Restaurant of The Moment: Rimel’s Rotisserie

12955 El Camino Real Suite G-2

San Diego, CA 92130

www.rimelsrestaurants.com

Rimel’s is a popular family-owned restaurant located in the Del Mar Highlands. The all-natural, healthy, and locally-grown menu has been a success for over 22 years. The rotisserie kitchen cooks everything over oak, which is milled from their local ranch, and serves grass-fed, Animal Welfare Association approved meats. The bulk of the fish served is supplied from their own fish company that is long-line caught and local when possible.

Our favorite menu item at Rimel’s has to be the pot-stickers. They are crisped to perfection and lathered in a mix of three homemade sauces. You also can’t miss their rotisserie chicken, which is juicy, flavorful, and all-natural. Other delicious menu items include the steaming rice bowls, tortilla roja soup, and the simple, grilled fish tacos. Most plates are served with rice, beans, and as many of their sauces as you desire.

Rimel’s also has two other locations in La Jolla and Cardiff-By-The-Sea.

16 Organizational Strategies for Military Families

The phrase “military relocation” is simply a part of military life. Military families typically move ten times more frequently than civilian families. Because military families have to move often, it make sense for them to use portable storage and organizational strategies for their belongings. Take a look at our list of 16 functional and transportable ideas for home storage and organization!

Storage Solutions for Kitchen Items

-Portable kitchen pantries come in a wide range of options and are ideal for military families on the move. Consider how easy it is to store canned goods that you can take with you when it’s time to relocate when you have a portable pantry!

-Why not store silverware in plastic, lidded containers instead of the usual way of tossing flatware into kitchen drawers? You could also store silverware in a regular flatware box.

-Use rolling kitchen carts that include baskets for storage.

Storing Toys

-Stacking baskets work very well for toy storage. These can be color coordinated as an added layer or categorization.

-Plastic crates can hold toys and be easily transported from one home to the next one.

-Larger wicker baskets with lids can also be used for storing toys. What’s more, you can also use them in your living rooms or bedrooms as they’re useful for storing various types of items such as blankets!

Clothing Storage Ideas

-Adjustable garment racks can be an effective way to store and transport clothing when you have to move to a new house.

-Use heavy duty cardboard dressers to store clothing items, such as tops, pants, underwear and other types of smaller clothing. They’re also great for storing linens, towels and other bedding, as well as bathroom belongings.

-Many have discovered the convenience of using hanging shoe sorters for storing and moving their shoes when it’s time to move on to a new location.

Storing Small Items

-Invest in several sizes of Ziploc bags for storing smaller items.

-A plastic storage cabinet with many containers is commonly used for storing screws, nuts, bolts and other tiny hardware items. You can also use these to organize jewelry, sewing things, office supplies, school supplies, and others odds and ends your family needs.

-Ottomans are not only designed for resting feet. They also work exceptionally well for storing items, such as magazines, craft supplies or just about anything you need near you when relaxing in your living room.

Other Storage Ideas

-If you have a considerable amount of craft items, a good storage solution is to use peg boards. They are especially suited for storing and transporting sewing items and needlework items, such as embroidery floss.

-Consider what things you need to take with you and which ones that you can store, especially when your new home doesn’t have a lot of square footage.

-Before you move, do as much decluttering as possible. Make a daily routine of going through all the rooms of your house, selecting those items that you want to donate or discard.

-Buy only what you need to feed your family for a few months. In other words, don’t invest in huge boxes of staples such a rice or pasta. This not only saves room in your kitchen cupboards but lessens the clear out during a PCS.

Ready to get started looking for housing in San Diego? Our Relobase Realtors are happy to assist you!

(Article originally appeared on Relobase.com)

The Pinteresting Five: Mineral Grey

This glamorous color is one of the hottest home decor trends for 2017, and is the perfect choice if you are looking to add elegance and luxury to your space.

All images via our Pinterest

 

Recipe: Spicy Apricot Wings

What You Need:

• 1/2 cup hickory, apple or apricot wood chips
• 1/2 cup apricot preserves
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3 pounds chicken wings, wing tips removed and wings cut into 2 piece

How To:

1. Light a gas grill. Wrap the wood chips in heavy-duty foil and pierce the foil packet with a skewer. Add the packet to the grill. Cover and let the wood chips begin to smoke, 5 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the apricot preserves with the Worcestershire sauce, light brown sugar, soy sauce, mustard, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, sweet paprika, cayenne and ginger. Scrape half of the mixture into a small bowl. Add the chicken wings to the large bowl and toss to coat well in the sauce. Let the chicken wings stand for 5 minutes.

3.Grill the chicken wings, covered, over moderately high heat, turning them occasionally, until they are charred in spots and cooked through, 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer the chicken wings to a platter and serve the reserved sauce on the side.

 

Restaurant of The Moment: Birdseye Kitchen

540 N. Coast Hwy
Encinitas, CA 92024

Located on the Encinitas/ Leucadia border, Birdseye Kitchen has enjoyed much popularity in its first year of business. It’s easy to see the appeal due to the great food, excellent service, and lovely atmosphere. The restaurant itself is beautiful. The decor is simple, elegant, and features the work of local artists hanging on the walls. The front window rolls up on a sunny day, giving the main room fresh air and plenty of light.

This Vietnamese-Thai restaurant differentiates itself from other Southeast Asian-inspired eateries due to the fact that the menu is conscientious of its food sources and ingredients. The menu is made up of organic, nutrient-dense ingredients and grass-fed meats. There are interesting fusion dishes as well as classic dishes such as pho, pad thai, and house special curry.  Most menu items can be made gluten-free and/or vegan.

We highly recommend the beef pho, drunken noodles with curry powder added, and yellow curry. But you really can’t go wrong because each dish is perfectly seasoned, fresh, and delicious!

5 Items to Keep With You During a PCS

While the moving company can take care of most things, there are a number of items we recommend military families keep close at hand while PCSing.

Those who’ve experienced a PCS move know that while moving companies can accomplish a great deal, they do operate off the instructions of the military family. If there are particular items or boxes you don’t want on the truck, be sure to let the movers know upon their arrival.

Bearing all this in mind, what belongs in the car and under your care during the trip to the new duty station?

Important Documents

Invest in both an accordion file and a lock box. Essential documents, both civilian and military, should be kept in the car and under your supervision at all times. Social Security Cards, birth certificates, financial records, Divorce Decrees, Marriage Licenses, deeds and certificates of ownership, copies of car registrations and proof of insurance, adoption records and any documents that may be specific to the individual circumstances of your family.

Military Uniforms and Civilian Clothes

As an active duty service member, ensure one serviceable uniform of each type required within the first month at the new duty station is kept easily available. While many PCS moves go smoothly, it’s always a possibility that the household goods following a military family may be delayed or lost. Most cars have ample room to transport clothing. Ensure the necessary uniforms ride in the vehicle along with enough civilian clothing for at lease one week. Housing isn’t always ready when families arrive and military families are no strangers to hotel rooms.

Managing Medications During PCS

Realizing a specific medication has run out during the PCS process could end up involving last-second phone calls to your doctor or pharmacy. Sometimes unusual or high demand medications aren’t immediately available. Make sure you have enough of your medications to cover the PCS period. The National Military Family Association notes that TRICARE recently enacted a new prescription transfer policy. This can help you transfer your prescription from one military pharmacy to another.

Sentimental Items

Any and all items with strong sentimental value should ride along in the car. Photographs, personal mementos, and heirlooms are irreplaceable. Either place them in a lock box along with the essential documents or in their own traveling container. The number of sentimental items you have may be surprising. Ensure their travel boxes or containers are portable so they don’t have to be left in the car during overnight stays.

Transporting Pets

In the case of an overseas PCS the Department of Defense allows up to two pets per family to travel on Air Mobility Command flights. During a CONUS PCS and when traveling by car or air, pet transport falls on you. All pet documentation including health and rabies certifications should travel with your essential documents.

For the safety of your pet it’s always a good idea to have them wear an ID collar. We also recommend microchipping your pets just in case they ever slip out unnoticed. Also, if you have to stay in a hotel for a few weeks, it pays to investigate which hotels accept pets to avoid last-minute hassles.

Ready to get started looking for housing in San Diego? Our Relobase Realtors are happy to assist you!

(Article originally appeared on Relobase.com)

Design Trend: Mirrored Backsplashes

Looking for a new way to add some character to your kitchen? A mirrored backsplash not only looks beautiful, but it can also create the illusion that your kitchen is bigger than it is! Mirrored backsplashes pair well with white or grey cabinetry – another popular design trend for the kitchen!

All images via our Pinterest

People of CPP: Meet Kristi Nation

In our new blog series, we’re taking you behind the scenes to meet the amazing agents and staff of Coastal Premier Properties. We hope you’ll follow along as you get to know more about the faces of our great company!

This week we’re talking to Kristi Nation, one of our longtime Realtors at CPP!

Coastal Premier Properties:  What were the greatest challenges you faced when starting as a new agent?

Kristi Nation: I began my career in the 1980s. At that time my greatest challenge was my youth. It was certainly not the norm to be in your early 20s and selling real estate. In that era, an young woman selling real estate was the exception! I was by far the youngest person in any office I ever worked for. Getting support from other agents was out of the question with one exception: an amazing woman named Jean Taylor.  Jean was a top agent, and often helped me. Getting support from a successful agent was out of the ordinary.

CPP: Did you have a mentor when you started? If so, what values did you take away from them?

KN: The idea of a mentor was not there at the time.  Most people in the office were not willing to share ideas and help a “newbie” succeed. Especially a young woman without experience.   My mentor was the school of hard knocks.   I realized, in order to be more successful I needed to have a better understanding of the real estate business.  Therefore  I accepted a position as a mortgage loan officer.  My mentor was Carol, a senior loan processor who believed in me, and my hard work ethic, and loved the fact that I was young and eager to work and learn.  She taught me the “deal” and made sure I knew every answer. She taught me to be savvy and helped me overcome the deterrent of my youth, with the power of knowledge. I will always be grateful to Carol.  She believed in me when I didn’t. With the help of Carol, I had something not even the experienced real estate agents had at the time.  I had the power of knowledge and how to get a deal done.   I loved the confidence she gave me.

I eventually went back into real estate where I was able to use the knowledge I learned from being a loan officer.  I also met a wonderful associate and friend.  Her name was Susan Meyers.  Susan was my age and the only other “youngster” I ever knew that was in real estate. She and I both worked hard and eventually were tops agents in our Re/max office.  Yes, I’m talking about the owner of CPP.  We’ve known each other a long time.

CPP: What do you enjoy most about working for Coastal Premier Properties?

KN: CPP is different than other office and what I enjoy most is the culture of sharing. I can freely share my ideas with other agents and they reciprocate because we all want to help each other succeed. If we succeed, our clients succeed! It is a non-competitive atmosphere.  We do not have a score board with stars for each of our deals.  I never liked the idea of providing a service for a client, and then turning it into an award show.  We have a poster board where we can put up photos of happy clients with their big smiles.  Amy and Susan are hard working yet share ideas, beliefs, values and offer support when ever we need it. Our Broker, Tom Tucker, is easy going, so smart, and always available to help us with questions on the contract and legal advice.

CPP:  What would you consider your most significant career accomplishment to date?

KN: That I often stay friends with my clients after the deal is done.

CPP: Where are you favorite places to travel?

KN: Although I’ve traveled to South America and Europe, when younger, today I prefer staying in the US and I particularly love the West. The high desert is a favorite with the always changing lighting and scenery.  Short road trips, close to home are for me!

CPP: What keeps you busy outside of work? Any hobbies?

KN: I love anything artistic.  I am currently working on a photo book of abandoned gas stations of the west.  I have several hundred photos so you might say, ” I brake for old gas stations”.  I’ve been recently been inspired to renovate our RV.  With the help of Pinterest and HGTV, my favorite channel, it looks like it will be a never ending project.  Someday just know I will have an art studio full of my paintings of cows, in the meantime, I’ll continue to learn to paint.

For our next post in the People of CPP series, we’ll be speaking with Julie Houston!

Recipe: Strawberry Salad with Warm Goat Cheese Croutons

What You Need:

• 2 (4-oz.) goat cheese logs
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 5 ounces mixed baby greens
• 1 1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
• 1 cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeds removed, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

How To:

 

1. Cut each goat cheese log into 4 rounds. Gently press each round to 1/2-inch thickness on a baking sheet, and freeze 20 minutes.

2. Place the flour in a small bowl. Whisk together the egg and milk in a second small bowl. Combine the panko, salt, and pepper in a third small bowl. Dredge goat cheese rounds in flour, dip in egg mixture, and dredge in panko mixture until coated. Place on a plate, and chill until all goat cheese rounds are breaded.

3. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium until hot. Add goat cheese rounds to skillet, and cook until golden brown on each side, 3 to 4 minutes total. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.

4. To serve, arrange salad greens on a serving platter; top with strawberries, cucumber, onion, and goat cheese croutons. Drizzle with vinaigrette, and garnish with dill sprigs.

 

House 2 Home Program Success Stories Part 3

We have discovered that the best way to sell a San Diego house quickly and for the best price is to turn it into a home.

We have aligned ourselves with the best in the business to do whatever it takes to prepare a house for sale and turn it into a buyer’s dream home. Whether it’s painting, replacing carpet or flooring, landscaping,cosmetic repairs, or staging, we know what to do to prepare your home to shine.

The House 2 Home Program was created as a way to showcase these seller services. Whether you’re currently still living in a home or are selling a vacant property, we will be happy to discuss our plan to prepare your home for the San Diego Market.

We’ll take you inside a few of the homes that have benefited from our House 2 Home Program. Real sellers, real homes, real measurable results. These are their stories:

 

Greenwillow Lane

Days on Market With Another Broker BEFORE House 2 Home: N/A

Days on Market AFTER House 2 Home: 6 Days

What We Did: We painted, installed new carpet, did minor repairs, staged the home, and took professional pictures.

From the Sellers of Greenwillow Lane:

“Coastal Premier Properties just sold our house in Carmel Valley. They have an incredible understanding of the local market and advised us on the best time to list. They managed every detail from preparing for sale through closing. Two days after listing we had multiple offers and were negotiating from a position of strength. They were able to get us $80,000 over the last model match sale that had just closed on our street. We highly recommend Coastal Premier Properties for anyone looking to sell or buy a home in San Diego!”

Catalina Blvd

Days on Market With Another Broker BEFORE House 2 Home: N/A

Days on Market AFTER House 2 Home: 3 Days

What We Did: We de-cluttered, de-cluttered, and de-cluttered some more!  We touched up landscaping with plants and flowers, added fresh dark mulch, upgraded lighting for shine and brightness, and went over the top with staging.  We did some light touch-up paint as well and brought in a great photographer to finish it off!

From the Sellers of Catalina Blvd:

“In less than 24 hours on the market, I had multiple low-contingency offers at full-price. A price, I might add, that I was skeptical we would achieve. But it played out beautifully from tasteful staging, targeted pre-marketing, to a packed caravan and well-attended first open house. I could go on and on about Coastal Premier Properties and how they managed my home sale. I had a very strict timeline, a must-hit price and no room to fail. I couldn’t be more thankful for what Coastal Premier Properties made possible for us.”