Saturday, March 30, 2013

Tutoring

I was recently hired by a Tustin-based tutoring company, which has been occupying much of my post-work free time. Hence, fewer opportunities to Tustin Adventure. I'm ok with it. It's not much but it is enough to pay for some gas or groceries during the week, so that's cool. And it's fun! I spend all day dealing with adults and doing mostly computer work, so it's very rewarding to work with students at the end of the day.

Laxmi Sweets and Spices

Another entry about FOOD!? Sure, why not?

I visited Laxmi Sweets and Spices with my sweetheart back in November during his visit to Tustin. Ever since have been dreaming about returning to this unassuming Indian market for lunch. This place is a total gem. The $8 lunch buffet gets you all you can eat fresh baked basked of Naan Bread (plain or garlic) along with numerous options of tasty vegetarian and meat entrees. I highly recommend the tikka masala chicken.

The dude who runs the shop makes all the food. Charming, afforable, friendly, and delicious. What more could you want?

Laxmi Sweets and Spices
638 El Camino Real 
Tustin, CA 92780

$8 plus tax for lunch buffet

Less than 1 mile away

Saturday, March 23, 2013

El Cholo Restaurant

El Cholo is a La Habra favorite. I can always count on delicious food, strong margaritas, and good conversation with my pal and mother of Baby M during our visits to El Cholo. I like visiting this place, and it's right around the corner from where she lives with her boyfriend and daughter, so everyone wins!

We met up with another friend of ours who braved the weeknight commute to OC for dinner a couple weeks ago. Always a treat to hang with others south of the Orange Curtain. Although visiting El Cholo is out of range of the 10 mile radius, and between two drinks and dinner I spent more than $15, but 'eff it. Rules be damned. Viva El Cholo!!

El Cholo

840 E Whittier Blvd 
La Habra, CA 90631

Approximately 18 miles away

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Lazy Dog Cafe

Part of the reason that I work in the OC is because I like the place and the people with whom I work. This is an important factor in any person's life, as we all know. It only takes one Nosey-Nancy or Sour-Sally to turn a workplace into a stressful nightmare. Luckily, the folks I work with are pretty cool, so it was a bummer to say goodbye to one of my fellow employees last week as he moved on to bigger and better things.

To celebrate his career with the firm and give him our well wishes, we all went to lunch at the Lazy Dog Cafe in Orange. I had never been to this chain restaurant. This is the kind of place I would take my parents, which is not to say I was dissatisfied with the experience. Overall, it was nice. Safe, American food served quickly and without too much fuss. What's not to like? You can even bring your pup if you want to sit in their outdoor patio section.

Our group lunched out on the patio on a terrific March afternoon. Everyone got what they wanted since there was no shortage of menu options. And while it's sad to say goodbye to a cool work-mate, I had to pause and look down the table at the remainder of the nice and easygoing people I work with. I do feel very lucky in that regard.

Lazy Dog Cafe
1623 W Katella Ave
Orange, CA 92867

Approximately 7 miles away

Free because the Boss treated everyone to lunch

Friday, March 1, 2013

Muth Interpretive Center

There's plenty to be smug about in February in Southern California. Enough facebook comments and blog posts are dedicated to the Wow-Look-At-Us-We're-Wearing-Sandals-in-February topic, so instead I'll just say it was delightful weather to visit the Muth Interpretive Center in Newport Beach last week.

I took a long walk around the trails on the hillside near the center, even venturing down the bluffs where I have to admit, I got a little uncomfortable. Literally no one was around. Not a soul. Just me and the storks and the quiet splashes from the estuary. I don't know why I got a little freaked out, but I trusted my primitive cavegirl instincts and high-tailed back up to the walking paths.

Maybe it is not incorrect to characterize hiking around Upper Newport Bay as a primal experience. One does get a sense of what the area might look like without all the buildings and development. I stopped and read all the available signage about the usage, construction, and preservation of the estuary, dating back to tribal settlements of Native Americans.

The actual center is very cute and informative. Not much too it, but it is a nice place to stop in, drink some water, use the restroom, and read a little more about the estuary.

Here are some photos from my visit!

Upper Newport Bay Estuary


Bug's eye view


Inside the Muth Interpretive Center

The lonely estuary




Watch out, gopher!

Learning about the estuary

All in all, worth the trip out to Newport. I only wish I had brought my bike to explore the walking paths a little more. Maybe next visit!

Muth Interpretive Center
Upper Newport Bay

2301 University Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Approximately 10 miles away

Free!