When we make KungPao Chicken or Shrimp, raw peanuts are an essential ingredients.  You have to toast them first before adding them as the final ingredient of the dish...We always keep some on hand for these occasions.Wishing you lots of Saturday Smiles,Written by Ron & Alexandra Seigel-ABOUT:  Napa Consultants, International is the leader in brand strategy for the luxury real estate industry.  They work exclusively with professionals who are passionate about gaining or sustaining market leadership. With an expertise in personal branding, company branding, luxury real estate website design and social media marketing they help their clients become the breakaway brand in their marketplace.  09/12/2015

09/12/2015

I took a photo of what Santa Barbara airport looked like in the last century.  The first airstrip was built in 1914.  The  original Spanish style terminal was commissioned by United Airlines in 1942.   This original building (pictured above) was moved and integrated with the new airport which opened in August of 2011.Happy Thursday,Written by Ron & Alexandra Seigel-ABOUT:  Napa Consultants, International is the leader in brand strategy for the luxury real estate industry.  They work exclusively with professionals who are passionate about gaining or sustaining market leadership. With an expertise in personal branding, company branding, luxury real estate website design and social media marketing they help their clients become the breakaway brand in their marketplace. 09/10/2015

It is a lovely morning here in Santa Barbara.  Grapes were the stars today.   They have a nice crunch when your bite into them.We liked these also, and they looked lovely next to each other.  Wishing you lots of Saturday Smiles.Written by Ron & Alexandra Seigel-ABOUT:  Napa Consultants, International is the leader in brand strategy for the luxury real estate industry.  They work exclusively with professionals who are passionate about gaining or sustaining market leadership. With an expertise in personal branding, company branding, luxury real estate website design and social media marketing they help their clients become the breakaway brand in their marketplace. 09/05/2015

Painting by local Santa Barbara artist Chris Potter "Hammonds Beach"Getting the Best Price and Terms for the Sale of your Home!Selling your home in Santa Barbara  and getting the maximum value for it,  requires more than simply putting your property on the Multiple Listing Service,  an ad in the paper,  a For Sale sign in the yard, some Open Houses,  and waiting for an email or the phone to ring. To get top dollar for your home in today’s real estate market you need a razor sharp focus on neighborhood values and a marketing plan that will achieve your goals. First off, it's critical that you price your home properly. The closer you price your property to the threshold of what it eventually sells for will get you the highest price, best terms, and in a time frame that works for both you ... 09/03/2015

I (Alexandra) just finished reading X by Sue Grafton.  This her 24th book in the Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Series.  I share in the sentiments of NPR's Maureen Corrigan, who said, "Makes me wish there were more than 26 letters."  Like all her other books, this novel is set in the thinly veiled mythical town of Santa Teresa, California, aka Santa Barbara.  Ms Grafton and her husband are part-time residents here.  If you have read her previous books, like W is for Wasted, or V is for Vengeance, the X is the title...X can refer to the number 10, or it could be a mathematical unknown, a mistake, a cross out or a kiss.  This book covers all these possibilities in a circuitous way.  I enjoyed it.   I am wondering what Y will stand for, and she plans to end with Z is for Zero!Written by Ron & Al... 09/03/2015

This was the first thing we saw as we walked into to the parking lot, where the Santa Barbara Farmers Market is held.  I could have eaten one of each...those are delicious with prosciutto, which is one of the ways Italian serve them during fig season.Wishing you a great Sunday,Written by Ron & Alexandra Seigel- ABOUT:  Napa Consultants, International is the leader in brand strategy for the luxury real estate industry.  They work exclusively with professionals who are passionate about gaining or sustaining market leadership. With an expertise in personal branding, company branding, luxury real estate website design and social media marketing they help their clients become the breakaway brand in their marketplace. 08/29/2015

The temperature is rising as is the humidity. It was 80 degrees at 8:30 when we arrived at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market.  It seemed like everyone came early to the market this morning to avoid the rising heat.  The vendors had doubled their tenting to stay cool.  Ocasionally an ocean breeze made its presence known as we walked along filling our bags for the week.It is melon season and the choices are amazing.  Sharlyn or Charlyne melon is a favorite in France. It tastes like a combination of cantaloupe and honeydew.  Santa Claus melon is oval in shape and it fruit is a pale yellow.  It has a long shelf life.  It is intensely sweet and a great substitute for honeydew.    We bought a canary melon, which has a pale green to white flesh.  The farmer told us that is has a tangier flavor ... 08/29/2015

Freddy Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey August 201530 year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 3.91% this week compared to 3.89% last week. Lowest 30 year rate touched in the last 10 years is 3.55%.15 year mortgage rate fell to 3.13% this week compared to 3.17% last week. Lowest 30 year rate touched in the last 10 years is 2.83%.5/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgatge is 2.95%, just the same as last week. Lowest 5/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgage touched in the last 10 years is 2.75%.Mortgage rates remained level over the last week. 08/19/2015

This week we were at the Santa Barbara Biltmore hotel, a quintessential California hotel, built in the colonial Spanish style.  It opened its doors in 1927.  This luxury resort hotel was built on 22 acres.  We love its gardens,  its specimen trees and landscaping.   We have noticed that their flower arrangements always include orchids from our local growers.  This spider orchid pictured above is a real beauty.Wishing you a delightful Sunday, Written by Ron & Alexandra Seigel- ABOUT:  Napa Consultants, International is the leader in brand strategy for the luxury real estate industry.  They work exclusively with professionals who are passionate about gaining or sustaining market leadership. With an expertise in personal branding, company branding, luxury real estate website design and soc... 08/15/2015

There are plenty of reasons to incorporate smart-home technology into your life — greater convenience, improved efficiency, and added security, to name just a few. And here’s one more: greater home resale value.A recent survey found that smart-home devices such as connected lighting and thermostats, remote-access security, and smart locks could make a big difference in how much a buyer might spend on a home purchase and how quickly they might act.In fact, 81 percent of current smart-home device owners said they would be more willing to buy a home with connected tech already in place, according to the survey by Cnet and Coldwwell Banker. And 66 percent said they would leave their smart-home products behind if they thought their house would sell faster as a result.Parents with children un... 08/15/2015

It is a beautiful clear day here in Santa Barbara and its environs.  We are expecting highs in the mid 80's or hotter depending on which microclimate you live in.  Mixed Sweet Peppers were the stars among the beautiful produce our organic farmers brought this morning. Wishing you lots of Saturday Smiles,Written by Ron & Alexandra Seigel- ABOUT:  Napa Consultants, International is the leader in brand strategy for the luxury real estate industry.  They work exclusively with professionals who are passionate about gaining or sustaining market leadership. With an expertise in personal branding, company branding, luxury real estate website design and social media marketing they help their clients become the breakaway brand in their marketplace. 08/15/2015

The market was very busy this morning... As usual there were beautiful displays, like the summer squash at the Garden of Eden Farm.We loved this table at the Asian specialties table of raw peanuts, grape tomatoes and fresh ginger.  What a contrast of color and texture!Celery root aka celeriac looked great next to the beet root that lent it color at B.D's farm.Delicate dill flowers were on the herb table along with organic lavender.Wishing you lots of Saturday Smiles, Written by Ron & Alexandra Seigel-  ABOUT:  Napa Consultants, International is the leader in brand strategy for the luxury real estate industry.  They work exclusively with professionals who are passionate about gaining or sustaining market leadership. With an expertise in personal branding, company branding, luxury real es... 08/08/2015

The market was very crowded this morning.  We think many drove up from Los Angeles County to escape the humidity the recent monsoonal rainstorms brought their way.  The variety of eggplant is astounding.  They each have their own special taste difference either sweeter or creamier than the globe variety most supermarkets sell.Fresh ginger is back at the Oriental produce stand.  We appreciate getting it fresh this time of the year as it boosts flavors in the food it is cooked with.  It also livens up a vegetable shake and makes it tastier.   Wishing you all lots of Saturday Smiles and  a successful August 2015!Written by Ron & Alexandra Seigel-  ABOUT:  Napa Consultants, International is the leader in brand strategy for the luxury real estate industry.  They work exclusively with profess... 08/01/2015

A rhapsody in pink with blue green foliage greeted us as we walked out of a garage in Santa Barbara. These plants are succulents.  The plant's name is  Calendris spectabilis.  The flowers are 2 feet tall and  bloom during Spring and Summer.  The plant itself stays low and grow up to to 12 inches.  This lovely rhapsody in pink makes us forget our drought conditions  Xeriscaping can be really beautiful. Wishing everyone a great weekend, Written by Ron & Alexandra Seigel-  ABOUT:  Napa Consultants, International is the leader in brand strategy for the luxury real estate industry.  They work exclusively with professionals who are passionate about gaining or sustaining market leadership. With an expertise in personal branding, company branding, luxury real estate website design and social me... 07/31/2015

August 5-9, 2015 Old Spanish Days Santa Barbara Fiesta Old Spanish Days Fiesta is Santa Barbara's largest celebration and one of the top regional festivals in the United States. It is expected to attract more than 100,000 people this year. The event will take place in various locations around the city. This celebration of community fondly looks back to a period when Santa Barbara was a remote rural area under the influence of Spanish, Mexican, and local Chumash Indian cultures. Fiesta celebrates a period of romance and hospitality, through pageantry, dance, music, costume, and cuisine. Old Spanish Days Fiesta is about the heart of Santa Barbara's residents and their passion for life. This year's theme - Fiesta Romantica - recalls the time in the early nineteenth century when people met... 07/27/2015

After the market we stopped by Pro Garden Supply, our favorite nursery, in Santa Barbara.  They are a smaller nursery with exceptional plants.  Planted outside of their entry were coleus plants of varying shades and colors.These are perfect plants for a shady spot always adding color and vibrance.  They come in a wide variety of colors, bold and showy, as well as sedate.  They can thrive in filtered light or full sun, but their foliage is enhance when they are grown in the shade. Happy Saturday!Written by Ron & Alexandra Seigel-  ABOUT:  Napa Consultants, International is the leader in brand strategy for the luxury real estate industry.  They work exclusively with professionals who are passionate about gaining or sustaining market leadership. With an expertise in personal branding, comp... 07/25/2015

It was warm this morning 76 degrees when we headed out to the Santa Barbara Farmers Market.  Tomatoes ruled!  These are dry farmed tomatoes which means less water is used, and a more delicious intense flavored fruit is the result.  Soil that is known to retain water is chosen for dry farming.  After the plant has established itself, it is no longer watered, and the soil around is protected from evaporation with mulch and other soil additives.  Any air humidity or dew is captured by the mulch.This practice is also used in the vineyards, of Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, etc.  The roots of the plant grow deep looking for water.  This produces an intense flavored fruit. This centuries old practice that originated in the Mediterranean is still in use today in Europ... 07/25/2015

We woke up to a bright sunny day and headed off to the Santa Barbara Farmers Market.  Orange flowers were making a bright appearance on many tables, like these Mexican sunflowers.  This is an annual plant native to Mexico and Central America.  It is drought tolerant and likes warm weather.Then, there were these giant marigold flowers.  In India people make leis for their gurus out of them.  We tasted a new nectarine called "Honey Dew".  The taste is reminiscent of honey dew melon.  They even have the same color and flesh of a honey dew. Three hours later, the skies clouded up, the forecast is for rain, so far we had a mini cloud burst...we are crossing our fingers and wishing for more. Wishing you lots of Saturday Smiles, Written by Ron & Alexandra Seigel-  ABOUT:  Napa Consultants, Int... 07/18/2015

We have a large round planter of tuberous begonia outside our entry way.    They are easy to grow, need some sun and prefer filtered light and some shade.  Everytime we go in or out, they put a smile on our face.  They look like roses.Last Saturday, at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market, I re-discovered the "old fashioned" version that has two colors.We loved this orange and yellow one too...Now, I am thinking I need to do another large planter of this type of begonia...Decisions, decisions, decisions!Written by Ron & Alexandra Seigel-  ABOUT:  Napa Consultants, International is the leader in brand strategy for the luxury real estate industry.  They work exclusively with professionals who are passionate about gaining or sustaining market leadership. With an expertise in personal branding,... 07/15/2015