If moving AND the holidays aren’t stressful enough by themselves, moving DURING the holidays can be just downright overwhelming for some people.

People do it, they get through it! Your most serious buyers and sellers are out shopping for a new home during the holidays. There are deals to be found, made and had! But moving during the holidays can be very stressful if you are not prepared, especially if you have children at home.

Consider packing a duffel bag for your child (or children). Put some of your child’s favorite items in the bag, pictures of your family, their favorite toys, and a special holiday gift from you for their new bedroom that they can’t open until you’re in your new home. That will add excitement to their move and something to take their mind off of the scary thought of sleeping in a new place.

Keep it Real! Don’t overwhelm yourself by forcing yourself to do things you typically do during the holidays. Mailing out holiday cards, baking homemade cookies, etc. can all be put on the back burner to save your sanity. Store bought cookie dough can be just as fun and less time-consuming for parents who are busy trying to pack up a house.

Prioritize and Label your boxes. All boxes labeled #1 (obviously) should be opened first; fill those boxes with your most needed items to get you through the season. Don’t go crazy forcing yourself to decorate your new home immediately, but do put up some items that remind your family of their favorite holiday things. You can always National Lampoon your new home next year and Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, go crazy then to make up for it!

Invite friends and family over. No – don’t cook for them, have a pot luck party! It’s less you have to do and just think of the left overs you will have in the fridge so you don’t have to cook dinner for a few days giving yourself more time to unpack.

Walk around your new neighborhood (or drive if you moved to the sticks) – check out all of the holiday lights and seasonal activities in your new area, make yourself at home!

Don’t forget Fido and Fluffy, they are lost too. Show them special attention during the adjustment. Don’t just let them out in their new yard, go out with them, toss them a ball and have some fun. Remember, they don’t know where they are, they may have accidents because they don’t know where the door is to their new yard, make sure to walk them to the door when you see signs they have to go do their business and don’t get too mad at them if they do make a mistake. They are almost human, too!

Start a NEW tradition, something easy … maybe a family Christmas eve portrait each year or snuggling up with your family for some pizza and movie (may I suggest Polar Express?) to celebrate the Winter Solstice on December 21st.

Lastly, play music and watch movies that remind you of your favorite holiday times. Relax and enjoy your new home. God willing, you will have plenty of years to enjoy each holiday in your new space! Yes! You can do this!

Kim Schreiner, ePRO, SFR, Realtor
2011 Philadelphia Magazine 5 Star Real Estate Professional
Office: 215.992.1726
Cell: 215.510.2149

• Look at each string of lights carefully. If any are cracked or damaged, buy new ones.
• When you buy new lights, look at the box for a label that shows they have been tested for safety, such as ETL or UL.
• Follow the directions on the box. It will tell you how many strings to use together. As a rule, UL recommends using no more than three standard-size sets of lights together.
• Hang or mount light strands carefully to avoid damaging the cord’s insulation.
• Do not plug in too many things at one time. Use a surge protector.
• Unplug all holiday lights when you go to sleep or leave home.
• Plug outdoor decorations into outlets protected by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent shock.
• Automatic lighting timers can be used to ensure that lights are not left on by mistake. These are available for both indoor and outdoor use.
• Do not put electrical cords under rugs. Try to keep them away from places people walk.
• When replacing a holiday bulb, be sure to use the correct bulb size (wattage) that is right for the fixture.
• Use safety caps to keep children from putting things into electrical receptacles/outlets.

Kim Schreiner, ePRO, SFR, Realtor
2011 Philadelphia Magazine 5 Star Real Estate Professional
Office: 215.992.1726
Cell: 215.510.2149

And the next President of the United States is ...

It is a known fact that politics and religion are taboo water cooler topics. Well, too bad. Digest this with your morning coffee. Who watched Fox News last night?

Ugh. Last night I was so disgusted watching Fox News go up to the average Joe/Jane on the street with a collage of three photos. One features (not my words) a “fat, less attractive” Governor Christie and the other two of his would be “thinner, more attractive” presidential opponents should New Jersey’s Governor Christie decide to enter into the political race for Mr. President.

Read the article.

They’ve even created a poll for you to go online and vote.

Seriously? Is that what we have become as a society? Let’s put in the pretty guy/girl with the 6 pack abs … who cares about their track record! Oh! Maybe that’s why we are where we are today?  Maybe we elected Barry because he was pretty and skinny (although he does smoke so maybe that’s how he stays so trim)?

Maybe Mr. Christie should be the next Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig spokesperson so that he can run for the Presidential Seat? You know, so his fat ass fits in the chair? Seriously?? Maybe that would boost his popularity because he will then be more appealing and easier on the eyes? I can’t say it enough .. Ugh.

Is the American Public that Vain? That Self Centered? That STUPID?

9/30/11 Update: the answer is NO! Based on the Fox News poll as of this morning of the 32,477 total votes, 28.472 people (87.67%) chose the response, “Who cares?! I just want a GOOD president who can fix this economy.”

Kudos! It appears it is Fox News who is stupid and lame (those ARE my words). 

I am appalled that a major news network took the time to walk around the streets with 3 photos asking people who they found more attractive and why. Ugh. Aren’t there much more important things to cover in today’s world? War? Economy? Housing Crisis? Debt Ceiling? Job Loss? No … they took their time to report on Mr. Christie’s Big and Tall Man’s body. Sad. Sad. Sad.

I miss the good old days when we elected our officials based on their history and work ethic, not by who Hollywood and their fake teeth/boobs/noses/you get the point … stands behind, nor by who has the most money or by how they fit into a pair of jeans. 

Truly Unbelievable.

My name is Theresa from Uno Chicago Grill.  My friends, Michelle and Ernesto were in a serious car accident.  He was lucky to not sustained any outward injuries but Michelle was not so fortunate.  She has been in the hospital since July 31st.  They were coming around a corner a and hit a pole which ejected Michelle from the car. 

Almost every year around the end of October it has been a tradition in my family to take a drive up the Poconos. We spend the weekend going on hay rides and visiting the local Pumpkin Patches. One place I absolutely love is the Country Junction where every year they have an amazing Pumpkin Festival.

During the day, it is more for kids. They have amusements, crafts, hot apple cider, a petting zoo, pony rides, corn mazes, non-scary hay rides and shopping …  Lots of neat gifts and a great time to start your Christmas shopping … er …uh … bah-humbug! It’s too early for that!

At night, the hay ride becomes much scarier! You are left off in the middle of a corn field only to have to walk through dark woods where the trees come alive. If you make it out alive, you then must walk through a dark cave, yes, a real underground cave only to end up in a 3D haunted house. Creepy crawlers lurk all around you! It’s a blast!

Another “just as fun” place to visit is Shady Brook Farm in Yardley, PA. They also have great hay rides which take you out to the pumpkin patch where you can pick your pumpkins, corn mazes where you really do get lost, and THE MOST AMAZING kettle corn on the east coast! There is nothing like a hot bag of this popcorn right out of the kettle! And on our way home, we can’t forget a stop at Styer Orchard for the best apple pie in town!

For those daring souls who want a little more fright in their Halloween season, check out Terror Behind the Walls in Philadelphia, PA 19130 – Eastern State Penitentiary, a real haunted prison with the most maddening, nasty ghosts in Philadelphia!

Enjoy the Fall Season in PA! And don’t forget to watch my favorite, It’s A Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

Boo!

Kim Schreiner, ePRO, SFR, Realtor
RE/MAX Affiliates, NE
The #1 RE/MAX Office in the City of Philadelphia
Office: 215.992.1726
Cell: 215.510.2149

Check the Heat! Have an HVAC contractor come out to inspect your heating system. Have your system cleaned so that it remains efficient. Don’t forget to change filters if you have them as suggested, once per month.

Invest in a programmable thermostat. You could save well over $100.00 annually just by keeping your temperature (in the winter) no higher than 70 degrees while awake and changing it to 62 degrees while you sleep.

Think about checking your roof before the cold weather comes and don’t forget to clean the fall leaves and debris from gutters and drains.

Caulk your doors and windows. Check window glazing putty (this seals the glass into the window frame).  Add weather stripping as needed around doors, garages, etc.

Divert water away from your home.  Add extensions to downspouts so water runs at least 3 to 4 feet away from the foundation. Drain and then turn off exterior faucets and/or turn off the shut-off valve inside your home.

Using a lawn irrigation system? Consider having it professionally drained to help avoid freezing and leaky pipes come spring.

Lastly, and most importantly …
Don’t forget to check the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Fabulous Fox Chase 4BR Home For Sale

• 1,440 sq. ft., 1.5 baths, 4 bedrooms – MLS® $255,000 – Charming 4BR Single

Fox Chase, Philadelphia, PA 19111 House for Sale  -  Charming is an understatement! Beautiful 4 BR Single on Large Lot in Heart of Fox Chase. Huge Yard, Driveway will fit 3-4 Cars, Detached Garage/StorageShed, 2nd Floor Balcony overlooks Yard. This is an original Sears Roebuck Honor Bilt Home. These homes are scattered throughout the United States and were very popular, well built homes. Check out the original ad and floor plan for this particular model!

Enter thru enclosed Porch/Sunroom. Grand Foyer entry w/Stunning Staircase. Original, refinished Pine Hardwood Floors and Crown Molding throughout. Plenty of Sunlit Rooms. 10ft Ceilings. Living room features gas stove/fireplace. Formal Dining Room w/Main Floor Powder Room. Updated kitchen with Apron Farmhouse Style Sink, Recessed Lights, Butcher Block Style Countertop, Gas Cooking, D/W, G/D, Refrigerator Included. Off the kitchen is Main Floor Laundry Room (W/D included) with Oversized Pantry and access to rear yard.

Upstairs you will find continued H/W Floors, 4 Tastefully decorated BRs, updated Full Bath and good sized closets. There is a large, floored, walkable attic and a full unfinished basement, both could be finished for EVEN more space. Ceiling Fans in all BRs and Kitchen. All window A/Cs included. This is a unique home and is truly a must see. Please call today to schedule your private tour!    Property information      Property Website

So this morning I started to scour the Internet for fun, local things to do with my son, preferably air-conditioned, indoor fun or someplace where I can stay submerged in water.

Here’s what I came up with and I thought I’d share…. some are free, some are not …

Stumbled on this site which features tons of ideas:    4PAKids.com

Although this is titled “Rainy Day Activities” … it’s still a well composed list of indoor things to do with your kids and a great website to explore when you are looking for something to do with your bored child:   FamilyEducation

I came across this blog over at CafeMom … 7 Fun Indoor Things …. I especially like the “Build A Fort” suggestion, I can remember doing this as a kid myself, and I’ve done this many times with my son, he loves it.

Here’s something I personally did with my son last summer:  each week my son and I went through all the digital photos we had taken from our summer weekends spent down the shore, from our vacation, or just something special we did together as a family. We ordered our favorite pictures (yes, we had them printed!) and we created a scrapbook to give as a gift to my parents. My parents do not have a computer, so I cannot share photos with them via email (imagine that??) nor do they have a “double line” on their home phone and my Mom just got a cell phone a few years ago, a Jitterbug, it’s hilarious. But that’s getting off topic …

They, more my Dad than my Mom, always complain they never SEE the photos we take except when I run through them on my little camera screen and they need a magnifying glass to get the actual effect.  So .. my son and I spent our down-time/bored-time having fun making a Summer Scrapbook. We added stickers and sayings and made something very special. We gave it to my parents at the end of the summer. It was probably one of the most cherished gifts we’ve given them in a long time and it sits on their coffee table year-round.

If you like this idea and don’t have a lot of time on your hands, or if you don’t have kids and want to make a special gift for someone, an easier, less time-consuming way to do this is to order a printed book of your personal photos. 

There are also some cool places to visit that will keep your kids entertained and some of them even allow Mom to shop:

Giggleberry Fair at Peddler’s Village (Kids can play, Mom can shop, but not at the same time)!

Sesame Place  (Can get VERY crowded on days like today! So go after 4!)

Adventure Aquarium 

Sahara Sam’s Oasis Indoor Waterpark  Year Round Fun!

Lazer Tag at Brunswick Zone - Parents vs. Kids!

The Crayola Factory  Worth the Drive!

Philadelphia Museums and Attractions at VisitPhilly.com

Indoor Roller Skating, Bowling, Movies (check your local library, sometimes they have free movies or classes for kids)

Looking for FREE things to Do? Click Here! 

Many fast food places (I know, yuck!) but .. many do have indoor, air-conditioned playground areas. I’ve found my son doesn’t eat much when we go there, he just plays and it’s up to me not to order the Big Mac for myself.

Many Philadelphia Recreation Centers have free pools that you can take advantage of, or outdoor playground with sprinklers.

If you have any ideas you would like to add, please feel free to do so in the comments section!! And stay cool!