Date Archives: June 2022

People often say that the kitchen is the heart of the home. But the pantry is a close contender! As the place where you store your snacks and cooking ingredients, your pantry deserves to be an organized, efficient space. You'll love being able to open the door and find what you need in an instant without having to search multiple shelves. So, how do you go about organizing a pantry? Our real estate agents have broken this task down into seven steps, which are presented below.

1. Sort Through Everything
   Before you start putting items into place, pull everything out of your pantry. Sort through your items, throwing away products that have expired. If there are foods you know that you'll never use, donate them or give them to friends.
   
   With the extras gone, make a list of the products that remain. If there are items you use regularly but don't have on hand right now, make a trip to the store to purchase them. Then, add them to your list.
   
   
2. Categorize Your Items
   Look down your list, and start dividing your items into categories. Good categories to include are spices and seasonings, pasta and dried goods, canned goods, baking ingredients, and sauces. Once you've categorized your list, move your actual items into piles based on how you categorized them on paper.
   
   
3. Transfer Open Items Into Clear Containers
   It's hard to maintain an organized pantry with a bunch of half-empty bags and boxes. Plus, opened boxes attract pests. So, invest in some clear containers and empty those boxes and bags into them.
   
   There are lots of good brands that make clear, plastic, and glass pantry containers. Pick containers that are stackable and easy for you to open.
   
   
4. Label Your Containers
   Even if you can see into the clear containers, labels make things more clear. You'll also have an easier time figuring out what you need to buy to fill empty containers. If you have a label maker or can borrow one from a friend, that's awesome. Otherwise, you can make your own labels by writing, with markers, on white stickers.
   
   
5. Line Your Shelves
   Before you put your containers back into the pantry, use a stick-on shelf liner to line your shelves. Our agents have seen this in some Bradenton homes for sale and Sarasota homes for sale, and it really does make pantries easy to clean. Choose a cute pattern or a solid color that matches your pantry walls. The shelf liner should come with application instructions on the package.
   
   
6. Organize Your Shelves
   Decide on a shelf for each category of items. You'll want to put items you use more often on shelves close to eye level. Those that you use less often can go further down where you have to bend to reach them. For example, if you only bake a few times a year, your baking items can likely go on the bottom shelf.
   
   
7. Add a Few Extras
   Once all your food is back in the pantry, it is time to add a few extras to help keep the space more organized. Consider mounting a marker board on the pantry door. You can use this to keep track of your shopping list. Find a bag holder to mount to the pantry door, too. This will give you somewhere convenient to stick plastic bags when you get home. Add any other extras you think may come in handy, too.

If you spend the weekend organizing your pantry, you'll save so much time when you cook and snack later on. Contact us if you're still looking for the perfect home — and pantry — to call your own.

Having a pool gives you a quick, enjoyable way to cool off in the summer. We've seen so many lovely Bradenton homes for sale and Sarasota homes for sale with pools. If you buy a home with a pool, you should know there are plenty of ways to customize your pool and pool area, making it feel more like your own. Here are a few features to think about adding.

• Slides
  A slide can be an awesome addition to your pool. People often think of slides as being for kids, but there are models large enough for adults to use, too. A straight slide gives you the perfect way to make a splash with your entrance. A longer, spiral slide can be fun for older, more independent kids to play on. Keep in mind that water slides are usually only recommended for deeper pools since landing in shallow water can be dangerous.
  
  
• Bubblers
  If you want to create a peaceful, relaxing environment in your pool, consider adding a bubbler to one corner. The gentle bubbles that emerge will mander through the water before rising to the surface and gently popping. Surround this corner of your pool with plants, and you have the perfect little resting spot.
  
  
• Spillways
  A spillway is basically like an artificial waterfall built into one wall of the pool. It's typically mounted a foot or two above the water level so the water can come tumbling out and land in the pool. The sound of the tumbling water adds to your ambiance, and it can be fun to splash around under the spillway.
  
  
• LED Lighting
  Swimming at night can be much more fun with LED lights in your pool. Most of these lights are color-changing. You can set them to rotate through colors every few minutes, or you can select a color for them to remain all night. Imagine lighting your pool up blue and red for Independence Day or green for St. Patrick's Day. LED lights are also energy-efficient, so you can feel good about this eco-friendly pool addition.
  
  
• A Fountain
  If your pool has more of a classic look, you may want to add a fountain to its design. You can find fountains that feature sculptures of everything from fish to Greek gods. Pick one that coordinates with the rest of your landscape as a way of making your pool feel like a more integrated part of the yard.
  
  
• Natural Rock Waterfalls
  Many pool companies will come to add natural rock waterfalls to the edges of pools. They can create a unique pile of rocks and hide a pump inside them. Water will tumble down over the rocks, creating a peaceful experience. You may want to have some built-in seats added near the waterfall so you can enjoy a close-up view more often.
  
  
• Outdoor Shower
  Hygiene is important, even when you're in your own private pool. Showering before you get in the pool can help conserve the chlorine and keep the pH levels in check. Showering after you get out of the pool can rinse the chlorine off your skin, so you don't feel too dry. There are plenty of freestanding pool showers that can be installed just outside or next to the pool. You and your guests can then rinse off quickly while dressed in your bathing suits.

With the right features, your pool will become one of your favorite parts of your home. If you're still looking for the perfect Florida home with a pool, our real estate agents can help. Contact us to learn more about our services.

Baseball season is upon us, but you don't need to go to a Major League game to enjoy excitement and fun. Our real estate agents know that a hard-fought Minor League game can be a joy to behold. As you explore Bradenton homes for sale or go across the way to Sarasota homes for sale, you'll have the best Minor League Baseball action right in your own backyard.

Bradenton is home to the Bradenton Marauders, the Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They play from historic LECOM Park, originally known as McKechnie Field, which has witnessed some of the greatest baseball games ever played in the Southeast.

A wonderful thing about Minor League Baseball is that you can enjoy it both before and after wrapping up the Major League season. There's always a welcoming community vibe, especially when LECOM Park is operated by the volunteer Bradenton Boosters during spring training.

Let's take a closer look and learn all about the team and venue.

About the Bradenton Marauders 

Part of the Florida State League, the Bradenton Marauders are the Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Like the field in which they now play, the Marauders have a longer history than one might think: They're directly descended from the Tampa Tarpons, which started in 1957.

In April of 2010, the Marauders played their first game in front of nearly 2,400 spectators at what was then called McKechnie Field, named after Bradenton resident and Hall of Fame inductee Bill McKechnie. In a promising start for the team, they defeated the Fort Myers Miracle with a score of 18-3.

In their first season, the Marauders led the league in runs, batting average, and on-base percentage.

The 2011 season is when the Marauders really established the vibrant local fanbase that they still have to this day. They attracted more than 56,000 fans after 40 home games, a complete turnaround, and a record-breaking performance in the world of Minor League Baseball.

They made an even bigger mark starting in 2015, their first-ever championship season, where they capped off one of the most memorable streaks of the decade to defeat the Tampa Yankees by three games to one. It was their first Florida State League title and truly put them on the map.

A Truly Historic Bradenton Landmark

LECOM Park was renamed in 2017 but is perhaps best known as McKechnie Field, where it has been closely associated with the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1925. Opening in 1923 as City Field, it has been called "Florida's Fenway Park." It's the oldest stadium in the U.S. and is still used for spring training.

It also stands shoulder to shoulder with world-famous Wrigley Field and Fenway Park as the third-oldest stadium still used by a Major League Team. Its layout, nostalgic appearance, and standard amenities have made it a stomping ground for the most enthusiastic baseball purists.

One of the most unique aspects of this family-friendly park is the role of the nonprofit Bradenton Boosters. The Boosters have worked hard for nearly a century to support and improve the venue – many of its upgrades and updates over time can be traced back to fundraising campaigns by these volunteers.

Throughout the spring training season, you'll find the Bradenton Boosters serving as ushers, security personnel, merchants, and press box attendants. It's one more way LECOM Park is a unique local institution.

Be sure to check out their home game schedule so you can experience this baseball diamond in person!

Contact us to learn more about Bradenton and Sarasota.

The beaches of Sarasota County await you this summer, and it wouldn't be a proper beach day without some great oceanfront snacks for the whole family. Fortunately, you won't have to travel far from the warm sand to enjoy a cool drink and a refreshing meal, with delicious beach concession snacks available a short walk from your favorite Sarasota County beaches. Our real estate agents have the delicious details on where to find beach concession snacks in Sarasota County this summer.

• Siesta Beach Eats – 948 Beach Rd., Sarasota, FL 34242
  With both a Sand Pavilion where you can grab a quick bite and a Sun Deck where you can relax with views of the ocean, Siesta Beach Eats is your one-stop-shop for beach concessions near Sarasota homes for sale. The Sand Pavilion offers quick bites like burgers, fries, wraps, and salads, while the Sun Deck has a more extensive menu. There's also a retail shop where you can pick up equipment and supplies for the beach.
  
  
• Lido Beach Concession Stand – 400 Benjamin Franklin Dr., Sarasota, FL 34236
  In the mood for beach fare that's a little more upscale than what you'd usually find at a concession stand? Lido Beach Concession Stand offers tasty treats like fish tacos, lobster rolls, and New York strip sandwiches, along with all of the delicious basics that you'd expect from a beach concession stand. Enjoy your meal with outdoor seating near the concession stand, or take the short walk back to your spot on the beach.
  
  
• Coquina Beach Cafe – 2560 Gulf Dr., Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
  Located on Bradenton Beach, a short trip from Bradenton homes for sale, and featuring a deck that overlooks all of the action on the beach, Coquina Beach Cafe is the perfect place to recharge during your next beach day. In addition to plenty of food options, there's a full menu of frozen, tropical cocktails for the adults to enjoy and a delicious selection of ice cream for the kids.
  
  
• Venice Beach Pavilion – 101 The Esplanade S., Venice, FL 34285
  Featuring a unique, winged roof structure that was built in 1963 and a convenient location near Venice homes for sale, the Venice Beach Pavilion offers excellent breakfast sandwiches along with a full lunch menu. Grab a breakfast sandwich to kick off your beach day, or stop by during lunch to try their signature BLT.
  
  
• New Pass Grill & Bait Shop – 1505 Ken Thompson Pkwy., Sarasota, FL 34236
  Located on Sarasota Bay, close to your favorite beaches, New Pass Grill & Bait Shop is the perfect place to enjoy a waterfront meal after a day at the beach. Their award-winning New Pass Burger has delighted customers for nearly a century, and the full-service bait shop has everything you need for fishing at the beach.
  
  
• Pier 22 – 1200 1st Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205
  For an upscale dining room experience that still offers casual vibes near the beach, try a trip to the Pier 22 restaurant for dinner after your next beach day in Bradenton. Pier 22 is more gourmet restaurant than a concession stand, but its location near the beach makes it a local favorite after spending a day with your toes in the sand. Try the lobster tail, steak dinners, or fresh catch of the day for dinner.

Searching for a home close to all of the amazing, beautiful beaches of Sarasota County? Our local real estate team is here to help. Contact us to buy and sell homes throughout the Sarasota County, FL area.