azho swenson ross dec. 10

a mountain holiday getaway

Three Experiences You’ll Love

home repairsMake 2011 The Year To Tackle Those Tasks

a holiday-inspired delicacyThe Herb Box’s Honey Roasted Pears

Arizona HomeownerDecember | 2010

“MakingitHappen”ismorethanjustatagline.JanandMaryputthosewordsintoACTIONeveryday!AsRealtorswithextensiveexpertiseandexperience,JanandMaryknowhowtomakerealestatetransactionssmoothandsuccessfulforeachandeveryclient. Ifyou’rereadyforBuyerorSellerrepresentationwithastandardofcareunsurpassedintheindustrytoday,giveJanandMaryacall!

MARY SWENSONABR, CRS, e-PRO

Board Member & Co-Chair, Luxury Home Tour

Past Chair, Premier Marketing Group

[email protected]

JAN ROSSAssociate Broker,

ABR, CRS, GRIBoard Member & Past Chair,

Luxury Home Tour

[email protected]

Please visit our websitewww.YouMakeItHome.net

It’sokaytobea“nosyneighbor”,checkouthomesforsaleinyourneighborhoodusingourmappingfeature!Orcallustodesignacustomportaltofityourrealestateneeds.

Featured Listings

Thanks to the people who contributed to our

success in 2010...Maureen & Andrew – always make our job easier!

(www.nextedgevideo.com)

Kate – keep those referrals coming!

Dominic, Sandy, Jerry, & Bev – Brokers/ President extraordinaire!

Mike – thanks for all our Alaska referrals and friends!

Teri – cleaning up after us! (The Grime Reaper)

Brenda & Steve – always ready to fix us up! (Phil’s Home Maintenance)

Leeann – working hard to ensure our clients find the right financing

Robert – thanks for the great cut & color & advertising! (www.zoltons.com)

Shannon – keeping us in line!

And sooo many more

If you have any home needs, please don’t hesitate to contact us for referrals throughout the Valley!

Need a HUGE kitchen/family room with OPEN FLOOR PLAN, 18’’ travertine, slab granite, handsome cabinets & center island? Is a GUEST HOUSE a must have? Generous

outdoor spaces, fenced pool & OVERSIZED patio make entertaining easy. Did we mention VIEWS of Camelback Mountain? Beautifully readied for sale … you have found your new home!

5 BR / 5 BA / 5,273 sf - MLS #4484373. Offered at $1,200,000.

MOVE-IN READY IN ARCADIA

Are you tired of looking at old and ordinary? Then don’t pass this up! Beautifully updated with 24’’ travertine, cherry cabinets, slab granite, exquisite fixtures, leaded glass & more. Are you wanting a lock-and-leave home with captivating views of Camelback Mountain along with a charmingly landscaped entry courtyard for entertaining? Welcome home!

Great close-in community with newly renovated clubhouse, pool and tennis courts. 3 BR / 3.5 BA / 3,088 sf - MLS #4478140. Offered at $975,000.

ECHO CANYON

LOOKING FOR THE BEST VALUE IN CENTRAL SCOTTSDALE? You need to see this beautifully updated & charming home featuring Murano glass lighting, granite slab countertops,

Kohler Pro Cook Center, wine refrigerator, updated cabinets with pull-out shelving, refurbished master with jetted tub, bidet, heatilator fireplace, sitting area, Kohler sinks, shower

with Grohe faucet. Relax with a quiet cup of coffee in your private rear yard, complete with fountain and colorful landscaping. Price reflects great value, central Scottsdale location, and

added benefits of enjoying the amenities of the Hilton hotel. 3BR / 3BA / 2,758 sf - MLS #4473480. Offered at $325,000.

HILTON CASITAS

Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLIfestyle.netIf your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation for that listing.

85026PERMIT 1441

Event CalendarDecember 2010

ZoolightsThe Phoenix Zoo, Month of December602.273.1341 | PhoenixZoo.orgThe magic begins after the animals at the zoo go to sleep! Get in the holiday spirit as you meander through 2.5 million lights and nearly 200 light sculptures including a talking giraffe at this popular annual event. Enhance your experience with wagon rides, festive music, hot chocolate and freshly made churros!

A Taste of Old TownOld Town Scottsdale, Tuesdays-Sundays800.979.3370 | ArizonaFoodTours.comWhether you’re entertaining out-of-town visitors or want to get to know our Valley a little better, this tour is a great way to do it. Your three-hour adventure includes the tale of Scottsdale’s Wild West origins and a story of how Scottsdale has changed and evolved through the years. Then comes the best part: Sampling six great restaurants in the area including Frank and Lupe’s, The Mission and Su Vino Winery.

Hanukkah Holiday Party: Boutique and Vendor ShowJCC Valley of the Sun, December 5th 480.483.7121 | vosjff.orgBring the whole family down for great fun, games and a little bit of shopping. There will be numerous boutiques and vendors for you to browse or maybe pick up a last-minute Hanukkah gift for someone special. Inside the lobby, Israeli-inspired crafts and games will be set up for the children as you imbibe in seasonal delights such as latkes and sufganiyot.

Fall Classic Golf TournamentGrayhawk Golf Course, December 10th602.954.8182 | bgcmp.orgThis annual fundraising event is a hole in one! Participate in the three-man scramble at Grayhawk’s award-winning golf course. All golfers will receive a gift package, barbecue lunch and beverages. Proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix, an organization that provides much-needed programs helping today’s youth to reach their full potential. The weather is fabulous, the cause is worthy; come hit the links!

White Christmas GalaArizona Biltmore, December 11th602.200.0767 | RyanHouse.orgEnjoy an enchanting evening set back in the 1940s. The night includes a memorable dinner, live entertainment and swing dancing to your heart’s content! Proceeds benefit Ryan House, an organization helping families caring for children with life-threatening conditions through their quality-of-life services.

Holiday Tea Sweet Basil, December 30th480.596.5628 | SweetBasilGourmet.comLearn to entertain guests with a lovely tea party just as you role-played when you were five! Learn the basics of making traditional tea as well as many tea-party-worthy recipes such as rosemary scones and raisin finger sandwiches. Then, invite friends over for a splendid afternoon to celebrate the New Year!

Featuring The Herb Box | Scottsdale | TheHerbBox.com

Your Home

Ever notice how some things on your home to-do list never seem to get done? Maybe they seem daunting in scale (and will put a big dent in your piggy bank) or perhaps they are a bit on the (yawn) boring side. Or maybe some of these tasks always seem to get pushed down the honey-do list because they’re just not that important in the grand scheme of things. Why not make 2011 the year you finally tackle these tasks … once and for all. Or at least until this time next year!

• Check your fire alarms. You say it every year, but honestly, do you really do it? Well, you should. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), smoke alarms were present in only two-thirds of all reported home fires and operated in just under half of reported home fires from 2003 through 2006. Some tips from the NFPA: Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, making sure that there is an alarm outside every separate sleeping area. New homes are required to have a smoke alarm in every sleeping room and all smoke alarms must be interconnected.

• Get an energy audit of your home. Got a drafty room? Does condensation appear on windows in your bathroom? Does it never seem to cool off in your kitchen? A home energy assessment can help you evaluate these issues—and with fixes, can help you lower your energy bill. Visit EnergySavers.gov and click on “Your Home” to get tips on choosing an auditor.

• Seal the driveway. You get the fliers in the mail and every year think, “Maybe next year.” Well, make this the year you make your driveway look as nice as it did the day you moved in. Nothing says curb appeal more than a properly maintained driveway without cracks, patches, or oil and grease spots. Why not up the ante with a high-end look and replace concrete with pavers?

• Re-caulk your tiles … all your tiles. We know, it’s a pain and nobody likes to do this job, but it needs to be done, right? Trust us, your home will look worlds cleaner and nicer if you re-caulk all those bathroom and kitchen tiles. Don’t have the time or patience to do it yourself? Hire a pro and get the job done.

• Clean out the garage. We mean really clean it out—cobwebs and all. Doing this dirty work now when it’s cooler out will pay off later when the weather warms up and you’re searching for your pool floats and camping gear.

• Put in crown molding. Can you say “finishing touch”? Crown molding can really make a room pop and give your home a luxurious look. However, for many of us, it’s an afterthought and something you just never get around to doing. Add some to your dressier spaces and set your home apart from the rest.

• Replace those energy-sucking antiquated appliances. Most of us have one or two older appliances that moved with us to a new home or that simply have always been in our home, but they don’t function as well as they could—and they use twice as much energy as their new counterparts. Your energy bill will thank you!

• Have the condition of your roof checked. Yes, it can be a pricey undertaking but it’s one of the best ways to keep your home waterproof and cooler in the summer and warmer in the colder months. And at resale time, many buyers won’t even look at a home if it looks like it needs a new roof.

• Scrub dirty walls or repaint if necessary. Even if you don’t have children around the house to grub up your walls with stickiness, we’re all bound to have scratches, scrapes, wear-marks or pet wear on our walls and baseboards. Get those areas sparkling like new!

MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY GETAWAY #1: Hidden Meadow Ranch (HiddenMeadow.com) Location: Set on 150 acres in Greer, AZ.The perfect spot for: Large family celebrations and a big gathering for the holidays.What it’s all about: Nestled in eastern Arizona’s White Mountains, Hidden Meadow Ranch offers 12 guest log cabins, perfect for every branch of your extended family tree. Each handcrafted log cabin can accommodate up to five adults and offers luxurious mountainside decor (including wireless internet, so don’t fret about being snowbound!). Winter activities include: Horseback riding in the snow, horse-drawn sleigh rides, sledding, snowshoeing, back-country trips on the ranch’s 24-passenger Snowcat, ice fishing, and nearby cross-country skiing. Also close-by is skiing and snowboarding at Sunrise Ski Resort, just 30 minutes from the ranch.Highlights: This is no rustic, bare-bones cabin experience. Expect top-notch mountain accommodations, inspired gourmet dining and service from the staff that makes you feel like the pampered guest that you are. Another cool feature:

Staff members deliver daily firewood to each cabin so you and your family can stay toasty warm!

MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY GETAWAY #2: Molly Butler Lodge (MollyButlerLodge.com) Location: Greer, AZ (yes, this is the place to be in winter!).The perfect spot for: Kids! Cabins nestled in the woods, winter activities galore, and a visit to see Santa. Need we say more?What it’s all about: Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, Molly Butler Lodge is a Phoenix-area institution for family fun — especially in the winter. Arizona’s oldest continually operated lodge, it’s the place to bring the kids for an unforgettable winter getaway.Winter activities include: Sledding, nearby sleigh rides and horseback riding at Wiltbank Trail Rides, hiking, and stargazing (the skies up there get dark!). And don’t forget skiing at Sunrise Ski Resort, only 12 minutes away.Highlights: Now in its second year, Molly Butler’s North Pole Experience is the end-all-be-all of a child’s holiday dreams come true. This experience includes a “magical” ride to the North Pole,

toy-making sessions with the elves, story reading from Mrs. Claus, and of course some family time with Santa himself. Not to be missed by true Christmas fanatics.

MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY GETAWAY #3: Prescott, AZ, known as “The Christmas City.” Location: Ok, you’ve figured that one out already! But in case you don’t know, Prescott is only 90 miles north of Phoenix.The perfect spot for: A romantic getaway. Couples looking for one-on-one time should stay at the Hassayampa Inn, voted the number-one historic hotel in Arizona by the Arizona Republic. Try the Romance Package, which includes overnight accommodations, dinner for two, in-room champagne and chocolates, and breakfast for two. (HassayampaInn.com). What it’s all about: Prescott is known as Arizona’s Christmas City. Here you’ll find numerous holiday activities throughout

the season. In a nutshell, this town is crazy about Christmas and a trip here is guaranteed to help get you in the holiday spirit. Highlights: For starters, check out the Holiday Light Parade on the Courthouse Square, which kicks off the season, followed by the 28th Annual Prescott Christmas Parade, when Santa visits for a festive ride through downtown. Next, enjoy some adult music at Yavapai College Performance Hall when the Prescott Pops present Merry Christmas & All That Jazz. For a sweet treat, visit the Prescott Resort to see the World’s Largest Gingerbread Village, an annual creation featuring more than 100 gingerbread structures on display. And not to be missed, see the Valley of Lights, a self-guided drive through the many animated and lighted displays set up at Fain Park. (For details on all these Christmas festivities, go to Visit-Prescott.com and click on “Events.” )

HONEY ROASTED LOCAL PEARS WITH ROGUE CREAMERY GORGONZOLA IN PINE NUT CARAMELINGREDIENTS:4 local organic pears 1/4 lb. butter 1/2 cup local honey1/4 cup cream2 Tbs. toasted pine nuts3/4 tsp. sea salt4 oz. mild gorgonzola cheese

PROCEDURE:• Cut pears in half (ok to leave seeds intact).• Heat butter in sauté pan, cook pears cut side up approximately 6 minutes.• Turn pears over and sauté cut side down until brown and caramelized.• Pour honey over pears, let simmer for another 3 minutes.• Remove pears from sauté pan to complete the sauce.• Whisk in cream, toasted pine nuts and sea salt.• Place pears on serving platter. Glaze with warm pine nut caramel and top with thinly sliced mild gorgonzola.• Enjoy!

Serves 4-6

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Or simply in the mood to get away this holiday season? We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re in search of the

perfect kid-friendly spot (a visit to the North Pole included!), a place to meet for a large family gathering, or a quiet romantic retreat for two, we’ve found just

the locale for you. Let the festivities and memory-making begin!

Hidden Meadow Ranch