templeton | The Keith Byrd Team's Real Estate Blog

May

Consignment shopping thrives in North County

North County has some great consignment stores for those who love a bargain.

Templeton’s Upscale Resale is a fabulous place for women’s clothing, shoes, accessories and even handmade jewelry by a local designer. It is small but a wonderful mix of clothing for a wide range of tastes and ages. I can never walk out without something…….most often the shoes and the jewelry……very nice quality stuff.

Templeton also has a wonderful store for kids clothing……..Mollywog’s Fine Children’s Consignment. I got almost a whole wardrobe for my nephew’s baby for a very small amount of money……..I wrapped everything separately and with a memory from my nephew’s childhood………a lot of stuff and in perfect condition.

My current favorite for home items is Consignage in Paso. This is one you may want to visit often as things come and go with shocking speed……..fun stuff! Everything from pottery to outdoor furniture to larger pieces, designer things and a sampling of ‘repurposed’ and vintage finds.

Written by Nancy Heins - Go to Nancy's Website/Profile
Nancy Heins, Keith Byrd Team, North County Realtor of San Luis Obispo County including Paso Robles, Atascadero, Templeton and Santa Margarita. 805 458-3583

Apr

A Planned Move is a Stress-Free Move

At Meathead Movers, we have completed over 20,000 moves and have learned the importance of preparing for the move. Because moving requires a person to make so many changes in his or her life, there are often things that are forgotten and/or overlooked. For this reason, we have created a moving checklist for our clients so they can prepare for move day. The purpose of this checklist is to remind our clients of major tasks that can be overlooked when dealing with the upcoming transition of a move. Who wants to deal with the stress of moving Albert, the pet turtle, on move day because you forgotten to make relocation plans for him? What about having the family car overheat when following the moving truck to your new home 200 miles away? Situations such as these (and these are actual examples–trust us, we’ve seen it all and more!) can be a disaster and cause a lot of unnecessary stress on move day which are easily avoided if you had planned ahead. Remember, a planned move is a stress-free move!

Aaron Steed, CEO
www.meatheadmovers.com

Written by Meathead Movers - Go to Meathead Movers's Website/Profile
(866) 843-6328 MeatheadMovers.com

Mar

Relocating to California? Registering your car may cost more than you think!

It is worth a bit of investigation into the fees and ‘not so obvious’ charges that may apply when first registering vehicles in our beautiful state. For instance, apparently if you purchase within 1 year of relocating, you will likely be charged state sales tax….or so I am told by a very shocked and overwhelmed friend. I spent some time on the website but was unable to easily find the charges that they were hit with……no clear way to determine what to expect. There is no appeal to these charges and no way to explain such things as your car being recalled…….doesn’t keep you from having to pay the fees. Other states have this also so the reverse may be true. To investigate further, go to http://dmv.ca.gov.

Feb

Winter Scenes from Hwy 46 West

A rare Winter snow blankets Spring blooms. Views looking down on the 46 where the low fog hovers while hilltops are clear and chilly…….all of this in one day!

Dec

Wild Life in North County…..or is it Tuscany?

I am always awed by the scenery and natural beauty of SLO County. Spring is particularly lovely in North County but the recent rains have the splendid sights showing up early. These days I don’t leave home without my trusty little camera……just in case. While I don’t claim to be the best photographer, I took these minutes apart in the early morning fog on my way to work. Couldn’t resist posting these…..a handsome field that you might spot in Italy, some shy deer sampling the newly sprouted grass and a frisky ‘herd’ of wild turkeys. You can tour the world to see these sights but we have them right here at home……are we lucky or what!?!………Happy New Year!

Nov

A Home for the Holidays?

Shopping for a home during the holidays can be a good strategy. The pool of potential buyers normally shrinks during this time of year as folks become busy with holiday activities. This can potentially open a few doors for those who can fit a home search into their busy schedules. With the interest rates holding nicely low, I encourage my buyers to continue their search and keep focused on finding that perfect home. No sure way to tell what this year will bring but what better present to give yourself than a new home to put under the holiday tree!

Oct

Fun for Foodies in Templeton

Promising myself that I would experiment with cooking more fresh and interesting foods, I headed into Nature’s Touch Market in Templeton. It all started with a glass of wine at 15Degrees Wine Bar (near Trader Joe’s) and a yummy tapa of blistered shishitos sweet peppers – tasty, simple and good for you! To my delight, Natures Touch now has added Windrose Farms produce inside this foodies’ paradise. Not only can you find fun things to cook but help with your experiments in the way of cook books, suggestions and - my favorite - Chaparral Gardens tasty (guiltless) vinegars. The most helpful Gail H suggested a couple of recipes and I spotted a couple she had posted for some of their less common produce and I couldn’t help but try them all. My version of the shishitos peppers was a big hit at a friends house for dinner later in the week. Make a trip to this wonderful food emporium…….you will not be dissappointed!

Oct

Open Studios Encore Weekend

San Luis County is known for it’s beauty and certainly the wine. But music and art are produced in abundance here, making this a truly special place to live and visit. Every year local artists combine resources and hold an open house weekend. This event is so popular that this year they are holding an Encore Weekend of this event. SLO Arts Council now makes the gorgeous brochure more available (free) throughout the county and online as well. But if you are out enjoying the scenery, don’t hesitate to stop at any one of the artists residences that open their doors to visitors. I love to search out my favorite artforms from the brochure but I have had some wonderful surprises at these spur-of-the-moment stops. For more information go to http://www.sloartscouncil.org/open_stu.html. A very special experience!

Oct

Enjoying North SLO County to the Fullest!

Clients and friends come to town and I always try to think of way to best appreciate the beauty and flavor of this area. Over time I have decided that this is best experienced by sampling as many of our wonderful Bed and Breakfast as possible. Charming, relaxing…….always intent on the pampering of their guests, these charming little inns are all so special and unique. Each proprietor selects their favorite food and wine and go all out to make the settings, bedding and decor so inviting that you could really make this a habit!

One of my current favorites is the Santa Rita Inn in Templeton. Central to darned near everything in North County, this old farmhouse has been so tastefully enhanced that you may never want to leave the cozy great room or the shade of the front porch. There are a couple of stand alone cottages, one with a tiny but complete cooking area and sitting room plus fenced yard with firepit. Charlotte is a warm and welcoming gal who effortlessly makes sure that guests feel at home. And boy, does she know how to spoil you with yummy food and drink. www.santaritainn.com

But I warn you………this could become a habit!

Sep

Savor – Santa Margarita Ranch rides into Sunset (the magazine)

Santa Margarita Ranch hosts ‘Savor the Central Coast’ put on by none other than Sunset Magazine this weekend. Foodies, wine enthusiasts, history buffs, and the socially concerned will all find something to appreciate. The event is two days but visitors can go either Saturday or Sunday. Santa Margarita Ranch is a special place that plays a large part in the history of the Central Coast. Tours of the ranch and the history will be on display. But this is more than a wine and food fest as the timely theme appropriately considers how we get our food as well as how it is prepared. I plan to head straight to the ‘Sunset Kitchen Garden’ which is a two acre display garden that is both aesthetically pleasing as well as functional as it provides essentials for the cook. There are many demonstrations and educational events from local chefs, farmers wine makers and Sunset Magazine editors – From Market to Meal; Chickens, Chickens and More, Fresh from the Fields – California Breakfast, just to name a few. Find out more about this world class event at http://www.savorcentralcoast.com . This something not to be missed!