We close on our house on Wednesday and I am anticipating complete overload! Steven is at work and I am sitting at home going back and forth between a 90210 and Keeping up with The Kardashian marathon. I just can not decide which one I want to watch....so I will watch both :)
I am guessing this is 1 of the last peaceful, non hectic weekends for a while due to buying a home and football season...not to mention just regular day to day life. We close on Wednesday but then are leasing the house back to the current owners till Sunday. The next week we are having done like concrete seals, carpet replacement, and cleaning. Then Saturday, September 25th, is move day!
I haven't packed or really done a thing. Tomorrow I am going to go to Aledo to get some of my stuff out of my parents storage and maybe I will decide what my next project is but we will see.
Project 1 on the house is a rug and throw pillows! There are so many things we have but yet so many things we need that we have never needed before....like lawn stuff...who wants to buy lawn stuff...not me!!! To bad we have too because we have yard now!
I think I will go back to 90210 and Keeping up with The Kardashians and enjoy my last Saturday of relaxation!!!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Goal Achieved.....420!
I have achieved the largest goal that I have ever been given and words can not describe how big this accomplishment is. It has become a running joke with my investment manager, president, and CFO of my company. 420! What is 420? 420 was the NRI I was given to hit in April to achieve the best interest rate for the refi of my 480 unit apartment community I manage. There was an email that circulated that stated, "All eyes will be on Amy!" I remember thinking, "You have got to be kidding me, how am I going to do this!?!?"
NRI stands for Net Rental Income, it basically takes all the charged rents you have in place and then counters in all your automatic losses and that gives you the NRI for a property. In March/April My property sat at roughly $385,000 NRI and I was told you need to get to $420,000. I remember thinking and saying to my staff they are asking us to squeeze a grapefruit out of a whole the size of a blueburry! I had no idea how I was going to gain $5000 in 6 months in NRI much less $25,000! I honestly thought there was no way....what the heck am I going to do??? Talk about stress plus I was getting married at the same time!!! Are you kidding me.....
So when you are given lemons you make lemonade. I had 6 months to prove myself as a young female in a position that had HUGE responsibility! I knew I had a great staff if I could just motivate them and remain positive up beat attitude when really I was going home thinking what the heck!
The end of May my NRI closed out at $413 which was a huge accomplishment but the problem was it was not a true number, not all the May move outs where accounted for due to Memorial Day Weekend. So the 1st week of June we dropped to $395 and I remember being so discouraged! All these people are seeing the $413 number and thinking Amy is doing great and I was the only one that knew it was not a true number. I had to figure out a way to make up that $8000 by the end of June. Talk about team work!!!
I rallied my girls together and WOW!!!! They blew me away! The A-Team was created and they were just as motivated as I was! Not only had I led them to being excited about a work goal they learned knowledge that only managers know! That has been the best part, watching them get just as excited as I am!
So here we are at the end of this 6 month journey that has consumed my life and Guess What...... we did it!!!!! Last week the VP of assets for GE Appliances came out and was so impressed by the growth we have made. He made a joke that I should have been given the goal of $450 because I made $420 look so easy.
Not only did we reach $420....we beat it!!!! We are sitting at a beautiful $425 and still going strong! Words can not express the excitement this goal gives me! I honestly thought there is no way I can do this growing NRI like that in such a short period of time is impossible but what do you know!!!
NRI stands for Net Rental Income, it basically takes all the charged rents you have in place and then counters in all your automatic losses and that gives you the NRI for a property. In March/April My property sat at roughly $385,000 NRI and I was told you need to get to $420,000. I remember thinking and saying to my staff they are asking us to squeeze a grapefruit out of a whole the size of a blueburry! I had no idea how I was going to gain $5000 in 6 months in NRI much less $25,000! I honestly thought there was no way....what the heck am I going to do??? Talk about stress plus I was getting married at the same time!!! Are you kidding me.....
So when you are given lemons you make lemonade. I had 6 months to prove myself as a young female in a position that had HUGE responsibility! I knew I had a great staff if I could just motivate them and remain positive up beat attitude when really I was going home thinking what the heck!
The end of May my NRI closed out at $413 which was a huge accomplishment but the problem was it was not a true number, not all the May move outs where accounted for due to Memorial Day Weekend. So the 1st week of June we dropped to $395 and I remember being so discouraged! All these people are seeing the $413 number and thinking Amy is doing great and I was the only one that knew it was not a true number. I had to figure out a way to make up that $8000 by the end of June. Talk about team work!!!
I rallied my girls together and WOW!!!! They blew me away! The A-Team was created and they were just as motivated as I was! Not only had I led them to being excited about a work goal they learned knowledge that only managers know! That has been the best part, watching them get just as excited as I am!
So here we are at the end of this 6 month journey that has consumed my life and Guess What...... we did it!!!!! Last week the VP of assets for GE Appliances came out and was so impressed by the growth we have made. He made a joke that I should have been given the goal of $450 because I made $420 look so easy.
Not only did we reach $420....we beat it!!!! We are sitting at a beautiful $425 and still going strong! Words can not express the excitement this goal gives me! I honestly thought there is no way I can do this growing NRI like that in such a short period of time is impossible but what do you know!!!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Bridal Buzzzz.....
I screamed so loud this morning in my office when I got the email from D Magazine! It may not be a magazine but it is D Magazine's Bridal Buzz!! How Exciting...it was the best news I could have this week! Yesterday I had a moment with my boss while in tears just talking about the stress and life changes I have experienced in the past 6 months. My life has been so stressful and overwhelming. Life has finally slowed down for me and WOW....I have become the person I have strived for for so long and I am just now realzing it. I have achieved almost every goal I set and it literally just hit me this week because things are slowing down...Somewhat....Knock on Wood!
I am married to an incredible patient loving man and an indepentant career driven women with a house on the way which is what I always imagined as a little girl. The conflicts and intense situations I deal with on a daily basis at work are strait out of a reality TV show, similiar to Donald Trumps....Apprentice! Yes....seriously...this includes the drama of reality TV!
Heck I am now Amy Malone not Amy Cox......That is HUGE!!! For some reason Amy Malone is not sticking to well at work even after changing my email.
The second I started planning my wedding all my vendors knew I wanted to be in a magazine! Bridal Buzz is just as exciting! Plus I still have a change to get in a magazine! After getting this email it is time to re focus and start stalking all the Bridal/Wedding magazines in Texas! I can be very persistent!
I LOVE WEDDINGS!!! I am currently sitting here drinking wine watching My Fair Wedding and it's a rerun...I have seen this one 3 times already! Good thing Steven is at a Fantasy Football thing somewhere or he would be hating me right about now :)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The A-Team
The apartment community I manage is going through a refinance in September. It has been really stressful the past 6 months not to mention I also got married within this time! There are no words to describe the pressure myself and my team have been under and now I have put a home on top of it all.
After severl prospects and residents made comments about all of us having "A" names I thought, "Oh My Goodness...I hired all "A" name girls!" Amy, Allyson, Ashley, Alicia, and Ashley A.K.A Brooke...Our regional manager is even a "A" name...Amber. This was totally not on purpose but I am so glad it happened because now we have basically created a "Brand!"
In the mist of making a marketing plan we started playing around with "A-Team" for obvious reasons. Well it stuck!! It is similiar to a sorority with colors and a mascot. Our colors are hot pink, black, and white. Our mascot is a diamond. I have even bought block letter for "A-Team" that are similiar to the letters a pledge would receive for their sorority. We have stickers that we are going to stick on all marketing items with the hopes that in 6 months to a year the "A-Team" is something that everyone in our area knows and hopefully brings in more traffic and more leases!
After severl prospects and residents made comments about all of us having "A" names I thought, "Oh My Goodness...I hired all "A" name girls!" Amy, Allyson, Ashley, Alicia, and Ashley A.K.A Brooke...Our regional manager is even a "A" name...Amber. This was totally not on purpose but I am so glad it happened because now we have basically created a "Brand!"
In the mist of making a marketing plan we started playing around with "A-Team" for obvious reasons. Well it stuck!! It is similiar to a sorority with colors and a mascot. Our colors are hot pink, black, and white. Our mascot is a diamond. I have even bought block letter for "A-Team" that are similiar to the letters a pledge would receive for their sorority. We have stickers that we are going to stick on all marketing items with the hopes that in 6 months to a year the "A-Team" is something that everyone in our area knows and hopefully brings in more traffic and more leases!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
My Style
Steven and I are in our 10 day option period with our 1st home! I can't help but to obsess about the decor of each room...I am driving myself crazy! My friend Amy posted this awesome link that has a quiz about your decor style and WOW...It is right on the money!
Mine is:
50% Hollywood Couture
33% French Eclectic
17% Classic
I have to say I completely agree! Check out the definition of Hollywood Couture..it pretty much sums me!
Hollywood Couture
"Welcome to Hollywood! What's your dream?" That's right, its time to roll out the red carpet and get ready for the sparkle of crystal and all things flashy that make up the Hollywood Couture style. Hollywood Couture style originated in high-end lifestyles that made up the years between the roaring 20's and the swinging 40's where it was important to bring a feeling of glamour to the home when the world outside may have lacked it. Nowadays it's scratching a similar itch in the sense that it's bringing a sense of opulence to a world that seems to have forgotten how much fun it can be! The great thing about the updated version of the style is how versatile it is. You can really take it in any direction and add almost any style into the mix, perhaps a contemporary leather sofa paired with lacquered Louis XIV chairs that have been upholstered in lush velvet. The key is that each item feels as rich and over-the-top as possible and yet everything still seems livable. It's not a space that screams: "do not touch" - rather it almost dares you to experience its luxury."
I think it describes my style to a tea! Not just my home decor style but my fashion as well. I think my wedding pretty much matched this desription as well.
These 3 are my fave! Clean but a little bit of sparkle and pop of great color!
This isn't Hollywood Couture but I still like it a lot....
Mine is:
50% Hollywood Couture
33% French Eclectic
17% Classic
I have to say I completely agree! Check out the definition of Hollywood Couture..it pretty much sums me!
Hollywood Couture
"Welcome to Hollywood! What's your dream?" That's right, its time to roll out the red carpet and get ready for the sparkle of crystal and all things flashy that make up the Hollywood Couture style. Hollywood Couture style originated in high-end lifestyles that made up the years between the roaring 20's and the swinging 40's where it was important to bring a feeling of glamour to the home when the world outside may have lacked it. Nowadays it's scratching a similar itch in the sense that it's bringing a sense of opulence to a world that seems to have forgotten how much fun it can be! The great thing about the updated version of the style is how versatile it is. You can really take it in any direction and add almost any style into the mix, perhaps a contemporary leather sofa paired with lacquered Louis XIV chairs that have been upholstered in lush velvet. The key is that each item feels as rich and over-the-top as possible and yet everything still seems livable. It's not a space that screams: "do not touch" - rather it almost dares you to experience its luxury."
I think it describes my style to a tea! Not just my home decor style but my fashion as well. I think my wedding pretty much matched this desription as well.
These 3 are my fave! Clean but a little bit of sparkle and pop of great color!
This isn't Hollywood Couture but I still like it a lot....
Sunday, August 15, 2010
28 Years Old
I turn 28 this Tuesday...not real sure how I feel about that. Steven tends to ask me on a regular basis just for conversation reason if I am where I thought I would be? So the answer to that at 28 is, Yes! I don't really think I had a concept of age when I was little. I figured I would be married at 23, baby by 25, and then that's really it!
So here we are at 28! 4 months into my marriage to the date ........on the verge of being a home owner. I don't remember how old I was when I told myself I wanted to be a strong, independent, successful woman...I am thinking elementary! It has always been extremely important to me to be able to support myself and be successful in my career all on my own! I have worked really hard and have put all my time, heart, and soul into my passion for my job and being the best at it I can be. I feel like I am finally at a place in my life where I can step back from that goal and starting working on another goal of focusing on my family. What happens with my career now......happens....I have accomplished more then I have ever thought. I am extremely respected and looked up too in my industry which is an accomplishment in itself.
So here is to turning 28 in less then 48 hours and turning my focus on my husband, family, friends, and any other new things that come into my life!
Here is to going down memory lane!!!
I loved this dress! I had to wear it everywhere...And Yes I still have it!!
I loved dress up! Pretty much any Friday or Saturday night I was playing dress up with whatever I could find!
My not so attractive stage growing up.....
Cheerleading
Senior Trip in high school...Yes that is a floating wheel chair I am sitting in!
Christmas Card
College......Oh what I would do to go back for a week!!!
New Friends after college....
And of course Steven....
So here we are at 28! 4 months into my marriage to the date ........on the verge of being a home owner. I don't remember how old I was when I told myself I wanted to be a strong, independent, successful woman...I am thinking elementary! It has always been extremely important to me to be able to support myself and be successful in my career all on my own! I have worked really hard and have put all my time, heart, and soul into my passion for my job and being the best at it I can be. I feel like I am finally at a place in my life where I can step back from that goal and starting working on another goal of focusing on my family. What happens with my career now......happens....I have accomplished more then I have ever thought. I am extremely respected and looked up too in my industry which is an accomplishment in itself.
So here is to turning 28 in less then 48 hours and turning my focus on my husband, family, friends, and any other new things that come into my life!
Here is to going down memory lane!!!
I loved this dress! I had to wear it everywhere...And Yes I still have it!!
I loved dress up! Pretty much any Friday or Saturday night I was playing dress up with whatever I could find!
My not so attractive stage growing up.....
Cheerleading
Senior Trip in high school...Yes that is a floating wheel chair I am sitting in!
Christmas Card
College......Oh what I would do to go back for a week!!!
New Friends after college....
And of course Steven....
Thursday, August 5, 2010
House Hunting and Refi
It is kind of bazaar that Steven and I are seriously house hunting at the same time my property is up for refinance! The exact same day we put an offer on a house was the day the refi stress began!
You may ask what refi is?.....Well basically the loan at my property is up so in order to get the best rate my property has to perform extremely well! Not to mention I have to meet with all sorts of important people, do lots of reports, and maintain my day to day job. I have no idea how I would do this if I had children!
But let's get to the exciting stuff. Our offer! Steven and I found the perfect home! It was exactly what we wanted...perfect interior, perfect location, and perfect yard! It was just a little over what we want to spend but luckily the AC looked poor, hot water heater fair, and the carpet needed to be replaced due to pet damage.
We placed an offer that we knew was low just to see and of course like we expected it was not accepted. The offer that came back was $1500.00 less then the asking price, not the seller barely budged! The funny part is the current owners have only lived there for 2 years and have put no money into the home in terms of all the upgrades the house has. They are asking $17,000 more then what they paid 2 years ago during the peak of the home market. Are they crazy? Our realtor told us today the seller basically is like, "This is the best I can do." I would completely agree if he would have paid for all the upgraded in the home but seriously.......
We are going to sit on the offer over the weekend and see what happens and then give another counter offer next week. If that does not work, which I would be surprised if it did we will hope and pray the home sits and sits on the market until the seller is ready to negiciate! If not Steven and I will keep on truckin looking for our perfect home to raise all the little girls we are going to have ;)
You may ask what refi is?.....Well basically the loan at my property is up so in order to get the best rate my property has to perform extremely well! Not to mention I have to meet with all sorts of important people, do lots of reports, and maintain my day to day job. I have no idea how I would do this if I had children!
But let's get to the exciting stuff. Our offer! Steven and I found the perfect home! It was exactly what we wanted...perfect interior, perfect location, and perfect yard! It was just a little over what we want to spend but luckily the AC looked poor, hot water heater fair, and the carpet needed to be replaced due to pet damage.
We placed an offer that we knew was low just to see and of course like we expected it was not accepted. The offer that came back was $1500.00 less then the asking price, not the seller barely budged! The funny part is the current owners have only lived there for 2 years and have put no money into the home in terms of all the upgrades the house has. They are asking $17,000 more then what they paid 2 years ago during the peak of the home market. Are they crazy? Our realtor told us today the seller basically is like, "This is the best I can do." I would completely agree if he would have paid for all the upgraded in the home but seriously.......
We are going to sit on the offer over the weekend and see what happens and then give another counter offer next week. If that does not work, which I would be surprised if it did we will hope and pray the home sits and sits on the market until the seller is ready to negiciate! If not Steven and I will keep on truckin looking for our perfect home to raise all the little girls we are going to have ;)
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