Travel Tips: Catalina Flyer - Newport Beach to Avalon, CA | @CatalinaFlyerOC #CatalinaIsland

This is a sponsored post.

There are several different ways to get to Santa Catalina Island whether by sea or by air.  Most of the boat rides are about an hour to two hour ride. For our Spring Break trip this year, we booked a round trip out of Newport Beach with Catalina Flyer. Catalina Flyer is now operative for the season and departs daily out of Newport Beach to Avalon, California!

The Catalina Flyer operates exclusively out of Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach.  Their schedule includes one morning departure at 9:00 am which arrives at Catalina Island around 10:15 am, and one returning trip that departs Catalina at 4:30 pm then arrives in Newport Beach around 5:45 pm making it easy to do day trips to/from the island.

TIP: It is suggested if you want to avoid motion sickness to sit on the bottom floor closer to the back.

TRAVEL: Catalina Island Vacation Rentals | @4CIVR #CatalinaIsland

Catalina Island Vacation Rentals (CIVR) offered to host our family while we were on Spring Break this year. Our home rental for two nights was a modernly decorated two bedroom condo centrally located to all the attractions in Avalon Harbor. As you may already know, most everything on Santa Catalina Island is within walking distance. (We were steps from the water!) 

Catalina Island Vacation Rental on Beacon.

Big Air Buena Park Trampoline Park Now Open!

Big Air Trampoline Park is now open inside the Buena Park Mall! We were invited to check it out, share what we found, then send three families! We've been to several trampoline parks throughout Orange County, and they're always a big hit, and always a work out!

We had tickets for a one hour jump thinking, "Okay, how much jumping can we really do anyway?" We went from throwing balls at each other in the Haley's Dodge It Court, jumping into a large foam pit at Launch Pad, dunking basketballs in the Space Slam, running and jumping all over the Zero Gravity Court (some were doing somersaults), and battling it out on a balance beam at the Galactic Gladiators. The children had a good old time as we were trying to catch our breathes and catch up! Luckily for us, there were plenty of benches and couches for us to rest.

Show Review: THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD @SegerstromArts #SCFTA #GruffaloChildTour

We were invited to a review a performance of THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD. Once again Segerstrom Center for the Arts chose a wonderful play to introduce children to theater. THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD is adapted from the picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler and brought to the stage by London’s Tall Stories Theatre Company.

The Gruffalo's Child. Copyright Tall Stories.

The story follows the daughter of the Gruffalo as she sets off into the deep dark woods even after her father's many warnings never to set foot there. She goes on an adventure to meet the big bad Mouse her father is extremely afraid of. She follows the tracks of a fancy dressed snake, an owl, and a fox that she believes to be the big bad Mouse each time. Each animal convince her they know where the big bad Mouse is and gets her to follow. Finally, the child meets the little Mouse who tricks her into believing she is about to meet the big bad Mouse using her shadow. Scared of the big bad Mouse, the Gruffalo's daughter runs back to her father's cave where she feels safe in his arms.

Show Review: Disney On Ice Worlds of Fantasy #DisneyOnIce

This is a post written by Cynthia Duarte.

If you are a fan of Disney, then you know what sorts of magic they are capable of. I loved surprising my daughters with a mid-week showing of Disney On Ice: Worlds of Fantasy at the LA Sports Arena, and had such a great time escaping to the many worlds of Disney. The show started out with Mickey and Friends driving out to say Hello, but when their car breaks down, who should they call? Well Tow Mater of course! He comes to the rescue along with his friends Lightning McQueen and Sally to get Mickey's car going for their next adventure.

Disney On Ice Worlds of Fantasy. Photo Courtesy of KindaSillyMommy.com

GUYS AND DOLLS Musical Review at Segerstrom Center | #GuysAndDollsTour #SCFTA

We attended the opening night of GUYS AND DOLLS musical as media at the Sergerstrom Center in Costa Mesa this past week, and it was bustling with gamblers, gangsters and sassy showgirls. This fun musical introduces audiences to a cast of characters who have become legends in the musical theater world.

ANNIE Musical Tour @SegerstromArts May 13-24, 2015! #SCFTA

The U.S. national tour of ANNIE is coming to Orange County at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts May 13-24, 2015. This iconic Tony Award-winning show, which is being directed for the 19th time by the show's original director and lyricist Martin Charnin, remains one of the biggest Broadway musical hits ever. Who doesn't belt out song's from ANNIE's beloved score - like "Tomorrow" and "Maybe" - at least once during the day? There's a reason this amazing show ran for 2,377 performances when it first opened April 21, 1977 and has been running somewhere around the world for the last 37 years.

Gilgamesh Taggett as Oliver Warbucks and Issie Swickle as Annie - Photo by Joan Marcus

Review/Giveaway: Massage Heights via UnBOOKed Appointments | @unbookedappt @MHWestpark

Right before my birthday, UnBOOKED Appointments invited me to try their services and share my experience with my readers. The booking process was very simple. (Tip: Current promo - register your email to get a $20 credit!) After scanning through their database which includes local services at their slow times or off-peak times offering it to us at a discounted price, I picked a two hour appointment at Massage Heights in Irvine (60 minute facial and 60 minute massage). It came out to $110 (before tax and gratuity). Right before my appointment, I received email and text reminders which I liked.

Stop to Pick Strawberries @TanakaFarms Strawberry Tour | Now through June!

One of our favorite places to pick organic strawberries is at Tanaka Farms in Irvine. Right now they have Strawberry Tours which is an hour tractor tour around their organic farm. We learn about the different produce they grow, sample varieties, and then we stop to pick our own strawberries.

SoCal Premiere of Tall Stories Theatre Company’s THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD @SegerstromArts #SCFTA

Disclosure: We will be attending a performance as media. 

London’s Tall Stories Theatre Company is bringing THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts this weekend! Adapted from the award-winning picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD will delight children with a unique storytelling with catchy songs, humor and puppetry.

Segerstrom Center - The Gruffalo's Child - Copyright Tall Stories

Get ready to set off on this journey with  THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD as she encounters snake, owl and fox along the way to find the real “big bad mouse”.  THE GRUFFALO'S CHILD is recommended for families and children ages 4 – 8.

Arrive an hour early for Free creative activities available before each performance!

Random Acts of Helpfulness @HelpfulHonda: Anaheim Ducks, Pet Adoption, Earth Day

Sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

The Helpful Honda Guys in Blue are real, and they're doing "Random Acts of Helpfulness" all around SoCal. For example, you may have seen them at an Anaheim Ducks game handing out hand sanitizers, ChapStick, or free parking to random Honda drivers. They also select one lucky fan to ride the Zamboni during intermission and allow one fan into the penalty box before the game. It's all featured on the video board during the game. It's all random!

Last month SoCal Honda Dealers and the Guys in Blue partnered up with local shelters and rescue groups for their annual Helpful Honda Pet Adoption in an effort to raise awareness and find new homes for the animals across SoCal. All new pet owners received discounted adoption fees, a new leash, and water bowl for their newly adopted pets. Last year the Guys in Blue saved over 280 pets during their event and hoped to set a new record this year.

STACKED @FoodWellBuilt Unique Dining Experience | #FoodWellBuilt

About a week ago, the family and I went in for a menu sampling at STACKED: Food Well Built restaurant in Cerritos. It was our first time there, and it was a truly unique experience. Upon entering the building, I notice iPad ordering stations in the waiting area as well as on all the tables. All the menu items are designed to be customizable. (HINT: Save time and pre-order online before you arrive or order while you're waiting to be seated.) Let's get started shall we?

The ordering menu starts in categories where you can select from beverages, appetizers, salad and soups, or burgers, etc.? You can either start with a featured item or STACK your own! This option is available in pretty much all the categories. In other words, "Customize it." What I like about this process is that you have total control over exactly what goes in your food including the sauce.  Simply select an item to see what the ingredients are, remove items, put it on the side, or add items. It will also adjust your totals as you add and remove items.

Coming Soon to LA and Ontario! Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of Fantasy (April 15-26)

Disclosure: We will receive tickets to this performance.

Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy will be in Los Angeles (April 15-19) and Ontario (April 23-26) featuring 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!

Wisdom Panel®'s SWAB-A-THON Tour | @FamilyPetExpo @WisdomPanel #ad

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel. Opinions are my own.

There are millions of mixed-breed dog owners across the U.S. that will need help finding reliable breed ancestry information to properly care for their 4-legged friend. Information such as nutrition, training, and overall healthcare could help owners understand what their dog needs, and in some cases, could save their lives.




Introducing Wisdom Panel® 3.0, the next evolution for canine DNA testing. This unique program developed by Mars Veterinary, the industry leader in canine genetic testing, will expand breed screening coverage, as well as, the medical applications with the new MDR1 Genetic Mutation screening. 

Coming Soon! America's Family Pet Expo April 10-12!

America's Family Pet Expo (AFPE) is back in Orange County April 10-12th. The 2015 event includes dog shows, hogs racing, demonstrations, bird shows, pet adoption opportunities, exhibits, and several children activities. Returning this year are Splash Dogs, Human Hamster Wheel, Police Dog & Protection Demonstrations, Free Flight Bird Show, and more!

DEAL: Get the Tasting Card @Knotts Boysenberry Festival 2015! #KnottsSpring

Disclosure: We attended a media sampling. All opinions are our own. 

Just one more week is left for Knott's Boysenberry Festival (ends April 12, 2015)! If you're wondering what to try because there's so many, get the Tasting Card! It has great value, because you can try 6 specialty Boysenberry items for only $25!

It includes Ear of Corn with Boysenberry Butter, 1/2 lb Spicy Boysenberry BBQ Wings, 1/2 order of Fried Alligator Bites which comes with Boysenberry Aioli and Fries, Hot Dog with Boysenberry Relish and/or Boysenberry Ketchup, Boysenberry Trifle with ice cream, and (2) Boysenberry Dessert Flautas! They're also great for sharing. You're welcome!

Spring Break Tip: Travel Prepared with Cold-EEZE® | @coldeeze

Disclosure: We received product samples. All  opinions are our own. 

It's Spring Break for us, and we're about to go on vacation! We're bringing along our Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy samples just in case. One of the last thing we need while we're traveling is not feeling well, and looking around for a pharmacy for fast relief. Cold-EEZE is said to help shorten colds too with their zinc remedy.

"All Cold-EEZE® Cold Remedy products release zinc ions in your mouth that inhibit the cold virus’ ability to replicate, which shortens your cold."

Enter Our Dunkin' Donuts Gift Card Giveaway! 1st DD in OC Opens April 8th in Laguna Hills! | @DunkinDonutsOC #DunkinDonuts

Disclosure: Prize will be fulfilled by Sponsor.

It's finally here! Our much anticipated first Orange County Dunkin' Donuts (DD) comes to Laguna Hills on April 8th! It's also a new, energy-efficient Dunkin' Donuts! There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony, guests will be greeted by Cuppy (their mascot), free samples, and special giveaways throughout the day. The Laguna Hills franchise will be operated by Precision Hospitality & Development, owned by Brad Anderson and Joe Haupt. The franchise group has plans to develop 10 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in South Orange County and the surrounding area over the coming years. EXCITING!!

Special Events in April @PretendCity | Easter, Pet Day, Autism, Olympics, Earth Day, Superhero Day

Pretend City Children's Museum located in Irvine is one of our favorite places to meet for play dates in Orange County. With real-life jobs in mind like being a fireman, policeman, fisherman, doctor, dentist, grocer, postal worker, farmer, construction worker, performer, lifeguard, and more, their little minds will run wild around The City! 

Save these dates because there is so much to see and do this month! Celebrate Easter (1 day before), Pet Day, Olympics, Superheros Day, and learn more about friends that have Autism for Autism Awareness Month! April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day. This month, Pretend City will Light It Up Blue to support Autism Speaks. The center will have specially designed activities to support the cause in hopes to shine a light on Autism Awareness.

DEAL: SNICKERS® Who Are You When You're Hungry? | #WhenImHungry #ad

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

You're not you when you're hungry and SNICKERS® is here to help! Have you ever had a time when you realized that you were hungry.... and grumpy? Not feeling like yourself? A little out of sorts? Maybe you need a SNICKERS®. Head on over to the SNICKERS® Facebook page and check out the Hunger Handler App. You can take a quiz and figure out which SNICKERS® is right for you. You'll also receive a buy one, get one free coupon for any SNICKERS® variant. Don't delay, the coupon is live April 1st and only good until supplies last.

If you'd like more SNICKERS® inspiration, check out the SNICKERS® social hub.