Music, Munchies and More...Your First Good Deed in 2015!

Instead of rocking into  2015 with good intentions only, how about starting it with a good deed?

Here is your chance: I have six tickets left for the spaghetti dinner. If you email me at silviabichler@kw.com, with the amount of tickets you need and your address, I will personally bring them over to you. First come, first serve! There will be a ticket sale at the door. If you have an item for the silent auction, I will pick it up at your house. If you want to write a check, I will take it to the violin instructor after the holidays. All you have to do is giving me a holler and you can start 2015 as a very much appreciated sponsor of our violin kids and as my personal hero of 2015! 

Antonio Del Buono Elementary School in Gilroy has been providing free violin instruction and instruments under the direction of accomplished violinist and credentialed Suzuki Violin instructor Lori Franke for many decades. Due to rigorous state cuts, however, funding for music and art has almost been wiped out for our school kids during the past years.

My 7-year-old granddaughter started to play violin and through the unique Suzuki method improved her ability to concentrate on a task not only in music but also  in math and other subjects. Her last report card showed "exceeding district bench mark" in all tests.

Experiencing the joy of playing an instrument and open the door to the world of Mozart and Bach should not only be reserved for students whose affluent parents can afford private lessons. There is tremendous talent among the Antonio Del Buono students many of them are children of migrant workers  - don't let this talent go to waste because of lack of funds.

I joined the Board of the Antonio Del Buono violin program and pledged to support the program in 2015 with a percentage of any of my business transactions as Keller Williams Real Estate Consultant. I want to give back to the local youth because it is you who help me grow my business with your referral to friends and family. Thank you for your continued support and friendship!

Help me to support this wonderful program - probably the only free violin program offered by an elementary school in the South County.

There are many ways you can help: Buy tickets for the upcoming spaghetti dinner, donate items for the silent auction or write us a check. Anything you can do is very much appreciated.

Below is a letter from Lori Franke, Director of the ADB Violin Program

2015 Horses for Warriors - Free Support for Veterans Must Continue!

Starting in January 2015, DreamPower on WoodMyst Farm in Gilroy will be offering four weekly or bi-weekly groups for veterans of all eras and their families.  All the information is below.  Please share this information with any veterans you know who may be interested in participating in any of these groups, and with those who work with veterans and their families.

All of DreamPower's groups are offered without cost to the veterans. That is possible only because of the generosity of our donors and volunteers. Wounded Warrior Project values each equine group at $100 per veteran per session. So a group of four veterans would be worth $400 for each weekly meeting. We need more donors to help cover the costs for these expanded services for our veterans and their families. Please share this information with anyone you know who cares about veterans and might consider supporting DreamPower's Horses for Warriors.  The deadline for donations to be applied to 2014 taxes is Dec. 31, 2014 at 11:59 pm.

The above paragraph was written in an email by Martha McNiel, Director of DreamPower.

In 2014, I witnessed the healing power of DreamPower Horsemanship for our veterans, other therapy groups, and yes, even us volunteers. My whole family felt at peace, whether it was during walking in the 4th of July parade in Morgan Hill,  sipping tea with grandparents invited by Trigger the Mini Horse, drinking wine at the Satori Cellar fundraiser, or caroling in the wagon around Wood Myst Farm during last Christmas. No wonder that the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce voted DreamPower the Charity organization of 2015.

 With every real estate transaction, I support this 100% non-profit organization to help our heroes coping with post traumatic stress disorder. It is my way to thank this great country that has become my home during the past decade and all US service members who defend individual freedom in this world. Please help me to help them! Thank you with all my heart!

 

This Month In Real Estate - December 2014, Gilroy Edition

Dear Gilroyan neighborhood, after publishing the December statistics for Santa Clara County and the South County, I still owe you the local Gilroy numbers.

For Your Thanksgiving Table: Healthy, Tasty, Easy!

I tested this wonderful recipe from Detoxinista and my entire family was completely sold, two thumbs up!

This is how I prepare my Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts on Thanksgiving following the Detoxinista's easy recipe, see below:

Brussels sprouts can be a bit intimidating on their own, but when roasted with a splash of balsamic vinegar, they become a delectable treat!

Traditional roasting methods usually call for a coating of olive oil before cooking, but I opted for coconut oil in this particular dish. The higher the saturated fat content in a cooking oil, the less likely it is to be damaged or oxidized, making coconut oil a more stable fat source for cooking at high temperatures. In fact, I’ve noticed that when I cook with coconut oil, my vegetables rarely burn!
Tender on the inside, and crispy on the outside, these Brussels sprouts are a quick and easy addition to any meal.
—
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts (Vegan, Paleo)
serves 4
Lightly adapted from this recipe
Ingredients:
1 pound Brussels sprouts, washed and trimmed
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 375F. If your coconut oil is solid at room temperature, place the two tablespoons of coconut oil in a small bowl, and set it on top of the oven to warm while you prepare the Brussels sprouts. If the top of your oven isn’t warm enough, you can place the bowl inside the oven for 2 minutes to melt.
Slice the Brussels sprouts in half, and place them in a large bowl. Pour the balsamic vinegar over the halves, and toss well to coat. Add the melted coconut oil, and toss again to coat. Arrange the Brussels into a single layer on a baking sheet, cut-side facing down, and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
the Brussels sprouts for 25 minutes, turning the pan after 10 minutes for even browning.

The sprouts are ready when they are lightly golden. Eat immediately!

Holiday Parade and Doggie Dress Up Contest in Gilroy

Are you ready to light the Gilroy Christmas tree? My 7-year-old granddaughter Adriana is. She and all the other violin kids from Antonio Del Buono Elementary School will walk in the parade together with their instructor, Lori Franke.

 We appreciate any tax deductible donation to this violin program which is not funded by the state and want to keep it free of cost for all Antonio Del Buono kids to attend.

Watch out for upcoming fundraisers which I will post information as soon as available.

 For information how to donate to the ADB violin program, please do contact the school or write me at: silviabichler@kw.com.

Thank you on behalf of our kids who have the chance to get introduced to music during their elementary school years - no matter how small their family's budget is. Keep the spirit alive because these kids are our future presidents, mayors, and teachers.
 

Wacky Shoe Day in Gilroy!

Wacky shoe/school spirit day at Antonio Del Buono Elementary School in Gilroy today. My granddaughter dressed herself, hair done by my daughter, Sarah Bichler fabulous hair stylist at Hello Gorgeous - Hair Salon in Gilroy. Happy Friday everyone!

Pecan Date Truffles (Vegan, Paleo)

You want to live through the holidays without putting back on all the weight you just tried to lose in the gym?

However, you also don't want to miss out on all the delicious goodies, yes?

Well, just in time for the holiday season and  for my coach and connoisseur Mike Devlin to try at his  famous cookie exchange party at my Campbell office at Keller Williams Silicon Valley, I found this  marvelous recipe to enjoy without regrets: Pecan Date Truffles

Because of health issues, I cannot eat refined sugar and flour and found this wonderful recipe site from Detoxinista.

Pecan Date Truffles  will make you the Queen/King of every cookie exchange party there is:

Pecan Date Truffles (Vegan, Paleo) 

Author: Detoxinista.com
Prep time: 30 mins Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 24

Naturally sweetened with dates and enhanced with a hint of salt, these bite-sized truffles are delicious on their own, but they are downright addictive when coated melted dark chocolate. The crisp dark chocolate shell is the perfect contrast to the buttery, rich pecan centers. These truffles make an impressive dessert to bring to a party, and a delicious treat to keep on hand in your freezer!

Ingredients
1 cup Medjool dates, pitted
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 cup raw pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup 70% dark chocolate chips, for coating

Instructions 
In a large food processor, combine all of the ingredients and process until a sticky dough is formed. Scoop the dough by rounded tablespoons and use your hands to roll into smooth balls. Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for easy removal. Place the tray in the freezer to set for 30 minutes.

Melt the cup of dark chocolate chips (5 minutes in a 400F oven does the trick), and remove the baking sheet from the freezer. Roll each ball in the melted dark chocolate, then return them to the parchment paper to set. If you'd like to sprinkle some crushed pecans or coconut on top for decoration, be sure to do it while the chocolate is still melted-- it will solidify quickly on the chilled truffles!

Return the chocolate truffles to the fridge or freezer until ready to serve.

 *Note: For a chocolate-filled variation, add 1/4 cup cocoa powder before processing the filling ingredients.

ENJOY!