Greer's Blog

Santa Barbara’s must-see Hotel Californian

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By Greer Wylder
March 23, 2018

Following the devastating Thomas Fire to mudslides leading to the closure of Highway 101, Santa Barbara and its neighbors were hit hard. Now is a great time to consider a staycation to give the area some much-needed business. The newly opened Hotel Californian with its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and bold Moroccan-modern interiors from celebrity “A-list” designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, is a mix of luxury, nostalgia, and accessibility. Located steps from the beach and Amtrak Station, the 121-room hotel is adjacent to the Funk Zone, a destination unto itself for contemporary yet laid-back style, wine tasting rooms, a buzzy beer scene and reenergized…

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Crave worthy plant-based ice cream alternative

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By Greer Wylder
March 22, 2018

We just discovered Santa Barbara-based Reveri®, the first plant-based frozen dessert in the U.S., and we love it! It’s an ice cream alternative that redefines indulgence and is changing the perception of a healthy dessert one spoonful at a time. Crafted using a proprietary process that blends whole fruits, vegetables and dietary fiber into a guilt-free treat, Reveri has the richness of premium ice cream, but with no added sugar or sweeteners, dairy, gluten, soy, or added fats and gums. Averaging only 82 calories for a four-ounce serving, Reveri uses dates and whole fruit frozen at the peak of ripeness,…

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BB Dakota’s Final Sample Sale

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By Greer Wylder
March 22, 2018

Orange County-based fashion brand, BB Dakota will be holding its last sample sale at its headquarters in Costa Mesa as they are moving this month! The BB Dakota Sample Sale will take place March 23 to March 24. Open 9 am. to 6 p.m. Friday, March 23 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 24.   BB Dakota is at 1638 Pomona in Costa Mesa.

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The Cookie Department’s Fully-Functional Cookies

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By Greer Wylder
March 21, 2018

The Cookie Department, a Los Angeles-based food company, offers a unique line of all-natural individually packaged fully-functional cookies without artificial preservatives or trans-fats.   The idea of creating fully-functional cookies took shape one afternoon in 2009 when Founder Akiva Resnikoff refueled with a jolt of caffeine and a sweet snack at the original Peet’s Coffee in Berkeley, California.  He noticed other patrons were also experiencing an afternoon slump.  It was at that moment that he decided to combine his love of coffee and baking to create a functional treat.  After creating more than 50 batches of cookies in his mother’s kitchen,…

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The Elite OC

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By Greer Wylder
March 21, 2018

The Elite OC, a nonprofit business league that empowers leading young professionals to positively impact the local community and grow professionally, has grown organically to be the largest young professionals group in Orange County.  Focused on quality programming for leading, charity-minded individuals, Elite OC has hosted over 100 events to date benefitting a variety of local Orange County-based charities.  Instead of charging for events, Elite OC asks attendees to bring a donation for the chosen monthly charity, which has resulted in donations of over $135,000 and 23,000+ life-enhancing items given to 95 local charities since inception.  Items such as books,…

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