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Movies on the Lawn are Back at the OC Great Park!
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Credit: OC Great Park
Our Dad Blogger Robert shares about the Movies on the Lawn series returning to the OC Great Park!
The Great Park in Irvine will be hosting a FREE, yes FREE movie this Saturday May 5th at dusk. For those that are unfamiliar with a “movie on the lawn” it’s just like the name suggests. They set up an inflatable, regular sized movie screen on the lawn and the viewers can set up their chairs and blankets wherever they choose to watch the movie. If the weather cooperates, it can be a classic SoCal experience of having a picnic while watching a movie outdoors underneath the stars with family and friends.
This Saturday they will be screening Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which is rated PG-13, so plan accordingly as far as bringing younger children. The Great Park hosts these type of events several times over the summer and always seem to also offer a couple of G rated movies that are better suited to children.
Our family loves the loose atmosphere at these type of outdoor events. My daughter enjoys going to the movies, but sometimes loses interest halfway through, so it’s an added bonus that she can get up and play on the grass with her friends.
As a family we like to arrive early so that my daughter can burn off some energy at the play area which is just a short walk away from where the movie screen is set up.
For more information about this event and future movies at the Great Park go to www.ocgp.org.
FAQ’s
- The movie starts at dusk, but arrive at least 30 minutes early to stake out your spot on the lawn
- Bring blankets and chairs as there is no seating already set up
- Dress warmly, once the sun goes down it can get cold quickly
- If you have a wagon or stroller bring it as the walk from the parking area can be difficult when you are juggling kids, food, blankets, chairs etc etc
- Feel free to bring your own food and drinks, but there are also basic items for sale.
- Bathrooms are plentiful and located a short walk from where the movie is to be shown.
A Little Staycation: Disneyland and The Red Lion Hotel
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- Our room. Cushy beds and a flat screen TV. That’s all we need!
A few weeks back during Spring Break, the weather was not cooperating and most of our plans for our days off had to be revamped. We had a big change of plans and lounging around a swimming pool in San Diego was no longer an option. We decided we still wanted to do something fun and headed to Anaheim for a little Staycation. We decided to spend the day at Disneyland and spend the night at the The Red Lion Hotel. We had a great time and we can’t wait to head there again.
Always a must ride at Disneyland: The Carousel
We spent the day at Disneyland and stayed until our feet gave out. We rode almost every ride and closed down the park. We were a little wet, but still had so much fun. Besides, have you ever visited Disneyland in the rain? It’s a blast! The crowds are minimal and you can walk on almost every ride. I think everyone should try it at least once.
The kids had a blast and were ready to head back to our hotel and continue the fun. The Red Lion Hotel is only a few blocks away from the park and you can easily walk there or take a shuttle. We walked back to our hotel and the kiddos loved their room. The rooms are comfy, spacious and with every comfort of home.
The hotel features:
- Fire Pits
- Flat Screen TV’s
- Room Service
- Heated Swimming Pool
- Walking Distance to the Disneyland Resort
I don’t know what it is about hotel rooms but the kids were in heaven from the moment they walked in. They didn’t want to go to sleep. We woke up in the morning and headed for a great breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. We enjoyed our stay and I can’t wait to head back again.
Front Lobby
The Red Lion Hotel in Anaheim is running a great deal for the next few weeks. You can stay there anytime between now and June 7th for only $79. The rate includes free parking, free wifi and Free Breakfast for two adults (kiddos 10 and under eat free). Offer is valid for stays between now through June 7th, with no upfront payment and no cancellation penalty. You must book by June 1, 2012.
We enjoyed our stay and would definitely recommend it as a great staycation option. To learn more about this rate or to book your room head here.
Belly Sprout and The Road Less Traveled
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- Located in the heart of the Santa Ana Artists District
I love sharing about unique places that families will find useful and enjoy and Belly Sprout is one store that fits the bill. My friend Christy Funk is the owner of Belly Sprout, a beautiful store dedicated to bring parents natural products and toys. Belly Sprout features everything you will need to cloth diaper your babies to natural toys. Christy stocks her shop with her own picks and only the best will do.
Belly Sprout/Road Less Traveled
Belly Sprout is also home to Orange County’s Best All Natural Beauty Bar. Stop by and be eco beautified with some incredible products. Last time I was at the store, I bought the most amazing natural lipstick that is seriously one of the best lipsticks I’ve ever used and leaves my lips feeling oh so soft. Love it! Of course I can’t think of the name right now, but if you stop by, Christy will help you find the shade that will be perfect for you and for a very reasonable price. She loves eco beautifying mamas and always has a chair ready for a transformation. Belly Sprout is also home to some great community classes that include yoga, parenting, and also a weekly playgroup.
The Road Less Traveled is home to great eco living products
Christy has partnered with the lovely Delilah Snell of The Road Less Traveled and the founder of the Patchwork – Indie Crafts and Art Festival.. The Road Less Traveled is home to great eco living and sustainable products. Delilah has the store stocked with the most beautiful products. I could have shopped there for hours.
- Christy and Delilah
Delilah is also an expert food preserver and holds some fantastic workshops on food preserving and canning. She also makes some jams that are out of this world!
Belly Sprout and The Road Less Traveled is located in the heart of the Santa Ana Artists Village, next door to Gypsy Den and across from Memphis, next to the CSUF Grand Central Arts Center.
Stop by and say a big hello to Christy and Delilah.
Belly Sprout/Road Less Traveled
125 N. Broadway-C
Santa Ana, CA
714.836.872
Knott’s Berry Farm’s Mother’s Day Brunch
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Every year my mom and three sisters along with our kiddos gather together on Mother’s Day for a delicious brunch. This past Sunday, I was invited with a group of other bloggers to a very special pre-Mother’s Day Celebration. We headed to Knott’s Berry Farm for a very special brunch.
The spread was out of this world! Everything you can imagine from an omelette bar, carving station, an incredible dessert station, and of course Mrs. Knott’s famous fried chicken. It was incredibly delicious!!! There was something for everyone and I think this year, my mother, sisters and I will have our annual brunch there. The food was absolutely delicious and was without a doubt one of the best brunches I’ve ever experienced. Like I said, there was something for everyone and sure to be a hit with even the pickiest of eaters.
Knott’s Mother’s Day Brunch will be served from 9am to 4pm. Choose your location of Chicken Dinner Restaurant, Spurs Chophouse, or
Wilderness Dance Hall.
Adults: $29.95 Seniors: $22.95 Children: $16.95
Call 714-220-5055 early for a Reservation as they fill up fast!
Use the code “Mom Bloggers Discount” for an extra 10% off.
For additional information head here.
Disclosure: This is not a compensated post. I was invited to a preview event to experience the brunch. However, all opinions are very much my own.
OC Tastefest Giveaway
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Update: The giveaway is now closed. The winner of the giveaway is Therese. Thank you all entering!
Are you a foodie? Do you enjoy trying seasonal menu items and all that local restaurants have to offer? If you do, then you won’t want to miss OC Tastefest, Orange County’s newest food and wine festival. The inaugural food, wine and entertainment festival will take place on Friday, May 4th and Saturday, May 5th.
There are over 25 participating restaurants in the festival including, Cucina Alessa, Port Restaurant & Bar, Marrakesh, Salt Creek Grille, Ten Asian Bistro, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Slater’s 50/50 and many more. All restaurants will serve three different items that will be priced between $1 and $6 dollars each. There will be a celebrity chef challenge with stars from Food Network’s Private Chefs of Beverly Hills, Bravo’s Top Chef and the Real Housewives of OC making appearances. The two day celebration leads up to the OC Marathon on May 6th.
The OC Tastefest will take place on
Friday, May 4th from 5:00pm to 11:00pm and
Saturday, May 5th from 1:00pm to 10:00pm
at the OC Fair and Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
OC Tastefest advance admission is $12 for a one day ticket. General admission at the event will be $20 per day. Each paid general admission ticket includes 10 Tastefest coupons. Tastefest Coupons, each valued at .50¢ are used to purchase food from participating restaurants. Menu items are valued at 2 – 12 taste coupons. A General Admission ticket includes 10 Taste Coupons, and the VIP Ticket includes 30 Taste Coupons. Additional taste coupons can be purchased: 20 taste coupons for $10 or 40 coupons for $20. There will be also be VIP admission tickets available for purchase. These tickets include VIP parking, VIP entrance and access to the VIP Tentfest with complimentary cocktails, wine and VIP seating. To purchase advance tickets and learn more about the event, head here.
It’s Giveaway time!!!
Win a pair of tickets to OC Tastefest. All you have to do is let me know why you need a day out and what restaurant are you most excited to taste from. Giveaway ends on Tuesday, May 1st at 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen at random. Good luck!
LeaLA 2012: The Spanish Book Fair of Los Angeles
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I love sharing about cultural events in the area and this is one that you will not want to miss. LeaLA, La Ferial del Libro en Espanol de Los Angeles/The Spanish Book Fair of Los Angeles is coming to to the Los Angeles Convention Center, May 11th to May 13th. LeaLA connects the top Spanish authors to their readers and fans.It is a cultural event like no other, featuring all that Spanish literature has to offer. Authors from every genre will be featured, along with storytelling in Spanish from various celebrities. From your favorite cook book author to your child’s favorite author, you are sure to find something for every family member.
I can’t wait to take my kiddos this year because I’m trying to introduce them to Spanish literature. I’m also taking my Dad because I think he’s going to love attending some of the sessions and presentations. I’m trying to teach my children Spanish and I can’t think of a better way to do it!
The fair is in it’s second year and better than ever! Here are some of the features of this year’s fair.
- Kids zone with workshops, interactive book readings and activities
- Readings from top celebrities
- Storytelling for the kiddos
- More than 130 authors
- and much more
There will also be nightly concerts featuring amazing Spanish language artists, including Gloria Trevi on Friday, May 11th, Los Tigres Del Norte on Saturday May 12th and Calle 13 on Sunday May 13th. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com or at the Nokia Live Box Office.
Did I also mention that this event is FREE? You can enjoy a fantastic day with your familia learning all about Spanish Literature. I’m planning to heading there with my family and hope I can see you there.
To learn more about LeaLA 2012 head here. You can also like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored campaign with Latina Bloggers Connect. However, All opinions are my own.
A Party to Remember: Company 77 Mobile Pizza Unit
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- A Party We Won’t Soon Forget!
Earlier this year my son celebrated his 5th birthday. I love throwing birthday parties since I have some wonderful memories of my birthday parties growing up. I think the fifth birthday party for any kiddo is a special one and I wanted to make my little boy’s dreams come true. He wanted a fire truck party and he had one that he won’t soon forget with Company 77 Mobile Pizza Unit.
The Chef Ready to Whip up some Pizza Pies!
Company 77 Mobile Pizza Unit is like nothing you have ever seen before. The owners took over a retired fire truck and completely revamped into a super fun party mobile. They created a firetruck like no other! Complete with a complete gourmet kitchen, a sound system like no other, a photo booth and plenty of room to play, a Company 77 Mobile Pizza Unit is the ultimate party machine!
Having Fun!!
We had such an incredible time and the best part was that there was not much I had to do other than set up(I actually had help with that since I rented a bounce house and two tables and chairs for $99 from here) and the rest was taken care of. Company 77 provided the delicious food, drinks, utensils, party favors and entertainment. It was a great time!
The Birthday Boy and his Cousin
The kiddos had a blast trying on firefighting gear, taking photos and well just having fun. Here are some of the features of the Pizza Mobile
- 1983 Pierce Arrow Pumper
- Beautifully Restored & Maintained
- Sun Powered
- Have fun with your own tunes on a BOSE Sound System (iPod/Radio)
- Jump Seat Photo Booth
- Real Fire Fighter Gear for play
- Fire Ladder Serving Bar
- PA System / DVD Wide Screen TV
- Rooftop Kitchen with working Water Cannon!
Now about the food, the artisan pizzas are out of this world. Crusts are naturally leavened using organic stone ground flour, sea salt and filtered water and they offer delicious vegan, gluten-free, and non-dairy options as well. Honestly, the pizzas are some of the best I have ever tasted. Not only will this be a fun party for the kiddos but with delicious food to boot!
The kiddos loved climbing aboard the Pizza Mobile!
WE had a fantastic time and my son still talks about his “best birthday party ever”. Company 77 Mobile Pizza Unit birthday parties start at ) for $495 weekdays/$595 weekends for 25 guests (little guys are free!). Service features artisanal pizzas (cheese, pepperoni and always some chef’s surprises), fire hats and stickers, lemonade and ice water, and recyclable plates, cups and napkins. They also offer gluten/dairy free options by request. One last thing, make sure to tell your neighbors about the party, because nothing is quite as surprising as watching a huge firetruck pull up to your house with their lights on, or better yet, make sure to invite them.
My Daughter Cheesin it up in the Photo Booth
To learn more about Company 77 Pizza Mobile Unit head here.
Disclosure: This is not a compensated post. A media discount was provided.
Staycation Idea: Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa/Metrolink/Legoland Package!
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- Credit: Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa
This year with gas prices through the roof and a very busy schedule, we have decided to skip a traditional week long vacation and are instead planning on a few weekend “staycation” getaways that are only about an hour or two from home. The kiddos love Legoland and we plan on heading to Carlsbad for a little getaway in the next few weeks.
If you are looking for a fun family getaway, I wanted to share a package that is too good not to share! The Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa has teamed up with Metrolink to offer So Cal residents a fun and eco friendly deal that is perfect for that weekend escape! You can leave the car at home, jump on the train and head down to Carlsbad for a great time. When you arrive in Carlsbad, a complementary shuttle will be there to whisk you away.
The package includes a two night stay , round trip Metrolink tickets, two Adult LEGOLAND California Hopper Tickets, a complimentary in-room DVD player upon request, kid’s weekend activities through and all kiddos under 12 eat for free. Packages start at $229.00 and have to be purchased 10 days in advance.The resort looks gorgeous and we’ve wanted to stay here for some time. It’s also happens to be located next door to Legoland. You can’t beat the location!
I know this for a fact- Trains+Hotel+Legoland+Beach= Happy Family! My kiddos will be in heaven!!!
To learn more about this getaway head here.
National Train Day 2012
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- Credit: National Train Day
Do you have a kiddo that loves trains? I do. My five year old fell in love with trains from the moment he laid eyes on one. We have to pass railroad tracks on the way to my daughter’s dance studio each day, and my son loves every minute of that drive because he knows he will see train tracks and maybe if he’s lucky, a train. If you have a kiddo(or a husband) that has a love of trains, you definitely want to make sure to save the date, Saturday, May 12th is National Train Day!
National Train Day will take place on Saturday, May 12th in select cities throughout the country, including NY, Chicago, LA, and Philadelphia as well as hundreds of grassroots events throughout the nation. For a list of all event locations, you can click here
Union Station in Downtown LA, will be host to National Train Day Los Angeles and will feature
- Arts and crafts for the kiddos
- Meet and greets with Dora the Explorer
- Live entertainment
- Tour luxury train cars, freight, commuter and of course Amtrak passenger service
National Train Day Los Angeles will be taking place at Union Station. Exhibits and tours open at 11am, so make sure to get there early! It should be a fun day!
For additional info head here.
Knott’s Berry Farm Season Passes – 3 Easy monthly payments
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Can you believe April is almost over? That means that summer is creeping right around the corner and I’m already planning how I’m going to keep my kiddos entertained and make some great memories, because isn’t summer about making memories? I would say my favorite memories from childhood, are those lazy summer days playing until the sun went down. I want to make sure I create those type of memories for my kiddos and I know you do too!
My friend Liz, from Thoughtsofamommy.net, shared how she recently bought season passes to Knott’s Berry Farm for her family and shared about Knott’s Berry Farm’s easy to pay program. You can purchase season tickets and pay in 3 monthly installments of only $21.99. If you want to upgrade to also include Knott’s Soak City water park, you can pay 3 monthly payments of $29.99 for gold season tickets. I’m going to take advantage of this deal and purchase season passes for the entire family. I know with budgets being a little tight, it’s sometimes nice to spread things out in payments. I also plan on buying one parking pass.
If you’re planning on taking advantage of this deal, you have until May 1st to purchase the passes. Here is to a great summer!
To learn more about this deal head here.
