Facing Reality
CMYA Helping Kids Get Back on Their Feet
by Nicole

My name is Nicole, and I am 15 years old. I grew up in a really nice middle class neighborhood and a nice home with a very loving mother and two sisters that were older. . read more...

Oh No! I'm Invited
Is it Really an Offer You Can't Refuse?
by Teri Gray Franta

Why is it that invitations we don't get can be as agonizing as the ones we do receive? We've all experienced the pain of not getting an invitation. Perhaps it was the holiday party that all of your friends received invites to, but not you. Then there was the time when several of your friends got together for a movie-without calling you. read more...

Reflections on Learning Music
Facing Challenges and Celebrating Triumphs
by Juliet Aucreman

Learning to play an instrument mirrors life's challenges and triumphs.
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Ocean Institute of Dana Point
Providing Exciting and Innovative Learning Opportunities
by Tom Morrow

One of the world's finest marine science and maritime history educational centers can be found in Dana Point on the sprawling campus of the Ocean Institute. read more...

Armchair Blitz
"We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do"
by Brad Wright

Last year, I watched with pride as the football team of my alma mater, Big Bear High School, went 14 - 0 to win the 2006 C.I.F. championship. I feel a kinship with this team that has awakened a calming sense of optimism for the future. read more...

Entrepreneurial Banker
Passionate About His Work
by Cecil Scaglione

Financial consultant, trusted advisor, partner, friend. These phrases are what clients say about their banker, Chris Walsh, executive vice president and chief banking officer at Vineyard Bank. read more...

The Beveled Edge
Leaders in the Business of Art Glass
by Cecil Scaglione

When he's not crystallizing customers' concepts, Norton Canterbury offers a litany of thanks for the opportunities offered by The Beveled Edge, the creative art glass window company he opened in 1988. read more...

Designer Glass and Overlay

Born and raised a southern Californian, this energetic entrepreneur sees a future of timeless beauty through windows. Paul Vander Ploeg has been designing decorative glass for homes and businesses now for a third of his life! read more...

Eagle Shield
Space-Age Insulation Brought Down to Earth
by Cecil Scaglione

"You're already paying for his product," said Garrett Harwood, CEO, Eagle Shield Inc., "You just don't have it installed." . read more...

Ethereal Lighting Shines Brightly
Pamela Vandergrift focuses on Old World craftsmanship
by Barbara Brill / photos by Stephanie Handler

Lighting is one of the most important areas of a home and one that is often most neglected. With simple improvements, your home can feel more welcoming and more spacious, and the right lighting choices can even turn a bland room into an exciting one. read more...

La Costa Glen
Redefines Retirement Lifestyles

A new style of senior living communities has emerged - one designed to embrace a more vibrant, year-round, on-the-go lifestyle. read more...

Exciting Future for Home Entertainment
Predictions from Skip Myers of ReelTime Sight & Sound
by Sandra McClintock

Skip Myers is not given to predicting the future, but he's made an exception in the case of home entertainment. According to Myers, it won't be just TV via cable or satellite any more. It's on the verge of burgeoning into a myriad of choices for home viewers. read more...

Spanish Palms
Where Caribbean Style Meets Las Vegas Living
by Sandra McClintock

Just a few minutes from the famed Las Vegas Strip, there is a resort community where serenity and sanctuary are a welcome respite from the excitement of the gaming world.. read more...

I Was Trustee for My Mom
And Now My Brother Won't Speak to Me
by Jacqueline Skay

Identifying one of the most critical issues we face every day in estate planning.