Ashley's Garden Update: July 2010

Hey there everyone! I bet you've been wondering what's the latest update with my garden? You haven't...well, I'm going to tell you anyways! LOL!

Most of my plants are doing very well although I'm sad to say that my cilantro plant died due to all the heavy rains that we had. It drowned from too much water in the pot. I wish I could plant things in the ground, where they do so much better!

Here are some pictures from my garden:

These are some yummy veggies that I picked: grape tomatoes, yellow banana peppers, sugar snap peas, and green beans!

These are my green beans that I made for dinner after just being picked! They were soooo good with some butter and breadcrumbs!

This is my lantana plant that has gotten huge! It's doing so well in the ground!

This is my garden in the back, which also does very well every year. The in-ground sprinklers hit it just right and when it rains, it really saturates the area back there!

This plant has grown into a huge bush!

Here's a jalapeno from my plant. I plan on making this jalapeno cheddar potato soup that my parents had on a cruise and the waiter gave them the recipe for...yum! (recipe to come soon I'm sure!! lol)

Here are some yellow banana peppers on my plant. I want to make a relish with these for Italian sub sandwiches.

Here are some green peppers from my plant. I also have red peppers, which start out looking exactly like this.

Well, I hope you like looking at my progress! Sorry I couldn't figure out how to flip my pictures I'm starting to look forward to mums in the fall and mini pumpkins! But mostly pumpkin spice lattes!

- Ashley

Recipe of the Month: Heavenly Chocolate Mousse

Hey there! You absolutely have to try my favorite recipe for chocolate mousse...it's so delicious! It takes a little work, but it's definitely worth it in the end! It's from my Betty Crocker Cookbook!

Ingredients:
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup (heavy) whipping cream
- 1 package (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup)
- 1 1/2 cups whipping (heavy) cream

Directions:
1. Beat egg yolks in small bowl with electric mixer on high speed about 3 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Gradually beat in sugar.
2. Heat 1 cup whipping cream in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat just until hot.
3. Gradually stir at least half of the hot cream into egg yolk mixture, then stir back into hot cream in saucepan. Cook over low heat about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens (do not boil).
4. Stir in chocolate chips until melted. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, just until chilled.
5. Beat 1 1/2 cups whipping cream in chilled medium bowl on high speed until stiff. Fold chocolate mixture into whipped cream. Pipe or spoon mixture into dessert dishes. Refrigerate until serving. Store covered in refrigerator.

Be ready to indulge yourself! Let me know if you make it...I'd love to know what you think!

- Ashley

New Affiliate Staging Company: Elle M Staging

Hey There!

I'm super excited to announce my new partnership with a local staging company servicing the Chicagoland area. They are called Elle M Staging and here is a word from them:

In today’s real estate market home staging is critical. A house on the market for too long not only loses dollar value but loses buyer interest. Don’t neglect the opportunity to get the most out of your largest investment!

Elle M Staging will set your house apart from comparable homes in your area and help avoid costly price reductions. 

In our initial consultation, we tour your house and present ideas and solutions to your most challenging spaces.

Through furniture placement, wall color, accessorizing, and more we will neutralize and bring alive your house.

Create that winning first impression so buyers can envision themselves living there!

Elle M Staging is now offering professional home staging in the Chicago land area.

Take advantage of our affordable services by contacting us today at:

708.805.6886 or ellemstaging@gmail.com

View us on the web at ellemstaging.com

I hope you'll take a minute to visit their website!

- Ashley

New Phone: Motorola Cliq XT powered by Android

So after having plenty of issues with my T-mobile MyTouch and 3 exchanges later, T-mobile finally decided to replace my phone with a different phone all together. They sent me a Motorola Cliq XT. So far, I'm not gonna lie, I really like the phone...even more than the MyTouch. The only problem that I'm having right now is that it's on the 1.5 version of Android and the MyTouch was on 1.6. On the 1.5 version of Android, there is no navigation in Google maps. Being a real estate agent, I used that navigation on my MyTouch like it was going out of style!

All in all, it's a pretty neat phone. Being an avid Facebook junky, I like that there are a lot of social media tools on this phone. When someone calls or I call them, the contact's Facebook picture shows up on the phone! I like this feature because people update their Facebook pictures frequently and so I will always have a current picture of someone in my phone! Another pretty sweet thing is that there are 5 screens as opposed to the MyTouch's 3 screens. I definitely will be filling those screens up with my favorite apps and widgets!

My only complaint is that my contacts transferred over strangely and it will take me a little bit of time to perfect them.

Anyways, I am hoping that this phone will allow me to be an even more efficient Realtor!

- Ashley

The Housing Market: Supply and Demand

Remember that dreaded economics class back in high school or college? Supply and demand? Well, hopefully you paid attention to your professor, because economics plays a large role in the housing market.

Remember that as the demand for something goes up and the supply goes down, the value and price go up? And likewise as the demand for something goes down and the supply goes up because there's more available, the value and price go down?

Now in terms of the housing market, as the supply of housing went up and the demand fell, the values and prices fell. Many people do not think of the housing market in this way. All sellers think that their house is worth more than they paid for it, which isn't always the case. Since there are fewer buyers out there nowadays, they truly have the upper-hand in most cases. Once demand for housing begins increasing, we will see the supply decrease and the value and prices will begin to rise.

Thinking of selling your home? At least we are in the prime summer months where showing activity is generally higher than other times of the year. Contact me today and I will share my marketing plan with you. When you list with me, you also get a free home staging consultation! Call or email me for more details! 708-307-9616 or sales@ashleywydra.com

- Ashley

Ready to List your Home?

Don't miss out on all the summer buyer activity! List with me and get a free home staging consultation, too!

There are two things that sell your home: being priced correctly and being marketed correctly. Get both when you list with me! I utilize an extensive online marketing campaign and share several comparable properties when pricing your home.

Let's get your home SOLD! Contact me today @ 708-307-9616 or sales@ashleywydra.com. Don't forget to visit my website http://www.ashleywydra.com/ to see my listings plus search through the entire MLS of available properties!

- Ashley

110 Sonoma Road, New Lenox, IL 60451