18210 Weatherwood ... Congratulations!                                                                 March 2008      This is the time of year when a garden like this stands out.  A neatly trimmed yard highlighted with snapdragons and petunias is surely deserving of this award.       These past two weekends have been very busy for many homeowners, as can be seen be piles and piles of tree cuttings and debris cleared out from the winter gardens, stacked up at curbside, waiting for the Monday morning pickup crew.  Crepe myrtle trees have been trimmed back, and grass is still a combination of new green and winter brown.       This lovely garden on Weatherwood Drive is a sure sign of spring at a time when making a pretty garden is not so easy.  03/16/2008

Baton Rouge is always great about offering wonderful festivals for all. Not only does Baton Rouge offer fabulous festivals but the entire state of Louisiana really has it going on!  So, pack up the family and head on out to all the festivals that Baton Rouge and Louisiana has to offer. You'll be glad you did.  Louisiana Catfish Festival- What would good ole Louisiana be without catfish, eh? Come on down and get ready for carnival rides and live music. It's fun for the whole family! The Louisiana Catfish Festival last about four days. If you are from Baton Rouge, you'll have to hop in the car and head to Washington. It's about an hour drive from Baton Rouge but I'm sure it's worth the trip. They will feature a cook-off, arts & crafts, dancing, a bow contest, clothing, ATV dealers and ant... 03/14/2008

Summer is just around the corner and you know what that means for your little ones. Summer Camp! As a little one, summer time had to be my favorite of all. Summer camps were always so fun for me. I got to meet and make new friends, do arts & crafts and well, I just got to be a kid. When looking for a Baton Rouge Summer Camp for your child, you want to make sure you find the right one. First, you want to make sure that it's a camp they are interested in.  Find something that your child is interested in and I have no doubts that Baton Rouge has just the camp for your child. Here are a few other things you want to consider when looking for a summer camp:What To Look For In A CampWhat is the teacher student ratio?Do they have before and after care?What is their policy for cancellation or ab... 03/13/2008

Baton Rouge, Louisiana is filled with historical sites and areas. One popular area is Beauregard Town. This area is a historic district in downtown Baton Rouge. It was actually listed in the National Register of Historical Places. Historic homes in Beauregard Town include the Governor Henry L. Fuqua House and the Williams House. These are both on Napolean Street. Did you know that Beauregard Town is the second oldest neighborhood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana? You might think that since it's the oldest neighborhood in Baton Rouge it possibly might look ancient. Well, this isn't the case. About ten years ago, a lot of the homes started to be renovated. Many of these beautiful, older homes have been bought and renovated by businesses. Businesses aren't the only one that are jumping on the ren... 03/11/2008

Get excited! The Southern Breeze Wine & Culinary Festival is coming to Baton Rouge, April 4-6 2008. Get ready for a very entertaining weekend including boutique wines and gourmet food. The festival is going to be filled with education and entertaining culture from the Gulf Coast. At the festival you will the chance to speak with world-famous chefs and award-winning wine makers. The Festival will take  a journey through the different locations of the Gulf Coast and celebrate the culture of each one.  The Festival offers a "WineMaker Dinner" which is a five course dinner, each served with different wines. So, what happens if you totally enjoy the wine you are introduced to? Luckily they will all be available for you to purchase. The festival will work with every ticket purchaser as far as... 03/10/2008

You know, I was thinking to myself earlier today that I needed something different in my life. I need some spice and  maybe something zesty! Being a Baton Rouge Real Estate Agent, I love being able to help people find the home of their dreams but you know what else I love to do? I love to dance. Now, I'm not saying that I CAN dance. I have just always loved to dance. I took classes when I was younger but that was about it. Today I started to seriously think about signing up for a Baton Rouge Dance Class.  My first thought was that I would be in a tu tu with a bunch  of three year olds. Heck, they could probably dance better than I could but I would give it my best. There are so many options when looking for a dance company. I was so excited to learn that certain dance studio's offer "Ad... 03/10/2008

Welcome to the Garden District in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Garden District is an established historic area with a vareity of upscale homes. The Garden District is a combination of three historic districts, they are: Roseland Terrace, Drehr Place, and Kleinert Terrace. If you don't know already, the Garden District is located in Baton Rouge's Mid -City area. The Garden District is a very popular area where anyone and everyone's grabbing at the opportunity to reside. If you are planning on moving to the Garden District you will probably want to be involved in the Garden District Neighborhood Alliance and the Garden District Active Association. "The Garden District Neighborhood Alliance was formed to promote the quality of life in the area bounded by Bres-Riverside-Forsythe-and-the rail... 03/08/2008

It's out, the new increased loan limits for FHA loans.  In case you don't know already, in East Baton Rouge Parish you may now use an FHA loan up to $280,000 to purchase a home.  This goes for the surrounding areas too.  If you want to double check with FHA, you can click here to check out the published loan limits.This is good news for the Baton Rouge real estate market.  We already have one of the healthiest markets in the country.  While most of the negative news we all see on TV is generally about a few certain areas of the United States, it's important to remember that all real estate is local.  Even in Baton Rouge there are some neighborhoods that tend to be buyer's markets and others that tend to be seller's markets.  The increased loan limits make buying a home even easier.Keep ... 03/07/2008

Are you trying to find a great neighborhood to call home? I am a Baton Rouge Real Estate Agent that loves this area. One of my favorite neighborhoods is Shenandoah. I am sure you have heard of it considering it's one of the biggest neighborhoods in Baton Rouge. Did you know Shenandoahwas accidentally marked as a city because it's so big? It's true. Shenandoahis a extremely large subdivision that was built in the late 1970's and 1980's. It's located between South Harrel's Ferry & Tiger Bend Roads, right by Jones Creek. The Shenandoah area continues to maintain it's market value and steadily increases due to the neighborhoods being built around it and because Shenandoah's homeowners take very good care of their homes.If you plan on moving to Shenandoah, a good organization to join is the ... 03/06/2008

Are you interested in buying a home in the Greater Baton Rouge area? Are you unsure of the process and costs involved? You are invited to attend "Home Buyers 101" a FREE buyer's seminar with REALTOR® Shannon Sims.  A reputable lender will be in attendance to answer all your mortgage questions and pre-approve you for a variety of programs including but not limited to East Baton Rouge bond money,FHA,VA,Rural Development and 100% My Community conventional loans.The seminar is scheduled for Saturday March 8,2008 from 10:00 a.m until 12:00 p.m.  The location for the seminar is Judy Burkett REALTORS® 8280 YMCA Plaza Bldg 1, Baton Rouge, La.  Seating is limited so please RSVP TODAY!Some of the topics we will cover include:The real costs involved including mortgage, title, and inspectionsHow to... 03/05/2008

Moving can be exciting and fun, but moving to Baton Rouge, Louisiana can be fabulous. Did you know that Baton Rouge was the capital of Louisiana? You will be amazed by our diverse culture, delicious food and our wonderful music scene. So get ready to unpack your things and start on your journey through the Redstick...Baton Rouge.     BEAUTIFUL, DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE One of the most exciting things about Baton Rouge is downtown. Whether you are wanting to hang out with a group of friends or spend a day with the family, Downtown Baton Rouge is full of excitement, food, fun and music. It's filled with historic sites to see and educational tours to take. A day in Downtown Baton Rouge is a day well spent. What are you waiting for? Head on down to Downtown Baton Rouge!   STEPS TO TAKE WHEN MOV... 03/03/2008

If you are a woman and are heading to Baton Rouge, Louisiana- Get Ready. If you love being involved, staying fit, volunteering or just in need of a "Mother's Day Out"- you have come to the right place. Baton Rouge offers women and mothers a variety of events, clubs and organizations. Before you get started on your Baton Rouge journey, be sure you stop by the "Newcomers Website". This will inform you of a lot of things going on in and around the Baton Rouge area.    BATON ROUGE FITNESSFirst off, if you are a woman that likes to stay fit one of the best places to go is the Woman's Center for Wellness. It's a work out facility strictly for women. They neat thing is that it's not just a gym. They also offer physical and occupational therapy and speech, hearing, osteoporosis, breast health, ... 03/03/2008

If you are thinking about relocating to Baton Rouge, Louisiana be ready to be amazed by all the clubs they have to offer. Do you have a hobby or something you just really love to do? See if Baton Rouge offers a club that fits your needs. Also, if you don't see one that suits you, think about starting your own. New clubs are formed all the time for unique and enjoyable hobbies.  Baton Rouge Fencing Club- If you enjoy fencing, Baton Rouge offers a club just for you. Purpose:"The goal of the Baton Rouge Fencing Club is to provide quality instruction to fencers at all levels of ability, and to promote the sport of fencing in the Baton Rouge area."The Baton Rouge Fencing Club offers coaching and classes. They hold classes/coaching at Southside Baptist Church. They have weekly practice Monday... 03/03/2008

There is a lot of fun to be had in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Being bored in Baton Rouge will never be a problem. They offer educational and just plain fun entertainment. Hop on board and go have some fun!BATON ROUGE WATER-PARKIf you are a kid at heart you will love Blue Bayou Waterpark. Blue Bayou is located off of Highland Road. What's unique about Blue Bayou is that it also has an amusement park. So, if you are tired of getting wet you can go jump on the roller coaster. Blue Bayou is filled with wet rides and slides. The amusement park features some of the funnest rides around. They also have a place for entertainment where local bands and artist are featured. If it's a sunny day and you feel like diving into the pool, plan a day at Blue Bayou. ALLIGATOR SWAMP TOURSome people think of t... 03/02/2008

In Baton Rouge, there are several different avenues to take as far as your education goes. Whether you are looking to get your bachelors, associates or just gain more knowledge- Baton Rouge has it. Since Baton Rouge caters to the young and the young at heart, you are sure to find a school that fits your needs.  Louisiana State University- LSU is probably the most popular among Baton Rouge residents. If you haven't attended a LSU game, it's time you did. Besides tailgating and touchdowns, LSU offers quality education. LSU offers bachelor and doctorate degrees. They also provide special schooling such as: law and vet. If you are just looking for more knowledge, try out LSU's continuing educations program. This program is for people who are looking for personal enrichment, college credit, ... 03/01/2008

  RELOCATING TO BATON ROUGE? SHOPPING IN BATON ROUGE? Shopping isn’t easy but someone’s got to do it, right? If you are relocating to the Baton Rouge area, you might want to consider adopting the “shop ’til you drop” motto because there is definitely enough to go around. While finding a shopping center in Baton Rouge is the easy part; finding time to see it all might be a challenge. Each Baton Rouge shopping center offers a different feel and atmosphere, which makes it difficult to compare them to one another. While there are numerous shopping marts and centers all over the Baton Rouge and surrounding areas, I decided to just list the bigger ones so put on your comfy shoes and let’s go shopping! You’re payin, right?   CORTANA MALL Cortana Mall: If you like to do it big, you will want to... 02/28/2008

Did you know that laughing over 100 times is almost equivalent to riding an exercise bike for 15 minutes? I have never owned an exercise bike but if pushed came to shove, you would find me laughing it off in the corner rather than speeding nowhere fast. They say that laughter is the best medicine and this is mostly because it increases our moods, reduces pain and stress but also helps to fight infection. I’m pretty sure that a little, fake laugh is not going to do the trick so for all of you fakers out there? I need to hear some serious chuckles and I’ll give you extra brownie, bonus points if your eyes water. While laughing seems so simple, many of us feel as if we have nothing to laugh about. We are so caught up in the status of the economy, bills, debt, work, relationships, school, ... 02/28/2008

Finding a good hang out spot in  Baton Rouge, Louisiana fairly easy. Maybe you possibly need a breather from all the hussle and bustle. I suggest a night out on the town. Baton Rouge, Louisiana has great Night Life that offers good spirits and good times. When planning a night out on the town it's good to know the best places to go. So, get ready to go on a little journey through the Night Life of Baton Rouge.      The Station- Station is right off of College Dr. It's a sports bar and grill. They offer a variety of food and have great chicken strips! The bar is somewhat set up like a train, I guess that's why they call it "The Station". This bar has over twenty televisions and a few of them are Plasma's with High Definition. There's nothing like watching a good LSU game on their Plasma ... 02/28/2008

There are many job opportunities for everyone in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Whether you are a real estate agent, an IT consultant or a hair dresser, there is bound to be a job for you. Sit back and take a look at all the opportunities that Baton Rouge has to offer you as an employee.   Colleges and Universities:  Louisiana State UniversityBaton Rouge Community CollegeSouthern UniversityRemington CollegeLouisiana Technical College of Baton RougeUniversity of PhoenixDelta College of Arts and TechsCamelot Career CollegeOur Lade of the Lake College   Recruiting Agencies in Baton Rouge: A-1 PersonnelBadon's Employment ServiceLofton Staffing ServicesFrazee Recruiting ServicesSnelling Personnel Services  AccustaffSpherionKeenan StaffingChristian Contracting ServicesWillStaff AgencyMedical Personn... 02/27/2008

If you are looking for an exciting place to move to..Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the place to be. Whether you are younger, older, have kids or just a pet; Baton Rouge has a little something for everyone. It's fun living in place that has so many options and so much to offer. You are probably wondering, "What the heck is there to do in Baton Rouge, Louisiana?" Well, I am so glad you asked.   Here in Baton Rouge, we start the year off with a bang! As soon as January rolls around, we start to get ready for Mardi Gras. If you have ever been to Mardi Gras, then you know what an exciting time it is. If you have yet to experience it, you must put it on your "to do" list. Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge usually consist of about seven parades. This is where everyone gets together, lines up on the street... 02/26/2008