January 18, 2018 – January 21, 2018

Magnolia Park
2929 S Binion Rd, Apopka FL 32703

Saturday – Free and open to the public

Other events require a fee and registration.  See Event Website for details.

Buy Tickets Here

The Lake Apopka Wildlife Festival & Birdapalooza Birding Festival is perfect for nature-lovers visiting Central Florida. Tour the 20,000-acre Lake Apopka North Shore, where 360+ bird species have been sighted. Two full-day trips and nine half-day trips are offered along with three keynotes, two with dinners. For details and event registration, see http://orangeaudubonfl.org/birdapalooza/.

On Saturday January 20th participate in the 6th annual FREE family-oriented Birdapalooza festival at Orange County’s Magnolia Park, 2929 S Binion Rd, Apopka, FL 32703. Enjoy photo walks, bird banding, guided bus tours (limited first-come seating), and guided walking and biking nature tours for children and adults on the Lake Apopka Loop Trail. For the entire family,  there are live animal demonstrations, music, owl pellet dissections, bounce houses, face painting, exhibitors, nature-oriented merchandise vendors and food trucks. For details, see http://www.birdapalooza.com and like us on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/Birdapalooza/.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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With the arrest of a Louisiana man charged with almost three hundred counts of helping scam innocent people out of millions of dollars, email and internet scams are in the forefront.  We must be diligent about protecting ourselves, as well as elderly loved ones against cyber robbery.   

Emails and Websites 

• Avoid opening emails whose sender you don’t know personally, or haven’t signed up to receive. 
• If a sender’s name looks like it’s from a legitimate site, say Google for instance, and the subject matter says that you need to enter your information after clicking a link in the body of the email, don’t.  Google and other reputable email providers, as well as your bank and credit card companies never ask you for information unless you initiate the change. 
• When you aren’t sure of a link in an email, hover over it with your cursor, and read the address that pops up at the bottom left of your screen.  Hover over this link:  www.freecadillacforyou.com. Do you see that the actual link says that it will take you to google’s homepage?  That’s how those links work.  Make sure what you’re clicking on goes to where it says it will. 
• Anyone that you don’t know that sends you an email telling you they will give you money in exchange for helping them obtain part of it is lying to you.  They are scammers and will clean out your bank account. 
• Most web browsers will let you know with a symbol or a pop-up message if a site is secure or not.  If you are trying to go to your bank’s website, but the padlock symbol on your computer is open, then you’re at the wrong place.  Don’t type any personal information–including username and password. 

Social Media 

• Many times, scammers will hijack someone’s account and create a new profile with copied photos and start sending friend requests. As soon as people accept, the imposter sends personal messages claiming to need money because they lost their wallet or debit card. Do not reply to any more messages, and report the scammer to the fraud department.   
• “What Character from The Simpsons Are You?” types of quizzes and other questionnaires that request your name and cell phone number in order for you to share with your friends will likely add a charge to your cell phone bill. 
• Be careful about complaining in a public tweet or post about your cable company going up on your rates, or your high cell phone bill.  There are scammers who comb social media for posts like that, then, posing as a customer service rep for that company, send you a direct message, offering you a discount if you’ll provide your account number and verify your credit card. You’ll see bogus charges on your next card statement.  
• Don’t click on the link for the local news story that Johnny Depp or George Clooney had a flat tire in your town and fell in love with the location, and decided to purchase a home there.  Those fake news websites will install malicious software onto your computer and gather personal information. 

Not only do you need to protect yourself, but talk with your teens and elderly family and friends so they will be aware of these online scams.  The FTC offers some other tips on how to avoid being scammed.  As technology gets “smarter,” so do hackers and scammers, and we have to keep diligent watch over our personal information.  

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Photo credit: FBI.gov

January 6, 2018 – April 22, 2018

Location: Harry P. Leu Gardens
1920 North Forest Avenue
Orlando, FL 32803

Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily

Admission: Admission to exhibit is included with regular garden admission.

$10 adults and $5 children

For more information call: 407-246-2620

Event Website

Harry P. Leu Gardens presents an amazing, award-winning outdoor exhibit which will delight all ages: Nature Connects – Art with LEGO Bricks by Artist Sean Kenney. Nature Connects is an incredible exhibit which features many larger-than-life sculptures built with LEGO bricks. Over 450,000 bricks were used in this exhibit to bring nature to life, with 16 sculptures in 13 displays throughout the 50-acre garden.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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The Christmas decorations come down, and everything looks so stark and plain, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Try some of these ideas to brighten up your home during the long winter days.

• Change your light bulbs to those that give off a blue hue to mimic sunlight. For dark mornings, invest in a sunrise light that comes on and brightens over a period of time to simulate the sun rising.
• Force the flower bulbs you were given as gifts. Their bright colors will bring Springtime early—indoors, anyway.
• Use light, bright colors everywhere you can—cozy throws, pillows, slipcovers, and accent rug—the light colors reflect what natural light we have coming through the windows and help boost our mood.
• Using natural items isn’t just for Christmas. A basket of pine cones with battery operated LED lights woven through them, or a simple wreath of twigs can double as decor for January.
• Use snowflakes, no matter where you live, to brighten up your interior. Get the kids to cut out paper snowflakes, or make these popsicle stick snowflakes. Hang either on clear monofilament and make a mobile or garland and hang them in a window.
• Cut the arms off of old sweaters and use them to wrap around candle holders and vases for a fun, cozy appearance.
• Clip small branches and twigs, spray them with white spray paint, (or leave them natural), and display them in vases with artificial snow, small pine cones, or whole nuts as a filler.
• Hang a mirror, or several, in a dark spot in your home. It will reflect light and brighten the space.
• Winter greens joined with a child’s sled, vintage ice skates, or a harness of jingle bells make great front door adornment.
• Use unused scarves wrapped around a foam wreath core for a fun and unique decoration. Hang a pair of mittens in place of a bow.
• Do you or any friends have flowering trees? If so, ask them for a few snipped branches, and force-bloom them with these tips from Fine Gardening. The Springtime buds will brighten any room.

Decorating for the colder months doesn’t have to scream Santa. Light colors, natural things and cozy pieces are perfect for brightening the long nights, and making your home as inviting as it was during the holidays.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Photo credit: Country Living Magazine 

Winter is a great time to binge-watch our favorite streaming series, read books we haven’t had time to read, gather with friends for dinner and game night, but it’s also a great time for letting our health regimine go by the wayside.  This opens the door for illness, and no one has time for that.  Keep yourself feeling and doing your best with this guideline!

You and Your Home

• If you didn’t get exercise equipment or a gym membership over the holidays, it doesn’t give you an excuse not to exercise. Walking is really an easy yet important way to burn off those holiday calories.  The cooler temps help you burn more because it takes more energy to stay warm, even while hitting the sidewalk.  A win-win exercise!
• We may not be doing a lot of perspiring, but water is still essential to our good health. Eight 8 ounce glasses a day will keep you hydrated, and your skin will thank you, too, as water helps battle the dry, itchy skin we get in Winter.
• Keep surfaces in your home wiped down with all-purpose cleaner and warm water. This is better than using disinfectants, as viruses and bacteria can become resistant to these ingredients, as noted with the FDA banning triclosan, a popular antibacterial additive in hand soaps.
• If you do get sick–stay home and rest! The more you are out and about not only makes you feel worse and lengthens your recovery, the more you spread what you have!

Your Mother Was Right!

• Wash your hands! Using plain soap for forty-five seconds and a warm water rinse is all you need to fight germs.
• Cover sneezes and coughs preferrable with a disposable tissue, and if that isn’t available, cover your mouth and nose in the crook of your arm.
• Avoid shaking hands, especially if someone is sick or has been around someone who is sick.
• Take your vitamins! A daily multivitamin at mealtime is a great way to keep you healthy and getting the nutrients you need, especially vitamin D, which goes lacking somewhat in the colder months when we aren’t spending as much time in the sunshine.
• Go to bed! Rest is so important to your overall health, and with the longer nighttime hours, it may be easier for you to get a full 7-8 hours a night. Your immune system works better when you’re rested up.
• Eat your vegatables–this is a no-brainer, anyway, but leafy greens, beans, and citrus are the best for the antioxidants you need to keep your immune system strong.

Even in Winter, our fast-paced lives can keep us from being diligent about staying healthy when it’s more important than the warm months. The get-togethers in close quarters, die-hards that come to work with a cold, and viruses our kids bring home from school are all standards of germ-sharing this time of year.  Taking care of yourself and your family may take a little extra effort, but you’ll be healthier and happier in the long run.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Photo credit: Meld Magazine 

January 4, 2018

Orlando Museum of Art
2416 North Mills Avenue, Orlando

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Admission: $15

Phone: 407-896-4231

Buy Tickets

With the rise of expression with handheld cameras and devices, the “selfie” has emerfed as the main component in photography.  Explore how to interpret selfies in the modern-day world and how they relate to past art masterpieces.  All media encouraged, including photography, camera photography, painting, sculpture, etc.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Kick off 2018 in style at one of Orlando’s theme parks!
This year Orlando ranks fifth on WalletHub’s Best Winter Holiday Destinations, included for its wonderfully warm weather, low travel costs and hassles and world-famous attractions. This tip of the cap for Orlando comes just a year after the destination was named the No. 1 most fun and affordable city to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the nation by WalletHub, a financial news, services and information site.

Universal Orlando: Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios are open 8 am New Year’s Eve till 1 am, with festivities including party zones, DJs, character appearances and fireworks at midnight.

EVE at Universal CityWalk: At Universal’s free outdoor entertainment complex, enjoy six unique party zones, each with signature drinks, along with awesome clubs with live music and unlimited gourmet cuisine. You won’t want to miss Orlando’s largest dance floor as well as appearances by celebrities, top fashion designers and prominent corporate brands.

NBC Sports Grill & Brew: Cheer on your favorite college football teams in the playoffs as they compete on nearly 100 HD TV screens throughout this unique sports-dining experience at Universal. The full dinner menu is served until 1:30 am, New Year’s Day.

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom: Enjoy two nights of “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks on Dec. 30 and 31 over Cinderella’s Castle.

Epcot: Celebrate all night long at Epcot with DJs and live music pumping beats from around the globe. Two showings of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” fireworks spectacular light up the sky, followed by a countdown and pyrotechnic salute to the new year.

Hollywood Studios: Rock ‘n’ roll into the new year with a brilliant fireworks spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort: Swing in the new year at Atlantic Dance Hall with the sounds of a live big band. Party hats and horns, a viewing of the Epcot fireworks at midnight and a champagne toast included.

Raglan Road at Disney Springs: This lively Irish pub is popular year-round at Disney Springs and especially on New Year’s Eve. Come for dinner and the late-night, Irish menu and stay for the live entertainment on both stages. Guests enjoy complimentary champagne toasts when it’s midnight in Ireland (7 pm ET) and again at midnight.

SeaWorld Orlando: Celebrate your connection to the sea, sea life and the world with special music and fireworks at SeaWorld.

Legoland Florida – Kid’s New Year’s Eve: Spend New Year’s Eve with the family at Legoland Florida, where the giant Lego brick drops at a very kid-friendly 7 pm, followed by fireworks and a dance party DJ.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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It’s the holiday season, and there are almost always unplanned visits from friends or family. Don’t get caught with a messy house or without a few snacks to serve guests–follow these guidelines to make a last-minute get-together almost effortless.

Quick Housekeeping
● Keep your focus only on the rooms you’ll be using while guests are there.
● Grab a basket and stash anything that is considered clutter, and place them in the basket, tucking it away in a bedroom. This is a fun activity you can get the kids involved in, calling it a Ten-Minute Tidy.
● Have disinfectant wipes in the bathroom cabinet, and give everything a quick swipe, put a fresh roll of paper on the dispenser, hang a clean hand towel, and add a seasonal air freshener.
● If you have dirty dishes in the sink and don’t have time to wash them before your unexpected guests arrive, stash them in the oven (not while it’s on!), or the dishwasher. Wipe sinks and counters down with disinfectant wipes, and your kitchen will sparkle.
● Have extra hangers in a closet or spare room available to stash guests’ coats and cold weather apparel.
● Place a waterproof mat set beside the door to leave wet or snowy boots and shoes.
● Plump up sofa and chair cushions and pillows. Add a cozy throw to a chair arm, and give the middle of the carpet a quick go-over with the vacuum.

Feed Them
● Keep coffee, cocoa mix and tea on hand so you’re not stuck without a nice warm beverage to serve to your drop-ins. It only takes a few minutes to heat water or brew a few cups of coffee. Apple cider can be refrigerated and heated in small amounts, adding some Raven’s Original Instant Mulling Spice, making your guests think you’ve slaved away making hot spiced cider.
● Splurge on a few expensive hors d’oeuvres or cookies for that extra-special feel food like this can bring even to an unexpected visit.
● For a homey touch, have refrigerated cookie dough in the fridge or freezer and pop some in the oven for a nice snack. If your guests have children with them who are old enough, have them decorate cookies with holiday-themed sprinkles or colored sugar.
● Make a cheese tray, add bite-sized smoked sausages, sliced pepperoni or salami from the deli, and cut veggies, and store in the fridge covered with plastic wrap. Remove the plastic, add some fancy crackers, and you have an instant party.
● Snack mixes, spiced pecans, gourmet popcorn and other seasonal savory snacks are great to have in the pantry for quick holiday fare.
● If guests are stopping in around dinnertime, a simple meal of pasta with jarred prepared sauce is easy to prepare quickly. Add homemade garlic bread, and you’ll have a great company meal everyone loves.
● Frozen pies and cakes or even appetizers can be heated or thawed quickly, and are usually on sale this time of year, so dessert is an affordable luxury splurge.
● Good Housekeeping offers some quick tips for foods and snacks that’ll look like you’ve just been waiting to serve guests!

Unexpected guests can get us all in a tizzy, but if we have a plan in place, it can be a breeze to pull off. This time of year is all about gathering together, and even though you aren’t expecting certain guests, be ready for them. Add some holiday music in the background–Pandora has excellent playlists for all genres–sit back, and enjoy your drop-in company.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Photo credit: newsok.com

December 21-24, 2017

Walt Disney Theater
445 South Magnolia Ave.
Orlando, FL 32801

Orlando Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” returns.

A Christmas Eve gift of a toy nutcracker from her godfather transports Clara on a magical journey to a world of fantasy complete with the Mouse King, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Mother Ginger. Enjoy falling snow and candy canes at this holiday classic the week before Christmas.

Show dates: Thursday–Sunday, December 21–24, 2017
Show times vary

Tickets: start at $19
Groups: discounts on 10+ tickets

Prices, shows, artists, dates, and times are subject to change at any time without notice.

No children under 2 for mainstage performances

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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