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Homemade Heart Pop Tarts

Its February and we all know what that means Its time to break out the conversation hearts and boxes of chocolate. While were all for heading to our local grocery store for holiday-themed treats, theres something about a homemade dessert that really does it for us. Thanks to our favorite baker Lauren Lowstan, we found the perfect way to woo our Valentine right in our own kitchens. We now introduce you to these homemade heart pop tarts, our new favorite take on a classic childhood breakfast staple. These sweets are packed with rich chocolate chunks and sweet cherry jam, making them an irresistible breakfast in bed or Sunday brunch treat. We wont tell if you steal a couple of these heart pop tarts for yourself Keep scrolling to get the recipe! Ingredients: For the dough: 4 cups flour 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 2 teaspoons salt 1 ½ cup vegetable shortening 1 egg ½ cup cold water For the egg wash: 1 egg 1 tablespoon water For the Filling: 1 jar of cherry jam 1 cup dark chocolate chunks For the icing: 1 cup powdered sugar 2-4 tablespoons milk ¼ teaspoon vanilla pink and fuchsia food coloring rainbow sprinkles Instructions: 1. In a food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt until blended. Add the shortening and pulse just until the mix is crumbly. Add the egg and cold water and pulse just until blended. 2. Divide the dough into one flat disc. Wrap the disc in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until cold (or about 30 minutes). 3. Once your dough is chilled, roll out on a lightly floured surface until about 1/8 inch thick. Take a large heart shaped cookie cutter and pop out pieces of dough hearts. Place them onto a parchment lined baking sheet. 4. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. 5. To make the egg wash, just whisk the egg and water together until foamy. Brush half of the hearts on your sheet with the egg wash. 6. Fill a piping bag with cherry jam and pipe a small amount of the jam (about 1 tablespoon worth) onto the tops of each egg-wash-brushed heart. Add a few pieces of chocolate chunks on top of the jam. Remember not to overfill the tarts, you want them more flat than round. 7. Top each filled heart with a dough heart that has not been egg washed. Seal the edges together with your fingers. With a fork, crimp the edges together along the entire heart. Repeat with remaining hearts. 8. Bake the pop tarts in your preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until the tops are golden brown and you can see the fruit jam bubbling out of the sides. 9. Make your icing while the tarts cool. In a small bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and vanilla. Add in more milk if needed. Separate the glaze into 2 small bowls and color with pink and fuchsia food coloring. 10. Add both glazes to piping bags immediately or cover with plastic wrap. If left out, the air will harden the glaze! 11. Pipe the glaze onto each pop tart and top with sprinkles. Then, enjoy! Posted by LaurenConrad.com February 9th, 2017

Is Pot the New Pets

Is Pot the New Pets? Posted by Donald Davidoff (Warning: Dont read this if youre not interested in hearing a provocative point of view) I was meeting with a client of mine who has communities in California, and they shared a letter they were sending their residents. The letter was informing residents that, while California had passed a recreational marijuana initiative, the law gave apartment owners the right to declare their property to be marijuana free. The letter went on to inform residents that this company was exercising that right and that any use of marijuana in their apartments would be a violation of their lease and could result in eviction. As a resident of Colorado (one of the earliest states to approve recreational use in homes) and a demand management modeler, this got me thinking. I wasnt surprised that my client exercised their right; in fact, I expect that virtually all professionally managed communities will do or have done so already. But is that really the right business answer? Perhaps the continued disconnect between these state laws and federal laws makes it the right answer. Perhaps there are indirect liabilities Im not fully aware of (though not a lawyer, I would struggle to understand how liabilities surrounding marijuana would be any different than what already exists with alcohol consumption)? Or perhaps there are legitimate concerns related to managing issues like the potential for, shall we say earthy, aromas to permeate a building and annoy other residents (more on that later)? All of which reminded me of pets and the late 1990s. Those of you in the industry long enough may remember that few mainstream operators allowed pets (excluding fish and maybe birds). There were legitimate concerns: noise, increased wear and tear on the unit and common area issues like damage to landscaping and owners not responsibly picking up pets solid waste. I remember that the company I was with at the time was one of the earlier operators to introduce pet friendly policies (with accompanying pet rent). I was particularly convinced of the validity of our policy when I visited one of our communities. Archstone South Market was right on the edge of San Franciscos financial district and attracted many professionals in its resident base. As I toured, I noticed a lot of pets. It seemed as if half the residents or more were walking a dog. I asked the community manager about this, and she told me we were the only community in or near the financial district that accepted pets. In fact, our competitors would refer prospects with pets to us because their company policies (at the time) forbade pets. Imagine that, I thoughtby allowing pets (while getting paid for it), we had turned our comps into one of our better sources of leads! Of course, today virtually everyone accepts pets for at least part of their community (if not all). So the competitive advantage no longer exists; but it was sure nice while it lasted! Which brings me to the title of this blog. Could marijuana be an opportunity, like pets, for innovative, early adopters to have a meaningful point of differentiation versus their comps? Sure, there are issues; but there were issues with pets that got solved. Maybe, for example, we start with allowing recreational use limited to a single building (in a garden community) or a single wing (in a high-rise community)? Analogous to pet rent (or for that matter south facing units), we could put a premium on those units and thus get paid for this. As a demand management modeler, I love the idea of this as a possible premium rent segment (just like pet owners); and it doesnt even have to be as explicit a charge since a unit amenity rolls into the overall rent. Im sure there are other logistical and/or legal concerns to work out. Thats beyond the scope of this initial blog on the subject. My point is that some enterprising operator is going to take the new law and find opportunity in it rather than the easy, somewhat knee-jerk reaction of simply keeping the rules the same as they have always been. What will you do? Posted by Donald Davidoff

How to Prepare a Romantic Valentine s Dinner at Home

Valentine's Day is the perfect reason to spoil your sweetheart, but splurging this season doesn't have to mean overextending your budget. There are several ways to show you care, and preparing a special meal at home is one of them. You'll get a chance to enjoy a romantic night in, indulge in some of your favorite foods and enjoy some quality time together all without paying a premium for the experience. Here are some ways to prepare a special Valentine's Day meal at home on any budget: Make dinner preparation an event. Cooking together can be a fun and romantic way to segue into the evening and enjoy each other's company. Crack open a bottle of wine before getting started with preparations of your special meal for two. If you both have the day off, consider heading to the grocery store, wine store or gourmet food store to browse and shop for ingredients together. This can be another excuse to spend more time together, and it will give you a chance to create a custom meal you will both enjoy later that day. Set the mood. Whether it's lighting the dining room only with candles or putting together a beautiful centerpiece made with hand-picked flowers, set the mood with creative décor. You can head to your favorite arts and crafts store for inspiration on centerpieces for the dining table. You could also pick up some small decorations and candles to transform the dining area for that special dinner. Create the perfect ambience. Tune in to a free online radio station for romantic tunes to create the perfect ambience. Take advantage of curated lists on sites like Live365 or AccuRadio to stream your favorite genre of music or iHeartRadio to create an artist radio station for the evening. If you are a Pandora or Spotify subscriber, create a custom playlist specifically for your sweetheart and send it to him or her afterward for future listening. Start with appetizers. Make an event out of Valentine's Day dinner at home by serving up several courses for the night. Get things started with an assortment of delicious appetizers that are easy to prepare and won't cost a fortune in ingredients. Tomato and basil bruschetta, stuffed cheese puffs, potato nests and hummus with pita chips are a few options that won't break the bank. Turn to Pinterest or your favorite recipe magazine for a few ideas that complement your main course. Relax with pasta and red wine. A traditional Italian staple will help you relax and unwind with your significant other, and a pasta dinner with a light red wine is also easy on the budget. Explore a variety of gourmet pasta dishes you're comfortable cooking up with a handful of ingredients, such as fettuccine Alfredo, baked ziti or even a gourmet version of macaroni and cheese. Grab a bottle of red wine and settle in for some delicious comfort food made fresh to order. Don't forget dessert. You could splurge on decadent ingredients to make the ultimate Valentine's Day treat or pick up a miniature dessert from your favorite bakery. Another option: Keep things simple with homemade chocolate-covered strawberries or an assortment of gourmet chocolates from a specialty chocolatier. Even a small tray of truffles can be enough to satisfy the sweet tooth while giving you an excuse to indulge for the night. Do a chocolate sampling together or enjoy some sweet treats with dark red wine for a gourmet treat. Cozy up with memories. Make it even more of a memorable evening by putting together a sentimental gift. You could create a collage of photos of when the two of you met, share a video of a memorable date or write a poem or letter to your sweetheart to read to him or her after dinner. Turn off the television and smartphone so you can truly enjoy some quality time on this special day and make the most of your dinner date. Preparing a special Valentine's Day meal at home could be just what you need to romance your sweetheart without spending more than planned this month. Use some of these ideas to make for a memorable evening.

Pros Cons of an Apartment Vs. a Home

Often, the decision to live in an apartment or a home is made for you. Depending on where you live, you simply may not be able to afford a house, regardless of if you rent or buy it. If money is no object--or at least less of one-- your personal preferences come into play when weighing the pros and cons of an apartment versus a home. Financial Considerations When you buy a home, you don't just take on the expense of paying for the dwelling itself. You are also responsible for insurance, property tax, ongoing--and often unexpected--maintenance and other associated costs of ownership. You usually need to spend money on a down payment to even get into a mortgage. In expensive markets, such as San Francisco, a down payment can amount to tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. On the flipside, home values can appreciate, plus the IRS offers tax benefits to homeowners. While you can opt to rent a house, generally, monthly rents for a house are higher than for an apartment. In either case, while renting might not always be the best deal over the long haul, it can be the only option for people with little or no money for a down payment and difficulty meeting the monthly obligations of ownership. If you are trying to decide between buying a house or renting an apartment, Pat Mertz Esswein of Kiplinger-Personal Finance thinks you need to consider how stable your city housing market is. If the risk is high that prices might drop, you might be better off renting for a while longer. As of late 2009, Oakland, San Jose and San Francisco are three examples of relatively unstable markets where renting might be the best choice in the near term. Noise If you rent an apartment, odds are you have neighbors--in the same building--next to you. You might also have people living above you, below you or both. Depending on the situation, this can be a noisy proposition. When you rent or own a free-standing home or part of a duplex, the chances for this type of noise are reduced. Space Though this might not be the case in cozy San Francisco, nationwide houses tend to be more spacious than apartments. Even in San Francisco, most single-family homes and flats offer more room than an apartment. Head to the suburbs and the differences are striking. The same applies to outdoor areas as well. You are more likely to have your own, larger backyard with a house than an apartment. Lifestyle Ultimately, the choice between an apartment or home comes down to personal preference. The pros of a owning or renting your own home--more space, less noise--can be canceled out by other factors. For example, for some people, getting into a house requires moving from relatively expensive places like San Francisco. Before you make such a big move, consider what you will be giving up. Rent.com offers sound relocation advice that applies to virtually any situation--think about how you live in your current neighborhood. If you like your lifestyle, make sure the next neighborhood you live in allows for the same type of existence.

Apartment Market Faces Supply Challenges, Amid Growing Demand

Demand for apartments doesnt show any signs of slowing downbut its become a challenge for many developers and investors as development costs rise. Supply is having a hard time keeping up with demand alreadyand thats not likely to change any time soon. National demand for apartments has been growing for several years and new units have been absorbed as quickly as they have become available. Vacancy rates are near historic lows and rents continue to rise. Based on demographic and economic data, we can expect to see even greater demand for apartments in the next couple of years. U.S. Census Bureau data from mid-2016 shows that multifamily development has steadily increased year over year since 2012, and that most of the new units have been absorbed within three months. Vacancy rates dropped as low as 3 percent in some markets. In recent months, weve seen a slight rise in vacancies and a modest dip in rental rates, in line with the widespread assumption that the pace of rent growth couldnt continue indefinitely. A 2016 study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University showed that 11.4 million rental households pay more than half of their income on rent. In 2010, high end apartment rents in San Francisco were holding at just under $5 per square foot, and many landlords wondered whether that barrier could ever be broken. A year later, rents started rising again. Six years later, we may have reached another plateau, where rents may have to flatten out in some markets until income levels have a chance to catch up. The need for new supply, however welcome a challenge, isnt an easy one for developers, who are experiencing challenges on three key fronts: construction costs, rent affordability, and cost of capital. One San Francisco contractor recently crunched the numbers and found their firms construction costs on multi-family projects have jumped by 65 percent since 2010. The increase is due in part to wage increases, changes in the building code and a pricing premium associated with a severe shortage of capacity across all trades in the construction industry. And this trend is not limited to the Bay Area. A recent report by JLL projects the national hourly construction wage, which is already at a record high, will rise 3 percent by March 2017. The impact of rent affordability is one of the top concerns across the country. Having recognized that affordable housing is a key ingredient to maintaining a healthy economy, a number of cities are grappling with the difficult challenge of increasing the number of units for low and moderate income residents. Whether required by the local jurisdiction or an elective move, apartment developers who include affordable units in their plans may achieve their entitlements more easily. But if affordability requirements are too stringent they may affect the feasibility of projects, thus ultimately limiting supply and exacerbating affordability conditions. The goal of cities and developers, therefore, should be to strike a balance that will improve affordability while encouraging continued building to increase overall supply. In addition to costs and affordability, funds for construction lending are limited. Credit risk retention rules for banks have made construction lending less desirable. As a result, most banks will loan only about half the cost of constructionin November we saw loan-to-cost ratios drop to as low as 45 percent, if available at all. To get a project out of the ground, developers must be able to contribute their part of the loan-to-cost ratio, or somehow find other sources of equity and debt capital. Along with the other challenges faced by developers, this steep requirement may be good news for existing property owners, because it limits new competition. It is also good news for institutions and their advisors who are equipped to offer mezzanine financing or debt for the right opportunities. But insofar as were seeing new supply falling short of demand, these additional cost factors on the development side are likely to continue to create a shortage of apartments in the places where many renters want to live.

Taking care of a space is no easy task especially when its an apartment and youre low on cash.

However, keeping up with some maintenance on your apartment and keeping it clean doesnt have to be as difficult or expensive. Much of the upkeep can be done with a little ingenuity and a few household items you probably already own. So what are you waiting for? Get some baking soda and a few rags, and get ready to make your apartment look a lot better. 1. Baking soda is your grime specialist. Essentially, baking soda is the number one cleaning product that isnt actually a certified cleaning product. It gets all types of grime cleared away, as youll realize while reading the rest of the article. Firstly though, if you have any pots and pans that have burnt metal on the inside, baking soda can help get rid of those. Just use some hot water and baking soda, let sit for a while, then scrub and rinse to do away with those stubborn bits. This technique can also work on some metal stovetops with a baking soda and water paste. 2. Buff away spots with dryer sheets. Keeping your sinks and faucets clean is also a huge hassle when water spots seem endless. You try and clean them with cloths and wipes only to find that those leave unsightly spots too! An easy trick to getting rid of tough water spots is to buff them off with a dryer sheet. Thats right! Just scrub them off with a clean dryer sheet and youll be spotless in no time. 3. Remove hair with a squeegee. If you have pets, or even just long hair of your own, you might know the struggle of hair getting absolutely everywhere. Of course, you can try to vacuum this up, but this usually only leads to clogs and frustration. If you need an easy way to get the hair up and out of your carpet, try using a squeegee to scrape out all that hair. 4. Clean your oven with vinegar and baking soda. Baking soda returns again to another part of your kitchen. If youre having difficulty with your ovens self-cleaning cycle, you may want to take things into your own hands. Putting some vinegar and baking soda in a spray bottle is a very effective way to spritz and wipe down the inside of your oven without investing in fancy cleaning sprays. 5. Clean vents with a knife and rag. Noticed that your vents have that awful lint buildup on them? Your duster probably isnt thin enough to get the insides of your vents so you need another solution to keep them looking pristine. Try getting an old rag and a butter knife. Cover the knife with your rag, spritz some generic cleaning spray on the rag and use the knife to clean the insides of your vent slats. 6. Optimize storage with ottomans. A major problem with most apartments is the sheer lack of space available. Your closets are already filled to the brim how can you keep your apartment looking clean with all your stuff spread out all over? An ottoman with space inside for storage is a wonderful idea to keep your things looking clean, organized, and hidden. You can hide almost anything in an ottoman, whether it be blankets or board games. Your extra space is sure to come in handy. 7. Clean your drains with baking soda, vinegar, and hot water. Just like your ovens, pots, and pans, your drains can be cleared with some baking soda, vinegar and hot water as well. The baking soda reacts well with hot water to break up any grime that it comes across. Of course, this might not be a permanent fix for all your drainage problems, but its sure to help you when you need a quick solution to a clogged up sink.