Wednesday, November 25, 2015

3504 Hawthorn DR SW Bondurant, IA 50035

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/HUJVPY
If you are looking for a home with a huge master bedroom, huge walk in closet and a kitchen with granite countertops, look no further! You wont be disappointed with the 1766 square foot Manchester plan by Chateau Homes. The main floor has a nice family room and a large kitchen with an additional sun room adjacent to the kitchen which makes the plan perfect for entertaining. From the kitchen walk through the sliders to a patio on the back of the home. The second floor has 3 bedrooms, two bathrooms and a spacious laundry room with a pocket door. The master bedroom is 21x14 and has a private bathroom and walk in closet. The 5 year tax abatement will save you thousands of dollars! Customize this home today!
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3.00
Square feet: 1,766
Price: $205,900

For more information about this property, please contact Rob Davies at 515-208-5957 or RobDaviesTeam@gmail.com. You can also text 3201249 to 67299.


See more listings at: www.daviesandkidd.com


MLS ID: 508300

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

1920 E 24th ST Des Moines, IA 50317

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/FDRTRV
You just dont find this everyday!! A very well maintained 1 owner home. 1 car garage plus 2 sheds for storage. Nice fence in yard, 2 covered patio areas for nice summer evenings. Come take a look.
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1.00
Square feet: 952
Price: $79,900

For more information about this property, please contact Laura Mullin at 5153062027 or lmullin@mchsi.com. You can also text 3199580 to 67299.


See more listings at: lmullin.remax-central.com


MLS ID: 508260

Monday, November 23, 2015

Tips for stress-free travel



Traveling is a wonderful opportunity to see the world, but it can come with stress that turns a vacation into an experience you quickly want to forget. Sticking to exhausting itineraries, eating an abundance of rich foods, and even planning a visit with family can turn an enjoyable vacation into a stressful experience.



A little advanced planning can help alleviate some of the traditional stresses travelers experience during holiday visits, winter vacations and spring break trips, allowing everyone in the family to enjoy the journey.



* Be organized - Keep a folder or notebook filled with every detail of information you will - or might - need. These details include important telephone numbers, insurance information, as well as all travel details like flight times, car rental information, hotel reservation, addresses and tickets to any events you might be attending while on your trip. Also pack photo copies of your personal information like driver's license, passport and credit cards separately from your purse. Create a second set and give them to a friend or family member not traveling with you who would be able to email or fax them if an emergency situation happens. Having the photo copies of the original information will help shorten the time it will take to get official replacements.



* Pack a medicine bag - It's very easy to catch a traveler's cold or end up suffering with digestive issues from eating out and indulging in too many sweet or spicy foods. Make certain to include over-the-counter pain killers, cold and allergy medicines and don't forget about packing an all-in-one solution to handle both anti-gas and antacid digestive relief. It's available in liquid, tablet and on-the-go forms to treat symptoms of heartburn, upset stomach, constipation, indigestion and acid indigestion.



* Use technology - Smartphones and cellphones make travel much easier. Airline and hotel applications can notify you about delay and cancelations, allow you to check-in for your flight before leaving for the airport, select seats on the plane, and confirm your hotel your reservation. Some airlines even allow you to scan a boarding pass directly from your smartphone. A bonus - pack headphones and use your smartphone to carry favorite tunes to help soothe your mind and relax your body while traveling. It will make the long road trip or flight go much quicker.



* Bring snacks - Airport food is expensive and many airlines have done away with in-flight snacks. Dry foods can be taken through airport security, so bring along trail mix, granola bars or sandwich crackers to help keep hunger pains at bay, and save you time and money when at the airport. For longer flights that serve a meal, call the airline ahead to request a special needs meal, like heart healthy or vegetarian. These meals tend to be fresher and lower in sodium than the regular meals and will ensure that you feel great when you land.



* Comfort is king - A long road trip or plane flight can have anyone feeling rumpled and uncomfortable. To make these travels more comfortable, consider wearing slip-on shoes - they're easy to remove to go through security at an airport and can be kicked off in the car to help relax your feet. Also pack breezy and loose-fitting clothing, because most people tend to indulge in convenience foods and alcohol while traveling, which can cause tight-fitting clothing to feel very uncomfortable later on in the trip.



Traveling for the holidays, or a spring break vacation is meant to be a relaxing and enjoyable time. So plan ahead for any stresses, and when the big day for departure arrives, let the fun begin.



Green living project: Revamp your kitchen pantry to avoid waste and save money



For a basic green living project with benefits to your wallet and the environment, consider revamping the kitchen pantry. The cupboard is the starting point for most kitchen activity and is more than just a storage space. Develop good buying habits and build a strong foundation and you can avoid the waste of food and money. Here's how to tackle the task at once or little by little.



Assess



When you are not in a rush to whip up a family meal or put away loads of groceries, take some time to really look at the items in your pantry. What is in front? What is hidden in the back? What's used most frequently? What is expired?



Be more aware of your consumption habits, suggests Cory Schreiber, a chef instructor at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Portland. This awareness is a simple step to greener living. Avoid impulse purchases by being more mindful of the emotions that can be involved in food shopping, he adds. Not only do you avoid waste this way, but conscious consumption is more cost effective too.



Utilize



Another cost-effective method that Joshua Joe, storeroom manager at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California - Los Angeles, a campus of Argosy University, recommends is a common inventory and accounting process used by schools, hotels and other food service providers. Practicing a first-in, first-out method of consuming your pantry goods is a true way to save money and prevent food waste, says Joe, who purchases the school's food supplies. With approximately 500 culinary arts students regularly coming through the school's dry storage area, Joe encourages the students to use the earliest bought, or oldest, goods first. The tendency is to go for the freshest or A+ product when the A grade item will do, he says. You don't want to let perfectly usable goods go to waste.



Stock up



Once you have a handle on what you are buying and how you are consuming it, it is time to stock up.



Schreiber proposes buying high-quality essentials and purchasing goods in bulk. Buy the highest quality staples you can afford, recommends Schreiber. For example, six pounds of a good butter can last you a solid five months. Other items where quality counts and the products can endure include oils, vinegars, salts, dried herbs and spices.When possible, buy dry goods in bulk too, he adds. Grains, rice, legumes and pastas are all good products to shop for in a food store's bulk department.



To store the loose pasta or grains, look for containers with a lower environmental footprint. Using glass, metal and ceramics is the easiest solution, says Chris Stanley, an Industrial Design instructor at The Art Institute of Seattle. Stanley, who has taught courses on the history of industrial design and in materials and manufacturing, adds, choose something classic in design so you won't be tempted to throw it out in two years. Or, you can re-use glass jars and that fruit cake tin your aunt sends you each year.



Not only is buying in bulk less expensive, but less packaging means less energy used to create the materials and less garbage to throw away - all of which are more friendly to the environment.



728 NE 42nd ST Ankeny, IA 50021

Property Site: http://tour.circlepix.com/home/VRZSYV
Better than new brick ranch resale.Pride of Ownership shows in this one owner custom built home.This is a very open plan with nice upgrades including a kitchen with tile floors,dovetail drawers,cabinet pullouts,quartz countertops and large center island.The family room opens up to an amazing sunroom with great views of a walking path to the East and West.You can also enjoy the views from the maintenance free deck that wraps around the sunroom.The master suite w/double vanity and walk in closet sits on one side of the home while 2 of the other bedrooms and another bathroom sits on the other side.The walkout lower level has a finished family room,full bathroom & 4th bedroom.There is an additional heated space w/french doors on the lower level for a workshop, mower storage,etc.Additional features include rounded drywall corners, 36" handicap accessible interior doors,a heated garage with workbench and hot and cold water and a fully irrigated large corner lot.You need to see this home!
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3.00
Square feet: 2,028
Price: $415,000

For more information about this property, please contact Rob Davies at 515-208-5957 or RobDaviesTeam@gmail.com. You can also text 3198294 to 67299.


See more listings at: www.daviesandkidd.com


MLS ID: 508196

Saturday, November 21, 2015

After-school smarts: Go healthy when kids go home





Personal safety



Some kids engage in team sports after school. Others participate in school-sponsored extracurricular clubs. Still others go home and spend time alone until parents are finished working. Regardless of how a child spends the hours after school, personal safety should be important—and a topic of conversation between parents and kids.



Consider how your child will spend their after-school hours, and work together to develop a list of relevant safety tactics. For example, if your child plays a sport, discuss ways to avoid injury and make sure they always wear appropriate safety gear. For students who will arrive home before parents, set ground rules, such as go straight home and check in via phone call or text once they arrive. Remind children not to open the door to strangers or answer phone calls from numbers they can't identify. Safekids.org offers a wealth of safety tips that can be applied to virtually every child's after-school situation.



Better snacking



Snacking is actually a very healthy habit when done smartly. Teach kids to reach for a sensible and filling snack to help keep their minds alert for homework and their bodies fueled for after-school activities. Encourage kids to use portion control and choose healthier snacks, like fresh fruits or veggies or fat-free options like pretzels.



Portion-controlled, pre-packaged choices are convenient and healthy options for after-school snacking. For example, 100-calorie pretzel packs from Snyder's of Hanover are a great-tasting snack kids love. Plus, ample research - and common experience - indicates chewing on something crunchy stimulates the brain. Try a low-fat combination of pretzels with apple slices or carrot sticks, which are more stimulating to a child's brain than something sweet and fatty. Visit www.snydersofhanover.com to learn more.



Follow a schedule that builds in fun and eases homework headaches



Naturally, all children want to work some fun into their day, whether it's before or after homework is complete. Since most kids thrive with guidance and structure, talk to your child about creating a schedule or "to-do" list for after-school time, and make sure it includes a combination of fun activities, snack time and homework. Keep in mind that every child is different. Some children need to run around before starting homework, while others do best when saving the fun time for last.



Screen time



Once kids have completed homework and gotten a little physical activity, many may prefer to spend hours online, playing video games or watching TV. Finding a balance can be tough. Many parents take a "homework first" approach, having kids complete school assignments before they're allowed the treat of screen time. Also consider parental control software to set limits on when kids can use the PC, laptop or tablet and to restrict when—and where—they can go online.



You can also encourage kids to use technology in a manner that stimulates their brain, such as reading a book on a tablet, working on a brain puzzle on the computer, or practicing their keyboard or typing skills. Many schools will provide a list of fun websites kids can access at home or the library to reinforce skills taught in school.



Once the bell rings and school is out for the day, keep your children safe, smart and healthy with each of these approaches.



Friday, November 20, 2015

Affordable decorating tips to take your home from ho-hum to high style



Feeling uninspired in your space? Updating the decor in your home is an easy way to add more color, style and personality to rejuvenate your residence. Whether you're making a few updates, like new artwork or wall colors, or renovating an entire room with a completely new look, decorating should be fun, not stressful. With a few simple tips, you can up the design ante in your home without breaking the bank.

Decorative painting for design

Painting can consist of much more than simple strokes of one color. Take things to the next level with decorative painting. Create different patterns on your walls with textured rollers to achieve an artistic design. Sponge and fabric paint rollers provide unique patterns to give your walls a one-of-a-kind look. Low in price and high in design, using textured rollers is a great option for redecorating on a budget.

Painting stripes in your room is a refreshing way to update your current color scheme. A sequence of wide and narrow stripes in complementing colors is a stylish option. To achieve crisp, clean lines between each stripe, painter's tape will get the job done. It will also help toprevent paint bleed, leaving precise lines and keeping the transition between your colors looking sharp.

A plethora of plates

Artwork is a great way to change things up and give any room a boost. Expensive traditional framed pieces of artwork aren't your only option anymore. Instead, create an eclectic art piece with plates you already own, or find them at garage sales and antique stores. Opt for various sizes and shapes and attach each one to your wall with plate hooks. You can cover an entire wall, or focus on a smaller area - but before you get started, be sure to lay out your design on the floor first. This way, you'll achieve your desired look, without extra nail holes on the wall from hanging as you go.
Perk-up hallways with runners; rooms with rugs
While re-energizing your home, the hallways may seem a little drab. Add a pick-me-up to your walkway by hanging portraits with funky frames along the walls. Add a runner along the length of the floor for a touch of pizzazz. Runners come in a multitude of lengths, patterns and colors - not to mention price ranges. Updating the flooring will keep your feet cozy and help to diminish the sound of footsteps during the night.
Affordable%20decorating%20tips If you have a space you want to update, but a full room makeover isn't in your budget, consider an area rug to spruce things up. If the color in your room is dull, the rug can add visual interest and a pop of color, serving as an aesthetically pleasing addition. Area rugs also help to break up the space of a larger room and can add grandeur to a small space. A new rug will also protect your pre-existing carpet, vinyl and hardwood floors, keeping them looking newer, longer.

Opt for accents as design elements

No home redecorating project is complete without a few perfectly placed accents. These interesting items stand out from your primary colors and furniture pieces, offering a fresh look to any space. Accent pieces - like chairs, frames or vases - will spice up a monotonous color scheme, while harmonizing with everything else you may already have in a room. Consider a bright beanbag chair for your child's bedroom, a bold lawn chair on your patio to enthrall while entertaining or a lamp base in a complementary color on your console. Keep in mind accents are meant to speak for themselves; so there's no need to have another elaborate piece in the room to pair with an accent piece. Just one affordable piece is all it takes.

When the redecorating bug bites, embrace the opportunity to freshen up your home inexpensively. With a pinch of creativity and a dash of design inspiration, you can easily make over any space into one that's perfect for you.
IMAGE CAPTIONS:
-------------------------------------------
Caption 1: Create different patterns on your walls with textured rollers to achieve an artistic design.
Caption 2: Painting stripes in your room is a refreshing way to update your current color scheme.