Ringling Bros.: Painting with Circus Clowns and Pachyderms

We were invited to a private "Paint with a Pachyderm" event by Ringling Bros. this morning at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA. It was a lifetime opportunity, so of course we said, "Yes!"

Mabel, the circus elephant, is so cute and playful, she skipped and hopped to her easel and we got to see all of it up-close. Here are more pictures from the event. Enjoy!

EPIC Activity Sheets (Mad Libs and Coloring) | Have an #EpicDay @FHEInsiders

You know I'm a Fox Home Ent Insider right? I get to share cool things like this. Print out these fun Epic activity sheets and Have an Epic Day! Epic will be on Blu-Ray & DVD August 20th!

Click to enlarge and print out the Epic Mad Libs below:

Click to enlarge and print out the Epic Coloring Page below:

Back-to-School Deals at The Children's Place |@ChildrensPlace #PLACEfall Giveaway ends 8/14

We were invited to shop the Back-to-School sales at The Children's Place. Here's what we found:

BACK PACKS

For the boys, they have licensed back packs: Angry Birds, Marvel Comics, Phineas and Ferb, and more. Here are some of the girls:

OC Fair Views from Sky Ride | @OCFair #Photos

A few weeks ago, we were invited to the OC Fair. I've always wanted to try the Sky Ride and thought I could get some pretty decent birds-eye shots of the Fair. Warning: it is quite high and I wish I had a passenger with me to keep me company, but the views are spectacular.


Taken from Sky Ride:

My Photo Gallery from Ringling Bros Circus | #BuilttoAmaze @HondaCenter #Anaheim

Last weekend, we were invited to attend a circus performance by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey - it was AMAZING! I must admit it was our first time at the circus so didn't know what to expect. I imagined a big tent, a ring master, clowns, animals, and a tight rope act, but it was much more than that.  Check out my photo gallery below.

PRE-SHOW
If you get there an hour before the show starts, you can visit the animals and watch clown performances in the pre-show at the Honda Center.

Classrooms by Walmart and Cash for Schools| #backtoschool @wmtclassrooms #sponsored

Disclosure: Thanks to Walmart for sponsoring today's discussion.

For some of us, summer just started, for others, it's Back-to-School shopping - already. 
There are a ton of great Back-To-School sales and it's hard not get get overwhelmed and go over budget. Before you shop, I suggest making a list then go online and look for coupons (some will email you coupons if you sign up for their e-newsletters).

SALE: 2013 OC Parks Annual Parking Passes 50% Off Aug 1st! @OCParks

Does your family love Orange County parks? Did you know they have annual parking passes? Starting August 1st, you can get the parking passes for 50% off!

Spend more time in the great outdoors with family, friends and OC Parks in 2013.

OC Parks annual parking passes and decals allow for convenient parking at your favorite regional and wilderness parks, as well as all County beach parks. Enjoy hiking, mountain biking, exploring, surfing or rest and relaxation in nature with simple pre-paid parking at all locations.

Limestone Canyon. Photo Courtesy of OC Parks.

Illumination Foundation Carnival for Kids Aug 17th #Fundraiser to end Homelessness in #OC

The Illumination Foundation, a local nonprofit working to end the cycle of homelessness in Orange County, opened a new Children’s Resource Center in Tina Pacific this month. The Tina Pacific neighborhood in Stanton, CA has the highest population of at-risk youth in all of Orange County. The center will give Orange County homeless and at-risk youth a place to go for

• tutoring and mentorship, 
• therapy, 
• gang intervention, 
• extra-curricular classes and 
• most important of all - meals. 

Dragons: Riders of Berk Parts 1 and 2 now on DVD! @FHEInsiders #Giveaway ends 8/11

DEBUTING ON DVD: JULY 23, 2013

KIDS GUIDE TO VIKINGS:

Hiccup, Astrid, and the other teens at the Dragon Academy show us a bit about what it was like to live as a Viking, but there is so much more to know! Come take a look at this quick and easy guide to some of the most important facts about Viking life.

When it comes to action and excitement, the sky’s the limit in this high-flying animated adventure based on the Academy Award®-nominated hit movie How To Train Your Dragon!

BODIES & St. Jude @ShopBreaMall July 25-July 28th! @BodiesExhibit #BodiesBuenaPark

Promoting healthy hearts and healthy bodies, together BODIES... The Exhibition and St. Jude Medical Center will host community health screenings this Thursday, July 25th thru Sunday, July 28 at Brea Mall.

Photo Courtesy of BODIES...The Exhibition

BODIES…The Exhibition brings its 600 lbs. of love to Brea, a huge sculpture of an anatomically correct human heart! And, get a sneak peak of the exhibit’s preserved “touch” specimens which have been preserved using a revolutionary process called polymer preservation which will be available to see, touch and learn about in advance of the BODIES...The Exhibition opening Aug. 1 with expert speaking about what you’re touching.

What is a Sno-Biggie New Orleans Style Sno-Cone? #Review PLUS Giveaways! @Sno_Biggie #OC ends 8/4

The other day we were invited to check out Sno-Biggie in Los Alamitos. What is Sno-Biggie? I'll explain here through my pictures. You'll also want to enter below for a chance to try it for FREE - 10 winners!

D23 Expo - The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is August 9-11th in Anaheim | @DisneyD23 #D23Expo

The D23 Expo—The Ultimate Disney Fan Event—brings the entire world of Disney under one roof, providing attendees with unprecedented access to Disney films, television, and theme parks. D23 Expo 2013 will celebrate its grand opening with a welcome from Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger followed by the first of two arena presentations hosted by The Walt Disney Studios at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Back to School with Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel Celebration July 27th @ChildrensPlace Farmers Market #LosAngeles

On Saturday, July 27th from 12pm to 2pm, join The Children’s PLACE at the L.A. Farmers Market to celebrate the upcoming August 16 premiere of Disney Channel's Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel. Now, this fun new movie transports fan-favorite Marvel Super Heroes—Iron Man, Hulk, Spider-Man, and Thor—to Danville, hometown of the beloved stepbrothers, Phineas and Ferb.

The first 50 attendees to arrive on Saturday will have the opportunity to meet the show’s creators, Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, and take home a one-of-a-kind hand drawn illustration. All guests will be treated to an energetic Radio Disney sponsored dance party, and will get to meet Phineas, Ferb and Perry the Platypus.

Two NEW Exhibits coming to OC! BODIES... The Exhibition AND Titanic The Experience #BodiesBuenaPark #TitanicBuenaPark Ticket #Giveaway ends 8/1

Two NEW Exhibits are coming to Orange County August 1st:  BODIES... The Exhibition and Titanic The Experience.

Premier Exhibitions, Inc. announced recently that advance tickets are on sale now for BODIES…The Exhibition and Titanic The Experience. The Exhibitions will open side by side in Buena Park. With the opening of these two educational and entertaining attractions, Buena Park’s spectacular attraction total is brought to six - the most attractions in one city in Orange County. 

“The educational impact of this exhibition is immeasurable,” said Dr. Roy Glover, professor emeritus of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Michigan and chief medical director for BODIES. “For centuries, the medical community has learned about the inner workings of the human body through the study of real human bodies, and now it’s possible for the public to gain an intimate knowledge as well.”

Free Tickets to SEA LIFE Aquarium for Beach Clean-up Volunteers Aug 10th! @SEALIFEAquarium @LEGOLAND_CA #BeachCleanUp

Volunteers Needed! Join SEA LIFE Aquarium on August 10th from 8:30am-11:30am to show support for their adopted Carlsbad Beach!  All volunteers will receive a FREE ticket to SEA LIFE Aquarium at LEGOLAND California Resort!

"It is estimated that around 90% of the plastic we use does not get recycled, and much of it ends up in our oceans."

Height and Age Restrictions at Adventure City! #AdventureCity

We were at Adventure City for the first time the other day. Did you know this amusement park is right down the street from Knott's (between Ball and Cerritos)? You can't beat the price of an admission ($16.95 per person) PLUS the parking is Free! This park is not that big, but it's packed with things to do for all ages. It's also the perfect size for the little ones.  I'll highlight a few with height and age restrictions. TIP: If you're not sure how your kids will do, ride it by yourself first. The best day to go is on Sundays, and the lines are never super long.

Celebrate Shark Week Aug 4 - Aug 11 at SEA LIFE Aquarium |@SEALIFEAquarium @LEGOLAND_CA #SharkWeek

Did you know that sharks can go through as many as 30,000 teeth in their lifetime? SEA LIFE® Aquarium at LEGOLAND® California Resort celebrates the ocean’s top predator during Shark Week, August 4 – 11.

Guests can learn all about sharks, research being conducted by famous oceanographers and the tagging practices being used to track these amazing creatures. Guests will also enjoy:

• a shark scavenger hunt, 
• themed Puppet Show, 
• a special Daily Dive Show, and 
• craft activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. 

Snoopy... Unleashed! Ice Show and NEW Boardwalk Rides @Knotts #KnottsBoardwalk

Last month, my family and I were invited to check out the three new rides at Knott's Berry Farm's Boardwalk which debuted over Memorial Holiday Weekend. 

• Pacific Scrambler
• Surfside Gliders
• Coast Rider

Entering the World of TRANSFORMERS BotCon San Diego | @BotCon #BotCon2013

Big TRANSFORMERS fans here (in my house.) When we learned that BotCon (TRANSFORMERS Collectors' Club) was coming so SoCal, you know I had to check it out.

REVIEW: Yogurtland's #FlavorswithCharacter Launch @Yogurtland @YogurtlandGG

Last week we went to the Flavors with Character Launch at Yogurtland. Different locations did different things. Some had a prize wheel, DJ, face painting, balloon characters, photo ops and characters. Not all locations participated in free yogurt hour. Our location handed out totes, tattoos, and fans. The two new flavors that launched that day was Bugs Bunny's Carrot Cake (we liked it!) and Daffy Duck's Decadent Dark Chocolate Orange (for the dark chocolate lovers).

Yogurtland’s new Carrot Cake frozen yogurt blends real carrots, hand-selected spices and cream cheese frosting for a taste that will have fans saying, “What’s up, Doc!” Bugs Bunny would be the first in line to fill his cup with shredded carrots, Yogurtland’s first vegetable topping.

FREE: Winder Farms Old Fashioned Fair at Tanaka Farms - July 20th! Must RSVP! @WinderFarms1

Winder Farms, a premium home grocery delivery that is now serving all of Orange County is inviting Orange County residents to the free Winder Farms Old Fashioned Fair to be held on July 20, 2013, 10:00am to 4:00pm at Tanaka Farms, 5380 University Dr., Irvine, CA 92612. 

Win a Family Four Pack to Medieval Times in Buena Park!

 

Day 12 Giveaway is from Medieval Times! We love how entertaining it gets from start to finish. Jousting, sword fights, and dinner - What's not to like? The place will get you cheering for your Knight and booing the competition in no time.
 
THE MENU
All the items are meant to be eaten with your hands just like the old "Medieval" times.

THE SHOW
Go back in time when Knights compete in games and battle it out to win the King's honor and impress the Fairest Lady of them all.

You can read my full review and tips for going with kids here. Enter below for a chance to win a Family Four Pack to Medieval Times with Royal Upgrades! Good luck!

Happy 1st Blogiversary!! Thank You for Celebrating with Me! #LPOCanni

Hurray! It's My Blogiversary!

Hope you love all the prizes from My 12 Days of Giveaways!  (You can find them all under the Giveaway tab). You'll have to tell me - which one is your favorite? Day 12 Giveaway coming up! 

Thank you to all the generous donations from the Sponsors, and thank you, my loyal readers, for all your support throughout the year and following my adventures! This is only the beginning...

XOXO,  

Mary @LetsPlayOC 

Thanks to the Sponsors: Aquarium of the Pacific, Big Air Trampoline Park, BounceU, Discovery Science Center, Frogg’s Bounce House, Irvine Park Railroad, McDonald’s, Medieval Times (coming soon), OC Fair, Playland Café, Pretend City, Rubio’s, Scooter’s Jungle, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and SPIN! Pizza.

Safety First! Mount Your TV's (@SafeKidsUSA @SanusSystems TV Mount #Giveaway ends 7/24)

Unsecured TV's are scary especially when you have little ones around the house. The tragedies are alarming. Learn about the safety hazards and enter to win a TV mount by SANUS below.

"For many Americans, a flat panel TV is a great way to enjoy family time and entertainment. However, most parents are unaware of the safety risks that flat panel TVs pose for kids. Due to increasing size and new ultra thin designs, today’s flat panel TVs can easily tip over when bumped or pulled, toppling off of furniture and causing injury or even death."

A 2011 US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report on flat panel TV safety revealed:

• A child is killed every three weeks from an unsecured TV.

• Every 45 minutes a child visits an emergency room due to a TV tip-over related injury.

• Between 2000 and 2011, 215 fatalities have resulted from TV tip-over.

• An estimated 17,000 people each year, the majority of which are children, are treated for injuries from TV tip-overs.

• Reported cases have increased almost 25% from 2006 to 2010, and over the last 10 years, injuries have increased by 31%.

We're collecting Despicable Me minions @McDonalds_SoCal #Giveaways #LPOCanni ends 7/28

We're now on Day 11 of Giveaways - just one more days to go! Here's a bonus for today - 12 Winners!

Any big Despicable Me fans in the group? We saw Despicable Me 2 and my kids are obsessed so when we saw that McDonald's had them as their Happy Meal toys, we had to go check it out. These little guys are so cute and we're trying to collect them all! 

Check out our collection so far. 

Dive Into the Unknown on Explorers Day July 21st @AquariumPacific #LPOCanni #Giveaway ends 7/28

Do you know about the new Ocean Exploration Program and Wonders of the Deep Gallery at Aquarium of the Pacific? This exhibit allows the public to explore the dark depths of the ocean, where not many have explored.

More astronauts have traveled into space than aquanauts into the deepest part of the ocean. About 95 percent of the ocean is unexplored.

The Aquarium of the Pacific and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) invite the public to dive into the unknown, the final frontier of our planet, during Explorers Day on Sunday, July 21.

Maritime archeologists use scuba to explore the F.T. Barney wreck.
Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Joe Hoyt/NOAA, Thunder Bay NMS

NEW Rock Wall and Battle Beam at Big Air Trampoline Park! @BigAirOC #LPOCanni ends 7/31

We're nearing the end of our party, and I hope it's been fun for you. This next one is from Big Air Trampoline Park!

The 17,000 square feet of jumping surfaces include:

• trampoline dodgeball courts,
• slam dunk courts,
• foam pits,
• launch pads,
• a rock climbing wall,
• battle beam and
• massive freestyle court.

Remember the last time we were there, the Wall and the Battle Beam were under construction?? Well they are now up!

Photo courtesy of Big Air Trampoline Park in Laguna Hills, CA

Free Frozen Yogurt during CUPS Grand Opening July 11 5-9pm @ShopWestminster!

Westminster Mall is getting a new frozen yogurt! Check out their Grand Opening on Thursday, Jul 11 5:00p to 9:00p and get free yogurt! See the flyer below for more details! 

Please vote for @LetsPlayOC! to keep us in the Top 25 SoCal Moms! @CircleofMoms

I have been nominated again for Top 25 SoCal Moms! It's that time of year where I ask you to vote for me to keep me as one of the Top 25 SoCal Moms! I don't win any cash prize or anything.

What do Top 25 winners receive?
Circle of Moms give their six million moms direct access to Top 25 program participants. The Top 25 winners of each list are featured on Circle of Moms and POPSUGAR Moms. The Top 25 winners also receive a badge for their blog that links to the Top 25 contest page. Top 25 participants may also be invited to participate in Circle of Moms’ blogger programs such as expert Q&As, social media campaigns, and sponsored opportunities with brands.

You can vote once a day until until July 30, 2013. Thanks so much for all your support throughout the year!

You can vote by clicking on the button below.

Win Open Play Passes to Scooter's Jungle! @ScootersJungle #AlisoViejo #LPOCanni ends 7/28

Only a few more days to go! Here's a bonus for today. I'm sending two lucky families to Scooter's Jungle in Aliso Viejo with two open play passes each! (One pass includes one child and one adult)

Win this awesome prize pack for Irvine ParkRailroad! @IrvineParkRR #LPOCanni ends 7/28!

I'm celebrating my Blogiversary with 12 Days of Giveaways! Hope you're enjoying all my favorite things to do in OC and entering them all. This next awesome prize is from Irvine Park Railroad!

Last August, we had a back-to-school play date here. About 12 families came out and brought a favorite dish to share. We let the kids run around on the playground (there are many throughout the park), rented bikes, rode the train, ate ice cream (with our free ice cream coupon in the e-newsletters) and went to the OC Zoo ($2 admissions).  I really want to go back and try Paddle Boating next time.

I have to warn you, it gets really warm in August but we love all the shade in this park!

Single Surrey bike rental at
Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park

TIP: If you sign up for their e-newsletters, they will email you coupons and promos throughout the year. Please also visit their website for weekday coupons.

Win Tickets to see SISTER ACT @SegerstromArts! #SisterActOC #LPOCanni ends 7/24

Cast of Sister Act © Joan Marcus

How fun is this? SISTER ACT (the Musical) is coming to Segerstrom Center August 6-18, 2013!

SISTER ACT received five 2011 Tony Award nominations:

• BEST MUSICAL, 
• BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (Alan Menken [music]/Glenn Slater [lyrics]), 
• BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL (Cheri & Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane), 
• BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (Patina Miller) and 
• BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (Victoria Clark).

Elisabeth Vincentelli of the New York Post calls SISTER ACT, “One of the season’s happiest surprises! Off the charts and packed with goodies, to which we say: Amen!”

Win Tickets to See Kenny Chesney's “NO SHOES NATION 2013” Tour in Anaheim July 27th! #Giveaway ended 7/20

Kenny Chesney's "No Shoes Nation" Tour is coming to The Angels Stadium on July 27th!

“No Shoes Nation” marks 20 years of touring for Kenny, who Billboard declares is "The biggest ticket seller in country music and among the elite touring artists in the world." After this summer’s tour, Chesney will have performed 101 stadium concerts. Joining him on the tour are the Eli Young Band and Kacey Musgraves.

Review: NEW SPIN! Pizza in #OC! PLUS a Giveaway| @SPINitOC #SPINitOC #LPOCanni ends 7/24

We were invited to a blogger preview of the the NEW SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza restaurant in Orange, CA.

SPIN! Orange opened in May 2013 and is their first restaurant outside of Kansas City. It is also their first of 37 locations to be open in Southern California. The next SPIN! will open in early 2014 in Los Alamitos, CA.

NEW Playland Cafe Opens in Irvine PLUS a Giveaway! @PlaylandCafe #LPOCanni ends 7/21

Last month my friend Kirstin and I were invited to tour the new play arena in Irvine called Playland Café. Here's what we found:

Bright and Colorful Play Structure Components. What is unique about this structure is it was strategically designed by a school teacher. Every space is utilized to maximize play (over 25 learning features!)