SPRING BREAK: Bubblefest XIX Now through April 12, 2015! #BubbleFest @DiscoveryCubeOC

We attended a media preview. Opinions are our own.

Looking for something fun and local for the whole family during Spring Break? The Bubblefest is back at the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana through April 12th! The annual festival includes a Mega Bubblefest Laser Show with Bubble Scientist, Deni Yang (it's amazing), and hands-on bubble activities like The Bubble Rollers, Bubble Lagoon, Bubble Wall, "Me in a Bubble" photo opportunity, bouncy houses, and OC's food trucks! Who doesn't love bubbles?

Family Movie Night: CHILL-OUT with Penguins of Madagascar | #PenguinsChillOut #PenguinsInsiders #PenguinsMovie

We love family movie nights (especially themed ones). This "Chill-out" Friday night theme celebrates the Blu-ray/DVD release of Penguins of Madagascar. It's a fun movie about working together as a team. As a Fox Home Ent Insider, we received a home movie night kit which included an ice cream maker ball, cupcake rings, a Penguins ice cube tray, Penguins-themed paper products, and a handful of Penguins plushies that talk (love them!)

Highlights: Avengers Assemble at #MarvelUniverseLive!

Disclosure: We attended as media. All opinions are our own.

Photo Courtesy of Marvel Universe Live!

Marvel Universe Live! debuted at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Thursday, March 26th. It was an action-packed night as super heroes from X-Men, Avengers, and Spiderman battle it out with the bad guys across the arena. No violence here as the show is a family-friendly show, but don't despair, it didn't lack punches or crazy stunts as Spidey shot webs, Black Widow and Ms. Marvel kicked butt, Iron Man shot lasers, and Thor's Mjolnir (hammer) was able to summon thunder and lightning inside the Statue of Liberty.

Spiderman and the Green Goblin

Ticket Giveaway: America's Family Pet Expo (April 10-12) | #PetExpoOC

America's Family Pet Expo (AFPE) is returning to Orange County this April 10-12th. Fun for the whole family, the 2015 event includes dog shows, hogs racing, demonstrations, bird shows, pet adoption opportunities, exhibits, and several children activities. New for this year includes Purina Pro-Plan Performance Team dog show, and "Cook's Racing Hogs & Dogs" (a four legged race where four pigs will race running from one end of a 90-ft u-shaped track to the other followed by four dogs competing in a similar race. Expect lots of audience participation for this event).

Returning this year are Splash Dogs, Human Hamster Wheel, Police Dog & Protection Demonstrations, Free Flight Bird Show, and more!

Giveaway: Step2 Castle Top Mountain Climber! ($220 Value)

It's now Spring Time which means more time playing outdoors. Step2 Castle Top Mountain Climber offers a fun backyard play structure that will get those little bodies moving for hours of fun! 

Welcome to the Step2 Castle Top Mountain Climber Giveaway hosted by Being MVP. 

Retail: $219.99

Little explorers can go on a mountainous adventure with the Castle Top Mountain Climber by Step2! This unique backyard climber will help your youngsters improve their gross motor skills as they climb to the top and glide down the slide. Kiddos can pretend they're the king or queen of the castle when they reach the top of the platform. When they're ready for a break, playmates can hang out on the bench seats below. Made in the USA of US and imported parts from China. Toys R Us exclusive.

Coming Soon! GUYS AND DOLLS Musical @SegerstromArts 4/14-4/19 | #GuysAndDollsTour #SCFTA

Disclosure: We will be attending as media on Opening Night.

GUYS and DOLLS, a musical comedy based on the Damon Runyon comic book world of 1940s, will be in Orange County at Segerstrom Center for the Arts from April 14 -19, 2015.  Packed with some of Broadway’s most beloved tunes, expect an evening filled with fun songs and a hearty dose of humor as gamblers, nightclub performers, and Salvation Army members try to cure the sins of Time Square New York City! You'll recognize hits like “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.”
 

Christopher Swan as Nathan Detroit and the cast of the national tour of
GUYS AND DOLLS - Photo by Gary Emord-Netzley

The New York Times calls it “the show that defines Broadway dazzle!”

Boysenberry Festival Media Preview Highlights @Knotts | #KnottsSpring

If you love all things Boysenberry like I do, you won't want to miss this year's Boysenberry Festival at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California! You will embark on a delicious Boysenberry dream journey where Boysenberry is the star of the show. Everything just tastes better with Boysenberry! It's only here for a limited time, so go crazy!

Family Movie Night: Night at the Museum Marathon | #Night3MovieNight #NATM3Insiders

We love weekly Family Movie Nights. As a Fox Home Ent Insider, we're celebrating the movie release of Night at the Museum 3 on Blu-ray and DVD with a Night at the Museum marathon! We were in a day of historical fun as Larry (Ben Stiller) along with Teddy Roosevelt (Robbin Williams) and Jedediah (Owen Wilson) takes us through living museum exhibits that comes to life every night. It was perfect because it was also Pi Day and Einstein's Birthday (the second movie featured both of them.)

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Noche de Estrellas (Night of the Stars) Event @AquariumPacific Fri, 3/27/15

Disclosure: We will receive tickets to this event.

Dance the night away under the Sea Stars on Friday, March 27th at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California! From 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm, this starry night will include live Latin bands, DJs, bilingual underwater SCUBA dive shows, a scavenger hunt with prizes, ocean-related activites, Latin cuisine, and more at the ambiance of the Aquarium at night!

Musical Review: Nice Work if You Can Get It | @SegerstromArts #NiceWorkOnTour #SCFTA

Disclosure: This is written by Amy Walton who attended a media preview. All opinions are our own.

If you can catch a performance of the musical comedy, Nice Work if You Can Get It, in town this week only at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, you definitely won't regret it! This show is a fun and lighthearted compilation of so many classic and lesser known Ira & George Gershwin songs.

Alex Enterline (Jimmy Winter) and the ensemble of the 
NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT national tour - Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Easter Fun at Simon Malls | Caring Bunny™ Days for Children with Special Needs

Disclosure: We received product for sharing this. All opinions are our own.

One of our favorite Easter tradition (after Egg Hunting) is taking photos with the Easter Bunny, because they make great keepsakes and the children are forever changing. We hopped on over to Westminster Mall this week to visit with the Easter Bunny located in their Macy's Court. Friendly bunnies are important to us, and this bunny waves to children as they are passing by. 

Helpful Tips to Try Before Meeting the Bunny:

It would be amazing if my kids can do a photo session within 5 minutes. It would be perfect if we go in there, they look when they're suppose to, and we walk away with beautiful photos, but this is Mom's wishful thinking, of course.

Movie Giveaway: PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR in Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD! | #PenguinsMovie #PenguinsInsiders

Disclosure: As a member of the FHEinsiders Program, we received a copy to view and a copy to offer our readers! 

Do you love DreamWorks' MADAGASCAR movies? Remember the Penguins from the Zoo? Well, you're going to love PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR! The movie takes us back to when they were chicks. Baby Private was a runaway egg, and later became their comrade. (He's our favorite). They later join forces with The North Wind Team to save the world, but they often fight over who's a better leader. It's a fun, action-packed spy movie. We also like that it teaches a valuable lesson: Stop wasting time fighting over who's the boss! Instead work together as a team, and solve it together! There's also a weak link in the group that surprises them all, because, "Looks don't matter. It's what you do that counts!"

For a limited time, get 2 hopping Penguin toys with the DreamWorks’ PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR Easter DVD and Blu-ray™ pack starting March 17th. It's great for Easter baskets!

Coming Next Week! MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE! | #MarvelUniverseLIVE

Disclosure: We will receive discounted tickets.

Debuting next week in Southern California at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Marvel Universe LIVE!  brings cutting-edge special effects, pyrotechnics, aerial stunts, martial arts, motorcycles, and stunning video projections to the arena. We'll see more than 25 Marvel icons together including Spider-Man, The Avengers (Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hulk and more) plus Villains, and we get to see it first!

Tips for Easter Eggstravaganza 2015 @IrvineParkRR! | #IrvineParkRailroad

Disclosure: We attended as media.  

Easter season has officially begun! One of our favorite Easter tradition is taking the kids Easter Egg Hunting and getting their photos taken with the Easter Bunny. It's fun to see the children searching for eggs as fast as they can, and they're anxious to open them too. I love seeing the joy in their faces. We take photos with the Easter Bunny every year, because they make great keepsakes, and their grandparents love them.

Last weekend, we attended a media preview of the Easter Eggstravaganza at Irvine Park Railroad located in Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California. It's one of our favorite places to celebrate the season, because there's always plenty of eggs for everyone (more details on this below), but it gets really busy as it gets closer to the holiday. The area is large and activities are spaced out, and you'll want to avoid losing precious time going back and forth. I've highlight important tips below! (Also, save time and plan ahead like take everyone to the restroom before all the fun.)

Happy St. Paddy's Day Menu: Blarney Burger, Irish Nachos, Pot O' Cold Sundae @FarrellsIsBack #Farrells

Disclosure: We received samples.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! If you're looking for a family-friendly way to celebrate, Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour Restaurants offer an Irish-themed feast that will leave you and the family feeling lucky.

 

How to Get Discounted @AquariumPacific Tickets @DennysDiner | #DennysDiners #ad

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me for Denny's.

We love the Aquarium of the Pacific attraction in Long Beach, California! Here's an aquarium discount for you to help you save money. Right now through April 30th, Denny's Diner has a promotion with the Aquarium of the Pacific. Not only can you enter for a chance to win a Family-Four Pack valued over $100, you'll want to ask for aquarium coupons to get FREE CHILD ADMISSION with the purchase of a regular adult admission (save $14.95)! These coupons are good through August 30, 2015 so you have plenty of time to visit the aquarium! Find out more below!


SKILLETS ACROSS AMERICA:

For a limited time, Denny's monthly feature is "Skillets Across America!" served on a hot iron skillet. Choose from Cali Avocado, Rio Ranchero, Philly Cheesesteak & Eggs, or South by Southwest (pictured below). Our South by Southwest Skillet came with grilled chicken breast, red-skinned potatoes, chorizo sausage, bell peppers, shredded Cheddar cheese, and Pepper Jack queso. It's DELICIOUS!

LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Death Star Model Display @LEGOLAND_CA | #LEGOLANDDeathStar #LEGOLANDCA

Disclosure: We attended a media preview.

The LEGO® Star Wars™ Miniland Death Star Model Display has been unveiled at LEGOLAND California Resort, and it's incredible! On March 4th, Stormtroopers rushed in to secure the area as Darth Vader used the force to unveil the new LEGO model display during the opening ceremony. It's  LEGOLAND California Resort’s latest major addition in LEGO Star Wars™ Miniland which is now available for all to enjoy, and it came just in time for LEGO Star Wars Days on March 7th and 8th!

Movie Giveaway: NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 3 Now on Blu-ray/DVD! | #NATM3Insiders

As a Fox Home Ent Insider, we received a Blu-ray copy of the film and one to give away to one lucky reader!

Ben Stiller and an all-star comedy cast (Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Rebel Wilson, and Ricky Gervais) are together for one final full night of fun at the museum in the NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB! This time Larry (Stiller) and his friends travel to London to save the magic that brings the exhibits to life.

BONUS: Every Blu-ray comes with a bonus Digital HD movie! Select from either Night at the Museum or Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.      

Movie Review: Fall in Love with Disney's Cinderella All Over Again | #Cinderella

We went to an advance screening of this film. 

If you've been on the fence about the new Disney Cinderella movie, you are not alone, because we have been too. It's really hard to recreate a timeless classic without tearing it up into pieces, however, the new film not only preserved the classic, it added elements that helps us appreciate the classic even more.

REVIEW/GIVEAWAY: Set of 2 WATER GALLERY Collectible Bottles! | #WaterGallery

Do you like to host parties or know someone that likes to entertain? Well, Water Gallery sent us these beautiful collectible glass water bottles with WYLAND artwork, and we think they're fabulous! 

These premium, imported from Italy glass bottles, are hand-decorated in California, bottled with natural spring or sparkling water sourced from Southern California's Palomar Mountain. Each bottle displays WYLAND's popular artwork through a 22k gold-framed window and are limited to a 5,000 bottles production. New images will be introduced every three months!

COUPON: Save $0.50 on DOVE® Fruit | #LoveDoveFruits #ad

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LoveDoveFruits #CollectiveBias

Have you heard of DOVE® Whole Fruit snacks? The combination of real fruit dipped in silky smooth DOVE® Dark Chocolate is irresistible. This delicious and guilt-free indulgence combines the wellness benefits of dark chocolate with whole cherries, blueberries, and cranberries. You can find tasty recipe ideas on the DOVE® Fruit social hub.

Click on this image to save $0.50 or
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Book Review: TEETH FAIRIES by Ingrid Bencosme | #TeethFairies

Is your child at that age when their baby teeth is about to be replaced? Have you thought about how you would handle it? Will you introduce the Tooth Fairy? How much should you give them? Now is the time to start healthy brushing habits in their daily routines. We received a really cute copy of Teeth Fairies - A Baby Teeth Tradition written by Ingrid Bencosme and illustrated by Laura Watson.

The box set comes with a fun Tooth Fairy doll, a colorfully decorated keepsake box, and a hard copy of the book. The children must name their fairy and look for it every morning when she returns from Tooth Fairyland.

Ticket Giveaway: Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of Fantasy (April 15-24) #DisneyOnIce

Disclosure: We will receive promotional tickets.

We are excited to announce this ticket giveaway for Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of Fantasy! Coming to Los Angeles Sports Arena (April 15-19) and Citizen Business Bank Arena in Ontario (April 23-26), this ice spectacular showcases characters from Disney•Pixar’s Cars, Toy Story 3, Disney’s Tinker Bell and The Little Mermaid.

"From wheels to waves, playtime to pixie dust, your family's favorite Disney moments come to life at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy - Presented by YoKids, with dazzling skating, special effects and beloved characters certain to create a lifetime of memories."

Coming Soon! NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT @SegerstromArts 3/17-3/22 | #NiceWorkOnTour

Disclosure: We will be attending media night as Press.

Alex Enterline (Jimmy Winter) and the female ensemble of the NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT national tour
Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Broadway's comedic musical production, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, is coming to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa this March 17 - 22nd! The show ran on Broadway for over 500 performances in 2012 and 2013, and will be in Orange County as the final leg of its USA tour.

Starring Alex Enterline as wealthy playboy Jimmy Winter and Mariah MacFarlane as feisty bootlegger Billie Bendix. This musical set in the 1920s in New York is about an unlikely love story. NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT is based on a book by two-time Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro (Memphis), features hit music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, and is choreographed by three-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes), recreated by David Eggers.

Ticket Giveaway: International Children's Day Festival @AquariumPacific 3/14-3/15!

Celebrate the 10th Annual International Children's Day Festival at the Aquarium of the Pacific on March 14th and 15th! Featuring talents of children from various cultures, this festival will include a children's choir, martial arts demonstrations, and dances from West Africa, Cambodia, China, Korea, Japan, Mexico, Pacific Islands, and Persia. There will also be an international percussion circle, face painting, Chumash Native American cultural crafts, Origami, Hawaiian Games, Tattoos, Lei Making, and more!

Photo Courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific.

This year's annual Young Hero Award will be honoring Caroline Edmonds recognizing her efforts to make our planet a better place. The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, March 14 at 1:40 p.m.

World Premiere: ABT's THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Now @SegerstromArts thru 3/8/15! #ABTSleepingBeauty

It was our pleasure to attend Opening Night of American Ballet Theatre's World Premiere of their new production, The Sleeping Beauty, performed at Segerstrom Center. This was my first live ballet experience, and it was remarkable!

Segerstrom Center: ABT The Sleeping Beauty - Diana Vishneva & Marcelo Gomes - photo Gene Schiavone

The ballerinas are elegant and graceful as they danced across the stage. The beautiful Princess Aurora, performed by Diana Vishneva, is playful and loved. Even the children are charming. My friend and I were enchanted by their every movement. The costumes and sets, designed by Richard Hudson (based on the historic work of Léon Bakst from 1921), are absolutely stunning and extremely detailed. The score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, performed live by Pacific Symphony, were in perfect harmony with the dancing. It's beautifully choreographed by Marius Petipa with staging and additional choreography by ABT Artist in Residence, Alexei Ratmansky.

FOOD: Three New Kickin' Buffalo Chicken Items @BruxieWaffles thru 3/15/15! | #BruxieBuffalo

Bruxie Gourmet Waffle Sandwiches features three new Kickin' Buffalo Chicken items on their menu this month, and we got to sample them all. If you love buffalo chicken, you'll love their Bruxie's Buffalo Bleu Waffle Sandwich with their new slaw recipe, Buffalo Tenders, and their Kickin' Chicken Salad. They're all uniquely different in taste and the proportions are huge for $7.95 each! (Here for a limited time).

Bruxie's Buffalo Bleu Sandwich is chicken breast tossed in buffalo sauce, topped with crumbled bleu cheese and a new chunky vegetable slaw, served on a buttered and toasted waffle bun. It has a little bit of a spicy kick, and it's delicious!

Children's Spring Fashion Finds @ChildrensPlace | #BigFashionLittlePrices

Disclosure: We received a gift card to shop. Opinions are our own.

We recently previewed this year's Spring Collection at The Children's Place. For the boys this year, layering is the key for both dressy and casual looks. We found licensed graphic tees (which we love), polo shirts in stripe and solids, shorts in plaids and solids, and we love it when their jeans go on sale.  Here are some of our picks for boys for Spring Fashion this year that's great for the playground or a day out with family and friends.

Get This Look!

In the first look, we layered a solid colored yellow polo shirt (a pop of color) with a t-shirt, rolled the sleeves, then paired it with some plaid shorts. Because the plaid shorts are in a busy print, we balanced it with solids. You can also pair the shorts with a fun graphic tee as seen in the middle picture or pair the graphic tee with khaki shorts. (Logan is wearing a licensed Star Wars graphic tee found at The Children's Place). In the third look, he's wearing a dark colored thermal or long sleeve underneath a collared short sleeve shirt in plaid and skinny jeans. 

Ticket Giveaway: Boysenberry Festival @Knotts! (3/28 – 4/12) #KnottsSpring

This is a post written by me for GigaSavvy.

If you're a big fan of Boysenberry (the legendary fruit that's a cross between a loganberry, raspberry, and blackberry), you'll want to join the celebration at this year's Knott’s Berry Farm’s Boysenberry Festival! During the 16-day festival, you'll be able to wine, dine, dance, and buy boysenberry-inspired products. We went last year and it was delicious! Also, they are debuting their own farm-made Berry Market™ Boysenberry BBQ Sauce!

Instant $10 Rebate at Office Max PLUS a VISA Gift Card Giveaway! | #OMax10 #ad

This is a sponsored post.

What do you gift someone that has everything? Do you have limited time to shop for a gift? Save yourself some time. Get them a VISA Gift Card, and let them pick! VISA Gift Cards are like cash cards. They're preloaded and they're accepted everywhere that takes VISA for payment. It works just like using a VISA Credit Card for purchases.

Review: The Better Chip | Made with Real Vegetables | @TheBetterChip

We're busy sampling The Better Chip. They're NON-GMO, certified GF, and they use simple and fresh ingredients like real corn, real jalapenos, and fresh onions. They're changing the way we snack on vegetable chips. They come in varieties like Beets, Jalapeño, Corn, Chipotles, and Spinach & Kale.





The kids absolutely love their Corn Chips. It's one of the better corn chips we've tasted, and you can actually see bits of corn baked into the chip.  Their Beets Chips has a mild beet taste. Their Spinach & Kale with sea salt is made with fresh spinach and kale and actually has vitamin A (35%) and vitamin K (110%).

Ticket Discount: Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of Fantasy (April 15-26) #DisneyonIce

Disclosure: We will receive tickets to this performance.  

Disney On Ice Worlds of Fantasy. Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment.

Join your favorite Disney stories at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy in Los Angeles (April 15-19) or in Ontario (April 23-26). Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt, this ice spectacular showcases characters from Disney•Pixar’s Cars, Toy Story 3, Disney’s Tinker Bell and The Little Mermaid. Find a special ticket discount offer for Disney On Ice below!