Category: Just For Laughs

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Monique’s 2021 Thoughts: If Only I’d Kept My Pants

Posted on by Your Real Estate Matchmaker

Just when we thought the world couldn’t get any stranger, back in 2020, along came 2021. There are many topics I could comment on; but as your local Real Estate expert, I’m going to keep it along that road. 

Next month we will have our annual statistics for a year-end review in the real estate world for our local communities. But today I’m sharing my insights on observations of some interesting interior decor changes. 

Have you ever caught yourself saying; “If I’d kept my pants from 20 years ago (or if they still fit) I’d be right in style”? 2021 has been a year of this. Actually, toward the end of the year, I could even say, “Hey, my grandma had an outfit just like that” when browsing in a store.  It began last year with all the high-waisted denims just like I wore in high school in the 1980’s and is moving toward the wild crazy patterns and colors I remember both my grandmother, and her curtains, wearing.

Well, it isn’t just the fashion industry that is seeing the trend toward the 60’s and 70’s. The real estate world is too. What started with a term called “Boho” is  now turning into “Granny Chic” yup, you read that right. Boho is a trend toward integrating a lot of natural materials into your decor; things like baskets, earthy rugs, and eclectic patterns, textures, and color. It is a carefree style that defies the typical structure in decor.

Take it a step further and you land at Granny-Chic. The “hated” word “wallpaper” from the last ten years is making a huge comeback. Accent walls of paint are now being replaced with textured floral wallpaper that reminds us of our granny’s home in the 70’s. Even the earthy yellow-golds, greens, browns are making a come-back. 
Looking at all the major players who choose “color of the year” the majority of them are using some shade of green.They say its due to Covid and people wanting a closer feel with nature.  There is however, a rebel in the group though who has selected Veri Peri, which is a deep periwinkle.

I don’t know what your thoughts are, but maybe if you have an older home and haven’t updated in 40 years – you’re in luck! Ok, I’m kidding, though some of the younger generations are really thinking what we used to call vintage, now deeming granny chic, is cool. 

Our Great Lakes Bay market tends to run quite behind what is happening in the bigger cities. I think in this case, I’m somewhat thankful of that. I’m happy to leave the greens/golds/browns and floral patterns of gram’s clothing and curtains in my fond childhood memories. 

There is another style that is also trending that seems to be quite the opposite of granny chic and it is pretty industrial. It focuses on also using a lot of natural sources, but more along the lines of wood and metal. I am seeing more of this in our area than I am the granny chic; at least when it comes to new construction home decor. There are still many many homes I go into daily that would qualify as granny chic, that have been there since they were first popular 40-50 years ago. I don’t recommend being in style because you’ve not done an update in 50 years. 🙂 

On that note; If you’re not looking to sell in the near future, I’m a big believer in making your home a sanctuary, decorated to your tastes and what makes you feel safe and joyful. That’s something different for everyone. I don’t change up my style based on what is trending, but what makes me happy. That seems to be a trend in itself – there’s a lot of anything goes right now.

Have a great 2022!! Wishing you the very best upcoming year. May you recognize your blessings amidst the trials, and find time to focus on yourself and family, while also reaching out to those in need around you. And of course, if you’re looking to buy or sell #ThinkTeamMatchmaker

Photo credit laurelberninteriors.com

Posted in community, Finding a great Realtor, goal setting, Just For Laughs, Motivation, Planning, Real Estate Bay Midland Saginaw, Realtor, Selling Homes, Succeed

Are You Getting Dirty?

Posted on by Your Real Estate Matchmaker

One of my favorite things about Springtime is getting dirty! And I mean literally. As I crawled around my front flower circle a couple of weeks ago, adding 252 annuals to the perennials, the parallels between getting dirty literally here in the flower garden and in life kept springing to my mind. How so?

If I had a before and after photo; the differences would be pretty clear.  When I walked out to that 14ft circle for the first time this year you would have seen leaves, dead stalks, weeds, and a whole lot of brown. There was nothing appealing except a stray tulip and the early blooming phlox that surrounds the outside of the circle.

First thing I needed to do was to find the appropriate tools – a hoe, shovel, and gloves. Kneepads were added later, on my second trip out and were much appreciated. 😊 Once I had the tools, the work began. Crawling around for more than two hours, I pulled weeds, dead flowers, & leaves from the ground, loosened all the soil and began the planting process. As I pulled all that dead stuff out and flung it out into the surrounding yard, I can say things looked even worse than when I began. And my body began feeling the ache of all those muscles I hadn’t used since last Springtime, afterall, who spends hours crawling around? It was hard work.

At the time of this photo I was sweaty, dirty, likely a little stinky, but very satisfied and joyful. There’s not much that brings a higher sense of satisfaction than a job that you put a great effort into with great results. Just like a flower garden – in order to bring success and have beautiful results in life; we need to get dirty. We need to ascertain what the proper tools are for the job, obtain them, and get to work. We need to clear away the old things & obstacles that aren’t valuable, that aren’t beneficial and replace them with new growth. We need to have a plan and implement it. And just like in this photo when the new flowers are so small they’re not really visible without a close inspection – life accomplishments are like that too. The job is not over just because we plant new beginnings. We need to nurture, water, and maintain the weed removal to obtain the optimal results.

I hope you’re out getting dirty today! Perhaps literally and figuratively. Never give up on your dreams, never quit finding a better way and never stop seeking improvement. There is nothing more satisfying than getting your hands dirty.

I’m a Realtor/Associate Broker who likes to get her hands dirty. I am dedicated to consistent self-improvement in negotiating, marketing, sales techniques, and service. Please let me know if you or anyone you know are looking to buy or sell and I’ll be sure to take excellent care of all I serve! Your referrals are always much appreciated.

Posted in Just For Laughs

Laughing In A Poop Geyser – Thanksgiving 2020

Posted on by Your Real Estate Matchmaker

I’m guessing you’ve never imagined finding yourself in the middle of a poop geyser. But, after all it is 2020 and one might say that life in general fits that description figuratively pretty well. I on the other hand found myself amidst one literally the other day, and I just couldn’t help but draw upon an analogy I’d like to share with you now.

Let me give you a very brief background before I bring you a laugh and likely a groan of disgustingness all at once today. I purchased a cabin early last Spring. I’d discovered that when there were multiple people there for an extended period of time, the water started to drain slowly. So, I called the local septic company. He came out and promptly gave me an education about this high quality system I had, which was a 3 phase, the first being a smaller tank about 5 feet underground that grinds up all the sewage and a pump pushes it up a large PVC pipe that runs through a big underground wooden box, takes a turn and pushes the sewage into the actual septic tank a few feet over and so on. He pointed out that the float for the pump was  not working and that I should have the plug, which was in that nice wooded protective box replaced because the cord needed to be wiggled to get it to work. When the pump didn’t turn on, then the water would slow down in the drains. I have seen these systems many times in real estate. It wasn’t anything new. He agreed to change the pump float, and leave the lid exposed for the contractor to change out the outlet. However, much to my surprise, he did something in my absence that would turn my next visit into something very memorable.

I went to the cabin this week and thought, boy he sure did not clean up his mess very well. There was a PVC pipe in the yard and several pieces of wood.  As I continue, remember he had shown me that I could just wiggle that plug inside the box to get the water to drain from the grinding station to the tank. At the end of the weekend I noticed the water slowing. So, with the help of my good friend who was there chopping wood with me, we lifted that big lid and I jumped down into that box. I said, well he doesn’t even have it plugged in!  I leaned over to grab the cord to plug it in. What I did NOT notice was that the PVC pipe no longer had an elbow on it running over to the septic tank, but was cut off about 18” from the base, pointing straight up. I had to lean over it to reach the plug. I tried the top outlet, nothing. So, I tried the bottom outlet, gave it a little wiggle and hummmm…… I heard the pump. Then, WHOOOOOSH…. The water was moving. It sure was moving, right up that PVC pipe and beating against my chest! It took oh, likely a good half of a second for my brain to catch up to the fact that I had created a geyser of poop sewage and it was covering me. I dropped the cord (still plugged in) and stood up, which then allowed the geyser to raise up to a good 4 foot spout. Mind you, I was still standing in that wood box which is about 3ft deep. I looked down, still stunned to realize the sewage spouting was now covering my feet and was past my ankles. I started scrambling out of the geyser of poop and yelling, turn off the power, turn off the power! My friend, who up to this point was seemingly stupefied at the happenings, ran into the house to the power box. By this time the sewage was well over the height of the outlet in that box. He ran back out and stared at me, speechless, not making a sound. I stared at him, stared at the flooded box, looked down at myself covered in ground up toilet paper and sewer water and I burst out laughing.  I rolled back on the ground and just laughed. My friend stared, unsure if I had lost my mind, unsure if it was safe for him to laugh as well. Finally, he said, “I can’t believe you’re laughing”. Then he joined in.

I had a choice the moment I realized I was being covered in sewage and ground up pooh from the friends who had joined me that day. I could have screamed, I could have cried, or been outraged. But, I chose to laugh. And I can tell you, it was such a relief, it was joyous. I can’t remember laughing so hard recently. It had been too long. This year has been long, and it has been hard and oft full of loneliness and worry and uncertainty. I had to laugh, at the absurdity, the disgustingness, the shock… and it was good. I did give thanks – that it hadn’t been aimed at my head, that the look on my friend’s face was priceless. I ask you today to look around you in this world full of turmoil, as we approach a Thanksgiving that is likely different than any we’ve experienced before, and be thankful. There is always something, many things in fact, that we can give thanks over. We have that choice each and every moment, to give thanks, to laugh or to despair. Choose laughter; even if life seems to be spouting a geyser of poop.

Genesis 21:6: “And Sarah declared, ‘God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.’”

May God bless you and yours this Thanksgiving and beyond.

P.S. I called the septic guy – he said, Oh yes – I guess I should’ve texted you that I hadn’t finished…. 😊 (I would agree)