Here in Southern California, we don’t get a lot of snow at Christmas time. Actually, we don’t get any snow ever. So you can see why I’m SO excited about the return of Winter Fest at the OC Fair and Event Center! It’s SoCal’s Ultimate Winter experience and a holiday must-do for everyone! We had the opportunity to go last year and it was so much fun! 
This year, Winter Fest will open on Friday, December 16 and go through January 1! There is so much to see and do and you’ll find yourself smiling a lot, among all of the merriment you’ll find there. My daughter hasn’t stopped talking about the snow at Winter Fest since last year! 
Here’s a little preview of what you can expect to find at Winter Fest:
Did you see they have real snow? I’m super excited for it again, as well as a lot of the other activities they’re going to have! I just love ice skating outdoors and also ice tubing, especially in the warm Southern California Winter weather! We are so fortunate to be able to have the best of both worlds: a warm Winter and (faux) snow! 
Winter Fest admission tickets start at just $10 and are a great value. Here are some of the winter attractions and entertainment you’ll find inside Winter Fest this year:
- Largest Light Display in the OC Stroll Through the Celebration of Lights
- Ceremony with Snowfall
- Nightly Christmas Tree Lighting
- Photos with Santa
- Unlimited Ice Tubing Down Snowflake Summit
- Snow Play with Real Snow Blown in Daily
- Storytime with Mrs. Claus
- Outdoor Ice Skating *additional cost
- Games
- Santa’s Petting Zoo
- Bounce Houses
- Train Exhibits
- Craft Making in Santa’s Workshop
- World’s Largest Rocking Horse
- Little Elves Play Area (Ages 3 and Under)
- Cartoon Character Live Shows with Meet & Greets
- Santa Takes Flight Snowboard Simulator
- Nightly Fireworks
I highly suggest purchasing your tickets advance and online, so you’ll get the best price possible. To purchase tickets, go here. I forgot to mention how many yummy treats I tried last year! Just look at these giant cookies! Mmmm! 
Are you planning a visit to Winter Fest this year? I hope so! I’m also giving away a family 4-pack of tickets to this year’s Winter Fest that one of my lucky readers is going to win! All you have to do to enter is follow the directions on the Rafflecopter below! Good luck everyone! Happy Holidays!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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All throughout the Park, there are wonderful, festive decorations, special shows, tasty treats, and the usual thrilling attractions for guests to enjoy. As you stroll through Calico Ghost Town, you’ll literally feel like you’ve stepped back in time and right into the town’s old-fashioned Christmas celebration, “Christmas in Calico“.
For the first time ever, the bustling streets of Calico are overflowing with seasonal joy as its gleeful citizens, from 
New this year, Calico’s Town Hall offers plenty of holiday activities for all to enjoy.New this year, Calico’s Town Hall offers plenty of holiday activities for all to enjoy. Little ones can pen Christmas letters to jolly ol’ Santa Claus or gather round for a special reading of the holiday classic the Night before Christmas by the Calico citizens. 
Everyone can also lend a hand around town by delivering gifts to some of the folks in Calico. Just outside Town Hall, cheerful Calico Carolers roam the festive streets sharing the sounds of the season though songs and hand bell chimes. 
Also in Ghost Town, be sure to save time to watch a performance of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”and O. Henry’s “A Gift of the Magi” brought-to-life at the Birdcage Theatre.
You can also find the toe tappin’, hand clappin’, comedy and bluegrass of Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies in the Birdcage Theatre. They’re always a lot of fun to watch!
During Knott’s Merry Farm, the Wilderness Dance Hall in Ghost Town is transformed into Santa’s Christmas Cabin for the holiday season. This is where you’ll find the jolly fellow himself.
Santa is sure to delight the young and young at heart. Send your season greetings to family and loved ones with special picture of the occasion, pictures can be purchased onsite.
You’ll also want to indulge in one-of-kind seasonal treats like Santa’s freshly-baked cookies, mouthwatering pastries, exquisite chocolate dipped cheesecake on a stick, seasonal craft beers, gourmet hot chocolate with marshmallows and hot spiced holiday wine, plus much more.
Knott’s world-famous holiday treats can also be found all throughout Ghost Town, including fresh poured-to-order maple lollipops at the Gold Trails Hotel, delectable homemade holiday churros from the Churro Factory and extra creamy Santa’s Milk and Cookie shakes from Coasters.
Returning this year, the PEANUTS® gang, and a cast of world class ice skaters perform in the breathtaking ice show, “Merry Christmas, Snoopy!” in the 2,100 seat Charles M. Schulz Theatre. 
In this whimsical show, Snoopy enjoys all of the best parts of the season, including trimming the Christmas tree, awaiting Santa’s arrival, and attending the Christmas Ball! This ice show is a must-see and is my absolute favorite thing to go watch at Knott’s Merry Farm every year! 
The annual Christmas Crafts village includes artistic craft holiday shops featuring power chainsaw sculpting and elegant glass blowing demonstrations. Entrance to the Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village is free Monday through Thursday, November 21 –December 8, and is included with theme park admission every day.
You’ll also want to make sure to check out what’s new for this year at Knott’s Merry Farm:
Now through January 8, guests at the Resort will find many different experiences and offerings. Although it’s possible to see it all in one day, I recommend purchasing a 2-day Park Hopper (or more days) so you can take your time because there’s a lot to see and do. 
Here’s my own personal guide to the Holidays at Disneyland Resort.
Festival of Holidays
With so many little food and drink themed houses set up in the Festive Foods Marketplace, it’s a foodie’s holiday dream come true! If you’ve ever been to the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, it may remind you of that. It’s so much fun to go “house to house” and sample different beers, wines and savory & sweet treats! Check out the Complete Guide to Festive Eats 
Another fun part about the Festival of Holidays are the craft tables set up around the park. Kids can sit and spend time learning about different traditional holidays celebrated around the world and make a craft, card, or ornament to take home with them.
Entertainment during Festival of Holidays
The popular Disney ¡Viva Navidad! is sure to wow you as it also returns as part of the fun at Festival of Holidays.
There”ll also be a wonderful finale to celebrate Three Kings Day (Dia de los Reyes).The special festivities for Three Kings Day will run Jan. 5-8, 2017, including music and storytelling in Paradise Garden. Treats for this holiday will include traditional Rosca de Reyes bread.
Meet Elena of Avalor
Santa at Redwood Creek Trails 
When you enter the area, a Cast Member will give you a fun guide to help you find Santa and join in on some fun Elf Games.
“World of Color—Season of Light”
At the top of Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll find twinkling lights, festive holiday garland and nearly 1,800 ornaments decorate the soaring Christmas tree in Town Square, Main Street, U.S.A.. It’s an ideal place for guests to begin their holiday traditions. The Christmas tree becomes an enchanting place for guests to take their holiday photos, up close or with all 60 feet of the shimmering tree.
The classic Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle brightens the park nightly with magical snowfall moments along Main Street, U.S.A., concluding with “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks and its stirring snowfall finale.
Specially Transformed-for-the-Holidays Attractions 
Guests at Disneyland Park can enjoy the one-of-a-kind transformations that create “it’s a small world” Holiday, Jingle Cruise and Haunted Mansion Holiday. Now celebrating its 20th holiday season, “it’s a small world” Holiday has added some “Hidden 20s” for guests to discover on their voyage.
“It’s a Christmas Fantasy” Parade
Santa, who makes a jolly appearance in the parade, also will be found welcoming guests at his special location in Critter Country while he visits Disneyland.
There’s so much to see and do during Holidays at the Disneyland Resort and it’s a perfect time to create new family memories together! For more information, please visit 
A very special thank you to Disneyland Resort for hosting our family for a festive day in the parks
Starting November 26 and running through January 1, Great Wolf Lodge will have a limited number of Snowland Suites available, so book yours 
Spectacular decorations throughout the lodge
North Pole University activities
As you can see, there’s a lot going on over at Great Wolf Lodge during Snowland. It’s the chance to create some new holiday memories with your family and you won’t want to miss out!
This heartwarming, holiday movie is based on American Girl’s previously launched BeForever character Maryellen Larkin. The special is set during Christmas in 1955 in Daytona Beach, Florida, where middle child Maryellen longs to stand out amidst the hustle and bustle of her big, busy family. A boisterous and artistic girl, Maryellen’s adventurous spirit is sometimes at odds with the era she’s living in: when conformity was valued above individuality. When Benji, a family friend afflicted with polio comes to stay with them and visit Daytona Beach’s hospital for care, Maryellen is inspired to help the polio patients have the best Christmas ever. With guidance and advice from Maryellen’s wise and sympathetic mother, Maryellen learns the key to helping others is through listening. 
The story centers around 10-year-old Melody, who is coming of age in Detroit in 1963. In the film, Melody’s eyes are opened to the racial inequality surrounding her, including the 1963 Birmingham Church Bombing. As a result, her belief in the “indivisible” promise of our country’s Pledge of Allegiance comes into question as she challenges her teacher on the validity of this given the horrific tragedy. After an emotional journey of self-reflection, her mother gives her the courage she needs by instilling in her that love brings out the best in everyone; reminding Melody that it’s important to “stand up for what’s right, even when it’s hard or scary.”
Open select dates through January 8, 2017 CHILL is Southern California’s coolest holiday adventure complete with ice-skating, ice tubing, swingin’ sleigh rides, visits with Santa, gingerbread decorating and the all-new interactive attraction, Alice in Winterland.
This year I got a head start on making some 
As Fall neared this year, I also decided to add some new vitamins and supplements into my daily regimen because it’s impossible get your entire daily requirement just from food. Nature Made® has a variety of vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS) to help support nutritional gaps with your health goals in mind ranging from Digestive Support, Heart Health & Function, Energy Metabolism, Women’s Health and much more!†Nature Made® is the #1 Pharmacist Recommended brand for many key dietary supplement categories* I feel confident choosing Nature Made® brand for myself and my family. I also love that I can run over to Walmart to stock up on them because they’re always offered at such affordable prices, even without being on sale! 
Nature Made® vitamins and supplements: An easy, convenient way to help your body get the nutritional support it needs every day, whether it be to support bone health, immune health or energy metabolism (helping convert food into energy).†For more information on Nature Made® vitamins and supplements available at Walmart and to enter to win one of 60 Walmart gift cards (each worth $50) by taking part in the sweepstakes on the site, visit 
Ever since An American Girl Story — Melody 1963: Love Has to Win, a live-action adaptation of Melody’s series created for Amazon Prime Video premiered back in October, my niece has been enamored by Melody! American Girl’s newest BeForever character, Melody, brings a message of love and hope to girls this season through her inspirational story of growing up in Detroit during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
Melody’s story comes to life through the 18-inch Melody doll, historically authentic 1960s doll outfits and accessories, and Melody-inspired clothing for girls ages 8 and up (Prices range from $9.99 to $250)
Holiday time is also about spreading goodwill to others, and American Girl’s new WellieWishers line is designed to help teach younger girls ages 5 to 7 the skills of kindness, empathy and being a good friend.
The WellieWishers line features five character dolls, early chapter books, garden-themed accessories, and clothing for girls (Prices range from $5.00 to $250)
Young girls will also delight in seeing the WellieWishers world come to life via American Girl’s first-ever animated series available through Amazon Prime Video.
Last but not least, girls and their guests can enjoy a memorable day at American Girl’s retail stores nationwide. Holiday-related events and experiences are available throughout the season. For more information or to find an American Girl retail store nearest you, visit 
The Fall weather in Southern California never lets us down, so I put on my best Fall concert outfit (a.k.a. jeans and a tank top), my husband put on his cowboy boots, and we were off!
When we arrived at Stub Hub Center in Carson, California, we were ready for some good old-fashioned country music fun. This private concert was one of Brad Paisley’s stops while he was out on his “Country Nation College Tour“. Frontier Communications sponsored the concerts on bringing the experience to fans across the country, as a way to show appreciation to its customers.
Before the concert started, we spent time in the Fan Appreciation Zone. In addition to a relaxing outdoor lounge area for us to relax in there were also several different stations for us to play at including a Plinko game, a bean bag toss game, “Design Your Own Trucker Hat”, and a fun Fan Appreciation Photo Booth, where photos were instantly emailed to you for social sharing. It so fun to hang with our group over there.
I loved the venue because it was held in an intimate location in the Tennis Theater, which is an open-air amphitheater. The warm Southern California weather didn’t even leave us wishing for a jacket that night.
I’d never seen Brad Paisley in concert and let me just say that he was amazing! It’s so fun to sing along with him and the venue was so small that you could practically see his face. Actually, you could see it on the big screens surrounding the stage! I also loved all of the videos playing as he performed on the surrounding big screens. The Brad Paisley South Park footage was priceless! He even looks adorable when he’s animated! 
Have you seen Brad Paisley in concert before? If not, he’s a must see! For more information about Brad Paisley’s latest tour dates, go 
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