SHAPE UP-Add some enhansed landscaping to increase visual appreal. Keep it simple & strive for the most impact with the least expense. Going overboard can be as detrimental as no landscaping at all.

START AT THE TOP-It's vital that a home's roof is well maintained. Not only for a better, well-kept appearance, but for the overall health of the home.

JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER- Step back and take a long look. If it looks llike ti needs fixing, replacing or repairing, it's probably a good idea to do so. A fresh coat of paint & fixing the cracks in the sidewalk can go a long way toward a more valuable home.

ALL DECKED OUT- Adding a deck to a home is consistently listed as one of the top home improvements a home owner can make for a return on investment.

WORK FROM THE OUTSIDE IN- If you are on a budget and have to choose between exterior or interior repairs in preparing to sell a property, always start with the exterior. The first impression is often the most valuable.

Have you ever watched a popular cooling show & felt something was lost in translation? Well, here is a guide for the next time you tune in to make following along a little easier.
CARPACCIO - Exteremly thin slices of raw meat or fish served as an appetizer.

CEVICHE - (also spelled seviche & cebiche)-Raw fish and/or shellfish marinated in citurs, with the acid in the juice acting as a cooking agent.

DEMI-GLACE - A rich brown meat stock that has been reduced and is then used as a base for sauces & soups.

GANACHE - A mixture of chocolate & cream used as a filling or icing for cakes & pastries.

PAMCETTA - An Italian bacon that has been cured with salt & spices but hasn't been smoked.

PANNA COTTA - A light egg custard often flavored with caramel.

POLENTA - A cornmeal porridge served soupy, firm or sometimes fried.

SEMIFREDDO - A half-frozen or chilled dessert such as an ice cream cake or ice cream sandwich.

Whether for tirvia, reviews or general movie information, look no further than these great movie-related Websites.

www.imbd.com - A vast and comprehensive movie & television information site with reviews, message boards & individual pages for actors, movie titlis & television shows.

www.rottentomatoes.com - A compilation of reviews by print, online & broadcast critics. Also contains movie news & preview videos.

www.movies.com - Extensive resource of movie news, reviews, trailers, history & other general information.

www.moviemistakes.com - Lists of movie mistakes as well as quotes & trivia. More than 250 mistakes listed for Pirates of the Caribbean alone!

www.movieweb.com - An archive of film previews, trailers & box office statists with contesrs & forums.

www.hollywood.com - Movie news & information as well as movie times & ticket information for your local theatres.

ABOUT.COM: INTERIOR DECORATING (www.interiordec.about.com)-Home interior section of the prpular expert guidance site.

DECORATING FOR LESS (www.decorating4less.com)-How to decorating projects, ideas & shopping guides.

GET DECORATING (www.getcecorating.com)-Membership site with more than 17,000 photos for interior design inspiration & decorating ideas.

HOME AND GARDEN MAKEOVER (http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com)-Tips for budget decorating including eco-friendly suggestions.

MY HOME IDEAS (www.myhomeideas.com/myhome)-Features a Design Assistant area with photos compiled from popular design magazines for inspiration.

SEE MY DESIGN (www.seemydesign.com)-Free interactive tools to help you design your rooms virtually before actually starting!

4 Bedroom with Master on Main

• 4BR/2.5BA  2 story "With Sitting Area Upstairs" - MLS® $164,900 USD

Cottage Cove, Dallas  -  This home is one of the few 4 bedroom homes in Cottage Cove.

The main floor includes the master bedroom & bath, half bath, kitchen with pantry, large breakfast area, great room and laundry room.

The second floor has a spacious sitting area, three bedrooms and a full bath.

Property information

Do you want to set a flawless table but don't know how? Setting the perfect table for your special occasions doesn't have to be intimidating.

• Setting a table can be easy if you keep it simple and stick to the basics.
• Only set the table with utensils that will be used.
• Set in order used, starting on the outside working in through the courses. Place forks on the left side of the plate and knives on the right swith spoons to their right.
• After each course, utensils previously used should be removed, paving the way for the next part of the meal.
• Dessert spoons and forks are most often provided with that course. If used in the initial place setting, place above the plate horizontally.

-If you don't have wood floors, install them. If you do have wood floors, make sure they're in good shape and polished.

-Place placards or notecards around the home detailing home improvements and upgrades.

-Freshen up rooms with a new coat of paint in neutral colors so potential buyers can more easily visualize their own decor.

-Take out unnecessary furniture, and make sure any pieces left in the room are moved away from walls. Air around furniture creates the illusion of space.

-Clean, clean and clean again. Pay special attention to bathrooms and kitchen.

-Consider hiring a professional stager to enhance the interior of the home and landscaper to make the most of curb appeal.

-Replace and all light fixtures wherever possible. Modern lighting adds overall appeal.

-Don't forget the closets. A big factor in many home purchasing decisions is closet space, so do everything you can to clear out, clean up, and organize for the best effect.

Experts say you should not spend more than 28% of your monthly income on housing. This is a good rule of thumb and you should also consider:

• Talking to a lender about getting pre-approved for a loan.
• How long will you be in the home before moving?
• Is a growing family or a maintenance free home in your future?
• Does purchasing a home provide diversification in your investment portfolio?
• How much do I have for a down payment?

SMOKE DETECTORS - To be most effective, a smoke detector should be placed on each floor of a home, with one near bedrooms to alert occupants while they sleep. Be sure to replace the batteries regularly.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS - Visit www.fireextinguisher.com for information on how to use, inspect and maintain fire extinguishers in your home or business.

HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE - Your home is most likely your largest investment. Homeowner's insurance protects your investment, and also covers liability for injuries and damage that may be caused to others.

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS - Detectors provide early warning of a buildup of this poitentially deadly, odorless, colorless, tasteless gas.

RADON TEST KITS - Discounted test kits can be purchased from the National Safety Council at www.nsc.org or by calling 1-800-S0S-RADON.

HOME SECURITY SYSTEM - Homes without a home security system are three times more likely to be burglarized. Even the appearance of having a system can reduce the risks of being robbed.

• Containers and More: Get creative with your choice of containers and go paperless. Decorative hatboxes combined with coordinating bows make beautiful - and useful gifts.
  
• Add Some Charm: Find a charm that fits the occasion to adorn the bow. Combine with a gift of a plain bracelet and add to it over the years.
  
• Mix and Match: Instead of using just one pattern of wrapping paper on a single gift, go for two or three papers that coordinate in either color or pattern, but not necessarily both.
  
• What's Old is New: Like to reuse gift bags? Even ones that have been damaged can be recycled if you cut it apart to use for wrapping paper.
  
• Just a Hint: Hint at what's inside the gift by attaching a small coordinating item to the bow. For example, use a wooden spoon on a gift of cookware or a screwdriver on a gift of do-it-yourself books.

Coffee used to be as simple as "cream or sugar?" Become a coffee-ordering expert by becoming familar with the following coffehouse language.

• Short, Tall, Grande, Venti - Cup size in order from small to extra large
• Half Caf - Half decaf and half regular coffee
• With Room - Allowing room in the cup to add milk or cream, or to prevent spilling.
• Skinny - A drink made with non-fat milk
• Shock it - Adding an ice cube to a hot drink to cool it down
• Shot in the dark - Regular coffee with a shot of espresso
• Breve - A latte made with half-and-half instead of milk
• Wet - More milk than foam
• Dry - More foam than milk
• Doppio - A double shot of espresso
• Why Bother - Decaf coffee with non-fat milk
• With wings, on wheels, with legs or on a leash - All mean ordering "to go"

A vacation shouldn't be hard work. The following can help you enjoy your time away.

•  Visualize and Pack Accordingly - Think through your planned activities and pack from head to toe.
  
• Don't Panic - Unless you are going to a remote location, there are convenience and department stores at your destination. Most essentials can be purchased if luggage is lost or you forgot something at home.
  
• Leave Work at Work - Email message alerts and ringing cell phones can put a damper on everyone's trip. Set messages to let people know you cannot be contacted and enjoy the time you've earned away from the office.
  
• Don't Over-plan - It's great to plan ahead and know what activities you'll undertake, but be flexable and willing to change plans if something interesting comes up.
  
• Give Yourself Peace of Mind - Having a friend or relative take care of pets, mail, plants and home security while you're away will do wonders for making the trip stress-free.

Mishaps happen. That's why it's important to know what steps to take in order to reduce their impact.

-CRAYON ON WALLS
Spray the marks with a car part lubricant and wipe with a soft cloth. Repeat as necessary, then wash the wall with warm water and dish soap.

-GUM IN CARPET
Apply a small amount of muscle pain treatment cream and pull out using a plastic bag once the cream has heated the gum. Dab with warm soapy water and pat dry as soon as the gum is removed.

-WAX ON TABLE CLOTH
Once cooled and set, scrape off excess with a credit card. Place one paper bag underneath and one above the cloth and run an iron over the area on medium heat. The wax will be absorbed by the paper bags.

-LIPSTICK ON CLOTHING
Use a clean, white, damp cloth to dab off as much as possible as soon as the stain is noticed, being careful not to rub. At home, dab or spray with any grease pre-treatment liquid, let stand, then wash in warm water.

Are clogs putting a drain on your time? The easiest way to fix a clog is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

 It's a strain -
Catch hair, food particles and other debris by installing a strainer or drain insert into the drain.

In hot water - 
Once a month, flush drains with large amounts of hot -if not boiling- water: Use caution to prevent injuries.

Keep it out -
Although it may be tempting, avoid intentionally putting anything besides water down the drain. Grease, oil and fat should be disposed of using alternate methods.

Push and pull -
Using a wet/dry vacuum or plunger on your drains is an effective way to clear debris before and after a clog. Make sure to cover overflow holes.

Make it a habit -
Regular maintenance as part of your normal cleaning habits is a great way to keep clogs at bay.

4 Bedroom with Master on Main

• 2,373 sq. ft., 2 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story "With Sitting Area Upstairs" - MLS® $169,900 USD

Cottage Cove, Dallas  -  This home is one of the few 4 bedroom homes in Cottage Cove.

The main floor includes the master bedroom & bath, half bath, kitchen with pantry, large breakfast area, great room and laundry room.

The second floor has a spacious sitting area, three bedrooms and a full bath.

Property information