Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela

If you are wondering which words or phrases get you the most bang for your dollars, wait no more!  Simply go to Google Labs Suggest, type in the words or phrases you are considering and see EXACTLY how many visitors type in those key words or phrases. 

You can use that information and custom tailor your Internet optimization.   I found out for example that "Myrtle Beach sc" garners 932,000 visitors, while "Myrtle Beach s.c" gets 940,000 visitors (yes, 8,000 more visitors put a dot between the "S" and the "C").   "Myrtle Beach Real Estate" gets 8,620,000 hits, while "Myrtle Beach SC Real Estate" garners only 255,000 hits.   Now you understand why the optimization company you used was so affordable... one extra dot, or letter can make all the difference...

Check it out!  Put an icon on your desktop, that way it will always be handy.  Do it now, so you don't forget about it!  

You're welcome!

Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte                       Join The Optimist Group!

I've been bit by the rabid super MeMe bug.  Ouch!  I feel it, Rich, right on my left cheek... and I don't mean my face!!!  Comply with the request I must, so here it goes (I remember doing this in grade school, only with a different Q & A):

Who is your favorite musical artist?   It changes all the time.  The only constant ones are Mozart, Beethoven and Vivaldi.  I listened to Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" for an entire 9 months while I was pregnant.  It was the only tape I had and it soothed me (Baroque music is very relaxing; it has a similar number of beats per minute as your heart). 

Mozart and Beethoven work for me at different times.  When I am very sad I listen to Mozart's Requiem.  When I'm upset I listen to Beethoven's Coriolan and Eggmont overtures.  I turn it on loud too; it's great anger management music.

Who is your favorite artist?   I love the Pre-Raphaelites.  The entire Renaissance movement also fascinates me, although I must admit I am a sucker for Bosch (it's like watching a train wreck).   Art history fascinates me.  I'm not a big modern art fan.  Sorry!

If you could meet anyone (alive or dead), who would it be and what is the most interesting thing about them?   My grandmother on my father's side and the mother of my mother's father. 

My father's mother was a very independent woman.  She ran her own farm, never got married and had several kids by several different men.  In the seventies when we were in Moldavia, some of the old folks in the village still talked about her with reverence.  They said she was the most beautiful woman they had ever seen.  I guess she got around and she lived her own life, her way.  She died of typhoid fever when daddy was only 9 years old.

 My other grandmother was equally independent.  She was born of royal blood, but got impregnated with my grandfather when she was very young and she was disowned by the family.  She made it all work though, as smart women always do.  My grandfather was an amazing man.  I still pray for him and feel his presence, even though he died of tuberculosis when my mother was only two years old.

Who has been the person in your life that has had the greatest impact on you?    Probably my mother, grandmother and father.  The milieu played out during childhood tends to stick...  My kids made me grow up...

What did you want to be when you grew up?   The Journalist.  I still want to.

If you could do anything what would you do?  Write and take pictures.  I could do that all day long and not get tired of it.

What is the most interesting piece of trivia you know?     Botticelli was in love with Simonetta Vespucci, the cousin (by marriage) of Amerigo Vespucci, the Florentine geographer who modestly gave his name to the new world that Columbus discovered.  The blonde Simonetta was celebrated for her beauty as well as her docile disposition; and as a member of the exclusive Florentine Neo-Platonic set, she could not have been entirely devoid of intellectual accomplishments.  Simonetta's face adorns several of Bottiicelli's paintings including the famous "Birth of Venus".

Trivia nr. 2:  Brincusi, the celebrated modern sculptor is Romanian.  Mircea Eliade, the editor of the massive work "The History of Religion" is also Romanian. 

What's your favorite game?   It's a Romanian game:  "Munti, ape si tari"  I used to play it with my mom as a young girl.  I was actually studying Geography by playing it, but I thought it was a game.  My mom was very tricky that way...  Did I tell you about the Math Olympics I participated in?  Yeah, I thought it was fun!

If you could live in any point in history what would it be and why?   Definitely right now!  They burnt women like me throughout history... 

Right here, right now!  Most definitely!  Clitoridectomy and infibulation are still the norm in many countries.  As a female, the USA is the place to be!

When you look into the mirror, who do you see?    Depends on the day and it varies a lot... spanning the entire gamut from Goddess to Troll doll...

What is the most interesting job you have ever held?    This one.  No wonder it's captivated my attention for so many years.  They say that Bartenders know all the secrets.  I beg to differ.  Seeing someone's attitude toward money reveals so very much about them.

What is the worst job you've ever had?    Waitress.  I lasted for two hours.   I have so much esteem for the entire food and beverage industry as a result of that experience.   I tip well as a result of it.  I once gave a pregnant waitress a 300% tip (she was VERY pregnant and she should have been off her feet...)

What is your biggest missed opportunity?    This was the hardest one.  I truly can't think of any.  I have always done EVERYTHING I wanted.  Sorry, I don't have anything to plug in here!

I'm passing this rabid super MeMe bug to my following compadres:

Gene Wunderlich  (Wunderlich stands for WONDERFUL),  the funniest man on AR. 

Michael Tarabotto:  The handsomest brainiac on AR. 

George Tallabas:  my friend and AR mentor, who is so kind and supportive (Thank you, George!)

Marti Garaughty:  The blog artist cum genius.  I just want to know more...

Chris Lambos:  Who never fails me and always puts a smile on my face.

Arina Hanciulescu:  The other Romanian chick with an attitude here on AR. 

Chuck Willman:  Just how does he do it?   Six kids, the most beautiful wife AND a successful career...

Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte                             Join The Optimist Group!

If you had the money, which one would you pick?

When I was "economically strapped" (in my youth and with two kids in tow), I used to practice the art of "make believe shopping".  I would diligently select exactly what I wanted from mail order magazines (the right size, color, etc); I would look at all my wonderful choices, but never call the order in.  It somehow satisfied me to just visualize my "possible clothes". 

If you were to buy your second home in Charleston, SC, which one would you choose? 

1.

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

www.CharlestonHomesAndCondos.com

Charleston Homes by Mirela Monte                                       Join The Optimist Group!

"This mole looks angry".

That's what the dermatologist said, as she talked me into having an innocent, little birth mark removed from my left cheek (no, not on my face, the other left cheek...).

I reluctantly agreed to the procedure, which, by the way, was no cake walk (translation: IT HURT!).

Several hours later, I can't help but wonder if this is all a hoax orchestrated for the mere financial benefit of doctors, or a bonified medical procedure designed to save lives. 

Worldwide, it is estimated that about 132,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma and more than 40,000 die from the disease each year. 

What makes melanoma so dangerous compared to other skin cancers is that it can spread to the blood stream and the lymph glands very rapidly while a mole is still small. Waiting a few months before calling the doctor can give melanoma a chance to invade a person's body. If detected at its earliest stage, melanoma can be removed and cured, but if the disease has spread to lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 30 percent to 40 percent. If the disease has spread to organs, the 5-year survival rate is 12 percent, according to American Academy of Dermatology.

When examining your moles watch for:

 A=Asymmetry (the left side of the lesion is unlike the right side)

 B=Border Irregularity (the lesion has a scalloped or poorly defined border)

C=Color Variation (not all parts of the lesion are the same color; 
within the lesion may be patches of tan, brown, black, pink, white or blue)

D=Diameter (while melanomas are usually greater than 6mm in diameter when diagnosed, they can be smaller.  If you notice a mole different from others, or which changes, itches or bleeds even if it is smaller than 6mm, you should see a dermatologist)

It is worth noting that some melanomas do not conform to the A-B-C-D criteria, so any suspicious mole should be examined by a dermatologist.

Is the inconvenience and pain of a bruised fanny worth my life?  NO way!  

What do you think?  Have you lost anyone to melanoma?  Have you had any encounters with it?  How many of you have had a mole biopsied?  I would love to hear from you on this subject! 

The Talmud sages believed that mankind, which they often compared to trees, owes its existence to them and should treat them with special recognition. 

I come from a long line of tree lovers.  My father grew up in the verdant forests of Moldavia and we spent many days hiking together through those and many other forests.  Trees have always had a special place in my heart.  Daddy and I have planted many trees together.   When he passed away, I carefully chose his final resting place: right under the willow tree by the lake.   It is such a beautiful tree and I take solace in knowing that daddy would approve of my carefully chosen spot...

Charleston, SC, has a special affinity for trees.  From the famed "Angel Oak Tree", to the everyday efforts of the many organizations, Charleston clearly affirms it's appreciation for this "green canopy", the perfect companion to the unique historical homes found here. 

The Urban Forestry Division operates an innovative street tree program that allows individual citizens, developers, and concerned community groups to contribute to the expansion of the City's urban forest.  Through this program, the city has increased the number of healthy trees in parks and rights-of-ways by up to 500 trees per year. Participants purchase the tree and initial mulch, and water the tree for the first year. The City is then responsible for watering and other maintenance.  

The Arbor Day Foundation is very active here also.   The Horticultural society even has tree contest winners every year.  There is no doubt about it:  Charlestonians love trees.

...And I love Charleston!

(This one's for you, daddy!  By the way, the trees you planted in front of our home on Almendra are now over twenty feet tall and I burst out crying every time I look at them.  I remember you planting them, brimming with excitement, like a little boy concocting some special science experiment.)

Charleston Real Estate by Mirela Monte                                         www.CharlestonHomesandCondos.com

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Got ya!

What did you expect? 

This is Charleston, SC, not New Jersey...

Wish you were here!

...I know you do!

Charleston Real Estate by Mirela Monte

Coca Cola and Hershey have both posted significant first-quarter losses: Coca Cola's first quarter net income fell by 47%, while Hershey Co.'s first-quarter net fell 32%.  Does that mean that Americans are developing better dietary habits?

The Wall Street Journal article blamed the higher commodity costs and the economy, however, I tend to think that Americans are becoming more educated about diet and nutrition and we are starting to see that trend in cold, hard numbers.

What do you think?

Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte                    

Join The Optimist Group!

Two great blogs to read on the subject:  "Comfort Eating Leaves Us Uncomfortable" and "Why Do Women Have 5 Different Sizes in Their Wardrobes?"

This idea came to me as a result of Chris Lambos' remark about a new high rise condo project in Nashville.  I didn't know they had high rise condo projects in Nashville; did you? 

We are all very familiar with our own areas, but know little about other markets.  Our Localism leads may also want to know more about them.  Why don't we encapsulate our markets via blogs that describe ALL of our Real Estate products, in EACH, specitic location, complete with descriptions, price points, links and pictures?

I will produce just such a blog next week.  Here is a quick encapsulation of our market, here in Myrtle Beach:

1.  Concrete & steel oceanfront condos.  Older buildings such as Landmark (50 yrs) and newer ones such as Avista.  Price points:  $ 60K-over a mil.

2.  Low rise oceanfront condos.  A dying breed.  Older, wood, condos, usually on stilts.  These have been either well kept up, or recently re-done.  Price points:  $80- $ over a mil.

3.  Golf condos......

 You get the idea (I hope).  There are 10 different types of properties I will be describing.  I will encapsulate the market, then do an in-depth analysis of each product (that's 11 blogs total). 

How about your market?  As a consumer, wouldn't you like to see such a simplification of Real Estate product?  I'm curious about other markets.  I have investors who buy in many different areas.  This might help them also.  Let's post these to our Optimist group, as well as on the Realtors' board and various others.  The Optimist group is about what else?  Optimism, hope, new direction, solutions.

What do you think about this idea?

Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte

Thank you very much!

Multumesc mult!

Merci très beaucoup!

Danke sehr viel!

Большое спасибо!

Obrigado muito!

¡Muchas gracias!

Grazie mille!

本当にありがとうございます！

شكرا جزيلا!

非常感谢！

Hartelijk dank!

Σε ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ!

진심으로 감사합니다!

Your wonderful wishes for a Happy Birthday are much appreciated!  You have made me feel very special!  You are my Active Rain Family and I appreciate you very much!

Yes, I had a wonderful birthday (how could I not, with so many great wishes?). 

Chris, no, they did not put me in the "Hooscow"! 

Gene, no, I did not indulge in the barley and potato health food concoction!

George:  Thank you for the phone call!  Wow!

No, I did not make a special appearance on "Girls Gone Wild"!

While I was still responding to comments on my "Turning 29 again" blog, my boyfriend unexpectedly walked in with flowers.  I was floored, because I was not expecting him.  He lives in Charleston, two hours away and we had plans to celebrate this weekend.  We both had to work on Tuesday (my birthday).  He somehow managed to take the day off and drove here right after work on Monday night, so he was the first one to wish me a Happy Birthday in person. 

I was able to take Tuesday off also, and we celebrated by going to the beach.  It was very windy and we had the whole place to ourselves.  The ocean was warm, but furious.  We frolicked in the water until we were so battered by the waves that we both felt dizzy.   We played on the beach for several hours, then we had a quiet family dinner with my daughter and watched a couple of movies.  

I wish I could give you a more exciting story, but that's it.   That was my birthday and I enjoyed every minute of it.  Taking a day off in the middle of the week is some guilty pleasure, I tell you.  You ought to try it!

The next day I had to make up for taking the day off.   I'm sorry I neglected to come here earlier, but I have been spending all my discretionary time helping a Romanian family get settled in.  They just arrived here from Moldavia three days ago.  As of today, they both have jobs, a roof over their heads and transportation.  Now I can relax!

Thank you so much for being so kind and wonderful!  I sincerely appreciate you!

Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection, Mirela Monte

It's my birthday tomorrow; I'm turning 29...  again! 

No, really, I am only 29 years old.  Twenty nine and a few months. 

"How many months", you ask? 

228!

I don't feel any older than 29.  I don't look any older than thirty-something.  I work hard to stay in shape, I dress well, I drive a fast car.  I borrow my daughter's music and I even use her generation's slang words when I'm around her and her friends.  My boyfriend is 12 years younger (we're an entire generation apart).   I am better than when I turned 29 for the first time. 

So why do I feel so much ambivalence around birthday time?   Our society glorifies youth.  On our runways and in our fashion magazines fourteen year old models wear haute couture only the forty something women can afford.   "Nip & Tuck" is a TV show, and Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeons demonstrate the trick of the trade during prime time.  Creams that lift, pills that slenderize, clothes that camouflage; you name it, there are a million reminders of what the goal is: to be youthful and aesthetically pleasing.

We have the wherewithal to extend this "youth" thing into perpetuity, or at least into our eighties.  Between the raw, organic, wholesome diets, the personal trainers, the amazing lotions and potions, the plastic surgeons, the bio-identical hormones and a myriad of other small miracle creators, we can literally extend our "shelf life" well beyond that of our parents.  So why the ambivalence?

There will always be places I won't get to see, no matter how much I travel.  There will always be knowledge I won't have the time to acquire, no matter how hard I try.  There will always be experiences I won't get to have, no matter how complex my life is.

Is this where I want to be?  Have I lived as well as I wanted to?  Have I been true to myself? 

Maybe it's the asking of questions that casts the ambivalence over my birthdays.  Maybe it's the realization that our time here is finite and we're constantly moving towards THAT inevitable end. 

One wonderful thought comes to the rescue:  This is the youngest I will ever be.  Enjoy it! 

Ahhh!  It's my birthday tomorrow.  I'm turning 29...  Again!

Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte                        Join The Optimist Group!

I recently wrote a blog called: "Why Do Women Have 5 Different Sizes in Their Closets".   Many of the people commenting, confessed they are heavier than they'd like.  

I found myself inching my way to higher sizes during the past couple of years.  In October of last year I decided to do something about it, because I was not going to embrace a size 12.  I am back to a size 8 now and I'm continuing the journey, hopefully to my most favorite of sizes:  a 6.  Anything less than that, at my tall frame of 5'9" would border on emaciation.

How did I lose the weight?  Diet?  Absolutely NOT!  Diets only make people fatter.   Diets are the very worst things you can do to a human body.  

Here are some very easy tips.  The most important things to consider:  Rome wasn't built in one day; Mt. Everest wasn't conquered overnight.   You just do the good things often, and the bad things seldom, and you maintain that ratio.

•1.        Deep fried food:  Kiss it goodbye!   You can do it cold turkey (it will take 5 weeks for that fried food craving to go away), or you can cut down a fourth every month, until you eliminate it entirely.  Deep fried food is the main culprit of obesity in America.  Deep fried food can clog up your arteries faster than a handful of hair can clog up your drains.  If you want to live, kiss it goodbye.

•2.       If you have a craving for sweets and/or alcohol, look into taking chromium piccolinate.  It is a mineral that many people are lacking (the American diet depletes our bodies of this).   By supplementing with Chromium Piccolinate you will notice increased resistance to craving sweets and/or alcohol, and a lowering of your cholesterol levels.  I've been on 400mcg/per day for over 20 years.   I once ran out of it and didn't realize it for a couple of months and I craved sugar like crazy).   Start with 200 mcg and graduate to 400 mcg within several weeks.  If you have diabetes, talk to your endochrinologist about chromium piccolinate before taking it (less insulin needed).

•3.       Reduce your soft drinks and sweet tea intake by 90%.  Do it 10% a week, or cold turkey.  A friend of mine lost about 50 pounds simply by cutting out sweet tea altogether (she was drinking a lot of it every day).

•4.        MOVE MORE.   Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk or bike instead of driving.  Always keep your gym bag in your trunk and use it whenever you have a chance.  After a particularly stressful day, nothing will make you feel better than jogging or walking as fast as you can. 

If you've never jogged:  remember that jogging does not mean running.  Jogging is that activity located exactly between running and walking.  You can jog at a slow pace or at a fast pace.  Best to just start jogging slowly.  Once you have your groove on, you can do some intervals (running or jogging fast for quick spurts 10, 20, 30 seconds, then slow down the speed to a comfortable jog again).   If jogging is not your cup of tea (no way/no how!), just walk.  Another friend of mine lost about 30 pounds and kept it off by just regularly walking 30 minutes every day (she is a pretty fast walker though).

Don't forget to do some stretches afterwards, while the body is warm and limber!  Stretching is the one thing you can do to keep your body young and keep it from hurting.  Stretch for 5 minutes every day. 

If you've have neck or back problems take a few good yoga classes.  Find the very best instructor your money can buy and attend several of his/her classes.  Videos and gym yoga are NOT as effective.  Yoga fundamentals teach you about focus, breathing, the proper gaze and the right attitude.  NEVER push yourself, yoga is non competitive.   Listen to your body very carefully.  I am a total jock, yet yoga still kicks my butt!  It is the hardest sport I've ever practiced. 

Don't wait to move!  Do it today!  You don't need to do it for two hours; just start with 5 minutes.  Tomorrow you'll walk for 7 minutes, the day after you'll walk for 10.  Just go one extra mailbox every day...   If you can build to half an hour 4-5 times a week, you will shed a considerable amount of weight within the next two years.

•5.        Drink a lot of water.  Filtered water.  Lots of it.  Do this throughout the day.  I ALWAYS carry a bottle of water with me at ALL times.  If you drink a lot of water, your mouth will never smell bad and you will not have any BO.   You will have more energy with a hydrated body.

•6.        Don't eat late!  My main change in October was to stop eating late.  That coupled with more frequent jogging (4-5 times a week) helped me shed about 10 pounds and about 2 sizes.   My cut off point is 9pm. Anything past that I live to regret...

•7.       Eat walnuts!  A friend of mine started adding walnuts to his diet EVERY DAY and he's shed a considerable amount of weight.  I'm not exactly sure why, but eating several walnuts a day 5-10 actually helps keep your weight down.  They have essential fatty acids (the good fat that eats the bad fat is the simplest way to explain it).  Note:  Walnuts must be plain and raw or oven toasted, NOT fried or coated with salt or sugar.   

Tune in later this week for some "quick cheats", things you can do to help you even out the score on the days when you are bad!

Myrtle Beach Homes by Mirela Monte

True story:  I was about 18, just walking down the street, happy, go lucky, as usual.  This guy slowed down to check me out and the next thing I knew was a big BANG!  He rear ended the car in front of him.

As a model in my late teens and early twenties, we used to travel in packs (us, models).  We used to enjoy the power of walking in a room and causing quite a stir. 

These pictures reminded me of those times.  Enjoy!

Myrtle Beach Homes by Mirela Monte                                     Join The Optimist Group!

By the way, what can we do to homes to cause "quite a stir"?

I am in the midst of a buying frenzy here at the beach and I am behind with everything.  My closet is a mess, my desk...   I won't even go there....

Needless to say:  I am behind.  Every day I write several offers and the closings are HARD!  We also do property management, which is the Real Estate step sister (the evil one, I might add!!!).

When I call my assistant in between appointments, I just ask, not for messages, but for the most pressing problems.  EVERYTHING takes 100 steps.  My buyers are great; I love them and want to make sure everything goes very smoothly.  The "behind the scenes" work is mind boggling.  They have no idea what we deal with.  By the time everything gets to them, it's already corrected and sanitized. 

I love my Sellers and I am constantly advertising their properties.  We cross market, Internet, print, viral, you name it, we do it! We belong to four MLS boards (not cheap!!!). That is becoming the most expensive and time consuming part of all, but without it, I would not garner the results.  You can no longer sell properties by merely putting them on the MLS.  You have to go above and beyond the call of duty and I am ever so glad to do it; it just wears me and my team out sometimes...

Between lowering my commission to help a Seller who has to refinance his home just to sell his condo at the beach and bring money to closing, and the high cost of doing business (advertising, consultants, training and assistants), I may actually be paying to work.  I don't even want to look at the bottom line.  I love the job!  I love my clients!  I love my Agents!  I guess I work for the LOVE!

Is our market different right now?  No-o-o-o! 

IT'S A DIFFERENT MARKET ALTOGETHER!!!

Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte

Please share your stories!

Myrtle Beach Oceanfront: Red Hot Again! (edit/delete)

For the past...  too many months to count, I've been reporting monthly oceanfront sales of under 1.5%.    All of a sudden, we are seeing an amazing surge of activity, a HUGE increase in sales.  The jump is phenomenal:  from under 1.5% to almost 12%!!!  (in new "pending sales").  2008 Oceanfront activity just got RED HOT again!

In the past four weeks, all my agents, including myself, along with many other top producers in the area, have done nothing but write new deals.  One per day, for me, thank you very much, for the entire last week (and I worked 7 days straight)!  Unbelievable!  What happened?  Did somebody turn on the Myrtle Beach Real Estate Buyer pipeline? 

Before all you Sellers get too excited, cool your jets!  Fantasy pricing is out the window.  Sales are occurring, yes, but at extraordinary discounts.   Here is a prime example:  the lowest price sold in March on Oceanfront was $ 60,000 - yes, only $ 60,000!!! - for an oceanfront 1BR/1BA, fully furnished condo at Bluewater Resort.  This condo was originally priced at $ 113,999, a discount of over 47% !!!  Unbelievable, but true! 

Here is another example:  a 2BR/2BA Oceanfront, fully furnished unit at Baywatch, which in 2005 was selling for $ 540,000, just sold yesterday for under $ 260,000, more than 50% below yesterday's price...  Incredible, but true!  Here is the way it went down:  the unit was put on the market for $ 284,900, the lowest priced 2BR/2Ba unit at Baywatch.  Within two weeks, it was discounted to $ 257,600 and it received multiple bids within hours of the price decrease, selling for a yet to be disclosed price (we'll find out at closing).

Last Monday I was at the monthly foreclosure sale for Horry County.  The Master in Equity, presiding over the affair, proclaimed that to be the largest foreclosure sale in Horry County history for the past 30 years.  These foreclosures are reverting back to the banks and getting sold for pennies on the dollar.  Incredible but true.  They are deluging our market, pushing some motivated sellers to take any low offer.  It is not unusual for sellers to bring $ 30,000 - $ 50,000 to closing.

If you have entertained thoughts of owning an oceanfront condo in Myrtle Beach, now is the time to go on a shopping spree! 

(Written the week of April 19-th, 2008; too busy to post...)

Myrtle Beach Oceanfront by Mirela Monte

http://www.myrtlebeachhomes.us/

...AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO REAL ESTATE?

I'm a clothes horse.  I love dressing up!  I don't know if it's a left over habit from my modeling days, or a trait deeply embedded in my DNA (the latter makes sense, since my daughter has the same vice).   My closet is usually very organized and everything is color coordinated.  It is easy to find just the right outfit.  Lately I've been going at warped speeds and all of a sudden (well, not really; it's taken weeks to get to this point....) my huge, walk in closet is a mess!

Grabbing at this and that at random, I've discovered several sizes, some that don't fit right now.  At my preferred "emaciated " best, I am a size 6, possibly a 4.  I am very tall: 5'9'' and at that size everyone is always trying to feed me.  At my regular, skinny self, I am a comfortable size 6, possibly an 8. 

Have you noticed that the more expensive the clothes, the smaller the size?  Even at my fat size, a whopping size 10, shop in some fancy designer store and I somehow fit in a size 4.  How does that happen?  Did I magically shed 20 pounds and don't know it?  Furthermore, what does a size 2 woman fit into when shopping at a fancy, designer store? Do they make size minus 4? 

And why does every woman I know have at least 5 different sizes in her closet?  Most importantly: why do I? 

Tune in later on this week (maybe tomorrow?) for part two in this 5 part series....   Just kidding, maybe only part 3...   Anyway, come back this week to read the next one in the series and find the answer to my first question.

Feel free to share your story here!  How many different sizes do you have in your wardrobe?

Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte,

size 4

No, size 6

No, size 8

No, size 10

No, size 12

TODAY I am size 8! 

Oops...  Wrong blog...  It's Mother's Day today....

New title:  

Open letter to my mom:

Dear mom,

I know that I've been a very difficult child.   I know that you think I never listen to you and always do exactly as I please.  I know that you did not agree with many of the choices I've taken, but I also know that in the end, you are very proud of me and my accomplishments.  We both agree that I have some amazing kids - your grandkids - and that I've been a very good mother.  You have complimented me on that fact on numerous occasions.

The reason I am a good mother is because you have been such a good mother to me!   You showed me what the right thing to do was, by you doing the right things.  You have a strong character, a good moral compass and you have always been a good role model to me.  

I don't always agree with your choices either, but in the end, I, too, am proud of you!    

Face it: Motherhood is the most unappreciated job on the face of this planet.  I'm a mother; I know it!  Motherhood is also the most rewarding job in the World!  There is nothing I wouldn't do for my kids; nothing!  I would slaughter the dragon, steal the fire, fight till the death for them...   

I know that you feel the same way about me.   Happy Mother's Day!  I love you with all my heart!

Your Oldest!

Your Favorite?

Your one and only...  Mirela

Make custom Glitter Graphics

I am no "Techie".  When it comes to computers I have people who educate me on everything.  Left to my own devices, I am useless when it comes to computers, yet I just created this and was able to post it on here, all in a matter of minutes.  This is my first attempt at this, and I kid you not, it only took a few minutes to spruce up this picture and download it here.  I amazed myself tonight.  You can do the same!

Just go to: Blingee.com , upload a picture and start embellishing it.  You can add flickering stars, diamonds, hearts moving, the works. 

If I can do it, so can ANYONE else.  Have fun!

Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte                          Join The Optimist Group!