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Marinated Grilled Shrimp

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup tomato sauce
  • 2 tbs red wine vinegar
  • 2 tbs chopped fresh basil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 lbs fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • skewers, soaked
  1. In a large bowl, stir together the garlic, olive oil, tomato sauce and red wine vinegar. Season with basil, salt and cayenne pepper. Add shrimp to the bowl and stir until evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for 30 mins to 1 hour, stirring once or twice.
  2. Preheat grill for medium heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing once near the tail and once near the head. Discard marinade.
  3. Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp on preheated grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until opaque.

 

while on vacation…

Planning a summer trip? Don’t leave your empty home vulnerable to intruders. Take these extra steps to keep your home safe:

  1. Don’t break the pattern. Disrupting your daily routines alerts burglars you’re away. Maintain typical patterns by investing in light timers, hiring a lawn service or arranging a house sitter.
  2. Stop! Put a temporary stop on your mail and newspaper deliveries. The hold-mail service is free and you can make the request online.
  3. Burglars “like” social media too. Posting your whereabouts on social media tells the public your place is empty and vulnerable. Wait until your return before posting vacation photos.
  4. Shhh… Remember to turn off your alarm clock and turn down the ringer on your house phone before you leave. Audible alerts like continuously beeping alarm clocks and ringing phones can draw attention to your absence.
  5. Neighborly love. Tell a neighbor when you leave town so they can keep an eye on your property and put up your garbage bins. If you’re good friends, ask if they will occasionally park in your driveway or rotate the cars parked in front of your house. Don’t forget to return the favor!
  6. Lock up and disconnect. Lock all windows and doors. Be sure all external doors have deadbolts and place metal or wooden rods in sliding door tracks so they can’t be forced open. Disconnect the power to your garage door so it can’t be opened by a universal opener.
  7. Global Positioning Savvy. A car left in long term parking with a GPS on the dash is an advertisement that your house is unguarded — and you’re providing a map to it! Once you get to the airport, hide your GPS, lock the keyboard or set “Home” to a local business and not your empty home.

Have a great trip! If you find your getaways are frequent, maybe it’s time for a move to a more permanent paradise.  Give me a call if you’re thinking about listing your house!

 

An easy, breezy summer move

Plan ahead

  • Shop moving companies at least a month before you move. Use a packing calculator to determine how many boxes and supplies you’ll need.
  • Sort your belongings into things to be tossed, recycled or given away, things to be packed ahead of time, and things to keep handy until moving day.
  • Make childcare and/or petcare arrangements for the day of the move. This will keep kids and pets safe, happy and occupied while you’re busy moving.

Stay cool

  • Wear light, close-fitting clothing to stay cool and avoid getting snagged on obstacles.
  • Wear comfortable, close-toed shoes – sandals can trip you up on stairs and expose your feet.
  • Drink plenty of water, and avoid sugary drinks that speed dehydration.
  • Take lots of breaks! Stop for water and a snack in the shade every hour or so.

Protect your belongings

  • Take heat-sensitive electronics, house plants, small pets, candles and medicines with you in an air-conditioned car.
  • Pack and load basic kitchen and bathroom items last. Label theses boxes “Open First.” Chances are you’ll need them before you’re completely unpacked.

Recruit help

  • If you’ve hired movers, offer them cold water and provide somewhere for them to take periodic breaks.
  • If you haven’t finished perishable foods before your move, having a barbeque for friends and family is a great way to get rid of what you can’t take with you. It might also make it easier to convince them to help you out on the big day!

Now that you’re ready to settle into your new home, offer a helping hand to friends looking to move. Tell them to call me to make their home search easy!

 

Maintenance Tip

Need to cool your home? Consider installing a cost-effective whole house fan. Whole house fans are an alternative type of home cooling unit that also replaces the air in the home every three minutes. They come in two main construction models: belt-driven, and direct-driven. Direct-driven fans are cheaper, but tend to be noisier than belt-driven fans.

Q: How does it work?

A: Simply open up a few windows and switch the fan on! The fan draws in cool air from outside and moves it through your home to create a breeze. Hot air in the home gets pushed up into the attic where it is ventilated. An additional attic fan can be paired with the whole house fan to push hot air out of the attic more effectively.

Q: Why should I add a whole house fan?

A: A whole house fan can be paired with your air conditioner to reduce your monthly cooling cost. It won’t replace A/C on those sweltering summer days. It will, however, work very efficiently to get cool air from the outside into your house. The added aeration will freshen up your home by forcing out odors, indoor pollution and allergens.