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5 Ways to Cook Vegetables

Preparing vegetables will always demand some extra time and care. However, these days we're all trying to get more vegetables into our daily lives. Knowing more general ways to cook them only works in our favor.

The transformation from raw to cooked never ceases to inspire and once you learn the overall cooking processes, you can tackle any vegetable like a pro. Below is just a start of ways you can experiment with vegetables but hopefully this inspire more vegetable cooking in your kitchen.

Blanching

Blanching is a quick cooking process that involves submerging vegetables in boiling water for a short period of time. This process helps vegetables lose that extreme crispy bite that might be too much for some meals. Blanching works great for items like asparagus, broccoli and cauliflower but can also be great for greens.

How to blanch

To blanch, bring a pot of salted water to a boil with a bowl of ice water nearby. Drop in your prepped vegetables and let them cook for only a few minutes. The timing will depend on the heartiness of what you're cooking. Spinach will take around 30 seconds while broccoli could be minutes. You want them to still be bright, colorful, and crisp but not crunchy. Strain the vegetables and transfer to the ice bath.

How to use blanched vegetables

I like to use blanched vegetables for vegetable cakes, stir fries, or if I plan on pan-frying the vegetables after blanching. Getting blanching under your fingers is also a good thing to have in your pocket if you ever plan on freezing vegetables (which helps seal in color, flavor, and nutrients.)

Example uses blanched vegetables:

Broccoli Melts Broccoli Pesto Pasta Garlicky Yogurt Green Beans

Roasting

One of my favorite ways to cook harder vegetables like squash is by tossing them in oil and salt and popping them in a 425˚F oven. Let them roast under high heat for 30, 40, 50 minutes - I never really set a timer I just check them occasionally with a fork to test for softness and some good coloring.

How to use roasted vegetables

Roasting vegetables is a great way to lock in flavor and have a bit of char-flavor to the items. Roasted vegetables are perfect as a side but I love adding them to all kinds of meals including pizza toppings, tacos, pasta, and salads.

Example uses roasted vegetables:

Sweet Chili Roasted Sweet Potato Spring Rolls Roasted Tomato Sauce Einkorn Risotto with Roasted Asparagus Chili Roasted Broccoli

Steaming

I often times forget about this option when I am preparing vegetables. When I think about cooking a sweet potato or a hard winter squash, I sometimes get mentally cornered into thinking that turning on the oven is the only way to get the job done.

Steaming takes a fraction of the time, and is easier to clean up because there is no greasy oil or crusty bit of veg stuck to the pan. I highly recommend picking up a steaming basket. This makes steaming a bit easier because you can lift the vegetables out at the end of steaming.

How to steam vegetables

For steaming, all the vegetables should be roughly the same size, to cook evenly. Place about 1” of water in the bottom of a pot. This water should not touch the steaming basket, though. Bring that water to a boil, add your vegetables, turn the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook until the vegetables are just-tender. The vegetables should be bright in color still (similar to blanching).

Remove the steaming basket and run the vegetables until cold water to stop the cooking process then season as desired! Steamed vegetables do well when finished with fats like olive oil, homemade aioli, or other types of rich sauces.

How to use steamed vegetables

Steamed vegetables make for great side dishes. I also like to use steaming if I plan on pureeing something into a sauce or soup. You could also use as a filling for enchiladas, frittatas, or grain bowls.

Example uses steamed vegetables:

Carrot Baked Barley Risotto (calls for roasting but could use steamed carrots) Sweet Potato Pasta (calls for roasting but could use steamed sweet potato cubes) Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese (calls for boiling but could use steamed sweet potatoes)

Sautéing

I used to be intimidated by the term sauté - I thought you were only doing it right if you managed to toss the food from your pan up into the air and back into the pan again with a graceful yet incredibly strong wrist action (luckily that's not so).

How to sauté vegetables

Sauté simply means to fry something quickly in a little hot fat. Cut your vegetables into evenly sized pieces, heat a pan with some oil or ghee, and toss in the vegetables. Coat them in the hot fat, and let the magic of fat and heat work wonders. Shoot for even coloring and frequent stirring until everything is tender and ideally caramelized or tastefully browned.

How to use sauteéd vegetables

Sautéed vegetables work well if you're already making a meal on the stove-top. Tacos, grain bowls, and egg skillets are all great ways to use sautéed vegetables.

Example uses sauteéd vegetables:

Pan Fried Turnips White Beans and Potatoes in Spicy Tomato Sauce Green Bean Stir Fry Vegetable Lo Mein

Pickling

This isn't necessarily a 'cooking method' but the fermentation nerd side of me can't overlook the ease and fun of quick pickling vegetables. There is no canning required, just some vinegar, salt, sugar, and spices if you wish. There are many different variations on pickling, which can be found along with instructions here.

How to use quick pickles

Quick pickles are great on sandwiches, as a topping for salads/grain bowls, or as a simple snack. Many different vegetables work well as quick pickles- just play around and find what you like!

Example uses pickled vegetables:

Hummus Sandwich with Pickled Carrots Avocado Romain Wedge Salad with Pickled Radish Caramelized Onion and Cheese Toast with Quick Pickles

The post 5 Ways to Cook Vegetables appeared first on Naturally..

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earleschulze-blog · 6 years ago

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Heart Attack on a Plate Valentine's Day Breakfast

Today's recipe is a special breakfast dish to whip up for your Valentine. I titled it Heart Attack on a Plate because it's high in calories, loaded with fat and should only be eaten on special occasions unless you actually want to develop heart disease. Bread is cut into the shape of hearts, dipped in egg and fried in bacon fat. The bread slices that have the hearts cut out of are then cooked in the bacon fat as well and a whole egg is fried in the center of the toast. This tasty dish is topped with jam, syrup and cinnamon sugar for a sweet and savory treat for your loved one.

Put on your stretchy pants and head to the kitchen with me to make this Heart Attack on a Plate Valentine's Day Breakfast.

Heart Attack on a Plate

Hey Gnomies,

We are making one of the most unhealthy, artery clogged meals I have come up with on my blog today. I'm technically on a diet (not that that has ever stopped me from indulging in treats) so I only tried a few bites. My husband on the other hand loves this breakfast meal and gives it two big thumbs up.

A heart attack on a plate is a slang term for a very unhealthy meal. Urban Dictionary defines it as: “An especially unhealthy meal, typically one that is high in saturated fat.”

You may also like: Red Wine Hot Chocolate

Ingredients you may need for a Heart Attack on a Plate:

Bread

Eggs

Bacon

Jam

Maple syrup

Heart shaped cookie cutter

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for being part of Crafty Little Gnome

Heart Shaped Cookie Cutters

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A Heart Attack on a Plate for your Valentine

Tips for making a Heart Attack on a Plate

The full instructions are found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, however there are three different sections to the recipe:

First, you will fry the bacon in a pan. I prefer to use a cast iron skillet. Once the bacon is cooked to perfection, set it aside- but don't drain the pan. You will use the bacon fat to fry the rest of the ingredients.

You may also like: Thin Crust Sweet Chili Pizza

Next, you will cut heart shapes out of the bread. Do you have to cut a heart shape? Of course not, you can do any shape you like but this is a Valentine's day post so I did hearts. Dip the bread hearts in a mixture of egg and milk and fry them in the bacon fat. Set aside to cool and top with strawberry jelly.

Finally, take the remainder of the bread slices with heart-centers removed and dip them into the egg batter. You are making a french-toast-style Toad in the Hole. Be careful not to rip the bread, as it is delicate. Fry them on the pan and crack an egg into the center of each of them. Flip and fry until the egg is cooked.

Assemble everything on a plate and add syrup and cinnamon sugar on top.

Enjoy and make sure you clear the rest of your schedule for the day as you may fall into a food coma.

What is a “Toad in the Hole” and where does the name come from?

A Toad in the Hole in America and England are totally different breakfast dishes.The English classic Toad in the Hole is sausage links baked in a Yorkshire pudding like flour egg batter served with onion, gravy and vegetables. In North America it is a piece of bread with the middle cut out, toasted in a pan with an egg fried in the center of.

In this recipe I made the American version, but with a twist- I dipped the toast in egg batter before frying with the egg in the center.

Dishes like toad in the hole appeared in print as early as 1762, where it was described as a 'vulgar' name for a small piece of beef baked in a large pudding.

You may also like: Bacon wrapped burger with pineapple

Toad in the hole was originally created as a way to stretch out meat in poor households. Chefs therefore suggested using the cheapest meats in this dish. Despite popular belief, there is no record of the dish ever being made with toad. The origin of the name is unclear, but it may refer to the way toads wait for their prey in their burrows, making their heads visible in the earth, just like the sausages peep through the batter.

Remember, if you like this recipe please rate it 5 stars!

Bon Appetit!

{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Recipe","name":"Heart Attack on a Plate Valentine's Day Breakfast","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"adrienne"},"datePublished":"2019-01-14","recipeYield":"2 Servings","description":"Heart Attack on a Plate: Heart shaped bacon fried french toast with Toad in a hole and bacon.","image":["https:\/\/www.craftylittlegnome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/heart-attack-2-720x720.jpg","https:\/\/www.craftylittlegnome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/heart-attack-2-720x540.jpg","https:\/\/www.craftylittlegnome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/heart-attack-2-720x405.jpg","https:\/\/www.craftylittlegnome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/heart-attack-2-735x551.jpg"],"recipeCategory":"Food & Drink","recipeCuisine":"American","prepTime":"PT10M","cookTime":"PT20M","performTime":"PT20M","totalTime":"PT30M","recipeIngredient":["8 slices of bacon","4 slices of bread","8 eggs","2 tbsp of milk","Strawberry jam","Maple syrup","Cinnamon sugar"],"recipeInstructions":"Cook bacon on a frying pan at medium to high heat. Once bacon is cooked remove it from the pan but do not drain the grease from the pan.\n\n\n\nUse the heart shaped cookie cutter, cut hearts into the slices of bread. Use the bread hearts in the next step and set aside the rest of the bread for later.\n\n\n\nCrack two eggs and whip them in a shallow bowl with a dash of milk.\nDip both sides of the heart shaped bread in the egg batter and then fry in the bacon fat until the egg is cooked. Set aside.\n\n\n\nTake the pieces of bread with the hearts cut out and dip them in the egg and then place on the frying pan.\nCrack and egg into the center of the bread.\n\n\n\nFry until egg is mostly cooked and then flip it over.\nAssemble plate with cooked bacon, heart shaped french toast and heart shaped toad in a hole.\nSpread strawberry jam on heart shaped french toast.\nDrizzle maple syrup on everything and add a light dusting of cinnamon sugar.","keywords":"heart attack plate","nutrition":{"@type":"NutritionInformation","calories":"1057 calories","carbohydrateContent":"135 grams carbohydrates","cholesterolContent":"791 milligrams cholesterol","fatContent":"38 grams fat","fiberContent":"10 grams fiber","proteinContent":"47 grams protein","saturatedFatContent":"12 grams saturated fat","servingSize":"1","sodiumContent":"1378 grams sodium","sugarContent":"90 grams sugar","transFatContent":"0 grams trans fat","unsaturatedFatContent":"23 grams unsaturated fat"}}

Yield: 2 Servings

Heart Attack on a Plate Valentine's Day Breakfast

Print

Heart Attack on a Plate: Heart shaped bacon fried french toast with Toad in a hole and bacon.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

8 slices of bacon

4 slices of bread

8 eggs

2 tbsp of milk

Strawberry jam

Maple syrup

Cinnamon sugar

Instructions

Cook bacon on a frying pan at medium to high heat. Once bacon is cooked remove it from the pan but do not drain the grease from the pan.

Use the heart shaped cookie cutter, cut hearts into the slices of bread. Use the bread hearts in the next step and set aside the rest of the bread for later.

Crack two eggs and whip them in a shallow bowl with a dash of milk.

Dip both sides of the heart shaped bread in the egg batter and then fry in the bacon fat until the egg is cooked. Set aside.

Take the pieces of bread with the hearts cut out and dip them in the egg and then place on the frying pan.

Crack and egg into the center of the bread.

Fry until egg is mostly cooked and then flip it over.

Assemble plate with cooked bacon, heart shaped french toast and heart shaped toad in a hole.

Spread strawberry jam on heart shaped french toast.

Drizzle maple syrup on everything and add a light dusting of cinnamon sugar.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1057 Total Fat: 38g Saturated Fat: 12g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 23g Cholesterol: 791mg Sodium: 1378mg Carbohydrates: 135g Fiber: 10g Sugar: 90g Protein: 47g

Cuisine: American / Category: Food & Drink

The post Heart Attack on a Plate Valentine's Day Breakfast appeared first on Crafty Little Gnome.

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earleschulze-blog · 6 years ago

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Reasons to Love Mobile Banking

Online and mobile banking is on the rise, and as the country's leading Black owned online banking institution, it's only right we address the in's and out's of this tech trend.

Mobile banking allows you to take OneUnited Bank anywhere you go, so you can check your account balance, transfer funds, pay bills, review your purchase history, deposit checks, watch movies, and much more. Well, maybe not the movies part, but it sounded like a good idea right? More importantly this makes banking so much easier, especially if you're trying to get your friends to make the switch to banking Black. Let's look at some of the reasons to fall in love with mobile banking, and maybe it'll be easier to convince your friends and family to do the same.

It's Efficient. There's no need to run to a branch location or go through the process of logging in through your mobile browser, the app is your bank. Not only can you manage your normal, every day banking needs, but you can do it without disrupting the rest of your daily schedule. Banking Black is easier than ever.

Bank Anywhere. With access to over 30,000 surcharge free ATMs nationwide our customers are familiar with accessibility… and mobile banking extends that capability. Whether you're traveling, moving out of the country, or possibly skydiving with an itch to check your balance, all your banking needs are at your fingertips. Enjoy the same services and features anywhere you are.

Products & Services. Like we said before mobile banking allows you to access all the services of the bank, created with the intention to ease the process of banking activities that previously would have forced you to go to a physical location. As technology grows so does what you can do with the app, like as remote deposit capture, which allows you to deposit your check by simply taking a picture of it through you mobile device. How convenient is that?

Secure. The common hesitation with mobile banking is usually the question, “just how safe is it…really?” Well, we can guarantee that every time you use the app your privacy is not only protected but all information shared between your mobile device and our banking servers is encrypted. Furthermore, we require that you authenticate yourself upon each/any mobile device using your online banking information as a safeguard for your account and information.

No fees. Yes, you read that right, there are no fees associated with mobile banking. Unlike fees associated with banking, such as maintenance, ATM, or paper statement fees. There are no surprises here, although, you should check with your phone carrier to be aware of any stipulations attached to using the app.

Control. The most significant feature of mobile banking is intangible because it's the newfound control you have over your finances. Monitoring your spending and account balances becomes second nature due to the ease of access. Finally bought that flat screen that might've cost a little too much? Grab your phone and immediately check your balance. Transferring money to your savings to save you from yourself? It can be done at the click of a button. You've always controlled your finances, now control the way you bank.

As the age of information only grows, so does our ability to elevate systems that have been in place for decades. Our first level up was turning our customers into advocates, to share the message of banking Black, and circulating your dollars back into our communities, now it's reaching another height with mobile banking.

From efficiency to accessibility and control, #BankBlack your way, right from the palm of your hand.

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earleschulze-blog · 6 years ago

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Reviewing 2018's Home Goals + Setting New Ones for 2019

It's a new year and with it comes a gameplan for DIY projects around our homes. Here's what we both hope to accomplish in 2019...

Keep Reading

The post Reviewing 2018's Home Goals + Setting New Ones for 2019 appeared first on DIY Playbook.

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earleschulze-blog · 6 years ago

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How to Stick to Your New Year's Cleaning Resolutions

2019 is here and the annual tradition of setting New Year's Resolutions and vowing to break bad habits has begun!

The new year is the perfect time to start afresh and set yourself a few personal goals. This year, why not try setting some resolutions for your home too? From monthly decluttering, to cleaning the fridge once a week, these can be a great way to improve your family's wellbeing and the general cleanliness of your home.

Once you have decided on your resolutions, the hard part is sticking to them! By late February, many of us begin to lose motivation.

Make this year different – we have gathered six tips that are sure to make your New Year's cleaning resolutions a success!

1. Keep it simple

It is easy to get carried away when making resolutions, especially when filled with the optimism and determination of the new year. In reality, establishing new cleaning habits will take time and willpower. So, the best approach is to settle for a few, simple resolutions. This will allow you to focus your efforts and will make sticking to your goals more achievable. Check out our post on New Year's Resolutions to Improve Your House's Well-Being for some ideas!

2. Make a plan, not a wish

Once you have decided on your resolutions, the key is to make them specific. For instance, instead of declaring, 'this year I will keep the fridge organised', it is much more effective to decide, 'this year I will organise the fridge once a week'. Break your goals down into smaller steps and create a plan detailing which day each task will be completed and how often. By creating resolutions that are clear, measurable and scheduled, monitoring your progress will become much easier.

3. Share it with the family

Sharing your cleaning resolutions with everyone in the house will help to drive your motivation and deter you from giving up. Better yet, getting the children involved will be a great way of sharing the work load and making sure the housekeeping resolutions are kept throughout the year.

4. Write it down

Make your cleaning resolutions concrete by writing them down. Creating a checklist or a journal can be a great way of tracking your progress. Try placing notes around the house, such as on the noticeboard or fridge, as this will help to remind everyone what should be cleaned and when. A written checklist will keep your motivation alive and ensure your resolutions do not fade into the background after the initial enthusiasm of January!

5. Reward Yourself

When making your New Year's resolution plan, don't forget to include rewards! Rewarding yourself and your family with a treat, after each successful month of sticking to your cleaning goals, will give you all a sense of achievement and will help to maintain your motivation.

6. Don't give up!

Slip-ups are the most common reason why people give up on their New Year's resolutions. However, it is important to remember that slip-ups and set backs are inevitable. If you forget to clean the fridge or pass on your weekly declutter, don't view it as a failure or an excuse to give up altogether. Instead, treat every slip-up as a temporary set – back and resolve to get back on track!

Happy New Year and Good Luck!

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earleschulze-blog · 6 years ago

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QUIZ: 9 Alcohol Cheats in Animation

Brought to you by responsibility.org for their TalkEarly campaign.

In the past, animated films and shows were, um… rather boozy. A review of every G-rated movie created from the 30s up to 2000 said 47% showed alcohol consumption, and in that same period about 9% percent of all cartoons did as well. That's a LOT of drinking in kids' media.

But times have been changing for a while. Nowadays, it's very rare that you'll see any alcohol references in children's animation. BUT!

When they weren't allowed to show alcohol, writers and animators have cleverly tried to cheat the filters by simply replacing it with something else, so they could still show comical drunkenness, bar scenes, or savage hangovers.

Let's see if you can guess which “kid-friendly” substitutes these cartoons used. Even if you completely strike out on all 9, it's pretty interesting!

What Was Used Instead of Alcohol?

1) The Secret Life of Pets (2016)

Illumination Entertainment

Toilet Water

Gravy

Sausages

Cheese Puffs

SAUSAGES

Continue >>

2) Adventure Time (2014)

Cartoon Network

Cucumber Water

Soul Nectar

Melted Glacier

Roll-on Deodorant

CUCUMBER WATER

Continue >>

3) Phineas and Ferb (2008)

Disney Channel

Milkshakes

Juice Boxes

Chocolate Milk

Sports Drinks

MILKSHAKES

Continue >>

4) The Legend of Korra (2014)

Nickelodeon

Noodles

Algae

Soy Sauce

Tree Bark Tea

NOODLES

Continue >>

5) All Hail King Julien (2016)

DreamWorks Animation Television

Pineapple Juice

Dates

Coconut Milk

Vine Sap

COCONUT MILK

Continue >>

6) Chip N' Dale's Rescue Rangers (1989)

Disney Television Animation

Acorns

Rotten Fruit

Catnip Tea

Cheese

ROTTEN FRUIT

Continue >>

7) SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)

Nickelodeon Movies

Ice Cream

Kelp Juice

Jellyfish Jelly

Tar Smoothies

ICE CREAM

Continue >>

8) Transformers (1985)

Hasbro Studios

Metal

Lava

Energy

Lightning

ENERGY

Continue >>

9) My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (2018)

Hasbro Studios

Maple Syrup

Wheatgrass Juice

Cider

Flower Pollen

CIDER

Continue >>

QUIZ: Alcohol Cheats in Animation

You didn't do so well, but the answers are interesting, right?

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QUIZ: Alcohol Cheats in Animation

You did okay! Interesting answers, eh?

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QUIZ: Alcohol Cheats in Animation

Super well done!

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QUIZ: Alcohol Cheats in Animation

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QUIZ: Alcohol Cheats in Animation

NAILED IT! Impressive. Most Impressive.

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PLAY AGAIN !

This honestly isn't to cast judgement on films or cartoons that show alcohol consumption. We all may have varying opinions on that, but we can probably ALL agree that cartoons aren't always the best teachers.

Apparently, it's okay to animate someone comically misusing alcohol I mean eh-hem… something not-alcoholic that seems very much like alcohol. Characters can “binge” and “drown their sorrows” and “self-medicate,” so long as it's milk or ice cream or such, right? Hmmmm.

Talk to your kids early about responsible drinking, okay? Earlier than you probably think you'll need to. The world is already teaching them more than you know.

–

Thanks to Responsibiliy.org for sponsoring this post. Working with them has opened my eyes much wider to the importance of parents consciously working to stay engaged with their kids, and not just about school or Pokémon or the latest Pixar movie, but especially to have meaningful conversations about often overlooked topics like responsible drinking. As well as all the obvious bigger life stuff they'll need to have a good head on their shoulders about. Like wearing socks and sandals. Ugh.

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earleschulze-blog · 6 years ago

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8 Ways To Use Your Wi-Fi Smart Plug

An Iris Wi-Fi Smart Plug is a very helpful smart home device that allows you to manage and oversee lights, small appliances and electronics from your phone. It's also a great first step toward smart home living. These devices will allow you to test and see the benefits and convenience of turning your house into a smart home. Learn how Wi-Fi Smart Plugs can make your life easier below.

1. Toggle lights on and off or use a schedule to keep the house looking occupied while you're away.

2. Let the kids know it's time for homework by switching off the TV or games console.

3. Left your curling iron on again? Let Iris switch it off for you, all from your smartphone.

4. Tea time! A smart switch can boil the kettle without you lifting a finger.

5. As cooler weather sets in, start humidifying the bedroom from the comfort of your couch.

6. Can't wait for some waffles? Start the iron as soon as you wake up so it's ready to go when you are.

7. Control night lights or sound machines in the kids' bedrooms, without the risk of waking them.

8. Stop worrying that you left the iron on. Let Iris take care of that.

Use these 8 Wi-Fi Smart Plug tips to keep making the most of this helpful device. And don't forget to get creative! Let Iris give you a hand where you need it most.

The post 8 Ways To Use Your Wi-Fi Smart Plug appeared first on Blog – Home Automation News, Tips and More | Iris.

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earleschulze-blog · 6 years ago

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Weekend Inspiration: No. 43

While I was out of the office between Christmas and New Years I spent a good part of my down time away from my computer, and I tried to limit screen time on my phone, too. Instead of keeping up with things on the web like I do most every other day of the year, I spent most of my days off with John shopping, taking neighborhood walks, and eating out. That said, I still allowed myself a little Internet leisure time. Scroll on to see what stood out during my holiday vacation!

Weekend Inspiration: No. 43

1. We started working on another big living room makeover over winter break using almost entirely different furniture-the catch was that we wanted to only use pieces that we already owned so that it cost next to nothing to do! More on that soon, but the one thing we did buy for the space was this double wall sconce. I can't wait to share the before and after with you.

2. Another thing I freshened up over the holidays was my Instagram feed. I unfollowed a handful of profiles that no longer inspired me (or that I realized were actually bringing me down), and subscribed to a whole bunch of new people to reignite me motivation to try new things. One stand-out favorite is Jenny Komenda. She just started a new home renovation project and shared an amazing walk-through on IGTV. It's a must-watch!

3. I also discovered Hermione Chantal's YouTube channel around New Years, and am totally hooked on her home reno, too.

4. Speaking of good TV, have you tried watching the new Marie Kondo show on Netflix yet? I've seen one episode and thought it was pretty good. Kind of an unusual format (I didn't realize she spoke very little English!), but worth a watch if you have time this weekend.

5. I'm so intrigued by the clothing challenge that Elsie Larson announced on A Beautiful Mess in early January. Do you think you could do it? I might try it out.

6. I added a few new books to my collection around Christmas, including this one by one of my favorite novelists of all time, this one (admittedly a guilty pleasure read!), and this one. Let me know in the comments if you'd recommend any others in honor of the new year.

*I earn a small percentage from purchases made using the affiliate links above. Affiliate links are not sponsored. Rest assured that I never recommend products we wouldn't use or don't already love ourselves.

The post Weekend Inspiration: No. 43 appeared first on Dream Green DIY.

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earleschulze-blog · 6 years ago

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Need a study table for kids? Here are 10 of the brightest ideas

The school term begins yet again and soon, there will be piles of homework and books, strewn all over the house. Wouldn't it be great to have a dedicated study table for the kids to do their thing?

“If only I have space”, you say!

A study table for kids doesn't need to take up a lot of space.

It can fit into their rooms. Or even a corner of the living room or kitchen.

To spark some bright ideas for your space we made a list of 10 best IKEA study tables for kids. Let's get right to it.

#1 Long study table and computer station for 2 – 3 kids

Tim made this kids desk and computer station for his three kids. It includes desks for them to read, write, draw and lots of storage. It also has a place to accommodate a computer (or kid number 4). His IKEA product of choice is the TROFAST frames and JULES chairs. See how he made the IKEA TROFAST kids desk here.

#2 Kids study tables with storage

In Janine's L-shaped living room, they wanted their kids to read and play in the corner. She wanted to include little desks for them to draw and little cabinets on wheels to put their daily stuff to put into. She made a structure out of the BESTÅ system above for out of kids' reach storage and made desks beneath them. See the BESTÅ study and play centre here.

#3 Loft bed upgraded to include study table for kids

Their son was starting school and Anca decided to make room for a study table under the IKEA KURA bed, which they already had. They added timber structures to elevate the bed and construct a desk and storage areas. See the KURA bed with study desk.

#4 Girl's study desk with storage

Peter IKEA hacked a desk for his daughter to do her homework and art, as well as a place to store her books, stuff and art supplies. He combined 2 pink KALLAX units and fastened a gloss red LINNMON table top to the smaller KALLAX. Can't be easier to construct a study table for kids. See tutorial here.

#5 DIY kids study table

Jane took a different route. She used MDF for the table top and attached it to IKEA KRILLE legs. On the side of the table, she added 3 SUNNERSTA containers to function as a desk tidy, to keep pens and pencils organized. See more of the desk tidy IKEA hack and DIY study desk.

#6 Make it a classy desk

Sometimes a little tweak is all you need to make the IKEA desk fit your kid's room decor. If the MICKE desk is too plain, glam it up with a custom top and drawer pulls. See more here.

Themed study tables for kids

#7 The force is strong with this one

The RAST chest is perfect desk height. Pair it with the LINNMON table top and ADILS leg and you'll get a very affordable study table. And the best thing is, you can Mod Podge the drawer fronts with your kid's favorite elements. In this case, Star Wars. See the Star Wars kids desk tutorial.

#8 #Studygoals

Mike's son was in need of a study desk, and since he loves soccer and already has IKEA birch effect furniture in his bedroom, he decided to build a goal post study desk.

#9 Racing themed desk

Sasse wanted a racing car themed desk for her son's bedroom but didn't find didn't any that please the eye. So she made one. See the F1 themed desk.

#10 Kids table with map

Claire had an old IKEA kids table and decided to make it over with a map. Would be fun to cover it up with a world map and teach kids the name of cities and countries. See the kids table with map.

One last one before we go.

If your kids won't share the same table space, here's the hack for you. Theresa's kids would complain that they had no privacy, and were always fighting over whose stuff was on whose side of the desk. So, she decided to put a stop to all the problems once and for all.

The solution?

The Great Divide.

Genius, right?

Which is your preferred study table for kids? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Need a study table for kids? Here are 10 of the brightest ideas appeared first on IKEA Hackers.

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earleschulze-blog · 6 years ago

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Survey: Gen-Xers & Older Millennials Believe Stocks are a Better Investment than Real Estate

35-44 year olds were hit hardest by the housing bust just as they reached prime first-time homebuying age

Less than half of homebuyers and sellers between the ages of 35 and 44 believe that real estate is a better long-term investment than the stock market, according to a survey Redfin commissioned in December of more than 2,600 people nationwide who bought or sold a home in the last year, attempted to do so, or have plans to buy or sell soon.

Buyers who reached the median first-time homebuyer age of 31 years old between 2008 and 2012 during the Great Recession and housing market collapse are now 38 to 42 years old. Redfin's survey results show that this was the only age group that has less confidence in real estate as an investment than the stock market. Just 48 percent of homebuyers and sellers in this age group believe that real estate is a better long-term investment than the stock market.

“The oldest Millennials and youngest Gen-Xers entered their late twenties or early thirties during the housing crash, which explains why they are more skeptical about investing in real-estate,” said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. “This generation experienced a major setback during the housing bust, which hit just as they were most likely to be getting married, starting a family, and becoming a first time homeowner. Looking into the future, we expect to see homeownership increase as Millennials enter prime home-buying age. This is because Millennials have a more favorable opinion of real estate as an investment than Gen-Xers, and Millennials are a larger group than Gen-Xers.”

In every other age group, buyers and sellers who believe that real estate is a better long-term investment outnumbered those who believe the stock market is better.

This finding is surprising given that it comes from a survey of people specifically buying or selling homes, which is a group that presumably would be biased toward real estate to begin with. Younger Baby Boomers, respondents aged 55 to 64, were the most optimistic about real estate as an investment. Previous Redfin surveys of homebuyers and sellers have not asked this specific question, so we do not yet have any data on whether this has changed over time.

Methodology

Redfin contracted Qualtrics to field a study between November 2 and December 10, 2018 of 2,647 people from the general population who indicated they had bought or sold a home in the past year, tried to buy or sell a home in the past year or plan to do so this year.

This report focused included data from the 1,784 people who answered the question: “Which do you believe is the better investment for those who do not plan to move their money in the long term, the stock market or real estate?” People who answered either “Real estate is the slightly better investment” or “Real estate is the better investment by far” were grouped together, and those who answered “The stock market is the slightly better investment” or “The stock market is the better investment by far” were grouped together.

The survey had respondents from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

For more information about the survey and its findings, contact Redfin Journalist Services at [email protected].

The post Survey: Gen-Xers & Older Millennials Believe Stocks are a Better Investment than Real Estate appeared first on Redfin Real-Time.

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earleschulze-blog · 6 years ago

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2018 Roundup: Bee Saving Paper, Solar Dog Houses, Home and Garden Makeover, Bomb Detection by Plants, 3D Printed Flowers, Compostable Couture…

You let us know what some of your 2018 favorites were: Bee Saving Paper, Solar Dog Houses, Home and Garden Makeover, Bomb Detection by Plants, 3D Printed Flowers, Compostable Couture, and much, much, more. Here are 20 of 2018's most … Read More...

The post 2018 Roundup: Bee Saving Paper, Solar Dog Houses, Home and Garden Makeover, Bomb Detection by Plants, 3D Printed Flowers, Compostable Couture… appeared first on Urban Gardens.

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earleschulze-blog · 6 years ago

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3 Commercial Property Tax Strategy Considerations for the Next Recession

Is a recession on the way in 2019? If you ask a CFO, there is nearly a coin-flip chance that the answer is yes. Ask a CFO if a recession will start by the end of 2020 and that number skyrockets to 82%, according to the latest Duke University/CFO Global Business Outlook survey.

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earleschulze-blog · 6 years ago

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No-Equipment Bodyweight Workout

This no-equipment bodyweight strength workout can be done anytime, anywhere. No equipment needed. This is perfect for traveling or at at-home when you don't have time for the gym. You'll be working through a circuit of descending reps of air squats, push-ups, sit-ups and lunges with a set of 15 burpees between each round. How...