Monday, December 24, 2007

Merry Christmas Eve!!!




A few little teasers of our trip home to Yuba City for Christmas! We have been having so much fun!
Saturday Night I got together with a few friends in the Class of 94! We had a great time! We went to Ruthy's & Paradiso...a few proceeded to the TBT for late night but I came home! Last night we went to the LaSalles for the Southland Village Kids Christmas Party...can you believe our parents started that party 27 years ago....where does the time go? We had so much fun! I have never laughed so hard in my life! It was so fun to see all the kids I grew up with and you would have thought Nick grew up in the neighborhood to! He fit in just like he had been around for 27 years...I think Nick or shall I say "Hank" made a new friend. Nick and Tom LaSalle are best of buddies! They had a grand ol' time last night! I have to say I cannot wait till next years kids party!!! I am sure it will be just as great! I am so lucky to have grown up in such a fun neighborhood with such great people! I hope Nick and I can find a neighborhood like Southland when we buy a house and have children! We were all so lucky!! Not to mention that everyone is doing so well! Lots of Success Stories in our cute little neighborhood!!!!
Ok...Well I wish you all a very Merry Christmas Eve....and I hope Santa is good to all of you! Don't forget to leave out your cookies and milk and turn your fireplace off so the Jolly Old Elf can come down the chimney!
Until tomorrow.......Merry Christmas Eve....Tis The Season....."The Do...La...Ta...'s "

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Fa La La La La from the Do La Ta's




Well....I keep forgetting to post my Christmas Photos.
Here are some photos of our house and Nick and I.
We finally went this morning and took our Christmas Card Photo!
FINALLY!
We almost forgot...
So you will be getting your Christmas Cards Soon.
Better Late Than Never!
I hope you all are having a great Christmas!
XO

K&N

Thursday, December 13, 2007

How Well Do You Know Me???

So I was Blog Surfing the other night and I came across the Genius Slippers.....aka Slipper Genie
So if you really know me you know that I absolutely HATE to clean the house! I do it but I really don't like it! So...when I saw these slippers I was like OH MY GOODNESS...I can walk and clean at the same time! This could be fun!!! I had to post them!! They are currently sold out at www.delight.com but as soon as they are back in stock I will own a pair!
Happy Cleaning.....

Monday, December 10, 2007

It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year....


Good Evening...
I was sitting here at home and wanted to post something but didn't really know what to post...
Well Actually Yes, I had some ideas so instead of a bunch of different post I thought I would combine them all into one post as they are all related.
I truly love the Holidays and for so many different reasons!
I love the decorations and the sparkling lights.
I love to hear the Christmas carols on the radio!
I love to see children get into the holiday spirit.
This time of year also makes me reflect on the last year and what I have done, where I am going and what I am going to do in the year to come.
It also reminds me that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and without him we would not have this fabulous holiday. It is also a time to give! We have so much to be thankful for in life and there are so many less fortunate people out there and the littlest things bring the most cheer to their beautiful faces and hearts. One of the things we do at work is give to the elderly in the Senior Homes.....This year I wanted something to jump out at me on our list! I was in search of something and low and behold there was a lady on the list named GLADYS! My grandmother was Gladyce and I knew in that moment that was the lady for me! So I have adopted her and I get to holiday shop for her! She would like a sweater and Rock and Roll CD's . She sounds as spunky as my grandma! I can't wait to meet Gladys and I hope I bring a little holiday cheer to her beautiful face!! The other thing we are doing this year is adopting a family. I can't wait to shop for the family we are adopting. I picked the kids to buy for because I don't have children and I want to bring some holiday cheer to children that are less fortunate and may not wake up to a Christmas tree with presents!!!
One of the traditions I hope to bring to our family is every year I want to adopt a family! I want our children to learn the gift of giving and that it isn't about the materialistic aspects of the Holiday Season but it is about giving to those in need! Some children just want a coat to keep them warm!!! I hope that every year we can bring a little bit of hope to someone!!!
So this holiday season....I challenge anyone who is reading to reach out and bring some holiday cheer to those who may not have anyone or anything.....
This is the most wonderful time of the year.....

Friday, December 7, 2007

THE "DO*LA*TA Elves.....Ok well Kelly Will Be soon...

Click on Kelly & Nick Elves below...You will die Laughing as Did I.....Thanks CUZ....

Kelly & Nick Elves....

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

VOILA........................

Nick & Emarie...Just finishing hanging the drapes
My Desk.....

Library of Vendors for Weddings and All My Craft Supplies

More Storage

Kelly Trying to get Creative with her camera skills with my crappy camera!

4 Trips to IKEA
2 Trips to Joanne's Fabric
3 Trips to Lowes
10 Days of Vacation for Nick
Kelly Saying You are Going to Slow.....PRICELESS.....
Well....We finally finished my Craft Studio/Office....I am so excited...I am so happy with the way it turned out! I still have a few things left to do ...
Get Rid of the Cords you can see...
Hang a Drape around the water heater
Paint the Bar stools Black
Make the Cushions for the bar stools...but
for the most part it is done!
It was a labor of love and Nick is so amazing! He did such a fabulous job!!!! Thank you Nick for all you did to make my workspace amazing! I love you~!
Kell~

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

HIGHLIGHTING MY MOM & DAD


SO Enough about ME....Enough about NICK....
The Next 2 Post below are about my mom and dad and what they are doing!!!
As a child I think we always look up to our parents as our "heroes" and as we get older we look to them for their wisdom, expertise and guidance......Each and every day my parents amaze me at how fabulous they are. They are both so smart, loving, heroes, talented, creative and so good at what they do.
My mom is a realtor for residential real estate and my father is in commercial real estate. They both are so passionate about their careers and work so hard at what they do. It reminds me of the children's book "The Little Engine that Could". They both no matter what the situation is work hard. I love them both so much and admire them for who they are! I am very fortunate to have two loving parents that are such great role models for me, my sister, and our children.....( some day for me) So...I wanted to just brag about them in my blog post today and also post two really neat things that have happened in the last week.
The First Post below is My Dad's first article of 3 that he is writing for "Select Living Magazine" It is on Franchises. It is very informative and as you will see my father is a great writer and is so smart.
The Second Post is an Article Featured in the Appeal Democrat about My Mom and her idea to "GET ON THE BUS" She came up with this amazing idea to help people in our current real estate market and help the agents in her office. She is so talented!
They are both two great post!!!
Please read them.........
I LOVE YOU MOM & DAD....I am so happy and proud to be your daughter...thank you for always loving me unconditionally and for always teaching me to reach for the stars and follow my dreams...I know my ENTREPENUERAL side comes from both of you! Thank you and I love you!

XOXO
Kells....Always your little girl!

My Dad The Writer.......

My Dad is an amazing writer....Not that I am an amazing writer but I do think I have a little of his talent when it comes to writing.....
Here is one of 3 Articles my dad is writing for "Select Living Magazine"

Hedge Your Bet: Buy An Existing FranchiseA franchise is by no means a guarantee of success -- but it's a good place to start
By Jack G. McLeskey Managing Director Century 21 Select Commercial Sales Group……. Citrus Heights Ca.
The franchise concept is an incredible one. Bring together the ingredients specific to a business and create a recipe that can be duplicated over and over again by anybody. When someone uses the term a "turn key" operation, the most likely example is a properly orchestrated franchise. Although the recipe has been established, it still requires the input and management of the owner (Franchisee) to ensure an individual location is successful.
Just because you own a franchise is by no means is a guarantee of success. A new franchise is basically a start up with a head start. The Franchisor will do the demographic and marketing studies that analyze the potential customer base, drive by traffic. etc., the only thing they can’t do is guarantee your success nor will they document any specific revenues or profits.
The Franchisor usually uses - salespeople or a broker to represent what the “opportunity” is. The presentation is usually well rehearsed and very polished - but so what? It's really just an educated guess about what could happen. When all is said and done, new franchises are to a certain extent, a "build it and pray they will come" strategy. Plus, a new franchise can sometimes mean waiting a year or longer for your location to be launched.
Franchises can be a good place to begin an entrepreneurial career. If you want to greatly improve your success quotient then buy an existing franchise. Take advantage of a business that's already established and successful. This way, you combine the best of both worlds; a franchise concept coupled with the track record of an existing business. For some individuals it just makes sense.
While it is not always easy to find franchises for sale, there are plenty of them around. The best way to find one is to address your search on three levels: call the Franchisor and ask if they can provide you with a list of resales in your area. Second, go through a local business broker and check online listings as well as the classified section of the newspaper. Third, approach any current owner and ask him/her if they know of any units that may be for sale. They will probably tell you that theirs is "for the right" price. In any case, chances are you will get leads to pursue. The other good part of buying an existing franchise is that you can implement all of the same strategies for identifying, negotiating and financing the purchase as you would when buying an existing non-franchised business. As such, it's wise for you to get as educated as you can on buying an existing business and always work with a knowledgeable “business broker” if possible.
Probably the most attractive advantage of buying a franchise from the buyer's point of view is that you can investigate any franchise much easier than an existing non-franchised business. The reason is that you will be able to look at other franchises under the same banner. You can speak with other franchisees in the area and they should be a wealth of information for you.
There is also a disadvantage conducting Due Diligence on a franchise…. you have to do it on two fronts. First, you have to check out the business itself of course but of equal or greater importance you have to evaluate the Franchisor to be sure that they will deliver everything they committed to.
The Franchisor's agenda is to open up as many units as possible. While they may all say that they will not dilute the market, rest assured that unless they are contractually obligated to do otherwise they will keep compacting the territory. As more and more locations open you wind up competing with your own brand. Once a customer of yours finds another location to be more convenient unless you have a solid relationship with that individual you will lose their business.
The best way to build equity in franchising is to continue opening or buying other locations. If possible, stick with one banner or within an affiliated group of companies. This way, your leverage with the Franchisor increases and you can remain focused on running one particular type of business. Remember you can't dance at all of the weddings so opening up new locations too quickly can cause growth problems. However, as soon as the first one is on track, look to acquire another one.
Each state has different regulations/laws related to franchising that are usually quite involved. Additionally, the Agreement (Uniform Franchise Offering Circular…UFOC for short) between the Franchisee and Franchisor differ between companies and many contain clauses that you would never think exist. As an example, if a Franchisee wants to sell their business, most often the Franchisor has the first right to buy the business. The reason is that they want to insure that the market doesn't have too many resales available (it hurts the Franchisor when they are trying to sell new franchises if potential buyers see too many existing locations for sale). Secondly, they want to protect themselves if they don't feel the potential buyer is right.
Hire a Broker and consult with an attorney who specializes in franchise law and before you take a second step with any resale franchise, make sure you get a copy of the UFOC between the Franchisee and Franchisor to properly evaluate what you will be faced with along the road.
In summary, franchises can be ideal for many people. If you want to improve your success rate, then buy an existing location. It will provide you with all of the benefits of a franchise along with the added security of historical data and a proven track record.
About the Author: Jack McLeskey has been helping Buyers and Sellers of businesses achieve their goals since 1982. Mr. McLeskey is a Certified Business Appraiser, a lecturer, an Author of numerous articles on Business Sales and Acquisitions, past President of the NCABB, current member of the National Century 21 Commercial Advisory Board and Managing Director of the C-21 Select Commercial Business Group.

Get On The Bus....

This Article was Featured in The Appeal Democrat and My Mom was the Main Character....She is so creative and so Talented! She is truly and amazing realtor and she is so good at what she does! She is always thinking too!
Enjoy the Article

By Howard Yune/Appeal-Democrat
November 28, 2007 - 11:41AM
From the lead of a sinking home market, a Yuba City real estate brokerage hopes to spin a bit of gold for some would-be house buyers. Some 25 people are expected to visit houses in north and west Yuba City during a unique tour Saturday – a tour of homes whose previous owners defaulted on their payments, caught in a wave of home-loan defaults that has drastically slowed housing sales starts in the Mid-Valley and nationwide. Buyers and agents could interpret the exhibition as a sobering sign of how far home values have crashed – or a chance to unearth bargains not seen for years while escaping the pitfalls that left their future homes vacant in the first place. “This is something that’s already happened and is beyond everybody’s control,” said Margo McLeskey, the ERA Showcase Real Estate Inc. broker organizing the tour series. “We’re trying to help people who couldn’t afford a house two or three years ago to get into the market in a healthy, strong way.” Saturday’s tour will be the second organized by ERA Showcase in the Mid-Valley since mid-October, and the brokerage plans six more events by the end of March. Similar tours are going on across the country. A bus will take hopeful buyers – along with Realtors and mortgage-firm officials – on a four-hour circuit of about 10 houses in north and west Yuba City, ranging in price from $200,000 to about $450,000. But first, the traveling party will first receive a half-hour seminar on the perils of aggressive borrowing – a legacy of the no-money-down and adjustable-interest-rate deals that first fed a vast expansion in home construction, then destroyed it. ERA Showcase’s program is starting in the wake of a spike in home defaults that has hit California’s inland cities especially hard. Third-quarter foreclosures in Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties, for example, totaled 436 this year, compared to 161 in the same quarter in 2006, DataQuick Information Systems reported last month. Statewide, home defaults jumped from 27,218 to 72,571 from the third quarter of last year to the same period this year. A telling sign from the October event, according to McLeskey, was the presence of only one person intending to resell a Mid-Valley home rather than live in it. Among the numerous foreclosure victims nationwide are buyers who accepted adjustable-rate mortgages intending to quickly sell their new homes – only to be trapped when initially low monthly payments ballooned after a few years. McLeskey hoped such programs would turn local homebuying away from investment toward those moving up from rentals – and especially those priced out of ownership until now. “There’s nothing we can do about the past, but we can hopefully help people in the future,” said McLeskey. “It’s the reality of what has happened across the nation.”

Monday, December 3, 2007

Step By Step.....


This is Nick Laying the carpet in the office/studio.
I think Nick has seriously found his calling! He has gotten so into this I can't even begin to tell you! He just loves doing projects like this. He told me he wants to build our house. He doesn't care how long it takes he wants to build it. I think that is a huge project but Nick is so detailed and so mathematically inclined he probably would be able to do it! I just like to make things look pretty! So that makes a great TEAM! He does all the architectural and building of things then I come in and make it look pretty! It has been so fun having Nick home for the last 10 days! I am sad that he has to go back to work tomorrow! Oh-well....we appreciate the time we have together! It has been a fun two weeks and I can't wait for you all to see the final outcome! It is going to be really cute!

XO

Kell~

Sunday, December 2, 2007

BEFORE..............................................


So This Was Day One...Moving Everything out of the Garage!
Nick has been working hard all week on the garage!
I can't wait to post the final photos! We should be done with it by Tuesday at the latest!
XO
Kell~