Anna 's Blog

Tacoma Treasures, Restaurant Review, The Adriatic Grill (near Tacoma Mall)

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:02:13 -0600

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Real Estate, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

253-353-Anna www.teammomentumrealestate.com

This is a restaurant review written by our team's intern/assistant Lani Panama, she was there last week and LOVED it. I am impressed with the restaurant as well, not just because of their food and service, but because they have supported our Keller Williams office with our fund raising efforts for Relay for Life!

It's got plenty of parking and is close to the Tacoma Mall so easy to get to from most everywhere. I love how close it is to our Keller Wiliams office!

Adriatic Grill Restaurant

I enjoy dining at the Adriatic Grill Restaurant near Tacoma Mall. The atmosphere is very warm and inviting. There is great customer service and the staff is very welcoming. The food is fabulous!

If you like Italian food like I do, than this is the place to go! I would highly recommend this restaurant. The prices are comparable to nearby restaurants, but the food is far more excellent! This restaurant is also kid friendly with a goody bag to keep kids busy, as well as dough to play with while waiting for the food to arrive.

It doesn't take long to wait on the food, as the food always arrives quickly. The bread, balsamic, and olive oil they offer upon arrival is TO DIE FOR! And my personal favorite, there Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is delicious, as well as there iced beverages. I can't wait to go back!!!

--Lani Panama

For more information, go to: www.adriaticgrill.com or call for reservations: 253)475-6000

Adriatic Grill is located at: 4201 South Steele Street, Tacoma, WA 98409

--Anna Matsunaga: www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Crepe recipe- easy healthy and fun!

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:36:34 -0600

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

253 353 2662- www.teammomentumrealestate.com

I love to make a hot breakfast for the family, but often don't have time for something elaborate. This recipe is fast and is always a hit, plus, I can make it ahead of time as well and serve another day.

4 egg

1.5 cups of milk ( I usually sour with a little lemon or apple cider vinegar)

4 pinches of sea salt

3/4 cup or so of whole grain flour of your choice

--butter or olive oil for the pan

--Optional-

If serving with something sweet add any of the following ( one or more your choice)

Several dashes of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of vanilla

1/2 teaspoon rum flavoring or almond flavoring.

A little bit of stevia

A little bit of real maple syrup

If serving with something savory-

Several dashes of coriander

Several dashes of chili powder

A couple of pinches of cumin and tumric

To Make-

Heat up a skillet over medium heat while you mix ingredients-

In a mixing bowl mix milk, eggs and any other liquid ingredients you are adding.

Once mixed well add in dry ingredients until everything is smooth ( be sure it is very thin batter) Check skillet to see if it is hot enough by dropping a little tiny bit of water from your fingers, the skillet is the proper heat when the droplets "dance".

Quickly add a little butter to the skillet and then use just under a 1/4 cup measure for a small skillet and a little over a 1/4 cup for a large one, quickly pour batter and immediately lift and rotate skillet so that the batter is very thin and covers the whole skillet. Wait a few moments while the crepe cooks through and then flip over for a moment and cook and then remove to a plate in your oven on warm while your cook the rest or to a waiting plate of a hungry friend, spouse or child. Continue until you have finished all the batter. ( Warning you may have to start over I usually do as everyone wants more)

They are great plain, but usually you will want to fill them with something and roll them up.

Things to serve them with....

yogurt of any sort

fruit of any sort ( soft, so either fresh fruit like strawberries or blueberries, or baked fruit like apples)

sour cream

steamed veggies

cheese sauce

cream sauce

syrup

apple sauce

use your imagination!

Also good rolled around sausages ( according to my son, I have not tried so cannot personally endorse)

I like to make these up ahead of time ( although this is hard to do since everyone wants them right off the stove) They make nice snacks and quick lunches and break fasts.

Hope you enjoy as much as we do!

--Anna Matsunaga

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Fall colors in Tacoma

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:14:41 -0600

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

253 353 2662 www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Fall colors behind Bryant Montessori on Ainsworth.

Fall colors

Fall colors, Tacoma WA 98405

Enjoy I'll post more soon! It's so great when the trees show their true colors!

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Tacoma, 253 353 2662

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Advice for a nursing mom going back to work with out baby along.

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:20:25 -0600

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

253 353 2662

I wrote this in response to a question on Mamasource posed by a member, then I got to thinking it might be helpful to others so I am posting it as a blog as well. I feel so blessed to have a job where I do not have to be making these choices myself ( leaving baby) :) Any way hope some of you out there find it helpful....

I am prefacing this advice with you must figure out what works for you and make your final decisions. I do have a background in breastfeeding having lactated continually since 1997 and have helped 100's of moms with nursing when I was a childbirth educator and since as well....

I too have a 3.5 month old child too. I too work full time, in fact went back to work when he was less than 1 week old. I have been blessed however and was able to start back partly from home and partly part time. I also am blessed since I have a job where I do not have to separate from my small children and take them along. Is there any chance you could do that with your job? ( you did not say what you do)

I would suggest in order to maintain your milk supply that you never ever give baby a bottle when you are there yourself. If you are working and away it can really effect your milk supply. I would also suggest that if you don't that you sleep with your baby and nurse while you sleep so baby does not need as much milk during the day. ( I have to do this since we are on the go with my job so much during the day) The more my babies nurse at night the less they need during the day and the easier my life is.

Also consider feeding baby with a cup instead of a bottle. A tiny shot glass or tiny dixie cup carefully fed to baby often works better and the sipping motion the baby does more closely similates nursing so is often easier for baby, it also has the benefit of being easier for clean up, baby does not get air in their little tummies and also no nipple confusion. I would also suggest that if you are pumping or hand expressing at work. ( and you should be) that you do not do it on an exact schedule, having a more varied schedule make for more milk production.

You baby is smart and prefers you to a bottle. Make drinking milk from a cup something different he does when you are gone and he is more likley to take to it than if you try to give him a bottle when you have the breast right there. Many moms I helped who were going back to work have used this tactic I've described very sucessfully.

In summary,

*Nurse baby when ever you are with baby
*Nurse baby just before leaving.
*Nurse baby @ night and relatch him any time you wake at night ( of course sleeping with him)
*If you are able to be with baby at work or at least on a break nurse then
* Pump or express as often and frequently as you can when you are away and on the non nursing side some when together too so you have enough for him.
*Cup feed baby instead of a bottle.
* NO Pacifiers at all ever
*Nurse baby the moment you get back home

Please let me know how it works!

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Benefits of Townhome lifestyle- more exercize and maybe weight loss!

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:31:31 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma 253-353-2662

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

In Pierce county and around the nation town homes are fast becoming a popular urban way to live.

Among the many benefits of Townhome living (easy to care for home, not having yard work, safety from close proximity to neighbors and so on) is one that likely you have not thought of.

Weight loss, and better fitness may be a side effect of your new town home? How so?

Well, having 3 stories in your home means you do more stairs than if you lived in a Ranch style home. So not only do you get more squarefootage for your money, you also get more exercize for your time spent in your home. Walking around your ranch home doing your day to day chores and so on will burn about 6 calories a minute, however doing the same when taking the stairs in your 3 story townhome will burn more than double the calories, this of course adds up in the end cumulatively to weightloss.

Not only that but the muscle built from doing stairs will continue to burn more calories per hour even if you are doing nothing than if you had not built the muscle.

To get an idea of the impact take a look at the 2 links that follow regarding stairs and impact on calories burned.

http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/NR/rdonlyres/erodpfuan72mqvpk55qngdskrs3uwpbwb6bj57gmw3tgtoewct6tm7jrtu6gvltq3pmk4um4676nan4cbfscmfr7tsc/calories.pdf

http://espn.go.com/trainingroom/s/1999/0924/75442.html

This 3rd link also in addition to having information about stairs has some good basic information on how to cut calories in other painless ways as well.

http://exercise.about.com/cs/weightloss/a/howtoloseweight.htm

So not only will you likely get more house for your money with your new town home, but you may also get less of you from the resulting weightloss you get using the stairs in your home!

Anna Matsunaga Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Relocating to the area? Our team has what you need to make your move, information, resources and more.

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Good advice from KW corporate regarding social media

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:10:42 -0500

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

253-353-2662 www.teammomentumrealestate.com

I started blogging just a little over a year ago and I made personal rules for myself when I started. If I had something really really negative it would not go in a blog. I would only write good reviews for local businesses, if it was one I could not honestly do that for, then I would not write it. If I disagreed I would be very very civil or I would say nothing at all. If some one made a bad comment that was harmful I would delete, if some one criticized me I would take it to heart if it were made with the attempt to help and not to degrade. I would write my own content or I would include a link if I liked some of the content I found and wanted to share. I would reblog where allowed and be sure my comments on the reblog made it clear it was not mine. I think I have done well with following my own rules and they would go along way towards keeping any of us safe with social networking and business. However Keller Williams just posted more good advice, some of which went further than I had thought of.

Here is the link, please check it out, lots of good advice!

http://blog.kw.com/2009/10/19/social-media-laws-the-new-wild-wild-west/

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

a great new free tool for tracking your ads!

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:44:45 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

253-353-2662

Since advertising and social networking are an important part of all of our businesses we really always want to know what is working. This is one of the things I love about Active Rain. I can see my statitics right away and know if things are being looked at and what of traffic I am generating.

With some of my advertising though, I am less sure. Sometimes people call on a house, but can't remember where they found it and of course so many see it that I never know about so....what if you could track each of your venues for free?

Well leave it to Craigslist to do something else wonderful for Realtors.

http://craigslistadtracker.com/Default.aspx

Go there and create a free account. You can use the tracker code with any set up that supports HTML. Then you can view reports and have them sent and so on and not just know where your hits are coming from, but also what areas and time and more.

I am excited about this and intend to use it. I think it will also make a nice tool to send my listing clients so that they can see how well the ads are working.

Let me know how it works for you and I will keep you posted!

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

More free goodies! A free blanket! Even free shipping included!

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:28:13 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, www.teamomentumrealestate.com ,Keller Williams Realty

253-353-2662

Most of us like the word FREE. I always am on the look out for free things, but of course don't want junkie things in the house....so when one of my friends on Facebook posted this I got excited and ordered right away. We already have one that we paid just under $20 for. It's a blanket with sleeves....ok that sounds goofy, but if you have a person in the house who likes to be warm, but is always cold they will love it.

We bought ours for our oldest daughter, she seems to alway be cold and some mornings getting her out of bed is hard because of it. Other times I would get her out of bed only to find her sitting in her chair in front of the computer ( she home schools) doing NOTHING. Why? Well she was cold and did not want to uncover herself. This snuggy blanket has solved this problem.

Get yours for free!

http://suzzly.com/snuggiepromo.html

Have fun and let me know when it comes in 6 weeks. Let me know how you like it!

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

My response to "Real Estate Agents are Idiots"

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:15:47 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momenum, Keller Williams Tacoma

253 353 2662 www.teammomentumrealestate.com

My husband is a Network Engineer and a Electronic Engineer. He also works with radar and almost everything concerning hardware in computers. He's what you've got to call a smart guy. On his previous job he was in and out of lots of Real Estate offices when equipment needed to be serviced ( computers and so on and networks of computers) Over and over he came home saying to me "Real Estate agents are IDIOTS!"

Of course I consider myself smart ( not in the ways he is but smart none the less) and I am a Real Estate agent....so....I of course take offense. Not just for my sake but for the sake of many many really great agents I have worked with and love.

What other job requires what ours does? A good agent must master several things that all on their own require a degree.

1. Marketing

2. Contract writing and negotiations

3. Valuation of homes.

4. Understanding psychology of our clients

5. Advertsing

6. Networking socially and with other businesses

7. Learning neighborhood charaeristics

8. Negotiations

9. Writing

10. Business management

11.Sales

12.Accounting

13. Business planning and budgeting

14. Adminstrative management

15.Basic law regarding Real Estate

16. Contact management

17. Consulting

and much much more.

If we also have assistants or a team ad to that

18. Hiring/ Recruiting

19. Management

20. Coaching

This of course does not take into account any of our specialties......

Being a Real Estate agent is one of the most challenging things I have done and even though I love to learn and I soak up what I am interested in like a dry sponge, I feel I will never ever be at a point where I could possibly know it all. I must say this is one of the biggest blessings of Real Estate. To be any good what so ever I must constantly be learning and growing and doing new things.

So let's go back to my husband's point of view....where does it come from? Well mostly that many of the agents he encountered did not understand HIS job. They often did not know how to operate the equipment he was called to work on and often it was their mess ups that brought him there....Well....Real Estate agents (unlike engineers) tend to be people people. So, although we may all use the computer and other office equipment daily we have little interest in how it works. What makes our clients tick? Well now THAT'S interesting. How to market a 4 plex missing the entire floor in one unit, that's a challenge we are ready to take on. Remembering to back up our hard drives....maybe not.

This brings me to another point. With a job that requires so many different skills, few of us will be good at them all. I know the areas in which I am "an idiot" and I work hard to surround myself with others who are good at them so that I can focus on doing what I am naturally good at.

That's the beauty of Real Estate, you can do that, that's the beauty of Real Estate teams.....you can totally do that....and really I don't want to be a genius at keeping a complete file ( I have people for that) I'd rather be a genius at marketing, negotiating and helping people get what they want.

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma 253 353 2662

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Tacoma Treasures....Wapato Park.

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:47:30 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662.

There are many places in Pierce county I love to go, especially after living in the area since 1992. However one of my favorites is quite close to home....Wapato park. It holds special significance for me since my husband and I had our wedding there ( ok actually our 10 year anniversary, but we had a wedding then since we had not had one when we got married in the first place) I also love it because I have spent many hours running and walking around the lake and also have many memories with my children playing there together.

Just take one look at the beautiful arches near the round about drive and you will know why this is a destination for weddings or at least wedding pictures.....The rest of the park is as well cared for. It has seasonal plantings of flowers that are changed out and kept in color for most of the year. You will also find the following @ Wapato.

Walking / bike trails.

Volley Ball Courts

Horse shoe courts

Picnic areas

Play equipment

Juvenile fishing part of the year

Baseball field

Open play areas

Duck and goose watching

Rating the park

Space-10

Layout- 10

Parking 8.5

Maintainance 9

Ammenities- 8.5

Cleanliness-7.5

Pretty factor 8.5

Play equipment 8

Accessibility-8

Dog friendly-7

Family friendly-8.5

I would love it if there was a small fenced off leash area for dogs since there are none on the S. End of Tacoma and there is enough room there. Judging from the number of dogs that are seen there @ any given time I am guessing it would be popular. The equipment is nice, could be a bit more of it.....once in a while I see trash there and the other issue with cleanliness if the ducks and other water foul can make a mess....but the park is actively working on that issue.

For walking and running, hardly could there be a better set up. According to mapmywalk.com the jaunt around the lake using the main bridge is just about exactly a mile which is great. The paths are wide and fairly level which makes for nice running and walking and you get up and down hills both making a nice varied work out.

I forgot to mention, not just duck watching, but also squirels, there are plenty in the park to see as well.

The location also makes it accessible via bus lines, and to people coming from other parts of town and even other towns since it is right off the freeway. Last week met friends from Lakewood there and they mentioned would be coming back plenty now that she knew how very close and easy to get to it was.

Haven't been in a while?... drop in while the weather is still nice, although, you will not be disappointed even in the rain, you just might get wet though....

--Anna Matsunaga Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma 253 353 2662

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

House Extends Tax Credit to Active Military for One More Year

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:53:57 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma WA

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

This is great news for Pierce county area buyers and sellers with so many of them being Military folks. Also forecasts perhaps an extension of this for all.

If you are military and looking for a great home in Pierce county and want to know more, please call me 253 -353-2662

Via Nicole Lahti, Austin Texas Mortgage (Real Mortgage Partners):

Yesterday the House of Representatives unanimously voted to extend the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit to active military personnel, foreign service and intelligence officers. HR 3590 extends the existing tax credit to this group until November 30th, 2010. The bill now goes to the Senate, and is expected to pass with the same ease.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) because it was thought that military personel serving oversees this year did not have the same opportunity to take advantage of the tax credit. If the original qualifications are met, the extension applies to military personnel who spent at least 90 days of the current calendar year oversees. It also does not require borrowers to payback the tax credit if they are deployed after receiving it. The current tax credit requires borrowers payback the tax credit if they do not occupy the home within three years of receiving the tax credit.

No word yet on whether the $8,000 tax credit will be extended for all eligible borrowers.

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Barrie Townhomes - Condo vs. Freehold

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:49:05 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty, www.teammomentumrealestate.com

I just found this post about Town homes in Barrie. Helpful information about the basic differences in the terms town home, town house and condo. I will write more soon about the differences between them in a resale and purchase sense and how living in one or the other could be quite different as far as the experience, cost and resale even if it is a town home style condo we are talking about vs a town home that is not a condo.

Read on....

Via Stephanie Adams (Barrie Condo Team - Royal LePage First Contact Realty):

To those looking into the Barrie townhome market for the first time, navigating your way around can be a bit confusing. For instance, what’s the difference between a condominium townhome and a freehold townhome? And why are some called ‘townhomes’, while others are referred to as ‘townhouses’?

In order to clarify things a bit for those in unfamiliar territory, here are the basic differences.

First, the easy one: ‘townhome’ or ‘townhouse’? These terms are used interchangeably, and mean the same thing, but the term I prefer to use with my clients is ‘townhome’, because it’s not just a building I’m referring to – it’s your potential new home. This building will become your personal space, where you go to escape, raise your family, and live your life.

Now for the main difference between condominium and freehold townhomes: freehold townhomes are those for which you pay no monthly fees, and are responsible for all maintenance like shovelling snow, mowing the lawn, etc. Condominium townhomes include a monthly maintenance fee, but the trade-off is that you don’t need to worry about cleaning the pool, or maintaining your driveway in the winter or lawn in the summer – it’s all looked after for you.

If you’re a professional or retiree who just doesn’t have the time or interest to invest in the upkeep of a house, a condominium townhome might be a good option for you.

Affordable luxury

Whichever you choose, both freehold and condominium townhomes in Barrie usually offer upgrades and amenities that are often cost-prohibitive when looking at a detached home. Items like ceramic or hardwood floors, upgraded cupboards, granite countertops, and whirlpool tubs are just a few options that generally have a large price tag attached to them in detached homes, but are often more affordable in a townhome. It boils down to value for your money, and the lifestyle you want.

An appreciable investment

Like a detached home, townhomes are an investment that will (or should, depending on the market conditions) appreciate in value. And, again like a detached house, the more amenities and upgrades the townhome has, the higher the resale value.

When it comes right down to it, choosing a freehold or condominium townhome in Barrie is simply a matter of personal choice based on lifestyle and affordability.

Stephanie Adams is a Sales Representative at Royal LePage Barrie (First Contact Realty) specializing in Barrie Condos and townhomes. Stephanie is part of the Barrie Condo Team.

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

How to get 2 free books....

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:08:09 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty

www.teammomentumrealestate.com, http://www.reisecrets.com/ebooks.htm 253 353 2662

Do you like to read? More importantly do you like to read books that expand your mind and open up new possibilities? If so I am sharing a link you will like.

You can down load an ebook copy of Napolian Hill's Think and Grow Rich and also As a Man Thinkth for free at this link.

I have not read Think and Grow Rich for a long time, so I downloaded it and got started.

Hope you enjoy too.

Here is the link.

http://www.reisecrets.com/ebooks.htm

Happy reading!

Anna Matsunaga www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Natural pest control....or how to uninvite ants from your house.

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:05:48 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253 353 2662

I have always been a fan of the natural way to do things and once I had kids well I kinda became a Nazi about it. So when we get unwelcome visitors.....

I just don't want to poison the family too or our pets. I also worry about the environment....and with a baby just a few weeks old in the house I really don't want toxic anything anywhere nearby at all.

Problem is the ants like alot of the same food we do.....

So last time they found our honey jar we just put honey outside for them and then washed the floor really well with vinegar where they had been entering and it worked, but they are back and I needed some new ideas so I went online and found this great site.

http://www.thefrugallife.com/ants.htm

Great part is, most the solutions are things you have in your house and so nontoxic ( most of them) that you can eat them!

Hope this helps if you have uninvited guests!

Anna Matsunaga Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma WA

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Lakewood's rich history- video to check out

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:56:12 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

253 353 2662 www.teammomentumrealestate.com

In getting ready to work with a large project in Lakewood, I have been doing some research on the area and it's history. The history is rich and interesting even though Lakewood has only been incorporated since 1996. Noteable residents of Lakewood have been a part of much of what has happened in all of Pierce county.

There are also many historical sites now open to the public as parks and more such as Lakewold park, and Fort Steilacoom park. The many lakes almost all have public access as well, so residents of the Lakewood area can enjoy year round lake lifestyle whether they live on the lakes themselves or not. The lakes are known for water skiing and fishing or simply a great place to have an leisurely afternoon on the water. Even many of the buildings we pass daily in Lakewood have historical significance ( such as Hollywood video) as many of the buildings either were designed by an early visionary architect, or are based on matching his design.

I learned alot from this video, for instance, did you know that Lakewood is home to one of the oldest Golf and Country clubs in the US? Also did you know that Lakewood also boasts one of the ONLY hunt clubs in Western US? The information on Lakewood's past and it's development along with interesting information like this make this video worthwhile to watch.

If you are relocating to Lakewood I would suggest you watch to see the rich heritage of the area you are moving to. If you already live in the area you will simply find it interesting.

To watch go to http://vimeo.com/6744332 and take a look

To find out more about Lakewood, history and the city now and goings on with in I would suggest you also visit http://www.cityoflakewood.us/

There you will even find a schedule and phone # to make an appointment for coffee with the Mayor and much much more.

--Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma, 253 353 2662. www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

A Tacoma Treasure--Also 4 those living in Lakewood- Famous Footware!

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:05:10 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma 253 353 2662

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

One of the places I consider a Treasure in Tacoma and a benefit of Living in Lakewood as well is that both have Famous Footware locations. Now WHY would that make a town a better place to live? Well if you have to ask you likely don't have 6 people in your family to keep in shoes.

I have 4 kids and 3 of them wear shoes. ( I don't believe in shoes for children who don't walk yet) Keeping the 3 of them and my husband and I in shoes is no small task and can be a big chunk of money as well. Thank goodness we have 2 close by choices for locations for Famous Footware.

The first time we went in we just decided to browse, but we soon knew we would be coming back alot. My oldest son has grown out of all of his shoes 3 whole times in the last year ( now @ age 12 is 2 sizes larger in shoe size than his dad is) and just when we thought we had things caught up for him his sisters grew out of theirs too. Enter Famous Footware. We can actually afford to get them their new shoes there. We find a nice selection of brand names there along with off brands that are just as nice as the known names.

We always find a large selection as well. We have purchased everything from soccer shoes to heels there, from slippers to boots. My girl's favorite there is the brand of boots called Bear Claws, they are similar to Uuggs with out the price that make you go Uugg.

They also have great sales, often buy one get one and buy one get one half off and such.

If you have a family who you need to keep in shoes or you just want to save on keeping yourself in them, head over to the Lakewood Town Center to

10330 59TH AVENUE SW #C
Lakewood, WA 98499

Or in Tacoma go to

LINCOLN PLAZA
2505 SOUTH 38TH ST #A113
TACOMA, WA 98409

You can also check them out on line @ www.famousfootware.com

Have fun shopping and $aving!

--Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma 253-353-2662

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Living in Lakewood-Dining at Old Country Buffet

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:22:28 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

253 353 2662- www.teammomentumrealestate.com

If you are living in or near Lakewood WA or considering living there, one of the restaurants you will want to visit is the Old Country Buffet ( or Old country Bee as they call themselves) You need to visit, not for the fine dining, it's not fine dining, but for a nice clean all you can eat restaurant with lots of variety. You will find it located right in Lakewood Town Center.

What I like about it most is that no matter who you are there will be things you can eat there. They have a huge salad bar, a taco bar, a dessert bar, and several areas with all different sides and main meat dishes. I like to go there with the kids since other than the line at the register, which moves quickly, there is no waiting for food. There is also no complaining because they "don't like this kind of food" which happens often when I make one family member happy @ other restaurants, here they can pick out the kind of food they want.

We went there last Friday after a very full week where I had had little time to pay attention to them, let alone make decent meals. We had a very fun time. Sam got among other things pepperoni pizza, corn, salad, jojo potatoes and mac and cheese. Chlo'e got steak, chicken and mac and cheese and a taco. Joeleah ate corn, chicken, pizza, and breaded shrimp. I had a large salad and breaded okra and breaded shrimp. The kids had fun making sodas with every flavor in them. They also had chocolate milk. Those of you who know me know why the pop is such a treat to them)

Then of course there is dessert, which of course I tell them all before we go in, they must have dinner before dessert.

Then as we come in we are greeted by a sign....

They point it out and ask if that means they have to follow my rules about dessert. I say yes. My rules trump a sign at a restaurant. They do eat dinner first and I am proud to say don't over eat dessert.

Sam has a small dish of chocolate and vanilla swirl ice cream and Joeleah has chocolate icecream her brother gets for her.

Chlo'e gets a little icecream and a little cake. I opt for a small cheese cake and a little apple cobbler with vanilla icecream.

All in all it's a great night at dinner. With a buffet there is the added benefit that it is socially acceptable for you to get up several times during a meal, this is a plus when dining with a 3 year old who seems unable to sit still through any meal even at home ( at least she stays dressed when we eat out!) This is also a plus when eating out with a 9 week old who has his fussy time right at dinner time, we can get up and walk around to calm him with out anyone looking at us funny.

This is really a family friendly restaurant. We feed me and Sam ( he's 12) and Chlo'e and Joeleah ( Peter's meals are of course one of the few things not offered on the buffet) for about $35. We can hardly have fast food for that little and this definatly trumps that.

We have also come here before on the weekends for breakfast, they have a great omlet station set up then and lots of great breakfast items, this too is well priced, about $6 for an adult.

Going to the Old Country Buffet reminds me of being a child. My family often ate at a similar restaurant when I was growing up. ( I am the oldest of 5 kids,) I am pretty sure my parents liked "their" buffet restaurant for many of the same reasons I like Old Country Buffet....of course "mine" is nicer than the buffet I visited as a child.

Old Country Buffet is one of the benefits of living in Lakewood and shopping the lakewood town center. A fun weekend day could be breakfast @ OCB and then shopping @ the town center. We had almost as much fun eating dinner at OCB and then shopping for an hour @ the towncenter, specifically Micheals and Ross dress for less.

--Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma.--253 353 2662

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Moving to Lakewood? Give our team a call we would love to help you with your relocation.

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

What to buy your wife for your anniversary- Advice from my kids

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:19:28 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma www.teammomentumrealestate.com

253-353-2662

My kids are 12 and younger, so you may or may not want to take marriage advice from them, however they have seen alot of families from the inside so....

Anyway this morning as we were making breakfast they started a discussion on what you should not buy for your wife for an anniversary present...

.husbands if you have the date coming up, pay attention. ( I was in stitches)

Chlo'e- says don't buy her-

Throwing knives,

bleach,

pepper grinder,

sponge,

pots and or pans

, a gun,

a big thing full of scrap metal,

poison,

man eating bear or wolf,

a mop,

any thing she is allergic to,

a box of spiders,

rotten fish or any type of uncooked meat,

a broom,

a coffin,

a rope,

a wrench, or a candle stick, or a lead pipe ( too much clue?) steel toed boots,

a mailbox.....

Sam says don't buy her-

Rat poison or traps, shot gun, needles, a window,

a baseball bat ( especially not a titanium one)

a chain,

a machetti,

a reem of copier paper,

a tarp,

a thing of dollar store soap,

microphone,

or an empty box.

They agree that the following are good gifts, but I think that you might want to take some of these with a grain of salt

A piano,

guitar,

diamond ring,

diamond earrings,

a bunch of roses

, a baseball,

a car,

plant a flower garden,

a pretty hat,

a jacket,

a camera,

a nice dinner ( meat in it's ok if it's cooked),

a wardrobe of diamond dresses ( Chlo'e's idea, clearly she is not as practical with other people's money as her own, Sam said you should save the money for yourself instead),

a maid to clean the house,

paint brushes and easle if she paints,

pokemon things if she likes pokemon, a

movie ticket,

sew her a blanket,

a laptop,

200 inch TV,

a sling so her hands are free while she holds your baby,

take her out for the night to a ball,

a nice hand bag,

a real dog if she likes dogs,

a hand held game ( if she is a game freak),

a nice pair of high heeled shoes....

Any way they told me that you should stick with the list of things TO buy so that she does not take the throwing knives & gun and rat poison and kill you with it and then take the bleach and sponge and clean up the mess and the tarp and haul you off on it and bury you in the coffin....

Maybe instead you should ask her for a list of 10 things she'd like and then surprise her by getting one or more of them...or maybe a nice card?

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma www.teammomentumrealestate.com

253 353 2662

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Astounding customer service can be little things, in fact it almost always is...

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:57:09 -0500

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma 253 353 2662

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

I have always hoped that my clients feel I give really good customer service and that what I do for them is memorable.

I work hard to do it and some times I feel I need more money to do it better....I loved this video, reminding me that heart is what is more important here.

Please watch you will love it!

Thank you to a fellow blogger for sharing it first!

http://www.stservicemovie.com/index.html

--Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty 253 353 2662

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Townhomes a modern option for today's lifestyles..live in one? We want to hear from you!

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:41:28 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty.com www.teammomentumrealestate.com

253-353-2662

Do you live in a Townhome? This lifestyle is becoming more and more popular for many reasons.

For one, the suburban home with lots of house and yard to maintain just does not really hardly fit most family's reality. Most families have 2 wage earners. Both often work more than 8 hours a day PLUS a commute. This does not give much time for maintaining a yard and the home. Who wouldn't like to simplify their lives and have more time with their family rather than a date with their lawn mowers?

Less and less households have children in them and singles and couples both have very busy lives, a town home often is appealing for the same reasons above and may be more feasible for these folks than some one with very small children.

More and more people are working from home. With the separated areas created by 2-3 stories common in many of today's town homes it is easy to put an office area on the bottom floor and living space above, helping separate work and home even when you work from home.

Being part of an urban community. Block parties are being replaced by meetings of townhome communities, a neat way to have an area defined and likely to have people of similar backgrounds drawn to your townhome community for the same reasons you are.

Less land, more house. As there is less and less land available of course homes need to take up less of it. Good news is that with this you can buy more house on the less land!

Some people fee that townhomes are just a fad that will come and go, but this trend is definately not that new ( think of the historic San Francisco row homes) and with changes in our lives and in demographics, it it definately here to stay as well.

Team Momentum is launching a Blog that will be an online magazine for Townhome living. If you live in one, or sell them we want to hear from you. We want to know what you love and don't love about the life style, why you chose it, and your story about you. Please include your name, where you live, what type of townhome is it one story, 2 story, 3 story, duplex or triplex or 4 plex style ect ( maybe even pics of you and of your townhome) we would like to feature you and your story in upcoming blogs!

Please email your stories to anna_matsunaga@kw.com or use the contact button @ www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Thanks!--We'll see you "about town"--

Anna Matsunaga,, Team momentum, Keller Williams Realty www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Seattle area Credit Union really thinks out of the box, creates a stir

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:14:08 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma, 253 353 2662 www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Verity Mom applicant-

News-- A Seattle area credit union, Verity Credit Union has created a contest that has created a real stir. The contest is to choose one local mother to be their "Verity Mom" This mom will be paid to blog, to make videos and commentary on local events and review local businesses. In launching the program and through the contestants doing all they can to get attention for the contest Verity has gotten much more attention than some expensive TV campaign ever could. This is smart high tech, high touch all the way viral marketing.

I am so impressed with the Credit Union for thinking of this idea and am excited they have decided to target the audience they have, one that often does not get the respect of the community or the focus of businesses that advertise. I liked the idea so much I decided to go ahead and apply myself. Now I am one of 34 local area women who are competing for the title of "Verity Mom. Funny thing is I had not even heard of Verity until Saturday of this week, that evening I logged into facebook and there was an ad for the contest.

I had appointments scheduled for the entire next day, but decided to see if I could make it work any way to get my application in. I had less than 4 hours to work on it and that was punctuated by feeding children and bed time stories. Still I was able to get my entry in just 5 minutes before the midnight deadline, although I must admit the blog and bio and video all were less polished than they would have been had I known about it sooner. I am excited about this no matter who wins!

If you are a business owner large or small you need to go to their website www.veritymom.com to see how they have created this awesome viral marketing. While you are there please comment on my entry/blog. ( I am entry #27) If you are in WA you should look into an account with them, any CU that thinks out of the box like this has to be banking extraorinare.

Also if you have a business or service that you own, or that you really like and it is family friendly please comment here on this blog with info about it, why do you like it and their name and web address, I will include them in the resources page Verity has on line for all to see.

If you have ideas for blog topics that would benefit moms ( or at least make them laugh) please write about them to me in comments as well.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

--Anna Matsunaga

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

A key to a happier relationship, let go of expectation ( not boundaries or standards, but expectation)

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:00:14 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Tacoma 253 353 2662. ( verity mom applicant) www.teammomentumrealestate.com

My husband and I have been married now for 23 years. (never dreamed we would be getting ready to go to his 25th Highschool reunion with a tiny new baby!)

We have been through good and bad times. We have had times where we felt so close and others where we wanted to just kill each other. Mostly I have learned a lot and grown a lot, and frankly have been blessed to have married a really good man. When we got married we had an awful lot going against us. We were from differing cultural, religious, economic and ethnic backgrounds. No one in either of our families wanted us to get married and we were really young ( I like to say, I don't know 9 years old because telling people we have been married for 23+ years and together more than 25 kinda dates me)

I will not tell you we have a perfect relationship. We really really don't and in some ways in fact it really needs help. I will tell you though in many ways it is what others could only hope for and much of that is because of some things I've learned that I would like to share with you.

One of the places I see relationships go wrong is with expectations. You see one person expects something of the other and because of it they are unhappy when it does not happen. I think a big part of the reason I have been happy is that while I have standards ( boundaries) I do my best not to have expectations that will get in the way. I have learned the hard way that when you do, well you miss other stuff that might be even better.

Here is an example. We as women tend to like to "cuddle" or "just be held" more than men. In the evenings I often wanted to sit with my husband and cuddle while we read or watched TV or something like that. Problem my honey never ever wanted to do that then, in fact he needed space at that point. His job was stressful and he needed a lot of time to wind down. Unlike me when he was stressed out being close and being touched just stressed him out more. I was also frustrated since when he was in the mood to touch, he was often just "in the mood". I had expectations that when we were married we would spend lots of time just cuddling and talking and such and I was very very disappointed that between his differences in this area and our very very busy schedules my needs in this area were not being met. I even felt angry at times and some what depressed about it. I had expected it to be so different. Finally I resigned myself to never working this out and most of the time doing with out this need met

Had I known then what I know now about accepting it would not have had to be that way for many years. Finally I came to a place where I had learned to just let go and accept and I had stopped being angry or sad about it and just figured that this was a part of my life. Funny thing is once I came to that place something totally different happened that made me realize it was my expectations that had made me be missing this need being met and it was not my husband at all, in fact he was willing to meet this need, in fact needed to and wanted to as well, just not in the way I expect. My expectations had gotten in the way....

I am an early morning person ( which may be hard to believe when you notice how late I often blog, but it's true. ) My honey, well he really is not. One of the things that irritated me the very most about him was the fact that he would set the alarm clock and then hit snooze continually for sometimes as much as an hour at a time. I have so little time to sleep and I sleep lightly enough that this meant that I lost an hour or more of sleep and this really really made me very angry. I must say for years I was NOT nice about it ( but the word you would use to describe my behavior is not very nice either, so we will not use it ) This went on and again I got more and more angry about it as the years passed, especially once we had kids because you and I both know what that does to you sleep. I EXPECTED that when the alarm went off that one should just get up and get out of the bed and start the day right then. ( remember I am fully awake once the alarm goes off I'm a morning person.) I EXPECTED that he would do the same. When the alarm went off and I missed my precious sleep I was plain and simple, ticked off. I would try for a bit to go back to sleep all the while feeling more and more angry as I began to drift 20 seconds before it went off again. I would often yell at my husband over this and when I contained myself I still started the day seething mad.

Then one morning I just lost it, I had been up most of the night with 2 sick kids, I had a full day of work the day before and it an even fuller day scheduled for the day I was so rudely waking up to. I just wanted the alarm to go off when it was actually the last moment I should be in bed and not a moment earlier. I just totally went off on my poor still sleepy husband who takes longer than me to wake. And then in the midst of my ranting and rampaging he said something that stopped me cold, that brought me to tears and made me realize how expectations and me being blind because I was expecting something to happen a certain way was getting in the way of enjoying something better......

"Anna, I set the alarm an hour early so I can just snooze it and cuddle with you."

All these years I had really needed that from him, and all these years he had actually had an entire hour he WANTED to spend with me doing that very thing, but I had missed it, and instead of being the kind of woman a husband might want to actually snuggle with I had been ( well you know it's a word we won't use in this post and that's would still be a nice way to put it), and through it all my husband had tried and tried to give me what I wanted and because I expected it to happen at a different time of the day I missed out and so did he....all the time with me thinking it was HIS fault and that he was the selfish one.

I began to wonder how many other things made me unhappy because I EXPECTED something to be an exact way and I missed something even more wonderful

I found that there were many instances that were in the way of me being happy....and it was ME an not him that needed to change. For instance I really really wanted my husband to buy me flowers on occasion, and he never did. ( okay he bought me some when I graduated and again when we almost got a divorce and we worked things out and did not...a whole other story and a good one too, that also was mostly bad communication and again mostly on my part) I dwelt on that so much that it really really bothered me. Then when we purchased our first home my husband with his own hands sifted the soil in an area of over 2000 square feet and with his own hands built me beautiful raised bed gardens in our back yard. One by one he removed all the rocks and made a desolate waste area into a beautiful organic garden. ( and not because he is a fan of gardening, but because I always wanted a garden) Then it hit me, he wanted to give me something more lasting and that I would be able to use and enjoy year after year. He wanted to give me something that lived more than a few days. When we moved away he once more built me another one and this time the raised bed was made with cottage stone so he had to transport all of them too. It was even more beautiful than the first one. I came to appreciate the gifts of his hands and heart and not be angry that he and the florist down the street were not on a first name basis. ( yes I would still love flowers from him, but now I don't pine after them and I know he shows love in more lasting and concrete ways.

I guess my point is that instead of focusing on what you don't have in your relationship and instead of having rigid expectations both of you will be happier if you be open to who the other person is and not expect, be open to the surprises in the relationship and look for the beauty in it, because if you are locked into your expectations and focused on what you expected and did not get, you may miss the very thing you wanted or something even better.

I hope this can help some of you and I hope you can make the changes before you miss the joy you could have had. I know I missed too much. I am thankful my honey stuck it out while I figured it out.

--Anna Matsunaga

If you liked this blog you will like what I have in mind for "Friday Date Night" a blog post most Fridays on relationships. This is the type of thing I would like to share every Friday with readers if I am selected to be Verity Mom, if you would like to see this type of content, please comment and also tell me what you would like to know about relationships as well. ( for more information on Verity mom go to www.veritymom.com)

For help with your Real Estate needs call Anna @ 253 353 2662.

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Good Cents....or how to $ave money ideas for families ( and everyone else too)

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:08:01 -0500

From Anna Matsunaga http://activerain.com/momentum, and www.veritymom.com applicant

This is the blog I wrote for my application blog for a paid blogger/mom position with Verity Credit union. Please let me know what you think and go to www.veritymom.com to vote. This will be a position that gets lots of media and web presence and I would like to use it to help other moms and families, promote the credit union and also to enhance the image of Realtors in the community. Please read on.

Let's face it when you have a family, you always need to pinch pennies, but with recent changes in the economy in many areas ( likely yours) it's becoming even more important to make your money count.

This becomes especially important if it makes the difference between whether you can stay at home with yoru children or not or if you are working full time away from kids and home and want to be able to provide them with the best possible childcare. So how do we do it? Let's explore some ideas, of course no one blog could give you all the answers and if it could, well it would simply be too long for a busy mom to read.... so here goes.

Before you start to try to pinch pennies more than you already are, take inventory. You have a much better idea what would be a realistic goal and it helps you be encouraged as well since it is easier to measure your progress. Take a month or at least 2 weeks and keep track of where you spend pretty much all of the money that goes out of your household.

To do this get a large manilla envelope for your car, one for a desk or work area at home and a section of your purse where you put reciepts. Be sure to mark them with what they are for if it is not obvious at the time of purchase. Also check all of your accounts and find out what your balances are and also importantly what the charges are for maintaining them and whether or not they are interest bearing.

Doing this is like weighing at the beginning of a diet and keeping a food diary.

Once you have this done, just like with the diet you will immediately see some areas that are obvious as far as needing improvement. Start there and make a goal of 3 changes that will make a difference right away. Keep a notebook or log of your progress and your spending including when you are tempted the most to break with your goals also track your sucesses, even if it is as small as ordering water instead of coffee when you ate out or perhaps better yet planning ahead more so you did not have to eat out just to have dinner before 10pm. ( I've been there so I'm pretty sure you have too!)

Ok, you say this is not fun.

My answer is no pain no gain.

But because I want you to be successful here are some ideas to make it more fun.....

1. Pick a "budget diet" buddy. Find another mom who wants to slim down her spending and strengthen her family finances. Share your goals over tea or coffee ( at home if you want to save) and hold eachohter accountable. Call her if you feel the desire to splurge. Share ideas.

2. Find substitutes. You know how it's easier to stay with healty eating if you can substitute a healthier item for a less healthy item? Well...this principle works here too. Did your "money diet" journal show that you spend lots on expensive dinners? Could you and your husband go out for just dessert instead? (ok that would maybe ruin your ACTUAKL diet, so it could be just coffee or tea too, you really just wanted to go somewhere with no kids to talk right?)....point is with out a budget healthy substitute you will likely not be able to stick with your plan.

3. Do "cheat". Like the diet, if it is all deprivation then it will not work as if you do too much deprivation you will end up gorging ( splurging) and go off your diet entirely. Decide ahead of time a few small spending indulgences you will allow for you and your family.

4. Reward yourself. Set a goal. Once you reach it have a reward waiting. It could be something you can purchase or have saved for....however like with the diet it's best not to reward yourself with food ( in this case actually spending) It is better to reward yourself with something like an afternoon off. Having a friend over or something like that. However be sure it will motivate you, if that means spending that's ok, just be sure you've earned it first.

5. Make yourself accountable. When you tell others that you are going to ( you fill in the blank it could be lose weight, work out, or improve your familiy's bottom line) it helps because if you have the right kinds of friends they encourage you and because you want to save face. A conversation could go like this...." Hey Sally, this is Anna, I just wanted to touch bases with you to ask for your support......Well I have made a goal to improve our family finances and for part of that I am looking for ways to spend less, so for one I'd love any of your ideas, also would it be ok if when we go out we go to a Matinee and skip the popcorn and pop? ( hey that WILL help your actual diet!) This helps take the pressure off later when your friend calls and wants to do something that is costly, if they still do you can remind them of your goal and they will be much less likely to be offended.

6. Involve your family. Find out something the whole family wants, but does not have the money for. Start a jar and add money to it every time you DON"T spend on something that was really unneccessary, ask them to do the same. Explain the other benefits and sincerly and with out judgement listen to their ideas. People support what they help to create and what has a real and tangible benefit to them.

7. Look for painless ways to save. Take your bank for instance. Look for interest bearing checking and or savings. ( ie like the Cartwheel savings @ Verity Credit Union) Look at your credit cards, could you close one of the accounts so that you were paying one less annual fee, or better yet could you find one with out an annual fee? Also be sure you keep track of your accounts ( it's easier than ever with online banking) so that you do not lose money with overdraft fees.

8. Use the following things to help you when thinking of spending money.

a. Is it a purchase that can wait? If so wait a week or even a day. Often at that point you will find that you don't need it.

b. When you're weak think "this week" What does that mean? Ask yourself if you will use it this week or at least once a week. If the answer is no. Wait to buy it, again often you will find you did not need it. If you do, you will feel more sure of the purchase because you thought it out.

c. Always compare. Often if you compare products and services you will find that you can get the same thing for less.

When you use these ideas you will find that you are slimming down your budget and making for a beautiful and strong financial future for your family.

Want more actual recipes and exercizes that will help you accomplish this? Stay tuned to "Saturday Market" for more ideas.

Please see my application video on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izh_Q-BtGSA and go to www.veritymom.com to vote.

Anna Matsunaga, Verity Mom applicant and Realtor with Team Momentum of Keller Williams Realty. I would love to have your feed back...and your votes. Thanks in advance for your support!

P.S. Please also feel free to repost this blog!

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

How motherhood has changed me...

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 11:24:50 -0500

Everyone has events in their lives that change them dramatically. Becoming a parent has to be one of the most dramatic. I am no exception.

Before having children I was focused on my career and I have to say to an unhealthy extent. I also spent a lot of time worrying about trivial things. I had friends but did not appreciate them properly and I did not appreciate my family ( ie my husband nor my parents and siblings) enough either. I took too much for granted. I also took myself for granted in many ways. In short, my life was out of proper focus.

Just finding out I was pregnant the first time turned my life upside down. (surely made more dramatic by the fact I was 20 weeks along before we knew I was pregnant....long story) I immediately began to learn all I could about pregnancy and birth since I felt a real responsibility to do the right things for the health of my baby and frankly because I was scared to death. I read more than 40 books on birth and pregnancy in the short 4 months before baby was due and managed to decorate a nursery in addition to working 2 jobs. I had in my head that having the baby would be wonderful, but that I really did not want it to change me. Yes I was in denial. I thought I would simply go right back to work, only a few less hours. I had firm in mind that I would nurse, but only for a year and that was being generous. I did not even change my business goals for the year.

Reality came in the form of a difficult, although completely natural, birth and an even more challenging 6lb baby boy. Since he was so small, but not meant to stay that way he nursed sometimes as much as 8 hours with not a single break. Even getting to eat food and drink water myself became a challenge, let alone luxuries like getting to bathe or pee alone. To make matters harder he also was very very sensitive and could not tolerate me eating a number of things as they upset his stomach when they came through my milk and also gave him a horrid rash. I had to find through experimentation what foods were an issue ( and wouldn't you know it they were mostly my favorites) I did not sleep more than a hour straight for more than 7.5 months. I fell into extreme postpartum depression, and looking back now that I know more, more likely postpartum psychosis. During that time I learned to pray like no other time in my life. I also came to appreciate my mother who cared for me a severely colicy baby just like my own first born. As I prayed and worked my way out of the depression I discovered strength I did not know I had. I managed to stay nice to others even when I was exhausted past what I thought possible. I learned I could love so completely I was almost lost in it. I also found out that my work was a pale pale passion compared to what I felt about being a mom. Although financially we really really needed me to work, really I could not. My husband had to have some one come help him with our son every time I left to work only because it was so stressful for him with our baby screaming that he was afraid he would hurt him. We were even more scared to leave him alone with some one who did not love him like we did and so I had just over 2 years where I did not work for wages, but I'm not sure I ever worked harder than then. Thankfully he grew and grew out of the colic over a year's time ( replaced by night terrors and sleep walking but that was more manageable) I still pretty much did not set him down for almost 2 years.

In that I learned I could put some one else's needs way above my own for a long time. I learned that I had strength and love and stamina I never knew I had. My career track mind went on a totally new track and my preconceived ideas about weaning went out the door too when at a year my son still was made dangerously ill every time we tried to introduce solids. I had to make the decision to instead wean when my need to wean him was greater than his need to nurse, at that point it wasn't he needed to nurse just to live. But that brings me to another point of change, I needed at this point to learn how to also focus on my needs too since most of them even some very basic ones were not being met. ( a source of the depression and other issues)

Then I got pregnant with our 2nd child. This time I was determined to have a different kind of birth and wanted to have an easier postpartum too. I again launched into reading all I could to get ready. When I was 2 weeks from conception ( yes I knew much earlier this time) I was reading a stack of books half as tall as I was and my husband said, "instead of just reading about this why don't you do it?" I replied "have you forgotten we ARE doing this, our baby is due next spring? " no he explained that is not what he meant, why didn't I teach childbirth classes, I would be good at it. That set me off on the path of becoming a certified childbirth educator and doula. I finished my certification about the time I gave birth. This birth was at home and wonderful in ways I still can't describe. This time she was easy, nursed very little compared to her brother. I became a working mom who took her baby with her to work and I also grew in another way. I had to learn to anticipate needs instead of just reacting to them, because unlike her brother she asked for nothing at all. She would have contently went for hours and hours with out eating to the point of failing to thrive. I had to wake her up at night to feed her just because she would sleep to the point it was dangerous. I began to get more balance in my life as a job reentered it.

In the middle of all of that, and I am not totally sure when, I discovered I discovered I had become fearless and strong in ways I had not imagined before. Even though I had been doing public speaking since I was about 5 or 6 it had prior to children still really made me nervous. I also really no longer worried too much about what others thought of me. ( how freeing) Some how all the fear I felt about our future also melted away and was replaced with resolve and with faith. I felt I had found my grove and was really experiencing the joy of being a mom. My kids were growing beautifully and as Chlo'e approached 3 I felt I had grown up and finally gotten things right and I could not imagine growing more or wanting for more than I had right then.

Of course when you think you have it all figured out life ( I think GOD actually) shows you otherwise.

Our finances changed dramatically at that point and my husband demanded I get a "real job". I had not worked for some one else for more than 10 years and was not sure if I could get a job that would even pay for childcare. He countered that I had not even tried. He was right. I prayed that if I was supposed to go back to work I would get hired and if I was not supposed to I would not. Even though I had not worked for someone else for over 10 years I was given 3 job offers in the first WEEK I applied for jobs. I took this as a sign and I took one of the 3. The year that followed was the hardest of my entire life. I had sworn not to be one of "those" mothers who left their kids and went to work. I took on a whole new appreciation for the sacrifices they make. I began to have more respect for them and in the end quit judging them and myself for what I was doing. I learned to have stamina I did not know I had. I learned how to work just for the sake of a pay check and benefits instead of something I loved doing ( I did not) and I learned how to work 70 hours a week and even more and still keep a home and a family in place. I also learned to really appreciate other women in a way I had not as my support system, my husband's support and lots of prayer are likely all that kept me going. I also learned to manage my time and really focus on my family when I was home in ways I had not before. I also learned that I had been far too critical of moms who worked full time jobs outside the home. However since my job had too many hours an was in a very negative environment and was actually hurting me and my family I looked for another alternative. We also wanted a 3rd child and I knew that I personally ( based on the first 2 pregnancies) could not keep up the pace I was keeping while pregnant.

Finally after almost a year of working more than full time my husband and I decided for my health's sake ( I had an ulcer at this point and was experiencing panic attacks way way too often) that I would find some other way to have me contribute to the family. At the end of 2003 I got my Real Estate license. I must have been very motivated since I finished most of my clock hours while working the 70 hour a week job. ( thank GOD for online classes)

I brought my children with me and worked from home for most of the first 2 years in RE and I had to learn how to time block and to use the computer. It's funny but learning how to use the computer was more difficult than it was to learn to use the Real Estate contracts, learn the market or even to show homes and prospect with kids along. I guess I've come a long way since then, the other day I was trying to help a fellow Realtor with some online marketing and they said to me " you know Anna, I'm can't just do that like you can, I'm not tech savvy like you" You could have knocked me over with a feather. ME tech savvy? and then it hit me, while some things are hard for me to do still, I have learned how to use a computer and social media and more to build my business in part because it is a way to do so that allows me to be with my kids and in part ( surprisingly) because I really like to do it.

I worked through my 3rd pregnancy, and this time I learned to take good care of myself and my family while working. I became more balanced. I learned how to work in the 20% part of the 80/20 principle. ( the 20% of efforts being what gives you 80% of results) I learned to take time out for myself even though I had so much on my plate. I was forced to because I was having way too much preterm labor. I did end up selling a house while I was in labor, which would lead you to believe I did not have the balance, but I really did. I took breaks, I stopped in the middle of the day and took my kids somewhere fun. Funny thing it increased my business instead of hurting it.

I also learned that you can be working attachment parent with an infant, I really had thought that I could not do that. I learned that if I acted like it was totally normal to take a baby with me no one else really had a issue either. I learned that those who did have an issue with it were not likely the clients I wanted any way. I learned how to say no to some business that would take me away from my family too much and that I was blessed with business to replace it.

My children grew and we wanted one more....we felt we were in a great place financially to make that work. I had 13 transactions in escrow when we got pregnant and my husband had just had a raise, but remember what I said about when you think you have it all figured out....Well 10 of the 13 transactions fell through, my husband was partly laid off just 2 months later and his pay cut by almost 40%. I got very sick, followed by losing my voice for 2 months ( thank goodness I could still prospect and network via computer) followed by preterm labor that put me in bed. Needless to say our finances were not in a good place. We lost our truck and made due with a car who's blue book is under a $1000 and a more than 20 year old project car. We dealt with bill collectors calling, we worked and prayed. As the baby grew I should have felt fear about being able to care for him and his siblings since we did not have a way out. I needed to work, but needed to keep him safe inside until he was old enough to come out even more. Some how in the middle of it all I found myself calm, at peace and feeling an abundance I had never felt before. ( weird huh?) Motherhood with all it's twists and turns had taught me to do my best and to trust in a plan better and bigger than anything I could have planned.

Our 4th was born at home healthy and robust 3 weeks ahead of his "due date". The next day my phone started to ring off the wall with work. Thankfully much of which I could refer to my buyer's agent. The day after that my husband was offered a new job which with in a year would have him being paid double what he made before his wages were cut, plus it offered the benefits we had done with out for over 8 years. Since then several other opportunities have presented themselves in my business, despite the fact that I have not started my prospecting yet ( I promised myself to take at least 10-13 weeks of maternity leave from prospecting, I have only been using the computer to promote my business during this time). I am enjoying this little boy so much and it's been fun to see how in love with him the rest of the family is as well.

I am looking forward to what having a middle schooler, grade schooler, pre schooler and infant all at once will do to change me. I know the growth I have experienced so far is just the beginning of the journey of being a mom. I suspect I will have much much more to learn and a lot of it will be about letting go.

Being a mom has changed me from a fearful person who was judgmental,overwhelmed with much less than I do today with ease, and a woman who tried to control everything into a woman with real faith, who can step forward with out fear and who is more loving, accepting and adaptable than I could ever have imagined. In short it made me grow up (for real) and also helped me learn to be less serious to play and to really love.

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

What I'm up to.....

Anna Matsunaga (Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:43:11 -0500

Recently I've found lot of people I had not connected with for years and years on line and of course they want to know what I'm up to. Funny part is I am not really sure where to start.

My Family

I just had a new baby boy, a home birth, 8 weeks ago, I am home schooling my 4th grade daughter, My oldest son just started Middle school at a public Montessori school and my preschool aged daughter often keeps me busier in any given day than the other 3 combined. I love my kids and I am inspired, awed, angered, frustrated, bewildered, edified, and both made proud and humbled by them daily. While they mean more than I can put into words they are not my whole life either....

My husband and I are finding more and more ways to work together ( some times successfully and some times not ) and I am learning more about him & am being impressed with his growth even though we've been together now well more than half of both of our lives and really all of ( and even some before) our adult lives. I am so glad that this is possible.

Career

In the years since graduation from school I have worked as a waitress, meat cutter, sales manager, factory worker, exercise instructor, Mary Kay sales director ( yes I've won a free car), Certified childbirth educator, Advertising account executive and for the last 6 years I have been in practice as a Realtor(r) specializing in representing & consulting with families in distressed property situations and in working with Real Estate investors. I am also a Certified Negotiations Expert. This is challenging work that makes a difference for others and I love it! ( most days) I am also currently working on a proposal to the agent who manages the sales and marketing of a development, in getting this ready I am learning a lot and I will have to decide whether to take the project on or not shortly. It is so great to have a career that also allows me to be a full time parent and work full time. Blending the two is totally effortless and natural some days and takes all the patience, creativity and self control and stamina I can muster on others. ( And again, I would not have it any other way.)

Me, myself

About me specifically....well, I've come to a place in my life where I can love and accept myself even though I am not perfect. I have also found that revealing that to others does not mean they don't like me. In fact, I have found being real and not hiding my faults and vulnerabilities has opened me up to more friendships and a better support system. I still have days of uncertainty and other days I am SURE I don't know what I am doing. Most days though I just feel pretty good about myself and my life. I have made it a point to carve out some quiet time every day just for myself. It seems almost impossible considering my schedule, but I also find it to be a real necessity and it gives me so much more energy. Some of the things I do....walking or running in the early morning ( I was even training for a marathon and had gotten up to 18 miles at once before I got pregnant with our 4th baby, will start over with that soon) reading for entertainment, gardening, writing blogs and letters, taking photos and having friends over to visit. Other times I do something that is just a treat like stopping in the middle of the work day to get a spa pedicure. I also have learned how to take care of myself through good nutrition and natural medicine and I do all I can to learn more about it each day.

Goals

What else am I up to? With in the next year I have the following goals:

1. Find more time for spiritual things. By Winter have a regular schedule of Bible study that includes the children and me each week. Find ways to engage the children with it and make it fun.

2. Be at my healthy non pregnant weight by Mid April of 2010

3. Begin training for a Marathon again with in 2 weeks and be ready to participate in one (although it will be walking since I will be carrying our baby while I train ) by spring.

4. Build a real business plan and budget for 2010 and put it into practice as well.

5. Plan and pay for one family trip that happens before 2010 is over.

6. Regular family nights with fun stuff for the kids and date nights for fun stuff with Hubby.

What about you?

I'd love to know what you've been up to and what you have planned for the rest of this year and 2010.

Please let me know in your comments!

P.S. I am a current applicant for the Mom/blogger position offered by Verity Credit union, would you please go to www.veritymom.com and vote for me? I am applicant #27. Thanks in advance!

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662