We're Going Orange for Team Denny's No Kid Hungry in September!

This is a sponsored post written by me for Denny's.
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Did you know that one in five children struggle with hunger every day in America? It is hard for me to believe that this is still happening, but I've spoken to teachers throughout the year, and they tell me children go to school hungry all the time. This month I'm going ORANGE to support No Kid Hungry, and as a blogger ambassador for Denny's, I've joined their efforts to help raise money and awareness to end child hunger in America!

Now through Oct. 12th in their 5th annual fundraising efforts, nearly 1,600 Denny’s restaurants nationwide will join the campaign and help the fight against childhood hunger. (Denny's have donated $2.3 million-to-date which provided 23 million meals to kids in need across the country!) They want to do better and have an even greater impact this year. Here's what you'll see:

• Denny’s restaurants are going ORANGE (the campaign color) to show their support for No Kid Hungry. PLUS you will also see DreamWorks Animations' characters this year. 

• For just a $3 donation, guests will receive $9 worth of coupons for diner favorites redeemable at participating locations or Guests can contribute online. 

Travel Gadgets: iClever 4 Port USB Car Charger Model IC-CC07 @hisgadget

Disclosure: We received a test product.

You may have noticed we were on a road trip this past week. My kids tend to drive not only each other crazy, but everyone in the car when they are without their devices. It's great when they keep themselves entertained, but unfortunately, their devices have about a 5 hour battery life when our drive was about 5.5 hours. It lasted almost the entire trip, but not quite. What really saved us this trip is an iClever 4 Port USB Car Charger! 

As you can see right away, is it's not one or two ports, but four! This IC-CC07 model will charge 4 devices at the same time, and providing 2.4A each port (9.6A total) with an LED indicator to let you know that it's on. Which means, we can have our phones charged for GPS, music, browsing the web or checking our emails, while they play their games or watch movies on their devices. It also comes with a build-in SmartID technology which will automatically identify your device and give it the charge it needs.  It's made for devices like iPhone 6S / 6 / 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 Mini, Samsung Galaxy S6 / S6 Edge / Edge+, Note 5, Nexus, HTC M9, Moto, Nokia and more.

PARTY KIT: Family Movie Night with HOME #HomeMovieNight #HomeInsiders

One of our favorite things to do as a family is Movie Nights! Thanks to Fox Home Ent Insiders, we received a fun movie package which included a Blu-ray of HOME and other fun themed items.

From the creators of How to Train Your Dragon and Shrek, this summer movie hit is about friendship and family. This film had us dancing to fun beats, feeling sad for our friend Oh, then rejoicing with Tip as she hugs her mom after searching for her for so long. Watch as the two unlikely friends learn what it means to being a true friend. It was perfect for spending quality time together. (Have tissues and hugs ready.)

Free Monthly Build and Grow Clinics @Lowes | #BuildandGrow

This Saturday, August 22nd, my boys and I attended for the first time a free Build and Grow Clinic at Lowe's. These workshops are monthly and tends to sell out, but we went anyway and got on their waiting list. After the registrants all checked in, they opened up the waiting list about 15 minutes later, and they had plenty of kits for everyone. The children each received a complete wooden project kit, a free apron, safety goggles, patch, and more!

The instructions were really easy to follow, and it came with all the wooden pieces, nails, and stickers. Little hammers to fit little hands are available to borrow. Sometimes it was easier to just hammer the nails on the floor. Some of the families brought a blanket to sit on. I might do that next time we go, because it was easier to spread out. My suggestion would be to bring a bag to carry everything when you're done.

DEAL: Save $15 @OfficeMax When You Buy $300 in Visa Gift Cards #OMaxVisa15 #ad

This is a sponsored post brought to you by Tatu Digital Media.

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Is it Back-to-School already? Where did summer go? For us, we still have a good three weeks to find good deals on school supplies, fall clothing, shoes, backpacks, etc. I also need to start thinking about what I can do differently this year. I would really like to be more prepared, plan more, spend less, save more, avoid unnecessary stress, spend more time with family and friends, and find a good balance to do it all. If you like to find practical savings like me, you’ll like this next deal with OfficeMax. Right now through 8/29, you can save $15 instantly at OfficeMax when you buy $300 in Visa Gift Cards. 

FREE EVENT: Win Prizes! Baby Gear Show with Bump Club and Beyond @Nordstrom Brea Mall 9/12

This is a sponsored post.

On Saturday, August 15, I attended The Baby Gear Show at Nordstrom South Coast Plaza hosted by Bump Club and Beyond and Jamie Grayson of The BabyGuyNYC. It was an informative morning as we enjoyed a light breakfast while Jamie, the baby gear expert, discussed safety features and top gear picks he loved. He was highly entertaining, and I can't get over his fake baby's face. After his demonstration, they gave away about $3,000 in prizes (strollers, car seats, diaper bags, baby carriers, and more)!

Camp Discovery's Ultimate Explorations at Discovery Cube OC #DiscoveryCubeMoms

This is a sponsored post.

Yesterday I went over all the fun we had at Camp Discovery's The Zoo & You Camp at the Santa Ana Zoo. As one of the Discovery Cube Moms ambassadors, I wanted to observe Ultimate Explorations Camp which is held onsite at the Discovery Cube OC. This week-long camp is designed for ages 7 to 10, is held in a classroom setting, and is between 9:00 am – 2:30 pm. A new subject is explored each day, teamwork is encouraged during themed projects, and they also get to play at the Cube every day.

Discovery Cube's Zoo and You Camp Discovery at Santa Ana Zoo #discoverycubemoms

This is a sponsored post.

You may have noticed that I was shadowing the children at week-long summer camps offered at Discovery Cube OC. Usually parents are not allowed to observe, but as a one of the Discovery Cube Moms ambassadors, I made special arrangements to be able to do this, and I'm so glad that I did, because I was learning too. There are several summer camps offered at Discovery Cube for ages 5-10 broken into two age groups. The two that I will highlight are The Zoo & You at Santa Ana Zoo and Ultimate Explorations at the Discovery Cube OC.

FREE EVENT: Fall Festival at My Gym Yorba Linda 9/19 (10-3pm) #ad

This is a sponsored post.

Join My Gym Children's Fitness Center in Yorba Linda on Saturday, September 19th for their Open House Party! There will be a bounce house, face painting, Kona shaved ice, Chick-fil-A, raffles, music, dancing, giveaways, a balloon artist, and specials on classes, birthday parties, and camps! The event is open to the public, and there will be a special demonstration on their new Dance Program and Karate Classes.

How to Order Handcrafted Ice Cream Sandwiches at Stax Cookie Bar! #staxaddicted

We met up with some friends at STAX Cookie Bar near UC Irvine to sample their many varieties, and let's face it - building custom ice cream sandwiches sounded way too fun to pass up. Imagine a custom macaroon ice cream sandwich topped with fresh strawberries, two black & white cookies holding together a large scoop of pistachio ice cream, sorbet and sprinkles between two chocolate chip cookies, or a warm deep dish smookie stuffed with nutella topped with coffee ice cream, fudge and caramel sauce... YUMMY!

The possibilities are endless, and you can build whatever you want, because they also offer Gluten-Free and Vegan cookies. You might like that all of their cookies are baked fresh daily and made in-house. They use non-GMO certified organic flour, and they are so moist and delicious! Their ice creams are natural and growth hormone-free (rBGH). Want to learn how to build a handcrafted ice cream sandwich at Stax? You can do it in three easy steps!

DEAL/GIVEAWAY: Save 15% on iTunes Gift Cards $25 or More at JCPenney! #iTunesJCP15 #ad

This is a sponsored post brought to you by Tatu Digital Media.

If you had to choose just one, what is the one gift that is completely versatile and great for all ages? I pick iTunes gift cards. With iTunes cards, I can gift various increments, and recipients can download music, purchase apps, iBooks, or movies. The cards are redeemable at the iTunes Store, App Store, iBooks Store, Mac App Store, or toward an Apple Music membership. Most of my family and friends are always on their smartphones or iPads these days. I know my kids are always asking me to download a new game app or movie (I sneak in educational apps for them), my husband downloads music, and I like the photo and organizational apps. Of course, I prefer free, but if it's something they really want, they also make a great incentive gift.

Do you have a child going away to college or a niece or nephew's birthday coming up? iTunes makes it easy to send gifts across the miles. They also make great stocking stuffers, gifts for teachers, or a coworker that has everything. Right now you can save 15% on iTunes gift cards $25 or higher at JC Penney!

Affordable Back-to-School Styles @Crazy8 | #backtoschool

It's Back-to-School Shopping! One of my favorite places to shop for my boys is at Crazy 8, because they have affordable and trendy styles. (Right now, they have a "Buy 1, Get 1 8¢" for jeans.)

On August 12th, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alison Sweeney attended the Crazy 8’s Back-to-School event in Los Angeles. Everyone spent the afternoon shopping the new collection, jumped on mini-trampolines and took fun school portraits in the photobooth.  Other notable attendees included actress Garcelle Beauvais with her sons Jax and Jaid, as well as Aubrey Anderson-Emmons (who plays Lily on Modern Family).

Ticket Discount: Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales #DisneyLive

Disclosure: We will be attending as Media.

From the producers of Disney on Ice, Feld Entertainment brings you Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt. Join Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy as they take you on a enchanted journey bringing to life three timeless fairy princess adventures with Snow White, Cinderella, and Belle featuring more than 25 Disney characters. It  arrives at Terrace Theater, September 19-20 and Dolby Theatre, September 26-27.

DVD Giveaway: Strawberry Shortcake #BerryTales Plus a Printable!

Strawberry Shortcake Berry Tales comes to DVD with special features that include Digital HD, Bonus Printable Coloring pages, and a Party Pack! As a Fox Home Entertainment Insider, we received a copy, and a bonus copy to give away!

Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Tales is about the importance of being true to yourself.

• In “Snowberry and the Seven Berrykins”, Plum learns to believe in herself when putting on a simple play for a young audience. 
• Huck agrees to be in a production in “Berryella and Prince Berry Charming,” but later realizes he's happier behind the scenes. 
• In "The Littlest Berrykin," Strawberry, Lemon and Raspberry star as three princesses on a quest to rule a kingdom but realizes that they can not succeed without kindness and generosity. 

"With berry important lessons, it’s curtain up on good times and friendship!"

World's Largest LEGO Brick Queen Mary Ship Now @TheQueenMary!

The World's Largest LEGO Brick Model Ship of The Queen Mary has arrived, and it's now on display aboard The Queen Mary! When certified LEGO Builders, Bright Bricks Inc., decided to build this huge model, they never dreamed it would someday come to Long Beach and be on displayed at the actual Queen Mary. Companies from around the world hire them to interpret their products using LEGO bricks, but they decided to build the Queen Mary just for fun. It involved four professional builders, over 250,000 individual LEGO bricks, over 600 hours, and almost 4 months to build. It's incredible!

I asked the Masterbuilder, Ed Diment, how they transported it, and he said they had to break it into sections, and reassemble it before it was ready for viewing. (See more of the interview below). Queen Mary now owns the model and displays the model in an exclusive space, The Shipyard. Queen Mary wanted to add a family-friendly component and to connect children to the history of the Queen Mary so they added 4 building stations in the room. It also has a life-sized LEGO bust of Winston Churchill (also built by Bright Bricks), and Cunard mosaics along side the Queen Mary model. The former British Prime Minster made frequent trips to the USA, and was a regular traveler on the RMS Queen Mary. Cunard was the operator of The Queen Mary and other passenger ships for 175 years. The mosaic includes over 20,000 LEGO elements.

Date Night with Phantom of the Opera at Segerstrom Center and Patina Group! #SCFTA #PhantomOnTour

Last Friday night, my husband and I attended media preview night for The Phantom of the Opera which is now performing at Segerstrom Center for the Arts until August 16th. We were in for a night full of beautiful singing. I was delighted the moment they lit up that chandelier. Chris Mann (The Phantom), Katie Travis (Christine), Storm Lineberger (Raoul), and Jacquelynne Fontaine (Carlotta) delivers a powerful performance to a timeless classic. My favorite scene was when The Phantom takes Christine across the foggy lake as they sang their theme song, The Phantom of the Opera. I also loved their performance to All I Ask of You and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again at the Graveyard. The costumes were absolutely beautiful, and I loved that this musical performance includes opera singing and ballet.

A fun photo wall can be found on the third floor. Tip: If there is a long line, go first thing during intermission to beat the crowds. Don't stop at the restrooms, just go!

Ticket Giveaway: R5 Sometime Last Night Tour at Greek Theatre August 23, 2015!

Pop-rock R5, composed of four siblings and a friend, is touring this summer to promote their new album, Sometime Last Night, and they're making a stop at The Greek Theatre on August 23rd! R5 came together in 2009. The band is led by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Ross Lynch and is comprised of Lynch's siblings Riker (bass/vocals), Rocky (lead guitar/vocals) and Rydel (keyboard/vocals) and friend Ellington "Ratliff" (drums/vocals). You may recognize Ross as Austin Moon on Disney Channel's Austin & Ally, and as Brady on Disney Channel's Original Movie, Teen Beach 2.

Pretend City Celebrates Dr Seuss' New Book: What Pet Should I Get? #pretendcity

Friday, July 31st was a very special day at Pretend City. It was Dr. Seuss's Pet Party! We had the privilege of listening to a fun story of the latest Dr Seuss book called, What Pet Should I Get? It's about a brother and a sister who goes to a pet store to shop for a pet. How can they pick just one? Some decisions are hard to make, but you have to make them anyway.

That day, the museum celebrated all things Dr Seuss. In the Art Studio children made hand prints of Thing 1 and Thing 2. The library had many Dr. Seuss books on display. Our favorite place was the Photo Booth where you could dress up as a character from many Dr Seuss books using hats, beards, mustaches and other accessories. My daughter had a blast playing games with Thing 1 and Thing 2. They popped up from time to time to play different games like sack racing.

OC FAIR: Inside the Ice Museum! PLUS One Big Discount Thursdays! #ocf125 #ocfair

A couple of weeks ago, my family and I were invited to a special OC Fair's 125th Anniversary Party. We enjoyed brunch, visits with Fair icons, and entertainment from Russell Bros Circus, Magic of Frank Thurston, and Prehistoric Pets of The Reptile Zoo. It was fun for the whole family. The children learned new magic tricks, watched juggling, and were all hands on when they stretched out a 120 lb snake. It was incredible!

New this year at the OC Fair is the Ice Museum. The line is a bit long, but the wait is so worth it. We didn't last very long in there, because it's freeeezing, but it was a nice way to cool off at the Fair. Enjoy ice sculpture masterpieces and a colorful walk-thru. Free with fair admissions.

Poolside Entertaining with NewAir Portable Icemaker AI-100SS

Do you like to entertain in your patio or poolside in the summer? As a brand ambassador for New Air, we receive product samples to test such as this NewAir Ice Maker in stainless steel. It's really easy to use. All you do is plug it in, lift up the lid, fill water to the line, select ice cube size (SML), then press ON/OFF. I think they're perfect for poolside entertaining or if you have a mini-bar.

Ticket Giveaway: Buccaneer Cove at Boomers! Irvine #BuccaneerCove

Most recently we joined some of our blogging friends to play at Buccaneer Cove at Boomers! Irvine. It was the perfect summer day to play in the water. The children had a blast, while Moms relaxed in the cabanas. Buccaneer Cove has five levels of slides, wet tunnels, spray loops, and a splash bucket PLUS there's a two-lane Kiddie Slide on the first level. I like that it's gated, staff members regulate the slides, and there are new restrooms conveniently located inside the cove. Although there is no deep pools of water (better that way anyway), there is plenty of room to make a splash and cool off.

Coming Soon to Segerstrom Center: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (Aug 5-16)! #SCFTA #PhantomTour

Cameron Mackitosh's new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA arrives at Segerstrom Center for the Arts August 5 through 16th! With new staging and scenic designs, this new version is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52 making it one of the largest productions on tour in North America!

"Based on the classic novel 'Le Fantôme de L’Opéra' by Gaston Leroux, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command."