• Make the Most of Your Apples this Autumn,Bob Lucido Team

    Make the Most of Your Apples this Autumn

    Make the most of your apples this autumn with sweet and savory recipes your family will love. Crunchy, juicy, and sweet, apples can be used in a variety of ways, so forget that basic apple pie or caramel apple recipe and try something new this year!  From mouth-watering cookies and crumbles to savory salads and soups, there’s sure to be a recipe here to satisfy all of your fall taste buds.   FOR YOUR SWEET TOOTH: Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies | Recipe Cook Time: 20 minutes | Servings: 12 Ingredients:  1 cup rolled oats ¾ cup whole grain flour 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt 2 tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp nutmeg ¼ tsp allspice 1 egg 2 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil (liquid form) 1 tsp vanilla extract ½ cup maple syrup 1 large apple grated or chopped ½ cup dried cranberries or raisins white frosting for garnish   Apple Crisp | RecipeCook Time: 1 hour | Servings: 6Ingredients: 6 apples, peeled and chopped 2 tbsp granulated sugar 1 ¾ tsp cinnamon 1 ½ tsp lemon juice 1 cup light brown sugar ¾ cup oats ¾ cups all purpose flour ½ cup cold unsalted cubed butter Pinch of salt           No Bake Apple Pie Parfaits | RecipeCook Time: 22 minutes | Servings: 4Ingredients: FILLING- 4 apples, peeled and diced ¼ cup coconut sugar 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp nutmeg 1 cup water 2 tbsp tapioca flour CRUMB- ½ cup almond meal ¾ cup oats 2 tbsp coconut sugar ¼ cup chopped peanuts ¼ cup cold butter ½ tsp cinnamon WHIPPED TOPPING- 500 ml heavy cream 2 tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp vanilla extract Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bites | RecipeCook Time: 40 minutes  | Servings: 12 Ingredients: CRUST- 1 ½ cups crushed graham crackers 2 tbsp brown sugar ¼ tsp cinnamon 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted   FILLING- 12 oz cream cheese ½ cup pure cane sugar 3 tbsp all purpose flour 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 large eggs ¼ cup plain greek yogurt 2-3 granny smith apples, peeled and diced 2 tbsp lemon juice   CRUMBLE- ½ cup all purpose flour ¼ cup oats ¼ cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar ¼ cup cinnamon ⅛ tsp ginger Pinch of sea salt ¼ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed   SAVORY SELECTIONS:   Waldorf Salad | RecipeCook Time: 15 minutes | Servings: 4 Ingredients: 6 tbsp mayonnaise 1 tbsp lemon juice ½ tsp salt Pinch of black pepper 2 apples, chopped 1 cup grapes, halved or ¼ cup raisins 1 cup thinly sliced celery 1 cup toasted walnuts, chopped 1 lettuce head     Sweet Potato and Apple Soup | RecipeCook Time: 1 hour | Servings: 6 Ingredients: 1 ¾ lb sweet potatoes, peeled and diced 1 small parsnip 2 tbsp EVOO Pinch of salt 6 cups vegetable stock 1 cup apple cider 1 tsp green Tabasco sauce 1 green apple, finely diced   Apple Chips | Recipe Cook Time: 4 hours | Servings: 3  Ingredients: 3 large apples Cinnamon               Apple Crisp Baked Brie | RecipeCook Time: 55 minutes | Servings: 8-10 Ingredients: 1 6-8 oz brie wheel 3 tbsp butter 1 apple 2 tbsp brown sugar ¼ tsp cinnamon Pinch of salt ½ cup of oats 8 walnuts, halved and chopped 1 tbsp + 1 tsp all purpose flour Slices Baguette, for serving

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  • Styling Your Home for Fall,Bob Lucido Team

    Styling Your Home for Fall

     The leaves are starting to change, and while the magic is happening outside- it’s up to you to bring the prettiest season of the year indoors. Welcome fall, in all it’s glory by   creating the coziest autumn space in your home with a few festive interior design   choices.   Follow these seasonal styling tips to fall-ify your home room by room: Foyer Create the warmest welcome with fresh or dried flowers in harvest colors, an autumn wreath on the front door, and a vintage throw runner underfoot. KitchenPlace ironstone dishes on open shelving in white, cream, and beige tones, and scatter in a few white pumpkins for display. Create a fall tablescape with a harvest centerpiece by placing gourds and pine cones around a vase filled with feathers and/or sheaves of wheat instead of traditional flowers. Add a basket or bowl of apples  to your countertop to tie everything together. Dining RoomPlaid table trimmings, garland, napkins, and a festive table runner will instantly scream fall.  You can’t go wrong with a classic red and blue plaid, but if that’s a little too much color for you, then opt for a neutral colored plaid. This will give your dining room table a more subtle fall feel. Living/Family RoomsAccessorize your coffee table and mantel with brass candlesticks, antlers, and dark shades of fall colored books. If you have a fireplace, keep it lit when you have company to heighten the ambience. Even if you don’t have a fireplace, setting out a few wood logs will help bring the space together. BedroomsAside from switching out linens to be fall colors, put out candles on the nightstand and dressers. To bump up the fall feels and in some fall scents like pumpkin spice and apple orchard. As for how they look, pick ones that are deep velvets, rich greens, or even jet black to change it up from the cliche fall colors. Throwing in one or two sleek gold candle holders will take the space to the next level.  BathroomsA fresh bloom or two can brighten up your bathroom any time of the year. Try displaying bright orange or red mums (a favorite of our Professional Home Stagers for the fall season!) on your bathroom sink and shelves to instantly add a festive feel to the small space. As always, candles are a great multipurpose decor piece for bathrooms.  Book NooksBook nooks don’t need much decorating for fall since they already express the cozy vibe. Switch out pillows and blankets with fall colored ones, like cinnamon and deep red. Accessorize with just one plaid pillow and the space will be transformed. Front PorchHang a fall wreath on your front door, and display pumpkins, hay stacks, and gourds throughout your porch by lining your front steps or front pathway. Tall sheaves of wheat look great when placed on both sides of your front door. HallwaysIf you want to go the extra mile this year, decorate your hallways too. Options include painting the walls fall colors or hanging a fall printed wallpaper on just one of the walls. For a less time consuming project, dress up a corner of the hallway with a tall vase of sheaths of wheat or cotton branches, and add a few display pumpkins around it.         Source

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  • Back to School Survival Guide from A to Z ,Bob Lucido Team

    Back to School Survival Guide from A to Z

    The school year is fast approaching and with the past year having been virtual, many students might need a little extra guidance on getting back into the swing of things. It’s time to take back to school prep to the next level. Follow our A-Z back to school survival guide to ensure you’re ready for whatever this semester has in store.   A - AgendaKeep track of daily and weekly assignment due dates in your agenda to avoid missing deadlines and having points taken off.B - Backpack EssentialsSome school days will feel very long, so you’ll want to come prepared. Make sure you have all necessary supplies for your classes - a snack, water bottle, headphones, mask, a jacket, possibly an umbrella depending on the weather, and your phone and phone charger in case you need them throughout the day.C - CalendarYour entire routine is about to change, so consider purchasing a dry erase calendar for your room! This will help you to prioritize and keep track of your school engagements, plus outside of school activities; like sports, events, etc.D - DeskReady your desk at home for homework hours! Gather all necessary supplies and set yourself up a neat and organized desk area. The more organized your homework/study space is, the more likely you will use it productively.E - ElectivesTake advantage of school electives and enroll in something you really enjoy! Most schools require 2-4 electives to graduate so why not take something fun, like yoga or home economics?F - FlashcardsUse index cards for exam prep! Flash card decks are great for helping you understand and memorize the course material. Once you’ve gotten the same card correct more than twice, take it out of the deck.G - Guidance CounselorSchool can be overwhelming in the beginning weeks, so it’s always a good idea to meet with your Guidance Counselor/Advisor. They can help you pick or switch classes based on your interests, help set your goals, help apply to colleges, and provide guidance if you are feeling stressed.H - HighlightingTextbooks contain a lot of information, sometimes more than you need to know for your class. Read over the pages, then go back and highlight the key points to help you better prepare for quizzes and tests.I - InternshipsConnections and experiences you make through internships will help you launch your career and build your resume.J - Job BoardsThe student center or office at your school probably has a bulletin board with local job postings if you’re looking to make some extra cash or build up  your resume.K - KeyboardYou’re going to be doing a lot of typing pretty soon! Make sure your laptop/computer is up to date with the latest software and you have Microsoft Office or an alternative system installed and ready to go for all of your papers, powerpoints, and projects.L - LibraryGet familiar with your school or local library. Many classes require primary sources for essays and projects that you will need to cite from books in order to complete the assignment.M - MapTo avoid getting lost on your first day, map out your route to and from classes. It’s a good idea to actually walk them before your first day so you know exactly where you’re going and how much time it takes to get there.N - Note TakingTaking notes by hand helps you process and information and increases  your ability to recall  key discussion points. Find out which note-taking method works best for your understanding of the material here. O - OrientationWhether you have an official orientation (college freshmen) or just a “back to school” assembly- make sure you attend and listen intently. This year in particular, there will be new rules and protocols to keep all students healthy and safe.P - Pens/PencilsHave a pen and pencil ready. We know, this seems obvious- but there’s always someone asking to borrow something to write with on the first day. Don’t let it be you!Q - QuizQuizzes sometimes are a surprise, which means you don’t get any study time. To ensure you are ready for any pop quiz, study your work throughout the semester. Reference your flashcards and notes from class to ensure yourself  high marks!R - RelaxThis is super important! School can be hectic, and while it’s very important to get good grades, your mental health is just as important. Schedule self care breaks often to treat yourself for working so hard. S - SyllabusKeep your class’  syllabi somewhere safe where you can easily reference later in the semester. They come in handy when you’re unsure of an assignment or class protocol.T - Theme PartySchool isn’t just about learning- it’s also a great place to make friends. Consider throwing a party to celebrate the end of summer with your classmates. Any reason to celebrate is good enough for us. U - UniversityStart thinking about what college you might want to attend and do your research. If you’re already in college, consider thinking about other schools if you’re interested in getting your Master’s, Bachelor’s, or Doctorate degree. It’s never too early to start looking.V - VaccinationsMany colleges require you to be fully vaccinated before living on campus, so make sure to look up your schools protocols before move-in day.W - WallDecorate a wall in your room with a school calendar, photos of friends, school mascot posters, etc. to get festive for the new school year.X - “Xtra”CreditTake advantage of extra credit opportunities whenever you get them. It just might be the difference between a B and an A!Y - YearbookTake time to take pictures and make lasting memories while you’re in school. Even if you don’t buy an official yearbook, you can use your social media accounts as your own personal yearbook- documenting all the exciting things that happen during the school year. For example, football games, homecoming, prom, spirit week, field trips, graduation etc.Z - Zzzz’sRemember to get those 8 hours every night! They are super important for productivity during the school day. If you’re having trouble falling asleep earlier, try to not use your phone before bed. Electronic light stimulates your brain and keeps you awake longer.     Source

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