The inspiration behind local specialty coffee brand, Portola Coffee Roasters, is rooted in parents’ love for their child. Christa Duggan never planned to become the owner of a well-respected, specialty coffeehouse brand. But when her son, Gabe, was born almost 12 years ago, everything changed as she and her husband, Jeff, learned he had a […]
Disneyland Make-A-Wish
No request is too extreme for the Make a Wish Foundation of OC and IE, which celebrates 35 years of wishes granted Disneyland style. Thousands of children have not had to wish upon stars to see their dreams come true thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and Inland Empire. The local foundation is […]
The Power of a Wish
Taylor Mayes is the spunky Make-a-Wish child who graced our cover last April. We met Taylor and her family as we joined forces with businesses and organizations across Orange County, and Ellen K of 103.5 KOST FM, to help make Taylor’s wish of becoming a singer and living the popstar experience come true. Taylor had […]
Skylar Rising
With mom, Kara, as her guide, the talented 12-year-old is poised for takeoff, but with her feet firmly on the ground. The bubbly twelve-year-old answered her door for our cover shoot, barefoot in jeans and a plaid flannel shirt, struggling to contain the impossibly cute fluffy dog wiggling in her arms. “Come in! Thank you […]
Singing the Praises of Fatherhood
OC recording artist Tyrone Wells shares his love for music, faith and fatherhood. By Lauren Felechner The relationship between father and daughter is a unique and delicate one, as Dad naturally becomes the first man that she trusts and loves. A father’s initial connection with his daughter is a lasting impression that sets the foundation […]
Moms of OC: Boss Lady
Laura Fox Defy Gravity Studio According to the National Association of Women Business Owners-Orange County (NAWBO-OC), there are over 125,000 women business owners throughout OC in a variety of roles and industries. Among these is Laura Fox, co-founder of Defy Gravity Studio in Corona del Mar—an indoor cycling and Pilates studio. Laura opened her studio […]
In the Know: Nicole Suydam
This OC mom is helping to feed OC’s hungry, and inspire a future generation of philanthropists. By Danilae Smith Orange County is well-known for its laid-back, beach lifestyle, beautiful scenery and affluent culture. However, some of the statistics about Orange County are jarring to many. As many as 400,000 people face food insecurity—that is, not […]
Riding on Insulin
When one OC native went from being at the top of his sports career to falling ill, he found refuge in a project for child athletes with diabetes By Danilae Smith It’s not every day that a child prodigy in snowboarding goes from being an Olympic-hopeful to having an unforeseen health problem prohibiting them from […]
Boss Lady: Amber Trevaskis-Bloomer
Amber Trevaskis-Bloomer NineLittleMonths.com City of Residence: Rancho Santa Margarita. Children: Aaryn, 8 (right); Tyler (middle) and Ben (right), 5 Selected as the mompreneur contest winner by Parenting OC readers English-born Amber Trevaskis-Bloomer — creator of NineLittleMonths.com, an online store for recycled maternity clothes; NineLittleKidlets.com, an online store for recycled children’s clothes; and Momsforahealthyplanet.com, a blog […]
Boss Lady: Jackie Dalton
Jackie Dalton Lollipop Nail Studio City of Residence: Huntington Beach. Children: Juliette, 5 It’s not every day that a mother’s concern for her child’s health prompts her to start a business, but that’s how Jackie Dalton’s Lollipop Nail Studio came to be. “When Juliette was about three years old, she started asking me to get […]