Sky High Sports Valencia: Take a Flying Leap Into Fun

Sky High Sports Valencia exists for one reason and one reason only: to provide locals with a safe place to have a little fun and get rid of some stress—whether that stress is caused by a middle school exam or an annual review at work!

People of all ages head to Sky High Sports to jump, flip, and bounce on the facility's wall-to-wall trampolines, which are designed to be as safe as they are thrilling. Perfect a forward flip on the trampoline, then celebrate your accomplishment with a flying leap into a pit filled with thousands of soft foam "bricks." Those who prefer more structured activities can enroll in Sky High Sports Valencia's AIR-obics classes, or perhaps rally a group of friends together to compete in an action-packed game of trampoline dodgeball.

Sky High Sports Valencia is open daily. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended to secure a "jump time."

Sky High Sports Valencia
28656 The Old Road
Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 775-6300
www.val.jumpskyhigh.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sky-high-sports-valencia-valencia

Tomato Joe’s Pizza Bakery: Tasty Pies

Fans of Tomato Joe’s Pizza Bakery in Valencia appreciate this pizza restaurant’s attention to dietary concerns, including allergies and sensitivities. Vegetarian and vegan toppings are available for pizzas, and Tomato Joe’s features a separate preparation area for gluten-free pizzas. This means customers with celiac disease or gluten insensitivity don’t have to worry about their gluten-free pizza crust being contaminated, whether they eat in or order out. Tomato Joe’s is therefore a go-to pizza restaurant for celiac and gluten-intolerant customers, who say the gluten-free pizza here is pretty good.

For those who don’t mind a little gluten in their pizza, regulars recommend the beer batter crust. Popular specialty pizzas include The Works, The Terminator, The Chicken Chupacabra, and The California Dreamin. Other menu items include pasta, salads, and sides like smoked pork rib tips and wings.

Tomato Joe’s Pizza Bakery is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Tomato Joe’s Pizza Bakery
27732 McBean Parkway
Valencia, CA 91354
(661) 263-8646
www.tomatojoespizza.com
www.yelp.com/biz/tomato-joes-pizza-bakery-valencia

Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill: Enjoy a Sociable Meal

A classic barbecue restaurant in Stevenson Ranch, CA, Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill is popular for the quality of its meats. Customers in a hurry appreciate Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill’s curbside pickup service for takeout orders, though some customers warn that you should double-check your takeout order before leaving the premises. Popular menu items include the garlic rolls, which regulars say are delicious warm, the BBQ chopped chicken salad, the pulled pork sandwich, the buckeye burger and the WR tri tip. Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill offers a gluten-free menu, featuring lettuce-wrap burgers, steaks, seafood and salad.

Regulars say the atmosphere here is a great one for socializing with friends and family. Some customers complain about the service, but others find that the service is more than acceptable.

Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill
25580 The Old Road
Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381
(661) 222-9494
www.woodranch.com/restaurants/Valencia
www.yelp.com/biz/wood-ranch-bbq-and-grill-stevenson-ranch

How to Transform Your Apple Device Into Your Own Personal Chef

When you come home after a long day of work, it might seem exhausting to decide on something for dinner, let alone actually go through the process of prepping and cooking. Although they haven’t yet thought of a way for your iPhone to actually cook dinner for you, these helpful cooking apps are the next best thing.

How to Cook Everything
Based on the bestselling book by the same name, the How to Cook Everything app offers more than 2,000 recipes that will help you learn to cook, well, just about everything! The app’s interface is very convenient because it was designed specifically for mobile devices, and more than 400 high quality how-to photographs will give you a more visual idea of each of the book’s techniques. There are no fancy gourmet methods in here, just straightforward, delicious meals that anyone can cook.

Cooking
Portable Knowledge’s Cooking app might seem strange because it doesn’t contain any recipes, but once you learn the app’s helpful tips and tricks you’ll be able to apply them to almost any meal. The app also contains helpful cooking substitutions for less common ingredients, such as using vinegar and milk as a substitute for buttermilk. The next time you’re in a pinch in the kitchen, this is the app to use.

Pilates Plus Santa Clarita: Get in a Quick, Intense Workout

Locals come to Pilates Plus Santa Clarita in Valencia for a core-strengthening workout that leaves them with long, lean and well-defined muscles. Classes at Pilates Plus Santa Clarita use the Proformer, a Pilates machine designed by fitness instructor Sebastien Lagree to deliver an intense workout. Regulars say the classes at Pilates Plus Santa Clarita are perfect for busy schedules, since they’re just 40 minutes long. The Pilates classes taught here are so intense, instructors recommend most students come to class a mere two or three times per week.

Though Pilates Plus Santa Clarita has a number of dedicated followers, one drawback with this studio is that classes fill up quickly and students must register in advance. Pilates Plus Santa Clarita is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sundays. Check its live schedule online to find out when classes begin.

Pilates Plus Santa Clarita
24264 Valencia Boulevard
Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 254-4900
pilatesplussc.com/
www.yelp.com/biz/pilates-plus-santa-clarita-valencia

Hosting a Party? Check Out This Handy Food and Drink Calculator!

It seems that every time you host a party, you never prepare the right amount of food and beverages. From the time that you overshot the buffet and had leftovers for months to the last minute drink run at your last shindig, something just doesn’t add up.

Luckily, this handy food and beverage calculator from Real Simple will help you to calculate exactly how many refreshments to make for your party size. Simply enter the number of guests that you’re expecting and whether or not their children are also invited and the online tool will do all of the food and beverage planning for you.

The calculator’s results detail how many bottles of wine, cases of beer, and even ice to purchase. It also details cheese by the pound, hors d’oeuvres by the piece and a number of other food options. Take the results with you to the grocery store and you can be sure that you’re getting exactly the right amount of everything for your party.

Party Food and Beverage Calculator [Real Simple]

Happy Labor Day!

We hope everyone has a happy and safe Labor Day!

Coco’s Bakery Restaurant: Fresh Selections for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Coco’s Bakery Restaurant is a great spot for a casual meal in a relaxing Stevenson Ranch setting. Stop by in the morning for hearty breakfast options such as banana walnut pancakes, cinnamon roll french toast, a croissant breakfast sandwich with eggs, cheddar cheese, and bacon, or a California omelet with avocado, jack cheese, and apple wood smoked bacon.

Later in the day, you can curb your hunger with one of the artisan bread sandwiches, such as the California chicken ciabatta, french dip baguette or turkey, avocado, and jack croissant. Entrée salad options include spicy Asian chicken, chicken Caesar, spicy shrimp and avocado, and prime rib. Angus steaks, pasta, and grilled seafood are also on the menu. Be sure to take home one of the freshly baked pies.

Coco's Bakery Restaurant
24930 Pico Canyon Road
Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381
(661) 254-2776
cocosbakery.com

Read the reviews on Yelp.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Carlosficto

How to Tackle Stubborn Coffee, Wine and Ink Stains

Your morning cup of coffee is a beautiful sight for weary eyes—but not when it's spilled down the front of your go-to work shirt. Keep these stain-fighting tips handy so you can meet common household stains with a plan of attack.

To remove coffee and tea stains:
Coffee and tea are categorized as "tannin" stains. These types of stains should be treated with detergent as opposed to soap. If the fabric is washable, you'll want to pre-treat the stain with a stain remover, then toss the garment into the wash with an enzyme detergent on the hottest water temperature permissible for the fabric. If you prefer, you can pre-treat the stain with a solution of one part white vinegar and two parts water, then wash.

To remove wine stains:
Also a tannin stain, wine stains are easier to remove when fresh. First, blot the stain using a lint-free towel to remove as much of the wine as possible. Before the stain can dry and "set" into the fabric, soak the garment in a solution of water and oxygen-based laundry booster. Afterwards, wash the garment in a regular laundry cycle of hot water.

To remove ink stains:
Place a towel underneath the stain, then blot the ink with another lint-free towel that's dampened with rubbing alcohol. The rubbing alcohol will transfer the ink to the towel that's underneath the shirt, so don't use your favorite bath towel for this method!

17 Easy Stain Removal Tips [Lifescript]
Stain Removal Tricks and Shortcuts [Real Simple]
Quick 'n Easy Stain Removal [Ohio State University]
6 Easy Recipes for Removing Nasty Stains [Wonder HowTo]

Rose & Crown Pub: A Classic Pub in Santa Clarita

Family-run, fun and friendly, Rose & Crown Pub is where you can get a pint of ale and a plate of Bangers & Mash without having to hop on a plane to London. Don’t let the plain-Jane exterior fool you, the warm, inviting ambiance more than makes up for it.

Fans of the place say it’s perfect for relaxing with a pint of beer and a bite to eat. The menu features typical British pub fare, along with a few Americanized options. Pasties are traditional British fare consisting of pastry shells stuffed with fillings like diced beef, potatoes, onions & carrots. Other menu options include Shepherd’s Pie, Fish & Chips, Steak & Mushroom Pie, Bangers & Mash – sausage with mashed potatoes, peas & gravy, and Scotch Egg – hardboiled egg wrapped in sausage & bread crumbs.

Rose & Crown is open Tuesdays through Sundays.

Rose & Crown Pub
24246 Lyons Avenue
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
(661) 255-504
www.facebook.com/pages/Rose-and-Crown-British-Restaurant-SCV/111187015580763
www.yelp.com/biz/rose-and-crown-pub-santa-clarita