Holiday Greetings To: Our Neighbors From: Land Park / Curtis Park Agents Disclaimer: *Statistics based on Trendgraphix reporting in the Sac/Pla/Eld/Yolo counties combined, all brokers and price range $200K no limit from 11/1/10 10/31/11 #1 Real Estate Company in the Four County Area 2620 21st Street, Suite A 3 (916) 453-3333 RO
Holiday Greetings 2011 (916) 429-9901 www.valcomnews.com Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.
Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. www.valcomnews.com (916) 429-9901 Holiday Greetings 2011
Holiday Greetings 2011 (916) 429-9901 www.valcomnews.com Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.
What to wear: Great family holiday photos Special to Valley Community Newspapers With the holidays approaching, it s time to gussy up your family, book time with the local photographer and pick the photo you ll display for your annual holiday cards. No doubt you ll want a photo that shows off your family, and the clothing you choose to wear in your photo can make or break your holiday card. But with a little planning, you can be sure your family will look its best. The right photo with the right card design can make all the difference and add a real wow factor to your holiday card, said Mariam Naficy, CEO of Minted.com, an online stationery store. Here are tips to make sure your holiday photo brings out the best in your family: Darks vs. Lights Wear dark clothing colors on photos set in areas with light backgrounds, and light clothing for photos set in areas with dark backgrounds. The contrast helps ensure your family isn t washed out in the photo. Casual = Natural Go casual (especially with kids) to ensure a natural-looking photo and happy faces. There is nothing worse than a staged photo shoot gone wrong due to uncomfortable outfits and poses. Sometimes an action photo, such as one showing everybody walking towards the camera, will produce a more natural-looking result than when everyone is forced to stand still. SHOW OFF YOUR FAMILY in your holiday photos with these camera tips. Keep It Simple Avoid patterns or busy clothing that may conflict with the card design or be hard on the eyes. Or, if you have a complex photo, pick a simple card design. You can find a variety of decorative and simple Christmas cards online. Complement Each Other Choosing clothing that is complementary, rather than matching, will bring the photo together in a natural way. For example, each family member can wear a bright, bold hue against a white background. And as a general rule, identical outfits only look cute on little children. Photo copyright micromonkey - Fotolia.com Leave Some Room Tightly cropped photos leave little to work with if the photo needs adjustment for spacing. Allow some breathing room in your photo edges. Plus, many great holiday cards feature text to one side, so take some photos to the far left or far right. More tips on creating a great holiday photo and card can be found at www.minted.com. Above all, relax and enjoy the moment. This way, your smiles will warm the homes of many relatives and loved ones. (State- Point) Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. www.valcomnews.com (916) 429-9901 Holiday Greetings 2011
Holiday Greetings 2011 (916) 429-9901 www.valcomnews.com Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.
Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. www.valcomnews.com (916) 429-9901 Holiday Greetings 2011
Holiday Greetings 2011 (916) 429-9901 www.valcomnews.com Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.
Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. www.valcomnews.com (916) 429-9901 Holiday Greetings 2011 9
10 Holiday Greetings 2011 (916) 429-9901 www.valcomnews.com Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.
That personal touch: Give gifts that are both practical and meaningful Special to Valley Community Newspapers Adapting to these uncertain economic times, many of today s shoppers want to give gifts that will be used, but still want to find creative ways to convey their emotions. Shoppers feeling constrained by budgets like the idea of giving practical gifts, but many are worried that they will feel too impersonal, said Amy Myers, vice president of creative services for national gift retailer, Things Remembered. Even the most useful gifts can have meaning when personalized to honor your special relationship with a loved one. Here are some practical gift ideas that offer room for personalization: For the Family Although toys and games typically top children s wish lists, practical gifts can be fun when personalized just for them. Embroidered animal backpacks personalized with his or her name are a fun way to carry school books and can double as an overnight bag when visiting Grandma. Tools aren t traditionally viewed as meaningful gifts, but when engraved with a personalized sentiment these can become cherished items. Even home décor can have special meaning, like a family heritage tree that puts family photos on display for an instant heirloom piece. Function and Fashion In today s busy world, gifts that make lives easier and express personal style are twice as nice. For example, Things Remembered offers an engravable USB photo key chain, which allows parents and teens to conveniently keep memories close and personal files safe. The gift is even better when pre-loaded with family photos or a thoughtful note. And unique items, like a combined watch and money clip, offer men-on-the-go a fashionable and creative way to keep track of time and money. Creative Options Great gifts are catered to that individual. What is your loved one passionate about? Gardeners will appreciate a holiday card embedded with the seeds for a spruce tree. And nature lovers might like a butterfly-decorated journal that doubles as a photo scrapbook. Gifts that Give Back Just as a gift reflects a special connection between two people, a charitable gift creates a special bond with someone in need. This holiday season, many retailers are offering gift items that do double duty by earmarking a portion of the profits to organizations that do good. Or you can donate to a philanthropic organization on behalf of a loved one, commemorating the donation with a card or a framed picture of the benefactor. No matter the cause, you ll spread holiday cheer with a gift that brings joy to more than one recipient. And don t wait until the last minute. A little foresight can go a long way in making your gift more meaningful. (StatePoint) For more thoughtful gift ideas, visit www.thingsremembered.com. MEANINGFUL GIFTS let you feel closer to loved ones. Photo copyright, Getty Images Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. www.valcomnews.com (916) 429-9901 Holiday Greetings 2011 11
12 Holiday Greetings 2011 (916) 429-9901 www.valcomnews.com Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.
Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. www.valcomnews.com (916) 429-9901 Holiday Greetings 2011 13
14 Holiday Greetings 2011 (916) 429-9901 www.valcomnews.com Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc.
Happy Holidays from Valley Community Newspapers, inc. www.valcomnews.com (916) 429-9901 Holiday Greetings 2011 15
We Love to Pamper Your Pets!!SK 5S!BOUT "%34 #!2% "EST #ARE STARTER PACKAGE FOR PUPPIES KITTENS Q Complete Wellness Care Q Diagnostic & Medical Care Q Dentistry & Surgery Q Ultrasound Q Soft Tissue & Orthopedic Surgery Q Vaccine clinic Q Boarding & Bathing Q Internal Medicine The staff of VCA Greenhaven Pocket Animal Hospital is committed to helping improve the quality of life for your pets. We want you and your pet to feel like part of our family and with the addition of the VCA Pocket Animal Hospital we are pleased to offer Sunday hours and convenient evening hours. $OCTORS -ELINDA 3ARTE $6- s 3TACEY 7RIGHT $6- s *ENNIFER +ONCZ $6-,ISA *ONES $6- s -ARY #ATHERINE 2EESE $6-ON AM n PM s 4UE 7ED &RI AM n PM s 3AT AM n PM s 3UN AM n PM VCA Greenhaven Pocket Animal Hospital 1 Valine Court Sacramento, CA 95831 (916) 391-3677 VCAgreenhaven.com www.facebook.com/vcaanimalhospitals www.twitter.com/vcapethealth www.facebook.com/vcaanimalhospitals