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Archives for January 2022

Lunar New Year Celebrations at The Grove & The Americana at Brand

January 25, 2022 By Leave a Comment
 Photo credit: Caruso.
 

 The Grove and The Americana at Brand, are ringing in the ‘Year of the Tiger.’

Taking place January 24 – February 6, the landmarks will be decked out in dazzling decor with special offerings for the community to celebrate the holiday. The concierge at both properties will distribute ‘Year of The Tiger’ tote bags, and for good fortune, guests will receive traditional ‘lucky red’ envelopes that include either $2 bills or special offers from brands like Michael Kors, Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, J. Crew, Nordstrom’s Bar Verde and more (full list HERE).

Credit: The Grove and The Americana at Brand,

Filed Under: Featured Events

Catalina Museum for Art History Hosts Family Free Day First Fridays at the Museum Virtual Lecture

January 25, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Inspire the next generation of museum visitors and bring the whole family together for Catalina Museum for Art & History’s Family Free Day on Sunday, January 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can enjoy the museum’s collection and special exhibitions in addition to a family art project offered in the Hinchliffe Family Atrium from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Up to two adults may each claim a free ticket when accompanied by a visitor age 17 or younger. Four Family Free Days are offered each year; each adult free ticket must be used on the day of the event. 

Historian and founder of the Old Hollywood Walking Tour, April Clemmer, traces the origins of Hollywood as part of the February edition of First Fridays at the Museum: Old Hollywood with April Clemmer on Friday, February 4 at 6 p.m. In this virtual representation, April weaves together the events that led to Hollywood being located in a tiny suburb of Los Angeles, originally meant to be a cultured yet rustic retreat for those escaping harsh winters and city life. With detailed research and archival photographs, April illustrates how factors as diverse as a world war to a last-minute lucky guess led to the creation of Hollywood as we know it today, as well as the film industry’s use of Catalina Island to represent exotic locales around the world. This virtual event will take place on Zoom and is free for museum members and $5 for non-members. 

For more information on the museum’s calendar of events, visit CatalinaMuseum.org/Calendar.

WHEN:

Family Free Day is on Sunday, January 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; First Fridays at the Museum: Old Hollywood with April Clemmer is held virtually on Friday, February 4 from 6 to 7:15 p.m.

WHERE:

217 Metropole Avenue, Avalon, CA 90704.

Old Hollywood with April Clemmer is a virtual event; registration is required here. 

Catalina Museum for Art & History remains committed to the health and wellness of museum guests, employees and the surrounding community. Enhanced safety measures have been put in place including increased frequency of cleaning services and disinfecting all high-touch surfaces, and the addition of hand sanitizing stations. The museum encourages visitors to pre-purchase tickets and to use credit or debit cards for transactions. Catalina Museum for Art & History is operating in accordance with the most current guidance from state and local health agencies. 

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Mondays. For more information about the Catalina Museum for Art & History, visit CatalinaMuseum.org. To stay connected, follow the museum’s social media platforms @CatalinaMuseum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Credit: Catalina Museum for Art & History

Filed Under: Featured Events

My Favorite New Water Bottle!

January 23, 2022 By Leave a Comment
MyBevi has so many choices!

MyBevi
Price: $13.00+
Affiliated with ShareASale/Skimlinks & Amazon.

MyBevi is your best friend this winter. It’s definitely my go-to water bottle, especially every time I go to the gym! I can leave my gym bag at home but not this water bottle! My favorite is the 18 oz. Clearview bottle. You can find it here.

What sets this brand apart from competitors is how easy it is to carry your phone, keys and a tumbler while on-the-go.


The collection offers stainless steel tumblers for everyone that are made to endure all weather conditions and activities. Get your coffee fix for the day or quench that thirst with ice-cold water.

I really am impressed with how well my water stays cold and this water bottle does not leak like many others I have tried.

Eco-conscious consumers will be glad to know that this small family business is doing its part to
provide sustainable solutions for a healthier future for our planet.

Find out more at https://mybevi.com/

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.

Filed Under: Featured Products of the Week

Looking for a healthier Snack Option?

January 23, 2022 By Leave a Comment

How are the New Year’s resolutions going? I know that I signed up for a gym membership and have been pretty successful so far in trying to eat healthier and exercise more! I do have to admit that I like to snack so I was quite excited to find a healthier snack option!

Looking for a great protein-packed snack that’s easy to eat on-the-go or sprinkled on top of your favorite foods? Meet Festive Chickpeas!

Festive Chickpeas have ZERO preservatives, are non-GMO, soy-free, gluten-free and are 100% vegan to accommodate every snacker’s lifestyle. Aside from being plentiful with protein and nutritious, they’re exploding with flavor. Each pocket-sized bag is abundant in fiber, iron and potassium, has 10 grams of protein and no trans fats. The crispy chickpeas are dusted with ocean-fresh sea salt – making them an easy and equally satiating alternative to potato chips.

Think you’ll still miss out on your favorite sour cream and onion indulgence? Think again! Festive Chickpeas are celebrating snack time one step further with new fun flavors, including Sour Cream and Onion, Sweet & Smoky BBQ, and Ranch – because who wants to live without such tangy, savory flavor in their life?

FESTIVE IS THE FIRST TO “UNHUSK” THE CHICKPEA GIVING IT A BUTTERY, FRESH CRUNCHYY TASTE!

Festive Foods is introducing chickpeas to a new generation of people making them crunchy, crispy full of protein and fiber; satisfying flavor…

  • Spicy, Creamy, Ranch, BBQ – Festive makes America’s favorite flavors fun and healthy to snack on!
  • Peanut alternative (tastes a lot like peanuts) / A snack you can enjoy when your family is impacted by food allergies
  • Can be eaten as a snack and also used as a topper, for breading
  • Convenient small sizes, portion control

Crafted with the love and care of Azaad and Chandra Mohammed and their four sons, Raveez, Sidique, Terique, and Rameez, these munchable, crunchable chickpeas will be your new favorite festivity, all in one neat, tidy bag.

Eat well. Share with family. Keep it festive!

To learn more visit www.FeelFestive.com or @FestiveChickpeas

I actually wasn’t sure if I would like these but I love them! My favorite is the Sweet & Smoky BBQ!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.

Filed Under: Featured Products of the Week

Valentine’s Gift Ideas for the Foodie on your list!

January 23, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Valentine’s Day will be here before we know it and I wanted to give you a head start on some great products for the Foodie on your list! The first one is perfect for romantic or family entertaining! Elda’s Kitchen Grilling Sauces are sure to be a hit!

Elda’s Kitchen sauces are small batch, artisan-made sauces that are vegan friendly, gluten-free, verified non-gmo and contain no preservatives, msg or high fructose corn syrup, so you can grill without the guilt!

  • Elda’s Kitchen sauces coat foods on the outside and gets flavors inside.
  • Fool-proof, versatile flavor profiles that can be layered
  • Elda’s flavor profiles can be used as is or can work into many different recipes with layers of ingredients, not just as a marinade.
  • Elda’s Kitchen cooking and grilling sauces are perfectly sized for generous flavoring without waste.

Developed by an immigrant family, Elda’s Kitchen prides itself on its small batch, artisan recipes based on 1950’s kitchen culture. Each sauce is packed with flavorful ingredient combinations meant to compliment any kind of cuisine. Elda’s Kitchen offers a wide variety of sauces inspired by different regions all over the world including but not limited to Ginger Teriyaki, Jamaican Jerk and Kentucky Bourbon.

Elda was consistently in the kitchen, always there for her family, bringing people and meals together with her loving sauces. Today, Elda’s Kitchen replicates the care and love that she put into her family meals into every batch of her namesake sauce brand. Elda’s Kitchen is still made in a large kettle, the same kind of sauce pot Elda used to cook sauces for her family in the 50s.  Co-created by Aldo, Elda’s son and dedicated butcher, and her granddaughter Brie, a self-taught cook and creative in the kitchen, Elda’s Kitchen helps others create comforting meals with a modern twist.

Elda’s Kitchen Gift Sets are the PERFECT gift for the grill master at home!

For all of their great gift sets, please visit: https://eldaskitchen.com/products/

For more information: https://eldaskitchen.com/

Products on Amazon can be found here.

I love this next one! Perfect for your funny Valentine!

Introducing…Funny Nuts!

These uniquely flavored cashews pack a punch when it comes to taste!

These cashews are farmed in the landscape of India and are peppered with natural flavors for a healthy and tasty source of energy.

Made in India, made with 100% natural ingredients, designated Halal, Paleo friendly. I loved the taste of these!

Best Used For:

This healthy, pure, & authentic common & powerful Indian spice can easily overtake

– Energy on a backpacking trip or a hike

– A healthy movie snack

– A section on the charcuterie board

– Great for gifts

For more information, please visit: https://alcoeats.com/collections/cashews

Does your sweetheart like Tea? How about a healthy tea? This tea tastes great and is even good for the planet!

Great taste & far less waste. Oteas ,loose teas, are made from the highest quality leaves, herbs, flowers and spices. Never crushed, always whole. Our bags are made from biodegradable material and are plastic free. Our teas are both good for you and good for the planet.

Natural components are used instead of artificial flavors to create one of a kind tea blends that taste real such as, Strawberries & Cream and Black Tea Caramel. Everything in an Oteas tea bag is whole – the herbs, spices, leaves and flowers. My favorite is the Strawberries & Cream, which would really be just perfect for Valentine’s Day!

Whether it is the Oteas exclusive blends (loose leaf or tea bags), their wonderful collections or one of their beautiful tea accessories, Oteas, has the perfect gift for the tea lover on your list!

For more information, please visit: https://www.oteas.com/

For the International Chef/Traveler and Indian Cuisine Lover…

AlcoEats

Culture, New Cuisine, New You. Exploring something new is difficult but, exploring new cuisine shouldn’t be. We believe everybody is an explorer. We provide relatable, easy-to-use ingredients for your everyday use So you keep exploring new flavors every day.

  • AlcoEats is a more gourmet way to prepare and enjoy Indian flavors 
  • AlcoEats saves 30 minutes of time and efforts in the kitchen – under 15 minutes of prep, almost 200 times quicker
  • AlcoEats uses all natural, very high quality, selective ingredients such as cashew-based gravies
  • All whole ingredients, lower in calorie with a really “good punch of taste;” good to eat on a daily basis

Bring out the International chef in you, by getting Indian spices, seasonings and a variety of herbs online in the US to cook quick and tasty Indian food. And AlcoEats, just add water, indie bowls makes it easy to enjoy, authentic Indian cuisine, at home or on the go!

For more information, please visit: https://alcoeats.com/

To purchase from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Alcoeats/EasyIndieBowls/page/F5E90ADB-A08C-44EF-A00E-16CA2B33DC35

Stay tuned for more Valentine’s Day GIft Suggestions next week!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.

Filed Under: Featured Products of the Week

Kitty, Jan. 20th Pet of the Week

January 21, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Poor Kitty looks so sad, and it’s understandable why. Her human died, and she lost the only person she loved. She’s been very shy at the shelter—the volunteers can tell that she wants to be petted, but she hasn’t gotten over her loss. She’s 7 years old, is a real talker, and will turn out to be a loving companion when she’s in an actual home with someone who has patience and love to give. Shelter adoptions are conducted through appointment, so contact PetAdopt@longbeach.gov to meet Kitty. Ask for ID#A611659.

(This rescue encouraged by the usual suspects.)

Filed Under: Pet Corner

How to Become More Self-Sufficient

January 17, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Before the industrial revolution, most people on the planet were much more self-sufficient than we are today. Despite all the comfort and good that advanced technology and quicker processes have brought to our contemporary lifestyles, it’s not without its downsides. The pressure to achieve highly and never stop working is greater now due to the heightened demands of society. A helpful way to combat feeling overwhelmed by expectations and pressure is to learn to be self-sufficient. When you can rely upon yourself more fully, the stresses of the outside world become less worrying. Here are a few tips to inspire you to get started.

Grow Your Own Food

When it comes down to it, one of our most pressing priorities is ensuring we can feed ourselves. While it may seem like you are working for money, most of that is compelled by the need to secure your next meal. If you can produce your own food as much as possible, you won’t have to work so hard to earn money, which is the middle man between you and lunch. Of course, money is still an important aspect of functioning comfortably within society, but loosening its grip on you in small ways can be a huge relief. Start with an indoor vegetable garden or research the techniques of hydroponics. Even just making your own bread can fill you with a sense of personal satisfaction and achievement.

Mend Your Belongings

Breaking a useful object or tearing your best jeans can feel extremely irritating. Having to replace possessions is a chore. However, mending them can be rewarding and fun. Instead of immediately heading out to buy a replacement, teach yourself the skills to fix what you own. If your shoes start to wear out, buy grommets from GoldStar Tools to freshen them up. If your shirt has a hole in it, find the matching thread and stitch it back together. While these might seem insignificant, the accumulation of pride and self-esteem that comes with being able to care for yourself is hugely valuable. Learning what you’re capable of is an exciting part of becoming more self-sufficient.

Learn Basic DIY Skills

Having something go wrong in the home is always unpleasant. When a pipe leaks or a shelf breaks, the unexpected chaos of finding someone to solve the problem can be just as frustrating as the problem itself. If you learn to fix these problems yourself, however, you save yourself stress in the long term. Imagine how good it would feel to know that you can maintain the running of your home with minimal outside assistance.

Stretch Your Comfort Zone with Curiosity

While it might seem more efficient to wait until problems arise to learn the techniques needed to solve them, let your curiosity lead you to new discoveries that could help you in the future. For example, find out how to change your car tires before you get a puncture or read up about joinery in case you one day decide to build a new dining table. Having a background of knowledge can help you feel more secure in your abilities and more prepared for unpredictable futures.

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

The Lost Treasure * Lots Of Amazing Stuff, Quite A Bit Of Action, Not Too Scary For Younger Kids

January 13, 2022 By Leave a Comment

Eddie Fox, a hustling treasure hunter, finds himself forced to embark on a journey into the jungle to prevent a power hungry egomaniac from finding an ancient weapon that could destroy the island. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Avalon N. comments, “The Lost Treasure is a greatly scripted, nicely executed film. It has quite a bit of action but definitely not too scary for younger children.” Mikela G. adds, “The Lost Treasure is an entertaining, fun and enjoyable movie. It has lots of action scenes, and really grabbed my attention. Plus it is very family friendly.” See their full reviews below.

The Lost Treasure

By Avalon N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

The Lost Treasure is a greatly scripted, nicely executed film. It has quite a bit of action but definitely not too scary for younger children.

This film is about treasure hunter Eddie Fox (Josh Margules). One day he finds a book which leads him to find out about a magical staff. He embarks on a mission to get this staff before it falls into the wrong hands.

First, this film has lots of amazing stuff in it. Most noteworthy are the locations, all of which are beautiful; some are in the forest and others are on the beach, and are all stunning. This makes it a fascinating show to watch. There are a lot of interesting camera shots in this film. One example is the shot from behind the leaves which shows the main characters exploring. There is a bit of some intense stuff going on and it’s accompanied with some intense music that goes great with it. One of my favorite things is how the story of the staff is similar to mythological stories, without actually being mythology. I very much enjoy mythology so that made this story all the more interesting to me.  Lastly, I noted that there is a group of three bad guys and a group of three good guys, which means there is a 50% chance that either side wins. You just have to watch it to find out.

The message of this story is to never give up and keep persevering because you never know what you might uncover.

I give The Lost Treasure 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It releases on streaming January 11, 2022.

The Lost Treasure

By Mikella G, KIDS FIRST!, Film Critic, age 15

The Lost Treasure is an entertaining, fun and enjoyable movie. It has lots of action scenes, and really grabbed my attention. Plus it is very family friendly.

The film’s storyline revolves around a small book that is very important to all of the characters. There are two teams that are independently working to win it back. They constantly go back and forth with who has hold of it. However, the treasure hunt that the special book takes you on is worth it!

Something that really stands out to me is the setting of this movie. Throughout the film the location for the characters is a pretty beach, on what looks to be a small island. The scenery is gorgeous. The ocean looks clear blue, and there are tons of beautiful flowers everywhere. I also like the concept of the story. The characters are all trying to get hold of a book, which leads them to a treasure hunt that eventually takes them to the treasure! However, the viewers don’t realize this extended storyline until they are actually doing it. This creates good suspense, which always surprises the audience. Finally, it is very interesting how each character is so different from the next. They all have their own distinct personalities and way of thinking. Plus, each has their own style. For instance, Tanya (Stella Tinucci) wears a lot of unique clothing. Most of it stands out. I really liked this, because I’m very into clothes and personal style.

The message of this film is to never give up. If you want something badly enough, teamwork can always help you to achieve that goal. Be aware that this film does include the use of guns and swords.

I give The Lost Treasure 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 8 to 12. It releases on digital Jan 11, 2022.

Filed Under: Media Reviews
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