Author Archives: Trish Reznick

About Trish Reznick

Writer. Pessimistic optimist. News junkie. I write real estate advertising pieces, but my heart's in music journalism. To make the real estate biz more exciting I put music references in to a good percentage of my writings. I guess you could call me a liberal. I have an extensive record collection and I prefer them over MP3s any day... unless that particular day I plan on leaving my apartment. Considering I'm an extrovert, that is quite frequently. I'm a scorpio...which is a nice way of saying I have intense mood swings... I thought that was just called being a chick.

Regret me not

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**work in progress**

 

I’m not sure if it is possible but I try it anyway. Living with little regret is difficult enough, but living without regret is damn near impossible.

C’est la vie! Carpe diem!  YOLO! Yada, yada, yada .Another thing I am unsure of is if those who coined these phrases have any regrets themselves. I am pretty sure that those who actually got YOLO tattooed on themselves will probably regret it one day, but you only live once right?

It is much easier said than done to not have regrets. If you are a product of the 80’s the Aquanet is probably regrettable. The ’90’s gave us frosted hair. Speaking about fashion what things will be regretted from this day and age? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments!

The best part of breaking up

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The best part of breaking up

Might be Folger’s in your cup. Rediscovering yourself is always the best part. Reclaiming music you couldn’t listen to while grieving is a close second… it made you happy before damnit! This does not happen overnight so until then here are some steps I know I take to get to that point.

Being a chick it is more acceptable to be emotional so if you have anything you need to say to your former beau feel free to knock a couple back, let loose, and blame it on the a-al-cu- alcohol it’s already done and over with so what do you have to lose?

Make an ass out of yourself. Let loose. Dance like a fool. Be “that guy or girl” who screams “THIS IS MY SONG” at the bar. It’s best to do this at a place you don’t plan on frequenting anytime soon and make sure if you decide to use alcohol as an excuse to have a designated friend to drive you home and tell you that you look marvelous even when you’re hugging the toilet.

Make a playlist. Use music to express how you feel. If you want to feel like less of a sap go for some thrasher metal. Also remember there is no shame in listening to Toni Braxton and wanting your heart to be unbroken. If your ex is a complete tool, might I suggest some Lily Allen. Also, if they are a tool it makes getting over them a lot easier!

Remember why you are dateable in the first place. Tell yourself it will be ok. Or if you are still in sappy mode, get a pep talk from one of your friends. Listen to some Gloria Gaynor and know that you will survive! Get all spiffy looking and flash a really great smile at someone. Chances are you just made someone’s day by making them feel good about themselves too!  Even if you feel awful at least you look pretty fly.

In the age of social media it is pretty easy to find someone who feels like you do. Misery loves company! I know when I’m in a foul mood for whatever reason the last thing I want to hear about is how happy someone else is. So find a friend, follower, or “friend” who is also having a bad day/week/year and have a pity party. Have a few pity parties. Have several pity parties.

Do something for you. Take a mini roadtrip. Get a haircut. Splurge on that album you’ve been dying for. Go for the top shelf stuff. Even normal liquids can feel more high class out of a wine glass and if you want to feel like something super special you could even put your pinky out! After all, you deserve it!

Above all take care of yourself like Kai the Homeless Hitchhiker said: “No matter what you’ve done you deserve respect, even if you make mistakes, you’re loveable. And it doesn’t matter your looks,your skills…” and so on.  Even Honey Boo Boo’s mom found someone!

Don’t Judge a (Face)book by it’s Cover

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     What’s the first thing you do when you add someone on Facebook? You go through everything they have. Don’t lie,we all do it. What kind of embarrassing photos do they have? Who are they dating? What friends do we have in common? Do they prefer Pepsi or Coke? After all that then one can make stupid judgments on them.

     Although social media brings people together it also tears them apart. I think the best example is showcased around election time. I am guilty of posting pro- my views stories on Facebook as much as the next person so I can’t really knock anyone for doing the same. What I did find however is that I was beginning to look at my “friends” and friends differently.

     Those I am close to in reality a lot of the time had views that opposed mine I didn’t even know existed. Even more remarkable than that is the fact that we interacted quite frequently and rarely if ever the disagreements came up in conversation. 

I have an eclectic group of friends. Hippies.  Metal heads. Gays. Straights.Crookeds. Neo nazis. Republican. Democrat. And everything in between. I may not agree with everything they stand for or against but if I judged them on their beliefs what kind of person would that make me? What it boils down to is respecting differences.

                Even if we think we know someone upon meeting them you really don’t know them until you LISTEN to them. In life and on Facebook, I’ve found that rather than making comments and discouraging those around you listening to other people’s stories and views is far more enlightening than shoving beliefs at them.

                After you check out everyone else’s deep, dark secrets of Facebook look at your own. Going back to the beginning of my page brought back plenty of good memories, embarrassing photos, and trying to figure out who I was dating when I was “in a relationship” was quite a struggle. Figuring out why I dated some of them was even more difficult. Hindsight is 20/20 so go easy on yourself when strolling through your memory lane!

I’m so Moving on Yeahhh

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I’m human. I get sad, angry, and so on. I think one of the worst things I do is doubt myself. I was hesitant about using this as my essay for getting accepted to my school choice but figured “Why not, this is me. Unapologetic and honest”. After five weeks of waiting, being me paid off. Even if I suck at plenty of things like relationships, math, physics and a million other things at least I know I got to where I am by doing it my way.

While talking to my academic adviser /life coach/ professor, Ed Ackerman about my anxiety of moving away from my current location I brought up another one of my assumed faults: being impatient. Ed just smiled and said “that’s the charm about you, that’s how you get things done”.

So if patience is a virtue, and I do not have patience I am not virtuous… at least in that aspect, but at least I get things done.

Getting accepted in to Arcadia or any four year school has been a dream of mine for a long time, and now I can say I’ve accomplished that. Taking everything in to consideration I’m still scared shitless. Let’s be honest, I do enjoy being close to my hometown, but there’s nothing for me here. I like going outside of my comfort zone, changing up routines, and having a good laugh whenever possible.

Here’s the essay I submitted to Arcadia:

The main reason I want to attend Arcadia is to separate myself from the depression of living in a once flourishing area. Sure in the heyday, Northeastern Pennsylvania was one Hell of a place to live but now it’s filled with one dead end job after another.

I won’t say that living in the Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton is all bad. Most of the people are very hard working, and drinking neither of which are bad in moderation. Both of my parents are highly motivated and passed on that gift to me.

The borough in particular that I live in is your typical small town. You cannot so much as take your trash out without someone seeing you and forget making a last minute grocery store run in your pajamas. I swear as soon as the neighbors know you are not dressed to impress everyone from your second grade teacher to your ex best friend’s cat groomer knows you went out looking like a mess.

I want to be able to go “grocery shopping in my pajamas” so to speak, and such a populated area so far away from the place I have called home most of my life, Arcadia University will allow me to do so.

I know I am one of very few registered Democrats in the quiet suburb that is Conyngham. Everyone acts so entitled because they married someone with a strong Italian last name or one of the political talking heads that have yet to be busted for corruption. As for me, I live and let live. Who am I to judge what is wrong and right when I myself am finding out the difference between morally “right” and what the “good book” says.

Aside from that, the amount of narrow minded beings that live in my general vicinity is downright absurd. Immigrants are not to blame for all of the world’s problems but many think they are. The saddest part is that most of them are immigrants themselves.

Upon my travels up and down the East Coast, I found that not everyone thinks so negatively. Maybe I am just a big fish in a small narrow pond, but I look at my education, journalism background and Arcadia as my way out.

Also, the fact that because I am a Phi Theta Kappa member and I get a hefty scholarship makes the burden of paying for my schooling a bit easier.

Story stub in progress…

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                I’m not sure if it is possible but I try it anyway. Living with little regret is difficult enough, but living without regret is damn near impossible.

                C’est la vie! Carpe diem!  YOLO! Yada, yada, yada .Another thing I am unsure of is if those who coined these phrases have any regrets themselves.

You Can’t Always Get What you Want… but if you try Sometimes…

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Life has a funny way of making that very clear to me.  Maybe Morgan Freeman said it best in Bruce Almighty when he rattled off something like “when we ask God for strength does he just hand it to us, or does he give us opportunities to be strong.”

I for one am one of those people that if something is “too easy” there has to be something wrong. As time has gone on, I realized that the “easy” times are the silver linings to a hectic thing called life and to not take them for granted.

No matter what, I am always going to have the complex of “too good to be true” but after the newness wears off and the blinding gold flakes off, nothing is perfect.

Never did I think that at 20 years old I would be engaged to be married. I also didn’t think that a month later I would be single. For a while I thought that would be the emotional death of me and for a week or so that was true. Then I got over it.

Some dream of the Hollywood romance a la “The Notebook” and Disney movies, and wait around for their literal or figurative prince charming. Are there many women out there that would really fight for love like that? If you have to fight for it was it meant to be in the first place?

Sure there were signs my relationship would not work out but I just wanted so badly to have the “happily ever after”… but that happens at the end of the story and I’m not even close to being finished with my accomplishments.

I look at it as the higher power’s way of proving to me just how strong I am and that he wasn’t my Prince Charming.

“The best part of breaking up is finding someone else you can’t get enough of.”- Liz Phair

Even though I think I don’t need anyone… deep down I want someone who laughs at my stupid jokes that I can call “mine.” In the meantime I’ll continue doing my thing and focusing on other things I think I need… like another shade of red lipstick.

Not literally but…

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     So December 21st. Who else is afraid of the world to “end”? I’m actually pretty excited. I don’t believe in the literal sense of a huge explosion or the world falling in to a black hole… but I do think that very soon the way of life we’ve become accustomed to is about to end. 

     Our country is much in it’s infancy. Most other places have gone through several revivals, highs, and lows. To be honest we are way overdue for such a change.Voter ID laws bring up a certain nostalgia for me… like poll taxes and lynchings. Remember to vote in November. Educate yourself on the issues and be aware of the changes to come.

     I think the middle class (myself included) will be ok after the social changes take effect. We know how to do without, substitute, and clean our own houses. It’s the elitist, super rich I’m worried about. Every dog has their day I guess…

21 Oak road

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Rustic Ranch Home in Serene Setting Offers Much to the Senses

Some have to drive hundreds of miles to experience beauty like this, others have it in their backyard.Located in Ag-mar, a quiet neck of the woods near White Haven this home is just what you are looking for! Listed by Bob Sooy of Action Real Estate for $249,900 this stunning structure is ideal for any family with plenty of room left over for friends to visit! Not only are interstates and the turnpike nearby but Hickory Run State park is also only a short jaunt away. No through traffic will be passing in front of your new home so the only things you’ll hear are the subtle sounds of the nature that surround you.

Built by Fine Line Homes in 2004, this home has all the modern touches you yearn for and still has character! The exterior of the home is punctuated by a classic front porch along with brick accents. Upon entering the front door of the home, you are met with handsome hardwood  floors that continue through the living room, dining room, and kitchen.

Directly to the left is a 10×11 bedroom or an office with closet space and two windows overlooking the front porch. Past the bedroom on the left is access to the master bedroom suite. Measuring 15×18, the master bedroom suite has a walk-in closet and sliding glass doors that lead out to the generously sized back deck.  The large master bathroom has a double vanity so mornings are a bit less hectic, a jetted tub, and a very large stand-up shower. A private water closet separates the bathroom nicely.

Straight ahead of the foyer is the open concept that encompasses the living room, dining room, and kitchen. Vaulted ceilings in the 17×20 living room harbor a ceiling fan and recessed lights. An Italian marble tile faced gas insert fireplace is a beautiful focal point in this room. French doors off of this space lead out to the deck as well. Continuing in to the 9×12 dining room and 13×12 kitchen you will notice you have never seen anything like this before. Custom cabinets and hanging lights give this room an ultra-modern flair while still retaining functionality!  A center island that houses enough space for entertaining, party preparation, or breakfast area is also in this room for added convenience! To the right of the kitchen is the 8×6 laundry/mudroom that accesses the two car garage that also has space left over for all-terrain vehicles,snowmobiles, and a workshop area!

To the right of the fireplace in the living room is where you will find two additional bedrooms and another full bathroom. The full bathroom has immaculate ceramic tile flooring and a full vanity. The first bedroom you encounter measures 13×11. A ceiling fan with a light and a window overlooking the side yard enhance this room perfectly. The other, 12×11, bedroom at the end of the hall also has a ceiling fan, two windows, and a luxurious walk-in closet!

Just off of the kitchen is access to the full carpeted basement. There is plenty of room for storage, a family/game room or whatever your heart desires! An Enviracaire Elite electronic air cleaner reduces dust and allergens throughout the entire home. An ADT security system keeps you and your family safe. Clean burning natural gas heats the home.

If there isn’t enough space for you inside the home, the .85 acre lot and back deck provide plenty of elbow room to entertain and enjoy for the rest of your life!

 

127 Rhedwood Ave

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Soak up the Seasons and Sun with this Home

You can have joy and fun for years to come in this stunning home that is only made better by a loving family! Listed by Anita Reber of Lewith and Freeman for $428,900 you are sure to love every square foot of this home.

Valley Elementary/Middle school is only a short distance away, as well as shopping facilities and eating establishments. Interstates 80 and 81 and routes 309 and 93 are nearby for when you need to get away to somewhere other than your own personal paradise.

The immaculately landscaped yard wraps around the entire home and features a variety of ornamental and aesthetically functional plants. The driveway snakes through to ensure plenty of parking for everyone, not to mention this home has an attached oversized garage too!

Entering through the pristine glass front door brings you to the ceramic tiled foyer that has a handsome oak staircase to break up this area. A custom chandelier hangs over this area and two coat closets surround the entryway.

A large arched window brings Mother Nature’s bounty of natural light in to the two-story foyer and spills in to the surrounding areas of the home. To the left of the magnificent staircase is the 15×12 formal dining room with rich hardwood floors, a matching chandelier, and elongated windows that offer a view of the front yard.The open concept of the home flows in to the 26×14’5 living room with six two-story windows that escalate in size and accentuate the gas insert fireplace splendidly with natural lighting. The vaulted ceiling in this room houses a ceiling fan as well as four  recessed lights. Three windows face the pool area and two additional windows bring in the view of the front yard.

Continuing on through the living room is the 26×12’6 breakfast room with windows that bow out to offer yet another view of the pool area.  Whether you are cooking in the 18’6×18 kitchen and utilizing the granite topped center island or relaxing in the living room, you won’t be left out of the goings on outside.  Three hanging lights illuminate the center island, and matching Maytag appliances make this space not only functional but stylish.

Just off of the kitchen/breakfast room is a powder room that is perfect for pool and party guests alike! The first floor laundry is also nearby and has ceramic tile flooring of the same nature that is in the kitchen area. Across from the laundry room is a walk-in coat closet. Access to the attached garage with a walk-out to the pool area is also close by!

Before heading to the full basement, there is still a 14’7×11’10 den to the right of the main staircase that has a pocket French door that slides out to provide an even more tranquil sanctuary within the home. The partially finished basement has a full kitchen ,bedroom, walk-in closet, living room and ¾ bathroom with a four foot seated shower. A storage area is also in this portion of the home in addition to easy access to the garage.

Heading up to the second level of this home and to the left is the master bedroom that measures a staggering 22×15’2 feet and has a walk-in closet with built in shelving that is large enough for even the most avid clothing and accessories enthusiast! The tray ceiling has six recessed lights and there are five windows that bow out to the backyard area as well.  This master bathroom is the kind that you dream about. A walk-in linen closet, his and her vanities, a whirlpool tub, stand-up shower and tile flooring make this 15×14 room absolutely perfect. Making a right at the top of the stairs brings you to three additional bedrooms measuring  14×11’6 with a private bathroom,14’5×11,and 14’10×14’2 with a built-in window seat.  A linen closet, access to the pull down attic and another full bathroom are also on this level.

The backyard/pool area also has a hot tub and patio for all of your outdoor get-togethers!

26 Teaberry Drive

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Get Your Golf Game on with this Teaberry Drive Home

Even if you are not an avid golfer you can still appreciate the upgrades of this five bedroom home! Listed by Donna Santoroski of Lewith and Freeman for the deal of a lifetime price of $329,900 this two-story home is the type you dream about.

A view of the ninth hole is no further than your spacious back deck.  This nearly ½ acre lot has  plenty of trees, shrubbery, and a covered front porch to spend the dog days of Summer and mild days of the other seasons on.  This home is part of a 752 acre parcel of land that is Sand Springs. Although all of the homes have southern exposure none of them have the accoutrements this one does!

The exterior of the home is comprised of the perfect proportions of both vinyl and stone. There’s even a paved driveway to go along with the three-stall attached garage! Entering through the front door brings you to an impressive two story hardwood floored foyer that has a large window to allow natural sunlight to pour in to the home. To the right is the 13’2×10’4 carpeted formal living room that has two large windows that overlook the front yard and porch. Just past the formal living room is a ½ bath and an 11’10×10’4 bedroom, den, office or study with French doors! To the left of the foyer is the 13’1×12 dining room that of course features lavish hardwood flooring and again, windows overlooking the front porch and yard. A right out of the dining room brings you to the open concept area that encompasses the not only the 17’2×18’6 family/rec room but the 14’6×7’1 custom floored kitchen and accompanying 14’6×7’1 breakfast nook. The family room features a gas insert fireplace, two sleek windows with a view, and plenty of space left over to entertain! In the kitchen you’ll find granite countertops with matching island, color coordinating appliances, and maple cabinets that are illuminated by seven recessed lights when the sun is not cooperating. The breakfast nook has four windows that bow out to the deck. A door leading to the great outdoors and your spacious deck is conveniently located in this area, and you are sure to be spending most of your time sunning yourself when you aren’t playing tennis, golf, bocce ball or any of the other activities Sand Springs has to offer.

Access to the attached garage is in the kitchen, straight ahead of the foyer is a door to the partially finished basement and a staircase leading to the upstairs portion of the home. The upstairs portion of the home offers a phenomenal view of the foyer! At the top of the stairs if you hang a left you will happen upon a 10’4×10’3 bedroom. A main full bathroom with two sinks to make the morning bustle go a bit smoother is situated between another 10’4×10’3 bedroom. Across the open hall is an 11’10×11 bedroom.  Crown molding is found in the open portion of this area, and the laundry room is conveniently located near the master bedroom. Measuring 17’6×17’2 the master bedroom is impressive enough in size, but take in to consideration there is a 10’4×7’6 sitting room  in addition to what you would expect! The master bathroom does not disappoint either! Featuring a stand-up shower, his and hers sinks, with a vaulted ceiling and a skylight above a whirlpool tub. Although all of the bedrooms have an abundance of closet space none of them compare to the his and hers walk-in closets available to the inhabitants of the master suite!

A bonus room above the garage that is adjacent to the master bedroom has 24’11×14’11feet of space that could be used as an office, library or whatever your heart desires that this home doesn’t already offer, which isn’t a lot!

The basement portion of the home is equally impressive. Here you will find a 33’2×17’2 family room with sliding glass doors leading outside. A ½ bathroom is available for use on this level and the unfinished part of the basement has plenty of space for a workshop or storage!

Upgraded fixtures are found throughout the home and there is storage galore. The only thing missing is a loving family to fill in the empty space.

Get Your Golf Game on with this Teaberry Drive Home

Even if you are not an avid golfer you can still appreciate the upgrades of this five bedroom home! Listed by Donna Santoroski of Lewith and Freeman for the deal of a lifetime price of $329,900 this two-story home is the type you dream about.

A view of the ninth hole is no further than your spacious back deck.  This nearly ½ acre lot has  plenty of trees, shrubbery, and a covered front porch to spend the dog days of Summer and mild days of the other seasons on.  This home is part of a 752 acre parcel of land that is Sand Springs. Although all of the homes have southern exposure none of them have the accoutrements this one does!

The exterior of the home is comprised of the perfect proportions of both vinyl and stone. There’s even a paved driveway to go along with the three-stall attached garage! Entering through the front door brings you to an impressive two story hardwood floored foyer that has a large window to allow natural sunlight to pour in to the home. To the right is the 13’2×10’4 carpeted formal living room that has two large windows that overlook the front yard and porch. Just past the formal living room is a ½ bath and an 11’10×10’4 bedroom, den, office or study with French doors! To the left of the foyer is the 13’1×12 dining room that of course features lavish hardwood flooring and again, windows overlooking the front porch and yard. A right out of the dining room brings you to the open concept area that encompasses the not only the 17’2×18’6 family/rec room but the 14’6×7’1 custom floored kitchen and accompanying 14’6×7’1 breakfast nook. The family room features a gas insert fireplace, two sleek windows with a view, and plenty of space left over to entertain! In the kitchen you’ll find granite countertops with matching island, color coordinating appliances, and maple cabinets that are illuminated by seven recessed lights when the sun is not cooperating. The breakfast nook has four windows that bow out to the deck. A door leading to the great outdoors and your spacious deck is conveniently located in this area, and you are sure to be spending most of your time sunning yourself when you aren’t playing tennis, golf, bocce ball or any of the other activities Sand Springs has to offer.

Access to the attached garage is in the kitchen, straight ahead of the foyer is a door to the partially finished basement and a staircase leading to the upstairs portion of the home. The upstairs portion of the home offers a phenomenal view of the foyer! At the top of the stairs if you hang a left you will happen upon a 10’4×10’3 bedroom. A main full bathroom with two sinks to make the morning bustle go a bit smoother is situated between another 10’4×10’3 bedroom. Across the open hall is an 11’10×11 bedroom.  Crown molding is found in the open portion of this area, and the laundry room is conveniently located near the master bedroom. Measuring 17’6×17’2 the master bedroom is impressive enough in size, but take in to consideration there is a 10’4×7’6 sitting room  in addition to what you would expect! The master bathroom does not disappoint either! Featuring a stand-up shower, his and hers sinks, with a vaulted ceiling and a skylight above a whirlpool tub. Although all of the bedrooms have an abundance of closet space none of them compare to the his and hers walk-in closets available to the inhabitants of the master suite!

A bonus room above the garage that is adjacent to the master bedroom has 24’11×14’11feet of space that could be used as an office, library or whatever your heart desires that this home doesn’t already offer, which isn’t a lot!

The basement portion of the home is equally impressive. Here you will find a 33’2×17’2 family room with sliding glass doors leading outside. A ½ bathroom is available for use on this level and the unfinished part of the basement has plenty of space for a workshop or storage!

Upgraded fixtures are found throughout the home and there is storage galore. The only thing missing is a loving family to fill in the empty space.