I recently had the opportunity to visit Kaiser Permanente Orange County (in Irvine) for the first time and experience it through the eyes of a new patient. The KP Experience” is on boarding experience for new members as a way to get familiar with Kaiser Permanente.
What to expect as a new member
Your first visit includes assistance with such things as the check-in process and the scheduling system. On that same visit, you actually meet with your primary care doctor to get to know them and allow them to go over your health and medical history. 
As a new member in a network, health care can sometimes seem hard to navigate, especially when it’s new-to-you health care. There are often different offices or labs to visit. Even having to drive to a pharmacy after an appointment can be another task. Did you know that most Kaiser Permanente Orange County locations include a pharmacy, a lab, X-ray services and more? During my visit, they literally walked me through everything and were so happy to answer any questions I had.
There are locations throughout Orange County, as far north as Brea and as far south as San Juan Capistrano, which include Tustin Ranch, Foothill Ranch and the new Radiation Oncology Center located at the Anaheim Medical Center. 
KP members have easy access to services they need. Along with primary care, urgent care, emergency care, and labor and delivery, they have access to a wide choice of specialty services. Busy families need convenience, and it’s simple to find the care your family needs at Kaiser Permanente Orange County
My Own KP Visit
Upon arrival, I noticed how soothing the decor and design was in the lobby. They brought elements of the outdoors inside. I especially enjoyed the artwork and murals throughout the building. As you walk around the buildings and courtyards, it’s evident that Kaiser is big on preventative care and healthy living as there are many signs with encouraging messages for good health on them. 
I was quickly checked in at the main desk but I also learned you can access all of it on their app as well. (continue reading to learn more about their app) After I was called into the office, I first sat to chat with the nurse while she took my vitals. They take the utmost precautions to preserve patient confidentiality. I like that you’re not just sitting out in the open, answering private questions about your healthy history, for all to hear.
Once I was placed in the room, my doctor came in promptly and introduced herself. As a new patient, this first visit is done with the doctor that’s going to be your primary care doctor. I loved how thorough my doctor she was and I never felt rushed during my visit.
Did you know that at Kaiser Permanente Orange County, you can actually choose your own doctor? I think sometimes people have the wrong perception and think that you must stay with the primary care doctor they’re assigned to initially, but that’s not true. You can go to KP.org and search the doctors according to their personality and experience to find the best fit for you.
Going above and beyond traditional office visits
I loved the doctor I was put with so I don’t think I’d switch from her. In addition to traditional in-office visits, Kaiser Permanente also offers video visits with doctors, telephone appointments, and new clinics and a conveniences for their members. Also, primary care doctors can make referrals in office that are pre-approved which means there’s no waiting around for that authorization call after your referral to a specialist. It saves everyone so much time and waiting around. In this day and age, convenience is key and a necessity.
A KP mobile app
Wow! They even have a mobile app where kp.org members can schedule routine appointments, view their past office visit information, refill most of their prescriptions, and view most of the lab test results. Whether it’s at home, at work, in the grocery store, wherever, you can access all of that from your mobile device.
As a health care provider, Kaiser Permanente has been recognized consistently for providing high-quality care by reputable organizations, such as JD Power & Associates, the Leapfrog organization, U. S. News & World Report, WomenCertified and many others.
To learn more about Kaiser Permanente Orange County, visit http://www.kp.org/orangecounty. Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter, too.
Ontario Mills® is California’s largest outlet and value retail shopping destination. Set in an indoor climate-controlled mall, it provides the ultimate shopping experience for visitors and has the biggest names in men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, jewelry, sporting goods, footwear and more. There are over 200 stores to choose from there plus a variety of eateries. 
Here are just some of the stores you’ll find at Ontario Mills®:
Since I have a daughter who loves shopping, she kept me on my toes by wanting to stop and shop in all of her favorite places. I now know what they mean when they say “Shop ’til you drop”! 
You’re guaranteed to work up an appetite while you’re there. If you’re interested in full-service restaurants, you’ll find Market Broiler and Rainforest Cafe. There’s also a giant big food court area where you can grab something a little quicker and sit down to enjoy it.
With the way that styles and trends change so quickly, I’m grateful to have a center like Ontario Mills which offers fashion at great prices. Then it doesn’t seem so devastating when something goes out of style after only a few months, and you need to go buy new things. 
I highly suggest you set aside an entire day when you visit Ontario Mills because you’ll probably want to spend an entire day there like we did. I wasn’t sure where to start so we just started on one end and worked our way through the stores. There’s also a Dave & Buster’s and a GameWorks inside, as well as the Improv Comedy Club & Dinner Theatre and an AMC 30 Theatres. See? I told you they have everything at Ontario Mills®!
Prior to the first day of school, I’ve usually spent several days of my summer break working on my classroom. I always want it to be perfect for my students. There are pencils to sharpen, name tags to personalize, bulletin boards to put up and so more.
Once the new school year gets under way, I still find myself spending extra hours after school each week, in my classroom. It just seems like there’s always something that needs to be done.
I’ve read a lot about self-care lately and am learning the importance of doing so. It’s important to take time out for yourself during the workday, even if it’s just 5 or 10 minutes at a time. My skipping lunch to work isn’t something I should be allowing to happen and I’m going to change it, in addition to some other things
I was so touched when I received a special teacher care package, filled with goodies, from Udderly Smooth®! It was so thoughtful of them to send it to me and several of my teacher friends. Have you heard of their products? They are beyond moisturizing and have the most adorable packaging! I love cows! Also, all of the products are made in the USA!
The first thing I reached for when I opened the package was the cow stress ball. Stress balls are like the world’s best invention. Kids love them too! It’s definitely something I will utilize in my classroom often!
These products couldn’t have come at a better time because keeping my hands moisturized at work is something else I am totally lagging on. I must wash my hands at least 100 times a day, as I’m always coming in contact with little ones. Ok, that might be a slight exaggeration but keeping my skin moisturized needs to be another priority at work.
I put together a list of the things I’m going to try to work on this year at school. I’m going to keep this list on my desk as a friendly reminder and daily check list. I’m there to teach, create, and inspire…but I also need to take care of me!
What are some of the things you need to do to take better care of yourself? Maybe you could make a declaration of those things like I did. 
I don’t know if it was more difficult to get her back-to-school look right (since moms don’t seem to know what’s cool) or to grab a decent picture of her in the outfit? Luckily, we finally got her look and the picture! What do you think? Adorable, in my opinion! 
It’s kind of funny to look at the fashion trends for back to school this year because they remind me of when was in high school! Lots of denim, including denim jackets and acid wash jeans, lace, plaids, chunky boots, preppy pieces, florals, and the best part is that they call a lot of it “vintage”.
Champs – Every kid needs tennis shoes. Some wear them every day as school shoes, some kids change into them for P.E. They have a huge selection of shoes in sizes ranging from toddler to adult. Champs also has t-shirts, shorts, workout wear, hats, athletic socks, and more. 
Charlotte Russe – The first thing that caught my daughter’s eye were the shoes! They had a big selection of the ankle boots that I used to wear. They also have a ton of denim choices and adorable tops and jackets. We found a lot of things to buy for school here. 
Claire’s – If you’re a “girl mom” you probably already know about Claire’s. It’s more than just the place to get your ears pierced, it’s the ultimate accessory shop. They have a huge selection of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, hair accessories, backpacks and purses, phone cases and holders, tablet covers, stickers, nail polishes and lip glosses and more! The girls were all over the sparkly pineapple accessories!
Well, as you can see, we had a lot of luck during our back to school shopping! Have you finished all of yours yet?
Since I’m also a mom, things like dirty hands and faces or runny noses don’t bother me when I’m in the classroom. I do, however, place importance on cleanliness both at home and in my classroom. I’m really particular about the products I choose, always trying to find cleaners that don’t contain chemicals. I know that I don’t want my daughter coming in contact with harmful chemicals and I”m sure my students’ parents want the same thing for them! 
In my classroom, we like to do art whenever it fits into a school day. Since we don’t have a sink in the room, I have to be creative with cleaning and hand/face washing, especially during art. I truly believe that art is supposed to be messy and I’m Ok with it. 
I was excited to learn about WaterWipes. Have you heard of them yet? They are chemical-free baby wipes that only contain two ingredients: 99.9% pure Irish water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract. I found mine at Babies R’ Us near the diapers and wipes. I carry around baby wipes with me at all times and use them for everything. For a store locator, go 
WaterWipes are just the perfect kind to keep on hand in my classroom though. I appreciate brands that are considerate about the ingredients they choose to include in their products.
I’ve found WaterWipes to be both durable and effective for cleaning up classroom messes and little first graders’ hands, without containing any of the harmful chemicals that may be found in other baby wipes. I’m looking out for my students so I choose WaterWipes as a safer, natural option for my classroom cleanup regimen.
Right now, you can enter to win one of five (5) $100 Babies”R”Us gift cards. You can enter below through August 18, 2016. Winners will be randomly selected from all of the entries. Good luck everyone!
Park guests can enjoy the convenience of the App in the Park by connecting to the FREE Resort wifi. This will definitely help with your phone roaming and draining the battery so quickly. Having in-park wifi is so much more efficient.
You can download the app for free and it’s compatible with iOS and Andriod devices. Your visit to the LEGOLAND California Resort will be easier when you have control in the palm of your hand! When is your next trip?
Right now when you visit the Park, you get to experience the Old West town of Calico, in a whole new way during Ghost Town Alive! It’s an interactive experience and will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a time capsule, as you join in on the daily lives of the citizens of Calico and are treated like one of their own. 
Here are just some of the fun activities you’ll should do while visiting Ghost Town:
While you’re at Knott’s, you should also take a ride (or a few) on GhostRider, the longest, fastest and tallest wooden rollercoaster on the West Coast. It was recently re-opened after an extensive renovation and I speak from experience when I say, you NEED to go on it! It’s way smoother to ride now and kept me screaming the entire time! Watch this video of me braving GhostRider, along with my friends from 
Connect with
I get excited for family road trips. It’s the chance to get away, see new places, and explore together. Slowly but surely, we’re checking states off of our map. We’ve visited beaches, deserts, theme parks, farms, and so many other fun places, Some of our road trips are just local ones, but a getaway is a getaway, right?
Getting the Car Ready
Right now, through September 28, you can get an oil change with 
It’s a motor oil specifically designed for new or late model vehicles with over 75,000 miles, with the mission of keeping engines running clean and going strong. If your vehicle has less than 75,000 miles on it, you’ll want to 
Stocking up the Car
Here are some of the things I never go on a road trip without:
Kid-Friendly Road Trip Activities 
The thought of a road trip can sometimes be so ideal in your head, before you actually get on the road, but hearing things like, “How many more minutes?” or “Are we almost there?” from the little people in the backseat, can drive you nuts! I sometimes think kids must teach each other these phrases because they all seem to say it. 
In “the olden days”, when I was a kid, our options included: staring out the window or playing the license plate game. I wanted to be a little more creative than that. I suppose this version of “Road Trip BINGO” is just a modernized version of the license plate game, except I’ve upped the game…I added a prize! They have one card to share, which is supposed to promote “working together” and when they get “BINGO”, they get to choose where we stop for our next treat. Seems like a win-win for me, don’t you think? I printed two different cards, so they could play again on the way home! I figure it’ll buy me at least a little bit of time without having to hear those annoying questions. Check out my two favorite parts on the BINGO game. I circled them for you! 