How To Make The Best Cocktail Party Playlist

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Music has an instrumental impact on our moods and the music that we play at parties can have a major effect on the atmosphere of the room. Rather than just setting your ipod to shuffle and letting an app choose the music that you’re playing, take a little time before-hand and choose some songs that you know your guests will enjoy. Creating the right playlist will make your event seem more polished and you’ll avoid all the guilty pleasure music that’s hiding in your iTunes (Spice Girls, anyone?).

Picking the right music for your party can help your guests get started on their way to having a fun evening. This article from apartmenttherapy.com has a few great tips to get you started to creating mood music for your next cocktail party. Keep reading to learn more!

A few things to keep in mind for a cocktail party are to keep the music up-tempo, mix instrumental pieces with some classics or fan favorites that will help guests relax (doesn't everyone love to hear a favorite song playing on someone else's speakers?), and keep the tunes moving. Think about the type of music you would like to hear at a party: what songs make you feel good, feel like dancing, feel energized? If you put a playlist together from that angle, it's much more exciting than pressing "shuffle" and hoping for the best, or using some generic "lounge" mix that has no personal meaning to you or your friends. Have fun digging through your real and virtual stacks to mix up your own perfect playlist that will keep the mood bright and encourage spontaneous dancing.

Here's a mix I put together. You can access the full playlist on Spotify or check out links to individual songs below:

1. Koop - Come to Me

2. Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 - Day Tripper (Beatles cover)

3. Prince - Raspberry Beret

4. Javelin - Vibrationz

5. The Beach Boys - Heroes and Villains

6. J Dilla - Two Can Win

7. Jacqueline Taieb - Le Coeur au bout des doigts

8. Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love

9. Pulp - Disco 2000

10. Pretty Purdie - Soul Bossa Nova

11. Marlena Shaw - California Soul

12. The Jacksons - Blame it on the Boogie

13. Cal Tjader - Soul Sauce

14. Calexico - Alone Again Or (Love cover)

15. Nicola Conte - La Coda del Diavolo

16. Nina Simone - Real Real

17. Bibio - Jealous of Roses

18. Serge Gainsbourg - Couleur Cafe

19. Van Morrison - Spanish Rose

20. Jorge Ben - O Telefone Tocou Novamente

21. Bonobo - Kong

22. Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim - I Concentrate on You

How To Roast Your Own Pumpkin Seeds

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Don’t throw away your pumpkin seeds after you’ve carved your pumpkins this year, turn them into tasty treats to snack on at a Halloween party. Though it may be tempting to just dispose of all the goo that came out of your pumpkin, roasted seeds are an easy to make snack to enjoy during this time of year.

Create your own flavor combinations to create a unique twist on this classic fall snack. This blog from thekitchn.com walks you step-by-step through how to make your own roasted pumpkin seeds. Keep reading to learn how.

Pumpkin and squash seeds are good for you, too: they're high in protein, zinc, copper and iron. They're a good source of Vitamin E and K. (Here's a good pageshowing their complete nutritional breakdown.) Some people believe that soaking them overnight in salted water, or boiling them for 10 minutes in salted water, helps to make their nutrition more available and to make them crunchier when roasted. I cannot vouch for the nutritional claims but I did try boiling half my seeds in salted water before roasting them. In comparing the boiled and the unboiled, I really couldn't find any difference.

I like the simple approach and just toss my seeds in a little oil and salt before roasting. There is also a wide variety of additional toppings you can add, both savory and sweet, to jazz things up. See recipe notes for some suggestions.

It's not necessary to remove every last scrap of pumpkin/squash flesh from the seeds. Some people hardly bother removing any of the strings and extras from the seeds, stating that it tastes great roasted and adds additional flavor to the seeds. Others remove every last shred, which admittedly is a chore. I come in somewhere in the middle. I get most of the flesh and strings off, but I don't get too obsessive about it. If I did, I doubt that I would roast seeds ever again because it can be quite nitpicky!

How to Roast Pumpkin and Squash Seeds

What You Need

• A large winter squash such as a pumpkin
  
• Neutral oil such as canola, rice bran, or coconut
  
• Salt

• Colander
  
• Baking sheet
  
• Spoon or spatula
  
• Airtight container

Instructions

Scoop and clean the seeds: Preheat oven to 300°F. Cut the squash according to how you are going to use it. Scoop the seeds from the cavity and place in a colander. Pinch away all the large chunks of squash flesh and strings. Place the colander under cool running water and remove any additional squash flesh. Shake colander to remove water.

Dry the seeds: Dump the seeds out onto a towel and pat to dry. The seeds might stick to the towel a bit.

Oil and salt the seeds: Place the seeds on a baking tray and drizzle with a small amount of oil, approximately 1 teaspoon for 3/4 cup of seeds. Add a pinch or two of salt.

Toss and bake the seeds: Toss the seeds until they are evenly coated with oil and salt. Spread out so they are in a single layer, though some overlapping is fine. Place the baking sheet into the oven. Roast until the seeds are just starting to brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. If your oven has uneven spots, you may want to stir after 10 minutes.

Remove and cool: Remove the seeds from the oven and let the seeds cool on the tray. Enjoy right away or keep for a few days in an airtight container.

Recipe Notes

Sweet Pumpkin Seeds: Omit or reduce the salt and roast the seeds on parchment-lined baking sheet. Let cool, then toss with brown sugar or a little maple syrup. Not too much, just enough to lightly coat the seeds. You can also add cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg or other 'sweet' spices. Toss well to coat evenly. Return the tray to the oven and continue to roast for another 10 to 15 minutes or so.

Sweet-Hot Pumpkin Seeds: Toss the seeds with a little honey and sriracha or chili flakes. A little cumin might be nice, or curry powder. Roast as with sweet seeds.

Savory Pumpkin Seeds: Add herbs such as chopped rosemary, dried oregano and/or spices such as smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin to the seeds before roasting. Check carefully to be sure the herbs and spices aren't browning too quickly. If so, roast at a sightly lower heat.

A Clean Kitchen Is A Happy Kitchen

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It goes without saying that a clean kitchen is more enjoyable than a messy one. It is easier, and more comfortable, to cook in a kitchen with no crumbs on the counter and no dirty dishes piled up in the sink. Just because you like to keep your cooking space clean and sanitary doesn't mean that you have to spend hours a day scrubbing, though. There are ways to cut down the effort you put into keeping your kitchen palatable, while still ensuring that all the major cleaning projects get done.

Sometimes cleaning your kitchen can be more of a chore than you anticipated, but with a little planning, you’ll have your countertops sparkling in no time. This article from thekitchen.com has a few simple, and quick, tips to keep your kitchen looking its best at all times, whether you cook frequently or enjoy take-out from your favorite local restaurants most nights. Keep reading to see what they have to say:

1. Start with an empty dishwasher and an empty sink. This is such a simple, but smart suggestion. Make sure your dishwasher and your sink are empty before you start cooking; that way, you can rinse and load messy tools and dishes right away instead of leaving them to sit out for a few hours (or overnight, or days!).

2. Clean as you go. With an empty dishwasher and sink at the start of your meal prep, cleaning as you go suddenly gets a lot easier!

3. Clean your sink after washing the dishes. Faith washes her kitchen sink with Mrs. Meyer's basil soap and warm water after every dishwashing session. As she says, "It's a rather soothing, satisfying little ritual, and it keeps the sink clean and smelling good. It's a cleaning habit that's good for the kitchen, and it makes me feel good too." Plus, dishes don't get extra-greasy or gunky as they sit in the sink, saving you time when you catch up on the washing-up. Win-win!

4. Do some maintenance work once a month on your cookware and knives. Need to clean burnt-on stains and remove rust spots from your stainless steel pots and pans? Or just remove stains and polish? Maybe your knives have gotten a little rusty or spotty, and you want to get them shiny and new again, or they need to be honed. Once a month it's a good idea to take stock of these items and address any issues before they get out of control and take a whole afternoon to address.

5. Oil your cutting boards once a month. On the same note, all it takes is 5 minutes a month to maintain your wooden cutting boards. You can also do this for your wooden spoons! This saves time and money; you'll replace these items much less often if they are cared for.

6. Get the right cleaning tools, and keep them close by. There's nothing more frustrating than getting ready to do a little cleaning or maintenance work only to be thwarted because you either a) you don't have the right tool or, b) you have to run around your house finding it. On the other hand, you probably don't need 10 different kitchen cleaners clogging up your under-sink space. Pare down to the essentialsand then store them neatly under the sink, either in a pull-out drawer, some some baskets and buckets, or in an over-the-cabinet door rack.

7. Keep your countertops clear, and then clean them properly. Messy countertops — heck, even countertops that have pretty things, but just too many of them! — can make a kitchen feel untidy and claustrophobic, whereas mostly clear countertops are invigorating and inspiring. They also invite you to cook, instead of feeling like your kitchen is unready for you. Try clearing a few things off your countertop, and you'll see what I mean!

8. Make sure your trash and recycling containers are big enough. Do you have an overflow area for your recycling? My current trash can is one of those trash-and-recycling duos, but the recycling part is way too small, and I frequently find myself putting a paper bag (or two) next to my trash can for all my recyclables. This is not an ideal solution, since it makes the kitchen look cluttered and I constantly have to maneuver my way around the bags!

9. Develop good cooking habits, especially these 8 things. With all cooking there comes cleaning, but how much and for how long you clean depends on your cooking habits. These 8 tips have the power to transform your cooking (and thus, cleaning!) life.

10. Love what you love. This is really less a cleaning tip than an overall life-in-the-kitchen tip. Enjoying your kitchen means really paying attention to the things that make you happy, and the things that frustrate you so you can fix them. It means really taking care of that stock pot even if it only cost you $10. It means hanging that painting you found at a thrift store right over your stove even if your friends think it looks wonky. It means not feeling bad if you decide to splurge on a really nice piece of equipment or some really expensive ingredients. It means being open to new ideas, tips, and techniques, but it also means not apologizing for the way you cook, clean, shop, and feed yourself or your family, if it works for you.

We're all different, we can all learn from each other, and in the process have a better, cleaner, happier kitchen and cooking life all-year round.

What are your tips for keeping your kitchen clean every day, and enjoying it?

Meet The Neighbors: A Few Quick Tips

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Whether you’ve just moved into your new place, or you’ve been there for awhile and are looking to branch out, meeting your neighbors can be a great way to form friendships and make your stay in your apartment more comfortable. Being friendly with the people around you can make your move from one apartment to another more comfortable and it can also make you feel more at home!

Being comfortable with your neighbors will help you fill up your free hours in the afternoon, and can also be a big help when problems arise in your apartment complex. This article from renters.apartments.com offers some really great advice on how to get started meeting the people that live around you. Keep reading to find out the best ways to make friends in a new place!

Don’t Delay

For starters, you need to just go right up and introduce yourself to the people that you see around your complex. If you are taking out your garbage and pass a neighbor, say hi and let them know you just moved in. When you go to check you mail, share a friendly banter with the other person checking his mail. However, it is important to do this the first time you come into contact with someone. If you let a few weeks go by, it may be awkward introducing yourself after you have seen them several times already. Use the fact that you just moved in as your opening line and go from there. You may be surprised how quickly bonds can form.

Get Social

Many apartment complexes have weekly or monthly social events in their clubhouses. You will definitely want to go to them. Not only are they a great way to meet people, they usually offer free food as well. Plus, the people attending these events are people that actually want to meet you too. You don’t have to worry about coming across as too pushy if you meet people at social gatherings. To find out about what events your apartment offers, you can check directly with the office staff or read the community newsletter that gets delivered to you once a month (in most apartments).

Be Active

Finally, you just want to get out there and explore everything your apartment has to offer. The list of amenities that drew you to the apartment in the first place is a great way to meet the people that live in your complex. For example, when you go to the gym at the apartment clubhouse, leave your earbuds at home. Instead, strike up a conversation with the person on the treadmill next to you. Do you enjoy swimming? Get out there and swim alongside your neighbors. The hot tub is an especially great place to meet others since you are all just sitting there looking at each other anyway.

If you want to meet people at your new apartment, you just have to take action and do it. Do not be embarrassed. The friendlier you are, the quicker you will make friendships that may even last a lifetime.