Date Archives: November 2022

Many homeowners love to deck the halls and turn their homes into winter wonderlands – but when the holidays are over, those decorations become more of a nuisance than a source of joy.

Before you head to your local store to stock up on holiday decorations, have a plan for how you'll store them in an organized manner. 

Thankfully, our real estate agents know a thing or two about packing and storage. Try out a few of the tips below to take the hassle out of packing up your holiday decorations this year. 

1. Put Old Shipping Boxes to Work
   Got some leftover boxes from all of those gifts you ordered online this year? Recycle them as ornament boxes instead. Plastic and felt ornaments can go right in the box, but it's a good idea to wrap delicate ornaments in tissue paper or paper towels first. Be sure to label each box clearly and place them close to each other in your garage, attic, closet, or other storage areas. You'll want to make it easy to round them all up next year.
   
   
2. Use a Shoe Organizer for Gift Wrap Supplies
   If you have a treasure trove of scraps of wrapping paper and ribbons to put away, consider investing in a shoe organizer to hold it all. These convenient tools attach to the back of your bedroom or closet door and give you rows upon rows of pouches for all your wrapping supplies. Large rolls of wrapping paper may not fit easily here, but all those extra odds and ends can be stored in their own pouches. As a plus, this tip keeps all of those supplies easily accessible for other gift-giving occasions throughout the year!
   
   
3. Create Your Own Ornament Chest
   Ornament chests are wonderful contraptions that allow you to store your holiday ornaments in individual padded segments. They can be a bit pricey at most retailers, though. Why not make your own instead? Just glue some plastic or paper cups onto some cardboard trays, then layer them inside a larger box to create a tiered ornament chest. You can add some cotton balls, tissue paper, or packing peanuts to the cups to keep your ornaments safe if you're worried about them. 
   
   
4. Re-Use Food Containers for Ornaments
   Conveniently, many holiday ornaments are just about the same size as common food items. Smaller ones fit perfectly inside egg cartons. Re-using old packaging like this is not just an affordable and eco-friendly solution – it also takes advantage of carefully engineered packaging structures that will protect your ornaments from damage.
   
   
5. Keep Your Lights Tangle-Free
   Got too many strings of lights to keep them all straight? Wrap each string around a cardboard tube or a small flat box. This makes the strings easier to store and avoids tangles during the storage process. If you don't have any boxes or tubes, you can also wind your lights into a circle, then secure them with a bit of masking tape. 
   
   
6. Wrangle Those Wreaths
   It's all too easy to accidentally crush a holiday wreath. Finding a good place to put these items can be tricky due to their odd shape and relatively bulky size. The best solution is to hang them up like a rack of clothes. Hang your wreaths and garlands from clothes hangers, then insert the top of the hanger through the bottom of a heavy-duty trash bag. You can then hang that bagged wreath on a clothing rack in your closet or garage. 

Always feeling like you're running out of storage space? A larger home can give you more breathing room for both storage and everyday living. Contact us to learn more about our Round Rock homes for sale and find the perfect property for your needs.

In the United States, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is recognized as "Giving Tuesday." This is a chance for people all over the country to make a positive difference by donating or volunteering at nonprofits. Our real estate agents know this is important to many people all throughout Central Texas.

When you look at Round Rock homes for sale, you'll be within a short drive of many nonprofits. Events take place on a regular basis, giving you fresh opportunities to get involved with the community. Below, we list just a few of the many reputable nonprofits in and around Round Rock.

There is never a wrong time to get involved with a cause you love. When you're making plans for Giving Tuesday, consider these options:

• Shadow Cats Rescue – See Website for Location Information in Round Rock, TX
  Shadow Cats Rescue is a leading local nonprofit in the field of animal care. Volunteers provide long-term care to cats with special needs, such as those who cannot be homed in a traditional environment due to diseases like FLV. Shadow Cats Rescue also sponsors Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) programs that help manage the population of outdoor cats. Abused, abandoned, feral, stray, and injured cats can qualify.
  
  
• United for the People – 402 West Palm Valley Boulevard, Suite 177, Round Rock, TX 78664
  United for the People is based in Austin and provides services all throughout Central Texas for veterans who need help with their disability claims. Disability claims for veterans can be challenging and complex, and the level of disability determined by the VA drastically affects each candidate's access to benefits. A United for the People volunteer can guide veterans through the application process and its follow-up.
  
  
• Ladders for Leaders – See the Website for Location Information in Round Rock, TX
  Ladders for Leaders is dedicated to helping children, particularly students of under-served backgrounds, to develop plans for their future. It specializes in areas including career counseling and planning. Students can access age-appropriate work experience opportunities and also have the chance to make money. The flagship summer internship program connects students with eager employers.
  
  
• Central Texas SPCA – 909 South Bagdad Road, Leander, TX 78641
  Central Texas SPCA is the local branch of the highly popular and trusted independent no-kill shelter for a diverse range of different animals. As of today, more than 7,000 dogs, cats, and other animals have been sheltered, cared for, and temporarily homed until finding their forever family. It grants you a wonderful way to meet a new companion not far from Leander homes for sale.
  
  
• Open My World Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc. – 5300 County Road 279, Leander, TX 78641
  Open My World Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc. helps people in need with one-on-one riding instruction and its proven mental health benefits. The organization focuses on clients who suffer from physical and psychological or developmental disabilities. Each client receives plenty of individualized attention and is carefully matched up with a horse with whom they can develop a deep and special bond.

Contact us to find out more about real estate opportunities in Central Texas.

Delicious holiday pies can be an important part of any festive season. That's certainly true here near Round Rock homes for sale. Although Texas is probably best known for the pecan or praline pie, your options are limitless when you look around at local bakeries near Round Rock.

If you have a hankering for pie this holiday season, our real estate agents might just have a suggestion or two. Check out these Round Rock spots for some of the best pies you'll find in the Lone Star State:

• Paige's Bakehouse – 110 East Anderson Avenue, Suite #400, Round Rock, TX 78664
  Paige's Bakehouse makes it sweet and easy to order a pie for delivery right to your door in Round Rock – just pick what you want and provide 72 hours notice. There are cake pops, cookies, and (of course) all kinds of pies to enjoy. Among the headliners here are the coconut cream pie, chocolate cream pie, and vegan brownies. The vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free confections make it welcoming to everyone.
  
  
• Tumble 22 Hot Chicken – 2111 North Interstate 35, Round Rock, TX 78664
  If you find yourself hankering for hot chicken, why not stop by Tumble 22 Hot Chicken? That name may not scream "pies," but prepare to be pleasantly surprised. In addition to the "O.G. Chicken Sandwich" that anchors the menu, you'll also discover a smattering of delectable desserts – with pies aplenty among them. Served dine-in or on the patio, they're great for cooling down after hot chicken!
  
  
• Texan Cafe & Pie Shop – 207 East Street, Hutto, TX 78634
  The Texan Cafe & Pie Shop near Hutto homes for sale makes all of its tasty offerings from scratch each morning. Inspired by U.S. Route 66, it centers on hearty food made from scratch. On the expansive dessert menu, you'll always find apple pie, banana cream pie, blackberry cream pie, blueberry banana cream pie, blueberry pie, and cherry pie.
  
  
• The Sweet Tooth Parlor – 808 East Palm Valley Boulevard, Round Rock, TX 78664
  The Sweet Tooth Parlor is renowned across Round Rock for both its pies and its special occasion cakes. The menu is seasonal and changes regularly, but classics like apple pie, cherry pie, pecan pie, and Texas buttermilk pie or sweet potato pie are always available. When you have a special occasion, you might consider the tiramisu, rum cake, red velvet cheesecake, or King Cake available all year round.
  
  
• Papi's Pies – 10 Chisholm Trail, Round Rock, TX 78681
  Established in 2012, Papi's Pies has made a name for itself as one of the best places to get fresh pie right here in Round Rock. On any given day, you can sample delights like strawberry rhubarb pie, tres leches, chocolate or coconut cream, Dutch apple, cherry, pumpkin, and bourbon pecan. Papi's has introduced salteñas to the area – a delicate oven-baked, meat-filled pastry.

Ready to find a home where you can host all your holiday gatherings? Contact us to discover the very best in Round Rock real estate.