Kimberly Tapscott, Realtor Stamford CT Homes for Sale

Most recently a family in my area experienced a horrible fatal event that might have been
preventable. As is the case when tragedy strikes and as the year end is often a time of reflection for many, I'm looking back at 2011 and the things that have happened in my life. Many of my friends - maybe even you - have gone completely to wireless cell phones. My testimony, one that I confirmed with a techno-mobile friend, is one I believe is very important to share with you. Please take a moment to read this as the simplest, but sometimes overlooked, household item could save your life as it did mine.

My family and I went out to dinner one Sunday afternoon. A couple of
hours after we returned home, my eyes started to swell and my skin began to itch. About 15 minutes later, things got worse, my eyes were really puffing up and my skin was on fire. In addition now welts were covering my body. You see I was experiencing an episode of an anapylactic allergic reaction. Apparently I was severely allergic to something I ate earlier.

Now things were getting very serious and my husband was looking for the house phone to call 911. Not being able to find the cordless (it was not on the base), he picked up his cell phone and dialed 911.
The responder quickly picked up the phone and told him it was the
"State Police" and they would have to connect him to the "local" emergency responders. Unfortunately, the local responders NEVER picked up nor did the State Police return to the line. The phone just simply kept ringing. At this point I am going into shock from the allergic reaction on the floor beneath him. My throat is closing and I am having trouble breathing....

The love of my life, while still on hold on his cell phone, leaves me
to locate the house phone (thank God for the phone pager system). He
finds the phone, while still "on hold" on his "mobile" phone and calls
911 on the house land-line. He connects immediately and the ambulance is sent
from the fire department, which is less than 3 miles from my home.

The paramedics arrived and gave me two doses of medicine, put me on oxygen, and transported me to the Stamford Hospital where I was medicated and observed for several hours. You see at this stage of my
life I'd suddenly developed a severe allergic reaction to shell fish, something I had eaten all my life.

The reason I am writing this is to remind you that sometimes the simplest thing in your home can save a life. It could be an early morning alarm from a smoke detector (please have them on every level in your home and test them periodically), or it could be a phone connected to the land line of your house. The key here is although you may never use a house phone, there may be a time when your life depends on it. As my Grandmother used to say, "it's better to have and not need than to need and not have".

Mobile phones are wonderful, but your land line is literally your in-home life line. Would the Stamford 911 have eventually picked up the line? Likely so. But what if you are in a situation where those precious seconds are all you have - fire, home invasion, heart attack, etc.? What if you cannot get a cell phone signal at that moment or the line drops the call before you can give your address and condition? What if...

This is not one of those chain letters that I am sending with bad intentions or personal gain, but something that I hope just might save your life or the life of someone you love. Please share with your loved ones...

The real estate market is changing in our Local towns of Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk. Sales and prices are down and the inventory is ever-increasing. Wondering how to get your piece of the American Dream? Stop by my next homeownership workshop. My guest speakers include Attorney James T. Maye and Sr. Loan Officer and Branch Manager David Garofalo of Prospect Mortgage. We'll talk about the process of buying foreclosures, short sales and the traditional home purchase, from the lending, legal and realtor point of view. Ask as many questions about the process, loan path and title searches as you'd like. We will answer them! We believe it's our job to educate today's homebuyer!

Join us on Saturday, January 21 at 10:00am in Stamford. Refreshments will be served and there is no charge for admission. Just take a few moments to send an email to kimberlytapscott@kw.com to RSVP. We want to make sure we have enough coffee!

If you're like me you're thinking of things to do with your children this week before they go back to school on the 2nd of January. Here's my list of top ten things to do:

1. Tuesday at the Ferguson Library, Stamford - watch the viewing of Kung Fu Panda 2 @ at 2:00pm until 3:30pm

2. A favorite any day: Stepping Stones Museum, Norwalk - visit friends and enjoy the new Cyberchase exhibit

3. Maritime Aquarium, Norwalk - Happy Feet 2 opens in the IMAX theatre 2pm and 7pm. You can visit the animals, watch as they are feed, and enjoy a movie. Make it a full day!

4. How about a Strike! You can do it at the AMF Bowling Alley in Norwalk! Check online for specials.....

5. Let's get your hands dirty.... and make masterpieces at Hands On Pottery in Darien from 11:00am - 5:30pm.

6. Once you clean your hands....stop by the Beadzboutique in Darien and make beaded jewelry to show off ...

7. All aboard the Lego Train Set and more...stop by the Lego Exhibit at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center

8. When all else fails....a bucket of popcorn, small drink and fruit chews (make sure you get the kids special). You can view: Arthur Christmas, The Muppets, We Bought a Zoo, Alvin and the Chipmunks in Chipwrecked all age appropriate. Here's the link to area theatres.....

9. There are many interactive art classes during the vacation week at the Bruce Museum for the creative ones. Enjoy!!

10. A great thing that I do with my girls is show them how to give back...a really cool organization is Person to Person in Darien. I give my daughters a shopping bag each and have them "grocery shop" in the cupboard for canned goods and staples. They each pack a bag and we bring it to the Food Pantry at Person to Person. And the same with their closets, when the clothes gifts come in during the holidays. We go shopping in their closets for the less fortunate. There are children out there in need and I'm proud of the fact that my daughters realize that and are giving back their gently used items.

So here's a few things to do, hope you enjoy your time off.....

Have you fallen behind on your mortgage payments, and don’t know what to do? Watch this brief video, and find out what a Short Sale is, and why it may be the solution you have been searching for.

Then contact me at 203-252-8327 or kimberlytapscott@kw.com for a FREE consultation to find out if a Short Sale is right for you.

I've helped both buyers purchase a short sale and homeowners sell their home through the short sale alternative to foreclosure.

It's a big decision, you should work with someone who cares and has accomplished multiple short sales closings in Fairfield County.

This is a great time of year and I've love it when our local business take a moment to think "outisde of the box" to increase business. My family tonight for dinner stopped at the Stamford Town Center...also known to many as "The Mall". A great place for fun and shopping...Santa was off tonight but, they has children playing the piano in the center court...really cool.

So on to the Holiday Special...California Pizza Kitchen is offering those who dine in the restaurant between 6-8pm on the 21st of December - FREE GIFT WRAPPING!

They are calling it Shop, Wrap & Replenish...how great is that?

Just shop, stop by and order a pizza, bring your gifts and the "little elves" will wrap while you're enjoying the food....

Just thought I'd spread the word......great things happening in Stamford CT