Connie Taylor's Amarillo Real Estate Blog

Keeping Water Away From Your Foundation

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:05:07 -0700

Keeping Water Away From Your Foundation

Great information from Yahoo!Real Estate:

Water is good for trees, shrubs and many other plant forms. It’s not, however, always good for your house, especially when your property stays wet and does not drain properly.

To protect your home, the soil around the home should slope away from the foundation on all sides.

Typically, the recommended slope is one inch per foot for at least six feet away from the home. This rule of thumb is not always possible for hard surfaces like drives and walks. However, with these impervious surfaces, water can keep moving away from the home even if the slope is less.

If the lot slopes toward a home, a swale, or a shallow ditch, should be installed to prevent surface water from flowing against the foundation. A swale should carry surface water around the home and away on the surface of the soil or to a catch basin that will carry the water via an underground drainage pipe.

A French drain can also help get water into the ground where it can quickly disperse. The drain can be as simple as a huge hole dug and filled with rock, or it can be as sophisticated as a system of interior foundation drains that feed into a sump pump and exterior flow system.

Gutters and downspouts are also important means for getting water away from your home’s foundation, especially when the structure does not have substantial overhang. For gutters to function properly, they must be firmly attached to the eave of the roof; all seams must be sealed and the gutters must slope toward the downspout with a slope of one inch in 17 feet,

A good rule of thumb — one downspout should not drain more than 35 feet of gutter. The gutters must be clean to prevent clogging. The gutter downspouts need to be extended away from the home a minimum of four feet with six feet being preferred. When downspouts are connected to underground drains, it is very important to keep all debris out of the gutters, downspouts and underground drains.

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed

Needing a Bathroom Update?!

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:40:33 -0700

Needing a Bathroom Update?! Start with finishing things off with changing/adding handles that match your bathroom fixtures or decor theme. Brighten things up. Repainting your bathroom with light colors can make it feel more spacious. If your bathroom has windows or skylights, use window treatments and accents that maximize the amount of light that comes through to give the room a more airy feel. Find the best use for your space. Move bathroom cleaning items to a hall closet if you are stretched for storage space in your bathroom, especially if you have freestanding storage units that are taking up valuable floor space. If you need more storage space, consider adding built-in compartments if possible between your wall studs to maximize useable space. Of course changing the shower curtain, towels and soap dispenser to something new can just be enough to bring a smile to your face when you walk in the bathroom! This information is presented by: Connie Taylor Keller Williams ConnieTaylor@KW.com www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed

Remodeling Secrets

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:57:11 -0700

Remodeling Secrets

Getting ready to put your home on the market? Here are a few key spots around the house that yield the best payback when it comes to selling:

- Put in a new front door or paint your old one. The front door is one of the most important things in selling a home that many people tend to overlook. The typical cost for this project is usually under $1,300 and pays back around 73 percent when selling your home. Use bright colors for your door. Colors like reds, tangerine, and indigo are sure to impress buyers.

- If you have an attic, turning it into a bedroom will pay you back about 72.5 percent on a $50,000 project. That’s a great investment! An eyebrow dormer in the attic provides light and space for a teenager’s private retreat or a cozy master bedroom, complete with its own bath and dressing area. Using space that is already there doesn’t impinge on the yard, though room for a staircase is needed.

- A minor kitchen remodel can also improve your home’s chances of selling tremendously. The average cost of such a project is about $20,000 and can promise around a 72.1 percent payback. Skip new cabinetry, often the most expensive part of a kitchen makeover. Instead, just clean them up. Swap your old countertops for stone or granite, then add kitchen bling – new glam knobs and pulls on the cabinets, a brushed nickel faucet and soap dispenser along with a new stacked-stone-style glass tile, metal and slate backsplash that “dazzles and pops.”

-A bathroom remodel also yields a great return on investment. A full remodel can cost around $16,000 and payback about 62.2 percent, but a minor remodel can cost around $500 and payback 172 percent! Remove outdated, busy wallpaper and paint the bathroom a light, neutral color. Changing the faucets and light fixtures can also add a splash of newness to the bathroom.

- Garage doors are an inexpensive way to add style to your house and make a great first impression when done right. A new, stylish garage door can cost around $1,500 and payback around 71.9 percent. When it comes to curb appeal, garage doors take up to 20 percent of a home’s façade, expressing style and a home’s personality. Choose heavy duty, low maintenance, energy-efficient doors. Personalize with windows, colors and decorative hardware.

Get more information at Yahoo real estate on some changes you can make on the cost and payback it will bring you.

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Fountain Of Youth

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:21:08 -0800

Fountain of Youth - Fight the effects of aging with six easy lifestyle changes

I loved this article written by Ashley Gartland in Home by Design Magazine. Some great tips for us!

With each passing year, your body and mind are aging. But growing older doesn’t have to be an inevitable fact of life. Aging is, in fact, something you can control. By making lifestyle changes and practicing good habits each day, you can slow, and even reverse, the aging process without turning to cosmetic surgery or extreme diet and exercise programs to keep your body in check.

Ready to turn back the clock? Here’s how to decrease your disease risk, stay physically strong and mentally sharp, and start looking and feeling younger today.

Make exercise a priority. According to an American Cancer Society study, otherwise inactive women who sit for more than six hours a day increase their likelihood of early death by 98 percent compared with active women who sit less than three hours per day. And that’s not all: individuals who don’t exercise face muscle and bone loss and increase the likelihood of dealing with bodily injuries in their golden years. To combat the effects of aging, experts recommend a combination of stretching, core work, strength-training sessions, and cardiovascular activities each week. Books such as Bob Greene’s 20 Years Younger provide guidelines and programs to get you off on the right foot.

Embrace a healthy diet. Menu plans that emphasize healthy fats, whole grains, and plentiful fruits and vegetables—such as the much-praised Okinawan and Mediterranean diets—are shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and increase longevity. Adopting principles such as swapping olive oil for butter and keeping meat consumption to a minimum can offer life-lengthening benefits. So too will making important dietary changes such as limiting your intake of saturated fats and sugary treats.

Practice good sleep habits. On average, Americans get 6.9 hours of shut-eye per weeknight, according to a 2011 Sleep in America Poll. That’s not enough to combat aging, says Dr. Michael F. Roizen, author of The RealAge Makeover, who recommends that women get at least seven hours of sleep each night and men get at least eight. Set yourself up for a good night’s rest by establishing a standard wake-up time, which will help set your circadian rhythm; creating a dark, comfortable sleep environment; and avoiding stimulating activities such as e-mail and television before bed.

Improve your skin-care routine. Smoking and sun exposure are the main culprits behind old-looking skin. To keep skin looking healthy and youthful, don’t smoke, and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. Your skin will also benefit from a simple at-home skin-care plan that involves an exfoliating product to remove dead skin cells; a cleanser to clear dirt and debris away; and a nourishing lotion, cream, or serum to deliver antioxidants, vitamins, and anti-aging ingredients to your skin.

Tap into your social network. Individuals who live with others and have a strong support network and a rich social life live longer, healthier lives and suffer lower rates of chronic diseases, accidents, and psychological harm than those who lead lonely lives, according to The RealAge Makeover. Make your social life a top priority by scheduling weekly activities with friends and family. Better yet, make a habit of exercising with friends often so you can tackle two anti-aging strategies at once.

Give your brain a workout. There’s no doubt that getting older can increase forgetfulness and bring a decline in mental agility. But you can counteract the effects of aging on your brain by challenging yourself mentally each day. Do the daily crossword puzzle, sit in on a lecture series, or take up a foreign language. Stimulating activities like these will help you stay mentally sharp as the years pass.

I think we can do these!

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

A Visit to Portugal

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:36:42 -0800

I loved this article about Cascais, Portugal in Home by Design Magazine written by Ruth Wertzberger Carlson. I think I am ready to book my flight! Take the trip with me...

Not many North Americans visit Portugal, and when they do it’s usually just Lisbon. But just a half hour away, Cascais is a mixture of old-world charm and cosmopolitan restaurants and boutiques. Where else would you find peacocks roaming by colorful, modern outdoor art sculptures and millionaires sunbathing on yachts next to fisherman repairing nets on colorful wooden boats?

Old town is the place to stay. It’s easy to get lost in this area, with its twisted alleys and narrow streets, but getting lost is half the fun. Enjoy the pastel-colored villas built by nobility and lined with bougainvillea. Discover quirky museums such as the Museu do Mar (Museum of the Sea), displaying shipwreck remains, rare shells, and even fisherman’s boots!

It’s a great walking town, and Direita Street, filled with local shops, is closed to cars. If you walk to the end, you’ll find Camões Square, where free outdoor concerts are held during the summer months with fireworks every Saturday at midnight.

Traditional sidewalks, called calcada, made of small gray and white stones shaped like ocean waves, lead you past a sixteenth-century fortress to the pier where you can enjoy fresh seafood right off the boat, watch sailors unfurl spinnakers, and eavesdrop on lively fish auctions.

Strike up conversations with the locals and they’ll tell you that a Cascais native, Afonso Sanches, discovered America first in 1482. On the way home, according to the legend, he stopped at Christopher Columbus’s house in Madeira. Rumor has it Columbus discovered Sanches’s diary and repeated the trip.

Portuguese sailors brought back the best of Europe. O’Neill’s, an Irish pub, is one of the most popular restaurants in old town. For a splurge, try Fortaleza do Guincho, which was recently awarded a Michelin star. Save room for dessert; nuns created the recipes in the eighteenth century!

Work off your meal surfing, sailing, or windsurfing. Hikers will want to explore the nearby UNESCO heritage park in Sintra. Art lovers will appreciate the world-famous Paula Rego museum. Her feminist paintings of Portuguese society are housed in a peach-colored building shaped like a triangle that looks like it belongs in Egypt. The Museu Conde de Castro Guimarães, located across from the marina, showcases paintings and furniture from the early 1900s. Peacocks, chickens, and roosters stroll through the adjacent park and lend their sounds to the Cool Jazz Fest held on the grounds.

Those who consider fashion “wearable art” are in luck. Old town has frequent outdoor markets with locally handmade goods as well as designer boutiques selling everything from Vespa messenger bags to European bathing swimsuits that will make you feel like Brigitte Bardot.

Feeling lucky? Visit the Casino Estoril, one of the oldest and largest in Europe. Too smart to gamble? Stroll the lush gardens, attend one of the frequent free concerts, or visit during December, when the park is transformed into a winter scene straight out of a 1950s movie.

If you feel like exploring outside Cascais, enjoy a cocktail at an old railroad car transformed into a bar and then take the train or drive along winding roads overlooking white-sand beaches dotting the Estoril coast like a pearl necklace. With year-round moderate temperatures, friendly locals who speak English, and breathtaking scenery, Cascais the perfect place to for exploring or just finding yourself lying on the beach.

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Great News For Amarillo Texas

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:36:04 -0800

Great News For Amarillo Texas

AMARILLO CONSTRUCTION SPENDING BEST SINCE '05

AMARILLO (Amarillo Globe-News) – Area construction spending is at its highest since a record set seven years ago.

Permits were issued for $440.9 million in projects during 2012, the highest value of permits in Amarillo since 2005, when permits totaled $454.8 million. The value of permits issued in December alone was $115 million, much of that for The Residences at Town Square, a four-story, 480-unit luxury apartment community planned by The Williams Group.

About a third of Amarillo’s construction spending — $131.6 million — was dedicated to single-family home building. Builders started 530 homes in 2012. That total is short of the 758 homes permitted in 2005, which was partly attributed to the rebuilding that took place after a June 2004 hailstorm that caused $175 million in insured damage losses.

After a lag in commercial building, businesses began new projects totaling $211.4 million last year, nearly double the $109.3 million in 2011.

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Choosing a Paint Color is Like Choosing a Spouse

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:30:39 -0800

I love this article in Home by Design magazine about choosing a paint color!

Sunny Disposition

Written by Maresa Giovanniniin Home by Design Magazine

Selecting the perfect interior paint color can be a lot like choosing a spouse: it should make you feel unreservedly happy. Granted, you can always trade in a can of paint for a new shade if it doesn’t work out, but invest time in identifying the perfect hue, and that won’t be necessary. “When you wake up in the morning, if you can’t just sit down with your coffee or tea and just exhale, then it’s not the color for you,” says designer Natalie Umbert.

Seeking a place and a palette that would make her feel calm and blissful, Umbert moved into this 1,000-square-foot home in Corona del Mar, California, in 2007 with her young daughter. At the time, the interior of the 1940s bungalow was painted entirely off-white—a perfect blank canvas—so the designer and owner of her own firm, atelier natalie umbert, sorted through numerous swatches to find the perfect partner. “I figured I moved to the beach and wanted everything to be calm, . . . so I painted the whole house in shades of gray and blue,” says Umbert. “And it looked depressing.”

With an unexpected derailment in the design process, Umbert was forced back to the drawing board to find an entirely original inspiration. Instead of using color from existing furniture or in a piece of artwork, she perused the paint department for a shade that struck her fancy. “I went to the paint store and I saw this color called Flower Pot and it just made me happy,” says Umbert. “It wasn’t tangerine and it wasn’t rust—it was a calm orange.” With her color selection made and tested, Umbert had the anchor for the decor of the entire bungalow.

Although “calm orange” might sound like a contradiction to some, Umbert explains that the saturation level, not the color base, determines the final effect. In this case, the orange is relatively muted because there isn’t a lot of white in the color, which would produce a brighter shade. “Once I lived in it for a while, it actually became a neutral,” says Umbert; however, she still treated the living room walls as bold and otherwise used the color sparingly. A pair of custom-painted vintage 1940s James Mont–style chairs shine in another shade of orange, but, overall, Umbert focused on introducing complementary colors

Lemon Drops, by Benjamin Moore, proved to be a perfect complement. “The sunroom was really bright, and I wanted a complementary color that was still happy,” says Umbert. So the combination sunroom and dining room, which is visible from the living space, was bathed in this cheery yet subdued yellow. The designer then introduced orange into the sunroom through patterned throw pillows and brought yellow into the living room using the same technique. “Don’t be afraid to mix pattern and color on [furniture] because it can take it,” says Umbert.

Flower Pot and Lemon Drops paired so perfectly that Umbert used them to paint horizontal stripes in her master bedroom. To balance the whimsy of the stripes and the patterned faux headboard—crafted from Schumacher’s Chiang Mai Dragon wall covering and framed by pieces of molding—the rest of the room’s details are simple. The tufted cream-colored French settee, a family heirloom, and a green matelasse quilt both feature solid fabrics to balance the other colors and patterns. “I don’t like ‘cute,’ and I feel like whimsical colors can sometimes be cute,” says Umbert. “So you need some gutsy pieces to give the colors some gravity.” In the rest of her home, Umbert incorporated pieces such as the modern stone coffee table in the living room and a dark wood dining table and chair set to ground the bungalow as a mature space.

As a designer, Umbert says her personal spaces are always evolving. While her relationship with the Flower Pot paint might not last a lifetime, it was exactly what she was looking for to create a cohesive story in this home. “It made me happy, made me smile,” says Umbert of her paint discovery. “And that was the one.”

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

The Frugal Host

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:45:47 -0800

I love this article about entertaining for the holidays. It was in the magazine Home by Design.

The Frugal Host - How to shrink your costs while entertaining in style

Written by Ashley Gartland

When entertaining during the fall and winter seasons, it’s easy to unintentionally stretch your budget beyond your means. With the price of food, drinks, and decorations, hosting holiday parties and family gatherings can easily add up. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend the big bucks to create a memorable party. Whether you’ve volunteered to cook Thanksgiving dinner or want to invite your neighbors over for a leisurely fall brunch, here’s how you can entertain in style and on a budget.

Seek Budget Friendly Beverages

Stocking your fridge, wine rack, and liquor cabinet with beverages can quickly eat up a large chunk of your entertaining budget. Instead, limit beverage choices to a signature cocktail, a white wine, a red wine, and a nonalcoholic beverage, and remember that sparkling wines such as Prosecco and Cava can set a celebratory mood for far less than the price of a bottle of Champagne.

Shop Smart for Your Cheese Plate

A cheese plate has the potential to impress guests without costing a pretty penny. Visit the counter at your local cheese shop and ask the cheesemonger to steer you toward affordable domestic varieties. Serve the cheese with toasted baguette slices and thrifty condiments such as caramelized onions rather than splurging on fancy crackers and pricey preserves.

Skip the Steak

In previous years, your protein plan might have centered on an expensive cut of steak. This year, surprise your guests by serving a less-expected main course. Take advantage of affordable cuts such as pork shoulder and chicken thighs that lend themselves well to braising. You’ll need a bit more time in the kitchen to prepare a slow-cooked meal, but the dollars you save by turning a cheaper cut into a party-worthy main course will make your efforts well worth the time.

Take a DIY Approach to Decorating

Beautiful bouquets and professional centerpieces make it easy to turn a plain table setting into an attractive tableau. But you can take a DIY approach and produce a similar effect for far less. Decorate the table with seasonal produce such as tiny pumpkins or a glass bowl filled with bright-red pomegranates. Or head outside to forage for seasonal decorations such as holly branches. Natural decorations like these look lovely and still allow the beautiful food you’re serving to shine.

Shrink your Guest List

Large, boisterous gatherings are a fun and anticipated part of the season, but when it’s your turn to host, there’s no shame in shrinking the guest list to make costs more manageable. Opt for an intimate gathering of eight or fewer people and you’ll cut your expenses and likely discover that people appreciate the opportunity to interact with fewer guests in a more meaningful way.

Get your Guests Involved

When friends or family ask you what they can bring to the party, don’t just shrug off their offers to contribute. Instead, mention your menu plan and ask if they could bring a wine that would pair well with the meal or something simple such as a baguette, a salad, or a dessert. Dole out the duties equally and you’ll eliminate expenses and stress from your party planning to-do list.

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed

Join the Coupon Craze

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:53:44 -0700

Wanting to Join the Coupon Craze? I thought I might, but where to start? I found this article by Ashley Gartland in Homes by Design Magazine very helpful. Now to put it to the test and start saving some money!

You need only watch an episode of Extreme Couponing to recognize that everyone from moms to busy professionals has caught coupon fever—and with good reason. In these lean times, couponing helps shoppers save on groceries and household items and “buy” products without actually paying for them.

In just a few hours a week, you too can start couponing to reduce your household expenses. Whether you want to trim your weekly grocery bill or score free toiletries, couponing can help you shop smarter and stretch your hard-earned dollars further. Here’s how.

Find a mentor. The quickest way to learn to coupon is to study a pro at work. You might call a friend who coupons regularly and tag along on a shopping trip. If you’re the scholarly type, consider signing up for a class at a local college or community center or hitting the Web. There are multiple couponing sites that will provide you with a virtual mentor and scads of how-to advice.

Set up shop. Savvy shoppers get organized long before they start clipping coupons. Arm yourself with basic tools such as scissors and a calculator and then select a filing system that meets your needs. You can store coupons in an accordion file, envelopes, shoeboxes, or a binder outfitted with baseball-card inserts. “With so many different options available, just find the one that works for you,” says Kelly Hancock, author of Saving Savvy. “You are the one who will be using your system, so organize it the way you thinkit makes sense.

Start your search. Between Sunday newspaper inserts and the Web, there’s no shortage of places to find coupons. Hancock recommends gathering extra copies of weekly newspaper inserts and sales fliers from family and friends. You can also join a store’s customer savings program to download coupons directly to your rewards card and find more coupons among the aisles. If you’re loyal to particular brands, you should also visit company websites and Facebook pages, says Kathy Spencer, author of How to Shop for Free. After you sign up for company newsletters or “like” businesses on Facebook, they’ll often send coupons your way.

Make a game plan. Experienced couponers know that weekly meal plans are the foundation of successful shopping trips. “You form your shopping list by determining what you are going to eat from what you already have on hand in your pantry and freezer,” says Hancock. “From there, you decide what you are going to purchase from the items that are on sale and items that you have a coupon for.” Don’t know how to make a meal plan or shopping list? The bloggers behind most couponing websites post weekly deal scenarios that outline how to put the week’s coupons to the best use.

Shop and store. Once you’ve hit the stores and brought your deeply discounted purchases home, you’ll need to organize them so nothing goes to waste. Hancock recommends setting up additional storage shelving in unused areas of your home and utilizing under-bed bins to store items with a longer shelf life, such as toiletries. Finally, always rotate the items on your shelves so the products that expire soon are the ones you’ll use first.

Pay it forward. As you become a practiced couponer, you’ll discover you don’t need all the items you can snag for free. Most couponers agree you should pick them up anyway and donate them to someone in need. “When you walk into a homeless shelter and donate products or donate to a senior who is really struggling, the feeling is better than the coupon high; it’s euphoric,” says Spencer. “You go from a place where you need help to using couponing to be able to help someone else.”

Learn the Lingo

Don’t know the difference between a peelie and a Catalina? Here’s the basic couponing vocabulary you’ll need to know to embark on the path toward big savings.

Blinkie: A manufacturer’s coupon for a product dispensed in store by a coupon machine

Catalina: A receipt-like coupon received at the register postpurchase

Coupon insert: Coupon circulars such as SmartSource that are inserted into Sunday newspapers

Coupon: A note from a store or manufacturer that entitles a shopper to receive a discount on a product

Double coupon: A store coupon that lets shoppers double a manufacturer’s coupon up to a certain value, typically $0.50

Hangtag: A manufacturer’s coupon displayed on the “neck” of a product

Manufacturer’s coupon: A coupon produced by the manufacturer to entice shoppers to buy the product for less

Peelie: An adhesive manufacturer’s coupon that peels off a product for immediate use

Stacking: Using a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon together on one item

Tearpad: A pad of manufacturer’s coupons located next to an item

Stockpile: A food pantry or stash of food and nonfood items purchased while on sale

www.howtoshopforfree.net

www.thekrazycouponlady.com

www.couponmom.com

www.faithfulprovisions.com

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

What to Do for the 4th of July In/Around Amarillo?!?!

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 12:46:51 -0700

What to Do for the 4^th of July In/Around Amarillo?!?!

Amarillo – Fireworks Festival at John S. Stiff Park located at 45^th and Bell. Gates open at 4:30pm with food vendors, children’s rides and concerts. The custom designed fireworks show will feature a live performance by the Amarillo Symphony.

Canyon – Vendor Fair at the downtown square, parade at 10am and Party in the Park starting at 6pm at Connor Park with a concert and fireworks.

“Texas” Musical Drama will be performing their nightly show.

Clarendon – Kid’s bicycle parade at 10 am, craft fair, Western Parade at 2pm, Junior Ranch Rodeo at 7:30pm and a dance at 9pm.

Canadian – Parade at 10am

Dumas – Mud volleyball tournament at 8am

Wheeler – Parade at 9am, Fireworks at dusk, Cajun Boil Dinner at 6pm with a concert and dance.

Pampa – Food, celebration and fireworks at 7pm

Perryton – Activities starting at 7am and Fireworks at dusk

Channing – Hamburgers and fireworks starting at 6pm

Hereford – Parade and food booths

Check www.amarillo.com for more details or local city office.

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed

Top Graduation Gifts

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:49:34 -0700

Top Graduation Gifts

We always struggle with purchasing gifts for some people. Will they like it? Did I spend enough money? Will I look cheap? Have they received multiple of this gift? It is even harder when you really do not know the person - a distant family member, a friend’s child.

Here are some top graduation gifts- some I know you have thought of, others might spark an idea for you!

You can always go with hot/popular gifts - ipad, ipod, laptop computer, kindle/nook or a digital camera. Not wanting to spend that much money, keep reading!

If you know where they are going to college, purchase some type of spirit gift. Personalized products are always nice with their name, initials or just first or last name only. Google can be our friend to find these companies for these unique gifts to order them and ship them for us.

Wanting something for them to remember the year - think about a savings bond or a commemorative coin.

Maybe they need their own coffee pot for those late nights studying! A nice piece of jewelry can always be great – a necklace, bracelet, ring or a watch is always universal.

We can not forget the standbys - pen, picture frame or album. And we have to discuss gift cards and of course money! But how much do you give? I wish there was something that was socially standard and everyone knew that was the perfect amount, but sadly there is not.

Happy Gifting!

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Do April Showers Really bring May Flowers?

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:40:13 -0700

In central Texas, they bring Bluebonnets! Take a trip and see the state flower of Texas blooming all along the roadside. Start your trip at the state capital in Austin and drive on Highway 183 North to FM 1431 West to the Hill Country. Be prepared for cars by the dozen pulled over and taking family pictures and just enjoying the air with their perfumed scent. Some people even say this is the biggest reason Texas highways were designed with shoulders. Remember to thank Lady Bird Johnson for these incredible wildflowers, as she was a big influence in the highway beautification program. TXDOT scatters 30,000 pounds of wildflower seeds per year by the highways. While you are taking your pictures and you just have the urge to pick some to take them home, someone may tell you it is illegal to pick the bluebonnets because they are the state flower. This is a myth! Texas Department of Public Safety, the agency that encompasses the highway patrol and whose job it would be to enforce such legislation says, "There is no law against picking our state flower." So take some home with you to brighten up the kitchen table!

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Proud of #7 Ranking

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:57:12 -0800

Amarillo Texas is named #7 on the Top 10 Real Estate Markets to watch in 2012 put out by Inman News today! Several factors were taken into consideration that made us rank high on the national list, including - job market, home affordability, low foreclosure and a low vacancy rate. What a wonderful place to live, work and play! Take a moment to read this article and let me know if you are ready to make this great city your home or ready to purchase a home now that you know you are living in this top city already!

It's a Good Life, Treat Yourself Right and Call Me Today!

http://www.inman.com/reports/markets-watch2012#continueintro

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

African Violets

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:25:13 -0800

Wondering what will look pretty in your garden as you dream of spring flowers? I found out, take a look at this article in a favorite magazine of mine, Home by Design.

African Violets Will Bloom throughout the Winter Season!
Written by Robyn Roehm Cannon

For gardeners, winter can be a terribly long and colorless season. But if you’re a plant lover who’s discovered the joys of growing African violets, just the opposite is true. Their dainty blooms, in a wide array of purple, pink, blue, white, and multicolored combinations, will appear almost constantly and brighten any gloomy January day.
This member of the same botanical family that includes gloxinias and lipstick plants has a long history, and although they’re called “violets,” they’re really not violets at all. The first plants were discovered by Baron von Saint Paul in Africa in 1892 and were given the botanical name Saintpaulia ionantha by the director of the Royal Botanical Gardens in honor of the baron. The species name, ionantha, Greek for “resembling a violet,” is in reference to the flower.


Just two years after they were discovered, a New York florist brought African violets to the United States. But in drafty homes of the late-nineteenth century, the plants often became chilled and died. They became known as finicky and hard to grow, a reputation that proved untrue after the fluorescent lightbulb was introduced in 1938. It was then that people discovered that with just a small amount of care and under lights, healthy plants would bloom for six months and rest for three before starting their cycle again.
Today, African violet hybridizers have created countless foliage types and a rainbow of flower colors by combining the parent plants Saintpaulia ionantha and Saintpaulia confusa. Some beauties to look for include plants with variegated, blotched, wavy, oak leaf, quilted, and fringed leaves, with flowers that range from single, double, star, ruffled, bicolored, and even striped. The combinations are endless!

Temperature, Soil, and Light. One thing to remember when raising African violets is that they like the same temperature as people do. If you keep your home at seventy degrees during the day and lower the thermostat to sixty at night, your plants will be happy. Any hotter or cooler, and it tends to stunt their growth.
They love soil that is loose, porous, and drains well. Look for a specific African violet potting mix, which has better drainage and more acidity than regular houseplant potting soil. If your house lacks humidity, choose a soil that is higher in organic matter, which will hold more water and not dry out as quickly. Also, consider your pot: choose plastic pots instead of clay, which lose more water through evaporation. And for the best bloom, keep your plants a bit root-bound.
A huge consideration for continuous bloom success has to do with the quality of light you provide your plants. Giving your African violets enough—but not too much—light will be your challenge. Generally speaking, a location with bright, indirect light from a south- or east-facing window is best. Turn your pots a quarter rotation weekly and they will grown evenly and retain their symmetrical rosette form. A good way to test the intensity of the light your plants are receiving is by putting your hand between the plant and the window with the back of your hand toward the light. If the light casts a shadow but your hand doesn’t feel hot, you’re headed in the right direction.

Water. One of the most important things you can do to ensure your African violets stay healthy and continue to bloom with profusion is to learn how and when to water them. Develop a timeline in which the plants are watered thoroughly and allowed to dry out a bit in between. African violets are particularly susceptible to leaf spotting caused by cold water splashed on the delicate, furry leaves, so be very careful to lift the leaves and water only the soil if you water from the top.
Watering from the bottom in a tray that allows the roots to wick the moisture is the safest method; just be sure to empty the tray so the roots will not become waterlogged. Use only tepid water and mix in a diluted solution of chemically balanced fertilizer such as 20-20-20. Once every six weeks, give your African violets a “flushing” by watering well from the top to flush the fertilizer salts from the soil.

For Additional Information Visit the African Violet Society of North America
www.avsa.org

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

New Year Resolutions ?:)!:(

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:52:58 -0800

Sunday, January 1^st, 2012, the start of a new week and a new year all in one day! Are you one of the estimated 44% that make New Year’s Resolutions? Do you have a plan to make them happen, or will you then become part of the estimated 80% that fail or quit?

Here is a list of the Top Ten New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Eat healthier

2. Get a better job

3. Spend more time with family and friends

4. Get fit / Work out more

5. Get out of debt

6. Recycle

7. Save money

8. Volunteer

9. Quit smoking

10. Lose weight

We must be optimistic if we plan to succeed! Start preparing now, do some research if you need to on what you need to do to make a plan and outline your steps for your goals. You should always write them down and make them public. In our technology world, it is easy to get support and encouragement from others by posting your goals on twitter or facebook. You may have to start with one at a time. Remember old habits are hard to break and it can take 20 consecutive days of doing something to make it a habit!

Start today! Prepare for Sunday and surround yourself with positive reinforcement and have things already in place to make it a smooth transition and a successful start! You can always start smaller if you need to, with maybe taking care of the 5 or more email addresses you have that you never consolidated!

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Christmas in the Gardens

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:03:56 -0800

Are you looking for something to do this weekend in Amarillo Texas? Spend the evening at Amarillo Botanical Gardens for their second annual Christmas in the Garden. Enjoy caroling from different local groups each night from 6:45 - 7:15 PM. This is a free event with donations appreciated. Take your family on a stroll through the lighted gardens and have a hot beverage. The event is from 6 – 8 PM. Amarillo Botanical Gardens are located at 1400 Streit Drive. Call them at 352-6513 for more details!

www.amarillobotanicalgardens.org

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Thanksgiving Thursday!

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:50:43 -0800

Yes, thanksgiving is this Thursday! Hopefully you have made plans with family and friends and everyone knows what they are bringing. We sometimes get absorbed in all the details, we forget something. The turkey seems to be one of those forgotten items. We buy it early to get our perfect size or we purchase it just a day or two before the holiday. Now we have a frozen turkey and it is Wednesday!

No fear! If you were prepared, you can thaw it in the refrigerator, at a rate of four pounds a day thawing. If you were not prepared, you will need to do a cold water thaw. Keep the turkey in the package, thaw in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes and thawing at a rate of 30 minutes per pound.

With all the different ways to make your turkey, you may want to have two! The most popular is the traditional oven roasted or using a table top roaster. You can also do a variation on that method with the new roasting bags and not having to worry about basting. Deep frying and smoking are gaining in popularity due to the unique flavor they have and known for their moistness. However you choose, remember 180 degrees is considered a done turkey. If problems do arise, you always have the Turkey Hotline to call – 1-800-BUTTERBALL.

www.butterball.com

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Keller Williams Green Week

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:20:48 -0800

Keller Williams Realty is going green this week. We hear about it all the time, what are you doing to erase your carbon foot print or just simply put, do you recycle? Many of the things to make a difference can be costly like, new appliances, new heating and air conditioning units, solar panels, new insulation or even buying an electric car. We can all make simple changes that we may not have even thought about.

- Go Vintage! Have you thought about looking in the very back of you closet, or a friend or relatives closet? Take a look at consignment stores or garage sales, be creative!

- Use a mug when you are at work or take it with you to the coffee shop.

- Unplug your chargers and small appliances.

- Turn off the dry cycle on your dish washer.

- Use cloth napkins.

- Caulk around your windows while the weather is still nice.

- Use a toaster oven.

- Fill up your car when it is cooler. This cuts down on emissions by decreasing the amount of fuel lost to evaporation.

- Do electronic subscriptions.

- Recycle your gift wrap and be creative on your wrap and bows!

- Replace your Christmas lights with LED’s. They use a fraction of the energy as conventional bulbs and are cool to the touch.

Sometimes we just need to think about how we can reduce our use and how we can be creative and reuse something in another way. National Green week is February 6-10, 2012 and Earth Day is April 22, 2012. Pick a week during this time and mark it on your calendar and have your whole family be involved in making some changes. Small changes can make a difference and you can always plant a tree!

www.thedailygreen.com

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor

Keller Williams

ConnieTaylor@KW.com

www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Texas Real Estate Goes Green

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:37:14 -0700

Everybody’s concerned about saving the planet today. After all, this is the only one we have to live. At least, today and the next half of a century we’re sure of that –Earth is the only planet for human kind.

As the tide of ecological alertness sweeps on to mankind, building owners pitch in to save Mother Nature by attempting to make their structure LEED certified.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is granted to a building if it passes the LEED Green Building Rating System. The building is rated in four levels - LEED Certified, LEED Silver, LEED Gold, and LEED Platinum.

Austin, Texas, has been the first to call for LEED certification in the United States. Dallas follows the Texas’ capital’s lead by issuing a resolution that all buildings owned by the city government should be at least LEED Silver – certified. Frisco also goes green by using requiring LEED certification on all commercial projects.

Just last year, the Greater Texas Foundation designed something that has never been done before – the first LEED Gold – certified building. The completed structure, also one of the first LEED buildings, is in Bryan, Texas.

Connie Taylor
Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
Office: 806-457-4810
Cell: 806-236-1370
www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Wild Fires Set Most of Texas Ablaze

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:56:51 -0700

Wild fires have caused a lot damages in Texas, burning almost 4,000,000 acres of land this year as recorded in the Incident Information System.

Last week, the Texas Forest Service has been reported to have answered to over 100 fires including the 19 incidents yesterday which burnt 1,099 acres.

The wild fires have torched vast areas of land in the counties of Bastrop, Cass, Marion, Gregg and Palo Pinto. The disaster did not only leave charred trees and trails of ashes in several areas of Texas, but it also burned down a thousand homes and killed two in the county of Bastrop, and almost set twenty homes on fire in the county of Upshur, and a gas plant in Gregg county.

In Magnolia, main roads were closes as firefighters battled the fire. Residents helplessly watched the smoke rose, burning down properties and the forest.

Reports say that officials have declared that the fire near the state’s capital, Austin, is the most destructive among the 180 fires that have torched Texas.

In response to this disaster, Red Cross has provided a shelter for people and pets. The team also has mental health specialists to keep everyone calm after the catastrophe.

The fires did not only cause stress and worried the people who have lost their homes in the fire but also had the state firefighters worried about the winds picking up, damaging some more of Texas.

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor
Keller Williams
ConnieTaylor@KW.com
www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Avoid making Moving Headaches turn to Theft Headaches

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:58:39 -0700

On the REBAC Hotsheet this week, an interesting tip list from Intersections Inc. on how to avoid having your important paperwork and numbers get into the wrong hands. This got me to searching for more helpful tips for all, and HireAHelper.com has a blog about good Moving Advice on how to avoid being the victim of any type of theft, including ID theft.

Moving is stressful enough, as is selling or buying your home. Taking steps before the end rush will help you and your family avoid having to deal with theft and ID theft!

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor
Keller Williams
ConnieTaylor@KW.com
www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

July 4th Trivia

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:49:39 -0700

With the long weekend ahead of us, I thought I’d do a quick post of July 4^th Trivia! You can be sure that these facts will be interesting tidbits to pepper your conversations with this weekend! May yours be fun filled and safe!

http://www.chiff.com/a/fun-facts-fourth.htm – This list is trivia about the current celebration of the 4^th, like who exports the most beef in the US (Texas), how many times have patriotic names (53 altogether), and other neat facts.

http://www.oldeducator.com/july4factsandtrivia.htm – This is trivia about more the history of the 4^th, such as who all signed the Declaration of Independence, American flag etiquette, and a lot more interesting history.

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/fourth-of-july/printable/26546.html – For those with 4^th to 8^th graders, this is an excellent document tailored to that age group so they can impress all your relatives and friends with their knowledge!

Not trivia, but for a fun, quick, and delicious treat this weekend, go check out the Red, White, and Blue Chocolate Covered Strawberries!

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor
Keller Williams
ConnieTaylor@KW.com
www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Moving Tips

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:25:19 -0700

As with any summer, people are getting ready to move – sometimes as close as next door, and sometimes all the way on the other side of the globe. No matter how far the move, having a timeline to help prepare you, check lists of what you should look out for, and tips for some of the trickier parts of moving such as with children and pets, are always good things!

Google is a powerful tool in the search for tips and lists, but to help save you some time, I’ve collected several of the better websites I found!

www.MoveAdvocate.com – A great resource for moves, focusing slightly more on long distance moves.
http://www.flylady.net/pages/Flying_MovingTips.asp – More focused on women, but still a great source of information on how to not be overwhelmed in a move.
http://interiordec.about.com/od/moving/a/org_movetips.htm Top 12 packing tips
http://www.upack.com/moving-resources/checklist.asp – A weekly break down of things to accomplish to make sure it all gets done in a timely manner.

What are your favorite packing tips – did they make it on any of the lists? May your moves be safe ones, and if you need any help finding your home to move to Amarillo, Texas, just let me know!

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor
Keller Williams
ConnieTaylor@KW.com
www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Green Wedding Tips

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:14:40 -0700

‘Tis the season for love to grow! In celebration of my daughter’s wedding, I wanted to share some green wedding tips for those of you planning (or helping to plan!) a wedding this summer! Below I’ll just pick up a few of my favorite tips, but the article is full of a lot of great ideas.

You can start with the ring – of course check with your fiancé if she’d mind going a different route, but there are some great sustainable choices if you’re both willing to think outside the box!

Recycled and recyclable invitations – or even purely electronic invitations – are also a great way to save a few trees. Even reducing the amount of paper in your paper ones to a single page (without the envelope in an envelope) can make an impact, not only on the environment but also the budget!

Choosing sustainable fabrics for the wedding gown, everything from hemp-silk wedding gowns (examples can be found at Conscious Clothing’s website), vintage gowns with updated tailoring and accessories, to even getting a gown you’ll be able to wear again and again – options abound!

When you register for your wedding gifts, think of either asking for donations to charities both of you support, register through websites that will donate a portion of the purchases to a charity, registering at businesses that are dedicated to using local and fair-trade practices for their products, things of this nature.

Along the same vein, when giving out the favors to the guest, make them organic and usable, such as locally grown and made gourmet items like chocolate, fruit, etc., seeds in a commemorative container for easy planting, natural-made items like soaps or candles, and other things like these.

In the end, whether you go full green wedding or just pick a few of these that mesh with your plans, here’s to hoping your wedding day is grand and beautiful and may you and your intended be together for many years to come!

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor
Keller Williams
ConnieTaylor@KW.com
www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com
Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.

Memorial Day

Connie Taylor (Connie Taylor - Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 27 May 2011 17:41:28 -0700

We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them. ~Francis A. Walker

With the Memorial Day Holiday around the corner, I decided to look up a few interesting facts about where this celebration to honor our fallen soldiers.

It was first called ‘Decoration Day’, because the way people honored the fallen was by decorating their graves. It was originally for Civil War veterans only, until after World War I when it came to be for ‘any war’.

Even though it’s been celebrated since 1868, it only became a nationally holiday in 1971. And the reason May 30^th was chosen was so there would be flowers all across the country in bloom! You can find a lot more information here: http://www.purpletrail.com/partytrail/featured_memorial_day/what-is-memorial-day-history-facts

For those who would like to watch Washington DC Memorial Day Parade, you can check out their website and watch it streaming live when it’s happening! http://www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com/

And a list of some of the other events that’ll be happening in and around Washington DC, if you happen to be there and get a chance to check it out! http://dc.about.com/od/hoildaysseasonalevents/a/MemorialDay.htm

Finally, let me just express my heartfelt condolences to those whose loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and a Texas-sized ‘thanks’ for those currently serving. Our freedoms come from your blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifices; no words can truly express my thanks.

This information is presented by:

Connie Taylor
Keller Williams
ConnieTaylor@KW.com
www.AmarilloDreamHomes.com

Information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.