Ann FitzGibbons | San Antonio Lifestyle

FITZ

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Featured Listing

A N T O N I O

MARCH | APRIL

2016

S A N

17739 Maui Sands | San Antonio, TX 78255 | $474,900 SABOR MLS #: 115546

Celebrate Earth Day Protecting the Planet

Remarkable David Weekley floor plan, 5 bedrooms with study and two living areas. High ceilings accent the open floor plan with beautiful tile & wood floors. Abundant windows allow natural light in each room. Gourmet kitchen is centerpiece of home with open living area & cozy fireplace. Spacious family room upstairs offers extra play and entertaining area with closet space for storage. In-law bedroom down with full bath. Large study down, outdoor kitchen and tandem 3 car garage. Quality finishes throughout and ready to go!

FitzGibbonsandAssociates.com Ann FitzGibbons Broker Associate FitzGibbons and Associates Keller Williams Portfolio Ann@FitzGibbonsandAssociates.com 210.723.3093 Direct 7701 Broadway San Antonio, TX 78209

If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

With Ann’s local real estate knowledge and Keller William’s international presence, now is the time to sell your current property or find your dream home.

Upscale Real Estate Marketing | 877.660.096 | UpscleRealEstateMarketing.com

Home Warranty Pros and Cons

The Yard House’s Spinach Cheese Dip

The FitzGibbons and Associates Team®

Ann FitzGibbons | 210.723.3093 Ann@FitzGibbonsandAssociates.com

MARCH | APRIL 2016 H-E-B Big League Weekend Alamodome | March 18-19 BigLeagueWeekend.com | 210.229.1847 Spring training returns to San Antonio. Now in its fourth year H-E-B Big League Weekend will bring a two-game Major League Baseball exhibition hosted at the iconic Alamodome. In 2015, more than 46,000 fans attended and an even larger crowd is expected this year as the Texas Rangers face the Kansas City Royals.

Weighing the Decision on Home Warranty Coverage

Stomp Majestic Theatre | April 2-3 MajesticTheatre.com | 210.226.5700 STOMP is explosive, sophisticated, unique, and appeals to audiences of all ages. The return of the percussive hit also brings some new surprises, with some sections of the show now updated and restructured, and the addition of two new fullscale routines, utilizing props like tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans.

Poteet Strawberry Festival Poteet Strawberry Festival Grounds | April 8-10 StrawberryFestival.com | 830.276.3323 Located in the heart of the Artesian Belt, Poteet is recognized as the “Strawberry Capital of Texas.”

The festival has 14 areas of continuous entertainment featuring concerts with nationally known country western and Tejano stars, regional bands, gunslingers, carnival, various contests, and rodeo performances. There is something for the whole family!

Carrie Underwood AT&T Center | April 18 ATTCenter.com Seven-time Grammy winner and Pollstar’s three-time top female country touring artist, Carrie Underwood, who just released her fifth studio album, Storyteller, will launch a new arena tour in 2016 to take her new music on the road.

Ford Mariachi Festival Mariachi Band Performance River Walk | April 19-22 TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com | 210.212.7602 This official FIESTA event will feature local middle school and high school Mariachi Bands perform on floating barges along the 2-1/2 mile downtown area of the River Walk. Enjoy the music from the banks of the River Walk as the barges float along.

You can see the boats from the patios of any River Walk restaurant or Rivercenter Mall.

W

hen purchasing an existing home, a home warranty can provide peace of mind knowing that repairs to leaky pipes, broken furnaces, or appliance break-downs can be fixed for a “nominal” service charge. However, upon closer inspection, these warranties may not provide all the coverages you might expect.

Home warranties purchased on existing homes are more like limited service contracts that are in effect for only one year. The warranty policy holder typically has no control over who provides the repair service – that is determined by the warranty company itself.

Taking Steps M

Refine your food selections. How often do you check the “product of” food labels in the grocery store? Produce grown in Peru or Holland may be fine, but think about what it took to get that pepper to your shopping cart: Lots of handling, packaging, and various forms of transportation. Now consider a pepper grown at a local farm: It will most likely be fresher and more nutrient-rich because it hasn’t been trucked in from across the U.S. or shipped in from another country. Buying local really is better for the environment. While you’re at the grocery store, remember to use those reusable bags in the back of your car.

Better yet? Head to a farmers’ market and bring a basket to carry your purchases home.

Retool your home front. Many environmental strides can be made right in your own environs. For starters, try to keep your home cool or warm depending on the season without constantly moving the thermostat. Blinds and drapes can keep heat in or out, and ceiling fans can really cool a room. Too cold? Grab a sweater and slippers.

Outdoors, rethink the amount of water, herbicides, and fertilizers you use in your yard. A little hand weeding and smart xeriscaping can do wonders for planet Earth

AngiesList.com reports that home warranty companies top the mostcomplained-about list on their website year after year. The site attributes this to the fact that consumers assume something is covered by the warranty that isn’t, or consumers were surprised by the standard service charges when something breaks. Those service charges can range from $75 to $100 depending on service area.

The typical resale home warranty covers repairs to kitchen and laundry appliances, water heaters and furnaces, ceiling and exhaust fans, plumbing systems and circuit breakers. More expensive repair items such as roofs, pools and window issues are usually not covered.

The consumer needs to be aware of the type of policy being offered. Some home warranty companies charge extra to cover air conditioning systems and ventilation issues. There are other exclusions such as ice makers, which break down often. Most policies don’t cover plumbing backups or leaky skylights either.

If you are in the market for a resale home, you need to carefully consider whether a home warranty is worth the cost. Determine if the seller is offering a home warranty as part of the transaction. If they are not, you can always ask the seller to provide a home warranty during the contract negotiations. If the seller offers a home warranty to sweeten the deal, take it.

But if you must purchase the policy yourself, shop carefully and understand exactly what is covered for your investment. Research consumer complaints and don’t let the lure of “insurance” lead you into making a purchase.

“Instead of buying one of these policies – or placing any value in the one provided when you buy a home – you’ll do better to place that money into a home repair fund,” says Consumers’ Checkbook, an independent nonprofit that publishes consumer magazines in several locales around the country.

REAL ESTATE

corner

Celebrate Earth Day by Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

ark your calendar: Earth Day is Friday, April 22. And with all the dire news about our planet – record-setting warm temperatures, plastic filling up our oceans, and animals dying from disruptions in their food chains – there has never been a more important time to make changes. So what can you do to make a difference? By now, we should all know the three basic Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. But what more can we do to have a smaller carbon footprint?

IN GOOD TASTE

Event Calendar

… especially if every homeowner gets in on the act.

Rethink your ride. Although we can’t all run out and buy a brand new electric or hybrid car, we can try to drive less. It’s that simple.

Carpool with coworkers for your daily commute. Work with neighbors to share trips to school, baseball practice, and ballet class. Combine all your errands for the week and try to get them all done at once. Consider buying in bulk online and have basics like toilet paper and detergent delivered to your door. If you don’t regularly use public transportation, research your area’s bus and train routes and time tables and see if they sync up with your schedule. And of course, if you can, try walking. It’s good for you!

Yard House Spinach Feta Cheese Dip INGREDIENTS 1 gal ½c ½ tbsp ½ lbs ¾ lbs

water garlic, minced kosher salt feta cheese, crumbled or 12 oz cream cheese

1 ½ lbs 2 tbsp ½ tbsp ½ lbs ¼c

or 3 bunches fresh spinach parsley, chopped black pepper jack cheese, shredded grated parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS Place water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Place the spinach in the water and blanch until just wilted (approximately 20-30 seconds). Remove from water and place in a colander and then place into an ice bath so that it does not continue to wilt.

Squeeze to remove all excess water and then rough chop the spinach, set aside. Heat olive oil in sauté pan and then add minced garlic. Let the garlic turn golden brown and then add parsley, salt and pepper, sauté briefly and set aside. Combine feta, jack and cream cheese in a mixing bowl. Using the paddle attachment mix cheese until well combined. Add garlic/parsley mixture and spinach to the cheese blend and continue mixing until thoroughly combined. Place spinach mixture in a casserole dish, sprinkle the top with grated parmesan cheese and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbling slightly and golden brown on top. Serve with toasted pita bread.

For toasted pita, split pita to make two halves. Brush lightly with olive oil, place on a sheet pan and bake in oven until golden brown and crispy.

Yard House YardHouse.com

MARCH | APRIL 2016 H-E-B Big League Weekend Alamodome | March 18-19 BigLeagueWeekend.com | 210.229.1847 Spring training returns to San Antonio. Now in its fourth year H-E-B Big League Weekend will bring a two-game Major League Baseball exhibition hosted at the iconic Alamodome. In 2015, more than 46,000 fans attended and an even larger crowd is expected this year as the Texas Rangers face the Kansas City Royals.

Weighing the Decision on Home Warranty Coverage

Stomp Majestic Theatre | April 2-3 MajesticTheatre.com | 210.226.5700 STOMP is explosive, sophisticated, unique, and appeals to audiences of all ages. The return of the percussive hit also brings some new surprises, with some sections of the show now updated and restructured, and the addition of two new fullscale routines, utilizing props like tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans.

Poteet Strawberry Festival Poteet Strawberry Festival Grounds | April 8-10 StrawberryFestival.com | 830.276.3323 Located in the heart of the Artesian Belt, Poteet is recognized as the “Strawberry Capital of Texas.”

The festival has 14 areas of continuous entertainment featuring concerts with nationally known country western and Tejano stars, regional bands, gunslingers, carnival, various contests, and rodeo performances. There is something for the whole family!

Carrie Underwood AT&T Center | April 18 ATTCenter.com Seven-time Grammy winner and Pollstar’s three-time top female country touring artist, Carrie Underwood, who just released her fifth studio album, Storyteller, will launch a new arena tour in 2016 to take her new music on the road.

Ford Mariachi Festival Mariachi Band Performance River Walk | April 19-22 TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com | 210.212.7602 This official FIESTA event will feature local middle school and high school Mariachi Bands perform on floating barges along the 2-1/2 mile downtown area of the River Walk. Enjoy the music from the banks of the River Walk as the barges float along.

You can see the boats from the patios of any River Walk restaurant or Rivercenter Mall.

W

hen purchasing an existing home, a home warranty can provide peace of mind knowing that repairs to leaky pipes, broken furnaces, or appliance break-downs can be fixed for a “nominal” service charge. However, upon closer inspection, these warranties may not provide all the coverages you might expect.

Home warranties purchased on existing homes are more like limited service contracts that are in effect for only one year. The warranty policy holder typically has no control over who provides the repair service – that is determined by the warranty company itself.

Taking Steps M

Refine your food selections. How often do you check the “product of” food labels in the grocery store? Produce grown in Peru or Holland may be fine, but think about what it took to get that pepper to your shopping cart: Lots of handling, packaging, and various forms of transportation. Now consider a pepper grown at a local farm: It will most likely be fresher and more nutrient-rich because it hasn’t been trucked in from across the U.S. or shipped in from another country. Buying local really is better for the environment. While you’re at the grocery store, remember to use those reusable bags in the back of your car.

Better yet? Head to a farmers’ market and bring a basket to carry your purchases home.

Retool your home front. Many environmental strides can be made right in your own environs. For starters, try to keep your home cool or warm depending on the season without constantly moving the thermostat. Blinds and drapes can keep heat in or out, and ceiling fans can really cool a room. Too cold? Grab a sweater and slippers.

Outdoors, rethink the amount of water, herbicides, and fertilizers you use in your yard. A little hand weeding and smart xeriscaping can do wonders for planet Earth

AngiesList.com reports that home warranty companies top the mostcomplained-about list on their website year after year. The site attributes this to the fact that consumers assume something is covered by the warranty that isn’t, or consumers were surprised by the standard service charges when something breaks. Those service charges can range from $75 to $100 depending on service area.

The typical resale home warranty covers repairs to kitchen and laundry appliances, water heaters and furnaces, ceiling and exhaust fans, plumbing systems and circuit breakers. More expensive repair items such as roofs, pools and window issues are usually not covered.

The consumer needs to be aware of the type of policy being offered. Some home warranty companies charge extra to cover air conditioning systems and ventilation issues. There are other exclusions such as ice makers, which break down often. Most policies don’t cover plumbing backups or leaky skylights either.

If you are in the market for a resale home, you need to carefully consider whether a home warranty is worth the cost. Determine if the seller is offering a home warranty as part of the transaction. If they are not, you can always ask the seller to provide a home warranty during the contract negotiations. If the seller offers a home warranty to sweeten the deal, take it.

But if you must purchase the policy yourself, shop carefully and understand exactly what is covered for your investment. Research consumer complaints and don’t let the lure of “insurance” lead you into making a purchase.

“Instead of buying one of these policies – or placing any value in the one provided when you buy a home – you’ll do better to place that money into a home repair fund,” says Consumers’ Checkbook, an independent nonprofit that publishes consumer magazines in several locales around the country.

REAL ESTATE

corner

Celebrate Earth Day by Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

ark your calendar: Earth Day is Friday, April 22. And with all the dire news about our planet – record-setting warm temperatures, plastic filling up our oceans, and animals dying from disruptions in their food chains – there has never been a more important time to make changes. So what can you do to make a difference? By now, we should all know the three basic Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. But what more can we do to have a smaller carbon footprint?

IN GOOD TASTE

Event Calendar

… especially if every homeowner gets in on the act.

Rethink your ride. Although we can’t all run out and buy a brand new electric or hybrid car, we can try to drive less. It’s that simple.

Carpool with coworkers for your daily commute. Work with neighbors to share trips to school, baseball practice, and ballet class. Combine all your errands for the week and try to get them all done at once. Consider buying in bulk online and have basics like toilet paper and detergent delivered to your door. If you don’t regularly use public transportation, research your area’s bus and train routes and time tables and see if they sync up with your schedule. And of course, if you can, try walking. It’s good for you!

Yard House Spinach Feta Cheese Dip INGREDIENTS 1 gal ½c ½ tbsp ½ lbs ¾ lbs

water garlic, minced kosher salt feta cheese, crumbled or 12 oz cream cheese

1 ½ lbs 2 tbsp ½ tbsp ½ lbs ¼c

or 3 bunches fresh spinach parsley, chopped black pepper jack cheese, shredded grated parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS Place water in a large pot and bring to a boil. Place the spinach in the water and blanch until just wilted (approximately 20-30 seconds). Remove from water and place in a colander and then place into an ice bath so that it does not continue to wilt.

Squeeze to remove all excess water and then rough chop the spinach, set aside. Heat olive oil in sauté pan and then add minced garlic. Let the garlic turn golden brown and then add parsley, salt and pepper, sauté briefly and set aside. Combine feta, jack and cream cheese in a mixing bowl. Using the paddle attachment mix cheese until well combined. Add garlic/parsley mixture and spinach to the cheese blend and continue mixing until thoroughly combined. Place spinach mixture in a casserole dish, sprinkle the top with grated parmesan cheese and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbling slightly and golden brown on top. Serve with toasted pita bread.

For toasted pita, split pita to make two halves. Brush lightly with olive oil, place on a sheet pan and bake in oven until golden brown and crispy.

Yard House YardHouse.com

FITZ

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Featured Listing

A N T O N I O

MARCH | APRIL

2016

S A N

17739 Maui Sands | San Antonio, TX 78255 | $474,900 SABOR MLS #: 115546

Celebrate Earth Day Protecting the Planet

Remarkable David Weekley floor plan, 5 bedrooms with study and two living areas. High ceilings accent the open floor plan with beautiful tile & wood floors. Abundant windows allow natural light in each room. Gourmet kitchen is centerpiece of home with open living area & cozy fireplace. Spacious family room upstairs offers extra play and entertaining area with closet space for storage. In-law bedroom down with full bath. Large study down, outdoor kitchen and tandem 3 car garage. Quality finishes throughout and ready to go!

FitzGibbonsandAssociates.com Ann FitzGibbons Broker Associate FitzGibbons and Associates Keller Williams Portfolio Ann@FitzGibbonsandAssociates.com 210.723.3093 Direct 7701 Broadway San Antonio, TX 78209

If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

With Ann’s local real estate knowledge and Keller William’s international presence, now is the time to sell your current property or find your dream home.

Upscale Real Estate Marketing | 877.660.096 | UpscleRealEstateMarketing.com

Home Warranty Pros and Cons

The Yard House’s Spinach Cheese Dip

The FitzGibbons and Associates Team®

Ann FitzGibbons | 210.723.3093 Ann@FitzGibbonsandAssociates.com