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My Blog
I was honored to be a part of this amazing event for medically fragile or disabled children and their families. There was a lot of different events spread out all over the Circle R Ranch in Plano. There was a Petting Zoo, Live Band and Dancing, Crafts, Face Painting, Pony Rides, Games, Hay Rides, Clowns, and Family Photos. And I can't forget to mention the LIVE Super Heroes!! (Super Girl just happened to be my beautiful 16 year old cousin!)
I chose to be a Face Painter for the day. It was SO incredibly touching. The kindness of the children, their families, and especially, their siblings, created a moment that I am blessed to have a memory of. The children, through disabilities or ailments, were as polite, energetic, beautiful, and positive as I've ever seen children be. They were incredibly patient and sweet throughout the whole day.
As for the images, I tell ya, even though I'm a painter- I was really nervous at first! A canvas is much different than a moving child's face... and when was the last time I did cartoon characters? hmm... Well, regardless, it was fantastic. I could actually turn out some Longhorns, cars, spiders, and Superman tatts so I did get a lot of the little boys, but the girls were soon to follow with shooting stars, butterflies, flowers, and Happy Faces. I think I was the most surprised about the Peace symbol that was a hot request!
There were 2 shifts, but I just couldn't turn anyone away, so I stayed for the whole time. They were all too precious, and face it, I was having a BLAST!! I will definitely do this again, and highly, highly encourage anyone else to volunteer their time or donate/ sponsor the events as well. To see those children's faces light up is a memory that you will hold forever in your heart.
http://www.lfk.cc
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What an awesome event!! My first time ever, and I tell ya, we WILL be back!
The DFW Mud Run is a 10k Run through the mud and 15 different obstacles- it's a fundraiser for Civil Service workers (police, firefighters, military and the like). It was no piece of cake... and definitely needs to have some serious dedicated training before!! I did NOT run before I decided to participate in this, and only had about 2 months to start! Finally, the most I could get up to was 4.5 miles without stopping. It was nowhere near the 6 and a half, PLUS the obstacles, but I weightlift often so I think I was prepared for the obstacles...
It started out with a 2.3 mi run, over hills, through "English Channels" (just mud and water- which is a lot harder to run in than you think! Talk about slipping!!) over a bridge, over an 8 ft wall (with NO ROPE!! and wouldn't ya know the 5 ft one was broke by the time we got there.) followed by a 40 ft "Low Crawl", which was a belly crawl- elbows and knees, scrapes and bruises here we come!!- under nets. Then, back to running!! Covered, in mud... sopping, drippping, can't see...
... and up over the Cargo Net. (And HIGH! with no big bouncy tube to catch your fall!!) Next you get to wobble over the Log Walk and run some more English Channels. I can't forget the Hole to Hades (yes, my life flashed before my eyes) which was almost straight down into a concrete ravine. That was a nice jump, going down, but you had to do some skating to get back up! More running... and a climb up the Stairway to Heaven- count yourself lucky if you're tall enough to reach each rung!
The Mud slides were no piece of cake either. Mainly because you had to get UP them first! Then it's all hard and bumpy on the way down.... don't misinterpret the cold or the depth of the pits either! Each was about 5 ft deep! The Rope Swing wasn't bad, if you made it over the hole (!), and the hurdles... well, at the near end of this, if you have the strength, good for you. Cause guess what??
It's 2.3 more miles back! Don't forget you have the Low Crawl and Wall Climb on the way back too. Needless to say, I smiled and laughed the whole time. I was just surprised I completed all the obstacles without getting DQ'ed! It took us a total of 1 hour and 30 min to complete... which wasn't too bad for our first time!!
It's such a great challenge and a great cause. Everyone there truly has a huge heart and the amount of work they put in it is just unbeatable. I suggest everyone tie on their running shoes for this one next year! I'll see you there!
http://www.mudrundfw.com
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This year I had the unbelievable opportunity to visit the heart of Tuscany, Pistoia, Italy. My membership and designation I.R.E.S. (International Real Estate Specialist) afforded me the consideration of Lorenzo Ratazzi, creator of Buy In Toscana. This trip, consisting of 22 "buyers" and over 90 "sellers", was created to share the real estate available in Tuscany, thus which is difficult to advertise largely in part due to their lack of an MLS-similar system. The experiences, sites and memories are all amazing and I can't wait to share it all with you!
I knew immediately that the flight would be long, in which it was, considerably, on the way to Italy versus the trip home. We flew from DFW airport, to Atlanta, and then to Paris, while finally landing in Pisa. The flight was in the middle of the day, (noon) so by the time we got to Paris, it was 7:55 am (Paris time), which was 2 in the morning Dallas time. Being a night person, I of course, hadn't slept yet. Normally, that's my bed time... but no, we had to get off the plane, deal with a 2 hour layover, and then add a short 2 hour flight to that! On an incredibly bumpy "hop-a-long" plane, we landed in in Pisa, Italy at 12 in the afternoon... of the next day...! By this time, as all the "buyers" congregated for the first time, we all realized we were exhausted. But, it was the middle of the day, and we had an agenda to keep!
When we stepped outside in Italy, I was absolutely AMAZED. It was like someone turned the sound off to the world. I couldn't believe how quiet it was!! No, cars, horns, people, dogs, music- it's unbelievable how used to background noise we all are... eventually we don't even hear it anymore. So, we shuttled to Pistoia (about an hour and a half away) and were taken to the most quaint, old-world style, advanced (I know that doesn't make any sense but I'll explain it later!) hotel I have ever seen. The true quality of Tuscany, restoration to uphold the original designs and styles makes the feel and architecture amazing to be a part of. Of course, it's 2009, so it has to be equipped with entry to your hotel room by a simple sensor, your "card" must be inserted into another sensor on the wall to have the lights on, and oh my gosh! I forgot! Europe has bidets in the restroom! I have a lot to figure out in this room.
But, we're to dress and attend an Introduction and explanation of the rules in 2 hours, so it's off to work. The hospitality is absolutely amazing. I, of course, a Dallas-ite, am used to eating around 5 or 6, so I was ready a little early and wandered around the main lobby. Immediately I was asked if I would like a cappucino and biscotti. Completely provided, they just whip up the most amazing (not Starbucks, mind you!!) Cappucino I've ever had in my life. The fresh bread, biscotti, crackers... well, they're just amazing, and soft! I'm so used to them being hard like, well, crackers!
After our Introduction, we were ushered across the hall for dinner. (This is about 8 pm for those who are still keeping track) The appetizers were served downstairs, with of course, wine wine wine. Then we went upstairs to the loft where we were served this 5 course meal (and of course a different glass of wine with each course). I expected Tuscan food to be pizza, pasta, Italian (boy, dumb) but it surprisingly consisted of a lot of vegetables and pork. I felt they were mostly puree type dishes, that you couldn't ever quite decide what the ingredients were. But still, everything tasted amazing.
The meals were so long! I had to excuse myself to use the restroom at 3 different occasions... because after the dessert course (oh my GOD) they came around with the espresso and SHOTS of HARD LIQUOR! After all that wine? It was midnight by the time we made it back across to the hotel, and stumble, mind you, on NO sleep for 2 straight days! And although we had to be ready for the Workshop at 9, I HAD to get up early and go out "exploring". (You'll find this to be the case on most of my travel stories; my nickname is "Dora"!)
So, with the sun,I got up, strapped on my backpack and camera and was off to see the sites. The first day I had been drawn (there's no better way to explain it) to this magnificent home on the hill behind the hotel. But with many failed attempts at climbing over hills, fences and stone walls, I could not get to it, so I headed on foot to the town of Pistoia. The roads were narrow, so you hugged the shoulder and stopped for passing cars... the perfect opportunity to take pictures of the fields enclosed by barbed wire and vines... old wood fence posts... beautiful vineyards and farms... The town was complete with "opening duties" being performed by the shop owners and fresh markets.
Finally forcing myself to return, I headed back to the "mess hall" (haha) where I dined, alone, on the freshest fruits, eggs, bread, and freshly squeezed juices of every kind. (Oh yes, cappucino as well!) Maybe it was so quiet because I didn't know if anyone spoke English or not, and I just kept to myself, other than "Bonjourno!" Every "buyer" was given their own suite on the first floor of the hotel, and the "sellers" in Italy, traveling from far away towns, rushed in one after the other to share their homes and properties with you. My translator, Martina, was my god send. She was a young college student, and this was her first time translating. I think she had fun, but kept apologizing if she didn't say it completely right in English. Bless her heart, to me she did perfect.
The homes are mostly restorations, or they have already received "permissions". In Italy, it takes about 3 years to gain permission from the government to restore a building, and as far as the exterior goes, most of it has to stay the same. (The small rectangular windows, the siding, etc.) But most of the interior is traditionally restored as well. You had to not be surprised when they told you "el prezo" (price) - they were all mostly over $1 mil and all the way to the $3 mil. I think I counted maybe 3 or 4 out of the hundreds being in the $7-800,000s. But, considering the inclusion over acreage, guest houses, rooms... it is definitely worth it as a rent house! You could rent out approximately 10- 12 suites (all of the homes were built that way, because you had more than one family living there) and have some great cash flow! The homes consisted of a "house for nobles or royalty" and the "house for the farmhands", and of course, almost all of them had a vineyard, oil trees, and even what we could call a house for trees (lemon house) where they would store the trees in the winter.
We also got to meet with the city commissioner, who described the history magnificently, and I was honored by getting to meet the President of RE/MAX of Italy. On the 3rd night, the last night we were there, we had a little free time, and so we went, by taxi, to a pizza place in Pistoia. It felt like you were going down alleyways (and you were!) to get there, but it was magnificent. True Italian pizza, music (and no one understood what we were talking about!) Imagine trying to explain (Can you split the bill? Truly, truly, an experience you will never forget, so add this trip to the list of "musts" in your life!
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It has always been my belief that the confident people can get anything their heart desires. Why is it then, that so many people have a hard time with this? I've seen the Secret, and I tell you, some days, you can't get a positive word out of my mouth. But then I quickly remind myself... everything happens for a reason~ I'll catch the break the next time around! Do you remember that girl in high school... everyone knew her name, everyone wanted to know her, be friends with her, or have her be on their team? She wasn't necessarily the prettiest girl in school, or the smartest, or the best dancer, so what was it about her? When she walked into a room she owned it; when she walked down the hall, people formed a V behind her. She had confidence. Anyone is capable of exuding this infectious confidence, but I believe it starts in more ways than posture and a smile. First off, what does your "space" say about you? At the office, are there piles of paperwork... phone numbers scattered randomly... pens hiding in all the cracks and crevices? When you walk into your home, do you see rewards from your hard work? Do you see a creative space that has your name written all over it? Or do you see clutter of toys, or dishes, or more paperwork (I'm talking to you Real Estate Agents)? When you walk into a place that represents you, you should love the way it looks. When you feel good about that space, that energy seemingly absorbs into you and you begin to radiate that. When you're organized and free of clutter, your mind doesn't feel cluttered. You are free to be as creative as you like, without having to sort through 50 things first. If all you see around you is frustration and exhausation, your space turns into a cage with a little wheel in it. Everyone hates Spring Cleaning (even me), so turn on your favorite music, LOUD. Have a glass of wine... and start creating the powerful you. Open a magazine and pull out designs you'd like to see in your home. Get creative and start doing. Paint that wall, make a gorgeous sculpture, darn it, go buy all those matching hand towels that you've wanted for so long. And when you get done in your home, done in your office, you can't help but smile. (Face it! It's finally done!) If nothing you'd try would help (honey I've seen those homes too) then focus on finding a home that you can feel good about, love the way it sparkles, and enjoy the space for the beauty and uniqueness it has. When you come home from work now, you have time to sit on the couch and watch TV, or go on a date with your spouse. And the best part is, you don't feel guilty about it. Then... after this renewed recreation (how long has it been? That crick in your neck isn't because you had a candlelight dinner!) you feel more rested, more alive. You wake up in the morning (have time to actually blow-dry your hair) and put on those fiery red shoes to go to work. You walk in, feeling like a million bucks. Everyone you meet will say, "Wow, I want to know what she knows!" Clients will enjoy working with you because of how together and positive you are. Colleagues will want you to lead their team, and people whom you never thought would notice you, do. BUT you have to take on each project with same confidence. Say yes to the Team Leader position and OWN IT. Keep your life organized, decluttered. Have a date night once a week. Watch that movie you've secretly wanted to see. Take up that hobby again. And smile. A lot more time equals a lot more fun equals a lot more paycheck. :) Reward yourself with a treat today, because darn it, you deserve it.
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Direct (972) 403-2006
Equal Housing Opportunity