"Singing in the Rain!"

This newest feature from ActiveRain is HUGE and will undoubtedly add tremendous value to the network for our members. A critical component in the effectiveness of this new feature will be how well your IDX process captures the consumers who are directed over through your link. 

Active Rain It Is All In Your Name

Your Active Rain Profile First and Last name are the most important names and words on your profile page and on your Active Rain Blog.

You want to make sure you choose your first and last name correctly on your profile page for 2 reasons.

I can not stress enough like in this post that I wrote about keyword research; you need to do your research to know which words people are searching for on the search engines. Do NOT assume that people are searching for 'your town, USA'.

Go to your home page and click on my profile and then edit on the left side of the page. The settings link on the left is to add your scripts and widget codes.



In order to get the most out of your first and last name on your profile page, you can use more than one word for each your first and last names. You do not need to put your company name within your first and last name because you have a separate field for your company name and that will automatically be a part of your link when you comment on other posts.



We chose to use our real first and last names with the notice that we are Realtors; Nestor and Katerina Gasset Realtors®.
All those words were put in our first name field.

In our last name field we put our main key words: Wellington Florida Luxury Homes.
So now our name reads: Nestor and Katerina Gasset Realtors® Wellington Florida Luxury Homes.



Make sure that you are not putting commas in between your keywords, you can use hyphens.

You can go back and change your first and last name fields easily so if they are not the way you want them. Follow this tutorial to make them more compelling and keyword rich!

Katerina Gasset, CIPS, Realtor ®, Business and Life Coach, Speaker and Author. Reach Katerina at: 561-753-0135

Disclaimer:The information provided herein is supplied by several sources and is subject to change without notice. Wellington Homes Blog does not guarantee or is any way responsible for its accuracy, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Entries on Wellington Homes Blog represent the opinions and ideas of the author(s). Wellington Homes Blog does not express the views of International Properties and Investments, Inc or those of the broker.

Copyright © 2008 By Katerina Gasset, All Rights Reserved.*Active Rain- It's All In Your Name!* Contact Katerina Gasset for Customized Business and Personal Coaching

"Wait, what was that, I ask?  My son responds again, "its 107 degrees according to that thermometer at the starting line".  I moan and try to figure out WHY I have agreed to participate with him in the Keep Austin Weird 5K (and costume contest with each entrant issued a pair of "Elvis" sunglasses) at 6pm in the afternoon in the middle of a brutal Texas summer... The event is a benefit for the RunTex Carrozza Foundation, a nonprofit group that provides running shoes, coaching and race entry fees for people with low incomes. Paul Carrozza is also the owner of RunTex, the absolute coolest running store on the planet located here in Austin Texas!

We start off together and my son says he wants to go on ahead and I quickly agree mumbling something to the effect that I will catch up later (oh sure...) After two miles I am sweating like a politician in church and just about to say to "heck with it" when who should come running towards me? My son who has doubled back and is laughing as he tells me he wanted to be sure I was okay. I can barely see from the sweat pouring into my eyes and I am gasping for air in the torrid heat but I manage to say, I'm good! I struggle to keep moving and try and not pass out while slipping into that spacey zone that comes before heat exhaustion!

I am thinking all the while that we only have a mile to go and if I can keep from barfing up a lung I just might make it! He then tells me to "smile" for the photographers by the roadside and I do laugh when he catches a scoop of Amy's Ice Cream tossed from the Water/Ice Cream Stop by volunteers to anyone who picked up a cup a few yards earlier! (I told you this was weird!)

Keep Austin Weird is an axiom chosen by a group that promotes small local businesses in Austin, Texas.The Austin Independent Business Alliance picked the phrase from a remark made by a librarian at Austin Community College in a phone call to a local radio station. Red Wassenich and his wife, Karen Pavelka, placed the slogan on bumper stickers, distributing them free to businesses in Austin. "Keep Austin Weird" was later trademarked by http://www.outhousedesigns.com/ and used to market T-shirts, hats, and mugs.

The slogan is a reference to the many small businesses, events, functions and personalities in Austin which give the city its unique cultural identity.  The Keep Austin Weird website describes itself as a "collaborative fission of coordinated individualism" and it gets somewhat weirder from there, learn more at: http://www.keepaustinweird.com/ . The whole concept is really just a celebration of all the things that that make Austin so unique and enjoyable. Austin Mayor Will Wynn supports the foundation and the group focusing on supporting local business! I read this quote by him recently, "The city is so weird, he joked, that his parents bought a house in Round Rock. But what exactly makes Austin weird? Wynn said it is the high quality of life in a growing city that feels small. "We don't feel nearly as large . . . because we have a unique quality of life," Wynn said. And I could not agree more, every day brings some new and interesting weirdness!

We finally cross the finish line behind a crowd that includes two girls rowing in a cardboard canoe, people running in various costumes, a scuba diver and a collection of Dr. Seuss characters. A short time later, after we manage to cool off and refuel with a few quarts of ice water, some Amy's Ice Cream and a half dozen slices of Mangia Pizza, we wander over to the Free stage to watch some great local music.

Keep Austin Weird is really about the rich diversity & eclectic ideas of our community and the melting pot nature of all the things that TRULY make Austin such a wonderful place to live. I love Austin and have lived here a long time and I even enjoy the fact that the Weird "slogan" sometimes irritates those who do not fully understand the meaning.  Of course, there are always party poopers in every crowd but in Austin they are vastly outnumbered!

MEA weekend is very special in Minnesota. The third Thursday and Friday in October are always the Minnesota Education Association's convention which means a four day weekend to all families with children in Minnesota schools. Our family has almost always used this as a travel weekend as it is off season for many vacation areas. This year we had to stay in town but my husband took off work anyway and I put my real estate business on hold and we spent a family day enjoying the fall colors along the river in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Okay Stillwater, Minnesota is not exactly a resort town but a great place to get away from it all. Since moving to Ham Lake we don't get into Stillwater on a weekly basis as we did when we were minutes away in North St. Paul. Yes, we used to walk the streets and check out the eclectic shops for antiques and treasures almost every weekend. The kids liked looking at the old stuff in the buildings that were once sawmills and department stores. We loved to ride the trolley when the line ran along the St. Croix river from the train station in north to the end of line near Brine's and The Freighthouse. It was fun to watch the lift bridge stop for all the cars to let a boat through to head up or down the river. Some days we would just go up to watch all the people dressed up for the dinner train ride on the Minnesota Zephyr's afternoon run. It was like a treasure hunt for long lost memories.

As we strolled down memory lane...I mean Stillwater's main drag, my teens were disappointed to hear that the Minnesota Zephyr would no longer be running after December 2008. They had so many memories of that train. The first is more from my memory than theirs as it was when our oldest at 2 years old, decked out in his best pinstriped Oskosh bibs and train hat, met a real engineer and was taken to see the cab of the Zephyr. The boys remember the summer box lunch ride and the midnight ride on the "Hogwarts Express" when the sixth Harry Potter book was released. The train will stay as a stationary restaurant by the depot and not run the rails as it had in the past. 

Though the red tour trolley was still there, Stillwater's yellow and green trolleys that used to run the tracks behind the shops along the river were gone. I think they had been dismantled after one of the last floods.

One of our last visits was at the time of the floods. The waterfront restaurant near the boat docks was flooded out and had to be rebuilt. It has been completely rebuilt now. There was a new walkway along the river tracks and wall to prevent future flooding. The lift bridge was saved from demolition and repaired over the past few years as well.

Here is the rest of the photo tour of our beautiful October day in Stillwater, Minnesota. A wonderful relaxing memory-filled getaway within the Twin Cities!

The Sawmill Antique Shop located on the north end of town across from the train depot is one of our favorite antique shops. The building features three stories of antiques from a variety of vendors. Also in the building is a hotdog/ice cream stand and an art shop for filled with beautiful paintings, photography and sculptures by local artists.

Want to learn the history of Stillwater, Minnesota? Take the trolley tour through town!

Another view of the Minnesota Zephyr and its dining cars. Note the beautiful fall colors on the bluffs that overlook the St. Croix River behind the train.

Stillwater is a popular place to dock your boat for summer fun along the St. Croix River. Not all the boats on the river have been prepared for winter.

Several boat owners are hoping to get in one last river excursion in before the snow flies. Across the river is a view of our neighboring state to the east, Wisconsin.

Here is a boat being removed from the river to be shrinkwrapped to protect it from the winter elements.

And one final shot of the Stillwater Aerial Lift Bridge from the north. We were hoping to see it lift but the boat was forced to turn and head down river instead.

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm  http://www.terieckholm.com/

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In the last couple of weeks, Stephanie and I have received more calls or acknowledgement from Philadelphia buyers or sellers that have indicated that they came across us or contacted us due to our site - The Somers Team or our blog - the Philadelphia Real Estate Blog .

It is a testament that more and more people are doing their research and homework online.

Today we met with a group of investors at our office because they saw our recent blog on short sales in Philadelphia .  As a result of this meeting, I am excited about potentially working with some new clients !

So I wanted to take a moment and applaud Active Rain for providing this forum and opportunity for everyone in the real estate industry to network and expand their business.

The fact that Active Rain ranks so high in Google searches is awesome.  And the fact that the resources and information available is vast and comprehensive. 

And most importantly the people are incredible !!!

We look foward to growing and expanding our blogs and our sites and I firmly believe that the realtors who have a large web presence combined with their expertise and experience will continue to be the top producers in their areas in the years to come !

Chris and Stephanie Somers - The Somers Team

Click here to receive future updates via email

Lake of Isles, owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, is nice looking most times of year but absolutely magnificent during the fall.  Managed by Troon Golf, Lake of Isles is located in North Stonington, CT but is just a golf ball throw away from Ledyard, home of Foxwoods Resort Casino. It offers two championship courses, one private and one public. Both were designed by legendary golf course architect Rees Jones.  They have been opened since 2005 and have won several awards since their debut. 

The property has all of the niceties you might expect, including a spectacular 50,000 square foot club house, good food and a pretty impressive golf academy. But to me, it is the rolling terrain, the natural landscaping, and the wonderful vistas that makes golfing at Lake of Isles so enjoyable even though my golf game is nothing to brag about. I love how the cart path winds through the deep woods and criss crosses over the 90 acre lake and wetlands areas. On a quiet day I might never come across another golfer but see plenty of deer, geese, ducks and hawks.

This year was the first year I've been a member and when I joined in the spring, I couldn't wait to see what fall had to offer.  Last week I packed my camera along with my golf clubs and spent a leisurely 5 ½ hours on the course taking the best shots I could with both my camera and my driver.  My score wasn't very impressive but I think I got a few good shots!

P.S.  The photo is of the 16th hole of the South Course.  I mostly miss the green but I do enjoy the views.

You'll find more of the shots I've taken this year at my

Lake of Isles Flickr Photo Set

What is the funniest post you have written on Active Rain? 

We have all heard that laughter is the best medicine and sometimes getting a good laugh from a funny post just makes your day go better! 

There are some amazingly witty members here on Active Rain with great senses of humor. 

For you newbies; let me introduce you to some of these gems in the rain that can make us laugh so hard we cry.

My favorite comedian in the rain has got to be Blogging Bertha. If you have not met her yet, you are missing out on some great laughs.

The other blogger that I find very funny is Paul Slaybaugh. You can go and read some of his posts.

It is because of Paul that I ever even attempted to write posts that are humorous because my sense of humor is no where to be found much of the time. I am more the serious type. He encouraged me by giving me a compliment that he thought a post I had written was funny.

One of the fears most of us have is that we would tell a joke, and no one laughs. The dreaded nightmare of a stand up comic just standing there with the audience booing him off the stage. I never want to go there.

As I look back through my posts there are a couple of humor posts that stand out in my mind to lead the way.

My favorite post is none other than: Amazing Discovery! Secret Revealed! How To Get Featured On Active Rain! 

This post has received over 200 comments and the funnest part was the involvement of the Active Rain Executives! We had a blast. For a good laugh you have to read the comments, much of the humor lies in the ongoing storyline that takes on a life of its' own in the comment section.  

Go ahead and add a link to your funniest post in the comment section.  

And if you don't have one- go ahead and take the plunge and write a funny post now and then post the link!

Have fun! 

Laugh out loud and Laugh Often.

Watching the California sun set over the ocean is a breathtaking experience...at least when the sky has not covered up the sun. While a completely clear sky and a setting sun is beautiful, seeing the sun sink below the horizon on a day with some clouds can result in incredible colors.

I have yet to actually see the green flash that can occur on a clear day but have it from reputable folks that it DOES occur and it IS amazing to see.

So where do you go to watch the sun set in Carlsbad, or nearby?

Here are my favorites. Mind you, this is my opinion, and I certainly haven't seen every spot along the North San Diego coastline.

The walkway along the Coast Highway (Route 101) just south of Carlsbad Village

South Carlsbad State Beach

The steps leading to Grandview Beach in Leucadia (Encinitas), watching through the palm tree 

At the top of Beacon's Beach along Neptune in Encinitas - a favorite of many, there are always folks there. Check out the live cam.

Sitting on the sand or at a picnic table at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas (link has a video too); or from the parking lot or observation area.

At the top of the stairs at Swami's Beach in South Encinitas

In the upstairs bar/lounge area OUTSIDE at The Beach House in Cardiff - what could be better? A great glass of wine, tasty appetizers, a gorgeous sunset, and someone you care about. Better yet - celebrate a special occasion ON THE BEACH with a catered dinner as I did for my anniversary.

The Torrey Pines Hang-Gliderport in La Jolla

The top of Mt. Soledad in La Jolla at the Veterans' War Memorial Park (videos) with incredible views n ALL directions.

Ocean Boulevard along the beach in Pacific Beach -the bar at JRDN (a hip beach-side restaurant), I understand, is the ult.

Got some faves of your own? Please share

And now you can enjoy the sunset too.

I want to thank my friend Robin Scott for writing a post about Frugal Media yesterday.  I even asked if I could steal her photos for this post, and she agreed.  She is friends with the owners of this terrific new store, and since I am an admitted book addict, I was compelled to go check it out since I was in the area.  Yes, I really was in the area, so it didn't even require a special trip.  I don't have many vices, but books are something difficult for me to resist.  I had to run an errand, and I was dressed pretty casually (okay, VERY casually), but this is Austin, so who cares, right?

I was very pleased with what I found when I arrived.  I was warmly greeted by two of the workers (one of whom turned out to be the co-owner, Erik Franks).  I met the other owner and CEO, Rob Canuelle, and we ended up chatting for about 45 minutes or so.  He has been in the Austin area since 1980, and he and Erik started Frugal Media about five years ago.  They opened their retail location about 3 weeks ago, at 5400 N. Lamar (between North Loop and Houston). 

Rob explained that they have brought technology to the used book business, seriously streamlining their operations to compete head-to-head with Half Price Books.  Since Half Price Books has been the biggest game in town when it comes to re-selling used books, CDs, etc., we have frequented their stores for years.  My biggest complaint with their setup is twofold:

• 1. It takes FOREVER for them to give you a quote on your merchandise when you bring in a lot of stuff
• 2. The offer is usually an absolute pittance, but you don't want to take the stuff back home, so you accept it

I mentioned to Rob that I would sincerely rather give my old (and new) books away at Goodwill or sell them at a garage sale than to take them to Half Price anymore.  In fact, we stopped doing that years ago after being shamed into accepting about eight bucks for a massive stash of books and software.

NO MORE.

Rob stated that they hadn't yet lost anyone looking to sell merchandise at both Frugal Media and their competitor.  Frugal is located very near Half Price Books' flagship store in central Austin, and for a reason.  He stated that they are far more competitive with their offers, and that I wouldn't be disappointed.

According to the website, the concept for their business model had modest beginnings, in a dorm room at UT (much like the largest private employer in Austin now, Dell Computer). 

I would love to see this business thrive, since these guys have taken an old concept and brought it into the 21st century.  There are comfortable areas to sit spaced throughout the store, which has a "no frills" look.  Heck, they even offered me a fresh cup of coffee "on the house".  There were also some small reading closets with comfy-looking beanbag chairs in the back left of the store, and a couple of sofas/loveseats.  There are also several paintings hanging around that were original pieces by Robin's husband, John.

If you are in the area (or even if you need to drive out of your way a bit), I would recommend checking out this innovative and fresh new store in the heart of things.  It's worth the trip.

For the record, I managed to find a new John Irving novel, one of Dennis Miller's books, and a very interesting-looking novel called "Boomsday" by Christopher Buckley, who wrote "Thank You for Smoking".  They even gave me a free tote bag and a free cookbook as well.  Can't beat that!

Visit their website at www.frugalmedia.com.  You can buy online, too!