I love it when a client introduces me to a new-to-me neighborhood. Especially in Oak Cliff! That’s exactly what happened when we went on the hunt for a home for Shannon, one of the owners of Oil & Cotton. After a couple of close calls in Elmwood and El Tivoli neighborhoods, we ended up at an offer-market property in Ruthmeade Place. Never heard of it? Me either, but it is definitely worth a visit. Just south of 12th St, between Tyler and Zang, it’s a quick jog to Bishop Arts and all the great stuff popping up on Jefferson Blvd. The neighborhood itself is made up of smaller wood and brick cottages, with a few larger Victorians. 

As for Shannon’s home, it’s a great bungalow, with a cozy porch. And you better believe that she has a way with making a space look amazing. The photos below are before/after, and show what a difference good paint and floors can make. She also did wonders in her kitchen with a counter and backsplash refresh.

This hidden gem of an area has tons of potential, especially for homeowners like Shannon. Those with a little vision, plus a willingness to roll up sleeves. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear more about Ruthmeade Place in the near future. 

As we begin the second month of 2016 (what! already?), I wanted you to know about some happy changes on team jennisto. 

For starters, we have a new assistant, Stephen Holmes. He’s awesome! Husband, dad of two sweet boys, Winnetka Heights resident. Stephen comes from an accounting background. And, as I have already learned when he share a cool real estate podcast with me, he has a voracious appetite for knowledge. You may know him as DJ Mini Figs from the 2015 Boo Bash. And just in case there’s any question, he’s the one with the beard in the photo below. 

Next up…drum roll please…Emily Ruth has made the transition to Realtor. Full stop. So the team jennisto sales force has grown by 100% this year! She’s a woman of many talents (bread-baking, surfista, mom-extraordinaire, research maven), which she will of course bring to bear with her clients. And, as 2015 was our biggest year yet, this expanded capacity lets us serve you, your friends, and family, as we have now for 12 years. 

To celebrate these great changes, and to thank our clients, we are throwing a party THIS week. If you didn’t get your invite via email, let us know. We want to see you!

We are fast approaching the funnest, busiest weekend in Oak Cliff…Mardi Gras!

Things kick off with the Dash for the Beads on Saturday, February 6th. You can walk, jog or run to your heart’s content, with your dog, if you so choose! And there’s a bunch of entertainment pre- and post race. The starting line and stage are at Kidd Springs Park.

Then it’s fancy-time that night, at the Masquerade Ball. Put on your dancing shoes and your mask and meet up with friends and neighbors at the Kessler Theater. Always a blast to see the range of costumes, not to mention the awesome bands.  

The grand finale is the parade on Sunday. This year the start time is moved up to 2pm, for the football lovers out there. Be on the look out for the OCBC bicycle patrol, who start the whole thing off, followed by tons of homemade floats and neighborhood groups. The scooter-ing Elivs’ are always a hit. 

Whether you’re new to the area, or you’ve been here since George Kessler got his start, Mardi Gras weekend is not to be missed. And, you’ll know you’re a true fan if you make it to any of the neighbor’s parties (or throw your own) between events. 

Happy Mardi Gras y’all!

So great to see this great listing featured on Candy’s Dirt today!

Check out the write up, beautiful photos of this home and some great information on Dilbeck homes here.

For me the best way to start this year off is by closing the door on the one past. On my goals from last year, I am batting .800.
1. Val and I did move in to the Box and we love it. My favorite things are the sunrises and the openness in the floorplan.
2. We did travel in August, but to Peru, rather than Portugal. Loved it!
3. I went to the gym 3x most weeks and did 3x cardio about 50% of the time. Even when I had a cast on for the last 4 months, I still managed to get to the gym. Cardio is something to focus on in 2016.
4. Being present…while I wouldn’t consciously choose this way, the broken ankle and subsequent surgery really had me be present. I was limited on what I could do, so it really had me focus on who I could be. Gratitude and kindness have been my ever-present mantras.
5. And finally mediation…still no formal practice, however, the gratitude/kindness mantras have become my way of getting centered.

So that was 2015 in a nutshell. And I can honestly say that I am pleased with it.

For the new year, I am setting a theme instead of individual goals. I’m pumped about this approach because I can add ideas and projects throughout the year. 2016 will be “The Year of Play”! This New York Times article got me to thinking about play, and what that means to me… It was in the business section, which was a bit of a shocker. What I took from it was this…we all work hard, we make money, we may even have a budget, but how much of what brings you TRUE joy shows up in that budget?

That got me to thinking, what then is the purpose of making money, if we don’t even know if it brings us joy. One could argue that you need money to survive. My guess is that if you are reading this blog you have these things at your disposal:
– electricity
– water
– food
– a place to live
– clothing
– transportation
– internet AND a cell phone with a data plan
We could therefore argue that you (and I) have survival handled. Could it be cushier? Always. But if I have survival handled, what truly brings me joy?

With that question and article in mind, I got to work on thinking about play. I’ve come up with a few things for starters, but am really looking forward to living in question for all of 2016. Here is what for me feels like play:
– science…I get lost while reading studies, from health, to star-stuff, to economics. This just means to build in some time for that type of thing.
– walking…be that with the dogs, with a friend or one of Val and my “Epic Walks” that takes us 10-15 miles from home.
– time with friends…this could seem like a given, but for how many of us, do we try to squeeze in one more thing at work, answer one more email, return on last voice mail. If I say that play for me is “time with friends”, I will start putting it in its rightful place.
– dance…yep, that’s me, I dance around the house, I get down in the car, I make the dogs jump up and pretend to samba. Just want more of it.

That’s the rundown for 2016. I’ll be posting updates as we go along. I wish you a year full of happiness and success in the goals you’ve set for yourself.
XO
J