the
DECEMBER 2016
Volume 7 | Issue 12
EYE ON THE
market
What a great year it has been for the Puget Sound. Our economy is strong, unemployment remains low and the real estate market continues to move at a brisk pace as this year comes to an end. October Northwest MLS statistics show existing listings are selling quickly, with closed sales for single-family homes up year-over-year 9.26 percent in King County, 11.63 percent in Pierce County and 15.38 percent in Snohomish County. The number of active listings fell in all areas compared to the same time period last year. In local elections, Puget Sound voters approved Sound Transit 3, a $54 billion plan to expand mass transit in the region over the next 25 years. Communities slated for expansion include Redmond, Issaquah and Tacoma.
A SEASON FOR GREEN
LOCAL Looking past the holidays and into 2017: The Federal Reserve has indicated a rate hike but may hold off until more is known about the new presidential administration’s plans for the country. Even with the anticipated rate hike, rates are expected to remain at historic lows and keep buyers in the hunt. More millennials will make plans to become first time homebuyers, adding pressure to the current market. We can expect an increase in demand and price for housing located with convenient access to the planned new Sound Transit transportation facilities. Our region is a very special corner of the nation. While low inventory remains a concern, our strong local economy and improving ability to plan for future growth demonstrate Puget Sound’s readiness for 2017 and beyond.
Happy New Year!
giving
Hoping to share some “green” holiday cheer this year? Here are some ideas: Creative gifts show you care Give a gift where it is needed The baby sweater or cozy scarf you knit Make a friend smile when they get a yourself is more likely to become a card describing the child in another part family heirloom, extending the life cycle of the world whose life will be improved of the materials in your gift. by the gift on their behalf. There are several wonderful websites offering Buy a local gift charitable gift opportunities, including A gift made or grown locally can tell a heifer.org and charitygiftcertificates.org. story or be a way to share a unique product you have discovered in your Consider green packaging own backyard. Use packaging that will not go to waste. Your packaging may be part of the gift Share your time and attention itself; for instance, you can wrap the gift Offer to babysit, pet-sit, house-sit, in a scarf or enclose it in a box that can deliver home-cooked meals, or clean. be reused for collecting life’s odds and Give a consumable gift ends. Reusable wrapping such as a gift Organic teas, fair trade coffee, fresh bag will pass on the fun. flowers, and fresh or dried fruits and Happy Holidays! nuts all make great gifts.
happenings
1-23 Christmas Ship Festival Around the Sound (starts 11/25) argosycruises.com 1-24 Snowflake Lane in Bellevue (starts 11/25) snowflakelane.com 1-31 Garden d’Lights in Bellevue (starts 11/26) gardendlights.org through Gingerbread Village in Seattle Jan 1 (starts 11/22) sheratonseattle.com through WildLights at Woodland Park Jan 1 Zoo (starts 11/25) | zoo.org through Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo Jan 1 (starts 11/25) | pdza.org 3 Light Up Monroe choosemonroe.com 3 Lighted Santa Parade in Puyallup puyallupmainstreet.com 3 Redmond Lights redmondlights.com 3-4 Phinney Winter Festival & Crafts Fair phinneycenter.org 4 Chase the Grinch Outta Snohomish 5K & 10K databarevents.com 10 Green Lake Pathway of Lights seattle.gov 11 Jingle Bell Run in Seattle jbr.org 24 Jingle Bell Run in Tacoma metroparkstacoma.org 26-31 Celebration Lane in Bellevue snowflakelane.com 31 First Night Tacoma firstnighttacoma.org
December
IMPORTANT DATES
Wednesday, December 21 Winter begins
Monday, December 26 Kwanzaa begins
Saturday, December 24 Hanukkah begins at sundown
Saturday, December 31 New Year’s Eve
December Football
Sunday, December 25 Christmas Day
SUN
12/4
Monday, December 26 Christmas (observed) Counties are closed
SUN
12/11 1:25 pm @ Packers
THU
12/15 5:25 pm vs. Rams
SAT
12/24 1:25 pm vs. Cardinals
BEGIN A HOLIDAY
5:30 pm vs. Panthers
tradition
Holiday traditions make memories that last generations. Here are a few ideas:
Plan a cookie-baking party. Each friend Plan an afternoon or evening to can bring the ingredients for their volunteer at a food bank or soup favorite cookie. Pick up some kitchen near you. Encourage friends decorative tins or bags, and at the end and family members to come along! of the day, everyone will have a nice Local, reputable organizations know variety of cookies in great containers of families who need your help, ready to give to co-workers, teachers, especially during this time of year. grandparents and neighbors. Once you have selected a particular If you have children, plan a separate family to adopt, tell your friends and one-on-one date with each of them. family about their needs and offer the It doesn't have to be fancy—focus on opportunity for them to help if they so Call your favorite friend with children and offer to babysit one evening so staying present and showering them wish. You might just be surprised they can run errands. We all know this with the gift of your attention and about the outpouring of generosity. is an extremely busy time of year and love. Choose an activity or place they Sign up for a 5K walk/run. Don’t let the everyone can use a helping hand. like to go and make sure they know cold weather keep you inside. Bundle how special they are. up and breathe in the fresh air!
going green
IN YOUR HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING
A few tips to help your upcoming holiday season go a bit greener: Stocking up—Buying in bulk in bigger make festive holiday decorations and containers helps to cut down on don’t require any energy usage. packaging and reduce the number of Serving—Use cloth or compostable trips to the store to restock these items. napkins, and invest in an inexpensive set Cooking—Support our community farms! of flatware that can be reused next year. Buy organic when you can, and visit your Better yet, if your event is casual, check local farms to get produce, meats and your local vintage store for flatware and dairy products. Many farms offer fresh glassware sets or individual pieces that items year-round, and you might even meet your entertaining needs. discover a new favorite. Ask for recipes Cleaning up—Your full dishwasher uses and preparation tips if you’re trying less water than hand-washing, so even if something new. you need to run multiple cycles, it’s worth Decorating—The kitchen is where many it! Also, make it easy for your guests and of your guests will eventually come to yourself by setting up stations for food hang out, so really get into the holiday scraps and compostables, plastics, paper spirit and decorate your kitchen as well. and garbage. Lastly, when you’re storing For kitchen decorations (and all over the leftovers, the refrigerator may become house) string LED lights, which use less over-full, so be sure to check that the energy. Pine cones and evergreen door closes completely. Better yet, send branches you’ve collected from your everyone home with leftovers. yard, and holly from your neighbor’s Volume 7 | Issue 12 tree (just ask first before cutting!) also
PEPPERMINT
bark
white chocolate, cut
into small squares
candy canes or
peppermint candy
peppermint flavoring
(optional)
Place unwrapped candy in a plastic ziplock bag and use a hammer to break into pieces. Melt the white chocolate in a double boiler or microwave. Cool slightly and then stir in candy pieces. For a more intense flavor, stir in a little peppermint flavoring. Pour mixture into a lightly greased shallow baking dish or onto a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet. Place in fridge until chocolate is hardened (about 30-45 minutes). Break or cut chocolate into pieces.