Laguna Niguel , CA September 2020 by City Lifestyle

CityLifestyle.com/LagunaNiguel

SEPTEMBER 2020

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Style

is sue!

OC FASHION WEEKÂ® THE KEY TO FEELING BEAUTIFUL THE ART OF CHARCUTERIE

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

SEPTEMBER 2020 PUBLISHER

Michael Gerard | michael.gerard@lifestylepubs.com STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Karen Reuter

September Style! FASHIONISTAS, THIS MONTH’S ISSUE IS FOR YOU. We are constantly visiting boutiques and salons in pursuit of the greatest style and fashion in South Orange County, and believe us when we say our community has some impeccable taste. We all love style and fashion. And that's why we are so excited to partner up with the amazing OC Fashion Week® in this issue and cover their most recent event. Given the inability to run a traditional runway show due to the pandemic, the team at OC

AD DESIGNER

Whitney Lockhart LAYOUT DESIGNER

Dani Moore CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Elizabeth Pearson, Rod Alan Baker, Barbara Kimler CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Karen Reuter, Reem Abousaif, Steve Manivong, Arezoo Jalali, James Giovanni Pan

Fashion Week® got creative with The Great Gatsby Experience—showcasing the amazing behind the scenes talent in Orange County's burgeoning fashion industry. You can read all about it on Page 20. We're also expanding our team here at Laguna Niguel Lifestyle. Rod Alan Baker is a renowned Southern California designer and personal stylist based in South Coast Plaza. You can find him most days working his magic for high profile clients in the world’s most prestigious luxury retail stores. It's no easy feat narrowing down the hottest trends for this fall season, but Rod offers some valuable advice on page 32. Moving forward, you can expect to hear more from Rod as a regular columnist covering the latest fashion trends. So go ahead and grab your credit card because, by the time you finish reading this issue, you’ll be halfway out the door and on your way to a brand new look.

CORPORATE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

Finally, what is style and fashion without personal care and wellness? After all, true

AD MANAGER Chad Jensen

beauty entails much more than how we look on the outside. In this issue, we'd like

REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eric Williams

to introduce you to Elizabeth Pearson—an executive career coach to powerhouse

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

women who "feel stuck." Elizabeth, a well-known thought leader who regularly appears on broadcast media, shares the secret to feeling beautiful. Best of all, she lives right here in Laguna Niguel! We're honored to have Elizabeth Pearson on our team—and you can expect to see a lot more of her in the future as well. So style-up, Laguna Niguel! Everyone deserves to look in the mirror and love what they see. While we already think you look great, we can’t wait to see you around town rocking your new fashion finds. Cheers!

Michael Gerard, Publisher ON THE COVER OC Fashion Week® MODEL: Regina Knoll FASHION DESIGNER: Couture Aprons PHOTO: Reem Abousaif MAKEUP ARTIST: Diana Mattes LOCATION: Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel 4

Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

514 W 26TH ST., KANSAS CITY, MO

CityLifestyle.com/LagunaNiguel

Proverbs 3:5-6 Laguna Niguel Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Laguna Niguel areas’ most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Laguna Niguel Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

CityLifestyle.com/LagunaNiguel

INSIDE THE ISSUE SEPTEMBER 2020

FEATURES 10 Self-Acceptance Why It’s the Key to Feeling Beautiful

20 Oc Fashion Week® Showcases Designers in a New Way The Great Gatsby Experience Brings Behind-the-Scenes Talent to the Spotlight

26 Pacific Gallery in Laguna Beach Pacific Gallery Features Over Fifty Artists and An Eclectic Collection of Colorful Artwork

20 10

30 The Art of Charcuterie Laguna Niguel Resident Creates Amazing Edible Art

DEPARTMENTS 4

Lifestyle Letter

Around Town

Locally Owned

Renovate & Refine

20 Trend Setter 26 Artist’s Palette 30 Food & Wine 32 Local Limelight

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AROUND TOWN

ST. ANNE WELCOMES DR. JOE REIKEN AS HEAD OF SCHOOL St. Anne recently announced the appointment of Dr. Joe Reiken as its next Head of School. Dr. Reiken is

Southern

California

native

who earned multiple degrees from UCSB including a Bachelor’s in Psychology, and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Education. Dr. Reiken started his career as a math teacher and spent thirteen years at Bishop Garcia Diego High School in Santa Barbara. He most recently served as Head of School at Holy Family High School in Glendale leading that community to achieve new levels of accomplishment in education, enrollment, and advancement. Dr. Reiken embraces the St. Anne culture and is uniquely qualified to be its steward as we embark into the 2020-2021 school year and beyond. st-anne.org

LAGUNA NIGUEL HISTORICAL SOCIETY INVITES YOU TO JOIN The purpose and goal of the Laguna Niguel

Historical

Society

Preserve the Past, Enrich the Present, and Promote the Future. To that end we collect, archive, and display historical documents, historical artifacts and sponsor events and activities that educate and celebrate our history. We invite you to join us and we welcome any contributions of historical photos, documents, etc. that tell the story of Laguna Niguel. Contact us at: LagunaNiguelHistoricalSociety.com

Would you like to get in touch with us? We would love to hear from you! Contact us at CityLifestyle.com/ LagunaNiguel using the Get In Touch link and let us know what you think. 8

Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

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LOCALLY OWNED

SELFA C C E P TA N C E WHY IT’S THE KEY TO FEELING BEAUTIFUL

“THE BEAUTY OF A WOMAN IS NOT IN A FACIAL MOLE, BUT TRUE BEAUTY IN A WOMAN IS REFLECTED IN HER SOUL. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.” – Audrey Hepburn Seeing how this is the fashion issue, let me start by saying there is nothing wrong with appreciating fine clothes, luxurious skincare, exquisite handbags, and outer to the compulsion to fixate on our external beauty alone. How many of us have lost touch and the ability to see the beauty that is present no matter what we look like? We’ve forgotten that outer beauty stems from the divine greatness that lives inside our souls.

Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

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ARTICLE ELIZABETH PEARSON True beauty is comprised of a person’s personality, love of themselves, and selflessness. While these aren’t usually the things that come to mind when someone is labeled beautiful, they are arguably the things we love most about a person—not how they look. They shape our appreciation for someone because their personality and integrity take time to develop through personal exploration and life experiences. Something else that makes them more magnetic and attractive? Self-acceptance. Accepting yourself is done by forging your own path without caring what other people think. The most charismatic people are those who live in alignment with their true selves and don’t subscribe to the ideals of conventional beauty. Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh tells us that we’re at our most beautiful when we act in conjunction with our inner selves. He explains that in this state, we aren’t seeking acceptance from others. Instead, our hearts and souls are what validates us. How do we get to a state of self-acceptance? CHANGE HOW YOU RELATE TO YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS OR FAILURES. When you achieve something, is it because others have helped you? Or is it because you worked really hard? It’s important to take the reins of your own life. To do that, you have to recognize your own value and abilities. ONLY LISTEN TO YOUR INNER VOICE. Everyone has an opinion: your family, your professors, your bosses, your co-workers, your friends, partners, and even social media. In a noisy world, the most important voice is typically the first one to be silenced: your own. Every once and a while it’s healthy to block out all that ambient noise so you can listen to yourself and make your self-care a priority. FOLLOW YOUR PASSION. People who are gutsy enough to create their unique path, without caring what others think, will always seem more attractive. That’s because the most exquisite people are the ones who buck the norms and social conditioning to instead be their authentic selves and live the life they want to live, not the life their parents expect them to live.

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/LagunaNiguel

LOCALLY OWNED (CONTINUED)

Instead of trying to overcome or urge to focus on our physical appearance, we can embrace radical self-love for all the beautiful

parts that make us who we are. But how? We start by becoming aware of our thoughts. Time for a new inner dialogue if you’re: 1. FOCUSING ON FLAWS. When we highlight our perceived “flaws” it obstructs our ability to recognize the beautiful attributes that are inherent in us all. Instead, remember what your mother told you - if everyone were the same, it would be a boring world. Your “flaws” are the best parts of you. 2. BODY CHECKING. Are you able to walk by a mirror without

checking for imperfections? Or do you critique one particular area of your body with laser focus? This might be a compulsive behavior known as body checking. It’s when you frequently comparing how you look now to past photos, do daily weigh-ins, and hold onto clothes that no longer fit. If you catch yourself doing any of these, stop and reflect on what’s motivating the habit. Likely, the attention to your body image isn’t necessarily driven by wanting to look a certain way, rather it’s used as a coping mechanism for low self-esteem and feelings of anxiety. 3. CONSTANTLY COMPARING. Why is it so hard for us to feel unapologetically proud of our appearance? We compare ourselves to models and deem our “brand” of beauty unacceptable. Instead, we need to embrace our uniqueness – and find a tribe that does too. If you are surrounding yourself with one-uppers or frenemies that love to compare their life to yours, kindly and respectively ditch them. You are way too fabulous to have someone in your circle trying to get you to question that fact.

Self-Care Tips for Everyday TIP 1 MEDITATE. Meditation can wipe away the day’s stress, bring forward feelings of inner peace. Carve out time to take silent moments for yourself each day. Just 10-20 minutes of meditation has also been linked to increasing self-awareness and reducing negative emotions.

4. SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR FAILURE. Too many of us seek virtually unattainable levels of perfection, reinforcing the idea

TIP 2 MOVE YOUR BODY. Strive for three or more 45-60-min-

that our beauty will never be ‘enough’. We lie to ourselves and try

ute sessions per week of aerobic exercise or resistance train-

to convince our hearts that we’ll be happy when (insert perfect

ing, which has been shown to help relieve stress and negative

weight or financial situation). The thing is, once you get your (fill

thinking patterns.

in the blank) you’ll just tell yourself you need something else to make you feel good about yourself. Instead remind yourself that

TIP 3 GROUND. Grounding/Earthing is the discovery of bene-

perfection does exist, and it’s you—right now—as you are.

fits from walking barefoot outside in the grass, sand, or stand-

Sit with yourself and your emotions for a few minutes.

ing on natural stone. 10-20 minutes of going barefoot allows for

Connecting with yourself gives you the ability to become your

the transfer of the earth’s electrons from the ground into the

true self, through self-acceptance and self-love which will foster

body, which has been beneficial to alleviating feelings of:

natural beauty from the inside out.

+ chronic fatigue + chronic pain + anxiety and depression + sleep disorders + cardiovascular disease

Elizabeth Pearson is Executive Career coach to Powerhouse women who feel “stuck”. She lives in Laguna Niguel with her husband and two young daughters. Learn more at elizabethpearson.com 12

Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

CityLifestyle.com/LagunaNiguel

RENOVATE & REFINE

G L OW I N G SKIN

ARTICLE ELIZABETH PEARSON

WHY IT’S YOUR BEST ACCESSORY: A PERSPECTIVE FROM ARCONA CO-FOUNDER, CHANEL JENAE BEVERLY HILLS FACIALIST TO THE STARS, CHANEL JENAE KNOWS ALL THE SECRETS TO GETTING LUMINOUS SKIN. With over 18 years in the beauty business and co-owner of Arcona Studio, she has perfected the path to a glowing complexion. I had the pleasure of sitting down with her to discuss ways we can achieve healthy and beautiful skin--even while social distancing.

Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

CONTINUED >

YOU’RE KNOWN ACROSS THE GLOBE FOR YOUR PRODUCTS AND FACIALS. WHAT MADE YOU PURSUE A CAREER IN SKINCARE? My obsession with skincare has been lifelong. I was interested in all facets of skin health, treatments, and ingredients from my earliest adolescence—I got my esthetician license while in high school. What is most gratifying for me are the amazing relationships formed with clients and witnessing the incredible transformations in their skin—seeing their confidence soar. I have studied many skincare modalities, but my favorite is our signature facial contouring massage which contours and sculpts the face, lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness and stagnation, acupressure to improve circulation. I feel incredibly lucky to do work that I am truly passionate about.

Chanel applying Arcona’s Magic Black Ice Mask that uses charcoal to cleanse, clarify, and polish, without drying or stripping the skin. CityLifestyle.com/LagunaNiguel

RENOVATE & REFINE (CONTINUED)

SINCE THE PANDEMIC, YOU’VE BECOME KNOWN FOR VIRTUAL CONSULTATIONS. ANY THINGS WE CAN DO AT HOME TO COMBAT STRESS-RELATED ISSUES SHOWING UP IN OUR SKIN? Keeping the skin clean using a gentle cleanser twice daily. In addition, I love these cleansing pads we have called Triad Pads to cleanse, tone, and refresh the skin throughout the day. They contain gentle but effective witch hazel and rice milk to cleanse and dissolve dirt, makeup, and grime--along with powerful antioxidants white tea, grape seed extract, and cranberry fruit extract. They are effective for all skin types and great on the go. Also, be sure to switch to a lightweight moisturizer with natural ingredients to calm any skin irritated from wearing facial masks.

One of Arcona studio’s heavenly treatment rooms where clients get pampered.

Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

Arconaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bestselling Triad Pads, Wine Hydrating Mask, and Wine Oil - all available for purchase at Ulta.com

ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD DO TO HELP WITH MASK-ACNE OR IRRITATION?

+ Clean your skin immediately once you get home and allow to it breathe. It is also great to get in the habit of using a purifying face mask to cleanse the skin of impurities. I especially love a charcoal mask we make Magic Black Ice Mask that cleanses and clarifies and polishes beautifully without drying or stripping the skin.Â

+ Once a week use a yogurt mask. Apply organic plain full-fat yogurt to clean for 20-30 minutes. It has active bacterial cultures that can soothe, clear, and calm the skin, as it contains naturally occurring lactic acid that also helps to gently exfoliate.

CityLifestyle.com/LagunaNiguel

TREND SETTER

OC FASHION WEEK® PREMIERED THE GREAT GATSBY EXPERIENCE AS A WAY TO INTRODUCE FASHION DESIGNER COLLECTIONS THIS YEAR IN THE LUXURY MARKET OF CALIFORNIA. The famous novel, The Great Gatsby, is one of Scott Fitzgerald’s most compelling stories. The literary classic was retold as a Summer Romance on Ritz Carlton Drive by OC Fashion Week®’s Fashion Designers, Actors, Models, Jewelers, Photographers, Hair Stylists and incredible Makeup Teams. “This was truly an exciting endeavor for us this season,” said Kathryn Marino, owner and operator of Orange County Fashion Week®. “We understood that we couldn’t quite have the Runway shows we had done in the past due to obvious circumstances, but we also knew that we could tell a story through print and digital media--promoting all of the creative talents behind designer collections with minimum crowds required.”

Erika Taylor and Conrad Johnson, Designer: Couture Aprons, Wig: Jasmine Barnes, Menswear: ZeglioSD, Makeup: Diana Mattes

CONTINUED >

C O O FA SHI N WE E K® THE GREAT GATSBY EXPERIENCE BRINGS BEHIND-THESCENES TALENT TO THE SPOTLIGHT

Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

+ MODEL: Jaenna Wessling + DESIGNER: DesignzbyRaga + PHOTOGRAPHER: Steve Manivong + MAKEUP: Michael Hanger

CityLifestyle.com/LagunaNiguel

TREND SETTER (CONTINUED)

+ MODEL: Kimmy Jenkins + DESIGNER: Bash Paris + JEWELRY: KD Luxe Jewelry + PHOTOGRAPHER: Arezoo Jalali + MAKEUP: Diana Mattes

+ ACTOR: Andre Montano + MENSWEAR: ZeglioSD + PHOTOGRAPHER: Steve Manivong

Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

+ ACTRESS: Shaelin Carr + DESIGNER: Ugochi Iwuaba + PHOTOGRAPHER: James Giovanni Pan + MAKEUP: Diana Mattes

+ MODELS: Erin Ashley Guy (L) and Jenna Wessling (R) + DESIGNER: The Capsule Apparel + PHOTOGRAPHER: James Giovanni Pan + MAKEUP: Diana Mattes

Over many years of building events, OC Fashion Week® has

retold through creative talent production. Each cast member and

always recognized the amazing talent behind the scenes of its cat-

creative brought their unique perspective; and each had an eye for

walk shows. This event allowed OC Fashion Week® to pay tribute to

mood-setting to depict some of our favorite scenes from the legend-

these highly talented artistic creatives, and showcase their contribu-

ary tale, The Great Gatsby.”

tions to the fashion industry as a whole.

The fashion designers of OC Fashion Week premiered the excite-

“We aren’t all apparel, DJs, lights, and models,” added Marino. “We

ment through limited designer collections making our rendition of

are in a ground-breaking industry of influencers in the world of phe-

the Roaring 2020’s so compelling,” furthered Marino. “It was also

nomenal make-up, hair, photography, styling, jewelry, international

important for us to retell a story that everyone loves and one that

sourcing and fashion designer collections. So, we decided to focus

could parallel the same luxuries that our Orange County coastline

this season’s event on the creatives behind the lens of OC Fashion

offers. We did this through one of our favorite novels of all-time as

Week®. We changed the point of view from the runway to a story,

The Great Gatsby.” OCFashionWeek.com CityLifestyle.com/LagunaNiguel

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Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

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pacific gallery

ARTIST’S PALETTE

IN LAGUNA BEACH THREE OF THE ARTISTS WHO CONTRIBUTE TO AN ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF COLORFUL ARTWORK PACIFIC GALLERY HAS BEEN A PRESENCE IN LAGUNA BEACH SINCE THE LATE 1980’S. Known for its eclectic, colorful collection of handmade art, the gallery features collections from over 50 artists. Patricia and Blake Bailey purchased the gallery in June 2018 from Cami and Gary Levin whose art is still showcased there. The Bailey’s conducted an extensive remodel of the gallery and added several new local artists to their collection. They are open for business and invite the community to visit and peruse their collection. Visit online at pacificgallerylb.com.

Blake Bailey

Blake Bailey is a self-taught artist who expresses his love of the ocean through his art, on display year-round at Pacific Gallery, which he owns with his wife Patricia. Bailey loves the sea and the beach. He was raised in Orange County and whether he was deep-sea fishing with his dad or surfing with friends, the ocean has always been a major part of his life. In his own words, “The ocean gives me an endless supply of beautiful and amazing subject matter. My sculpting is free in nature with no real plan much of how I live my life.” An entrepreneur at heart, Blake held his first art exhibit in his mom’s garage. He organized the space and created promotional fliers to sell his tin foil sculptures and paintings. Blake later worked as an artist assistant creating installation pieces for many different types of artists. As a special effects artist and expert mold maker, he works with different mediums although his current focus is abstract sea life sculptures. He has received many awards throughout his artistic career. Born and raised in Santa Ana, Bailey lives in Dana Point with his wife Patricia and two children. 26

Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

ARTICLE BARBARA KIMLER PHOTOGRAPHY KAREN REUTER

Cami Levin grew up in Southern California and was exposed to creative work from birth. Her father created large stained-glass windows and her mother designed clothing and handbags. There was always support for Cami’s creative efforts, however in college, she decided to pursue a degree in Psychology. It was not until after college that

Cami Levin

Cami realized her true passion—creating art! With minimal formal training, Cami experimented intensely with many different artistic styles and mediums. As a self-taught artist, her mixed media work has evolved into a style that is dominated by color, pattern, and texture. Cami’s art is heavily influenced by the natural world and nostalgia of her childhood. Her most recent works, the Trees of Love are decorated with symbols of hope, love, happiness, and stories of life. Cami’s art has been exhibited in numerous group and solo shows, and is included in private collections around the world. Her original Tree of Love wall pieces are painted, sculpted and assembled on wood panels. Each circle on art pieces has been individually sculpted, textured, hand-painted, and adorned with collected objects including gemstones, vintage watch faces, flowers, crystals, vintage keys, beads, hex nuts and other items. The trees are then coated in an epoxy resin which permanently embeds each object and also creates an irresistible glass appearance. The tree’s roots reach deep into the earth, their branches extend to the heavens, and trunks connect the space in between. Trees mediate between heaven and Earth, symbolizing the soul’s journey of love. Cami currently lives in Dana Point where she is blessed by a daily abundance of divine inspiration.

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/LagunaNiguel

ARTIST’S PALETTE (CONTINUED)

Christopher Pecharka is best known for his public art installations in Dana Point including The Top Men bronze sculptures at The Ocean Institute, the Veteran’s Memorial Eagle at The Strand, the Doris Walker Memorial at Heritage Park, and the historical mural at the Nature Interpretive Center. He began drawing and sculpting at the age of five. The sixth of seven sons, Christopher grew up in the small town of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and began earning money as an artist while still in high school. After graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 1982, he worked in advertising but found better opportunities for artists in California, so he moved to Orange County in 1990. Since then, he’s worked as a t-shirt artist, book illustrator, architectural landscape model maker, Hollywood special effects and prop sculptor, artist in residence then art director for the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. He’s been commissioned for three public sculptures by the City of Dana Point. Working in many mediums including oil and acrylic paintings, sculptures, murals, illustrations, and drawings, his style includes a multitude of subject material including landscapes, seascapes, people, animals, cartoons, and abstract. While art is his first love, Christopher also writes essays, short stories and humorous poetry. His current work is a children’s novel to include his own illustrations which he hopes to complete by this fall. Pecharka lives and works in Laguna Niguel with his wife and agent Tracey and two rescue dogs. In addition to his love of art, he enjoys traveling, reading, and anything to do with history.

Christopher Pecharka 28

Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

September Featured Artist

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L AG U N A B E AC H - S COT TS DA L E - S A N TA F E CityLifestyle.com/LagunaNiguel

FOOD & WINE

+ Charcuterie options should be what you love! I always enjoy a few salami choices, soppressata, and proscuitto

+ Use 3 or 4 different cheese types. Ideally a hard, soft, and semi-soft cheese, also mixing up with milks. Here we have a cow’s milk French brie, a manchego from sheep milk, a blueberry vanilla goat’s cheese, and a sage cheddar as another cow’s milk cheese.

Fresh and dried fruits bring color, texture, and sweetness

ARTICLE ELIZABETH PEARSON PHOTOGRAPHY PICNIC ARTISANAL GRAZING

The Ar t of Charcuterie LAGUNA NIGUEL RESIDENT, LORYN PURVIS, CREATES SPECTACULAR, AND DELICIOUS, EDIBLE ART

Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

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+ Honey is a crucial part of every

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anal Grazing

board. It brings balance to your bite of salty or mild cheese. THE WORD CHARCUTERIE CAN BE INTIMIDATING. Tricky to pronounce and harder to spell, many see it on a menu and shy away from learning what it’s all about. The word itself is a French term meaning “cooked cold meats.” It is the art of preparing cured or smoked meats. Charcuterie Boards, or Grazing Boards as they are commonly called today, are created when charcuterie, cheese, and a few of their best friends like honey, jams, crackers, olives, fruit, and other grazing items get together to create an eye-catching display of edible art. Grazing is the idea of eating small portions of food + Everything on the board has a purpose. Cucumber is a wonderful palate cleanser between bites.

throughout the day, in place of a regular meal. Grazing boards and boxes are perfect for social gatherings because they are beautiful to look at and delicious to eat. They are both the meal and the décor. When Covid-19 kept Laguna Niguel local, Loryn Purvis, from her job as a cooking instructor at Tspoons Cooking School, something new was bound to be born. Picnic Artisanal Grazing offers Picnic Boxes, platters, and boards packed full of everyone’s favorites--charcuterie, cheese, house-made jams, and all of the other traditional accompaniments. Loryn says, “I am grateful for every single box I pack, knowing that behind it is a person entrusting me with something special. Whether it’s a birthday celebration, anniversary, baby shower, thank you gift,

Crunchy

nuts

are

the

perfect contrast to creamy cheese. Just be sure to keep the seasonings simple.

date night-in, or beach picnic, all those moments are precious to me because they are precious to you.” Contact Loryn Purvis, Picnic Artisanal Grazing, at 949-322-0008, picnicartisanalgrazing@gmail.com, or picnicartisanalgrazing.com

CityLifestyle.com/LagunaNiguel

LOCAL LIMELIGHT

Rod Alan Baker ARTICLE MIKE GERARD PHOTOGRAPHY KAREN REUTER

SOUTH COAST PLAZA’S RENOWNED DESIGNER AND STYLIST SHARES ADVICE ON BEING ‘EXTRAORDINARILY YOU!’ DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR CLOTHES ARE COMMUNICATING WHO YOU ARE WITHOUT YOU EVER SAYING A WORD? That could be good or bad! Rod Alan Baker, clothing designer, wardrobe designer, stylist, author, keynote speaker, business owner and now Laguna Niguel Lifestyle columnist, has been dressing both men and women for over forty years now. If he doesn’t make it, he shops for it. He’ll shop for you, or with you. 32

Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

“Dressing today is a lot different than it used to be,” Rod says. Back when he started his first personal stylist business at age nineteen, business dress for both men and women was pretty standard. Men wore suits and ties, and women wore suits with skirts or pants and dresses. “I concentrated then on making sure people had a good working wardrobe for the demands of their businesses and positions,” reflects Rod. And making sure that everything fitted well and for the men, he designed--and still does design--a line of custom garments. Rod’s line is rod alan. You can see his designs on rod-alan.com Today, especially coming out of this pandemic, it’s changed even more. Business casual started about twenty-five years ago and people were confused about what to wear then. What is business casual? But now that many of us are working from home; and the demands of going to an office may go away permanently, or at least way less than before. Now what do we do for our dress or casual business attire? “Forget business,” many wonder. “How about what to wear for just life?” That’s where Rod steps in. Rod shops as a stylist for both men and women all over the southland. Rod will even travel abroad. His hub where you can find him almost everyday shopping is South Coast Plaza. “It’s all right there!” Rod says. It’s beautiful, glamorous, elegant and it has 250 of the finest in current luxury stores in the world right at your fingertips. “It’s the Best place to shop!” Rod says. Also, with the whole Covid back and forth shut down thing, the Plaza is continuing to step up their game by making your shopping experience inside and outside spectacular. They have Curb-side pickups, Pop-up stores throughout the property, and of course a couple of dozen stylists just like Rod that can help you find the best pieces for whatever your lifestyle demands. Check it out on www.southcoastplaza.com Rod’s “Extraordinarily You” concept makes it not only easy to dress, but also to buy the right clothing that communicates exactly what you want to say, without saying a word. Dressed up, Dressed casual or Dressed to communicate the “Extraordinarily You” masterpiece you were created to be. You can find Rod online in several locations. Or, visit him at any of the following social media handles: for shopping: @rod_alan_baker. For his custom line: @rodalan_custom. For his “Extraordinarily You” book series and speaking engagements: @extraordinarilyyou_ “You never know when your going to meet that one person, who could change you’re life ...forever.” So always Be, “Extraordinarily You!” - Rod Alan Baker rod-alan.com

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Laguna Niguel Lifestyle | September 2020

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