Best Places to Live in the U.S.
Money Magazine recently listed their 35th annual list of The 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S., and many of this year's selections are places that Bob Lucido Team and Lucido Global service! From superb suburbs to quaint small towns, these places were selected based on rising job growth, affordable home prices, and quality of life. MARYLAND No. 10 - ELLICOTT CITYThe city of 74,000 lays claim to countless glimpses of America’s past. Home prices were up only 5% in the first quarter of the year (a feat for today’s hot market!), and jobs are projected to jump 13% by 2025. The city’s also just a hop, skip and jump away from busy urban centers like D.C. and Annapolis, too. No. 35 - SEVERNA PARKSeverna Park provides easy access to 150 lakes, 360 reservoirs, and over 2,000 rivers and streams for sport fishing, the B&A Railroad route between Baltimore and Annapolis, and the horticultural gardens at Hatton-Regester Green, which also serves as home to the Park’s Summer Concert Series. BobLucidoTeam.com ARIZONA No. 9 - SCOTTSDALEWhere can you top off a morning of hiking and rock climbing through the desert with an afternoon of high-end shopping and a night of craft cocktails and dancing? In the “West’s most Western town” — aka Scottsdale. For sports lovers, it’s a prime spot just several miles from Arizona State University. The minor league baseball team Scottsdale Scorpions play home games at the local stadium, and, for college football fans, the Fiesta Bowl takes place just 30 minutes away in Glendale. Arizona.LucidoGlobal.com COLORADO No. 8 - CENTENNIALA net average of 1,152 people move to Centennial each year, and it’s easy to see why — the area around Denver has seen rapid development to accommodate the growing population. Centennial students attend Cherry Creek and Littleton Public Schools, two of the mostly highly regarded school districts in the state. The city is also conveniently located by two major highways. No. 28 - CASTLE ROCKThis city of 70,700 people boasts 6,000 acres of open space, award-winning public schools, 95 miles of trails, 53 parks, and easy access to both Denver and Colorado Springs. Colorado.LucidoGlobal.com GEORGIA No. 24 - PEACHTREE CITYA mere 30 miles from downtown Atlanta, idyllic Peachtree City offers a vacation-like atmosphere with the convenience of a suburb. Built in the 1950s, the planned community features two lakes and an extensive trail system, which has the added quirk of being traveled largely by golf cart. For all its amenities, home prices in Peachtree City are relatively affordable. The average home sold for around $355,000 last years. No. 31 - WOODSTOCKWithin Woodstock’s city limits is a lively downtown shopping and dining district with an open container license, allowing you to sip your favorite cocktail while you explore more than 35 locally owned shops selling antiques, artwork, jewelry, and floral arrangements. Georgia.LucidoGlobal.com KANSAS No. 7 - OVERLAND PARKOverland Park is the definition of a family-friendly town, boasting 83 parks and open spaces where the whole family can walk, bike, hike, and fish. Work, like play, is abundant in Overland Park: The city has an unemployment rate of just 3.6%. With 5,000 employees, T-Mobile is the town’s largest private employer. Kansas.LucidoGlobal.com MISSOURINo. 31 - ST. PETERSIf you’re looking for a place with great job opportunities but a homey, small-town feel, you’ll find few spots better fitting than St. Peters. This suburb has added nearly 10,000 jobs in recent years thanks to new Amazon and FedEx facilities, plus a growing number of manufacturing and logistics companies that have set up shop in the area. Missouri.LucidoGlobal.com OREGON No.14 - LAKE OSWEGOBuilt around a 405-acre lake of the same name, Lake Oswego is located just 8 miles south of Portland. Fishing, hiking, and camping are just some of the outdoor activities you can enjoy here thanks to over 600 acres of parkland — including more than 460 acres of natural and open space areas — plus access to the Willamette River. Oregon.LucidoGlobal.com WASHINGTONNo. 42 - CAMASIf you like being on the water, a cluster of lakes sits just north of downtown, including the finger-shaped Lacamas Lake, a 312-acre park with year-round fishing that’s stocked with bass, bluegill and rainbow trout. Washington.LucidoGlobal.com VIRGINIANo. 5 - ASHBURNAshburn ranks high on the list for economic opportunity and projected job growth. Fun fact: Ashburn has the largest concentration of dinosaur footprints in the U.S. Virginia.LucidoGlobal.com Looking to buy or sell in one of these great places to live?OUR TEAM CAN HELP YOU MOVE ANYWHERE YOU NEED TO BE.WE HAVE LOCAL EXPERTS FROM COAST TO COAST. Contact us at 410.465.6900 for all your real estate needs today.
Back to School Survival Guide from A to Z
The school year is fast approaching and with the past year having been virtual, many students might need a little extra guidance on getting back into the swing of things. It’s time to take back to school prep to the next level. Follow our A-Z back to school survival guide to ensure you’re ready for whatever this semester has in store. A - AgendaKeep track of daily and weekly assignment due dates in your agenda to avoid missing deadlines and having points taken off.B - Backpack EssentialsSome school days will feel very long, so you’ll want to come prepared. Make sure you have all necessary supplies for your classes - a snack, water bottle, headphones, mask, a jacket, possibly an umbrella depending on the weather, and your phone and phone charger in case you need them throughout the day.C - CalendarYour entire routine is about to change, so consider purchasing a dry erase calendar for your room! This will help you to prioritize and keep track of your school engagements, plus outside of school activities; like sports, events, etc.D - DeskReady your desk at home for homework hours! Gather all necessary supplies and set yourself up a neat and organized desk area. The more organized your homework/study space is, the more likely you will use it productively.E - ElectivesTake advantage of school electives and enroll in something you really enjoy! Most schools require 2-4 electives to graduate so why not take something fun, like yoga or home economics?F - FlashcardsUse index cards for exam prep! Flash card decks are great for helping you understand and memorize the course material. Once you’ve gotten the same card correct more than twice, take it out of the deck.G - Guidance CounselorSchool can be overwhelming in the beginning weeks, so it’s always a good idea to meet with your Guidance Counselor/Advisor. They can help you pick or switch classes based on your interests, help set your goals, help apply to colleges, and provide guidance if you are feeling stressed.H - HighlightingTextbooks contain a lot of information, sometimes more than you need to know for your class. Read over the pages, then go back and highlight the key points to help you better prepare for quizzes and tests.I - InternshipsConnections and experiences you make through internships will help you launch your career and build your resume.J - Job BoardsThe student center or office at your school probably has a bulletin board with local job postings if you’re looking to make some extra cash or build up your resume.K - KeyboardYou’re going to be doing a lot of typing pretty soon! Make sure your laptop/computer is up to date with the latest software and you have Microsoft Office or an alternative system installed and ready to go for all of your papers, powerpoints, and projects.L - LibraryGet familiar with your school or local library. Many classes require primary sources for essays and projects that you will need to cite from books in order to complete the assignment.M - MapTo avoid getting lost on your first day, map out your route to and from classes. It’s a good idea to actually walk them before your first day so you know exactly where you’re going and how much time it takes to get there.N - Note TakingTaking notes by hand helps you process and information and increases your ability to recall key discussion points. Find out which note-taking method works best for your understanding of the material here. O - OrientationWhether you have an official orientation (college freshmen) or just a “back to school” assembly- make sure you attend and listen intently. This year in particular, there will be new rules and protocols to keep all students healthy and safe.P - Pens/PencilsHave a pen and pencil ready. We know, this seems obvious- but there’s always someone asking to borrow something to write with on the first day. Don’t let it be you!Q - QuizQuizzes sometimes are a surprise, which means you don’t get any study time. To ensure you are ready for any pop quiz, study your work throughout the semester. Reference your flashcards and notes from class to ensure yourself high marks!R - RelaxThis is super important! School can be hectic, and while it’s very important to get good grades, your mental health is just as important. Schedule self care breaks often to treat yourself for working so hard. S - SyllabusKeep your class’ syllabi somewhere safe where you can easily reference later in the semester. They come in handy when you’re unsure of an assignment or class protocol.T - Theme PartySchool isn’t just about learning- it’s also a great place to make friends. Consider throwing a party to celebrate the end of summer with your classmates. Any reason to celebrate is good enough for us. U - UniversityStart thinking about what college you might want to attend and do your research. If you’re already in college, consider thinking about other schools if you’re interested in getting your Master’s, Bachelor’s, or Doctorate degree. It’s never too early to start looking.V - VaccinationsMany colleges require you to be fully vaccinated before living on campus, so make sure to look up your schools protocols before move-in day.W - WallDecorate a wall in your room with a school calendar, photos of friends, school mascot posters, etc. to get festive for the new school year.X - “Xtra”CreditTake advantage of extra credit opportunities whenever you get them. It just might be the difference between a B and an A!Y - YearbookTake time to take pictures and make lasting memories while you’re in school. Even if you don’t buy an official yearbook, you can use your social media accounts as your own personal yearbook- documenting all the exciting things that happen during the school year. For example, football games, homecoming, prom, spirit week, field trips, graduation etc.Z - Zzzz’sRemember to get those 8 hours every night! They are super important for productivity during the school day. If you’re having trouble falling asleep earlier, try to not use your phone before bed. Electronic light stimulates your brain and keeps you awake longer. Source
Meal Prep Like a Pro
With busy schedules and many employees back in offices after a year and a half of working from home, meal prepping is a great and cost effective solution for saving time and eating healthy throughout the week. Having a collection of well-balanced meals on hand will help you regulate what you eat and help you stay on track with your personal goals. However, meal prepping can get overwhelming for beginners, so here are some tips to help you meal prep like a pro: Invest in High Quality ContainersYou’ll be using them week after week so they need to be durable. We recommend glass to plastic- and in multiple sizes. Also, get in on the mason jar trend! Great for containing salads, soups, and oatmeal. Don’t Overdo itMeal prepping can take up an entire afternoon of cooking time- so stick to prepping just one meal for a certain amount of days. Just pick one- breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Learn to MultitaskTo better avoid using an entire weekend day for prepping- multitask. This means cooking more than one item at a time. It may seem overwhelming to have multiple burners on, the stove running, and the air fryer cooking all at once, but when all of your proteins and veggies are done at the same time, you’ll be glad that you did it. Check Expiration DatesYou will be making food at the beginning of the week that needs to last for an extended period of time. Typically, you’ll cook on Sunday for meals Mon-Fri. So, you need to make sure all of your food will still be safe to eat after being cooked and refrigerated for 6 days. Spice it UpAdd plenty of spices to your food to up the flavor level and keep you wanting more day after day. This ensures you are still only cooking once, without totally committing to the same meal every night of the week Source Recipes Air Fryer Chicken + Veggies A flavorful, healthy, keto, and low-carb fast meal Prep time: 20 minutes Ingredients: (portioned for 5 meals)-5 Chicken Breasts-1 cup chopped Bell Peppers-1 cup chopped Zucchini-1 cup chopped Broccoli-1 Garlic clove-1 tsp Olive Oil-1 tsp Garlic Powder-1 tsp Chili Powder-1 pinch of Salt-1 pinch of Pepper-1 tsp Italian Seasoning or Cajun Seasoning-*Optional: Squeeze of lemon juice Directions:1. Chop veggies and chicken breasts into bite sized pieces and combine into a large bowl2. Mix together oil and seasonings and coat the chicken and veggies3. Put chicken and veggies in air fryer for 5 minutes, then give them a shake4. Continue letting chicken and veggies cook until the chicken is done Mason Jar Chickpea Pasta Salad A healthier and trendier twist on classic pasta salad Prep time: 50 minutes Ingredients: (portioned for 4 meals)-1 tsp avocado oil-salt-pepper-1 8 oz box of chickpea pasta-1 large butternut squash-4 cups of baby spinach-⅓ cup grated parmesan-½ cup chopped red onion-½ cup olive oil-⅓ cup red wine vinegar Directions:1. Preheat the oven to 400° and grease the baking sheet with avocado oil. Add squash and season with salt and pepper. Toss until coated2. Roast in a single layer until squash is golden (25-30 minutes). Transfer to bowl3. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta following box instructions4. Add spinach, parmesan, salt, and pepper to bowl of squash5. Make a dressing- in a separate bowl, whisk together onion, vinegar, and olive oil and season with salt and pepper6. Divide dressing among mason jars and top with pasta salad. Flip upside down to let dressing coat salad Shrimp Tacos Insanely delicious spicy loaded taco shrimp bowls Prep time: 25 minutes Ingredients: (portioned for 4 meals)-20 medium shrimp-1 clove minced garlic-½ tsp ground cumin-½ tsp chili powder-¼ tsp salt-2 cups cooked brown rice-1 cup black beans-1 cup diced tomatoes-1 tbsps cilantro-½ cup cheddar cheese-1 lime Directions:1. Whisk together olive oil, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Add in shrimp and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 10 minutes2. Heat sauce pan or cast iron skillet for 2 minutes. Add olive oil and shrimp. Cook shrimp on medium high until cooked through, about 5 minutes3. Divide shrimp, rice, beans, corn, and tomatoes into containers and sprinkle on cheese, cilantro, and a slice of lime.
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