Happy New Year! With Resolutions that Stick

Happy New Year!

Thank you for another great year. I appreciate all your business and referrals and look forward to serving you in the New Year!

Resolutions that stick

Resolutions That Stick

We mark the 1st of January as a day to kick off the new year, usually with promises to lose weight, make more money and spend more time with family. So why is it that by the end of January we find ourselves back to our old habits? This year, lets make resolutions that stick!

  • Reflect on Last Year. Take a minute to look over last year and see how far you’ve come. We tend to be hardest on ourselves. Focusing too much on all the things we haven’t accomplished and skimming over our successes. Think about what you are most proud of this year. Give yourself a pat on the back and in the spirit of “I got this” step into the new year ready to go.
  • Pick One. You have 365 days to make it happen. Pick one goal to focus on and put all your energy in to it this year. Creating lists of resolutions is just an opportunity for distraction.
  • Layout a plan. It’s not enough just to want something. Plan to succeed. If you want to lose weight, decided how you plan to do that. Modifying your diet, exercising more, a combination of both? Will you be getting up early, planning your meals weekly, researching where you can find organic foods? The best way to make your resolution stick is to not wing it.
  • Break it up. It can be overwhelming to look at a year long goal. Breaking it up into weekly or monthly chunks creates wins along the way and helps keep you motivated.
  • Failure is not an option. Ok, failure is always an option but the best way counter it, is not to have a back up plan. Let’s say you plan to run 2000 miles this year but you know if you only run 1000 miles you’ll feel good about it. How about split the difference? Set a goal to run 1500 miles and stay true to that goal.
  • Reward yourself. Accomplishing the goal is of course a great reward, but if you’re like me it never hurts to have a little incentive. On the flip side you can always up the stakes. Maybe you can attach a financial obligation to not meeting your goal. Knowing you’ll need to hand over some of your hard earned cash if you don’t meet your goal will help to keep you focused.

Have you made your new years resolutions? How will you make them stick this year? Would love to hear your tips and hints for making the best of the new year!

Happy New Year!

Melanie Kramer
Keller Williams Realty Coastal Area Partners
912-459-5001 Office
912-658-1390 Cell Direct

Melanie Kramer Coastal Georgia Realtor

Happy Holidays & Online Book Resources

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you and yours the very best of the Holiday Season. Thank you for another great year. I look forward to serving you in the New Year!

Happy Holidays

Online Book Resources

I don’t know what it is about this time of year. After the presents are open and the special dinner plates cleaned and put away for next year, I love settling in with a good book. Of course now a days that could mean on a tablet or an audible too.

Whether you are looking to do a little reading over the holidays or waiting for the kids to get back to school, here are a few valuable and free online book resources to enjoy over winter break and beyond.

Library’s have long been a great resource for free books. The Live Oak Public Library system offers online magazines, ebooks, audibles and movies – all free with your library card. And if you’re looking for a book that isn’t available at your local library, but is available within the Live Oak system, you can order it and have it delivered to which ever library is most convenient for you. Check the Live Oak Library website for more details.

Google Books has a searchable library of books and magazines. Often you can download them in pdf form or in an epub form depending on how you like to enjoy your online reading.

The University of Pennsylvania has opened up their online collection to the general public. Search over 2 million online titles in their library.

The Georgia Download Destination offers a collection of downloadable public domain titles in epub format. If you need information about epub formats and readers please check out this great article from ePubBud.

Bartleby’s offers a collection of classic literature and reference as well as poems. Most are available to be read on which ever device you surf the net with.

Amazon Prime isn’t just free 2-day shipping. They also offer the Kindle Owners Lenders Library. The library works on all Kindle devices. Choose from more than 600,000 books. Borrow for free with no due dates and the list includes current and former best sellers! If you have a Kindle and you’re not on Prime, you can set up a 30 day free trial here.

If you’re on the go this holiday season you may find Audible offers a great way to catch up on some of your “reading” while cruising down the interstate or spending time navigating airports. Audible is an Amazon company and also offering a 30 day free trial!

On that note, podcasts about books is also a great way to find new titles and engage with an online community that may be into the same genre or author. Barnes & Noble shares a studio page with book recordings, this is especially fun with children’s books. They also showcase interviews with authors and general news about books.

Happy reading!

If you have any favorite online books resources please share them in the comments below. I’d love to add them to our list!

Melanie Kramer
Keller Williams Realty Coastal Area Partners
912-459-5001 Office
912-658-1390 Cell Direct

Melanie Kramer Coastal Georgia Realtor

One Week Countdown to Holiday Events in the Coastal Empire

With one week left until Christmas and a few candles lit on the menorah I’m hoping you will find time to enjoy a few of these Holiday Events.

Holiday events Savannah

Whether you’re out doing a little last minute shopping or you’ve been organized since before Thanksgiving, the Savannah / Richmond Hill areas offers plenty of activities and Lights.

Christmas Tradition Show at The Savannah Theatre runs through, December 24th – including afternoon performances. The show runs 2-3 hours and delights people of all ages. The Savannah Theatre opened in 1818 which makes it one of the oldest of its kind still operating in the United States. The Art Deco style will transport you back to the 1940s and adds a certain level of magic to all the events held there.

The Savannah Harbor Foundation Festival of Lights & Winter Wonderland is great family fun! Running through December 28th the event features a drive through light show around the Hutchinson Island Road Course. You can even take a tour bus if you don’t feel like driving it yourself. There is a fun zone for the kids and the kids at heart in Bryan Square along with holiday food and drink vendors. A ferris wheel is up on the Riverfront Esplanade. Inside the hotel the annual gingerbread village competition is not to be missed – makes me hungry just thinking about it. And of course a holiday event wouldn’t be complete without a picture with Santa.

Discover a Victorian Christmas at the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low. The home where the Girl Guides Founder spent her childhood is on the corner of Bull Street and Oglethorpe Avenue in Savannah’s historic district and is open for tours through December 30th. Not only will you tour this historic gem of a home, you will have the added bonus of experiencing Victorian holiday customs, games and decorations.

How about a little winter activity in the Martin Luther King Jr. Arena at the Savannah Civic Center. Enjoy an afternoon or evening on the ice under a the twinkling lights. Skatefest runs through January 3rd.

This year the Habersham YMCA is bringing the snow! The Winter Wonderland features real snow, hot chocolate and cookies, story time and dancing to favorite holiday classics. I hear Santa might even make an appearance. Winter Wonderland is one night only, Thursday December 18th.

Stop by the Forsyth Park Inn for a little holiday cheer. Enjoy the beautifully decorated parlor while treating yourself to fresh baked goodies and hot apple cider or hot chocolate. The open house runs noon -2 daily through January 2nd.

This is my favorite time of year to enjoy a carriage ride through Savannah’s historic district. Pick up a coffee or hot chocolate in City Market and enjoy a personal tour with historic stories and holiday lights.

New Years Eve brings another round of entertainment and parties. Both City Market and the Savannah River Front offer a festival like atmosphere with music and fireworks. Tybee Island offers holiday celebrations New Years Eve.

Wishing you and yours the very best of the holiday season!

Melanie Kramer
Keller Williams Realty Coastal Area Partners
912-459-5001 Office
912-658-1390 Cell Direct

Melanie Kramer Coastal Georgia Realtor

Best Places to See Holiday Lights in The Coastal Empire

With all the holiday lights the Coastal Empire shines this time of year.

I love seeing homes and businesses in the Richmond Hill area where I live decked out for the holidays. Savannah and the surrounding communities offer many holiday light displays for your viewing pleasure.

Best places to see holiday lights

Private Homes

A casual drive around the Coastal Empire will net a great show of holiday lights but Southern Mamas has compiled a growing list of private homes that go all out and have become a bit of a destination for the holiday light enthusiast.

And the holidays wouldn’t be complete without a little Clark Griswald action. The Peabody Light Show in Savannah is featured on the Tacky Light Tour. Here’s hoping we all get to toast with eggnog in moose head cups this year!

Holiday Lights Events

The Festival of Lights seems to grow every year. Located at the Westin on Hutchinson Island, the Festival of Lights and Winter Carnival features the not to be missed Gingerbread Village inside the hotel and a drive through light show around the road course. A Ferris wheel and other carnival rides are set up on Bryan Square.

Old Town Trolley Tours provides tours around the light show – a great way to allow everyone in your party to enjoy the holiday lights.

Looking for an evening stroll through a half a million sparkling lights? The December Nights & Holiday Lights at the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens showcase 10 acres with a self guided walking tour through themed gardens and the historic farm house. Most of the displays are stroller and wheelchair friendly.

The shops and restaurants in Richmond Hill participate in a friendly holiday decorating contest. Voting for Light up the Hill runs through December 18th. Come by, support local and don’t forget to vote!

The Guido Gardens in Metter offer a FREE Night of Lights tour. Although the gardens are open 24 hours the lights are only on from 6-9 PM.

TMT Farms Christmas Lights Display in Statesboro is FREE to experience but they do accept non perishable food items to help those in need this holiday season.

Holiday Lights Road Trips

Shopping trips and visits to family often find us on the road this time year and there are amazing holiday light events that are worth the road trip.

Hilton Head is a great day trip from the Savannah area and offers two wonderful displays. The center piece of Harbour Town Lights features a 30 foot Christmas tree with activities and live entertainment. The Dove Street Festival of Lights at Shelter Cove Towne Centre has been a Hilton Head holiday tradition for 20 years.

The Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park in Charleston features over two million lights!

The Atlanta area offers many beautiful light displays. The Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden are simply amazing.

If you come across any holiday light displays you’d like to see on the list please drop me a line. I’d be happy to add them.

Wishing you and yours the very best of the holiday season!

Melanie Kramer
Keller Williams Realty Coastal Area Partners
912-459-5001 Office
912-658-1390 Cell Direct

Melanie Kramer Coastal Georgia Realtor

1053 St. Catherine CR Richmond Hill, GA 31324

1053 St. Catherine CR Richmond Hill, GA 31324

CLICK HERE to take a Virtual Tour

Join the many pleased owners of a RJ Reynolds home and live the lifestyle The Bluffs can offer with a 1.75 acre full brick Estate. Bring the outdoors in with screened living area with fireplace. Custom shelving, a laundry chute, and mudroom cubbies make life easier. The 6th bedroom is a bonus and the garage features a 3rd bay for the golf cart.

Special Features at 1053 St. Catherine CR Richmond Hill, GA 31324

MLS Number: 121952
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 4 full and 1 half
Approx. Sq. Ft.: 3500
R J Reynolds Construction Full Brick! with 3 Bay Garage on 1.75 Acre Lot
Community: Pool Community, Playground Community, Clubhouse, Street Lights & Sidewalks

For more information about this property, please contact Melanie Kramer at 912-658-1390 or melaniekramer@kw.com. You can also text 2435539 to 67299.

For more listings please visit: www.melaniekramer.com

Melanie Kramer
Keller Williams Realty Coastal Area Partners
912-459-5001 Office
912-658-1390 Cell Direct

Melanie Kramer Coastal Georgia Realtor

Melanie Kramer: LOCAL REALTOR® AWARDED SRS DESIGNATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Melanie Kramer, Local Realtor® Awarded SRS Designation

Richmond Hill, Ga,  — Melanie Kramer, Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Richmond Hill, has been awarded the Seller Representative Specialist – SRS designation, the premier seller agency designation in the country.

The SRS Designation is conferred by the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB) and is an official credential of the National Association of REALTORS®.   Melanie joins an elite group of real estate professionals in North America who have earned the SRSsm designation.  All were required to successfully complete a comprehensive course in seller representation, pass a comprehensive exam and subscribe to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.

About Melanie Kramer

Melanie Kramer, Local Realtor® Awarded SRS DesignationMelanie Kramer has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Accounting, an inactive Real Estate Appraisers license, an active real estate sales license, and has been a Distinguished Sales Society consecutively since 2006.

Melanie is also a member of the National Association of Realtors, Georgia Association of Realtors, Savannah Area Board of Realtors, is also an Accredited buyers representative, has served on 4 different occasions on Keller Williams Agent Leadership Council as well as volunteering in her community with the 1996 Olympic Games, Savannah venue, as well as other local civic organizations.

About SRS

SRSsm is a wholly owned division of CRB and focuses specifically on representing the real estate seller.  Founded in 1968, CRB is a not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®.  You may contact SRS by telephone, 800-621-8738, by e-mail, [CustomerService@SRSCouncil.com], or by visiting the SRS website, [www.SRSCouncil.com].

Melanie Kramer Coastal Georgia Realtor