ADVENTURES IN ORANGE COUNTY

Ok, this is not a movie review … but I did see the movie and it was hilarious! I love Isla Fisher.

If you love bargain shopping and you live in California … chances are you’ve been to Camarillo Premium Outlets and Cabazon Outlets .

High end brands with marked down prices. Who can resist?

The thing with going to outlet stores … its outdoor and if you hate the cold as much as I do … this stops me from shopping. Or if shopping under 100 degrees heat in the summer turns you off as well … I suggest ONTARIO MILLS MALL, located at the intersection of Interstates 10 & 15 in Ontario, CA

You can find pretty much the same stores from the 2 outlets in Ontario Mills. 200 manufacturer and retail outlets, brand-name and specialty stores, bigger food court and more importantly (at least for me), it’s indoor and less chaotic.

So that is what I did last weekend … and true to the movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic …

…I also got myself a GREEN SCARF! Thanks Rebecca Bloomwood!

Anaheim Garden Walk is located at the heart of Orange County with outdoor retail stores, bowling lounge, fine dining and movie theaters.

( photo taken from www.anaheimgardenwalk.com )

The place officially opened June of last year and more shops and stores are currently being added … but you can still enjoy whats there now.  I have shopped and dined there on many occasions.

Personally I love going to their movie house - CINEMA FUSION THEATER.  Its not crowded on weekends and the place looks awesome. They have, what they call, SKY LOBBY SCREENING ROOMS where you can have beer and wine inside the movie theater ( for 21 and over), they have IMAX Experience, Screening Rooms CLASSICS where they show classic films and regular screening.

For Valentine’s Day, I may bring my friends there for some cool movie experience. See you guys there!

I wanted to see Santa Ana River Trail where my friends usually bike on weekends. On the way there from Anaheim, we stopped by Daphne’s Greek Cafe for lunch  in Costa Mesa. I had the Kabob. I rate it 3 out of 10. Its cheap but the food isn’t great. Ive had Greek food and this one fell short of my expectations. The baklava was way too sweet too.

We ended up between Santa Ana River County Beach and Newport Beach. It was  a beautiful day. The waves were calm and the weather was warm. Its like Summer all over again.

The houses were beautiful. Someday I’d like to live there. Particularly that gray house on the left. Haha!

I wasn’t able to take a picture of the trail  but its pretty cool Its starts from Corona - Prado Dam then heads south to Pacific Ocean, reaching Huntington Beach and Newport Beach.  Its fully paved all the way, I was told. I’ll take pictures when i get on the bike myself.

I need a facial.

I’m the kind of girl who needs special treatments once in awhile. A little “ME” time is always good.  And today I am in the mood for exfoliating. Haha! (For some people, shopping is their way to de-stress, mine would be, especially today - Facial). I go to a dermatologist once or twice a year … just for a regular facial. Would anyone of you know or heard of a place for facial treatments here in Orange County?

All I can do is search online but honestly I am scared to try unless it is recommended by someone.

Come explore Orange County with me.

I mentioned in my first entry that I just moved to Orange County, California … ok fine, it has been over 2 months but I haven’t had time to go around and see places. But I should … so with every entry, it simply means I am finally going out and taking time off from work. I am sure when people say Anaheim, they think of Disneyland right away. Theme park, that’s it. They don’t realize that there is a hidden gem inside Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. If you don’t feel like going for rides and such, there is DOWNTOWN DISNEY for you to visit. It is a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex. It’s outside of Disneyland so going to Downtown Disney is FREE of charge.

I have visited Disneyland when I was a kid and another time in college. I didn’t feel like theme parks so my friends and I checked out Downtown Disney a few weeks ago. We ate at Rainforest Café. I was curious to see the interior of the place … and lo and behold.. the restaurant is decorated with wild animals, trees, flowers .. it’s like being in a jungle yourself. Its fun for entertaining your family and kids. The menu is ordinary but reliable … thank God they don’t serve exotic animals haha! Overall, it was a good treat.

Check out this website for a list of restaurants and stores in Downtown Disney.