This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
The Village of Esencia, located in the heart of Rancho Mission Viejo, is South Orange County’s most up and coming master-planned community. Have you checked it out yet?
Often referred to as “The Ranch”, this vibrant community is nestled in the foothills, off Antonio Parkway and Ortega Highway, just miles from Doheny Beach and San Juan Capistrano.. Esencia offers its homeowners a naturally beautiful and elevated location that boasts both backcountry and coastal views. 
With amazing community amenities and natural surroundings, it’s no wonder so many couples, families and empty-nesters already call Esencia at Rancho Mission “home”.
The NorthWalk Neighborhood in the Village of Esencia is getting ready to welcome a new neighborhood, Reverie by William Lyon Homes. Reverie’s comfortably spacious one and two-story new home designs will feature 3 to 5 bedrooms and 2 to 3.5 baths in approximately 1,914 to 2,674 square feet.
The Model Grand Opening Event is this Sunday, February 11. from 10 am to 5 pm. Guests in attendance at the Model Grand Opening will enjoy light refreshments, Valentine’s Day crafts, and model home tours! For more information about this fun event and to RSVP, please go here. 
Some of the popular room options offered at Reverie include dens, master retreats and loggias. Homebuyers will benefit from convenient low-maintenance designs, plus beautiful, versatile interiors to accommodate individual expectations. These courtyard homes will also have private yards, charming outdoor spaces for casual dining and entertaining.
Let’s take a look at the 5 Reverie single-family detached home residences that will be offered, including 1 and 2-story floor plans. (To view a specific floorplan and/or exterior options available for that residence, please click on the residence number you’re interested in.)
Residence 1 – Approximately 1,914 Sq. Ft., 3 Bedrooms + 2 Baths, 2-Car Garage
Residence 2 – Approximately 2,334 Sq. Ft., 3 Bedrooms + 3 Baths, 2-Car Garage
Residence 3 – Approximately 2,445-2,484 Sq. Ft., 3 Bedrooms + 3 Baths, 2-Car Garage
Residence 4 – Approximately 2,552-2,589 Sq. Ft., 4 Bedrooms + 3.5 Baths, 2-Car Garage
Residence 5 – Approximately 2,664-2,674 Sq. Ft., 4 Bedrooms + 3.5 Baths, 3-Car Tandem Garage
Reverie homebuyers will also enjoy access to the NorthWalk neighborhood amenities, including the all-new, incredible 5.5-acre linear park, The Backyard, which also opens February 11th.
This eclectic green space will include:
- An outdoor lounge with events bar
- A DIY workshop and tool shed
- 2 children’s playgrounds with hill slides, jungle gyms, tot lot, and gravity rail
- Firepits and BBQs
- A major Sports Park
The community of Escencia in Rancho Mission Viejo is plentiful with abundant leisure. Whether you like to socialize, explore, exercise, or just relax, here are just some of the other amenities in the community:
- Village Parks
- Esencia Farm
- Indoor/Outdoor Retreats
- Canyon Coffee Coffeehouse
- Oak Canyon and Scenic Trails
- Dog Park
- Esencia School K-8 grades (opening for Fall 2018)
In the Village of Esencia, you’ll also find countless opportunities for new experience on the action-packed community calendar. Many fun events take place at The Hilltop Club in Esencia, which features a swimming pool, bar with lounge seating, arcade, fire pits, BBQ pavilion, large event lawn and more.
Don’t forget to join William Lyon Homes for their Model Grand Opening of Reverie at Esencia, the newest NorthWalk neighborhood at Rancho Mission Viejo, on Sunday, February 11th! Hope to see you there!
To learn more about Reverie or to join the Interest List, please visit: http://bit.ly/ReverieAtRMV.
Connect with William Lyon Homes on Facebook and Instagram. Join in on the conversation by using and following the hashtag #LiveLyonSoCal on social media.
During Knott’s Peanuts Celebration, guests can encounter The Peanuts Gang in the park, including Charlie Brown, Lucy, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock and a couple others. Also, for the very first time at Knott’s, the Peanuts Gang is joined by their friend PigPen, everyone’s favorite messy pal!
The all-new Knott’s PEANUTS Celebration is uniquely dedicated to celebrating the beloved PEANUTS characters. The park celebrates the world Charles M. Schultz created and is currently. adorned with PEANUTS inspired décor. Guests can check out new character experiences, comic strip inspired photo opportunities, deliciously themed-treats and new whimsical shows.
One-of-a-Kind Peanuts Photo Opportunities
In addition to the photo backdrops created especially for this celebration, you’ll find other photo opportunities throughout the park with the Peanuts characters. If you’re looking for PigPen, you can find him in the PigPen’s Pig Pen, located in Ghost Town, (a.k.a. the Livery Stable) with his animal friends. PigPen is available for photos throughout the day.
Special Peanuts Celebration Entertainment
The Music Goes ’round and ’round – Join in on the daytime fun, held on the Calico Mine Stage, as Sally and Schroder host a retrospect of music and have guests dancing in the aisles! .
Woodstock’s Music Festival – This nighttime festival is held on the Calico Mine Stage and features the Peanuts Gang as they’re joined by the family-friendly indie band The Jelly of the Month Club. This high energy rock concert is fun for the whole family. .
Peanuts Sketch School
As you go through the drawing lesson, the instructor also provided fun and interesting facts about the character. After class is dismissed, a special showing of a classic PEANUTS television special is shown. If you are bringing children, I suggest arriving a little early so they can get a seat on the stage. There is plenty of seating available though for all guests.
Peanuts Celebration Treats 
There are 16 special Peanuts Celebration treats offered throughout the park including Charlie Brownies, Charlie Brown cotton candy, Peanuts Characters cupcakes, Chocolate Covered Apples, Charlie Brown Marshmallow Pops, Snoopy Cookies, and more. After sampling many of them, I cannot wait to go back and try some more.
Have you had a chance to experience Knott’s Peanuts Celebration yet? If not, be sure to do so before it ends on February 25. It’s absolutely adorable and I can assure you, you’ll have a great time!
Since Chinese New Year is just around the corner, falling on Friday, February 16 this year, I was excited for the opportunity to try out several simple-to-prepare-at-home Ling Ling items that you can put together to make an easy meal for your family. I’m addicted to Ling Ling Potstickers and now they offer Fried Rice and Noodles, too! All of the Ling Ling items are perfect for preparing your own an authentic Asian Chinese New Year meal at home.
It was night of laughter and learning led by Chef Katie Chin, who is an extremely talented and just an adorable person. She shared so much with us. Not only did she give us some helpful tips to plan our Chinese New Year menus, she was also very open and personable and sharing quite a bit about her personal story and how she came to be involved in the culinary industry.
Chef Katie started off by teaching us how to blanch kale and green beans to use in 2 simple recipes: a Kale with Ginger Salad and Sweet & Spicy Green Beans. I had no idea how easy it is to blanch veggies but I know I’ll do it more often now. Both of these recipes make great side dishes to feature on your Chinese New Year menu. (Please see down below for recipes.) 
After we were finished preparing these two dishes, we all sat down to enjoy an early Chinese New Year dinner together. The table was filled with delicious Ling Ling entrees and New Year’s decor.
Ling Ling’s most well known product are their potstickers. Have you tried them before? 
They’re made with delectable chicken or pork, and tender vegetables and are expertly combined in a mouthwatering dumpling wrapper. Each comes with Ling Ling signature dipping sauce and they are so delicious!
Ling Ling also has Fried Rice dishes from Japan and China. Their authentic recipes are expertly crafted and made with tender vegetables, delicious proteins and flavor infused rice that tastes great down to the last grain. You’re going to love these once you try them and they are so simple to prepare at home. Ling Ling Fried Rice is available in Yakitori Chicken, Yakiniku Beef, Thai-Style Chicken, Chinese-Style Vegetable, and Bibimbap Beef flavors.
Another great Ling Ling product available in stores are the Authentic Asian-style noodles infused with delicious sauces, succulent proteins, and vegetables. There are two traditional Asian varieties to choose from: Drunken Noodles and Yakisoba Noodles.
Aside from all of the food, I also enjoyed getting to learn about some Chinese New Year customs and traditions from Chef Katie. Here are some of the DOs and DONTs to follow for starting out the New Year:
I was so inspired by Chef Katie, that I went and purchased her latest cookbook, a tribute to her mom; Everyday Chinese Cookbook – 101 Delicious Recipes from My Mother’s Kitchen. A very special thank you to Chef Katie Chen and Ling Ling Asian Foods for hosting me for a fun night out! 
Kale with Ginger (serves 4)
Sweet & Spicy Green Beans (serves 4)
I am excited for Chinese New Year this year because I feel like I can prepare a meal for my family with these Ling Ling products plus the 2 additional recipes from Chef Katie, and I feel confident that will look like I’ve spent hours cooking and that they’ll actually eat. As a busy mom, I don’t always have hours to spend in the kitchen, but preparing something quick and simple, with quality products is something I can be proud of. Ling LIng authentic asian foods are so simple to work with and I appreciate that.