Summer is here and kids are out of school. I know we all love having them home but it can be stressful to figure out something fun to do with them that won’t cost an arm and a leg. Here are some fun, eco-friendly tips on how to keep the young ones busy!!

1. Have an eco-adventure – This can be a walk in the park where you can teach them about the different kinds of trees, flowers bugs or anything else you might stumble upon on your journey.

2. Get Crafty – Save things you would normally throw away such as milk cartons, boxes, or any old t-shirts. You can easily transform “trash” into a crafty “treasure”. Just turn on your thinking hat and be creative!

3. Grow a Garden – This can be a special thing because you can see the smile on your child’s face as they turn seeds into food. They will learn about where their food comes from and will also get to enjoy it when they eat it. Satisfaction all around.

4. Visit the Library – Instead of spending money on new books or videos, head to your neighborhood library and check out endless supplies. Not only will the library be a great place to check out books and other fun things but a lot of times they will have special presentations for all different age groups that will be fun and educational for your little ones.

5. Be Charitable – Teaching kids how to give at an early age can be an important life lesson. Go through the closets of your house and start a pile of things that you can take to a homeless shelter or a church. Don’t stop with the clothes either, have your kids go through their toys and have them pick out ones that they would like to give to someone that isn’t as fortunate as they are.

These great tips were taken  from http://rismedia.com/2011-06-09/do-your-part-eco-friendly-ideas-to-keep-kids-busy-this-summer/

Being a people pleaser is not always a bad thing…however, when you avoid a client, stretch the truth to a client or tell them only what they want to hear, then your people-pleasing ways are getting in the way of doing your job and doing it truthfully. In an article in the “Today’s Real Estate Advisor” online newsletter, it discusses that when you are not telling your client the truth (ie. unable to tell them their house is overpriced) then they will lose respect for you and you could very well end up losing their transaction.

You might find yourself in a pattern of people pleasing that you have had your whole life, which is ok, but you need to realize that when dealing with clients you have to set boundaries. Having them stress out your life is not the way to live. Both of you have to win or there should not be a deal. In the end you need to please yourself and realize that you don’t NEED your client to like you, you NEED them to respect you. If you being working with a seller and they insist on pricing their house at an unreasonable point and do not trust your guidance, then simply do not work them, because you a creating a setting where they would win and you would lose. There are plenty of other clients out there that will respect you and not create a world of drama for you in the process of finding a house/selling a house for them.

This information http://rismedia.com/

The following tips are taking from an article posted on www.trulia.com.

If you follow these three steps, it will make your home buying experience much easier and a lot less stressful.

1. Work the Boy Scout program: Be Prepared. Trying to gather documents and money at the last minute can be very stressful so being prepared in the beginning can save you time and gray hairs’, in the end. Consult everyone early in on in your home buying process to save you stress in the end. Meaning meet and/or talk with a mortgage broker and real estate agent at the beginning.

2. Keep your timelines as flexible as possible, as long as possible. More time than not, escrow does not close in the time that you expected it to. There are many reasons that escrow is late at closing. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment by trying to time your closing with the exact day you are supposed to be out of your previous home or apartment. You are likely to be heartbroken and and up a creek! The key, be flexible. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

3. Pre-approve the folks across the bargaining table from you. It is simple. Make sure you know the qualifications and ability to close a deal, before you get into contract. Buying? Have an agent collect as much information as possible about the seller’s equity position, problems with the house, banks involved and successfulness of the listing agents ability to close a short sale. With as much information at the beginning of the buying process, you will be able to make an informed decision on whether to move forward with the house or keep looking elsewhere.

For the whole article, visit www.trulia.com

This summer, Bridgeland will be hosting a number of different summer camps, ranging from soccer camp to cooking camp. I will give you a list below of what they will be offering and when they will be taking place. Please let me know if I can help!!

Project Idea Summer Camp
www.projectideakids.com
Early registration discount code: BR45

Summer Fun Camps
These multiple weeks of fun and exciting camps include kids as young as 3 years old to up to teens to 14 years old.   Camps include things as: visual arts, girls only art, increase in self esteem, creating with clay, girls only fashion design, and tons of fun and excitement.

Summer Art Camp
Art campers will experience a variety of art materials; learn about art history, artists and art styles through painting, sculpting, collage, music, activities and more!  Classes are designed to be educational yet full of fun!  Don’t Miss Out! Class size is limited!

Camp Cook Summer Camp
www.camp-cook.org
Recipes, Food Art, and Food Activity each session.  All ingredients, supplies and recipes are included in the cost.  How to Register:  Go to www.camp-cook.org, Click on the Register Here button, Choose the BLAC location, Follow registration instructions, Register by the day, or for the full week, Enter discount code: BLAC2010 (this is an additional discount given only to Bridgeland residents)

Building Brains Summer Camp

Building Brains uses LEGO Duplo and K’NEX educational kits to BUILD math and science skills. These educational building kits have specially designed gears, levers and pulleys that teach students to build simple machines that really work.  Our students will BUILD simple machines while BUILDING fine motor skills and confidence.  Classes are designed to reinforce classroom curriculum.  Students use colors, sizes and shapes to correctly build a simple machine and then perform a scientific experiment to see how it works. In each class students will build a new and exciting machine and watch it work! Literacy skills are improved by memorizing poems with hand motions about gears, levers and pulleys to reinforce how they work and what they do.  Classes are progressive and BUILD on one another.  This is the next Generation of Critical thinking toys! We wrap our hands and our head around a problem.  Contact Kim Koenig at 713-204-0770 or visit www.buildingbrains.biz

Bridgeland Drama Camp
July 25-29, 2011

Bridgeland Summer Drama Camp is a fun filled week that will introduce young actors and actresses to the fundamentals of theater:  improvisation, storytelling, characterization, movement and creative expression.  Theatre and the arts encourage creativity and imagination as well as communication skills and teambuilding.   On the last day of camp family and friends will be invited to watch the kids shine in a performance that culminates 15 hours of theatrical training!  Instructor Candice Koern has been the director of theatre at Cy-Fair H.S. for 20 years.  She has successfully coached her students to zone, district, area, regional and state competitions and directed over 70 productions.  “Educating creative youth has been my career and my life’s love.  I believe passionately that theatre, art and music can motivate kids and boost confidence.”

Bridgeland Soccer Camp
July 25-29, 2011

Campers get exposure to soccer drills and skills. World Cup style tournament during the week with Championship game at the end of the week.  The soccer camp will meet at Bridgeland Soccer Practice Fields.

A lot of times when you are budgeting to buy a house, especially for first time buyers, you do not account for the unexpected expenses. It is very easy and very common to be short sighted when buying a house, getting caught up in the excitement and not realizing that there IS more than just paying your mortgage. In the following article, it talks about the unexpected expenses you will need to think about and realize, especially for first time buyers. Just because you are approved for a certain amount, does not mean you have to spend the certain amount. Remember, on top of your mortgage you will have utilities, improvements, decorating, etc. Thinking about all of the above can be the difference in enjoying your home and being in foreclosure. But, read the following artilce and become aware of the expenses that you just might not be thinking about!

While the economy is still in a roller coaster state, experts in Houston agree that homes are retaining their value, but buyers are a little caucious. The attached article is about how Houston-area home values have remained the same, which areas have remained strong, how to grab a bargain and the effects of low interest rates.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7514215.html