(ARA) – If a man’s home is his castle, shouldn’t there be one room in it where he can “hold court” with his noble peers and watch the game? Or where he can retire for solitude to take care of some paperwork or indulge in some woodworking?

Welcome to the concept of the “man cave,” guys. You can create the sanctuary of your dreams and enhance your home value at the same time by renovating your basement into the ultimate guy retreat.

More than half of home buyers say they want a finished basement, according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders. Real estate experts agree that adding square footage to your living space will deliver the dollars when it comes time to sell. How you decorate that extra space will be secondary.

Here are the top 10 things you’ll need to turn your basement into the ultimate “man cave”:

1. Finish it. – First, finish those cinderblock walls and concrete floor. If you’re a real handyman, you can do the job yourself the old-fashioned way with framing and drywall. Or, you can go quick and easy – and only slightly costlier – with a professionally installed basement finishing system that will cut construction time to just a couple of weeks, rather than months.

2. Get wired. – You have to have a TV – big screen preferred. And tunes, man. Getting wired can be as easy as connecting cable to your portable TV and strategically placing a boom box, or as grand as a wall-mounted, high-def, flat screen TV with surround sound.

3. Go wireless. – A laptop or desktop is a man-cave must for work and play. But you don’t want wires cluttering up your kingdom. If you haven’t already done so, install wireless connectivity on the primary computer on the main floor of the house. That way, you can use the Internet in the basement without the expense and inconvenience of a lot of wires.

4. Get “guy” with the décor. – Nothing says “This space belongs to a guy” like sports décor. Frame and hang your old high school or college jersey. Mount that foul ball you caught in the bottom of the ninth. Put up a wallpaper mural of your favorite sport. From scenes that give you a pitcher’s-eye view of home plate and the stadium, to images that make you feel like you’re on the green at Pebble Beach, you’ll find easy-to-hang wallpaper murals at www.muralsyourway.com. You can customize the mural size or even have one made from a picture of your own sporting glory days.

5. Drink up. – Watching the game? You’re going to need liquid refreshment. A wet bar is every guy’s dream, but you can also cool off effectively and economically with a small refrigerator or even a portable wine keeper.

6. Snack attack. – The guys are going to work up appetites playing friendly poker and it could get ugly if you don’t have any snacks on hand. Be sure to include space for snack storage in your design, whether it’s a pantry or some cabinets.

7. Sit on it. – You’ll need the armchair of your dreams in order to be an armchair warrior. Make sure there’s some comfy – and durable – seating for your buddies too.

8. Work it out. – Sometimes a guy just wants to work up a sweat. Portable treadmills and exercise bikes are better than ever and easy to store. Set aside a corner of your man room for the manliest activity of all – exercise.

9. Or work on it. – If you’re a doer rather than an observer, you’ll want a well-equipped workbench.

10. Sit on it, part II. – It wasn’t just Al Bundy’s dream. It’s the ultimate man room upgrade – your own private bath.

(NewsUSA) – Farmers’ markets are not new, but they are gaining popularity in the United States.

In general, farmers’ markets comprise area farmers convening in one location, indoors or outdoors, to offer the freshest food available, including many canned or bottled goods and handcrafted items such as soap and clothing. Specialty items like jam and honey are also prominent at year-round markets.

The number of farmers’ markets has recently seen a dramatic increase. According to the USDA, the number of farmers’ markets in the U.S. increased almost 20 percent between 1994 and 2006. And in 2000, 19,000 farmers reported selling their produce only at farmers’ markets.

Honey, a year-round mainstay at most markets, is an all-natural food that leaves a small eco-footprint. Purchasing local honey may be beneficial to the environment because it promotes sustainability. Many farmers have hives on their land, in part because bees are responsible for one out of every three bites we consume. If there were a decline in honey bees, we could suffer from a limited supply of oranges, apples, blueberries, cucumbers, strawberries and other farmers’ market staples.

There are more than 300 different types of honey in the United States, each with a unique flavor and color profile influenced by the types of blossoms bees visit when searching for nectar. Floral source, location and climate affect local honey production. Regionally, one can find avocado honey in the west, blueberry honey in the northeast, cotton honey in the south, and one of the country’s favorites, clover, around the globe.

The following recipe, courtesy of the National Honey Board, highlights some of the freshest ingredients available at local farmers’ markets.

Yellow Tomato Gazpacho

Serves 6

Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds ripe yellow tomatoes, seeded and chopped

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 medium yellow bell pepper, chopped

1/4 cup chopped red onion

3 cups tomato juice

1 can (14 1/2 oz.) chicken broth

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients; whisk together until well blended. Season with salt and pepper if desired. Cover and refrigerate one hour or overnight.

Cary, NC — The Itsy Bitsy Baby Spa, a new center for the well-being of moms, dads, and babies from early pregnancy through the toddler years, is opening its doors to the Triangle Community with a mission to raise the bar in healthy parenting. Through a wide selection of programs, workshops and resources, the new Itsy Bitsy Baby Spa aims to help parents bond with and nurture their children, get fit and allow them to embrace the natural process of parenting. The goal is that parents, babies and toddlers alike will leave feeling peaceful, happy and re-energized. Programs provided at the baby spa include Infant Massage, Mommy and Baby Yoga, Mommy and Toddler Yoga, Mommy and Baby Belly Dance, Prenatal Yoga and Pilates, Belly Dance, Prenatal Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Support Group, Baby Sign Language, Sing and Sign Playtime, and many more.

The baby spa, designed as a supportive, therapeutic, and luxurious environment, is staffed with certified, credentialed experts and offers a variety of hand-picked natural products for a mother’s prenatal and postnatal care, as well as for the care of her baby. The spa also features a gift store offering unique baby gifts and custom gift packages.

Read More:CarolinaNewsWire

APEX, N.C. — Creative Gifting, a business that specializes in unique, creative gift designs, has been named to Rave Reviews Magazine Top 100 List. The Top 100 list was created by Rave Reviews Magazine from a nationwide survey of business owners in the gourmet/gift basket industry.

In 2005, Creative Gifting was recognized by Gift Basket Review as one of the Top 100 Gift Basket Businesses in America.

Read More:CarolinaNewsWire

(ARA) – With the onset of spring comes the Easter holiday and the celebration is not complete without the traditional treat-filled basket. For those looking for a unique twist to this holiday ritual, consider customizing the Easter baskets you give your loved ones. Include a variety of trinkets and toys that match your little (and big) ones’ interests to create a fun, personal Easter celebration.

Here are some ideas for every personality type:

The Sports Fan: Spring means one thing to the sports enthusiast: baseball season! Complement the traditional jelly bean and bunny-shaped confections with trading cards and stickers from their favorite team. Throw in a catcher’s mitt and baseball and you will hit a homerun!

The Little Princess: Some girls’ love of the color pink never fades, so bring a smile to the face of your “girliest” girl this Easter with a pink-inspired Easter basket. Costume jewelry, lip gloss and a beaded purse give her the perfect dress accessories. Customize the “basket” further by delivering the items in a pink duffle bag or carry-all, leaving her with a basket she can use year round.

The Practical Joker: The refreshing humor of practical jokes and silly toys never gets old. Consider designing a basket filled with gag gifts and funny items. Clever treats like the Hubba Bubba Cluckers, a wind-up chicken that lays tasty gum eggs, are a great basket centerpiece for that true comedian at heart. Finish the basket with classic “funny” items like a whoopee cushion, slinky, googley eyeglasses and a movie starring your loved one’s favorite comedian.

The Intellectual Game Guru: Sudoku and crossword puzzles keep even the brightest of players on their toes. Keep brainteaser and puzzle fans guessing with a game-inspired Easter basket. Card games and mini board games provide hours of entertainment, particularly if your family is traveling over the Easter holiday or during spring break. Gift the items in a “basket” that can also be used to store the games once the season ends.

The Artist: For the creative one in your family, fill his or her basket with a small sketchbook, watercolors, paint brushes and a music CD. Add some colorful candy, like an assortment of jelly beans, to inspire their inner artist. You might end up with a new work of art for the refrigerator.

The Health Nut: Even the healthiest, most fitness conscious folks don’t want to miss out on the Easter basket tradition. Create a “wellness” basket with active lifestyle items like a jump rope, a training watch, a pedometer or an inflatable Pilates ball to keep your athlete on the move. Substitute traditional sweets with low-calorie alternatives like Extra sugar-free gum, which recently earned the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance for helping to improve dental health.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Clark Hipolito, the Raleigh artist who originally honed his skills at MTV, has created a hip ambience for Catch 22, a new clothing boutique on Raleigh’s trendy Glenwood South district, through his signature specialty painting effects.

Catch 22 is also displaying some of Hipolito’s hand-painted woodgrain surfboards from his “Against The Grain” and “Surf du Jour” collections, which he creates through his new company ArtCo Surf

Read More:CarolinaNewsWire

ARA) – Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and if you are like most people, you’ve left the shopping until the last minute. So ,do you buy the $70 roses like everyone else, take a gamble on an online gift that might not show up in time or can you quickly find a personalized gift that shows you put some thought into it?

A new online service from NearbyNow has created a new way for last minute shoppers to find the perfect gift at their local mall, and even pick it up the same day. Over 190 malls across the US run the NearbyNow service, allowing shoppers to search inventory in nearly every store in the mall using the Internet or mobile phones, check availability on an item in 10 minutes or less, and even reserve products to pick up. Shoppers who use the mobile phone service may even receive special offers for free chocolate and other Valentine’s Day specials.

The service is the brainchild of Scott Dunlap, from Los Altos, Calif., who says he developed the product search for “quite selfish” reasons. “One afternoon, my wife saw a pair of boots in a magazine and tried to find them at her favorite mall while I was stuck on the bench with all the other spouses. I realized I could develop a program that would make these trips more efficient, allowing my wife to always know who carried the products she wanted, and if they were available in her size. That would make the shopping experience more pleasant for all of us – me, my wife, the retailers, and the others on the bench.”

Here’s how the service works: consumers log on to www.nearbynow.com from their home computer, find their local mall and select the “Product Search” button to navigate through the process. If they know their loved one wants Kenneth Cole boots, for example, they type “Kenneth Cole boots” in the search box, and all retailers in the mall who has the shoes in stock will be listed. A customer can then click on a particular shoe, see the details, use the ‘check availability’ feature and “reserve” the product on-line for pick up at the mall. NearbyNow contacts the store, reserves the product, and sends the customer a confirming e-mail or text message. Shoppers can also send an SMS text message to NEARBY (632729) to get connected to the service at their local mall.

Gretchen Mathews of Portola Valley, Calif., found the site by chance one day and has already used it a couple of times to reserve an item online. She says it’ll be a real time saver this Valentine’s Day. “I’m a busy person and my shopping strategy for Valentine’s Day has always been to preview and reserve items online before heading to the store. I used to have to log on to several different store Web sites to do that, but now I can search the whole mall from one place. It’s a fabulous tool,” she says.

“Shoppers call our service ‘Google for malls’ because they can search every brand, product, and sale at the mall,” says Dunlap. “It is the most stress-free way to shop your local mall. It helps keep the focus of Valentine’s Day on the right thing – your loved one – rather than the hassles of gift buying.”

If you agree, be sure to log on to www.nearbynow.com before heading out the door or send an SMS text message to NEARBY (632729)

Courtesy of ARAcontent

NearbyNow is headquartered in Los Altos, CA. Additional information can be obtained by phone at (650) 947-1300 or via the Web at www.nearbynow.com.

ARA) – It’s no surprise, chocolate cookies are usually the first to disappear from the cookie tray at any party. From a dense chocolate cookie to a creamy chocolate filling or a delicate chocolate drizzle — adding chocolate nearly always guarantees a richly satisfying and delicious cookie, worthy of every bite.

However, chocolate on its own can’t deliver that unforgettable cookie without quality ingredients such as complimentary spices, pure vanilla extract and real butter. Never use spreads or margarine to replace butter in a recipe; spreads contain more water than butter and will not deliver the same results.

These recipes from America’s Dairy Farmers offer all types of chocolate, from bittersweet to semisweet to white chocolate. Look for a good-quality chocolate with a higher percentage of cocoa — it will deliver the best flavor and melt better.

Bittersweet chocolate stars in the Double Chocolate Cherry Thumbprints, complemented by a subtle cinnamon flavor. The Peppermint Twists combine chocolate and crushed candy canes in a classic butter cookie, with a generous chocolate coating. Eggnog adds a rich flavor to the white chocolate fudge, while cherries and almonds round out the semisweet chocolate version.

Visit www.ButterIsBest.com for more baking tips and holiday cookie and candy recipes made with real butter.

Double Chocolate Cherry Thumbprints
Makes 6 dozen cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp. almond extract
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
10 oz. maraschino cherries, cut in half
3 oz. white chocolate

Directions:
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg and almond extract; mix well.

Add bittersweet chocolate and blend to combine. Add flour and cinnamon; mix until well blended. Form dough into a ball, wrap in plastic and chill for 30 min.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Press thumb in center of each cookie and place half a cherry in each depression. Bake for 15 to 17 min. Cool completely.

Place white chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 sec.; stir and continue to microwave in 10-sec. increments until chocolate is smooth. Drizzle white chocolate across each cookie. Chill 5 min. to set white chocolate.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Peppermint Twists
Makes 5 dozen cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
Red or green food coloring
1/2 cup mini candy canes, crushed (about 20), divided
4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
2 tsp. baking powder, divided
2 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled (see directions)
1 egg white, beaten
2 oz. bittersweet chocolate (optional)

Directions:
In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and salt. Add eggs and peppermint extract; mix well.

Remove 1 cup of butter mixture and place in a medium bowl; set aside. To remaining mixture, add red or green food coloring (until desired shade) and 1/4 cup crushed candy canes. Add 2 cups flour and 1 tsp. baking powder; mix well. On a large sheet of waxed paper, press dough into a large rectangle (about 1/2-inch thick), cover with a second sheet of waxed paper and chill 30 min.

Add melted chocolate to reserved butter mixture; mix well. Add 2 cups flour and 1 tsp. baking powder and mix until well blended. On a large sheet of waxed paper, press dough into a large rectangle, (about 1/2-inch thick) cover with a second sheet of waxed paper and chill 30 min.

Remove dough rectangles from refrigerator and roll each into larger (9×16-inch) rectangles. Brush one layer with egg white and place other layer on top. Trim long edges. Roll up lengthwise into a tight roll, resulting in a 16-inch long log. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill 30 min. Preheat oven to 350 F. Slice into 1/2-inch slices, and bake on parchment-lined cookie sheets for 10 to 12 min. Cool completely.

Break up chocolate and melt in a shallow, microwave-safe bowl for 30 sec. Stir and continue to microwave in 10-sec. increments, stirring until smooth, but not warm. Dip half of each cookie into melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Place on waxed paper until chocolate sets.

Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to one week.

Chocolate Cherry Fudge
Makes 3 dozen

Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
3/4 cup whipping cream
2 cups sugar
12 oz. semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow creme
1 cup slivered almonds, chopped
1 cup dried cherries, chopped
1 tsp. almond extract

Directions
In a heavy saucepan, combine butter, cream and sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium and continue to boil, stirring frequently, 8 to 10 minutes, or until mixture reaches 234°F (soft ball stage) on a candy thermometer.

Remove from heat; add chocolate and marshmallow creme; stir until smooth. Add, almonds, cherries, and extract; mix until well blended. Pour mixture into a 9-inch square pan lined with buttered foil. Chill; cut into 1 1/2-inch squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Eggnog Fudge
Makes 3 dozen

Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
3/4 cup eggnog
2 cups sugar
10 oz. white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow creme
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 tsp. rum or rum extract

Directions
In a heavy saucepan, combine butter, eggnog, and sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium, and continue to boil, stirring frequently, 8 to 10 minutes, or until mixture reaches 234 F (soft ball stage) on a candy thermometer.

Remove from heat; add chocolate and nutmeg; stir until smooth. Add marshmallow creme, pecans and rum; mix well. Pour mixture into a 9-inch square pan lined with buttered foil. Cool completely; cut into 1 1/2-inch squares. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – When Kathy Paul heard all the laughter coming from her kitchen during the Paul Family Reunion in the summer of 2007, she knew compiling a family cookbook was the perfect way to record joyful moments such as this.

“As they were preparing their dishes, my nieces were laughing and having such a good time remembering stories about their childhoods at their grandma and grandpa’s house,” says Paul, who lives with her husband, Don, on the farmstead that has been in his family for more than a century.

She wanted a tangible way to preserve for younger family members all the memories and recipes that have been so important to her family. “I was sitting at home making notes for the reunion and trying to think of a way to make it really special. I thought a cookbook would be a really great thing for every family member to have and, hopefully, pass on to future generations.”

So Paul set out on a mission that involved sending letters, e-mailing and making phone calls to relatives, asking them to bring special recipes and memories to the reunion. In the meantime, she started collecting family photos dating back to the mid-1800s, plus photos of the original farm house, the original barn and the still-blooming rose bush that has been part of the farmstead since it was transplanted from Pennsylvania by Don’s great-grandparents around 1865 when they first came to Iowa.

“I put the photos on display for the reunion and it got everyone talking about the things they remember,” says Paul, who is no amateur at creating cookbooks. In fact, The Paul Family Cookbook is the third cookbook project under her belt. She helped collect recipes for a cookbook published in 1985 — preserving memories, photos, and recipes from her side of the family — as well as an updated version re-published in 2005 with the help of G&R Publishing Company in Waverly, Iowa.

G&R Publishing has helped customers create cookbooks for families, churches, schools, non-profit groups, businesses and fundraisers for 35 years. “I was very pleased with their friendly and helpful service,” says Paul. “My son-in-law helped create the custom cover and the people at G&R Publishing brought it all together, adding the special touches I wanted.”

With about 50 family members in attendance at the reunion, Paul was able to snap a special photo that day to include in the cookbook. She recently received her shipment of cookbooks and is excited to begin distributing them to her family. “I go back to my mother’s recipes and Don’s mother’s recipes all the time. I like to think that future generations can go back to this cookbook and remember the recipes their mother and grandmother used to make.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

How to Create Your Own Cookbook

* Request a free guide and sample cookbook from G&R Publishing by calling
(800) 383-1679 or visiting www.gandrpublishing.com.

* Start collecting and sorting recipes, then choose design options for your cookbook.

* Enhance your book with photos, stories, illustrations or a family tree.

* Send your materials to G&R Publishing and they will do the rest.