teresa's blog

Spring Is Sprung!

Teresa Berry — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:22:01 -0700

It's a beautiful day for a fundraising Home Run Derby in Bellevue WA to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Spring Is Sprung! Fundraising Home Run Derby Happening Saturday 3/20/10 Robinswood Park - Bellevue, WA Visit their Facebook Event Page for details and more cause information!

Another Week of Incredible Events in Seattle - March 18th & 19th 2010

Teresa Berry — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:32:46 -0700

Another Week of Incredible Events in Seattle: Pacific NW Housing Summit Happening Thursday, March 18, 2010 Seattle RE Barcamp Scheduled for Friday, March 19, 2010

How Networking Events May Help Advance Efforts of 'IWD' ....

Teresa Berry — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:07:45 -0700

“Investing in Women and Girls” is the tagline on the 2008 United Nations International Woman’s Day web page. The day was adopted by the U.N. as a worldwide celebration of economic, political and social achievements of women. Find recent ‘IWD’ 2010 resources online as well. Recognizing contributions of women, their role in peace efforts and their past struggles to achieve equal participation in the workplace, the political arena and other areas of life - International Women’s Day is possibly more important, an opportunity to look to the future. March 8th BloggersUnite to help raise awareness through posting on the topic. This year I attended a women’s networking event at Qwest Field Events Center during the Northwest Women’s Show in Seattle the week-end leading up to IWD and able to video post [more in the works] some clips from the ‘Total Networking’ event with a 2010 focus on social media. Key4Women/Key Bank was a presenting sponsor delivering some amazing statistics on women owned business and start-ups in the United States. Incredible speakers including Shauna Causey, Lori Richardson and Keynote Mari Smith spoke on the power of using social media. One goal of mingling education with inspiration through these kinds of events is to provide knowledge and positive encouragement to help women continue making strides. Among other things, for me it was a day of networking fun iced with cupcakes, favors and libations donated by a number of gracious sponsors. And if you are wondering….yes there were men in attendance. p.s. I was honored to meet the spirited @MariSmith It’s true….even her accessories are blue! ;D

Total Networking Event in Seattle Friday March 5th

Teresa Berry — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:37:52 -0800

Will You Join Us? See who's Going! Qwest Field Events Center Seattle Total Networking Night Out! Total Networking presents a 4 hour amazing Night Out/TotNetSea event featuring the one and only @marismith and with @ShaunaCausey.... Where? Qwest Field Events Center [enter through garage]Seattle, WA When? March 5th 2010 What time? 4 pm - 8 pm

Seattle Home Show Doors Open Saturday Feb 20th 2010

Teresa Berry — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:02:02 -0800

Seattle Home Show Feb 20-28th 2010 Qwest Field Events Center Doors Open Saturday morning Feb 20th to the Seattle Home Show at Qwest Field Events Center. It kicks off a week of seminars, exhibitors, remodeling ideas, trends, green design, wine tasting, the popular Idea Streetª of model homes and more featured daily through Sunday Feb 28th 2010. ‘About the Seattle Home Show’ online can answer most FAQ including: Hours, Admission, Parking and Directions. Some pre-show coverage, set-up, photos and “Home Sweet Home Show” updates are posted on their blog.firstbiggestbest The Seattle Home Show is sponsored by The Seattle Times and the Master Builders Association.

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cheating yourself out of ActiveRain points each time you post?

Teresa Berry — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:07:59 -0800

Sharing some great tips about the benefit of posting in 'Channels" on AR from the remarkable Maureen McCabeAre you cheating yourself out of ActiveRain points each time you post? Do you put your content in a channel and assign a topic when you post? If not you are cheating yourself out of 25 points each time you post. That's 250 points a week... We've had channels since late 2008... but not everyone uses them. It's still marked NEW. If you did not get 225 points on your first 10 posts in a week, you've cheated yourself out of ActiveRain points. You are cheating yourself out of ActiveRain points AND Google juice... If you have an Outside Blog if you are not using Channels and Topics you are cheating yourself out of Google juice. If your Outside blog side bar looks like this: If your Outside Blogs sidebar is just showing Blog Archives by month, you are missing out on lots of search engine traffic. You are not showing Google (and other search engines) words like: Home Buying, Home Improvement, Home Selling, Mortgage / Finance, Moving, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Market... Nor are you sharing Topics.... words that would help search engines and the buyers using them find your content, geographic words, descriptive words. The Channels and Topics become Categories on your Outside Blog. That's what Google and search engines read. Don't use an Outside Blog so you are not worried? The Channels and Topics are how Search Engines find your content on ActiveRain too. ActiveRain made a change in late 2008. To show up in the search engines use Channels and Topics. cheating yourself out of ActiveRain points AND Google juice... New ActiveRain members don't miss this opportunity - feature yourself on the front page of ActiveRain ActiveRain Channels Matter ActiveRain Channels ActiveRain's ActiveRain Channel is ActiveRain's Junk Drawer - the ActiveRain Channel is s professional Channel for talking to one another. The ActiveRain Channels is described by ActiveRain as "The ActiveRain Channel is the channel for all things ActiveRain, including the use and tutorials for the site, announcements, reminders and deployment of the next big thing." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Connect with me, Maureen McCabe RSS or email subscription to Central Ohio real estate market news: Subscribe to Discover Columbus OH - Columbus and Central Ohio Subscribe to Worthington Old and News - Worthington real estate

A Very Important List For Haiti Aid Workers, Journalists and Volunteers

Teresa Berry — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:52:00 -0800

Mirela Monte has been contributing to Haiti relief through blogging useful information about who, what and how people can help relief efforts Searchable List of the Missing in Haiti - CNN, Red Cross and Google Person Finder ICRC List of People confirmed Alive USAID Aid From The American People - A complete help of all aid and field conditions updated daily. This update from 1/23/10 Valuable list of Distribution Locations , Water, Food, Hospitals and all aid locations and updates. US Embassy in Haiti Logistics Cluster Report - Jan 31 OCHA Situation Report - Feb 1, 2010 OCHA Situation Report Mapped Out - Jan 31 HAITI - Relief Organization Presence Map (as of 29 Jan 2010) USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO HAITI FOR THE EARTHQUAKE - Jan 30 US Aid Situation Report - January 28 UK Aid Situation Report - Jan 28 HHS Emergency Response in Haiti: Summary Report, Jan. 27 United States Government Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response Update Find your representatives in Congress - just enter your address and obtain the contact information (including their e-mail addresses) for your two Senators and your US House Representative. Tools and Resources for Post-Disaster Relief - A most valuable Reference Guide from UNHCR with all useful and important information. Haiti - Population Movements out of Port-au-Prince as of 24 January 2010 Relief Web - Latest Updates on Haiti - This has every piece of critical information Port-au-Prince Road Damage Assessment Map - Road Damage Assessment Maps & other essential information Port-au-Prince Temporary Shelter Locations Make Donations Based on Needs - Feb 1 Medical: A List of all Hospitals, their contact information and locations - this list is updated regularly. A Basic List of Hospitals & Phone Numbers A Map of Doctors Without Borders Hospitals Map of IDF Field Hospital in Haiti Hospitals and Field Mediacal Locations - Jan 26 Map Haiti: Operational Biosurveillance Doctors Without Borders MSF - an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe. Physicians For Human Rights - Partners in Health Volunteer Bulletin - Health workers & Logisticians needed right now. Health Cluster Report of January31 The Pan Am and World Health Organization Daily Report Communications: Public release of Haitian Creole language data by Carnegie Mellon Information for Radio Broadcast Relief Web - Situation Reports from the ground in Haiti and everywhere else. Haiti News Feed - All the latest News on Haiti from every source. To enter your RSS Feeds into this Form. Hope for Haiti Now - Twitter Dashboard rolling info on #Haiti Updates from aid workers and journalists in Haiti Live Broadcast and chat room with Pierre Côté Project Epic - Standadizing Twitter to aid in a more expedient response Haitian Creole app for the iPhone (free) - a wonderful tool for volunteers on the ground. Gaia GPS For Haitian Disaster Relief - a Lifesaver for the volunteers on the ground (free) Haiti Earthquake Support Center -The Extraordinaries has created this support page to harness the power of the crowd to help locate and identify missing persons with just a few minutes of your time. List of Twitter users currently involved in helping Haiti (all the local movers & shakers, relief workers, volunteers, news organizations, military, government and of course journalists and their producers). Twitter grows up in the aftermath of Haiti earthquake - I certainly would not have been able to help without Twitter and neither could many others. "Twitter 4 Haiti" has been a constant refrain on the microblogging site, with #Haiti in the top 10 trending topics since the quake. Latest News on Twitter - We all know Twitter is up to the second... White House Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response Update 1/21/10 Crisis Commons - A Clearinghouse of Information - How Can I Help? Check here for the answers. Logistics Cluster Software @ Online Logistics Tools Mapping/Communications: Ushahidi.com , a GPS Emergency Locating system, has been invaluable after the quake, helping volunteers locate many of the calls for help. With Port au Prince devastated by the earthquake, addresses have been useless. By employing Twitter or by simply texting 4636, emergencies could be entered into the system and mapped out by a volunteer via the Internet. Volunteers located all over the World have been able to help coordinate rescue operations on the ground in Haiti, saving many lives. Volunteers like my Tweep, Rachelle Houde, who has worked tirelessly since shortly after the quake, deserve much praise. Disaster Response Portal - Situation Mapping, Organization Registry, Assistance Requests and Volunteer Information. Open Street Map - Volunteers are building a basemap of Haiti, using satellite imagery, old maps from the CIA and military, and other sources. Open Street Map Tutorial & Info. Haiti Live - Help Map what's happening in Haiti Google Satellite Maps of Haiti - the National Palace is shown here, but you can zoom in and out to view all areas around Port au Prince and beyond. GeoEye - Geospatial Revolution Project - Remarkable Satellite Imagery Haiti 360* - Interactive Videos taken on the streets of Haiti Aid and Relief: White House Haiti Relief Page - The official dictum and resources. We Have / We Need - We Have We Need is a place where relief organizations can quickly post their most urgent needs and have them matched by generous donors during a time of crisis. Haiti Volunteer Network - a platform for people who wish to donate services or goods to connect with relief and humanitarian agencies that are helping Haiti... InterAction - a regularly updated list of agencies responding to the crisis and accepting donations. All For Good - Find out what you can do to help in your neck of the woods. From Haiti to local programs, this organization shows all altruistic activities available all over the World. Just put in your zip code and connect with your cause. "Be the difference you want to make in the World!" AllForGood.org A List of Charitable Organizations active in Haiti Snoops.com on Haiti - Debunks the rumors of free UPS shipments, free Jet Blue and American Airlines flights for volunteers. Find out just how texting donations actually work. Quick Review of current International Relief Efforts Help Age International - Help for the Elderly in Emergency Situations Adoptions of Haiti Orphans: HumanitarianParole.com - known as "We Want Humanitarian Parole for Haitian Children Being Adopted!!", a Facebook Fan Page proving to be a wonderful resource for the prospective parents of these children. Operation Pierre Pan - in an exercise dubbed Operation Pierre Pan, the Catholic Church in Miami is drawing up plans to rescue thousands of Haitian orphans, mirroring the Operation Pedro Pan airlift of 1960 in which 14,000 Cuban children were taken to the city. Bethany Christian Services - To Start A Haiti Adoption Process White House Adoption Update - Humanitarian Parole - Secretary Napolitano Announces Humanitarian Parole Policy for Certain Haitian Orphans. Rainbow Kids - A Clearinghouse of Information for Haiti Adoptions. List of Agencies Placing Children from Haiti. Using the Family and Medical Leave Act for Adoption *This List is updated several times per day with the latest information available.

Happening! January 4th -Virtual Real Estate Barcamp

Teresa Berry — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 08:36:27 -0800

Virtual Real Estate Barcamp Happening January 4th 2010. #1 was Awesome! Looking forward to start the New Year at VREBC. Is there a better deal on airfair, hotel or costs to attend an event like this?! It's Virtual and it's FREE! Register online, get live event details or browse presenters from the above link.

FREE & Easy Virtual Marketing Toys: "Easystreet"....

Teresa Berry — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:37:08 -0800

Want to spice up your blog post, website or open house flyer? Here are a few toys for your toolbox on the wigflip blog. Street signs are relevant in the real world and the real estate industry so it could be fun to include some in your online/print ad pieces. They help direct clients to your office, potential buyers to your open house, and house hunters to your listing, so why not use them in your virtual world? They could help direct traffic to a single property site, new listing, Brokerage, Blog, email or other link online. No registration required for Easystreet or other generators on the wigflip blog - they're simple to use with quick results, FREE AND free of 'Funky' logos. From Easystreet on wigflip: Select a size Enter desired text Click to generate your sign Save to your computer, flickr or imageshack account. Use them to add color and interest to your post. How about changing the color or inserting a sign-post using an image editor? Other toys on the wigflip blog include tinytags and superstickies generators - hope you enjoy the toys from Zach Beane powered by common lisp. *Included links to a few of my ActiveRain favorites in some of the samples below for demonstration.

2 examples below include sign-posts created using an image editor

A "VIRTUAL" RE barcamp? Save the Date: Nov 17th....

Teresa Berry — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:42:09 -0700

ReBlog Source RE Tech World Educating Real Estate Agents On How To Use Modern Technologies To Better Their Business Will Never Be The Same! On November 17th, 2009 dozens of the most respected educators in the real estate industry converge to host the first of its kind, Virtual Real Estate BarCamp. Virtual Real Estate BarCamp is a 1-Day Learning Extravaganza. From 9am until 4pm PST, three concurrent webinar "rooms" will each host 9 different sessions, for a total of 27 different presentations. There is something for everyone and everything for someone, and best of all, IT IS FREE and attendance is unlimited! Click below to: Register. Learn more. See who is coming. Check out the Session Calendar. Get sponsorship info. Attendance is projected to be at least 1000 agents, nationwide. Do not miss out on being part of this ground-breaking event. Session topics include: 1. Social Media Risk Management 2. Flickr for Real Estate 3. Developing Your Brand 4. Online Advertising Secrets 5. Facebook for Real Estate 6. WordPress Training 7. Daily Goal Tracking 8. Starting a Real Estate Blog ...and much more, with new sessions being added every day. And if that wasn\'t cool enough, individuals from around the country are volunteering to host In-Real-Life MeetUps for after the event. Learn all day, and then meet to have a beer with local participants. This is going to be a blast! We hope to see you there! Source RE Tech World

"Ready Brew" Open House Idea

Teresa Berry — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:19:31 -0700

My love for coffee is no secret so it’s exciting to have a snapshot of mine included with others on the new Starbucks VIA Ready Brew website. During the first weeks of its launch you can check out contests and prizes on StarbucksVia.com with categories including Home, Work and First Taste…. “Outside the Box” VIA comes packaged in single serving sized tubes with a taste compared to regular brew. This could be handy for your Real Estate Agent toolbox. A thermos or pot of hot water, “VIA Ready Brew” and a little imagination could create a welcoming coffee counter at your next Open House with little effort or waste – a dozen fit nicely in each espresso cup used for the examples below which are also handy "at home" btw:

October | Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Teresa Berry — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:16:08 -0700

Reblog from Midori Miller - "It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle). "October | Breast Cancer Awareness Month Please I encourage you to reblog this or even forward this post to your friends and loved ones. This disease touches so many and changes lives forever..we can do the same but in a positive way! Help Fight Breast Cancer...the reality is there is a good chance someone you love will be affected by this disease. You never know...by following the instructions you might save a human life! SPREAD THE WORD! Please tell ten friends to tell ten today! The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle). This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising. Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know. http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/ Midori Miller is licensed in the State of Florida, BK645709 and currently hangs her real estate license with CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty. Midori is also a real estate trainer and an ActiveRain Ambassador and specializes in short sales for Daytona Beach real estate sellers. If you are in the market to buy or sell real estate in Daytona Beach, Florida..please contact us!

when the phone rings....

Teresa Berry — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:05:48 -0700

When the phone rings and someone says….I found you on the internet – as a Real Estate Agent: the first thing that comes to my mind is someone's considering buying or selling a home. Other calls come from people and companies selling their services or wares but Monday I had a precious first – The phone rang – I answered and a voice on the other end said, “Hi this is Jose. You’re on the Internet?” he asked. “Yes Jose”….I said (as a background conversation sparked up in Spanish between Jose and a woman on his end of the line. Then Jose returned to the phone conversation and said….“I’ll call you back.” A few minutes later the phone rang (same caller id #). I answered and heard, “Hi this is Jose again”….I greeted him and asked what area they live and if they were looking for a home. Jose said they weren’t looking for a home adding in a sincerely matter-of-fact tone….”I want you to make me famous” (pause) - that was me as he explained that he sings and someone told him the day before he should find an “Agent” Well There You Go! After a brief conversation about Talent Agents, I wished Jose my best without even asking for a few bars, dang! Oh but I do have his # So if someone you know is in the market for a singer….or casting for singers in the Seattle/Tacoma area in the near future….I’d be happy to relay the info to Jose – Love Life! J

JONES "in" for marketing?

Teresa Berry — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:55:28 -0700

LOOKING FOR AN EXCLUSIVE way to say thanks for your biz, welcome home, congratulations or other exceptional message? JONES SODA makes it easy at “my.jones” online where you can create your own remarkable customized 12 pack case (or more) of Jones Soda by uploading a photo for the label and a personalized message for the back. Imagine customizing for a… JONES SODA OPEN HOUSE DRINK BAR Front Label & Back Quote Possibilities Your Photo, Logo or Identifying Picture on the Label Your Name, Phone, Biz, or Tagline on The Back Choose a Flavor | Color to Compliment the Décor | Theme JONES SODA HOUSE WARMING, CLOSING, OR THANK YOU GIFT PACK Other Label Possibilities: Photo of The New Home New Homeowners Local Park, Landmark, or Neighborhood Attraction Sold Sign, Property View Doorway, Welcome Mat or ____ fill in the blank Love to see what you come up with!

NAHB's Q & A - on that 8,000 first time home buyer tax credit....

Teresa Berry — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:17:01 -0700

NAHB's (National Association of Home Builders) Chief Tax Economist answers important questions relevant to the first time home-buyers 8,000. Federal Housing Tax Credit in an informative presentation on NAHB TV. The clip can be viewed below or from NAHB TV on YouTube. They ask and answer questions I hadn’t yet considered so it might be of interest to you or your FTHB clients. “Federal Housing Tax Credit explained” video offers some insight into specific circumstances that effect how or if a buyer qualifies for the credit. The embed code for this clip is available on YouTube if you want to include on your blog or website.

Fremont Fair in Seattle's "Center of the Universe"....

Teresa Berry — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:10:01 -0700

Fremont Fair An annual event in Seattle’s “FUN”ky “Center of the Universe” community, featuring a parade, eats, drinks, art, music, entertainment, vendors, shopping and more is scheduled for June 20th -21st 2009 – For details and more information visit Fremont Fair online. A Solid Ground Production & Benefit Event. 2009 Fremont Fair Flyer Website: Fremont Fair

Need a "Super Screenshot"? Check this out....

Teresa Berry — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:37:46 -0700

Super Screenshot (by Contact Sheet). To capture an image of a website “Super Screenshot” is a handy tool. No registration or software to download and so many possibilities! It’s almost as easy as typing the URL into the search bar and clicking “go”. Once the Super Screenshot appears, you can change the size, file type or refresh with a click of your mouse. - right click to save one Idea for the road though you’ll likely come up with plenty of your own: Create a gallery for your blog/post or website and link each image to details or more online info - i.e. · Listing Agents Gallery of Homes – · An Artists Gallery - · Business Gallery of Associates – · A Stagers Mini Portfolio – Ready to give it a shot? Super Screenshot!

Marketing Real Estate with RealBird

Teresa Berry — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:07:14 -0700

Real Estate Marketing with RealBird Real Bird’s initial release of a custom search engine "Search The Real Estate Web" recently got better. A co-branded version for agents is made available as a free service from Real Bird. For details visit the RealBird Blog on the Active Rain Real Estate Network Visit this link for a live sampling of my co-branded search site provided through RealBird (screenshot below). Just one of the many useful tools RealBird offers Real Estate Agents including online listing resources, single property sites, widgets, mapping and more.

Offer Your Readers a Seat - & - Feed Them (cute new RSS icons from Smashing Magazine))

Teresa Berry — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:09:23 -0700

Now you can offer your readers a seat to get fed

Smashing Magazine released another creative icon set that's great for bloggers - my favorites from this collection are the cozy and colorful RSS feed icons in four colors - with that "welcome home" feel - Download this freebie set at: Smashing Magazine

What Beautiful "Tweeple"! Artful & Fun"twitter mosaic" love it!

Teresa Berry — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:55:41 -0700

Thanks to Mike Mueller of areweconnected.com and host of the popular “Mike’s Minute” here on Active Rain, I learned about “tweeple pages” a useful twitter tool. Visit Mike’s Minute to learn more about the great features of “tweeple pages”. Another one of my new favorites: “twitter mosaic” from sxoop.com to creates an awesome mosaic of your twitter friends or followers along with code that can be pasted into your website or blog using your twitter id. Below is what “twitter mosaic” generated with my twitter info. (note: it’s an edited version due to code overload in part because of the link feature described below) Not only does it arrange your favorite twitter faces beautifully, the mosaic links each to their twitter page. To test the link feature click in the example below. I love this! Get your twitter mosaic here.

More twitter business: for your twitter business - FREE

Teresa Berry — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:50:49 -0800

I previously posted on Active Rain about adding your name to the Tweeter Real Estate Directory on justtweetit.com. Sharing Twibs.com another directory for business on twitter not specific to the real estate industry but it includes over 5,000 business listings and counting including ESPN, CitySearch, facebook, LinkedIn, Mashable, Technorati, Yahoo Real Estate and others*. It’s free and simple - once registered you’ll receive an@ message on twitter from twibs.com with a link to manage your listing. There’s a spot for your bio and up to 5 website/blog links in addition to your twitter, LinkedIn, flickr and facebook profile links – what’s not to love about free advertisement? To add your business visit twibs.com where you can also try their well-organized search options that allowed me to quickly find * Starbucks, MTV, TV Guide, H & R Block, Whole Foods, MS Windows, Amazon and numerous other recognizable people, entities and brands already taking advantage of twibs.com directory.

First time homebuyer credit repayment details worth checking out

Teresa Berry — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:41:27 -0800

Valuable First time homebuyer Credit Repayment Information Just visited H&R Block online to review a summary of the new stimulus package. It appears first time homebuyers who qualify for the credit may also have repayment waived after 36 months if they meet other criteria including: the home is still their primary residence and has not been sold. Refer to the stimulus package for details but on first glance, this could be incentive for those who qualify. H&R Block Link –

Go ahead....it's free to Embed

Teresa Berry — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:53:47 -0800

With Embedit.in you can insert files into your website or blog that otherwise might require opening a separate program, website or window to access. Example Below - A PDF document (newsletter) uploaded using embedit.in online which generated code that was copied and pasted into a new blog post under the html tab. The result is direct access to the newsletter content without the necessity to open another window or program. Upload files from a URL or your pc. Viewer features include zooming, full screen and the ability to drag a page within the viewer. This online utility from increo is available at embedit.in.

Seattle's out to get Invaders!

Teresa Berry — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:09:48 -0800

Seattle green city partnership To help maintain and restore the habitat of Seattle’s forested parkland the Seattle green partnership is working to Identify and remove invasive plants and replace them with other native species through active support of volunteers and businesses. Homeowners – If you’re inspired to adapt the idea in your own landscape design there are resources online to assist you. Weekly Events – Are you ready to help get the invaders out of your community? Check where Seattle area volunteers plan to be by visiting an online event schedule. Green Seattle Partnership video below:

Happy Valentine's Day - to All of you! My Traditions! Do You Know How Valentine's Day Began?

Teresa Berry — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:08:08 -0800

I can't think of a more fitting person to share a Happy Valentine's Greeting here on the Rain than Teri Ellis the "Lady in Red" - enjoy her blog and be sure to visit marti garaughty @"The Art of Marketing You" for February's " Link Love" Challenge. May Love and Chocolate Be Yours!I think I'm the queen of trivia....really, I like some of the fun stuff that either we don't know or forgot. Traditions I have carried on through the years include: When my children were little, on Valentine's Day, by their dinner plate would be a heart (probably See's Candy) with chocolate. I would also make sure they each - as well as hubby - would have a red "something." Usually for the guys it was a shirt, and for my daughter, a dress. My daughter continues this trend with her children. Fun memories for her and for me. Now, as a grandma, they usually receive a Valentine Card from us with some money...they like that part. Tonight, my husband and I will go to a Valentine's Dance - wearing RED!!! What are some of your traditions? Wikipedia reports the following about Valentine's Day..... Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is an occasion celebrated on February 14 by many people throughout the world. In the West, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards.[1] The sending of Valentines was a fashion in nineteenth-century Great Britain, and, in 1847, Esther Howland developed a successful business in her Worcester, Massachusetts home with hand-made Valentine cards based on British models. The popularity of Valentine cards in 19th-century America was a harbinger of the future commercialization of holidays in the United States.[2] The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. The association estimates that, in the US, men spend in average twice as much money as women.[3] Mesa, Arizona Real Estate. Call me at: 480.216-3334 for information on purchasing or selling a home in Mesa, Arizona or surrounding towns. OR email me: Teri@TeriEllis.com. Feel free to visit one of my websites: HomesAzRE.com, MoveToMesaAz.com or MoveToSunnyAz.com. Or stop by my blogs at: MesaAzRealEstateVoice; or Phoenix Valley Real Estate Blog