Arizona Homeowner Meet The 3M Group… Meet mortgage business leaders Ericka Martinez Hirons – Licensed Mortgage Professional, Jazel Martinez – Transaction Coordinator and Jessica Martinez Emes – Licensed Marketing and Business Development Director. With more than 30 years of expertise, the 3M Group is one of the top loan originating and closing teams in Metro Phoenix. They are committed to conducting business by doing good in their local community. The three Martinez sisters are passionate about giving to The Care Fund, Arizona’s only non-profit dedicated to granting mortgage or rent to families with children who are ill or injured. Their business model of superior service and caring goes hand-in-hand with the caring for community through their generous donation of time and fundraising, for local Arizona families experiencing financial hardship. 100% of fundraising donations go directly to Care Fund families in need. The 3M Group’s diligence and compassion speaks to their ultimate success! For more information, please visit www.thecarefund.org
UPCOMING CARE FUND EVENTS
Spring Fever Hits! Baseball Heaven
Betty was admitted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital with pneumonia on December 12. She was airlifted from Yuma with her Mom and spent three weeks at the hospital. While at PCH, Mom was referred to the Care Fund as she is a single parent and was now missing work to be with her baby. The Care Fund granted rent support so there was no risk of losing the family home while Mom was away from work.
Sign Up Online at TheCareFund.org/events
March 4 • Taco & Tequila Tuesday Presented by Valley Connections & 3M Group at Taco Haus • 4:30-7pm Meet friends at the newest taco sensation and raise funds for your community Care Fund through raffles, food and festivities! APRIL 12 • Dinner d’ Arte • $35 per ticket Arizona’s largest “POP UP DINNER!” Grab your friends and entertain under the stars. It’s a “white out theme” so dress up in white. You may create your own dinner or order a fun picnic basket online, SIGN UP NOW! www.dinnerdarte.org. MAY 10 • Caddyshack Golf Classic at McCormick Ranch Golf Club • 7:30am Shotgun Start Sign up to be an event Sponsor or play a round in a Foursome. Breakfast and Lunch included with Foursome. Wear your Caddyshack golf wear. Win prizes or the traveling “Bushwood Trophy”. GOPHER-IT!
We care for your home, while you care for your family
CALL NOW FOR THE MOST PROFESSIONAL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE LENDER SERVICES! www.homeownersfg.com
Ericka Martinez Hirons
Jessica Martinez Emes
Licensed Mortgage Professional
Licensed Marketing/Business Development
NMLS#294688
NMLS#422472
480.305.8630
480.305.8634
Jazel Martinez
Transaction Cordinator Homeowners Financial Group USA, LLC | BK#0906222 | NMLS#93718. This is not a pre-approval or commitment to engage in a loan transaction. All loan products may not be available in your area and are subject to credit and property approval pursuant to agency and investor guidelines. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice.
Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net
the good earth Get Gardening
incredible Italian cuisine LaBocca’s Spaghetti Alla Bolognes
Homeowners Financial Group with 3MGroup
Event Calendar March | April 2014
Masters of Movement Orpheum Theatre | March 27-30 602.381.1096 | BalletAZ.org Masters of Movement features works by acclaimed modern day dance choreographers that push the boundaries of classical ballet. Alejandro Cerrudo, acclaimed choreographer from Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, presents Off Screen, with dance inspired by film scores. It’s slinky and modern, with sexy steps and eccentric moves. Ib Andersen’s elegant and intricate masterpiece Symphonie Classique returns with costumes by Martin Pakledinaz, two-time Tony Award winning designer. 2014 Windsor Square Home and Garden Tour Windsor Square Historic District | March 30 602.619.4444 | WindsorSquarePhoenix.org Located at Central Avenue and Camelback Road in the central corridor of Phoenix, Windsor Square is one of the most sought-after historic neighborhoods in Arizona. The breathtakingly beautiful Windsor Square neighborhood is rich with history with many homes that are 60 to 75 years old. Started in 1929, the 260-home neighborhood is considered to be one of the first few suburbs of the city of Phoenix. The historic home and garden tour is a self-guided walking tour featuring 12 historic homes, a beautiful garden, plant societies and a beer garden. Music in the Garden Desert Botanical Garden | April 4 480.481.8188 | DBG.org Situated at the base of a saguaro-lined butte Music in the Desert Botanical Garden pairs great live local bands with the most enchanting venue in the Valley. Fabulous Food Fine Catering and Events provides a chef-attended station featuring weekly specials for an additional charge. The Patio Café will also be open during the concert with items for purchase from the café menu. A full cash bar, wine flights and wine by the bottle are available for purchase. Scottsdale Culinary Festival Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | April 8-13 480.945.7193 | ScottsdaleFest.org This festival draws more than 40,000 visitors looking to enjoy fabulous food, fun and festivities. No matter what kind of culinary experience you crave, there’s something for everyone! If you love great food, fine wine and boutique brews, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival is a priority on your itinerary. This six-day celebration of the culinary arts has something for everyone, from exquisite multi-course meals and wine-and-chocolate pairings to the Great Arizona Picnic.
Batter up! It’s baseball spring training season in Arizona again, and we’re in the midst of some serious fun in the sun. There’s no place better to experience America’s favorite pastime and enjoy seeing your favorite teams warm up for the regular season than here in Phoenix where the weather is perfect for baseball. And all the major players are here right in our own backyard! (And did we mention the price can’t be beat?) Whether you’re a Valley resident who relocated from another region and longs to see their favorite team, or a Diamondbacks diehard who just wants to get the season started, you’re in the right place to see the best of baseball right here at home. For those who aren’t up on their spring training stats, here’s a quick overview of all our region has to offer. The Phoenix metro area is home to the Cactus League, which traces its roots back to 1947 when two teams, the Cleveland Indians and the then-New York Giants, began seeking out the Arizona sun for spring training. Today the league is comprised of 15 Major League Baseball teams that train for the regular season under the warm Arizona spring sun. The teams play at 15 stadiums sprinkled throughout the region: Camelback
Spring Gardening Gardening in the Valley can be a little tricky. It’s dry. It’s hot. And because of our ultra-hot summers and mild winters, we have two general growing seasons: from mid-February through May and again from September through mid-November. As the risk of overnight below-freezing temperatures diminishes about mid-March, it’s time for green-thumbed Valley residents to get back to gardening. That means tidying up the yard and selecting new flowers to plant in the ground. These new plants will generally bloom in late summer or fall. But in the Phoenix area, certain plants do better than others, and new residents should be aware that plants that do well in other parts of the country will not do well here in the desert. One of the most important rules to gardening in the Valley is choosing plants that will do well and survive in the high heat of our climate. After all, Phoenix is located in the Sonoran Desert and is a subtropical desert zone so not just any plant will do well and thrive here. The first plants that fit the bill are xeriscape and native plants, or plants that are acclimated to dry climates and can survive with the natural rainfall in the Valley. In short, they need little or no supplemental water, which is important when water is scarce. Many xeriscape plants are native to the area which is why they thrive here. Consider cactus, such as saguaro and prickly pear; succulents, such as agave, aloe, and ocotillo; and perennials, including sage, lantana, desert marigolds, desert coreopsis, and a wide variety of penstemon. For pops of color that last throughout the growing season, many more traditional annuals that do well in other locales also put on a show here in Arizona. And several, such as marigolds, sunflowers, southwestern cosmos, Mexican gold poppy, flax, and zinnias, can all do well even in the extreme heat as long as they are regularly and thoroughly watered. For a complete guide of what plants to plant this spring, visit the Desert Botanical Garden’s web site at www.dbg.org and click on “Gardening tips for every month of the year.” And be sure to check out their Spring Plant Sale March 15 & 16. You can also visit any garden nursery in the area to get many more ideas and suggestions for plants that will bring you years of enjoyment in your garden.
Your Home
Ranch in Phoenix (home to the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers), Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear (home to the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians), Cubs Park in Mesa (home to the Chicago Cubs), Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix (home to the Milwaukee Brewers), Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria (home to the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners), Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix (home to the Oakland Athletics), Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale (home to the San Francisco Giants), Surprise Stadium in Surprise (home to the Kansas City Royals and
the Texas Rangers), Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe (home to the Los Angeles Angels), and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale (home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies). Want to see some of your favorite teams out on the diamond? Check out the complete spring training schedule at www.springtrainingonline.com. The regular Major League Baseball season starts March 31st, so don’t delay on getting out there to see your favorite teams at family-friendly prices during the spring training season. The weather is perfect, the prices are low, and the ballparks are all in close proximity to one another, making it possible to see several games in a short time. What are you waiting for?
Bolognese Sauce INGREDIENTS: 1/2 lb ground beef (80/20) 1/2 lb ground hot Italian sausage 1/2 lb ground veal 1/2 yellow onion diced 1 small carrot diced 1/4 lb button mushrooms sliced 1/2 tbsp garlic minced 1/2 tbsp Kosher salt
Local Flavor!
44th Annual Scottsdale Arts Festival Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | March 14-16 480.499.8587 | ScottsdalePerformingArts.org The Scottsdale Arts Festival has been recognized for its high-quality fine arts since 1971. The Festival showcases nearly 200 jury-selected artists from throughout the United States and Canada who work in painting, sculpture, glass and ceramics, jewelry, photography and more. Works of art are available for purchase directly from the artists and through the Festival’s online art auction.
La Bocca Urban Pizzeria & Wine Bar 480.967.5244 | LaBoccaPizzeria.com
1/2 tbsp oregano dried 1/4 tsp clove ground 4 oz tomato paste 1/2 cup white wine 2 oz evaporated milk 1 1/2 28oz cans of petite diced tomato 1/4 c fresh herbs minced (parsley, oregano, and basil)
DIRECTIONS: In a large pot brown the three meats separately reserving the rendered fat. Remove the cooked ground beef and place into a large mixing bowl before adding the sausage, and follow this procedure until the veal has been cooked. Discard all of the rendered fat except for 1/4 cup. Add the onion, and carrot to the 1/4 cup of rendered fat and sprinkle 1/4 tablespoon of the Kosher salt to this mixture then cook over medium heat until tender. Once the carrots and onions are tender add the garlic and sliced mushrooms add remaining 1/4 tablespoon of Kosher salt and cook for an additional five minutes over medium heat. Add the dried oregano, and ground clove to the mushrooms and vegetables, stir in the tomato paste and cook for two minutes stirring constantly. Add the white wine and evaporated milk, and the 1 1/2 cans of tomato. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and cook for three hours over low heat. Finish the sauce with the minced fresh herbs and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper as needed. Serve with your favorite pasta noodles and garlic bread.
Event Calendar March | April 2014
Masters of Movement Orpheum Theatre | March 27-30 602.381.1096 | BalletAZ.org Masters of Movement features works by acclaimed modern day dance choreographers that push the boundaries of classical ballet. Alejandro Cerrudo, acclaimed choreographer from Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, presents Off Screen, with dance inspired by film scores. It’s slinky and modern, with sexy steps and eccentric moves. Ib Andersen’s elegant and intricate masterpiece Symphonie Classique returns with costumes by Martin Pakledinaz, two-time Tony Award winning designer. 2014 Windsor Square Home and Garden Tour Windsor Square Historic District | March 30 602.619.4444 | WindsorSquarePhoenix.org Located at Central Avenue and Camelback Road in the central corridor of Phoenix, Windsor Square is one of the most sought-after historic neighborhoods in Arizona. The breathtakingly beautiful Windsor Square neighborhood is rich with history with many homes that are 60 to 75 years old. Started in 1929, the 260-home neighborhood is considered to be one of the first few suburbs of the city of Phoenix. The historic home and garden tour is a self-guided walking tour featuring 12 historic homes, a beautiful garden, plant societies and a beer garden. Music in the Garden Desert Botanical Garden | April 4 480.481.8188 | DBG.org Situated at the base of a saguaro-lined butte Music in the Desert Botanical Garden pairs great live local bands with the most enchanting venue in the Valley. Fabulous Food Fine Catering and Events provides a chef-attended station featuring weekly specials for an additional charge. The Patio Café will also be open during the concert with items for purchase from the café menu. A full cash bar, wine flights and wine by the bottle are available for purchase. Scottsdale Culinary Festival Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | April 8-13 480.945.7193 | ScottsdaleFest.org This festival draws more than 40,000 visitors looking to enjoy fabulous food, fun and festivities. No matter what kind of culinary experience you crave, there’s something for everyone! If you love great food, fine wine and boutique brews, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival is a priority on your itinerary. This six-day celebration of the culinary arts has something for everyone, from exquisite multi-course meals and wine-and-chocolate pairings to the Great Arizona Picnic.
Batter up! It’s baseball spring training season in Arizona again, and we’re in the midst of some serious fun in the sun. There’s no place better to experience America’s favorite pastime and enjoy seeing your favorite teams warm up for the regular season than here in Phoenix where the weather is perfect for baseball. And all the major players are here right in our own backyard! (And did we mention the price can’t be beat?) Whether you’re a Valley resident who relocated from another region and longs to see their favorite team, or a Diamondbacks diehard who just wants to get the season started, you’re in the right place to see the best of baseball right here at home. For those who aren’t up on their spring training stats, here’s a quick overview of all our region has to offer. The Phoenix metro area is home to the Cactus League, which traces its roots back to 1947 when two teams, the Cleveland Indians and the then-New York Giants, began seeking out the Arizona sun for spring training. Today the league is comprised of 15 Major League Baseball teams that train for the regular season under the warm Arizona spring sun. The teams play at 15 stadiums sprinkled throughout the region: Camelback
Spring Gardening Gardening in the Valley can be a little tricky. It’s dry. It’s hot. And because of our ultra-hot summers and mild winters, we have two general growing seasons: from mid-February through May and again from September through mid-November. As the risk of overnight below-freezing temperatures diminishes about mid-March, it’s time for green-thumbed Valley residents to get back to gardening. That means tidying up the yard and selecting new flowers to plant in the ground. These new plants will generally bloom in late summer or fall. But in the Phoenix area, certain plants do better than others, and new residents should be aware that plants that do well in other parts of the country will not do well here in the desert. One of the most important rules to gardening in the Valley is choosing plants that will do well and survive in the high heat of our climate. After all, Phoenix is located in the Sonoran Desert and is a subtropical desert zone so not just any plant will do well and thrive here. The first plants that fit the bill are xeriscape and native plants, or plants that are acclimated to dry climates and can survive with the natural rainfall in the Valley. In short, they need little or no supplemental water, which is important when water is scarce. Many xeriscape plants are native to the area which is why they thrive here. Consider cactus, such as saguaro and prickly pear; succulents, such as agave, aloe, and ocotillo; and perennials, including sage, lantana, desert marigolds, desert coreopsis, and a wide variety of penstemon. For pops of color that last throughout the growing season, many more traditional annuals that do well in other locales also put on a show here in Arizona. And several, such as marigolds, sunflowers, southwestern cosmos, Mexican gold poppy, flax, and zinnias, can all do well even in the extreme heat as long as they are regularly and thoroughly watered. For a complete guide of what plants to plant this spring, visit the Desert Botanical Garden’s web site at www.dbg.org and click on “Gardening tips for every month of the year.” And be sure to check out their Spring Plant Sale March 15 & 16. You can also visit any garden nursery in the area to get many more ideas and suggestions for plants that will bring you years of enjoyment in your garden.
Your Home
Ranch in Phoenix (home to the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers), Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear (home to the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians), Cubs Park in Mesa (home to the Chicago Cubs), Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix (home to the Milwaukee Brewers), Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria (home to the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners), Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix (home to the Oakland Athletics), Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale (home to the San Francisco Giants), Surprise Stadium in Surprise (home to the Kansas City Royals and
the Texas Rangers), Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe (home to the Los Angeles Angels), and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale (home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies). Want to see some of your favorite teams out on the diamond? Check out the complete spring training schedule at www.springtrainingonline.com. The regular Major League Baseball season starts March 31st, so don’t delay on getting out there to see your favorite teams at family-friendly prices during the spring training season. The weather is perfect, the prices are low, and the ballparks are all in close proximity to one another, making it possible to see several games in a short time. What are you waiting for?
Bolognese Sauce INGREDIENTS: 1/2 lb ground beef (80/20) 1/2 lb ground hot Italian sausage 1/2 lb ground veal 1/2 yellow onion diced 1 small carrot diced 1/4 lb button mushrooms sliced 1/2 tbsp garlic minced 1/2 tbsp Kosher salt
Local Flavor!
44th Annual Scottsdale Arts Festival Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | March 14-16 480.499.8587 | ScottsdalePerformingArts.org The Scottsdale Arts Festival has been recognized for its high-quality fine arts since 1971. The Festival showcases nearly 200 jury-selected artists from throughout the United States and Canada who work in painting, sculpture, glass and ceramics, jewelry, photography and more. Works of art are available for purchase directly from the artists and through the Festival’s online art auction.
La Bocca Urban Pizzeria & Wine Bar 480.967.5244 | LaBoccaPizzeria.com
1/2 tbsp oregano dried 1/4 tsp clove ground 4 oz tomato paste 1/2 cup white wine 2 oz evaporated milk 1 1/2 28oz cans of petite diced tomato 1/4 c fresh herbs minced (parsley, oregano, and basil)
DIRECTIONS: In a large pot brown the three meats separately reserving the rendered fat. Remove the cooked ground beef and place into a large mixing bowl before adding the sausage, and follow this procedure until the veal has been cooked. Discard all of the rendered fat except for 1/4 cup. Add the onion, and carrot to the 1/4 cup of rendered fat and sprinkle 1/4 tablespoon of the Kosher salt to this mixture then cook over medium heat until tender. Once the carrots and onions are tender add the garlic and sliced mushrooms add remaining 1/4 tablespoon of Kosher salt and cook for an additional five minutes over medium heat. Add the dried oregano, and ground clove to the mushrooms and vegetables, stir in the tomato paste and cook for two minutes stirring constantly. Add the white wine and evaporated milk, and the 1 1/2 cans of tomato. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and cook for three hours over low heat. Finish the sauce with the minced fresh herbs and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper as needed. Serve with your favorite pasta noodles and garlic bread.
Arizona Homeowner Meet The 3M Group… Meet mortgage business leaders Ericka Martinez Hirons – Licensed Mortgage Professional, Jazel Martinez – Transaction Coordinator and Jessica Martinez Emes – Licensed Marketing and Business Development Director. With more than 30 years of expertise, the 3M Group is one of the top loan originating and closing teams in Metro Phoenix. They are committed to conducting business by doing good in their local community. The three Martinez sisters are passionate about giving to The Care Fund, Arizona’s only non-profit dedicated to granting mortgage or rent to families with children who are ill or injured. Their business model of superior service and caring goes hand-in-hand with the caring for community through their generous donation of time and fundraising, for local Arizona families experiencing financial hardship. 100% of fundraising donations go directly to Care Fund families in need. The 3M Group’s diligence and compassion speaks to their ultimate success! For more information, please visit www.thecarefund.org
UPCOMING CARE FUND EVENTS
Spring Fever Hits! Baseball Heaven
Betty was admitted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital with pneumonia on December 12. She was airlifted from Yuma with her Mom and spent three weeks at the hospital. While at PCH, Mom was referred to the Care Fund as she is a single parent and was now missing work to be with her baby. The Care Fund granted rent support so there was no risk of losing the family home while Mom was away from work.
Sign Up Online at TheCareFund.org/events
March 4 • Taco & Tequila Tuesday Presented by Valley Connections & 3M Group at Taco Haus • 4:30-7pm Meet friends at the newest taco sensation and raise funds for your community Care Fund through raffles, food and festivities! APRIL 12 • Dinner d’ Arte • $35 per ticket Arizona’s largest “POP UP DINNER!” Grab your friends and entertain under the stars. It’s a “white out theme” so dress up in white. You may create your own dinner or order a fun picnic basket online, SIGN UP NOW! www.dinnerdarte.org. MAY 10 • Caddyshack Golf Classic at McCormick Ranch Golf Club • 7:30am Shotgun Start Sign up to be an event Sponsor or play a round in a Foursome. Breakfast and Lunch included with Foursome. Wear your Caddyshack golf wear. Win prizes or the traveling “Bushwood Trophy”. GOPHER-IT!
We care for your home, while you care for your family
CALL NOW FOR THE MOST PROFESSIONAL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE LENDER SERVICES! www.homeownersfg.com
Ericka Martinez Hirons
Jessica Martinez Emes
Licensed Mortgage Professional
Licensed Marketing/Business Development
NMLS#294688
NMLS#422472
480.305.8630
480.305.8634
Jazel Martinez
Transaction Cordinator Homeowners Financial Group USA, LLC | BK#0906222 | NMLS#93718. This is not a pre-approval or commitment to engage in a loan transaction. All loan products may not be available in your area and are subject to credit and property approval pursuant to agency and investor guidelines. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice.
Produced by Desert Lifestyle Publishing • 480.460.0996 • www.DesertLifestyle.net
the good earth Get Gardening
incredible Italian cuisine LaBocca’s Spaghetti Alla Bolognes
Homeowners Financial Group with 3MGroup