Boise Valley Realtor

McDonell Homes Realty

Beccie McDonell, Broker

850-3062

Dear Clients, friends and family,

Hard to believe it is December already! Year in Review, here is just a few things that stick in my mind.

Obamacare - (Affordable Health Care act)

Government (shutdown)

Deficit ( it is still growing)

Food ( I love pintrest, it's a great storage site)

Gardening (I love the drip system Jim has put in, it has cut my weeding by 2/3rds)

Music ( I still like the old stuff like Nora Jones)

Acts of Kindness - Jesus (Is still alive in America, just saw in today's news someone in his name is leaving large tips all across American - so far to date it is $54,000

Planning on Buying a home in 2014

Start Planning Now!

With big changes coming to the mortgage industry at the beginning of next year, many consumers will want to evaluate their home buying plans. Regulations drafted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will change the definition of a qualified mortgage for any loan applications received on and after Jan. 10, and many consumers may find themselves unable to meet the new requirements. That is the short story folks, if you are on the fence - get off it! Get a hold of your lender now to check your options!

Qualified mortgages are loans that meet certain standards designed to ensure that borrowers are highly likely to be able to pay back the amount in question. Facing this challenge, it's up to the hopeful homeowner to improve their chances of mortgage approval by doing the necessary research, improving their credit profiles and meeting the qualified mortgage standards well in advance of filling out loan applications.

Tub Clogged? Bathtub and shower drain clog tips from Roto-Rooter - go to

http://www.youtube.com/user/RotoRooterTV?v=AqN7gWSh0lc This is a great site!

Early this summer our dishwasher died because we live out in the country and are on a well, which gives us very hard water. Hard water is very hard on dishwashers. So all summer I did due diligence in regards to trying to find a "good" dishwasher. I discovered that a few years back they took the phosphates out of dishwashing soap. So long story short, we bought a Maytag DW with a water temp booster! Really ups the temp of the water. Love it! I will give it a four star ****.

Ways to get thru WINTER SO many People had their pipes freeze up here in the Boise Valley, we will want to get ready before that cold snap is here again.

Close the foundation vents or cover with plywood.

If you live in an older not well insulated home, leave the sink and bath tub faucets on a slow trickle, to keep the pipes from freezing.

Leave the cabinet doors open to these sink pipes.

Do not turn your heat below 60 degrees

Take a YOGA or exercise class Yoga was very hard for me to begin with. Age does not make a difference. Breathing was and still is at times difficult, during this class. I have become a better breather, more flexible, stronger, and I am finding much better balance. My spine and joints are also more healthy.

"A Happy Spine is a Happy Mind"

Protect your Health - 5 Diet Reminders

1. Load up on fruits and veggies - this has been easy

2. Choose better fats - plant base - easy

3. Drink Water - Not Lattes

4. Eat More Fiber - fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans - easy

5. Keep portions in check - single service portion only - I use a small plate - challenging, unless I eat every two hours so I don't get hungry

6. No snacking after 6 pm - This has been hard for us - we do have tea and that water

7. No sugar, white flour or white rice - Very challenging because I have a sweet tooth. But I have come up with some really good low carb recipes

And read good Books - This year we made it through Atlas Shrugged.

Beccie's Low Carb Apple Pie

2 cups blanched almond flour

1/4 tsp sea salt

2 Tblsp coconut oil

1 egg

4 apples, cored and sliced

stevia and cinnamon

butter

1. Place flour & salt in food processor and pulse briefly

2. Add coconut oil and egg and pulse until mixture forms a ball

3. Use fingers to press dough into a 9" pie dish

4. Bake at 350 degree for 5 min.

5. Put in one layer of apples, lightly cover with stevia and cinnamon and small dabs of butter, do the same 3 more times - it should be domed above the rim. It will cook down

6. Then I cook at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Until the crust is looking nicely browned and the apples are tender when poked with a fork.

You can serve with real whipping cream or ice cream. We use whipping cream to stay low carb.

Jim really likes this pie.