At Home With Valerie

As December draws to a close, many of us are hastily composing New Year's Resolutions.   I know I make them every year.  Mine used to be the same old clichés: Go to the gym every day, cut back on calories... And there's nothing wrong with these old resolutions.  Many of us could stand to exercise more often or get rid of some bad habits.  But there's more to life than a drive for physical improvement. That's why I've recently begun putting a new twist on my resolutions.  I've found carrying out these new resolutions so much more fulfilling that I thought it might be worth sharing some of them with others.  Here are a few of my personal favorites: Spend more quality time with your family. Make sure your loved ones know how much you love them. Share a kindness with passing strangers. Make an effort to appreciate everyone for who they are. Be slower to anger, and more thoughtful in your responses. Try ...

Christmas morning is often a busy one, especially with kids or family visiting from out of town crowding the house.   Putting together a great meal for the morning is something many people don't want to take on in the midst of gift wrapping and preparations for a big dinner as well.    Try one of these easy make-ahead ideas so that Christmas morning is relaxing and easy. Breakfast Casseroles A breakfast casserole lets you get together all of the elements of a complete breakfast into one dish and simply slip it in the oven to bake come Christmas morning.  There are a number of easy and delicious recipes from which to choose. A simple breakfast casserole can be made by layering scrambled eggs, cooked potatoes, crumbled sausage, and cheese.  Simply put it together ahead of time and refrigerate.  In the morning, it needs only to be heated up in the oven and will be ready to serve within half an hour. Overnight Cinnamon Rolls There's n...

All of us like to help out when we can. Whether it’s volunteering our time, or providing funds for those in need, the spirit of charity is vital for a healthy, caring community.  If you want to give, but don’t know where to start, here are some ways to evaluate causes that can use your help. There are those in this world who do not enjoy the comforts of home. Those who lack the fundamentals of food, shelter, and safety. During the holiday season it can be easy to overlook the less fortunate, even when they’re right here in our own communities. Like many in real estate, I support causes I believe in with donations of time and money. There is nothing quite as satisfying as giving back and knowing that what I give makes a difference in the lives of others. If you’re new to supporting causes, you may have some doubts about whether or not your donations go to the people who are most in need. There are many organizations out there which claim to support a cause, ...

As we enjoy the holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the season when family and friends gather, and the big picture in terms of how we're all expected to get along on this increasingly crowded planet of ours. The holidays often put people around the table who may not normally see one another throughout the year. Far flung relatives, cousins, in-laws, and other guests-of-guests may come from all walks of life. Their political, religious, and social viewpoints may differ widely from our own. Yet when we see them during the holidays, we do our best to tolerate differences. Ideally, we look for ways to connect rather than provoke arguments. Tolerance is not always the easiest value to embrace. Now, especially, we can find ourselves thrust into polemic arguments driven by political and media forces which command enormous attention and influence. Social media and a profound lack of face-to-face interaction makes it easier to distance ourselv...

Natural gas is a safe, effective energy source, but there are times when a leak can threaten lives and property. Share this post about spotting and protecting yourself from natural gas leaks. With the winter months upon us, it's especially important to be on the lookout for gas leaks. Heaters which may not have been used recently, lines which may have been damaged in storms... they can all be the source of gas leaks. I wanted to offer you these tips, shared by Pacific Gas & Electric in California. Did you know that an underground utility is damaged in America every eight minutes? Gas lines are among the most frequently damaged utilities. Here’s how you can spot a natural gas leak: Smell: Natural gas supply is mixed with a sulfuric "rotten egg" smell. This way, even small amounts of gas may be detected. Sound: Hissing, whistling, or "roaring" coming from underground or a gas appliance may be an indication of a gas leak. Sight: Th...

It's wonderful having friends and family at your home to share the holidays, but it can also be a lot of work.   Hosting for the holidays comes with some challenges that are best met with preparation and an extra dose of patience.  Here are a few quick tips to get your home ready for your holiday visitors. Overnight Company Whether you are expecting guests to spend the night or a surprise visit leaves you scrambling to find bedding for everyone, the simplest way to deal with it is to keep an air bed on hand.  Today's air beds are a lot more comfortable than they were in the past, and you can buy a quality raised air bed for less than a hundred dollars.  A raised air bed will keep guests off the floor and will feel more like a real bed. A deflated air bed can be stored easily and blown up in a matter of minutes, so you can save space and still have a comfortable guest bed when you need it.  Having an extra in the house comes in handy for a...

The first known use of stairs was in ancient Egypt during the building of the pyramids. Chances are, some workers back then tripped and fell on them. Some 3,000 years later, injuries on stairs are still a big problem. According to the Centre for Occupational Health & Safety, the insurance cost of injuries from falls on stairs is second only to automobile accidents! Clearly, it's a bigger problem than most people imagine. So how do you prevent trips, falls and other mishaps on stairs? The most common way is to use handrails. In fact, most trips and falls occur when people aren't able to regain their balance because they are not holding a handrail. Another source of accidents are items, such as toys, left on stairs. Some people have the bad habit of using stairs as a temporary shelf for books, magazines, mail and other items. That’s not a good idea! Always be careful when carrying heavy items on stairs. Even an overloaded laundry basket can be a hazard....

I love Christmas stories and Christmas traditions and nothing is more fascinating then how the Official White house Christmas Tree came to be. The tradition of a placing a decorated tree in the White House began in 1889 on Christmas morning during the Presidency of Benjamin Harrison.  The President's grandchildren, young Benjamin and Mary McKee, led the Harrison household into the second floor Oval Room to take a look at the first White House Christmas tree, which was lit with candles. Filled stockings hung from the mantel, and presents, candy and nuts were distributed to family and staff. President Harrison gave turkeys and gloves to his employees, and he received a silver dollar- shaped picture holder from his daughter, Mame Harrison McKee. What began as a family gathering has become a national tradition. Over the years, the White House Christmas tree has reflected both the times and the tastes of the First Family. First Lady Frances Cleveland created a ...