Golden State Warriors: A Fresh New Era

This season, the Golden State Warriors welcome some fantastic new talent. First is coach Mark Jackson, a former star point guard who brings brains, inspiration, and fearlessness. Some great young players are at his command, too; Stephen Curry is a versatile point guard who shined in his rookie year. David Lee holds down the frontcourt, along with newcomer Kwame Brown, who's bringing his game to the next level. Naturally, Monta Ellis's quick-footed scoring will keep the Warriors in every game. They may have missed the playoffs last season, but this year, the Warriors are on the hunt.

Check out http://www.nba.com/warriors for Warriors schedules, merchandise, ticketing, and more!

5 Best Albums of 2011

2011's music scene included new hits by old favorites and debuts from some fantastic new artists. Here are five albums we'll remember in years to come:

21 by Adele
The young British songstress exploded onto the pop scene in 2011 with her decidedly indie, soulful sound. Along with enjoying her powerful pipes, people found solace in Adele’s heart-on-sleeve ballads lamenting lost love, making “Rolling in the Deep” the surprisingly poignant hit of the summer.

Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
Fuzzy folkrock has never sounded as angelic and intimate as it has at the hands of Fleet Foxes. Drawing upon harmonies akin to The Beach Boys, the Seattle sextet crafted a beautiful mixture of layering to highlight singer Robin Pecknold’s poignant lyrics.

The King of Limbs by Radiohead
Paving the way for the artists in the top two spots, Radiohead is one of the original bands to make teeth-gritting confessions and alienation catchy enough for pop music. On their eighth studio album, the angsty indie band continues their successful evolution and makes a case for their continued relevancy with explorations in lush electronica.

El Camino by The Black Keys
Continuing a shift started by Brothers, The Black Keys polished their newly matured bluesy sound.  Already catchy and talented musicians, the band took hip-hop cues from producer Danger Mouse to create a more complex sound.

So Beautiful or So What by Paul Simon
Yes, Paul Simon is still hip. As foreshadowed by the title, his latest album is cleverly tongue-in-cheek while still highlighting one of the original prophet’s ability to see the truth of the situation.

Dress To Impress: Five Classic Wardrobe Pieces for Men

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look good. Stars and normal folks agree that having a selection of essential wardrobe classics to base an outfit around gives you a lot more options. Whether you’re dressing for a business lunch or a night out on the town, these essentials should be the core of your closet.

• Every man should own a great, well-fitting suit. You can have one custom tailored, but a less expensive option is to buy a suit off the rack and have it altered to fit perfectly. This is not as costly as you might think, and a well-fitting suit is always a winner.
• A white button-down shirt is an essential part of any wardrobe. You need it for your suit, but you can also wear it over jeans for a more casual look. Opt for cotton over synthetic fibers, and make sure to iron it before you wear it.
• Fitted jeans are key. Avoid baggy jeans – they don’t do anybody any favors. A pair of well-fitted jeans will help smooth and straighten your silhouette, and they’re remarkably versatile.
• Sunglasses are essential for a number of purposes. Protecting your eyes from UV rays will help preserve your vision, and they’re also a great fashion accessory. Opt for classic styles like Ray-Ban Wayfarers over trendy looks.
• A pair of casual sneakers is essential. Avoid puffy running shoes or sports shoes and go with something with a classic profile, such as the timeless Converse All-Star or a pair of Vans low-tops.

Down In The Valley: A Trip To Napa

The Napa Valley is one of California’s most popular tourist destinations, and for good reason – it has just about everything. Gorgeous scenery, amazing wine, and some of the world’s best restaurants all call this area home. Here’s a quick guide to must-sees while you’re there.

The beautiful Napa Valley was one of the first counties incorporated in California, and starting in the early nineteenth century local growers started capitalizing on the climate to grow grapes for wine. Over the years, the region has steadily increased production to establish itself as one of the world’s leading viticulture areas, and winery tours are one of the biggest reasons to go. Some of the most popular wineries include the spectacular Kuleto Estate, stylish Close Pegas and the impressive Rubicon, formerly owned by Francis Ford Coppola.

Napa is also well-known for spectacular restaurants. Chefs from all over the world travel here to make meals from freshly-sourced local ingredients. Some of the area’s best eateries include Thomas Keller’s legendary French Laundry, which has been regarded as one of the greatest restaurants in the world since Keller bought it in 1994, as well as Calistoga’s Solbar and great Italian at Oenotri.

And, of course, there are the natural wonders of the area. The Napa River attracts throngs of fishermen casting for salmon, trout, catfish and even freshwater shrimp. The area also boasts a number of beautiful state parks for hiking and camping. Golf lovers tee off at one of three convenient courses. And, to really get above it all, take a hot air balloon ride over the astounding scenery.

Buy Renter’s Insurance & Rest Easy

Your landlord’s insurance protects the roof over your head.

If the event of a disaster, their policy covers damage to the structure, meaning the roof, the fixtures, the floor and the walls. Why? It’s their property. But your landlord’s policy doesn’t cover your property. That’s why you need renter’s insurance.

Without it, your property—beds, books, clothes, carpets, electronics—is vulnerable to fire, floods or other disasters. If you’re not insured, losses are your responsibility.

We all hate to add another bill to the pile—but disasters can happen to the luckiest people in the world. So contact your insurance company today and ask them about renter’s insurance. Many companies offer discounts when it’s combined with car insurance or other policies.

A small monthly payment buys priceless peace of mind.

Get Spooky: How to Make Halloween Decorations

Sure, you can just go to the store and spend a mint on pre-made Halloween decorations, but the real haunted houses do it themselves. Here are some quick and easy ways to get your home ready for the big night without breaking the bank:

-        To make realistic looking spiderwebs, take simple kitchen cheesecloth and shred, pin, and tear it. The end result will look creepy and foreboding, but it’s not sticky and annoying to touch like a real spiderweb.

-        A cool way to make ghosts that glow in the dark is to buy glowsticks – green works well, as does white – snap them to activate, and then insert them into balloons before you blow them up. Use a black marker to draw a scary face on them!

-        The number one most important Halloween decoration is, of course, a pumpkin. Many interesting patterns are available on the Internet for unique looks.

-        One easy way to make a home look scary is by covering the furniture with white sheets and dropcloths. This evokes a haunted house simply and effectively, and it’s easy to clean up afterwards.

-        Don’t underestimate the importance of audio in creating a scary atmosphere. Playing a recording of sound effects – creaking boards, howling winds, et cetera – can make things even more terrifying for your guests.

Fold It Thin: Secrets Of Great Crepes

If regular pancakes are just too thick for you, maybe it’s time to start investigating crepes? The thin French pancakes are a delicious dish for breakfast or lunch, and talented chefs have filled them with all sorts of delicious ingredients. Here is a fool-proof crepe making method along with some favorite ways to serve them.

Crepes are remarkably easy if you keep precise in your measurements. In a large bowl, whisk together a cup of flour and two eggs. Gradually add 1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 cup of water as you mix, followed by a pinch of salt and two tablespoons of melted butter, and then mix until smooth.

Once your batter is smooth, lightly oil a frying pan and heat to medium. Pour a quarter-cup of batter on for a single crepe, and cook each side for 2 minutes, flipping with a wide, thin spatula. Serve hot.

If you’re looking for ideas for what to stuff your perfect crepes with, here are some, split into sweet and savory options.

Sweet crepes are by far the most popular. They are most commonly filled with a simple fruit mixture, made by cooking strawberries, blueberries, or other fruit with a little bit of sugar to make a syrup. Other popular fillings include flavored yogurt and Nutella.

Savory crepes can be served for lunch or dinner, and there are a wide variety of choices available as well. Some recommendations include a simple Italian sandwich with prosciutto, Gorgonzola, and fig preserves, or diced ham served with scrambled eggs and a light Hollandaise sauce.

Get Crafty!

Crafting is becoming more and more popular in the modern world, as people turn away from the screen and towards the old ways. If you’re looking for a new hobby, check out this list of crafts that make great ways to spend your leisure time.

-        Knitting is one of the most popular craft hobbies, for a number of reasons. The supplies needed are inexpensive and very portable – you can carry your yarn and needles in your daily bag and take them out whenever you want. You can also work on projects in short periods of time, like during a commute.

-        Origami is a popular crafting choice. The Japanese art of folded paper can make some awesome shapes if you keep at it, and all you really need are square sheets and instructions.

-        Quilting is undergoing a resurgence of popularity in recent years, as people are recognizing the artistic expression possible in these traditional blankets. This is the least portable of the crafts on this list, but the end product can be really spectacular.

-        Screenprinting is now easier than ever to do at home, with one-piece kits letting you expose an image, burn a screen, and print on paper, fabric, or other materials quickly and easily. This classic method of printing is simple, fun, and great for making gifts.

Fruit Of The Earth: How To Prepare Parsnips

The parsnip is one of the least-appreciated root vegetables, mainly because people aren’t quite sure how to prepare it. Funnily enough, it’s hard to cook a parsnip wrong! You can eat it raw or cooked, and it complements a wide variety of other flavors.

A great, simple way to make parsnips the whole family can eat is to boil them quickly, cover them with butter and flour, and rapidly pan-fry them in oil over high heat. Similar to Japanese tempura, this is an awesome appetizer that packs a lot of flavor.

Parsnips are also excellent roasted. Toss them with olive oil and a little bit of honey, pair them with carrots, and roast them uncovered on a cookie sheet. The flesh of the vegetables will caramelize and sweeten.

Another really good way to prepare parsnips is to make them into a puree. Peel and slice them, cook them til tender, then blend with salt, pepper, and butter. This makes a great side dish for meat entrees with strong flavors like roast lamb.

Raw parsnips are great for slaws. Their firm, sweet flesh stands up over time and adds great contrast. Mix them with julienned apples or Asian pears for good results. They also work really well in salads in which you'd normally use carrots or radishes.

Moving? Try this Alternative to Cardboard Boxes

"Let’s face it; you can probably think of a thousand things you would rather do than drive to your local U-Haul to buy cardboard boxes for your move, tape them up, and then after your move break them down and dispose of them. We can too. We started ZippGo to provide an environmentally friendly moving solution that costs less and is super convenient. ZippGo will deliver sturdy green moving boxes made from 100% recycled plastic to your home about 1 week before your move and then pick them up from your new home 2 weeks later. Plastic moving boxes are stronger, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly than using cardboard moving boxes. Our delivery vans are fueled by renewable Biodiesel made from 100% recycled waste vegetable oil reducing our emissions while also supporting our local economy. Cool, huh? We think so too!" – ZippGo

Interested? Read more about ZippGo at zippgo.com!

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