Staging New Hampshire

We have an exciting new project we've been busy working on.  Last week we bought a "toy hauler" - a travel trailer that also carries our motorcycle inside. 

Toy haulers are  hard to find in New Hampshire.  The economy pretty much killed the market, and the trailer dealers that do still carry them have a very limited selection.  We've been searching online for a used one, and not having much luck...

We wouldn't have gone to see this one if we could have found one closer to us.  It was 1 1/2 hours away and based on the pictures online, it did not appear to be worth the trip.

 Only 10% of buyers can actually visualize...to 90% of the buyers who saw it, this trailer was not worth further inspection.  I can visualize and I only agreed to go see it because I knew it would be disgusting and that would be the end of it.

 As expected, it appeared bad... it was dated, dirty, and extremely cluttered.  But, in staging terms...

 it's perceived value was hiding it's true potential.

  It appeared to be poorly maintained, but with closer inspection...

• Inside the microwave - spotless
• Inside the refrigerator- spotless
• Bathroom- very good condition
• Air conditioning and wiring - no problems

The seller used it as a cargo trailer to transport his merchandise to flea markets.  His merchandise (term used loosely) was piled up inside and outside when he took the pictures for Craig's List.  He's lucky he got any calls at all and the few he did get...well once they saw it in person and took one look inside the door...

lets just say, the offers were not pouring in.

 This seller could have sold for a lot more money had he cleaned it out before listing it for sale.

  When a seller doesn't prepare their product for sale,

 they create an opportunity for a buyer who can visualize to get a great deal.

Coming Up:  Photos of our Toy Hauler Transformation 

Looking for a healthy, diet friendly alternative to lasagna?  This version will satisfy your craving for Italian, without adding the unwanted pounds. 

The key is losing the carbs and fat that traditional lasagna is famous for...the noodles and the cheese.

Zucchini Bake - Diet Friendly Lasagna

5 Med. Zucchini

1 Med. Onion (chopped)

1 sm pkg. Mushrooms (sliced)

Ground Turkey (20 ou pkg)

1 Can (28 ounce) Tomatoes

1 Can (6 ounce) Tomato Paste

Oregano

Salt and Pepper

3/4 Cup Shredded Mozzarella

1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan

Start by slicing the zucchini, lengthwise into thin tongues.  You should get approximately 4-5 slices per zucchini.  Place in steamer or steamer basket and cook until tender.  These will be your noodles.

While zucchini is cooking, saute onion and mushrooms in olive oil in large skillet over medium heat.  Once onions are clear and mushrooms are golden, remove from pan and set aside.

Add a little more oil to pan and cook ground turkey, breaking it up into small pieces, until fully cooked.

Return onion and mushrooms to pan and mix with turkey.

Add tomatoes (use crushed or put whole tomatoes into blender first).  Add paste and mix well.

Add oregano, salt and pepper to taste.  Simmer for 15 - 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375

Spread a little sauce on the bottom of a 9x11 casserole dish.  Place 1/3 zucchini "noodles" across bottom of pan.  Cover with meat sauce.  Sprinkle 1/3 of the mozzarella and 1/3 of the parmesan over top.

Repeat layering zucchini, sauce and cheeses for two more layers, ending with cheese on top.

Bake until cheese melts...15-20 mins.

Enjoy!!

Selling a house is one of today's top stress triggers.  With the state of today's real estate market, home sellers are faced with financial burden and overwhelming home improvement projects that weren't typical in years past.

Stress has been linked to many diseases, including heart disease.

Stress builds when sellers, faced with years of accumulation, don't have a clue where to begin, don't know which rooms should be a priority, or what improvements would yield the best return on their investment.

A consultation with a home staging professional before you list your house can save you from a consultation with a medical professional after you list your house.

 Like a coach creating a game plan, the home stager creates a plan of attack, complete with step-by-step instructions to systematically prepare the home for sale.  Professional home stagers transform the "overwhelming" into manageable.  

Whether you consider a home stager to be a real estate consultant, property stylist, organizing guru, home preparation coach, or even your own personal fairy godmother...

you should consider them the authority on the preparation and packaging  of your house for sale. 

A home staging consult will decrease stress for both the seller and their agent.

A stager's involvement, in addition to easing pressure on the seller, enables the Realtor to put all their attention on the marketing of the house.  Having the right professionals packaging and marketing your house for sale is a guaranteed way to eliminate stress. 

 Eliminating stress could save your life. 

Are you dieting?  Most people start dieting with good intentions, but set themselves up to fail.  I heard Dr. Phil discuss this concept once and I've never forgotten it.

If you really want to succeed at your diet, you have to be prepared for those moments of weakness and those times when you find yourself away from home and hungry.

You won't eat oreos if you don't have oreos in the house. 

You are far less likely to buy a candy bar or bag of chips from a vending machine if you have a "healthy" snack with you at all times.

It's all about planning ahead and being prepared.

  If you are serious about your diet or about eating healthy in general...

Remove all junk food from your house, your car, and your office...before you start.  Don't set yourself up to fail by having poor food choices within reach.

Plan ahead.  Once a week stock up on healthy food.  Clean it and package it in single serving snack bags so it can be grabbed quickly.

Never leave home without your healthy snacks.

Make your own lunch.  If you have to rely on outside sources for a healthy lunch, you are going to eat the wrong foods.

Remove temptation and set yourself up to succeed.  Your body will thank you for it!

For other tips and member support while dieting - check out the new group:

Take It Off In The Rain

Today I'm attending a baby shower for my nephew, Eric, and his wife Janelle.  They are expecting their first child next month.  As they prepare to welcome their son, Dylan, I am remembering when Eric was little and one time in particular that Eric taught us adults a thing or two about Road Rage.

My parents had (a very young) Eric in their car, and for whatever reason another driver felt the need to express himself and send a message to Dad.

As he passed by, the other driver beeped his horn and sent his message using only one finger.

Eric asked why the man did that and wanted to know what it meant.

My mother explained as best she could that the man was angry and his hand gesture was not a very nice thing to do.

They soon caught up with the "angry man" and as they were passing by Eric had a reply for him....

Eric waved to the man and yelled out:

"God bless you....and your finger too."

From the mouth's of babes!

Now I'm going to go bake some very special cup cakes for a very special couple's first baby shower...

Now that the weather is starting to cool down, it's time to heat up the oven for some homemade comfort food.  It's not as convenient as prepackaged commercial pot pies, but my chicken pot pie is much healthier for you.

This recipe calls for precooked chicken.  I usually bake chicken for dinner one night and then use the leftover for the pot pie the next night.  

 Healthy Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

2 Medium Potatoes

2 Large Carrots

1/2 Onion (chopped)

4 ounces Mushrooms (sliced)

Precooked chicken (cut into bite size pieces)

Chicken Gravy*

Single Pie Crust (I use Trader Joe's frozen pie crust - see NOTE)

Preheat oven to 425

Peel the potatoes and carrots and cut into bite size pieces.  Place in pan and put just enough water to cover them.  Cover and bring to boil.  Simmer until tender.  Drain, saving water for gravy if needed.

Saute chopped onion and sliced mushrooms in olive oil.

Place chicken as first layer in pie plate.  Top with mushrooms, onions, potatoes and carrots.

Add chicken gravy and place pie crust over top. 

Bake until crust is golden brown, approx. 25 minutes.

 *Two Options for Gravy:

  1.  Really Healthy Gravy

Add 1 1/2 Cups water to 2 TBSP of almond butter and mix to make smooth "milk".    

Mix 1 TBSP of cornstarch with a little of the almond milk to make a thin paste and then add paste to almond milk mixture. Add 2 TBSP Tamari or soy sauce.   Cook over low heat until thickened.  Season with salt and lemon juice to taste.

2.   Quick White Sauce Chicken Gravy

Over low heat, melt 2 TBSP butter.  Slowly add 2 TBSP flour, mixing until well blended.  Stir in slowly, 1 Cup chicken broth.  Add some of the water from boiling the potatoes and carrots to thin if needed.  Add salt to taste.

 NOTE:  The Trader Joe's pie crust is very good, and the ingredients are the healthiest I've seen in a commercial product.

Just how bad is that bad tattoo of yours? 

 Pinewood Medical Laser at Pinewood Medical Center in Somersworth, New Hampshire, is giving away a free tattoo removal to the winner of the

 BATTLE OF THE BAD TATTOOS CONTEST

The contest runs from September 12 to September 30.  Winners will announced the week of October 4th.

 Submit a photo of your bad tattoo today for a chance to win

The winner will receive free laser removal of his or her ugly tattoo, as many sessions as it takes.

Two runners-up will receive 2 sessions each of laser tattoo removal.

Entry photos will be posted on the Pinewood Medical Laser website 

Advice to sellers:  If you want to sell your home, you need to market it like any other product.

Your home just may be your castle and you can decorate it and live in it any way you choose. 

Your comfort and your happiness is what really matters.

BUT...

When it comes time to sell your castle home... things need to change.

The number one Rule for Sellers is:

 
It's not your HOME anymore...

It's a PRODUCT FOR SALE

Consider your house a product and market it wisely.

Every other product is marketed using strategic shelf placement in the store,

label choices based on color and graphics that are appealing to buyers,

 and advertising that grabs the public's attention. 

Search your kingdom for the best real estate agent to market your product and consult with a professional home stager to guarantee  the best showing condition.

In order to sell your house, you must grab the public's attention and appeal to them both visually and emotionally.