The Measure of Success

The measure if success How you do you measure success, and what does it mean? Success: It is the favorable outcome of action It is the achieving of what you set out to do Good grades in school Passing your driver test When you see your garden blooming Shedding a few surplus pounds I believe that success means happiness, achievement, accomplishment, and the feeling of pride in what you do.   I am thankful to say that I have many days where I feel successful.  I have a client who is over the moon excited about their new home purchase or a client who just sold their house for over asking and they couldn't be happier. I also feel successful when I can be home at dinner time and I take the evening to spend time with my husband. Last night on my way home from work, I couldn't kill the grin on my face... It was an amazing day.  Yesterdays measure of success was my success in a business partnership.  I have a wonderful business partner named Anita Van Rootselaar.  I believe WE can conquer all...we are patient (her more then I) but we as a team focus and fight through anything.  Together we have many of the same passions, mainly building relationships, great service, our Guelph community and passion for Real Estate.   It has been an amazing 3 years... And I cannot wait for 2012!

The name for a favourite treat – what does it mean?

Growing up we spend a lot of time with our Oma and Opa (Dutch).  We would have tea and Mices with Oma... and until recently I haven’t thought twice ‘what is mices’.

In Holand (and at the Dutch Toko – downtown Guelph) you can purchase sprinkles for your bread.  My favourites are CHOCA viokken (chocolate flakes) and DeRuijter (white powder- black liquorice flavour) . 

Last week I was downtown Guelph and thought there is no better time then the present to stop in for a gander at the Dutch Toko. I quickly made my way to the Mices isle and picked up a box of my two favourites.

Today I decided I would have some Mices when I sat on my couch finishing up my day... but thought where the heck did the name mices come from, since it doesn’t mean anything in Dutch.   I called my Oma, and with a little laughter she proceeded to tell me that Mices came from Popeye.  ‘I hate my mices to pieces’. 

It turns out the correct term for Sprinkles in Dutch is Muisjes.  Which in literal translation means mouse droppings... or for the powdered white mices which I love it would be Gestamtemuijes... crushed mouse droppings.

Isn’t is hilarious that all these years can pass and you think nothing of the terms your family uses...  and then you wish you hadn’t asked J

Filed under  //   Guelph Area Updates   Guelph Ontario  

A Case of the Fridays... - a day late.

Welcome to the latest edition of my Case of the... Blog series.  I
laughed out loud at the idea of an entire series called 'Case of
the...' but the reality is I have a lot of these days.

For those of you remember, a couple weeks back I had a serious case of
the Mondays... Forgetting my shoes and needing to wear my crocks?

Well.. Today is Friday and it has happened again!

I have been on a health kick for the last 2 months drinking a Visalus
protein shake for breakfast every day.  2 months is long enough to set
an important routine which I now hate to break...  This morning I was
on my way - to meet Anita @guelphareaupdat and Doug Adlam from
Champion Mortgage for a much needed coffee. I made my shake and ran
out the door with it in my magic bullet cup - first mistake... should have packed a
lid.  My car is standard and within a few shifts I knocked the cup
over and it proceeded to fill both cup holders with yummy pink
raspberry shake which soon overflowed between my seats!  Ahh... How do
you clean such a mess while driving on an expressway.  I had nothing
with me but a great pashmina scarf and hot pink tissue paper from the
baby shower I attended last Sunday.  :(

What a mess...

Filed under  //   Guelph Ontario  

A Case of the Mondays!


I will be the first to admit that I am not typically a morning person,  I wake up slowly and require at least one coffee before I can function properly. 

I live in the country just outside of Kitchener and it takes me approx. 30 minutes to get to Guelph.  I work out with a trainer Monday, Wednesday, Friday – this morning we were meeting in Guelph at 8am.  Today my husband left for work a little later then usual, when I looked at the clock it was 7:17am.  7:17AM!!!! Shoot I’m late – not a good way to start the day.  I grabbed what I thought I needed and left for my class. 

After my work out I typically go to my parent’s house to shower and get ready for work because they live in Guelph and it is much easier.  Upon leaving my parents place I looked in my car and realized... I forgot my shoes.  REALLY, who forgets their shoes?  I had a 10 am appointment, and the only options I had were, Rubber boots – which I always keep in my car for muddy rural properties, crocks which were left over from mud and taping our friends new house, or flip flops which were not an option because it was 1.5 degrees outside.

Looking forward to the rest of the day – but I am ready for Tuesday already. 

Guelph-20111031-00108_1

Filed under  //   Guelph Area Updates   Guelph Ontario   Kristin and Anita  

Real Estate Guelph - a peek at 2011

I find myself struggling over topics for my blog, Anita frequently laughs at me for this because as you come to know me you’ll realize I am rarely at a loss for words.

The real estate market in 2011 has been interesting, with an early start 3 January 2011 the Guelph Market got off to an early start.  Typical to a spring market in the Guelph area it was and is a Seller’s market.  Homes listed for fair market value in a desirable location began selling at times within hours.  Anita and I have had the pleasure of listing many great homes this year.  Many of these homes sold so quickly we could not get the sign on the lawn – before it read SOLD.   Sellers appear happy, in many cases knowing they will sell their houses quickly, at times for more than their asking price. 

We do however feel for our buyers, the patience required to wait for the perfect home.  Then the emotional roller coaster ride of preparing an offer knowing it will be in competition.  We carefully explain to our buyers the value of a home, reviewing past sales and active listings so they have a clear understanding of value prior to making an offer.  It is important to us that our buyers know the value of a house so they do not over pay.

I continue to look forward to the rest of this year; the city of Guelph is a great place to live.

Connect with us on the Social Networks

Anita and I are very excited to introduce you to our social media presence.  We are very excited about connecting with our past clients, community and friends on the internet. 

You can find us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and indvidually on Linkedin. 

Aicon

 

Filed under  //   Guelph Area Updates  

About

Kristin and Real Estate are a natural combination. She draws on her education and experience in the customer service industry, coupled with a passion for working with people, to deliver success. Personal client service - exceeding expectations, are her watchwords. Born and raised in Guelph, Kristin brings a unique knowledge of this community the market and the people.

TwitterFacebookPageFacebookFriendfeedLinkedInYoutubeTumblrBlogger