​

My love for Lime Cilantro Rice runs deep.  I make it nearly every week because we eat a lot of fresh Mex over here and because its just THAT good.  You can make this on your stovetop in a normal saucepan, or you can use a Rice Cooker.  I've burnt more than 1 batch of rice by forgetting to turn down the heat, so I almost exclusively use my rice cooker.  It produces perfectly cooked rice every. single. time. We received our rice cooker as a wedding present and it's been handy ever since.

Lime Cilantro Rice

2 C Rice
2 TB Butter
1 lime, juiced or 4 tsp lime juice
2 tsp salt
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
4 C Water

Using your rice cooker, place 2 cups of rice into the cooker.  Then turn on the cooker.  The cooker will not turn on until there is an adequate amount of weight in it, but the rice should be enough.  Then add the 2 TB butter and saute 3 minutes.  Add lime and salt, saute an additional 1-2 minutes.  Add water, place lid on cooker until cooking is complete.  Transfer to serving bowl, then stir in chopped cilantro.  

I like to pair this rice with our favorite tacos or taquitos.  If you try it, be sure to tag me @amygregory so I can see.  Enjoy!

The last couple of years have involved a multitude of changes for myself and my family, the biggest and most obvious would be adding another baby to our family, but more than that, there has been what feels like a constant minutia of change.  Like a river flowing through our household washing away bits and pieces of each of us, rounding us out, hardening us in some spots and softening us in other parts.  Some changes have been a welcome respite, the utter relief when a baby begins to consistently sleeps through the night is equivalent to that gasp of air after having your head held under water.  You promise yourself you'll never take that sleep for granted again, and yet, two days later, you've already moved on to worrying about your next challenge.  Other changes have been unexpected, giant shifts in relationships, forcing me to take deep dives into myself, examining my motives, questioning my intentions and those around me.  They've not been noticeable to others or resolved easily and  instead have left gaping holes in my heart as I've grappled with piecing myself together again.

Time and again, I've been taught that "the change" will always work to my benefit if I can lean into it, succumb to it and let it teach me.  The trick in that process is in giving up control.  Giving up my script of events.  Giving up what I think I know I want and turning it over to God.  Allowing His plan to be my plan.

While I've learned this lesson over and over again, I still amaze myself with my ability to resist.  My ability to try to force my own ideas, wants and wishes onto the situation.  And yet...there is always a yet, when I succumb, when I am flexible in the outcome, it's always better than the one I had scripted to begin with.

I'm currently walking into some headwinds of change.  I'm anticipating the growing pains.  I'm nervously optimistic at what could become and I'm deliberately choosing the course of change.  I'm certain there be moments of sheer terror as I leave my comfort zone, but I'm also certain of the victories that will follow, because this far into it, I know.  I cannot yield different results with the same actions.  I know that change is always the way.

Today, I sit in this moment, the calm before the storm.  Dotting my i's and crossing my t's, so to speak, and I can't help but be grateful for all the changes previous.  The changes that knocked me off my feet, that took my breath away, that left me broken and bruised, I never thought I'd be thankful for them and yet, they've taught me that change, while uncertain and often times difficult, has this sweet reward at the end.  This sweet swell of accomplishment, where you take a moment, look back and think to yourself, "I did that." 

Whatever 'change' or perhaps 'challenge' you're facing this week, may you surprise yourself at the end with your fortitude, ingenuity and strength.  It is this willingness to adjust yourself, that will make the changes down the road a welcome sign, because you know you can do it.  You know you can carry it, you know you can solve it and you know getting through the other side is a sweet sweet victory. 

You've heard me talk about Spending Fasts before and I thought it high time I sit down and write out my thoughts on it; what it is and why I like doing it.  Before we get into it, I'll admit that money is sometimes a weird topic to discuss.  Naturally so many avoid talking about it, but in all reality, it's a huge component of our lives!  It effects SO much!  I'm of the belief that if you don't pay attention to your finances, they will eat you alive.  On the flip side, if you do pay attention and learn how to manage them, your finances can serve you in unbelievable ways.  

So let's get started, what is a spending fast.  There are so many ways you can approach this, so by all means, make adjustments to these thoughts any way you'd like.  For me, I approach the fast only in regards to myself.  I don't pull back on 'normal' purchases for my family like groceries or birthday parties or even Valentine's Day.  We'll celebrate Valentine's Day as we normally do, but since I'm in the midst of a spending fast this year, I won't expand the holiday to more than 'normal' as I often times do.  You know, the extra treats or add ons that holidays often bring with them?  Skipping those this year with a smile on my face.

The goal is to limit my own expenditures.  I had a friend verbalize it perfectly when she said this: It's hard to say no, when you can afford to say yes.  We were talking in regards to our kids and entitlement issues we see, but I thought it applied really well in regards to myself as well!  I find that when I can afford to say yes to myself, instead of just doing it sometimes, I'll quickly slip into doing it all the time.  I'll say yes to lunch out, a new shirt, concert tickets, furniture or other home projects.  Spending money quickly becomes the solution to almost everything.  Running late?  Eat out.  Having a bad day? Buy a new outfit.  Bored?  Go shopping.  None of these things by themselves are bad, but all together, they add up to detract from my real goal, which is to pay off my house, live simply and be content.  More stuff has never added to my happiness.  Ever.  In fact, it's usually just the opposite.  It creates tension with my spouse (who is the absolute saver in this relationship), clutters up my house and is often a poor use of time.   

Just like we head to the gym and adjust our diet when our pants get a bit too tight, I've found that taking a month to reset financially is beyond beneficial.  It forces me to discipline myself, which is always hard on the front end, but something I'm always grateful for on the back end.  I don't often love the process on the first few days, but now that I've done it a few times, I am more than willing to lovingly discipline myself in order to achieve the results I want on the back end.  

During a spending fast, I often slow down my living.  I work towards more simple dinners, less outside entertainment and fewer distractions from home.  As I do so, my heart is always softened to remember how wonderful home and simplicity is.  

Don't get me wrong, there are definitely times I begin down the woeful road of self-pity where I step into entitlement and try to convince myself of something I 'deserve.' It's never my proudest moment, but it does happen, and I've learned to not be too hard on myself when it does.  When I catch myself stepping onto that road, I'll often remind myself that the three simple facts that I have a roof over my head, dinner on my table and the opportunity to live in the United States means I live in top 5% of everyone on the planet.  It's a stark statistic, but it usually snaps me right out of my entitlement funk and reminds me that I don't actually need a new pair of shoes.  In the end, I figure if I still love them in a month, I can purchase them then.  By that point though, I've usually moved on and have forgotten about them.

A few guidelines if you want to get started on your own Spending Fast.

Take a minute and write down why you want to do it.  I love to do this in a free flowing journal.  Some entries are long drawn out thoughts, others are simple ideas I've doodled down.  Spend some time with your thoughts before you get started. You might ask yourself; what are you long term goals or how to you want to feel about your current living situation?

Then set up some loose rules for yourself, knowing that you can make adjustments as you go if you need to.  I've found that approaching any new thing in this way, allows my mind to relax.  I can't possibly predict every spending item that might come up and allowing myself a portion of grace before I even get started makes the process so much smoother.  The goal isn't to be perfect in it, instead it is to become more thoughtful in my spending.  It is not to deprive or punish myself, it is to recognize all the abundance that is already a part of my life. 

Some questions you might ask before you get started are:

Where can I cut back? (Maybe only allow one lunch out, instead of 3 )
How can I simplify my groceries? (You might replace one meal a week with a grilled cheese night)
What activities can we do as a family that are free? (parks, picnics, bike rides)
Spend some time down this thought process and journal your ideas.  You'll incorporate some and disregard others, again allowing yourself the ability to make changes as you go throughout the month with the goal always to become better, not perfect, but better. ​

Whew!  It's been a busy week...or two!  Every year about this time, the market picks up and every year it takes me a minute to get re-adjusted to a busier schedule.  Happy to report, we're finally getting adjusted over here.  A few things I've been loving this week.

1.  Spending Fast.  I haven't finished writing this post yet, (it's sitting in my drafts!) but I've enjoyed talking with you over IG stories on it.  How are you guys doing?!  What guidelines did you make for yourself?  Mine revolve mostly around frivolous purchases and eating out.  Happy to report, I only ate out once this week and it was due to carpool duties and a failed dinner attempt!  Is there anything worse than a dinner fail?  I've had two this week, so I'm thinking I should just stick to my basics, because they never let me down!

2.  Valentine's Day.  I can't believe we're already to Valentine's Day.  We keep it simple at our house, with everyone getting a new shirt and that's about it.  Scot and I don't really do gifts either, because, it just seems like too much most often.  Liv ordered these cute emojis for Valentine's this year, I'm trying to convince her to order this box as well so I don't have to craft one...she's not buying yet. 

3.  I went to Costco last week...which really didn't help my spending fast one bit, but I did find some absolute gems!! These tumblers for kids with straws are in fact spill proof!  I like to use them for Luke with my favorite morning smoothie.  I thin his out a bit with some water or juice so that it works better with the straw.  He's a fan. 

4.  I just finished reading, Just Mercy and it blew my ever living mind.  Two things I realized: I live in a naive little bubble and we as Americans and humans have got some serious work to do.  It's a must read if you want to better understand our judicial system and racism in America.  I know, a bit heavy for this little corner, but really an amazing read by yourself or with a book club.  We had the BEST discussion around it.

5.  Looking forward to (insert cryptic-ness here) SO many big, huge, fun and AWESOME things...seriously.  I'm past cautiously optimistic and onto full-blown optimistic that I've found a way to help ANY of you wanting to improve your real estate game OR begin your real estate game.  Whether you live here or ANYWHERE in the United States! ACK!  If you want to be the first to know, when I announce my announcement, leave your email here.  Trust me, you'll want to know because it has the potential to change you life!

The number one request from you guys was ideas on how to raise independent kids.  I'm going to take the liberty of substituting self-sufficient for independent, because I don't necessarily want my kids to be independent from me.  I want them to seek my counsel and take my advice, but I also want them to do it THEMSELVES!  So we're going to use self-sufficient if that's okay with you.

I first realized that I, perhaps had a different mind frame when it came to raising kids when my oldest, Zack, was about 4 years old.  I was meeting with one of my old bosses from college about some consulting work and since he knew I was home with little kids, he came to me & we held the meeting in my home office.  My baby, Max, was sleeping, Olivia was having quiet time with a movie in my bedroom and Zack was heading to an art class being held in the neighborhood.  When it was time for him to go, I simply told him to get on his bike and explained where the house was.  It was literally on our same street, but it did require him to cross a street within our neighborhood to get there.  As I did this, my former boss who is about 10 years older than me, commented that his wife would never have let their kids just go on their own like that at his age.  

I shrugged my shoulders and assured him that I was sure of his capacity to accomplish this task.  I then remember saying, "If the whole point is for them to one day be self-sufficient this probably a good starting point."

For the record, Zack made it to and from that art class without any problems, and ever since, we've been building on those skills.  

The real crux of raising self-sufficient kids, is allowing them opportunities for ownership and to problem solve.  Passing the baton, so to speak, and allowing them space to figure it out.  Sometimes it works out, and other times it doesn't.  It often times includes frustration on my part and theirs and they struggle it out and failure often accompanies these endeavors.  At the end of the day, my goal is to allow my kids as much failure as possible within these four walls.  While they're here, under my roof, these failures fall into the category of low-risk.  I can't drum up too many scenarios where they're failures while living under my roof, are life-threatening or even life-altering.  Instead they tend to be of the 'forgot my homework' variety.  

For example, on our last family vacation to Mexico, before leaving I simply handed my kids a packing list.  I do this every time we travel, but I usually check Olivia's and Max's bag before loading them in the car.  This time, I'm not sure why I didn't, but I didn't.  Instead, they packed and I loaded.  When we arrived in Mexico, we found out that Olivia had forgotten to pack her underwear and Max had only brought one shirt.  You can guess we all had a good laugh, did some extra loads of laundry and when that still wasn't enough, Max went shirtless, just zipping up his jacket instead and, on occasion, Liv grabbed a bathing suit to wear under her shorts.  I'm certain next time they'll both double check their packing lists.  The reality is, it wasn't ever a problem for me, but I'm certain they were both frustrated quite a bit that they didn't have what they needed when they needed it.

A lot of these opportunities for ownership and problem solving are found in play.  In early years, this looked like Zack finding a wood palette in our backyard (remember when we all thought we were going to make amazing things with wood pallets?  That was awesome.) and deciding he wanted to build his own fort with it.  Instead of telling him every reason why he shouldn't, I said, 'okay.'  I helped him carry it from the backyard to the front yard, where he leaned it up against a wall, located right along the pathway to our front door.  It was pretty classy.  He got out the hammer, and I didn't stop him.  He got out the nails, and again, I didn't stop him.  He hammered and nailed on that thing for weeks.  I'm certain he hurt himself a few times, but I'm also certain he didn't dare tell me, in fear that I'd stop all the fun he was having.  From what I could tell, no grand fort was ever built, but I guarantee, if I asked Zack and Olivia about it, they'd tell me all the fun games and things they were doing because most of the fun was in their imagination and all it required of me, was getting out of their way.

Now that Zack is a bit older, it looks a little different.  He's got more experience under his belt and as such, more is required of him.  So much so, that I have to be conscious not to take advantage of him.  He often babysits, packs his own luggage when we travel and runs into stores to buy what we need quickly.  I've taught him how to use my debit card and how to sign for my credit card.  I'm also still letting him ride his bike to anything close enough and not minding when he's torn a pair of pants because he was hopping a fence or climbing a tree.  Those are the things I want him doing because it is where they learn to assess and manage risks, then problem solve.  Max is a great example of this too and I'll admit, there have been many occasions where he's made me awfully nervous, but over the years, I've learned to step back and let him judge what feels risky.  When he was 4, I remember being at the beach and secretly enjoying the total terror he put on the face of OTHER parents.  While he was a proficient swimmer in our pool, I didn't trust him in the ocean.  Max, however, saw zero risk and charged ahead, keeping up with his siblings.  I pulled him back more than once and each time he'd exclaim, "Mom!  I got it!"  So I stopped and just watched instead.  He'd swim out to where he couldn't touch, let a wave slam over top of him (remember he's 4!), I'd hold my breath waiting for his head to pop back up and sure enough, he'd pop up and swim in with the wave...in complete delight with himself.  After watching it a few times, I began to feel more comfortable with his new trick.  Then, I started watching the other parents watching him.  They'd anxiously look at me, time and again, wondering when I was going to rescue my child...in absolute terror when I never made a move.   

With each of my kids these opportunities look a bit different, but if I pay attention, they're always there.  Olivia, for example, prefers to take ownership and problem solve cooking in the kitchen.  Give her a recipe and she's ready to serve you a meal.  The only thing you need to master is the over-arching message from you to your kids.  It is this: I have confidence in your ability to figure this out and if it doesn't work the first time, that's okay, I'm happy to help.  That help then looks like a handful of suggestions or ideas to think about it.  Sometimes it is painful not to step in and solve the problem for them, but as I've practiced stepping back, the satisfaction of them figuring it out, is a million times better!

Ever see those articles of all the 'best' beauty products people can't live without, then click to buy a few and quickly realize you're spending more on face creams than you do groceries, shoes and jeans...combinded?  Yeah, me too.  It's left me feeling a bit sorry for myself and my mostly drugstore routine, but I have to keep reminding myself that my goal isn't to have the BEST beauty routine, but to have my house paid off.  So like most things, I work to keep it lean and mean.  It's what I like to call loving discipline on myself, meaning I'm willing to sacrifice some short-term things for bigger and better long-term things.  Let's be honest, does anyone have time for hydrating facial masks anyway?

So here's what's actually in my morning routine, day in and day out.

Cetaphil.  Would you believe me if I told you this is all that I wash my face with?  No creams, no oils, no hydrating masks.  Just a simple wash every night and that's it.

Foundation.  Okay, so this isn't drug store, but I'm willing to pay a bit more for foundation and think you should too.

Primer.  I'm on a roll, also not drugstore, but I've really loved this product, it gives you that dewy look.  It lasts FOREVER because you don't use very much.

Eyeshadow.  Again, not drugstore and you're probably thinking I'm a liar by this point, but it is affordable.  I've had mine over a year and it comes with brushes.  Stays on, doesn't smudge and is a good simple palette that you can apply minimally or intensely for different looks.

Lips.  I'm addicted to these.  They are a matte finish, don't smudge and the best part, when you do go to wipe it off, it still leaves your lips a bit tinted, which I'll soften up with my favorite chapstick.  I've bought several colors, linked up my favorite, but I haven't been disappointed yet.

Mascara.  I've tried a handful of the drugstore variety and I can't quite this one.  It stays on and gives a full lash.

Leave-In Conditioner.  I love this, especially in the summer months, when we're in and out of the pool so much and my hair is so dry.  It works wonders.

Dry Shampoo.  Works good, smells better.

Texture Spray.  Better than hairspray, helps to give that Day 1 hair the feel of Day 2 hair.

Tanning Lotion.  I've used this for over 10 years and still love it.  It works, is easy to apply and never leaves me orange.  I've also used this spray when I need more coverage than just my arms and legs for those Spring Break trips.

Tinkle Razors.  Honestly, I've used these for over 5 years too and I love them to get all the fuzz off my face.  Your make-up goes on sooo buttery smooth after a quick swipe of the Tinkle...not too quick though, remember they're razors. 

Hair Ties.  A friend introduced me to these at a Favorite Things party and they have not disappointed.  

Hope you find some new simple favorites to keep you looking your best.

I love to exercise, I always have, but sometimes in different seasons, it's taken a back seat.  In seasons of pregnancies or Master's Degrees, it's fallen by the wayside, but at this point, I'm far enough along in this journey of mine, that I know when I need to prioritize it.

The first time it really took a back seat was after I had Olivia.  By any standard she was a hard baby and in the mix of my kids she was 100000% harder than all of them combined.  Although, when I write that, I alway wonder if that is actually true.  I wonder if the last 2 boys were that much easier, or I was that much stronger, not sure at the end of the day, but she definitely made me earn my stripes and I'll be indebted to her forever for it.

The days were long and the nights were longer.  She rarely slept and when she was awake, she wanted to be held.  I would walk the hallways with her at church and finally, a everyone would claim, "oh I'm the baby whisperer, give her to me."  Within 10 minutes, they'd hand her back and I'd get back to my lonely pacing.  Finally, a kind gentlemen, seasoned with 5 of his own kids, put his arm around me & said, "Just take her home and love her, no need to walk these hallways, you're doing enough."

While I was discouraged and frustrated, I was really just so very tired.  I couldn't think straight and my patience was always thin.  Everyone else made it look so easy.  Night after night, I'd pray that tonight would be the night that she'd finally sleep.  That prayer was never answered.  Finally, I prayed a different prayer, I succumbed.  I committed to waking up with her for however long she needed me to.  Then I begged and pleaded for added strength, specifically at 3pm, when I was always ready to throw in the towel.  

The next day, at 2pm I had an insatiable desire to run.  I'd always been a runner, but didn't even try to accommodate that hobby in this phase of my life.  I was sleeping an interrupted 5 hours a night and the idea of adding running sounded ridiculous.  On this day though, I couldn't shake the desire.  So I laced up my shoes, loaded my 2 babies into the jogger and off we went.

That night was a bit easier to get through.

The next day 2 pm rolled around and again, I had an intense desire to run.  I didn't hesitate as long this time and we headed out.  Again, the night was easier to get through.  By day three, I was skipping for my running shoes at 2pm.  In hindsight, I can see the wisdom in exercising at that precise time, it got my endorphins all fired up and suddenly I could tackle dinner time, bath time and bed time with a smile on my face.

This routine continued for a solid 2 years and even now I look back and am so proud of the girl I chose to become.  I was so young and I had to show up, dig deep and fight for it, every single day.  While Olivia never became the sleeper I had hoped (she is still my lightest sleeper and earliest riser!), I became the mother I had hoped.  

Fast forward, 7 years and another baby and I was in the midst of a miscarriage.  A story I never thought would be mine to tell, was becoming my reality.  Emotionally, I was devastated.  Logically, I knew I'd be okay.  I was overcome with gratitude for my three kids and knew in time, my heart would heal over the loss if four was not meant to be, but emotionally, well, that was another story. There were days I couldn't get off the couch and nights that my skin would crawl.  My hormones were betraying me and the effects were physical.  Finally, in the midst of wringing my hands out of agitation, I declared, "I've got to work this out!"  

The next day, I joined our local gym.  After years of running, my knees are shot, and so I began lifting, anything and everything.  I ordered headphones, found a podcast I loved and every morning at 5am found myself in the gym.  I'd sweat it out, then I'd cry it out on the drive home.  While I was terrified that number four would never be a possibility, I was also willing to succumb to the Lord's plan.  Olivia had already taught me that lesson of submission to His plan.  I had already learned that He'd provide the strength I'd need.  

Exercise has never been about the physical benefits, even though there are many & I'm so grateful for them.  Instead, exercise has always been a means of getting my head junk straight.  After a long day, it's not uncommon for Scot the tell me to go for a walk.  He knows the fresh air, movement and, let's be honest, a good podcast will yield the results I need.  

Last week on Instagram Stories, you overwhelming asked for a list of things you should do before you list your home.  Keep in mind, this article will provide general advice that will apply to general situations.  If you have a glaring problem that I haven't mentioned on this list, please don't interpret that to mean you get to skip over that item! 

There are generally two types of listings, I'm going to make these pretty broad, but usually yours can fit into one or the other.  You're either selling a home that is 'move-in-ready' or a 'fixer-upper.'  Make no mistake, one is not more valuable than the other, as there are so many buyers that are looking for a 'fixer-upper,' so much so, that they will not look at anything that has been updated.  Their thought process is, that they don't want to pay 1 penny for a finish they didn't choose themselves.

You're going to want to get an experienced agents perspective on this as I can't come up with a. rule that I can't find an exception to, but you're typically in the 'fixer-upper' category if your home hasn't had substantial updates in the last 15-20 years.  Again, I can think of examples where this doesn't apply, so get an experienced agent's expertise on the matter.  If you're in the 'fixer-upper' category, I wouldn't make any substantial changes to the property, knowing buyers are going to come and re-do it anyway.  You'll want to stick to de-cluttering, deep cleaning and getting the yard in tip-top shape.

Most sellers, however, will find themselves in the 'move-in-ready' category.  Even if you feel like your home is dated or not quite the upgrades you'd like, there is almost always a buyer who loves that particular style, so don't re-deocrate your whole house. Instead, focus on these 6 things:

1. Consider Paint.  If you've decorated your space for your family that is wonderful.  If you've used non-neutral color palettes (reds, pinks, purples, even some greens and blues) consider repainting to a neutral palette.  Here's a list of gray tones and a list of white tones, test 3-4 samples and then get to painting.  Don't forget the baseboards!  You'll be amazed at what a fresh coat of paint can do to a space, it honestly makes it look brand new.  In the event you haven't used overly saturated colors, but haven't had your home painted in the last 5 years, you might want to consider this as well. 

2. De-Clutter.  By de-clutter I mean get rid of, or pack up 50% of your stuff.  All the cookbooks nicely displayed on the kitchen counter?  Pack them.  The pile of toys in your kids' closet?  Pack them or donate them.  The over-flowing linen closet?  Reduce it by 50%.  If you're moving in the summer time, pack up everyone's winter clothes and put them in a storage unit.  Open every cabinet, every closet and try to reduce it by 50%, you'll probably land closer to 30% and that's okay, but really reduce the clutter as much as possible.  This includes the garage too.

Reducing everything in the home will make your home appear larger and more spacious.  No buyer wants to open a linen closet that is over-flowing with beach towels.  It communicates to them that there isn't enough space which is always a turn off.  Opening a pantry door to reveal a tidy space with room to spare communicates that there is plenty of room and reassures buyer's that you took good care of the home.  It changes the feeling of the space and most buyers buy because of feelings, not logistics. 

3. Deep clean every inch.  I usually hire this out for my sellers, but while you're decluttering, take the time to deep clean your kitchen and bathrooms.  Wipe out drawers and cabinets, wipe down banisters and DOORS!  Your front door, your garage door, your kids' bedroom doors -- they're dirty and it's showing.  Wipe them down, along with the baseboards too!  Dust every surface and make it shine.

4. Clean your Windows.  This is a simple thing that makes a huge difference.  You might consider taking off the screens, but that isn't totally necessary.  Clean windows attract the eye outward, giving the impression of more space.  Open them up & clean them up.  If you have outdated, heavy drapery, consider removing.

5. Landscaping.  If you live in Arizona like I do, I can't stress this enough.  Edge your lawn, mow it meticulously, trim your trees, pull every weed and plant some flowers by the front door.  While you're at it put out a new door mat and sweep your front porch.  This is your first impression, don't blow it.  If you have a yard suitable for entertaining, just like a model home would, place furniture to showcase how to use the space.  If you have big sliding doors that open onto a patio perfect for outdoor dining, place a table there.  Put a table cloth on it and it simple plant and when buyer's see it, they'll envision themselves pool side with dinner on the back patio.  Again, it creates a feeling and tells the buyer a story of how they will live in the space.

6. Staging.  I rarely suggest outside staging, but I do suggest using what you've got and removing what's awkward.  If you've got an office/playroom/guest room in your house (don't we all?!) remove the excess and make it 1 designated space.  Too many big pieces of furniture make a space feel crowded and while we all tend to live that way, we don't want to sell that way.  So remove the guest bed or the awkward oversized desk and make it a dedicated space. 

While logistics play a big role, often times buyers are pushed over to purchasing because of a feeling.  Home is our most private space, the safety from the pressures of day to day.  Take efforts to make your space feel like a reprieve from the world, with well-thought out functionality and you'll have it sold in no time.

If you're interested in a FREE pre-listing consultation, sign up below.  This consultation is designed for homeowners who are considering listing their home for sale and want to position it in the best possible way to receive the highest return on investment.  The free consultation takes about 30 minutes, we'll go through your home room by room and at the end, you'll have a list of simple things to improve your home's show-ability. 

I cracked open a random cook book last week and made these Snickerdoodle Bars and they were so good!  I love a homemade cookie, but sometimes I don't have time to be watching the oven in 8 minute increments.  These hit the spot!  Here's what you'll need:

Snickerdoodle Bars

2 2/3 C flour
2 t baking soda
1 t salt
2 C packed brown sugar
1 C butter, at room temperature
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 TB vanilla

For Topping:
2 TB sugar
2 t cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and light grease a 9x13 baking pan.  In a large mixing bowl, mix together the butter and brown sugar, then mix in the eggs, one at a time.  Add vanilla.  Add in baking soda, salt and flour, while mixing.  Mix until blended.  Then spread evenly into the 9x13 pan.  

In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle on top of the batter.  Back at 350 degrees fro 25-30 minutes or until the edges begin to lightly brown.  Remove from oven and let cool on a cooling rack.  Cut into squares and serve.