Paintnite review =D

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you can see instructor in the background in the image above

you can see instructor in the background in the image above

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The one above is my art!

The one above is my art!

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Have you tried Paintnite yet?

By: Rebecca G.

You should! I did and it was fun, better than expected.

I know I am not the only person that gets bored over a weekend and has no clue what to do for entertainment, and scrolling endlessly through Netflix will just not cut it today!

So I did what most reasonable human beings will do. Go to Groupon and search, not for coupons but for ideas. While in Groupon I found a thing called Paintnite, it was tempting enough so I got tickets for my friends and myself.

I can’t tell you how happy I was I got people to accompany me.

The tickets only cost $27.00 and I was schedule for a Sunday @2 PM at Fun Spot Orlando. (Yessss, I finally use a Groupon!!)

————-Flash forward to Sunday———-—

(Note: with Paintnite the venue changes, the instructor changes, and the masterpiece you choose to paint changes! You can pick a place that starts painting class at 7 PM and offers wine)

I walk into the cafeteria at Fun Spot with my friends, and see the designated area where Paintnite will happen. For my first Paintnite, Fun Spot was ideal.

( when I try a new venue I will tell you all about it)

So we walk towards the instructor “Vicky” and we give her our names and we are ready to go. We pick our spots and get a drink while we wait for others to arrive. I was nervous because my artistic skills start and end with stick figure families. Pleaseee do not art-shame me.

She had two canvas, one is a canvas already finished so you can see the end-result of what you are going to be painting. The second canvas was blank, it is located next to the finished painting, this is so you can see what you are going to be doing as she takes you step by step and in case you get lost.

To start, the instructor puts cool background music and a microphone on and away we go. She keeps you motivated the entire time and the “dad jokes” are bountiful with my group. She starts easy and slow. As I recall, everyone went crazy on their canvas when we start, with light colors, of course, for the paintings’ background but it was perfect to get you started.

Then, she showed us step by step how to outline our master pieces, making it clear every step of the way that you can do WHATEVER you want to your painting. You can skip or add steps to your painting.

After outlining what will be your subject, she picks up the pace and she WILL warn you that she will move on faster. Fear not because at this point … everyone does whatever they want. After you finish outlining, you are super comfortable and confident in your artistic skills and take her words as suggestions. The Picasso in me had been freed!

I stuck to her step by step guide because I wanted my painting to look like hers, but my friends went completely off the track and their paintings were just as awesome as mine. When we finished we returned the apron, the brushes, and the cups of water and acrylic paint had been collected and discarded.

Everyone’s faces and expressions are awesome when they look at their finished masterpiece from afar; even better when they finally peel their eyes off their work and look around to see their friends finished art work (in a non-judgmental way). I was ready to be the runt of the litter but I was not, no one was.

Nobody compares who has got the best or worse painting. They all look different and equal and so utterly unique. This really was a “come paint and have fun” This is perfect for families with kids. I am going to do this again guaranteed. 500 starts!

I had so much fun, time went by flying.

I am also glad I picked fun spot for the location because we went the rides right after class. We put the paintings in the car. They dried pretty quickly.

It was easyyyyyyy! I don’t know how but I became an artist in 90 minutes!

Go!

Choosing A Toddler Friendly Home

We have started a list of concerns to keep in mind during home shopping when you have toddlers.

When you are home shopping and have toddlers, you consider all aspects of every home your realtor shows you.  Instinctively you know what to look for, but there are things that you may not be aware are a danger to little ones.  Read on our tips for choosing a home that will provide you with peace of mind when you are a parent.  These are concerns past clients have brought up when they are home shopping. 

1.  Avoid the stairs, buy a one-story home

When you have little ones, it can be stressful to own a two-story home.  Although a lot of us dream of owning a big house with a two story space and grand stair case  (in which one day we will see our daughter come down dressed up for prom) you should avoid the stairs.

For some of us paranoid parents, we dread stairs because:  

  • A toddler can fall
  • A limb getting can get stuck between railings
  • Toddlers learn to climb the stair gate you installed to baby proof the house

So avoid the stairs if you can.

2.  Say no to the pool

We all dream with our backyard oasis.  Pools make homes feel like resorts on the weekends.  You will take precautions and gate the pool and put alarms on the doors, but you will always find your self double checking all doors.  You can get the pool build later when they are older. 

3.  Pick a flat backyard

Yep!  Sometimes we look for houses that have a big backyard but we forget to check that it is leveled.  Sloped yards are perfect if you are just planning to garden, maybe build a pool, or not used at all.  Sloped yards are undesired when you have children.  As a parent you need a flat-leveled yard to play sports like: soccer, football,kickball...etc.  You cannot play sports in a sloped yard no matter how big.  You may think a slope yard is fine and that you will just use the front of the house or the side yard to play sports, but it might not work.  Playing sports in front of the house is not an option because you lose all privacy, the road is too close, and you can easily picture your child running towards the ball and crossing the road.  The side yard is just awkward, small, and has a A/C unit.  Pick a home with a nice backyard.

4.  Fenced Yard

This is self explanatory...PRIVACY.  Also, it is a lot harder for kids/toddlers to run away from you when the backyard is fenced.  We love a privacy fence because kids WILL run away naked around the house, or in the backyard when you set up a little kid splash pool.  

5. No lake

You have all the same worries as the pool plus the added wild life.  Also, it's yucky and has one gazillion germs we do not want our kids to touch. 

6.  Near playground but not next to it

Yep!  you read this correctly.  We want a community playground for our kids.  We do not want to buy a house with the playground as our next door neighbor because:

  • When it is bedtime the bigger kids go to the playground and they are noisy.
  • During daytime when you are not in the mood for socializing there are a gazillion people in the playground
  • Some will walk back home leaving a trail of trash all over your yard  
  • Cars will be parked in front of your house

It sounds mean, but when you have babies in the house anything can become a nuisance.

7.  Highway in the horizon

Honestly, it is just noisy.  When it is the smaller residential road with the brick wall dividing your yard and road, the problem is the dirt that the wind picks up from the road and brings into your home and pool.  We also seen cars crashing into those brick fences, it is odd but happens.  

8.  Corner walls

You may have noticed some homes have updated rounded corners in the walls of the home.  This is a plus and we love it.  Rounded corners help avoid ouchies, boo boos. 

 

REMEMBER TODDLERS WILL GET INTO TROUBLE IN A BLINK OF AN EYE.  We hope you enjoyed our list.  We will update when we hear more tips or concerns. This doesn't apply to everyone and all places.  All scenarios are different.  

If you have any suggestions please let us know and we can update/fix our list.

(Yes, extreme over-the-top paranoid parents made this list)

Photo Ready Home

Get the most out of your professional home photo session and showings.

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The pictures chosen to list your home in the real estate market are immensely significant.  Go through our checklist below for tips to get the most out of your professional home photos.  Apply some of these tips when it comes to showing your hone and hosting open houses.


Let's start with...

1. Clean it...

  • Remove dirty or clean laundry from the rooms (especially floors.)
  • No finger prints or smudges in  glass surfaces, glass doors, or mirrors.
  • No spider webs in lamps, corners, ceiling fans, doorways in the garage, behind laundry machines, or under the stair storage.
  • The white stains in the faucet of your shower has to go...(hint:  use vinega.r)
  • Make sure the dishes are put away, even if they are clean don't leave it in the sink.
  • Empty out trash cans or keep out of sight.

2.  Uncluttered...

  • You do not need 20+ products in your vanity while your showing your home or photographing it.
  • Clear vanity.
  • Remove fridge magnets.
  • Keep it minimal in the showers  (no intimate products visible.)
  • Keep the dining table clear of all your stuff, it looks better with just the table settings or a flower vase.  Not as your office..
  • Keep the chairs in your dining table tucked in.
  • No 100+ stack of magazines on your coffee table, 1 or 2 is plenty.
  • Don't store 20 cereal boxes on top of the fridge.
  • Straighten all lampshades and art work.
  • Lower all toilet seats.
  • Close all closet doors (remember during showings some buyers might open closets to see how deep they are; Do not store an avalanche of toys that will fall on guests, and do not leave visible valuables in or out the closet.)
  • Make all beds.
  • Hang all towels nicely.
  • Keep ceiling fans off.
  • Organize laundry room, it doesn't have to look like a laundry room from a magazine but do not leave trash and dirty laundry out or obstructing the path.
  • Do not dump all your clutter in the laundry or the garage.  Store your items nicely for the protection on your belongings and to give a good impression of your home.

3.  Conscious decoration...

  • Pump up cushions.
  • Do not show certificates or personal records of delicate importance out in the open.
  • Keep it PG-13 in wall art.
  • Glass displays look fancier when you keep the displayed items to a minimal.

4.  Health safety...

  • Seal all open bottles of any consumable liquids or put away or throw away.
  • All cleaning products should be put away up high.
  • Take pets with you.  Pets love you, they do not love the strangers visiting your home and can make home buyers feel uncomfortable or scare them away.  Take pets with you or put them in a safe place in your home where they can't reach guest.
  • Put knives away.

5.  Lighting...

  • Open up all windows and curtains for the photographer.
  • Turn on all the lights but not the fans.
  • Make sure all light bulbs are working.
  • Make sure there are no missing light bulbs. 

6.  Outdoor care...

  • Leave space in the driveway for buyers to park.
  • For pictures, remove all cars from the driveway or front of the house so photographers can capture the front elevation of the home.
  • Take garbage out of the driveway.
  • Mow the lawn. 
  • Put garden tools and BBQ tools away.
  • Put away bicycles and toys.
  • Remove empty planters.
  • Sweep porch.
  • Rake leaves.
  • Turn on pool fountains.
  • Put away water hose.
  • Place fresh mulch or annual flowers in your garden.
  • Remove any animal waste from the yard.

Much like meeting a new person,  your home must make a good first impression to home buyer.

When you are selling your home your are trying to appeal to home buyers.  All home buyers start their home search online, and the only way for them to judge if they like a home or if the home will fit their needs and lifestyle is by judging it through the images.  If the photographs you use to list your home are blurry or dark, home buyers will assume that is what the home usually feels like or that living in that home will be uncomfortable.  Opening up your windows and turning on the lights when you are showing your home and photographing it, will help showcase your home for the hidden gem it is.  Use our tips to help you find a good home buyer that is willing to pay your asking price because they see the value of your home.

 

Examples coming soon....