There is much about festive phenomena that we could do without after December 25.  We’ve entitled the following five, ‘5 Freaking Festive Phenomena’, and rightfully so freaking weird.

1. Your pants fit tighter, and not in a sexy way.
2. Whose turn is it to take down the holiday decorations? I put them up!  
3. The tree, ‘inside your home’, is no longer heavenly scented and is just a fire hazard waiting to happen.
4. Lots of checks in the checkbook but no money in the checking account. How can that be?
5. What?! – VACATION OVER? Ugh…..

No worries. Spring and Summer coming up next. Time to fit in some Cardio Punch workouts with Beach Butlerz out on the beach! See you on the beach soon.

What do you get when you mix Butlers, rainy weather, walnuts, brown sugar, and nutmeg? APPLE CRUMBLE PIE!  The Butlers at Beach Butlerz love the holiday season and are extremely talented in the kitchen.  Below is a wonderful, rainy day recipe that is very tasty, and easy to bake. Enjoy! 

Apple Crumble Pie [Recipe adopted from allrecipes.com]

 Ingredients

• 1 (9 inch) pie shell

• 6 cups thinly sliced apples

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)

• 3/4 cup white sugar

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

• 3 tablespoons butter

• 1 Pinch of Holiday Cheer

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). 

2. Place sliced apples in a large bowl. Sprinkle with lemon juice if desired. In a small bowl, mix together white sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sprinkle mixture over apples. Toss until apples are evenly coated. Stir in raisins and walnuts if desired. Spoon mixture into pastry shell. 

3. In a small bowl mix together 1/2 cup flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter or margarine until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle mixture over apple filling. Cover top loosely with aluminum foil. 

4. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 25 to 30 minutes, until top is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. 

5. EAT!

Nutritional Information  

Amount Per Serving: Servings: 8 | Calories: 360 | Total Fat: 9.8g | Cholesterol: 11mg

The holiday season puts us in a terrific mood- the food, the songs, the decorations, the…everything but, there is also a bit of angst associated with this time of year.  This is because we generally have NO CLUE what to gift people.  Thus, we have been looking for ways to get creative with gifts, and since Beach Butlerz is beach savvy, we thought we would share two amazing nautical DYI gift ideas that would otherwise cost a very shiny penny in the stores.

- A succulent-filled seashell: This gift is really quick, easy, and an inexpensive way to create a super unique decoration.  Start out by spending some time out at the beach searching for a large sea shell or stop by the seashell shop.  There is an awesome one in Morro Bay, California.  It has the largest selection of seashells that we’ve ever seen.  Once you’ve found the perfect shell, add some potting soil and a gorgeous succulent from your own backyard.  Check out this picture of a couple we saw at a craft faire.

- A shell-lined picture frame or mirror: Seriously, if you take the time to do this well, this gift looks like you purchased it from a boutique store.  Start out by deciding on the size of your mirror or frame. Then, head to the nearest beach (Avila!) and start gathering unique shells and rocks.  Always pick up more than you think you need, just in case. Once you’ve got your bag of goodies, head home and locate a glue gun. Design a pattern, or lay the shells/rocks on the frame randomly. Allow the creation to dry and insert any extra shells wherever there’s a gap. Viola…Perfect gift idea done!

Have a better gift idea? Please share with us all here.

Thursday, December 9 - Surfin’ Santa Holiday Stroll: Shell Beach officially kicks off the holiday season with this fun event to be held on December 9 from 5-8 pm on Shell Beach Road. The event includes: music, awesome food and drink, arts, jewelry, craft, the opportunity to take your picture with Santa and his “Woodie” ($5), and much more. LOL - we said 'woodie.'

Friday – Sunday, December 10-12 - Christmas Open House and Candelight Tours: The Historic Jack House in San Luis Obispo is hosting this festive event, featuring holiday treats and the magnificence of a beautifully decorated old Victoria House. Location is 536 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo. Dates and times are Friday and Saturday (December 10-11) from 5-8pm, and Sunday, December 12 from 1pm-4pm. Children’s admission is free, adults $2.00.

Friday, December 10 - Cayucos Christmas by the Beach, Open House: This event takes place from 5:30-8:30pm on December 10 [Ocean Avenue], and is hosted by the Cayucous Chamber of Commerce and participating Cayucos merchants. Cayucos Christmas by the Beach will feature: free horse carriage rides, raffles, refreshments, live music and much more.

Saturday, December 11 - Needs and Wishes Holiday Fundraiser: Mark your calendars for December 11, from 10am-8pm at 2180 Palisades Avenue, Los Osos. This is an awesome event as all funds raised benefit the Maxine Lewis Memorial Homeless Shelter. Activities at the event include holiday treats, raffles, Santa, the Elf’s workshop, and much more. Even better, admission is free (but bring your spare change to fill the jars!).

These events are happening SOON so pick your favorite(s), mark your calendar, and have a wonderful time.  Cheers!

If not, then these are a must. The Central Coast has unique mini-adventures and attractions that make weekend day trips unique and fun and FREE.

Monarch Butterfly Grove, Pismo Beach: Monarch butterflies migrate to Pismo Beach every year to escape the chilling temperatures of the north. The butterflies can be seen in the eucalyptus trees at Pismo State Beach from October-February, so hurry up to make sure you don’t miss them. http://www.monarchbutterfly.org

Bob Jones Trail, Avila Beach: Named for Bob Jones, advocate for the conservancy of San Luis Obispo Creek, the Bob Jones Trail is an 8-mile route linking San Luis Obispo to Avila Beach.  The serene and picturesque trail is perfect for biking, skating, jogging, or walking, and is suitable for individuals of all fitness levels and ages.  There is even a great deli located halfway along the trail.  http://www.lcslo.org/bob_jones.html

Morro Rock, Morro Bay: Also sometimes referred to as the “Gibralter of the Pacific”, Morro Rock is a part of the [extinct] nine sisters volcanic peaks, which stretch 12 miles- from Morro Bay to San Luis Obispo.  Morro Rock is also a state preserve, home to nesting Peregrine Falcons and has a nearby playground for the kids.

Elephant Seals, Piedras Blancas: In late October and early November subadult males begin to snooze and are very playful.  Around Thanksgiving adult males begin to arrive to stake out their territories, heralding the beginning of the birthing and breading season.  Pregnant females come in December. www.elephantseal.org

Dinosaur Park, Shell Beach: Dinosaurs in Shell Beach? Don’t be fooled by the name; Dinosaur Park does not actually house any dinosaurs at all. Local folklore holds that H. Douglas Brown began building a concrete dinosaur in 1948, but the project was never completed. Now, the park is popular for “walkers, photographers, dog lovers, joggers and fishing enthusiasts.”

When the weather isn’t quite ideal for a Beach Butlerz experience, then you can take advantage of all of the unique attractions that shape the beautiful beach cities in this region. And, have fun with it!

Elephant Seals lounging and playing on the beach at Piedras Blancas, California - November 26, 2010.

Beach Butlerz Volleyball Setup on the beach, November 2010.