Lake Mary Event Center

Glamourous and romantic, this venue offers beautiful reception areas as well as various onsite ceremony locations. Outdoor ceremony locations include the event lawn, the trellis area, as well as the fountain patio. The glass enclosed Rotunda provides a beautiful ceremony site inside of the Lake Mary Event Center. Catering services must be provided by one of the following caterers:  Arthurs Creative Events & Catering, Big City Catering, Cuisiniers Catered Cuisine & Special Events, Levan’s Catering, Puff’n Stuff Events Catering, River City Catering, and 4 Rivers Smokehouse. Many of those caterers have or will develop packages to include setup/ decoration, service and cleanup, as well as linens, china, centerpieces etc.  To find out more information simply click on this link: http://www.lakemaryeventscenter.com/

Don Shula's Steak House

Me and my husband’s last anniversary was spent dining at Don Shula’s Steak House. Located inside of the Swan and Dolphin Hotel, it’s a perfect place to take someone special. The dimly lit Restaurant is dark and cozy. The wood paneled walls are accented by photographs of the founder Coach Don Shula and his accomplishments while coaching in the NFL. All combined, I like to think of it as the perfect marriage of luxurious, masculine and romantic. Describing the service, the phrase that came to mind was the “white glove treatment.” The servers were polite, prompt and engaged. Me and my husband were assigned two servers, one took care of all of the drinks and cleaning up, the other on our food order and providing charming small talk. For appetizers we ordered the crab cake, and the Lobster bisque. While both were delicious the lobster bisque was the better of the two. Then it came time for those steaks……… I ordered the Cowboy Ribeye, and my husband had the Porterhouse. We order a side of sautéed mushrooms and the twice baked potato which we both shared. Now biting into that Cowboy Ribeye was just about the best thing I have ever experienced. Besides meeting my husband, and two children, meeting that steak was life changing. I didn’t want it to end. I ate slowly and deliberately savoring each bite of that amazing piece of meat. My husband was a fan of his Porterhouse but agreed that the Cowboy was juicer than his. In my mind there was no competition. The Cowboy had won this competition. We finished off our meals with the Molten Lava Cake which was set on a plate with the words Happy Anniversary written in chocolate.  It being our 8^th year of marriage, we acknowledged that our love had grown, and while it was stronger than ever, we had both fallen in love with a new man that night, Don Shula.

Link for more information: http://www.donshula.com/shulas-steak-house

First-time Homebuyers Dos and Don'ts

A “DO AND DON’T” LIST

FOR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS

(Orlando, FL) – For most people, buying a home is the most significant investment they will ever make. Today, with an abundance of homes for sale, interest rates at near historic lows and home prices lower than in the past in many markets across the country, it may also be the smartest time to buy a home. 

While the prospect of owning a home is an exciting one, it can often times seem overwhelming, especially for those who are new to the real estate process.   With that in mind, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate has come up with a simple “do and don’t” list for first-time home buyers dreaming of homeownership.

DO:

• DO utilize free online tools to arm you with as much knowledge as possible.  For example, the Coldwell Banker YouTube channel, On Location, offers consumers a new way to search for and interact with real estate information and listings.  The channel showcases the power of video to bring real estate more vividly to life – offering behind-the-scenes looks at towns and neighborhoods, smart tips and timely news on real estate topics, and video listings of homes for sale.  Additionally, the Coldwell Banker Home Listing Report offers buyers a way to compare average housing costs in thousands of U.S. and Canadian markets. 

• DO take time to access and closely review your credit score.  A sound financial track record and solid credit score can help lock in a loan and lower interest rates.  Checking your records with a fine-tooth comb in advance will also ensure that you catch any errors ahead of time, as well as help you better understand how lenders may perceive you.

• DO explore mortgage pre-approval.  A pre-approval will let home buyers know where they fall financially while informing the mortgage company that they are ready to buy. Additionally, getting this early go-ahead will help others involved with your purchase know that you are serious about home ownership – and well-qualified.

• DO line up your “all-star” team of professionals before game day.  A team of experienced professionals is essential to making the home buying process simple and seamless.  Start by interviewing and selecting an agent who you “connect” with.  That agent may also be able to help you identify suitable lawyers, mortgage lenders, home inspectors and others who play a role in the process.
  
  
• DO anticipate your future needs and buy for lifestyle.  Try to anticipate how long you’ll live in your next home and plan for major lifestyle changes when possible.  What may make a perfect starter home for a couple might not work as well when children come into the picture.  Remember, people move for lifestyle reasons and your first home will likely not be your last.

• DO hone in on your housing priorities.  Your ideal home may have a porch, a pool and five full baths.  But before you start looking, make sure to separate your “must-haves” from your “nice to haves,” so you know where you can compromise to meet your budget.

DON’T:

• DON’T fall in love with the first house or neighborhood you see.  That Victorian home with the white-picket fence may win your heart at first glance, but don’t fall in love too fast.  You need to keep an open mind to make sure you find the right fit for all your needs.  At the end of your search, it may turn out that the riverfront ranch that’s closer for your commute is a better bet all-around.

• DON’T buy beyond what you can afford.  It’s easy to fall into that all-you-can-eat attitude when it comes to your first home purchase.  You “want it all” when it comes to size, amenities, location, etc.  But remember that your eyes may have a larger appetite than your wallet.  Make sure that the down payment, closing costs, monthly expenses and taxes are truly within your income and savings range before you sign on the dotted line. 

• DON’T treat your home the way you treat your stock portfolio.  It’s unrealistic and unwise to expect your housing investment to appreciate as quickly as you’d hope for your high-risk bonds.  Buying for lifestyle, as opposed to trying to turn a quick profit, will help ensure that you are viewing home purchasing and ownership in the right context.

• DON’T try to time the market.  By the time most consumers sense a major real estate or financial market shift, the tables have typically already turned.  Instead of waiting for a slim and unreliable window of time – and potentially missing out on the perfect home – buyers should focus on their own lifestyles and buy when the time is truly right for them.

• DON’T jump into an overly tempting or confusing mortgage.  When it comes to down payments and mortgages, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  Be sure to read carefully through every aspect of the proposed agreements to fully understand your end of the bargain.  For instance, what seems like an attractive rate now may balloon exponentially a few years down the road.  

• DON’T underestimate the value of a trustworthy real estate agent’s on-the-ground expertise.  While being a savvy buyer and doing one’s homework will help on the road to homeownership, a local expert with years of negotiating experience is invaluable when it comes to scouting out the perfect home – and closing the deal.

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate located at 5965 Red Bug Lake Rd. Winter Springs, FL. Marilyn Laboy can be reached at 407.230.1710 or Marilyn.laboy.cbintouch.com Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.  Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

Junie B. Jones The Musical

My daughter, who started kindergarten this past August is a huge fan of Junie B. Jones. If your a parent that has a child in elementary you've probably know exactly who I'm talking about. Thankfully, whether it's at school, from a parent or loving family member most generations get introduced to a book series. For me it was Ramona and Beezus (thank you Miss. Brown), Pippy Longstalking (thanks mom), and Amelia Bedelia (again mom, thank you.) As soon as I realized my daughter had her own "girl" to read up on, I jumped on the opportunity and quickly filed her bookshelf with any Junie B. Jones book I could get my hands on. I had experienced first hand how much these books helped to grow a love for reading, and I was going to make sure my daughter had the same opportunity.  Then this past weekend I heard about an exciting event that will hopefully encourage my daughter to read on.  Junie B. Jones is now a musical and its playing here at the Orlando Rep! So I wanted to share it will all you moms, who may have a little Jones of your own or are simply looking for something fun to do with the kiddos. See you there!

Click on the link for dates, times and tickets: Junie B. Jones The Musical

East Orlando-Avalon Park

Avalon Park is the East Orlando version of a city within a city. Its picturesque streetscape is a charming introduction to the 1,860-acre neighborhood. Avalon encourages a small town lifestyle with Schools and spiritual centers all located within the vicinity. Festivals are held yearly at the founders square, along with other community events that support the notion of small town living. Downtown Avalon includes a mix of shops, businesses and restaurants which makes it a pleasant location to take a stroll or meet with friends. Although there are condos, and duplexes that make up this area, it mostly consists of single family homes. Below is an example of the architecture and design.   

Wedding Venue- Casa Feliz

In my search for wedding locations, I came across this home several years ago. It was love at first sight, and it stills stands as one of my favorites. Casa feliz is an antique jewel in the Winter Park community. The historic home was built by  famous American architect James Gamble Rogers II in 1932. With a Spanish farm house in mind James designed the interior of the building with high vaulted ceilings and massive hand hewn-beams. The grounds surrounding the property include lush landscapes, intimate courtyards, sweeping oaks and native plants. Truly one of a kind, if you’re looking for a romantic and intimate location, then this one deserves your attention.   
Click here to visit their website: Casa Feliz

Photographs courtesy: A chair Affair, Kristen Browning Photography, & Kristen Weaver Photography

Mexican Resturants In Central Florida

 Wondering where you can find authentic Mexican food in Orlando? In my opinion the answer is nowhere but Mexico and California. Born in L.A. I moved to Orlando when I was 7 years old and although I wasn’t born here, I still consider myself a proud native Floridian, but when it comes to food, there’s nothing that compares to the amazing food you get in southern Cali and Northern Mexico. It’s actually a pretty common topic between us Mexican/Americans. Why is so good there? Is it the soil? The water? The wind? Magic fairy dust? …..Seriously what is it?!? Its so good in fact that as soon as your plane lands in Cali, all you can hear is the whispered chanting of "Tacos! Tacos! Tacos!" You can look around and see everyone facing their friends or family members trying to determine how many minutes it’ll be before they’re off that plane with food in front of them. This description might seem like an exaggeration, but just take a flight to Cali and you’ll see for yourself. So flying back to Orlando feels good, because after all, this is home. But when dreams of tacos ensue, what can you do? Here's a list of my favorite “authentic” Mexican restaurants in Central Florida:

Tienda Mexican Jalisco
-2021 North Goldenrod Rd. Orlando, FL 32807

El Paso
-4520 W State Rd. 46 Sanford, FL 32771

Azteca D’Oro 
-11633 University Blvd, Orlando, FL 32817

Kids Moving Checklist

There’s no doubt that while moving is generally exciting, it’s also stressful and a lot of work. As a mother of two kids I can say that I fully UNDERSTAND how difficult it can sometimes be to get everyone moving along. There is a checklist that will help you and the kids take things one step at a time. Not only will it help you sort and pack their things, but it will keep everyone focused on the positive, more exciting part of moving. So while this list may not eliminate the hard work and organization is takes, it may definitely lower the chances. In order to download the check list click here:

https://www.cbflorida.com/files/user_files/document-gallery/KidsMovingChecklist_FL.pdf

Home Depot Workshop

If you’re looking for something free to do with the kids this weekend, I found a pretty cool event. It’s the Home Depot workshop for kids. What kid doesn’t want to build or craft? Plus according to the details, kids get to keep their handmade crafts (aka mothers collectibles), a certificate of completion, a workshop apron and a commemorative pin. Sounds like a plan to me! It's held every first Saturday of the month. If you’re interested in taking your little ones here is the link to find local information:

http://workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops

East Orlando- Waterford Lakes

East Orlando- Getting to know this neighborhood was pretty easy, considering I’ve lived in the area for over 20 years. I can attest that this area of Orlando has a good variety of activities for all age groups. You’ll find students shopping or studying, moms shuffling kids to the local pools, and parks, business professionals grabbing drinks after work, and retired individuals exploring the always new restaurants opening up. Here is a quick overview:

Waterford lakes: The local watercooler, this place is always busy. No matter the day, no matter the time. It includes a large mix of retail stores, along with restaurants and a movie theater. Waterford which is surrounded by small business and is located in the middle of UCF and a large area of Suburban homes attracts individuals from all walks of life. Whether you are new to Orlando, or a native here are some highlights:

Eat: Thai Singha-  Chances are if you live in east Orlando, you’ve either eaten here or heard of it. Its cozy, fairly priced, and delish. Need I say more? Didn’t think so.

Shop: Um Target? Hello! I AM a stay at home mom/realtor BUT I did want to broaden my horizon beyond the predictable. So I tried, but to be honest, I couldn’t.  Shopping for me is a mission, not necessarily a hobby. Waterford is a great mix of giant stores like Target, Best Buy, and Barnes & Nobles but there is also a good variety of locally owned boutiques. Although I couldn’t place a favorite, there is no limit to what you can find.

Events: Waterford holds a local fair every winter, which me and my family have integrated into our yearly list of traditions. Rides, games and fried dough have kept us coming back and it’s great to have something so big so close to home.