bbq

Autumn is almost upon us, and almost as soon as it launches itself (that would be September 22 – for those who keep track of these things) – our New Home Resource team is going to be taking to the street in support of Las Vegas pets who need our help!

More specifically, we’re super-jazzed about the upcoming “Pedal 4 Pooches” event that comes around every year – thanks to a couple of devoted, local animal lovers who work hard to make it happen.

This annual bicycle ride takes place every fall around this time – and this year, it will all happen on Saturday, October 1. Starting at 8:00am, enthusiastic supporters (like all of us pet-lovin’ New Home Resource folks!) will take to the Henderson roads on our bicycles to help bring awareness to the plight of homeless pets in our valley – and to raise funds and accept donations that are sorely needed.

Hosted by local pet-lovers Barry and Karen Lasko (and you can check out the Facebook event here) – “Pedal 4 Pooches” invites everyone – riders and non-riders alike – to bring their donations of pet food, blankets, beds, towels, etc. – all of which will be given to local animal charities. And as we all know, animal rescue organizations are always in need of monetary assistance to provide medical and other care for their charges – so any donations of funds will be passed on in their entirety, as well.

We’re excited to take part in – and help share the news – about this fun, family-friendly event that brings together people for a wonderful common cause, gets us all outdoors and moving in this great autumn Las Vegas weather, and to icing on the cake is: the event all wraps up with a BBQ at the Lasko’s home. (Fun, friends, family, and food – the most important “Four F’s” ever!)

Pets play a major role in our lives, as shown by decades of scientific study that confirm their importance to our physical and mental health, our sense of well-being, and even to banish loneliness. Not that we need the research to convince us – because our pets have been saving our sanity and bringing us joy and happiness for, well, Ever!

Their unconditional love is, unfortunately, not always reciprocated. There are so many pets in need here in Las Vegas, that helping to lighten that burden and bring awareness of their needs to our community is of particular importance to everyone at New Home Resource.

So we invite you to join us on October 1 – and if you’d like to play an important role in helping homeless animals, too – contact our office at (702) 365-1000 to find out how you can participate in the ride, make a donation, or maybe even do just a little bit more! Remember – all those furry little paws are counting on you! ☺

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide just the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or at www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

For many people, a pet is a constant source of happiness, affection, and joy. It’s a scientific fact, actually, that pets are good for our physical health and our emotional well-being!

So is it any surprise that this source of unconditional love and devotion inspires us to strive harder to become the person they think we already are? Seriously, though – would you trade for anything, that moment at the end of a difficult day when you’re greeted at the door with a wagging tail and a happy face? For us, it’s like our own little slice of heaven on Earth, because they mean the world to us.

Sadly, though, we recognize that not every animal has it as good as the ones we have at home. That’s why at New Home Resource, among the several non-profit organizations we volunteer our time, effort, and funds to throughout the year, helping local animal rescue organizations is high on that list, too.

One of those events is coming up on October 1, and the New Home Resource family is excited to participate in this one yet again! It’s called “Pedal 4 Pooches”– an annual bicycle ride event that takes place in Henderson and is hosted by local pet-lovers Barry and Karen Lasko. (You can check out the Facebook event here!)

Enthusiastic supporters (like us!) will be ready to hit the bike trail at 8:00am on Saturday, October 1 in this fun, family-friendly event that wraps up with a BBQ at the Lasko’s home. Everyone is invited to bring their donations of pet food, blankets, beds, towels, etc. to be given to local animal charities – riders and non-riders alike.   And as we all know, animal rescue organizations are always in need of monetary assistance to provide medical and other care for their charges – so any donations of funds will be passed on in their entirety, as well.

There’s nothing better than working with people who care. And we’re not just talking about people who do their job well and treat clients with respect while delivering superb service (although those are things that every New Home Resource agent and employee does daily!).

We (thankfully!) all have a life outside of our ‘day jobs,’ and we all have particular causes that are dear to our hearts. So we love it when we can come together as a team to help focus attention on important causes in Las Vegas, because this is our home – and finding ways to make it better, well, it just seems to be part of our VegasDNA.

If you’d like to play an important role in helping homeless animals, too – contact our office at (702) 365-1000 to find out how you can participate in the ride, making a donation, or maybe even do just a little bit more.   We’re counting on you ☺

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with all of their Las Vegas real estate needs. Whether your preference is for property management, a newly built home from a local builder, or a resale property in just the right location, a New Home Resource Realtor® is here to provide just the service you’re looking for. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or at www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

Summer has arrived, and with it all the desire to ramp up our outdoor socializing. What better way to do that than with an event centered around your own backyard BBQ? With Memorial Day and the 4th of July fast approaching, it’s time for family and friends to gather, kick back, and catch up with everyone’s goings-on these past few months. And that’s all the more reason that this is the perfect time to perform your ‘Gas BBQ Due Diligence” checkup (hey, we’re Realtors, after all!) – as the last thing you want are safety concerns, or (gack!) last season’s flavors mucking up the taste of this summer’s new grilling creations.

So we’ve gathered together a few tips for you to get your BBQ on the straight and narrow to make sure that your great char-broiled dishes are always the star of the show.

1. Safety First.

You can easily check that the connections of your gas line are sealed and secure by mixing a small amount of dishwashing liquid with water in a spray bottle. (Remember how they check your tires for leaks at the mechanic’s shop? Same concept.) With the hose from the BBQ connected to the fuel supply (propane tank or gas line) – spray the hose and connections, then turn on the gas. If bubbles begin to appear, a repair is needed. Either replace the hose or tighten any loose connections.

2. Safety Second.

Really – can you be too safe? We don’t think so. If you turn on the grill and your flame is yellow instead of blue, you could have some clogged air inlets or obstructions in the tubes or lines that feed your BBQ’s flame. It’s not uncommon for spiders and small insects to build nests in these areas, which can cause blockages and make grills difficult to ignite – plus make the flame uneven and dangerous. (We doubt it does a whole lot of good for the insects, either.) Find the obstructions and clear them with a pipe cleaner or similar tool. Then, to coin a phrase – Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Test your flame. Then keep testing it until it is steady and blue.

3. Get Rid of the “Old Stuff.”

It’s not our favorite thing to do, either, but there’s no getting around it. It’s time to clean those grates! Just don’t use soap on that fabulous culinary device (nothing like a Dawn-flavored steak. blech!). Instead, start by loosening the caked-on grime by soaking them in a pan filled with a mixture of water and white vinegar. Afterwards, this is where the elbow grease comes in. (There’s a reason they’ve got all those stiff brushes at Home Depot and Lowe’s for this purpose, because that’s what’s needed for a job this tough!) For porcelain-coated grates, you’ll want to use a nylon brush; for others, a stiff wire model will do the job well.

4. Get Ready for the Next Great BBQ! (isn’t that a reality show?)

Okay – the fuel source is secure, the grills are clean – and you’re about ready to whip out that BBQ apron you just had to have, along your gold-plated BBQ tongs. (Okay – maybe that last part is just us.) But if you’re a BBQ Master, you’ve got the tools and you’re ready to go . . . after one last step: Oil those grates. Create some ‘pads’ out of a few folded paper towels, dip them into a bowl of neutral-flavored oil (like Canola) – then drag the pads across your heated grates. Your next awesome meal off the grill will thank you.

We’re not even going to get into the “my-BBQ-recipe-is-better-than-yours’ debate. (We can’t afford to pay off the judges this month.) But just a few more tips about – did we mention it before? – Safety, while operating your grill:

• Place the grill at least 10 feet away from your home.

• Keep children at a safe distance from the grill (and make sure your lighter is secure, too!).

• Never light a BBQ inside – even in a garage with the door open. Not only is it a fire hazard, but it can also cause high levels of carbon monoxide in a short period of time.

• Open the grill lid before you light it.

• Never leave a grill unattended.

• For blowing sparks, keep a hose or have a fire extinguisher handy.

• For a grease fire, know where your baking soda is – because that’s what you’ll need to put out the flames (not water!).

Give us a shout when you’ve got all of your pre-BBQ preparation done – and let us know when the next party starts – because all of us at New Home Resource are true BBQ fans, too!

New Home Resource helps current and future homeowners with their Las Vegas real estate needs. Please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000 or at www.newhomeresource.com. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, Lance Partin and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

Memorial Day is usually spent watching the latest blockbuster film, but it is also a great time of year to get outside and celebrate the nice weather.  Depending on where you live you may be able to plan a traditional picnic with blanket and basket, or maybe just bring the idea of summer inside.   But either way, planning a Memorial Day picnic is a great way for you to spend the first long weekend of the season with family and friends.  Here are some great and fun menu ideas for your holiday picnic as well as some tips for giving it a Memorial Day theme!

Food & Drink!

When planning any menu,  it is always important to balance taste and nutrition.  It is also important to a have a theme and, since this is a Memorial Day picnic, choosing menu items that are simple to prepare and eat outdoors, as well as All-American, is your best bet.  Things like burgers and hotdogs are great for backyard picnics.  Fried chicken is another great main course idea, but if you want something more portable,  a hero sandwich is an easy choice.

To complete your meal, items like potato salad, garden salads, and coleslaw are inexpensive and easy to prepare sides, but if you are looking to get more creative,  then consider a nice pasta salad or a seven-layer dip.  Lastly, don’t forget dessert!  Staples like apple pie, brownies, or cookies are all great and easy choices.

For drinks you’ll want to provide several choices and some non-alcoholic beverages to make all your guests happy.  Lemonade and other fruit-based drinks will make the kids happy and are also great mixers.

Decoration Ideas

The easiest way to decorate for your Memorial Day picnic is to use red, white, and blue.  Set your picnic table with a blue tablecloth or blanket and add red and white napkins, plates, and cutlery.  You can also continue this theme by adding an arrangement of red, white, and blue carnations or other flowers, and add a few small flags to give it that finished look.

Memorial Day is a great time of year to host a party for family and friends, and these ideas can help you get your summer season started with a fun and inexpensive picnic.

Penny Womack, REALTOR®, ABR, SFR

It’s that time of year again – Barbeque season!  What better way to spend your  weekends than with friends and family and the barbeque? 

Add in a pool and you’re all set!  We all need a little down-time on our days off.  I say sit down, kick your feet up and enjoy this beautiful Las Vegas weather,  all summer.  No backyard?  No pool?  No problem.  With over 20,000 homes available in the Las Vegas valley, you could be enjoying your weekends in the backyard of your dream home this summer.  

Call us today 702-365-1000.  Let us help you set up that BBQ dream 🙂