Musing Over Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture

by rosemaryjoles on January 26, 2012

Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture

 

Casa Del Prado,Balboa Park,San Diego

Casa Del Prado

Carolyn Plummer, of Prospect Mortgage Company, one of my colleagues, recently sent an article highlighting how the Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture style developed.  Reading this article got me thinking about how much I love looking at houses.

When I see Spanish Colonial Revival, I think of old Hollywood and Douglas Fairbanks sipping whisky by the pool.  It is quintessential Southern California glamour.  Hollywood just can’t get enough of this practical yet beautiful style.  Two celebrity homes in Bel Air that embody this style belong to Diane Keaton and Meg Ryan.

Spanish Colonialembraces rustic elegance.  The bold use of wood, plaster and stone mellows the effects of the warm dry heat native to the Southwest.  The high ceilings, indoor / outdoor configuration and tall windows all work together to make the most of our amazing climate.  Tall, thick wood roofs allowed homes to stay cool in day and yet the abundance of hearths and conductive properties of stone, allowed for warming at night.

Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture,La Mesa,San Diego,Hollywood Glamour

Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture

If you have a hankering to see some of the gorgeous examples of Spanish Colonial, Revival Architecture right here in San Diego, apart from hundreds of beautiful, private residences, you can check out Balboa Park.

The Link to Article Sent by Carolyn Plummer

Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture

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Maxwell’s House of Books – One of San Diego’s Best Kept Secrets

by rosemaryjoles on January 24, 2012

San Diego,La Mesa,Book Collections,Great Books,Wahrenbrocks

Come browse the collection for some great books

The Old Fashioned Book

I love technology.  I love Kindle and the variety of books that have become widely available to anyone, because of all of the new technology.  Nevertheless for me, nothing can replace the feel, the look, and the smell of a good book.  Granted, if you are hardcore, you probably have less space in your home as a direct result, but for us purists…well, the benefits far outweigh the loss of a little extra space.

So imagine my delight when I happened upon a local gem – Maxwell’s House of Books.  Located on La Mesa Boulevard across from Cosmos Coffee Café, this literary oasis is full of beautiful books.  If you love classics in mint condition, if you like hard-to-find, beautifully-rendered volumes for reasonable prices, if you are looking for history, geography, and  a myriad of other topics including old-fashioned children’s books that conjure up the magic of childhood, then you are in for a treat.

San Diego History

Craig and Lynn Maxwell,Great Books,San Diego Books,La Mesa Books
Proud Owners of Maxwell’s House of Books

The owners, Craig and Lynn Maxwell, are following in a fine family tradition begun by Craig’s grandfather, Vernon Wahrenbrock, who lived to the ripe old age of 98.  Wahrenbrock’s Book House, all three floors of it, founded in 1935, was considered the flagship bookstore for collectors of rare and hard-to-find books in San Diego.  It served Southern California until 1967 when the Valverde family bought the entire operation.

Craig developed his love of books through the astounding variety of Wahrenbrock’s, and the avid reading of his parents.  Growing up, he was never without a book.

The Bookman Speaks

I asked him what sorts of things he reads and here are some of his comments: everything including political philosophy, poetry, and fiction.  His favorite books are Moby Dick and The Brothers Karamazov.  He began his inventory from a personal collection of forty thousand volumes.  When you come into their delightful shop, you will see that their books are in impeccable condition.

Their collection includes a remarkable number of academic and scholarly editions, but the Maxwells are generalists and their collection appeals to a wide audience.

Maxwell’s House of Books is for people who want to come and read books, find books, talk about books, and incidentally Cosmos across the street has the coffee.  No I am sorry, it is not Maxwell House – in case you were wondering. You can comb their shelves Tuesday through Saturday, 10am – 6pm.

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. Mark Twain


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Morning Latte: How to be a better…Listener

by rosemaryjoles on January 19, 2012

San Diego,Listening,Communcation,Personal Growth,Grow My Business

Thoughts to ponder as we sip our latte in the morning

Communication

What if you could change one simple thing today that would dramatically improve your business and personal success – would you do it?  Well here is something, and it is absolutely free.  You can become a better Listener.

Your Efforts Will Yield Huge Dividends

Good listeners have more confidence.  They make fewer mistakes.  They have more satisfying relationships.  They get more done faster, because they have a much better chance of doing things right the first time.  Good Listeners are a pleasure to be around because in listening, they acknowledge and value the other person.

Most of the successful people I known are the ones who do more listening than talking.   Bernard M. Baruch

Some Things To Consider

Here are a few tips from Infoplease that I think will really help:

  • Give your full attention to the person who is talking
  • Let the speaker finish before you begin speaking
  • Listen for the main ideas the other person is sharing
  • Asking questions can help the speaker solidify their thoughts
  • Repeat back what they have said to be sure you understand what they are saying
  • Understanding what the other person wants or needs will allow me to respond in the most appropriate manner

One final thing to consider, listening is not synonymous with agreement.  I do not need to agree with the speaker in order to politely listen.  Rather, in listening I am supporting and encouraging the other person.

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Is Rental History Important in Getting a Mortgage?

by rosemaryjoles on January 17, 2012

Credit Scores

Raising Credit Scores by Paying Rent on Time

Rewards for Consistency

Consistent on time payment of rent can boost credit scores of first time homebuyers and people whose credit scores need rebuilding because of foreclosures.

Help from Credit Reporting Agencies

Daily Real Estate News, an online industry periodical says that Experian, a leading credit report company, added a section to its credit reports last year that reflected on-time rent payments. Now the two other major credit reporting companies are following suit.

The article states that “nearly half of high-risk consumers saw an increase of 100 points or more after their rental history was added to their credit report, says Brannan Johnston, the managing director of Experian’s rent bureau. Consumers with average or higher credit scores, on the other hand, did not see any major difference to their scores.”

The way this works is that property management companies report their rental payment data to Experian RentBureau directly and automatically from their property management software. 

A Chance to Rebuild

Although it does not impact everyone, for people who have fallen on hard times due to workforce reductions or were in over their heads in their last mortgage and foreclosed, this feature offers a chance to rebuild toward the future.

 

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New Year / Fresh Start

by rosemaryjoles on January 16, 2012

 

Girl removing ornament from tree

Holiday Cleanup Can Be Fun

New Year Resolutions

I love January.  It is a time when so many of us take stock and reflect upon what happened the year before.  We formulate new goals and think about what we will do differently this year, in our homes, our gardens and our businesses.  Often, this is when we decide upon the projects we want to tackle, once our kids are back in school.

Make your goals obtainable

One key to successful goal setting, experts say, is to break down your goals into obtainable segments.  Goals are not supposed to be an endless succession of time consuming ordeals that I finally give up on out of exasperation.  Goals are a means to an end – better quality of life.

An orderly attic or garage is huge step in the right direction.  Done right, it will give you plenty of time for the things you really care about – your family and friends.

Well, we’ve got a plan that will help you get there with very little added effort – smart cleanup from the holidays.  Properly putting away our holiday decorations will pay off big next year.

Taking the first step

Before you do anything, collect all of your decorations in one place and sort them into three piles: Keepers, Broken, and Giveaway.

The keepers are the things you just love and use.

The broken are the things that need repair.  One question to ask yourself is: am I going to repair this?  If so, fix it.  If not, just get rid of it.  Give yourself permission to throw it away.

The final category is the giveaway pile.  These are items that are still in good shape, but you haven’t used in a year and you know you won’t use again.  If you do not have a friend or family member who can use them, you can donate these items to a favorite charity or community group.

Finally, put the keepers into labeled boxes and stack together in your storage area.  This will make decorating next year a snap.  If you follow this process for all of your decorations – Valentines, Easter, Fourth of July, and Halloween – by the following year, you will have significantly reduced clutter and reorganized your storage area.

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Decorate With What You Have!

January 9, 2012

Learn How to Freshen Your Home the Tuesday Night   Ready for a change?  Start off the New Year by bringing a fresh approach to your home.  Join us at San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room, on Tuesday January 10th, 2012 for a special wine tasting and then stay to learn how to decorate your home the frugal [...]

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Staging to Sell – The Front Door

January 5, 2012

First Impressions Getting your front door in top shape is well worth the effort.  First Impressions are important.  They color people’s perception for everything that follows. Draw the Eye Make It Stand Out:  Choose a color that compliments your overall scheme but draws the eye.  A contrasting color at the same intensity will draw the eye, as [...]

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Top Chef Finalist Brian Malarkey Opens Gingham in La Mesa

January 3, 2012

Gingham Great Food / Relaxed Setting Chef Brian Malarkey, an award-winning Executive Chef, Bravo Top Chef finalist, and mastermind behind San Diego’s Searsucker and Burlap restaurants, will open his third venue, Gingham, another of his fabric concept restaurants in the heart of downtown La Mesa on Monday, January 9, 2012. Brian Malarkey A native of Bend Oregon, Chef Malarkey grew up on a horse [...]

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San Diego’s Little Italy Condo For Lease

October 29, 2011

Downtown San Diego, Littly Italy’s La Vita-Furnished Home For Lease Home Photos Local Schools Courtesy: Rosemary Joles Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty 619-405-7673 Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com 1580 Union St. San Diego, CA Bedrooms: 1 Bathrooms : 1 (1 full) List Price: $2400 Living Area Approx : 681 Welcome home to one of Little Italy`s finest buildings La Vita!  [...]

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9146 Madison Avenue, Mt. Helix

October 20, 2011

Live the California Lifestyle Home Photos Local Schools Courtesy: Rosemary Joles Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty 619-405-7673 Homes@InHarmonyWithYourDreams.com 9146 Madison Avenue La Mesa, CA 91941 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms : 4 (4 full) List Price: $ Living Area Approx : 2856 Two car garage with extensive storage Indoor/Outdoor living from each room Easy care hardwood and tile [...]

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