Spooktacular Halloween Party Food

Gross Halloween Party Food

Halloween party food will add a delightful spookiness to any festivity. Make a spooktacular impression with these creepy party treats, great for guests of all ages. Collected from Pinterest, these gruesome recipes are easy, inexpensive, and fun to make.


Witchy Finger Cookies

(Recipe and photo source:  http://domesticsugar.blogspot.com/)

For a horrifyingly scrumptious desert, roll out sugar cookie dough into a thin line. (The dough will spread when baking). Score at the knuckles and apply an almond shard at the tip. Bake as directed. Brush cooled cookies with a little cocoa powder to add contrast. They are creepy but delicious!

Witch fun fact:
Witches are usually seen with a black cat, flying on a broom stick or stirring a cauldron, but in earlier times, witches were considered healers and women of wisdom. Their cauldron (pot), broom, and cat are all symbols associated with the women's work and the household.


The Puking Pumpkin

(Photo source: Pinterest.com)

This spin off of the jack o' lantern may disturb the digestion of any guest, but it will also evoke laughs and entertainment for all ages. All it takes is your favorite guacamole dip and a carved pumpkin.


Healthy Halloween Pumpkins

(Photo source: Pinterest.com)

Peeled tangerines and a piece of celery stick, can it get any easier?

Jack O' Lantern fun fact:
The jack o lantern dates back to a Celtic story of Jack Stringy, a drunk, who made two broken deals with the devil. Upon his death, neither God nor the devil would accept him. Jack wanted to make his way to heaven, so the devil threw him a piece of hot coal inside a carved turnip, but legend has it that Jack has been roaming the earth with it ever since. To scare away Jack or other wandering evil spirits, the Irish would make their own version of the jack o lantern by carving scary faces into turnips. As Halloween evolved in America, the turnip was replaced by the pumpkin.


Halloween Screamers

(Photo source:  Pinterest.com)

These screaming pigs-in-a-blanket are unquestionably creative and a perfect Halloween hors de’oeuvre.


Zombie Boogies

(Photo source:  Pinterest.com)

Green candy coated popcorn will be a horrifying delight for any of your party guests. The recipe is super easy and the awesome zombie boogie bags are available for purchase too.


Jello Worms

(Photo source and recipe:  Pinterest.com)

Your party ghouls will love to gobble up these tasty squirmy worms made from bendable straws and jello.  Wrap straws in a rubber band and place into a glass. Gently pour jello into the straws, let the jello set, then release the worms by running the straws under warm water.

Pallets : Extraordinary Uses for An Ordinary Object

Pallet Projects: What "wood" you do?

I never realized just how many creative ideas could come out of an old pallet. Not only is it a great way to repurpose our resources, but it is inexpensive too.  Take a look at my collection of inspiring indoor and outdoor pallet projects that cost virtually nothing to create but add lots of pizzaz to any home or garden.

Keep in mind that pallets are made from a rough low grade wood, and may need to be disassembled -- a time consuming process. For a quick easy method use a saw with a blade for nail cutting.

When shopping for pallets, look for heat treated, not chemically treated pallets, especially if you plan on using them for interior furniture or gardening projects.

Pallet garden project source:  Recyclart

Pallet headboard source:  http://pinterest.com/pin/228628118556212148/
Directions

Pallet hanging rack source: www.willowhavenoutdoor.com

Pallet wall shelf source:  www.notquiteamishliving.com

Pallet bookshelf source:
http://pinterest.com/pin/298785756498066406/

Pallet coffee table source:
http://pinterest.com/pin/505529126892925634/

Shipping pallet daybed source:
http://www.casasugar.com/Cool-Idea-Shipping-Pallet-Daybed-4440399

Pallet garden source:
http://pinterest.com/ginaursini/diy-projects/pins/

Pallet wall art source:
http://justimagine-ddoc.com/crafts/pallets-projects-are-endless/?pid=12078

Pallet wine glass and wine bottle holder source:
http:.dumpaday.com/genius-ideas-2/amazing-uses-for-old-pallets-23-pics/

Thank you for reading. I hope you  find this blog post informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.

For more information on Lakewood Ranch Real Estate, Sarasota, Bradenton, or the surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in the Lakewood Ranch area, please do not hesitate to contact Gina Ursini at Keller Williams Realty by phone (941-812-4894), or email, or visit http://SarasotaHomesCollection.com.

View:  Current Lakewood Ranch Real Estate for sale
View:  Current Sarasota Real Estate for sale
View:  Current Bradenton Real Estate for sale

Further Reading:

1. Remodel Your Lakewood Ranch Investment Home
2. Home Staging:  Adding Unseen Beauty Through the Power of Scent
3. Raising the Roof:  A Unique Building Approach
4. Kitchen redecorating: Will it Help Sell My Lakewood Ranch Home?

Generation Home Preferences: Dream Homes Vary by Generation

Generation Homes: Does Your Home Tell More About You Than You Think?

Different generations have diverse preferences when it comes to choosing a home.  Think about what you like in a home, then check below to see what a majority of the buyers in your age group are looking for in a home.

Generation Y House (20’s – mid 30’s)

• Contemporary in design and not afraid of color
• Want smaller homes, smaller yards, and low maintenance, so they have time to travel.
• They can’t remember life without a computer, so they research everything, including buying a home
• Tech savvy so they are more customization oriented
• Culturally diverse group of friends
• Likes flex spaces

Generation X House (mid 30’s – mid 40’s)

• Contemporary in style
• Big on entertaining
• Women play a big part in the decision process
• Prefers open spaces and outdoor spaces
• Family oriented (50% have families so themes are important)
• Wants closets and cubbies for storage
• Likes flex spaces

Boomers House (50’s – mid 60’s)

• Prefer single family homes with amenities
• Love to entertain
• Facing retirement but still want to be active
• Want to be near shopping centers and medical services
• Wants a floor plan to adjust to their lifestyle
• Prefers off white with chocolate glaze or dark finish cabinets
• Able to afford a little more in upgrades

View:  Current Lakewood Ranch Real Estate for sale
View:  Current Sarasota Real Estate for sale
View:  Current Bradenton Real Estate for sale

Further Reading:

1. Remodel Your Lakewood Ranch Investment Home: The Steps From Start to Finish
2. Lakewood Ranch  Low Appraisal:  Options for Buyers and Sellers
3. Selling Your Lakewood Ranch Home: Unconventional Tips
4. Non-Profit Leaseback Program For Short Sales Arrives in Sarasota, Florida

Subscribe:  To "See More Listings" of Lakewood Ranch Real Estate

Search:  The Lakewood Ranch Area MLS

Thank you for reading. I hope you  find this blog post informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.

For more information on Lakewood Ranch Real Estate, Sarasota, Bradenton, or the surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in the Lakewood Ranch area, please do not hesitate to contact Gina Ursini (941-812-4894) at Keller Williams Realty or visit http://SarasotaHomesCollection.com.

A Twist on Home Staging

A new and innovative twist on staging vacant homes

You only have 15 seconds to make a good first impression. When selling your home, you want buyers to walk in the front door and say "Wow".  One way to accomplish this is to stage the home. It's a proven fact that a staged house sells faster and for more money.

A vacant home sells for 10% less and is harder to sell. The reason -- most buyers can not visualize what the home will look like furnished. To solve this problem, you could hire a professional home stager, but many times the furniture looks generic and will not match the homes personality.

Want to get that lived-in look without actually living in the home?
A national staging company out of Nashville Tennessee, Show Homes, has put a new and innovative twist on staging vacant homes. They have discovered a way to save sellers time and money plus give the home a meticulous lived-in look. How? By sending one of their "resident manager"s to live in an manage your home.

The role of a resident manager
These resident managers are carefully screened and bring their own furniture and accessories. The resident manager also pays for their own utilities while living in your home. And, to top it all off, the home staging service purchases the additional homeowner’s insurance required.

Does all of this sound too good to be true? 
Hiring a professional tenant may not be for everyone. For example, Showhomes only supplies its services for those listings over $500,000 and staging fees can range from $1,000 - $3,000. At closing, the homeowner pays .25 percent to 1 percent of the list price to the company. Because it is a franchise, pricing structures may vary by region.

“On a million-dollar home, we would typically charge a $2,500 setup fee and a $5,000 success fee if and when the home sold, paid at closing,” says Thom Scott, director of operations for Showhomes. “If we didn’t succeed in producing a sale, the homeowner would only pay the setup fee.”

If you have a home in a large metropolitan area, you can find a local company to provide this service such as Quality First Home Marketing in San Diego and Luxury Homes in Atlanta.

Source:  http://www.SarasotaHomesCollection Insider Tips by Keller Williams Realty

For more information on Lakewood Ranch Real Estate, Sarasota, Bradenton, or the surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in the Lakewood Ranch area, please do not hesitate to contact Gina Ursini (941-812-4894) at Keller Williams Realty or visit http://SarasotaHomesCollection.com.

Thank you for reading. I hope you  find this blog post informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.

Home Staging Tips: Adding Unseen Beauty to Your Home Through the Power of Scent

A Scent-sational Home

There's nothing that wards off buyers more than a foul-smelling home. After perfecting your home's curb appeal, the next home staging step is to make your home smell welcoming.  To create an appealing environment for buyers, pleasing scents should be part of the selling plan. A home with enjoyable scents can leave a long-lasting impression with potential buyers.

We've all walked into a home filled with the heavenly aroma of fresh baked pie or cookies and felt the happiness that accompanies it. But not all of us have the time (or baking skills) to make a home smell of delicious desserts. Luckily, there are a few quick and easy home staging alternatives that can give that same welcoming aroma.

Fruit
Eric Spangenberg, Dean of the college of business at Washington State University, studied the effects of aromas and found that a simple orange scent may affect cognitive functions in the same areas of the brain involved in decision-making. Grinding some pieces of fruit such as orange, lemon, or grapefruit  in your garbage disposal does wonders in warding off those unpleasant disposal smells.

Flowers
Place a vase of fresh cut flowers at the entrance or in the kitchen. Choose a soft-smelling flower, such as sweet pea. Not only does it look great, it smells great too.

Lavender
Want to lure in potential female buyers? Lavender, known for its calming and soothing effects, is the number one aromatherapy scent and studies have shown that it is especially attractive to women. Use it sparingly in your home to create a pleasant and relaxing effect.

Cinnamon
We can't forget about the potential male buyers. The smell of cinnamon is especially appealing to men. Simmer some cinnamon sticks in water just prior to the showing.  You can also sprinkle some cinnamon on a baking tray and bake in a low temperature oven.

How Much is Too Much?
Although an inviting scent can create a long-lasting impression on buyers, too much may send them running for the door.  Complex scents, even pleasant ones, can be a distraction to buyers who may spend more time focusing on the strong aroma than the attractive details of your home. Although a scent can be used in every room, be sure to use each scent in moderation.

Acknowledgements:  Realtypin.com

I am happy to offer my background in decorating and staging as a service to my clients. Sellers who list their home with me will receive complimentary staging assistance.

View:  Current Lakewood Ranch Real Estate for sale
View:  Current Sarasota Real Estate for sale
View:  Current Bradenton Real Estate for sale

Further Reading:

1. The 60-30-10 Rule: Adding Color To Your Space
2. Budget Friendly Decorating Ideas For Your Fixer Upper
3. Selling Your Lakewood Ranch Home: Unconventional Tips
4. Remodel Your Lakewood Ranch Investment Home: The Steps From Start To Finish

Subscribe:  To "See More Listings" of Lakewood Ranch Real Estate

Search:  The Lakewood Ranch Area MLS

Thank you for reading. I hope you  find this blog post informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.

For more information on Lakewood Ranch Real Estate, Sarasota, Bradenton, or the surrounding areas, as well as any other aspects of life in the Lakewood Ranch area, please do not hesitate to contact Gina Ursini at Keller Williams Realty or visit http://SarasotaHomesCollection.com.

Remodel Your Lakewood Ranch Investment Home: The Steps From Start to Finish‏

Get ready to remodel and flip.

Remodeling an investment property can be an intimidating task for any investor, but with the right contractor and the proper steps, a remodel can prove to be quite profitable. Take a look at this extensive remodel by Brista Homes. The end result was a brand new home (aside from it's age) with a turn around time, from start to finish, of three months.

Step One: Estimating the Renovation Costs
Estimates were started as soon as the home went under contract. Once all the numbers were in, it was time to separate the "musts" from the "wants". For example, repairing the roof, and replacing the AC unit and water tank were a "must". Tearing down the kitchen wall to make it an open concept was a "want" but fit the budget.

                                            



























As soon as the property closed, all supplies and material were ordered.

Step Two: Meet the Neighbors
Introduction letters were sent to the neighbors and the association informing them of the renovations and where to direct concerns they might have through out the process. This helped the job to start off on the right foot.

Helpful hint: As a result of the letter, you may receive calls early on about interest in the home. Make it a point to only show the home once the remodel is 100% complete, or if not, very close to it. Save their information and assure them that you will update them when the home is nearing completion.

Step Three: The Demolition
Within hours after closing, the dumpster was delivered. The demolition was started immediately. The tacky wall paper was stripped, the popcorn ceilings were scraped, the moldings and doors were removed, the kitchen and guest bathroom was gutted, and the confining kitchen wall was removed. The only two items salvaged in this property were the hardwood floors, the master bath marble tile, and a small section of kitchen cabinets that were cleaned and reused in the laundry area.

                                            Step Four: Rough-in Mechanical Stage
These "must" items in the remodel were tackled first:
AC duct work
Electrical wiring for recessed lighting
Plumbing behind the walls
Roof repair

Helpful hints: Do not re-texture and paint the ceilings without repairing the roof leaks first. Do not repair dry wall before fixing the plumbing.

Step Five: The Installations
The following items were taken care of during the installation process:
Drywall repair
Retexturing of the walls and ceilings
Trim work
Painting
Installation of kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities
Floor and wall tile installation
Granite counter tops installation
Hard wood floors sanded

Helpful hint: When doing a kitchen, bring your dimensions to Lowe's or Home Depot and have them design the kitchen for you. You'll get the right size cabinets with a good fit.

Step Six:Trim Out
The remodel was now ready for the finishing touches. This is also referred to as punch out and consists of the installation of plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, and outlet covers, paint touch up, etc. It's a good idea to walk through at this point and create a punch list of items that need completion. These finishing details are what makes the remodel stand out above the rest.

                                      Step Seven: Construction Clean
The home was professionally cleaned, including the windows.

Step Eight: The Garage
The garage doubled as a work shop during the remodel process, so it did not make sense to tackle this area until the end. The painting of the garage trim and walls were scheduled at the same time as the interior paint touch up. The garage floors were acid washed, etched, and received two coats of epoxy. Not only did the homes interior look brand new, but now the garage did too.

Next, the hard wood floors were stained and sealed. The floors received three coats of sealer, and were sanded lightly between each coat.

 
Step Nine: Carpeting
Since workers were coming in and out of the home, the carpets were installed last. Wall to wall carpeting went into the master and guest bedrooms.

Step Ten: The Exterior
Curb appeal plays an important part in making your investment property stand out from the rest. The home was pressure washed the and damaged lanai screens were replaced. A professional landscaper was hired to clean the yard and remove the old stone hardscaping. Mulch and flowers were added along the walkway. An appealing exterior sets a good first impression and attracts buyers.

 

Call Gina Ursini at 941-812-4894 or visit http://SarasotaHomesCollection.com to find your next investment home.

The Contractor's Contract: What Should Be Included?

A smooth remodel project is only 8 tips away.

You've chosen a contractor for your remodel project. During the initial pre-construction and estimating process, many things have been discussed, so trying to keep track of conversations without a contract can lead to discrepancies and conflict. To ensure a smooth working relationship, follow these 8 simple tips on what should be included in a contractor's contract.This way, if there is a misunderstanding, both parties can refer to the contract for resolve.

The contract. The contractor's contract is a must.  Do not begin any project without one.

An address. Be sure you have the contractor's physical address and not just a P.O.box.  If you need to track your contractor down, you won't find him at a P.O. address.

A license number. Many states require persons who want to perform general, building, and residential construction to become licensed. Proof of a license means your contractor has taken the required courses, passed the state exam, and is playing by the rules.

Insurance. If an accident happens while working in your home, you want to make sure you are not held liable. Liability insurance protects the homeowner, contractor, and the contractors employees. Make sure your contractor is carrying contractor's liability insurance.

Scope of work.  The contractor's contract should present a description of the work to be performed. If your contractor is performing work off your designer's plans, the designer and the feature sheet date should be referenced in the contractors contract.

Agreement price and payments. The contractor's contract should state the agreed upon fee to complete the project. Your payment schedule, deposits, and draws should also be outlined in the contract.

Exclusions. There are certain limitations inherent in any addition or remodel project.  Your contractor should make every effort to anticipate all expenses, however there will be unforeseen conditions or defects which the owner may be be responsible for such as unexposed mechanicals damaged in existing walls, rot and deterioration, structural defects, insect infestation, and defects to roofing and flooring.

Warranties.  The contractor's contract should include a limited warranty against defects in original materials and workmanship which results in actual loss or damage for one year from the date of job completion. Upon written notice, your contractor should agree to either repair or replace, at his option.


Source:  Houzz.com/ Kenny Grono

Contractor Tips for Remodeling on a Budget

Remodel without sacrificing your style or budget

Remodeling can be expensive, and many times more costly than you originally expected, especially  if you start to make changes during the process.  Stay on plan by following these contractor tips for remodeling on a budget.

1.  Find a contractor that has a creative mind and is considerate of your budget.  Be honest about your budget from the start.  If a contractor knows you are serious about doing business with them, and not shopping around for a bunch of estimates,  they will spend more time finding creative ways to meet your criteria.

2.  Time is money. Pick a contractor and architect that will work in completing your plans in a timely manner. Before finalizing this step, make sure you are 100% satisfied with them. Making changes during the remodeling process means costly change orders down the road.

3.  Shop for good deals. Once your plans are complete, and you know what is needed for the project, shop around at second hand stores, tag sales, and Craig's list for budget friendly items.  It's important this step is done prior to the start of the remodel. Making changes during the process will effect both budget and cost.

Using salvaged items does not mean you need to compromise style. These 42" raised panel cabinets, the stainless steel appliances, and the black granite counter tops are all second hand finds. If you have these items on hand prior to the start of the project, a creative contractor can make it work.

4.  Do some work on your own. This should be addressed during your first meeting with the contractor as some may not allow this.  If your contractor is open to it, do the work when it's convenient to the contractor, such as on the weekends.

5. Have a good attitude. You  know the golden rule, treat others how you want to be treated. Treat your contractor and his subcontractors with respect. Your kindness will go a lot further, especially in the case that you decide on some last minute changes.

6.  Make prompt payments.  Abide by the terms of your contract and meet payment deadlines.  Failing to do so can hold up the project. Developing a good relationship with your contractor, means they are more likely to go that extra step for you when  needed.