Wednesday, August 17, 2011

A Way To Learn!

I knew who Sarah Palin was from all the Presidential election situations!  I didn't really know that much about her so I thought by reading this book I'd be able to learn more about her as a person & her views and standpoints on life.   I was actually intrigued by her and the quotes! I loved that this wasn't an overly long book - this was a great read to pick up & easily finish.

I really enjoyed the collection of quotes throughout the book that were organized into subjects like Crime, Education, Foreign Policy, etc.  We can all choose to agree with her on her opinions or we can disagree but this is a great book that will serve as a good reference for her political reviews - straight from her own mouth.  It's nice to be able to read her actual opinions and not what everyone else is just saying about her.

I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher at BookSneeze.com for my honest reviwe which didn't have to be positive. 

You Were Born For This

You Were Born For This By: Bruce Wilkinson & David Kopp. 
 



I just finished reading this book & have mixed feelings about this book.  There were definitely parts of the book that I greatly enjoyed - loved some of the personal stories that were in the book.  I however did find some sections that I seemed to just skim over as they weren't as engaging as other areas.  I think this might be a good book to read with a small group and have a discussion time with as I think you might get more out if that way. 

I did appreciate the breakdown into four sections with each part bringing you practical information about allowing God to use you.
Part 1: Welcome to Everyday Miracle Territory
Part 2: Four Keys to a Life of Miracles
Part 3: How to Deliver a Miracle
Part 4: Three Keys to Special Delivery Miracles


I think this book can help shift our mindset about everyday miracles and felt that hearing of the other miralces around us happening every day are good resources. 

I received a free e-copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah’s Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review

Friday, August 5, 2011

I'm also a Psychiatirst?!

Here's another good one!  I had a call from a lady that wanted to sell her home.  She starts out the conversation by telling me I went to school with her daughter - she is 100% sure of that....oopsies!  That was my sister who is 4 years older than me!  Oh well - she can think that for now. So I go to her home to do a CMA for her and have been warned that she is a unique woman. 

I get there and she invites me in - it's a home I'm familiar with because it is a very unique one of a kind home!  Those details aren't even important!  She invites me and and I'm there for a good hour to hour and a half and we never once toured the home - we sat at the kitchen table the entire time.  What she did the entire time was "drink" something and talk to me about her hard life...her divorce....her step kids....her kids.....her dog was jumping all over me - there are no lights on in the house and it sort of felt like an episode of hoarders - a toned down version - but hoarders!  She wants to list her home for about $100,000 more than what it's worth - so this was the first listing I've ever had to tell no that I can't take this listing.  She was thankfully very understanding and then informed me that one other Realtor had told her the same thing.

After a lull in the conversation i mentioned how gorgeous her Christmas Cactus was and she offered to give me one!!!  She literally can grow any plant and grow it amazingly well!  She had gorgeous orchids and other unique plants that no one else can grow!

After this she receives a phone call and tells me it's from a debt collector!!  I'm trying to figure out how to get out of here at this point!  She stays on the phone with the debt collector who is coming after her because of stuff her soon to be ex did!  Either way - this is very awkward and I need to leave!  She is giving the debt collector more information than anyone should ever hear!  Finally she needs to smoke - so we head outside and I make my exit!! 

This sweet lady now sends me strange emails & calls me randomly about her home!! 

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Here's another story!

A few weeks ago on a Friday night at about 7:00 p.m. I go to meet a new client.  I've emailed with this gentleman and spoken to him on the phone but this is our first in person appointment. 

I go to meet him at a foreclosure - no big deal!  I get to the house prior to him (which I prefer to do) - go inside to find there is no electricity!! 

The buyer arrives and is about 300 lbs, with missing teeth and one eye that doesn't work - no big deal. 

However, I open the door to let him in and he (I think trying to be polite) kinds of ushers me in, in front of him.  We get in the house to this tiny little entryway and there is a bathroom door to the left and a door to the kitchen on the right which the buyer is blocking along with the outside door - I am now trapped inside the bathroom!!!!!!!!  At this point every crazy thought is running through my head - get out, run - you're faster than him - "damn I wish I had on heels! 

I offer to go out to my car & get a flashlight so we can see better & he says no & won't let me - I'm still stuck in the bathroom!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 Pretty much petrified I finally find a way around him & get into the kitchen & start looking around all awkwardly!  I get to the living room and open the front door - wide open........to let light in, that's what I tell him at least!  He looks around and then wants to go in the basement - there was no way on earth I was going down there!  He did go by himself and look around but I stood at the top of the stairs with my phone in one hand debating which door was closer to get out if I needed to run!!!!!!!!!!!

I get him outside eventually but then he wants to go see the empty garage!  I do allow him into the garage & stand at the doorway not going fully inside!

He decides this house is too much work & we can finally leave!

The Chocolate Diaries

Click on the book to be taken to amazon to order this book!

I just got done reading this book and was quite impressed!!!!  There are several things about this book that I enjoyed including the yummy chocolate recipes!!

This book is a great book for women of all ages - I think there is something for everyone to learn in this book and everyone will take something away!  My favorite part was the "What If...." game - this is a great thing that I started doing as soon as I was finished reading the book and is amazing what it can do for you!  I read this as an E book and loved the fact that the links were live to click on and you would be taken directly to the website!  This was also very helpful. 

I appreciated the honesty of Karen Linamen and the trials and tribulations of what she has been through. I  also appreciate the other stories from others that she wrote about they were quite inspiring and I also liked that she had a positive spin to things.  I thought the "Food For Thought" sections were a nice touch & I could see this being used by a group of women in a book club or a group of girlfriends for something to do together!

This book was sent to me by WaterBrook Press in exchange for an honest review, as a part of their Blogging for Books program.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

All In One Day!

So I thought I'd start sharing some stories of the strange/crazy things that happen & that I see while selling houses!!!  Trust me - you can't make these stories up!!!!!

Yesterday I went to show a vacant house & while showing a house to a lady who brought her mother & her daughter with we went to the upstairs.  The house is a 1 1/4 story house with 2 dormers & because Ii am 5'10" and had heels on I had to stay in one spot where the window was so I could stand up without hitting my head!  While allowing the women to look around the Grandmother opens the attic door and starts looking around & goes "oh is that a couple of bats."!!!!!!!  I am about ready to run - but the lady goes into the attic to inspect the bats!!!  I was sure they were going to come flying out at us - but thank goodness they didn't!  We still aren't sure if they were bats that were dead - alive or just lots & lots of cobwebs!  Either way - I am not a fan of bats!

Then after getting in my car to leave I look out my window & see this:



Then I am driving to an appointment & go to pass a truck & trailer going 40 mph and look over into the trailer to see that it's FULL of geese!!!!!!!!!!!  I've never seen such a thing - it was crazy!!!!

All this in one fun filled day!!!!!!!