Something that isn’t talked about enough is making no a complete sentence. As a people pleaser, I’m guilty of this. I want to make everyone else around me happy. But it’s exhausting. While you’re saying yes to everyone else, you are actually saying no to yourself it’s draining. Since I’ve been pregnant with my 3rd baby, I simply do not have the energy. Instead of saying yes and committing to things that exhaust me just thinking about, I’ve been pouring my energy into my family and the things that are most important to me. And it’s honestly felt really good. Some weekend days it literally looks like a family movie day cuddled up not moving from the couch. And it’s exactly what I need.
This week, I challenge you to think before saying yes. Is this something you really want to do? Or are you just saying yes to make someone else happy?
Now let’s get into the good stuff…
Date Night
Glasspar
Glasspar is an East Coast-style seafood hall brought to the West Coast and given a California coastal makeover, and it works beautifully. Right on Dana Point Harbor Drive with harbor views and a chic but relaxed atmosphere that hits the right energy level for a fun date night without tipping into loud or chaotic. Chef Rob Willson runs the kitchen with a clear passion for fresh ingredients and creative preparation, and reviewers who have been multiple times consistently say the quality stays high across every visit. The fish market on site Wednesday through Sunday gives you a sense of how seriously the sourcing is taken.
The raw bar is the place to start. The oysters are exceptional and on Thursdays they run a happy hour special with oysters at $2.50 each and $6 bubbles which makes Thursday night here an easy yes. The charred Spanish octopus, shrimp pappardelle, and scallops are the standout entrees, the lobster mac and cheese is rich and deeply satisfying, and the duck fat fries are the side that nobody can stop ordering. The cocktail program is creative and strong, the lavender gin cocktail and the Navy Grog come up in reviews repeatedly as must-orders at the bar. Happy hour runs daily with drink specials worth taking advantage of before dinner. Open Monday through Thursday 4:30 to 9 PM, Friday 4 to 9:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday 10:30 AM to 9 or 9:30 PM. Free parking in the lot. Located at 24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive in Dana Point.
Outdoor Family Fun
Doheny State Beach
Most people know Doheny State Beach as a great spot for a beach day, but the summer programming it runs is genuinely one of the best kept secrets in South OC for families. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Doheny's park naturalists and rangers run a full schedule of free interpretive programs that turn a regular beach visit into something memorable for kids. Campfire Programs run on summer evenings at the beachside amphitheater, Junior Rangers meets Monday through Thursday for kids ages 7 to 12 with games, wildlife observation, and hands-on nature learning, and the tide pool programs are the standout for younger kids who want to get up close with the marine life right on the beach.
The Visitor Center is worth a stop on its own even outside the programs. It houses a 900-gallon indoor tide pool exhibit plus five aquarium tanks featuring ocean creatures from different coastal zones, mounted wildlife displays, whale and dolphin bones, and educational exhibits that kids genuinely engage with. The center is open weekends from 10 AM to 4 PM year round and is free with beach admission. Day use parking is $15 per vehicle. Located at 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive in Dana Point.
Weekend Plans
Circus Vargas Masquerade
Circus Vargas has been a California tradition since 1969 and the 2026 edition landing right here in Laguna Hills is one of the best family outings of the season. The show is called Masquerade and it runs under the Big Top at Laguna Hills Mall from May 22 through June 8, which means you have several weekends to catch it before it moves on. If you have never been to Circus Vargas, think Cirque du Soleil energy at a fraction of the price, with two hours of world-class performers, daring acts, and the kind of live spectacle that kids genuinely cannot stop talking about afterward.
The 2026 lineup features the Globe of Death, the Meza Troupe on the high wire, internationally renowned handbalancing by Freedom of Art, archery thrills from Martii and Liina, BMX riders, aerialists, acrobats, and clowns who are more athletic than they look. The show is completely animal-free and runs approximately two hours. Tickets range from $14 to $85 depending on seating with children under 2 admitted free. Multiple show times run throughout the week and weekend so there is plenty of flexibility to fit it into your schedule. Book tickets in advance at circusvargas.com as weekend performances sell out. Located at Laguna Hills Mall, 24155 Laguna Hills Mall Drive in Laguna Hills.
Coffee & Connections
Toastique
Toastique opened its Ladera Ranch location in November 2025 and it fits the community like it was built for it. Located in the Mercantile East shopping center on Antonio Parkway alongside Trader Joe's and EOS Fitness, the concept is simple. Responsibly sourced ingredients, made fresh when you order, in a bright and welcoming space that works equally well for a post-workout stop, a slow morning with a friend, or a quick grab-and-go before school drop-off.
The menu goes well beyond coffee. Gourmet toasts like the Avocado Smash, Tomato Burrata, Smoked Salmon, and 3 Cheese Italian are the stars, and the smoothie bowls in every color, the Original Acai, the Mango Tango, the Black Mystique, are as beautiful as they are genuinely filling. Cold-pressed juices come in glass bottles and are pressed fresh daily. The wellness shots, especially the Immunity and the Vitamin C Booster, are worth grabbing on the way out if you are feeling run down or just want something good for you that actually has a kick. On the coffee side the cortado, cold brew, and Iced Dirty Matcha which layers espresso over matcha for a smooth but energizing combination are the standout orders. The full menu runs every day of the week, not just weekends, which makes it easy to work into any morning routine. Open daily 7 AM to 5 PM at 27642 Antonio Parkway Suite H3 in Ladera Ranch.
Protecting your energy is not selfish. It is one of the most important things you can do for the people around you because the version of you that shows up when you are depleted is not the version anyone wants, including you. Every yes that comes from obligation rather than genuine desire is energy spent in the wrong direction. This week when you feel that pull to say yes just to make it easier, just to avoid the awkward pause, just to keep the peace, notice it. You do not have to fill every ask with an answer. No is a complete thought. Your time and energy belong to you first. Spend them accordingly.
See you next Thursday!
