Lori Rivero, Realtor Coldwell Banker Realty

So, I wanted to just share my story as a person who went through their first hurricane as a Florida resident... I have been here through other "threats"... and tend to follow the vibe of my husband, who went through Hurricane Charley, and lived to tell me about it. But this crazy storm of a size that no one had ever seen before, made me nervous. The images that were coming across the TV of the spanking Irma was delivering to the Caribbean were horrifying.   Okay, I was flat out scared.  When I saw friends and neighbors packing up and heading out, gas stations over run, and water and bread were no where to be found... I had to fight my own "flee" instinct.  I wanted to run. We were not able to leave as we cannot leave family behind.  A medical issue kept all of us from leaving together.  So, we set up camp with all of our provisions at my in-laws home.  I never could have anticipated the amount of work that goes into prepping your home and yourself for a C

I was out at a vintage shop yesterday checking out the cool shabby chic and refurbished furniture pieces... each vendor has their own little space that is decorated with cute decor items and furniture... I am a sucker for this kind of shop!! I was walking through and noticed this phone....... it says  "OLD Phone"..........  it is a Bell phone... from Bell Atlantic........... and it is cool because it has the auto redial button....... how freaking cool is that? Now, we have computers in the palm of our hand that you don't even have to press buttons to dial... you can just tell Siri to do it for you! But, seeing this labeled as OLD made me think............ am I now considered Vintage because I had one of these phones?  Because I know how it works?   But, it also made me think about all of the wonderful benefits of having one of these............. versus the computer in our hands we can't live without....... When you called someone...... and they were having

Remember the days of RSVP's, returning a phone call after they left a message, picking up the phone to hear the beep of a vm left?  Remember when the cell phone would let you know that someone was on the phone when you called them........ so you could leave a message... and they would call you back.  Remember the basic etiquette of a response? I have learned that people have become such slackers in the department of phone/text/email etiquette. Not only do people not leave messages...... but they use the "missed call" feature of their phone as proof enough they called and therefore deserve a return call.  " Hey, you called me?"... My rule is, no message....... no return call.  If it isn't important enough to leave a brief message... it must not have been important to call me. Let's not start talking about FACETIME.... UGH!  There should be a proper etiquette about calling someone FACETIME.  Don't call before 10:00 a.m. or after 8:00 pm   unl

Nothing screams health and happiness like a sick person on an airplane! Have you seen the show Fear the Walking Dead???   The prelude to the Walking Dead series?  The zombie apocalypse starts with a cough on the airplane! I flew from St Louis to Charlotte, with an extended layover in Charlotte before leaving to Tampa.  I personally don't mind layovers.... it gives me a chance to grab a bite to eat and people watch.  (Which btw is one of my favorite things to do)  I saw everything from a group of Catholic Priests to a yard of butt crack!  Seriously, when is this butt crack obsession going to end???  Pull up your pants!!! Personally, I don't like to fly.  I am a bit of an anxious flyer...... so I am a little "hyper aware" of my surroundings when flying.  I watch people carefully.... and worry about turbulence.. I hate it! This particular flight from Charlotte to Tampa was full.  People were a bit grumpy because the flight was delayed about an hour and it wa

 In honor of Military Family month..... I thought I would give my perspective of a military brat... and only other brats can truly appreciate all of the fun times we had!  Military families experience a lifestyle that no one else can understand..... once you cross through the gates of a military installation you are now speaking "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot".   You can recite the phonetic alphabet like the best of them.  (that is the language spoken over radio transmissions) It was normal to stop the wherever you were at and whatever you were doing when we heard "colors" over the loud speaker on the Post.  You looked for the flag.. or in the direction of the flag.  Our uniformed parent would get out of the car, to salute and pay respect to our flag. We thought nothing of it when a tank or two... or three would go rolling by us while we were at the school yard.  Often the civilian kids thought that those of us who went to military schools; (DOD) schools inside th

It's going to be a fun filled 4 days in DisneyWorld with the girls!   I have only been here for one day and I already see the wear and tear of the heat and the excitement kids experience, wearing down their parents! Yesterday I saw a little guy in the pool having an absolute melt down......... you know the one.... throwing his head back... falling to the ground...screaming at the top of his lungs... and both parents standing their looking at each other helplessly......... LOL  What could be wrong?  We are at the Happiest Place on Earth! Tensions run high with parents when they bring kids to the parks........ the combination of heat... miles of walking..... crowds... lines.......crying babies.... strollers ramming your heels...rides that appear scary to little one's causing a minor explosion of tears........... but....... other than that.... to little one's the magic is lost after Mickey walks away... kinda like Santa Claus heading back home after Christmas mo

Very recently I had the pleasure of spending quality time with a friend from High School.  I had not spent quality time with him since 1988......... our lives have changed, we have grown, we have a few more gray hairs than we care to admit...... our stories consist of children, grandchildren, loss and joy. When you get the opportunity to sit down with someone you have not seen in a while........ take the time to turn off your phone and get to know the person in front of you.     It is great to swap the "remember when" stories, and there were lots of them!  Like that time......... at band camp....    It is funny how your mind stops with an image of someone from the last time you saw them.  Of course the beauty of the internet and FaceBook keep us aging in the eyes of everyone we choose to share our lives with.......... but nothing seems to really help the brain grasp that time has lapsed until you see someone again in person.  He and his wife have created a s

We all know the feeling.... that little empty rumble that starts in your stomach... but you are in no position to stop and eat ... yet.  You keep getting interrupted at work... or your staff meeting is taking too long..... and no one brought snacks....... that little empty rumble starts turning into a big rumble. Embarrassing noises...... people look at you funny........ and then it hits......... the subtle headache... the fatigue....... the impatient attitude... the frustration....the I WILL BITE YOUR HEAD OFF IF I DON"T EAT NOW moment. It has obviously become an epidemic that we can all relate too.  You have seen the snickers bars commercials where William Dafoe is Marilyn Monroe until he/she gets her snickers bar to cure the Hangry attitude....  The Jacks Links commercials where the man has a cougar come out of his stomach to grab food... or a wolf out of his stomach at the conference table. I  hate to admit it...... but I am the WORST at this.  For one,

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... the best part of spring and summer....... grilling out... backyard parties..... pool parties.......potlucks.... pretty much anything that has to do with being outside by the pool and eating food!  This activity is a right of passage for some of the men in my family..... the passing of the BBQ Tools..... the secret rub recipe...... the passing of the applewood smoked ribs responsibility... (only the most committed of the smokers gets up at 4 am to get the flames started)   The things I have learned from this MALE BONDING tradition are as follows: 1. This activity is only accomplished successfully with a cold beer and a cigar in hand. 2. Men have a secret language when it comes to grilling meat....... the bigger the meat.... the better 3. The secret is in the sauce..... and it is a secret (except for the wife who has to shop for ingredients) 4. The BBQ ritual is rotated among households so the men can show off their primal skills to the other

Ahhhhhhh yes....... the good ole family road trip!   Back in the day my family would use our summer vacations to load up the family truckster and hit the road to travel to the next family reunion or out to California to visit the Grandparents.... and it did not matter where we lived....... we were going to California...... and we even did it when we lived in Kentucky.  My Dad was active duty military so we were all over the country and the world! I have good memories of the family road trip... once we reached our destination.  The actual process was not as much fun.  My brother and I would start out the trip with eager anticipation of getting to Grandma's as it meant a summer in the pool and visits to Disney Land.  We did not have electronics like the kids today have, no built in dvd players with drop down movie screens!   We were armed with a book, madlibs, hangman invisible ink books, the Rand McNally road map highlighted with our route so we could look forward to t

So, here I was driving in the car....... deep in thought when Prince comes on the radio.  Of course, I turn it up..... "that's my jam"!!  The next song comes on..... and I know the words to this one too. Madonna!!  That is when I realized the radio station is tuned to an 80's station.  My husband must have found it... and can I say.. Way to Go!    As I drive along jamming out and singing along to the musicians and songs of my day I started thinking about how I have officially become O-L-D!   I realize the music of the 80's is who I am... the roller skating rink, the massive amounts of hairspray.. and metallic pink lipstick.  The bigger the hair, the better!  I secretly think there was an unspoken competition of who had the highest bangs... LOL  I remember going outside to hang out with friends... long summers by the pool with a baby oil/iodine combination for the darkest tan possible... jamming out to our boombox and Billy Idol!  (don't forget the Sun-In)

Tonight I went to get chinese food from the isolated, singular, ONLY chinese take out place in town the size of a one horse town...... and I am sure the horse is safe....    I started thinking about all of the great chinese restaurants I have had the pleasure of patronizing in my life.........  First of all, New York City has the BEST chinese food... hands down!  I know all of the readers who are from that area can agree.   That is the best chinese food EVER!  Boston has as a great chinese food place that stays open until 4 am......... and for that reason..... the fourth meal after visiting the bars in Boston is amazing!!  Now, China Town in Washington DC has the most amazing dimsum restaurant!  The dimsum restaurant was also featured on Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.  They serve the dimsum on carts.. and as they roll by you stop them and choose what you want..... it is always crowded! But, if you get a chance to drop into DC... go!  It's called Da Hong Pao...

The area that I live is considered to be a retirement community.  Most of the people in my town are of retirement age....... (I am not of retirement age....... I am a 40 something..... and this year we are empty nesters; just to paint the picture) Imagine walking into the common room of a retirement home as a "non-gray haired".... and imagine the awkward stares.......... yea..... so that is what happens when you walk into any of the restaurants in my town during season.  We have a flock of snowbirds that come down to our area usually October through the end of March.  We do like having them here, they boost our economy and let's face it.... we don't have much of a crime increase when they are here.  No loud parties!! My girlfriend recently came to visit, and we thought we would stop and have a drink on our way home after shopping....... my girlfriend is single.... so a place with "possibilities" is always a good stop.  However, we walked into

You have your own style, why not build your home? I have the custom builder for you! Contact me today for details! Lori Rivero, Realtor Green Lion Realty, LLC Cell - 941-465-6794 Lori@GreenLionRealty.com

My husband asked me... If chickens are birds, why don't they fly?   I countered that question with ... If chickens have breasts why don't they have nipples?..... So, being the inquisitive one... I had to find out why? Seems like a logical question to me......... So, in my research I found out that chickens of ancient times did indeed have nipples.  They also produced milk to feed their young.  Because chickens had a "double duty" of having eggs and then nursing the young the shells were thinner, smaller and were striped.   This was not satisfactory to the humans who had already developed a like for the food product that eggs provided them. Sometime in 2500 BC a mysterious and deadly disease from Asia wiped out the entire egg laying population.  Except for some domesticated game hens, who seemed to have a natural immunity to the mysterious disease.  This loss of egg laying fowl created a supply and demand issue... and created businesses that had these game hens

Florida is Full of Fun!  Find Your Place in the Sun! Call Today! Lori Rivero, Realtor Green Lion Realty, LLC 941-465-6794 Lori@GreenLionRealty.com #greenlionrealty #northportrealtor #swfl #makingdreamshappen

No Matter The Size of Your Raft.......... No Matter the Size of your Ship.......... I Have a Home to Park Your Dinghy! Call me today to get started on your home search! Cell 941-465-6794 Email: Lori@GreenLionRealty.com www.riverorealty.com #greenlionrealty #yourwaterfrontrealtor #swfloridaliving

I know you have those days... like I do....... where you really don't have a plan to head outside of the comfort of your home, but to work on your computer and in the house for the day.   That is when your attire resorts to the comfy gym shorts, tank top, hair up in a clip.......... and NO MAKE UP... glasses instead of contacts.............. yes........... it's gonna be a good day!!!! But, then it happens...... you realize you are out of coffee, creamer and milk.  OH NO!  That is the worst!  ( Unless of course I happen to be out of wet cat food....... and that is the biggest crisis of them all..... if you have cats... you know .) Crap, I have to run to the store.  I will be quick... no one will see me.   I decide to go to my local Winn Dixie.... instead of my usual Publix... I know people there... I think to myself... I won't run into anyone I know at Winn Dixie...and besides.. Winn Dixie is kind of my go to place when I am not looking my best.    Yeah.. well.....

I hit the 3:00pm wall and treated myself to a stop at our local Starbucks........ as I stood in line looking at the wide variety of beverages available to me I thought...... how did coffee become so much of a dessert item rather than the jolt of javaliciousness that it is? The menu ranges from Iced Cinnamon Almondmilk Macchiato, Coconutmilk Caramel Macchiato, Iced Vanilla Mochachino, Lattes, Mochas, Frozen Coffee's, single, double, triple espresso's, french press, black coffee, blanched coffee, coolata, and your plain ole american cup of coffee..... for the busy person that brings in the kiddo's with them...... apple juice, hot chocolate, sweet teas, decaf fraps...... etc etc etc....  there is literally something for everyone! Now, Starbucks to me is a TREAT!  I am not in the habit of spending $7.00 or more dollars on a coffee.... I am VERY happy with my Dunkin Donuts coffee with cream and sugar.......... and THANK YOU COFFEE GODS for creating the perfect Dunkin

What are you waiting for? Let's get shopping for your Dream Home! Call Me Today! 941-465-6794 Lori@GreenLionRealty.com www.riverorealty.com

I am the first to admit that I am not a morning person....... no sir........ not me!  My husband is the opposite..... but he has learned over the years that he can just roll out of bed quietly.. not pull the covers... and definitely don't turn on a light.......... and everything will be okay!  LOL   I am a rather cheerful, outgoing person with a love of life and believe in living life to its fullest....... just as long as that "excitement" starts after I wake up at my own pace.....  ;) My love is coffee and breakfast!  OMG, there is nothing better than eating breakfast out!  I just hate when they stop serving breakfast at 10:00 a.m!  I live in a community with limited breakfast resources that cater to mostly retirees...... they start serving at 6:00 a.m. and stop at 10:00.   UGH... WHY???    I am especially fond of a great breakfast place that will serve a GREAT bloody mary.. with bacon in it!  I LOVE BACON!! I enjoy a good Friday night with friends, cockta

Lake Okeechobee was hit by a massive Hurricane in 1928 Lake Okeechobee is the second largest body of fresh water in the United States.  It covers 735 square miles!   But, did you also know it is HAUNTED?   Read on........... Back in the early 1900's a scary sight could be seen at the south end of the Lake Okeechobee, a massive amount of skeletons... piled in a watery grave!  The skeletons are not able to be seen today, but when fishermen in the early 1900's came across them.. they got the fright of their life.  Fishing tales around the lake were tales of "catchin' skulls".  It is believed that the massive watery grave is the remains of Seminole Indians, due to their struggles with disease and war.  Others believe they are the remains of an ancient tribe that inhabited Florida prior to the Seminole of the 1700's.  Whatever they are, I am sure they are adding to the many paranormal sightings and reportings throughout the years.   Also, adding t

With the crazy days of juggling family life, work life, relationship time, caring for the pets, and responding to the endless emails, texts and phone calls.............. the non stop connection to the world can make one go a little "wacko"...  I personally prefer to wine.   I find my happy place to be my back patio with a glass of wine....... no phone or laptop in sight........ just watching the birds and hanging with my cats.   When I get a little overwhelmed....... I just step away.  It is safer for everyone that I put myself into time-out! People handle stress in so many different ways........ you might be the "Explosive Internalizer"... the person who holds it all in... takes on more and more tasks.. and the one day that you find the toothpaste isn't being squeezed from the bottom sets you off into a frenzy most commonly described as the "Exorcist Moment". Or you might be the "Rationalizer"......... you tell yourself this will pas

READY TO LEAVE WINTER BEHIND? Call Lori, Realtor  Green Lion Realty Cell 941-465-6794 Lori@greenlionrealty.com www.riverorealty.com http://www.facebook.com/loririverorealtorgreenlionrealty #greenlionrealty #northportrealtor #swfloridaliving #nomoresnow

I heard on the news today that the upper East Coast is going to get another dose of SNOWMAGEDDON! I almost feel bad for them.... almost.  After years of digging out of the snow, school days, downed power lines, no electricity..... and of course the worst of punishments.... no cable...... I made the decision to join the love of my life in sunny Florida.  I hear from people around town this time of year, the reason our population almost triples is due to the snow fall up north.  I don't complain about the additional community members because they add to our local economy by patronizing our tiki bars, restaurants, hotels and my favorite..... buying vacation homes.   Might I propose purchasing a home in Florida and enjoy our sunshine, beaches and water activities 24/7 and 365 days out of the year.  Just think, no State Taxes!  After living in Maryland myself..... I can appreciate that!   So... come on down... defrost a little........ enjoy the sunshine...... find a tre

Is it time to find the home of your dreams?  I can help!  Call me today to take the first steps to making your dreams come true! Lori Rivero, Realtor Green Lion Realty 941-465-6794 Lori@greenlionrealty.com https://www.facebook.com/loririverorealtorgreenlionrealty

Today is the day all football fans have been waiting for.  The day that crowns the champions of a sport that has consumed our lives since the onset of spring training.  This is the one day of the year that everyone can put aside their political views and political bashing and focus on all of the things that make this day the grand event of the season!   Let's name a few of the anticipated glorious and gluttonous rituals............. 1. Americans slug down 325.5 millions of gallons of beer on Super Bowl 2. 1.2 billion wings are shoved down our gullet's 3. 4.4 million pizzas are ordered for home delivery 4. We purchase $5.6 billion dollars worth of Super Bowl related items 5. $400 million dollars is added into the lucky city that hosts the Super Bowl from traveling fans 6. An estimated 189 million people will tune their TV's to watch the big event Not to mention one of the favorite past times and most talked about events of the Super Bowl... are the commercials!

I decided it was time to write about one of my passions... BACON!  Apparently a lot of other people share the same passion!  I mean you really can't go wrong with bacon! Have you heard the term "Bring Home the Bacon"?  Well, it was not a phrase coined by the commercials in the 80's with the sassy blonde dancing around the house... it actually originated during the 12th century from a church in Dunow, England.  The church offered a side of bacon to any man who could swear before God and the congregations that he had not fought or quarreled with his wife for a year and a day.  Any man that could "Bring Home the Bacon" was respected in his community.   In the 1770's a man by the name of Jon Wiltshire was the first man to produce bacon on a large scale. He named the company Wiltshire and to this day is still considered the bacon capital of the world. In 1924 Oscar Meyer introduced prepackaged bacon to the United States... and the obsession