Frances C. Rokicki, Broker~Mentor,CRS

As I am choosing gifts for my clients and family members, I realize that I love the shopping experience. Finding the good buys, talking with other shoppers or staff, beating the crowds, and staying within my budget, are all positive. Finding just the right thing, is so important.

For my clients, I seek out popby gifts. These are gifts that I purchase, once a month, to bring and give to my clients, friends, relatives, team members or service vendors. I generally, pass out thirty of these, each month.

For my immediate family, I am always on the hunt for a good holiday gift. Whether it be Halloween, Thanksgiving, Birthdays, Christmas, New Year's Day, St Valentine's Day, St Patrick's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, etc. I may have missed one or two:) I just love all of the holidays! When you find a good gift, I have learned to buy it then, and not wait. Waiting to purchase it, may make you miss from getting it. I have learned that, a few times over the years.

Now, here is my challenge. Packaging the gift. With my popbys, it's easy to add a ribbon or two, along with a tagline card. Wrapping a gift with paper and ribbons or placing it inside one of those nice gift bags, which depends on the gift (size and/or content.) Either way, that is my task. Preparing the gifts for delivery, sometimes, takes longer than choosing it. When the stores offer gift wrapping, I jump up and down with delight! So much, easier!

The few times that I don't mind the wrapping, are birthday and Christmas presents. Seeing the expression on the faces of the recipients while they open their gifts, is worth all of the time that I have invested in properly wrapping. As long as I have my 3M tape (which was taught to me as the best tape that you can use), good scissors and a large space to lay out the paper and gifts, I am good to go:)

Hope that your shopping experiences, lighten up your day!

My Grandson and I, were on a mission, this morning. We were out looking for his pumpkin. We checked out some local stands and markets. Nothing that we saw, seemed to be the one. We will continue our search. While we were on vacation at WDW, we noticed how nicely they had decorated the resorts and the parks. Here's some cool lights that are pumpkins and more decorations, on Main St in the Magic Kingdom!

This is at the Old Key West Resort, which is a Vacation Club Community.

This was in the Town Square of the Magic Kingom.

We went to Sam's Club, in Manchester, Ct, with our list of household items that we were in need of. Just as we arrived there, it started pouring rain. Good thing that we were prepared. Rain coats and an umbrella.

To our surprise, they had huge pumpkins for $8.99! Tyler, my Grandson, chose his pumpkin. When I placed it in the carriage next to him, in the seat, it was almost the same size as he was!

Now, wondering if we should carve it, or save it for his parents. Such a fun time for this little guy. All new experiences and adventures. Nice to be able to share these moments with him. I still remember the days when we did this with our children:) It doesn't seem to be, that long ago:)

Going to grab a bunch of pumpkins and popby my favorite clients! Don't you love this fun holiday?

Happy Halloween!

On the morning of this seminar, last Thursday, I overslept. Quickly, I jumped into the shower, made myself a cup of coffee to go and jumped into my car and got going. It was 7:20am. I had planned to leave for the event, at 6:30am. The trip is mostly highway, so, I wasn't concerned too much about the time. The event was held in Stamford, Ct.

I have driven to New Haven, Ct, many times in the last few years, so, I was familiar with that route. New Haven is about halfway for me, to travel to Stamford, Ct. I was amazed at how well the traffic flow was. I really had expected more backups then I experienced. After passing New Haven, Ct, on I-91, I traveled on I-95 to Stamford, Ct. I-95 is known for backups and just sitting still on trips. It is the major artery from Connecticut, to New York City. Luckily, I only had two backups. There was a sign with a lighted message that let us know that up ahead, between exits 15 and 11, there would be a delay. This only occured twice and the message was right on the money. It did last only between the specific exits. I was amazed. How do they know these things? Cameras? Computers?

As I approached my exit, I easily found the Hilton Hotel where the event was being held. I arrived at 8:45am. Real good driving time. The parking was easy. They have a parking garage, underneath the hotel. Plenty of good spaces available, too. The parking for the day, was only $5.00. Wow! Good for the budget!

The lobby was huge and included a store and a restaurant with open seating. I followed others to the escalator and arrived at the room where the event was being held. This particular event is hosted by Wells Fargo, for Realtors, and Buffini and Company's Joe Niego, was our presenter. I went in and saved myself a seat, in the front row. I was, early!

Back to the entrance, they were offering hot coffee and tea. Perfect! There was, also, cold water available.

This seminar was so worth the trip! I was able to network and meet fellow Realtors, from Connecticut. I met one man who had never heard of my town of Bolton, Ct. LOL! If he only knew that I lived on Birch Mountain. LOL! We are just a few miles east from Hartford. I took pages of notes on topics about listings, updating and increasing my database and more! My clients will love the new updates about the mortgage business. Chatted with the bankers about the many programs that Wells Fargo is now offering to capture some business, in this market. They are launching several campaigns and seminars that are helpful to Realtors. Yay!

Leaving Stamford, worked out, just as well. When I went to the front desk to pay for my parking, they said that the parking was comped and that the gates were open for us. How very nice! It began to rain, but, since I was in no hurry, the ride home was easy.

Whether you are late or not, get to a seminar. It was a good boost for my business and a good way to network, on a rainy day!

With every day that passes, we are rushing around to get things done. So little time, in a day. Yet, when you loose someone you love, that you thought would be here, forever, you do realize that time is so much more precious than you could have ever imagined. Keep on making those good memories and have an impact on those around you. Love with all your heart. Don't put off your happiness. Do not wait to enjoy life. This poem will enlighten you and change your thinking on your life. One of the Irish proverbs that is our favorite is, "Two Shorten the Road." So, very true.

http://youtu.be/zsY6UrFIsNs

We have been experiencing warmer than usual, weather for this time of year. The weatherman tonight, reported that a cold front is coming on Thursday. When we have those cold nights, the leaves will begin to turn more quickly. Today, I noticed that it is just beginning. Just a start to the beauty of the changing colors of our leaves. Notice the slight gold color starting on the middle tree. Some areas have more color than others. This location is in Glastonbury, Connecticut, near the eastern side of town, by Diamond Lake.