Courtesy of David Armstrong

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PREPPING FOR A HOME RENOVATION

Winter is a common time for homeowners to start a renovation project, which means fall is the time to start planning. After you’ve determined which room, rooms or household system you want to tackle this winter, make detailed plans that include what must change, what you’d like to change and what can stay if your budget or timeline can’t incorporate everything you desire. Consider what will make the room or your home more functional and appropriate for the way you live as opposed to only what would look the best. Once you know what your renovation goals are, it will be much easier to communicate with a contractor. Before consulting with a contractor, you should do some investigating to see what options are available in your area and what you like and don’t like so you have a better idea when telling the contractor what you are looking for. Saying you want new carpet in your living room is a different conversation than saying you want a Berber carpet. The more information and knowledge you bring to the table, the better you and your contractor will be able to plan the project. Of course, you don’t have to use a contractor – some projects can be DIY but they too require extensive research, planning and goal setting to ensure you stay within your means.

David Armstrong Broker

Synergy Realty Inc. Brokerage Each Office is Independently Owned & Operated 444 Hazeldean Road Ottawa, ON K2L 1V2

Office: 613-836-2570 | Direct: 613-867-9921 | www.armstrongteam.ca

EVEN BEFORE YOU’VE EARNED IT, TREAT YOURSELF AND YOUR CAREER WITH THE LEVEL OF RESPECT THAT YOU HOPE TO ONE DAY DESERVE.

Canadian actress known for a multitude of roles including SCTV , Schitt’s Creek and Home Alone . Catherine O’Hara

- Catherine O’Hara

SOUNDBAR BASICS Adding a soundbar to your home theatre system can really elevate your in-home viewing experience. Overall, soundbars are affordable, take up little space and are relatively easy to set up. If you've never shopped for a soundbar before, you'll be happy to know that for the most part, soundbars are connected via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth so you can pair them with really any device and use them for more than just watching movies. When you're choosing a brand, experts suggest matching the brand of your television if that's going to be the main use for it. Beyond that, you'll want to ensure the streaming services you use support the type of sound your soundbar will feature. Be aware you may have to increase your subscription level for some enhanced audio options. Finally, for the best sound quality, you may need to disable your television's internal speakers and only use the soundbar for sound.

Doing a little bit of research ahead of time so you know the basics and then consulting with experts at your local home electronics store will help you discover the best sound system for your needs.

courtesy of delish.com

GOULASH

Yields: 6 servings | Prep Time: 15 mins | Total Time: 45 mins

DIRECTIONS 1. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute more. 2. Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 6 minutes. Drain fat. 3. Add tomato paste and stir to coat, then pour in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and broth. Add Italian seasoning and paprika, then stir in macaroni. Bring to simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender, 10-15 minutes. 4. Stir in cheese until melted; season with salt and pepper, if needed. Remove from heat. Top with fresh parsley.

INGREDIENTS • 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped • 1 lb. ground beef • Kosher salt • Freshly ground black pepper • 1 Tbsp. tomato paste • 1 (15-oz.) can diced tomatoes • 1 (15-oz.) can tomato sauce • 1¼ c. low-sodium beef broth • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning • 1 tsp. paprika

• 1½ c. elbow macaroni • 1 c. shredded cheddar • Chopped fresh parsley

Replacing unoriginal or builder-grade fixtures in your home can help you feel like you're turning your house into a home that you're proud of and feel comfortable in. The majority of the following projects can be done yourself over the course of a few minutes or hours (depending on your skill and the task at hand.) If you're not up to a DIY project, you can always consult a friend or family member that is handy or hire a professional. 10 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME MORE PERSONAL

1. Upgrade your interior door handles 2. Install new showerheads 3. Replace toilet seats with soft-close ones 4. Change up the cabinet hardware

5. Invest in a smart thermostat 6. Install curved shower rods

7. Add motion sensor lights in the pantry and closets 8. Replace light bulbs so they're all the same brightness throughout the house 9. Replace light fixtures with new ones 10. Invest in fancy furnace vent covers that match your decor.

What do you call a small pepper in the fall? A little chili! Unbe-leaf-ably Funny October Jokes

Did you know that October is a heartbreaker? It's the month everyone falls for every year!

What do you call someone who imitates your fall centerpiece? A cornucopier!

Why did the tree giggle? It heard acorn-y joke!

What do you call a bear in the autumn rain? A drizzly bear!

OCTOBER THEMED WORD UNSCRAMBLE

1. NGIKSAHTVING

6. UAONDLCR

2. OLESTNEK

7. NGAEOR

3. UTCESMO

8. UUNAMT

4. DCYNA

9. NOLEHAWLE

5. UNMKPPI

10. EWAERTS

9. HALLOWEEN 10. SWEATER

7. ORANGE 8. AUTUMN

5. PUMPKIN 6. CAULDRON

3. COSTUME 4. CANDY

1. THANKSGIVING 2. SKELETON

ANSWERS:

INCORPORATING NATURE INTO YOUR FALL DECOR Taking pieces from nature, such as branches, leaves, pinecones and other greenery and incorporating them into your home decor is an inexpensive way to curate a unique piece in your home. But not just any branch or leaf will work. You'll want to find pieces that not only look good together based on their colours and textures, but also pieces that are sturdy and will last for a few weeks without wilting. After selecting your items and ensuring they aren't home to any critters you may not want in your home, it's best to clean and dry them so they'll last. Then, use your imagination or images found online to create garlands, centerpieces, wall art and other displays of fall colour.

WASHING YOUR WINTER WEAR

It's that time of year again where we all don our winter gear after having it stored away for months on end. Over time coats, gloves, scarves, hats, etc. might get musty and need a good wash before wearing. Ideally you would have washed them all before storing them, but if you didn't here are a few tips to help you out.

1. Check inside pockets before tossing coats and vests into the wash. 2. Close any zippers or fasten buttons when possible to prevent tears. 3. Use dryer balls to fluff coats filled with down or other loose filling. 4. Put scarves, touques and gloves in laundry bags prior to washing so they don't get snagged on zippers and such. 5. Use a gentle wash cycle with cold water and mild detergent. 6. Hand washing, or spot treatments, might be the best option for some more delicate items like leather.

Of course, be sure to follow the washing instructions on your garments, but in case that tag is long gone, experts suggest the following:

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