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        <title>Santa Cruz Real Estate News &amp; Information</title>
        <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/2016-05/</link>
        <description>Lifestyle, community, day trips, restaurants, real estate, home improvements, and more. Discover what makes Santa Cruz County such a great place to live. Presented by My Santa Cruz Real Estate.</description>
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    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/4-awesome-ways-to-upgrade-your-patio-this-summer.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/4-awesome-ways-to-upgrade-your-patio-this-summer.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>4 Awesome Ways To Upgrade Your Patio This Summer</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Summer is just around the corner, and as the flowers bloom and the end of the school year draws near, the idea of spending time on the patio instead of inside is growing more enticing with each passing day. If you’re longing for the days of entertaining guests or just wish that you could have ‘that patio’ that’s the envy of all your friends, then take note of these great tips for getting your patio ‘decked out’ for the summer.


Get Creative With Your Outdoor Space


Regardless of your budget, it’s easy to take your patio living experience to the next level. Something as simple as painted palettes, colorful chairs, a few throw pillows, and a refinished dresser, can be just the thing your backyard needs to enhance the beauty of what living in Santa Cruz already provides. We like to peruse Pinterest for inspiration when it comes to any home improvements, check out our latest great finds here


1. Fancy Up The Floor


Outdoor rugs are a great way to keep your outdoor space barefoot-friendly and stylish. Try to choose something that’s comfortable yet weather friendly. There’s a great selection of outdoor rugs out there that feature the same material that’s used on boats, so you know they’re water-friendly, plus they come in a variety of colors so it’s easy to match your palette.


2. Light Up The Sky


This trend has really been taking off in the past few years. String lights were something that way mostly reserved for the holiday season, but not anymore. Brighten up your outdoor space by crisscrossing strings of lights to softly brighten your outdoor space from above.


3. Kick It Up With Some Color


Summer is all about the color. Santa Cruz is so green itself, so you can choose something that complements the natural environment nicely, like bright pinks, teals, and corals.


4. And Don’t Forget The Power of Plants


Outdoor fads may come and go, but outdoor plants will always be in style. If you don’t fancy yourself a green thumb, you can pick up some pre-potted plants at the local nursery or opt for succulents and cacti, as they require very little water. For those with a little more gardening skills under their belt, you can try your hand at vertical herb planters. Not only do these add a vibrant pop of green, you’ll also have plenty of herbs on hand for your favorite recipes and salads.


Don’t Skip The Patio Basics


Pressure Wash The Patio


Whether you have a wood, fiberglass, or a concrete deck, a good hard clean with a pressure washer is a fast and effective way to remove old debris and stuck-on gunk that’s built up over the years. If you are pressure washing wood, try to use a lower pressure so that you don’t damage the surface. If you find any mildew stains, you can try a mix of warm water with chlorine bleach and a touch of laundry detergent. Saturate the area and let it sit, then scrub with a stiff brush and rinse thoroughly.


Freshen Up The Furniture


While you have the pressure washer out, why not give the lawn chairs and patio furniture a good spray down too. A little elbow grease and soapy water with a sponge should take care of the dirt and grime they’ve accumulated over the years.


Wipe Down The Windows


Most homeowners are good about cleaning the inside of their windows, but the outside sometimes gets neglected. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time outside, then be sure to give those windows a good cleaning. Not only will this prevent mold and mildew growth, it also adds a polishing touch to your already spruced up backyard.


Wipe Out The Weeds


Weeds are a constant battle for garden enthusiasts, but year after year the struggle should be fairly manageable. When pulling weeds, make sure you’re pulling the entire root out, and try not to disturb the surrounding soil as this could bring other weed seeds to the surface, where they’ll start to grow. Spraying straight vinegar on the plant and it’s roots can help kill it the eco-friendly
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    <pubDate>Fri, 27 May 2016 09:28:30 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/memorial-day-2016-4-fun-memorial-day-events-to-check-out-in-santa-cruz-this-year.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.mysantacruzrealestate.com/blog/memorial-day-2016-4-fun-memorial-day-events-to-check-out-in-santa-cruz-this-year.html</link>
        <author>lauren@laurenspencer.com (Lauren Spencer)</author>
        <title>Memorial Day 2016: 4 Fun Memorial Day Events To Check Out In Santa Cruz</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 



Memorial Day is the weekend Americans wait for all year as it is the official start of the summer vacation season. We all know that means days at the beach, backyard barbecues, and plenty of outdoor activities.


Santa Cruz kicks off the weekend in style with a number of events to enjoy. Depending on your taste, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Come out to any of the events being held in the area this Memorial Day weekend and kick off the summer season in style. The following are some of the highlights of the holiday weekend.


The Santa Cruz American Music Festival


The second annual Santa Cruz American Music Festival kicks off at 11 am Saturday, May 28th and Sunday, May 29th, running until 7pm each day. The festival is being held at the luxurious Aptos Village Park and will showcase some of the best talent from the Blues, Country, and Americana music genres. The park provides amazing acoustic sound, an intimate setting, and stimulating forestry visuals. The festival is headlined by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Buddy Guy. Buddy has been an influence to many rock artists and is the winner of 34 blues music awards.


In addition to the outstanding lineup of artists, there will also be several merchandise booths available where you can purchase music from any of the artists you will have heard over the weekend. There will be a BBQ hosted as well as a number of food and drink stands with a variety of cultural cuisine.


Parents are encouraged to enjoy the festival with their children, as there will be a children’s play area complete with face painting and balloon animals.


The Longboard Union Invitational


For those who wish to be closer to the water, the Santa Cruz Longboard Union is hosting the 32nd annual Longboard Invitational. This ultra-popular event takes place at 890 Front Street on the shores of Santa Cruz. Longboarders from all over the state compete in the West Coast’s longest running surf contest. In addition to the amazing action put on by over 200 contestants, there will also be several merchandise booths around the area for fans to purchase apparel of their favorite local surfers.


Be sure to take part in the Mega-Surfboard raffle taking place over the course of the competition as a two dollar ticket could reward you with one of 12 handcrafted surfboards, or many other prizes.


The competition runs from 7am to 5pm both Saturday and Sunday. Make time to head down to Front Street and catch the amazing action


The Civil War Reenactment Battle and Encampment


Roaring Camp Railroad in Felton is hosting the 35th annual Civil War Reenactment over the weekend. Those interested in the history of the Civil War should certainly come out to Roaring Camp Railroad and experience the daily life of Union and Confederate soldiers during the war. The reenactment will feature cavalry charges, musket fire and artillery shells.


Come for the show, but stay for the post-war BBQ, as soldiers and guests take this time to replenish their energy after the hard fought war. Be sure to take home several souvenirs from the gift shop as well to commemorate your experience.


This event runs from 10am to 5pm, Saturday, May 28th to Monday, May 30th.


The Westside Farmers Market


Start of your busy Memorial Day weekend on the right foot, by stopping in at the Westside Farmers Market on Saturday May 28th, from 9:30 to noon. Local chefs will be cooking up some exquisite cuisine made from simple fresh ingredients right from the market Guests are advised to bring their own cutlery and plateware to this event.


Santa Cruz will be one of the hottest places to be for Memorial Day weekend, come on down and take in any of these amazing events


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 20 May 2016 08:39:00 -0700</pubDate>
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