Random Bits of Information

We recently had our StagersLIST Expo in the Orlando area and were treated to Palm Beach Cupcakes!  Not only are these delicious, they are gorgeous.  Right now delivery is free within 15 miles of Palm Beach Gardens, with a delivery fee outside that area.  SOON there will be a shipping option so we can enjoy these beauties all over the country.

The cupcakes are available in regular and mini size and would be wonderful for just about any occasion.  Displays for the cupcakes can be rented as well.  Cupcakes are offered in the following flavors:

• Chocolate chip
• Cookie dough n spice
• Double swiss chocolate n chocolate mousse with fudge
• Key lime - orange n macadamia nut
• Carribean coconut and pineapple medley
• Passion fruit n cranberry surprise
• Red velvet madness with cheesecake
• Vanilla bean
• and more!

Cupcakes are made to order and the sky is the limit as far as customization! Perfect for baby showers, birthday parties, weddings, even a dinner party.

If you live in the area, I'm jealous because I have to wait until I return to Florida or until these cupcakes are available for shipment to have another one!

Enjoy!  Our good friend Fernando Rosado created these cupcakes.  In addition to being a talented ASP home stager, Fernando is also a chef.

Voting Yes on Measure D will provide MDUSD with a stable, reliable source of local school funding that the state cannot take away. Voting Yes on Measure D will enable the MDUSD to:

• Provide our students with a quality education, including reading, writing, math and science
• Help attract and retain quality teachers
• Support programs that prepare students for college and the workforce
• Maintain classroom technology programs
• Keep school librarians and support a well-rounded curriculum that includes music and art

Measure D isn’t about frills. It’s simply about protecting basic, quality education. Measure D will benefit every school in the District, with no funding going to district office administrator salaries. 

Measure D also includes an exemption for seniors. All funding will be subject to strict annual monitoring by an independent citizen oversight committee.

 Please join us. Vote Yes on Measure D. Let’s keep our local tax dollars local, where we can control how it’s spent. Together, we can safeguard our students from state budget cuts, attract and retain good teachers and preserve vital classroom programs. For more information, visit www.ProtectOurLocalSchools.com.

Measure D will assure we could continue to provide our children a well-rounded curriculum that is essential to building a strong academic foundation.  Measure D is a $99 per year parcel—that is $8.25 per month or $1.91 a week.  This measure would provide a stable source of funding for our local schools during this time of budgetary turmoil.

Accountable to Taxpayers

All funds from the Measure D would be used here in our local elementary, middle and high schools to support student achievement and build a strong academic foundation for our children.  The state could not take a single dime.

Danny Thornton tagged me for a photo MeMe.  Since I have been organizing all day AND working on websites, I figured I could take a break and post this.  It is Sunday, after all, many people don't work at all on Sundays.  I don't really know these people, but I have heard of them.  I decided to make all my photos into links in case anyone else is taking a break from work today. 

Rules:
- Type out all the Questions below and answer them with a picture.
- Tag 5 people and spread the love out. That is it.


1) Age at my next birthday: 

 
2) Favorite Movie or TV Characters:



3) Place I want to travel:


4) Favorite Food:


5) Favorite Place:


6) Nickname: 

 
7) Favorite color:


8) Favorite Sports Team:



9) My favorite hobby:


10) Bad Habit--

 

Since most of my Active Rain friends are addicted to obsessed with playing Mafia Wars on Facebook at this point, I am afraid to tag anyone.  I suspect there will be a hit taken out on me if I do.

Our Expo yesterday was such a success.  It was my first time going to the Expo rather than just preparing Terrylynn and Kym for the Expo (I usually hide behind the computer with the flyers and websites).  I sat in the background and watched heads nodding.  So many eyes were lighting up and you could almost see the little light bulbs over people's heads.  After, as usual, people were raving about how energized they were to bring their business to the next level. 

Our local coordinators, Laurie and Susan of Gloria Home Staging, were wonderful and supportive, and also excited they participated.  The local Cort venue sponsor is now going to recommend them for home staging to Cort clients because they've gotten to know them and like them and their business. 

We have met a lot of new friends, as well as some "friends we hadn't met yet" from Active Rain.  Including our wonderful friend, Fernando Rosado, who brought us cupcakes! 

Great ideas, networking and cupcakes (fancy ones at that).  Who can complain?!?

Did I mention it's really pretty in Florida?  : )

The StagersLIST.com crew will be invading Orlando with our wonderful speakers for this Expo on March 17, 2009 and Workshop Series on March 18, 2009.

Click here to Register
(Note: we have removed the attendee list as requested, so your registration will be private)

Christine Rae, author of Home Staging for Dummies and Industry Expert will present Trends in Your Marketplace.

Kym Hough, Nolo Press consultant, Home Stager, and Marketing Expert will teach you How to Have a Thriving Business in a Down Economy.

Terrylynn Fisher, 32+ years a Realtor, will speak about the Realtor/Stager Team.

For more information about the expo, visit www.StagersLISTExpo.com and click Orlando.  These Expos are SO informative and the past attendees have said they felt re-energized and ready to work on their business plan.

Did I mention it's really pretty in Florida?

Nolo Press recruited Kym Hough of StagersLIST to be guest editor/advisor of the staging section of their new book, Selling Your Home in a Tough Market: 10 Strategies that Work.  The book is scheduled for release 5/15/09 and we will soon be offering pre-orders. 

Nolo Press also interviewed Kym Hough to talk about the importance of home staging in today's market.  Click here to listen. (It's 13 minutes, may take a few to load).

I listened to it this morning and it is quite good.  I think it would be helpful when selling your Realtors and homeowners on the importance of staging, so please feel free to use it if you think it's good for your marketing.  There's a really good segment toward the end that you could use as tips for sellers that really gets the point across about what not to do and why they should invest in staging.

If you are in Florida or can manage a vacation, Kym will be talking about Running a Thriving Staging Business in a Down Economy.  As many of you know, the east and west coasts have been first & hardest hit by the housing crisis.  In spite of this, Kym's Staged-to-Sell.com staging and design business continues to thrive.  Kym will share some of her key marketing strategies and talk about multiple streams of income.

The StagersLIST Expo in Orlando, Florida will also include Christine Rae, author of Home Staging For Dummies will be talking about Trends in Your Market and Terrylynn Fisher, 30+ year Realtor (who always stages her listings) talks about the Realtor/Stager relationship and how to get Realtors to recognize you as part of their team.

If you would like more information about the expo, which is March 17, 2009 in Winter Park, Florida (minutes from Orlando), Click here.  You can register at the bottom of the page.

Congratulations Kym!  Can't wait to read the book, this is very exciting news.  Great interview too.

Friends Club offers children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) a safe, and nurturing environment to develop play skills, social skills, and friendships with peers. This program is vendorized by the Regional Center of the East Bay for six months of participation.

My daughter Rhiannon is a Girl Scout and needs community service hours to reach certain goals.  My friend Adryon works at Milestones, where Friends Club is offered. Rhiannon volunteers during Friends Club to play with and socialize with the kids. Last week was her first week and she was quite shy, which is normal in a new group.  She handled herself very well and by the end of the 1.5 hours of play and circle time, she was feeling much more comfortable. The facilitators are AMAZING.  They are patient, calm, kind and loving.  They made Rhiannon feel comfortable and do a great job directing and focusing the energy of the children in the group.

I asked Adryon what I should say about ASD and Friends Club and her response was:

"I think there's a lot to know about autism. People are afraid of our kids, scared to break them or that they will get broken. I always get 'that's like rain man'... Ugh NO! There's a lot of misconceptions, like if a kid doesn't answer yell louder! Let's see... Honestly the best thing is to say is that our kids aren't freakish and are human with real feelings."

As with many things, people are afraid of what they don't understand.  From the Autism Society of America website:

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.

Autism is treatable, not curable.

Studies show that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes.

Here are some signs to look for in the children in your life:

• Lack of or delay in spoken language
• Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)
• Little or no eye contact
• Lack of interest in peer relationships
• Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
• Persistent fixation on parts of objects

Today Rhiannon is excited to go play with her new friends at Friends Club. If you have the time, please learn more about ASD at the Autism Society of America. 

Have a great day!  We're off to Friends Club!