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In South Florida back to school stress is right around the corner for mamas and college drop off season is here so in a “been there done that” kinda scenario and as a mom of millennials, may I suggest that now is a great time for a quick staycation and #SoooBoca has a great suggestion for you!
Boca Center has put together a very cool Mom’s Staycation package available the weekends of July 27th and August 3rd for the summer of 2019! This is the perfect South Florida mom escape with your favorite gal pals! Check out this fun itinerary and book yourself some time away from the everyday!
Mom’s Staycation Boca Center Boca Raton
Need a Little Mini Vacay?
This mom’s night out package includes:
One night stay at the Boca Center Marriott
Champagne Toast upon arrival
Prefix Three Course Dinner at Morton’s Steakhouse (includes 2 glasses of wine)
Private Shopping at Scout & Molly’s
Late Checkout at 2pm
Brunch at Rocco’s Tacos (including Bottomless)
We are offering this for two guests ($379 total) or four guests ($679 total).
Make Your Plans
I simply love staycations, momcations and selfcarecations (is that even a word:) and Boca Center is a beautiful one stop happenin’ spot right in the heart of Boca Raton for a staycation! So make sure you book your reservation today and enjoy your special selfie care getaway!
Don’t forget to fly by the Buzz in Boca for events and more around Boca Raton, South Florida and Beyond!
This blog post was sponsored by Boca Center. All opinions expressed in the blog post are my own and not in any way influenced by any sponsor or sponsored products. Any statistic, quote or other representation about a service, product, event or experience should be verified with provider/manufacturer/vendor and or business.
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THE 13TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS BOCA PRESENTS “STELLAR” LINE-UP
#SoooBoca is very excited to be attending some of the fabulous events that are happening in Mizner Park this week! If you have driven through you will see the tent over the amphitheater and an exciting vibe swirling around. Ticket info is down towards the bottom of this post. I hope to see you there!
The 13th Annual Festival of the Arts BOCA, presented by the Schmidt Family Centre for the Arts, returns to the Mizner Park Amphitheater and Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center in Boca Raton, February 28 – March 10, 2019, with a celebration of music, film, dance, concerts and authors.
#SoooBoca Stories Podcast
Opening the Festival of the Arts BOCA on Thursday, February 28 is Doris Kearns Goodwin, beloved five-time Festival presenter, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and presidential historian. She will discuss her latest book, Leadership in Turbulent Times.
The “force” will be with the Festival on Friday, March 1 as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hopegets its Florida premiere on the big screen to live music by The Symphonia, led by Constantine Kitsopoulos, playing John Williams’ epic Academy Award-winning score.
Pink Martini
Highlights!
Other Festival highlights include Rhapsody in Blue, an evening of orchestral blockbusters performed
by The Symphonia with renowned jazz
pianist and University of Miami Frost School of Music Dean Shelly Berg; Pink Martini, the
wildly popular group described as “The United Nations house band of 1962 meets
Lawrence Welk on acid” in an exclusive South Florida appearance; An Evening of Classical Russian Ballet
featuring Stars from theRussian
National Orchestra and the Bolshoi
Ballet; Nu Deco Ensemble, an innovative
Miami-based virtuosic and eclectic chamber orchestra
designed for the 21st century; and 10-time Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval and his band.
Arturo Sandoval
The Authors and Ideas program features Constitutional scholar and author Jeffrey Rosen who will speak about the Constitution in the 21st Century; the screening of Bending the Arc, a documentary that tells the story of idealistic young doctors who helped change the way public health issues are addressed in developing nations, followed by a panel discussion, “Global Public Health Today and Tomorrow,” featuring Dr. Agnes Binagwaho and Tom Bollyky; PoemJazz with former Poet Laureate, Robert Pinsky, who will read his poetry while accompanied by a small jazz ensemble; and Pulitzer Prize winning writer, David Sanger, who will talk about his latest book, The Perfect Weapon: War, Sabotage and Fear in the Cyber Age.
Tickets for the 13th Annual Festival of the Arts BOCA range from $15 to $150 per person and are available at www.festivalboca.org or by calling (866) 571-ARTS (866-571-2787).
Partner: This post was created in partnership with Festival of the Arts Boca. I was given complimentary event tickets for this post.For more details on sponsorships please see this post here.
With many people wanting to lead a healthier lifestyle there are many options to lose weight, eat cleaner and learn how to manage a busy life while noshing more thoughtfully! I have been learning more and more about the Keto way of eating and it is fascinating. I thought it would be great to share some thoughts and insight from my friend Heather Beardsley who is a keto queen and lives here in Boca!
Disclosure: There may be links in this post/or on this page that are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission.
Many people dive into eating keto before they are really sure about their WHY. Only looking at the keto way of eating (woe) as a solution for weight loss misses so many other long-term benefits of this lifestyle.
It’s important to understand the wide-ranging and very compelling health benefits that come from restricting carbohydrate intake for the human body. Those who eat keto for the long-term health benefits (beyond temporary weight loss) are the most successful, even if they start keto to lose weight.
Keto is a way of eating (woe) that requires that you pay attention, put the time into educating yourself, and have the ability to be consistent and patient over the long-term because eating keto signals sweeping changes in the way your body processes and burns fuel that lead to other beneficial system wide changes in hormone signaling.
If you are looking for a quick way to lose weight & then plan on going back to being a sugar burner, then I suggest you look elsewhere for a solution because your results likely won’t last, and more than that, the significant health benefits won’t have time to kick in.
That being said, I think it’s okay to start keto being unsure if it really is something that you can sustain. Honestly, that’s how we ALL begin keto. All I’m saying is to just keep an open mind and definitely commit to a minimum of 60 days so that you have a chance to physiologically feel all of the benefits of adapting your body to burn fat for fuel.
There are SO MANY benefits beyond an effortless way to control your weight that if I listed them all here you probably wouldn’t believe me. This is something that you just have to experience for yourself.
At the very least set yourself up for success by spending some time asking yourself if keto right for you, do the research, set aside time for meal prep, and know what to expect. I have a lot of resources for you so I hope that you take advantage of them! Ready to learn how to start keto? Click the button below to get started.
If your gut is telling you that keto is way too restrictive, then please know that the Keto woe is just one type of a low-carb lifestyle. If you are looking to stay healthy but don’t necessarily have weight to lose or a health issue like type 2 diabetes, then a primal or paleo approach can give you some of the benefits of keto. It has less of a carbohydrate restriction, so I suggest you look into which approach is right for you before you try keto.
Otherwise, if you’re fully onboard the keto train, my suggestion is to educate yourself about keto by reading the entire keto 101 series. It has all of the information you need to know to start feeling your best-fast! And the best part is that it’s all FREE.
Thanks Heather for sharing your “keto lifestyle” today! You can find many resources on Thrive in Midlife! Reach out to Heather if you have questions or need some accountability if you want to pursue the keto way of life!
Looking for things to do in Boca Raton? Click here!
From time-to-time we have guest bloggers post on our site. The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of #SoooBoca. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.
We did a poll. The answers varied and we have a huge list for you below.
You can ask your digital assistant questions or command her to control the devices in your home. Alexa will then try and get you the information you need or talk to the devices in your home to get them to do what you want.
Love Gary Vee? He has a skill (flash briefing) that you can listen to every morning while you start your day! Kids being picky? Get a new recipe from Alexa!
Hate to read? Have Alexa read your Kindle book to you!
You can event set up routines and use to set up your smart home (Realtor alert…we love smart homes).
Best thing to do now is add the App on your phone, watch my video and set up your favorite “skills” and start enjoying them!
Just say “Alexa Play My Flash Briefings” to listen each morning while you make your coffee or anytime of the day that works for you.
I have two Alexa Skills enabled for business which includes #SoooBoca Stories Flash Briefing that drops weekly and if real estate is your jam enable the The Real Estate Influencer Buzz Flash Briefing that drops daily. If you are sooo inclined I was interviewed recently by Florida Realtor Magazine on how you can use Alex in your business and some tips on setting your own up.
Alexa Flash Briefing Faves
(Enable the “skills” from the Alexa App on your phone)
Set reminders like: Laundry every Sunday
Damn Girl
Zen Sounds: Healing Sounds
MyPetDoc
Uber
Jurassic Bark
Daily Bible Verse
Fresh Quotes
Weather
Open Table
Once you enable your flash briefings it does seem to have a lag time before it shows up to use but typically it is within a few hours.
Local:
Weather
Vacation
Hotels
Sunrise and sunset times
Hotels
Restaurants
Beaches
Shopping/Stores
Bars
School Times
Addresses
News:
Get sports updates
Check the weather
Time-Out Timer
Shopping List
To-Do List
News Briefs
Trivia
Jokes
Fashion & Beauty
Fashion Fix Daily
Makeup Tips
Kids:
Spelling, trivia, math, and to tell jokes
“Drop in” to the kids rooms (after they turn in their phones for the night)great way to stay in touch with those in your home, using your Alexa as an intercom from room to room and even house to house.
Sound Machine
Play games
Cool Ideas:
Timer
Alarm Clock
Intercom
Phone Calls to family members
Soothing music
Read Kindle books
Spotify or Amazon Music
Lost Phone: Alexa call my phone option
Cooking:
Cooking measurements and conversions
Recipes
Questions
Tasks:
Grocery Lists — The whole family can add to the list
Search for information without hopping on Google
Shop Amazon for me
Get Recipes
Make phone calls for you from your contact list
You do have to purchase some items that are compatible so here is a list and a link to the storefront so you can read product reviews. It is pretty cool to say the least all of the different things you can do to make your home “smarter”.
Control the Thermostat
Operate robot vacuum
Smart lock doors
Control the lights
Room intercoms
Speakers
Smart Light Bulbs
Doorlocks
Tv’s
TV Remote Control
Soundbar
Outdoor Plug
Ceiling Fan
First Alert One Link
Smart Refrigerators
Seniors Living Alone
You can send messages or make calls between Echo dots
Add the Alexa Skill “Ask My Buddy” (adult children can set up with a list of names to alert if you need assistance, not a replacement for 911)
Medication reminders
Real Estate
Mortgage news
Local Real Estate News
Tips and Resources for Home Buyers and Sellers
Games:
Jeopardy
School:
Math Problems
Spelling
One little tip I can share is that when you purchase your Alexa you can buy one at a time or during special Amazon sales you can buy in bulk. Think gifts for college students, a closing gift, one for your aging parents and even multiple ones for your home (and yes I have 3 in my home).
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Nunc facilisis diam velit, non facilisis justo lobortis ac. Etiam ante tortor, consequat vel felis id, blandit finibus magna. Curabitur vel urna id tortor ullamcorper molestie. Donec accumsan, sapien nec consectetur varius, nisl nibh maximus diam, non vulputate diam dolor at nunc. Suspendisse pulvinar, ante a tempor volutpat, ligula tellus pharetra libero, ac porttitor tortor turpis at magna. Nunc facilisis diam velit, non facilisis justo lobortis ac. Etiam ante tortor, consequat vel felis id, blandit finibus magna.
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Ingredients:
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1 1/2 tbsp. lavender simple syrup (see below) 1/4 tsp. Grenadine 3 dashes bitters
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This is such a fun option if you belong to Nextdoor the neighborhood app! Sponsored by JC Penney you can use on your phone or on the web! You can find all the fabulous neighborhood holiday decorated homes and lighting displays if someone adds their property to the “cheer map”.
Lets face it…every year people are posting on social media every day trying to find out where great local lighting displays are and now the problem is solved.
I for one am super excited and will be using it tonight to check out lighting displays around #SoooBoca! And yes…we have added our home and lights are going up today! Our tree is done and we had a latka party last weekend so we are ready for the season in sunny South Florida!
Nextdoor Cheer Map App
Here is The How You Do It Section
To add your home to the Cheer Map on web:
Visit your neighborhood map by tapping on the Cheer Map icon in the upper right corner of your Nextdoor homepage.
A pop-up window should appear over your address on the map, asking “Will you be decorating your home for the holidays?” (If the window doesn’t appear, click on your address.) Select ‘I will!’, or ‘Not this year’, then click Continue.
If you’ve selected ‘I will!’, a ‘Lights and displays’ icon will be placed on your house on the map.
To add your home to the Cheer Map on iPhone or Android:
Visit your neighborhood map by tapping the ‘more’ icon in the lower right corner of your Nextdoor homepage, then tapping Cheer map.
The next screen asks if you are decorating your home for the holidays this year. If you select ‘I will!’ a ‘Lights and displays’ icon will be placed on your house on the map. You can tap “Continue” to see it on the map.
If you’d rather not say, you can tap “Skip” to see the map of houses that will have holiday lights and displays this season.
Sooo plan accordingly and keep checking as people will add their home as they decorate! We for one think this is a fabulous and fun way to enjoy the holiday season!
Looking for 5 reasons to hire a business coach? Join me today for this enlightening interview with Nanette Saylor, a fabulous business coach, with a creative touch! You will love how her brain operates!
Enjoy this podcast transcription as I know working with Nanette was instrumental in changing my business through some simple suggestions and ideas that I could implement. As a creative entrepreneur in today’s cluttered business life having a business coach like this was a game changer.
Nanette Saylor is not your ordinary business coach… she is a creative entrepreneur coach and possibility partner at the Wise Well Women’s Way. Nanette is a CCA-certified coach. She blogs, she journals, has a self-care toolkit program, and so much to offer entrepreneurs in today’s very noisy business environment.
I want to share that Nanette was also my first business coach. When I was trying to transition after the housing market crash and we had a personal health issue in our family, she was very instrumental in giving me sound advice and guidance in regard to what my next step should be, and if I wanted to even stay in real estate at that point.
I am a firm believer in hiring a business coach and know that it can take you to the next level or clear the noise so you can focus in on your business. Here is the breakdown of our podcast…I know you will enjoy her tips as much as I did and still do.
#SoooBoca Interview
Nanette Saylor: Oh, thank you, Michele. I’m so glad to be here today.
Michele B.: Tell us a little bit about yourself, and then I have a few questions that we call our Five in the Hive.
Nanette Saylor: Ah, okay. Well, I love on the fly questions, so this’ll be fun.
Michele B.: There you go. You’ll be good. You’re good.
Nanette Saylor: This’ll be fun. You know, it’s interesting thinking about how we’ve come together over the years. My story about Michele is that she helped me sell my house …
Michele B.: There you go.
Nanette Saylor: When I was ready to downsize and in a pattern of simplifying. We woke up one day and said, “You know what? The market’s starting to come back. It’s time to go,” and so we sold our Southeast Boca home, and now I’m a very happy renter on the beach. But I got to tell you that Michele was fabulous. She made that transition so easy. We were in a situation where our house was a little bit of an oddity in our community, so we needed some real expertise in the Boca market, and we got it with Michele.
Michele B.: Much appreciated.
Nanette Saylor: Yes, it was really fun.
Michele B.: I did not ask her to do that, just so you know, but thank you so much.
Nanette Saylor: Well, and I think it’s really important, because not only have you been a client of mine, but I have been a client of yours, and I think that really, for me … I’ve lived in South Florida now since the early ’80s. I’ve been a Boca resident for many, many years, and it’s really all about the relationships.
Michele B.: I agree. It’s rapport, relationship. I will say, even when I go on a listing appointment, and I’m going on one after this, you know, it’s usually who you know, like, and trust. I present whatever, but if you don’t like the person, you’re probably not going to do business with them anyways. I’m really up-front about that. I don’t do anything long. I’m just like, “Hey, look, here’s what I do. I do it at a high level. If you like me, we’ll work together great. If not, that’s okay.”
Establishing Relationships
Nanette Saylor: And so that’s really, in my coaching practice, that’s really what I’ve found works. For me, it’s about establishing a relationship. From that place, then we get a chance to decide whether, one, coaching is even something that really is right for you, and two, are we a good fit?
You know my backstory, which is, I came from the hospitality world. My last hospitality job was the general manager at what is now the Waterstone the old Bridge Hotel. I loved being a part of those kinds of hotels, but after 25 years I was tired and ready to do something different, and I found my way back to my creative core. That happened through a series of volunteer activities. I know that you do a lot of volunteering in the community. Those volunteer activities gave me a chance to really get my hands dirty and come back to creating. What I discovered was that the practice of nurturing our creative energy fuels a joy-filled life. That’s really what it’s all about.
Getting Joy Back Into Your Life
Michele B.: You and I have talked about getting your joy back. I think many times … and Nanette knows my backstory … when you lose that joy, it’s very challenging, and sometimes you don’t realize that you’ve lost it until you get it back. I think that was the one piece, for sure, that I have a takeaway from, is when we sat down … I’ll never forget. We sat down at my old real estate office on Palmetto Park Road, and you asked me, “What do you love about real estate?” I said, “I love helping people that are in difficult situations, and I like to list.” You said, “Then go list.”
Nanette Saylor: Yeah, right?
Michele B.: Then I was able to kind of … it opened that arena. It was a conversation, and it was productive in a very short period of time, which is what I think a lot of folks crave. They don’t necessarily want a long commitment, but they want a smart commitment, right?
Nanette Saylor: Yes, yes.
Five In The Hive
Michele B.: I have a few questions for you. Here’s my first question for what we call our Five in the Hive. What is a creativity coach, and how does an entrepreneur tap into that?
Nanette Saylor: I love this question, because when I say, “Hi, I’m Nanette, I’m a creativity coach.”
Michele B.:Get the crayons out.
Nanette Saylor: Yeah, they get the deer in the headlights look and they immediately think we’re going to go tie-dye or something. What’s unique about creativity coaching is, yes, I love all of those creative activities, and in fact I do workshops for those kinds of things …
Michele B.: I know.
Nanette Saylor: and I am passionate about encouraging people to get back to playing, because I think play is so important to our psyche. But the thing that makes creativity coaching unique is that we are trained to focus on areas where the individuals that we work with are birthing something that comes from them. When you’re an entrepreneur, you are selling something that comes from you, whether it’s your unique way of selling real estate in the world, or it’s my unique way of offering coaching, or maybe I developed a product, or maybe I’m an artist. But one of the things I really want to get across to everybody is, creativity coaching is not just for artists and writers and musicians.
Michele B.: I agree with you.
Nanette Saylor: Entrepreneurs, by their very nature, are core creative beings. Many of them just haven’t claimed it yet, because they think they have to get out the paintbrushes, and that’s not really what it’s all about. But offering support to people who are serving in the world, bringing something out that is their own, is a unique thing.
Michele B.: And that’s what you helped me do.
Nanette Saylor: Yeah, yeah.
Are You Distracted?
Michele B.: Because I’m in business, but I’m creative, bright and shiny objects can really attract me. It was more about reigning it in. And so my second question for you is, how does one choose the right coach? Because I’ve had real estate coaches, some group coaching, some private coaching, and you know what? I have found that in many cases they don’t get my vision. They want to push their vision. When I walked away from something recently it was really because it had run its course. It gave me what I needed and then I needed to move on.
Nanette Saylor: Yes. Yeah, and so thank you for bringing up that distinction. Coaching is a really personal thing, right? In the creative coaching world, what we really focus on is not driving my intention, but helping you discover your own. That is in its essence all pure coaching, but we see a lot of quasi-coaching, consulting things in the world of coaching.
Michele B.: We were just talking about that.
Nanette Saylor: It’s important for people to understand the difference, because there is a use for both. The coaching world is one where you and I spend time, me mostly asking questions, and you finding your own answers.
Nanette Saylor: In the consulting world, when I consulted in hospitality, I came in, I did a run-around, I saw how things were, I made my recommendations for how I thought, because I was the professional, I was there to teach you.
Michele B.: Got it.
Nanette Saylor: We see it mixed up a lot.
Michele B.: A lot. And I do too. I agree with you.
Nanette Saylor: Yeah.
Michele B.: If you could pick one word in regard to why someone should journal, what would it be?
Nanette Saylor: Self-expression. Self-expression.
Michele B.: Yeah, I like that. We also want to know what your favorite empowerment word would be.
Nanette Saylor: Courage.
Michele B.: Oh, I love that. That’s a great word.
Nanette Saylor: Yeah, that’s my word of the year this year, so that was an easy one.
Michele B.: Mine was collaboration. That was my word of the year. I’m going to ask my millennial to jump in and ask the last of the Five in the Hive questions, so go ahead, Miss Alle B.
Alle Bellisari: Okay, so this is one of our more fun questions. If you had to pick any woman, dead or alive, to break bread with here in Boca, who would that woman be, and what restaurant in Boca would you choose?
Nanette Saylor: Ooh, that’s an interesting one. I would say Elizabeth Gilbert.
Nanette Saylor: Eat, Pray, Love. Most recently, Big Magic is her book all about creativity.
Nanette Saylor: And my favorite restaurant in Boca these days is Racks.
Michele B. Oh, awesome. Alle, what did you think about what Nanette was saying? Because obviously, you’ve been mentored, I have been coached, and I know there’s huge value in it. Why don’t you touch on that a little bit, my little millennial?
Alle Bellisari: Well, I feel like people don’t realize how helpful it is to have a mentor. Especially when you’re super independent, you just want to do everything yourself… You don’t want to listen to any suggestions or anything, you want to learn for yourself and keep going. And I feel like I’m like that in a lot of ways, where I just want to learn things for myself and I don’t need people to tell me what to do all the time.
But when I found my mentors, they literally changed my life. As dramatic as it sounds, they really did, because with my photography, I didn’t necessarily know what I was doing freshman year of college. I knew that I loved photography all throughout high school. It was like my passion, my hobby, and I just knew that I wanted to work with another photographer in the area. I didn’t have any specific niche in mind. But once I hooked up with my mentors, they taught me everything I know. What I was doing before was not even correct. It’s just super helpful to have people that you can ask questions and not feel like you’re going to be judged for it, and you actually learn. Now that I have graduated and am back in Boca I have started my photography business Halle Alessia Photography
Michele B.: And they’ve mentored us for like holiday gifts for you. I reached out to them on a number of occasions, said, “I need to get Alle a lens, or what kind of equipment could I get her for birthday gifts and graduation gifts and Christmas gifts and whatever.” And I mean, not just like a “Get this, get this, or this.” I would get a long email on why, and also an option for something less expensive I just thought that was amazing. You certainly can give them a shout-out if you want to.
Alle Bellisari: Hunter Ryan Photo. They’re a couple wedding photography duo, and they’re amazing. They’re so fun.
Michele B.: And they’re based in?
Alle Bellisari: They are based in the Naples-Southwest Florida area. But yeah, they’re just simply amazing, and they’ve just turned my life around.
Michele B.: We’re very grateful to them. For my perspective, like I said, coaching, I think, can be so valuable, if it’s even one coaching session, or maybe you need a few coaching sessions. And I think it’s okay to switch coaches because sometimes it’s just not a good fit. But you need to start with one person and see if that’s a good fit. I think one of the things that people walk away with is that they don’t like, necessarily, what a coach is saying, but a lot of times that coach is seeing things that you don’t see. I think that’s where it’s so helpful. I’m glad we were able to talk a little bit about coaching and mentoring today.
Many thanks to Nanette Saylor for her time and wisdom as always!
About Michele Bellisari
Michele is a South Florida Realtor, based in Boca Raton, Florida, serving surrounding cities, and the founder of #Soooboca Lifestyle and Media. If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Boca Raton and any of the surrounding cities let her help you out! Michele blogs, vlogs, posts and shares all things Boca Raton, South Florida & Beyond from events, people, food, travel, home decor, fashion, beauty and real estate! You can find more at www.soooboca.com and on all the socials @soooboca.
We love The Griddle in Boca Raton for a variety of reasons but mainly because it feels like we are at home eating breakfast, brunch or lunch!
Buzz by this “diner” that has been popular since 1945 over in East Boca Raton and you will enjoy a throwback good time to simple eating that is delicious and good! We have been going to The Griddle for years and years and always run into people we know and who have lived in Boca Raton forever…so it is fun to drop by on any given day to see your old friends and colleagues from around town
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A personal #SoooBoca fave is the biscuits and gravy with the corn beef hash and a great cup of coffee. We end up getting different things so we can share from pancakes to french toast to grilled cheese or simple plate of eggs and bacon.
For more information you can click on The Griddle for menu items that will make your mouth water and hours of operation! Hope we will meet you at The Griddle one morning too!
Voyage definition: an act or instance of traveling
Hello #SoooBoca ?
This is super cool and I can’t believe it happened! Thank you VoyageMIA for what I would call a fabulous Fall gift! When I stuck my sparkly toe into the blogging, vlogging and online media world a year ago with #SoooBoca it is stille hard to believe what has happened. So many cool things have transpired from starting this thought bubble of an idea of a local lifestyle blog about my beautiful city of Boca Raton, South Florida and Beyond! A big shout out to my daughter’s Kylie and Alle, who I fondly call
“my mills” for being part of this creative venture and journey!
I am a full time Realtor, mom of my millennial’s Kylie and Alle who are bright, my rocks and my total inspiration, wife to the Captain, marketer, lover of all things social media, addicted to vlogging and passionate about a good oaky chardonnay! We love to collab on all things Boca Raton and beyond from our travels and foodie fun…to shopping hauls, product reviews, enjoying a glass of of wine always accompanied by good laughs and smart and a sometimes sassy conversations too!
Cup Half Full Kinda Gal
Yup I am a cup half full, say YES kinda gal and my hope is that this VoyageMIA article will inspire people of all ages as I share my message which is #ageisjustanumber and #overfifty means I am just getting started baby!
The cool thing about getting to a certain age is that you either fear life or you don’t and you can decide to either go for it or be complacent. I made a choice to not be complacent. I have also made some choices about where I want to spend my time these days and the ultimate theme for me is it must bring me joy and I must be looking forward to what ever is happening.
I truly believe you can start over at any age which I did at “50” like Sally O’Malley and to be influential in a positive manner with a #givetoget mentality. Nothing gives me more joy then to collaborate with @_ohmyitskye and @hallealessiaphotography and share our world WITH the world.
When I have the opportunity to simply chat and bounce ideas off my daughters I truly gain a fresh perspective on today’s world and love to get their perspectives on ideas for this blog and social media posts. I also rely on my mastermind and business peers for a broad view on business ideas and thoughts that I can tweak and use is a variety of ways. Bottom line…find your tribe.
Find Your Tribe
I have always been an out of the box thinker personally and in today’s world it has never been easier to create a business and life you love on a shoe string budget. With the tools and training’s at one’s finger tips it a click of a computer key or tap on your phone to head to YouTube for tutorials on everything.
Although this blog is about Boca Raton, South Florida and Beyond. I meet women at my workshops, at networking events and online who frequently want a fresh start in business or some knowledge on how to start a side gig to add to their main gig and I truly believe we can all be supportive of each other and pay it forward.
Ask questions, share information and grow your gig in a manner that suits your personality and who you are! Sooo for today…this post is not so much about #SoooBoca but hopefully to encourage women from Boca and beyond to just go for it! Don’t keep looking in the rear view mirror cuz that is simply not going to propel you forward in your own ventures.
So just for today…I want you to start thinking how only YOU hold yourself back and that you really don’t have to! Thank you for embracing my…our … #SoooBoca and Beyond blog and social media channels and please share with your friends, family and colleagues…we have more to come as we move into the end of the year and into another New Year! Thank you again to VoyageMIA!
If you have ever met any of the #SoooBoca squad, you would know that it is no secret that we ABSOLUTELY love brunching! Yes, “brunching”; it is a verb, and we are experts at it! Brunch is about the destination, the conversation, the company and of course the food! It is the gathering of friends and family to break bread after a busy week and to take time to relax and enjoy the weekend…and that we did at Tanzy!
We were hosted by Tanzy Restaurant at Mizner Park for a Sunday Brunch which by the way…they offer on Saturday too which is brilliant! We had the opportunity to indulge in a few of their new brunch menu items. Can you say yum? From start to finish, it was amazing! We love the location right in Downtown Boca + you can catch a movie at iPic after you indulge! Buzz by our Facebook page for our post brunch video shenanigans!
Immediately upon our arrival, Dennis, the fabulous general manager of Tanzy greeted us warmly and lead us to our table, which by the way, was located in the MOST BEAUTIFUL dining room. You can see it if you are scrolling; it’s like dining in an enchanted forest. Before we could take a single photo (and you know how we love a good group selfie), Jeanine, our server, was popping bottles of champagne and icing them in our own personal ice bucket. To be honest, we may love champagne even more than a selfie. PS…bottomless mimosas are available and always a welcome Saturday or Sunday brunch treat!
That said, when you eat at Tanzy we hope Jeanine will be your server. Her recommendations were on point and she was even able to share the ingredients in everything we ordered (and we ordered a lot). Don’t laugh, we always have a ton of questions. She not only had the patience of a saint, but also the knowledge of a Tanzy brunch expert – her suggestions were perfect!
Not that we want to make you jealous, but check out some of the items we had to choose from: Italian donuts dusted with powdered sugar, bread baskets filled with croissants, scones and muffins, and crispy latke fries with classic dipping sauces. How crazy is that? And, these were just the appetizers. Sshhhh, don’t tell anyone, but we ordered three!!!!
We began with the heavenly ‘Crispy Latke Fries’. Can’t picture them? Imagine the marriage of a potato pancake and a french fry – a match made in heaven!! Then, we ordered the ‘Smoked Salmon Popovers’. Who doesn’t love a good popover, especially when it’s stuffed with smoked salmon and dill crème fraîche? And last, but certainly not least, we dove right into the ‘Burrata for Two’. Honestly, this was one dish we just couldn’t resist; we have been missing France & Italy a tad this month. The creamy deliciousness was paired perfectly with a poached pear and arugula dressed in pomegranate-balsamic reduction and teased with three different types of salt. Who even knew three different types of salt existed? We had sea salt, Himalayan Pink Salt (how #SoooBoca is that) and Smoked Salt. It was spectacular!
Next up were our main courses! We know, it seems insane that we ordered more food, especially because we were already stuffed, but we did. If you saw the menu you would understand our behavior.
The #SoooBoca girls selected three more dishes (never say we don’t give everything our all) and the word decadent doesn’t begin to describe them. First, we sidled on up to a breakfast classic with a twist: ‘Eggs Benedict’. This dish is totally customizable; which makes it perfect for us! Generally, it’s an English muffin, topped with an egg and hollandaise sauce. But Tanzy Eggs Benedict is not “general”. Here you have the option to choose either smoked salmon, crispy prosciutto or spinach to add to the dish.
We also couldn’t resist another savory dish – the ‘Spinach-Ricotta Gnudi with roasted mushrooms, basil pesto, gorgonzola cream and grana padano. This was not only fun to say – but also fun to eat! The noodles had the most perfect spongy texture and the cheesy sauce is, quite simply, what dreams are made of. Seriously, we would swim in a pool filled with this sauce if we could. And, get this, it was gluten free!!
After two savory dishes, we just had to go with something sweet for entree number three (but who’s counting). When the ‘Infamously Decadent French Toast,’ arrived at our table it rendered us speechless. (Yup, hard to believe if you know us.) Imagine this: brioche bread and whipped mascarpone cheese — we don’t even have words to describe it. Well, we do – it was sublime.
Obviously, after all of this we couldn’t even imagine taking another bite. But, as we were getting ready to leave Jeanine, our server extraordinaire, appeared with ‘Spiced Brown Sugar Candy Bacon.’ She told us we simply could not leave Tanzys without at least trying this crispy, spicy treat. Well, it would have been rude to decline (and the sight and smell of that bacon was irresistible), so we indulged yet again. Oh boy, was Jeanine right. It was definitely unnecessary; but so very worth it!
Clearly we ate too much. Wayyyy to much. Upon leaving we caught a glimpse of the over-the-top dessert cart, a new addition to Tanzy’s menu. It. Looked. Incredible. Not surprisingly, the #SoooBoca girls could not eat another morsel. But make no mistake, we will be back again – and this time we will start with dessert!
Just sharing our experience is making our mouths water. We cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. The service, the ambiance and the food were all spectacular. And, get this: the restaurant is even friendly to food allergies and intolerances. They truly put their customers first in every possible way. Do us a favor, check out Tanzy’s brunch, tell them the #SoooBoca gals sent you and let us know about your favorite dishes. Then, we can put them on our list for our next visit!
COCOON LOUNGE & OUTDOOR PATIO
Doesn’t the above pic look cozy? Well it is! Don’t forget you can book your private parties and events at Tanzy…we have been to several over the years and they are always terrific!
AboutTanzy Restaurant A Tuck Hospitality Group Concept
Sherry Yard’s Tanzy features Artisanal Italian cuisine with a focus on garden-fresh modern Italian flavors in a social environment to share with friends, family and colleagues. Delight in inspiring flavors where seasonal ingredients are the star in every dish, artfully prepared by melding contemporary techniques with classic Italian influences; the resulting flavor profiles are nuanced, modern and unique. Experience an unparalleled beverage program with local beers, an expertly curated wine list and stunning farm-to-glass handcrafted cocktails. Not to be missed is Executive Pastry Chef James Rosselle’s cake and dessert cart featuring Raspberry Infinity Cake and Chocolate Meringue Concord Cake! Tanzy’s Weekend Brunch includes mouthwatering offerings from Decadent French Toast to Slow-Poached Egg + Short Rib.
Disclosure: We were hosted by Tanzy Restaurant. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% our own. Information is deemed reliable at the time of this post. Please contact restaurant/business for details and information in regard to specifics, menu items and food allergy questions.
FALL FESTIVALS & EVENTS IN BOCA RATON AND SOUTH FLORIDA
The best thing about fall festivals and events in South Florida is, without a doubt, the weather! If you are looking for things to do in Boca Raton and South Florida this October we have included Halloween events in Boca Raton and Oktoberfest celebrations around Palm Beach and Broward county!
Where else can you enjoy fall festivals in shorts and a t-shirt! That said, the humidity has lessened and outdoor activities are even more enjoyable. At #SoooBoca we love everything about this season, especially Halloween. We began planning our costumes the moment candy corn appeared on store shelves.
October is chock full of fun and fabulous fall festivals and events. Below we’ve highlighted some of our favorites! Remember, you can always visit our calendar page for more info on events and festivals close to home.
Pumpkin Patches and Hayrides
Boca Pumpkin Patch Festival This family favorite is scheduled for October 19th and 20th and it promises to be better than ever before. Once again, it is located at the Mizner Park Amphitheater and will include a pumpkin patch (and decorating), corn stalk maze and scarecrow village. There will be carnival rides, live entertainment, a food court and pumpkin beer bars (YUM!). Don’t forget to grab your camera (or charge that IPhone) – there will be picture opportunities galore. Looking for more info? Check out their website.
You can’t even think “Fall Festival” without Bedner’s coming to mind – their seasonal celebration is super special. They are open weekends from September 28th – October 27th (check the website for days and times). Kids will LOVE the hayride, corn maze, animal park and bounce houses. There is even a face painter! Here’s our advice, go HUNGRY – the food is awesome. They have award winning BBQ, roasted fresh corn on the cob, homemade ice-cream, cider donuts and more!
The You Farms Pumpkin Patch is open from October 6th through October 31st – stop by and choose your favorite to help celebrate the season. Mark your calendar for the Fall Barn Sale, October 12th-13th from 10:00am -4:00pm.
Oktoberfest Celebrations
Florida Rambler.com has put together a great list for Oktoberfest celebrations and craft beer events in Florida so check out that link right here and start planning your schedule!
Are you ready for some #SoooBoca local Oktoberfest fun? Make Biergarten in Boca your destination. Throughout the month of October, this German restaurant will be celebrating! There will be live music, both inside and on the patio, outdoor events including a Whiskeyfest AND a Kidsfest! Talk about having something for everyone! Located in Downtown Boca in the Royal Palm Plaza you cannot miss seeing the festivities when you drive by on Federal Highway!
Oktoberfest Lantana begins on October 11, 2019 with the traditional Parade of Flags. The event continues through Sunday, October 20th and is packed full of fun. Visit their website for all the details and ticket information! This is a #SoooBoca favorite – if you have ever seen us do the chicken dance you can thank this festival for the lessons! We are looking forward to celebrating again this year- the food and drink are to die for and the events (including a full carnival for adults and kids alike) are truly awesome! Get ready now for lots of music, cloggers and even beer keg tapping.
And, as long as beer is a topic of focus, check out our blog on breweries in Boca and around Palm Beach and Broward counties for more Oktoberfest events in our area! Our list is fluid…LOL Have you been someplace new and exciting? Let us know and we will add it (and visit it too)!!
Celebrating its four year anniversary, Halloween at the Addison Boca Raton is back and promises to be better than ever! #SoooBoca has celebrated at this event for the past two years. The evening is, in a word, Beyond!! The venue is one of our favorite places in Boca, it’s historic, beautiful and elegant.
Halloween at the Addison was voted “Event of the Year” by Boca Magazine and they are poised for a repeat! This year’s theme is sooo cool – “Neon Nights”. We cannot wait to glow in the dark with everyone on October 31st. This promises to be over-the-top in every way. We cannot wait to enjoy the decor, food, drinks and entertainment.
Doors open at 7:30. Get your tickets now! Cost is $125 for general admission and $250 for VIP tickets. While all tickets include food, entry, open bar and super entertainment, VIPs are provided a three course table side dinner, champagne bottle service and complimentary valet parking. Dinner menus for both tickets prices are available on their website – our mouths are already watering. We can’t wait to celebrate with you and hope to see you there!
It’s the 15th anniversary of Shriek Week in Boca! If you have kids, this family friendly Halloween event is a must see!
October 18th, 19th and 24th, 25th and 26th are the dates, so mark your calendars! This year’s haunted house theme is “Ghouls Gold- A Pirate’s Wreckage”. The Haunted House is open October 18th, 19th, 25th and 26th from 6:00 – 10:30pm. Have little ones,? Consider visiting on October 24th from 5:00 -9:00pm for Lite Night – it’s less scary!!
Additional attractions include an Alien Lab Haunted Walkthrough, Glow-in-the-Dark Carnival Games, Trackless Train Rides, Animal Encounters, Giant Light-Up Robot Show, “Star Force” Magic Shows, Mystery Marketplace and Family Activities, Food, Carousel Rides and a FREE Trick or Treat Trail. Visit their website for more details including admission and participation fees.
Additional Halloween Events
The Locale
The Locale – Let’s Celebrate a Ghoulishly Time TRICK or TREAT? Halloween Party with Live Dj and Live Band OCTOBER 26th, SATURDAY – FROM 10PM – 2AM
YMCA Boca Raton
Grab Your Favorite Costume and head to Halloween at the Y! Little ghosts and goblins are invited to come and join us for our Annual Halloween at the Y event! This safe and fun family event features games, hayrides, haunted houses, Trick or Treating and more spooky fun! STAY TUNED FOR 2019 HALLOWEEN AT THE Y EVENT ACTIVITIES TO BE ANNOUNCED! Peter Blum Family YMCA of Boca Raton 6631 Palmetto Cir S, Boca Raton, FL.
Join us for a Halloween Bash the Saturday before Halloween. Wear your spookiest for our costume party! And feel free to bring your Pup along too! 3-5 Pet Costume Contest. 8-11PM Adult Costume Contest (Couples, Individuals, Teams). Prizes will be given to the best costumes in each category! Featuring a DJ and a SECRET Beer Release!
From Miamihauntedhouses.com: Featuring over 19,000 square feet, Enigma Haunt offers two floors of terror for thrill seekers to wander through! 1751 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton, Florida
We hope you enjoy all the fun fall festivals and events happening around Boca Raton and South Florida this Fall. Remember to please confirm with the event details by going directly to the event website in regard to details, dates, times, price and location.
Disclosure: We have been given complimentary event tickets to Halloween at The Addison. For more details on sponsorship’s and collaborations please see this post here.
Michele is a South Florida Realtor, based in Boca Raton, Florida, serving surrounding cities, and the founder of #Soooboca Lifestyle and Media. She and her daughters blog, vlog, post and share all things Boca Raton, South Florida & Beyond from events, people, food, travel, home decor, fashion, beauty and real estate! You can find more at www.soooboca.com and on all the socials @soooboca.
Have you discovered South Inlet Beach in Boca Raton? It is gorgeous, one of our personal faves, a little quiet and somewhat private and there is sooo much to see! We love to watch the boats coming in and out of the inlet, the people walking out on the jetty, the sea life as you walk along the beach, collecting seashells and of course people fishing along the inlet. This jewel of a beach is located at 1100 S. Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton, Florida just south of Camino Real on A1A. PS…want to know the current Boca Raton beach conditions are? Just call 561-629-8775. There are always different events and activities happening at the beaches in Boca Raton so buzz by our calendar page.
(Quick update as of 9/8/18: The Camino Real Bridge is under renovation as of this post so Palmetto Park Bridge, Spanish River Bridge to the north or Hillsboro Blvd Bridge in Deerfield Beach are open check with the City of Boca Raton for future bridge updates)
We love to run over with a big beach blanket, our Lilly Pulitzer for Target towels, our cheap beach chairs, some cold beverages and have a simple lunch and some snacks and take a break from the worries of the day. Did you know there are picnic areas, grills, a playground and the historic pavilion area that you can rent (where we have had many a party). We are sooo lucky to have miles and miles of beach in Boca Raton to choose from so you should take the time to buzz by our southernmost public beach in Boca Raton.
ESHLEMAN PAVILION HISTORY
Historically known as the Porte Cochere, this architectural remnant from the 1930s once stood at the Cabana Club’s western entrance, at the center of a structure that provided covering for vehicles discharging passengers. In 1981, the Porte Cochere was moved one-third of a mile north from its original location to South Inlet Park. It was placed on Palm Beach County’s Registry of Historic Places on November 17, 1997 and eventually renamed Eshleman Pavilion in honor of Dennis Eshleman, former Director of the Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation Department. (Courtesy PalmBeach.org)
Our family has had a few memorable birthday parties right at this beautiful and historic pavilion at South Inlet Beach and you too can coordinate gatherings and events. For deets on this fabulous “county” park on the beach in the city of Boca Raton (yes you read that correctly) just click here for to contact the county.
FYI: Boca Raton Beach Parking – there are parking meters at our beaches and typically some shady spots to choose from.
Parking Fee at South Inlet Park
Automated parking payment process (kiosks)
Cars- $3 per hour (weekdays), $4 per hour (weekends & holidays)
Buses- $7 per hour (weekdays), $9 per hour (weekends & holidays)
By the way here is a little tip if you want to extend your time when you are using any parking meters around Boca Raton:
Keep your receipt with you. Don’t put it on the dash as you are not required to do that. Then if you want to extend your time, go to ANY parking meter location in the City. You will be required to enter your parking space number, select the amount of parking time, and make a payment.
There are a variety of ways to help get your home sold for highest and best price in any market! I have put together 13 tips to help you sell your home fast and many items can be completed in just a day or two!
Of course choosing the right agent is a great start! Listening to sound advice on price and prepping your home is key.
Pricing
Reviewing comparable reports based on what has sold in your community recently is a great way to gage your home value. I for one will never understand why a seller wants to hit the ground running with a comparable home yet at a higher price then the last sale.
(2021- markets do change and as an update to this post, we are in a historical seller’s market, but these tips all lead to a highest and best price and hopefully a successful closing for you.)
Did you know that one of the first things I hear from agents and buyers when either looking at one of my listings or if I am showing a property is “how long has it been on the market”. The longer a property sits is not a good situation for a seller when it comes to negotiating a price or terms. Put yourself in a buyer’s shoes and you will completely get it. So lets stop overpricing and lets do “smart” pricing.
One option for sellers if you don’t trust the comps that the agent provides, is to pay for an appraisal. Now an appraisal is only one persons opinion based on the comps but in many cases it backs up what a good agent has shared with the home seller. If a property is unique or doesn’t fall into the neighborhood norm ie. wood frame in a CBS construction community then perhaps having an appraisal done makes sense. It can certainly be used as leverage during negotiations and the cost is fairly reasonable and should not be overlooked.
It is key to really take a look at what marketing will be done including Facebook Ads and video marketing. WHY…because they get a ton of views and engagement with the consumer. Social media is where it is at including the added marketing piece of podcasts, YouTube and “live” videos from your property.
The days of the standard “open house” have definitely slowed due to safety and theft concerns. However, the uptick and solution is having a “virtual” open house. Pre market it as an event and invite everyone you know to take a tour from the comfort of their home computer, their smart phone or office. WOW…bet many of you were not aware of this newer marketing technique. Want to hear more just email, call or text me I would be happy to share my marketing plan with you.
Photography
Professional photos!! There is no reason not to see professionally done photos of a home these days. Yes I know my Iphone 8+ takes fabulous photos BUT in most cases an agent should have professional photos and if possible some drone footage (if applicable and allowed). A video on YouTube that has the key word searches set up properly and something that can be shared on Instagram, Facebook and in a quick text message to prospective buyer.
Lets face it slapping a listing on the MLS and nothing else is simply not acceptable these days and any listing agent you hire should have the heart and skill of a marketer. Ask questions and look for solid and plentiful reviews on Zillow, Facebook, Google, Yelp and Realtor.com just to name a few.
Staging
Stage and de-clutter. Before you even list your property you need to look at it with a critical eye and think to yourself if you would like to see a cat litter box if you were touring your home or the ugly brown lounge chair in the den that takes up half the room or the dated and northern colored comforter set on that very Florida bed? The answer of course is NO!
For the love of Pete (whoever Pete is) listen to your agent and hop on Pinterest for staging ideas or hire a stager to help you out. In many cases a great stager can use furniture you already have and bring in a few show pieces to create a fabulous sitting area and brighten the mood of a home. Did you know a staged home in many cases sells for more money? Take that to the bank friends.
Lets talk about this one. You cannot always blame the listing agent 100% if you don’t take his or her advice. If you get the same advice from professionals the listing agent provides to you about price, home decor, window coverings, knick knacks, size of furniture or all over dated theme of your home then of course your property might not be very desirable to a home buyer. Coupled with ignoring price suggestions based on recent sales and feedback from agents who have shown your property you simply have to take some responsibility for the property expiring and not selling. Finally it is possible that in some cases you may have hired the wrong agent. It happens.
Tips for Home Sellers
More Tips That You Can Use
Here are some tips for you as you think about re listing your home and don’t forget… your goal is to make your property stand out against the competition and get it under contract for the highest and best price :
Can you move furniture around and or out of the house
Handle the pet odors
Get the bed in a bag and replace the old comforters in all bedrooms (white if possible)
Make sure the patio is staged and decluttered
At the end of the day please remember your end game is to present your property in the best light and to sell it not sit on it! The first few days are key once it hits the market. When markets shift you must be ready to hit the ground running!! Looking for updated home value or what kind of equity you have in your property click here!
I hope this is helpful to you and I know you may have lots of questions, so contact me directly with any questions you have and if you would like my professional opinion on your property I am happy to meet with you. In the meantime if you need an update on home value click on this FREE REPORT
About Michele Bellisari
Michele is a South Florida Realtor, based in Boca Raton, Florida, serving surrounding cities, and the founder of #Soooboca Lifestyle and Media. If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Boca Raton and any of the surrounding cities let her help you out! Michele blogs, vlogs, posts and shares all things Boca Raton, South Florida & Beyond from events, people, food, travel, home decor, fashion, beauty and real estate! You can find more at www.soooboca.com and on all the socials @soooboca.
#SoooBoca took a ride up to Jupiter just to the north of beautiful Boca to buzz by the Gretchen Scott Designs store in the Intracoastal Plaza just off Indiantown Road. There is simply nothing like spending a Saturday with my gal pal and fellow Realtor with RE/Max, Sue “Pinky” Benson of “Pinky Knows Naples” with RE/Max Dream to do some shopping and social media socializing at this fabulous boutique! And PS…if you love rainbows and all things color you will love this store! Time to get my “dress for success” vibe on!
All I kept thinking as I walked into this pretty store was the colors are sooo popping! I kept saying they remind me of popsicle colors…vibrant, fun and fashion forward! If you love pinks, oranges, lime greens, yellows, turquoises and deep passionate colors of the spectrum then you will feel like your walked into a rainbow!
Clearly this is my style and my color palette. Some of my faves include the Ruffneck tops and dresses, the Tassle Tie tops, Mini Me collections and of course I always am a sucker for home decor and fun items like earrings, t-shirts, passport covers, beach bags, belts and luggage tags! There truly is something for everyone in Gretchen Scott Designs.
Sue has raved about the clothes at Gretchen Scott Designs since I met her and as she says, ” What I love about Gretchen Scott designs besides the fabulous Florida colors and designs, is I adore the ‘pack’ ability of the clothes. I’m on always on the go, so having nice dresses I can dress up or down, and not have to iron is a major “pinky” plus! I loved the quaintness of this store. It’s in a great location in Jupiter, close to lots of fun things to do. Definitely something a shopper should put on their must do list when in town.” I could not agree with her more!
Gretchen Scott has a wonderful program that gives back to the local community called TUNICS FOR TURTLES benefiting the The Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Jupiter which promotes the conservation of Florida’s coastal ecosystems with a special focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. All proceeds from the Turtle Tides Tunics sold at the Gretchen Scott Signature Jupiter store are donated to the center. (from her site)
In case you are not familiar with Jupiter it truly is a fabulous place in the sun at the north end of Palm Beach County. As a write this it is 89 degrees and sunny in beautiful Jupiter which overlooks the Loxahatchee River. There is plenty to do in Jupiter as it is simply a special town that is an active community from sunrise to sunset . I used to work there frequently in my former life as a pharmaceutical rep and got to know this lovely town very well. Great food, events and that Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse is a beacon in the community. Of course anyone that is old enough to remember the Smokey and the Bandit movies also knows the Burt Reynolds had his ranch here forever!
There is truly a ton to do here from Jupiter’s Dog Beach, Carlin Park, Roger Dean Stadium, Juno Beach, the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary and Blowing Rock Preserve just to name a few. So think about a daycation or staycation in and around Palm Beach county this year!
Who Is Gretchen Scott (from her site)
Her mantra is, “Laugh More; Gripe Less; Ignore Critics; Say Yes; Order Dessert; Love Life ®.”
She has traveled the world, “looking and hoping always to see – really see.” She is convinced that is what makes for great design, “knowledge of what exists, along with a wide open view of it – coupled with the ability to interpret it cleverly.”Gretchen sells to over 1000 retail outlets and has three of her own signature stores – Naples, Jupiter, Charleston and Southampton!
Gretchen currently lives in Bronxville, New York, with her husband, a cat, a dog and many birds. A zoo lover, she created a tiny one for herself. She is the proud mother of a beyond fabulous daughter, who is all grown up and a Marketing Director.
Summer and dancing is in full swing in fabulous Boca Raton! #SoooBoca and Modern Boca Mom were thrilled to have the opportunity to meet and interview Dancing with the Stars pro’s Maks Chmerkovkskiy, Val Chmerkovskiy and Tony Dovolani in an exclusive “Facebook Live” sesh at the VIP reception for the grand opening of their Dance With Me Studios Boca Raton. This is the newest “star” in their dance studio venture that is proudly shining brightly at Town Center Mall in Boca Raton and the 12th studio they have opened, the first in Florida.
#SoooBoca with Maks and Tony
The who’s who of #SoooBoca were thrilled to be at the VIP party for the public ribbon cutting with these Dancing With the Stars professionals. The dance enthusiasts and fans turned out to celebrate the grand opening of Dance With Me Boca Raton at the elegantly appointed ballroom (formerly the Lilly Pulitzer storefront) which was overflowing with locals, cool little plastic covers for your heels, champagne, delish passed lite bites, dancing and photo opps with Maks, Val and Tony.
John and Bonnie Kaye with Maks Chmerkovskiy and Tony Dovolani
Turns out not only does the studio offer a variety of private/group dance lessons and packages but they also teach and choreograph that nervous bride and groom for their their first dance, offer corporate team building and wellness events, shows and entertainment, dancesport competitions, dance fitness and wheelchair dance lessons. The website below has detailed information and you can even rent the ballroom out for special events.
Of course the question of the evening was why Boca? We clearly know why we love Boca and why other businesses love Boca and it seems that Tony, Maks and Val have been coming to beautiful Boca Raton and South Florida for quite some and they love the vibe, the community and the opportunity to share their love and talent of dance with our community. Now I don’t know about you but there are sooo many types of dances to learn I had to ask Maks and Val what is the most popular dance requested and of course they elegantly did not skip a beat and declared it is the rhumba! Who knew! Click on the video to see entire interview.
For more information visit www.dancewithmeusa.com or call the Boca Raton studio at Town Center Mall (561) 500-0601.
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#SoooBoca loves everything beauty — we are hair salon snobs, makeup obsessors and all around beauty freaks and we do love a good lunch! In April, thanks to the fabulous Alle Bee (HalleAlessiaPhotography) we were lucky enough to be hosted by PurStrands Salon & PurGreens for a fun morning.
Everything at PurStrands Salon was a delight, from the moment we walked in the door we were greeted with pleasant smiles, hellos and cheek kisses. The salon is truly spectacular with a modern feel that exudes warmth and style.
The lovely Nicolette offered to give us the grand tour of the entire operation as it does encompass 3 businesses and were surprised to see that the “Pur” brand takes up a large portion of the first floor street level of The Mark in Downtown Boca. The “Pur” brand encompasses the hair salon, an incredible gym called Purlife Fitness and the delicious PurGreens health food cafe.
The PurLife Fitness Center is between the hair salon and cafe at this trifecta lifestyle brand so you can workout, get a healthy meal and also get your hair done…gotta love the simplicity of parking just one time!
After our tour we were ready for our blowouts… but before we could even head to the spa like shampoo room we had a glass of bubbly in our hands and chatted about the products that they carry and those ceiling hung blow dryers!
First up was our own #SoooBoca birthday girl Kylie of Oh My Its Kye — they whisked her off to shampoo and condition her hair which we can all agree is the best part of getting your hair done…extremely relaxing — can we talk about that head massage tho?! Next step was the chair — our stylist was completely adorable and sweet, offering great conversation, hair tips and an amazingly efficient and stylish blowout!
Our lovely lunch from PurGreens was the perfect touch and the #SoooBoca girls enjoyed a delicious Hummus and Avocado Wrap and Kale Chicken Sweet Potato Salad — it was a lovely light luncheon for this hungry squad.
The hair salon stylists and staff could not have been nicer to us. By the way did you know that can choose between the Downtown Boca Raton salon or go the the one in Downtown Delray Beach. PurStrands carries a variety of products including Goldwell color, Kms and Ouidad and we were pleased to be able to meet owner, top stylist and make-up artist Bethany Bartlett-Tomko who made us feel right at home.
Not only is Bethany an incredible entrepreneur but she is also an IFBB Bikini Pro and fitness model which lead her and her husband Travis, who is a personal trainer and former professional wrestler to create Purlife Fitness. Sooo now you know!
We all agree that the head massage during the shampoo portion of our sessions were life changing! The timing of our outing was terrific since the squad had places to be and to be seen that evening! Michele Bee was speaking at the Association of Women in Communications about reinventing yourself and your business at any age and then it was a celebration of Kylie’s birthday. After all was said and done we left PurStrands feeling like a true #girlbosses strolling through the Downtown Boca streets.
We cannot say enough amazing things about the PurLife brand, the team truly treated us like royalty, it was hard to leave! It’s safe to say #SoooBoca will be BACK! Thank you to all who made our special day even better!
2 PurStrands Locations to Serve You
9 Plaza Real S Suite 115, Boca Raton, FL 33432 (561) 826-4576
Disclosure: We received complimentary salon services and product in exchange for this post. All opinions are our own. Photos compliments: PurStrands, Alle Bellisari, Michele Bellisari. No monetary compensation has been received.
October 28, 2018 is the Boca Raton Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Mizner Park. Please consider joining our virtual team and or donating to find a cure! Fundraising Page
I’m walking to help reclaim the future for millions. By participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, I’m committed to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research, care and support. Please consider joining our #SoooBoca Team in 2018 and lets knock out this insidious disease!
My Bubbie passed away from Alzheimer’s and that is one of the reasons I am involved in all things Alzheimer’s here in Boca Raton and South Florida. I specialize with seniors that are downsizing and many times one of the reasons they are having to move to assisted living or in with family is because of Alzheimer’s.
Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this disease.
I need your support to do my part! Please make a donation to help the Alzheimer’s Association advance research into methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure for Alzheimer’s. For the millions already affected by the disease, the Association offers care, education, support and resources in communities nationwide.
Thank you for joining the movement! The end of Alzheimer’s disease starts with you. You can follow our fundraising efforts on Instagram
We want to thank Kylie Bellisari of OhMyItsKye (subscribe and follow her) for sharing her fabulous 10 Books to Read This Summer reading list for 2018. She is in and out of many airports and frankly who doesn’t love browsing the shops in airports for that perfect book to read on a flight. Reading is something we enjoy…it is relaxing…we learn … we deep dive…we laugh and we cry depending on the book and author. Since we are a mom and millennials some of our taste overlaps and some doesn’t.
As the mom I actually really love audio books and podcasts these days more than a soft back book but that love of knowledge and taking some time to just drift away into another world that an author places us in is truly one of summer’s greatest gifts to all who love to read. So take a scroll and please share a favorite book you enjoy or if you see something here you like click on our Summer 2018 link to order your own book, Audible or Kindle version. Love to go to the library? Check out our local calendar page for links to the library!
Kylie’s favvys from 2017 for you to catch up on!
1. The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho. Topping your list is a fable of self discovery and fate. It is the perfect read for the fleeting heart. A book about always chasing the next best thing, it is a tale built for the wanderlust soul.
2. Nightingale – Kristin Hannah. Uhm what..pretty sure this is the best book I have ever read. EVER. If you historical settins, war torn countries and a strong heroine. This is the book for you. Read it. Love it. Become it. Oh and cry at the end because omg.
3. The Woman in Cabin Ten – Ruth Ware. Yup this is a good one. Like what the actual heck. The twists and turns in this novel are so groovy you’ll die. I died. Amaze balls.
4. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me(And Other Concerns) – Mindy Kaling. Holy moly this one is completely hilarious. If you are looking for a light hearted read this is your pick! So relatable you will be shaking your head at all the poor decisions you have made in your life.
5. A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khaled Hosseini – Khaled narrates the heartbreaking realities of growing up in Kabul as a women through this fiction tale. Read along silently as you watch two women conquer their world without even speaking a word.
6. Orphan Train – Christina Baker Kline. Uhm.. I basically swallowed this one whole. Heartbreaking history of the United States that even you don’t know. This book is beautiful and perfect and sad in so many ways.
7. What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding – Kristin Newman. I mean LOL just read the title..you get the point. This memoir is equal parts hilarious and inspiring. Perfect for any woman who is dying to travel but also to be independent and strong. Just yes to everything about this book.
8. All The Missing Girls – Megan Miranda. Another twisty turner that I could not get enough of. Doesn’t every teenager leave home in hopes of forgeting everything that ever happened there? You will love love love love it. I’m a thriller junkie .. not sure if you could tell yet?
9. Looking For Alaska – John Green. John Green makes reading enjoyable and easy. His first book Looking For Alaska stretches the idea of the ‘Great Perhaps’ and has everyone questioning how far their limit may be. A sweetly, sad stories that will make your heart fall into a thousand pieces.
10. Girl Boss – Sophia Amoruso. Get your inner business mogul jump started with this freaking awesome read. A true tale of Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso will have you feeling hella inspired and make you want to be you 100% authentic self with full faith that you will come out on top!
And this ladies and gents is your complete list of 2018 reads! Enjoy & please let me know if you’ve already got a jump start on some of my favorites! Currently in the process of accumulating 2019’s list! Yippie <3
xx Kye
I’m Kye a 20-something year old blogger who has been flying the friendly skies for the last three years and backpacking to cover as much of this beautiful earth as possible. I am up to 27 countries by independent travel and close to 15 more through my job as a flight attendant!
I’m an adventure seeker and love getting the nitty gritty of a city. I’m happiest when I’m on the road eating and learning about the places I visit! Follow me along my journey and ask questions along the way! If you like what you’re reading be sure to leave a comment or drop in on my contact page to send me a private message! I’m happy to answer any traveling questions you may have!
Make sure you LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to my channels! xx Kye
Wow!! What a fabulous few days for the “Sisterhood of the Pink Hard Hats” volunteers for the Habitat for Humanity South Palm Beach County 2018 Women Build right before Mother’s Day Weekend!
#SoooBoca was fortunate enough to drop by and see what was happening at the construction site and hospitality tents and to see what the volunteers and sponsors were up to…which was a ton!
Want to get involved with Habitat? Click on this link and check out their Facebook page for more pictures and event volunteer and sponsor opps! Click Habitat for Humanity South Palm Beach County
You have to watch this informative, loud and fun video where I had the opportunity to interview Kari Oeltjen – Chief Development Officer, Habitat for Humanity SPBC, Jeff Fengler – Construction Director, Habitat for Humanity SPBC and Bonnie Kaye – Kaye Communications. I also got some great footage of these ladies in full on build mode! I captured just a tiny bit of the 3 days but boy was I impressed!
Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity:
Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County “Women Build” is a hands-on fundraising event in which individual empowered Women Builders each raise or contribute $1,000 each toward much needed funds to build a home for a hard-working, low income family in our community who is in need of simple, decent, affordable housing.
Team Kaye Comm
Empowered Women Builders may invite their friends and colleagues to also become Women Builders (each with their own $1,000 fundraising or giving commitment) to join up as a named Team, but everyone is still responsible for their own minimum commitment of $1,000. Women Builders can hold receptions to raise funds, do social media campaigns, etc.
Awards and recognition are given to the Women Builders who raise the most funds toward the home.
One of the best parts is each Women Builder participates in one half day of building that works best with her schedule. Women Builders earn their “Pink Hard Hats” and are invited to events throughout the year where they are recognized for being a member of the “Sisterhood of the Pink Hard Hats”.
Sisterhood of the Pink Hard Hats
The funds raised during Women Build sponsor the materials needed for the home. Women Build brings together women leaders to build a home for a hard-working family in the South Florida community.
House Build in Boynton Beach
About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.
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Welcome to #SoooBoca! Please subscribe!
As a South Florida and Boca based Realtor, entrepreneur, mom and wife I vlog, along with my daughters Kylie and Alle, about the#SoooBoca & Boca Raton lifestyle! Please subscribe, hit the notification button and you will be notified each week with our latest video uploads. Here is what you will see:
Today is all about luck! Good luck, bad luck, found luck, luck at the end of a rainbow, lucky charms, signs that bring luck…you name it! When it comes to selling a home there are many rituals, superstitions and lengths sellers (and Realtors) will go to get a home sold. So lets get to it…will the St. Joseph statue really help you sell your home in record time?
I interviewed Realtors and home sellers this week and they shared what works for them to help bring them buyers… so here are my Five in the Hive tips on luck:
1.St. Joseph Statue is the #1 response I got when I asked my sellers and other Realtors what brought them luck when selling a property! The Patron Saint of Real Estate buried a variety of ways in in a variety of locations, this $10.00 statue seems to be the most popular method to bring luck to a home seller and a listing. A prayer is said upon burying St. Joseph and once the home sells it is dug up and cleaned up and put in a special place to be honored inside your new home.
2. Smudging your home with sage…yup…smudging is an age-old method where you walk around your home saying an Indian prayer and keeping one window open to let bad vibes, negative energy and old arguments fly out the window thus clearing the house of all that old crap and opening your home up to good energy, vibes and a contract on your home.
3. Is Feng Shui your lucky charm? Buyers like the feeling of balance and calm when they look at homes and Feng Shui is a great way to open up energy and bring a little luck to your home showings. Clearing clutter and having 7 lemons in a bowl for luck to clear out negative juju are popular techniques to help bring you luck in selling your home.
4. Maybe Psychic assistance is the route for you to find luck! According to an article written by Lew Sichelman “sticky emotions and anti-sale energy” can hamper you selling your home. But no worries, just hire your local psychic or witch to cast a spell on your home to help it sell fast and for a great price!
5. Old school but still considered a lucky charm for many is simply baking a tray of chocolate chip cookies. The aroma might entice a buyer to fall in love with your home…hold on though…what if someone doesn’t like the sweet smell of baked goods?
Plan Bee (and my preferred method) is build on the lifestyle you are selling now that will bring you luck baby! Coastal living is my thing personally and my locale so anything that I can use that reminds a buyer of the ocean, the beach and South Florida is my “lucky charm”. That might be fragrance, bringing some palm fronds into the house and putting in a flower vase, having sea shells out…you get my drift.
I believe we do make our own luck and sometimes we do need to search for luck and pray for luck! One last, but very important piece to this post and a bonus Five in the Hive tip would be, hire a fabulous Realtor with a track record to bring you luck!
This post was written during the fun St. Patricks Day time of year! May the “luck of the Irish” be with you today and always! Happy home selling!
My March wanderlust playlist is up. Make sure you stop by Spotify to start listening ASAP! These are all the jams I cannot get enough of this month! One full hour of listening pleasure. I’m not loyal to any one style of music, so you’ll hear a little bit of everything in this playlist. It is a perfect mix for working out or airplane listening! Don’t forget to follow my travels on Instagram!
The #SoooBoca 12 Months of Giving page for March is dedicated to Parkland, Florida and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. For those victims, families and friends and all those affected by the shooting February 14th, 2018. For those that may not know this Parkland is about 15 -20 minutes from Boca. We have driven by the school for years traveling up and down the Sawgrass Expressway and we are all close knit communities in spirit and also cross over each other with events, sports, play dates and school. We are heartbroken.
We have included links to Facebook pages, events, memorials and charities that are happening or ongoing. Please let us know if you have something coming up so we can add it to our #SoooBoca Facebook events section. May peace be with all.
For the Hixons, benefiting the family of athletic director Chris Hixon, $13,822 from 300 donors
Joaquin Oliver, benefiting family of Joaquin Oliver, $10,980 from 131 donors
The George Snow Scholarship Fund is very excited to announce that through an extremely generous donation from Ann and John Wood and their FairfaxWood Scholarship Foundation, we are now able to offer college scholarships to deserving graduating seniors at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
In initiating the “Marjory Stoneman Douglas Scholarship Fund”, the Wood family wishes to inspire others to bring a ray of hope to the students of this devastated school. Their goal is to help these students that are left with broken hearts and spirits an opportunity to obtain a college scholarship.
The Wood Family invites others in the community to donate a partial or full scholarship to the current seniors.
Applications for this year’s awards are now available at our website at www.scholarship.org.
Parking: FREE onsite parking Security: Bag check will be at the entrance. Small purses are recommend as large purses or back packs will not be permitted.
Sooo…this happened! Guess who was featured on Modern Boca Mom for Mompreneur Monday? Yup this mom of millennials!
Thanks to our friend Michele Olson Rogers who has a fantastic blog that is for the stylish and modern South Florida mommy.
You can click on the link here to read about my story and to get to know other wonderful “mompreneurs” in Boca Raton and South Florida!
Because #SoooBoca is all about collaborating whether with my millennial daughters, other bloggers, businesses or mompreneurs we sooo appreciate the lovely share from our friend!
If you are interested in learning more about #SoooBoca and the mompreneur life check out our YouTube channel and subscribe for regular videos about #SoooBoca!
#SoooBoca was in sparkle heaven like a kid in a candy store at Jay Feder Jewelers exclusive media event to introduce their divine jewels and beautiful store with an oh sooo cool vibe to some of us in the community…like moi! I was able to play princess for a few hours picking and choosing necklaces, bracelets, rings and bling to try on and showcase.
Between the signature champagne cocktail with edible gold, the delicious Kosher food prepared by their private chef, that short rib tho… and oh yes… the enormous 23 carat $1.5 million dollar Colombian emerald ring I had on my finga I was simply bedazzled.
If Boca “pink” is your thing just check out this gorgeous neck bling … simply stunning! I can think of a million and one places to wear this gorgeous piece!
Compliments of #SoooBoca
Truly thrilled that Marc, Devorah and their beautiful family have created such a stunning and special store in a familiar “Old Boca” location at The Boardwalk (Powerline and 18th). I love the history behind Jay Feder Jewelers, which includes the Boca store, a New York City location and the flagship store based in Denver which was started by Marc’s father 40 years ago! Having grown up in the business Marc had acquired all the GIA certifications by the age of 19 which in itself is impressive…although bringing a 4 carat diamond to show in tell in the second grade is a pretty impressive feat too!
Compliments Jay Feder Jewelers
Marc and Devorah took over the helm of Jay Feder Jewelers in 2009 and have never looked back. This couple simply has a passion for what they do and have a complete understanding of what their customers needs and desires are. Whether a $1000.00 pair of diamond stud earrings to searching the world for an elusive stone or piece of estate jewelry for their clients you know you are in good and caring hands with the the Jay Feder team. Not to mention they have 10,000 diamonds available to pick and choose from at the Boca location.
I was also impressed to find out that Devorah has a sixth sense when discovering new and untapped jewelry designers globally. Jay Feder Jewelers has 20 designer lines to choose from including Suzanne Kalen, Victor Velyan, Aletto Brothers, Roule and five international lines such as Kavant & Sharart and Valentine International from France. Sooo many choices!
Compliments Jay Feder Jewelers
What makes this store unique is that customers become family. From the moment I walked into their store I felt the warm and inviting vibe they have created that makes shopping for something special simply a fantastic experience. To be part of those very special moments in someones life are what makes Mark & Devorah happiest and you can see that excitement when speaking to them about their business!
The Feders usually open wine and serve drinks Thursday night as that is Jay Feder Jewelers late night when they have so many clients who just come to talk and relax. The lounge area features a 500-gallon saltwater tank with a fascinating array of seahorses, comfortable couches and chairs, coffee, cold drinks, a large flat screen television, gourmet chocolates and snacks.
Whether for Valentines Day, a special occasion or just because you deserve it make sure you drop by Jay Feder Jewelers for a most enjoyable and exceptional jewelry buying experience.
#whosyourjeweler
Jay Feder Jewelers is located at 6859 SW 18th St. in Boca Raton. The store is open Monday through Friday from 9am-6pm, and closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Disclosure: We were invited to this private media event. No monetary compensation has been received for this post.
Whether you are a Realtor with a new listing or a homeowner attempting to sell your home on your own as a For Sale By Owner there is some risk involved when having an open house. In order to have a safe and successful open house experience you might enjoy the tips I have included in this post.
Recently I was alerted to thieves distracting agents and homeowners at open houses in South Florida. While this is not new it is not going away any time soon. Open houses can be another way for unsavory thieves to “check-out” different neighborhoods and target homes to break into at a later date.
If you plan to do an open house please do not do your open house alone…period!
In today’s social media and online world you simply do not know who has seen your “Open House” promo. I have included open house safety tips from the Chicago Association of Realtors geared towards agents holding an open house but same holds true if you are are trying to sell For Sale By Owner or FSBO. Just read between the lines. For entire article just click here.
In addition being safe here are a few quick tips to hold a successful open house:
Mix old school marketing with new school social media marketing
Declutter
Deep Cleaning
Colorful flyers
Ipad for a sign in
Lots of light
Upbeat and soft music
Waters and some lite snacks
Invite the neighbors
Do not hold an open house alone
Open House Safety Tips
Open House Safety Tips for Sellers and Agents
Remind sellers to put their valuables away and in a safe and secure location.
Greet visitors and be aware of your surroundings
Creating a sign in sheet or ipad sign up helps you get to know buyers and note anyone suspicious who comes by
Walk behind any visitors and avoid rooms that are small, the basement, walk in closet or any place you could be trapped
Keep your cell phone with you at all times. Set up times for someone to call you and text you.
Have friends or co-workers drop by during the open house.
Having a two way conversation with visitors like asking if they are pre approved is fine.
Good luck and stay safe!
PS… I use a multitude of cutting edge ways to market homes I have listed. Open houses are low on my “marketing” list because I leverage and use social media, live video and digital ways to showcase my listed properties to attract a pre approved buyers. Lets face it…shouldn’t it really be a second showing by the time someone comes to see a property if online visuals are compelling, on point and the description is not a snooze fest? Interestingly I am finding more and more of my home sellers are not keen on the Sunday open house very much these days. That being said Broker Opens are still popular within our industry for Realtors and Realtor caravans to preview. For more articles click on my here.
I hope this video inspires you to make some vacation plans in the Florida Keys. The #SoooBoca Squad I included a few links so please do your own due diligence. Daycation, staycation, weddings and more happening in our beautiful Florida Keys!
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If you are thinking of planning a getaway, no matter what time of the year, you really should consider a trip to the Florida Keys. From the Key Largo, to Islamorada, Marathon and Key West, there are a variety of towns for you to visit and play at from the top of the Florida Keys to the southern most point!
Check out my home away from home Key Largo as well as Tavernier, Islamorada, parts of the lower Keys including Marathon and Key West! Visit some of our favorite spots like Snappers, Snooks, and Bayside Grille in Key Largo. Here is a link to Fodors for Florida Keys restaurants please just double check who is open.
I have been going to the Florida Keys since the late 1980’s when I had an overnight date, and my first rum runner, with my soon to be husband. We listened to Jimmy Buffett before his song “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and did some offshore fishing!
I have never forgotten that feeling I had crossing over from Dade to Monroe County and literally felt a shift in myself…a calm came over me…it was the strangest thing and I just kept on coming back!
We love Key Largo and the Florida Keys with all our hearts and we have a little weekender there. It is a short drive for us from Boca Raton but I think the Florida Keys should be on every traveler’s bucket list. It is very special.
We spend more time in the Upper Keys but have tapped into our friends who live, work and play in all the Keys and fishing charter boats need clients to come and fish, hotels need guests, restaurants need foodies so consider making your way out of the cold weather or day trip to to the Florida Keys in 2018!
Michele is a South Florida Realtor, based in Boca Raton, Florida, serving surrounding cities, and the founder of #Soooboca Lifestyle and Media. She writes on what is happening around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, South Florida and Beyond. If you are thinking of making a move here or moving within the area “One Call Handles It All” when you work with Michele. You can find more at www.soooboca.com and on all the socials @soooboca. If you are local join our Discovering Boca Raton Facebook Group!
The #SoooBoca “foodie squad” loves to check out new restaurants as well as some oldies but goodies here in Boca Raton. We are not picky eaters thank goodness so we like a variety of food, drinks and desserts!
The mom of #SoooBoca prefers to let others cook for her as in reservations BUT some people in the fam are pretty good dishing up a great meal and that would be the Captain and Kylie. Life is always revolving around where to eat and what to eat in our home so follow us as we randomly try some great spots around our town!
If you are a foodie too and want to know where to go around Boca or South Florida send us a private message at the #SoooBoca Instagram page and we will let you know our thoughts!
Moving to Boca or just getting to know our beautiful town? No problem we have ya covered…like a dish! We love to be a resource to help people get to know Boca Raton or re acquaint themselves with some old Boca foodie faves!
PS…we look for all types of place to check out from gourmet to fun and affordable that is delish and fresh!
Are you opening a new restaurant or soon to be hot spot? Don’t forget to put us on your guest list! Just send us an email here through the website!
The #SoooBoca squad loves to try new restaurants, food, wine and happy hours all over beautiful Boca Raton and are certified foodies. There is simply not enough time in the day, week or month to visit all the wonderful restaurants in Boca and around South Florida.
Sooo many restaurants and food choices sooo little time!
We are not picky eaters thank goodness so we like a variety of food, drinks and desserts! From casual eats and food to the ultra formal we will be posting our foodie picks and faves through out the year. From burgers and fries to french cuisine we love it all! The mom of #SoooBoca prefers to let others cook for her as in reservations BUT some people in the fam are pretty good dishing up a great meal and that would be the Captain and Kylie. Life is always revolving around where to eat and what to eat in our home so follow us as we randomly try some great spots around our town!
If you are a foodie too and want to know where to go around Boca or South Florida check out our #SoooBoca Instagram page we are always posting food, wine and all things culinary. Moving to Boca or just getting to know our beautiful town? No problem we have ya covered…like a dish! We love to be a resource to help people get to know Boca Raton or re acquaint themselves with some old Boca foodie faves!
Are you opening a new restaurant or soon to be hot spot? Don’t forget to put us on your media list! Just send us an email here through the website!
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