Categories
Local Business Spotlight

What to Know about HomeCare Facilities: The Butterfly Inn LLC

The Butterly Inn, LLC is a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly located at 4370 Whittier Ct, Ventura. The facility operates 24 hours/7 days a week with spacious living and activities.

The facility is designed to serve 6 ambulatory / non-ambulatory elderly residents in a private / semi-private room setting. Basic services include: 3 daily meals, snacks, laundry, activities and housekeeping of resident’s bedroom, which the facility will provide for the bedroom furniture, chairs, nightstands and lamps. Residents may bring their own furnishings with the prior written approval of the License/Administrator.

It is located close to several shopping areas, various restaurants for dine-out activities, various denominational churches, and several community parks. The facility location is also close to several medical and dental offices, close to Ventura County Medical Center and Community Memorial Hospital.

The facility will provide assistance and care for residents who require assistance with activities of daily living, ie., bathing, showering, teeth brushing, face washing, hair care, dressing, and the assistance of self-administration medications. Additional assistance to each resident based on his/her needs and services or subsequent need’s plan will be given.

It will provide a home-like atmosphere, which includes special events, family/resident activities, birthday parties, and cultural-based events. They encourage family participation as it promotes positive outcomes for our residents.

It is non-medical facility; their staffs are trained in first aid in observation of medical emergencies and will expeditiously contact resident’s physician or medical facility to ensure prompt treatment. 

Statement of Purpose

“Our goal is to provide home-oriented environment to cater to the individual needs of our elderly individuals who require assistance with their daily living needs. This facility will encourage elderly adults to pursue individual interest and activities. We will ensure that all residents maintain optimal level of health and receive medical, dental examinations or follow-up appointments regularly.”

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Categories
Sports & Leisure

The Sports Card Market Explosion

Would you believe that you could buy something for $400 and then in just a few months sell it for $10,000? You would probably laugh, but sports cards made that happen. Sports cards have been collected for over a century and began to pick up steam in the late 80s and early 90s chasing Ken Griffey Jr. However, by the early 2000s, the market had declined, suffering from overproduction and lack of interest. It remained like this for years and years, but this all changed in 2020. The sports card market exploded because of Covid-19, The Rise of Online Marketplaces, Social Media and National Attention. This led to card prices skyrocketing thousands of percent in just a matter of months.

When the Coronavirus pandemic hit, lockdowns left us locked in our homes. SportingNews, Ryan Fagan says, “They [people] looked for ways to pass the time without physically interacting with the outside world. There’s only so much Netflix a person can watch” People found themselves with more free time than ever. This extra time led many to rediscover old hobbies or pick up new ones, and for a significant number of people, that hobby was sports cards, “the [sports card] fire ignited once again” (Fagan) and the card market hasn’t looked back since. The 2020 Covid Recession was not a problem for the sports card industry, “card sales have demolished all-time records, dumbfounding investors and collectors alike” ESPN’s Dan Hajducky says. The Covid Pandemic revived cards, but social media took it to the moon. 

Social Media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok saw an explosion of content related to sports cards resulting in 100s of millions of views. People had nothing to do, Dan Miller of LA Times said “People weren’t working, they weren’t leaving the house, there was no sports, there was no DraftKings, people [would] stream it [cards] on their TV”. People were buying into card breaks for $50 and getting $1000 cards in return over and over. They were submitting these cards to get authenticated and graded for cheap and reselling in higher grade for massive profits and with more people looking to sell cards, this led to the rise of online marketplaces like eBay, Goldin Auctions, PWCC and specialized sports card platforms like Whatnot. These platforms made it easier than ever to buy and sell cards.  

The ease of online transactions and the ability to reach a broader audience drove both demand and prices to new heights. “From May to early June, more than 40 cards sold on eBay for at least $50,000. From mid-May to July, that number rose to 96, with more than 35% going for $90,000 or more” (Hajducky). Record sales were flying all over the place on these platforms. As more people joined the industry, record breaking sales of cards began to make national headlines like the Luka Doncic Rookie Logoman selling for a record $4.6 million, fueling interest from an entirely new audience that has yet to join the party, investors. Investors were seeing the growth of this market and were hopping on, they saw that it “has grown at roughly 2.5 times the rate of the S&P 500 since 2008” (Wellbeloved). Ever since they onboarded cards to their assets from August to September, six of the most expensive cards ever sold were in those months making this industry become one of the fastest growing industries in the world.

So what did cards really do? During late 2019, Lebron James Rookie Card in a perfect Gem Mint 10 condition was $1,100 fast forward to early 2021 it reached $42,000. Not only did it happen to expensive cards, it also happened to low end cards such as a Luka Doncic Rookie Card in a Gem Mint 10, buying it for $50 in early 2020 and selling it for $2,000 such as I did back in 2021. It happened to football cards also where a Patrick Mahomes Rookie Card in a PSA 10 selling for $14,000 off a $200 investment in 2020, and baseball cards, hockey cards and even Pokemon cards. All sales provided by Card Ladder. Sports cards blew up in a way no one could have imagined.

I wouldn’t be writing this if I had not experienced this boom. I’ve always been a collector all my life but in 2019 I decided to get serious about it and started trying to make some money off of it. I was buying cards on eBay, getting them graded to try and add more value to the card and selling them in 2020 for a lot of money. It really opened my eyes to see the potential when I bought a Zion Williamson rookie card for $20, got it graded and sold it for $1000. My biggest sale I had was for $10,000 for a Collin Sexton card. I had paid $400 for it. I had built a collection worth more than 6 figures at the time. Then as fast as the market went up, it went down just as fast. 

Fast forward 3 years and the sports card market went from boom to bust, cards have now dropped approximately 90% since their peak. The $42,000 Lebron James card I talked about above is now worth $4,000. The Luka Doncic card is now worth $250 and the Mahomes rookie card is worth just over $4,000. In 5+ short years the sports card market went from making people rich to now a lot of them losing money on their investments. What once was a raging market in 2020 and 2021 has cooled to pre covid levels in 2025. Will we ever see a bubble this big again?

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Local Business Spotlight

5 Must-Visit Indie Bookstores in Ventura County

Are you planning on traveling to or are currently living in the Ventura County area? Are you searching for book bliss? Then you have come to the right place! This is your guide to the five bookstores in Ventura Country that you must visit. And hey, if you only go to one because it fits your niche, that’s fine! I’m not here to judge you, I’m only here to inform you. I’ll save the judgment for another time.

Bart’s Books

  • Screenshot

302 W Matilija St, Ojai, CA 93023

4.8 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you love basking in the sun as you browse, if you love fresh air while you read, Bart’s Books is the place to be. According to their website, “Bart’s Books is the world’s largest outdoor bookstore, serving the Ojai community since 1964. Bart’s hosts a collection of over 130,000 used and new books, ranging from rare out-of-print gems to well-loved paperbacks.” Before you enter the main area, you will find books on shelves lining the outside walls. Both used and new books can be found at Bart’s making it affordable for many budgets. Bart’s hosts events and offers a fun book-buying program. Bring a book, they buy it, and you leave with cash (or a new book).

From its warm-toned, brick red, and velvet green bookshelves adorned with foliage, to housing books from every major genre, Bart’s is truly for the outdoorsy bookworm.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 22 – A. Kendra Greene No Less Strange or Wonderful: Essays in Curiosity

April 5 – Michael Arkush The Golf 100

April 26 – Indie Bookstore Day

The Bookworm

  • Screenshot

93 E Daily Dr, Camarillo, CA 93010

4.9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With a porch-style reading nook and rows of children’s books, this is the place for parents looking to find a book for themselves and their little ones. Bookworm has a sizable collection of Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction. However, the children’s section is where it truly shines. From board books to picture books, all the way to chapter books, any kid of any age can find something they love! So, if you’re looking to get a book for a child in your life it’s a must-visit bookstore.

The Bookworm also occasionally hosts events, so make sure to keep an eye on their socials. Although on the smaller side, Bookworm packs a punch, carrying books in the major genres most would be interested in. If you’re looking for a fun family outing, visit Bookworm because it is truly for the parenting readers.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 8 – Drew Daywalt Reading

Calico Cat Bookshop

  • Screenshot

495 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you love a challenge, I toast to you! This bookstore is not for the claustrophobic. You are surrounded by literature the moment you step through the door. If you do venture inside, Calico is going to be your new home for the next few hours. Thousands of used, rare, signed, and collectible books flow from the shelves to the ground and all around. Although they don’t have events, they update their website with new arrivals, so you can browse online before you head over (if that tickles your fancy), but being there is an experience you won’t want to miss.

It takes a special kind of book enthusiast to love and respect a bookstore like Calico. It’s welcoming and sweet and demands that you take your time and browse slowly. Although there is organization and tables with labeled genres, Calico is truly for the patient book hunters.

RECENT ARRIVALS

Responsibilities: Poems and a Play by William Butler Yeats

Theosophy by Rudolf Steiner

21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari

Point Omega by Don DeLillo

Smitten Bookstore

  • Screenshot

365 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

While other bookstores on the list offer many genres, Smitten knows love and intimacy only. The colors are bright and the name is cute, but this is not the most child-friendly of bookstores. Though many of their books have cartoon couples on the covers, what lies within the pages is much less PG. That said, there is a small children’s section for the little ones to browse, just be cautious.

The bookstore offers the typical modern romance, classic romance, romantasy, and academic books on modern sexuality. You can also find tarot cards, tote bags, bookmarks, and so much more. The bookstore has an active event calendar that is definitely worth checking out.

As Jane Austen once said, “My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” That is exactly what a romance connoisseur will feel about the book oasis that is Smitten Bookstore. Smitten is truly for the romantic book lovers.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 8 – Rebecca Thorne – Tea You at the Altar Book Release

March 9 – Book Swap

March 15 – Kate Tilney Author Signing

Timbre Books

  • Screenshot

1910 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001

4.9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With a bright reading room attached to a robust children’s section, Timbre is the perfect place to pick up a book and stay for a while. There is outdoor seating if you are interested, but a seat by the window indoors is just as appealing.

If you are looking for a new release, check with Timbre. Their shelves are filled with new releases and incredibly popular BookTok books. That being said, they also sell books that aren’t targeted just toward the BookTok audience. They have older and newer memoirs, books on music, books on art, etc. They also have two full bookshelves that display Timbre employee book recommendations, some even have notecard descriptions.

The space is warm, inviting, and aesthetically pleasing, with new events held each month. Timbre is truly for the modern bibliomaniac.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 8 – Pierpont Book Fair @ Timbre

March 13 – Poetry Book Club

March 18 – Lewis Robinson in Conversation with Antoine Wilson

________________________________________________________

This has been your guide to the five bookstores in Ventura Country that you must visit. Thank you for spending part of your day with me and I hope you are eager to get outside and into the community.

As an active reader and an employee of a book publishing house, I like to think I know a thing or two about bookstores. So, if you read through this entire article and are not convinced to visit at least one of these incredible spots, know that I am judging you quite heavily. See, I told you I’d save the judgment for another time.

Until next time, I’ve been me, and this has been lovely.

Categories
Food & Beverage Local Business Spotlight

Can It Date Night?

Downtown Ventura is a (not so) hidden gem for bars, restaurants, and shops; it is the perfect spot to shop and soak up the sun and a prime date night spot. But with so many options and grand openings, how do you choose between them?

I’ve compiled a list of places that I think pass the “Can It Date Night” test based on their menu options, pricing, and ambiance.

The Yard Bar & Grill

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The Yard Bar & Grill is Main Street’s newest restaurant addition. The forces behind Cronies are taking everything you love from their sports restaurants and giving you an elevated dining experience. And once you finish your meal, you can head to the back of the restaurant to their cozy speakeasy, The Hive.

Menu Options: The Yard has something for everyone; a variety of shareable starters, burgers, salads, tacos, and sandwiches. But the pièce de résistance: the pub fries.

Pricing: The Yard’s burgers and sandwiches run anywhere from $15.00 to $19.00, but they do come with a good portion of fries and your choice of sauce. Their appetizer menu ranges $7.00 up to $18.00 for their heartier options.

Ambiance: The seating at The Yard is very comfortable; they’ve somehow managed to take a more industrial setting (exposed brick and ceiling) and make it very cozy. I love the open air feeling, and the gorgeous wooden bar in the center of the room feels lux.

Overall: Yes, The Yard has a mid-priced menu with a huge variety of options, giving you plenty to choose from which makes this an easy choice for a date night!

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Jaguar Moon

Rating: 5 out of 5.

If you’re looking for a cocktail bar that specializes in tequila & mezcal with a maximalist neon aesthetic, this is the place for you. The faces behind this new bar are no stranger to Downtown Ventura- they’re also the forces behind Strange Beast and Bank of Italy.

Photos from @jaguarmoonbar on Instagram

Menu Options: This is elevated bar food, with options like fried chicken tacos and a tuna tostada that is filling and pairs perfectly with their cocktail menu.

Pricing: The menu options range from $8 (fried chicken taco) to their tartara de tuna ($23), with plenty of options at different price points in between. The star of their menu seem to be their taco selection, with something for everyone’s dietary needs. Jaguar Moon also has a great cocktail menu, with mixed drinks ranging from $11 to $15.

Ambiance: This is just the coolest place; it’s vibrant and Instagram-worthy. Weekends seem to be quite busy, but for good reason.

Overall: Yes! Jaguar Moon definitely passes the “Can It Date Night” test. It’s a unique and “vibey” spot in Downtown Ventura, and is worth checking out. With so much to offer, Jaguar Moon should be on your list of places to go for a date night.

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Model Citizen

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

From the hospitality team that brought you Prospect Coffee Roasters, meet Model Citizen. You can find elevated interpretations of classic cocktails, and an array of menu items that feature locally sourced ingredients.

Menu Options: The Model Citizen menu “emphasizes local and regional ingredients, with a focus on preservation, to create fun, seasonal, and unique coastal dishes with flavors from California and the Mediterranean” (from the MC website). Their dishes are highly unique, with a lot of options that seem exclusive to their restaurant.

Pricing: Model Citizen’s pricing is on the higher end of this list, with options ranging from $9 (fries to share) to $66 (13 oz NY strip steak w/ frites). There are plenty of offerings in between, but they tend to run in the $16 – $20+ range. The cocktail menu also runs on the higher side, with mixed drinks from $14 – $21. That being said, the happy hour menu (which runs all night on Mondays!) has select mixed drinks for $10 and menu items from $5 – $15.

Ambiance: There’s a great balance between trendy and the laid-back charm that is Ventura. You can sit in one of their cozy booths, or relax at the gorgeous mid-century mod bar. Model Citizen has nailed the vintage-y, effortlessly cool atmosphere.

Overall: While it’s a bit on the pricier side, you can tell the food and drinks are locally-sourced and carefully crafted to be unique to their restaurant. While it’s a great atmosphere and has plenty to choose from, I’d recommend Model Citizen as a happy hour date.

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Categories
Beauty & Wellness

Skincare Made Simple: The Essentials for Radiant Skin

Skincare can be confusing, especially since social media influencers have 15-step routines and all recommend different products. Truth is a simple 3-5 step routine can give the same results. Sometimes even better since you aren’t overwhelming your skin with various products. In this blog post, I’ll cover the essential steps, my personal routine, and affordable products. As a bonus, I will also talk about makeup that has skincare in it.

Essential Skincare Steps

  1. Cleanser: This washes away all the dirt and makeup, giving you a clean base for the next products.
  2. Serum: A treatment for specific things like acne, wrinkles, or brightness of the skin.
  3. Moisturizer: Locks in the hydration for the day so that your skin isn’t dry or irritated.
  4. Sunscreen: Protects the skin from sun damage and prolongs aging. This step is only used in the morning!

My Personal Routine

This is the routine I use to get clear and glowy skin! Each of these products plays a vital role in my skincare to maintain healthy skin.

Cleanser: La Roche-Posay Purifying Toleriane Face Wash for Oily Skin (Target $17.99). Use both AM and PM
Link For Facewash

Serum: Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum (Ulta $12). Use AM
Link for Hyaluronic Serum
Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum (Ulta $12) Use PM
Link for Niacinamide Serum

Moisturizer: Pacifica Glow Baby Hydrodew Moisture Gel
(Amazon $16.40) Use AM
Link for Pacifica Glow Baby
Cocokind Resurrection Polypeptide Cream (Target $28,49) Use PM
Link for Cocokind Cream

Sunscreen: Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing UV Lock Korean Sunscreen. (Target $24.99) Use AM
Link for Round Lab UV

Makeup and Skincare in 1

For people who love to wear makeup and still want to take care of their skin, here are some amazing products that range from low to high end! Not only do these products make you look good, but also keep your skin hydrated and protected from the sun. (* next to products, are the items I use)

Primer: Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas* ($54) / Elf Power Grip Primer + Niacinamide ($10)
Foundation: IT Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow Foundation with SPF 40* ($47) / L’Oréal True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum ($16)
Blush: Rhode Pocket Blush Infused with Peptides* ($24) / Elf Halo Glow Blush Beauty Wand ($9)
Setting Spray: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray* ($38) / Elf Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray ($10)

Budget Friendly Skincare

Here are some budget-friendly skincare products that can give the same results as high-end products without breaking the bank.

Cleanser: Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin ($11.99)
Serum: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum with Ceramides ($9.90)
Moisturizer: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($13.29)
Sunscreen: CeraVe AM Face Moisturizer with SPF 30 ($13.29)

Build Your Own Routine

If you want to build your own skincare routine, the first step is finding out what skin type you have and what kind of products you need. Dry skin, oily skin, normal skin, or sensitive skin. If you have Dry skin, lean towards more moisturizing and thick products. Look for ingredients like Hyaluronic acid or Ceramides in your products. For Oily Skin, more lightweight and oil-free products would be best. Look for ingredients like Niacinamide or Salicylic acid to keep the oils under control. For Sensitive skin, stick to fragrance-free products to prevent flare-ups. Ingredients like Aloe Vera and Glycerin are best because they are soothing. Normal skin is really easy since there is nothing more the skin barrier needs. As long as you are balancing your hydration and using gentle products, your skin will thrive.

I hope this guide helps you simplify your routine and start your skincare journey without all of the extra stress about products and steps. Keeping it short and simple is the best thing you can do for your skin. For any further questions, feel free to Contact Me.

Categories
Beauty & Wellness

Best Protein Powders

Many people utilize protein supplements for various reasons, whether it be to increase muscle mass, support muscle recovery, manage weight control, or possibly just a simple way to boost your athletic performance. One of the common choices consumers will face is which protein powder or supplement to use. In this article, we will discuss different proteins and the benefits or drawbacks that can possibly come along with them.

Whey Concentrate

Firstly, we will discuss the most popular protein powder among athletes, which is whey protein. This protein supplement is definitely the most popular, but is this the best protein for you? Whey protein, is a byproduct of milk. The way whey protein works is it enters your bloodstream faster than most proteins and boosts high levels of amino acids. This is a great way to provide muscles with the nutrients to get through your workouts and build muscle. Whey protein is considered the most effective protein powder to build muscle. Whey concentrate protein includes some lactose and fat. It’s about 78 to 88 percent protein. Whey protein is less expensive than whey isolate which we will go over in our next protein supplement.

Whey Isolate

Basically whey isolate is the isolated form of whey protein which means the carbs and fat have been removed from the protein to make a protein powder that is 98% protein. Many athletes that are trying to gain lean muscle and cut down on body fat may choose whey protein isolate.

Whey Protein Isolate, Creamy Vanilla Powder

Casein Protein

Casein protein is derived from milk, which is high in protein content. The biggest difference with casein protein is that it takes longer to digest; for this reason, some athletes choose to take it before bed.

Soy Protein

Soy protein is made of ground soybeans that have been isolated from their fats. Soy protein digests at a moderate rate. This protein contains a good amount of amino acids, glutamine, and arginine, which may help with immune support. Pea protein is actually a complete protein, which is a huge benefit and a supporting reason why pea protein is considered one of the top types of plant-derived proteins for building and maintaining muscle.

7 Amazing Health Benefits Of Pea Protein Powders — AS-IT-IS Nutrition

Egg White Protein

Egg white protein is the whites of eggs that have been dried and ground down into powder. This protein digests slower than whey protein but faster than casein. Egg white protein is a great option for a post-workout protein shake.

What is Egg White Protein? | RXBAR

Hemp Protein

Hemp protein is made from ground hemp seeds. Hemp protein has less protein content, so it may not be the best option for building muscle; however, it does provide a good source of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. This may be a good option if you want another source for nutrients and are okay with the lesser amount of protein.

Hemp protein powder | merchant & supplier | naVitalo
Categories
Student Life at VC

How To Build The Life You Love.

Do you ever feel stuck going through the same motions in your everyday life? You wake up, go to work, or take care of your family and hope you get some of your “To Do” list done. I completely understand because that was my life for a very long time. As a single mom, I was just trying to work and provide for my daughters. There was never enough time to do everything that needed to be done, leaving me feeling discouraged. Years later when I got remarried, my life only got more complicated. My plate was stacked so high that I didn’t know where to begin. I knew I wanted better for myself and my family so I decided to make a change. I read books, and watched YouTube videos, and here’s what I found.

Create a Plan by Building Achievable Goals.

Take time to sit and write down your goals. If you don’t know what your goals are then chances are YOU should be your goal. That’s right, you can be your own goal. In fact, this year, I am my goal. This year I have committed to putting myself first by building the life I love and was meant to live. During this process take time to write down “why” each goal is important to you. I am my goal because I am tired of feeling lost and want to feel better about my life and myself. Lastly, be very specific about your goals. “I want to lose weight” or “I want to make more money” is not specific and won’t get you anywhere. Since my goal covers different areas I have broken it down for you in the next step

Breaking Down Your Goals

Since my goal is “Me” I needed to write down exactly what that meant. 

  • I am going to lose 20 pounds by December 31, 2024, by working out 3 times a week, taking my dog on daily walks, and not eating past 9 pm. 
  • I am going to be more organized and intentional by developing better time management by creating a detailed calendar of everything that has to be done each day. 
  • I am going to build stronger relationships with my family by setting time for my family and working on my relationships with better communication. On this goal, I wrote down the current state of my relationships and where I’d like them to be by December 31, 2024.
  • I am going to build a stronger spiritual relationship by taking time to pray each morning and go to church every week. 

Write Down Your Plan

Now that you have everything broken down it’s time to write it all down. There are several tools people use to write down and organize goals. Here’s what I currently use:

  • Better Life Journal- I like to manually write stuff down and be able to check stuff off at the end of my day. I journal each morning while I have my morning tea, writing down what I am going to do during the day. At the end of the day, I take a few minutes to write down how my day went and any new thoughts or ideas. I’ve used multiple planners and journals but I have enjoyed the Better Life Journal by Dean Graziosi. 
  • Google Calendar- Create a yearly & daily calendar.
    • Write down every event planned for the year. (vacations, and special events)
    • Block and schedule time for each item that has to be done during the week for each of your goals. For example, I have timeslots for my daily walks, work, workouts, classes, and date nights all blocked on my schedule. 
  • Share your calendar with your family. By sharing your calendars you’re able to see each other’s free time and create events or tasks. 

Work And Manage Your Plan!

Brendon Burchard, a highly successful productivity coach recommends looking at your daily calendar every day. During your morning coffee or tea is a great time to review your plans for the day. By journaling daily, you’re able to monitor your progress. Remember, you manage what you measure. Now that you have done all the steps it is time to work your plan. 

Conclusion

These are things I am doing to build a life I love. Although there are days that I fall off the horse and don’t follow my schedule, I catch myself more often and get back on track. Studies show it takes about 30 days to create a habit. Also, watching videos and reading books by Dean Grazios, and Tony Robbins has been a great tool that I highly recommend. Find someone who inspires you to be your best self. By working on your plan daily you are working to create a life you love. 

If you are on a mission to build the life you love what tips or habits are working best for you?

Leave a comment

Categories
Food & Beverage Student Life at VC

Ugly Sushi

Do you love sushi, but maybe not the price of a night out for a sushi dinner? Make ugly sushi with me in the comfort of your own kitchen. Yes, it may look ugly, but the taste is grade A! It’s not easy to make sushi the first time, so I will help prepare you for your sushi journey with my own experience.

Skip to Steps

We, Ventura Locals, has access to county’s best sushi grade fish. I found mine at Ocean Pride of Ventura. This fish market has been open since 1999, only carry’s fresh fish, and was even named in The Ventura Reporter’s “Best of Ventura”. It’s a little hidden among the industrial buildings next to the Ventura Car Mall. Just let owner, Tom Moore, know you’re making sushi tonight, and he’ll help you with what you need. Check out their website for peek at their menu.

To be honest, knowing that I had access to fresh fish cut at a sushi grade, I wanted to take on the fun task of making sushi at home. I called up my sister and drafted her for sushi fun.

Step One: Prepare yourself

I watched a couple of YouTube videos that took me step-by-step through making sushi rolls with various ingredients. This step is important; you don’t want to explore the art of making sushi blind. Plus, it ensures you have all the items you need, and it gives you ideas you may not have had.

Step Two: Equipment

Feel like the professionals with a bamboo mat to roll your sushi. I didn’t find this at Ocean Pride, so I took myself to Seafood City Supermarket for any other equipment I needed. There, I found a cute sushi set that had a bamboo mat, a wooden bowl, and a wooden rice scoop. 

Step Three: Ingredients

Have fun here! Find the ingredients you’d normally like when going out for sushi, even the sauces. Here’s a list of the core ingredients:

  • Sushi rice.
  • Rice Wine Powder or Vinegar.
  • Bamboo mat.
  • Plastic wrap.
  • nori (seaweed sheets)
  • soy sauce.
  • Toasted sesame seeds.

Don’t forget your fish! I bought a pound of King Salmon and a pound of Ahi Tuna from Ocean Pride. This did cost me a pretty penny, just shy of $90. But I bought enough for four people, and I think $90 was cheaper than taking four people to a sushi restaurant.

Step Four: Get cooking! 

Preparing your sushi rice should be the first thing you do once you start putting together your rolls. You want some time for it to cool off, and this is the most challenging part. I didn’t believe this until I started making sushi rice for the first time; it’s more important than the fish itself! It’s best to refer to the instructions on the sushi rice package or YouTube. I used Nishiki rice.

*Warning: Be careful with the amount of rice vinegar you put in the rice. The vinegar’s flavor can overpower the flavor of your fish. I sadly failed to notice the instructions on the back of my rice package and did just that. 

Once your rice is finished, you can start rollin’!

Final Step: Enjoy!

Dinner time! Now you can enjoy your creation. Even though my first time making sushi didn’t come out as I would have liked, my rolls may looked ugly, but they tasted almost restaurant status. My company and I had fun, and I cannot wait to do it again.

Would you make sushi at home? Comment below telling us if you will or any past experiences.

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Uncategorized

805 Rising

By: Alyssa Moreno

Hello everyone, long time no see! The last post I made on here consisted of a playlist that contained songs from exclusively Ventura County artists. Well, today I’m back with one of those artists, Young Lord, a rising rapper out of Oxnard.

I took the time to sit down with Young Lord at his studio to get a little insight on what’s next for this career and what he’s planning for the year 2024. And of course I got a tour of the studio!

He was extremely welcoming and felt like a friendly face which made asking questions a little easier on me. “So how are things with your music lately, anything we should keep an eye out for?” I asked the 25-year-old rapper.

“Oh you know, things are good, I’m working on a lot of new stuff that I can’t wait to release hopefully as soon as possible, and start getting to work on some of ideas I have for the future” he replied.

“Sounds like you have the near future planned out, but what’s happening right now in the life of Young Lord, any recent releases we should add to our current music rotations?, I asked.

“Yeah, I actually have a couple of recent releases that should be on everyone’s radar,” he laughed, “No, but seriously I did just drop a few tracks on all streaming platforms called BACK2BACK and Dior Cologne Freestyle, and I even dropped music videos to both songs on Youtube.”

“Oh, I’ll be to link both songs so that all our readers and viewers can watch and listen, so now that those songs are out, what’s next in terms of marketing what’s already released?” I asked Young Lord.

After listening to both songs and watching both music videos, I’ve decided not to link them in this article because they weren’t so family friendly, but I still think everyone who’s interested in checking them out should absolutely do so! I still really like both songs. Both songs feature Young Lords unique melodies and catchy word play with equally as enticing visuals to match.

“Well, that’s what I’m trying to figure out right now, I do what I can on social media you know like Instagram and TikTok, and my label helps me out with the advertisements, but I want it all to be very organic and not too try hard, you know what I mean?”

“Yeah I definitely understand where you’re coming from, it can be hard to want to push your art onto people, but how else will they know if you aren’t constantly telling them?”

We exchanged a back and forth of what’s to come for the Oxnard local rapper, but we’ll save that for another time, he wanted everything to come out when he was ready to put it out, and as an artist I respect that.

After some conversation he took me around the studio to see where he does most of his work, and of course I took pictures.

It’s such a cool and creative space, so much art surrounding you while you create art, I told the young rapper. The space felt inspiring and motivating, Hopefully I’ll be back here soon with more updates on the rising star out of Ventura County, Young Lord.

Be sure to follow him on Instagram @RealYoungLord

Follow me on Instagram @MorenoAlyssa_

And follow the VC Social on Instagram @VCSocialBrand

Categories
Food & Beverage Local Business Spotlight

Tatiana’s Coffee & Tea

This beloved Coffee shop located on 2470 E Main St has been open for the past ten years serving the people of Ventura. This local business has been run by the owner Tatiana Curuso and her husband Diego Mazo. Curuso and Mazo both put their all into providing the most satisfying experience to all customers the minute they step through the doors.

Beverages

Tatiana’s Coffee and Tea offers Hot Coffee; fresh drip and Espresso, Decaf, Blended drinks; the Tatalisious being the most loved, Iced drinks; Vanilla latte being the most common, and Teas; Chai is most popular. My absolute favorite beverage would have to be an Iced Chai Tea Latte with oat and whipped cream.

Food

Tatiana’s is best known for their amazing Empanadas that were voted Best Empanadas in The State of Californina in 2022. The Empanadas come in a variety of flavors including: Chicken, Beef, Potato Beef, Potato Cheese, Spinach Feta and Ratatouille. Along with savory they provide sweet, Cheese and Guava Cheese pastelitos and Coffee Cakes. All handmade by a local Chef. Other delicious food items they offer are petite croissant sandwiches, Bagels: Everything and Parmesan with cream cheese or made into a breakfast sandwich, Scones, Ham, Turkey, Italian and Artichoke sandwiches. My personal favorites are all the Empanadas and the blueberry Coffee Cake.

My experience at Tatiana’s has always been amazing, from the customer service to the delicious food and drinks. The hours are from 7:00am-3:00pm Monday-Saturday.

Make sure to stop by Tatiana’s Coffee & Tea if you are in the area at 2470 E Main St or call in to go pick up (805) 901-7620.

Tatiana’s Coffee & Tea Socials

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