Dinner with Baby M

I skated roller derby in Los Angeles for about 5 years. I have been "retired" now for about 3 years. And while I don't skate anymore, my core base of friends are mostly girls with whom I skated. It's now been 9 years since the inception of the LA derby league, and those of us who started in the beginning are doing our share of growing up. Getting married, getting divorced (in some cases), growing families, taking care of aging parents...etc, etc.  All the things that come with moving from your mid-twenties to creeping in on mid-thirties and beyond.

I enjoyed the company of one of my friends and former teammates for dinner in La Habra about a week ago. She has a 4 month old baby girl who is super duper adorable. We ate dinner and caught up at bit. Having no babies in my immediate family, it's fun to hang out with baby M and see what she's all about. At 4 months, she's just starting to smile and coo and engage with the world around her. I feel like I had just seen her not that long ago on our adventure to Laguna Lake Park, but how fast they do change! All in all, a terrific adventure and it was so nice to hang with a pal south of the Orange Curtain for a change.

Dinner in La Habra

Approximately 18 miles away

Tustin Library

I grew up visiting the Tustin Library. My mom is an avid reader and always enrolled me and my brother in the summer reading program at this friendly, community library. A lot has changed about the look of this library, but it remains a great place for family friendly activities and access to the Orange County Public Library system. It's not a big library, but houses a large children's section, a few study rooms, and enough tables to accommodate those who need a quiet place to study, write, or relax.

I've been frequenting the library ever since moving to Tustin in order to work on my kid's science theater program, Seas of Science. All in all, it has been a fantastic place to work. Here in the end of February, I'm actually pretty pleased with how much I've gotten done. So thanks, Tustin library. Thanks for being just the way you are.

Tustin Library
345 E Main St 
Tustin, CA 92780

Approximately 1 mile away. 

Tustin Farmer's Market

I'll be honest: the next two Tustin Adventuring entries are a cop-out. I have not been seeking out much in the way of suburban adventure since I have been pretty busy lately. I have been keeping up with my after-work habit of yoga at  Sanctuary Yoga and added in one weekly Zumba session at Enerji Fitness. It seems the last two weeks have flown by!

So I'll write about two places I visit quite regularly: The Farmer's Market and the Library. Starting with the farmer's market....

In short, this farmer's market rules I mostly stick with the same people on my Wednesday visits : the egg guy, the fruit stand that lets you mix and match for one price, the smiley vegetable dude who sometimes gives me free arugula, and the soft spoken bread lady. Sometimes I'll splurge on a breakfast burrito with chorizo, one of the tastier (and cheaper) offerings for ready-made food at the farmer's markets. I tend to steer clear of the food trucks since they are hella overpriced (in my opinion).

Free parking on El Camino Real and surrounding side streets. This farmer's market is a breeze compared to LA farmer's markets. Everything you need, everything you would want in a farmer's market, but without the pretentious hassle.

Tustin Farmer's Market

El Camino Real and 3rd St
Tustin, CA 92780

Wednesdays 9am-1pm

Free

Less than 1 mile away

Cream Pan

Cream Pan bakery on El Camino Real is a real gem. I passed it a few times on my way to work and failed to think much of it until one day I needed a coffee. A STRONG coffee. What I needed was a red-eye, so I stopped into Cream Pan since it's on my way to work. I was pleased to find so many pastry treats, sandwiches, and fresh breads available in addition to coffee and espresso drinks. There is a cute little seating area inside to kill time if you've got it. I dig the curry buns and yaki-soba sandwiches. Nice spot. So glad I stopped in.

Cream Pan

602 El Camino Real
Tustin, CA 92780

~$5-7 for coffee and a pastry or sandwich

Less than 1 mile away

Zumba at Enerji Fitness

Although I really dig my yoga classes at Sanctuary Yoga, I have been in need of something more. A workout that gets my heart beating. I have become soft (literally and figuratively) with my routine of yoga and walking. Walking and yoga. So I looked up on Yelp if there were any cheap (or free) Zumba classes in my area. For those unfamiliar, Zumba is a latin dance workout that incorporates a lot of booty shaking, fancy foodwork, clapping, arm waving, and other fun combos of waving/shaking/stomping/wiggling/jiggling. I used to take Zumba classes at the Hollywood YMCA with my pal Teresa and holy moly, was that a work out. By no means am I a graceful Zumba "dancer", but I like to think that what I lack in grace, I make up in exuberance.

My search lead me to Enerji Fitness at the corner of Irvine and Newport. Tucked in between a greek restaurant and a bridal shop, Enerji Fitness is a studio with kickboxing, yoga, barre, and zumba classes.

It was everything I hoped for! Heart pumping, legs stomping, booty wiggling...everything I missed about my workout at the old Y. Highly recommend checking this place out. The first class is free!

Enerji Fitness

13011 Newport Avenue
Suite 109
Tustin, CA

Free (first class only)

Approximately 1 mile away

Woodbridge Community Park

It's been unseasonably cold in So Cal for a few weeks, which is not saying much in comparison to the rest of the world. Help, it's 55 degrees!! Get the parkas and gloves!! HOW WILL WE SURVIVE!?!

Braving the "cold" I took a stroll around North Lake in Irvine last week after a particularly long day in the office. The sky was bright and blue and North Lake was very bucolic. Except for all the bird shit. Seriously, it was like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock movie. Birds. Everywhere.

North Lake is part of Irvine's Woodbridge Community, aka the epitome of suburban planned communities. It took me about an hour to do a leisurely walk around the man-made lake. Unless you're a resident, you don't get access to the little sandy beaches, or the tennis courts, or the playgrounds, or the kayaks, or the...well, you get the idea. It is Irvine after all.

Here are some photos!

A little beach you are not invited to sit on.

A tree lined street I suppose it's ok for you to walk down (if you must)

The walking path you best not dilly-dally on

North Lake, which you are allowed to look at, but not swim in

Birds that you best not bother

Ma'am, by taking my picture, YOU are dilly-dallying.

Another beach you are not invited to sit on. And my thumb. 

I suppose you can have one more look at the lake

More birds who are wondering when you'll be on your way

All joking aside, I should mention that one result of my Tustin Adventuring is that I am finally coming to peace with the idea that suburban communities, while not my bag, *are* the bag for some people. I should not judge people who want to live in a place like Woodbridge just because planned communities to not suit my tastes. Not everyone wants to live in LA. Not everyone wants to live in Woodbridge. That doesn't necessarily make one better than the other, just that  both options are suited to different types of people. I can respect that as it takes all kinds to make the world. If everyone is happy and comfortable in the end, it doesn't matter where you call home.

Woodbridge Community Park

20 Lake Road
Irvine, CA 92604

Free

~ 8 miles away

Naan & Kabob

Chalk this one up to a Yelp recommendation. Thanks, Yelp!

This place is right by my work, but I likely would never have gone inside if not for a yelp search of lunch specials in my area. I ordered the falafel lunch special and was delighted with my take-out meal. Falafel, hummus, rice, and naan bread for ~$9. Quick service too. Bonus that it is literally next door to Godfather's Lounge, which I have yet to round up my courage and visit. It's on the list for future adventures!

Naan & Kabob

416 E 1st St
Tustin, CA 92780

Less than 1 mile away

~$9 and change for falafel lunch special