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Read MoreTheatre & Shopping: An Epic Mother and Daughter Weekend Getaway
Sponsored One of my favorite things to do with my daughter is to have small weekend getaways. Before getting into the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I planned an unforgettable weekend getaway with my daughter in Costa Mesa. With my daughter being an art student at Orange County School of the Arts, I thought that she would enjoy a getaway enjoying the artsy community of Costa Mesa, and it ended up being one of our favorite staycations ever. Costa Mesa has some of the best small businesses to shop for the holidays in Orange County, and since I want all the holiday gifts that I will be giving this year to come from small businesses, we started our getaway by shopping during Small Business Saturday. We got up early on Small Business Saturday and went to The CAMP where we had coffee and breakfast at Blackmarket Bakery. The bakery has some of the best coffee in town, and their pastries are unforgettable — we loved sipping on our coffee while relaxing on their outdoor patio while planning our day. After breakfast, we walked next door to the SEED People’s Market. It was the first time that I had been in the SEED People’s Market, and it quickly became my new favorite place to get handmade items. They have a wide selection of beautiful jewelry, baby items, and clothing. I was able to purchase almost all my holiday’s gifts while in SEED People’s Market, and it felt good knowing that I am supporting many local artisans. Next, we walked across the street to The LAB Anti-Mall where we did some more holiday shopping and was able to take some fun photos. If you have a teenager, they are going to have a blast capturing unique photos for their Instagram account at The LAB Anti-Mall. We were starting to get hungry for lunch, so we drove over to SOCO & The OC Mix for lunch at Tackle Box. Tackle Box is home to season 11 Bravo’s Top Chef Brian Husky who is breaking culinary boundaries by creating delicious dishes. We started lunch by having some of his well-known Chilaquiles. The Chilaquiles were just as flavorful as the ones you can find in Mexico and featured black beans, cotija cheese, pickled frenso, pico de gallo, tomatillo salsa and a sunny-side-up egg. Next, we had one of the best cheesesteaks this side of Philly – the “Cali” Cheesesteak. It is a...
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Read MoreSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse World Premiere
We attended as a guest of Sony Recently I got to go up to Los Angeles with my two brothers and my mom to watch the new Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film and attend the world premiere. Spiderman is one of my favorite superheroes, and I have watched almost all of the movies with my comic book loving older brother, so when I realized we were going to the world premiere, we were all so excited! We all put on our fancy red and blue cloths for Spiderman and headed off to LA. When we arrived, we parked and walked into the beautiful theater. Inside the theater, we saw some people we knew from some of our favorite TV shows like Madelaine Petsch from Riverdale. After we got our drinks and popcorn, we went to take a seat in the plush theater. The movie began, and I immediately loved it mainly because of all the onomatopoeia’s and the fact that it was almost all in comic book formatting. There were speech bubbles and context texts throughout the movie. The music was also incredible throughout, and this is now one of my favorite Spidermen movies. After we watched the movie, we headed over to the after party where we got to enjoy some fantastic activities like airbrush T-shirt making and fun photo ops. They were also selling Spiderman themed shoes that were so cool, and almost everyone wanted them! The food that was there was to absolutely die for! There was food ranging from gourmet Italian pasta alfredo to birthday cake cake pops. There was something for everybody as we were walking around and enjoying the party. There was an inside portion of the party and an outside portion. On the inside were countless photo ops and beautiful ice sculptures. There were also cute white couches for the guests to lounge on. I had fun pretending to fall through the sky with all the Spider people in one of the photo ops. On the outside portion were people who were custom airbrushing shirts with Spiderman symbols on them and loud music for people to listen to and enjoy. We were all sad when we had to say goodbye to the fun party and go home, but we had plenty of souvenirs to take with us. We also had the memories of the amazing movie that I recommend everyone should go see. Make sure to see Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse when...
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Read MoreHoliday Teen Favorites at the Disneyland Resort
We visited as a guest of Disneyland Holiday’s at the Disneyland Resort is something my family has been celebrating since I was a child and it is one of those traditions that I will never get tired of experiencing. From the beautiful lights to the yummy treats at Disneyland, it is a magical way to celebrate the holidays. This year I went with my mom, and we got to experience the holidays just as they began. One of my favorite things every year at is the Disneyland Christmas tree. Every year at Disneyland they have the most fantastic tree that I could stare at for hours. This year I had the privilege of meeting some of the women who make the bows to decorate the tree along Main Street U.S.A. I had so much fun talking to them about making the bows and then going and spotting some of their work on the tree. The tree is just one of the many decorations that are put up for Disneyland’s holiday season. All Throughout both parks are decorations that you will only be able to see at Disneyland such as tire trees in Cars Land and the thousands of lights hanging up on the front of It’s a Small World. Everywhere you walk there will be some beautiful holiday decoration that will have you wanting to see more. One of my other favorite things that are here for the Disneyland holiday season is the new churros that are available. They have a Gingersnap Churro which is my absolute favorite and a Peppermint Churro which is the perfect thing to put you in the holiday spirit. Some other churros include the Sugar Plum Candy Churro, Churro Bites, Pumpkin Spice Churro, Cowboy Bark Churro, and the two Holiday Churros. This year they are also doing churro fries which are churro’s cut into chips that are served in the flavor of Gingerbread or a flavor called “Stocking Stuffer.” There are tons of other foods there for the holiday season, and they are not all sweet. On more of the savory side, Disneyland is offering things like a Roast Beef TV Dinner at Carnation Café, Chile Relleno at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, and more. If you’re a foodie, then you’re going to find pure bliss as you dine throughout Disney California Adventure during the Festival of Holidays. There are small kiosks located throughout the park where families can enjoy seasonal bites and...
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Read MoreVisit Whoville to Experience Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood
We visited as a guest of the venue Every year our family looks forward to celebrating the holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood. Our favorite part of the holiday celebration is getting to experience Grinchmas. The Grinch and all of his friends from Whoville have come to Los Angeles to celebrate the holiday season with your family. This year, I brought my daughter with me to Universal Studios Hollywood to experience Grinchmas. The minute that we left the parking structure, we were immersed in the Christmas spirit. The first thing that we noticed was the giant 40-foot tall Christmas tree that features 200,000 LED icicles! The tree sparkles every night, and the lights are choreographed to the sounds of the season – plus Santa also makes a special appearance too. As we walked through Universal CityWalk, we admired all the beautiful decorations and couldn’t wait to see what was in store for us once entering Universal Studios Hollywood. After coming through the gates, we immediately went to experience Grinchmas. It felt like we were in Whoville as we experienced all the fun. The first thing that we did was to stop and wish the Grinch a Merry Christmas. He is such a fun guy, and we enjoyed talking with him and capturing a keepsake photo to put on our refrigerator at home. After visiting the Grinch, we went to give Max a little Christmas love. He is such a sweet dog, and we loved spending time with him. Then it was time for the entertainment to begin. We sat down in front of the giant tree and watched Martha May Who-vier and the Who Dolls perform for us. They sang, they danced, and the Grinch even joined in on the fun. We had gained quite an appetite, so we enjoyed some mini donuts, Grinch themed cotton candy and a giant Grinch-themed donut. We savored all the sweet treats before going over to the post office to send the Grinch a Christmas card. It is the most important thing to do when visiting Universal Studios Hollywood during Grinchmas. For every postcard that you send to the Grinch, Universal Studios Hollywood’s Discover a Star Foundation will make a donation to School on Wheels! How amazing is that? We ended our day at Universal Studios Hollywood by experiencing “Christmas in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.” We sipped on some hot Butterbeer while watching Hogwarts Castle illuminate with magical lights and projections along...
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Read MoreAn Electric Vehicle Powerful Enough to Autocross
As Rascal Flatts would say, I like fast cars and freedom. So, imagine my surprise when I got an invite to autocross with an electric vehicle. I was so intrigued that I couldn’t resist saying “yes” to test out the Chevy Bolt EV on a track at Santa Anita. When I arrived at Santa Anita, there were three Chevy Bolt EV cars and one VW GTI (that most popular car autocross drivers have preferred driving) until experiencing the Chevy Bolt so we could compare the ride. When comparing the Chevy Bolt EV to the VW GTI: The Chevy Bolt EV: Length 164″, Width 69.5, Height 62.8, Wheelbase 102.4, Pass Volume 94.4 cu ft, Max Cargo Volume 56.6 cu ft The VW GTI: Length 168″, Width 70.8, Height 57.8, Wheelbase 103.6, Pass Volume 93.5 cu ft, Max Cargo Volume 52.7 cu ft I had never tried autocross before and was a little nervous at first. I have always been a passenger when getting to experience the thrill of a fast car and was excited to be the driver for the first time. I started by driving the VW GTI to see what autocross drivers enjoy about the car driving experience. I drove up to the starting line, and when the flag when down, I punched the gas and drove out of a plume of smoke onto the track. The VW performed well, but it was hard on the turns, and I felt like the car was a little too big for the tight track we were driving. Next, it was time to see how an electric vehicle can compare to a gas vehicle on the autocross course. The Chevy Bolt EV offers 200 horsepower with 266 lb-ft torque! It can go 0-60 in 6.5 seconds and can perform for 238 miles with a full charge. I got behind the wheel of the car, rolled the windows up, turned up the volume on my favorite song by Cardi B, and hit the gas pedal. The car still provided that thrilling plume of smoke you get with a gas vehicle, and yet took the curves with ease. I ended up coming across the finish line incredibly faster than when driving the gas vehicle. I couldn’t get enough of driving the Chevy Bolt EV on the course that I did it multiple times, and even jumped in as a passenger when some of my friends were driving ~ it was so fun! When...
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Read More2018 Nutcracker Performances in Orange County
Affiliate Featured The Land of Sweets is coming to you! Discover all the Nutcracker productions bringing a bit of holiday magic to Orange County. American Ballet Theatre Performance of The Nutcracker Segerstrom Center for the Arts 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA The ballet will perform December 14th through the 23rd. Tickets – Start at $29. “This Nutcracker is cracking good!” raved the New York Post when American Ballet Theatre premiered this delectable holiday favorite. As the lights dim and Tchaikovsky’s beautiful score fills the air, young Clara enters a dreamlike journey amid magical toy soldiers, mischievous mice, sparkling snowflakes and a glittering Christmas tree! With an impressive cast of more than 100 performers, ABT’s The Nutcracker features set and costumes by Richard Hudson (Tony Award winner, The Lion King), with choreography by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky. The Orange County Register praised it as a “… colorful, cinematic creation filled with spectacle, humor and eye-popping costumes.” The Nutcracker: Beloved Holiday Dance Favorite Plummer Auditorium 201 E. Chapman Ave. Fullerton, CA 92832 714-626-3890 The American Pacific Ballet Company once again charms young and old alike this holiday season with a production of The Nutcracker. Featuring choreography by Mignon Furman, this beloved seasonal favorite is chock-full of lively children, scampering mice, beautiful dancers and more, not to mention a thrilling battle, magical transformations, a mysteriously “growing” Christmas tree, and delicately falling snow. Yuriko Kajiya and Jared Matthews, principals with the Houston Ballet, will perform the roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. The Nutcracker: Holiday Classic From Coast City Ballet Huntington Beach Historical Theater 1905 Main Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 714-536-2514 Experience the magic of dance at Coast City Ballet’s annual production of this famed holiday favorite featuring students, company members and guests artists from throughout California, with dazzling sets, colorful costumes and Tchaikovsky’s timeless score. Choreographed and directed by Clara D’Autilia, this glittering tale follows young Clara, who receives the gift of a nutcracker at a festive family Christmas party. That night she dreams of a grand adventure that begins with a handsome prince, continues with an epic battle between mice and toys, and comes to a climax with a magical journey to the Land of Sweets where Clara meets the Sugar Plum Fairy and dancers from foreign lands. The Nutcracker: The Anaheim Ballet’s Holiday Treat City National Grove of Anaheim 2200 E. Katella Avenue Anaheim, CA 92806 714-712-2700 The Anaheim Ballet gets the...
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Read MoreWorld Premiere of Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
I attended as a guest of Disney It was a magical start to the week as I curled my hair, put on a fancy dress and went to Los Angeles for the world premiere Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Before going to the premiere, I had the honor of talking with Mackenzie Foy and Misty Copeland about the making of the film. I then walked over to a festive pre-party where I sipped on a sparkling glass of champagne and participated in all the activities. There were people of stilts walking around the event, a hairdressing station, nail painting from OPI and a candy bar hosted by Ziploc. The room smelled amazing from the Glad candles that were twinkling on all the table tops. When it came to the food, there was salad and sliders, but the one food I couldn’t get enough of was the pumpkin tortellini. They were so delicious that I may or may not have had three servings of the amazing tortellini. Once we were done eating, I went to have my hair decorated complete with lots of glitter. After getting my hair perfected, I went to the OPI nail station where I had my nails painted with the Disney’s Nutcracker-themed limited edition OPI nail polish shades. https://ocmomblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-29_17-13-16-2.93-6.07.mp4 We made a quick stop at the photo booth and then did my favorite activity of the evening – the candy station. I filled my Ziploc bag with all of my favorite candies and then brought them home to share with my children later that evening. Then the time had come for us to walk over to the El Capitan Theatre to see Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. I was captivated by the film and felt immersed in the magical world. I fell in love with the film, and it became my favorite holiday movie of all time. I can’t wait to bring my family back to see Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms with my family this weekend. Enjoy seeing the magical movie with your family in theaters this Friday, November 2nd! Learn more about The Nutcracker and the Four Realms on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Share your love for the film by using the hashtag...
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Read MoreIrvine Park Railroad’s 23rd Annual Christmas Train + Giveaway
It’s the season, once again for Irvine Park Railroad’s annual Christmas Train. Come with family and friends and take this enchanting night ride through historic Irvine Regional Park to meet Santa Claus. The train will depart every 15 minutes from the brightly-lit train station and drop passengers off at the North Pole. Christmas Train tickets may be purchased to ride the train at a specific date and time — get in line and board the train any time during the hour for which you purchase tickets. Tickets may be purchased online ONLY and can be purchased beginning November 1st; tickets may not be purchased in person. Visit www.IrvineParkRailroad.com for details. While waiting to board the train, there are many activities for children to enjoy in Santa’s Village located next to the train station. Activities will be open when the Christmas Train runs and include: Story Time with Mrs. Claus Christmas Cookie Decorating Carnival Games Ice Fishing Santa Claus Moon Bounce Blizzard Ball Christmas Coloring Corner Picture Stands Prices for activities vary; for additional information and costs, visit www.IrvineParkRailroad.com. At the North Pole, visitors may purchase coffee, hot chocolate, freshly-popped popcorn, hot pretzels, and cookies from Santa’s Snack Shop. A full kitchen menu is available at the train station. Visitors may take their own pictures with Santa or you may purchase a picture taken by Irvine Park Railroad. Each 5” x 7” photo will be presented with an Irvine Park Railroad frame and available for pickup shortly after being taken. After visiting with Santa, hop back aboard the train and enjoy the colorful Christmas lights and decorations, as well as the magical “Tunnel of Lights”, on the ride back to the station. When visiting the Christmas Train, remember to dress warmly, bring a camera, and arrive early to avoid crowds. The Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train is open beginning Friday, November 30th through Sunday, December 23rd. Please visit our web site for hours and to purchase tickets. The cost to ride the Christmas Train is $15.00 per person. Children younger than 24 months ride free. The parking for Irvine Regional Park is $3.00 per vehicle on weekdays and $5.00 per vehicle on weekends; parking for the Christmas Train is free after 5:00 PM. Annual Irvine Park Railroad events include the Anniversary Celebration, 4th Grade California History Education Program, Easter Eggstravaganza, Pumpkin Patch, Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off, and Christmas Train. During the day, visit Irvine Regional Park’s other activities including Wheel Fun...
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Theatre & Shopping: An Epic Mother and Daughter Weekend Getaway
Sponsored One of my favorite things to do with my daughter is to have small weekend getaways. Before getting into the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I planned an unforgettable weekend getaway with my daughter in Costa Mesa. With my daughter being an art student at Orange County School of the Arts, I thought that she would enjoy a getaway enjoying the artsy community of Costa Mesa, and it ended up being one of our favorite staycations ever. Costa Mesa has some of the best small businesses to shop for the holidays in Orange County, and since I want all the holiday gifts that I will be giving this year to come from small businesses, we started our getaway by shopping during Small Business Saturday. We got up early on Small Business Saturday and went to The CAMP where we had coffee and breakfast at Blackmarket Bakery. The bakery has some of the best coffee in town, and their pastries are unforgettable — we loved sipping on our coffee while relaxing on their outdoor patio while planning our day. After breakfast, we walked next door to the SEED People’s Market. It was the first time that I had been in the SEED People’s Market, and it quickly became my new favorite place...
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World Premiere of Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
I attended as a guest of Disney It was a magical start to the week as I curled my hair, put on a fancy dress and went to Los Angeles for the world premiere Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. Before going to the premiere, I had the honor of talking with Mackenzie Foy and Misty Copeland about the making of the film. I then walked over to a festive pre-party where I sipped on a sparkling glass of champagne and participated in all the activities. There were people of stilts walking around the event, a hairdressing station, nail painting from OPI and a candy bar hosted by Ziploc. The room smelled amazing from the Glad candles that were twinkling on all the table tops. When it came to the food, there was salad and sliders, but the one food I couldn’t get enough of was the pumpkin tortellini. They were so delicious that I may or may not have had three servings of the amazing tortellini. Once we were done eating, I went to have my hair decorated complete with lots of glitter. After getting my hair perfected, I went to the OPI nail station where I had my nails painted with the Disney’s Nutcracker-themed limited edition OPI nail polish shades. https://ocmomblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-29_17-13-16-2.93-6.07.mp4...
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Holidays at The Laguna Playhouse: Beauty and the Beast A Christmas Rose
We visited as a guest of the venue Going to local theaters in Orange County is always something I love to do… especially at Laguna Playhouse. I have seen a few shows at Laguna Playhouse before and every single one of them I loved! When I found out that I was able to attend this year’s show, Beauty and the Beast the Christmas Rose, I was so happy. Now, all of the shows I have seen at Laguna Playhouse...
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I’ll Be Next Door for Christmas: Interview with Juliette Angelo
Sponsored With Christmas just around the corner the movie, I’ll be Next Door for Christmas, needs to be on your Christmas watch list. If you are not convinced enough that you need to watch it allow me to convince you some more by sharing some insight on one of the leading actresses mindset when making the film. I had the honor of having an email interview with the star of the movie, Juliette Angelo. I started out by asking...
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Teen Review: Holly Star Christmas Movie
Screener provided Since it doesn’t snow where I live, when Christmas rolls around the closest I can get to snow is watching a Christmas film with snow in it. Lucky for me my mom and I watched a movie where the snow was plentiful, and the story was priceless. Holly Star is the ultimate Christmas movie that has everything you would want. The friendly drama, the falling in love, the mystery, and my favorite…THE SNOW!!! The movie is about...
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Kids Eat Free at The House of Blues
We dined as a guest of the venue Whenever I hear the name House of Blues I think rock n roll, amazing venue, and their world famous Gospel Brunch. Well let me tell you House of Blues is so much more. Since moving to the Garden Walk in Anaheim, House of Blues has doubled in size giving them chance to expand their venue but also their kitchen. First of all they have an amazing happy hour Monday – Friday,...
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Make a Holiday Toast with Ammunition Wines
Sponsored We are officially knee deep in the holiday season. Holiday parties are happening almost every night where friends and families are making toasts in celebration of a fantastic year and with the excitement of all the goodness coming to everyone in the New Year. When hosting my friends in my home during the holiday season, I only want to serve them the highest quality wines, and I have recently fallen in love with Ammunition Wines. Ammunition is the...
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The Holidays Set Sail at The Queen Mary
We attended as a guest of the venue We know the Queen Mary is a stunning jewel all on her own but during Christmas it becomes a timeless holiday experience. With the sprinkling of Christmas cheer throughout from bow to stern. As you stroll the hallways and decks, drinking in the history of the majestic ship you are entertained by familiar songs from Caroler’s, spunky Bell Hops and cheerful interactions with Mrs. Claus. You can leisurely take your time...
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Chronic Tacos Introduces Grass-Fed Carne Asada
I was recently a guest at Chronic Tacos for a tasting of the new grass-fed Carne Asada. Upon entering the Chronic Taco restaurant I was greeted by the open, clean and bright location. Moving to the starting point to choose an item was difficult. The difficult choice of making a meal has now gotten more complicated. The usual taco, burrito, Bowl-Rito, quesadilla, sorta, Chronic Salad and Tostada Bowl options are now available with yet another protein. I decided to...
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Snow Days with the Critters at the Santa Ana Zoo
“Snow Days with the Critters,” the Santa Ana Zoo’s exciting winter event, welcomes visitors to the Zoo during the weekend of Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16 from 11 AM – 2 PM, rain or shine. The event is included with the price of admission and is FREE for children 2 and under, as well as for members of the Zoo. On Sunday, December 16, Santa Ana residents can visit the Zoo and enjoy this event for FREE!...
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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse World Premiere
We attended as a guest of Sony Recently I got to go up to Los Angeles with my two brothers and my mom to watch the new Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse film and attend the world premiere. Spiderman is one of my favorite superheroes, and I have watched almost all of the movies with my comic book loving older brother, so when I realized we were going to the world premiere, we were all so excited! We all put...
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Holiday Teen Favorites at the Disneyland Resort
We visited as a guest of Disneyland Holiday’s at the Disneyland Resort is something my family has been celebrating since I was a child and it is one of those traditions that I will never get tired of experiencing. From the beautiful lights to the yummy treats at Disneyland, it is a magical way to celebrate the holidays. This year I went with my mom, and we got to experience the holidays just as they began. One of...
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Visit Whoville to Experience Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood
We visited as a guest of the venue Every year our family looks forward to celebrating the holidays at Universal Studios Hollywood. Our favorite part of the holiday celebration is getting to experience Grinchmas. The Grinch and all of his friends from Whoville have come to Los Angeles to celebrate the holiday season with your family. This year, I brought my daughter with me to Universal Studios Hollywood to experience Grinchmas. The minute that we left the parking structure,...
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Seven Steps to Keeping Your Kids Safe Online
Sponsored I recently had the honor of joining Verizon and the CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, Stephen Balkam for lunch in Los Angeles to talk about tools we can use to help keep our kids safe online. As a parent, it is not easy to keep up with all the changes happening in the digital world, and it is more important than ever to help keep our kids safe online. While talking with Balkam, he shared these...
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A Western Wonderland: 44th Annual Boat Parade of Lights
Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, the County of Orange, OC Parks and Dana Point Harbor invite families to celebrate the season with “A Western Wonderland” at the 44th Annual Boat Parade of Lights. Enjoy festive family activities with a western twist on select dates December 7-15 by the water’s edge. The 44th Annual Boat Parade of Lights will take place on December 7, 8, 14 and 15 and feature the theme “A Western Wonderland.” On each evening of the parade, OC...
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Learning About The History of Mining at Museo Ruta de Plata in El Triunfo
Once we were done having a delicious lunch at Cafe El Triunfo, we walked next door to visit the Museo Ruta de Plata. We entered the museum into a gift shop and paid the entrance fee (100 pesos) to explore the museum. Museo Ruta de Plata is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the rich mining heritage and settlement of the region, the private museum focuses on the period between 1750 and 1930. The Ruta de Plata region encompasses the...
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Family Movie Night: I’ll Be Next Door for Christmas
Movie kit provided One of our favorite things to do during the holiday season is to sit in front of the fire and enjoy a family movie night. Holiday films are our favorite kind of films, and we recently fell in love with the all-new holiday movie, “I’ll Be Next Door for Christmas.” It is a hilarious family-friendly film that we digitally downloaded to enjoy for many years to come. Before watching the movie, we hung our Christmas lights...
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HGTV Presents Santa HQ
Hosted Embrace a new way to get your kids and family excited about the Christmas holiday with this hands-on experience in a winter wonderland. As you wait in anticipation to meet and take a picture with Santa, let your child’s magical experience take flight! I brought my brother, my 9-year old niece, and my two sons, who are 4 & 6 years old and we were all in awe of this glorious experience. We first took turns at the...
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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Review
We attended an event as a guest of Sony “With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility”. You don’t need to be a Spidey fanatic to know those timeless words. Ever since early days of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, those very first adventures with Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy, something stuck with us and never failed to impress or inspire. Spider-Man speaks to us all, and through the countless adventures in comic books, video games, and film series, we are still...
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Christmas at the Mission: Capistrano Lights 2018
From now through Jan. 6, Mission San Juan Capistrano is hosting Capistrano Lights 2018: a nightly tree lighting on The Mission grounds; the celebration will begin at 5 p.m. every night. After the festive ceremony, guests are welcome to explore the San Juan Capistrano’s downtown and historic Los Rios District, known for its picturesque holiday displays, unique dining options, holiday shopping and wine tasting. Additionally, throughout December, families will have the chance to meet an 18th century St. Nicholas...
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9th Annual Christmas with the Critters + Giveaway
Join us for our 9th annual Christmas with the Critters for a fun festive day! The children will enjoy crafts, holiday music, bounce house, Santa, watching the animals opening their Christmas presents and listening to keeper talks, while the parents can enjoy holiday shopping, silent auction, lunch and beverages. Tickets: $17 for Adults $11 3 years -12 Free 2 years and younger – No food included When: Sunday December 9th, 2018 Time: 11:00am – 3:00pm Where: 19191 Lawrence Canyon...
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Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for Growing Minds
Samples provided When looking for the perfect gift to place under the tree this holiday season, educational gifts always make the perfect gifts to give. After getting my degree in Early Childhood Education, I fell in love with how Lakeshore makes educational games and products that makes learning fun for young children. Every year, I purchase something special for my kids from Lakeshore, and these are my top picks this year to gift to your children. Royal Kingdom Adventure...
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Christmas at The OC Zoo
The County of Orange, OC Parks and the animals of the OC Zoo invite the young and the young at heart to celebrate the holiday season on Saturday, December 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas at the OC Zoo invites guests to watch the loveable resident animals open treat-filled gifts, and treats hidden inside of Christmas trees throughout the day. Children can join the holiday fun with seasonally inspired crafts. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be visiting...
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An Electric Vehicle Powerful Enough to Autocross
As Rascal Flatts would say, I like fast cars and freedom. So, imagine my surprise when I got an invite to autocross with an electric vehicle. I was so intrigued that I couldn’t resist saying “yes” to test out the Chevy Bolt EV on a track at Santa Anita. When I arrived at Santa Anita, there were three Chevy Bolt EV cars and one VW GTI (that most popular car autocross drivers have preferred driving) until experiencing the Chevy...
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Exploring an Abandoned Mine in El Triunfo
After having lunch at Cafe El Triunfo and visiting Museo Ruta de Plata, we walked behind the museum to get a closer look at La Ramona. The trail has a beautiful paved walkway that leads up to the historic mining chimney where your kids might get to see some wild chickens or even a cow or two. As we walked up to La Ramona, we were all in awe of the beauty of the structure and wondered how it...
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Beyond Spider-Man, the Power of Family and Inclusion in Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse
We attended the interview as a guest of Sony When you see the name Spider-Man, you assume you know the full story: A radioactive spider bites Peter Parker, he flies across the buildings of New York City, and he saves the day from baddies like Green Goblin and Doc Ock time and time again with witty and spectacular charm. The new film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse isn’t that story though, moving away from the classic hero tale we all...
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Ring in the New Year at Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood rings in 2019 with EVE, Hollywood’s biggest and most exciting New Year’s celebration, including an all-new Ultimate EVE package, on Monday, December 31, with extended theme park hours to 2:00 a.m. EVE is included in the price of theme park admission and invites guests to spend the day and night enjoying its many popular rides and attractions with a special park-wide party starting at 9:00 p.m., featuring multiple DJs and live music entertainment hubs, that will...
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Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade begins Next Week
Families are invited to celebrate the season with “A Western Wonderland” at the 44th Annual Boat Parade of Lights. Enjoy festive family activities with a western twist on select dates December 7-15 by the water’s edge. The 44th Annual Boat Parade of Lights will take place on December 7, 8, 14 and 15 and feature the theme “A Western Wonderland.” On each evening of the parade, OC Parks will host free family activities throughout Dana Point Harbor including games,...
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Holiday Celebrations at Bluewater Grill in Newport Beach
We dined as a guest of the venue Earlier this week, we were guests of Bluewater Grill in Newport Beach, CA. The occasion was an early holiday date night complete with a Stuffed Lobster meal that is currently being offered at all the Bluewater Grill locations. The stuffed lobster is a favorite amongst the regulars at Bluewater Grill and is a New England Holiday Tradition. The lobster gets stuffed instead of the bird. This tradition was started by restaurants...
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Celebrate the Holidays at Heritage Hill Historical Park
The County of Orange and OC Parks invite you to experience the traditions of the holidays at Heritage Hill Historical Park this winter season. December 7-9 will welcome the park’s 33rd Annual Candlelight Walk. Join us for three enchanted evenings and experience the historic park in a unique way that only happens once a year. Hundreds of luminarias will light the park’s pathways as strolling carolers and musicians fill the night air with seasonal music. The historical buildings will...
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Best Pizza in Baja California: Cafe El Triunfo
When planning our visit to El Triunfo during our stay in La Paz, Mexico, I did a little bit of research and learned that there is only one restaurant in the small town called Cafe El Triunfo. While exploring the town, I did learn that there are more restaurants in the town, but since I thought it was the only place to dine, we stopped in for lunch before learning about La Ramona and exploring the town. The minute...
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