It is so much fun when one of your "boss partners" takes a slogan you mentioned and runs with it. Years ago, I was talking to a friend of mine and he told me that Camille Wilkinson was a magician. She helped one of his adult children finance a home when it appeared that no one else could. During the years that I've been working with Camille and her team, I have heard numerous examples of how she magically found a way to make a challenging situation work out. She brings decades of mortgage lending experience to the table and has trained her staff to be solution finders. She definitely deserves to dress the part and be know as the Magician of Mortgages!
Here is one example of why she succeeds when others fail. The above graph was part of an email she sent out to her data base. The numbers were surprising to me and I must admit I got excited about the possibility for people wanting to buy a home. I know that she will work with her customers and help get them in the best financial shape to qualify for financing. Sounds intriguing doesn't it? Click here to visit her website and obtain her contact information. Feel free to share her name with friends and family who are shopping for a mortgage!
Camille does it all! She is a female entrepreneur, a mentor to her team, a loving wife, a cake baker and a grandmother to more kids than I can count.
Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting one of her lovely granddaughters on a photoshoot. This poised young lady showed so much love for her grandmother. She was there to help with wardrobe changes and anything else Camille needed. I predict this beautiful teenager will have an impact on her community as she matures!
The Camille Wilkinson Team at Direct Mortgage Loans is located in Gateway Center West, 1201 Montlimar Drive, Mobile, Alabama. You are welcome to call at 251-378-9359.
Want to know more? Check out this interview I did with Camille about how to qualify for pre-approval. Click here to watch this very information episode about the home mortgage process. She is ready to assist you in making your dream of home ownership a reality. Put the Magician of Mortgages to work!
Local Attractions & Insights!
January is the perfect month to join Mobile's Botanical Garden located in Langan Park. This pet friendly garden is a wonderful place to get back to nature and enjoy the different areas of the property. Leashed pets are welcome to accompany you and as a member you will have special visitor access.
The Camellia Garden is beginning to "show off" and will be in bloom through early March.
Click here to see what's in bloom throughout the year. Memberships are annual and are prorated depending on when you join.
Mobile Botanical Garden is located at 5151 Museum Drive, Mobile, Alabama. Hours are:
Wednesday & Friday: 9am – 4pm
Thursday: 9am – 5pm
Saturday: 10am – 3pm
Sunday: Noon – 3pm
What's New on YouTube?
Over the holidays, I was cooking up a storm in my kitchen. I have to wonder where that saying originated from. At times, it felt like a tornado had hit with all the pots on the stovetop and things baking in the oven. I wanted to share a couple of favorites for you to cook at home. Of course we'll continue our Soup for the Soul every Sunday and post some other surprises during the week. Check out these newbies:
Cornbread and Black eyed peas are traditions in the South, especially for the New Year. Click here and I'll show you how to make this delicious cornbread from scratch. I doubt you will ever buy a premix for cornbread again after you taste this! You'll also learn how to make a big pot of black eyed peas!
In my Countdown to the Holidays series, Bananas Foster was a highly requested episode. Check out this simple yet impressive dessert by clicking here. This New Orleans born concoction has been wowing guests at our house all year long. Are you ready to learn how to make it?
In this video, I show you how to cook a large 6 pound head of cabbage and offer you three versions to try. You'll learn how to make a basic smothered cabbage and then we'll add in some secret ingredients. Let's cook this one together!
Soup for the Soul This Sunday! Cream of Asparagus!
Check out this delicious soup this Sunday! I hope you love it as much as I do! Let me know what you'd like to see me prepare. I have a list of wonderful soups slated for the next couple of months so be sure and subscribe to my channel! Subscriptions are free and your following helps it grow!
In the Book Corner
I am committed to reading daily and have a goal to read something new every week. At Home in The World by Thich Nhat Hanh was the ideal text for me to kick off the New Year.
A year ago, this beautiful monk finished out his journey on the earth. He left behind a legacy of love, documented in his numerous written works.
Some of you may remember his activism surrounding the perils of his people during the Vietnam war. He and fellow monks worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the state of the innocent residents of his country. He befriended leaders all over the world including Martin Luther King.
This book is a collection of personal stories from his childhood in Vietnam, his life during the war and his exile in France. He recounts how Plum Village was founded and how he traveled the world teaching about peace & love.
I suggest you pick this one up for some very inspirational reading. He has a unique way of showing you how to notice the little things daily. That appreciation adds up into a wonderful existence. One of my take aways from this book was creating short meditations or affirmations for every day things. For example, when you hold a hot cup of coffee in the morning you can say something like this.
"As I hold my warm cup of coffee I reflect on its connection to nature and the miracle of going from a bean to my favorite java".
Imagine slowing down enough to notice those small things and reflecting on them with a sentence. Your life will transform. If you are interested in learning more, there are retreats offered at the Plum Village monastery Magnolia Grove in Mississippi. I have not attended one yet, however I am very intrigued and plan to explore opportunities in 2023.
What can I do with all of this Fruit?
The recent freezing temperatures meant that I had to pick all of the produce off of our satsuma and grapefruit trees. I have gifted, juiced and eaten so much fruit lately! I wanted to share this tip before I close for the week. Did you know that you can flash freeze satsumas for 2-3 hours on a parchment lined cookie tray, then bag them up in a freezer bag? They are good for 3 months in your freezer. I've got a nice little stash of these beauties to enjoy over the next few months.
Have a wonderful week & I'll see you next Friday! ~ Charlsie