I enjoyed a very relaxing Sunday ogling some of the most gorgeous homes in my area during the Dana Point Home & Garden Tour. It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for years, and this year I finally did - with great company to boot.

My dream house is a 1920s-1930s bungalow, or perhaps a Craftsman-style home, with a bright, open European-inspired kitchen, and a dining room with a long solid wood table for hosting dinner parties. A home that feels cozy and inviting, and truly like a home. With lots of “found” objects and great art.

I was excited to spend the day gazing and dreaming, taking bits and pieces from each home and using it to build my “dream” home in my mind.

Lots of museum-like homes, certainly, which doesn’t tug on my heartstrings in the slightest. But there was one from the 1920s with the best library that reminded me so of my grandfather’s den when he was alive. And the most spectacular ocean view. I would move in tomorrow…

I marvel at how life was in the 1920s. How small in scale the homes were compared to now, back before everything in America was about “bigger and more.”  I love the simplicity of that time.The thing I truly loved is that each home was so different and also had a rich history, which is one of the reasons I love living in Dana Point.

If you’ve never gone on a home tour but hope to one day, there are a few things you’ll find that I didnt expect: You’ll most likely to wear paper booties over your shoes (yes, like you’re going into surgery), and the docents will most likely be incredibly strict about the path you take through the house…so don’t go expecting to amble aimlessly throughout the house. There are arrows and everything. These are people’s homes though, so it’s understandable…

I hope you all had a great Halloween!

We had a traditionally wholesome evening of trick-or-treating with our two little padawans.

In Hollywood, the evening seemed to be a whoreish event, offering the chicks of L.A. an apparent opportunity to express their “stripper” side.

Click here for a TMZ video for proof of the fact.

Love B-movies? Then you’ll dig this flick created by local director/writer/actor/musician/super cool guy Mike Merryman. I think it’s pretty great for having no budget! Check out the trailer here.

–Cynthia.

It was an artful evening at last night’s 8th Annual Orange County Arts Awards, an event that can be likened to the Emmys of OC art culture.

The awards dinner, held at The Balboa Bay Club & Resort, is hosted by Arts Orange County, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting local visual and performing arts.

Ed Arnold of KOCE-TV’s’ “Real Orange,” and community visionary Julia Argyros hosted.

Guests enjoyed a colorful performance by contemporary dance company, Backhausedance, a nominee for Outstanding Arts Organization. Also, a surprise performance by Tony Award-nominated performer, Matt Morrison, a graduate of Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHSA) in Santa Ana.

Three key figures in the art community were honored with a Cultural Legacy Award. Ralph Opacic, founder and president of OCHSA, was honored as Artistic Visionary. Ramya Harishankar, classical Indian dancer and artistic director of Arpana Dance Company, received the Artist award. And writer, philanthropist, and civic leader, Joan Irvine Smith, was applauded as Community Visionary.

If you didn’t attend last night’s event, you can still take part. Arts OC has this year set up an online auction that’s open to the public.

But hurry! Bidding closes today, Thursday, Sept. 27, at 5 p.m. To browse items and place your bid, visit ArtsocAuction.org

To view photos from the awards dinner, click here.

–CYNTHIA RUPE

Listen up, women of Orange County.

Ladies can enjoy two days of pampering, education, and fun this weekend at the Great Women’s Expo, an event touted as the largest women’s conference on the West Coast.

Actress/ThighMaster queen Suzanne Somers headlines the event with her keynote address, “Living Your Best Life,” at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Actress Fran Drescher (”The Nanny”) talks about her victory over cancer at 1 a.m. Saturday. Singer Carnie Wilson, who lost around 150 lbs. after gastric bypass surgery in 1999, discusses “Making Positive Life Changes” at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Seminars held throughout the weekend cover a range of topics from organic produce to the latest cosmetic surgery procedures. Also relationships, business networking, and finances, natch.

Event-goers can also browse 400 exhibitor booths, and enjoy demonstrations and freebies, celebrity appearances, books signings, a fashion show, and more.

The Great Women’s Expo

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 15-16.

Where: Anaheim Convention Center

Cost: $12 per day, or $20 for a two-day pass

Info: greatwomensexpo.com

I braved to take my two boys, ages 2 and 4, by myself to the OC Fair yesterday.

It was Kids Day at the fair, and children ages 12 and under were admitted free, a promotion running Tuesdays through July. (In my excitement about the freebie offer, I overlooked that kids ages 5 and under are always free. But I’m still glad we went).

I was excited but nervous about our venture. Kids, hot weather, and crowds/long lines can prove a disastrous combination. But the day was easy, and we had a blast!

We spent the day at Kidland and the animal pavilion. And there are lots of free activities for the little ones, many based on this year’s “Cowabunga!” theme.

Here are the highlights:

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I picked up these “fly” lollipops as a funny treat for my husband’s 36th birthday. I just couldn’t pass them up.

You wear Grillz on your teeth and suck on the attached lollipop, which comes in two flavas: Gold (peach) and Silver (strawberry).

They’re made by Candy Planet, and I found them at our local Blockbuster Video store. Check out the candy maker’s Web site for more info.

~Cynthia

It’s not too late to throw on your flip-flops today and head down to Tropical Smoothie Cafe for a free smoothie!

The cafe’s locations in Irvine and Fullerton are giving away a free Jetty Punch (strawberry-banana) smoothie to the first 500 customers who come in today wearing flip-flops.
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Want a free smoothie? Simply wear flip flops and head down to Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Irvine and Fullerton on Thursday.

The chain is celebrating National Flip Flop Day and the first day of summer by giving a free Jetty Punch (strawberry-banana) smoothie to the first 500 customers who walk into the store wearing flip flops.

Note: This is the first annual event, so there’s no telling how long the line will be. If time is an issue for you, try calling the cafes before they open to see how long the line is.

When: Thursday, June 21. Cafe opens at 8 a.m. (Irvine), 9 a.m. (Fullerton).
Where: 3972 Barranca Parkway, Irvine (in Crossroads Center); 229 E. Commonwealth, Fullerton
Info: 949-387-7303, 714-680-3008. tropicalsmoothie.com

Bowers Museum in Santa Ana will next year host the exhibit “Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of the First Emperor,” an exhibit from China that includes 20 life-size soldier statues, part of a world famous exhibit on permanent display in Xian, China.

In anticipation of record crowds expected to flock to the museum for this exhibit, which opens May 18, 2008, the tickets go on sale Tuesday, June 5.

The 120 objects featured in the “Terra Cotta Warriors” exhibit are but a portion of the larger exhibit on permanent display near the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C.), the first emperor of China. Here you’ll see more than 8,000 life-size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations, replicas of the Chinese imperial guard. The find was discovered in the ’70s and is considered one of the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century.

TERRA COTTA WARRIORS: GUARDIANS OF THE FIRST EMPEROR

WHEN: May 18-Oct. 12, 2008
WHERE: Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana.
TICKET PRICES: $20 weekdays, $22 weekends (general admission); $14 weekdays, $16 weekends (seniors/students); children under 6 are free.
ORDERING INFO: Ticketmaster, 877-250-8999, ticketmaster.com, or museumtix.com.