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Denver in Winter Activity Guide

Written by Marybeth Heckler on October 19, 2020. Posted in Denver.

Locals all know that winter is when Denver really comes to life with lots of activities and outdoor fun. While it is very likely that this year’s winter activities will look totally different than in years past because of COVID-19, there are still plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy yourself.

Here are the top winter activities in Denver (and the surrounding areas) that you can enjoy with your friends and family:

Denver Christkindl Market – Every year for the past 20 years, Denver has been transformed into a German wonderland with this authentic replica of a Bavarian market. Here, you can sample a wide selection of German wines, beers, and food while shopping through an arts and crafts market. And, you can also visit with St. Nikolaus and his dark counterpart, Krampus!

Dillon Ice Castles – A little over an hour outside of Denver is the town of Dillon, which is home to some truly beautiful works of natural art. This year, the ice castles will be returning despite the pandemic and locals are hoping to see lots of visitors to help make up for lost revenue in the past few months. These castles take 10 million gallons of water to create! Visitors can tour the castle and see incredible ice sculptures including fountains, slides, thrones, and tunnels.

Blossoms of Light – This holiday event has been a Denver staple for over three decades and it will be back and open this year. The Denver Botanic Gardens is transformed into a winter wonderland complete with elaborate holiday light displays. And don’t forget to pick up a hot cocoa or coffee with some sweet treats to keep you warm during your visit.

Denver Winter Brew Fest – Kick off 2021 the right way with the Denver Winter Brew Fest, a celebration of smaller craft beers in a festival setting. Tickets range from $35 to $60 VIP tickets at the door and gives you a sampling glass and an unlimited sampling of beers and hard ciders. Also, food trucks will be available to buy snacks and live music will keep you entertained.

Ruby Hill Rail Yard – If you want some outdoor activities in the snow without heading out to the ski resorts, check out this local fun spot. This is the only urban snow sports terrain park in the United States and allows you to try out snowboarding and other activities in a park location. Plus, it’s FREE!

Denver in the winter is a bustling mecca for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors. These are just some of the best activities that you can find this season that will be open despite the pandemic.

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Questions to Ask Before You Buy Your Next Home

Written by Marybeth Heckler on October 12, 2020. Posted in Real Estate.

Buying a new home is not something you do on a whim or the spur of the moment. It is something that takes meticulous planning and careful decision making.

Whether you are buying a first-time starter home, expanding your house with the size of your family, or downsizing in your later years, there are certain aspects you need to know before you sign on the dotted line.

Here are the big questions you need to ask before you buy your next home:

What is my total budget? Begin with a little soul-searching about just how much money you can spend each month on a mortgage. As a rule of thumb, calculate your average monthly income. A mortgage should never be more than 25% of that figure. If it is, then you are not going to be able to afford basic living expenses.

How much do I need to put down on the home? For many people, the problem isn’t being able to afford the monthly mortgage. Rather, it’s the difficulty of putting together the down payment all at once. Put down as much as you can afford.

What’s the neighborhood like? If you have your eyes on one particular house, you need to also look at the neighborhood. Talk with your local police department or check the local newspapers to see if it is a high crime area. You can also check with them to see if anyone in the neighborhood is a registered sex offender. If you’re a parent or hope to be soon, look at the quality of the schools to see if they can provide a good education to your children. Finally, look to see if the home is in a flood plain or is prone to any other potential disasters.

How long has the house been on the market? This answer can really impact how much you have to offer on the home. If the house is a brand-new listing and the price is right, you may find yourself in a bidding war as multiple buyers jump in. However, if the home has been listed for months (or even more than a year), you may want to ask yourself what is wrong with it that others are passing it by. If it still seems like a good home, then offer less than the asking price and see if the homeowner is desperate enough to bite.

What other costs are involved? Buying a home is never easy, so you need to be prepared for hidden costs. First, estimate how much you expect to pay at closing. Also, pay close attention to the appliances and HVAC system and determine if these will need any upgrades or outright replacements. Finally, find out how much the property taxes are each year so you can include that in your budget.

If you are buying a new home, it is imperative that you do your homework first and get all the details down before you make your purchase. This is a major commitment and not one you want to make without all the facts in front of you.

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How to Organize a Playroom

Written by Marybeth Heckler on October 5, 2020. Posted in Homeowner.

All of the time that kids have spent at home lately, thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak, has probably left you with a disorganized and chaotic house.

This is especially true of your child’s playroom. With the holidays coming up, you might want to get this area under control before you add even more items to their play area.

Here are tips to get the chaos of your child’s room under control and organize their playroom:

Sweep through the room for trash — Before you try to do any organizing, you need to get rid of some of the items your child doesn’t need anymore. First, throw out any items that are broken. This includes toys that are falling apart, puzzles or games that are missing pieces, and anything else that is trash. Make sure you do this alone. Your kids may get a little sentimental and want to hold on to broken items and you don’t need that. Now is the time to absolutely get rid of whatever is broken.

Clear out items to donate — Now that you’ve gotten rid of the broken toys, go through with your child and help them pick out toys that they don’t play with anymore. Point out to them that it is especially nice to help those who are less fortunate by donating toys, games, and puzzles. Encourage them to practice charity and, at the same time, clean out the room as much as possible.

Get a system of bins — Playrooms don’t tend to be very big and you want to maximize as much floor space as possible so your child can actually play. To do this, get a bin system that is vertical and goes higher rather than taking up a lot of horizontal space in the room. Get multiple smaller bins instead of one large “toy box.” With the toy box, your child will throw everything out as he or she looks for that one toy they want to play with. With smaller bins, they have less things to go through to find what they want. Also, use clear plastic bins so you can see inside easily.

Sort by type — After you set up the bins, organize and label them by categories. If your child loves race cars, then you might want to create a bin to just hold these. If they are into board games, then separate those into an individual bin. Whatever system works best for you is ok, but it is essential to have some kind of system.

Only get down one bin at a time — Your child might have a couple of toys that they always gravitate towards. But if you want to get them to play with a variety of toys, you might want to consider only getting out one bin a day. This way, your child has fewer options and doesn’t feel overwhelmed. And, if the bins are stacked up, they won’t be able to get into the other toys that you haven’t put out for them. Plus, cleaning up one bin is a lot easier than five or six bins.

Getting your child’s room clean and organized isn’t just an important activity for keeping your home orderly. It’s also an important practice to help teach your child so that they can learn responsibility and how to keep themselves organized as they get older.

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Best Weekend Projects for Homeowners

Written by Marybeth Heckler on September 28, 2020. Posted in Home Improvement.

Now that fall is arriving and the temperatures are dropping, but not too cold, it’s a great opportunity to break out the tools and start working on some of those weekend projects. If you are the type of person who loves tinkering around the house when you have a little downtime, then you probably already know that these projects can be a kind of “Zen-like” activity that lets you relax while also doing something beneficial.

Here are some of the best weekend projects for homeowners to take on now that the sweltering heat has faded:

Do some painting — If you’ve got the time and inclination, now is a great opportunity to get that touch-up painting done you’ve wanted to do all year. This doesn’t mean you have to devote a whole weekend to paint an entire room. Instead, you can do a bit of restoration painting by giving your front door a new coat (or even trying out a totally new color). If you have built-in shelving, try painting the interiors of the shelves a contrasting color to give it a nice visual pop.
Lawn care maintenance — Now that the summer is over, it’s probably time to do some maintenance on your lawn equipment to make sure that it is ready to run when the spring rolls around again. This is the perfect opportunity to check the plugs and engine of your lawnmower and to sharpen its blades. Then, you can put it aside for now knowing you will have it ready when the grass starts growing again.
Do some redecorating — Not all weekend projects are of the “handyman with tools” variety. You can also do simple redecorating of your home to give it a new look. Just reorganize a family room or moving around a few pieces of furniture can do wonders to rejuvenate the place. Also, consider replacing some of that tired artwork you’ve had up for years with something more personal that you make yourself.
Install new shelves — Chances are there is a part of your room that needs more organization. It could be the garage, the pantry, the laundry room, or even your master closet. Regardless of where you need them, take a weekend to organize your home a little better with shelving units. These can help you keep everything in nice, neat rows without having to stack stuff up on the floor.
Plant a garden — Just because its fall doesn’t mean you can’t do some gardening. Goldenrod, sumac, and sunflowers are just a few of the great flower options that will do well in a fall garden.

Weekend projects are a great way to not only keep your house looking great, but also to help keep you active. This fall, try out some of these weekend projects to help you relax with a little work.

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Celebrating Halloween During a Pandemic

Written by Marybeth Heckler on September 21, 2020. Posted in Holidays.

For some of us, our fondest childhood memories of autumn have always been the memories of trick-or-treating and celebrating Halloween. And as parents, we want to share those experiences with our children so that they can form great memories as well.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine have pretty much destroyed some of those opportunities this year. But parents shouldn’t just throw in the towel and cancel Halloween just yet. Instead, you should plan for some pandemic-friendly activities for your little ones this fall.

Try some of these great Halloween activities with your family:

Go Trick-or-Treating (From a Distance) — First, Halloween and trick-or-treating may not be safe in all areas, particularly where COVID has flared up heavily. However, you may be able to have a “socially distanced” trick-or-treat experience by wearing surgical masks with your Halloween costume and going to neighbors who are leaving the treats out on the lawn in separate packs for the kids to pick up. Also, be sure to include lots of hand sanitizer to use in between homes.

Have a Zoom Costume Contest — If you are stuck at home and have lots of friends and family that you miss, one way to get in touch on Halloween is with Zoom. You can have an online party with all of your friends and their children and have the kids model their Halloween costumes for the adults. You can also get others to be impartial judges and pick the best or scariest costumes. During your modeling, be sure to throw on a Halloween soundtrack like “Monster Mash” or “Thriller.”

Have a Scary Movie Double Feature — There are lots of streaming options out there that have plenty of scary movies you can watch no matter what age you are. For the little kids, you might want to choose a tame film like Hocus Pocus or The Addams Family. But for the older kids (or the adults when the little ones go to sleep) you can try classic horror films like Night of the Living Dead or Friday the 13^th.

Carve a Jack-O-Lantern — This is an activity that is always a Halloween winner but is also possible to do during quarantine. There are hundreds of different jack-o-lantern patterns available online or for purchase. Just be sure to get a good carving tool kit that can make it easier. And, for the little ones, consider getting glow-in-the-dark paint and other craft materials that you can glue onto the pumpkins without having to carve them.

This Halloween, you don’t have to let the pandemic ruin your plans to make lasting memories with your family. Instead, just do some careful planning and enjoy some of these safe activities with your friends and kids.

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Are You Making Any of These Closet Mistakes?

Written by Marybeth Heckler on September 14, 2020. Posted in Homeowner.

If you’re like us, you’ve probably been binge-watching shows and reading books on organization from luminaries such as Marie Kondo. While these organizational gurus make it look easy to bring order to a chaotic environment, it’s actually a little harder than it appears.

Probably one of the worst organizational areas for many people is the bedroom closet. After all, you can toss things in there willy-nilly and not have to look at it again. But there are habits you may be doing that are making your closet a disorganized mess.

Here are a few tips to keep your closet organized:

You’ve got too much stuff — The biggest mistake for most people is keeping too many items in your closet. If you’ve been watching Netflix’s Get Organized with The Home Edit, you know the first step to any organizing process is to edit. It’s another way of saying, start your process by decluttering. Take all of your clothes and accessories off the racks and shelves and put them in your bedroom. Then sort it into three piles: keep, donate/sell, trash. Once you go through, you’re going to find some real fashion emergencies that you should have never bought in the first place, much less held onto. Get rid of them and see how much room you have left.

Place like items together — The best organizational system is to place all of your like items together. Put pants together with pants, dress shirts together with dress shirts, summer blouses together with summer blouses…you get the picture. This creates a neat organizational system and makes it easier to find things.

Use the rows appropriately — If your closet has two rows of hanging rods, then chances are you aren’t using them right. Most people put the shirts on the top and the pants on the bottom. (After all, that’s how it goes on our bodies.) Instead, place the shirts on the bottom and the pants on the top. Generally speaking, pants folded on a hanger take up less space than shirts. If you keep the shirts on top, you will be covering up part of your bottom row and making it harder to see and access.

Don’t bury things — Make sure that you set aside a specific area for your shoes so they don’t get buried. If you cover these up with luggage and other items, you will (at best) not be able to find them and (at worst) damage them irreparably.

Don’t have boxes inside of boxes — One of the biggest mistakes is that you buy boxes to organize your closet and then put more boxes inside of them. Instead, we recommend using clear plastic containers that are labeled with “shoes” or “purses.” This way, you can actually see what you are looking at before you start digging through the boxes.

If you follow these steps, your morning sojourn into the closet to find your clothes will go a lot smoother. And you will have the peace of mind that comes from having an organized closet instead of an untidy disaster area.

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A Guide for Great Coffee Shops in Denver

Written by Marybeth Heckler on September 7, 2020. Posted in Denver.

Fall is here and many of us are relishing the cooler temperatures so we can enjoy the local coffee shops with a warm cup of java. But it’s not enough to have a good house coffee. A great coffee shop also has to have that quirky ambiance, friendly baristas, and unusual specialty drinks that make each one unique.

We’d like to share some of our favorite coffee shops in the Denver area where you can be sure to get a great cup of coffee—and yes, that includes pumpkin spice lattes. (While there are some restrictions in place thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak, many of these are still open with mask requirements and social distancing.)

Here’s a list of great coffee shops in Denver you don’t want to miss:

Queen City Denver Collective – You’ve probably heard a lot about the whole concept of “farm-to-table.” But have you heard about “farm-to-cup?” Queen City Denver Collective has been around for over a decade as the owners worked in Zimbabwe on humanitarian projects. The café is dedicated to bringing in beans directly from the farmers and roasting them in-house to give you the freshest brews possible. Also, be sure to check out the Dark Star, a nitro cold brew that is mixed with Mexican Coke.
Steam Espresso Bar – If you are a fan of microbrew beers, then you might want to try the Steam Espresso Bar, a location that has been open since 2013. Steam only buys their coffee from micro-roasters and are committed to sustainable coffee brewing methods and environmental consciousness. If you don’t believe us, check out the experts—Steam has been named as one of the top 10 coffee bars in Denver by Zagats.
Huckleberry Roasters – Another globally responsible coffee bar is Huckleberry Roasters, which boasts two locations in the Denver area and is also selling its roast blends online. But if you can make it there in person, check out the Adventurous Coffee Flight which lets you sample several different types so you can find a new favorite.
Black Eye Coffee – This location may have started as a speakeasy during Prohibition, but it now houses some of the best coffee in the area. Black Eye brings in a variety of local roasters (including Huckleberry Roasters) and even features a bottomless cup for $4. But, that’s not where the appeal ends. On warm days, they open up the garage door at the entrance and let the fresh air in and also serve beer, wine, bottomless mimosas, and great snacks and sandwiches including a chorizo burrito.

For many of us, a good cup of coffee isn’t just about kicking off your morning with a burst of caffeine. It’s about enjoying the atmosphere and local flavor of independently owned and sourced coffee shops. That’s why you should definitely check out these four coffee shops in the Denver area.

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Fall Break Staycation Ideas for Families

Written by Marybeth Heckler on August 30, 2020. Posted in Motherhood.

Think back to some of your most cherished childhood memories. I’m going to bet that a lot of them are centered around summer vacations with trips to visit family, hitting the beach, or enjoying amusement parks. And chances are you’ve been trying to recreate those kinds of memories with your own family. But now that the summer is over, it may seem like those opportunities are fading with the heat.

If you want to do something fun with your family this fall but don’t have the time to go on a long trip, consider these staycation ideas in your area:

Fall Festivals & Pumpkin Patches — During the fall, there are plenty of local fall festivals and pumpkin patches that can provide you with plenty of opportunities for family fun. Many of these don’t just have the opportunity to buy or carve pumpkins. They also feature cornfield mazes, games, arts and crafts, and great snacks like funnel cake and hot apple cider.

Haunted Houses — For those with older kids, you might want to check out the local area for a haunted house. Many of these attractions are enlarging over the years from a simple house to outdoor trails through mazes or the woods complete with scary characters ready to give you the chills.

County Fairs — Another great activity during this time of year is annual county fairs that pop up in locations across the country. These fairs, complete with kiddie rides and more exciting activities for the adventurous, are really popular. And you might even want to try one of the scary fried concoctions that appear every year like fried Oreos or even fried bubble gum. (Yes, that’s really a thing.)

Camping Trip — Once the summer heat dips, then fall is a great chance to get outside and do some camping. Whether it’s in a cabin in a state park or just a tent in the backyard, all of these activities let you get back to nature. This is also the perfect time of year for this so that you can enjoy the fall foliage and watch the leaves change colors.

Get Outdoors — Even if camping isn’t your thing, this is also a good time to enjoy outdoor activities. Try hiking a trail or taking a kayak for a short trip around a lake.

All of these activities are great opportunities to build memories and bond as a family. The fall also presents you with staycations that you don’t get to try during the rest of the year.

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To Renovate or Not: Where to Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck

Written by Marybeth Heckler on August 23, 2020. Posted in Home Improvement.

When it comes to renovating a home, there are generally two mindsets at work. The first is that you want to make your house nicer and more suited to your own style or preferences. But the other one is that you want to make an improvement to your home so that you can recoup your money when you go to resell the house.

Let’s look at the best options you have for improving your property value with renovation projects:

Garage Door — If you’ve never replaced your garage door, then it’s an option you should really consider. Most home builders choose a very basic model that has no personality or style to it. It’s just a generic white or off-white door. Instead, consider replacing this with something more sophisticated like a rustic wood garage door or one with window panels to let natural light in.

Kitchen Cabinets — Many people want to do a full kitchen remodel with all new cabinetry, custom backsplashes, and top-of-the-line appliances. This is great if you’ve got the money, but it’s not going to give you a lot of return on investment. Instead, leave your cabinets as they are, but replace the cabinet doors. This simple upgrade will give you a chance to do a lot of cosmetic improvements without breaking your bank.

Bathroom Upgrade — Another great remodeling option is to redo your bathroom. Overall, this has the potential to actually increase your home’s value by more than you put into it. Replace your current toilet with a low-flow option that will reduce your water usage. You can also enlarge your shower stall, especially if you have a separate tub that you are willing to sacrifice. An extra-large shower with multiple shower heads and a sit-down bench is a great selling point.

Wood Deck — Many homeowners are looking for a great house and a great backyard for entertaining. You can meet the needs of this last point with a simple wood deck or patio addition to your home that will end up recouping almost your entire investment. And, as a bonus, you can get lots of use out of it yourself in the meantime before you decide to sell.

New Vinyl Siding — One last upgrade that can really help you with the value of your home is the exterior, specifically new vinyl siding. This may not seem particularly spectacular or exciting, but a refreshed exterior with new siding will give your home more curb appeal. This refers to the positive initial impressions you get when someone first pulls up to the house. A home with good curb appeal is well on its way to getting a good asking price on the market.

These five home renovations aren’t the only improvements you can make. But they are five that have the potential to get you the most bang for your buck and will help the most when looking for resale value later on.

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Our Favorite Fall Décor Trends This Year

Written by Marybeth Heckler on August 16, 2020. Posted in Home Improvement.

The fall is approaching and many of us are already tired of the chaos and confusion that has come with 2020. From COVID-19 to political upheaval, many of us are looking to our homes as a bastion of support and refuge from the world outside. But those of us who have also been stuck inside for the past few months may be looking to make a change in our décor this fall.

Here are the top decorating trends you can choose if you want to make a change this year:

Single Colors — For a while, you may have been told to do layers when it comes to colors, pairing up a complementary palette to tie everything together. However, in 2020, many of the designs we are seeing a focus on a single-color scheme. Before you start thinking this may be overwhelming, remember that you can use multiple shades of the same color and also add these with white or cream so it doesn’t look totally monochromatic.
Add Color to the Kitchen — Speaking of colors, one of the things you might want to consider redoing is the color scheme of your kitchen. For years now, white has been the dominant color for kitchens. And while it is still the most chosen shade, many designers are pushing people to add color to their kitchen so that it doesn’t look so simple and plain.
Invite in the Great Outdoors — Many of us are getting cabin fever thanks to the quarantines and lockdowns. So, you can ease some of the anxiety from this by adding natural touches to your décor. Adding plants and flowers (even if they are fake) can help create a soothing atmosphere. To add to this, include scented candles to bring in some soft lighting with the smells of nature. You can also try using rattan furniture and furniture accents. This material, previously thought to be exclusively for outdoor patio furniture, is another way to add some outdoor feel to your home.
Bold Laundry Rooms — One of the most forgotten rooms in the house is the laundry room. But this year, spruce up this bland room with some bold colors or decorative flairs. Chalkboard walls are a great way to enliven the laundry room so you can let the little ones do some decorating of their own. And, if you are like us and love different storage solutions, this is the perfect time to look at what options are out there.

Don’t let the world around you get you down. Take charge of your own home and do a little redecorating this fall with these great ideas to liven up your environment.

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