Did you know it is illegal to use American made child car seats and booster seats? In fact, you can ONLY use a certified Canadian made seat. Our Canadian regulations are held to much higher standards than that of many other countries.

I have sponsored a number of car seat safety clinics and seen a large number of families with improperly installed car seats, but I hadn't heard about the laws surrounding where a car seat was purchased...until recently.

Even though we have teenagers and no longer have the need for car seats, I thought this would be helpful information for any new parents or parents in the process of purchasing a new seat. It is tempting with our dollar being so good against the American dollar to cross the border for a variety of items. But this is one purchase that is best being done here in Canada.  

Below is an article going into a little more detail regarding what you are faced with when purchasing an illegal car seat.

http://www.canadianparents.com/article/car-seats-and-crossborder-shopping

For a guide on buying the right car seat for your child visit the following link:

http://www.bcaaroadsafety.com/child-passenger-safety/buying-a-child-car-seat/

Before purchasing a car seat ensure it has the National Safety Mark on it!

Yesterday we had our gutters cleaned by Men in Kilts...and they really were wearing Kilts. Definitely was an interesting sight to see! :) I had to laugh their tagline is "Honest, Trustworthy, Professional, We clean, You enjoy, Just remember...No Peeking!"

One was wearing pants underneath his kilt, but the other well....I promise I didn't peak so who knows what he had on underneath. But he was wearing knee high socks. LOL

I would highly recommend them and plan to have them come back to clean my windows and siding!

http://www.meninkilts.com/

Bucket list...we all have one! Whether you've actually written it down or just have a mental list of all the things you want to accomplish in life.

Well one of mine was to take cooking classes....my wonderful husband has known this for a long time and found a place that offers them and gave me a certificate for Christmas last year to "Well Seasoned" in Langley. It's been such a busy year so far, between work and family that I hadn't booked my class until just recently.

It's not that I don't know how to cook, I've just really wanted to expand on the skills that I already had. I'm sure we've all gone through getting bored of cooking the same old things, which ususally means you try a new recipe. But for some reason it just doesn't taste as good as you hoped. Well that's why I wanted to broaden my culinary skills. :)

I found the perfect starter class  --"Knife Skills with Chef Romy Prasad". I really wasn't sure what to expect and didn't realize just how much I would enjoy the class. Even though we only made a vegetable soup, it was still incredibly delicious. Truly it was the best class to start with and I cannot wait to book my next class with Well Seasoned. 

It was also The Bettina Reid Group's 1st team building event together with myself, Kara and Anna! We all had a great time and took away so much from the class. So much so Chef Prasad shared a simple spaghetti sauce recipe with us and Anna went home, made it and fed the neighbourhood. :)

I would highly recommend Well Seasoned in Langley. Check out their website to see all the exciting cooking classes that they offer.

http://www.wellseasoned.ca/

If you have taken a cooking class that you recommend please share with us we'd love to hear about it!

With the increase in our business it has become necessary to expand the Bettina Reid Group in order for us to provide the high level service on which we pride ourselves on.

I would like to take this opportunity to officially welcome Anna Terrace to the Bettina Reid Group. Kara and I are very excited to be adding to our a team a very successful woman with some great energy and a wealth of experience in the business world. She will make a great addition to our team.

Anna will be joining our team to help us continue to ensure we offer our clients the best service possible!

We've discussed the importance of getting a home inspection a number of times. When I came across Mike Holmes article I felt it was noteworthy to share and once again stress no home is worth making an offer without at the very least having it inspected. 

Even when you are in a multiple offer situation, I think the title of his article is fitting. "Skipping inspection is like Russian roulette with your finances" Why would you take such a big risk on what is most people's largest asset!

Click the following link to read what Mike has to say and please be sure to make an inspection one of your conditions next time you purchase a home.  

Mike Holmes

The BC government has changed the liquor laws allowing movie theatres to apply for liquor licenses. Silvercity Coquitlam already has a new theatre similar to this where you can only enjoy the movie as long as you are an adult. 

To read the article from the Province click the following link: 
http://www.theprovince.com/approves+liquor+applications+movie+theatres/6443148/story.html

What do you think about being able to get a drink when you go to the movies? 

I wrote this nice long blog yesterday...then hit a button and it was gone. Don't you hate when that happens, very frustrating Needless to say I broke my streak of a blog a day except Sunday...:) Oh! well what can you do.

Let's try this again....

I was trying to write about Ashley Judd....movie star and star of the new TV show "Missing". As it aired it's 1st show last month she was of course highlighted in the media. The reason I wanted to blog about her today was because of all the criticism she had to endure in the media by many legitimate and reputable outlets. All commenting on her appearance and criticizing the work she must have had done to her face. Even showing before and after pictures.

She finally came out with a response to all the negative comments being thrown around...She shouldn't have had to defend herself but I think it was good to see her stand up for not only herself but for all women, girls, men and boys. She refutes those that have made comments about having flawless skin so she must have had work done. Her puffy face...the result of a poor job done on her face. I remember listening to a radio show and tv talk show and seeing a split screen of how she looked and other than having filled out in the face a bit, there being no real difference and thinking she still looks stunning!

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/09/ashley-judd-slaps-media-in-the-face-for-speculation-over-her-puffy-appearance.html

I am a mother of 2 teenage girls and my husband and I have always taught our girls as most parents do...that it's not how you look on the outside that's important, it's who you are on the inside. We have always been very concerned with making sure our girls had a good sense of themselves. Making sure to let them know as long as they were healthy and active, size and weight didn't matter. As most parents of girls, we have always been conscious of how easy it can be for girls to be consumed by their looks, weight and unhealthy eating habits. Dieting is never a word used in our home... A slippery slope it can be worrying about calories and eating too much or worse not enough.

How is it that a size 6-8 can be considered ---FAT?

As always women seem to be our own worst enemies and this whole issue was led predominantly by other women. When are we as women going to stand up and support each other instead of degrading each other.

I commend Ashley Judd for coming out with this statement!

We need to teach our children to be healthy, HAPPY people inside and out!

Looking for something fun to do with the little ones on Easter Sunday!

From Vancouver to the valley there's lots to do. Stanley park and Fort Langley have an exciting time planned for the whole family, as well as a few other places. Check out the following link for more details:

http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2012/03/27/vancouver-easter-events-egg-hunts-2012/#more-24799

AS well Surrey Pride Society is having their 1st ever Surrey Pride Easter Egg Hunt Sunday, April 8 from 2-4 p.m. Contact jen@surreypride.ca for address and directions.

Happy Easter to everyone! We hope you have a wonderful day wherever you are with your friends and/or family!

I've mentioned before how my husband likes to start his day getting ready for work while watching and listening to The Ellen show. I came across this today and thought it was hilarious... I couldn't count how many times we come across grossly exaggerated descriptions or inaccurate descriptions of properties. Some of the pictures that Realtors and Sellers post online amaze me, makes you wonder if they are truly trying to sell a house.

My favourite out of these ones is the home office conveniently located close to the washroom. :)

Check out Ellen's "Really Real - Real Estate listings"

http://youtu.be/7xRJhP7MG00

One of the most prominent features of any home is the windows. When they are well maintained they have a positive impact on the impression people (such as potential buyers) will have of your property. The opposite occurs, of course, when your windows look old and worn. So does that mean you should replace your windows? That depends on a number of factors. Window replacement can be an expensive renovation. Here are a few things to consider before making your decision.

Do your windows get frost or condensation build-up on the interior side? This could be a sign that the windows are not keeping out the cold as well as they should. 

Do you see water infiltration or mildew on the interior sides of any of the window sills? This means that moisture is creeping in form the outside, and you need to get those windows repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

If your windows are double-paned – (two panes of glass)- check for any signs of moisture in between the glass panes. Moisture indicates that the thermal seal is broken and at a minimum, the glass will need to be replaced.

Take a look at your windows from the outside. Is the trim rotted or cracked anywhere? Are there dark spots or any signs of rotting on the wood frames? Reapirs or replacement may be required.

Check the operation of your windows. Do they open and close easily? This is important because some windows, such as those in bedrooms, are often designed to be big enough to use as an exit in case of a fire.

Finally, are you happy with how your windows look? Do you feel that your property will look significantly better with new windows?

Although they are expensive, replacing windows has a lot of advantages. Depending on the efficiency of your current windows, replacing them could cut your energy costs by 10-20%. In addition, new windows block out more exterior noise, making your home quieter.

If you want more tips on increasing the value, and enjoyment, of your property? Give us a call today.

The Real Estate Board released the stats for home sales throughout all of the Fraser Valley in March.

To read the full news release click on the following link:

Fraser Valley Real Estate Board News release

There are 3 homes and 2 townhomes that have just come up on MLS today in #Cloverdale
3 condos, 2 townhouses and 13 houses in#South Surrey #WhiteRock
12 homes, 5 condos and 9 townhomes in #Langley!

To take a sneak peak at these homes before they hit the public side of MLS click on the following links:

Cloverdale Townhouses 

Cloverdale Houses

South Surrey/White Rock Condos and Townhomes

South Surrey/White Rock Houses

Langley Houses

Langley Condos and Townhomes

Give us a call today if you would like to view one of these great homes!