Looking for a simple way to get the leftovers in your refrigerator in order?

Toss out your old, warped, stained, BPA-filled, mismatched food storage containers. Then, shell out about $30 for a set of Rubbermaid Lock-Its with Easy Find Lids (they are cheapest at your local Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale, Costco, etc.)

I did it & couldn’t be happier – here’s why: Read more »

I live in an apartment with three other girls and things can get very messy. We’ve got tons of stuff and we’re busy, so we don’t have so much time to clean up! Luckily, we’ve come up with a way to keep our beautiful apartment shiny and clean (and yes, we do get compliments on it) – a cleaning schedule.

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The holidays are approaching quickly (or are already here – we’re in the middle of Chanukah right now!) and that means more than just food, family and travel. At the office, there are holiday parties and probably a few co-workers you want to (or should) get gifts for.

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Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and overcrowded malls for the next three weeks are a great reminder of how much we need to buy for the holiday season. Special food, clothes, and, of course, gifts. Even if you get little presents for all of the people on your list, it adds up pretty quickly and can be surprisingly expensive!

Here’s my family’s solution: Picking names! We each (randomly) choose someone’s name and get a gift just for that person. That way, everyone gets to participate in the gift exchange, but it’s not quite as overwhelming and expensive. Plus, with only one family member to shop for, buying and shopping becomes so much less stressful! (It also works well in groups of friends and co-workers.)

A couple of suggestions:

Garmin GPS and other hot gadgets
Clue, Harry Potter edition and other gifts under $30
Julie and Julia and other books
Desk zen garden and other co-worker gifts

What are your holiday gift-giving tips?

The day before Thanksgiving means crowded airports, crowded supermarkets and last minute cooking. The key to successfully preparing a Thanksgiving dinner (besides, of course, quality ingredients) is the kitchen tools.

The most important on my list are:
Three-tiered oven rack
Turkey lifters
Tongs
Digital thermometer

Also on the list and very cool (but maybe not necessary) – a stuffing cage for cooking the stuffing inside of your turkey!

Spring the whole list!

What are your last minute Thanksgiving tips?

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, everyone’s got food on the brain – figuring out who’s bringing what, cooking it, and eating it. One of my favorite dishes each year is the mashed potatoes, yum! We make two versions in my family: dairy-free with soymilk (for my vegan and lactose intolerant relatives) and buttery ones for everyone else. Whether or not they’re dairy, though, they’re always perfectly fluffy and delicious.

Our secret to fluffy mashed potatoes? Using a mixer. Not a potato masher, definitely not a food processor (it makes them glue-y), but a stand mixer! Boil the potatoes, spoon them out into the mixer and add in milk and butter until they’re perfectly fluffy. Sprinkle in a little bit of salt and pepper to taste and you’re set… it’s that easy!

Try out this mixer with this recipe for perfect mashed potatoes.
Spring the mixer!
Spring the recipe!

What’s your favorite Thanksgiving trick?

Quick Tip: Make fruit-infused ice cubes from Lifehacker.

“Ice cubes enhanced in a variety of ways, such as making them out of juice or encasing a fruit complementary to the liquid surrounding it… Perhaps not practical for everyday use, garnished ice cubes can still add flavor and flair to drinks at your next summertime party.”

This creative idea is great for adding pizazz to drinks even in the winter! Why not spice up a dinner party with these great drink recipes:

Sparkling strawberry lemonade Spring the recipe!
Spiked peach iced tea Spring the recipe!