For me, the key to looking put together is not about clothes, makeup, or your hand bag, it is about having a great Blow Dry.  Patricia took care of my necessary wants last December when she opened Belo Blow Dry Bar in downtown Laguna Beach.  It is all about hair at her Salon.  A great wine pour is an added feature which keeps me coming back.  

The best thing about the bar is that they are open 7 days a week and their staff is really professional and friendly.  

They feature everything from a simple blow out to great up do's.  Book for a simple girls night out, special occasion, or a wedding party or be like the OC Wino and frequent the salon weekly to have my great blow dry from Angelik.

How do you know a great Blow out? 

1. The first day, it looks great.
2. The second day, it stays smooth and doesn't frizz.
3. The third day, add a little dry shampoo and it still looks great.
4. The fourth day, call and book another appointment.

Laguna welcomes Belo Blow Dry Bar. It is a great addition to our businesses in Laguna Beach. Definitely an OC Wino pick.

Belo Blow Dry Bar . 302 Forest Ave. . Laguna Beach, CA 92651 . 1.949.494.9714 . beloblowdrybar.com

Hours:

Mondays & Sundays

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Tuesday through Saturday

9:00 am to 7:00 pm

There is nothing better than settling down a full belly after a meal with a really tasty dessert. Chocolate soufflé has traditionally been my favorite to make and to eat.  I love fresh strawberries with Crème Fraîche and brown sugar.  Hands down the favorite for the OC Wino this summer was the Bittersweet Chocolate Tartufo from Mozza in Newport Beach. The chocolate melted in your mouth.  This dessert was served with passionfruit caramel and a coconut sorbet.  Truly does not get much better than that.


Mozza . 800 West Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663 . 949 . 945-1126 . pizzeriamozza.com

Fair Oaks Pharmacy . 1526 Mission St, South Pasadena . CA 91030 . 626 . 799-1414 . fairoakspharmacy.net

Snow Bar Shavery . 15364 Beach Blvd . Westminster . CA 92683 . 714 . 890-6688

PUBlic 74 . 27211 Ortega Highway, Suite B . San Juan Capistrano . CA . 92675 . 949 . 481-2723 .            publicrestaurants.com

Providence . 5955 MELROSE AVENUE . LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90038 . 323 460-4170 . providencela.com

My love for The Bar Method started over five years ago.  I hobbled into this brand new studio in Crystal Cove and was pleasantly greeted by the lovely owners.  In my humorous way I asked, "Is this the workout that has really small movements and kicks your butt?”

I pride myself in being athletic and in decent shape. However, when my friend Nancy (who had been teaching a version of bar method for over 20 years) put me through a 30-minute tutorial. I was up for the challenge! "I spin and run, hike and bike, so I will have no problem with this class." The workout is intense but it is so fun to see your body transform.  Every part of your body becomes toned and exudes definition. Watching your Bar Pals drop four sizes is super cool also and both keep you coming back for more.

I encourage you to learn a little history about the work out barmethod.com and learn more about Anika, Jessica, and Whitney’s Bar Method newportbeach.barmethod.com

The New Studio in Costa Mesa is spacious and beautiful.  It’s sure to be a huge success. I fully endorse these incredible women and their fantastic studios.  If you want to get into shape, change the way your body looks and feels, make a bunch of new friends, Bar Method is where you want to be.


OC Wino followers get a 20% discount!!!

 The code is valid through September 7 and works for 20% off on the New Client Special which they have never done before, and 20% off on a 5 or 10 class package. It’s valid for one use only. 

 
Use Promo Code 2015ocwino0820 when registering. This code is valid through 9/7/2015.




The Bar Method Newport Beach

7772 E. Coast Highway . Newport Coast, CA 92657 . (949)715-2199 . newportbeach.barmethod.com

The Bar Method Tustin

631 E. 1st Street, Tustin, CA 92780 . (714)730-2207 . tustin.barmethod.com

The Bar Method Costa Mesa 

1835 Newport Blvd. Suite A106 . Costa Mesa, CA 92627 . (949)722-TUCK . costamesa.barmethod.com

The Mixing Glass, in the OC Mix, pride themselves in being a craft cocktail lifestyle store. They have the highest quality tools, most relevant books, newest, hippest, and hardest to find spirits. 

Gabrielle and Ryan run the place and it is so much fun to go in and see what is the latest and greatest in the cocktail world.  You might think a gift to a cocktail class would be a way to spend a fun night together.  You truly will get lost in the amazing world of the Mixing Glass.

themixingglassshop.com

3313 Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714. 975.9952

I.C. London, Lingerie and Body wear is the OC Wino's favorite place to buy lingerie. I.C. London is located on Ocean Avenue in Laguna Beach.  As you can see they always have something for everyone and all occasions.  I love their supply of body armor and I hear they are getting some tricky things in for the upcoming events, Valentines Day and the opening of 50 Shades of Gray. I.C. London carries everything from conservative to crazy.  It is a small, very personable business that has been around for years so a website is out of the question. You can make a stop at Zinc for a coffee and deviled egg and cruise down the street and shop.

I.C. London, 314 Ocean Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA
949.497.4254

Now how fun is this gift?  Turntables old and new have become the new rage and collectible. You can head to your storage unit and go through the boxes and boxes of vinyls you stored for a rainy day.  All the old great romantic songs, Nat King Cole, Unforgettable, or When I fall in love, Louis Armstrong, La Vie en Rose, Andrea Bocelli, The Beatles, Something, and Talking Heads, This must be the Place.  You can play love songs all evening.
I could go on and on.  

Analog is an ideal blend of old and new. They specialize in new and classic records ranging from Zeppelin to the xx and new/vintage audio equipment from turntables to amps/receivers and speakers.

You could spend Valentine's Night dancing to these wonderful oldies on your new turntable.  How Romantic is that? 

analogrecordshop.com

The OC Mix, 3313 Hyland Ave, Costa Mesa, CA
949.500.0330

Julie had a very successful business in San Clemente and a huge client base which loyally followed her.  She decided to move to Laguna Beach with her son, Brady.  Two years ago, Julie opened a darling studio at Brooks Street and Pacific Coast Highway. Loads of parking underneath the building. 

When you arrive, you are greeted with a beautiful smile and here purple and yellow decorated studio is really fun and inviting.  Her personality puts you at ease so she can work her magic.

As you can see from the photo, she waxes my nose hairs and other various parts of my body which I am not going to share with you.  She is really an expert at Brow Shaping and Tinting. Her clients come from all over because she is so good at what she does.

The experience at Julie's WAXING Studio and the sheer beauty that I exude after my visits, keep me coming back every three weeks.

Book now so you are clean as a whistle for Valentine’s Day.  

Don’t forget to mention OC Wino and get your 20% off your Brazilian.  

julieswaxingstudio.com

Julie's Waxing Studio . 1100 South Coast Hwy . Suite #207 .  Laguna Beach, CA. 949.257.6156

The ban had been challenged by the Hot’s Restaurant Group in California (which includes Hot’s Cantina in Northridge, Four Daughters in Manhattan Beach and Hot’s Kitchen in Hermosa Beach); Hudson Valley Foie Gras, a producer in New York; and a group of Canadian foie gras farmers called Association des Eleveurs de Canards et d’Oies du Quebec and most importantly the OC Wino.

“Foie gras is legal in California and will be on my menu tonight,” said Frank, chef at La Toque restaurant. “I haven’t been without foie gras a single day since the ban went into effect, but tonight is the first time I’ve been able to charge for it.”

Frank had been sending diners complimentary servings of foie gras along with a glass of wine and a card explaining that “this is a gift and an act of political protest against a law we think is unwise."

“Tonight we’re going to tear the cards up and have a hell of a party.”

You go Frank, wish I was there for the celebration. I can’t tell how happy I am that I don’t have to sneak it through customs or buy it on the black market.

Ok, first get your head out of the gutter.  

Riley and Noah are both Laguna Beach High School graduates. Riley is attending University of Texas, in Austin and Noah is on full scholarship at the Air Force Academy.  They started this business a few years ago and it has taken off.

Of course I wanted firewood from these darling young men.  Not only were they really polite but they delivered great quality wood, stacked it professionally, cleaned out my two fireplaces and bought me a tarp to protect my wood from the rain.  They also loaded wood in my fireplaces.  Where do you get such fine customer service? Well they say they are in debt college students but I think they are hard working and will be a huge success.

Thanks Maria Barnes for steering them my way.  They will be diligently delivering until the end of January and then some.  

I love to share with my loyal followers great finds and this is the best.  Call today and get these boys to work.  You would not believe how great the wood smells and burns.

With the Holidays around the corner, most people are enjoying a lot of pours with friends and family.  Since poisoning and trust are hopefully not an issue in 2014, lets discuss a little etiquette that goes along with CHEERING.



1. Always hold your glass in your left hand, your right hand is for shaken.

2. Never rap on a glass to get attention. Too often the results are shattering.

3. Water is not suitable for a toast because it is bad luck according to superstition. It would be preferable to    raise an empty glass.

4. Most importantly, always be sure to make eye contact with the guest you are toasting otherwise it is said you will have bad sex for seven years; Yes 7 years.  

Toasts and cheers are an important part of friendship.  Be mindful and follow the OC Wino's tip.

The Row just opened on Melrose Place and we had been dying to check it out.  We were greeted by Renato Alagao, a most friendly and helpful sales associate.

 The architecture of the store is very clean and surrounds a cool patio with a pool.  The store is so inviting almost like you are walking into someones very sophisticated home. I love a store where you can see the merchandise. The Row is just that store. 

Since I have lost my third pair of sunglasses in a month, their selection first caught my eye.  As most of you know The Row has very classic clothes and the most beautiful selection of handbags.  It is a very comfortable atmosphere and the staff is very friendly and not pushy.  It is a must to stop in and check it out.  I usually buy a few classic Row pieces a year which seem to stand the test of time and never go out of style. It is well worth the investment.


The Row
8400 Melrose Place, Los Angeles, CA 90069
(323) 350-0033

Betty with Bentley Cash and his new best friend, an english bulldog puppy!

Betty's Boot Camp, you can reach her at (949)257-3986 or bedogtrainer@gmail.com