Smoke an Apple Pie on Your Traeger
Everyone can't stop talking about pumpkins around this time of year. Don't get me wrong, I love pumpkins..... but I don't think apples ever get the credit they deserve! Fall is for apple picking and baking apple pies in my book! While I grew up watching my mom make apple pies, in my own family my husband has sort of taken on the roll of apple pie maker at our house. Obviously I'm thrilled about this! A few years ago he experimented one day and cooked an apple pie on our Traeger grill. Needless to say, we haven't baked a pie in our oven since then! Smoking a pie on the Traeger takes a little more time than simply baking it in your oven, but the results are so worth it! You get everything you get by cooking it in your oven, plus more! There is a perfect hint of smoke that you can taste on the pie that is really almost too good to be true!
My husband has tried several different recipes, but always seems to go back to Grandma Ople's apple pie. Make the pie as directed, and place in a skillet to bake. Instead of baking it in the oven, throw it in your Traeger for a couple of hours, and VOILA---- you've got yourself a delicious smoked pie. It'll change your life.
And if you don't already have one, check out RC Willey's awesome selection of Traeger grills , and add it to your Christmas list! It's a game changer!
Excuse my iphone pictures, but you get the idea!
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Sack Lunch Ideas
Now that school is in full swing and it’s time to keep track of homework, backpacks, school pickup and drop off, assignments, and so many other things, the last thing you want to do is come up with sack lunch ideas. If you’re in a PB&J sandwich rut, we’re here to help you come up with healthy, delicious sack lunch ideas. 
Sack Lunch Ideas
There are so many sack lunch ideas out there! I’ve gathered together a couple of websites with so many lunch ideas that you’ll never be stuck last minute trying to figure out what should go into the lunch box.
Find 100 ideas for lunches at the site One Crazy House. You'll find so many creative ideas your kids will love!
Coming up with interesting sack lunch combinations will be easy with this list of 30 lunch ideas from Peanut Blossom.
Sandwiches don't have to rule the lunch box! Check out The Pinning Mama for some non-sandwich sack lunches.
You may want to print off this image below as a cheat sheet for quick lunch inspiration!
via Tastes Better From Scratch
Good luck with lunches this year! What sack lunch ideas do your kids love?
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Cleaning Wood Floors With Vinegar
Did you know that you can clean your wood floors with vinegar? Once again, vinegar is the go-to cleaning supply you probably already have in your cupboard. Read below for instructions on how to make a homemade, non-toxic and natural cleaning solution that is good for your family and the earth.
Creating the vinegar-water solution used for cleaning wood floors is extremely simple and inexpensive. All you need is water and white vinegar! Make sure you use basic white vinegar when you are making cleaning solutions to avoid staining your wood floors.
To make your cleaning solution, mix 1 gallon of warm water with ½ cup of white vinegar. How easy is that? Make sure you wring out your mop thoroughly before you start mopping! You should use as little water as possible on your wood floors to avoid warping or damaging your floors. You could use a spray bottle to spritz your floors with the cleaning solution to control how much water is placed on your floors.
Check out this post for more tips on cleaning wood floors and tell us, what’s your favorite wood floor cleaner?
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Paint Colors for Dark Rooms
Finding paint colors for the dark rooms in your house can be tricky. Hallways, bathrooms, basements, and rooms with little to no windows can feel dark and cramped. Finding the right paint color will help transform the room, but the trick is actually finding something that will work. Check out these tips and ideas of paint colors for dark rooms!
Paint Colors for Dark Rooms
First of all, we’ve got to get rid of the myth that painting a dark room all white will make the room feel bigger. This is, unfortunately, not true! White rooms feel light and airy because the paint color will reflect back lighting. If you don’t have any lighting, white walls don’t have anything to reflect back and your room will look sad and dull. While it may feel counterintuitive, avoid painting a room with poor lighting white. It won’t have the effect you’re going for.
On the other hand, it is true that painting a dark room a dark, bold color will make the room feel smaller. This might not be a bad thing if you are wanting a cozy room. If that’s not what you want, a neutral with some color in it will be your best option. Emily Henderson, a stylist from LA, came up with some of her favorite neutral paint colors she uses in dark rooms we’ve included below.
via Emily Henderson
The most important thing to do, regardless of how much lighting your room has, is to test out your paint colors before you commit and paint all your walls. You’ll save yourself a lot of work and a lot of money if you make sure the color is what you want before you pull out the paint brushes!
Do you have a dark room you’ve painted? What colors did you use?
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Trend Alert: Sofas in the Kitchen
Which room in your home do you think you spend the most waking hours in? According to a houzz survey, we spend around 12% of our lives, or an average of 2.8 hours per day in the KITCHEN! As a society we are finally waking up to the fact that kitchens are less about just preparing food, and more about being a place where we can gather to spend quality time with friends & family. Open floor plans, plus this awakening to the fact that kitchens should feel comfortable and relaxing, have helped spur on this up and coming trend in the design world: putting sofas and other living room furniture in the kitchen!
At first I thought it sounded a little crazy, but I'm really warming up to the idea. Who doesn't want to be able to take a power nap in the kitchen?! If you're worried about spills (which will most likely happen, especially if you have children), then I would suggest staying away from light upholstery and opting for something a little more forgiving, like darker fabrics or full-aneline leather.
Here are some beautiful examples....
Amber Interiors via Pinterest
via houzz
via pinterest
Amber Interiors via pinterest
via houzz
What do you think?
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Chef Viet Pham Event at RC Willey in Salt Lake City
We are so excited to welcome Iron Chef, Chef Viet Pham, to the Salt Lake City RC Willey! After graduating from the California Culinary Academy and working at various restaurants in San Francisco, Chef Pham moved to Salt Lake City where he has worked in and opened award-winning restaurants. Some of the many awards and accolades Chef Pham has received throughout his career are Food & Wine Best New Chef in 2011 and winner of Iron Chef America in 2012.
For your chance to learn from a master chef and win prizes, make sure you stop by on September 30 to meet Chef Pham. Check out the schedule below and make sure you mark your calendars!
LEARN HOW TO COOK FROM A MASTER CHEF!
Every hour starting at 12:30 PM on September 30 Chef Pham will be doing 30-minute cooking demonstrations of everything from appetizers to desserts and a question and answer for anyone who wants to learn how to become a master chef. The last demonstration of the day will begin at 3:30 PM.
ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AMAZING PRIZES!
In addition to learning how to cook something delicious for your family and friends, you can enter to win one of three amazing prizes from Samsung - a top control dishwasher, a gas range + over-the-range microwave, or a FlexWash + FlexDry laundry set!
Make sure you mark your calendars and come on down to the Salt Lake City RC Willey to learn from Chef Viet Pham and enter to win some amazing prizes!
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Television Buying Guide
Before you pack up and come to RC Willey to purchase your new TV, there are a couple of things we’d like you to understand in order to get the best TV for you and your family. Everything you will need to know about buying a new TV can be found here.
TV Buying Guide
WHAT TYPE OF TV SHOULD I BUY?
In contrast to a few years ago when the list of TV types went on and on, today there are primarily two options - LED and OLED.
LED
LED TVs are a type of LCD television. Rather than using fluorescent backlights like LCD television, LED TV uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to light the screen. The benefit of using LEDs is that they are smaller than fluorescent lights, which means the screens can be made much thinner, and they require less power, making the TVs more energy efficient.
Another benefit is that LEDs can perform local dimming. Local dimming is when the different backlights are able to dim, brighten, or turn off independently depending on what picture is on the screen. This happens during high contrast scenes, moments with dark and light areas, and makes the contrast even more intense. The result of this is that LED TVs produce a high-quality image, with sharp colors and images.
OLED
OLED, or organic light-emitting diodes, is made of organic compounds that emit light when surged with electricity. This means that there is no need for the backlights found in LED televisions. With the absence of the backlights, OLED TVs are significantly thinner and use less power, making them even more energy efficient than an LED TV.
Because it is the individual pixels that are emitting light, OLED TVs have amazing contrast, color, and brightness. While LED TVs local dimming turns off sections of the lights to create higher contrast, OLED TVs can turn off individual pixels, creating pure black. The pixels are able to quickly change color, ensuring that everything stays sharp and there is no blur at all.
WHAT ABOUT THE RESOLUTION?
A television’s resolution is the number of pixels to create the picture on the TV. The higher the resolution, or higher number of pixels, the more detail the picture will have. Options like 720p, 1080p, and 4k all refer to the number of pixels the set has. Generally speaking, you don’t want to purchase anything with less than 1080p and at this point, televisions have come so far that it is actually difficult to even find a 720p TV! With that in mind, the two options you’ll really need to decide between are 1080p and 4k.
4k, or UHD (Ultra-High Definition), has four times the resolution of 1080p and is the best option currently available. As we said before, the more pixels your set has the better quality your image will be. This means that with a 4k TV your image will have a sharper picture, brighter colors, and more detailed images.
On smaller screens (think 40” or less), 4k doesn’t make a huge difference and may not be worth the money. However, if you’re getting a screen larger than 40” and plan on keeping your television for as long as possible, consider spending the extra money for 4k resolution.
WHAT SIZE OF TV SHOULD I GET?
With so many size options available, knowing which one to buy can be difficult. The size of television you pick really depends on the size of your room, how far away you will be sitting, and personal preference.
The first step to determining television size is deciding where you want to put it. If you’re planning on putting it inside an entertainment center, be sure you have about an inch of space around the sides, top, and back for ventilation. Remember that TVs are measured diagonally, from corner to corner, and consider whether or not you are going to be mounting it to the wall. Measure to see what the largest size of television you could fit in that space will be.
Next, consider where you will be sitting when you’re watching. The farther away you sit, the smaller the screen will appear, but if you’re too close it can strain your eyes and distort the image. Below are some graphs that could help you narrow down what size of screen will work best for your viewing distance. These are general guidelines and should be used as a starting point so feel free to go bigger or small depending on what you like.
Most people tend to go bigger than smaller, but of course, personal preference wins out over any suggestions you find online. A good tip is to cut a poster board into the size of television you’re interested in buying to see how it feels and will fit. Keep in mind that whatever you buy will feel bigger than the poster board when it hangs on the wall.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?
INPUTS
Before you buy a TV consider how many systems you will be hooking up. Blu-Ray players, cable boxes, video game systems, streaming media players, and most other devices you use for your entertainment system will need to be connected to the TV via HDMI input. Make sure whatever television you buy has as many HDMI inputs as possible. It will make setting up your home entertainment system much easier.
MOUNTING YOUR TV
If you want your TV mounted to the wall, make sure you get a TV mount that is rated to hold the weight and size of your TV. If you are hanging your TV higher than eye-level when sitting down, consider a tilting wall mount so you can angle the TV downwards for easier viewing. If you’d rather not mount your TV, it will come with a removable pedestal that will hold it upright on a table or entertainment center.
SOUND
The trade off for such thin TVs is sound quality. It’s difficult to include quality speakers in something so thin, so plan on purchasing a soundbar with your television so you don’t neglect your ears when it comes to a true home theater experience. There is a wide variety of soundbars available, including some that have Bluetooth connectivity that will enable you to stream music from your phones or other devices.
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The Secret to Quick Strawberry Jam
I don't care who you are. If you don't agree with the statement "Homemade jam is a billion times tastier than store bought jam" there is no way we'd ever be friends. There really is no comparison! If you haven't tried your hand at making your own, you need to ASAP. While it might sound intimidating, making homemade freezer jam is SO simple.
And it just got even simpler for me!
I posted a blog detailing how to make raspberry freezer jam a few years ago, and just when I thought it couldn't get easier, it did! I've helped my mom make freezer jam every August/September for as long as I can remember. Now that I live on the east coast and my mom lives on the west coast, my husband has started taking her place when we have our jam making jamboree! He's really good at finding shortcuts and if there is an easier way to solve a problem, he always figures it out.
For years we've made jam by hand mashing the berries (this can be a long and tedious process, depending on the quantities of jam you are trying to produce), but now I can kiss that method goodbye. The secret my husband discovered to QUICK and delicious strawberry jam is this:
A BLENDER.
I can't believe I never thought of it myself. Cut the strawberries up, throw them in the blender, and blend them up until you achieve your desired texture. Mix sugar, water and sure jell on the stove, bring to a boil. Then add sugar mixture your blended up strawberries, pour in a jar, and VOILA.
You're done. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
Now, go make some!
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Sunbrella and Pendleton Furniture at RC Willey
Pendleton blankets have always had some of my favorite designs, but did you know that you can get Pendleton furniture for your home as well? If you’re interested in creating a classic, cozy living room, some Pendleton is what you need. Check out some new Pendleton by Sunbrella furniture available at RC Willey below!
via RC Willey
This navy sectional has throw pillows with the Pendleton print on it - just enough pattern to give your room some pop. The neutral color of the sectional will fit almost any room and can be arranged to fit most spaces. Pair it with this barn door coffee table, this ivory and navy shag rug, and this glass table lamp for the perfect look.
via RC Willey
For a pop of color and pattern in your living room, you need this accent chair! In a room full of neutral furniture, accent chairs add personality and depth. Balance out the pattern of the Pendleton accent chair with these ski lodge baskets and this set of botanical wall art. Match the whimsy of this chair by using these metal bird accessories somewhere in your room.
Would you put Pendleton furniture in your room?
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How to Remove Paint From Wood Floors
No matter how much you try and prepare for the inevitable, no matter how much tape you use or how many tarps you lay down, it seems like paint always ends up on your floor during a remodel. Knowing how to remove paint from wood floors is a useful piece of knowledge and we’re here to tell you how!
Removing Paint from Wood Floors
via Love to Know
- Just like most stains, it’s easiest to remove paint from wood floors before it dries. If the paint is still wet, use a damp towel to wipe up the stain until it is no longer visible.
- If the paint has dried slightly but isn’t completely hardened, use a plastic putty knife or something similar to gently scrape at the paint. This shouldn’t damage the finish on your floors.
- Sometimes you don’t notice the paint until it has completely dried, and if this is the case, don’t use an actual knife to scrape off the paint or you’ll actually scrape off the finish at the same time. Instead, try using a hair dryer to warm up the paint and soften it. Once the paint has softened, you can use a putty knife to gently scrape up the stain.
- For tougher stains, scrape off as much of the paint as possible and then use a rag soaked in rubbing alcohol to try and remove the paint. With a little elbow grease, you should be able to get rid of the stain.
- Worst case scenario, the paint will be a thin layer close to the grain of the wood. If you’ve tried using a solvent or rubbing alcohol to remove the stain and it’s not budging, you may have to scrape off some of the finish. Take off a thin layer using a knife until the stain is gone, but don’t forget to touch up the finish so your floors are still sealed. Once the finish is dried, you shouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
Do you have any tricks for removing paint from wood floors?
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