From humble beginnings to a successful hair-care empire

By: Barbara Lipkin

At this time of year, we all think back about what we can do to improve our lives- health, business, family. I was inspired this weekend by an interview in last Sunday’s Los Angeles Times written by Ronald D. White. He wrote about John Paul DeJoria, co-founded and CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems. It was educational to  learn about his life. Each time he was fired, he tried something else. In one case, it was because he made more money the first year than the owner of the company. He lived in his car at one time. I laughed when he said one should pick a friendly street when you live in your car. His persistence was inspiring. Among his advice:

• Keep trying
• Don’t give up
• Like your work

What an amazing person with great advice this time of year!

To read the full story go to: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jan/22/business/la-fi-himi-dejoria-20120122

Barbara Lipkin

Knowledgeable, caring and successful are words that best describe Barbara Lipkin, a Hidden Hills resident and top producing realtor with over 28 years experience. Barbara combines personal concern for her clients with professional expertise to achieve outstanding results in her field.

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By: Kenny Melcombe

Cal State University Northridge is just about to have the grand opening for the student rec center. The past friday I had the opportunity to attend the Pre-Opening Dress Rehearsal. In a few words, it was better then I had anticipated. It was amazing!

This is a state of the art center including a rock wall, basket ball courts,racquetball, indoor track, swimming pool, yoga studio, group exercise room, on top of the typical weight rooms, and fitness cardio rooms with eliptical, spin bikes, treadmills. Though typical is not the word to use… including 3 separate weight rooms and cardio equipment that can monitor your workout. Speaking of Technology–the SRC is striving for a LEED Gold Status and was designed to use the energy created by the bikes, treadmills, elipitical machines to power the entire building.

My friday workout consisted of climbing the rock wall, running the track and the treadmill, biking 12 miles, using the weight room, and ending with a swim in the beautiful pool. I can truly say this was the best time I have had working out and look forward to keeping in shape at the SRC.

The Grand Opening will be Thursday. Come get your memberships and get in shape. Or, by the way, If you join the Alumni Association you can get a significant discount on the membership. To join the Alumni Association click this link: https://www.csunalumni.com/default.aspx?page=Membership

The SRC features state-of–the-art weight and fitness zones, a rock wall, locker rooms, a 3-court gymnasium, a multi-activity court, fitness and group exercise studios, a racquetball court, an indoor track and recreational/lap swimming pool.

The SRC will have 3 different fitness zones that will be equipped with resources to help you achieve your fitness goals.

Inside the SRC will be 3 studios dedicated to Group Exercise and Fitness Training.

A multi-purpose studio where Zumba®, Step 360®, kickboxing, muscle conditioning, belly-dancing, hip-hop, boot-camp and many more group exercise classes will be held. This studio, when not being utilized for classes, will also be available for individual use and private training.

This studio will have specific equipment that will be utilized for classes such as; Spinning®, yoga, and pilates. Group and private mat, reformer and chair Pilates training will be available.

Determination Studio
A specialized studio equipped with TRX® and boxing equipment. This equipment and studio will be available during supervised open recreation times and scheduled classes.

INDOOR JOGGING TRACK

The SRC contains an indoor jogging track that is 1/8 mile long so you can enjoy your run in a climate-controlled environment, protected from the San Fernando Valley sun. The track’s superior biomechanical design allows for consistent traction with a cushioned surface providing greater safety and comfort.

Come test your limits and see if you’ve got what it takes to make it to the top of the 44-foot Ridge — Rock Climbing Wall!

The SRC has two pools available for your aquatic adventures. The Rec Pool is located at the SRC and the Plaza Pool is located adjacent to Subway in the University Student Union Plaza. The Rec Pool is available for both recreational and lap swimming. A large deck with furniture is also available for those that would like to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The Plaza Pool is programmed for lap swimming and special events but also has deck chairs available for those that would like to kick back in the sun for a bit. Please click the link below for pool hours. https://www.csunalumni.com/default.aspx?page=Membership

Information taken from http://src.csun.edu/

Kenny Melcombe

Kenneth Melcombe, estate agent and licensed broker at Ewing & Associates Sotheby's International Realty represents buyers and sellers. He specializes in representing residential real estate properties throughout the San Fernando Valley and beyond.

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iPad saves Christmas for Westlake Home

By: Barbara Lipkin

A huge number of iPads were sold this year. They were definitely an item on Christmas wish lists. And now they can solve crimes. Those lucky iPad & iPhone owners know they should activate the app to FIND their iPad or iPhone. This tracker helped solve 2 home burglaries & saved Christmas for 2 families.

A Westlake Village resident was awakened by noise at 3:30 AM on Christmas Day.  He spotted the intruder who ran away.  His home had been burglarized & among items stolen was an Apple iPad.  He called the Sheriff’s Station & told deputies the stolen iPad was giving a signal from a nearby house. Not only did they recover the iPad but also arrested the suspect.  He is a resident of Vista who was visiting the area.

Our wonderful  & smart Malibu/Lost Hills deputies and detectives conducted a thorough follow-up investigation, which led them to information regarding a burglary which occurred in Vista, on December 22, 2011. Two flat-screen televisions, a laptop computer, and more than 40 Christmas presents belonging to children were stolen in the burglary in Vista.

They contacted San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies who police the community of Vista.  They conduced a search inside the suspect’s home in Vista.  They found all of the stolen property from the Vista burglary.

The Vista victim began to cry when she was told the good news.“Deputy Brower saved Christmas!”

Using this app on the iPad saved Christmas for two families.  I think that is something to be thankful for – technology can help solve crimes..

Barbara Lipkin

Knowledgeable, caring and successful are words that best describe Barbara Lipkin, a Hidden Hills resident and top producing realtor with over 28 years experience. Barbara combines personal concern for her clients with professional expertise to achieve outstanding results in her field.

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By: Barbara Lipkin

Lynn Zwerling helps an inmate during her weekly "Knitting Behind Bars" program at the Maryland prison system's Pre-Release Unit in Jessup. (Karl Merton Ferron, Baltimore Sun / October 27, 2011)

Knitting is a wonderful way to relax and enrich your creative side. It is also a great way to give back to your community in terms of donations of baby hats, blankets for foster children, caps for chemotherapy patients.

Now knitting and crochet will be walking the red carpet on the coattails of the Kardashian name. A major yarn producer has entered the keyword name game to sell their luxury yarns. Creative use of trending celebrities is being used to grab attention. Word has it from the BlackStitch that Tahki S.Charles yarns is introducing Kourtney, Khloe, and Rihanna soon. New yarns with hot topic, highly searched celebrity names are sure to be winners with young knitters and crochet crafters. The naming of yarn gets an entirely new meaning for its initial online success, but the proof of the pudding lies in the finish, the way the yarn performs on needles and hooks.

In my mind, Knitting has much more value than having yarn named for celebs.

In 2009, a 67- year old woman started teaching Maryland prisoners to knit as a form of personal transformation. To me, that is a worthwhile endeavor.

Barbara Lipkin

Knowledgeable, caring and successful are words that best describe Barbara Lipkin, a Hidden Hills resident and top producing realtor with over 28 years experience. Barbara combines personal concern for her clients with professional expertise to achieve outstanding results in her field.

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Helping Children this Holiday Season

By: Roger Ewing

Our three Ewing & Associates offices have again placed Toys for Tots collection boxes in Calabasas, Agoura Hills and Sherman Oaks.  The collection boxes will remain in place through December 22, 2011. Toys of all monetary value will be distributed to needy children. Often, there are few gifts for children over the age of 10 so a special consideration for these children is always appreciated.

To find our offices, visit the links below:

Agoura Hills Office
Calabasas Office
Sherman Oaks Office

Roger Ewing

Sherman Oaks is littered with cars

By: Tim McLaughlin

The last two days have been lousy with traffic. I mean, really bad. If I were to theorize why the roads have been so packed I would assume it has something to do with the holiday season. It seems like every year around this time the city starts to grow to an extreme bustle and by Thanksgiving day, the traffic is close to nil. However, my theory could be far from the truth so don’t go off my word.

In the midst of all the activity I stumbled upon a free app called Inrix Traffic which provides real-time traffic maps, traffic forecast, accident and incident reports for every interstate, highway and major arterial and city street. It’s much better than the standard traffic report on the latest iOS so give it a try. It might save you from another headache this season.

Tim Mclaughlin

Welcome to our new neighbors

By: Barbara Lipkin

Our new neighbors, Rosti in Calabasas opened on November 10th in The Courtyard at the Commons in the space that was once Cosmos. Known for an extensive Tuscan menu ranging from small bites like a classic Minestrone to traditional style entrees like Penne All’Arrabbiata and Linguini Vongole, Rosti seems to fill a need in the Calabasas restaurant scene.

Every time I walk by the restaurant it seems to be bustling. Some friends of mine have mentioned that service is slow, but the management assures this will not remain the case as they are still working out the kinks. The servers are professional and friendly and I proudly welcome them to the community.

The Rosti Tuscan Kitchen has three locations; Calabasas, Encino and Santa Monica.

Barbara Lipkin

Knowledgeable, caring and successful are words that best describe Barbara Lipkin, a Hidden Hills resident and top producing realtor with over 28 years experience. Barbara combines personal concern for her clients with professional expertise to achieve outstanding results in her field.

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Protect yourself this Halloween

By: Tim McLaughlin

Tim Mclaughlin

Because your candy should be as scary as your costume

By: Tim McLaughlin

Dracula Drool: This vile vial gets bonus gross-out points for its graphic name. It’s not just blood, it’s hemoglobin-stained saliva that dripped off the Count’s slobbering fangs.

Vampire Hair: Candy hair would have made this list on its own; so would candy vampires. The combination in a flossy candy that explodes on your tongue puts it at No. 2. Also noteworthy is the revelation that Marge Simpson is indeed a vampire.

Toxic Waste: There’s a classic trope of hazardous waste turning people into heinous mutants. This version turns kids into people who enjoy sucking on unpleasant, intensely sour candy. According to the barrel’s chart, keeping one of these in your mouth for a minute makes you a full toxie head. If you last only 45 seconds you’re just a toxie wannabe.

Blood Energy Potion: This sugary maroon liquid claims to have “similar nutritional content to natural blood.” A serving does provide 55% of recommended daily iron value and 880mg of amino acids. It even tastes like blood, but only Franken Berry’s blood. An impressive Web tie-in poses it as a synthetic blood substitute for vampires, an alternative to feasting on humans. With its microwave instructions to heat to 98.6°F and transfusion bag packaging, we give this an A(Rh)+ for commitment.

Body Parts Sushi: There’s something about eyeballs, fingers, and ears topping seaweed-wrapped rice that gives us an extra kick of queasiness. Associating hacked body parts with customary fare legitimizes cannibalism in a way that puts us ill at ease. Also, the list of ingredients includes the word “pork.” Wretch. Comes with chopsticks.

Tim Mclaughlin

Can you believe this?

By: Barbara Lipkin

There are so many ways that companies try to sell their products to us – cookies on our computer, commercials on TV and the internet; even sponsors for blogs. Now they are after our dogs. My dogs, Charly & Teddy, do seem interested when they see other dogs on TV. But this is above and beyond. Nestle has designed a TV ad for dogs. They are one of the world’s biggest makers of pet food. They have launched the 1st TV commercial designed especially for dogs using a high-frequency tone to grab their attention. Dog’s hearing is twice as sharp as humans.

The commercial will be screened on Austrian TV this week & features a tone similar to a dog whistle that humans can barely hear as well as an audible squeak like a dog’s toy including a high pitched pink. The dog is shown pricking his ears. Next thing you know your dog will tear out a page from you magazine that shows a dog food that smells like steak so you buy him what he smells.

Barbara Lipkin

Knowledgeable, caring and successful are words that best describe Barbara Lipkin, a Hidden Hills resident and top producing realtor with over 28 years experience. Barbara combines personal concern for her clients with professional expertise to achieve outstanding results in her field.

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