Tableau Magazine Nov/Dec 2020

TABLEAU

NOV/D E C I S S U E

F R O M K I TC H E N TA B L E M A R K E T I N G

DO GOOD LIVE WELL TAKE COMFORT

SoCal HOLIDAY GIFT + GIVING GUIDES Photo by Larry Tenney

Photo by Valentin Asiddao, IG: @beachreveries

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L E TTER F ROM T HE EDI TOR We may be a tad early to wish you “happy holidays,” but it’s not too soon to say “thank you” for your overwhelming support of our first issue! We’re honored that you’ve welcomed Tableau Magazine into your lives — whether via desktop, laptop, iPad, or smart phone. We’re thrilled that you’ve embraced and been engaged by stories on small businesses, home design, and nonprofits, on people making a difference, creating art, and crafting culinary delights.

The Tableau team is excited to share our second issue, just in time for what we hope will be a happy and healthy season for you — in Orange County, and beyond. We have expanded our coverage to include more people, places, and things throughout SoCal and across the country, and will continue to do so, thanks to artful storytelling by some of the most talented journalists in the business.

In this issue of Tableau, you’ll find: • Unique and thoughtful gift ideas for everyone on your list • Easy ways to make an impact in your community • A guide to the area’s most crave-worthy comfort foods • Inspiration from entrepreneurs, artists, and other change-makers • And much more!

Thanks for reading, spreading the word about our new magazine, and for supporting the businesses, creatives, and nonprofits in this issue. We need each other now, more than ever.

Wishing you and yours a meaningful and joyous season.

Carrie Freitas carrie@kitchentablepr.com  @tableauofficial  @tableauoc

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[ CONTENTS ]

NOV/DEC

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06

T h e Te am

24

Mom + Po p

08

Take N o t e

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To Or de r

12

D o Go o d

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Of Inte r e s t

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B y D e s ig n

36

Shop Sm a l l

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F o r S ale

40

Gi v e Ba ck

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At Ho m e

50

Fi r s t Pe r s o n

Photos courtesy of Three Wags, Brass Tack, Savory Spice and Georgia’s Restaurant at Long Beach Exchange

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M E E T THE STAF F Miki Akil After working as a publicist in Hollywood, Miki found her calling in consumer/lifestyle PR. She is a Houston native (who you’ll always find watching the Astros or Texans) with a proven track record of developing powerful marketing communications campaigns.

After moving to the West Coast more than 10 years ago, she now calls OC home and lives with her husband and two kitties, Gatsby and Fitzgerald.

Carrie Freitas Carrie hails from a newspaper/journalism family on her mother’s side, and a marketing/ printing family on her father’s — which explains why she is both a published writer and founder of Kitchen Table Marketing. She lives in Newport Beach with her husband and is a proud mom of two, and stepmom of three. Carrie is passionate about giving back to her community and supporting LGBTQ+ rights.

Jordan Kruk Jordan has had a love of writing from a young age, leading her to pursue a career in PR. She started off in B2B marketing in the commercial real estate industry before joining the Kitchen Table team where she quickly discovered her passion for the restaurant and nonprofit industries. Jordan is an OC native and currently resides in Huntington Beach with her boyfriend and their pug, Franklin.

Becca Stonebraker Becca’s background and education have revolved around how to tell a good story, something she leverages in the work she does for KTM’s clients. On a daily basis, she taps into her passions for food and philanthropy to serve a variety of businesses in the hospitality and nonprofit industries. Becca is a SoCal native who loves a good meal, the great outdoors, and traveling to new places.

Madelyn Sutherland Madi found her love for public relations and social media while studying Communications at California State University, Fullerton. After pursuing her degree, she worked for a digital marketing agency overseeing clients in the tech space before finding herself at the Kitchen Table. Born and raised in Orange County, Madi supports a range of locally (and a few national) based food, design, nonprofit and real estate clients for KTM.

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CON T RI BUTO RS Elisabeth Abrahamson OC native Elisabeth Abrahamson loves writing about her beloved hometown. When she’s not creating content, she spends her time traveling (when it’s safe to do so), wine tasting, and watching reruns of The Office with her fiance, Doug.

Valentin Asiddao Valentin Asiddao moved to LA from Manila in the 80s to pursue grad studies in English Lit. He taught collegelevel writing and literature and has published poetry and short fiction. He lives in LA with his wife and children, and takes regular walks with a camera.

Wendy Bowman Wendy Bowman is a San Clemente-based freelance journalist with 30-plus years of experience writing for magazines, newspapers and websites. When she’s not writing, Wendy enjoys practicing yoga and taking care of her English Bulldog, Rhyis.

Kristen Cagatao Born and raised in SoCal, Kristen is responsible for the beautiful look of Tableau. In addition to being a talented, full-time graphic designer, she enjoys dancing with her Polynesian Group, Nonosina, and traveling.

Sara Hall Sara has 14 years of experience at daily and weekly newspapers, including the Newport Beach Independent.

Her work includes photography, writing, design and layout. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling and spending time with her husband and pets.

Euni Lee Euni Lee is a born and raised Southern Californian. She is currently studying English and Ethnicity and Race Studies at Columbia University. Her favorite places in OC are Table Rock Beach and local Korean markets.

Sarah Mosqueda Sarah Mosqueda has worked as a freelance journalist in OC and LA for a decade. Her work has appeared in Orange Coast Magazine, Coast Magazine, Hispanic Network Magazine and Bon Appetit Magazine. She is an avid podcast listener, amateur yogi and skilled bartender who enjoys trying new restaurants and cooking at home with her fiancé.

Kim Newett Kim Newett is a toy expert and writer whose greatest accomplishment has been raising two strong, brilliant daughters. She lives in Santa Ana with her husband and dog and is looking forward to when she can see old friends and resume her quest to find new offbeat venues for food and drinks.

Jeanne Pepper Jeanne Pepper is an attorney, writer and activist who encourages others to practice intentional kindness through the organization she and her husband founded — #BlazeItForward. Her story stems from the disappearance and murder of her 19-year-old son, Blaze Bernstein, in an act of hatred. The #BlazeItForward movement celebrates kindness, diversity and community service.

Robin H. Phillips A born and bred New Englander, Robin moved to Newport Beach this past July. She was previously the editor of Fairfield Magazine and also has worked for House & Garden, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, and Better Homes and Gardens. When she isn’t writing or reading, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two teenagers.

Amy Senk Amy is a CDM resident and a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. She has worked at the Kansas City Times, Kansas City Star, Contra Costa Times, Coast Kids and Coast Magazines, and is a regular contributor to StuNews Newport.

A recent empty nester, she spends her free time with her husband and planning elaborate imaginary vacations.

Larry Tenney Rooted in politics, public affairs and crisis communications, Larry Tenney is an awardwinning communications leader who believes in the power of storytelling and photography. His images have been published by more than 100 top brands and appear in major print and on broadcast news outlets.

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TA K E N OT E

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By Sarah Mosqueda and Madelyn Sutherland

Get the Goods We buy laundry detergent and shampoo to keep our life clean. But have you ever thought about how all those one-time use plastic containers are actually contributing to plastic pollution? If the extra waste has you feeling counterproductive, check out Fill Up Buttercup. Located in Costa Mesa, Fill Up Buttercup is your one-stop shop for home and body cleaning products that also help reduce waste. Bring in your own container to fill with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, all-purpose cleaner, laundry detergent and more. ($3.20$22.88) You only pay for what you fill and if you don’t have your own container, they offer glass or aluminum options online or in-store. ($1.90 and up) You’ll also find a selection of home and bathroom accessories, like dish sponges ($4.98) that are biodegradable, compostable, or can be easily recycled. Curbside and local delivery are available too, so there is no excuse not to fill ‘er up!

(714) 785-6686, fillupbuttercup.com

Photo credit courtesy of Fill Up Buttercup, Wisp Ceramics, and Deborah Allen

Three Wags

Bridget Belden

Three Wags combines two of owner Catherine Whiteman’s greatest loves: pups and problemsolving. Her custom dog accessories are made to be fashionable and functional for pets and humans alike. This holiday season, she’s also added some festive finds, perfect for gift-giving. Adirondack Dog Stockings ($40 and up) are decked in classic red buffalo check and custom-made to order. Each is embroidered with a dog bone appliqué and can be personalized with your dog’s name. Her other dog accessories, like Clip ‘n Go Dog Bandanas ($23) and Dog Bone Squeak Toys ($14.95) can be personalized, too (for a $7 fee). Personalized Dog Blankets in three standard sizes ($49 and up) and Personalized Home Decor Pillows ($55-$63.50) in a neutral canvas cover and custom dog silhouette appliqué are perfect for your favorite pup parent. | threewags.com

While this time of year is supposed be a time of joy, it can be hard to make time for that joy when the holiday hustle and bustle, along with the stress of COVID, has you feeling depleted and exhausted. Life Coach Bridget Belden says it’s critical to take the time for yourself this season, and year-round. As the founder of Magenta Consulting, Belden supports women who are searching for more balance, purpose and joy in their lives. Now, she is offering Tableau readers a complimentary downloadable journal based on her program’s 6 pillars to focus on to live a brighter, more joyful life. Don’t pass up this opportunity for self-care, inspiration and goal-setting heading into the new year! Click here to start saying “yes” to joy. (714) 6022295, bridgetbelden.com

Wisp Ceramics Wisp Ceramics are breathtakingly beautiful and decidedly modern, which isn’t an accident. Artist Kat West was born in the Philippines, grew up in Brooklyn, and now makes her home in Southern California.

She first dabbled in ceramics in 2014 and credits the medium with her subsequent humbling, saying clay taught her patience, forgiveness, and most importantly how to move on. West reclaims, re-uses and re-purposes as much clay as possible and fires all of her work in a fully solar-powered kiln. She marries an old craft with conscious creation, making pieces that reflect her not only her style, but her values too.

You can buy her pieces ($25-$170) directly through her website, wispceramics.com. West will also have a few select pieces for sale this season at Molly Wood Garden Design in Costa Mesa. | wispceramics.com

Deborah Allen Local artist Deborah Allen uses an acrylic medium to achieve watercolor techniques that explore space, fluidity and light and make for euphoric pieces. This season, she is joining forces with iconic surf wear designer, Jeff Yokoyama, who formed Mucho Aloha, Maui & Sons, and many others. The two will collaborate on three special pieces Yokoyama is creating out of Allen’s drop cloth/painting tarp material. “Jeff has made my favorite pieces in my wardrobe,” says Allen, “I asked him for help finding the right design worthy of cutting into the fabric that had become so beautiful!” The colorful pieces of fabric adorned in all of Allen’s paint marks will be fashioned into wearable pieces, like the stunning ‘studio pullover.’ Pieces are ready to wear for all sorts of occasions and serve as unexpected addition to Allen’s artwork. Shop these unique styles and other items, like hand-painted bone china dinner plates ($60) on her website. allenartdesign.com

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TA K E N OTE

By Sarah Mosqueda and Madelyn Sutherland

Common Room Roasters Common Room Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster in Newport Beach by way of Melbourne, Australia. They offer both single origin and blended coffee beans from Honduras, Ethiopia, Colombia and more. Visit their Tasting Room for a seasonal contemporary coffee menu that utilizes a wide range of brewing methods. You’ll also find locally sourced small bites and a curated retail pro shop to meet all your brewing needs. A CRR Coffee subscription can also make a great gift for your favorite coffee drinker. Each month, subscribers receive a freshly roasted 12oz. bag of coffee delivered to their door, complete with tasting cards and brew tips. ($16 a month) | commonroomroasters.com, (949) 220-7868

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Photo credit courtesy of Common Room Roasters, Laguna Beach Books, NOU Candles and OmniaPiel

NOU Candles

Laguna Beach Books

Whether you’re starting a new job, moving to a new home, or turning the page on a new chapter in life, NOU offers a candle specifically scented and crafted to burn away the ambiguities of change and allow you to embrace transformation. Every NOU candle is handcrafted with coconut wax to be non-toxic and cruelty free. Select from NOU’s three original scents – Nou Beginning an energizing citrus blend; Nou Mindset, a floral candle for relaxation and meditation; and Nou Home, a warm and cozy vanilla blend.

Four more scents will join the collection this holiday season – Nou Journey, Nou Chapter, Nou Dreams, and for a limited time (until February) Nou Year. noucandles.com

This independent bookseller at The Old Pottery Place in Laguna Beach fosters a communityenriching environment by hosting author events and readings and providing an extensive book selection to suit readers of all kinds. Their popular events have gone virtual for the time being, but you can still use the Laguna Beach Books Top Sellers guide to keep track of what people in Laguna (and the rest of the country) are reading, or shop stocking stuffers like Jellycat stuffed animals ($15-$55), puzzles ($18-$25), and stationery items ($20-$26). Tableau’s Editor-inChief swears by LBB’s easy online ordering process to keep pace with her insatiable reading habit. lagunabeachbooks.com, (949) 494-4779

OmniaPiel Keep your skin happy and healthy this winter at OmniaPiel, a full-service medical spa located at SOCO + The OC Mix in Costa Mesa. OmniaPiel boasts a beautiful and relaxing setting where top experts provide facial medical aesthetics and esthetician services that leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. From bespoke facials to neuromodulators, you’ll have access to everything you need to feel your best in your own skin. Now, OmniaPiel is introducing the perfect holiday glow-up — the Potenza Radio Frequency microneedling treatment – a customizable solution to meet your skin goals. Whether you want to tighten and firm your skin, minimize the common signs of aging, or reduce blemishes, you’ll unleash your skin’s potential after only a few treatments. | omniapiel.com, (714) 716-5031

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DO GO OD For OC Nonprofit Exec LaVal Brewer, a Summertime Job as a Teen Has Morphed into a Lifetime Quest to Help Others

By Wendy Bowman Sometimes, LaVal Brewer has to stop and pinch himself to make sure he has indeed traveled the fortuitous path that led him to become the new president and CEO of Irvine-based South LaVal Brewer, President & CEO of South County Outreach County Outreach, where he’s entrusted with spearheading a nonprofit organization with the arduous task of preventing hunger and homelessness in South O.C. After all, Brewer explains, he grew up in South L.A. as part of a Black middle-class family that didn’t have a lot of money, but he never went hungry, always had a roof over his head and didn’t seem to want for anything.

He also managed to land a part-time summer job at age 16 at L.A.’s Culver City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department — where he attended to locker rooms and oversaw attendees at day camp — and then went on to garner several high-profile leadership roles in the nonprofit field, some before he even earned a college degree.

his first summer job — along with teen center leaders there who made a positive impression on him — led to Brewer forging a lifelong career in the nonprofit field. He went on to work for YMCAs in Southern California for more than 21 years, the past nine as executive director of three large branch facilities, and then to hold positions as executive director of Playworks Southern California, as well as director of business development and partnerships for OneOC, before joining South County Outreach this past June, where he took over for longtime boss Lära Fisher.

“Somehow, this man got escalating jobs in responsibility without a degree, was given more responsibility on a consistent basis and welcomed it, and ended up in a four-bedroom home in Mission Viejo with three kids and a loving wife,” says Brewer.

“I’m always amazed at what I’ve been given. For me to get where I am and to be surrounded by such wealth, and in some cases mass poverty, I stop and go, ‘Wow, I’m very lucky,’ and that requires me to be generous with my time and energy, and my ability to help lead others in giving back.”

Brewer’s latest mission as head of South County Outreach? Creating programs and partnerships that will help permanently end hunger and homelessness in South O.C. “We want people not to be hungry and always have a home over their head,” he says. “While there are organizations in South County, O.C. and California who are addressing the homeless issue, we need to get to prevention around that space — where people don’t need the homeless program and have the ability to stay in their homes.”

Although he doesn’t recall setting out to help others long term, an “ability to connect with youth” as part of

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Photos courtesy of South County Outreach

“Nonprofit work is something I’ve always enjoyed doing, and I don’t see myself not doing it,” he says. “At the YMCA, I had the opportunity to practice working with cities, school districts, families and others to build new programs that helped the community be more successful and partnerships that made both organizations stronger. At Playworks, I learned what it meant to build something that solves a problem.

Nonprofits are great at addressing a problem, and then we attack it over time. At Playworks, I not only learned that it’s great to attack a problem over time, but also what it means to actually try to solve the problem, not to just address the symptoms.”

Among his goals: Transforming the organization’s Food Pantry into a place where people who are

in short-term crisis situations can feel like they’re shopping for nutritious, healthy food in a normal grocery store environment, only without having to pay for it. He also hopes to partner with cities, funders and corporate groups to create revenue that will allow the organization to help people who have fallen behind in their rent and utility payments catch up, and then find ways to people better themselves so they can ultimately escape the hunger and homelessness cycle.

excited about this job than any he has held in the past, having already volunteering their time to work at the Food Pantry and more. “Everyone has gotten into the game, and that’s the first time that has happened,” says Brewer. “They understand what hunger is now, not from a personal perspective, and get how important a home is. Knowing they would be helping others not to be hungry and to stay housed has resonated with them, so I have to work even harder because they believe in it.”

“Lära brought us from a struggling time seven years ago, when we were moving from an all-volunteer organization and had a couple of executive directors and needed structure,” says Brewer. “She bought structure to the organization. My role as president and CEO is around planning and governance, as well as ensuring that the organization has a pathway toward greatness. So, I think we’re good now, but it’s time for us to become great. My role is to help the leadership team and managers lean in and grow into their roles, and to remove any barriers and road blocks and bring in assets that allow them to be their best selves.”

Providing him inspiration today: his wife, a teacher’s assistant at a local charter school, and their three socially minded daughters, who he says are more

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BY DE SIG N

10 Steps to Create a Cozy Family Space this Season

By Miki Akil

By now, spending more time at home is something we’ve all experienced.

The cooler weather, however, is a pleasant change that we are welcoming with open arms. As we approach the much cozier season, we’re sharing how to achieve the ultimate Living-meets-Family Room set-up that caters to all of your needs, including entertaining, relaxing, and spending time with loved ones. Whether it’s soft light for reading, a plush seat to snuggle close, a place to kick up your feet, or a table that serves as game night HQ, these picks from Room & Board will leave you wanting to hibernate all year long.

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Photo credit courtesy of Room & Board

Shop the OC showroom at South Coast Collection (SOCO) in Costa Mesa, or the San Diego showroom at Westfield UTC. You can also shop online at roomandboard.com

Cloak Pendant

Aero Ottoman

A hand-crafted porcelain shade, as seen on the Cloak pendant, focuses light for reading or other activities. Handmade exclusively for Room & Board in the New York studio of KleinReid, the Cloak collection features walnut and aged-brass details, and the braided cord creates an eye-catching design detail. $529

With clean lines that provide comfort and support, the leather Aero ottoman adapts to your needs moment by moment. Since Aero has a sturdy internal wood frame and high-density foam, you can use it as a coffee or end table, extra seating or a footrest, and you won’t have to worry about durability. $499-$999

Streeter Floor Lamp

Linger Sectional

Prefer a floor lamp? The Streeter’s generous arc design provides lighting over a sofa or living space, and is a great solution for overhead lighting that doesn’t require ceiling suspension. $1,299 - $1,499

Alec Throw Blanket Made in Peru, the Alec throw blanket provides the timeless appeal of South American alpaca wool: softness and warmth without bulk. With a rich boucle texture, this modern throw adds visual depth and a layer of plush comfort to your room. $259

Felix Pillow Infuse color effortlessly with the vibrant Felix pillow. The two-tone velvet design is bisected by piping to highlight color and softness. $129

Barnett Floor Cushion The unique Barnett Floor Cushion provides fun (and functional) additional seating. $199

True to its name, the Linger sectional invites you to relax and stay awhile. One of R&B’s plushest, deepest sofas, the low seat offers sink-in comfort while retaining its shape. Also, the modular design makes rearranging easy. $8,100

Graham Coffee Table The Graham coffee table is a modern, functional piece you can gather around, with clever storage built into its distinctive profile. $999 - $1,199

Kalindi Rug The Kalindi Rug, a modern interpretation of traditional Moroccan rugs, features 100% hand-knotted wool that forms a plush high pile to sink your feet into. $999 - $2,199

Cribbage Board Enjoy a family game night! These cribbage boards are made from the wood of 140 fallen Walnut trees in Eden Prairie, MN. Sealed with a clear lacquer finish, each one-of-a-kind board has the standard two tracks and includes four black metal pegs, held in place by magnets. $69

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BY DESI GN HOME GIFTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

By Sarah Mosqueda

W h e n i t c o m e s t o i n t e r i o r d e s i g n , h o m e d e c o r, and furnishings, there is no place more inspiring than SOCO in Costa Mesa.

This season, SOCO is your go-to source for inspired gift-giving, too! As we all spend more time at home, a house-warming gift takes on new meaning. It’s not just a present to celebrate a new home, but a meaningful gift for anyone on your list that will bring cheer and comfort to their space no matter how long they’ve called it home. Here are some of our favorite home-inspired holiday gift ideas — all can be found at SOCO.

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Photo credit courtesy of TFS Natural Home, Gather Home Furnishings, Design Within Reach, Modani Furniture, Rejuvenation, BoConcept, and HAY

Gather Home

Rejuvenation

During the holidays, gathering around the table is a given. Liven up your table space with the Chelsea Centerpiece ($260) from Gather Home. With a profound, bowl-like top, this versatile design complements both traditional and modern décor. Whether filled with fresh blooms or winter citrus, it certainly deserves a place at the table. Available at Gather Home at SOCO (714) 486-3135.

Hang your stockings by the chimney with care this season, courtesy of Rejuvenation’s Animal Cast Brass Hooks. This charming hardware is crafted from solid cast brass in six different whimsical animal design, all with an attractive, unlacquered polished brass finish.

Available at Rejuvenation at SOCO. www.rejuvenation.com, (714) 241-1450

Design Within Reach With striking design as fluid as the water that goes in it, the HK Pitcher is one of designer Henning Koppel’s most famous pieces. The Danish designer was best known for his silver pitchers, vases and flatware. Unmistakable characteristics, like an elevated handle and an exaggerated pouring lip, make it easy to see why this mirror-polished stainless steel pitcher is so coveted.

Available at Design Within Reach at SOCO. www.dwr.com, (714) 427-0628

TFS Natural Home This organic cotton and silk face mask ($20) from TFS Natural Home is a stocking stuffer that is both luxurious and practical.

Tightly woven cotton prevents particles from passing through the mask, while the lightweight silk lining makes it ideal for all-day wear. These masks, available in three sizes, have elastic ear loops and a slot to insert your own filter for extra protection.

Choose from colors like Sweet Potato and Hibiscus. Available at TFS Natural Home at SOCO. www.tfsleep.com, (858) 729-1892

Modani Furniture Your sofa is probably getting a lot more screen time these days, doubling as your home theater seating and your work from home/Zoom space. Spruce up your sectional with the Queens Pillow ($69) from Mondani Furniture. Metallic details and a honeycomb pattern make this 12’’ x 20’’ pillow a festive way to deck your sofa. Layer with the textured Milan pillow ($59) for amplified elegance. www.modani.com, (714) 881-7040

BoConcept Revel in some happy Hygge this season! Hygge is the Scandinavian word for the contentment that comes from appreciating simple pleasures in our own intimate and cozy settings — and the holidays are the perfect time to get into this spirit. An easy way to bring Hygge to your home is with the Midnight Bedspread ($349) from BoConcept. Made of 100% tufted cotton velvet in a deep, rich blue, it brings unexpected texture and comfort to the bedroom. Available at BoConcept at SOCO. www.boconcept.com, (657) 267-0100

HAY The Chim Chim Scent Diffuser ($28) was designed

by Japanese designer Ryosuke Fukusada and Portuguese designer Rui Pereira to be reminiscent of the fireplace. This porcelain piece is available in three different colors and ideal for use in rooms you want to fill with a warm glow and the scent of the season. Available at HAY at SOCO. us.hay.com, (714) 462-4055

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FOR SALE Beach Beauty 1508 East Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach $3,945,000 Peninsula Point is one of Newport Beach’s most prized addresses with good reason, as this warm and welcoming community puts the beach, bay, and harbor at your doorstep. This bright and beautiful home is like new, with stylish interiors, a master suite with bay views, and rooftop deck. Info + photos at www.jacquelinethompsongroup.com

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Photo credit courtesy of Jacqueline Thompson Group

Five-Star Views 6 Ritz Cove, Dana Point $15,000,000 This is the best oceanfront lot for sale in Orange County. 10,640+ SF on the ultra-exclusive front row in guardgated Ritz Cove, Dana Point with direct beach access. Soak in forever views of the coastline, San Clemente and Catalina Islands, and the scenic Monarch Beach Golf Links. Info + photos at www.jacquelinethompsongroup.com

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AT H OM E NATUR E & N U RT U RE — M OLLY WOOD’S VIS I O N

by Robin H. Phillips

“There’s no better time to nurture ourselves and our families than during the holidays,” says Molly Wood, the talent behind the award-winning landscape design business and retail shop, Molly Wood Garden Design. “And 2020 has been a year when we all could use some extra nurturing,” she adds with a sweet smile.

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Photos courtesy of Molly Wood Garden Design

does nurture our souls,” explains Wood. All year long, shoppers delight in Wood’s carefully curated array of new and vintage garden décor, furniture exclusives, bubbling fountains, lush assortment of indoor and outdoor plants, hand-thrown pottery, and various oneof-a kind treasures — some vintage, some artisanal, and all reflective of Wood’s personal style and brand.

Known for her landscape design acumen and skillful transformation of garden spaces, fans also love visiting Wood’s charming showroom and studio at 1660 Orange Avenue in Costa Mesa, which she opened in 2008 to share her vision for a creative, comforting living space, and sell her favorite home and garden décor and accessories. “I feel that nature

The holiday season, of course, is a time to add a little more magic to our spaces, and Wood embraces that idea heartily and with her signature approach. The Christmas spirit will be in full force at Molly Wood Garden Design on November 6, when the shop will spotlight an extensive collection that Wood and her team have been curating for months. Inspiring tablescapes, centerpieces, vintage and sparkly ornaments + decorative objects, mantle displays and fresh wreaths of Bay Laurel, Boxwood, and Magnolia will abound. New this year is something that Wood is very excited about — a custom-made wooden gift box featuring her attractive logo design. The box itself is an object of beauty. “For holiday, we are putting neat arrays of things inside these lovely little boxes, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer them in the shop and also online at mollywoodgardendesign. com beginning in November,” she says.

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From the moment you step on the flat slate stones leading inside the yellow stucco home of Molly Wood Garden Design, a sense of calm and peace envelop you. Wood shows you how to live surrounded by nature — mixing greenery with natural driftwood, stone, clay, paper, straw, and glass. “Growing up in Oregon, my earliest childhood memories are sitting by a creek and building rock pools for my dolls to play in,” explains Wood. “I have always been interested in creating organic environments; nature is perfect. It is my playground and has been my inspiration from day one.”

Wood loves vintage and one-of-a-kind items with a history and she peruses a variety of worldwide markets throughout the year, pandemic permitting.

“I love to find something unique and bring it back to my customers. One-of-a-kind items add such a nice, personal touch and become memorable conversation pieces.” From charming wooden goldpainted topped acorns, handmade and vintage ornaments, glassware and wall, table, and mantle decorations, Wood’s finds make terrific gifts for most anyone in your life. “I love for holiday tablescapes and Christmas décor throughout the home to tell a whole story,” she explains. And what a story! If you love to be surrounded with nature and the natural, but also love pops of gold and silver—and even the classic Christmas red—Wood has the goods and the ideas to inspire you. She’s perfected a kind of

Cali-meets-Scandinavia vibe — minimalist, but never boring.

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Photos courtesy of Molly Wood Garden Design

In normal times, Wood would hold her popular soldout tablescape workshops this season. Generally, she focuses on three looks that are interchangeable and evident in the aesthetic around the store: 1) Traditional with a Twist, 2) Modern Organic, 3) Fresh & Clean. While Wood gravitates to the colors and tones you find in nature, she sees holiday time as a bit more adventurous and loves to add those dramatic sparkles, and new + traditional colors and textures. “I love to bring out the red at Christmastime, and of course things that sparkle and glitter too.

They really stand out when mixed in with a natural tablescape or mantle design.”

Asked how the pandemic has affected her business, Wood says, “It’s changed the way I buy — for the better. I want now more than ever to support artisans and to have products here with ‘conscience.’ I love female-run cooperatives, and am actively trying to be more responsible in where I source products.”

New to the shop are eye-catching white and black papier mâché pots — surprisingly lightweight, rounded, and slightly textured, made by a Haitian Women’s Collective. “I wouldn’t sell anything here that I wouldn’t put in my own home, and I hope for my customers to be surrounded with beauty and warmth during the holidays and beyond,” says Wood.

Molly’s Holiday Must-Haves 1. Her custom logo gift box filled with curated treasures

4. Candles: votives & tapers

2. A collection of Bristle Trees

5. Garlands Galor

3. Hand thrown pottery

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M OM + POP KID S G I F T G UI DE

By Kim Newett

This season, when creating some magic for your kids, consider shopping small. Small businesses throughout Southern California have been hit hard this year by retail shutdowns of non-essential stores while their big box competitors have benefited from the lack of competition.

As we head toward the holidays, please remember that even if stores face more closures, or you are not comfortable shopping inside, most retailers are now offering curbside pickups, website ordering, and social media posts of popular ideas for your gifting needs. Even better, nobody knows more what kids are looking for this holiday than a specialty toy store owner. I reached out to a handful of them to find out what are some of their favorite toys this season.

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Photo credit courtesy of The Game Chest, The Red Balloon, and Engine Ear Toys

Engine Ear Toys Newport Beach

The Red Balloon Newport Beach When a neighboring toy store in their center closed last year, the Red Balloon answered the needs of the community by adding a toy room to the back of their popular women’s and children’s apparel store. With a focus on true specialty products that are perfect as gifts, the toy room has developed quite a following.

One of their most popular brands is Fat Brain Toys, a line that adds innovative twists to classic toys. This season, Janice, the owner of the store, is excited to have Shape Factory on the shelf. Children ages 2+ will enjoy pushing the big button to twist the top of the toy creating new shapes. The child then examines the ten pieces to find the matching shape and pushes it through the shape factory. Introduced at the beginning of the year, this toy is the winner of American Specialty Toy Retailing Association’s “Best Toys for Kids” 2020. $25.99 | www.redballoonltd.com, (949) 631-3500

Engine Ear Toys offers a beautiful variety of toys to its Fashion Island clientele. Nick, the owner, has stocked the store well for the season with tried and true selections, but it is the new items that excite him most.

This year, the store will be offering Airfort’s Starry Night fort for the young and not so young. The construction of this fort is ingenious— it attaches to a box fan that blows air into it, immediately inflating it into a 6.5’ diameter magical space for stories, playing, watching movies, or just hanging out. Turn off the fan and put the fort in the bag it comes with for easy clean up.

The glowing stars on the ceiling of this particular style have made it a fan favorite (pun intended). Ages 2+ HINT: Use an extension cord and take the fun outside. $59.99 | (949) 640-0114

KidCreate Studio Dana Point Give your kids the gift of creativity and imagination.

KidCreate is a children’s art studio that offers group and private art lessons as well as birthday parties.

Due to COVID, they now offer virtual options of both of those things as well. With parents looking for ways to supplement their child’s learning experience both on the screen and in limited hybrid class times, gifting art lessons is a great way for your little one to spend downtime. It is also a little gift to yourself — an hour here or there which can serve as “me time” while your little one is occupied making masterpieces you will love.

Call or visit their website for class schedules and sign ups. | www.kidcreate.com/dana-point, (949) 545-7091

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Geppetto’s 9 locations throughout San Diego County Known for picking the crème de la crème of children’s toys, Geppetto’s is often a stop included in family day trips to San Diego. Whether it be their Old Town location, the Seaport, or downtown La Jolla, this store is a great family destination. This year, when stocking up for the holidays, owner Brian was excited to find a new-to-the-US market line called StudioStone — a collection of craft kits that all kids ages 8 & up will enjoy. Created by a Canadian sculptor for his teacher friend to use in her classroom, this kit includes a cookie cutter-shaped stone, and real metal file for kids to use as they shape the stone into a beautiful animal sculpture. They finish it off by polishing their new work of art with wax to reveal the beauty of the stone. As Brian says, the kids will receive a tangible gift, as well as the gift of the process. | www.geppettostoys.com

Tiddlywinks Old Town Orange When you step into this beautifully curated toy store, one of the first things greeting you is OTTO (Old Town Tiger of Orange), a life-sized tiger that sits atop a gondola filled with animal figures and play sets from Schleich — one of Germany’s classic toy lines. As a Schleich flagship store, Tiddlywinks’ assortment is the best in the area. There are countless horses, dinosaurs, wildlife, and sea life creatures from which to choose. For holiday, owner Jeanie loves the Mobile Vet kit. It comes with a van that opens up to be a vet office, attending to the needs of a child’s horse collection. The set also includes a doctor and a foal. Ages 5+, $59.99. | www.tiddlywinksoc.com, (714) 997-8697

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Photo credit courtesy of Geppetto’s, Tiddlywinks, San Marino Toy and Book Shoppe, The Game Chest, and Puzzle Zoo

The Game Chest, Irvine (and 4 locations throughout OC and LA)

San Marino Toy and Book Shoppe San Marino Kelley, the new owner of this iconic children’s store, has brought a new eye to product selection. Known for great children’s books and author events, the store has an equally impressive toy section. This season, Kelley is excited to be featuring Djeco’s Zig and Go. Djeco is a French company that uses a variety of artists from around the world to create stunning products that have equally gorgeous packaging. Using that same formula, they created a line of cause-and-effect building sets that allow kids to get creative with the domino effect. Kits include domino-sized blocks, wooden balls, wheels, and other accessories that create one-of-a-kind courses each time the child builds it out. Ages 8+. www.toysandbooks.com, (626) 309-0222

If you are looking for a game for anyone on your list, The Game Chest is a great place to go. Their incredibly knowledgeable staff and extremely versatile selection should have you covered for any age, interest, and/or gaming style from ages 2+. This year, they are featuring a newly hyped family game designed to bring together multiple generations.

Mind the Gap is a trivia game that divides the board into four sections, each represent different eras.

Players race their way around the board, answering questions in each section to move forward. Teams that have players of different ages are bound to do best. Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z — finally a game you can all play together. Ages 10+, $29.99. www.thegamechest.com

Puzzle Zoo, Costa Mesa (and 4 locations throughout LA) Puzzle Zoo has big news this season! They are partnering with their vendor, Ravensburger, to open the first-ever Ravensburger store across from their own location in South Coast Plaza. This is a unique opportunity for Puzzle Zoo to bring an even bigger selection of puzzles, games, and classic toys manufactured or distributed by this brand to the area.

One of the products the team believes will be hot this season is Gravitrax, a building system that allows kids to create their own roller coaster-type construction using STEM based concepts of math and physics.

Ages 8+. Kits start at $59.99. | www.puzzlezoo.com

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TO ORD ER A TAST E F U L GIFT GU IDE FOR THE FO O D I E I N YO U R LIFE

By Amy Senk They had a solid sourdough starter long before the quarantine began, they know the fishmonger by name at the local farmers market, they prefer to cook at home instead of ordering takeout. Everyone has that someone in their life, and lucky for us, they can be easy to please when it comes to holiday gift-giving! The Tableau team scouted, tasted, and did lots of homework to come up with this local gift guide to satisfy your favorite foodie.

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Photo credit courtesy of Rich Elixirs, Argaux, and Alta Baja Market

Alta Baja Market Vegan “Cheese” Platter

Rich Elixirs Kombucha Subscription A subscription to Rich Elixirs will make sure the Kombucha lover in your life will always have healthy, ever-changing flavors delivered to their door. Choose the bottle size, number, and frequency, and like a modern-day milkman, Rich Elixirs will deliver (to most of Orange County) while picking up used bottles to recycle. With seasonal flavors like Apple/Cranberry/ Cinnamon and Pumpkin/Apple/Spice — plus all of the choices on tap at their shop inside SOCO’s OC Mix — the options are limitless. Subscription prices vary, typically starting at $36 with recycling discounts after the first delivery; Call for more details. richelixirs.com, (949) 445-0102

Argaux Wine Blind Tasting Kit A bottle of wine is nice, but a virtual tasting romp through France is better! Argaux, a Costa Mesabased, women-owned wine business, offers the bottle, the gift packs and subscriptions as options.

They also offer experiences, like a Blind Tasting Kit, or the new Gift & ‘Gaux packs, which provide wine, tasting notes, pairings and anecdotes that let you experience Corsica, say, or the California Central Coast, without leaving the safety of home. Prices start around $100. | argaux.com, (949) 284-4917

It’s beautiful, it’s yummy, it’s a party on a tray — and it’s plant-based! Meaning it’s the perfect gift for the vegan in your life. Alta Baja Market in downtown Santa Ana is a destination-worthy market, complete with a café, meals and meal kits to-go, Mexican wines and more. The Alta Baja Market “cheese” platter is our favorite, with its variety of house nut cheese with herbs, rustic baguettes, almonds, and dried figs, locally sourced veggies, berries, herbs or fruit — plus a rotating selection of other seasonal goodies.

This jam-packed platter serves anywhere from four to six people. The market needs two days’ notice to prepare in order to source the freshest ingredients, so plan ahead. The platter is currently available for weekend pickup only, with some delivery options on scheduled days. They can also accommodate allergies if you let them know upon checkout. Prices start at $50. | altabajamarket.com, (714) 783-2252

Savory Spice Gift Set Since 2011, family-run Savory Spice Shop at SOCO’s OC Mix in Costa Mesa has been grinding spices and herbs to wake up the taste buds of local home cooks.

This holiday season, Savory Spice Shop has come up with an exclusive, four-jar gift set — The OC — that includes a California Citrus Rub, Coastal Cali Fennel Pollen Rub, Surf City Spicy Citrus Seasoning, and a Sweet Smoky Santa Maria Seasoning. The flavors are SoCal-friendly, perfect for fish tacos or French fries or grilling chicken or steak. Priced at $27, it’s the perfect gift to inspire a salt-and-pepper cook. Order via email at costamesa@savoryspiceshop.com, or call (949) 284-0576. You can also order at the shop’s walk up window or arrange curbside pickup.

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Valenza Chocolatier Edible Pumpkins + Ornaments Nothing’s sadder than cracking open a chocolate figurine and finding empty nothingness inside — which is why we love Valenza Chocolatier’s holiday gifts of pumpkins and ornaments filled with a selection of awardwinning chocolates you’ll discover once you crack the chocolate shell. All created by Amy Jo (Valenza) Pedone, an internationally recognized master chocolatier, these are the perfect gifts to replace the employees’ holiday luncheon, or to place on a table as a favor, or for anyone who loves fine chocolate, The pumpkins are priced at $52, the ornaments $32, both of which can be ordered through their online shop for scheduled pick-up only (too fragile to ship). Other gift options for shipment or pick-up are available online. Note: Valenza Chocolatier is an online business and their commercial kitchen within The Hood Kitchen Space is not open to the public. valenzachocolatier.com, (949) 891-1206

Zero Non-Alcoholic “Cocktail” Book Non-alcoholic (but delicious and fun) cocktails are trending, and this book will ensure your recipient is on top of the self-care wave. Zero: A New Approach to Non-Alcoholic Drinks, published earlier this year by Chef Grant Achatz and his culinary team, includes nearly 100 recipes — all without a drop of booze — from a faux Negroni and beer concoctions, to The Bubblegum — a craft creation that is, of course, pink.

We’re fans of all Chef Achatz’s books, with their stunning photography, beautiful tableware and aspirational recipes — but this one is perfect for all ages — drinkers and non, alike. Available on Amazon ($85) or at www.theaviarybook.com/zero-standard-edition/ ($55)

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Photo credit courtesy of Valenza Chocolatier, Chef Grant Achatz, Fleur De Lys, Good Vibes Cookie Co, and W/R/F studio

W/R/F Bowls

Fleur De Lys Simon Pearce Pitcher For a can’t-miss gift that will elevate and compliment any tablescape (no matter the host’s taste or style), consider this Woodbury pitcher, available at Fleur De Lys on 17th Street in Costa Mesa. We’re longtime fans of Simon Pearce glass, all handmade in the United States, and the selection at Fleur De Lys is second-tonone. Browse online or visit the shop, which is chock full of several items that would make perfect gifts — or help you upgrade your own holiday table. Pitcher is available in three sizes; Starting at $70. shopfleurdelys.com, (949) 548-0810

A trio of V-shaped bowls, handmade in a SoCal studio run by Japanese artist Nobuhito Nishigawara, would make a beautiful statement in any kitchen. However, they are also functional ceramic dinnerware that any home chef will find endlessly useful. The W/R/F Studio’s name reflects Nishigawara’s Japanese heritage; the family name translates to West River Field, and each piece combines clean + simple lines and Japanese design with absolute functionality.

The collection also includes mugs, plates, and more.

Each object is produced in the studio and is one-ofa-kind. The V-bowls are priced starting at $24, and all items are made to order. Visit the studio website for information. | wrflab.com

Good Vibes Cookie Co. Cookies Crystals can be gorgeous and colorful, and many believe they emit energy that can elevate your mood and even heal. When you combine the beauty and positivity of a crystal with a delicious, buttery, sugar cookie, you may have discovered the perfect gift for the magical people in your life. Good Vibes Cookie Co. is a one-woman shop, and artist/cookie maker Jodi Mannis has been baking and decorating cookies since 2018. You can choose from a variety of gift packs that start at $22. Online orders only. goodvibescookieco.com

CherryHills Market PastaMaking Class Fall is here — the season to gather harvest (and your favorite people) to CherryHills Market’s Artisan Kitchen at Pacific City for a private pasta-making class. In a two-hour class that accommodates 4-10 people (we encourage COVID-safety, so make sure everyone is healthy!), you’ll learn how to form, press, plate, and eventually eat) fresh pasta — with a glutenfree option thrown in. The class costs $70 per person and includes light appetizers, a B.Y.O.B. option with a $5 corkage fee and countless memories. There are lots of other ever-changing cooking and crafting class options, as well as a shop filled with unique pantry items, kitchen decor, and more. Call for information or to schedule a class at least three days in advance. cherryhillsmarket.com, (714) 587-2670

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TO ORDER C U L I N A RY C O M FORTS

By Elisabeth Abrahamson We love comfort food year-round, but it’s especially satisfying during the cooler months. Here’s what we’re craving right now.

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Stella Jean’s Ice Cream

Cloud 9 Bakers

With two locations in SoCal (Costa Mesa and San Diego), this small-batch ice creamery churns out scoops made with real ingredients. Stella Jean’s new must-try flavors for the season include Pumpkin Cornbread with a Pepita Crumble (vegan), Moongoat Coffee Ice Cream, and Apple Butter Crumble. Swing by for a cone or bring an ice chest or cooler to take a pint (or three!) home.

Costa Mesa location: 270 E. 17th Street, Suite 16.

(949) 791-8133. San Diego location: 4404 Park Boulevard, Suite B. (619) 501-8252; stellajeans.com.

Head to Cloud 9 Bakers, located in San Juan Capistrano, to stock up on organic, gluten-free, dairyfree, non-GMO, and soy-free baked goods. New baked goods offered this winter season include pumpkin, apple, and peach pies, pumpkin spice bars, sticky cinnamon, and brown sugar rolls, and a double chocolate pound cake. Indulge in one of their guilt-free treats and feel good about supporting this small business. Tip: Buy your favorite baked goods in bulk to give as gifts this holiday season!

31654 Rancho Viejo Road, San Juan Capistrano.

(949) 388-8311; cloud9bakers.com.

Photo credit courtesy of Stella Jean’s Ice Cream, Toast, and Bruno’s Italian Kitchen

Georgia’s Restaurant at LBX

Coastal Kitchen

Take it easy this holiday season and let Georgia’s Restaurant at Long Beach Exchange do the Thanksgiving cooking for you. Pre-order Georgia’s Thanksgiving Soulful Sides and choose from mac and cheese, collard greens, yams, red beans and rice, and black eyed peas. And don’t forget the dessert!

Peach cobbler and sweet potato pie are offered for Thanksgiving. Soulful sides are available for preorder now through November 21, and will be ready for pickup on November 24 & 25. 4101 McGowen Street, Suite 155, Long Beach. (562) 420-5637.

Some folks argue that SoCal doesn’t have winter weather. And while our temps might not dip below 60 degrees, in no way does that mean Southern Californians can’t enjoy a piping hot cup of soup on a chilly (for us!) day. This winter, check out Dana Point’s Coastal Kitchen for a bowl of award-winning New England Clam Chowder. This decadent and creamy soup is garnished with croutons and bacon crumbles, and pairs well with a full-bodied white like an oaky chardonnay. 34091 CA-1, Dana Point. (949) 4492822; coastalkitchendanapoint.com.

Toast Kitchen + Bakery Chef John Park of Costa Mesa’s Toast Kitchen and Bakery likes to keep his menu fresh and everevolving. This winter, he’s whipping up a comforting curry noodle dish topped with marinated shrimp, sweet potato, cabbage, Chinese long beans, and fresh herbs. Keep your sweet tooth happy this holiday season and stock up on new seasonal flavors from Toast’s Pints and Pie menu. Choose from taro blueberry pie with blueberry pie ice cream, apple pie with mulled wine ice cream, POG pie with strawberry shortcake ice cream, strawberry rhubarb almond pie with sakura ice cream, and chocolate banana cream pie with Thai tea ice cream. Yum! 1767 Newport Boulevard, Costa Mesa. (949) 873-5057; toastkitchenbakery.com.

Bruno’s Italian Kitchen A standout restaurant in downtown Brea, Bruno’s Italian Kitchen, named after Chef Peter Serantoni’s father, is creating classic home-style seasonal dishes for the winter season. Our favorite? The Spaghettini alla Checca. Dig into perfectly cooked spaghetti tossed with roasted heirloom tomatoes, garlic, basil, and fresh mozzarella. The perfect comfort food dish that’s filling, yet light enough to leave room for dessert. We recommend the Budino al Caramello, a caramel pudding with chocolate ganache, whipped cream, sea salt, and roasted hazelnuts. 210 W. Birch Street, Brea. (714) 257-1000; brunositaliankitchen.com.

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OF I NTEREST OR AN G EWO O D F OU NDATION’S SA MU ELI ACA D E M Y — A RECIPE F OR S U CCES S

By Wendy Bowman In 2011, Orangewood Foundation enlisted longtime Bakersfield educator Anthony Saba to build its public charter high school on 7-plus acres in Santa Ana from the ground up to serve Orange County’s foster and community youth. Saba convinced his family to take the plunge and relocate, and then he began visiting schools across the country to research and study best practices in preparation for his new role. The result? The Academy, which opened in August 2013 to serve its first class of 120 freshmen students using an innovative, hands-on, projectbased learning approach. Think real-world experience in a wide range of fields, including engineering, arts and media, science, and technology.

“We didn’t want to just build a traditional school, because the students we were looking to serve didn’t find a lot of success in those models,” says Saba, who adds that about half of the students in California’s foster-care system never graduate from high school. “Every student is given a free laptop and we don’t have any textbooks. The way we teach and learn is totally different. We don’t overburden our students with lectures and instead teach with project-based learning. That means we are a public school and though we teach to the same public standards, we use real-world, hands-on examples and bring in authentic people so students can engage with them.

“

“When you couple hands-on projects with real-world authenticity and a caring staff and infuse technology, it really is a recipe for success for kids everywhere,” he says.

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Photos courtesy of Orangewood Foundation

and Henry Samueli, in 2015. It also has grown to serve foster and community youth in grades seven to 12, with capacity expected to reach a total of 775 students by fall 2021. Saba has moved on to serve as the school’s executive director, in charge of compliances, board committees, fundraising, and more.

Now, in its latest and largest endeavor to date, Samueli Academy is using funds from its most recent $35 million “Campaign for Innovation in Education” fundraising effort to expand its campus to better serve Orangewood Foundation’s long-term vision for Samueli Academy. At the center of the expansion is a new 19,571 square-foot on-campus dorm, set to open in January 2021, that will ultimately house 48 students who are in foster care Sunday nights through Friday afternoons, with the youth returning to their foster families on weekends.

Take, for example, the school’s ninth graders. In their English class, they read and study “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” — a true story about 13-year-old youth, William Kamkwamba, who grew up in a rural area of Africa and wound up building a windmill to generate electricity for his family and village. The students then go to science class and learn about wind patterns, and climate control and change; bring in everyday items and make something useful for the world in design class (like a flipped-over skateboard with two bowls carved out for dishes called a “movable doggie tray”); and then create small replicas of the windmill that must charge a cellphone for a few seconds in engineering class.

Also coming online: a new 45,000 square-foot, threestory academic Innovation Center, complete with a fabrication lab and design studio, college career and alumni center, student union with cafeteria and theater stage, and a new 17,588 square-foot building to serve seventh and eighth-grade students. The upcoming final phase of the capital campaign will fund a new gym and soccer field, expected to open in fall 2021.

“The new buildings offer us an opportunity to expand our curriculum to help our teachers better prepare students for college and career success,” adds Saba.

“Most importantly, it gives a sense of stability to our youth in foster care, who in many cases, desperately need it. It’s critical to our mission and the future success of our students.”

“All four of the subjects relate back to what the students are learning in English,” says Saba. “At the end, we Skype in the author, and they engage with him. Maybe the coolest part at the end of the project is that we auction off the students’ designs and donate the profits to the author’s nonprofit in Africa.

This whole time they’re learning soft skills, like oral presentation and collaboration. Who doesn’t want to learn that way?”

Fast-forward from the charter school’s origins as The Academy to today, and it’s now known as Samueli Academy — renamed after OC benefactors, Susan

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SH OP SMALL TH INK SM A L L F O R BI G I MPACT G IFTS T HI S S E AS O N

By Euni Lee

Say goodbye to generic gifts bulk-ordered through Amazon Prime and say hello to heartfelt, unique gifts that are crafted and curated with care. This season, use Tableau’s guide to support your community and select something special for the loved ones on your list. Each small business featured offers convenient in-store, curbside pickup, and/or online delivery to ease the stresses of the season. Happy shopping‌ and gift giving!

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Photo credit courtesy of Share and Do Good, Lee Hwa Wedding, and Dehiya Beauty

Dehiya Beauty

Lee Hwa Wedding & Traditional Korean Dress Based in Los Angeles, Lee Hwa Wedding specializes in traditional Korean dresses, or hanbok, which are typically worn at weddings or special celebrations, like Lunar New Year. Lee Hwa has been passed down matrilineally for four generations and is currently run

by Laura Park. Park was the first to bring her family’s timeless designs and generational expertise to America, opening Lee Hwa’s Los Angeles studio in 1993. Since then, Lee Hwa has become an iconic representative of Korean-American style, working for celebrity clients and designing one-of-a-kind wedding gowns. Although Park specializes in wedding and modern hanbok, Lee Hwa recently created a line of handmade face masks in response to the pandemic.

Made from traditional Korean prints and triple-layered with durable fabric, these masks are stylish and safe — the perfect holiday gift! Shop the collection online and choose from masks featuring jewel-toned satin designs, gold accents, and even rhinestone embellishments. Lee Hwa’s masks are also designed to accommodate additional filters for extra safety. leehwawedding.com, (213) 252-0022

If you’re looking for sustainable, vegan skincare to enhance your glow this winter, shop Dehiya’s inventory of plant-based face washes, masks, mists, and serums — and be sure to gift some to a friend too! Dehiya takes its name from a North African warrior queen renowned for both her strength and beauty. Inspired by the varied descriptions of Dehiya’s beauty and her grandmother’s skincare routine, Dr. Mia Chae Reddy created a cosmetics company that prioritizes inclusive beauty and pays tribute to beauty traditions of the past. Dehiya’s line of Moroccan-inspired skincare is made from exclusively organic ingredients, protecting your skin from harsh chemicals and sulfates. All of Dehiya’s argan oil is sourced from the Moroccan Argan Forest and profits are shared with the Amazigh women who extract this healing and restorative ingredient by hand.

The Restorative Goddess Mask and Alia Argan Cleanser are perfect gifts for any friends with devoted skincare routines. Moroccan Mint lip balms also make great stocking stuffers. | dehiyabeauty.com

Penelope Pots

Share and Do Good

Penelope Pots began as a floral and event design studio in 2015. Hoping to bring joy to their community in the midst of this year’s challenges, the studio’s owners, Jackie and Chris Miller, branched out by opening their flagship indoor plant store this past June at 2nd & PCH in Long Beach. The Instagramworthy shop is a wonderland of houseplants, flowers, and accessories that will brighten and beautify any home. Give the gift of nature that will last all year long.

Penelope Pots makes it easy: Order online and pick up curbside or visit the shop for the full experience. shoppenelopepots.com, (562) 431-1143

Share and Do Good has been bringing positive change to Orange County since 2012. Located in Downtown Fullerton, this giving boutique exclusively carries products from humanitarian, socially-conscious brands. Looking for impactful and meaningful gifts to give this holiday season? Choose from a collection of beaded earrings crafted by survivors of financial instability, hand-knit scarves made and personally signed by Ugandan artisans, recycled-paper greeting cards created by human trafficking survivors, and other unique items. | shareanddogood.com, (714) 305-5582

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Studio C Florals

Shop Jitana Founded by fashion industry veteran Denise Hernandez, Shop Jitana is a beautifully curated selection of home décor and accessories sourced from Balinese artisans. Named for her popular style and travel blog, The Jitana, this dreamy online shop captures the magic of Hernandez’s trips to Bali and is a celebration of the country’s culture and craftsmanship. Each item is handpicked by Hernandez herself, who emphasizes the importance of close relationships with her Balinese suppliers.

Tableau thinks Jitana’s macramé plant hangers, tassel-adorned throw pillows, and artisanal shot glasses make perfect gifts! | shopjitana.com

ODDLi Clothing In early 2020, Ellie Chen and Jensen Neff launched ODDLi Clothing (formerly known as &Papaya) while studying at Stanford University. After learning that the fashion industry contributes more carbon dioxide to the environment than sea and air travel combined, Chen and Neff found themselves searching for alternatives to fast fashion. Their response: creating truly one-of-a-kind, sustainable clothing pieces made entirely from deadstock—scraps of fabric from clothing manufacturers that would otherwise be thrown away. As a result, ODDLi designs are unlike any other—varying in color, texture, and origin, ODDLi is eclectic, gender-neutral, and 100% sustainable.

Visit the website for fun, unique styles made for the eco-minded, style savvy people on your gift list, and don’t forget to score one of their fun bucket hats for yourself, too! oddliclothing.com

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Founded in 2014 by Crystal Schachter, Studio C Florals in Newport Beach is famed for their wedding and event florals, but makes our Shop Small guide for their fresh bouquets and luxurious gift sets for holiday giving — or any other special occasion. Schachter’s floral designs are inspired by her love for the outdoors and the visual aesthetics of her hometown, Santa Barbara. In addition to show-stopping florals, this boutique studio also offers a curated selection of candies, candles, cards, and accessories. We love the lush Bloom and Glow Box — stocked with rose renewal oil, bath soaks, a rose quartz roller, and fresh flowers — which can be ordered online or instore. Studio C Florals also delivers arrangements throughout Orange County. | studiocflorals.com, (949) 400-195

hjom.

While living in Europe, Rachel Morrison fell in love with hygge, the Danish lifestyle focused on intentional moments of comfort and coziness. After moving back to Orange County, Morrison opened hjom in 2019, a boutique full of unique items sourced from artisans around the globe. Located on Balboa Island, hjom is a space where Danish and American aesthetics coexist. The boutique’s name perfectly embodies this — it’s a combination of the Danish and English words for home. Hjom offers sustainable clothing from Danish brand Aiayu, organic furniture, clayware created by Danish artisan Sussi Krull, and more. In addition to gorgeous vases, we love the handmade Redecker brushes, Liberty of London sachets, and darling stuffed animals for the little ones. You can browse hjom’s collection online — or, better yet, visit the store and enjoy a leisurely stroll around the Island! | hjom.com, (949) 287-6519

Photo credit courtesy of Shop Jitana, hjom., Sundrenchd, and Local Fare

Shea Yeleen Combining an innovative business model, female empowerment, and high-quality shea butter beauty products, Shea Yeleen is a revolutionary presence in the beauty industry. While volunteering with the Peace Corps in Mali, founder Rahama Wright met West African women who produced shea butter — an extremely lucrative resource — yet saw little to none of its profit. Wright founded Shea Yeleen in 2005 with the mission of empowering the female cooperatives harvesting this ingredient. The Kente and Batik Gift Sets — shea body cream and a lip balm packaged in recycled plastic — and the Lip Balm Trio are our top picks for nourishing and luxurious gifts this year. No matter what Shea Yeleen products you gift this season, you’ll feel great knowing that each purchase of these luxe, paraben-free, and organic shea butter-based products contributes to the development and strengthening of femaleowned cooperatives and their micro-enterprises. sheayeleen.com

Local Fare Whether you’re celebrating a socially-distanced holiday this year or simply sending gifts via traditional mail, Local Fare has you covered. No more scrambling for the perfect, meaningful gift — this Costa Mesa boutique carries an eclectic blend of locally sourced pieces that you’re sure to fall in love with. Choose from a broad selection of macramé wall-hanging pieces, Rifle Paper Co. wine glasses, luxury candles, cheeky Christmas ornaments, and so much more.

Owner Sheri Metzler personally curates Local Fare’s collection, selecting products that she hopes will uplift and brighten the community around her. Shop online or pick up your gifts at Local Fare’s brick-andmortar location inside The OC Mix at SOCO. oclocalfare.com, (714) 455-9878

Sundrenchd

Brass Tack

Driven by her love for fashion but limited by a college student budget, Jordan Fujimori began making her own jewelry in 2015. She didn’t think much of it — mainly focused on finding a post-grad career path that excited and interested her. Five years later, Fujimori’s jewelry business, Sundrenchd, is making waves with gorgeous rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Buy a gorgeous stack of jewel-toned beaded bracelets for a friend, or layer yourself with three or four delicate gold necklaces of different lengths for a fun, glam look. We also love the bold and bright Sol Arches earrings from Sundrenchd’s collab with Clementine Clay Co. A portion of every Sundrenchd sale is donated towards ocean conservancy and the protection of its creatures. | sundrenchd.com

Owned and operated by Melissa Kanarek and Kristin Winter, Brass Tack is an upscale Fair Trade boutique located in Laguna Beach. This charming and chic shop is the embodiment of the proprietors’ unique eye for design, offering an artfully curated collection of refurbished furniture, vintage clothing, kitchenware, pottery, and countless other treasures ideal for you and style-seekers on your gift list. Our Editor-in-Chief counts many Brass Tack vintage clothing items (including fabulous shoes) among her wardrobe favorites. And, when it comes to gift-giving, some of her go-to’s include decorative chimes and wall hangings from MQuan Studio, journals and gift books, and Morrow Soft Goods throws. brasstackstudio.com, (949) 715-0310

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G IVE BACK

GUID E TO G I V I N G BACK

By Sara Hall

As the holiday season approaches, the spirit of charitable giving and volunteering grows.

But in this unprecedented time, how to give back has changed. Many nonprofit organizations have had to rework their volunteer and fundraising programs due to COVID-19. Events and opportunities for people to help out have been canceled or rescheduled, in some cases indefinitely. For the limited volunteer opportunities that have reemerged since the pandemic began, requirements and responsibilities have shifted in order to ensure a COVIDsafe environment.

The good news is that there are plenty of groups still in need of help in this new philanthropic world, and on the next several pages is a roundup of different ways you can jump into the spirit of giving this season.

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Photos courtesy of Frosted Faces Foundation, Alzheimer’s Orange County, and Girls Inc. of Orange County,

Alzheimer’s Orange County provides support to Orange County families and individuals through brain health and dementia education, care consultations, community resource connections, Adult Day Health Services, residential, memory care services, and more.

Ways to help: Walk4ALZ + Run4ALZ: Join AlzOC as they take strides against Alzheimer’s, virtually, through their Walk and 5k. Sign up today at alzoc.org/walkrun to participate on Nov. 14.

Support AlzOC: Please consider a recurring donation, or a one-time donation. To donate and learn more, visit alzoc.org or call (949) 955-9000.

Shop with Amazon Smile: Remember to choose Alzheimer’s Orange County (AlzOC) as your charity of choice when shopping for holiday gifts on Amazon Smile. A percentage of your shopping will go towards AlzOC to support the families they serve throughout Orange County.

Girls Inc. of Orange County aims to inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold by providing holistic, compensatory, and intentional programming focusing on STEM, financial literacy, sound body image, healthy relationships, and college and career readiness.

Ways to help: Girls Inc. of OC’s Women for Girls group is hosting a service project in the form of a food and supply drive.

Items being collected include: Food, self-care items, and gift cards. The drives will take place in October and November, with a final collection date on Nov. 12. Baskets will be distributed to the most vulnerable families in Orange County. Some of the specific items on the wish list include: Broth, canned or dried fruit, canned vegetables, corn bread mix, pastas, rice, beans, cereal, granola bars, chapstick, lotion, hand sanitizer, masks, and grocery store, Walmart and Target gift cards. For more information, visit girlsinc-oc.org.

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LGBTQ Center Orange County aims to empower the LGBTQ community in OC through a variety of programs and events. The organization’s mission is to advocate on behalf of the Orange County lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning communities and provide services that ensure well-being and positive identity.

Ways to help: Bring Pride Home: In this fundraising effort, the Center will be providing Progress flags for any occasion and invite OC to literally “bring Pride home.”

From stickers to lapel pins, desk flags to large flags. All donations go towards supporting trans services and programming. To purchase items or make a donation, visit app.mobilecause.com/vf/INCLUSIVEOC. GivingTuesday: In preparation for #GivingTuesday on December 1, the team will be hosting a virtual event the night prior (November 30) to encourage the LGBTQ community in OC to learn how to “Get Involved” if their unable to give at this time. The Center will invite professionals who are seeking to give back and get more involved with their OC LGBTQ community. The event will include a panel

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of successful LGBTQ professionals and the LGBTQ Center OC will share about upcoming opportunities for the community.

COVID-19 Support: The Center is also supporting low-income LGBTQ youth with Amazon gift cards to help them bridge technology gaps with remote schooling, as well as other needs due to COVIDrelated loss of family income. The team is giving youth clients who are at risk of food insecurity Amazon and/ or cash gift cards. Gift cards can be mailed to the LGBTQ Center OC. For more information, visit lgbtqcenteroc.org or contact Jackie Garcia at Jackie.Garcia@lgbtqcenteroc.org

Photos courtesy of LGBTQ Center Orange County, Miracles for Kids, and Frosted Faces Foundation

Miracles for Kids

helps families with critically-ill children fight bankruptcy, homelessness, hunger, and depression — so they can fight for their kids’ lives. The group helps provide monthly financial aid, subsidized housing, food and clothing, and counseling to families in need throughout Southern California.

Ways to help: Holiday Basket of Miracles: The 2020 Holiday Basket of Miracles Program delivers food, seasonal gifts, and household necessities to families struggling to survive as a result of caring for their critically-ill child. For more information, visit miraclesforkids.org/ events/2020-holiday-basket-of-miracles.

Host a Gift Drive: Collect unwrapped gifts for criticallyill kids and their families in need. Collection boxes will be provided. Drives must be completed and delivered to the Miracles for Kids office by December 3.

Volunteer to Deliver: Volunteer space is limited and fills up quickly! To volunteer, please visit the Volunteer Hub on the Miracles for Kids website or contact Terri Benedict, Volunteer Engagement & Operations Manager, at (714) 705-4536 or email tbenedict@miraclesforkids.org.

Adopt a Family in Need: Help make the holidays special for an entire family by providing new gifts for each child, gift cards or gifts for each parent, wrapping paper, ribbon and gift tags (optional). You’ll receive a complete family profile, with their interests and likes, to help you shop for their gifts (average gift is between $25-$75 per person, average family is five people; or $125-$375 per family).

Ways to help: Become a “Family” to a Senior Animal: FFF offers a variety of foster “Family” programs that allow Frosted Faces to live in your home, with time commitments that range from two weeks to a year.

Frosted Faces Foundation (FFF) rescues senior animals from shelters, many whose fate would otherwise be euthanasia, and re-homes them. They offer financial assistance, board senior dogs at an inexpensive rate, and help provide proper veterinary care. There are no adoption fees and FFF is completely funded by donations, grants and fundraisers.

Become a “Fan”: Those who make a recurring donation of $25/month are called Fans of Frosted Faces. Fans sponsor an FFF animal and are notified when the pet finds a home, has a Frostiversary (birthday), and when he/she passes away.

Business Partnerships: FFF hopes for the relationship to be mutually beneficial where the organization proudly supports and markets businesses that make a generous contribution or significantly impacts our mission through advertising.

To donate and learn more, visit frostedfacesfoundation. org or email info@frostedfacesfoundation.org

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Orangewood Foundation

provides services to current and former foster and community youth in Orange County to help prepare them for independent adulthood. Their staff works with participating youth in four critical areas: Health & wellness, housing, life skills & employment, and education. The organization helps meet a broad array of needs: groceries, transitional housing, life skills workshops and employment leads, schooling, and scholarships for college and graduate school.

Ways to help: Become an Ambassador: Orangewood Foundation Ambassadors are philanthropic partners whose annual gifts of $1,000 or more support the Foundation’s efforts. Donors who give $1,000 or more each year receive special recognition and an invitation to Orangewood Foundation’s annual Ambassador Luncheon held in the fall. You can

learn more or make your ambassador gift online at orangewoodfoundation.org/donate-ambassador.

Gift/Giving Drive: Orangewood Foundation has many other ways for you to give, including seasonal and year-round collection drives for gifts and other much-needed items. For more information, visit orangewoodfoundation.org/ways-to-give

Samueli Academy is a free, public 7th - 12th grade charter school for foster and community youth, and is just one of the many innovative programs offered through Orangewood Foundation.

Ways to help: Support-A-Student: A $1,500 donation allows a student to experience/receive: Small class sizes (21:1 student-to-teacher ratio), athletics and afterschool activities and tutoring, four years of college preparedness, a laptop, work-based learning support, a student success coordinator, and four years of alumni support.

General Giving: Any and all donations will go towards Samueli Academy’s “greatest needs,” which can vary from time to time, yet will always ultimately support their students and/or programs, helping to ensure that youth have the resources they need to thrive.

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How donations can help: • $10 buys a bus pass for one youth • $100 pays for a high school graduation expense • $500 pays for a college student’s textbooks for a semester • $1,000 pays for a youth’s 1-on-1 weekly therapy sessions for three months (donors become Orangewood Ambassadors).

For more information and to donate, visit samueliacademy.org/support or contact Anthony Saba, Samueli Academy’s Executive Director, at (714) 619-0215 or ASaba@samueliacademy.org

Photos courtesy of Orangewood Foundation, Play Well Africa, and Share Our Selves (SOS)

Play Well Africa

collects unwanted LEGO brick toys in the developed world and donates them to schools, orphanages, and hospitals in Africa.

Children learn through play, and opportunities to develop creativity and ingenuity at an early age are crucial for intellectual development. Building toys like LEGO are a great way to foster the critical thinking skills that Africa’s next generation needs.

Unfortunately, many African children don’t have any toys at all and lack the learning tools they need to reach their potential.

Due to travel restrictions, Play Well Africa had to temporarily pivot and is now donating LEGO to the Orange County Rescue Mission (note that donations still come through Play Well Africa first, not directly to OCRM).

Ways to help: Drop off LEGO to one of the following sites: Copy And Print Center at 240 Beach St., in Laguna Beach, or at Hodes Vision Optometry at 10511 W. Pico Blvd., in Los Angeles. LEGO can also be sent to Play Well Africa, 2500 Skyline Dr., Signal Hill, CA 90755.

For more information, visit playwellafrica.org/donate.

Share Our Selves (SOS) is a nationally recognized Health Center providing high quality, safety net services to the Orange County community.

SOS has been designated as a Healthcare for the Homeless provider. SOS is patient-centered and values the concept of the right person, the right treatment at the right time.

Ways to help: Family Service Night: Historically a night for families of elementary school-aged children to gather at SOS’ main facility and engage in service projects that benefit SOS social services department. This year, the program will be hosted virtually. Visit the Share Our Selves website to sign up at www.shareourselves.org.

Adopt A Family: This will be SOS’s 51st year hosting this program that connects willing donors with families in need in Orange County to provide presents and food for vulnerable children for the holidays. Online registration will open in November.

For more information or to donate, shareourselves.org/get-involved-covid-19.

visit

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South County Outreach (SCO) is a nonprofit organization based in South Orange County with the mission to prevent hunger and homelessness by helping people help themselves.

SCO envisions an Orange County community where no one goes to bed hungry or without a place to call home.

Ways to help: Donate stuffed 20” stockings: Help make the holidays a little brighter this year by donating stuffed 20-inch Holiday Stockings to the children of South County Outreach. The 20-inch stockings can be found at online at walmart.com ( just search “20” stocking”) and some stocking stuffer ideas for all age groups can be found at sco-oc.org. Stockings can be dropped off at South County Outreach located at 7 Whatney Ste B Irvine, CA 92618 on Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm, from now through December 18. Please be sure to place a tag on each stocking that indicates its age group. For questions relating to the Holiday Program, please email the holiday team at holiday@sco-oc.org.

Donate $25 Walmart or Targe gift cards: Many SCO clients have experienced job losses due to COVID-19 and are struggling to pay bills, keep food on the table, and make rent payments. Finances are strained even more during the holidays when the pressure to provide holiday meals and gifts for family members. Help a family in need by donating a $25 Target or Walmart gift card to be used to purchase gift(s) for family members. Gift cards may be dropped off at South County Outreach located at 7 Whatney Ste B Irvine, CA 92618 on Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm, from now through December 18.

Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) in Laguna Beach rescues, rehabilitates, and releases marine mammals and inspires ocean stewardship through research, education, and collaboration.

Ways to help: PMMC Holiday Catalog: The PMMC team believes that supporters want to make a difference and protect the future of our planet. By shopping the holiday catalog, you give the gift that gives twice.

Items in the PMMC store include shirts, hats, toys, books, and tote bags. All proceeds go back to the care of PMMC patients, including food, emergency supportive veterinary and medical care, collaboration and research initiatives to improve animal husbandry and understanding of ocean health, and help support a variety of educational programs that teach the importance of ocean and coastal health.

The online catalog and store will be live November 1 at pacificmmc.org/online-store-main and available in print, by request.

For more information, visit pacificmmc.org, call (949) 494-3050, or email development@pacificmmc.org.

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Photos courtesy of South County Outreach, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, and The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project provides a national, 24/7, toll-free confidential suicide prevention service for LGBTQ youth. Every day, LGBTQ youth in crisis reach out by calling, texting, and chatting with The Trevor Project to receive the support of a warm community. Since the onset of COVID-19, the volume of youth reaching out to Trevor Project crisis services for support has increased significantly — at times reaching double the pre-COVID volume of calls.

Ways to help: Making a donation: Your life-saving gift this holiday season will help train a record number of crisis counselors, continue to provide all Trevor Project crisis services for free 24/7, and including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat, and expand the group’s advocacy, research, and education efforts. Donations are accepted at trvr.org/ donate or you can reach out to the fundraising team at development@thetrevorproject.org.

Join The Trevor Project’s online community: Support The Trevor Project by joining the email list or following on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

For more information, visit thetrevorproject.org/.

Applying to be a volunteer: Volunteers are vital to The Trevor Project’s work and are instrumental in providing a safe and secure connection for LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Project’s team welcomes individuals of all backgrounds into the volunteer family, and works to uplift, recognize, and support their growing volunteer network. Learn more at trvr.org/volunteer

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G IVE BACK

LEARNING INDEPENDENCE IN A SIGHTED WORLD

By Sara Hall

Growing up and becoming an independent adult can be challenging for any young person, but for children with visual impairments it can be especially tough in the sighted world.

Luckily, Blind Children’s Learning Center based in Santa Ana is determined to help every step of the way. The nonprofit organization aims to prepare children with visual impairments for a life of independence through early intervention, education, and family support.

“We are all deeply committed to BCLC’s mission, and we work each day with a renewed devotion to serve our children and their families,” President and Executive Director Angie Rowe wrote in the Center’s spring newsletter.

For 58 years, children ages birth to 22 years who are blind, deaf-blind, and visually impaired have received specialized training at Blind Children’s Learning Center to maximize their full potential and meet meaningful goals and objectives. Parents and family receive support and encouragement during each step of their child’s journey toward independence.

Comprehensive BCLC programs designed to help the kids thrive in a sighted world include Global Infant Development, essential early intervention and family support birth through age 3; Toddler Classrooms, which focus on healthy development and school readiness for ages 0-3; Weekend Enrichment Services, a pilot program designed to expose children ages 3-8 to multi-sensory learning; Youth Outreach, which supports educational needs

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Photos courtesy of Blind Children’s Learning Center

Learning Center and their schooling program.

Being a part of BCLC has not only allowed Sabrina to learn, grow, and interact with other kids, it’s also been a great support system for Chris and Claudia.

They shared that from the moment they stepped foot onto the Center’s campus, every staff member and teacher has been amazing. Between staff and fellow parents at BCLC, Chris and Claudia have learned things they never would have thought of otherwise and reminds them they aren’t alone in the world.

of K-12 students; Therapy Services, comprehensive therapies minimize delays and optimize development for an independent future; and Supporting Services, covering mobility training, counseling, and a low vision clinic further independence and provide additional support.

Success stories include 18-month-old Sabrina, who joined BCLC in February.

When she was 4 months old, Sabrina’s family noticed her eyes jittering. She was diagnosed with congenital nystagmus, a condition in which the eyes make involuntary, repetitive movements. Over the next two months, nurses noticed she was floppier than most babies and an MRI showed thinning of the corpus callosum in her brain. This led to a diagnosis of a neurological condition called Cortical Visual Impairment and cerebral palsy.

It was devastating to learn about Sabrina’s diagnosis, her mom, Claudia, said in a recent interview. There are already so many hurdles raising a “normal” child, she questioned if she was able to take on the extra challenges. Sabrina’s dad, Chris, added that it felt unfair. Seeing neighbors’ kids develop faster in certain ways was difficult.

Her family started early intervention to help stimulate visual development and when she was about 8 months old, Sabrina was referred to her first physical therapist. Soon after, they started at BCLC. They quickly learned they were not in it alone, with a village of people helping out, including specialists who can help extraordinary kids like Sabrina. Just knowing that these types of services are available was a big eye-opener. They hit the jackpot with Blind Children’s

BCLC also helps them feel hopeful and confident as parents that Sabrina will be able to reach her milestones.

Her progress has been wonderful since starting at BCLC. Sabrina can now roll left and right, reaches out correctly and grasps objects, pushes herself upright after leaning forward, and lift her arms up higher. She can also see from about 10 feet away and will look for her parents or find a person in the room after they walk by.

Sabrina is a very happy baby, her parents tell us. “She loves playing in the water, making cupcakes, and playing with her friends.”

Claudia added that they are now focused on moving forward and are excited for all that Sabrina will do, no matter how long it takes.

They cannot wait to see everything Sabrina is capable of.

Sabrina started with BCLC right before the pandemic and has adjusted amazingly to the changes the Center had to implement. She went from receiving inhome services to immediately receiving all services virtually, to half and half, and is now back to school.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Center evolved the way they provided their programming and transitioned to a tele-health model for therapy and classroom sessions. BCLC has facilitated 3,462 sessions of virtual learning and telehealth between April 1 and June 30.

“Acting quickly was critical to make sure families continue to have opportunities to reach key milestones,” officials wrote in the Center’s spring newsletter.

For more information, visit www.blindkids.org.

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FIRST PERSO N AB UNDANCE

By Jeanne Pepper

I live in an abundant world. It is my belief that — barring extreme hardship — we all do. I see abundance in everything and everyone.

This perspective makes living in this world, where my child was murdered, bearable for me. Otherwise, the world would look like an empty place, devoid of the joy that my son Blaze brought to our lives. Gratitude for this abundance is the secret sauce in the morning that grows a smile on my face and excitement for a new day to begin. When people hear me say that, they may think that it comes from a place of privilege.

Nope, anyone can feel abundant. Anyone can look at their life as a place of opportunity and joy. Even in my darkest days, after I learned what happened to Blaze, I still had gratitude for our abundance. I saw abundance everywhere, including the generous support of friends, law enforcement that worked tirelessly, and a world that helped us look for him and cried with us when we learned the truth. Now, my happiness stems from gratitude in what I still have. What does this mean?

While I grieve, I also choose to see the time I had with Blaze — his 19 years in my life — as a gift to me, my family, and the world. These hard feelings tell me that I loved him and that he loved me. Of course, it makes me sad and I cry sometimes wishing he was still here. This sadness gives me real empathy for those suffering losses. It gives me an understanding of the fragility of life and the preciousness of love that few have. I stopped questioning my faith and accepted that our time is borrowed and every minute a blessing. I cope by finding abundance even in my grief.

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Photos courtesy of BlazeitForward

It all comes down to perspective, abundance, and gratitude. We can look at our lives and the intangibles as gifts or we can concentrate on the things that we are missing. We write the narrative of our lives that we play back in our own minds. We decide whether it is a story of abundance or of deprivation. This is why children in the same household can see their experience differently — one calling it a miserable childhood and the other calling it good. The metaphor of looking at a glass as half full or half empty applies beautifully here. It is all about interpretation.

is still a world before us full of mystery, magic and opportunity to explore and enjoy. Yes, there are problems to solve and diseases to cure. We have to start seeing these problems as challenges and not as deprivation or loss. No one has a life that is perfect. As humans, it would be unhealthy to live in a world without challenges. The human soul needs challenges and their lessons to give us meaning. We cannot understand perfection without imperfection.

Likewise, we cannot reach for the stars if they are not out of reach.

One experience I had my second year of college left an indelible impression on me. The University paired me with a quadriplegic roommate. She had limited use of her hands, was confined to a motorized wheelchair, and needed attendants to dress her, put her to bed, and care for all of her personal hygiene including using the bathroom. Still, she could draw and hold a paintbrush in her mouth to create incredible art. My expectation of a “normal” roommate experience abruptly ended that first day when I chose to stay. My biggest concern was simply hurting her by making a big deal out of the situation.

While I was disappointed, I still felt abundant. This wasn’t exactly a loss. I was still me; I was healthy, and I had a whole magical school year to enjoy. The experience would give me new perspectives. I was open to it. I was curious. Being open and curious about others and their challenges is part of what fuels the idea of abundance and gives us perspective. We need perspective to have gratitude.

This is why we must change our perception. We must see our problems as challenges, and the challenges as the obstacles in a meaningful journey. We must accept what we cannot change and focus on what is good in our lives; a full stomach, a warm bed, loving parents, and even the freedom to speak out. For those who are struggling, I challenge you to identify the abundant parts of your life. Then be grateful. It’s easier to be happy in life and to share your abundance with others when you have gratitude. Luckily, it’s in your power to change your perspective. First, realize that it’s a choice and then actively challenge yourself. Begin your meaningful journey by sharing your abundance and #BlazeitForward. We created the #BlazeitForward movement to honor our son’s legacy of kindness and to inspire YOU to have an abundant life.

To join the #BlazeitForward movement and make a donation, please visit www.blazebernstein.org.

The takeaway? From my perspective, we live in an abundant world. Yes, there are tragedies, injustice, crime, and wars that impact many of us. Yet, there

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L AST LOO K

‘Agua, Salt, Color - 1’ 46” x 28” Watercolor on paper by Deborah M. Allen 2020