Originally Published: January 20, 2022
h2oc.org | Oct 29, 2020
OC Rainy Season Checklist
There’s rain in the forecast for later this week! Now is a great time to take a few simple steps to prepare your home and yard for rainy weather.
Here are a few simple steps you can take to get ready for the rainy season:
- Pick up around your yard. Rain can carry trash, pet waste, yard debris or exposed household hazardous waste from your yard and other storage areas, such as the side of the house, into our storm drain system. To keep pollutants from entering our waterways, sweep up any trash or debris on hard surfaces like patios or driveways and place it in a covered trash bin. Rake up yard debris and place it in a covered trash or green waste bin. Store Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) indoors or under cover, in closed and labeled containers. You can dispose of HHW for free at any of Orange County’s four recycling centers.
- Repair leaking vehicles. Rain can wash oil and other fluids from leaky vehicles into our storm drains. Now is a great time to get your vehicle serviced to prevent leaking fluids from polluting our waterways. If vehicle maintenance isn’t an option at the moment, place drip pans under leaking vehicles to help protect our beaches and waterways. Recycle used oil by taking it to service stations and other recycling centers.
- Run your irrigation system and check for runoff. The start of the rainy season is a great time to make sure your irrigation system is doing its job by only giving your yard the water it needs to stay healthy. If you have a zone-based automated or manual irrigation system, try running each zone. Using a stopwatch or timer, monitor each zone for signs of runoff and note the time when runoff occurs. If you see runoff, try the following actions:
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- For runoff caused by sprinklers…
- Align your sprinklers to only water vegetated areas. Your yard doesn’t benefit when sprinklers spray onto sidewalks or other areas that don’t need water. In addition to creating runoff, poorly aligned sprinklers can damage outdoor structures like fences. Adjusting any misaligned sprinklers and properly aiming sprinkler heads to water only vegetated areas can prevent runoff, reduce repairs, and keep your yard healthy.
- Repair sprinkler heads and leaks. Broken or leaky sprinklers can waste thousands of gallons of water per month and cause runoff. Immediately repairing sprinklers and fixing leaks prevents runoff from entering our waterways, reduce water bills, and helps keep our ocean clean.
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- Reduce runoff by adjusting your watering schedule…
- Cycle and soak – Shorter water cycles are good for your yard. Running multiple, shorter cycles with an hour or more break in between allows water to soak into soil and nourish your plants instead of running off as waste.
- Change the days – Watering too many days in a row may prevent your yard from absorbing water. Adding more time between your watering days can enable your yard to absorb the water it needs while preventing runoff. Be sure to check with your local water district, HOA, or city for guidance regarding watering days in your area.
- Water at sunrise – Watering early in the morning prevents water from being lost to wind or evaporation.
Helpful tips: For more accurate results, run your system on a day not too soon after a recent watering. Since watering needs change throughout the year, check your system for runoff every three months to ensure your yard is getting the water it needs to stay healthy year-round.
- Consider hand watering outdoor plants. During the rainy season, when your yard needs less water, hand watering plants may be a good alternative to other watering systems. Garden hoses with automatic shutoff nozzles can use less water than sprinkler irrigation systems. An easy alternative to sprinklers, hand watering ensures only those areas that need water get it. Be sure to replace any leaking garden hoses and repair any leaky connections to help prevent runoff and keep our waterways clean.
- When hand watering or using a non-automated system, set a timer. Lawns quickly absorb the water they need to stay healthy. Setting a timer can help you remember to move or turn off your manual watering, to prevent overwatering and ensure your yard gets the amount of water it needs. Your local water district or city may have irrigation schedules to help determine the best water scheme for your yard.
- Skip watering before, during, and after rain. Watering too soon before or after a forecasted rain event (48 hours is a good benchmark) may affect your yard’s ability to absorb water and cause runoff. To prevent your yard from receiving too much water, monitor the weather forecast during the rainy season and adjust your watering accordingly.
- In addition, fertilizers and pesticides can be washed off your yard and into our storm drains during rain events. Apply fertilizers and pesticides only when it is not windy and never when rain is in the 48-hour forecast. Limit pesticide use by using nonchemical methods, integrated pest management, or least-toxic pesticides whenever possible.
Here are additional resources to help you prepare for the rainy season in OC:
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- Looking for guidance on how much water your yard needs? In addition to running your system to check for runoff, you can find watering guidelines and customizable calculators from bewaterwise.com and the Municipal Water District of Orange County.
- Interested in updating your irrigation system? Rebates may be available for weather-based irrigation controllers, upgraded sprinkler nozzles, drip irrigation, and rain barrels to capture water and prevent runoff. Check your local water district for current rebate programs.
- Wondering how to monitor your yard’s watering needs? Moisture meters feature easy-to-read dials to indicate if soil is dry, moist, or wet. You can find moisture meters and soil moisture sensors at home improvement stores and irrigation supply stores. Rebates may also be available.
For more ways to prevent overwatering and runoff, check out our Landscape Improvement and Capture Water pages for additional modifications you can make to your landscape to protect our local waterways and ocean.
Welcome to the local’s favorite Orange County events site for Families! Here is a huge list of Orange County Events happening THIS WEEKEND for January 31 – February 2, 2025. Fun things to do in OC this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and many are FREE!
Looking for FREE family activities, children’s activities, community events, great food trucks, OC entertainment, live music performances or craft fairs? We’ve got the scoop! This list is organized by date. Double check event’s website to confirm details before going. To submit your event, email jill@sandytoesandpopsicles.com.
Things to Do in Orange County ALL Weekend
Here are some fun things happening multiple days during this weekend in Orange County.
- Lunar New Year Events in Orange County
Huge list of every Lunar New Year Events in Orange County listed by city.
- Orange County Storytimes
Huge list of every story time in Orange County listed by city. Includes storytimes for public libraries, local business, and community centers.
- Monster Jam
Angel Stadium
2000 E. Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA 92806
Coming February 15 & 16, 2025
Experience adrenaline-charged fun for everyone. You’ll be on the edge of your seat watching the legendary Grave Digger®, snarling El Toro Loco, mighty Megalodon® and more push the limits in Freestyle, Skills and Racing competitions. Monster Jam. As Big As It Gets!™
- OC Tet Festival
Friday, January 31st – February, 2, 2025
All Day
Mile Square Park Freedom Hall
16801 Euclid St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
FREE ADMISSION
The 3-day festival will feature a variety of Vietnamese food, live entertainment, and carnival rides. Families will also have an opportunity to experience the Vietnamese Cultural Center, where they will be transported to some of the most iconic landscapes from different regions of Vietnam. The OC Tet Festival is a wonderful event for the entire family.
- UVSA Tết Festival 2025
Saturday, January 31 – February 2, 2025
All Day
Garden Grove Park
9301 Westminster Blvd., Garden Grove, CA 92844
FREE EVENT
Join over 50,000 guests as UVSA celebrates the Year of the Snake and the 50th anniversary of Black April (Fall of Saigon). Enjoy vibrant activities that honor Vietnamese heritage, including a cultural village, live entertainment, the Miss Vietnam of Southern California pageant, games, rides, local food vendors, and a spectacular firecracker show!
- 43rd Annual UVSA Tết Festival
Friday, January 31st – February, 2, 2025
Times Vary
OC Fair & Event Center
88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA
This year, the UVSA Tết Festival theme, “A Spring of Remembrance” or “Xuân Hoài Niệm,” honors the Vietnamese community’s efforts in building a home abroad. Join over 50,000 guests to celebrate the Year of the Snake and commemorate the 50th anniversary of Black April. Highlights include a cultural village, live entertainment, the Miss Vietnam of Southern California pageant, games, rides, local food vendors, and a dazzling firecracker show.
- Weekend Walks at Oak Canyon Nature Center
Oak Canyon Nature Center
Anaheim Hills, CA 92807
January 25 & 26, 2025
10:30am
FREE EVENT
Come join us on Saturday or Sunday mornings for an hour-long, naturalist-led hike through Oak Canyon to learn about the Canyon’s plants, animals, history, ecology, and more! Each week’s hike is themed and ends at the Interpretive Center for a live animal demonstration.
- Kids Play & Walk with Goats
Goods and Goat Market
29458 Trabuco Creek Rd, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Friday – Sunday | Times Vary
There are sessions for Playtime & Goat Walking! Cuddle, Brush, and Play with our special Yoga Goats. Look for chicken eggs and feed worms to the hens! We have new furry friends – Bunnies and Guinea Pigs. The zipline is a big hit! Play in the rocks with our antique Tonka Trucks. We have a Shooting Gallery with Nerf guns for kids to play with.
Things to Do in Orange County – Friday, January 31, 2025
- Morning Playdate with Miss Rachel
Play & Parties
1901 N Tustin Street, Orange, CA
January 24, 2025
10:30pm
Play & Parties Playdates include Live Storytimes, Singalongs, and a special guest! Have fun with other children while paying games, singing songs, and playing with our special guest.
- Lunar New Year Fun Celebration
Brea Library
1 Civic Center Circle, Brea, CA, CA
Friday, January 31, 2025
3:30 – 4:30pm
FREE EVENT
Hisss! It’s the year of the snake. Come join us at the Brea Library and make some fun sssnake crafts to celebrate Lunar New Year.
- Lunar New Year Special Celebration at Euclid Branch Library
Anaheim Euclid Branch Public Library
1340 S Euclid Street, Anaheim, CA 92802
Friday, January 31, 2025
11 – 11:30am
FREE EVENT
Join us for this family program and learn about the festival that celebrates the start of Spring and the New Year on the lunisolar calendar.
- Wild Tales
Upper Newport Bay
2301 University Drive, Newport
January 31, 2025
10:00 – 10:45am
FREE
Upper Newport Bay’s popular storytime is back! Wild tales will be offered every Friday and include an outdoor storytime in their amphitheater, an age-appropriate hike, and a craft project in our classroom. Each session has a new story, hike theme, and craft project.
- Scales, Feathers & Fur Preschool Program at Irvine Park
Irvine Park
1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA
January 31, 2025
10:15am
Class includes hands-on learning, fun crafts, and meeting zoo creatures up close! Program is for ages 3-4 years old ONLY. Cost is $5 per child (one parent included). Parent must accompany child for entire program. Phone registration is required.
- Become an OC Parks Junior Ranger!
Irvine Park
1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA
January 31, 2025
3 – 4:30pm
FREE
Explore the natural wonders and history of Irvine Regional Park with OC Parks’ new Jr. Ranger program! Participants will have the opportunity to earn a Jr. Ranger badge as we explore Irvine Regional Park together. The program content is geared toward ages 7-12, but all are welcome.
- Starry, Starry Night
Irvine Ranch Open Space
13333 Black Star Canyon Rd, Silverado, CA
January 31, 2025
4 – 6pm
FREE
Come join us for an interactive evening under the stars. Immerse yourself in a scaled-down version of our solar system. Test your imagination in naming the constellations. Reenact the struggle between Orion and the Scorpion. The hike will average 2-3 miles round trip at an easy pace with a high level of interpretation. This program is for participants who would like a slower-paced hike. Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes and bring water for the hike. This activity is designed with kids ages 5 – 12 in mind but, everyone is welcome.
- Main Street Classic Car Show
Historic Main Street, Garden Grove
January 24, 2025
4-8pm
FREE
The Main Street Classic Car Show is the longest-running car show in Orange County. With roughly 50 parking spaces, and the show running every Friday, you’re bound to catch a wide variety of rides on display.
Things to Do in Orange County – Saturday, February 1, 2025
- OC Public Library FREE Events
Here you will find all the family-friendly library events in your Orange County library.
- Home Depot Free Kids Workshop
Home Depot Stores
9am – Noon
FREE EVENT
Pick up your free Kids Workshops Kit on the first Saturday of each month from your local store. Build it in store. Supplies are provided. (While supplies last)
- Black History Parade & Unity Festival
200 W Center Street Promenade, Anaheim
Parking is available at structures around Anaheim City Hall
February 1, 2025
9am – 4pm
Join us for a parade and street fair featuring community marching bands, dancers and parade vehicles, music and more! The event, put on by the Orange County Heritage Council, celebrates Black History Month and the contributions of African Americans to our city, region and nation. There is fun for everyone!
- Free Family Concert: Once Upon a Symphony
Soka Performing Arts Center
1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, CA
February 1, 2025
11am
FREE EVENT
Bring your family to experience the joy of live orchestral music! The talented musicians of the Orange County Youth Symphony will perform a lively, narrated concert designed to introduce children to the beauty of classical music in a fun and welcoming environment.
- Arts at the Oaks: Block Print Valentine’s Cards
Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve
2145 N. Windes Drive, Orange, CA 92869
February 1, 2025
9 – 11am
FREE EVENT
Join OC Parks for an introduction to block printing! Learn the basics of block printing by carving your own nature-inspired Valentine’s Day card. Block printing results in bold, graphic designs that are as simple or complicated as you want. This is a great activity for beginners and experienced artists alike who want to try something new!
- Lunar New Year Celebration: The Wood Snake Festival
Saturday, February 1, 2025
12 – 3pm
The Market Place – Courtyard near Mathis Home
I-5 at Jamboree Road, Tustin, CA 92782
FREE EVENT
It’s the Year of the Wood Snake, and that means it’s time to shed 2024 and welcome 2025 with fun and festivities for the whole family. Come enjoy martial arts, choir, and drummers performances, lion and dragon dances, and more!
- Westminster Tet Parade
Saturday, February 1, 2025
8:30am
The City of Westminster
Bolsa Avenue and Magnolia Street, Westminster, CA
FREE EVENT
The Tet Parade is a grandiose event that has celebrated the Lunar New Year in Little Saigon for over two decades. Every year Vietnamese communities across the globe tune in to watch the event broadcasted by local TV stations and social media platforms. The Tet Parade features floats, marching bands, lion dances, color guards, veterans and youth organizations, martial arts, multi-cultural attires, elected officials, scout organizations, community organizations, and an array of local and international businesses.
- Lunar New Year with Pacific Symphony
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall Samueli Theater
615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA
Saturday, February 1, 2025
8pm
Join Pacific Symphony’s annual festivities honoring the Lunar New Year! Celebrating the Year of the Dragon, this performance is sure to sell out once again as audiences from across our communities come together to feast on a colorful presentation of Eastern and Western music and dance.
- First Saturday Tour at Bolsa Chica Wetlands
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
18000 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA
Saturday, February 1, 2025
9am
FREE
Enjoy a FREE monthly First Saturday tour of the wetlands! Meet at 9 a.m. in the south parking lot at the Reserve (on Pacific Coast Hwy. halfway between Warner and Seapoint, directly across the Hwy from the entrance to Bolsa Chica State Beach). Volunteer Naturalists offer presentations on the history, birds, endangered species, ecology and restoration of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. This is a wonderful opportunity for first-time visitors, students, small groups and local citizens to learn about this valuable coastal resource!
- Black History Month at Pretend City
Pretend City
29 Hubble, Irvine, CA
Saturday, February 1, 2025
11am – 2:30pm
Join us as we honor and celebrate black leaders, artists, and innovators throughout the day in honor of Black History Month with engaging story time and activities.
- Strawberry Shortcake Appearance at Irvine Spectrum
Irvine Spectrum Center – Box Lunch
670 Spectrum Center Dr. Irvine, CA 92618
Saturday, February 1, 2025
1 – 4pm
FREE EVENT
Strawberry Shortcake is making a special appearance at BoxLunch. Don’t miss out on special giveaways, photo-ops with Strawberry Shortcake, and a berry great time!
- Lunar New Year Event at The Shops At Mission Viejo
Saturday, February 1, 2025
10am – 3pm
The Shops At Mission Viejo
555 The Shops at Mission Viejo, Mission Viejo, CA 92692
FREE EVENT
Join us for artwork exhibits & special performances by students from the Mandarin Immersion Program at Marian Bergeson Elementary School and Fred Newhart Middle School!
- Kid Builders in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library
1855 Park Ave, Costa Mesa, CA
Saturday, February 1, 2025
10am – 12pm
FREE EVENT
Kid Builders is coming to Costa Mesa! Don’t miss a morning of fun, learning, and community with First 5 OC, Vice Chair Katrina Foley, the Costa Mesa Donald Dungan Library, and PNC. We are excited to offer free activities and resources for families with children ages 0-5.
- Laser Shows the OCC Planetarium
OCC Planetarium
2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, CA
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Times Vary
Regular showings are offered on weekends so everyone can come enjoy a rotating schedule of breathtaking full-dome experiences that transport you to faraway worlds.
- Archery for 10 and up
Oak Canyon Nature Center
Anaheim Hills, CA 92807
Saturday, February 1, 2025
10 & 11:30am
Do you know how to shoot a bullseye? Join us for open range archery and we will teach you the basic skills needed to point, aim, and shoot an arrow. We will cover the correct way to draw a bow and talk about range safety. Ages 10 and up.
- All Ages Wood Workshops
AR Workshop
31107 Rancho Viejo Road, Suite B2, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Saturday, February 1, 2025
10am – 1pm
Join AR Workshop for a family DIY class to make one of their many wood projects! In the workshop, you will have the opportunity to customize your project with your choice of designer paints and (non-toxic!) stain colors.
- Anaheim GardenWalk Cars & Coffee
Anaheim GardenWalk
400 Disney Way Anaheim, CA
Saturday, February 1, 2025
8 – 11am
FREE EVENT
California’s only indoor covered Cars & Coffee event! Every Saturday morning, call GardenWalk your home cars & coffee or simply stop by and bring your crowd for a covered C&C late morning gathering. All makes, models, projects, and finished builds are welcome. Enter at Clementine Street north (Clementine & Disney Way).
- South OC Cars and Coffee
Outlets At San Clemente, San Clemente
January 18, 2025Saturday, February 1, 2025
9 – 11am
FREE EVENT
The name says you’ll find cars and coffee there. But you’ll also find people and conversations. And those conversations will cover anything from powertrains to politics.
- Coffee and Donuts at Ted’s
Ted’s Diner
23990 Aliso Creek Rd, Laguna Niguel, CA
Saturday, February 1, 2025
7:30 – 8am
FREE EVENT
Hot Rod Car meet-up every Saturday
- Classic Cars at Donut Derelicts
Donut Derelicts, Huntington Beach
Every Saturday Morning
FREE EVENT
Each Saturday morning, car enthusiasts from all over gather in the parking lot of Adams Ave Donuts to enjoy a donut, a cup of coffee and a spectacle of hot rods and classic cars.
Things to Do in Orange County – Sunday, February 2, 2025
- OC Public Library FREE Events
Here you will find all the family-friendly library events in your Orange County library.
- Renaissance Chocolate Faire
Bowers Museum
1802 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA
February 2, 2024
11am – 3pm
Enjoy chocolate tastings by local chocolatiers and delight in unique performances celebrating the Renaissance era. Special prizes will be given to the top 3 cosplays inspired by the theme of fantasy!
- Aloha Fair
Same complex as BJ’s & Party City
16160 Beach Blvd, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
February 2, 2024
10am – 4pm
FREE Entrance
Experience the Magic of Polynesia. Live Hawaiian Polynesian dance and music performances that transport you to the islands. Explore arts and crafts vendors with unique items. Indulge in delicious Hawaiian shave ice and more from amazing food trucks. Family-Friendly event for all ages!
- D. Yoder Family Sundays: Lunar New Year
Sunday, February 2, 2025
10am – 2pm
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, CA
FREE EVENT
Enjoy FREE admission to Casa Romantica with our annual Lunar New Year Celebration. Featuring a lion dance performance at 11 AM and arts and crafts for kids.
- Woodbury Night Market: Lunar New Year Edition
Woodbury™ Town Center
6460 Irvine Blvd, Irvine, CA 92620
Sunday, February 2, 2025
2 – 7pm
FREE EVENT
Join us at Woodbury Town Center for the Woodbury Night Market: Lunar New Year Celebration! Enjoy delicious food, live DJ music, lion dances, acrobatics, and a snake handler presentation. Savor bites from local favorites like CHA for Tea, Handel’s, Paris Baguette, and more.
- Sunday Funday Central Park
Central Park Huntington Beach
6700 Central Park Drive, Huntington Beach, CA
Sunday, February 2, 2025
11am – 1pm
FREE EVENT
Invite your friends and family members to our next Sunday Funday at Central Park West in Huntington Beach! We are located right next to Kathy May’s Lakeview Cafe. As always, we will have plenty of free food, fun, and games! See you there!
Free Things to Do This Weekend in OC
These Orange County places are FREE to visit, and open year round to the public. They make great places to visit on the weekends with family:
- Centennial Farm – OC Fair & Event Center | Times Vary
Centennial Farm is now to the public. Visit the animals and the farming gardens. Admission and parking are free
- Family-Friendly Tide Pools in the OC Beaches in Orange County
Check out this list of the best family-friendly tide pools in Orange County.
- Niguel Botanical Preserve – Crown Valley Community Park | All Day
If you are looking for a scenic, family friendly nature experience, then the Niguel Botanical Preserve in Laguna Niguel is a great place to check out.
- The Ecology Center – The Ecology Center, San Juan Capstrano
Every Saturday and Sunday – Open for self-guided exploration. Be sure to check their calendar for workshops and events happening every weekend! FREE
- Pier Plaza Art Afair – Pacific Coast Highway & Main, adjacent to the Huntington Beach Pier
An arts and crafts fair overlooking the pacific Ocean.
Fun Things to Do this Weekend in OC
These OC places are open year round, and make great places to visit on the weekends with family:
- Orange County Farmers Markets – All Over OC | Times Vary
Check out this list of all the farmers markets happening on Orange County.
- Balboa Fun Zone – 600 E. Bay Avenue, Newport Beach
The Fun Zone has over 8,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor restaurants, carnival games, vendors, food and fun overlooking the Newport Harbor & Balboa Island.
- Anaheim Packing District – 440 S. Anaheim Boulevard, Anaheim
One of the last remaining citrus packing warehouses in OC, that has been historically preserved and retrofitted into a market hall with restaurants, food and vendors.
- Irvine Park Railroad – Irvine Regional Park, Orange | All day
Ride the train, concessions, Wheel Fun Rentals – paddleboat and bike rentals, pan for gold, OC zoo, and enjoy the park.
- OCC Planetarium – Orange Coast College | Times Vary
The OCC Planetarium is an innovative and immersive experience. Regular showings are offered on weekends so everyone can come enjoy a rotating schedule of breathtaking full-dome experiences that transport you to faraway worlds.
Will a Porch Increase My Home Value?
The simple answer is: yes, a porch can increase your home value. But not just any porch — the space must be well-designed, functional, and attractive.
Here are two great resources to consult on how to transform your porch into a warm and inviting entry way to your home sweet home!
30 Cozy And Beautiful Small Front Porch Ideas You Will Love
The Creatives Hour | Sep 3, 2024
A small front porch, despite its limited space, can significantly enhance the curb appeal and functionality of a home. These porches are typically compact entry areas or seating spots, making creative use of the available square footage. Design strategies for these spaces often focus on optimizing usability while maintaining aesthetic charm, from selecting appropriate furnishings to choosing the right color schemes.
Incorporating thoughtful details into a small front porch can transform it into a welcoming and stylish entrance. Whether it’s through the clever use of vertical gardening, multipurpose furniture, or vibrant accents, each choice is crucial in maximizing both the practicality and attractiveness of the area. These design ideas not only elevate the porch itself but also contribute to the overall ambiance of the home’s exterior.
See 30 Cozy And Beautiful Small Front Porch Ideas You Will Love
56+ Aesthetic Small Front Porch Decor Ideas (2025)
Doctor Explains | Nov 9, 2024
Creating a beautiful front porch is one of my favorite ways to make a welcoming first impression. A well-designed porch not only enhances your home’s curb appeal but also sets the tone for the rest of your home. Whether you love bold colors, elegant decor, or a rustic feel, there’s something special about each design that can inspire you to create your dream front porch.
See 56+ Aesthetic Small Front Porch Decor Ideas (2025)
ALSO! Read about a Texas mom who turned her porch decorating abilities into a booming side hustle that earned her $100,000 in 2020!
Halloween side hustle brings mom a fortune for her decorating abilities — with clients spending upwards of $1,300
By Brittany Kasko, Fox News
Published Oct. 24, 2024, 12:30 a.m. ET
Pantone.com
For 2025, the Pantone Color Institute selects PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nurtures us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort. PANTONE created five unique color palettes featuring PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, each conveying its own distinctive feeling and mood — SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL 5️⃣!
ABOUT | The Pantone Color of the Year program engages the design community and color enthusiasts in a conversation around color, highlighting the relationship between color and culture. Pantone selects a color each year that captures the global zeitgeist—the Color of the Year express a global mood and an attitude, reflecting collective desire in the form of a single, distinct hue.

Chinese New Year at Disney California Adventure Park
Ring in a magical New Year at Disney in January and February with special menus celebrating Asian cuisine, character appearances in themed dress, festive decor, crafts and activities, and scheduled events. Don’t miss Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession, a parade of characters and performers held on select days, as well as Hurry Home – A Lunar New Year Celebration, which is a six-minute light and water show accompanied by a musical score from Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun.
Cost: Included with admission
When: January 17 through February 16, 2025
Time: Varies
Tết (Lunar New Year) Festival
The city of Santa Ana will host their second annual Lunar New Year Festival, organized together with the Santa Ana Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency and the Santa Ana Public Library. This free family-friendly event in Centennial Park will honor Asian cultures and include cultural performances and exhibits, lion and dragon dances, food vendors, a kids zone with inflatables, and culminate with a fireworks show in the evening.
Cost: Free
When: Saturday, January 25, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Pacific Symphony’s Lunar New Year
The Pacific Symphony will commemorate the Lunar New Year with a ticketed performance at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. The program, conducted by Music Director Carl St. Clair, will include a magnificent presentation celebrating Eastern and Western cultures through a variety of dances and musical numbers.
Cost: Tickets start at $42.94
When: Saturday, February 1, 2025
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Lunar New Year Festival 2025 – Garden Grove
Steelcraft, an outdoor urban eatery with multiple food vendors, will host their annual Lunar New Year festival this month at their Garden Grove location. Celebrate the year of the snake with a pop-up market, dancers, kids crafts and sensory play, and live music.
Cost: Free
When: Saturday, January 25, 2025
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
UVSA Tết Festival
The UVSA Tết Festival bills itself as the largest Vietnamese New Year festival in the United States and this year’s 43rd annual event will celebrate the Year of the Snake, and also commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon. The festival will include a cultural village, live entertainment, games and rides, food vendors, a fireworks show, and a Miss Vietnam of Southern California pageant.
Cost: Tickets start at $8
When: January 31 through February 2, 2025
Time: Friday, January 31: 4:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 1: 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 2: 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Pretend City Children’s Museum Lunar New Year
For a kid-centric celebration, take children to this museum where they’ll be treated to a special event just for them. The Pretend City Children’s Museum will present a cultural performance of music and movement from the Kishin Daiko Drummers who perform Japanese percussive-style drumming, as well as a traditional lion dance.
Cost: Included with admission
When: Saturday, January 25, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Westminster Tết Parade
For the last 20 years, the city of Westminster has welcomed the new year with a large celebration in the neighborhood of Little Saigon. As in the past, this year will honor the local Vietnamese community with a parade of floats, marching bands, lion dances, cultural attire, and more.
Cost: Free
When: Saturday, February 1, 2025
Time: An opening Ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m. and the parade starts at 9:30 a.m.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens Lunar New Year Celebration
The Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens in San Clemente provides a wide range of programming for all ages and their weekly “Family Sundays” program will take on a Lunar New Year theme in February. For this special event, the cultural center will offer free admission that day with a celebration set tol include a lion dance as well as arts and craft projects for kids.
Cost: Free
When: Sunday, February 2, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
For more information on tickets (where applicable) and updates on any of these scheduled events, be sure to check directly with the organizers’ websites, which are all linked above. Additionally, if you do plan to attend a Lunar New Year event, consider wearing unworn clothes (it represents new beginnings), especially if they’re red, which encourages good luck, and eat foods that are considered to be lucky to be blessed with good fortune.
And while there are many different ways and languages to wish someone a happy Lunar New Year, we’ll leave you with “Gong hei fat choy!” which is commonly said in parts of China in Cantonese and translates to, “wishing you great happiness and prosperity.”
Written by Emily Hochberg
Emily Hochberg is a travel and lifestyle writer and editor based in Southern California with over 15 years of experience covering hotels, luxury, destinations, transportation, parenting, style, entertainment, reviews, and much more. She was previously Senior Travel Editor at Business Insider, and has written for Travel + Leisure, The Points Guy, Thrillist, US News & World Report, TODAY, Parents, Apartment Therapy, and many more. For more information on her work and travels, visit her website.
Excerpt from ABC News | Jan 16, 2025
Here’s how you can help those affected by the wildfires:
California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund
The California Fire Foundation works with community-based organizations and local fire agencies to offer financial support for residents who are impacted by the fires.
Click here to learn more.
Wildfire Recovery Fund
The California Community Foundation has worked to help Los Angeles County since 1915.
The agency’s Wildfire Recovery Fund targets hard to reach communities in the area with the intent of providing long-term recovery relief.
Click here to learn more.
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is working with government agencies, nonprofit and faith-based organizations to distribute food and other essentials to those displaced by the wildfires with meals.
Click here to learn more.
Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides vital equipment for firefighters and funds programs that are critical to help the agency continue to protect communities and save lives.
Click here to learn more.
Mercy Chefs
Mercy Chefs is a nonprofit organization specializing in disaster relief to provide meals to victims, firefighters, first responders and volunteers.
The organization has provided more than 28 million restaurant-quality meals across the country and around the world.
Click here to learn more.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross has hundreds of volunteers deploying to Los Angeles to assist with emergent needs of those displaced by the fire.
The agency currently has four shelters in place and plans to add more as needed, according to Los Angeles regional executive director Joanne Nowlin.
“This is significant,” Nowlin told ABC News. “It’s not just the fire, but you’ve got wind damage, you’ve got power outages, you’ve got trees falling, deteriorating air quality. This is impacting thousands and thousands of folks in Los Angeles.”
The American Red Cross provides emergency relief to residents and families impacted by disasters, providing meals, medical care and a safe place to shower and sleep.
Click here to learn more.
Jen Sentani | Jan 13, 2025
Christmas was three weeks ago and you’ve probably already taken down your string lights for the season, BUT WAIT! Before you do anything else, if you don’t know what’s hidden in this secret compartment, YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS! 🙂

This is Jen. You might know me as CA Real Estate Group’s Client Services/Ops Director, aka Christine’s assistant.
Well, we have stringed lights in our patio and when my husband went to turn them on yesterday, he “blew a fuse” and “shorted something” (his words; not mine) and now our pretty, twinkling lights in our patio weren’t working…not even one bulb. I was ready to order another set from Amazon but I thought I’d do some research on what exactly happened and if it can be corrected without paying for another set.
Not far into my research and I find this entry in ifixit.com:


Okay, so I found my answer. If I replace the fuse, I should be able to get the whole strand working again!
Now how do you replace the fuse?
I found this wonderful YouTube video that taught me how to locate the fuse and how to replace it! I was like, “Noooohhh…it can’t be THAT easy! Can it?!?!”
I tried it just like the video taught me and with little to no faith at all, I plugged in the lights and THEY WORKED!!! I am officially TODAY YEARS OLD when I learned about extra fuses in a fuse box on the plug of stringed lights!!! I am beyond excited and needed to tell the world about this wonderful thing.
I hope this will help you to NOT throw away a perfect set of lights! Happy New Year, all!
Just in case this didn’t help solve your string lights problem, check out Home Depot’s DIY website for for other common issues with string lights and How to Fix Holiday Lights.
Wondering what’s in store for the housing market this year? And more specifically, what it all means for you if you plan to buy or sell a home? The best way to get that information is to lean on the pros.
Experts are constantly updating and revising their forecasts, so here’s the latest on two of the biggest factors expected to shape the year ahead: mortgage rates and home prices.
Will Mortgage Rates Come Down?
Everyone’s keeping an eye on mortgage rates and waiting for them to come down. So, the question is really: how far and how fast? The good news is they’re projected to ease a bit in 2025. But that doesn’t mean you should expect to see a return of 3-4% mortgage rates. As Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says:
“Are we going to go back to 4%? Per my forecast, unfortunately, we will not. It’s more likely that we’ll go back to 6%.”
And the other experts agree. They’re forecasting rates could settle in the mid-to-low 6% range by the end of the year (see chart below):
But you should remember, this will continue to change as new information becomes available. Expert forecasts are based on what they know right now. And since everything from inflation to economic drivers have an impact on where rates go from here, some ups and downs are still very likely. So, don’t get caught up in the exact numbers here and try to time the market. Instead, focus on the overall trend and on what you can actually control.
A trusted lender and an agent partner will make sure you’ve always got the latest data and the context on what it really means for you and your bottom line. With their help, you’ll see even a small decline can help bring down your future mortgage payment.
Will Home Prices Fall?
The short answer? Not likely. While mortgage rates are expected to ease, home prices are projected to keep climbing in most areas – just at a slower, more normal pace. If you average the expert forecasts together, you’ll see prices are expected to go up roughly 3% next year, with most of them hitting somewhere in the 3 to 4% range. And that’s a much more typical and sustainable rise in prices (see graph below):
So don’t expect a sudden drop that’ll score you a big deal if you’re thinking of buying this year. While that may sound disappointing if you’re hoping prices will come down, refocus on this. It means you won’t have to deal with the steep increases we saw in recent years, and you’ll also likely see any home you do buy go up in value after you get the keys in hand. And that’s actually a good thing.
And if you’re wondering how it’s even possible prices are still rising, here’s your answer. It all comes down to supply and demand. Even though there are more homes for sale now than there were a year ago, it’s still not enough to keep up with all the buyers out there. As Redfin explains:
“Prices will rise at a pace similar to that of the second half of 2024 because we don’t expect there to be enough new inventory to meet demand.”
Keep in mind, though, the housing market is hyper-local. So, this will vary by area. Some markets will see even higher prices. And some may see prices level off or even dip a little if inventory is up in that area. In most places though, prices will continue to rise (as they usually do).
If you want to find out what’s happening where you live, you need to lean on an agent who can explain the latest trends and what they mean for your plans.
Bottom Line
The housing market is always shifting, and 2025 will be no different. With rates likely to ease a bit and prices rising at a more normal and sustainable pace, it’s all about staying informed and making a plan that works for you.
Reach out to a local real estate pro to get the scoop on what’s happening in your area and advice on how to make your next move a smart one.