Well it is mid December and I have no tree up….presents that have not been mailed to out-of-town loved ones…and no food in the house….my family arrives shortly…..one week to go…..and I know that somehow it will all come together. It always does.

If only the real estate market worked like that. It is all about the planning and the constant work on a project (each house sale and house purchase is a project). November & December are always a bit slower for us in showing and listing homes and this is the time that we use for planning and preparing our new marketing materials for the upcoming year. So, while my Christmas presents and decorating are certainly not all done, I DO have marketing plans in place for 2017, new ideas for our listings to help them get the best price and sell quickly and client events planned for the year! Stay tuned to our website and your email for any updates on events.

Merry Christmas!

Listing Spotlight: 30 Friendly Crescent, Stittsville

Okay so while it is still December and it is a “tis the season” atmosphere, we all know what is coming….New Year’s! And along with the beginning of the New Year we all, either publicly or internally, make certain resolutions about what the next year will look like for us. Often these New Year’s resolutions revolve around health and fitness and I know mine will definitely include those items this year. In fact, I have already started playing badminton once a week at the Goulbourn Rec Centre…yes…badminton. It is SO much fun!

The Goulbourn Rec Centre is around the corner from our listing at 30 Friendly Crescent…in fact, it is walkable and most definitely very bikeable to get to, especially in the warmer months. What I didn’t know until recently was the wide variety of programs that the rec centre offers. Below are just a few options:

aqua fit
cycling and spin classes
boot camp classes
swimming including children’s lessons, pre-natal, lane swims and public swims
all types of yoga
exercise classes
badminton
skating
MORE, MORE, MORE

View the full schedule HERE.

The other pluses of our listing at 30 Friendly are its own inground pool during the warmer months with stamped concrete surround, hot tub and slide! The spacious home is stunning….so much space for your family and extended family. Enjoy the layout by making it work best for you….use the main floor den with 3 piece bathroom as a bedroom or as a home office. Use the two lower level bedrooms as a games room and den…or use all 6 bedrooms as they are for your large family. So many options!

View all the highlights HERE.

Recipe of the Month: Singapore Noodles

A recipe for all of that leftover turkey! This is one of my favourite ways to use it up and it is great for gluten sensitive people too. Though the recipe calls for pork, I use turkey, shrimp, chicken or whatever happens to be hanging around. Enjoy!

1/4 cooking oil with a bit of sesame oil incorporated for flavour

4-6 garlic cloves, minced

2 Tbsp slivered ginger

2.5 L water

1 Tbsp cooking oil

2 tsp salt

4-6 vermicelli nests

2 cups cooked meat, fish or whatever you are using

1/3 cup green onions, sliced

2 tsp crushed red pepper

1/4 cup oyster sauce

2 Tbsp curry powder

2 tsp soy sauce

Heat first amount of cooking oil in a wok or frying pan. Add garlic and ginger and cook until tender.

Heat water, second amount of cooking oil and salt in large saucepan until boiling. Add vermicelli. Make sure nests are covered with water. Turn off heat and let stand.

Add meat, green onion and red pepper to wok and stir fry until hot. Add oyster sauce, curry powder and soy sauce. Stir and toss well to mix thoroughly. Drain noodles and add to the wok and toss.

New Find: Google Timelapse

Carole recently discovered yet another amazing Google tool…Google Timelapse! This “zoomable video” allows you to search anywhere on the globe and you are given a video of how that spot has changed in the last 32 years. Google has put some of their highlights on You Tube HERE. We think it’s really neat to see how our own city has changed.

Happening this December in Ottawa: Vernissage at the Cube Gallery

Running for the whole month of December, at the Cube Gallery, is a vernissage Great BIG Smalls XI. This is the eleventh year for this exhibition and this year they are featuring over 50 artists’ “small works with BIG heart”. One of these artists is our dear friend, client and supporter Peggy Hughes. Ending on January 3rd, there is still time to stop by and view these wonderful pieces, it is a great spot to get some last minute gifts OR treat yourself and start your own art collection. Runs every evening from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm. Located at 1285 Wellington Street West in Westboro.

Upcoming Events!

We had some fantastic events during 2016 including delectable Tasting Ottawa events and fun Discovering Ottawa events. Our last two with Grace in the Kitchen and Carp Garden Centre this fall and winter were fantastic. Read about them HERE and HERE. And be sure to stay tuned to the website and Facebook for upcoming events in 2017! We will have our annual Pot Planting and Wreath Making with Carp Garden Centre, our evening with Grace in the Kitchen, lots of Tasting Ottawa events and we are working on a few surprises as well. You will not want to miss out!