Six Splendid Days in the City of Light
My 14-year-old daughter has long been obsessed with all things French - its food (crepes, baguettes, macarons), fashion and the idea of one day experiencing these “for real” in the City of Light. While we’ve traveled extensively within the borders of our own country endeavoring to visit all 50 states as a family by the time our now 15-year-old son graduates high school, we’ve ventured abroad too few times for her (or my) liking. This summer we made a concerted effort to remedy that with an unforgettable family sojourn across the pond. While flying for upwards of ten straight hours with a pair of teens in tow might not sound like much fun, Paris is one of the most family friendly places to travel. Look beyond Disneyland (though that’s a great option, particularly for families with littles) - think scenic river cruises along the Seine, more gorgeous gardens and verdant green spaces than...
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The Proof is in the Paint with One Way Painting
Business Showcase Jody Robinson
Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said “who you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you’re saying.” Keeping this quote in mind has served me well over the years, particularly in choosing friends … and when seeking out the services of professionals. In my opinion, integrity isn’t a word heard often enough in the business world. Competitive, certainly. But unfortunately phrases like “bottom-line oriented,” “unscrupulous,” even “cutthroat” have cropped up in the vernacular when hearing home improvement gone wrong stories from fellow homeowners. That’s why it was so refreshing to come across Jeff McCabe and his Orange County-based One Way Painting. In business since 1976, Jeff and his team serve all of the OC and specialize in interior and exterior residential and commercial painting. They swear by the rules of professionalism: “no cutting corners. No cheap materials. We pay attention to every detail, and never call a job complete until the customer is completely...
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New Neighbors, Old Friends
A Long-Lost Friendship is Rekindled at The Covington in Aliso Viejo Life has a way of bringing treasures back to us in unexpected ways. A box of photographs rediscovered in the attic. An old ring unearthed in the garden. And occasionally, dear friends return to our lives. That is the story of two recently arrived Covington residents. More than 70 years ago, Mr. Yung Mo Kim and Mrs. Yungwha Min were teenagers, growing up in Seoul, during the Korean war. Though they did not know each other, fate would bring them together. As the battle raged, civilians in the city were evacuated and Yung Mo and Yungwha ended up on the same truck, heading south to safety. Over the next few years as the war continued, they became friends, living in the same temporary housing neighborhood. In 1954 Yungwha came to the United States at just 18 years old to study at Mount Holyoke College on...
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Sorority Sisters
You’ve Got a Friend in Me Friendship is special and precious. It feeds our soul, comforts our spirit, and inspires our intellect. As one of life’s great joys, good friendships should be celebrated – especially ones that last a lifetime. For Pat Beery and Shirley Forden, their friendship spans 70 years, and it all started on the campus of UCSB as members of Sigma Kappa, one of the oldest sororities in the country. In the 1950s, UCSB was known as Santa Barbara College of the University of California. During the post-war years universities expanded access to education, especially for women. In those days, Pat says women had fewer choices. “An education gave us opportunity and independence.” For Shirley, the sorority was a vital part of her experience, “We supported each other as we chased our dreams.” Sigma Kappa offered an important social network for members, many of whom were away from home for the first time...
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