Sensational Grilled Chicken Salad

Sensational Grilled
Chicken Salad
Marinade
1//4 cup oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 garlic cloves minced
Salad
2 whole chicken breasts, skinned, boned, halved.
4 cups shredded lettuce
1 small tomato, seeded, chopped
1 avocado, peeled, sliced, pitted ripe olives,
Lime wedges

In medium non-metal bowl, combine all marinade ingredients; blend well. Add chicken; turn to coat. Cover; refrigerate 1-2 hours, turning occasionally. Heat grill. When ready to barbecue, place chicken on gas grill over medium heat or on charcoal grill 4-6 inches from medium-high coals. Cook 15-20 minutes or until chicken is fork tender and juices run clear, turning once and brushing occasionally with marinade.

To serve, cut chicken into strips. Place 1 cup lettuce on each of 4 plates. Top each with chicken, tomato, avocado and olives. Just before serving, lightly squeeze fresh lime juice over each salad. 4 servings.

8 Ways to Stretch the Almighty Dollar

1) Cut your car insurance by increasing your deductible.

2) Check into dropping your mortgage insurance if your balance is low enough.

3) If you’re salaried, take your next raise and direct it to an RRSP or other retirement plan.

4) Save for college by having kids earn on their savings,or open a Trust Fund account in their name at your local bank.

5) Spend twenty minutes per week staying up on your financial options.

6) Invest some of your cash in stocks, bonds, or stock mutual funds.

7) If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. If you can’t pay for it, then don’t buy it, and if you don’t understand it, don’t buy it.

8) Analyze your health care plan. You may be driving a Cadillac when a Chevrolet will do.

House Rules: Words to Live By

· If you lay it down, put it away.
· If you eat out of it, wash it.
· If you empty it, fill it up.
· If you lose it, find it yourself.
· If you break it, replace it.
· If you borrow it, put it back where it belongs.
· If it howls or meows, feed it or let it out.
· If you make a mess, clean it up.
· If you turn it on, turn it off.
· If you ask for it, eat it.

· If you open it, close it.
· If it rings, answer it.
· If you wear it, hang it up.
· If you move it, return it.

How Much to Spend to Increase Curb Appeal

When investing in landscaping, try to get the most bang for the least amount of buck. You never want to spend a huge amount of money on a property if you’re planning on selling in the near future.

The idea is to do whatever is necessary to make the yard look clean and efficient. Buyers want a home that is easy to maintain. Prune the shrubs, keep the grass nicely mowed and green, and possibly add colorful flowers near the entry ways.

Make sure that your yard is not extravagant when compared to the other homes in the neighborhood. A buyer will tend to pay only as much as the other homes in the neighborhood are selling for. Therefore, if you overspend, it is unlikely that you will be able to recover your expenses.

Creative Vegetable Gardens

If you wish to have a garden, but don’t feel you have the room, look again. A sloped hill which is hard to mow works great when planted in the wide row method. This strategy means to plant in three foot wide rows of the same or mixed plants.

Consider making a strip garden in the middle of the lawn. A small area around the drive way or deck could be used to plant.

Containers provide an excellent way to grow vegetables. Make sure these plants get frequent waterings.

Think about growing climbing vegetables in a long rectangular box and using the deck railing as a pole support.

Use one of these great methods and you can have a great vegetable garden in no time!

Cateror`s Secrets to a Great Get Together

Do you love the thought of having friends and family over, but cringe at the thought of what to serve? Consider these great tips from the party masters. They’ll make your next get together an even bigger hit with the critics and you!

First of all, think light. More than ever, people are watching their weight and the amount of fat they consume. Use no-fat salsa instead of dips. Use turkey breast, instead of steak. Or for the grill, offer chicken for those watching their weight, and fix barbecued ribs for those who prefer beef, or pork.

Another great tip is to use filo. Butter and stack filo pastry sheets to make exciting wrappers and shells for baked appetizers and foods. The most important rule for any get together is to have plenty of appetizers.

One of my favorite appetizers is stuffed potatoes. Little stuffed potatoes with sour cream and vegetable toppings are a big hit. Another great appetizer, that always goes over well, is Rumaki (bacon wrapped water chestnuts).

One final word of advice, by planning your party you reduce stress and make it fun for you too. That’s the idea!

Selecting a Mutual Fund

Start by selecting a fund that feels right. Money magazine and other financial publications offer dozens of funds, analyzed by performance. You can call the fund directly using their toll free number, or you may wish to talk with a stock broker to get her input.

Funds are available with ‘load’ or ‘no load’ options. The ‘load’ funds have a commission of say 5% paid out of your initial deposit. The alternative is to choose ‘no load’ funds. These funds have to pay the brokers, and it is reflected in overall performance. However, most studies comparing the two find little difference in overall performance.

Different funds have different objectives. Some seek growth with a higher degree of risk and little current income. Others will seek dividend income now, but with less risk. Which is best for you? It depends on your overall objective. Do be sure to look at a minimum of five years past performance though. You are interested in long term.

How to Start a Babysitting Co-op

First, gather a list of interested parents. Invite them to an organizational meeting and discuss the following: the size of the group, membership requirements, election of officers, how often you will meet, dues needed to pay for supplies, guidelines for handling emergencies, sick children and late pick ups.

Next, you will need to establish an exchange system. Consider a ticket system. Authorize an established number of tickets per child, per hour. Determine the number of tickets the average person will need per month and distribute.

It would also be a good idea to appoint a secretary that can establish a system for personal record-keeping for each child. Include allergies, doctor’s name and number, emergency information, etc. Once, the baby-sitting co-op is in place, kick back and enjoy a night out in comfort. You deserve it.

Where do Remodelling Dollars Pay Off the Most

It’s a proven fact that certain home improvement projects pay off when it comes time to sell, while others do not. If you’re looking into doing some remodeling to improve your home’s appeal now, don’t forget to take into account which projects will make a difference if you sell in the future.

Kitchen and bath improvements are high on the list of what buyers are willing to pay more for. Also, additions such as sunrooms are very popular. Try not to do anything that would be considered extreme or outrageous. Homes with very unique tastes are usually hard to find the right buyer for later.

Repainting in more neutral colors almost always pays off, and adding on a new deck is a good investment as long as the costs are not too unreasonable.

If a remodeling project is done by a professional, it is worth more in the long run. Ask your neighbors for recommendations of contractors that they’ve used, or give me a call for my list of people.

A good rule of thumb is to confine your total remodeling expenses to 10% of the homes estimated value. If you stay within this figure and plan wisely, you’ll most likely recoup most of your investment.

Raised Bed Gardening

Do you long for some color around your house, but need a garden without a lot of maintenance? Consider creating a raised - bed garden against the house or near a property line. You will add three seasons of color and some low maintenance landscaping.

You can start small by spreading 12 inches of dirt, holding it in place with rocks. Start by planting from low to high so the bed rises in tiers and every plant shows well. Annuals can be mixed with perennials to keep the bed in flowers. Set the plants fairly close together at the start so the bed fills in fast.

You may need to divide the plants as they grow, but you will have a lot less weeding. You can also reduce weeds by spreading mulch on the new bed. Now just water, fertilize, and pick off the dead flowers and you will have a garden looking its best in no time!

BBQ`d Ribs - A Backyard Favorite

Barbecued Ribs have long been a back yard favorite. Choose one of the ways listed here for succulent hickory smoked ribs your whole family will love.

Start by allowing 1 pound loin back pork ribs or 3/4 pound country style loin ribs per person. Cut into serving pieces; remove any excess fat. Place in large skillet or Dutch oven; pour 1 (3 1/2 oz.) bottle liquid smoke and 2 cups cold water over ribs. Cover and steam over moderate heat 20 - 25 minutes. Drain.

To Grill:
Grill drained ribs 3 inches from moderate coals 20 minutes, turning once. Brush with barbecue sauce (below); continue grilling until ribs are done, 20 - 30 minutes, basting often with sauce.

To Cook on Rotisserie:
Lace or weave drained ribs onto rotisserie rod, balancing ribs for even cooking and turning; secure ends with holding forks. Arrange medium hot coals at back of firebox; place drip pan under ribs. Cook ribs until done, about 1 hour, basting frequently with barbecue sauce.

To Bake
Arrange drained ribs in a single layer in a shallow baking pan. Spread with barbecue sauce. Bake, covered, in a 325F oven until tender, about 1 hour.




Down Home
Barbecue Sauce

1 cup catsup
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/3 cup packed brown sugar

Combine all ingredients in saucepan.
Simmer 15 minutes.

Goal Setting for Every Type of Family

· Establish an emergency fund of cash that is equal to 3-6 months of pay.

· Start saving for college. Any little bit helps. At 7% interest, money doubles every ten years. So by starting when kids are young, you can make one dollar at their birth worth $2 at age 7, $4 at age 14, and $8 at age 21.

· Buy term life insurance for at least twice your mortgage amount. More is better, especially if you have more than one child. A $200,000 policy for a 35 year old male costs about $200 a year. Your objective is to be sure that the mortgage would be paid, that living expenses would be available for a period of transition, and there would be a downpayment made on the children’s education. Some planners suggest much more insurance, knowing that in a one income family the other parent would need time to train, seek a job, etc.

· As your children get to age 14 and beyond, you may wish to encourage after - school employment. Not just for the character building potential, but because they can earn thousands of dollars without paying federal income tax. (see your accountant)

Single / Single Parent
· Set aside three months take home pay for your emergency fund. If you are a single parent you’ll want to strive for six months on hand.

· As you accumulate savings, look for mutual funds or other alternatives to provide a higher return than money market accounts, with measured risk. If you are a single parent, decide when to start saving for college. As little as fifty dollars per month in a savings account can make a big difference. Ask your banker.

· Protect your credit rating. Perfect credit will be helpful in moving, refinancing, or even obtaining a credit line or home improvement loan, when needed. If you have recently divorced you will want to open accounts in your own name with credit cards, department stores, and credit unions.

· Check your homeowner’s insurance to be sure you have sufficient coverage to replace your belongings. “Replacement cost” coverage is preferred.

· Collect child support if you’re entitled to it. For information on your right to child support contact BC Child Support Info Line at 1-888-216-2211 or go to wwwhsd.gov.bc.ca.



Two Income Families
Buy a home or a second home, if appropriate. The wealth created though long term ownership of real estate is unmatched. The tax deductible nature of your real estate payments make for another bonus.

Use and maximize your RRSP’s, or other retirement options. As much as retirement seems far off in the future, it is coming. Anything you can do now can make a big difference in 20 to 30 years.

Empty Nesters
Maximize your savings for retirement

Consider reducing your life insurance if your mortgage is paid off.

Triple check your long-term health care insurance options while you’re still healthy.

Check your Canadian Pension Plan and/or Old Age Security benefits by filling out the proper forms. Call 1-800-277-9914 to get the form.

Fire Safety in the Home

If you haven’t taken the time to discuss fire safety with your family, then you really should. Here are some of the rules of fire safety your family needs to know.

1) Install smoke detectors on each level of your home and outside of each sleeping area.
2) Test batteries in smoke detectors and change them every six months. If you change them when you change the time on your clocks it will make it easier for you to remember.

3) Have an escape plan and practice it. This is the most important thing for all ages. In an emergency you will instinctively do what you know, and you will know what you have been practicing.
4) If you encounter smoke, try an alternate route and crawl on your hands and knees. You should always have 2 ways out of every room.
5) Don’t open a door if it feels hot. If it feels cool, brace your shoulder against it and open it slowly. If you see smoke, close the door and escape through a window or alternate route.
6) If your clothes catch on fire, STOP, DROP, and ROLL.
7) Once you’re out, stay out!

The Scent of Your Home is Important to Buyers

How a home smells when a potential buyer comes to see it for the first time, can make or break the sale. Imagine for yourself the difference between the scent of fresh cut flowers and the smell of a cat’s litter box.

My experience with showing various homes over the years suggests that foul smelling odors do turn off a buyer from purchasing an otherwise perfect home. Even homes that are very attractive, with great curb appeal, can be overlooked by buyers if they fail the sniff test!

It is important when preparing for a showing of your home to do everything you can to eliminate unpleasant odors. Common odors to look out for are cigarette or cigar smoke, strong smelling foods, mothballs, pet odors, and the smell of trash left in receptacles.

Take whatever action is necessary to remove all of the above mentioned odors, and replace them with pleasant scents. Some fresh cut flowers placed strategically throughout the house, or mild potpourri could be used. One more tip, consider baking cookies or something with a cinnamon fragrance before an open house or showing. Everyone loves the scent of Mom’s home cooking!

Carefree Perennial Gardens

Designing a perennial garden to accent your home and bring a bloom of color to the garden is well worth the investment of time and money. A well designed perennial garden can eventually be almost maintenance-free after it is established. What a wonderful reward to have those shoots of green peeking out of the ground after a long cold winter.

Choose perennials that will guarantee a season-long show of color by laying out a design on paper before planting. Consider the size of the garden, taking into account factors such as lawn size, shrubbery, the formal or informal look, and where the garden will be viewed.

You might want to consider a bed which stands alone in a large open area. Most people prefer to plant a border along a house, fence or walkway. The border will soften the lines between building and lawn and lend a dash of color and interest as well.





Choosing which plants to buy can be an overwhelming task if you arrive at the nursery unprepared. The primary requirements of the plants must match the soil, light and climate conditions of your garden. Ask for assistance if you are unfamiliar with the best plants for your area.

If you are a beginner you may want to start with the “cottage garden” look, which is essentially for people who don’t want something highly organized. Plants are added to suit the taste of the gardener.

The most important thing is to choose the plants that you love without regard to right and wrong. The effect will be a kaleidescope of color as the true cottage garden has a casual but charming appearance.

The nice thing is if you plant something and want to change it, you can even move perrenials to a new location the next year. So just get started and begin seeing the rewards in a blooming way!

The 3 Most Important Factors on Your Vacation

It’s not just a real estate truth. The three most important factors are location, location, location. It’s true on your vacation.

When in Orlando, see Disney World, but what about the rest of the state? Naples and Sanibel are as close to the tropics as you can get, all within a few hours drive. The question is, will it cost $300 a night or more for the family to stay in a safe, comfortable, and ‘spacious lodging?’ Not if you go exploring.

One family found that by planning ahead and reviewing a few travel magazines they could come upon a private hideaway for less than $700 per week. When the owner asked them how long they were staying, they said that depended on the price.

He asked them how much they had to spend, and when they answered about $500, the owner agreed to let them stay for a week for just $500.

Granted it took a few phone calls and some detective work, but they were prepared to go without, do without, or do different. As a result they discovered a special place that most of us would miss.
They did their research in the local papers in the destination they wanted to visit, and they started early. If you’re a family that only has a few days and very little flexibility, then

starting early is the best bet, up to one year in advance.

If your time is short, and the trip all of a sudden appears as a possibility, try the ‘accidental tourist’ approach. The movie by the same name made the point that you should pack a big bag with everything you need, and then a small bag for essential items, then leave the big bag behind. Why? Because they have toothbrushes where you’re going, and underwear, and most everything else you’d bring in the big bag.

By keeping your options open, you give yourself the chance to take advantage of little known hideaways and special opportunities like my lucky friends.

Another idea to make your next vacation fun is to identify two or three locations, some loose parameters, and to do the most investigating you can. Then ‘roll the dice.’ Wherever you are, you ultimately are responsible for making your own fun, right?

One experienced traveler said that by planning trips up to a year in advance, the whole family could plan, anticipate, and become enthusiastic about the trip. Afterward, by sharing pictures, diaries, and favorite experiences; they were able to re-live the trip without leaving home.

Consider these ideas to help you plan a great trip, and don’t forget the video camera. Someday these memories will be priceless.

Protect Your Cash

Here are some more great ways to control your finances and keep your cash:

Join a buying club that offers deep discounts. Buy what you need, and have it on hand, saving late night trips to the expensive quick stop shops. How did they ever get by on those wagon trains to California, without a convenience store?

Remember that the Revenue Canada allows you to take a deduction for donations of clothing, furniture, and miscellaneous items. Whatever they would be worth at a thrift shop is a guide. Simply obtain a receipt, and report it on your taxes. You’ll empty the house of cast off items, get more room in your closet, and help someone less fortunate, while lowering your taxes!

Being fit may require joining a health club, but if you joined and don’t go, it’s time to decide, go or quit. As a half step, some clubs offer off peak or alternate day plans that can help cut the fat out of your budget.

Great Quotations to Share With Your Children

· Never look down at anyone unless you are helping them up.
· Be kind to unkind people, they need it most.
· Learn to listen - opportunity could be knocking at your door very softly.
· Joyful thoughts create a joyful world.
· As long as you live, keep learning to live.
· Be ‘for things,’ not against things.
· No one fails who does his best.
· Believe in your dreams.
· Always look for the good in people.
· Do what is right rather than what is popular.
· Rejoice in others’ successes, knowing there is plenty for us all.

How Useful Are Open HousesÉ

Across the country, every Sunday afternoon, open houses are being held. The question is why? Statistics show that less than 3% of buyers who bought property in the last three years bought the property because they saw it at an open house.

Then why are so many open houses still being held? One reason is that sellers still think that agents should hold an open house. Most sellers see open houses as a way to find a buyer for their home. The truth is, open houses do find buyers, but most of the time not for the homeowner that is holding the open house. Buyers meet an agent, and over time, the better agents match the buyers particular needs to exactly the right home.




When a buyer comes through an open house, he may have simply dropped in to take a look without knowing anything about the homes price range or features. Most of the time the house does not fulfill the particular needs of the buyer.

It would be like going to a car dealer and deciding to buy the first car you see, without knowing it’s price, features, or financing options. What’s the chance that you would qualify or that the car would suit your needs? About the same chance that your home would perfectly suit a “drop-in” buyer.

So what’s the other reason open houses are still being held? Open houses are great ways for newer agents to get their feet wet. By holding an open house they meet buyers who might be interested in another property on the market. So don’t be surprised if a more experienced agent refuses to hold an open house on your property. Seasoned agents know what types of advertising and marketing work best, and won’t use your home as an avenue for finding buyers for other agent’s listings.

Garden Beauties

Have you been wondering what’s new? Or, what plants are tried and true? There are many recommendations advised by the experts. Here’s just a few that came in on the top of their list.

Two new roses come in ahead of the rest: ‘Carefree Delight,’ a relaxed 5-foot shrub rose, that covers itself with dainty 1-inch single pink flowers. Also, ‘Liven Easy,’ a four foot tall floribunda, blooms in clusters of two to five salmon-pink flowers, each up to 4 inches across.

Both roses flower steadily from late spring through fall and grow well without any spraying to control leaf diseases.

Also recommended is the ‘Oakleaf Hydrangea,’ a two season shrub. It’s one of the few deciduous shrubs that flower well in the shade. If you’d like more great flower and plant picks, talk to your garden center.

8 Ways to Make an Ordinary Day Special

It’s the little things you do that sometimes make the biggest impression. It’s the special touch that you add that makes the ordinary extraordinary!

Here are a few ideas:

1) Celebrate half birthdays with half a birthday cake.
2) Celebrate your pet’s birthday.
3) Make a tape of a cheering crowd, play it back to a family member that’s done something terrific.
4) Serve sparkling apple juice in wineglasses to toast a family member’s accomplishments.
5) Start a party idea file - refer to it when entertaining.
6) Visit a local farm in the summer and pick your own fruit.
7) Surprise your child by dropping chores for the day and doing something spontaneous together.
8) Plan a ‘this is your life’ celebration for a loved one’s birthday.

Financial Checkup

Look at Money Magazine or other financial publications to get their list of low cost credit cards. Some lower fee and lower interest rate alternatives are available. They’ll help you cut your costs of credit until you can pay off those cards. Some cards carry interest rates in excess of 21%, and require a minimum payment so low that it could take more than 10 years to repay the balance in full. Begin to double your monthly payments on the credit cards with the highest balances.

Open an RRSP or other retirement account to allow you to build your retirement nest egg. If you already have an account, analyze your investments to be sure you’re in the right place for your risk preference, and your goals. An annual checkup is in order.

If only someone had given us a thousand dollars at birth, and we had kept it invested at 12% (high) for 65 years (long time), we could retire a millionaire. It’s true, and it’s not too late. Pick some of these ideas and take action now!

Sell Your Home or Become a Landlord

Renting your home out may seem like a great alternative to selling at a lower price than expected, but make sure you consider the financial implications.

If the main idea in renting the house is to move now and sell later, be sure to factor in the costs which may occur when reconditioning the rental home for sale as a residence. Chances are the aggravation of converting your home to a rental will exceed any contribution to costs or profits.

Most importantly, keep in mind that being a landlord can be difficult. Tenants will demand that repairs and home maintenance be kept up with in a timely manner. Expenses can be quite substantial, so be prepared with funds to cover them. Feel free to ask me for more information on sales or rental, anytime!