In this episode, we invite you to get to know Sobia Manjra, owner of Threads by Blue Skies – a chic boutique located inside The OC Mix in Costa Mesa that specializes in UPF 50 Sun Protective Hats, West Coast Wear, and Resort Wear.
If you’re looking to find the hottest trends for summer and beyond (although in
SoCal, it ALWAYS feels like summer), Threads by Blue Skies is the perfect destination
for your next shopping spree adventure!
As we continue to introduce you to the faces behind the various showrooms, restaurants and retailers here at SOCO + The OC Mix, we are excited to be highlighting Naveed Anwar, the COO/Owner of The Cheese Shop – a husband and wife owned restaurant serving gorgeous charcuterie boards, mouthwatering sandwiches, craft wine + beer and more!
Naveed is proud to work alongside his wife Nushin Anwar, who is the CEO/Owner – together they make everyone’s charcuterie dreams come true! Read below to learn more about Naveed and his passion for the food & beverage industry.
Name: Naveed Anwar
Title: COO/Owner
Why do you love working at SOCO and/or what’s a favorite memory from your time working at the center? I enjoy being able to socialize with all my guests and be part of an amazingly talented group of business owners who strive to provide nothing but the best for our customers.
How did you get into the food industry? I grew up working in the restaurant industry when I was in high school to make a little extra money while saving to buy a car. I ended up having a passion for food when I opened my first restaurant in 2005. Since then I have opened 6 other locations.
Why are you passionate about what you do? When you love what you do and become passionate about it, you continue striving to do better. I really enjoy being able to socialize and build relationships with all of our customers. When you serve something you love, the quality speaks for itself, and we don’t shy away from providing the best quality artisan products you can find.
What is your favorite store/restaurant at SOCO besides your own? I love being in a space next door to the first MICHELIN star restaurant in OC called Taco Maria. I have become good friends with the owner/chef Carlos and we continuously motivate each other to do better every day. I love having so many different options for shopping and dining at SOCO, which makes it such an enjoyable place to be.
Is there anything you would like to say to the Costa Mesa community at large? SOCO is a hidden GEM that gets overlooked off the 405 & Harbor Blvd. Once you get to the center it has so much more to offer than you could ever imagine. As small business owners, we strive to provide the best quality food and products while having the ability to meet and greet each and every one of you.
Hi, SOCO friends! Whether you’re soaking up the last few days of summer or have already started the new school year, we’re excited that you’ll be digging into some gardening fun with us today. For this week’s Kids Club, we’ll be reading the #1 New York Times bestseller, We Are the Gardeners before making a fun paper plate garden craft.
Written by HGTV legend Joanna Gaines and illustrated by Julianna Swaney, We Are the Gardeners will teach you the importance of hard work, perseverance and, most importantly, familial love. From their failed endeavors, obstacles to overcome (bunnies that eat everything), and all of the knowledge they gain along the way, the Gaines family shares how they learned to grow a happy, successful garden. If you would like to read along with us at home, purchase a copy of the book here. Parents, if you’re interested in reading more about building your own vegetable garden at home click here!
Check out the list of materials you’ll need for this week’s featured craft below!
Materials Needed:
– Paper Plate
– Paint (brown and sky blue)
– Paintbrushes
– Cardstock (green, white, red, and orange)
– Yarn (brown)
– Hole punch
– Tape
– Scissors
SOCO + The OC Mix’s Kids Club events will continue to be held online until further notice. All past + upcoming events can be found on the center’s new blog here.
To receive updates about future Kids Club events and stay up-to-date on SOCO news, you can subscribe to receive email updates here, or follow us on Instagram at @socoandtheocmix!
Greetings, SOCO + The OC Mix kiddos! As you prepare for a new school year, we’re helping you “hit the books” with some fun. For this week’s Virtual Kids Club, we’ll be reading If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t! followed by an extra special back to school craft tutorial.
Magnolia wants to bring in the best surprise ever for show-and-tell. When she decides to bring an alligator, things don’t go according to plan. This hilarious picture book, written and illustrated by Elise Parsley, is a great read for both kids and the kids-at-heart. To read along at home, purchase a copy of the book here.
Be sure to stick around for a fun craft afterward that will have your little ones feeling back-to-school-ready in no time! Here’s what you’ll need to make your very own, personalized popsicle stick bus:
Materials Needed:
SOCO + The OC Mix’s Kids Club events will continue to be held online until further notice. All past + upcoming events can be found on the center’s new blog here.
To receive updates about future Kids Club events and stay up-to-date on SOCO news, you can subscribe to receive email updates here, or follow us on Instagram at @socoandtheocmix!
For today’s Virtual Kids Club, we’ll be bringing a bit of beach fun indoors. Our book pick for this week is The Sandcastle That Lola Built, written by Megan Maynor and illustrated by Kate Berube.
This summertime story joins Lola as she and her new friends build the most beautiful sandcastle on the beach. Whether they’re collecting sea glass or searching for the perfect seashells, the group will remind you of the powers of hard work and good friends. If you’d like to read along at home, purchase a copy of the book here.
After story time, make a beach-themed footprint painting that you are “shore” to love! You’ll find the list of needed craft materials below.
Materials Needed:
– Craft paints (ocean + beach colors)
– Paintbrush
– Small canvas or thick construction paper
– Wipes (optional)
Since we are unable to meet in person, SOCO + The OC Mix’s Kids Clubs events will be held online until further notice. All past and upcoming virtual events can be found on SOCO + The OC Mix’s new blog here. To receive updates about future Kids Club events and new blog posts, be sure to enter your email address online here. You can also follow us on Instagram at @socoandtheocmix.
Celebrate the Fourth of July and enjoy this special promotion from Calligaris!
The showroom’s “Independence Day Promotion” began last Saturday, June 20 and will run through Monday, July 6, 2020. Customers can take up to 25% off all living and dining room collections just in time for the holiday weekend.
The showroom is taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our people and our customers, so you can shop with peace of mind.
Since its launch in 1923, Calligaris has become an international brand that stands for quality and creativity by finding balance between technique and aesthetics, and offering a mixture of contemporary design and flexibility. With a wide, well-structured range of functional furniture that is unmistakably stylish – and that leaves room for individual feelings + tastes – the showroom offers an infinite number of options blending shapes, colors and materials.
Visit their SOCO showroom today, or call 714.884.3346 to speak with a design associate. Their team is ready to answer your questions and look forward to seeing you soon!
Just in time for Father’s Day, our latest virtual kids club event will make for a fun-filled family afternoon! Join SOCO’s Kids Club host, Stephanie Holdridge, as she reads this month’s book pick: Dad By My Side, written and illustrated by Instagram sensation, Soosh.
This stunning picture book celebrates the beautiful parent-child bond between a father and daughter. Whether they’re playing make-believe, cooking breakfast in the kitchen, warding off monsters under the bed, or reading bedtime stories, dads are always there when you need them. If you’d like to read along at home, you can purchase a copy of the book here.
After story time, show Dad he “rocks” and stick around for a special arts & craft workshop! Kids will be led on a guided how-to as they decorate stones and rocks that can be used in the garden, or in dad’s home office! See below for the materials list and link to storytime.
(Virtual) Kids Club Video – June 15:
Craft Activity Materials:
To receive updates about future Kids Club events and new blog posts, subscribe below by entering your email address below. You can also follow SOCO + The OC Mix on Instagram at @socoandtheocmix.
Are you ready for a “tow-tally” awesome afternoon? Kids can join their storybook friend, Little Blue Truck, as he travels through an idyllic farm landscape learning all about the beauty of spring during SOCO’s next virtual Kids Club event – available now to watch online! Kids Club host, Stephanie Holdridge, will be reading Little Blue Truck’s Springtime, written by Alice Schertle and illustrated by Jill McElmurry.
This book is a fun read to celebrate the spring season and encourages young children to learn and identify animals and reinforce counting skills. Kiddos will be led on a journey following Little Blue Truck and his friend, Toad, as they encounter an array of friendly baby animals on their drive through town.
Read along by watching the video online at the link below, or if you’d like to purchase your own hard copy of the book click here.
After storytime, stick around to make a special craft that your whole flock will love – a fluffy handprint sheep! Don’t forget to review the craft materials list below before getting started.
(Virtual) Kids Club Video – June 8:
Craft Activity Materials:
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Ready for the next Virtual Kids Club Event? Join us as we spring into action this week with a new online video! On Wednesday, May 20, Kids Club host Stephanie Holdridge will read It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny – a bright & humorous story written by Marilyn Sadler.
This “hare-raising” tale tells the touching story of P.J. Funnybunny as he tries to figure out who he is – and where he belongs. Though he has some tough times along the way, P.J. ultimately learns that family is forever. Also considered a “Beginner Book” for children learning to read on their own, you can click here if you’d like to purchase your own copy.
After the reading, stick around to make your very own handprint bunny craft! This activity is sure to make for a fun-filled afternoon with family. So check out the materials list and link to the video below, and “hop” to it!
(Virtual) Kids Club Video – May 20: https://www.dropbox.com/s/y2c1rki733ai2m4/It%27s%20Not%20Easy%20Being%20a%20Bunny.m4v?dl=0
Craft Activity Materials:
Subscribe to receive updates about future Kids Club events and new blog posts by entering your email address below. You can also follow us on Instagram at @socoandtheocmix.
Just in time for Mother’s Day, our next virtual kids club event is sure to have the whole family buzzing with excitement! Join SOCO’s Kids Club host, Stephanie Holdridge, as she reads this month’s book pick: The Honeybee, written by acclaimed children’s author, Kirsten Hall. This sweet story follows the daily adventures of a honeybee as it buzzes from flower to flower, featuring beautiful artwork by award-winning illustrator, Isabelle Arsenault.
Through clever rhymes and breathtaking visuals, this celebration of the critically important honeybee is an extra-sweet treasure of a picture book. It will entertain young readers while educating them about bees, their colonies, and the honey-making process. If you’d like to read along at home, you can purchase your own copy online here.
After the reading, kids can take part in a hands-on arts & crafts activity where they’ll learn how to make their very own beautiful bee scene. With easy to follow instructions, this craft is the perfect mommy and me activity for a spring afternoon! “Bee” sure to review the materials list to gather what you need for the craft, and click the link below to access the video!
Subscribe to receive updates about future Kids Club events and new blog posts by entering your email address below. You can also follow us on Instagram at @socoandtheocmix.
May (Virtual) Kids Club Video:
Craft Activity Materials:
