by Jenn Heller

Every year we make them and no doubt we hate ourselves a few days later when we break them.  Studies show that 94% of people keep their resolutions for just ONE MONTH.  New Years Eve is always the time when we reflect on the past and begin planning for the future.  We commit to change with fierce determination to do better.  Whether it be better eating, exercise, saving money, quit smoking, less drinking, you name it …  we all somehow make them.  

new year resolution list

Let’s face it, 2020 has been an incredibly difficult year!  It came in with a bang, we were determined to rise above whatever 2019 dealt us and conquer our resolutions.  Cut to March, COVID-19 hit and 2020 took a complete dumpster dive.  By November I personally was ready to light 2020…

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by Jenn Heller

Every year on January 1st people flock to the coldest of waterways (or even swimming pools) to bring in the new year with a chilly polar plunge.   This tradition dates back to 1904 in Boston where the first recorded plunge into icy water took place on New Year’s Day.

polar plunge with friends in Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Here on the First Coast, residents from the Beaches and surrounding Jacksonville area run out into the frigid Atlantic Ocean off
Jacksonville Beach to continue this tradition at the annual Polar Plunge hosted by Wavemaster Society at the SeaWalk Pavilion.  Unfortunately, COVID-19 has forced Wavemasters to cancel this annual event that normally sees about 2,500 people run into the numbing water hovering at a wintry 65 degrees. 

Why Plunge?

Many love to start the…

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By Karen Tyrrell

Kelly ConoverToday we delve into the mind of an interior designer! When my husband and I started on this home building project, we knew we needed someone with a skill set that involved architecture and the ability to put what we were envisioning and describing on paper. We needed a design firm that could take the plans and elevate them in CAD so we had a visual of each space. Do I wish I had looped in the firm much sooner in this process? Yes. Yes, I do.

So I introduce you to Kelly Cook with Orangerie Home in Jacksonville Beach. Kelly and Brian Conover have been such lifesavers in so many aspects – they are creative talents, visionaries, problem solvers, and they are also part-time therapists. I have a problem with commitment. (I may have…

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By Gwinn Volen

Real estate inventory in Ponte Vedra Beach dropped yet again in November with only 1.9 months of inventory, down 63% from November 2019 and down 17% from last month.  The median sale price is up 34% from November 2019. Here's a look at November to November statistics for 32082:

 market stats

Seeing home prices increase like this certainly begs the question, are we entering a real estate bubble? Here are a few things to consider to keep things in perspective.

Pandemic's Impact on the Real Estate Market

COVID-19 has caused many sellers to hold off on listing their properties, which means the housing inventory is incredibly low. Low inventory means sellers have the upper-hand which drives up prices. The month over month increases are a…

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by Jenn Heller

2020 launched with great anticipation, with many thinking, “this is my year.”  Then COVID-19 hit and changed lives for many, leaving 6.8% of Americans without jobs and creating great needs across the US.   The pandemic has potentially left more than 50 million people hungry, including 17 million children, and there has been a rise in the homeless community throughout the country. This need exists right here in our corner of the world, the greater Jacksonville area.

We know many are looking to give back during the holidays and giving can mean more than just gifts.  

Interested in doing your part to help change lives this holiday?  Set aside some time with your friends, family, small group or co-workers to make a difference in 2020.…

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