El Niño in LA County: How to Prepare

El Niño has officially hit—and in some places, it hit hard. Experts warned us this summer that El Nino was going to be brutal this year. They were calling it “Godzilla.” Thankfully, now that the first of the El Niño storms have passed, we can prepare for what is to come! Mudslides, erosion, flooding, and other forms of damage are definitely on the horizon, but you can prevent certain things from happening in your home and you can help the drought by reusing some of the rainwater! 

Los Angeles County has developed a website to help its residents become better prepared for this El Niño by explaining the risk factors related to ignoring the weather signs! California wasn’t built for severe rain and because we have been in a drought for the last four years, the land physically cannot absorb the water quickly enough.

To get ready for El Niño:

1. Clear out your rain gutters! If there are leaves blocking your gutters, or any loose items in your backyard that are clogging storm drains, flooding is a risk! If you are concerned about flooding, get sandbags!
2. Register to get alerts! LA County will send out text messages, voice messages, and emails!
3. Build an emergency kit with food and water that will last you 72 hours, first aid supplies, an extra set of glasses, a flashlight with spare batteries, and any other medical supplies you may need. (Remember to include pet food in this kit if you have animals!).
4. GET SHELTER! For residents concerned for the homeless, contact the LAHSA Emergency Response Team at (213) 255- 6581; Homeless Outreach Mobile Engagement: (800) 854-7771; Housing for Health: (213) 833-5350.
5. Supply your car with a blanket, extra shoes, snacks, and water!
6. Check your windshield wipers, break pads, and tires! If they’re worn down, replace them.
7. Get flood insurance! Standard homeowners or renters insurance typically doesn’t cover damage from flooding!
8. You can turn off your sprinklers 72 hours before a storm arrives! It’s best to conserve our water resources during this time!
9. Get rain barrels and cisterns through LADWP and Metropolitan Water District. Collect the free water that is falling out of the sky to conserve water! This El Niño most likely will not get California out of a drought, so we should always be thinking of ways to conserve our water resources.
10. If you are faced with a mudslide or a flood, don’t try to beat Mother Nature. When weather and public safety officials issue weather alerts, it is for a good reason! Understand and act on any issued alerts.

Although it may seem silly that Los Angeles County is making a big deal about the El Niño storms, California was not built for this type of weather and we therefore have to take any necessary precautions that will ensure our safety and functionality. The waves in the beach communities are crazy during an El Niño storm and can cause serious damage as well! El Niño already brought huge waves to the coast on Ventura’s pier! We all need to contribute to preparing for the impressive El Niño storm that lies ahead.

A Guide to January 1st--New Year's Day.

New Year's Day is officially here! We always seem to put more emphasis on New Year's Eve and what we are going to do to ring in the new year and watch the ball drop, but I think it's more important to spend the first day of the new year in a way we aren't typically used to, or doing what we love most! For those of you who have no idea how to start this year, we've compiled a list of ideas to kick-start 2016!

1. Go on a family hike! Getting up and getting outside is always a good idea. Not everyone needs to set goals to lose 10-20 pounds for their New Year Resolution, but maybe add in one hike a week! See how good you’ll feel in a couple months if you keep this up!
2. Go see a movie. The El Capitan is always a treat and seeing a movie here would be a great way to kick off the new year! Plus, there’s a light saber stage show and props on display! Definitely kid (and adult) friendly!
3. Everyone should watch the Rose Parade in person. If this isn’t the year you got tickets, at least go to Pasadena to check out the floats up close and personal after the parade! Pasadena is also home to Intelligentsia coffee and The Pie Hole! Go see the floats and have a wander around Colorado Boulevard!
4. Check out LACMA today! It’s open for the holidays and kids love the Metropolis II exhibit!
5. Descanso Gardens is open for the day and is an incredible little get away! The Enchanted Railroad is also running.
6. Although Disneyland is always pretty crowded, on New Year’s Day, other big theme parks are relatively quiet! Pay a visit to Knotts, Universal, or Legoland this New Year’s Day!
7. The Venice Beach Penguin Swim is today, followed by a round of sand sledding on the berms. If you don’t want to plunge into the chilly surf, you can watch others do it! It’s equally as fun!
8. Outdoor ice rinks are open today! Pershing Square is inviting skaters to don swimsuits and shades for a Polar Bear Skate if you aren’t into the Penguin Swim!
9. The Aero has an annual tradition of ringing in the New Year with a Marx Brothers double bill!
10. And last but not least, and my personal favorite, head up to Mountain High or Big Bear for some skiing or snowboarding! This is a great workout and a time to bond with family or friends!

Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you start your new year with the right mindset and intentions! Don’t set unrealistic goals for yourself, but challenge yourself to make this the best year yet by trying something new! Happy New Year and I am still in shock that 2015 is officially behind us and 2016 has begun!

Happy New Year,  LA County! 

A Guide to New Year's Eve in Los Angeles!

New Years Eve often brings the pressure of having to make sure you have the best plans for the evening and you’ll start the year off doing something fun with a lot of people. That’s never the case for me. I find myself with no plans on most New Years Eves. But I don’t want that to be the case for you! So I’ve compiled a list of events going on on NYE in LA this year so you can plan ahead!

1.   NYE Shit Show—This critics’ pick doesn’t charge a giant cover or encourage dressing up in your best attire. It embraces the messy spirit of NYE and brings with it an unpretentious crowd. Check this out at Echoplex in Echo Park!
   
   
2.   Grand Park NYE LA—Grand Park promises to be one of the most family-friendly and affordable New Years Eve spots. There will be live music and photo-booths and a venue big enough to accommodate 50,000 people! 
   
3.   Noon Year’s Eve at Kidspace Children’s Musem—To continue in the family-friendly direction, check out this cute kids celebration that mimics a grown-up New Year’s Eve that counts down to a noon balloon drop, rather than midnight! There are party hats and noise makers for the kiddos to make and live music to dance to! Kids can sip on sparkling cider to welcome in the noon year! This adorable celebration will be held at the Kidspace Musem in Pasadena! 
   
4.   No Cover at Angel City Brewery—This is where you’ll find me. Ring in the New Year at Angel City Brewery with limited-edition brews on tap, live entertainment, and a special toast at midnight! You can grab dinner from food trucks and relive all of the best brews of 2015! 
   
5.   New Year’s Eve x10—ten times the lip locking and champagne toasts! The Big Bar in Los Feliz is hosting New Year’s Eve as the clock hits midnight across the globe! The celebration starts at 3 pm and goes until midnight LA time. You’ll toast the new year with Paris, Dublin, Rio de Janeiro, and every global city you can think of! 
   

Of course you can head to Pasadena for the Tournament of Roses display, there is an awesome prohibition era themed party at Union Station, and New Year’s Eve aboard the Queen Mary!

If none of these parties catch your eye, there are calendars of events online that will give you an even bigger and broader guide to a Los Angeles New Years Eve.

Top Ten Holiday Drinks of 2015!

Top Ten Holiday Drinks of 2015

Holiday Eggnog: This Ecuadorian spin on eggnog blends fresh eggs, condensed milk, and peaches for a yummy, rich, frothy, festive drink! Add some rum to kick up the holiday cheer ;) 

Get the recipe here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rosarios-rumpope-ecuadorian-holiday-eggnog-recipe.html

Candy Cane Cocktail: Not only does this drink have a fun, festive name, but it mimics the flavors of a candy cane by using equal parts vanilla rum, white chocolate liqueur, and peppermint schnapps. 

Get the recipe here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/packages/holidays/holiday-central-cocktails/12-days-of-holiday-cocktails.html?soc=socialsharingpinterest

Christmas Sangria: This holiday drink is equal parts pretty, tasty, and festive! It goes with any holiday meal and is the perfect mix of Rosemary, apples, cranberries, and wine ;) 

Get the recipe here: http://www.cakenknife.com/christmas-sangria/

Naughty Rudolph: This drink can be made with alcohol for the adults and without alcohol for the kiddos! Everyone is familiar with Rudolph so give this drink a try for a…different spin on our beloved reindeer! 

Get the recipe here: http://whoneedsacape.com/2013/11/naughty-rudolph/

The Grinch Cocktail: This funky green color reminds us all (during the holidays) of the Grinch! Why not bring him into your holiday celebration with a hint of holiday cheer ;) This Grinch will not disappoint! 

All it takes is: 3 ounces of peach schnapps, 3 ounces of Bacardi 151, 12 ounces of orange juice, four ounces of Sprite, and 3 ounces of blue Curacao liqueur.

Holiday Moscow Mule: This drink is easy to make and delicious! It’s important to have a few delicious drink recipes handy during the holidays, and this sweet concoction is perfect for such occasions! 

Get the recipe here: http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/cranberry-ginger-fizz/

Gingerbread Martini: Gingerbread cookies are a staple of Christmas. But now that they come in drink form...they’re even harder to resist! 

Check out this delicious dose of holiday cheer here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/gingerbread-martini.html

Holiday Party Punch: This drink is a solution for a BIG holiday party crowd! Santa’s punch uses 4 cups of cranberry juice, 1 bottle of sparkling cider, 1 liter of ginger ale, ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons), 12 ounces of vodka (optional) and one orange sliced (for garnish). Mix all of these ingredients together over ice and serve! Quick and easy to make! 

Wassail: I had never heard of this drink before, but after giving it a shot, it’s definitely worth it. This one is a little harder to make and it takes a little bit longer, but the challenge is worth it! It’s an adaptation on the caroler’s favorite drink! 

Get the recipe here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/wassail-recipe.html

Hot Ginger Toddy: This bourbon cocktail will most certainly keep you warm during the holidays. 

Get the recipe here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-ginger-toddy-recipe.html

Enjoy! And always drink responsibly! Happy Holidays :)