The story of Philippe Simon, one of the most knowledgeable wine connoisseurs in South Louisiana, is an archetypal tale of achieving the “American Dream”.  Simon grew up in France and worked for two restaurants.  During this time he honed his skill in food and wine pairing, which soon became his specialty.  Instead of picking out a wine and then deciding what to eat, Simon always advised his customers to consider the meal first; he would then help them choose a wine that would best complement the dish.

Simon became a successful restaurateur in France, yet he had always dreamed of moving to America and starting a business there.  So with that, he emigrated from his home land, one of the most prominent wine regions in the world, and made his way to the United States of America.  He traveled across the country and back again before he found himself in the small town of Scott, Louisiana.  He knew he was in the right place when the good Acadians welcomed him with open arms.  He was promptly introduced to local wine aficionados and immediately began to make plans to open his own wine shop.

Thus, Philippe’s Wine Cellar was opened on December 1, 1999 in the Oil Center.  Simon and his wife, Sylvie, worked as a team in order to build up a good reputation.  He assisted customers in their selections while she manned the cash register. The news about Simon’s expertise in food and wine pairing quickly spread, and more and more customers sought out his advice.  In 2006, Simon moved his business from the Oil Center to a larger building on Ambassador Caffery Parkway in order to accommodate  his growing business.

Lafayette has treated Simon and his family well.  He and his wife continue to run the shop with the assistance of their son, Sebastian.  Simon values his one-on-one relationships with his customers.  He is always willing to accept the challenge of individualizing a customer’s selection, taking into consideration the purpose the wine will serve.

Philippe’s Wine Cellar offers only the finest wines and spirits in Lafayette.  Free wine tastings are offered weekly as an educational experience for those who have a newly found love for wine as well as devout wine enthusiasts.  Philippe Simon is a master of the art of wine and is dedicated to passing on his knowledge to loyal customers.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

• Conifers provide cover, winter shelter and summer nesting sites. Some also provide sap, buds and seeds.
• Grasses and legumes provide cover for ground-nesting birds if the area is not mowed during the nesting season. Some also provide seeds.
• Nectar-producing plants attract hummingbirds and orioles. Hummingbirds especially like tubular
  red flowers, such as fuchsia, bee balm, coral bells and penstemon.
• Summer-fruiting plants include cherry, honeysuckle, raspberry, serviceberry, grape and plum. Birds attracted include brown thrashers,
  robins, thrushes, waxwings, woodpeckers, orioles, cardinals, towhees and grosbeaks.
• Fall-fruiting plants include dogwoods, mountain ash, winterberries and cotoneasters. They are used 
  by both migratorybirds preparing to leave and non-migratory species preparing for winter.
• Many winter-fruiting plants are not palatable until they have frozen and thawed numerous times. These include glossy black chokecherry, Siberian crabapple, snowberry, bittersweet,
  sumac and Virginia creeper.
• Nut and acorn plants provide food and nesting habitat. They include oaks, hickories, buckeyes, chestnuts, butternuts and walnuts. Broken nuts and acorns.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Mardi Gras 2016 is in full swing!  Costumes are being bought, king cakes are being baked, royal balls are being held, and parades are being planned.  Here in Acadiana, you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to celebrate Mardi Gras this year.  Here are only a few of the countless Mardi Gras celebrations going on throughout South Louisiana:

King Cake 5K
This Mardi Gras inspired 5K Race will be held in Sugar Mill Pond on Saturday, January 30 from 8 AM to 11 AM. Race registration is $35 and includes a cool Baseball Jersey style Race t-shirt and ALL YOU CAN EAT KING CAKE! This event is fun for the whole family! A Kiddie Court with games and activities will be on site and a DJ playing your favorite Mardi Gras Party tunes.

Carencro Mardi Gras Parade
Head over to the city of Carencro on Saturday, January 30 at 11 AM as their annual Mardi Gras parade takes to the streets.  The Carencro Mardi Gras Association promises this year’s parade to be one of the best, highlighted by colorful floats, extravagant costumes, and an all around fun time for the whole family.

Krewe des Chiens Parade
The annual Krewe des Chiens Parade in Downtown Lafayette is arguably the most adorable and charitable Mardi Gras parade in Acadiana.  Head Downtown on Saturday, January 30 at 2 PM for the procession of Lafayette’s canine royalty.  This year’s theme is “Super Bowl Pawty: The Ultimate Tailgating Experience”!

Krewe of Carnivale en Rio Parade
The Krewe of Carnivale en Rio Parade is known beautifully decorated floats, rocking bands and some of the best beads and throws in Acadiana! The Rio parade rolls on Saturday, January 30 at 6:30 PM and will capture the attention and praise of over 100,000 smiling spectators.

Scott Mardi Gras Parade
The Scott Business Association will be hosting the 2016 annual Scott Mardi Gras Parade on Sunday, January 31 at 1 PM and and guarantees a fun and festive celebration that will be entirely family friendly!

Pawdi Gras on the Pond
Bring your children, friends, and four-legged family members to Sugar Mill Pond on Sunday, January 31 at 2:30 for their annual Dog and Children’s Parade benefiting Angel Paws of New Iberia Humane society.  Kids can decorate bikes, scooters, and wagons and join the parade!

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

There are times when you need to sign documents that are sent to you via email.  Traditionally, you would print out the document, sign it with a pen, scan the signed document and email it.  Talk about inefficient; that really isn’t any more convenient than faxing!

However, if you’re using the Mail app on your iPhone, you can sign the document directly within the app and send it off!  Yup, it’s that simple.  Here’s how to do it:

First, open the email containing the document to be signed and tap on the PDF to open it.  In the bottom right corner of the screen, you’ll see a blue toolbox icon.  Tap it.  This opens the Markup menu.  

From here, you can make various edits to the document:  Add doodles or text, magnify specific areas, or add a signature.  Tap the signature icon in the bottom right to add your signature.

If you don’t like the look of it, simply tap Clear in the top right until your signature is satisfactory.  When you’re finished, tap Done.

Now you can adjust the size and location of your signature to fit the document.  After making your adjustments, tap Done.  Now you’re ready to send off your signed document!

I love how simple it is to use this feature, and how much of a time saver it is!  Using the Markup menu in the Mail app, you can have documents edited, signed, and sent quickly without having to switch apps or bother with printing, scanning, or faxing.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

For many months, potential homebuyers in popular neighborhoods have bemoaned a shortage of inventory, the volume of homes available on the market.

But a slowing of home sales in November, as reported by the National Association of Realtors, could mean a gradual rebuilding of inventory levels in some of the hottest communities.  In 2016 there may be many more starter homes available if the economy continues to improve.

More inventory could translate to more choices for homebuyers. But surprisingly, the prospect of more home choices is not one that thrills all buyers.  Some people find decision making harder when there are more options. They can feel paralyzed by what they perceive as over-choice.

More often than not, the buyers who make the best choices are those who define their search criteria carefully, rather than simply visiting an indefinite number of places.  There’s an art to creating a short list of houses to visit and then examining each one on your short list very carefully.

Here are a few screening tips for buyers:

Start by comparing houses on the basis of square footage.

Though it’s surprising to clients, it’s common to find a small home could cost significantly more per square foot than a midsize property in the same neighborhood, and over time, the midsize home should be worth more.  

If for any reason the square footage isn’t shown on the listing in the Multiple Listing Service, ask your agent to prescreen the place and take measurements for you.

Factor in bathroom count when deciding which homes to visit.

Once it was common for several family members, particularly the children or teenagers in the household, to share the same bathroom.

But the current ideal is for every member of the family to have his or her own bathroom.

Of course, homes in older communities are likely to have fewer bathrooms than those in recently built subdivisions. But whether you’ve targeted an older community or a newer one, it’s wise to favor homes with more bathrooms.  The best-case scenario is to find a place with ‘his and her’ bathrooms off the master suite, a feature that today’s buyers greatly appreciate.

Consider homes within their neighborhood context.

One online tool for placing homes within their neighborhood context is Google Maps, which uses satellite imagery to pinpoint the location of properties simply by typing in an address.

This way you can quickly see if a house is located on a busy, cross-through street versus a dead-end avenue or a quiet cul-de-sac. You could also tell, for example, how close a property is to a ‘big box’ retailer.

Think through your lifestyle needs when comparing floor plans.

When touring homes, trust your instincts about the impression a place makes after you’ve first entered the front door.

A good floor plan gives the visitor a feeling of harmony. The rooms and major features are all in proportion. For example, window sizes are in proportion to overall floor space, neither too small nor too big.

You should also think carefully about the layout of any home you’re visiting, because a floor plan can be influential in helping shape your lifestyle.

For instance, an empty-nest couple that often holds dinner parties will likely want a formal dining room that’s well positioned within their home. But families with young children typically place more emphasis on a large family room that flows into a country-sized kitchen.

Don’t let yourself get wowed by a home’s shallower attributes. Rather, think of a place that will underscore your happiness for as long as you choose to live there.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News