Affordable DIY Project Tips

Are you trying a new project in your college apartment?  New DIY projects can be expensive, but with these tips you can make sure any new project affordable.  Make sure to recycle, shop at sales, and refurbish old pieces to create your new piece for your apartment.

Choose CheaplyThe best DIYs are those which take trash and turn it into treasure. And by "trash" I mean hand-me-downs, flea market finds and ubiquitous big-box store pieces. Choosing affordable objects to makeover to begin with not only saves money, but gives you the freedom to take chances, change your mind, and mess up. If it doesn't work out the way you planned, at least you didn't invest too much in the process.

We have some great posts in our archives on budget DIY projects, so get searching and get inspired!

Beg, Borrow and Steal
Ok, so we can't really advocate stealing, but everything else is fair game. DIY can mean investing in a lot of equipment, some of it expensive, and some of it the kind of "affordable" extras that can really add up. Rather than shelling out for reusables like drop cloths, paintbrushes and tools, why not see if a friend or neighbor has any to spare?

When it comes to power tools or other expensive equipment, consider renting if you can't borrow. Your local hardware chain store probably offers this service, and for something you'll only use once or twice (say, a floor sander or tile cutter) it makes sense to cut down on cost, not to mention storage space. Bonus: renting tools often comes with support on how to use them properly, unlike a purchase, which can leave you reading the manual and scratching your head in confusion.

Know your Limits
One of the best ways to keep your DIY budget in check is to know when DIY isn't such a great idea. Online tutorials and crafty books are great, but they can only lead you so far in this game. Tackling a project beyond your skill level can lead to costly mistakes and professional re-dos, and spending more money than you ever planned. So think hard about where your DIY line is: wallpapering your bedroom? Adding shelves to your kitchen? Re-upolstering a beloved piece of furniture?

Before you entirely give up on that ambitious project, however, consider a few educational options to help it run smoothly: take a class at your local hardware store, or ask a handier friend to help you out.

For more information see Apartment Therapy.

Double Chocolate Cherry Brownie Recipe

Do you always make the same brownies for dessert?  Check out this great recipe for double chocolate cherry recipes. 

I have my go-to brownie recipe and I generally don't mess around with it. If I'm going to make brownies, it's what I reach for. But then there are days (like today) when there are dried cherries in the pantry and I begin to wonder what would happen if I jammed a few different kinds of chocolate, some quinoa flakes, and said dried cherries into one pan of brownies? The answer: something quite wonderful.

 
In the most recent issue of Cooks Illustrated, they featured a Classic Brownie recipe, discussing in great length what makes them different. I tend to be of the camp that thinks, "What's new under the sun when it comes to brownies?" but the thing that caught my attention was the mention of cake flour. The recipe testers insist, "Cake flour makes tender brownies with a delicate chew." I was intrigued.

As you well know, there are many different kinds of brownie folks out there. There are the fudgy folks, the cakey folks, and the chewy folks — and all of you who fall in between, happily straddling one or the other. I tend to prefer a pretty fudgy, rich brownie, but I also love them to have a bit of a chew and that nice crackly layer on top. So I decided to give it a go with cake flour. I amped up the quantity of chocolate that I usually use, relying on both chopped chocolate and cocoa powder, and experimented with one of my new favorite ingredients: quinoa flakes.

If you're not familiar with quinoa flakes, you can find them in a box at most well-stocked grocery stores (I buy Ancient Harvest brand); they're essentially quinoa that's been pressed flat into quick-cooking flakes. Many folks use them as a speedy warm breakfast cereal, but I've been folding them into cookies and quick breads lately. And now brownies. I love quinoa flakes because they're an easy way to get an extra little hit of protein in unexpected places and they don't change the taste or texture of a recipe very much.

While this recipe has a few unexpected ingredients, it doesn't stray far from simplicity. That's one of the things I love about brownies: you should be able to whip them up in under 30 minutes. Always. I don't believe even the most deluxe brownie recipes warrant multiple dirty bowls or kitchen thermometers. I don't really even believe in sifting the dry ingredients, actually. So these brownies reflect my desire for a simple, decadent brownie — yet one into which we can sneak a few grains and dried fruits when the urge strikes. Enjoy!

Quick recipe note: I used chocolate feves for this recipes — they're essentially nice, round disks of dark chocolate that make it easier when it comes to baking as you can eliminate all that chopping. But use whichever chocolate you really like. A nice dark chocolate is my preference.

Double Chocolate Cherry Quinoa BrowniesServes 9-12

3/4 cup dried cherries
1 cup cake flour
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
6 ounces dark chocolate (between 60-72% is ideal), finely chopped
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, plus more for pan
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1/2 cup quinoa flakes
1/4 cup confectioners sugar, to top

Soak the cherries in warm water for at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours. This will help plump them up nicely.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9x13-inch square baking pan (or spray with a little cooking spray)

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the two flours, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder. Set aside.

Combine the chopped chocolate and butter into a small saucepan and warm over low heat until the mixture is melted completely and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the sugar and the eggs on medium speed until quite pale and aerated, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add 1/3 of the dry ingredients, mixing just long enough to incorporate them. Add 1/3 of the butter/chocolate mixture and mix to combine. Repeat, until the dry mixture and butter/chocolate mixture are both fully incorporated. Turn off the mixer and fold in the quiona flakes by hand. Drain the cherries and fold them in as well.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly using a spatula.

Bake for 27-30 minutes, or until a toothpick is inserted into the center and comes out with just a few crumbs clinging to it. Cool at room temperature for at least 45 minutes before slicing. Using a fine-mesh sieve of sifter, sprinkle the tops with a little powdered sugar before slicing. 

For more information see The Kitchn.

Happy World Nutella Day!

Do you love Nutella? Check out these great recipes you can use with Nutella!  Happy World Nutella Day, and tell us how what recipe you plan to try!

I don't spend a lot of time pointing out so-called "food holidays" that celebrate specific foods, like National Hot Chocolate Day, because they always seem a little fake and to be honest, they make me a little grumpy. But I can make an exception for one of my favorite treats: the creamy combination of chocolate and hazelnut, more popularly known as Nutella. 

Yes, it's World Nutella Day. How are you going to celebrate?

Lest you also become grumpy and point out the ingredients in Nutella you object to, remember that we're just using Nutella as a stand-in for any spread made with chocolate and hazelnuts, even homemade. It's like saying Kleenex instead of tissue, or Hoovering instead of vacuuming. Except better, obviously, because you're talking about Nutella.


• 1 Nutella Banana Ice Cream at The Kitchn • 2 Hot Baked Nutella & Cream Cheese Sandwich at The Kitchn • 3 Banana Nutella Granola at Sally's Baking Addiction • 4 Two-Bite Nutella Chocolate Cookies at The Kitchn • 5 Chocolate Nutella 2 Minute Microwave Cakes at Ichigo Shortcake

For more information see The Kitchn.

New Ways to Decorate and Organize Your Home Office

Do you want ways to decorate and organize your work space?  Cork is the new way to make something new in your work space.  Keep reading to learn about how you can incorporate cork into your office.

Cork in an office space is not a new idea; you've probably got a bulletin board up in your workspace right now. But using this flexible, functional material in other neat ways around your workspace means every surface becomes a memo board. Better stock up on push pins.

A Cork Pencil Holder
IKEA cork trivets become a cool desk command station in this DIY project from Design for Mankind.

Cork Vases and Cups
Another clever DIY, these vases and knick-knack cups are crafted from aluminum cans and a roll of thin cork. Check out the full isntructions from papernstitch.

Cork Planter Bookends
This bookend set from Canoe is a triple threat, offering to give your books order, your plants a home, and your notes a pinboard. Grab the set here for $48.

A Cork Tray
A cute tray is a great way to visually anchor desktop neccessities, and this one from Ferm Living can pull double duty as a memo space (€31, $42).

A Corkboard (duh!)
It's the most common use for cork in the office, but it doesn't have to be predictable. Go nuts with different sizes and shapes, or give your bulletin board a new look with some paint, like Belinda of The Happy Home Blog.

For more information see Apartment Therapy.

Lawrence Hall of Science Has Success With Lego Day

Do your children love LEGO’s?  Make sure to visit the Lawrence Hall of Science for their very successful LEGO Engineering Session this Saturday at Inventor’s Lab.

Children and their parents put their heads together over a colorful and timeless children's classic Saturday, during a LEGO Engineering session at Vallejo's own Inventor's Lab.

The free event was organized by the Magazine Street lab to teach children about simple machines, using the children's play blocks, motors and programmable minicomputers.

"LEGO is really popular," Reyna Hamilton of the Inventor's Lab said. "Children innately like LEGO. It's what kids play with. We are just teaching them how to expand their knowledge using the toy they already like."

Hamilton and another staff member walked around the room to help anyone with their questions.

The Saturday session attracted more than 100 children, she added.

 

One was 8-year-old Marvez Carroll, who was building a race car with his mother, Mary Miller.

"I like it because it's fun," said Marvez, whose aspiration is to become an inventor. "I have lots of LEGOs at home."

His mother said the duo tries to visit the South Vallejo lab once a month.

"We love coming here," Miller said.

She said as a pre-school teacher she appreciates the opportunity to explore the sciences outside of the school.

"I think it's great," Miller said. "I think a lot of our kids don't get enough of (science)."

She also added that Marvez is not the only one learning from their visits to the Inventor's Lab.

"I've taken several things that I learn from here into my classrooms," Miller said.

For those who missed Saturday's session, the LEGO blocks will still be available for the public until Feb. 2.

The Inventor's Lab is open at 3 to 7 p.m., Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, and is at 545 Magazine St.

For more information see Times Herald.

Weekend Happenings in Benicia

 What are you doing this weekend?  Benicia has a bunch of great events that will entertain you and your family all weekend.  There are also great discounts and sales at local businesses to check out on Benicia Main Street.

Ghost Walk Returns!
Friday, Jan. 18, 8pmGhost Walk returns for 2013! Paranormal history of Downtown Benicia are revealed on this exciting, interactive and fun Ghost Walk led by paranormal investigator and/or sensitive. Each tour is limited to 20 people and lasts approximately 2 hours, depending on what entity you encounter along the way! Walking shoes and flashlight recommended. No children under ten years of age permitted on tours. Ages 10-16 must be accompanied by adult. $25 per person. Prepaid reservations required by calling (707) 745-9791.Ghost Walk Testimonials
Ghost Walk Video

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CASH MOB - Downtown Benicia  
Saturday, Jan. 19, 11am

Bring a friend and we'll give you $5 in Downtown Dollars to spend!!!

Who will our next lucky victim be? With $20 each in hand, we'll go to a randomly selected downtown business, and shop! Meet at Benicia Main Street, 90 First Street, sharply at 11am.  Spread the word!

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Wine & Chocolate Walk  
Saturday, Feb. 9, 1-5pm

A Pre-Valentine's Day affair! Stroll First Street with your sweetheart tasting fine wine and chocolate pairings inside downtown stores. Tickets on sale now! $25 advance/ $30 day of event includes souvenir wine glass and 15 tastes. Tickets at Benicia Main Street, 90 First St., and online at here.

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Discount on See's Chocolate Foil Balls!

Bite size melt-in-your-mouth goodness!
Discount Price: $5.70  (Reg. $6.20)

Small supply... Take advantage of this sweet deal before they sell out!

For more information see the Benicia.

Projects in Your Home for the New Year

It is time for the New Year and new projects to start in your home.  If you are not ready to take on a big project, here are some little projects that can you can start with.  Did you have a New Year's Resolution that involved your home?  Break it down into smaller projects that way it is easier to tackle.  Here are some great projects you can start on today.

Clean Out Your Closet(s)
My predilection for post-holiday sales-shopping means this is second nature to me. After all, you've got to have somewhere to put your new stuff! Spring will be here before you know it, so you might as well make room for new things now.

January also feels like a natural halfway point in the season; I find that if I haven't worn something so far this winter, I'm unlikely to. Alter, donate or pass on as necessary, and check out this post for more closet-clearing inspiration.

Lighten Your Digital Load
This one's easy to do from the comfort of your sofa (providing you have a laptop; otherwise you'll have to move to your desk). A lot of junk can build up on your computer over the year, and now is the time to clear it out. Delete that which you don't need, and store what you do (January is a great time to go buy that external hard drive you've been meaning to pick up).

Also take the time to unsubscribe from newsletters you no longer read, delete old email and store accounts you no longer use, and make sure all your software is up to date. You'll feel better for it, and your computer will thank you.

Organize (and Display!) Your Photos
Sometime this month, I'll sit down and create a 2012 photo book of my holidays, events and get-togethers from the past year. This gets the photos off of my computer and into a tangible form that I and others can actually enjoy (not to mention it's super-fun reliving all the great moments). I've also chosen a few of my favorite snaps to print and frame, since I've made it a personal intention to display more personal photos around my home.

What do you think of these bite-sized projects? Do you prefer them to a full-fledged Cure, or are you more of an all-or-nothing type? Have any other manageable home-improvement ideas to share?

For more information see Apartment Therapy.