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Your 2020 Fall Activity Guide is Here!

September 18, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Get ready for sweater weather, football games, and of course, Pumpkin Spice Lattes…because fall officially kicks off next Tuesday, September 22nd! While we are unable to participate in many of the planned indoor events and activities due to Covid, there are still plenty of outdoor recreational activities and “social-distance” approved events that pay tribute to this beautiful season.

In need of some inspiration? Check out this month’s newsletter for some fun and festive ways to celebrate the fall season in and around the Sacramento area.

The time is ripe for a perfect fall outing! Pay a visit to one of these Apple picking locations. Before planning your visit, please review the safety measures that these Apple Hill Growers are taking to keep both visitors and workers safe.

Denver Dan’s Apple Patch

Goodness Orchard

Goyette’s North Canyon Ranch

24 Carrot Farm

While you’re in the area, you might want to check out one (or more) of Apple Hill’s “must visit” locations:

Johnny Appleseed Day: Celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day with special events and activities on Sunday, September 20^th at these participating locations.

High Hill Ranch: This popular location has a wide array of activities including a Craft Fair, fishing, pumpkin patch, wine tasting, an apple bar, bake shop and much more!

Rainbow Orchards: This location is home to world-famous hot apple cider donuts! Check out some of their other delicious desserts and pies here and their special events here.

North Canyon Cider Co: As their name suggests, this location is known for its award-winning hard cider! They are open weekends now through mid-November.

Fudge Factory Farm: Any chocolate lovers out there? Choose from an impressive selection of handmade fudge, and 15+ types of candy coated apples, homemade jams, fresh baked pies and more! Want to skip the line? Pre-order here.

Ponderosa Ridge Bed and Breakfast: Wanna get away? Wake up to beautiful views and three acres of apples that only guests can pick!

Go wine tasting “with a view” at one or more of the below vineyards where you can enjoy live music and delicious wine and food pairings. Please note that reservations are highly encouraged during this time. Be sure to check each website to reserve your table ahead of time.

Rancho Roble Vineyards

Scribner Bend Vineyards

Rucksack Cellars

Wise Villa Winery

Starfield Vineyards

Wofford Acres Vineyards

Boeger Winery

Cante Ao Vinho

Savor the fall season by supporting some of our local restaurants in the Sacramento area and beyond! Whether you are looking for a beautiful outdoor setting or fall-inspired dishes, these restaurants (categorized by cuisine type) won’t disappoint!

Italian Cuisine:

Obo’ Italian Table & Bar

Vaiano Trattoria

Visconti’s Ristorante

French Cuisine/Wine Bars:

Mexican/Spanish Cuisine:

American/California-Inspired Cuisine:

Wildwood

Delta King – Pilothouse Restaurant

Asian-Inspired Cuisine:

If you are not comfortable dining in at this time, you can still support our local restaurants and businesses by placing an order to go or by using a delivery app including Postmates and DoorDash.

What better way to enjoy the fall weather than with an outdoor picnic? Below are some of my favorite fall picnic spots in Sacramento:

Ancil Hoffman Park

McKinley Park

William Land Regional Park

Natomas Rose Garden

Curtis Park

Jensen Botanical Gardens

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

These Are The First Half of 2020’s Hottest Interior Design Trends

September 17, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Thanks to COVID-19, the first half of 2020 saw many people hunkering down and spending more time at home—which has led to a huge surge in home design projects. But which projects and trends have been the most popular?

The Wall Street Journal asked design experts for their insights into the hottest design trends for the first half of 2020. According to the experts (whose responses were outlined in a recent REALTOR Magazine article), the hottest interior design trends of 2020 so far include:

Going two-toned in the kitchen.

Mixing and matching different tones in the kitchen—like using a darker color for your bottom cabinets and a lighter wood or paint for the top—has emerged as an on-trend way to add new life to your kitchen in 2020.

Sprucing up the home office…

With so many people working remotely, redesigning home offices has been one of the most popular interior design projects of the year. Many people are investing in structural pieces to make their home offices more functional, like built-in desks.

…and the outdoor space.

All the at-home time has prompted many homeowners to renovate their outdoor space to make it more comfortable and functional with elements like fire pits, pools, and outdoor dining areas.

Six Must-Haves Every Homeowner Needs For A Safe Home

September 9, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

When it comes to your home, you want to make sure you have everything on hand you need to create a safe environment for you and your family. But what exactly do you need to make your home safe? Here are six must-haves you need to ensure your home is safe for your family and yourself:

1. Smoke and carbon monoxide detector

A smoke and carbon monoxide detector is a must to keep you and your family safe. You can either buy each detector separately or purchase a model that detects both. Either way, you need to make sure that you have a detector monitoring the air in your home for both smoke and carbon monoxide at all time.

You should have at least one smoke and carbon monoxide detector on each level of your home (so, for example, one in the basement, one in the ground floor, one upstairs, and one in the attic). Test them regularly and replace the batteries at least twice a year to ensure they’re working properly.

2. Fire extinguisher

House fires are more common than you’d imagine. In 2015, there were over 365,000 house fires in the United States. And while you hope that a fire will never happen to you, you still need to have an extinguisher on hand just in case.

Keep your fire extinguisher in or easily accessible from the kitchen; most home fires start in the kitchen, so you want to have your extinguisher close should a fire occur. If you have a multi-level home, you should also keep a fire extinguisher in your bedroom should a fire break out while you’re asleep.

3. An exit plan

When all else fails and your home becomes unsafe, you want to make sure you and your family all know how to get out of the home quickly and safely.

Develop an exit plan that allows you and your family to safely exit the home from all areas of the house in case of an emergency; you should have an exit route from all levels of the home so that no matter where you are when an emergency occurs, your family knows where and how to get out.

Meet with your family at least once a year to review the exit plan and make sure everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency.

4. First aid kit

Minor accidents are inevitable in your home; your children might fall and scrape their knee, you may burn yourself while making dinner. These things happen. But to keep minor injuries from escalating, you want to make sure to have a first-aid kit on hand.

First aid kits should include:

Bandages
Gauze
Antibiotic Ointment
Pain reliever
Alcohol Cleansing Pads
First Aid Tape
Ice Pack
Gloves
Finger Splint

Depending on your family’s needs, you might need additional items, like an Epi-Pen for allergic reactions. You can pick up a first-aid kit to suit your needs just about anywhere, including First Aid Store and Amazon.

5. Contact sheet

In case an emergency happens when you’re not home, you want to have a contact sheet full of important contacts and information so whoever is home with your family or children will know who to call and how to get in touch with them.

Include your own contact information, the contact information of friends and family that live close to your home, your family doctor, and all emergency numbers, like the police station and fire station. You’ll also want to leave insurance information in case it’s needed.

6. Disaster kit

In case of a major emergency, like an earthquake, that would cause you to hunker down in your home (or leave in a hurry), having a disaster kit on hand can be a lifesaver.

Your disaster kit should contain the following:

At least 3 days worth of water and non-perishable food items
Cash
Flashlight
Batteries
A battery-powered or hand-cranked radio
Copies of birth certificates, passports, insurance cards, and other important documents
Can opener
Disposable utensils
Pet food (if you have an animal)
A backup cell phone battery and/or a solar charger

In an ideal world, you won’t have to use any of these safety items. But these six must-haves are essential in keeping your family safe in case of an emergency.

Decorating Tips You Can Steal From This Blockbuster Store-Turned-Airbnb

August 26, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Most homeowners and real estate agents will agree that decor from the 1980s and ‘90s can make a room feel dated, and perhaps even unappealing. But one iconic brand from that era is leaning hard into the nostalgia aesthetic and generating plenty of interest.

The last standing Blockbuster video store, located in Bend, Oregon, is offering movie buffs the chance to visit the past and spend the night inside the film emporium in September. Listed on Airbnb as the ultimate “End of Summer Sleepover,” this store looks a lot cuter and cozier than you may remember. In fact, you might want to incorporate some of these details to recreate a nostalgic overnight in your own home and save yourself a road trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Take a walk down memory lane as you peek inside these eclectic accommodations. No membership card required!

Mix bold colors

Movie mavens would recognize that royal blue and gold sign anywhere. Who knew it worked so well with black-and-white area rugs? The takeaway: Don’t be afraid to mix and match bright shades and bold prints!

Get comfortable

Throw pillows, a beanbag chair, and ambient lighting, courtesy of those table lamps, make the space super-comfortable. Whether you’re ready to watch a rom-com, drama, or even a horror flick, you’ll feel right at home.

Get your old gear out

Turntables have made a big comeback, why not the VCR? Rather than hide your electronics, put them on display, and give your space a hip, vintage vibe.

Snack bar, anyone?

You don’t need a fancy retail rack, but a nice display of snacks on an end table will round out the room and the mood.

Make a statement with retro bedding

These sheets are a total throwback to the sleepovers of yesteryear. Relive the good old days by popping in a flick and falling asleep to the voices of Marty McFly and Doc Brown.

So, if you’d love a night at this Blockbuster Airbnb, but can’t book yourself a night, at least you can recreate this vibe and enjoy a throwback night right in your own home!

But…

If you had the chance, would you want to spend a night in this Blockbuster? If not, what store would make the ultimate overnight retreat?

School Bus Renovation Gets High Marks for Creativity & Design

August 21, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Once you’ve completed your schooling, you’d probably prefer not to set foot on a school bus again. After all, those yellow behemoths are hardly synonymous with luxury. And yet, one couple, Robbie and Priscilla, opted to skip the RV route and instead renovate a 1998 Thomas school bus. The results send them straight to the head of the class when it comes to working some real makeover magic.

Take a peek at the finished product, which proves you don’t have to be a rock star to have a tricked-out bus.

Looks like your standard school bus with a fresh coat of paint. Not so fast… Check out that fancy front door. Step inside (virtually) and prepare to fall in love with this tiny home on wheels.

So cozy!

The potted plants are a nice touch. Let’s hope they’re bolted down so they don’t spill when the rubber meets the road.

Check out this clever use of space. Who couldn’t benefit from a pull-out pantry?

Forget the PB&J in your lunchbox! You could cook up feast in this sophisticated kitchen, complete with farmhouse sink and subway tile.

The lofted bed makes room for the washer-dryer combo, which will save the owners a trip to the laundromat.

Nicer than you’d find in some homes, the floor and shower tile make the small but elegant bathroom appear larger.

The propane heater allows for year-round use. While cats aren’t traditionally fans of road trips, that kitty looks pretty comfy. Can you blame him?

Your August Newsletter is Here…

August 19, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

As our communities work hard to flatten the curve, we also continue to face new challenges and learning curves of our own. This August looks very different from last year for many children and families throughout the country. Virtual back-to-school nights and remote learning from home have become the new norm. Not to mention, working parents are adjusting their schedules to oversee their children during the school day.

This month’s newsletter explores some of the challenges of at-home learning with the goal of offering some helpful resources, classroom design inspiration, lunch ideas and more. We also take a look at the local real estate market, which has earned very high marks throughout this pandemic. Read on for the full scoop!

Class is in session…at home! With many of our homes now doubling as classrooms, we’ve found a few ways to transform any room or small space into the perfect study spot. Check out these fun and creative ideas for some inspiration.

Create a Cozy Study Space: Limited on space? Build a “Study Nook” in your child’s room to create a comfortable, organized, and efficient place for them to learn from home. You can also utilize a space in the bonus room, art, music, game or playroom. Check out this adorable Parsons Mini Smart Desk from Pottery Barn. If your child is on the go, they also have a great mobile Lap Desk.

Designate a Special Area for Reading: It’s no surprise that children tend to get stir crazy when sitting in one place for long periods of time. So switch things up when it comes to reading time! Whether you have a playroom or a small space in your child’s bedroom, designate an area where your child can escape from the “classroom” and curl up with a good book. Use your imagination and gather a reading chair and comfy blankets, some fluffy pillows, a bean bag chair, reading tent…the possibilities are endless! You can also purchase a bookshelf to store their books and tie the space together.

Stay Organized: Organization is essential to staying on track for the school year…especially when merging the classroom and home. Take advantage of color-coded bins to store homework for each subject, add initials next to each child’s workspace, personalize cubbies, organize school supplies in an easily accessible rolling cart, and hang floating shelves and file holders to your room of choice.

Utilize Natural Light: Have you ever been stuck working in a poorly lit cubicle and had a hard time focusing? The same applies to your kiddos…Help them stay motivated by letting nature inspire them! Creating a study room near windows is not only easier on the eyes, but it will also help them focus on their studies better. You can also breathe some life into the room with beautiful succulents or indoor plants.

Choose Active Seating: Do your little ones have a hard time sitting still? Encourage them to stay active while they’re studying by swapping out traditional chairs with exercise balls. This is also a great option if you’re trying to fit everything into a small study room.

Be Mindful of Distractions: When choosing a study room or area, be mindful of distractions and noises like the television, phones, tablets and anything that might interest them more than their upcoming math test. Opt for background music or silence during study time.

Forget about that boring PB&J sandwich, stale cookie, and those uneaten apple slices…Lunches at home mean that we can be a little more creative and healthy, even when we’re on a time crunch. Check out these simple yet satisfying lunch recipes that will have your kids asking for seconds!

Quesadillas with a Twist: Pair this black bean and sweet potato quesadilla with avocado slices, pineapple chunks, and tortilla chips for a healthy (and easy to make) lunch.
Turkey Roll-Ups: If your kid is a fan of the classics, you can’t go wrong with these turkey roll-ups. Pack with pretzels, celery sticks dipped in peanut butter, and cinnamon-sprinkled apple slices for a well-balanced meal.
Pasta Salad: If your kids are adventurous, try this California pasta salad, which is loaded with veggies. Pair with some fruit slices for a hearty lunch.
Breakfast for Lunch: Is your kid a fan of brunch? Turn on the skillet and whip up these delicious buttermilk pancakes. Pair with some strawberry slices, a hard-boiled egg, and squeezable yogurt for a delicious meal.
Easy Pizza Pocket: Short on time? Make these easy pizza pockets with a can of refrigerated biscuits, lots of cheese, and pizza toppings of your choice. You can save even more time by buying a jar of pizza sauce. These pair perfectly with a side salad.
Cookie Bars: Ok so these may not be the healthiest option, but they’re certainly better for us than processed cookies. So put the Oreos down and make a fresh batch of cookie bars for the school week! You can’t go wrong with this chocolate chip recipe from Tollhouse.

Having the kids home from school is taking on new meaning these days. That’s why we’ve pulled together some informational links and resources to help you overcome the learning curve that comes with this big change.

In this article, the author reaches out to teachers for tips on designing environments at home that are as conducive to learning and discovery as the classrooms they have lovingly created.
This article published by Children and Screens shares 10 tips for successfully navigating the new realities of online learning.
A recent online article published by Time magazine shares the secrets to keeping your kids happy, busy, and learning during school closures.
Julie Mason, a former teacher, and now mother of three and head of content and curriculum at TeacherVision, shares a helpful guide and at-home learning resources for both parents and students.
This online article published by The Center for Discovery outlines some safe indoor and outdoor activities for families during Coronavirus.

According to a recent article from Redfin, more than 27% of homebuyers are searching out of town, with Phoenix, Sacramento and Las Vegas being the most popular destinations. The reasoning behind this? The pandemic is causing homebuyers to rethink what they want in a home, with more people relocating to places where they can afford more outdoor space and room for home offices, according to the article. Click here to read the full article.