Kristin Hamilton CDPE, SFR, CHS Realtor Redlands/ Loma Linda Homes for Sale, CA

Dare to Look at My Bears!

While in Ketchikan, Alaska last summer we flew on a sea plane out to this island where we walked into a salmon hatchery run by the Government. We stayed about 1.5 hours and got to see maybe 50 bears or more. They got about 10 feet from us at times but there is a metal grate between us and I suspect the tour guide had a gun tucked away to use if necessary. But all the bears care about is eating the Salmon eggs and seem very happy and full. I just wanted to share a few pictures with you.

Here is the plane we and the isolated area where we landed.

The first bear I saw and then about 5 minutes later, about 10 showed up.

This bear looked so clean and just stood and posed for us.

Believe it or not, this bear was up in a tree sitting on a tiny branch about 100 feet up.

The bears go out into the water to grab the salmon swimming by. Amazingly, they are not interested in the birds swimming by.

When this big grizzly bear showed up, all the black bears left and went into the forest. This guy was enormous and scared off the black bears.

Here I am very near the grate and the bears. Exciting but scary! This was truly a KODAK moment.

This bear came up to the grate and grabbed the salmon out of the water where I had just been standing!

Alaska is truly a wonderful place to visit and I would highly recommend the Bear Excursion. We were on a Princess Cruise so they had booked the tour for us. Best tour I have ever taken. Go to Alaska and see for yourself.

Making Space in Your Closet; yes, it is Possible!

I have a walk-In closet and it always jam packed with clothes, shoes and purses. I try to keep it organized and have double shelves, built-ins for shoes and baskets but still until recently I could hardly move the hangers around to look for something plus the items would come back from the cleaners and I would wrinkle them trying to find space to hang them. (Messy and packed full of clothes)

Then, a couple of weeks ago, my friend Loretta and I met for our monthly shopping trip and she was telling me how she had converted her closet to new thin, suede-like hangers. I was thinking about the 4 hanging skirt hangers my mom had in her closet and never used. No, I said those wouldn’t fit in my closet as they are way too long. She had bought these fairly new hangers; thin, assorted colors, and several styles plus you can buy them at most stores. We happened to be in Marshall's at the time and she showed them to me. By the time we were ready to check out; I had found 3 packages; a 24 pack for $9.99 on clearance price, and 2 packages of 18 each at $7.99 each on clearance. OK, I will go home and try them. I was still not convinced!

So later in the day, I hung up my inner favorites on these hangers. I noticed immediately after removing the crystal plastic hangers (you know the ones that all the stores use and typically send your new purchase home hung on) that I now had big gaps in my closet area. WOW! I was hooked on these hangers and going to buy more. So I spent the next week going back to Marshall's, Ross, Target, and Big Lots buying a few packs at time.

My friend had bought all black hangers so they would all match. But I decided to buy light colors just in case they faded. I bought mint green, cream, and camel colors to match the rest of the bedroom as it is important to match, right?

I have about 30 skirts which take up a lot of space so my next task was to consolidate. No, I do not mean to get rid of them but to hang them differently so I found some thinner friction hangers with Chrome clips (not plastic) at Bed, Bath and Beyond (not the ones at Target). Still 30 skirt hangers...... so I double hung them and perfect, now I have half the space and I can move them around. I then went back and bought the thin hangers with clips on the bottom to hang my pants and shorts. Found these at Bed, Bath and Beyond and used my 20% coupon.

All I can say is I think these hangers are great They don't fade or wrinkle your clothes and so now I am changing over my husband's closet too. Yes, these hangers are great for men too. The hangers with the hooks are perfect for hanging guy's shorts too.

To

To

Skirt Hanger and Thin Hangers for my suits really make some some extra space to move.

Try them and I think you will really love them too! Thanks Loretta for such good advice. In my next career, I am going to sell hangers for QVC; No just kidding. ***By the way, I am not promoting any particular store or brand as they all seem to carry them but I did find the best markdown prices at Marshall's and Ross and they are nationwide. Little harder to find the chrome skirt hangers but just shop around.

I am excited at how nice my closet looks now. Lots of space and my daughter said "Yes, now you have room to buy more clothes". So I mailed her a box of 50 thin hangers and said try them as your closet is in need. I haven't heard back yet but no complaining as she always uses the colored plastic hangers. For Christmas, I am buying her 300 thin hangers and she can fill up an empty suitcase to take them home with her.

Women are an economic force. But when it comes to saving for retirement, they face challenges that can put them at risk of outliving their assets. Moderator Charles Gibson, formerly of ACB Good Morning, explores possible solutions with an expert panel.

Strategies to Help Women Close the Retirement Savings Gap.

Women are an economic force. They hold half of all jobs—and the majority of Professional and Managerial positions—in the U.S. They fill more than half the seats in college classrooms and assume the role of breadwinner (or co-breadwinner) in 60percent of American families. Very entrepreneurial, they also start businesses at twice the rate of men. And though the wage gap still exists, young women now frequently outearn men in the same professions. They are staying single longer and coming to marriage with well-defined financial lives. Yet when it comes to saving for retirement, women face unique challenges that can put them at risk of outliving their assets. In fact, according to a recent Merrill Lynch Affluent Insights Quarterly survey, 63% of women are concerned about not having enough money to last their lifetime, compared with 52% of men.

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management retirement specialists recommend these 3 strategies to help women overcome the financial challenges they face:

· Maximize retirement savings in your early years, so you can take full advantage of the potential for compound growth as you move into and out of care giving roles.

· Find an investment mix that provides growth potential but recognizes your risk tolerance.

· Seek to preserve and extend your retirement income with lifetime income products, such as annuities and Social Security maximization strategies that can address your longer life span.

Bottom Line: Women should start saving earlier.

Speechless Sunday- My Special Hummingbird Nest!

In the spring, while checking on the size of the plums growing on my plum tree, I came face to face with this hummingbird nest. I didn’t want to scare her as she was protecting her eggs. I enjoyed watching the male bird bring her food for the next couple of weeks. Finally we had baby birds peeking their heads up out of the nest and eventually flying away. I miss the birds and hope they will come back next year.

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the nature around you!

Redlands School Calendar Information:

REDLANDS SCHOOL DISTRICT

As You all know, school has started early this year, August 10, 2011, and all schools are now on a “Traditional “calendar including the Elementary Schools. I have included a link to print out the calendar for Redlands.

2012-13 Academic Calendars - Traditional Click Here to Print Calendar.

Holiday -(No Students In Attendance)

LABOR DAY September 5

VETERANS DAY November 11

THANKSGIVING RECESS November 21 - 25

WINTER RECESS December 19 - January 6

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY January 16

PRESIDENTS' DAY February 20

SPRING BREAK March 5 - 16

MEMORIAL DAY May 28

Check Calendar for other designated Non-Attendance days.

X Report Card Day (No Students In Attendance)

P Staff Professional Day (No Students In Attendance)

M Minimum Day- Conferences/Report Card Preparation

* Designated Student Attendance Year Reduction (Teacher Furlough Days)

The last day of school for the 2011-12 school year has been moved from June 5 to June 7, 2012. Please mark your calendars accordingly.

OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS in San Bernardino & Riverside Counties.

Here are the links to the other school districts in Riverside and San Bernardino. Click on School Calendar and you will find your child's particular school.

· Yucaipa/Calimesa Unified School District

· San Bernardino Unified School District

· Colton Joint School District

· Riverside Unified School District

· Arrowhead Christian Academy

· Loma Linda Academy

· Loma Linda University

· Loma Linda School of Dentistry

· University of Redlands

· University of California, Riverside

· California State University, San Bernardino

· California Baptist College

· Crafton Hills College

· La Sierra University

· Riverside Community College

· San Bernardino Valley College

· Aquinas High School

· Rim Of the World Unified School District

· Rialto School District

· Rancho Cucamonga School District

· Fontana School District

· Upland School District

· Chino School District

· Ontario Montclair School District

For more information about San Bernardino and Riverside, please go to my Web site: Click Here.

Have a great year and keep our kids safe!!!!