The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30.

EVEN PARADISE CAN HAVE A HURRICANE THREATEN IT!

The Emerald Coast is more beautiful than most can imagine… Pristine white quartz beaches, clear emerald green water and clean air and clear skies. We also live in Florida, which is known for threatening storms such as hurricanes.

Although we are fortunate to have science so advanced that it can forecast a storm or severe weather and keep us posted on the path of a storm, it is extremely necessary to take precautions. You really want to learn how to prepare for a hurricane, just in case.

I hope the following hurricane season checklist and tips will help prepare you as we go thru the next Atlantic hurricane season:

• Enter the season prepared
• Know all evacuation routes if you live close to the coast
• Make sure your home meets building codes for withstanding hurricanes, and they have hurricane shutters
• Have proper tools, supplies, and a first aid kit
• Have plenty of batteries and flashlights
• Always have plenty of non-perishable foods on hand

• Hurricanes are typically slow moving giving you several days to finalize your plans
• Pay attention to the Weather Channel or go to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) as they constantly update the path of the storm
• Make sure you have plenty of fuel in your vehicles
• Have several days’ supply of food and water for each family member
• If called to evacuate, do so immediately
  

• Be ready to put your plan and hurricane preparedness into action
• Continue to watch local weather reports on radio, television, or the internet
• Have house boarded up, or have hurricane shutters in place
• Have plenty of food and water
• Make sure all your tools, supplies, and first aid kit available for use
• Have a secure room available

• Stay in Secure Room
• Stay away from windows
• Do not use the phone, or candles
• Monitor Weather and Civil Service Bulletins on either regular or NOAA radio
• Have supplies on hand
• Remain indoors when the eye moves over your area because the storm will resume shortly

• Make sure that all is definitely clear outside, and the storm has completely passed before going out
• Report downed power lines, and stay away from them
• Use stored water and food
• Be patient. Things will take a while before they get back to normal

Be Safe. Be Smart. Be Prepared for the next Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Aye, Mates, that time of year is upon once again. It’s the Billy Bowlegs Festival, of course!

Back in 1953, a group of businessmen dreamed up the idea to have a three day, Labor Day, water skiing festival with a theme of piracy. The Legendary, (authenticity somewhat questionable), William Augustus Bowles, who allegedly did dastardly deeds in the area in yore, was picked as the Theme Captain of the festivities. Through the years the Billy Bowlegs event has evolved into a full blown theme of Pirates, “Krewes”, Kings, Queens, courts and “besieging” the town of Fort Walton Beach. Parades, activities, grog and grub and music are just a few of the activities now offered, besides viewing the ships in the Sound and fireworks.

Here is a calendar of Billy Bowlegs events you better attend or maybe be taken hostage to!

Thursday, May 31st:

• 4:30-6:30pm – Pirate Walk in Downtown Fort Walton Beach
• 6:00pm – Festival begins at The Landing, 139 Brooks Street SE, Fort Walton Beach (Free Admission)
• 7:00pm – Torchlight parade sponsored by Carter & Co.
• 8:00pm – Pirate Contest
• 8:30 pm – Headliner: Jukebox Super Heros
• 10:00pm – Festival ends for the day

Friday, June 1st:

• 3:00pm – Festival Reopens at The Landing (Free admission)
• 4:00pm – Tom Mason and The Blue Buccaneers
• 5:30pm – Juke Joint Willie
• 7:00pm – THE SKIRMISH
• 8:00pm – Headliner: Cabo Rock
• 9:30pm – Fireworks

Saturday, June 2nd:

• 12:00Noon – Festival Reopens at The Landing – (Free Admission)
• 2:00pm – Tom Mason and The Blue Buccaneers
• 4:00pm – THE PIRATE LANDING
• 5:00pm – Red 423
• 6:30pm – Kasba Dancers
• 7:00pm – Headliner: The Landsharks Band
• 8:30pm – Fireworks
• 9:00pm – Festival Ends

Friday, June 1st, Billy Bowlegs and his Krewe will Land in Fort Walton and then on Saturday will attempt to overtake the city of Fort Walton from the Mayor the Mayor and his militia. There will be pirates all over!

Aye, The Billy Bowlegs Festivities will be a Grand Time!

When you think about South Walton County’s 30A area or Destin, FL, you naturally think of the pristine, sparkling white sandy beaches and crystal clear emerald blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. But, there is oh so much more to these locales…A variety of Art galleries don these Emerald Coast neighborhoods!

If you have not taken the time to explore the talent that is exhibited in the galleries in South Walton along 30A and in Destin, FL, you must do so.

From contemporary paintings to traditional landscapes, sculptures and woodwork, glass work, jewelry, tin and metal works and so much more, you can feast your eyes on creations that you would not think were available for all to see.

For your convenience, I have listed some of the galleries you can visit and enrich yourself and your family just by experiencing the creativity of so many artists.

ArtsQuest - May 11-13, 2012 – Don’t miss 130 International artists exhibiting their work for two and half days in Seaside. There will be live music, artist workshops and demos, Kidzone and food and beverage options by the Merchants of Seaside.

• Big Mama’s Hula Girl Gallery – The Shops of Old Seagrove (Behind Whisky Bravo Restaurant) – (850) 231-6201
• Cara Roy Artwork – Seaside – (850) 231-2535
• Donna Burgess – Sandestin (Grand Boulevard) – (850) 837-1887
• Eileen West Gallery– Seaside – (850) 502-1847

• Fusion – 2 Locations: Sandestin (Grand Boulevard) & Seaside – (850) 231-5405
• Geana’s Art Gallery – Destin, (850) 650-0779
• Red Bird Gallery – Seaside – (850) 231-3404
• The Studio Gallery – The Shops at Grayton Beach, (850) 231-3331
• Wendy Prentice – Gulf Place – (850) 974-1452
• Zoo Gallery – 500 Grand Blvd, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 – (850) 837-9233 ‎

The artwork you will see, from 30A to Destin, FL, will truly be a treasured experience. Who knows, you may even end up purchasing a piece to behold for a long time!

Sales are up…inventory is down! In fact, we are at our lowest inventory levels in 6 years!

Here are the 1st quarter charts for homes and condos from 30A to Destin FL.

What do these charts mean? There is less property (active) coming on the market…on average down almost 10%, Pending sales are up almost 19%, Homes and condo sales are up almost 6% and less property is expiring off the market down about 5%.

The number on the left represents the number of units (homes and condos) sold from 30A to Destin FL.

Bottom line…we are moving towards a balanced market…right now we are in a buyers market. A balanced market doesn’t favor buyers or sellers, but is “balanced” between the two.

30A to Destin FL real estate is selling! Don’t miss your opportunity!

Another Review of A Local Eatery from my friend the food critic…

Located in the heart of Seagrove Beach, FL, Café Thirty-A is a seasoned (no pun intended) café in the area. Whether Spring, Summer, Winter or Fall, you will always find this eatery a buzz.

The atmosphere is pleasant with its linen cloths and napkins donning the tables along with simple but smart place settings. The service was impeccable, at least at our table, as we were fortunate to have Glen catering to our every whim and desire. Our glasses were never left empty… Whether wine, liquor or H2O, we never once had to seek our server to accommodate our beverage requests. That, in itself, was delightful!

Before I begin the descriptions of what we dined on (there were four of us), I would like to add that the presentation of each dish was very appealing to the eye. Sometimes, that is half the “flavor” of the dish! The wine list is extensive and you may purchase it by the glass or bottle.

One of our foursome began with the Roasted Beet Salad, which was red and yellow beets, candied pecans, arugala, gorgonzola, Verjus Blanc and E.V.O.O. It was a little bland and needed maybe onions.

Another of our guests selected for her first course the Beef Carpaccio, served with horseradish sauce, truffle vinaigrette, shaved Asiago and arugula. It was quite enjoyable.

And of course, the old stand-by of Caesar salad with home- made croutons was tasty but not authentic.

The bread served at each table with olive oil and/or butter was simply fair at best. I highly recommend they seek a better bakery to provide a tastier, heartier bread for their offering.

On to the main courses. The Pan Roasted Cobia, accompanied by Saffron Risotto, chorizo, Spanish Roma tomatoes and Chimichurri was Delectable. It has a refined, fired taste that tickled the pallet. The Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin, presented with creamy polenta, braised cabbage, roasted apples and peach demi was, although sounding rich in flavor, was not. However, when we asked Glen if two of us could have the surf without the turf, we were given two Lobster Tails instead, with an additional charge, of course! I must say, the lobster, poached in butter, was prepared to perfection and the basil infused mashed potatoes were simply divine.

To finish off the low- cal meal we had consumed, we just had to partake in a little desert and after dinner beverage. We opted to share the Pineapple Upside Down Cake which was recommended. Sadly, in expectation of a scrumptious, calorie laden desert, it was flat and not very good. The cake was very thick and there were not even any cherries! Humph!

All in all, the experience of dining at Café Thrity-A was pleasant and fun, thanks in great part to our server Glen. I do recommend dining at Café Thirty-A. And I recommend you ask for Glen!

Don’t miss Cafe’ Thirty-A’s early bird special…2 for 1 between 5 & 6…every day! Need a reservation? Call or book on-line.

And for being a loyal follower of my blog, head over to my Facebook Page (of course hit the like button if you haven’t already), and let me know why you would like a $25 certificate to Cafe’ Thirty-A. One lucky winner will be chosen at random.

The Emerald Coast, famous for its magnificent silvery white beaches and emerald green waters, creates the best backdrop for that family beach portrait, individual shot or group picture.

Many people choose to have their vacation recorded with a beach portrait. So, who do you call to execute this important moment that will produce a lifetime of memories?

To recommend one specific beach photographer is impossible…unless you need an Architectural Photographer, then I highly recommend my wonderful husband, Michael James!

Since his niche isn’t beach portraits, I will let you be the judge and simply supply a list of our locally talented beach photographers:

• Simply Charming Photos by Charm Hess – www.simplycharmingphotos.com; phone: 850-368-5801
• Jason Christopher Sgobba – www.Photographer850.com; phone 850-685-3951
  
• Dede Edwards Photography – www.dedeedwards.com: phone 850-543-0426
• Tina Smith Photography – www.tinasmithphotography.biz; Phone: 850-307-8874
• Michael K.Photography – www.michaelkphotography.com;Phone: 850-218-3714
• Joseph Mayer – www.thedestinphotographer.com; phone: 850-987-9016
• Jubilee Photography, Amanda Eubank – www.Jubileephotography.com; phone: 850-459-7751

• Image Photography of Destin – www.destinimagesource.com; phone: 850-582-5182
• Expressions Professional Beach Portraits – www.expressionsbeachportraits.com, phone: 850-269-1954
• Eye Candi Photography – www.myeyecandi.com; phone: 850-445-1193
• Ilona Dorota Photography – www.ilonadorotaphotography.com; phone:850-687-9833
• Antonio Cesar Beach Photography – www.antoniocesarphotography.com; phone: 850-267-0303
• Frost Images – www.FrostImages.com; 850-650-7755
• Helendall Photography – www.jennifersmallphotography.com; 850-654-0002
• MC Photo – www.mcphotos.com; phone: 850-231-6715
• Photocraft by Tom Warriner – www.photocrafttom.com; phone: 850-803-1161
• Steven H Photography – www.stevenhphotography.com; phone: 850-685-4034

There are many more gifted photographers in the area, but I just could not list them all. Hopefully, this will be a help to those seeking a beach photographer to record your memories with a beach portrait!

Say Cheese!

Springtime brings Easter Egg Hunts and the Easter Bunny. Colorful eggs and pretty hats are synonymous with the holiday.

Let’s see what some of our communities are hosting for this years Easter Egg Hunts and Easter Activities.

Destin, FL:

Destin’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt: The City of Destin’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 9:15 a.m. April 7 at the Morgan Sports Center for youth ages 12 and under. There will be a special egg hunting zone for crawlers and toddlers. Call 650-1241or email recreation@cityofdestin.com for information.

Easter Explosion: Hop over the Village at Baytowne Wharf, Sandestin, FL for their “Easter Explosion”! On April 7th, between 10:00am and 11:00am. The Village will host David Seering with an Easter Sing-a-Long which is a non-denominational gathering. From 12:-3:00pm there will be face painting and crafts for the children along with an inflatable fun zone and a stilt-walker. And do not forget to visit the Easter Bunny!

Jolee Island Bunny Hop and Easter Egg Walk: Sandestin hosts the first Jolee Island Bunny Hop and Easter Egg Walk at 9:30 a.m. April 7 at the foot of the Jolee Island Bridge. Entry for a family of four is $20, with $5 for each additional person. Children of all ages will have an opportunity to hunt for more than 4,000 eggs, containing candy, toys, coins or cash, along the trails of Jolee Island.

HarborWalk Village in Destin, FL will have face painting and crafts for 2-4:00 on Easter Sunday, April 8th and there will be pictures with the Easter Bunny on the Village Stage.

Easter at Eden Gardens: Picnic in the Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 8 at Eden Gardens State Park in Point Washington. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch. The festivities include music and a visit from the Easter Bunny. The Friends of Eden will have cupcakes available for a donation.

South Walton, along 30A:

WaterColor Resort, has posted an Easter Egg Hunt at Cerulean Park but the date they posted is incorrect. Please call and verify the date and time: 850-534-5000, if you are interested.

Seaside, FL is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday, April 8th from 12:00-2:00pm and there will be over 10,000 eggs! Visit the Easter Bunny while listening to the sounds of music from Radio 30A. Egg hunt begins at 1 p.m. with special places for children 1-4 and 5 and older.

Alys Beach Tea Party: Alys, the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter will host a Tea Party from 10 a.m. to noon April 7 in the Amphitheatre in Alys Beach. Enjoy fairy tale food, hat decorating and mingle with the classic characters. The event is free and open to the public but hats are limited to the first 150 young guests. A suggested $5 donation will be accepted to benefit the Seaside Repertory Theatre.

Rosemary Beach, FL will hold a Non-denominational service at 8:30am on the Eastern Green ( please bring low rise chairs) and the hunt is on for those colorful Easter Eggs at 9:00am. An Easter egg hunt begins at 9:45 a.m. on the Western Green, rain or shine.

May the Season of Easter bring you a refreshing, new spirit of joy and love. And may the kids enjoy all the Easter egg hunts!

Do you know how to stage a home to sell?

Interior design expert, JC Croom, shares with us the three “Ps” to properly stage a home.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I have hired JC (the Professional, and his 1st “P”, watch the video for the other2!) many times to stage my listings, as I have no idea on how to move things around!

When staging a home, the littlest things can make a huge difference!

Below are some before and after pictures of a condo JC staged for me. There were over 75 “trees” in the unit. It looked like a forest!

Sitting Room Before Staging

Sitting Room After Staging

Living Room Before Staging

Living Room After Staging

Bedroom Before Staging

I received this email from Brittany. Let me state that I already have an Attorney for my BP claim. Any information below should be verified…things change daily as far as what is happening with the BP claim process.

Hi! This is Brittany Crum, New Claims Manager & Assistant to Alisa Ballestra. Alisa has asked me to send you this important update.

From Alisa Ballestra…

We are contacting you to keep you informed on the BP claims process as huge and positive changes are happening right now.  At the same time the media is full of contradictory and misleading information. Our goal is to clarify your understanding of the new process and of the way forward for those who are interested in making claims (or continuing claims) for a final settlement from BP.  *This e-mail is being sent to you because you are on my list of realtors for one reason or another.  If you don’t want to receive any updates from me please let me know and we will immediately take you off the list.  We have no interest in bothering you!

HERE IS THE LATEST INFORMATION WHICH MAY AFFECT YOUR BP CLAIM:

BP has made a settlement with the New Orleans District Court that has authority over all BP oil spill claims.  There was a class action lawsuit of approximately 100,000 cases that was set to begin a trial at the end of February.  IF you are with an attorney you may already be part of this lawsuit, but you might not.  Most people are not part of this lawsuit but THE SETTLEMENT STILL AFFECTS YOUR CLAIM even if you are not signed with an attorney.

LOST PROPERTY VALUE CLAIMS ARE GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE!! –

We don’t have the formula yet, but the proposed settlement includes payment on claims for lost property value.  So far we have heard that this type of claim will cover property that was sold by December 31, 2010 and BP will pay a percentage of the lost value.  I don’t know how they will have us determine what that lost value is and I don’t know how they will calculate short sales and foreclosures but they are included.  It also appears that they new Claim Center will consider paying for the lost value of a property even if it has NOT been sold.  In this case the property must have already had a confirmed contract prior to the oil spill and that contract must have cancelled after the oil spill occurred. I will keep you posted.  In the meantime, if you or a client sold a property that you owned between May – December 2010 let me know because we will be able to add that to a claim under the new rules.  If you know someone who had to sell a property during that time, please refer them to me.  We are working to stay up-to-date on the procedures for handling this type of claim and we will have the most current information available for answering questions and moving these claims forward.

Alisa Ballestra, President
Miyathwe Consulting – Claims Consulting
e-mail: ClaimsByAlisa@yahoo.com
mobile: 941-961-0927

Spring Break in Destin, FL and along 30A is CRAZY!

This picture was taken by the Whales Tale in Destin, FL…need I say more?!!

Beach by the Whale's Tale, Destin, FL

Spring has sprung from Destin, FL to 30A!