Super-Simple Fixes for Kitchen Clutter

Out of every room in your home, the kitchen seems to be the space that gets used the most—and it's also the space that's first to attract clutter! Sound like you? Follow these tips to help maintain order in your busy kitchen.

  • Go through your cabinets and donate or toss out the items that are not frequently used. Your main goal is to have only the items that you love and use.
  • Create groups or categories for your items. For example, sort all of your baking items together in one section and your cooking items in another.
  • Use clear containers to store items and place them inside your cabinets. This keeps everything from being scattered all over the place.
  • Place hooks underneath your cabinets to hold mugs or use a stemware rack in the same spot to hold wine glasses. You could also use adhesive hooks inside of your cabinets to hang measuring cups or oven mitts.
  • Use rotating trays in your cabinets to hold oils, vinegars, or spices. You can also use them in your refrigerator for beverages.
  • Use a small bar cart to store some silverware or your coffee pot and mugs.

Organize Your Kitchen Cabinets [Container Store]
10 Kitchen Organization Hacks To Keep Clutter Contained [The Stir]
10 Steps to an Orderly Kitchen [HGTV]

The Lazy Dog Cafe: An Orange Spot for Eclectic Eats

A stop at The Lazy Dog Café in Orange, California will both lighten your spirits and fill your belly. Owner Chris Simms established this warm, comfortable restaurant to hearken back to family vacations in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and chef Gabriel Calendo fills the plates with some of the area’s most eclectic comfort food. Regulars rave about the sandwiches—the albacore tuna is a hit, especially when paired with the spicy Cajun fries or sweet potato tater tots. Grilled chicken on focaccia is also excellent. If you’re looking for something heartier, the pasta carbonara is a gut-busting specialty. For an interesting example of the range of cuisine available, order the togarashi edamame—soybeans stir-fried in a spectacular blend of spices. It’s a strong and unique combination of flavors! On nice days, make sure to eat out on the spacious, comfortable patio.

The Lazy Dog Café
1623 W Katella Ave # 212
Orange, CA 92867
(714) 769-7020
www.lazydogcafe.com

Fun and Low-Cost Summertime Activities

With all of its vacations, barbecues, and outdoor concerts, many people would say that the summertime is the most expensive season of the year. If you’re looking to stay active this summer without spending a lot of money, however, consider these fun and inexpensive activities — some of which are totally free!

  1. Go on a hike. You might not know it, but your town likely has hiking trails traversing its wooded areas and public parks. Do a quick online search to find the ones nearest to you.
  2. Have a picnic in the park. Invite a few of your friends to each bring a dish to a low-key picnic in the park. With just a few sandwiches, a light blanket, and some good conversation, you can have a wonderful afternoon outdoors.
  3. Go to a flea market. Instead of spending your hard-earned money at the mall, hit up a flea market to hunt for antique treasures.
  4. Go geocaching. If you enjoy uncovering hidden items, try your hand at this high-tech type of treasure hunting. Use your smartphone to create a geocaching account, then follow the instructions to find the geocache sites located throughout your town.

50 Cheap, Creative Ways to Have Fun (Tiny Buddha)
102 Things to Do on a Money-Free Weekend [The Simple Dollar]
12 Free or Low-Cost Summer Activities for Your Kids [U.S. News]

Unique Fashions Are Found at Random Chic Style

Originally opened by owner Naomi to foster the budding fashion designing interests of her daughter, Random Chic Style is a gem of a thrift store in Garden Grove. Here, you'll find gently used, trendy clothing and one-of-a-kind vintage pieces. But the boutique doesn’t stop there. You’ll also find accessories, kitschy knick-knacks, shabby-chic furniture, kitchenwares, and much more.

Local patrons of the store say Naomi and her daughter are very kind and willing to help shoppers find exactly what they are searching for. Regular shoppers say they keep returning for Naomi’s reasonable pricing, which is better than many thrift stores in the area, according to one Yelp reviewer. It’s truly a unique store with many hidden treasures to find!

Random Chic Style is open from noon to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Random Chic Style
9141 Garden Grove Boulevard
Garden Grove, CA 92844
(714) 561-8196
www.randomchicstyle.com
www.yelp.com/biz/random-chic-style-garden-grove-4

Irvine Park Railroad: A Playland Paradise

The Irvine Park Railroad is but one attraction of many in Orange’s Irvine Park. The railroad itself is a 1/3 scale old fashioned train that offers children and adults a scenic ride through the park. The train ride, lasting about 10 minutes in duration, offers whistles, tunnels, and an introduction to the park and its history. Other attractions in the park include bicycles and paddle boats for rent, a petting zoo, pony rides, and a seasonal pumpkin patch. The park has plenty of amenities like picnic areas, restrooms, and a snack bar, making it a popular place to celebrate children’s birthdays or to take the family for a fun outing. During holidays, the park hosts special events like the “Easter Eggstravaganza” or a specially decorated train ride to meet Santa at Christmastime. Visitors rave about the affordable prices and friendly park staff, but note that special events get quite crowded due to the park’s popularity.

Irvine Park Railroad
1 Irvine Park Road
Orange, CA 92869
(714) 997-3968

Happy Fourth of July!

Wishing you a Fourth of July filled with pride, honor, and lots of fun!

Dive Into a New Dining Experience at Submarine Crab

Dive in to a unique dining experience at the Submarine Crab. This Cajun-influenced seafood restaurant in Garden Grove serves freshly caught fish, crab, and crawfish that's seasoned with savory, salty spices.

Come with a group of hungry friends or family and order one of the combos, and you’ll be transported to a true Southern crawfish boil. Your meal of crawfish, clams, crab, corn, potatoes, and sausage will arrive in a cast iron pot flavored with a spicy sauce and lemon juice. Not hungry enough for a crawfish boil? Order one of the many seafood platters, or try out a plate of wings and garlic noodles. Complete your meal with one of the many specialty teas and cocktails.

Don’t worry about getting your hands messy: At the end of your meal, your server will bring you a bubbling beaker of foaming soap and dry ice so you can wash your hands!

Submarine Crab
10130 Garden Grove Boulevard
Garden Grove, CA 92844
(714) 534-9888
www.submarinecrab.com
www.yelp.com/biz/submarine-crab-garden-grove

Happy Father’s Day!

Today is a chance for us to recognize some very important people in our lives. May this day bring you many reasons to smile!

Happy Father’s Day!

Add a Touch of Summer to Your Rental Home — Here’s How!

Summer is just around the corner, and even in a rental, you can't help but want to make some warm weather improvements to your home. Outdoor space or not, there are a number of ways to add a summer flair to your decor — and these stylish tips will show you how.

  • Let the light in. Take advantage of the brighter sunlight and longer days by making the most out of your home's windows. Replace your heavy winter drapes with light-colored, sheer curtains, and give your windows a good scrubbing inside and out.
  • Mix up your throw pillows. While cozy, rich hued throw pillows are great in the cold of winter, they feel stuffy and too dark once the summer rolls around. Store your usual throw pillows in plastic bags during the summer months and replace them with pillows that are bright, colorful and even a bit eclectic.
  • Keep the cold beverages on hand. Whether you frequently host guests on a porch or patio or you simply want to create a cool, relaxing place to hang out inside of your home, creating a well-curated bar cart is a must for summer entertaining. Stock yours with ice buckets, various types of glasses, cocktail napkins and your favorite libations (alcoholic or otherwise).
  • Fill your place with plants. Another great way to take advantage of the summer sunshine is by creating an indoor garden. Hang plants from the ceiling using macrame plant hangers, place them in pots on bright windowsills and even add larger plants to fill empty corners of a room.

Treat Yourself to a Little R&R at Luca Bella Salon & Spa

An invigorating ambiance and friendly employees greet you at Luca Bella Salon & Spa, a full-service day spa in Anaheim Hills. Professional stylists promise to help you get the look you desire and look and feel like a million bucks.

Services include precision haircuts, custom color and corrections, and extensions, as well as make-up lessons and application for special events. The spa offers a bevy of services including scalp treatments, relaxation massages, and body scrubs. Microdermabrasion and facial enhancements can be specialized and tailored to your specific needs, or choose from the spa's extensive menu. Make sure to get get the full treatment with a manicure and pedicure, and depart feeling fresh and rejuvenated.

Luca Bella Salon & Spa
8247 East Santa Ana Canyon Road
Anaheim, CA 92808
(714) 998-2566
www.lucabellasalonandspa.com
www.yelp.com/biz/luca-bella-salon-and-spa-anaheim

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