Thanksgiving Side: Try a Sauteed Green Beans Mix

Vegetables can get lost in the smorgisborge of carb loaded Thanksgiving sides. Mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, stuffing and all the other classics usually push the veggies to the end of the table or off it altogether. For those that would like to add a bit of color to their Thanksgiving meal this year, why not try a simple, yet tasty sauteed green bean recipe. The dish will be a perfect, and healthy, complement to your meal. Here are the directions.

For this recipe all you really need are two ingredients: green beans and mushrooms. First blanch green beans in boiling water for a couple of minutes. Crunchy green beans taste much better than soggy ones, so don’t let them sit too long. Just enough to get a quick cook.

While the green beans are boiling, saute the mushrooms in butter or light oil with a medium flame. Cook until the mushrooms are golden brown and mix them with the blanched beans. Next add salt and pepper, toss then serve.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/sauteed-green-beans-and-mushrooms-recipe2.html?oc=linkback

Have Some Night Time Entertainment at the Copper Door in Santa Ana

The Cooper Door Bar in Santa Ana is your one stop shop for entertainment in the Santa Ana area. The bar & restaurant features amazing food, tasty drinks and a full schedule of late night fun for those night owls looking to close down a location on a Friday or Saturday night. The Copper Door provides patrons a chic take on the regular bar experience with an upscale wood decor and a massive 30-foot table with benches, counters and bar stools.

Outside of the decor, the bars boast a 300-person capacity and 6,000 square feet of space perfect for those night owls looking to wasting the night away drinking and grooving to great music and a friendly atmosphere. The location hosting a various events from “birthday parties, wedding receptions, business functions, CD release parties, and fashion shows”.

Patron can also expected over 20 craft beer options and 8 signature cocktails along with exciting weekly entertainment from local bands, DJs and other community artist. The next time you are looking to stay out late, be sure to check out the The Copper Door.

http://thecopperdoorbar.com/

Places To Exercise in and Around Santa Ana

If you are a health nut the holidays might be the most difficult time of the year to remain active and healthy. Its seems like most of us will be eating huge dinners every other week and there are only two ways to stay healthy during the holidays: by exercises or dieting. And who wants to diet and miss out on tamales, mac and cheese and all those other treats you family loves to cook? So our only option is to exercise over the next two months. Here are a few options to try near your apartment.

 

Rounders MMA and Boxing

1214 E 17th St
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone number (714) 599-0826

If you are looking to exercise and learn a new skill Rounders MMA is a great place for beginners to start.

Mater Dei High School

1202 W Edinger Ave
Santa Ana, CA 92707
Phone number (714) 754-7711

Mater Dei High School has an open track for those looking to get an evening jog in after work. Just lace up your running shoes and get going a few times a week.

Carl Thorton Park

1801 W Segerstrom Ave
Santa Ana, CA 92704

Carl Thorton Park has a nice jogging and hiking trail for those nature lovers looking for something more than a jog.

Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in Downtown Santa Ana

Halloween gets all of the attention but Day of the Dead also takes place this week. The traditional Hispanic holiday is observed on October 31st, November 1st and 2nd, as a three day event to celebrate and remember the lives of loved ones we have lost. Tradition states that the souls of the departed come back during those days to visit and celebrate with their family–the idea is a beautiful notion.

 

This weekend, the El Centro Cultural de Mexico of Santa Ana will be hosting a Dia de Los Muertos event on Saturday, November 5th beginning at 12pm and lasting all day until 10pm. According to the group’s website: “The celebration has its origins in the pre-Hispanic era, as seen by offerings from this historic period – marigolds, copal, textiles, and traditional dishes.” If you want to immerse yourself in Hispanic culture or just try something new, come down to this Day of the Dead event and celebrate the loved ones who are no longer with you.

The event will feature music, traditional Hispanic foods and sweets, local events, live entertainment and much more. Come dressed up, bring your family, and enjoy this fun filled day. The event is free to attend and open to the public.

Saturday, November 5 2016
4th and Birch, Santa Ana
12:00pm – 10:00pm

http://www.nochedealtares.org/

Join the Boo at the Zoo in Santa Ana

For those of you searching for some amazing fun this weekend, why not combine two of the most amazing things in the world? Halloween and the zoo? This Halloween the Santa Ana Zoo will be hosting its annual Boo at the Zoo event from October 28 through the 30 from 5:30 to 8pm each night. The family oriented Halloween extravaganza aims to bring a fun and safe trick or treating environment for the little ones looking to have a wonderful time this holiday.  

 

The Boo at the Zoo event will feature games, storytelling, animal presentations and a costume parade. For the older children the zoo will also host a Teen Scream haunted house. Both activities are included with the price of admission to the zoo and they continue to be an excellent community resource during Halloween. Be sure to visit the zoo’s website for more information about the event.

October 28, 29, 30, 2016
5:30 – 8 pm

Santa Ana Zoo
1801 E. Chestnut Ave
714-953-8555

http://www.orangecounty.net/html/weekend_halloween.html#sa

Tip For Decorating Cheaply in Your Santa Ana Apartment This Halloween

Just because Halloween is here doesn’t mean you have to break the bank decorating your apartment. You can find lots of DIY ways to create cheap and excellent looking pieces. Here are three tips to use.

 

Flat black pumpkin: purchase a few pumpkins (real or fake) and spray paint them flat black to create a dark witch-like vibe to your apartment’s decor. Your guest will be impressed with the look and most importantly, the pumpkins and spray paint only cost a few dollars.

 

Black skulls: fake plastic skulls can look cheap and flimsy. What you can do is grab that black spray paint and use it on a few skulls. The flat color will turn the Halloween pieces into a slick, modern, and spooky decoration.

 

White Bat napkin holders: bats are ugly and an animal you might not want around the dinner table (even if they are fake). But if you spray paint them white (they look much better) and use them as napkin holders, you can get a scary yet non disgusting decor piece.

 

Be A Part of the Women’s Executive Club Launch in Santa Ana

Are you looking to get more active in your community and meet other professional women who are making an impacted in the workplace? Well, the Women’s Executive Club is launching a new chapter in the Santa Ana area, and all female professionals, executives, and business owners are invited to attend. If you are looking to fast track your career and make contacts with other professionals, this is the event to attend. Here is a bit more information. The event is free, but you must RSVP by email. Have fun and make a few new friends at the event.

 


Women’s Executive Club Chapter Launch
October 21, 2016
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Website: http://www.womensec.com/

PAYCHEX 1535 Scenic Ave, Ste 100, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
RSVP by Email to: president@WomensEC.com

Santa Ana Fun: How To Carve a Pumpkin

October is here and that can only mean one thing! Halloween! If you are a Halloween junkie, it’s never too early to start decorating for the holiday! So run out to a pumpkin patch or your local grocery store and grab a few pumpkins to carve. Here are a few tips.

 

Keep it fresh: apply Vaseline onto the cut edges of your pumpkin to lock in moisture. Pumpkins shrivel up quickly, but Vaseline will add a few extra days into its shelf life.

 

Put it in water: another key to making your pumpkin last is to soak it in water for a few hours once every few days. Lack of moisture is the enemy, so keep it wet.

 

Use a template: most people aren’t pumpkin carving experts, so there is no shame in getting a template to help you out.

Visit The Carl Thorton Park This Fall in Santa Ana

Visiting a park is such a great way to spend an afternoon refreshing your batteries. The City of Santa Ana has a number of excellent locations, but the Carl Thorton Park is one of the most popular parks in the area. Carl Thorton features a large playground for those of you with children, lots of water features, ducks and other things, Now that fall is here, be sure to schedule some park time in your life, Your health, lifestyle and happiness will all improve, because we all know parks make life better. Have fun  and enjoy a much needed day at the park. Here is a bit more info about Carl Thorton Park.

 

Carl Thorton Park

1801 W Segerstrom Ave

Santa Ana, CA 92704

Best Tasting New Restaurants in Santa Ana

Tired of eating at the same restaurants every night? Well, then you need something new in your life. Luckily, Santa Ana is a big city with new restaurants popping up all the time. If you have a craving for something new we have a quick list of the great restaurants in the area. Both locations, which are Japanese food and fish related, have received excellent reviews by the Santa Ana locals. When you are ready to try the newest hotspots in your area visit the Yojie Japanese and J Fish Premium Poke restaurants. Have fun and enjoy your meal.

 

Yojie Japanese Fondue

Opened 7 weeks ago

303 N Spurgeon St

Santa Ana, CA 92701

Phone number(714) 204-0604

 

J Fish Premium Poke & Sushi

Opened 2 months ago

13882 Newport Ave

Tustin, CA 92780

Phone number(714) 617-4891