Teaching in CT we talked about the importance of staging a home for photographs.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Today I’m grateful for so much – Family and Friends top my list – but close behind is my health. This year has presented some challenges, but I’m happy to say by 2010 I’ll be adding up the miles on the pavement running again !

My thoughts are also with those that have lost family members and have a missing spot at their table today…. peace be with them. I have a friend saying goodbye to her father, so happy he made it to Thanksgiving to celebrate as he can.

Make it a great day!

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I’ve been contemplating moving my Chester County Area Blog from a Wordpress.com platform to a self hosted .org platform…. now here’s learning a little bit about me…..  I know enough to get me in trouble and not enough to just “hire a professional”.  Instead I’ve spent hours messing up quite a bit, fixing things, creating new problems, and pulling my hair out. However, I have learned a lot and I like to learn !

Please stand by, there is much more to come. I hope you’ll notice big improvements to the blog design.

<< That mug over there was made by my rockin’ stepmom, Jennifer McCurdy

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I know I’m late to let you know, but if you happen to be in Downingtown, PA in Chester County before January 4th, you’ll want to take the time to swing by KeatsGlen neighborhood to see this light show! Visit LemmonLights for information on directions, hours, and pictures of what it takes to get this show together! You’ll be wow’d !

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month – which I have renamed Cancer Awareness month.  Many people have gone “pink” with their avatars to raise awareness and remind followers of the importance of the fight.

My daughter, AChrome, got some of the gals in the family to join in and walk for the American Cancer Society 5-mile walk in Philadelphia this past weekend. She and her friend even made us all t-shirts to wear for the team, “Save the Ta-Tas”.

The walk was filled with different emotions – my thoughts heavy for two friends who lost their fathers last year, a friend who is a survivor, a friend fighting the fight – and also for so many that I don’t personally know with stories.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

You can make a difference.
One by One.

I’m back. It’s a two post (at least so far) day today. Why? It’s Blog Action Day today – where approximately 10,000 people have agreed to talk about Poverty in their blogs today.

There are just so many things to talk about! I started the last post quite a few times. Thankfully a friend rescued me in from my total scatterbrained mode to get a direction talking about some people that stretch so far buying a new house they get caught in a poverty state racking up debt.

I’m back because the topic is still on my mind, and I wanted to talk about so many different things. Doing something about Poverty on a local or global level isn’t always about giving money, like some people think. It can be helping to raise awareness, devoting your time (labor, web design, phone calls, etc), donating items, feeding someone a meal, and so on.

How can you help beat Poverty?

• Write a blog post on Poverty today
• Go shopping. Underwear shopping! There is a very special lady in California, Rocky, who has a huge heart for the children living in poverty. She founded Mothers Fighting for Others whose mission explains it best, “Mothers Fighting For Others is dedicated to providing these children with the basic necessities that we provide for our own children. We will give them a roof over their heads, safe food and clean water, and a chance to learn, to grow and to thrive.”
• Make a commitment to help serve at your local soup kitchen, shelter, or holiday dinner.
• Send your thoughts, prayers, vibes, energy whatever you believe in to the people living in Poverty.
• Go through the closets especially as winter is among us. There are many without coats or blankets to keep warm. Find them or donate.
• The food banks in Chester County are low on food. Pick up some extra non-perishable foods every time you visit the store. (There are collection boxes in our three offices of RE/MAX Main Line).
• Be aware. If you can fill a need, suck it up and get to it. Do you know what a blessing you could be if you jumped in and paid part/all of the grocery bill of the person in front of you in line? You’ll know when it’s right. Just listen.

It has saddened my heart as I’ve just opened my eyes to what is around me … whether it’s the homeless person sleeping on a bench, a structure of cardboard for living in Jamaica, children physically noted to be malnourished in Turkey, or a single mother in need of some groceries or gas money. Just open your eyes – then do something about it. You can make difference.

Image Credit

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

This morning, I chose East Brandywine Township Community Park for my exercise walk. I loved it because the trails winded in and out and around about. It wasn’t just around in a circle a few times.

If you live around the Downingtown, Guthresville, Glenmoore area (or if you are considering a move to this part of Chester County) be sure and come by for a visit if you haven’t already.

LittleOne4 enjoys the playground! There are two playgrounds, picnic pavilions, walking trails, soccer fields, baseball field, tennis courts – complete with restrooms!

I was quite impressed with the massive construction going on as I rounded the trail on the far side; it appeared to be more soccer fields! What do you do when you want to know? Call or email East Brandywine Township – their response time is record! I received an email from Mr. VanLew in no time!

“The Township is installing 2 soccer fields and 2 baseball fields. Along with the fields is an extension of the walking trail and enlarging the parking area. This project has been in the planning stages for many months and is expected to be completed within the next few weeks”  Matthew VanLew, E Brandywine Township.

But guess what else I learned? The fields can not be used for a couple of years to allow the new grass to become established. It’s their “rest” time. Hopefully we’ll have some obedient township members & visitors cause those fields will look yummy!

There were some other additions the Township wanted to include, however the bids came in higher than expected, so they had to delete the pavilion, restrooms, and dugouts for the time being. “They are expected to be included in the budget within the next two years in order to complete this portion of our park project,” said Mr. VanLew.

Mr. VanLew also included a plot plan of the new addition, please email me for a copy. East Brandywine Community Park; 436 Dilworth Rd, Downingtown, PA 19335.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Many of the builders are offering incentives for purchase during this slower market period.  They are offering incentives for Buyers as in Closing Costs credit, upgraded carpet/padding, finished basements, reduced lot premiums, plasma TVs, vacations, etc.  They even throw in bonuses for the Buyer Agent that accompanies them sometimes.

The process can be very fun, allowing for your input for choices like cabinets, carpeting, light fixtures, landscaping, etc. At times it can also be frustrating with deadlines passing, feeling nickeled and dimed for small changes, items not getting fixed to satisfaction, etc.

It is important to have an agent working for you on your behalf as a Buyer’s Agent. If you walk in the door of a new construction sales office to peek at the model home without your agent, in most cases, you will be “represented” by the person that receives their paycheck from the builder.

Even if you don’t plan on moving, but just want to see the latest and greatest new construction project out there – just contact me first – I can pre-register you. That way, just in case you consider a move – your representation won’t be in question.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

They looked at the cities that worked to reduce, reuse and recycle.  The information was based on cities that had fresh, locally grown food available and the city’s energy policies, green buildings, and green power. 

Philadelphia was ranked #87 this year,  a definite improvement over 2007 when it was #195 !

Some other areas around us that might interest you…..

• Dover, Delaware – 154
• Wilmington, Delaware – 261
• Baltimore/Towsend, Maryland – 82
• Camden, New Jersey – 270
• Lancaster, Pennsylvania – 70
• Pittsburg, Pennsylvania – 125
• Harrisburg/Carlisle, Pennsylvania – 175

Do your part, whatever you believe your part is!  Recycling is probably the easiest, but there is so much more!  What can you do for your city?

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

“Recently, our School Board approved Policy #237 Electronic Devices which prohibits the use of personal communication devices, including cellular phones, during the school day while on school property.”

The letter goes on to scare readers about the social media networking sites like myspace.com, facebook.com, and chat rooms. They scare that these sites are being used by child predators, cyber bullies, and con artists. No mention about what the sites are, how they work, the way people use them to communicate.

“There have been accounts throughout the nation of adults posing as youths and gaining access to student chat rooms. In some cases, these contacts have led to tragedy.”

Here is my main rant about this letter, We need to EDUCATE parents and children versus SCARE them ! Yes, there are dangers on the internet; children should be monitored during their online activities.

My random thoughts as I pondered the issue: Predators hang out at playgrounds too, should children not go there? You can get killed crossing a street – no more crossing! Gunmen have entered school property and murdered innocent people. What would happen if there was no drug education, just “Don’t do it” advice passed out? Weren’t there 911 calls placed from cell phones during the tragedy at Columbine?

I understand that cell phone usage is in need of some boundaries in school. Especially during instructional periods. However, I have received texts from my daughter of this nature, “Going to nurse. Please answer weird phone number when I call” “Going to friends after school” “Can you pick me up at 4pm if I stay for test?” I can only hope those were sent in between classes, waiting for class to begin, at lunch, or before/after school.

We need to teach our children to be safe and protective of information while online. We need to educate parents Social Networking 101, so they can be aware and oversee their children’s activities.

AOL IM isn’t used much anymore, but could apply to other social sites. My rule with my daughters was if I entered the room and asked you to arrow up in the conversation, you have to immediately or punishment would happen. I didn’t love all of their topics, trust me, but I chose my battles. There would be hefty consequences if it was erased or closed. I didn’t abuse this, but it worked.

My best advice, that I’ve freely given out, “Don’t try to beat them – JOIN THEM.” That’s right, when MySpace.com entered my teenagers’ worlds – I was right there with them, and you better believe I was watching their pictures, what they wrote to other people, and what other people were writing about them. Keep up with them, it’s a choice.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.