Labor Day Drink Recipes

Labor Day Weekend is coming and we are looking at the last few days of true summer for this year. At some point this weekend you might attend or host a cookout. If you have been dreading what to kind of drinks you want to make, don't worry New Earth has you covered!

Here are some of our favorite recipes courtesy of AllRecipes.com

"Tea, mint, sugar, orange and lemon juices make this a quick and easy, refreshingly delicious drink on a hot summer's day, given to me by a true Southern lady. Goes great with Cajun or spicy foods too. Every time I serve this someone asks me for the recipe!"

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups boiling water 12 sprigs fresh mint 4 tea bags 1 cup white sugar 1 cup orange juice

1/4 cup lemon juice 5 cups cold water 3 orange slices for garnish (optional) 3 lemon slices for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1.

Place the tea bags and mint sprigs into a large pitcher. Pour boiling water over them, and allow to steep for about 8 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags and mint leaves, squeezing out excess liquid. Stir in sugar until dissolved, then stir in the orange juice and lemon juice. Pour in the cold water. Serve over ice cubes, garnished with orange or lemon slices. "Lemons, sugar, and water--in a process that has been handed down since the 19th century. A true classic of a lemonade recipe." INGREDIENTS: 5 lemons 1 1/4 cups white sugar 1 1/4 quarts water DIRECTIONS: 1. Peel the rinds from the 5 lemons and cut them into 1/2 inch slices. Set the lemons aside. 2. Place the rinds in a bowl and sprinkle the sugar over them. Let this stand for about one hour, so that the sugar begins to soak up the oils from the lemons. 3. Bring water to a boil in a covered saucepan and then pour the hot water over the sugared lemon rinds. Allow this mixture to cool for 20 minutes and then remove the rinds. 4. Squeeze the lemons into another bowl. Pour the juice through a strainer into the sugar mixture. Stir well, pour into pitcher and pop it in the fridge! Serve with ice cubes.

"This is the sangria that my friends taught me to make in Spain. It's quick and easy and makes a great drink to mix up for a summer party."
INGREDIENTS:

4 (750 milliliter) bottles red wine 1 1/4 cups white sugar 2 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced 4 sliced fresh peaches

2 bananas, peeled and sliced 2 cinnamon sticks, crushed 3 liters lemon-lime flavored carbonated beverage

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a large pitcher, combine red wine, sugar, apples, peaches, bananas and cinnamon sticks. Refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.
2.	When you're ready to serve, stir in the lemon-lime soda.

"Considered Cuba's national drink, this lime and rum cocktail is a favorite with pirates, swashbucklers, and colorful characters in the Caribbean and beyond."INGREDIENTS:

10 fresh mint leaves 1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges 2 tablespoons white sugar, or to taste

1 cup ice cubes 1 1/2 fluid ounces white rum 1/2 cup club soda

DIRECTIONS:

1.

Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge. For more fun recipes, please visit this link For more tips and tricks for all your home needs visit: NewEarthVA.com Or follow us on Instagram Facebook

A Labor Day Family Affair

Have you been dreading getting started on painting your home or finishing that deck that you've always wanted? You know that it's something that must get done and you even realize that it's something that will add value to your home. These are probably projects that will increase the overall appeal of your home. So why not take advantage of those skillfull visiting relatives to give you a hand? 

Most of us will travel somewhere exciting for Labor Day weekend and maybe play host by having loved ones over to our home. One thing that you might consider doing is organizing some of those relatives to help with a perhaps small project that has been in the horizon for sometime now. It's easy to get something accomplished when it's properly planned out and when you have some additional help. It doesn't matter if it's something like painting a wall or two, or putting furniture together. Here are some tips to help you get people involved without stepping on any toes:

Make it Fun

The most important thing about having a loved one help you out is to make it fun or interesting. Let everyone know that while they are working, the burgers will be on the grill or that the drinks are being chilled. You are pretty much soliciting free labor from your vistors so why not make it worth their while. Supplying your crew mates with food, drinks or a fun reward will probably be more cost effective than hiring someone to do a small job for you. 

Assign Tasks

Before anyone arrives, make sure that you have planned out who is doing what. Don't leave it to last minute to figure out all the details. This is a project that is being done at your home for free so make sure that you're using your guests time as effectively as possible. This will ensure a smooth and easy process. 

Research

Figure out what everyone is best at and what they like to do the most. You can do this by sending out an email a few days before and explaining to them what you are trying to do. Let them tell you what they will prefer to do and if they are any good at it. Make sure that you know how you will tackle the task at hand from the beginning and don't wait to figure it out as you go. Have a clearly defined plan on how the work will go and prepare for the unexpected. 

Set Expectations

Let everyone know what your plan is and how you plan to accomplish it. Also let them know what is in it for them. If you're planning on rewarding your workers with food and drinks then let them know in advance. Also explain the purpose of the project and assure them that participation is not required but it is greatly appreciated. 

Some people may not want to spend their Labor Day weekend helping you accomplish your home goals but if you follow the four simple rules above you may have luck and create excitement within your loved ones. 

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Antique Chic

(Image courtesy of Restoration Hardware)

Have you checked an interior home decorating catalog lately? If you have, you probably have noticed that there are plenty of stage houses that include a very modern yet natural look to them. There is a heavy use of wooden furniture that hints to a natural look while combining that with accessories made out of glass, steel and fabrics such as lamps, sinks, tables and stainless steel appliances.

This is definitely a growing trend and it is more easy to accomplish than people think, especially because a lot of original pieces can be created by you with a little bit of work and shopping around at antique shops or thrift stores. New Earth really enjoys repurposing found things and give them new life.

(Image courtesy of Restoration Hardware)

Take for example the table pictured above, this is a table that is sold at restoration hardware. It is a beautiful table made out of wood finished to have a "brushed" look to it. Finding an old table in this style shouldn't be too hard to find if you know where to look, a quick search online will point out your local thrift stores and antique shops. To achieve the "brushed" look, you have to be sand down the table and add the right type of varnish by hand. Asking the right questions to your preferred home improvement store's representative will get you the right varnish, you can probably even take a picture of what you want to achieve and they'll help you find it. 

When you pay attention to the chairs that accompany this table, you'll see that they don't match the table. They are modern pieces of furniture that can be found at assorted stores. It's the combination of wooden materials and modern pieces that gives this room a special kind of flare. 

Don't be afraid to mix and match materials, we especially like the metal lamps that are hanging from the ceiling. They have a metal frame and glass panels to form a sort of hexagon shape. These kinds of lamps do exist at thrift shops and antique shops. They are usually pretty heavy duty also so you know they'll last for a very long time, in some cases you may have to modernize them by adding the right electrical cord which should not be too hard if you do a quick google search for instructions.

(Image courtesy of Restoration Hardware)

Check out this awesome bar made from an old cabinet painted in white. Old cabinets are a dime a dozen, finishing a cabinet with black paint and shiny gold paint at the top should not be a challenge for most people. We especially like how expensive and high end this room looks with vintage looking chairs and old school bar set. A lot of these ideas can be done on a budget and if you're not on a budget you can always visit www.restorationhardware.com to buy some of these great pieces. 

New Earth can make most of this style of furniture and help you finish pieces that you have found on your own to make them look like a lot of these pieces. New Earth has a sawmill that we work out of so we have all the tools to create rooms that have this type of look. 

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Home Inspections, Is It Worth It?

Our friend Wanda Fears shares some very valuable insight for homeowners regarding home inspections.

From her blog:

"Are you getting ready to sell your home? If you are and don't have a real estate agent, the thought of getting a home inspection may cross your mind. So is it advisable to do one before proceeding with the selling process? 

 

If you want a smooth selling process, you may want to consider doing it. Having unexpected repairs can present major challenges when trying to close a business transaction and it can also give the buyer a sense that you are someone who is unprepared. Your real estate agent will suggest for you to get a home inspection, but it is good to have all that in order even before you contact your agent initially. 

  

Major home renovations such as: roof repairs, foundation repairs, walls with termite and rotting damage are some of the things that will be both time consuming and costly. It can prevent a seller finalizing a transaction altogether. A home inspection should be one of the first things that you do when you're trying to sell a home, it is also a very small investment in the grand scheme of things.

Repairs can be a major turn off for a buyer, they may not want to take the time to do all of the things required. Most buyers will want something that they can move in readily and are probably willing to pay a little more for that convenience. 

 

The only alternative to selling a house that has not been repaired before being put up in the market would be a house that is being sold "as it is", but this can potentially decrease the amount of money that you'll get for it. So this may not be an option after all if you're trying to maximize return.

 

Like everything else in life, it's important to plan ahead. This will be especially true with things like selling a home."

To read more about what Wanda does and get some great advice on how to sell or buy a home, please visit www.bestrvarealtor.com

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Sunday Park

What ever happened to just enjoying a beautiful day in the park? Most of us are so busy with hectic schedules that sometimes we forget to just stop and appreciate nature and beauty that surrounds us. Visiting a local park is a great way to connect with nature, the outdoor air can be good for your health, it's relaxing and best of all it's free. 

Some fun ideas to do at the park are: setting a play date for the kids, having a picnic with friends or loved ones, practice that artistic hobby that you've been wanting to pursue like photography or painting, or just simply take a nice long walk. Fortunately Richmond has some great places to take a nice Sunday park stroll. We've put together a list of some of our favorites. 

Hollywood Cementery

This park can be a little under rated but if you look at different travel guides for people visiting Richmond, you'll always find it on their list of attractions. Hollywood Cementery offers breath taking views of downtown Richmond and the river, the view from there offers some of the most iconic scenes of Central Virginia. When you think of cementeries, you don't immediately associate that with a beautiful park, this Cementery manages to offer a unique view of the city, a sense of peace and different corners for added privacy when visiting the park. There are areas all over the park where one can relax, read a book and just take in some sunrays and because of the way that the park was built, there are enough hills and trees to create separate areas where people can hang out. 

Where?

412 S Cherry St, Richmond, VA 23220

Byrd Park & Maymont

Byrd Park

Even though Byrd Park and Maymont are in close proximity to each other, they serve two different purposes. Byrd park was design with people in the area in mind, it has courses where you can exercise including push up stations, monkey bars, balancing obstacles among other exercises. These are all located alongside a trail that people can run around. Other areas of the park include, a pond with a waterfountain in the middle, tennis courts and the Dogwood Dell Amphitheather were many different productions have taken place which are typically free to the public like the 4th of July Symphony and the Opera at the Park productions. 

Where?

600 Swan Lake  Dr. Richmond, VA 23221

Maymont

This park used to be a rich estate finished in 1983, over the next few years after that more attractions were added. Some of the things added to Maymont over the course of a few years were a mini zoo and petting center, an italian and japanese garden, and a nature center. Maymont is an experience on its own and it is easy to spend a few housr in this hundred acre estate if you have not been before. There are scheduled tours of the house that sits on top of the hill which offers a glimpse into everyday life over a hundred years ago. 

Where?

1700 Hampton St, Richmond, VA 23220

Libby Hill Park

Probably one of the most historic parks in all of Central Virginia, Libby Hill Park offers a close up look of downtown Richmond. It sits at the top of a hill that overlooks the river and the Lucky Strike building. Richmond got its name from the view from this park that resembled that of a town in England. Libby Hill Park doesn't have all the amneties that some of the other parks offer so it is a more quiet space to meditate and relax. Because this park doesn't have a lot of traffic coming through it, it is an ideal place to bring your dog for a nice breezy walk. 

Where?

2801 E Franklin St, Richmond, VA

Joseph Bryan Park

This park is on the outskirts of downtown Richmond, closer to Hermitage Rd. This park's greatest strenght it that it is quite large which makes it ideal for joggers and bikers. They have well defined trails that are mostly closed off to through traffic. This park has a kids playground, frisbee games and a soccer field. You could say that this park is mostly aimed to families with kids and young adults. The park has a lot of trees and shade with many sections filled with flowers and assorted plants. 

Where?

4308 Hermitage Rd, Richmond, VA

Even though we have not covered all the parks that exist in the area, these are some of the best ones, each having its own weaknesses and strenghts. 

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This Neighborhood, Good or Bad?

(image courtesy of AreaVibes.com)

As a contractor and a Class-A builder, New Earth comes across different kinds of neighborhoods, if you're new to the area it may be a little bit overwhelming to figure out where is a good place to live. Even as a current resident of RVA, it may be difficult to keep up with all the neighborhoods that are up and coming and the ones that have deteriorated. For the most part, Richmond is growing, at an alarmingly exponential rate. This is great for anyone living here or considering moving to Richmond. The value of property is rising. This is especially important for a homeowner to know because home care and maintenance are more crucial than ever.

So what's the best way of knowing if your neighborhood or a neighborhood that you're interested in is worth living in? Thankfully the internet has a lot of different websites that offer all kinds of information including statistical facts about any particular neighborhood. One of our personal favorites is AreaVibes.com. They offer useful knowledge like: crime rate, average household income, property value and the amenities available in any specific area. The only problem that we find with Area Vibes is that you need to do preliminary research on an area that you're interested in since they want you to plug in the name of the subdivision, zip code or address.

Richmond.com breaks the different neighborhoods down for you, they tell you stories of what's happening in some of them so it offers a more personable perspective to give you a sense of what that place is like. They talk about upcoming areas and complexes, specifically what places are being built out. This is important because if different stores and shops see the value of building in a neighborhood, that means that others will follow and see the value in it too. This means more and better housing.

They also include Real Estate listings so you can check out what is available on the market, this allows you to make easy comparisons between properties and see what your competitors are doing if you are in the market to sell.

Even though we are partial to downtown Richmond and the Churchill area, we like knowing what is going around in the Richmond Tri-Cities area, so we find these two resources incredibly useful. You will probably find them useful too.

Are you working on home improvements? Check out what your neighbors are doing by reading about it online, see what works and what doesn't. Some properties will have better value than others and this could be a good way to find out why.

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Beautiful Renovated Apartment Located Near VCU

In addition to building high quality wooden furnishings, New Earth restores and renovates properties throughout Richmond. We've recently finished a beautiful three bedroom apartment in the VCU downtown area. 

The apartment has wooden floors and a great location. This apartment is available starting today for rent. If you're interested in renting it or want to schedule an appointment to view it, please contact Paul Iwashchenko at (804) 955-0257.

(One of two bedrooms that are similar in dimensions)

(Hallway leading to bedrooms)

(Apartment located above Magpie, voted one of the best restaurants in Richmond)

(Fridge with ice maker) 

(Cabinets Kitchen)

(Gas Stove and Microwave)

(Shared Bathroom)

(Master Bedroom) 

(Magpie Entrance)

(Closet Space)

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A Passion for Restoration: New Found Life

New Earth has a commitment to produce high quality products while preserving the full integrity of the raw material.

In the case of these wooden coat rack hangers, we build them so that you can see as much as the grain as possible. We want that earthy feeling to shine through the finishing coating. The contrast of the wood and metal create an unusual marriage that is complimentary: rustic vs. industrial. 

For this cabinet, we've tried to have the individual pieces fit like a puzzle. This allows easy assembling and disassembling. We've paid close attention to detail, always keeping the grain of the wood in mind. The drawer part of it uses a carving in the wood itself to open and close, we've avoided the use of too many moving parts since they tend to fail over time. 

Here is another view of the same cabinet closer to completion. 

We found this wondeful piece of wood recently. We'd like to use it to perphaps create a unique coffee table or a great looking foot rest. Like an artist that carves out of marble, it's important to envision the art within.

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Renovations in RVA - A Young Perspective

(photo courtesy of Wikimedia, VCU)

Have you been downtown lately? It's the middle of the summer so you'd expect the city to be quiet with all the students on summer break. When you visit downtown though, even in the middle of the day, the city is vibrant with city life. 

A quick drive through the VCU Campus, Carytown and even Shockoe Slip will prove that there is a lot happening downtown. There are buildings being constructed left and right, spaces that have been previously unnoccupied are running as busy commercial spaces, and even the those streets that were considered as some of the less desirables areas are now being occupied with restaurants and small businesses. MCV keeps expanding adding the need for more student and resident housing close to Shockoe Bottom. VCU has created the demand for more restaurants and retail shoppes. Carytown has attracted more business in the past couple of years than they ever have with places like: Carytown Cupcakes, Mellow Mushroom, The Daily and a couple of Froyo places. 

Downtown is making a comeback and as homeowner or investor you should take advantage of an emerging housing market. As a homeowner you have the opportunity to make improvements on your existing property, don't let it detiorate in value because this area keeps growing and you need to grow with it. When it is time to sell, there is a good potential for a great return, especially if you're home is up to par with the modern architecture of the renovated warehouse spaces turned into apartments. You'll even have the upper hand because your home will be more in line with Richmond's traditional architecture. 

As an investor, it is time to look at downtown with the respect that it deserves, so many people have been turned off by the idea of living in a home that needs a lot of renovations. This challenge should be accepted as an opportunity to see the potential down the line. With the economy of downtown growing as exponentially as it has, this is a great time to invest in a property that is of a good value and bring it up to date. There will be interested parties that are willing to purchase a home that is ready to move in at an alarming rising rate.  

There is a lot of a lot of value in Downtown Richmond, you just need to have the vision for it.