Monday, April 29, 2013

LEX Get Fit!


Outdoor Boot Camp for Women at Lincoln Field 
CREATIVE CARDIO BOOT CAMP

Sponsored by the Lexington Recreation Dept.
Monday – Wednesday – Friday
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
April 29, 2013 – June 24, 2013 (8 weeks)
(No Classes held MemorialDay,May 27, 2013)
You pick 1 – 2 – 3 times per week.
All levels of fitness welcome.


Get in Shape by Summer!
 Love to exercise? Hate to exercise? Looking for something new? Want to hang out with your friends while doing something active?

Come to our “Lex Get Fit” exercise classes and have fun while getting
fit. All levels are welcome to join this outdoor, women-only, fitness
series. You choose whether once, twice or three times per week works for you. The more you exercise, the more you save and the better shape you will be in for the summer.
1 day per week - $80.00
 2 days per week - $140.00
3 days per week - $180.00.
Each class will include warm-up, cardio, strength, core, and cool-down components. These “Creative Cardio” classes move away from straight jogging and sit-ups and feel more like a “Girls Night Out” atmosphere. Sign up with your friends to motivate you. Have a “buddy challenge” and enjoy
reaching your fitness goals together.  Classes begin on April 29, 2013 and continue through June 24, 2013,
weather permitting. (No class on Memorial Day, May 27, 2013.)  Bring your young children to the park, along with your sitter, and have them get fresh air and sunshine while you recharge your batteries.
 Attendees should bring yoga mat, jump rope, and hand weights. (If you don’t have these items, please let us know and they will be provided for you.)  All classes are taught by AFAA certified group fitness instructor,
Shannon Amsler.

For more information and to register go to:
www.lexingtonma.gov/recreationdepartment.cfm 

To register in person, visit: Lexington Recreation Dept.,
1625 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, MA 02420 Phone:
(781) 862-0500 ext. 262 – HOURS: Mon.–Fri. 8:30-4:30
Monday Morning Motivation – Work Out Wednesdays - Fitness Fridays




Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Packing Survival Guide

Are you moving in or out of Lexington MA? Here are some tips from www.moving.com to help the moving go a little bit smoother.

There is no shortage of moving advice. There are books devoted to the subject, ideas on the Internet and most moving companies offer tips. But there's nothing like benefiting from the wisdom of those who have gone before you. That's right, people who have made moves and are still coherent enough to talk about it.
The following 10 tips were culled from everyday people who gave their best advice in chat rooms and Internet forums.

1.       Start early. By far the top advice offered. Packing takes longer and is more difficult than most think. By starting to pack early, perhaps doing a room a day, there will not be the frantic rush at the end. You will also be more organized. When you run out of time or are burned out by doing everything at the end, you will throw the unpacked stuff in a box, tape it up and send it on its way.
2.       Think thin. Go through your belongings and decide what you really need and want to keep. Get rid of anything that you haven’t used in a year or so, unless it has sentimental value. Movers charge by weight, so the lighter the load the more money you save. Plan to go through everything at least twice, with a week or more break between. You should find a lot to cull on your first pass. After getting used to the idea, do it again a couple weeks later.
3.       Label everything. Don't just label each box with the room in which it belongs. Write down the contents. You will be glad you did when you try finding the hair dryer or a specific kitchen utensil. Bonus hint: Don't overuse the "miscellaneous" label. Otherwise you'll get to your new home and have a dozen boxes of miscellaneous and almost no idea what's in them.
4.       One at a time. Stay organized and pack one room fully and then move on to the next. If you don't, you'll end up with boxes full of miscellaneous items from several rooms.
5.       Gang box. Put smaller items in small boxes and put small boxes into a bigger box. Small boxes are more easily lost or damaged.
6.       Take it with you. Any personal financial information and important papers should be taken with you or shipped to you by family or a friend after your move-in. Identity theft is one reason, but so is the difficulty in replacing important documents, recreating bank statements or losing passports.
7.       Value valuables. Most moving companies would rather you not ship your highly valuable items, such as jewelry, artwork and collections. Many times expanded moving insurance through the carrier or a third party will be needed.
8.       Essential fact. Always have a box for essentials that you will want or need when everything is delivered to your new home. Remember: Last on, first off. So make sure the well-marked essentials box is the last one loaded onto the truck. Some recommendations: Towels, soap, toilet paper, sheets, coffee maker, drinking cups, eating utensils, pens and notepad.
9.       Inventory. Make a list of every item/box that goes on the moving van and take it with you. Have a family member mark the boxes and items as they come off the truck. This is especially important if your belongings will be transferred from the truck to storage before being delivered. If a box is missing, lost or left behind it could be months before it's realized. The mover must do the inventory for an interstate move. Note any damage at the time of delivery.
10.    Think outside the box. For items you think will be stored in the attic, garage or closet at your next home, consider getting inexpensive plastic storage bins. The home improvement and general merchandise stores usually carry them. This will save you on buying extra boxes and unpacking them when you get to your new home. Also, for stuffed animals, towels and other soft items, consider using large trash bags, they are much cheaper than moving boxes.


Thursday, April 18, 2013

Green Spring Cleaning Ideas for Lexington



After being cooped up in a Lexington house all winter long, it’s finally time to fling open the windows, shoo away the cobwebs, and take on your annual spring cleaning. But often, the chemicals found in conventional cleaning products can be more dangerous than the dirt they’re intended to clean. And the way we clean (with lots of disposable paper towels) isn’t exactly earth-friendly. Thankfully, there are many alternatives available that can help you make your home squeaky clean—and green.

Green cleaning products
The last thing you want to do is dump toxic chemicals into the environment in the name of cleaning, right? These days, you don’t have to make a special trip to the natural foods store to seek out environmentally-sensitive cleaning products. Seventh Generation, Method and Biokleen are three companies that make full lines of household cleaners, and you can find them in just about every store. These products work just as well as their conventional counterparts. Or you can stock your natural cleaning kit with homemade cleaners—making them yourself is super easy.

The basic supplies you’ll need to make your own green cleaners include:
  • ·        Distilled white vinegar (sold in the cooking section of most supermarkets)
  • ·        Baking soda
  • ·        Olive oil
  • ·        Borax (sold in a box in the laundry aisle)
  • ·        Liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner's brand, found in most natural foods stores)
  • ·        Essential oils (super concentrated natural plant oils found in natural foods stores, usually in the cosmetics section)
  • ·        Microfiber cleaning cloths
  • ·        Newspaper

Here are a few basic “recipes” and techniques to get you started:

Glass: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray on glass and wipe clean with old newspaper or a lint-free cloth.

Countertops and bathroom tile: Mix 2 parts vinegar and 1 part baking soda with 4 parts water. Apply with a sponge, scour, and wipe away.

Floors: Mix 4 cups of white distilled vinegar with about a gallon of hot water. If desired, add a few drops of pure peppermint or lemon oil for a pleasant scent. After damp mopping the floors, the smell of vinegar will dissipate quickly, leaving behind only the scent of the oil.

Wood furniture: Mix equal parts of lemon juice and olive and oil. Apply a small amount to a cloth, and rub onto the furniture in long, even strokes.

Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle a toilet brush with baking soda and scrub away! Occasionally disinfect your toilet by scrubbing with borax instead. Wipe the outside of the toilet clean with straight vinegar.

Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar, 3 cups hot water, and 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use a spray bottle. Wipe clean.

Mold and mildew: Wipe with straight vinegar.

Air freshener: Sprinkle essential oil on a cotton ball, and stash it in a corner of the room. If you have kids, make sure it is out of their reach as essential oils are very strong and could irritate their skin. Lavender is a relaxing scent that is great for bedrooms, and cinnamon, clove, and citrus oils are great for the rest of the house. You can stash a few in the car too—try peppermint, which may help you to stay alert.
And while you’re at it, consider these 6 additional ways to green up while you clean up:

1. Hang dry your laundry. Drying your clothes in an electric or gas dryer isn’t just hard on your clothes; it’s also hard on the environment. Don’t stop with natural laundry detergent. Stay green every step of the way and install a clothesline in your backyard. If space (or aesthetics) is an issue, look for a “retractable clothesline” like this one from Gaiam, which takes up virtually no space when not in use. Weather permitting, line-dry your clothes outside to reduce pollution, cut your energy bill, get more exercise, enjoy the sunshine, and extend the life of your clothes. Plus, they’ll smell like a clean breeze, not a fake “clean breeze scent.”

2. Add a little greenery. Install a living air filter—houseplants! Some of the most efficient air-cleaning houseplants include Spider plants, English ivy, rubber plants, and peace lilies. You’ll need 15 to 18 medium-sized (6 to 8-inch diameter container) houseplants for the average 1,800 square foot house. If that sounds like a lot, place a few plants in the room where you spend the most time.

3. De-clutter your wardrobe. Donate gently worn items to charity, where they’ll get a second life, and donate torn and stained items (if they’re made of an absorbent fabric) to your rag collection, where they’ll replace wasteful paper towels. And as you’re packing up your winter sweaters, replace those stinky mothballs with a natural and better-smelling version: Stuff a lonely unpaired sock with cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and whole cloves and tie it at the end.

4. Paint your walls green. If spring cleaning at your house involves a fresh coat of paint, consider the VOC content of the paint when choosing your paint. VOC's, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are chemicals that form vapors at room temperature. Some VOC’s, like the ones in many paints, contribute to smog and indoor air pollution, and can cause a host of short- and long-term health problems. The good news is that many paint manufacturers have started making low- or no-VOC paints. The bad news is that many of those manufacturers have simply substituted VOC's with other non-VOC-yet-still-toxic chemicals. For truly eco-conscious safe paint, check out these products: Eco-Spec, by Benjamin Moore; Clarity, by Dutch Boy; Enviro-Pure, by MAB Paint; American Pride Paint; and BioShield Milk Paint.

5. Swap out your Swiffer. Instead of continually buying expensive single-use mop pads, invest in a reusable mop. Casabella is one brand that’s widely available in health food stores and general stores. Their mop heads can be washed in your washing machine, hung dry, and used again and again—well worth their moderate price tag.

6. Ditch the paper towels. Save trees, cash and landfill waste. You can buy specially-made, washable cleaning and dusting cloths (in all types of fabrics from cotton to microfiber). But better yet? Use what you already have and give an old piece of cloth (stained towels, ratty sheets and pillowcases, too-small T-shirts, etc.) a new life. Simply cut or tear your old item into smaller squares (if you want to get fancy, finish the edges with a sewing machine), and voila! Pop them in the washing machine with your laundry to clean, and use them again and again.

Cleaning up your Lexington home for spring doesn’t have to be dirty work. When you implement some of these ideas and products, you can rest assured that you’re benefiting your body, your home and the planet all at once. Many of these changes are small ones, but their impact on your health and the environment can really add up over time. Happy spring cleaning!

Monday, April 15, 2013

Celebrate Earth Day in Lexington!


Living in Lexington MA means being surrounded by a beautiful, historic environment that is up to date with all the modern conveniences, but holds on to its’ rich past.  It’s this vibrant and well preserved community that appeals to many as the place they would like to call “home.”
As a Lexington Real Estate agent, it’s great for me to be able to tell potential buyers about the lifestyle that Lexington has to offer, and the beautiful homes that are on the Lexington Real Estate market.  In light of living in a town that pays special attention to preserving and creating a great environment for those of us who live here, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about the upcoming celebration of our environment with Earth Day on Monday, April 22nd!
This day is set aside to help us all look at new ways we can help create a healthy environment and continue on with those things that are beneficial to our community and the world at large!
If you’re looking for ways to dig in and join in the Earth Day celebration, you won’t want to miss this upcoming event!
Friends of Spy Pond Park Work Day
Spy Pond Playground
99 Pond Ln, Arlington
Saturday, April 20th at 1pm
- Celebrate Earth Day by helping out at a local park!  The Friends of Spy Pond Park  need lots of volunteers in Spy Pond Park to eliminate invasive plants and clean up the park!  Meet at the Spy Pond Park Playground off Pond Lane at 1pm on Saturday to help out!  Be sure to wear long pants and long sleeved shirts for protection. Bring water, insect repellent, gardening gloves and garden tools, if you have them, or you may borrow from our limited supply.  
All workers must sign and bring an indemnification (liability waiver) form once each year (parents must sign for those under 18), available to download at http:www.friendsofspypondpark.org.  Please RSVP to Lally Stowell at 781.777.2759 if you plan to attend! 
If you aren’t able to help with the work day, but would still like to play a part in keeping our Lexington environment healthy, what better way than to start in your own home!  Begin applying these tips in your Lexington home and help contribute to Lexington’s common good!  

Install a programmable thermostat. That way, if you leave your Lexington home during the day, you can program the thermostat to adjust while the house is empty, allowing you to save ample energy and money on your air-conditioning bill. You can set the thermostat to return to its regular setting about an hour before you return home, so you’ll never know the difference!
Replace your light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. They provide just as much lighting while using less energy and lasting far longer.
Switch to energy efficient appliances.  When it’s time to replace a kitchen appliance, choose one with an Energy Star label on it. These appliances meet efficiency guidelines created by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environment Protection Agency. While they are more expensive initially, the amount of energy you will save makes up for it in the long run.
Only run your dishwasher when it’s full. This will ensure you’re only using the dishwasher when you absolutely have to.  Also, after the dishes are clean, open the dishwasher door and allow the dishes to air dry rather than using the washer’s drying cycle. 
Switch off your electronics. Though many people have gotten use to the idea of having electronics available 24/7, you should turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. You could turn off your cell phone at night too, if not using as an alarm clock.
Plug as many electronics as you safely can into a power strip, which allows you to easily turn the strip off when the items are not in use. This could include TVs, DVD players, computers, toasters and more, which all use several watts of power even when not in use.
Reduce water usage.  Take shorter showers and turn the water off while you wash your hands, brush your teeth, apply face wash and any other time the water is not in use.
Recycle!  You’ll find various recycling bins around Lexington that will allow you to recycle plastics, aluminum, paper and other materials. Lexington residents are allowed 2 free recycling bins per household; additional bins can be purchased for $6.00 at the DPW Operations Facility at 201 Bedford Street. For more information on Lexington’s recycling, please visit the Lexington MA website
I hope these tips inspire you to take the next step in helping to preserve the Lexington environment!  It’s a beautiful place to live and we should all be doing our part to keep it that way for generations to come!
Are you thinking of moving to Lexington?  Let me know!  I’d love to talk with you about your real estate needs and help you find a home that fits your needs, budget and lifestyle!
Feel free to contact me today to get started!



Theresa D'Antuono

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Lexington Public School Info


Don't forget you can get all kinds of information from the Lexington Public School Website.

You can download the new spring 2013 Community Education Catalog, the school calendar, information on meetings, school health and safety information. Learn more about financial aid and the lunch programs, and so much more. You can even access other great Lexington Websites and information from the website.

Don't forget Lexington's Spring Break is from April 15-19!

Visit: http://lps.lexingtonma.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=1

Thursday, April 4, 2013

CSA in Lexington Now Open


WHAT is the WILSON FARM CSA?
CSA stands for “Community Supported Agriculture” and refers to a partnership with your local farmer (Wilson Farm) where the public is able to buy "shares" of the harvest.

Each share entitles members to a weekly package of fresh-picked fruits & veggies, discounts & specials, hand-picked weekly recipes and other locally-produced goodies. There's even a cut-flower share.

NEW THIS YEAR
• Extended Pickup Hours
• Larger share sizes
• Pickup available at our Litchfield Farm Stand
WHY WILSON FARM?
• 128 years of farming experience
• Support the last working farm in Lexington
• Fifth generation family owned & operated
• All CSA produce is IPM grown
• The widest variety of crops of any local CSA
• Easy pickup at our Lexington, MA or Litchfield, NH farm stand
• Ability to do a full grocery shop at the same time as CSA pick up

WHAT YOU GET EVERY WEEK
• Weekly supply of ultra-fresh produce, brimming with flavor
• Opportunity to try a wide variety of fruits & veggies
• Tips and recipes to help you enjoy your weekly bounty
• Hand-picked produce grown right in Lexington at Wilson Farm
• Members-only 10% discount on any items in the stand (incl. Garden Shop) on your chosen pick-up day

SCHEDULE
Produce - Each week for 20 weeks starting June 11
Fish - Every other week starting June 18. 8 pick-ups. (Lexington Only)
Flowers - Each week for 10 weeks starting July 16 (Lexington Only)

WEEKLY PICK-UP
Pick-up is at Wilson Farm in Lexington, Massachusetts. When you sign up you can pick from one of the days below and that day will become your pickup day throughout the season.
Tuesdays 11a - 7p - Lexington Only
Wednesdays (11a-7p in Lexington) or (12p-7p in Litchfield)
Thursdays 11a - 7p - Lexington Only
HOW WE GROW
Wilson Farm grows on 33 acres in Lexington, Massachusetts and500 acres in Litchfield, New Hampshire. In total, we grow over 125 different crops - any of which may end up in your weekly share. Additionally you'll occasionally find fruits provided by local partnering farms that share our farming philosophy.
Click HERE to see our list of In-Season Crops }

We know of no farm in New England that produces as wide a variety of locally grown crops.

The Wilson Family has been farming the very same land in Lexington since 1884 (in Litchfield since 1970's) resulting in some of the best soil seen anywhere. Your produce will be grown using the IPM method of growing. { To learn more about IPM, click HERE }
If you'd like to see what our 2011 share holders received each week please CLICK HERE.

OUR PLEDGE to CSA MEMBERS
Growing the best quality local produce since 1884, Wilson Farm rests on 33 acres in Lexington, MA and over 500 acres in Litchfield, NH. Using innovative IPM growing techniques, such as sanitation, soil enrichment, variety selection, pest detection, and biological controls. We control insect pests and diseases on crops with minimal chemical input. As a result, our well-nurtured soil produces the largest variety of nutritious, healthy, and delicious food of any farm in New England. With over 125 years of farming experience packed into each share, we pledge to deliver outstanding quality produce, fantastic variety, and superior value.

FARM TOURS
Head Farmer, Jim Wilson will conduct free walking tours of our Lexington farm beginning in June through August. They will be held every other Thursday evening (6:30 to 8PM).

OTHER INFO
• Complete share cost is due in full at sign-up.
• All unclaimed weekly shares will be donated to a local Food Pantry.
• We ask that share containers be returned each week so that we may reuse them. This will help keep costs down and is environmentally friendly.