There is architecture, and then there is design. One accounts for the specifics of building - specs, features. The other drags your feelings into the picture. Any good resort combines the best of both, introducing its guests to a luxury of mind and spirit: an escape for the entire being. One of the very few hotels I’ve ever found to boast such a wedding of the two also called for the union of past and present, history and modernization. The only Four Diamond Hotel in the Village of La Jolla, The Grande Colonial Hotel has been welcoming guests to a…

As you are preparing to be with family and enjoy delicious meals, the advice to avoid overeating foods high in fat is especially important. Some nutritional studies are finding that a high-fat diet may fuel spread of prostate cancer. The impact of a man’s diet is another important clinical step in our understanding the causes of prostate cancer. A significant study published in Nature Genetic found, “an aberrant SREBP-dependent lipogenic program promotes metastatic prostate cancer.” This study suggests that dietary fat may feed prostate tumors and help them spread. While we know that obesity has been linked to prostate cancer…

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…

There aren’t many places in Southern California that remain undeveloped, pristine. Set in a lush canyon next to a flowing stream,The Ranch at Laguna Beach is one of those places. Dating back to 1871, the original 152-acre parcel and one-room shack evolved over the years to its most recent incarnation. Retaining its original village charm is vital to the success of the secluded private luxury resort that resides there today. The Ranch at Laguna Beach is tucked into Aliso and Wood Canyons - its rustic, simple signage along Coast Highway directs visitors onto a nondescript driveway that winds its way…

There’s an Emily Dickinson poem that cites a certain slant of light, which when it comes, “the Landscape listens -/ Shadows -/hold their breath.” Many say that the poem is about a certain quality of anxiety: but I can assure you that though you’ll find a certain slant of light in Santa Barbara, anxiety will be far from it. One of the most stunning and relaxing locales I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting, the seaside escape has what seems like an endless list of activities for even the most determined weekend warrior, and just as long a list for…

World-renowned lung cancer experts offer treatment breakthroughs and highly specialized cancer care City of Hope Orange County is changing the lung cancer story by providing residents much-needed early detection screenings, innovative prevention programs, and top experts in lung cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment. The world-renowned cancer research and treatment organization is also correcting the myth that lung cancer is only a disease of people who smoke. “Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in Orange County. City of Hope is responding to this pressing need by bringing our world-renowned lung cancer experts and pioneering research closer to home for…

by Molly Keating, MA, CT, O’Connor Mortuary We are entering a familiar world with familiar places but the way we are experiencing them is altered. We are different, too. So, what does it look like to transition from the deep sorrow of one place into the space where the sorrow has been more digested, is more manageable and incorporated into our lives? How do we transition out of grief? I believe, when we ask this question, we are really saying – “when can I get back to living?” or “when can I stop being sad?” Life lesson time: 1. Grieving is…

The Premier SoCal Destination for Multi-Generational Fun There are a few places in the world that I’ve truly relaxed outside my own home. Believe me, it is a very short list. But let me tell you - topping the charts is JW Marriott’s Desert Springs Resort & Spa. And coming into the absolutely blissful fall weather in California - well - you couldn’t pick a better time to load up the entire family for a quick jaunt out to Palm Desert get one last adventure in before the rush and bustle of the holidays hit. As a mom of two, I understand…

A very important large clinical study was presented at the European Association of Urology 2021 Annual Meeting (EAU 2021).  The findings from the largest United States analysis for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) reveal that overall complication rates are lowest after treatment with the Urolift® System when compared to surgery and other minimally invasive procedures. The study clearly demonstrates that complication rates following surgery for BPH are higher than treatment with the minimally invasive Urolift® System. Dr. Daniel Rukstalis explains the importance of this study as research in the area of surgical or minimally invasive procedures for BPH is…

My husband and I like to joke that we run an after-hours speakeasy out of our home. When the kids are finally asleep for the night and the dishes are all done, we bust out the fancy cheese and crackers, open a bottle of wine, and unfurl the tin foil around a decadent bar of dark chocolate. Of course, we have to hide the evidence from prying eyes, so in the morning we don’t have to answer questions about the chocolate wrapper, wine cork, or ice cream scoop. We laughed at each other the other day while cleaning up the…

Now Open in San Juan Capistrano I was in middle school at my best friend’s house when her Dad got a call one afternoon. It was a complete stranger, albeit an incredibly friendly one, who had taken the time to sort through who my friend’s grandmother was and why she happened to be strolling up and down his street in the middle of the day. On our way over to pick her up, her Dad attempted to describe what was happening in her brain. Over dinner that night, I watched her between bites halfway expecting her to forget which utensil…

Committed to Exceptional Care All throughout my youth, I wondered why people didn’t like going to the dentist. That all changed when I moved away from home to go to college, and had to find a new dentist for the first time. That experience opened my eyes to how intimate dentistry is and how vulnerable you feel if you are not comfortable in the dental office. Your smile/mouth is the first thing people notice when they speak to you. Finding someone you trust to take care of your dental hygiene is imperative to enjoying the confidence a beautiful smile gives…

My daughter loves the movie Frozen. The Disney hit is based around locations in Norway, but there’s one stand out part in my mind every time I watch the movie, and it really belongs to Arendelle’s non-fictional neighbor to the east: the sauna. JNH Lifestyles shares my affinity for the Finnish invention, dated back originally to 1112 AD. Introducing the heat-based healing tool to the world was simply the first step, however. As the technology evolved, so did its health benefits. “What began as a simple tradition became one of the most invaluable homeopathic tools used to relax, detoxify, and…

Insurance for All with Jonathan Bayani. GEICO Laguna Niguel There are very few things that throw people off balance more easily than an accident. Be it at home, in the car, or on the water, an accident can ruin a day, a week, or even a year for the uninsured. For the last 85 years, your safety and that of your family has been GEICO’s ultimate priority, and for Agency Owner Jonathan Bayani and his team of licensed agents at the GEICO local office in Laguna Niguel, carrying that mission on is about much more than offering competitive rates. Bayani…

I was in middle school at my best friend's house when her Dad got a call one afternoon. It was a complete stranger, albeit an incredibly friendly one, who had taken the time to sort through who my friend’s grandmother was and why she happened to be strolling up and down his street in the middle of the day. On our way over to pick her up, her Dad attempted to describe what was happening in her brain. Over dinner that night, I watched her between bites halfway expecting her to forget which utensil to use for the salad and…

Interstim® 2ND generation bladder control device can help! An overactive bladder (OAB) can result in too frequent trips to the bathroom, bladder leakage or urinary retention.  These are common bladder symptoms that affect both women and men. Bladder control problems should NEVER be considered a normal part of aging. Oftentimes, we cover up OAB symptoms and use expensive pads or diapers during the day. If you have tried treatments including limiting fluids, physical therapy exercises, bladder control medications or even bladder surgery - with limited or no success - there is an amazing alternative solution that can be effective for…