Room by Room... Keepin' it Clutter Free!

Showing your house on a whim can sometimes cause stress to the whole family! Organizing your home prior to moving will not only clear the clutter and save packing time, but can also help when you get that short notice call that a potential buyer is "on their way over"! These tips are not just for movers either... Cleaning out the clutter can really give anyone a "peace of mind"!

Bedroom Tips!

Contemporary Bedroom design by Orange County Interior Designer Domicile Interior Design

Adding Decorative Boxes to any room can cut your clean up time in half! Clutter and personal belongings can be a real turn off. These boxes are beautiful for Bed~side's, they add decor and "Bonus" they hide our stuff! It's a great place to put those ugly remote controls, phone chargers, reading glasses, etc... PLUS you will always know right where to find them!

Traditional Mirrors design by Furniture And Accessories Horchow

Standing mirrors in your bedroom can take up so much space and tend to be real dust collectors! Exchange out those ugly closet doors for mirror's instead, it not only adds depth to your room, but it's totally stylish!

Spaces design by Los Angeles Closets And Organization Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design

You can never have enough closet space... but organizing it is a beautiful thing! Find a place for everything, even jewelry, belts, shoes, & scarves! It saves you from messy chaos and time when adding these finishing touches before heading out the door!

Bathroom Tip!

Contemporary Bathroom design by San Francisco Architect awarchitect.com

This bathroom is elegant, by minimizing the decor and adding storage baskets underneath the sink makes it easy to caddy out the necessities and provides a quick clean up when you are on the go..!

Entry Way Tips!

Contemporary Entry design by New York Interior Designer Glenn Gissler Design

Using furniture for many roles, is a great tip! Stools are great for adding extra seating, storage, and even adding a fun touch to your decor!

Living Room Tip!

Contemporary Living Room design by San Francisco Interior Designer Valerie Wills Interiors

A Unique coffee table is a beautiful center piece to any living room, but finding one with all these drawers duals as the perfect storage spot!

Kitchen Tips!

Contemporary Kitchen design by Boston Kitchen And Bath Divine Kitchens LLC

Utilize all your cabinets to neatly organize pans, plates, spices, etc... Leaving the counters open will keep your kitchen spacious and clean!

Garage Tips!

Using bins, racks, & shelves can allow your cars to fit nicely into the garage. This is a great selling point because it doubles the space for buyers to envision the storage room while allowing them the safety of parking their cars, bikes, and lawn equipment inside.

Next on the agenda is CLEAN IT!

Follow these 5 easy steps!
1. Make your Bed
2. Wipe down the Bathroom
3. Vacuum
4. Clear the Dishes
5. Invest in a Plug In

These five simple steps can be done in 20 minutes! Invest in a caddy and make your cleaning supplies accessible and easy to take from room to room! The second a buyer walks in your home, they immediately either love it or hate it, first impressions will make or break the sale of your home! Keeping them focused on the house and not the mess is key, cleanliness and air freshener go a long way...


A De-cluttered Clean Home SELLS faster, So don't miss your opportunity!(Even the definition is simplified)

clut·ter (kltr)
n.
1. A confused or disordered state or collection; a jumble: sorted through the clutter in the attic.
v. clut·tered, clut·ter·ing, clut·ters
v.tr.
1. To fill or spread over in a disorderly manner.
2. To make disorderly or hard to use by filling or covering with objects.
v.intr.
1. To run or move with bustle and confusion.

declutter [diːˈklʌtə]
vb
1. to simplify or get rid of mess, disorder, complications.

:) So save yourself time, space, and chaos ditch the clutter, simplify your home, & keep it clean!

Today's Featured Property is in Heathrow!

This Beautiful 4 Bedroom 3.5 Bathroom home has a lovely water view and upgrades such as Granite Counter Tops, Crown Moldings, Tile Floors, and White Plantation Shutters. The interior has newer paint with neutral colors and newer carpet in all the bedrooms. This home is located in Heathrow a prestigious Guard Gated Community that has a Private Country Club which offers Golf, Tennis, and Fitness Center. Conveniently located near the I-4 & 417 Highway, Lake Mary Business center, Seminole Towne Shopping Mall, Restaurants, and More...

INQUIRE TODAY! http://www.kris-julian.com/

Seminole County Safety Zone Week!

Please help by slowing down and driving with caution. Thank you to the Sheriff’s Office Deputies, City Police Departments, and 21st Century Insurance for bringing attention to our school zones with this very important sign waving campaign. It is a reminder to our school communities, especially the vehicles driving in the school zones, that there are children in the area and to use caution. The Crossing Guards are also out there helping the children to get safely across the crosswalks. Signs stating, “Slow Down, Children Crossing, School Zone” & “Hang Up and Drive” are just a few friendly reminders to keep our school zones safe.

Last week my neighbors and I witnessed two small children almost getting hit by a car while they were loading their bus. The driver had her lights on, her sign out, even tried to alert the driver with her horn. The neighbors and I have reached out to all the members of the school board and within minutes they replied and sent someone out to our stop. So, I am pleading with everyone out there to please consider the children and watch out for bus stops & school zones, drive with caution, and contact someone if there is an issue, they do care and they will help...! I urge everyone to raise awareness and promote safety in the school zones!

Nativity Fall Fest

Friday Oct. 12 6:00-10:00pm
Saturday Oct. 13 12:00-10:00pm
Sunday Oct. 14 12:00-6:00pm
3255 N. Ronald Reagan Blvd.
Longwood, FL 32750
For more information: nativityfest@hotmail.com

Orlando Housing Market Report - August 2012

Are you ready for some Football...?? :)

Personally, I prefer the Tampa Bay Bucs! However, as a New Yorker I have a soft spot for the Giants & J-E-T-S....Jets Jets Jets! Obviously, I am a Florida Girl now because a true New Yorker would never go for both! :) I just love... football period & my husband is a Die Hard Bucs Fan! All my kids have their teams as well... We root for the Jaguars, Chargers, Bears, and the Gators... Yes... I know what you are thinking & I have explained it to my daughter on many occasions... that this is not an NFL team & "Definitely" not one that we root for! FSU FAN FOREVER... but more importantly in our home FOOTBALL is... ON!

Go Bucs...!

Nothing goes better with football than a cold beer & some great recipes! Every Sunday after church we make a pit stop to the store to whip up a fun appetizer... Here are a few I found that I am definitely gonna try this season! Compliments to BHG.com

Edamame-Avocado Dip

12 ounce package frozen shelled edamame (sweet soybeans), thawed
1 medium avocado, halved, seeded, peeled, and cut up
1/4 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons purchased basil pesto
3/4 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 Chopped tomato (optional)
Pita chips or tortilla chips

Burger-Potato Bites

16 large frozen French-fried waffle-cut potatoes (1/3 of a 22-oz. pkg.)
1 pound ground beef or turkey
2 – 3 teaspoons grilling seasoning blend
4 slices cheddar cheese, cut into quarters (4 oz.)
4 cherry tomatoes, sliced
Mustard, ketchup, dairy sour cream, and/or dill pickle slices

Antipasto Pinwheels

12 thin slices provolone cheese (6 to 7 oz.)
½ cup Gorgonzola cheese, softened (2 oz.)
1 tablespoon milk
12 thin slices soppresata or premium Genoa salami (about 4 oz.)
12 large fresh basil leaves
Assorted crackers or flatbread (optional)

Pork and Slaw Barbecue Rolls

1 4 - 5 pound pork shoulder roast or pork shoulder blade Boston roast (Boston butt)
3/4 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
16 kaiser rolls, split and toasted
Coleslaw

Winter Woods Chili

4 slices bacon
3 pounds beef stew meat
1 large onion, sliced 1/2-inch thick
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 28 ounce can whole tomatoes
1 15 1/2 ounce can navy beans, rinsed and drained
1 15 1/2 ounce can red beans, rinsed and drained
2 – 3 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Shredded cheddar cheese
Snipped fresh oregano
Cooked bacon, crumbled

Peppered Herb Cheese Ball

3 tablespoons snipped fresh chives
3 tablespoons snipped fresh basil
2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
4 ounces goat cheese
1/4 - ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
Assorted crackers

These are just a few teasers...!

For more recipes check out:

http://www.bhg.com/recipes/party/party-ideas/football-party-recipes/#page=1

Received this beautiful message today...

Dear Friend,

Today we live in a world of great uncertainty and everything seems to be so negative. I was reading Our Daily Bread today and its talks about “use by dates” except none of us knows that date when our heart will expire, so we all need to take a breath and capture the moments today, love more deeply, forgive more quickly, listen more carefully, and speak more affirmatively. We should capture the opportunity to brighten our world with Love of Christ even if it is in a small way. Live each day as if it’s your last! Have a great day, and our love to all!

(AMEN! Thank you Debbie for this beautiful reminder, life is a true blessing and sometimes you have to stop and smile... Thank you for making me smile today!)

Pass it forward... as my daughter says... YOLO! Sometimes you need a little God Wink and count your blessings...xo

Just Our Soldiers' Helpers (J.O.S.H.)

Just Our Soldiers' Helpers (J.O.S.H.): Two Weeks Until Tee Time for the Front Line: October 6th! They are hoping for a great turnout so they can ship many care packages to our Soldiers in Afghanistan for the Holidays.
Check out the site for more details!
http://www.justoursoldiershelpers.net/2012/09/two-weeks-until-tee-time-for-front-line.html?spref=fb

Fall... fun for the whole fam!

September 22nd Fall is here... There is nothing like a breezy day, living in Florida they are few and far between, but that doesn't stop us from enjoying the fall festivals and the smell of pumpkin spice. Who doesn't have a blast at a pumpkin patch and a corn maze...! It's the perfect time of year to get outside, jump into a pile of leaves, and celebrate the season with the ones you love! Here are some dates to remember...

Looking for a hay ride or a corn maze, check out this great site: http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org

Lake Mary Farmer's Market
Date: Every Saturday of the Month
Location: Central Park
Time: 9 am - 1:30 pm.

Lake Mary's Food Truck
Date: Last Sunday of Every Month
Time: 4 pm - 7 pm
Location: Central Park

Sanford's Live After Five is Central Florida’s largest recurring monthly street party with live music, local artists, food and beverage sampling in a beautiful historic town.

Date: The second Thursday of each month
Time: 5-8pm, rain or shine
Location: 230 East First Street Downtown Sanford
Tickets: $7.00 (includes food and beverage sampling throughout the event)
Enjoy: Great local restaurants, art galleries, gift shops, antique stores, & nightlife!

Sept. 28-Nov. 12
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival This celebration of culinary adventure features the cuisine of six continents. Taste your way around the world with food from 30 international food and beverage marketplaces, celebrity chef demos, mixology seminars, home-entertaining presentations, wine tastings and live concerts. 11 am-9 pm daily; Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista; included with park admission, various menu prices, visit website for details; 407-939-3378; disneyworld.com.

October 28, 2012 Fourth Annual VIP Winefest Tasting and Sale Sample more than 50 wines paired with hors d'ouevres and artisan cheeses. 3-6 pm Sunday; The Wine Room, 270 S. Park Ave. ; $75; 407-696-9463; thewineroomonline.com.

Oct. 8
Taste of Altamonte Outdoor street party with food and beverage samples from local restaurants, ranging from barbecue to international cuisine. 6-9 pm Monday; Cranes Roost Park, 274 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs; $30-$35; 407-262-2773;
altamonterotary.org.

Event: Halloween Spooktacular
Location: Central Park at Lake Mary City Hall
Date: October 27th
Time: 6-8pm

Doorways to Nightmares – Face the Fear
This Halloween be prepared to confront many of the darkest fears and most terrifying situations that you have ever, quite literally, dreamt up.
Dates: October 29-31st
Address: 205 S Milwee St, Longwood, FL 32750

A Petrified Forest
Sept. 29-Nov. 3
A Petrified Forest Try this on for size: A Petrified Forest is an 85,000 square foot outdoor haunted scare trail, featuring zombies and blood and gore and monsters. After you've walked the trail, stick around and check out the Halloween festival, which features live music, mini golf and laser tag. 7:30 pm-11 pm on select dates, 7:30 pm-midnight Friday, Nov. 2-Saturday, Nov. 3; A Petrified Forest, 1360 State Road 436, Altamonte Springs; $15-$20; apetrifiedforest.com.

Event: Candlelight Tales
Location: Lake Mary Museum
Date: Fridays, October 12, 2012
Time: 7:30 pm
Web: http://lakemaryhistory.org

Event: Ghost Walk
Location: Lake Mary Museum
Date: October 13 & October 20
Time: evening
Web: http://lakemaryhistory.org

Oct. 19
The Halloween Pub Crawl Wear your costume and drink your way through downtown Orlando with drink specials at each stop. Downtown Orlando, Orange Avenue and Central Boulevard; $10-$15, visit website for details; orlando
pubcrawl.com.

Halloween Horror Nights 2012
Event Dates: Sept. 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30
Oct. 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 & 31

Halloween Horror Nights annually draws hundreds of thousands of horror fans from around the globe to this one-of-a-kind event. Tony Timpone, Editor of Fangoria Magazine, said, "After visiting scream parks all across the U.S. for the last 20 years, I can easily say that Universal’s is the best in the business… Halloween Horror Nights is the ultimate Halloween experience."

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort is a separately ticketed event.

Oct. 31
Halloween at Cranes Roost This one's good to take the kids to: They can go trick-or-treating around the lake, enter costume contests, bounce around in inflatable houses and take in the live entertainment. 5-9 pm Wednesday; Cranes Roost Park, 274 Cranes Roost Blvd., Altamonte Springs; free; 407-571-8863; uptownaltamonte.com.

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Luxery Homes are Proving to be a Better Investment Property with a Bigger Return!

Most real estate investing forums teach investors to stick to a midrange, 3 bedroom, distressed property because they are obviously cheaper, so you fix them up and turn a profit within a year. However, in today's market the best opportunities are being passed up in "Luxury" Properties! A unique combination of factors in the current market mean a great window of opportunity for turning luxury properties... High-end homes and condos are eye candy for magazines and the media is easier to draw more attention from buyers. This also makes them easier to sell and in many cases faster to flip. Many luxury properties have been much better maintained and protected than the average REO. This means less rehab work, shorter marketing and prep times, and with a lot less risk. One of the biggest challenges for real estate investors today is distressed properties in run-down neighborhoods and in bankrupt communities. Luxury homes and condos are often in communities which take more care with maintenance and which are in stronger financial positions making a safer investment and one which can actually be resold. In this market with the homes on the rise, the values are increasing and higher-end properties are typically the last to suffer from foreclosures, so these will be the first to move, and now is the ideal time to get in on the action. Mortgage lenders have only recently really begun to push hard on the largest loan amounts and follow through with foreclosure proceedings. This means more high end foreclosures with huge spreads, right as the market begins to pick up. As newer investors focus on midrange rentals and low end flips Luxury homes have a lot less competition meaning a better Return On your Investment! A recent surge in jumbo mortgage lending suggests that bigger loans are becoming easier to get versus their conventional counterparts. In turn this means a bigger buyer pool and faster flips for easier deals and more profit...!

Get Colorful & Playful with Designs...

Designing your rooms with pops of color and playful shapes creates a cheerful home! Have fun with your designs, but try to stay balanced between a slight flair of the Warhol-look and the elegance of an Elle DECOR-ish touch. Orange, Purple, Red, & Turquoise are a few accent colors that I consistently crush on. Splashing prints in the home are always IN-STYLE! Leopard print has been fashionable since the 1920s and has never ever gone away! Soooo GO for it... Mix and Match your favorite Colors & Prints with confidence to advance your design goals and make any room (A~LOT) more interesting...

Contemporary Dining Room design by Austin Architect Loop Design

Modern Entry design by New York Interior Designer Willey Design LLC

Eclectic Living Room design by Minneapolis Interior Designer Riehl Designs, Inc.

Modern Living Room design by Boston Interior Designer Rachel Reider Interiors

Contemporary Living Room design by San Francisco Architect Mark English Architects, AIA

Contemporary Living Room design by Los Angeles Interior Designer betsy burnham

HOPE MOB

but... It's always in Season!

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