Did you see Wayne Huizenga cry? I just love to see a grown man cry with happiness. Not since 1988 when the Hurricanes hoisted Jimmy Johnson up in the Orange Bowl has it made me so happy to see someone else so happy.
If seeing the Dolphins finally win one didn’t do it for you, you’re probably to young to remember the pandemonium and delirium that was Miami both years, but especially the second after the back-to-back super bowls. Maybe you were feeling it when the Heat won over Denver in 2006. THAT kind of happy.

How can you bring back the joy in the rush to accomplish all that you hope to in this final weekend before Christmas? How about a little positivity: My motto is . . . “If it’s not a ‘Yes’, then it’s a ‘No’.” Why struggle with uncertainty? When it’s right, you feel it. If you’re not feeling it, don’t do it, buy it, go to it, etc. You won’t really be happy in the end, so don’t settle. Make yourself happy first, and it will flow over into everything you do. A Happy Holiday should include your happiness! Nothing can compare to the rewarding feeling of giving and sharing with those less fortunate . . . sharing your happiness makes it complete.

So, give the homeless man at the intersection a $20. Buy a really great toy for Toys for Tots. Adopt a pet. Give to your favorite charity. Gifts of fun work too: Give a friend a night out with a gift certificate to your favorite restaurant and movie tickets for two. Whatever you do, sharing your happiness in doing it makes the giving all the sweeter for the recipient. Getting back their gratitude and seeing their joy is gravy.

I wish you a Holiday that makes YOU Happy!

If you don’t know

When you see their prices, you won’t believe how nice their stuff is until you see it in person.

Visiting the store is an event (field trip!). Worth the drive from anywhere. The creative displays (whole rooms accessorized–it feels like you are walking from room to room in someone’s endless house. You will marvel at the multitude of home-enhancing furniture, necessities, and accesssories they have.

What do you need? I bet they have it, AND they have a restaurant inside as well. Part of the store is like Costco for nice furniture, help yourself! Lots of cashiers, no waiting.

Great design, low low prices (really low), and nice quality furniture, etc., from floor to ceiling–they have it all–even flooring and appliances, everything you need for your home.

(Sorry, it’s privately held . . . ) Did I mention, it’s GI-NORMOUS?!

[I’ve been to many of them from the far south: Redland Rib House in The Redland to Jim & Milt’s in Tallahassee.]

The Tom Jenkins menu offers chicken, ribs, pork spare ribs and baby back, and chopped pork and brisket, (or combinations of those items) as well fried catfish. The meat is all cooked to smoky juicy perfection, never dry. The sauce is red and not too sweet, a little smoky and a little spicy (and it comes ‘on the side’). Mmmmm sides . . . their macaroni and cheese is perfect! Collard greens so flavorful and never bitter, excellent cole slaw, baked beans with a hint of (?) green pepper, fries, potato salad–order a dinner and pick any 2 sides–what more could you want? Comes with a killer corn muffin! To wash it all down, SWEET tea, really sweet. Aaaaah! And in the southern tradition, free refills.

And as if that wasn’t enough, a sweet potato pie that would make your Momma cry (with a hint of orange flavor), not dense and pasty like some supermarket pies can be, but a light and clean taste that leaves no room for guilt, and to balance it, the perfect crust! I break off pieces of crust edge so I get some in each bite.

All this and low prices to boot! A slice of pice is $1.79. Buy a whole pie for $7.00!

D–n I love good Barbeque!

To get to heaven: From I-95, get off on Davie Bouelvard east, turn right when you get to the corner of Davie Boulevard and US-1 (aka South Federal Highway) and you’ll see (and smell) the smoke (except on Sunday and Monday, the sign reads Sunday gone to church, Monday gone fishing). SO worth the drive!!

The Real Estate Tomato site is the most creative, fun, and informative blogging resource imaginable, full of useful tools. If you are reading, but having trouble getting started, this article worked for me! If you are already blogging, and haven’t read the Tomato’s excellent short-and-sweet how tos, what are you waiting for? If you already feel confident in your blogging, check this out. The 4 Cs made me a blogger! Here are my must-read recommendations:

HEADLINES
This article covered objections real estate agents hear and how to overcome them, but is a fantastic illustration on how to write Headlines: 9 Examples of How Blogging Will Have You Overcoming Real Estate Objections. Scroll down to see their examples in red. They illustrate the before-and-after very well, and the creative way that they draw the reader in makes them effective! If you liked that article, check out this more in-depth one: What Copyblogger Hasn’t Told You About Writing Real Estate Blog Headlines

LINKS
7 Crucial Tips To Developing Real Estate Blog Copy That Gets Read This article, especially number 6. about Links, illustrates the reason for, and best use of, links in your articles. Serve your reader well and choose your links carefully. Your links should further the point of your blog post, you’ll see what I mean if you see how the Tomato uses links. TIP: When you want to make a link, be sure that you select “Open link in a new window” from the “Target” drop down box inside the Insert/edit link pop-up box, that way if your reader closes the link, they don’t also close your blog post.

And That’s No Bull!
PICTURES
Images are a crutical part of blogging, especially if you want more than 2 out of 10 readers to go beyond your headline. Where you place images is also important. This article: How F Street Will Have Readers Returning To Your Blog has all the answers. TIP: When you place your photo, remove the blue border by putting “O” (zero) in the border box, put 10 in the horizontal space box so your text does not touch your photo. The vertcical space box controls the amount of space under the photo. These measurements are in pixels.

CONTENT
So, if you’re still stuck, take inspiration from a really successful blogger. She found her voice, and writes well. She ties this fun article back in to real estate at the end. If only we could all be so clever and so amusing. If Teresa Boardman doesn’t inspire you, the Tomato offers Food For Fodder - 101 Real Estate Blog Topics.

Happy Blogging! If you read this far, please leave a comment