While I’m not in the market for a new home…in fact…I think I would be perfectly content living in a condo for the rest of my life…..I do have a few friends that are looking to buy.  So shoveling show, keeping up the flower beds, washing windows and most of all…I get to float around my pool (sipping a margarita on the rocks with salt of course) in the summer while everyone else is out mowing their lawns.  But either way is all about a personal choice!

I have two friends that is looking to buy homes in Frisco in the next few months…and both chose to use a realtor to help them make the selection for their dream home.  

First, let me say this….realtors have always been about at the same level in my mind as the angry lady that works in the shoe department at Macy’s.  They don’t care about you and helping you out…they just want to make a sale no matter how not truthful they can be.  I mean, you don’t see the lady at Macy’s being honest with you and tell you your foot is too fat for that pair of heels…she grabs her shoe horn and jams your poor foot into the thing with such force your toe nail polish chips.  The she sits back and says how wonderful they look and how comfortable they are and how all I need now is a little sun dress to brighten up the day. 

Pretty much as how I’ve always imagined realtors to be…oh the backyard is too small…they tell you intimate gatherings are the new thing now.  Not enough closet space…they tell you about the local church yard sale that need donations.  Bad wooden paneling….not worries…everything comes back into style…who ever though the tunic would be big again? 

So when my friends hold me they went to a realtor to help them with the purchase these were all the things that were running through my head.  Both selected to use One Plus Reality in Frisco.  I actually have been fairly close to helping one of my male friends make the buy as he was looking for some feminine input (men see a small spare bedroom and thing….GAME ROOM….women see a small bedroom and think NURSERY)…which clearly he did. 

And wow did these ladies change my mind about the real estate process and agent.  They were wonderful!! Caring, interested in what you are looking for and more than willing to explain the process, fees and other things that are very foreign to a first time home buyer.  Rebecca was great and had wonderful suggestions that were very reassuring for all parties involved.  I can’t say how much it changed my perspective on the home buying experience and I wasn’t even the one looking.  Do yourself a favor, before considering selling or buying your next house, make it a point to check out http://www.1plusrealty.com/

We all know that the green movement is more popular than ever, people recycling, car pooling and buying organic, it’s a movement that touches out lives just about every day.  Well in Frisco, cleaning your home can be organic now too….best of all, you don’t even have to lift a finger to get your home spelling spring clean…the organic way.  Maid is Frisco is an organic cleaning service that will keep your home in tip top shape all year round.

Now, you are probably thinking to yourself…hmmmmm where the heck does someone find this kinda stuff?  Just for the record, I have about oh, a total of about 800 square feet and I’m on a budget so I bite the bullet each week and clean my own home.  But I’ll tell you what…if I could afford it, I would call Candi at Maid in Frisco in a heartbeat.

I actually had a friend that was living out of state and trying to sell their home here in Frisco.  He contact Candi to keep his house clean for the realtor to show each week until it was finally sold.  Come to find out, not only are they a cleaning service, they are an organic 100% eco-friend non-toxic cleaning product using cleaning service that offers….get this…. Aromatherapy scents to freshen any room.

Here are a few of their services they offer, I picked these because they are the things that I dislike doing the most:

• Cleaned and disinfected shower and tub (I would honestly pay someone just to get ALL the scum off my show door)
• Clean the inside of the microwave ( I live alone and there’s always a lean cuisine bubbling over)
• Blinds dusted (who remembers to do this until you go to open them one sunny day and notice they are two shades darker than you thought)
• Unloading the dishwasher (it’s so easy I know….but I HATE IT)

Those are just a few of the services offered.  Call Maid in Frisco or log onto their web site for an instant estimate!

…saying “I TOLD YOU SO!!!”  Let me back up about 8 years when this little gem of a story began.  I was finishing up my senior year of high school and had just turned 18 in February.  Well guess what I got the bright idea to do…get a flippin’ tattoo.  Well, not only was that boo boo number one, but the placement and size came in at a VERY close second and third. 

So…here I sit years later with a GIANT (about 5”x5”) butterfly in the middle of my upper back between my shoulder blades.  Blah…recall I’m about 5’2” when I wake up and about 110 lbs so when I say it’s giant…I mean it’s giant. 

I’ve read about laser removal for the last year or so and finally decided to take the plunge about 6 months ago and begin the process.  There’s two things that really stood out to me…one which was completely true and one that was completely false.  First….everyone said you need to be patient.  This my friends, is the understatement of the century.  I’ve had 6 treatments and I still have a long ways to go but never the less I’m seeing a great improvement and am really happy with the results!  Second,” it doesn’t really hurt and most patients will not require a local anesthetic as it’s similar to being snapped by a rubber band.”  This COMPLETELY false…it feels like someone just threw boiling oil on your skin.  My suggestion…get the local!

 My other suggestion is to visit Dermalase located at the Baylor Medical Center at Frisco on Warren Parkway.  The staff is knowledgeable and more than anything, honest.  They do not try and sell you the quick fix nor are they the cheapest out there.  They make sure you know you are in for the long haul (mainly to avoid scarring) and are very supportive and consultative throughout the whole process.  I’m not sure if there’s anyone else that I would trust with this process as I don’t want to trade a tat I hate for a scar in the shape of that tat I hate!! 

If you’re considering laser tattoo removal in the Frisco area and are looking for honest, caring and knowledge about staff, look no further than Dermalse.  I’m very happy with my choice!  dermalase.net

It’s Census 2010 time and if you weren’t aware of that…you should probably considering crawling out from under the rock you’ve been living under to get some sunshine and check out the latest news.  For those of you who need a refresher, we are smack dab in the middle of the census which needed mainly for the distribution of government funds to the states.

According to census counts through the middle of last week, Frisco was one of the lowest in the state of Texas for participation in the census.  While we know everyone is super busy this time of year with work and being social and get getting the kids to their practices, but it takes just 10 minutes to complete the simple questions required.  And get this…you don’t even have to pay for the postage…Uncle Sam is taking care of that!

As part of this year’s effort to drive up the percentage, the Census Committee will be encouraging everyone to fill out their census form and mail it back no later than April 10th…the final day to mail in your form!  Please help to make this happen – remind your employees and neighbors, and let’s all watch those numbers get much higher!

This effort will conclude with an outdoor event on Saturday, April 10th, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, just south of Main Street between Third and Fourth Streets.  Activities will include music, games, give-aways and much more…..stay tuned!

Let’s face it….the green movement isn’t something that we all think about everyday…despite it being chucked at us from every direction from anyone from politicians to the hippie friend that we all have.  Come on…you know the one…the Earth Shoes and patch works purses, the smell of the bottom of a lawn mover from the petroli perfume…the one that fishes your beer or soda can out of the trash at home to recycle…

But I digress on the hippie friends and think we need to begin all working to be more proactive about the preservation of our planet.  I mean…with this global warming and everything…you know…not like we didn’t get 18 inches of snow this winter.  Despite the truth and accuracy of global warming statements and studies, we can all do our small part to eliminate…well reduce…the effects of our actions not only on our planet, but also on our bodies.

Friscogreenliving.com is a great source for all things green.  This is your sole site for the most popular trends from eating organic and shopping farmers markets and recycling old items for community garage sales.  You can also find ways to get your children involved and active by locating parks and trails and activities to instill in them a healthy and proactive life style.

I just finished reading The Excellent Wife. I know y’all are scratching your heads and wondering why the heck was I reading a wifely (hah…that’s a funny word) book when I’m not married or anywhere even remotely close to it. Bottom line…I had a number of people recommend it and I finally broke down and picked a copy up to see what a the hype was about….

But let me back up for a second and give you a little information on possibly the coolest bookstore in Frisco.  Well, heck, in my mind, the only book store in Frisco.  While I like your Borders and Barnes & Nobles…over the years they have become java slinging, magazine reading hangouts where I go for last minute desperate Christmas Shopping.   Doesn’t seem to be about the books much at all.

Fortunately, I was able to find Legacy Books when I was looking to pick up my own copy of the acclaimed book (by my friends and popular book critics alike) The Excellent Wife.  The place is chic, modern, centrally located and all around just waaaay cool.

While it has the coffee bar I had to check it out because of their whit…I had a friend who told be about the joint tell me to try the frozen hot chocolate.  Yes…that would be chocolate milkshake, but who cares…it was funny to hear.  The floor plan is very open with three levels, the houses tons (literally)of books at sections which are very easy to navigate.  The staff is wonderful and you can walk to a bar and eat right after.  All and all it was right up my alley…food, books and booze….yep…not much to not like.  Legacy Books get two thumbs up!

As for the book I picked up while I was there….to be honest….it really was an excellent read. Well, it became an excellent read after the author stopped blabbing on about her life and feminists experiences. I’ve never really had much respect for feminists….while to each their own of course, however, they always struck me as over-the-top, trashy women who in the long run did more harm for gender equality then they did good.

But I digress on that topic….back to the book. It really gave me some good in site into all the relationships I’ve ever had in my life, be it a romantic, work or just friend. It provided great explanations of many of the feeling and challenges that we’ve all had at sometime and puts them into perspective. Because let’s face it….ANY relationship takes work.

So whether you are of Christian faith or not, it’s an excellent read and had allowed me to look at the situations we all face in much warmer, make lemonade light.

Habitat for Humanity is one of my favorite charities in North Texas…and by far puts on one of my favorite fundraising events. Habitat for Humanity South Collin County is hosting their 7th Annual Building Foundations Building Lives Gala & Casino Night on Saturday, March 6th from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Frisco. 

Proceeds will provide decent affordable homes to deserving families in our community. Gala guests can expect fine dining, exciting casino games with live and silent auctions featuring a wide range of items from international hotel stays to dinners at local restaurants. 

To date, Habitat for Humanity has built over 350,000 homes in more than 3,000 communities across the globe.  I was fortunate enough to build a home here in Dallas and I must say…it was a great experience.  I met some of the greatest people from all over Texas and we still remain in touch today.  It was amazing to see folks with no formal training in construction, roofing and other specific home building trades all come together under the instruction of a professional to accomplish one job…build a home to better lives of a fellow north Texan. 

While this isn’t an outdoor event as I promised to be bringing in the spirit of spring, it’s a really great cause that I truly believe in.  While the cost is $100 per guest, the look of appreciate from the families affected is worth far more than money could ever buy.  Come out and join your neighbors at a fantastic evening event and support and even better cause!!!

Information and tickets for the event can be found at http://www.habitat-scc.org/about_us/news.php?ID=33.

After a record breaking winter in oh…pretty much all those categories that you DON’T want to break records in…days below freezing, number of frosts, total snow fall accumulation, number of days with snow…could it be that spring has finally sprung here in north Texas?  (Just as a side not, I was half listening to the news the other day, I only ever half listen…too depressing…and I heard the anchors discussing that TXDOT estimates that it costs tax payers $37 to fill EACH pothole/crater that opened up in the roads this winter!!  $37!!  A little steep for just slapping some asphalt into a hole and beating it down.)

With spring comes warmer weather, sunshine and fun!  (Not to mention flip flops and no more dry hair and skin).  Frisco is a great place to enjoy the great outdoor activities, clothing and shopping that comes along with the season!  Over the next few weeks I will be sharing some of the up and coming events, super shopping dates, fun for the little ones and where you can find the best patios and summer drink specials in town (just so we are clear…I don’t mean little one fun and bar patios at the same time…it’s just the way it feel in the order of the sentence).

Stay tuned for more information to fill each and everyday the Frisco way this summer!

…or NOT!  While I grew up waaaay north in northeast Ohio (about 50 miles south of Lake Erie and a another 57 miles south of Canada which is only accurate if you are crossing the lake) this winter we’ve had here in Frisco has just been insane! 

I’m generally not one to complain about the weather (and I’m probably the only person in the entire state that doesn’t complain when it’s 105 degrees in the summer) but I was really hoping that spring had sprung for good this past week.  It’s time to plant flowers, see the birds, get ready for outdoor sports and activities, etc.  But at this point…I will settle for much simpler things….how about a car wash and not having to wipe my dog’s paws when we come into the house from a walk! 

But I digress from the whining…and will stop spending countless sleepless nights worrying about the polar bears and other arctic critters that don’t seem to have nearly as much of a problem as some would lead you to believe.

Watch out of snow this evening and I will be back tomorrow with an over the top review of the new restaurant I’m trying on what is hopefully the last of this wicked winter 2010!!

While there are many criminals running around the streets of our nation’s cities…I would like to consider myself a law abiding suburbanite spending most of my time out of work doing what most 20-somethings….okay, okay late 20-something do.  Working out, playing kickball, crashing happy hours and being social and responsible member of society.

Well …and if you already knew this…you are much more versed in your Texas legislation that I.  But apparently it’s misdemeanor offense to drive in the left-hand lane on any highway outside city limits that has more than on lane going the same direction if you are not actively passing.   And if you didn’t happen to know that….SURPISE…but I bet you weren’t as shocked as I was to find that one out!!

I was coming back from seeing a customer up around the Oklahoma state line and just north of Sherman.  I was heading home in the afternoon along 289 minding my own business…Burberry shades one jamming to my iPod through my Honda speaker…with cruise control set 4…oh…alright 5 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. 

When suddenly I see something (the unmistakable red and blue) flashing in my rear view mirror…which completely took me by surprise as I was in the middle of belting out my favorite Lady Gaga song.  I pull over to the side of the road…Mr. Frisco Officer did the usual…license, registration, proof of insure, are you carrying any firearms (kidding), etc…and proceeds to tell my why he’s pulled me over.  You are kidding me right?!? I’m driving in the middle of NO WHERE without another car in sight in the left hand lane.  Maybe it was my whit or my baby blue eyes I batted at him…but I got away with juuuust a warning…a shock…

Moral of today’s story:  DON’T, under any circumstances (even if you haven’t seen another care for hours) think about driving in the left lane if you aren’t actively passing another vehicle in the middle of nowhere.