Dana Point Marina Inn

Explore Dana Point from the only hotel on the Harbor... Dana Point Marina Inn.

We recently took a little mini staycation to the nearby city of Dana Point. A little change of scenery was so good for all of us, plus the boys and I got to spend some special time with Grandma and Grandpa. Dana Point is located in South Orange County and has beautiful beaches nearby like Doheny and Baby Beach. The shops at the Dana Point Marina are cute and there are multiple restaurants to choose from. 

Right next to the hotel is a bunch of shops and restaurants. We ate at El Torito restaurant and it was delicious. We didn't get a chance to try Proud Mary's, but it was recommended to me by a friend who raved about their delicious tacos. Hopefully we can try it the next time we are in Dana Point which will probably be next week because we loved the area so much. We also walked down by the marina during sunset and looked at all the boats. It was beautiful and the boys loved it. 

We walked around the shops at the Dana Point Harbor and found some really cute little finds. Our favorite little store was Jerky & Cali Gifts. We ended up finding some fun themed shirts and boxers for the guys and the boys found some giant fluffy animal slippers. I also saw this in one of the store windows and it made me laugh. I'm definitely someone that needs to clean out my stuff a little more, but maybe this will make me feel a little better about all the stuff I do have. 😉

Hanging out at the hotel pool with grandma, grandpa and cousins. 

The kids loved that the hotel spa had color changing lights in it. 

 The view from our rooms overlooking the pool and some of the boats in the marina. Ledger is in the cute stage of mimicking what other people are doing and he was so happy standing with his foot up just like Pop Pop.

Just a cute picture of Ledger hanging out in the room because I can't resist.

One of our rooms at the hotel. (Please note: these photos were taken when we were about to check out after staying for 2 nights). The beds were comfortable and we enjoyed our stay. The hotel had a continental breakfast downstairs for 2 hours, but due to the current situation they only had items that were single serve and wrapped for you to pick up and take back to your room.

Doheny Beach was a big hit and is one of our new favorites in Orange County. There is a little restaurant on the beach with tables and music. The bathrooms are nice with individual stalls and there are picnic tables divided by little wooden walls to allow you to have your own little picnic or celebration. 

Is there anything better than a relaxing nap on the beach? I wish I could take one too. 😍

 Baby Beach was pretty busy when were were there, so we went to Doheny on this trip. But here are a couple pics from a previous beach day at Baby Beach. If you have little ones, I highly recommend you check out Baby Beach. It is a little cove with no waves, so it is perfect for little ones to play without feeling overwhelmed with the waves.

We loved this little bench and our whole staycation. 

We fell in love with the Dana Point area and can't wait to go back soon. I know there is so much more for us to explore and try in the area and I can't wait! If you have any favorite places or activities in the Dana Point area, please share them with me. I love finding new things to try and little hidden gems in nearby cities. 

 Have a Beautiful Day!

Painting To Gogh

Every child is an artist. The problem is staying an artist when you grow up. 

- Picasso 

Have you ever wanted to try one of those group painting classes? I have, but I always thought it wouldn't turn out for me because I am not good at drawing or painting. But after watching my boys create their paintings with the guidance of Painting To Gogh, I am more convinced than ever to give it a try. So I want to tell you more about this company, but first... Check out the boys' Masterpieces!!!

They had the best time having their own painting class at home. It was so much fun to watch their paintings come to life and see their confidence grow the further they got into it. @paintingtogogh let’s you pick your painting and sends you all the supplies you need to create your own masterpiece. 

The Starter Kit is $45 and includes acrylic paints for your selected picture, a paintbrush set, a 16x20 canvas, an easel, an apron and a link to the step by step video tutorial. Repeat customers can order the Essentials Kit for $25 that includes everything I mentioned earlier except the Easel and Paintbrush Set. They also have an option for the video tutorial only for $10 if you have your own supplies you want to use at home.  

Paintings typically take anywhere from 1-2 hours and the great thing is you can go at your own pace since you can pause the video anytime you need to and then play it again when you are ready. 

I cannot tell you how much fun this was. If you are looking for a fun family activity or just want to make a beautiful new painting, we definitely recommend Painting to Gogh. This was such an awesome experience and the boys can’t wait to do it again. They are already planning for which design each of them are choosing next. 

We have our brushes cleaned and our easels folded up and stored in their bags, so they are ready for our next painting class. This time mom and dad are going to join in the fun too! I can't wait to share what masterpieces we create this time. Our wall is going to be full of beautiful handmade paintings very soon. 😉

If you are wanting to create your own magnificent paintings, use this link to save 10%. http://paintingtogogh.refr.cc/tiffanys and be sure to tag @OCBoysLife in your creations if you share them on social media. I would love to see them and share them too! I also think this would make a fantastic gift idea. Can you imagine what a fun surprise this would be for someone to receive on their doorstep?!!

Looking for a fun date night? They also offer a diptych. Instead of painting separately, you turn your canvases vertically and paint two halves of the painting. When you put your canvases together, they create one image. Just look for the Starter Box for 2 on their website when selecting your painting. 

I will be sure to share a video of the boys creating their masterpieces on our YouTube channel. A BIG Thank You to Painting To Gogh for this awesome experience. 

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