Feasts For Labor Day

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Labor Day Eats

Messy Pantry Solutions

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Pantry Solutions

Wine & Cheese by TCC Turns 10

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Wine & Cheese by TCC is turning 10 and they are celebrating their anniversary on Saturday, September 6th with a tasting event. The event will take place from 1-5 pm and guests will be able to sample a variety of wines, craft beers, cheeses and specialty foods in their tented parking lot. Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased in advance or at the door and include an anniversary wine glass. Tickets purchased in advance earn guests an extra hour of tasting by entering the tent at noon. Tiered discounts on wine will be offered to guests along with tastings of local, organic, and sustainable cafe items, artisan cheese, and specialty items.

Wine & Cheese by TCC
24104 W Lockport Street
Plainfield, IL 60544
(815) 436-3499

9 Great Entryway Ideas

Check out my Facebook page to see the gallery of ideas! Dawn Dause Re/Max Realtor-Facebook

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Plainfield Fire Protection District Hosting Blood Drive

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The Plainfield Fire Protection District along with Heartland Blood Centers will be hosting a community blood drive tomorrow, Wednesday August 27th at the fire district Administration and Training Facility from 2-6 pm. Donors need to bring a photo ID and eat a meal before coming. All donors will receive a $5 Subway gift card for their donation. To schedule a donation time, call (815) 733-7335. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Administration and Training Facility
23748 W. 135th Street

Top 10 Things To Do With Kids In Chicago

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Top 10 Things To Do With Kids In Chicago

Plainfield Company Builds First 'Net Zero' Home in Naperville

Head over to my Facebook page to read about this interesting new home!

Fresh Tomato Recipe

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With tomatoes in season, this is the perfect time to make your favorite tomato recipe or experiment and find a new fave. Here is a great recipe where both fresh tomatoes and corn come together to create a delicious pasta salad:

Corn and Tomato Pasta Salad 

Midwest Living

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups dried bowtie pasta
• 2 fresh ears of corn or 1 cup whole kernel frozen corn
• 1 cup shredded, cooked chicken
• 1 large tomato, seeded and chopped
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2-3 tablespoons basil pesto, ready made
• 1 tablespoon chicken broth or water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons finely shredded Parmesan cheese
• Snipped fresh basil

Directions

• In a dutch oven, cook pasta according to package directions. Add corn during the last 7 minutes of cooking the pasta. Return to a boil and continue cooking. When the pasta is cooked and the corn is crisp-tender, drain pasta and corn. Rinse the pasta and corn with cold water to stop the cooking process and drain well again. If using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cobs. 
• In a large bowl, combine the pasta, corn, chicken, and tomato.
• For the dressing: In a screw top jar, combine the olive oil, vinegar, pesto, chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Cover and shake well.
• Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to coat. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours, and up to 24 hours. Sprinkle the salad with Parmesan cheese and basil just prior to serving.

* For more great fresh tomato recipes, check out my Facebook page!

Plainfield Fishing Derby

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The Plainfield Park District will host a fall fishing derby on Saturday, September 6th from 9-10:30 am at Van Horn Woods East (17200 S. Frontage Road, Plainfield). The event will include catch and release fishing for kids ages 3-13. Participants should bring their own bait, bucket, and fishing pole to the event. The derby will have three divisions: ages 3-5, 6-8, and 9-13. Awards will be given to the participant with the longest fish in each division. Registered participants will get a goodie bag when they sign in and will also be entered in a raffle (winners must be present). All kids must be accompanied by an adult and the cost is $5 for residents and $6.50 for non-residents. For more information, call (815) 436-8812.

Farm To Fork Restaurant To Open In Plainfield

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There is a new farm to table restaurant opening in Plainfield next month. Sovereign will focus on locally grown and sustainable ingredients and everything will be prepared fresh-no microwaves or freezers will be used in the restaurant. The restaurant will be buying all of their produce from nearby Wagner Farms and the menu will consist of both comfort food and small, eclectic plates. The eatery will also focus on craft beer as well with several available on tap. Look for Sovereign opening next month at 24295 W. Lockport Street.

Back To School Tips For Parents & Back To School Slow Cooker Recipe

pbs.org

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• Meet the new teacher: Take advantage of any back to school nights or meet and greet sessions with your child's new teacher. If face to face contact is not available, try to find the teacher's picture on the school website so that your child can place a face with a name. 
• Take a tour: Take advantage of any opportunities to tour the school and to find your child's classroom and desk. For older kids, have them take you on a tour of the school to refresh both of your memories.
• Meet up with friends: See if any kids from last year's class are in your child's class this year and schedule a play date with them to refresh the friendship before the school year begins.
• Supplies: Take your child on a special shopping for their school supplies and allow them to pick out a special pen, folder, or other supply that they can be excited about.
• Get in the routine: Routines are very important to kids so to help them feel more comfortable making the transition into the school year and to avoid a chaotic morning on the first day of school, get in a routine ahead of time. A few days before school starts, set the alarm and go through the morning routine with your child so that they are comfortable. Have them get ready, eat breakfast, and get to the bus stop on time so that they know what to expect.

The school year can be a very busy time for parents as well so it's good to have crock pot recipes on hand for days you don't have a lot of time to spend making dinner.

Crockpot Orange Chicken 

thefrugalgirls.com

Ingredients

• 4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 3/4 cup Smucker's Sweet Orange Marmalade
• 3/4 cup Sweet Baby Ray's Original BBQ Sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Directions

• Cook chicken in crockpot on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
• After 3 hours, drain juices from crockpot
• Mix together bbq sauce, orange marmalade, and soy sauce
• Pour mixture over chicken and cook on high for 30 more minutes
• Serve this chicken with some rice and enjoy!

Tischler's Market

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Tischler's Market, located in the Plainfield Plaza on Route 59, is a specialty market and deli offering a wide range of quality products. Tischler's has many items to choose from such as beef, lamb, veal, homemade items, seafood, deli items, exotic meats, soup meats, sausage, chicken, marinades, and more. They also offer specialty burgers to take home and grill such as bacon and cheddar, mushroom and swiss, Jalapeno, and much more. For more information, call (815) 267-3146.
Tischler's Market
15412 S. Route 59
Plainfield Plaza
Plainfield, IL 60544
Phone: (815) 267-3146
Fax: (815) 267-3161

What To Expect The Second Half Of 2014

forbes.com

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Although numbers have been up and down much of this year, all signs still point to the fact that the real estate market remains on the road to recovery.

• Home prices will slowly increase: This may be caused in part by the foreclosure crisis coming to an end. Distressed properties only made up 11% of sales in June, down from 15% in June of 2013.
• Supply will increase: As home prices slowly rise, we can expect to see more homes on the market since higher home prices will mean less homeowners are underwater on their mortgages and are able to list their homes.
• Low mortgage rates continue: Mortgage rates hovered at about 4.13% in recent months and the Mortgage Bankers Association foresees rates rising to 4.7% by the end of the year, while Fannie Mae predicts rates will rise to just 4.3% for Q4. Even though these rates are predicted to be higher than rates of last year, they are still historically low.

Open Enrollment For Great Adventures Preschool Program

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Enrollment is now open for the Plainfield Park Districts's Great Adventures Program for Preschoolers. The program is for children ages 3-5 and includes learning activities in both whole group and small group settings and the curriculum covers letters, numbers, colors, shapes and more. Each class has two teachers and about 18 students and runs from late August or early September to mid-May. All participants must be completely toilet trained and must be 3 by September 1st for the 3 year old program, 4 by September 1st for the 4 year old program and kids turning 5 by December 15th may enroll in the Finally 5 program. Classes meet at the Heritage Center in downtown Plainfield and the Streams Rec Center. For more information about openings, registration, or payment plans, call (815) 436-8812.

The Most Expensive Homes In America

Head over to my Facebook page and check out my post about the most expensive homes in America!


Dawn Dause Re/Max Realtor

Harvest 5K Registration

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The Edward Plainfield Harvest 5K Run/Walk & Kidz Miler registration is open. Online registration is $35 (Kidz Race $15) and the deadline for online registration is Thursday, September 25th at 7 pm. Registration after that date is considered day of registration and is $40 for the 5K and $18 for the Kidz Race. Entries can be phoned in at (815) 436-4431 or faxed in at (815) 436-0520. Accepted payment methods include Visa, MasterCard, and AMEX. $5 discounts are given for CARA and PACC members.

Last Concert Of The Summer

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The last Concert in Settlers' Park event is this Thursday, August 7th at 7 pm. Spoken Four will be performing songs from the 1950's to today's top 40 hits. For more information, contact Amy De Boni at (815) 439-4255.

Back To School Scavenger Hunt

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The Plainfield police department is teaming up with Walmart of Plainfield to host a back to school scavenger hunt. The event will take place this Wednesday, August 6th from 10 am until 1 pm. This fun event is free and open to the public and is geared towards grammar school aged students. Participants will be given maps and will be asked to find various school supplies throughout the store. A limited number of supplies will be given out on a first come, first served, basis. For more information, contact Officer M. Siegel (815) 267-7207 or Officer S. Shervino at (815) 267-7200.

Summer Housing Trends

realestate.msn.com

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• Mortgage rates remain low: While mortgage rates were expected to rise this summer, they instead remain low. Now is the time to take advantage of these historically low rates available.
• Less strict lending standards: Although getting a mortgage is not as easy as it was several years ago, requirements are loosening up after being strict in recent years. 
• FHA loan discounts: Homebuyers with small down payments have relied on FHA loans but in recent years, the increased upfront fee for a loan and the increase in mortgage insurance premiums has been an obstacle for many borrowers until now. The FHA recently started a new program called H.A.W.K. which allows the upfront fee to go from 1.75% of the loan to 1.25%.  The program also drops the annual mortgage insurance premium from 1.35% to 1.25%. These savings are offered to homebuyers as long as they agree to housing counseling.