More about San Diego Botanic Garden (Encinitas)

Can we talk for a moment or two about one of my favorite places in San Diego County, San Diego Botanic Garden?  Did you know that they were recently named one of the top 10 gardens worth traveling for in North America?  WOW! You might want to know that they have been around since the 1940's. It's a 37-acre "botanic wonderland" that features zonal plantings from all over the world, beautiful waterfalls, rotating sculpture gardens and a special Children's Garden with plans to build an educational center.  No doubt plants cultivated at the very beginning are still thriving. Did you know that some of these plants have lives that will outlive the average human, and then some?  It's truly amazing that this garden grows and develops with the decades that pass. Almost every time you visit, something will be new and different. For the last 24 years, Julian Duval has been at the helm serving as president and CEO. Julian has done tremendous, great work but is now retiring and passing the baton to Ari Novi.The two will work together through the transition.

San Diego Botanic Garden hosts a plethora of fun, festive and educational events throughout the year and you will be happy to know that if you are a San Diego County resident, you get free entry to the park every first Tuesday of the month. There is a small parking fee, but it is waived if you have four or more in your car.

Regular pricing is $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and active military and $10 for kids 3-18.  The garden is opening 9-5 daily except for Christmas.

Cooking Classes with Treehouse Kitchen in Encinitas

 Treehouse Kitchen, Encinitas, CA

There is a new place in town to brush up on your culinary skills in North County. Its called Treehouse Kitchen and it's a beautiful, intimate studio in a residential neighborhood of Encinitas.  Skilled chefs are brought in to teach a variety of classes from making sweet/savory hand pies (I took this class), to making jams, krauts and pickling, Thai and French cuisine, pizza, grilling, sourdough bread, date night pizza night and more.  More classes are being added all the time and they are open to suggestions on classes that the community would be interested in.  The hosts are Stan and Mary, a great couple that work in tandem to help facilitate the guest chef of the day and keep things rolling behind the scenes. When we were short on plums for our sweet hand pies, Stan ran out to the garden to grab more. Handy, right?

In the class I took, we all jumped in and participated in prep work, and then we enjoyed the fruits of our labor.  We were sent home with detailed recipes and how to's so we could recreate the deliciousness at home.

If you would like to take a class outside of a commercial store or strip mall, not be pressured by sales, and support local, small business, this is your ticket!  Grab a group of friends or schedule a date night and see what Treehouse Kitchen is about. If you like to cook or would just like to learn something more specialized, I promise you will love these classes and the venue and walk away with new knowledge and skills in the kitchen.  You will probably have made some nice new friends as well. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience today and would highly recommend this business to all of you.  

Reverse 911 for Emergency Alerts

Emergency alerts may save your life or the life of someone you love. Many don’t know that cell phone numbers aren’t automatically enrolled in the emergency alert system that most know as “reverse 911.”  You must register cell phones on this site (for San Diego County). http://www.readysandiego.org/alertsandiego/.

 

Hopefully watching the devastating fires of late and some of the most unfortunate outcomes, this will serve as incentive to get registered. If you live in another county, research your local alert system. Thank you Janine, former firefighter for the tip.

Chuao Chocolatier Joy Factory Tours in Carlsbad

Did you know that Chuao Chocolatier offers tours of their Joy Factory in Carlsbad on select Fridays at 11AM and 12:30PM as well as select Wednesdays at 4PM?  The cost is $15 per person and is designed for those 10 years of age and up. Be sure to make your reservation early as these tours fill up quickly and are limited in size.  While there, take advantage and get some shopping done in their chocolate boutique which is open Monday through Thursday 11AM to 3PM and Friday from 10:30AM to 3PM.

North County Yard Greetings to Celebrate Your Event or Share Your News

This is the perfect time of year for you to use this cool and inventive new business run by one of our own, Lindy O! Please take a moment to check out her custom yard greeting business and think about if you might have an upcoming opportunity to use her services. She's got you covered for a festive way to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, proms, new babies, GRADUATIONS, weddings and so much more! Also, consider following her on Facebook at North County Yard Greetings.  For website, click here.

Queen Califia's Magical Circle Escondido- Beautiful Tile Sculpture Garden by Artist Niki De Saint Phalle

Queen Califia's Magical Circle in Escondido is greatly expanding the hours it is open to the public. Currently the sculpture garden will be open from 9 AM until noon Tuesday and Thursday, weather permitting. It is not open when it is raining or when there is any puddling on the ground. It will also continue to be open from 9 AM until noon on the second Saturday of each month. 

City officials said the new hours are an experiment of sorts, and that if problems such as vandalism arise things could change. The new hours reflect increasing public demand and interest in the garden. Queen Califia's Magical Circle is the only American sculpture garden and the last major international project created by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle who died in 2002.  Group visits to the Garden may also be accommodated by making pre-arranged reservation by calling (760) 839-4519.  www.queencalifia.org. 

Making The Most of Your Entertainment Book Purchase

Entertainment Books are such a valuable form of savings around town and you can use them when you eat out, shop, bowl, go to a play, travel and on and on.  But to make best use out of them, you need to know how to use them and you need to use them often.  Here is a list of suggestions that I follow:

1.  Load the free phone app and USE IT.  Turn on push notifications and your phone will let you know whenever you are in proximity of a use.  Inside the app you can load and choose favorite offers.  You also score additional offers by using your app. My husband doesn't carry a book around, but he does use the app, so it's always on him.  For example, yesterday he was shopping at Big 5, checked his app, and was able to save $10 off his $50 purchase!  Very handy!

2.  I go through the book when I first get it and I tear out coupons that are favorites and places I frequent often.  I put them in my wallet, all in the same place, so they are on me at all times.

3.  When the family goes out to eat, I go through Entertainment Book offers FIRST to see if there is an offer we want to use.

4.  Buy an extra book and keep it in your car so you always have access to all your offers.

5.  Maybe the best suggestion is to go through your book often to remind yourself of what offers are available. Keep tearing out your favorites and make a point to use them!