go
Couer d’Alene, ID
UNCONVENTIONAL CONVENTIONS
low
O
nce upon a time, fan conventions (or simply “cons” for those in the know) were only a thing for Star Trek “Trekkie” fans and nerdy comic book megafans. But these days, there’s a convention for every type of groupie out there, from movies and books to video games and superheroes. Seems as if they are popping up all over … all you have to do is pick one you’re passionate about and hit the road.
W
ant to love your landscape … without all the hassle, high water bills, and harm to our planet’s natural resources? Try these steps to make your yard’s landscaping compatible with your unique natural environment.
Coeur d’Alene area is surrounded by dozens of lakes left behind by the glaciers from the ice age. There are more than 55 lakes within easy driving distance of Coeur d’Alene, but none more scenic and full of activities than Lake Coeur d’Alene itself. There is something magical about Lake Coeur d’Alene that’s hard to define, but begins with the spectacular North Idaho sunsets and moonrises, the plunge of an osprey after a fish, the glowing lights of downtown Coeur d’Alene reflecting across its waters at night. The perfect place to plan your next vacation and activities. Source: CoeurdAlene.org
If you live in a high-heat and drought-prone region of the country, you no doubt have watering restrictions for your abode. In other words, big green lawns are definitely not in your future. Your best bet for a sustainable landscape is minimizing your green areas and being selective with your plantings. The best way to achieve this? Use hardscape products and stone and mulch as the basis of your landscape, minimizing thirsty grassy areas. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have anything living in your yard … it just means choosing drought-tolerant and native plants, the basis of xeriscape landscaping. Before planting, it’s wise to amend your soil with humus (manure, compost, and wood chips are good examples) to ensure it retains moisture and helps ensure good drainage. So be sure to choose drought-tolerant plants, examples of which include ornamental grasses and perennials such as yarrow, sage, columbine, lavender, hyssop, sedum, and purple cornflower. These beautiful perennials will return to bloom in your garden season after season without excessive watering. Keep your eyes open when you go for a hike and you may just see these blooms popping up organically in the wild. This simpatico relationship is what makes using these same plants in your yard so easy and so successful. Of course, you will have to water these plants a bit and that’s where strategically placed drip irrigation comes in. By getting the water directly to the root of the plant you minimize waste and give your plants just what they need in the process. Another way to save H2O? Get a rain barrel that can catch all those drips and drops and you can wisely channel that runoff directly where it needs to go most—to your plants. Best of all, this water is free! Some pricier systems do attach directly to your drop irrigation but there are less costly versions available for all budgets.
By using xeriscape plants and principles in your landscaping you will have a yard that will look as good as you will feel about using eco-friendly gardening designs. And with the low-maintenance yard you’ve created, you’ll have more time to do the things you love to do on your precious weekends. Enjoy!
LIFEWISE
The most famous con, of course, is San Diego Comic-Con International. This cross section of superheroes, celebrities, and comic book geeks attracts more than a hundred thousand groupies every year who for four days revel in everything comicrelated. A more family-friendly and smaller version is Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, perfect for those new to the whole com-con scene. This event has attracted big names such as Patrick Stewart and Gillian Anderson in the past, so it’s full of sci-fi excitement. Similar in style and scope are the numerous anime (Japanese animation) conventions where fans gather to get all the latest news and memorabilia related to their shared love of Japanese comics and film. The big ones to check out: Anime Expo in LA and Sakura-Con in Seattle.
FLAVORFUL
TRAVEL TIME
Gaming cons are numerous and perhaps the most in demand of late. Many gaming conventions allow attendees to play new games before they are even released, a real rush for intense gamers. For gamers looking to kick it old school, there are even conventions for “table-top” gaming, you know, the old kind that involves board games and card games, as well as role playing games (think Dungeons and Dragons). If that sounds like your thing, check out GoPlay Northwest and Gen Con, two of the bigger ones. Kids can’t be left out of the con craze either. In fact, the younger set may be familiar with MineCon, the convention where Minecraft fans gather for everything related to mobs and creepers. There’s also the Star Wars Celebration where fans of Luke and Leia can meet movie stars, see sneak previews of upcoming releases, and snatch up some exclusive Star Wars merch. Not to be missed if you’re a J.K. Rowling fan? LeakyCon, a Harry Potter convention for those obsessed with witchcraft and wizardry. Toy conventions and Lego conventions are also fun for children of all ages. Whatever you are into, there is a gathering of like-minded people to hang with and enjoy your passions.
Texas Red Chili INGREDIENTS 4 lbs 1/3 tsp 2 c 2 tbl 1/2 c 1 5/8 tbsp 1 1/2 tsp
ground beef brisket salt diced onion minced garlic chili powder paprika whole oregano
1 1/2 tsp 5/8 tsp 5/8 tsp 1 3/4 c 2 1/2 c 3 1/4 tbsp 1 tbsp
whole cumin cayenne Tabasco sauce beer tomato sauce corn flour crushed red pepper flakes
DIRECTIONS Soak all spices in beer for 30 minutes. Brown meat with salt and then skim fat. Add onion and garlic, then simmer for 30 minutes. Add spices and tomato sauce, then simmer on very low heat for 3 hours. Skim grease as necessary. Add corn flour mixed with 4 cups of water and simmer for 15 minutes.
TexAzGrill.com
go
Couer d’Alene, ID
UNCONVENTIONAL CONVENTIONS
low
O
nce upon a time, fan conventions (or simply “cons” for those in the know) were only a thing for Star Trek “Trekkie” fans and nerdy comic book megafans. But these days, there’s a convention for every type of groupie out there, from movies and books to video games and superheroes. Seems as if they are popping up all over … all you have to do is pick one you’re passionate about and hit the road.
W
ant to love your landscape … without all the hassle, high water bills, and harm to our planet’s natural resources? Try these steps to make your yard’s landscaping compatible with your unique natural environment.
Coeur d’Alene area is surrounded by dozens of lakes left behind by the glaciers from the ice age. There are more than 55 lakes within easy driving distance of Coeur d’Alene, but none more scenic and full of activities than Lake Coeur d’Alene itself. There is something magical about Lake Coeur d’Alene that’s hard to define, but begins with the spectacular North Idaho sunsets and moonrises, the plunge of an osprey after a fish, the glowing lights of downtown Coeur d’Alene reflecting across its waters at night. The perfect place to plan your next vacation and activities. Source: CoeurdAlene.org
If you live in a high-heat and drought-prone region of the country, you no doubt have watering restrictions for your abode. In other words, big green lawns are definitely not in your future. Your best bet for a sustainable landscape is minimizing your green areas and being selective with your plantings. The best way to achieve this? Use hardscape products and stone and mulch as the basis of your landscape, minimizing thirsty grassy areas. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have anything living in your yard … it just means choosing drought-tolerant and native plants, the basis of xeriscape landscaping. Before planting, it’s wise to amend your soil with humus (manure, compost, and wood chips are good examples) to ensure it retains moisture and helps ensure good drainage. So be sure to choose drought-tolerant plants, examples of which include ornamental grasses and perennials such as yarrow, sage, columbine, lavender, hyssop, sedum, and purple cornflower. These beautiful perennials will return to bloom in your garden season after season without excessive watering. Keep your eyes open when you go for a hike and you may just see these blooms popping up organically in the wild. This simpatico relationship is what makes using these same plants in your yard so easy and so successful. Of course, you will have to water these plants a bit and that’s where strategically placed drip irrigation comes in. By getting the water directly to the root of the plant you minimize waste and give your plants just what they need in the process. Another way to save H2O? Get a rain barrel that can catch all those drips and drops and you can wisely channel that runoff directly where it needs to go most—to your plants. Best of all, this water is free! Some pricier systems do attach directly to your drop irrigation but there are less costly versions available for all budgets.
By using xeriscape plants and principles in your landscaping you will have a yard that will look as good as you will feel about using eco-friendly gardening designs. And with the low-maintenance yard you’ve created, you’ll have more time to do the things you love to do on your precious weekends. Enjoy!
LIFEWISE
The most famous con, of course, is San Diego Comic-Con International. This cross section of superheroes, celebrities, and comic book geeks attracts more than a hundred thousand groupies every year who for four days revel in everything comicrelated. A more family-friendly and smaller version is Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, perfect for those new to the whole com-con scene. This event has attracted big names such as Patrick Stewart and Gillian Anderson in the past, so it’s full of sci-fi excitement. Similar in style and scope are the numerous anime (Japanese animation) conventions where fans gather to get all the latest news and memorabilia related to their shared love of Japanese comics and film. The big ones to check out: Anime Expo in LA and Sakura-Con in Seattle.
FLAVORFUL
TRAVEL TIME
Gaming cons are numerous and perhaps the most in demand of late. Many gaming conventions allow attendees to play new games before they are even released, a real rush for intense gamers. For gamers looking to kick it old school, there are even conventions for “table-top” gaming, you know, the old kind that involves board games and card games, as well as role playing games (think Dungeons and Dragons). If that sounds like your thing, check out GoPlay Northwest and Gen Con, two of the bigger ones. Kids can’t be left out of the con craze either. In fact, the younger set may be familiar with MineCon, the convention where Minecraft fans gather for everything related to mobs and creepers. There’s also the Star Wars Celebration where fans of Luke and Leia can meet movie stars, see sneak previews of upcoming releases, and snatch up some exclusive Star Wars merch. Not to be missed if you’re a J.K. Rowling fan? LeakyCon, a Harry Potter convention for those obsessed with witchcraft and wizardry. Toy conventions and Lego conventions are also fun for children of all ages. Whatever you are into, there is a gathering of like-minded people to hang with and enjoy your passions.
Texas Red Chili INGREDIENTS 4 lbs 1/3 tsp 2 c 2 tbl 1/2 c 1 5/8 tbsp 1 1/2 tsp
ground beef brisket salt diced onion minced garlic chili powder paprika whole oregano
1 1/2 tsp 5/8 tsp 5/8 tsp 1 3/4 c 2 1/2 c 3 1/4 tbsp 1 tbsp
whole cumin cayenne Tabasco sauce beer tomato sauce corn flour crushed red pepper flakes
DIRECTIONS Soak all spices in beer for 30 minutes. Brown meat with salt and then skim fat. Add onion and garlic, then simmer for 30 minutes. Add spices and tomato sauce, then simmer on very low heat for 3 hours. Skim grease as necessary. Add corn flour mixed with 4 cups of water and simmer for 15 minutes.
TexAzGrill.com
About Joalice
T
he cold Chicago weather brought Joalice Ryan and her family to the Valley of the Sun with enthusiasm! A successful business owner for many years back in Illinois, Joalice offers her Arizona clients entrepreneurial skills that bring success to buying and selling real estate. Skills such as: attention to detail, commitment to follow through, organization, excellent negotiation tactics and people-savvy demeanor to name a few. Joalice pours her heart into every home transaction and it shows in the results and exceeded expectations of her clients. “Listening is key,” says Joalice. “Every home buying or selling experience has a thousand unique details and it’s my job to orchestrate all of them in a way that achieves my client’s goals. As an agent, I offer a full concierge service in getting the home show ready.” Specializing in luxury properties in the Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, North Phoenix and Fountain Hills areas, Joalice has joined Realty One Group as a full service REALTOR®. She earned a Masters in Occupational Therapy from Midwestern University and is married with two children, ages six and eight. She, family and golden retriever love to be outdoors, hiking, four-wheeling and exploring the AZ sights. Nothing satisfies me more than seeing the smiles that come with a successful real estate transaction. Thanks again for considering me as your Realtor.
About Veronica
V
eronica was born in Mt Morris Michigan just outside of Flint. After toughing it out in the mid-west for 26 years it was time for a change. She moved to Arizona in the summer of 1998. She has been a licensed real estate agent since 2005. Veronica has been blessed with three beautiful children and they have lived in the North Scottsdale and Desert Ridge area for the last 15 years. Veronica is an agent who brings a strategic yet personable approach to the home buying and selling experience. She has build a reputation on her refreshingly friendly customer care and proven ability to guide buyers and obtaining the best value for their dream home. Her straight forward approach has benefitted her in assisting sellers to a smooth, stress-free sale of their home. She has extensive knowledge of the Phoenix Metro area along with Cave Creek, Carefree, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and East valley neighborhoods. She specializes in home buying and selling, investment properties, luxury homes, and multi-unit residential properties. She brings her passion and attention to detail to support buyers in a highly focused search for their new home. Her patient and methodical approach has proven to help sellers get the most value for their money. As an experienced agent, Veronica understands that buying and selling is one of the biggest decisions in a persons life and views representation and guidance of her clients through this process as not only as a huge responsibility but a true privilege. Clients want someone they can trust, someone who can complete their transaction and someone who they want to spend time with. She thoroughly loves her work, enjoys the fantastic people she meets every day and is lucky enough to call some of them her neighbors and friends. Veronica always wanted to build a beautiful home and once she created that for my family she realized that she had a real passion for real estate and wants to help others realize their dream of home ownership.
HIGH-ENERGY PROFESSIONALS WHO GET THE JOB DONE
Joalice Ryan
Veronica Miller
480.244.0055
480.236.7061
Joalice.Ryan@gmail.com www.JoaliceRyan.com
VeronicaMiller1989@gmail.com www.VeronicaSellsAZ.com
CALL JOALICE AND VERONICA TODAY IF YOU ARE THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING YOUR HOME If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.
Produced by DLP Marketing • (480)460-0996 • DLPmarketing.com