Cleaning Tips and Tricks from our Rosie Certified Partners

Let's face it, cleaning your house is an ongoing part of maintaining your house, home, castle or cabin. On our June 6, 2015, Saturday morning broadcast we talked about different cleaning ideas and tips.  Here are a few tips, tricks and thoughts submitted by several of our Rosie Certified Partners - and even some discounts! Enjoy!

Jason from First Class Green Cleaning:

To preserve all of your flooring wear inside shoes. Barefoot is not good as the oil in your skin will color the carpet. Jason can enter a home and tell if they go barefoot based on the color of the carpet. In Arizona we have alot of black tops that have oil in them. If you wear your shoes in the house this asphalt get transferred to the flooring. We get so little rain that the oil build up on the asphalt is significatant. Also if you have small rocks or pebbles in your shoes they will scratch the flooring.


Becky from Arizona Chimney Sweep:

Spring/Summer is a great time to clean your chimney. Getting the fireplace inspected and cleaned gets rid off all the old ashes in your firebox and the creosote in the chimney.  This will eliminate having a stinky fireplace hanging around all summer.  Plus our skilled technicians will inspect the chimney top to make sure the chimney cap is in place.  The last thing you need is a feathered guest with wings coming down the chimney while you are away on vacation.

Arizona Chimney Sweep offers Rosie Listener Discounts. “We love talking to all our Rosie listeners, call us at 602-439-3218 and take advantage of our $25.00 off season discount. With everything cleaned and inspected you will be ready for that first cold chill this fall." 

Josh from Clearco Window and Carpet Cleaning:

1) Never spray your windows with a hose unless you plan to immediately dry them off with a towel or squeegee.  Many homeowners attempt to clean their windows or remove cobwebs and dust by spraying their windows with a garden hose.  Each time you do this you leave another layer of minerals that permanently deposit on the glass and become hardwater stains.  Instead, use a broom or a bench brush to knock down cobwebs and dust.  Likewise, make sure all your sprinklers are not hitting your windows (or anywhere near them) as this builds up hardwater stains fastest and worst of all.

2) Hardwater stains are very unsightly, and even more stubborn to get rid of.  The best do it yourself method for removal is using four aught (0000) (super extra fine) steel wool in combination with a cleaner such as CLR.  The steel wool wont scratch the glass but will be abrasive enough to effectively remove the hardwater.  Using a lot of elbow grease, rub the cleaner in in small circles.  You can feel the glass get smoother as the hardwater is removed.  Squeegee or wipe the glass clean to see results and repeat scrubbing steps as needed.  Since glass is porous, and hardwater etches glass, you can never restore all the way back to 100%. Good results bring the glass back to 90 – 95 % clear.

Clearco Window & Carpet Cleaning’s professional window cleaning services get the dust and cobwebs off the windows for you and leave the windows sparkling, and they offer hardwater stain removal service

Sharon from Air Quality Specialist:

Always clean from the top down! Start with the HVAC system- the ducts and filter can cause more dirt in your home if not properly maintained! If your ducts are clean, and your filter regularly changed (do it monthly as you pay your power bill) you will not only cut down your dust, but you'll extend the life of your HVAC Equipment.

Robert from Phoenix Carpet Repair:

1) When carpet begins to ripple up or appear wavy after installation…it needs to be professionally Power Stretched! The number one cause for carpet ripples is poor installation to begin with (they probably used a knee kicker to install your carpet!).  The second most common reason is if the home is left at a warm temperature for an extended period of time (i.e. snow birds or a vacant home in summer).  The heat makes the carpet relax and ripple!  To correct this properly, we use a Power Stretcher to stretch the carpet from baseboard to baseboard and usually cut off between 2-4 inches from the length and width of each room.

2) A good majority of people do not know carpet can be repaired! Even some who do know this, they might not think they can have it done because they do not have any spare carpet to use.  What we can do is cut out a small piece from a closet (maybe behind the door or under a low laying shelf), and use that piece for the repair! Our technicians carry 3-4 different beige/brown carpet remnants at all times so we can replace that closet piece with a non-matching remnant.  Who looks at the closet floor anyways, right?

Chad Hoppe from Arizona Screen Techs, LLC:

Brush off screens with a brush. He also said that a home power washer would work best. This is a good tip for the whole back porch. Keep outdoor tile and screens clean and fresh (but not windows) with a power washer.


A special thank you to all of our Rosie Certified Parters who submitted these cleaning tips.  If you have other cleaning tips, you'd like to share, please do so in the comments below.  Remember, you can find our statewide screened and Rosie certified contractors, advice and do-it-yourself tips, for your house, home, castle or cabin, at every Arizona homeowner's best friend: Rosie on the House.

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Sweet Jennifer's Fun Summer Recipes

Here are some of Sweet Jennifer's favorite summer recipes. They are refreshing and very simple to make.  If you give them a try, let us know what you think!

Watermelon Soup (or enjoy as a drink)

• 5 cups of seedless watermelon
• 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 10 large mint leaves
• 3/4 cup sea salt
• 10 ice cubes

Blend in a blender and chill for at least 4 hours before serving.  Enjoy as a soup or drink!

Sweet Jennifer's Sweet Corn 

• 6 ears of sweet corn kernels scraped from the ears
• 1/2 cup each green and red pepper, diced
• 1/2 onion
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in olive oil in cast iron skillet  . Add onion and cook until they are soft and yellow/brown in color. Add corn and  green and red pepper, sauté until soft ( cook them to the desired texture- al dente or cover and add a couple of tbsp. of water to completely soften). Add salt and pepper to taste. 

A-Authentic Garage Door's "Rosie Special"

On average, your garage door opens and closes eight-ten times each day.  That’s nearly 300 times a month! This wear and tear can cause all sorts of squeaking, creaking and grinding!  With it working so hard, it’s well worth having it serviced by the Valley’s authority in garage door service, repair and maintenance – A-Authentic Garage Door.

For just $59.95, Rosie-Certified A-Authentic Garage Door will come out and perform a twenty-one-point inspection and service.

To schedule this limited time offer, call A-Authentic Garage Door:

Phoenix Metro -- 602-678-1089
Northern Arizona -- 928-277-1659
Southern Arizona -- 520-740-1050

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Rosie and Jennifer's Germany Review

Hotel Master Key System

Fully Rabbetted Door

Full Rabbetted Jamb

Impervious and inert bathroom ceiling

Rosie on top of Zugspitze highest point in German Alps

Sweet Jenn @ Zugspitze

Rosie, Rachael and Grandsons @ Neuschwanstein Castle

Rosie, Jennifer and Alex on streets of Garmisch,, Germany

Rapid Statewide Growth Leads to Noel Kurtz Joining Rosie On The House Team

Rosie on the House Seizes Rapid Statewide Growth,

Expands Services, Network throughout Southern Arizona

Organization hires former Southern Arizona Home Builder’s

Association Home Show Director, Noel Kurtz

Phoenix – April 30, 2015 – Rosie on the House®, Arizona’s most trusted home improvement resource for more than 27 years, seizes its rapid growth across the state by expanding it’s trusted referral network presence throughout Southern Arizona. The organization has hired Tucson-resident Noel Kurtz, former home show director for the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA), to lead the charge.

“This is an exciting time for our organization,” said Rosie Romero, owner of Rosie on the House and host of the radio program.  “In the last year, our Southern Arizona network of trusted contractors has grown substantially, bringing our entire statewide referral network to more than 100 Rosie-Certified partners. We see that number doubling in the next 2-3 years.” 

Romero continued, “We are thrilled to have Noel joining our team.”  “Her invaluable experience with industry professionals, SAHBA organizations, and throughout Southern Arizona will be a tremendous asset to our organization and the region’s homeowners.

Prior to her position at SAHBA, Kurtz, a University of Arizona graduate, was with Meritage Homes.  Before that she was with Pulte Homes, where she held the position of lifestyle director for Del Webb, along with HR generalist and new home specialist.

For more than 27 years, Rosie on the House, has continually served and protected Arizona homeowners with its statewide weekend radio program, weekly newspaper columns, trusted referral network (electrical, plumbing, painting, air conditioning, roofing, etc.), and countless do-it-yourself articles, tips and advice on RosieontheHouse.com. The most-listened to weekend radio program, heard every Saturday morning, airs in Phoenix, Tucson, Green Valley, Prescott, Flagstaff and Sedona.

Rosie on the House first developed its referral network ensuring that partners are the very best-of-the-best.  Each Rosie-Certified partner undergoes a complete and thorough background check, must have worked in their specialty for at least five years, has demonstrated a commitment to their community, demonstrates excellent customer service, and has earned respect among their peers and competitors. All network members must have good credit records and be in good standing with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.

For more information about Rosie on the House please visit www.rosieonthehouse.com or via phone at 888-Rosie-4U (767-4348).

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Contact: Scott Appel – scott.a@rosieonthehouse.com

About Rosie on the House®:

For more than 27-years, Rosie on the House’s mission is to be every Arizona homeowner's best friend.  As Arizona’s most trusted home improvement resource, Rosie on the House protects, informs and entertains Arizonan’s with its Saturday morning radio program and weekly newspaper column.  RosieontheHouse.com is home to the state’s most-trusted referral network of contractors and service providers, as well as, hosts Arizona’s largest collection of DIY tips and guidelines for home-improvement projects. Visit RosieontheHouse.com to access this highly valuable home improvement resource and to find your local broadcast affiliate.

KTAR Expands Commitment to Arizona Homeowners

“Rosie on the House” Adds Fourth Hour to Broadcast

PHOENIX, February 12, 2015 --- KTAR, Arizona’s leading news station, and “Rosie on the House,” Arizona’s most popular and longest running talk show, today announced that it is adding a fourth-hour to its Saturday morning, home-improvement radio broadcast. Host Rosie Romero, with his entertaining, common-sense, easy-to-understand advice on homes, will now broadcast live Saturday mornings on KTAR from 7 to 11 a.m.  The show, well-known for blending Cajun music and humor to its help-filled broadcast, will continue to carry its vision forward of being every Arizona homeowner’s best friend.

The first official 4-hour broadcast will kick off at 7 a.m. this Saturday, Feb. 14^th, on KTAR News 92.3 FM in Phoenix.  This week end’s show will coincide with Sanderson’s Customer Appreciation Day and be live on location at the Sanderson Ford headquarters in Glendale. During this first-ever 7 a.m. hour of the broadcast, Rosie will be helping celebrate Sanderson Ford’s 60-year history with the Kimmerle family. They will be sharing memories of their years spent serving the Arizona community.  Customers can share their stories in person on the Saturday morning show at the dealership or by calling into the program at 888-767-4348. The garden hour will begin at 8 a.m. as usual, followed by home improvement programming and advice from 9 to 11 a.m.

As part of this weekend’s celebration, Rosie Romero and his son and co-host, Romey Romero, will provide a scrumptious sample of crawfish done Cajun-style with corn and sausage as prepared by the Arizona Crawfish Co. -- as long as it lasts. Drinks and refreshments will also be served by Sanderson. The first 50 people through the door will receive a pair of admission tickets to the International Sportsmen’s Expo and Arizona Boat Show (held next week Feb 19-22) and a 24-ounce canteen. Visitors can enter to win an International Sportsmen’s gear bag to be awarded at the end of the broadcast.

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Contact:

Scott Appel, scott.a@rosieonthehouse.com

ABOUT ROSIE ON THE HOUSE.

The “Rosie on the House” story began in 1988 when Romero, born in Louisiana but raised in Arizona, founded Legacy Custom Building & Remodeling in Scottsdale. Soon after, he sold KTAR, 92.3 FM, on his idea for a home improvement call-in show; he has been on-air ever since. Besides KTAR in Phoenix, the program is carried on KNST AM 790 and 93.7 FM in Tucson, KAZM 780 AM in Sedona, KQNA 1130 AM and 99.9 FM in Prescott; and Flagstaff Country 93.5 FM and 930 AM. The program is syndicated by the Skyview Network. For more information, visit Rosie on the House online at www.rosieonthehouse.com

Father's Day

Hi Y'all,

I get the pleasure to fill you in to how Rosie's kids grew up. Rosie and Jenn constantly made a conscious effort to include their kids in everything they did. When the radio show started in 1988, it became Rosie's chance to bring one of the kids with him each week, and take them to lunch after. It was the coveted 5th week rotation that the kids lived for! When Rosie owned Legacy, he hand delivered payroll to the job sites every Friday - another coveted rotation spot that he involved the kids in!

It wasn't only work - it was the daily chores and the hobbies too! Rosie and Jenn wanted their kids to be independent so the girls learned how to change the oil in their cars, and the boys learned how to cook. There were so many incredibly valuable lessons that were learned in the every day routines.

Here are some major highlights:

When the Romero's went camping, it was days of learning to read maps, using a compass, "you stay here and come find me" excursions and fire building. So many hours spent in the wilderness learning every skill possibly needed to make it. The picture here is of the 4 oldest kids breaking sticks while Rosie blows on the flame to ignite a full fire.

Or how about this picture? When Rosie helped Romey use the carpentry skills he'd been honing for years to build a horse bridge in Northern Arizona for his Eagle Scout project. Then Rosie and Jenn brought the whole gang up to see the bridge and show support for Romey's big accomplishment!

As many of you know Carol is the last one at home. Coming in fashionably late, 10 years behind the rest of the crew, Carol and Rosie found new hobbies together. They love to hike and do Geocaching, but pictured here are the game bird dogs that they trained together. 

It wasn't only in Arizona that lessons were learned. Summers of working around the family camp in Louisiana gave plenty of lessons of its own! Driving, fishing, hunting, nature, boating, rowing, and so much more. This picture in particular is of the crew building duck nesting boxes for the camp...just like Rosie taught 'em

Last but not least...remodeling! This is a snap shot of the girls doing the demo work on Rosie and Jenn's bedroom remodel. Nothing better to release some teen girl frustration then letting them tear down something!

No matter what it was, Rosie and Jenn always found a way to include the kids! Rosie instilled a love for reading, history and exploring. He ingrained a passion for doing your best and accomplishing all that was possible and taking on every challenge that was presented. He taught his kids to love Jesus, to respect their elders, to love and respect each other, to care for their family, be a loyal friend, and to enjoy the heck out of life! 

And I know I'm not alone in being thankful for the effort he made so often to make sure we grew up into independent, knowledgeable adults capable of providing for and taking care of ourselves and our families.

-Julia (P-Nut) 

Rosie's Gumbo Recipe

For the Cajun person, eating is an adventure not a chore. Each dish is expected to provide a mouthful of flavor and a create a desire for more!

Every meal can be an event, Superbowl or not! We are posting a few of our favorite recipes for you to try! If you are like our family you will soon be looking for more recipes to delight your family and friends! Rosie enjoys cooking gumbo on a Sunday afternoon.

Rosie's Gumbo

You have to start with a roux. In a large gumbo pot, make a roux with oil and flour. 

 
Stir constantly until the roux turns the color of peanut butter. Add onions, celery, and bell pepper to wilt veggies and to slow browning. Add chicken broth and meat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook on low for 2 hours. Eat over rice with crusty french bread. (It will even taste better on day 2 :)


Ingredients: 
1/2 cup wesson oil
1 cup flour
4 quarts chicken broth
1 large onion, chopped
1 bell pepper
2 stalks celery
chicken, sausage, goose or duck or any combo
Serve over hot fluffy rice.




Sounds like too much work or you burnt the roux? Here are a few great recipes you can put together in a short time to get you though more meal!

Shrimp and Grits: 

• http://arizonacrawfishcompany.blogspot.com/2013/08/shrimp-grits.html

Red Beans and Rice: 

• http://arizonacrawfishcompany.blogspot.com/2013/06/red-beans-n-rice.html

Crawfish Dip: See if you recognize the sweet lady in the pic, Chere!

• http://arizonacrawfishcompany.blogspot.com/2010/08/cooking-with-legend-crawfish-celery-dip.html

NOTE: You can trap crawfish in many lakes in Arizona or find packets of cooked, peeled crawfish in the frozen fish section at Walmart.

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Work hard, play hard! This was Dr Rosie Romero's (Rosie's Dad)  modus operandi and it has been successfully passed down. There isn't a Romero that doesn't enjoy the fruits of hard labor. There is also no such thing as a  Romero who doesn't have a passion outside of work! Take this last weekend for example:

Julia and James helped cheer James' favorite team to victory. (Of course, this meant that Rosie and Jenn had the privilege of hanging out with 3 rug rats 4 1/2 and under- special times!)

 Romey and Amanda are hard core urban farmers. They spent some hours pickling their bountiful okra crop. Yum!

Rosie and Jenn took their horses and their German short hairs and headed for the high desert. It was a little warm but it was well worth it for, as Winston Churchill said, ' Something about the outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.'





It is good to have things you can look forward to doing with the ones you love. Work will always be there waiting for you. Don't miss opportunities to enjoy life and make memories with your family!

What's football got to do with it?????

    It’s just 3 days until kick off of the college football season at our house.  You can feel the anticipation, in the office and at home. The air is buzzing with excitement as we wonder how our team will do this year.  Discussions are held on which players will stand out, how we will do without the ones we have relied on in the past and the endless vacillation of our opinion of the coach.

  I didn’t grow up watching football and honestly I didn’t really appreciate it when the kids were all home. Now I love it.

   Now football season is one of my favorite times of the year. Truth to tell, I still don’t understand the game very well but I am making an honest effort to at least grasp the basics (sac, goal, punt, offense defense- I mean really basic!)  For me it’s more about what it means to our family. It means time to gather, time to eat, time to play,time to banter (Julia-known as Peanut -married a Buckeye),and  time to be together. It provides relief from life's grind as we act ridiculous and have fun doing it (see video above for validation)! It is time to just be together.

   

It is now a tradition. If there is a televised LSU game, you will find most of the Romero’s together.  The ones who can’t make it check in by phone as they enviously wish they could be with us. The definition of tradition is an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom). Inherited is the key word in our house. Love of the LSU tigers and loyalty to a team that has its ups and downs is passed down from generation to generation. We are still season ticket holders sitting in the same seats each year that Dr Rosie and Baby Kay sat in back in 1958.

   Of course, traditions come in all shapes and sizes. All it takes to make a tradition is to be able to say ‘we always…..’  For us it is ‘We always’…go to church on Sunday,give thanks for our meals, celebrate birthdays and victories with a good meal, have a Dairy Queen Ice cream cake for birthdays, celebrate Thanksgiving one day late and Christmas one day early(a move necessary to accommodate all of the extended family) and we  love being outside.

What kinds of things do you and your family  do together that you can label as a tradition?  If you can’t think of any maybe it is time to start.  In this crazy, hectic time we live in it is important to be intentional about spending time together.  Traditions help kids to feel secure and provide a framework for keeping our families intact. What are your favorite traditions? Feel free to share them with us!

Blessings to you and yours,
Jennifer

Let's be intentional!

    Perspective can be gained many ways. Visiting my 95 year old grandmother this week has given me a good healthy dose! She is to the point where communication is limited and difficult. My mom and I are spending time retelling grandma stories that she so engrained in us and was adamant that we remember. We talk of the memories she has created for us, the way she has loved us, the life lessons she taught us, and the delicious meals that she prepared. These are the things that matter to her now that life is winding down. 

   Grandma taught us that life is not just about our own house, home, castle or cabin. What really matters is what lies at the heart of our home, our core values. There are things that are worth sharing, passing on and cultivating in an intentional way.

    Rosie and I support Living Hope Ministry in Springerville, Arizona because they understand the importance of strengthening the family and passing on life's most important values.This is a ministry whose mission statement proclaims; ‘we are to assist men and women in making choices that overcome obstacles, build strong families and honor life. We desire to give a hand up not a hand out and encourage education and hard work.  Practical help and the love of Jesus is a powerful combination.’  They do this by teaching parenting and marriage classes. Young families who take these classes are given credits that can be used to purchase diapers, formula and clothing. Investing in these families helps support the family unit in a way that will impact generations to come.

    Perspective comes from realizing that while it is important to live in the moment and enjoy each day, it is equally important to keep the big picture in mind. It means taking the time to pass on things that matter.

Let's be intentional!

Jennifer

Part of the team evaluating the situation at Living Hope

Time to dig! The Living Hope house's foundation needed some real love!

Look at that pile they pulled out of Living Hope! 

     Rosie and I were so excited about the crawfish festival. After the show on Saturday we scooped up his sweet mama, Baby Kay and our youngest daughter Carol. Julia joined us with her 3 kids and we caravanned up the mountain.

     As we were pulling through Payson, the phone rang. It was Romey….’can y’all stop and get all the potatoes and corn you can find?’ Perfect timing! Carol, Baby Kay and I shucked corn the rest of the way to the festival! Must be a good turnout we agreed! 

    Pulling into the festival was confirmation that it was what we had all hoped for!
 Bison Ranch exploded with people enjoying the mountain air and crawfish.  We stopped by the boilers first to see them going full force and the heavy baskets being dumped with heads of steam billowing upward. Not work for the faint of heart!

     We could hear Romey announcing the winner of the crawfish eating contest. Contestants worked hard to be the first to eat 15 crawfish- Romey checked to make sure they were fully consumed!  Our winner was  from Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Our nephew-in-love, Calvin Sibley came in a close second. Third place winner  was from the same town as the winner and they had never met!

     Meanwhile, the Taylor family circus was hard at work entertaining the families with their dramatic costumes as they walked around on stilts, decorated faces with jewels and paint and delighted the kids with juggling,  balloon animals and swords. Jump houses, stuffed with children, bounced happily. People lined the porches with plates of crawfish, corn and potatoes heaped high.

 

  Romey asked his dad if he would like to give rides in the Sanderson Ford TomCar.  After our demo ride with Matt Kimmerle, Rosie did not need any coaxing. People waited their turn in the cool afternoon shade as Rosie buckled people in and gave over 20 rides. There was a perfect course just off the property with lots of places to demonstrate this amazing vehicle. Thesuspension is incredible, providing a smooth ride regardless of the terrain and great fun for all ages.

    The Arizona Zydeco Band played for hours as people shuffled to the beat of the upbeat, Cajun music in the grass. The washboard and accordion players really gave it their all with the accordion player coming down to entertain the crowd on a regular basis (no body guards needed in this crowd!). Young and old alike danced to the last note!

    Thank you to everyone who came up for the day, looks like it was around 1200 attendees! We had a chance to meet lots of new people as well as hug on some old friends.

      Look for the festival next year and plan on putting it on your Arizona Stacation list!

                                                                                                         Stay Tuned!      
                                                                                                                Jennifer