Tag: The Kovacs Connection

Top Turkey Fails and 5 Places to Enjoy a Fabulous Feast in Orange County

Posted on | by Cuselleration

Shutterstock/Andrey Armyagov

We know, you tried so hard. You had visions of an amber roasted turkey just ready to carve while your adoring family complimented you on your kitchen prowess. Aaahhh, but it was not to be. Don’t worry: you’re not alone. Many cooks have had epic fails in the kitchen on the 4th Thursday of November. So we’ll cut you some slack, give you a laugh or two, then our team at The Kovacs Connection will tell you where to go to get a fabulous Thanksgiving Day feast in Orange County.

Butterball Turkey has a famous Turkey Talk Line on Thanksgiving, where worried cooks can call in and get some much-needed advice. 50 trained men and women staff a building in Naperville, Illinois every year. They work 12 hours a day to make sure your Thanksgiving meal comes off splendidly. They are chefs, dietitians and nutritionists and they have heard it all. Consider this: on Thanksgiving Day alone they answer more than 10,000 calls from 6am to 6pm. As with anyone who deals with the general public, these good-hearted folks have heard it all. Here are a few stories from epic turkey fails.

When a Turkey Talk Line staffer asked a caller what state her turkey was in (meaning was it frozen or thawed) the caller replied “Florida.”

Shutterstock/S_Photo

A man called in to tell the staffer that he had cut his turkey in half with a chainsaw, then wondered if the oil from the chain would affect the bird.

A woman in her 70’s called the Talk Line: it was the first time she had cooked a turkey for Thanksgiving because her mother had said she was tired of cooking and it was time her daughter got a clue.

A proud gentlemen called the Talk Line to say he had wrapped his turkey in a towel and stomped on it, breaking the bones so it would fit in his pan.

After discovering a turkey in his dad’s freezer from 1969, a man called the Talk Line to ask about the best way to cook it.

Shutterstock/Bochkarev Photography

So… you are not alone. How about ditching the apron and the carving knife and heading out for a gourmet meal? Here are a few ideas for you of places to go in Orange County for a Thanksgiving feast.

Bistango

The Atrium Building provides a picturesque setting for this modern bistro’s contemporary food, as well as the revolving art displays.

Five Crowns

Exciting contemporary seasonal cuisine found in an English-inspired setting.

The Ranch Restaurant and Saloon

Chef Michael Rossi presents contemporary fare in a rustic setting that contrasts with its industrial park surroundings in Anaheim.

Splashes

Innovative cuisine set against one of the prettiest spots along the Laguna Beach coastline.

TAPS Fish House and Brewery

Notable beers join steaks and seafood in Brea’s lively downtown area.

So there you have it. No reason to fret. No turkey to roast. No sides to make. No worries. The only thing you need to make… is a reservation!

Want more Thanksgiving restaurant ideas? Contact our Orange County experts at The Kovacs Connection today!

Why Being Thankful is Good for You

Posted on | by Cuselleration

So it’s Monday. And it’s raining. You spilled coffee on your cell phone. In short, this day is looking pretty bleak. So you may want to take your wet cell phone and send a snarky text message to a significant other, but we want you to consider a different approach. Being grateful is good for you.

Did you know gratitude can make you live longer? We know intellectually that we should be grateful, but for some of us, that only happens for a minute or two on Thanksgiving. Everyday life is messy and annoying, and often overshadows our intentions to count our blessings. So let’s think about why we should feel grateful, even if it isn’t on Thanksgiving, looking at our carb-heavy plate.

Shutterstock/Nikolai Sergeev

When you genuinely appreciate the good things and people in your life, it’s good for your health, and the health of those around you. Grateful people are more sensitive and empathetic toward those around them, and don’t have a strong desire to seek revenge. Even if things are feeling dark and lonely, finding the good in life can remind you of brighter days to come. In fact, if you consciously focus on the good in life, the dark spaces seem to fade away.

Okay, you’ve got my attention. Prove it.

Gratitude Reduces Your Stress and Improves Mental Stability

A study of Vietnam War veterans from the National Institutes of Health found those with higher levels of gratitude experience a lower incidence of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.) Being grateful can help you weather life’s storms.

Gratitude Improves Your Relationships

If you want to relight the fire in your relationship, tell your partner why you are grateful they are in your life. People who take the time to express gratitude felt more positively toward them and more comfortable expressing any concerns about the relationship. According to a study by the NIH, both men and women who have grateful partners felt more connected to their relationship, and more satisfied with it. Sounds like a win-win.

Being Grateful Helps Your Heart

Having a grateful heart actually helps your heart. Researchers say appreciation and positive emotions literally protect your heart from disease. Studies on optimism show being grateful can reduce your blood pressure, therefore reducing your risk of hypertension and congestive heart failure.

Being Grateful Helps You Sleep Better

Yep, it’s true. The more gratitude you feel, the better night’s sleep you will enjoy. Writing in a gratitude journal for 15 minutes before going to bed was shown in studies to help students worry less and sleep longer and better. Researchers explain that when falling asleep, grateful people are less likely to think negative or worrisome thoughts that impair your shut eye. So be grateful, and catch those Zzzzzzz’s.

Another Reason to Tell Your Employees ‘Thank You’

Everyone likes to feel appreciated. Whether you are climbing the corporate ladder, a student, a CEO, we all need to feel the love every now and then. One study showed employees who are thanked by their managers are more motivated to work harder. Students earn higher GPA’s and have better social skills when they feel appreciated. A little ‘thanks’ can go a long way.

Shutterstock/Syda Productions

Psychologists say the best way to get out of a funk is to help someone else. That sounds like great advice to us. So we’ve put together a list of volunteers opportunities from OneOC.

  • Yoga instructor for seniors
  • Video Editor
  • Volunteer Reader
  • Grocery Rescue Driver
  • Math or English tutor
  • Habitat for Humanity Volunteer
  • School Pantry Volunteer
  • Spanish-speaking Support Group Volunteer
  • Adult Literacy Tutor

At The Kovacs Connection, we are grateful for your friendship, and grateful for living in this wonderful part of the US. So this year, rather than consolidating all your thankful thoughts into one holiday, consider Thanksgiving an opportunity to start incorporating gratitude into your life… every day.

7 Ways to Get The Most out of Fall in Rancho Santa Margarita

Posted on | by Cuselleration

Now don’t be scared. Yes, the wind is howling, the door is creaking and the dog is barking, but we’ve got you covered! Our team worked our way through fall in Rancho Santa Margarita to find some fun ways to spend the scariest time of the year.

Fall in Rancho Santa Margarita Means Orange:

Pumpkin City’s Pumpkin Farm

The color orange is the star attraction at the Pumpkin City’s Pumpkin Farm. It’s for fall, it’s fun, and it’s free! We’re talking about Orange County’s largest premier Harvest Festival. Talk about a perfect outing for the family! Free admission and parking, barnyard animals in the Petting Zoo, pony rides at the Pony Corral, puppet shows, amusement rides, thousands of pumpkins..need we say more?!?

Spooktacular Fall Family Festival

Tuesday, October 31–2pm-5pm

What a great way to spend time with your younger children on Halloween afternoon. Spooktacular gives your kids a chance to trick-or-treat in a fun and safe environment. They can play on multiple inflatables and bounce houses. There is also a costume contest as well as a child and pet costume parade. Just think of the possibilities! Enjoy some refreshments and have your picture taken for your memory book. Or Facebook. Or Twitter. Or Snapchat. Or Instagram..you get the picture!

Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas

Speaking of pictures: talk about a great spot for Girls Night Out, Date Night Out, or Some Other Special Night Out! Cinepolis is a premiere movie theatre and restaurant experience. Wander in and find areas to relax, order dinner and watch a frightening movie in comfort and style. Just have your sweetie nearby so you can grab him when the movie takes a dark and scary turn!

Cismontane Brewing Co.

Regulars to Cismontane love its cozy atmosphere and excellent choice of craft brews. Seating at this smaller craft brewing company is limited: the locals recommend ordering a growler. Cismontane Brewing typically has around 8 beers on tap, and many others bottled. Grab an outside table, order a meal from the Thai restaurant next door and they’ll deliver it right to you. Sounds like a plan!

Dailys Sports Grill

College and Pro Football is king this time of year, and the NBA is just getting started. Dailys Sports Grill can scratch your itch for lots of sports to watch with multiple TVs and good pub food. Excellent weekend spot to unwind and figure out what you’re going to wear to that Halloween party!

Dunbar Brewing

This is not a place for a witch’s brew, but rather a cool spot to hear music and gather with friends around a pint. Regulars say the bar will remind you of “Cheers” where everybody knows your name, but newcomers are welcomed with open arms. There are food trucks on location that can fill up your empty tanks. The beer selection is impressive and varied.

Spa Gregorie’s Day Spa & Salon

If the ghosts and ghouls are getting on your last nerve, Spa Gregorie’s might just be the antidote for your worries. It was voted Best Day Spa by American Spa Magazine, Day Spa Magazine, City Search and SpaFinder. This is a unique retreat for women and men, where guests can escape the rigors of daily stress. So unwind in this special space. Body massages and facials await, and there are couples package deals to die for!

 

So.., even if the dog is barking, the wind is howling, and the door is creaking, you can shut the door and head out to some fall fun in OC!

Why Changing Your Air Filters Pays Off In Rancho Santa Margarita

Posted on | by Cuselleration

It’s a rare find as a homeowner: a problem that is easily fixed for just a few bucks.

But the team at The Kovacs Connection are here with some good news: change your home’s air filters and improve the quality of your life for the cost of a couple of cups of Pumpkin Spiced Latte.

Now we’re all friends here: you can come clean. When was the last time you changed out your home’s air filters? Yep, I thought so. You’re in good company. Here are a couple of reasons why you need to be heading to the home improvement store:

Why Changing Your Air Filters is so Important: Air Quality

Okay, so this isn’t going to be pretty, but the air we breathe on a regular basis is filled with microscopic particles like dust, pollen, skin cells, mold, bacteria and a bunch of other unmentionables. You need to clean your home, but when you dust, sweep, vacuum, cook and just live you let loose all those little particles that can end up in your lungs. If you or someone you live with has asthma, allergies or other lung issues, this is really reduce the quality of your breathing life. In fact, the EPA ranks indoor air pollutants in the top five environmental health risks. Fortunately, there are high-efficiency AC filters that can catch all of these particles before they enter your home. However, an accumulation of dirt and particles will eventually clog up even the best AC filter and it will no longer be able to do perform as well. By replacing your filter regularly, you can ensure the air quality in your home stays as clean as it should.

So change those filters!

It’s More Energy Efficient

If your air filter hasn’t been changed in awhile, it gets clogged, and your AC or heating system has to work a lot harder just to pump air through the blocked filter. So your system is working harder, using more energy, and using up more dollars in your pocket when the utility bill arrives.

Pay Me Now, Pay Me Later

A huge reason to change your air filters is that it’s a cheap way to maintain your expensive heating and air units. It’s subtle and you may not realize it until your A/C unit stops working in the middle of the summer, but the cause may be that there has been too much strain on the system and it can no longer keep up with the demand. Cheap filters…New system…You decide.

Have We Mentioned It’s Cheap and Easy?

No calls to A/C repairmen and pay their weekend rates. No special tools. No lack of air temp where it’s just the way you like it. Just grab those dirty air filters, head to the home improvement store and walk out a new person. You’re breathing easier just thinking about it, aren’t you?

Okay, I’m Sold. How Often Do I Change Them?

It depends on how often you run your heat or air, what kind of filter you are using and what time of year it may be. If you have allergies and you’re sneezing, change them more often, which typically occurs in the spring and fall with pollen floating through the air and into your home. Experts with HVAC say check them once a month and replace them every three months. Best idea is to put in on your computer’s calendar for Jan 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1.

Enjoy Breathing Easy.

The Best Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Mission Viejo Home During the Fall Season

Posted on | by Cuselleration

Fall Can Be Your Friend

Typically, the best time to sell your home is during the summertime. But many people who are looking to buy in Mission Viejo look all-year long for the right house. So this fall, it’s important to showcase your home at its best, so you can get the best deal at the closing table. So our team has packed up a few home staging tips as a guideline to get the most looks at your property. Yes, we know it’s a lot of work, but you need to pack it up anyway, and this gives you a head start while increasing the value of your property

DECLUTTER the House

Need we say more? Yes! We can all become blind to the clutter around us.

  • Pack up your books, clothes and personal items and place them in the garage or storage unit.
  • Family photos, the kid’s artwork on the refrigerator, all of it has to go.
  • Clear out your closets! Donate what you don’t wear to charity.
  • Have a dim light? Exchange it for a brighter one.
  • Do your doors open easily? If you’re hearing creaking, fix it.
  • Hire a professional cleaning service to deep-clean your home before it’s listed.

Home Staging Tips Room by Room: Living Room

Potential homebuyers have likely seen several homes before yours. How do you make your property stand out above the rest? Space and cleanliness. The living room is usually the first room they see, so make sure it looks terrific.

  • If there is a dark corner, light it up with a lamp.
  • If the fireplace has seen better days, scrub it clean.
  • If the room looks cluttered, remove the furniture that isn’t necessary to make it look bigger.
  • Keep the room simple, with a splash of color here and there.

The Kitchen

Yes, we know this is the room you most dread to clean. But a kitchen can sell a home or kill a deal, so it’s worth your time to invest in this arduous task.

  • Box up all the dishes, flatware, cookware and glassware except one matching set.
  • Have your cabinets seen better days? Think about a fresh coat of paint or stain.
  • Honestly evaluate your appliances. Need a good cleaning? Need to be replaced with stainless steel?
  • Scrub grime from backsplashes and cabinets.
  • Clean out the pantry, leaving some empty space: makes it look bigger
  • All trash cans need to be emptied and put away

Bedroom

The bedroom is, by nature, a personal space. However, when you are putting your home on the market, it needs to be a place where potential homebuyers can visualize it as their personal space. So that means taking care of a few things:

  • Pack up all the clothes you can to make your closets look more spacious.
  • Get a set of matching hangers to create a sense of balance and order in the closet.
  • Take away the knick-knacks that scream male or female.
  • Put your jewelry and other valuables away
  • If you have a video game console in the bedroom, put it away to create some serenity

Bathroom

Just like the kitchen, bathrooms can get grimy, and you may not even notice it. But a potential homebuyer who walks in certainly will see it all. To get an offer on the table, consider these tasks to make your bathroom a happy place.

  • Pull on those rubber gloves and let’s get some elbow grease working to de-grime the area.
  • Re-caulk around the tile if needed
  • De-clutter (there’s that word again) your countertop, around the tub, inside the shower.
  • Throw away, pack up or store your personal products.
  • Create a luxury spa feel with soft towels, candles and plants
  • Make sure the toilets aren’t leaking or running
  • If you have hard water stains try using vinegar to remove them

Contact The Kovacs Connection to get with a realtor who can list your home, and get it from ‘Listed’ to ‘Sold!!’

Photo Credit: Shutterstock/Spiroview Inc