Go for it Magazine - February 2012 by Susan Dakuzaku

February 2012 GO FOR IT 1

We Aren’t Just Solar Pool Heating Homeowners hear a lot about saving energy, as energy experts what does Aztec Solar suggest? The best way to start saving energy and therefore money is to look at your home’s performance through an energy assessment. At an assessment you will learn the best approach to stop money from leaking right out of your home. Aztec Solar can provide you with a free assessment and suggest the best technology, whether solar water heating or solar electric to maximize the solar rebates available to you today.

Heather Dowling, Aztec Solar

Q&A

By Bob Cox If Aztec Solar is not just a solar pool heating company what are you? For over 30 years we have been installing solar pool heating systems, but what you might not know is that we have been installing solar electric and solar water heating systems as well. We are a-do-it-all solar company, providing you with total solar home system design, saving you money and increasing your quality of life. How can you save us money? Electricity rates continue to increase about 3-6% annually — which means the more you consume the higher you pay per unit known as a kilo-watt hour. So, if you are spending more than $200/month on your electric bills then solar electric makes sense for you. We can analyze your bills and suggest a system to keep you at a price for solar that is competitive with your electric rates. Aztec Solar also offers financing and lease options so this investment make sense for your pocketbook.

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Is solar still a smart investment? Currently Solar Energy shows the most significant energy savings for your home performance. In addition, the best rebate in California above all other energy efficiency improvements is Solar Water Heating followed by Solar Electric. What is solar water heating? Solar water heating takes energy from the sun and heats the water directly. It’s the most efficient form of solar energy because you don’t have to convert the energy. Essentially you are taking hot water heated from the sun and using it in your showers, laundry and dishwashers. That’s also called solar thermal correct? Yes, and right now this is the best solar investment you can make. Currently the incentives cover half the cost of this installation, cutting your investment to under $4,500. If you are an all-electric home or on propane you must take advantage of this money saving solar investment, it is the most efficient solar technology and therefore $1 for $1 the strongest solar investment. How do we start? Contact Aztec Solar to set up a free energy assessment and estimate. At this consultation you will get the support you need to make an informed decision. For a limited time we are able to bring you this consultation for FREE. Also if you act by February 29th, you will receive $800 OFF your new solar installation. Call us today and start saving your energy.

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Q & A with Jean Ward Q: Why did you decide to be a hypnotherapist? A: I love helping people work with their inner mind to remove blocks and obstacles that are getting between them and their ability to achieve a healthy, balanced life. It is truly rewarding to reinforce the strong mind/body connection that empowers and guides us in life. Q: What kinds of issues do your clients bring to you? A: Clients come to me for many different issues. I work with people for stress relief for medical problems, anxiety, various fears or phobias, insomnia, bad habits of all kinds, compulsive eating or spending, performance enhancement for study, public speaking, sports improvement, and pain management. My work is results focused. Hypnotherapy has been approved by the American Medical Association for over 800 different issues. Q: How does hypnosis work? A: Hypnosis is simply a state of relaxed receptivity, where the conscious mind is stilled and the sub conscious mind is receptive to suggestions for positive change. The subconscious mind is extremely powerful and works to make those suggestions a reality. The process is soothing and the results are empowering. We have incredible inner resources which can be easily accessed through hypnosis. The motivated client enjoys a sense of new discovery of inner strength. This is very rewarding work.

Testimonials

“I came to Jean Ward for panic attacks. My upcoming surgery propelled me to seek help; I heard about her from a friend who used her services during two pregnancies and through labor. Although skeptical, I was desperate. In just a few sessions, I was calm and confident and in control again. She is kind and caring; I can’t thank her enough for what she did for me.” Tracie Buchanan, Rancho Cordova “I came to Jean Ward for weight loss to bring my blood pressure down. After seven sessions, I am now much more in balance with my eating, but, most importantly, my blood pressure came right down and has remained stable. I even sleep better! I recommend her services to anyone.” Marilyn Reynolds, Gold River “I came to Jean when I was undergoing chemotherapy. Her hypnotherapy offered me a tremendous sense of comfort from the side effects of the chemotherapy as well as the emotional stress of my medical condition. I actually felt sorry for the patients around me who I knew did not know of this resource and were not being helped as I was. Jean has a wonderful calming and caring personality. I am forever grateful to her for being there when I most needed it. I am cancer free now and still most thankful.” Susan Conklin, Sacramento “I needed help overcoming my claustrophobia when faced with the need to have an MRI. In just a few sessions with Jean I was able to conquer those fears and withstand 50 minutes of being in an unbearably constricted space. I recommend hypnotherapy to anyone facing problems coping with medical procedures as well as many other issues.” George Williams, Fair Oaks

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Finding the Heart of Joy By Bob Cox

I remember the end of my diaper wearing days when my mom would read me stories at night about the things I loved most: prehistoric dinosaurs and wild animals from Africa. Whenever she would show me their pictures and share their names, I’d get so excited; I would do everything I could to become just like those menacing monsters. When I wasn’t roaring down the halls like tyrannosaurus rex, dragging a towel behind me for a tail, I’d slip into my leopard colored pajamas and stalk my three older sisters like they were gazelles until they would roar back at me like the lions they really were. “Buzz off you little geek, you’re annoying us!” I also remember the advice my mom gave me that I would follow for the first three decades of my life. She said, “Bobby, you’re smart and your brain is the boss.” Whenever I wasn’t too preoccupied with turning our backyard into a primeval jungle of plastic dinosaurs, I’d sit back and watch my teenaged sisters get into all kinds of trouble. For me, that was every bit as entertaining as pitting t-rex against triceratops. Mostly, I observed my sisters choices and learned to avoid the things that caused the most grief and heartache to themselves and my poor old emotionally distraught parents. I guess it was a good thing that mom and dad were at the end of their imaginary rope, because if they had any extra by the time I reached my terrible teens, they might have hung themselves. Up until my 30th birthday, I followed mom’s advice and used my head to make all the big decisions in my life. While I had a lot to be thankful for, including a wife and son I loved, a beautiful home with a swimming pool and a stable job, something was missing. My head was full but my heart was empty. I’d go to work and the minute I arrived, the countdown began. “Seven hours

Advertisers Index Aztec Solar…………………….................................. 2 Jean Ward Hypnotherapy……….…......................... 3 Contents…………………………….......................... 4 Sundance Auto……..……………............................. 5 Dynamic Dental.….……………............................... 6 Dr. Andrew Pichler………………….......................... 7 Avon………..………………..……............................. 7 Lasertag of Carmichael…………….......................... 8 Art Gallery Tupos……………………........................ 8 Alpine Cabinet Company………….......................... 9 Ralph Opfer Floors………………….......................... 9 E-Z Living Cleaning………………........................... 10 Stoney Folks Jewelers……………............................ 10 Golden State Transmissions……............................. 11 Desert Palms Massage………...…........................... 11 Taqueria Los Cerros.......…………........................... 11 What’s the Buzz (by Bob)………............................ 11 Simply Pilates………………………......................... 12 Cordova Sewing & Vacuum Center........................ 13 Grocery Outlet…………..…………......................... 14 Yogurt Monkey…………………….......................... 15 Jimboy’s……..……………………........................... 15 Diana Cox Massage……………….......................... 16 Fabulous Facials……………………......................... 17 California Family Fitness…………………................ 18 Aquamarine Jewelers………………......................... 19 California’s Finest…………………........................... 19 Valley Motorwerks…………..…….......................... 20 River City Brakes…………………........................... 21 Official Smog………………………......................... 21 Sac Cycle…………………………........................... 22 Trends-n-Treats……………………......................... 23 Alco Siding and Windows, Inc…........................... 24 4 GO FOR IT February February2012 2012

until I get to leave, six hours until it’s go time, just five more hours etc.” I figured that my life would be just a whole lot more of the same, up until my expiration date arrived. Then one day, while my young family and I were paying my parents a visit at their quaint little used book store in Granite Bay, everything changed. My mom presented me with a gift that she was super excited about, especially since she knew how much I once loved to collect baseball cards. Have A Nice Life When she handed me a paperback book about baseball card prices, my mind instantly raced to the dark side of sarcasm as this thought hit me like baseball bat, “Great, mom thinks I’m still 10 years old. What’s next, a how-to guide for installing pampers on myself?” As fickle fate would have it, that book would become the single greatest gift of my life. After several months of collecting dust on our kitchen counter, I felt compelled by some mysterious force to open it one day. What I discovered inside was nothing less than pure magic. I reviewed the prices of all those cards I collected as a kid that I still had in an old shoebox and was blown away when I realized I was sitting on a small fortune. I became supercharged with excitement and worked nonstop on a plan to convert my rekindled passion into a career that I could love that would also help support my family. After years of uninspired living, my comatose heart was resurrected. I never felt more alive. From that moment on, I promoted my heart to boss and lead the way while my brain took on a supporting role by mapping out the details. While I experienced my fair share of bumps and bruises, I instinctively knew I was finally heading in the right direction. That first year of transition, my first wife and I traveled through financial hell and we bickered like never before. She said “You’re not the man I married” and I knew she was right. I also knew I wasn’t willing to go back to a life of passionless existence to win her approval. Eventually, my decision paid off as I found a career that I was passionate about and my earnings soared to new heights. The highway to happiness is not always a smooth paved road that leads you to easy street. If it was, we would probably experience highway hypnosis from boredom and fall asleep at the wheel. It’s often like an off-road adventure or a switchback mountain road, with lots of twists and turns, potholes and road construction. Life came full circle when my own diaper wearing son Bobby would ask me to tell him stories at bedtime. I would always end each night by telling him, “Your brain is the manager, but your heart is the boss.” Love is in the air and Valentines Day is right around the corner, so if you’re looking to bestow the ultimate gift to the one you love, present them with the best possible version of yourself. You deserve to experience the heart of joy and so do they. Take the time to figure out what brings you excitement, passion and fulfillment and then go for it. While you’re at it, make sure you help everyone else around you by bringing them up and not tearing them down. You will make our world a better place for yourself and everyone you love by using all your unique talents and gifts and then inspiring others around you to do the same. Go for it! Bob Cox is the founder and publisher of Go For It Magazine. He can be reached by phone at (916) 266-3115. His email address is coxrobert@ comcast.net. Go For It Magazine is owned and operated in Rancho Cordova, CA. Copyright © 2012.

February February2012 2012 GO GO FOR FOR IT IT 5

Digital Dentures By Dr. Andrade & Dr. Montalvo

The past few years has seen the increase in digital technology in all facets of life. In dentistry the use has been incredible, from digital x-rays, charts, to one day crowns using computer assisted milling

machines (Cerec). Now, this milling technology has been expanded to include dentures. Q: How does this work? A: We take traditional moulds

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and measurements of the area that needs to have teeth replaced and we send it to a special lab (AvaDent). The lab then takes this impression and scans it into a computer. This scan is a three dimensional image that now serves as the digital model. With special computer software, a denture is designed to the specifications on our prescription. The denture is completed after just one appointment and can be placed on the patient on the second appointment. No longer do we have to fabricate a new denture in 4-5 appointments. In as little as 2 visits we can have a better fitting and more aesthetic denture. So, if you have a denture that needs to be replaced, give this a try.

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Fall in Love…With Your Floors By Bob Cox

delivering on his word, no matter what the personal For those of you who are either far too cost might be. His integrity was unquestioned and sensible or just too plain macho to enjoy a his customers loved him almost as much as his simple yet heart warming love story, heed this daughter did. NON SURGEON’S GENERAL WARNING: DO So, when the time came for Ralph to step NOT GO PAST THIS SENTENCE BECAUSE IT down, he put all his faith and trust in Lynn’s hands, MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR REPUTATION. and she’s has filled his large shoes admirably. She Your buddies aren’t going to buy the tired old has built a reputation for not only being a savvy excuse “it’s just a cold” anymore while you wipe bargain hunter but for always going the extra mile your eyes and blow your nose after putting to help her customers find flooring they love at the down this magazine. So, why the warning? best possible price. With this thought in mind, now Because this article features not one, but two is the time to turn to love story number two: The of the sappiest love stories this side of Ali sister who listened to her kid brother’s advice, had a MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal. As a matter of fact, torrid affair and fell in love all over again, this time this might even mean the end of the line for the with her brand new laminated tiger wood floors! little naked baby running around town with the When Diana and I were over at my sister Julie’s bow and arrow. I think I just saw a picture in the house last summer, she took us upstairs and was National Inquirer of Cupid himself, unshaven showing off her beautiful new bathroom while and kicking back in a barker lounger downing sharing her plans for her next project. “We’ll be a cold one. Apparently, he felt like his job was replacing those warn out carpets and hideous entry done after these two stories and he’s looking tiles downstairs next,” exclaimer Julie. When I asked for a more stable source of income. her if she had someone in mind, she said she was The first love story involves the sorted A complete makeover of the fireplace planning to use the same people who remodeled affairs of a young girl who falls in love with makes it a focal point of the room. her bathroom. Suddenly, I felt the sting of Cupid’s of all things, her father’s flooring business! arrow as it pierced my dull thought patterns and Apparently, when Lynn Lawson was growing with that I spontaneously blurted out like Billy Mays pitching Oxy up in the wild and crazy years we now call the 70’s, she was actually Clean, “Before you do that Julie, you need to talk to Lynn with Ralph paying attention to what her father, Ralph Opfer was doing to build Opfer Floors. She’ll go the extra mile to find you the perfect floors incredibly successful business relationships by always going way at the lowest possible prices! With that said, I handed her a copy of above and beyond the call of duty. Ralph believed in doing business Go For It Magazine, with Ralph Opfer Floors on the front cover and the old fashioned way, by following a strict code of ethics and always encouraged her to read it. With that said, my matchmaking work was done. A few weeks ago, Diana and I took the opportunity to check out Julie and her husband Dave’s new masterpiece, and we experienced a sudden dose of shock and awe over the amazing transformation. Julie went on to describe her exciting new romance with her floors. “I first learned about Ralph Opfer Floors through Go For It Magazine. I saw the picture of a hardwood floor on the front cover and it was beautiful. I had a previous contractor who did some work for us, but he wouldn’t give me a very good price. And then I read your article about how Lynn’s dad had the business for like 40 years and how she took over when he retired. So I thought, gosh they’ve been in business for all that time, it’s family-owned and I like that she just sounded really nice. Since they had been in business so long, I figured they had all those contacts and could get sellouts and closeouts, so I thought maybe they would give me a better price. I also thought that she probably had more selection to choose from too. I felt very comfortable working with her because she was in your magazine and had been in business

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because it was easier than having to paint them after they were installed. They had to take out the old tile, so it took them a little bit longer than estimated before the change of plans. But once they put in the new tile, it was just beautiful. Everything looks great and I would highly recommend them.

that many years. I didn’t have to worry about some fly-by-night,” recalled Julie. Like any decent private investigator, (which I am not) I knew my work had just begun. I really needed to get to the heart of the matter and find out why my sister had fallen so hard and fast over her floors. Here’s how our investigation, I mean conversation went.

Q: What did you enjoy most about your affair, I mean working with Lynn? Q: How did your affair begin? A: She was just like a girlfriend. I felt very at A: I called up Lynn and her husband Gregg ease with her and I felt an instant camaraderie. came out. He measured everything and I told Dave & Julie Farrell have fallen in love She talked about her daughter’s wedding, we him what I wanted. I wanted a floor that looked again...this time with their floors! talked about our kids and our grandkids and it nice and would last. I just wanted an affordable was like I had known her for years. She’s just a super nice lady and floor that looked good and would last a long time. I wanted to spend her husband is really nice too. He’s really a sweet guy. They’re just around $4,000 and the lowest bid I got was around $5,400 and I just very nice and down-to-earth people and I felt very good about them. didn’t want to spend that much. So anyway he said, “We’ll see what I could tell that they were just honest, hard-working good people and we can do.” He called me back and said that he could give it to me in I think they’re great! the price range I was looking for and I thought that was great.

Continued on page 19

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Q: Once you decided to go all the way, you didn’t just stop at replacing the flooring, now did you? A: No! Anyway, she had it all set up for them to put all the floors in, but we wanted to paint first. Once we were ready for them, Lynn scheduled the installers to come out and they were really nice guys. I felt very comfortable having them in my house. Normally, I don’t like have strangers over because it makes me feel kind of funny, but they were really nice guys. They did a really good job and they really worked fast. They even took the stove and refrigerator out, which was nice because I knew it would be hard to move the appliances ourselves. The job also included the baseboards, which came primed. We painted them the color that I wanted before they put them in

Q: So, did you cave in to their high pressure sales tactics (I’m kidding)? A: (Laughing) She was very patient with me I didn’t feel pressured like I was taking up her time. You know how you feel when people seem like they’re in a hurry? I never felt that way at all. When I’ve had other work done on my house, they seemed like they were all frantic and in a hurry. When that happens, you can’t think, but I never felt pressured at all. Lynn wanted me to pick what I wanted. We could have gone to 50 stores and she didn’t care. When we had our samples all picked out we were starving and she told Karen and I about a really good restaurant nearby her store. She’s asked if we like Mexican and we both yelled yes! We went to the restaurant she suggested and it was excellent!

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Q: Of course, things quickly spiraled out of control and went beyond playful flirting. What happened next? A: My friend Karen and I went down to Ralph Opfer Floors and looked at all of their floor samples. I found several samples I liked. I took some laminate floor samples home and fell in love with the one we ended up selecting, which is called tiger wood. At first, I was afraid it would be too wild, but it ended up being really cool and just what I wanted. I also decided I still wanted tile in my entry but I knew I had to take out the old tile because it would look hideous next to the quality of the beautiful new floor and I wanted the tile in the entry to match the fireplace tile. I found a nice border tile that I liked and after talking to Lynn, I decided to redo the entry and the fireplace with matching tiles, which included the border that I liked. I really wasn’t sure about which tile to choose, so I went back to see Lynn and we went to a few tile stores. The first two didn’t have what I was looking for, but the third store did. Lynn and I had a really good time. She was just like a girlfriend. We were just talking away and she was very nice. Not only was she great to work with, she had a huge selection of flooring to choose from and I was impressed by how much stuff they had in their warehouse.

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The company we keep... We have been honored to be work with these fine organizations and businesses who make significant, positive contributions to our community.

In Pursuit of Happiness... 2012 is brand new and ready for you to blaze a trail to your goals and aspirations but as many wise people have said, it is more about the journey than the destination. Your vision sets your compass; your plan is your roadmap to success, and your passion will power you forward. However, when it is all said and done, it will be less about achieving your goals and more about finding YOURSELF. I spent time with some amazing business people last night and though I got some great ideas about business, these are the two most important lessons (and commitments) I came away with... 1) Spend quality time alone. Read, meditate, pray, reflect to ensure you KNOW what it important to YOU and how you want to spend your time on this planet and what you will leave behind when you are gone. Erma Bombeck said “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say ‘I used everything you gave me’.” 2) Spend time with quality people. Jim Rohn said “Get around people who have something of value to share with you. Their impact will continue to have a significant effect on your life long after they have departed.” What’s more, they guarantee to make your journey more challenging, rewarding, and community-connected because of the company you keep. The influence of spiritual and association guidance will serve as a valuable GPS to keep you on track. Now, let’s get this show on the road! *Visit www.BobsPocket.com for Bob’s Blog & Bio.

This non-profit is on a mission to ensure kids have hands-on financial and business education in the real-world! They run Farmer’s Markets at Sunrise Mall and Carmichael Park where the kids work in marketing, sales, customer service and more... Positive impact for their futures and ours! This “organization of organizations” has been around for over 50 years and stage events like the Rancho Cordova 4th of July celebration, iFest, Kid’s Day and most recently the Holiday Ice Rink. They were part of the team that had Rancho Cordova recognized as an All-America City in 2010. During the past year or so, the Chamber has been revitalized thanks to the efforts of the staff, board and volunteers (recently evident in the wildly successful Gala honoring Kitty O’Neal). The addition of new sponsors, leaders and supporters promises more great things in 2012 for Carmichael! Great supporters of our community, they hosted a multichamber, Halloween mixer that was a “hoot”! They also host special remembrances on Memorial Day and throughout the year. They recently became our FIRST major sponsor for the Carmichael Community Calendar. Visit BobsPocket.com for the community calendars for Carmichael and Rancho Cordova. List your community events and contact us if you want our help to get the word out about your event, organization or business. You will also find links for all of our collaborators above and more to follow... ~ Bob February 2012 GO FOR IT 11

Aquamarine Jewelers Fall in Love with Sacramento’s #1 Jewelry Store By Bob Cox For many of us, the single greatest challenge in life is finding a career that is enjoyable, fulfilling and financially rewarding. Some people spend a lifetime searching for work that they are truly passionate about. On the other hand, there are those rare occasions when we hear about people who seem to be destined to a specific career path. Such was the case for Aiman Nasrawi, the owner of Aquamarine Jewelers in Sacramento, California. Aiman was introduced into Aiman Nasrawi, owner the jewelry business at the ripe Aquamarine Jewelers old age of 10. “My uncle was a manufacturer in the jewelry industry and I just loved it. I enjoyed going with my uncle and seeing how they made the jewelry. It was very interesting to me. At this point, my journey started, so I spent every summer vacation with him at the manufacturers making jewelry,” explained Aiman. Q: Was there anyone in your family that encouraged you to get into the business? A: My older brother Alex is also in the jewelry business and really encouraged me. In one of the interviews on TV,

I repeatedly said making jewelry is what I was born to do. I love this business and I do it with passion. The best thing is to see is the reaction from my customer’s faces when they see the finished product. Their smiles are what keep me going. Q: Do you specialize in custom designed jewelry? A: Yes. Do you want some jewelry specifically designed for you or a loved one? At Aquamarine Jewelers, custom design is our specialty. If you want something wonderful and unique and you have the vision, we are here to transform your ideas into reality. Whether it’s bridal jewelry, a redesign or a gift, our professional design team at Aquamarine Jewelers will work with you, providing innovative suggestions and their technical expertise to make it all a reality. If you’re ready to get started, we’ll be happy to set up a free, no pressure consultation. Q: Why was Aquamarine Jewelers voted the number one jewelry store by the Sacramento Bee? A: For over 12 years, Aquamarine Jewelers has been offering an elegant line of high quality jewelry. We specialize in a fine selection of diamond rings and other jewelry. Our distinct quality and great prices are just a few of the reasons why we exceed expectations daily. The experience of looking for a diamond engagement ring should be a very pleasurable and enjoyable process. Our experienced staff will guide you to the ring that is just right for your needs. Most importantly, you should be comfortable with what you buy before you buy it. At Aquamarine Jewelers, we are always up-to-date with all the newest styles and latest trends in jewelry. Q: Does Aquamarine Jewelers carry multi-colored diamonds? A: Yes, we offer colored diamonds in pink, yellow, champagne, blue and green. So place your trust in Aquamarine Jewelers for the perfect jewelry selection. We specialize in heirloom quality with contemporary styling.

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Q: What is the largest gemstone collection you carry? A: Alexandrite. Come witness the magic of changing color, the rarest stone on earth…alexandrite. Aquamarine Jewelers carries the largest selection of alexandrite in the greater Sacramento valley. We purchased the entire inventory of alexandrite from a large wholesaler, so we now offer the guaranteed lowest prices on these beautiful stones. Q: How are you able to offer lower prices? A: Everything is done on our premises, so nothing is outsourced. We’re excited to have a new designer on board. His name is Michael Sadi. Michael has brought back the old style and blended it with modern styling. Q: What was the most important thing you learned while being a jewelry designer at Nordstrom for 7 years? Nordstrom taught me a very important thing. They taught me to be very specific and very meticulous. The jewelry must be 100% perfect before being presented to the customer. Q: Do you have any third-party endorsements? A: We are rated number one in Sacramento with the Better Business Bureau. We are also featured on the Better Business Bureau and KCRA Channel 3 websites

as a recommended store for consumers who are selling their gold. Q: Is there anything else that separates you from the competition? A: Yes, when other jewelers say no, we say yes! When another jeweler says, “No, your jewelry cannot be fixed,” they can come here and we’ll fix it. We specialize in restoring vintage heirloom jewelry. These customers will often ask me why the other jeweler said that their jewelry couldn’t be fixed. I tell them it’s because they don’t want to invest the extra time and effort for such a small amount of money. We’ll do those tough repairs, because we’re not motivated by the money; we’re after the satisfaction of our customers. Q: Is there anything else you would like to mention? A: Yes, we are proud to be the only exclusive dealer of Lex Diamond Watches on the west coast. Their website is www.lexdiamondwatch.com. Editor’s notes: For more information about Aquamarine Jewelers, stop by their beautiful showroom at 2628 Marconi Avenue in Sacramento, California. They are located at Fulton and Marconi, across the street from the Town & Country Shopping Center. Their phone number is (916) 483-5474 and their website is aquamarinejewelers.com.

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Who Loves Grocery Outlet? By Monica Ortiz

Love is in the air and here at Rancho Cordova Grocery Outlet we love our customers! Who are we? Who shops here? We are an independent and family owned extreme value grocery retailer. We’re part of the number one closeout retailer in the U.S. We specialize in closeout products from all of the top brand manufacturers, like Del Monte, Dole, Kellogg’s, Quaker, Ocean Spray, Oscar Mayer, Nestle, Kraft, Nabisco, Kashi, Green Giant, Stouffer’s, Dove, Gillette, Tide, All, Pantene and many more. We bring you bargains every week, with savings of up to 40% or more on all items in the store. We offer grocery, frozen foods, deli foods, fresh meat, fresh produce, dairy, health and beauty aids, house-wares, beer and wine and all at discounted bargain prices. We’re the biggest secret in town and a fun store to shop, but be aware that if you find your favorite items, you better stock up on them because they may not be here next week! Every day is like a treasure hunt, because you never know what we’ll have and we’re going to surprise you every time. Our buying team searches everywhere for the best brands at bargain prices. We also offer 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. If you don’t like an item you bought, just bring it back for a full refund. So who shops at Grocery Outlet? Everyone! We have some of the smartest shoppers around. We have health conscious families that like to save money and provide their kids with healthy and nutritious meals. We have financially savvy families that need to save on their food budget to

Valentine’s Day Floral & Plant Sale Feb. 10th – 14th You’ll Love Our Selection!

send their kids to college. We have large families that want to stretch their food budget and enjoy those little extras, like healthy snacks and juices. We have senior citizens that are on fixed incomes and know how to save money. They also get an extra 10% off during our Senior Mornings, which happens every second and third Wednesday of every month from 8 am to 1 pm. They also enjoy free refreshments and prizes! Young adults shop Grocery Outlet to find some of their favorites gourmet cheeses, crackers and wines. Food Banks, Churches and Non-Profit Organizations shop with us because they know they’ll be able to feed more families with our bargain prices, which are often below wholesaler’s prices. Civil Groups shop with us when they have their crab feeds, fundraiser and BBQs. We’re community oriented too and love to be part of many local events like the Cordova Community Food Locker Thanksgiving Basket Program, The Kid’s Day at the Park, The Fair Oaks Fiesta Run, The Eppies Great Race, The Christmas Tree Lighting, A Taste of December sponsored by the Cordova Community Partnership, The Police Activity League Fun Run, The Cordova Community Council 4th of July Celebration and many other events throughout the year. So next time you see our booth in and about our community, stop by and say hi. We would love to meet you!

YY 2801 Zinfandel Dr., Rancho Cordova, CA (916) 858-2801 www.groceryoutlet.com Mon–Sat: 8am–9pm • Sun: 8am–7pm

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Fall in Love…With Your Floors Continued from page 9 Q: Are you going to replace your upstairs carpet with new carpet? A: I think so. I love the look of wood and I think it’s beautiful, but comfort wise I like to step out of bed on nice soft carpet. Q: Of course you do, you little… By the way, Ralph Opfer Floors was also able to take care of your fireplace. Can you tell us a little bit about that experience? A: Yes, they updated the entire fireplace and the entry hall. The fireplace before was just plain and nobody even noticed it. It was a boring cream-colored tile, the cheapest tile you could get. But now it looks beautiful I think! I love it, don’t you? They did a really great job. Lynn also helped me pick out the grout. I really didn’t want white grout, so she helped me select the color of the grout and it looks great! Q: Do you have any other flooring projects that need to be done? A: Yes, I’ve got to change my carpet upstairs and I’ll have them do it for sure! I’d recommend them to all my friends and family! Q: By the way, how’s your marriage today? Are you healing? A: You’re such a geek! Editor’s notes: For more information about Ralph Opfer Floors, visit their website at www.ralphopferfloors.com, their showroom at 10265 Old Placerville Road #14 in Sacramento or call (916) 366-1672. Huge Tent Sale: March 22 to 25th! Everthing in stock will be on sale and there will be special sales items in the tent only good during the sale.

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Car Tech Talk Maintenance Really Pays Off By Walter Ford

The time of year is upon us, temperatures suddenly drop into the 20’s or even low teens at night. The unfortunate side affect is the failure of plastic radiators and overflow tanks. The operating temperature of the engine remains fairly constant. The big difference is the much lower temperature that the system starts out at. When the temperature is low, the components shrink in size much more than normal. This temperature differential increases the amount of expansion. This expansion causes stress in the tanks and overflow container. After about 80k miles, this stress will cause the plastic to tear. Unlike metal, which tends to fail over time, the plastic fails more dramatically, usually with little to no warning. We recommend replacement of the parts as a preventative measure at 80k miles. Most of our customers are very savvy and have read about maintaining these items rather than perform a break fix which can be much costlier. These costs include tow fees, loss of work, or worse, destroying an engine! Plastic is a layman’s term I use; the real material is a DuPont PA66G33F fiber reinforced nylon. With the advent of superior hose material, plastic radiators and coolant formulations gone are the days of rusty cooling systems and blown hoses. The tradeoff for all this joy is what we deal with today. A cooling system, if cared for properly, will be trouble free for approximately 6 or 7 years. As cars become more high tech, both in materials and design, the maintenance needs change. BMW’s or German built cars are maintenance cars. They are designed to last for 400 to 500k miles, mostly unheard of with domestic and Japanese cars. Maintenance schedules are aimed at keeping the support components like cooling, brake and other systems from failing. In Europe, cars are kept much longer than in the U.S. It is not uncommon for us to have customers with over 250k to 400k miles on a BMW.

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It is difficult to convince an American consumer that it is worth keeping a BMW over 200k miles. We are bombarded with domestic auto manufacturers telling us our 2 or 3 year old car isn’t cool anymore. They even entice us to trade in, even if it means we roll our debt into the new car. Ever heard this on TV? “Are you tired of that old car?” or “Sick of making payments on an old car?” Car loans are typically less than 5 years, so how can you be paying on an “old” car? The average length of ownership in the U.S. is approximately 5 years. There are now reports that people are keeping cars longer due to the downturn in the economy. Compared to Austria where 52% of the cars are German built, their average is 12.5 years, or over twice as long. Simply amortizing the cost of the car over twice the amount of years will show a drastic savings. One report found that by simply keeping your car and additional 2.5 years over the national average will result in savings. If you buy a car designed to last a long time, your savings are even greater. The simple answer is the same for any purchase. Buy the best quality you can afford, maintain it properly and over time you will have saved money. For me, this means buy a BMW, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and you’ll drive a car you can be proud of and put a little extra in the bank too. Editor’s notes: Walter Ford is the owner of Valley Motorwerks. He can be reached at his shop, which is located at 11401 White Rock Road in Rancho Cordova, CA. His phone number is (916) 636-9526 and his website is www.vmwerks.com.

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