The 9th Annual Women in Leadership Luncheon (WILL) was held at the Double Tree Hotel in Mission Valley.  Each year, the East County Chamber of Commerce hosts a luncheon in October designed to showcase the professional accomplishments of our San Diego region in six different categories. San Diego women in the fields of Art/Media & Culture, Business, Education, Government, Healthcare and Non-Profits, are featured at 400 person luncheon where their stories of success and achievement are told to inspire the crowd and signify our Chamber’s commitment to ensuring that a strong, diverse and empowered local workforce is present in San Diego.

Priced to sell quickly! – $679,000 Broker Open House, Wednesday, March 16th 1-4pm View the Virtual Tour Located in the eco-friendly, master-planned community of Del Sur, this move-in ready home is located on a corner lot. Pride of ownership is evident as the original owner highly upgraded this Davidson-built home featuring gorgeous wood-plank flooring, slab granite counters, beautiful cabinetry and stainless steel appliances in the oversized kitchen. Formal living room, dining room and courtyard area wired for speakers are perfect for entertaining. Loft area upstairs is large enough for a pool table. Retreat to the huge master bedroom with fireplace. Two additional bedrooms connected with Jack & Jill bathroom complete the second level. Steps away are beautiful green belt, park and community pool. Residents of Del Sur enjoy over 1,000 acres of preserved open space and 18 miles of trails that connect to beautiful Black Mountain. Del Sur also offers weekly farmers market, parks and pools throughout the community and ?The Ranch House? – the information center and residents club. Conveniently located to the 15 & 56, and 4S Commons, this offering should not be missed. Beautifully upgraded Gourmet Kitchen Steps from park and pool Relaxing Master Bedroom with fireplace Distressed Wood Plank Flooring Interior Courtyard Area Corner Lot Large loft area upstairs MLS: 110013714 Sq Ft: 2888 Yr Built: 2006 Bdrms: 3 Baths: 2.5 Pool: Yes – Community Parking: 2 Car Garage Asking: $679,000 15646 New Park Terrace San Diego, CA 92127 Property Map MaryEllen Haywood 619-994-5515 mehaywood@QFRE.net www.thekeystosandiego.com Lic#: DRE #01264878 QualityFirst Real Estate 2763 Camino Del Rio South Suite# 300 San Diego, CA92108 619-667-3377

Daylight Saving Time Starts this Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 2:00 am

Prepare to Spring Forward

Usually signifying that summertime is on its way, daylight savings time is approaching.  The bad part is that we lose an hour of sleep.  Some of the reasons daylight savings is observed are because daytime lasts longer.  Some people believe that having daylight last longer can reduce accidents and injuries, particularly when driving.  Longer days can also be beneficial for tourism industries because people will want to stay outside longer. 

The University of Connecticut Health Center offers these tips for managing your sleep and life this weekend – and the rest of the year.

–Practice. In the days leading up to the change, go to bed 15 minutes earlier and wake up 15 minutes earlier.
–Take a nap on Saturday – but not close to bedtime.
–Just do it. After the time change, go to bed at your usual time – even if you don’t feel sleepy. You’ll get used to it.

SDSU Aztec Men's Basketball Team finish regular season as Co-Champions of the Mountain West Conference.

San Diego State Men’s Basketball Team Finishes 29-2

Tournament Play Begins March 10th vs. University of Utah

Our SDSU Aztecs Men’s Basketball team finished their regular season as Co-Champions of the Mountain West Conference. This is only the 2^nd time in 33 years that the Aztecs have claimed a regular season championship. After the last game, a 66-48 victory over Colorado State, Coach Fisher cut down the nets from the goal posts of the sold out Viejas Arena.  Coach Steve Fisher earned the Mountain West Conference Co-Coach of the Year, an honor he shares with BYU’s coach Dave Rose. In addition, DJ Gay and Kawhi Leonard were voted to the first team. 

In an interview, Coach Fisher stated that, although he and his team were honored by the awards, he would trade them in for two more wins. SDSU finished the regular season with a record of 29-2. Fisher’s team led the league in field goal defense, three-point percentage defense, scoring defense, rebounding offense, blocked shots, offensive rebounds, and in offensive rebound percentage. Truly a great accomplishment! 

It has definitely been an exciting season; a season that has made the 8^th largest city in the USA, a little smaller. It brought America’s Finest City together in unity, and conversation. The Viejas arena was sold out early in the season. Students camped out in horrific weather for days in order to snag the general admission tickets available to them; and then, after receiving their tickets…went over to the next line to secure the best possible seats. 

The biggest fans of SDSU basketball, known as ‘The Show’ have really enhanced Aztecs Basketball over the past few seasons. “They are sensational,” stated Coach Fisher. “They’ve created an atmosphere that makes it fun for others to watch, wondering what they’re going to do tonight, wondering what chant they’re going to have; what somebody’s going to look like; what big head they’re going to throw up. They’re more than a sixth man. That group has created a home-court advantage for us. They are invaluable to us.” 

The Show is definitely “All American 1^st team” in my book. What an incredible display of creativity and support for their team. 

Take a look for yourself! 

SDSU Aztecs will play their first game of the MWC Tournament against The University of Utah, on March 10th. Game time is set for 6:00PT and will be televised on The Mtn. (San Diego Cox Cable 320, Direct TV 616, and simulcast on Channel 4 San Diego (Cox Cable) 

I BELIEVE!!!

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Link:  The Keys To San Diego March 2011 Newsletter

Ranunculus Flowers are in Bloom

Enjoy Carlsbad’s Annual Display of Color

As you’re driving on the I-5 freeway, you can’t help but do a double-take when you see the beautiful display of color east of the 5 off Palomar Airport Road.  For over 60 years, Mother Nature has turned the beautiful rolling hills into a spectacular array of natural color and beauty.  Nearly 50 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus Flowers are in full bloom for 6-8 weeks each year.  The gardens are open March 1st through May 8, 2011.  A beautiful way to say “Spring is almost here.” 

The Flower Fields are open to the public 7 days a week from 9:00am-6:00pm.  Tickets can be purchased online or onsite.  Adults are $10, Senior are $9, Children 3-10 are $5, Children under the age of 2 are free.  Season passes as well as wagon rides are also available.

The Nutcracker, a beloved Christmas tradition

The Nutcracker playing throughout San Diego

The ballet premiered in Russia in 1892 by famous composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.  It wasn’t until 1944 though that the San Francisco Ballet became the first American company to perform the entire ballet in the United States.

What sets it apart?  It could be the the exotic melody of the famous “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy” with its use of the celestra, an instrument similar to a group of tuning forks.  Children will love that one of the main characters, Clara is usually played by a child.  From beautiful costumes and sets, to the iconic nutcracker statue that most of us recognize as a symbol of the holidays. 

Here in San Diego, we are fortunate to have several companies performing their rendition of the classic.  My 7 year old daughter and I watched the California Ballet’s  company perform at the Poway Center for the Arts.  It was a wonderful production.  After this past weekend they moved to the San Diego Civic Theatre. 

See list of various productions of the Nutcracker and information on purchasing tickets.  It’s sure to also be an annual tradition in your household.  Tickets subject to availability. 

California Ballet at the Civic Theatre – the longest-running Nutcracker production in San Diego (43 years to be exact). December 18-21, 2010.

West Coast Ballet at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido  December 17-18, 2010

San Diego Civic Youth Ballet at the Casa Del Prado Theater Dec 17-19, 2010

City Ballet of San Diego  at the Spreckels Theatre in Downtown San Diego. Dec 10-19, 2010

Playing at Copley Symphony Hall on Monday, December 20, 2010 is the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker

San Diego Ballet  at Mandeville Center at UCSD. Dec 16-17, 2010

Coach Steve Fisher and I @KOGO Coaches’ Talk 12/2/10

Undefeated Aztecs ranked #10 in ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll!

Congratulations to our San Diego Aztecs Men’s Basketball team for breaking in to the top ten of the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll. We have seen most of the other teams in the top ten before…so it’s extra nice to see our Aztecs ranked among the classic teams. San Diego State has a winning streak of 10 games, which is the 2^nd longest winning streak in the 90 year history of the program.
We, at QualityFirst Real Estate, would love to invite you to our sponsored Coaches’ talk with KOGO radio and Steve Fisher at Hooley’s, in Grossmont Center, on three separate dates…January 20^th, February 10^th, and March 3^rd.

The last KOGO Coaches’ Talk with Steve Fisher was a huge success. It took place at Hooley’s on December 2^nd. It was great to meet the coach and hear of the team’s success. I even got to take a picture with him!

Call me at 619-994-5515, if you are interested in being my guest at the VIP table for the upcoming KOGO Coaches’ Talk with Steve Fisher!

GO AZTECS!!

5 Predictions for 2011

Freddie Mac points out five features that will characterize the housing and mortgage markets next year

1. Low Mortgage Rates:  Relatively low mortgage rates will be a feature of the 2011 mortgage market.  Those watching the Fed expect the central bank to keep the federal funds rate at 0 percent to .25 percent.  30-year fixed rate loans will more than likely stay below 5% throughout the year.

2. Prices have hit bottom: House prices are likely to begin a gradual, but sustained recovery in the latter half of 2011.

3. Housing will remain affordable: Many first-time homebuyers will hit the housing market in 2011 because of the affodability of homes being high.  This will mean more home sales in 2011 than in 2010.

4. Refinances will dwindle: With the Making Home Affordable refinance program expiring in June of 2011, many of the eligible borrowers have already re-financed.  Refinancing will be less of an option to most home owners because although fixed-rate loans are likely to remain low, they will gradually move up.

5. Delinquency rates will decline: Based on the last several business cycles, the share of loans that are 90 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure proceedings — known as the “seriously delinquent rate” — generally crests within a year of the start of the recovery in payroll employment, and this economic recovery appears to fit within that pattern. Payrolls began to rise last January, and by the spring the seriously delinquent rate had begun to fall.

Source: Freddie Mac (12/09/10)

 FREE event for families for the Holidays

17868 Joyas Court, Poway, CA

Something fun to do with the family is check out Santa’s Village in Poway.  Usually advertised through word of mouth, as I have yet to find a website advertising it, the house on 17868 Joyas Court opens its doors to families in the community usually starting Dec. 10th and running through the 22nd of December from 6-8pm, except on Sundays.  Parking is somewhat limited, as you’ll have to walk to the house and up a bit of a hill…but it is very much worth it.  Once you get to the house, the walkway has gorgeous lighted archways.  You will more than likely see a long line…don’t fret….that line is to see and take photos with Santa.  You can easily bypass the line if you choose to go straight into the home to view the extravagantly decorated rooms.  You may be overwhelmed at how much there is to see, but take time to appreciate all of the effort that went into putting it together.  There is an area where you are free to enjoy hot chocolate and cookies.  And finally, each child is given a small gift…and by the way…everything is FREE!