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FEBUARY 2025
ME LV I N ’ S MON T H LY MOMENT S
205-223-6192 www.MelvinUpchurchSells.com
2024 Melvie Awards
The “Melvie” is a chocolate Oscar I give out to my awesome clients or others who have supported my business in the past year. Thanks for your business and referrals!! This year’s winners are as follows: Anna — Most Agreeable Personality Anthony and Eleanor — Sassiest Estate Salesperson Blake and Libby — Funniest Couple Bob and Kathy — Most Popular Liberty Park Sellers Bonny — Always Makes Me Smile Casey and Heather — Best Attorney Clients Charles, Elisabeth, and Tori — Best Florida Family Charlie and Sidney — Best Golf Coach & Most Supportive Wife Chris and Hannah — Coolest Name for Daughter
Kim M.— Most Savvy Leigh and Glen — Most Business: 3 Closings & Referral Marilyn — Kindest Heart, Best Mom, & Grandmom Matt W. — Biggest Heart & Most Likable Guy Nick and Lizzie — Most Consecutive Melvies Phillip and Meredith — Hotty Toddy Melvie Rebecca — Pupil People Award Reggie and Kathryn — Most Walkable Location Sam and Victoria — Best Young Sellers Sana — Best Piano Teacher — Ever Shannon — Classy Buyer Shea and Gerald — Best Clients from an Open House Thanasis — Best Tennis Player Vicki — Ball of Fire Wes and Merrick — Most Patient Buyers William and Lynne — Most Referrals From Non-Client
Dan and Alison — Best Investment Dara and Caleb — Gets Stuff Done Dave — Nicest Banker David and Elizabeth — Best Mt. Brook Clients Freddie — Best Motivator George and Catherine — Best Golfing Buyers Grace — Bram’s All-Time Favorite Babysitter
Jason and Lacey — Amazing Friends Joe and Elizabeth — Best Mom & Dad Joe and Rivvi — Best Young Buyers John and Robin — Most Knowledgeable Buyers Jon — Smartest Long-Term Investor Kaitlyn and Zach — Most Determined to Be in Homewood Katie — Sweetest Cat Award Kent — My Christian Mentor & Role Model Kim C.— Best Daughter & Sister
I would love to see everyone’s name on this list in 2025! 😊
–Melvin Upchurch
• 1 www.MelvinUpchurchSells.com
KEEP IT COOL!
Cleaning Cleverly Steps to Sparkle
Simple Maintenance Tips for a Cooler, More Efficient Refrigerator
A little TLC for your refrigerator can go a long way in keeping it running smoothly, saving you on energy bills and, ultimately, from buying a new one sooner than you have to. With just a few easy maintenance steps, your fridge will stay cool, efficient, and fit to do its job! Clean those coils. Did you know your fridge’s coils, usually behind a lower panel on the back, play a key role in cooling? These coils release heat as refrigerant passes through, but dust, pet hair, and debris can build up over time, making your fridge work harder. Slide your fridge out twice a year, open the lower panel, and use your vacuum cleaner’s hose attachment to clear out dust. Want to give it a final wipe? Use a dry towel, as moisture could damage the coils. Just be careful not to bend anything — blocked airflow could prevent your fridge from cooling properly. Don’t ignore the gasket. That rubber seal, or gasket, around your fridge door may look minor, but it’s essential for keeping cold air in and warm air out. If the gasket doesn’t seal tightly, your fridge has to work harder to maintain its cool, costing you extra energy. Inspect it for cracks or wear occasionally, and wipe it with warm, soapy water to remove any crumbs or spills. If it’s looking cracked or brittle, head to your local hardware store for a replacement — it’s an easy fix that makes a big difference.
As we work to fit everything into our hectic daily schedules, even the simplest and most apparent tasks can slip through the cracks. For example, we rely on common cleaning tools and appliances to maintain order in our lives, but do we pay attention to how we treat them? Household staples like cutting boards and sponges aren’t magical devices that keep our homes clean without their own maintenance and care. Here are three ways to keep cleaning tools, well, clean. The Battle Against Bacteria Even if your home-cleaning regimen is extensive enough to make Martha Stewart blush, you may unwittingly turn your home into a haven for bacteria without realizing it. Your sponges and scrubbers do a lot to keep your space spotless and hygienic, so they should be treated with the same consideration. They should be washed at least weekly, and the most thorough method is in your dishwasher — run them on the hottest cycle for the longest time possible on the top rack. And speaking of dishwashers, be sure to give yours a deep clean every 6–12 months by thoroughly cleaning all removable parts with dish soap and water. Worries in Your Wood If you do most of your meal prep on your trusty wooden cutting board, look carefully at its current condition. If you notice deep cuts and crevices from repeated visits by your knives, it’s time for a replacement. These cuts and uneven surfaces can harbor bacteria that regular washings with soap and water can’t reach. Think of it like the difference between simply brushing your teeth and giving them a good flossing. Your superficially cleaned teeth may look nice, but what lives between them could lead to serious health issues if left unchecked. Classy Cloth Care The small, square cloth is a household cleaning enthusiast’s greatest friend, but it’s often the most neglected. Since there’s no point in wiping anything down with dirty rags, toss them in your washing machine on a normal cycle with your regular detergent. If your cleaning rags have really seen better days, add a cup of bleach.
Remember your filters. If your fridge has a water or ice dispenser, its filters need regular changing, too. Over time, old filters can clog and require repair, so a good rule of thumb is to swap out these filters every three months, around the same time you’d replace other filters in your home. Keep it fully stocked. An empty fridge isn’t as efficient as a full one! Refrigerators need thermal mass (i.e., cool items) to
stabilize temperatures. When you open the door, cool items help absorb warm air, so your fridge doesn’t have to work as hard.
These simple steps help your refrigerator stay energy-efficient and fully functioning to keep your food at the perfect temperature!
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A GLIMPSE INTO A MYSTERY OF NATURE EARTH’S ETERNAL FLAME
where the Eternal Flame flare originates. One geologist on the team theorized that the gas might have been produced within the shale by a different process that scientists have not yet identified. In addition to gas combustion, natural eternal flames can be created by peat fires or coal seam fires, ignited by lightning, human activity, or electricity caused by tectonic stress. Humans often create and maintain eternal flames, too, to commemorate people or events. In the U.S., manmade eternal flames burn at Ground Zero, the site of the 2001 terrorist attacks, and the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. The hike to view New York’s Eternal Flame Falls is a 40-minute round trip. However, the flame is difficult to access in wet seasons when the river swells to a torrent, so check the weather beforehand.
between hikers and the flame, creating a grotto-like effect that draws scores of visitors year-round. Natural gas emissions from the Earth aren’t uncommon; however, the flame that gives Eternal Flame Falls its name is unique in several ways. According to a team of Italian and American geologists who investigated the leak in 2013, the gas is released at a relatively shallow depth of about 1,300 feet underground. The lukewarm shale surrounding its origins is much cooler than the 100-degree Celsius temperatures at the origin point of most naturally occurring flames. Natural gas leaks are usually composed of methane, but the gas fueling New York’s Eternal Flame is a unique blend of 35% ethane and propane in addition to methane. The research team also noted a series of other small gas seeps within the shale layer
Visitors to Eternal Flame Falls, a unique, naturally occurring gas flame emanating from the ground near Orchard Park, New York, often describe it with feelings of awe. A natural gas leak from deep in the ground fuels the Eternal Flame, and a waterfall tumbles down from a rock face
TAKE A BREAK
Roast Pork With Sweet Potatoes
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
Ingredients
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, sage, garlic, salt, and black pepper, then rub mixture on pork. 3. On a baking sheet, toss sweet potatoes and red onion with 1 tbsp olive oil, cayenne, and salt and pepper. Roast for 20 minutes then set aside. 4. In a skillet over medium-high heat, add remaining olive oil. When hot, add pork and sear for 5 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet with vegetables and bake for 11–13 minutes, or until pork reaches an internal temperature of 145 F. 5. Add broth to skillet and bring to a
• 3 tbsp brown sugar • 1 tsp dried sage • 2 cloves garlic, minced • Salt and black pepper • 1 1/2 lbs pork tenderloin • 1 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed • 1 red onion, sliced • 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided • Pinch of cayenne pepper • 1 cup chicken broth • 2 tsp Dijon mustard • 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
simmer over medium heat. Stir in Dijon, chives, and black pepper. Slice pork, drizzle with the pan sauce, and serve with sweet potatoes.
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205-223-6192 www.MelvinUpchurchSells.com 300 UNION HILL DR., STE. 200 BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
INSIDE
1
2024 Melvie Awards
2
Spruce Up Your Scrubbers
Fridge Maintenance 101
3
Appreciate the Wonders of Eternal Flame Falls
Roast Pork With Sweet Potatoes
4
Innovative Ways to Use Wallpaper
REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR CEILINGS AND CLOSETS WITH CHIC WALLPAPER DESIGNS Think Outside the Paint Can
Wallpaper is a versatile and playful tool in interior design. It transforms a space with a pop of color, pattern, and texture. Let’s explore three innovative ways to use wallpaper beyond just covering walls. Dramatic Ceilings Take your design to new heights by applying wallpaper to the ceiling.
This approach works wonders in rooms with architectural details like tray ceilings. Add a striking light fixture, and your space will instantly feel more luxurious. Chic Closets Elevate your closet from a mere storage area to a delightful retreat with bold wallpaper. This is your chance to play with patterns or hues you love but wouldn’t want to use in larger living spaces. It’s a simple change that can make getting dressed a joy. Creative Drawers and Shelves Revamp worn or dated drawers and shelves with leftover or favorite wallpaper patterns. This easy DIY enhancement is perfect for using extra wallpaper pieces.
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