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Read MoreOur 16th Year Celebrating Christmas at Irvine Park Railroad
We visited as a guest of the venue Sixteen years ago, we had just adopted our first born son and started the holiday family tradition of bringing our kids to the Santa Train at Irvine Park Railroad. Over the years, I always thought that our children would at one time outgrow the tradition, but every year they ask to return to create more memories together. This year was extra special, as we visited on my birthday. Our family all went to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, The Melting Pot. I know? There are so many delicious dining options in Orange County, but I love cheese ~ what can I say? After dinner, we drove over to Irvine Park Railroad to ride the Santa Train to the North Pole. We had a 7 pm train ride and arrived just in time to board the train before the engineer blew his whistle. As we rode the train to the North Pole, we enjoyed listening to holiday music and admired all the beautiful twinkling lights that adorn all the trees throughout the park. As we arrived at the North Pole, we got in line to visit Santa. As my kids approached Santa, they all took a chance to sit on his lap and whisper into his ear what they wanted for Christmas. They then gave Santa their Christmas wish list, and we captured a keepsake photo to remember the night forever. We got a cup of hot cocoa and cookie to enjoy while riding the train back to the station. At the train station, our kids then participated in some interactive games (the fishing game is their favorite) and then listening to story time with Mrs. Claus. We captured some more photos of the kids with some of the festive photo backdrops before getting in the car to return home. Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train is currently sold out for this year, but I encourage parents to purchase their tickets early (in early November) before they sell out. As the years have gone by, it has been more and more popular for families to visit during the holiday season. Learn more about all the upcoming events happening at Irvine Park Railroad online and on their Facebook...
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Read MoreMother and Daughter Holiday Spa Day at Burke Williams
We visited as a guest of the venue The stress of the holiday season is in full swing. As a full-time working mom, I have been extra stressed with trying to get up the holiday decorations and shop for all our friends and family. With it being my daughter’s first year in High School, I have seen the pressures of the end of semester and finals getting to her, so I planned a relaxing mother and daughter spa day at Burke Williams. Burke Williams is one of my all-time favorite places to relax, refresh and rejuvenate. From the minute that we walked into the spa, we both felt a sense of calm come over us. We checked in at the front desk and escaped for a day full of pampering and bliss. We made sure and arrived at the spa early so that I could take advantage of everything that the spa has to offer. We slipped into our robes and headed over to the hot tub. We spent almost an hour relaxing in the hot tub and let the bubbles in the warm water relax our muscles. After time in the hot tub, we spent some time relaxing in the sauna and steam room. The steam room is my daughters favorite, and she wanted to spend all day in the room feeling her skin getting softer with every minute that she experienced the treatment. Once we were done utilizing the spa facilities, we went into the quiet room where we waited to be called back into our treatment rooms. The recent cold and dry weather has taken its toll on our skin. So, we both decided to have facials. My facial was one of the most relaxing facials I have ever experienced. My therapist addressed all my skincare concerns, and make my skin glow like never before. When it came to my daughter, her therapist not only took care of her skin but also gave her some tips on how to better care for her skin at home in between facials. Once our treatments were complete, we joined each other in the relaxation room where we snacked on some fresh fruit, sipped on glasses of champagne/sparkling cider and caught up on reading our favorite magazines. It was one of the most relaxing days of the holiday season, and my daughter and I decided to make it a yearly holiday tradition. When looking for the perfect way to relax...
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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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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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Our 16th Year Celebrating Christmas at Irvine Park Railroad
We visited as a guest of the venue Sixteen years ago, we had just adopted our first born son and started the holiday family tradition of bringing our kids to the Santa Train at Irvine Park Railroad. Over the years, I always thought that our children would at one time outgrow the tradition, but every year they ask to return to create more memories together. This year was extra special, as we visited on my birthday. Our family all went to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, The Melting Pot. I know? There are so many delicious dining options in Orange County, but I love cheese ~ what can I say? After dinner, we drove over to Irvine Park Railroad to ride the Santa Train to the North Pole. We had a 7 pm train ride and arrived just in time to board the train before the engineer blew his whistle. As we rode the train to the North Pole, we enjoyed listening to holiday music and admired all the beautiful twinkling lights that adorn all the trees throughout the park. As we arrived at the North Pole, we got in line to visit Santa. As my kids approached Santa, they all took a chance to sit on his lap and whisper into...
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Pirates Take Over Christmas at Pirate’s Dinner Adventure
We visited as a guest of the venue Yo Ho, Yo Ho! It’s a pirates life this holiday season at Pirate’s Dinner Adventure in Buena Park. This year, the pirates have taken over Christmas and have kidnapped Santa and Mrs. Claus during an interactive stage show. Will they be rescued in time for Christmas? You’ll have to come see the show to find out! Pirate’s Dinner Adventure has been one our long-time favorite family traditions to do during the...
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Lido Theater Celebrates the Season with Annual Showing of Holiday Classic, It’s a Wonderful Life
Ring in the holidays by enjoying the classic seasonal film, It’s a Wonderful Life at the landmark Lido Theater in Newport Beach, Friday, December 14 through Monday, December 17, shown at 1pm and 7pm each day. In addition, on Saturday, December 15 at 6pm, movie goers can visit with Santa, and enjoy carolers and complimentary hot cocoa prior to the 7pm movie starting. Harkening back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, the stunning Lido Theater celebrates its 80th anniversary...
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Mother and Daughter Holiday Spa Day at Burke Williams
We visited as a guest of the venue The stress of the holiday season is in full swing. As a full-time working mom, I have been extra stressed with trying to get up the holiday decorations and shop for all our friends and family. With it being my daughter’s first year in High School, I have seen the pressures of the end of semester and finals getting to her, so I planned a relaxing mother and daughter spa day...
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Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse Brings a Taste of the East Coast to Orange County
We dined as a guest of the venue When the Irvine Company announced that they were going to bring a little bit of the east coast to the west, with the opening of Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse back in 2017, I knew that it had to be something spectacular. So what makes Davio’s so special? Chef/Restaurateur Steve DiFillippo. After graduating Boston University and the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, the then 24-year-old Steve began his journey in making a...
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A Simple Favor Giveaway
Experience a stylish thriller that’s “wildly entertaining” (Indiewire) when A Simple Favor arrives on Digital December 11 and on 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital), Blu-ray™ Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital), DVD, and On Demand December 18 from Lionsgate. Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively star in this “delicious adult thriller” (Forbes) from the darker side of director Paul Feig, based on the novel by Darcey Bell and written for the screen by Jessica Sharzer. From...
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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
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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
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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
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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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