Personal Thoughts

My site is being upgraded this weekend. All features of this site may not be available until Monday morning, October 5, 2009. I am sorry for the inconvenience. Please visit again on Monday. Thank...

Recently, a client asked me "Exactly when did we start viewing our homes as an investment rather than the place we live with our family?" I didn't have an answer for her. I knew what she meant though. Originally, we purchased a home for shelter and then because we needed more space or wanted our children to go to a particular school or needed to be closer to our job. Now, we have those same needs...

Today, I was inspired to take a moment to walk a new path and reflect on all that I had to be grateful for. Try it...

Well, it's back to work for me. I took the weekend off for my daughter's wedding. It was the perfect day all around. The weather was a sunny 75 degrees, perfect for a garden wedding. The bride and groom so happy and joyful - it was contagious. There were so many family and friends to share in our joy. It was a perfect...

This has been such a "full" year and as it draws to a close I want to share my thoughts on 2008. Even though many of us have experienced some negative impact from the financial issues of our country and the world, I wanted to pass on a comment from my Yoga teacher. "These are first world problems," she says. She is right. People in other countries would gladly trade places with us. We live in a safe...

Are You Confused About Plastics? That is the questions posed in an excellent article from C.A.R. Newsline from California Association of Realtors. I was confused and found this article informative and I pass it on to you: You're not alone. Experts have reached a consensus and recommend that you avoid these varieties -- identified by a triangle and number on the bottom of most containers -- for the...

For the last five years, a friend and I have hosted a Tea Party and Cookie Exchange. It is so much fun that we hold it twice a year and each invite 5 other guests. Each guest brings their own tea cup, 12 containers each filled with 6 of their favorite homemade cookies, 12 copies of their cookie recipe, 12 cookies on a serving plate for the tea party and an appetite for really delicious cookies! We...

Yesterday, I went to the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana to view the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Guardians of China's First Emperor. It was fabulous! I highly recommend it. It was very well organized. We had tickets for 10:00 am, only stood in line for a few minutes and then were given an audio phone to help guide us through history. This is the largest exhibit of the Terra Cotta Army ever seen outside...

It is one month past the official "Earth Day" and here is my personal scorecard. My favorite tip was checking the fruit and vegetable labels in the supermarket. Did you know that a 4 digit number means it was conventionally grown; a 5 digit number beginning with 9 indicates organically grown and a 5 digit number beginning with 8 means genetically modified. I don't know about you, but I am not ready...

Afternoon Tea at Trump National in Rancho Palos Verdes is a relaxing event and can be followed by a walk on the ocean bluffs.