So far, this is a Summer like we have never experienced. It can be hard to know what is safe to do and what isn't. As businesses and attractions re-open, they are all taking precautions to increase the safety of guests. It is always important to make the decision that is best for you and your family, but if you do feel comfortable getting out and about, things have started to reopen, giving you more ideas for some Summer fun.

Of course, I have seen many people enjoying the local parks, rivers and outdoors, which is a great idea! Check out my post featuring the local parks by clicking here. 

Here are a couple of local attractions that have recently opened up (with precautions and safet...

Springfield MO has some exciting new business opening up by the end of this month. New food, entertainment and shopping are here! Springfield has been know as a very loyal community that supports their businesses. Let's treat ourselves and give these businesses an appropriate Springfield welcome (while physically distancing).

First up is Sweet Boy's Neighborhood Bar, which is located where Scotch & Soda used to be. They are going to be offering some inventive and delicious sounding drinks. Their open date is scheduled for 6/19/2020. Go check them out!

Next up is Niji Sushi Bar and Grill in the Galloway Creek area.This is Springfield's newest Japanese fine dining restaurant. If you are...

One of my favorite things about this area are all of the walking/biking trails and parks. From wanting a relaxing stroll to an intense bike ride, there is a trail that you will fall in love with. Not only that, but we have so many parks! Gorgeous parks! Here are a few of my favorites in the area!

Sequiota Park

Sequiota has become an all time favorite over the years. I've gone biking, walking and just went to enjoy the scenery. This park contains an entrance to a cave! Once a year, a guided canoe tour is led through the cave where you can site some bats from time to time! If you prefer paved trails, there are plenty of those, but they also have unpaved trails that are an enjoyable and ...

We have a couple of weeks until it's time to celebrate the amazing dads out there. As I did last year, I have put together a few ideas of unique gift ideas to really surprise him this year. If you don't find the perfect gift here, maybe it can give you some inspiration.

Dad Jokes

Does your dad like to crack the cheesiest jokes?! Might as well fuel the flame at this point and get him this set of Dad joke cards. They are an affordable gift option and I'm sure your dad will love it. Guaranteed "laffy taffy" funny.

Drink Chilling Coasters

You actually chill these stone coasters in your freezer and it will help keep dads beverage of choice cold much longer. This is especially a great...

I'm not sure how many days in a row it has been raining here in Springfield at this point. It's been several (and I'm sure several of us are looking for an opportunity to mow our lawns!!) This area experiences a good amount of rain during the Spring season, giving us some beautiful flowers to look at. But what about the house? Have you been keeping up with the necessary maintenance to prep your home for this much rain? Here are 3 things I suggest you do to keep you worry free as it keeps pouring outside.

CLEAN OUT THOSE GUTTERS

This is a home chore that gets overlooked A LOT! It may not seem like a big deal, but keeping moisture away from your home and it's foundation is a very big ...

It seems like a while ago, but things became very uncertain when the Coronavirus started to officially meet pandemic status. At first, I remember us all sharing different thoughts and opinions about how this new virus would affect us, and it was hard to know, because this was something known of us had experienced before. It was and still is hard to find accurate information, especially since it is so easy to find conflicting information. It didn't take us long to realize that this in fact would have a very direct impact on our lives as well as our careers. 

The first phase seemed like the questioning phase. What are we, as Real Estate professionals going to do? How are we going to get ...

Did you know that Mother's day is this Sunday, the 10th? Yes, this Sunday. Our minds are a bit distracted as 2020 has been anything but normal. That doesn't mean we don't want to make all of the moms out there feel appreciated on their day. Since many of us may not be able to see our mothers this year, I have put together some ideas that can be delivered to her door. These gifts are thoughtful gifts that may lift her spirits when we can't gather together this year.

A Magazine Subscription

Think about your mom's interests. Does she like crafts, art, gardening, etc? Get her a subscription to a magazine all about her favorite topics. You can usually pay for the full years subscription ...

I recently created an online community that I am super excited to share with you. I recognized a need for home buyers to ask their questions and gain access to resources and support. Buying a home can be an intimidating process, but it doesn't have to be. 

In this online community, I will be sharing information in regards to:

The process of buying a home

Financing: how to get pre-approved and knowledge about grants/programs that can help you get into your home sooner than you thought

Interviewing Professionals, including lenders and title agents who can educate you in these areas

Answering common home buying questions

Lastly, encouraging community and support from other home buyers ...

This is a very different time that we are living in. We miss our family. We miss our friends. We canceled plans for events that are important to us. The health and safety of everyone at this time is very important and so is connection with those we care about. So how do we stay connected in a time like this?

If you haven't heard of Zoom yet, now might be a good time to look into it. It allows groups of people to come together for work or personal reasons and chat face to face (virtually). Not only can you catch up with those that you are missing, but people have started to get creative and started hosting fun events on zoom with their friends and family. Here are some fun ideas to ke...

If you are a fan of DIY projects, then you probably make changes to rooms in your home often. It's fun to change up accents, make something new (and it actually turn out nice), etc. You know what else makes DIY projects even more fun...when they are temporary. It's easy to spice up a space and then when you have a new idea, change it up just as easily as you did it. I am going to share some really neat, non-committal ideas for sprucing up different areas in your home. 

*These are also great ideas for updating your rental*

PEEL & STICK WALLPAPER

A home decor trend predicted for 2020 was bold colors and patterns. If you have ever had to remove traditional wallpaper, you know how diff...

First and foremost, in times like we are having, it is of utmost importance to take the steps necessary to protect your health. If you are an individual that finds themselves in the position ready/needing to buy a house, It's important to know how you can go about during this during this pandemic.

Many don't know that tech-savvy real estate agents have had the ability to sell homes remotely for quite some time. Here is a list of some of the services I can provide that will get you into your home and protect your health.

Virtual Tours: I will enter a home and walk through it while sharing live footage with you. This allows you to see the home without coming into contact with anyone. 

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Senior citizen assistance

Dollar General Information

Walmart Information

*Please note: Walmart opens an hour early on Tuesdays for seniors to do their shopping*

Senior Resources by Health and Senior Services

Develop a Plan!

-Designate a family member or friend to be your contact if you are in need of assistance

-Develop a plan with said family member/friend about what to do if you get sick

-Have an information sheet that includes the following:
All medications you take (use full medication names and how much you take)
A list of your medical providers and their contact information. Let your designated contact know exactly where this list is located.

As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist, I am always looking for resources for my matured clients. There are many resources out there available to you in times when you need them most. There may come a time when you will want to start exploring different options for Senior living. The most common forms of living include nursing home care, In-home care and assisted living. It is important to compare what each style of living offers, does it match up with your needs and what are you looking at financially.

Of course, you want to choose an option that will not only take care of your physical well-being, but also the option that brings you comfort and joy in your life. It is also important at ...

It is no secret that illness is a big topic of discussion right now. We are in the midst of flu season, hoping these warmer days help relieve the transfer of it. I thought it would be a good idea to go over how to properly disinfect your home during cold/flu season. There may be a lot of unknowns right now, but we do know that properly disinfecting spaces can help prevent the spread of disease.

First things first, when preparing to disinfect surfaces in your home, check the bottle of cleaner that you are using. Not all cleaners kill viruses. Many of them are created to kill bacteria, which is probably what most of us use during our regular cleaning routine. The bottle will clearly stat...

As always, time seems to be flying by in 2020. I can't believe we are already at the end of February. March is right around the corner, which also means that we are one step closer to SPRING!! I haven't gathered a list of events for the upcoming month in a while, but this time of year has me excited for what is to come. Here are some fun things coming up in March this year:

TUESDAY TRIVIA AT PAPPOS: 3/3 @ 7PM

This is a free event held every Tuesday at the Southside Pappos off of Battlefield. It is free to participate in trivia. They also offer some good deals on drinks and appetizers. Follow the link for more details (red title above).

RELICS ANTIQUES GARAGE SALE: 3/8 @ 10AM

Relics wi...

It is convenient to have a pantry in your kitchen, but honestly, not all homes offer one. If you are house hunting, you found the perfect house, but it doesn't have a pantry, this doesn't necessarily have to be a deal breaker. There are creative ways to store your food that look super cute and offer functionality. If you aren't a super creative/handy person, don't worry. There are many places that have started to sell some of these items since houses without a pantry are more common than you may think.

ROLLING PANTRY

You know how there tends to be space between your refrigerator and the wall? This is a great place for some extra storage. You can order or make roll out pantries to fill...

If you have always living in Urban areas, you might want to consider living in the country. Personally having lived on a farm out in the country, I know there is truth to the benefits I am about to share with you about living in a more rural area. I do enjoy both urban and rural areas, but they each have something different to offer. Here is what County Living can provide you.

Less Stress

When you live out in the country, you have more space, privacy and life is a much slower pace. Your quality of life actually increases when you move to the country. You experience cleaner air, you can buy organic, fresh produce from the farmer up the street and you have the opportunity to spend mor...

It has been quite cold in 417 Land over the last couple of weeks. It seems that Winter has finally decided to officially say hello. It's easy when it gets so cold out to start feeling cooped up or stuck in the house. I thought it might be a good idea to share a unique date night idea where the only cold you will have to face is a 5 foot walk from your car to your date. 

The Moxie Cinema is such a special place in Springfield MO. It is a smaller, more intimate movie theater that shows independent films versus the Hollywood Blockbusters. It's such a great place if you enjoy foreign, artistic or just out right beautiful/absurd films. I have been several times myself. I end up leaving with...

Valentine's Day can be one of those holidays where people gift a lot of stuff. Good stuff, don't get me wrong. Who doesn't like chocolate? But some of us have started searching for ways to create new experiences rather than giving out random things. So here are some ideas to help you create that special experience this year for you and your significant other that you can get quick, even if you wait until the last minute.

S'MORES KIT

Did you know that you can actually buy a smore's roasting kit. You don't have to start a fire or try your best to roast those marshmallows in the microwave (just don't do it). Cozy up inside with your favorite blanket, get some graham crackers, hershey...

Now that we are well into the beginning of 2020, I'm sure you have heard the phrase "New Year, New You." I've been hearing it in conversations, seeing it in marketing campaigns, etc. This can apply in many areas of your life, including your home. It only makes sense to change up your home decor for the new year. Well here is something you should know before you start purchasing those new decor items....

2020 IS ALL ABOUT THE DRAMA!

We are talking dramatic, monochromatic color schemes in bold colors. And I'm not just talking about the walls, painting trim to match the wall color is definitely in for 2020! You can also expect to see prints galore. With so many options for easier wallpap...