Business Showcase
Connecting Your Lifestyle and Technology When I was younger, my Mom loved to read me the book “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.” The plot essentially revolves around an ever-growing list of to-do’s that had to be accomplished, all set into motion by the simple act of giving a mouse a cookie. This tale came back to me recently when I purchased a new television at Best Buy. What was a simple shopping trip ended up being an adult’s version of that circular tale. If you give a grownup a television, they’ll have to measure their wall. When they…
The Premier Destination for a Shopping “Stay-cation” There’s a rather extensive text chain on my phone right now containing the gleeful thoughts and plans of my group of mom-friends who could all use a girl’s weekend away, with a spring-full of options to save the date. Per usual, even though we typically opt for spa escapes, wining and dining on our little weekend get togethers, there is already chatter around shopping in the feed. Spring has already sprung upon California’s premium shopping outlet destination, and located a mere 90-minute drive from South OC, Desert Hills made its way to the top…
In writing this editorial, I recalled a friend once asking me to explain the premise of a book called “All Creatures Great and Small.” It’s about giving veterinary care to animals like you’d give pediatric care to children in your community - with grace, and love, and an incredible amount of passion. James Herriot’s example was set long ago through the tales of extraordinary and ordinary circumstance, but the level of service, specialization, and care lives on in clinics like Healing Hearts Emergency Animal Hospital in Laguna Hills. Since opening its doors last August, the team of compassionate professionals here…
Like a lot of kids, Mike Parks daydreamed about saving the day - “For as long as I can remember,” he says. “I’ve had a strong desire to help people.” “My Dad was in the electrical-wire business, and I helped out during the summer as a teenager. Being around it so much, I became extremely interested in how all things electrical work.” He started Electric Medics in 1995, and has been gathering top talent since then. Field technicians are typically students of routine, but Mike’s team trains like he did as a paramedic. “Not only do we thrive on action…
There’s a certain mystique that comes alongside the signs which state “National Register of Historic Places.” Even more so, the places which are waiting to be named. Occasionally in disrepair, like the Prado Dam Mural in Corona, California, these places hold significance to a great many, yet have often yet to be recognized for their cultural and historic significance. Status doesn’t matter to Jeff McCabe, owner of One Way Painting, based in Orange, California. Luckily enough, the pursuit of a singular passion has been enough to keep Jeff pushing for a complete repair and repaint of the Prado Dam. The…
Southern California is not just a location in which we reside, but a lifestyle that we live. Longtime Orange County resident and owner of the Laguna Niguel-based Bronwyn Gorman - Decorating Den Interiors, Bronwyn embraces the unique SoCal lifestyle, and the indoor- outdoor spaces that reflect it. “We enjoy helping our clients create the perfect look for them and their lifestyle,” says Bronwyn. “Whether it’s one room or one window that you’re interested in redecorating, we’d like to help you do it right the first time! If you’re like many of the clients we work with, you want a beautifully…
Morena Tile and Stone, in San Juan Capistrano, is a 5000 square foot store showcasing one of the largest selections of tile, and natural and engineered stone in South Orange County. The business was opened in 2014 by John Schrab and his wife, Linda, with the goal of creating a convenient, local resource where one can find an abundance of fun, imaginative and up-to-date tile and stone – all under one roof. As a family-owned business, John and Linda focus on customer service and building relationships with their clients, while helping to bring their projects to life. From mild to…
There is a specific type of business person I particularly appreciate when utilizing his or her services. One who is detail oriented. Ryan “Bubbles” Jara is just such a professional. Having been in mobile auto detail business serving Orange County for over 25 years, he must be, and especially since his specialty is restoration and paint correction on classic cars. Bubbles was the plan since the beginning, it seems. “My uncles restore classic vehicles so I grew up in the industry," he says. "It only made sense to one day have a business of my own bringing cars back to…
Purposefully designed to make great wine uncomplicated One could venture to say with Micah Sampson, what you see is pretty much what you get - passion, excitement, intelligence. But each of those things is about as complex as the best glass of wine - and as a sommelier Micah will tell you there’s so much more to wine than just fermented grape juice. “There’s history, geology, geography, chemistry, cultural studies," says the San Juan Capistrano resident. "Books and movies have been centered on it. Wars, empires, and country lines have been fought over it.” So how is it that one…
When he visits HAMMER & NAILS | Men’s Grooming Shop in the Ocean Ranch Village in Laguna Niguel, his most difficult decision centers around which premium beverage to enjoy and what cable program to watch on his own personal big-screen TV while receiving his services. Providing a full-range of experiences from Premium Haircuts, Beard Grooming and Old-School Straight-Razor shaves to their cornerstone experiences for Hand & Foot Grooming (Men’s MANicures & Pedicures), as well as services such as Facials and Facial Waxing (eyebrows, ears & nose), making it his premier one-stop destination for confidence to always look and feel his…
The nature of gift purchasing has changed greatly since the advent of the internet. How has Absolutely Fabulous stayed above the fray and blossomed while the rest of the gift industry flounders? “That’s easy,” responds Diane Silverstein, owner of the iconic Huntington Beach-based Absolutely Fabulous gift boutique, “quality, selection, price range, and ease of shopping.” After many visits to her “absolutely fabulous” gift and décor shop, I would have to agree. “Plus – we ship world-wide, so you can mail your stuff right from here!” While the internet excels at making home shopping the easiest experience, when you know exactly…
55+ Residents Enjoy an Innovative Approach to Single-Level Living at Rancho Mission Viejo
Aug 30, 2022 Sorbet Mag
From its scenic South Orange County hilltop location, Rancho Mission Viejo offers a wide variety of new homes, designed for a wide-range of lifestyles, including Gavilán neighborhoods, The Ranch’s brand for the unique 55+ lifestyle. Gavilán residents enjoy single-level living and exclusive access to resort-style amenities, events, and activities designed for those who enjoy a vibrant lifestyle. Gavilán exclusive recreational amenities and indoor/outdoor spaces are located throughout The Ranch including: The signature Clubhouse; The Hacienda, nestled in Sendero featuring a saltwater pool, spa, fitness center/massage room and the Palomino Great Room and Event Bar; The Outlook, an indoor/outdoor retreat complete…
Highly Custom, Exceptional Quality In Southern California, our backyards and patio are often viewed as an extension of our entertainment spaces - a place for hosting parties, lounging by the pool or in the case of one of our family’s favorite pastimes, dining al fresco. Because so much time is spent outdoors, many folks I know invest as much on their patio furniture as they do in appointing their interiors. The problem is that over time the weather can be particularly hard on the metal and fabrics with constant exposure to the sun, salt air and in the case of…
Cefali & Cefali, APC. Trusted Accident Attorneys for the Most Serious Injuries
Jul 24, 2022 Jody Robinson
It’s a remarkable feeling when you can find someone to take your side. In relationships, sports: you name it. That one person who believes in you, makes you better, fights alongside you. Michael Cefali matched with his person (his wife Courtney) long before law school - but their partnership extended through the long years studying for the bar and paid off in an even match that has stacked up in their favor many times over. Graduates of Chapman Law and California Western, respectively, they started the San Juan Capistrano-based Cefali & Cefali, APC in July of 2019 and have been…
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…
There are many sayings about the alaudidae, or lark, as you are more likely to know it. To be specific, only the horned lark makes North America its home, but to be “happy as a lark,” “carefree as a lark,” “up with the larks,” “on a lark” is to be carefree, whimsical, salubrious, energetic, lighthearted. All characteristic, I discovered, of The LARK Bozeman. A boutique hotel with a unique and vibrant designation, the space focuses its attention on the world beyond its walls - yet never forgets an important interior detail. With a focus primarily on creating simple yet modern…
The Fastest Growing E-Bike Company in Dana Point Quite a lot of us are staying closer to home when we decide to venture out, and Doheny Bike has adapted its entire business to stay with its customer every step of the way. Emerging as the fastest-growing e-bike company in Dana Point, it’s by design that Jason Spates and his team have expanded their offerings, grown in their community presence, and are actively giving back. Folks are looking for an easy way to stay active and see the neighborhood. Luckily, Doheny Bike has the local intel, and a unique “fold-n-go” bike…
Necessity is the mother of invention - or from the original Republic: “our need will be the real creator.” Plato wasn’t wrong, and in the case of Because Market Co-founders Alexi Suvacioglu and Luca Gualco, frustration may have been an even more pressing incentive. Coming from two closely-knit families that each cared for their grandparents, the journey to find the right incontinence products was a lengthy one. Thus, Because. “Going from store to store wasn’t going to work anymore, and e-commerce didn’t offer enough customer service. It was overwhelming - there were just too many options that didn’t work.” In…
Protect Your Family from Viruses, Bacteria, Chemicals and Mold There’s a phenomenon that happens in the atmosphere when it rains. A term for it - petrichor - was coined in 1964 by Australian scientists. It attempts to describe the earthy smell associated with thunderstorms. The result of compounds like activated oxygen and plant oils in the soil contribute to what smells like the cleanest, most fresh air possible. Puréfi Air Systems is a local Orange County distributor for the 97-year-old parent company Aerus - and the company that manufactures products that can replicate that incredible phenomenon…indoors. There aren’t many companies…
Diane Silverstein had never heard of the show “Absolutely Fabulous” when she named her aptly-titled gifts and décor boutique in central Huntington Beach. But the fun-loving, irreverent, blonde, champagne-promoting show does give a glimpse into what makes Absolutely Fabulous such a treasure. Absolutely Fabulous is not your run-of-the-mill, Hallmark-style gift shop; they are as fun and irreverent as the show they share a name with. The variety and uniqueness of products at Absolutely Fabulous is astounding: hand-made jewelry, Miche Bag purses (the ones where you just drop the “insides” of your purse into a new shell, rather than having to…
When I was younger, my Mom loved to read me the book “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.” The plot essentially revolves around an ever-growing list of to-do’s that had to be accomplished, all set into motion by the simple act of giving a mouse a cookie. This tale came back to me recently when I purchased a new television at Best Buy. What was a simple shopping trip ended up being an adult’s version of that circular tale. If you give a grownup a television, they’ll have to measure their wall. When they measure the wall, they’ll realize…
The nature of gift purchasing has changed greatly since the advent of the internet. How has Absolutely Fabulous stayed above the fray and blossomed while the rest of the gift industry flounders? “That’s easy,” responds Diane Silverstein, owner of the iconic Huntington Beach-based Absolutely Fabulous gift boutique, “quality, selection, price range, and ease of shopping.” After many visits to her “absolutely fabulous” gift and décor shop, I would have to agree. “Plus – we ship world-wide, so you can mail your stuff right from here!” While the internet excels at making home shopping the easiest experience, when you know exactly…
The nature of gift purchasing has changed greatly since the advent of the internet. How has Absolutely Fabulous stayed above the fray and blossomed while the rest of the gift industry flounders? “That’s easy,” responds Diane Silverstein, owner of the iconic Huntington Beach-based Absolutely Fabulous gift boutique, “quality, selection, price range, and ease of shopping.” After many visits to her “absolutely fabulous” gift and décor shop, I would have to agree. “Plus – we ship world-wide, so you can mail your stuff right from here!” While the internet excels at making home shopping the easiest experience, when you know exactly…
As the real estate industry continues to adapt to changes in the market, alternative methods of buying and selling homes are becoming more prevalent. Hiring an agent to list on the MLS is no longer the only way to sell a property, as “off-market selling” is becoming a real option for homeowners seeking a faster, more streamlined, and ‘safe’ sale. The benefits of an off-market home sale include the convenience of not having to prepare the home for sale, no repair costs to the seller because the home is sold ‘as-is’, no failed escrows/shorter close, all cash/no financing offer, and…
The nature of gift purchasing has changed greatly since the advent of the internet. How has Absolutely Fabulous stayed above the fray and blossomed while the rest of the gift industry flounders? “That’s easy,” responds Diane Silverstein, owner of the iconic Huntington Beach-based Absolutely Fabulous gift boutique, “quality, selection, price range, and ease of shopping.” After many visits to her “absolutely fabulous” gift and décor shop, I would have to agree. “Plus – we ship world-wide, so you can mail your stuff right from here!” While the internet excels at making home shopping the easiest experience, when you know exactly…
Home Safety Advisors: Helping Seniors Live Safely in Their Own Home Longer!
Aug 27, 2020 Jody Robinson
By the time my friend’s grandmother passed away at 92, she had fallen six times. Two of those falls resulted in broken bones - once, her hip. Horrifying, to find oneself in that position. Tripped up by your walker or the corner of a rug. Often, a wet bathroom or kitchen floor. She was in a home for five out of the six falls, and still, it took some time to respond, get her stabilized, diagnosed, and fully recovered. Falls, my friend and her family quickly learned, are the leading cause of injury related deaths in Americans aged 65 and…
Home Safety Advisors Specializing in safe, accessible, comfortable walk-in tubs for seniors
Jul 30, 2020 Jody Robinson
By the time my friend’s grandmother passed away at 92, she had fallen six times. Two of those falls resulted in broken bones - once, her hip. Horrifying, to find oneself in that position. Tripped up by your walker or the corner of a rug. Often, a wet bathroom or kitchen floor. She was in a home for five out of the six falls, and still, it took some time to respond, get her stabilized, diagnosed, and fully recovered. Falls, my friend and her family quickly learned, are the leading cause of injury related deaths in Americans aged 65 and…
Loaded Inheritance: Safe Gun Storage, Ownership and Disposal with California Gun Services
Oct 01, 2019 Ann Laurence
My grandparents owned a beautiful three bedroom casita in Solana Beach. Just up the road from the train station, their home was built in the twenties, and renovated completely when I was in high school. When my grandfather passed away, I moved in with my grandma, doing chores around the house for her and helping to maintain the garden. One day, I was looking for my grandfather’s whetstone, to sharpen an old pair of shears, and I stumbled across his Colt Python 357 Magnum. I had to look it up - I thought it might be a relic from one…
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…
It’s impossible to say what we love most about our issue release parties, especially the most recent one at Villa Roma! Situated in a shopping center just off La Paz at McIntyre (25254 La Paz Rd) in Laguna Hills, Villa Roma serves up amazing Italian and Argentine cuisine. When it comes to deciding between hand battered and fried calamari, bufalo mozzarella appetizers, mini chicken, spinach and cheese empanadas, delicious meatballs and an amazing charcuterie boards of cured meats, cheeses and roasted peppers. Guests noshed on the aforementioned apps and raved about the flavor in every bite. Villa Roma has an…
Let’s play a quick game: I’ll say a word and you write down the first thing that comes to mind. Ready? Beer. Now, I’ll bet you a pint that you immediately imagined some Oktoberfest, flush with icy cold brews and brats grilling in the background. But while beer has a colorful history indeed in the cloisters and taverns of Germany, the story of beer actually began a few thousand years before the Reinheitsgebot. Since its earliest days in ancient Sumeria, the art of brewing has come a long way. The simple act of allowing water, malt, and hops to ferment…
As a female, I may be feeding the stereotype when I pen this, but my first thought when I have to take my car in for service (even for something as simple as an oil change) leads me to feelings of anxiety. A mechanic once told me with a straight face that the reason it felt like my tires were out of alignment was because the Earth was round. I took the car to a family friend a couple days later who has a small shop and he confirmed what I thought originally: that my tires were actually out of…
When I was a child, I remember my parents moving our family into a new house, with pristine, white carpets. Beautiful to look at, but completely impractical when you consider that two young children would soon be tromping about. As expected, my brother and I managed to ruin a swath of the floor covering in spectacular fashion … and in relatively short order. Enough so that it was replaced with a more manageable shade. Had my parents discovered the benefits of professional carpet cleaning services like those offered by the Laguna Niguel-based Beacon Carpet Cleaning, they certainly would have been…
Assisted Living facilities have struggled with their reputation for a great many years. The emotional understanding of what those facilities actually do is mired in miscommunication. Ivy, or rather Hedera, as it is known in the scientific world, has also suffered from a bad rap for years. An immigrant to the States, Hedera is a genus of 12-15 species of evergreen that climbs or creeps, loves rocks, and is native to western central, and southern Europe, Africa, Asia, Japan, and Taiwan. Making the list of best air-freshening plants, ivy also takes one of the headers in place of non-native invasives…
When I was a child, I remember my parents moving our family into a new house, with pristine, white carpets. Beautiful to look at, but completely impractical when you consider that two young children would soon be tromping about. As expected, my brother and I managed to ruin a swath of the floor covering in spectacular fashion … and in relatively short order. Enough so that it was replaced with a more manageable shade. Had my parents discovered the benefits of professional carpet cleaning services like those offered by the Laguna Niguel-based Beacon Carpet Cleaning, they certainly would have been…
Mission Viejo Wigs is truly a family business. Not in the traditional sense, where its owners and operators share the same genes. But rather in such a way that every person who has walked through Owner Betty Darroch’s doors in the 30+ years she has been in operation immediately felt like a member of Darroch’s extended family. As a professional hair and wig stylist since 1962, Betty began her career at CBS where her résumé reads like a celebrity screenplay starring the coifs of a veritable “who’s who” of Hollywood: Ann Margaret, Carol Lawrence, the Midnight Specials and the Sonny…
A Listening Ear and an Eye for Design Stephen R. Covey, one of my favorite authors (nerd alert) famously wrote that “most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” I have met many of these people. I am sure you have as well. Lesser often though, are the ones you meet in the camp of understanding. Even with very few words spoken. A great many things can come from a good listening ear: the least of which offers clearer communication and a sense of settlement for all parties involved. That feeling…
My sister was hit by a snowboarder when she was sixteen. On skis, just a couple of turns from the bottom of the hill - in plain sight of a SLOW sign. The snowboarder was young; not as young as my sister, but still, a young man. My parents, long-time skiers, contacted him directly, trying to see if they could get any results at all: any reparations for their high-school sophomore, laid up on the couch for innumerable weeks. There was nothing they could do. I remember feeling helpless as a child, watching the entire drama unfold. I can’t imagine…
Committed to Helping You Make Educated Choices for Your Loved One’s Care My grandmother and I used to joke with each other about the subtle difference in meaning between the words ‘subscribe’ and ‘ascribe’ (now that I’m thinking about it, that joke doesn’t seem like a joke at all - at least not in the joking-as-comedy way. Ok, ok, we’re language nerds). But I think the beauty in each one of those words’ individual meanings gives light to a great many situations I find myself in as an adult, dealing with each day’s new challenges and obstacles. Particularly, when I…
My sister was hit by a snowboarder when she was sixteen. On skis, just a couple of turns from the bottom of the hill - in plain sight of a SLOW sign. The snowboarder was young; not as young as my sister, but still, a young man. My parents, long-time skiers, contacted him directly, trying to see if they could get any results at all: any reparations for their high-school sophomore, laid up on the couch for innumerable weeks. There was nothing they could do. I remember feeling helpless as a child, watching the entire drama unfold. I can’t imagine…
It’s no surprise why Wig-Wag Dog Grooming is a favorite of San Juan Capistrano residents. Is it because groomer and owner Liana Brown and her team make absolutely sure that your dog is the only star of the show while its being groomed? Perhaps. Is it because Wig-Wag offers a variety of types and techniques that many other groomers do not? Very likely. “We offer Japanese grooming styles, which is so much fun for us, the pet, and the owner!” says Liana. “Japanese grooming styles focuses on the cute-factor of the dog, so we can get pretty creative. It’s a…
Water in the Garden. Quality Care and Stellar Customer Service Characterize this Full-Service Koi Pond Maintenance Company
Dec 28, 2017 Jody Robinson
When we moved into our home three years ago, the property came with a very pretty pond stocked with colorful koi and goldfish. But for someone who can barely keep a potted plant alive, the prospect of being responsible for the livelihood and longevity of these beautiful fish was daunting – I don’t have a clue about the right ratio of additives in the water or the importance of algae or how to combat fish disease. A koi pond is clearly much more than a backyard water garden feature. It is a living, breathing eco-system which requires the expertise…
Making Guests Their “SpecialTea,” the Tea House on Los Rios celebrates its 20th Anniversary
Dec 28, 2017 Jody Robinson
Perfectly situated between the hustle of Los Angeles and the bustle of San Diego, the historic Los Rios District lies just off the I-5 freeway in San Juan Capistrano. Originally settled by Juanenos Indians allowed to live outside the mission compound, this idyllic town has grown over the years, but still retains its old town charm. Some of the original homes built still house relatives of the early settlers, generations later. A surprise gem for tourists and locals alike, Los Rios is no stranger to its own delights - including an immensely popular tea salon and boutique. Founded by the…
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