Lara O'Keefe's Blog

Showing up is half the battle!

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:07:49 -0500

We all struggle with being motivated at times. My mentor told me that showing up was half the battle.

Get up, get out, and start doing income producing activities!

What counts as an income producing activity? Lots of stuff!

Prospecting
Marketing
Following Up
Updating databases
Taking updated photos
Posting listings
Open houses
Listing appointments
Blogging
Networking

Anything that is Real Estate related and will one day contribute to your income is and income generating activity!

The most important tool in your arsenal is your attitude!

Always show up with a positive and upbeat attitude. Put on your rose colored glasses and look at the world with fresh eyes.

Your outlook and income will improve with time.

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

SOLD-New Home in Prosper - Close-Out Deal!

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:21:39 -0500

Lara O'Keefe | DR Horton Homes | lmokeefe@drhorton.com | 972.838.9156

1720 Greenwood Ct, Prosper, TX

New Single Story with 3 Car Garage in Prosper Close-Out!

4BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $195,990

Year Built	2007
Sq Footage	2,205
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$34 per month

DESCRIPTION

Realtor Bonus!

Beautiful new one story home with stone covered front porch. This home has a nice sized lot and a 3 car garage. It also includes a gourmet kitchen with 42" custom cabinets and ceramic tile in all wet areas. Great value in close-out community of Chapel Hill!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Tile floor
Family room	Office/Den	Dining room
Breakfast nook	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Microwave	Attic
Washer	Dryer	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

$5,000 and title policy if buyer uses DHI Mortgage!

3 car garage!

Covered front and rear porches!

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Stone Elevation	Porch
Hall	Kitchen
Kitchen	Patio

Contact info:

Lara O'Keefe

DR Horton Homes

lmokeefe@drhorton.com

972.838.9156

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Apr 11, 2009, 2:15pm PDT

Open House/Model Home Safety!

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:31:55 -0500

Today I got a scary reminder to be safe in model homes and open houses! I was almost a victim of theft on Wednesday!

I was sent an email from several friends in new home sales at different companies warning of a thief targeting model homes in the DFW area. He was described as a middle aged, white man, 6'1", and heavy set with grey hair. He drives a black Ford Focus. He has been spotted taking purses and wallets out of the sales offices of model homes. He also took their car keys and stole items out of their cars. He has been seen in Melissa, Allen, Lucas, and McKinney.

He is part of an ongoing Collin County Sheriff's investigation and they sent out his picture.

After reading the description and looking at an attached photo I realized this man was in my model home last Wednesday pretending to be a prospect. His picture looked familiar, but it was the car that I recognized.

He had come in pretending to look for a new home and seemed polite and nonthreatening. He noticed that my builder was sitting just outside my office. He looked around very quickly and said that he was looking for something more "high end" and left quite abruptly. I remember joking with my builder about his not so "high end" car. He was in Melissa and hit another salesperson down the street the very same day!

This is a scary reminder not to bring valuables, purses, or wallets into model homes or open houses. Lock valuables in the trunk of your car and hide your car keys or keep them on you.

If you don't make it easy, then they will prey on the next less careful person.

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Hunter's Creek-Melissa

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:47:32 -0500

Things are exciting here at Hunter's Creek in Melissa! It's Spring in Texas and lots of people are coming out to buy new homes starting in the $140's.

We are located just five minutes north of McKinney and are close to shopping, restaurants, medical care, and other conveniences. Melissa schools are exemplary rated and boast the highest test scores in Collin County!

We have 3 homes ready for immediate move in and 7 homes which we are about to start that will be ready for a summer move in! We have just a couple of creek lots remaining if you would like to build your one of a kind home.

DR Horton Homes is America's largest public builder. We have been building homes for 30 years and are looking forward to another 30 years!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Texas Trivia

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:56:10 -0500

Texas is the only state to have the flags of 6 different nations fly over it. They are: Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States, and the United States.
The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island.
The state was an independent nation from 1836 to 1845.
Texas boasts the nation's largest herd of whitetail deer.
Sam Houston, arguably the most famous Texan, was actually born in Virginia. Houston served as governor of Tennessee before coming to Texas.
The capital city of Austin is located on the Colorado River in south-central Texas. The capitol building is made from Texas pink granite. It served as the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1840-1842.
Austin is considered the live music capital of the world.
Texas is home to Dell and Compaq computers and central Texas is often referred to as the Silicon Valley of the south.
Professional sports teams include the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Stars, Houston Astros, Houston Comets, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and Texas Rangers. And Houston Texans.
Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. The Dublin Dr Pepper, 85 miles west of Waco, still uses pure imperial cane sugar in its product. There is no period after the Dr in Dr Pepper.
The first suspension bridge in the United States was the Waco Bridge. Built in 1870 and still in use today as a pedestrian crossing of the Brazos River.
Texas comes from the Hasinai Indian word tejas meaning friends or allies.
The armadillo is the official state mammal.
The first word spoken from the moon on July 20, 1969 was Houston.
Texas possesses three of the top ten most populous cities in the United States. These towns are Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.
El Paso is closer to Needles, California than it is to Dallas.
Texas includes 267,339 square miles, or 7.4% of the nation's total area.
The state's cattle population is estimated to be near 16 million.
More species of bats live in Texas than in any other part of the United States.
The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is the world's largest rose garden. It contains 38,000 rose bushes representing 500 varieties of roses set in a 22-acre garden.

I have lived in Texas for 24 years now and love it! I have lived in many places, but Texas has stolen my heart as home!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

8 Wasn't Enough!

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:49:57 -0500

Even some actors are feeling the housing crunch. Eight apparently wasn't enough for Willie Aames.

The star of Charles in Charge and Eight Is Enough, after filing for bankruptcy last year and whose house is in foreclosure, has been reduced to holding a garage sale at his Olathe, Kansas, home to raise some money.

Among the items on sale Thursday, March 26^th were antiques, artwork, a piano, leather couches, a TV set, a mounted lion's head and other stuffed wildlife the 48-year-old had hunted, and movie memorabilia.

Aames also signed autographs while a film crew recorded the event for a TV documentary about his life.

After his stints on TV and a self-admitted addiction to cocaine, the former child actor became religious and visited schools in a superhero costume as "Bibleman."

He moved to the Kansas City area in the 1990s, after filming a syndicated fishing show there.

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Myth #7 - "Cats always land on their feet!"

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:01:31 -0500

That's almost true ...

When you see fast-motion studies of cats, they rotate their heads and find the ground and twist their body into position.

The one thing they do that is remarkable is that right before they reach terminal velocity, they spread out like a flying squirrel and relax right before impact so they don't hit rigidly, they hit with flexibility.

We actually had a cat who fell chasing a bird out of a 4 story window and only fractured a couple of teeth and her pelvis. We think a delivery truck broke her fall. She used up a couple of cat lives on that fall!

But not all of them land on their feet. Every once in a while, a kitty klutz comes along.

You'll see a pile of kittens out there playing and climbing up something and falling or jumping off. Several of them land on their feet and then one of them clunks down on its head.

Kids, don't test this at home!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Myth #6 - "Rub a dog's nose in its 'business' to housetrain it!"

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:40:24 -0500

That only makes your dog afraid of you.

Instead of learning to potty outdoors, it will find hidden places to go in the house and avoid relieving itself in front of you, even outdoors.

Punishment is often overly harsh and used incorrectly. The best way to train any animal is to reward the appropriate behavior.

To successfully housetrain a dog, always take it out on leash so that when it potties outside, you will be right there to reward it with a treat, praise, a favorite toy or playtime afterward.

Crate training for the first two years also helps to stop any accidents while you are out or at work. Some say that it's mean, but the dogs think of the crate as their den and a safe place to sleep while you are not there.

It also helps to cut down on the chewing damage during the puppy brain years!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Myth #5 - "Tail-wagging means a dog is friendly!"

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:43:11 -0500

Don't count on it. Tail wags have lots of different meanings, some friendly and some not.

You have to look at the body posture of the animal and everything else it's doing. Is the dog growling or bearing its teeth? Is the fur standing up rigidly on its back?

How is the tail wagging? Stiffly, tucked and wagging, nice and flowing, is the whole body wagging? That all has to be taken into consideration.

Some signals to consider:

Relaxed, comfortable dogs generally have a gently wagging tail held horizontally or slightly lowered.
Confident dogs carry their tails up.
Dogs with their tails down may be stalking prey, feeling cautious or indicating friendliness and respect to the one they're greeting.
Together with a lowered head, direct stare, closed mouth, ears held back and eyes wide open, a lowered tail is a clear warning to back off.
A tucked tail indicates anxiety, avoidance or caution.

The biggest lesson is, never approach a strange dog unless you are sure that it is friendly. It's just safer that way!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Myth #4 - "Bad breath is normal for pets!"

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:37:20 -0500

A healthy pet has fresh breath. Just as in people, bad breath is a sign of a serious health problem.
Periodontal disease is the number one most commonly diagnosed problem in veterinary medicine.

By having good oral health, pets can live up to 15 percent longer, which is an average of two years.
Brush your pet's teeth regularly, making sure to use a toothpaste that's intended for your dog or cat. Daily is best, but even weekly is better than nothing.

Now eating something disgusting and coming over to you and burping does not count as this kind of bad breath!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Myth #3 - "Dogs and cats eat grass when they're sick!"

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:05:10 -0500

Nope, they're just connoisseurs of the green stuff, says Marty Becker, DVM, author with Gina Spadafori of The Ultimate Dog Lover and The Ultimate Cat Lover.

Pets love the taste and texture of grass. The newer shoots with a little water on them from the sprinklers or rain is even better.

It's like an all-you-can-eat salad bar buffet!

Sometimes dogs will consume large amounts of grass, which then propels food through the intestinal system, either back up or out the other end, so that may be the source of the myth.

They even sell living "pet grass" at the pet food chains!

My dogs just eat the back yard variety. I try to limit the amount they eat because they do tend to throw it up when they eat too much of it!

Be careful that they do not ingest poisonous greenery. My dog once ate Poison Oak at the dog park and it made him very ill and covered in hives!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Myth #2 - "The cat hates your baby!"

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:38:51 -0500

The rumor that Dr. Brazelton helped repopularize goes like this: Families with infants should get rid of their cats because the animals will harm the baby by sucking its breath or lying on it and smothering it.

But experts say this tale probably began because cats, attracted to soft, warm bedding, probably curled up near babies who died from other causes. Because they were found near the babies, the cats got the blame for the death.

Some suggest that millions of women for thousands of years have had healthy babies and lived with cats. The only danger of a cat around a baby is that cats like to snuggle next to warm things in small areas, and a cat will not know if this position is dangerous for the baby.

The best advice is to keep cats out of the room where the baby sleeps. If the cat is used to spending time in that room, start restricting its access at least a month before delivery, and don't allow it to nap in the bassinet.

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Myth #1- "Never give pets people food!"

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:36:43 -0500

When it comes to pizza, Kung Pao chicken and onion rings, it's true; you shouldn't be sharing high-fat, spicy or potentially toxic foods with your pet.

But cantaloupe, crunchy raw or lightly steamed vegetables, and meat with fat and gristle trimmed off are favorites of many animals and shouldn't be off limits. For instance, baby carrots, apples and popcorn are excellent low-calorie treats for dogs.

And as long as you're using high-quality ingredients and a good recipe that meets a pet's nutritional needs, "people food" is perfectly healthy as a regular meal for your dog or cat.

Vets say that the biggest concern with feeding pets ‘people food' is that most people feed too much and create an unbalanced or incomplete diet. It should only account for about 10% of their total calorie intake.

Of course, there are some foods you should never feed your pets:

Chocolate
Onions
Grapes
Raisins.
Yeast dough
Alcohol
Tobacco
Marijuana
Moldy or spoiled food
Wild mushrooms
Large amounts of raw fish
Potato, rhubarb or tomato leaves
Large amounts of raw liver
Large numbers of macadamia nuts
Fruit pits
Corn cobs
Avocados

But feeding a dog or cat from the table? That's definitely a no-no, experts agree. It takes only one time to create an obnoxious beggar. Trust me, I have two of them at home :-)

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

DOG DICTIONARY

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:32:35 -0500

DOG DICTIONARY

LEASH:
A strap which attaches to your collar, enabling you to lead your person where you want him/her to go.

DOG BED:
Any soft, clean surface, such as the white bedspread in the guest room or the newly upholstered couch in the living room.

DROOL:
Is what you do when your persons have food and you don't. To do this properly you must sit as close as you can and look sad and let the drool fall to the floor, or better yet, on their laps.

SNIFF:
A social custom to use when you greet other dogs. Place your nose as close as you can to the other dog's rear end and inhale deeply, repeat several times, or until your person makes you stop.

GARBAGE CAN:
A container which your neighbors put out once a week to test your ingenuity. You must stand on your hind legs and try to push the lid off with your nose. If you do it right you are rewarded with margarine wrappers to shred, beef bones to consume and moldy crusts of bread.

BICYCLES:
Two-wheeled exercise machines, invented for dogs to control body fat. To get maximum aerobic benefit, you must hide behind a bush and dash out, bark loudly and run alongside for a few yards; the person then swerves and falls into the bushes, and you prance away.

DEAFNESS:
This is a malady which affects dogs when their person want them in and they want to stay out. Symptoms include staring blankly at the person, then running in the opposite direction, or lying down.

THUNDER:
This is a signal that the world is coming to an end. Humans remain amazingly calm during thunderstorms, so it is necessary to warn them of the danger by trembling uncontrollably, panting, rolling your eyes wildly, and following at their heels.

WASTEBASKET:
This is a dog toy filled with paper, envelopes, and old candy wrapper. When you get bored, turn over the basket and strew the papers all over the house until your owner comes home.

SOFAS:
Are to dogs like napkins are to people. After eating it is polite to run up and down the front of the sofa and wipe your whiskers clean.

BATH:
This is a process by which the humans drench the floor, walls and themselves. You can help by shaking vigorously and frequently.

LEAN:
Every good dogs response to the command "sit!", especially if your person is dressed for an evening out. Incredibly effective before black-tie events.

BUMP:
The best way to get your human's attention when they are drinking a fresh cup of coffee or tea.

GOOSE BUMP:
A maneuver to use as a last resort when the Regular Bump doesn't get the attention you require... especially effective when combined with The Sniff. See above.

LOVE:
Is a feeling of intense affection, given freely and without restriction. The best way you can show your love is to wag your tail.

AUTOMATIC DOGGIE DOOR:

A place to sit in front to let out all the warm air during the winter and cool air during summer. This entry courtesy of Lydia Lamoreux

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

I Failed because of Purple...

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:54:26 -0500

This is one of my all time favorite posts, so I just had to share it!

Via Amy S Zender - Bellingham, WA Realtor® (Connect Realty.com):

You read correctly. I failed because of Purple. How many times have you been exposed to someone else's poor excuses? We all have; in fact, we have all used lame excuses...

A long time ago, when I first became a real estate agent I was terrified. First of not getting any business, and then once business came, I was nervous about getting the business - what would I do next? In the beginning, I called Expireds. I guess we all do, right? I called one, and it went well. I was informative, I handled objections delicately yet firmly. I was going to get this listing, I was sure of it.

I was to make a follow-up call. I knew that when I called, I would be setting up an appointment. But I did not have a decent Listing Presentation. I put the call off a day and tried creating a tailored listing packet for this potential client. I put the call off for two more days. Oddly, the copy place was on the other side of town, and I did not have the right thumb drive. Some publishing program was not working on my home computer, and... another few days went by. I finally got my act together, double-checked the MLS. And would you believe it? The guy had listed with another agent! The nerve...

I was working hard. Or so I thought... I made excuse after excuse because I was scared - scared of having the right packet, scared of giving the presentation, scared of being new, scared of being rejected. I blamed everyone (the gal at the copy place, the Starbuck's barrista who filled my coffee too full so it would spill onto my lap, thus ruining my "presentation" outfit...) and everything (home computer without the right publishing program, the lack of a decent cell phone, forgetting to add my college degree to my resume page of the listing presentation...)

Fast forward to a couple of months ago...

I was sitting on a conference call for an Accountability Group. We were speaking to a recruiting team leader down in California, who remains ever-optimistic, motivating, and on fire. He clearly presents a case for the art and game of sales, and then challenges us to develop a retort.

He preaches against bad excuses in this group. "I couldn't call 12 people because of this or that". "The other agent didn't ask the right questions." And he would interrupt folks and say "Purple". It would stump anyone trying to get through their list of excuses. Purple. It was annoying. But it was also irritating to hear feeble excuses. Comic really. Because when you are on the listening side of things, bad excuses can really sound silly.

Whatever the excuse may be, just tell the truth. Say you did not know what to do. Say you were caught off guard without an answer, any answer. It is okay to say you were lazy, you were scared, you gave up. Because anything less than the truth is an excuse. Excuses are senseless and weak; they do not explain anything. They are utterly useless. Just like the word Purple when it is thrown out there in the cosmos with no noun to describe. Just Purple. Makes you grin, doesn't it?

When throwing out a lame excuse, you might as well be saying Purple. It makes about as much sense. In our office now, when someone is dragging their feet, not meeting their goals, getting fussy, we just say Purple out loud. It makes people stop and say "what"? Then it dawns on them what they are saying. It works. Try it sometime. (I even say it to my children who are 6 & 4, and it silences them).

We can see through it most of the time. And if we as agents can, then our clients can. The next time you find yourself making an excuse to a fellow agent or a client. Ask youself this quesion: Self, could someone just yell out Purple to me right now? If you answered Yes to yourself, then stop speaking, take a deep breath, and tell the truth.

Even if the truth is wistful, it is more respectable.

I failed to get the Listing because of Purple. Do not let Purple happen to you... pass it on. Thanks for reading.

Aries - Happy Birthday!

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:18:57 -0500

Here are some fun facts about the head strong ram...

Traditional Aries Traits:

Adventurous and energetic

Pioneering and courageous
Enthusiastic and confident
Dynamic and quick-witted

Competitive and Chivalrous

The sign of the born leader

The Shadow...

Selfish and quick-tempered
Impulsive and impatient
Foolhardy and daredevil

Difficulty finishing tasks

Relating...

Aries are headstrong, impulsive, and passionate. Therefore, they are quick to initiate social contact. They fall in love at first sight then get bored quickly. They make friends easily and are very quick to defend their loved ones. At best, they are warm, dynamic, and affectionate but can be possessive. Arians love a challenge they can rise to and thereby define themselves as conquerors. They are quick to dismiss obstacles and press their limits in constant exploration. Arians encompass the classic fairy-tale images of knights in shining armor and the King Arthur archetype. They are desperately competitive and assertive and it is not by accident they are the ram... think particularly of the battering ram!

Arian Loves:

Action
Coming in first
Challenges
Championing Lost Causes
Spontaneity
Passion
Witt

Arian Dislikes:

Waiting
Admitting Defeat
No Opposition
Tyranny
Advice
Fear

Famous Arians:

Sara Braden
Betty Ford
Pat Robertson
Aretha Franklin
Sandra Day O'Conner
Diana Ross
Eric Clapton
Reba McIntyre
Vincent Van Gogh
Doris Day
Booker T Washington
Colin Powell
Adolf Hitler

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Does money buy class?

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:22:52 -0500

Who says money buys you taste or class? Not me.

Recently, William Gallas, a professional athlete, decided to buy himself a Mercedes McLaren, the fastest production car in the world.

William Éric Gallas is a French international footballer who currently plays for Arsenal in the English Premier League.

And what if I told you that while some people think that chrome rims are ostentatious, especially on a McLaren, Gallas believes that chrome rims aren't ostentatious enough.

Gallas decided to chrome his entire McLaren! Yes, the entire car is chromed out. It’s got to be joke, right?

Is it even street legal to drive a chrome covered car? Something tells me that anything that comes within a half mile of that giant mirror on a sunny day will be blinded for life.

By the way, the car's base price is almost $500,000. Who knows how much it cost to dip each piece of the car in chrome. It's got to be around $600,000 when it's all said and done.

Glad to see that pro athletes are buckling down during these tough economic times. Rumor has it that Gallas originally intended on buying a 45-foot solid gold yacht but instead settled for this little toy. That might have been even classier!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Strange But True Trivia!

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:57:43 -0500

1. Texas is the only state that permits residents to cast absentee ballots from space.

2. In Pennsylvania, Ministers are forbidden from performing marriages when either the bride or groom is drunk.

3. Hypnotism is banned by public schools in San Diego.

4. In Michigan it's illegal to place a skunk inside your boss's desk.

5. In Kentucky, it is illegal to carry ice cream in your back pocket.

6. During the time that the atomic bomb was being hatched by the United States at Alamogordo, New Mexico, applicants for routine jobs like janitors were disqualified if they could read. Illiteracy was a job requirement. The reason: the authorities did not want their trash or other papers read.

7. It's illegal in Alabama to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.

8. In parts of Alaska, it's illegal to feed alcohol to a moose.

9. You're subject to fines and/or imprisonment for making "ugly faces" at dogs in Oklahoma.

10. In Hartford Connecticut, it is illegal for a husband to kiss his wife on Sundays.

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Kiss me; I'm Irish!

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:02:19 -0500

Our Irish culture has always been a source of pride for my family. My name, O'Keefe, came from County Cork where my grandfather was raised.

We used to spend summers with my gradparents in the fishing village of Kinsale in southern Ireland. I must say that the Irish are some of the friendliest people I've ever met!

Until the 1970s, St. Patrick's Day in Ireland was a minor religious holiday. A priest would acknowledge the feast day, and families would celebrate with a big meal, but that was about it. Corned beef and cabbage is the traditional meal.

St. Patrick's Day was basically invented in America by Irish-Americans. Irish charitable organizations originally celebrated St. Patrick's Day with banquets in places such as Boston, Massachusetts; Savannah, Georgia; and Charleston, South Carolina.

18^th century Irish soldiers fighting with the British in the U.S. Revolutionary War held the first St. Patrick's Day parades. Some soldiers, for example, marched through New York City in 1762 to reconnect with their Irish roots. Others parades followed in the years and decades after, including well-known celebrations in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago, primarily for flourishing Irish immigrant communities.

This picture is my little nephew Kieran, who is ready for the special green day!

It became a way to honor the saint but also to confirm ethnic identity and to create bonds of solidarity among the Irish immigrants.

On any given day 5.5 million pints of Guinness, the famous Irish stout, are consumed around the world. On St. Patrick's Day, that number more than doubles to 13 million pints!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Mud Pies & Real Estate!

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:59:01 -0500

So who knew that playing in the mud as a kid would pay off one day?

It's spring time in Texas and it has rained here for the entire last week. I sell new home construction and I have a few beautiful, finished homes to sell, but I also have several at various stages of construction.

I did some fact finding with my prospect and her Realtor and found the perfect home that fit her needs. It has sheetrock, but there is no driveway or lead walk into the home. We knew it was going to be a challenge when we drove up, but decided to "dig in." I took my first step onto the mud and did okay; by my third step mud was squishing between my toes ... ewww. I fought past the feeling and started walking toward the house. We have clay here and it just stuck to my shoes making them heavier and heavier! I felt like Frankenstein.

I made it to the garage without falling on my face, which was a miracle in itself! I found some scrap MDF boards cut in stepping stone sizes and threw them towards the curb. The Realtor and I standing in the mud created a safe path to the house and a way back for us later. We have such glamorous jobs sometimes!

We all got in the house, looked around, answered some questions, and determined it was indeed the right house for her. Thank goodness! I would have hated to ruin my favorite pair of shoes for nothing! We went back to the model with our shoes wrapped in extra wrapping material from the garage. Even my feet were caked in mud. We sat down barefoot and wrote up her contract.

I have to admit that it was an adventure and we all found some humor in the situation! Needless to say. I'll be bugging my builder for some kind of temporary walk for next time!

PS-I'm going to invest in some cute wellington boots!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

13 Facts About Friday the 13th

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:03:21 -0500

1. The British Navy is said to have built a ship named Friday the 13th, or the HMS Friday, which on its maiden voyage left dock on a Friday the 13th, and was never heard from again. However, this story seems to be a hoax.

2. The ill-fated Apollo 13 launched at 13:13 CST on Apr. 11, 1970. The sum of the date's digits (4-11-70) is 13 (as in 4+1+1+7+0 = 13). And the explosion that crippled the spacecraft occurred on April 13th. The crew did make it back to Earth safely, however.

3. Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor.

4. Fear of Friday the 13th - one of the most popular myths in science - is called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.

5. Quarterback Dan Marino wore No. 13 throughout his career with the Miami Dolphins. Despite being a superb quarterback, he got to the Super Bowl just once, in 1985, and was trounced 38-16 by the San Francisco 49ers and Joe Montana (who wore No. 16 and won all four Super Bowls he played in).

6. Butch Cassidy, notorious American train and bank robber, was born on Friday, April 13, 1866.

7. Fidel Castro was born on Friday, Aug. 13, 1926.

8. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13.

9. Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.

10. Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. A friend warned him not to go. "It was bad luck," Twain later told the friend. "They only had food for 12."

11. Woodrow Wilson considered 13 his lucky number, though his experience didn't support such faith. He arrived in Normandy, France on Friday, Dec. 13, 1918, for peace talks, only to return with a treaty he couldn't get Congress to sign. (The ship's crew wanted to dock the next day due to superstitions) He toured the United States to rally support for the treaty, and while traveling, suffered a near-fatal stroke.

12. The number 13 suffers from its position after 12, according to numerologists who consider the latter to be a complete number - 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Jesus, 12 days of Christmas and 12 eggs in a dozen.... And so on...

13. The seals on the back of a dollar bill include 13 steps on the pyramid, 13 stars above the eagle's head, 13 war arrows in the eagle's claw and 13 leaves on the olive branch. So far there's been no evidence tying these long-ago design decisions to the present economic situation ... but Im sure people are trying :-)

Be careful out there tomorrow, Friday March 13th!

(Insert evil laugh here!)

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

A Heart for Gabby Rose

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:01:30 -0500

*** Please re-blog and help me get the word out there ***

I recently connected will an old high school friend, Lara Lester Iezzi, who's baby daughter is in need of your help. Gabby needs help in raising funds to help cover her heart transplant.

On May 25, 2009 David Tambur will compete in a Triathlon in Austin Texas. He is committed to completing this challenging endurance event while raising money for Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA). By donating you will be supporting his cause and be part of the many who are helping families of transplant patients.

With the cost of a transplant often exceeding $500,000, many transplant patients are unable to shoulder the financial burden of such a procedure. COTA is a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients. His goal is to raise a minimum of $2500.

100% of the proceeds given to COTA go directly to paying Gabby's medical bills and related transplant expenses. Born on January 26, 2005, Gabby was later diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy on October 2, 2006. Doctors at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston performed a life-saving heart transplant March 6, 2007.

Gabby is the daughter of Gregory and Lara Iezzi. Gabby's family has asked for assistance from the COTA. The organization's priority is to assure that no child is denied a transplant or excluded from a transplant waiting list due to lack of funds.

To donate please visit http://www.active.com/donate/alltri/alltriDTambur.

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

A Heart for Gabby Rose

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:30:23 -0500

I recently connected will an old high school friend, Lara Lester Iezzi, who's baby daughter is in need of your help. Gabby needs help in raising funds to help cover her heart transplant.

To donate please visit http://www.active.com/donate/alltri/alltriDTambur.

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

Social Media Sites-Input Needed

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:45:38 -0500

I have just joined Facebook and have been busy navigating the web site. I'm looking for tips and advice.

I see the benefit of getting in touch with old friends and staying in touch with current friends.

Is there is a way to get business from it?

Am I right to be careful about what pictures I post? I know it's a social site, but I've seen some crazy stuff already on other people's pages.

I'm interested in connecting and getting to know my Realtor friends better, but I think Active Rain is doing that for me already. Is there a way to link my Active Rain blog to Facebook like LinkedIn?

Twitter is still an enigma to me, but maybe I'll take on that challenge next.

I enjoy social networking sites because I'm naturally social and enjoy getting to know people better, but I must admit that I am getting a little too busy at work to keep up with it all. After all, the real life home buyers and prospects in front of you should come first!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.

House Hunting Wish List

Lara O'Keefe (Hunter's Creek, Melissa) (DR Horton Homes) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:05:37 -0600

Before you drive all over town looking at models, inventory homes, arranging times to view pre-owned homes, and deciding where you want to move, take a few minutes to fill out this simple wish list.

It will help you determine what your needs are and what you should be focusing on. It is an excellent tool to give to your Realtor to help them help you!

Don't be afraid to re-visit your wish list as you look at homes and adjust it as you realize the homes that catch your eye and, hopefully, your heart!

A little bit of preparation now will save you tons of time and energy in your hunt!

What is your budgeted price range? $___________ to $__________

What monthly payment can you comfortably afford? $__________________

What is your maximum monthly payment you can afford? $______________

(Remember, interest rates vary so sometimes you can afford more home than you realize!)

Do you prefer a 1 story, 1 story with a bonus room upstairs, or a full 2 story home? ____________

Is there a specific need you must meet in this preference (ex. Knee surgery makes stairs impossible, a growing family, etc.) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What exteriors do you prefer? Brick, Stone, Siding? ___________________________________

How big of a home do you prefer? What square footage? ___________________________

How many bedrooms do you need? _____________

How many bathrooms? ___________

Do you need separate space for the kids? ___________________________________

Would you like or need a gameroom? ______________________

Would you like or need a media room? _____________________

Would you like or need a formal living room? _____________________________

Would you like or need a formal dining room? ____________________________

Would you like or need a study? ____________________________

What size yard would you like?

Giant (I have kids, dogs, and love my garden) ______________

Medium (maybe a pet or a kid, but I have other things to do on weekends) ___________

Small (I don't want to do yard work) _________________

None (I prefer a town home or low maintenance lifestyle) ____________________

With these questions answered you are ready to call a Realtor and look for homes! Good luck!

For more information please contact Lara O'Keefe at 972.838.9156 or visit Hunter's Creek.