Home Theft Protection Guide

The Family Handyman’s Home Theft Protection Guide

Don’t let a burglary spoil your summer getaway this year. It’s easy to protect your home and prevent theft by taking a few simple steps to secure and reinforce service doors and windows.

To keep your abode safe, The Family Handyman provides strategies that are fast as well as cheap, and will really reinforce your home security:

·         Don't leave your remote in the car - Thieves know right where to look for your garage door opener remote—clipped to the visor in your car. To avoid giving them easy access to your garage, take the remote with you when you leave the car. The handiest way to do this is to replace your big remote with a small keychain version (sold at home centers or where you bought your garage door opener). Match the remote to the brand and year of your opener. Then follow the instructions for programming it.

 

·         Scare away thieves with motion detector lights - Replacing light fixtures with ones that have a built-in motion detector is an easy way to make your garage and house more secure. Burglars will be reluctant to jimmy open a door or window when they're working under a bright light. Or, you can add a standalone motion detector that connects to your existing lights.

 

·         Cover windows to stop prying eyes - To prevent burglars from “casing the joint,” cover glass so they can’t “window shop.” Use curtains, shades or blinds. Or apply a translucent film to the glass that obscures vision but still lets in light. Plastic film like this is available in several patterns from the window covering department of home centers as well as at full-service hardware stores and window covering retailers. It’s also available online (search for “privacy window film”). Installation is simple. Follow the instructions included with the film you purchase.

 

·         Bar the windows to prevent break-ins - If they can’t simply enter through an open door, burglars will often try to come through windows because most are relatively easy to pry open or break. Breaking a window is their last choice because of the noise. To eliminate this, make sure to lock windows if possible. If you have windows that you don’t open, screw them shut. But for the ultimate window security, add strong bars across the window so that thieves can’t get in even if they pry open the window or break the glass. Make your own window bars for a fraction of the cost of factory-made bars.

 

·         Disable the overhead door – The latch trick! When you go away on vacation, unplug the garage door opener. If you don't have an opener, padlock the latch or disable the door by putting a bolt through one of the holes in the garage door track. This will prevent someone from coming in through the overhead door while you're away.

 

·         Keep the garage door closed and use a timer - Leaving the garage door open is practically an invitation to burglars, in addition to the fact that it’s pretty much a storefront window display of your possessions to anyone driving by. But if you’re like a lot of other people and tend to forget to close the door, or have kids who forget, there’s an easy solution. Install a device that signals your garage door opener to close the door after a predetermined amount of time. You can set the amount of time that elapses before the door closes, or override the control if you want the door to remain open. One more point: When you’re leaving for work, don’t just hit the remote button to close the door and then drive away. Wait until it closes to make sure it doesn’t reopen.

 

Please visit The Family Handyman for more home theft protection tips to secure your garage and keep your home free of burglaries this winter.

Additional DIY tips, product recommendations and more can be found online at www.familyhandyman.com.

FREE Recipe from the new 101 Stovetop Suppers - Pasta a la Drini

Pasta a la Drini

This recipe was shared by Catherine Alesandrini from French Village, Missouri. She writes, "This is a great, healthy one-pot meal that's on the table in 30 minutes. It's so versatile...adjust the herbs and spices to your family's taste!

16-oz. pkg. Italian turkey sausage links

28-oz. can fire-roasted diced tomatoes

1/8 t. red pepper flakes

dried oregano and dried basil to taste

10-oz. pkg. frozen broccoli, cooked

16-oz. pkg. whole-wheat penne pasta, cooked

Place sausages on a grill pan over medium heat. Cook until browned and no longer pink in the center; remove from pan and let cool. In a large skillet over medium heat, combine tomatoes with juice and seasoning; bring to a simmer. Slice sausages into bite-size pieces and add to sauce. Add broccoli and pasta to skillet. Return to a simmer and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until heated through. Serves 4 to 6.

Win $1,000 in Brand New Bombay Company Furniture, Accents, and Decor!

The Bombay Company is giving fans a chance to win $1000 in brand new Bombay Company furniture, accents, and decor. Enter for your chance to win via the link below.

CONTEST LINKhttps://www.bombaycompany.com/spree-contest
About Bombay

Founded in 1978 as a niche specialty home goods retail concept, the Bombay Company grew to approximately 350 retail stores and nearly $600 million in annual retail sales volume. Even after closing all U.S. retail store locations in 2007, the brand continued to score at the top of national consumer surveys as one of the most recognized home brand names in the U.S.Less than 2 years later, Bombay re-emerged. Wil Hollands was brought on as President of the brand to implement a multi-channel retail strategy, re-establishing Bombay merchandise at specialty and mass retailers online and throughout the nation. "The Bombay name is still one of the most recognizable names in home furnishings." Hollands said. "Demand continues to be high for our products because of the unique and unexpected twists we design into classic pieces, and the fact this is a true lifestyle brand."

In September 2012, Bombay unveiled a new e-commerce website at bombaycompany.com. The new site offers a range of Bombay’s signature pieces including furniture, accents and decor, gifts, textiles, seasonal and holiday items. The site features more than 450+ pieces, which range in price from $20 for accessories to $1,500 for investment furniture products
Connect with Bombay

www.bombaycompany.comwww.facebook.com/bombaycompany
www.twitter.com/bombay_company
www.pinterest.com/bombaycompany
www.youtube.com/bombaycompanyus

Knowing When It's Time To Let Someone Else Make The Pies Is Important

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Mrs. Smith's for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am a woman who knows her weaknesses - in the kitchen anyway. I can make crepes like nobody's business, but ask me to make their clunky cousin, the pancake? Forget it. I make the best pizza dough ever, but pie crust? Nope.

Fortunately there are solutions for my problem. If I have fresh fruit and if I find myself in a position that requires me to bake a pie, I just use refrigerated crust. Sometimes though {take this year of horrible cherry, apple and peach harvest for example}, I would just buy a canned filling, a refrigerated crust, and make a pie from that.

Now what is the point of that? Is that even home made anymore? I think not.  And when we get into the whole deep dish pie category - I don't even own a deep dish.  I am OK with that, because you know how often I need to make a deep dish pie? Approximately once a year.  Letting a deep dish pie pan hang out in my already crowded kitchen does not make sense for an annual occasion.

Let's look at cherries, for example.  President's Day is coming up and there will be a mad dash  from people like me who are overly thematic for cherry related recipes on account of the cherry tree that George Washington did not lie about chopping down. Or something.  

One delicious, easy option would be to make the Cherry Pie with Butter Fudge Sauce from Mrs. Smith's Signature Deep Dish pies. 

The fudge sauce just sits politely on the side to satisfy the folks with such cravings; but doesn't have to be spread over the entire pie by any means.

Anything with the word "Dutch" is bound to be a hit in West Michigan, so I would be remiss if I did not bring the Deep Dish Dutch Apple Pie With Carmel Sauce to your attention.  This thing looks ridiculously delicious.

If you are one of those amazing pie crust makers, I tip my hat to you.  If you are not, come over and sit by me.  We'll eat some of these pies instead.

Follow Mrs. Smith's on Facebook and Pinterest for more pie-related ideas.

Mouthwatering Vegetarian Recipes for a Healthy and Happy Holiday - Baked Potato Latkes

 

Baked Potato Latkes**

No holiday meal would be complete without latkes, or potato pancakes. Of Eastern European origin and traditionally made with eggs, we use ground flax seeds to hold it all together.  There are many variations possible.

Serve with Vegan Sour cream or apple sauce.

Ingredients:

1 large russet potato, peeled and grated (2 cups)

1/4 teaspoon minced yellow onion

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon white spelt flour

1 tablespoon ground flax seeds mixed with 3 tablespoons water

3/4 teaspoon sea salt

A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, optional

1/4 teaspoon paprika, optional, try smoked

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place all of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.  You can speed this process up by using the grater attachment on a food processor for the potatoes.

2. Scoop approximately 1/4 cup of the mixture for each latke on to a very well-oiled baking sheet. Flatten to approximately 1/4-inch thick. Bake for 8 minutes.

3. Flip the pancakes and bake, until golden brown, approximately 8 minutes before serving.

Makes 8 large Latkes

Variations - So many are possible!

Make smaller latkes by using 2 tablespoons, instead of 1/4 cup of the batter in each pancake.

Replace 1 cup grated potato with grated sweet potato or yam.

Add 1 tablespoon of minced fresh dill, parsley, or basil.

Add 2 tablespoons finely chopped green onion.

Add 1 clove pressed or minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon seeded and diced chile pepper.

Add 1/2 cup peeled and grated parsnip or carrot.

Create Italian latkes by adding 1 tablespoon Italian Spice Mix 

Go Mexican by adding 1 tablespoon minced cilantro and 1 teaspoon each of chile powder and cumin.

Add 1/2 cup grated vegan cheese for an over the top latke experience.

For a gluten-free version replace the spelt flour with brown rice flour.

** Recipe excerpted from Taste of Europe.

Holiday Giving

It is not surprise that the Tri-State area was hit hard this year.  Hurricane Sandy has taken people’s homes, small businesses and loved ones.  And not just the east coast is struggling.  There are communities and charities all over the US that looking for help.  As the holiday season quickly approaches are you sticking to your normal holiday party plans?  If so, why not consider inviting your guests to make some type of donation or set up a drive at you festivity for the charity of your choice.

“There are so many charitable organizations in need, especially around the holidays,” states Brett Galley, the Director of Events at Hollywood Pop Gallery (www.hollywoodpop.com), an event/party planning company based in NYC.

Here are some of Brett’s easy ways to get your guests into the giving spirit around the holidays:

·         Tell Your Guests Beforehand: being my mentioning the charity or donation in the party invitation so that guests are aware of the idea, who the organization is and how they can help. 
·         Easy for Everyone: So you don’t make your guests are able to contribute on whatever level they can, create a general area of where the donated items will be gathered – such as toys, canned foods or event coats.
·         Build Awareness: Provide some signage and pamphlets at the event about the charity you are supporting.  This brings awareness to your guest and provides them with more information on how they can help this charity in the future.  This might also inspire them to also do something for this charity in the future
·         Do Them A Favor: It is also nice to give your guests something that represents the charity or keeps the charity on their mind.  Maybe it is something with their logo or their symbol, but this little token is a nice gesture to show how much you appreciate them participating in your cause!
·         Thank You: Like with all gift giving events, a thank you goes a long way.  Especially, if this party is something you hope to do annually, then it is a wise idea to properly thank the supporters with a hand written note. 
 

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