Southern Oregon Living

Winter Art and Chocolate Festival - Brookings Oregon.  Valentine's weekend, Brookings -Harbor High School will host the Winter Art and Chocolate Festival in Brookings Oregon.  Since its beginning five years ago, the festival has drawn thousands of visitors from throughout Southwestern Oregon.  Guests enjoy a variety of handmade arts and crafts, Oregon-made chocolates and participate in chocolate eating contests.

Chocolates from around the state will be available, including Branson's from Ashland, Moonstruck from Portland, Cherry Country from Salem, and Cary's of Oregon from Grants Pass.  "You'll find truffles with nuts, fruits, liquors and even hot peppers," Willhite said.  "There will be chocolate turtles, caramels, peanut butters and jellies. Come early and you might even get some chocolate coated kettle corn."  

Chocolate eating contests will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday February 13 and Sunday February14.  General admission is $1, children 12 and younger are admitted free. Come visit the Winter Art and Chocolate Festival in Brookings Oregon!

When the Saints go marching in...oh when the Saints go marching in!  I don't know about you, but I was openly rooting for the Saints to win the Super Bowl today.  And lo and behold, they did not disappoint.  And what about that on side kick to open the 2nd half?!  OMG, that is something you might see in a College football game, but not the Super Bowl.  Let's just say gutsy!

It's been about 5 years since I visited New Orleans, eating beignets and drinking Cafe Du Munde coffee in the French Quarter.  After Katrina, I wondered if New Orleans would ever return to her glory.  But, today was her day.  What the Saints did for New Orleans today is just short of a miracle.  When the Saints go marching in to the French Quarter, there is going to be a Mardi Gras like none we have ever seen! 

Congratulations New Orleans Saints!

Super Bowl Sunday - Yummy Treats and Great Eats!  I confess, Super Bowl Sunday doesn't have great meaning for me, other than the fact that we enjoy yummy treats and great eats.  It has always been a tradtion in my home for the guys to watch football and the gals to cook good food on Super Bowl Sunday.  That may sound a bit sexist, but that is the way it has always been.

And, there are no complaints coming from this gal.  I have spent a lifetime watching football with the guys (and even cheering for it on the sidelines in my younger days).  To this day, I still don't totally understand why guys get a kick out of watching other guys tackle one another.  I do enjoy seeing great passes and running backs taking the ball down the field for a touchdown.  But the whole contact thing, loses me. 

So, in the kitchen I go, to create some yummy treats and great eats for half time.  I am sure the boys (men) will be hungry by then... after working up such an appetite.  Ha!  Perhaps I will manage to sit down before the game and enjoy the Star Spangled Banner by Carrie Underwood and a few Who songs during half time.  Enjoy the game! 

Size Doesn't Matter Any More!  In 2009, home buyers chose smaller homes, which drove down the average size of a house built in the United States for the first time in 27 years.  The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) found the average size of a new home that was completed in 2009 fell to 2,480 square feet from 2,520 square feet in 2008.  The last time the average completed-home size fell by a statistically significant amount was 1982.

Better Homes and Gardens magazine produced a survey which said downsizing was becoming a bigger priority: 36% said in November 2009 that they expected their next home to be "somewhat smaller" or "much smaller" than their current home versus 32% who said that in 2008.  "Not surprisingly, we see a ‘cents and sensibility' approach when it comes to buying or improving a home, with practicality and price being the top priorities," said Eliot Nusbaum, the magazine's executive editor of home design.

"Although actual square footage of homes didn't fall until 2009, the percent of homes with four or more bedrooms in them has been falling since 2007, NAHB data show.  And in 2009, the number of homes with three or more bathrooms fell for the first time since 1992.

Two primary reasons that size doesn't matter any more is the prominence of first-time buyers and 55 and older buyers.  While demand for larger homes is decreasing, the following amenities continue to be in demand:

-Walk-in closets in the master bedroom
-Laundry rooms
-Insulated front doors
-Great rooms
-Energy-efficient windows
-Linen closets
-Programmable thermostats
-Energy-efficient appliances and lighting
-Separate shower and tub in master bathrooms
-Nine-foot ceilings on the first floor

Among the things that builders said they were least likely to add to houses in 2010:

-Outdoor kitchens
-Outdoor fireplaces
-Sunrooms
-Butler's pantries
-Media rooms
-Desks in kitchens
-Two-story foyers
-Eight foot ceilings on the first floor
-Multiple shower heads in the master bath
-Smaller kitchens

Here are the latest Grants Pass Southern Oregon Real Estate Statistics for January 2010.

900 - Active Residential Listings

54 - Homes Sold

30 - Listings Pending

157 - Average Days on Market

$176,948. - Average Sold Price

Statistics provided courtesy of Real Estate Cafe.  Source of information is Southern Oregon MLS - Monthly NAR Statistical Report.  Information provided herein has not been verified and is not guaranteed.

Click Here for more information regarding Grants Pass Southern Oregon Real Estate

Extreme Makeover Home Edition Features Ashland Oregon Business.  A Southern Oregon business will makes its debut on the ABC television show Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

Ashland Oregon business, Funagain Games, sells all kinds of games, but specializes in hobby and designer games.  Last August, the business received an e-mail from a producer who works for Extreme Makeover Home Edition asking for help with one of their projects.  The company agreed to help.
 
Funagain Games was told by the show's producers that the design team was building and decorating, not only a home, but also a community center for kids.  The company donated a wide range of games for all ages, from easy to complex.  "Altogether it was about $1,700 dollars worth of stuff," said, Funagain Games Manager Nick Medinger.
 
When approached in August 2009, the company was asked by the producers of Extreme Makeover Home Edition to not mention anything about the episode until they were contacted again by the producers.  That contact came on Thursday.
 
The Extreme Makeover Home Edition episode featuring the Ashland Oregon Business will air Sunday, February 14th at 8 p.m.

Friday Flowers.  I read a wonderful inspiring story written by Karen Russell of Southern Oregon, and it made me smile.  I am sure it will make you smile too.  And men, if you are reading this, take note... Karen's husband Josh knows how to keep the love alive!  Read on:

Josh brings me flowers every Friday.

When he first started, I was sure that it would be a temporary thing; a ritual he would eventually give up once his practical and frugal tendencies took back over.

But five years later, I still get flowers every Friday.

He's even scheduled Friday Flower deliveries when he's been out of town.

And he always goes to the same flower shop (Judy's) because he's loyal like that.  When we moved to Central Point, he was really happy to find that Judy actually owned two stores (one in Grants Pass where we used to live and one in Central Point where we had moved.)

And most of the time, he takes the kids with him (and I can't help but feel like they're lucky, seeing how good their Dad treats me - and not just on Fridays.)

I hesitate even posting stuff like this because I don't want to be one of those woman who's always talking about how good her man is...because truthfully, I find that kind of crap annoying.

But Josh Downs is good.  (And I've had a couple of not-so-good ones, so I know the difference.)

And as of late, I've felt like I needed to do something frivolous.  Because really, I work a lot and I mother a lot but I don't do a whole lot of anything else.

So today, I'm going to get a facial and a body wrap and my toes done (I finally have a normal big toe again.)  And I'm even going to get my makeup done (because I have no clue how to properly apply it, especially fancy make-up like eye-shadow and eye-liner.)

And then, I'm going to wear something cute and I'm going to meet my husband in Ashland for drinks and dinner.

Grandma Jo's keeping all the kids and we're going out on a date.

Not the normal kind of date where after a long day of work, we ask Ross to keep the kids for a few hours while we go grab some dinner and talk.  But the kind of date where I get to get all gussied up.  The kind of date that starts after dark with Josh waiting for me at the same place we went on our very first date together. 

And the best part is that I've had butterflies in my stomach about it since yesterday.

And I'm a big fan of butterflies.

Last Minute Travel Tips.  Planning ahead is a good thing, and that's definitely true when it comes to travelling.  However, sometimes unforeseen circumstances - or a severe case of the winter blues - make planning far in advance almost impossible.  If you ever need or decide to travel at the last minute, here are some travel tips to maximize savings.

Be flexible - If possible, be flexible with both your travel dates and the carrier you choose.  Rigidity in either of these areas can easily translate into paying increased costs.

Know when to book - Most airlines file their Web specials on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  If possible, concentrate on flights departing from major hub airports and try to include a Saturday night stay.

Search diligently - There is no shortage of great websites for purchasing discounted airfares and hotel rooms.  In terms of airfares, don't forget to check the airlines' own websites, as some carriers do not appear on many of the discount websites.

Don't forget about travel agents - Many travel agents will purchase bulk deals, giving them access to better prices.  It's definitely a good idea to make a few calls as part of your search.

Websites to know about - To save time, pay a visit to Bookingbuddy.com. Enter your search for a flight, hotel, or car rental and compare the prices offered by various sites (Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, etc.) with the click of one button. Another great resource is Lastminute.com, which posts some great last-minute deals, as well as options for your not-so-last-minute traveling.

When it comes to last minute travel, the most important thing to remember is be flexible!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated on February 2. It is held in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day fails to see its shadow, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.^[1] The holiday, which began as a Pennsylvania German custom in southeastern and central Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries, has its origins in ancient European weather lore, wherein a badger or sacred bear is the prognosticator as opposed to a groundhog.^[2] The holiday also bears some similarities to the medieval Catholic holiday of Candlemas.^[3] It also bears similarities to the Pagan festival of Imbolc, the seasonal turning point of the Celtic calendar, which is celebrated on February 1 and also involves weather prognostication. 

Are You Missing the Boat?  BethAnn Long of Spokane, WA  got me thinking today about those Agents who decide to jump ship and leave their present day real estate offices for another office.  Some Broker/Owners might perhaps interpret this action as a two-timing Realtor whore.  I have different thoughts on the matter.

I have practiced real estate for over 10 years and I have hung my license with two franchises, and now with my own independent real estate office.  One of those franchises was a local Pacific Northwest Franchise and the other was a National Big Box Franchise.  After the first three years in business, I left the Pacific Northwest Franchise for personal reasons.  The Broker hired a "Prima Donna" who behaved badly, and I couldn't stomach the way they catered to this Agent's every whim.  I spent the next 6 years with the National Big Box Franchise and my business flourished.  While there were many things I didn't like about the way this franchise was ran, overall, my experience there was positive.

The reason I left the National Big Box Franchise is I felt I didn't need them anymore.  I had spent the previous 10 years nurturing my website and capturing Internet leads, none of which, came to me from the National Big Box Franchise.  After I analyzed my costs for being with this franchise, I realized I was grossly over-paying for the minimal services I received.  I also analyzed the nature of our business and the direction I felt it was going in the next 10 years.  With the advent of the Internet, our business model has changed, which has forced us to change with it!  If you are unwilling to make the necessary changes to stay relevant in this business, you may become obsolete like these two dinosaurs who missed their boat!

Change is good.  It breathes new life into old ways.  It catches the attention of others.  It makes you stand for something and not continue in complacency.  Out with the old, in with the new.  It's a breath of fresh air!  Whether you work for a national big box franchise, or a independent real estate office, take a chance, make a change!  Don't be caught missing your boat!