Purchasing a home is such an exciting process, but it can be slightly overwhelming at times too, especially when you are just starting to learn about all the mortgage options available in today’s market.  In order to get a better understanding of two common types of loans, jumbo and conventional, Brian Reynolds of Samuel Scott Financial Group, will explain the basic differences and help navigate the waters of mortgage loans.  Please continue reading  below…

A conventional loan, also known as a conforming loan, is a government backed loan that has a set amount of guidelines in place for purchasing a loan.  A conforming loan has to fit the guidelines set forth by government entities, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and can be used for any loan amount up to $546,250 for conventional and $697,500 for FHA loans in San Diego County.  On the other hand, a jumbo loan is what fits outside the designated box and falls beyond the set limits, normally because it is a larger loan amount.

Jumbo loans are typically either backed by individual investors or a financial institution that funds and purchases the loan.  While the income evaluating process is generally the same, jumbo loans do require greater amounts of income to be shown on tax returns, bank statements etc.  Put simply, a buyer will need to make more money in order to qualify for a jumbo loan.  In addition, the underwriting process for jumbo loans can take a little longer, due to the fact that jumbo loans do not meet government guidelines and are more unique in nature.  In regards to down payments for jumbo loans, there is normally a minimum of a 20% down payment required, but as the loan amount increases, especially over the $2 million range, the down payment will also increase.

Because every jumbo loan is different and unique, it is important to ensure that you choose a mortgage professional that really understands the different products and programs available in today’s current market and who also understands your buying needs.

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In 2006, when Brian co-founded Samuel Scott Financial Group with Todd Pianin, his thoughts were with his clients.  He understood the market was changing and wanted to proactively create a place where he could continue to grow his business through honest transactions.

Brian has been in the lending business for well over a decade and has built his reputation on exceptionally high service and tailoring the perfect loan to his clients’ needs.  He often explains that his team is not there to get borrowers through just the one transaction, but to build the type of trust that leads to a lifelong relationship.

With all of Brian’s many talents, his most appreciated one is his problem solving skills – especially when it comes to closing the deal. Brian has the ability to meet all the deadlines and timelines it takes to make each deal run smoothly.  He has handled all kinds of loans, including construction to perm, land loans, first time buyers, refinances and residential purchases up to 10 million dollars.

Samuel Scott Financial Group is a boutique mortgage company recognized for superior customer satisfaction and the way they tailor the residential loan process to every individual client.  Todd “Samuel” Pianin and Brian “Scott” Reynolds founded the company on the principles of long lasting relationships, and a sincere honest approach to every single individual we serve.  Consistent and reliable, Samuel Scott Financial Group has been selected as The

Best Mortgage Company in San Diego for the 5^th straight year by readers of local publications.

President:  Todd Pianin

Vice President of Sales:  Russ Schreier

Mortgage Advisors:  Christian Alvarez,  Dean Brown, Mark Buchanan, Mitch Palmer, Brian Reynolds, Debra Roberts, Mark Robertson, Alex Scoma, Brian Shaw, Keith Sims, David Talbott.

Samuel Scott Financial Group is licensed by the CA Dept. of Real Estate license #01458652 and NMLS identifier 235584. ©2011 Samuel Scott Financial Group. All rights reserved.

Escape to the world of Van Gogh’s painting Iris, by visiting the restaurant of the same name - Iris.  This charming Del Mar restaurant is very close to Carmel Valley and can be found on Old Carmel Valley Road – West of the 5 freeway – on the former site of the Cuvee restaurant.  The location, with a view of Torrey Pines State Beach, is worth a visit alone.  You can catch outstanding sunset views, eclipsed by the occasional trains passing through heading North or South.  In addition, garden paths lined with lavender and iris, lead you into a quaint and charming experience.  Owners Tom and Edd have put together this great restaurant, and have made it a priority to support local merchants by offering as much local produce as possible.  Iris offers a wide range of entrees and appetizers including a duck confit pizzetta, pork tostadas, Carlsbad Aqua Farm mussels, sweet potato spring rolls, gluten-free New England clam chowder, crusted prime pork loin, lamb meatloaf and short rib stew.  Owner Tommy Golden, also finds his place in the kitchen as Iris’ chef.  He puts together an incredible presentation that tastes as good as it looks.  In my opinion, you get a lot of food for the price and you likely will not walk away hungry.  Iris has an extensive beer and wine list that will impress many aficionados.  You may also want to take advantage of Iris’ Tuesday nights special when the restaurant offers no corkage fee on up to four bottles of wine.  Iris is open for lunch and dinner.  For more information, please visit http://irisfoodandspirits.com/ or purchase an inexpensive $25 gift certificate for Iris at restaurant.com and head over to Iris to enjoy a fantastic lunch or evening experience!

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Karen helps attorneys; mediators, individuals and couples, navigate through the financial morass of divorce and widowhood. Her expertise lies in understanding the special tax and financial issues that can plague divorce and she helps clients get their financial fair share and equitable settlements. She provides financial analysis, projections and solutions so clients can avoid long-term regret over decisions made early on in divorce and widowhood.  Karen offers a range of financial, investment and insurance services that address clients’ complete financial picture and long-term needs before, during and after marriage.  She is currently writing a book entitled, “To Have and To Hold Onto Your Financial Fair Share: Financial Decision Making When Marriage Ends in Divorce or Death.”

According to the 6,000 year old ancient Feng Shui practice, the energy of our home greatly affects our general well being.  Almost all of our clients who apply Feng Shui report positive changes.  When Feng Shui is applied correctly, it increases happiness, wealth, health, and harmonious relationships.

In nature, we find that all things are in harmony.  Animals living in nature live harmoniously with the energies that surround them.  When animals spend their time in artificial indoor environments, they are at the mercy of the inharmonious energies that might be present in the environment.  These energies can greatly affect their health and emotional well being.

We may have taken time to create a harmonious and beautiful atmosphere in our home without considering that, for our animal companions, things may be far from harmonious.  This can be better understood by taking a look at indoor life from the perspective of your cat, dog or other small animal.  Get down at their eye level and take a look around.  Often the area closest to the floor is the most neglected from a housekeeping standpoint, being the untidiest.  It is all a matter of perspective.  What you, your cat, dog or rabbit experience, can be quite different.

Cats, in particular, are extremely sensitive to the energies given off by different objects and the energies generated by different configurations of objects.  A small animal may communicate a sense of discomfort with their indoor environment, such as the view of the underside of a bed, couch or other piece of furniture.  These areas in most homes are often cluttered, untidy and the last to be cleaned.  We simply don’t think of these areas of our homes because, to us, they are of little impact to our normal routine.  To our animal companions however, these areas comprise a great deal of their world.

Many of my clients complain that their cats frequently explore the tops of their dressing tables, piano tops, dining tables, kitchen counter tops, and other places where delicate things are kept or food is prepared.  The reason animals frequent these places, are often for reason you may not think of.  Cats like the energy in these places – they experience a sense of order, cleanliness and beauty that they do not experience when on the ground.

Animals are naturally drawn to harmony and beauty – and will seek it out whenever possible.  In nature this would not be a factor since nature is always harmonious and beautiful – but indoors it can be quite a different matter.  Placing small container plants close to the floor along with mirrors and sacred objects, makes them very happy.  They respond immediately to this kind of decorating and consequently, spend far less time on top of furniture.

As we enter into spring, the season has always been a time of growth & renewal.  Just as the oak shoots forth new leaves in spring, this is a great time to incorporate Feng Shui – the season of renewal, great opportunity, when old problems disappear and the world is born new.

The universe is in constant change; therefore, we must change too in order to be in tune with the universe.

For an example, we would not go to Florida if we were aware a hurricane was brewing in the area, and Feng Shui works the same way.  If we know where the good energy and bad energy is located, we will know what to do to enhance or to eliminate them.

Remember, if your home is happy, your pets are happy, and your spouse is happy, you will undoubtedly have a happy life!

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 Gwen Coronado, founder of Feng Shui San Diego, was influenced by Chinese Feng Shui at an early age. As a Feng Shui Consultant, she enjoys using her knowledge of ancient Feng Shui to help sellers sell their homes quickly, and buyers to find their dream homes that meet their needs and budget, with correct Feng Shui harmony for prosperity.  Gwen Coronado, is also the founder of Coronado Real Estate and Financial Investments in San Diego since 1987.  She began an early career as a Corporate Sr. Vice President with Liberty Foundation.  Gwen is a contributing writer of Real Estate and Feng Shui for the Asia Journal of Cultural & Commerce and a teacher at various Board of Realtors locations.  She credits her success and her happiness through hard work (man luck), heavenly luck (fate), and Feng Shui luck (harmony and balance).

With summer quickly approaching, there is no better way to spend your day than at one of San Diego’s finest beaches, the Del Mar City Beach.  Because of its close proximity to Carmel Valley, many residents flock here as a way to beat the heat and spend some quality time basking in the sunshine.  Del Mar City Beach runs from 15^th Street to the Rivermouth, and is filled with crowds all summer long, ranging from college students to locals to families who have come to town to enjoy the County Fair and horse races.  It truly is a remarkable beach to stroll along while enjoying the view of not only the beautiful ocean, but of the multi-million dollar homes lining the beach.  In fact, 15^th Street Beach was even ranked #4 in Time magazine’s 100 Greatest Beaches in the World!

Whether you enjoy laying in the sun, swimming in the ocean or getting in a little surf session, Del Mar City Beach can meet all those needs and more, even those of our favorite four legged friends.  The Rivermouth, found on the northern end of Del Mar Beach, is a great place to let your dogs roam around leash free and enjoy in their delight while they frolic in the waves.  It’s also a great spot to play beach volleyball, build sandcastles and take tiny tots when introducing them to the beach, as wading in the river and lagoon are safer for smaller children than the unpredictable surf.  Del Mar City Beach is truly one of the most scenic beaches in California and Carmel Valley residents love to flock here for its “chill vibe” and “breathtaking views.”

So make sure you take advantage of one of the Top 5 beaches in the world and head on down to Del Mar City Beach.  Just make sure you arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays, as parking can get a little crazy!!! Make it an all day outing with your family, snag a great parking spot and enjoy everything this wonderful beach has to offer!!  And if you get there early enough, you might even see a race horse or two from the nearby Del Mar tracks going through its morning training session! Definitely, a sight to see!

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David A. Moya is a Carmel Valley San Diego community contributor and influencer for positive change.  As founder of The Carmel Valley Life he focuses on education, transparency and helping others find a voice for their passion.  During his earlier years, he fed his entrepreneurial spirit and founded a company focused on helping kids committed to peak performance.  David went on to pay for his BA in Finance through his real estate business and after graduating flew more than 30 flights to over 10 countries in order to master the art of communication and business.  Today, he enjoys creating value for his community by leading a movement of responsibility – one of sharing knowledge, stories and a helping hand.

With nearly 40% of children in California being overweight or obese, there is a definite need for activities that encourage physical activity in an entertaining yet safe environment.  The Carmel Valley Skate Park, located on El Camino Real in Carmel Valley, does just that!!!  Opening in November of 2008, it has become a popular destination for Carmel Valley residents of all ages.  Residents can enjoy the 13,500 square foot facility that comes equipped with a challenge course, cast in place concrete bowl, railings and ledges.  Please continue reading below…

Residents of Carmel Valley and surrounding communities find that the skate park is a great way to engage in affordable fun, stay in shape and release pent-up energy after a long day spent in school or at work.  The park is not only popular with kids, but is often heavily populated with adults.  One man, Kirk, often escapes during his lunch hour to meet up with friends, socialize and skate around.  Being an avid surfer, he enjoys coming down to the skate park and taking advantage of the consistent 11 foot drops in the concrete bowl.  In addition, he finds that it is “a great way to stay in shape and take advantage of spending some quality time with his son Sean, who also frequents the park three to four days a week.”

For those who are not too keen on getting in on the action, there is a shaded structure, as well as sitting areas where spectators can observe all of the action taking place.  The Carmel Valley Skate Park is a great way for residents to engage in physical activity, socialize and, most importantly, have fun!! For more information about the park, visit http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/centers/carmelvalleyskate.shtml.

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David A. Moya is a Carmel Valley San Diego community contributor and influencer for positive change.  As founder of The Carmel Valley Life he focuses on education, transparency and helping others find a voice for their passion.  During his earlier years, he fed his entrepreneurial spirit and founded a company focused on helping kids committed to peak performance.  David went on to pay for his BA in Finance through his real estate business and after graduating flew more than 30 flights to over 10 countries in order to master the art of communication and business.  Today, he enjoys creating value for his community by leading a movement of responsibility – one of sharing knowledge, stories and a helping hand.

Photo by Layla Mazdyasni

Maurice Sendak, the children’s book author most famous for authoring ‘Where the Wild Things Are,’ passed away recently at the age of 84. While my main roles in life are as wife and mother, pediatrician, and community health educator, I am also an author.  If you have ever been to my office you can see that reading to children is high on my priority list.  This month’s blog post is about the healthy habit of reading to your kids.

I have valued children’s books for a long time, ever since I shared so many of them with my own children.  Reading to them was a nightly tradition in our house, and many wonderful memories in our family revolve around reading certain books together.  In fact, I even have my audience of first time expectant parents who come to the class “Getting Ready for Baby” join me as we read a story to their unborn child! Do you have a reading routine with your children? Are you instilling in them the invaluable habit of reading? If not, this is a great month to start. If you are, take this post as inspiration to beef up your kids’ reading routine with these tips:

1. Read away from the computer:  OK, coming from a blog post, this advice may seem a bit hypocritical. But for kids, time spent learning through reading away from the computer – not to mention away from Kindles and iPads – is essential.  Encourage them to read the real thing! Take them to book stores, the library, a friend’s house, and give them a physical book to hold, feel, to smell to fall in love with.
2. Read together:  This one’s pretty straightforward. Whether you both read the same book simultaneously and then chat about what happened in each chapter, or if you sit down together before bedtime and read aloud to each other, this experience is an essentially valuable way to bond with your kids.
3. Talk about what you read:  What book is your child reading in English class? What do they like about it? How about for pleasure? What happened in the latest chapter? Start a dialogue about reading and increase your kid’s brain power.
4. Read outside of your comfort zone:  Try a new genre! Try a new author! There are myriad books being written on and offline these days, and changing up how, when, and what your read can keep things interesting and keep your child engaged.
5. Read for pleasure:  This is supposed to be fun! Take the time to find an author or series your child truly, truly enjoys.  Give books are gifts even better, start your manuscript and plant the seed of becoming a published author.

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Founder of Healthy Chats, Dr. Chrystal de Freitas is a pediatrician, author and mother of three children who has a special interest in health education. She completed her pediatric training at the University of Washington, in Seattle, WA, and has been in private practice for 22 years. She practiced with North County Health Services in Encinitas, for 6 years. In 2004, Dr. de Freitas opened her solo private practice of pediatrics, Carmel Valley Pediatrics in San Diego, CA.

Your Life is Filled With “Plans”

Our days are structured around plans. We can now speak into our iPhone’s, tell Siri our plans, and have our calendar scheduled for us. Our plans include the meetings that fill up the work day, planning out the kid’s activities and play dates, and planning what to do in our free time. With the beautiful weather and summer fast approaching, many of us have summer vacation plans in place as well.

Benefitting from an Estate Plan

A different type of plan needs to be included in your life as well. You can protect your finances, your family, and their future with an estate plan. An estate plan (which often consists of a trust, a will, powers of attorney, health care directives, and a living will) is a plan you can have put in writing for someone else to carry out for you during a time of disability and after your death.

This plan provides the means for you to write who is to make financial decisions for your estate, who is to receive your estate, who is to make health care decisions for you, who is to care for your children, and even state who is to care for your pets. Furthermore, your plan provides those people with guidelines on how to serve in the roles you have designated, and guidelines on how to carry out your wishes.

What if I Don’t Have an Estate Plan?

If you do not put your plan in writing, the state will make it for you. If you die without a will, you die intestate, which means the state determines who receives your estate. If you aren’t able to care for your children, the court will appoint a guardian. If you aren’t able to care for yourself or your finances, the court will appoint a conservator. Furthermore, after death, your estate may be subject to probate, where it has to pay fees to go through court proceedings prior to being distributed to your beneficiaries.

Make a Plan!

While you are planning your summer, “plan” some time to discuss your estate plan with your family. Please consult a professional to find out more about the topics mentioned in this article, and continue to read our postings for more estate planning topics and tips.

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Christine Ellingsen is a Northern California native now practicing law as an estate planning attorney in Carmel Valley San Diego at the Barger Law Group, APC.  She spent a year in New York working in the business sector before moving to Southern California to attend law school at the University of San Diego.  She is happy to have started her law career in San Diego and to now call Encinitas home, where she keeps busy between exploring Coastal North County and training her new puppy.

Nika Water is named for the Zulu word “to give” and the company does exactly that.  After reading about the millions of people worldwide who are suffering from various water related diseases, as a result of a lack of clean water and sanitation, founders Jeffrey Church and Michael Stone decided it was time to do something about this terrible problem.  Together, they founded Nika Water, which works hard to bring a voice to all of those affected by the inability to access clean water or simple sanitation.  In fact, 100% of Nika’s premium bottled water profits go directly towards funding clean water projects in impoverished countries, such as Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and this coming summer, in Brazil.  Not only does Nika Water work with these countries to bring clean, running water into these communities, they are also heavily involved in other projects, such as funding the building of a school in Kenya, in order to help community members improve their lives, as well as end the cycle of poverty.  Please continue reading below…

Nika Water strives to not only help give back to the community, but also give back to Mother Nature by trying to protect the environment in which they inhabit.  For every 98 bottles that they sell, a tree is planted in Nicaragua to help offset the carbon footprint of that batch.  In addition, every bottle is made entirely from previously recycled beverage containers, further ensuring Nika Water remains an eco-friendly water bottle.

Carmel Valley residents can purchase Nika Water from grocery stores such as Jimbo’s, as well as the Carmel Valley Market located on Carmel Valley Road and other stores located throughout the San Diego County.  We can all do our part by simply purchasing Nika Water bottles and helping bring clean water to all.  To learn more about Nika Water’s efforts, visit http://nikawater.org/ or visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/nikawater.

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David A. Moya is a Carmel Valley San Diego community contributor and influencer for positive change.  As founder of The Carmel Valley Life he focuses on education, transparency and helping others find a voice for their passion.  During his earlier years, he fed his entrepreneurial spirit and founded a company focused on helping kids committed to peak performance.  David went on to pay for his BA in Finance through his real estate business and after graduating flew more than 30 flights to over 10 countries in order to master the art of communication and business.  Today, he enjoys creating value for his community by leading a movement of responsibility – one of sharing knowledge, stories and a helping hand.

As the month of April ended, it marked the half-way point of the 60-day review period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report concerning the proposed One Paseo project.  Since March 29, 2012, decision-making authorities have been receiving letters, emails and phone calls from the community, expressing both positive and negative sentiment about the development.

Since the decision to approve or dismiss the project depends on community input,  it is very important that the residents of Carmel Valley become informed on the projects facts.  I reached out to Carmel Valley resident and One Paseo Civil Engineer John Leppert, to ask him so questions about the development.  John provided an interesting perspective as a longtime resident and consultant for the project.  He has observed first-hand the different stages of development that have taken place in the community.  Now, he is involved with one of the most important developments in Carmel Valley history – the proposed One Paseo project.

Here is my Q & A session with John Leppert.

Moya: “Why is One Paseo such a sensitive subject in Carmel Valley?”
Leppert: “Carmel Valley is nearing its final stages of complete build-out, for what was originally forecasted for the master-planned community.  The last big piece of potential infrastructure in Carmel Valley so happens to be the lot where the proposed One Paseo project hopes to be built.  It is no wonder that this project has brought out a variety of emotions in the community, as it is near and dear to the hearts of many Carmel Valley residents.”

Moya:  “Why do you feel the community will benefit from the development?”
Leppert: “Building a mix-use development like One Paseo, will bring to the community some much needed amenities and complement surrounding facilities.  The enhancements that have been made in the community over the years, have consistently benefited Carmel Valley and its residents.  This was most apparent with the remodel of the Del Mar Highlands Shopping Center.  It is a prime example of how residents clamor for these types of amenities.”

Moya: “Why not just build what is already entitled to the land?”
Leppert:  “If the developer builds what’s already entitled to the land, the community gets nothing other than more traffic.  The existing entitlement doesn’t have any significant obligations to further improve current or future traffic conditions like the proposed One Paso project does.   The traffic network currently in use today was built for commercial-use.  By building a commercial building with no additional retail, we will only add to the traffic. We’ll see more traffic come in at 8:00am and leave at 5:00pm.  ”

Moya: “How do you respond to traffic concerns being expressed by residents?”
Leppert: “The project provides mitigation for the added and existing traffic.  Del Mar Heights Road will improve with mitigation measures – potentially giving us better traffic conditions than we’re experiencing today.  As the design civil engineer, we will be involved with the entire mitigation process for the project and will be working directly with the traffic engineer to solve related issues.”

While John believes “that the community needs more,” he feels as if this can be achieved “without compromising facilities that are already in existence.”  Although John is just an opinion of one, he believes that “the Highlands Center and One Paseo can really complement each other, rather than be in competition with one another.”  Because “there will be different types of retail at both centers, consumers can go back and forth to both without feeling like one is a duplicate of the other and together they will make up what will be known as the heart of the community.”

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David A. Moya is a Carmel Valley San Diego community contributor and influencer for positive change.  As founder of The Carmel Valley Life he focuses on education, transparency and helping others find a voice for their passion.  During his earlier years, he fed his entrepreneurial spirit and founded a company focused on helping kids committed to peak performance.  David went on to pay for his BA in Finance through his real estate business and after graduating flew more than 30 flights to over 10 countries in order to master the art of communication and business.  Today, he enjoys creating value for his community by leading a movement of responsibility – one of sharing knowledge, stories and a helping hand.

Working from home can have its advantages and disadvantages.  While you may be able to create your own schedule and be your own boss, you may also find that working at home can be lonely or lack sufficient space for a growing business.  After struggling to find an office that would host a sizable group of women and wanting to have more than just a mailbox, Felena Hanson decided enough was enough and took matters into her own hands, creating Hera Hub, a shared workspace for female entrepreneurs to gather and work in a positive atmosphere that helps inspire work productivity and help combat the loneliness one often feels when working at home.

At Hera Hub, women can pay a small month-to-month membership and be welcomed into the spa-like atmosphere, where they can feel a sense of community and have the opportunity to interact and collaborate with other like-minded women.  The workspace, located in Sorrento Valley, has a chic and feminine touch to its décor, with candles placed all around the workspaces, dimmed lighting and sounds of running water heard throughout.  The environment truly has a relaxing spa-like feel, which allows for women to feel relaxed and at ease, but still stay productive.

Hera Hub is a popular work and meeting space for many Carmel Valley women entrepreneurs.  The Sorrento Valley location is just minutes away from Carmel Valley and already has over one hundred different clients, ranging from authors and freelancers to non-profits, after not even being open for a full year.  Members of Hera Hub can enjoy complementary Internet access, conferences calling, faxing, printing and copying, along with the opportunity to discuss ideas and concepts with other business-owners.  In addition, many different events take place at Hera Hub throughout the week.  Members are offered exclusive opportunities to join in on free webinars, attend educational and informational sessions, and participate in writing and public speaking activities.  Happy hours and wine tours are even offered for members and their guests!  Hera Hub truly creates a community atmosphere, while also empowering women to take charge of their businesses and lives!

Because of its growing popularity in San Diego, Hera Hub is already expanding to two new locations, opening up in Mission Valley and Carlsbad, and will help connect hundreds of local women entrepreneurs.  For more information about the amazing opportunities Hera Hub has to offer, visit herahub.com or call 619-889-7852.

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David A. Moya is a Carmel Valley San Diego community contributor and influencer for positive change.  As founder of The Carmel Valley Life he focuses on education, transparency and helping others find a voice for their passion.  During his earlier years, he fed his entrepreneurial spirit and founded a company focused on helping kids committed to peak performance.  David went on to pay for his BA in Finance through his real estate business and after graduating flew more than 30 flights to over 10 countries in order to master the art of communication and business.  Today, he enjoys creating value for his community by leading a movement of responsibility – one of sharing knowledge, stories and a helping hand.

Wine, Chocolate and Free Massages: Women’s Night Out!!  On Thursday May 10, 2012, Dr. Steve Ronco, of Torrey Hills Chiropractic, hosted the event “Women’s Night of Indulgence” in honor of all the women throughout the Carmel Valley community.  Many women attended Dr. Ronco’s event, where they were able to have paraffin wax hand dips, complementary mini massages by one of the clinic’s massage therapist, as well as have the opportunity to mingle with friends and indulge in some tasty treats. Guests snacked on cheese and meat plates created by Dr. Ronco, who enjoys being very hands on for all of his events and bringing the community together through hosting different events at his office.  And of course, no event would be complete without some delicious wine and chocolate pairings to satisfy one’s sweet tooth.  Please continue reading below…

Having the opportunity to meet other women in the community, get pampered and indulge in some chocolate made the night even more special for many of the guests.  Stacy Boodman, a patient of Dr. Ronco’s, attended the event alongside her friends and described the night as “thrilling,” a sentiment that seemed to be shared by many of the women in attendance at the “Women’s Night of Indulgence Event.”

For more information on future events, please visit http://livingwelldr.com/index.php.

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David A. Moya is a Carmel Valley San Diego community contributor and influencer for positive change.  As founder of The Carmel Valley Life he focuses on education, transparency and helping others find a voice for their passion.  During his earlier years, he fed his entrepreneurial spirit and founded a company focused on helping kids committed to peak performance.  David went on to pay for his BA in Finance through his real estate business and after graduating flew more than 30 flights to over 10 countries in order to master the art of communication and business.  Today, he enjoys creating value for his community by leading a movement of responsibility – one of sharing knowledge, stories and a helping hand.

The days of filling out college and university applications are done – along with the long nights stressing over writing the perfect essay that will open the door to the college or university for local Carmel Valley senior high school students.  At our dance studio, I know that the early months of the new year can include attending multiple college and university dance auditions, and can translate into hundreds or thousands of dollars in college and university grants.  Now, the letters of acceptance are coming in and choices about the future are being made.

Just about this time, I’m usually inundated with questions from our senior dancers about if a degree in dance is something that is worth being pursued.  Parents have the same question.  How is a college or university degree in dance, going to benefit my son or daughter in the long run?  This translates roughly into, “is my son or daughter going to be able to support themselves after college graduation with a dance degree?”

The answer is definitely YES.  Dance in college or university settings has made great strides and changes in the past ten to fifteen years.  More than ever before, grant money is being distributed to students who want to pursue a degree in dance.  Some of our dance students are receiving as much as $30,000.00 in grant money.  The variety of fields a student can pursue while studying to receive their Bachelor of Fine Arts or their Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance, are growing and the demand for these fields of study are in high demand in the work place as well.

Of course the most well known and traditional degrees in dance, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, offers a dancer the opportunity to continue a concentrated study of dance in the area of technique, performance and choreography.  This will also enable the dancer to continue to enhance his or her skill base, while pursuing a professional career in dance.

Many colleges and universities are recognizing the benefit of mixing dance arts with biology.  So much so, that a new field of study of Dance Science/Medicine is on the horizon, and is a rapidly changing, growing and becoming a more popular area of study for dancers interested in a Bachelor of Arts degree.  Bachelor of Art degrees in this field lead many dancers to do post graduate work, which can lead dance majors into roles as practitioners, physical therapists, movement specialists, consultants, and/or clinical educators.

As technology such as cell phones, ipads, and computers become more and more integrated into everyone’s lives, some colleges and universities offer Dance Media programs focused on how to lead dancers into world of incorporating dance in media.  Today, this is something being used more in web based applications such as media marketing, as well as documenting and presenting dance in different forms of media (live or recorded performances).

For a dancer wishing to pursue a career in teaching dance in an academic setting, there are B.A. concentrations specifically in dance that incorporate detailed knowledge of dance as on a social, historical, cultural, economic, political and artistic basis.  Dancers who pursue an academic teaching position are in great demand in schools of higher learning – where students are not only pursuing the study of dance in a creative or performance level, but dance composition, stage and performance strategies and analysis of dance.

Lastly, and probably one of the most popular and rewarding avenues resulting from a dance degree, are those who wish to emphasis teaching dance to children and adults looking to learn the physical movement of dance; perhaps in a local Carmel Valley dance studio.  At my dance studio, I have been lucky enough to have many of my senior dance students, graduate high school, attend college and return to Carmel Valley with their Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance, and become a part of my teaching staff.  This is so neat considering they are now teaching dance in the same dance studio where they began their careers.

Nevertheless, I do encourage my senior high school dancers to pursue a college or university degree, even if not in dance.  The benefits of the college experience that offers personal growth, the development of organizational skills, and an understanding of socializing, are invaluable.  A dancer’s physical ability to perform, can be shortened for many different reasons.  Having a college degree will allow the dancer to have more options in the filed of dance, and ultimately it will provide a “back-up” plan should the dancer need it.

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Louis McKay is President of North County DanceArts, Inc. located in Carmel Valley and currently trains 400 students from ages 3 to 93 years of age.  Louis has performed and taught Master dance and musical theater classes in 42 of our 50 states and Europe and South Africa. In 1980, Louis McKay opened Louis McKay Dance Studio, later to become North County DanceArts, Inc., which is a teaching facility that is best known for its professional teaching staff and quality dance training. Dancers from beginning level to professional are taught technique, terminology, and discipline in a nurturing and fun environment. Louis currently lives in Carmel Valley San Diego with his wife Tanya and is the proud father of four grown children and two grandchildren. Louis and Tanya McKay also own DanceHearts, a 501 (c) (3) Public Charity called Bells of Freedom Program, serves military men, women and their families by providing emergency care and support, back to school backpack program, vehicle donations and the annual “The Big Thank You” Military Holiday Event.