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Home Owner Newsletter: July

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Terry Bordeleau 636-397-7378 [email protected] http://www.terrybordeleau.com Berkshire Hathaway Alliance Real Estate 251 Salt Lick Road Saint Peters, MO 63376

Sometimes accidents or disasters can strike no matter how far you've gone to prevent them. Being prepared for the unexpected can help protect your family and your home. Here are a couple of good items to keep on hand in your home. Fire extinguisher. Keep one on every floor of your home, and an extra one in the kitchen, which is where the majority of fires start. Some insurance policies will give you a discount on your premium for having extinguishers in your home A multipurpose ABC extinguishers works on three types of fires: ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, and electrical. Check the pressure gauges on your extinguishers when you check your smoke alarms and have them recharged when the pressure drops. Battery-powered smoke detector. Supplement your hard-wired smoke detectors (if you have them) with at least one battery-powered smoke detector per floor, especially in the kitchen and by the bedrooms. Pick up a model that has a sealed-in, 10-year lithium battery. This will help avoid frequent battery changes and middle of the night chirping. Carbon monoxide alarm. Choose one that is a separate CO alarm, not one combined with a smoke detector. Place one on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area. Check your state laws on requirements for CO alarms. Automatic water heater shutoff valve. An automatic shutoff valve for the water heater cuts off the supply to the device as soon as it senses a leak of any kind.

Compost is organic material that can be added to soil that will help plants grow. Food scraps and yard clippings make up to 30% of what we throw away, yet could be composted instead. Having a composting system keeps these materials out of the landfills. All composting requires three basic ingredients: Browns - Materials such as dead leaves, branches, and twigs Greens - Grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps, and coffee grounds Water - Having the right amount of water is important for compost development To compost, you should have an equal amount of browns to greens, alternate layers of organic materials. The brown materials provide carbon for your compost, the green materials provide nitrogen, and the water provides moisture to help break down the organic matter. Click here to read more.

Home gyms are growing in popularity and are becoming a staple in many homes. Thinking of converting your spare room into a home gym? Here are some ideas to get you started.

Energize that space with a couple of bold colors. Orange, blue, and lime green are colors that will wake you up and get you moving.

Have a fitness mantra? Paint it on your wall so you have it there to look at while working out.

Add a ceiling fan to circulate the air while you work out. Just be sure to measure ceiling height, fan depth, and the height you will be while on your fitness equipment.

Don't let your resistance bands and jump rope get tangled up on the floor, hang them up on pegs or garment hooks.

Flooring is important while you work out because it can have an impact on your feet and knees. A good choice for home gym flooring is cork. It's tough but resilient. Another option is carpet tiles, which are easy to install yourself.

Step 1: Lay out the fence post. Use a powered chalk or spray paint as a guide to design your layout. Be sure to position a fence post every 6-8 feet in the area where you want your fence to stand. Step 2: Dig the holes. Dig a hole about three times wider than the post, and half as deep as the post is tall. For example, if the fence will be four feet high, make the hole two feet. Step 3: Add concrete and gravel. Pour 4-6 inches of gravel in the base of the hole to allow for drainage. After the gravel is compact in the hole, add 6-8 inches of concrete mix. Put the post in the middle of the concrete mix and plumb with a level. Allow two to three days for the concrete to cure. Step 4: Attach rails or panels to the posts. Once the concrete has cured, you can begin attaching the rails to support your fencing to your post. Once rails are in place, attach pickets or fencing. Step 5: To give your fence a finished look, attach the post caps to the posts. Tap each cap lightly with a rubber mallet until each one fits tightly onto the post.

Ingredients 2 bottles red Spanish table wine 1 cup brandy 1/2 cup triple sec 1 cup orange juice 1 cup pomegranate juice 1/2 cup simple syrup, or more to taste (equal parts sugar and water, heated until sugar dissolves, cooled) Orange slices Apple slices Blackberries Pomegranate seeds Directions Mix all ingredients together and let stand in a tightly sealed container or pitcher for at least 24 hours in the refrigerator before serving. Recipe courtesy Bobby Flay Click here to read more.

#colspan=#>Monthly Pro Tip: Ready f #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Composting at Home </#d2d2d2 2px solid2>Your Home Gym #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Building a Fence </fo #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Red Wine Sangria<

Home Owner Newsletter: June

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Terry Bordeleau 636-397-7378 [email protected] http://www.terrybordeleau.com Berkshire Hathaway Alliance Real Estate 251 Salt Lick Road Saint Peters, MO 63376

We've all been there, where you have walked into a room and felt overwhelmed by the floral print wallpaper that was popular 30 years ago. It's been said by many realtors, to look past the wallpaper. Are you ready to tackle that project? It can be done! Follow these steps to get the best results.

Run a scoring tool in overlapping circles over the entire surface of the wallpapered

Make a solution of two gallons of warm water and two ounces of wallpaper stripping solution

While wearing rubber gloves, soak wallpaper-removing fabric in the bucket of stripper solution, wring out the fabric, and press the wet fabric on the wall

Smooth out the fabric and continue to apply sheets of wet fabric until the whole wall is covered

Using a small pump sprayer, apply more stripping solution to the fabric on the wall

After 20 minutes, pull the fabric sheets off the wall and back into the bucket for the next wall

Then you can begin to peel the wallpaper from the wall, if it doesn't release cleanly, spray more solution onto the wallpaper

After wallpaper is removed, scrub the walls with a scouring sponge soaked in the solution to remove any sticky residue

Recycling saves energy, landfill space and natural resources. Recycling at home requires little time, and offers significant benefit to the homeowner and the environment. According to the EPA, the national recycling rate in the US is only 30%. If that number were to increase to 60%, it could save the equivalent of 315 million barrels of oil per year. Recycling is a great way individuals can make a difference, both in their community and on a global level. Start recycling in your home today! Here are some tips:

Visit your local recycling center and find out what materials they accept for recycling. To find the recycling center nearest you, call: 1 800-CLEANUP.

Get storage bins. The success to home recycling is the storage bin setup. After you know which materials to recycle, set up a storage bin system. Once your system is set up, recycling is easy!

Buy products with the highest percentage of "post-consumer" recycled content.

Clean your bottles and cans before putting them in the recycling bin. This prevents flies both at home and the recycling station.

Put a 'no junk mail' sticker on your mailbox.

Do you have a small bathroom or powder room that seems too small to do anything with it? With a couple changes you can make that small bathroom feeling disappear. Help your petite bathroom feel larger with a wall-mounted sink. This will free up floor space and add a unique feature to your bathroom. Hang your shower curtain from your ceiling in order to visually elongate the shower/tub section of the bathroom. Use the window ledge to display your bath salts, bubble bath, and other fun bath accessories. Lastly, maximize your storage without using up floor space with shelving and wall hung storage units to store towels and toiletries.

When you aerating your lawn it breaks the soil surface by punching holes into the ground. A plug aerator will remove clumps (plugs) of soil out of the ground, while spiked aerators simply push holes into the soil. The benefits to aerating are:

Oxygen and water are better able enter the soil

Rainwater won't just run off

Earthworms and other bugs will have more room to live

Your fertilizer will reach the roots

These benefits lead to healthier grass, which means fewer weeds.

Ingredients 6 cups shredded cabbage 1 cup shredded carrot 1 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon celery seed 1/4 cup sugar Salt and pepper Directions In a large bowl, combine cabbage and carrots. In a smaller bowl, make dressing by combining mayonnaise, vinegar, celery seed, sugar, salt and pepper. Toss dressing into cabbage mixture and let chill. Serve in a family style bowl. Copyright 2006, Robert Irvine, All Rights Reserved Click here to read more.

#colspan=#>Monthly Pro Tip: Removin #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Recycling Tips Small Bathroom? No Probl #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Benefits of Aerating #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Cole Slaw </h1

Home Owner Newsletter: April

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Terry Bordeleau 636-397-7378 [email protected] http://www.terrybordeleau.com Berkshire Hathaway Alliance Real Estate 251 Salt Lick Road Saint Peters, MO 63376

One popular remodel these days is replacing the old bathroom mirror with a new framed or vanity mirror. Before you can put up the new mirror, you have to remove the old one that is glued to the wall. Here is how to remove that mirror quickly and safely. Be sure to wear gloves and eye protection in case the mirror is dropped and shatters.

Cover the mirror with heavy-duty packing tape to help prevent the glass from falling apart if it breaks.

Insert wooden shims in gaps between the mirror and the wall and tap the wood shims down without forcing them.

Place a shim beneath a pry bar and gently begin working the bar down behind the glass. Work the bar gently along the top and sides of the mirror to release a little bit of the mirror at a time.

When you are close to the bottom, support it at the top so it doesn't pop free of the wall and fall on top of you.

Once it's loose, you can gently carry it away from the bathroom.

Click here to read more.

Increase your energy efficiency while cooking with these helpful tips. It's easy to run your home on less energy. Just a few simple changes that you can do yourself as a homeowner, can reduce your heating, cooling, and electricity cost.

Keep the oven door closed while you cook, by opening the oven door, you can drop the temperature by 25 degrees.

Grill outside when it's warm, this helps avoid turning on the oven which forces your AC to work harder, and increases your electricity bill.

Turn the burners off on your stove top when your food is almost done, the existing heat will finish off the cooking in your hot pan.

Be sure your pots and pans have tight fitting lids to maximize the heat in your pans and shorten your cooking time.

Match the size of your pot to the burner on your stove, this way you don't lose the heat that could be going around your pot if it's on a burner that is too large.

Turn the kitchen fan off as soon as you're done cooking.

Are dated fixtures sticking out like a sore thumb in your home? For a quick and inexpensive fix, pick up a refinishing kit at your local hardware store. Your 80's brass chandelier can look like a new fixture with a coat of satin-nickel spray paint. Put a coat of spray pant on old cabinet nobs to give them an easy update. Old school almond colored switch plates can date a home. Swap those out for new updated plates that match the home's fixtures. These inexpensive changes can make a big difference and only take an afternoon of work.

Don't forget about your garage! Many people don't think twice when it comes to their garage door for curb appeal, but in reality, your garage is a huge blank canvas. Try painting a two toned pattern on your garage to create the sense of depth and paneling. Add some hardware to bring style and personality to your garage door. If your garage doesn't have windows, you can buy a kit that will create the look of carriage windows. It's easy to put up and much less expensive than buying a brand new garage door. Any of these ideas can make a big difference and will take your curb appeal from basic to amazing!

Ingredients 3 vine-ripe tomatoes, 1/4-inch thick slices 1 pound fresh mozzarella, 1/4-inch thick slices 20 to 30 leaves (about 1 bunch) fresh basil Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling Coarse salt and pepper Directions Layer alternating slices of tomatoes and mozzarella, adding a basil leaf between each, on a large, shallow platter. Drizzle the salad with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray Click here to read more.

#colspan=#>Monthly Pro Tip: Removin #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Energy Efficiency While #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Update Finishes </fon #d2d2d2 2px solid2>The Forgotten Garage Doo #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Caprese Salad

Home Owner Newsletter: March

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Terry Bordeleau 636-397-7378 [email protected] http://www.terrybordeleau.com Berkshire Hathaway Alliance Real Estate 251 Salt Lick Road Saint Peters, MO 63376

Want to replace your leaky or outdated faucet? It isn't as hard as you may think. You can tackle the project with a basin wrench and a few other tools. Step 1: Remove the old faucet Be sure when you buy a faucet it will fit your sink. Your sink will have 1, 2, or 3 holes for the faucet. Make sure to have this information prior to going shopping for a new faucet; you can always bring the old faucet with you shopping. Use the valves under your sink or at the main, to turn off your water supply. Then, turn on the faucet to release any water left in the line. Disconnect the line from the faucet using the basin wrench if you can't get to the connections with your hands. You will then disconnect the lift rod and remove the nuts located under the faucet. Step 2: Remove the drain First, unscrew the slip nut on the P-trap and put a bucket underneath to catch water in the trap. Then, disconnect the drain flange from the tailpiece. It should easily unscrew. Once removed, clean around the old drain and faucet holes to remove an old sealant and hard water buildup. Step 3: Install the new faucet The new faucet should contain installation directions. Follow the manufacturer's directions for specific installation instructions. Put the faucet through the mounting holes in the sink and tighten the mounting nuts. Next, attach the drain. Screw the nut all the way down on the drain body and push the gasket over it. Some gaskets are threaded to screw into place. Apply just a little bit of silicone under the flange. Position the drain body on the bottom of the sink, making sure the pivot hole is facing the back, and screw the flange on from the top side. Underneath, tighten the nut and gasket. Next, install the drain rod by unscrewing the pivot nut on the drain body, inserting the horizontal rod through the hole in the stopper, and replace the nut. Push the horizontal rod down and secure the lift rod to the strap with the screw. Test the lift rod. You are then ready to reconnect the supply lines to your faucet. If your sink is already in place, use a basin wrench to reach the faucet shanks. Flush the faucet by removing the aerator to rid your faucet of debris or sediment. Check all the connections for leaks and re-tighten if necessary. Screw the aerator back on and you're done. For more information, click here.

Increase energy efficiency in the laundry room with these helpful tips. Reducing heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through simple changes, that you can do yourself.

Wash and dry several loads at once, this way your dryer isn't completely cooled down when it heats up for the next load.

Avoid over-drying your clothes. This both wastes energy and causes static and wrinkling.

Separate wash loads into light and heavy fabrics for the shortest drying times. Or you can air-dry your lightest fabrics.

Vent your dryer to the outside which will reduce the workload on your AC.

Wash full loads of clothes whenever possible, but when smaller loads are necessary, use less water by changing the settings to small load.

Clean the dryer lint filter before every load to keep your dryer running efficiently.

If your room doesn't have vaulted ceilings, and they feel a little on the low side, paint your ceilings white to make the room feel less claustrophobic. To trick the eye visually when hanging curtains, hang the curtains higher than the windows; this will make the room feel taller that it really is. Try mounting the curtain rods to the ceiling for a dramatic look. If you like patterns, find curtains with vertical stripes, this will visually elongate your walls. One more tip, add a large leaning mirror against a wall to finish the look, this can also make the room seem taller.

Updating your windows can make a big impact on curb appeal. One way to do this is by adding shutters. Shutters are both easy to install and affordable to build. Even basic shutters that you make yourself can make a huge difference. Whether you're building them or buy them pre-made, shutters provide a finished look to any house. Another way to spruce up your windows is to add extra trim and make them stand out more. You can add the same matching trim to your front door to really give the front of your home a finished look. Final tip; add window boxes filled with flowers. Whether simple or more decorative, they are easy to build or you can purchase ones that are pre-made.

Ingredients 4 large eggs 3/4 cup sugar 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon plus a pinch salt 2 cups whole milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 30 to 40 vanilla wafers 3 to 4 medium ripe bananas Directions Separate the yolks from the whites of 3 of the eggs; set aside the whites. Add the remaining whole egg to the yolks. In a saucepan, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar, the flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir in the whole egg and 3 yolks, and then stir in the milk. Cook uncovered, stirring often, until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spread a thin layer of the pudding in a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish. Arrange a layer of vanilla wafers on top of the pudding. Thinly slice the bananas crosswise, about 1/8 inch thick, and arrange a layer of banana slices over the wafers. Spread one-third of the remaining pudding over the bananas and continue layering wafers, bananas and pudding, ending with pudding. To make the meringue, beat the reserved egg whites with a pinch of salt until they are stiff. Gradually beat in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and continue beating until the whites will not slide out of the mixing bowl when it is tilted. Spread the meringue over the pudding with a spatula, making a few decorative peaks on top, and bake until the meringue is lightly browned, 5 minutes. Adapted from Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen by Trisha Yearwood (c) Clarkson Potter 2008 Click here to read more.

#colspan=#>Monthly Pro Tip: Replace #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Energy Efficient Applian #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Visual Tricks #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Showcase Your Windows</f #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Banana Pudding<br

Home Owner Newsletter: January

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Terry Bordeleau 636-397-7378 [email protected] http://www.terrybordeleau.com Berkshire Hathaway Alliance Real Estate 251 Salt Lick Road Saint Peters, MO 63376

One of the easiest DIY projects that you can do around your house is painting. To paint like a pro, check out these tips that will keep your project rolling on smoothly. Prime before you paint. Although it may be tempting to skip over the primer, it helps provide a good surface for your paint, and will make sure your paint stays true to the color swatch you picked out. Use an edge pad. This will help you maintain clean lines around door frames, edges of the ceiling, and in the corners. Rule of thumb: 1 gallon of paint for every 400 square feet. This can vary if the wall is textured or the surface is unprimed. Wash those walls. Wiping down your walls before you paint will help the paint stick better to a clean surface. Lastly, use a drop cloth. Unless you plan on painting the floor, a drop cloth is cheap and will save you time picking out the paint drops that fell onto the carpet.

Whether you are replacing existing windows or building a new home, high-quality, energy efficient windows are worth considering. Here are some tips to consider when installing energy efficient windows:

Install high-performance windows, screens and films to protect upholstery, wood and artwork from UV rays while saving energy.

Eliminate "hot spots" in your home by using high-performance windows, solar window screens and qualified window films.

Consider high-performance windows before you replace your AC system. They're so efficient that they may help reduce the size and cost needed for an AC system.

Install high-performance windows with double-glazing and spectrally selective coatings that reduce heat gain and avoid turning up your AC.

Create a great first impression with your front door. This easy update can be accomplished by painting the front door a bright, glossy color. In many cultures, red is considered a lucky color. In America, a red door means "welcome". Two other popular color choices are orange and yellow; they both are associated with joy and warmth. Don't just paint your door; update that outdated screen door that sits in front of it. You can replace your old screen with a storm door featuring a full-length glass to show off your freshly painted, welcoming front door. Take it a step further and give your house numbers a fresh coat of paint to complete the look.

Having an herb garden in your kitchen is one of the most useful gardens you can grow. Herbs are low maintenance and can grow in a small space and just about any soil. Pick a spot that gets at least half a day of sun, a windowsill makes a perfect spot for herbs. Be sure to pick a spot that gives you easy access while cooking. Pick a container that offers drainage so the roots don't become waterlogged. Here are some easy herbs to get your garden started: Basil, Chives, Cilantro, Parsley, Rosemary, Oregano, Sage, and Mint. Your first kitchen garden will be a success if you start simple. Fill your garden with your favorite herbs on the list, and enjoy the fantastic flavors that will jump by using fresh, homegrown herbs.

Ingredients: 6 to 8 medium russet potatoes Salt and ground pepper Cooking spray 24 large eggs Directions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake the potatoes until tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Allow to cool, and then peel and grate them. Season well with salt and pepper. Spray two 12-hole muffin pans generously with cooking spray. Scoop 3 to 4 tablespoons of grated potato into each muffin hole. Use your fingers to gently press down the sides and bottom in each muffin hole to make a nest. Spray again with cooking spray. Then bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Watch and make sure they do not burn. Allow the nests to cool. Then crack an egg into each one. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake until the whites are set, about 15 minutes. 2012 Ree Drummond, All Rights Reserved Click here to read more.

#colspan=#>Monthly Pro Tip: Paintin #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Energy Efficient Windows #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Set the Tone <#d2d2d2 2px solid2>Kitchen Herb Garden</fon #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Baked Eggs in Hash Brown

Home Owner Newsletter: December

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Terry Bordeleau 636-397-7378 [email protected] http://www.terrybordeleau.com Berkshire Hathaway Alliance Real Estate 251 Salt Lick Road Saint Peters, MO 63376

Have you reviewed your homeowners' insurance policy recently? If not, now is the perfect time to look over your policy. It's a good idea to annually compare the limits in your policy and assess the value of your possessions. If you make any major purchases or additions to your home throughout the year, make sure they are reflected in your policy. The following are some tips that may reduce your homeowners' insurance costs. Just keep in mind that insurance companies vary and these suggestions may not apply to your policy. For specific details, contact your insurance agent. Increase your deductible. If your deductible is $250, increase it to $500. Doing so may cut your premiums. You'll have to pay more if you make a claim, but you're likely to save money through time with lower premiums. Secure your home. By installing a burglar alarm, deadbolt locks and smoke detectors, you may save up to five percent per security measure. Some insurance companies offer up to a 15-percent discount if you have a central alarm system that's wired directly to a monitoring facility or police department. Consolidate. Buy your home and auto insurance from the same company. Some companies offer discounts between five percent and 20 percent if you purchase more than one policy from them. Renovate. Depending on your insurance company, certain home improvements may qualify you for a policy discount. Updating such systems as plumbing and electrical are examples. Be sure to check with your insurer, however, before making costly renovations. You may also be able to save on your other insurance needs. It's a good idea to annually review all of your insurance policies, especially if you have changed major aspects of your life within the past year, like receiving a promotion, getting married, buying a car or remodeling your house. As your life changes, so do your insurance needs and a few minutes of your time could save you hundreds of dollars.

One of the easiest and most commonly over-looked ways to save energy at home, is simply changing your light bulbs. By using energy saving light bulbs, you can reduce your electricity usage and lower your monthly bill, saving you money. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs which can last 8-10 times longer than incandescent, and tend to use about 75% less energy. These bulbs also produce 90% less heat and deliver more light per Watt. Another way to save energy on your lights, use motion-detector lights for your outdoor lighting. It's not only convenient, but it is also efficient. You can also consider using timers on our indoor lighting to have them automatically turn off during the day. Always be sure to turn off all the lights when you leave the house.

Keep your furry family members safe over the holidays with just a few easy tips. This way your pets can enjoy the fun around the holidays, without any unplanned trips to the vet.

Holly, mistletoe, and poinsettia plants are all poisonous to both dogs and cats. If you have these plants in your home for the holidays, be sure to keep them in a place where your pet cannot get to them.

Avoid any edible tree decorations. Popcorn and cranberry strings can be a temptation to your pet, and with a few good tugs can pull your tree down on top of them.

Although tinsel can be a beautiful addition to the tree, be sure to hang it out of your pet's reach. If ingested, tinsel can cause intestinal blockage, which may need to be removed surgically.

The same happens with pine needles if they are ingested. Be sure if you are bringing a live tree into your home, that you keep the pets away from the needles. The needles can puncture your furry friend's intestines if ingested.

These simple tips can help keep the holidays fun for all, and keep your pets out of trouble.

Before heading outdoors and climbing up the ladder to hang your lights this holiday season, prepare with the following tips to make your job a little easier:

Measure the length you want to cover in lights and calculate how many clips and light strings you will need. To brighten your display, clip the lights a little closer together rather than stretching them out full length.

If you are using a special spacing between your lights start by cutting out a piece of cardboard to the length you are wanting to achieve, and use that as your spacer between the clips. This will help you have a uniform look.

Test out each strand of lights prior to hanging them, and replace any dead bulbs and or strands that may be damaged.

Lastly, test the connection between strands to be sure they all connect and that the extension cord reaches where it will be plugged in. Don't overload the connection and read the manufacture's label on how many strands you can connect safely.

Whatever style of holiday lighting you choose, preparing your strands in advance can help to make your experience quick and hopefully stress-free.

Ingredients 4 medium-size sweet potatoes 5 tablespoons light brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg Pinch cayenne pepper 1/2 stick unsalted butter Vegetable oil, for greasing roasting tray Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup chopped pecans Directions Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly scrub the sweet potatoes under cold running water. Place the potatoes on a roasting tray and bake until tender, 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the potatoes to cool slightly before cutting off the top third of the potatoes lengthwise. Scoop out the flesh using a large spoon (leave enough on the base so the skin holds its shape) and reserve bases. Add the potato flesh, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper and butter to a food processor. Process until the ingredients are completely combined and the puree is smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle a roasting tray with a little oil. Set the potato skin bases upright on the tray and fill with the mixture. Combine the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar and pecans in a small bowl. Sprinkle the top of each stuffed sweet potato with the sugar-pecan topping. Bake 10 minutes. Finish the potatoes under the broiler for the top to brown, 1 minute, if desired. Recipe courtesy Guy Fieri Click here to read more.

#colspan=#>Monthly Pro Tip: Review #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Change Your Light Bulbs<#d2d2d2 2px solid2>Pet Safety </h #d2d2d2 2px solid2>Hanging String Lights Twice Baked Sweet Potato

Home Owner Newsletter: November

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Terry Bordeleau 636-397-7378 [email protected] http://www.terrybordeleau.com Berkshire Hathaway Alliance Real Estate 251 Salt Lick Road Saint Peters, MO 63376

No one wants to have to call a plumber; not only can that be a messy experience, but also a pricey one. To help prevent having to make that call, here is a list of common plumbing problems and how you can avoid them. Water heater: If your home has hard water your water heater may need to be drained to remove build up on the bottom of the tank. If this sediment isn't cleaned out, it can clog water lines making your water heater less efficient. Toilet: Don't just flush anything, be selective about what goes down your toilet. The only item that you should flush is toilet paper. Items that can clog your toilet and cause a problem are cotton balls, cleaning wipes, and trash. These items are not made to dissolve and some will actually expand in water. If your toilet starts to overflow, shut off the water supply until you can call a plumber. Kitchen Sink: The kitchen sink gets clogged when you put in items that shouldn't go in the sink, such as grease, fats, and cooking oil. These items will clog your sink because they stick to pipes and solidify when they cool, which causes blockage. Avoid pouring these items down the sink, instead pour them into a can or bottle to thrown away. Occasionally pouring boiling water down the sink can help melt and wash away built up grease. Shower drain: Hair is the primary reason why a shower drain gets clogged since hair doesn't dissolve in water. Using a shower strainer will help trap hair before it goes down the drain.

Next time you fill your cup with water, think about this: We each use about 100 gallons of water per day, which fills about 1,600 glasses. The consumption of household water has increased by 200 percent since the 50's, even though the population has grown by only 90 percent. As a result, many states are expected to face water shortages. Reducing the flow of water leaving our household is as easy as fixing a leaky faucet or toilet; a dripping faucet can waste up to 74 gallons a day, and a leaking toilet up to 200 gallons a day. Repairing a leaky toilet can save $30 a year, which may not sound like much, but that is equivalent to about 73,000 gallons.

Indoor air quality is important, and people spend thousands of dollars on purifiers, hepa vacuums, and filters, in order to keep their air clean. NASA did a study to find out which plants not only released oxygen, but also were the best at filtering the air for the space station. You can use these plants in your home or office to improve the quality of the air in your space. These are common plants that can be found at your local nursery and added to your space today. The top 10 plants most effective in removing air pollutants: Bamboo Palm - Chamaedorea Seifritzii Chinese Evergreen - Aglaonema Modestum English Ivy Hedera Helix Gerbera Daisy Gerbera Jamesonii Janet Craig - Dracaena "Janet Craig" Marginata - Dracaena Marginata Mass cane/Corn Plant - Dracaena Massangeana Mother-in-Law's Tongue Sansevieria Laurentii Pot Mum - Chrysantheium morifolium Peace Lily - Spathiphyllum Warneckii - Dracaena "Warneckii" Click here to read more about the study done by NASA.

As winter approaches, we want you to be safe when walking out on icy walkways around your home. Check out these products that can help you walk with confidence and give you better traction. For your front entry, use an ice-melting doormat. An electric doormat melts the snow as it falls, up to a rate of 2 inches per hour. Try using rubberized treads on outdoor stairs. Before the icy weather starts, add rubberized stair treads to steps that release ice with a stomp that you can brush away. Sidewalk granules won't melt the ice, but they will embed into the ice and give you a more secure footing. On smooth floors such as the garage, try slip-resistant tapes. Slip-resistant tapes will help you with traction when getting in and out of your car where ice has melted.

Ingredients 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 to 1 1/2 pounds carrots, all a similar size and thickness, peeled and quartered lengthwise, tops reserved for garnish Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon molasses 1/2 to 1 cup water 2 tablespoons butter 1 sprig rosemary Directions In a skillet large enough to hold the carrots, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, add the carrots and season with salt and black pepper. Using a wooden spoon, stir the carrots to coat with the oil and seasonings. After the carrots have cooked for a few minutes, add the brown sugar and molasses and continue to cook, stirring from time to time. Add a little water so they can become tender without burning the sugar. Continue to cook until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. Add more water, if needed, but the sauce should be thick enough to coat the carrots and should bubble around the edges of the pan. The carrots should be tender and fairly yielding when pierced with the tip of a knife. Add the butter and the rosemary sprig. Once the butter has melted remove the rosemary sprig and discard. Transfer the carrots to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped carrot tops. Serve immediately or allow to "rest" a little before serving. Recipe courtesy Alex Guarnaschelli Click here to read more.

#>Monthly Pro Tip: Prevent #92d050 #>Purify with Plants </#6c7f97;#92d050>Fix That Drip #92d050>Icy Walkways <#92d050">Brown Sugared Carrots <b