Re:Imagine Garden Grove – Downtown Open Streets Sun, Oct 12 (11-4pm) | @GGOpenStreets #ReImagineGG

You're invited! Explore Downtown Garden Grove in a whole new way at Re:Imagine Garden Grove – A Downtown Open Streets Event on Sunday, October 12 from 11 am to 4 pm. Experience a completely car-free downtown Garden Grove for nearly 3-miles open for walking, biking, skating and playing.

"Food, music, dance, art, and workshops curated by Community Arts Resources (CARS) will showcase the cultural diversity of the area and fill the pedestrian-only zones with unique community experiences for all to enjoy."

Birthday Adventures at LEGOLAND California | LEGO Chima Water Park | LEGOLAND Hotel

We received media discounts. All opinions are our own. 

This year, we celebrated our son's 5th Birthday with a LEGOLAND Adventure! Did you know that LEGOLAND Hotel guests receive a 30 minute head start into the amusement park? This is especially important if you plan to maximize your day and beat the crowds (literally). Because we were staying only one night, we decided to drive down early Saturday morning to make it in time for early park access. (Check their calendar for updated park hours.) Why we chose to play Saturday instead of Sunday is because we wanted to relax after walking around all day instead of rushing all the way back home.

LEGO BIRTHDAY BUTTON AND CARD!

When you check into LEGOLAND Hotel and your room is not yet ready, you can leave them at Bell Service or leave it in your car when you valet. If you tell your hotel clerk that you're celebrating a birthday, you will receive a LEGO birthday button and a LEGO birthday card!

Ticket Giveaway: EEK! At The Greek! Saturday, October 25th! | @GreekTheatreLA #EekGreek

 We will receive tickets to this event. All opinions are our own. Prize fulfilled by sponsor. 

This year, EEK! At The Greek! is on Saturday, October 25th, and will be presented by Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Enjoy a family-friendly Halloween event featuring the 60-piece Symphony In the Glen Orchestra with Maestro Arthur B. Rubinstein performing to a creepy collection of Halloween favorites. This will be Nederlander Concert’s 4th annual Eek! At the Greek! event. We went last year and had a great time! 

DINING: What is Build Your Burger at McDonald's? | @McDonalds_SoCal #MyPerfectBurger

On Saturday, September 20th, we attended a Build Your Burger tasting event at McDonald's in Laguna Niguel, California. Currently only offered at 4 locations (2 in OC and 2 in San Diego), this new concept brings us buttered buns and 22 premium ingredients to custom-build our burger!

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Haunted Hollywood Sports @HollywoodSports Park in Bellflower! | @HauntedHSP #HauntedHSP

We will receive passes. All opinions are our own. Prize fulfilled by sponsor. 

Hollywood Sports Park in Bellflower (known for their state of the art outdoor paintball theme park) is hosting another terrifying Halloween event this year - their 3rd Annual Haunted Hollywood Sports! More than just mazes, they offer killhouses where you can shoot at the monsters.

BOOK REVIEW/GIVEAWAY: The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2015 | @theUGSeries

Disneyland is "The Happiest Place on Earth", but when it comes to standing in long lines and lack of planning, it could leave everyone grumpy.  What if a resource existed that could help us navigate the park as well as provide the best tips, show us how to take efficient routes, where to stay, how to save money and more?

Let me introduce you to The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2015 by Bob Sehlinger, Seth Kubersky, and Len Testa. (We received a copy to review and also one to give away to one lucky reader.) The guide has everything you can imagine:

DINING: Boudin SF Huntington Beach Now Open! @BoudinBakery #boudinsfhb

On August 30th, we attended a "Dine and Donate" at Boudin SF's newest location in Huntington Beach. To celebrate their Grand Opening for September 4th, they partnered with a local charity - McKenna Claire Foundation. Because the location was yet not officially open, they couldn't take our money. Instead, attendees that RSVP'd were treated to either breakfast, lunch, or dinner (plus pastries) with the option to donate to the charity. It not only provided valuable hands-on training for the employees, proceeds went to a great cause!

Theater Review: National Acrobats of The People's Republic of China @SegerstromArts #SCFTA

We received tickets for this performance. All opinions are our own. 

On Saturday, September 13th, my husband and I had tickets to see The National Acrobats of The People’s Republic of China at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in the beautiful Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. We were really excited to go.

Non-Toxic Hair Products for Kids by So Cozy! | @SoCozy_

School is back in full swing already, and we're all readjusting to our new schedules. I think right now my kids are ready to add hair products to their daily routines. So Cozy hair products, from Cozy's Cuts for Kids Salons NYC, sent us samples to experiment with. You might like that they're all non-toxic!



Their hair products include:

• Cinch: 3 in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner + Body Wash in mango-go,
• Boo! Lice Prevention Shampoo,
• Cinch: Detangler + Leave-in Conditioner in fruity-tutti,
• Behave: Styling Cream Soft Hold in pear-fection, and
• Behave: Styling Mousse Medium Hold in peachy-keen.

We tried them all, and they smell great! 

GIVEAWAY: Strawberry Shortcake - Berry Best Friends DVD PLUS a Printable! | #BerryBestFriends

Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Best Friends is now out on DVD, and as a Fox Home Ent Insider member, we will receive a copy of this movie and have one to give away!

Bonus Digital Copy of Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Best Friends included!

Ticket Giveaway: STEAM Carnival Debuts Oct. 25-26, 2014 in San Pedro! | @STEAMCarnival #STEAMcarnival

We will receive tickets to this event. All opinions are our own. 


There's a STEAM Carnival coming to San Pedro October 25th through 26th! Brought to you by Two Bit Circus (a Los Angeles-based engineering entertainment company), the STEAM Carnival will bring a unique, high energy celebration of tech-infused game attractions carnival-style designed to inspire young minds in science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

DEAL: Buy $75 in HP Toner @Staples, Get a $15 iTunes Gift Card! #SaveX3

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are our own. 




I am always running out of printer toner! It gets expensive, but we all need to print every once in a while. Right now through October 4th, Staples is offering an amazing 3x savings deal when you purchase HP toner. How about a free $15 iTunes gift card with every multipack purchase?! (More details below).

RECAP: Disney Live! Mickey’s Music Festival | @DisneyLive #DisneyLive

This is a post written by Kim Meredith. We received tickets to this event for reviewing purposes. All opinions are our own. 

Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival. Photo by Kim Meredith.

This weekend after watching a performance of Disney Live! Mickey's Music Festival, Isabelle was chanting Mickey mouse all the way home from the Long Beach Terrace Theater. Could this mean our two year old is ready for Disney Land?

GIVEAWAY: Irvine Park Railroad 2014 Pumpkin Patch! (9/20-10/31) | @IrvineParkRR #IrvineParkRailroad

We were provided with activity tickets to this event. 

The last days of summer is near, and soon autumn will be upon us. We love all the warm colors that it brings. One of our favorite traditions to do in the fall is visit pumpkin patches as a family. Irvine Park Railroad's Pumpkin Patch is full of fun activities for all ages, and it opens September 20th!

DINING: Rubio's New Tropical Shrimp PLUS a Giveaway!

This is a post written by me for Rubio's. All opinions are our own.

Rubio’s® Restaurants is going tropical with two new items on the menu - Tropical Shrimp Burrito and Tropical Shrimp Two Taco Plate. These new menu items are inspired by the flavors of the Yucatan region of Mexico.

"Both chef-crafted dishes, created by the Rubio’s culinary team, are served in warm flour tortillas and feature sustainable shrimp that’s been marinated in a blend of ancho chiles, herbs, garlic, and olive oil. Both dishes are topped with pickled onions, a fruity mango-habanero salsa and a salsa that highlights flavors from the Yucatan such as achiote, garlic, cumin, orange juice and lime." 

TICKET GIVEAWAY: OC Auto Show 2014! (10/2-10/5) | #OCAutoShow @OCAutoShow

We will receive tickets to this event. All opinions are our own. 

The Orange County International Auto Show is celebrating it's 50th Anniversary this year, and they are showcasing hundreds of new vehicles, trucks, crossovers, and sport/utility vehicles! It's a great way to check out the new vehicles with no pressure to buy, and they also have a special area for test driving.

Family Dining at Denny's | Support No Kid Hungry | #NoKidHungry #DennysNKH #DennysDiners

This is a sponsored post written by me for Denny's. We are members of Denny's Blogger Ambassador Council program. All opinions are our own. 

It's National No Kid Hungry Awareness Month. This month Denny’s is raising funds for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry® campaign (a national movement aimed at ending childhood hunger by connecting kids with healthy food where they live, learn and play). This table tent was found on our table. Some of us will pick it up and read it, others will not. 

What is astonishing is even after studies have shown that kids who eat breakfast tend to do better in school (attend class, perform better on tests, and 20% more likely to graduate high school), we still have kids going to school hungry. Check out this infographic about California!

RECAP: When I Grow Up Day at Pretend City | @PretendCity #WIGUD2014

We received passes to this event. This post is written by Lett Robertson. 

On Aug 22nd, Pretend City Children's Museum celebrated their 5th birthday with "When I Grow Up Day". We had the pleasure of celebrating the occasion with cake, a dance party, and meeting with local professionals. It was a great opportunity for the kids to explore what they want to do "When They Grow Up."

RECAP: LA's Food & Wine Festival 2014 | @lafoodwine #lafw14

We were provided with media access. 

On August 24th, Leyna and I took a trip to downtown LA for the Lexus Grand Tasting Event at the 4th Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival. Upon entering the event, we were handed wine glasses and let loose to explore two rooms. It was a whirlwind of featured chefs and vineyards from all over the world!

FREE Breakfast for Students Sept 9th at SoCal McDonald's! #BTS @McDonalds_SoCal

It's back-to-school all around us in SoCal, and to encourage children to eat a wholesome breakfast every morning, Southern California McDonald’s restaurants would like to offer FREE Breakfast for Kids Grades K-8th on Tuesday, September 9th from 6:30 am to 9:30 am! This includes participating restaurants in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties.

“McDonald’s is strongly committed to the well-being of children, and to mark the beginning of the new school year, we are excited to provide students a free breakfast meal to help them start their day off right,” said Clay Paschen, McDonald’s owner/operator and president of the McDonald’s Operators’ Association of Southern California (MOASC). 

Is Walking With Dinosaurs The Arena Spectacular for My Kids? | @DinosLive @HondaCenter #DinosLiveOC

We received tickets to this event.

Walking With Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular stomped into Honda Center on Wednesday, September 3rd with life-like creatures reenacting the days when they roamed the Earth.  Narrated by a Paleontologist, he took us back 65 million years.  If you're wondering whether your kids will enjoy this production, read on. Dino-enthusiasts, you will not be disappointed. 

National Literacy Month: Happenings at Pretend City | Author's Day Fridays in September

This is written by me for Pretend City. 

September is National Literacy Month, and at Pretend City Children's Museum, they've got some wonderful activities lined up. All month long, they will be reading a new book each day in their Library. Children not only will work on story-themed activities, they will learn their way around the Library as they go on scavenger hunts for books, sing-along to new songs for library learning, and learn various library jobs. It's all to help build a child’s knowledge about the functions of the Library.

FRIDAYS IN SEPTEMBER: AUTHOR'S DAY!

Time: 11:00 a.m.

Every Friday in September Lil’ Me Morning activities will feature a local guest author or illustrator. Come discover a new book, play with some of your favorite storybook characters, and be inspired by each guests’ passion and creativity! Author's Day activities are included with museum admissions. TIP: Pick up a book from a featured author in the Pretend City Mini-Mall to receive 20% off general admission.

Below is the scheduled date and hours for the Authors:
(Subject to change without notice).

Discover Food at LA County Fair 2014 - What's New! | #DiscoverLACF @LACountyFair

We attended a media preview. 

It’s that time of the year again for deep fried wonderfulness at the Los Angeles County Fair (LACF). This is the place to forget about your diet and just indulge. Did you know that fair goers can eat something new at the LACF for every meal, every day of the Fair, and not eat the same thing twice? With more than 300 varieties including Mexican, Italian, Asian, and Greek flavors (along with LA’s best food trucks), it’s easy to see why food is one of the top two reasons people visit LACF over and over again. Staples like turkey legs and a foot long corn dog were some of the hundreds of food items we tried, and they were huge portions!

Dinner on the Beach with Sessions Sandwiches Take-Out | @SessionsNB #BeachDinner #lastdaysofsummer

We received the products mentioned below for reviewing purposes. All opinions are our own. 

Our last days of summer are coming to an end. Why not plan a picnic with the family on the beach? Last week we did just that with Sessions Sandwiches in Newport Beach. It was the perfect timing, because we wanted to check out the high tides so we ordered take-out and enjoyed it in Newport Beach. During week nights, scoring street parking shouldn't be a problem.

Discover #Luminasia at LA County Fair 2014! | #DiscoverLACF @LACountyFair

We attended a media preview.

The Los Angeles County Fair is celebrating their 92nd anniversary this year, and they are full of surprises. Now through Sept. 28th, you can check out amazing lighting displays in Luminasia.

It will first take you through a journey to the Wonders of the World where you will travel from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, to the Sphinx of Giza, to the Great Wall of China, and then to the Statue of Liberty. The displays are just breathtaking and brilliant!

DEAL: BOGO Offer at Aquarium of the Pacific - Free Adult Admission with Paid Adult!

Looking for a great offer at the Aquarium of the Pacific? Now through September 30th, get FREE Adult Admission with paid Adult with this coupon HERE! Regular adult admission is $28.95. This coupon can be used directly from a mobile device OR it can be printed from a desktop computer. Limit 4 discounts. Offer expires 9/30/15.

Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA
(562) 590-3100
www.aquariumofpacific.org

DINING: Pieology Pizzeria at The Market Place Now Open! | #Giveaway @Pieology #PieologyMarketPlace

We received the items mentioned below for reviewing purposes. All opinions are our own. 

On Sunday, August 17th, the first 150 guests received vouchers for Free pizza at Pieology's Market Place Grand Opening "Pizza Party" in Irvine. Diners that day also received Scratch & Win cards for various prizes redeemable on their next visits. (We won a free pizza, coupons, and free Cinnamon Sugar Strips.) The kids had fun with balloon animals.  There was a huge line to get in, but surprisingly it moved pretty fast. Did you know that they can fast-fire your pizza ready in about 2 minutes? That's pretty impressive!