Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Altadena's Christmas Decoration Destination Spots

When it comes to Christmas lights, I can't help but think of Clark Griswold in the classic flick Christmas Vacation. "Drum roll please. Joooooooooy to the wooooooooorrrrrllllldddd!" HaHA!








Well I believe Altadena is home to the REAL Griswold's, and they're the Balian Family!



























I've been a long time Pasadena resident, and now currently an Altadenian. And just blocks from my house sits The Balian Mansion. Located at the 5-point junction of Mendocino Street, Mendocino Lane, Allen Avenue, and East Glenview Terrace, The Balian Mansion is THEE destination spot where Griswold Lighting Lovers from all around have been congregating annually since 1955, to take in the brilliant Christmas lights and decorations.






























And not far from The Balian Mansion, is the whimsical Christmas Tree Lane located on Santa Rosa Avenue between Woodbury Avenue and Altadena Drive.

http://www.christmastreelane.net


Christmas Tree Lane in 1953



Christmas Tree Lane today
























If you haven't done so already, make these two Altadena hot spots a new holiday tradition for your friends and family to share for years to come.

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

My Real Estate Bloodline

Most of you know that my dad is a REALTOR®, but the very first person in my family to get into Real Estate was my Grandma, my father’s mom. She's my only living grandparent, and I'm beyond thankful God still gives me the honor to have her here with me today. She’s an incredible human being to say the least, and at 97 years old she’s still sharp as a whistle, sharing vivid memories of passing her exam on the first try and remembering how sad the kids along the hall looked fearing they had failed, to stories of her broker Mr. Edwards.

An intelligent woman with many talents, she got licensed back in the late 50’s, at the same time she was working as a nurse and seamstress on the side. Sick of renting and moving from one place to another, she was inspired to save and put a thousand dollars cash down payment on her first home. She said it was just lovely with 2 bedrooms/1 bath, a living room, and kitchen with a $6,700 price tag. Oh my have times changed. $6,700 dollars? Today, that number is just a fraction of what I've seen closing costs can be.



Grandma, with dad photo bombing in the background


Dad and Grandma on his wedding day


And dad and Grandma today

If you ever get lucky enough to meet my Grandma, you will quickly pick up the sense that she's extremely spiritual with her "God bless you's" and "Jesus loves you's." I can almost guarantee after contact with her, she will be praying positive things come your way. She's just a beautiful person like that.

Yesterday when I sat next to her, she told me she's been praying specifically that God heal these debilitating migraines I've been dealing with the last three weeks.

She said, "Mija (pronounced "Me-huh"), I'm getting this strong feeling deep inside that God has BIG plans for you."

I said, "Yes Grandma. I'm believing that in conjunction with my hard work and God on my side that those BIG plans will come soon."

And she said, "No Mija. You're going to do BIG things and God's plans for you are bigger than you think." And she kept saying this over and over while staring off at the ceiling corner with a glazed look over her eyes. Then she asked, "You know how I know?"

"How?" I replied.

She said, "Because the enemy (referring to the devil) is doing everything in his power to stop you from doing what you need to do, using these migraines as a roadblock."

And I told her, "He sure is, but it's not going to stop me from doing what I need to do. Don't worry Grandma. I'll get better soon."

Then she turned to look at me and said, "Mija... BIG things."

I smiled back at her and tucked her in for her nap.

As I walked away, I thought to myself, if Grandma's intuition is right, then I look forward to lots of BIG appointments, BIG listings, and BIG checks for the new year!


I love you Grandma








Friday, December 13, 2013

Where it all began...

I guess to get a better understanding of who I am, we need to start with the AMAZING people I came from.

This is my mama Cyd. She's from the Philippines.

































 



And this is my dad Phil. He's from East LOS.


































 

They met at a disco called Dillon's in Westwood during those Saturday Night Fever days!




It was love at first sight.






































They were and STILL are inseparable.





































Soon wedding bells would ring.


































And they soon started a family of their own. (There's mom with the first and oldest my sister Daniele)







































Then mom got pregnant with my brother.












That's my big sister Daniele and big brother Phillip Jr./I wasn't even of this universe then.





































But not long after my brother was born, came ME.


































 


And this is my Nanay (pronounced Nan-"eye") from the Philippines. She is like my 2nd mom who lived with us and raised me my entire life alongside my mama. Just like my mom and dad, SHE is my EVERYTHING.






























And this is my AMAZING family.
   






































The RINCONS.


































Bienvenidos Angelenos!

Good morning friends and welcome to my Blog “Nikki Sells LA” where I will be unleashing my inner rants and raves about anything and everything that has to do with this wonderful world (that I LOVE) of Real Estate!

Look at it as my Real Estate diary of unfiltered truth in MY PERSPECTIVE, through MY EYES, from me to you. I think that's the whole point of a blog, right? No filter. Just say it like it is. And for those of you who know me real well, you know that I couldn’t have picked a better day for my first NUMBER ONE post, to be on nothing other than FRIDAY THE 13TH. And I promise you, I didn't even plan it. It's funny how the universe works sometimes. Now that I'm thinking about it, it'd be even freakier if I posted this 13 minutes ago at 12:13am considering the date today is 12/13. Ok, now I'm weirding all of you out, but its just a matter of time before you see the weird analytical side of me anyway so I might as well get that out in the open right in the beginning.


(Awkward silence)

OK. Back to REAL ESTATE...

As a REALTOR®, I get the privilege of my clients sharing their personal journeys with me, so I’m absolutely THRILLED to share mine with all of you. Hope you enjoy the ride.

Much love,

 
Nikki