New Year, Now What?

There are many sayings about a new year, many resolutions, blank pages to be written.  When you're a Realtor, the page is never really blank, though, as the work doesn't stop.  The efforts made the prior year are all building to work for the next year, whether it's through referrals, lead generation, or by getting your clients ready to make or accept an offer.  It's even following up with those who closed in the past to see how you might be of service now, with resources, event information, staying in touch.

I did wipe the white board in my office clean in honor of the new year, but not until I set my 2015 goals based on my 2014 work.  And then I started to fill it up.  Which of my clients are looking to buy and which are going to sell?  What is the time frame and the price range, what leads do I have, where will I get more, who do I call, text, email or write to today, tomorrow...whom have I referred and where are they in the process, are they getting the service they should, who needs to hear from me, who is waiting for a resource or information, how may I be of service?

But, this is a blog about Long Beach and the area, as well as real estate.  Before I do too much more writing on that previously blank page, let me share some of the holiday highlights that happened while living in Long Beach this last month. 

If your new year includes buying a house or selling a house, let me know and let's add you to my office white board as a valued and active client.

 Views from a high-rise condo for sale on Ocean Blvd.  Interested in seeing it?



I listed this house, open escrow and closed it, all within 14 days in December.  Need someone who can work like that?

Christmas Eve candlelight service included singing on the steps of the church

A walk around Naples Island on Christmas Eve, or anytime during the holidays, is a must

CHILL at Queen Mary with a 6 year old is too much fun

Holiday events around Long Beach and Orange County in December

Happy December!

Last month I touched on some of the things going on in the Long Beach area in November.  Now that the calendar has turned to December, celebrations and events really ramp up.  What is there to do in Long Beach and the area this month?

The Christmas trees in Alamitos Bay were turned on Thanksgiving night.  Have you seen them yet?

Credit to "Living Long Beach" for photo

(Unless otherwise noted, these events are in Long Beach)

December 5:  Seal Beach Christmas Parade

December 6:  Belmont Shore Christmas Parade

December 6-7:  Holiday Treats for the Animals, Aquarium of the Pacific

December 7:  Old Time Christmas Festival, Rancho Los Cerritos

December 13:  Naples Island Holiday Boat Parade

December 13:  Parade of 1,000 Lights, Shoreline Marina

December 13:  Daisy Avenue Christmas Parade

December 13-14:  Huntington Harbour Holiday Boat Parade

December 13-14:  Nutcracker, Long Beach Ballet at Terrace Theater

December 12-14: Holiday Shopping in the Shore, carolers, Santa photos, 2 hours free parking

December 16:  Menorah Lighting, Fashion Island Newport Beach

December 17-23: Newport Harbor Boat Parade, 6-10p nightly

December 17-23: Philharmonic Cruise of Lights, Huntington Harbour

December 20-21:  Nutcracker, Long Beach Ballet at Terrace Theater

December 20-21: Holiday Shopping in the Shore, carolers, Santa photos, 2 hours free parking

December 21: Shul By The Shore Menorah Lighting in the Citibank parking lot, 5354 E. 2nd Street

December 31: New Year's Eve Aboard the Queen Mary

Which ones will you attend? 

Let me know if you have any family visiting that fall in love with the area and are interest in moving to Long Beach or Orange County.  I'd be happy to find them a home and they can watch Christmas parades with boats while wearing flip flops for many holidays to come.




Alamitos Bay in winter



Holiday Events in Long Beach and Orange County in November

Living in Long Beach and Southern California, we have the best of all worlds with the mountains and the sea.  At the holidays, we can look at snowy peaks while sitting under a palm tree or end a day of skiing with a cocktail by the bay.  Not bad!

Here are some holiday events this month to start the Christmas season:

Anaheim:  Disneyland puts on their Holiday Parade from November 13-January 6

Newport Beach:  Fashion Island Tree Lighting nightly at 5p November 14-January 4

Long Beach:  CHILL Frozen Holiday adventure at the Queen Mary November 21-January 11

 

Buena Park:  Knotts Berry Farm becomes Knotts Merry Farm November 22-January 4

 

Seal Beach:  1st Tree lighting November 29th at Eisenhower Park

 

 

December events, such as tree lightings and boat parades in my next post.  Want to be sure you get all these posts?  Subscribe to my blog or send me an email at katielarson@kw.com.  I'll make sure you get the links.

 





Holiday Traditions - Food!

While getting ready for an annual Christmas party at our home, I was making recipes that were my grandmother's traditions and a couple that friends had handed down.  Making the rounds to the usual area stores (Costco, Trader Joe's, Albertsons) I wondered how many others were shopping for their traditional recipe ingredients, too.  How many Long Beach holiday traditions were in the provisioning stages?  I checked baskets and decided quite a few!

At Thanksgiving and Christmas I always make my Grandma Audrey's cranberry nut bread.  It's a family expectation and one I follow to the letter, using the recipe card my grandmother lovingly wrote out for me.  Although she passed in 2000, I still miss her and making the bread makes me feel close to her.  This year I made her "delicious cake", which calls for a whole can of fruit cocktail, with syrup!  When is the last time anyone bought fruit cocktail?  Luckily, it's still made, and her cake was a hit.  I remember my grandmother making that cake for her potlucks at St. Mary's Hospital so many decades ago.  It might just be a Long Beach tradition on its own.

A new tradition for us, from a friend's recipe, is the inclusion of Eggnog Martinis at the party.  One part eggnog, one part vodka, a little less than 1 part Amaretto:  shake over ice and pour into a martini glass, then top with nutmeg or cinnamon.  In a word?  Yum.  Tradition now.

What traditional things do you make?  What kind of kitchen do you need to make them in?  Do you have that kitchen now or are you looking for it?  I can help you with the search for that special kitchen in a new home.  I might share Grandma Audrey's cranberry nut bread and delicious cake recipes with you, too.  Maybe you already know what the first thing is you would make in that new kitchen to claim it as "yours".

I would love to hear about your holiday traditions.  How about a great latke recipe or the perfect Christmas candy?  Happy 9 days before Christmas!

Holidays in Long Beach - Lights On!

Thanksgiving is over, we are in the middle of Hanukkah and Christmas is fast approaching.  There are the traditional parades to enjoy and new holiday traditions being started here in Long Beach, many centered around lights.

The floating Christmas trees in Alamitos Bay and other public recreation areas have been up for a few weeks and they were turned on the day after Thanksgiving.  The tradition of Trees in the Bay goes back to 1949, but the first of the wooden structures you see today started in 1953.  The trees are maintained and lit through generous donations of local organizations and individuals.

This year Shul by the Shore's Fire & Ice Extravaganza was a public menorah lighting and celebration of Hanukkah.  Located at the Citibank parking lot on 2nd Street, the event was held on December 1st, and was the first one held in the Shore.  Here's hoping that becomes a tradition.

This week we have the 31st Annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 7th.  The parade starts at 6:00 p.m. at the corner of 2nd Street and Livingston, continuing the length of 2nd Street to Bayshore.  You can set up chairs and blankets after 5p.  Dress warmly!

The Shoreline Marina Yacht Club puts on the Parade of 1,000 Lights on December 14th, after the 60th Annual Daisy Avenue Christmas Parade, which begins at 5:00 p.m.

Mark your calendar for the Naples Island Annual Holiday Boat Parade on December 21st.  It's the 67th edition of the floating tradition. 

You don't need a date and a time to walk the canals of Naples to enjoy the holiday lights.  Make your own parade by renting a Duffy Boat to view the lights from the water.

There are so many more events that make Long Beach the place to be for the holidays.  And if you're looking to buy or sell a home here, don't just tell Santa, please let me know!  I'd love to help your holiday home dreams come true.  Wishing you a Joyous Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, a Happy Kwanzaa and a wonderful holiday season.