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Orange County

Come to Irvine Park Railroad’s 19th Anniversary Celebration 2015 on February 21st & 22nd!

February 9, 2015 / Family Fun, Irvine Park Railroad, Lifestyle, Orange County

Come celebrate Irvine Park Railroad’s 19th anniversary on Saturday, February 21st and Sunday, February 22nd. They’re rolling back prices to their original 1996 prices… including $2.00 train rides! It’s their way of saying thank you to all of their loyal customers who have visited Irvine Park Railroad over the years.

Irvine Park Railroad has become a favorite destination for families (like ours) from across Southern California. While the train takes passengers on a 12-minute ride through scenic Irvine Regional Park, the engineer narrates the ride pointing out all of the history inside of the 114 year-old park.

The anniversary celebration will also feature other $2.00 activities and concessions including carnival games, hot dogs, sodas, ice creams, popcorn, bounce house tickets and cotton candy.

Face painting and panning for gold require two $2.00 tickets. FREE giveaways include Irvine Park Railroad balloons.

The $2 tickets are valid during the Anniversary Celebration weekend only. (Coupons, discounts and/or any other promotions are not valid on the anniversary celebration dates.)

While at Irvine Regional Park, be sure and visit the parks other activities including Wheel Fun Rentals® at Irvine Park, bike and paddle boat rentals, pony rides and the Orange County Zoo. The park entrance fee is $5.00 per vehicle.

Irvine Park Railroad opens daily at 10:00 AM. The cost for train tickets during the anniversary celebrations weekend is $2.00 per ticket; children younger than 12 months ride free. Irvine Park Railroad is located inside of Irvine Regional Park at 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869.

Irvine Park Railroad is open year round (excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day). Our annual events include the Easter Eggstravaganza, Anniversary Celebration, Pumpkin Patch, Fourth Grade California History Education Program, Christmas Tree Ranch, and Christmas Train. Please visit http://www.irvineparkrailroad.com for details.

Connect with Irvine Park Railroad on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!

Also view their pictures on Flickr.

Simon Youth Foundation Seeks Local High School Student Applicants for Scholarship Program

February 4, 2015 / Lifestyle, Orange County

For a 16th straight year, Simon Youth Foundation, a national nonprofit that provides educational opportunities for at-risk high school students, is proud to support deserving students in the Orange County community through the Simon Youth Scholarship Program.

This May, one student from every community that is home to a Simon property is eligible to receive a one-time scholarship award up to $1,500. In addition, 10 designated Simon, Mills and Premium Outlets centers will grant an Award of Excellence – a $2,500 scholarship that is renewable for up to three years.

Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarships are awarded through the Simon Youth Scholarships program and in partnership with local Simon properties. The application period for the 2015 Simon Youth Community Scholarship Program is December 1, 2014 – February 25, 2015.

Any student who will be graduating in the class of 2015 and lives within 50 miles of a Simon property, including Brea Mall, Westminster Mall and The Shops at Mission Viejo in Orange County, is eligible. The program will award a one-time scholarship of up to $1,500 to students who plan to enroll in an accredited college, university, vocational or technical school.

Applications also can be downloaded at the SYF website at: http://programs.applyists.com/syf/.

To-date, SYF has awarded more than $12 million in scholarships to more than 3,700 students in 42 states.

The 2015 SYF Community Scholarship recipients will be selected by Scholarship Management Services, a third-party administrator. Students are selected based on a variety of criteria, including financial need, academic performance, leadership skills and participation in school and community activities. Those students who are the first in their family to pursue a post secondary education will also be given close consideration.

The completed application, along with official school transcripts and parents’ most recently filed tax form, must be sent to Scholarship Management Services by February 25, 2015.

About SYF
Simon Youth Foundation, established in 1998, supports 23 Simon Youth Academies in 13 U.S. states that give at-risk students the same education they would receive in a traditional classroom while offering the flexibility that their individual circumstances require. Recipient of the Crystal Star Award of Excellence in Dropout Prevention from the National Dropout Prevention Center, the foundation has helped more than 10,000 students earn their high school diploma and provided more than $10 million in college scholarships to 3,900 students in 42 states. The Education Commission of the United States has recognized the foundation with its Corporate Award for sustained and substantial investment in improving public education.

About Simon
Simon is a global leader in retail real estate ownership, management and development and a S&P100 company (Simon Property Group, NYSE:SPG). Our industry-leading retail properties and investments across North America, Europe and Asia provide shopping experiences for millions of consumers every day and generate billions in annual retail sales. For more information, visit simon.com.

Pamper Your Valentine With a Gift From We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano!

February 4, 2015 / Celebrations, Holiday Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County, Shopping

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano is the perfect place to do some Valentine’s Day shopping! They feature gifts that include artisan extra virgin olive oils, hand-crafted tapenades, mustards, pesto, balsamic vinegars, body and skin care products, as well as custom gift collections. They have some beautiful gifts that can help pamper your Valentine and ensure they feel loved any day of the year.

Some of the fabulous Valentine’s gifts that make women feel pampered include:

Rewined Candles – $29.95
All-natural, premium soy wax candles, hand poured into repurposed wine bottles with scents that mimic the tasting notes of wine.
McEvoy Ranch 80 Acres Line of Body and Skin Care Products
Rich and luxurious, moisturizing and healing, the 80 Acres line of emollient body oils, balms, scrubs, gels and lotions are infused with vitamin rich plant extracts and botanicals inspired by the wealth of natural elements present on the Ranch.
The Olive Oil & Vinegar Experience Sampler Gift Box: $29.95
This gift collection is the perfect way to experience the very best of We Olive! This sampler comes with a 2 oz bottle of each of the following : Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic Flavored Olive Oil, Organic Meyer Lemon Flavored Olive Oil, Traditional Aged Balsamic Vinegar, and Peach White Balsamic Vinegar. This is the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-for person in your life or a great way to introduce someone to the wonderful world of We Olive.

Martini Lover’s Gift Basket – $49.95
This basket is comprised of what we consider to be the Martini essentials. Recipients of our Martini Lover’s Gift Basket will receive the following delicious items: – A bottle of We Olive’s Olive Juice Dirty Martini Mix – A jar of our Twisted Martini Olives – A jar of our Vermouth Bleu Cheese Stuffed Olives – A jar of our Marlon Blando Olives and a We Olive Dipping Dish. We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano is located in downtown San Juan Capistrano.

31760 Camino Capistrano Suite B

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Visit them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

(images provided by We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano)

You Are Invited to The Eat, Explore, Tour Event at Baker Ranch in Lake Forest on February 21!

February 3, 2015 / Lifestyle, Orange County

Baker Ranch is a community of brand new homes in Lake Forest that epitomizes family-friendly, resort-style living in Southern California. From the start, Baker Ranch has been designed for active people who love outdoor recreation and scenic natural settings. Here you can enjoy all the amenities of an exceptional master planned community without the excessive taxation of Mello-Roos. Lake Forest provides small-town charm with California Distinguished schools and modern services. It’s all within easy reach of the major employment centers, shopping, entertainment and attractions that make sunny Central Orange County the perfect backyard.

On Saturday, February 21, Baker Ranch will be hosting a fun event, “Eat Tour Explore”, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.! It’s a massive unveiling event featuring GREAT perks from Baker Ranch. They will be unveiling plans for all of their future parks, and will include a virtual tour of “Promenade Park”, a new community park that will not only be a great place for families with kids to play, but also provide residents with a safe means to travel from one end of the community to the other, out of the way of traffic. Guests will have the opportunity to tour this beautiful new community.

But that’s not the best part of this event…..

Renowned chef Richard Blais of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef” will be making a special appearance at the unveiling and will be doing a cooking demonstration, featuring one of his creative and delicious recipes. Spa Gregorie’s will also be at the event, giving free massages to guests after they tour the model homes.

Not only is this a great opportunity for you to get the inside scoop on some of the amazing things that Lake Forest has in store, it’s also your chance for an up close and personal look at some delicious dishes prepared by a prominent chef. In addition, you’ll have the chance to get some design inspiration from our gorgeous award-winning model homes. For more information on this fun event, visit the Baker Ranch Facebook page!

I’m also giving away a signed copy of Chef Blais’s cookbook Try This at Home: Recipes from My Head to Your Plate! How fun is that? Just enter below on the Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Connect with Baker Ranch on Twitter & Instagram too!

Cristophe Salon Newport Beach To Host A Valentine’s Day Beauty Prep Celebration + Kendra Scott Jewelry Giveaway

January 27, 2015 / Beauty & Pampering, Lifestyle, Orange County

Cristophe Salon Newport Beach, Orange County’s top beauty destination known for its five-star customer service, is partnering with Dr. Rami K. Batniji, a Newport Beach facial plastic surgeon, Kendra Scott Jewelry and Blushington Makeup and Beauty Lounge in Fashion Island to host a Valentine’s Day Prep Party.

On Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, guests are invited to Cristophe Salon Newport Beach at Fashion Island® from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. to enjoy indulgent treatments, such as hair, nail, makeup and waxing services, before a romantic date night or a girls’ night out. With music spinning throughout the day, guests will be offered complimentary champagne to sip on throughout their experience. The first 100 guests to schedule an appointment or book a service on Valentine’s Day will receive a complimentary gift card for a pre-selected Kendra Scott jewelry item, to be redeemed at the jeweler’s Fashion Island boutique.

Kendra Scott Jewelry will also be for sale on Valentine’s Day between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Cristophe Salon Newport Beach. Five percent of all sales from the evening’s purchased services will directly benefit Yachts for Tots, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing underprivileged children to the beauty of the ocean.

Valentine’s Day Prep Party on-site specialty services and packages include:

Hair, Nail and Waxing Services

Hair style consultation with Scott Fontana: complimentary for all new clients to determine the best cut and color for their individual skin tones and facial structures
Hair cut: $90 and up
Hair color: $85 and up
Hair blowout: $65
Manicure: $30
Full Face Make-up services: $45
Just Eyes Make-up services: $30
Waxing, eyebrow and eyelash tinting services: $15 and up

In the two weeks leading up to the special event, pre-booked Valentine’s Day Prep Party guests may receive specially priced BOTOX® and skincare services with premiere Orange County facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Batniji at his Newport Beach office.

Skin Services with Dr. Batniji, offered exclusively in partnership with Cristophe Salon Newport Beach’s Valentine’s Day Prep Party:

Refresh package: $400 ($514 value)

SkinMedica® TNS Essential Serum

SkinMedica® Dermal Repair Cream

SkinMedica® Illuminize Peel

Revitalize package: $450 ($590 value)

20 units of BOTOX®

SkinMedica® TNS Essential Serum

SkinMedica® Illuminize Peel

Renew package: $900 ($1,090 value)

20 units of BOTOX®

1 syringe of Juvederm® Ultra Plus*

SkinMedica® TNS Essential Serum

SkinMedica® Illuminize Peel

Latisse®: $200 ($300 value)

2 boxes of Latisse®

Appointments are required to guarantee services, as space is limited. Please call (949) 219-0920 for all appointment bookings.

For more information about Cristophe Salon Newport Beach and its exceptional team of colorists and stylists, service offerings, or to book an appointment please visit http://www.CristopheNB.com or call (949) 219-0920. In addition, in the two weeks leading up to the special event, pre-booked Valentine’s Day Prep Party guests may receive specially priced BOTOX® and skincare services with premiere Orange County facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Batniji, at his Newport Beach office. 5% of all proceeds from the event will be donated to Yachts for Tots, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to introducing underprivileged children to the majesty of the ocean.

I’m also having a giveaway for one of my lucky readers. If you win, you’ll have a choice of one of the following beautiful jewelry pieces: a Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace, a pair of Danielle Earrings, or a pair of Elle Earrings. Just enter down below on the Rafflecopter. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2015 OC Fair Celebrates “One Big Party” With Pop-Up Parties Starting in January!

January 20, 2015 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, OC Fair, Orange County

The OC Fair will be celebrating 125 years of food and fun this July with “One Big Party”for the 2015 OC Fair. It will run July 17-August 16 and celebrate its 125th anniversary with 23 days of food, rides, shopping, exhibits and animals. Fairgoers will be able to enjoy world-renowned performers in the Pacific Amphitheatre and exciting events in The Hangar and Action Sports Arena.

The OC Fair is getting the party started early with a series of Pop-Up Parties held at various locations throughout the Southland. Each event will feature a complimentary sweet treat and prizes, including OC Fair tickets and other goodies, as well as an opportunity to win an OC Fair Super Pass (season pass).

Here is the preliminary OC Fair Pop-Up Party schedule (events subject to change):

How fun does all of this sound? I’m totally ready to get this party started!

Sign-up for emails announcing concerts and other promotions at ocfair.com. Also, download the free OC Fair iPhone and Android apps available this summer.Visit OC Fair on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

LEGO® Travel Adventure and National Geographic Presents: Earth Explorers Traveling Exhibits Open at Discovery Cube OC on January 17!

January 15, 2015 / Discovery Cube OC, Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County

Get ready for the ultimate adventure with LEGO® Travel Adventure and National Geographic Presents: Earth Explorers opening at Discovery Cube Orange County on January 17, 2015. Adventurers of all ages will enjoy this interactive journey as they build a transportation vehicle out of LEGOs and explore Earth’s most extreme eco-zones in Earth Explorers.

In Lego Travel Adventure, young creators will create vehicles of all shapes and sizes that will drive, fly, or float through exotic terrains. Suit-up as a pilot, ship captain, or racecar driver to find inspiration for your vehicle or check-out a display of vehicles made from LEGO bricks, including: a spaceship, boat, motorcycle, and more. Build a vehicle with pieces from popular LEGO sets, take a photo with a kid-sized racecar made from LEGO® Duplo® blocks, and take the “Travel Challenge” to build a virtual LEGO vehicle that will travel through lava, swamps, rivers, and oceans.

LEGO Travel Adventure also features creations by LEGO Master Builders including recreations of the driving of the Gold Spike in the Transcontinental Railroad, the building of the first Model T, the Wright Brothers flight at Kitty Hawk, and an ocean liner. The exhibit also features a diorama of the Travel Adventure Vehicle (TAV) – a vehicle designed to travel across land, water, and through the air.

Age-appropriate build tables featuring parts and pieces from popular LEGO sets are available in the exhibit for children to create their own vehicles. Visitors are also invited to take photos of their exhibit creations to email to their friends.

The adventure continues as guests explore some of the wildest places on the planet in National Geographic Presents: Earth Explorers. Follow some of National Geographic’s explorers through this family-friendly exhibit to research some of the most extreme eco-zones on earth including polar regions, oceans, mountains and caves, rain forests, and the African Savanna. Adventurers will discover new species, study animal behavior, and learn how technology plays an important role in the exciting discoveries.

Explorers will also test their ability to live in an ice-covered world while exploring an arctic cabin, dive into the ocean with a 3-D submersible to learn about life forms living deep beneath the surface, and identify insects from the Amazon while trekking through the largest rainforest in the world during this interactive exhibit.

Each of the six areas in Earth Explorers feature a unique interactive digital experience that utilizes an advanced technology to bring animals inside the exhibit to life.

Doors open to the public on January 17, 2015. LEGO Travel Adventure and National Geographic Presents: Earth Explorers are both included in general admission fees. Tickets can be purchased at Discovery Cube OC or online at http://www.discoverycube.org/oc/. General admissions prices are as follows: adult ($16.95), senior ($12.95), and children ages 3-14 ($12.95).

LEGO Travel Adventure is the second in a series of traveling exhibits to be produced by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in conjunction with LEGO Systems, Inc. The previous exhibit, LEGO® Castle Adventure debuted at The Children’s’ Museum of Indianapolis in 2009, and will travel to museums and science centers throughout the United States for a five year period. Additional LEGO exhibits are planned for the future.

This is not a sponsored post. I was provided with images and information about these amazing exhibits to share with my readers.

The Fresh Beat Band’s Greatest Hits Live Concert is Coming to Anaheim on February 16 & I’m Giving Away Two Family 4-Packs of Tickets!

January 14, 2015 / Entertainment, Lifestyle, Music, Orange County

The Fresh Beat Band, Nickelodeon’s music group and stars of the Emmy Award-winning preschool series of the same name, is back on the road for a nationwide concert tour traveling to nearly 40 cities. The Fresh Beat Band Greatest Hits Live, presented by Nickelodeon, is a concert for the whole family with high-energy performances, captivating visuals and fun interactive surprises. The Fresh Beat Band will be performing live at the City National Grove of Anaheim on Monday, February 16th at 11:30 am and 3:30 pm!

Emily and I got to see The Fresh Beat Band last year and we had the best time! They are so much fun to sing and dance along with at your seat!

The show features a new set list that includes fan favorites “Bananas“(As you can see, it’s one of our favorite songs), “A Friend Like You”, and a remixed version of “Great Day”, plus the pop classic, “Walk Like An Egyptian”, and new songs like “Every Pirate Has to Dance”.

Here’s a sneak peek of their concert:

The Fresh Beat Band Greatest Hits Live set list includes:

The Fresh Beat Band Theme Song
DJ Get the Party Started
Walk Like an Egyptian
Music Keeps Me Movin’
A Friend Like You
Every Pirate Has to Dance
Spin Around
The Fresh Beat Band of Spies Theme Song
Here We Go
We Got the Beat
I Can Do Anything
Reach for the Sky
Freeze Dance
Shine (Acoustic)
Here for You
Bananas
Rockstar
Great Day (Remix)

We love to “Freeze Dance”!

Kids will have an opportunity to see and interact with their favorite rock stars–Kiki (Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer), Marina (Tara Perry), Twist (Jon Beavers), and Shout (Thomas Hobson). Tickets, along with Fresh Beat Band VIP packages with meet and greets, are available at http://www.freshbeatbandlive.com and http://www.ticketmaster.com.

Some other exciting news for Fresh Beat Band fans is Nickelodeon is currently in production on Fresh Beat Band of Spies, a brand-new animated preschool series based on the hit live-action show, The Fresh Beat Band. In the new series, Kiki (Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer), Marina (Tara Perry), Twist (Jon Beavers) and Shout (Thomas Hobson) are bandmates and also undercover spies. The pop band uses their individual talents and the coolest transforming spy gadgets to outwit a goofy cast of bad guys and solve wild and wacky mysteries. The series, which teaches problem-solving to preschoolers, is created by Nadine van der Velde and Scott Kraft (The Fresh Beat Band). Fresh Beat Band of Spies will premiere in 2015.

The Fresh Beat Band soundtracks – The Fresh Beat Band: Music From The Hit TV Show and The Fresh Beat Band: More Music From The Hit TV Show Vol 2.0 – are currently available on iTunes and in stores everywhere. For more information, visit the tour website at http://www.freshbeatbandlive.com and for Fresh Beat activities and fun go to http://www.nickjr.com/the-fresh-beat-band/.

So……who’s ready to win some tickets to see The Fresh Beat Band Greatest Hits Live on February 16 at City National Grove in Anaheim? Emi and I will be there that day since we’re such big Fresh Beat Band-ers and I’m giving away two Family 4-packs of tickets to 2 of my lucky readers! I’ll be choosing one winner for the 11:30 a.m. show and one winner for the 3:30 show! How awesome is that? Just enter below in the Rafflecopter for the show that you want to attend! Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tickets available at the City National Grove of Anaheim box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at (213) 480-3232 or (714) 740-2000. All dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change without notice. A service charge is added to each ticket price.

Disclosure: I will be receiving tickets to this event. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own. Some of the Fresh Beat Band images provided for use in this post with permission. Prize will be fulfilled by sponsor.

Knott’s is Teaming Up with Susan G. Komen Orange County and Going Pink For the Cure! #KnottsPink

January 14, 2015 / Knott's, Orange County, SoCal Fun, Travel

I was invited to attend this wonderful media event at Knott’s and provided with a ticket for my admission. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

I was so honored to be invited to attend a press conference at Knott’s Berry Farm recently, to learn more about a very special partnership between Knott’s and Susan G. Komen Orange County. Susan G. Komen Orange County is a local breast health organization which helps to serve women and men who are in need of breast health care and services, but do not have access to them financially. This is the second year in a row they are teaming up in a wonderful collaborative effort to help raise money for a very important cause. In 2014, they raised nearly $100,000 for the cause. That’s an amazing number and they’re hoping to raise even more in 2015!

From now through March 31, Knott’s Berry Farm is offering a special “Pink Ticket”, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Susan G. Komen Orange County. Knott’s limited edition, specially designed “pink merchandise” is also available for sale at select locations in the park. These proceeds help fund breast health services and research and also help promote breast health awareness.

75% of the funds raised for Susan G. Komen are used to provide local services throughout Orange County:

Breast cancer detection and treatment education
Information and support for breast cancer survivors and families
Funding for free mammograms for uninsured and underserved women

25% of the funds raised for Susan G. Komen support national research to discover the cure for breast cancer.

I love this! It’s right at the entryway inside Knott’s.

The press conference featured speakers that shared real statistics and real stories about breast cancer. 1 in 8 women will be affected by breast cancer! That is a very scary statistic! (Men can also affected by breast cancer) What was even scarier hearing a related statistic about Latina women. The reality is that there are a great number of Latina women who don’t have access to breast health care and services, so, because of this, they are being diagnosed with breast cancer at much later stages than white women. This partnership is helping to provide a mobile mammography unit to the surrounding Latino community and get these women the services they need.

A big highlight of the event for me was getting to hear my beautiful friend Jaime Jenkins, speak about her own story. Jaime is also a blogger, which is how I met her. She is a wife and a mother of 2 young children. After she attended the Knott’s For the Pink event in 2014, Jaime felt her own lumps in her breasts, went in to have them checked, and was diagnosed 2 weeks later. Jaime is living with stage 4 cancer and she has had the most positive attitude about her entire experience, even though it’s been a very tough one. She’s leaned on her wonderful husband, children and her family, her friends and I know her faith has played a big part in what has kept her so strong and positive. Jaime constantly expresses gratitude for everything and truly lives life to the fullest, appreciating every little thing. I admire her in a HUGE way!

She definitely greets each day with joy! I love her!

After the breakfast and presentations came to a close, everyone followed Snoopy and Lucy over to Fiesta Village to watch all of the incredible breast cancer warriors ride Jaguar together. When they asked if I’d ride it with them, to help fill up the back of the car, I didn’t hesitate.

All of the breast cancer warriors riding Jaguar! (photo credit: Westcoaster)

All of these women have overcome so much and to see pictures of them all together, brought a smile to my face. If you look at the smile on Jaime’s face as she rides in the front, you should know that she’s like that ALL THE TIME!

Jaime’s smile is infectious! (photo credit: OC Latina Moms)

If you ever get the chance to meet Jaime, you’ll be able to feel her positive vibes, the minute you say “hi” to her and there won’t be a handshake, it’ll be a BIG hug! She’s the best hugger ever! She’s truly an inspiration to everyone around her and so much fun to hang out with!

(photo credit: Knott’s)

I hope you’ll consider making a trip down to Knott’s for a fun-filled day sometime between now and March 27th and purchase your own “pink ticket” to support this great partnership between Knott’s and Susan G. Komen Orange County!