Sonia's Real Estate Blog

It’s official! Summer is here! If you’re like me, you love to make the best of our fabulous summers because, as we all no, they always seem to be much too short. Here’s a top 10 list of great things to do in Sherwood Park!

I’m a big believer in bucket lists. Everyone should have goals and dreams to strive for, whether they are travelling to a new country, achieving a career goal, conquering a marathon, learning a new language, seeing their favourite band in concert or mastering a certain dish. Goals and bucket lists are what keep us going, keep us pushing to do what makes us happy and drive us to live a full and exciting life!

One of the things on my bucket list is to see the world, which I’m slowly doing, one trip at a time. I just got back from the some of the best beaches in the world, the ones that wrap around Honolulu, Hawaii. It was an amazing trip and I couldn’t have asked for anything better than spending 10 days with my family in one of the world’s most beautiful spots. And although I love Sherwood Park, I must say that getting away from the freezing cold we had here was definitely a favourable thing to do! Honolulu was +28 the entire time we were there.

We also visited Pearl Harbour, which was a very humbling and amazing experience. We toured The USS Arizona Memorial to pay our respects and also met two survivors.

With 2017 just around the corner, I would love to hear what is on YOUR bucket list. What’s one thing on that list that you want to check off in the next year? Please feel free to share! I wish you a wonderful year and hope you achieve your dreams and goals.

Warmest regards,
Sonia

Happy Father’s Day to All Dads!

In honour of my father…

When it comes to fathers, mine was truly special. His handshake was as solid as his character and his compassion to others was incredible. Everyone who knew my dad, loved him. He was just that type of guy who made you feel like YOU were the most important person around. His big heart and big personality shined everywhere he went.

Dad was a real estate developer and entrepreneur for most of his life. He and my mother loved to travel the world, but mostly dad enjoyed simple pleasures in life. Spending time with his children and grand children at home was his favourite thing to do. Dad always gave generously to various charities. He never talked about it. He just did it. He did it because of the compassionate and generous man he was.

Unfortunately, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and passed away in 2008 just one day after I gave birth to my third child, Eva. Luckily, dad didn’t suffer considering this terrible disease. I would have loved for my dad to meet Eva but I was thrilled that at least he got to name his grand daughter. This was a tribute to him.

My dad is the one who encouraged me to get into real estate. He said “Go get your real estate license young lady and don’t you ever look back.” That moment changed my life forever.

Well I learned many things from my dad, but the most important thing I learned is to respect others and help out anyone you can in life. I’m grateful for everything my dad taught me and I will always honour his memory.

Happy Father’s Day dad.

Love forever…
Sonia

It’s hard to put into words how much mothers mean to us. Everyone has their own reasons why their mom is so important to them. When I think of my own mom I think of everything she has taught me about – unconditional love, confidence, courage and street smarts too. All of these things have helped me immensely in my career and personal life and have made me the person I am today. My mom is truly my best friend and the smartest woman I know. I am very excited to be spending this weekend with her in Kelowna.

Not only am I a daughter of an amazing mom, I’m also a proud mom of three kids myself. While I am truly passionate about my career, there is nothing more important to me than seeing the smiles on the faces of my beautiful kids!

We appreciate our mothers all year round, but Mother’s Day is an opportunity to express that appreciation. Remember that while flowers and presents are nice, this is a day about what comes from your heart. Give her a big hug. Tell her that you love her and are grateful for everything she has done for you.

I also want to send my thoughts to anyone who has lost their mother. I hope you can enjoy the day thinking of all of the memorable moments you had with your mom.

Enjoy the day!

Warmest regards,

Sonia

Christmas is the most magical time of the year! It brings family and friends together and helps us appreciate the love in our lives. Christmas reminds us to be grateful for all that we have and to share our gifts with one another. Our gifts of compassion, understanding and selflessness. The spirit of Christmas should not just be for one day but rather for the whole year!

From my family to yours, we wish you peace, joy and above all we wish you love. Merry Christmas and blessings to you this holiday season and in the New Year!

Love,
Sonia & family

When shopping for family and friends this holiday season, be sure to shop local! Shopping local helps strengthen the economic base of your community. Here are some benefits below:

Tax Base. One of the five benefits of shopping locally is the increased tax base. By shopping locally, taxes paid by these businesses are used within your community. Common uses for local sales tax include investments in infrastructure, police and fire departments, libraries, and parks.

Jobs. Local shops employ local residents, which means there will be more job opportunities within your community. The increase in jobs, one of the five benefits of shopping locally, also has a domino effect. Local stores will need to hire other local residents to help with accounting, create store signs, etc.

Product Diversity. Product diversity, one of the five benefits of shopping locally, may not seem important at first, but it is a win-win situation for local customers. Big box stores have national sales plans, and generally do not stock their stores with products that are sought after within a specific region. Local shops will need to stock their stores with products that their local customers will want, so if you have many local shops within your community, there will be a much broader range of product choices.

Competition. Competition of local shops is also one of the most important five benefits of shopping locally. Big box stores often drive mom and pop shops out of business, which means there is no competition. With no competition, the big box stores can charge higher prices. By having a multitude of local stores within your community, all of the stores will need to keep their prices competitive in order to gain your business.

Community Well-Being. The final benefit on our list of the five benefits of shopping locally is community well-being. By shopping at local shops, you will most likely run into your friends and family more often, which helps unite the community together as a whole. Local business owners are also more likely to donate more to local causes than big box stores are.

This Christmas, be merry, have fun and shop local!

Reference: http://www.mademan.com/mm/5-benefits-shopping-locally.html#ixzz3tIP0MwZu

During the Halloween season it is important to keep your child’s safety in mind when planning costumes, decorations, treats and activities. Make sure that Halloween is a safe and happy experience for the whole family by preparing ahead of time.

Choose the right costume

Ensure that your children are dressed appropriately for Halloween.

• Look for costumes and accessories such as beards, wigs, wings and tails that are labelled flame-resistant. Flowing skirts and capes, baggy sleeves and over-sized costumes can all be hazards around candles or flames.
• Nylon or heavyweight polyester costumes are best. Remember, flame-resistant does not mean fire-proof.
• Pick brightly coloured costumes that can be clearly seen by motorists. Add reflective tape to the costume to increase visibility.
• Use make-up or face paint instead of masks – improperly fitted masks can interfere with your child’s vision or breathing.
• Before using face paint or make-up, do a patch test to see if your child is sensitive or allergic to something in the cosmetic. Even products labelled as “hypoallergenic” can still cause allergic reactions.
• If you do choose a mask, make sure it fits properly and allows them to see and breathe easily.
• Do not use contact lenses that change eye colour or create special effects because they can cause injury to a child’s eyes.
• Avoid costumes that are too big or have long dangling pieces that children can trip over.
• Ensure that toy weapons and similar accessories are made of soft or flexible material. Hard or rigid costume accessories can cause accidents.
• Choose costumes that fit well and can be worn over warm clothing to protect your child against cold and wet weather.

Avoid danger when decorating

Stay vigilant for fire hazards and prevent injuries while getting into the spirit of Halloween.

• To avoid injuries, let children draw a face or design on the pumpkin and then have an adult carve it.
• Candles, jack-o-lanterns, lighters and matches are all fire hazards. Place lighted candles and jack-o-lanterns away from curtains and other flammable objects, and do not leave them unattended.  Instead of candles, consider using a small flashlight or battery candle to light your jack-o-lantern.
• Keep candles, matches, lighters and other fire hazards in a place that children cannot reach.
• Avoid using Halloween candles with multiple wicks. They can produce a large flame with intense heat that can ignite nearby materials like curtains and window sills.
• Check indoor and outdoor decorative lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections. Do not overload extension cords.
• Make sure the lights are certified by a recognized organization like the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or the Underwriters’ Laboratory of Canada (ULC).

Did you know?

It is important to make your home safe for little ghouls and goblins. Remove objects around the outside of your house that could cause children to trip or fall. Turn on your outdoor lights to increase visibility and let trick-or-treaters know they can visit.

Stay secure while trick or treating

Keep your children safe by teaching them to stay visible and to be aware of their surroundings.

• Go trick or treating with your children each year until they are old enough to go with a friend.
• Give each child a flashlight to carry, to make them more visible to motorists and others.
• Tell your children to stay in well-lit areas and only visit homes that have their outside lights turned on. Make sure they know never to go inside homes or cars.
• Teach your children to be careful when crossing the street. Make sure they look both ways and only cross when no cars are coming. Cross streets at the corner, and never cross between parked cars.

Be cautious with candy and toys

Always examine the treats and toys that are brought home before giving them to your children.

• Tell your children not to eat any treats until you have looked them over.
• Be careful when giving children any treats that could be potential choking hazards such as chewy candies, peanuts and hard candies.
• Check toys or novelty items for small parts and do not let children under three years of age play with them.

This Halloween, I hope that our weather in Sherwood is nice for our kids and that everyone has an enjoyable time. It is always great to bump into local parents, neighbours and friends. We love to see all the kids having a great time in their costumes. Stay warm out there everyone!

Love,
Sonia

Reference:

http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/security-securite/home-maison/halloween-eng.php

Happy first day of Fall! Here are some of my favourite things about this beautiful season. Hope you enjoy!

-Sonia

Starting school is an important step in your child’s life—and yours. It’s a big change. It’s exciting. It’s even a little scary. Here are 10 tips that will help you get your child ready for that first day of school.

1. Get familiar with the school. Before the first day of school, visit the school with your child so that the route, the building, and school surroundings become familiar.
2. Start the routine early. About a week or so before the start of school, begin putting your child to bed at a normal time for a school night. For a week before school starts, be sure your child then gets up, dressed, and fed like a regular school morning.
3. Practise sharing. Give your child all kinds of opportunities to be with other kids, to learn to share, wait, and take turns. That’s what school is all about.
4. Children should dress themselves. You won’t be at school to help your child get ready for the outdoors. Encourage children to practise at home putting on and taking off their own jacket, snowpants, boots, etc.
5. Dress your child accordingly. Your child is going to be active at school. Choose clothes and shoes that are comfortable and durable. Give your child outdoor clothing for all types of weather.
6. Teach the importance of listening. School means being able to listen. Kids need to understand and practise listening, things like: look at who is talking, don’t interrupt, and think about what is being said.
7. Learn at home. Include learning in your child’s everyday life. For example, a child can practise by reading package labels or weighing produce while shopping. Read to your child. Play word or counting games.
8. Develop young muscles. Give your child every opportunity to exercise and develop larger muscles by running, climbing, playing with a ball, etc. Smaller hand muscles can be strengthened with Play-Dough®, pencils, and crayons.
9. Set “at home” ground rules. Figure out priorities for after-school activities, homework, chores, TV time, and video games before the first day of school. This will allow you to agree on a schedule and avoid confrontation later on.
10. Encourage questions. Give your child the confidence to ask questions in all situations. Let your child know that it’s OK to tell the teacher if something is hard to understand.

Let’s not forget the importance of getting enough sleep and eating a healthy breakfast! Should you be looking for a new home for your family, please feel free to contact me. I would love to hear from you!

Reference: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/tips/ready.html