B and I were walking thru the spectrum when we started to notice the amount of people walking around in blankets… sleeping bags along the parking structure…. people camping out. How could I have forgotten about New Moon opening?

New Moon has already broken records for presale tickets.  What always surprises me is the mixed audience.

According to these ladies (who kindly let me lurk around them) the people at the front of the line got there at 8:30 am!

They had been in line since 6:30 pm and they had quite the layout.  Do you see the luminaries?

See more of the New Moon mania after the jump…

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Last Saturday we went to Eat Chow in Costa Mesa.  It actually shares a space with The Closet not far from Triangle Square.

This is what I went for.  Fried Green Tomatoes.  I had never had them and have wanted them since seeing the movie in the early 90’s.

I’d read rave reviews about these and really, they did not disappoint.  I saw plate after plate leaving the kitchen.  I’ll be honest, I don’t have a basis of comparison but I will definitely be back for more.  Cornmeal crusted, warm and topped with a chili herb aioli.  I’m hungry all over again.

See what my favortie was after the break….

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Well, not yet, the first week of December.

If you’re a frequent reader of this site, I’m sure you know the husband and I were looking to purchase a house. I say “were,” because we are no longer looking to buy for several reasons. Here are some of them:

• Didn’t want to deal with a Short Sale and the time period it takes to close escrow. Unfortunately, Short Sales are currently the norm;
• Not interested in buying a REO/Lender Owned property, they’re typically in need of thousands of dollars in improvements;
• We’re not the type of people to make a giant investment decision based on a 15 minute walk-through, which is basically what you need to do, if you like a house and want to get it … etc., etc.

So after months of looking and one more, which turned out to be final, disappointment we put looking on the back burner for a couple of months. We just needed a break. For us, wanting to purchase a house in the current market was very stressful, time consuming, and ultimately unsatisfying. Sure we could’ve settled, but we know we would not have been happy with our decision. Settling and compromising are two different things. The way I see it, settling is buying a house just to buy it (it’s a great price or it’s in a great neighborhood), whereas compromising is buying the house that might not have all of your must-have features (hardwood floors or a foyer). The bottom line, buying a home is a very personal thing and you should only do it if it feels right.

After our self-imposed house hunting timeout, we decided to continue to rent, but move out of our current place. We wanted something bigger and closer to the beach. Once we made our decision, I couldn’t believe how easy it was to find a house. We looked at several places, all found via craigslist, and signed a lease within a week. However, I’m not so sure that it would’ve been so easy had we not seen 200+ houses over the past several months.

The best thing, it’s exactly what  and where we were looking to buy. So, for us it’s a win-win. We got the house we wanted and get to keep our down payment in the bank. For all of you who are still looking to move to your ideal home in the ideal neighborhood my advice to you is to look at alternatives, it just might pay-off.

Laguna Culinary Arts

One of my favorite things to do on the last Saturday of every month is go to a wine tasting at Laguna Culinary Arts in Laguna Beach. For $5.00 LCA offers one-ounce pours of eight different wines.

I love going because I always find the atmosphere so relaxing (warm mustard-yellow walls, airy and rustic), the wine good (an excellent way to try new and/or different wines), the cheese wonderful (a huge selection from all over the world) and the staff very knowledgeable (they always describe the wines and cheeses).

The "white" cheese plate

LCA always has a “white” and “red” cheese plate to compliment the wines they are featuring in the tasting. The cost is $12 for two-three people and $18 for a plate that serves three-four people. Wines by the glass and bottle are also for sale.

I’m not an oenophile, by any stretch of the imagination I just enjoy wine. Full Disclosure: I pick my wine based on what the label looks like. I know, I know that’s probably blasphemous, but whatever.

So  mark your calendars now for Saturday, November 28, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., which is when the next tasting will take place. Laguna Culinary Arts is located at 845 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 and their phone is 949.494.4006.

If you go or have been, let me know what you think. I hope you like it as much as we do.

There is currently a fire burning near the Ortega Highway in San Juan Capistrano. As I was on my way home around 1:00 p.m. this afternoon, I noticed, what appeared to be smoke. I was sure of it when I crested a hill near my house.

It is being reported that it is a 25+ acre fire that is out of control. However, no structures are currently in danger.  There are 100 OC firefighters fighting it with 100 more on the way. The cause is thought to be downed power lines, although this has yet to be thoroughly investigated.

Stay safe everyone!

I took the following photos from my porch.

Fire, as seen from my porch

View of the fire from my porch

Have you come back to stay?

Its that time of year when the air is cold enough for an outdoor ice skating rink in Irvine Spectrum!

Well, maybe its not cold out but that isn’t stopping Irvine Spectrum from starting in on the holiday cheer.

Located in front of the ferris wheel is the annual ice skating rink.  Check here for schedules and pricing.  I’m happy to annouce they are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas and will be open every other day from now until January 17th.

This is the only outdoor skating rink in Orange County so be sure to stop by!

There is no doubt that now is the time to support local independent businesses.

Patchwork Indie Arts and Crafts Festival happens twice yearly and its happening this Sunday.

You’ll find handmade goods from local vendors including: clothing, accessories, home goods, affordable art and more.  What festival would be complete with out good food and drink… and music!

So support your local vendors and give unique gifts this holiday season!

The festival will be held in Santa Anas Museum District near Bowers Museum.
2022 North Main Street
Santa Ana 92706
Sunday November 15 from 11-5 pm

For those of you that haven’t already been out there.. the Hurley Warehouse sale is going on now!

Items are running from 50%-75% off!

Also, rumor has it that the sale will be running next Wed-Sat and perhaps the following weekend.

November 13th: 12 pm- 8 pm

November 14th:  9 am- 3 pm

2323 Main Street, Irvine 92614

Cash, Visa, Mastercard and American Express Accepted.

Get some of that holiday shopping done!

Days like this I am amazed that the rest of the country is preparing for winter.  They are bundling up against the wind and the cold.   Yet here we are, enjoying a gorgeous Saturday at Crystal Cove.

We may not get the fall foliage that so many do but I have to appreciate this time of year at the beach. The crowds are gone and you are left with stretches of beach to yourself.

All you hear are the waves. All you smell is the ocean. Life is so good.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend.

You may have seen Boogie Box Fitness on the news or in the paper lately. Its the latest work out to hit Orange County and classes have been popping up everywhere.

Care to burn up to 1100 calories in less than an hour?
“This workout is a high intensity fusion of hip hop & Latin dancing, mixed with kickboxing, plyometric exercises and military drills choreographed in intervals in order to really burn off those calories!”

All I have to say is be ready to sweat. Its not a ladies only class either, so guys head on out!

This Friday is a launch party and free class in the Lake Forest area at 6:30 pm.
Xtreme Dance
26439 Rancho Parkway South #175
Foothill Ranch, CA

I’ll be there, but don’t expect me to be able to hold a conversation once class has started…

I’ll be honest and say I haven’t been exposed to much wildlife ’round these parts. I still get excited when I see rabbits and squirrels. So when we saw deer a couple of weeks ago I couldn’t stop snapping pictures.

We were scoping out Riley Wilderness Park for an engagement photo shoot and I am so happy our photographer pointed this place out. Also known as Wagon Wheel Park it is off of Oso Parkway just before the entrance to Coto de Caza and its awesome. There are short trails to walk on or to ride,wildllife to see and hardly any people the couple times I’ve been.

We must have seen more than 20 deer roaming around. So if it must be 80 degrees in November you might as well make the best of it and head here for a picnic or an early morning walk.

Well, it looks like The Block @ Orange is really classing the place up with this coveted retailer moving into the old Hilo Hattie store in the center of the mall.

This huge retail space is perfect for retailers such as H&M or perhaps Barnes & Nobel but the prevailing wisdom at Mills Management seems to be the anything is is better than nothing approach. Hence this upscale high-end retailer named Warehouse Furniture Outlet. And to think, just recently things were looking up with the opening of Neiman Marcus Last Call, Converse and Off Broadway Shoes. Hmmmmmmm, maybe they’ll put a 99 Cent store in the old Steve and Barry’s space. Oh yes, wouldn’t that be nice?

LA Boxing in Lake Forest is offering a free class here!

Classes available are boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts and are scheduled throughout the day and evening. There are classes for men, women and children.

Grab a friend and check it out, there will be a bunch of us newbies on Wednesday at 6:30 pm!

Located off the 5 Freeway at El Toro
24320 Swartz Drive
Lake Forest, CA 92630
949-859-4269

Dear Fall Weather,

What made you leave?  I want you back.

I don’t know what I did wrong, but just tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it.

You see, it was such a wonderful time we had together.  I was able to break out some pants and long sleeved shirts!  I wore something on my feet called socks!  It was truly magical.

But now you’re gone, and I’m back to the same old clothes I seem to wear 80% of the time.  I need change, fall weather, and only you can give it to me.

So please think about it.  We’re great together, and you know it.

Sincerely,

A Lifelong SoCal Resident