Choose Happiness

There are no words how excited I was for this past Tuesday ...
and only for the sole reason that this book was released!!!

I am SUCH a Joel Osteen fan. I love to watch him on TV, I DVR his sermons as often as I can and save them to watch, especially when I've had a bad day or are starting to feel grumpy or stressed. I have read all of his books and I was just so happy he wrote another! I love to read, I used to read all the time, but now I just have zero time... I am infamous for going to Joseph Beth or Barns & Noble and buying tons of hardback books, getting so excited about them.... to only bring them home, start one, read a few pages then fall asleep, and never finish the book lol. However, this is a different case with Joel's books.

They keep my attention, fill my head with positive thoughts, and just give me an overall inspiration.

Last night I started the book, only got 10 pages before I really did fall asleep haha BUT I wanted to share this story I read in the first couple of pages....

John was ninety-two years old and blind, but he was just as sharp as could be when his wife, Eleanor, went to the Lord. He didn't feel he should live alone, so John decided to move into a nice senior's home. On the morning of the move, he was up and fully dressed by 8am. As always, the elderly gentleman looked impeccable, with his hair perfectly combed and his face neatly shaven.

A cab picked him up and took him to the senior's home. John arrived early, as was his habit, and waited more than an hour before a young aide, Miranda, came to show him to his new room. As John maneuvered his walker through the hallways, Miranda described his room in great detail. She said sunlight came in through a big window, and there was a comfortable couch, and a nice desk area. 

Right  in the middle of her description, John interrupted her and said, "I love it. I love it. I love it!"

Miranda laughed and said, "Sir, we're not there yet. You haven't seen it. Hold on just a minute, and I'll show it to you."

John said, "No, you don't have to show it to me. Whether I like my room doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged. It depends on how my mind is arranged. Happiness is something you decide ahead of time."

Happiness is a choice.

When you wake up in the morning you can choose what kind of day you want to have.

You can choose to be in a good mood, or you can choose to be in a bad mood.

Choose Happiness!

I loved that story. It touched me.

I know it is hard to wake up every single day and choose to be happy, I struggle with that too. But reading this book brings it to my attention more and puts it in front of my face, that I will choose to happy, and thankful! And I hope you will do the same :)

You can purchase the book at almost any bookstore... or also order it from Amazon.com for only $13.88, CLICK HERE for the link. 

CLICK HERE to listen to his sermons on Podcast and for a list :)

CLICK HERE to receive his daily email with a short devotion. I love this. Get it every morning!

Cheers to being Happy!

hahahah

(no that's not Frankie, but it kind of looks like him I thought!) ;)

Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update

Last Friday I returned from Manhattan in the morning.  I had just gone down on Thursday morning planning to come back the same night, but I was concerned about the flooding I had seen on the drive.  I stayed over, got a quick walk in on Riverside, then started home.  I flew out of the city easily - the Henry Hudson is so fast and uncomplicated in the morning! - but found myself sitting in traffic on 81 in Binghamton.  I listened to the reports:  the Governor was somewhere in a helicopter overhead, there were photos apparently of just the tip of the golden arches of some McDonald's restaurant somewhere, the water had crested but was threatening the structure of bridges.  I heard Owego was hard hit, and thought of Adam Weitsman's business (see http://www.syracuse.com/ for updates on this and his response). 

I can't stand sitting in traffic, so I turned off and took Route 11 until I lost it somewhere in the country.  I stopped along the way at a small convenience store and gas station where I met people looking for faster routes coming from Albany.  And there I heard it, the classic response to "Wow, what a lot of rain we've had!"  "Could have been snow!"

Meanwhile homes in Skaneateles were listed and sold this past week.  Currently there are 150 single family homes listed in the multiple listing service.  Of these, 44 are in the Village and 34 are considered waterfront.  I am not going to itemize re-lists any more, only the new listings that come on the market.  A beautiful high-end home outside of Skaneateles (actuallly in Spafford) was listed above $600,000.  Another pretty Village home came on, around $300,000.  In the town not too far out is a new split level, on the market in the mid-$200,000 range.

Five homes are considered under contract but they still can be shown.  One of these, listed under $200,000 and in the Village, was just marked contingent.  There are no new "Under contract - do not show" homes (currently 3 in the category) or "pended" homes (6).

Our closings for the year stand at 48.  Interestingly, 10 were Village homes and 9 were waterfront.  These percentages are just slightly above the current breakdown of active homes.

The fall selling season has just begun!  If you would like to check out one of my listings, 5 Palmer Drive, please come to the open house this Sunday from 12:00 to 2:00.  Signs will be up directing you from Genesee Street and Academy because it is hard to find and very private.  Please tell me you read about the open on this blog - I would love it!

Oh, How Pinteresting Monday! (a day late, sorry lol)

This has been a crazy busy week! Houses are selling... yayyy! I have (hopefully, cross your fingers, don't jinx me!) sold 3 houses this week! So excited! :)

I thought with the house excitement I am having right now, I would focus this Pinteresting Day on some fun ideas for your house! (Of course there are a few off topic ones too! I couldn't resist!)

Let's start with things for your house....

What a great idea is this? And I saw these frames at Hobby Lobby not too long ago... they had black also. I am seriously doing this... at least on our 1st floor because it is in the hallway next to our bedroom and Chris might not get too upset that it is "girly" looking :) Love it! So cute!

This is screaming my name!

I am constantly picking stuff up and taking it to the steps to be carried back up by whomever brought it down ha! This is cute and I think I could find some even cuter baskets! Love this!

Dying! This is so creative and looks adorable.

Spray Paint Silverware!

Genius!

I wonder if it would come off in the dishwasher? Must try this too!

With mounting flatscreens being all the go now, this is really an awesome idea for a more formal room or just to make it look a little more appealing! I love it! Doubt I can talk Chris into this ha, but I love it anyway!

I just thought this was so sweet... lyrics to your wedding song.... on a canvas... and then hang in a hall or your bedroom! So Presh!

As you know, I  have a MAJOR obsession with awesome amazing kitchens... I have seen so many and save pictures from everywhere, but this one caught my eye and I loved it! Could that possibly be the largest island you have ever seen? So jealous!

Speaking of kitchens... this is my TOTAL dream sink!!!! Hand hammered, over sized copper sink! I would give up something big to have this ha! I am overly obsessed with it! Anything copper I love, and this is beautiful! (not a fan of the cabinets though, would look much cuter with something different!)

Brace Yourself........

O.M.G has anyone seen this??

Spray Glitter... for Fall Decor... Ummm love it!!

If I find this, I will spraying everything in sight hahaha, Frankie better watch out ;)

This is adorable for a laundry room...

What a wonderful idea! You could do a cuter ribbon or string and glam it up a bit... but it's super cute!

And this is for two of my favorite people who just found out they are preggo!!!!!.... If it's a girl that is....

How precious is this nursery?

What little girl doesn't need to be treated like Cinderella from the moment they come home? Lol, no brainer!

This is a fun idea for the kids... make a placemat! Paper and then have it laminated or you could probably find them online somewhere.. then they can use dry erase or washable markers and draw about their day while you're making dinner! So cute!

This is just such a good idea for outside! I would love to have this! I guess you could use that same plumbing for your hose... and hook up this little mini sink! Perfect for BBQ's or just the kids being outside. I love this! Maybe next year we will try :)

Ok now these are not home related... just love them and got excited to share!

OPI "Expresso"

Love this! Always like the dark colors for Fall anyway but this one has a little shimmer :)

How great is this Polyvore for a cute Fall outfit?

Love this! And I already have that watch so I'm one step ahead :)

Lastly,

I am on the hunt to find Frankie a brother or sister...by Christmas... and also simultaneously trying to convince Chris that Frankie would be more well behaved... (Kim, Emily or Chrissy if you are reading this I know what you're thinking... I am a bad mom and need to beat him ha, but this will work I just know it!) He needs someone to play with, and entertain him while we're gone during the day. And also someone to get some of his attention besides him being obsessed (that's putting it mildy) with me!

So I really want a "Jiggy"... Lisa Vanderpumps's sweet boy haha He is so cute!

He is so cuddly, even Ken doesn't mind carrying him around :)

Don't you think him and Frankie looks cute next to each other too???....

I think so! They would be perfect siblings! I think it would solve all of Frankie's problemos!

 (not that he has a lot, don't get the wrong impression, he is an angel most of the time, lol)

So my search for a "Jiggy" has started! I will update as the progress is made, lol ;)

XO,

The Makenna Foundation Event

This past weekend my office was in preparation for an event held every year to benefit The Makenna Foundation! It is such a blast and one of my favorite nights of the year!

It is for such a great cause {CLICK HERE to read the story of Makenna!} and I love how my entire office rallies around to help and just do whatever is needed to get ready for the event of almost 1,000 people in attendance!

There were so many great auction items! So fun! One of my favorites... Emily got a quick pic with while we were setting up yesterday...

Josh Harrilson signed  "Jorts" hahaha :) I know she secretively wanted them... I should have bid on them for her and saved them for Christmas! What a good boss I would be ;) LOL

The tents went up and we started helping! Crossing our fingers for no rain, and prayers were answered because it was a perfect night! No complaining from me... felt great!

After helping, Emily and I decided we would go for a little boss/employee/bff make up pow wow ha and get our eyes done at MAC just for fun!

The event was beautiful! Everything was so pretty! Lots of people sat to watch the Live Auction by the awesome Mike Gooch...

Chris and I did a little bidding in the silent auction (no surprise this is my favorite part of the night ha!) and ended up coming home with a bunch of football tickets lol

We are the proud owners of this little basket, with some UK goodies and 2 tickets to the UK vs Tennessee game which just so happens to be on my bday :) Can't wait!! Also excited about that cozy handmade UK blanket! So cute!

And....

 Two tickets to the UK vs UL game next weekend... with a Joker signed football.... Randall Cobb would have been better but we aren't complaining ;)
Speaking of Mr. Cobb himself, remember in this post when I introduced Emily and told you she hangs with celebs... well it was no lie... and here is another pic to prove that true... :)

If you want to meet UK sports celebs, just follow Emily around all weekend :)

After the event, Chris and I went to the opening of the new "Trust Lounge" downtown Lex. This place was awesome... SO much fun, so pretty and clean and just overall different than any bar in Lex. I have not been a huge fan of the "bar scene" here for a couple years now (I am old now in case you forgot and have a big girl job ha) but this place didn't feel like a drunk college bar, it was awesome!

We saw lots of friends there and

I did run into this little lady...

Meredith is a friend/Realtor/competitor of mine haha but we love each other despite our builder rivalries! :) She is also the author of one of my fave blogs, Home and Nom, check it out she always has some great recipes on there!! Yum!!

The next day we went to Louisville to visit Chris's fam and celebrate Grandparents Day a day early :)

How cute is that? Love this picture!

And a few other randoms of the day...

A sweet cousin picture... def a framer!

Look at this model... :)

Ava & Claire

 (clearly after Ava's bow had been wind blown haha)

And because I know you are wondering how my sweet angel is doing...

 He is cute as ever, and he got a new little reindeer toy he is currently obsessed with and brings to bed to sleep with every night ;) So precious!

For you Lex folks... I got a new Real Estate Development account of some ammmazzinggg condos/townhomes for sale... will be sharing pics and stuff this week! They are perfect for a young professional and in a great location in Hamburg! Can't wait to share!! So excited! :)

Will Pinterest tomorrow a day late, gotta go to bed, so tired!!

Happy Monday!!

Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update (sort of)

Starting again, it is always good to get your bearings.  My bearings.  I was getting my hair done at Carlo's today and ran into a fellow Realtor.  She asked me about Skaneateles and how things were going this year.  Thank goodness I had done the statistics yesterday, because I could rattle off the numbers.  Now you will be able to, also.

There are currently 150 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service.  Of these, 45 are in the village.

Under contract, there are a total of 8 single family homes.  Five can still be shown, while three are so solid that the owners feel they do not need to be shown any more.  At least, that is the presumption.  We all know that (all together  now) - "It's not closed until it's closed!"  And lately even that's under dispute!

Five others are pended, which generally means that the mortgage commitment has come in and only the attorney issues - title and such - need to be completed.

This year to date 48 properties have closed.  This compares with last year's 46 by this date.  The year before a whopping 59 were done.  Of course, that makes up for the previous 2008 of only 32 (ouch!)  Average those two years and you find 45/46 as the midpoint, oddly similar to 2010 and 2011.

The update is back and will be found on your computer next week about this time!  Thank you for your patience!

The Second Twenty

I will save the total number of closings we have had in the past few months, but suffice it to say everyone has been busy and the numbers are there to prove it!  The First Twenty closings took until June 27th - the Second Twenty go through only August 9th. 

In no particular order:

4001 State Street Road - $290,000

4054 County Line Road - $367,000

3766 Highland Avenue - $311,500

1569 New Seneca Turnpike - $190,000

790 Stump Road - $138,000

1930 Stump Road - $210,000

1025 The Lane - $550,000

140 East Genesee Street - $3,500,000

20 East Lake Street - $215,000

2997 Nunnery Road - $154,900

3829 Knightsbridge Road - $196,000

28 Orchard Road - $250,000

3907 State Street Road - $430,000

49 Academy Street - $545,500

3901 State Street Road - $445,000

3657 Fisher Road - $164,900

3319 East Lake Road - $507,500

3426 East Lake Road - $135,000

1618 Stump Road - $220,000

3065 East Lake Road - $750,000

Back on Track

The colder weather has sent me to the computer and away from the outdoors.  It has been a fantastic and busy summer, but the natural rhythm takes over.  I no longer teach, but I feel the pull to be indoors and working, rather than running around in the car or hanging out with my iPhone on the deck.  I wanted to not miss this summer - and I didn't.  We spent more time at the lake and I have the tan to show it.  It also helps to have had a listing out there, but now that it's sold........

So slowly I will ease back into writing and providing updates.  The bi-weekly update gave me way too much space - I need a solid date or time, and not writing is so much easier than writing.  Also the stretch of time makes it too long between reporting - it is ancient history by the time it hits my blog and that is never a good thing!

Until the end of the year, the update will be weekly and completed by Wednesday - might come in early on Tuesday, but will certainly be there by mid-week, when my ads are due.  A little structure has never hurt me, and will help.  Monitor and adjust!