Lesley's Life

Oct 08 2013

Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Things to do in Western Massachusetts in October

Apples in Granville MA (Photo credit: LesleyLambert)

October is my favorite month and a fabulous time to enjoy the beauty of Western Massachusetts!

When I am not busy showing houses, getting houses on the market and doing all things Western MA real estate, I love to get outside and enjoy October in Western Massachusetts.

With that in mind today’s TOP TEN TUESDAY list is the Top Ten Things to do in Western Massachusetts in October:

#1- Pumpkin patch picking. Western MA is rich with farms and agriculture and it seems there is a pumpkin patch around every corner this time of year. Put on your boots and jeans and head to your favorite farm to wander the field and find the perfect pumpkin.

#2- Take a bike ride. Western MA is home to several awesome rail trails which make for a wonderful time biking, walking or roller blading. Here in Westfield we have a gorgeous rail trail, the Columbia Greenway.

#3- Corn Mazes. There are a lot of great corn mazes in Western MA this time of year. Some are pretty straightforward while others create an entire theme with scavenger hunts included. My family and I make an annual trip to Mikes Maze in Sunderland, MA. This year’s theme is “The Dali-rama”.

#4- Seasonal goodies. Western MA is also home to a lot of great local bakeries. This time of year you can enjoy pumpkin and apple goodies in every shape and form. Delicious pies, muffins, cakes, soups, cider, flavored coffees… you name it! Don’t blame me if you put on weight!

Pumpkin and Gourds (Photo credit: LesleyLambert)

#5- Apple picking. Another favorite family adventure is apple picking. There are a lot of great places to visit, but my favorite apple farms are in Granville, MA. Nothing beats a crisp apple fresh off the tree!

#6- Leaf peeping. Just a ride down your town’s main street will give you some beautiful autumn foliage, but if you are in the mood for a leaf peeping foliage drive, there are some amazing fall foliage rides in Western MA. If you can’t get out you can take a virtual foliage tour with MassVacation.

#7- Granville Harvest Fair. This is the quintessential small town harvest fair. Craft show, food vendors, building tours….all set in the bucolic Village of Granville, MA. Held Columbus Day Weekend.

#8- Hiking. October is my favorite time to hike. The crisp fall air invites exercise and the foliage views reward the work. My family and I especially love hiking at Mt. Tom in Holyoke, Noble View in Russell and Sugarloaf in South Deerfield. This list of ten great hikes in Western MA was published for the summer, but would be even better in the fall!

These next two are definitely more for the kids in your house, not my favorites, but I know the kids in the area love these!

#9- Fright Fest at Six Flags New England. Turning Halloween into a season instead of just a day.

Fall foliage in Sunderland MA (Photo credit: LesleyLambert)

#10- Hayrides and Haunted hayrides. I enjoy the former, not so much the latter, but the kids flock to these haunted hayrides. There are many in the area to enjoy.

I hope this list of Top Ten things to do in Western Massachusetts in October has inspired you to get outside and enjoy the beauty of this great area!

If you happen to drive by your dream home on a foliage ride or decide you need to buy a farm to raise pumpkins, be sure to think of me:

Lesley Lambert, WESTERN MA REALTOR with Park Square Realty.

Sep 20 2013

“Why I Have The Best Mom” by my 9 year old daughter

My nine year old is in fourth grade and her teacher has her doing a lot of writing, which I think is great. This week she came home with a story titled, “Why I Have the Best Mom”.

Here is what she wrote, misspellings are left as she wrote it because I think it is precious:

I have the best mom because she is buitiful, kind, helps me every second of my life. She also loves me alot. She snuggles me every day at least 12 times. Sometimes she’s sill, but she can also be very strict or serious. My mom will help me with homework even if I don’t need it. Her smile always brightens my day. My mom loves animals almost as much as I do. She even let us keep Tate our grandma’s unwanted dog. We get to travel together for compititions or vacation. My mom is one of my dance teachers. She teaches me tap and musical theater, also some leaps and turns. My favorite thing that she teaches me my jazz solo. I think it’s cool that my mom and me love dance. In our free time we get sushi, watch movies, take walks and also work on the garden. I have the coolest mom ever.

Isn’t that the sweetest thing?

Sep 18 2013

Steps for Pediatric Cancer – Pulled at my heartstrings and now I want your help

Last night Morriss and I had dinner at the Frontera Grill in Chicopee. When I got there I sat next to a friendly man who I chatted with for a few minutes. Morriss arrived a few minutes later filled with news of his son’s high school open house.

In the course of the evening, we ended up talking with the fellow next to me some more and he introduced himself as Ed Cayo and shared the story of his son, Nick. He shared with us that at the age of 11 Nick was diagnosed with a high-grade astrocytoma (malignant brain tumor). They did surgery and treatment and he lived until one day shy of his 13th birthday.

At this point I reached out and held this man. He may be a stranger, but he is a parent that lived through the worst thing that I can imagine. Sitting there with Morriss, who had just attended his 14 year old’s open house and myself the mother of a 9 and 12 year old, the emotions were high.

Ed went on to tell us the inspirational tale of what he and is wife created in the wake of their son’s death. This is from their website:

“Nick’s mom and dad, Michelle and Ed Cayo, knew they needed to make a difference for Nick and all the children with pediatric cancer. The creation of the Steps for Pediatric Cancer Walk is one step closer to bringing the much needed awareness and funding for pediatric cancer research to the forefront. Michelle and Ed made a promise to Nick to make a difference…and they never intend to break that promise.“

Morriss and I went on to learn that they had just days before held their first event with outstanding results. While I wish I had known about the event in time to attend, I knew as soon as I heard Ed’s story that I wanted to help in every way possible. All of the funds raised go to pediatric cancer research at the Jimmy Fund in Boston. I am making a personal donation, of course, but I wanted to take this one step further. I have a question for you:

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Can you make a donation of any size? Can your company become a sponsor? Can you share this on your social media channels to bring a higher awareness to Western MA?

I know you can do one of not all of those things and I am emploring you to step up and join me in supporting this. While I don’t know Ed any better than you can from one evening of conversation, I know he is a survivor and I am so impressed with the fact that he and his wife are turning their grief into a gift to the children.

DONATE HERE

Sep 13 2013

Life is Just Plummy

Life is Just Plummy. No, that isn’t a typo. It is the introduction to an inspirational story shared with me by a client.

I have a client in Westfield whose house is on the market and she her husband are going through a rough time. Her husband’s health is not good and she has run herself ragged caring for him and their home.

They really need to move closer to Boston and she is very anxious about getting the sale accomplished. She is an avid gardener and also very spiritual. She shared with me that in a moment of despair she was in her garden and was asking God if he had forgotten her. She was frustrated and a bit angry, as she tells it and was imploring Him for answers.

At that moment, she felt a light thud on her shoulder. She brushed at the object, which proceeded to fall into her blouse and land on her heart. When she removed the object it turned out to be a heart shaped plum from her plum tree.

At that moment she knew that she was heard and not forgotten and she felt an instant sense of gratitude. She went inside and emailed me this story along with the picture of the plum you see in this post.

As a real estate agent, I am often working with clients in difficult and emotional situations. It always pulls at my heart, but I remember to stay professional. I use their emotions to stay motivated and to do that one more thing for them each day.

I know that her home will sell any day now. I don’t need a heart shaped plum to get that done, but it is certainly a wonderful sign!

If you have a home to sell in Westfield, Southwick, Agawam or anywhere in the Pioneer Valley of Western MA, I would love to interview for the position of your Western MA REALTOR! Lesley Lambert, Park Square Realty.

Aug 08 2013

Lesley Lambert, Dancing REALTOR Announces her “Dancer’s Discount” Program

Top Junior duo/Trio at Star system national da... — Top Junior duo/Trio at Star system national dance competition #nedc (Photo credit: LesleyLambert)

Hello my friends and fans of dance! It occurred to me recently that I have not been sharing with many of you that I am a long time (25 years!) professional REALTOR.

That is right, the woman that you may know as Miss Lesley is a real estate agent at Park Square Realty in Westfield, MA where she serves her clients all over the Pioneer Valley and beyond.

I would like to offer a new program that I am calling my “Dancer’s Discount Program” for all the families at New England Dance and Gymnastics Centers.

There are three ways for you to benefit by saving money

(and who doesn’t love to save money?).

#1- Refer your friends, family and co-workers to me if they mention that they want to buy or sell a home. Every lead that you send my way will be rewarded with a $30 gift certificate towards your lessons at New England Dance and Gymnastics Centers. This credit will be given for every lead you provide to me at the time the lead is given. Even family members out of the area can be a lead as I can work as a referral agent. More leads = more credits = cheaper tuition for you hard working moms and dads!

#2- List your home for sale with me. I am a specialist at marketing residential real estate and would love to present my unique internet marketing plan to any of you that are considering making a move. If you use me as your REALTOR I will take $500 off the commission. Put that savings into costumes, tuition or even extra private lessons!

#3- Buy a home with me. I would love to help you find your next home and if we work together on that task I will provide you with a more generous gift certificate to the dance studio.

I was recently named as one of Banker and Tradesmen’s Women of FIRE and in the article they described me thus:

Lesley Lambert talks the real estate talk, and she dances the dance, as

Lesley Lambert: Tap dancing REALTOR (Photo credit: LesleyLambert)

well.

Lambert lives a double life – she works full-time as sales associate and technology trainer at Park Square Realty based in Western Mass., and in her spare time she helps coach her daughters’ dance team.

Lambert was born into the business, and has worked in real estate in the Pioneer Valley for the last 25 years.”

It would be my pleasure to help choreograph your next move and dance a celebratory dance with you when we succeed! Just remember to think of Lesley Lambert, Dancing REALTOR when you hear about anyone who needs real estate help!