Julie Macpherson | Vicinity

Vicinity Summer 2016 | Issue 6

the VICINITY of 85262 May 2016 By The Numbers 1/1/2016-5/16/2016, Single Family Detached

167 TOTAL #

CLOSED

AVG SOLD PRICE

1,065,765

95

171

[

AVG DAYS ON MARKET

LIST/SELL PRICE RATIO

Spring sales have momentum! According to realtor. com homes in the top US markets moved 6 days faster than last April and 7 faster than last month.

[

Julie Macpherson 602.525.5565 Direct 7221 E Princess Boulevard | Ste 117 Scottsdale, AZ | 85255

www.azfabhomes.com If you plan to buy, sell, or just have a question, feel free to call me!

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

Produced by DLP Marketing • 480.460.0996 • DLPmarketing.com

wine lovers Cellars & Storage

balanced body The Principles of Pilates

Florida Keys

Picture Perfect Vacation Photos

Looking Cool

With just a few weeks left until the start of another school year, many couples and families are squeezing in one last summer getaway. Use these very basic tips to turn your vacation photographs from the mundane to “mantel worthy.”

The Florida Keys have become a popular destination for Americans looking for a tropical vacation without leaving their own country. The Florida Keys can be considered the American Caribbean and features all the same amenities as other island destinations such as world class Florida Keys fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling, boating, sailing, kayaking and eco-tours.

Each of our island destinations has unique features.

Key Largo offers some of the finest diving and snorkeling in the Florida Keys. One of the main attractions in Key Largo is the John Pennekamp State Park. There are many Key Largo dive companies that run guided trips to the park and to area sunken wrecks just off Key Largo.

Islamorada is the next island destination just south of Key Largo. Islamorada is known for its world class sport fishing.

Each season welcomes new fishing tournaments and angling opportunities.

Bonefishing is especially popular with large bonefish up into the 10 pound range. Offshore sport fishing can be equally exciting during the winter months for sailfish just off the reefs of Islamorada.

Big Pine Key and the Lower Florida Keys are as ‘laid back’ as it gets here. Boating is one of the number one attractions and there are many different tours and trips to Looe Key for diving and snorkeling or out in the backcountry for fishing or bird watching.

Key West is also known as the Last Resort, the Southernmost Point in the continental U.S. Key West is whatever you want it to be. You can hide out in a tucked-away guesthouse, walk the beach and watch a beautiful sunset, or dance all night and peruse Duval Street in downtown Key West.

Source: FloridaKeys.com

Summer is here and with terrific weather for most of the year outdoor living spaces are used quite often. Some of us have courtyards perfect for morning coffee and backyards used for everyday leisure as well as entertaining. The only problem arises when the hot summer months make it unbearable to enjoy being outside, even in the evenings.

Enter residential misting systems. Misting systems are nothing new or innovative necessarily. We’ve all dined at restaurants or meandered through shopping centers that use a mist system to cool the air. But have you considered installing one for your own home?

The high-pressure misting systems utilize a pump that expels water at 1000 to 4000 pounds per square inch. At such high pressure, the water is atomized into droplets of about one tenth the diameter of a human hair.

Because the mist is so fine, you can sit under it without getting wet.

Misting systems have been utilized for many years to cool outdoor

You can have a misting system installed along the perimeter of your patio. You’ll find that the mist creates a wall or barrier of cool air, and will cool the entire patio even though you may not be sitting directly underneath the misters. In fact, on an evening with little breeze, the misters can cool your entire backyard up to 100 feet away from the misting system. Imagine dining outdoors or hosting a pool party where your non-swimming guests are cool as a cucumber.

&Feeling Cool

Photographing People When you’re arranging several people together for a photo, keep good composition in mind. Avoid lining everyone up like an elementary class photo. Instead, arrange your subjects in staggered positions: some sitting, some kneeling, maybe even lounging about on the ground. It provides more of a visual interest and shows your subjects in a more relaxed state. When photographing people, you may find that the candid shots turn out to be your favorites.

Misting systems can create a dramatic fog effect for pools, landscaping and fountains—any area you want to bathe in billowing clouds of luxurious fog. Not only are those areas visually dramatic, but of course will also be cool and comfortable.

Water usage can be a concern and most of us are conscious of wasting this very precious resource. Should the water used in a misting system be a concern? The amount of water used in an entire year of average use is about one third the amount of water that simply evaporates from your pool each year. Now get outdoors and enjoy your backyard in misted comfort!

One of the most important guidelines for capturing the best shot of people is to always shoot at their eye level. So squat down if you need to and avoid the uncomplimentary view of looking down at or perhaps peering up at someone.

You’ll also find that your best people pictures are those where the focus is solely on the individual(s). So take extra care to position your subjects against a plain, nondistracting background and get in close so your subject fills most of the frame.

Beach Vacations When shooting ocean scenes, place the horizon line either high or low. Avoid centering it in the photograph. Placing it low gives the emphasis on the sky and is an excellent format for sunsets. Placing it high gives more importance to the beach and is nice when you want to highlight sand castles or sun bathers. If staging a beach photo plan to dress in coordinating clothing. White and khaki always look great on a beach and be sure to be barefoot!

Amusement Parks Theme parks are bursting with photo opportunities full of vibrant colors and action.

Try your hand at a bit of photojournalism and take a series of photos that tell a story. Nighttime provides more opportunities for terrific photos. To capture the beauty of a theme park at night, turn your flash off and hold steady!

National Parks Most national parks have a distinguishing special feature such as a geyser or monument. When shooting a landmark, it may be effective to position your family members near it to show scale. Use the rule of thirds in your pictures. Centering a monument or lighthouse in the photo looks choppy and unattractive. Rather, move it off center. It gives your photo that dynamic visual appeal and brings your picture to life.

YOUR HOME

Crème de Papaia [Papaya Cream]

INGREDIENTS

INSPIRED FLAVOR!

TIME FOR TRAVEL

spaces such as patios, pool areas and walkways.

Mist is an ultra-fine spray produced by forcing water at high pressure through specialized nozzles. As the mist evaporates, heat is absorbed. Newlycreated cool air is heavier than warm air so it floats down to the ground, reducing the air temperature by 20 to 40 degrees.

1 papaya 4 scoops of vanilla ice cream 1 oz Crème de Cassis liqueur

mint leaves DIRECTIONS Peel and remove seeds from papaya. Cut papaya into pieces. Put papaya pieces and ice cream in food processor and process for 1-2 minutes until the fruit has blended completely. Pour mixture in a nice goblet or brandy snifter. Garnish with Crème de Cassis and a mint leaf.

DID YOU KNOW? Deliciously sweet with musky undertones and a soft, butter-like consistency, it is no wonder the papaya was reputably called the “fruit of the angels” by Christopher Columbus. Once considered quite exotic, they can now be found in markets throughout the year. Although there is a slight seasonal peak in early summer and fall, papaya trees produce fruit year round. Papayas are spherical or pear-shaped fruits that can be as long as 20 inches. Their flesh is a rich orange color with either yellow or pink hues. Inside the inner cavity of the fruit are black, round seeds encased in a gelatinous-like substance. Papaya’s seeds are edible, although their peppery flavor is somewhat bitter. The fruit, as well as the other parts of the papaya tree, contain papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins.

Source: WHFoods.com

Fogo de Chão FogodeChao.com

TIME FOR TRAVEL

The Perks of Pilates

Wine Cellars

The Stanley | A Grand Heritage Hotel Estes Park, CO

I

Pilates is a system of exercises that were developed by Joseph Pilates in the early and mid 1900’s. They were originally designed for physical therapy and rehabilitation but gained in popularity among the ballet community in New York. The innovative exercises build strength, improve flexibility, teach mind-body awareness and can dramatically transform the way your body looks.

A Wise Home Improvement?

By the 1970s the hotel’s splendor had faded and it had gained a reputation for being haunted. It might have continued to fade and eventually have succumbed to the wrecking ball, if not for a fortuitous visit by author Stephen King. A stay of one night was enough to inspire his third major work and first hard-cover bestseller—The Shining— which remains a landmark masterpiece in a long and well-known list of novels.

The hotel stands today as a beautifullyrestored testament to its glory days, when it served as a holiday retreat for wealthy urbanites. A range of tours highlights the history and haunting of this magnificent historical structure while a tempting menu of amenities, culinary experiences and lavish spa treatments provides all the comfort and glamour required by even the most discerning of modern visitors.

Source: StanleyHotel.com

There are two ways to practice Pilates: with specialized equipment or with mat exercises. Many Pilates enthusiasts prefer working on a resistance-based piece of equipment called a Reformer. Exercises are done lying down, sitting or standing and there are springs and ropes to provide the resistance. Mat workouts are popular too, for their ease of use and flexibility. They can be done at home rather than a studio and minimal equipment is needed.

Pilates exercises are based on the principles of building a strong “core” (or center of the body), using correct movements and in the quality of the movements rather than intense repetitions.

A

menities once considered a luxury for only the most expensive of mansions, are becoming more and more commonplace in today’s homes. Commercial grade kitchen appliances, fitness rooms, Jacuzzi-style soaking tubs and elaborate media rooms were almost unheard of a couple of decades ago. However, homeowners today are outfitting their homes with these luxury appointments at an outstanding pace.

Today’s homes are larger, more elaborate and are used to reflect the lifestyle of the homeowners. If you’ve been following recent news reports, you’d know that wine consumption has recently surpassed beer consumption in America. More and more, people are enjoying drinking wine, learning about wine and collecting wine. For the casual wine drinker to the dedicated oenophile, an in-home wine cellar is becoming more and more popular.

Next, you’ll decide on storage options. How many bottles will you store? What are your buying patterns? Do you tend to buy by the case, or collect individual bottles?

Lastly, you’ll want to determine the design elements of the space. Doors designed with view glass in either wood or wrought iron are fashionable. Lighting, artwork, furnishings and accessories can be manipulated to create the wine room of your dreams.

So, from a real estate perspective, how much value can a wine cellar add to a home?

Although difficult to quantify an exact return on investment, it’s easy to agree that having a dedicated wine space is highly desired among today’s homebuyers.

YOUR HOME

If Pilates has piqued your interest, there are many ways to get started.

You can have professional instruction at a dedicated Pilates studio.

You can download a video on YouTube to work out to at home, or you can hire a personal Pilates trainer to bring the proper equipment for a supervised at-home work out as well. Whatever you decide, enjoy your newfound body and health!

Many top athletes perform Pilates exercises to help condition their bodies and reduce the risk of injuries. In Pilates, your entire body is trained.

All muscle groups are worked evenly; creating a balanced body that is a key to optimal health.

If you’re considering adding a wine room to your existing home you can convert a closet-sized space or larger walk-in room into your own customized wine retreat. The process is simple. First, choose where in the home you’d like to place it. Although it’s initial purpose is as storage, a wine room’s real value comes when it’s built to enhance the home. Choosing an area that is easily seen and aesthetically pleasing is key.

Secondly, you’ll need to consider the type of refrigeration. Wine should be stored at 55-62 degrees, so a simple A/C unit will not suffice. There are two types of refrigeration: “self-contained” in which the unit will exhaust warm air into another room, or a “split-system” that has the evaporator or fan coil in the wine room, but the compressor is outside.

Many people who practice Pilates have found that their daily lives are improved.

Learning proper breathing techniques can help reduce stress. By concentrating on their body’s movements, they have learned to move in a safer and more efficient manner in everyday life.

Additionally, because Pilates focuses on building a strong “core,” many people who were prone to back injuries or have suffered with chronic back pain are finding relief.

Because the movements in Pilates elongate the muscles, you’ll develop a sleek, toned body with slender thighs and a flat abdomen. Rather than “bulking up,” you’ll build strength along with long, lean muscles. In addition to building a beautiful body, you’ll also gain flexibility and joint mobility.

Double Chocolate Mousse

INGREDIENTS

LOCAL FLAVOR!

In 1903, the inventor Freelan Oscar Stanley arrived, weak and underweight from the symptoms of consumption. One season spent in the refreshing climate of the wild valley was enough to restore his health to a formidable vigor, and he vowed to return each summer for the rest of his life. They resolved to build a beautiful grand hotel, the likes of which might only be found in the resorts of the wealthy.

t seems the buzzword in fitness lately is Pilates. Just what is Pilates, and how can you know if it’s right for you?

1½ c 6 oz

4 ½ tsp ½ c

heavy cream semisweet dark chocolate, in small pieces unsweetened cocoa powder pasteurized egg whites

1/8 tsp cream of tartar 1/8 tsp salt ¼ c sugar Whipped cream, for serving

DIRECTIONS In a saucepan, bring ¾ cup of the cream to a boil over medium-high heat. Put the chocolate and cocoa in a heat-proof glass bowl and pour the hot cream over them. Let the mixture stand for about 1 minute and then whisk until blended. Break up any clumps of the cocoa. Set aside at room temperature for about 45 minutes, whisking occasionally to keep the mixture smooth. The chocolate needs to cool to 80°F. In a chilled, dry bowl beat the egg whites on high speed for 10 to 20 seconds or until they begin to foam. Add the cream of tartar and salt and beat for about 1 minute longer or until soft peaks form. Sprinkle the sugar over the whites and continue to beat for 1 to 2 minutes longer or until the peaks are stiff but not dry. Fold the whites into the cooled chocolate (make sure it’s no warmer than 80°F before adding the whites). Pour the remaining heavy cream into the bowl of the mixer and beat with the whisk attachment on high speed for about 2 minutes or until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve the mousse spooned on dessert plates or in bowls. Top each serving with a little whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Vicinity Summer 2016 | Issue 6

the VICINITY of 85262 May 2016 By The Numbers 1/1/2016-5/16/2016, Single Family Detached

167 TOTAL #

CLOSED

AVG SOLD PRICE

1,065,765

95

171

[

AVG DAYS ON MARKET

LIST/SELL PRICE RATIO

[

Spring sales have momentum! According to realtor.com homes in the top US markets moved 6 days faster than last April and 7 faster than last month.

Julie Macpherson 602.525.5565 Direct 7221 E Princess Boulevard | Ste 117 Scottsdale, AZ | 85255

www.azfabhomes.com If you plan to buy, sell, or just have a question, feel free to call me!

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

Produced by DLP Marketing • 480.460.0996 • DLPmarketing.com

wine lovers Cellars & Storage

balanced body The Principles of Pilates