Technology is a wonderful thing. It’s brought our world up to light speed and has made many things so much easier and efficient. With that being said, I also feel that technology is a double-edged sword, especially when it comes to kids.
Since our children are growing up in the digital age, many of them are using technology to open up their worlds. My own daughter uses her devices for a variety of things on an everyday basis, including communicating with friends, watching YouTube videos, playing games and using apps, doing homework, and going on social media.
As a parent, it’s one of my main responsibilities to protect my child and keep her safe from any physical and/or emotional danger – so I’ve always been cautious about her use of technology, especially when it comes to The Internet. Parents 10 years ago never had to consider the added responsibility that comes with having a child in the technology age because you also have to protect them from the dangers associated with being online – and the disadvantages that come from too much time in front of a screen (such as obesity, irregular sleep schedules, loss of social skills and less time for play).
Especially during the summer, there’s so much for kids to explore beyond their screens, which is why I’m sharing 5 reasons why parents need to download the Screen Time app (You can click here to sign up now – there’s a free basic version, but the premium is worth the $3.99/month and includes a free 14-day trial).
Here are some of the advantages of the premium version of the Screen Time app:
Time limits – As a parent, I feel it’s important to set time limits on my child’s use of technology. It’s vital when she has things like homework and bedtime, and in the summer, I try to encourage outdoor play and discovery that doesn’t always involve a screen.
App blocking – With that being said, I also recognize that certain apps are necessary (and even required), especially for homework during the school year. Screen Time allows me to free up those apps she needs for homework, or apps we can use together to enhance quality family time, while making the others unavailable until later.
Remote management – I also recognize that technology time limits should be altered for weekends, vacation times and summer, and there are plenty of apps out there that can enhance playtime and outdoor/offline discovery (see a great list of them below). It’s so convenient that I can set the limits of my child’s usage of her iPad from my phone or any browser by just logging in.
Pause & Play – We all know how kids can become entranced by their devices – just one more video, one more game. Screen Time can help break that cycle by allowing you to pause onscreen activity without endless nagging or bargaining, so you can sit down to dinner as a family, take a walk through the neighborhood, enjoy your summer together. On the flip side, play, you can also add bonus screen time without changing any settings.
Daily web and app use reports – I’ve had a couple of months to test out this wonderful app in my own home, with the use of my iPhone and my daughter’s iPad. Since she spends time on her iPad on a daily basis, I’d always tried my best to monitor and supervise what she was doing – but when I was introduced to Screen Time, these daily reports enabled me to better keep track of her activity and set reasonable limits.
Screen Time is already running on over 1 million devices, and it’s obvious just how that came to be. It’s a great app that households everywhere should be using to keep control over their own children’s usage on devices. To try it now, visit screentimelabs.com.
Guests at the Model Grand Opening will enjoy summer BBQ and music and have the opportunity to win Anaheim-themed prizes in the We Love Anaheim giveaway, including Disneyland passes, Angel game tickets, and gift cards to local restaurants. RSVPs encouraged for this event and can be made
Eleven floor plans feature spacious, open designs with up to three bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and range from 1,296 to 1,741 square feet. Tapestry Walk homes include large master suites with walk-in closets, impressive kitchens, and two-car garages. Second-floor decks in most floor plans provide lovely outdoor living opportunities, and a number of amenities will encourage connection and relaxation, including a private community pool, dog park, bocce ball court, and outdoor fireplace gathering area.
Tapestry Walk’s South Anaheim location presents abundant opportunities for work and play. The neighborhood’s convenient access to I-5 and multiple public transportation options, as well as its proximity to employment and business centers, make it appealing to commuters and busy professionals. Residents will enjoy an impressive variety entertainment opportunities, many within walking distance, including the Outlets at Orange, Angel Stadium, and Honda Center. The Disneyland Resort, numerous restaurants and shopping centers, and many Anaheim-famous attractions are only minutes away.
I was elated when I found out that Ghost Town Alive! was returning this summer! It is a must-do for families visiting the park! There are so many fun ways to participate in all of the town’s happenings. You can become an honorary citizen of Calico and help out in the quest to capture the Mayfield Gang, which recently escaped the custody of Sheriff Wheeler.
In our case, we were actually part of their gang, we were “bad guys”. I don’t think we were “bad”, just a bit “misunderstood” is all. Sheriff Wheeler saw right through us, just by looking at the color of our bandanas and took us right into custody, locking us in the town’s jail!
Here are just some of the things you can do in Calico during Ghost Town Alive!:
For more information about Knott’s Season Passes, go 
We spent a fun afternoon out at Brea Mall, looking for the best gift options for all of the dads in our life. With a dad, a couple of grandpas, a step-grandpa, and several uncles to shop for, I found something for everyone in each of the shops we stopped at. We found a ton of gifts for Dads at The Art of Shaving, Tommy Bahama, Apple Store, and Bose.
For the grads on our list, we browsed through stores of all different types for the graduates on our list. Some of our favorite ones included Urban Outfitters, Sephora, Apple Store, Crabtree & Evelyn, and Typo. 
Brea Mall also features several popular restaurants and a recently remodeled Food Court.Whether you’re looking to sit down and have a meal with table service or just grab a quick bite, you have plenty of options to choose from there. What a great place to go and “Dine With Dad” this Father’s Day or bring your family to enjoy a celebratory meal after a graduation. One of the places we enjoy dining at when we’re there is California Pizza Kitchen.
Have you finished all of your shopping for Father’s Day and Graduations? Brea Mall is a great center to stop by for a shopping and dining experience. For mall hours and a complete directory of shops and restaurants, go
The Los Angeles stop on the tour will be hosted at Autry Museum of the American West, (located at 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA 90027)
Some of the fun activities fans will be able to experience at the event include:
The life-size character cars also roll onto the red carpet for the “Cars 3” world premiere on Saturday, June 10, 2017. The “Road to the Races” nationwide tour wraps up in California with a visit to NASCAR at the Sonoma Raceway June 24-25, 2017. For information, visit 
I’m sometimes distracted while driving. You’ll never find me putting mascara on while driving with my knee or brushing my teeth in the car, and I don’t text and drive. However, because I’m such a busy mom, I am forced to “multi-task” and do things while I’m on the road. Some of my distractions include: drinking my coffee, eating on-the-go, or making phone calls (using Bluetooth, of course). Regardless of the type of distractions, no distractions are the ideal situation when it comes to being safe while driving.
Have you heard of 
I was all over that opportunity. Navdy sits on your car’s dashboard, right in front of you, allowing you to stay connected to your network, your car, and the road, all at the same time. It’s the first device of its kind, projecting information into the distance so the road remains in focus.
Navdy was very simple to set up and install in my car, with the HUD installed on the dashboard and the Navdy dial, your main tool for interacting with the device, easily accessible on your steering wheel. The system is compatible with both iPhone and Android, and you begin by downloading the Navdy app. Using the app, you walk through installation, in addition to looking through the illustrated installation guide.
Since the system connects wirelessly with your phone, it allows you quick and direct access to your phone apps as well as your contacts. Once Navdy is set up and installed in your car, it enables simple, gesture-based access to the phone functions drivers need most and projects everything directly in your line of sight over the road ahead.
You can customize the display to include info such as speed limit, MPG, fuel range, directions, RPM, compass, calendar alerts, and more. They system is a comprehensive eyes-forward solution allowing drivers to manage all their phone necessities while keeping their eyes on the road.
Not only do I feel like Navdy is the best new solution for busy adults like myself, but it also seems like something I would insist my teenage driver utilize in the car. Don’t you agree? We want the safest possible scenario for our children, especially when they are new drivers and there are so many possible distractions that might take away from their eyes staying on the road.
Navdy is a truly effective way to minimize your distractions in the car and complies with all of the new hands-free driving laws. This award-winning technology system is currently offered at the great price of $499, or as low as $28/month for 18 months at 0% financing and includes free shipping to the U.S. and Canada. It’s a great price for something that’s helping to ensure the safety of you and your family in the car.
For my 1st graders. it was easier for me to break it down and teach them 3 main things about Memorial Day that I felt were most important for them to know.
Memorial Day is such an important topic to talk to children about, both at school and at home. Above all, because of the sacrifice our soldiers and their families make, America is the “Home of the Free, because of the Brave!”
If you aren’t familiar with Knott’s Soak City, it’s Orange County’s largest family water park, located adjacent to Knott’s Berry Farm Park, in the heart of Buena Park. The park just finished going through an extensive 2-acre expansion and renovation, which included the addition of 7 new slides and 2 slide towers, Shore Break and The Wedge. Along with the renovation came an upgrade to the landscaping of the park, which now looks like somewhat of a tropical oasis. More cabanas, available for rental) have also been added to the park, as well as additional shady areas and expanded seating. 
Grand Re-Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Immediately following the ribbon cutting, we headed directly over to try out the first of the new rides: The Wedge. This thrilling ride takes families with up to 6 riders, on an open-raft ride as they descend down navigating hair-raising twists, turns, and unexpected dips.
My girls rode in the inaugural raft of The Wedge that morning and absolutely loved it! They loved it so much that they immediately went back on, dragging me on with them. I loved it too!
Next, we hit up Shore Break, which is the other new group of slides that were part of the expansion. Shore Break includes 6 new slides. First, there are 4 slides that will take single riders on an adrenaline-filled water adventure as thrill-seekers board one of four Aqua Launch chambers to await the chamber’s floor dropping from beneath their feet sending them on a high speed free fall down a 60-foot tall slide and through a series of exhilarating drops and daring loops. Also part of Shore Break are two dueling tube slides which will have riders zipping through adventurous drops and turns as they soak up the warm summer sun.
In addition to the newest areas at Soak City, we also had tons of fun relaxing on the Lazy River, playing in Tidal Wave Bay wave pool, and hanging out at Beach House, waiting for the big red bucket to dump on us!
If you have small children, you’ll want to be sure to visit the Gremmie Lagoon area too.
With all of the new things to check out at Knott’s Soak City, in addition to this summer’s Ghost Town Alive! At Knott’s Park, there’s never been a better time to grab a Knott’s Gold Pass! A Gold Pass includes unlimited 2017 admission to both Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Waterpark. Gold Season Passes can be purchased online starting at $117.00 or 6 easy payments of $19.50. Applicable taxes and fees apply. Please note: the Season Pass payment plan is only available online at knotts.com
This year my daughter just wanted a “Girls Day Out” at the mall with her friends. I think they’re at the age where they want to be out and be seen. She requested lunch and shopping and “just hanging out”. I thought of something super fun to add to her day….I booked a BFF birthday photo session for the girls at Blink, Inc,! (She absolutely loved it when we visited last year.) She was ecstatic when I told her about the addition to our plans for the day!
Blink, Inc. is a photo studio staffed with professional photographers that are ready to photograph you the moment you walk in. It was so easy to make this fit in with our party schedule, you just go online to their site and choose a time and date at the location that works best for you, and book an appointment to go into their studio.
Blink, Inc.studio is already set up with an all-white, blank backdrop, giving you images that look and feel like a professional, editorial fashion shoot. The lighting is set up to make everyone look their best! (They even flashed out MY wrinkles!)
The photographers at the studio are experienced and will work with you ,not only to make it a fun experience but also to assure you get the images you envisioned in your head. Our photographer talked with us a little bit before we started and we showed her some of the props we brought for the shoot and gave her ideas of what I was looking for.
You’ll want to come into the studio with an idea of what you’re going to do because shoots go by very quickly. We brought tiny party hats with us, a “Birthday Girl” button, and some confetti, to use as props in some of the pictures. Our photographer, got a lot of cute shots though, most without props. I love that the girls were just dressed as their regular, everyday tween selves because their littler personalities really showed in the photos.
Sessions at Blink, Inc can be scheduled for 10, 20, 30 minutes, or even longer, and start at just $25 for a 10 minute session. You’re able to see your photos as they’re shot, because Blink, Inc. offers a real-time delivery system. Pricing for images begins at $10/image with the option to purchase the entire shoot at a great “Buy All” price. Your images are delivered almost immediately to your computer or mobile device so you can view, download to share online and even print at home.
Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are always encouraged at Blink, Inc.. To learn more about the different types of sessions you can shoot at Blink, Inc. or to reserve your own in-studio appointment, please visit