Miami Real Estate Blog

This year over 9,000 blogs across the world have registered to write about Climate Change because there is power in numbers and together we can make a difference.

So how does Miami Beach Real Estate relate to Climate Change?  easy, think of green products, how real estate is built, what waste is produced, what appliances are used, the "walkable" factor of your real estate to shopping and business.  No matter the industry, there is something you can do to help our planet.

Miamism.com - MiamismPix.com and PrimeMiamiBeach.com are participating

I have talked about Green Urbanism because it's a topic dear to my heart and somehow it seems like Miami is distant from many of the walkable communities concept because of Urban Sprawl.  I've even talked about Green Designer Finisher for your kitchen, identifying recycled glass counter tops.   My favorite is Miami Green Houses from the past where I identify 3 Green Mid-century architects and their masterpieces.  And lastly, 5 Green conscious moves for your home (anyone can do these).

Take a look at who else is participating in this year's Blog Action Day:

• Six Eco Realtors to Watch- Blog Action Day 2009 (Agent Genius)
• Bloggers of all stripes grab a piece of the climate pie for Blog Action Day 2009 (Grist)
• Who's participating at Blog Action Day

For anyone that doesn’t know Hugh Jackman, he is an Australian actor that is blowing everyone away - from “sexiest man alive” by People.com to hosting the academy awards back in February.  All that may impress anyone, but judging by the tweet above made Monday - Hugh has a HUGE heart.  I can sit here all day and tell him why Mothers Fighting For Others is the perfect non-profit organization to donate the $100,000 to but the truth is, when all is said and done, that any organization will be lucky and what counts here is the fact that he is making a difference.

Some of us have the oportunity to donate time and sweat, others can donate money - I ask you to reflect on the fact that you have the ability to make that difference and the world will reward you for your efforts.

But since I’m here and Hugh Jackman is asking us to convince him - let’s show him what MFFO is all about.  Rocky Turner, the founder and brain behind all of this couldn’t have said it better when she wrote these words:

HOW IT STARTED

with a very simple mission:

Mothers Fighting For Others is dedicated to providing orphans and vulnerable children with opportunities their parents would have provided, if they only could; a loving and nurturing environment and a quality education, so they can learn, thrive and achieve their highest potential.

and 2 ongoing projects:

Inspire The Child:

Inspire the Child is the future of Mothers Fighting For Others. We want to to continue to grow and continue down a path to help and educate orphans around the world, starting with Kenya. This is just our beginning.

Underwear for Africa:

Underwear for Africa is a ongoing project that seems silly to some but necessary to others. Underwear is something that we take for granted, while others see it as a luxury. We have witnessed it first hand in orphanages and IDP camps, where happy faces meet us as new underwear is passed out.

Rocky is also on her way right now to Kenya to find land to build an orphanage - there have been tweets all day to @RealHughJackman trying to convince him to at least meet with Rocky at Heathrow Airport in London - please join me in tweeting and retweeting reasons why you think MFFO.org is the right organization for those $100k.

I also urge you to look through the pages of this site that will take you to the lives of each one of these orphan girls, will also show you all the volunteers involved, all the people that are constantly helping and donating and how grateful we are to the universe for giving us the power to make a change for the better.

I am so happy to announce that Shores Pediatrics recently had its Grand Opening in Miami Shores!  Dr. Laura Fernandez-Ortiz re-opened her office on February 2nd, 2009 at 9715 NE 2nd Avenue in downtown Miami Shores and her new phone number is 305.757.8040 - there is plenty of free parking in the back of the building and we now have a local Miami Shores Pediatrician that is not only trustworthy and experienced, but also accessible and convenient….. don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting for this for years.

So what makes Dr. Laura different than the other pediatricians?  and why am I such an advocate for her?

Easy….. she’s one of us!  Not only does she have children of her own, she’s involved in the community and you can bump into her at school, Publix or the fields at any given time.  It’s so great to see the “human” side to your doctor, the one you entrust your children’s health to.  Dr. Laura will treat your child like it was one of her own and she will give you the time you need to understand any health concerns or questions you may have.  Dr. Laura is down to earth and approachable and you can’t beat that in a doctor.

Here’s what Shores Pediatric’s website says about Dr. Laura:

Dr. Laura Fernandez-Ortiz is a pediatrician practicing in Miami Shores, Fl.  She has been in private practice since 2001.  She graduated from the University of Miami with a B.A and a B.S. and from the University of Oklahoma with a medical degree. She completed her internship and residency in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is board-certified in pediatrics.  She is excited about opening up her own office as a solo practitioner and strives to always offer the best medical care possible.   She is so excited about opening up her office in her own community of Miami Shores.  She is also a wife and mother of three beautiful girls.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading and exercising.

In the photo above, you have the whole office staff:  (from left to right) - Rosa Ramos (front desk/receptionist), Lilly White (office manager), Cynthia Malena (billing), Dr. Laura and Phyllis Barnes (medical assistant).  The office is magnificent and your child should feel right at home.  From the moment you walk in, friendly murals and a circus ticket counter welcomes you and there are themed patient rooms for every child’s taste.

Here’s what a patient, Lorraine Nowakowski, has to say about Dr. Laura Fernandez-Ortiz and Shores Pediatrics’ Grand Opening in Miami Shores:

Dr. Fernandez is a great physician in the sense of her medical expertise combined with her love of children - add to that her compassion and empathy and you have an outstanding pediatrician. She is always available and has an open door policy and visiting her office is always a pleasant experience, one that I have never felt in any other doctor’s office.

Shores Pediatrics
Laura Fernandez-Ortiz, M.D.
9715 NE 2nd Avenue
Miami Shores, FL 33138
305.757.8040
www.ShoresPediatrics.com

**original blog-post written at Miamism.com **

Everyone loves Jeff Turner!  There's something about him that draws you in and we get sucked up into trying tools and crap we never thought possible.  

And then today I get an alert that Jeff memed me and TLW with none other than a friendship ball!  Some of us don't know how to react to these memes, you feel good because you were "chosen", especially when it's my none other that TOOL BOY himself, but then you feel bad about having to put someone else through the excruciating pain.  (well...maybe I'm exaggerating a bit).

So after the thread on Jeff's post, it was agreed to turn this into a "why I hate memes MEME"...make sense?

I hate memes because:

• they are time sucking time bombs
  

• they make people feel uncomfortable and obligated
  

• they can be very impersonal and personal at the same time
  

• they remind me of useless chain letters

THERE!  I feel better already! (Thank you Jeff - I love you too!)

As for my victims friends, I choose:

Monika McGillicuddy and Ann Cummings - because they know I really love them! ;)

To think that tomorrow I get to see my dear friends who live in my computer (I love that Teresa came up with that).  I've been to some Active Rain gatherings and also to Inman in July and it's beyond overwhelming.  So if you have a chance to hop over to Orlando this weekend, do it!  (it will be well worth it).

NAR tools

Here are some things you cannot miss:

• To keep in touch while at NAR Orlando, our own Jeff "tool boy" Turner or as I call him, "aparatoso" or @respres - came up with a Twitter group NAR2008 - so make sure you go follow, turn notifications on and you'll get updates on your mobile phone.

• To share photos and for you to see familiar faces, Daniel Rothamel, bka The Real Estate Zebra made a flickr group:  NAR Orlando 2008

• The Active Rain Gathering has been announced, and although we know it's Saturday at 8:00 PM, we still don't know where (OK guys.....enough suspense already).  One thing you should know is that Brad has authorized me to slap him because he kept mispronouncing my name (don't worry Brad....I may kick you, but never slap you) ;)

MUST SEE sessions

Finally - 3 sessions you HAVE to attend because it's people we love (although I'm in 2 of those, I'm not conceited enough to say go because I'll be in them).

1.  Friday, November 7th at 12:30 PM - Driving Real Business with Blogs

• Moderated by none other than Dustin Luther - with the following panelists:  Teresa Boardman, Jim Duncan, Ginger Wilcox and yours Truly.

2.  Saturday, November 8th at 11:00 AM - Web 2.0 Panel hosted by Diamond Dwellings

• Moderated and Hosted by Diamond Dwelling's own Matt Fagioli - with the following panelists:  Teresa Boardman, Cyndee Haydon, Jeff Turner and yours Truly.

3.  Sunday, November 9th at 11:00 AM - Using Social Media to engage clients

• With Dustin Luther, Rudy Bachraty III and Jeff Turner - they have a great surprise planned for us....can't miss this one!

If I missed anything, please feel free to leave it on the comments and I will come back and update the post - let us know if you will be there as well - that way we can plan to meet while in Orlando.

Hope to see many of you there!

When you think about Poverty, do you discard it and think

"It doesn't involve me....there's nothing I can do?"

Think again - think of the Power of Intention and know that everything you do makes a difference.

Poverty is not only a pressing issue, it is a complex one. It's easy to think that there isn’t much an individual can do. Fortunately this isn’t the case at all. With activities ranging from advocacy and professional contribution to charity and financing, there is in fact many ways that we can act.

You can make a difference - if enough of us take the time to give back, we can change the world.  Here are some things you can do:

• Donate money to a worthy cause
• Volunteer
• get involved with local organizations like Habitat for Humanity
• help someone that needs you

According to the latest on-line poll by Travel + Leisure where 125,000 people were asked to rate cities in the US - Miami Residents scored number 1 in the most attractive category!  Did you have any doubts?  : )

No wonder why Miami Beach Real Estate is still a top destination!  People from all over the world relocate to Miami to either be surrounded by beauty, or to be part of it.

Miami ranked number 1 for most attractive people, number 2 for most stylish, number 3 for wild weekend and best weather but they dissed us with the second to last place in intelligence - OUCH!!  (Only behind Las Vegas and ahead of our Los Angeles friends).

Miamians win the title for America's most attractive people, and second place for their stylishness. Visitors also noted the city's good weather (No. 3), but it's not the spot to see historic sites and monuments (No. 23).

Funny is how each city is ranked by visitors and residents and some opinions are so out there!  Visitors ranked Miami number 4 in the Late-night/club scene while residents ranked the same category number 2.....I guess there should have also been a category for egocentric.  Take a loot at the rankings.

Check out also the City Guide - which tells you what to do, where to stay and where to eat in Miami. (Including places like The Biltmore, Genius Jones and Garcia's Seafood Grill and Fish Market).

Here's other stats from the same article that I found hilarious:

• Friendly people - Charleston won followed by Austin (Miami did not do well in that category...I wonder why because I'm friendly)

• Intelligent - Seattle (think Rich Jacobsen) and Minneapolis/St. Paul (think Teresa Boardman)

• Athletic - Denver (go Kristal Kraft) and Austin (Agent Genius Benn and Lani....really?)

• Diverse - New York (Colleen Kulikowski)

• Best Weather - Honolulu (our own Sally ....ok it's not Milinani, but close ;) )and San Diego (Brian Brady)

Go take a look and have a good laugh and see if you agree with any of the rankings - but do NOT question Miamians being HOT!

Thank you Shailesh Ghimire, Arizona Mortgage Guru, for the heads up on the Reuter's Article.