E-Card Obsession ... Top 20!

Well hello there :)

If you are on Pinterest on a daily basis like moi...
 then I am sure you are just as obsessed with these hysterical e-card pics as I am.

They literally crack me up, I find myself laughing out loud at all most all of them!

So in an effort to make everyone laugh on this holiday weekend ... I have compiled my


TOP 20

most relatable, absolutely crack your shit up, e-cards!

Drum roll please .... In no particular order ...  Enjoy :) Ha.

Hahaha what did we ever do before Pinterest?? 

I literally hate Crocs... always have, always will ... I tolerate them on the kids ONLY at the beach ha!

One word ... Hangry ha. I am totally guilty of this. 

Haha this is 100% COMPLETELY me ... I seriously would do this if I didn't think I would lose business lol I hate listening to voicemails! 

Hahahaha ... Patience is not something I am good with .. guilty again. 

LOL

So True!

If this were true, I would be so super skinny ha! 

Ha that is just funny period. 

Hahahaha I have several of those days. 

Love this ... LOL

Hahaha

Very true in the real estate business hahaha ;)

To all my 50 Shades friends haha ;) those books make you question if you are sane after you finish when you are slightly depressed you aren't reading anymore ha 

Hahahaah that one is seriously probably one of my top 3 favorites ever! 

Sad, but true ha  

Em this is for you :) It is true though, Lilly clothes make me happy ha :) 

And I have saved the best for last ... 

I think we can ALL relate to this one ... 

Hahahaha
anyone who knows me well, knows I can totally concur with this ha. 

Happy Memorial Day weekend :)
PS. I promise to try to get back into the blogging swing .. I have been MIA and it's making me sad!

Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update

I started this blog earlier and got sidetracked into a different sort of blog.  Back to the facts.  And this year the facts are fun.  When I began writing the economy began its downturn.  No, I do not have an ego that suggests I had anything to do with it, but chronicling the fall was not pleasant.  I like this upswing - a lot.

Currently there are 106 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing system.  Of these, 31 are in the Village and 26 are considered waterfront.  Frankly I don't go through to see which ones are streams (Skaneateles Creek runs along many boundaries) and which ones have a pond and claim waterfront.  Agents  have no real way to denote lake rights vs. right on the water, so they become "waterfront."  (We need another category!)  I think it's close enough.

Nine properties came on the market in the past week.  Two adorable houses in the village well under $300,000 and another in the town not too far out but under $200,000, equally adorable, came on.  A fourth listing was for a house with lake rights, positioned under $400,000.  The remainder were re-lists, with freshening or some reduction in price.

Three houses are newly contingent, bringing the total number of all homes waiting to close to 33, a fairly high number.  Of the three, two were on the market less than two weeks when they received their offers.   This is great news for everyone.

And of course, which is so lovely to say, we have another property that closed this week.  It was located in the town and sold for about 12% off its original list price.

What will next week bring?  Stay tuned! And have a peaceful and happy Memorial Day!

A Reminder

Reading the Post-Standard (www.syracuse.com) today at breakfast Sean Kirst's article caught me unawares.  I am usually prepared for him, but today I wasn't.  I thought I was reading an article more related to real estate; a man was selling the house his father had built years ago.  But when he got to the part about how his father had kept a box of balls the dog had retrieved on a summer's evening of play when the man was a boy, well, I lost it.  Am again, too, as I write.  A house is a home, not just a commodity.

Then I realized why it hit me so hard.  Bob's father also built the house his family grew up in - all seven kids in what today would be considered a small cape on the west side of Syracuse when there were still meadows down the road.  The boys had one bedroom and the girls had another.  Bob's mother is still there and hauling things out that she had saved, just like in Sean's article.  Ten years ago Bob's father passed away, just as we were getting married.  He attended our shower, a shower I had protested against but am now so glad I gave into having, in early May.  Then the doctor's appointments started.  Alex graduated from Mary Washington College the next weekend and we checked train schedules in case Bob had to get back quickly.  Mr. C passed away on Tuesday, the calling hours were Thursday, funeral Friday and we were married on Saturday.  He was going to walk me down the aisle, but instead we had a ton more guests than originally planned.

So Sean's article hit me.  I look at the photos now - my aunts and one of Bob's are gone, as is my mother.  Alex's best friend passed away in the interim too - we didn't know he was sick until later that summer.  Cheri and Wayne McDonald catered our wedding reception, adjusting to an extra fifty guests without a blink.  Wayne is gone, too.  Our home holds those memories, just as Sean described.

This week we welcomed a baby into the world, my brother- and sister-in-law's first grandbaby, Jason.  Stop in to Hobby House and tell them congratulations if you get a chance.  The baby's father was on his way home from Afghanistan for the birth and didn't make it in time - Jason had other plans apparently.  But he's there now, and a new generation has begun.

So as you buy houses and sell houses, prices are of course important as are the conditions of the house and all the legal and financial work that goes into the process - but they are also homes.  Homes in which people have lived or will live.  Where memories are made and forgotten.  Thank you, Sean, for reminding me.

Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update

Oh so busy!  Everyone is saying they are, and as we have all learned - "Make hay while the sun shines!"  it all could end.  Just stop.  Interest rates could rise (what are they doing in Europe!?).  There could be a national disaster (I started real estate four weeks to the day before 9/11).  Fracking could be approved and there could be a platform going up in Bear Swamp or at the polo grounds...no, this won't happen.  Toronto is experiencing a California-like market.  Homes go on for one price and are bid up rapidly.  What happens in a couple years when the owner must relocate?  I know several people stateside to ask, unfortunately.  No, our type of busy is good!

Currently there are now over 100 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service (actually 103).  Three new ones came on the market this week: village and town around $500,000, give or take, and one that is further out for around $300,000.  All are relatively newly built.  Three more returned to the market after a hiatus, possibly because of winter or renting or to re-freshen the numbers.

There is nothing new in the contingent, under contract or pending statuses - 31 homes are waiting to remove contingencies or close.

But once again, two more houses have sold and closed, bringing the year's total to an amazing 29 homes.  One sold at a markedly low price, but it was in need of work.  The other needed nothing, a gorgeous village home.
Last year at this time there were only 16 closed sales.  It took us until July 16th of 2011 to get to 29 closings. We made up for it some in August, but if the summer closings continue (and I have a couple that will add to this number) then we will have a record year.  But then again - it could all just stop.

Interesting figure - the median list price of the first 29 homes that closed last year was $275,000.  This year it's $279,000 - hardly a huge swing. (Thank you, JT, for keeping this in my mind!)

So go now - rates are incredibly low!  Keep all of us Realtors busy!

Summer Must Have's/Obsessions

Summer is basically right around the corner (June 20th to be exact!) so I figured it would be a good time to let yall in on my favorite Summer items :)

My faves ... In no particular order ....

Neutral Lip Gloss... 
MAC Pretty Plush 

Obsessed with this stuff, can't live without it! It's kind of a plumper so has a little tingle, be prepared ;)

Summer Pink Nails... 

Essie "Muchi, Muchi" and then the Sparkle is Essie "A Cute Above" 

A Cute Dress & Cowboy Boots :) 

One of my favorite Summer outfits ... so comfy, cute and easy! 

Non-Greasy, Smells Yummy, SPF ... 

This is my absolute favorite, you won't use any other SPF after you use this one! Smells so good and isn't all greasy and nasty feeling. Plus it kind of has a shimmer which is a plus :) 

A Good Summer Playlist for the Pool/Beach ...

This is my current playlist on my phone which constantly is on repeat (With the exception of Andy Grammer, that song drives me insane but it's Ava's favorite so I tolerate it lol, and yes that is Justin Bieber and yes that is for me and not the kids ha!) :) 

A Baby Pool in Your Backyard ...

No explanation needed ... Frankie and I love to lay out in the baby pool when we're too lazy to go to the real pool, lol :) 

Speaking of Frankie ... 

Summer Polo's for your Furbaby ...

Yes, Frankie has almost every color Polo shirt that he wears to cookouts, parties, etc in the Summer
Don't Judge Me. ;) He looks so handsome in them.

OK, these are major ... brace yourself... 

Monogrammed "Havaianas" Flip Flops from Swagstamp ... Order them NOW! 

Are those the absolute cutest thing you've ever seen in your life? I'm pretty sure they are!

Go to www.swagstamp.com .. they have different colors, and the "Swag Stamps" you can order different ones of and switch them out :) You're welcome, they're amazing ha. 

I was so excited when mine came in the mail this week ... 

Love them! Obsessed! I want every color :( 

Arm Candy...

I can never have too many bracelets on ... especially in the Summer w/ a tan and a cute tank top or dress :)
Cross Bracelet can be found at http://www.styleloveliving.com/studded-crystal-cross-wrap

Pink Grapefruit Margarita ...

1 cup ruby red grapefruit juice

1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)

1 cup triple sec orange liqueur

3 cups ice

1 cup silver tequila

1 lime cute in wedges, optional Kosher salt around rim 

Looks pretty and tastes yummy :) 

That sums up my Summer favorites at the moment :) Hope you enjoyed! Now just for fun two things that made me laugh outloud today when I read them ... 

hahaha funny thing is I say all of those lol 

And everyone needs a good dumb blonde joke every now and then ... so here ya go! 

LOL :) 

Hope you're having a great weekend!! 

Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update

Wow.  I knew I had started writing this blog in May of some year.  I didn't realize the year was 2007, and that it's been five years.  Time goes by quickly.  A Realtor asked me how I find time to write because he knew I was as busy (almost) as he is, and I don't have the benefit of a team.  Obviously I don't have as much time as I used to, but I love writing.  It helps me to write the update, as I've said before, because then I can rattle off the number of listings in Skaneateles - closings and contingencies - and it keeps me on track.  I can spot trends, know where my listings fit into them (or not).

I am a day late getting this blog out because I was in the midst of listing and buying and selling yesterday, morning, noon and yes, even night!  I can't tell you what we bought yet, because it's not done ("we" being my buyers and me) and I can't tell you what I sold, because It's not done either!  I can tell you what I listed, though: a lot on the lake, ready for your architect to design the camp of your dreams, on a dead end road (hate to say cul-de-sac because it gives it a different flavor - there aren't cul-de-sacs in the Adirondacks, are there?).  This one has steps, because that's the way it is on the Southwest side of the lake - but only 17.  The lot is on a wooded hillside - think decks and walk-outs - next to a stream.  Recently perked and ready to be built on.

This is the view - oh my!  The price is $179,900.  You could be in by the fall - or relaxing on this decking by June!  Watch the lighting of the lake on the Third!  Come on down! Firelane 16A in Cayuga County, about 10 miles down the lake on the west side - just follow my signs.  ML#S271935.

There are currently 96 active single family homes in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service.  Of these, 25 are in the village and 26 are considered waterfront.  This past week 5 new listings came on the market, all in the higher price bracket.  Two are waterfront - one above $500,000 and the other below.  Two stately  homes came on just outside the village - one above $500,000 and the other just below.  Another home with 25 acres and in the Jordan-Elbridge school district also entered the market.

Homes are selling, too.  There are 34 (an unheard of number) houses under some form of contract.  Three were new - two from the Village and one waterfront.  There are the trends.  Village and Waterfront.

Again, two more homes closed, bringing the year-to-date number to 27.  Waterfront and village - amazing.  We are doing well - hooray!

New Obsession!

Well hello there!

Did you think I had just given up on blogging all together?

Of course not! :) I have just had some distractions lately!

Craziness is the only word to describe how my life has been these last few weeks!

So lets just go straight to the most important thing I've got going on right now...

Raise your hand if you have jumped on this bandwagon ?!?

Holy heck I can not stop reading! I am only on the first book... got it on my Kindle because literally every person I know is currently reading, has read, or is dying to read these books... so I felt like I was missing something!

Once I started.. I was sucked in and now I can't stop reading!

Just for fun ... and in case you haven't bought this book yet and need a reason to, lol, take a gander at some of my Fbook comments about it ... :)

Hahaha obviously you can tell with 22 "Likes" in a matter of minutes, that I am not the only one obsessed! Makes me feel better about myself ;)

Yes, it is a little soft core porn-ish in my opinion. Yes, a couple of times I was reading I felt like I should be reading on a bench in an XXX rated store ha. But it's still good. You can't help but keep reading.

If you haven't seen these on Pinterest yet ... I will share :)

Thanks Tommie haha loved it!! :) 

 And my personal favorite ... 

Hahaha that's pretty funny.

Lastly on my 50 Shades rant ... I went googling and just might have found a picture of Mr.Grey himself...
(well the guys who is chosen to play him in the possible upcoming movie ... warning.. this could all be rumor-mill ha! But if so, you can still use him to have a mental picture in your head while reading the books!) ...

Ian Somerhalder .... I die over him! 

(Emily Foushee Jenkins, this is for you hahaha! <3)

Not really what I pictured him to look like while reading the book .... BUT he's pretty freaking hot, so it works ha. 

Moral of the story ... if you've not starting reading these books then you must. Stat! 

If you have ... don't dare tell me anything about the second or third ones! 

I'm saving them for our vaca in a couple of weeks :)