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Can’t Miss Summer Events in Orange County
When you are fortunate enough to live in a beach town with an endless summer, actually going to the beach is not the high point of the season. At least not for me. Since we can go to the beach any time of the year, even daily, there are other things we most look forward to during the summer months. Summer in Orange County means longer days, fun in the sun and special annual events that make living here extra special. I personally look forward to the following every year: the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, Hotel Irvine’s Backyard Movie Nights, the OC Fair and the VANS U.S. Open…
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Bowling for Fun
When you have tweens and teens and are trying to find a way to get together with another family with same-age kids, it can be challenging to find an activity that both adults and reluctant kids would enjoy. So when the idea of meeting up with our friends for a post-holiday game of bowling came up, we went for it. We met at Tavern+Bowl located at The Triangle in Costa Mesa. It’s a boutique bowling alley, which means it isn’t massive and overwhelming. Instead, it’s quite warm and welcoming, really. Tavern+Bowl has 10 state-of-the-art bowling lanes. Their scoring system even allows you to post your score on social media sites…
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Foodie Friday: Sizzling Summer Menu at Z’tejas Southwestern Grill
I can still taste the paella from the Spring Menu but time moves on and menus change. But Z’tejas commitment to good food and great service are constant. Z’tejas Southwestern Grill, located at South Coast Plaza, rolled out its new seasonal lunch and dinner along with some cool skinny cocktails. Recently, I had the chance to preview the new menu items which brought along with it some heat, just right for the summer! Hello, jalapeno! My favorite appetizer had to be the Crab Cakes, three seared lump crab cakes served with jalapeño remoulade. It was tasty and meaty enough, not bready. I do hope they keep this on their regular…
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Happy Pi Day! Discovering Australian Meat Pies
I couldn’t resist it, I had to celebrate National Pi Day at Pie-Not, the Aussie Style Bakery in Costa Mesa. It had been a while since I sampled these savory meat pies. And today, being March 14th, Pi Day (as in the mathematical pi not the baked good), the Dog’s Eye was on sale for $3.14. But of course. I have fond memories of visiting Australia some years ago and I do remember eating some meat pies and discovering the coffee-deliciousness of flat whites (lattes) over there. The guys behind Pie-Not are Jai Snowdon, originally from the Gold Coast of Australia, and Ryan Lopiccolo, of Newport Beach, California. The partners’…
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Life is like a Box of Chocolates
Christmas came early for this chocoholic as I attended two chocolate store launches in the span of a week! What was interesting about the two openings was that they couldn’t be more different in that the first event was a small independent artisanal shop and the second was the latest opening by a 92 year old candy manufacturing company with more than 200 retails stores across the country. And yet, they were the same because they both focused on the importance of quality and customer service. Now, what could be sweeter than that. First – there was the opening of Michelle Haut Chocolat at The OC Mix in Costa Mesa.…
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Stop Diabetes : Tour de Cure OC
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. The American Diabetes Association envisions a life free of this dreaded disease. The goal of this month is to raise awareness and come together as a community to Stop Diabetes, a disease that affects nearly 26 million children and adults in the United States alone. According to ada.org: “Another 79 million Americans have prediabetes and are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is $245 billion.” My own grandmother had diabetes so I am very familiar with the disease. When the opportunity to be part of the marketing and…
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Yogurtland CEO Shares Secrets of His Entrepreneurial Success
I have a collection of Yogurtland spoons. True story. Yogurtland is our go-to frozen yogurt place, especially since there’s one right by our house. There are always new flavors and toppings to try and cool marketing tie-ups like that one with Sanrio, during which times I collected the spoons. And then there was the Flavor Quest last year, when POG Sorbet from Hawaii and Mexican Hot Chocolate were introduced. Also, the place is always very clean and the workers seem happy. In a crowded market of frozen yogurt treats, it is things like these that make Yogurtland stand out. But what truly sets them apart is the leadership and vision…
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Gangnam Flash Mob at Knott’s Scary Farm 40th Haunt
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, surely you’ve heard the infectious K-pop single by Korean musician Psy. With its catchy tune and rhythm and it’s humorous video and distinctive dance moves, Gangnam Style is definitely THE hit of the late summer of 2012, inspiring numerous memes and flash mobs around the world — including this latest performance by some of Orange County’s social media movers and shakers led by Ted Nguyen @tednguyen and the Veturis sisters @rochelleveturis @haleyveturis @chelseyveturis during opening weekend of Knott’s Scary Farm. [View the story “The Story Behind Gangnam Style Flash Mob at Knotts Scary Farm” on Storify] The Story…
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Weekend Getaway Bliss at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa
I’m sitting on our balcony looking out to Dana Point Harbor. It is an especially quiet morning, not because the world is asleep, but because we’ve come here without our children. A rare weekend getaway thanks to the kindness of friends returning a favor, who watched our kids overnight. The ironic thing is, we are reminded of our children at every turn. Laguna Cliffs Marriott is very family friendly, so we vow to return with our kids next time. But sometimes you just need time alone, time for two, unplugged and relaxed. Except for typing this article on my computer, we’ve been unplugged and off the grid. It is refreshing.…
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Author Interview: Sonia Marsh wrote “Freeways to Flip-flops – A Family’s Year of Gutsy Living on a Tropical Island”
Haven’t you ever wished to escape the daily grind and move to an island? Well, Sonia Marsh, a real OC housewife, and her family did just that. For one adventure-filled year, she and her family gave up their Orange County lifestyle in favor of island-living in exotic island on the north eastern coast of Central America, Belize (formerly British Honduras). Her debut memoir is called “Freeways to Flip Flops – A Family’s Year of Gutsy Living on a Tropical Island,” and it chronicles her family’s time living on the island. I featured an excerpt from my interview with the author on OC FAMILY, here is the full interview with Sonia…
