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The makers of the popular Brazilian Blowout hair straightener have agreed to  warn consumers and hair stylists that a couple of its most popular products emit formaldehyde gas.
Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced the settlement today, which…

 
If you like Boomers Irvine, then you will definitely like this offer:
DoubleTakeDeals.com is offering you two Boomers Irvine passes for only $20, which is less than half the regular $42 price, if you buy now.
This deal is good in Irvine.
Each…

 
Do you enjoy looking at art?
It’s almost time for the First Thursday again, and that means a stroll through the many galleries in Laguna Beach.
The event runs every first Thursday of the month from 6-9 p.m.
There’s a shuttle bus that will pick you…

Do you eat gluten-free? If so, then you’ll be interested in this.
I’m giving away a very cool 261-page cookbook on how to make artisanal gluten-free cupcakes. All you have to do to enter is put a tip in the comments below on how to save money…

Kaiser Permanente employees represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers plan a 24-hour strike Tuesday to protest proposed cuts to benefits and inadequate staffing levels.
In Orange County, the union represents roughly 250 social workers,…

ANAHEIM – Are your homemade plush toys too lumpy? Your child’s sneakers too dull? Your scrapbooks and necklaces lacking in glittery pizzazz?
At the Craft & Hobby Association’s 71st winter conference and trade show Sunday, a mind-boggling array of…

Ted McKown was 17 and in the Army when he started playing guitar.
“I thought the uniform would attract the babes,” he says. “It didn’t work.
“That’s another reason why I picked up the guitar.”
At the time, he was stationed in Korea with the 7th…

Happy Saturday to you!
Why sit home, just because you don’t want to spend any money?
Here are things to do that will cost you little or nothing.
All events are free unless I have noted the small fee. And, if I forgot any, add them at the bottom.!…

 
Robb Massar remembers the exact day he picked up kneeboarding.
It was July 1, 1973 – and the first thing he did on his 16th birthday after he got his driver’s license was head to Froghouse surf shop in Newport Beach to buy a board and try out…

Want to celebrate the Lunar New Year  Year of the Dragon 2012?
Can you get up early?
Metrolink has a deal for you Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012:
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is having a free celebration starting in Irvine Saturday…

Controversial “butter queen”/diabetes drug spokeswoman Paula Deen looks dramatically different on her magazine covers than in some news photos. 
Click through this slide show for more.
 
Everyone is entitled to age naturally, and Paula Deen,…

If your honey has always wanted to go to the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, or you want to go yourself, then take advantage of this Valentine special.
Right now until Feb. 14, 2012, the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach is offering you…

It’s been three years since Nadya Suleman and her octuplets became a household name in Orange County.
The eight babies – Noah, Maliyah, Isaiah, Nariyah, Jonah, Josiah, Jeremiah, and Makai – were born on Jan. 26, 2009, averaging a little over 1…

Are you planning to eat this week?
If so, you might like to check out my favorite grocery deals this week in Southern California.
Most of these deals expire Tues. Jan. 31, 2012
To see the entire circular for each store, with all your favorite items…

Here’s one to creep you out just as we get ready for a ton of surfers to get in the water with swell on the way.
A great white shark up to 18 feet long was spotted off Imperial Beach in San Diego on Tuesday morning, prompting lifeguards to post…

It’s not hard to find Belgian waffles or Belgian chocolate whenever you have a craving. But if you’re curious about Belgian beer, pack your appetite and visit The Globe Dine Bar in downtown Garden Grove.
The continental-style pub is the creation of…

Today, Groupon is offering some great half-price deals that can make Catalina much more affordable.
These can be great bargains for pricey Catalina Island, but listen carefully to my advice, because I already did some of these last year when they…

That’s right, not a single taco, but a meal at Wahoo’s yummy fish tacos, all locations.
This is a great deal of the day from the Orange County Register, my employer’s, daily deals site.
They are only offering 2,000 of these deals and they’re half…

Only his hands move.
As Khanh Truong Nguyen sits in his garage, his wheelchair parked in front of a square piece of canvas, the artist paints in brisk, bold strokes. But as Nguyen paints his body remains utterly still except for his hands; first his…

Joan Rivers could probably write her plastic surgery jokes under general anesthesia by now. And she got a chance to air (or air out?) a few when she underwent her “734th” procedure in the premiere of the WE tv reality show, “Joan & Melissa: Joan…

 
Do you like Arby’s?
If you join their email club, they’ll send you a coupon that’s good for a roast beef sandwich when you also buy a drink.
Click here to go to the Arby’s Extras email club page
They also send out occasional coupons for deals….

It was August that Emily Ruhser last put on her bikini.
“And I need a tan,” said the college student, visiting from Iowa.
Ruhser was with a group of friends playing a game volleyball on the sand in  Huntington Beach, visiting  from the chilly…

Know someone who’s getting married?
You can win a free 156-page wedding planner and organizer just for sharing your tips about how to save money on an upcoming wedding.
All you have to do to enter my contest is to post a money-saving wedding tip…

Many a Margherita pizza has failed to satisfy because of rubbery cheese, but at Stella’s Serious Italian in Monarch Beach, handmade quality is the rule.
Tucked in a corner of a shopping plaza host to hair salons and gift shops, the restaurant’s…

Jesus, 12, believed the pills he swallowed every morning and night were vitamins until his mother sat him down on the couch a year ago.
She began to cry.
“She told me I had a sickness called HIV,” Jesus said. “I was 11. I never knew.”
His mother…

For the first time in two decades, California went a year without any whooping cough deaths, public health officials announced Tuesday.
In 2011, no one died from whooping cough, also known as pertussis, despite high levels of infection. The year…

If you’re like most people, at some point while planning a trip, you’ve wondered whether it’s cheaper to fly or drive to your destination.
Now, BeFrugal.com blog is offering calculator that’s designed to help you figure that out.
This calculator will…

I’ve been waiting for Baguetier Artisan Bakeries to open for a long time. I expected a lot of this little patisserie in downtown Huntington Beach – its chef is Joel Reno, formerly with Patina Group; he also worked at Quince, one of our favorite…

 
Do you like the Chinese offerings of Pick Up Stix?
If so, you’ll be interested in this printable coupon, good for one free chicken entree with purchase of another and two drinks. It’s good only Tues. Jan. 24 and Wed. Jan. 25, 2012.
Click here to…

Hot topics: Questions raised about Lap-Band procedures; Facial recognition technology not thrown by plastic surgery; Study says attractive pols get better play on network TV.
 
Lawmakers have questions about Lap-Band and ads 
Three House …

For Patricia Martin, 59, of Anaheim, it’s an around-the-clock job taking care of her husband, Bob, after his stroke.
She bathes him, shaves him, dresses him, feeds him and helps him with every trip to the bathroom. As part of the In-Home Supportive…

Small breasts, both natural and implants, are suddenly in the news. Is there a trend? 
Click through these photos for more examples.
 
A prominent New York fashionista has created a stir with a piece in Slate.com hoping that small …

Time to dust off your snow gear and call in sick!
Finally, some fun fluffy stuff has fallen onto local mountains, after weeks and weeks of a dry spell that had snowboarders and skiers waiting for signs of snow.
The recent storms brought the most…

If you’re looking at the rain outside or shivering today, maybe it’s time to plan a beach vacation in Cancun or the Caribbean.
It’s worth taking a look at the offerings by CheapCaribbean.com, which offers deals all over the region. Locations include…

We’ve got swell – but we’ve also got some nasty conditions out there.
If you don’t mind wind, chop, slop, dirty water and rain, today is the day for you.
There’s plenty of swell out there, with waves up to 10 feet in some spots showing up on…

I just love these freebie coupons.
Panda Express is offering you the chance today to try its Firecracker chicken entree today for free, no purchase required.
And also some coupons you can use until Feb. 14, 2012.
Today is Mon. Jan. 23, 2012.
Click…

If you’re a Broadway show lover who’s contemplating a trip to New York City, check out the Playbill Club that’s run by the famed Playbill theatrical magazine.
It’s free to join and you can get 10% to 50% discounts to shows, hotels, restaurants and…

ORANGE – Thirteen Girl Scouts from Cadette Troop 2154 toured the Orange County Animal Care facilities in Orange Sunday and delivered dog jackets and baked treats they made, all in the hopes of making the lives of homeless dogs at a little bit…

The 2012 pro surf series is officially kicking off next week, with some of the best surfers in the world heading to Hawaii for the Volcome Pipe Pro.
Among the more than 100 surfers are at least nine from Orange County, who will be battling it out at…

Cindy Crawford’s daughter is now a model for Young Versace, but do you think this outfit and pose are appropriate for a 10-year-old girl?
Click through the photos to see other images that have triggered controversy.
 
 
Former supermodel Cindy…

When your husband runs for president, your face is everywhere. And Callista Gingrich certainly stands out on the campaign trail. We wondered, and asked a few plastic surgeons, do you think she’s had work?
Click through these photos to see…

Like millions of Americans during the Vietnam War, Linda Oskins wore a metal bracelet engraved with the name of a soldier she didn’t know.
The thin, unassuming wristband – a Christmas present from her parents – served as a daily reminder of the…

The first American patent for a roller coaster design was issued Jan. 20, 1885. But its holder, an Ohio inventor named LaMarcus Adna Thompson, had already been building coasters for a couple of years. The “Father of the Gravity Ride” built dazzling…

You can get your medicine delivered to your home for free–and it will only cost you $10 for a 90-day supply, even if you don’t have insurance.
Did you know that Walmart pharmacy not only offers 90-day supplies of hundreds of generic medications for…

The last event to determine who will claim the 2011 ASP World Junior title kicked off today, with 2-3 foot waves for the Billabong Pro Juniors event being held at Burleigh Heads.
Two Newport surfers – Chase Wilson and Andrew Doheny – are among the…

I was just browsing on the GroceryShopForfree.com and Hip2Save blogs and found this matching deal for the big annual Hasbro Fun & Games event
Check out the high-value coupons available that will give you beaucoup dollars off Hasbro games!
And you can…

The train people experimented with this over the summer, and they were so happy, they kept this deal.
And you should take a look at it too:
OCTA will sell you a $10 weekend Metrolink that will allow you to ride Metrolink trains anywhere in the…

 
Groupon is offering a half-price deal today on membership to the nifty Bowers Museum in Santa Ana.
I like this museum a lot, it has interesting exhibits of cultural artifacts and folk art from around the world.
You can choose between an individual…

There are plenty of Cougars out there: the Brigham Young Cougars, the Washington State University Cougars, the fighting Cougars of East Junior High in Rock Springs, Wyo.
But when school officials were trying to come up with a mascot name for the new…

Do you need to eat gluten free?
Sprouts markets are having what they’re calling a “Gluten Free Jubilee” with 25 percent off some 2,000 products until Feb. 1, 2012.
Sprouts Tustin store
And, when you enter the store, look for the brochure that…

Downsize Fitness, a gym open only to overweight members in Las Vegas and Chicago, will open its first California club in Los Angeles this year.
The self-described “Biggest Loser”-style fitness club markets itself as an alternative to the…

Every third Thursday is always a treat, and I’m always blown away with what the crazy crew at Signal Snowboards create.
The Huntington Beach-based snowboard company has done everything from a Karaoke snowboard that you can ride and sing out of, to a…

Need something fun and active for the kids to do after school, other than demolishing your living room or playing video games?
Etnies Skatepark in Lake Forest has a free after-school skate club from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on days…

An Orange County plastic surgeon has been sued by a woman who claims he botched her breast implant surgery days before losing his medical license for having sex with a patient.
Mark Anthony Knight of Santa Ana surrendered his medical license Dec. 15,…

Are you planning to eat this week?
If so, you might like to check out my favorite grocery deals this week in Southern California.
Most of these weekly deals are good until Tues. Jan. 24, 2012.
To see the entire circular for each store, with all your…

Got some photos you need to print out from the holidays?
If you order prints online from the photo sharing site Snapfish, you can get 99 4×6 photo prints for only 99 cents, plus the cost of shipping, so the real cost is 5 cents each.
You need to use…

Maybe Yao Ming is onto something.
The former NBA star is marketing his own brand of wine in China. At about $289 a bottle, Ming’s Napa Cabernet Sauvignon an unimaginable luxury in a land where a good wage is around $10,000 per year.
But according…

Steven Hirsch, a contracts attorney, never considered his line of work dangerous until he learned about the hazards of sitting.
Hirsch, who has diabetes, exercised at the gym, but still spent most of his waking hours parked in a chair staring at a…

Need some help filling out your income taxes?
Starting on Tues. Jan. 17, low-income Brea families, individuals and students can call to make an appointment for free help filling out their income tax forms, through the Brea Family Resource Center.
The…

My daughter has been begging me to let her do a zipline and they are quite pricey, which you know if you’ve checked them out.
This one looks like a good deal: $48 for a nine-line zipline up at Big Bear that looks pretty darn amusing. The entire tour…

Want to celebrate the Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year) for 2012?
It’s the Year of the Dragon 2012.
Metrolink has a deal for you on Sat. Jan. 28, 2012:
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is having a free celebration…

The Association of Surfing Professionals is cracking down this year, sending out an announcement that it will initiate a new anti-doping policy for the world’s best surfers.
The move comes after an embarrassing botch that prematurely named Kelly…

 
Knott’s Berry Farm is offering a discount right now until Jan. 31:
If you bring in two cans of food to donate to the Orange County Food Bank, you can get in for only $27.99, which is a savings of 51%–$29 off the regular daily ticket price.
Now,…

If you spend $30 on certain participating items at CVS pharmacy, they’ll give you $10 back in a gift card.
Not bad, right? I saw this in the weekly flyer that ends Jan. 21, 2012.
Click here to see more about the CVS $10 cash card offer…

Do you like to laugh?
If you email Comedy Juice you can get free tickets to the Irvine Improv  at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012
This waives the $15 ticket price, but you do have to buy 2 items while you’re in the club, two drinks or snacks as a…

Daniele Holmberg tried to quiet her nerves as she turned her car south – toward a courthouse, toward a showdown that was long overdue.
She was one person fighting a home-refinancing industry that had chewed up and swallowed countless people just…

SANTA ANA – Bobby McDonald’s expression alternates from intense scrutiny – with chin propped on folded hands – to unbridled enthusiasm as he relays anecdote after anecdote about the DVD he’s watching in his office.
McDonald, longtime president…

More than 250 competitors showed up to the OC Throwdown on Saturday at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. The event, billed as the West Coast’s largest CrossFit competition attracted people from all over the region – and some from out of…

Metal tissue holders sold at Bed Bath & Beyond stores in Orange County have been found to emit low levels of radiation and consumers should not use them, the California Department of Public Health announced late Friday.
The holders, known as…

My 2012 resolution is to have more food meet-ups and contests for my readers. The first fan gathering of the new year is happening Sunday, Jan. 15, at Wahoo’s Fish Taco in Newport Beach.
On that night, we’ll also kick off our first big contest —…

 
Do you know about Restaurant.com deals?
I enjoy using Restaurant.com certificates and you might, too.
It’s a way to check out restaurants that you’ve never visited, and save some money at the same time.
Restaurant.com sells discounted gift…

Want some insight into how stores use psychology to encourage you to spend money?
Most people know that stores will offer a low price–sometimes even a loss leader–to get you in the door, and then point out flaws with the goal of selling you a…

Have to admit that it is a bit refreshing to see cocktail style dresses on the red carpet, and not always the over done gowns. 
They say that you always know before you go (to this particular awards show) whether you’ve won something or not. That…

The newly crowned Miss California USA 2012 went from a “9” to a “10″ last year when she had the nose broken as a child fixed, her plastic surgeon says.
 
Plenty of people were delighted for UCI student Natalie Ann Pack when she snagged the Miss…

A parody video that hit the web earlier this week and is getting gobs of attention includes this kicker:
“This commercial isn’t real, neither are society’s standards of beauty.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 1.4 million people played the…

As football season comes down to its final few weeks, we look forward to the kickoff of Cookie Season.
The Girl Scouts, that army of adorable little entrepreneurs, are getting ready to fill our pantries and cupboards with delicious cookies. The sales…

Free flu shots, dental exams and prevention advice will be on hand at a free health fair scheduled Sunday at the Westminster Civic Center.
This is sponsored by UCI medical outreach students. Specialized doctors will be there to answer questions.
The…

Want to win a four-pack of snow tubing tickets to Mt. Baldy?
All you have to do is post a comment below with a tip on how to save money on snowy activities like skiing, snowboarding, sledding or tubing.
I will pick one winner from the comments posted…

If you have a city of Orange Public Library card, you can learn a new language for free anywhere through the online learning system called Rocket Languages.
Library cardholders can sign up to learn conversational language skills at their own pace….

LAKE FOREST – More than 3,400 people flocked to Saddleback Church on Wednesday night to celebrate the life of seventh-grader Jessica Joy Rees with tears, song and praise.
It was an emotional service, delivered by the 12-year-old girl’s father, Erik…

Patricia Schneider was back at home in Capo Beach when she got the following text message from her husband:
Please pray for Daniel at 3 p.m.
WHAT THE HECK?
Daniel is their 8-year-old son.
He was up at Mammoth Mountain when the text came in, skiing…

Do you like classic movies?
The Fullerton library has launched a classic movie matinee series on Thursdays. Movies are free and you can bring your own snacks, too.
Classic Hollywood will come to the the Fullerton Public Library starting in January…

Want to learn how to prune rose bushes or fruit trees? Yes, it’s that wacking time again.
Armstrong Garden Centers are offering free Saturday morning classes right now on how to do it right.
You don’t have to register, you can just show up.
Click…

Are you planning to eat this week?
If so, you might like to check out my favorite grocery deals this week in Southern California.
These deals are good in most cases until Tues. Jan. 17, 2012. And note the top sirloin and pasta sauce deals this week….

What’s on the cutting edge in plastic surgery in 2012? Here are 12 highlights.
 
It’s not as if the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, the Times Square ball drops, and a crop of new cosmetic procedures hit the market. Trends are …

A commenter way back asked why we don’t review more buffets. We replied that simply, they’re usually not very good.
So today I present a buffet that is worth noting, Lake Forest’s Spice India. The small Indian market offers an all-you-can-eat lunch…

Do you like opera?
Are you a Twitter and Facebook maniac? If so, then this clever marketing ploy is for you.
And maybe someone could call Charlie Sheen.
LA Opera is looking for people active on social media to tweet, Facebook and blog during the Feb….

With its local ingredients, inventive small plates and family-style dinners, 370 Common is hitting the high notes of current restaurant trends.
The restaurant, which opened last fall, is an update on Sorrento Grill, a favorite for years in downtown…

Seriously, this just beats the heck out of driving.
From now until Jan. 31, 2012, if you buy a lodging-and-lift-ticket package at Mammoth Mountain, you could be eligible to fly there free from LAX or John Wayne.
Yes, you can now fly to Mammoth…

This is a cool deal that IKEA has just started offering in its Costa Mesa store.
On the second Wednesday of every month, IKEA is hosting a free kids’ birthday party from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
This event is for kids age 10 or younger.
Each birthday child…

It won’t be as exciting as last week’s big waves, but there’s some fun surf expected to show up this week, according to Surfline.com.
Photog John Salanoa was out at Salt Creek Tuesday, and said the new swell to show on Wednesday is already building…

We’ll admit that every time we hear the words “concept car” we think of Homer Simpson, who designed “The Homer” for his brother, the head of Powell Motors. Complete with extra Homer-ish options (bowler hood ornament, sound bubble for the kids), it…

Meryl Streep has long opposed plastic surgery. But does she look too good, at age 62, to have never had any cosmetic procedures? Some think so..Click through these photos to see more.
Meryl Streep, 62, has come a long way from feeling like her…

Do you like the muffins at Mimi’s Cafe?
Right now, Mimi’s Cafe restaurant chain wants to offer you free muffins.
You can get a free four-pack of muffins if you bring in this coupon and eat breakfast spending at least $7.99 or lunch or dinner spending…

Editor’s note: A cancer-stricken mother whose quest to fill a bucket list of activities with her family and friends has died.
Heather Smith, 34, of Garden Grove, passed away Saturday, her close friend, Tiffany St. John, said Monday. Smith was the…

HUNTINGTON BEACH A circle the size of a football field made up of surfers stretched across the ocean near the Huntington Beach Pier.
In what many say is the biggest memorial tribute ever held for a surfer in Huntington Beach, friends, family and…

The paddle out for Sean Collins, founder and chief forecaster for Surfline.com, has been postponed because of the big swell expected to slam O.C.
The new day for the paddle out is Sunday, Jan. 8 at the Huntington Beach Pier to allow for less…

Returning home wasn’t easy.
After two years of serving in a war zone, Chris Castellanos said everything seemed so different than the life he knew for nearly a decade.
“It was difficult having to adjust back to the civilian world,” he said….

Although the swell is on its way down today, there were still plenty of big waves showing up Saturday along the O.C. coast.
For the surfers who were stuck behind a desk and couldn’t get to the biggest swell of the season Friday (don’t miss the photos…

The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is free the first Sunday of every month, thanks to a grant from Target.
That includes today, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. (Yes, it’s really the second Sunday, but they were closed on New Year’s Day.)
Free opening hours are 10…

Want something fun to do that costs nothing at all?
Enjoy this family film feature: Kung Fu Panda 2: Kaboom of Doom today, Saturday, January 7 at 11 am at the San Juan Capistrano library for free!
Even the popcorn is free.
Here’s the location: 31495…

A “celebration service” for Jessica Joy Rees has been set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, where her dad Erik is a pastor.
“All are welcome to attend,” says Jeff Frum, a family friend of the seventh-grader who lost her battle…

 
TUSTIN – In 2005, Johnny Bottema checked himself out of an assisted living home and moved into the Tustin Motor Lodge.
That was the year Bottema was hit by a car on his way to his job as a bicycle mechanic. That’s also when doctors found that he…

There’s no sugar coating in a controversial new childhood obesity campaign under way in Georgia.
The southern state has the nation’s second highest rate of childhood obesity and has gained national attention for a new print and video ad series….

We were already thinking of some of our favorite dolls and action figures (hey, it’s what we’re paid to do) when Barbie rolled out likenesses of Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj last month. Then a company went and put out one of the most impressive dolls…

Update: The much-anticipated swell showed strong through the morning and early afternoon, with waves hitting 10-foot and bigger at some select spots along the coast.
As the tide dropped, the waves got even better at some breaks, while other surf…

Jessica Joy Rees, the 12-year-old Rancho Santa Margarita girl who last year launched a blog and Facebook page to raise awareness about pediatric cancer after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor this past March has died.
Her family posted the news on…

Wherever wine flourishes, great cuisine follows.
If you’ve been a regular visitor to California’s Central Coast over the last two decades, you’ve seen that old rule proven in dramatic fashion.
It wasn’t long ago that the area around Paso Robles was…

Nearly a century after the Titanic’s lopsided defeat by an iceberg, we still can’t get enough of the big, doomed boat.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the disaster that killed more than 1,500 people on April 15, 1912, Guernsey’s auction house…

We’ll be rolling out posts in upcoming days on plastic surgery trends for 2012. First, some predictions by Dr. John Di Saia of San Clemente and Orange on how he thinks cosmetic medicine could be affected by the new year’s still-weakened economy….

It was one of those days when it all came together – the sun was out, the wind stayed down, and a  much-anticipated swell brought picture-perfect waves to the coast.
You had to know where to go to find the waves Wednesday, with some spots…

Below is a list detailing how and when trash haulers for each city collect Christmas trees so they can be recyled:
 
ALISO VIEJO
CR&R will collect Christmas trees for recycling through Jan. 13. Trees taller than 6 feet should be cut in half, and…

An Irvine doctor’s medical license has been revoked after he overprescribed pain and anxiety medication to a depressed patient who died of an overdose, according to California Medical Board documents made public Tuesday.
Dr. Dariush Javanshir did not…

The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is free the first Sunday of every month, thanks to a grant from Target.
That includes this coming Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. (Yes, it’s really the second Sunday, but they were closed on New Year’s Day.)
Free opening…

Big waves are expected to show along the coast this week, along with rip currents and dangerous conditions that pose hazards for surfers and swimmers.
A swimmer – identified as  William Griffin-  died on Monday after struggling in the surf at…

People can do without all sorts of things, but nearly everyone I know needs to eat. That’s why we want to know how to get the most for our money on groceries. I’m not going to tell you to shop at a cheaper store, because I’m assuming you have already…

Tuesdays are the best days to go to the movies, because you can save some real money.
Several movie theaters in and around Orange County, including in Irvine, La Mirada and Santa Ana, have $1 movies on Tuesdays, and some of them even have $1 hot dogs…

Want to go to Boomers today and play unlimited video games for only $12?
Then check out the Twelve Buck Tuesdays, good any Tuesday, at any Boomers location. You can also add on unlimited bumper boats, miniature golf, go-karts, kiddie rides and more…

HUNTINGTON BEACH – It was a hazy start to the New Year – not because of all the alcohol consumed the night before, but because of the thick fog blanket that lingered on the sand.
But just as noon approached on Sunday the thick fog disappeared,…

There’s the woman who found a stable full of starving, skin-and-bones horses – and then set out to save them.
And the woman who prayed to God for the miracle of meeting the daughter she gave away in 1929 after she was raped at age 16.
There’s the…

Do you like to shop at the Orange County Market Place?
It is located most of the year at the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, with live seasonal entertainment, special holiday events and you can even get a pair of tube socks there.
It’s open every Saturday…

SANTA ANA – The girls are hiding.
It’s time to run laps around the high school track, but four girls – best friends – are goofing off, hiding near a water fountain. They’re trying to avoid the gaze of their teacher, Angie Maldonado, who is…

Cheers and party horns rang out on the dot at 4 p.m. Saturday at The Olde Ship British Pub & Restaurant in Santa Ana.
Great Britain rang in the new year at 4 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, providing a strong local contingency of British expatriates with…

Some unusual stories about plastic surgery that you may have missed in 2011 still have people talking. 
Click here to see our slide show.
 
What in the world?
Some news stories about plastic surgery in 2011 made people stop and scratch their…

Today we celebrate the boundless joy, tears, smiles and tiara-blinding cheesiness that is the annual Tournament of Roses Parade Rose Queen. Click on the image to see a few of our favorite photos, from the very first queen in 1905 all the way through…

Gaena Song Cho had yet to cradle her newborn baby or give her a name when doctors advised her to start thinking about a funeral.
Her 7-pound daughter was born in March 2008 with a rare condition where neither of her kidneys functioned.
“I hadn’t even…

If you’re here visiting from out of town for your winter break, you’re stoked.
The weather couldn’t be nicer for the holidays, and with schools out and people on vacation, the beaches are busy with people enjoying the Orange County lifestyle.
Down in…

A paddle out for Sean Collins, founder and president of Surfline, will be held on Jan. 7 on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier.
Since Collins’ sudden death on Monday, the tributes have been coming in from around the world, with the surf…

ANAHEIM – In his signature, tall white chef’s hat, Oscar Martinez holds out a hand out as he greets just about every breakfast guest sitting on the patio at Disneyland’s Carnation Café.
With a warm smile and a twinkle in his eyes, he asks a series…

Jump into the frigged ocean … without a wetsuit?! Are you crazy?
There are plenty of people who will be shrieking and screaming as they rush into the chilly water on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier at noon on New Years Day, washing off…

It used to be that the only way you could look at fashion was through illustrations with some artists even creating their own vogue like Charles Dana Gibson with his Gibson Girls at the turn of the 20th century.
Pierre Brissaud in 1926 was today’s…

The potentially dangerous silicone-gel breast implants that are part of a mass recall in France are not on the U.S. market.
The French government is offering to pay for 30,000 women to have  implants removed that were made by the now-defunct French…

 
Bored today? Got some antsy children?
Tuesdays are the best days to go to the movies, because you can save some real money.
Several movie theaters in and around Orange County, including in Irvine, La Mirada and Santa Ana, have $1 movies on…

Do you like flowers?
Tuesday and Wednesday only, Armstrong Garden Centers is offering 40% off cyclamen plants in 4-inch pots, regularly $4.99, now $2.99.
If this interests you, maybe stop by Tues. Dec. 27 or Wed. Dec. 28, 2011. Print out the coupon…

Today you can get a free piece of clothing at the Sears Outlet store.
This is the last “Free Apparel Tuesday” of 2011, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  On these special days, all “Shop Your Way” rewards members can get a free piece of apparel (not outerwear,…

SANTA ANA – Mall madness struck late this year, with shoppers crowding Westfield MainPlace shopping center in the afternoon.
Morning at the mall was mellow, with shoppers casually browsing sale racks in the 138 stores for their after-Christmas…

After I wrote about secretly switching out the cereal I serve my kids in the morning, Cindy Gannon of Seal Beach wrote to me about her own little scam.
“Many, many ago, my girl friend and I would buy the cheap Scotch, pour it into a Chivas Regal…

Want to pick up some after-Christmas bargains today?
Some good deals to be had out there, if you’re not already all shopped out.
Check out this list of sales going on, and add your own at the bottom, if you know of one that I missed!

Aeropostale…

Are you returning holiday gifts today?
Maybe you’ve gained or shed a few pounds and that lime-green and orange sweater your mom sent you doesn’t fit anymore. And, let’s face it, it was always ugly.
Here are some tips for easier returns:

Have…

Orange County restaurants are offering a variety of special menus to ring in the new year. Click on the photo slideshow for 10 New Year’s dining ideas.
Contact the writer: ckoerner@ocregister.com or 949-454-7309

For a second, I’m frozen. I finish the cell phone call with the attorney’s office, and my first thought is How am I going to tell Nancy? What are the words you use to convey something like this to your wife? The sentences won’t form in my head.
Then,…

Alexandra “Alex” Muñoz knows where she will be today.
After attending Mass in the morning, it’s tradition for her family to head over to her grandmother’s house, just two blocks away from their Cypress home.
But Alex knows that a lot of kids can’t…

Yes, it’s Christmas, in case it slipped your mind. And you suddenly realized you forgot to get your grandma a present, or you just can’t stand to brave the madness at the malls.
Well, here’s a list of stores that offer electronic gift cards you can…

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the castle
The ladies were preparing for the Christmas-day hassle.
Five outfits were hung for breakfast through dinner,
The Duchess of Cambridge couldn’t get any thinner.
 
The Royals were…

Need something fun to do with young people over the winter break?
Or maybe you’ve got company here from out of town.
Here’s my list of free things to do.
Feel free to add your own suggestions at the bottom!

 
ETNIES SKATEPARK Visit Etnies Skatepark…

You better not snag Santa’s waves – or you might get coal in your stocking!
I was down in Seal Beach on Thursday, and Santa was out catching some fun little offshore waves coming through on the north side of the pier.
Michael Pless, owner of M & M…

UC Irvine Medical Center failed to program drug pumps to stop a medication error, which “could have contributed” to the death of a kidney transplant patient, according to a federal inspection report released Thursday.
The Centers for Medicare and…

It’s enough to make the Grinch’s heart grow a few more sizes.
Holiday shoppers continue to snap up Kmart layaways faster than presents for their own kids.
And what’s more, some Kmart shoppers, upon learning that a stranger has paid off their layaway,…

The release this week of the eagerly anticipated Americanized version of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” has us thinking about the coolest tats around. From the world of movies, sports and even our own back yard, here are a few of our favorites….

Are you all about the sweet treats this time of year, or do you crave the heartier, savory meals that come with the holidays?
I always look forward to drinking cocoa and baking cookies – especially the German butter cookies and Lebkuchen (sort of…

Mike Morgan was a surfer who would carry stoke with him wherever he went.
He was known as someone who always had a smile, a surfer who would be the first one in the water before the sun came out. The contest announcer was a friend and mentor to many,…

How would you make over Santa Claus?
The beauty website RealSelf.com put that question to some plastic surgeons recently.
No one suggested turning him in to Brad Pitt. But they had plenty of  ideas about how to “enhance” the old guy’s…

Exercising what it calls “an abundance of caution,” Wal-Mart has removed 12.5 ounce cans of Enfamil Newborn powdered formulas from the shelves of more than 3,000 stores nationwide after a newborn in Missouri became gravely ill and died…

I just want to tell you something that happened to me today.
In a few weeks, I’m taking my daughter to San Diego overnight with some of her friends, to celebrate her birthday.
I don’t want to spend a lot of money, so I was interested when I saw a…

 
Are you planning to serve a nice rib roast for the holidays this year?
Here’s my roundup of the deals out there for the holidays in 2011.
Enjoy your fabulous hunk of meat! I must say this is a meal I look forward to all year long.
Note that the…

Gastropubs have ruled food trends for quite a while now, and (finally) the combination of good food with good booze is starting to trickle its way down to South County.
I’d been holding my breath for Bru Grill and Market to open in Lake Forest since…

Want to save some money?
 Macy’s department store says today is the last one-day sale they’re holding before Christmas
You can save up to 70% on various items today (Wed. Dec. 21, 2011).
And there’s a $10 off $25 coupon in today’s Orange County…

From two Kardashians to a single Kate Middleton, 2011 saw some big deal weddings. You may now “Kiss” the bride as even Gene Simmons tied the knot to longtime girlfriend Shannon Tweed who sadly picked out her Rene Caovilla wedding shoes some 10 years…

Huntington Beach is holding a series of festive downtown art walks every third Wednesday of the month, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Tonight is Third Wednesday (Dec. 21, 2011) and that means the art walk in Huntington Beach with fun things to do and some…

SAN CLEMENTE – For 77 years she kept it hidden inside.
Her secret.
Each May 22, Minka Disbrow silently wished a happy birthday to the baby girl she gave away in 1929. How is she, Disbrow wondered. Where is she? Who is she?
But there was no way of…

Attention Kmart shoppers! Your Layaway Angel has arrived!
Ever since a woman in Michigan made the news for walking into a Kmart Dec. 6 and paying off the layaway balance for a handful of strangers, others across the land have followed her lead,…

IRVINE – Spiderman jumps all over the walls above 5-year-old Jaydon’s bunk bed and across his sheets. Two-year-old Dillon sets up epic duels between the web-shooting Spidey and Batman and the Batmobile.
Jaydon races around the apartment’s living…

You waited until the last minute, and now the stores will be jammed, or maybe you forgot  your Aunt Hattie in Detroit.
Well, here’s a list of stores that offer electronic gift cards.
Just order online and they’ll send a gift card to your or your…

Flowers always put a smile on a person’s face and can be given as a gift for any occasion.
Whether you’re telling someone you love them by giving them a single red rose, or placing bouquets around your home, flowers seem to make this world just a…

I have a correction to make.
Tuna and mayonnaise, the two dislikes I mentioned in my introduction, are actually really good.
Ruby’s Sandwich Saloon in Costa Mesa apparently has the formula for overcoming my distaste of the gooey condiment and often…

Sshh, don’t tell my kids I do this, but I take knock-off store brand cereals and pour them into empty brand name cereal boxes.
My children can’t actually taste the difference between the $4 box of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes and the $2 store brand.
But…

Still need to do your holiday shopping?
Well, let’s not kid ourselves: It’s going to be bad out there. Here are some tips to keep you sane:
Shop early or late
Do your shopping at dawn or midnight. Look for the numerous stores that are having special…

 
If you like REI, or as I call it, Really Expensive Indulgence, then you will appreciate this coupon that’s good until Dec. 24, 2011.
It’s good on one REI brand item online or in-store.  It’s a good way to save money at this pricey store that…

Two Orange County nursing homes have been fined in the deaths of patients who received “inadequate care,” the California Department of Public Health announced Monday.
Newport Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Newport Beach was fined $100,000 after…

There are 34 cities in Orange County, and many of them have a Main Street. But because the county is so spread out, it begs the question: Does Orange County have a Main Street?
This issue perplexed Orange County Register reporter Mark Eades, so he…

You wouldn’t think an auto mechanic would come up with a big hit in man creams, but why not? These kind of working men that thrash their skin in the trades know what works when it comes callouses, chafing and more.
Sam’s Natural is a new line with a…

 
I enjoy using Restaurant.com certificates and you might, too.
It’s a way to check out restaurants that you’ve never visited, and save some money at the same time.
Restaurant.com sells discounted gift certificates to thousands of restaurants around…

Hey shoppers.
Don’t get stuck paying for air freight if you don’t have to, or miss your free shipping deadlines online!
Here are some deadline dates for the 48 continental states for you to get your gifts there by Christmas. Make sure you read all…

LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH SEAPORT – Inside a cavernous warehouse near this bustling hub of international commerce, where massive cargo ships and tall cranes scrape the sky, Randy Rosales flicks open his knife.
Wearing black gloves, the U.S. Customs…

I had a look Tuesday morning at the Anaheim Ducks Breakaway Bar & Grill, one of the new eateries at John Wayne Airport’s just-opened Terminal C.
A joint effort between O.C.’s NHL franchise and HMS Host (and only the third such NHL airport…

This is the time of year when traditionalism fights with wild inventiveness as bartenders and imbibers seek a drink that puts the Merry in Christmas. Here’s a list of local bartenders’ special concoctions, cocktails you can make yourself, seasonal…

Do you change your own oil?
Do you like free stuff? Or want to help the environment?
O’Reilly Auto Parts and the County of Orange Used Oil Recycling Program are sponsoring a series of oil filter swaps around the county.
If you bring in an old oil…

Happy Saturday to you!
Why sit home, just because you don’t want to spend any money?
Here are things to do that will cost you little or nothing.
All events are free unless I have noted the small fee. And, if I forgot any, add them at the bottom.!…

I don’t know how you feel about Google claiming we’re shallow.
So what if “Top 10 Celebrity Haircuts” was among the top searches for 2011 according to Google Zeigeist. Can’t a girl just find out what’s happening in hair without having to hear about…

If someone in your family is feeling optimistic about the geographically challenged Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim baseball team right now, maybe you want to buy them this:
Today only, the Angels are selling their MLB jerseys online for $29.99,…

I just went over to the sample sale going on right now at the La Jolla Group warehouse, which started at noon Friday, Dec. 16, 2011 and continues on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
They have some great deals starting at $3 up and I recommend it as a place…

Cereal crusted French Toast? Coconut flavored syrup? Caramelized bananas? All on one square plate? This could be considered as my last meal on Earth.
Stacks Pancake House in Dana Point offers a kid-friendly menu, and when I say kid, I mean that…

One day you are covering surfing dogs. The next day you might be covering professional hockey. The day after that you could wake up thinking you will take photos for a restaurant review, but instead you are called to the scene of the worst mass…

Thanks to Deals reader Emily Marchetta of Tustin, who told me about this freebie, which she enjoys regularly:
If you buy one pound of Starbucks whole or ground beans, check on the side of the bag for a coupon that will give you a free cup of coffee…

“What is it about plastic surgery and facelifts? What is your sense of that whole world?”
So begins the trailer for an HBO documentary called “About Face,” that looks at aging and how it plays out in the modeling and entertainment industries….

Do you hate to pay shipping charges?
Some 2,338 merchants have joined together for “Free Shipping Day” today (Friday, Dec. 16, 2011), including lots of places you like to shop.
This deal starts at 12:01 a.m. and goes all day long.
If you buy…

A sick puppy found in a trash bin in San Clemente is getting help thanks to a good Samaritan and volunteers with the city’s animal shelter.
The mixed-breed pup named Jingle was brought to the shelter Wednesday suffering from malnutrition and a…

Most Americans rate their looks at considerably above average, with one in three grading themselves an 8, 9, or 10 on a 1-10 scale, and more than half giving themselves a 7.
But the online poll by LivingSocial.com shows they’re less enthralled by…

Beachwood BBQ is different from other barbecue joints in Orange County in one big way: It’s not just a barbecue joint.
The Seal Beach restaurant has 23 craft beers on tap, a long list of vintage bottle beers and a menu to rival the gastropubs popping…

If you’ve got something to buy for the holidays, check online Friday, because you might not have to pay for shipping.
Some 2,338 merchants have joined together for “Free Shipping Day” (Friday, Dec. 16, 2011), including lots of places you like to…

With all the chatter about celebrity and plastic surgery, how much do you think the knife and needle factor in this 2011 “Men’s Health” hot list? You may be surprised.
Click to find out and see more photos
 
Men’s Health Magazine has come out…

Yes Emily, there is a Santa Claus.
It turns out there are many Santa Clauses. And they live all over Orange County.
They have read your letter, addressed to the North Pole. And all the other letters sent by little boys named Kyle and little girls…

Got some kids who like Santa?
You can visit this cute Santa’s Village for free at the Mission Viejo Civic Center.
I wish my kids were still small enough to enjoy this!
Click here to learn more about Santa’s Village in Mission Viejo
Here’s the info…

This deal is good today only, so snatch it if you like it.
Airfarewatchdog.com is reporting that Swiss International Air Lines is offering a one-day sale on business class airfares, in some cases almost as cheaply as economy.
Now that’s a deal!
Click…

Do you change your own oil?
Do you like free stuff? Or want to help the environment?
O’Reilly Auto Parts and the County of Orange Used Oil Recycling Program are sponsoring a series of oil filter swaps around the county.
If you bring in an old oil…

Mango 50% off Thursday & Friday December 14th, 2011, 6:00 am · · posted by J. GALLEGO

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Beginning Thursday Mango stores (there is one at South Coast Plaza) will hold a 50 % off private sale.
Just print out the coupon above and bring it…

The Food and Drug administration has sent a warning to eight surgical centers and a California marketing firm for “misleading” advertisements for the Lap-Band, a device used in the treatment of obesity that restricts how much food can be taken…

It’s easy to spend a lot of money this time of year trying to have a happy holiday, right?
But don’t let that mess with your 2011 holiday cheer.
Here are 15 free Christmas things you can do this week in Orange County without spending a dime:
Ho ho…

No doubt that we can’t get enough of orange in apparel, furniture pieces and nail colors lately. So it seems fitting that Pantone would name ‘Tangerine Tango’ the color of the year for 2012. That means we are going to see boatloads of the shade…

Want to enjoy some family fun?
The Lab Anti-Mall is offering free “Frosty Flicks” outdoor family Christmas movies this coming weekend.
The movies screen at 6:30 p.m.
Schedule:

Saturday Dec. 17: Home Alone
Sunday Dec. 18: It’s A Wonderful Life

If…