As a younger employee for Princeton Properties I may have grown up in a different generation than my co-workers. A major difference that I have noticed is the amount of technology I was exposed to at a young age. In elementary school I had computer lessons, middle school was full of late night AIM chat conversations and Myspace was all the rage in high school. Then there was college, where Facebook and Twitter became popular and I actually took a Social Networking class.

Being in the Rental Industry social networking is a great source of communication and outreach in order to bring awareness to our communities. This week Facebook went through a big change when it became an IPO, initial public stock offering, early this morning. Yesterday Facebook priced its stock at $38/share, a large offering which makes sense considering the internet phenomenon company held off from going public in 2009 for a much lower price.

Too bad we all didn’t know Mark Zuckerberg during his time spent at Harvard Univeristy where he created the dynamic website and we could have invested money into Facebook like venture capitalist Peter Thiel. “Thiel, who sits on Facebook’s board of directors, invested $500,000 in the company in 2004. He’s selling nearly 17 million of his shares in the IPO, which means he’ll get some $640 million. He will hold on to about 28 million shares, worth $1.06 billion.” (Ortutay)….our investments on a lower scale of course.

Check out the Nasdaq Stock Market if you’re interested in investing in the online social networking company that our industry so heavily relies on, ticker symbol FB!

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jbVKr7ByZMMdfGGNn_VVhNrZ1LXg?docId=a8e59de6ce6e4810b2646adec1083c2b

So everyone has probably gathered that since my blogs are mostly about different restaurants that I like to go out to eat!
Well I went to the Lobster Shanty yesterday and got the Lobster Mac & Cheese…OMG it was so amazing. They use big spiral macaroni and HUGE pieces of fresh lobster meat. Now I should have paired it with their Lobstertini which is Absolut vodka mixed with lobster essence served with a twist & garnished with a chilled lobster claw the Shantastic version of a dirty martini but I decided to save that for another day!
Visit their website at www.lobstershantysalem.com

It seems like spring took forever to reach us here in Maine. Now that is has, everything is growing and blooming at a terrific pace. One of the great things here in Portland that also reappears in the spring is our Farmers Market. As people become more aware of what they are eating in order to be healthier and greener, they become more interested in knowing where their food comes from and how it got there. The Farmers Market is the essential place to get the freshest, locally produced, natural, organic produce and meat, and also place to get to know the farmer’s that bring their goods to market. Farmers are an unending source for knowledge about the food that you eat, from what’s ripe and ready, to how best to use the item you are interested in, and when other thing that are growing right now will be ready and available for you.

The Portland Farmers Market takes place on Saturdays between 7 a.m. and 12 noon at Deering Oaks Park and on Wednesdays between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Monument Square in Downtown Portland. Cash is always accepted at the market, but there is also a “Market Money” system for folks who only brought a debit or credit card or for those who have a SNAP card (food stamps). At the “Market Money” kiosk you simply purchase as many small wooden coins with either a $1 or $5 denominations as you need with your debit/credit card or SNAP card. You then take the coins to any participating vendor (about 90% of growers participate) and purchase your produce with the coins. Just bring any left over coins with you to make purchases next time.

Portland’s Farmers Market was recently recognized by Travel and Leisure Magazine as being one of the Top Ten Farmers Market’s in the country (check the article out at the link below). With over 35 growers gathering twice a week, Portlander’s get to experience the best seasonal items that the area has to offer. At the moment my favorite items they have, which you need to get there early to procure before they run out, are ramps (garlic scape) and fiddleheads. These great vegetables can only be found by foraging in areas that meet the particular needs of the plants. Ramps have a great fresh smell, a bright, but not overwhelming, garlic flavor and have a broad leaf that is delicious when lightly sauteed. Fiddleheads are the young heads of a specific fern that are crunchy with a taste somewhat like a slightly bitter asparagus. Ramps and fiddleheads are here now, but will be completely unavailable within a month, so we try to get all we can while they are available. Another item I can’t get enough of are the hot and sour garlic pickles that are sold at Uncle’s Farm Stand. These are the most flavorful pickle I’ve ever run across, with a great garlic bite and a moderate spiciness that is brilliantly offset by the tartness of the vinegar they use to pickle these sweet like cucumbers. Jena, my wife, usually ends up buying several jars to store (which they do very well) over the winter so I can get my hot and sour garlic fix even in the darkest of months.

Whether you come to Portland to experience our Farmers Market or you find one near you, everyone should take it upon themselves to get out and get to know your local farmers and the amazing products they have to offer.

http://www.portlandmainefarmersmarket.org/
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-best-farmers-markets/1

For those of us that simply can’t wait for the release of the iphone 5 the rumors are abound. Here are a few of the latest iphone 5 rumors.

According to Macworld, The iphone 5 could be release as early as September. We can expect to see a larger screen and several sources are reporting that the dock connector will be different. Hopefully the come out with an adapter too!
http://www.macworld.com.au/features/iphone-5-rounding-up-the-latest-rumours-53512/

There’s another informative rumor round up from Cnet that does corroborate most of the chatter surrounding the iphone 5.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-20073431-233/iphone-5-rumor-roundup/?tag=rb_content;contentBody

And if you still want to know more check out the posts at http://www.iphone5release.net/. There is a ton of interesting details here and mentions of a new liquid metal body which is really cool.

The take away from all of this is that whatever Apple decides to do with the iphone 5, it will be amazing.

I’m someone who really loves sweets….brownies, cookies, cake…you name it! Unfortunately my fiancé is not a sweet-eater and believe it or not, he HATES chocolate. Sometimes I wonder why a woman couldn’t have been born with his taste buds! Since it seems wasteful to bake goodies just for myself, I came up with the perfect solution (thanks to Pinterest of course)….the 1-2-3 Mug Cake! It is quick to make, low in fat and calories and best of all, can be made in 1 serving!

<strong>What You’ll Need:</strong>
1 box Angel Food Cake mix
1 box Devil’s Food mix
unsweetened apple sauce
A few chocolate chips
Take the two cakes mixes & combine them in a large container. Make sure it has an airtight lid! Now you’re ready to make the cake!

<strong>The measurements:</strong>
3 Tablespoons of the Angel Food/Devil’s Food mixture
1 Tablespoon of Unsweetened Applesauce
1 Tablespoon of water
A few chocolate chips

<strong>The assembly:</strong>
Mix everything together except the chocolate chips.
After you mix, place the chocolate chips on top so they will slowly sink into the cake as it cooks.
Put it in the microwave for 45-60 seconds
Let cool for a couple of minutes and top with a little whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Yes, it’s that time for spring cleaning. When discussing spring cleaning, there are a few things that come to mind that we all easily forget. Each of these chores can easily be completed in less than 15 minutes.
1. Clean or replace those drip pans on your stove. Pull out the bottom drawer and clean underneath as well.
2. Clean out your refrigerator and freezer. Make room for freeze pops, ice creams and those summer treats you love.
3. Wipe down any small appliances you may have (unplug all appliances first). If the microwave smells, boil lemon juice.
4. Clean out your car. Take out that ice scraper and winter survival kit and replace it with an umbrella and picnic blanket.
What are some of your spring cleaning tips we can add?

This morning I was all set on blogging about a new restaurant that my husband I recently tried out, but after a discussion that I had with my bus driver, which turned into a post as my Facebook status, which turned into a rather large discussion under that post. So as much as I would love to share with you the tastey bites I had at the quant little place in Gloucester, I’m gonna save it for another time…The new subject is more important.

Bully. How many of you, at some point in time in your life, have come across the path of a bully? I know that I sure have. When I was talking to my bus driver today, he was mentioning a group of band kids that take the bus every Monday. There is one teen that was being picked on by 3 other teens. My bus driver told them to knock it off, and now has the one teen stay up the front of the bus with him, where he can keep an eye on him and the others, and he can also talk with him, as this boy seems to not have a friend in the world. He is struggling with the fact that his father is very ill and in the hospital, and then he has to go to school and deal with these kids picking on him? And their reason for picking on him? His brain. He is a very inteligent kid, and I guess they feel better about themselves by doing this.

I went on line and mentioned some of my stories of being bullied as a teen regarding my weight. I was a size 12/14, you know, the size of the beautiful Marilyn Monroe… I had developed earlier than many of the other girls, and was bullied, made fun of, picked on, because of this. One such story… I just got these beautiful new shoes. Pointy toe velvet heels. I was so excited about these. I wore them to school, and on the first day I had them on, one of the boys asked me if I was afraid that my heels would snap under the pressure of all my weight… It didn’t stop there. I was constantly bullied by the same group of boys, who, when each boy was alone, they were sweet as pie to me, but when they were together, they were toxic. Another time I was told by one of my “friends” that they would take me to their school’s prom if I lost weight…

It was a rough few years, and I struggled with my self worth for a long time. Funny, I shared these stories on my Facebook today and was told by a few people that I was the person in school they WANTED to be friends with! That they never knew this about me, because I was always so kind and happy. I guess I put on a good face in the cloud of the circumstance. I always tried to make others feel comfortable, safe, and wanted. Am I perfect? Absolutely not.

My conversation on line brought out many friends and family telling their stories of how they, or someone they know was bullied. One friend told me that he was tortured by kids because they took his last name and twisted it to make fun of his sexuality. Another who said her child was told by another child they were going to beat him until he was dead. And yet another said her daughter was made fun of because of the color of her skin, and she is only about 6 or 7 years old..

Sadly, it is not just children who bully other children. It starts when adults bully children, they learn it somewhere. And it can spill over into adulthood. There are things about ourselves we can not change. And even if we can change some of them, that is something WE must make the choice to do. One of my favorite quotes in all the world comes from one of the most unique, excentric people of all time, drag-queen Ru Paul. She says, “What other people think of you is NONE of your business.” And it’s true! But it does hurt sometimes when they put you face to face with their own hurts and angers.

So let’s take those steps to stop bullying. Stick up for those who other wise can’t or won’t do it for themselves. Be-friend the underdog. Listen. And most importantly, watch what you say. You may think you are saying something in good fun, while the person you are saying it to is struggling.

And to those who bullied me, I forgive you. If not, your hatred would eat me up as it has eaten you.

Now that it’s starting to get warmer and stay lighter, longer it’s the perfect time to get out and get active! Yankee Magazine is my favorite magazine to read, especially in the summer. In reading through it this month I came across their list for the best outdoor activities to do in Massachusetts. I couldn’t help but share with everyone. Click this link to check out more!

http://www.yankeemagazine.com/issues/2012-05/travel/best-massachusetts-2012/ma-outdoor-activities-2012

Kim Kojak’s
BEER RITA’S

1 8oz. Can Frozen Limeade or to taste
1 Can 7-up or fill empty can of limeade
1 Corona Beer
Tequila – Fill empty can of limeade
Salt
Ice

Add frozen limeade, 7-up, Corona, and Tequila into a large pitcher and mix thoroughly until well blended. Serve over ice. These are soooo good 🙂 Thanks Kim!

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<img src=”{filedir_2}gua.jpg” alt=”” height=”140″ width=”140″ />Simple Guacamole

This simple and delicious recipe for guacamole will liven up any burrito and also makes a zesty appetizer. This guacamole recipe will serve a party of 8-10.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
• 4 avocado
• 1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
• 1/4 cup onion, peeled and diced
• 1 serrano chile, seeded and diced (you can reduce this or eliminate it to adjust the heat level)
• 1/4 cup crema (or sour cream)
• 1/8 cup cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoons lime juice
• salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Mash 2 of the avocado with the back of a fork or other mashing utensil. Add in the serrano, onion and cilantro. Fold in crema and lime juice. Add salt and pepper to taste. Dice the remaining avocado into 1/4 – 1/2 inch cubes. Fold the diced avocado and tomato into the mashed avocado mixture. Serve immediately.

Maine has some of the best outdoor summer activities in all of New England. Since the summer is so short we pack each weekend full of awesomely fun stuff. However given the state of the economy we can’t always spend a lot of money. It’s a good thing fun doesn’t always have to cost a bundle. Here are a few things to do this summer that are free or nearly free.

Acadia National Park is located in Bar Harbor Maine. There you can hike granite mountains, bike through some amazing trails and take in the natural beauty of Maine’s rocky coast. Plan a weekend getaway for almost nothing. There is a nominal park entrance fee of $20.00 and a camp site is only $20.00 per night. Plus nearly 80% of all fees go directly to maintaining the park. While you are there you can participate in a Ranger-led walk and learn about the local ecosystem, drive the 20 mile loop for supurb views of the coast, bike some of the 45 miles of carriage roads, or hike through over 120 miles of historic trails. Check out their website for details. http://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/index.htm

One of the most fun group adventures I have taken is a canoe trip down the Saco River. It’s almost like a real life lazy river. With the bright July sun shining down, a slow moving current taking you down stream, and precarious looking rope swings, it’s Maine’s original water park. Kids are splashing in the shallow waters along the shore, and strangers stopping to have lunch on the same beach become quick friends. There are a few canoe rental places but the one we always go with is Saco River Canoe and Kayak. You start your morning by parking at the end location, they pick you up and bring to the start of your trip load your canoes into the water and wish you luck. There are several trips you can choose from based on how long you want to paddle. And at about 45.00 for a rental it is certainly cheaper than a water park. For details check them out http://www.sacorivercanoe.com

Perhaps an adventure filled weekend isn’t really your thing, maybe you like to relax on the beach with an umbrella drink in hand. Not to worry Maine can help you out with that too. You can enjoy some beautiful sand sculptures at the Annual Sand Sculpture Contest in Old Orchard Beach. This usually happens July 4th weekend and there are some very cool sculptures to see, plus it is totally free. Then you can walk the beach to the Brunswick and enjoy a drink on their outdoor patio while listening to a great local band.

One totally free thing you can do is walk or bike the Eastern Trail. The Eastern Trail Alliance is part of the East Coast Greenway that goes from Calais Maine to Key West Florida. On any given day rain or shine you will find people running, biking, or just casually strolling along the paths. For a list of trails and activities visit here, http://www.easterntrail.org.

Any way you choose to spend your precious few sun filled weekends is up to you. Just make sure that you have a great time because won’t last forever!