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Guest post from our exclusive real estate sponsor, Tundi Brady

3/31/2015

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Staging to Sell Your Home

The selling season is upon us! And anyone preparing to sell a home will be happy to know that there are a lot of simple, affordable things that that can lead to a good sale. Staging a home is so important for attracting buyers. Here are my "three Cs and a D" guideline:

Curb Appeal
You want buyers to feel hopeful and positive right when then pull up to your house. This doesn't mean you need a giant re-landscaping project. It is all about looking neat and tidy plus a little something for visual interest to draw them in. Sweep sidewalks and drives. Trim bushes and trees so they are even and symmetrical. Add fresh mulch around plantings. Put away yard tools and toys. Then add a fresh-looking door mat, wreath or a bright potted plant at the entrance.   
 
Clean, Clean, Clean

Everything and everywhere. This is the time you want to finally clean all the things we blow off. Baseboards, light fixtures, inside cabinets, under sinks, in drawers and in the fridge. Have carpets professionally cleaned, power wash the deck if needed, clean windows inside and out. I can't imagine a buyer ever would think a house was too clean. But I have seen plenty cross a home off their list if it felt dirty and not cared for. 


Clear Clutter
Don't accidentally tell buyers that your home is too small or has insufficient storage. Edit each room so there is just enough furniture so people can comfortably move around. Remove nick knacks and keep decorative items to a minimum so the buyers look at the space not your stuff. Purge and edit closets and cabinets as well because buyers will look in them and you don't want them to seem jammed and overflowing. I like to suggest to clients that they are just getting a head start on packing.

De-Personalize
When selling your home, remember your goal is for someone else to imagine themselves living there. So, everything that makes your home about you or your family will simply distract from that goal. Remove framed photos, mementos, etc. And because pictures of your home will most likely be on real estate websites, it is not a bad idea to avoid sharing with the world what the people look like who live there.  

If you want more ideas, I found this great, comprehensive list of 5 Golden Rules to Home Staging on a Budget on REALTOR.org. Happy selling!



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Tundi Brady |  REALTOR®
P: 319-621-6600 | tundibrady@yahoo.com
Licensed to sell real estate in Iowa
 
 
LEPIC-KROEGER, REALTORS®
2346 Mormon Trek Boulevard
Iowa City, IA 52240
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Pink Virtue Purse Organizer Winner

3/31/2015

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Congrats Kathleen! You won a Pink Virtue Purse Organizer! Email me at ashbholt@gmail.com and I will get you your prize. 
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Pink Virtue Boutique Purse Organizer Giveaway

3/27/2015

7 Comments

 
Lets get personal for a minute here. I have something private to share tonight. Something that I'm sure most women can relate to in one way or another. Something that hold secrets, bits and pieces of my life, helps me stay organized, could feed a small army, and looks pretty. I'm talking about my purse. 
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This is what I carry with me everyday. I have gum, a planner, my boogie board, my wallet, my business cards and IMP name tag, a notebook, diapers and wipes, a huge bag of medicine (everything from Tylenol to Asthma Meds), an extra phone charger cord, cars and other toys, a massive pile of fruit snacks (usually there are a few bags of fishies in there too), and my collection of chapstick. 

Now someone please tell me that I am not the only person in the world who carries this much junk with them on a daily basis. When carrying this much junk its easy for things to get lost in the bottom of my bag. I hate it when its my turn to pay at the grocery store and I have to pretty much to empty my bag just to find my wallet. I don't think the people in line behind me enjoy it very much either. Luckily, I have found a solution!

Pink Virtue Boutique has an awesome purse organizer that has totally changed the craziness that I carry in my bag. It has so many pockets and yet it is compact enough to fit in any purse I own. 
There are two large zipper compartments that can hold lots. I have mine full of pens and crayons. The sides each have 2 medium sized pockets and some mesh pockets. I have been using those to hold treats for my kids and smaller toys (like their cars). The center of the organizer is large enough to hold all of my big things like my wallet, planner, and journal. My purse looks so clean now and it is so easy to find everything. I love being organized! 

Pink Virtue Boutique sent a purse organizer for one of you lucky members too! For your chance to win leave me a comment telling me what the most interesting thing in your purse is. For an extra entry go and Like Pink Virtue Boutique's Facebook Page. 
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Coralville Fire Station !

3/25/2015

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Children's Activities had a great time again this year at the Coralville Fire Station. We were able to meet the firefighters, see them in their gear and climb inside an ambulance and fire engine! Thanks again to the Coralville Fire Station for having us!  
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Perennial Planner Giveaway

3/21/2015

18 Comments

 
I hope you all are enjoying this beautiful spring break. I know that my kids are soaking up every minute of sun shine that they can!

Today I wanted to share something awesome that I came across. It is a complete household management system! If your life is anything like mine, where you are jumping from appointment to appointment, balancing sports and dance and school activities, and trying to squeeze in some quality time with the Doc when he is around, and on top of all of that you still have to balance the bank account, make sure that all the bills are paid on time, get the grocery shopping done and meals cooked. Its a busy life! Here is where the Perennial Planner Home Management System comes in.

This system is a series of pages you can edit and print off yourself when you need them. It comes with calendars, dates to remember pages, cleaning schedules, to do lists, honey do lists (wishful thinking for when the Docs are home), chore lists for your kids, weekly planners, and so much more!
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This system makes life so much easier. It even includes a budget section where you can break down your yearly budget and monthly budget. It helps you get a view of what you could be saving on and how you can manage your money better. And at this time in the medical journey, who couldn't need a little help in that department!
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I also really like the menu planning section. That helps cut down on grocery shopping trips and buying things at the store you just don't need. There is a sheet to take inventory of your pantry, which is super helpful if you are like me and tend to buy in bulk because your kids may eat you out of house and home. There is also a grocery list that is broken down by section to make your shopping trips more time efficient. The meal calendar really takes the guess work out of that dreaded "Whats for dinner?" that comes every day around 4:00.
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Perennial Planner is run by Sarah. Sarah told me how her shop was started. "My Etsy shop started forming in my mind when a friend asked me if I could make her a calendar that would be editable. At the time I didn't have the capability nor the know-how of how to do that, but it piqued my interest. She teaches a class at our church on Home Management, and encourages wives and mothers to put together a daily schedule and a mission statement. Being passionate myself about home management and encouraging women to keep their home well and use their time wisely, I decided to begin to design documents that would beautifully tie in with home decor while helping stay organized." Sarah has created these beautiful management systems as well as a handful of other beautiful things you can see on her Etsy page. Her goal is to stay debt free and her design shop is one way she can help her family do so. It gives her the opportunity to work while her children are sleeping so she can be the Mom/Home Manager the rest of the time. For more information about Perennial Planner you can check out their Facebook page (there is also a coupon code on the page). And you can sign up for her new Home Management Digest Newsletter for monthly tips on Home Management HERE.

To enter this giveaway please leave me a comment telling me how you like to keep your house organized. For an extra entry go and Like her Facebook page, just leave a separate comment saying you did. Thank you again Sarah!
18 Comments

Spring Break Fun

3/16/2015

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Happy Spring Break! I hope that everyone gets a chance to go enjoy the beautiful, warm sunshine today! What a great change from the cold. I wanted to share with you all some of the fun things going on this week in the community.

Monday:
The Children's Museum is open from 10-6 (its usually closed on Mondays)
Barnes and Noble in Cedar Rapids is having a story time and a craft from 11-noon
The North Liberty Community Pool is open from 12-5

Tuesday:
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY - DON'T FORGET TO WEAR GREEN!
The North Liberty Community Pool is open from 12-5
The 40th Annual Cedar Rapids St' Patrick's Day Parade is at 1:00. For more information go HERE.

Wednesday:
The North Liberty Community Pool is open from 12-5
Brush and Barrel is hosting a family painting event. Pre-registration is required.

Thursday:
The North Liberty Community Pool is open from 12-5
The Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Area in Toddville is hosting a Youth Archery Day for kids 10 and up. 2:00-3:00

Friday:
The North Liberty Community Pool is open from 12-5
Spring Break Crafternoon at the Cole Library in Mt. Vernon 2:30-3:30

Have a great week!
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The Vinyl Company Giveaway

3/13/2015

3 Comments

 
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Happy Friday! Did you get a chance to go out and enjoy the warm weather this week? I hope so!

Today I have a fun giveaway from Sarah at 
The Vinyl Company. Sarah started her company in 2012 after her son was born and since then it has grown. She started small, selling out of her Etsy shop and creating the vinyl pieces in her home. Now she sells her vinyl on jane.com, groopdealz.com, sassysteals.com, and zulily.com and has two different production sites. That is awesome. Now Sarah spends most of her time designing unique, custom pieces for her customers and marketing new products.

She sent me a cute mailbox decal to giveaway. I love having my name out on my mailbox. It makes the house feel more like its mine forever. However, since we are here for residency and don't know where we will end up after training (I'd love to stay here!) the vinyl is perfect. It comes off easily and doesn't leave a mess.


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For those of you that don’t have a mailbox in front of your house, Sarah also has cute front door decals. They are super cute and add a nice welcoming touch to your home.

Sarah also has some very cute wall decals in her shop that you should check out. I have one hanging in my daughter's room that says "She leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes" and I love it! I also love that it will be easy to remove if need be.


 In case you couldn’t tell I am a huge vinyl fan and I would love to give one of you lucky readers a chance to win a mailbox decal of your own. To enter leave a comment telling me what makes your home feel like it really belongs to yours. For an extra entry go and check out The Vinyl Company and tell me what your favorite thing in the shop is.













3 Comments

UI Doc Dash

3/11/2015

12 Comments

 
The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and its almost warm! Are you looking for something to do outside? The University of Iowa Medical School is hosting a 5K Doc Dash and a 1/2 mile Doc-ling Dash for the kids on the 28th of March.
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All of the funds raised through the Doc Dash goes to the Free Medical Clinic and the University of Iowa Mobile Clinic. The Free Medical Clinic was founded in 1971 as a place where people in the community can receive a wide range of medical and dental care that they usually could not afford. Its a great cause!
For more information you can check out their website or Facebook page. Head on over to our Facebook page for a chance to win your entry or head HERE and register!
12 Comments

Diary of a Resident's Wife

3/9/2015

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Now and Then

Sometimes I look back on my life before this whole medical journey began and I can’t believe how much life has changed. Obviously part of that is because I’ve been married for 10 years and, well, people change. Another part is because of how different life is when you are married to someone in the medical field. These are some of the biggest changes in my life.

Spending the night alone.
Then: I’m lonely. How will I sleep without him here with me?
Now
: I get to leave the TV on as long as I want, and watch whatever I want, and I get to take up the whole bed if I want!


Cooking dinner for 1.
Then: How am I supposed to make a meal for just one person? It’s hard enough to cook for only two. I guess I could cook what I usually do and just put half in a Tupperware for his lunch tomorrow.
Now: Cereal for dinner again! Sweet! I love breakfast for dinner!

Staying busy alone.
Then: Read a book or watch a chick flick? Tough decision.
Now: Read, movie, check to see if there are any fun events around town?
(I guess not much has changed with that one)

Shopping.
Then: Oh that’s cute! I want it! Put it in the cart.
Now: Oh that’s cute! I want it! Check the tag and put it back on the rack. It’ll go on sale eventually, right?

Living away from family.
Then: I could never live far away from family. I will miss everyone so much. What I am supposed to do without everyone right there?!?
Now: I miss family but it is so nice having our own space to create our own traditions.

What are some ways that your life has changed over the course of your medical journey? Are you happy with the change?

Ashley


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Iowish Giveaway Winner!

3/9/2015

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Congratulations to Robyn G! Random.org chose you to be our winner. Email me at ashbholt@gmail.com and I will get you your shirt.
A HUGE thank you to Iowish.com for this giveaway. For those of you that didn't win go and buy your Iowish gear ASAP!!
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Iowish Giveaway

3/6/2015

13 Comments

 
Happy Friday! I have an awesome giveaway for you all today from Iowish.com. They are the original Kiss Me I'm Iowish tshirt company and they have sent me one of their cute shirts for one of you!
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Iowish.com created their first Iowish shirt in 2007 and since then have been a must have shirt for us Iowans. They have a couple of different designs and even make onesies and hoodies. Go and check out all of the cute options on their website! Oh, and great news! If you need your own Iowish shirt in time for St. Paddy's Day (which you do!), you can order it online by the 12th and it should make it on time! You also should go check out their Facebook page. They have deals on there (like if you order 3 or more shirts you get 10% off so go order with your friends!!)

Now for your entertainment I give you some amazing pictures of these shirts in action. And remember these are professional models.
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When you're done laughing you can enter the giveaway by leaving me a comment telling me what your plans are for St. Patrick's Day are. For an extra entry go and Like their Facebook page. The giveaway will close on Monday at 10:00AM.

Thank you again Iowish.com for donating the shirts for this giveaway!
13 Comments

Is It Spring Yet?

3/2/2015

0 Comments

 
It’s March! Yay! And, it’s still snowing! Boo! But, it’s almost Spring! (March 20th to be exact!) Since its almost spring it’s the prefect time to Spring Cleaning. I thought I would share some of my cleaning tips to help you get motivated. Let’s start from the ground up.

I like to clean my carpets to start. Winter brings in all sorts of gunk in the house and I like to get all of that off the floor. If you have tile floor it would be a good time to reseal your grout and if you have wood floors it’s a great time to wax your floors. I have wood laminate so I don’t need to wax or seal my floors but I will be cleaning all of the gunk out of the cracks in my floors and washing them really well.

Moving up, I like to wash my baseboards, walls, and doors. I like to use Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean all of my wood trim. It makes the wood look shiny and new. Another tip I have is to wipe your baseboards with a dryer sheet. It helps dirt not stick to them. Make sure you wipe all of the grooves on your door. You wouldn’t believe how much dirt they can hold, especially the back side that faces the wall.

Windows are next. If you have plastic blinds you can take them down and wash them in the bathtub or shower and then let them air dry. It’s much faster than dusting each slat. Now is a great time to wash your curtains too (just make sure you read the tag on your curtains before you wash something that is dry clean only). Be sure to wipe down the insides of your windows really well. The condensation that we get on the inside of our windows because of the cold can make the inside of your windows get kind of gunky (for lack of a better word). You can use Murphy’s Oil Soap to wipe down the wood window frame too.

Ok, now look up. Now it’s time to dust your fans because hopefully we will be using them soon. (Hopefully!) If you have plant shelves, get out your ladder and dust up there too. Don’t forget to dust off any knick knacks that are up there. If you light fixtures are looking like they need more than a dusting, you can take them down and wash them in the dishwasher. If your fixtures look delicate you should hand wash them just to be safe.

Don’t forget to change your air conditioner/heating air filter. I like to vacuum my air intake vents (they’re the ones that look like vents but air doesn’t come out of them) and to take the covers off of my regular vents and vacuum inside of them to get all of the crumbs and dirt that fall in. Did you know that you can put a couple of drops of a scented or essential oil (like lavender or lemongrass) on your air filter before you put it in and it will release a scent throughout your house? Now you do. You’re welcome.

Well did I motivate you to start cleaning? Stay tuned for some more tips and motivation and some great giveaways to help you along the way.

Ashley

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Tom Design Giveaway Winner

3/2/2015

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Congratulations Mareena! Random.org chose you won a beautiful necklace from Tom Design. Email me and I will put you in touch with Deb! Thank you again to Tom Design! Don't forget to head over to the Tom Design etsy page to order your own beautiful piece.
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What's Up Doc: March

3/1/2015

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Welcome to March!! Here are the fun activities we have planned for the month:

March 5th – Playgroup at the Coralville Library 10:15

March 5th – SOS at Atlas 7:00

March 8th – Daylight Savings Time Starts! Don’t forget to Spring Forward!!

March 9th – Playgroup at Becky Anderson’s House 10:00-1:00

March 10th – Entertainment Club at New Pioneer Co-op 6:00

March 19th – Children’s Activities at the Coralville Fire Station 10:00

March 26th – Book Club at Emily Heredia’s House (Deep Down Dark) 6:30




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