Bellingham is number 5- Housing Markets That Will Rise Most This Year

Wall Street Journal has a crystal ball that I wish I had. They ranked Bellingham #5 of housing markets that will rise most this year. And I didn't know Bellingham is suburb of Seattle. I had to laugh. But I'm excited to hear that they see the value I see in Bellingham.

5. Bellingham, Washington
> Projected Price Increase Through 2011: +4.9%
> Unemployment Rate: 9%
> Median Family Income: $59,000
> Vacancy Rate: 11.4%­
> Drop From Peak: -13.8%

Bellingham, like Bremerton, is suburb of Seattle, which allows residents access to the city’s job market. Bellingham has several major hospitals and universities, and the abundance of steady institutional jobs has kept the population relatively economically stable. The city was one of the few to have vacancy rates drop between 2000 and 2010. Home prices are expected to increase 12.4% by the end of 2012.

Read more, please visit:
http://247wallst.com/2011/05/11/housing-markets-that-will-rise-most-this-year/#ixzz1NIA5G9l7

If you need help with any Real Estate need, please give me a buzz at 360-296-3431.

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Lovely Advice

I found this 'Lovely advice' from my favorite blogger Erin's blog. I'm going to read it every morning to remind myself what's important in life.

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E’s – Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Play more games.
6. Read more books than you did in 2010.
7. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
8. Sleep for 7 hours.
9. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

1. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
3. Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
6. Dream more while you are awake.
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
8. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more.
14. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

1. Call your family often.
2. Each day give something good to others.
3. Forgive everyone for everything.
4. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
6. What other people think of you is none of your business.
7. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

1. Do the right thing!
2. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
3. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
4. The best is yet to come.
5. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

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Posted in: Life

Hanging chairs

Jonathan Alder said every house should have a hanging chair. I'm convinced.

Domino

Via Apartment Therapy

Via Apartment Therapy

Jonathan Alder

Studio Ilse

Cottage Living

I love this one but judging by its name, it is out of my price range. Let's move on.

Jane Hamley Wells

I like Pier1 chair but I like price tag on Ikea one better. I'm so looking forward to the swinging fun this summer. I will race my kids to the chair every time.

Pier 1 $296.95

 

Ikea $69.99

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School lunches

"Chicago School's controversial policy of banning pupils from bringing lunches from home is aimed at encouraging healthy eating, the principal said." UPI.com reports. 

Obviously I'm not the only one who thinks it is such a weird thing to do because it is categorized under 'Odd news'. I didn't grow up in the USA so I didn't know how the school food is here until I watched Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. It was an eye opener to say the least.

Now I have a kinder-gardener, I'm more than ever interested in what they provide to the kids in school. I pack Ella's lunch everyday but she's been wanting to try hot school food sometime. I guess a trip to their cafeteria is in order. I don't make fancy bento box like this mom but I try my best to provide healthier food. You can see how school lunch is so different in different counties on this blog. Unfortunately, American school lunch is very often a sad one. I want to see how Chicago school lunch is different from the rest of the country. I hope they don't think french fries are the most nutritious vegetable ever.

Cheetos with cheese sauce. Shocked me.

What's up with chocolate milk.

At least I was happy to see water instead of Coke.

Mussels and Artichoke school lunch in France. Is it for real?

Souce: What's for School Lunch

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Dirty Dan Days Seafood Festival in Fairhaven

Dirty Dan Seafood Festival is fast approaching and I'd like to attend this year's so I put that in my calendar. It is to celebrate Fairhaven's founder Dirty Dan Harris and Bellingham herald has a good story about him and the history of Fairhaven here.

Anyway, the event is free and they offer endless entertainment for everyone. Come on over!

DIRTY DAN HARRIS

Daniel Jefferson Harris, one of the early white settlers of what would become Whatcom County, left a legacy by platting Fairhaven in 1883.

From the time he first rowed into Bellingham Bay in 1853, Harris made a name for himself by his slovenly appearance and hygiene. That name was "Dirty Dan" or "Dirty Shirt Dan."

He was also known for his good nature telling jokes and telling stories, both real and fanciful.

Harris lived alone most of his time in the county in a cabin at the mouth of Padden Creek. He later earned a sizable fortune selling lots in Fairhaven, and spent much of it building a classy hotel.

After getting married, he sold most of his property here and bought a palatial home in Los Angeles. He died there in 1890 practically penniless, the victim of a couple who befriended him and squandered his money.

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Whatcom Artist Studio Tour 2011

Whatcom artist studio tour is an annual Bellingham/Whatcom county event held during the first two weekends in October. I always have a blast going through my favorite artist's studios and look into their private house creative process.
Just went through photos of Whatcom Artist Studio Tour 2011 participants.Oh, it is going to be really good this year. There are so many lovelies but I especially love me some David Rigway's oil paintings. The colors are gorgeous and it makes me so happy. Hubby likes the second painting which I like too, which is a miracle because we are one of the couples never like the same thing at the same time. Think 'You like potato and I like potahto'. I see there will be a new addition to our small collection of art... We shall see.

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Posted in: Bellingham event

Calling Bellingham moms for help

Last week my little girl turned 6 and we threw a party at Whatcom Museum over the weekend. We won this birthday package at a charity auction and it took all the stress off of our shoulders deciding what we should do for her birthday. It was my first kids party out of the house and I absolutely enjoyed it as much as the kids did. We brought some food and that's all it took. Ella picked a theme, Dr. Seuss, from their list. When we got there, the room was already decked out with Cat in the hat decoration, hat making project materials on the table and staffs were really friendly and helpful. All I could say was wow. No cleanup was the best part of it all.

However, coming up with ideas to give a memorable birthday bash every year is not going to be easy and it got me thinking I need to compile a list of birthday party venues in Bellingham.

Please let me know your recommendations and ideas to try for boys or/and girls birthday parties.

"Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!" - Dr. Seuss

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Posted in: Bellingham event