Lori Cain - Midtown Tulsa Real Estate www.tulsahomeforsale.net 918-852-5036

Twitter and Text-Messaging: Abbreviations you should know! - I thought I was becoming a pretty fast 2-thumb texter and was familiar with many of the abbreviations used on Twitter and text-messaging.

I know IMO (“In my opinion”), ROFL (“Rolling on the floor laughing”) and BFF (“Best friends forever”), LOL (“Laugh out loud”) and OMG (“Oh my God”) among others. Yesterday my Mom sent an e-mail with something WAY too personal and I responded, TMI! Mom e-mailed back to inquire about the meaning of TMI (Too Much Information)!

My husband is working on a project setting up a new hire's PR for Twitter, Facebook, etc., and he sent me a press release to proof. He had, "Visit Kim on Twitter!" I immediately phoned my husband to correct him that it should read "Follow Kim @ Twitter!"

My husband, BTW, has learned to READ my text-messages, but still hasn't figured out how to respond to them.

Twitter and Text-Messaging - Abbreviations

So, for you new texters or for those of you new to Twitter (posts limited to 140 characters), here are some text-messaging shorthand abbreviations you should know:

• UG2BK . . . . You got to be kidding
• GBTW . . . . Get back to work
• NMP . . . . . Not my problem
  
• PIR . . . . . Parent in room
• GFTD . . . . Gone for the day
• FYEO . . . . For your eyes only
• BI5 . . . . . Back in five minutes
• DEGT . . . . Don’t even go there
• BIL . . . . . Boss is listening
• PAW . . . . . Parents are watching
• 99 . . . . . Parents are no longer watching
• PCM . . . . . Please call me
  
• IMS . . . . . I am sorry
• TOY . . . . . Thinking of you
• KUTGW . . . . Keep up the good work
• CID . . . . . Consider it done
• FWIW . . . . For what it’s worth
• HAND . . . . Have a nice day
• IAT . . . . . I am tired
• NRN . . . . . No response necessary
• 4COL . . . . For crying out loud
• WRUD . . . . What are you doing
• LMIRL . . . . Let’s meet in real life
• ^5 . . . . . High five

And resources are available for newbies or parents. Check out these abbreviation translation sites: NetLingo and Urban Dictionary.

C u on Twitter 2day or better yet, FOLLOW ME!

Oklahoma Sales Tax Holiday will be held from Friday, August 7 - Sunday, August 9, 2009.

Oklahoma Sales Tax Holiday will apply to clothing and shoes priced at less than $100.

Beginning at 12:01 am on Friday, August 7, 2009, and ending at twelve midnight on Sunday, August 9, 2009, Oklahoma will hold its third annual sales tax holiday giving shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain clothing and shoes free of sales tax. This includes state, city, county and local municipality sales taxes.

“The sales tax holiday provides Oklahomans with the ability to save money on clothing and other items which are included while supporting their local retailers,” said Paula Ross, Oklahoma Tax Commission spokesperson. Retailers are required to participate and may not charge tax on items that are legally tax-exempt during the sales tax holiday. The sales tax holiday exempts the sale of clothing and shoes priced at less than $100 from sales taxes.

Oklahoma Sales Tax Holiday Set for August 7-9, 2009

For more information and answers to common questions on the sales tax holiday, as well as a listing of sales tax exempt items please refer to the Oklahoma Tax Commission website.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Sales Tax Holiday in Oklahoma.

Now, let's start shopping for those back-to-school clothes. Wear your armor at the mall!!

Tulsa’s Garden Deva reminds us, “Home is where the Heart is” - I don’t know if every town has a “Garden Deva,” but we have one in Tulsa. And we’re darn proud of her.

Tulsa's Garden Deva is local artist, Lisa Regan.

Lisa began cutting metal twenty years ago and after becoming somewhat successful touring art shows, she finally quit her “real job” and plunged into her art business full-time. She now owns a large studio east of downtown, which doubles as a venue for other local artists to show their wares from time to time.

We have Devas all around Tulsa, as our community has embraced her spunky, cheerful, whimsical creatures, almost as a symbol of who we are in Tulsa. Her work can be seen all over Tulsa; in schools, libraries, parks, shopping centers, schools, restaurants, youth centers, and private collections. Lisa designs trash can covers used in our city parks and attention-getting Devas used in shopping centers. Libraries and educational centers proudly display her work. Devas can be seen all around my Goddaughter’s school, Montessori. Lisa is as much a part of Tulsa as Tulsa is a part of her. We appreciate her creative spirit and the blood, sweat, and tears that go into hand-crafting Garden Deva's wide range of iron sculptures, from her whimsical $20 cat statues to $3,000 landmarks.

Lisa donates a lot of work, which is how I became familiar with her Devas. It didn’t matter if it was a Silent Auction for a domestic violence group, the Resonance Center for woman or any other charity I support, a Deva donation was included. My husband quickly learned to just sign on the auction sheet for the price required to obtain the donation – we always took the Deva home.

President Obama (then U.S. Senator Obama) visited Tulsa’s Educare Center to discuss issues surrounding early childhood education and was impressed by the Deva artwork encompassing the facility. I wouldn’t be surprised if our Tulsa Deva winds up making a splash in the White House rose garden!!

Our Tulsa Garden Deva has been featured in Tulsa People, the Oklahoma Magazine, Urban Tulsa, and Southern Living magazine. We are proud of her!

I buy most of my real estate closing gifts from Lisa, because I love to share her whimsical sculptures and the smiles they bring to my clients in their new homes – but also because Lisa gives back so much to our community. She really does pay it forward.

Tulsa’s Garden Deva reminds us, “Home is where the Heart is” - The most amazing closing gift she made for me was a 3-1/2 foot sculpture of a boy and girl holding hands with a banner above connected by the two reaching hands. The inscription on the banner was “Welcome” in both Choctaw and Creek. This amazing engaged couple (dear friends also) sent me a note while we were house-shopping and signed the note, “Yakoke – Wado,” which is “thank-you" in Choctaw, followed by Creek. So, when ordering their closing gift, I knew it had to represent the culture and heritage of which they’re so entrenched and proud.

I e-mailed my custom order in as usual, then ran into Lisa two days later at a fundraiser, and we had a minute to discuss the project. She wound up researching and finding a symbol of friendship in Creek which she put on the banner between the two “welcome” translations. Don’t ask me why I didn’t take a photo of this piece, but I’m seeing Kalyn tomorrow and will snap a photo and insert later.

Most of my friends have Deva artwork in their homes, offices or gardens. In fact, if I meet someone without a Deva, I give them one – I think it’s bad karma not to have one!

If you don’t have a Deva in your town, we'll share ours - you can shop online!

Locally-Owned Business: Steve's Sundries, Tulsa Oklahoma - The Charms of the Neighborhood Shop

Steve's Books and Magazines - also known as Steve's Sundries is still within our midtown boundaries – in the shopping center at 26th & Harvard where the Broken Arrow Expressway crosses Harvard. And it’s next door to Southern Agriculture – also locally owned.

The many Tulsans committed to supporting local businesses have fond memories of Steve’s Sundries. My friend Marina Metevelis remembers “I am very familiar with Steve's Sundry store because when I lived by TU (Tulsa University), I would walk over with my neighbors and spend afternoons visiting with Steve and drinking a soda or lemonade, looking at the latest books and magazines. He always had something new in his store. He was located on the east side of Harvard south of 11th Street then. We lived in that neighborhood five years before moving to Boman Acres. What memories.”

I didn’t move to Tulsa until 1982, so I didn’t remember Steve’s being located on 11th. Turns out Steve Stephenson sold everything from small appliances to lawn mowers, magazine to fishing rods there. And, he sold burgers & shakes there. When more space was needed, Steve’s moved to its present day location at 26th & Harvard.

In addition to books and magazines, posters, puzzles and knickknacks, you can still enjoy the soda fountain in the back which serves sandwiches, sodas, shakes and such.

Locally-Owned Business: Steve's Sundries, Tulsa Oklahoma

Caroline Richardson interviewed the owner, Steve, some years ago and said he joked about teaching Barnes & Nobles how to run a store. His daughter-in-law, Joanie attributes its good business to loyal customers and likens their store to “Cheers without alcohol.”

A tradition since 1947, Steve's now has a web site. You can check out the new Bobby Flay book that just arrived or the menu at the fountain.

In fact, I’m “jonesing” for a pimento sandwich from Steve’s and an Archie’s comic book right now.

Home Staging to Sell your Home in Tulsa Oklahoma - Following is an article home-stager Susan Atwell shared with me. As a listing Realtor who likes to get in/out, and get the job done, I can't emphasize enough the importance of home-staging. After signing listing paperwork the other day, my Seller told me he hoped for a quick sale because his wife would force him to make his bed every day their home was on the market. Although he was half-way joking with me, the truth is that it IS inconvenient to have your home for sale, and this home-stager explains why. I'm sure many of you who currently have your home on the market can relate to this, so ask yourself these questions to see if you're truly ready to sell.

And another home-stager, Amy Boxer, Owner & Co-Founder of Welcome Home Furniture Rental & Staging offered these Top Ten Reasons to Stage. I can't emphasize enough the importance and reality of her list!

From Amy . . .

TOP TEN REASONS TO STAGE

1. Staged homes tend to sell for more money.
2. Staged homes sell faster than non-staged.
3. Staging costs a fraction of a price reduction.
4. Staging distinguishes you from the competition.
5. Dated furnishings make the home seem dated.
6. Staging improves online marketing efforts.
7. Staged homes more often appraise for full value.
8. Staging helps buyers see themselves living there.
9. A first impression is a lasting impression.
10. In today's market, you can't afford NOT to stage!

From Susan . . .

An Inconvenient Truth -- Are you willing to do what it takes to sell your home? Truth is few things are more inconvenient than having your home on the market. Imagine a bad reality show, where you – a home seller – are forced to live in Macy’s window for weeks on end. Your personal items, your life, constantly exposed to strangers. And everything has to be perfect all the time.

If your home is currently on the market, you may feel this way already. So what’s the best way to get out from under the microscope? Sell fast.

Well, that sounds easy – and obvious – but how do you sell fast? A combination of staging, effort, and a willingness to be inconvenienced – at least for the time that your home is on the market. Remember, your efforts will be rewarded. The more you do now, the faster your home will sell, and the sooner you can return to a normal life.

Just one question remains. Are you willing to do what it takes to sell?

The following questions should help you find out.

1. Are you willing to detach yourself emotionally from this home and view it as a product or commodity?
2. Are you willing to let go of your personal style and decorate to appeal to the widest variety of buyers?
3. Are you willing to pack up anything you won’t need for the next few months – even if it includes children’s toys, personal photos and keepsakes?
4. Are you willing to eliminate or hide TVs, computers or other electronic devices?
5. Are you willing to send your pets away when the home is being shown?
6. Are you willing to furnish an unfurnished home so that it is warm, inviting, and spacious?
7. Are you willing to clean like you’ve never cleaned before?

If you answered “yes” to most or all of these questions, then you are ready. The truth is that you will be inconvenienced, but it will be well worth it when you sell fast and for top dollar.

Reprinted from "AtWell Staged Home’s Stage Every Listing Letter," a newsletter for anyone selling real estate. Subscribe by emailing Admin@AtWellStagedHome.com.

Home Staging to Sell your Home in Tulsa Oklahoma - My selling strategy never changes, regardless of the price of the home: (1) get the home in move-in condition, remove any possible Buyer objections, and have your home staged; (2) price it correctly; (3) market agressively. Please contact me to sell your home - I am SERIOUS about getting it done right.