Reshawna Leaven, Realtor - Keller Williams (703) 474-1754

It's Restaurant Week! Whether you decide to try a lunch or dinner. There hundreds of restaurants on the list to try. Try a new place that you never considered before.

Lunch menu is $20.12 and dinner menu is $35.12 per person. Please note: Gratuity and beverages are not included in the price.

Indulge this week from 1/9 to 1/13/2012

Participating restaurants are in Washington DC, Alexandria, Falls Church, McLean, Arlington, Vienna and a few other locations. My recommendations to try: McCormick & Schmick's - F St., Oya & CoCo. Sala and Lounge. They all are simply divine and delicious.

To make your reservations, go to www.restaurantweekmetrodc.org.

Become a fan of 365 Things To Do in Washington DC and post your experience and photos of your meals and stay up to date with area events.

It’s almost my two year anniversary as an ActiveRain member. Over 180 blog posts, 700 days on ActiveRain researching different topics, blogging, informing consumers and networking with other realtors. So as I am thinking at my desk, I wanted to know the numbers: how many times has my posts been viewed and comments on the most.

Here are my top five blog posts with the most comments since I've been on ActiveRain below:

• Why I like SMS better than email? - To view, click here
• I am looking for fans for Facebook! - To view, click here
• Why a Facebook Business Page, do you ask? - To view, click here
• 500 pts. to your profile instantly (Read my 10 best blog posts) - To view, click here
• What should my next 2 blog topics be about for agents and consumers? - To view, click here

I personal favorites on ActiveRain that I have written and re-posted:

• Send SMS (text message) via by email instead!? REALLY, you can do it!
• Are you a "slug" or know someone who does?
• The ActiveRain Point System
• Newlyweds say “I DO” to FHA Bridal Registry Gift Funds
• Attn: Active Military & DOD employees - READ THIS: It could save you 15% on your cell phone bill!
• QR-Code Readers
• Condos For Sale in Woodbridge, VA <--- This has been viewed over 1,500 times

Don’t let the “bed bugs” bite, a common household threat!

Let’s get rid of these squatters who don’t pay rent or mortgage, electricity or water bill. I like to call them bed vampires because they are usually in the bed and they feed off your blood. It is important to understand where to find them, how to prevent them and get rid of them. Read the highlighted items below that I thought were the best items to keep in mind.

How to spot a Bed Bug

You know you've spotted a bed bug if what you see is: reddish brown, 4-5 mm in length & 1.5-3 mm wide, relatively flat, covered in small hairs making their bodies appear to be striped and wingless

Evidence of Bed Bugs

Identifying Bites - Bed bug bites are usually flat welts or raised, red bumps that are rather itchy. However, only 30% of people who are bitten have a reaction to the bite. So if you don’t notice any reactions to a bite, that doesn’t necessarily eliminate the possibility of bed bugs.

Tiny Black Spots - Keep an eye out for tiny black spots that are smaller than a poppy seed. If it sticks to the surface and smears when wiped with a wet towel, it could be bed bug droppings. This signals that you may have bed bugs around.

Blood Stains -And if you notice small blood stains on your sheets when you wake up, you may have rolled over a bed bug that was paying a visit from its hiding spot. Ugh.

Scent - Bed bugs can smell like raspberries. That’s right. Raspberries. However others have described their odor smelling like raw beef or moldy shoes in places that are infested.

Eggs - Bed bugs can lay up to 500 eggs in their lifetime. These eggs are pearly white, 1mm in length, and are very difficult to spot with the human eye.

Minimize Hiding Spots
Now that you know how they get in, take precautions in case they try to come back. Here are a few ways you can minimize potential bed bug hiding spots:

Caulk cracks along molding and baseboards.

Seal up holes in areas where pipes or wires go through the wall.

Source: RidBedBugs.com

Reduce bedroom clutter, especially near the bed.

Defend Yourself
There are products already available that are designed to guard you from bed bugs.

• Bed Bug Barrier Tape. Barrier tape has a slippery surface that bed bugs can’t crawl up when placed vertically. By sticking it on bed legs and headboards, you can stop them from interrupting your night of sleep.

• Portable Luggage Heater. Portable heating units are a simple, safe way to make sure you don’t bring bed bugs home from vacation.

• Dry Vapor Steam Cleaners. Steam kills bed bugs and their eggs on contact, which makes dry vapor steamers perfect for the household cleansing of mattresses, bed frames, pillows, box springs, chairs, headboards, and wall boards.

• Bed Bug Traps. Bed bug interceptors can catch the critters when they try to climb up your bed posts. They can also give clues as to which direction they’re coming from.

I recommend Good Night spray.