Because the recipe can be bold with the Cajun Spices, a red wine nicely compliments the taste. For around $23.00, I like the 2014 Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel. Rated 93, this plump and luscious wine is jam-packed with fruit.

We've seen it on TV: potential buyers (PBs) horrified by dated bathrooms and kitchens, wall-to-wall carpeting, and floral wallpaper ("The '80s called; they want their rooms back...") "It's so old-fashioned," the PBs say, "we'll have to gut it."

There must be a lot of gutting going on: according to the most recent American Housing Survey, some two-thirds of owner-occupied U.S. homes were built before 1980, and many of those considerably earlier.

But before you start to tear down walls, consider this: today's outmoded decor is yesterday's classic design-widely loved and admired in its day.

Also consider that these homes were mostly built to last-sturdy homes that celebrated a time when "ordinary" wasn't a dirty word. Call it normcore, meaning bland and unremarkable. Or call it trendy.

Who wants bland and ordinary? Once again, we turn to millennials (the leading edge of whom are now in their mid-30s). Similar to previous generations, these market drivers are looking for something different, and just as they are dressing in normcore fashion, the millennials are turning to normcore neighborhoods and homes that reflect their own values.

They're searching for balance and normalcy, notes one real estate insider in an RISMedia article titled "Best Normcore Neighborhood to Buy an Unpretentious Home." Like the Seinfeld TV series, it's ordinariness as a lifestyle. And it's now a big trend.

So next time you're tempted to disparage wallpaper, pink and black bathrooms, and laminate countertops, think back. Remember the Formica kitchen table where you weren't afraid to do homework or spill your milk. Or the rec room with fake pine paneling and furniture you could put your feet on.

Also remember that laminate counters and linoleum floors are virtually indestructible and are eco-friendly, and that "popcorn" and wallpaper magically cover up unsightly irregularities in ceilings and walls.

So, has your perspective on "dated" houses changed maybe just a bit? www.Consumeraffairs.com  recently published a list of home warranty companies. Check: Compare Reviews for Home Warranty Companies

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Cat videos have the highest traffic ratings on the Internet. Maybe it's because watching cats de-stresses us. Whatever. But if you want to go viral, you need to remember that your cat is the star, producer, and director of the show. You're just the mildly entertaining human with a camera. To get your video, you're going to need to remember these three tips inspired by Peter Gerstenzang's How-to on catchannel.com:

1. Improvise. Your story line will be what your cat wants, not the other way around.
2. Forget linear time. See #1.
3. Shoot now, edit later. See #1 again.

Maybe cat videos go viral because getting a cat to do anything long enough to get the camera and record it is totally newsworthy!

You certainly should. Your home can sell anytime, but listing during November or even December actually puts you at an advantage; not only is your home likely to sell quickly, but it may sell at or near your listing price.




For one thing, you stand out. Your competitors may be waiting until the new year to list, making you very visible to potential buyers. And don't worry about being disturbed during the holidays; your agent can identify serious buyers and ensure they viewyour home according to your schedule.

Buyers may find you online during their initial research. Also many companies transfer employees all year. These buyers don't want to view several houses. Make it appealing online by creating a welcoming family-focused atmosphere, and yours may be their first and last visit. Luckily, nothing says "welcome" quite like the sights and sounds of the holidays.

Certain areas have more car accidents than usual. Why? Speed limits are too high, corners are too tight, and intersections are less visible. Short of reconstructing the city, how can officials reduce accidents in these areas? Often they'll opt for traffic-calming devices.

Traffic calming aims to improve the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers by slowing down or reducing car traffic, with the intent of changing driver behavior. There are many different options for controlling speeding traffic within a city. Here are a few of the more widely used:

Speed bumps: These are installed humps measuring approximately 3 to 4 inches high (8 to 10 cm) and spanning almost the entire width of a traffic lane. They are effective at slowing drivers, but unfortunately they also slow emergency vehicles. Older pedestrians may find speed bumps a tripping hazard.

Road painting: Murals painted on the street at certain dangerous intersections may slow down drivers, while at the same time beautifying the neighborhood. A form of street art, this solution is inexpensive to install, although it may not weather the test of time. Several North American cities are adopting this approach.

Chicanes and roundabouts: Chicanes are features that create extra turns in the road over short distances. A shallow S turn, for example, will cause drivers to slow down to navigate the curves. Roundabouts are circular intersections. Drivers travel around an island in the middle, yielding to other vehicles already in the intersection and slowing down in the process.

And your buyers will feel more comfortable knowing they're protected if an essential part breaks down, particularly if yours is an older home.

Sometimes called a home protection plan, a home warranty is an annual contract that provides for repair or replacement of major items, such as the heating, air-conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems. Some warranties also cover major appliances such as refrigerators, washers and dryers, and even swimming pools.

When an item that is covered by the home warranty breaks down, the warranty company will dispatch a service provider to assess the problem. If the needed repair or replacement is covered by the warranty, the provider completes the work. Best of all, the homeowner pays only a modest service call fee (typically around $60).

The cost of a home warranty varies depending on the type of property, the kind of plan (basic or extended), and the warranty company, but it can be a bargain compared to the cost of repairing or replacing an essential component out of the homeowner's own pocket.

Note that a home warranty usually doesn't cover items that have not been properly maintained, so the homeowner may have to prove regular maintenance. And it's most important to ensure the home warranty company is reputable and will pay for covered repairs without hassles.

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