There REALLY is Something About Mary!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

2012-02-11T10:04:00.000-08:00

February Newsletter

2012-02-11T09:13:00.001-08:00

Here is my latest issue of my monthly Newsletter.

Click on picture below to read the full issue.

Clear Speakers Making Waves with Design-Conscious Audiophiles

2012-02-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

If you have ever taken a look inside a pair of speakers, you have probably seen a mass or wires and cables that may connect to make an incredible sound that audiophiles love. Unfortunately, these wires are not just relegated to the inside of the speakers. Wires and cables can spill out the back of speakers and stretch to the device it is connected to at the moment. This can create an unpleasant look in a home that may otherwise have an interior design that is perfect. Finding speakers that both sound great and do not interfere with the design of a room can be a tough bill to fill. The clear speakers by People People fill this void. The clear speakers do not show a mass of wires and can easily fit in with any style of room since they do not have a specific color or look. They only look chic.

The new clear speakers are already getting some special attention. At the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show, People People showcased a prototype. Wired Magazine also chose the speakers as one of the products to be featured at their 15 favorite products show during the CES. The speaker is still under development and not yet available for purchase, but once it does hit the marketplace, it is sure to fly off shelves because of the special features.

Audiophiles will rejoice with these new clear People People speakers. These are speakers that can be shown off because they are both high tech, make music sound great, and also look great in any room because they are transparent. The speakers are big enough to boom with sound, but the box is transparent so it doesn’t take up a lot of visible space.

Most of the time, speakers are hooked up to whatever electronic device is currently in use and just leave the speakers hooked up to the device. However, the new clear speakers just have one singular wire coming out the back. The small wifi antenna can be plugged into any modern technology including a computer, music player, or smart phone. The wifi antenna can also be plugged into older technology as well including older stereos or vinyl equipment. The antenna is also rechargeable.

The speakers will also make some noise outside your home as well. The company has taken steps towards making sure their speakers are economical and ecological. Instead of coming fully assembled in a giant package, the speaker ships to buyers in a small, flat package that will easily fit in a mailbox. That saves packaging which is good for keeping the price down as well as keeping big boxes out of landfills. The glass sheets that go around the speaker are then ordered through the glass repair shop closest to each customer. That means that local businesses are handed business that will help them keep their doors open. Buyers then assemble the speakers themselves. Individual components can be replaced as they wear out, and owners can make the repairs themselves. That means people will be able to keep their speakers out of landfill.

2012 Rancho Mirage Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance

2012-02-03T11:11:00.001-08:00

Attend the 2012 Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance
February 17 - 26, 2012 Desert Auto Week

THE DESERT CLASSIC CONCOURS VINTAGE AND HISTORIC RACE
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 17, 18, & 19, 2012
AT CHUCKAWALLA VALLEY RACEWAY, Indio, California

TOUR CLASSIQUE
FORMAL ROAD TOUR FOR SELECT ENTRANTS FROM CONCOURS
Friday and Saturday, February 24 & 25, 2012

THE DESERT CLASSIC CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE
Sunday, February 26, 2012
At the Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa, in Rancho Mirage, California. In the heart of the Palm Springs valley.

The Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance is a 501(c)(3), non-profit corporation. Net proceeds from the event will be donated each year to our charity partners.

There Really IS Something About Mary!

2012-01-30T16:39:00.001-08:00

It isn’t easy selling a home in today’s real estate market, but it can be done and I have proven it over and over with consistent results.

Contact me today to find out how I can sell your home now with the same proven results!

Sample of "Beyond the Headlines" from CAR

2012-01-27T11:43:00.001-08:00

The California Association of Realtors publish "Beyond the Headlines" for consumers in the California market. The articles are timely and informative. I like to keep the current issue on my website (click here to see). Here are a few brief articles found in this week's issue of Beyond the Headlines:

In other news …

The Wall Street Journal

Sales stir hope for housing market

Existing-home sales increased 5 percent in December from a month earlier, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.61 million units, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® said Friday. Read the full story: http://on.wsj.com/zrYTFG

The Mercury News

Fed: Interest rates should stay low until late 2014

The Federal Reserve said it’s unlikely to raise its benchmark interest rate before late 2014, extending its time frame by at least a year and a half. Read the full story: http://bit.ly/A6hAGF

Things to do in Old Town La Quitna this Weekend!

2012-01-20T10:51:00.000-08:00

Free Jazz Concert on the Lawn!

Old Town La Quinta Event Lawn

Saturday, January 21, 2012

5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The "Heatwave Jazz & Show Band" will perform an exciting free concert on Saturday, January 21st from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the Old Town La Quinta Event Lawn. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and your family and friends - you won't want to miss the show this dynamic group of young, local musicians puts on!Sponsored through the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coachella Valley and under he direction of Jim Little, the "Heatwave Jazz & Show Band" fires up a hot mix of music from the old sounds of Count Basie to the upbeat tunes of Black Eyed Peas. They have performed with World-class Artists such as Mark Schulman, Adriana Balic, Jude Crossen, Dr. Thom Mason and many more. The band members' ages range from 13 to 18 years-old, but their sound carries of experienced musicians.

For more information call 760-406-2514 or visit www.heatwaveband.org.

The Certified Farmers' Market

Sunday, January 22, 2012

8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Main Street - Old Town La Quinta

Visit the Certified Farmers' Market on Main Street in Old Town every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for the freshest produce, herbs, honey, nuts, cheese, cut flowers & plants, fresh-baked breads from L'Artisan Bakery, live chef demonstrations and live music! Also featured are organic apples and apple juice from Cayuma Farms; a wide variety of delicious, fresh berries from Pudwill Farms; and Da-Le Ranchoffering USDA inspected pork, lamb, rabbit, chicken and beef!

Take time to browse the unique shops in Old Town and enjoy coffee, brunch or lunch at your favorite Old Town restaurant and indulge in some pampering and make a whole day of it! The Certified Farmers' Market is sponsored by The Palm Springs Cultural Center.

Riverside County Home Sale Prices for December

2012-01-19T15:40:00.001-08:00

Riverside County December Home Sale Prices

City	Total Sales	<100	100	125	150	175	200	225	250	275	300	325	350	400	450	500	550	600+	Average
Aguanga	5	1	1	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$129,900
Banning	44	17	6	10	7	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	$120,102
Beaumont	60	6	9	5	16	11	4	8	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$164,252
Bermuda Dunes	30	0	4	2	3	2	5	4	2	3	0	1	1	0	1	0	1	1	$246,350
Blythe	13	7	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$86,654
Calimesa	8	3	0	1	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$142,875
Canyon Lake	35	3	0	1	3	5	3	3	2	5	2	0	0	1	2	2	1	2	$289,771
Cathedral City	67	4	7	15	21	7	5	2	3	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	$168,701
Cherry Valley	11	0	3	2	1	1	0	1	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	$192,591
Coachella	47	15	11	12	7	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$116,596
Corona	219	1	0	2	6	10	13	23	22	24	25	18	40	14	9	5	1	6	$322,569
Desert Hot Springs	85	51	20	7	4	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$94,700
Hemet	135	51	20	35	15	9	1	0	1	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	$118,020
Home Gardens	8	0	2	1	2	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$175,313
Homeland	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$81,500
Idyllwild	15	1	0	3	1	0	2	2	1	2	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	$240,433
Indian Wells	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	$1,331,667
Indio	136	25	14	21	19	17	12	10	2	4	0	2	3	2	1	1	2	1	$189,349
La Quinta	117	17	9	4	8	5	4	5	5	3	4	3	10	5	3	2	3	27	$416,011
Lake Elsinore	105	14	7	9	13	25	17	13	4	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	$175,651
Menifee	88	6	3	10	17	16	17	7	10	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	$187,165
Mira Loma	22	1	0	1	2	0	1	2	1	2	6	1	4	1	0	0	0	0	$278,909
Moreno Valley	235	14	37	55	47	30	24	19	8	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	$161,021
Mountain Center	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$54,500
Murrieta	176	0	1	3	10	19	39	30	32	13	11	3	5	2	1	0	1	6	$258,532
Norco	24	0	0	0	1	2	0	4	1	2	4	1	2	1	4	1	1	0	$333,125
Nuevo	11	1	2	0	1	2	0	2	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$198,227
Palm Desert	71	10	3	3	8	2	0	4	5	5	6	1	9	1	0	2	5	7	$321,758
Palm Springs	79	10	1	2	4	5	6	7	5	4	0	1	5	6	2	2	2	17	$381,598
Perris	124	13	20	31	31	12	5	3	4	0	1	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	$155,943
Rancho Mirage	39	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	7	2	7	2	2	5	1	9	$614,641
Riverside	305	16	25	29	40	48	20	30	24	19	8	11	15	8	4	3	3	2	$221,970
Rubidoux	107	12	8	12	11	12	9	7	6	10	8	5	6	1	0	0	0	0	$207,779
San Jacinto	64	13	15	22	8	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$126,227
Sun City	23	9	3	4	6	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$120,087
Temecula	172	0	0	2	5	19	16	20	20	12	22	11	21	7	4	3	1	9	$307,566
Thousand Palms	9	3	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	$104,278
Winchester	45	0	0	0	1	11	15	10	3	2	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	$224,733

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What is a Healthy Breakfast?

2012-01-13T13:36:00.000-08:00

Breakfast has different levels of importance to people. Some people wouldn’t start their day without a hearty meal, while others just grab a cup of coffee. National influence may play a big role. Some people just don’t realize the importance for their body to start the day with a healthy meal. Others do not know what a healthy breakfast consists of.

Influence by Country

If you live in the United States, there are plenty of choices for breakfast and numerous restaurants that specialize in them. You can visit Bob Evans, IHOP, or other places known for the first meal of the day. Of course, not everything they serve is nutritious, but it does influence you to eat something early in the morning.

The United Kingdom uses more cereals as part of their breakfast than any other European country. On weekends, they may eat a traditional breakfast that includes meats, beans, and tomatoes.

People in France and many other countries eat sweets such as pastries for their breakfast. Italians and Chileans eat bread with jams and jellies for their first meal of the day.

Many countries have traditional breakfasts with eggs and meat, along with breads. Coffee or tea is a staple in most countries, while some include fruit.

Why Should You Eat Breakfast?

One of the main reasons to eat breakfast is because your body needs fuel. It has gone all night without food and needs something to convert into energy. Many people say that eating first thing in the morning increases your body’s metabolism, which helps you lose weight.
Experts advocate children eating a good breakfast to help them focus on their studies. Food fuels the brain as well as the body.

It is also believed that when you eat breakfast, you are less likely to snack on unhealthy foods. It improves your mood and provides much needed vitamins and minerals.

What is a Good Breakfast?

Experts recommend getting around 20 percent of your calories at breakfast. This translates into 400 calories for women and 500 calories for men, depending on individual needs.

Because you haven’t eaten since the previous evening, you will need a variety of foods to provide fuel for your day. A combination of protein and carbohydrates will provide a healthy start to your day. Carbs are converted into energy, and proteins keep you full longer.

Choosing complex carbohydrates like fruit and high fiber cereal will last longer than simple carbs like donuts and pastries. Lower fat proteins like eggs and lean meat will be healthy for your heart. Dairy products such as cheese, yogurt and milk provide protein and other nutrients like calcium and vitamins.

If you are too busy to sit down for a traditional breakfast, there are quick options to help you get a healthy start to your day. These include fruit juices, cereal bars, and breakfast sandwiches. Many of these options are microwavable for a fast meal on the go. You can eat healthy in a hurry.

January Newsletter

2012-01-10T20:09:00.000-08:00

May You Have the Greatest of New Years!!

2011-12-30T05:31:00.001-08:00

Social Networking Year in Review

2011-12-28T18:15:00.001-08:00

Social networking is all about the interaction, so here is what had people sharing, tweeting, and talking in 2011.

I Have to Share This on Facebook…

As of 2011, there are 800 million users on Facebook, and those users love to share information. Three features made it easier than ever to share stories on Facebook this year. In September, Facebook also launched a “new class of social apps” which made it easy to share what you are reading or listening to. Users can now subscribe to people and pages. Facebook also has a share button, which lets friends share interesting stories with the click of a button. Here are the top five articles that were shared on Facebook in 2011, according to Facebook + Media:

1. “Satellite Photos of Japan, Before and After the Quake and Tsunami” by Alan McLean, Kevin Quealy, Matthew Ericson, Archie Tse, and Jason Alvich for the New York Times

2. “What teachers really want to tell parents” by Ron Clark for CNN

3. “No, your zodiac sign hasn’t changed” by Jason Hanna for CNN

4. “Parents, don’t dress your girls like tramps” by LZ Granderson for CNN

5. The video of “Father Daughter Dance Medley” on Yahoo courtesy of Ashley Richmond featuring a really awesome father and daughter dance team.

These Topics Were #Trending

When people have something they want to share with the world in under 140 characters, they turn to Twitter. The death of Osama Bin Laden was one of the most tweeted about events in history and prompted 27,900,000 tweets in two hours and 35 minutes on May 1, 2011. However, there were other trends that had staying power in 2011. Here were the top trending topics on Twitter this year according to What the Trend:

1. Justin Bieber- He launched two albums, had a romance with Selena Gomez, and battled through a scandal, making him the most tweeted trend in 2011.

2. Women’s FIFA World Cup- People love soccer (or football, depending on the country).

3. Lady Gaga- The sales of her album crashed Amazon’s server, and she went on tour this year.

4. NBA- The NBA Finals when the Dallas Mavericks beat out the Miami Heat, the NBA lockout, and the end of the lockout were all newsworthy this year.

5. Jonas Brothers- They each worked on solo projects this year, but thanks to a loyal fan base, they were in the top five.

Hey, Do You Want to Hangout?

Google+ launched this year and added a few new words to our social networking vocabulary: “circles,” “hangouts,” and “sparks.” Here is a timeline of Google+ so far:

-June 28: Google+ officially launches during an invite-only “field testing” phase. People who received the invitation were allowed to invite their friends, but the next day this was suspended because of high demand.

-August 6: Users are given 150 invitations to send out.

-July 14: Google announces that they have 10 million users after the invitation trial phase.

-September 20: Google+ opened up their service to anyone 18 years old and older.

-October 27: Google launched support for Google Apps. Users can now access Google+ on their mobile devices.

-October: It is estimated that Google has 40 million users, and it is projected that 22% of adults will join Google+ in the coming year.

-November 7: Google+ Pages is launched to let business owners promote their businesses.

Like me on Facebook!!

Merry Christmas from Mary Williams!!

2011-12-23T06:08:00.000-08:00

Holiday Sing-a-Long in Old Town La Quinta!

2011-12-07T09:31:00.000-08:00

Home Prices Rise for 5th Consecutive Month

2011-12-01T08:59:00.000-08:00

The most recent data from the S&P and Case-Shiller index shows that home prices rose for the fifth consecutive month. This index looked at twenty major cities and found that home prices rose 0.2% in August. However, prices are still lower on a year-over-year basis by 3.8%. David Blitzer, a spokesman for S&P, said, “Even though the [year-over-year] rates are improving, national home prices are still below where they were a year ago.” For people who are looking to sell their home, a rise in home prices could be good news; not so, however, for those looking to buy a new home. This could be good for the overall economy, but it is still unclear what home prices will do in the following months.

Certain areas are doing better than others. Ten off the twenty metro areas that were covered by the Case-Shiller index saw a rise in home prices. Home prices rose 1.6% in Washington, D.C., and 1.4% in Detroit and Chicago. However, other areas saw a fall in home prices; 2.4% in Atlanta, 0.4% in Los Angeles, 0.3% in Las Vegas, 0.2% in San Diego, and 0.1% in San Francisco and Phoenix.

As long as the overall economy stays weak, home prices will continue to hover around their current levels. When the economy is weak, there are more foreclosures. Lending standards are also strict right now, and unless they ease up, there may not be a big change in the price of homes.

The changes that were made to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) by the Obama administration are unlikely to have an effect on home prices. The main focus of the changes that were made to HARP was to help people stay in their present homes instead of buying new ones. These changes allow borrowers to refinance at a lower rate, which has the potential to lower monthly house payments. While this may provide a boost to the economy, it is unlikely to help those people who are looking to buy a new home. It may help prevent defaults and foreclosures, which means there are fewer distressed homes on the market pulling down the value of those and other homes in the area.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-21T13:38:00.000-08:00

Happy Veterans Day!

2011-11-09T12:07:00.000-08:00

Don't Forget to Fall Back!!

2011-11-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

There Really IS Something About Mary!

Christmas is 51 Days Away! Are you ready?

2011-11-03T13:51:00.001-07:00

The Halloween pumpkins are starting to look like toothless orange blobs and the Thanksgiving turkey is still alive and well. Although it may seem a bit too early to start shopping for the upcoming holiday season, there are a few reasons to beat the usual rush.

1. Avoid hassles

If you have ever shopped for presents late in the season, you know how difficult it can be. The roads are crowded, the parking lots are worse, and waiting in queue can seem never-ending. It’s best to breeze into the mall now, combing department stores for the best gifts at a great price.

2. Save money

Coffee pots on sale this week, present a great opportunity to pick up a set to gift. Take advantage of sales and discounts as you discover them. Coupons and store-wide offers crop up throughout the year, making it easy for you to pick up a gift here and there.

You can also save money by paying cash for all the gifts you purchase. If you pay with a credit card, the twenty-dollar gift could end up costing you much, much more. Make a game of accumulating a cache of cash that you can use for early shopping.

3. Find meaningful gifts

If you shop too late, your gift options will be very limited. Hit the malls on December 23 or 24, and you may have to settle for those pre-wrapped, generic gifts; a travel alarm clock, radio shower mirror, or lacquered valet for men, and manicure sets, travel makeup bags, and boxed jewelry ensembles for women.

Instead, start early and look for opportunities to support local commerce by purchasing unique items. WalMart has the lowest prices but not much soul. Handmade gifts created by you or another artisan, show thought and creativity.

4. Allow for delays

Shopping online is somewhat of a gamble. You put in your digits, click a few times and wait for an item – possibly on the other side of the globe – to be packed and shipped to you. Amazingly, it nearly always arrives without incident. During the holiday rush however, the sheer volume of packages and letters slows down shipping companies and the postal service.

Now you have four solid reasons to check-off some items on your Christmas list.

So, let me know - Are you an early shopper or do you still wait until the last minute?

There REALLY is Something About Mary!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

February Newsletter

Clear Speakers Making Waves with Design-Conscious Audiophiles

2012 Rancho Mirage Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance

Attend the 2012 Desert Classic Concours d'EleganceFebruary 17 - 26, 2012 Desert Auto Week

There Really IS Something About Mary!

It isn’t easy selling a home in today’s real estate market, but it can be done and I have proven it over and over with consistent results.

Contact me today to find out how I can sell your home now with the same proven results!

Sample of "Beyond the Headlines" from CAR

Things to do in Old Town La Quitna this Weekend!

Free Jazz Concert on the Lawn!

The Certified Farmers' Market

Riverside County Home Sale Prices for December

Riverside County December Home Sale Prices

What is a Healthy Breakfast?

January Newsletter

May You Have the Greatest of New Years!!

Social Networking Year in Review

Merry Christmas from Mary Williams!!

Holiday Sing-a-Long in Old Town La Quinta!

Home Prices Rise for 5th Consecutive Month

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Veterans Day!

Don't Forget to Fall Back!!

Christmas is 51 Days Away! Are you ready?

Attend the 2012 Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance
February 17 - 26, 2012 Desert Auto Week