Featured In This Issue

Special Days and Events
Home is Still Where the Heart Is
Create an outdoor patio that's fit for the cover of a magazine
Cooking Corner

Special Days and Events

September 6th – Labor Day
September 12th – Grandparents Day
September 23rd – First Day of Autumn
 

The birth flower for September is the Forget Me Not. The birth stone for September is the Sapphire.

Home is Still Where the Heart Is

An overwhelming number of homeowners are happy with their decision to purchase their home, despite a challenging housing market. According to a survey conducted by Bankrate.com, 90 percent of respondents said they had no regrets about buying their current home.

In addition, the survey revealed one positive outcome related to the current housing market – homeowners are far more knowledgeable about mortgages. Only 8 percent of homeowners didn’t know whether they have a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate loan, compared to 26 percent two years ago.

Among the small percentage who did express regret in their home purchase, one-third said they are disappointed they are unable to sell and move on and one-fifth said they couldn’t afford the mortgage payments.

The survey underscores the value homeowners place on their houses, both financially and socially.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine July 2010 with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

Create an outdoor patio that's fit for the cover of a magazine

(ARA) – As the weather gets nicer, there's nothing better than expanding your living space to the great outdoors. Luckily, it's easy and affordable to create a comfortable and chic outdoor room that's perfectly put together. Use these quick tips and inspiring ideas to transform your deck, porch or patio into one you'll be proud to show off.

Planning perfection

Simply putting furniture on a deck or patio doesn't create an inviting outdoor living area. Instead, be sure to look at the bigger picture. Start by viewing your patio as an extension of your home. As you would an interior room, be sure to incorporate a theme and color scheme into your new design.

Whether you have a lot ... or only a little room on your patio, arrange the furniture so that it is inviting for you and your guests to socialize. And, no need to buy new furniture to make your outdoor space look new. Instead, apply a fresh coat of stain or spray paint to your existing wood or metal furniture for a stylish and updated look.

Manufacturers, such as Krylon offer spray products, such as its Exterior Semi-Transparent Spray Stain and Outdoor Spaces spray paint to make it quick and easy to make over your patio. Both are available in the latest colors to complement any color scheme you choose. Best of all, they dry quickly, and provide superior protection against the outdoor elements.

Once your furniture is finished, use your revamped pieces as a focal point, along with some significant accessories. Layer color, textures and heights to give the space a pulled-together appearance. Incorporate colorful placemats and an interesting centerpiece on your table to set it apart. Place coordinating water-resistant pillows on a bench or chairs to bring the comfort of indoor living outside.

And don't forget about under your feet; by adding an outdoor area rug or mat, you'll have a cohesive and stylish space.

Plants please

One of the greatest parts of having an outdoor living area is being able to include natural elements. Just like the indoors, nothing cheers up a room like strategically placed fresh flowers. To keep your space functional and clutter-free, look for pots and planters that work with the overall layout of your space. If you have a balcony or long railing, try using flower boxes that can affix to them. Or, if you have the space for oversized pots and unique stands, simply place a few flowers in key spots to create a space that will make your neighbors green with envy.

In addition to flowers, fresh herbs can be a fragrant, beautiful and useful addition to your patio - especially if you enjoy cooking. They are extremely easy to grow and care for, so add a few decorative herb pots to spice up the look of your patio - and your summer dishes.

Extraordinary extras

Next, get cozy in your outdoor space by adding an outdoor fireplace or a fire pit. You can snuggle with that someone special, roast marshmallows with friends or curl up with a good book on a cool night. Or, if you love to lounge, install a hammock to enjoy those lazy summer days. Finally, don't forget about lighting. Stringing lights or lighting candles can make your patio seem magical at night and help create a great atmosphere when entertaining.

When updating your outdoor living space, remember to decorate like you would the indoors, for a pulled-together, chic outdoor space. And soon, by using a few of these ideas, you'll create a picture-perfect patio in no time.

For more information about any Krylon products, visit www.krylon.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Cooking Corner

Ingredients:

2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6 to 8 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream

Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.

In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Photograph courtesy of FoodNetwork.com