Friday, December 23, 2011

Happy Holidays!

Our family, friends, and colleagues have brought many smiles & much laughter to our lives this past year.  We are so grateful to have you all in our lives and we are sending out the warmest wishes possible to everyone.  May this holiday season be full of laughter, love, & cozy times with your nearest and dearest.  Ugh - so sappy, sorry friends!  

Hopefully there will also be plenty of teasing, jostling, and so much overeating that we all loathe ourselves just a little bit.  

We'll see you at the gym or on the trails next week...


PDX white Christmas = car + 1 hour.  photo by erin

Friday, December 16, 2011

Highlight Reels!

The information superhighway represents two extremes in our world:  unparalleled productivity and vast expanses of time suck.  Without it, we would need to spend an extra 20 hours a week (um, guesstimate) on mundane tasks.  Luckily, we can waste those extra hours in the very (virtual) place that saves us this time. 

Some of the best ways we kick back to watch the sand slip through the glass is by cooing over cute baby or grown-up animals (come on, everyone does this!).  Think of it as your holiday rage cure (it's not just on the road anymore).  How can you not grin while checking out cuties being precocious or snuggly or furry!?

In case you were in a coma this week – baby seal finds his “just right” spot to nap.

This lizard would kick your butt at Just Dance.

Why don't our basements ever get cute bear visitors? No fair!


The supermodel of dogs practices her Jedi mind trick

Friday, December 9, 2011

Ta-Da! Meet our newest team member!


We are excited to present our most recent addition to the Team Green PDX family, Deidre Livingston, our Buyer’s Agent.  We thought we’d share a little more about the lively Deidre with whom we have been enjoying working and getting to know over the past few weeks.


Q:  How long have you been putting your mad skills to work for the real estate industry?

A:  Late in 2004, I found myself asking Kevin, my then boyfriend and also a realtor, how things were coming along with every transaction he had going on. After awhile he just looked at me and said, “You know you ought to go and get a real estate license!” Along with studying for my license that summer, I was still working for a food broker and during a business trip to Tyson University, the chicken processor in Arkansas, I passed on some great evening events sponsored by Tyson because I wanted to spend the night in my room reading the Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller.  We had also attended a Howard Brinton event that summer in El Paso Texas before I had a license. Basically, the rest is history I was in love with a new career!
 

Q:  What is your specialty?  This could be related to work, the kitchen, a stupid human trick – anything, really…

A:  If we are still talking about real estate, I would have to say it is taking care of buyers. I love working with buyers and helping them through the process. I believe some realtors can give this industry a bad name. I won’t let that bother me. I am proud of my integrity and honesty. If a buyer needs more information before making a very big decision, I am going to help them take that extra time to get it right.  I especially love saving them money!  I sleep well at night.

Q:  What is your very favorite book?

A: Wow, that really is a tough question to answer. My favorite authors are John Maxwell, Brian Tracey and Jack Canfield. I have dozens of books I read over and over again. I don’t think I like the Kindle. I can’t highlight, dog-ear, and spill stuff on the pages! Unless I leave some amazing legacy, no one will want my books. They are getting so beat up from re-reading, they may get tossed in the dumps.

Q:  Give us the dirt – tell us something kooky about yourself.  Please?

A: Yes, I have done some pretty silly things in my life. I believe I have a great sense of humor and it took me a long time to learn to really laugh at myself and at life. If you want something on me, how about the time I was terrible distress over something personal and had to run a few errands. When I finished with my banking I had realized I locked my keys in the ignition. When the tow truck guy showed up he reached through the open passenger window and pulled the keys out of the ignition.


Q:  What is your favorite place to unwind?

A: Glad its sunny out today since you are asking where my favorite place to unwind is. I have many favorite places. When I can really unplug, reflect and plan, I love to be at the Oregon Coast. I love the ocean. When I’m up for a good vacation I pick a coast with white sand and palm trees. I know when I retire I will probably pick a coast outside the US. The world has some amazing places for us to enjoy.

Deidre's Happy Place (photo by Erin, Oahu, HI)