Story of your Life

The most profound moment you can find is when you stop thinking "wow I wish I could do/have that" and start thinking "I will do/have that". That's when you clear your mind and open yourself to take action. Start making the necessary steps towards making your dreams a reality. I know it sounds so cliche but the moment you stop wanting and waiting is the moment you start doing and making things happen.

Life is full of changes. Some are good, some are bad. However no matter what change occurs in your life it is your own unique experience. Whatever happens in life is your story. This is something you keep with you the duration of your life. You have the choice to embrace it or let it hold you back. I choose to embrace it.

Why do I write? Why  do I tell my stories? Its not about simply putting words on paper or vocabulary in your mouth. It is about sharing a piece of your world, a piece of your mind, and a part of your journey with the rest of the world.

Take the time to start seeing your dreams as reality, embrace the changes and share your story with the world.

The Bigger Picture

If you woke you this morning.... CONGRATULATIONS!! Life is the most precious gift you will ever receive. Take full advantage of it. Be the person you want to be and pursue your dreams. Don't let fear hold you back from living your life to the fullest and breathing in everything beautiful in this life. Stop complaining about what you don't have and focus on what you do have. We all have problems and stress but that does pass. Even the pain we experience does heal. Stop complaining about how others live their life..it is exactly that.. their life. Start focusing on your own life and enjoy it. Start Really Living. Because at the end of the day if your still breathing you made it!

Prepare to Buy Your Dream Home!

Now is the time everyone is getting ready to purchase a house. As an assistant for a real estate agent and homeowner, I have seen firsthand what is involved in getting everything in order to buy the home of your dreams. It takes some preparation to get everything in order for the adventure.

First of all always make sure your credit is in order before you can even begin the search. I would suggest speaking with a loan consultant. They can assist you with finding out if your credit is good enough to get a loan or what steps can be taken to get your credit up to par. The consultation is completely free and confidential.

Next you may want to consider what loan is best for you. Most loans require a percentage of money down. However, there are some that are 100% loans that you do not need to have any money down. Find which one works best for you and determine the amount of money you will need to set aside. Another thing I would suggest is to put enough money aside for moving expenses, earnest money, inspection costs, etc. I have always done well with putting a budget together and sticking to it.

What happens if your credit is not quite good enough to purchase a home? In this economy there are options! There are many owner finance options available including rent to own. With the owner finance situations they usually require more money down. Therefore, start saving now and start looking for what other options are available.

Do your research on the houses you are interested in and find out what their down payment is and what loans the houses qualify for. This will save you time in the long run to filter the homes that will not fit your needs. It will also give you an idea of what money you will need to put aside for the purchase.

Buying a home is an exciting adventure. To avoid speed bumps in the process make sure you get your finances in order, do your research and find what works for you. Then the search is on for your dream home.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

 

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Great sexy finger food


What you will need:

 1 (12oz) package semi-sweet chocolate chips 
 1 package fresh strawberries


What you will do:


1. In one pot fill halfway with water, bring to a boil and reduce heat.

2. In second pot add chocolate chips. Place the pot with chocolate chips over the pot with hot water. This will create a double boiler and prevent the chocolate from burning. Heat the chocolate stirring continually until melted.

3. While chocolate is warm dip strawberries one by one holding from the stem. Make sure strawberries are dry to prevent them from sticking.

4. Place on platter lined with wax paper. Continue dipping all strawberries until you have coated them all with the warm chocolate.

5. Place in fridge and let chocolate set. Enjoy with champagne and your favorite person.

"House Hunter" the show vs Reality of House Hunting

If you have even seen the show “House Hunters” it makes the house buying scenario look exciting. You get to view three houses that fit your price range and criteria. It seems almost like a lamp you rub, three houses magically appear and you can choose from one. Seems pretty simple and fun right?

As a personal assistant for a successful real estate agent, I can assure you this is not always the case. The buyer has several choices to make before the final decision is made. “House Hunters” shows the three as only options.

On the television the agent shows the three properties with ease and the final decision is made. From working in the field that would be a great reality. However, many times the agent shows several properties and the buyer still hasn’t found something that satisfies their needs. The show doesn’t tell you about the cost of gas and time spent on viewing all these properties.

Another aspect to keep in mind is financing. House Hunters does not show you the process you must complete before purchasing a home. If the buyers financing is not established before hand or they cannot qualify for a loan the buyers won’t be able to get a house no matter how many properties they view. House Hunters does not bring this point up.

House Hunters always has an easy happy ending. The reality of it is at the end of the day if the buyer has not found the house of their dreams the search continues. Some agents spend time and money showing all these properties and their clients simply walk away and decide not to buy. This is a sad ending because the agent doesn’t get paid by simply showing property. They get paid by actually selling the property.

The concept of the show House Hunters is a wonderful concept. Sure we all want to find our dream home easy and with three great choices to choose from. The buyer goes home at the end of the day with keys in their hand and looking forward to their new life. The agent has done their job of enhancing someone’s new life and even got paid for it. It’s a great show!

However when starting the house hunting process in real life do not base it on the reality show. You may have great luck and find your dream property in one easy try. Keep in mind you may go through trials as a buyer. As an agent the three house hunter rule may not work for your client. Just enjoy the show for what it is… entertainment.

Gender Bias Entertainment

I recently read an article in Cosmo magazine implying the only time females should watch the Superbowl is for the half time show. I was actually quite astonished this coming from a highly respected female magazine. Sure it isn't every girls big dream to sit down and watch a Superbowl game but why should it be limited to the male species alone?

On the flip side I even heard negative comments about how females shouldn't even preform during half time at a Superbowl game because its a "man's sport". What exactly defines a "mans sport" anyways? I know many respectable adult males that do not enjoy the game of football. That is not my place to judge how "manly" this makes them.

I realize we have certain stereotypes and gender roles that are usually followed in today's society. As a female I sure wouldn't want several guys twice or three times my size chasing me down a football field..  it would be physically impossible for me to tackle most of them. However I do enjoy watching a good game of football and seeing a good football performance as an individual.

So where do people get across drawing a line between what is female/male entertainment only? Should ladies now be banned from action movies and males banned from romantic "chick flicks" (even though I'm sure some would not mind)?

Now, I'm not saying men should go around painting their nails bright pink and women should start learning to urinate standing up (unless that's your thing, best of luck). I'm stating that just because an individual enjoys something that is not the norm for that gender it shouldn't be a judgement. So where do we draw the ten yard line between what is acceptable female/male entertainment?

Change Your Attitude, Change Your Life

 

Don't just get a job; Build a career

Don't just make a living; Make a life

Don't just have a relationship; Fall in love

Don't just talk to someone; Build a connection

Don't just give advice; Inspire Someone

Don't just eat; Enjoy a meal

Don't just write a book; Tell a story

Don't just make a schedule; Pursue a goal

Don't just judge; Understand

Don't just read; Gain knowledge

Don't just go to school; Become Educated

Don't just travel; Experience a new place

Don't just hang out with someone; Enjoy Someones Company

Don't just live; Experience Life