Wednesday, November 26, 2014

North Shore Area Upcoming Events for those Lovers of the Fine Arts

North Shores Fine Arts Events
With the weather now into full-blown winter mode here in the North Shore, IL area, you won’t want to spend much time outdoors. But there are plenty of indoor activities, and several upcoming events for those who appreciate the fine arts!
Evanston Dance Ensemble is presenting a dancing version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe on December 4-7 at the Josephine Louis Theatre at Northwestern University’s Wirtz Center Evanston, IL. This special performance, suited for the whole family, features incredible theatrical and dancing talent. The children in attendance will enjoy dancing snowflakes, waltzing flowers and animals that prance in a holiday polka. The performance times are Dec. 4 at 7pm, Dec. 5 at 7:30pm, and both 1pm and 4pm performances on Dec. 6 and 7. Tickets are $24 for the general public and $16 for seniors over age 62, children under 18, and students.
Another incredible event you won’t want to miss is the Celtic Tenors performing on Friday, Dec. 5 at 8pm at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. This special event will put you right into the holiday spirit as the Celtic Tenors perform a mixture of Celtic, operatic and popular songs which are featured on their albums, which have sold over one million copies worldwide. Some favorites that will be performed include “Hark! The Harold Angels Sing” and “O Holy Night.” Tickets range from $32-$45. 

If you are considering buying a new North Shore home, I have been a North Shore area real estate agent for a number of years and would be happy to help you. Give me a call today!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


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Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Decorating your North Shores, IL Home for the Holidays

Decorating your North Shores Home for the Holidays
Technically it is still fall. It truly is. Though you’d never know it by the howl of the wind and the below-20-degree temperatures. Well…this is Illinois I suppose and sometimes fall just doesn’t last as long as we had all hoped it would. But instead of sulking over the bitter temperatures, you can turn your focus to getting excited about decorating your North Shores home for the holidays! There are so many fun and unique ways you can make your home feel festive this holiday season.

Using a vase or apothecary jar for decoration
Whether you have built-in shelves or want to add a festive centerpiece to your kitchen or dining room table, vases, bowls and apothecary jars can be a fun and inexpensive way to decorate. Some ideas for fillers for these jars include Christmas ornaments, red and white peppermints or even some fake cranberries. If you have several different sizes of vases or jars you can fill each with something different for a fun, eclectic look.

Decorate already existing elements of your home décor
There are plenty of simple ways to take items you are already using in your home décor and add some holiday touches. Some examples of this would be to hang some Christmas ornaments from a chandelier or if you have an indoor wreath hanging on a decorative mirror (or just on the wall), you can add some holly and fake berries to it.

Hang your stockings with class
In hanging your stockings, make sure you add some finishing touches! First, if possible, all the stockings should have a similar color scheme. Sometimes simpler is better (for instance, all solid red stockings with white fluffy tops and names embroidered). Save those non-matching stockings for an area of your house that isn’t the main point of focus, not over your family room fireplace. Also, select some stocking holders that match and will add some decoration to the room. Another idea is to add some garland behind the stockings so they really “pop.”

If you are considering buying a new home for your Christmas gift, I am a seasoned North Shore real estate agent and would be happy to help you. I’m seasoned at both selling and buying homes in this area, and can play “Santa” in helping you find exactly what you are looking for.

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Christmas Festivities in the North Shore Area

Don't miss out on the fun North Shores, IL Christmas events!
Halloween has passed and Thanksgiving is well on it’s way…but there are already a variety of Christmas festivities for your family to enjoy in the North Shore, IL area. For those who are single or have grown children, a trip into the City to see the store fronts lit up and decorated for Christmas, or a trip on a horse drawn carriage on a snowy day may be the perfect Christmas tradition.

For those with young children, there is also a lot to look forward to! Here are a few ideas for traditions you can start with your little ones.

Highland Park Santa on the Jingle Railway
On Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, your family can take a trip on the Highland Park Railway, which departs from the Downtown Metra Station at 9am and 3pm. The cost for residents is $15 for adults and $25 for children and the cost for non-residents is $25 for adults and $45 for children.  Just as the Polar Express story this train is modeled after, children are encouraged to wear their pajamas to take their trip to the North Pole (Waukegan). The classic Christmas story of The Polar Express will be read during the train ride, and children will be served a cookie, and get to hear and sing along to fun Christmas music. Reservations are required for this fun Christmas event!

Lake Forest Santa on Claus’s Coach
If you live in the Lake Forest, IL area, there is a fun Santa Claus’s Coach train ride on Saturday, Dec. 13 that has trains departing between 11am and 1:30pm and Sunday, Dec. 14 between 1pm and 3:30pm. Children will be read one of Mrs. Claus’s favorite books during a train ride to the North Pole (Fox Lake) while drinking hot chocolate. This trip is perfect for kiddos ages one to twelve years.

Trains depart from the Lake Forest West Metra Station and reservations are required to take part in this fun Christmas event. The cost of tickets is $25 for residents and $30 for non-residents and this event is so popular, it sells out quickly so be sure to make your reservations today!

If you are contemplating selling your North Shore home or looking for a seasoned North Shore real estate agent, please give me a call today! I would love to work with you to make the process not only seamless but FUN as well!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
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Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States




Wednesday, November 5, 2014

North Shore, IL DIY Indoor Home Projects

DIY Projects for your North Shore Home
As the weather gets chillier quickly (boo), you may have more indoor time coming your way. This is the perfect time to turn your attention to making your house a home and adding some fun finishing touches with Do It Yourself projects. Here are just a few ways to add character and class to your North Shores home.

Wainscoting
Putting wainscoting in some rooms in your home is a relatively inexpensive way to add character to your home. This feature is not something new—far from it! Dating back to the 1300s, the Dutch used wainscoting on the bottom half of their walls for practical reasons—to protect the walls from things like spurs on riding boots and chairs from leaving marks.

Today, most of us just think of class when they think of wainscoting. Clean lines and a crisp finish. However, it can also have practical uses today (though protecting walls from boot spurs is usually not an issue). Protecting dining room and kitchen walls from kiddo fingerprints and scuffs from chairs is definitely helpful.

Under the Cabinet Lighting
Another inexpensive project for you to tackle this winter in your North Shores home is under the cabinet lighting. This is not a project that takes a lot of time and can add so much light to your home. These lights are hidden beneath your upper cabinets. Not only is the light aesthetically pleasing but so helpful for kitchen tasks like dicing veggies or baking.

Crown Molding
Though this project may not be classified as “simple” because it requires some skills with miter saw angles, it is definitely worth all the time and effort. Crown molding is oftentimes a feature at the top of people’s remodeling wish lists and it adds value to a home in case you are concerned with increasing the home’s value for resale one day.

If you are thinking of selling your North Shores home or looking for a North Shores real estate agent to help you select a new home, give me a call!

Janie Bress
Your North Shore Real Estate Expert


North Shore Real Estate
View North Shore Listings
Visit My Website
Local Expert... with National Connections!

Locally or across the country, think of me as your national connection. I can help you with all your real estate needs anywhere in the United States