New Vista-Based Online Shopping Site for Creating a Beautiful Home- Charming House Market

NEW AROUND THE TOWN GIVEAWAY! Charming House Market is a new online shopping startup based out of Vista that is a company run less like a business and more like a community. Maybe you saw them on my top 10 list of local businesses I want to support this holiday season with my shopping dollars. With its mission of “#creatinghome and helping others do it, too” they know using your life and home has to be a choice despite your circumstances. That’s why they offer quality, affordable home goods, handcrafted items and are launching an inspirational blog to help you do just that. Please take a few moments to breeze through their beautiful site and look them up on instagram at @charminghousemarket. www.charminghousemarket.com

P.S. I hope you will along with me consider looking at this company to do some of your holiday shopping with. You will find many affordable options and you will be best of all supporting a new company and supporting local.

Solutions for Change is Successfully Addressing the Homelessness Problem in North County- Can You Help Too?

Solutions for Change is on a mission to solve family homelessness permanently-not contain it or manage the symptoms.  They differ from the traditional containment model that offers short-term shelter, food handouts, and other Band –Aids that perpetuate rather than solve the problem. They provide a hand up not a hand out. 

Lives are being rewritten as a result and they are breaking the cycle of homelessness for generations to come. They do this through a 1,000 day program that equips their participants with the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to gain and maintain physical, mental, and financial health.  Their work in our community is making a real impact. You might be amazed to know that of those who graduate from their program, there is a 93% success rate! They have solved family homelessness since 1999 in San Diego County for 850 families and 2,200 children. 

They also have a unique and innovative enterprise that uses their Aquaponics Farm to generate income for the programs by selling the lettuce to the local schools and restaurants and also provides job training. Teaching the parents in the program to get up, suit up, and show up.  These are just a few reasons my family has decided to partner with Solutions For Change! You can check them out at Solutions For Change and maybe you would like to partner with them too? 

Vista Farmers Market Every Saturday until 1pm

Family Fun at New and Improved Belmont Park

When is the last time you played like you were a kid? Belmont Park invited me and some friends to come play with them this week and boy did we have fun! I can't even begin to list all the things that we did but here are a few: rock wall climbing, zip lining, riding rides, mini golf, laser tag and laser maze. It was my first time to the park in decades. They have really been working on improvements and adding more fun things to the park as well as all new restrooms. Parking is free which is fantastic. If it's been a while, maybe you should go check it out! If you have even half as much fun as we did it will be worth your time. Thank you Belmont Park for a wonderful day! We all slept well after our busy day of play.   http://www.belmontpark.com

iFLY Indoor Skydiving is Now Open in Oceanside

There's a new thrill in town and it's called iFLY Indoor Skydiving.  If you have ever wanted to know the feeling of flight without having to freefall out of an airplane, this is your chance!  I went to their grand opening on August 23rd and experienced flight for myself.  Let me tell you about it...

I watched with anticipation, as many of you did, the construction process in Oceanside, along the 78 freeway by the El Camino Real exit.  Viewing the magnitude of the tower from the road, it was hard to imagine anyone soaring to the heights of that structure.  I was impressed with the facility.  It is warm and comfortable. The flight tube is open for viewing in the center of the room so everyone can view the action.  I learned a few pointers while waiting my turn.  The first step after booking your flight is to take a short class with 10 to 12 classmates, where you will learn the basics of how to fly and also how read your guide's hand gestures.  Next you will get suited up in a jumpsuit (it goes right over your clothes), goggles and earplugs.  Wear closed-toe shoes, preferably with laces and leave your jewelry at home or remove before flight.

Now it's time to fly!  One by one, your group of 10-12 will be taken into the flight chamber, but don't worry, your certified flight instructor will be with you to help and guide you as you get used to the 90 mph winds blowing beneath you.  After 1 or 2 minutes of flight at about the 4-6 foot range, you will exit the chamber and go to the back of the line. I like to call this "getting your feet wet."  You will get another turn to do your thing (guided again), then if you desire, your instructor will grab the handles on the side of your suit and take you in circular motion to the top of the tower and down several times.  Flying high in the tower or doing tricks are advanced moves and require training, so the average novice will not be able to do these things. You can rest assured that there is someone there to guide you and look out for your safety while you do basic maneuvers.  Did I mention that the instructors are very kind, patient and even funny?  They really know how to set nervous flyers at ease.

The flight was exhilarating. It was a bit more athletic work than I imagined it would be.  Holding position while trying to relax into pose, while battling high winds takes a lot of muscle work and stamina.  People might balk at at the short 2-minute flight experience, but the truth is that it is tiring and the average person is exhausted after 2 minutes.  If flying really interests you they have classes you can take to advance your skills. Cool, right?

iFLY has you covered for birthday parties (how fun would that be), corporate events and group activities.  Please give them a lookover and don't hesitate to drop by the business and see how it is done. I can tell you that I saw all ages, sizes and fitness levels giving it a try, and almost anyone can do this.  Last week they had a 3 year old and an 85 year old fly!  This iFLY is one of the few franchised iFLY businesses and is run by a former Navy Seal and his wife. You can find iFLY at 3178 Vista Way in Oceanside or give them a call at 760-606-4359.  Reservations are recommended. Visit soon and tell them you read about them on Around The Town!

College Students get Amazon Prime for Half Off!

Prime Student - Did you know that COLLEGE STUDENTS can get half off the fee for Amazon Prime? 

It's a great way to get free shipping on their needs while in school! They also get FREE streaming of movies and shows, plus special deals just for students!  Check it out on the above link!

Free 2-Hour Personal Shopping Assistance from Stylist Jennifer Rosson at Fashion Valley Mall

If you've been with Around The Town long, you have heard me talk about stylist Jennifer Rosson and her website Style Your Life. I have had many opportunities over the years to glean valuable information and inspiration from Jennifer. This lady has a lot to offer. Twice I have hosted a mini style seminar (yes you can hire her to come to you one-on-one or you can invite friends over and have her speak).

Another FREE opportunity to use Jennifer is provided by Fashion Valley Mall. If you contact the mall and sign up for an appointment with Jennifer, you will get her exclusively for 2 hours to help you with your styling or shopping needs (the mall pays her fee). Sweet, right? Please check her out and "like" her page for lots of good info! http://www.styleyourlifeblog.com/