What better way to spend a Sunday than enjoying Dippin' Dots at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida Being attacked by playful, hungry Parrots can be a little overwhelming at first but the birds are mostly good natured and know what's in those little cups! My niece's friend, pictured below, had a lot of fun and wanted to keep feeding them more after she got used to the little squawkers. These photos are copyright (c), all rights reserved and may not be used or reproduced without permission from John Mayer. Permission can granted with a link back to my website and / or blog, providing the site is appropriate for everyone. Photographs are a great way to share the world. Thank you for viewing. 02/22/2009

Brevard County Florida public schools are facing $66 Milllion in budget cuts for the 2009-2010 school year in order to offset state and local revenue shortfalls. There will be a Town Hall Education Meeting held at the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, February 23, 2009 at 7:00 PM.  The meeting is being sponsored by the Brevard Federation of Teachers, The Brevard Association of School Administrators and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. It is being held as an effort to persuade Florida legislators to find an alternative to these budget cuts. The budget cuts could affect some 1000 Brevard County teacher's jobs, some performing arts programs, some elective programs,  junior varsity sports programs and some school busing programs, just to name a ... 02/22/2009

West Shore Junior Senior High Middle School will be performing Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory tonight. The show will cast a group of incredibly talented students under the direction of Mrs. Fallon, head of the performing arts department. The show will be held at the new performing arts auditorium on campus.  Doors open at 6:30 for a 7:00 performance. It is my understanding that the show has been sold out.     This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL Realtor Brevard County Real Estate & Investing Palm Bay Florida Real Estate News   02/20/2009

You need to take a family break every now and then. Our Niece Katie and her friend Destiny really like the Giraffes at the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Florida. The Giraffe said she would refer some African friends who are looking for vacant land in the Sunshine State. Does anyone have a place in mind for nice neighbors? 02/11/2009

Your buyers will get a great deal on a new home and you'll earn a larger commission and maybe a trip to the Bahamas! These days Realtors have lots of options when planning on what homes to show clients. At Stanley Homes, we are proud of the strong Realtor relationships we've built over the years and the trust Realtors have in our company and our homes. To show our appreciation for the opportunity to work with our area Realtors and with their buyers, we are offering special incentives to our Realtor Partners when they show and when they sell a Stanley Home at any of our four Brevard County new home communities. •·         Through January 31st, just for registering a buyer online or at a model, our Realtor partners receive a $25 gift card. •·         For 2009, we are initiating a NEW grad... 01/27/2009

No better time than now to buy a new home. Right now it looks like all the stars are aligned when it comes to buying a new home - especially if you are considering Florida's Brevard County.  Stanley Homes, a custom home builder in Brevard County, FL.  just announced a Builder Inventory Liquidation and is selling new homes in Palm Bay in Brevard County that are BELOW market appraisal!   You can purchase a brand new custom built 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Palm Bay in the mid $100's - realizing instant equity up to $60,000! Then, Freddie Mac announced last week that average interest rates dropped below the previous record low of 5.1 percent to 5.01 percent.  This is the lowest rates have been in the last 28 years. Many people are concerned about "taking the plunge" now.  There's a sense of ... 01/27/2009

Specialized Interior Design For Selling Your Home We Have the Best Prices !   Quick Service !   Free MLS Photos For Your Listing ! Most Experienced Home Stager in Brevard *Please visit our website: www.MelbourneHomeStaging.com Serving the Following Areas: Suntree, Viera, Melbourne, Cocoa, Rockledge, Palm Bay, Bayside, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbor, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Cocoa Beach, Canaveral                                                 Call us today @ (321) 795-8761                                              01/25/2009

Today the West Shore Purrfections JV and Varsity Dance Teams competed in the 12th Annual Brevard County Florida Dance Competition held at Melbourne High School.  Teams from across the county competed. West Shore Junior Varsity picked up first place in the competition in the Junior Varsity Pom Dance Division. The team's coach is April Shaw. The Junior Varsity and Varsity teams were also awarded the Spirit Award! Congratulations to West Shore Purrfections!   This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Brevard County Real Estate Melbourne Florida Real Estate News   01/24/2009

These are the properties currently available through the Melbourne Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service, MLS on January 16, 2009 MLS Current Active Listings        5953 Residential 2253 Rental 1769 Condo 491 Townhouse 2984 Vacant Land 143 Income 792 Commercial/Industrial       This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Brevard County Real Estate Melbourne Florida Real Estate News                 01/16/2009

Last night we attended the Varsity boys basketball game at West Shore Junior/Senior High School.  Wildcats were playing the Astronaut War Eagles.  This was truly a night to be remembered! West Shore played with all their hearts, as if it were the last game they would ever play. The West Shore Wildcats were phenomenal. They played their hearts out.  It was like watching a fine oiled machine.  The teamwork was to be commended.  Every player pulled their weight.  They successfully executed many layup shots, coming up the center of the court, between the other team's players to make some absolutely beautiful shots, right up, under the basket. It was standing room only! The crowd was electrified!  The excitement was infectious!  We were cheering our hearts out! I felt privileged to be a part... 01/10/2009

West Shore Junior/Senior High School, a school of choice, is currently accepting applications through February 13.   They will be 175 openings for incoming seventh graders.  There are also some openings in grades 8 through 12.  Applications are picked by lottery.  Students applying must have a "C" average in all their classes and they must maintain a level 3 on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Students may apply from these feeder schools: Eau Gallie High, Melbourne High School, Palm Bay High, Bayside High, DeLaura Middle School and Johnson Junior High. Parent meetings will be held January 13 and 14 at 6:30 PM at West Shore at 250 Wildcat Alley regarding new applications. Any questions please call 321-242-4730. West Shore focuses on preparation for college. This article is auth... 01/06/2009

  I love chinese food.  But, I love GOOD chinese food. Here in Melbourne Florida located in Lake Washington Square Plaza, at the corner of Lake Washington and Wickham Roads we have a fairly new Chinese Restaurant, Hop Bo.  It is New York Style Chinese food and the food is excellent.  It is fresh and hot and it is some of the best chinese food I have ever eaten. We usually go for take out. But, we order when we get to the restaurant. You can call ahead if you wish. My girl's favorite is the sesame chicken.  We ordered 2 dinners and they feed 5 of us.  The portions they give you are very, very generous. Dinner was delicious tonight, as usual. So, if you're ever in Melbourne Florida and craving Chinese food look them up.  You won't be sorry.     This article is authored by Sandy Shores, M... 01/02/2009

I just wanted to take a moment to reflect back on the beauty of 2008. I love taking pictures. And blogging keeps a camera in my hand everyday now. There are so many reasons to live in Brevard County Florida... Lake Washington Sunset Gleason Park in Indian Harbour Beach Florida Melbourne Beach Pier in Melbourne Beach Turkey Creek boat ramps in Palm Bay Florida Indian Harbour Beach Corky screw flowers at Turkey Creek in Palm Bay Boat ramps at Eau Gallie Causeway in Melbourne Florida A squirrel gathering nuts Thunderstorm Rolling into Palm Bay Florida Eau Gallie Yacht Basin Aquarina Golf Resort and Community in South Melbourne Beach Melbourne Florida Sunset Red hibiscus flower Tropical Storm Fay, not a pleasant memory, but a reminder of when we were hit with over 30 inches of rain in less ... 12/31/2008

I have seen the current economy take it's toll on some of my tenants here in Brevard County Florida.  A couple have been laid off. Some have had hours cut at work, Some have lost their jobs.  Good things happen to good people.  Some have less than desirable spending habits.  Regardless, of what the issue is...some rents, from some tenants, are becoming a bit more difficult to collect. So, we have been setting up payment plans with our own tenants. Some can afford to pay $200 a week, while they've got the money in their hand, rather than wait to gather a full $800 for the month.  Some cannot get the full amount together, as it is a bit too tempting to have that all at once, and they're afraid they'll spend it. Some are better with their finances than others.  In some situations, dependin... 12/30/2008

Yesterday, my daughters and I headed out to Lake Washington here in Melbourne Florida.  We try and catch the sunset every chance we can, because no two sunsets are ever the same.  We watched as the airboats came screeching in - you can hear them for miles around. And we watched the crowds gather to catch a glimpse of the miracle of the sun fading into the horizon. We live only 5 minutes from Lake Washington, so often we get on our bicycles and ride there. We felt blessed to have been fortunate enough to have caught such an incredible sunset this particular evening. This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL REALTOR. South Brevard County, Florida Space Coast. 12/29/2008

There are so many reasons to love living here in Melbourne Florida. My daughters and I like to walk across the Eau Gallie Causeway as often as we can, for beautiful views of the Indian River Lagoon. It takes about 35 minutes to go from one side to the other and back again. It would probably take less if I hadn't been stopping to take so many pictures. We just came from from our walk and it is nice a cool outside, the weather couldn't be more perfect.     This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL REALTOR. South Brevard County, Florida Space Coast.   12/27/2008

I remember a story here locally about a small, frail haggard looking man.  He was poorly dressed, he hadn't showered in many days and his hair was unkempt.  He was the person that you might find yourself stepping to the other side of the road if he were coming towards you. You may move away from him in a grocery store line.  In looking at him you may find his appearance distasteful and pathetic. One day this kind, gentle, smelly man headed out to buy a brand new car.  He knew exactly the type of car he intended to purchase. He stepped foot into one car dealership after another, with a wrinkled old sack in his dirty jacket. Each time he approached a salesmen he was shooed off the lot, as a transient, a vagrant, a menace, a pest. Until one day he stepped foot onto a special car lot.  A ke... 12/20/2008

Why do some professional have the capacity to influence others to follow them; however, many of them don't have capacity to keep those they have influenced? Could be the fact that we have a double standard, for example, when we are doing business for ourselves, or for close relative, or even a love one we have one standard. And when we are doing business for a client we have another standard. In this case I would believe someone have a double standard. Unfortunately, when your colleagues, co-worker, and client realized that particular person does not have a core standard, principle and value that is applicable to all, then those who recognize the double standard would begin to look at this individual in a different way. Soon others will begin to say I'm not going to refer my family to h... 12/18/2008

Work in Orlando and Live by the BeachReduce Stress. Live Longer. Be Happier. Enjoy Life What could be better than a relaxing drive home from work, being greeted by the neighborhood Sandhill Cranes, then pulling up to your new home which is nestled next to a beautiful nature preserve. Perhaps, during the summer months, you could get in a round of golf before dark or walk the beach at sunset. If you lived in Stanley  Home's beautiful Bella Luna neighborhood in Melbourne, then this could be you. Living in a new home in the Melbourne area of Brevard County is a great option if you  commute daily to Orlando or need easy access to the Orlando International airport.  Stanley Home's Bella Luna an easy 45 minutes (or less!) drive to Orlando's International Airport.  Did I say easy?  When you com... 12/11/2008

Interest rates are incredibly low.  Homes are priced to sell.  Now, more than any time in the last decade, it's a great time to buy a new home in Melbourne, FL.  For first-time buyers, the reason to buy a home in the next 6 months is even better thanks to the Federal Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers. For aspiring first time home owners who need a little nudge to make the decision or that extra financial help to reach their goal, legislation enacted earlier this year providing a tax credit of as much as $7,500 for first-time home buyers might just be the opportunity of a lifetime.But like so many of the good things in life, time is of the essence for buyers who want to take advantage of this outstanding opportunity. Only homes purchased before July 1, 2009 are eligible. Here's the t... 12/11/2008