Saving $$ on Your Home Cooling Bill this Summer

Thanks to Richard Harrington and Jeff Vance from Gwyn Electrical, Plumbing, Heating and Cooling for providing tips on how to save money on home cooling. For more information, you can reach them at 774-1818 or on-line at www.gwyn.ws.

Here are a few of their suggestions:

• Keep your thermostat set at 78 degrees
• Change your air conditioner's filter every month. Use a decent filter (3M brand is good). A good way to remember to change the filter regularly is to do it each month right after you pay your electric bill
• Invest in a programmable, digital thermostat
• Make sure you have adequate insulation in your attic and weather stripping around doors and windows
• The new Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs are not only more energy efficient, but they also put off less heat
• Keep window blinds and shades closed during the day to help prevent the sun from warming up your house
• Having your AC ducts professionally cleaned every 3-5 years will not only help remove allergens and other particles from your home, but it can also help your AC operate more efficiently because the fan will be cleaned as well.
• Ventilation to remove heat from your attic is a great way to prevent excess heat from building up in your attic, which can your a/c to work harder and can also cause your roof tiles to wear out faster.

Our Condolances to the Chapman Family

I was so saddened to hear about the tragedy that happened yesterday in the Chapman Family. In case you haven't heard, Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter Maria, 5 years old, was hit by an SUV in her family's driveway. Here are some links and additional information from their website:

"The Chapman family is so grateful for the incredible
outpouring of love and support at this difficult time.
If you’d like to meet Maria and express your condolences click here

By mail, send to PO Box 150156 Nashville, TN 37215.

In lieu of flowers, the Chapmans request any gifts be directed to Shaohannah’s Hope."

Funeral Arrangements for Maria Sue Chapman

FRI May 23rd Visitation 5-8p

SAT May 24th Memorial service 11a

at Christ Presbyterian Church
2323 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN
(615) 373-2311

Great Getaways

Thanks to our friend GaleAdouli for coming in this morning and telling us about some great summer vacation deals. Here's where to find out more: www.greatgetawaystriad.com

Here are Gale's Suggestions:

1. Asheville...weekend getaway...Holiday Inn/Biltmore...Biltmore House free for kids ($45online for adults)
2 nights
$109 per night...go to Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, Sliding Rock...wonderful!! Total vacation $300

2. Universal/Disney.Orlando,FL...6 nights /7days at Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista!!! $333 for 4 including all
taxes!!! Includes free shuttle to Disney, kids under 12 eat free, free breakfast for everyone, refrig, microwave
in room.....
$79.99 per person/ 7 days hopper to Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure/City Walk!!!! $319.96 total for 4.
Total cost $652 for a family of 4!!!!


3. Myrtle Beach, SC Dayton House Resort....$999 total for 2 room/oceanfront with kitchen for 4

4. Williamsburg, VA /Hampton Inn ...3 nights.... with Busch Gardens passes $600 total

5. Hilton Head, SC Days Inn $610 for 4 nights /5 days total for 4 includes taxes!!
Forest Beach 1 bedroom villa $961 total
Sea Scape Villa 1 bedroom $994 total
Evian Condo at Shipyard 2 bedroom/2 bath $1252 total

6. Washington, DC 4 nights /5 days.... $879 total for hotel....with metro, museums $999 total

7. New York....... weekend getaway 2nights....ride the train....$999 total for 4 hotel/train

8. Cruise on Royal Caribbean!! 5 days to Paradise Island Bahamas....June 16-20 $465 per person including all food, entertainment, taxes, port charges....

Call Gale Adouli Great Getaways 336 778 0349....

Come and visit me this weekend at the Arbor Run Clubhouse, Ridge Gate Dr Lewisville 27023 (next to pool) from 2-5pm!!
Prizes and brochures to give away...get all your questions answered.....

A New Blog

I'm on a journey to a new, slimmer me. To follow along, head over to my new blog called, "I'm with the Band". Here's the link: http://www.tamiswiththeband.blogspot.com/

Where's My Money??

This is the stimulus payment schedule for tax returns processed by April 15, the IRS said:

Direct deposit payments

Last 2 digits of SSN/Date pmt. should be deposited to your acct.
00 - 20/May 2
21 - 75/May 9
76 - 99/May 16

Paper check:
Last 2 digits of SSN/Date check will be mailed by:
00 - 09 / May 16
10 - 18 / May 23
19 - 25 / May 30
26 - 38 /June 6
39 - 51 /June 13
52 - 63 /June 20
64 - 75 / June 27
76 - 87 / July 4
88 - 99 / July 11

Need more specific info? Visit http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=181665,00.html

Chef Jeff's Pork Tenderloin Amandine

Recipe By : Jeff Bacon CEC CCA AAC
Serving Size : 6 Preparation Time :0:15
Amount/Measure/Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
2 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin, R-T-C -- trimmed and sliced
2 each shallots
1/2 cup blanched almonds -- sliced
1 cup brown sauce – or beef bouillon
2 tablespoons clarified butter
1/2 cup dry sherry
4 tablespoons cream
1/4 cup flour
1 Dash salt
1/2 Dash black pepper
Slice trimmed tenderloin into 2 ounce medallions and pound gently until 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick.
Season pork then dust with flour
Heat pan and 1/2 of the clarified butter
Sauté pork in batches, 1 minute per side at high heat to brown then remove from pan
Remove any burnt oil from pan then add the other 1/2 of the butter
Sauté at slightly lower heat the almond slices until just beginning to brown
Quickly deglaze pan with sherry and reduce by 1/2
Add brown sauce and cream and adjust seasoning
Return pork to pan with any juices that have pooled. Simmer 2-4 minute until sauce thickens slightly.
Serve 3 medallions per serving and distribute sauce evenly

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 428 Calories; 20g Fat (45.5% calories from fat); 45g Protein; 10g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 118mg Cholesterol; 328mg Sodium.