Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Holiday Planning Countdown

Are you ready for the holidays? We have found a great Holiday countdown checklist. In this blog, 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!

Elf the Movie Free

Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color? This is one of our all time favorite Christmas movies. You and your loved ones can watch it for free on December 17th at the Kelly-Strayhorn theater. This is event is free and it includes snacks and holiday beverages. You can find out more information at Living Pittsburgh.

WHEN:

December 17, 2014 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

WHERE: Kelly-Strayhorn Theater


5941 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
USA


COST: FREE

CONTACT: EVENT WEBSITE


Come enjoy a free showing of Elf, the hilarious 2003 Christmas classic. On Wednesday, December 17, at 7pm, join us for the movie, along with free snacks and holiday beverages! On screen you can enjoy the star-studded cast of Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, Bob Newhart, James Caan, and more, and in the theater you can make new friends and share the holiday cheer with other East End families.

Holiday Party Tips and Tricks

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.

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.