Thanksgiving Preparation Tips

Early in the week I posted different places that will be open on Thanksgiving day. For those of you who are preparing dinner at your home, I wanted to give you some helpful tips to reduce stress levels over the big meal.

1. Make desserts the day before Thanksgiving.
It’s so hard to bake everything at the same time because everything seems to bake at different temperatures. Even if you aren’t baking this easy preparation tip comes in handy. Having your pies, candy, etc already made will give you more time to work on preparing the turkey, vegetables, etc.

2. Peel potatoes the day before Thanksgiving.
This easy preparation tip may not seem to save a lot of time, but it really does. Once your potates are peeled, place them ina bowl of water and then put them in the refrigerator. When you are ready to cook your potatoes, simply drain off the water and cook them like normal.

3. Make cornbread for homemade dressing the day before Thanksgiving.
Instead of baking your cornbread while your turkey is baking, do the day before so all you have to do is mix up the ingredients and bake the dressing.

4. Cut up vegetables the day before Thanksgiving.
This also saves a lot of time. Whether you need vegetables for homemade dressing or you’re putting out a vegetable platter, this is an easy preparation tip that will make your Thanksgiving more enjoyable.

5. Thaw turkey well ahead of time.
Nothing is worse than going to fix your turkey on Thanksgiving and it’s still partially frozen. By following this easy preparation tip, this Thanksgiving, you will be able to get everything finished on time rather than having to wait longer because you turkey still isn’t done.

6. Purchase rolls rather than making them from scratch.
You may be completely against this easy preparation tip, but believe me you can buy rolls that will be just as good as homemade. There are rolls in the freezer section that you thaw and then let rise. There’s also wonderful crescent rolls found in the dairy section next to the biscuits. If you honestly cannot do this, prepare you dough in advance and freeze it before it rises. Then remove it from the freezer and allow it to thaw and rise before baking.

7. Buy desserts from a local bakery.
If you think making desserts from scratch will drive you over the edge this Thanksgiving, use this easy preparation tip. Go to a local bakery and choose desserts that you can pass off as homemade.

8. Have someone else do the little things.
Whether it’s buying precut vegetables from the produce section or buying pre-made mashed potatoes, this is an easy preparation tip that just makes sense. Why should you waste your time this Thanksgiving cutting vegetables or baking rolls?

9. Share the responsibility.
This Thanksgiving ask your friends and family to bring different dishes and then all you have to do is cook the turkey. This is an easy preparation tip that will truly allow you to have an enjoyable Thanksgiving.

10. Order a Thanksgiving dinner from the store.
In this day and time you can get wonderful Thanksgiving dinners from your local grocery store. If you aren’t comfortable with having the whole dinner catered, only buy the items you dread making the most.

I hope these easy preparation tips will help you easily get through Thanksgiving this year and many years to come.

Happy Preparing and Happy Thanksgiving!

Naasa

Naasa Sherbeini

Westfield, Fanwood, Scotch Plains Realtor Visit my website at www.TopWestfieldHomes.com or Click here to search for Westfield homes.

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Basketball Fundraiser for Westfield Neighborhood Council

The Westfield Welcome Club is hosting a Charity Basketball Game for the Westfield Neighborhood Council on

 Saturday, November 20

7:00 pm

Westfield High School Gym

(550 Dorian Rd.)

Come join for a night of basketball and entertainment with The Harlem Rockets.  For years the Harlem Rockets have been thrilling fans with their unique combination of basketball skills, zany comedy and audience participation.  Now you have the chance to experience them for yourself!

Take the opportunity to enjoy a night out with the family and have a great time to support a great cause.

Advance Tickets

  • $10 Adults (13 and over)
  • $8 Children (4 to 12)
  • Children 3 and under are FREE

Gate Tickets

  • $12 Adults
  • $10 Children

For tickets, please email WESTFIELDDREAMTEAM@YAHOO.COM.

If you are unable to attend this event but would still like to give to The Westfield Neighborhood Council, please log onto the WNC website and make a donation today.

The Westfield Neighborhood Council is a private, non-profit community based social service organization whose mission is to empower all members, children, youth and adults, of the community through quality education and direct hands-on outreach as people strive with pride to reach their full human potential.

100% of this events proceeds will go to the Westfield Neighborhood Council

Naasa

Naasa Sherbeini

Westfield, Fanwood, Scotch Plains Realtor Visit my website at www.TopWestfieldHomes.com or Click here to search for Westfield homes.

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Photos w/ Santa & Mrs. Claus

‘Tis the season!  Can you believe that it’s already that time of year again.  Turkeys and stuffing, christmas shopping and caroling?  The holiday season is quickly approaching and we don’t want you to miss out on

Photos w/ Santa & Mrs. Claus

Friday, November 26 & Saturday, November 27

1 to 7 pm

Lord & Taylor

Get a FREE 5×7 picture with a donation of 2 cans of non-perishable food for the Knights of Columbus Food Drive.  Photo and photo packages will be available immediately on site!  Sponsored by the DWC and Lord & Taylor.  Lord & Taylor is located at 609 North Avenue West.

Don’t miss out on the tree lighting ceremony at the North Avenue train station what will follow on Sunday, November 28 at 5 pm.

Here’s to the start of the busy holiday season!

Naasa

Naasa Sherbeini

Westfield, Fanwood, Scotch Plains Realtor Visit my website at www.TopWestfieldHomes.com or Click here to search for Westfield homes.

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Support the Troops Casino Night & Auction

The 117th Cavalry Association invites you to attend

Casino Night

Saturday, November 13th

7 pm

Westfield Armory

The night will benefit the Family Readiness Groups of the 102nd Cavalry Squadron of the Army National Guard.  The Family Readiness Group (FRG) is an officially command-sponsored organization of family members, volunteers and Soldiers belonging to a unit, that together provide an avenue of mutual support and assistance, and a network of communications among the family members, the chain of command and community resources.

A portion of the proceeds will also be donated to New Jersey Fallen Soldiers Foundation.  The NJ Fallen Soldiers Foundation is a non-profit corporation raising funds to create a heroic monument that will the State’s soldiers who sacrifice their lives in the cause of freedom.

Cost of the event is $50 per person and that includes beer, wine, food, $50 in gaming chips and DJ entertainment.  (Purchase Tickets)

If you are unable to attend, please consider giving a donation or becoming a sponsor.  (Don’t forget, all donations are tax-deductible!)  For more information visit Support Our Troops Casino Night.

Naasa

Naasa Sherbeini

Westfield, Fanwood, Scotch Plains Realtor Visit my website at www.TopWestfieldHomes.com or Click here to search for Westfield homes.

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2010 General Election Sample Ballots Now Available

With the 2010 General Election approaching, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announced on Wednesday, October 20 that sample ballots are now available to voters online.

2010 General Election Sample Ballot

This new service allows voters to preview the ballot that will be used in their district prior to voting day.  There are 438 voting districts in Union County so this new service will not only help voters locate their district’s voting facility, but also prepare themselves so that voting on election day will be smooth and simple.

According to Rajoppi, Union county is the first county in the state to put each voting district online so that voters in each town can preview their specific ballot.

Not sure what district you are in?  No worries!  The new system allows voters to find information based on their street address.

Voters will be receiving a sample ballot through the mail as well, but this new system will allow you to get a head start.

Make sure you are prepared for the General Election on Tuesday, November 2 by using this great new tool!

Naasa

Naasa Sherbeini

Westfield, Fanwood, Scotch Plains Realtor Visit my website at www.TopWestfieldHomes.com or Click here to search for Westfield homes.

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Four Centuries in a Weekend

Are you interested in historic restoration and the challenges involved in saving century-old buildings?  Then you should attend Union County’s:

Four Centuries in a Weekend

Saturday, October 16

10 am to 5 pm

Sunday, October 17

Noon to 5 pm

25 historic sites across the county, that normally have very limited visiting hours, will be open to the public this weekend.  From Boxwood Hall in Elizabeth, west to the Drake House in Plainfield, homes and farmhouses, some of which date back to the Revolutionary War, will welcome visitors during this annual event.

Be sure to head over to Deserted Village of Feltville/Glenside Park, one of the more popular stops for many, to witness the major historic renovation project that is underway at Masker’s Barn.

Check out more events to be held this weekend.

Copies of the Historic Sites Tour booklets containing brief descriptions of the sites and illustration maps can be obtained by contacting Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, 633 Pearl Street, Elizabeth NJ 07202.  Call 908-558-2550 for more information.

Naasa

Naasa Sherbeini
Westfield, Fanwood, Scotch Plains Realtor
Visit my website at www.TopWestfieldHomes.com or Click here to search for Westfield homes.

 

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Flu Shot Clinics in Westfield

The Westfield Regional Health Department has scheduled the following dates for seasonal Flu Inoculation Programs.  These programs are open only to residents of Fanwood, Garwood, Mountainside, New Providence, Roselle Park, Springfield, Summit and Westfield.

Proof of residency may be required.  Participants will be taken on a first come/first serve basis.

Tuesday, October 5

6 pm to 7:30 pm

Springfield Municipal Building, 100 Mountain Ave.

**No Fee for all participants**

Tuesday, October 12

6 pm to 7:30 pm

Mountainside Municipal Building, 1385 Rt. #22

**No Fee for all participants**

Tuesday, October 19

10 am to 12 pm

New Providence Senior Citizens Center, 15 E. 4th Street

**$10 fee for non-Medicare participants**

Thursday, October 21

6 pm to 7:30 pm

Fanwood Recreation Center, Forest Rd.

**$5 fee for non-Medicare participants**

Monday, October 25

6 pm to 7:30 pm

Garwood Municipal Building, 403 South Avenue

**No Fee for all participants**

Friday, October 29

10 am to 11:20 am

Summit Senior Center, 12 Chestnut Avenue

**$10 fee for non-Medicare participants**

Saturday, November 13

9 am to 11 am

Roselle Park High School, 185 W. Webster Ave.

**$10 fee for non-Medicare participants**

Eligible Medicare Part B participants must bring their card to the clinic.  The CDC recommends all individuals 6 months and older receive a seasonal influenza vaccine.

For more information, contact the Westfield Health Department at 908-789-4070.

Naasa

Naasa Sherbeini
Westfield, Fanwood, Scotch Plains Realtor
Visit my website at www.TopWestfieldHomes.com or Click here to search for Westfield homes.

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Why You Still Need a Real-Estate Agent

Many home buyers and sellers believe that they can complete a deal without the help of a professional now a days.  With all the resources available to them, like how-to guides, they believe eliminating the use of a real-estate agent will save them money.

In an article on MSN Real Estate, “5 reason you still need a real-estate agent,” Tara Struyk of Investopedia gives readers 5 reasons why one still needs a real-estate agent.

Reason 1: Not everyone can save money - Many people eliminate using a real-estate agent in order to save money.  But it is unlikely that both the buyer and seller will reap the rewards of not having to pay commissions to an agent.  If you are selling your home on your own, you are likely to price it in comparison to other homes in the area that are being sold by an agent.  This means that the seller will get to keep the percentage of the home’s sales price that might have otherwise been paid to the real-estate agent.  The buyer is still going to pay that same price, which will include the agent percentage (whether its being sold by an agent or not) and won’t save additional money.  Unless the buyer and seller agree to split the savings, they can’t both save the commission.

Reason 2: Real-estate agents can’t lie - Although this isn’t full true, licensed professionals are held to more repercussions if they do lie than a private buyer or seller who be.  When working with a licensed real-estate agent under an agency agreement, you agent will be bound by law to act in his or her client’s best interest, not their own.

Reason 3: Contract can be hard to handle - The offer-to-purchase contract is there to protect you and ensure that you are able to back out of a deal if certain conditions aren’t met.  An experienced real-estate agent deals with these contract and conditions on a daily basis and are familiar with which conditions should be used, when they can be removed safely and how to use the contract to protect you.

Reason 4: Negotiating is tricky business - Many people think that direct negotiation between buyers and sellers is more transparent and allows the parties to look after their own interest better.  This can be true assuming that both the buyer and the seller are reasonable people who are able to get along.  Having an agent will give you the freedom to negotiate through him or her.  If you don’t like something about the home, like the decor, and believe there should be a decrease in price because of the extra costs to you to re-decorate it, you can express these concerns directly to your agent who will take them back to the seller for you.  The agent can play the “bad guy” in a transaction to prevent any bad blood between a buyer and seller that can potentially kill a deal.

Reason 5: Better access / more convenience - It is the full-time job of a real-estate agent to act as a liaison between buyers and sellers.  This means he or she will have access to all other properties listed by other agents in the area and will know what needs to be done to get a deal together.

For some, it may work out to go without an agent.  But for most, it is still important to have one.  Buying or selling a house has the potential to be a headache in its own, enlist the help of a professional to take on the headache for you!

Naasa

Naasa Sherbeini
Westfield, Fanwood, Scotch Plains Realtor
Visit my website at www.TopWestfieldHomes.com or Click here to search for Westfield homes.

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Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite!

Everyone has heard someone say “Don’t let the bed bugs bite” after saying goodnight without literally meaning it.  But today, the old saying can be taken literally.

Bed bug paranoia is gripping the nation right now and homeowners everywhere are scrambling to take more precautions against the blood-sucking pests.  Hoping that you won’t actually encounter this problem, here is a list of do’s and don’ts.

  • If you suspect there are bed bugs where you sleep, don’t begin sleeping in another bed or on a sofa or at a relative’s home.  Bugs may follow you to your guest room and then it will be much harder to get rid of them.  Also, staying outside of your home means the bugs may become dormant and they may live without feeding for up to 18 months.  when you come back into your home they begin biting again.  So staying in your home during treatment and sleeping in your usual bed is the best way to kill bed bugs.
  • Do save any bed bugs you find.  Don’t part with these, you may need to show them to landlords, pest control professionals and so on.  Simply pick it up with clear packing tape, and tape it to an index card.
  • Don’t assume you are the only one being bitten.  Some people may not react to beg bug bites at all.  A bite is an allergic reaction and reactions vary from nothing to serious allergic reactions.
  • Don’t start throwing your bed and other furniture out.  Instead cover and isolate the bed.  Most furniture, including mattresses and sofas, can be treated by a Pest Control Specialist.
  • DO NOT release a fogger or bug bomb.  Do not allow your landlord to do so either.  Bug bombs / foggers do not work for bed bugs, it will spread them.
  • Don’t start bagging everything you own.  With the exception of washed and dried clothing, do not seal up everything you own in bags. This will only seal up the bugs and cause more problems.
  • Don’t assume bed bugs are only in your bed.  Bed frames and mattresses and headboards are the most likely location for bed bugs, but don’t assume they are the only place for them.  Bed bugs often hide out in sofas and other soft furniture, electrical sockets (behind plates), light fixtures, baseboards, floor crevices and other crevices in the bedroom and living room.

Visit bedbugger.com for more information.

If you encounter a bed bug situation, don’t freak out.  Although this problem wont be solved overnight, with the help from a pest control specialist you will be able to get rid of them.

Naasa

Naasa Sherbeini
Westfield, Fanwood, Scotch Plains Realtor
Visit my website at www.TopWestfieldHomes.com or Click here to search for Westfield homes.

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Fall Maintenance Guide for the Northeast

Certain home maintenance tasks should be completed each season to help prevent what could be costly repairs.  No one wants to admit it but summer is on its way out and fall is about to settle in. 

Follow this guide of fall maintenance tasks you should complete before the weather can prevent you from doing so.

  • Clean your gutters - Leaving debris in your gutters is an invitation for disaster.  With cooling temperatures, not only can the debris freeze and damage the gutters themselves, but it can also force freezing water up under your shingles and damage the roof.
  • Clean and put away lawn and garden equipment - Take a walk around the yard and give your lawn a visual inspection to find any items that may be lying around.  Garden tools, hoses and nozzles, patio furniture and accessories should be put into to storage until next year so they don’t get damages by snow and ice the next months will bring.  Also, try to drain your lawn mowers gas tank.  Leaving gas in the tank over winter may degrade it and cause it to lose some of its combustion ability.
  • Disconnect hoses and winterize lawn irrigation systems - Leaving water in hoses and pipes can cause them to freeze and bust with cooling temperatures.  If you have a lawn irrigation system, it is important to make sure all the water has drained from the system before the first freeze.  Depending on the type of system you’ve installed, you may want to acquire the help of a professional (professionals may charge between $50 and $150 to winterize an irrigation system).
  • Schedule a furnace tune-up - In early fall, schedule a furnace tune-up so that come winter your furnace is ready to go.  Be sure the technician is inspecting filters, checking the chimney exhaust and examining the blower and fuel connections (tune-ups may cost $50 to $100).
  • Close your storm windows - When the cool air becomes to cool to air the house out in the fall, be sure to close your windows properly.  It may seem like a small task but it is one that is easily forgotten.  The outer pane should be up and the inner pane down, to keep rain and other forms of precipitation out.

Information provided by Houselogic.com.

I know that not one of us is happy to see summer go, but let’s make sure we are all prepared for the seasons to come before it’s too late to do so.

Naasa

Naasa Sherbeini

Westfield, Fanwood, Scotch Plains Realtor

Visit my website at www.TopWestfieldHomes.com or Click here to search for Westfield homes.

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