SoCal Baby

I'm a huge supporter in all things local (or at least made in the USA with an ethical background). Of course when it comes to baby shopping, it's no different. I already have favorites and shops I'll be frequenting. 

1. Cali Shirt Splendid LA - I've blogged about how amazing Splendid LA is and I was so happy when I found out they made baby clothes. Designed and sold directly from LA, this shirt would rep the Golden State perfectly. 

2. Vans Infant Classic Slip Ons - Vans represent Southern California, all you need is a skateboard and the sun. I grew up with Vans and even blogged them on Danielle's guest blog post here to exhibit Orange County a couple years ago (nothing's changed!) 

3. Bibbitec - I first saw Bibbitec on ABC's Shark Tank and she was turned down because the investors didn't believe moms would spend money on a bib that would be made in the USA, high quality, and made of high tech fabric. She sold out that weekend and is doing great without any investors. 

4. American Apparel Infant Strip Onesie - I'll admit I was a little conflicted on featuring an AA item in an ethical friendly list for babies. It's one of the few sweat free shops with higher quality clothing, made and shipped from LA. They even offer organic cotton at a great price. When I visited the AA store in NYC, the California flag was waving proudly. 

5. Harvey's Diaper Bag  in Tough Love and Treecycle - If you're not familiar with Harvey's and you live in SoCal, where have you been?! It's a staple with women of all ages from the upper South County to the urban areas of Santa Ana. Everyone has a Harvey's bag. It's a company run by OC residents husband and wife from Santa Ana, and they make bags out of recycled, eco-friendly seat belts. They sound funny, but I'll get more people walking up to me asking about it than I do my LV bag. I did pick up the diaper bag in pink before I knew I was having a boy. I'll be the one carrying it, not him, okay?? 

6. California Baby Products - You can't have your baby running around in cool gear without the protection of the sun. Seasons barely exist in Southern California, which means sunblock almost everyday. They carry organic, earth friendly packaging and they make products devoted to babies with sensitive skin to diaper rash creams. 

For shops in the area that carry made in USA, eco-friendly, and/or organic items, these shops deserve honorable mentions- 

+ Rosie Posie Baby (I've actually blogged about the shop here)  

 + Bel-Bambini in Newport Beach. This is a higher end shop filled with furniture to designer baby clothes. 

+ Granola Babies in Costa Mesa. I actually went in with questions about cloth diapering and walked out with cloth diapers for the next 2 years. The staff is so helpful and so encouraging. 

 + Smocking Birds in Costa Mesa. This is a higher end boutique for only baby clothes. The owner hand picks the items herself based on what she loves and they are adorable. 

If you're not in California, don't worry, I always encourage you to support your favorite local/handmade shop. It may be a bit more in pricing but the quality and ethical standard is what I love best about shopping for baby.  

Locals Only; Memphis at the Santora

In the middle of the artsy Santa Ana downtown area, you'll find some of the best restaurants in Orange County. I've slowly visited all of them but one of them I'm happy to start with is Memphis. Known for their brunch menu, they've grown a large crowd from foodies, hipsters to businessmen who wait long lines. It's especially packed during their happy hour, not just for drinks but for their most popular food, too. 

Being 5 months pregnant, comfort food is on the top of list of cravings. Memphis hits the spot, and the bartender was even sweet enough to make a virgin mint julep. I ordered The Cobra sans bacon- a fried chicken sandwich on buttery soft milk bread. The combination with the homemade style mac and cheese on the side topped one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Ever. 

photo originally posted on Instagram

Virgin Mint Julep

+ Memphis brunch, lunch, happy hour and dinner menu. There is public parking, but limited. Be prepared to bring cash to park at the parking structure nearby. 

+ Memphis at the Santora

201 North Broadway

Artists Village

Santa Ana, CA 92701

Locals Only is a series on our.city.lights blog highlighting Anaheim and surrounding areas in the OC. If you're a small business and would like exposure on this blog, I love supporting local business'. Contact me here. 

Locals Only; El Guacho

I'm not Catholic or Argentinian. The talk of a new Pope from Argentina this week makes me think of empanadas, an Argentinian calzone-like pastry filled with savory tastes. I remember only having them once when I was younger, but I suddenly had this overwhelming craving. 

I tried some suggestions when I asked online (thank you!), but they didn't hit the spot. I forgot Calikatrina (one of my long-time favorite IG'ers) is Argentinian. After asking her (although in my head it was more like a beg) she recommended El Gaucho Meat Market. What seems like a tiny lot in Anaheim, is filled with delicious food and ethnic cuisine. This isn't a foodie paradise where the menu is beautiful and the presentation is equally amazing. No, this is a styrofoam and lopsided menu type of place. It may not be the place to take a ton of Instagram pics to share, but you'll be swooned by your food anyways. 

i had to bring out the heart plates, because it's a delicious occasion 

When I walked in, there was a line almost out the door. The most popular order? The empanadas! They offer spinach, chicken, beef, and ham and cheese. This is only a small corner of the store. If you want genuine Argentinian empanadas, El Gaucho is the place to get them. 

El Gaucho

847 S State College Blvd

Anaheim, CA 92806

Locals Only is a series on our.city.lights blog highlighting Anaheim and surrounding areas in the OC. If you're a small business and would like exposure on this blog, I love supporting local business'. Contact me here. 

Locals Only; Animated Cupcakes + Genki Living

On our last day of 2012, we wanted to try Animated Cupcakes on Kam's recommendation (thanks, Kam!) We arrived before Animated Cupcakes opened, but it was inside a cafe, Genki Living. We were already in love with the place as soon as we walked in, there were cool vintage suitcases turned seats! We grabbed lunch while we were waiting for our New Years Eve cupcakes, and the food was as delicious as the decor was charming. 

Udon

Turkey crepe

Taiyaki. A Japanese waffle shaped like a fish. This one is stuffed with Nutella! 

How were the actual cupcakes? Well, one of them had a hidden Oreo inside it. You can't get better surprise than that for cupcakes. The red velvet was soft and the frosting was rich, but a lot lighter than Sprinkle's famous red velvet. If you're in the area and don't want to make the drive to Sprinkles, Animated Cupcakes is a great alternative. 

Animated Cupcakes // Genki Living 

10130 Garden Grove Blvd.

Garden Grove, CA 92844

Sun - Thurs: 11AM - 11PM Fri & Sat: 11AM - MIDNIGHT

The Best of Disneyland Locals

Having a Disneyland pass for over a decade, I think I've seen every angle of the park, read every "secret" Disneyland trivia, and taken every photo I can think of in the park. Every once in awhile, I'll come across something that has a new eye for the mouse ears, sometimes a photo or a blog... On Instagram I discovered whereiskirstie. Her photos are beautifully filtered and she captures Walt's vision in a 4x4 photo.

For a blog, there are thousands of Disneyland blogs, but I always catch up with My Year With the Mouse, from writer Shelby Hogan. Not only do I know Shelby from being my neighbor (yep, what are the chances another blogger would be my neighbor?!), but she blogs about things I didn't even know of the park. Catch up on secrets, tips and tricks with her.

I'd love to discover more of the park, even years later. If you're an avid Disneyland fan or just love to follow up on Mickey news, do you have favorites you want to share? I'd love to know.

Locals Only; Barbeer Shop

Barbeer is barber shop that soon will be serving beer (it's in the process of getting the alcohol license). It is a barber shop + bar, but it's also a nostalgia shop. When I walked in, I couldn't help but think of Don Draper hanging out in a place like this. It's targeted towards guys with an old school barber flair- it uses straight razors, a high quality pomade, blasts Johnny Cash from the speakers, and smells of freshly cut dudes. One complaint from my husband getting his hair cut at my salon was it was overpriced, and he just felt out of place. Barbeer is close to home, and it's exactly what he was looking for.

It's professional, clean and there are two men's stores connected to the shop. Get your hair cut, grab your coffee, and then pick up a couple shirts all on Center Street Promenade in Anaheim. It is directed for men, but women aren't turned away but they are limited. The barbers employed have their State Board license for barbering and not cosmetology, so if you're a woman looking for a new stylist, this isn't for you. However, if you want a clean bang trim, this is a great place to check out. If you want a hip new place for your man to clean up well, bring him here.

I only met two barbers- Kevin and Luis. They're polite, make you feel comfortable, and they take their craft seriously and it shows. My husband came out shiny and clean.

More pics on Facebook and Flickr.

Barbeer Shop 165 Center St. Promenade Anaheim, California 92805

Locals Only is a series on our.city.lights blog highlighting Anaheim and surrounding areas in the OC.

Locals Only; 118 Degrees

I live in an area where Starbucks, The Coffee Bean, and any other popular "coffee shop" type place are accessible in less than a few minutes. I like coffee as much as the next person and I've been greeted by familiar baristas, but I've never experienced that coffee house nostalgia. I look forward to seasonal Starbucks drinks but not enough to echo the tweets and Instagram photos I see of them. Then I went to 118 Degrees in Downtown Anaheim. It was an accidental order. I never intended to order the coffee with my lunch but it was amazing. The Peruvian Coffee.- locally roasted organic coffee with raw cacao, lime and cayenne. 

It's the most unexpected ingredients, lime and chili in coffee?? It works guys, trust me, and it's like nothing I've ever tasted.

Amazing enough to not bother wiping off the lipstick before I had it. I think Chelsea would be proud.

I finally have a favorite coffee, and the barista was perfect- chatty enough to make me comfortable but professional enough to let me know I'm a valued customer.

118 Degrees 185 W Center St Anaheim, CA 92805

(btw, I'm slowly curating a "locals only" section. I have a lot of awesome readers from my area and I'd love to show you around my neighborhood.)

Home ECO:NOMICS

When Anaheim comes to mind you think Disneyland, Angels baseball, No Doubt…and hipster and artists venue? Yep, The Lab and the Camp owners bought Center Street Promenade and The Packing House in Downtown Anaheim and are dropping anchor. Umami Burger, Anaheim Brewery, The Gypsy Den, and Home Eco:nomics are a few of the trendy shops either opened or confirmed for business by the end of 2012.

April Paul, manager of Home Eco:nomics, and I chatted up on the new shop and the future of Downtown Anaheim. I loved the way the store was set up- it has a boutique flair without being intimidating, it still has a handmade presence with uniquely chosen items from local artists and shops. It reminded me of Anthropologie without the corporate suits behind it.

April warmly welcomes you into the store and right away, it’s a place you visit and want to leave buying one of each item. From BAGGU to Pocketo, there are local artists to more popular brands we all love and are familiar with. She has an eye for the shop design since her last job was at Seed Market, another store driven by handmade artists.

The shop carries everything from kitchen goods, jewelry, and baby items, to Earth-friendly gadgets. I’m really happy to see the changes in historic Downtown Anaheim. I’ll admit it still had its charm even when it was a ghost town but with the new shops and Packing House, it’s going to save me a drive to South County, and support Anaheim.

If you’re not in the area, April will gladly ship out an item to you, check out the blog and Facebook page for more info.

Mention “ourcitylights” and receive 10% on your entire purchase, and trust me it will come in handy when you visit, you will not walk out empty handed. Be sure to bring your reusable totes!

The soft opening was March 28 but their grand opening will be May 12 with Anaheim’s Art Crawl. More info on this in the later weeks! To support more of Anaheim, check out Community as well.

Welcome to the Weekend

This Sunday is Downtown Anaheim's second flea market. Most of the vendors from Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market will be there, so you'll know it'll be good! Here is more info and the Heirloomology page. If you're in OC, stop by for great antique shopping. Come support local shopping!

What are you up to this weekend? Are there any local shops you love supporting?

Sunday is the only day I have filled with a relaxing stroll through Downtown but other than that, it's work work work as usual. I'll be taking breaks for scheduled blogging next week. Enjoy your weekend <3

community; a unique retail environment

Buying handmade has played an important role in my life, and I try to incorporate it as much as possible in what I purchase. After owning property in Anaheim, CA, I've come to love the idea of supporting small business' in my city. Now, I can support both without making the drive to LA or South County (or paying extra shipping fee's for etsy). Community is a retail area in the middle of the urban and suburban area of Anaheim run by Yasmine and Rosie. It's literally a hole in the whole strip mall, or at least that's what I thought.

When setting foot in the area, you forget it's Anaheim- it's a row of my favorite online shops come to real life shopping- there's Rosie Posie Baby run by Yasmine and Rosie; an organic sustainable shop for baby. I'm not a mom, but I'll admit my ovaries were doing backflips at the cute overload it has coming for them. I know there are mom's out there reading my blog wanting an eco-friendly supported baby, and this is the place to go.

There's Nest, a store run by Lisa and Jon, who run Whimsy and Ink. They carry handmade goods from our favorite etsy sellers (I even picked up a couple prints from Nan Lawson!) They went from making handmade flasks in mom's garage, and their business grew with the mention of them in Real Simple (Dec.2010) to opening up their own shop.

There's a vintage shop, a buy-sell-trade store, and a record shop. There isn't an anchor shop like some other popular retailers in California (think the Lab), but Nest is strong enough to become the anchor shop of Community. It's still in the infancy (there's a couple shops waiting to be filled as of now) but it has a lot of potential. They even host a First Wednesdays. The first Wednesday of each month with workshops, dinners, and local art galleries. The plus? Free wi-fi, my friends. Overall, I'm really proud to have Community in my neighborhood. More photos on flickr, or you can just visit!

{ps- some of the sellers carried in Nest- Nan Lawson, CraftyFolk, Whodini Handmade, PurBliss Candles, Sandra Fettingis, Vintage Jane, Vial, Stacey Winters, Ashley G and Drew (via Kitty Genius), hi tree, oh dier, and modern radar just to name a FEW. Go visit Community to find out what else they carry!}

Citrus Fair

If you live in sunny Southern California, the Citrus Fair in La Habra is going on this weekend.Fun was had with friends, book stores, birthday shopping for friends, the new Ruby's in Anaheim, perfect weather and of course, the fair. Hope your weekend is super as well ♥