Well, folks!  It's that time of year once again.  Summer 2017, such as it was, is coming to an end and we can get back to our regular routines that we put on the back burner while we enjoy summer vacations and backyard BBQ's, and patio parties.  As I drive around I see High School grads walking around smiling.  Their future is right in front of them and the doors are starting to open up.  I often wonder where are they going?
 
These young adults worked so hard for four/five years for this special moment.  We, as parents, must now let them fly.  We've instilled about as much knowledge about the world that we could.  Now, it's up to them.  If we could, we would like to have you closer to home so that if there is something we would help with, we don't have far to go.  But if they're too close, we won't let them 'figure' it out on their own.  If you decide to go further away from home for work or studies, open your wings and fly.  Know that you are loved and thought of every minute of every day.

These young people are the future. They are the ones that are willing to take chances. They are the ones that will be heads of companies and leaders of the world. As I look at them, I wonder - when did I get older.

I remember my daughter and son finishing elementary school. Then four years of secondary just flew by. It was like yesterday when I dropped my daughter off for first year university. The dorm room was 'cozy'. She had the basic necessities. She needed no more. She would tell me about the Friday nite movie nights - she was the only one in her quad with a small tv. Someone would bring the popcorn. Someone would bring the 'refreshments'. What a great group of co-ed roomies she had.  This is something I am now passing on to those who are getting ready to leave their nest.  My son stayed closer to home and commuted to University.

So, CONGRATULATIONS, to all who have passed through the hallowed halls of their post-secondary institutions. May I wish all of you the strength to face what is yet to come! Know that you have the support of your families to continue your journey. You can depend on the friendships that you have developed in these few short years.

Betty Bartusevicius
416 427 1875

Stepping Stone In My Journey

I have been looking at the transformation pictures of friends and ladies that want to share their journeys with me and reading all the great news about the amount of weight they have lost AND the changes in your bodies that they have noticed.

I am so proud of each and every one of you. My progress did not happen near as quickly as it did for the rest of you. 2 1/2 years later, I am 'almost' at the part of my journey where I can finally smile. I get very frustrated when those around me complain on how fat/big a certain part of their body is. When it truly isn't.  Is it that they just want the attention?  Are they looking for compliments?  Do you honestly feel that you are making me feel better?  I do NOT comment and I try to avoid any sharing of anything that I have done. I am still uncomfortable wearing proper fitting clothes. Yes, I do like loose fitting but it is great to be able to go into a regular store and buy something and it actually fits. I have gone from a size 26 to a size 10...my BMI started at 36.6 and was last read at 25.4 - this was my proudest number.

I have been told that I have motivated a few to start their own journey.  That is my proudest moment.  These ladies are at the point in their lives where I was 2 1/2 years ago.   From these ladies, I get positive reinforcement.  They don't complain that they haven't lost.  We support eachother.   We laugh at the same things about ourselves without making ourselves uncomfortable to what is being said. 

This is something that I had to get off my chest.  Enjoy your journey.  Each and every one of you have to do your own.  Remember, I also have a mental journey and I need support just like you do. 

Until next time

BETTY

Two Years Into My Journey

Yes, folks...it's been 2 full years of exercise, healthy eating, and positive thoughts.  The exercise has

not been difficult once I set a commitment.  The healthy eating has also been pretty easy.  I can now tell people that I really don't like pasta and sweets.  I don't eat junk or processed food.  Yes, there have been times when this was questioned.  Well, there have been times when I was hungry and I didn't pack something to eat while I worked that I stopped and got a bag of salted peanuts or even a sandwich.  Eating the inside of a sandwich when you drive is kind of tricky to manage so I end up eating the bread.

What has changed in my "Food" side of my changes:
I started eating much smarter.  I have added more protein - including lean meats and fish (something I thought was not necessary and caused weight gain)  I don't focus on calorie counting anymore but I try not to eat 'empty' calories.  My carbs come from vegetables and my sugar comes from fresh fruit.  Do I enjoy a treat once in a while?  A resounding, YES!!!  But it has become extremely limited as I don't want to consume empty calories that will contradict everything that I have done to get rid of them out of my diet.  So when there is a blue moon, I may have a small treat!  LOL  Another BIG one for me was - it is not the number on the scales that matter.  I most certainly have to thank a special someone who has gotten me out of that (he know who he is but does not want to be mentioned).

The positive thoughts are still a work in progress.  We all have 'those' days when we are not happy or we are looking for someone just to let us vent.  I try to be positive most days and it starts with a great morning workout.  That gets all my happy endorphins working full speed.  Monday is the day that sets the tone for the rest of the week.  (Yes, I am quoting my Personal Trainer who reminds me of this often)  If I start out great on Monday, the rest of the week is easy peezie.   When I'm not my 'happy' self...I have learned of a strategy that works for me.  I won't share it because you have to develop your own.

I will share what has become a habit about my exercise routine:
I do go to the gym 7 days a week.  That is my choice.  I have a set program that has been developed with the help of my Personal Trainer and his knowledge how to change things up has been extremely helpful.  Here it is:  elliptical machine, weight training, I play squash (and now I have added tennis thanks to a young lady that has got me playing this), and then my 10,000 steps every day.  Do I do that many steps EVERY day?  No, but on the average it's about 8,500.   When I go to the gym I am there for, at least, an hour.

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!  Yes, there it is.  I do know that this will be the most difficult of all.  Once the weight loss has been achieved, I will continue to tone and make sure that the life style that I have chosen is so inbred into my brain that there will be no more going back to the way it was. 

I have learned that weight loss isn't all about dieting or exercise.  It's the combination of both.  I have
been told by a few people that I have met that I have influenced them into starting their own journey.  Remember the first thing is just to start...but getting the advice from a Personal Trainer, a professional who will help you get to a healthy lifestyle.  He/she will see improvements before you do!

Don't give up or be impatient with the process.   This is not an overnight fix!  Also, and most important, you have GOT TO WANT TO DO IT AND TO COMMIT!!!  No one is going to do it for you.  Don't compare yourself to anyone else around you.

I'm almost at the point where I am kind of proud of my accomplishments.  I DID commit and followed (sometimes kicking and screaming and using unladylike words) instruction.  I know I say it often...Thank you to my Personal Trainer.  No, he didn't do the work but he has led the way.  Just an aside - I still will not get my picture taken.  Not yet!!

I continue to wish all of you luck with your journey.  It certainly has not been as easy as everyone thinks it is.  But, if I can persevere, so can you!!!  DON'T GIVE UP!!!!  No more excuses!!!  If you truly want to change how you look and how you feel, then do something...anything.  Don't take on more than you can as this can sabotage what you are trying to achieve...hire a Professional Trainer...this is what they do!  It doesn't matter what other people think how you look, get past it!!!  You will be smiling and enjoying yourself before you know it!  I still try to blend into the woodwork and not stand out in the crowd.  But this is MY choice.

Again, this is just for something different.  I'm not just a Realtor, but I do enjoy life outside my job.

Until next time...


Betty
416 427 1875

I Am Still On My Journey

Where has the time gone?

As 2014 nears it's end, I am now thinking, "it's been a full year of training" at a gym.  At the beginning of this year, I met with my Personal Trainer and we discussed our plan of action for this year. We didn't consider the whole year, but just six months at a time.  It makes it much less ominous to take baby steps to get results.  Well, I'm afraid I have disappointed my Trainer as he suggested where I should be by June, and here it is November and I am still no further along. 

No, I am not blaming my Trainer.  He's been nothing but kind and patient.  The frustration lies with me.  As patient as I am as a Realtor, I have little patience for myself.  So, what do I do...I drive my body harder when I'm working out on my own to the point where it's not my mind that tells me to stop, but actually my body stops. 

When I started a year and a half ago, the purpose of this process was to lose weight (like everyone else) and to get physically fit (like everyone else).  I have learned much along the way.  The biggest lesson was 'commitment'.  I became motivated when I found the trainer that would help me.  He has forced me to maintain a positive mindset over my plateaus (of which there have been many and this last one I haven't been able to get past yet).  He adjusts my routines to keep me motivated and to build momentum.  That was the key.  Someone was there to make sure that I am motivated  at every step of the way.  I have stopped getting frazzeled over things that I cannot control.  I have learned that it's not a matter of time "IF" I screw up, but when.  I'm not perfect.  I have never claimed to be.  I have a lot of bad weeks (even more bad days).  It's how I have overcome some of those 'bad' issues.  I have a long way to go.  It's all those years of trying to be perfect and not succeeding that I have to overcome.  The idea is to not give up.  Understand that we will stumble, to get up...dust yourself off and focus on what we did right and continue on.

I remember the first day I walked through those doors at Life Time Athletic in Mississauga and was faced with a facility that truly believes in physical fitness for the WHOLE family.  I know the look on the faces of those who are lost in the weight training areas and then moving around the club and watching what others are doing (some know what they're doing; others are just winging it).  It's the look of fear because they don't know who to ask, what questions to ask, and then at the same time wondering if anyone else is feeling the same.  My biggest hurdle was mental, not so much physical.  Yes, there are "watchers" in this gym too.  Those who want to watch and learn while training is being done to someone and not sign up to learn and get a lesson on their own.  It is their loss because there is nothing like getting a few lessons to make sure that you are not going to hurt yourself.

I used every excuse: I felt I needed to get into shape before I started with a Personal Trainer because I didn't want to be judged; I had failed in the past and why was this going to be any different; I didn't enjoy working out; I might as well do it on my own.  All of these were EXCUSES.  I found out you have to connect with the trainer that you can get along with.  Not one that will let you get away with nonsense.  If you start out with someone and you don't get some results that you are looking for, for heavens sakes...change trainers.  There are plenty to go around.  It took me a while before I found one on my own.  I assessed him for months to see how he worked, watched his attitude, and what kind of results was he getting.  I was too new at the gym to ask anyone because we were all new and we didn't know any better.

My biggest lesson - I can't do it on my own.  I needed someone to teach me the proper techniques for the machines and the weights.  Also, there are plenty of machines that are there to fill space to make things easy.  If it's really that easy, why do you not see trainers using them with their clients?  Makes you think.

Since the last time I shared my journey, there hasn't been much change except to my attitude.  I stopped 'discussing/negotiating' what exercise I will, or will not, try.  Well, not so much anyway!  There are still exercises that I, stubbornly, will not do.  My Trainer has been professional enough and has worked with me long enough to know when not to push me.  He doesn't give up and he doesn't let me give up either.  I would like to add to the administrative staff at Life Time Athletic in Mississauga...you are very fortunate to have a Personal Trainer such as Alwin Mascoll on your staff and I feel privileged to have found someone that truly does care on the success of each and every one of his clients.

Where do I go from here?  Well, I think I just keep working at what I'm doing trying to perfect what I set out to do on Day 1 a year and a half ago.  I think it will be time for a pow-wow with my Personal Trainer, Alwin (I think I've known him long enough and you have probably heard me speak of him often) to get his thoughts (possibly in the New Year to start the year out fresh).  We discuss a lot of things while I'm training and he is constantly throwing something new into the mix so that I don't get into a rut. 

If you see me at Life Time Athletics, feel free to say "Hi"!  If I'm working out, I will apologize in advance for not stopping.  I will nod and give you a smile.  You will have to be patient and wait until I'm done what I'm doing.  I would love to hear your story and how you are doing.  I have seen a few that have started working with a trainer and I have noticed some fantastic results.  Keep up the good work.  It's so great to see success.  Thank you to those Trainers who actually do care about their clients.

I continue to wish all of you luck with your journey.  It certainly has not been as easy as everyone thinks it is.  But, if I can persevere, so can you!!!  DON'T GIVE UP!!!!  No more excuses!!!  If you truly want to change how you look and how you feel, then do something...anything.  Don't take on more than you can as this can sabotage what you are trying to achieve...hire a Professional Trainer...this is what they do!  It doesn't matter what other people think how you look, get past it!!!  You will be smiling and enjoying yourself before you know it!  I still try to blend into the woodwork and not stand out in the crowd.  But this is MY choice.

Again, this is just for something different.  I'm not just a Realtor, but I do enjoy life outside my job.

Until next time...

Betty
416 427 1875

 

1766 Sir Monty's Drive Mississauga

Are you looking to enjoy a quiet neighbourhood in Mississauga?  How about swimming in your pool (there is still time to get in lots of swimming)?  How about a game of tennis?

Well, here is the home for you.  It will give you everything you desire.   Enjoy breathtaking view of the Credit River as you enjoy the lazy days of summer from the gazebo.  Enjoy the summer breezes on your porch overlooking the pool and the backyard.   Enjoy the sounds of the waterfall and pond in you private sitting area.

This home sits on a pie-shaped lot with a courtyard fountain to great your guests and you as you come home to relax from a busy day.  Very quiet and child safe Cul De Sac.

Newly renovated kitchen with an island and granite counter tops.  This home boasts a finished walk-out basement.  For those of us who do laundry....you have to see this laundry/mud room!  There are so many more upgrades....

Want a tour?  Contact me directly at 416 427 1875.  There is so much to see.

Let's together and take a look at this home.

Betty Bartusevicius, Sales Representative  ASA
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
DIRECT: 416 427 1875
EMAIL: betty@bettybart.com

My Journey Continues

I am late, again, in reporting on my journey towards Physical Fitness.  I haven’t been writing about it, but I have continued to go to the gym 5 days a week and STILL working out as best as I can.   Some days have been more difficult than others, but a little push and support from many of my friends, I get to the gym.  That’s a big step.  Once you’re there, well, you might as well work out.  Right?  At least that's what I tell myself!

I can’t believe that it’s been a year already!  That’s a year of working out with my Personal Trainer.  Actually, it was a year at the beginning of June.  What changes have I noticed?  Well, there’s a whole list.  First though, I would like to thank Alwin for sticking with me and helping me to keep going.  Has it been easy?  By no means.  Has it been worth it?  Absolutely.  There’s still a ways to go.  There has been some ‘sailor’ type language, some tears, and a lot of frustration on my part.  I guess the frustration is that at times I feel that I have disappointed my Trainer, and myself a little bit.  Alwin is very supportive and tries to push the boundaries but my stubborn streak in me has prevailed.  I have even managed to get Alwin angry a couple of times.  YUP!!!  The young man that has been nothing but kind I have managed to frustrate.  (Alwin, I truly am sorry for those days).

I have learned what exercises do the most good for me and which are just a fad.  I have a lot of fun most days, and I truly enjoy working out.  I think that this is extremely important.  If you can’t have a little bit of fun and enjoy it, you won’t stay with the workout.  For me, routine is very important.  I can give myself an hour early enough in the morning where it doesn’t interrupt any work for my clients.  I put in my ear plugs for my iPod and away I go.  Except on the days when I have a trainer, then it’s thinking cap on…ears on alert….and I display as many listening skills that I can muster up.  I continue to have a lot of questions.

I have learned that free weights, or resistance training, is the routine that has worked best for me.  It challenges my muscular endurance and builds tone, proper from, posture, and coordination.  Now, the next step, to look a little leaner, I have to increase the weight (which I have done) to push my muscles to failure under heavier loads (which I have also done).

How important is this journey?  Well, for me…it’s no longer tedious, but it has become a way of life.  There have been a few times that I don’t last an hour, but even getting there for 45 minutes is still more than most of us accomplish.  I have allowed myself some ‘me’ time.  That was huge.  I still am not comfortable exposing myself and my emotions but I am working on that.  I still shy away from compliments and feel like an oompa loompa many days.  I still shy away from a camera and just want to blend in with my surroundings.  Compliments are very difficult for me to accept.  I am able to walk up the stairs with clients without huffing and puffing.  I don’t get tired as quickly. I think my mental sharpness is much better.

I will continue to work at this, but I will not be posting on a regular basis.  It will become a small note that I write about when there is a significant change.  Yes, I have stalled, or reached a plateau as some may say, and am trying to find something that will trigger the next progression.

If you see me at Life Time Athletics in Mississauga, feel free to say ‘hello’.  If I’m working out, I will apologize in advance for not stopping.  I will nod and give you a smile.  You will have to be patient and wait until I’m done the exercise I am doing.  I would love to hear your story and how you are doing.  I see a lot of successful journeys in that gym.   

I continue to wish all of you luck with your journey.  It certainly has not been as easy as everyone thinks it is.  But, if I can persevere, so can you.  Don’t give up!!!  I haven’t.  Congratulations to those who have achieved a change…and it doesn’t matter how much.

Again, this is just for something different.  I’m not just a Realtor but I enjoy life outside my job.

Until next time…let’s see what results I can tell you about.

Betty Bart416 427 1875

And The Journey Continues

One third of 2014 is now in the books.  The workouts continue.  I have increased what I do and yet, there are those days when I feel that I haven't accomplished very much.  BUT, I have.  It will be a year, very soon, when I signed up with a Personal Trainer to get proper instruction and some advice as to why my trips to the Gym were not working.  Well, I finally admitted to myself that I have lost a little bit of weight and my stamina for my daily jaunts have certainly increased. 

As for many of you, getting up and off the couch/chair becomes difficult as we have busy lives to deal with and when that R&R hour arrives, all we want to do is rest.  Let me tell you, once you get to the gym and complete some sort of workout, you feel MUCH better.

If you have the opportunity to talk to a few people at the gym and ask them who provides their information to them on their fitness routine, you'll probably get different looks because they probably won't understand what you're talking about or the responses will be varied.  Most will be doing what they see others working on, and especially if this person is with a Personal Trainer.  Surely, the Trainer will give them the advice that is required.  Some are working on the exercises prescribed in a magazine: 'LOSE THOSE INCHES IN A MONTH AND GET READY FOR SUMMER'.  I love that one.  Then there are those like me, get a Personal Trainer.  These guys honestly know what they are doing.  BUT, if you find that the one you choose is not to your liking, CHANGE TRAINERS.  In the end, you will find that efficiency and commitment is the advice that works the best.  If you only go when you 'feel' like it, it's not going to work.  No one wants to spin his/her wheels at the gym - WE WANT TO SEE RESULTS!  Having said all that, not all routines will get you the results you are craving. 

I have looked back at when I started at the gym to where I am now, and have noticed that different fitness machines and routines affect me.  I cannot, and DO NOT, compare myself to anyone around me - not even hubby, son, or daughter - because what will work for me won't work for them.  I don't care how MUCH weight they can lift, I don't care how long they can run on the treadmill, or how long they last punching a punching bag or their trainer.  I have been taught to concentrate on the proper technique and to use equipment that keeps me coming back to the gym.  There are machines in the gym that I never thought I would be using.  My Personal Trainer has shown me otherwise. 

I'm not training for a marathon but my objective is to able to run up and down the stairs as I show homes to my Buyers and not be out of breath at the end of the work day.  Have I accomplished that?  Yes, to some extent.  I am very committed to going to the gym 5 days a week.  It does not interfere with my schedule.  I go early enough in the morning when most of you are just waking up.  I am a morning person and have found that it works best for me.  Being in Real Estate, I never know what I'll be doing that afternoon/evening.

It's not just working out at the gym, but now that most of us have come out of hibernation we are starting get outside and take a walk and talk to our neighbours or we just go for a walk along the waterfront.  If you are fortunate to own a home with some sort of backyard/patio/balcony - you might start to get into gardening.  Remember - exercise is just a stimulus on the body.  It triggers a change, in co-ordination, aerobic capacity, strength or speed.  This occurs between your workouts. 

Within myself, I have learned that you don't have to hurt to have a great workout.  Also, you don't have to sweat.  There are so many workouts that have produced great results with little sweat but do get my heart rate up and then the recovery time is much shorter than it used to be.  To push yourself to the extent where you strain yourself is just looking for injury. 

I judge a great workout by how I feel after I am finished and how much better I do from one workout to the next.  A month ago, I couldn't do what I am doing this week!  I feel much more energized at the end of each workout.  Yes, there are those days....but I have learned to get over them.  I also have the privilege of having a wonderful Personal Trainer and friends that support and encourage me on those days.  And yes, my Trainer will get me moving even if I don't have a session with him that day.  He says he's always watching...sometimes I wonder but I'm sure that he is.

Next time you see me at Life Time Gym, you should come and say hello.  Remember, I'm there to work out so if I tend to ignore you, I apologize.  I still have the tiny stubborn streak in me that will never go away.  I will always chat for a few minutes while I'm on the floor, and you would like to sit in the Café after, I would be more than happy to buy you a beverage.

I am wishing you luck and success in this voyage.  It's not easy.  But then again, anything that is worth it is not easy.  If I can persevere, so can you!  Just don't give up if you don't get immediate results.

This is just for something different - I am not 'just' a Realtor.  Now, I am a much happier Realtor.

Until next month.

Betty Bart
416 427 1875

August Already????

We can all feel it, can’t we?  As soon as we turn the page on our calendars to August, we know that there isn’t much left of summer so we try to squeeze in as much time outdoors as we can.  We don’t want to think about anything but how much more summer we can get before we start to change our wardrobes and our schedules.  In my neighbourhood, I see excitement starting for the little ones as they think that school is just about to start and they get to wear new clothes and use those clean books and sharp pencils for the first as their school year starts.  Teenagers, on the other hand, have just started to come out of hibernation, not happily, I might add.  The post secondary students are starting prepare their sojourn away from home for the first time if they are first year, and those going into second year…well, the garages are starting to fill up with their ‘stuff’ that they will be taking with them.  Excitement everywhere!

Now for some of us, the Fall Real Estate Market is just around the corner, are you ready?  This is the second busiest time of the year to sell or purchase a home!  You may still be trying to get into a specific school district neighbourhood and you haven’t had much success.  Well, maybe now is the time to explore what is out there.  Perhaps you are thinking of downsizing before the snow flies!

If you have any questions about the Real Estate Market, feel free to read the most recent Market Watch on my web site at www.bettybart.com.  It get’s updated at the beginning of every month as soon as the report comes out.  Save a tree and read it on line.  After you've finished, and you have questions, feel free to call/text me directly at 416 427 1875.

Maybe this is the time to make sure your finances are in order.  You should have your questions answered about Mortgages.  How much can you afford?  Find out BEFORE you head out the door with your Realtor so you don't look at homes that you cannot afford and the process becomes too stressful for you.

What are the Mortgage Rates?  Depends who you talk to.  Let me connect you with a wonderful Mortgage Specialist that will provide you with the information that you need.

Now, get out and enjoy the few of weeks of summer.  My phone is charged up and my pencils are sharpened.  If you see my sign for an open house on any given weekend, come on in and say ‘hello’!

Betty Bartusevicius, Sales Representative  ASA
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
OFFICE: 905 828 3434
DIRECT: 416 427 1875
EMAIL: betty@bettybart.com
WEB SITE: www.bettybart.com

not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under brokerage contract

 

 

Public Swimming Pools

"We're having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave"

It's summer time in the city and we are melting AND it's okay!  Unfortunately, we can't get out to enjoy it.  We're all hiding in our air conditioned homes.  Those of us fortunate to have a swimming pool in our backyards ARE out there enjoying the dog days of summer!  Just putting your feet in cooling water is helpful.

If you live in Mississauga, you have probably heard that they are closing South Common Pool for sprucing up.  It is one of the more popular public pools for swimming lessons, aquatic exercise, and recreational swimming.  Now that it's not available to the general public until approximately mid-September all you have to do is go south on Erin Mills Parkway for the closest alternative and that's David Ramsay Outdoor Pool at 2470 Thornlodge Drive and it's only about a 5 minute drive away.

David Ramsay Pool has extended their "OPEN" hours to accommodate many, especially during this heat wave, they are open a little longer.

Get in there and use the facility.  It has had a HUGE renovation completed 2 summers ago.  You will enjoy the outdoors, no need to be indoors this time of year.  You will hear the laughter of children AND adults alike.  It's in a beautiful neighbourhood of Sheridan Homelands.

Get out there an learn to swim, get some exercise, or just enjoy the outdoors during this short summer season.

Compliments of:

Betty Bartusevicius, Sales Representative  ASA
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
905 828 3434
DIRECT/TEXT: 416 427 1875
EMAIL:  betty@bettybart.com

After The Storm

I guess the summer of 2013 will go down in record books.  Being that Toronto survived a gruelling rain storm that caused havoc throughout the city and surrounding areas.  The last blackout we had, we didn't have to deal with flooding.  We just had no power.  The residents of Etobicoke suffered a little longer than most (at least what I heard) as they were without power for about 2 days.

At this point, we have ALL looked over our Home Insurance Policies and, if needed, we called our carriers and had someone come out and look at the damage if there was any.  We were very fortunate on my street in the Sheridan Homelands as no one had a flooded basement.  I can't speak for anyone else, but I didn't see much damaged goods placed out to dry or to be picked up by trash the following day.  We had power within four hours.  Others were a little longer in Mississauga, and then there were those who were fortunate to have power back sooner.

We are being asked to help preserve power usage so that we don't have a blackout due to sudden surges of power once it has come back on.  I imagine most, including myself, charged up all their phones, mobile devices, etc. as soon as the  power comes on.  Maybe it's time to think about to use our energy a little differently.  Oh, and don't forget to start backing up the information on your computers!

Most of our energy is used for heating and cooling the home, with hot water coming in a close second place.   Good energy habits help you save money and the way we use energy plays a big role in how much we’re paying for it.  Simple choices we make every day can go a long way to help us manage our energy use, cut costs and protect the environment around the year.

You have probably heard about how to lower energy costs:

1.  Choose off-peak hours.  Of course these hours vary from household to household.  If you are shift work, your hours will be different from the 'typical' off peak hours.  Weekends and evenings are typically when electricity rates are the lowest.

2.  Use a programmable thermostat to reduce energy use. 

3.  Consider caulking and weather stripping.  Plugging up air leaks is pretty inexpensive and helps save during the winter and summer months.  While the weather is warm, perhaps this is a good time to check out your caulking and weather stripping around all your doors and windows.

These are just 3.  Do you have some that you possibly could add?  Make your own list.  Then, when you have a few minutes, try to complete the list while the weather is warm.

This storm took us all by surprise.  It certainly proved to many of us how much we depend on our electronic devices, and on technology, to function.  I heard someone say yesterday: "I got angry, I cried, I started clearing out the basement, I looked at all the memories that were lost, I was hot...then, after all the emotions were spent, I knew that my family was safe and no one could take away our memories." 

It's going to take a few days until we stop talking about this, but we will continue.  It will be stored in our memories.  Things will be fixed.  All in all, our families are safe!

Just a point of view from me!

Betty Bartusevicius, Sales Representative  ASA
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
905 828 3434
DIRECT: 416 427 1875
EMAIL: betty@bettybart.com
WEB SITE:  www.bettybart.com

 

Betty's Pic Of The Week in Lorne Park

The residential neighbourhood of Lorne Park is located at the south end of Mississauga. 

The principal streets and roads in Lorne Park are Lakeshore Road and Lorne Park Road. The QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way) is the northern border of the neighbourhood.

My web site is a sought after resource for the weekly postings of available Lorne Park properties.  By accessing Betty's Pic of the Week and signing up for the instantly downloadable report, you can receive up to date information of some of the homes that are available in this elegant community.

Here is a list of Homes for Sale in the Lorne ParkCommunity of Mississauga.   I will be updating this list on a regular basis, so please feel free to come back several times and see what's new.

Click here to view Properties of Interest

If you are thinking of selling your house or if you are a buyer looking for that Dream Home, feel free to phone or text me directly at 416 427 1875. 

Betty Bartusevicius, Sales Representative ASA
Re/Max Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
Fine Homes In Nine Oh Five
Office: 905-828-3434
Direct: 416-427-1875
Email: betty@bettybart.com
Web Site: http://www.bettybart.com

PERSISTENT AND PATIENT IN DELIVERING RESULTS!!  ALL REFERRALS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED

 

 

 

Port Credit Real Estate Activity

With a population of 10,260 for the 2001 Census, this quaint village is found at the mouth of the Credit River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, within the city of Mississauga.  The face of Port Credit — the lighthouse situated on the banks of the Credit River

The Waterfront Trail is a 325-kilometre-long paved path connecting Trenton to Burlington along Lake Ontario's shores. A 15-kilometre-long section runs through Port Credit and will lead you through miles of streets and parks. Take a stroll, bike ride or in-line skate through woodlots, neighborhoods and beaches. 

The Port Credit Harbour, recently redeveloped, is exciting. Its new facilities and beautiful landscaping invite visitors to look out over the lake, go for a stroll, watch the boats, cast a fishing line or just sit and relax. 

Are you a homeowner in the Mississauga neighbourhood and are you thinking of selling your house?  Are you a buyer and would like to enjoy the waterfront lifestyle in Port Credit?   Click here to view the activity of the last few months in Port Credit.   Sign up for the report with a correct email address and the report will be sent to you directly.

Feel free to contact me directly by calling or texting me at 416 427 1875.  Let me help you with all your Real Estate needs.

 

 

Spring Landscaping

Once the first official frost is no longer a threat, don’t you just want to run out into your yard and start spring landscaping? All winter long the excuse of it being too cold, or everything is covered with snow is no longer an issue. Now that spring is here, gardening, landscaping and increasing your curb appeal is on most people’s minds.

Plan out your strategy for your landscaping in advance. Are you going to break it up in phases, or are you going to hire a landscape professional to help you plan? Ask for guidance from your local nursery or neighbors who have beautiful landscaping! They can probably give you as good of advice as a professional. Once you know what type of plants you’d like at your home, map out, or stake out the area in which your plants will be planted. Estimate enough room for pedestrians walking around, as well as growth and future maintenance of your landscaping. Ensure walkways will have safe areas for footing, and tall plants will not obstruct view lines from inside your home.

Unlike a paint color in your home, once it’s up you’re done, landscaping requires maintenance and care. From pulling weeds, watering and pruning, to occasional replacement of dead plants, etc… Once again, plan what plants will suit your maintenance schedule. Consider hiring a professional gardener or lawn service to take care of your yard if necessary.

Landscaping your outdoor home is one of the joys of springtime, which many people look forward to. You will be surprised how much you enjoy your landscaping once you have planned it in advance. Go ahead, get going, before you know it, summer will be here!

Spring Clean Up typically includes:

• Cleaning up debris, such as leaves and papers from the yard
• Cultivating, weeding, and tilling the soil of flower beds and gardens
• Re-edging flower beds and gardens
• Trimming of plants and shrubs where necessary

Are you looking for a pool for the summer? There are homes out there with oasis backyards. Let me show them to you. Are you looking for a starter home? Yup, I can find that for you too!

Just a few ideas. Remember, if you are thinking of selling your house this year, the outside is just as important as the inside. Buyers will make a decision within 15 seconds of arriving at your property as to whether they even want to see it. Also, if it shows nicely outside it will sell quicker and the profits will be higher.

The latest Market Watch is available on line. You can get a hard copy at any time, but let's save a tree or 2. What other questions do you have at this time? Feel free to phone or text me directly at 416 427 1875 with all your Real Estate questions. I'll be happy to assist you.

Let's hope that Spring is now closer than ever.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Betty Bartusevicius, Sales Representative  ASA
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
OFFICE:  905 828 3434  ~  DIRECT: 416 427 1875
EMAIL: betty@bettybart.com

WEB SITE: www.bettybart.com
not intended to solicit buyers or sellers under brokerage contract