Take Note

By Sarah Mosqueda

Coffee for a Cause

Able Coffee Roasters was founded by Adeel Asif and Anthony Palmeri, who met working together in an autism classroom. The two worked daily with their students on vocational skills, but often found that despite the generosity of employers, the work sites weren’t equipped to help students reach their full potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for individuals with special needs is over 80%. Asif and Palmeri aimed to reduce that number by developing Able Coffee Roasters, a coffee-roasting company that employs individuals with autism and other disabilities. Their quality organic beans are imported directly from small farmers and roasted daily, creating paying jobs for the special needs community. Their Huntington Beach storefront is open for take-out and delivery and they’re closing the employment gap, one cup of coffee at a time. theableworkers.com

Fab Furniture Finds

The mantra at The Find Consignment is “Consign, Find, Repeat!” The Find has the highest quality and largest selection of consignment home furnishings around. They’re sustainable, local and believe in salvaging historical pieces and giving them new life in a new home. Their two Costa Mesa locations each have their own vibe, and they both receive new furniture and accessories daily. The best way to keep up with their daily drop is follow their instagram account, @TheFINDConsignments. You can always count on seeing one-of-kind treasures and hidden gems like Serena & Lily bamboo tables in a striking red ($350 each) or a mid-Century Holtorf Mobler Dry Bar ($2750) | thefindconsignments.com, (949) 650-3463

Tap into Wisdom

“I’m lucky to have a last name that fits so well with my profession,” says life and business coach, Angie Wisdom. Based in Newport Beach, Wisdom offers oneon-one coaching services for clients who want to grow in leadership, business or personal development. Not only does Wisdom bring 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, business building and coaching to the table, he is also credentialed through the International Coaching Federation as a Professional Certified Coach and working towards her Master Certified Coach credential. “I focus on continued growth so I can bring that growth back to my clients,” she says. Wisdom also runs group coaching in a small-setting environment with only 10 people at a time. The program is set up for personal growth over a 12-week period and Wisdom says it’s a great way to learn from others and be surrounded by people going through the same process.“There is nothing more rewarding than watching someone unlock their authentic self and full potential.” You can schedule a free consultation call via Zoom or a phone call by visiting angiewisdom.com. Or sign up for her newsletter and get words of Wisdom sent right to your inbox. | angiewisdom.com, (949) 689-5163

SOCO’s “Masters of Design” (M.O.D.) Series

SOCO, Southern California’s destination for interior design inspiration, is introducing an all-new video series that will bring your design-inspired Instagram feeds and Pinterest boards to life: Welcome to Masters of Design. This bingeworthy series is guaranteed to inspire both seasoned designers and those who are new to the interior design world – giving you behind the scenes access to the world-famous showrooms at SOCO, private home tours and projects from OC’s top interior designers, and more. M.O.D. has the resources you need to revamp your space and get up to speed with the latest trends. Be among the first to watch new episodes and subscribe to the series online at www.socomastersofdesign.com.

Pelo Closet

Peloton riders are the perfect hype team. So it’s no surprise that when Peloton rider Torrey Feffer had a great idea, it was a few fellow riders that cheered her on. After a ride one day, a group text of friends wanted to know where to buy the instructor’s leggings. “I sent them a link to a pair I had found, and they encouraged me to keep going,” says Feffer. She has since made it her mission to find the fashion inspired by your favorite Peloton instructors. What began as an Instagram account for a few friends has turned into a community for thousands of people who share Feffer’s love for fitness, fashion and connection. She finds actual looks and dupes for all budgets and bodies and posts them to her website and Instagram account, @pelotoncloset. She also provides helpful links, like Facebook Peloton Apparel Marketplace and other retailers where you can buy, sell, trade and search for sold out Peloton styles. If you are looking for a specific look, DM the instructor name, class and date and Feffer will help you track it down. If you want even more Peloton fashion, catch Feffer hosting weekly fashion segments on Peloton fan podcast, The Clip Out. pelotoncloset.com

Floral Communication

“We think any time is the best time to give or get flowers,” says Le Fleur IV florist, Natalie Le.

Le Fleur IV is run by a family of four female florists and Le says they seen an uptick in floral needs during the pandemic, “More and more people have sent bouquets to communicate loving messages like ‘I miss you,’ ‘thinking of you,’ or even ‘just because’ arrangements,” she says. Le Fleur IV has been serving the Los Angeles and Orange County areas since 1990, with locations in Westminster, Corona Del Mar and a new location in Costa Mesa that opened in January. They’ve got custom bouquets and arrangements with both fresh and dried flower elements. Their signature collection includes The Rosé Bouquet — one dozen, two dozen or five dozen long- stemmed roses ($85, $125, $245) artfully displayed in a beautiful box. Other popular options include their Flower Bag ($50-$175), arranged in an adorable Le Fleur IV gift bag and Flower Boxes ($169-$390) that come arranged in elegant Le Fleur IV hat boxes. | lefleuriv.com, (949) 891-1334

A Cold Buzz

Friends Sam Madani, Kai Drewry, and Amin Anjedani found themselves living the same fast-paced lives that many of us do. In order to find energy after a long work week, they’d enjoy alcohol with coffee or other caffeinated chasers like energy drinks. In a quest to find a drink better than high-calorie espresso martinis or shots chased with Red Bull, the trio created Bomani Cold Buzz. This alcohol-infused cold brew coffee contains 5.7% ABV and a half cup of coffee’s worth of caffeine. This ready-to-drink canned beverage is delicious right from the can, over ice, with cream and sugar, or as part of a cocktail, and is sure to become a staple for both brunches and pregames. BOMANI launched just two weeks before shelter-in-place orders, but that hasn’t stopped the buzz. You can find BOMANI at Whole Foods, Stater Bros. and Total Wine retailers in Orange County. And thanks to a partnership with the United States Bartenders’ Guild, 5.7% of BOMANI’s net proceeds go to the Bartender’s Emergency Assistance Program. | drinkbomani.com, (310) 584-7511.

A-List Dog Destination

DogDrop knows that dogs are people too. Which is why this female-founded start-up is so good at providing better dog care. With their first 1,675 sq ft. location now open in the LA Arts District, DogDrop is the first flexible, membership-based dog daycare to make pet ownership and traditional dog care more convenient and accessible. Monthly memberships allow dog parents to drop off and pick up as many times as they like throughout the day, with extended hours from 7am-10pm. “DogDrop is for the modern dog parent who has high expectations of quality care and whose lifestyle demands convenience,” said Shaina Denny, co-founder and CEO of DogDrop. The location is capped at 35 dogs with a dog-to-human ratio of 12:1. Dogs are required to meet safety requirements and go through a behavioral assessment, so you know your pup is safe. DogDrop eventually hopes to scale so that finding a DogDrop location is as easy as finding a WeWork. Besides daycare, they also offer a collection of dog products like poop bags ($18) and paw & bum wipes ($26) your dog will love. | dogdrop.co, (213) 314- 5499

Mom Knows Best

Mothers always know the right thing to say, and now a new collection of beautiful and meaningful books and gift items from Crystal Cove Press helps you share that loving wisdom with others. Founder M.C. Sungaila is an OC native and accomplished lawyer who says her mom had a particular knack for finding the perfect words for any obstacle or occasion. Now, Sungaila has put her mother’s wise words and advice to paper, creating a keepsake two-volume book series. Mother’s Thoughts for the Day ($19.95) is a collection of sage advice from a mother to her daughter, compiled into a book that celebrates the mother-daughter relationship. The second book in the series, More Mother’s Thoughts for the Day, ($20) continues the journey of the mother-daughter relationship. In addition to these charming and colorful gift books, be you sure to shop her website for posters, mugs and tote bags decorated with other inspiring quotes. | mothersthoughtsfortheday.com

Fashion Gets Real

If you love high-end fashion but hate the hefty price tags, The RealReal is the real deal — and has a new location at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach. Think new with tags, or gently used designer clothing, shoes, and accessories for far less than their retail prices. Did some spring cleaning? They’ll take a look at your items during a consignment appointment. Expect to see items specially curated for the laidback luxe lifestyle of Newport with Gucci and Hermes items being added daily. | www.therealreal.com (949) 594-1990