GREER’S BEST BUYS:

When you find The Five Sweets Bakery, a hidden gem in Costa Mesa (behind The Harp Inn), your inner sweet voice will thank you. This is the homey bakery you’ve been searching for to get freshly-baked snicker doodles, moist and tasty red velvet cupcakes, lemon bars just out of the oven, moist and rich brownies, and more.

Owner Cassie Kuhen Orr and her incredible staff are personable, welcoming and offer fresh baked treats and candy for all occasions.

Stock up on Valentine’s Day candies, chocolates, and décor. Five Sweets bakes mini- and regular-size cupcakes in six flavors with choice of frostings, seven incredible bars, and breakfast treats, custom cakes available in favorite flavors: light silver white cake (white cake with a tangy lemon filling); German chocolate; Texas sheet cake (light chocolate cake with chocolate pecan frosting); and a three-layered Hershey’s chocolate cake.

Five Sweets also provides custom gift baskets and hosts baking parties on Sundays. Five Sweets, 130 E. 17th St., Suite D., Costa Mesa is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call (949) 548-CAKE or visit www.thefivesweets.com.

Shop captures casual

Trovata’s flagship store in Newport Beach is a community hangout and great shopping find. And that’s exactly the way John Whitledge, Trovata’s chief executive and designer, wanted it. Shop at Trovata now, its men’s and women’s fall line is reduced 50%. Trovata’s is a fashion-favorite label, carried at Barneys, American Rag, Bloomingdale’s and chic boutiques worldwide.

The Trovata store, in an unassuming 1930s former ship repair shop in Cannery Village, sits across from Alta Coffee. Whitledge carefully chose every detail in the store to reflect his “East Coast prep meets Southern California lifestyle” apparel. He scoured the country for vintage hotel wooden hangers, recycled a dilapidated fence into wall paneling, and projects surf videos on a screen and places vintage Playboys on a coffee table.

Trovata’s resort line is 1980s prep-inspired: sporty, track and tennis casual that can be dressed up or down. And Trovata’s spring line is Brazilian-inspired, not as quirky in the detail, but more sophisticated. Choose from a retro knit tennis dress, A-line coats, short white beach cover-ups, corded cotton suits, pajama-piped shirts, linen board shorts and more. Also find limited edition aviator sunglasses, Whitledge’s favorite coffee-table books, Polaroid cameras and Super-8 film processing.

There’s an ongoing fictional story that supports each collection. Inside Trovata’s designs find excerpts and pages from the story stitched into the lining.

Trovata’s, 505 31st St., Newport Beach, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For information, call (949) 675-5904 or visit www.trovata.com.

Kids’ clothes on sale

At The Flying Pram’s semi-annual tent sale today and Saturday find incredible discounts on designer children’s apparel and gear reduced up to 70%. The store features premiere lines from around the world and personal service.

The staff can set up high-chairs and strollers, and offer deliveries even to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. The Flying Pram, 1576 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For details, call (949) 515-3511 or visit www.theflyingpram.com.

Get custom fit for $99

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Shape-Up Fitness Center & Day Spa in Corona del Mar offers a six-week fitness program for $99, each tailor-made by a certified fitness trainer.

Shape-Up is a locals favorite gym with more than 280 exercise classes offered per month including yoga, Pilates, spinning, power plate, steam rooms and more. It even offers child care.

Shape Up is at 2101 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. Doe details, call (949) 760-9335 or visit www.shape-up.com.

GREER WYLDER writes Best Buys for the Daily Pilot each Friday. She’s the founder and president of greersoc.com, a free daily e-mail service that provides the latest in Orange County fashion, dining and trends.