Kathy Helbig, Author at Shakadoo

Sims 2 For Nintendo DS Review

The Sims 2 for Nintendo DS is a fairly old game, but I happened to pick up a copy about a week ago and I wanted to review it for Shaktronics. Unfortunately, this isn’t going to be a great review- the game was not nearly as fun as previous Sims games for GBA like The Urbz and Sims: Bustin’ Out.

Sims games like this on a portable system aren’t going to be as fully featured as they would be on the PC or even on the PS2 or GameCube. However, even though one expects the game to be watered down, Sims 2 for DS is so watered down the game becomes terribly un-fun.

There are some aspects to the game that are marginally entertaining. There’s a mini-game in the casino called "Keelhaulin’" that is a good way to waste a little time. Searching in the desert for gold and copper bars is fairly entertaining. Otherwise, the game is repetitive and dry.

Interactions with other Sims, which is normally the most fun part of the game is frustrating. I had to look up on GameFAQs how to properly interact with other Sims because otherwise I wouldn’t have figured it out on my own.

Also, the game is short. It took me about 4 days to beat the game, and that wouldn’t have taken as long as it did except the game plays in real time so you have to wait 8 hours for certain aspects of the game to change. If I hadn’t had the waiting time, I could have probably finished the game in about 4 hours.

Still, it was entertaining enough for me to keep playing long enough to beat the game, so it’s not all bad. I give this game a score of 2 out of 5.

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Before We Had Toy Recalls

by Kathy Helbig 3 Comments

It seems every time I turn on the TV, I hear of more and more toys that are making the recall list. The latest recalls included several toys that were on my kids Christmas lists. It made me start wondering why so many more toys are recalled today than when we were kids. Did they recall any toys when we were kids?

Remember Jarts Yard Darts??? How many of us and our friends were wounded by that smart invention for kids?
And what about Click Clacks? That provided hours of fun carefully beating the glass balls against each other in a rhythmic motion until they finally shattered and caused sever injury to hundreds of young eyes or left you black and blue as you tried to click the clack rather then your face and hands
And who doesn’t have a Slip and Slide horror story to tell? You could also tell who secretly hated you by the fact that they bought your kid Lite Brite for Christmas. That wasn’t a choking hazard for little kids and a
complete mess to clean up.

What about Stretch Armstrong??? Anyone remember him? He was the rubbery man filled with some petroleum based goo that you could stretch and stretch until he finally started ripping and oozing that likely highly toxic gel. Remember what our recall was for that problem?? You could get a patch to put on his rips or perhaps your parent fixed it with duct tape! Oh how times have
changed. Its amazing that we all made it this long.

Ah, the good ole days! What are your memories of favorite or dangerous toys. We’d love to hear them and stroll down memory lane a bit longer.

Here’s a great Slip and Slide Video…enjoy.

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Progressive Progresses Into Pet Coverage

by Kathy Helbig Leave a Comment

Progressive Corporation is using their marketing genius to attract pet loving customers to purchase
insurance through their company. They are now providing collision coverage for
customers’ dogs or cats at no additional cost. It will pay up
to $500 if a customer’s dog or cat is hurt or dies in a car accident.

Jean Salvatore, a senior vice president for the Insurance Information Institute says she was not aware of any other company offering a collision benefit for pets. She goes on to say,

"Auto insurance is a very competitive market, and companies are always
looking for ways to differentiate themselves. If this becomes popular,
I’m sure others may look into it as well."

It has been estimated by the Insurance
Information Institute, that there are over 150 million pets in the U.S., and Americans spend over
$40 billion on those pets annually.

The new Progressive benefit is not pet insurance that covers veterinarian costs, like the insurance discussed over at Love Shak Baby in a post titled, Puppy Love. But rather liability coverage that would kick in for any pets hurt in a car other than the insured’s.

As the third largest auto insurer, Progressive is no amateur when it comes to marketing. According to an article on MSNBC, a Progressive strategist said the company saw a pets benefit as an auto insurance market opportunity.

"We
found no coverage that was even similar to it," said Geoff Souser,
Progressive product manager for auto insurance. "We have pets, too, and
we know how important they are to our families. We are always looking
for new and different ways of delivering value to our customers, and
this seemed like a logical extension."

This program is currently being offered in 46 states, but based on the enormous number of pet lovers out there, and considering the dog eat dog business of insurance, I’m sure the other leading companies will soon sink their teeth into this marketing bone.

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Not Because We Can, Because We Should

by Kathy Helbig 3 Comments

I ran across an interesting article this morning that caught my eye. As an over worked, over tired, over achiever, I often find all the reasons NOT to have sex when it comes to finally retiring to the bedroom after an over-the-top day. I know I’m not alone because most of my friends have all echoed my feelings in our countless conversations about how family life seems to affect your sex life. Not to mention you see this topic discussed on countless mommy blogs that span the blogosphere.

But according to this article 10 Scientific Reasons To Have Sex, it’s time to GET OVER IT and GET ON WITH IT. So here it is ladies, time to break the dust seal on the lingerie drawer and start improving your quality of life.

1. Scientific tests find that when women make love, they
produce double amounts of the hormone estrogen, which make hair shiny and skin
smooth.

2. Gentle, relaxed lovemaking reduces your chances of
suffering dermatitis, skin rashes and blemishes. The sweat produced cleanses
the pores and makes your skin glow.

3. Lovemaking can burn up those calories you piled on
during that romantic dinner.

4. Sex is one of the safest sports you can take up. It
stretches and tones up just about every muscles in the body. It’s more
enjoyable than swimming 20 laps and you don’t need special sneakers!

5. Sex is an instant cure for mild depression. It
releases the body endorphin into the bloodstream, producing a sense of euphoria
and leaving you with a feeling of well-being.

6. The more sex you have, the more you will be offered.
The sexually active body gives off greater quantities of chemicals called
pheromones. These subtle sex perfumes drive the opposite sex crazy!

7. Sex is the safest tranquillizer in the world. It is 10
times more effective than Valium.

8. Kissing each day will keep the dentist away. Kissing
encourages saliva to wash food from the teeth and lowers the level of the acid
that causes decay, preventing plaque build-up.

9. Sex actually relieves headaches. A lovemaking session
can release the tension that restricts blood vessels in the brain.

10. A lot of lovemaking can unblock a stuffy nose. Sex is
a natural antihistamine. It can help combat asthma and hay fever.

So according to this, We’ll be able to stop the Flonase and Excedrin PM, go the the dentist less, lose the prescription for tranquilizers, be hit on by gorgeous men wherever we go, be wildly happy, lose 20 lbs and tone our muscles without dieting and going to the gym, kiss our acne and dry skin good bye, and have gorgeous shiny locks of hair.

Hhhhmmm? If it only made me TALLER I’d seriously consider it!

What do you think about the top 10 list? Can’t wait to hear from you all…

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Shak And Jill’s Own Makes Us Proud

by Kathy Helbig Leave a Comment

Kathy Tyson, a Shak and Jill long time contributor, and
Realtor in middle Tennessee can now add Author

to her list of accomplishments.
Just recently, Kathy published her first book, and the topic is something that
we all hold dear to our hearts. It’s a how-to book on building a blog. Titled
Building a Blog: A WordPress Guide for Real Estate Professionals. This is just
the first of her planned literary accomplishments.

I took a few minutes to interview this very insightful
and talented woman. Here is what she had to say…

• You’ve been writing for Shak
and Jill now since march of this year. How long have you been a Real Estate
agent?

I have been a Realtor™ for just over four years. I
remember wildly looking forward to getting my first year behind me because
after that I’d feel more comfortable answering questions, knowing the area, and
better understanding the concerns of buyers and sellers.

• What made you decide to get into real estate?

Had just moved to Tennessee from another state. I really
enjoyed the hunt for the perfect home and found the entire process
fascinating. I had always had real estate in the back of my mind as a way
to help people, have fun, and make money. I used our move as an
opportunity for a fresh start.

• With the Real Estate career
that you’ve had what made you decide to start blogging?

Since I was 11 or 12 years old, I’ve kept a
journal. Nothing major – just what boy I liked at the time and how he
broke my heart. Ha. But writing was therapeutic for me and
something I really adored.

Before real estate, I was a communication manager and
spent many hours each day writing, albeit about the least exciting things you
could imagine – public finance and tobacco research. Once I became an
agent, writing disappeared for a time from my life until I found “blogs”.
I started writing a xanga site, then moved to blogger and eventually to
Wordpress and typepad. Through blogs, I have the ability to write
both professionally and personally.

• How long have you been
blogging?

Starting blogging about three years ago.

• How many blogs do you have?

Began with personal blog, then graduated to community
blogs for real estate and now write for two local towns. Now have 1
personal, 2 community (one I own, the other I’m a contributing author), 1 real
estate blog, 1 super secret hidden blog in which I vent when life seems unfair,
and Shak & Jill (contributing author). I also lend a hand with other
agents when they need a boost on theirs.

• How much time do you spend
writing posts, doing research and reading comments per day?

I have to be very cognizant with this because I can get
pulled in and before I know it, my whole day is gone. I try to carefully
schedule each day so that I spend no more than two hours on blogs, then two
hours with my sphere, and an hour contacting clients. I do spend quite a
bit of time researching our current market to stay informed about what’s going
on and developing marketing pieces that customers and clients would benefit
from receiving. Then anytime I’m showing homes or listing, those bump
everything else off the schedule.

• What are some of your other favorite blogs to
read?

I love reading Wil Wheaton’s blog – he played Wesley
Crusher in Star Trek. There are a lot of local blogs that are fascinating
– especially Newscoma, Sharon Cobb, and oh my there are too many to mention.
I love the stupidly funny I Can Has Cheezburger (the LOL cats) because I find
goofball stuff and toilet humor to be the best. I’m such a dolt.

• You recently just published your first book
called Building a Blog: A WordPress Guide for Real Estate Professionals. What
inspired you to write it?

I had already designed
about 20 blogs for other agents when I reached the point where putting one
together was like composing a symphony. I decided my next symphony would
be “recorded” so to speak, so I spent Labor Day weekend designing a blog and
preserving the screen shot showing exactly what keys to click and why.
The book came together that weekend with interruptions for a cookout, showing a
house and writing a contract, and spending some time wit h the family.

• What was the most challenging
part to try to communicate on paper?

The most challenging is definitely trying to keep it
simple, yet not preachy. Real estate agents who blog are already forward
thinkers and yet some still struggle with basic computer skills. I don’t
want to insult anyone by keeping it too simple, yet needed to write it so it’s
understandable.

• Obviously, you must not feel
blogging is a fad as some have said. Where do you see the blogosphere 3 years
from now?

I believe blogging will eventually take over as the “5th
estate” of government. Heady stuff, I know. Where the executive,
legislative, judicial branches are the first three of the checks and balance
system we now have, the media (journalists) are considered the 4th
estate. Because so many new organizations have been taken over by
entertainment conglomerates, a 5th estate is developing to oversee what our
government and now what the media are doing. This 5th estate is comprised
of the blogging community. The challenge, of course, is that ANYONE can
blog so we’ll have to be careful about what to believe and what not to
believe. Information is so easily manipulated and people tend to believe
what’s laid before them, so serious bloggers will have to come up with a way to
self-police without inhibiting free speech.

• What is the most important thing that you want
readers to take away from both your blog (s) and book?

I want agents to see that it’s easy to blog. With
just an hour or two each week, they can communicate about what’s going on in
their communities, keep readers informed about the market, and educate
buyers and sellers about the joys and pitfalls of real estate transactions.

• When you’re not writing books, blogging or
selling real estate, what do you like to do with your down time?

Ha. I’m seriously working on a second book – this time
not related at all to real estate. It’s a book about how the human spirit
can overcome even the most difficult obstacles. The love and spirituality
people have in their hearts builds hope, and hope is everything. The next
book is called Wrinkles: True Stories of Everyday People and it will be
published in early December.

I also adore spending time with my family. I’m a
Girl Scout leader so go camping with my daughters. I love listening to my
husband because he makes me laugh. And I stare at my dirty house because
I always have to find something to feel guilty about!

• What is your favorite part of
blogging (i.e. making friends, community building, getting heard etc.)?

My favorite part of blogging is that it helps me be
accountable to myself. It makes me constantly look for new things and new
technologies that teach me how to be a better Realtor, mentor, writer.
I’ve also made incredible friends through blogging. For example, one
friend who I would have never known is now an emergency contact at my
daughter’s school. She and her family are just incredible and I feel very
fortunate to have met them through blogging.

• What would be your advice to
someone contemplating starting a blog?

Show no fear! If you do have some fear, write about
it. People online can be very critical, but they can also be very supportive.
Blogging isn’t just about money, it’s about relationships, so don’t be afraid
to let people get to know you.

Thanks Kathy for spending time with us and sharing a little piece of you. For anyone interested in Kathy’s book you can check out an excerpt and buy it here.

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Foreclosures Still On the Rise

by Kathy Helbig Leave a Comment

In
searching for homes for sale for an out of state client, I started really
delving into the local foreclosures that seem to be popping up all around me.
Two really big builders in my city are in bankruptcy and their lots and homes
are all in foreclosure. It’s a sad scenario. How will my clients be affected
when the remaining lots in only partially sold out neighborhoods go up for
auction? Likely a budget builder will come in and build out much lower priced
homes, which will bring down the value of the current more upscale homes that
are currently existing.

If you are considering building new construction in a new
home development, consider the possibility of what may happen if your builder
fails to sell out his community and goes bankrupt before the development is
completed.

Dr Housing
Bubble alerted me to a post today at eFinance
Directory about the climbing foreclosures in 77 of the 100 largest
Metro areas. They say,

"According to a new foreclosure survey, increasing
foreclosure activity is not limited to a few hot spots as some previous reports
have indicated. During the third quarter, filings rose in most of the nation’s
largest metropolitan areas. Stockton, Detroit and San Bernardino had the
highest foreclosure rates; Greenville, Baton Rouge and Edinburg had the lowest."

Be sure to take a look to see if your city made the list of
the highest foreclosure rates.

By: Kathy Helbig

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Animal Shak Is Unleashed At Shakadoo

by Kathy Helbig 3 Comments

We are excited to add another Shak to our Shakadoo family! Since Shakadoo is all about life around the home, how could we not include our favorite furry friends? For those of you with pets that have no fur, we welcome them also.

This shak will include everything to do with your pet along with fun pet contests. We hope you are as excited about this as we are. If there are any special topics that you would like to see on Animal Shak please leave a comment.

Even if you do not own a pet, Animal Shak is still a great place to come and chat about any type of animal you’d like. We believe this will be a super fun site for of all, so come and join the fun.

This is a sticky post. Scroll down for fun articles about pets.