Courtesy of Jack Marsala March 2024

344 O’Connor Street Ottawa, ON K2P 1W1 Hallmark Realty Group Brokerage. Each Office Independently Owned and Operated “in Ottawa”

Jack Marsala Real Estate Broker 563-1155 24 hour paging thru office 613-762-1739 Jack Marsala Real Estate Broker

Metro-City Realty Ltd.,

Brokerage 344 O’Connor Street Ottawa, ON K2P 1W1 Helping Families Find Homes Since 1973 “Helping Families Find Homes Since 1973”

Volume 39 Number 03

STAGE YOUR HOME TO STAND OUT With the spring market just starting, you may be considering listing your home for sale. One way to stand out above the competition is to stage your home. This can be done even if you're still living there while you wait for it to sell. Staging is essentially arranging the furniture and decor in your home so it will be most appealing to a large number of potential buyers. Think of it as putting your home's best foot forward with the help of someone who isn't emotionally attached to the rooms and items in them. It helps create a positive first impression, which we all know is so important these days. When your home is staged, most often with the help of a professional, you are more likely to have buyers willing to pay top dollar and it often results in a quicker sale. Some home stagers work with the items you have in your home already and others will bring in their own furniture and accessories to highlight the best aspects of your home. You can consult with a few local home stagers to see what type of service will suit your needs and budget. The small investment of hiring a professional home stager should see a greater return on investment.

RASPBERRY-BANANA BREAKFAST TACOS

DIRECTIONS: 1. Whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Combine egg, milk, canola oil and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. medium heat. Lightly grease griddle. Pour batter by 1/2 cupfuls onto griddle; cook until bubbles on top begin to pop and bottoms are golden brown. Turn; cook until second side is golden brown. 2. Preheat a griddle over 3. Meanwhile, beat together cream cheese and yogurt.

INGREDIENTS: 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup whole wheat flour 3 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 large egg 1 cup 2% milk 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/3 cup cream cheese, softened 3 tablespoons vanilla yogurt

1 small banana, sliced 1 cup fresh raspberries

Spread over pancakes; top with banana and raspberries. Fold up.

Courtesy of www.tasteofhome.com

An American writer, Francis’ memoir Under the Tuscan Sun was a New York Times best seller and the inspiration for the film by the same name.

HAPPINESS? THE COLOR OF IT MUST BE SPRING GREEN. - Frances Mayes

CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer as you can't see, smell or taste it and you likely won't know it's affecting your home unless you have a carbon monoxide detector or are feeling unwell, which can end up being too late. You can purchase carbon monoxide detectors at your local hardware store or even online. Experts suggest you should install one on each level of your home and within 10 feet of bedroom doors. If you tend to sleep with your door closed, a detector inside the room is encouraged. They should also be installed near the door of a garage if it is attached to the home as vehicles emit carbon monoxide. Other sources of carbon monoxide include fireplaces, wood stoves and gas appliances to name a few. For the most part, if they are used and installed properly with adequate ventilation, you shouldn't have to worry about carbon monoxide building up. However, it's often better to err on the side of caution and install carbon monoxide detectors whenever possible and ensure proper maintenance on all sources of this harmful gas. Be sure to replace the detectors according to package instructions as well.

GARDEN BY ZONE With the mild winter seen across a lot of the country, many gardening enthusiasts are itching to start their outdoor gardens and are flocking to home garden centers to get everything they need for the upcoming season. However, when you're a beginner gardener, or new to a particular area of the country, it's important to know what can and cannot be started early indoors and then transplanted outside when the ground and weather are ideal. First you need to determine what zone you live in. Head to planthardiness.gc.ca for an interactive look up tool and maps. Once you have your zone determined, you'll be able to find what should grow nicely and what might not be the best idea to plant based on the local environment. And from there, you can research which plants can be started indoors, planted now or need to wait. Your local garden center will be a wealth of information as well as the seed packets themselves should state their ideal growing conditions.

JOKES

Q: What do you get when you cross a bunny and a leaf blower? A: A hare dryer! Q: Why did the duck cross the road? A: To prove he wasn’t a chicken! Q: What did one ant say to the other ant when they got a mouthful of honey? A: Nothing, ants can’t talk!

Q: What kind of bow can’t be tied? A: A rainbow. Q: If 10 kids try to squeeze under one umbrella, how do none of them get wet? A: Because it wasn’t raining.

Courtesy of funology.com

1. Halt, tells the time 2. Off opposite, bird home 3. Tell the dog/cat to get away, car noisemaker 4. Animal wagger, used in plumbing 5. Noah's boat, aluminum container, cuts wood

WHAT WORD? Can you guess what ONE word being described? It is just ONE word and this can get a little tricky but fun. Example: Clue: Display the animal hair "Literal" Answer: Show Fur End Answer: Chauffeur

Answers: 1. Stopwatch 2. Honest 3. Shoehorn 4. Tailpipe 5. Arkansas 6. Cartoon 7. Copycat 8. Sweepstake 9. Forefathers 10. Detail

6. Automobile, fix the piano sounds 7. Police officer, 5th letter, dog opposite 8. Clean the floor, cut of beef 9. 2+2, dads 10. 4th letter, dog wagger

Courtesy of: www.thinkablepuzzles.com

NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY LUGGAGE An important, yet often overlooked, aspect of planning a vacation is ensuring you have the correct luggage for the job. Thankfully, many retailers offer their selection of suitcases, bags and other travel cases at a discount during the lull between winter and summer travel so you can take advantage of lower prices if you shop now. But what exactly should you look for when purchasing luggage? Here are some commonly sought after items from avid travellers. Remember, depending on your method of travel (airplane, boat, car) some features may be more important than others. First, look for a suitcase with metal zippers that have interlocking teeth as they are stronger, harder to break into and more durable overall. Hint: the YKK brand is the most reliable zipper on the market and YKK will be stamped on the zipper pull. Another important exterior feature to look for is retractable handles. Ideally the handles have multiple options for length (so you can piggyback a smaller bag to a larger bag), a soft grip handle and tuck completely into the bag so they don't get damaged during transport. Interior compartments can help you organize your clothes and pack more efficiently so look for a bag with various options. Exterior pockets also come in handy as do padded pockets for laptops and other electronics. Look for luggage that is lightweight because you often have to pay baggage fees and keep your luggage under a certain weight. A lighter suitcase means more can fit inside. Finally, look for a suitcase that incorporates technology. From built in charging ports to motorized wheels or pre-installed tracking devices, some smart suitcases aim to make travel a breeze. Jack Marsala 563-1155

Jack Marsala 613-762-1739 jack@remaxottawa.com www.jackmarsala.com

BE AWARE OF TAX TIME SCAMS With the deadline to file your 2023 tax return looming (April 30 for the majority of Canadians, or June 15 for those that are self employed) the number of tax-related phone, email or internet scams is also on the rise. To protect yourself, you are encouraged to be extra vigilant when you’re contacted about anything tax related. From text messages asking you to click a link to accept your refund, to emails asking for your information to approve a transfer of funds, there are a lot of very clever and realistic looking scams circulating the country. Unfortunately, anyone is subject to these scams, but be extra cautious if you or those you know are new to filing taxes (teens and those new to working in Canada) or are elderly or not necessarily technologically savvy enough to be able to spot a scam. Scammers can be quite convincing and know which tactics work best to unnerve a potential victim. If you receive a communication from anyone this tax season with a link to click, demanding immediate payment for the funds you owe, asking for personal or financial information, proceed with caution. To learn more, head to the Canada Revenue Agency website where you can learn about common scams, how to protect yourself or even sign up for CRA scam alerts. Go to https://www.canada.ca/en/ revenue-agency/campaigns/fraud-scams.html.

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