When it comes to breakfast and brunch Orange County will not disappoint you. There is an array of amazing choices; just like the one we are about to indulge in; Snooze an A.M Eatery. So if you and your friends are looking for a new place to try out for brunch Snooze might just be it. It is located in the Tustin Market Place Shopping complex right off the 5 Freeway. The ambiance is very cool, has futuristic elements, lots of bright colors, music, and a 50’s diner vibe. They offer both indoor sitting and an outdoor patio. They key with this place is to put your name of the list before you go in and then they text you with a time to come and check in. However Yelp only allows you to put your name on the list if you are within a 5 mile radius. It gets quite busy on both the weekends and weekdays so that is the best option. But trust us; it is so worth the wait! The outdoor waiting area offers coffee and water for you to sip on while you play with the giant board games.

The menu offers a wide selection of breakfast, sandwiches, healthier options, desserts, amazing pancakes, eggs, and even drinks. So don’t worry there is food for all the taste buds. Down below are some of the dishes we have tried. A personal favorite is the Shrimp and Grits/ with a side of Blueberry  Pancakes! They also offer an amazing Ham Benedict.

But don’t just take our word for it; go check it out for yourself and tell us what you think!

A look of the rest of the selection offered at Snooze!
*Image Courtesy of Yelp*

  Located in: The Marketplace

Address: 3032 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92782

Menu: snoozeeatery.com

Phone: (714)415-6269

When it comes to dining in Orange County there will never be a shortage of places to try. The list just seems to get longer and longer, but we are not complaining. Our latest discovery has been Cafe Gratitude in Newport Beach. This location is a plant based eatery. It offers amazing juices and a wide selection of cocktails, beers, wine, and wellness shots. There is both a darling outdoor patio and indoor sitting. The decor is very rustic, modern, and has a touch of elegance but never stuffy.

The food is delicious and sustainable. They offer no meat but you wont feel like you are missing out because the flavors are tangy, spicy, and well crafted. I would highly recommend the Eclectic- Buffalo Cauliflower. I have had plenty of Buffalo Cauliflower but this one had to be one of the most memorable. Also the portion sizes here are generous and you are getting good value for your money. In terms of the juices the OC Squeeze recommendation would have to be the Clean: Detox. 

Okay but let’s not forget dessert; The Awakening: Key Lime Pie is hands down our recommendation. This pie had to be one of the best key lime pies that we have ever tried.  It also has a different type of consistency it felt unique. A little nutty if we must say! It made me think of pistacho ice cream.

Give this place a try if you are in the area; and if not they do also have then in different cities such as Beverly Hills, Venice, and San Diego; to name a few!

Some Fresh Juices!

The wide selection of food available.
*Image not our property! Credit: Cafe Gratitude’s  Website*

A nice latte to get your day started!
*Image not our property! Credit: Cafe Gratitude’s Website*

Selection of Superfood Smoothies, Wellness Shots, or a Herbal Tonic are all available to order!
*Image not our property! Credit: Cafe Gratitude’s Website!*

Have a wonderful week everyone and let us know if you have tried this location or any of the other ones!

Irvine Spectrum Outdoor Skating Rink During the Holiday Season! Picture Credit: Irvine Spectrum Center Website

Well the holiday season is officially in full bloom! We are 12 Days away from Christmas and a few weeks away from a new year! 2017 sure has flown by! But let’s take some time to enjoy the holiday season and all the festivities this time of year bring! Also don’t forget to stop and smell the roses and just enjoy some time with your loved ones! There are plenty of fun holiday activities to go to right now! But one that we just love doing year after year is ice skating! While yes, you can skate at indoor ice skating rinks year round, The Anaheim Ice Rink being one of the best spots for open skating or lessons, today we want to remind you to go festive ice skating. The Irvine Spectrum puts on a really incredibly outdoor ice skating rink year after year.  And you don’t have to be a pro to enjoy it!

The outdoor skating rink is right by the Giant Wheel and the Hello Kitty Cafe (a fave of ours, or mine)  just giving you some landmarks so you can easily find it! The outdoor skating fun will run up until January 07, 2017; so if you haven’t yet gone you still have some time to check it out.

Thursdays are themed skating days, from 6:00pm-8:30pm show up in theme and receive $5.00 off the ticket price! Also there is DJ music, prizes, and entertainment. The themes are really fun and festive; examples of some past ones are Ugly Sweater, Crazy Christmas Hats! And there is still a few weeks left so don’t miss out on some of the upcoming themes like Jingle Bells & Santa’s Helpers, New Years Sparkle, or Thursday Night Football! For up to date information you can always check out the website!

Information:

Runs until January 07, 2017

Prices: 

$20.00/ person; rental included

$18.00/ bring your own skates

$16.00/ toddlers

$4.00/Socks

For more information on specific dates, hours and details please visit:

www.shopirvinespectrumcenter.com/entertainment/ice-rink/

There are miles upon miles of coastline in Orange County. And everyone has”their” beach! Well ours is in Laguna Beach! Laguna Beach as many of you know is highly regarded for its art galleries, Pageant of The Masters Festival, California cool restaurants, fun bars, and an abundance of chic and sophisticated hotels to choose from! But the beaches are a must explore for any visitor or local. If you are local you probably have that “hidden spot” you run off to every time. And if you’re visiting you probably want ideas. One beach in Orange County that totally stole our hearts is not Main Beach as many would expect, not that Main Beach isn’t fun, but Treasure Island Park and the area known as Blue Lagoon is just such an amazing destination. It is peaceful! Serene! And the water is just simply stunning! And there is plenty of space to lounge around. Rocks to climb and some pretty cool looking caves! The rocks are very sharp and should be explored with caution; keep your shoes on is what we are trying to say!

Laguna Beach, Ca

The stairs down to the beach from Treasure Island Park

The area is just around the corner from the Montage Hotel! So it is really clean and mellow! There is paid meter parking available so that is a plus. However when you are coming down to the parking lot proceeded with caution because the road bends slightly almost making you think you are hitting a dead end street but keep going and it’s hard to see if another car is coming since it’s a two way street but it is very narrow! Parking is very limited, so during the busy season  make sure to get a head start on the crowds and arrive early!

Laguna Beach, California

Some cool rocks to explore!

Orange County, California

Let us know what you think of this area!!! 

Until next time,

OC Squeeze Team

What a better way to spend a day in Orange County than at the beach! And with the wide range of options you have to choose from it won’t be hard finding a nice spot in the sand somewhere. One of our favorite spots for sandy beach days is Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, CA. The Balboa Pier is one of five Orange County piers that stand today! Balboa Pier is also one of two piers that are situated in Newport Beach. The second is The Newport Municipal Pier or most commonly know as The Newport Pier. So if you are visiting the area and want to visit both piers you might have time since they are so close to each other!

One of the reasons this is very high on the list of beaches to visit in Orange County is because of the surrounding area. A few blocks away from the beach is an area called the Balboa Fun Zone, it is a small carnival style attraction. It is admissions free so you can stroll around and explore, take some pictures, or ride the Ferris Wheel! The area also has a lot of restaurants, interesting little shops, and the vibe is laid back California cool!

Ruby’s Diner for when you need a midday snack!

The waters here are beautiful! People of all ages crowded these beaches, especially on the hot summer months to tan, barbecue on the beach, swim, skim board, or play beach sports. During the busy season, that tends to run from April-September, sometimes even October with the OC weather staying in the high 80’s well into the fall; make sure you get here early to get a good spot. Since parking, fire rings, and space on the sand can get taken quite early in the day. The pier is an attraction of its own! There is a Ruby’s Diner at the end of the pier that you should walk to and maybe get an ice cream or a shake and then enjoy the view inland with your cold treat! Balboa Pier also allows bonfires on the beach so that is another major plus for us! The fire rings  are on a first come first serve basis from the hours of 6:00am-10:00pm daily. However especially during the busy season they do fill up fast

Under the Balboa Pier, Newport Beach, Ca

Balboa Pier in Newport Beach, Ca

A lifeguard house overlooking the Pacific Ocean!

Newport Beach, Ca

Waves on the sand; Newport Beach, Ca

Waves on the sand!

Parking and Additional Information: Make sure you park in the allowed marked spots in the different lots in the area. Also don’t forget to pay for hourly parking at the meters. They do fine!

I hope you all enjoyed this post! This is just the start of OC Squeeze and we can not wait to bring you more fun and exciting Orange County spots to check out! In the meantime don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook.