Special offer

A little late but not forgotten...1 Year of AR Bliss, the honeymoon ain't over

By
Home Stager with Home Star Staging

I failed to remember an important anniversary.

February 21st, 2007, marked my 1 year anniversary in the Rain.happy anniversary! Thank you Loreena Yeo, for the invitation to join.

Wow, I can't believe a whole YEAR has passed.

Time certainly seems to accelerate as we age.

I cannot even begin to describe how this year has unfolded both personally and professionally and I'm sure many of you would relay the same. Thank God we don't know what the future holds and can wake up each day with a fresh start.

 

 

I hope in the year that I've been an "active" Active Rain member, that my contributions have been worthy of your viewing and that my contributions have been of some value to you. my gift to you

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know I've posted some things and have gone back and deleted and tweaked because I "matured" in my blogging technique.

Here's some insight to the people I've met and the things I've learned, done and gained:

  • I discovered the power of "social networking" and having a "voice" through blogging that can relate to others
  • I've tried to be myself as much as I could in my writing
  • I've made some AMAZING FRIENDSHIPS here and my "distro" knows who they are and although we have not yet met in the flesh my sistahs, OH one day we shall...
  • I have been contacted by some awesome people who are going to be pivotal in my growth
  • I hosted the first of many AR Stager's Roundtables and had the pleasure of meeting my fellow stagers from around the state
  • I have become a published author thanks to the recommendations of fellow AR members
  • I have started teaching at the College level a subject that is near and dear to my heart - Home Staging
  • I am seen as an expert in my field
  • I have learned life lessons and grown as a human being in body, mind and most of all spirit

Thank you to all the  countless RE pros who I read and learn from on a regular basis. For writing me personally and sharing yourselves with me on the Internet superhighway. I have made friends from coast to coast, Canada and beyond. I plan to meet some fellow AR members on my way home to Florida this summer and others we will plan and schedule.

This is truly an awesome network and is made possible by the souls who dwell here.

Thank you one and all and I look so forward to what lies ahead!

The journey is the reward my friends.

John 3:16

 

 

Posted by

Home Staging Dallas - Karen Otto

Kathy Passarette
Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY
L.I. Staging/Decorating
Karen ~ It seems like you have had a great and fruitful year!  Congratulations and continued success!
Apr 07, 2008 01:03 AM
Mike Frazier
Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN
Northwest Tennessee Realtor

Karen,

Congratulations on the 1 year anniversary. I look forward to mine in October!

I sure love Activerain!

Apr 07, 2008 05:29 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA
Karen:  Congrats on your anniversary.  I'm still a newlywed.  Looking forward to many years here on AR though.
Apr 07, 2008 10:35 AM
Elaine Manes Gage
Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO
Staging done ONLINE!
Karen- Congratulations, and I think you summed up how we all feel very eloquently! This place does tend to improve our writing skills, doesn't it? Looking forward to more!!!
Apr 07, 2008 10:43 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Thank you for reading Kathy, Mike, Chris Ann and Elaine. AR is a great place with lots of great people such as yourselves and I look forward to what lies ahead!

Apr 09, 2008 08:05 AM
Roland Woodworth
Blue Cord Realty - Clarksville, TN
Blue Cord Realty
Karen.... Congratulations on your anniversary with Active Rain ! This is a great place to be
Apr 09, 2008 08:15 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes
Thank you Roland!
Apr 09, 2008 02:09 PM
Kim Dean
www.GoSimplyTexas.com - McKinney, TX
Simply Texas Real Estate - Broker/Owner
Karen...Happy Belated Anniversary! Mine is coming up in June and I agree with what you said about learning and growing because of AR. Cograts on all of your successes so far!
Apr 10, 2008 07:12 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

I appreciate that Kim!

Apr 11, 2008 12:54 AM
Clint Miller
Real Estate Pipeline, Inc. - Missoula, MT
Congrat's on the 1 year anniv!  Ive only been doing this since Nov...and I cant be happier!
Apr 11, 2008 12:55 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes
Enjoy the Rain Clint !
Apr 12, 2008 12:24 PM
Esko Kiuru
Bethesda, MD

Karen,

Great post about what AR can do for its members, whether in staging, mortgages, real estate etc. Anyone who doubts the network's relevance should read this blog and give a try at least. All the best.

Apr 12, 2008 12:28 PM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes
Much thanks Esko! AR is a fabulous resource for ALL RE pros!
Apr 12, 2008 12:49 PM
No Longer Available
White Rock, BC

Karen, Congratulations on your anniversary.   I remember when I first joined AR, reading your blogs was something I looked forward to.  You always seemed so knowledgeable and professional.  

Now that I know you a little more,  I KNOW, you are a true professional, and a friend indeed. 

My best wishes to you professionally and personally :-)

Apr 12, 2008 03:14 PM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes
(((Joelle))) that made my day! I've been missing you!
Apr 13, 2008 02:22 AM
Karen Dembsky
Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA - Peachtree City, GA
Atlanta Home Staging

Hi Karen O -- Yep, when I first came on in May of 07 you were the first one I watched and followed like crazy!  In fact, to this day, when I do a post, I never feel like its run it course until I've received a comment from the staging marketing expert, Karen O!  NO PRESSURE HERE!  Love you, my friend!

Karen D 

Apr 13, 2008 02:29 AM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes
Another "make my day" kind of comment my friend! Thank you and you know I'm slowly getting back in the saddle again after all this year has brought. I feel like I've been in a sort of time warp and I am just waking up... Love to you too and THANK YOU for your words over the last several months, Karen, they have meant more than you'll know.
Apr 13, 2008 02:34 AM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA
Happy Anniversary!!!  I just read your blog!! Cheers from San Fransisco. California!!!!!!  
Apr 15, 2008 01:05 PM
Kym Hough
www.Staged-to-Sell - Danville, CA
Staged to Sell East Bay - Danville, CA

Karen - I love your blogs. Congrat's on your milestone. I agree whole heartedly.

Kym

Apr 15, 2008 01:51 PM
Karen Otto
Home Star Staging - Plano, TX
Plano Home Staging, Dallas Home Staging, www.homes

Thank you Cathy!

I so appreciate that Kym and so glad you're in the Rain now too!

Apr 16, 2008 12:34 AM