount admission at Clayton – $5 instead of $12
Thursday Matinee at the Harris Theater – $5.00
offCenter at the August Wilson Center – FREE
1/2 off Wine on Thursdays – 1/2 price wine by the bottle or glass
Storytimes Around the City – FREE
Salsa Thursdays at Bossa Nova – FREE, no cover
Pittsburgh Improv Jam Comedy Show - $3 plus $2.50 craft beer special
Thursday Funday Downtown – $20 to $25 per person for an ENTIRE evening out
Cheap Movie Deals Around the ‘Burgh on Thursdays – discounted movies on Thursdays
Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Thursdays – $3 or less
Thursday Wing Nights – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Thursdays
Cheap Thursday Taco Days – taco specials in the ‘Burgh on Thursdays

Friday, January 10
26th Annual Holiday Train Display — $4- $6
Free Coffee Fridays — FREE
Good Fridays at The Andy Warhol Museum – 1/2 priced admission
Observatory SkyWatch at the Science Center – $1
Storytimes Around the City – FREE
Friday Night Improv at Studio Theater – $3
Salsa Fridays at Cabaret at Theater Square – $5
Kinder Klimb at REI – FREE with $20 LIFETIME membership
Line Dancing lessons at Saddle Ridge – FREE
Cheap Burgers in the ‘Burgh on Friday – $3 or less
Friday Wing Deals – wing specials in the ‘Burgh on Fridays