Orange County things to do
5 Things We’re Focusing on During COVID-19
Welp, in a matter of 2 weeks… our world has completely changed with the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, and we’re scrambling along with the rest of society to find a ‘new normal’. That said, it’s refreshing to have the opportunity to rethink everything we’ve been doing; both professionally and personally, to reprioritize what’s most important.
Our Top 5 Focus Areas During Orange County Quarantine
- Relationships – Above all, we love & care about our family, clients, prospects, & fellow humans. We’re moving to Zoom meetings, FaceTimes, and other online communication forums to ensure everyone’s safety and flatten the curve. Checking in on people who might be lonely or struggling with kind texts. I’ve committed to doing more regular videos, and virtual open houses. One action item was a comfy space at home to do virtual meetings – have you created yours yet? It’s fun! Feel free to comment a pic for us 🙂
- Immunity – Clearly, we’ve got nothing without our health. We think and act better when our body is functioning at it’s best. During this time, are you eating for health & wellness? Taking vitamins? For sure….dark chocolate is still aplenty in our home, but personally I’m watching my sugar, soy, hormone, and gluten intake, and drinking more alkaline water. We’ve got handsoap filled by each sink – one of our fave brands is Jade Bloom if you like delivery & to support small business 😉 Another thing we did was up our Farm Fresh to You order. They deliver all kinds of healthy fruits, veggies, & even organic eggs to your door. Why go to grocery if you don’t have to? Also made a nightly routine of essential oils, because they are soothing & help immunity. Favorites are lavender, protect, & lucid for sleeping. Please share…what are your secrets for immunity?
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We’re seeing a lot of our clients on social media baking & crafting with their kiddos. We love to watch everyone embracing this family time in their homes.
Mental health – This is a BIG one. People’s lives just got disrupted and they are angry, scared, and upset. Ignoring it, shaming yourself, or attempts to drown it away won’t help. We need to come to terms, choose LOVE, and a new path to move forward. My preferred way to handle this is to ask: “Is my inner child happy today?” If I do something to make my inner child happy, then I usually feel good about life. When I cage my inner child, shame her, or ignore her because I’m unbalanced in some way….THEN my mental health seems to go sideways. Usually ‘little Angie’ wants to make something, hence the artist studios we’ve been building through Flower Den Retreats. Cooking, yoga, meditation, and prayer are also great daily exercises for mental health. What are you intentionally doing to protect your mindset right now? Are you at peace with yourself & love yourself? This is the space where smart & strategic decisions come from…be ready to make them. And it’s OKAY if you’re down in the dumps. Please reach out to someone you love for a life rope. The national suicide hotline is 1-800-273-8255 – save this number in your phone – you may never need it, but a friend just might!
- Budget – Not gonna lie – things could get tight. Are you handling this on a proactive or a reactive basis? You probably have the time to be proactive, so do that. Check online to see what relief your mortgage company is offering, and stay subscribed to our YouTube & blog here for regular updates on national mortgage relief options. Think….Where can you cut more? What small businesses can you support more? For example, we’re planning to cut our 800# & moving to WhatsApp – seems to be the preferred international & ‘long distance’ platform anyway. What apps are you paying for that you don’t use? Subscriptions? This is a great time to organize your finances, put everything on autopay, or even take the time to improve your credit. We recommend the CreditKarma app to get started on credit, and Mint.com for an overall picture. Let us know what resources you use to plan your budget.
- Investments – No time like the present to watch your favorite experts on YouTube! Consider sharpening up your knowledge and exploring some new areas to invest in. Ask hard questions like: Am I diversified? Stocks, mutual funds, crypto, property? How can I spread my risk? Do I have all my eggs in one basket? WHO am I trusting to get my facts from? Since we’re experts on the Orange County real estate market, we’ll help you with quality local resources to trust. A couple favorites are Reports on Housing & California Association of Realtors.
“Nothing can bring a real sense of security into the home except true love.” – Billy Graham
For most of our clients, their home is their biggest investment, and they’re spending a LOT of time in it right now. Hopefully, you’re happy with your space and embracing this time to improve upon it. If you’re worried about your property value going up, down, or sideways… you’re not alone. We offer monthly home value reports to show you what’s happening in your neighborhood. Just text Angie your address at 949-338-7408, or fill out the form below to receive your property’s value.
We want to wish you and your family health, healing, and happiness during this quarantine. Please reach out if we can help you with anything – we’re here for you & care about our fellow humans!
THANKS clients & Family Jules Art Gallery!
We just wanted to send a huge thanks to everyone who was able to make it out for our first ever client appreciation event on 5/20/17 🙂 It was absolutely wonderful to catch up and hear your Real Estate Stories. We laughed, reminisced, mixed, snacked, & got a little messy. We thought it would be fun to do a ‘paint night’, where both creativity & vino were flowing. WOW did everyone’s paintings turn out cool!
We purposefully selected this tree. We thought it conveyed such a great light and energy, with a symmetrical yet organic flow. It’s like a ‘tree of life’ or a ‘family tree’; both of which make a great fit in our client’s homes. We want you to have solid roots, bear much fruit, and always be growing.
Making an Orange County Masterpiece
It was an honor to color our canvases in a REAL Fullerton art gallery, Family Jules. Be sure to give them a like on Facebook or follow @FamilyJulesGallery on Instagram. Family Jules supports local artists by giving them a space to feature their art for a reasonable price, and helping artists market, and sell, & network. It’s a really neat concept and we we were happy to support them by donating our easels. Now they can now extend shows onto the courtyard, or hold more paint nights in the future. WIN-WIN. Our goal is to bring awareness and light into other cool venues like this with our future client appreciation events…so stay tuned! Feel free to comment below if you have suggestions.
Just a reminder we love and appreciate all our clients no matter how much we hear from you! Sometimes it’s every 5 years, other times it’s every 5 days…we’re here to support all your real estate dreams and goals. Stay in touch and let us be your resource to grow a solid real estate portfolio. 949-338-7408 or angie@askangie.com
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )INVITATION: Citrus College Home Fair
Interested in buying a home in Southern California but don’t know how? Would you like safe and solid info on Real Estate Investing or Market reports and trends? We’ve got you covered with free sessions at Citrus College on April 23rd.
The event will be held from 11am – 3pm with an hour lunch break. There are 3 different sessions, each with 4 classes to choose from ranging from flipping to first time buying. We feel honored to be asked to teach 2 classes – Investing and Market Report. Come join us and learn how to buy real estate! The first 100 registrations receive a free lunch on Citrus Real Estate Club – just sign up below.
Yes, sign me up for Citrus College’s Home Fair on April 23rd!
OC Home Fair & SoCal Home Ownership Day 2015 is this weekend!
Have any plans for this Saturday March 28th? If not, come visit the OC Home Fair at Chapman University. Learn everything about everything on home-owning, buying/selling, investing and plenty more! The speakers are industry leaders and hand selected – the best of the best! The event is designed to help normal people make the most of real estate, and Chapman graciously hosts it with our YPN group, The OC Register, and NeighborWorksOC every year for FREE!
Existing Homeowner Classes
For all you home owners out there, there are plenty of seminars that could help and educate you. Everyone wants to save money, right? “Go Green and Save Money” and “ Ways to Reduce Your Electric Bill” are a couple of seminar suggestions that will help save precious pennies! Would you like to be an “Automatic Millionaire Homeowner“? It’s actually a really easy concept – you’re invited to come learn how. Thinking about a loan mod? Loan Modifications Tips and Tricks is taught by a non-profit. You’re welcome 😉 Then, it may be time to consider Moving On Up: Making a Smooth Transition.
Classes To Buy A Home
Loans can be confusing, so there are TONS of classes, FHA Loans and Changes: What You Should Know or How Interest Rates Affect Buying Power is also super important.
First time buyers, check out “Steps to Buy Your First Home” to know what to do. Need better credit first? Well.. there is a class for that too, Ways To Improve Your Credit Score. Foreclosures are always a bummer! But did you know there is Life After Foreclosure and you can get back in the game? Closing costs can be scary but we have a class for that; Closing Costs: What Should I expect?. Want to know The Escrow Process, What to Expect With Your Home Inspection, or How To Make The Most Of A Small Space? Come find out!
Learn How to Invest in Real Estate
Investing is always a good long term plan if done correctly. Find out Property Management: Do’s and Don’ts and Commercial Property Purchases: Do’s and Don’ts. Staging Your Home for Top Dollar is totally important along with, Deferring Capital Gains Taxes: 1031 Exchanges and Orange County Housing Market Report. All of these sessions are custom tailored to teach you crucial things to know!
A huge thank you to the OC Register, YPN, Neighborworks OC and Chapman University. They have all put hard work into promoting and supporting this annual event. Also a big thank you to all the speakers who take time out of their day to help educate the community on the important factors of everything Real Estate!
Now, Hurry and register for any class that interests you before all the seats fill up at www.OCHomeFair.com!!
Questions or comments? Hashtags are #HomeownershipDay or #OCHomeFair. See you Saturday 12-5pm!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )A Ferry Ride away from Paradise; Balboa Island
Balboa Island
Balboa Island is a quaint and gorgeous place to live or visit and is located in the center of Newport Beach. The excitement begins with the five minute ferry ride to the Island. Along the way, you will get a sneak peak of some of the beautiful homes that line shore of Balboa Island.
Entertainment awaits you on Balboa where you can choose to relax while laying on the beach, go fishing off of the pier, rent a motor boat and enjoy a ride around the island, go on a whale watching adventure tour or take pleasure in tasting some of the amazing dining selections offered throughout Balboa. A favorite hot spot among the locals is the Balboa Candy Store where everyone can enjoy a sweet treat! Throughout the year, many events are held on or around the island. Every Sunday morning, Balboa holds its Classic Car Show which is held during March-December. Come check out some old beauties! For anyone who enjoys the arts, The Debra Huse Gallery offers guests to view and buy exquisite paintings. The gallery will be holding its seventh annual Just Plein Fun event where thirteen award winning artists will paint from sunrise to sunset throughout the week of July 28-August 2.This is a free event for people of all ages to enjoy! On August 1st the Brush Off is being held from 4-6 where artists compete to capture Balboa Island’s beauty on canvas. Come join the festivities with the 21st Annual Celebrate Balboa Island Day! On Sunday, June 1st starting at 11am the festivities will begin with the island parade followed by music, activities and much more! Balboa Island is the place to be on the 4th of July! From 1pm-5pm you watch the Old Glory Boat Parade which is one of California’s largest and well-established boat parade. You will see over 100 boats cruise through the Newport Beach harbor. Balboa Island offers an amazing view for the fireworks which take place at 9pm. Balboa Island is infamous for the annual Holiday Boat Parade. During the month of December, residents from the surrounding beach areas deck out their boats with lights, inflatable characters, banners and much more! People gather to watch as the spectacular boats ride around Balboa Island.
Balboa Island Real Estate
It is no wonder why people decide to live on Balboa Island with all of the exciting events that take place year round. If you are interested in the real estate offered on Balboa Island, Angie Weeks has the experience and knowledge to help you find what you are looking for. Angie is one of Orange County’s top real estate agents and is guaranteed to make your search for a new home simple and enjoyable. Check out the available Balboa Island properties!
To learn more about the Balboa Island properties for sale, please call 877-230-3211 or you can tweet @AskAngieTeam and mention which address you are interested in.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Newport Beach real estate – Balboa Peninsula homes for sale
Newport Beach real estate
Newport Beach real estate is booming with summer on the horizon. Newport offers many interesting and unique homes – no cookie cutter here! If you’re considering moving to the beach, Newport Peninsula offers excellent cuisine, watersports, beaches, piers, and people. The Balboa Fun Zone is located within the heart Newport Beach and offers fun activities for people of all ages to enjoy! The activities in Newport Beach are endless and include: paddleboarding, fishing on the pier, bicycle riding on the boardwalk, boat rentals, bon fires or taking the ferry to enjoy a day on Balboa Island. Shops and fine dining are conveniently located throughout Newport Beach. Enjoy taking a stroll through the shops along the boardwalk, walking around Fashion Island exploring surrounding cities such as Corona del Mar and Crystal Cove. Indulge in an array of cuisine options, whether you like Sushi or Pizza, it is all available in Newport Beach. Imagine all of the wonderful amenities that come with living in Newport Beach. Newport is the place to be!
Balboa Peninsula homes for sale
Find Balboa Peninsula homes for sale on our website at http://properties.askangie.com. You can schedule a search here and new properties that hit the market will be emailed to you the day they become available. Newport peninsula properties usually start just under 1M, and they go over and above 5M. Whether you are looking for a one bedroom or a place for the whole family, Newport Beach offers homes to accommodate any lifestyle. You are sure the find a home on the Balboa Peninsula that will catch your eye and is within your budget. We strive to find nothing but the best for our clients, which is why we pride ourselves in our ability to ensure that your wants and needs are met with professionalism and enthusiasm. Let us help you find that house that you have always wanted to call a home. Now is the time to take your dream of luxury living and make it a reality!
If you’d like to learn more about Balboa Peninsula properties for sale, simply call us toll free at 877-230-3211 or tweet @AskAngieTeam any address you are interested in.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
OC YPN Striding Forward With 2011 Lunch & Learn Series
I’ve been awarded the honor of coordinating the OC YPN Lunch & Learn series for 2011, and I’ve gotta admit, I’m pretty darn excited about the whole thing. With good reason. Not only are these monthly get-togethers designed for maximum fun, they’re offering agents the education of a lifetime. Come to the luncheons, and you’ll acquire dozens of proven techniques to better serve you clients. You’ll also gain a gold mine of insights on utilizing the full arsenal of contemporary Real Estate tools. This includes everything from mastering the art of negotiation to unraveling the secrets of effective social networking. It’s all here. Lock, stock, and barrel. 
Remember, the high-energy luncheons have been designed for the enjoyment and edification of all ages of the YPN membership. So come one, come all. Experienced professionals as well as newbies.
For more details about this spectacular series, including an amazing lineup of speakers, please consult our official Lunch & Learn Calendar.
And, of course, feel free to contact your loyal Lunch & Learn coordinator for additional information. You can connect with me at @ 949.338.7408 or angie@askangie.com, @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.
So meet, greet, and eat as you learn the inner secrets of the Real Estate profession. It’s the OC YPN Lunch & Learn series. And it’s all happening in 2011! See you there!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )And the Winner Is…Where Are the Best OC Holiday Lights?
People aren’t the only ones dressing up special for the holidays. Orange County is decked out bright and festive with holiday lights galore. From one end to the other, the OC has been transformed into a twinkling fairlyland of illumination. Which raises the 
question – where are the best lights? With so many possibilities to choose from, there’s no easy answer. Here are just a few of the contenders well worth having a long look at —
- The Newport Beach Boat Parade – Over a hundred years old, the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade brightens the harbor with a dazzling holiday spectacle.
- Zimmerman’s House/Balboa Island – Located at 327 Saphire, the renown residence has garnered numerous awards, and has been spotlighted in many newspapers such as the LA Times.
- The Eagle Hills Community/Brea – A total community showcase of holiday magic that can best be described as hundreds of Griswald homes all in one place. This definitely is a five star destination.
- Nellie Gail Ranch/Laguna Hills – A truly unique show that coordinates music and lights into a fantastic display of color and sound.
- Rogers Gardens/Newport Beach – Their popular Winter Wonderland transports you to an enchanted new world highlighted by a community of charming cottages, each with a different theme. Set against a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean.
- Plus there’s ‘Lively Shively’ in Ladera Ranch and all those amazingly-decorated trees on La Paz.
Where are the best OC holiday light displays? Tweet us your faves.
And if you’d like any more information about celebrating the holidays in OC, I’ll be delighted to help. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408, angie@askangie.com, @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.
Happy Holidays!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Mission Viejo Means Year-Round Enjoyment
With temperatures dipping to wintertime lows, Mission Viejo isn’t providing as much fun-in-the-sun as it did a few months back. 
Nevertheless, even with the Brrr factor entering the picture, this premier destination offers residents and visitors plenty to do and see. Here are a few highlights —
- Mission Viejo Library – Besides boosting brainpower, the library plays host to a series of marvelous events and activities such as Story Time for tots, the Timeless Melodies Holiday Christmas Program, and Guitar Lessons for all you budding rock stars.
- The ‘Character Quality’ sign on the corner of La Paz and Marguerite.
- Lake Mission Viejo – It might be too cold for sunbathing, but you can still bundle up and thrill the Parade of Lights or see your kids rise to superstardom in the 18th Annual LMV Kids’ Fishing Derby.
- Mission Viejo High School – Recognized as a California Distinguished School and National Blue Ribbon School, this leading educational institution also has a powerhouse football team and hosts a number of community events.
If you’d like to learn more about all that Mission Viejo has to offer, I’ll be delighted to help. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408 angie@askangie.com, @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Chills, Thrills, and Dental Bills: Halloween Happenings in OC
Hear the eerie moans? The doors creaking? The cauldrons bubbling? You’re not alone. It’s Halloween time, folks. The season of spooks, witches, and bags overflowing with future dental bills for your kids. But, hey, it’s not all about the mini Mounds bars. There’s plenty of other spooktacular fun waiting for one and all in the haunted corridors of OC. Here’s a few of Orange County’s Halloween Happenings guaranteed to stir up more than a few chills and thrills.
Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade – Highlights include a kids’ costume contest, trick- or-treating, and pancake breakfast. Yummm.
Knotts Scary Farm – Enter if you dare.
Halloween Goes Hollywood – A musical tribute to the season at the Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa
Doheny State Beach Halloween Haunt – Dana Point scares up a bit of beachside fun.
Great Park Pumpkin Harvest – Pumpkin decorating, horse drawn wagons, train rides, and tons of fun-filled Fall activities at Great Park in Irvine.
Blocktober – A giant neighborhood block party at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest.
All this and much, much more await you in the best Halloween hangout this side of Transylvania. And, of course, if I can provide any further info that will make your Halloween in Orange County a little bit hauntier, I’ll be delighted to help. You can connect with me at 949.338.7408, angie@askangie.com, @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam.
Happy Halloween!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Orange County Charity Event Brings Hope to Homeless
Be a Part of Project Playhouse
Hey, people. Wanted to tell you about a great cause, which is co-chaired by someone I’ve known for a while – Newport Beach Realtor, Brad Colemen. The cause is Project Playhouse. This 6 week-long charity event will raise money to build and renovate homeless shelters throughout Orange County. So far the project has helped HomeAid Orange County construct 44 local shelters.
Project Playhouse works like this. Various members of the building industry are creating a selection of amazing playhouses. 
These architectural masterpieces will be on display at the Irvine Spectrum for 6 weeks, beginning July 30th. Then on September 10, the playhouses will be auctioned off at a party taking place at an enchanting Crystal Cove estate. The proceeds will help fund the building and renovation of homeless shelters in Orange County. Tickets to the party are $250.00 each, with only a limited number available.
Brad is asking for your help in acquiring sponsors and donors for this high-profile event. I assure you, it’ll be great exposure for your company or business. The event draws thousands of guests, including many of OC’s elite. It even will receive a substantial amount of TV, print, radio, and Internet advertising. Sponsorships start at $1,000. For smaller companies wanting exposure, tax-deducible silent auction donations are welcome.
Please visit www.ProjectPlayhouse.org for more event details. And, if you or anyone you know is interested in a sponsorship, donation, tickets to party, or buying a playhouse, be sure to contact Brad Coleman.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Great Ways to Celebrate the 4th of July in Orange County
Light Up Your 4th of July Orange County Style
Gray, gray, go away. Let’s be hopeful, folks. June is almost through, and with it the gloomy gray skies that have become a yearly tradition. That means the 4th of July is upon us. No doubt, you’ll want to celebrate Independence Day with gusto and style. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to do that right here in Orange County. Here are some major events to check out:
- Independence Day Celebration and Parade in Huntington Beach – The “largest and oldest parade of its kind west of the Mississippi,” a 5K run/walk, bands, clowns, celebrities, floats and fireworks on “Surf City’s” famous Main Street.
- Old Glory Boat Parade – Decorated boats parade through Newport Harbor.
- Dana Point 4th of July Fireworks Show – The City of Dana Point presents an aerial sky show, featuring a musical simulcast presented by radio station KSBR 88.5 FM.
- Fullerton Community Fireworks Show and Festival – An old-fashioned Fourth of July party, the festival features live entertainment, games for all ages, food booths and a special aerial fireworks display.
- Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky – A special 4th of July fireworks display over Disneyland set to music.
Plus there’s the beaches, picnics, sports, and of course, major loafing. If you’d like to learn more about great things to do in Orange County for the 4th, by all means get in touch with me. You can reach me at 949.338.7408 or angie@askangie.com. And be sure to follow me @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Happy Fourth of July!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Summer Activities in Mission Viejo
Mission Viejo is the Place for Summer Fun
It’s that time of year folks. Sunshine, barbecues, swimming, and kids released from the captivity of academia for three months. With the arrival of summer, our attention naturally turns to our favorite summertime activities. 
Mission Viejo is a world champion in this department. The city offers residents and visitors alike a million and one things to do during the season of sunshine. Here are some of the biggies:
- Farrell’s 1st Ever 1st Annual Splendiferously Superiffic Summer Spectacular Ice Cream Eating Challenge (Monday, June 21 11:00a) – Be one of the fastest to eat a 3-scoop sundae.
- DAWG Walk and Pet Faire (Saturday, June 26 7:00a) – On the Village Green at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center
- 4th of July Street Fair and Fireworks Spectacular (Sunday, July 4 1:00p) – Food, games and merchandise booths operated by local service organizations and crafters.
- Lake Mission Viejo – Enjoy swimming, sunbathing, fishing, boating, and a summer concert series just for starters.
- Summer Camps – Kids of all ages can thrill to a variety of camps and classes designed to tickle their fancy.
- Plus golfing at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, picnics and play at wide selection of parks, and much, much more.
If you’d like to learn more about the ton of summer fun awaiting you in Mission Viejo, I’m ready to help. You can reach me at 949.338.7408 or angie@askangie.com. And be sure to follow me @AngieWeeks or @WeeksTeam. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Things to do this Memorial Day weekend
Looking for a fun outdoor activity in the OC? Here’s some things to do for all ages:
Orange County Zoo :
All kinds of animals – plus the zoo is inside Irvine Park, where you can also ride the railroad and have a relaxing picnic 🙂
Lake Mission Viejo :
Go swimming, fishing, or boating. The lake is closed to guests on holidays before 6pm, though 😦 Make sure you bring your pass!
Crystal Cove state park :
Enjoy a brisk hike, and some historic coastline cottages. Plus the drive to get there on PCH isn’t so bad either.
The best part is you can do any of the above for between $10-$20 per person, so there’s no excuses not to get out there and grab yourself a little sunshine!
Happy Memorial Day and God bless our troops and their families!!!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Fantastic Framed Art for Less!!
If you’ve recently purchased your first home you probably have a long list of things you would like to do to decorate. After all, it’s now your home and you want it to reflect your style, personality and what’s important to you. Unfortunately, you may not have the budget right now and we’ve got a GREAT way to pesonalize your home with a professional look without the professional price.
Hanging artwork and photos in your new home really shows visitors insight into your life. Custom framed artwork and photos is so expensive. We recently tried to frame a 20″ x 24″ portrait at a local frame store and the price we were quoted was $400. Buying posters and puting them in inexpensive frames can really save money. Ikea, TJ Max and Ross are some of our favorite places to buy posters, frames and framed art. Great looks and even better values.
Our HOT TIP of the day for framing family photos and getting the “custom framed” look is this. Measure your photo you want to frame. Go to TJ Max and shop for an already framed piece of art with similar measurements. Example: your photo is 16″ x 20″. Plan on matting the photo with about 2″-4″ on each side. So, a 16″ x 20″ photo with need a frame aproximately 18″ x 22″ or 20″ x 24″ opening. Take your photo and your new fram to JoAnn’s or Michaels and get new matts cut to match your photo. Ask them to put the matts, photo and frame together for you so it’s all done right. You will get the custom look for a fraction of the price!
It looks WONDERFUL and everyone will think you paid the BIG bucks. Our 20″ x 24″ portrait cost us $85 in our new frame and matts. Shhhhh! Don’t tell our guests.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Great Holiday Gifts Without Great Holiday Budget!
Tis’ the season to be jolly…. and stressed… and busy… and overwhelmed….and BROKE!!!
It’s so easy to forget the reason for the season and confuse the joy of the holidays with the stress we put on ourselves. That’s right friends, we put it on ourselves. So, we’ve got a couple of ideas to help keep the fun in the air, the festivity in your home, and spread some joy along the way!
Gifts are a way we show our freinds and family we care. But, gifts don’t have to cost alot or be elaborate. Here’s a few examples of gifts we love and appreciate receiving:
1. A true gift would be your time, something we’re all short on. Meeting for coffee or taking a walk can send a message that the person is important enough to you to take time out of your day to hear about theirs.
2. Baked goodies! Who doesn’t love a basket of homemade treats? What a great way to say ” I care….. I covered myself in flour, messed up my kitchen, fought the crowd at the grocery store ALL FOR YOU”!! Seriously, baked goods send love straight from the heart.
3. No time to bake? How about a jar full of ingredients so the receiver can make their own batch of cookies or brownies when they need a little pick-me-up. If you google “gifts in a jar” you will find pages of ingredients to assemble. A nice jar, a recipe card, a pretty ribbon….ta da! You’re a hero.
4. Coupons!!! Make a coupon book for someone special. This is great because you can customize it to fit their needs. Mom may get a coupon to have lunch. Friends may get a coupon to meet for a manicure/pedicure. Dad may get a coupon to get his car washed!! This is another great way to let someone know they are important to you and nothing says love like the gift of manual labor.
There are hundreds of ways to spread joy. Be creative. Remember, tis’ the season to be JOLLY!
Happy Holiday!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Getting Married? Some fun Orange County bride stories & tips…
As you may or may not know, Mike and I LOVE to work with brides and newlyweds to place them into a home. We talk to so many cool OC brides who are on our Vow2Save program, we thought we would share some fun with you.
Today I talked to quite a few brides and I have to say you ladies are so creative! I loved checking out your wedding websites and hearing your ideas.
I do wonder, though, why half of you are going to Vegas to get married??? Isn’t that where the bachelor and bachelorette parties should be?? What’s wrong with a nice Laguna Beach wedding or any other beach in the OC?? Maybe I just think like that because we grew up in Michigan…maybe if I grew up here I would want to get married in a new and exciting place too…hmm…
Anyway, on to the fun.
First of all, I have to give a shout out to Jim and Maurine, read his cute proposal story and check out HOW COOL their website is:
Now-a-days for the out of town weddings, you absolutely HAVE to have a website. Your guests will DRIVE YOU CRAZY WITH QUESTIONS IF YOU DON’T 😦 And I love it that Maurine thought to put some Vegas things to do and know on there…way to not be bridezilla and only think of yourself, girl!!
Another fun idea…one bride we know recently got engaged in San Francisco. She’s getting married in OC, but wanted to have a little taste of San Fran incorporated within the wedding. How to handle? Easy! Have a photographer go and take pics of areas that the two of you love, or just pretty landmarks, and then name your tables after them and use the photos as part of the centerpiece. How cute!
One other bride we knew wanted to get pictures of downtown Laguna Beach in her wedding dress for her beach-themed wedding…but she was getting married in her family church in Dana Point. She solved the problem by putting a 2 hour block in between the wedding and the reception, and the wedding party went down to Laguna for some wedding photos to remember. THEN, she used those pics on the thank you cards. Way cute.
Do you hate the thought of writing your thank you’s? I saw another bride make a TOTALLY personal thank you and save a ton of time by printing out a collage of photos, and writing a quick thank you ON THE PHOTOS with a sparkly sharpe. Niiiiiice, not a lot of space to write awkwardness, but totally personal and heartfelt, what a great idea 🙂
There are always tons of great wedding reception ideas online at www.TheKnot.com too. I’ll keep blogging about more in the future. PLEASE comment with your ideas and fun things you’ve experienced so this will be a resourceful post for all busy brides.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Project Playhouse is in full swing
I took the day off real estate today to go and work the Project Playhouse raffle at the Angel’s game. Brad Coleman my manager at Metro Realty recruited both me and Bob O’Brien to help out…it was lots of fun…there were so many people at the game! I think we got a lot of tickets sold too.
The raffle entered people into a drawing to win this awesome Angel’s playhouse. The playhouse is AMAZING and was built by Taylor Woodrow builders:
I wanted to let you all know if you DON’T have a favorite charity yet, Homeaid is a good choice! They sponsor this Project Playhouse, which are those little doll houses you see every year about this time along PCH in Newport Beach by Fashion Island. I love working with Habitat for Humanity too, either charity helps to get people who deserve housing into a home, and you don’t have to be “a regular” to make a big difference.
If you’re still a volunteer-a-phob you can go to either website and donate. I keep thinking if everyone who walked past me today just bought ONE ticket…big groups can do so much when everyone gives a little together. If anyone has any other creative ways to reach out to Orange County feel free to comment!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )OC Community Realtors Come Together to Support Local Families
Hey friends,
Just wanted to tell you about something really special going on right here in Orange County.
Laguna Board of REALTORS®, Newport Beach
Association of REALTORS® and Orange County Association of REALTORS® are joining forces to raise $250,000 for the Homes for Heroes / Foundations for Families Project. It’s part of a community of 27 homes being built in San Juan Capistrano. 14 of the homes will be targeted for injured veterans and/or families of deceased veterans.
There will be a Donor Celebration on Oct 18th to kick off the event in the heart of San Juan Capistrano. The menu will be planned by Two Guys Grilling from Dana Point so come hungry!!Everyone who makes a donation of $100 or more is invited to attend.
If you are interested in making a donation just contact Teryll Hopper at Teryll@ocar.org. Sounds like it’s going to be a great way to celebrate a worthy cause and enjoy the Orange County scenery.
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Passport Help @ Mission Viejo Library
Leaving the country soon??? I thought you might like to know you can apply for a passport, change your name on your passport, or get your passport photos taken at the Mission Viejo public library off of La Paz and Marguerite. I had to go today in order to get my name changed to “Weeks” on my passport, Mike is taking me on a cruise soon! 🙂
The library has walk ins on Wednesday and Thursday, and appointments on Saturday. There are nice people there helping you with the right form, fees, reviewing your forms, etc. It’s nice to have a second set of eyes to help you review your application. Since there is a backup, it would be annoying to get denied for filling out the app wrong!
You’re probably laughing since I have been married for 3 years, and have not fully changed my name. I KNOW, go ahead! I did find a neat little kit to solve that for future brides, though. The Name Change Kit for Brides makes a perfect, inexpensive, creative, engagement gift and it provides all the forms and information you need to change your name.
I think the passport was the last thing with my maiden name on it left. I had most of my name changed the first year, except for health records and my email. I’m almost there haha.
Here’s a cute courtyard pic of the Mission Viejo Library, there’s lots to do there besides read books 🙂 We actually used their community center last year for a homebuyer seminar – anyone is welcome to rent it. They have tutoring, computer classes, lots of stuff going on!
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