diy Blog Articles (page 2)
Real Life Haunted Real Estate
by Chris Petry You know what they say about ghosts and real estate: location, location, location! Look, it’s the middle of October and we’ve yet to post a blog with an exclusively Halloween-y topic. You probably wondered if we’d decided to buck tradition and skip it all together. Still, you’ve been patient, and much like a restless spirit compelled to roam the halls of a
Scholarship Program 2022-2023
by Chris Petry Every year at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred & Stouffer Realty, we grant scholarships to three lucky students who exemplify the traits of our Dream Innovate and Grow Scholarship Program. Each student receives $1,000 toward his or her education, every year for up to four years, for a total value of $4,000. It’s the least we can do. We get it: college is ex
The Pumpkin Invasion
by Chris Petry Is there any singular item more indicative of the Fall season than a pumpkin? When it comes to Fall décor, from mid-September to late November, pumpkins reign supreme. Their staying power has to, in some small part, boil down to their simplicity. Sure, you can carve a face into one or paint it but it’s far from necessary. Pumpkins come in all shapes, sizes a
The Colors of Autumn
by Chris Petry Depending on the survey, anywhere between 29 and 42% of Americans rank Fall as their favorite season. I know what you’re thinking; doesn’t this fly in the face of conventional wisdom that suggests most people are at their happiest half way through their third Mai Tai on a tropical beach in early July? I bet if you asked them by the time they finished that Mai Tai, the
The Pleasures of Reading
by Chris Petry Go ahead and groan. It’s okay. I get it. Reading is not for everyone. Indeed, some people will tell you it’s a chore or worse, a punishment. My theory? They’re just not reading the right material. Don’t think I’m here to convince you that you should spend your downtime brushing up on the philosophical musings of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy or crossing off
Take a Break! It's Labor Day
by Chris Petry Next Monday, many businesses will remain closed for the day in observance of Labor Day. Labor Day is a federally-recognized holiday, celebrating the hard work of the nation’s citizenry. While work is nothing new, it was only after the Industrial Revolution that lawmakers, union leaders, and activists began to make headway in advancing policies that prioritized the safety of
Must See Museums in Western, PA
by Chris Petry If there’s one thing that gets my nerdy blood pumping, it’s a good museum. Plus, there are museums specializing in virtually everything. Visit the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia and you’ll be both delighted and abhorred at the collection of antique surgical instruments and specimens, including a piece of noted Theoretical Physicist Albert Einstein’s brain.
Back to School
by Chris Petry I spent most of the weekend tossing and turning, my inner monologue bouncing around innate topics like ping pong balls against my skull. What will be this week’s blog topic? Needless to say, when I handed in a paper using Cryptozoological creatures as metaphors for the human psychological need to pursue the unattainable, my Editor was none too pleased. Then she suggested a
Barbenheimer: Why Do Things Go Viral?
by Chris Petry I admit it. I fell prey to the Barbenheimer hype train. If you’re not active on one of the major social platforms (TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) or pop culture/film industry news sites (Deadline, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Rant, Collider, etc.), you may be wondering what I’m talking about right now. This week saw the simultaneous releases of
Where Should You Live?
by Chris Petry If you asked anyone in the 18-30 age range where they’d choose to live pre-2020, most would probably have chosen a large or medium sized city. It’s easy to see why. The convenience of city living cannot be understated. Try growing up in rural Appalachia where fast-food cheeseburgers and movie theaters can be 45 minutes to an hour in any direction. Cities are more
