My daughter suffers from asthma and went undiagnosed for 4 years.  Thankfully she does not have a severe case.  Since 22 million Americans young and old suffer from this epidemic I decided to devote my spare time in helping fight it.  Asthma is not always noticeable and there is likely someone close to you that suffers.  The Hampton Roads Healthy Lungs & Air Walk is September 26, 2009 at Mount Trashmore in Virginia Beach, registration begins at 9 and the walk at 10.  Our goal is to raise $50,000 towards education, research, and advocacy.

Come out on September 26th and support.  You can always go to www.lungusa.com to learn more about asthma and ways you can support the American Lung Association. 

Please visit my personal fundraising page and help me rais money for The American Lung Association.  Click here

Virginia is celebrating their 40th anniversary of Virginia is for Lovers.   Virginia wants you to celebrate with them.  Click here to find out about the great travel deals that are 40% off.

If you live anywhere near Virginia Beach you must have heard about the Mid Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge.  If you have not, July 11, 2009 is the day to go to the Oceanfront and see what it is all about.  To be honest with you I have never heard of it, but then again I don't own a hermit crab.

Those with hermit crabs bring them down to 30th Street to race on the 8 foot track specially made for crabs.  Lovingly referred to the "Crustation 500" the winner receives the "Order of the Mercury Claw" trophy.  If you crab is more like a turtle and just can not seem to put the pedal to the metal the Miss Curvaceous Crustacean Beauty Pageant maybe what you are looking for.  Crabs are judged on their beauty as well has how well they decorate there homes. 

The events are schedule from 10:00-2:00 PM. 

Buying a home is the largest investment most people will make, yet most people are unsure on how to maintain a home.  Your car comes with a nice little service manual that tells you every couple of thousand miles you do this type of service.  Most homes do not come with this service manual.  Here are some tips on how to maintain your home. 

FALL/WINTER

Vacuum the condenser coils on the back of the refrigerator and the lower grille to remove all dust build up.  If your unit has a drip pan, clean that out and make sure the drain leading to it is free of debris.

The garbage disposal has a tough, stinky job.  Use 1/4 cup baking soda, pack if full of ice cubes and let her run.  Once all the ice is crushed pour boiling water down the drain and the disposal should be smelling fresh.

Add/Replace weather-stripping to doors and windows.  It is also a good idea to buy a tube of caulk and caulk any gaps on the outside of your home. 

Clear leaves and debris from your gutters.  Check your roof for leaf build up as well.  Some valleys on your roof are the perfect spot for leaves to take up residence, once this happens water build up also happens.  To avoid a potential leak make sure you clean them off.  Trimming trees that over hang your roof is also a good idea this time of year. 

Cover up those outdoor spigots with insulated foam covers.  If you live in an area that is not prone to frost it is still a good idea.  Mother Nature loves to switch her mind at the last moment when it comes to weather.

If you have a basement you need to check to make sure your sump pump is working properly.

Check your heating and air ducts for any leaks, if you find a leak seal with duct tape.  Vacuum all heating and air grills to avoid dusty build up.  Also change your filter.

As the cold weather approaches so do the rats and mice.  They want to stay warm too!  If you have an infestation make sure you call the exterminator or you can exterminate them yourself.  You want to make sure to rid your home completely as they can chew wiring which could start a fire.

Make sure you clean your dryer vent.  This is a common area that is neglected and can pose a fire hazard if not cleaned.  It is a good idea to clean every 6 months.

If you have an irrigation system you need to weatherize it to avoid water freezing in the pipes.  Remove garden hoses and store them inside.

SPRING/SUMMER

Check your air conditioner to make sure it is ready to cool those hot months.  You also want to change your filter every month.

Vacuum the condenser coils on the back of the refrigerator and the lower grille to remove all dust build up.  If your unit has a drip pan, clean that out and make sure the drain leading to it is free of debris.

Wash windows and clean or repair any screens.

Check your irrigation system and water hoses not stored inside, to make sure they did not freeze over the winter. 

Check your home's exterior for any signs that the paint needs to be touched up, siding needs to be tacked back, or roof shingles that have come off.

Check your ceiling fan blades to make sure you have the leading edge of the blade higher than the tailing edge of the blade to circulate that cool air around your home.

Make sure you clean your dryer vent.  This is a common area that is neglected and can pose a fire hazard if not cleaned.  It is a good idea to clean every 6 months.

Sharpen your lawn mower blades and tune up any lawn equipment you have.

Clear leaves and debris from your gutters.  Check your roof for leaf build up as well.  Some valleys on your roof are the perfect spot for leaves to take up residence, once this happens water build up also happens.  To avoid a potential leak make sure you clean them off.  Trimming trees that over hang your roof is also a good idea this time of year. 

These simple but repetitive maintenance chores can help you extend the life of your home and save you on the service calls to the handyman or repairman. 

Having a casual conversation with a friend of mine and the topic of new roadways came up.  Specifically there is a section of road in Virginia Beach named Nimmo Parkway.  Nimmo Parkway today is a series of half sections, half on one side of the city half down the road about 5 miles.  There is a plan in effect to connect these sections in the future. 

My friend stated "Do you think their agent told them about this roadway before they purchased that house"?  Really good question I thougt.  I know that I inform all my clients to check with the City prior to purchasing a home to find out city plans for the area the home is in.  I am sure not all Realtors practice this. 

The City's 20 year road plan could affect your decision on buying in a particular area. What if that major roadway is going to run right alongside your new dream home.  You may want to invest a little time looking into where future roadways will go and expansion of current roadways.

Go to your City's website and look for management services once there you will look under Capital Improvement and you should see "roadways" listed.  This is where you will find the most current agenda for future and current roadways. 

Have school age children and looking for something educational do to with them.  Click here and learn all about the Virginia Time Travelers Passport.  Visit six locations, receive a stamp, mail in and get a certificate signed by the Govenor making your school age child an official Time Traveler.

We first learned about this program last year and had so much fun learning and exploring our great state.  Each year there are new destinations added with a rotation.  Many of these locations are free or have a discounted admission for participants.  You can also make a tax free donation to this wonderful program by visiting the website.

Print out a passport, even if you are older than school age, and take it to explore Virginia.  I like to get stamps along with the kids to scrapbook for later memories.

Baby robins are hatching everywhere this time of year and my yard is no exception.  Sitting down for a relaxing night of TV watching my neighbor comes to let me know baby birds have fallen out of a tree in my front yard and are laying on the ground.  Two little birds, one looking for some food from mommy bird and one in the peaceful forever sleep.  Getting a shoe box I scoop the little baby up, he has no feathers and can only move his neck up and open his mouth for food.  As we decided what to do with this bird as we can not put it back in the tree, plus we see no nest, we hear frantic chirping.  Following the noise we find another baby bird, this one full of feathers and hopping all over the yard.  Did they come from the same nest?  They are so different in size and stage of development.  Where is that other shoebox I had?  Two birds in two shoe boxes later we call animal control to find out what to do with these birds.We can't leave the older of the birds in the yard.  There is a ferral cat who loves to leave dead things in the yards for our children to find on the way to school.

30 minute drive later we are at a nice brick ranch home where some local residents nurse injured or lost birds back to health.  We walk up to the porch and see a glass room full of many different kinds of flying birds as well as some chickens pecking the floor.  Who knew you could have chickens in the house in Virginia Beach!  We left the birds on the porch knowing that the residents were home and would take good care of the little things.  Good deed done for the day we headed home.

For those of you who love dairy products, take a moment to celebrate, June is Dairy month!  What began in 1937 as a grocery store sponsored milk event has become an official event.  Diary month takes time to recognize those farmers who produce dairy and those who support them.

Did you know that Virginia has a strong Dairy presense?  In 2008, $1.6 billion dollars was generated by Virginia Dairy farmers.  Virginia is ranked 23rd in milk production.  So drink your milk, eat some cheese, and buy some ice cream, it helps if you buy from your local Dairy bar. 

The City of Norfolk has a wonderful program for first time home buyers.  There are some income requirements to qualify, but if you do you can get low interest rates and up to 20% in dow payment and closing cost assistance.

Click here to find out more information.

July 1, 2009 is right around the corner and Virginia is making it illegal to text message while driving.  What this means is unless you are lawfully parked or stopped you can not text message.  Hopefully this will help VA drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.