I love sending and receiving mail.  So imagine my delight when I stuck my little hand in my mailbox the other day and found this little package with my new favorite mask inside!  One of my longest and dearest friends was back-to-school-mask-shopping (wild times we live in!) and thought of me.  I'm so grateful to have thoughtful friends like her!  Small and random acts of kindness are everything right now!  I don't love wearing a mask, but I do love making a statement and I'm getting all kinds of compliments on this bee mask!  Thank you, Jennifer, I love you!  XOXO.  

Get your own at:

Sweet Stella's Boutique
Longmeadow, MA
​sweetstellasboutique@aol.com
(413) 519-3473

​Mortgage interest rates are incredibly low so it's a great time to buy!  Housing inventory is also incredibly low so the competition will be tough, but don't let that scare you!  Have you thought about buying but are not sure where to start?  The infographic above outlines the process in simple terms and if you have ANY questions about the home buying process I'll be happy to help!  Please reach out!  Understanding the steps and working with a competent team of supportive professionals (REALTOR, Lender, Attorney, Home Inspector, etc.) will give you the confidence and the competitive edge you'll need to successfully navigate the market today. 
​

​

How do you know if you have a boiler or a furnace?  A boiler heats your home with hot water, sending it through pipes in your baseboards or radiators.  A furnace heats your home with hot air blown through vents in ceilings, walls an/or floors.  Both need annual service to maintain safety and efficiency.  

As beekeepers, my husband, Sean and I are members of the Hampden County (MA) Beekeepers Association or HCBA.  Because we live on the border of CT and MA the HCBA was the closest proximity beekeeping club for us to join.  We started beekeeping in 2011 after going to the "bee school" the club teaches every year.  Beekeeping is tricky business so having the support of the club and some local beekeeping mentors was EXTREMELY helpful when we first started out.  It still is. So if you are thinking about becoming a beekeeper, I highly recommend finding a local club and asking about any classes, lessons or mentoring they may be able to offer.  Our club meets monthly, normally at a hall in Chicopee, MA and more recently on Zoom.  But there is one thing you cannot get in a classroom and especially not on Zoom... hands on experience!  This year the HCBA was able to establish it's first ever dedicated educational beeyard.  Here our most experienced members have set up hives to help club members of all beekeeping skill  levels.  They can show you everything from beginner basics like the difference between a worker bee (female) and a drone (male bee) all the way to more advanced beekeeping techniques like making splits or grafting queens. 

I love attending bee club events and chatting with other club members about their beekeeping successes and struggles.  I'm so glad we have this beeyard now so we can all learn even more by actually doing!  Big thanks to Mark, Nate, Dave and Billy getting this all set up for our club to enjoy!  See you all at the picnic!  

Local business spotlight!  You all know I love to see highly motivated, self-employed people doing their best work because they are motivated by passion.  Today I'd like to shine a spotlight on Pretty Painted Hair!

If you are in the Southington, CT area and would like some fantastic highlights, please check out my girl, Jennie Georgiades at The Network!  She is super sweet, super talented, super dedicated to her craft and her clients all rave about her!  Please visit her website for more info by clicking the photo above, or follow her on Instagram by clicking the photos below.  

Jennie Georgiades
Balayage Specialist
Pretty Painted Hair located at The Network
409 Canal St.
Southington, CT 06479

Meet Gina and Kristian!  Everyone knows how much I love my young first time buyers!  But the "Under 25 Club" will always have an extra special place in my heart!  Investing in real estate so young sets you up for such a bright financial future, I'm always super impressed by people who think of it when they are under 25.  Especially since I recently read an article that said the median age of first time home buyers in the US is 33 and for all buyers it's 47 years old!  Gina and Kristian had buying a house on their minds for awhile and with that goal in mind they paid attention to their credit, income and the local real estate market.  By the time they were able to be pre-approved by a lender, they were already more savvy about the process than my average home-buying bear.  They asked thoughtful questions, did thorough research and explored all of their options.  Because of their preparedness it was much easier for these two to find and secure a home in this crazy market than it would have been otherwise.  I'm so, so happy for them and I am very much looking forward to seeing them around, now that we live in the same town!  Congratulations, Gina and Kristian!  See you soon! 

Meet Justin and Kat!  Kat is a past client who reached out to me in late June to let me know that she and Justin were considering buying a new home "within a year".  Flash forward 70 days and they're already moving in to their dream home!  This house is such a beauty that it made me extra happy they decided to fast track things in order to buy it.  So full of character, so much space, beautifully maintained and all situated on a gorgeous piece of property. This charming house was calling out to be filled with love and laughter and I think it found it's perfect match in this family!   I hope these guys entertain often and invite me!  Congratulations, Justin and Kat!  See you soon!

14 Cranberry Hollow
Enfield, CT 06082
2 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom
​$135,000.00

​End unit opportunity in the small, quiet complex of Cranberry Hollow! An end unit location means more windows and more natural light! This townhouse is in fantastic move-in ready condition and has been meticulously maintained by the current owner. The kitchen is updated, the hardwood floors are in great shape and it gets great light. The carpeting is like new throughout. The living room has sliders to a great, private balcony with wooded views. Upstairs both bedrooms are spacious with plenty of closet space and a shared full bathroom. The master bedroom has it's own private balcony too! A partially finished basement gives you some extra space for your home office, fitness or playroom needs. We all need a place to Zoom! Smart home technology included with NEST Thermostats and NEST Protect smoke & CO detectors on each level!

Way back in June when some restrictions on dining started to be lifted, my friend Tracey and I decided it was time to stretch our legs and go out to eat!  We made a lunch date into an adventure and headed down to Haddam, CT to have a meal with a view on the Connecticut River.  We had a great time at The Blue Oar Restaurant and I highly recommend checking it out.  Check their website and be prepared if you decide to go, it's cash only, you can BYOB and they only have outdoor seating so the weather matters!  We had fantastic service, the weather was perfect and the views were so lovely!  I had the salmon and Tracey had a burger and we were both very happy with our meals.