When it’s time to begin our home search, WHERE we choose to purchase our home is just as important as the home itself. Whether you’re a first time home buyer or this is your second or fourth home, a crucial part to your home search is learning the neighborhood and surrounding areas.

Buyers can be very emotional when it comes to buying and selling their home but it’s important to look at your purchase from an investment standpoint. Find out what the housing market is like in your area of interest, is it on a financial incline or decline?

Research. Spend some time researching the area online. Your Realtors website will be a valuable source for information on specific areas of town. Many town’s also host sites with information and happenings.

Visit the area. Spend some time getting the feel and the lay of the land, if possible. This might be difficult if you’re in the middle of a cross country location but if you’re able, take a drive through the different neighborhoods, walk through downtown, and try a local restaurant. This will help you see yourself as a local and see how you’ll be spending your time and weekends.

Drive through the neighborhood at different times of day. What might seem like a quiet serene neighborhood during the afternoon could be anything but in the evenings.

Pay attention to the homes around you. What is the outside like? What are the neighbor’s properties like? Are the neighbors too close for comfort, or would you like your neighbors to be closer?

Consider your lifestyle. Another important thing to take into consideration is your lifestyle. Is your family active? Is it important that you are in a neighborhood that is good for walking, running or bike riding? Do you need to be near areas of cultural interest such as museums, universities, restaurants and shopping? How important is it to you that you are near a grocery store, bank and gas station. These might seem like small issues, but to a busy mother of a large family, proximity can be everything.

Make a list. Make a list of what’s important to you. Just as you make a list of what you would like to have in your home, make a list as of what you would like to have in your neighborhood – be sure to note what’s crucial and what you can sacrifice. Do you have a family or do you plan on starting one? Is the school system important to you? Even if children aren’t a factor for you, keep in mind that homes located in a good school district hold onto their value more than those in less highly regarded districts.

Often when you are buying a home you are buying into a neighborhood. It might take some legwork on the front end, but it will be completely worth it when you find the perfect home in a location that suits your lifestyle and interests.

Thank you to our site sponsors, Sophia Leece and Scott Boudreaux with LAH Real Estate. For more information on what’s happening in the Birmingham Housing Market, or to schedule a free home buyer/seller consultation, you can reach them:

Sophia Leece, 205.895.9120 | sleece@lahrealestate.com
Scott Boudreaux, 205.835.9787 | sboudreaux@lahrealestate.com

From Spring break trips to carpooling to ALL of the extra-curricular activities, our car is bound to be messy and in need of a thorough cleaning from time to time. From the lost goldfish crumbs to the candy wrappers and dog hair, our friends at Stanley Steemer have some tips to get our car back in shape!

How to Clean Car Seats
Fabric car seats endure constant traffic and inevitable accidents. When your seats need a refresh, try this DIY to spot clean on single-area messes.

Clean Immediately – For best practice, spot clean as quickly as you can after a spill happens. This helps to make sure the spill doesn’t set into the fabric and becomes permanent.
Use a Microfiber Towel – Grab a clean cloth to pull up as much of the liquid or food as possible.
Make a Cleaning Solution – In a spray bottle, combine a tablespoon of dish soap with a cup and a half of water.
Spray & Blot – Spray the spot and blot it up with a clean towel.
Repeat – Repeat until the stain has lifted.
Let Dry – Make sure the area is dry before use.
If spot cleaning and DIY remedies aren’t enough, it may be time to call in the pros. With a deep clean on your upholstery, your car will look like when you first got it! See the difference yourself.

How to Clean Car Carpet
Cleaning your car carpet can improve the overall smell, look, and appearance of your car. To get the carpet in your car looking spiffy again, check out these tips.

Pick Up Trash – Being on-the-go means you don’t always make time to pick up all your garbage. Make sure to clean up any food scraps, drinks, napkins and other waste lying around the floor.
Shake Out Floor Mats – Take out all the floor mats and give them a good shake to get off dirt and crumbs. Leave them out as you continue to clean so you can get everything underneath where they usually lie.
Vacuum – With a handheld vacuum and a brush attachment, vacuum away! Get every corner of the carpet you can reach like under seats and around the pedals.
Spot Clean As Mentioned Above – Using the mixture of dish soap and water you created for car seats, you can use this to spot clean your car carpet. Additionally, you can schedule professional services if your carpet is overdue for a deep clean.

How to Get Dog Hair Out of Car
Cleaning out dog or cat hair is no easy task especially if your pet excessively sheds. In addition to vacuuming, here is a DIY method for getting dog hair out of your car.

You will need a paint roller, duct tape, and a pair of scissors.
Next, cut strips of duct tape that are long enough to cover the paint roller. Reverse the duct tape to have sticky side face up and wrap around the roller.
Finally, roll on car seats and flooring that’s covered in fur and viola!

How to Clean Car Windows
Cleaning car windows differs from cleaning the windows at your home. Car windows are exposed to more elements than windows in your home such as dirt and insects hitting your windshield at 60 mph. If you go to clean your car windows, avoid household cleaners and opt for a specific solution for car cleaning. Household cleaners can cause streaking and the ammonia in these cleaners can break down the tint on your car windows. For a homemade cleaner, try this car window solution for streak-free cleaning.

Make a Cleaning Solution – Create a solution with one cup of rubbing alcohol and one cup of water in a bucket.
Use a Microfiber Towel – Use a clean, white microfiber towel with the solution and wipe smudges off of the glass.
Unroll Windows For a Better Clean – While cleaning the side windows, unroll your windows to clean every square inch you can including the tops!
Shine and Protect – Last, for extra shine and protection, use a glass shiner with another, clean microfiber towel.

How to Wash a Car
On a sunny day, washing your car can be a refreshing pastime. Make sure you’re using the right method for the best results with these steps on how to wash a car.

Get 2 Clean Buckets – Fill 2 separate buckets with water and add car wash soap to one of the buckets.
Rinse-Off Car – With a hose, rinse off your car to loosen up dirt and grime.
Use a Wash Mitt to Clean – Using a large wash mitt, wash your car section by section using the bucket with water and soap. Rinse the mitt in between sections in the bucket with plain water.
Rinse Each Section – As you complete a section of your car, be sure to rinse it off after washing to clean away any soap or suds.
Save These For Last – Save washing headlights and lower body for last so any grime that got flushed to the bottom of your car gets cleaned off.

How to Clean Tires
Just like you need a special cleaner for car windows, it’s important that you use a specialized cleaner for your tires. Don’t use car wash soap to clean your tires since it’s formulated to clean and protect paint and clear coat. Applying car wash soap on tires can leave a film around them and keep the tires from shining. Instead, follow this guide on how to clean tires.

Rinse-Off Tires – Like car washing, use a hose to rinse tires off to loosen excess dirt.
Use Specialized Cleaner – Spray and apply a tire cleaner of your choice to the tire wall
Clean with a Stiff Brush – With a stiff nylon-bristle brush, scrub your tire thoroughly.
Rinse & Dry – After scrubbing, rinse the tire with water and flush out the cleaner. Then, dry with a microfiber cloth.
Repeat – Continue these steps for the rest of your tires!

In need of interior car cleaning services? We come to you to clean out dirt and debris to give you a renewed car that’s ready for the next adventure. Call 1-800-STEEMER to find our services near you.

Stanley Steemer of North Central Alabama services the greater Birmingham Metro Area and surrounding counties, spanning from Cullman to Clanton and from the Mississippi state line to the Georgia state line.

All Stanley Steemer water restoration specialists have Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the most widely recognized and accepted certification program in the industry. These individuals are highly trained and prepared for any emergency water removal task they encounter. In addition to certification, our technicians attend IICRC-accredited continuing education and training programs throughout the year. We provide the time and money to train our people, and we supply them with the best equipment available.
For more information on their 24/7 Emergency Water Resmoval visit their site

Stanley Steemer provides trained technicians and state-of-the-art equipment you can’t get anywhere else. When flooding occurs, why muddy the waters? Call Stanley Steemer.

Use Code: Mom30 for $30 off any service. (Minimum charges apply)

Red Mountain Theatre camps teach theatrical craft while providing performance opportunities for youth. The curriculum includes vocal, dance, and drama training and culminates in a sharing where students perform for live audiences. Here are their options for 2021 Summer Camps:

Play Making: Fancy Nancy
$180
Ages 4-6

Budding artists are allowed to let their imaginations run wild while they creatively explore theatrical storytelling. These half-day classes are designed to cultivate inventiveness as students learn the basics of theatre through collaboration and creative play. This week’s theme is based on the popular children’s book Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor.

July 5-9 Morning: July 5th to 9th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Payment plan available: $16.00 deposit plus 3 payments of $54.66, paid every four weeks

Play Making: How to Train Your Dragon
$180
Ages 4-6

Budding artists are allowed to let their imaginations run wild while they creatively explore theatrical storytelling. These half-day classes are designed to cultivate inventiveness as students learn the basics of theatre through collaboration and creative play. This week’s theme is based on the popular children’s book How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell.

July 5-9 Afternoon: July 5th to 9th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 12:30 – 3:30 pm
Payment plan available: $16.00 deposit plus 3 payments of $54.66, paid every four weeks

Theme Camp: All Aboard the Hogwarts Express
$300
Ages 7-12

By cultivating original characters’ students will explore what it would be like to attend Hogwarts. They’ll participate in defense against the dark arts and potions classes, in addition to being sorted into one of the four houses. This year, we’ll collaborate and creatively problem-solve to discuss what it’s like your first year at Hogwarts. Through imagination, we’ll travel beyond the pages of the books.

July 19-23 (Session 1): July 19th to 23rd, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Payment plan available: $25.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $68.75, paid every four weeks

July 19-23 (Session 2): July 19th to 23rd, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Payment plan available: $25.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $68.75, paid every four weeks

Play Making: Agrabah Adventure
$180
Ages 4-6

Budding artists are allowed to let their imaginations run wild while they creatively explore theatrical storytelling. These half-day classes are designed to cultivate inventiveness as students learn the basics of theatre through collaboration and creative play. In this week’s class, students will pretend to have adventures in the eastern city of Agrabah, home to flying carpets and magic lamps!

July 26-30 Afternoon: July 26th to 30th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 12:30 – 3:30 pm
Payment plan available: $16.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $41.00, paid every four weeks

Play Making: Celebration in Arendelle
$180
Ages 4-6

Budding artists are allowed to let their imaginations run wild while they creatively explore theatrical storytelling. These half-day classes are designed to cultivate inventiveness as students learn the basics of theatre through collaboration and creative play. In this week’s class, students will pretend they live in the land of Arendelle and are ruled by a queen with ice powers!

Session 1 – July 26-30 Morning: July 26th to 30th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Payment plan available: $16.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $41.00, paid every four weeks

Session 2 – July 5-9 Morning: July 5th to 9th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Payment plan available: $16.00 deposit plus 3 payments of $54.66, paid every four weeks

Summer Sprouts (Week A)
$300
Ages 7-8

Sprouts is a preparatory education program for young people wishing to learn performance skills.  During the week-long camp, students will learn 3-5 production numbers to be performed at the end of the week for friends and family.  In preparing for a performance, students learn discipline and memorization skills that they can take with them to their scholastic work.  Sprouts is designed to be a pre-Conservatory program, but it is not a pre-requisite to audition for the Conservatory.

July 12-16: July 12th to 16th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Payment plan available: $25.00 deposit plus 3 payments of $91.66, paid every four weeks

Summer Sprouts (Week B)
$300
Ages 7-8

Sprouts is a preparatory education program for young people wishing to learn performance skills.  During the week-long camp, students will learn 3-5 production numbers to be performed at the end of the week for friends and family.  In preparing for a performance, students learn discipline and memorization skills that they can take with them to their scholastic work.  Sprouts is designed to be a pre-Conservatory program, but it is not a pre-requisite to audition for the Conservatory.

Session 1 – July 26-30: July 26th to 30th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Payment plan available: $25.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $68.75, paid every four weeks

Session 2 – July 26-30: July 26th to 30th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Payment plan available: $25.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $68.75, paid every four weeks

Play Making: Where the Wild Things Are
$180
Ages 4-6

Budding artists are allowed to let their imaginations run wild while they creatively explore theatrical storytelling. These half-day classes are designed to cultivate inventiveness as students learn the basics of theatre through collaboration and creative play. This week’s theme is based on the popular children’s book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

Aug 2-6 Morning: August 2nd to 6th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Payment plan available: $16.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $41.00, paid every four weeks

Theme Camp: Camp Half-Blood
$300
Ages 7-12

By cultivating original characters, students will explore the innovative world of Percy Jackson and Camp Half-Blood. Through collaboration and creative problem-solving, they will invent the world around them, living out adventures just like Percy and Annabeth, and use their imaginations to travel beyond the pages of a book.

Aug 2-6: August 2nd to 6th, 2021
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri for 1 week from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Payment plan available: $25.00 deposit plus 4 payments of $68.75, paid every four weeks

Camp Discounts available before April 30th. For discount pricing visit the Red Mountain Theatre Company website

Parents can understandably be concerned when their child doesn’t feel well and has a fever. But how high is too high? When should a parent treat a fever at home and when should they seek medical help?

Dr. Mark Baker is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Children’s of Alabama and works in the Emergency Department. He says a fever is anything higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. “Fever is the body’s response to an infection,” he says. “Fevers are generally well tolerated in healthy children, especially if they are up to date with recommended childhood vaccines.”

Dr. Baker says there are instances when a parent should take a fever seriously and seek medical attention. These include when a child has a temperature higher than 100.4 AND:

Is 3 months of age or younger
Has serious underlying medical problems
Experiences pain or other concerns

If any of these conditions exist, parents are encouraged to take their child to the Emergency Department. If a parent is unsure how serious the situation may be, their child’s pediatrician is available to help. Even after hours, a pediatrician’s office has a 24/7 on call line.

Dr. Baker says in an otherwise healthy child, a fever can usually be treated at home with either ibuprofen or acetaminophen, (Motrin or Tylenol). He says it is best to stick with one form of treatment and follow the dosage instructions. If the over the counter medicine isn’t helping, Dr. Baker advises parents to call their child’s pediatrician or go to the Emergency Department.

Parents can also make sure their child is more comfortable by dressing them in lightweight clothing and covering them with a light sheet or blanket. It’s very important that the child gets plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. A sponge bath or wet cloth may help lower their temperature and make them feel more comfortable.

All kids get fevers, and in most cases recover completely within a few days. But if you ever have concerns about your child’s well-being, it’s best to contact their doctor for guidance.

Have you ever been to a home where it’s clear that the kids toys have taken over the space? It’s obvious that the home has become more of a playground, filled with toys and bright-colored plastic everywhere… Does it sounds a lot like your home? I know it was mine! No matter how hard you try to fight it, or contain it, those toys just continue to creep into every room. The good news is that it’s possible to create a home that incorporates the beauty of a stylish home with the practicality of living with children. Here are a few design tips to help.

•Be Realistic –You may love the look of crisp white sofas and delicate glass vases, but if you live with kids, opt for more durable choices. Natural fiber furniture in neutrals hide stains while looking stylish; choose a sofa with removable cushion covers you can pop in the wash as needed. Display beautiful wood or stone accent pieces instead of glass, to cut down on accidental breakage.

•Less is More – Uncrowded rooms allow for the excess energy of fast-moving children. Give them room to play. Less toys also means less mess when they’re all inevitably spread over the house!

•Double Duty Furniture – Look for stylish bins or hidden storage units such as ottomans where you can quickly dump excess toys when guests pop by.

•Create a Play Station – Carve out a special place for the kids to play, such as a basement family room or a cozy attic. Keep larger playsets and toys there and help the kids make it a special place just for them. This may keep some of the ‘kid clutter’ contained to one area of the home.

•House Rules – Develop some simple rules and then be disciplined about it. For example, a good house rule is that toys are gathered into storage units each evening before dinner. Cleaning things up a bit at a time makes it less overwhelming. Most of all, strive for a livable home. It’s almost impossible to have a picture-perfect home with kids, but by taking a few simple steps, you can merge a kid-friendly environment with a beautiful adult home.

Thank you to our site sponsors, Sophia Leece and Scott Boudreaux with LAH Real Estate. For more information on what’s happening in the Birmingham Housing Market, or to schedule a free home buyer/seller consultation, you can reach them:

Sophia Leece, 205.895.9120 | sleece@lahrealestate.com
Scott Boudreaux, 205.835.9787 | sboudreaux@lahrealestate.com

The idea of deep cleaning your home can be overwhelming, especially for Moms who are already busy with the day to day of the constant picking up of toys and wiping down of the tiny humans. But if you put a plan in place, and take it room by room you can get your Spring Cleaning done in no time! Here are some tips.

Kitchen Tasks:

Kitchen Sink – Try running a couple of lemon rind slivers through your garbage disposal and follow with cold water to get rid of any unwanted odors.

Fridge – In addition to wiping down your fridge’s interior shelving on a regular basis, give the removable bins and shelves a deep clean every now and again. Pop out the door shelves and bins, and wash in warm, soapy water to get rid of food bacteria and spillage.

Countertops – Dig out the granite polish to restore shine and help repel stains on your kitchen surfaces.

Oven – Use your appliance’s self-cleaning function to remove stubborn, baked-on grime. If your oven doesn’t have one, place a hot, wet cloth on top of burned spots to help soften the gunk. Then scrub with a sprinkle of baking powder and a heavy duty pad. Rinse and wipe dry.

Cabinets – Kitchen grime is a mix of dust and grease that builds up over time. Run the exhaust hood over your range every time you cook to keep grease from settling. Do an extra pass around any places that grease collects, like door and drawer pulls.

Bathroom Tasks:

Grout – White grout picks up everything. CLR Brilliant Bath, Let it set for several minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush.

Shower Drain – To freshen drains (not unclog them) and help keep them free-flowing, mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1/4 cup table salt. Pour the mixture down the drain, followed by 1 cup heated vinegar. It will foam and bubble. Let it stand for 15 minutes tops. Follow by running hot tap water for at least 15 to 30 seconds. This is especially helpful for seldom-used drains, like in guest bathrooms.

Shower Curtains – Stick plastic or vinyl shower curtains along with a few bath towels on the gentle cycle with your favorite detergent. Let it hang dry before showering. To keep the curtain cleaner longer, spritz it a few times each month with a bleach-containing all-purpose cleaner. Then just let the shower rinse it off.

Bedroom Tasks:

Mattress – Press firmly with your vacuum’s upholstery and crevice tools to clean the top and sides. After vacuuming, sanitize your mattress with a disinfectant spray like Lysol. You can also use a garment steamer or iron to kill dust mites near the surface. Vacuum afterward.

Bedding – Pillows and comforters only need to be tackled a couple of times a year so making them part of your spring cleaning routine, just makes sense. Make sure to follow the manufacture’s labels before tossing them into your washing machine.

Laundry Room Tasks:

Washing Machine – freshen it up by adding bleach and turning on the special washer cleaning cycle on your machine, or using a washing machine cleaner

Dryer – Beyond removing the fuzz from your dryer’s filter after every load, pull out hard-to-reach lint with the crevice tool on your vacuum to suck up debris. Vacuum under, around, and behind the dryer as well.

Additional Household Tasks:

Ceiling Fixtures – Grab an extendable duster and attack ceiling fans, hanging and recessed lights, moldings

Bookshelves – Take a few minutes to organize your coffee table books, bedside novels, or favorite magazines. You can alphabetize, coordinate by color, or sort by size. Make sure you dust the shelves before putting anything back in its place.

Closet – The change of season is a great time to make a pass through your closets and toss out old clothes that are stained, or that no longer fit as you swap things out to storage.

Stanley Steemer of North Central Alabama services the greater Birmingham Metro Area and surrounding counties, spanning from Cullman to Clanton and from the Mississippi state line to the Georgia state line.

All Stanley Steemer water restoration specialists have Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the most widely recognized and accepted certification program in the industry. These individuals are highly trained and prepared for any emergency water removal task they encounter. In addition to certification, our technicians attend IICRC-accredited continuing education and training programs throughout the year. We provide the time and money to train our people, and we supply them with the best equipment available.
For more information on their 24/7 Emergency Water Resmoval visit their site

Stanley Steemer provides trained technicians and state-of-the-art equipment you can’t get anywhere else. When flooding occurs, why muddy the waters? Call Stanley Steemer.

Use Code: Mom30 for $30 off any service. (Minimum charges apply)