Devon "Mama Yelp OC" B.'s Profile

AMAZING!  I can't say enough great things about our stay at the Donald House.  We found a great deal on Living Social and booked 3 nights in January.  The house had everything we could have ever wanted: central location, plenty of space, tasteful decorations, a fully stocked kitchen, a TV room with kid bed and TONS of toys & books, a hot tub and 2 fire pits.  I truly wished we could have stayed there forever.  We saved a lot of money by only eating out for breakfast/lunch and cooking dinner at the house.  When problems arose with the upstairs toilet and a tripped circuit, we let Jennifer know and she sent someone out within a couple of hours to fix them right away.  This was our first time renting a house and it totally transformed the way I want to vacation with my family in the future.  This is the way to go!

Kid-friendly winery right around town square.  My toddler was able to sit by the window playing with my phone while my husband and I tasted wine.  $5 for 5 tastes was a great deal, and the owner was knowledgeable, friendly and not pushy at all.  The fact that they carry a variety of local wines from different vineyards makes it a good sampling.  We even ended up buying a bottle of our favorite one.  Great way to kick off our wine-tasting weekend in Sonoma!

On our search for family friendly activities in wine country, I came across this toy store on yelp.  They had a pretty nice selection considering the size of the shop.  My son was mesmerized by the train tables and cars.  They also had several Chicka Chicka Boom Boom toys, which I've only ever seen online.  The people working there were friendly but not pushy, and we didn't feel pressured to buy anything.  I was quite surprised when we told my son it was time to go and he put down the trains and followed us out the door.  This is a fun stop for kids and adults alike.

I'm giving Depot Park 5 stars because it saved my ass after I told my 2 year old son we were going to see a train.  I had really planned to take him to Train Town, but due to a slight drizzle (just barely a sprinkle!) they were closed the entire weekend.  Anyone with a toddler knows you can't break a promise, so luckily I remembered reading about this park.  He loved climbing on the train, playing in the playground and most of all, the little museum.  The woman who worked there was nice enough to open up early for us so we could get inside where it was warm and cozy.  My son loved ringing the giant bell and running up and down the ramp at the entrance.  This place is a cute little slice of history right in the middle of one of my favorite towns. :)

After the long drive up to Sonoma, this was the first place we visited to grab some lunch.  There's not much seating, so it may be better to take your food to go if you can.  It was a cool, overcast day, and we were lucky enough to snag a table next to a sweet local woman who made quick friends with my son as we waited for our food.  

I had the grilled cheese - nice touch that they let you pick what kind of cheese you like, and though my husband thought he had ordered it with tomato it didn't appear on the receipt. :( That was ok - it was delicious with just cheddar.  He had a Reuben, which was really tasty as well.  My son had a bowl of seasonal fruit, that was pretty decent, but included a lot of melon, which I just see as filler.  As a treat, I ordered an almond Italian soda, which was just perfect.

Overall it was a cute place and I only wish I'd had room for the beehive cake - maybe next time!

Ahhhh...pure bliss and relaxation.  I purchased a Romantic Couples Escape on living social, and never having been to this spa before, I didn't know what to expect.  What my husband and I experienced was one of the best massages either of us has had in a long time.  Both Lucy and Dana are amazing at what they do.  When I wasn't melting into the table, I couldn't help think of words I wanted to use later in my review.  Lucy's hand movements were purposeful and skilled.  She didn't rush, and used her entire body to apply just the right amount of pressure.  There was one instance when I had hot stones behind my shoulder blades, warm towels wrapped around my feet and as she massaged my tired legs I felt completely at peace.  The champagne, truffles and strawberries at the end were a nice treat.  So nice, that my husband and I didn't even want to leave.  I was extremely impressed and I will be looking for any excuse to come back soon.

We booked this hotel for our 7th wedding anniversary right on the Hyatt website and got a great deal with the AAA discount.  Great location, right next to the Pike and within walking distance of Pine and Shoreline.  That area of Long Beach is so different than it used to be, and it's really cleaned up now.  The only thing my husband commented on is that he wishes there weren't so many chain restaurants taking up all the prime real estate right on the water.  

The hotel itself is so new looking a clean, you'll forget where you are the minute you step inside.  I loved the colors - muted dark lavenders and green, with sleek retro-modern furnishings.  Our King room was just the right size with a large bathroom and unique, roomy shower.  Free internet access and $7 overnight parking (normally $24) were a definite plus.  Service was friendly and nice, and the guy who checked us in even gave us a pocket walking map and pointed out the local spots to have dinner.

We visited the rooftop bar, and although the view was amazing, the place was deserted.  I think they should have later pool hours or louder music to draw more of a crowd.

Room service prices were actually reasonable and we enjoyed french toast and an omelet in bed the next morning.  The french toast was a bit too thick and overly dense for me, and while the omelet was a bit too salty, it was loaded with ham, cheddar and avocado, which I loved. The in-room coffee was actually really decent.

I would stay at this hotel again, given the chance.  My favorite part was the look of the place - it almost made me want to repaint our own bedroom lavender and green!

This event was a blast as always.  80's wear, yummy Italian apps and free-flowing champagne and vodka made for one lovely Sunday getaway.  Thanks to Hazel for throwing a great party and special thanks to Grampa for the last minute babysitting.  Even though we were looking forward to the games, cake (me) and cigars (hubby), we still enjoyed hanging out with our fellow Yelpers.  Elite events in the OC are always a guaranteed great time and a definite 5 stars! :)

I received a Groupon massasge as a gift from a friend and it was lovely.  I probably wouldn't return here on my own though.  I had my massage with Nina, and while she was very nice, she used oil instead of lotion and by the end I was super greasy!  Another thing that bothered me was that I had to ask for more pressure.  I think a good masseuse should always ask the client if the pressure is ok, not the other way around.  I probably spent way too much time thinking about how to best phrase my request before I actually said anything, but once I did, things got much better.  I finally felt like my muscles were being worked on and I could relax.

She did massage some strange parts of my body, like the inside of my ears and the tops of my feet.  Umm...okay...but other than that, I enjoyed the experience.  When she was done, she whispered "thank you" and walked out of the room.  I was drowsy (and oily); and realizing the treatment was over, I tried to wipe some of the oil off on the sheets before changing back into my clothes.  A couple of minutes later, she knocked on the door and I said I wasn't ready.  She asked if I could please hurry because she had another client waiting, which I thought was a bit rude, especially since I had arrived on time and had to wait before I was seen.

Was it a good massage?  Yes.  In the end it was.  But because of the grease factor and the attitude, I think I'll stick with Burke Williams.

I feel so guilty for never writing a review of Henry's.  As long reining duchess, I feel it is my duty to say something about this wonderful store.  It's not my favorite grocery store (of course nothing compares to Trader Joe's), but it a close second.  If you're looking for natural, organic, bulk and hard to find gourmet items, this is a good place to try.  Think of it as kind of a less expensive, smaller Whole Foods.  

It was actually taken over by Sprouts, and I've only been there once since the change, but overall things seem about the same.  The deli, cheese, and bread sections are fantastic, and they have a great variety of produce, beverages and dairy items.  I love buying spices in bulk, especially when I only need a little bit for a recipe and don't want to spend too much on a whole jar.  

Since it's within walking distance of my house, I practically lived at Henry's when I was on maternity leave.  I could put my son in the stroller and stop by for a muffin and coffee, plus pickup some fresh veggies to puree for his babyfood later.  The vitamin section is great, and I always enjoy looking through the soaps and lotions section and trying out the testers.  

The staff is very friendly and helpful, and if you bring in your own bag you get 5 cents off your bill.  It's just a small savings, but it's a nice incentive.