Rue La La » Living

Welcome to Your Home

sstanley — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:15:45 +0000

What’s your place’s personality? A just-right doormat will let guests know from the get-go.

Our A Warm Welcome: Mats for the Front Door Boutique opened Tuesday, May 21, at 11AM ET.

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Summer-fy Your Sheets

ruelalablog — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:15:24 +0000

Our Light & Airy: The Summer Bedding Turnover Boutique opens Monday, May 20, at 3PM ET.

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Throw a Clambake

ruelalablog — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:15:46 +0000

Boston Magazine awarded them “Best Clam Chowder.” The Boston People’s Choice Awards declared them “Best Seafood Restaurant.” Simply put, Chef Armand Toutaint is a bona fide expert when it comes to serving up fish, shellfish, and the like. So when Turner Fisheries offered to share this clambake recipe – which, mind you, doesn’t require a beach – we most definitely took them up on it (and you should, too).

Turner Fisheries Clambake
Serves 1

Ingredients
1½-pound lobster
3 littleneck clams
5 mussels
3 fingerling potatoes, blanched and cut in half
1 tablespoon fresh corn kernels
¼ teaspoon chopped garlic
¼ teaspoon chopped shallots
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon white wine
¼ cup vegetable stock
1 teaspoon butter
½ teaspoon parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper

Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

2. Add lobster to boiling water and cook for 7 to 8 minutes.

3. While lobster is cooking, sauté potatoes, corn, and littleneck clams with garlic and shallots in oil, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. When potatoes are nicely browned, add mussels, white wine, and vegetable stock to sauté pan and cover to steam. Once clams open, add butter and parsley, adjust seasoning, and arrange in bowl.

5. When lobster is cooked, cut tail in half, crack open claws and knuckles, brush with butter, and add to bowl.

Our Sunday Supper: Clambake Boutique opens Sunday, May 19, at 11AM ET.

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Make Your Bed Like a Pro

ruelalablog — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:15:15 +0000

Like a salon blowout (as in, near impossible to replicate at home), the perfectly made hotel bed is a feat of housekeeping mastery. Luckily, the Director of Renovations for W Hotels, Aliya Khan, let us in on a few tricks of the trade.

Invest in high-quality bedding and pillows. ”I recommend using 100% cotton, with a 200–400 thread count. Be sure to use sheets, shams, and a duvet set, as well as a lightweight blanket or coverlet. Extra pillows and shams are a nice, inviting touch.”

Make the bed. ”After placing the fitted sheet on the bed, make hospital corners with the bottom corners of the top sheet. Then place the top sheet on the bed, followed by the duvet. Fold the sheet and duvet down 12–14 inches before placing pillows on top. Smooth out the duvet and sit the pillows up straight.”

Keep duvets and pillows fluffy. “Shake them lightly with your hand every morning and then redistribute the filling by tapping the pillows on every side. Wash your pillows and duvet every few months on the gentle cycle and dry them on low with tennis balls in the dryer to keep them fluffy.”

It’s not just about the bed. ”While the bed is key, it’s also important to consider the entire ambiance of a room. Scents like lavender (either from a candle or a spray) are ideal as they soothe and relax, and citrus scents are perfect for waking you up in the morning. Also experiment with different lighting, keeping it dim by night so you can unwind but bright and welcoming by day.”

Our Keep It Simple: White, Grey, & Neutral Bedding Boutique opens Friday, May 17, at 3PM ET.

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Break Out the Fine China

akuzia — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:03:12 +0000

The Top-of-the-Line Table: Mariposa, Lenox, & More Boutique opens Wednesday, May 15, at 3PM ET.

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Rue How-To: DIY Summer Wine Stopper

Julia Ivins — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:00:22 +0000

Cheap. Easy. So fun. Wine drinkers? This one’s for you. Everything you need is in your house except for the knob that will top the stopper. Thankfully, you only need one – so spend $8 or so (love these) for the soon-to-be cutest wine stopper ever.

First, dig up a few old corks to practice. The trick to a successful stopper is a perfectly vertical twist through the cork – otherwise, the knob will not lie flat. If you have one of those handy-dandy mechanical wine openers, I encourage you to use it here. If not (I don’t), that’s what practice is for.

In terms of wine corks, synthetic is ideal. Not only do synthetic corks keep wine fresh longer by eliminating bacteria, they also make for a DIY wine stopper that you can use again and again (or give as a gift!).

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

Questions? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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Get Obsessed

ruelalablog — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:15:43 +0000

Our BODUM Grills Boutique opens Wednesday, May 15, at 11AM ET.

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Restock the Linen Closet

ruelalablog — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:15:35 +0000

Our Ready for Bed: The Linen Refresh Boutique opens Monday, May 13, at 3PM ET.

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Your Memorial Day BBQ Checklist

ruelalablog — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:15:56 +0000

Food, drinks, and hungry guests are givens. More easily overlooked? These items, all key players in a smoothly running cookout. To ensure you don’t forget anything, click on the image below for your own downloadable checklist. (Party on.)

Our Gear Up for Grilling Season: BBQ Essentials Boutique opens Friday, May 10, at 3PM ET.

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Love Thy Metal Cookware

ruelalablog — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:15:34 +0000

Our All-Clad Stainless Steel Cookware Boutique opens Wednesday, May 8, at 3PM ET.

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