Winter « Diana's Neighborhood

Snow, Snow and More Snow!

Outside of my home, it is a white, winter wonderland. It is a pretty site, until you have to shovel and drive in it! Although, our pups seem to love it…

January 25, 2011 Posted by dianasantos | Uncategorized, Winter | Snow, Winter | Leave a Comment

Insulating Your Home

(New!)

Seal Air Leaks Around Windows and Doors

Seal air leaks around windows and doors to prevent wasting home heating and cooling energy that costs you money. Read
(New!)

Basement Insulation Lowers Energy Costs

Add insulation to your basement to help lower heating and cooling costs by as much as $170 per year. Read
(New!)

Air Leaks in Your Basement? How to Spot and Seal Them

Seal air leaks in your basement to stop the loss of your home heating energy. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

January 13, 2011 Posted by dianasantos | Uncategorized, Winter, Home | Home, Winter, HouseLogic, Insulating | Leave a Comment

Winterize Your Home

Fall is a great time to winterize your home with the help of HGTVpro.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~ CLICK Here to View ~~~~~~~~~~~~

David Masters – Flickr.com

October 7, 2010 Posted by dianasantos | Fall, HGTV | Fall, HGTV, Home, Insulate, Winter, Winterize | Leave a Comment

Simple Soups from Food Network

Simple Soups from Food Network… Perfect to warm you this winter…

shygantic – Flickr.com

*************** CLICK Here for Recipes ***************

rusvaplauke – Flickr.com

January 16, 2010 Posted by dianasantos | Recipes, The Food Network, Uncategorized, Winter | Food, Food Network, Recipes, Soup, Winter | Leave a Comment

Baby it’s Cold Outside

“Baby It’s Cold Outside” – I totally agree!

Here is a music video with Jessica Simpson and Nich Lachey. I know it’s yester-year, but they were cute together and both have great voices. Enjoy!

December 21, 2009 Posted by dianasantos | Christmas, Music, Winter | Christmas, Cold, Holidays, Jessica Simpson, Music, Nick Lachey, Song, Video, Winter, You Tube | Leave a Comment

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

With the snow storm that has been pounding the Northeast and soon to hit New Fairfield, Connecticut ~ Make sure you have necessary supplies, keep safe and … Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Dean Martin ~ “Let it Snow!”

or a more recent video – “Let is Snow” by Jessica Simpson…

December 19, 2009 Posted by dianasantos | Christmas, Music, Snow, Uncategorized, Winter | Christmas, Dean Martin, Holiday, Music, Snow, Song, Winter, Yo Tube | Leave a Comment

Betty Crocker – Snowman Face Cake

Betty Crocker’s ~ Snowman Face Cake…

~~~~~~~~~~~~ CLICK Here for the Recipe ~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Micky – Flickr.com

December 19, 2009 Posted by dianasantos | Baking, Recipes, Uncategorized, Winter | Baking, Betty Crocker, Cake, Christmas, Food, Holidays, Recipe, Snowman, Winter | Leave a Comment

My Life as a Realtor – Day 110

My Life as a Realtor ~

Day 110:

Not a very busy day today – mostly catching up with e-mails and paper work since I was out all day yesterday. Still working on trying to get my clients closing to happen for this week – and getting all ready for an inspection tomorrow.

The weather is quickly changing – it’s cooler and windy – Fall is in the air with Winter on its heels – Oh, how I hate the cold. Although, it is nice living in the Northeast and being able to go through all 4 seasons. My least favorite being winter! Once the holidays are over – and the crisp, clean snow is just dirt and sand mush – and… we’ve hit over $2,000 in oil expense to heat our home - I’m DONE with Winter and long for Spring! Sorry – I’m just venting.

Well, again – Fall is here and Thanksgiving Day will be arriving soon. I’ve started planning my menu and I’d like to bake an Apple Cake. I think I may experiment with a few apples I have here…

SSPX0995

November 13, 2009 Posted by dianasantos | My Life as a Realtor, Uncategorized | Apples, Fall, Life, Realtor, Seasons, Thanksgiving, Winter | Leave a Comment

Another Snow Storm Hits New Fairfield, CT

When I was a nursery school teacher, we would always celebrate the month of March with arts of crafts in honor of March coming in like a lion, and going out like a lamb.

Well, March here in the New Fairfield, CT area – as well as the Brewster, NY area – has had a harsh reminder that winter is still here. As we are under a “Winter Storm Warning” and this being the most severe winter storm of the season with areas in New Jersey as well as Long Island seeing up to 13 inches of snow and NYC schools being closed for the first time in 5 years! I just can’t believe that after having so much snow melt, we have a fresh, clean blanket of it… yet again!

home-028 My deck after our last big snow storm

phone-pics-022 After all the snow melted… finally! Taken just a few hours before the storm hit.

home-001 Photo taken this morning… and the snow still continues to come down!

Yesterday, I prepared for this storm by making a trip to Shaw’s supermarket in New Fairfield to stock up on a few things. Then after showing a home in Croton Falls, NY – a hamlet of North Salem, I took advantage of being near Block Busters and went in to rent a movie. My daughter, Amanda, has been taking a cooking class in school and offered to make dinner last night - Chicken Fried Rice – Yummy! I asked her to start early, since we have experienced once before an electrical outage smack in the middle of making dinner! I also had her double the recipe so we could have leftovers that could always be warmed up over the fire in the fireplace.

freshly-cut-woods-no3rdw no3rdw – Flickr.com

We stocked up on wood for the fireplace, have pellets for the pellet stove, stored some water and have candles and matches on hand – again, just in case of the electric going out since the snow continues to come down and the wind is whipping everything around and is anticipated to continue through out the day and night bringing the temperatures in some areas 10 to 15 below zero!

Another important item that was on my list was to fill up the bird feeders. With all this snow, the birds and squirrels have so much difficulty finding food. As I work here at home today, I am entertained as I watch all the different birds come and go as they happily take sunflower seeds.

phone-pics-042 Bird taking a sunflower seed.

March 2, 2009 Posted by dianasantos | Brewster, New Fairfield, Snow, Uncategorized, Winter | Birds, Brewster, Croton Falls, Fireplace, March, New Fairfield, Snow, Storm, Winter, Wood | Leave a Comment

Clouds for a Wintery Mix in New Fairfield, CT & Brewster, NY

snow-clouds-ashoct28 ashoct28 – Flickr.com

Clouds are everywhere – where I live in New Fairfield, CT and where I work in Brewster, NY. We are due for a wintery mix – rain and snow which will then change over to ice. Although, I am pleased to say, that it doesn’t seem to stop my buyers who are looking to purchase a home.

winter-ice-takacsi75 takacsi75 – Flickr.com

and… as long as the driveways are plowed and walkways are clean to homes that we’re viewing – I’m good to go!

shoveling-girlinthecafe GIRLintheCAFE – Flickr.com

Viewing homes in the winter does have some advantages. You can see how cozy the house is – are there drafts – or possibly rooms that are poorly heated and/or insulated. Rooms can vary – for example those with vaulted ceilings hold all the heat high above. Simply installing fans to draw the heat down can help. Or, rooms that were once a porch and now enclosed, may need more insulation and so on.

enclosed-porch-plesantpointinn pleasantpointinn – Flickr.com

Also, while viewing the homes property in the winter, when all the leaves and shrubs are gone, helps to see the entire acreage – along with what is neighboring the property.

view-through-the-woods-lisa-sanderson

Lisa Sanderson – Flickr.com

So, I invite all those interested in going out to view homes – in the snow – ice – cold and wind!

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

January 7, 2009 Posted by dianasantos | Brewster, Buyers, Connecticut, First Time Home Buyers, Home, New Fairfield, NY, Snow, Southeast, Uncategorized, Winter | Brewster, Buyers, Clouds, Connecticut, Driveway, Heat, Homes, House, Ice, New Fairfield, NY, Plow, Porch, Property, Shovel, Snow, Storm, View, Walkway, Winter | Leave a Comment

Relaxing at Home

dutch-colonial-ikkoskinen ikkoskinen – Flickr.com

As I sit here in my den by the fireplace, writing another post for my Blog – which is turning out to be one of my favorite daily routines! I can’t help but think about all the comforts of a HOME. Being able to relax and enjoy homeownership is FABULOUS!

*clairity* – Flickr.com come-by-the-fire-clairity-w-2-stars-beg-and-end

During the winter especially, a HOME gives you warmth – and invites your family and friends during the Holidays.

dinning

A HOME is where memories are made and never forgotten. I still dream of my childhood HOME – over and over. I have friends and family that say the same – many of their dreams are also of their HOME, where they lived when they were a child.

alicepopkorn – Flickr.com dream-alicepopkorn

If taking steps toward HOMEOWNERSHIP is one of your NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS – talking to a mortgage broker is an important first step! I highly recommend Anthony Frascone – cell: 203-648-6713. He is licensed in New York and Connecticut and has similar family and work ethics as I do. GOOD LUCK and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

January 4, 2009 Posted by dianasantos | Blogging, Buyers, Connecticut, Finance, Home, Mortgage, NY, Uncategorized, Winter | Blog, Buy, Childhood, Comfort, Connecticut, Dream, Family, Fireplace, Friends, Holidays, Home, Homeownership, House, Mortgage, Mortgage Broker, New York, Purchase, relax, Warmth, Winter | Leave a Comment

Flickr Foto Fun Friday Post – SNOW!

Snow! Once again, it’s snowing today. So, I’ve chosen a few Flickr photos of beautiful SNOW!

snow-pine-clearly-ambiguous clearly ambiguous – Flickr.com

nagy David – Flickr.com

snowy-mountain-foto3116 foto3116 – Flickr.com

snowy-robin-foxypar4 foxypar4 – Flickr.com

picture-511

Snow on my driveway!

January 3, 2009 Posted by dianasantos | Flickr Foto Fun Friday Post, Fun Post, Snow, Uncategorized, Winter | Flickr, Friday, Photo, Snow, Snowing, Storm, Winter | Leave a Comment

It’s Snowing! Let’s Build a Snowman!

Here in Connecticut and New York, it’s been snowing and snowing AND SNOWING!! Perfect for making a snowman! So forget about just having an illuminated snowman…

snowman-activefree activefree – Flickr.com

Now you can make your own. So, get bundled up and go build a REAL SNOWMAN!

snowman-mgshelton MGShelton - Flickr.com

December 21, 2008 Posted by dianasantos | Christmas, Connecticut, Fun Post, NY, Snow, Uncategorized, Winter | Connecticut, Lights, New York, Snow, Snowman, Storm, Winter | 1 Comment

Thunder Ridge Skiing & Snowboarding Area

thunder-ridge

Thunder Ridge Skiing and Snowboarding Area – CLICK HERE FOR THEIR WEBSITE - is conveniently located on Route 22 in Patterson, NY on over 100 acres and approximately 75 minutes from NYC – or ride Metro North and pick up their FREE shuttle bus.

skidrd – Flickr.com ski-lift-skidrd

Thunder Ridgeis a family mountain with 30 trails, 3 chairlifts, a t-bar, a handtow and a magic carpet. There are slow and gentle slopes for skiers and snowboarders on all levels.

For more info call Thunder Ridge – 845-878-4100.

dirkgroeger – Flickr.com skiing-fun-dirkgroeger

December 10, 2008 Posted by dianasantos | Patterson, Putnam County, Snow, Uncategorized, Winter | New York, Patterson, Ski, Ski Lift, Skier, Skiing, Snow, Snowboard, Thunder Ridge, Winter | 1 Comment

It’s COLD Outside!

antaresjhw – Flickr.com

Boy is it COLD outside! Yesterday, I showed a home in Brookfield, CT – nice, cozy - warm cape. My clients took their time and checked everything out – the way viewing homes should be. Then we made our way into Danbury, CT- Brrrr!!! We viewed two Foreclosures – with no HEAT!! Both had been winterized so that the pipes wouldn’t freeze – too bad I did! By the second home, my toes and hands were numb and my nose was running – but I couldn’t feel it! I DON’T know how people work outdoors - like my husband.

Jonas B – Flickr.com

My state of mind says it’s only November and technically we are still in the Fall season – but – Mother Nature seems to want winter here – NOW! So, lesson learned for me – time to wear a winter coat – scarf – warm boots AND bring something warm to drink for me and my clients!

November 22, 2008 Posted by dianasantos | Brookfield, Buyers, Connecticut, Danbury, Uncategorized, Winter | Boots, Brookfield, Buyers, Coat, Coffee, Cold, Danbury, Fall, Foreclosure, Homes, Scarf, Showings, Winter, Winterized | Leave a Comment

Sprinkles Ice Cream Shop in New Fairfield, CT

Sprinkles Ice Cream Shop in New Fairfield, Connecticut is serving some great flavors - PUMPKIN – MAPLE /OREO - and – CINNAMON/APPLE/CARAMEL – YUM!

Sprinkles colors are Pink and Blue. My oldest daughter, Melissa, works there – making it convenient to her dorm in Danbury and home in New Fairfield.

Some other awesome popular flavors mostly for adults are: Coconut Mounds- Coconut ice cream with coconut flakes and chocolate chips – Matt’s Frapp- Kalua ice cream with brownies and Heath bar – Smores – Chocolate ice cream with graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate chips – Yum Yummy!!

Some kids favorites are: Party Cake, Blue Cloud and Cotton Candy.

Sprinkles is located on Route 39 just across from SHAWS Supermarket. They are open Wednesday’s through Sunday’s and will stay open during the winter – so go on over – after a game, to pick up a Birthday cake or to just treat yourself and make up your own favorite!

November 16, 2008 Posted by dianasantos | Connecticut, Fun Post, New Fairfield, Uncategorized, Winter | Connecticut, Danbury, Fun Post, Ice Cream, New Fairfield, Sprinkles, Treat, Winter | 1 Comment

GETTING TO KNOW ME

As a full time REALTOR in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties in NEW YORK – and Fairfield and parts of Litchfield counties in CONNECTICUT , I am very pleased to have the opportunity to share my passions on REAL ESTATE, FAMILY, PETS, anything and everything in and around a HOME – including COOKING, MOVIES, MUSIC and more!

I have been married for 25+ years to my wonderful husband Joe. We have 5 children – Melissa, David, Amanda, Sara and Jonathan. After waiting anxiously – for almost 17 years, being home with my kids for 10 and a Nursery school teacher for 7 years – I FINALLY became a Licensed Realtor – first in Connecticut - where my family and I live – and then in New York – where my office, Century 21 V.J.F. Realty is located.

I was born and raised in Mt. Vernon, New York. My parents, who came to the US from Portugal, were extremely hard working – with even stronger ethics on being good to everyone – everywhere – period! “Faz bem, nao olhes a quem.” This has been instilled in me all my life, which has made me the mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and the REALTOR I am today. Thank You Ma and Papa.