National Geographic released their list of the 25 Happiest Cities in the US. Guess what? We made the list. Yes, Ventura residents rank among the happiest in the entire United States. To be more specific, the entire Oxnard/Thousand Oaks/Ventura made the list.Ventura Residents Come in 20th Eight of the 25 Happiest Cities in the US are located right here in California. Ventura residents came in at the #20 spot. The team at National Geographic highlighted our beautiful weather and beaches as well as the closeness of Los Padres and Angeles National Forests as reasons why Ventura residents were so happy.How Were Rankings Determine?The National Geographic team took several factors into consideration 15 separate factors. Some of these included healthy eating habits, lifestyle, activity level, f... 10/23/2017

Do you enjoy sipping a fine glass of wine while eating delicious food prepared by some of today's most talented chefs? Then you're going to want to get your tickets right now for the 2017 Ventura Food and Wine Experience. This year, visitors have the chance to actually meet Martha Stewart live and in person.What: 2017 Ventura Food and Wine Experience Where: Olivas Adobe (4200 Olivas Park Dr) When: Sunday, October 1st, 1 pm to 4 pm Admission: $85 to $325 Contact: Ventura County Star email update sign-up2017 Ventura Food and Wine ExperienceSo many extremely talented chefs live right here in the Ventura area. Luckily for us, they've agreed to come to the 2017 Ventura Food and Wine Experience to showcase their talents for you. Some of the chefs featured at this exclusive event include Alex ... 09/25/2017

Only a few days left to summer, according to the calendar. But in sunny Southern California, we get to enjoy summer a little bit longer. Nothing goes better with summer time weather than a nice cold beer. Choose from some of the finest craft beers at the California Beer Festival Ventura 2017.What: California Beer Festival Ventura 2017 Where: Plaza Park When: Sept 15th 5:30pm to 8:30pm, Sept 16th 12:30pm to 5pm, Sept 17th 11:30am to 7pm Admission: $25 to $75 (3-Day Passes are SOLD OUT) Contact: California Beer Festival (805) 628-9588California Beer Festival Ventura 2017There's so much to see and do at the California Beer Festival Ventura 2017! First, kick things off with a food and beer pairing on Friday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Various local chefs put their talents to work for you. They'v... 09/11/2017

Last week, Ventura students headed back to school. Next Monday is Labor Day. While these events typically signal the end of summer, fun times roll on. Want proof? The Ventura Rock on the Dock 2017 concert series starts up this Saturday.What: Ventura Rock on the Dock 2017 Concert Series Where: Ventura Harbor Village (1583 Spinnaker Dr) When: Every Saturday in September, 3pm to 6pm Admission: FREE Contact: Ventura Harbor Village (805) 477-0470Ventura Rock on the Dock 2017 Concert SeriesFirst of all, who doesn't love music? In addition to everything Ventura Harbor Village usually provides, now there's even more. Every Saturday in September (beginning this Saturday, the 2nd), a different musical act performs live for three whole hours in Ventura Harbor Village. Well, technically, they'll pe... 08/28/2017

Smooching Harbor Seals in Ventura  We recently spent several days with our daughter, her husband, and our 26-month-old granddaughter in Ventura, a coastal town about 4 hours north of us. The hotel was right on the marina which provided a great place to walk and point out all the sights to our granddaughter. We spent part of one afternoon on the far side of the harbor and spotted these harbor seals that had jumped up on the dock by one of the boats. They were pretty far away  and a little hard to see, but the camera caught them doing what harbor seals do. 08/23/2017

Ventura Farmers Market - A Riot of Colors  It's always fun to go to other farmers markets we aren't familiar with, especially in other parts of California. Today I seemed to be paying more attention to the many colors and snapping a few photos, to the extent I could while keeping watch over an inquisitive and active 26-month-old granddaughter.  08/19/2017

Ventura County Fair Starts on Wednesday 12 days of good old-fashioned fun! The Ventura County Fair starts on Wednesday, August 2nd. Consider this your traditional family-fun fair. All of the old fashioned rides you would expect to find will be here. Although, this year there is a great new addition: Michael Jackson’s Wave Swinger from his personal collection at Neverland Ranch. This is the ride where you sit in a swing and go in a circular motion. It is just really neat that it is from his personal collection.You can expect to find: Deep-fried everything! An old-fashioned flea circus An Olympic Bobsled coaster Chalk Art Daily Discounts Available Concerts every night A weekend Rodeo And so much more! What makes this fair so great is how it is offered to the community. There are budget-fr... 07/30/2017

Mortgage Refinance in Ventura, CA      I recently received a call from a client, and in the conversation they told me about a friend who was in an adjustable rate loan and trying to figure out the best way to plan her finances going forward.  He got me in touch with the potential borrower, and based on their immediate, short term, and long term plans, it made a lot of sense to get out of the adjustable rate loan, and into a low fixed rate loan.      As with every loan file, there was of course a (thankfully only one!) curve ball along the way!  When the home was originally purchased, our borrower's parents helped finance the home by getting the mortgage in their name because my borrower had no credit at the time and was a young first time buyer.  While she wasn't on the mortgage, our bo... 07/18/2017

Channel Islands National Park- Ventura County Along the Santa Barbara Channel you can find Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary which is made up of five Channel Islands. These Channels are so very important to our area. They serve as our ocean environment and as a great resource to our community. Therefore, if you have not been to any of the park’s Channel Islands yet, make time this summer to come explore. Near Ventura, and close to Los Angeles, it is refreshing to visit and break away from the busy California city lifestyle.The Channel Islands are San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara. Between all of them, they are as an oceanic home to several hundred unique to the area species and over 2,000 plant and animal species, overall. However, one of th... 07/13/2017

Sun Protection Tips for the Ventura County Resident July is right around the corner and the sun is hot, especially here in sunny California where the sun shines over 272 days of the year. Therefore, it is very important to know sun safety and protection tips. We have all been sunburned at some point in our lives and we all can certainly agree that it is no fun! Not only is sunburn terrible to endure, but it is not safe for the health of our skin. Even though we all know that you are supposed to wear sunscreen, sometimes we get on the beach or out in the sun and just don’t apply it. Hopefully these tips will help you: It is good to go ahead and get in the habit of wearing sunscreen anytime you are out in the sun. Apply it every day if you have to. Carry it on you. Keep in mind that the s... 06/29/2017

Downtown Ventura’s Annual 4th of July Street Fair!This 4th of July, join in the tradition and come on out to the street fair in Downtown Ventura where you will experience all of the great things that street fairs have to offer. Each year has a theme and this year’s theme is “Sea to Shining Sea.” Be one of thousands and thousands who come to support this event and see why over 30,000 people attend.What does the street fair have to offer? For starters, let’s talk about the good stuff, the FOOD! There will be several food booths to choose from including local eats. There will also be live entertainment on several stages all along Main Street. Therefore, as you walk around, look, and shop, you will be able to hear the music. A favorite for the kids is the Kids Zone which will have all sorts... 06/19/2017

A Good Way to Spend 36 Hours       A recent ActiveRain contest asked us to spell out our strengths and weaknesses - I mentioned working myself to the point of recharging, and recently, I was hitting that wall.  I always know when I'm lacking inspiration and a "charge" in my batteries because it shows in my creativity.  I'm usually a content-producing machine.  Blogs here, blogs on my website, marketing pieces, social media content, etc.   When I can't think of anything for days on end, it's time for a break.  This past weekend, I took that break.       A group of 7 friends and I booked a ferry to Channel Islands National Park off the coast of Ventura, CA.  With only what we could carry in our backpacks, we were dropped off Saturday morning at Scorpion Anchorage with plans to meet the fe... 05/23/2017

California Strawberry FestivalOkay Ventura County folks, it is strawberry season here in California. Yummy, plump, juicy, and perfectly delicious strawberries! And tons of them. Held at the Strawberry Meadows of College Park just outside of Ventura, is the annual California Strawberry Festival. Here, strawberries are showcased in the best of ways with every single use for strawberries you can think of on display. Therefore, see live demonstrations, arts and crafts, and all the joys of festival fun.This festival is a top-rated event and is perfect for the whole family. There will be live performances for entertainment, celebrity cooking and guest appearances, bookoos of arts and crafts booths, rides, attractions, strawberry contests, and so much more. For the kids, Strawberryland is a fa... 05/18/2017

Tips for Your Lawn- Have the Greenest Grass in Ventura County!When you see a beautiful lawn full of luscious, green grass, don’t you just get grass envy? Especially, when you drive home to your lawn and see brown spots and patches, and dry-looking grass. Yuck! Having a beautiful lawn adds so much appeal to the home. However, that kind of grass can be hard to get, or maintain. Not everyone has a green thumb, but we are here to tell you that you do not have to be a super star yard know-it-all to get the kind of grass that you want. Here, we have some super simple tips to get that kind of gorgeous lawn you can walk around bare-footed on. There are really 4 main parts to keeping your grass perfect, that you need to know about.The need to breathe.In order for the lawn to be good-looking, it ... 05/04/2017

Sailing around Ventura Harbor!Sailing is favorite hobby here in Ventura Harbor. So much so that there are sailing charters and sailing lessons. What is so fun about sailing? It is considered a recreational sport, mainly used with yachts either for leisurely cruising or for competitive racing. You get to control the sails and use the winds of the sea to your advantage for speed. It can be very fun, and is a great way to enjoy the water! Ventura Harbor offers sailing charters, sailing lessons, and a Junior Yacht club with summer camp for our youth.Adventure Sailing ChartersThis is a charter service which offers all kinds of services to the people of Ventura. Some of them include a romantic stay, an overnight adventure where you can go out to the Channel Islands National Park and see whale... 04/20/2017

Yard Tips for the New Lawn OwnerWith spring in the air, it gets you moving. You want to work on your yard and get it spring ready. This must be partly where the term “spring fever” comes from. It is a good thing to work on your green thumb but beginners beware! You do not want to destroy your yard trying to improve on it. Here are some tips for the beginner lawn.If you are a savvy shopper, you like to save money. Therefore, you go to the local home store and pick up things like yard fertilizer, treatment for fleas and ticks, and weed and grass killers. Being the bargain shopper that you are, you want to get the best prices for the best products. The most important tip that comes with reading the reviews on the products, is to read the instructions. If you want to save your money, use th... 04/06/2017

Spruce Up Your Kitchen with These Great Tips!The kitchen may be the heart of your Ventura County home. It is a meeting place, a place where you put your calendars and children’s art work. A place where you make delicious happen and feed your family from. It is definitely a highly trafficked area and for this reason, you want it to stay timeless. Trendy kitchen looks can often end up being a mistake down the road. Especially when you realize you are no longer into that look but you had at one time spent countless hours and money to remodel it. Have a kitchen you will always love with these easy tips.Make it universal. Your kitchen needs to be user-friendly: accessible, organized, and adaptable. A great example of this is putting in a wall oven and cooktop instead of having a range oven w... 03/23/2017

St Patrick’s Day Celebration in Ventura!This Saturday March 11, be a part of a Ventura County favorite event…..the St Patrick’s Day Parade. Every year, for 28 years and counting, Ventura has celebrated St Patty’s Day with a huge parade and it is a pretty big deal here. If you love to celebrate and want to be a part of the fun, come on out at 10am. Wear your green, bring your Irish spirit, and just have a big green blast!With over 50 sponsors and up to 100 entries, the parade is set to be packed full of marchers and floats. Enjoy the sounds of authentic bagpipes playing, live entertainment, local mascots, Irish dancers, and marching bands. The Grand Marshal this year is professional surfer Mary Osbourne who will ride on a float with her surfing pup Haole. The parade starts on East Main S... 03/09/2017

Ventura Pop Up Yoga at Marina ParkTake some time out for yourself and enjoy a relaxing yoga session in Marina Park. With the fresh morning air, nature all around, and the beautiful views of Ventura, all from your mat. For one hour each week, step away from your day and breathe, stretch, and boost your mood. See why pop up yoga is staying in demand and be one of dozens who enjoy this method of exercise and relaxation. Look for others yoga-goers on the grassy area in the corner of Greenock Lane and Pierpont Boulevard.Other Pop Ups:If you cannot make this class, there are other options for you. Be one with nature on your schedule. Marina Park offers several other pop-up classes. For example, Morning Yoga with Lisa is on Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30am. What a great way to start your week off. ... 02/23/2017

Love is in the Air in Ventura!Ahhh….one of the most loved times of the year has arrived. If you are looking to share some quality time with your sweet heart this weekend in celebration of Valentine’s Day, Ventura County has all of the romantic happenings. Add some arts and culture in your life with a Paint and Sip class. Experience why it takes two to tango at Grapes and Hops Wine Bar, or plan a night out at the Harbor Village. Enjoy the most romantic time of the year in one of the most beautiful places to live!Couples Valentine Paint and Sip ClassJust as the titles states, come and paint and sip on some wine while you do so. This is a very trendy, fun outing for couple’s to enjoy together. You get the unique opportunity to sit and paint 2 paintings you didn’t even know you were capable... 02/09/2017