Wake Forest, NC

Wow, what a crazy weather week in Wake Forest NC! While we had incredibly beautiful snow last week it became quite a hassle the rest of the week. Kids didn't have school Monday - Wednesday and now they will have to make up several of the days on Saturdays! My neighborhood was FULL of kids sledding and having snowball fights and there were a few injuries - my son included. My son, Liam, decided to find the steepest driveway and go rogue.......he hit a bump and ended up in the trees. After 4 visits with an Ophthalmologist we think he will continue to get his sight back little by little with minimal long-term damage - it has been very scary but not enough to keep him from basketball! He played in his game last night and at one point when the coach was getting him in the game where Liam had to look to the left Liam said, "Hey, that's my bad eye!" to which the coach just responded "Well, use your GOOD eye!" Way too funny!

Many of the local restaurants and business had abbreviated hours this past week as well due to the weather but as the week is coming to a close things seem to be getting back to normal. So, with that said, here is a peek at the upcoming week's schedule! It's going to be a fantastic week with so much going on! Don't forget the Valentine's Day Dance, Margaritas and Mambo, Art After Hours, and so much more.....

I'll see you out and about this week in Wake Forest NC and remember, it's just doesn't get any better than Life in Wake Forest NC!

Take Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS) Club Meeting - Special Meeting: Managing Stress
Monday, Feb. 8; 9:30 am weigh in and 10:10 am meeting
St. John's Episcopal Church, 830 Durham Rd., Wake Forest
TOPS is a non-profit weight loss support program that welcomes all! This special meeting will teach you how to manage stress and improve your health. Your first session is free and annual membership is only $26. Contact Laura Wickwar for more information at (919) 621-3613. www.tops.org


Margaritas and Mambo - Salsa Dance Lessons
Monday, Feb. 8; 7 pm - 11 pm
Tuxedo Junction, 405 S. Brooks St., Wake Forest
Join us for margarita specials and $10 salsa dance lessons! (919) 556-2038 www.tuxedojunctioninc.com


Lunch & Learn with the Triangle Community Coalition
Tuesday, Feb. 9; 11 am
Realtors Building, One Eleven Place
Join us for a timely conversation about the future of Wake County schools. You will hear about the following and more:
* How could the county help build schools?
* How do we make the transfer of responsibility from the School Board to the County?
* What ever happened to public private partnerships for schools?
Guest panelists and speakers include Wake County Commissioners Paul Coble, Lindy Brown, and Betty Lou Ward, and Wake County School Board members Ron Margiotta, Kevin Hill, and John Tedesco. Tickets are $15 for TTC members and $20 for non-members and at the door. Lunch will be provided. Register online at www.tricc.org.


Take Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS) Club Meeting - Evening
Tuesday, Feb. 9; 6:45 pm
Wake Forest Baptist Church Room 213, 103 N. Main St., Wake Forest
TOPS is a non-profit weight loss support program that welcomes all! Your first session is free and annual membership is only $26. Contact Laura Wickwar for more information at (919) 621-3613. www.tops.org


Open Computer Lab
Thursday, Feb. 11; 6 pm - 8 pm
Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club
The Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club offers a computer lab on most Thursday evenings. Visit www.wakebgc.org for more information.


Town Hall Meeting Hosted by Sen. Dan Blue
Thursday, Feb. 11; 6:30 pm
Northern Regional Center
Sen. Dan Blue is inviting area residents to a town hall meeting from 6:30 pm – 8 pm on Thursday, Feb. 11 at the Northern Regional Center, 350 Holding Ave. Sen. Blue encourages members of the local community to attend and engage in a conversation on the goals and priorities of the state government in 2010. Sen. Blue currently serves on the following committees: Appropriations/Base Budget, Appropriations on Education/Higher Education, Commerce, Finance, Judiciary, Rules, and Ways and Means.


Art After Hours
Friday, Feb. 12; 5 pm
Downtown Wake Forest
On the second Friday night of each month the streets of downtown Wake Forest come alive with food, merchants and music! Everyone is invited to come and experience the dining, art and retail merchants of downtown Wake Forest. Downtown businesses stay open until 9 pm. You never know what treasure you may find! www.wakeforestdowntown.com


Guest Artist Jose Laguna at Sunflower Studio & Gallery
Friday, Feb. 12; 5 pm - 9 pm: Opening Reception
Saturday, Feb. 13 thru Saturday, Mar. 6: Exhibit
Sunflower Studio & Gallery, 214 E. Jones St.
Sunflower Studio & Gallery features artist Jose Laguna during Art After Hours and through March 6 during normal business hours (Thursday through Sunday 11 am - 5 pm). Jose is an impassioned acrylic abstract painter based in Rolesville. By nature, a profoundly forward-thinking and optimistic person, Laguna infuses his philosophies and outlook on life into his work. He makes his mark on the viewer with liberal strokes of vivid and evocative color. The title of his exhibit is "One Life Expressions". While there, also see the latest works of Sunflower Studio's resident artists. (919) 570-0765 www.sunflowerstudiowf.com


Take Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS) Club Meeting - Evening
Tuesday, Feb. 13; 6:30 pm weigh-in; 6:45 pm meeting
Wake Forest Baptist Church Room 213, 103 N. Main St., Wake Forest
TOPS is a non-profit weight loss support program that welcomes all! Your first session is free and annual membership is only $26. Contact Laura Wickwar for more information at (919) 621-3613. www.tops.org


Valentine's Dance
Saturday, Feb. 13; 7 pm - Midnight
Tuxedo Junction, 405 S. Brooks St., Wake Forest
Join our special Valentine's Dance featuring the big band sounds of the Moonlighters Orchestra and enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres and wine. Members tickets are $60/couple, $35/single and non-members tickets are $80/couple, $45/single. Call (919) 556-2038 to make your reservation. www.tuxedojunctioninc.com


Pancake & Sausage Breakfast
Sunday, Feb. 14; 8 am - 1 pm
American Legion Hall, 225 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest
American Legion Post 187 will hold a pancake and sausage breakfast on the second Sunday of each month at the Legion Hall, across from the Wake Forest Post Office. All-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, orange juice and choice of hot beverage for only $5 per person/$20 max per family. Proceeds support community and veterans projects. For information call (919) 494-2707.

Personal Chef in Wake Forest, Gail Dawn Will Cook For You!

Gails at your place

That's right you heard me, of course you have to pay her...but! Gail is a Personal Chef who has been cooking since she was eleven. She will sit down with you and discuss your eating habits, preferences, likes and dislikes and from there she will develop a menu tailored for you.

Gail is a member of The American Personal and Private Chef Association (APPCA) www.personalchef.com

Gail can handle diet requests like low salt,low fat, heart smart, vegetarian, diabeticand will dazzle you with ethnic soul food, hearty Italian cream dishes, vegetarian, she is up to the challenge.

So you ask who gets a personal chef and how does it work? Well anyone who would like to spend more time with their family and less time at the supermarket. Too busy with work or tired of eating out or ordering in every night. Maybe you cook for yourself and throw out the leftovers when they go off.

You see she not only cooks, she shops and cleans the kitchen as well, you come home and the food is in the freezer and you handle the rest.

How about

Thick cut Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops with Steamed Asparagus with a Lemon Butter Sauce
Heating time: 20 Minutes

Savory Roman-Style Chicken with Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes and Glazed Carrots
Heating time: 25 Minutes

Turkey Lasagna, with fresh basil and parsley, ricotta, parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses. Toasted Almond Green Beans, Garlic Bread
Heating time: 25 Minutes

Vegetable Lasagna, Mixed Greens Salad and French Bread
Heating time: 30 Minutes

Give Gail a call, she lives in Wake Forest North Carolina and will travel depending on the distance

Her telephone number is (919) 816-6560 and her web site is www.gailsatyourplace.com

The listings in Wake Forest NC that fit comfortably within the Luxury Market tier offer a huge variety of styles and prices wth numerous features that set these estates apart! The current Market Report for January 2010 introduce four new properties within the Luxury Market for Wake Forest NC.

For a complete report of the new listings in Wake Forest NC within the luxury market and a current snap shot of all listings in Wake Forest NC available in the Luxury Market please feel free to visit Raleigh Luxury Homes and Estates.

If you would like more detailed information regarding any of the Luxury homes currently available and/or pictures please feel free to contact me at 919.649.6128 or you can simply send me an email!

Wow, talk about an area coming to a standstill! I know that in Wake Forest NC we have waited all season to see a few snow flakes and we got our wish over this past weekend! Over 6 inches of snow fell in Wake Forest NC! That may not be much to others in different parts of the country but it was a huge event here! I have to laugh when I think of a Status Update a friend of mine put on Facebook: "For those of you that don't live in the Raleigh NC area: We are having a "Winter Storm EVENT"-- very fancy way of saying, "It's SNOWING"

Roads are still a little edgy this morning but little by little we will get it all cleared and be back to normal - just takes us a little longer than the rest of the country when we get snow.

Regardless, events in Wake Forest NC are pushing on this week and there is SO MUCH to choose from! Check it out......

Come rain, sleet or snow, Life in Wake Forest NC moves along....

CTE Month at Heritage Middle School
Feb. 1-28
Heritage Middle School
Volunteers are needed throughout the month of February to speak to classes in the following fields: Business Technology, Computer Technology, Keyboarding, Family and Consumer Science, Techonology Education, and Exploring Career Decisions. Volunteers can pick the date and time they choose to visit the school. Contact Rosalynn Tennie at rtennie@wcpss.net to schedule your time.

Are you thinking of doing some updates on your home in Wake Forest NC? Ever wonder what you'll recoup on a kitchen remodel? A basement remodel?

The latest Cost vs. Value Report 2009-2010 is now available and there are some surprising numbers on the list. Among the top items that will get you the most return are:

• Attic Bedroom - 90% cost recouped
• Back-up Generator - 59.9% recouped
• Basement Remodel - 84.4% recouped
• Roof Replacement - 71.8% recouped

Most other improvements made to homes were down in Cost vs. Value compared with last year. A few to note are:

• Sunroom Addition
• Bathroom Remodel
• Deck Addition
• Kitchen Remodel
• Home Office Remodel

If you are thinking about performing a few jobs around your house to increase your resale value in Wake Forest NC you might want to take a look at the 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report.

If you are interested in placing your home for sale in Wake Forest NC I would be happy to review the report with you and how the improvements you may have made you your home have been impacted. Remember, a professional Realtor® will prepare a detailed Market Analysis for you which will include updates and upgrades that you have done before listing your home!

Feel free to check out my website at www.wakeforesthousechick.com for some great tools in helping you to prepare your home for sale in Wake Forest NC!