Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Associates Quad Cities Blog

Show Your Love with Sugar Cookies

Be a hero this Valentine's Day by making some incredible sugar cookies from a family recipe shared by Kristina Case, a designer on our marketing team. Whether you want something for your sweetheart, your entire family, or your child's class at school, these will hit the mark.

An important thing to remember before you start: let the butter soften to room temperature. This is key. Don't try to soften it in the microwave or use it fresh out of the fridge.

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

1 c. butter softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
2 ½ c flour
2 TBL orange juice
1 TBL vanilla
1 tsp baking powder

Beat sugar and butter until fluffy, add egg and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and orange juice.  Beat well until mixed. Put dough i...

Click Here to Read More...

Clear the Air

Winter's cold likely means you've kept your doors and windows closed tight, creating the opportunity for stale air and not-so-fresh smells. Scented candles and air fresheners can only go so far and will likely cover the odor, rather than eliminate it – plus, depending on what you are using, you might be adding toxins, a trade not worth making.

These tips will help you clear the air.

• Eliminate the Source
  Did a piece of food slip under the fridge or fall behind the trash can under your sink? Perhaps you missed a spot your new puppy visited. Identifying the source is your first step in getting rid of an unwelcome smell.
  
  
• Clean the Dishwasher
  To clean and freshen the dishwasher, place a cup...

Click Here to Read More...

January Blues?

For a lot of people, January is the longest month. The hustle of the holidays is over. Visiting family and friends have returned home. The weather is, well, blah, especially for non-skiers/snowboarders, and it can seem dark. All. The. Time.

You can lift your spirits by employing a few little tricks:

Add a bouquet of fresh flowers to your dining table. Pick up some flowers in your favorite colors to adorn your dining room.

Light summer-scented candles. Scents such as coconut, lemon, tangerine, or light florals will boost your mood by reminding you that warmer weather will be here again soon.

Bring in some daylight. Daylight LED light bulbs mimic the natural light of the sun. With more of a blue light,...

Click Here to Read More...

New Year's Resolution Tips for Your Home

With 2022 almost behind us, it's a good time to reflect upon the year, your wins, losses, and any lessons learned. Every new year brings with it possibilities to improve. ­

Most people vow to exercise, save money, or spend more time with family. Few people remember to set goals to get their homes in shape. Let's look at some New Year's resolutions you can set for your home and how you can go about bringing them to fruition.

• Declutter and Streamline
  Why wait for spring to declutter? Decluttering is one of the best ways to start the new year. And the best part is you get to feel instantly better about your home. Plus, a decluttered home is so much easier to look after and maintain. Decluttering an entire home is a big job. The b...

Click Here to Read More...

Really!

Believe it or not, fruitcake is a well-loved dessert known throughout the world. It is only in the United States that this cake is the butt of jokes, probably because they were, at one time, mass-produced for mail order and tended to be dry and of questionable age. Some say the ridicule can be traced to Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, but research shows "fruitcake trashing" occurred much earlier in the 20th century.

Though celebrated by some as the delicious tradition it is intended to be (National Fruitcake Day is December 27), others applaud this dense loaf laced with fruit and nuts only when it is flying through the air on

Click Here to Read More...