The City Lifestylist®

So you say you want an evolution... well it looks like the Green Evolution is here, and here to stay. No matter what industry you are in, everyone seems to be getting on “The Green Train”. But what does this really mean to you, and the world you live in?

Defining Green is not an easy task, and the definition seems to be changing every day and mean different things to different people. It can be as simple as putting your trash in the appropriate container or as complex as an off-grid solar home. The important thing is that you do something and incorporate a green lifestyle into the way you live today and in the future.

I heard an excellent example this week at the Manufactured Housing Conference where we were blessed to have Mark LaLiberte as a speaker. He used the example of a green builder in Connecticut who was bragging about the great granite he was able to get inexpensively in China. Being that New Hampshire - the granite state - borders Connecticut Mark asked why he didn’t source the product there. Sometimes we have to look at issues besides price - think about all of the energy that was wasted getting the product from China as well as the jobs locally he might have saved - and those employees that might have become customers - and to me it puts a different spin on how we forgo value for price many times.

I see the greening of America as being an evolution instead of a revolution because it’s not going to happen overnight, but if everyone starts asking the question about what their choices are going to mean for ours and our families quality of life in the future hopefully we can start turning things around.

So you say you want an evolution... well it looks like the Green Evolution is here, and here to stay. No matter what industry you are in, everyone seems to be getting on “The Green Train”. But what does this really mean to you, and the world you live in?

Defining Green is not an easy task, and the definition seems to be changing every day and mean different things to different people. It can be as simple as putting your trash in the appropriate container or as complex as an off-grid solar home. The important thing is that you do something and incorporate a green lifestyle into the way you live today and in the future.

I heard an excellent example this week at the Manufactured Housing Conference where  we were blessed to have Mark LaLiberte as a speaker. He used the example of a green builder in Connecticut who was bragging about the great granite he was able to get inexpensively in China. Being that New Hampshire - the granite state - borders Connecticut Mark asked why he didn’t source the product there. Sometimes we have to look at issues besides price - think about all of the energy that was wasted getting the product from China as well as the jobs locally he might have saved - and those employees that might have become customers - and to me it puts a different spin on how we forgo value for price many times.

I see the greening of America as being an evolution instead of a revolution because it’s not going to happen overnight, but if everyone starts asking the question about what their choices are going to mean for ours and our families quality of life in the future hopefully we can start turning things around.

This has been a great week - we got 3 kittens adopted and have a wonderful neighbor that's willing to adopt a German Shepherd! It feels great to find loving homes for these animals and to educate people about adopting instead of buying pets from puppy mills and pet stores.

While I was looking for a dog for my neighbor I was shocked at how many purebred animals there are out there looking for a home - even more of a reason to get the word out about adopting.

Lily is one of our rescue pets, and she loves walking the neighborhood and seeing all of the kids. She's a big ham and is always up for dressing for the occasion!

Next week is going to be a really fun week - I'm off to Las Vegas to speak at the Manufactured Housing Congress and at the meeting for the Las Vegas High Rise and Condo Association. It's really beginning to feel like the housing market has hot bottom and people are starting to think about buying their dream home again.

The Vegas market is amazing, and I love visiting the new high-rise communities and learning more about vertical living. There are so many advantages, and I'm excited to see the latest and greatest. They are fascinated with my Lifestylist brand, and I'll also be sharing with them what the heck a Lifestylist is and how we approach the design and marketing process.

I am a huge believer in karma, and you just never know where karma will lead you at the most unexpected times. Holiday Builders seems to be my hot topic of conversation this month, but I feel like I have stumbled upon an unearthed gem and it's getting ready to shine in all of it's brilliance. You heard it here first!

My blogs are a way for me to share new trends and ideas I see as well as a place to comment on observations I make about the world around me. One thing that I have noticed lately is how many people who are lucky enough to still have jobs seem to be miserable in them, and that lack of interest in customer service rubs off on the customer. When you are dealing with people in a bad mood it's easy for their attitude to rub off onto you and then you are drawn into the same pattern.

After attending the Holiday Builders Open House in Ft. Worth last week I was invited to their opening in Royce City. I'm still deep into researching the entry level housing market so I was thrilled to be one of the first to see their new homes and get a feel for what Realtors® thought of their new community. It truly was a party, and again I was impressed with the support of their corporate team. They are obviously taking the Texas market seriously, and it showed in the attention to detail and how they rolled out the red carpet. When I entered the home I was amazed to see a legend standing in front of me - Nancy Lieberman! She was amazing - funny, down to earth, and made a point to spend time with I think almost everyone that was there. We are a very serious basketball family, and my niece and nephew hope to play college ball. I was sharing some issues that had come up with the coaching of my nephews team, and Nancy shared with me that what is most important is that you play because you love the game. There will be good times and bad, but if you are playing because you truly love what you do that's all that matters. Nancy loves the game, and I can't think of a better spokesperson, especially with all that she gives back with her kids camps and coaching. It makes me wish I would have had her when I was in school.

Timing is everything, and speaking with her helped to put things into perspective again. I'm a lifestylist® and I'm in housing because I love everything about it. Helping people find their new homes, experiencing their inner-stylist and fulfill their dreams -  there just isn't a better career out there. And it's not just my career, it's my passion, and I felt that passion about housing from all of the Holiday Builders team. They obviously love what they do - that's just something you really can't fake. And even though some of them had only 2 hours sleep the night before with other obligations and traveling, they loved sharing their company's story and they were beaming with pride. They truly seemed to be a team, so having Ms. Lieberman as a coach seemed like the perfect fit and message.

Life is too short to not love what you do. Find out what you are passionate about and share that gift with others. You'll never regret it. Many thanks to Nancy for reminding me of this important lesson. Take a trip out to Verandah in Royce City this weekend to experience the Holiday Builders difference for yourself!

The media may be painting a picture of gloom and doom about the housing market, but the facts are out there - builders are still building, in fact MSNBC announced today that sales were up 5.1% in February. Is now the time to buy? Absolutely!

I heard about a grand opening that Holiday Builders was hosting this weekend in Ft. Worth, so I thought I'd drive out and see what was new. I wasn't the only one that was curious - there was a steady stream of people coming to the homes, and a woman even stopped me on the road who was looking for the homes - that's a buyer ready to buy! Holiday is a multi- state builder that is based in Florida, so I was truly impressed that the President and CEO of Holiday, Kim Shelpman was at the door greeting arrivals. They had two furnished models that were beautiful and had soem great architectural details that were unexpected in this price range. They must be doing something right - one of the spec homes already had a sold sign on it.

There are always buyers for a well built and merchandised home, and I good builder understands this. A model helps create the emotional tie to your homes that will help them decide this is where they want to live.

One of my favorite activities that keeps me sane is gardening, and every year I can't wait for the weather to start warming up so I can get my gardens in. With our crazy economy and the new quastions about where our foods are coming from and how they are grown, vegetable gardening is a great activity. I've gotten much better about growing the thinsg that I love or my friends ask for, and I've also learned what grows better where. I had soil brought in for my raised garden, and it has produced beautifully.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, basil and dill are my favorites, and I started a little too early this year - we got a frost after I planted my first few plants - but the last planting was timed perfectly and we got a week of rain shortly afterwards - something we hadn't had yet this year.

I may live in the city, but by making the best use of all of the areas I have and buying plants that are designed for smaller areas my garden rivals many. I also love romantice, fragrant old-time flower gardens and my hollyhocks now come up every year with my sunflowers and daisies. They are just starting to green up - I'll share photos when they start blooming.

The much needed rain also turned my yard into a sea of emerald green instead of the dreary brown that's it's been all winter - I think Spring may finally be here!