December 13, 2013

Today’ food for thought is from Fred Sponseller:  “Another year in the can.  Now we can make resolutions for 2014.  Just keep one—do better!”

Fred’s last pick of the year is MLS # 609640-$109,900.  Fall in Love with the Price, and when you see the Home you will ask where to sign.  It is rare to find; this combination of an Outstanding Home at an Affordable Price.  With 3 BR, 2 BA, in 1456 sq. ft. situated on a double lot (.34 acres) this home fills in all the must have items.  The major upgrades (Roof, HVAC, Paint) make this home essentially free of major repairs for many years to come.  Call me to see this gem at 302 258-6983.  www.fredsporch.comLiving RM-1

Ideas for Celebrating New Year’s at Home

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If you’re planning a quiet New Year’s Eve at home, here are a few ideas that might make your evening just a little more special:

1.  Movie Marathon.  Pop some popcorn, heat up some hot cocoa, and snuggle under a soft blanket while watching a few favorite or “must see” movies.  Turn on the TV at about 11:55 and watch the ball drop!

2.  Chinese Food & Puzzles.  Go out early in the day and purchase a puzzle that appeals to you.  Start building it when you get home with the goal of having it finished by midnight.  Order some Chinese food or other take out that you love for dinner and enjoy a night of relaxation.

3.  Share Resolutions.  Spend time as a family sharing your resolutions for 2014, making a plan to stick to them, and coming up with ways that you can hold each other accountable.

4.  A Nice Meal.  Cook or order out several courses of a nice meal, serve it up on your finest china and enjoy!

5.  Game Night.  Break out the board games and cards, or if you’re feeling brave visit Google or Pinterest for some “Minute To Win It” type games and have some fun!

6.  Party In A Bag.  This one is especially good if you’ve got little ones around.  Decide what time you’re going to begin your celebrating and label brown paper bags for each hour.  Plan a spec ial activity for each hour and don’t tell anyone.  Open each bag on the hour and follow the instructions inside.  This can be as creative as you’d like!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Real Estate Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

New Year’s Celebration Ideas

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The New Year is quickly approaching, and it’s almost time to celebrate!  If you haven’t already made plans, consider some of these ideas for a New Year’s Celebration to ring in 2014:

1.  Attend a party.  If you weren’t invited to any, check out a list of local happenings and get in on the action.  Many restaurants, bars, hotels, and even some towns throw their own New Year’s Celebrations.

2.  Throw a party.  If you’re more of a do it yourself-er, throw together a quick New Year’s Eve celebration.  Invite some friends over and order take out of have everyone bring a dish for a potluck-style celebration.  Just call or text a few friends and have a low-key night.  You could play games, have everyone tell their favorite moments or lessons learned from 2013, have a movie marathon, etc.  There are lots of great ideas that don’t take a lot of pre-planning, just get a group together and celebrate!

3.  Dinner out.  Lots of restaurants ranging from family fare to super fancy have New Year’s Eve specials, so take a special someone out on the town for a dinner to remember.

4.  Night Away.  Book a hotel room for the night and sleep over.  Watch the ball drop and just spend time with your significant other.  Extra points if you bring some chocolate covered strawberries and champagne with you!

5.  Stay Home.  There are lots of great ideas for a making a quiet night at home something special.  Pick one and ring in 2014 in the comforts of your own home.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Real Estate Associates and put us to work for you – 302-856-6434.

December 30, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from Henry David Thoreau:  “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”  (Fred)  “Smart hard work is the foundation of success.”

Fred’s pick of the day is MLS # 606872-From $724,900 to $649,000.  A Coastal Colonial in Dagsboro, DE which has 5 BR, 4.5 BA in 3196 sq. ft. on .22 acres is available.  The home features a wrap-around 2nd floor porch, and a custom floor plan.  Call me to see this home @ 302 258-6983.  www.fredsporch.comDecember 20, 2013

Handling Post-Holiday Let Down

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The time leading up to the holiday season is full of fun, family, parties, anticipation, joy, and even stress.  But after New Year’s has come and gone and the holiday season is officially over for another year many people feel a post-holiday let-down.  It’s understandable, and here are some tips to combat it:

Manage Expectations.  Once the excitement of the holiday season has passed and things have settled back to normal routine, you should expect to feel some sense of let-down because your adrenaline is most likely pumping far less often than it was throughout the past few weeks.  You should not expect to ride the wave of holiday joy forever.

Look on the Bright Side.  The break in routine that the holidays provides gives you a chance to rest and rejuvenate.  Even if your holiday season was crazy busy, the break from the norm was still enough to renew your perspective.

Give Yourself Something To Look Forward To.  A lot of the joy that comes from the holiday season comes because we are busy being out and about, enjoying friends and family, and creating memories and experiences.  There is no reason to stop that once the holidays have passed.  Giving yourself something to look forward to each week can help keep your spirits up.  Make a lunch date with a friend, join a co-worker for a cup of coffee, go for a manicure or massage, plan a low-key dinner party for a few friends or family, take a class, go to the movies, or whatever you’d like, just make sure you plan something each week that gets you out and about or around other people.

Exercise.  Shoot for 20-30 minutes a day of exercise.  Even if you just walk around the block a couple of times, getting out of the house and getting your blood pumping is healthy for both the body and soul.

Give Back.  Volunteer your time for a cause you care about, donate unwanted items to a shelter or charity, or offer your skills to an organization that could use your help.  Volunteering is a great way to both feel useful and connect with your community, both things that help reduce feelings of sadness.

Get Help.  If you are unable to cope and find that nothing helps you beat your post-holiday blues consider getting professional help.  You may be suffering from more than a slump, and getting professional help might be the best thing you can do for yourself.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you — 302-629-6693.

Tips For Hassle-Free Holiday Returns

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If you’re one of the roughly 15% of people who need (or want) to return a gift you were given over the holidays, consider these tips to make the chore as hassle-free as possible:

Do your research.  Most places with websites list their return policies there.  Checking ahead of time to see what you need to bring with you can save you time in the long run.  Your receipt is another good place to look if you need information about a return policy.  At the very least it should give you your “return by” date in most places.  If the purchase was made online contact the company via phone to see what their policy is and request a pre-paid return label if you don’t have one.

Return in kind.  Return the item exactly how you received it, which means including all bubble wrap, cardboard, instruction manuals, etc.  Many places will not return an item that has been opened, had the tags removed, etc.  So if you think you might return it, don’t open it fully until you’ve made a decision.

Use pre-paid labels.  If you shopped online, use pre-paid labels to return your merchandise for a smooth transaction with no out-of-pocket costs.  Be sure to record the tracking numbers, etc. so you know when you should receive your credit.

Utilize “off” hours.  If you can wait until a week or so after the new year to make your returns, that is best, but if you can’t try to get to the store really early or really late to avoid as much of the crowd as possible.

Happy returning!

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in Sussex County, give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-856-6434.

Best Tips For Scoring After Christmas Deals

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If you like to plan ahead , scoring some major deals after Christmas will put you in a good position for next year.  I’ve done a little research and culled together the best tips for getting the most out of post-Christmas sales:

Make a list.  Take inventory of what you have left and what you think you’ll need for next year’s holiday season.  Things like cards, candles and gift wrap that you go through yearly should definitely make the list, but things like ornaments, lights, and other decorations that may need replacing should also be considered.

Wrapping Paper.  A lot of wrapping paper that is marketed as “Christmas” paper can be used year round – so stock up!

Candles.  A lot of candle scents are marketed as “holiday” but can be enjoyed year round if you just peel of the sticker!

Do Research.  Spend some time looking at the newspaper, sales circulars, and internet.  You can find a lot of coupons and deals and know where to go for the best bang for your buck.

Shop Department Stores.  Department stores have to clear out their excess “holiday” inventory to make room for new arrivals in the near year.  You’ll find a lot of on sale that doesn’t necessarily include holiday accessories.

Winter Wear.  You’ll find a lot of coats, hats, boots, etc. on sale beginning now.

Happy shopping!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

December 24, 2013

Today as our families gather to celebrate, remember why we have this Holiday and the Spirit that comes with it.  Let us pray and the children have a ball with their presents.

Peace on Earth and Good will to All!!

Today’s food for today is from Henry David Thoreau:  “Goodness is the only investment that never fails.”  (Fred)  “I agree!”DSC04351

Where’s Santa?

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As Santa prepares for his whirlwind tour of every house and chimney in the world, NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) prepares to track him, just as they have every Christmas Eve for the pas 58 years!

It all began in 1955 when a Sears Roebuck & Company catalog promised a Santa hotline but misprinted the number and gave the number for what was then the Continental Air Defense Command (now NORAD) instead.  When Col. Harry Shoup fielded the first call that Christmas Eve he was probably expecting the Secretary of Defense, some kind of red alert, or perhaps even the President, but instead he heard a little girl on the other end of the line asking about Santa.  He immediately sprang into gear, instructing staff to check the radar for signs of Santa, and thus a tradition was born.

The official NORAD website explains how they use radar, satellites, Santa Cams, and fighter jets to track Santa in a very high-tech system that begins the moment the NORAD radar indicates that Santa has lifted off.

You can track Santa personally and check the running count of gifts delivered at NORAD’s official website by clicking this link.  Your kids (or you!) can also follow Santa by emailing noradtrackssanta@outlook.com or by phone at 1-877-HI-NORAD, or download the NORAD Tracks Santa mobile app.

Happy Santa tracking & Merry Christmas Eve!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

December 23, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from Henry Adams:  “All experience is an arch, to build upon.  (Fred)  “If we don’t learn from our experiences our building blocks will be unsuitable.”

Fred’s pick of the day is MLS # 609127-From $168,000 to $159,900.  A Seaford Rancher which is bank owned property, Sold AS IS, which has 3 BR, 2BA, Living Rm, Dining Rm, Kitchen with Corian Countertops, a Family Rm, a 3 Season Rm all in 1744 sq. ft. on .5 acre.  Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983.  www.fredsporch.comDecember 23, 2013

Christmas Preparation: Christmas Breakfast Ideas

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Make one of these delicious breakfasts up tomorrow and stick it in the fridge overnight so that all you have to do on Christmas morning is pop it in the oven.  Easy, delicious and not at all time consuming!  Here are some recipes to try:

Christmas Morning Casserole
Cut 4 English muffins in half and arrange them face up in the bottom of a greased 9×13 pan, cutting to fit when necessary.  In a large skillet, toss 2 medium tomatoes (chopped), 1lb of sliced mushrooms, salt & pepper to taste & 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  Sautee until veggies are tender and the liquid is thickened (8-10 minutes) then spoon over the top of the English muffins and set aside to cool.  In a large bowl whisk together 8 eggs, ½ cup milk, ½ tsp of garlic powder, ½ tsp of onion powder, salt & pepper to taste and 2 tsp of dried basil.  Add to casserole then cover and refrigerate.  In the morning, let the casserole come to room temperature for an hour , then preheat the oven to 350 degrees, sprinkle with the cheese(s) of your choice and bake until cooked thorugh, about 45-50 minutes and serve immediately.

Monkey Bread
Take 3 packages of 10 count packaged biscuits (30 biscuits total) out of their tubes and cut each tube into 4 parts lengthwise.  Shake rolls in a bag with 2/3 cup sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon.  Spray a bundt pan and arrange sugar coated biscuits in the bottom of the pan, creating a layered effect.  Melt 1 cup of butter and mix in 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 tsp of cinnamon and ½ cup of chopped nuts.  Pour butter mixture over biscuits and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  Store in an airtight container and warm the loaf up when you’re ready for it.

Breakfast Burritos
In a large skillet, fry one 16oz package of frozen hash browns  according to the instructions and then set aside.  In the same skillet, brown a ½ lb of pork sausage then drain and set aside.  In a large bowl beat 12 eggs and ¼ cup of milk.  Add chopped onions, peppers and any other veggies you’d like to taste and season with salt & pepper.  In the same skillet that you used for the hash browns, cook the egg mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the eggs are set.  Remove from heat, add the hash browns and sausage and mix gently.  Place ¾ cup filling on a 10” flour tortilla (about 12 tortillas total) and top with ¼ cup of shredded cheddar cheese.  Roll up the tortillas, wrap in foil and refrigerate overnight.  When ready to bake, place on a baking sheet and bake on 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until heated through and serve with salsa.

French Toast Casserole
Cut 1 (10oz) loaf of French bread into 1” cubes and place in a greased 13×9 baking dish.  In a mixing bowl beat 8 eggs, 3 cups of milk, 4 tsp of sugar, 1 tsp of vanilla extract and ¾ tsp of salt.  Once mixed, pour over bread.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  In the morning, remove the casserole 30 minutes before baking and dot with 2 tablespoons of butter in small cubes and sprinkle with a mixture of 3 tablespoons sugar and 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean.  Let stand for 5 minutes.  Top with maple syrup, honey, whipped cream, fruit, or whatever combination you desire and serve.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Christmas Preparation: Last Minute Gifts

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If there are still a few people left on your shopping list, consider these last minute gift ideas:

Hot Cocoa.  Google recipes for homemade hot cocoa and whip a batch up.  Package it in a cute mug with some marshmallows and candy canes for an instant hit.

Edible Bark.  Look up recipes for peppermint bark, chocolate cookie bark, or other edible “barks” and whip up a batch or two.  Package it nicely in a festive bag or tray and tie with a ribbon and you’ll have a whole host of gifts by the end of the day.

Food In A Jar.  There are lots of recipes around for just-add-liquid cookies, soups, and more.  Assemble the ingredients in a mason jar, add a cute tag and you’re done!

Instant Movie Night.  Box up a cozy throw blanket, a couple of dvds and a box of popcorn for an instant movie night.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Christmas Preparation: Christmas Cookie Recipes

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It’s not too late to do a little holiday baking, if you’re in the mood.  Here are some of my favorite simple recipes that don’t require a whole lot of work:

Peanut Butter Oatmeal No Bakes
Mix together 2 cups sugar, 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ cup of margarine, ½ cup of milk, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan and bring to a rapid boil for 60 seconds.  Remove from heat and quickly add 3 cups of quick cook oats, ½ cup of peanut butter, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract.  Mix well.  Working quickly, drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool.

Foolproof Fudge
Prepare a 8 or 9 inch square pan with a wax paper lining (wax paper should overflow the edges).  In a heavy saucepan, on low heat, melt 3 cups of chocolate chips, 1 (14oz) can of sweetened condensed milk and a pinch of salt.  Remove from heat, stir in 1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla and any nuts, marshmallows or other additives you desire.  Spread evenly in the prepared pan and chill for 2 hours or until firm.  Lift the fudge out of the pan, peel of the paper and cut into small squares.

Macaroons
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Combine 14oz shredded coconut, 14oz (1 can) sweetened condensed milk, and 1 tsp vanilla extract in a large bowl.  Whip 2 extra large egg whites (room temp, not cold) and ¼ tsp of kosher salt in a separate bowl with an electric mixer until medium firm peaks are formed.  Carefully fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture.  Drop the batter onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper and bake for 20-30 minutes, until they are golden brown.

Chocolate Chip Candy Cane Cookies
These festive cookies are easy to make!  Just whip up your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, add 4-5 crushed up candy canes to the batter and bake as directed.

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-856-6434.

December 20, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from Fred Sponseller:  “The hardest things in life are to find the right mate, to use your talents to their upmost potential, and to know what is enough.”  (Fred)  “I have been blessed with the right mate for 42 years (Happy Anniversary Donna), have used my talents well, and have enough to be happy.”

Fred’s pick of the day is MLS # 608611-From $1,879,000 to $1,789,000.  A Bethany Beach DE waterfront home that has a 3 boat slip, boat and jet ski lift, in-ground heated pool and hot tub, 2 master suites and 3 BR with an en suite, gourmet kitchen, 2 living areas and an elevator.  Call me to see this grand home at 302 258-6983.  www.fredsporch.comDecember 20, 2013

Christmas Preparation: Do It Yourself Ornaments

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If you’re looking for some ideas to fill out your Christmas tree a little bit more, try some of these homemade Christmas ornament ideas:

A Button Wreath.  Use a piece of craft wire and string up any buttons you choose (you will need approximately 50-80 depending on the size of the wreath), create a wreath shape and hang with a ribbon.
Cookie Cutter Ornaments.  Back a cookie cutter with whatever style scrapbooking paper you’d like and hang with a piece of ribbon.
Santa Belly.  Use craft paint to paint a black Santa belt around the center of a red Christmas ball.  When it dries use a white, silver, or gold paint pen to draw on a belt buckle and you’ve got a cute Christmas ornament in a short amount of time.
Glitter Ornaments.  Take a clean, clear craft ornament and put in enough drops of Murphy’s Oil Soap to swirl around and coat the inside of the entire ornament.  Once it’s coated, drain the excess back into the container and pour glitter into the ornament – enough to more than coat the inside.  Once it’s coated, dump out the excess glitter and place it to dry with the top off.  Once dry, use a ribbon to hang or use paint markers to decorate the outside however you’d like.

Bottle Cap Snowman.  For this one all you have to do is take three bottle caps, paint them white and attach them by hot gluing a ribbon up the back of them (use enough ribbon to loop over and hang).  Decorate the insides (front) of the top and middle with markers to make a face, carrot nose and buttons and hang.

Fill An Empty Ornament.  An easy way to make an ornament is to purchase a container of empty clear glass ornaments at the store and fill them with whatever you’d like.  Some easy ideas are: a spring of evergreen, colorful craft pom poms, small photographs, loose leaf tea, dried flower petals, cranberries, baby’s breathe, dried herbs, bath salts, extra Christmas light bulbs, feathers, cut up strips of literature or sheet music, beads, or really anything you can think of!

Have fun and Merry (almost) Christmas!!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-629-6693.

Christmas Preparation: Relax

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With Christmas just days away, the hustle, bustle and stress may be getting to you.  Take some time out of the busy-ness of the season and just enjoy your family.  Unplug, order take out and de-stress with a family fun night.  Focus on quiet activities and not on the never-ending to do list.  Some great ideas are: watching Christmas movies, baking or decorating cookies together, playing board games, or going for a drive to look at Christmas lights – you could even use this amazing Christmas light scavenger hunt idea!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

December 18, 2013

Today’s food for thought is from Henri Frederic Amiel:  “Work while you have the light.  You are responsible for the talent that has been entrusted to you.”  (Fred)  “To not use the talent given you is a great travesty.”

Fred’s pick of the day is MLS # 609155-From $289,000 to $275,000.  A Milton DE Colonial with 3 BR, 2.5 BA, in 2400 sq. ft. on .12 acre is now available.  Built in 2008 this home has been maintained in a as new condition.  Call me to see this home at 302 258-6983.  www.fredsporch.comDecember 18, 2013

Christmas Preparation: Christmas Morning

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With Christmas just days away, here’s a fun idea:
Make a “Christmas Morning Basket” – include things such as scissors, a box cutter, notepad & pen, camera, video camera, phone charger (just in case!), storage bags (to store small items so they don’t get lost), envelopes for each family member (for money or gift cards), extra batteries, hot chocolate packets, special snacks, and anything else you might need for your family’s Christmas morning traditions.  Put everything in a nice basket, add a festive ribbon, and stick it under the tree for easy access on Christmas morning!

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.

Christmas Preparation: Stocking Stuffers

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If you’re like me then long after your Christmas shopping is done you still have to take care of the stocking stuffers.  Here is a list of 50 great stocking stuffer ideas for anyone on your list:

  1. Earbuds
  2. Inexpensive gift cards to places like Starbucks, McDonalds, iTunes, etc.
  3. Favorite candy bar
  4. USB drive
  5. Gum
  6. Book Light
  7. Fuzzy Socks
  8. Toothbrush
  9. Lip balm
  10. Winter hat
  11. Tic Tacs
  12. Batteries
  13. Key ring
  14. Hot Chocolate packets
  15. Comb
  16. Lifesavers
  17. Hand sanitizer
  18. First aid supplies such as band-aids
  19. Markers
  20. Mini flashlight
  21. Bubble Bath
  22. Water bottle
  23. Movie Tickets
  24. Underwear
  25. Gloves
  26. Magnets
  27. Pens/pencils
  28. Magazine
  29. Rubix cube
  30. Travel size game
  31. Umbrella
  32. A good book
  33. Roll of coins
  34. Magnets
  35. Lottery ticket
  36. Tote bag
  37. Fun post-it notes
  38. Card game
  39. Playdoh
  40. Deodorant
  41. Puzzle Book (Sudoku, Crossword, etc.)
  42. Homemade coupon book
  43. Silly String
  44. Snacks
  45. Dental floss
  46. Sunglasses
  47. Fruit
  48. Lollipops
  49. Shower pouf
  50. Ornaments

Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County?  Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associates and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266.