Shopping

Gift Guide: Nature Enthusiast

Give a piece of paradise Article by Meaghan Clark Tiernan Santa Barbara’s rocky mountain ranges and eternal 70-degree days mean seeking renewal outdoors isn’t just a benefit, but a requisite. This season, gift something for the nature enthusiast in your life, from one-of-a-kind hand-collected driftwood art to a visit to the largest Himalayan salt cave in North America. 1) Indulge Amboise Picnic Basket by Les Jardins de la Comtesse , Nomada Deco, $130 Living in any of the Nomada Hotel...

Style + Beauty

The Jewelry Edit

Legacy jewels from Belrose Estate Jewelers Article by Samantha Durbin | Photography by Emily Merrill There’s nothing like a sweet family story to warm us, especially around the holidays.  Belrose Estate Jewelers has been a State Street gem since 2007. The three-generation family-owned store is operated by Joe and Sarena Schweke, a father-daughter duo. The business started on the East Coast, where Joe’s parents opened an antique jewelry shop in 1967 on the Atlantic City boardwalk. Joe grew up...

Event Planning + Services

Oh, What Fun

A girl's dream slumber party come true Article by Samantha Durbin | Photography by Tristin Tracy Sometimes, you have to wing it. You want to make your kids' dreams come true and pull it off with a little help from friends (actually, a lot). The friends who helped make an 8-year-old girl's pajama party dreams come true were like-minded moms also with a dream: Rachael de los Cobos and Lauren Iglesias, who feel every celebration should be magical and memorable. Rachael and Lauren launched ...

Travel

Cruising the Danube With AmaWaterways

Article and Photography by Ben Malkin What better way to explore the former Austro-Hungarian Empire (I’m a history buff) than by skipping planes, trains and automobiles and letting AmaWaterways do the cruising up the Danube! Before boarding, we explored Budapest on our own. As evident in the photos, we were enchanted with magical evenings near the Danube with the river and beautiful illuminated buildings as the backdrop. When we arrived in Budapest the Obuda Secret Food Tour introduced us to...

Home + Design

Best of Both Worlds

A full home remodel in the Riviera brings the outdoors in Article by Meaghan Clark Tiernan | Photography by Josh Gruetzmacher “The views really reflect Santa Barbara,” says Sheila White of Sheila White Interiors, who helped spearhead the two-year full home remodel in the Riviera. The Pueblo-style home built in the ‘90s has views of both the ocean and mountains, something the family of four wanted to capture in their newly remodeled kitchen. White added a commercial-grade awning window to...

Health + Wellness

Longevity Retreat

Let go of the hustle of routine life and settle into a new world…one filled with empowering modalities, education, nutritional science, structured water, morning practices, longevity tools, movements, lymphatic massage, and peaceful moments of country living. January 16-19, 2025This 4-day event is held at a sacred space for healing in the foothills of Santa Barbara, CA.  Limited spaces available. Workshops include:Root Cause of IllnessMetabolic Health & WellnessFrequency...

Food + Beverage

A Simpler Thanksgiving

Guest chef Brittany Meadth’s menu and hosting tips Article by Samantha Durbin | Photography by Emily Merrill   Meet our gal for fresh, seasonal recipes, Brittany Meadth. A chef and mother of four, her family is large, and her extended family larger—she knows a thing or three about holiday cooking. Brittany’s found that delicate balance of preparing traditional dishes while avoiding laboring in the kitchen all day so she too can enjoy time with family and friends. She’s even successfully...

Home + Design

'Tis the Season for Tablescapes

Santa Barbara Picnic Co. brings coastal elegance to our picnic Article by Samantha Durbin | Photography by Emily Merrill Raise your hand if setting the table was one of your holiday tasks. If this was you begrudgingly, try taking it outside. That’s the idea Nicole Leza, founder and creative director of Santa Barbara Picnic Co., created her business around. And Santa Barbara, with arguably perfect weather, allows for the holidays and their grand meals to be celebrated outside. That’s something...

Life + Culture

CASA Volunteers Answer the Call

Step up to support youth in crisis Article by Tracy Marcynzsyn | Photography by Courtesy of CASA Many are surprised to learn that hundreds of children who have experienced abuse and neglect need assistance right here in Santa Barbara County. Each year, over 500 children receive help from dedicated volunteers who serve with CASA, Court-Appointed Special Advocates . The local nonprofit’s mission is to “assure a safe, permanent, nurturing home for every abused and/or neglected child by...

Arts + Culture

The Gift of Creativity

Holiday workshops and popups to spark the soul Article by Samantha Durbin | Photography by Sara Prince, Provided A creative workshop is a fun and therapeutic experience that can serve as a memorable gift. Or, you can extend an invitation to attend a holiday market with family or a friend to spend time together and support local makers. Here are some holiday workshops and markets that serve as gift ideas that think outside the box. Art Studio 4 Kids I’ll never forget the artwork my son...