Oceanside, California

The Harbor. Oceanside is third largest city in San Diego County

Carlsbad, California

Carlsbad Flower Field

Southern California

Palm Trees

Coastal North County, California

Sunset views on Coastal North County Beach

Oceanside, California

Oceanside Pier

Friday, August 29, 2014

Free Family Art Day At Oceanside Pier And Sand Art Contest August 31st

Show off your creative side and have fun in the sun with Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) at the Oceanside Pier on August 31, 2014 from 9am to 1pm for a Free Family Art Day and a Sand Art Contest!

This two-part event not only provides the public with a day of creative competition in nature for a modest registration fee, but also FREE and easy sand art projects for the public.

Free Family Art for everyone at the Pavilions south of the Pier. Kids and families will learn about endangered ocean animals while making art!

Sand Art Contest registration is open through the day of the event. Early registration is recommended. Participation for the contest is limited to 50 four-person teams on a first-come first-serve basis. Entry fee is $25 per team through August 10 (includes 1 free t-shirt for team captain plus purchase of additional t-shirts for $5). After August 10th entry fee is $35 per team. $100 to the winning team!

$25 Team Entry Fee up to and including August 10

$5 t-shirts (Only one included with $25 entry fee)

$35 Team Entry Fee after August 10

If you are interested in being a sponsor for this fun and creative event, please contact Julia Fister at (760) 435-3728 or julia@oma-online.org

Thank you to ScholarShare, California’s 529 College Savings Plan, a proud sponsor of Free Family Art Day. Light and healthy refreshments will be available at every Free Family Art Day.

No art experience is required and all art supplies will be provided. Children will also have the opportunity to explore the museum through a kid-centric tour.

Visit OMA for more information on this event and to download your entry form.

Call or Text me today at (619) 822-5772 for more information on Oceanside Homes for Sale or click on one of the homes below.

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Thursday, August 28, 2014

5 DIY Decorating Projects Perfect For The Holiday Weekend

Spend that free day making something new and creative for your home, to admire long after the weekend is over

By Catherine Mcauley

There’s nothing like a long weekend to get a few of those to-do-list items checked off. Once you’ve done the weekly chores and caught up with friends and family, there’s often little time left for rest and relaxation during a two-day weekend. There might be time to squeeze in a quick project here and there, but it’ll be just that — squeezing. A three-day weekend offers the perfect amount of time to dive into something a little more creative but still manageable.

In preparation for the coming holiday weekend, here’s a compilation of some imaginative DIY projects that might inspire you. Why not put the extra day to good use and create something lovely and functional for your home?
1. Make Your Own Blackboard

Blackboards are unbelievably useful for keeping track of everything in the house. Whether you use it for a weekly shopping list that people can add to as they wish, a communal day-to-day diary to keep track of everyone’s movements or just a space to leave notes on without wasting paper, you’ll surely find one useful. They don’t have to be eyesores, either; you can make a blackboard that’s as cute as it is useful.
Getting started: You’ll need a scrap of wood, some blackboard paint, a sponge brush, a ruler, a pencil, chalk, a white paint pen and hooks or fastenings for hanging the board.

The steps are very straightforward, and this project shouldn’t take you long at all.

See how to make your own blackboard
2. Paint Stripes on Your Floor

This is a great project to give an entire room a lift. If you love the feel of exposed floorboards and want to add a little interest to the current finish or color, then stripes (or whatever pattern you fancy) may be the solution. They’ll brighten and freshen the room, giving it a polished and cared-for feel. The hardest part of the project will be clearing the room, but once this has been done, the rest of the work should be fairly straightforward.
Getting started: Choose your design and paint colors, measure the room, map out the pattern on the floor with tape to keep the lines clean and then get painting. Just be sure to have a clear system for marking out which stripes you’re painting and which you’re not.

See how to paint stripes on your floor
3. Create a Rustic Headboard From Salvaged Doors

If you’re happy with your bed but looking for a headboard update, this may be the project for you.
Getting started: It will require a fair amount of tools and be slightly more time consuming than other projects, but this project is still easily doable in a day. It will be well worth it when you think of the finished product; just imagine how much a bed with a headboard like this would cost to buy. The best part is, you can tailor it specifically to your room — choosing the type of wood, size, fixtures, paint (or no paint) and color. Just make sure you sand it down well to avoid any rough edges or splinters.

See how to create your own rustic chic headboard from salvaged doors
4. Create a Simple Wall Stencil Using a Pizza Box

This is a fun and inexpensive project that’ll transform whichever room you try it in. A pizza box might seem like an unconventional item of choice for a room makeover, but it’s incredibly effective. The cardboard is strong, so it works well as a template, and it won’t cost you anything more than the pizza it comes with. While it’s a money-saving project, it’s worth taking the time to do it right. Careful measurements and planning will help make sure that the wall looks professional and seamless.
Getting started: Decide on the design you want to create. At this point anything goes; just remember that you will have to outline and fill in every single element by hand, so you may not want to make it too elaborate. The circular pattern used here looks cool on the wall and ensures consistency across the room. Simply measure and cut out the stencil, measure and map out the walls, and then start painting. Remember, stenciling is different than painting a mural or something more freehand, so accuracy and care are needed.

See how to stencil a wall using a pizza box
White

5. Transform a Bar Cart Into a Bedside Table

With a little effort and care, you can do your bit for the environment by reusing something that was headed for the trash and create a new favorite piece for your home. The wonderful thing about a project like this is that you can create something that reflects your own individual style and that you never would have found in a shop. This cart was found in a secondhand shop, sanded down and painted to create an (almost) brand-new and very stylish bedside table.
White

Getting started: Next time you unearth a treasure in a secondhand shop or you’re planning to drop something off at the Dumpster, think about how you might be able to transform it to create a much-loved piece for your home.

See how to turn a vintage bar cart into a bedside table

Tell us: Do you have any DIY plans for the long weekend? We’d love to hear about them in the Comments.

Looking for San Elijo Hills Homes For Sale?  Then look no further than our website dedicated to San Elijo HIlls Real Estate.  See the home picture links or link below for particular homes for sale in San Elijo Hills.  When you get to our site you can find more information about schools and business’s surrounding the San Elijo Hills community.  You can also find San Elijo Hills bank owned homes and short sales at our site.  If you have any questions regarding the current San Marcos, California Real Estate market or any questions on individual San Elijo Hills homes, then please call, email or submit a request for information, and I will get right back to you.  I would love to assist you in your search for San Elijo Hills real estate.  We are your San Marcos Realtors for all homes in San Marcos, California.

TO VIEW HOMES FOR SALE IN SAN ELIJO HILLS CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW
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5 Ideas For A Great Home Learning Zone

Get your child off to a good start this school year with homework areas and strategies that reduce the frenzy

By Catherine Funkhouser

As children head back to school, it’s back to reality for parents too. Now is the time to organize our homes for the homework that’s soon to come. Advance planning and a few simple strategies, the experts say, can help boost productivity and reduce the frenzy. Parents out there know what I’m talking about — there’s that special time of day when you’re monitoring homework, making dinner and maybe trying to entertain a rambunctious younger sibling, all before rushing off to sports practice or dance class. So take a deep breath and try these expert-approved tips at home.
1. Create multiple homework zones. Here’s the good news: You don’t need to have one designated homework space that’s fully tricked out with all the bells and whistles. In fact, education expert Ann Dolin, author of Homework Made Simple: Tips, Tools and Solutions for Stress-Free Homework, says it’s best to have two to three spots in the home where children can work. “Moving around to different places can actually improve productivity,” she says.

Divide homework time between the kitchen table and the home office, for example. And Dolin says parents don’t need to spend a lot preparing a space. “It doesn’t have to be spectacular. The thing that matters most is that there aren’t a lot of distractions in the room,” she says.

To ease mobility among the various spaces, organize school supplies (pens, highlighters, scissors and such) in a portable container. Dolin suggests a plastic shower caddy from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Here the supplies are cleverly positioned on a rotating lazy Susan. Corralling all the supplies in one place before the child sits down also helps avoid unnecessary interruptions later. A portable supply caddy or bag is also great if younger siblings often do homework from the soccer field sidelines.
2. Change up the chairs. Judy Shincarick, director of the Occupational and Physical Therapy departments at The Lab School of Washington agrees that a change of scenery can boost productivity, but believes a change in chairs can help too. She recommends different chairs (or no chair at all) for different homework activities. Because most children can’t sit still in one spot, like a chair, for too long, breaking up the monotony is important. “A solid chair, pushed in at a solid tabletop, is a good place to start,” she says. But it’s only one scenario.
Some children are able to focus better sitting on a ball chair, gently bouncing as they work. The subtle movement engages core muscles and allows for increased alertness. “Ball chairs can help with focus or be a distraction, depending on the child,” says Shincarick, who advises parents to consider their child’s individual needs and adapt as necessary.
If it’s a solid chair for science and a ball chair for math, try a cozy beanbag or club chair for reading time. “Many children like that snug feeling of closeness to read a book. The cocoon feeling can ground them,” says Shincarick. Of course, if you notice your child getting a little too comfortable and drifting off, then it’s probably time for a move. Another option is to stand up for certain tasks, maybe at the kitchen counter to review vocabulary words.
This home office offers flexible seating options — chairs for tasks requiring writing or typing and a comfy bench seat for reading and studying.
3. Select homework spots based on children’s ages and development. Younger children require more monitoring and support, so keep them close. The kitchen, dining room or a first-floor home office would work well. While my kids have done a lot of homework sitting at our kitchen stools, I love the designated homework space in this kitchen and the built-in chalkboard and shelves. With a setup like this, your child can work close by while you cook, but will be removed from the hustle and bustle of food prep.
Here an unclaimed space off the kitchen has been converted to a homework area. The simple countertop desk is made from painted MDF. If your child works in or around the kitchen, make sure the tantalizing smells of dinner cooking aren’t a distraction.
Consider setting up a homework space in the family room. The advantage is that the kids will be nearby, so you can check in easily. Of course, you’ll need to make sure there aren’t too many other activities going on in the room at homework time. Some children can tolerate background noise better than others. In fact, some work best with music playing.
Older children and teenagers can venture a little further, although Dolin thinks most still do better choosing a spot for homework other than the bedroom, where distractions exist at every turn. A basement is, of course, one option. I would have loved this arrangement when my kids were younger — a workstation with a computer for the oldest and a table and chairs for the little ones. (I can see us here, all happily coexisting; me folding laundry while they peacefully work and color for hours. Well, a mom can dream, can’t she?) Still, a crafts table is a great addition to the homework zone for those larger projects, such as science fair boards.
If your teenager opts to work in the basement or den, limit the distractions as much as possible. Today’s students rely on technology for their homework, so it isn’t often feasible to ban electronic devices altogether. But Dolin suggests setting some guidelines. Silencing the cell phone and putting it out of reach on the other side of the room can help prevent temptation. Children of all ages need frequent breaks during homework, so decide if they can check texts during a break. But Shincarick recommends keeping video gaming devices off limits until after homework. “Gaming devices zap their attention,” she says. “They’re not a good idea during breaks, because they suck you in to the next level.”

The homework station here is set away from the basement’s main entertainment area (and distractions).
If you do decide that your older child is ready to work in the bedroom, be sure to create a separate work zone — the bed may be too relaxed for optimum productivity. Remember, though, the space doesn’t need to be grand. This demilune desk (it’s actually a round table that folds down) doesn’t take up much space yet provides a solid work surface. Garden pots organize supplies and keep the desktop neat, and a pegboard is great for posting notes.
4. Don’t forget the essentials, and consider some special tools. Good task lighting is key for any workspace, and these hanging fixtures offer form as well as function. A homework station like this, tucked out of the way in an upstairs hall, is another great option for older kids — it will keep them away from distracting family interactions but still within earshot when you want to check in.
Of course, when you’re planning or choosing any homework zone, be sure to factor in the need for multiple electrical outlets for all the high-tech devices permanently attached to our children (and ourselves) these days. This space also offers great storage options to keep the work counter clutter free. Identify a permanent resting place for device chargers so they’re always available when you and the kids need them. The blue mason jars are creative vessels for storing smaller supplies, such as paper clips and pushpins for the fun corkboard squares.
This homework station includes workspace essentials (flexible options, great lighting and portable supplies) and helpful extras too. The chalkboard and wall calendar are great for planning, prioritizing and reminding.

But here’s the thing: Once everything is lovingly in place, your child actually will have to sit and work. Remember that famous line from Field of Dreams, “If you build it, he will come”? It’s not always that smooth. Often, the hardest part for kids is beginning. Dolin is a big fan of timers (she especially likes the visual Time Timer tool). She recommends setting the timer for five or 10 minutes of concentrated work effort, what she dubs “5 Minutes of Fury” or “The Tolerable 10.” The strategy helps kids over that initial resistance: “They need to get over the hurdle of just getting started, and then they can keep going,” she says.
5. Engage your child in the space-planning process. Shincarick recommends giving your child a vested interest in the homework space(s). “It should be a joint effort between the child and parent,” she says. If your child has a dedicated homework area, make the space his or her own by adding homemade artwork and other personal touches. Of course, there is a delicate balance — too many personal items may be distracting.
If your children work in the home office or a common area, they can still get involved in organizing the space. Task them with stocking the portable supply caddy. Shop together for colorful containers, printed file folders and other supplies.

Looking for Carlsbad Homes For Sale?  Then look no further than our website dedicated to Carlsbad Real Estate.  See the home picture links or link below for particular homes for sale in Carlsbad.  When you get to our site you can find more information about schools and business’s surrounding the Carlsbad community.  You can also find Carlsbad bank owned homes and short sales at our site.  If you have any questions regarding the current Carlsbad, California Real Estate market or any questions on individual Carlsbad homes, then please call, email or submit a request for information, and I will get right back to you.  I would love to assist you in your search for Carlsbad real estate.  We are your Carlsbad Realtors for all homes in Carlsbad, California. 

TO VIEW HOMES FOR SALE IN CARLSBAD CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.
CALL JAZMIN TAMAYO @ 619-822-5772 FOR ALL OF YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS

Click here for all the results