Spring is here, so let’s get the grilling season off to a great start!  Trying out new recipes is a passion of mine, second only to my husband cooking some good ole’ fare on the grill.  He’s grilling, and I’m chilling – it’s a beautiful thing!

If you are handling raw meat, poultry or seafood, then it would make good sense to use one set of grilling tongs for that task.  Once all your food is cooked, then a different set of tongs should be used for serving and picking it up off the grill.

If you already own two sets of tongs, you could simply wrap red tape around the tongs you use for raw meat.  Raw meat = red = stop.  Use another color tape – or marker – around the second set of tongs that you use for food that is fully cooked.  I like to use green; however, you could use any color you like.   Cooked food = green = “go” get it.

Check out these colored tongs -

The reason I like nylon and/or silicone tips is that they grip the food better.  Be sure to purchase tongs that are long enough for safety concerns, but short enough for easy handling.  I think the 12-inch size is perfect; anything less than that gets my hand too close to the grill.   Grilled Finger Kebabs are not on the menu! 

Just another tip - Hot off the Grill. 

Roses are truly a gift to your senses.  Your eyes benefit from their beauty, while your nose delights in their aromatic scent.  There are quite a few people that love roses; however, most hate the chore of rose gardening.  Some varieties are hard to live with, require a lot of pruning, and like to “stick it to you” – if given a chance.

I really like the Knock Out shrub roses.  They are very hardy and resistant to many of the diseases that the older varieties succumb to.  You can literally plant the shrub, and almost forget about it.  I usually prune them back once a year, and I no longer dead-head the blooms.  I use to when I first starting working with them, but now I don’t.  They look just as pretty and it saves me a lot of work.  I do; however, keep them shaped throughout the growing season and in return I get a continual amount of blooms.  Knock Out roses are known for their continual blooms, and I can attest to that.  

Mother’s Day is right around the corner.  Instead of paying big dollars for a flower arrangement from the florist or grocery store, take that money and go to your nearest Home/Gardening store (or the link you see here) and buy the actual shrub.  You have two choices – either present the entire shrub to Mom so she can enjoy it for many years (instead of just a few days as with the florist arrangement) or plant the shrub yourself.  Simply cut off some of the stems and make your own Mother’s Day arrangement, placed in a beautiful vase.  This way you both can enjoy the beauty of the roses and have a bloomin’ good time!  Just like you have always been able to depend on Mom, you can also depend on this beautiful shrub rose to bring a smile to all those that are beholding.   

Another choice – if you find that you do not possess a green thumb, or that you would like to choose a less “thorny” approach … you might want to consider Jo Malone Red Rose Cologne 100ml/3.4 Fl oz. or Issey Miyake L’eau D’issey Florale Eau De Toilette Spray, 3 Ounce.

Both of these smell of spring eternal and of roses already in bloom.  Whichever path you decide to follow, I wish you and yours a beautiful Mothers Day.

Life is messy, but that does not mean your linen closet has to be.  As a real estate agent, I have had to preview hundreds of homes in my career.  Opening a linen closet should be considered dangerous duty, for one never knows what is going to come flying down on you when you curiously open the door!  Some are meticiously kept, while the majority are usually busting out at the seams.

Here is my easy solution to keep bed linens in order. If everyone did it, retrieving bed sheets would be such a joy.  No longer do you have to hunt and search for the pillowcase, or the missing flat sheet, no more sheets or towels falling down on you. The secret to having an organized linen closet is all in the CASE!

First step – Lay out your flat sheet, your fitted sheet, one pillow case (folded) and one pillow case unfolded.

Second step – stack them on top of one another, with the folded pillow case on top.

Lastly, put the entire “package” into the unfolded pillow case. That’s it! You now can put the entire bed sheet package neatly in your closet for easy retrieval later.

Depending on your preference, you could also “roll” the sheets together instead of folding them.  Try it, and let me know how it worked out for you!

Clients – without them I could not survive. I depend on them for my business. They come in many different shapes and personalities. From the bad, the good, and the ugly – I humbly respect them all. And then there’s Samantha.

If I have heard it once, I have heard it a thousand times – “Don’t get emotionally involved with your clients”. I know it is true and that it is solid advice. Why, then, do I have such a hard time with certain folks?  Samantha is one such client.

Young and smart, she holds a very respectable job in the health industry. I helped her and her husband buy their first home many years ago. A nicer couple you could not meet. Life can be cruel at times … and so it was that on a fateful day it unexpectedly took the life of her young husband. When I heard the news I crumbled in my chair. It literally took the wind out of me. How can it be that this young woman is widowed at such an early age?

Life went on. She pulled herself up from a terrible blow and endured with dignity and grace. These are virtues I don’t easily see these days, no matter the age. One of her most precious qualities is her laugh. When she does so, the world laughs with her. It is one of those laughs that make you smile – you have no control over your body and you soon find that your frown is turning upside down! Contagious is not the word for it; it is far beyond that. Her soul sends out an uplifting, mood-elevating peal of laughter that immediately makes your day brighter. Anyone that finds themselves in her presence is definitely in a better and sunnier place.

Sometimes clients don’t listen to you. They think they know more about real estate than you do. When you are fortunate enough to have a client that values your opinion, you are then in good company. I have had to disappoint her in the past with information and/or news that I knew she did not want to hear. It was one of the hardest moments in my career. Yet, I knew it was the best thing for her – and fate proved that to be true. Samantha, even though she might want to go down another road at times, always listens to what I have to say and treats me with respect. As a real estate professional, most people view our occupation as something less than noble. I work hard every day to prove that opinion wrong. Because Samantha treats me with dignity and care, I find myself going the extra yard for whatever she needs. It is called mutual respect.

Samantha is now on a new journey, with a new man in her life. She is looking for a new home and eager to start the next chapter in her life. I don’t know what the outcome will be on our next quest, but I will be sure to enjoy the journey together. She is, without a doubt, one of my most precious gifts. She is not only a client, she is a friend. Yes, I crossed the line – I care about her. I take what happens to her personally, and I do get emotionally involved.

If you are lucky enough to have one Samantha in your life, consider yourself blessed.
I know I am.

While I am aware that we have great weather and sunshine in Tampa Bay, that does not mean we should keep our doors open and unlocked.  Being in the real estate profession, I am aware of many a break-in or burglary attempt.  Several have been on vacant homes, but it happens to people living in homes as well.

Many crooks come in through an unlocked or open door.  It’s that simple.  Shame on us for making their jobs that much easier!  Windows are also another easy access, even if you live in a two-story home.  What is the obvious solution to all of this?  Use your locks!

Other easy ways for the thieves to get into your home are through first-floor exterior doors, an open garage - they walk right in and go through the garage door that enters your home, and sliding glass doors.   Exterior doors that offer more protection are either solid core or of steel construction.

Single-barrel deadbolts (which use a key on the outside and a lever on the inside) will give you a layer of protection and using some type of reinforcement on the sliding or patio doors will also help.  Simply place a broomstick, piece of wood or cut-to-fit dowel in the bottom of the track to prevent or limit movement.

Have you heard of a Charley Bar?  These are also used for protection on sliding glass and patio doors. 

Your home is your santuary; a place for love and happy memories.  Don’t take it for granted.  You do have some control on how to keep it safe, which should be high on your list of home priorities.    If you have other ideas on how to burglar-proof your home, please send me a comment.  I would love to hear about it!

You come home from a hard day at work only to find a bucket full of credit solicitations in your mailbox.  Is this really what you were seeking when you arrived at Home Sweet Home?

Take heart; you can elect to opt out of receiving these offers – just as you can also opt in.  If you are trying to save for a house and know that you will need to get pre-approved for a mortgage soon, you might want to opt out so you are not tempted to take on more credit.  

Go to OptOutPrescreen.com  to select your preferences!  Read the fine print and see if this approach is right for you.  Believe it or not, you do have some control over what gets delivered to your mailbox.

We deal with all sorts of clients in our real estate business – even the four-legged kind.  As I took a walk through my yard the other day, I was surprised to see a critter hunkered down and looking at every move I made.  Upon closer review I realized I was in his backyard as well as my own, and that I should tread softly.  This homeowner was hunkered down and not going anywhere!

His house was unique, and I could understand why he had made it his home.  I knew the Builder, and so I can testify to the quality of the construction.   This particular abode has many features, and here are just a few:

• Wood Frame Construction
• Quaint One-Story Cottage
• Vaulted Ceilings
• Open Floor Plan
• Authentic Early American Style
• A Lovely Terrace Under Stately Trees
• Just a Hop, Skip and a Jump away from Local Bug Shops

A home inspection had revealed only minimum damage – the front door had some cuts and bruises from the frenzied beaks of previous owners.  One can only image the parties, frolicking and nesting that this house has seen.  Indeed, if only the walls could talk!  The sun was beating down on his front door and it was easy to understand why he was basking in the warmth of our Florida sun.

The joys of home ownership; one never knows who will move in next door!  Our brown lizard friend (anole) makes the proverb “What’s the good of a home if you are never in it?” so very true. 

Keep the home fires burning my friends …

Myott Cookware - Royal Mail Pattern

I am a collector of Myott China.  I especially like the Royal Mail pattern.  It is difficult to find reference materials for these sought-after dishes due to a devastating company fire in 1949 – resulting in the loss of precious records and files. 

My current quest is to find someone else that owns (and wants to sell) a rare large pot with a white porcelain background – adorned with the brown Royal Mail pattern. 

As fate would have it, my lovely round pot recently suffered a major fracture.   Like all old things, body parts start to get stiff and brittle.  The handle is brown in color and looks like it is a plastic of old sorts, or possibly a clay product.  It broke in three pieces, leaving the screw and hardware intact.  Now to the task of finding a replacement handle …

I have learned that wanting something and being able to find it are two different things!  Does anyone know where to find information on vintage products like this?  I have researched several websites, including eBay, etsy and other auction houses and/or websites.  I have even been to Replacements.com, but they don’t have anything listed in this pattern regarding cookware.  And that is the problem – I can find the dishes, but not the cookware.

Myott Son & Co. Ltd. operated originally from the Alexander Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, in the North of England.  They made many designs over the years, and all are quite beautiful.  It is difficult to like only one.

If any of my friends, family and viewers have any suggestions on where I should look, I would be most grateful.  It would be wonderful if other collectors might come forward and share their experiences.  It would be an asset for us all to have one place to go to for answers and such – especially since there is not that much information out there regarding this topic.

Thank you, and Happy Collecting!

I am very happy to report that the residential housing market in Tampa is starting to show improvement!  The numbers are up from last month and we are getting ready for the time of year when the market gets a bit busier.  If you are considering buying or selling a home in Tampa Bay, please email us or visit our website at www.TampaBayHomeConnection.com

The most recent MLS statistics, compiled from the Greater Tampa Area of Realtors, was published in February 2012.  These statistics are for the month of December 2011 and reflect information entered into the MLS.  They do not include private sales or new construction, unless they were entered into the MLS system.

These bars of soap were just too cute to use for bathing, so I found another use for them – as an adorable pincushion!  Not only does it smell better than my old pincushion, but the oils in the soap make the points of my pins and needles glide ever so smoothly into my fabrics and crafts. 

Did you know that there is a new Soap Factory in Tampa, where you can mix up your own unique bars – or have a party?  I really love the concept and you should check them out.  Their website is http://www.shopsoapfactory.com/.

This tip is just SEW easy