31 days of january challenge: Recipe - Buffalo Wing Sauce Dip for Chips and Crackers
- 01/30/11 02:42 AM
Recipe - Buffalo Wing Sauce Dip for Chips and Crackers (Quick and easy!) Someone made this and brought it to a family gathering last night and everyone loved it and was asking for the recipe: MIX TOGETHER: 8 oz. Pkg. of Philadelphia Cream Cheese - softened 1 lg. can (12.5 oz.) Tyson Canned Chicken, drained 1/4 cup Wing Sauce (Buffalo Wild Wing Spicy Garlic)(doesn't make the dip hot) SPREAD into a 8 in. or 9 in. ovenproof dish (or aluminum dish if you want to leave it). TOP with shredded cheddar cheese. Wait to heat it until you arrive at your destination, … (6 comments)
31 days of january challenge: File Residential Homestead Exemptions by April 30, 2011 Houston, TX
- 01/29/11 10:03 AM
File Residential Homestead Exemptions by April 30, 2011 (The information below applies specifically to Texas. Each county in Texas will have its own form.) If you owned and lived in your home on or before January 1, 2011, and do not claim a residential homestead on another property, you will probably want want to fill out an Application for Residential Homestead Exemption before April 30, 2011. This may save you money on your property taxes.
If you have filled one out for previous years and were granted the residential homestead exemption(s), you should not have to fill out another one for … (2 comments)
If you are doing your own online shopping for a home or if you live out of the area and will be purchasing without seeing it in person, here is a partial list of things to consider:
If possible, work with an agent you know and trust and who thinks along the same lines as you. If that's not possible, work with an agent recommended by someone you know … (5 comments)
31 days of january challenge: Buying a Home with a Pool, Houston, TX
- 01/27/11 02:30 PM
Buying a Home with a Pool vs. Buying a Home with a Yard Large Enough to Install a Pool Later If you are planning on buying a home with a pool in the Houston area, you may be tossing around the idea of buying a home that already has a pool vs. buying a home that has a yard large enough to install your own pool after you move in.
Usually, buying a home with pool already installed, is the better investment. It could save you $10,000 or so, maybe more. It often costs well over $25,000 to install … (7 comments)
31 days of january challenge: Tomball Restaurants Tomball, TX
- 01/25/11 06:12 PM
Tomball Restaurants: There are lots of wonderful local and family-owned Tomball restaurants and eating places that you may not know about if your aren't from the Tomball area. Below is a list of some of my favorite local restaurants. Do yourself a favor and try any one (or several) of them. I think you'll find the food is great; and the service friendly.
Of course, Tomball Restaurants include Arby’s, Burger King, Chili’s, Ci Ci’s Pizza, Church's Chicken, Dairy Queen, Denny’s, Dominoes Pizza, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Hartz Chicken, Jack in the Box, Luby’s, McDonald’s, Panda Express, Papa John’s Pizza, Pizza Hut, … (18 comments)
If you haven't already read it in the local papers, the Rib Tickler (281) 255-8119 is scheduled to be re-opened by the original owners, Ted and Sylvia, tomorrow - January 26, 2011. I, for one, can't wait! And I know a lot of other people in Tomball feel the same way. As I drove by today, I saw Rib Tickler putting up the sign. Their address is the same as it has always been, 28930 Tomball Parkway (S.H. 249) and their phone number is (281) 255-8119.
What is a Homeowner's Association? This is a question frequently asked, especially by first-time home buyers or buyer's from areas that do not have homeowner's associations. There are pro's and con's to living in an area with a homeowner's association. One of the biggest pro's is keeping property values up. If someone gets creative and wants to use their artistic talents to paint their home in multi-colors or a bright color, for example, most homeowner's associations will not allow it as it takes away from the overall attractiveness of the neighborhood. If you are that person, it is probably best … (2 comments)
31 days of january challenge: How to Make Your Own Green Cleaning Products
- 01/19/11 05:59 AM
How to Make Your Own Green Cleaning Products You can easily and inexpensively make your own green cleaners just by using items you have in the pantry. When using sponges, use cellulose sponges, which are more environmentally friendly than ones made of polyester or plastic. Caution: When using baking soda be careful not to scrub too hard on surfaces such as fine glass and fiber tubs, as it could scratch the surfaces. Inside the Refrigerator. Every three or four months place a new box of baking soda in your refrigerator. It will absorb food odors. Use Household Vinegar to clean countertops. Mix equal parts of … (12 comments)
Villages of Northpointe & Villages of Northpointe West Home Sales and Market Report
Year-End December 31, 2010
No. of Homes CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET: 27 Homes Price Range $133,900 to $270,000 Average Days on the Market: .. . . . 128 Days Average Price Per Sq. Ft.: $72.70
Villages of Northpointe is near State Highway 249 and Northpointe Blvd. in Tomball, TX and is in the highly acclaimed Tomball Independent School District (281-357-3100). It is just minutes from Houston suburbs and shopping.
Lone Star College Tomball is approximately 3 or 4 miles north on Highway 249 and Lone Star College University Park is approximately 3 or 4 miles south on Highway 249. Lone Star College has multiple locations in Houston and surrounding areas. Also, within driving distance are the University of Houston and Rice University.
The Villages … (3 comments)
31 days of january challenge: Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuit Topping
- 01/13/11 05:44 PM
Last weekend I wanted to make a Chicken Pot Pie but couldn't find a recipe that sounded just right, so I took the parts I liked best from several different recipes and ended up with the following recipe, which actually turned out great:
Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuit Topping
3 cans (10 3/4 ounces each) -- . . 1 Can Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Potato Soup, . . 1 Can of Cream of Broccoli Soup & . . 1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup 1 cup milk 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed (optional) 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper … (4 comments)
31 days of january challenge: Moving to Houston, TX - Utility Information
- 01/11/11 01:29 AM
Moving to Houston - Utility Information If you are moving to Houston and need utility information, for electricity a good place to start may be www.houstonconsumerchoice.com or www.PowertoChoose.com, which is a state sponsored website where you can compare the cost per kilowatt hour, contract terms, when the contract expires and cancellation fees of various companies. Also, it's a good idea to ask what happens at the end of the contract (if a contract is required). The number for Centerpoint Gas is 713-659-2111 or 1-800-752-8036.
If you need the number for a water district or MUD (and their phone numbers … (6 comments)
Preparing for Winter Weather: Although the Houston area doesn't have the extreme cold winter weather like a lot of other areas, we still need to do a little due diligence in preparing for winter weather. Before winter weather arrives in Houston: The first thing should always be to have your heater checked by a professional. Have the fireplace professionally cleaned. Repair any place that is leaking cold air. Leaks will mean you are loosing warm air in the winter and loosing a/c in the summer. Your savings could be substantial. Disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets. Wrap faucets. … (4 comments)
It's important to get your locks changed when you purchase a new home. You never know who had keys to the house before you purchased it. Sometimes buyers feel that they can trust the seller and don't want to go to the added expense or they just flat out forget to have the locks changed. The risk is in who the seller may have given keys to. Sellers may even forget that a neighbor has a key, a son or daughter, another relative or whoever. The point is that you only want people YOU know and trust to have … (7 comments)
"Should I hire an inspection company if I am buying a new home," is a common question that comes up repeatedly. If you are buying a new home, you would expect everything to be perfect, right? Well, that's not normally the case. As a matter of fact, I have yet to see that inspection report that indicated a perfect property. Some may come close, but I've never seen an inspection report that didn't uncover something. And it's much easier to come to agreement about … (6 comments)
All of these are quick, unbelievably easy and very good: Green Chile Dip
One of the best dips (which I just recently happened to stumble upon) is Cookwell & Company's Green Chile Stew, which I purchased from H.E.B. Grocery Store here in Houston. The two main ingredients are tomatillos and green chiles. (Don't dwell on the word "stew" -- doesn't sound very appetizing to me, but as a dip it is great and gets lots of compliments.) 1) Purchase 33 oz. jar of Green Chile Stew (Cookwell & Company if you have it … (7 comments)
A MUD District is a Municipal Utility District. I’ve always thought that it seems like an odd group of initials to refer to the source of drinking water for hundreds of suburban neighborhoods. It doesn’t sound very enticing. MUD’s provide water and sewer services to homes, usually in the suburbs, and outside the city limits. If you live in a MUD District, you are not paying the city for your water and sewer services, so … (4 comments)
This is a question that comes up from time to time, usually from a homeowner who keeps their property up, but is somewhat frustrated with how the neighborhood in general is looking.
Although emphasis is usually placed on making improvements to your own individual property, there are things that neighborhoods and subdivisions as a whole can do that will help improve subdivision values.
Buyers are more likely to give more value to the subdivisions with consistently well-kept homes with manciured yards than the neighborhoods where the well-kept homes and manicured yards are hit-and-miss.
So for … (5 comments)
31 days of january challenge: What Can an HOA Do to Improve Subdivision Values in Houston, TX?
- 01/03/11 12:59 PM
What Can an HOA Do to Improve Subdivision Values? In Houston . . .Or in Cypress . . .or in Kingwood . . .or in Spring . . .or in Tomball, TX? Emphasis is usually placed on what an individual homeowner can do to improve the value of their individual property. Somewhat overlooked is what an HOA (Homeowner's Association) can and does do to keep subdivision values up; or in some cases, what an HOA can do to improve subdivision values.
Many homeowner's associations are fairly strict. They write letters to homeowners who may have a boat parked in front of the house too long, someone's yard is overgrown and needs attention, exterior paint is obviously peeling, etc. It … (6 comments)
31 days of january challenge: Tips for Selling a Home in Houston, TX - Part 2
- 01/01/11 07:11 PM
Tips for Selling a Home in Houston, TX - Part 2 Or in Cypress . . . or in Kingwood . . . or in Spring . . . or in Tomball, TX While your home is on the market, following these tips for selling a home in Houston, TX will help you to have a successful home sale . . . . As mentioned in Tips for Selling a Home in Houston, TX - Part 1, it's important to have your home in good showing condition before buyers start going through it. It is equally important to make your home easy to show while it is on the … (4 comments)
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