It may still be warm in San Diego as we say goodbye to summer but it doesn’t keep us from welcoming in Fall! Family Entourage is here with activities and fashions as the season changes.
STAY SOCIAL UNDER THE STARS & SOAK IN THE SOUNDS
As the nights begin to cool off, we’ve got you covered for Labor Day and Beyond. Stay social under the stars at Fairmont Grand Del Mar’s Grand Social and soak in the sounds of local talent -from jazz, pop salsa blues and classic rock. With three unique levels to explore, Grand Social is the perfect spot to unwind. Whether you’re sipping a late-afternoon apéritif, challenging friends to a spirited game of bocce, or indulging in delicious wood-fired dishes and craft cocktails, there’s something for everyone. We love Grand Social because we can have a bite to eat and enjoy music while the kids play bocce ball or a lawn game. There’s no entry fee. But enjoying food and drinks is encouraged. General admission is limited, reservations are highly recommended! Another way to enjoy Grand Social is with the private cabanas and firepit tables are available for rent.
And if you are looking to stretch those last few weeks of summer, why not staycation and swim with mermaids or hunt for treasure with pirates! The Fairmont Grand Del Mar has a whole weekend of activities planned. From archery and tennis clinics to feeding the horses and even a special concert in the evening at Grand Social, the Fairmont Grand Del Mar has a variety of activities for Labor Day weekend. The resort has day passes available through ResortPass, and they’ve got a great special going on right now. With the ‘Adventure Awaits’ offer, if you book a 2-night stay, you’ll get 20% off your reservation and a $50 food & beverage credit each night to use on dining
LOOKING COOL AND FEELING COZY
Our shorts and tank tops are going back in the closet as we look to comfortable sweat suits, graphic tees, flannels and outerwear. Many of our favorites transition as the season progresses like jackets where the sleeves can zip off and it becomes a puffer coat or multiple layers so you can add or take off items as the temps drop from day to night.
We love Appaman and a staple for our boys through the years has been the Turnstile Jacket. What makes this so unique is that it’s a jacket with removable sleeves that transforms into a classic shiny black puffer vest attached to a sleek black hoodie. And our girls love the Nikki Bomber Jacket and Puffer Coat. We’ve had so many different versions of it over the years and we love the first and style but then keeping it fresh each year with prints and textures to reflect the current year personality.
So be sure to spark up your kids wardrobe with lightning bolts, graphic tees, slouchy sweatsuits and puffer coats that can become vests — all are always comfortable and ready for all day play.
PUMPKIN PICKING AND FARM FUN
From hayrides through the pumpkin patch to picking your own pumpkins, Tanaka Farms is a real pumpkin patch on a 30-acre Farm owned and operated by the Tanka Family in Irvine. If you are ever in Orange County or even plan a trip, put it on your list because it’s amazing and they always have seasonal events throughout the year. Tanaka Farms is one of the few REAL pumpkin patches in Orange County. Tanaka Farms grows over 60 different varieties of fruits and vegetables and gives educational farm tours to thousands of school children each and every year. From visiting the barnyard animals to riding the tractor wagon and even picking fresh vegetables, there is so much fun to be had at Tanaka Farms. Our families love taking a wagon ride, U-pick vegetable patch and barnyard visit. There are also other activities for an additional price including Pumpkin cannon, arts & crafts, and mini-ATV rides. Make sure to check the website to see what activities are offered that day as it varies during the week from the weekend. We love the history of the farm too. You can read more about it here.
Here are some tips for picking your pumpkin
-Decide on how you are going to use your pumpkin.
-Sugar Pumpkins or Sweet pumpkins are the best for cooking/baking. They are small and round.
-Field pumpkins, which are larger are best for decorating/carving. The flesh inside is stringy so does not make good for cooking.
-Make sure the pumpkin is firm all over – no soft spots
-Leave pumpkins with blemishes behind – if often means that a bug has burrowed their way in.
-Tap your choice before buying it. If you plan to cut through the walls of the pumpkin, tap it. If it sounds hollow, bring it home.
FALL FLAVORS
Most of the mainstream coffee chains launched their Fall and seasonal drinks this week which means the coveted Pumpkin Spice Latte is here! If you’re a true fan and you’ll be drinking the PSL from now through November you might want to consider recreating your Fall favorite drink at home!
Here is how we achieved success! We started with our Nespresso Pixie Espresso Machine which in our opinion has the best tasting espresso from a pod. We love it so much we even take the Pixie on vacation with us. After 2 Nespresso pods we add milk using our Nespresso Aeroccino 4 Milk Frother where we can determine the amount of foam we want and it can also whisk hot or cold milk in case we’re wanting an iced latte! (Or you can get the whole set for coffee, espresso and milk by getting the Nespresso Vertuo Plus Deluxe Coffee & Espresso Machine with Milk Frother). We do 2-6 pumps of Torani Pumpkin Pie (Sugar Free) or Torani Pumpkin Pie Syrup depending on the size of drink you’re making and how sweet you like drink. If we’re at home we enjoy it from a festive mug and if we’re on-the-go then we want it stay hot (or cold) for hours so we use our Yeti Tumbler!
Now that our latte is complete we need a Pumpkin pastry to go with it! In our household pumpkin muffins are a bit hit!
