SCREEN APPEAL the new curb appeal
HI FRIENDS,
The leaves have started to fall in our yard and it seems like a constant battle of work, but I’m kind of giddy about it this year! I’vealways dreamed of raking up a huge pile and letting my daughter jump right in, and now we finally can! Also, did you know there are SO many good benefits for your yard to have the leaves mulched and fed back as fertilizer? Shred them for mulch, toss them in the compost for nutrient-rich soil, or layer them over bare garden spots as winter protection. Nature’s free fertilizer at its finest.
AND GUESS WHAT....Did you know this newsletter was handwritten by me?! Sure, I lean on AI for ideas sometimes (who doesn’t?), but every word here comes straight from me because I LOVE staying connected with you and feel it’s a chance to truly here what’s going on over here.
We all know curb appeal matters, MASSIVELY, but here’s the truth: in today’s market, screen appeal is king to even get the folks to the actual curb.
Most buyers are scrolling through listings on their phone before they ever drive by a house. If the photos don’t grab them, they’ll never schedule that showing, no matter how cute your porch looks in person.
Speaking of which…there’s a home for sale right here in my neighborhood that’s listed way above market value. The listing photos? Stunning. Total screen appeal. But when you drive by? Yikes. The beds are full of weeds, the sellers seem long gone, and that little bit of green algae you barely notice in the photos has grown into a big, glaring eyesore. I wish I could call that agent and say, “Hey, did you forget about this listing?!” The poor sellers probably have no idea. It’s the perfect example of why screen appeal can’t replace real curb appeal once buyers show up.
So, sellers: keep the yard tidy, keep the beds mulched, and touch up those little details the whole time your house is on the market. A great photographer + a cared-for exterior = thumbs up.
PLANT NOW, BLOOM LATER prime time for planting bulbs
Fall is prime time for planting bulbs so you’re not scrambling when the warm weather hits. I just raided Aldi and scored tulip, hyacinth, and daffodil bulbs for cheap—my husband is thrilled about another project on the list (ha!). In our area, the sweet spot for planting spring bloomers is September through November.
Pop those bulbs in now and come April you’ll be high-fiving yourself when the yard explodes with color.
QUICK HOME TIPS fall home checklist
OCTOBER HOME TIPS:
FIREPLACE CHECK: GET THAT FIREPLACE OR GAS LOGS CLEANED AND TUNED UP NOW, SO WHEN THAT FIRST CHILLY NIGHT HITS YOU’RE READY TO FLIP THE SWITCH. FOR US, WE ARE IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW GAS LOG SET TO REPLACE THE ONE IN OUR NEW HOUSE. I CAN’T WAIT TO BREAK IT IN ON THAT FIRST FALL CHILLY NIGHT!
CHANGE THOSE FILTERS: ALWAYS. EVERY FEW MONTHS AND EVEN MORE OFTEN IF YOU HAVE PETS. YOUR HVAC AND UTILITY BILL WILL THANK YOU.
FRESH AIR: CRACK THOSE WINDOWS ON A CRISP DAY FOR THAT UNBEATABLE FALL BREEZE. SOME OF THE MOST POLLUTED AIR IS THE AIR INSIDE OUR HOMES. IT’S STAGNANT AND UNFORTUNATELY CAN BE FILLED WITH VOCS AND OFF GASES FROM FRAGRANES, CLEANING CHEMICALS, SYNTHETIC FABRICS AND CHEAP OVERSEAS FURNITURE.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH pumpkin chili
SKIP THE PIE—TRY SAVORY PUMPKIN CHILI INSTEAD. ROAST FRESH PUMPKIN CUBES AND SIMMER THEM WITH BLACK BEANS, CHIPOTLE, AND A SQUEEZE OF LIME. COZY, HEARTY, AND A FUN TWIST ON A FALL CLASSIC. AND IF YOU’RE HUNTING FOR THE PERFECT PUMPKIN PATCH THIS SEASON, LET ME KNOW— I’VE GOT A RUNNING LIST OF THE BEST LOCAL SPOTS AND I’M HAPPY TO SHARE!
INGREDIENTS:
2 TBSP OLIVE OR AVOCADO OIL
1 MEDIUM ONION, DICED
3 CLOVES GARLIC, MINCED
1 RED BELL PEPPER, DICED
1 LB GROUND TURKEY OR BEEF (OR 2 CUPS COOKED LENTILS FOR VEGETARIAN)
1½ CUPS PEELED PUMPKIN, CUT INTO ½-INCH CUBES (FRESH OR PRE-CUT)
1 (15-OZ) CAN BLACK BEANS, DRAINED
1 (15-OZ) CAN KIDNEY BEANS, DRAINED
1 (28-OZ) CAN FIRE-ROASTED DICED TOMATOES
1 CUP LOW-SODIUM BROTH (CHICKEN OR VEGGIE)
1 TSP SMOKED PAPRIKA
1 TSP GROUND CUMIN
½ TSP CINNAMON
½ TSP CHIPOTLE CHILI POWDER (OR REGULAR CHILI POWDER FOR MILDER HEAT)
SALT & PEPPER TO TASTE
JUICE OF 1 LIME
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS: SLICED AVOCADO, CHOPPED CILANTRO, SHREDDED CHEESE, CRUSHED TORTILLA CHIPS
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. HEAT OIL IN A LARGE POT OVER MEDIUM HEAT. SAUTÉ ONION, GARLIC, AND BELL PEPPER FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES UNTIL SOFT.
2. ADD GROUND MEAT (IF USING) AND COOK UNTIL BROWNED.
3. STIR IN PUMPKIN CUBES AND ALL THE SPICES. COOK 2–3 MINUTES TO TOAST THE SEASONINGS.
4. POUR IN BEANS, TOMATOES, AND BROTH. BRING TO A SIMMER, THEN REDUCE HEAT TO LOW COVER AND COOK 25–30 MINUTES, UNTIL PUMPKIN IS TENDER AND FLAVORS ARE BLENDED
5. SQUEEZE IN LIME JUICE, TASTE, AND ADJUST SEASONING.
LOCAL PRODUCE fall farmers market must haves
AND WHAT WOULD THIS NEWSLETTER BE WITHOUT THE FEATURE OF WHAT LOCAL PRODUCE WE CAN LEAN INTO THIS MONTH?!
LOCAL PRODUCE TO LOVE THIS MONTH
FALL FARMER’S MARKETS ARE MY FAVORITE! I THINK I SAY THAT EVERY MONTH, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THESE WARM AND HEARTY FOODS THAT MAKE ME SO EXCITED TO EAT AND COOK HEARTY. HELLO EASY CRCOK POT MEALS! RIGHT NOW, THE STARS OF THE SEASON ARE PUMPKIN, SWEET POTATOES, BUTTERNUT AND ACORN SQUASH, APPLES, PEARS, HEARTY GREENS LIKE KALE AND COLLARDS, LATE-SEASON PEPPERS, CARROTS, AND BEETS.
LEANING INTO WHAT’S NATURALLY IN SEASON MEANS BETTER FLAVOR, MORE NUTRIENTS, AND OFTEN A BETTER PRICE TAG. PLUS, YOUR BODY NATURALLY CRAVES THE GROUNDING, NUTRIENT-DENSE FOODS THAT FALL BRINGS—THINK COZY SOUPS, ROASTED VEGGIES, AND WARM SPICES.
THAT’S ALL FOR THIS MONTH FOLKS! SO HERE’S TO LEAF PILES, FRESH AIR, AND HOMES THAT LOOK JUST AS GOOD IN PERSON AS THEY DO ONLINE.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, Courtney Houston
