10 sleeps until Christmas
No better way to make your home cozy than with plush pillows and a dreamy red throw.
Tag
CHRISTMAS
Tag : CHRISTMAS
On the eight day of Christmas
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… a @sharkhome Detect Clean & Empty vacuum… because dog hair. 🤭 (it’s Toby for me)
Serendipitous Moments
Serendipity: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
Since visiting @fairmontscotsdl , I can easily say nothing has topped Christmas at the Princess. It’s SO good that we are so grateful to have returned two more times with friends and pets.
Be sure to add this amazing experience to your bucket list.
Whether you’re staying at the resort or just popping into to explore the grounds, you won’t regret the trip. Pictures don’t do it justice. If you're looking for a magical experience, be sure to save and add Fairmont Scottsdale Princess to your bucketlist.
They also offer Early Bird Specials each year in September so give them a follow to not miss out.
Christmas at the Beach
Hermosa is officially ready for the Holidays!
Be sure to stop by this weekend (November 21-23) for a weekend of festive fun.
Shop, dine, and celebrate in Hermosa Beach to make spirits (and small businesses) bright.
Tis’ the Season
For today’s “Tourist in my own city,” I visited one of South Bay resident’s favorite activities to do during the holidays- walk through Candy Cane lane!
If you grew up in the South Bay like I did, you know all about Candy Cane lane and look forward to visiting it annually. It is located in the 5000 block of Sharynne Lane in Torrance, CA.
During the holidays, several streets in South Torrance are decorated elaborately and free to the public for viewing unique lights. Homes in the area between PCH and Calle Mayor are lit up for locals to drive through or park their car and walk.
Personally, I love walking even if it’s a little chilly outside. I love to layer on sweaters and walk through the neighborhoods with family and friends. Residents of the area are often home with company. Many sell items such as hot coca and popcorn in front of their homes.
I love walking the neighborhood to see all the joy the children feel and the awe in their expressions as they see their favorite characters from movies used as décor such as, Frozen.
Many kids will pop their head out of their parent’s car and joyfully shout “Merry Christmas” as they go through the neighborhoods and it is adorable to hear the pure excitement in their voices.
It is nice to see how unique the decorations are from surfing Santa’s to gingerbread men with Hawaiian tshirts. I love how residents use the lights to express their passions such as musical notes, animals drinking from a pond to a house with a large picture of the world expressing world peace.
My favorite house to see each year is quite simply, but the meaning is huge to me. They wrap a large yellow bow over a tree with red, white and blue lights below it with an American flag flying nearby. The yellow bow is a symbol in honor of supporting our troops and it always hits home for me.
No matter how young or old you are, visiting Candy Cane lane is a must during the holidays.
For those unfamiliar with finding Candy Cane Lane, I suggest parking your car at Seaside Elementary located at 4651 Sharynne Ln, Torrance, CA 90505 and walk towards the residential area. Also, avoid entering from PCH. Instead, turn on Calle Mayor or try turning on a side street like Carlow or Susana.
Dress warm and enjoy the lights and fun decorations!
Surviving the Holidays in the South Bay
Christmas is one of the most loved holidays. It’s a time where (most) people are in a jolly spirit and make the most memories with their loved ones.
Although many parents love the fact that their children have a two-week break, most fall short of activities to do, leaving their children constantly nagging, “I’m bored.”
Despite the excitement of having time off, we tend to forget all the great activities we can do. Here are some fun ways to celebrate the holidays and the time off- South Bay style.
Go see Christmas Lights:
It’s not Christmas until you pack the car with your family and friends and visit Candy Cane Lane at 200 Acacia St in El Segundo, CA 90245. Kids can meet Santa and view extravagant light displays, all for free.
Sleepy Hollow Christmas Lights in South Torrance is another great site to visit. The entire neighborhood is involved. I personally love to park my car so that I can walk along the sidewalk. It’s easier to capture photos and neighbors sell delicious treats along the way.
Buy a Christmas tree:
One of the most admired traditions of the holidays for families is buying a Christmas tree. It’s one of the best ways to get the family together, working towards the same goal- finding the best one. This Christmas, stop by Christmas Tree House and mention “SELL WITH SHIMA” to receive 10% off.
Ice-Skate with Friends:
Ice-skating makes for unforgettable memories. With all the falling, laughing and hot cocoa, you’re sure to have a wonderful time. One of the best parts of ice-skating is trying to keep your balance while taking silly photos with friends.
Head down to Santa Monica’s ICE or LA Live’s outdoor rink this month for some outdoor fun.
Have a Secret Santa Party:
Giving gifts can be a hassle, especially when you’re blessed with a large group of family or friends. Grab a group of friends or cousins and place names into a bowl. Everyone picks a name and keeps it a secret until the gift-exchange date, which you can choose. This is a fun and inexpensive way to celebrate the holidays, all while keeping everyone involved in the fun! A tip: have everyone agree on a budget for gifts.
Bake:
nvite your friends over and have each person bring over their favorite homemade treat. I love sitting around the TV and enjoying warm cookies with a cup of milk with friends.
Visit Big Bear:
Sure, we don’t have snow in Los Angeles. But hop in the car and drive 2 hours to Big Bear and you’ll have fresh snow where you can sled, ski, or snowboard for the day!
Sand Sledding:
Is Big Bear too far? No worries, winter in Los Angeles consists of sleds on sand in Hermosa Beach. Who’s complaining? Sun and Sleds.
Give back:
It’s not the holidays, unless you’re giving back to those who need it most. Try donating items no longer needed to the Salvation Army or donating jackets, umbrellas, and blankets to homeless. My friends and I enjoy making sandwiches and giving it back to homeless in Skid-row. It helps you remember how fortunate we are.
Take silly Christmas photos:
Enough said.
What are some of your favorite local attractions to visit during the holidays?
ICE
For today’s “Tourist in my own city,” I visited Santa Monica’s “ICE.”
Year after year, I would drive pass the outdoor ice rink, promising myself that I would try it one day. Well, this year, after finding a coupon on Groupon, I made it a priority to attend.
ICE at Santa Monica is a little ice skating rink that comes around every holiday season. What makes the rink so fun is that it resides in the beach-side community and is on the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue in Santa Monica.
According to the downtown Santa Monica website, the rink measures at 8,000 square feet. I visited the rink today when it opened at 2 p.m. I was surprised to find so many young children waiting in line at 1:45. Parents, nannies and children of all ages skated and laughed with joy, even when they fell.
Personally, I LOVE ice-skating but go to larger, indoor rinks like the Toyota Center in El Segundo. Although the rink was fun because of the energizing music and the lack of needing a sweater, it was a little too crowded for my liking. I enjoy skating in large rinks because I don’t have to be too cautious of others whereas in a smaller rink like ICE, you have to be extremely careful.
Furthermore, as weather is always unpredictable in So-Cal, it was a hot day. At 78 degrees, the ice was melting which made for sliding and lots of falls among the crowd. Despite the crowds and slippery ice, I suggest everyone visit ICE in Santa Monica at least once this holiday season.
It’s a nice place to gather with friends, drink some hot cocoa, and make everlasting memories.
The rink’s hours and days of service are as follows:
November 1, 2015 — January 18, 2016
Admission with Skate Rental: $15
General Hours of Operation
Monday-Thursday: 2:00pm – 10:00pm
Friday: 2:00pm – Midnight
Saturday: 10:00am – Midnight
Sunday: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Holiday Hours
Thanksgiving
November 26: 10:00am – 10:00pm
November 27: 10:00am – Midnight
Holiday Break, Christmas Eve
December 21 – December 24: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Christmas Day
10:00am — Midnight
Holiday Break, New Year’s Eve
December 28 – December 31: 10:00am – 10:00pm
New Year’s Day
January 1: 10:00am – 12:00am
Martin Luther King Day (Last Day of ICE at Santa Monica)
January 18: 10:00am – 10:00pm