Necessary Items For A Simple, Functional Home Bar, from List Addicts Whenever I picture my first real home, I imagine a fully stocked bar where friends and family can come over and make all kinds of fancy drinks.  It makes me feel very grown up, considering my “bar” at school consists only of cheap wine.  I thought this was a great list to get you started.  Bottoms up!

Necessary Items For A Simple, Functional Home Bar, from List Addicts

Whenever I picture my first real home, I imagine a fully stocked bar where friends and family can come over and make all kinds of fancy drinks.  It makes me feel very grown up, considering my “bar” at school consists only of cheap wine.  I thought this was a great list to get you started.  Bottoms up!

--Tagged under: My First Place--

--Tagged under: lists--

When moving into your first place….

Remember these tips, compliments of jesssica:

  • Always try to place a mirror on the opposite wall from a window. It will trick the eye into widening the room and you’ll be reflecting something attractive.
  • Ottomans are your friend: used for storage, extra seating, foot-rest, or a coffee table (just place a few removable trays on top).  Not to mention the fact that they can come in any material or pattern.
  • First and foremost a room should be usable. It doesn’t matter how artistic or chic a room is if you can’t relax in it, or use it for its intended purpose.
  • Second only to the bedroom, the bathroom is where you spend a lot of your time (well, if you’re anything like me).  Make sure it’s aesthetically pleasing and comfortable- you don’t want to have to reach for things uncomfortable or have unflattering light when you’re getting ready in the morning.
  • A can of paint is a lot cheaper than new furniture! It’s better to stick with buying neutral classics when it comes to big pieces like your bed and couch, and change the walls around you as you please.
  • Make sure your rug is the appropriate size for your room. Nothing looks dumber than a floating “magic carpet” with a teeny tiny coffee table on top in the middle of your living room. Also, lighter-colored rugs (or carpet) make your room look larger.
  • You probably have more stuff than you need. Simplifying leads to a clear head as well as clear surroundings.

--Tagged under: My First Place--

This year, Christmas was a little different for me.  For one, this is the first Christmas in the history of my life that I didn’t receive any clothing.  Albeit slightly foreign, I actually preferred it that way.  I’ve always been ready to move onto the next phase of my life before said phrase had actually arrived, and this year proved no different.  Case in point:  For Christmas I received lots of kitchen gadgets (pots and pans, really sharp knives and a dutch oven, which my beau cannot say without giggling like a school girl) among other goodies that I’ll be needing upon college graduation when I get my first real place, sans roommates.  After tearing the wrapping paper off of my gorgeous new cookware set (photo above), I became so excited picturing them in my first real apartment that I set about making a list of not only what else I’ll need, but specifically which item I would like to buy.  After reading tons of equipment reviews and watching amazing videos on Cook’s Illustrated (aka my new best friend) and shopping around at various houseware shops, I’ve compiled the “Master Kitchen Wish List” for my first place.  Some call it OCD, I call it smart shopping, you can call it what you want.  And because I’m so generous, I’ve decided to share the master list with my loyal fans :)  If you visit my Amazon wishlist, you’ll see nearly all of the items are listed (with the exception of what I already received for Christmas).  I swear, this is not an attempt to get you all to send me gifts… merely a tool that I hope allows you to view the items, their reviews and prices, etc. best.

So with that, I leave you to peruse the list, asking only that you let me know what your favorite kitchen tools are and which ones we’re better off without.  As a side note, you will all be just as surprised as I to find that Crate and Barrel has some of the best prices, so be sure to check them out, too!

--Tagged under: kitchen essentials--

--Tagged under: My First Place--

Cooking.  On the one hand, it can be so fun, it can save you tons of moolah, and you can eat some amazingly delicious food.  On the other hand, it can be a huge pain trying to come up with meal ideas, it can be hard to follow a recipe to the T without screwing something up, and it’s not always easy.  Enter Cooking Light’s new book: Way to Cook.  Not only did I give this book as a gift this year, but I also received it from mon cheri after he saw how much I adored it!  It’s a great cookbook with tons of pictures, delicious recipes, how-to’s and explanations so you’re never left wondering what type of oil you should use or how to tell when chicken thighs are done.  Great for beginner chefs and even those that have been cooking for a while.  I highly recommend this book!

--Tagged under: cookbook--

--Tagged under: kitchen essentials--

--Tagged under: My First Place--

When you live at home with your parents, there are a lot of things that are done for you that you probably aren’t even aware of: laundry, toilet scrubbing, vacuuming.  But when you first move into your own place, it can be slightly overwhelming to figure out what needs to be cleaned, the frequency of said cleanings and how exactly you are supposed to clean something like a couch… or a shower curtain.  Thanks, jordanreid, for this very helpful post.  Now if only I could muster up the motivation to actually do this. HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SHOWER CURTAIN (a.k.a. “Things I Don’t Do…But Probably Should”): - Fabric shower curtains should be washed in hot water at least once a month (add a little bleach to kill bacteria). Hang back on hooks to dry. - Plastic shower curtains should be wiped down with hot water and detergent once a month. You can also throw them in the washing machine with a few towels (the friction from the towels will help clean the plastic). - Replace your shower curtain once a year, or immediately if you notice any mold starting to grow. You can lengthen the life of your shower curtain by using a liner, which can be purchased at any hardware store. - Make sure your bathroom has decent ventilation; open a window or turn on a fan after bathing. - Close the shower curtain completely after bathing so that it dries evenly (I do this! Whew…one down). - Clean your bathroom thoroughly at least once a week to prevent mildew from growing (whether or not I do this depends heavily on your definition of “thoroughly”); also consider painting it with mildew-proof paint. Above: Martha Stewart Trousseau shower curtain, available at Macy’s. Go here for some other lovely styles.

When you live at home with your parents, there are a lot of things that are done for you that you probably aren’t even aware of: laundry, toilet scrubbing, vacuuming.  But when you first move into your own place, it can be slightly overwhelming to figure out what needs to be cleaned, the frequency of said cleanings and how exactly you are supposed to clean something like a couch… or a shower curtain.  Thanks, jordanreid, for this very helpful post.  Now if only I could muster up the motivation to actually do this.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SHOWER CURTAIN (a.k.a. “Things I Don’t Do…But Probably Should”):

- Fabric shower curtains should be washed in hot water at least once a month (add a little bleach to kill bacteria). Hang back on hooks to dry.

- Plastic shower curtains should be wiped down with hot water and detergent once a month. You can also throw them in the washing machine with a few towels (the friction from the towels will help clean the plastic).

- Replace your shower curtain once a year, or immediately if you notice any mold starting to grow. You can lengthen the life of your shower curtain by using a liner, which can be purchased at any hardware store.

- Make sure your bathroom has decent ventilation; open a window or turn on a fan after bathing.

- Close the shower curtain completely after bathing so that it dries evenly (I do this! Whew…one down).

- Clean your bathroom thoroughly at least once a week to prevent mildew from growing (whether or not I do this depends heavily on your definition of “thoroughly”); also consider painting it with mildew-proof paint.

Above: Martha Stewart Trousseau shower curtain, available at Macy’s. Go here for some other lovely styles.

--Tagged under: cleaning advice--

--Tagged under: shower curtains--

--Tagged under: My First Place--

I graduate from college in 5 months.  5 MONTHS!!!  On the one hand, I couldn’t be more ready.  On the other hand, the more logistic hand, I am so not ready.  I have so many things that I need to do before I graduate, so many things that I need to buy for my first real place… the list is endless (I won’t bore you with all the details).  One of the main categories I’m really lacking in both knowledge and supplies is technology.  Other than a crappy phone and a 20” TV, I’m coming totally unprepared and I haven’t the slightest clue as to what I’ll need to outfit my place with the necessary technologies— which let’s face it, there really isn’t such a thing, but I’d love a really big shiny TV.  So, here to help us today is Jason Chen.  Take it away Jason! Name: Jason Chen Age: 28 Official job title: Editor Company: Gizmodo When moving into your first home, how does one begin to prioritize which electronics they will need/use most and thus should buy first? Unless you’re coming completely empty-handed, you probably have some leftover appliances and gadgets left over from your previous apartments and homes. Use them—at least temporarily, while you get set up with your new home. One mistake people make is that they move in and immediately buy a lot of stuff. You should use your old stuff in the meantime and figure out what you’re missing and what you can still live with. Maybe you don’t need a new microwave when the cheap one that’s built into the stove works alright. Or maybe you don’t need another TV in the bedroom when the bedroom is actually too small to accommodate anything more than a bed. Live first, then purchase. When buying electronics, what are some helpful tips to remember? Comparison shopping and timing your purchase are the two biggest things you can do. Check out the best prices online, and then figure out what time of year the products get refreshed. For example, HDTVs get introduced in January, at CES in Las Vegas, so last year’s models go on sale (when the new ones ship) in mid to late spring. This is the best time to get a TV that’s almost just as good as the new ones, but much, much cheaper. If you could only buy one electronic product what would it be? A computer, because it’s basically the all-in-one entertainment and information device. And, because I need it to do my job. J Which brand/company do you feel makes the best TVs?  Phones?  Vacuums?  Cameras?  Stereo? Some product lines have definite winners, like the Pioneer Kuro was with Plasma TVs, but a lot of the time the “winner” depends on what kind of features and functionality you want from a gadget. Even for something relatively simple as a smartphone, you have to decide whether or not you want to switch providers, whether you want video recording or more applications, or even if you want a hardware keyboard. There’s no easy answer as to which company makes the best anything, so you should first define what  features you NEED to have, and then go from there. If you had $500 to spend and not one electronic product to your name, what would buy? I would buy a computer, as I said in the previous answer. Specifically, I would buy an HP Mini 311, because it’s small enough to be portable but decent enough to be used like a normal computer would be. I’d use that leftover $100 to get a smartphone (probably an iPhone 3G or a Palm Pre). What electronics are worth the investment and which ones can you skimp on? You shouldn’t skimp on a computer or a phone, because those are the two things you use ALL the time, but you can skimp on something like a stereo or a TV. Here’s why: unless you buy something super, super cheap, you’re going to be happy enough with anything in the mid-range. The only way you can really tell the difference between two products is when they’re sitting side by side in the store, so once you take home a $1000 TV, you won’t be able to tell the difference between that and a $1500 TV. What are some of the products you’d like to warn readers against? Products that are really new, like pico projectors, HD streamers and touchscreen computers. Wait for those to mature just a little bit more (1 or 2 years) before you buy one. What do you feel is the coolest gadget on the market right now? Cheap consumer HD cameras are the coolest thing right now. We’ve gotten to a point where you can have something that records 1080p, fits in the palm of your hand and can store hours of footage for just a couple hundred dollars. It’s amazing that you can get this amount of quality for this cheap, and be able to share the results with everyone else (for FREE) on YouTube. Where do you stand on the Mac vs. PC debate? I’m somewhere in the middle, being that I use a Mac and a PC simultaneously every day. But if I had to choose only one of the two, I’d pick a Mac (since I use a MacBook Pro on the road). How about the iPhone vs. Blackberry? For most people I would recommend an iPhone, just because it can do so much more—functionality-wise—with all the apps in the app store. They’re both fine phones and they can both do the same basic things like sending email and looking up Google Maps, but the iPhone has a lot more other things it can do. Plus, if I say iPhone, maybe I can get somebody to buy my book.

I graduate from college in 5 months.  5 MONTHS!!!  On the one hand, I couldn’t be more ready.  On the other hand, the more logistic hand, I am so not ready.  I have so many things that I need to do before I graduate, so many things that I need to buy for my first real place… the list is endless (I won’t bore you with all the details).  One of the main categories I’m really lacking in both knowledge and supplies is technology.  Other than a crappy phone and a 20” TV, I’m coming totally unprepared and I haven’t the slightest clue as to what I’ll need to outfit my place with the necessary technologies— which let’s face it, there really isn’t such a thing, but I’d love a really big shiny TV.  So, here to help us today is Jason Chen.  Take it away Jason!

Name: Jason Chen

Age: 28

Official job title: Editor

Company: Gizmodo

When moving into your first home, how does one begin to prioritize which electronics they will need/use most and thus should buy first?

    Unless you’re coming completely empty-handed, you probably have some leftover appliances and gadgets left over from your previous apartments and homes. Use them—at least temporarily, while you get set up with your new home.

    One mistake people make is that they move in and immediately buy a lot of stuff. You should use your old stuff in the meantime and figure out what you’re missing and what you can still live with. Maybe you don’t need a new microwave when the cheap one that’s built into the stove works alright. Or maybe you don’t need another TV in the bedroom when the bedroom is actually too small to accommodate anything more than a bed. Live first, then purchase.

    When buying electronics, what are some helpful tips to remember?

    Comparison shopping and timing your purchase are the two biggest things you can do. Check out the best prices online, and then figure out what time of year the products get refreshed. For example, HDTVs get introduced in January, at CES in Las Vegas, so last year’s models go on sale (when the new ones ship) in mid to late spring. This is the best time to get a TV that’s almost just as good as the new ones, but much, much cheaper.

    If you could only buy one electronic product what would it be?

    A computer, because it’s basically the all-in-one entertainment and information device. And, because I need it to do my job. J

    Which brand/company do you feel makes the best TVs?  Phones?  Vacuums?  Cameras?  Stereo?

    Some product lines have definite winners, like the Pioneer Kuro was with Plasma TVs, but a lot of the time the “winner” depends on what kind of features and functionality you want from a gadget. Even for something relatively simple as a smartphone, you have to decide whether or not you want to switch providers, whether you want video recording or more applications, or even if you want a hardware keyboard.

    There’s no easy answer as to which company makes the best anything, so you should first define what  features you NEED to have, and then go from there.

    If you had $500 to spend and not one electronic product to your name, what would buy?

    I would buy a computer, as I said in the previous answer. Specifically, I would buy an HP Mini 311, because it’s small enough to be portable but decent enough to be used like a normal computer would be. I’d use that leftover $100 to get a smartphone (probably an iPhone 3G or a Palm Pre).

    What electronics are worth the investment and which ones can you skimp on?

    You shouldn’t skimp on a computer or a phone, because those are the two things you use ALL the time, but you can skimp on something like a stereo or a TV. Here’s why: unless you buy something super, super cheap, you’re going to be happy enough with anything in the mid-range. The only way you can really tell the difference between two products is when they’re sitting side by side in the store, so once you take home a $1000 TV, you won’t be able to tell the difference between that and a $1500 TV.

    What are some of the products you’d like to warn readers against?

    Products that are really new, like pico projectors, HD streamers and touchscreen computers. Wait for those to mature just a little bit more (1 or 2 years) before you buy one.

    What do you feel is the coolest gadget on the market right now?

    Cheap consumer HD cameras are the coolest thing right now. We’ve gotten to a point where you can have something that records 1080p, fits in the palm of your hand and can store hours of footage for just a couple hundred dollars. It’s amazing that you can get this amount of quality for this cheap, and be able to share the results with everyone else (for FREE) on YouTube.

    Where do you stand on the Mac vs. PC debate?

    I’m somewhere in the middle, being that I use a Mac and a PC simultaneously every day. But if I had to choose only one of the two, I’d pick a Mac (since I use a MacBook Pro on the road).

    How about the iPhone vs. Blackberry?

    For most people I would recommend an iPhone, just because it can do so much more—functionality-wise—with all the apps in the app store. They’re both fine phones and they can both do the same basic things like sending email and looking up Google Maps, but the iPhone has a lot more other things it can do. Plus, if I say iPhone, maybe I can get somebody to buy my book.


--Tagged under: Equipping your first apartment--

--Tagged under: Tech Expert--

--Tagged under: Expert--

--Tagged under: My First Place--

So , rumor has it that once you move into your own place you have to clean it.  I know, I was just as shocked as you when I first came to the realization that there was no Mommy to come and clean up behind me.  I couldn’t just leave my dishes in the sink anymore.  I actually had to start doing my own laundry and vacuuming the house and a whole bunch of other equally unpleasant activities that I wasn’t used to.  It’s no fun.  Especially if you don’t have the right “equipment”.  I learned that the hard way— you only have to clean the toilet once without a scrub brush to know that that little gadget is more than essential. So, I’ve created a nuclear arsenal list of the essential cleaning supplies you’ll need to keep your place spic and span, with minimal effort.  Apparently, a little cleaning every day saves you a lot of time spent in rubber gloves, armed with a mop later. Also, I highly recommend Method Cleaning Products, which you’ll see pictured in many of the items above.  Not only are the packages super cute and matching, but the line is also eco-friendly and affordable!  Plus, they also have kits already put together for you.

So , rumor has it that once you move into your own place you have to clean it.  I know, I was just as shocked as you when I first came to the realization that there was no Mommy to come and clean up behind me.  I couldn’t just leave my dishes in the sink anymore.  I actually had to start doing my own laundry and vacuuming the house and a whole bunch of other equally unpleasant activities that I wasn’t used to.  It’s no fun.  Especially if you don’t have the right “equipment”.  I learned that the hard way— you only have to clean the toilet once without a scrub brush to know that that little gadget is more than essential.

So, I’ve created a nuclear arsenal list of the essential cleaning supplies you’ll need to keep your place spic and span, with minimal effort.  Apparently, a little cleaning every day saves you a lot of time spent in rubber gloves, armed with a mop later.

Also, I highly recommend Method Cleaning Products, which you’ll see pictured in many of the items above.  Not only are the packages super cute and matching, but the line is also eco-friendly and affordable!  Plus, they also have kits already put together for you.

--Tagged under: Essential Cleaning Supplies--

--Tagged under: lists--

--Tagged under: My First Place--

I was born in Atlanta.  I grew up in Alpharetta.  I go to college in Athens.  For those of you not from The South, this means that I have lived in Georgia for my entire life.  22 years of humidity, SEC football, peaches, Braves games, red necks and good ole southern hospitality.  I’ve loved it here, I’ve hated it here.  And now, it’s about time to leave here.  For me, the decision was made about 22 years ago.  I’m going to New York.  But for many people, trying to decide where you want to live after graduation can be more stressful than figuring out what you want to do once you get there.  Thankfully, there are sites out there now that help you figure out which city is your soul mate (thank you technology).  Check out www.findyourspot.com to find your match made in heaven :) P.S.  The list above are the cities that have romance potential for moi.

I was born in Atlanta.  I grew up in Alpharetta.  I go to college in Athens.  For those of you not from The South, this means that I have lived in Georgia for my entire life.  22 years of humidity, SEC football, peaches, Braves games, red necks and good ole southern hospitality.  I’ve loved it here, I’ve hated it here.  And now, it’s about time to leave here.  For me, the decision was made about 22 years ago.  I’m going to New York.  But for many people, trying to decide where you want to live after graduation can be more stressful than figuring out what you want to do once you get there.  Thankfully, there are sites out there now that help you figure out which city is your soul mate (thank you technology).  Check out www.findyourspot.com to find your match made in heaven :)

P.S.  The list above are the cities that have romance potential for moi.

--Tagged under: best cities for young people--

--Tagged under: post graduation--

--Tagged under: where to live after college--

--Tagged under: My First Place--

--Tagged under: advice--

This post is the fourth part of our “Let’s Play House” series, all about how to equip your first place with the essentials… and then some.  Today, we’re talking about how to keep a well-stocked pantry. In the four years that I have been living on my own, read without my mom to do my grocery shopping, I have found that the more stuff I have in my pantry, within reason of course, the less money I spend on a weekly basis and thus overall.  Sometimes, especially if you live alone, having a membership at a warehouse store like Cost Co. may not be worth it.  That said, items that you know you use in most of your meals should be bought in bulk in order to save money, so long as they don’t have short shelf lives.  And if you’re like me, you’ll always have plenty of garlic and onions on hand… not to mention diced tomatoes and cream of mushroom soup. As always, know which ingredients you use the most and stock your pantry accordingly.  And try to steer clear of recipes that involve lots of random ingredients, like fish oil or thai chili paste, that you’ll only use once.  I once made the mistake of making a very complex Curry dish that cost me $30 for all of the ingredients.  The dish turned out terrible and I’ve never used any of those ingredients again.  Your spice rack should only include spices that you’ll use on a regular basis. Another hint:  To save money on spices, check out local farmer’s markets.  In Atlanta, the Decatur’s Farmer’s Market has amazingly cheap fresh spices and herbs and you don’t have to buy a whole jar of them.

This post is the fourth part of our “Let’s Play House” series, all about how to equip your first place with the essentials… and then some.  Today, we’re talking about how to keep a well-stocked pantry.

In the four years that I have been living on my own, read without my mom to do my grocery shopping, I have found that the more stuff I have in my pantry, within reason of course, the less money I spend on a weekly basis and thus overall.  Sometimes, especially if you live alone, having a membership at a warehouse store like Cost Co. may not be worth it.  That said, items that you know you use in most of your meals should be bought in bulk in order to save money, so long as they don’t have short shelf lives.  And if you’re like me, you’ll always have plenty of garlic and onions on hand… not to mention diced tomatoes and cream of mushroom soup.

As always, know which ingredients you use the most and stock your pantry accordingly.  And try to steer clear of recipes that involve lots of random ingredients, like fish oil or thai chili paste, that you’ll only use once.  I once made the mistake of making a very complex Curry dish that cost me $30 for all of the ingredients.  The dish turned out terrible and I’ve never used any of those ingredients again.  Your spice rack should only include spices that you’ll use on a regular basis.

Another hint:  To save money on spices, check out local farmer’s markets.  In Atlanta, the Decatur’s Farmer’s Market has amazingly cheap fresh spices and herbs and you don’t have to buy a whole jar of them.

--Tagged under: equipping your first kitchen--

--Tagged under: kitchen essentials--

--Tagged under: pantry essentials--

--Tagged under: lists--

--Tagged under: My First Place--

This post is the third part of our “Let’s Play House” series, all about how to equip your first place with the essentials… and then some.  Today, we’re looking at Appliances & Tableware.  If you live alone or never cook, some of these things might seem a little excessive.  That said, you never know when you’ll have guests over.  Plus, the savings you will have if you start cooking at home rather than eating out will be astronomical! In the appliance list, I’ve basically just listed those items that you’re sure to use if you cook at home.  There are obviously a million more machines you can buy, but I think this list narrows it down to those that you really need.  If you find that you need an appliance that is not on the list, by all means, go for it!  Again, this list is meant to be used just as a guide.  My hope is that you can print it out and take it with you when you go to buy all the many many things you’ll need for your kitchen. As for the tableware… I think that 8 is a sufficient number that ensures that you’re not constantly having to run a half-full dishwasher just so that you can eat on clean plates and that you’re fully prepared to have friends and family over for dinner (which you should do, and do often.  Dinner parties can be so much fun!)  Have fun with it and don’t feel like you have to buy some fancy dishes from Bergdorf’s.  Save that for when you get married and let somebody else buy it :)

This post is the third part of our “Let’s Play House” series, all about how to equip your first place with the essentials… and then some.  Today, we’re looking at Appliances & Tableware.  If you live alone or never cook, some of these things might seem a little excessive.  That said, you never know when you’ll have guests over.  Plus, the savings you will have if you start cooking at home rather than eating out will be astronomical!

In the appliance list, I’ve basically just listed those items that you’re sure to use if you cook at home.  There are obviously a million more machines you can buy, but I think this list narrows it down to those that you really need.  If you find that you need an appliance that is not on the list, by all means, go for it!  Again, this list is meant to be used just as a guide.  My hope is that you can print it out and take it with you when you go to buy all the many many things you’ll need for your kitchen.

As for the tableware… I think that 8 is a sufficient number that ensures that you’re not constantly having to run a half-full dishwasher just so that you can eat on clean plates and that you’re fully prepared to have friends and family over for dinner (which you should do, and do often.  Dinner parties can be so much fun!)  Have fun with it and don’t feel like you have to buy some fancy dishes from Bergdorf’s.  Save that for when you get married and let somebody else buy it :)

--Tagged under: appliances--

--Tagged under: equipping your first kitchen--

--Tagged under: kitchen essentials--

--Tagged under: tableware--

--Tagged under: lists--

--Tagged under: my first place--

This post is the second part of our “Let’s Play House” series, all about how to equip your first place with the essentials… and then some.  Today, we’re looking at Tools & Utensils.  If you’ve ever been to a Sur la Table or a Williams Sonoma, you  know that there are about a million little gadgets that you “need” for kitchen.  Here at Get Smart, we’ve gone through and narrowed all those “needs” down to the essentials, so you don’t have to waste your money on cherry pitters and corn zippers (yes, those actually exist).  As always, know your personal style and tailor this list to fit your needs.  Chop away!

This post is the second part of our “Let’s Play House” series, all about how to equip your first place with the essentials… and then some.  Today, we’re looking at Tools & Utensils.  If you’ve ever been to a Sur la Table or a Williams Sonoma, you  know that there are about a million little gadgets that you “need” for kitchen.  Here at Get Smart, we’ve gone through and narrowed all those “needs” down to the essentials, so you don’t have to waste your money on cherry pitters and corn zippers (yes, those actually exist).  As always, know your personal style and tailor this list to fit your needs.  Chop away!

--Tagged under: equipping your first kitchen--

--Tagged under: kitchen essentials--

--Tagged under: kitchen tools--

--Tagged under: kitchen utensils--

--Tagged under: lists--

--Tagged under: my first place--

This is going to be a great series, all about how to equip your first place with the essentials… and then some.  Use it as a guide, not the end all be all for your “to buy list” and feel free to tailor it to your own needs.  And boys, don’t be deterred.  When you get your own place, you’re going to have to buy cookware, too.  So listen up!  The first part of this series is Cooking & Baking.  Believe you me… I never knew how much stuff I would need to equip a kitchen. While this list is clearly more than the bare minimum, it is obviously not exhaustive.  This list is meant to be a guide so that you can see what the most well-equipped kitchens are made of and then equip your kitchen accordingly.   Some key points to remember when shopping for kitchen supplies: The most important thing to remember when equipping your kitchen is to know your personal cooking style.  If you never bake, maybe you don’t need to go out and buy muffin and cake pans right now. I would recommend starting out with the essentials, the goods you know you’ll use, and then working your way up.  One way to go might be to start buying a new piece on an as needed basis.  Another way might be to save a little bit each month and then at the end, choose a new piece.  The beauty is, it’s your life.  It’s your kitchen.  You can FINALLY do whatever you want. If you’re anything like me, after doing your research, you’ll quickly realize this stuff ain’t cheap.  So take your time, shop around, and go with your own personal style.   I personally am a Food Network Addict, so one thing I try to do when wasting my time lounging in front of the tube is to check out what my favorite chefs are using.  Which ones like stainless steel?  Who prefers non-stick?  Do they use wooden spoons or plastic?  You get the idea. Still not convinced?  For those of you that are wondering how you’re ever going to pay for all of this stuff, just think of all the money you’ll save when you stop eating out at $20 a pop.  That’s almost a casserole dish!  MMMM! Some great resources: http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/segments/view/space-saving-kitchen-ideas-pots-knives/ http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/segments/view/essential-kitchen-tools/ http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/checklist-for-what-every-house-needs

This is going to be a great series, all about how to equip your first place with the essentials… and then some.  Use it as a guide, not the end all be all for your “to buy list” and feel free to tailor it to your own needs.  And boys, don’t be deterred.  When you get your own place, you’re going to have to buy cookware, too.  So listen up!  The first part of this series is Cooking & Baking.  Believe you me… I never knew how much stuff I would need to equip a kitchen.

While this list is clearly more than the bare minimum, it is obviously not exhaustive.  This list is meant to be a guide so that you can see what the most well-equipped kitchens are made of and then equip your kitchen accordingly.   Some key points to remember when shopping for kitchen supplies:

  1. The most important thing to remember when equipping your kitchen is to know your personal cooking style.  If you never bake, maybe you don’t need to go out and buy muffin and cake pans right now.
  2. I would recommend starting out with the essentials, the goods you know you’ll use, and then working your way up.  One way to go might be to start buying a new piece on an as needed basis.  Another way might be to save a little bit each month and then at the end, choose a new piece.  The beauty is, it’s your life.  It’s your kitchen.  You can FINALLY do whatever you want.
  3. If you’re anything like me, after doing your research, you’ll quickly realize this stuff ain’t cheap.  So take your time, shop around, and go with your own personal style.   I personally am a Food Network Addict, so one thing I try to do when wasting my time lounging in front of the tube is to check out what my favorite chefs are using.  Which ones like stainless steel?  Who prefers non-stick?  Do they use wooden spoons or plastic?  You get the idea.

Still not convinced?  For those of you that are wondering how you’re ever going to pay for all of this stuff, just think of all the money you’ll save when you stop eating out at $20 a pop.  That’s almost a casserole dish!  MMMM!

Some great resources:

--Tagged under: bakeware essentials--

--Tagged under: cookware essentials--

--Tagged under: equipping your first kitchen--

--Tagged under: kitchen essentials--

--Tagged under: lists--

--Tagged under: My First Place--

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