Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Choosing Cabinet Hardware


As I mentioned in a few previous posts, we are going through a rigorous kitchen remodel right now! We have our new appliances sitting in the garage, the counter tops have been installed, and we are waiting for the guys to come and do a few cabinet modifications like adding crown molding, etc. Then the next steps will be adding our new back splash and painting the cabinets a nice, rich color that compliments both our new counter tops and the floors we had installed in February.

Here is a sneak preview of what the guest bathroom and laundry room look like, so you can see the quartz counters we chose and what the cabinets (oak) look like right now.




For the paint color in these rooms, I am going with Kelly-Moore Winter's Park . In the kitchen, I will do Kelly-Moore Not My Fault - since it is brighter and sunnier in there, I feel like I can go with a slightly darker color.

Image result for kelly moore winter's park Related image


For cabinet hardware, I am having a super hard time deciding on what to get. All other fixtures in the house are oil-rubbed bronze. I would have loved to go with brass for the remodel, but it is trendy right now and I feel like it would be outdated so fast. So, bronze it is.

I have been sending options to my husband to get his opinion. I sent him a hammered option, since I know he likes that look and of course he loved it! That was his favorite one. Dang it, I hate that look.
They look like this:


I guess they are not too terrible. I would put these knobs on the cabinet doors and find matching handles to put on the drawers. I had always hoped to get all handles for drawers and doors but I actually saw the look the other day at someone's house and I decided it looked way too busy.

Here is my favorite option:


Aren't these the cutest? They are actually really clear/white. This picture makes them look sort of gray. What I really love about how these are shown online is that they show them on dark and light colored cabinet doors so I already know they will look good! Plus they are adorable! My husband hates the glass knobs so I am thinking a good compromise would be to do glass in the bathroom and/or laundry room and do something else in the kitchen. I really do usually like to stick to all one thing but maybe I can break my own rule this time!

Here is another glass option that I found for the bathroom/laundry room:

Cosmas 6377ORB-C Oil Rubbed Bronze Cabinet Hardware Square Knob with Clear Glass - 1-3/8" Square


I also can't help but like the clean, modern look of these ones as well:

10 Pack Oil Rubbed Bronze 1-1/8" (30mm) Square Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Hardware Pull Knobs 1023-30



I also found these, which I actually really like:

Ancient Treasures Rustic Hammered C023ORB Oil Rubbed Bronze 1 1/4" Pull Knob  Ancient Treasures Rustic Hammered C047ORB Oil Rubbed Bronze 3"cc Bar Pull

I think these almost pewter-looking knobs and handles would be a great compromise! They are not too manly and I think they have an almost old-fashioned look to them that I think is very chic and sophisticated and would go really well with the clean look of our counters and our black granite sink. 

Which is your favorite?


I can't wait to show off our finished product! Only a few more weeks until everything is done!













Friday, November 17, 2017

Holiday Events Calendar

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I love this time of year, when it's cold outside and everyone is in a "giving" sort of mood. People spend more time with each other and it's a more peaceful, reflective time. There are also so many activities in and around El Dorado County to do with family and loved ones! I have put together a special calendar of events for those of you wanting to partake in a little holiday cheer!


El Dorado County (and Beyond!) Holiday Events Calendar


(Today) November 17th at 4pm: Folsom Ice Rink Opens for the season


November 18th from 10-4pm: Old Fashioned Christmas Craft Faire at the Cameron Park CSD - more info at www.cameronpark.org

November 24th from 5-8pm: Placerville Festival of Lights & Annual Tree Lighting  (Free!)

November 24th-26th: Pictures with Santa at the Welcome Center in EDH Town Center Theater Plaza  (times vary) - info at edhtowncenter.com


December 1st-16th: Evening Carriage Rides at the EDH Town Center Theater Plaza - more info at edhtowncenter.com - proceeds benefit Hands4Hope and 3StrandsGlobal

December 1st-3rd: Pictures with Santa at the Welcome Center in EDH Town Center Theater Plaza  (times vary)

December 1st at 6pm: Annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Historic Folsom

December 2nd at 8am: 50th Annual Christmas Craft Fair in Historic Folsom

December 2nd: 5k Run with Santa! Starts and Ends at the Cameron Park CSD Bring the whole family and then attend the pancake breakfast with the local FD - info at www.cameronpark.org. 

December 2nd: Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at EDH Town Center Theater Plaza - games and music start at 4pm 

December 3rd at 1pm: (Rain or Shine!) Placerville Hangtown Christmas Parade (Free!)

December 7th-10th: Pictures with Santa at the Welcome Center in EDH Town Center Theater Plaza  (times vary) 

December 8th & 9th at 8am: Historic Folsom Holiday Home Tour 


December 14th-24th: Pictures with Santa at the Welcome Center in EDH Town Center Theater Plaza  (times vary) 

December 31st, 7pm to Midnight: New Year's Eve Concert at the Shingle Springs Community Center - music, dancing and door prizes! 



Hopefully I will see you at one of these amazing events around town! Happy Holidays! 






Thursday, November 9, 2017

100 Best Places to Live in the US

Are you searching for that perfect hometown that has everything you're looking for? Whether it be location, safety, your dream job, low housing prices, or great people? One of my favorite magazines - MONEY - put together an extensive list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the US. I love articles like this one because they provide people with so much more than a cute picture of a house - they provide you with a glimpse into the lifestyle of the town as well as hard facts surrounding the economy there - so when you are deciding where to settle you can make the right decision. 

I live in El Dorado Hills, California, and have always considered this (unbiased, of course!) town to be the best location in the west. But after reading this article and seeing what some of these others places have to offer in terms of median home price and average commute times, I'm tempted! 

For this year's list, MONEY rated cities based on 8 traits - cost of living, the economy (jobs), education (graduation rate), housing (appreciation and affordability), crime, convenience (commute time), cultural and recreational amenities, and an overall sense of pleasantness (sunny days). 

What I found was most interesting about this list was that the majority of the cities were located in the mid west. I guess I have always thought that people have migrated towards the coastal cities, but I think that with housing on the coasts becoming less and less affordable, it really does seem like people are looking elsewhere. 
For example, we have had several clients sell their house in California and move to Texas - where you can buy a very affordable home and the weather is just as good! I love to see this list of cities where new home buyers or even people who are down sizing can go and have a great quality of life!



Home located in Fishers, Indiana


1. Fishers, Indiana
Population: 86, 357
Median Home Price: $236,167
Median Household Income: $87 043


2. Allen, Texas
Population: 96,045
Median Home Price: $323, 676
Median Household Income: $104,524


3. Monterey Park, California
Population: 62,630
Median Home Price: $533,083 
Median Household Income: $57,419

4. Franklin, Tennessee
Population: 72,955 
Median Home Price: $433,996  
Median Household Income: $82,334

5. Olive Branch, Mississippi
Population: 37, 504 
Median Home Price: $185,092  
Median Household Income: $62,958

6. Dickinson, North Dakota 
Population: 24,771  
Median Home Price: $227,417  
Median Household Income: $71,866

7. Lone Tree, Colorado
Population: 14,733  
Median Home Price: $411,333  
Median Household Income: $116,761

8. North Arlington, New Jersey
Population: 15,563  
Median Home Price: $446,500   
Median Household Income: $73,885

9. Schaumburg, Illinois
Population: 77,557  
Median Home Price: $246,500  
Median Household Income: $73,824

10. Bozeman, Montana
Population: 42,435  
Median Home Price: $313,525   
Median Household Income: $49,303

11. New Berlin, Wisconsin
Population: 40,243  
Median Home Price: $255,633   
Median Household Income: $74,983

12. Beaverton, Oregon
Population: 97,229  
Median Home Price: $353,316  
Median Household Income: $58,785

13. Waltham, Massachusetts
Population: 63,053  
Median Home Price: $456,666  
Median Household Income: $75,106

14. Orem, Utah
Population: 95,742  
Median Home Price: $282,173  
Median Household Income: $54,515

15. St. Peters, Missouri
Population: 57,278  
Median Home Price: $208,666  
Median Household Income: $71,718

16. Carmel, Indiana
Population: 90,238  
Median Home Price: $236,167 
Median Household Income: $108,349

17. Avon, Indiana
Population: 18,490  
Median Home Price: $184,359  
Median Household Income: $78,915

18. Santa Monica, California
Population: 93,974  
Median Home Price: $533,083  
Median Household Income: $82,963


Santa Monica Pier


19. Grapevine, Texas
Population:  51,286
Median Home Price: $206,541
Median Household Income: $80,812

20. Wylie, Texas
Population: 46,235
Median Home Price: $323,676  
Median Household Income: $82,763

21. Brentwood, Tennessee
Population:   42,319
Median Home Price: $433,996
Median Household Income: $136,383

22. Greenwood, Indiana
Population:  57,389
Median Home Price:  $141,110
Median Household Income: $54,564

23. Bedford, Texas
Population:   49,016
Median Home Price:  $206,541
Median Household Income: $61,579

24. Saddle Brook, New Jersey
Population:   13,818
Median Home Price:   $446,500
Median Household Income: $$77,289

25. Bismarck, North Dakota
Population:   71,211
Median Home Price:  $255,000
Median Household Income: $60,971



Did your city make the list?

- You can find the full list of 100 Best Places to live at money.com/bestplaces. 







Monday, November 6, 2017

Soups to Warm You Up on Those Chilly Fall Nights

Fall is officially here! 🍁🍂 The leaves are falling off the trees, it's finally sweater weather, and we just had our first rainstorm of the season! I celebrated the rain by making a delicious, warm soup and so I wanted to share a round up of some of my favorite soups with you all so you don't have to try to figure out where to start when the rain heads your way! Soup is my husband's all-time favorite food - he could eat it every night of the week - so I am constantly looking for new recipes to cook up!

Last night, I made a fabulous soup from one of my favorite bloggers, Chungah Rhee - the brains behind Damndelicious.net. I just found out too that she has her very own cookbook! I will be adding that to my Christmas list! Anyway, I had pinned her Chicken and Wild Rice soup to make on a rainy day, and since just such an occasion was here, I decided to make it. It was a hit! You can get the recipe here. Since we are going through a kitchen remodel, and don't have a stove right now, this worked perfectly in the crock pot. I left out the milk/flour portion of this soup and just added an extra 2 cups of chicken broth. It was perfect!


Another of my go-to favorites when it's cold out is Pea Soup. A few years ago, I had a bag of peas from when we had stopped at Pea Soup Andersen's and I was looking around for something to put in the soup. All I had was a container of ham sandwich meat from the store so I said, what the heck, I'll try it! I came up with this recipe, and I've never looked back! It is so easy and so good! My husband and I both love Pea Soup so I try to make it at least a couple times a year.





I have made this copy cat Zuppa Toscana from Spend with Pennies many times. It may be my all time favorite soup! There is also a low-carb version here that I have been meaning to try, but I just love the original so much I just haven't gotten around to it! I use spicy Italian sausage in my version, and tons of red pepper - my husband likes spice! If you are looking for a milder soup, I would omit the red peppers and garlic altogether. This is a hearty soup that so many people can enjoy! We love it in our house.


Zuppa Toscana is quick and easy to make at home and delicious! Loaded with sausage, potatoes and bacon, this is definitely a crowd pleaser!

Here is a soup that looks absolutely amazing that I have been meaning to try: this Bean and Bacon Soup by Deborah at Taste and Tell. I love bacon and this soup looks hearty and like it would warm you right up on a cold night! I can't wait to try it!

Skip the can - this Homemade Bean and Bacon Soup is hearty and filling and filled with veggies and chunks of bacon!



If you like Mexican food, this one is for you: this Chicken Avocado Lime Soup from Cooking Classy is one of my all-time favorite soups! It is absolutely delicious. It is loaded full of chunky avocado, chicken, cilantro, and tomatoes and basically tastes just like a street taco in soup form. And I love street tacos! I like to eat this soup with chips and dip the chips in the warm broth and gets tons of chunks of avocado on my chip. It is so good! 

Chicken Avocado Lime Soup | Cooking Classy


I hope this list helped you get inspired for fall and the cold weather. I know sometimes a good soup recipe is all you need to get through a cold winter night! Let me know if any of these recipes work out for you or if you have any other great ones to share!




Monday, October 30, 2017

Wine Tasting in the Foothills

I tell all my clients (and every new person I meet, for that matter!) the same thing: the El Dorado County/Foothills area is the absolute best place to live. We have the best weather, the best location, and the most fun stuff to do. Now, I may be biased because I have lived here my entire life, but I have also heard this said from other people who have moved here so I know it must be true!
There is no weather to match the seasonal highs and not-too-low lows of the summers and winters. We are less than 2 hours to Tahoe (an amazing place to vacation to or visit) and less than 2 hours to the ocean. We can live in this gorgeous place and get to pretty much any vacation spot in just a short road trip. What could be better?
There is also an abundance of activities for those who love the outdoors! White water rafting on the American River, biking on the numerous trails and mountain biking for those more adventurous, tons of hiking trails, kayaking on the rivers or lakes, camping, either in our own backyard of one of the nearby SRAs or just a short trip to Tahoe!, and skiing and snowboarding just a road trip away.
The other thing I love about living here is we can enjoy all these activities plus there is an abundance of farmers and delicious fresh foods and drinks to try!

One of my favorite weekend activities that I don't get to do very often is wine tasting at our local wineries! There are so many to choose from.
Apple Hill, which is located in Camino in El Dorado County, has quite a few wineries to try out. I personally have tried Boeger, which I highly recommend,  Lava Cap, and another favorite, Illuminare - which has a delicious blend wine called "Seeing Red" that I can't recommend enough!


Click here for more information on the Wineries at Apple Hill



Another favorite spot of mine to go wine tasting is off Shenandoah Road, in Amador County. I have many wineries I like to visit when I go there. For instance, Helwig is an all time favorite. They have so many delicious wines! Their Marsanne is probably my favorite. I also love Karmere. The thing that I really love about them is that they separate their tastings into whites and reds and you can do one or the other or both. For white wine lovers like me, this works out perfectly, especially since they have a great selection of sparkling wines as well, including their delicious peach sparkling wine! Karmere also has a beautiful garden out back where we love to have a picnic if we can! Cooper Vineyards is also another fantastic spot.

We are going back to Shenandoah Road in a few weeks and I am looking forward to trying some new places! I think we are going to try Amador Cellars, which I have heard great things about, as well as Wilderotter - they have an excellent selection of both red and white wines to choose from!, and BellaGrace Vineyards as well. I can't wait!


For more information on Amador County Wineries, click here!


If you have never been to the foothills area, I suggest a visit very soon! Choose to partake in one of the various activities above and you will not be disappointed! Here are some more suggestions for local wineries. The list is extensive! I have lived here for a long time and have not tried even nearly close to them all. I hope to someday, so I can write a proper review, but in the meantime, feel free to try them out and let me know what how they are! I would love some suggestions of where to go next. 

Happy Tasting!   



Friday, October 27, 2017

Housing Affordability

  • Is home ownership something you have always dreamed of but you feel like you would never qualify for a home loan?
  • Are you always wondering how other people get qualified for a loan or come up with the down payment to buy a house? 
  • Are you looking for a way to get into a home with little or no money down but just don't think it's possible? 
Think again! The good news is very few people actually come up with the "20% down" you hear of and the other awesome news is that there are so many programs out there that can get you into the house of your dreams! First, I recommend getting the app CreditWise - for free! - to monitor your credit. Or you can sign up here. The better credit you have, the better chance you have to get a great interest rate and a great program with little or no money down on the house. And by "little or no money down", I mean as low as as 1% down or even get money back!!

Then, contact either your credit union/bank or a great local lender (I have a few awesome recommendations later in this post) to talk about your home loan. If the loan officer says you don't qualify right away, ask them what you need to do to qualify. For example, they may say you need to bring your credit score up by 50 points (this is where CreditWise comes in), or you need to finish paying off one of your credit cards. Whatever the issue is, you can work through it together. Maybe you have no issues and you qualify right away. The loan officer will tell you "how much house", meaning the amount, you qualify for. If you want to know right now, you can also do a quick check here

Here is a great example of a program provided by Guild Mortgage that allows a home buyer to put only 1% down:



This program, offered by Movement Mortgage, doesn't require a down payment and even offers a grant of up to 3% from Movement towards your down payment for those who qualify! 



There are so many options out there if you just take the time to look! Don't give up on your dream of home ownership because you are afraid of being turned down for a loan or because you think you don't make enough! In fact, many of these programs are put in place specifically for lower-income households. Take advantage of the opportunities that are being provided! 
Contact one of these amazing lenders today and see what your opportunities are!

Ashley Huegi, Mortgage Consultant
   Paramount Partners
   530.417.4931
   ahuegi@paramountpartnersgroup.com


Stephany Kuennen, Branch Manager
   Guild Mortgage
   916.714.1430
   skuennen@guildmortgage.net


Genie Tompkins, Branch Manager/Loan Officer
   Movement Mortgage
   916.307.6872
   genie.tompkins@movement.com







Email me at sarah@sarah-ratliff.com with any additional questions! I am happy to help. 🏡



Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Picture Perfect Properties

With home values still at their peak, many buyers are looking to land and considering building their dream home instead. Many lots of land can be purchased for a fraction of what it would cost to buy a house and if you look around, you can find one that already has many of the utilities already in place. 

If you are among the group who has been considering a home purchase but doesn't want to pay premium prices, take a look at these gorgeous land lots below, listed by the Discover Joy in Real Estate Team.
I have also included several lenders who will do a land-only mortgage loan towards the bottom of this post!


 1 Acre on Idle Creek Drive in Shingle Springs


Listed at $49,900 - for more information, please visit IdleCreek.com




 7007 Steeple Chase Court, Shingle Springs


5.17 Acres, Listed at $225,000 - for more information, please visit SteepleChaseCourt.com





 5924 Sutter Avenue, Carmichael


.81 Acres, Listed at $450,000 - Visit SutterAvenue.com for additional info on this great lot!





 11.6 Acres on Solitude Way, Shingle Springs


Listed at $199,900 - Visit SolitudeWay.com for more info! 



5550 Amber Fields Drive, Shingle Springs


5 Acres, Listed for $250,000 - For more information on this lot, please visit: AmberFieldsDrive.com




6201 Magpie Court, Shingle Springs


10 Acres, Listed for $199,000 - Visit MagpieCourt.com for more information!



9.35 Acres on Puerta Del Sol


Listed for $169,650 - for additional information on this property, please visit PuertaDelSol.com




31.93 Acres on Brandon Road 



Listed for $415,000 - more information at BrandonRoad.com


Lenders for land only:



Tiffany Porter

Cheryl Hargett



Contact me with any questions about these gorgeous properties!
530-391-1576
sarah@sarah-ratliff.com



Thursday, October 12, 2017

Historic Folsom Events Calendar

Historic Folsom is one of my favorite places to be. I love all the little shops and wine bars and the old, rustic, genuine feeling of the town. It is such a cute, romantic place! If you haven't been there or even if you are just looking for a reason to go, here are some great date night and family friendly events coming up! 



Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Open This Weekend!

3144 Quad Lane
Cameron Park

Open Friday, 9/22 from 5-7PM
Open Sunday, 9/24 from 1-4PM



Adorable detached home in Archwood Estates! 


Wood burning fireplace in family room. 


This home is move in ready with an upgraded kitchen featuring granite counter tops and glass back splash. Great schools nearby. 



The backyard is an unusual amenity among the homes in this development. Private, quiet and serene!




Offered at $335,000

Contact me for additional details!
530-391-1576
sarah@sarah-ratliff.com


Friday, September 15, 2017

The Lake House by Kate Morton

I just finished another great novel by Kate Morton. Follow me on Good Reads for my entire summer reading list! I love a good mystery Get the details of The Lake House here: The Lake HouseThe Lake House by Kate Morton


This book is amazing! I couldn't put it down! It has multiple mysteries going at once and at the end there is a plot twist to find out how everything is connected. Kate Morton weaves a story like nobody's business.

View all my reviews

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Pumpkin Bread

If you are looking for the absolute best Pumpkin Bread recipe, look no further than this post. 

 I have been using this recipe since I was 15 years old - I think I originally found it in a magazine but have adapted it over the years to perfection. 

Here it is:




Pumpkin Bread


**This recipe makes 2 loaves! I figure most people want to eat one and maybe give one to a friend. Or just eat 2!! If you are interested in making only 1 loaf, just cut the recipe in half. 

Ingredients:

1 29oz  can Pure Pumpkin 
1/2 cup veggie oil
4 eggs
1 stick or 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softend
1.5 cups sugar
1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed

4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1.5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ground cloves
3 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 and grease 2 loaf pans. 
In a large bowl or bowl of an electric mixer if you have one, beat together sugars and butter until blended.  Add eggs one at a time and blend. Add pumpkin and oil and blend. 



In a separate, medium bowl, mix together dry ingredients- flour, salt, baking soda and spices. I use a whisk to make sure everything gets mixed thoroughly. 



Slowly add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring after each addition until combined. It should look like it's ready now and good enough to eat! 



Pour batter evenly into loaf pans. Bake for approximately 65-75 minutes. If you are using mini loaf pans, they should only need about 30 minutes. 

These will be good enough to eat plain, fresh out of the oven!



Enjoy!









Sunday, September 3, 2017

Gluten Free Peach Crumb Pie

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I am headed to a family barbecue tomorrow for Labor Day and my brother-in-law has a gluten allergy. I was struggling with what to make for dessert. I wanted to make something themed for fall but also that everyone could enjoy, including him. I settled on peach pie (yes, I know peaches are more "summer" than "fall" but I feel like they also do transition very well into fall!). I hope you like this Gluten Free Peach Pie with a Crumb Crust! 
*If you are wondering where to get Gluten Free products, Raley's has a huge Gluten Free section, and a ton of choices! 


Ingredients:

1 - 9 inch Gluten Free Pie Shell (I use Wholly Gluten Free, which you can get at Raley's)

For the Crumb Crust: 
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 brown sugar
1 cup Gluten Free flour (I use Bob's Red Mill) 
1/2 cup melted butter
1 Tsp cinnamon
1/2 Tsp ginger

For the Filling:
6- Peaches, peeled and sliced
1 Tbsp cornstarch




Gluten Free Crust

Preheat the oven to 375 Degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugars, flour, cinnamon, and ginger. Add the melted butter until all mixture has become moist. 

Crumb Crust Mixture

Slice peaches and then in a large bowl, toss peaches with the cornstarch and 3/4 cup of the crumb mixture. Pour peach mixture into the pie crust. 

Peach Mixture

Crumble the rest of the crumb crust mixture on top of the peaches. Place the pie on a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 minutes. Top of pie will be golden brown. Enjoy!

Pie on Parchment Paper