Thursday, September 27, 2012

Halloween Decorations

With Halloween only a month away it is time to start thinking about the decorations around your home!
 Here are some easy DIY ideas for your families. 


  • Carving pumpkins is an easy craft for all ages! HGTV has 22 simple templates, Click Here



  • This is an adorable idea if you are having guests over. It is simply hand painted spiders on the plate.


  • HGTV has 21 cute party favor treat bags. All are very simple and will please your guests!




  • Try these spooky candles:
    • Materials and Tools:

      three tall glass enclosed candles
      4" wooden letters, spelling "E-E-K," or "B-O-O"
      craft paint
      paintbrushes
      Perfect Pearls embellishing pigment kit (by Ranger Ink)
      spray bottle filled with water
      8-mm jump rings
      E6000 glue
      chain
      needle-nosed jewelry pliers
      Steps:
      1. Paint the wooden letters with craft paint and allow them to dry. An eerie mix of green and black paint or a ghostly white works well.

      2. Rub the pad of Pearlizing Perfect medium on each letter.

      3. Use a paintbrush to dust the patina powders included in the kit on each letter. Spray with water from the spray bottle to set the pigments, and allow them to dry.

      4. Use E6000 glue to attach an 8-mm jump ring to the back of each letter in the center and at the top. Position the jump ring so that approximately half of the ring is exposed at the top of the letter.
        Note: Allow the glue to dry for at least 8 hours.

      5. Wrap chain around the lip of the candle glass. Link the chain together to form a loop of chain around the top of the candle with a tail of chain.

      6. Use the needle-nosed pliers to attach another jump ring to the jump rings on the letters. Attach this second jump ring to the chain.

  • Not only do you have to worry about the inside of your house, but the outside as well! This "Welcome" is a fun project to do with the kids. For a list of materials and instructions Click Here!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Low Cost Tips to Prepare Your Home for Selling

Sellers always ask me what they can do to have their house sell faster and at the best possible price. Here are a five low cost tips that that I suggest for preparing your home for sale.




#1 Make the most of that first impression- I advise owners to clean or paint their front doors, update landscaping and take care of the yard and walkways. Make buyers feel welcome and show them that the home has been cared for from their first look!



#2 Check faucets and bulbs- Don't let little problems detract from what is right with your home!



#3 Create dream bedrooms- Get rid of excess furniture, update your bedspreads and curtains. Add new throw pillows on the bed to give the room a cozy and upscale finish.



#4 Make your bathrooms sparkle- Check and repair caulking in the tubs and showers, update towels and shower curtains, remove all items from the counters and CLEAN! A new light fixture or mirror over the sink can also add an updated feel to the room.



#5 Stage rooms to appeal to buyers- Remove extra furniture and rearrange rooms so they are easy to walk through. Add slipcovers to furniture with older patterns. Make sure lighting is sufficient. Remove any collections or displays that may interest or distract buyers and replace with artwork in complimentary colors.



Monday, September 10, 2012

Events this weekend

Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!
This exhibit lets you explore familiar buildings and locales from the Curious George book series and television show on PBS KIDS in Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! This event will take place September 15th at the Minnesota Children's Museum. For more information visit www.mcm.org

Fall Community Fest
Prior Lake High School will be hosting their Fall Community Fest. This event will take place on Monday, September 17 2012, from  6:00pm - 8:30pm. It s for all ages! There will be children's activities, scavenger hunt, live music, door prices, food, and much more! For more information click here.

Who Done It Hike
On Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 9:30am Lakeville will have their Who Done it Hike. This event is all about collecting clues, gathering information and solving mysteries, while walking the trails at Ritter Farm Park. If you solve the mystery, you’ll have a chance to guess “who done it.” For those who guessed correctly, there will be another mystery. Pack a picnic for your family to enjoy after the hike!

Senior Expo

The 8th Annual 55+/Senior Expo will take place at the Eagan Community Center on Tuesday, October 9 from 1 to 4p.m. The event will be filled with over 40 organizations sharing their knowledge, goods and services focusing on fitness, wellness, finance, housing, transportation and health. This event is free and is open to everyone and welcomes adults, age 55+, and their families. Come ask questions, or have a snack and refreshments. You will learn great tips to help you find optimal wellness.