Ellen Mitchel's (ellieb) Blog

MAKING SOUTH FLORIDA ROADS SAFE FOR YOUNG DRIVERS   My daughter, Heather, will be turning 17 this week and just last week got her drivers license.  There is nothing as scary as seeing your child head out in a 2,000 thousand pound car without you! Is this the same child that still sleeps with her ...

With so many worth causes out there, how do you choose how and where to give? My passion as a woman and a mother is to volunteer my efforts to programs designed to help women and children. Recently I was introduced to an amazing facility, The Susan B. Anthony Recovery Center, located in Pembroke ...

Or at least it used to be.   I love to travel, and there are so many wonderful places to explore, especially living in South Florida.  Not all of the places that I like to visit are dog friendly though, and we have two wonderful boxers, Faith and Buster.  This used to limit our travel, as I did ...

When the mother of my daughter’s best friend called to tell me about her new job, I was very happy for her although I was not familiar with Susan B Anthony Recovery Center. Like many people, I have been affected by drug and alcohol abuse in friends and family members. I have always loved to volu...

The VA loan is a wonderful option for our veterans. The people who have proudly served defending our country deserve a helping hand, and the VA is working hard to try to extend their programs to assist as many veterans as possible. The VA has the only 100% mortgage currently available on the mar...

Who does not love summer camp? I know I loved it. Actually I still love it and our family goes to family camp at Circle F Dude Ranch at least once during the year. We play outdoors, meet different people and enjoy new activities as well as our tried and true favorites like horseback riding, swim...

I love to send cards, and I love to receive them..  In this day of e-mails it is always such a treat to get actual mail (besides the bills, of course).  Because I love cards, when I met Helen Raptoplous and she told me about her business, The Card Link, I was sold.  For Father's Day I sent lovely...

Last month I had the opportunity to go to the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida to see Bruce Springstein in concert. The Bank Atlantic Center is a large, beautiful arena located in Southwest Florida. I have attended many shows there and have not been disappointed yet. Though I was not a bi...

There has been a lot of talk lately in the press about the real estate market and the short sale market in particular. Many people may be confused about what a short sale is. A short sale occurs when a seller owes more then the property is worth and the bank is willing to accept a sale for less ...

Are you an upside down seller? If you need to sell--or simply want to sell--your current home and you owe more on your house than the house is actually worth, then the answer is "Yes." As an upside down seller you have several alternatives: foreclosure; short sale (under which you, the homeowner,...