Marybeth Heckler | Blog | Allied Mortgage Group - Page 25 of 29

How Kindness & Compassion Will Improve Your Life

Written by Marybeth Heckler on November 3, 2019. Posted in Motherhood.

Kindness and compassion are two of the defining characteristics that make us a part of humanity as a whole. It’s actually a natural instinct among people, but some repress this feeling or ignore it because they are not mindful of the world around them.

It is the ability to acknowledge those around you, recognize their needs, commiserate with them, and even to show them compassion and sympathy when needed. But compassion can go beyond helping others—it can also benefit you as well.

Kindness can improve your health — Showing kindness and compassion can help improve your physical and mental health by lowering your stress levels, anxiety, and depression. When you perform an act of kindness, it gives you a positive feeling that translates into these healthy benefits. But it goes beyond that. When your stress and anxiety levels decrease, you can actually see a similar decrease in high blood pressure and an overall improvement in your ability to fight off diseases with a boost to your immunities.

Kindness can improve your personal happiness — One of the biggest benefits is that being kind helps you to feel happier in general. When you are focused on nothing but negativity around you, you tend to fall into a cycle of cynicism and depression. By breaking this cycle to show compassion to your fellow human beings, you are giving yourself a boost to your personal well-being.

Kindness allows you to expand your perspective — By showing kindness to others, you are allowing yourself to see the world from that person’s perspective. As Atticus Finch said in To Kill a Mockingbird, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Showing compassion lets you do that in a real world setting so that you can understand what the other person is feeling.

Kindness can improve the world around you — It may seem like a cliché, but kindness is contagious. If you show others an act of kindness or compassion, they and those around you are more likely to “pay it forward” and share that same action with others. When this happens, you actually help make the world a better place. And who doesn’t want to make the world a little bit better?

Kindness and compassion are two very important traits that need to be cultivated as much as possible. It may sound like a naïve proposition, but if everyone could just go out of their way to be a little kinder, the world would be a better place to live in.

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The Power of a Good Decluttering Session

Written by Marybeth Heckler on October 27, 2019. Posted in Homeowner.

We’re all enjoying Fall but that doesn’t mean you can’t do a little spring cleaning right now. In fact, we encourage people to do this as the holiday season approaches.

Whether you need the room for new toys for the little ones or are feeling cramped just ahead of visiting relatives for the holidays, it’s always a good idea to run a decluttering session in your home. And the benefits go beyond just feeling less packed in. There are actual health benefits to decluttering your home.

The Benefits – We already know the obvious one here: less clutter means less stuff to have to clean and dust plus less stuff to trip over and step around.

But did you ever consider the psychological benefits of a decluttered home? Mentally, having less clutter keeps you less anxious. By looking all the time at the stuff in your home, you may be thinking that you have to clean it or move it or pick it up. With less things to clutter the home, you have less worries.

Also, when you are decluttering your house, we encourage you to donate all the unneeded items. The act of donation shows gratitude and a sense of wanting to help others, not trying to foist your unwanted junk on someone else. So, donating these items can help you with your overall personal outlook on life.

How to Declutter — The best way to do this is on a room-by-room approach. Go into each room with the mindset of getting rid of things you no longer need or want, are broken, or not being used.

The best way to do this is to set up three different piles for your “stuff.” The first pile will be things that you plan to keep. These should be your essentials as well as those personal items that you could never bring yourself to part with. The second pile should be for things that you wish to donate. If you haven’t used it or looked at something in over a year, chances are you don’t need it. Unless it has serious sentimental value (like a family heirloom), then put it in the donation bin.

Reserve the third pile for trash and make sure that this one is your smallest pile. Even if you think it is trash, someone might be able to find use or value in it with a donation. Only toss things in here if they are broken beyond repair or something that no one could possibly want.

Maintaining a Clutter-Free Zone — Once you have your house de-cluttered, try to maintain it as best as possible. A good rule of thumb (especially for kids and toys) is that for every new item you purchase, one old item needs to be donated. This will keep the clutter down to a minimum and help keep your peace of mind.

An uncluttered home is often the sign of a happy soul as it means that you are not letting your personal possessions take over and rule your life and home. By spending some time decluttering your house, you can ensure some peace and calm in your own life.

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Impress Your House Guests on a Budget

Written by Marybeth Heckler on October 20, 2019. Posted in Homeowner, Motherhood.

Benjamin Franklin famously said that “fish and visitors smell after three days.” While Mr. Franklin may have been alluding to the idea of guests overstaying their welcome, many of us love the idea of playing host and welcoming in houseguests for either dinner parties or overnight visits.

But one of the problems with these types of visits is the need to overdo things and try to do “too much” to impress our guests. Here are some tips you can use to impress your guests if you are working on a budget:

Keep everyone entertained — It’s great to think that all your guests will be able to sit around and mingle with lively conversation. But as a host of a gathering, you still need to provide some entertainment for your guests. This doesn’t have to be really expensive. In fact, one entertainment item is making a huge comeback—board games. Whether it’s old favorites like Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit or newer adult-oriented games like Cards Against Humanity, these activities can get people mingling, talking, and laughing in no time with a very small investment on your part.

Spruce up the bathroom — This is where you can really shine with your guests. Add nice fluffy hand towels in the guest bathroom and throw in a scented candle for ambiance and decoration. Hand soaps and lotions are another good choice, just be sure to include a scented and non-scented option for those with allergies.

Keep them eating — The key to a person’s heart is through the stomach and you want to make sure your guests have plenty to munch on. Ask them ahead of time if they have any allergies so you can avoid these foods. Then set out food spots around the house. If you have guests for overnight, be sure to keep plenty of fresh water, juice, and soda on hand as well as snack items in the pantry and fridge. Good options here would be granola bars and cheese sticks. If you are working on a budget, stock up at your local warehouse store and buy in bulk. You can always chow down on the leftovers after your guests leave.

Get personal — If you’re having overnight house guests, a simple and inexpensive thing to impress them is with a personalized note. Simply get a small card or piece of stationery and write a personal note welcoming them to your home. If you really want to make it feel like an upscale hotel, have this on the guest bed which has been turned down with a piece of chocolate on the pillows.

Entertaining house guests doesn’t mean that you have to break your bank. Whether they are coming over for dinner or staying for a weekend, there are plenty of ways that you can welcome them to your home and impress them while still staying firmly on a budget.

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Halloween Activity Idea List for 2019

Written by Marybeth Heckler on October 13, 2019. Posted in Holidays, Motherhood.

October is on its way and many people are already looking forward to the coming of cooler temperatures and chilly autumn nights. But if you’re like a lot of us, October gets you thinking of one thing—Halloween!

This is the holiday that lets you get your scare on and enjoy the creepier side of Denver. Let’s take a look at some of the best activities for adults and families this year:

Elitch Gardens Fright Fest — This popular theme park is already a family favorite. But in October, the park stays open late for Fright Fest, featuring a series of haunted houses (including a circus themed one, so beware the creepy clowns) and a “fully-immersive” ghost story experience called Séance. These activities require an adult over 18 to accompany the kids and are only recommended for those 12 and over.

Denver Zoo — If you are looking for something better suited for the little ones, then consider the Enchanted Hollows at the Denver Zoo. It features an immersive art walk along with other fall time family favorites, such as pumpkin carving and cornhole. Older kids and adults can try out the ax throwing, and everyone can enjoy the “Scary-oke” sing-along.

Pumpkin Nights — Another family favorite is held at the Adams County Fairgrounds. This event features 3,000 hand-carved pumpkins on display, as well as many more Halloween displays on hand to entertain your family. The festival also has outdoor movie screenings, bounce houses, a fire show, and snacks when you work up an appetite.

Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas — Don’t let the title of this one fool you. Tim Burton’s film classic has become a perennial favorite for fans of both Christmas and Halloween. This year, the Colorado Symphony will have a screening of the film complete with live orchestral music. This one is sure to be a blast for movie and music fans.

Denver Botanic Garden’s Corn Maze — A favorite for those who like their fun a little less scary is the corn maze at Denver’s Botanic Gardens. The seven-acre corn maze is a great place to get lost and explore. And, if you do like a level of creepiness, then come back in the evening for the After Dark Corn Maze and Dead Zone Scream Park.

Denver Zombie Crawl – Halloween without zombies? Celebrate the living dead by dressing up as a zombie and coming out for the party which features vendors, a costume contest, and a physical challenge for teams called the “Organ Trail.”

There is plenty to do this October to celebrate the creepiness of the Halloween season. So whether you are an adult who enjoys being scared or a family that just likes a little bit of spookiness with your fun, there is plenty to choose from.

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How to Stage Your Home to Impress Potential Buyers

Written by Marybeth Heckler on October 6, 2019. Posted in Homeowner.

If you think that selling a home is easy, think again. You can’t just throw out a “For Sale” sign and wait for the offers to come pouring in. Instead, it’s necessary to get every aspect of your home ready for the onslaught of prospective buyers who may be coming in to check out your home.

As such, you need to think about “staging” your home as if it was a set piece for a play so that your visitors can see the charm and potential you know exists in your home. Here’s how you can do just that:

Start out front — You’ve probably heard the term “curb appeal” and you cannot deny this is important. As soon as the potential buyers pull up to the house, you want them sold on why they should consider it. In order to do this, make sure that the lawn, plants, and flowers look immaculate. This means mowing regularly (and re-sodding if needed) and putting out new flowers in hanging baskets or flower beds. Also, clean the whole of the exterior, including windows and power wash the house’s walls and walkways. For a last touch, spruce up the front porch with some small lawn chairs for a sitting space and a new welcome mat to invite your visitors in.

Clean your house top to bottom — Now is the time to do that spring cleaning you’ve been putting off. You need to make sure that everything from the ceilings to the baseboards looks neat and clean. That means wiping down the walls, vacuuming every square inch of the carpet and furniture, cleaning the bathroom grout and tile, and making sure that nothing is left looking dingy. Our best suggestion here is to hire a cleaning service if you are pressed for time and want to make it really dazzle.

Clear out your personal stuff — Basically, when it comes to staging a house, you want to remove any clutter and items you keep lying around that have personal meaning to you. Rent a storage space and move out as much as possible. We aren’t saying to move out completely—keep everything you need to live while you sell the home. But personal pictures, knick-knacks, and mementos should go so that the visitors can picture themselves in this “ blank space” instead of you.

Really clean the carpets — Now that you’ve vacuumed the carpets, take a close look and see if they need extra help. If this is the case, you should hire a professional carpet cleaning company to get rid of the accumulated grime and stains that will turn off prospective buyers.

Set up the dining room — If you’re like most people, the dining room isn’t used that often except for holidays and parties. But now, you should set out place settings and make it look like you are ready for the arrival of guests for a dinner party. This will give that perfect look of inviting.

Go seasonal — Make your home fit the season of the year. If you are selling your home in the fall, decorate with pumpkins or seasonal flowers. At Christmas, have the tree up with some small, tasteful decorations that will make them see this as their permanent home. Also, set up the backyard to look inviting with a fire pit in the fall and winter and a grill in the spring and summer.

Getting your house ready for potential buyers goes a lot further than just cleaning up. You need to do some serious overhauling on your home and decorate it to look perfect for its new owners. This way, you can hopefully beat out the competition and get your house to sell quickly.

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National Book Month – Best Reads of 2019 for Moms

Written by Marybeth Heckler on September 29, 2019. Posted in Motherhood.

It’s autumn, which means the kids are back in school and moms across the country have a few moments of precious free time in between helping with homework, volunteering at school, and chauffeuring the kids back and forth to activities.

But in those few moments of solitude, many of us try to take an opportunity to catch up on some of the books that have been stacking up on our “Want to Read” shelf on Goodreads. With that in mind, let’s do a run through with our pick for the best reads of 2019 for moms:

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood – This is probably the most anticipated book of the fall, if not the entire year. This book, a sequel to 1985’s dystopian classic The Handmaid’s Tale, is perfect for those who can’t get enough of the original book or the TV show it inspired. The Testaments focuses on three different narrators—Aunt Lydia, Agnes, and Daisy—as they explain their roles in the fictional nation of Gilead. For moms on the go, check out the audiobook which is narrated by Mae Whitman, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Ann Dowd (the actress who plays Aunt Lydia on the Hulu show.)
The Stranger Inside by Lisa Unger – For fans of dark thrillers, look no further than this story of a woman dealing with the abduction of her two friends as pre-teens. Now an adult with survivor’s guilt, she is thrust back into the case when the kidnapper is murdered, and a vigilante is on the loose targeting other criminals who “got away with murder.”
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – This book has gotten a lot of attention thanks to Reese Witherspoon, who has made it a selection for her book club and is developing it into a feature film. This beautiful story follows the “Marsh Girl,” a local legend who lives by herself in the North Carolina wilderness until she is thrust into modern society by two men from town. Check it out before the movie hits so you can say that the book was better.
If Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of “The View” by Ramin Setoodeh – If you prefer non-fiction with all the juicy details, check out this inside look at the TV show The View. One of the fascinating aspects of this seems to be the political backstage wrangling from hosts (both current and former) Star Jones, Rosie O’Donnell, and Whoopi Goldberg as they try to wrangle control of the show from creator Barbara Walters.
If Lock Every Door by Riley Sager – If you’ve got room for one more thriller, check out this one from the author of Final Girls. In this novel, a young apartment sitter winds up in a New York apartment building with some seriously dark secrets. Instead of just staying in and locking the doors, she investigates the disappearance of another young woman and facing down a killer in the building. Very intense and a great read if you want vicarious thrills.

Every minute for moms is precious. But this year, for National Book Month, spend some time with one (or all) of these great books. You will definitely appreciate the opportunity to recharge your batteries and enjoy some “me time.”

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Autumn Activities Bucket List for Families

Written by Marybeth Heckler on September 22, 2019. Posted in Motherhood.

Autumn is almost here, and for many of us it’s our favorite time of the year. Maybe it has something to do with the sights, the smells, and the cooler temperatures that require snuggling up under a warm blanket, but there’s definitely something magical about the fall.

If you’re looking for something to do this fall with your family, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at the following bucket list activities for autumn and find one to try this year. Who knows, you may create a lasting family tradition!

• Visit a corn maze — Cornfields and ears of corn have long been a symbol for fall. This fall, visit a local corn maze and have fun getting lost and trying to navigate through the maze. (Just don’t cheat and walk through the maze “walls.”) This trend has really taken off with some corn maze farms getting VERY elaborate with their designs, including some inspired by John Deere tractors and the television show Stranger Things.

• Get in the Halloween spirit — There are actually a few things that you can do this year to make sure your family is ready for Halloween. First, visit your local pumpkin patch and pick out the perfect pumpkins to take home and carve into jack-o-lanterns. There are hundreds of free patterns for pumpkin carving that you can find.

You can make your own costumes together then go trick-or-treating as a family. If you really want to go all out, choose a theme costume for all of you. I’m a huge fan of the Aladdin, Jasmine, and Abu the monkey family costume.

• Get spooky — If you like your Halloween experience to be a little spookier, try having a Halloween horror movie marathon. For the younger kids, pick out cartoons and family-friendly options like Frankenweenie, Hocus Pocus, or Disney’s Halloweentown.

Older kids may love to be introduced to the black and white monster classics like Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and The Mummy.

If you’re feeling really adventurous, see if any local tour groups are offering ghost or cemetery tours. These can be a great way to find out more about local history and legends while getting a good scare in!

• Autumn treats — Autumn has its own menu of delicious seasonal treats that you should definitely partake in. These include pumpkin lattes (there’s a reason they are so popular), roasted pumpkin seeds, and apple cider. Consider baking a homemade apple or pumpkin pie to celebrate the season and make an extra while you’re at it for your neighbors. Finally, fall wouldn’t be complete without a nice campfire and roasting marshmallows and making smores.

Autumn is a great opportunity to spend time together doing activities as a family. Now that the kids are back in school, take advantage of your evenings and weekends to cross these items off your bucket list.

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Inspiration for a Stunning Autumn Porch Display

Written by Marybeth Heckler on September 15, 2019. Posted in Homeowner.

With autumn right around the corner, many people are thinking about sprucing up their home’s exterior with a beautiful porch display for the season. Although many people wait until October to do something Halloween themed, you can find a way to express your style and creativity with a variety of porch displays throughout the season.

Here are ideas to get your brain spinning and your creative juices flowing so you can be the envy of your neighbors this fall:

Start with a splash of color — When people think of the fall, they often think of pumpkins. The big color that pops into their mind is orange. This is a great starting point for your porch color scheme. Don’t stick with just orange, instead choose decorations or items that hit an array of fall “earth tones”—brown, gold, yellow, deep crimson, and even a rich purple.If you do want to use pumpkins, consider a variety of gourds that come in a multitude of colors. Make sure that the items are on planters of varying height. This makes the eye move a little more rather than feeling like a static straight line.
It’s not just about pumpkins — Two other big hits with porch displays are hay bales and mums. You can easily find these at any nursery and the hay bales, being rectangular, work perfectly as the bases to put other items on top of.
Don’t forget the seats — Be sure to include an area of your porch for rest and relaxation. These can be comfortable chairs, rockers, or even a porch swing. Whatever you choose, make sure that they are paired closely together so that you can entertain and converse easily. You don’t want two chairs on opposite sides of the porch, where you have to yell at each other to talk. Add warm blankets so you can snuggle underneath them on cool autumn nights!
Get crafty — Another idea for creating unique planters is to use crates of varying sizes. These can give you the height differences that you want while being interesting eye-catchers. To add the fall sensibilities, you can either choose to paint these in fall colors, or you can get stencils from your local craft store and paint fall flowers or other designs on them.

This autumn, spruce up your front yard by adding something new and original to your porch display. If you follow the steps listed above, you can create an inviting and elegant feel that will add warmth and style to your home.

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Top 10 Autumn Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

Written by Marybeth Heckler on September 8, 2019. Posted in Home Improvement.

It may seem hard to believe, but autumn is right around the corner. For homeowners, this means that it’s time to do a little basic maintenance for your home before the weather dips.

Here’s your top 10 list of home maintenance tips for this fall:

Store your lawn equipment — Store your lawnmower and put it away. Drain and turn off your sprinkler system, then store your water hoses. If you own a swimming pool, follow the procedures for shutting it down and covering it up for autumn and winter.

Weatherproof your doors and windows — When you turn your heater on this fall and winter, you don’t want that hot air going out the window! Make sure you seal cracks in your doors and windows and consider adding weather-stripping to make it more energy efficient.

Inspect your roof — Your summer, hopefully, was a dry one. That means it is the perfect time to inspect your roof before the harsh rains and snows of autumn and winter move in. Get up there, if you can, and look for any loose tiles. If you really want to get high-tech, use a drone to do the checking for you!

Take care of your gutters — When you’re done inspecting the roof, keep your ladder handy to work on your gutters. Make sure they’re clear of all debris so the rainwater that is surely coming can flow freely through and not accumulate.

Clear the trees and shrubberies — While you still have that ladder out, now is the perfect time to prune back the trees and bushes (or hire someone to do it for you). It’s a good idea to keep those branches away from the home in the event of storms.

Make exterior repairs — While you’re checking out your exterior, walk around looking for anything that might need repairs. A broken window screen, a crack in the sidewalk, or a loose deck plank can be handled now.

Service the heater — Just like you get your AC serviced in the summertime, now is when you should get the heater/furnace checked out. You don’t want the temperature to suddenly drop without having a working heating system.

Don’t forget the chimney — If your house (or parts of it) is heated by a fireplace, have the chimney professionally cleaned and maintained so that you don’t have any problems when you go to use it.

Check your safety devices — Now is the time to change out the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Stock up on supplies — If you live where the fall months change quickly to snowy winter weather, it’s a good idea to stock up on supplies. Get the quilts and heavy blankets out of storage. Logs (for the fireplace) should be stockpiled. Also, if you don’t already have one, get an emergency kit and portable fire extinguisher for your home, just in case.

While the weather is still warm and agreeable, it’s a good idea to knock out some of these maintenance tips. That way, you can enjoy your autumn and prepare for the holidays!

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Why You Should Buy a Home This Fall

Written by Marybeth Heckler on September 1, 2019. Posted in Homeowner.

Most people think about buying a new house when the spring is approaching, the weather is nicer, and the temperatures are higher. But the problem with buying a home in the spring or the summer is that it’s when everyone else is buying one too.

If you want to get better deals and more options, then you might want to consider waiting until the temperatures dip and the weather gets a little softer in the fall.

Here are specific advantages to why you should consider buying a home this autumn:

Reduced Competition — The most obvious reason why you should consider the fall for your home buying is because of the reduced competition from other buyers. This means that you have the chance to consider your options more thoroughly. You won’t have to jump at the first house because it might not be on the market tomorrow. Bidding wars are not likely during the fall months.

Sellers are Motivated — This one goes hand-in-hand with the first point. Because there’s less traffic looking at houses, your sellers are motivated and willing to accept less for the home or to offer other things, such as flexible move-in dates and assistance with closing costs.

Many of these homes have been on the market since spring and the sellers may be willing to work with you because they’re frustrated with not selling their home. And with the holidays right around the corner and end-of-the-year tax advantages slipping away, homeowners are highly motivated to be flexible so they can unload their house.

More Time with Your Agent — Another bonus of the reduced traffic is that your real estate agent is not going to be as busy as they might be during the summer. This means they can spend more time helping you search for the best house and the best deal. It’ll be easier to schedule meetings and appointments that meet your schedule rather than working you in around their other clients.

Cheaper Home Goods — Many people don’t think about the deep discounts on home goods at the end of the year. These are products from appliances to bedding and window treatments that you may need when you move into your new home.

See the House in a New Light — In the spring and summer, the neighborhood is likely to look its best and be less busy with people away on vacation. In the fall, you can see the house and the neighborhood in all its glory. If there are problems with leaky roofs or foundation issues, the fall weather will showcase these faults more readily.

Better Rates — There are many other fields that all depend on the housing industry. Banks and lenders, as well as movers and contractors, all depend on making money from the sale of homes. When business is slow, such as in the fall, you can get better rates and deals from these businesses.

Fall time is becoming optimal for buyers who are looking for motivated sellers and more individual attention from your real estate agent. The lack of traffic and the end of the year deals makes all of this the perfect time to buy a home.

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