Wordless Wednesday: 900 Year Old Oak Tree!

This photo was taken at the Middleton Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina. The plantation guides told us the tree is about 900 years old!! Some of the limbs are being held up and supported by cables!

Photos ©2009 Anne Rains Photography, All Rights Reserved.

I hope this information has helped you! If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Mexican Chicken Casserole

It seems like lately I've been making a variety of chicken casseroles, maybe I need to branch out more, but they're just so easy and very cost effective. Because it's just the two of us we always have leftovers, which although I'm not a huge fan of, they do make our grocery budget go farther.

This one is a Mexican Chicken Casserole by my favorite cook (you already know I'm going to say Paula Deen don't you?!). Well this one is cheesy, creamy, delicious and really quick to make--from assembly to oven to table is only about 40 minutes!

Ingredients:

• 1 10.75 oz. can cream of chicken soup
• 1 10.75 oz. can Cheddar cheese soup
• 1 10.75 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 10 oz. can Ro-Tel tomatoes
• 1 whole chicken, cooked, boned and chopped or 4 Cups leftover cooked chicken
• 1 11.5 oz. package flour tortillas
• 2 Cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, stir together the three kinds of soup and the tomatoes. Stir in the chicken.
2. In a greased 13x9 inch pan, layer the tortillas and chicken mixture, beginning and endgin with tortillas.
3. Sprinkle cheese over the casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

This delicious dish serves 8 people. I served it with a hot spinach and artichoke dip that complimented it well. Hope you enjoy this! A great one to make for the family!

Thank You for Reading!

I hope this information has helped you! If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

"If You Play with Snakes, You're Gonna Get Bit!"

On Thursday night, over 6,000 churches hosted Dave Ramsey's Town Hall for Hope live simulcast and over 1 million Americans heard what he had to say. Not familiar with Dave? He's a financial expert and a Christian, which I love because what he teaches about your finances are biblically based.

He said a lot of great things last week and he really conveyed that the economy is not as bad as what the media is trying to portray. One of the best quotes of the night was: "Credit cards are snakes. If you play with snakes, you're going to get bit." Dave doesn't even own a credit card because he doesn't feel that the credit card companies play fair. He only advises using them if you can pay them in full each month! Now, I know that for a lot of Americans credit cards are a way of life, but can you imagine if you never used a credit card again how much money you would save?! Not only would you be keeping all that interest that you would accrue to yourself, but statistics also show that Americans who pay with credit cards typically spend 26% more than Americans who don't use them. Ponder that for a little bit.

Another important thing he said was that "Failure will run you into excellence. Without fear of failure you cannot be your best." I think this is also great; we shouldn't let our fear of failure paralyze us from doing anything but instead use that fear to do our best. And if we should fail that will only make us want to pick up the pieces and try again. A lot of the wealthiest people have been millionaires only to become bankrupt and then they go out and work harder and accomplish even greater wealth than before.

Dave claimed we need to learn two things: 1. SAY NO! and 2. Take personal responsibility that you caused this mess. He says we need to learn how to say no again--we live in a society that says yes to everything and no to nothing, but that must change if we're going to get in control of our finances. We need to learn to say "yes that was my fault" instead of whining about it.

I'm also very happy to inform you that Dave believes the housing industry is going to lead us out of this recession. He stated that because of interest rates being the lowest they have been in years, it's a wonderful time to buy a home. If you have extra money he also recommends investing in property as well. And he wants everyone to quit believing the media when they talk about foreclosures running rampant in this nation; did you know that 60% of the foreclosures come from only 5 of our states. And that 50% of foreclosures are in 35 counties. This shows us that foreclosures are highly localized. So, if you can afford it, this is definitely the year to buy a home!

And finally, here's a three step action plan that we should follow:

1. Get up and TAKE ACTION! Don't just sit on your couch watching Oprah re-runs wishing you made more money or the country wasn't in this recession (This is not even the worst recession we've ever had, did you know that?) Be proactive and think creatively on ways to earn more money.

2. Don't participate in LOSER TALK! Don't believe everything you hear on the media and if the news is getting you down, just don't listen to it. Think positively and when others are talking negatively walk away or find something good to say.

3. We need to learn to give again. Americans need to learn how to be generous again with both their time and money. Money really tight? Don't worry, find ways to give back to your community--maybe help serve in a soup kitchen or volunteer to read to elderly people in a retirement home. Doing things to help others will help get your mind off your problems, put things into perspective (things could be worse) and will be a blessing to you.

Lastly, his parting words were:

HOPE comes from you, me, and God, NOT Washington!!

If you would like more information, Dave Ramsey has a whole website devoted to Town Hall for Hope. Also, he's a wonderful financial advisor and has written a great book: Total Money Makeover that I would highly recommend. He teaches people how to get out of debt and to live a debt-free lifestyle.

His motto is "Live like no one else, so one day you can LIVE like no one else."

Town Hall for Hope Website

Dave Ramsey's Website

I hope this information has helped you! If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Wordless Wednesday: Playing with Picnik

Okay…I’m breaking the rules here a little because today’s Wordless Wednesday is not exactly “wordless”. But today’s photo is one that I took into Picnik.com and added a lot of effects to…I think it turned out pretty cool. If you’ve never played with Picnik.com you should take a look at it–you can do a ton of cool things to your photos. Besides just the standard photo editing features of cropping and removing red-eye, this program also allows you to add text to your photos, enhance the colors and add borders, along with so much more.

Go ahead, try it out…you’ll be hooked

P.S. Besides playing with the colors some and adding a border, I also added the effect HDR-ish which made it really neat looking :-)

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Atlanta Highlights: Fox Theatre & Spaghetti Factory

My husband gave me the sweetest First Anniversary gift: tickets to see the movie Gone With the Wind at the Fox Theatre and dinner out! As most of you know, each anniversary has a gift that goes with it: the traditional gift is one of paper (the modern version is a clock…I’m not a huge fan of clocks for some reason so I’m glad he didn’t go with this!). So a gift of tickets to see my all-time favorite movie was just perfect!

We began the night at the Old Spaghetti Factory, which was absolutely delicious! In case you haven’t been there before, the food is great and very reasonably priced. I had the Crab Ravioli which was covered in a pesto alfredo sauce and tasted wonderful. The meal is also served with hot, fresh bread; a salad–they have the best dressing there: Pesto Ranch (can you tell I like pesto?!) and also for dessert: Spumoni, which is an Italian ice cream of three flavors: chocolate, cherry and pistachio–this eclectic combo tastes great together!


One of the reasons I love eating at this restaurant is looking at the many beautiful chandaliers they have hanging everywhere. The restaurant is full of various types of big, bold and beautiful lights such as the one above. Also, the furniture is all very antique-Victorian looking and is very neat.

If you are in the Atlanta area and would like a fun restaurant to eat at with great food, try this one out! It’s located at: 249 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta. Or you may be lucky enough to have one located near you…they have over 37 locations in 14 different states.

Next we headed over to the fabulous Fox Theatre so we could watch our movie! The Fox is an Atlanta tradition and first opened in the 1930s after being headquarters for the Shriners organization in the 1920s. This beautifully ornate building survived so much and “the Fox stands today as a fiercely protected landmark and a nationally acclaimed theater; having survived depression, mortgage foreclosure, bankruptcy, competition, television, real estate development, and above all, age.”–FoxTheatre.org

Watching this classic movie on the big screen at this amazing venue was a wonderful night out for sure! I thoroughly enjoyed the night and encourage you to look into having a night at the Fox sometime yourself. They do everything from concerts and musicals to plays and ballets–there is something for everyone.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be there next, but what I’m most looking forward to is seeing the Radio City Rockettes perform their Christmas show in November!

For tickets or more information visit their website: The Fox Theatre. They are located at: 660 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta.

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Chicken Casserole Recipe

Well, if you're like me you really enjoy some good comfort food from time to time! I've found this delicious and simple to make chicken casserole that just hits the spot. Made with lots of yummy foods, well actually why don't you just watch my video and you'll see why I like this recipe...

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 6 oz. package long-grain and wild rice, cooked according to directions
• 4 C. diced cooked chicken breast
• 2 10.75 oz. cans cream of chicken soup
• 1 C. mayonnaise
• 2 tsp. curry powder, or to taste
• 1 8 oz. package Pepperidge Farm Cornbread Dressing Mix
• 1/4 C. (1/2 stick) butter
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put the rice in a greased 2-quart casserole.
2. Layer the chicken on top of the rice.
3. Mix the soup, mayonnaise and curry powder and pour over the chicken.
4. Sprinkle the dressing mix over the casserole and dot with butter.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutues or until bubbly.

Bon Appetit!

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

First-Time Home Buyer Tip: Should I Pay Off My Car First?

I get asked this question all the time:

SHOULD I PAY OFF MY CAR BEFORE I PURCHASE A HOME?

Well, I must say, I have a pretty specific answer to this...watch my video to find out :-)

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Wordless Wednesday: Spring Has Sprung!

Photos ©2009 Anne Rains Photography, All Rights Reserved.

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Home Maintenance Tips

Well, Spring has sprung and now it's time to get rid of the weeds, trim the bushes, plant flowers and work on home maintenance projects! I don't know about you, but I especially love this time of year...although it's hectic trying to balance all the normal everyday activities and add yard work to the mix. The warm weather and the colorful flowers making their way up through the dirt makes me want to organize and clean...to me this is when the new year begins, not January 1st.

I stumbled upon some great little projects to do this month that will keep your home in good shape:

• Inspect screens (both house and vent screens to attic or crawl space) for tears and bent frames.


• Clean window screens. Lay them flat on a picnic table or a pair of sawhorses and scrub them with a soft bristle brush and a mild detergent solution. Rinse with a garden hose and allow to dry thoroughly.


• Inspect outdoor structures for deterioration --especially signs of rot. Use a small awl to probe posts, railings and window sills for soft spots. If you find any, plan to replace or repair them when the weather turns fair.


• Prepare for the outdoor cooking season by inspecting gas grills. Remove cooking grills and thoroughly clean them with soapy water and a brush with brass bristles. Remove accumulated grease from lava rocks and ceramic briquettes by turning them over and igniting the burners. Allow 10 minutes on high heat to clean the briquettes.


• Inspect garden hoses for leaks. Make temporary repairs with electrical tape. Pry out old washers and replace them. Don't leave hoses connected to outdoor spigots until the danger of frost is completely over.


• Caulk open joints, particularly around windows and doors.


• Inspect the crawl space or basement after rains for water accumulation or excessive moisture. Look for signs of water damage on the subfloor and joists beneath bathrooms, the kitchen and laundry. Find and fix leaks now or pay the price later.


• Shut off the water to the washing machine, remove the water supply hoses and examine them and the washers. Replace worn and damaged ones.


• Check fire extinguishers to make sure they are not outdated, have lost pressure or are damaged.


• Check all weatherstripping around doors and windows for wear, damage or loss of flexibility. Replace material that is no longer blocking air.


• Clean your garbage disposal. Grind two trays of ice cubes made from a mixture of one cup white vinegar to one gallon of water.

Thank You for Reading!

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!

Photos ©2009 Anne Rains Photography, All Rights Reserved.

(Project ideas came from an article on Weather.com)

Roasted Red Pepper Soup: Yummy and Healthy!

While in Crested Butte, Colorado last week I had the best roasted red pepper soup at the slope-side restaurant, 9380 Prime. It had such a great flavor and it was so smooth, it was the perfect lunch. Well, when I got home I began craving it and decided to look on the Internet for a close replica. (I thought about first calling the restaurant and trying to beg the chef for the recipe but decided to try it on my own first!) I found a great recipe from the blog, Kerala Kitchen and decided to try it out...I wasn't let down, it was delicious and tastes almost exactly like 9380 Prime's version.

You can still see the steam from the picture; really it was absolutely delicious and you must give a try.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Large Red Bell Peppers
• 2 C. canned diced tomatoes
• 2 C. chicken stock
• 1 red onion
• 5 cloves of garlic
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 Tbsp. fresh basil (I left this out and it still tasted great!)
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper (I used 1 tsp. for extra sharpness)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. heavy cream (I actually used 3 Tbsp)\
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil

WHAT TO DO:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the onion into 4 quarters. Seed the red peppers and cut lengthwise into two pieces. Brush a baking sheet with olive oil and place the red peppers skinside up. Fill the spaces with the onion pieces and the whole garlic cloves. (I recommend putting down a sheet of aluminum foil and then placing the olive oil and vegetables on top--easier clean up!!) Drizzle 1 Tbsp. olive oil on top of all the vegetables and roast for 20 minutes or until the peppers turn brown. Remove the skins of the peppers and chop into large pieces. Set aside with the onion and garlic.
2. In a large saucepan, combine the chicken stock oregano and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and add the peppers, onion and garlic. Cook for 10 minutes. Then using a hand blender (or transfer to a regular blender), puree the mixture until it's smooth and an even texture. (The lady who wrote this recipe feels the soup tastes better if it's chunky, I disagree--I like the texture to be smooth, like a bisque). Return the puree back to the saucepan (if you used a blender) and add the sugar, black pepper and salt. Cook for 2-3 minutes then remove the pot from the heat. Add heavy cream and stir in well. Garnish with basil and sour cream if you like.

I served it with a simple salad and chunks of french bread. Bon Appetit!

If you are in the market to buy or sell your home in the Bethlehem or Dacula area, I would be happy to assist you! My passion is helping people find their dream home and stepping them through this exciting journey. I serve the Walton, Barrow and Gwinnett county areas. Call or text me today!