25 Loves: Five Favorites

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I am going to finish up my 25 Loves with my five favorite restaurants for a Valentine date or for any romantic occasion. Most of my choices are in Laguna, but you can’t fault a girl for loving one of the most beautiful coastal cities in the world.

1) K’ya A view of Laguna Beach with tapas and exotic dishes-Could you ask for more?

2) Sapphire Its all about food for me here (I like to finish off with their creme brulee) and if you are feeling romantic take a walk on the beach after dinner.

3) La Sirena Don’t forget to order the guacamole and head over to the Montage for dessert at the Loft.

4) Lawry’s Carvery It’s Lawry’s but fast and on a budget. The best part is that you can go shopping after dinner at South Coast Plaza.

5) Tommy's Yes, you read right. I am putting Tommy’s because its one of my husbands faves and he is my sweetheart, so I am willing to make a sacrifice on special occasions.

25 Loves: Bikram Yoga

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Bikram Yoga in Irvine just opened and a friend encouraged me to try it out with her. At first I thought I was going to die from the heat, but after you get used to the heat you become focused on the practice. There is something addicting about pushing your body while sweating your guts out. I must say that Bikram Yoga in Irvine is a beautiful studio with wonderful instructors, so its a great place to check out if you have an interest in Bikram Yoga and live near Irvine.

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Pinkberry

I love Pinkberry more because they now have chocolate.

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Goop

From tips on parenting to ideas on what to make for Sunday dinner, its fun to get tips from Gwyneth.

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Sweet Scents

Jo Malone's line of cologne is my favorite because it makes natural scents come alive by combining them in original combinations.

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Girl Scout Cookies

Don't forget to stock up your freezer with Girl Scout Cookies! You can find your local girl scout troop here to order from.

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Pretty Little Things

Thanks to Banner Boutique I have a whole bunch of pretty little things for my little girl to accessorize with (stay tuned because they will add more wonderful things each week).

25 Loves: Capri Candles

I love the smell of Capri Candles from Anthro

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Simply Fondue

Just thinking about Simply Fondue makes my mouth water and

 I'm not the only one (see reviews here).

image via flickr

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Sweet Snapshots

A million thanks to the Ultra-Talented Kamee (Kamee June Photography) for capturing our moments

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Legally Blonde (is coming to the OC)

I can't wait to see Elle Woods in a Musical

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Poppies

Another Valentine find on Etsy

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Swanky Paper

Pretty paper always makes my day and Swanky Paper has a great selection.

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Comfort

Nothing like a cute hoodie to provide comfort.

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Roses

Love these roses from Jcrew

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Hugs and Kisses

Available on Etsy

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Sunday Naps

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xoxo, C

25 Loves: See's Candy

See's Candy is my candy of choice for Valentine's Day. It was also my Grandma's treat of choice and I am happy to carry on the tradition.

Here's a great recipe using See's Candy:

Minty Grasshopper Pie

• 1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• Green food coloring
• 1/2 lb See's Mint Krispys* (coarsely crushed)
• 8 oz whipped topping
• 6 oz ready-made chocolate piecrust

Using a mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Stir in food coloring and the crushed Mint Krispys (save 1/4 to sprinkle on top). Fold in whipped topping. Pour into crust. Place in freezer until firm. Garnish as desired with crushed Mint Krispys. Store leftovers in freezer. Serves 8.

image via flickr

xoxo, C

25 Loves: A Romantic Spot (at Disneyland)

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I love a great romantic spot to spend time with my husband and finding the ideal romantic spot is essential for Valentine’s Day. We spent our Valentine’s Day at Disneyland three years ago and my husband made reservations at the Blue Bayou. You know the place, its that swanky restaurant that you float by on Pirates of the Caribbean. The restaurant is graced with amazing lighting and has a wonderful ambiance for a dinner for two. The food is reasonably priced when you compare it to the other dining choices in the park and here are the details on the menu from the Disney website:

Savor down-home, Louisiana-inspired cooking and full table service in moonlit ambience as Pirates of the Caribbean passenger boats drift past. This popular restaurant serves a range of delectable dishes for lunch and dinner (children's menu available):
Fish and beef entrees — including mahi mahi, roast New York strip and an exquisite dinner special featuring surf and turf
Cajun classics like Tesora Island chicken, jambalaya and a Monte Cristo sandwich
Cajun-inspired wedge salad and gumbo (with entrees)
Specialty desserts like crème brulee (includes pirate keepsake)

For some reason I thought the restaurant was exclusive or impossible to get into, but it turns out all you have to do is call the reservations line (714) 781-DINE) ahead of time. Make sure to get reservation because it is almost impossible to get a seat if you try the day of and don’t forget to try the Crème Brulee.

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Mail

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I love getting mail.  Holiday cards, baby announcements, handwritten letters, and wedding invitations make my heart swell with happiness.  Even better than receiving is sending mail, so our annual family V-Day tradition is decorating mailboxes for everyone in the family, so we can send one another Valentines all month long.  The kids have so much fun decorating their mailboxes and really take pride in writing notes to everyone (my youngest draws pictures). Luckily, I spotted the perfect mini mailboxes in the dollar bins at the Target at Irvine Spectrum.   

Here are some other ideas:

Valentine Letter Box

Super Crafty Cute Mailbox

Valentine Holder Craft Kit

Keepsake Valentine Box

xoxo, C