Kelly Noble

Sorry it's been a while since I have written a blog but there has been good reason I promise! I have been crazy busy at Campbell Homes in Colorado Springs working with Realtors and doing events around town to promote our Energy Efficient homes and 6 fantastic communities. It seems everyone has been paying more attention to Energy Star and Built Green because my boss Rick Colombo just did a class at ReMax Properties this past week all about Energy Star and Built Green of Colorado! There is a lot of buzz going around especially so close to Earth Day, which was last week.

With all the interest in Green and Blue (Energy Star blue that is) I wanted to tell all you who live in Colorado that the Pikes Peak Energy Star in conjunction with the Colorado Springs Home Builders Association is hosting a class called "Selling Energy Star Homes" with Gord Cook! This is an outstanding class that I attended last year. The cost is only $25 which includes breakfast and lunch! (I paid $75 last year for the same class so you know this is a great deal!)

The class offers 7 CE credits and is on Thursday May 7^th from 8am to 4pm. For more information or to register for this event go to: http://www.pikespeakenergystar.com/events/

I hope to see you all there!

For more information about the company I work for, Campbell Homes, please visit us online at www.campbellhomes.com or you can email me at knoble@campbellhomes.com.

I have lived in Colorado Springs, CO for over 12 years. I am a Colorado native and I am here to give you a couple tips about Colorado Springs, CO.

In my first topic I talked about FOOD and all my favorite places to eat in Colorado Springs. Now I want to discuss some of the best places in Colorado Springs to live based off your lifestyle needs.

You need: good schools and activities for the kids:

Well I went to Cheyenne Mountain High School which a fantastic school district scholastically speaking. However d-12 is impossible to move into unless you have 500k to through down so here are my picks for best place to live when you need a good school and activities for the kids:

Cordera: This stunning master planned community features several different parks with themes like Charlottes' Web and Alice in Wonderland. Also a large community feature which boasts an outdoor swimming pool, splash area, hot tub, workout facilities and meeting rooms. This community is set in the revered district 20.

Meridian Ranch: want a little more room to play? Then Meridian Ranch is for you! Offering several ½ or more home sites, a huge recreation center with pool, basketball/volleyball courts, fitness facilities and classes. Meridian Ranch also offers walking trails, parks and the Antlers Creek Gold Course and Grill. This community is in District 49 which offers a fantastic nursing program for High School aged children as well as many other highly acclaimed school programs.

You need: homes close to Peterson AFB or Shriever AFB

Jessica Hights at Feathergrass: This is a fantastic community to live if you need to be close to Peterson or Shriever AFB. Easy commute times to work and also very close to the Powers corridor which boast several restaurants, shops and a movie theatre. There is also 2 near by public golf courses and several parks nearby. This community is located in District 49.

Falcon Hills: not only does this community have large home sites from ½ acre and bigger it is also in easy driving distance to HWY 24 and access to Peterson and Shriever. Less then 5 minutes from Falcon CO which offers shopping and restaurants and about 10 minutes to Colorado Springs.

You want: convenience

Indigo Ranch at Stetson Ridge: This beautiful community is spotted with pocket parks featuring play equipment and even a putt putt green. Many homes feature amazing Front Range views. This community is conveniently located near the Powers Corridor with its shopping, restaurants and entertainment. A Costco, Target, Old Navy and many other stores are less then 5 minutes away. 10-15 minutes away from Peterson AFB and Shriever AFB. 20 minutes from downtown Colorado Springs. 15 minutes from I-25. Who knew that living in Convenience could also be living in luxury!

Campbell Homes builds in all the above communities so I encourage you to visit us online at www.campbellhomes.com.

If you have any questions about Colorado Springs, CO whether it be where to eat, where to play, or where to live please feel free to message me or email me at knoble@campbellhomes.com and I would be more then happy to help you in any way I can.

I think Colorado Springs is the bees knees so let me help you fall in love with Colorado Springs the way I have!

Campbell Homes is excited to announce the groundbreaking on the construction of their newest ranch plan The Carnegie on March 23 in Meridian Ranch at 12674 Angelina Dr. This is the first time ever this home has been built! Featuring 4-car split garage, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, a formal dining room with arched opening and doorways, stunning Great Room with 12 ft. ceilings and gas fireplace with stone surrounds, a spacious kitchen with nook and finished basement all for only $366,595!!

In Photo: Erin Howard - Meridian Ranch New Home Counselor, Jessica Casper - Meridian Ranch Community Coordinator, Richard Hauck - Meridian Ranch Construction Supervisor/Superintendent.

About Meridian Ranch:

The Pikes Peak Region, fabled for its abundant natural beauty and treasure, has saved its best for this very moment. And that's saying something. With a lifestyle as big and bold as Colorado itself -- absolutely no other community along the Front Range can begin to compare to Meridian Ranch.

Meridian Ranch offers an astounding array of amenities including a 30,000 square foot recreation center, miles of paved hiking and biking trails, an outdoor swimming pool, and the renowned Antler Creek Golf Course. With the new Meridian Ranch Elementary and Falcon High School located within the community as well as traditional, acreage, and custom home sites, Meridian Ranch is a neighborhood you have to see to believe!

Discover the riches of Meridian Ranch, where Campbell Homes (priced from the $260's) extravagant amenities and exceptional prices bring families together in a bold new Master Planned Community.

Meridian Ranch is the investment of a lifetime where a casual country lifestyle blends seamlessly with all the amenities and conveniences of urban living.

About Campbell Homes:

For over 43 years, Colorado Springs local new home builder, Campbell Homes has been building quality, highly efficient new homes in Colorado Springs, CO. We offer 6 unique Colorado Springs and surrounding area communities. We encourage you to visit any of our new home communities that we build in: Cordera, Indigo Ranch, Pronghorn Meadows, Jessica Heights at Feathergrass all in Colorado Springs and Meridian Ranch, and Falcon Hills in Falcon CO. Our 33 new home floor plans are designed with our customers in mind. Just step inside one of our beautifully designed Colorado Springs new homes and you will see what makes Campbell Homes the Colorado Springs new home builder to choose from. Campbell Homes is building better new homes in Colorado Springs by offering 100% Energy Star rated homes, using the highest quality products in our houses, and actually caring about our customers and homeowners. We build new homes ranging from the mid $200s to the $500s and beyond. Our new home prices include the best standard features around allowing us to give you a Colorado Springs new home that has everything the other builders charge for! We build a new house you can call home.

For more information about Campbell Homes and the new homes we build in Colorado Springs, CO or Falcon CO please visit us online at www.campbellhomes.com or email us at info@campbellhomes.com.

So you are thinking of moving to Colorado Springs and you don't know where to eat?

I have lived in Colorado Springs, CO for over over 12 years. I am a Colorado native and I am here to give you a couple tips about Colorado Springs, CO.

First my favorite topic that I will be tackling: FOOD. There are so many fantastic places to eat in Colorado Springs, you just have to look. Here is my list of favorites based on type of dinning you will be doing:

Burgers: South Side Johnny's (Lunch and Dinner) features some of the yummiest cheese burgers in town. His fries are not so bad either. Johnny's is a biker bar with class. Great place to go for an afternoon burger or open faced turkey sandwich smothered in Green chili. www.southsidejohnnys.biz

Steaks: the Famous! (Lunch and Dinner) This is not jus a dinner it's an event! Not exactly a cheap place to eat but the food is worth every bite. Fantastic cuts of meat, wonderful service and a large selection of wines and spirits at the bar! 31 N Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Local Brew: The Phantom Canyon. (lunch and dinner, brunch on Sundays) Serving up an eclectic menu of anything and everything like tacos, salads, roasts, and burgers. I highly recommend their side salad with everything since they have the best ranch dressing in town! Menu changes regularly so you will always experience something new! www.phantomcanyon.com

Mexican Food: El Taco Rey (Lunch)- Serving up some of the areas best Mexican dishes out of a little hole in the wall. Highly recommend the pork and avocado burritos smothered in green chili with plenty of salsa on top! SO GOOD you'll wish you could fit 2 in your tummy! The only thing I can't stand about this place is it's not open on the weekends so I rarely have the time to travel downtown to eat there :*( 330 E Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Breakfast: The Olive Branch. Both healthy and affordable the Olive Branch off Tejon st in Downtown Colorado Springs offers something for everyone. Orange juice is fresh squeeze to order and the pancakes are awesome. The perfect place to take friends, family or clients for a cozy breakfast with a bit of class. http://www.theolivebranchrest.com/

Brunch: The Sunbird. What do you get when you mix crab legs with pancakes and Champaign mimosas? You get brunch honey and it's good! The sunbird offers a brunch every weekend (reservations required) and does it at the top of a hill where the views are breath taking. Perfect place to take someone for a special occasion! http://www.thesunbird.com/

Thai: Bhan Thai. I LOVE Thai food and Bhan Thai does all the right things to make it work! Prices are right and dishes are delish! I love the Thai beef salad and the Tom Yum Guy soup. The Thai iced teas are also fantastic. Eat up but be warned they like it HOT! 1025 N Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80909

NY style pizza: NYPD Pizza. Now the thing is my boyfriend is from NY and when he wants pizza you know it HAS TO BE NY Style so it has taken a LOT of tastings and research to find something that he likes. NYPD wins in Colorado Springs. Their pies are fantastic. I highly recommend the Sicilian because the crust is to die for! It has this fantastic garlic bread taste. Oh so good! 1588 Minnetonka Pl, Colorado Springs, CO 80915

Sushi: Im torn so I will put 2 of my favorites: Ai Sushi off cinema drive serves up fantastic sushi with tons of selection. They specialize in what I refer to as "fancy" rolls. I recommend the Chili Roll and the Avalance II Roll. Their sashimi is also very tasty. 3215 Cinema Pt, Colorado Springs, CO 80922

Now my second choice is Fujuyama downtown. They have a wonderful selection of rolls from traditional to "fancy" rolls. The Oh My God Roll is very good so maybe try that. They also have a really great lunch special. http://fujiyamasushi.com/

Tea for 2 (or one): Montague's Parlour. If coffee is not your cup of tea then head on over to Montague's for a delightful selection of teas and pastries. Cozy up to a book and enjoy the comfy couches and chairs. 1019 S Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Italian: Para Vicini's Italian Bistro. Absolutely nothing gets close to Para Vicini's when it comes to Italian food in Colorado Springs. This local gem is a fantastic place for wine and pasta (and don't forget the bing cherry cheesecake for dessert!). If you are one of those people that get stuck on one dish that is your favorite and just have a really hard time straying from that dish then you better not try the Veal Giuseppe because it is down right addictive! Get it with the house Chianti and you will have yourself one fantastic meal! http://www.paravicinis.com/

Deli (Italian): Mollica's Italian Market. Serisouly some good and authentic Italian food, meats, cheeses and sausages. I highly recommend the sausage and peppers sandwich! http://mollicas.com

BBQ: Bird Dog BBQ. Maybe because it's close to my house. Maybe it's the cute photos of Dogs everywhere or maybe it's that they serve fried okra perfectly salted but whatever it is Bird Dog is a great place to get some Oklahoma style BBQ. The sauces are wonderfully yummy and the meat is tender! Don't forget to bring a photo of your pup to contribute! http://www.birddogbbq.com/

Okay now that I have overwhelmed you with some of my favorite places to eat I will leave you so I can go get lunch. My pick for lunch? Did I mention The Taste of Philly for the best Philly cheese steak sandwiches in town?!?! www.tasteofphilly.biz

For more restaurant tips please feel free to leave a message and I will let you know what I think. For more about Colorado Springs please check on my blog again soon because I plan of doing a series of post on the best places to live, play, and watch what happens in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas.

And for more information about Campbell Homes, the company I work for please visit us online at www.campbellhomes.com.

Now tell me friends what's your favorite food? And if you live in Colorado Springs where do you like to eat?