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Your October Newsletter Is Here

October 19, 2021 by cdiez Leave a Comment

BEWARE! The most spooktacular holiday is just around the corner… that’s right, Halloween is only 13 days away! If you’re thinking of ways to entertain your ghosts and goblins this year, then check out these frightfully festive entertaining ideas, recipes, and tricks for a party that will haunt your guests for years to come. This month’s newsletter also uncovers Halloween-inspired activities and events in the Greater Sacramento area that are to die for. Lastly, we take a closer look at the upcoming fall real estate market. Read on…if you dare!

Looking to elevate your Halloween game with some decor that is fit to fright? Try out these killer decorating ideas that will stop your guests dead in their tracks…

Enter if you dare – these cute yet eerie porch decorations are sure to impress neighbors and trick-or-treaters:

Pumpkin Luminary

Floating Witches Hats

Trick or Treat Door Decorations

Halloween Wreath

Pumpkin Gilded Fall Garland

Halloween Potted Tree

Hanging Black Bats

Spooky Vibes Only Door Mat

Beware of Sign

Eat, drink, and be scary by adding some of these hauntingly gorgeous kitchen accessories and serving pieces to your Halloween collection:

Halloween Charcuterie Board

Witch Hands Snack Bowl Stand

Skeleton Skull Glass Punch Bowl

Hocus Pocus Serving Cauldron

Three-Tiered Witch Broom Snack Stand

Witch Tabletop Server

Skull Serving Tray

Spoon Rest Holder

The Dead Don’t Stir Spoon Rest

Ghost Stoneware Mugs

Halloween Cheese Spreader 4-Piece Set

Create a dinner table to die for with a fabulous centerpiece or festive dining set:

Skulls Table Runner

Crystal Ball Centerpiece

Tree Hand Candle Holder

Halloween-Inspired Candelabra

Apothecary Jar Set

Halloween Luncheon China Plates

Stemless Skeleton Wine Glasses

Ghost Serving Platter

Skeleton Hand Highball Glass

Skull Silverware

Tap into the spirit(s) of the season with this spellbinding living room decor:

See Hear & Speak No Evil Skulls

Life-Size Sitting Skeleton

Pose-n-Stay Puppy Skeleton

Hocus Pocus Spellbook

Fall Throw Blanket in Rust

Pumpkin Candles

Giant Spiced Cider Glass Jar Candle

Halloween-Inspired Throw Pillows

White Glass Pumpkin String Lights

Black Dripping Wax Flameless Candle

Personalized Halloween Wall Decor

Forest Witch Hat Decor

Gold Snake Decor

Let the ghoul times roll by trying out one of the below Halloween playlists to match your mood!

Spotify’s Top Halloween Tracks

Pandora Halloween Playlist

Apple Music Halloween Party Playlist

YouTube Halloween Hits from the 80’s

Disney’s Halloween Playlist

You don’t need a spell to whip up some delicious boos. These creative concoctions (and fun mocktails) will get everyone into the holiday spirit in no time! Pick your poison by trying out one of the below recipes.
Adult Cocktails –

Potion De Muerto Cocktail

Smoking Blackberry Sage Margarita

Shimmery Liqueur Cocktail

Eye Ball Martini

The Vampire Cocktail

Halloween Pumpkin Punch

Black Sangria

Mr. Hyde Potion

Candy Corn Jello Shots

Bleeding Heart Martini

Purple Witches Brew

Shrunken Heads in Cider

Mocktails –

Hocus Pocus Halloween Fizz

Swamp Juice

Creepy Shirley Temples

Goosebumps Punch

Little Monster Mocktail

Pumpkin Butterbeer

Sparkling Pumpkin Pie Mocktail

Purple People Eater Punch

Slow Cooker Vampire Punch

Wondering what to brew up in the kitchen? See below for some serious food inspo that will have your guests calling you the ghostess with the mostest!

For starters, try these delicious smokey pumpkin deviled eggs or impress guests with this decadent skeleton meat platter that is not for the faint of the heart. Your little goblins and ghosts will love these easy-to-make hot dog mummies or these creepy-crawly octopus tentacles.
Elevate your side dish game with these skewered eyeballs, which are actually stuffed mushrooms loaded with mozzarella, bacon, and topped with olives. These mashed potato ghosts will have your guests experiencing love at first bite!
Bone Appetit! For mains, try this scary good pumpkin cannelloni dish with sage brown butter sauce or these cider marinated short ribs for a protein-packed dish. This savory boneyard pot pie is packed with fresh veggies and protein to keep your little ones well-nourished for a long night of trick-or-treating. Guests of all ages will appreciate these macolantern and cheese bowls, which can be served as a main or side dish.

It’s all treats and no tricks here! From bewitching blood cupcakes to spider cookies, we have a delectable line-up of homemade treats that will have your guests screaming for seconds.

Strawberry Ghosts

Bewitched Halloween Popcorn

Rice Krispie Treat Monsters

Dracula Dentures

Spider Web Cake

Hocus Pocus Inspired Smore Pops

Haunted Halloween Brownies

Jack O’ Lantern Bowls

Blood Drip Cupcakes

Mummy Apple Pie

Witch’s Hat Cupcakes

Graveyard Chocolate Cheesecake Dip

Pull Apart Graveyard Cupcakes

Halloween Blueberry Mummy Muffins

Dying to watch a good movie? Grab the popcorn, cozy blankets, and find a Halloween flick that matches your mood on one of the below streaming services!

Sacramento has some fangtastic Halloween events and activities now through the end of October!

October 23rd (and Select Days): Spookomotive Train Rides @ The Railroad Museum
October 23rd-24th: 34th Annual Safe & Super Halloween at Fairytale Town
October 30th: Monster Mash at the Crocker Art Museum
October 23rd: Spirits, Brews & Bites in Historic Folsom
October 24th & 31st: Fall Concert Series at Historic Folsom Amphitheater
October 30th: Trick or Treat FestiFall
Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Enter a Haunted House (if you dare!)
Visit Apple Hill

According to Realtor.com hopeful buyers who keep getting shut out may soon find better luck this fall, as several signs in the housing market point to more potential buying opportunities. For one, competition is reportedly cooling, and listings are receiving fewer offers. In September, the real estate brokerage Redfin reported that bidding wars reached their lowest level this year. Also, more listings are coming to market, offering buyers more choices, according to a Realtor.com report that revealed housing inventory is at a high for 2021. Furthermore, nearly one-third of the 50 largest metros saw increases in the number of newly listed homes compared to last year. Click here to read the full article.

Thinking About Updating Your Home? Here Are Some 2021 Design Trends to Consider

August 23, 2021 by cdiez Leave a Comment

When you redesign your home, you want to design it in a way that feels timely and on-trend. But what does “timely” and “on-trend” look like in 2021? The 2021 Houzz Emerging Home Design Trends Report outlined some of the year’s most popular home design trends, including:

Dedicated activity spaces. Forget craft closets. One of 2021’s biggest trends is creating an entirely dedicated room or space in the home to house the family’s favorite activity—whether that’s an art studio, a home theater, or a wine cellar.

Living room refreshes. Updating their home in general is a priority for many homeowners this year—but the room homeowners seem to be most interested in refreshing? The living room. According to Houzz’s data, searches for living rooms (which can provide homeowners design inspiration) are up 52 percent compared to 2020.

Luxury colors and materials. This year, homeowners are embracing luxury in their home design—with velvet, gold, and crystal accents all in high demand.

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.

Porch Envy Is So Real It Has Its Own Hashtag

June 10, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

As the old song goes, “It’s summertime and living is easy…” It’s even easier (and a bit more pleasant) if you have a porch. Aside from increasing your home’s charm factor, this amenity offers you an outdoor space where you can relax or entertain depending on the day and your preferences.

But just because you’ve got one that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re making the most of it. If your porch isn’t living up to its full potential, perhaps you just need a little inspiration.

Check out these covetable spots that explain why porch envy is a popular hashtag. Go ahead, pour a tall glass of lemonade, you’re going to want to sit and savor this one.

Peace and quiet

This bohemian chic porch looks warm and inviting yet pretty chill at the same time. That chair swing could quickly become your favorite summertime hangout. You’ve gotta love this ivy wall for the privacy it provides.

Outdoor dining room

If just the thought of al fresco dining makes you hungry and you’ve got the room, adding a table and chairs will transform your porch into the best outdoor café in town. You won’t want to dine indoors again until your food gets cold. Very cold.

Evening elegance

Porches aren’t only popular during the daylight hours. With the help of lights and candles, you can enjoy this space well past dusk. Fluffy blankets and pillows make it warm and welcoming even when temperatures drop. Battery-operated candles eliminate fire-hazard concerns and add a cozy feel on the windiest days.

Swing time

Swings and porches are a match made in heaven. Talk about the ultimate in luxury, this bed swing practically screams, “Nap time!”. A lamp brings a touch of the indoors outside and allows you to read or play board games long after the sun sets.

Host a crowd

The right set-up offers you ample seating, so rather than hide out inside all day, you and your guests can enjoy fresh air in a serene setting. If you can’t fit a dining table, a smaller one will work well for hors d’oeuvres and light snacks.

Small but stunning

Pressed for space? You don’t have to sacrifice style. Plants and an outdoor area rug pretty up even the most petite places.

Simple yet chic

This porch proves you don’t need a lot of decoration to create an inviting space. A lush plant paired with a plush carpet take this area from plain to perfect pretty quickly.

Rock ‘n’ roll

Rocking chairs have always found a welcome home on a porch. They’re synonymous with good storytelling and the simplicity that most strive for all summer long.

The good stuff

Up your comfort factor by bringing indoor furniture outside. Ceiling fans keep those balmy breezes circulating while draperies offer privacy and style.

Floored

If you want to add a pop of color without painting your house, focus on the floor. Choose a hue that complements your home and your furnishings and watch the space come to life.

Winter inspiration

Long after the warm weather ends, you can still savor those perfect porch moments by adding the element of fire. Swap out your lemonade for S’mores and you’re all set.

Corona Virus and Housing Market

March 23, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

There is so much going on with Corona Virus right now that one of the best things to do is to adhere to the advice given by health officials and the surgeon general. Stay safe and healthy as it seems that there is updated advice and tips every few hours.

Jaymi Naciri passes on her tips on the current market with the Corona Virus. It could be adjusted somewhat based on the market that you are in. Utilize your local real estate expert for tips as well as they will have first-hand knowledge on your housing market.

Everyone is talking about coronavirus. Stores are selling out of staples like bottled water and toilet paper. Searches for homemade hand sanitizers are exploding since you can’t find it at Walmart or Kroger. People are skipping conferences and festivals, canceling travel plans, and opting to work from home rather than expose themselves to germs.

But what impact is coronavirus and its rapid spread having on the housing market in this country, and what can we expect? A lot remains unknown at this point, but there are a few things you should be thinking about if you’re looking to buy, sell, invest in real estate, or refinance an existing loan.

Carefully consider new construction

One of the fears associated with coronavirus as it relates to the housing market: supply chain issues. If building materials are held up, it could seriously impact the timeline of new builds. “Homebuilders rely on China, where the coronavirus or COVID-19 originated, for construction materials and any disruption in the supply chain could impact their ability to deliver much-needed new inventory into the market,” said Yahoo! Finance. If you’re set on buying a brand-new home, be sure to ask the builders you’re considering what the impact could be.

“About 30% of building products imported to the U.S. come from China, including both residential and nonresidential construction, according to Richard Branch, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics,” said MSN. “The products include wallboard, lighting, and other materials. Homebuilder Toll Brothers recently said the coronavirus outbreak in China led to shortages of lighting fixtures and small appliances, forcing it to delay the sales of 11 homes in California.”

You also may want to look to builders and communities that have standing inventory. That means homes were built before they were sold, so they are move-in ready, brand-new, and have never been lived in. You will have to live with the finishes that were pre-chosen, but, in many cases, you’ll get nicer and more expensive finishes than you may have been able to afford otherwise.

Think twice about remodeling or renovating

Those same supply chain issues that are impacting new-home construction may also make it more difficult and/or expensive to renovate.

Reconsider open houses

As the coronavirus continues to spread, people are reconsidering their exposure to multiple people. If you’re selling your house, that may mean limiting showings to individual families instead of holding open houses. You may feel it’s necessary to follow the same precautionary measures if you’re looking for a home, opting to tour homes individually instead of attending open houses.

Refinance!

“Mortgage rates in the United States have fallen to the lowest level ever on the heels of concerns stemming from the coronavirus outbreak. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 3.29% during the week ending March 5, a major decrease of 16 basis points from the previous week,” said MarketWatch. “The decline in rates presents a major windfall for millions of homeowners across the country, who stand to save thousands of dollars in interest by refinancing. Furthermore, an estimated 44.7 million homeowners have $6.2 trillion in home equity that they could access through a cash-out refinance, according to real-estate data firm Black Knight, and now they have the chance to access that cash at a lower interest rate.”

Click here for full article

Great American River Cleanup ~ September 21st

September 23, 2019 by cdiez Leave a Comment

THANK YOU to everyone who volunteered this weekend to help clean up the parkway at the Sunrise Recreation Area!! It was the perfect opportunity to spend the day outside in the sunshine for a great cause and connect with other members of the community.

Wondering how you can help keep our parkways clean? The American Parkway Foundation will have more volunteer opportunities throughout the remainder of the year. Stay tuned for our next cleanup opportunity!

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