Julie Macpherson | Arizona Homeowner

ArizonaHomeowner

Vol. 5 Issue 11

Sleep Well

Happy Friendsgiving!

Away from Home for the Holidays

Heard Museum Phoenix, AZ

Sticky Garlic Chicken GoodNes

LOCAL VENUE Phoenix, AZ

Friends A FEAST FOR

I

f you don’t come from a large family or were compelled by college or career to travel far from home, then chances are you have attended or hosted a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner with friends and acquaintances.

Or perhaps you and your spouse find the newly empty nest a little too quiet and want to welcome other chick-less parents to share a bottle of wine along with the prized wishbone.

The Heard Museum is an internationally acclaimed museum for the quality of its collections, world class exhibitions, educational programming and unmatched festivals.

Dedicated to the advancement of American Indian Art, the Heard successfully presents the stories of American Indian people from a first-person perspective, as well as exhibitions that showcase the beauty of traditional and contemporary art. The Heard Museum is free to the general public on the first Friday of every month from 6-10pm.

Source: Heard.org/about/

No matter the generation or demographic, the prospect of being alone during the holidays is never welcome, especially when inundated with commercials and ads celebrating warm family reunions. Sometimes it’s a choice of avoiding familial drama or being asked for the thousandth time when you plan to marry.

Friends tend to leave judgment off the menu.

Ready to host this year? Then it’s time to choose your Thanksgiving family.

Invite single friends and parents without partners, Bill in accounting who never joins in at work, or the sweet old lady down the hall who receives meals on wheels. Once you’ve set your guest list – and make it flexible for last minute adoptees – the meal planning can begin.

If you’re in charge of the turkey, remember it needs several days to thaw to avoid a cooking disaster. Prepare some side dishes ahead of time if you’re limited on space, so they can simply be heated up the day of. Many “orphans” will want to pitch in, so you can never go wrong with potluck. Just in case, use Facebook or a sign-up app so you don’t end up with too many pumpkin pies and no vegetables. Hold up – there is no such thing as too many pumpkin pies.

SLUMBER TIME

L

ife can be stressful … so you need a special space to unwind. That’s why your bedroom should be an oasis from all the chaos.

Here’s how to create a peaceful and calm space that will help you sleep soundly at the end of the day.

The best way to improve your sleeping space is to ask yourself how you feel when you walk into your bedroom? Walk in and think, “Do I feel relaxed? Do I feel comfortable?” (It may even help to snap a few pics of your space on your phone, and then analyze the room like you would a photo on Pinterest or Instagram.) Next, gauge the temperature. If it feels hot or stuffy, have a fan installed to keep air circulating at night. If sun is streaming in the windows, add curtains or window treatments that can filter light and make the space seem more airy and light. Lighting should also be low and dimmable for different times of the day.

It may be time to consider the color theme. Sleepy blues, calming grays, and creamy whites all make for a tranquil space. You may

Potlucks are also a great way to get to know your friends and neighbors while trying new things. Who says it has to be traditional turkey? A multi-cultural table with new and unusual dishes could be more memorable than the typical drumstick and stuffing.

A common woe of not hosting Thanksgiving is the depressing lack of leftovers, so guests will be truly appreciative if you provide takeout boxes for a delicious next-day turkey sandwich or slice of pie.

Whether facing your first holiday away from mom’s perfectly mashed potatoes or consciously choosing to skip Aunt June’s Waldorf salad, being part of a Friendsgiving celebration can be a welcome tonic for the homesick soul.

Amen and happy holidays.

need to rethink bright reds or energetic yellows and opt for muted, relaxing colors for your boudoir. Tone down the bedding, window treatments, and furniture hues as well while you’re at it and perhaps relocate some items to other rooms of your home.

Next, declutter! After all, there’s no way to rest when your eyes are staring at piles of paperwork or books, laundry piled up around the room, or exercise equipment screaming “Use me!” And although it’s difficult, try to keep your bedroom free of electronics, which many studies have shown are sleep disruptors.

Staring at blinking numbers is anything but relaxing! Bottom line: Anything that reminds you of your never-ending to-do list should be off-limits in your bedroom.

If music or aromas help you to unwind, consider adding an aromatherapy machine to your space. These often come with soothing sounds of the sea or of a trickling stream to help ease you into relaxation. Essential oils of lavender and calendula help relax your mind and body as you drift off into sleep.

Finally, is your mattress due to be replaced? You spend a lot of time sleeping so make sure you are comfortable. Your linens may also need an upgrade. Higher thread counts and soft hued sheets and bedding will help you relax when you climb into bed at the end of a long day.

Sticky Garlic Chicken

FLAVORFUL

The Heard Museum

INGREDIENTS 8 1/3 cup 3 tbsp 2 tbsp 1 tbsp 4

Chicken drumsticks Packed brown sugar Soy sauce Cider vinegar Chopped fresh ginger Garlic cloves (large)

DIRECTIONS Remove skin from chicken. Place chicken in single layer in foil-lined 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Bake at 400° F for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make sauce.

Place sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger and garlic in blender; cover. Blend until smooth. Pour mixture into small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until reduced and thickened.

Remove chicken from oven. Drain excess liquid. Brush chicken with two-thirds of sauce. Bake for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven; brush with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if desired.

LIFEWISE

GoodNes.com

LOCAL VENUE Phoenix, AZ

Friends A FEAST FOR

I

f you don’t come from a large family or were compelled by college or career to travel far from home, then chances are you have attended or hosted a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner with friends and acquaintances.

Or perhaps you and your spouse find the newly empty nest a little too quiet and want to welcome other chick-less parents to share a bottle of wine along with the prized wishbone.

The Heard Museum is an internationally acclaimed museum for the quality of its collections, world class exhibitions, educational programming and unmatched festivals.

Dedicated to the advancement of American Indian Art, the Heard successfully presents the stories of American Indian people from a first-person perspective, as well as exhibitions that showcase the beauty of traditional and contemporary art. The Heard Museum is free to the general public on the first Friday of every month from 6-10pm.

Source: Heard.org/about/

No matter the generation or demographic, the prospect of being alone during the holidays is never welcome, especially when inundated with commercials and ads celebrating warm family reunions. Sometimes it’s a choice of avoiding familial drama or being asked for the thousandth time when you plan to marry.

Friends tend to leave judgment off the menu.

Ready to host this year? Then it’s time to choose your Thanksgiving family.

Invite single friends and parents without partners, Bill in accounting who never joins in at work, or the sweet old lady down the hall who receives meals on wheels. Once you’ve set your guest list – and make it flexible for last minute adoptees – the meal planning can begin.

If you’re in charge of the turkey, remember it needs several days to thaw to avoid a cooking disaster. Prepare some side dishes ahead of time if you’re limited on space, so they can simply be heated up the day of. Many “orphans” will want to pitch in, so you can never go wrong with potluck. Just in case, use Facebook or a sign-up app so you don’t end up with too many pumpkin pies and no vegetables. Hold up – there is no such thing as too many pumpkin pies.

SLUMBER TIME

L

ife can be stressful … so you need a special space to unwind. That’s why your bedroom should be an oasis from all the chaos.

Here’s how to create a peaceful and calm space that will help you sleep soundly at the end of the day.

The best way to improve your sleeping space is to ask yourself how you feel when you walk into your bedroom? Walk in and think, “Do I feel relaxed? Do I feel comfortable?” (It may even help to snap a few pics of your space on your phone, and then analyze the room like you would a photo on Pinterest or Instagram.) Next, gauge the temperature. If it feels hot or stuffy, have a fan installed to keep air circulating at night. If sun is streaming in the windows, add curtains or window treatments that can filter light and make the space seem more airy and light. Lighting should also be low and dimmable for different times of the day.

It may be time to consider the color theme. Sleepy blues, calming grays, and creamy whites all make for a tranquil space. You may

Potlucks are also a great way to get to know your friends and neighbors while trying new things. Who says it has to be traditional turkey? A multi-cultural table with new and unusual dishes could be more memorable than the typical drumstick and stuffing.

A common woe of not hosting Thanksgiving is the depressing lack of leftovers, so guests will be truly appreciative if you provide takeout boxes for a delicious next-day turkey sandwich or slice of pie.

Whether facing your first holiday away from mom’s perfectly mashed potatoes or consciously choosing to skip Aunt June’s Waldorf salad, being part of a Friendsgiving celebration can be a welcome tonic for the homesick soul.

Amen and happy holidays.

need to rethink bright reds or energetic yellows and opt for muted, relaxing colors for your boudoir. Tone down the bedding, window treatments, and furniture hues as well while you’re at it and perhaps relocate some items to other rooms of your home.

Next, declutter! After all, there’s no way to rest when your eyes are staring at piles of paperwork or books, laundry piled up around the room, or exercise equipment screaming “Use me!” And although it’s difficult, try to keep your bedroom free of electronics, which many studies have shown are sleep disruptors.

Staring at blinking numbers is anything but relaxing! Bottom line: Anything that reminds you of your never-ending to-do list should be off-limits in your bedroom.

If music or aromas help you to unwind, consider adding an aromatherapy machine to your space. These often come with soothing sounds of the sea or of a trickling stream to help ease you into relaxation. Essential oils of lavender and calendula help relax your mind and body as you drift off into sleep.

Finally, is your mattress due to be replaced? You spend a lot of time sleeping so make sure you are comfortable. Your linens may also need an upgrade. Higher thread counts and soft hued sheets and bedding will help you relax when you climb into bed at the end of a long day.

Sticky Garlic Chicken

FLAVORFUL

The Heard Museum

INGREDIENTS 8 1/3 cup 3 tbsp 2 tbsp 1 tbsp 4

Chicken drumsticks Packed brown sugar Soy sauce Cider vinegar Chopped fresh ginger Garlic cloves (large)

DIRECTIONS Remove skin from chicken. Place chicken in single layer in foil-lined 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Bake at 400° F for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make sauce.

Place sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger and garlic in blender; cover. Blend until smooth. Pour mixture into small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until reduced and thickened.

Remove chicken from oven. Drain excess liquid. Brush chicken with two-thirds of sauce. Bake for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven; brush with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if desired.

LIFEWISE

GoodNes.com

Julie Macpherson

Just Reduced

19420 N 3rd Drive | Phoenix, AZ 85027 3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | 1,717 SQFT | Offered at $259,000 Come and see this gorgeous 3 bed 2 bath 1,717 sqft. remodeled block home situated in cul de sac. Custom kitchen cabinets with granite counters, glass tile back splash, stainless steel appliances and breakfast bar. Flexible floor plan with formal living room, family room and dining room. Updated bathrooms, tile floors in living areas, laminate wood in master and carpet in the guest bedrooms. Bonus room perfect for office/playroom. Inside laundry with washer/dryer included. 2 car attached garage. Huge backyard with covered patio.

Plenty of room to add a pool if desired. Fantastic neighborhood close to both I-17 & 101 freeways, giving easy access to restaurants, shopping, hiking. Paradise Valley schools. No HOA! Newer roof (2011) New AC (2012) I moved here from the UK in 2000 with my husband and daughter (yes, I am a Brit!). With my previous 18 years’ experience in the corporate world, I am well versed in integrity, diversity, quality, negotiating, budgets, deadlines and keeping projects on track.

Real Estate has always been my true passion so becoming a Realtor in 2007 seemed a perfect fit. I really enjoy helping my clients in a variety of real estate transactions. I represent buyers and sellers of both residential and investment properties.

I am also a certified Relocation Specialist. Having moved from the UK with my family I have had personal experience in the stress and challenges involved in such a big move, so I love being able to assist other families to transition across the globe or across the country.

I am a member of the following Associations and have also achieved the status of Certified Home Marketing Specialist (CHMS): Member National Association of Realtors. Member Arizona Association of Realtors, and Member Scottsdale Association of Realtors I am recognized as being one of the top producers in my office and am proud to say that I consistently receive customer service satisfaction awards, as customer service is a big priority for me.

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

Julie Macpherson 602.525.5565 Julie@azfabhomes.com www.azfabhomes.com 33765 N Scottsdale Rd | Suite 101 | Scottsdale | 85266 If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

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