On the heels of their recent brush with the law in Los Angeles, Katy Perry and Russell Brand are becoming New Yorkers...sort of. As the Daily Mail reports today, the couple just plunked down $2.7 million for a swanky two bedroom, two bath Tribeca pied-a-terre. They're calling the apartment an east coast "crash pad"-which according to The New York Post, may be a strategic gesture to minimize their state income taxes (Perry and Brand own primary residences in L.A. and London).

[Video controversy: Katy Perry duet pulled from 'Sesame Street']

However they use the space, the soon-to-be-newlyweds will be nesting in style. The apartment spans 1,500 square feet (a palace by Manhattan standards!) and has its own private rooftop terrace overlooking the city. Soaring wood beamed ceilings and an open floorplan give the space an urban feel, and it's got all the usual amenities-slick, spa-like marble bathrooms, a state-of-the-art chef's kitchen-you'd expect from any A-list abode. Check out our Read More »from Katy Perry and Russell Brand’s new $2.7 million "crash pad"—we've got pics!

Seeing Carolina and her panel of chefs share their easy-but-impressive game night recipes earlier this week has left me not only hungry, but inspired about playing hostess this fall. And whether or not your next party is centered around Friday night football, there are certain things that really come in handy when you've got company. Here, eight affordable (they're all under $25!), versatile entertaining staples I guarantee you'd be glad to have next time you're hosting a get together for your friends.

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Game time snacks just got more exciting thanks to our favorite celebrity chefs. Paula Deen, Rocco Dispirito and George Duran are opening up their playbook and sharing unique, fun, delicious and easy to prepare recipes.



A burger on a bun is an all American classic but Paula Deen adds a lip smacking twist we're calling Savannah Sliders. Wrap par-cooked burger patties in raw puff pastry, add your favorite condiments, fold the burger pouches up, brush them with an egg wash and bake until golden in a 400 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes. Paula's Savannah Sliders are delicious, but for fans who are counting their calories try Rocco Dispirito's healthy halftime snack: Faux fried onion rings. Here is the simple recipe from his cookbook 'Now eat This!'

Faux Fried Onion Rings with Smoky Mayonnaise
Giving foods that glorious, crispy, crunchy texture without a deep fryer isn't easy. The best way to healthfully approximate the deep-fried experience is to use panko breadcrumbs, a mist of

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A step ladder, at least for me, always fell into the category of boring, utilitarian household items, and until very recently I don't think I'd ever given one much, if any, thought. In my new house, though, I quickly realized I'm just a bit too short to easily access the upper shelves of my closet and kitchen cabinets, and bought a little $10 plastic step ladder on a lark the other day that's completely changed my life.

There's so much to love about this thing. For starters, it's made of sturdy plastic that's dense enough so that you feel totally secure standing on it, yet is so light it hardly weighs anything at all, so it's not a burden at all to carry from room to room. It folds completely flat, and couldn't be simpler to open and close, and the overall dimensions are so lean and compact you can slide it in just about any crevice in a closet or cupboard. It gives you an extra 8.5 inches, so although that's not enough added height for me to use it for say, replacing a light

Read More »from The best (and cheapest) step ladder ever

Artwork is one of the most important-and intimidating-details to try to get right in your home. The right piece adds so much warmth and personality to a space, and though of course what defines "right" is completely subjective, I think most of us can relate to the challenge of even defining what feels right for them and trying to figure out where to shop for it. To add to that, wall art is often dauntingly expensive, and then there's the commitment issues that come with knowing you're going to be staring at something whenever you're home, right there more or less at eye level, and that it's going to be nailed to your wall (and therefore kind of a pain if you ever decide to move it).

So, to at least alleviate the concern about having to spend a fortune, and to highlight some great resources for tracking down cool, affordable artwork, I've rounded up a mix of graphic, eye-catching options, all from different sites that offer a nice array of choices-and here, none top $35.

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Among the many things I wish I'd known before I moved a couple weeks ago, was a piece of belated advice a friend (who has moved a total of nine times in the past decade, so I definitely consider him something of an expert) gave me when he surveyed the mess at my new house last night: always, always have a safe room.


He went on to explain that a safe room is the place in your new home that you set up first thing post-move: a soothing, well-organized sanctuary away from the cardboard chaos that tends to overtake the rest of your space. It's a simple but genius tactic. Moving is such a messy, herculean undertaking, and, at least for most of us, setting up camp in a new house doesn't happen overnight. And since walking around from one disheveled room to another can be stressful (especially, as I can attest, after a couple weeks!), having one spot where you can escape the madness would be a huge relief.


Related: 10 packing tips to help preserve your sanity while moving

Read More »from The best moving advice I didn’t get until way too late

I recently headed to Savannah, Georgia to meet and tour the home of culinary sensation Paula Deen. Hope you enjoy the home tour as much as I did. Check it out below.



The strongest impression as one rambles along Savannah's historic district is the Spanish moss clinging from the tall oak trees. Like a gauzy sheath, it lends the city a romantic and ethereal atmosphere.

For a city of just over 130,000 people, Savannah is quite spread out. Most visitors only become acquainted with the historic district and its 22 green park squares that like petits fours break up an awesome mix of Victorian, Neoclassical and modern architecture. The downtown district is dotted with art galleries, antique shops, old churches, and plenty of restaurants doling up Southern soul food. Stand out eateries include the Soho South Cafe, Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room, Vic's on the River, and of course Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons.

On this episode Paula takes us on a tour of the home that launched her brand. It's

Read More »from At home with the Lady of Savannah: a Paula Deen home tour

I've been on a real potted orchid kick lately-they're sculptural and incredibly gorgeous, adding so much life and prettiness to any room you put them in, and I've also found that they're surprisingly accessible (and affordable) at many a big box retailer. They stay in bloom for weeks, if not a couple months, which is far longer than most cut flowers, which last for about six or seven days, tops. Orchids also tend to be very low maintenance though there are a few general tips one should be aware of to help make them last:

The most common mistake people make with orchids is over-watering. Part of the beauty of these guys is they only need to be watered every two to three weeks. Proper drainage is essential too, so you never want the orchid to stand in water, since the dampness will kill the roots. If you notice leaves are wrinkling, you're probably over or under watering your plant. To check, tip the plant over and examine the roots. If they're white, tan, or spread out all over

Read More »from Tricks to make an orchid last