My goal each year is to read 40 books.  It's ambitious, I know, but I have book club friends who crush up to 100 books a year (shout out to Joyce G who just accomplished this magnificent feat!) and it's a challenge I enjoy.  

I rarely hit my mark and this year I was so close it was painful when I realized 39 would be my final number.  I'm still very happy with what I read this year overall.  If you're counting pages I read 140 fewer pages this year than last year, but last year I only read 35 books.  So it seems like I'm on point with the amount of pages I consume.  

You'll see I prefer to read horror and popular fiction but that I'm not afraid to occasionally learn something and will sneak in some nonfiction too.  And I'm sure that no one is surprised 8 out of 39 of my 2017 reads were written by Stephen King.  This is not a habit I'm trying to break in 2018, as I still haven't read everything he has written.  

My top five (non Stephen King) favorites of the year, in no particular order were...
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens
The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth J. Church 
Strange Weather by Joe Hill 
Deliverance by James Dickey
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris 

Thanks for the encouragement (see above) Goodreads, but I'm quite certain I cannot finish another book today and I'm no cheater.  Here's to hitting 40 in 2018!  

I just started The Snowman by Jo Nesbo and am definitely planning to see the movie when I'm finished! 

Mark's Restaurant is an awesome little spot that opened in October of 2016 on Pleasant St in the Thompsonville section of Enfield.  As a T-ville resident (Thompsonvillian? If that's not already claimed, I'm calling it now!), I'm always excited to see a new business open and do well in the area.  I stop at Mark's as often as I can, sometimes I even run late on purpose so I don't have time make my own breakfast just so I can stop in for their "great start sandwich".  If you're up for an adventurous breakfast sandwich, I highly recommend it.  It's a fried egg with baby spinach, roasted red peppers, tomato and a garlic aioli on pumpernickel toast.  When I'm really feeling wild, I add cheese! 

They've got breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The prices are great and they're super friendly.  They update their Facebook daily with specials and will make anything on the menu to-go.  Next time you don't feel like cooking, give them a try! 

Meet Anthony.  He's going down in my books as 2017's most savvy first time buyer.  He did all of his home work, knew what he wanted and went for it even when it seemed like a shot in the dark.  Because he was well qualified and very well informed, he was able to get a very good deal on this house which was originally listed at $194,900.00.  With very little negotiating and a faster than average contract to closing time line, Anthony's first home purchase was a win for everyone involved.  Thanks for having me on your team, Anthony!  Here's to you and your new place! 

25 Redstone Dr
Springfield, MA 01118
3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom
$175,000.00
Closed 12/18/17

Because we do not deck our halls at the Martin house, we have a limited supply of festive, Martin family holiday photos.  This year, I insisted we steal some holiday cheer from our good friends, the Morceys, by way of posing for our Christmas photo in front their beautifully decorated tree.  This is why we can't have nice things.    

It started out well enough, but apparently I'm a savage.  Thanks to all the Morceys and Henderlites for making us a part of the family, this Christmas Eve was extra special and we love you all.  From our family to everyone reading this, may you enjoy a happy, healthy, holiday full of whatever you love!   

I have so much appreciation for client reviews!  It's the ultimate compliment when someone takes the time to make sure others know that I did a good job for them.  

Do you have a property that's failed to sell in the past?  Contact me today and see if my unique marketing will help! 

My mom is a long term care resident at Parkway Pavilion and due to her circumstances, getting out together can be tricky on the best of days.  We love Parkway for making it possible for us to stay in together during the holidays and really enjoy it.  The facility is festively decorated for the residents and they hold several holiday events not only for residents themselves, but also for their guests and some are even open to the general public.  

Tonight was the family holiday dinner.  Each resident can invite up to three guests and we all have a formal sit-down meal together in the dining room.  Staff from all departments pitch in and their dinner service is on par with fine dining!  Everyone is so nice and the food is delicious.  I forgot to take a picture of my plate before I ate everything on it, but we did get some great shots next to the Christmas tree!  

Earlier this month, they held a Christmas fair where you could purchase crafts, baked goods and all kinds of holiday themed items.  I was able to take my mom to the fair and she picked out her own Christmas cards and a few decorations for her room. We ordered some cheesecake, and sat in the lobby and filled out her Christmas cards together. She did not share her cheesecake with me as promised, but we still had a lot of fun.  All the money raised at the fair went to the residents activity fund!

Last and best of all is my new favorite picture of my mom.  The recreation department must have done photos by the Christmas tree with the residents.  I was delighted to find this picture of my mom printed out and pinned to the cork board in her room.    

Thank you Parkway for all you do for your residents and their families.   

74 Lakeview Terrace
Newtown, CT 06482
1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom 
$142,000.00 
Closed 12/18/17

This was a fun one!  Remember the post I wrote about DiGrazia Vineyards?  Long story short, I was in their neighborhood (which is no where near my actual neighborhood) and decided 11am was in fact NOT too early to drink wine on a weekday and stopped in.  I had just had a closing in the area so a little celebrating was in order.  It was my good luck to run into vintner, Aaron Cox, and he was kind enough to chat with me while I tasted his wines.    The universe was working in both our favors that day, as it turned out.  Aaron's wife, Amy, owned a very unique property she was looking to sell.  She had listed it for sale in the past with no luck...  maaaaaybe I could help?   

I came up with a unique marketing plan for this unique property and am very proud to say that it was under contract after only 9 days on the market!  

It was a pleasure working with the Cox family on this transaction and I'm going to put this one in the books as my "favorite closing of 2017".  

Bless Joe Hill for curing the disappointment I felt with the King family after finishing "Sleeping Beauties".  His latest release had everything I wanted but didn't get from his pops and brother in theirs.  Lovable, highly developed characters, great stories and heartbreak on repeat throughout!  

Sure, I only have 4 likes on the post, but one of them WAS FROM JOE HILL, so that's OK.  Plus, since I only have 27 followers on twitter so that's like a 15% return on my social media investment.  Wait... what?  

Do yourself a favor and READ SOMETHING BY JOE HILL!  While you're at it, do me a favor and follow me on twitter.  This post has left me feeling sad and lonely due to the lack of interest in my feed in the twitterverse. 

41 Brushy Hill Rd. 
Danbury, CT 06810
1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Cottage
​$1400 per month 

Congratulations to Jason and Mandi on their great new place!  The living area is on the backside of this adorable cottage and it's mostly windows that offer great views of the woods and Parks Pond below.  I'm a little jealous of all the cozy and quaint this place has to offer.  I had a great time with Jason and Mandi looking for their new home and can't wait to visit them there!  Here's their pup, Luna, enjoying her new "back yard".   

I've seen a lot of people asking for gift suggestions... 'tis the season.  So I'm here to help!  Look no further!  This year, give the gift of wellness!  This works for everyone!  Parents, spouses, friends, cousins... whoever you've got on your list.  You can get a gift certificate in any amount and it can be used toward any service.  So give a gift that is guaranteed to make them feel good!  Can't make it to the spa?  Give them a call or email, they'll mail your certificate to you.       

I recently had my second appt at Aum Aesthetics Medical Spa and I can't even describe with words how good I feel when I leave the spa.  Everyone at the spa is so friendly, I get to relax and do something healthy for myself both physically and mentally and the spa donates a portion of their service fees to a local charitable organization!  You do so much good with one stop, how can you go wrong?

Here I am right after my spa service with my aesthetician, Vanessa, (who I highly recommend! She will make you feel like you died and went to heaven!)  hanging my Make A Wish star on the wall...

This time I had the holiday special, a red wine facial!  Try it, you will not be disappointed!  $55 is a steal for this service.  I had microdermabrasion, the red wind mask, steam, facial massage and got to experience a little aroma therapy with some Thai herbal ball massage.