OC Foodie Fest 2010

Usually I write about events after I've already attended it, but this time I thought for the sake of this blog that I would write about an event that is coming up this Saturday and one that I am planning on attending. It's called "OC FOODIE FEST." Here is the website with all the details:
http://www.ocfoodiefest.com/

Basically 50 food trucks all at one spot for foodies to just feast on! Crazy enough...it's one of my dream events to attend. I am SUPER excited to see all the different food trucks and try as many as I can without gaining 10 lbs! Please be on the look out for reviews and photos in the coming weeks! YAY.

Cupcake Camp OC 2010

First ever Cupcake Camp in the OC was held this past Sunday (August 1^st) at the Atrium Hotel in Irvine, CA.My dear friend Hannah Lee & Team threw together this event in less than 3 months to help bring awareness and raise funds against Human Trafficking.

It was her first event as big as this for an awesome cause which turned out SUPER successful! Over $9,000 was raised, 90 bakers (one of which was me & my roommates) and 1,000 people in attendance!WOW.The organizers did a fantastic job for their first ever fund-raising event!Of course there were a few hiccups as they did not anticipate SO many people...but I really dislike those people who only want to focus on that. Go away! Let’s celebrate their hearts and their successes! YAY!

So my girlfriends &I volunteered ourselves in different ways.That afternoon, my roommates and I baked over 24 “popcorn” cupcakes and we entered the amateur competition for “Childhood Inspired” cupcakes.It was exciting to see so many people take pictures of our cupcakes.*BIG SMILE*No, we didn’t win, but it was still fun to participate in that way.I took my SLR and volunteered to take pictures for the event and even helped with the registration for a bit as they had such a long line~ out the door to the downstairs front valet! WOW.Can you believe it?

At the end of the day, I was just AMAZED.I was amazed at all the bakeries that donated their time and their cupcakes. Over 5,000 cupcakes donated! I was amazed at the decorations and the hotel space donated.I was amazed at all the volunteers’ hard work and services.This show how when one person sets out to do something good, that something really great can be accomplished.

LOOMIES popcorn cupcakes

Nad's flower cupcakes

Winner of Childhood inspired! Peanut butter & Jelly

Winner of Most Unique Flavor: Chicken & Waffles

Donated cupcakes

DJ who volunteered his services. & Donated Signs for the Event.

Over 1000 people attended

Cupcake eating contest!

Summer Beach Time

@ Laguna Beach ~ shopping & eating on a Sunday afternoon

@ Venice Beach - Muscle Contest on 4th of July ~ free event for the public.

@ Newport beach laying out --- the sky was overcast so didn't really stay too long.

So lately, I just haven't been posting to this blog and I need to. Personally, I have been fasting from shopping. Did too much damage during my birthday month. Realizing that as long as I stay away from the stores, I am good to go! :)

So...what have I been doing to keep frugally busy? It's summer time so that means "BEACH" time! I've been going almost everyweek this Summer. Either just to stroll, lay out, eating nearby or sit by the bonfire. Good times for sure. See above pictures as I've been going all over So Cal to enjoy all the beaches it has to offer! If you want some cheap summer fun, beach is the way to go~ So get your friends together to have some California fun at your nearby beach! Or what's the point of living in Cali right???

OC restaurant week

I realized that to make this blog really helpful for other readers is that I need to announce all the upcoming events before I actually attended them. It's a learning curve in starting this website I suppose.

Unfortunately I was disappointed with the OC restuarant week choices that I made this year: Geisha House (Santa Ana) and Royal Hawaiian (Laguna Beach).

Geisha house in my opinion is over priced. It's more of a place you would go to be seen and to see. A trendy decor with so-so food.

I've never been to Royal Hawaiian...and when we passed by it, it was always loud with music: seemed happening. Unfortunately I was super disappointed in the food, service, and environmnet. Lesson learned, don't go back. The picture above is their rib and shrimp dinner. I would say that the quality was of "denny's" quality. Sometimes all that "noise" is just noise.

LAdine week was much more pleasing... will post more about this later.

San Diego Adventures

So we ventured an hour outside of Irvine to San Diego in finding new adventures for the weekend for cheap or for free even!

We visited Seaport Village on our first day ~ a quaint little area by the sea with souvenir shops and restaurants. Luckily for me that weekend, they had an Artwalk right by the Seaport Village with free admission.

That night, I found an underground dancing bar in Gaslamp Quarters with no cover! We danced the night away and had a blast!

The next day, we visited Coronado Beach...beautiful beaches with white sand. We went for a 1 1/2 hour bike ride along this well paved trail. Paid $12 per person for 2 hours for bike rentals.

Our final day, we ventured to Balboa Park where we went to the Natural History Museum to see the Body Worlds 2 exhibit. It was my first time, and I loved what I saw & learned. We paid only $15 b/c we went on a Monday and b/c I printed coupons from online. It's all about doing a little research before going anywhere. Balboa Park is huge with 11 museums and many botanical gardens. The gardens are free, but museums do have admission fee. They have a wonderful thing called a balboa park pass for $35 where you can visit it all in 7 days. While we were there, we also visited the Dessert Garden, Rose Garden, Botanical Building, and the Spanish Art Village. It was free parking and free admission to most. Loved every moment that I was there... looking forward to going back to see more!