Flowers, And Candy And Hearts, Oh My

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Erin

Flowers, And Candy And Hearts, Oh My

By Erin

Vaelntine’s Day can be a sticky subject for many. People either love it, hate it, or could just care less. Those that have someone to spend it with may love it. Those that are single may hate it and have Anti-Valentine’s Day Parties or refer to the day as “Single’s Awareness Day.”

Being single myself, I can’t really say the day has much meaning to me right now. I am my own Valentine.

The times I have been in a relationship though, I haven’t minded it. It was nice to have someone to spend it with, but I would rather have my Valentine 365 days a year for the rest of my life. Not just on one very commercialized holiday to do something special to show my Valentine I care and to tell them that I love them. It should be something you do throughout the year because you want to and truly love and cherish the one you’re with. Not because some holiday tells you that you are supposed to do this.

In conjunction with the whole #putitintheuniverse idea, this is me putting it out there, on the things I’d love my future Valentine to do for me or with me any day of the year.

Until then, I’ll just be treating myself to a few of these things when I can.

1) Spa Day

What girl doesn’t love a good spa day? A day filled with relaxation, a facial, massage, manicure and pedicure sounds wonderful to me!

Burke Williams has a package that pretty much covers this. 😉

True Love

Indulge in a Spa Pedicure with a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -and- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel. Just $259 (regularly $328), $279 in San Francisco (regularly $360).

Glen Ivy Hot Springs is also a wonderful place to spend a spa day laying out by one of the pools, enjoying some spa treatments, and a healthy snack or lunch.

2) A Special Meal Together (Dinner, Brunch, Lunch)

Wether it’s dinner, brunch, lunch or breakfast; as long as you’re together to enjoy a great meal at a place you love or are curious to explore is sure to create a special moment. Here are a few of my favorite places (I have MANY favorites!!) that I have had the pleasure to be able to dine out at. From left to right: Club 33 at Disneyland, Darren’s in Manhattan Beach, and Dominique’s Kitchen in Redondo Beach.

3) A Getaway Weekend

Taking a drive up the coast to one of the central California cities of Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Cambria, Carmel or San Luis Obispo is always a special and romantic weekend in my book. The beach, amazing food, wine tasting, horseback riding, shopping, just exploring to see what new things you can find, whatever your hearts desire, you can probably find it somewhere around one of these places. Santa Barbara, San Diego, Mammoth, Big Bear, the river, and Vegas also make for some fun quick getaway weekends in California. No matter where you live though, each state has it’s own unique places and cities to check out. What are some locals you enjoy visiting?

A couple of my favorite places to stay at for a weekend away include:

The Madonna Inn: A very quirky and unique place, with an amazing steak house and spa complete with infinity pool. Each room is different, no two are alike.

Blue Dolphin Inn of Cambria Inns: For an amazing ocean view and for some equally amazing sunsets; stay at the Blue Dolphin Inn. With breakfast, fireplaces, and the ocean just outside your door, you won’t want to leave this beach paradise.

4)Flowers

I’m always a sucker for a beautiful arrangement of flowers. I love nature and pretty things, I spend much time in my own garden, taking care of the roses, flowers, and fruit trees. It’s nice to be able to take some of this beauty and bring it indoors, even if it’s only for a short bit. My favorite place to ever have gotten flowers from is Disney Floral & Gifts. A little bit of magic and pixie dust just makes it that much more special.

5) Chocolates/Favorite Candies

A sweet treat can brighten up any day. One of my favorite kinds of Chocolates I’ve EVER had is from this place, called Pure Madness Chocolate. It’s heaven in a box…. seriously.

6) Wine/Beer Tasting

Wine or beer tasting always leads to a fun adventure. Find some new favorites or revisit some old loves. No matter where you live, you should be able to find a winery or a tasting room not too far away. One of my favorite places to go around here is to Malibu for some wine tasting. It makes for a beautiful drive, and there are many wonderful wineries and eateries (since you’ll need something to go with all that wine or beer 😉 to choose from. A little bit farther away, but still doable for a day trip in Southern California, is in Temecula, there are many great places to choose from there as well. Cheers!

See’s Candies Opens First Concept Store at Tustin Marketplace!

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Erin

See’s Candies Opens First Concept Store at Tustin Marketplace!

By Melody & Erin

Everyone knows with See’s Candies you are going to get great candy in every single bite.

When I was first invited to the ‘See’s Candies- Chocolate and Wine Tasting Night’ I was thinking… Did I just win the lottery?? What more could a girl want than to mingle, midweek amongst chocolate royalty (Brad Kinstler, the President of See’s was there) while indulging in savory chocolates and delicious wine? This event was to celebrate the grand opening of the first ever See’s high volume concept store and it did not disappoint! We even recieved an amazing bag of chocolates and swag to enjoy at home (see pic at the end of this post, if you want to see all of those goodies!) =)

The first thing you notice when you walk in to this brand new spacious shop is the smell. A rich warm chocolate aroma that fills the air and wraps itself around you like a hug. It smelled absolutely amazing in there! Sorry, I’m getting side tracked. I can’t focus when there’s chocolate around. Not only was the store a feast for your taste buds, but it was a feast for your eyes as well. This store contained an extremely easy to find what you’re looking for shelving layout, the simple black and white checkered motif floor inspired by Mary See’s own kitchen floor, and a floor to ceiling wallpaper print of an old time See’s Candies shop that invokes you with a sense of nostalgia.

Come to the Taste of Huntington Beach to Support the Huntington Beach Children’s Library!

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Erin

Come to the Taste of Huntington Beach to Support the

Huntington Beach Children’s Library!

By Erin

The 2013 Taste of Huntington Beach – 28 April

Proceeds to benefit Huntington Beach Children’s Library

Who doesn’t love great food, great wine, and even better company? This is what you will find at the Taste of Huntington Beach THIS Sunday! The best part is that it’s all for a very wonderful cause, to benefit the Huntington Beach Children’s Library! As a child I was lucky enough to always have a new book to read, whether it was one from the book store or our local library, you can bet I had an ample supply of books to read! I was (and am) still such a bookworm. As if you need proof of that, here’s just a small part of my personal library. Actually this is my “Children’s” section of books for my classroom library when I’ve had my own classroom teaching. Every child deserves to have an awesome selection of books to choose from, so anything that supports this has my seal of approval! You all already know that I love food and wine so this event is right up my alley! 😉

The Taste of Huntington Beach is a one-price, all-inclusive event where there is a unique sampling of food and beverages from 50 of the finest restaurants Huntington Beach has to offer, paired up with more than 40 of California’s premium wineries and craft breweries – all in the name of charity. The Taste is happening this Sunday, April 28 from 12 to 4 PM. If you go as a VIP, there is a special VIP reception from 11am-12pm. Just look for the big white tent at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex, 18100 Goldenwest — conveniently located across from the parking lot at the Huntington Beach Central Library.

Ticket prices will be $65 general admission with unlimited food, wine, and beer samples, as well as live music. VIP tickets are $85. For more ticket information you can check that out here: Ticket Prices and Information. You can also check out the listing of all restaurants participating in this years Taste of Huntington Beach click here: Participating Restaurants. The list of Wineries & Breweries can be found here: Participating Wineries & Breweries Will some of your favorites be there?

Featured entertainment includes Orange County’s own Tijuana Dogs, a raffle and silent auction with all sorts of cool goodies and services from local Southern California businesses (even some Disneyland Tickets are in the mix!). Join your friends and family at the Taste and you can even meet Surfing Legends Lisa Anderson, Bud Llamas, and Surf Music Legend Dean Torrence!

For more information and to purchase tickets online make sure to visit the Taste of Huntington Beach at Taste of HB or you can buy tickets at the Huntington Beach Central Library, The Longboard Restaurant and Pub, or the Lazy Dog Cafe.

If you decide to go last-minute, then you can also buy tickets the day of the event at the Taste’s main gate starting at 10:30AM

All proceeds from the Taste go to benefit the Friends of the Children’s Library where their mission is to help and support the Children’s Department of the Huntington Beach Public Library. Ever since 2002 the Friend’s of the Children’s Library, in partnership with the Huntington Beach Restaurant Association, has donated Taste proceeds of more than $360,000 to the Huntington Beach Children’s Library!

Will YOU be there this weekend? What are you most looking forward to about the Taste of Huntington Beach? The food? The WINE? The great cause it’s supporting? Hope you will join in on the fun if you will be local this weekend! <3

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I will be given media passes to cover this fabulous event for Horsing Around In LA. All thoughts and opinions are my own.