What I am Thankful for

“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” - Guillaume Apollinaire

 With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I wanted to take this time and talk about some of the things I am most thankful for this year. Every year around this time I like to sit down and dwell on the past year looking at both the good things that have happened and the not-so good things. Everyone has to go through ups and downs every year and it is good to put the bad things to rest and embrace the good things. I feel truly blessed each day to do a job I love and have a wonderful family that supports me. I have read a few articles lately on gratitude and there are studies done which have proven the more gratitude you show in your life to loved ones and others the better you feel about yourself and the happier you will be. That may get a “duh” response from some of you, but think about it, most of your parents have been teaching you to say “thank you” since you could talk and little did they know they were prepping you for a life of happiness and sincere gratitude shown to others.

I am very much looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with family and friends and would encourage each and every one of you to sit down and compile a list of the things you are thankful for each and every day. Like the quote says, sometimes it is important to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.

Today I am thankful for:

·      God

·      My family & friends

·      My wonderful husband and my precious daughter

·      My careers and the wonderful partners and employees who I get to work with daily

·      My amazing clients

·      Meeting new clients and friends through all the work and volunteering I do

·      Coffee (hey, I am thankful in the morning for this!)

·      The mountains

.     My beautiful home 

Take some time today and make sure to tell those you care about how thankful you are for them, it will make their day and it will leave you feeling more happy for the rest of your day.

Thanks for reading, I am thankful for you all.

"Coming Soon" Creates Bigger Boom

If there is something I know about selling property it is that when you first get a new property you want to get it out on the market with a lot of hype around it as a new listing. If you drive around town you can see this type of advertising excitement used on new stores or restaurants that say “opening soon” or “new owner”. In real estate, we like to post a “coming soon” sign in front of properties that are to be put on the market in a timely fashion or even write about them before they go on the market to get potential buyers excited and have them start doing their research on the property.

Another way I cause a stir about new properties even before the information is released to the public is by marketing my listings as “coming soon” to other agents as well before putting the property into the MLS. If other agents know what their clients are looking for, and I go to them with a lead on a potential property, then more agents will actively look for my properties in the future as well as want to work with me again.

A study was recently done in Chicago where they took the number of properties that had been advertised as “coming soon” versus properties that did not saw the properties with “coming soon” selling after 28 days on the market versus houses not which sold after 42 days on the market.

These kind of studies continue to show that before it is time to list your property to the public and put it in the MLS, you should marketing the property as “coming soon” to build hype around the new arrival to the market. Like I mentioned before, many companies and business owners use this same tactic when it comes to building excitement over a new business or launch and here I am doing the same thing for my clients and their “coming soon” property.

If you are thinking it is time to put your house on the market then let me be the Realtor to get the ball rolling and get people and agents interested in your place with a “coming soon” announcement. Or if you are starting to look for a house but want help finding houses before they have even hit the market, give me a call and let’s grab coffee and discuss finding your “coming soon” home and making it your forever home.  

Happy Halloween From My Family to Yours

Just wanted to take a minute and wish you all a fun and save Halloween! I know my daughter is very excited to head out for trick-or-treating tonight (check your local times, most run from 5-8 if not earlier due to the early sunset).

I shall be back next week with a few real estate blogs and also looking forward towards the next holiday Thanksgiving.

Thanks so much for reading and hope you have a boo-tiful day!

From Kids to Adults, Fun Ways to Celebrate Halloween This Year

Halloween is just around the corner, do you know what you are dressing up as yet? I know my daughter has a few ideas of what she wants to be this year but as I’m sure many of you know, Halloween isn’t just a holiday for kids. Whether you dress up alongside your kid to take them trick-or-treating or you and your significant other put on a ‘couples costume’ like bacon and eggs and head to the neighborhood Halloween party, this is a fun holiday for all involved. So I thought it might be appropriate to pull together some ideas for Halloween parties of all ages. Below are suggestions for kid games, adult games and some fun food recipes sure to please any little monster or big monster that night.

For the Kids –

 Pin the BOO on the Ghost – Who doesn’t love a rendition of pin the tail on the donkey? Have your kids help paint a ghost on a piece of black paper and cut out little boo speaking bubbles, see who can get that ghost saying boo!

Witch Pitch – Go to your local Halloween or Party store and pick up small witch caldrons, anywhere from 6-12 of them. Then, have your kids pick out some of their favorite candy to act as the tossing instrument and let them pitch away.

Donut Chomp – I think this could be an adult game as well because everyone loves a good VooDoo donut! Hang donuts from strings and have people, with their hands behind their backs, try to get a bite or two of those delicious doughnuts.

 Ghost Races – Get out those extra pillowcases you never use and have your kids help you paint or draw ghost and monster faces on them. Then on your mark, get set, go! Have all the kids jumping in their own little ghost or goblin racing across your yard.

For the Adults –

 Halloween Feel Box – Gross out your guests with this touch and squeal game. Fill a box with items such as peeled grapes, little smokies and cooked spaghetti noodles to see if your guests can figure out what the items are or just make them say ew!

Candy Corn Relay – Let your inner child out again with this game where no hands are used, only a spoon in your mouth, to move candy from one bowl to another.

Candy Jar Estimation – Fill up a giant candy jar with some of your favorite sweets and have your guest guess how many candy pieces are in the container, winner gets to keep the candy for themselves.

Pumpkin Bocce – This is exactly what it sounds like, a new twist on a classic game. Everyone will be supplied with small pumpkins that they will toss at a large pumpkin. And the best part? Everyone can take home their pumpkins as party favors at the end of the game.

Tasty Treats –

 Because there are so many yummy recipes out there, I am sharing a few links of some of the websites I have found to have some of the best treats for Halloween parties:

http://www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/halloween-desserts-treats-recipes/view-all

http://www.allyou.com/food/treats/halloween-treats-kids/view-all

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/halloween-recipes.page-2.html

http://family.disney.com/halloween-recipes

Hope you and your family have a fun and safe Halloween this year! I know my daughter, husband and I are planning on having a ghoulish-good time.

Wear Pink in October to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

You may have noticed a lot of pink ribbons lately hanging at local businesses, on people’s t-shirts or stuck on the back of a passing Subaru. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women. Out of every 8 women born into the United States, 1 will have breast cancer at some point in their life. With the right precautions and yearly check-ups with a doctor, many women can survive breast cancer if it is found and treated. The best way to be checked for breast cancer is to schedule a yearly mammogram. Once women reach 40, most doctors recommend they start getting their yearly mammogram.  If you are not sure of when you should start being tested, talk to your doctor or nurse to figure out when is the right time to begin screening.

As a woman, I think it is very important to get involved to bring awareness of this disease to other women in my life. For October, and all year round, make sure to encourage those women in your life to get checked and support your friends and family who may have the disease. Below is breast cancer screening recommendations as found on the Susan G. Komen website, one of the leading breast cancer fundraising organizations in the country:

1. Know your risk:

- Talk to your family to learn about your family health history

- Talk to your doctor about your personal risk of breast cancer

2. Get screened:

- Ask your doctor which screening tests are right for you if you are at higher risk

- Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk

- Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at 20, and every year starting at 40

3. Know what is normal for you and see your health care provider right away if you notice breast changes:

- Lump, hard knot or thickening

- Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening

- Change in the size or shape of the breast

- Dimpling or puckering of the skin

- Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple

- Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast

- Nipple discharge that starts suddenly

- New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

4. Make healthy lifestyle choices

- Maintain a healthy weight

- Add exercise into your routine

- Limit alcohol intake

Below is a list of activities this month around Denver that you and your family can get involved in to help support and invest in science to find cures.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer – Oct. 11th Greenwood Village, CO - Join the American Cancer Society in making strides against breast cancer. This yearly event is described as a celebration of survivorship and an occasion to express hope and offer support on finding cures.

Bright Pink October Outreach – Oct. 20th Denver CO - Bright Pink is the only national non-profit organization focused on prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women. Join them for their pumpkin carving outreach on Oct. 20th for an evening of sharing, friendship and discovery.

 Pink Tie Affair – Nov. 7th Denver, CO - Pink Tie Guys serve as representatives aimed at engaging men in the breast cancer movement and encouraging them to get involved any way they can. There are seven of them who represent one in seven women in Colorado will battle breast cancer within their lifetime. Come eat, dance and listen to some incredible stories on this night to help raise money for finding breast cancer cures.

Wear your pink this month, encourage the women in your life to get tested and get involved with the many breast cancer awareness activities to help support finding cures for this disease. 

Photo by pifate/iStock / Getty Images