Joy of Arizona | Christina Vance, Realtor - Joy of Arizona with Christina Vance

What is Done in Love, is Done Well.

2/18/2019

One of my favorite quotes. What is done in love, is done well. It's so important to love what you're doing. None of us go to work with the desire to be average or worse, less than average. To really excel in your career, love what you do. When you are passionate about what you do for a living, you will put so much more effort and thought into it and it will show in your performance.

If you can't make yourself love your career, create a plan on how to change your career to something you do love. Another favorite quote of mine is from Oprah and it's: "do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do."

Words to live by.

Top 5 Romantic Restaurants in Old Town Scottsdale

1/31/2019

Virtu Honest Craft

This place is so super charming. Attached to the Bespoke Inn this small restaurant has a frequently changing menu that is sure to please the foodiest of foodies. Is foodiest a word? I think not, but you get what I mean here right?

FnB

FNB is located near the water front district, so be sure to go on a romantic stroll of the canal after dinner! Also don't forget to make a reservation, even on a regular week day, this place gets busy. We were lucky to get the last bar seats without a reservation on our visit. Interesting tidbit: I asked the bartender about the name and he said it stands for Food 'n Beverage.

The House Brasserie

If you go here for a special occasion such as an anniversary, let them know when you make your reservation and they'll try and get you into this really cute table by the fireplace! The House has a great patio that is perfect for dates and for group dinners where you're looking to impress.

The House Website

Grazie Pizza and Wine Bar

One of my favorite little hidden gems of Old Town. I'm not sure why, but people don't seem to know about it. Order a bottle (or by the glass too) of wine and a pizza or pasta and soak in the romance. Warm and inviting on the inside and lots of outdoor seating as well both on the front and side. I have hosted two bookclub nights here and it's tough to beat the atmosphere and friendly faces.

Cafe Monarch

Cafe Monarch Website

Cafe Monarch is the only restaurant on the list I have not personally dined in. I know however this list would be remiss if I left it off. I've seen this restaurant mentioned in National publications and everyone I know who's been speaks highly of it. I have of course walked by it, and it looks very charming!

How I made a huge impact in my 1950's bathroom for less than $50!

1/21/2019

Material's I used:

Rustoleum's Tub & Tile kit for $25 off of Amazon

*note I did find they sell a similar kit at Lowe's in the caulk aisle but it's more expensive and a brand I was unfamiliar with

4" foam roller

* you'll want to purchase at least 3 replacement foam rollers they disintegrated each time I put a new coat on

foam brushes
painters tape
face mask *you'll notice in the video I switch from the sort of face mask you might see people wearing on airplanes to a respirator. This stuff is very strong so be careful with it.
gloves
paint stirrer
sand paper

Also the really cute llama shower curtain came from TJ Maxx

How to HGTV your next home!

11/8/2018

If you didn't know it, I am super passionate about fixer-uppers, for so many reasons. I love fixing something that was broken, putting my own stamp on things, and of course sweat equity. I am currently working on renovating my own home that I purchased, and I would love to help others who have the same dream. Check out this quick video about how to get financing to follow your dreams!

Looking for LOVE in Scottsdale?

11/7/2018

Looking for LOVE in Scottsdale? The LOVE sculpture that is!

Sorry, can't help myself... I loved Dad Jokes before they were socially acceptable.
One more... I am a matchmaker... for houses and new homeowners...
Okay I'm done, I promise.

Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture moved, but it didn't move far. If you spend time in and around Scottsdale's Old Town area you likely know that the section of the Civic Center Park which is overtop of Drinkwater Blvd has been temporarily closed after engineers discovered a leaking fountain has created the need for construction on the overpass. Not only has it closed that section of the park, but also Drinkwater Blvd below it too.

Not to fear though, while the city is putting together a plan to fix it, they've moved the statue and created a temporary walkway through the park. If you're looking for LOVE .. sculpture it's now located just outside of the Scottsdale Civic Center Library. From the entrance to the library head north on the path that wraps around the library and there you'll find it! If you're on foot coming from the Scottsdale Mall Amphitheater in front of Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts, you can still walk right over where the LOVE Sculpture used to reside on a temporary walkway built by the city.

May you find LOVE!

27 Vegetarian Friendly Restaurants in Old Town Scottsdale and surrounding areas!

10/17/2018

My sister Janet came to visit last week, which also happened to be her birthday. While I could recommend plenty of restaurants, she's a vegetarian and it was important to me that there were lots of good options on the menu for her too. I asked my community on Nextdoor.com and was so thankful for the many helpful responses on vegetarian friendly restaurants near the Old Town area. It was such a great list, I felt it needed to be shared. So here we go! In no particular order:

Old Town Scottsdale:
1. FnB - a classy joint, think Farm to Table. I'd recommend making a reservation here. We went for her birthday, on a Wednesday and the restaurant was booked. We did get to sit at the bar though and just LOVED it. Other notes from fellow neighbors: FnB Chef Charleen Badman is the Wizard of Veggies. Order a lot of sides to share—there is nothing quite like it. And owner also put Arizona wines on the national map.
2. The Herb Box - if you haven't been here in the last year, note that it moved across the street to the old 5th & Wine location.
3. Cornish Pasty - tons of vegetarian options!
4. Barrio Queen - my personal favorite Mexican restaurant.
5. Original Chop Shop (also there is an Arcadia location)
6. Malee’s Thai Bistro - delicious, vegan and vegetarian options.
7. Kaleidoscope juice bar - they also make smoothies, avocado toast & vegetarian breakfast burritos.
8. Modern Market
9. Farm&Craft (also Central PHX location)
10. Simons Hot Dogs - yes they have vegan hot dogs and regular!
11. Totties Asian Fusion
12. Brat Haus - really great beer menu here too.
13. The Little Thaiger
14. Arcadia Farms - really cute little breakfast & lunch spot
15. Salads to Go - salad drive through (also Mesa and PHX locations)
16. Olive & Ivy
17. Wok 'n Roll

Central Phoenix, Tempe, & North Scottsdale Choices:
18. Blanco - Central Scottsdale
19. Hillstone - get the veggie burger- Phoenix
20. Green New American Vegetarian - Tempe
21. Udupi Indian Vegetarian & Vegan Cuisine - Tempe
22. MAD greens - 3 locations: Central Scottsdale, Central PHX, & Tempe
23. Fresh Mint - N. Scottsdale
24. Pita Jungle - multiple valley locations
25. Hummus Express - Tempe
26. Loving Hut - Tempe
27. Flower Child - Central PHX & N. Scottsdale

Let's Landscape that Pool!

10/1/2018

Ready to take on the task of landscaping your pool space? One of my favorite parts of living in Arizona is all the pools! You generally don't realize the importance in the types of trees you use until it's too late. Let's go over a few rules the trees around your pool should follow that will provide minimal upkeep and provide the best aesthetics.

The trees you choose should have minimal leaf drop and are not overly messy. You want to avoid cleaning seeds, fruits, flowers, and dead leaves as much as possible. This task can get tedious.
Choose trees that have shallow root systems. Some tree roots can cause cracks in the concrete and cause problems with the plumbing.
Choose trees that can be preferably moved around in large growing containers.
Go with a tree that matches the theme of your decor, weather that's tropical, Japanese, Mediterranean, desert oasis, etc.
Pick a tree that doesn't block a view you may want to keep when it's fully grown.

Below, we'll list top 7 of our favorite trees to use throughout your pool landscaping. We recommend these trees based on their root system and the minimal amount of shedding in their leaves and fruits. Choose from one below that will match the theme of your decor:
1. Palm Trees
2. Citrus Trees
3. Banana Trees
4. Japanese Maples
5. False Cyprus
6. Floss Silk Tree
7. Fruitless Olive Trees
In addition to trees, potted plants with beautiful flowers are a nice addition. If your pool is in direct sunlight, but sure you have an umbrella that you can move around as well for some afternoon shade while relaxing in the pool.

Cheers!

Small Bathrooms Tips

9/24/2018

Is your bathroom small? I work primarily in the Old Town/Central Phoenix area and most of the homes were built in the post war era. These older homes, have loads of charm, but often charm=small spaces. Unless the floor plan has been completely altered and square footage added on many of these homes are between 1100-1500 SF total with very small bathrooms. A change of organization and storage space can make a drastic change to how your bathroom feels. Here are a few tips and tricks to make your bathroom space feel more functional and spacious.

Medicine Cabinet
If you have a regular mirror, replacing it with one that includes a medicine cabinet and provide further storage space.
Shelving
If you have free space above your toilet, vanity, or other another empty part of the wall, install shelving units. Purchase a few decorative baskets to maximize shelf space. I love baskets because you can tuck things away and still have easy access to them.
Hooks
With a few decorative hooks, in a style of your preference, you can declutter by placing a couple on the back of the door to hang towels or robes. Perhaps one or two right next to each end of the shelving unit you just installed.
Towel Racks
A rack installed inside of you shower can save you space and convenience, also adding an additional shower bar above the original will work nicely. Another idea is installing a few racks a couple of feet above each other or right next on another. If you have an excessive amount of towels, store some of them away in the bedroom closet.
Vanity with Cabinet
I have come across plenty of pedestal sinks in small bathrooms, but if you want save some space, add some storage, and upgrade the look of your bathroom at the same time, a vanity cabinet will definitely do the trick. Bonus if you can have a vanity with drawers - drawers can make the best use of space in a bathroom.
Keep scale in mind

No, I don't mean the weight measurement type of scale here. If your bathroom is small, then your vanity and accessories should be also. An oversized vanity in a small bathroom will only accentuate the size of the room. I am currently working on a project where the house was built in 1956, the original vanity is very narrow, and makes the small bathroom feel large. I'm planning to refinish the small vanity and put a new top on it rather than replace with one of today's larger/deeper sized vanities.

Go bold with your design

I think my favorite thing to do in a small bathroom is make your first thought be how stylish, not how small. You could achieve this with some temporary wallpaper on an accent wall, cool lighting, painted cabinets, accent tile in the shower. Consider taking the shower tile to the ceiling to bring your view up as well.

Simple Sprucing Tips For Your Home

9/19/2018

You don't need thousands of dollars to fully refurbish your home to make it feel like new again. Instead, you can DIY a lot of features in your house to help spruce it up for the upcoming season. Whether you plan to sell your home, have guests over, or are just tired of how drab it's been feeling lately, here are a few tips and tricks you can use to refresh your space:
CLEAN + DECLUTTER
Throw out all of the junk taking up space! You'd be surprised by how much more you'll fall back in love with your home when you take out the collection of accumulated stuff that has piled up over the years and finally get to see your home's features for what they are. Store what you don't need/use in either the attic, garage, or in a storage unit. After you've decluttered, be sure to finish it off by cleaning your home. Clean windows, walls, and the floors for the best results.
BRING IN NATURAL LIGHT
Do you have heavy curtains covering your windows? Bring them down! Not only will this make your space feel bigger by removing stuff off the walls, it'll also feel alive again with all of the natural light that pours in. I love using white curtains to the ceiling, keeps things feeling soft and still feels light and breezy.
ADD FRESH PAINT
Nothing refreshes a home like a new coat of paint. If you have dark dull colors, opt for lighter tones. Covering up stains on the walls, or drab old paint, can help your house feel brand new all over again. My favorite paint color? Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore.
ADD TILE
Consider adding a tile backsplash in your kitchen or bathroom. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get beautiful results. Be sure you get tiles that compliment the colors in the space, so it doesn't clash and look unappealing.
ADD COLOR
Although neutral colors are always recommended as the base of any home decor, don't be afraid to compliment your neutrals with a pop of color. You can add it throughout the home by using flowers, pillows, decor, or even light curtains that are staged on the sides of your windows. I also love adding an accent wall in the home for a great pop of color!
CHANGE OUT FIXTURES + HARDWARE
You'd be surprised by how much more a kitchen can look different just by replacing the hardware on the cabinets. A bathroom or living room can come alive again by installing a brand new light fixture. If you moved into a place that still has the same stock hardware or fixtures, replace them and add a little creativity with the new pieces you have installed.
REARRANGE FURNITURE
Head to Pinterest and get inspired for new living room, bedroom, or dining room arrangements. Most homeowners decorate "incorrectly" when it comes to standard staging rules. View a variety of furniture set-ups on social media and let it motivate you to rearrange your space. You don't have to buy a bunch of new furniture to make a drastic change.

Cleaning 101 Before Listing

9/15/2018

Before you list your home, you'll want it sparkly clean for potential home buyers. A dirty house can be a big turn off and could thwart potential offers. If you can afford it, hire a company to do a deep clean. To really do a nice job outshining the competition, hire a floor cleaner to clean your grout in-between tiles, and carpets. Pro-tip, often you can find carpet and tile cleaners on Groupon and save some $$$.

MISC:
+Replace any burnt out lightbulbs
+Dust ceiling fan blades
+Dust AC registers
+Clean the front door & threshold, it's the first thing people will see
+Keep all curtains open for showings - let in that beautiful natural light

KITCHEN:
+ Wipe down all cabinets.
+Remove everything from counter tops and keep it clean
+ Clean all appliances, inside and out.
+ Clean stove hood, on top and bottom.
+ Clean behind the refrigerator, on top and bottom too.
+ Ensure the microwave is clean of food splatter.
+ Clean the space behind the sink.
+ Wipe down blinds/shades.
+ Wash any kitchen rugs, clean the floors and baseboards.
+ Store all of your pet food/food out of sight.

BATHROOM:
+ Clean behind toilet and under sink.
+ Only display absolute necessities, declutter.
+ Organize and clean under the vanity.
+ Scrub floors and clean grout lines.
+ Keep dirty clothes and towels off the floor.
+ Be sure to lock away any medication.
+ Clean the fan and make sure it's functioning.

BEDROOM:

+ Wash sheets, comforters, and blankets.
+ Clean the curtains and rugs.
+ Dust furniture.
+ Remove any obvious stains from fabrics.
+ Keep closets clean and organized.
+ Store away dirty clothes and personal photos.
+ Clean marks on walls.