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…

There are few periods that are as difficult for those who are grieving than the holidays, starting with Thanksgiving and culminating with the New Year. Here are a few tips to not just cope with your grief during the holidays, but to engage in your grief and grow in it. Admit the holidays are hard Holidays are hard under the best of circumstances. We tend to eat more poorly, over-commit to activities, and struggle with meeting all the expectations we think others have. But when you’re grieving, what is normally manageable can become overwhelming. The beginning point is acknowledging that…

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…

By Becky Lomaka, MA, CTDirector of Grief Support and Education O’Connor Mortuary There are few periods that are as difficult for those who are grieving than the holidays, starting with Thanksgiving and culminating with the New Year. Here are a few tips to not just cope with your grief during the holidays, but to engage in your grief and grow in it. Admit the holidays are hard Holidays are hard under the best of circumstances. We tend to eat more poorly, over-commit to activities, and struggle with meeting all the expectations we think others have. But when you’re grieving, what…

Infinity Medical and Wellness offers a tremendously successful treatment option - FDA Cleared and Covered by Medicare and Most Major Medical Insurances Are you or a loved one suffering from chronic pain caused by peripheral neuropathy? Do you experience pain, numbness, burning, tingling, or tightness in your hands and feet? Have you tried multiple therapies and medications (i.e. Gabapentin, Cymbalta, Lyrica and Neurontin) only to experience side effects and with little to no relief? Would you like to try a natural treatment that is covered by insurance? Call us to find out if you are covered. Most of our patients…

Travel for our family has always been an exciting opportunity to explore both far-flung destinations and closer-to-home hidden gems. During these unprecedented times defined by shelter-in-place and safer-at-home, we - like many families - pressed pause on several planned summer vacations and weekend getaways to destinations farther than an easy driving distance. For Southern Californians, the beaches are open, and the weather is bright and warm well into the fall and few places are as idyllic as Coronado Island to while away a couple of days in the surf and sand. Just over the bridge from San Diego, Coronado is…

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…

There is perhaps no more educational and entertaining way to experience the La Jolla Ecological Reserve (the protected part of the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park) than taking part in a kayak tour to explore the gorgeous sea cliffs and renowned Seven Sea Caves. Everyday California came highly recommended as “the” tour to take and it didn’t disappoint. After getting geared up with helmets and life jackets, it’s was a quick stroll to the foot of Avenida de La Playa at the south end of La Jolla Shores. We kicked off our shoes at the “honor system” beach stand and…

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…

By Becky Lomaka, MA, CTDirector of Grief Support and Education O’Connor Mortuary It’s been a rough few weeks since my last column. My family and I have experienced heartbreaking losses that have me in a tangled emotional overload. In mid-August, a friend’s daughter was killed in an automobile accident, a beautiful life taken much too young. Just a few days later we found out our dear friend of twenty-five years had only a few weeks to live, the cancer we thought was gone from his body came back with a vengeance. He died over Labor Day weekend. On the same…

I’ve lived in Orange County a long time. Without completely dating myself, I moved here for college and never left. As a then-single 20-something through the years to today as a married mom of two middle schoolers, one thing has remained unchanged: Southern California’s coastal cities were then and are now of singular beauty and amenity, recreation and attraction. One of our family’s longstanding choices for day-trip and “staycation” destinations is nearby Newport Beach - a world-renowned stretch of surf and sand that attracts tourists from all points around the globe. But these days - and certainly in these unprecedented…

There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Because each has many different appearances, it is important to know the early warning signs. Look especially for change of any kind. Do not ignore a suspicious spot simply because it does not hurt. Skin cancers may be painless, but dangerous all the same. If you notice one or more of the warning signs, see a board-certified dermatologist right away, preferably one who specializes in diseases of the skin. Actinic keratosisAn actinic keratosis (AK) is a crusty, scaly growth caused by damage from exposure…

Southern California is well known for its gorgeous year-round weather. Truly though, there are few places with as mild and consistently lovely temperatures as La Jolla, a 7-mile oceanfront community jewel just 12 miles north of Downtown San Diego. Almost completely surrounded by beaches and bluffs, La Jolla boasts an everyday average of 70 degrees. Tide pools dot the coast, and the famous La Jolla Playhouse, founded by legendary Hollywood figure Gregory Peck, now lives on the University of California campus, just minutes from some of the best boutique shopping in the area. A perfect escape from the normal humdrum,…

Sarah Sanders wasn’t shocked when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 41 in September 2015. In fact, she expected it. That’s because Sanders has a strong family history of the disease on her father’s side. Her paternal grandmother died at age 35 from breast cancer, an aunt passed away at age 50, and another aunt was diagnosed in her 60s and successfully treated. This knowledge made all the difference in Sanders’ approach to her breast health.“Call it whatever you believe in, but this was put on my heart at a very young age,” she said. “I sort of…

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…

Complete Coastal Comfort at a Hidden Gem on the Los Angeles Coast Just last summer, my husband and I had plans for almost every weekend with the kids. We camped, hiked, went boogie boarding, crossed off a couple of states on our family’s “50 State” adventure. Another life, it seems like now. It has been one of the most wild years on record, from start until now: heading into month nine. These past few months, we limited our travels to much-needed local “staycations” for a change of scenery when possible. Gratefully, we live in a region with an abundance of…

Infinity Medical and Wellness offers a tremendously successful treatment option - FDA Cleared and Covered by Medicare and Most Major Medical Insurances Are you or a loved one suffering from chronic pain caused by peripheral neuropathy? Do you experience pain, numbness, burning, tingling, or tightness in your hands and feet? Have you tried multiple therapies and medications (i.e. Gabapentin, Cymbalta, Lyrica and Neurontin) only to experience side effects and with little to no relief? Would you like to try a natural treatment that is covered by insurance? Call us to find out if you are covered. Most of our patients…