Two Tickets to California

We recently visited family in California.  Along the way we found some great spots to eat, shop, and hangout. 

[Handsome Coffee Roasters]  

Handsome coffee roasters is a fairly new shop celebrating their first anniversary on Friday still they have gotten a lot of attention. The menu is simple, just four items, but don't let that intimidate you the drinks are exceptional. 

Located in Los Angeles Arts District, Handsome is an open and inviting shop with long wooden tables and simplistic metal stools.  

[French Press]

French Press is a fantastic coffee shop in Santa Barbara, CA. Since our last visit they have only grown. 

[The Refill Shoppe]

The Refill Shoppe is a place where you can refill bottles with shampoo, conditioner, and various soaps all of which are made locally. Once you have filled your bottle you can also create a custom scent.

The colorful wool balls are dryer balls that replace dryer sheets. They reduce static and make clothes fluffy but never need to be replaced and you can add any essential oils to them.

[The Vinyl Warehouse]

We got a record player for Christmas and have been searching for vinyl to add to our very small collection. Our friends told us about a warehouse that was converted into a record store and said it was full of cheap vinyl, almost everything is 3 dollars or 2 for 5! 

[The Ventura Pier] 

A wonderful place to take in the ocean and not a crowded as the Santa Barbara Pier. Also, it was made famous by Little Miss Sunshine.

DIY // Vinyl Coasters

Excited about our new record player, we decided to run out a purchase a stack or records at our local record store. Some of the purchases we made out of the dollar bin and we were stuck with some records that were unplayable. So, we decided to make some coasters out of them.

{Supplies}

A Vinyl record that has seen better days and a tin can (choose a can that has the diameter that you desire)

{Tools}

Can opener, wooden spoon, a pair of oven mitts, and a bit of sand paper

{Step 1}

Use the can opener to cut the top and bottom of your can.

{Step 2}

Heat the can on the stove

{Step 3}

Grab your oven mitts and press the hot side of your can into the record. Sometimes the vinyl will stick to the inside of the can use a wooden spoon to poke them out. 

{Step 4}

Some of the edge may be a bit rough so go over them with a bit of medium grit sand paper

Each record will wield about 4-6 coasters depending on the size of your tin can.