Oh Say, Did you Know …? Little Known July 4 Trivia

Inside This Issue:

Borrowing From Your 401K to Buy a Home

Take Advantage of Neighborhood Parks

Remodel Your Kitchen One Step at a Time

Plus much, much more!!!

“Our Services”

Include:

Kitchen/Bath Remodels

Basement Finishing

Additions

Whole House Remodeling

or Build

Energy Efficient

Siding/Windows

Home Offices

Certified Aging-in- Place

Specialist

Specialized Patio Covers

Outdoor Kitchens

CHRISTIE’S DESIGN/BUILD REMODELING

The Real Independence Day?

The Declaration of Independence was announced on July 4, though the formal signing didn’t

occur until August 2nd

, and the colonies actually voted to accept it on July 2. John Adams, who

first proposed the idea of declaring independence from England, wrote a famous letter to his

wife Abigail about how he believed July 2nd

would be a day that was remembered and

celebrated in America for years to come. Apparently everyone else remembered otherwise.

Old Glory?

Did you know that there have been 28 versions of the U.S. Flag to date and that the most

recent, designed after Alaska and Hawaii joined the union, was the result of a school project?

Robert Heft was 17 when he came up with the flag design in 1958. He originally got a B- on

the project, but when his pattern won the national competition to become the next flaf his

teacher raised his grade to an A.

A Patriotic Death

Three American presidents have dies on the fourth of July. Thomas Jefferson and and John

Adams died on the same day in 1826. They had been rivals in everything, even about who

would live the longest. Adams’ last words were about his long-time foe: “Thomas Jefferson

lives!” In fact, Jefferson had died just five hours earlier, but Adams hadn’t gotten the

message. James Monroe is the thirds president to die on July 4th

, but he dies in 1831.

And the Rockets’ Red Glare …

Fireworks and parades have long been a staple in Independence Day celebrations. In that

same letter of John Adams about celebrating on July 2nd

, he wrote:

“Ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells,

bonfires and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other, from this time forward

forever more.”

And so colonists celebrated the fourth even before they knew whether or not they would win

the war, setting off fireworks July 4, 1777. Fireworks were further popularized in the late

1700s by politicians that had displays at their speeches, and they became fully established

traditions by the 1800s.

JULY 2013 NEWS FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS

Borrow From Your 401K to Buy a Home?

Page 2

Now that zero down payment loans are highly uncommon, some 9 percent of recent home buyers have borrowed down payment money from their 401(k), according to the National Association of Realtors. It allows them to take advantage of today's super low mortgage rates

You can usually borrow up to half of your 401(k) balance, or a maximum of $50,000. Most loans have to be repaid within five years, but some employers will give you up to 15 years if the money is used to buy a home.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the loan won't count in your debt-to-income ratio when you apply for a mortgage because it's secured by money in your 401(k). The loan will also not be reported to the credit bureaus, so the debt won't hurt your credit score.

There advantages to this borrowing, but think twice about doing it.

First, apply for a mortgage that requires a lower down payment. An FHA loan requires just 3.5 percent down.

Second, mortgage lenders are loosening up on down payments. More borrowers are going to traditional lenders because they have decreased down payment requirements. Lenders on the LendingTree online exchange have loans with down payments of 5 percent to 10 percent.

With all low down payment loans, you'll have the added monthly expense of mortgage insurance premiums. It runs from .05 percent to 1.5 percent of the loan amount until equity reaches 20 percent. With FHA, the premiums are 1.35 percent for most loans and it lasts for the life of the loan.

The downside of borrowing from your 401(k):

* If you fail to repay the loan, it will be treated as if you made a taxable withdrawal, and you'll have to pay income tax on the balance owed.

* If you are laid off from your job or quit, generally you'll have 60 to 90 days to pay off the outstanding balance. Otherwise, you'll

also owe a 10 percent early-withdrawal penalty if you are under 59 1/2.

Around The House Newsletter

Just for Fun

What is it that the person who makes it doesn't need it. The person who buys it does not need it for themselves and the person who uses it doesn't know it? Answer page 8

When a clock’s reflection is 2:30, what time is it really?

Answer page 8

Christie’s Design/Build Remodeling

Page 3

Outdide

America has celebrated July as the nation’s official Park

and Recreation Month for more than 25 years and in

2009 the U.S. House of Representatives officially

mandated July as “Park and Recreation Month.”

Park and Recreation Month is a great time to highlight

all the valuable benefits you bring to your community,

from helping to inspire healthy lifestyles to promoting

conservation and environmental sustainability. July is

your time to shine and we are excited to help you make

the month a success.

Here are some ideas to get you and your kids in on the

celebration:

Visit your community pool

The month of July is all about promoting getting

active and making a splash at your nearby pool is a

great way to do so. Kids can soak up the sun while

staying active and cooling off in the water.

Head to the playground

What better way to celebrate parks than going to the

playground? Get together with friends and play games,

swing on the swings and take advantage of all the fun

and exciting equipment playgrounds have to offer.

While the kids play, adults can use any of the fitness

equipment being built to enhance cardiovascular health

and strengthen muscles.

Geocaching

Bring your kids outside for the ultimate scavenger hunt.

Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS

coordinates and then attempt to find the hidden

container, also known as the geocache, at the location.

Kids will be staying active and exploring nature at the

same time.

Around The House Newsletter

July Is:

National Blueberry Month

National Anti-Boredom Month

Unlucky Month for Weddings

National Cell Phone Courtesy Month

National Hot Dog Month

National Ice Cream Month

National Parks and Recreation Month

DO:

Keep conversations private. Avoid discussing

confidential or uncomfortable topics in public

while on the phone.

DON’T:

“Cell yell,” or talk loudly on the phone,

distracting those around you.

DO:

Turn your phone on vibrate or silent at

business meetings, religious services, school

functions, restaurants, theaters, sporting

events and on dates. Also, avoid phone

conversations and checking messages during

these instances.

DON’T:

Have ridiculous and loud ringtones. And if

your phone rings when you’re unable to

answer, be sure to silence it immediately.

DO:

Abide by cellphone laws to ensure safety.

DON’T:

Text while driving. It’s illegal in most states

and it puts yourself and others at risk.

Another important rule to follow includes

turning off your phone while in-flight. The

signal emitted by cellphones could affect the

navigational instruments used by pilots.

Cell Phone Etiquette

Get Up! Get Out!

Get Active!

Around The House Newsletter

Page 4

To solve a sudoku, you only need logic and patience. No math is required. Simply make sure that each 3x3 square region has a number 1 through 9 with only one

occurrence of each number. Each column and row of the large grid must have only one instance of the numbers 1

through 9. The difficulty rating on this puzzle is easy.

Around The House Newsletter

Page 5 WE WELCOME THIS MONTH’S NEW CLIENTS TO THE

“CHRISTIE’S REMODELING FAMILY”

Here are some of our new clients that became members of the “Christie’s Remodeling

Family” this past month. I’d like to welcome you and wish you all the best! Melinda Cullen & Sean Galvin from Boulder

Tom & Rosemary Dillon from Denver

Gary & Kim White from Broomfield

Miriam Post from Denver

Kitchen advisors at home improvement stores say people who want to update their kitchens may put off the project time and time again. They want to get started but the thought of being torn up for weeks is too much for them. The step-by-step plan could satisfy them and allow their kitchens to be workable most of the time. Replacing the appliances can be the first and easiest thing to do. A new range, or cook top and oven, plus a matching microwave and refrigerator, can often be installed in one day (if you haven't had a dishwasher before, that might require another day for plumbing). The new appliances will make a dramatic difference in the appearance of the kitchen. It's a good start. The second step reluctant remodelers often choose is replacement of the countertops. That project includes the purchase and installation of a new sink and faucets. There are many decisions to be made, so allow plenty of time to discuss the types and costs of countertop materials and the shapes and functions of the sinks and faucets. Selecting them should be fun. After you place your orders, you'll have a nice break in activity so you can wind down and relax before all the activity starts. Removal of your present countertops and sink, plus the installation of your chosen new materials could take two days. After that, you might want to take a week or more to bask in the enjoyment of viewing and using your new appliances and counters. Replacement of kitchen cabinets can be a huge project. But if the cabinet frames are strong and stable, consider only replacing the doors. Your cabinets will look wonderful, you'll save a lot of money, and the project will take far less time than fully replacing them. A new floor could come next, but we'll leave that planning up to you.

Kitchen Remodel: One Step at a Time

Tech-inspired bathrooms are moving cleanliness to new levels

Today, there's a huge desire for bathrooms to be more efficient and welcoming of personal technology. It cuts across all generations and demographics as consumers become aware of tech devices and their ease of use.

Bathrooms are becoming the gee-whiz spaces of tomorrow. It's not just because they're filled with gadgets, they're taking cleanliness to new heights.

Gen Ys have grown up with technology and are accustomed to having it. In a new home, they want touchless faucets, toilets that open when you approach and close when you walk away, toilets with built-in bidets, programmable thermostats to let them set preferences for temperature, timing and water pressure, medicine cabinets with built-in TVs, music in the shower and tub, and heated floors.

There's a growing confidence among homeowners. They are investing in their homes and exploring options.

The desire for bathroom solutions coincides with the popularity of home improvement shows on television. By viewing them, homeowners become more aware of what's available. They want to integrate thoughtful design into their digital dwellings.

David Lingafelter, president of Moen Incorporated, says they don't just want technology for technology's sake. "They're looking at the life payback from the stuff they want to spend their money on."

The bathroom is becoming a sanctuary from life's demands where people want to be uninterrupted and alone.

Tech Takes a Bath

Around The House Newsletter

Page 6

Traveling Oven-Barbecued Baby Back Ribs

Ingredients

(2) 2 pound slabs baby back pork ribs 2 teaspoons steak seasoning 1 cup ketchup 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 cup honey barbecue sauce. 2 onions cut into ½ inch slices

Directions

Cut the racks of ribs into serving sizes of 2 to 3 ribs. Sprinkle with steak seasoning, and place into a resealable plastic bag; refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Mix the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and honey barbecue sauce in a bowl, and stir to combine. Place the ribs, bone sides down, in a single layer in a large roasting pan. Place slices of onion on the ribs; cover the pan with foil.

Bake in the preheated oven until ribs are cooked through, about 1 hour. Drain off excess fat.

Pick the onion slices from the ribs, and place them into the bottom of a slow cooker. Top the ribs in the roasting pan with the barbecue sauce mixture, reserving 1/2 cup. Pour the reserved half-cup of barbecue sauce mix over the onions in the slow cooker, and set the cooker to Low. Return the ribs to the oven and bake until tender, an additional 45 minutes, basting several times with sauce.

Remove the ribs from the roasting pan and gently place into the slow cooker; pour in sauce. Either serve immediately, or cover the cooker for transporting ribs.

Recipe Source: Food.com

Call Today To

Learn How To

Save On Your

Next Home

Project

(303)

833-4715

Easy Blueberry Parfait

2 cups fresh blueberries 2 (8 ounce) cartons non-fat lemon yogurt 10 gingersnaps, crumbled. In each of four parfait or tall wineglasses, put ½ cup blueberries, followed by 1.2 cup yogurt then topped with crumbled gingersnaps.

Around The House Newsletter

**$1,300 Remaining**

Each year, because of the nature of our business, we spend thousands of dollars on advertising, much of that money

wasted over the past years learning what works for our company. Since referrals from our clients and friends have

always been the best source of new business, we thought, “Why waste our money on unproductive advertising and

spend some of our advertising dollars on what works best - referrals”? It’s our way of saying, “Thanks for the

Referral” and giving recognition to our good friends and clients who help support us!

Last month, our friends, Micah & Amber Mijeres won our $200 REFERRAL FEE for referring Timothy Keister to

Christie’s for a Basement remodel in Longmont– thank you!

Page7

$2,500 Give Away!

CHRISTIE’S DESIGN/BUILD REMODELING is asking for your help. When you send your referrals, you

are helping the business grow. To say, “Thank You” Christie’s is offering these special rewards for you and your friends and family. Here’s how it works: You’ll receive $200 for each referral. That’s $200 for referring your friends, family, and your neighbors, etc. WOW that’s easy money! *

There is no limit to the amount you can earn! Refer as many times as you want.

You or your referral can call, fax, or email their contact information to us and we’ll take it from there!

Our rewards program runs until the $2,500 is gone or until the end of the year (12/31/2012), whichever comes first! Watch for future newsletters for the future balance.

Rest assured, at CHRISTIE’S DESIGN/BUILD REMODELING we’ll treat your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers with the care and professionalism you’ve come to trust.

Call: (303) 833-4715 Fax: (303) 325-7344

Email: Office@ChristiesCompleteServices.com

**We must receive the referral information in our office or we won’t know to give you credit for the referral. To receive the $200.00, the contract minimum is $5,000.00. A contract must be signed and deposit received by Christie’s before the referral compensation will be issued. There is no limit to the number of times you can receive compensation.

Page 8

Around The House Newsletter

114 8th Street, #105

Dacono, CO 80514

(303) 833-4715

(303) 325-7344 fax

Office@Christies

CompleteServices.com

www.ChristiesComplete

Services.com

CHRISTIE’S REMODELING Money Saving Coupon

Basement Finishing ~ Bath Remodeling ~

Kitchen Remodeling ~ Additions ~ Whole House

Remodeling ~ Siding ~ Windows ~ Outdoor

Kitchens ~ Decks ~Energy Efficient Makeovers

~ Tenant Finishing ~ Handicap Accessibility

Remodeling ~ Certified Aging in Place Specialist

(CAPS) Remodeling ~ Home Offices

Tired of looking at those old

dingy kitchen cabinets???

Look what Christie’s is offering for

this month’s Coupon

We are offering a $1000 off kitchen cabinets

with purchase of $20,000 or more in cabinets.

ACT FAST!!

303-833-4715

CONTRACT MUST BE SIGNED BY

August 31, 2013 Your project must be a complete patio finish. This coupon must be presented at first appointment.

Answer to riddle:

A coffin

9:30