Rental "Real Talk"

Today is Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday which is the last day of Carnival or The Feast of the Epiphany.  The final day is filled with celebration and feasting as Christians prepare for Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent.  The most common question that has been asked around the internet today is “have you had your King Cake yet?”

King Cake ( and there are various styles and origins, but we will stick with the most popular in the US, Gulf coast style) is a rolled, brioche style, cinnamon cake ring with a white sugar glaze.  The King Cake is typically decorated with colored sugar in the colors of Mardi Gras:  purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power.  A small plastic baby, representing the Baby Jesus, is either baked into the cake or is simply placed in the middle of the cake and the one who gets the a piece of cake with the baby is King or Queen for the day.

If you are looking for a great dinner idea tonight, consider a Mardi Gras theme.  Don’t worry, I have linked all the recipes you will need including the one for King Cake here.  Lucky for you Cajun cooking is easy to make and tasty to eat.

Have a Fat Tuesday!

According to the Charlotte Business Journal, the 2012 DNC Host Committee is looking for the best of the best in barbeque sauces that represent the Carolinas! Ok, ok before you all start a shouting match declaring your sauce supreme, the Convention Host Committee isn’t looking to settle the age old debate about BBQ in the Carolinas, they just want to assemble a package to be sold online featuring a mustard, a vinegar and a tomato-based sauce that will represent the Carolinas as a whole.  All proceeds will be going towards the Committee’s fundraising efforts to raise $36.65 million which is their commitment to put on the DNC here in Charlotte.  Also, the establishment whose sauce is chosen will then get bragging rights as being the BEST sauce in their style.

See it’s all one nation, under BBQ.  Leave the debates for the politicians, but VINEGAR RULES!!!

Many of our clients are choosing to receive their monthly statements through e-mail and their monthly payments via direct deposit.  In fact, 980 owners are on our monthly direct deposit system and this feature is available at no extra cost to our clients.  787 owners receive their monthly statements electronically.  It’s definitely a faster and greener way to do business.

Interested?  Contact our accounting department for more information at accounting@trlawing.com.

Valentine’s Greetings from the T. R. Lawing Realty Wellness Committee!!  Thank you for the great surprise.

P.S. The almond cookie things didn’t last very long. 

Strong, healthy relationships take a lot of nurturing.  Take time this month to spend it with your love ones in thoughtful, simple ways that engage them in quality time.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here are some FREE ideas for you to say I love you and not look cheap.

• Warm temps this winter have kept things nice and mild.  Grab a sandwich “to go” from the fridge and have a picnic in your own backyard with your family.
• Visit a local nature center, park or greenway and simply take a stroll.  You will get the exercise you need and the conversation that you may have been lacking for awhile.  You might even end up holding hands.  Aww!
• Did you know that the simple act of planning a vacation can reduce your stress level?  Go online and plan your “dream” vacation and hit save.  Then gather up the change from the couch and start a vacation fund towards your dream.
• Turn off the TV and the computer AND the iPhone/Blackberry for  Family Game Night.
• Volunteer at a local soup kitchen, just to put things into perspective.
• Borrow a movie from a friend or sign one out of the library and watch it together.  Better yet, all those shows, you have been saving on DVR….watch them!
• Make hot chocolate and cozy up under a warm blanket and look at the stars.

What is your idea of  quality time, whether it be with your special someone or your family?

Eight years ago a young boy went to his first ever college basketball game.  It was the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship Second Round and two North Carolina teams, who were no stranger to this competition, were playing in back to back games.

Up first, the University of North Carolina Tarheels!  The boy drank in every last minute of this first ball game.  He loved the players, the band and even the cheerleaders.  He quickly learned the cheers and asked every question imaginable.  It was one of the greatest moments of his life and the team won!  But the fun was not over, because a second game would be played shortly featuring the Duke Blue Devils.  He would be given another chance to see a top college team in action.

The boy’s mother had bought him two t-shirts, one for the Tarheel game and one for the Duke game.  At the end of the first game his mother reached into her handbag  to pull out the second shirt but the boy refused to wear it.  He even threw a small tantrum over it.  At that moment she knew and the UNC fans around him knew….a Tarheel fan was born.

Now fast forward 8 years and that little boy is now a teenager.  He is as fierce about his Tarheels as he was back then.  He has watched his team rise and fall over the years and he is looking forward to tonight’s Battle of the Blues, although he is a bit nervous this time.  His faith in his team has led to a bet.  If his Tarheels lose, he must spend an entire day tomorrow decked out in a Duke t-shirt.  Is it wrong that his mother kind of wants to see that happen?

I am reporting to you remotely today because I am sick.  I am not telling you that because I need your sympathy but because I made the conscious decision to stay home since I spent the majority of the day yesterday infecting the office enough and my doctor warned me that if I still had any fever, I should stay home.  That doesn’t mean that I am not feeling guilty for not being at work today.  There are things that need to be done.  Office supplies need to be ordered, letters to residents and owners need to be written, and marketing decisions need to be made.  But all of that must wait while I rest and recover.

Why do we feel like we are doing the company some sort of disservice when we are unable to perform our duties?  When you’re sick, you’re sick, stay home!  Has the economy and job market got us so freaked out that we are willing to show up and prove what a hard worker we are by working sick?  I must turn to my favorite doctor, WebMD for a little advice on this one.  “People are concerned about calling in sick, but if you’re really feeling unwell and especially if you have a fever, you need to stay home,” says Catherine Cummins, MD, MSN, a health sciences assistant clinical professor at the University of California-Irvine School of Medicine. “A little bit of common sense goes a long way.”

The next time you are feeling unwell, consider this  when you are sick you are not working at your best.  Not to mention, your emotional health is compromised.  Working sick will help lead to burn out later.  You will remember this when things get stressful and you will be upset later at your boss for not appreciating the gesture.

Second, germs are contagious. The only way to curb the spread of germs is to not spread them. Simple, but true.  There isn’t enough Lysol in the world that will beat this option.  I know, easier said than done.  However, fever = infection.  Stay home!

Finally, rest! The sooner you get some good rest, the sooner you get well.  Not resting will worsen the problem and cause you to be out longer.  Catch it early and you might not loose as much time as you think.

Here’s to good health.

Today is National Wear Red Day and we were just wondering if you were seeing red?

Since 1963, February has been designated as American Heart Month to help in the fight against heart disease.  Since 2004, Go Red for Women has been working hard to educate women about heart disease and stroke.  Many companies around the country are wearing red today to support this effort, including T.R. Lawing, Realty, Inc.

Happy Heart Month!

As Huey Lewis once said, “It’s hip to be square”.  For our ‘80s challenged readers, Huey Lewis is the lead singer of a little band known as Huey Lewis and the News.  Hip to Be Square was one of their biggest hits as it was part of the Back to Future soundtrack.  Anyway, as I sit here listening to this masterpiece of rock-n-roll and with a little help from our friends at Yelp* (they sent me the idea), I wonder where are the nerdiest places to go in Charlotte where you can be (dare I say it again) “hip to be square?”  I asked our IT specialist extraordinaire, David Cunningham because he is always doing these types of things with no apologies and is having the time of his life.   Here are David’s Top 5 nerdy things to do in the Queen City:

1. Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find – In fact they are just down 7^th Street from us!  If you are a fan of the Big Bang Theory, you can be just like Leonard and Sheldon in this neighborhood comic store.  For more information about them and their selection of comics, click here.
2. The ThoughtCriminals – Stop by The Milestone to catch The ThoughtCriminals, a Charlotte area nerdcore hip-hop band that was recently featured in the Official Nerdcore Showcase.  According to their bio, this group combines hip hop with a blend of styles like indie rock, chip tune and more.  If you are interested in an upcoming performance, click here to visit their schedule.
3. Games HQ – Have you been looking for another soul to play D & D or Pokemon with?  Games HQ is your kind of place.  New players are always welcome.  Check out their schedule for your game of choice and time here.
4. The Twiztid Trivia Show – Now playing at the Wild Wing Café University and EpiCentre.  Test your smarts and endurance in three rounds of trivia and physical challenges.  Come with a group and prepare to have a good name, it really pays off.  Check for their facebook page here.
5. The Breakfast Club – This ‘80s club located in Uptown Charlotte hosts a local Ghostbusters chapter periodically.   These guys come complete with costume, proton pack and Echo-1.  Don’t miss these ‘80s icons.  Oh and they are available for private parties as well. Don’t believe me?  Check out their website here.  Who you gonna call?

**BONUS **  Where’s Waldo? – Do you have only one night to geek out?  February 11, 2012 beginning at 5:00 pm, CarolinaNightlife.com is planning to assemble the largest group of “Where’s Waldo” ever and break the Guinness Book of World Records for The Most People Dressed as Where’s Waldo in One Place!  Tickets are needed for this event.  Click here for more information.

If you’re looking for various ways to get your geek on in Charlotte, start with these and you’ll be well on your way to Geek Chic!

Unless you were living under a rock yesterday,  one of this year’s most talked about Super Bowl ads is Honda’s CR-V commercial featuring Matthew Broderick taking a “day off” (think Ferris Bueller).  If you can’t wait until Sunday, click here.   Warning!!!  Viewing this video may spoil your overall Super Bowl experience.  Watch with caution.  It’s pretty hilarious!

Why is it that this is the one day of the year that  we actually look forward to the commercials?  Is it because only a few of us are true fans of the teams that are actually playing or that we are pretty much guaranteed a blowout game (I know, add smack-talking here).  Seriously though, we fast forward through ads all the other days of the year, so why the Super Bowl?

Each year  Nielson Ratings estimates 90 million viewers watch the Super Bowl.  Also, with parties and families gathered around the TV, we are usually in good spirits.  If your team is losing, we probably can’t say the same thing for you but for the vast majority of us tuning in, we are happy.

So what makes a good Super Bowl commercial?  I know what I like and judging by the poll results and the water cooler talk that usually happens the following morning, we all seem to like the same thing.  Here are my standards for a good Super Bowl commercial.

1. Don’t recycle your old add!!!  Make a new one!  You spent the $$ for time slot, come up with something that I haven’t seen before.  If you don’t have any money left over like Fed-Ex did one year, then a white screen with simple wording explaining how the ad folks screwed up and didn’t get the ad to the network in time because they didn’t use Fed-Ex was brilliant.  One of my all time favorites.
2. Don’t use current talent.  Yes, I know how hot Bieber is right now, but using actors that have been out of the limelight, like say Matthew Broderick, for a while stir up nostalgic feelings and make me like Honda CR-Vs despite the fact my husband sells GMCs.  Besides Bieber is everywhere, do we really have to have him in the commercials too?
3. Make it funny.  The funnier the better because I will talk about that commercial  for days to come.  Not to mention, the recall later down the road.
4. Add a little tear.  Touching commercials are timeless.  The Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale bowing to New York in the infamous 9/11 tribute.  Still makes me tear up today.   How about “Mean Joe” Green giving that kid, who gave him a Coke, his jersey and a smile.  Don’t get too sappy though.  Weare, after all, watching a football game.
5. How did they do that?  Technology is a wonderful thing when you leave them guessing.  It’s great if you want me to look up your website, but it needs to be a serious, WOW!  Confuse me and I won’t give it a second thought.  Also, that website better be amazing.

Everyone have a happy and safe Super Bowl this year.  No matter how you are spending it. :0)