Sunday, March 22, 2015

Easter Nests!

It's that time of year again.  Time for Easter Nests! 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 



I love making these nests for Easter.  Everyone looks forward to them and they are so easy to make!




2 cups Mini Marshmallows
1/4 cup Butter (half stick)
4 cups of Chow Mein Noodles

 Jelly Beans, M&M's or Robin's Eggs to fill


 

 --This recipe makes about 12 nests.  If you want to make more, buy two bags of Chow Mein Noodles.  You'll have plenty of Marshmallows with one bag.


In 2 quart saucepan, melt the butter and marshmallows.  Stir until smooth.  Take off of heat and immediately add chow mein noodles.  Stir until coated with marshmallow/butter mixture. 


Use a very clean 12 count cupcake pan.  Rub butter in all cups.

 

Put butter on your hands.  Spoon the coated chow mein noodles in each cup, then use your hands to form it into  little nests. 






Put the cupcake pan in freezer for an hour or so (or even overnight).  To pop each nest out, I usually use a butter knife to gently pry it out.   I use parchment paper or wax paper between the plate and the nests so they don't stick.   Fill with candy and enjoy!

 




Sometimes I find the candies on the plate and the nests have all been eaten!  They are delicious.

 

 Thank you for your visit!

Pam


 

 




I am linking to the following parties:
 
 
 

:



Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home

DIY Show Off

 

The Scoop #110 at Stone Gable

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Guest Post--How to Add Value to Your Property



Today, I am welcoming Dakea.com with a guest post.
 
 
 
How to Add Value to Your Property!
 






Do you dream of moving up the property ladder to one day be able to have the home of your dreams? If yes, then read a few simple re-design, cosmetic enhancements tips and re-decoration tricks you could do to help you to increase the value of your property.






1. Skylights - increasing the amount to light coming in to your property through skylights could help and increase the feeling of space and make the dark spaces much more pleasant and light. Cleverly arranges and positioned skylights will also help to add drama to the room and the space.
 
 
2. Conservatory - adding conservatory will provide you with extra living space as well as add extra 4-5% value to your property. Space has overtaken location as the first and foremost concern for homeowners for the first time in years, according to new research by Rated People.
3. Bathrooms - ‘wet room’ look is currently in. It is a great way to save you a lot of space if you don’t have enough space for a bath, and will also make your property to have an ultra-modern feel. If you have enough space and would like to leave everything as it is then ensure that all of the taps are not leaking and are in a good condition, replace them if necessary as there’s nothing worse than a leaky tap. Invest in the heated chrome tower rail as it will add that warm and clean final touch to your property.






 


4. Kitchens - as for many kitchen is a heart of their home, ensure that your kitchen does not look tired and old. Don’t spend a huge amount of money on a new kitchen as the new buyer might rip it off and replace it with the kitchen to his/her taste. Instead see if you could update the cupboard doors or change handles. If the floor is worn out - then replace it with tiles or stone for better durability and look. Don’t use a black floor tiles as it will become a nightmare to maintain and clean. Beige or grey colours are the easiest to maintain and they look fabulous when it comes to selling your home. If tiles or stone is not your cup of tea, you have an open plan kitchen and you have a wooden floor then - just repair the damaged boards by replacing them with the new boards. This should be relatively inexpensive.





 


5. Lofts - estate agents love properties with converted lofts. Ensure there is enough head space and it has an easy access. Spiral stairs may look good but will be a nightmare when you are trying to get your furniture up the stairs. A solid access will definitely be the best way to go about it. If there is not enough head space - another way to improve your existing space could be removing the ceilings and exposing the roof beams. This is also adds a significant amount of head space in your property and create a very stylish and modern look.
 
 
 
6. Convert - the best bay to add extra square footage to the property is to add an extension, convert the loft or a basement as it is easier to build a space that you already have than to buy a new already converted flat / home. As you know - more square footage equals money.
7. Neutral & Well Done Paintwork - this seem like a simple step, however, so many get it wrong by personalising the paint to their tastes with bright colours and also not doing the job properly. Make sure the colours you are using are neutral so that the new buyer is able to easily image what living in your property would be like. Just because you love bright colours and patterns doesn't mean prospective buyers will. Also make sure that you don’t paint layer upon layer as it is easy to see on a closer inspection poorly done job. One thing is when the buyers are looking at the brochure and my not able to see the poor quality of paint work but remember they will see a botched job when they come in. Poor paint job or DIY will not be leaving a great impression. This could make the perspective buyer question what other defects the seller have tried to cover up. Remove the old partially worn out paint and repaint the surfaces.
8. Carpets - if you have carpets then ensure they are clean and have no stains. Again neutral coloured carpets help to visually create and open up more space in the property.
9. Floors - wooden flooring is often the feature that will appeal to just about everyone. Before you invest in one have a look if you already have one underneath the carpet.
10. Garden - ensure that all of the overgrown grass is cut, prune any overgrown trees, and fill old ponds. All of this could help to improve the views of open countryside and will add to the size of an existing lawn.

 

 

11. Driveway - first impression matters and by repairing / improving your old driveway you could improve the appearance of the property as well as add to its value.
12. Planning Permission - many don’t want to take a risk with planning permissions, which typically cost around £300 and could take a lot of time to get approved or may not get approved altogether. The easiest way to ensure that it will get a better chance to being approved is to look at the neighbouring properties as precedents.






Source: Zopa - Home Improvement Index - 2014/11/04

About the Author:
Dakea is a Roof Windows and Skylights manufacturing specialist with ISO Certified world class manufacturing facilities, guaranteed capacity and high quality of craftsmanship. Dakea’s experience and know how that comes from 60 years of roof window innovation, design and manufacturing experience which ensures customer satisfaction. For more information about the brand and the products please visit their website at http://dakea.com.