My Butterfly Jungle Adventure San Diego Zoo Safari Park |@SDZsafaripark #ButterflyJungle #SpringBreak

This week we were lucky to check out the Butterfly Jungle at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Every year guests can walk among thousands of butterflies through the Safari Parks Hidden Jungle.

(c) Let's Play OC!

FREE: Youth Expo Experience 2013 @OCFair April 12-14

(c) OC Fair & Event Center

The OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC) announces the return of the Youth Expo Experience, an annual family event that celebrates the talent of local students, April 12-14, 2013. This year’s theme is “Ham It Up!”

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Musical Comes to #OC @SegerstromArts June 25 - 30 #CatchMeOC

This looks really fun and I can't wait to check it out.  Based on the hit DreamWorks film, the first national tour of the high-flying Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is coming to Orange County at Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a limited engagement June 25 – 30. 

The Catch Me If You Can Tour Company © Carol Rosegg

A #SocialLadies Brunch @PortosBakery

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of meeting up with some Social Ladies of SoCal. Only a few were available to meet-up, and we had Porto's Bakery desserts on our brains.

They have locations in Burbank, Glendale and Downey. We tried to meet-up somewhere in the middle so decided on Downey location. Where is our OC location, Porto's? 

I was a bit overwhelmed from the start. The parking was crazy and I can see a crowd walking in then out of the store with handbags. It looked promising.

Disney On Ice "Treasure Trove" Comes to #LongBeach and #InlandEmpire May 1-12! (Giveaway ends 4/21) @DisneyOnIce

Disney On Ice sets the gold standard with its newest skating spectacular spanning tales from the first full-length animated film to the 50th Disney film, playing the Southland from May 1–12 at the Long Beach Arena and Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.

"Audiences will discover endless riches when an extraordinary lineup of stories from the Disney Vault come to life for the ultimate Disney animation celebration with the new production, Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove."

Highlighting eight Disney movies and more than 50 Disney characters featured, Feld Entertainment’s Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove has a magical story for every generation to relive!

Check out the 24th Annual America's @FamilyPetExpo @OCFair (Giveaway ends 4/14)

The 24th annual America’s Family Pet Expo returns April 19-21, 2013 to the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa.

Don't Miss Family Autism Night @AquariumPacific Sun, Mar 24 @ 5-9pm!

Did you know that Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach has a Family Autism Night? Don't miss the one on Sunday, March 24th at 5pm to 9pm! Admissions are only $7! 

(c) Let's Play OC!

Celebrate Easter w/ Free Range @happyeggcoUSA | Giveaway ends 3/31

I received an egg dyeing kit in the mail the other day courtesy of the happy egg co. I've never dyed brown eggs before, and it was actually a really fun project for my kids and I (plus we got to try free-range eggs.)

As I was setting up, the hard part was keeping their hands off so I can take nice pictures to share. =)

(c) Let's Play OC!

Great News! @Mimis_Cafe raised $158K for @American_Heart @GoRedforWomen

Hey remember the Mimi's Go Red for Women event in February? I am happy to report they raised $158,000 for American Heart Association's Go Red for Women® Movement. What a great cause for heart healthy awareness and research to end heart disease! Here's more info:

"Across the nation, Mimi’s Cafe’s guests and teammates “put their hearts up” to support American Heart Association’s® Go Red For Women® movement in February."

Accessorize with Adorn Me Storenvy | #Giveaway ends 3/31/13 #Autism

AdornMe Sisters: Liz and Melynda

I was out having breakfast with some girlfriends the other day and we were talking about how important accessories are to completing our looks.  Here's where AdornMe comes in.

AdornMe aims to offer affordable pieces to make any look fun and chic.  

"AdornMe is for the fashion enthusiasts. We turn ordinary looks into extraordinary fashion with chic, elegant, classic-urban, refined pieces to effortlessly create a cohesive harmony to your daily ensemble."

Mom Time @CornerBakery @OutletsatOrange

I think you all know I heart my support group of Moms. It's really hard to get together, because everyone is always so busy, but we make an honest effort every month or so.

We always miss the ones that can't make it.
(Here are only a few that were available in the middle of the week.)

A support group can be with whomever you want:  

Easter Bunny Train @SoCalRailMuseum #Giveaway ends 3/20!

Hey remember Our Day Out with Thomas™ in Perris and I was telling you how great the Orange Empire Railway Museum was? Well they're having their first Easter Bunny Train Event this year.

"Hop on board for the Easter Bunny Train at the Orange Empire Railway Museum."

Kids of all ages will enjoy the holiday festivities at this first annual holiday fundraiser for So. Cal's nonprofit railway heritage museum. Activities include:

World of Color Show at Disney California Adventure @DCAtoday

For the first time, my family and I made it to see the World of Color Show at Disney California Adventure. For the best spots to stand, you'll need to grab a free FASTPASS at Grizzly River Run, but because we didn't arrive early enough to get one, we stood in front of the The Little Mermaid~Ariel's Undersea Adventure.  (We still had a good view for not having a FASTPASS and arriving 30 minutes before the show for this time of year , but was obstructed by a tree. So most of my pictures have the tree in it, but it should give you a general idea.) Enjoy my photo gallery - unfiltered!

(c) Let's Play OC!

"Witness an enthralling nighttime spectacular weaving water, color, fire and light into a kaleidoscope of fantasy and imagination."

An Eggstravaganza Play Date Adventure at Irvine Park Railroad | @IrvineParkRR #EggHunt

Egg Hunting Season have begun everywhere and so we met with friends for an egg hunting play date last week at Irvine Park Railroad.  Here are some of the highlights...

Face Painting - 2 Tickets
This is the first time my son let anyone do this! Super excited.

Why Scenic Golf Cart Tours are a Must on #Catalina!

One of the last attractions we did on Catalina Island was rent Golf Carts. You might think - ok what is so great about driving around an island on a Golf Cart, but it is so much fun!


I'm going to highlight some of my favorites from our scenic tour. Get ready to enjoy these breathtaking views.  TIP: Make sure your camera is fully charged and bring snacks for the little ones.

TRAVEL: Inside the Semi-Submarine "The Nautilus" with Catalina Adventure Tours @CatalinaTours

Looking for an underwater adventure on Catalina Island? Check out Nautilus Semi-Submarine! Once we got to Catalina Island, we looked over and spotted a yellow submarine - The Nautilus. We couldn't wait to explore what was in the beautiful clear waters of Avalon.

(c) Let's Play OC!

TIP: If you have small children, you might want to talk it up beforehand as much as possible so they are mentally prepared, after all, it's a 45 minute tour. Some examples,

• Hey look over there - can you find the yellow submarine? 
• We're going to see fish down there. 
• Do you think we'll see Nemo?

(I think you get the point.)

Golf Gardens - Our New Fun Family Tradition @VisitCatalina #SpringBreak

We just shared tips to Visiting Catalina Island with Kids and Where to Stay. One of the activities that we absolutely loved was Miniature Golfing at Golf Gardens. I think my kids are at the perfect age to introduce this to. I like that it's enclosed and fenced off so if they ran off in front of me, I could still see them and know they are safe. They didn't necessarily follow the rules but aren't they cute for trying?

Our Stay with Catalina Island Vacation Rentals (CIVR) @4CIVR #SpringBreak

This past weekend we were on Catalina Island. You can read more about our trip here. I've been seeing a lot of deals lately and had this trip on my calendar for at least six months - it was the perfect weekend to go. It's been a few years since we've been on the island overnight and never thought to stay in a vacation home. What a great option! Especially with kids this time, we could use the extra space. Check out this property we stayed at on Beacon St. from Catalina Island Vacation Rentals (CIVR). Here's what we liked:

Within Walking Distance

We walked about four blocks with our luggage to our condo which was also a block from Crescent Ave.

(Note: CIVR have both houses and condos all between one and three blocks of the downtown area).

We walked everywhere this weekend and all of our activities were conveniently about two or three blocks from where we stayed.

Weekend Getaway to #Catalina Island with Kids #SpringBreak @CatalinaChamber #TravelTips

Do you have island fever or have been itching to go on an island excursion? Well look no further than across our waters. On the clearest skies, you will see Catalina Island. It's so close that you can get there in the morning and be back by night.  Here are my top 5 reasons why you should plan a visit:

1. You'll save money on plane tickets.
2. Lots of ways to get there. (By water out of San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport Beach, and Dana Point OR by air).
3. Close enough to go for a day trip or weekend getaway and be back at work on Monday.
4. Lots of activities for all ages.
5. Environmental-friendly. Everything in town is walking distance and they use mostly golf carts to reduce pollution on the island. Lots of island fresh air.  

(c) Let's Play OC!

Here's a sample weekend itinerary for a family with small children out of Newport Beach:

FREE Annual Kids' Fishing Derby - Sat, Mar 16 @OCParks #MileSquare #FountainValley

Join OC Parks for a fun filled day of friendly competition and fishing at Mile Square Regional Park!

(c) OC Parks

OC Parks, Orange County Supervisor, Janet Nguyen, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and United Anglers of Southern California are pleased to present the annual Kids’ Fishing Derby at the North Lake at Mile Square Regional Park on Saturday, March 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Baby Sleepwear @ChildrensPlace #BabySleepInStyle

It's starting to warm up so I went shopping for sleepwear at The Children's Place. Here's what I found:




They had lots of fun prints. (I had a really hard time deciding.)

REVIEW: "Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Friends Forever" DVD @FoxHomeEnt

I just watched 1.5 hours of the NEW Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Friends Forever DVD, and I must say it was really cute. Each episode tells a story of the meaning of friendship through life lessons.

1st Episode - Learning Traditions

In the first episode, Blueberry ran late and interrupted the princess while she was talking. It was "bad manners" to be late and interrupt others. After feeling badly, she stayed up late studying a book of traditions and manners for a ceremony the next day.

"Traditions are a way to show respect for how things used to be done in the past."

Explore @PretendCity's March Events #Irvine

Pretend City always have great options for celebrating every holiday occasion. I've highlighted a few key events for March to explore. You can also read more of my previous visits here.  My kids love exploring Pretend City. It is definitely one your kids will ask to come back to - time and time again.

Enjoy this Promo:

Marvel's #IronMan3's INVENTOR and INNOVATOR FAIR #Contest #Hollywood

"Calling all aspiring inventors!" 

How cool is this event? Sixth through ninth-grade girls and boys across the nation are invited to participate in: 

Marvel’s IRON MAN 3: 

INVENTOR and INNOVATOR FAIR

An event hosted by: 

Discovery Science Center, Broadcom Foundation, Marvel Studios, 

Visa Signature and El Capitan Theatre. 

Play Dates at Frogg's Bounce House #FountainValley #Giveaway ended 3/24/13

This week's Play Date Adventures features a play date at Frogg's Bounce House. There are quite a few around OC and they're all unique in their own way, but here's why Frogg's is always going to be on our list for a play date:

(c) Let's Play OC!

REVIEW: Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament with Kids (Buena Park Castle)

 

We were invited to check out Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Show in Buena Park for their one year anniversary of their new show and menu. We've heard great things but didn't know what to expect. As we walked through the Court of Flags and they crowned us, we instantly felt we were in for a great adventure!

"Best of the West" #Chowderfest @AquariumPacific Sat, Mar 9 @ 11 – 3 pm

Don't miss the "Best of  the West" Chowderfest Saturday, March 9th at the Aquarium of the Pacific!

(c) Aquarium of the Pacific

Aquarium of the Pacific invites the public to savor sustainable seafood chowders prepared by local chefs while learning about local and responsible seafood choices.

"Easter Dressy" at The Children's Place | @ChildrensPlace #PLACEspring

I checked out The Children's Place's Spring Collection last week. There was a huge sale. Here's what I found:

CUTE "Easter Dressy's"

I like their large selection of dresses as well as trendy pieces for the boys. I can easily grab any of the pieces and they will go together. (All the dresses were 25% off.)

Int'l Family-Friendly #Puppet Performances in April @SegerstromArts #SCFTA #Boats #SleepingBeautyDreams

Have you been thinking of the perfect opportunity to take your kids to the Theater? Well, Segerstrom Center for the Arts has TWO in April featuring "the magic of puppetry".

Terrapin Puppet Theatre -
Performers Quinn Griggs and Jeff Michel
© Peter Mathez

Australia’s Terrapin Puppet Theatre 

performing in 

Boats 

as part of their Discovery Series. 

(for children ages 7 and up)

April 6 and 7

$20; tickets go on sale March 10 

Saturday at 1 p.m., Sunday at 1 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. 

(The performance on Sunday, April 7 at 1 p.m. will be sign-language interpreted.)

This will be the company’s Segerstrom Center debut!

"Recycling is a Beautiful Thing" in CA with @ArrowheadWater's NEW #ReBorn Bottles

April 22nd is Earth Day, but that's only one day in a year.  Do you recycle or have been thinking it's time to do something Green? You may not know this about me, but I recycle from time-to-time. I don't consider myself a tree-hugger or a green activist, but I try to do at least one thing to save the environment and so I recycle drink containers (plastic, glass, and aluminum) even when they don't have a CRV value. (CRV = California Redemption Value.)

It feels great afterwards and I feel like I'm doing my part no matter how small.

Here are some interesting facts:

• U.S. plastic beverage bottle recycling rates are only at about 30%.
• 2.8 Billion plastic bottles ended up in California landfills in 2011. (Source:CalRecycle.ca.gov)
• Even though a package says it is “100% recycleABLE”, that does not mean it IS made with recycled plastic.  It just means it CAN BE recycled.  In fact, most containers are not made of recycled plastic.

Kid-Friendly Go Green Events on St. Patty's Day 3/17 @OCParks #GoGreen

Go green and celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day with Kid-friendly OC Parks activities on March 17, 2013.

O’Neill Regional Park, Irvine Regional Park, OC Zoo and Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve are all presenting themed special events on to get you into the Irish spirit.

Spring Break Options @CatamaranResort @BahiaHotelSD #SanDiego #BahiaBelle #Giveaway ends 3/17/13

Spring is in the Air at Mission Bay Hotels

If you're planning to take a roadtrip to San Diego or if you already reside there, here are a few events and promos going on at the Mission Bay Hotel's Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa and Bahia Resort Hotel.

My Spring Finds @DownEastBasics @IrvineSpectrum #DownEastBasics #Irvine

(c) Let's Play OC!

I was invited to check out the Spring Collection at Down East Basics at the Irvine Spectrum. Here's what I found:

Isn't this cute? I like how they pulled the yellows together with the teals.
(c) Let's Play OC! 

The Living Desert Zoo & Botanical Garden @PalmSpringsCA #SpringBreak #Giveaway ends 3/17/13

Ever wonder what animals and plants can survive in the desert's harsh conditions? If you're passing through Palm Springs, you'll want to stop to check out The Living Desert Zoo & Botanical Garden. They have lots of educational programs available and also unique desert plants for purchase.

(c) The Living Desert

"Avoiding heat, dissipating heat, retaining water, and acquiring water are the most crucial. Desert animals have evolved mechanisms to solve the heat and water problems the desert environment creates, and there are as many or more adaptations as there are desert dwelling species." 

- The Living Desert