Chasing Dreams and Celebrating Successes with Kimberly L. Defaria

Whether you are looking for your dream home or want to spruce up the dream home you already live in, Kimberly L. Defaria is your go-to woman! I met Kimberly and her husband of 29 years, Ryan, while adventuring with two of my writing buddies recently.

My fellow romance writing peeps, ALee Drake and Christie Logan, are really amazing at picking awesome, out-of-the way restaurants to try, so when they extended an impromptu invite to me, I took advantage of the free afternoon I had and tagged along. I was not disappointed.

The twenty-minute trip north to Main Street Ristorante & Gift Shop in Newport was totally worth it! Newport is a quaint little town that looks as though it was dreamed up in one of our small-town romance novels. It was February, so the streets were lined with snow, and it was falling thick with big, fat, fluffy flakes. Quaint houses and shops lined the main road. I felt like I was in a snow globe.

While we waited for our food, I had a look around the shop, which was way more than just gifts as the name stated. New and used pieces of furniture, lamps, rugs, pottery, candles, China, linens, baskets, and all sorts of other wonderful treasures filled every nook and cranny. I couldn’t take it all in with the quick perusal I squeezed in before our yummy food was served. So after lunch, Christie, ALee, and I took another tour. The gift shop was filled with hundreds of items I wanted to buy. Look for that story in the My Travels blog next week! Today it’s all about Kim.

In addition to owning and operating Main Street Ristorante and Gift Shop with her husband, Ryan, since 1995, Kim is also a successful licensed real estate sales person with RiverHills Properties, in Barneveld, NY.

As a licensed real estate sales person with Riverhills, Kim has been, “Matching clients with homes that puts sparkles in their eyes,” since February 2024. Being outgoing, friendly, and personable, it’s no wonder Kim is so successful in helping people achieve their dreams.

If you ask Kim what success means, she will tell you that it isn’t only measured by the number of sales made. “Being a successful business woman means more than just achieving financial success,” Kim shared. “It’s about creating a lasting impact, overcoming challenges with resilience, and leading with confidence.”

While Kim says she always imagined owning a restaurant, she has been “empowered by the positive results from my efforts in real estate and the lives I have helped along the way.”

The key to long-term success, whether it’s in the restaurant business or selling homes, is “balancing ambition with empathy,” she added. That, and understanding the importance of building strong relationships (both professional and personal) is what Kim seems to do best.

I’d only talked with her five minutes and I knew right away she was a woman I wanted to get to know. As we chatted over the counter top where she rang up my purchases of candles, cookies, and a deposit on a hutch I’d found (spoiler alert!) I could feel her positive energy, her honesty, and sincerity.

She’s a genuine human being, and that can be difficult to come by in these crazy times. And being human sometimes means taking a break and getting away from it all, putting business on the side, hanging a “Closed” sign in the window and taking a dream vacation. When asked where her dream vacation would be, of course it was some place with no snow. “My dream vacation would be The Maldives, South Asia. I love a tropical paradise!” she confided.

But for now, she will keep selling homes in Herkimer and Oneida counties, cooking up delicious food with Ryan, and serving a healthy plate of compassion and understanding to make the world a better place for others.

How does Kim find time to devote to both successful businesses? Her drive and  motivation, her passion, and the values she possesses keeps her going. That and the positive impact she hopes to have on everyone she meets. As well as, “My desire to inspire others to dare to dream and reach for the stars,” she added.

Finally, a blog about empowered women wouldn’t be complete without a pep talk from an empowered woman. Right? So . . . here is Kim’s wisdom for the ladies out there who need, well, a healthy dish of empowerment.

“My advice to women who are struggling to find themselves—be thankful for the start of each new day. Understand that you do not have to have everything figured out and that you are allowed to change, grow, and try new things,” Kim said.

She also strove to remind us, “Take time to connect with your own thoughts and feelings. Be kind to yourself in moments of doubt. You are worthy of love and patience through the process of figuring yourself out. Surround yourself with people who inspire you and uplift you. You will find your qualities and strengths in this journey. Once recognized, celebrate them!”

If you are in the market for a new home, you can reach Kim at defaria375@yahoo.com or by setting up an appointment to visit her at RiverHills Properties, 8211 State Route 12, Barneveld, NY 13304. You can also call or text her at 315.219.1514.

Don’t forget to pop in and check out the Main Street Ristorante & Gift Shop at 7431 Main Street in Newport. I guarantee you that you won’t go home empty handed or with an empty belly!