In my line of work I run across so many “personal fantasy” homes. Homes that I admire for the architecture, the opulence, the location, the views. But I’m lucky because I have the opportunity to see inside these dream homes. I get to cross over the threshold of the unknown into the living room, the bedrooms, the kitchens and more.

Very often I am completely taken aback. Thrown out of my reverie and into someone else’s property reality. The flow of the home is off, the rooms are small and choppy. I won’t even go into my silent argument of their design sense! I leave the property feeling deflated that the huge build up from the outside did not match up to the reality of “my vision” of the 4 walls shall I say.

On one hand, my property envy is lessened a little when the home falls short of my personal expectation, which makes my professional life a little more tolerable. Imagine being a total chocoholic and working in a candy factory where you are NEVER allowed to sample the sweets? Never allowed to take home a couple dozen kilos of truffle stuffed truffles!

Well there is a house on the market in Manhattan Beach that I admired from afar. So close to Downtown where the action is. Sits up high, would have tremendous views. I admire contemporary design and this seemed to have it all, AND it was touted to be GREEN. I was GREEN with envy and couldn’t wait to get inside when it came on the market.

I was poised to LOVE it. To lust after it. Well, nothing could be farther from the truth.

As aforementioned, it was choppy. The bedrooms had a sort of Shade Hotel meets your private residence quality – for those of you who are familiar with SHADE’s rooms, the bathroom features prominently in the bedroom, which works for a hotel, but perhaps not so for a home, even a vacation home in my mind.

The kitchen, well, it is the great room style, living room, kitchen dining area all rolled into one, which I love, especially if you are maximizing on the views. However, this home tries and fails to squeeze it all in. There is no room for “hanging out”. Living room? Forget it.

Then there is the ORB fireplace. OH how I love the ORB fireplace, but not when it is virtually 3 feet from the kitchen island. You can stand in between the island and the fireplace but you can’t sit in front of it. You can’t cuddle in front of it. In all fairness, perhaps there is some magical way to move the orb that I couldn’t figure out. If so, then I retract the previous comments, just a little.

Yes the windows are spectacular as they reveal the pride of the South Bay, and yet….

Fantasy Gone Amiss

So, cross another one off my list of “dream homes”. This is not for me even in fantasy land. But I hope I can sell it to someone!

California to Receive $18 Billion in Mortgage Settlement

On February 9, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced that California secured up to $18 billion for its distressed homeowners as part of a $25 billion national multistate settlement with the country’s five largest loan servicers. More than $12 billion will be used to offer short sales or write down loans over the next three years for about 250,000 underwater homeowners in California, according to the attorney general. Relief will go to areas hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis within the first year of the settlement.

Although the actual settlement has not yet been released, the attorney general has stated that other financial benefits for California include $849 million for refinancing 28,000 borrowers who are underwater but current on their payments; $279 million restitution for 140,000 homeowners who were foreclosed upon between 2008 and 2011; $1.1 billion for unemployed homeowners, transitional assistance, and repairing blight; $3.5 billion to extinguish unpaid loans that remain after foreclosure for 32,000 homeowners; and $430 million to the state attorney general’s office for costs and fees. As part of a California guarantee, if the lenders fail to reduce principal balances by a minimum of $12 billion, they will be required to pay fines up to $800 million to the state.

The loans involved in this settlement are those owned or serviced by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and Ally Financial Inc. The settlement releases the five named lenders from certain federal and state claims pertaining to robo-signing and other foreclosure misconduct by the lenders. It does not affect any individual’s rights to bring legal action against a lender. It also does not apply to the majority of mortgage loans, which are those owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

This mortgage settlement does not change any homeowner’s existing financial relationship with a settling lender. It does not relieve homeowners from any obligation. It does not require a settling lender to stop any foreclosure.

Homeowners seeking relief under the settlement agreement should contact their loan servicer or a HUD-approved housing counselor. More information including detailed FAQs is also available from the California Attorney General’s website, or visit the National Mortgage Settlement website.

Awarded by The South Bay Association of Realtors 2011

It’s official. I won the great honor of “Citizen of the Year” by The South Bay Association of Realtors. The award stands for and among other things ‘Devotion to my Community….’

As many of you who know me or read my blogs know, giving back is very important to me. Now to be recognized for giving back by my community of Realtors is the cherry on the pie, or the Creme Chantille on my favorite Gateaux.

Helping those in greater need than myself is rewarding because the results are often tangible. Smiles given to me with abandon, families fed, notes received, a glimmer of light giving a brighter path to many – this is why I do what I do but there is another reason.

I want to share the lilmitless ROI on giving, on helping and being involved. By giving and bringing light to what I do in my own small way, I strive to get the message out, to inspire others to join the ‘Service Above Self’ motto that Rotary lives by.

So perhaps by helping a family or a school child, my efforts will be doubled by the sheer fact that others may be moved to action. People who read my blog may step up to the ‘service’ plate and serve up some well needed relief, happiness, food or a second chance at a decent life.

I share this honor, this award with all of you. I share it with an open heart, a giving spirit and hope that all of you will join the force of 1, one person can make a difference.

Thank you South Bay Association of Realtors. This means the world to me.

My husband is quickly approaching the big round number 60 and i’m plagued as to what to do to mark this event with happiness, fun and laughter. He says he doesn’t want a party, but should I believe him?

Surprise party. My question is, do people really enjoy being on the receiving end of a surprise party? From that first moment the birthday person walks thru the door and the masses jump out from behind curtains, tables and closets, is there any real tangible way to know for sure if the recipient of this surprise is happy? Did they truly feel at ease with the unexpected? Is the Birthday belle of the ball actually enjoying the embarrassment of the moment?

I have a confession. I once planned and plotted my own surprise party.

When I was on the precipice of 18 years young I was living in Paris going to University. I was far from home but had lots of friends. I wanted to have a grand celebration but my new community didn’t possess the “savoir faire” to put on such an affair. So I did.

Looking back now I can laugh about it with a tad of remorse in my giggle. But come on, there was nothing malicious; it was just ever so slightly devious. Have you never done anything a little “off centre”?

The most delicious part of my clandestine party planning activities was listening to my friends accepting the invitation. NO, I didn’t ask my friends of course, I had my dear friend Paula help me out on that one. She too was American, from my home town and she understood me. There was no arm pulling there…

I gave Paula a “petit script” on what to say and then away we went! Ami after ami she called and I listened on the “ecouteur” which was a little device for just such a purpose – NO not scheming your own surprise birthday party, but to listen.  All my French friends were thrilled with this very American idea of a “surprise party”. Of course they would come! Avec Plasir.

Suddenly the party was a reality. I had 30 people on the guest list. I had a lot to do! I dove into party preparations. I had to buy my cake, my decorations laughing every step of the way. I fantasized and practiced my grand entrance.

The big day came, September 24^th (I’m not giving you the year). But there was still more scheming. Paula had to rope my boyfriend into the mix, but we couldn’t tell him the truth, it had to be the total element of surprise. He had no clue that I knew. HE knew of the party but not my involvement. He had NO clue I was at the helm of this crazy party’s creation.

Long story short, I didn’t want to arrive too early and by over plotting, I arrived way too late. Everyone had too much of everything by the time we arrived, but in the end I walked through the door with a perfectly surprised look of amazement on my face! I don’t remember much more about the evening, but I think the French thought I was a really crazy American! How I wish FACEBOOK existed back then. Or maybe not. Definitely NOT.

Sitting on Jeep from Los Angeles

Now for the Real Estate Portion A snapshot of the Market in Hermosa and Redondo Beach:

Click Here Market update:

Today I’m inspired to the core.

Once a Quarter my Rotary Club joins the other clubs that comprise District 5280, and we have a “District Breakfast”. Hundreds of Rotarians meet, eat, talk about upcoming programs and always there is a fascinating speaker. It starts early, 7.00 am but that doesn’t stop the enthusiasm, or in my case the TEARS. Yes you read correctly, the tears. It is a 100% guarantee that I will shed some during the program. What brings on the salty water works is not the sad and horrible plight of the many we help with clean water, educational grants, wheel chairs etc, but the success stories. The amazing life altering second chances Rotary provides for literally millions.

Case in Point:

This Friday January the 13th 2012 marks a HUGELY important Global Rotary Anniversary. This Friday it will be one year exactly that India has not experienced a new cases of Polio. Imagine the weight of that statement. Imagine how radical, life changing. Imagine how it happened. How did it happen? Well thanks to the tireless efforts of Rotary International and Rotary’s many donors, the Polio Plus Program of immunization, India is the current densely populated country with such a wonderful anniversary. One year!

However, three countries lie in wait. Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.

I BLARE quite a lot about community service and my Rotary Brothers and Sisters, but today this took on a much larger scale of my Rotary family and I am so proud, so moved to see just how dedicated Rotarians are. If one less child has to suffer the ravages of Polio, then 1.5 million Rotary members worldwide breath a collective, heartfelt sigh of relief, a heart racing Rotary Moment of achievement.

If you are feeling unfulfilled in your life, in your work and unsatisfied with Politics and global change, discover your own potential Rotary Moment. Come with me to a meeting! We have such fun, we eat well, and we laugh a lot. We bring change for the better to many lives. Can you say that today?
In parting, I don’t mean to sound preachy. I want to share. I want to share the rewarding feeling I get.

The sweet salty tears feel so good.

Happy New Year 2012

I have a simple wish for you and yours on the brink of our New Year 2012.

Be the Best that YOU can be.

Give from your heart and wallet.

Take the time to litterally smell the roses.

Hug a senior.

Adopt a pet from a shelter.

Recycle.

Be kind to yourself, be open to others.

Enjoy life.

Make your mark and may you catch the Wave of your life in 2012!

The cumulative effect of eggnog & bourbon concoctions is beginning to weigh heavily on my liver and there only seems to be a long road ahead of champagne cocktails, canapés and powdered sugar dusted snowflake cookies leaving me feeling bloated, exhausted and looking like Mr. Santa himself.

I feel my indomitable cheery nature is starting to frost over like over like the icy tundra of the great white North.

The increasing fatigue is sinking in and the weakening state of my body’s immune systems tells me to slow down and take a deep breath. But how? I haven’t finished my gift shopping, I haven’t wrapped the gifts I haven’t yet purchased and there is so little time left…..

Aside from Zen breathing while waiting in line at Nordstroms, swapping out Martinellis for real bubbles,  what is the best remedy to pace oneself during the holiday onslaught of mad rushing between shopping, parties, holiday eating, imbibing and not enough sleep?

I’ve discovered that the only way to survive the Holidays is to put one Ugg boot in front of the other and take it one day, one soiree, one office gathering and one family party at a time.

OR, before you RSVP and double book SIRI with rendezvous, contemplate a different sort of holiday “high”. Ring the bell for the Salvation Army. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen, visit a nursing or VA facility. I guarantee you will have a natural high like no other.

However you celebrate, I wish you Happy Holidays. Drink responsibly and watch how you park your Reindeer in the Beach Cities. The parking police are VERY picky these days!

A sous chef on the other hand does all the prep work for the head chef. Sadly I don’t have a personal sous chef.  I’m one in the same, I have to do it all. I enjoy mixing and matching ingredients like a wacky chemist. I don’t like the grunt work. One sous chef job I hate, despise and abhor is peeling garlic. I’ve tried many methods but nothing really does the job. I prefer to dice onions over peeling garlic.

One method of peeling garlic is the rubber roller. Looks like a micro log. You pop the garlic clove inside, roll it and it is supposed to help loosen the skin and then subsequent peeling is easier. It only works half the time.

Lucky for me, my better half likes to peel garlic! He finds it sends him into a contemplative Zen state. I’m way too type A for that so when he is available  I quickly proclaim him head Guru of the garlic clove.

And then came the breakthrough discovery that will forever change my cooking life and that of my Garlic Guru husband.

There was a piece on NPR about a chef who has the perfect method for peeling garlic. He even demonstrated on air because it is so amazing. Here’s how it goes:

You take two metal bowls. Put garlic in bowl 1. Cover with bowl 2. Shake with enthusiasm for a couple seconds. Remove bowl 2 and gaze upon the perfectly peeled garlic resting nakedly in bowl 1.

I had to try it myself. I was still a non believer. I was making a quick stir fry and needed some garlic. No husband in sight so I went for it. It was a magical moment in my culinary life. It worked; perfectly!! The garlic cloves shimmered in their new found nakedness. The aroma wafted up to my smiling nose as if to say, “smell me, how fresh and lovely I am”.

So there you have it. The mystery solved.Pass it on. Share it on Facebook. Tell your friends and Tweet it. Write your congressman; well maybe not….

I’ve just gone through another round of MOHS surgeries because of skin cancer. My Dr. is wonderful, amazing in fact, but still it’s not fun. It takes time to heal, the stitches annoy me and then my only souvenir is a lovely scar. Supposedly the most damage is done prior to the teen years.

When I was as little as 2 years or so, my second home was a pool in Palm Springs. I would spend hours swimming, playing Marco Polo, begging my mom to “look at me do this!”. Year after year that pool was the happiest place on earth; summer, winter spring and fall. But now, I’m paying the price. The price is the sharp knife belonging to the fine Dermatologist Dr. Neal Ammar. He is an artist, thank goodness.

So as I was recovering from my latest surgery, I was reminded how might mamma nature is. I am very respectful of the sun these days, I wear my sun block and I warn young mothers to protect their babies and kids. I respect Mamma nature. Don’t need to be reminded! THEN came the wind! Did I need reminding of her powers? I didn’t think so! I bow down to her Almighty strength but life is all about lessons. Oh my. Life lessons.The wind howled down our street, heavy palm frons rained down onto the sidewalk. Trees toppled, debris flew about. It was scary!I shut the windows and doors tight keeping Mamma nature outside but then the lights flickered and again, another reminder.I just hope the earth doesn’t rock and roll anytime soon!