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Creative Ideas for Outdoor Entertaining
As the weather gets warmer, there's nothing more fun than taking the party outdoors. Whether you're having a backyard bash or an intimate gathering on your condo balcony or rooftop, here are some tips for a simple, sophisticated summer 'do.
Be deliciously different.
Think outside the burger, and try something like marinated vegetable skewers or grilled pizza. If you plan to barbecue something that falls apart easily, like fish or veggies, use a grill rack. Put a sprig or two of fresh rosemary on the coals while you're grilling. Not only will the food taste great, but your party will smell wonderful.
Serve a signature cocktail.
Set up a margarita or mojito station. Set out rimmed glasses, slice some limes, then serve the drink in pitchers with lots of ice and let guests help themselves. Be sure to offer lots of non-alcoholic options, too.
Let your guests help themselves.
Spend time enjoying your guests instead of serving them. Set up an elegant outdoor buffet by covering a side table with a crisp white tablecloth. Create "bouquets" of cutlery in vases, or make a neat pile of restaurant-style "roll-ups" with paper napkins. Decorate with candles, flowers and fresh herbs.
Have an upscale picnic.
For the ultimate casual get-together, plan a backyard picnic (or a picnic in the park) on a big blanket. Bring some cushions to keep everyone comfortable, and use serving trays as level surfaces for drinks, snacks and other wobbly items like vases of flowers and pillar candles.
Light up the night.
String holiday lights along railings and in trees. Go with white for an elegant look, or coloured lights for a more whimsical mood.
Inexpensive citronella torches add a great ambiance and get rid of bugs.
Set out lots of candles in open mason jars or glass hurricane covers. Group them in big multi-level bunches for an intimate feel, or space them in equal increments along a fence or railing for a modern touch.
Break out the marshmallows.
Pick up a portable patio campfire for unbeatable ambiance at your evening soiree. The campfire (available at some home improvement stores) looks like a stone-ringed pit, but is gas-fueled and easy to move around. Be sure to check fire codes in your area, and if you're entertaining on a balcony or a rooftop, check with your building to see what the rules are.
Be on bug patrol.
Use citronella lamps and candles to keep mosquitoes away, and put a bottle of insect repellent in plain sight so your guests don't have to ask.
Always remember the first rule of summer entertaining: keep it simple and enjoy yourself. Plan ahead, get everything ready well ahead of time, then sit down and enjoy the sunshine or starlight - and the warm company of friends and family.
Balsamic grilled asparagus
A delicious take on a warm-weather favourite
Snap tough ends off 1 pound of asparagus. Combine 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp chopped shallots, and a dash of salt and pepper. Drizzle over asparagus and let stand 30 minutes. Brush grill rack with oil, and grill 5 minutes on each side or until done.
Just Listed
~~Growing family?....Need space to spread out?....Want a huge pie shaped yard?.....NOT A PROBLEM. Located in quiet horseshoe cul-de-sac in Greenfield, this 1800 + sq ft 4 level split will meet all those needs. This home has it all; total 4 bedrooms plus a den, 4 baths, formal and informal eating areas and 3 living spaces. From the large front foyer you are lead into a sunbathed living room and then to a formal dining room, all boasting engineered hardwood floors. An updated centre island kitchen with bay window eating area overlooks the family room with wood burning fireplace and new doors to patio. The main level features a convenient laundry, powder room and den with built in work station. Upstairs; a massive master bedroom with 2 pce ensuite and walk in closet, 2 additional ample sized bedrooms and a 4 pce main bath. The basement is completed with a rumpus room, additional bedroom and 3 pce bath. Not to be missed are the insulated double garage, perennial gardens, garden shed,& new furnace.
Just Listed ...NOW SOLD!
****Want it all.....Get it all at an affordable price. How does this sound.....Newer kitchen, newer windows, hardwood floors on main, double lined heated garage, four bedrooms, 2 full baths, fully finished basement with laminate floors and enormous rec room and bedroom, main floor laundry, balcony, six appliances and much much more like newer furnace, new hot water tank, newer shingles and 220v in garage. Sound too good to be ....well here it is under $315,000. Pride of ownership is evident. Don't delay...this one says BUY ME!
30 Year Recognition
My husband, Bernie and I had a wonderful time at the Realtor's Association of Edmonton Fire and Ice Ball. It is hard to imagine that I have been at this for over 30 years....my how time does fly when you are having a good time. It was great to catch up with old friends and colleagues and just kick up our heels. Don't you think we give a new meaning to Mutt and Jeff (and I had heels on)?
Tax Time - Could be good news for first time buyers
First time buyers are able to claim a $5,000 credit if they qualify. Follow this link to find out more how there can be more dollars in your pocket.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/lns360-390/369/menu-eng.html
Spring is About to Sprung
This always feels like the time to start fresh. Here are some great ideas to do just that.
Clutter. It creeps into crawl spaces, fills up cupboards and, when we least expect it, overflows into the garage. Whether you’re trying to stage your home for an open house, want to reduce the number of items you’ll have to pack, or you just want to live in a cleaner, more organized space, here are some steps to help you pare down those piles.
Work in threes
Working with bags or boxes, place items into one of three piles: keep, donate or trash. You can always sift through the piles later to decide what to recycle or sell at your next yard sale.
Start small
The best way to exercise your clutter-busting muscles is to start with a manageable area like a desk drawer or small closet. Give yourself a time limit (15 minutes) and get it done, then pick another area and try to do it even faster.
Reject the need to collect
Just say no to stuff you really don’t need. As hard as it might be, pare down your collection of figurines, matchbooks or Ming vases to five favourite items only. Or, if you can’t bear to part with any of them, make a plan to only have five items on display at one time and keep the rest packed in boxes. Simpler looks and feels better – and having too much of anything out in the open will only require more dusting.
Keep your paper sorted
Organize paper as it enters your home by sorting mail near the front door with a three-way filing system: bills, reading materials and recycling. Place it near a calendar so you can mark down important events right away. If the urge to hang onto items is too strong, get yourself a nice basket to hold all of these oh-so-necessary documents and go through them once a month to see what really needs reading or keeping.
Aim to lose a third
While most professional organizers will insist you cut your belongings in half, try for a third. If you have 30 scarves, trim them down to 20. Four shelves of books? Go for less than three. Do you really need five fondue sets? If getting rid of your items is painful, remember: less is more…more space, more time, more peace. And if you’re moving, more savings on moving costs.
One in, one out
Try this rule to keep clutter at bay: if something new comes in, something old has to go. Clothes, books, shoes, cars, shampoo bottles, tools…nothing is exempt. Note that “new” means new to you, not necessarily brand new. So those hand-me-downs count too.
Put it in its place
Once you decide to keep an item, honour it by giving it a designated spot. That way you’ll always know where to find it and where to put it back when you’re done using it.
Use it or lose it
If you can’t think of the last time you used a small appliance (like that bread maker that’s stowed under the sink) or wore a particular outfit (shoulder pads, anyone?), it might be time to give it to someone who can really appreciate it. Still not ready to give it up? Place the item in question in a box or a cupboard for six months. If it hasn’t been used by then, give it away.
Keep at it
Conquering clutter isn’t something that you can accomplish in a single afternoon; you have to work at it every day. The more often you do it, the less you have to do. Plus, living in a clutter-free home just feels better since you’re not digging through drawers and cupboards looking for lost keys or important warranty documents, and you’re not dealing with piles of stuff everywhere you turn.
As you can see, there’s no one cure-all for clutter, but by applying just a few of these methods you’ll be able to turn yourself into a clutter conqueror!
Home ownership is going to get a little more expensive. As of May 1, 2014, insurance premiums on homes where the loan to value ratio is greater than 80% will be increasing. To view the old and new premiums, click the title CMHC Insurance Premiums.