Lucky to live in Long Beach

The past couple of weeks I have been in and around Long Beach trying to figure out what to highlight in my blog, we simply have too much good stuff in our city. These pictures that I am posting today I took around the Queen Mary and the Pike area. I will be posting more as I visit different places. Although; I have been selling homes in Long Beach for over 25 years and know the area well, I thought that others who are thinking about moving here might enjoy these pictures.

First time home buyer

After 25 years of showing buyers around I understand their fears. Knowing that I understand their fears and telling them that is not so easy. So after pondering on what is the best way to help a buyer understand the first time home buyer process, I decided to develop a video series using the buyers that I have sold homes to. I hope that you enjoy watching this video. I will be posting more in this series later on. Please feel free to give me a call or email me if you have any questions.

 See what this first time buyer has to say!

It’s Time for Christmas Tree Recycling in Long Beach & Lakewood California

Several years ago I read a very cute poem about how a Christmas tree who didn’t understand how he could go from being the center of attention and so loved and adorned to being striped of all his fancy attire and then thrown out onto the sidewalk and abandoned.

Christmas tree recycling is a relatively new event but one that I welcome … to have our Christmas trees serve a new purpose somehow takes the sting of letting it go a little easier  

And so the time has come for this ritual to begin again … I am always saddened by this act; this tree which has brought so much pleasure into our lives that we must now say goodbye to … it seems being sentimental about turning the lights out for the last time runs parallel with “get this thing out of here … I want to get the house back to normal”

Long Beach has a wonderful website with information on tips about Christmas tree recycling and more to the point … have your tree at the curb Saturday from 7 am on and it will be picked up

Lakewood has their own program and Christmas tree recycling information on their website as well. I hope you will join your neighbors in recycling your trees.

Allison Van Wig – Realtor Serving the Long Beach & Lakewood Areas can be reached at 562-882-1581 or by visiting www.SuperBroker.com

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Great things to do in Long Beach at Christmas time!

Wednesday nights are reserved for our fitness walks. A few of us have committed to walking every Wednesday and trying to get at least two more walks in on our own during the week. This week I wanted to try and do something a little less strenuous as my niece is nine months pregnant. We want to keep her walking, but we don't want to induce labor! It has been a few years since I have been down to Naples Island at Christmas time, and thought that this would be a great time.


We met at 6pm and parked the car on 2nd st. Walked over to the island and it was beautiful. Every home was decorated with a different motif. They even had a Griswold's home! The gondolas were out gliding down the canals, the electric boats had people waving, and my favorite was the bicycle boats. A dozen of the bike boats were out on the water all decked out in Christmas lights. I defiantly would like to do this for my Birthday ...

Several organizations had the children singing carols, and a band was playing holiday music. Some homes had coffee set up and were giving the donations to charity. It was a great night, free, and about a three mile walk with some stairs. I think if you are in Long Beach you should not miss this!
Check out some of the pictures I took as we strolled along the canals.

Pictures are not that great, taken with my phone. Next year I will be taking my good camera.

English Toffee

It's that time of the year again for cookies and English Toffee. Last week we had the cookie bake off, this week it has been English Toffee. I made two different varieties, we had almonds with the milk chocolate and dark chocolate. It is a very easy recipe.

Two cups of real butter

Two cups of sugar-I like using the bakers sugar as it's a finer sugar and melts better.

a tad of real vanilla (maybe 1/4 teaspoon) too much and your toffee will be too soft

Do not add salt if you do not want to, I add about 1/4 teaspoon of smoked sea salt.

Cook to a rapid boil constantly stirring. The candy thermometer should read 325. Carefully watch the colour of your toffee. You are looking for a light brown. Pour over sliced almonds and your chocolate drops, add sliced almonds and chocolate drops to top. Put it in the refrigerator to cool and use an ice pick to break it. Use parchment paper in your pan and it will come right out.

Have a great Holiday and Happy New Year!

The Tale of How a Big Box of Baking Soda Saved Thanksgiving

Back in the early days of my marriage … I bravely volunteered to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Always wanting to try new things, I decided to cook my turkey using one of those special cooking bags.

After hearing everyone’s advice about how to prepare the bird, I turned on the electric oven, waited for it to pre-heat and then put the turkey inside the bag.

When I closed the oven door I was full of the anticipation of a moist turkey … cooked to perfection … as I am sure anyone who is a new cook could be.

Everything was going great, the house was starting to fill with the smells of a wonderful meal when all of a sudden there was a very big bang coming from the oven; I opened the oven door and flames shot up to the ceiling.

One of those pieces of advice was to keep a big box of baking soda handy … so I grabbed the baking soda to throw the powder onto the flames and fire. There was smoke, soot, grease and baking soda all over the oven walls and floor … including my poor cat Stouffer who just happened to be in the kitchen enjoying the good smells, just as the emergency started to unfold. The cat shot off through out the house covering everything in his path with baking soda.

The big box of baking soda saved the kitchen from catching on fire but to this day I will never forget how awful I felt and how sorry I was that my poor Stouffer got the worst of it all. I washed off the cat, washed off the turkey and put it back into the oven.

Two things I learned that Thanksgiving, always have a big box of baking soda handy and to always poke a hole in the plastic bag … just like the instructions say; otherwise it hits the electric elements in the oven and explodes.

Every Thanksgiving I am always thankful for my family and friends but most especially, I am thankful that I have learned to read directions and to have since become a much better cook.

If you have any cooking disasters and close calls you would like to share … feel free to leave a comment … until next time

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!!!

P.S. My guest never knew that special recipe … they polished off every bite!

ALLISON VAN WIG – 562-882-1581

5029 Walnut Is A Great Starter Home in The Ridgewood Heights Area of Long Beach!

I am pleased to present a great starter home with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths and over 1600 square feet of living space.

To see all the details visit www.5029Walnut.com

for a sneak peek watch my private home tour …

THIS IS A STANDARD SALE …. NO WAITING AROUND FOR THE BANK! You can CLOSE ESCROW by the end of the year.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS HOME OR ANY OF MY OTHER LISTINGS … VISIT www.SuperBroker.com or call 562-882-1581