Dec 2015 Realty Rave

David Burke Tel: 760-250-2570 December 2015 Welcome to this month's edition of the RealtyRave newsletter. We hope that you find it filled with interesting and useful information! Please think of me with any real estate related questions you may have - now and in the future. It would be my pleasure to be of assistance to you. The single highest and best compliment a Real Estate Professional can receive is a referral to friends, family or colleagues. As appropriate, please feel free to forward this Newsletter and/or my contact information. Thank you! David Burke HEALTH AND SAFETY Embrace the holiday spirit and fight hunger in your hometown (BPT) - Imagine helping feed 500 people in order to fight hunger in your hometown. Jill Chandler of Fayette, Missouri, does this twice every month. Her efforts through the Fayette Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry help feed approximately one-sixth of the city’s 3,000 population. In this rural town where cattle outnumber residents, most people would be surprised to learn about the widespread need for food. This holiday season, more than 3 million households in rural communities will face hunger. The counties with the highest rates of food insecurity are more likely to be found in rural areas, according to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap 2015 study. Chandler is making a real difference through her volunteer work managing the food pantry. Recently the organization was able to enhance their menu of options thanks to Invest An Acre, a program of Feeding America that provides resources for hunger-relief organizations that serve small towns and rural communities across the United States. Over the years, Fayette County has grown older, with many of its younger residents moving away, leaving mostly retired citizens on fixed incomes. Part of the food pantry’s mission is to deliver food to a senior housing complex. Thanks to their involvement in Invest An Acre, the food pantry was able to add meat to their regular grocery deliveries. “One gentleman said ‘this is the only meat I get in a month’s time’,” says Chandler. “He is a retired veteran who plays guitar and travels around entertaining nursing home residents, volunteering his musical abilities. Several others receiving donations voiced the same struggle to make ends meet.” “When you’re of a certain age and on a fixed income, sometimes you have to make a choice,” Chandler explains. “Whether it’s your medical bills or other payments, at the end of the day it’s often your grocery bill that doesn’t make the cut, which can be especially felt around the holidays.” The need for food never goes away, notes Chandler, who strives to make a positive impact for community members both young and old. “I think about the children more than anything else,” she says. “Children don’t choose to be in the position they’re in. And I cannot go to sleep at night knowing that we’ve got hungry kids, because there’s somebody else who has food who can share.” With Jill’s help, more community members in Fayette County will have one less thing to worry about when winter arrives. Invest An Acre is an easy way to join her example and help people struggling with hunger in your own community. The good news is that anyone can donate to Invest An Acre and be sure they are helping their neighbors in need because every dollar donated goes back to your local food bank. Plus, every donation is matched dollar for dollar, so contributions double the support provided to local families facing hunger. Hopefully this year, because of people like Chandler, more Americans facing hunger can have a brighter holiday season. HELPFUL HINTS 6 easy tips to avoid calorie overload during the holidays (BPT) - From office parties to neighborhood gatherings — during the holidays, food is everywhere. Despite your healthiest of intentions, it’s not easy to eat right during the holiday season — no matter how determined you are to stay on track. Fear not! With a few simple tricks and a game plan, you can still enjoy your favorite festive foods without feeling like a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon by the time New Year’s Day rolls around. Don’t waste calories. Before you place anything on your plate, survey the entire spread of food options. Decide which foods are must haves and which are better left on the table. Not only will selective eating allow you to savor your choices even more, you won’t waste calories on anything you won’t fully enjoy. If you find yourself standing in front of a table overflowing with options, step away. Survey the scene. Don’t stand near the food and only use one plate. Throw it away when you’re finished so you’re not tempted to go back for unnecessary seconds. Snack smart. “When heading out to a holiday gathering, make sure to have a small snack before you leave home,” advises Nicki Briggs, MS, RDN, Food and Nutrition Expert. “Reach for one that offers a combo of protein and fiber, like nuts and dried fruit or hummus and whole grain crackers. It will keep you feeling full so that you’ll have the willpower to not overdo it at the buffet.” Don’t drink your calories. Opt for lower calorie beverages like water, tea, or coffee whenever possible. If you’re going to indulge in an alcoholic drink, stick with light beer or a wine spritzer instead of punches or mixed drinks. (Some holiday drinks can have up to 500 hidden calories!) And make sure to drink a glass of water between each beverage to help you stay hydrated and keep your drink count in check. Host with health in mind. When hosting your own holiday party, don’t skimp on the better-for-you options. Serve up feel-good foods like veggie trays and lean meats. Revamp your fitness routine. The holidays are a time to indulge in treats, but that doesn’t mean you need to forgo your fitness. Get some friends together and try a new workout class or make a point to get to the gym an extra time per week. Exercise releases endorphins, which will have you feeling extra cheery when you arrive at every holiday party. Don’t beat yourself up. If you end up overindulging at a party, don’t let it get you down. Use it as a learning experience and take steps to do better next time. Tomorrow is a new day and you’ll be motivated to make smarter and healthier choices. Follow these tips to feel your best during the holidays, while enjoying the food and company you love. RECIPE OF THE MONTH Chef John's Perfect Prime Rib Makes 24 servings and ready in 6hrs 30 mins. Ingredients: 4 pounds prime rib roast 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence kosher salt Directions: Place rib roast on a plate and bring to room temperature, about 4 hours. Preheat an oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C). Combine butter, pepper, and herbes de Provence in a bowl; mix until well blended. Spread butter mixture evenly over entire roast. Season roast generously with kosher salt. Roast the 4-pound prime rib (see footnote if using a larger and smaller roast) in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Turn the oven off and, leaving the roast in the oven with the door closed, let the roast sit in the oven for 2 hours. Remove roast from the oven, slice, and serve.      View my website  Email me  View Featured Listings  Property Search   Compliments of: David Burke Realty Executives Desert Lifestyles 78065 Main St. Suite 101 La Quinta, CA 92253 Tel: 760-250-2570 Cell: 760-250-2570 Fax: 800-774-5902 David@LaQuintaRE.com e-Pro Household Tips Corroded Battery A strong solution of baking soda and water can be used to scrub battery terminal to prevent corrosion. Garage Parking If your garage wall has been bumped when parking your car, try laying a large board or railroad tie in front of the tires. Ease your car into the garage until the front tires touch the board Parking Trick When parallel parking in front of a store, look in the reflection of the store's window to see how much room is left between your car and the one behind you when backing up Bug Remover Nylon net makes an ideal bug remover to grille and windshield of cars Driving Shoes Dripping oil and grime from floor mats of cars can ruin the heels of many shoes. Keep an old pair of driving in your car Solid Foundation For Changing Tires To insure having a solid foundation for the tire jack in an emergency, keep a couple of short boards in your trunk. Cold Legs For passengers (not drivers!) who suffer from cold feet and legs while traveling in the wintertime--set your feet in a large brown paper bag and pull it up around your knees. Your legs will stay surprisingly warm. Covering Scratches Use a matching color crayon and work into scratches on your car. Rust Spots on Chrome Bumpers Scrub bumpers with a crumpled piece of aluminum foil, or a soap-filled pad. Windshield Cleaner Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge or dissolve 2 tablespoons in a bucket of water and wipe spatters and grime off windshield, headlights, etc. Unfrozen Doors Heavily coat rubber gaskets around car doors with vegetable oil. This will seal out water without harming gaskets. Do this before washing your car in the wintertime. DID YOU KNOW? Did you know Einstein slept 10 hours a night Did you know Germany borders 9 other countries Did you know Peru has more pyramids than Egypt Did you know Christmas trees originated from Germany Did you know more people die from falling coconuts then from shark attacks Did you know the original design of Monopoly was circular Did you know the Earth is struck by lightning over 100 times every second Did you know over 2,500 left handed people are killed a year from using right handed products Did you know gorillas sleep 14 hours a day Did you know female lions complete 90% of the hunting in their herd Did you know the lifespan of a squirrel is 9 years Did you know the stomach acids found in a snakes stomach can digest bones and teeth but not fur or hair Did you know the word race car can be spelled the same way backwards Did you know a giraffe can go longer without water than a camel About Us Whether you are looking to buy or sell, we are here to assist you in accomplishing your real estate dreams. Burke and Associates has been awarded the "Top Listing Agent, 2011, and 2012" by Keller Williams Realty. Call today and let us put our tools, techniques and skills to work for you! Also, be sure to ask us about our monthly specials for our new construction developments! P.S. Referrals are the highest compliment a sales professional can receive from a client. Please pass my name around to your friends, family, and acquaintances so that I can provide them with the best real estate experience possible!