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.

The Four Best Herbs For Your Thanksgiving

Do you know what herbs need to be in  Turkey for the best stuffing and taste?  The Kitchn has instructions on how to use these four herbs to make the perfect Thanksgiving turkey.  These herbs are easy to find, and they will bring the perfect taste to your Thanksgiving Dinner.

Want to stuff the Thanksgiving turkey with some fresh herbs or chop some up for stuffing and are not sure which ones to use? Here are the four traditional herbs you should pick up and use in your cooking to really give it that authentic Thanksgiving aroma and taste!

1. Parsley

There are two types of parsley sold in the store: Flat-leaf and curly. Choose Italian flat-leaf parsley since it has a more pronounced flavor, although many people like to decorate with the curly variety. Strip the tender leaves off the stems before chopping them up, but you can always save the stems to flavor stocks and soups. Parsley is a great all-purpose herb to have around to add fresh, delicate flavor. Add the leaves into your dish at the last minute for the freshest flavor and brightest color.

2. Thyme

Thyme is one of my favorite herbs and the one I most associate with Thanksgiving. I especially love it in stuffing and to flavor the turkey. Thyme stems are woody, so you should strip the tender leaves off of them for cooking. Thyme benefits from some cooking time to bring out the oils and aromas of the leaves.

3. Rosemary

The piney scent and flavor of rosemary helps conjure images of Christmas trees and cozying up to the fire. A little goes a long way with rosemary, so err on the side of starting out with less and know that you can add more. Like thyme, the needle-like rosemary leaves should be stripped off the woody stems and chopped up finely, and they also benefit from some cooking time, especially since the coarse leaves aren't great eaten raw.

4. Sage

I love the feeling of soft, velvety sage leaves. Its leaves are extremely tender and have an aroma reminiscent of pine and eucalyptus, but again, make sure to strip the leaves off the tough stems first. Sage is a member of the mint family and pairs well with poultry, pork, and sausage, and it also pairs well with butternut squash and other sweet flavors.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

The Perfect Dessert

What is your holiday staple? We love baking apple pies for the holidays! However, baking a pie to have it crumble is something that no one wants to experience. We have gathered five baking tips to make the perfect apple pie every time. You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.





1. Using the wrong variety of apple.

When choosing apples for your pie, keep in mind that all apples were not created equal. Just because your favorite apple variety is perfect for eating out of hand, doesn't necessarily mean it's the best choice when it comes to making pie. Certain apple varieties, as well as overripe fruit, will break down quite a lot during baking, leaving you with mushy pie filling.


→ Follow this tip: Choose your apples with care. The best apples for baking provide a nice blend of sweet-tart flavor, and hold their shape well under high heat. Some of the best varieties for baking include, Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, and Honeycrip. It's also nice to use a blend of apples to vary the taste and texture of the filling.






2. Not chilling the pie dough.

Nothing beats tender, flaky pie crust. And, there's one key to making this happen every single time - chilling your pie dough. This step is important for two reasons — it re-solidifies the butter, and allows also the gluten to relax and de-activate. Not taking time to rest and chill the dough will result in pie crust that's tough and more likely to shrink during baking.


→ Follow this tip: When making pie crust, keeping it cold is the rule to live by, starting with using cold butter to prepare the dough. After making the dough divide it into two equal portions (assuming you're making a double-crust pie), form it into disks, cover each with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Then, chill the dough again after its been rolled and placed in the pie dish, before filling it. Also consider popping your fully assembled pie in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes before putting it on the oven.
3. Not using egg wash.

This last little step before the pie goes into the oven is so easy to overlook. Skipping this is also one of my pet peeves when it comes to double-crusted pie. Again, it's a small step and it doesn't affect the taste of the pie, so much as it affects its appearance. But, that's equally as important! Egg wash gives the pie crust a nice golden brown color and beautiful, glossy sheen.


→ Follow this tip: Whisk together 1 egg, plus 1 tablespoon of cream or milk, then brush over the top layer of dough once the pie is completely assembled.


4. Not pre-baking your pumpkin pie crust.

If you've got plans to bake a pumpkin pie, or any other custard-based pie, take note, because this is crucial. This step is also known as blind baking, and requires that the bottom crust be partially baked before the filling is added. Skip this and you'll find yourself with an soggy, under-baked pie crust that's totally inedible.


→ Follow this tip: Blind baking is necessary when making a custard pie, like pumpkin, and when the pie filling doesn't get baked.

5. Cracked pumpkin pie.

Have you ever taken a perfect-looking pumpkin pie out of the oven, only to have the center cracked once the pie cools? This is the result of overcooking. Even though the pie may not looked overcooked when it comes out of the oven, residual heat continues to cook the dessert, and the overcooked eggs are the cause of the crack.


→ Follow this tip: Remove the pie from the oven as soon as the filling sets, but before it completely firms up.

Veteran's Day Fact

We want to thank all of the veterans that have served our country. We can not thank you enough for the sacrifices you have made. Here are some facts about Veteran's Day that you may not know. You can learn more here.


Fun Fact #1:

Veterans Day was once known as Armistice Day. The term comes from an armistice between Germany and the Allied Nations on November 11, 1918 (Also known the armistice ending on the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day of the eleventh month). World War I actually ended on June 28, 1919, during the Treaty of Versailles. The first Armistice Day was acknowledged on November 11, 1919.

Fun Fact #2:

November 11 is both a State and Federal Holiday. (And yes, we’re still open.)

Fun Fact #3:

The original idea behind the celebrations for this holiday was parades and public meetings and also a brief suspension of businesses at 11:00 AM. This is true to this day as a number of parades are held across America as well as speeches are given.

Fun Fact #4:

On June 1, 1954, Armistice Day had its named changed to Veterans Day. This was due to a change in an act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, which made the 11th of November a legal holiday, known as “Armistice Day”. The primary purpose was to honor the veterans of World War I, but in World War II, there was a great immobilization of Veterans, thus changing its name of “Armistice” to “Veterans”.

Fun Fact #5:

Disney made films for during World War II, for each branch of the United States government.

Fun Fact #6:

Approximately 90% of Disney employees worked in the making of propaganda and training videos during World War II.

Fun Fact #7:

Today, there exists about 1.6 million female veterans.

Fun Fact #8:

Between 1971 and 1977, Veterans Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October. It was changed back to its original date, on November 11, 1978 due to a General R. Ford’s signing of Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479).

Fun Fact #9:

Arlington National Cemetery has ceremony on Veterans Day every year to honor those who died during times of war. The ceremonies are held around the Tomb of the Unknowns and at 11:00 AM, on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes “Present Arms” at the tomb.

Fun Fact #10:

Veterans Day falls on the same day as Remembrance Day and Armistice Day in other countries.

Fun Fact #11:

There is not supposed to be an apostrophe in Veterans Day. Still some spell it Veteran’s Day or Veterans’ Day.

Fun Fact #12:

Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran came up with the idea to honor all veterans on November 11, not just the ones who died in World War I.

Fun Fact #13:

On November 11, 1921, an American soldier was buried at the national cemetery in Arlington. His identity was unknown (and his grave site is what we know as today as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier). Every year on November 11, the president or a high-ranking member of the government lays a wreath on his grave.

Fun Fact #14:

In a 2009 report, there were estimated to be 21.9 million veterans.

Fun Fact #15:

The median income for veterans in 2009 was approximately $35,000 a year.

Fun Fact #16:

Many people confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day. Memorial Day is primarily remembered for those died during their service to our country, particularly ones who died as a result of battle. Veterans Day is to acknowledge primarily all those served in the military, either during wartime or peacetime.

Fun Fact #17:

Some schools close on Veterans Day and some stay open. There is no legal requirement for a school to close or to stay open, as individual schools districts or states are free to establish their own policies.

Fun Fact #18:

The word veteran comes from the nomenclature of the old English language, meaning old, experienced soldier.

Fun Fact #19:

The first use of the word, veteran came to use in 1789, in the English language when referring a former member of the armed forces or an ex-serviceman. The extended meaning of the word goes back to someone who has served a longtime in any position.

Fun Fact #20:

California has more U.S. military veterans than any other state.

I hoped you enjoyed these fun facts about Veterans Day and for all those veterans out there, living or dead, we proudly support you.

Make The Perfect Pie Crust

The holiday season is quickly approaching. What do you like to make for those family dinners at the end of the year. We have provided you some tips on how to make the perfect pie crust. This crust will be delicious and perfect for your favorite pie. You can learn more at The Kitchn.


1. Blind Bake

The most common way to ward off a soggy pie crust is by a process called blind baking. Blind baking means you pre-bake the crust (sometimes covered with parchment or foil and weighed down with pie weights to prevent the crust from bubbling up) so that it sets and crisps up before you add any wet filling.

You can fully blind bake a pie until it's completely cooked, which you have to do when adding a cooked filling like custard or mousse, or you can partially bake the crust before adding the filling and finishing the baking. In either case, blind baking goes a long way in keeping everything nice and crisp!



2. Brush With Egg

Another way to prevent a soggy crust is to basically seal the surface of it to make a barrier between the crust and the filling. Brushing the surface of the unbaked crust with beaten egg or egg white mixed with water before adding the filling means that as it bakes, the proteins in the egg will form a moisture barrier over the crust and provide a layer of protection.
3. Brush With Chocolate

Along the same vein as brushing unbaked crust with egg to make a moisture barrier is the tasty method of brushing blind-baked crust with chocolate to make things even crispier. Let your fully blind-baked crust cool completely, then brush with melted chocolate and let that set before adding your filling. Not only do you end up with a super-crisp crust, but you get a sweet bonus layer of chocolate too!
4. Bake on a Hot Baking Sheet

Pie crust gets light, flaky and crisp when the heat of the oven melts the little nubs of fat inside the crust quickly and so that they form steam that puffs the crust up. You want that process to happen quickly so that the crust sets before the filling has much of a chance to seep in and make things soggy. Place a baking sheet in the oven as it heats, then place your pie dish directly on that hot baking sheet — this little extra boost of heat will do wonders in terms of getting the crust to cook and set quickly.

5. Keep Moisture Out

One of the easiest ways to prevent a soggy pie crust is to keep the moisture out in the first place. Toss your fruit with sugar, let it sit for awhile so the juices start to come out, then strain out those juices. You can discard those juices or boil them down into a syrup that gets tossed back in with the fruit before baking.

And if you're doing a double-crust fruit pie, don't forget to cut a little circle in the middle or slits in the top crust — it's important to create a vent where steam from the filling has a chance to escape instead of settling into the crust.

Things to Pay Attention To After Vacation

Did you recently travel? There are so many things that you can learn from coming back from vacation. Make sure to pay attention to how you feel when you walk back into your home. Keep reading and you can learn more below. Check out Apartment Therapy for more information.



How Your Home Smells

Our bodies are wired to get used to familiar smells; if a particular scent doesn't pose a threat, your brain likes to ignore it and focus on other things. This kind of "nose blindness" is in effect in your home, too. Coming back home after a long trip away gives you a chance to smell your home like a guest would, and take action against pet odors or a musty scent that you might regularly ignore.



How to Get Your Best Sleep

Staying over in a new place gives you an opportunity to hit reset on your sleep habits. An unfamiliar bed or free reign over a hotel thermostat can make you more mindful of the things that make a good or bad night's rest for you at home. When you return from your lesson, do some homework. Swap out your sheers for blackout curtains and turn the temperature way down without guilt.

The Basics of A Streamlined Wardrobe


As you're packing a few days' worth of clothes into a carry-on bag, you'll inevitably have to make some sacrifices (especially for me; I like having options). Yet living out of a suitcase somehow makes getting dressed in the morning easier. A vacation away from home will teach you a bit about being a closet minimalist, and show you which versatile wardrobe basics are worth holding on to.