First Hike of the Year – Simi Peak and China Flats

January 9, 2015 by 2 Comments

IMG_7494China Flats, on the way up to Simi Peak

Thanks to a standing arrangement with my friend Deb, I take a hike about once a week, and usually somewhere that is new to me. Deb is an important part of this because without a person who will expect me to go somewhere, I will stay in my house sitting at my desk and basically just atrophying while the kids are at school. Also, she knows all the trails and she usually drives.

This week it was Simi Peak and a short jaunt through a mountaintop meadow called China Flats. Technical expertise on this hike can be found here at Nobody Hikes in LA. I’m just here to show you how amazeballs it is at the top:

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The first mile is a very do-able climb up. We were passed by a dog (and its owner).

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We stopped at a lower peak to get a geocache, because that is how we roll.

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Then the trail snakes around the back of the mountain and goes through these beautiful oak groves and meadows.

IMG_7479If you look closer you can see a hobbit.

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And here is the view from the top. That road that heads south off to the other mountains is Lindero Canyon.

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To the west you can see the ocean. Well, I guess you had to be there.

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Just hanging out. In that metal drum below me is a log book you can sign to show you reached the peak.

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Then we turned around and went back down the way we came up. It only took us about 3 hours, with a few breaks. I recommend!

 

Filed Under: Around Town, Excursions Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Halloween in the Bubble

November 12, 2014 by 27 Comments

Most people in these parts go trick-or-treating in one of three areas: Hempstead Street, Three Springs in Westlake Village, and Deerhill in Oak Park. When I say “most people” I mean most trick-or-treating aged kids and their parents that we know in Agoura Hills.

For our first Halloween as Agoura residents we went along with the popular trend and ventured off to Hempstead. I was impressed with the organization of the event – the streets into the neighborhood are closed off the car traffic, and emergency response teams and police are on hand just in case. Many of the houses are over-the-top tricked out in decorations and even operate as haunted houses. Of course everyone wants to go there.

But.

That year my kids were 5 and 3, and my husband did not come with us. They each took off in different directions, which is one thing when you’re walking along a normal street, but treacherous and nervewracking when that street is as crowded as Disneyland’s Main Street just after the fireworks.

Dude. It’s just too crowded for me. Plus because there were so many kids, they all had to stand in line at each house for their one piece of candy.

Every year since then, we’ve trick or treated here in our own neighborhood. Only every third house has a light on, and we only see a rare band of other kids out reveling, but it’s much easier for me to keep track of mine, and there’s no waiting in line. There’s no need for me to drive, find a unicorn parking space in the crowded streets around the target neighborhood, and chase my children through the crowds.

Also, it makes our neighbors feel good. There are some houses around here whose owners decorate like crazy, rigging up zombie mannequins that talk to you as you walk by, or full-on mock graveyards with things crawling out of the ground. But hardly anyone comes. Every time they open the door to my children’s cries of “Trick or treeeeeeeat!” each adult has joy on his or her face. “Wow, great to have you!” they say, or “We didn’t think we’d see any kids tonight!” And then they dump half their candy supply into my kids’ bags. After 45 minutes of this, my children are tired and their bags are full.

I know I am in the minority among parents in this town, but I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. Take a chance, I encourage you, and try trick or treating in your own neighborhood. Take back Halloween!

Sadly, this might be the last year I get away with this little family scenario. My boys were asking to go off with their friends this year, and I firmly denied. There were only a few tears, and in the end we had just as much fun as ever. But I’m not sure that will work next year. Sad trombone.

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Filed Under: Around Town, Fun, Holidays Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Winnie & Kat Women’s Clothing – “Malibu Made”

October 27, 2014 by 5 Comments

#romper#blackjumpsuit The romper that I never thought I’d wear

Diane Prince lives in Agoura Hills now, but as a single mom of three living in Malibu, she created Winnie & Kat, a line of fashionable and comfortable women’s clothing sold only through her carefully chosen “stylists.” Living so close to each other and sharing a last name (though not related, not even remotely), you would think we go way back. But Diane and I only recently made an in-person connection at her company’s home office in Westlake Village.

And boy, was I blown away.

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Diane is a motivating, dynamic personality and the team of stylists she has assembled – all women, all around the country – seem inspired by her and motivated in turn. Part of the reason she started the business, Diane says, was to empower women.

“’Malibu Made’ refers to the concept of starting out in my garage from my house in Malibu, until we moved to Westlake (office) and Agoura (home) for ease of being a single mom of 3 running a company,” she told me.

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“Part of the W&K experience is that women in Malibu, who have access to anything they could possibly want, love our clothes as do women in places where they don’t have easy access to this type of fashion like Fort Smith, Arkansas; Clayton, MO…For example, we have just started booming in Thorne Bay, Alaska”

Indeed, what really makes Winnie & Kat work is the product itself – versatile, comfortable pieces made in downtown Los Angeles.

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Each season W&K rolls out a new line of basic pieces and preserves some that are tried and true. The denim look legging, the fleece jacket, the drapey T-shirt, and the maxi skirt are all emblematic of these quality designs and fabrics with a luxurious feel to them. At a weekday social, guests were served coffee and cupcakes and invited to try on the latest look.

I don’t consider myself into fashion, and I certainly don’t spend much time shopping, but I am as vain as the next woman and when I spun around in the maxi skirt/dress I coveted on one of the stylists to the ooh’s and aah’s of several strangers, I was intrigued. The fabric felt luxurious, the skirt can also be worn as a dress, and putting it on was the easy thing. A black and gray pattern, it goes with anything. In Southern California, it can be worn in any season.

marbled maxi skirt dressIt’s a skirt AND a dress, great for travel!

Emboldened by this instant success, I tried on a few other pieces, knowing I would soon be spending time at a resort in Central America. Winnie & Kat’s summer collection was perfect. Diane generously gave me a handful of designs to show off at the tropical event I was attending.

I was in Costa Rica for 9 days and I practically lived in Winnie & Kat clothing. It can be dressed up or down, serving as loungewear, swimsuit cover ups, or versatile, comfy travel clothing.

multi dress laughing smallPhoto by Cherie-Lynn Buchanan

For me the biggest standout was the romper. It’s a jumpsuit. A jumpsuit – an item of clothing I’ve been ridiculing since seeing grown women wear them to formal events back in June. But as I told Diane, one should not diss a style before one tries it on and sees how amazing it looks on one’s body type.

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There is no easier outfit in the universe than this romper, some sparkly sandals, and a pretty necklace. I’m smitten.

You can shop online for Winnie & Kat designs but everything goes through a personal stylist. It is better to attend a home party in person (or host one) so you can try on samples before you order – the sizing can vary for different styles, plus as we all know it’s much easier to tell what works for your body type once you have it on.

Winnie & Kat is always welcoming new stylists, too. The company is only a year old and they are rapidly expanding. The way Diane Prince is forging full steam ahead it seems like her motto should be “Today: Malibu, tomorrow: the world.”

If you are local and would like to have that same introduction to Winnie & Kat that I did (and I recommend it!), attend a Girls’ Night Out or coffee at the Home Office, which they host every month since moving to the Conejo Valley.  For more information or to get involved email in**@**********at.com or call 855.936.6436
 

 

Filed Under: Events, Local Businesses Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,