Tips to Make Your New Year's Resolution Attainable

goal /ɡōl/ n. - the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.

We all know that January is the month to establish and implement your New Year Resolution (goal). Whether it's a need such as "I need to lower my blood pressure to get my health in control”, or a desire - "I want to go on vacation", each goal must have an action plan! Setting a resolution/goal can give us a sense of direction in our day - “does buying this new dress help me in my goal of paying my debt?” Hangs dress back up and exits store.

If you're not sure what would be a suitable resolution for you, try skimming this list to spark a little passion.

Set Both Long and Short-Term Goals

What do you do now that you set your goal?

GET GOING WITH IT RIGHT AWAY!

Short-term targets will help pave the way for success. Breaking it down into easier to attain mine goals is also a way to make your journey a celebratory one!

An example of this is, let's say you want to lose 30 pounds in 6 months - the first short-term goal could be to drink more water, the next goal is to increase vegetable consumption, the next goal is to add 30 minutes of exercise per day. When these short-term objectives are achieved, we are closer to achieving that final long-term resolution and have little checkpoints to celebrate our success.

Thinking about the 30 pound long-term main goal may seem impossible, but adding more water to your day - easy! Okay, what happens next? - increase vegetable intake - DONESO! Starting with short-term "check points" will help simplify the process and create an obtainable road map to a successful resolution for this year without being overwhelmed by the overall picture!

Set a plan that works

You have to think about this plan every day!

Whether you add it to a schedule, or utilize a SMART goal setting template or simply a screen saver on your phone with an inspiring reminder/message like the one I use to constantly invite me to live every moment with the mentality of "does this support my intentions for this year?"

We all have what works for us, so find out what's going to keep you pursuing success in this endeavor.

"A goal without a timeline is just a dream." - Rober Herjavec

Assess your Success

How will you measure your success? Do you review your credit score each week on Monday, check your holiday savings every payday, or approach your anxiety by writing in your journal every Sunday?

Whatever the goal, you need to check in - you need to develop an accountability system.

It is common that most New Year's resolutions are something big, (go big or go home - right?)

However, a smaller goal does not minimize its importance in your life. No matter what you dream of doing this year, you have to be able to check in and check back often. - reassess your success! See where changes may need to be made. Be sure to give yourself grace, but make the changes that will help you to be more successful as you move forward. Maybe it's joining a social media support group, maybe it's updating some of your goals in the short term, maybe you need to build a dream board and have a visual in front of you every day.

However, at the end of the day your resolution should be something that you want, that you're passionate about, something that thrills you, otherwise maybe the whole goal needs to be reexamined, after all you need to be the one who chooses to pursue it. - Heather Etzel

National Blood Donor Month

“No Manifestation of this generosity of spirit is more expressive, and no gift more priceless in time of personal crisis, than the donation of one’s blood. The voluntary blood donor truly gives life itself.”

President Richard Nixon proclaimed January 1970 as the first National Blood Donors Month on December 31, 1969, as requested by Senate Joint Resolution 154, to pay tribute to voluntary blood donors and encourage new donors to join. The Red Cross supplies about 40% of our nation's blood and blood components, all from generous volunteer donors. But the supply cannot always satisfy the demand because only about 3% of age-eligible people donate blood yearly. Each new donor helps meet patient needs.

Quick Facts

1 in 7 patients admitted to a hospital will use blood

1 out of 83 births will require a blood transfusion

A single car accident victim may need up to 100 pints of blood to survive.

Type O negative red cells can be administered to patients of all blood types.

Only 7% of people in the U.S. have type O negative.

Type AB positive plasma can be transfused to patients of all blood types.

Only 3% of people in the U.S. have AB positive blood

Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured; they can only come from voluntary donors.

How To Donate

Blood donation is a simple, safe process. All you have to do is register, take a mini-medical history test, make a donation, then accept free refreshments such as water, Gatorade, granola bars, etc. Donors must have proof of the required minimum age of 17 in most states, a minimum weight of 110 pounds, and present a primary form of identification or two secondary forms of ID. To schedule check the A.A.B.B. (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks) locator, visit the Red Cross website, or call (800) RED-CROSS. If you live in New York City, contact the New York Blood Center. You can also find information through the America’s Blood Centers website or call (202) 393-5725.

As an incentive, starting from June 15 and for at least several months thereafter, any person who gives blood, platelets, or plasma with the Red Cross will be tested to detect the presence of Covid-19 antibodies to see if they have had the virus.

(To be clear, this is a test for antibodies, not coronavirus itself.) -Ashley Ford

Capital District Tree Farms

Bob’s Trees

1227 West Galway Road, Hagaman, NY 12086

Bob's trees have been a family-owned business for the past 80 years. They offer cut your own Christmas trees starting at $50.00 or pre-cut starting from $10 up to $100. During your visit, your family can create yearly photo op mementos with their face cut out props and Santa sleigh. Children enjoy visiting the reindeer that arrive every year just after Thanksgiving, Santa let us know one of them is named “Sebastian”. Due to Covid-19, Santa cannot walk the grounds, instead, they are offering the “Santa Experience” with pre-sale tickets to enjoy cocoa and cookies with the big guy himself, you can give him your list and listen to him read “'T’was The Night Before Christmas”. They are offering walk-up window ordering for their warming chili and snacks! After a day of fun exploring the grounds, a quick 5-minute drive down the road is the Cock and Bull "a friendly place by the side of the road", as their motto goes, offering a farm to table, upscale, menu with a rustic cozy atmosphere of a renovated barn restaurant and a live crackling fire.

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Goode Trees

1179 Goode Rd Ballston, NY 12020 US

Offering some of the biggest selection of trees in the area, anything from 5’-16’, Goode Trees has a reputation for its wonderful customer assistance. From selecting the perfect tree to loading it on your vehicle, they help make sure your experience is smooth from start to finish and the memories take center stage. If you’re in need of a new tree stand search no further than in their gift shop, where they offer wreaths, cookies, and holiday decor. On the farm is an apiary! Enjoy farm-fresh, local honey! When you’re done loading the car up with goodies and your tree, stop into the Waterwheel Village Country Store! Reminiscent of the penny candy stores from the ’60s, this little family-run shop has a rich history and even richer cheeses! Create your own charcuterie board, to snack on as you decorate your fresh cut tree, with their array of cheeses (make sure to grab the ever-popular Bear Cheese) and meats, some pickled asparagus, and a jam, but don’t forget the crackers! Before leaving select an old-fashioned pop and a new Christmas decoration from their quaint gift shop in the back of the store. Perfect family traditions start here! 

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Ellms Family Farm

468 Charlton Rd, Ballston Spa, NY 12020

If all-inclusive speaks to you, Ellms Family Farm has it all! Started in 1984, the Christmas Tree Farm opens on the Friday after Thanksgiving, with Santa’s famous Parachuting into the farm, and remains open until December 22. Upon your arrival, take the complimentary trolley ride into the Christmas tree fields and enjoy your celebratory cup of cocoa, all included in the experience at no charge. The farm offers a variety of sizes and 4 varieties of trees, so you are sure to find the perfect pre-cut or cut your own tree. After scoring the best evergreen, be sure to grab some of their freshly made cider donuts! By now I’m sure you have worked up an appetite, drive 3 minutes down the road for an Irish American fare among some of the most beautifully decorated restaurants, with the scent of the fresh fire crackling. The Charlton Tavern,” Where there are no strangers.. only friends who have not met yet” offers an authentically prepared fare with the freshest ingredients, the perfect addition to your family’s day.

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Bailey Family Christmas Trees

530 Center Cambridge Rd, Cambridge NY 12816

“In 1967, we planted a thousand seedlings and began a wholesome family tradition.”

Gather the family and head to Bailey’s Tree’s in Cambridge NY to pick out and cut your own perfect Christmas tree! The farm features 7 different species mainly 7ft to 8ft high, and even few up to 14 ft tall! Open for cutting beginning 11/21 through 12/23 or until sold out. They also offer a variety of accessories and great giftable items including kissing balls, garland, wreaths, table decor, ornament, and folk art. A quick ten minute trip will take you to Greenwich Village Cafe and Bakery offering a menu full of fresh home made bread, seasonal soups and sandwiches, complete with delectable baked goods.

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Zach's Winterland Emporium (Collins Farm)

898 NY-143, Ravena, NY 12143

At Zach’s Winterland Emporium you will be greeted with wonderful customer service that makes it easy to pick the perfect tree for your home.  Offering beautiful fresh cut balsam firs that range from 5ft to 8ft tall, they also have beautiful full wreaths that you can purchase plain, with a bow, or fully decorated. Before you leave we will take a fresh cut off the bottom of your tree, and as a special thanks, turn it into a new keep-sake ornament for free! Netting is also available to make transportation as easy as possible. Snap family portrait at the holiday themed photo area, and enjoy a home made sweet treat from the maple sugar shack! A scenic 5 min drive will take to you the seafood specials at Halfway House Tavern, family operated for nearly 100 years!

Home of the Month

179 Main Street, Greenwich, New York

This month's home was selected by team member Zoe Barr.

Growing up with a real estate agent as a mother nearly guarantees growing up with a love for houses. At the age of 19, I have lived in a total of 11 different homes, each completely different from the one before. Ranging from apartment complexes, to houses with a neighborhood, to our condo, my siblings and I have never failed to settle in. Each new place immediately felt like a home, like i said - real estate agent mother.

Since turning 18, and with the help of several years of training in knowing what to look for, I’ve moved out on my own. I’m sure it would've been a scary process had I not been practicing my whole life, but i've learned to recognize the feeling of home when it's there. Upon entering 179 Main Street, I immediately got this feeling. I can’t be sure what it was, perhaps the glowing light coming from behind the flowing curtains, or the perfect space between the 3 bedrooms, maybe even the lovely smell that stayed consistent throughout, I couldn't help but picture a life for my family and me. The family room hosts large windows, ideally situated alongside a woodstove, this is where I picture winter nights, snow falling down, cuddled up with a big blanket and a book. Just a room over is a living room, quietly tucked away for a family movie night. The make or breaks for my siblings and me were always the kitchen and the bathrooms, if they weren’t perfect, we weren’t happy. I know I can speak for my brothers and sisters when I say 179 Main St. has it all! The kitchen is the perfect size, enough room for our Brady Bunch to make simultaneous, running late breakfasts, and even enough to fit all the chef’s on thanksgiving. Not to mention, more than one bathroom! Do you know how relieving bathrooms options are when you grew up with four siblings?

It is rare that I feel a sense of belonging anywhere my family isn't, but 179 Main Street brings the warmth of family along with it. (Seriously, I wish I could buy it.) Located in Greenwich Village, this house is incredibly adorable. It could not be more conveniently placed, with the YMCA next door, a grocer down the street, just blocks away from the Greenwich school, this is truly a dream home.

Home of the Month

9 Shaker Ridge Drive, Canaan, NY

This month's home was selected by team member Ashley Ford.

"During my venture as a first time home buyer I found my biggest draw to a property to be based upon my ability to easily envision a family and friend filled home. Blessed to be  surrounded by a larger than average extended family with many cherished memories created at our family gatherings hosted at my beloved grandfather’s farm house, it has always been a priority to bestow and carry on the quirky yet charming traditions that come along with it to my children in a similar comfortable yet updated setting.

While I encounter several amazing homes daily, the ambiance of 9 Shaker Ridge Drive immediately invoked my childhood nostalgia as I toured the rooms envisioning the antics my 19 cousins and I would have gotten into with so much open space on multiple levels! I can practically smell the aroma of holiday feasts wafting from the kitchen, and can picture my family gathering into the formal dining room for dinner, the cousins all vying for an esteemed seat at the adult table, followed up by gift exchanges and embarrassing stories shared around the living room fireplace.

As I’ve recently married and began a family of my own it has been of great importance to provide and maintain close knit family and friend relationships for myself and my children while combining two family dynamics. Boasting 4 bedrooms, an airy sunroom, and lower level second family room with an additional fireplace and built in wet bar, combined with 7.5 sprawling acres to utilize, lake rights to Queechy Lake, and a 20 minute drive to Jiminy Peak, there are plenty of potential indoor and outdoor activities to provide day to day relaxation, recreation and remembrance."

Winter photo updates...

Fresh snow and sunny skies bring the opportunity to update photos for our lineup of great properties.  Here are winter photos from some shoots around the region.

Home of the Month

UPDATE 6/28/2017:

Congratulations to the Sellers of this beautiful country home as they sold under multiple offers! 

Through daily work on the marketing of our listing inventory, the team becomes very familiar with each property.  Everyone has their favorites, so I thought I'd ask them to talk about their choices for "Home of the Week".  This week's pick is from Heather Etzel.  Heather is our Administrative & Marketing Manager and works closely with our clients to ensure no details are overlooked. 

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"311 Hartman Road in Hudson Falls, NY  caught my attention when the pictures and video were still going through editing! The country kitchen captivated me the second I saw the potential of an updated kitchen incorporating rustic details of the past. While I’m comfortable with the modern range oven that is offered with this home, the old-fashioned cook stove fascinated me! As the homeowner put it, “There is an art to cooking with wood, and sadly it is a lost art.” I would consider it a welcome challenge to harness the ability to cook with such a unique tool while simultaneously heating my home with it.

 Being a mom of 3 young boys and having a rather large extended family, the in-ground pool with patio area would provide a backdrop to some treasured memories. There is a saying that goes, “Music is a piece of art that goes in the ears and straight to the heart”; the melody of children laughing, water splashing, and adults conversing would forever stake a claim in my heart.

 Something I recently have tried to break into is being a “farmer.” I already have chickens, but pigs, goats, horses, etc.--they require a lot more space and living quarters than I currently have. This property has 3 large exterior buildings that are ready to house such animals. One of the barns has pens already set up!

 Finding a quiet moment is difficult for some, but not here. This home has an awe-inspiring manicured yard complete with a fish pond and a gazebo overlooking raised garden beds. There is also a stream down in the back that could be further developed. What’s one of the of the best features to this peaceful country retreat?  It has “forever wild” as the neighboring lot! No one can ever build there!

The exterior aesthetic of this home is the first thing that caught my attention, but don’t be fooled; the interior renders harmony just as well. My favorite room in the house, second to the kitchen and butler’s pantry of course, is the sun soaked 4 season room! While every room has an open, airy atmosphere, this one overlooks the 12+ acres and is perfectly designed to welcome morning tea, mid-day books, or evening chess.

More than just a farmhouse, this home holds an estate-like appeal.  Its original wide plank hardwood floors perfectly compliment the color pallet throughout. 311 Hartman Road is the epitome of a country home and Country Living Magazine agrees! This home was chosen from all of NYS to be featured in their June 2017 issue.

As American writer and human rights advocate Margaret Fuller once put it, "A house is no home until it contains food and fire for the soul, as well as for the body." This exquisite property situated near Hudson Falls, NY provides "food and fire" for a lifetime."

Heather Etzel

Manager Administrative, Marketing Support

The Maria Barr Team

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