Best Night Ever at Hello Kitty Con 2014! Happy 40th Anni, @HelloKitty! #HelloKittyCon #HelloKitty40th #iloveHelloKitty

Disclosure: My sister and I love Hello Kitty! All opinions are our own. 

It's finally here! We were so excited to attend Media Preview Night for their first ever official global Hello Kitty convention - Hello Kitty Con! Fans from all over the world came to celebrate their favorite friend - Hello Kitty. Hello Kitty Con was created to celebrate her 40th anniversary and was held at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) in J-Town located in Downtown Los Angeles!  It's here through November 2nd, but oh no - it's completely sold out! If you were lucky and scored tickets, here are some things that you need to know:

The very first coin purse!

The very first Sanrio's Hello Kitty product was the vinyl coin purse introduced in 1975 and the rest is history! Did you know that it originally sold for less than $1? This is now on display near the Vintage Village!

TRAVEL: Buffalo Milk and Buffalo Burger at Luau Larry's on Catalina Island

This is a post written by me for Luau Larry's. All opinions are my own. 


If you're wondering what Luau Larry's have to offer on Avalon, California, we tried a few items that we enjoyed. For example, Turtle Wings are chicken wings with a teriyaki glaze. They're great for sharing!

Our Adopt An Echo Project! | @FHEinsiders #AdoptEcho #EchoInsiders #EarthtoEcho

This is a post written by me for FHEInsiders. All opinions are our own.



It's official! We've adopted an Echo! The kids agreed to take care of Echo for a few days. A backpack arrived which included Echo, adoption papers, and tips on how to care for Echo. It's really cute. The kids took to it right away and even signed the certificate.  I thought it was a great way to teach them responsibility.

Segerstrom Center: PIPPIN the Musical Nov 11-23, 2014! | #PippinTour @SegerstromArts #SCFTA

This is a post written by me for Segerstrom Center. All opinions are my own. 

We've been waiting for this since the season previews! The 2013 Tony Award-winning musical PIPPIN will be at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts November 11th through 23rd! It combines musical theater with circus acrobats - Can't wait!!

Segerstrom Center - Sasha Allen as Leading Player and the cast of the national tour of PIPPIN - Photo credit Terry Shapiro

PIPPIN is back on Broadway, and it has never been revived until now. With music by Tony Award nominee Stephen Schwartz (best known for Godspell and Wicked), PIPPIN is about a prince who goes on a dangerous journey to find the meaning of life. This new production directed by Tony winner Diane Paulus (Hair, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess), features choreography by Tony Award nominee Chet Walker, and circus acrobatics by Gypsy Snider of the Montreal-based circus company Les 7 Doigts de la Main (also known as 7 Fingers).

Denny's New Holiday Menu | #DennysDiners @DennysDiner

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.

If you've been waiting all year for Pumpkin Season to come back around like me, well wait no further! Denny's seasonal holiday menu features Pumpkin Coffee with whipped cream and caramel sauce (also available in Decaf). In addition to the traditional Turkey Dinner, there's Pumpkin Pancakes with pumpkin whipped cream sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and Gingerbread French Toast (so moist- yummmms!)

Hallmark Poster Cards @Walmart | #KidsCards @Hallmark #shop #cbias

This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias and its advertisers. All opinions are our own.

Birthdays in our family tends to be a month-long celebration. We not only celebrate with family and friends, we also like to celebrate on the day of, at school, and the entire weekend. It usually ends up being month-long. Last month, we celebrated our youngest son's 5th birthday. It was great fun. We did a small gathering with just family, we put together little treat bags for his classmates, and we went to LEGOLAND. At some point, we will scrapbook all the memorabilia's. One of the things we like to shop for are fun birthday cards with a personalized note that they can read again when they are older. Walmart now carries fun Hallmark Poster Cards for kids that unfold into posters (some are jumbo sized)! See more here: www.connectionsfromhallmark.com. 

He was all smiles when he received it, and it now hangs outside his bedroom door.

Elbows Mac N Cheese Now in Brea! | @elbowsmac #keepitcheesy

This is written by me for Elbows Mac N' Cheese. All opinions are our own. 

Who doesn't love mac-and-cheese? It's a childhood favorite and a great comfort food. A few weeks ago, we took the family to check out Elbows Mac N' Cheese at their new location in Brea. This is NOT your traditional macaroni and cheese. (See below). We ordered their Cajun Sensation which comes with cheddar cheese, andouille sausage, green and red peppers, celery, garlic, onions, and Cajun seasoning. 

Review: Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream at Creamistry! | @CreamistryInc

This is written by Leyna Doan for Creamistry. We received samples for reviewing purposes. All opinions are our own. Images are by Leyna. 



I’ve had my fair share of bad ice cream. What’s considered bad? Ice cream that tastes icy instead of creamy! I have made ice cream before, so I know that when ice cream melts, and when you try to refreeze them over and over again, you get bad ice cream. If you’re going to indulge in something sweet and special, make those calories worth it!

Celebrate the Holidays at Knott's Merry Farm! | #MerryFarm @Knotts | Gift Idea: 2015 Season Passes

This is written by me for GigaSavvy. All opinions are my own. 

Since 1985, Knott's Berry Farm has been celebrating the holiday season with a very Merry Farm including holiday decorations throughout the park, live entertainment, festive food, and holiday shopping with local artisans. 

Product Review: My Own Personal MINI-Keurig | #JustBrewIt @Keurig #KeurigMINI

I received this product for reviewing purposes.

Imagine waking up every morning to a delightful hot cup of coffee from a Keurig. Last year someone in our office brought in their Keurig to share with the whole office. It now has a permanent home there, and the office manager orders the K-Cups for the office. It was a luxury, and we were totally spoiled. 

Why would she do that? She said that she was always rushing out the door and figured it would get more use in the office. She was right. Every morning there was a line. 

We loved it so much, we would bring in our own personal favorites to brew. Mine was Starbucks - so good! I would get it in both Dark Roast or Extra Bold for the strong coffee flavor.

Don't want to share your Keurig and need one that doesn't take up too much space? Check out Keurig's K10 MINI! The MINI brews single cups up to 10 oz. I have considered having one in a fun color as an accessory for my desk. Check out all these colors. They're so pretty!

Photo Courtesy of Keurig Green Mountain Inc.

CATALINA ISLAND: Golf Gardens Miniature Golf, Avalon, CA | @VisitCatalina #Travel

This is a post written by me for Golf Gardens. All opinions are my own. 



One of our favorite family-friendly things to do on Santa Catalina Island is play at Golf Gardens Miniature Golf. My kids found a love for it last year. They don't swing very well and sometimes hold the club upside down, but they have great fun, and it's a nice way for the boys to bond. Prepare to spend 1 to 2 hours here.

Theater Review: #Manxmouse, The Mouse Who Knew No Fear at Segerstrom Center #SCFTA

This is a post written by Lett R. All opinions are our own. 

Last Saturday, we attended the opening of the play Manxmouse, The Mouse Who Knew No Fear at the Samueli Theater in the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Available one hour before the show, children had the opportunity to make their own little mouse using crafts (creative play). The lobby also had books about Manxmouse and other mice. It was fun and added to our experience.

DINING: smashburger - Now in Irvine! Plus a Giveaway! | @smashburger

This is written by me for smashburger. All opinions are our own.




Are you a fan of smashburger? Did you know that they now have one in Irvine? We checked it out the other day. Their handcrafted burgers are smashed, seared, and seasoned to order, using fresh, never frozen 100% Certified Angus Beef®. They also pride themselves that they use real milk, real butter, and real cheese. Here's how a Classic Smash comes out. We like that it comes out separated like this.

Tips for Pumpkin Patch at Irvine Park Railroad

Disclosure: We attended as media.

We are in full swing of Pumpkin Patch Season and the fun is just beginning. This year we are blessed with new babies in the family, and they're all celebrating their first Halloween. One of our favorite photos of the year is with the babies in a pumpkin patch. We sent them to Irvine Park Railroad's Pumpkin Patch, of course, because it's very different than being at a mall. You get more of an earthy or woodsy feel to your pictures instead of cars or a parking lot in the background. They loved it, but on the weekend it is super packed, and they had to wait in long lines to park.

Here's our first tip: Go on a weekday! Most new parents don't know that the best time of the day to go on a play date is 10 am to 12 pm. The kids are fully awake, fed, and not grumpy, because it's nap time. Which also means you have a good two hour window to snap away and play!

MOVIE GIVEAWAY: Earth To Echo is Now on Blu-ray and DVD! #EchoInsiders

Earth To Echo is now on Blu-ray and DVD!

This film is about childhood friends that wanted to spend their last night together and possibly uncover the real reason why they all have to evacuate from their homes and not have to move. Along the way they meet Echo who is injured and needs their help to get back home. Tuck, Munch and Alex will have a night they will never forget. 

DISCOVERY CUBE: New Thomas and Friends Exhibit | #ExplorewithThomas @DiscoveryCube

This is written by me for Discovery Cube. All opinions are my own.

Railway Enthusiasts, Discovery Cube has a new exhibit that your family will love - Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails. This is a very popular exhibit! Railfans came ready to explore the Island of Sodor. My guys headed straight for the ultimate train table.

Random Acts of Helpfulness and LA Galaxy | Soccer Clinics and Community Outreach | #PassItForward @HelpfulHonda

This is a post written by Carolina Gonzalez for Helpful Honda. All opinions are our own. 

On October 4, we attended the LA Galaxy vs. Toronto FC Game at the StubHub Center in Carson with awesome seat upgrades thanks to Helpful Honda's Random Acts of Helpfulness. The seats were so close to the action, we were able to see our favorite players super close and being with loud fans made it even more exciting. We also enjoyed great music and fireworks. The best part of all is that our team won 3-0. Go LA Galaxy!!

Honda Owners, you too can possibly score seat upgrades the next time you attend an LA Galaxy Game. Four fans per game are chosen at random before the game! Want to know more about SoCal Honda's Random Acts of Helpfulness with LA Galaxy? Check out what else they're up to:

2 Simple Homemade Baby Food Recipes by Leyna's Kitchen | @LeynasKitchen

What baby food can you make with white sweet potatoes, red beets, carrots, and spinach? Check out Chef Leyna's simple recipe below!

CATALINA ISLAND: Inside the Pavilion Hotel - Avalon, CA | @VisitCatalina #Travel #CatalinaIsland

This is a post written by me for Pavilion Hotel. All opinions are our own.

Welcome to our Santa Catalina Island Adventure Series. One of the things that we worry about the most when we're on the island is our luggage. What do we do with our luggage when check-in is not until 3 pm? Do we roll it around with us for the rest of the day? Of course, we could always check it at our hotel, but what if it's on the other side of the bay? Everywhere in Avalon, California is within walking distance, but when you have kids, traveling light is not an option and you want to be as efficient as possible especially when those little legs tire easily.

As mentioned earlier, we took the 8:30 am trip out of Long Beach Downtown Landing on the Catalina Express and arrived around 10 am. We were pleasantly surprised to find a friendly face from our hotel holding a sign which read, "Pavilion Hotel" and was happy to take our luggage. The hotel provides this service complimentary! Note: This service is first come first serve. Not familiar how far we had to walk, the gentleman reassures us that the hotel is close-by, and he will show us exactly where.



When he said close, it is literally super close and centrally located! See the circled property below. We were so happy. All the activities on our agenda was within the next block or two and we were so close to the waterfront and beaches.

Discovery Cube: Bugs Invade! Spooky Science Exhibit | #BugsInvade @DiscoveryCube #SpookyScience

We attended a media preview. All opinions are our own. 



Do bugs creep you out? This month Discovery Cube has been taken over by GIANT bugs for Spooky Science! Explore bugs of all colors and sizes as they invade the center.

CATALINA ISLAND: Family Dining at Bluewater Avalon Seafood Restaurant | @bluewater_grill

We received menu samplings. All opinions are our own.




If you're looking for a delicious seafood dining experience on Santa Catalina Island, check out Bluewater Avalon Seafood Restaurant. (Bluewater Avalon is in the historic Avalon waterfront building).

GIVEAWAY/PRINTABLES: Mr. Peabody & Sherman Now on Blu-ray/DVD! #PeabodyInsiders

DreamWorks' MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN is now on Blu-ray/DVD! 

Imagine being back in your school days - if there was a time machine that can take you anywhere in time to enrich your learning BEFORE exam day, wouldn't that be pretty awesome?!

MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN is based upon the beloved characters that first appeared in in the late 1950s and early 1960s animated television series “Rocky and His Friends” and “The Bullwinkle Show,” produced by Jay Ward. 

Segerstrom Center: Manxmouse - The Mouse Who Knew No Fear (October 18-19) | @SegerstromArts #SCFTA

Segerstrom Center: Manxmouse -
Illustration by Ceseli Josephus Jitta

Do you want to introduce your children to the magical world of theater? Here is your chance. Manxmouse: The Mouse Who Knew No Fear is coming to the Segerstroms Center for the Arts October 18-19th!

This play from Netherlands’ Theatergroep Kwatta is based on the book by Paul Gallico and tells the story of a lovable mouse who has big ears, bright blue fur, no tail, and no fear.

CATALINA ISLAND: Sample 2-Day Itinerary with Kids

Welcome to Part II of our Santa Catalina Island Adventures! We just got back from an eventful getaway exploring the beautiful Avalon, California. We were super active and loved every minute. Here's how you too can maximize two-full days in Catalina with children.

Halloween: Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor! | @QMDarkHarbor #QMDarkHarbor

This is written by Carolina Gonzalez. 

Queen Mary Dark Harbor 2014. Photo by MaryKTran.

I’m so excited for Halloween this year as there are many spooky opportunities to spend with friends. I mean, sharing screaming memories and finding out who is the bravest - you will sure to bond and laugh about it later. Can I suggest inviting your most fearless friends?!!! On Thursday, October 2nd, we attended the media preview and opening night of The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor. Before the sunset, we met with petrifying characters that will roam the streets of Dark Harbor.

Family Dining: Hermosa Beach Fish Shop | @HBFishShop

We received menu samplings. All opinions are our own. 

A few weeks ago, the family and I drove up to Hermosa Beach for some shopping and walks on the beach before dinner plans at Hermosa Beach Fish Shop. 

The first thing we notice is this large outdoor menu located right before you enter the restaurant. It's pretty self-explanatory. Start at the top, choose your fish, then choose your marinade. Marinades to choose from are: blackened seasoning, chipotle, their house seasoning (highly recommended btw), garlic butter, lemon butter, salt and pepper, plain, and teriyaki sauce. We then realize after we placed our order that it's to help the flow of the line. It's pretty efficient.

Halloween Family Fun at Knott’s Berry Farm Camp Spooky! #CampSpooky @Knotts

This is written by me for GigaSavvy. All opinions our own.

Last weekend we joined the Peanut Gang to celebrate a daytime, non-scary Halloween celebration at Knott's Berry Farm's Camp Spooky! Designed with children ages 3-11 in mind, it was a full day of fun with:

• a very cute Snoopy’s Costume Party and Parade, 
• running through a Mini-Monster Maze, 
• learning how to create witch's brew in the Potion Station*, 
• exploring creepy crawlers at Medusa's Bug Bootique, and
• getting spooked as the Green Witch takes over the Calico Mine Ride in The Witch's Keep in the Calico Mine Ride.

All of these themed-activities were included with regular admissions to the amusement park and it's here every weekend in October and Halloween Day!  Check out our photo gallery!

*has a small fee

CATALINA ISLAND: What's Inside the Commodore Lounge at Catalina Express? #Travel

We received discounted boarded passes.

If you've been itching to get out of town lately or go on an island vacation, look no further than your own backyard! Catalina Express took us from Downtown Long Beach to Avalon, California in one hour. It's our own local paradise across the sea!

GIVEAWAY: Girl Scouts Fall Products | Support #GirlsoftheFuture @GirlScoutsOC

We received product samples. All opinions are our own. Prize fulfilled by sponsor.

 

This November, as you head to your local grocery stores, you might see Girl Scouts asking for your support. It's not yet cookie season so they will be offering their Fall Products which will include a variety of nuts, chocolates, photo keepsakes, and magazines. For Girl Scouts, the Fall Product Program is not only about earning money for their troop activities, but it will teach them important life skills like goal setting, money management, decision making, people skills, and business ethics. Good job, Girls!

CHOC Walk in the Park 2014 is Sunday, October 12th! #chocwalk @chocchildrens

Join CHOC "Walk in the Park" on Sunday, October 12th before Disneyland opens! 

The 2014 "Walk in the Park" is a three mile walk through Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park where “CHOC Walkers” get a special peek at the magic of the Disneyland Resort before the parks open to the general public. At the end of the 5k walk, everyone including event sponsors, hospital support groups, shops and restaurants with gather at Downtown Disney with special offers for Walk participants.

Highlights for Camp Jeep at OC Auto Show | @OCAutoShow #CampJeep #OCIAS #OCAutoShow

Written by Lett R. Lett attended a media preview. 



The Orange County International Auto Show (OCIAS) is finally here at the Anaheim Convention Center. If you are looking for a fun experience, you'll want to head over to Camp Jeep where you can test drive Jeep vehicles. The test track includes logs, stumps, an angled drive-over and other Jeep trail rated terrains.

Halloween: Social Media Preview Night @Knotts #ScaryFarm | #Infected #Voodoo

Last weekend we went to Social Media Preview Night at Knott's Scary Farm. We took a photo tour of the new Voodoo Maze, enjoyed a delicious reception, fought against the #Infected, and ran around screaming as monsters came near. We had a blast! Thanks, Knott's Berry Farm!

ALL CHECKED IN and ready to be scared!

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Day Out With Thomas at Orange Empire Railway Museum | #DOWT @OrangEmpireRail

We will receive tickets. All opinions are our own.  

Thomas & Friends enthusiasts can spend a Day Out With Thomas: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014 this November at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris! They're coming all the way from the Island of Sodor, and this year they're featuring Thomas and his friend Percy along with Sir Topham Hatt!

If you have never been before, expect a full day of family-fun! It's more than just a 25-minute ride on Thomas, but a reserved timed ticket is required.


NEW THIS YEAR!

• Percy's arrival, and 
• Thomas will be able to talk to his fans. They won't believe their ears!

GIVEAWAY: New Del Taco Fresca Bowls! | @deltaco #Deltaco #FrescaBowls

I received a gift card to try these. All opinions are my own. 

Del Taco recently launched three new fresca bowls, and they're only $4 each! Each bowl is served on a bed of fresca lime rice and seasoned black beans.

Del Taco Fresca Bowls. Photo Courtesy of Del Taco.