Staging New Hampshire

Here's a quick and easy dairy-free recipe for making delicious Vanilla Rice Pudding.

The organic ingredients that I suggest make this pudding a much healthier dessert.

Organic Almond Non-Dairy Beverage

I use the "unsweetened" but "vanilla" is also available.

Make pudding according to package directions, using almond milk.  Add 1 1/2 Cups cooked rice to pudding after it comes to a boil and thickens.  Mix well and pour into serving dishes.

 Warm, creamy and very satisfying...you won't even know the dairy is missing! 

If you are looking for some great Greek food on the Seacoast, I have the place for you.  Currently one of my favorite restaurants in the area is Cafe Nostimo, located on Mirona Road in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

As their sign says, they are "deliciously Greek!"

The family owned restaurant was opened in January, 2008, by Dean and Nancy Zottos.

They are open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, offering Greek and American cuisine, Greek pastry, beer and wine.  They also offer catering for all occasions. 

On Wednesday night, kids eat free.

Specials are posted daily.

Portions are generous and prices are reasonable.

Greek music adds to the casual and comfortable atmosphere.

"Nostimo" means delicious in the Greek language and they seem to have chosen the right name, the food is wonderful!

Visit their website for more information and to view their full restaurant menu.

Selling your New Hampshire house isn't what it used to be...it used to be that buyers expected to make some improvements after they purchased a home.

Sellers didn't update wall colors or replace worn carpets because they knew that the buyer would prefer to make those improvements based on their own taste and style.

The real estate game has changed and today's buyers are playing with new rules.

Today's buyers don't have the time for, or interest in, home improvement.  When a buyer walks through a house and sees it needs work, they move on...and they keep on looking at houses until they find one that is move-in ready.

Most sellers aren't aware the rules to the game have changed and this means that the sellers who are in tune with today's market have a distinct advantage.

Can you still sell a house today using yesterday's rules?  Sure, not all buyers are looking for move-in ready.  There is the buyer looking for outdated, fixer-uppers that they can invest a little money in to flip for a profit.  This buyer is looking for a great deal and will only buy if the price is low enough.

There is the buyer who can see past the dated colors and worn carpet, the buyer who can see the potential...but you will have to wait a little longer to find this buyer.  Only 10%  can visualize,  90% of the people that come through your door won't see the potential.  Unfortunately, this buyer, if they do come around, will also want you to lower your price based on improvements needed.

If you want to sell in less time and for more money, know the rules of the game and play accordingly.   Home staging provides an advantage over the competition.  Play with an advantage!

How would you like it if you suddenly received a letter from your town stating that they are going to reinstate a 1985 Bylaw which calls for a $25 fee for temporary signs placed in yards within the town?  Signs would include "For Sale" real estate signs, as well as others like "yard sale" and "landscaping" signs. 

I had the TV on as I was preparing dinner and I heard some news that made me stop everything and rewind (thank goodness for DVR) to make sure I had heard right. 

The Town of Shirley, Massachusetts, has sent such a letter in an attempt to fill a massive budget gap.    Charging people $25 PER SIGN, is their proposed solution to a 1.7 million dollar deficit.

Wow, that could get mighty expensive!

They have not started enforcing this fee yet.  Sometime in May opponents will have the opportunity to speak.  I can imagine that will be one well attended meeting!

Political signs would be exempt.  Of course, they would.

WARNING:  These muffins contain healthy, beneficial ingredients your body may not recognize.  If you would like to enjoy a warm, homemade muffin without all the guilt, this recipe is for you.  If you want a healthy alternative to processed muffins which contain sugar, preservatives and thirteen-letter chemicals, read on. 

If you are looking for a more typical, very sweet, cake-like muffin...this is a recipe you should not consider. 

Oatmeal Apple Muffins

Makes 24 muffins

1/2 C + 2 TBSP  Margarine or Butter 

1 23 OU Jar Applesauce (I use unsweetened Organic)

2 Eggs

2 C Rice Milk  (you can use soy or regular milk)

2 1/2 C All Purpose Flour

1 1/2 TBSP Cinnamon

1 TBSP Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Salt (I use sea salt)

2 C Oats

3/4 C raisins

1 apple  (peeled and chopped)

 Preheat oven to 350.  Grease muffin pans.    

Cream butter and applesauce together with mixer.

Add eggs, milk, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. 

Add oats, raisins, and apple.  Mix to blend.

 Fill pans with batter.

Bake 30 - 35 minutes.

 Muffins will be very moist on inside.

Who says you can't eat muffins on a healthy diet?  Enjoy!

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With all the negative media out there on corporate executives, businesses closing, layoffs, and bailouts, it is my pleasure to give some well deserved kudos to a business that showed an amazing amount of generosity recently.

As many of you know, my husband lost his brother Bob, on February 23. 

Bob worked on the ski patrol at Heavenly Mountain Resort in So. Lake Tahoe.  

He had just finished for the day, when he suffered a heart attack on the chairlift.  

He left behind a wife, daughter and son.  

My husband and daughter flew out for the memorial service, which was being held by Heavenly Resort.  The resort told my sister-in-law that they would handle everything.

My husband could not believe the magnitude of support and heart that went into the service.  It was an amazing tribute, one that Bob would have been very proud to be part of.

The ceremony was held at dusk, at the foot of the mountain.  

Close to 500 were in attendance as Toby Keith's "An American Soldier" played on the sound system. 

Bob's wife Lynne was the first to ski down the mountain, carrying a lit torch. 

Next came a member of the ski patrol pulling Bob's daughter, Katelyn, on a sled.  Katelyn was carrying Bob's ashes.

Sixty Five members of the ski patrol, all carrying torches, and Bob's son, Casey, came down the mountain next.

They placed 58 torches (Bob's age) in a circle and then placed Bob's skis in the middle of the circle.

CLICK HERE to see short video

Immediately after the outside ceremony, a service followed inside the resort, and then everyone was invited to a buffet. (remember, 500 people!)

 My husband said the food never stopped coming and it was not just a spread of crackers/cheese and veggies, it was a very impressive menu.

The generosity doesn't end there...an announcement was made that every cent spent at the bar that evening would be donated to Lynne and her children.

With so many businesses struggling in today's economy, I am so impressed by the actions of this company.

 Thank you, Heavenly, for having such a big and generous heart and for giving Bob a sendoff that his family will never forget.