Do you like Flea Markets?  If you do, you need to put this one on your calendar. On Saturday, August 21, the town of Wheaton, Illinois will be hosting an all night Flea Market. Yep. Last year this event brought in over 10,000 shoppers! They host it at the Dupage County Fairgrounds at 2015 W. Manchester Rd in Wheaton. Imagine six acres of sales! They have approximately 250 vendors along with costumed actors, magicians and food! Bring your flashlight and for more information: www. zurkopromotions.com .

If you are looking for a weekend trip, I have one that I highly recommend. Located in beautiful Princeton, Wisconsin, there flea market is considered Wisconsin’s Largest Weekly Outdoor Market. It opened in April and goes till October 16. There is no admission fee to get in, but be sure to bring some money because you will find plenty to buy. They have antiques of all types, garden items, artwork, flowers, fresh produce, cheese, sausages and honey.  My favorite things to buy are the Hot sugar and cinnamon mini donuts that are sold from a stand. Ummm. If you can’t find what you are looking for here, you probably don’t need it! They open at 6am and close about 1:30pm.

After the flea market is over, go into town and walk the charming downtown area with many stores that carry items that you have not seen before. Every year, my friends and I make a weekend trip. We stay in Green Lake and a visit to Princeton is always on our list of things to do.

Summer has arrived! School is over. The kids are back at home and they are already bored. Looking for something interesting to do with them? How about a drive in movie? Yep, we are fortunate to have one still in operation in the western suburbs! Cascade Drive in is located at 1100 E. North Avenue in West Chicago.  You can find out what is playing by going online to: www.cascadedrivein.com .

Grab the family; pack a cooler (you are allowed to bring food into the drive in) In fact, if you bring your own charcoal they even have grills for you to use in their picnic area!  If you want to be a big spender, they have a small snack bar where you can purchase burgers, popcorn and soda and rumor is after the first show they will sometimes drop the prices down to a dollar! Yes! They actually still have double features! Two shows for the price of one!

Cascade plays 50’s and 60’s music until the first show begins around 8:30. I can remember vividly going to the drive in with my family at the Harlem and Irving Drive-in in Harwood Heights. We would get into our pajamas before we went so my parents could carry us back into the house without waking us up.
We would go with our cousins and sit on the back of the station wagon watching the stars and sometimes even the movies! I am sure some of you have memories as well!

The prices are $8.75 for adults, kids (5-11) $4.75 and kids under 5 are free.  
One word of caution: They only take CASH! No checks or credit cards will be accepted.
The box office opens at 7pm and they are open seven days a week, rain or shine!

I hope you are enjoying these blogs; if you have something you would like me to blog about, give me a call at 630.730.8027.

As summer begins, I try to take advantage of all that our area offers. I call up a friend or two and try the many restaurants and events going on in the area. Here are this week’s offerings.

I took the opportunity to celebrate a friend’s birthday at breakfast the other day. Five of us tried the new Honey Jam which is located at 3000 Oak Grove Road in Downers Grove. They took over the old Bakers Square on Butterfield Road across from the Portillo’s. We were greeted warmly and although it was crowded, it only took a few minutes to seat us. I tried the Julian Benedict which was truly phenomenal. Our server was wonderful and gave us a Very Berry Waffle to share with the birthday girl. We actually were sitting next to Mr. Portillo who is the owner of this establishment. What a great guy! If you have something or someone to celebrate, I would recommend this new place.

Last Thursday night, I met a friend at Brio’s at 330 Yorktown Center in Lombard. We sat outside on their couches, had a glass of wine and enjoyed one of the first nights of summer. Our server suggested their $2.95 appetizer special that goes from 5-9pm. We both chose the quarter burger, I also had the eggplant and shrimp and my friend ordered the steak bruchetta. We were very surprised to find that we had misread the appetizer list and the quarter burger turned out to be a full sized burger quartered! It was way more than we expected. The service was wonderful, the ambiance is decadent and the appetizers were excellent.

Great Recipes To TRY If You Are Not Going Out

If you aren’t in the mood to go out, why not invite a few people over for lunch. It doesn’t have to be hard. The other day I was invited to a friend’s house for lunch and she had a wonderful salad that I have included below. She served it with iced tea, rolls and had a great cake that I will also include. Give it a try and let me know how you liked it.

Joanne’s Salad:
Mixed Greens
Thin Pear slices
Crumbled Blue Cheese
Walnut pieces
Cranberries
Grilled Chicken

She just tossed the hot chicken over the other cold ingredients, topped it with poppy seed dressing and served. Delicious.

Coconut Cake:
Prepared white cake mix
1 can of Coconut cream
Cool Whip
Coconut (bagged)

Simply prepare cake mix as directed. Poke holes in cake every 3 inches or so. Pour over the can of coconut cream, refrigerate. Prior to serving spread the cool whip over the cake and sprinkle coconut over entire cake. It looks as good as it takes. Perfect for a warm night’s lunch or dinner.

If you have an idea for my next blog, drop me an email at CarynKuhlman@att.net.

Lombard is a suburb that truly has something for everyone. Recently on a real estate tour, I concentrated on the $300-330,000 price range and was pleasantly surprised at what I found.

If you are just starting out or perhaps tired of the maintenance a house requires, a condominium or townhouse might be the answer for you. In Lombard today, you have a wide selection:
•   Built in 2005, this 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom town home has all the bells and whistles that you are craving. Stainless appliances, granite countertops, beautiful cabinetry, all located in the center of town.
•    Brand new condo located within walking distance to the train, this 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom condominiums that was gorgeous.
•    Located on the south side of Lombard, I found a 1900 square foot condo that has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a fireplace.

Now, if a condo or town home isn’t for you, there are many styles of single family residences to choose from.

•    A block away from Madison Meadows, you can find a four bedroom, 3 bathroom split level with an attached two car garage. The kitchen has been remodeled and the home is both sunny and spacious.
•    Built in 2000, this lovely ranch has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a first floor family room with fireplace and a finished basement.
•    A brick two story Georgian with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and an updated kitchen with hardwood floors and granite countertops.

You might also be interested in a brick two flat that is available. Each of the two units in the building has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. You could live in one and rent the other to a friend or family member.

Click on pictures to see larger images

As you can see, $300,000 in Lombard can give you much variety and bang for your buck. If you would like to see one of these homes, give me a call.

Many buyers are not aware that the interest rates that we have been seeing for many years are historically low. In 1985, when I purchased my first home the interest rate was at 12%. Today, you would be shocked if a lender offered you a mortgage rate that high. But as the economy grows, it may mean higher rates. Expect those low 4 and 5% interest rates to begin to rise soon.  Thirty year fixed rates may rise to 6% by December and 6.5% by the end of 2011.

Today, you have an unbelievable choice of housing to select from. Hundreds of good, solid homes are on the market at reasonable prices. Without a doubt, if you are a first time buyer and your credit and income are good, this is THE time to purchase.

Take a look at what is available on my website at: 123HomeSweetHome.com.

You can view homes for sale in Lombard as well as all other areas areas throughout Chicago and the Western Suburbs with no sign in required. Just browse and look at the opportunities out there.  And if you see something that you would like to see in person, just give me a call at 630.730.8027 and I would be happy to schedule an appointment for you.

House hunting is just like any other shopping expedition. If you identify exactly what you want and do some research, you’ll zoom in on the home you want at the best price. Here are a few tips for buyers.
1. Know thyself: Understand the type of home that suits your personality. Do you prefer a new or existing home? A ranch or a two story? If you want a fixer upper, do you have the $$ and the time? Start a Priority list of “Need”, “Want” and “Dreams”. Keep updating and deleting the list.

2. Get your finances in order: Generally, lenders say you can afford a home priced two to three times your gross income. Create a budget so you know how much you’re comfortable spending each month on housing. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to investigate financing.

Call Pat Cannone at Coldwell Banker Home Loans @630.962.6680 and tell him Caryn sent you. He will be able to tell you what you can afford and will offer you a FREE pre approval letter.

3. Research before you look: Begin your search by going to 123HomeSweetHome.com and use my FREE home search. You don’t have to even sign in. See what your price range has in the way of amenities. Can you actually get into the neighborhood you have always wanted? While you are there, check out my link for schools in the area.

4. Think long term: In today’s Real Estate environment, you need to be thinking in the long term. You should plan to be in your new home for at least six to seven years. Location is as important as it ever was, perhaps even more so today than ever before. Find an area you love and you can never go wrong. If you are not sure about what area would suit you, give me a call and I can help you narrow your search.

5.  Be realistic: It’s OK to be picky about the home and neighborhood you want, but don’t be close-minded, unrealistic, or blinded by minor imperfections. If you insist on living in a cul-de-sac, you may miss out on great homes on streets that are just as quiet and secluded. I once had a client who refused to see anything that had a blue house on the same block. True Story!

6. Find an agent you trust and Listen to their advice: It’s natural to seek reassurance when making a big financial decision. But you know that saying about too many cooks in the kitchen. If you need a second opinion, select one or two people. I recently had a client that missed out on his dream home because he didn’t believe there was a second offer and wanted to think about it. It was SOLD that night.

If you are just beginning your first home search or are in the market for your end house, I would love to work with you. Take a moment and see what my clients are saying about me on my website: 123HomeSweetHome.com.

Finally we have some good weather. This weekend we will go into our garage and begin to pull out the stuff we need to open up our pool. This is always a dreaded weekend, as I am sure I will find many extra things that really don’t belong in the garage. Sweatshirts my kids dropped as they left in the car, roller skates and sleds that we don’t use anymore, pictures, area rugs and lamps that I use for staging my listings.  What to do with all this extra stuff???

Answer: Garage Sale!

Just like Antique Road show, not all treasures are worth something. So, if you are planning a garage sale, start with three boxes. Mark them as 1. Good Stuff we don’t need any more. 2. Garbage and 3. Free Stuff (things nobody in their right mind would buy, but maybe take.) If it looks like you have enough for a garage sale, here are some tips.

The keys to a good garage sale are:

Advertising: Local newspapers are the best. Most have a special section reserved for garage sales. Letting people know in advance that you are having a garage sale will get those early birds out and at your sale first thing. Make sure you advertise by listing a few key, anchor items that will draw attention to potential garage sellers. Examples would be a dresser or tools. Unless you have baby clothes, don’t waste your time with adult sizes, take those to a co-signment shop.   Note: before you put up signage, check with your town or village as to their rules for garage sales. Many places need permits.

Pricing: If people wanted to pay retail or close to retail, they wouldn’t stop at a garage sale! The idea is to get rid of the stuff you don’t want, so you can go out and buy more! lol. Have early bird specials like take $1.00 off if you buy five items. Make your pricing realistic, if not cheap.

Ask a neighbor: If you don’t have enough stuff of your own, why not ask a neighbor or two to join you. This way you will attract more buyers and have someone to talk with while you work.

Call 1-800-775-Vets: You can have the American Veterans of America pick up everything you have left over on the following day. It’s even tax deductable.

Be Friendly: I know that sounds obvious but each person who comes to your garage sale should be considered a guest. I always have a huge jug of ice cold lemonade and offer it free to all who are shopping.

Don’t forget to give me a call at 630.730.8027 and I will be sure to stop by. : )

I would like to wish you all a very happy Mother’s Day. For many years, I would host a Mother’s Day Brunch and my siblings and family would join together to honor Mom. After everyone left, I would put on old jeans, get out my shovel and begin putting my annual flowers in and around my house. In the evening I would have a fabulous meal made by my husband and open the handmade gifts my children had made in school or scouts. It was always a beautiful day. I hope yours is too!

For those of you thinking of going the brunch route, I thought I would give you my menu:

The Menu

Quiche Lorraine
Fresh Cut up Fruit Kabobs
Muffins and Coffee Cake
Sausage and Bacon
Orange juice
Bloody Mary’s
Coffee

Quiche Lorraine

12 slices cooked bacon
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 ½ cup Half & Half
4 eggs
¾ tsp salt
¼ tsp sugar
1/8 tsp cayenne red pepper
1 deep dish pie crust

Heat oven to 425
Sauté onion until translucent. In medium bowl, mix eggs, half & half, salt, sugar and pepper. Add cooked bacon, onion and cheese. Place ingredients into pie crust and bake15minutes. Reduce heat to 300 for 30 – 40 minutes until brown. Let cool for ten minutes before serving.

It’s a tasty, easy brunch that can be made ahead of time. Note: If you don’t expect guests, please feel free to copy this and have the family bring it to you in bed. This is exactly what I think I will do this year!  Happy Mother’s Day.

Join the Best Looking Garden Challenge- Click on the picture to view a helpful video on how to start your vegetable garden

This year, I am planting a vegetable garden. I’m not a novice as I plant Tomatoes every year, but this year I am hoping to attempt more. I am blessed with a very large lot with amazing soil (at least for flowers) so I am excited to give a vegetable garden a try.

I would be interested in what you have planted in the past. I am planning on growing Tomatoes, lettuce, bell peppers, herbs, cucumbers and zucchinis as I use those weekly. Tomatoes need at least six to eight hours of sun a day to produce well — and full sun is best, especially in cooler, more northern climates like Lombard. Provide well-drained soil with a pH around 6.0 to 6.8. In our area,  plant in spring after frost danger is past.

Since I have always been competitive, how about a little contest? Send me a picture of the start of your vegetable garden and another at the peak of growing season and the one with the best looking garden will win a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Home Depot.  You can send them to Caryn.Kuhlman@cbexchange.com.  or give me a call at 630-730-8027 and I would be happy to stop by and take the picture for you. Good Luck and happy planting.

Oh, one other suggestion, I found a video that may help you with planting a vegetable garden. Starting a Vegetable Garden Video

]]> http://www.lombardareahomes.com/blog/may-the-best-garden-win.html/feed 0 http://www.lombardareahomes.com/blog/the-art-in-the-park-festival-in-elmhurst.html http://www.lombardareahomes.com/blog/the-art-in-the-park-festival-in-elmhurst.html#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 02:35:39 +0000 Caryn Kuhlman http://www.lombardareahomes.com/blog/?p=118 Out and About in Elmhurst

The weather forecast for this weekend looks good. So why not join my husband and I and spend a few hours this weekend at the “ART OFF THE PARK” on the grounds of the Elmhurst Art Museum at 150 Cottage Hill Avenue, north of Wilder Park in Elmhurst.

This marks the 14th Annual Art in the Park juried show of fine art, craft and design and takes place Saturday and Sunday this weekend. The Art in the Park festival, produced by RGL Marketing for the Arts, Inc., is a wonderful place to find unique handcrafted jewelry, paintings, ceramics, photography, sculpture, furniture, glass, mixed media and fiber art selections. Discover one-of-a-kind gifts for Mother’s Day, graduations, birthdays and springtime celebrations.

There will be 110 outstanding artists exhibiting at this exciting weekend-long event with live entertainment and an assortment of food for sale by select vendors.

The 4th annual Raku in the Parking Lot will take place with artist Ken Nance. For only $15, visitors will be able to have their own piece of this centuries-old, Japanese pottery form. Pick a pot to glaze and watch as the piece is fired in a gas-fueled kiln and transferred into a metal can full of sawdust and excelsior where a magical transformation occurs. All creations will go home that day!

Elmhurst Art Museum will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on May 1 and May 2 in conjunction with the festival, and will be free of charge. Special children’s activities will be provided by Elmhurst Art Museum from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.

I will be looking forward to seeing you there.