2012 January/February From The Front Porch Journal

S@N DIEGO COUNTY’S

from th_

FRONT PORCH Journ[l

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SETTING GO@LS FOR TH THE E NOW

HOW TO M@KE THOSE NE NEW W YE@R’S RESOLUTIONS STICK!

WELL BEING

D@VE OF THE VILL@GE GYM SPE@KS ON NUTRITION

S@N DIEGO HOUSING M@ M@RKET RKET @ LOOK B@CK IN HOW WE DID IN 2011

park exploration

podsibilities

useless knowledge

La Mesa Christian Book Store 4695 Date Ave., La Mesa, CA 91941 619-792-4747

mower blades hand saws Chain Saw mower blades knives SCISSORS mower blades knives SCISSORS hand saws Chain Saw knives SCISSORS hand saws Chain Saw

Purchase 1 item at full price.

Get 50% off the 2nd item with this ad.

Expires 2/28/12

Greg’s Sharpening and Cutlery Service We sharpen anything with an edge. If it’s dull, it’s dangerous.

Enjoy complementary coffee while shopping or relaxing in our lounge area.

www.lamesachristianbookstore.com

Greg and Vickie O’Neil Owners Tues-Friday 9-6, Sat. 9-4 4691 Date Avenue La Mesa, CA 91941 Email: dullenuff@cox.net

Are you drowning in clutter?

Can’t get control of your stuff?

Paper monster residing in your home?

No room in the garage for your car?

Closets overflowing?

Is it all too much?

WE HAVE THE ANSWERS!

Free Event

Get Organized w/ Judy Sullivan & Rita Mailheau of Simplify Staging & Redesign February 21, 2012 6:30-8:30

Come enjoy appetizers, wine from La Mesa’s San Pasqual Winery and an Art and Light Gallery special art exhibit from 6:30-7:00.

8356 Allison Ave. La Mesa, CA 91942 619-741-6230 Miguel@LaTorta.com www.LaTorta.com

Ph: 619-469-0919 Fax: 619-303-7166 www.gregssharpening.com

Art and Light Gallery 8277 La Mesa Blvd.

La Mesa, CA 91942 Must register to attend Limited Seating Info@LivinInLaMesa.com or call: 619-405-7673

Millicent

and Company Salons

MEGAN MCGHEN Hair Stylist

619·464·3166 Visit us at www.LaTorta.com and click on coupon for the latest value meals and coupons.

4695 Palm Avenue · La Mesa · CA · 91942

contents

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5

7

9 14 From the Front Porch Journal Compliments of:

Follow our blogs at: LivinInLaMesa.com or LivinInSD.com Like us on Facebook at: Facebook.com/LivinInECSD

Rosemary Joles Realtor, CA DRE # 01095314 619·405·7673 Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com www.InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com 8310 La Mesa Blvd.

La Mesa, CA 91942

^_p[rtm_nts 4 the real estate brief a note from rosemary short sales still in demand 5 lifestyle experience sd theatre oenophile 6 home setting goals for the now 7 home the kitchen – spice rack 8 family corner bargain hunter out of the mouths front porch wisdom 9 et cetera where’s rosemary delish 10 eye candy bill bocken contemporary 12 minutia useless knowledge bravo and mia bites rosebud’s garden 13 front porch pickin sd concerts 14 bits and pieces books or blogs podsibilities ponderings appaholics ingenious 15 sd outdoors sd sports park exploration 16 nitty gritty insurance annual review 17 well-being dave speaks 18 domiciles from east county to coast

the real estate brief a note from rosemary What’s Your Dream?

A new year is an exciting time. To me it means there are limitless possibilities of changing those things in life that one dislikes. The only thing that is stopping each of us is, well...us. We owe it to ourselves to make a pledge that we will achieve at least one of our new year commitments. Do you want to stop renting? Then take the baby steps to find out what you need to do to make that happen. Make the call to Carolyn Plummer, lender extraordinaire, at Prospect Mortgage and have her look at your credit. Is there something on there that doesn’t belong? Do you need to pay down some bills to qualify for the home you want? How much down payment do you need to save? Take each step and complete it. The famous Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said “ A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. Whatever your dream take that first step. You’ll never know what you can accomplish if you don’t pursue it. Imagine how different each of our lives would be 5, 10, 15 years from now if we achieved one major goal each year.?

San Diego Housing Market Update I was hopeful that we would end 2011 with an upward trend in prices. Unfortunately, I was being too optimistic and instead we ended 2011 with a slight decrease. The average close price saw a $1640 drop from December 2010, with the median price seeing at a slightly less decline of $1226. The closed sale market is showing a purchase combination of 24% of the homes being REO, 17% short sales, and standard sales are the highest at 59%. So, the sold foreclosure market has decreased (due to less REO’s being on the market), short sales and standard sales are increasing (Standard sales may be increasing in part because of investors purchasing and flipping homes.) Average market time is at 96 days and the weeks of supply given the demand is 26 weeks. Giving an average of a 3.3% ratio of supply to demand. This means the market has tightened up in the majority of areas especially in central San Diego.

This may be temporary due to the time of year and sellers waiting until spring to put their homes on the market. We still have a couple of weak sales areas i.e., San Diego’s back country, and north and south coastal. If you would like to receive the full market statistics report, feel free to email me at Info@LivinInSD.com or call 619-405-7673.

Until next time, Happy 2012 and blessings to each of you.

short sales still in demand

H

ere it is, the beginning of a new year and the buzz word in the real estate industry Next Exit is the same as last year: Short Sales! 2012 is estimated to be another strong year in short sale options for both sellers and buyers. Some of you may have heard the term bantered about, but are not sure what, exactly, is a short sale. A short sale is when the home is sold for less than the amount owed on the mortgage and the Bank has taken less than the full amount due on the balance.

Why would banks holding the mortgage be agreeable to this?

According to studies, losses sustained in a foreclosure sale can be 25% higher for the banks than those sustained in a short sale. This is due to the great cost the lender pays to maintain a foreclosed property and the extended timeframe waiting to resell.

Sellers may qualify for the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative (HAFA) short sale. Under HAFA, homeowners may be able to avoid a foreclosure by selling the home as a pre-approved Government Assisted Short Sale. And a $3,000 borrower relocation incentive is paid at closing. The seller may be eligible for HAFA if:

Short Sale

   

The subject property is the seller’s primary residence The first lien must have originated before 2009 Mortgage delinquency or default is reasonably foreseeable Unpaid principal balance on the first lien is no more than $729,750  Seller’s total monthly payment exceeds 31% of gross income The HAFA program is scheduled to end December 31, 2012. If this is a program you are interested in it is important to schedule to meet with Rosemary Joles to put a short sale package together.

Buyers purchasing a short sale can be a way to buy at below-market prices. But, plan ahead if you want to reap all the benefits of buying a short sale property. Here are some tips. 

Work with a Real Estate Agent with a proven track record of handling short sale transactions.

Rosemary Joles is an experienced short sale agent who will help to expedite the sale and help you foresee issue before they become problems.  Get pre-approved. Short sales are in high demand. Don’t let the home you want get scooped up by another buyer because you haven’t done your homework.  Making an offer: Once you have found a home you would like to purchase, you’ll need to make a fair market offer.

Whether you are selling or buying a short sale property, it is important to have a knowledgeable team, who can advise you every step of the way. This will give you the peace of mind you need for a smooth transaction.

Carolyn Plummer is a mortgage professional with Prospect Mortgage.

She has been in the mortgage industry for 25 years. When she is not busy helping clients with their mortgage needs she is spending time with her husband of 23 years and her 14 year old daughter. Carolyn can be contacted at 858-550-2541 or Carolyn.plummer@prospectmtg.com

lifestyle experience sd theatre Lamb’s Players Theater

San Diego Repertory Theatre

lambsplayers.org

sdrep.org

Mixtape Extended to March 24

A Hammer, A Bell, and A Song to Sing The Music of Pete Seeger January 7-29

Guys and Dolls February 3-March 25

In the Wake February 11-March 4

The Coronado Playhouse coronadoplayhouse.com 42nd St. January 27-March 4

The Old Globe theoldglobe.org Dividing the Estate January 14-February 12

Broadway San Diego

The Recommendation January 21-February 26

Rock of Ages March 27-April 1

Broadwaysd.com

do you enjoy good wine, good deals, and good company?

– The Friends of San Pasqual Wine Club may be for you!

Every three months or so, 50 – 60 customers with smiling faces congregate at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room and Gallery in downtown La Mesa. What’s the occasion? It’s Pick Up Party time! No, it’s not a singles bash, although many attendees are single. It’s time for the members of San Pasqual’s Wine Club to pick up their wine selections at the open house reception held each quarter. And best of all, it’s free!

“We started the wine club just after we bought the winery about three years ago,” says Mike McWilliams, winery co-owner with wife Linda. “At first, the main benefit of being a member was to receive discounts on wine. But after we opened the tasting room in La Mesa, and we had this great party room in the back, we thought it would be fun for members to get together and mingle with the staff and other people in the local wine industry.

We invite a guest winemaker from another local winery and include one of their wines in the quarterly selection. Many of these wineries don’t have their own tasting

rooms and have very limited distribution, so this helps get some exposure for them as well. Recently, we’ve featured Old Coach Winery from Poway, Woof and Rose Winery from Ramona, and Sunshine

oenophile His favorite? “They’ve all been great but I really enjoyed the rack of lamb that Mark Leisman, of San Diego Desserts, prepared in a Malbec reduction sauce for the last party.”

In addition to the free parties, wine club members also receive discounts on wine and merchandise, and get priority on limited and allocated wines. “We just bottled 24 cases of outstanding Petite Syrah from Fallbrook, and we anticipate we’ll sell out quickly. But our wine club members will be get first shot at it.” For more details on the wine club, call or visit:

Mountain Vineyards from San Marcos.

It’s really fun having the winemakers come in and tell the personal story behind each of their wineries.”

In addition to the guest winemaker, there’s also a guest chef at each party who prepares a selection of appetizers to go with the wines. “It’s fascinating to hear their ideas as they taste the wines and ponder the perfect food pairing,” says Mike.

San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room and Gallery 8364 La Mesa Blvd.

La Mesa, CA 91941 (619) 462-1797 San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room & Gallery is located at 8364 La Mesa Blvd. in the Village of La Mesa and is open for wine tasting, wine by the glass, and retail sales seven days a week.

setting goals for the NOW

home

Elle Schaeffer Graphic Designer

E

very year about this time, people go about setting their New Years Resolutions. Statistics say that most people have broken them by February. When I work with my business clients to help them set up marketing plans and goals for the new business year, I suggest the two keys to success; 1st is to set goals in every aspect of your life, and 2nd is to break all your goals into tasks.

By setting goals in every aspect of your life, this will ensure that while you are trying to achieve a goal in one area, you don’t completely drop the ball in another area of your life.

For example, you should always set at least one goal in each of the 5 aspects of your life: 1) Physical 2) Financial 3) Spiritual 4) Intellectual 5)Emotional. By following these tips, you can help to maintain a better overall life. I have found that often times when a person focuses on only one aspect, say their career, then often their health and/or relationship suffer. You focus primarily on your physical and maybe your career and your spirituality suffers. It all a balance.

For example, your goals may look like this: 1) Lose weight/tone up 2) Make more money h 3) Get more involved with church searc ng e R 4) Read more rki o w t e 5) Connect with my spouse better.

N s Then the key to making those roup G broad goals happen is to break your goals into tasks by asking yourself, How? How am I going to lose weight/tone up? By biking 3 times a week and going to the gym to lift weight at least twice. Those are schedulable tasks, which you can now make an appointment with yourself for. You don’t skip appointments you have on your calendar for the dentist do you? So don’t skip these appointments that you make with yourself. They are just as important, in fact they are even more important, because this is an appointment with YOU! Some goals, you will need to break down and then break down again until you can come up with tasks to fit the goal. For example; How am I going to make more money this year? Well, in order to make more money, I need more clients. How can I get more clients? By marketing and networking. How should I market myself and network? I need to send out at least one email marketing piece a month? I need to send more thank you cards and personal notes to network, maybe I need to join a networking group? So, now I can put those things on my schedule. On the 7th of the month I will send out a marketing piece to all my current clients. I will send 5 greeting cards a day, and on January 18th I will research networking groups.

Now you can put those tasks in your Smart phone, or even your old-fashioned paper calendar. Make those appointments with yourself, and don’t break them. Revaluate your goals monthly to see if you are on track and adjust your tasks accordingly.

Elle Schaeffer is a freelance Graphic designer and Marketing Consultant, specializing in small business. Elle has been working with small business owners for over 15 years to help them come up with creative and unique ways to market themselves. When Elle is not sitting at her computer, you can find her Mountain Biking the trails around San Diego with her husband K.C. You can find Elle on the web at ensmd.com. She can be reached via email at info@ensmd.com or call her at 619-278-8635.

DO YOU ENJOY READING FROM THE FRONT PORCH JOURNAL? Would you like to receive it in your inbox or mailbox for free?

Email Rosemary Joles at: Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com to subscribe or send a note with your full name and address to: 8310 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, CA 91942 We respect your privacy!

We will not share your email or mailing address with anyone!

the kitchen-spice rack Rita Mailheau, Simplify Staging and Redesign, Inc.

I

grew up in Washington D.C. in the sixties and seventies. In those days, many families had the luxury of a stay at home mom. And so, the wife was the cook – that was unless one had servants. We didn’t, much to my mother’s chagrin.

“Bentley, tell Cook there will be seven for dinner. champagne.” Doesn’t ring a bell?

Make sure you chill the

These days, when most moms have busy work schedules, dads are pitching in. As it turns out, men can be excellent cooks. Yes indeed! And that not only makes for a happy family – but a messy kitchen. Too many cooks … can trash a spice rack.

One way to keep your kitchen a neat efficient workspace is to thin your spices periodically. Toss stale herbs and organize what you have left. My business partner, Judy, an organizing Titan has some suggestions on how to make this easy.

First, put all your spices out on the counter and then group like items together. Toss anything that has expired or doesn’t smell fresh. It won’t season your food properly, if it has lost its flavor.

Next, put your everyday items within easy reach. Judy has a lazy-susan to the right of the stove, with olive and sesame oils, salt & pepper, and basic utensils.

T

oo many cooks …

can trash a spice rack.

The next layer of much-used herbs, are items such as Mrs. Dash, basil, oregano, and garlic powder; these sit at the front of a basket she keeps in the cupboard.

Behind these are all the rest. This way, she can just grab the basket out of the cabinet, and find what she needs fast.

When something runs out, they just jot it on their marketing list. They keep a backup of their main items. And this saves money because they don’t need to take extra trips to the store. Nothing has the chance to go bad.

By following these simple steps, you will always have the freshest spices and cooking supplies at hand whenever you need them.

Judy Sullivan has over twenty-five years of experience decorating many different types of homes. She recently completed a feature film working

as set decorator and property manager. What I bring to my clients is a common sense approach to decorating and staging homes for everyday living. You can contact Judy at 619-315-5771

Rita Mailheau has worked in both the home and as an administrative professional in the Tech and Hospitality Industries. I have worked as

a housekeeper, and know how rewarding it is to have a home staged for simple cleanup. We can help you Simplify your life, so that you're spending your time where it counts the most.. You can contact Rita at 858-775-4137

family corner bargain hunter bar·gain [bagr-guhn}] -noun 1. an advantageous purchase, esp. one acquired at less than the usual cost: The sale offered bargains galore.

Our new year challenge….

S

o, how does it feel to be paying for Christmas in January and February? Anyone? Anyone?

When you open that credit card bill are you going to regret Christmas? We want to challenge you to make a change. Why not make a resolution to totally change your financial situation? The new year is

We use this time of year to re-assess all of our budget and where we can get better deals. We have also learned that it does not hurt to ask. Just because something is a certain price does not mean you should pay it. Cable is a perfect exampletotally negotiable. It may take a couple phone calls and speaking to managers, but you can greatly reduce your cable bill. When you are at a department store and are asked to sign up for their store credit card to save a percentage of your bill, ask for the discount without the credit card. Speaking from experience, this will work some of the time. One time I simply told the clerk I don’t do credit cards, asked for the discount anyway, and got 30% off my entire bill! Just because it says best buy, does not mean it is! Try shopping at different stores.

Smaller, ‘mom and pop’ type stores are more likely to make deals when you have cash.

New Year’s Resolution: Dream big dreams, make goals, make plans, stick to plan!

Josh and Liane Wilson now rent in Escondido with their three growing (AKA: expensive) children. Josh is Pastor of Ministry Production at New Venture Christian Fellowship and Liane is a stay at home mom and has started a cupcake business! Ruby Cupcakes is open for business--cupcakes for baby showers, birthdays, special events, rainy days-- lianejwilson@yahoo.com or (619)840-6415

out of the mouths mosquitoes When

my grandson Billy and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use Grandpa.

Now the mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights.

Think

about where you want to be five, ten, and twenty years from now. obviously the perfect time. Time to sit and dream big dreams for your future. Think about where you want to be five, ten, and twenty years from now. Now take those fantastic dreams and create a plan to get there.

Break it up into small bites so the plan is manageable and do-able, write them down, and get cracking! Someone once said that if you aim at nothing you will hit it every time. You can not get from Point A to Point B without a plan and a map. Apply that to your financial life. Map out your month financially: take a look at your monthly income and decide where every dollar goes. And then stick to the map! There are going to be bumps in the road. We just hit one disguised as a decrease in income. Try to learn from the bumps and get back on the road. When you feel like you are off course refer to your map, your goals, your dreams, to get your navigation corrected.

front porch wisdom “True Friendship comes when the silence between two people is comfortable.”

-David Tyson Gentry

Come Sit for a Spell

where’s rosemary?

I love exploring this beautiful county that we live in. In every issue of From the Front Porch you’ll find a photo of different places that I’ve been in San Diego County. Your goal is to figure out where I took the photo. Submit your guess as fast as you can (You have competition!!!) and the first correct answer will win a $25 gift card to the restaurant of their choice! You can email them to: Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com or call them into 619-405-7673. Thanks for playing!

et cetera

Not Yo’ Momma’s Pudding

delish

2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies 6 to 8 bananas, sliced 2 cups milk 1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 11/2 cups sweetened whipped cream

where was rosemary?

Heritage Park in Old Town We have a winner!

Diane Schubert of El Cajon received a $25.00 gift card to Café Coyote

Recipe Credit: Stephanie Ford

Directions: via Paula Deen Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top. In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer. Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth. Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture. Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended. Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

`|Ç|ÅtÄ|áà `táàxÜÑ|xvx

X

xceptional Bill Bocken Contemporary

1033 Loma Avenue· Coronado· CA· 92118 $9,800,000.00

Nothing was spared to create this, sleek contemporary home located just steps from the deep blue Pacific Ocean. Designed to capture the light and dramatic views of the California indoor/outdoor lifestyle this home was completed in 2007. Award winning San Diego architect Bill Bocken created a beautiful, multilevel minimalist home featuring wide open space for entertaining, enormous windows for natural light and a seamless flow from room to room. San Diego designer Diane Quintin brought her sleek styling to the kitchen with Poggenpohl cabinetry and Gaggenau appliances. The courtyard is anchored by a large luxurious salt water pool and spa, plus a rear courtyard, shielded for privacy by innovative landscaping. A hi-tech smart home with green energy solar panels, this home has top quality appointments through out. Great design emanates from within, with the combination of stone and wood flooring. If you want a home that radiates comfort , style, light, luxury, and privacy. This home has all that and so much more…. 

5 Bedroom 5.5 Bathroom



4 Car Garage



4914 Sq. Ft.



Exclusive Coronado Location



7775 Sq. Ft. Lot



360º Ocean Views From Roof Top Deck

Rosemary Joles

In Harmony With Your Dreams Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com 619-405-ROSE (7673) 8310 La Mesa Blvd.

La Mesa, CA 91942

minutia The hand game, rock-paper-scissors was invented during the Chinese Han Dynasty(206 BC-220 AC). It was originally called shoushiling.

Todd Joles known as Todd the “Toolman”, is a handyman by day, a passionate luthier by night, mandolin/bluegrass aficionado by choice, and a purveyor of this useless knowledge.

His wife Rosemary threatens it’s going to get him into Jeopardy training one day. In the meantime if you are in need of handyman services you can contact Todd at 619-985-5017.

bravo and mia bites

Photo compliments of: Rebecca Johnson

useless knowledge

Bravo and Mia Say: “Dogs and cats instinctively know the exact moment their owners will wake up. Then they wake them 10 minutes sooner.”

The newest addition to the Rebecca and Shayne Johnson household is a puggle named Mia. Diva Mia is the one with the pink collar to the left. We finally got Bravo and Mia to sit still long enough to take a photo. Of course the only way we could do that is by catching them sleeping! Bravo still spends most days working at getting peanut butter out of his Kong and is definitely terrorized daily by Mia. He is truly the innocent one of the two, as Mia has taken over the role of the family terrorist! Mia and Bravo are the grandpuppies of Rosemary and Todd Joles.

botanical name: fuchsia common name: fuchsia Likes: Light shade Hates: Overwatering Blooms: Pink/Lavender Negatives: Can get “leggy” if it’s not pruned Bonus: Hummingbirds love it

“What a man needs in gardening is a cast-iron back with a hinge in it.”

- Charles Dudley Warner Photo compliments of: Rosemary Joles

rosebud’s garden Rosemary Joles is passionate about low-water gardening in San Diego. She loves creating gardens that look like lush water thirsty gardens, yet need very little moisture to maintain them. Her other passions include real estate, lattes spending time with family and friends, reading, music and laughter!

sd concerts 2/3 Gretchen Peters Location: Normal Heights Price: $20-$47 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

2/28 Moser & Weiss Perform Location: Downtown Price: $30 Time: 7:30 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

2/6 Camera Lucida #5 Location: Downtown Price: $25 Time: 7:30f pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

2/29 Boz Skags Location: Solana Beach Price: $75/$80 Time: 8:00 pm Info: bellyup.com

2/10 Chuck Pyle/Tom Chapin Location: Downtown Price: $25-$52 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

3/3 Blame Sally Location: Normal Heights Price: $20/$47 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

2/10-2/11 A Valentine Romance With Broadways Best Location: Downtown Price: $20-$85 Time: 8:00 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

3/10 The Mark of Zorro Location: Downtown Price: $20/$30 Time: 8:00 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

2/14-15 Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Location: Downtown Price: $20-$85 Time: 7:30 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

3/29 David Wilcox Location: Normal Heights Price: $25/$52 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

2/17 Jonathan Biss Location: La Jolla Price: $25-$75 Time: 8:00 pm Info: ljms.org

3/25 Lori McKenna w/Mark Erelli Location: Normal Heights Price: $20/$47 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

2/17 Tao-Taiko Drummers of Japan Location: Downtown Price: $20-$85 Time: 8:00 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org

3/29 David Wilcox Location: Normal Heights Price: $25/$52 Time: 7:30 pm Info: amsdconcerts.com

2/18 Itzhak Perlman Recital Location: Downtown Price: $20-$85 Time: 8:00 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org 2/22 Jackie Evancho Location: Normal Heights Price: $55/$250 Time: 7:30 pm Info: sandiegosymphony.org 2/25 Takacs Quartet Location: La Jolla Price: $25-$75 Time: 8:00 pm Info: ljms.org 2/26 Daniil Trifonov, piano Location: La Jolla Price: $5-$30 Time: 2:00 pm Info: ljms.org

front porch pickin san diego music from classical to bluegrass

books or blogs

appaholics While perusing a closing Border’s store on a trip back to Wisconsin, I came upon this book and knew I had to own it. I became charmed by the love story between John and Abigail Adams after watching the mini series John Adams. Ellis translates what I saw on the screen to the written word and he does it beautifully. He not only shares in depth the partnership of this amazing couple but he also skillfully intertwines it with the history of America. You can check it out on Amazon.com as it’s a “Look Inside Book”.

podsibilities I kept on seeing and hearing videos pop up on Facebook of different types of musicians who were doing covers of the song “Rolling in the Deep”. So one sleepless night I thought it might be nice to hear what the original sounded like. I was blown away by this young woman’s vocals and smooth R&B sound.

A must listen to if you’ve not heard or seen Adele, here is the YouTube video: http://youtu.be/rYEDA3JcQqw

bits and pieces ingenious

Say farewell to the drudgery of cutting and clipping coupons and hello to saving cash! The Coupon Sherpa app for iPhone and Android gives you the saving power of 100 + mobile coupons right in your very own pocket. Find offers for your favorite stores, select the coupons you want to use and the cashier will scan them directly from your smart phone. Now you have no excuses for not saving money. You can get the app at www.couponsherpa.com.

Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

From Marcandangel.com

Walking Companion

Source: Real Simple Photo: Charles Maraia

ponderings

A binder clip serves as a key chain/money holder you can clamp to your waistband for a purse-free morning walk.

SD Sports No SD Sports in January and February but tune into the Super Bowl on Sunday February 5, 2012 and root for your favorite team!

did you know???

No broadcast footage of Super Bowl I exists. Tapes were expensive and broadcasters had little storage space, so they frequently erased tapes after a few viewings. A permanent archive for game footage wasn’t created until Super Bowl VI.

sd outdoors

k par ation r squitos o l p ex los Penan. Rd.

t 9 e o d lack M 9212 504 h c 7 n A B v Ra 20 o, C 484 a.go c . g 0 y e 12 n Di 58 rg ount Sa one: 8 diego.o sdc @ Ph lysan cker A r . a n e um t Au

nitty gritty insurance annual review

A

s the New Year bears upon us, it’s not uncommon for people to be flooded with a sense of renewal in many aspects of life, as we embrace resolutions and look forward to what we hope and believe will be a better year than the last.

As you are likely already doing with other aspects of your finances, this is also a great time to take stock of your insurance portfolio and evaluate how your protections needs may have changed. When evaluating possible changes to your insurance needs, it will serve you to evaluate not only whether you still need to carry a certain insurance product, but also to evaluate the types and limits of insurance you currently have.

For a typical family, couple, or even single individuals, the areas of insurance that would likely warrant a review are*:

passes away, the household income may be cut in half, but the debt load is not. This couple should be giving serious consideration to term life insurance as an affordable way to hedge against the risk of a sudden drop in household income.

About disability insurance, let’s go back to the previous paragraph a moment and consider some of the hard facts of life. If a spouse passes away due to a terminal illness or fatal accident, that is a tragic thing to deal with.

However, what if a spouse suffers a disabling accident and survives, but is no longer able to maintain the same earning level they had before, or worse, cannot work at all. Under this scenario, it is very likely that the disabled spouse will cause an increase in household expenses – not only do they continue incurring usual cost of living expenses, but there may also be added medical care expenses to deal with, as well. This is where disability insurance can mean the difference between maintaining a sustainable standard of living or bankruptcy.

Now, as for car insurance, why would purchasing a home have Home or renters, and investment properties (if any) anything to do with it? A lot actually. Although the mortgage on Autos and other recreational vehicle the property is in reality a liability, the property is recorded in their Life and health name and can have liens placed against it. Also, this couple is Disability and long term care assumed to be gainfully employed and earning income, which Business, workers compensation and professional liability means their wages may be garnished by judgment. Let me explain. (if self employed) Every time someone gets into a vehicle and drives they’re *Every person has their own insurance needs; this list is not exposing themselves to the risk of having an accident. If you are intended to be all encompassing and may not include all at-fault in the accident and your liability insurance coverage is not insurance coverages specific to your particular needs. sufficient to pay for all the bodily injuries and property damages that you inflict on the other party, you become personally That said, you may be wondering what you should be looking at responsible for any further financial losses that the other incurs as in your policies, and then what changes, if any, you should be a result of the accident. Therefore, it is important for our couple considering; if so, congratulations, those are very good questions to ensure that their auto insurance coverage is adequately to be asking. Instead of lecturing you in boring insurance jargon, structured to account for this risk, otherwise, if one of them is let me give an example instead, that may spark some ideas for involved in an at-fault accident and is not properly insured, they your specific situation. Let’s consider a couple in their mid to late could ultimately be sued and have judgment liens placed against 30’s, who has purchased a new home this year. their new home or have a portion of their wages garnished – not a The obvious change has been the fact that, if they have a good situation either way. mortgage, they will have purchased a homeowner’s insurance Hopefully the example given here will spark a few thoughts that policy. Hopefully they have worked with a competent agent that you may want to apply to your own particular situation. Likewise, has structured their policy so as to adequately insure their new if you are a couple that has already paid off your home, is carrying home – she may even have explored their needs for earthquake a small (or no) debt load, or has already amassed enough savings and flood insurance, as well as a home maintenance plan. But to maintain your lifestyle, not all of the recommendations what else should this couple be concerned with? Well, the next presented here may apply to you. The best advice I can give you is three items on their agenda should be life, disability and car to discuss your particular situation with your current insurance insurance. agent, or if you don’t have an agent you can speak with, feel free Concerning life insurance, this couple is likely carrying a hefty to give me a call – you are under no obligation to make a purchase debt load. Besides the mortgage itself, they may also have in order to get some of your questions answered. student loans, credit card debt, and possibly car loans too. As a Art McCormack has been a Property & Casualty and Life agent since 2004 and dual-income household, they may be a little stretched financially, specializes in insuring homes and commercial buildings. He is married with two but they are still able to meet their monthly financial obligations. sons and lives in North Park, CA. By the way, when Art and his wife bought However, what happens to the surviving spouse if one of them their home in 2000 Rosemary was their real estate agent too. Art’s office is located were to pass away unexpectedly? Unfortunately, when a spouse in University Heights and can be reached at: (858) 404-0490.     

Coming Soon!

Lakeside 3 BD 2 BA

Fletcher Hills 3 BD 2 BA

Santee 4 BD 2 BA

$99,000-$105,000

$269,900

$299,900

Rosemary Joles

In Harmony With Your Dreams

Residential Sales · Short Sales · Leasing 619· 405· 7673 Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com 8310 La Mesa Blvd. · La Mesa CA · 91942

well-being dave speaks

Happy New You!

Nutrition Made Easy Anyone who has read The Two Degree Difference, by John Trent, knows the best and most effective way to effect lasting change is to do it in small increments.

Dave from the Village Gym has some excellent ideas that can make your diet more nutritious without sacrificing flavor or convenience. Let’s face it most of us are set in our ways. So small changes, which will result in feeling more fit and developing a better metabolism will help considerably because we will tend to stay with them.

dishes. Again the slow cooker allows the flavors blend.

Years ago, one of my friends advised me to cook London broil with salsa and lots of veggies: onion, carrots, potatoes, turnips, celery in the slow cooker. Then I left for work. When I got home I had an amazing start for a variety of meals. If I made a large enough batch, I could get up to three meals throughout the week. I would pair this delectable concoction with tortillas and fresh veggies for burritos or tacos. I could serve it over mashed potatoes for a pot roast medley. It might also be served over Quinoa which is not a starch but a seed so it’s lower in calories.

It can even be served warm over salad with light vinaigrette for an amazing salad. Yum! Nasnutrition also recommends marinades made with juices and broth instead of oil because they are much lighter and lower in calorie without losing the flavor punch to make your entrée a standout.

What I love about the slow cooker is you are not only eating fresher ingredients but you are saving money and time – any way you look at it, it will yield a better return. A less expensive cut of Adjust your recipes meat combined with the veggies that are in season provide a The National Association of Sports Nutrition (NasNutrition) budget friendly meal that is just delicious. recommends using applesauce or fruit in place of butter or oil in The Village Gym is located at: baked goods. Substitute two egg whites for one whole egg. Add 8277 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, CA 91942 fiber such as oatmeal, wheat germ or bran to muffins. Spice up You can contact Dave at: 619-741-0390 or at meats with fruit or veggie salsa. This works particularly well in a Info@myvilleagegym.com. The Village Gym provides slow cooker, which allows the flavors to blend and the meat to personal training, body building, cardio training, tenderize. Eat less meat by adding a variety of vegetables to meat classes, boxing lessons, and nutrition.

domiciles

Outstanding Value · Olde Rancho San Diego · $205,000 3 Bedroom 2.5 Bath · 1316 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Total Remodel · San Diego · $235,000 3 Bedroom 1.5 Bath · 1284 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Classic Spanish · Kensington · $569,000 3 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1402 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Spacious Single Level · Point Loma · $639,900 3 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1550 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Exceptional Coronado · Coronado Cays · $939,000 5 Bedroom 3 Bath · 2580 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

1936 Bungalow · Coronado · $949,000 2 Bedroom 1 Bath · 960 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

from east county to the coast

Traditional Sale · Rancho Bernardo · $349,999 2 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1418 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Right Everything · San Carlos · $358,000 4 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1404 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Coveted Nazarene College Area · Point Loma · $649,000 3 Bedroom 1.5 Bath · 1164 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Turnkey · Mission Hills · $795,000 3 Bedroom 2 Bath · 1692 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Sweeping Ocean Views · Sunset Cliffs · $1,495,000 5 Bedroom 4 Bath · 3765 Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

Private Country Estate · La Jolla Muirlands · $1,849,000 5+Bedroom 4.5 Half Bath · 4656Sq. Ft. · 619·405·7673

D R LO EA M S AN JO G B EL ES IN A S AT ECO TH N D E CO HO AS ME T H O RE M AL EO IZ WN ED E R AG SH AI IP N JU N E ST W M HO AR M RI E ED

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N A FI VY RS O T F H FIC O M ER E S

To our clients, thank you for a fun-filled and fantastic 2011.

We look forward to helping more families achieve their dreams in 2012.

Rosemary Joles In Harmony With Your Dreams

Residential Sales · Short Sales · Leasing 619· 405· 7673 Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty 8310 La Mesa Blvd. · La Mesa CA · 91942