Let's Play OC!

"Single Rider" Lines Are the Way to Go @ Disney California Adventure!

2012-09-13T23:19:00.001-07:00

I was with my girlfriend Jenn from Toddler Trails the other day at Disney California Adventure trying to get one last playdate in before school starts, and we were saying how nice it would be to go back and ride all the "adult" rides without the kids. If you know me, you know that a big light bulb went off in my head to plan it.

Moms need breaks too so we asked our other girlfriend, Kirstin, who also has an annual passport, to take a morning off for ourselves and have some fun.

We're talking no kids, no strollers, no backpacks, and no diaper bags - we wanted to travel light and we had about 2.5 hours to cover some real ground and ride "adult" rides (rides that we normally skip because our kiddos don't meet the height requirments).

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NEW Scheduled Sensory Friendly Films by Autism Society

2012-09-08T16:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to AMC Theatres (AMC) and the Autism Society, families affected by autism and other disabilities can enjoy watching current movies which are sensory-friendly. They turn down the sound and brighten up the theater. What's also nice is there are no previews or advertisements, audience members can bring their own GFCF snacks, get up and dance, walk, and laugh out loud as the "Silence is Golden®" policy will not be enforced.

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Kinderfest @ OldWorld starts September 9th at 2pm!

2012-09-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

OldWorld's 35th year Oktoberfest celebration kicks off this Sunday, September 9th at 2pm.

Fun for the whole family - kids can celebrate Oktoberfest at OldWorld's Kinderfest Sundays September 9 through October 28 starting at 2pm.

Weekly Kinderfest activities include:

Sneak Preview of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood @ Pretend City!

2012-09-02T10:40:00.001-07:00

I attended Pretend City's sneak preview of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood this weekend. This highly anticipated new show airing this Fall on PBS KIDS is extremely cute.

I can't get this song out of my head:
"When something seems bad, turn it around, and find something good." -Daniel Tiger

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

Premieres
Labor Day Monday, September 3, 2012
on PBS KIDS

Who's going to the L.A. County Fair today?

2012-08-31T15:58:00.000-07:00

The L.A. County Fair officially opens today at 3pm. Today, enjoy $1 admission from 3-6 p.m., $12 admission from 6 p.m.-midnight, $1 for 22-oz. soft drinks from 6-9 p.m. and $2 carnival rides from 6-9 p.m. & $2 games from 9-midnight.

It's their 90th anniversary!

WON'T BACK DOWN is Heartfelt and Inspiring!

2012-08-31T14:45:00.004-07:00

I was invited to a pre-screening this week for the new upcoming movie of Won't Back Down and was asked to write a review. This movie was inspired by actual events and the works of dedicated parents, teachers and advocates across the country. It is about two moms (one was a teacher) who had nothing in common other than they did not want their children to get lost in the system.

MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL (Oscar® nominated actress), as Jamie Fitzpatrick, is a single mom working two jobs and has a child with dyslexia. Her daughter, Malia, was taken out of a good supportive school, because they had to move for more affordable housing. In
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FREE Ride to SeaWorld!!

2012-08-26T16:40:00.003-07:00

Photo by Let's Play OC!

Did you know you can ride from Anaheim to SeaWorld San Diego for FREE? Thanks to the Southern California Gray Line, you can do just that if you purchase your tour tickets from their website. Departs daily at 9:15am. Tour Length: approximately 11 hours. Offer expires 12/31/12.

See list of Tours available here.

Introducing Irvine Regional Park Summer Concert Series!

2012-08-20T14:09:00.001-07:00

Come join OC Parks' annual summer concert series under the stars Wednesdays beginning August 22nd thru September 5th. All concerts are FREE and are from 6:30pm to 8pm. You'll want to pack a picnic, lounge chairs or a blanket, and bring your family and friends.

Pretend City celebrates turning 3 with “WHEN I GROW UP DAY”!!

2012-08-17T17:30:00.001-07:00

Pretend City Children's Museum is turning 3 this month and has a special event planned for their celebration!

You'll want to join them this Friday, August 24th as they invite special guests from around the community such as:

Angels Baseball Player (he's now retired)
Doctor
Personal Trainer
Shoe Designer
Dentist
Firefighter
Policeman
Lifeguard
Chef
Hairdresser and more!

Pretend City Children's Museum's

3rd Annual

"When I Grow Up Day"

Friday, August 24, 2012

NEW Splash Pad at Atlantis Play Center!

2012-08-16T20:07:00.001-07:00

We've been wanting to check out the new addition to the City of Garden Grove's infamous Atlantis Play Center since it opened in June this year. It did not disappoint with lots of room for the kids to run around and play in the water. With the sea turtle, seahorses, and other sea creatures, it fits the park's theme perfectly.

Toddler Trails Back-to-School Event @Seascape!

2012-08-14T21:05:00.002-07:00

You won't want to miss

Toddler Trails' Day

Seascape Kids Fun!

Toddler Trails is hosting a special back-to-school event with
lots of fun giveaways for their fans.

Tuesday, August 21st, 9am-1pm*

San Diego Zoo Safari Park Discount!!

2012-08-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

Are you feeling adventurous? Back by popular demand, Living Social is running another deal for San Diego Zoo Safari Park!

Our family have done this before and were simply amazed. We took the Africa Tram Safari and didn't even feel like we were in California anymore. You will see herds of giraffes, rhinos, ostriches, zebras, buffalos, etc. in a replica of their natural environment. Fun for the whole family! You'll want to pack some comfortable shoes and water to stay hydrated.

EXPLORE THE WONDERS OF AFRICA!

"Travel through a bit of Africa on the Park's Africa Tram Safari, an exciting expedition that gives you a chance to connect with our African wildlife on a closer level. The safari's brightly colored tour vehicles take you on a relaxing tour around some of the Park's large field exhibits, where you can enjoy our extraordinary animal collection."

-SD Zoo Safari Park

ZOOKEEPER Movie Night at the OC Zoo! 8/10

2012-08-10T10:13:00.004-07:00

Photo owned by OC Zoo

Tonight, OC Parks Ranger Reserves is celebrating
their 25th Anniversary with
a "Zookeeper" Movie Night at the OC Zoo!

You'll want to arrive early to enjoy the Zoo and pack blankets or small chairs to enjoy the film. This special event includes:

FREE admissions to the Zoo starting at 5pm
Ranger Reserve stations at various animal exhibits
"Zookeeper" Movie will be under the stars and
will start at dusk around 7:45pm
Craft activities for the children throughout the night

Back-To-School @ The Children's Place!

2012-08-09T17:52:00.006-07:00

If you are already fans of The Children's Place, you will love them even more with their new Fall collection!

Yesterday when we were shopping for Back-to-School, I couldn't stop grabbing stuff off the shelves. Here's why - it's their new Designer Michael Giannelli's first Back-to-School collection. (Michael used to work for Gap Inc.) His new collection for girls is all about the "sparkle & shine" and boho. For boys, he doesn't disappoint either with trendy rugby and rocker-looks. Let me post a few pieces that I love.

From the School Uniform Collection

Aren't these dresses and shorts too cute?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

From the Girls' Department

"Sparkle & Shine"

Autism Night @ Dodger Stadium!

2012-08-06T23:45:00.001-07:00

The Los Angeles Dodgers teamed up with Autism Speaks for
Autism Night at Dodger Stadium!

A portion of every ticket purchased for this event will go back to Autism Speaks.

Wednesday, August 22, 12 at 7:10pm

Giants vs. Dodgers

PREFERRED FIELD BOX $30 (regular $40)
INFIELD RESERVE $22 (regular $28)
LOWER RESERVE $15 (regular $20)

To purchase tickets:
www.Dodgers.com/AUTISMSPEAKS
enter promo code: AUTISM

For GROUP tickets, please contact:
Eric Boujo
323-224-4287
EricB@ladodgers.com

Autism Night @ Dodger Stadium's Event Flyer

FREE again this month @ Pretend City's Family Autism Event!

2012-08-06T22:39:00.001-07:00

Thanks again to the generous sponsorship of the Watson Family Foundation, you and your family of 5 can play at Pretend City Children's Museum for FREE.

Photo credits: Let's Play OC!

This event is especially designed for families with children of all ages who have Autism. My kids love this place. Let your imagination run wild while you pick apples from the tree or carrots from the farm, go grocery shopping or work at the market, deliver mail, pump gas, be a doctor at the clinic, or fish in the water-play area (to only name a few). They close it to the general public, dim the lights, and turn off the music which makes it even more enjoyable. It's limited to the first 80 families so don't forget to RSVP for your free ticket - 1 ticket admits 5.

We're in C.A.N.'s August Newsletter!

2012-08-06T21:30:00.003-07:00

Let's Play OC! is featured in Community Autism Now (CAN)'s
August 2012 Newsletter!

Less than 30 days ago, Let's Play OC! launched and with everyone's support, it has been growing every day. Thanks for all your continued support and patience as I work hard to share these invaluable resources.

You can check out their newsletter here:

Community Autism Now's August 2012 Newsletter

CAN is a nonprofit organization that aims to promote autism awareness, assistance and resources to families, children and individuals affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder in Southern California. Each month, they share local upcoming events, valuable resources and helpful tips. You can sign-up for their monthly newsletter by emailing them at CommunityAutismNow@gmail.com.

Hard Cover Photo Book Deal for Shutterfly!

2012-08-04T08:18:00.000-07:00

Check out this Living Social Deal for Shutterfly!

If you are like me, you take a ton of digital photos and hope to eventually print or scrapbook them, but they eventually pile up. Shutterfly.com have a ton of templates for photo books to choose from - they really make scrapbooking easy. Today you can try it for 60% off with today's Living Social Deal!

Here's the deal:

ONE 8x11 Hardcover Photo Book with 20 Pages for $14!

at Shutterfly.com (Retails for $35)

Here's to starting a new tradition of scrapbooking!

PLUS for NEW Customers, if you use this link to join, you'll get 50 free 4x6 prints to get you started:

FREE Bowling for Kids All Summer!

2012-07-31T13:09:00.001-07:00

Photo Credits: Mary Tran

Did you know - there are more than one program for FREE bowling for kids all Summer?

Kids 15 and under get two FREE* games every day at participating locations all through Summer via AMF Summer Unplugged and Kids Bowl Free. Sign up to get weekly coupons emailed to you. Chances are your favorite bowling center will be listed in one of the two links. Family passes are also available for an additional fee. Now get out there and have some fun!

FREE Open Play @ Us Too Center!

2012-07-29T09:15:00.004-07:00

Come join the Community Autism Now (CAN) crew on Tuesday, August 7th from 4PM to 5PM for OPEN PLAY at the Us Too Gymnastics Center in Lake Forest.

Open Play are usually Tuesdays from 4-5pm for $10 each child, but for this day only if you mention Community Autism Now (CAN), your admission is FREE!!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

4:00-5:00pm

Location:

Us Too Center

25 Spectrum Pointe Dr. #405

Lake Forest, CA

Ages 2-12
Tumbling play and trampoline available
Open free play in their gym with staff assistance
Parents will need to be with their child

RSVP Here or email communityautismnow@gmail.com

FREE Dance Demo for Kids @ Allegro Ballroom!

2012-07-27T15:08:00.002-07:00

Allegro Ballroom of Orange County is offering a FREE Dance Demo for Kids ages 3-17 on Sunday, August 26, 2012! Demos include five 30 minute introductory classes to ballet, salsa, break, hip hop, swing, and zumba. Refreshments after class will be provided.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

1:00pm until 5:00pm

Allegro Ballroom of Orange County

310 E Orangethorpe Ave Suite G

Placentia, California

Note: Although they have experience with special need kids, this will be in a group setting so individual attention may not be given. However, they will do their best to accommodate all the needs of their students.

This may be a great opportunity to see if your kids will enjoy any of the mentioned dances. Thanks for extending the invitation to us, Allegro Ballroom!

RSVP to FREE Dance Demo for Kids Event

See Dance Demo's Class Schedule

Learn more about Allegro Ballroom OC

Facepainting and Balloon Twisting Deal!

2012-07-27T14:30:00.002-07:00

If you know kid parties, you know that entertaining them is not cheap. I am happy to share that Susy's Happy Faces is offering Let's Play OC!'s readers a special rate: $50/hour with a two-hour minimum. Susy not only does face painting, she can also twist simple balloons. Don't forget to mention Let's Play OC! for this special rate.

Susy's Happy Faces
1 (714) 604-7483
Email: susys.faces@facebook.com
Check out her Gallery --> Susy's Happy Face Gallery

All images belong to Susy's Happy Faces.

FREE Zumba Fitness Class!

2012-07-26T22:08:00.000-07:00

Community Autism Now (CAN) and Social Kiddos Playdates are hosting a FREE Zumba Fitness Class for two age groups:

Ages 3 to 5 - 10am to 11am
Ages 6 to 9 - 11am to 12pm

Only 15 tickets available for each age group. Reservations are required.

Zumba Fitness with Xio
Date: Saturday, September 16th

Newport-Mesa Family YMCA
2300 University Drive
Newport Beach, CA

RSVP for this Event Here
For more information, please email: CommunityAutismNow@gmail.com.

FREE Seminar - "Understanding Social Defects"

2012-07-26T21:19:00.005-07:00

A free 2 hour workshop for parents and professionals that are interested in learning more about social defects.

"Understanding Social Defects"
presented by Carrine S. Moore, MS, BCBA
Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (PT)

Location: Irvine Heritage Regional Library

Materials: Handouts on Objectives will be provided

Cost: Materials and Admission are Free

Only 40 seats available, please only RSVP if you plan on attending or notify them if cancellations.

To learn more about this event or get tickets, click HERE.

If you have any questions regarding this seminar, please contact LeeAnn at CommunityAutismNow@gmail.com

Visit Community Autism Now's Website

Clear up some storage space and make extra $$!

2012-07-26T17:31:00.002-07:00

There are several children's consignment sales throughout OC so here's one coming up from One Heart 2 Another just in time for back-to-school. If you've never been to one before, many of the new or lightly-used items are 50% or more OFF the retail price. You can find anything from seasonal clothing,car seats, baby gear, books, toys, or anything you can think of related to babies or children.

If you're a new mom or expecting, you can get a FREE presale pass to shop the best selections (meaning you can shop the presale before it opens to the public). Here's how: send an email to Elaine@oneheart2another.com with your full name, address, phone number, and due date and she'll email you a presale pass. Child must be 6 months or younger.

When: September 12th - 16th

Presale Event: September 12th, 5-8pm

Location and times to be announced

Here's the fun part - if you're interested in consigning (making some extra money for stuff just sitting in storage for a long time), this will be the easiest garage sale you've ever done. Just simply register, sort, enter your items online, tag your stuff, drop off, then watch your stuff sell by checking online the next morning. How easy is that?

For more tips on how to consign and/or to register, visit One Heart 2 Another's Website for more info. Please contact Elaine if you have any questions at Elaine@oneheart2another.com.