Winter in New England can be tough. Frigid temperatures, brutal snow storms, biting winds and shorter days leads many folks to hunker down and spend most of the season in the comfort of their homes. Every once in a while something comes along that helps pull people out of the funk of winter and brings them out and about again. One of those events, at least for me, is Maine Restaurant Week. This year Restaurant Week has expanded and will run from March 1st to March 10th, increasing the great opportunity to get some terrific bargains at some of the finest restaurants on Maine.

As some of you are sure to know, Restaurant Week started in 2009 as way for local business, from suppliers to purveyors, to get a much needed economic boost during the difficult winter season. This year there are 86 restaurants participating in Restaurant Week! During the week participating restaurants will feature set 3 course prix fixe (fixed price) menus, either $22, $32 or $42 depending on the restaurant. Most include a couple of appetizer choices, two or three entrée choices and desert, though some provide more options, all for the price that would usually only buy an entrée. This is a great way to eat at some of the higher end restaurants without breaking the bank!

The week begins and ends with a special event designed to provide a platform for local chefs to display their amazing wares. This years opening event is The Incredible Breakfast Cook-Off, where The Good Table will be defending its crown against all comers with its “Crème Brulee French Toast”. The week is capped off by the Maine Restaurant Week Signature Event, where local mixologists and pastry chefs with provide over two dozen samples of great original cocktails and deserts.

Even though it’s cold outside, there are still exciting places and tastes out there for everyone. Maine Restaurant Week is one of my favorite ways to break the winter doldrums and warm up for the spring that surely comes. Make it one of yours!

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has a hard time hanging photos and art on my walls. I always pull out my tape measure, my level and my hammer but somehow end up hammering 2 holes where only one should be because my measurements are off! Also, nothing is more frustrating than hanging a collage of photos only to step back and realize that one picture is about 3 inches higher than it should be, throwing off your whole design!

I’ve found a system that is easy and fool proof for tackling both of these tasks!

First, cut some scrap paper to the size of the frame (or frames) and mark the nail location on the paper. Using painter’s tape, move the paper templates around the wall until satisfied. Once you have your frames exactly where you want them, hammer the nails through the marks you’ve drawn on the paper. Finally, remove the tape and paper and hang your artwork! It may take a little longer this way but you’ll be much happier in the long run when your frames are level and beautiful on your wall!

After <a href=”http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1000774/?ref_=sr_2″>”Sex and the City”</a> premiered in film form a few years ago, it seemed like the entire female population was yearning for the same thing: “A really big closet.” After perusing my favorite site for quirky & interesting stories – <a href=”http://www.yahoo.com/”>Yahoo!</a> – I found out that the desire for such a large storage space hasn’t abated; it’s actually getting worse. Case in point: the article titled <a href=”http://finance.yahoo.com/news/100-000-closet-021800975.html”>”The $100,000 Closet”</a>. Let me get this straight – people are willing to shell out $100k to build a room the size of their living rooms and with seemingly more features than your average hotel…just so they have somewhere to store all their stuff?! There’s so much about this idea that makes me crazy. First of all, who has an extra 1/10th of a million dollars to shell out on a room? Second, who has enough stuff to warrant <em>having</em> such a room?! There have got to be more frugal (and “frugal” is putting it lightly) ways to create extra storage space. If you’re on a budget – and who isn’t these days? – start your quest for organization by stocking up on baskets. Places like <a href=”http://www.containerstore.com/welcome.htm”>The Container Store</a> sell more varieties than you can imagine…though I’d have to recommend using this store strictly for inspiration simply because their prices can usually be beat. Roam the aisles and then head to <a href=”http://www.homegoods.com/”>HomeGoods</a>, <a href=”http://www.christmastreeshops.com/”>Christmas Tree Shops</a>, or <a href=”http://www.michaels.com/”>Michael’s</a> and find more affordable versions of what you need to get started. The great thing about the baskets is that they come in a variety of sizes <em>and</em> you can place them anywhere – in a closet, under the bed, on shelves – so they help to keep all your stuff corralled nicely. Worried about how your extensive wardrobe is going to fit in that too-small closet in your apartment? Skip the thick, plastic hangers and opt for the thinner wire ones that take up less space (relax – you can get them with protective material over the wire so you don’t end up with weird indentations jumping out of your shoulders). Not sure where your precious shoe collection’s going to fit? They make wonderful stacking shoe racks that can be placed right at the bottom of your closet; they take up very little space and they make it easier to see your selection. Have your own sneaky

Whether your dog has allergies or just loves to eat …..here’s a few alternative treats that you’ll enjoying baking for your furry friend! It’s nice to use doggie type cookie
cutters, like bones or fire hydrants.

If your dog has skin allergies, this recipe might do the trick!

Original recipe makes 60 biscuits

1 3/4 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup golden flax seeds

2/3 cup brewers’ yeast

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup brown rice flour

2 cups oat flour

2 tablespoons organic raw sugar

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

2 eggs
Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease two cookie sheets.
2. Combine oats, flax seeds, brewer’s yeast, cheese, rice flour, oat bran flour and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk together chicken broth and eggs; mix with oat mixture to
make a fairly stiff dough.
3. Roll dough into 1 inch balls, then flatten into discs. (Or, roll dough out on a floured surface to 1/4 or 3/8 inch thick and cut into 1-inch x 1 1/2-inch rectangles.) Place on cookie
sheets 3/4 inch apart.
4. Bake until dry and the edges turn a light golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool before serving.

“These cookies are great for your favorite furry friend. Every dog I have given these to loves them. It is nice to use doggie type cookie cutters, like bones or fire hydrants.”

Birthday Dog Bones

Original recipe makes 18 treats

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup unsalted natural peanut butter

1 cup skim milk

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Stir together the flour and baking powder; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the peanut butter and milk. Stir in the flour mixture until well blended. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Roll
out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into shapes using cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly brown. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
Your Dog will thank you for the treats!

…that is the question.

Tomorrow is February 2 – known to many as “Groundhog Day”. This is a day that we all suspend our sense of reality and depend solely on a groundhog to determine whether or not we are going to see winter come to a quicker close. I have to laugh because, as ridiculous as this is, I am always interested in knowing whether or not the groundhog saw his shadow. Whether it’s legit or not, it’s something fun to help break up the monotony of winter! The good news is that we are that much closer to Spring!

Check out the history of groundhog day.

http://www.groundhog.org/groundhog-day/history/

Have you ever considered selling your unwanted clothes or goods? Have you ever considered buying slightly used goods from a shop? Currently I have been enjoying shopping in consignment shops because you can fine great deals!!! <strong>Here are two good reasons:</strong>1) It’s good for you because it keeps your closets and cupboards filled with only the things you actually love and use. It simplifies your life and saves you time otherwise spent maintaining under-appreciated possessions. Best of all, it turns your cluttered closets into cash.
2) Recycling is good for you, your family, and your wallet.
Keep your closets clean. Why waste time organizing things you don’t use and love? It’s a snap to get everyone dressed in the morning—or the party table set—if you love every choice you own
I found a great website http://www.howtoconsign.com describing benefits of shopping or selling to consignment shops that I would like to share.

Do you have a favorite consignment shop?

It’s amazing how many people in the U.S. have pets. I don’t think people realize how good it is to have a pet. Not only is it good for your health in reducing stress levels, but it can increase your social life! One of our vendors (www.ForRent.com) posted a great article on the top apartment friendly pets and why they are good to have. Click below to read the article and see if your pet made the top list!

http://www.forrent.com/tips/tips-for-pets/pet-friendly-apartments/best-worst-pets-for-apartment-living

Chicken Artichoke Bacon Dip
Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Cook Time: 30 Minutes
Ready In: 50 Minutes

Servings: 8

“Blending bacon, chicken, artichoke hearts, and spinach with an assortment of cheeses produces a creamy, flavorful dip.”

Ingredients:
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, rinsed

and drained

1 (3 ounce) package cooked chicken

breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 1/2 cups fresh spinach, chopped

4 strips cooked bacon, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 ounces Neufchatel cheese, cut into

cubes

2 tablespoons milk, or more to taste

1 clove garlic, minced

2 slices Swiss cheese, cut into strips

ground black pepper to taste

1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

(optional)
Directions:

1.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2.

Blend artichoke hearts, chicken breast, spinach, bacon, mayonnaise, mozzarella cheese, Neufchatel cheese, milk, garlic, Swiss cheese, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a blender or food processor; spread into a baking dish.

3.

Bake until browned and bubbling on top, 30 to 40 minutes.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 1/18/2013

Well, we’re halfway into a new month in a new year. Everyone’s got lists going of things they want to do to improve themselves and their lives in the next twelve months. Some goals – like eating healthier (for some people; obviously not for <em>you</em>!) – can prove to be tough to stick to for more than a couple of weeks. What we should try to keep in mind, though, is that our New Year’s resolutions don’t necessarily have to be life-altering, crazy-difficult, or super-expensive! If you’re looking for a little change, why not start at home? The kitchen might be too daunting a project to tackle, so maybe start with the room that should be your escape: your bedroom. You might want your first step to be clearing out any clutter that you’ve got stashed in there. And let’s face it – we’ve all got junk stuffed into drawers, under the bed, and in the closet that really just doesn’t need to be there. In fact, if it’s covered in dust or dated sometime in the ’90s, it probably doesn’t need to be in any room at all! Sell what you can, donate if you’re feeling generous, or just throw it away. Once you’ve done that, you’ll probably feel like bigger changes are more doable. If you live in a community that allows you to paint in your apartment (and be sure to find out if it’s ok before you do anything), find a color you love and paint the walls! Make it bright, make it soothing, make it whatever you want; you’ll be shocked at how dramatic a new color can be in a room.

Whether you’re able to paint or not, you can always make big changes with furniture and accessories! One of my absolute favorite go-to places for that stuff is <a href=”http://www.homegoods.com/”>HomeGoods</a>. They’ve got unique items at very affordable prices – and their inventory is different every time you go (which is actually kind of dangerous, so maybe try to come up with a budget before you go). My other favorite source of budget-friendly home accents is <a href=”http://www.target.com/”>Target</a>. Target doesn’t even need to be justified; you know how good it is. Between these two stores, you can find new bedding, funky throw pillows, pretty slipper chairs (I really don’t know why they’re called “slipper” chairs – I only know they’re called that because I shop at these two places so frequently. Sigh.), unique art & decorations, mirrors, end tables – everything! Replace all of your old stuff or just update a few items; either way, you’ll be feeling fresher and ready to tackle the rest of the year in no time! Need some inspiration? Check out these <a href=”http://homes.yahoo.com/photos/favorite-bedrooms-2012-slideshow/”>ten incredible bedrooms</a> that were recently featured on Yahoo! Homes…and get to it!

Spend and Save All Year Long</strong>
Have you been in the market for a car? Have you been told all the “secrets” on when to buy? Like, “Buy it at the end of the month! The sales people are hungry to meet goals and will give you a better deal!” Or, “Buy in August! The new model stuff is arriving on the lot and they need to make room!” Well, believe it or not, there are studies on when to not only buy a car, but to also buy furniture, electronics, seasonal items, and more.

Here are some great examples from some of those studies:

<strong>Jan.</strong> – Linens and bedding (white sales are everywhere this month)
Winter clothing (most is already on clearance)
<strong>Feb. –</strong> Fitness equipment (resolutions are well under way)
Indoor furniture (just in time for spring)
<strong>Mar. -</strong> Winter sports gear (skis, skates, hockey stuff, etc.)
Electronics (cameras, TVs)
<strong>Apr. -</strong> Spring clothing (yup, by then, summer is out and spring is on clearance)
Computers (school is almost out – no one’s thinking computers!)
<strong>May -</strong> Camping and outdoor gear (watch the sales- they can get pretty good)
Snow blowers and winter equipment (end-of-season clearance)
<strong>Jun. -</strong> Swimwear (start of summer for consumers, back to school for retail)
Carpeting and flooring (could be a good vacation project)
<strong>Jul. – </strong> Office supplies (early bird back-to-school sales!)
Outdoor furniture (making room for fall and back to school)
<strong>Aug. – </strong> Air conditioners (end of season in most places or close to sold out)
School clothes and backpacks (summer is officially over)
<strong>Sept.</strong> – Bikes (still a few months to ride, but retail is preparing for the holidays)
Gas grills (steaks for us until the snow flies!)
<strong>Oct.</strong> – Lawn mowers (retail is making room for snow blowers)
Winter coats (some places offer great sales to get you in the door)
<strong>Nov.</strong> – Baby products (not sure why, but okay)
Toys (watch those Black Friday deals!)
<strong>Dec.</strong> – Small appliances (not too many people buying big before the holidays)
Holiday décor and gift wrap (from Dec 26th – January 3rd, 50-90% off!)

There are some popular items that are available at great pricing during multiple months of the year, such as TVs and computers – so watch those flyers and save, save, save!