Homestyle Gossip

Whether you are looking to rent or sell your home, there are a few things you can do to ensure you receive the equivalent to or above your property value on today’s market. With sale and lease prices yo-yoing across the nation, it is important to make your home stand out from the rest.

So go ahead and get your hands dirty – you’ll appreciate these inexpensive and effective renovations when you get an instant offer on your asking price, promise!

Don’t add insult to injury: clutter and mess will make any home look smaller and less valuable. So be sure to clean and organise the spaces you use for your ad and, more importantly, ensure the house is equally clean and organised during open houses or private viewings.

Upgrade! (or at least fake it): if you can’t afford high quality renovations to your home, replace old curtains and blinds, work on the garden’s landscaping and install new light switches and outlets. Small do-it-yourself projects can make a world of difference when it comes to adding value to your property, so it will be worth the time and small investment.

Hire a professional: UK estate agents have recently started listing properties alongside floor plans. Hiring someone to create a detailed floor plan is a great way to ensure the value of your property is optimised, as you can measure the price per square foot alongside other properties of the same calibre.

Furnished? Mean it: If you plan on selling or renting your home out furnished, don’t try and get away with the oldest, smallest amount of pieces you can. Renters especially are getting pickier, so splurging on a few new items will help your home stand apart from landlords not making the same effort.

The brighter the better: Light finishing on walls and cupboards, large windows (or deceptively large ones) and higher wattage light bulbs can make a space feel larger, more clean and modern. Make sure the house gets optimal light (preferably natural) during your viewings.

For more information, follow the links below:

UKTV Homes – painting, wallpapering, renovating and more – view videos and read articles about how to spruce up your home with UKTV and Good Homes magazine

How to inexpensively increase the value of your home – a Wiki-How article reiterating some of the points made here as well as some others

MSN Money – Home buying guide

iVillage article – 5 ways to increase the value of your property

Here’s a quick list of the top 10 ways to rid your life of clutter:

1. Believe
   You need to be able to actually believe that you want to live without clutter before you can get rid of it. Think of your home as a showroom – no old newspapers, no old magazines, no dirty laundry or dishes across the kitchen. This is the first step to success in a clutter free existence.
2. Lose the sentiment
   I’m not saying that you need to stop being romantic.. but some things are better left in memories than in a couple hundred shoeboxes in a cupboard. Think ‘how often in the past year have I gotten this out and really thanked myself for keeping it?’
3. Be Charitable
   If you’re finding it hard to throw anything away, just remember how much more someone else could benefit from your items. Don’t think about it as what you’ll be missing, but think what you’ll be giving.
4. Organise
   If you’re really set on keeping everything, just keep it as organised as possible. Choose furniture and storage boxes that hide away clutter for a sleeker finish.
5. Read up on Feng Shui
   Feng Shui teaches you how to calm the mind through the space you live in. You’ll feel better and you’ll learn some great decorating techniques as well.
6. Make it bare
   Imagine the room you’re trying to un-clutter as completely bare and pick out the essential items you’d bring into it. Make a top 10 list. You’ll be surprised by how much of it really doesn’t belong there.
7. Friends!
   Bring a friend, a sister or a parent in to help you. Support is key when it comes to clothes you believe you’ll still fit into one day, or ones that you’re sure will come back in style..
8. Transfer
   It may even be as simple as transferring items from one room to the next. Do blankets and pillows really belong in the living room? How about the Patio furniture in the kitchen? Think necessity.
9. Clear as you go
   Never wait for the perfect time to un-clutter. Do it as you move through your home on a daily basis. Spring cleaning is a thing of the past.
10. Go digital
    VHS, DVDs, BluRay – formats are changing by the day. Instead of wasting space with CDs and DVDs, invest in a large hard drive and digitally download your favourite films and albums. Your kids will admire your tech-abilities.

Mother’s day is a tricky one. It’s not as personal as a birthday and not quite as festive as Christmas. For some (i.e. me) it doesn’t require a gift, as mum uses it as a test of my appreciation and love for her – simply remembering and planning a day with her is enough. However, I wanted to do something a bit different this year.

So I’ve decided that perhaps a gift was the way to go. So, for those of you who are in need of inspiration, here are some online resources for all types of mums – if you have any others feel free to add them in comments.

The beautician:

From skincare to gym gear, there are plenty of gift items to choose from for a mum who enjoys taking care of herself. Even if she doesn’t, gifts like this can boost mum’s confidence and make her dazzle in her natural beauty. We’ve recently discovered Avon’s Clinical expressional line filler and their facial filling serum – both ridiculously affordable and the perfect gift for mums worried about wrinkles. Browse the Avon Mother’s day boutique for any further inspiration.

The chef:

There’s a range of gift items available for cooking and baking, including a range of gimmicky items. Does your mum love to create her own dessert recipes? Convince her to start packaging and selling her own chocolates. Check out these gorgeous chocolate moulds, chocolate boxes and foil wrappers from the Cakes, Cookies and Crafts Shop. You can also try Cookware Online who stock cute kitchen utensils such as crumb vacuums shaped as animals, jam funnels, crème Brule kits and beautiful Jamie Oliver stainless steel cookware.

The fashionista:

There are plenty of shops with specialised mother’s day boutiques, so make sure you visit your favourite high street shops as well as their online stores for a range of special prices, gorgeous gift wrapping and easy home delivery. We love how Ted Baker has dedicated a webpage to women’s clothes and accessories and especially love this gorgeous snake skin purse and this antique inspired bow necklace.

The techie:

For business mums or mums addicted to Twitter (they’re out there, I promise you!) Wi-Fi mobile phones make a great gift. Nokia’s E75 comes equipped with an easy to use Qwerty keyboard and comes in a pretty red colour. Nokia’s online shop also lists great mobile contract deals with O2, Orange, Vodafone and T-Mobile – Browse the offical shop online for further inspiration.

Photography and digital art enthusiasts can also try a number of accessories – from graphic tablets to digital frames, there’s a range of digital photography products available online.

The worrier:

If you really want to treat a stressed out mum to something special this year, try a spa treatment. LastMinute.com will help you find a range of spa packages in your area. If you have the pennies (well, pounds… hundreds of them) to spare you could also treat your mum to a traditional Turkish spa with the renowned Likya Residence and Spa in Kalkan, South west Turkey.

The environmentalist:

A number of online and high street retailers have gone green – the concept: Any purchases you make can be transferred to points to buy even more. It’s a great way to get yourself more cautious of ethical spending and to show mum her present has gone to a worthy cause. Browse a list of eco-friendly retailers in partnership with Green Rewards and draw inspiration from their product offerings this Mother’s day.

The surprised:

We all know some one that love a good surprise. How about surprising your mum with a bedroom makeover? Learn more with the DIY decorating videos from BBC’s top interior designers. Try a modern twist on a monochrome black and white design, or bring spring to her bedside with a gorgeous and fresh floral design.

Or… you could simply get some flowers and a box of chocolates. Either way, I hope you found something worthwhile and inspiring in this list. Happy mother’s day to you all!

Like many readers of this blog, I grew up in the confines of the city.

There was no garden at our house. Well, actually, that’s not strictly true. There was a ‘back garden’, if you could call it that. Our back garden consisted of a narrow strip of patio stone which led to several feet of less than well maintained honeysuckle brush. The honeysuckle served a critical role as DMZ between our two-up two-down and the back neighbours’ version of the same.

One thing is certain, there was no space for gardening or anything else remotely related to to cultivation of food.

The year was 1984 and one day, my father had an idea. In His infinite wisdom, we, as a family, were going to bond (and grow vegetables) around a small plot of land that we would rent on the outskirts of town called an ‘allotment’. His vision for our future consisted of weekly trips not to the grocery store, but to our aforementioned parcel of land, to carry away the fruits of our collective family labour as mother nature had always intended.

I was intrigued and excited. My dad is a genius, a visionary! I have to admit though, the thought and concept of an ‘allotment’ initially confused me. Being 10 years old at the time – my only previous experience with small plots of land on the outskirts of town was attained by the attending of my grandmother’s funeral. That particular plot of land, and others of its ilk, seemed an odd place to bond and grow vegetables. But hey, whatever. All I knew is that it was definitely going was an excuse to run and muck about, so I was heavily onboard with the idea from the beginning. Others, like my mother & 15 year old sister, were less enthusiastic. Bonnie, our dog, seemed unsure as well.

I suppose, looking back, the project’s demise was predictable. Nary a single tomato was sown from that land. Like many allotment garden owners, we never got going on the potential of our land. In fact I remember only two, maybe three, visits. And I’m reasonably sure I was there every time our family went. The only real legacy from that fateful day in 1984 is the fact my own personal love affair with allotment gardening began with my father’s dream.

It grew, if you will.

For those that need a little background on this particular phenomenon, allotment gardens are a concentration in one place of a few up to several hundred land parcels that are assigned to individual families. As with our local, they are usually located on the outskirts of towns and cities.

The individual size of a parcel ranges between 200 and 400 square meters, and often the plots include a shed for tools and shelter. The individual gardeners are organised in an allotment association which leases the land from the owner who may be a public, provided that it is only used for gardening (i.e. growing vegetables, fruits and flowers), but not for residential purposes. The gardeners have to pay a small membership fee to the association, and have to abide with the corresponding constitution and by-laws.

It seems with the economy down and the continual ‘greening’ of our lifestyle, people are getting ‘back to basics’ with allotment gardens and gardening in general. The number of allotment gardens in the UK dropped from a high of 1.5 million plots in the early 1900s to a low of 245,000 plots today due to the increase in development and urban density.

Now in 2009, demand is back. In a big way. In fact there are some 100,000 names on the waiting list across the country due to space constraints. To help counteract this, a few official projects on the matter have come to the forefront in the local food/allotment movement in the UK, such as British Waterways’ (which controls 2200 miles of waterways/canals) plan to open up unused areas of waterfront properties to vegetable allotments. Even using retired canal workboats as floating gardens has been considered. Another project is the National Trust’s push to develop 1000 new allotments in the next three years on Trust Land, allowing communities to participate in the adventure of growing some of their own food.

If you want to get started, there is a plethora of information online. One great website to visit is the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, where you will be put onto your nearest local allotment area, and some of the do’s and don’ts of the craft.

You will be amazed at the results even a gardening novice can produce. If, like me, you feel the need to get back in touch with mother nature – head to some of these websites to learn more:

http://www.allotment.org.uk/ – Allotment Growing

http://www.theallotmentgarden.co.uk/ – Organic Allotment Gardening

http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/ – Federation of City Farms & Community Gardens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allotment_(gardening) – Wikipedia

http://uktv.co.uk/gardens/item/aid/503494 – UKTV Gardening Page

SOURCE:  UKTV | Wikipedia | NSALG.org

March is finally here! As the slow transition from winter to spring continues, your opportunity to take advantage of fresh in-season vegetables increases by the day. As the days get longer and the weather gets milder, the first fruits & veggies of the season, such as rhubarb and artichokes, will be finding their way to market.

Here is a small list of some of the U.K. fruits and veggies that are in-season for March:

• Artichokes

• Asparagus
• Chicory
• Chives
• Dandelion Greens
• Grapefruit
• Greens
• Horseradish
• Leeks
• Lettuce
• Oranges
• Parsnips
• Peas
• Rhubarb
• Shallots

Local seasonal foods are tastier, fresher and more nutritious. Why is that? Put simply, it is because the produce has been harvested in the last few days and has travelled only a short distance to market. This means less packaging, processing and refrigeration.

With that in mind, here are 3 great springtime recipe suggestions for you to try. For tastiest results, make sure to choose the above selections. And, use local produce whenever possible. Not only does it provide the most nutrition for you and your family, but by supporting local farmers you support the local community at-large. Have a go at these and let us know what you think.

1) Baked Leeks with Bacon and Gruyere

4 medium leeks, trimmed, soaked and rinsed
1 ounce bacon, cut into small dice
1 large egg
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup chicken broth or low sodium canned broth
salt
ground white pepper
1 ounce Gruyere cheese, grated
1 tablespoon dry bread crumbs
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

Directions:
Trim leeks about 2 inches beyond point where leaves start to darken. Trim root end, keeping base intact. Slit leek lengthwise upward through leaves, leaving base intact. By trimming only dark green parts of each half, more of leek can be saved.

Soak trimmed leeks in a sink full of cold water to loosen excess dirt, then rinse leeks in cold running water, pulling apart layers with your fingers to expose any clinging dirt.

Arrange leeks in a single layer in a steamer basket or steamer insert. Carefully place basket over pot of vigorously boiling water, cover and steam until tip of knife inserted in thickest part of leek meets no resistance, about 10 minutes for leeks 1 inch thick, about 12 minutes for leeks 1 1/4 inches thick.

Adjust oven rack to center position and heat oven to 350F. Fry bacon in small skillet over medium high heat until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain fat and set bacon aside to cool.

Whisk egg, milk, chicken stock and salt and pepper to taste in small bowl. Stir in Gruyere cheese. Arrange leeks in a single layer in baking dish. Pour egg mixture over leeks, sprinkle with bacon bits and bread crumbs.

Bake until top is browned and egg mixture is set, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.

2) Asparagus & Chicken Pasta

16 oz packet Pasta(e.g. Penne).
8 x Asparagus Sprigs.
4 x Chicken breasts, skinned and.
2 teaspoons of Olive oil.
½ teaspoon of Basil Salt and pepper.
½ cup of Parmesan cheese.
2 teaspoons of White wine.

Directions:
Cook the pasta in a pan of boiling water for about 8 minutes.
Meanwhile, trim the Asparagus, cut in to 2 inch pieces and set aside.
Cut the chicken in to strips, and fry in the oil over a medium heat. Cook for about 3 minutes.
Add the wine, cheese and seasoning to the chicken.
For the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the Asparagus pieces to the pasta.
Drain the pasta and asparagus. Toss with the chicken and serve.

3) Fettuccine with Baby Artichokes

1 (16-ounce) package uncooked fettuccine pasta
20 fresh baby artichokes, trimmed to edible stage and quartered
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup white wine
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Directions:
Salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste, add 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley.

Cook pasta according to package directions: drain and return to pan to keep warm. Prepare baby artichokes and toss in lemon juice to keep from discoloring.

In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, heat olive oil; add garlic and sauté approximately 1 minute or until aromatic. Add the artichoke hearts with the lemon juice; sauté approximately 3 minutes. Add white wine, cover, and simmer approximately 15 to 20 minutes or until the artichokes are just tender (if the liquid cooks down too soon, add some additional water). Remove from heat.

Toss the prepared pasta with the cooked baby artichokes, butter, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste; tossing to coat evenly. Place pasta onto individual serving plates, sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.