Fake It ’Til You Make It
➞ In the mood to live large for the day? Head to the Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach and get a day pass to the pool, where you’ll sunbathe with the beautiful people and sip margaritas at a bar with an ocean view. The vibe is Palm Springs meets luxury Las Vegas. Wear your most fabulous cover-up when you check in. Rates vary based on season; $200 to $300 this month. 1555 S. Coast Highway, 855-690-7114, surfandsandresort.com
Custom Home Decor
➞ In a little strip mall in Los Alamitos, Chartreuse Home Furnishings offers Pinecone Hill Bedding, Dash & Albert rugs, Lee Industries American-made furniture and fabrics, and lots more. But the real reason we love it is the Zen shopping experience thanks to the accommodating staffers and their willingness to customize just about anything for your home. 3938 Cerritos Ave., Los Alamitos, 562‑493-5899, chartreuse
homefurnishings.blogspot.com
Modern Minimalism
➞ Owned by designers Carrie and Murphy Martines, The Celect recently moved from The Lab to Fashion Island, a more appropriate setting for its customer base. The carefully curated collection of international independent apparel and accessories includes lines such as Desiree Klein, Rick Owens DRKSHDW, and Raf Simons x adidas. What do we especially covet? Awesome architectural bags by Finnell. 571 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949-500-5073, thecelect.com
Classic Newport
➞ Before there were fancy cars and Branson yachts, there was Woody’s Wharf, the only place on the Balboa Peninsula to indulge in Sunday brunch. The buzz isn’t just the bottomless mimosa talking. Snag a window table, order the lump crab Benedict, and settle in for fantastic people-watching and endless Champagne. $19.95. 2318 Newport Blvd., 949-675-0474, woodyswharf.com
Rocker Chic
➞ Looking for clothing with a bit of an edge? Check out Rock Etiquette. Boasting a rustic façade and an open-concept layout, the shop is stocked with uber-distressed jeans by cult fave One Teaspoon ($100 to $200) and festival-ready dresses ($56 to $380). 370 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach, 949-715-1121, rocketiquette.com
Sound Meditation
➞ This transform–ative, hour-long class at Ekam Yoga is a sound bath for the soul, while your body is on a yoga mat. The last Sunday of every month, teacher Simon Ballard uses bowls, a didgeridoo, and, yes, chanting to send vibrations deep into your core. Your body completely unwinds. $25. 949-631-9642, 2700 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach, ekam‑yoga.com
Recycled Global Gift
➞ These striking handmade Haitian folk art metal wall hangings of birds, mermaids, and—most popular—St. Francis of Assisi ($100 to $115) impress. And that’s even before you learn the artisans make the indoor-outdoor pieces from recycled oil drums. Bowers Museum Gallery Store, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714-567-3600, bowers.org
Leather Crafting
➞ If you’re a leather crafter or looking for a new hobby, visit Tandy Leather. You’ll find a wide variety of leather, fun tools, belt buckles, dyes, instructional books, and leather craft kits. Free classes on tooling and carving are offered 9 to 11 a.m. most Saturdays and are first-come first-serve. Expect to buy the tools and leather you’ll need for the project. 1215 Baker St., Costa Mesa, 714-966-3083, tandyleather.com
Cryotherapy
➞ Why be excruciatingly cold for three minutes? Because you will feel the indulgence by the end of your session at Polar Cryotherapy. Orange County’s weekend warriors and pro athletes are gaga for cryotherapy, a super-short treatment that cools your skin temperature to 32 degrees. A little too Austin Powers for you? Consider that you wear robes and slippers, as if you were at a spa. The first visit is $40. 2651 Irvine Ave., Costa Mesa, 949-505-9789, polarcryotherapy.com
Cooking Demo
➞ Begin the weekend with a steaming cappuccino as one of Pirch’s talented chefs leads you and 11 others through the SoCo Farmers’ Market. Buy your own fresh and fabulous ingredients to be used during a hands-on cooking demonstration in a Pirch state-of-the-art kitchen. Chop, chat, and enjoy the delicious fruits of your labor. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday; free but reservations suggested. 3303 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 949-429‑0800, pirch.com
Fragrant Shopping Excursion
Wander overflowing stalls of peach and pear blossoms (cut or potted), citrus trees, mai flowers, and ripe fruit at Little Saigon’s annual Flower Festival (typically late January to early February). If all those sweet aromas inspire you to spend, big-ticket items include rare orchids. Vietnamese food and live
evening perform–ances complete the garden adventure. Cho Hoa Flower Festival, 9200 Bolsa Ave., Westminster, 714-842-8018 ext. 20, asiangardenmall.com/special-events
Aloha Flowers
➞ For 35 years, Island Florals has been selling a bit of Hawaiian paradise, exotic flowers, and foliage: gingers, heliconias, orchids, plumeria, tuberose, monstera, ti leaves, and more. They ship most flowers from the Big Island, while the proteas are from northern San Diego County. Delicate leis (orchids, plus fragrant plumeria, kukui nuts, and shells) are plump and brilliantly colored and will stay that way even if you’re taking them (like we did) to New York. Mahalo! 1240 Logan Ave., Costa Mesa, 714-546-5359
Fancy Face Twofer
➞ Before a hot date, swing by the Urban Decay Fashion Island flagship store to get your makeup done. The brand is known for its bold colors, but the line’s latest signature makeup isn’t called Naked for nothing. The artists are pros at making you feel naturally beautiful while transforming your face—shop therapy with a bonus. Makeup application requires various purchase minimums ($10 to $60). 1085 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949‑644-6550, urbandecay.com
Discounted Bookstore
➞ Get a good read for a cheap price. One Dollar Bookstore was founded to make books available with just the change saved from a piggy bank (as it says on the website). The shops offer generous selections of fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and young adult novels. The employees are knowledgeable, friendly, and fellow book-lovers. 22621 Lake Forest Drive,
Lake Forest, 949‑699-2667; 1526 E. Lincoln Ave., Orange, 714-363-3854; theonedollarbookstore.com
Tuned Yin Yoga
➞ Wind down from a hectic workday with a slow-paced yin yoga practice with live cello accompaniment at
Ra Yoga. You’ll be led through a sequence of child’s, butterfly, and other long-held floor poses as the sonic warmth of the cello and the sonorous vibrations of crystal healing bowls flow through you. By savasana, you’ll be one with the mellow cello. Third Wednesday of the month, $20.
3077 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-708-3060, rayoga.com.