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How to Use a Wine Key Like a Pro

Filed under: Wine

Also called 'waiter's friends,' wine keys can be tricky to use successfully if you're not familiar with how they work. Here's a quick 'how to' guide to using them like a pro.

Step 1: Open the blade and use it to cut and remove the foil, letting the ridge of the bottle guide the blade and keep it from slipping.

Step 2: Fold back the blade and open the screw. Hold the wine bottle by the neck with one hand and use the other to center the point of the screw on the cork and turn it firmly several times until the worm (spiral) is solidly anchored. Then continue turning the screw, without pressing down, until it's embedded halfway into the cork.

Step 3: Unfold the lever and anchor it on the lip of the bottle. Use it to help you pull up until the cork is half exposed.

Step 4: Turn the screw again (still being careful not to apply downward pressure) until the worm is all the way through the cork.

Step 5: Pull up until the cork is free.

Broken cork: If the cork breaks and you're left with part of it stuck in the neck of the bottle you have two options: Try gently repeating steps 2, 4, and 5 and see if you can remove it, or if that fails push the cork through the other way into the wine (being careful so it doesn't splash). It won't affect the flavor and the wine is still drinkable, although there may be sediment and bits of cork.

Tags: cork, corkscrew, how to, wine, wine key, wine-pedia

How to Grind Coffee Beans Perfectly

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

If you brew your own coffee every morning then you know how important the details can be when taking steps to create the perfect cup, but one step that many people don't give enough attention to is how they grind their coffee beans. Of course many people do their own grinding, but how many pay attention to exactly how? It can be an art in and of itself.

Timing
Coffee beans should be freshly ground immediately before brewing, so you should grind just one pot at a time. Oxidation begins immediately and flavors will degrade noticeably in just a few hours -- if you're looking for perfect coffee, no grinding should be done the night before.

Method
There are two main types of coffee grinders: blade grinders and burr grinders. Blade grinders are the most common and the least expensive, and although they can grind coarse and medium sizes nicely, they can also have inconsistent results and are noisy (especially first thing in the morning). Also, when using a blade grinder it's important to grind in small bursts of a few seconds at a time to prevent heat from building up and burning the grounds.

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Tags: beans, coffee, coffee beans, CoffeeBeans, fine-dining-pedia, food-pedia, how to, HowTo, luxist-awards

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How to Wear a Scarf

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Scarves are a great way to dress up an otherwise drab outfit and can be layered with everything from a silk blouse to a cotton tank top. Some women have a knack for throwing on a scarf and instantly looking totally pulled together and gorgeous, but most of us have to make a deliberate effort in order to pull off the look successfully. The real key is confidence -- wear the scarf however you feel comfortable, in whatever way you think looks best, and in a color and material that flatters your skin tone. Truthfully, wearing a scarf isn't as complicated as it seems and is actually pretty difficult to get wrong, but there are a few rookie mistakes to avoid.

DO choose a material that fits the season. Lightweight scarves look great year round but save the heavier fabrics for fall and winter only.

DON'T mix too many patterns together. If you have a lot going on already in terms of prints or patterns on your outfit choose a solid colored scarf -- simple is usually better.

DO wear scarves to both formal and informal occasions -- just be sure to match the styling to the event. For something dressy try a sleek 'neckerchief' or an elegant butterfly wrap. For a more casual look the bandana is gaining popularity with celebrities.

DON'T be afraid to experiment. Scarves can not only be worn around your neck but also around your waist as a belt, on your head as a headband, or tied to the handle of your bag to add a punch of color and feminine flair.

DO collect scarves in a variety of colors, fabrics, and sizes so you have options when you're looking to accessorize. Although scarves are amazingly versatile they aren't all created equal and each has different strengths. The right scarf for the right occasion makes all the difference.

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Tags: accessories, accessories-pedia, cadillac-pedia, fashion, how to, HowTo, luxist-awards, main-pedia, scarf, scarves

How to Choose the Most Flattering Hat

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

dding a hat can make or break an ensemble, not to mention either flatter your face and highlight its best features or leave you looking decidedly unattractive. Finding the perfect hat for that perfect look your going for is much easier when you understand how to shop for your body and face shape.

Petite Frame Hats with a small brim, or no brim at all, usually compliment a petite frame by giving the illusion of height. Hats that are very large or have a wide brim can overpower a small person's appearance.

Tall Frame The taller the person the wider or larger the hat they can successfully wear. A hat with a brim that's too small can make a tall person look large and bulky.

The trick to finding a hat that compliments your face and head shape is balance. If your face is angular, go with a softer, rounder hat. If your face is full and round go with something more angular.

Square Face Hats with a full shape and a rounded crown will best flatter a square face.

Round Face Lengthen and balance a round face by wearing a hat with a structured, angled crown. Try one with an asymmetrical brim or wear a regular brim at a slight angle.

Oval Face People with an oval face can wear almost any hat style, just be sure it's proportionate to your frame and that the color suits your skin tone.

Heart Face Draw the eye upward by wearing a hat that's on the smaller side and sits up high on the head.

Other factors to consider...

Skin Tone Hats are worn close to your face so choose a color that flatters your skin tone.

Cheek bones A rule of thumb is that the crown of a hat should never be narrower than a person's cheek bones.

Comfort Perhaps the most important tip of all is to choose a hat that you feel comfortable and confident wearing, and that's appropriate for the occasion.

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Tags: accessories, accessories-pedia, hat, hats, how to, HowTo, main-pedia

Lux Tip: Wrap Your Wine Bottles Like a Pro

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Lux Tips

I'm not savvy at all to the nuances in what makes a dinner party a success, but I hear that entertaining in your home is as much about the presentation as it is about the company -- the homes that people feel most relaxed in and want to go back to are usually the ones that have are enjoyable for both the company and the dining experience. And the key to making a dining experience enjoyable is in the details of food and presentation.

Makes sense to me, which is why this how to lesson on how to wrap your wine bottles like the fine restaurants do could come handy the next time you have friends over. I would certainly be impressed.

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Tags: how to, HowTo, wine

How to Make a Million (Before You Turn 20!)

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

The American dream is a little different for everybody but it almost always has something to do with having lots of money and being financially stable. Of those who do have wealth some were born into rich families, some worked like dogs for years and years to build a successful empire, and then others hit it big seemingly by random chance.

This article highlights the successes of 5 people who were millionaires before the age of 20. Whether it was launching an online website for high school friends, selling greeting cards to friends and family, or cooking jams in the kitchen, these kids all did something seriously right.

Hm, needless to say I'm just a tad past my 20th birthday and I don't have any good business ideas. Guess I'll just have to stick to the lottery tickets!

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Tags: how to, HowTo, millionaire, millionaires, rich, wealth, wealthy

10 of the Best Dream Villas (and Why You Want to Rent One)

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Why rent a luxury hotel room when you can step it up a notch and have a villa instead? Many people don't consider villas by sheer reason that the thought doesn't occur to them, or if it does it's intimidating because people aren't sure how it works. It's really not that complicated, and the benefits of having your own luxury home (as opposed to just a suite in a hotel) at your disposal for the duration of your vacation are amazing.

As far as which villas you might want to consider take a look at the 10 on this slide show, which are complete with villa renting tips like how to consider whether or not you'll need to rent a car and how to choose the best season. Apparently Croatia is becoming one of the hottest villa-vacation hot spots in Europe, and Meikloeur Castle in Scotland is one of the priciest renting for $37,200 per week (but for that you get your own 18 hole golf course).

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Tags: hotel, how to, HowTo, journey, journeys, luxury, top 10, top ten, Top10, TopTen, vacation, vacations, villa, villas