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Lifestyle

The Santa Photo Experience (Including Pet Photo Night) and Other Holiday Happenings at Brea Mall

November 17, 2015 / Brea Mall, Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County

Come experience the joy and magic of the holiday season at Brea Mall! Santa can’t wait to greet children bringing him their holiday wishes. The Simon® Santa Photo Experience is now open and children can visit and be photographed with Santa through December 24 in Fountain Court, on the Lower Level near JCPenney and Nordstrom.

You can now save time and avoid the line with Santa by making an appointment! Just reserve your magical moment with Santa online by clicking here. For available hours, click here.

The popular Pet Photo Night will return to the Simon Santa Photo Experience at Brea Mall this year on Sunday, December 6 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Many pet owners view their pet as an integral member of the family and are just as committed in caring for their pets as their “human” family members. Pet Photo nights are hosted after regular mall closing and the set gets an extensive cleaning following the event to remove any potential risk to allergy sufferers. Reservations can be secured by clicking here.

The Simon Santa Photo Experience is again sponsored by Gymboree and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. With the highly-anticipated release of “Minions,” available on Digital HD on November 24 and on Blu-ray and DVD December 8. Come visit the Simon Santa Photo Experience and receive a fun-filled activity sheet and custom Minion holiday headband, pose for photos with the colorful Minions standee, and watch highlights from the movie.

Simon’s theme for Holiday 2015 is “Spread Love.” From the love of giving to those who matter, to children’s love of Santa, to celebrating love through holiday festivities with family and friends. Join Simon to experience the season’s good cheer with the best of holiday shopping and entertainment.

In addition to extra festive hours throughout the season, Brea Mall will also feature:

a Giving Tree from December 4-13, near Guest Services
a holiday photo booth experience on select weekends in December
Kidgits Sunrise with Santa on December 5 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
giftwrapping from December 11-24 on the lower level near Macy’s Women’s store in support of the Simon Youth Foundation.

Guests to every Noerr set will have another opportunity to share Santa’s heart by making a donation via The Noerr Programs to Save the Children. For nearly 100 years, this non-profit has given underserved children in the U.S. a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Since this program began four years ago, Noerr has collected over $978,000 largely due to the generosity of Simon shoppers. This season, Noerr will pass the $1,000,000 milestone.

For more information, visit Brea Mall on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images and logos property of Simon & Noerr.

It’s Beginning to Look a LOT Like Christmas at The Triangle in Costa Mesa

November 11, 2015 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County

Have you checked out The Triangle in Costa Mesa, yet? This lifestyle and entertainment center, is conveniently located at the end of the 55 Freeway, where Newport Blvd., Harbor Blvd. and 19th Street intersect.

With the upcoming holidays, school breaks and even El Nino, The Triangle is a great place for families to spend an entire day together. Bring the family to enjoy such activities as brunch at La Vida Cantina, a movie, bowling at the hip and fun Tavern + Bowl (where you can link your social media accounts to share your bowling scores), dinner at Saddle Ranch Chop House (oversize cotton candy and bull rides, anyone?) and even a stop at Creamistry (opening this weekend) for a shake or custom nitrogen ice cream creation, or a latte or Affogato for mom and dad! (Or make it a date night and end the evening at Sutra!)

The Triangle in Costa Mesa has decked its halls for the holidays. Visitors at the center will now enjoy the sights and sounds of the season with festive decorations and holiday music.

Decorations include:

3,300 white lights illuminating 19 palm trees surrounding The Triangle along Newport and Harbor Boulevards
100 ft. of green garland adorned with red bows wrapping 10 light standards along Newport Blvd. on the upper level of The Triangle
100 ft. of green garland adorned with white lights and 15 large red bows and draped in swags around The Triangle’s rotundas on Newport Blvd. at 19th Street and Newport Blvd. and Harbor Blvd.
Eight green wreaths as big as 6 feet across, adorned with silver balls and red bows and lit with white lights
Snowflakes illuminating the inside of The Triangle’s rotunda off Harbor and on the upper level near Black Knight.

Located in the heart of Costa Mesa, The Triangle is a 200,000 square foot lifestyle center, providing popular dining, entertainment and services, including a car wash on the first level of the parking structure. The Triangle The center offers seven levels of free parking, as well as a Valet on the first level near Tavern + Bowl.

For more information about The Triangle, visit the center on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. All images and logos property of The Triangle.

Laughter Keeps You Young! Juvederm From CosmetiCare’s Medspa Helps Too Though!

November 9, 2015 / Beauty & Pampering, Lifestyle

Disclosure: I am part of CosmetiCare’s Mom Ambassador Program. I received medspa services in order to write my review. All opinions are 100% my own.

It’s no secret that I love to laugh and giggle. Personally, I believe that laughter keeps you young! There’s no substitute for a good laugh, especially laughing with someone else! However, as I’ve gotten older, laugh lines on my face have gotten more visible. Aging is my least favorite thing in the world! I feel like every time I look in the mirror, there’s another new wrinkle or something new that bothers me about my face.

Up until recently, I actually had “parenthesis” on my face. Yep, parenthesis…like one on each side of my mouth! I’m NOT ok with that! Parenthesis belong on your paper and not around your mouth!

As part of CosmetiCare’s Mom Ambassador program, I scheduled an appointment at their world-class MedSpa for some Juvederm injections in my “parenthesis” area. It’s more visible on the left side of my mouth and mostly when I’m not smiling. I guess I should just keep smiling then, right?

Before moving forward with the injections, I chatted with Kat, the technician, and we talked about what to expect. Juvederm is a When you receive Juvederm injections, the area you’re targeting is almost instantly transformed, allowing you to see results right away.

Kat explained told me that she’d be injecting the lines next to my mouth and filling them in, but that they wouldn’t be completly gone, in order to maintain a somewhat natural look and also so that your face doesn’t end up looking too full.

She gave me some ice first, to kind of numb the area. Honestly, none of it hurt so when you’re looking at my expression in this picture, I’m actually just joking!

When Kat was finished injecting, the lines were almost all gone. It was a HUGE improvement and I was so happy with my results!

Do you have any areas on your face with lines that could use a little filling in? If you don’t love the way you look, maybe you should look into getting some Juvederm at CosmetiCare’s MedSpa. Schedule a complimentary consultation with one of their technicians by calling 949.537.2381.

Connect with CosmetiCare on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Fill Out Your Wish List and Head on Over to Irvine Park Railroad’s Christmas Train To See Santa! Tickets Now On Sale!

November 3, 2015 / Family Fun, Irvine Park Railroad, Lifestyle, Orange County

‘Tis the season once again for Irvine Park Railroad’s annual Christmas Train. This year they’re celebrating their 20th year! Beginning Friday, November 27th through Wednesday, December 23rd you’re invited to visit with friends and family to take an enchanting night ride through historic Irvine Regional Park to meet Santa Claus. The train departs every 15 minutes from the brightly-lit train station and drops passengers off at “The North Pole“. If you’ve never been, it’s an experience you won’t want to miss.

Christmas Train tickets may only be purchased online and in advance to ride the train at a specific date and time. Once you purchase your tickets, you’ll have a specific date and time to arrive at the station, get in line, and board the train any time during the hour for which you purchase tickets. Tickets can be purchased beginning November 1st. It’s important to note that they may not be purchased in person. Visit http://www.IrvineParkRailroad.com for more details.

Visitors may take their own pictures with Santa or you may purchase a picture taken by Irvine Park Railroad. Each 5” x 7” photo will be presented with an Irvine Park Railroad border and available for pickup shortly after being taken.

At the North Pole, visitors may purchase coffee, hot chocolate, freshly-popped popcorn, hot pretzels and cookies from the Elf House Snack Bar. A full kitchen menu is also available at the train station.

After visiting with Santa, hop back aboard the train and enjoy the colorful Christmas lights and decorations, as well as the magical “Tunnel of Lights”, on the ride back to the station.

In addition to riding The Christmas Train, there are many other activities for children to enjoy in Santa’s Village, which is located next to the train station. Stop by before or after your ride aboard the train. Children’s activities will open one hour prior to when the Christmas Train runs and include:

Story Time with Mrs. Claus
Christmas Cookie Decorating
Carnival Games
Ice Fishing
Santa Claus Moon Bounce
Christmas Coloring Corner
Picture Stands

Prices for activities in Santa’s Village vary. For additional information and costs, go here.

Irvine Park Railroad’s Christmas Tree Ranch
Also beginning the day after Thanksgiving, families will be able to purchase Christmas trees at Irvine Park Railroad. Visitors will be able to choose Douglas fir, Noble fir, and Grand fir trees ranging in height from 4′ to 12′. Christmas tree stands, preservatives, tree disposal bags, wreaths, and garland will also be available for sale. The Christmas Tree Ranch is open daily at 10:00 am beginning Friday, November 27th through Wednesday, December 23rd. Families can walk the Christmas Tree Ranch to find their perfect Christmas tree. Irvine Park Railroad staff will help you load your Christmas Tree into/onto your car.

If you’d like, you can print out this Wish List to fill out and bring with you to deliver to Santa himself! Just click on the image above and print out!

As a special way of saying “Happy Holidays”, Irvine Park Railroad is providing me with a Christmas Train Prize package to give away to one of my lucky readers which will include 4 Christmas Train Tickets, 4 Activity Tickets, and 1 Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park Bike Rental (excludes the double surrey). Enter to win on the Rafflecopter below. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Connect with Irvine Park Railroad on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram too.

This is not a sponsored post. I was invited to attend a media night in exchange for sharing about the event. All opinions are 100% my own. Some images and logo are property of Irvine Park Railroad.

Kidgits Boo Bash on 10/24 and Trick or Treating on Halloween at The Shops at Mission Viejo! @ShopsMV

October 21, 2015 / Celebrations, Family Fun, Holiday Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County, The Shops at Mission Viejo

Spiders, bats, black cats and more… Let’s see what Halloween has in store! Your favorite little ghosts and goblins are invited to The Shops at Mission Viejo for a fun and safe event at the Boo Bash on Saturday, October 24. Children of all ages are encouraged to sport their best Halloween costume to haunt The Shops at Mission Viejo in search of Halloween fun.

The Shops at Mission Viejo Halloween event, presented by the Simon Kidgits Club, takes place from 10a.m. to noon on the Lower Level, near H&M and Old Navy. You can join in on Halloween themed crafts, giveaways, and more. Get ready for spells and potions at an entertaining magic show from magicIAN, which starts at 10:30 a.m.

Families are also invited to return to The Shops at Mission Viejo for trick-or-treating at participating retailers on Saturday, October 31 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., though hours vary by retailer. Here is a list of participating retailers:
Mall Trick or Treating is from 10am to 7pm, on October 31. Here is a list of participating Retailers:

APEX by SUNGLASS HUT—- Candy

BANDEX WATCHES—- Candy

BEAUTY POINT—- Hair Serum

BRIGHTON COLLECTABLES—- Candy

BUILD-A-BEAR—- Candy

CARLTON HAIR—- Candy

THE CHILDREN”S PLACE—- Tattoos and Stickers

DESTINATION MATERNITY—- Candy

FARRELL’S ICE CREAM PARLOUR—- Candy

FAST FIX JEWELRY AND WATCH REPAIR—- Candy

FASHION NAILS—- Candy

FIRST CUTS 4 KIDS—- Candy

FRANCESCA’S COLLECTIONS—- Candy

GYMBOREE—- Stickers

IRENE’S STORY—- Candy

JANIE & JACK—- Stickers

LONDON COIN GALLERIES—- Foreign Coins and Candy

LUCKY BRAND CLOTHING—- Candy

LULU BELLA BOUTIQUE—- Candy

MICROSOFT—- Candy

MUSCLE BEACH—- Candy

OPTIMUS TOYS—- Candy

OPTOMETRY AT THE SHOPS—- Candy

RUBY’S DINER—- Candy

POTTERY BARN KIDS—- Goodies

SEE’S CANDY—- Candy

SKETCHERS—- Candy

SKIN 63—- Candy

STARBUCKS—- Candy

SWEET FACTORY—- Candy

TEAVANA—- Tea if in Costume

TOMMY BAHAMA—- Candy

TRUFFLE CAKE CO. —- Candy

THE WALKING COMPANY—- Candy
Guests can stop by Guest Services to pick up a flyer with specific store participation and information on candy distribution times of retailers.

Note: Toy weapons and costumes should be worn only during event hours and masks are allowed only on children 12 years old and younger.

Connect with The Shops at Mission Viejo on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

About Simon Kidgits Club:

The Simon Kidgits Club is a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children ages 3-8. The Simon Kidgits Club has kept children and parents alike amused for over a decade with various events and activities while providing incentives for club members, such as special offers, rewards and games.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own.

7 Reasons YOU Should Go To Brick-or-Treat Party Nights At LEGOLAND® California Resort

October 15, 2015 / Family Fun, LEGOLAND, Lifestyle, San Diego

LEGOLAND® California’s Brick-or-Treat Party Nights are well under way and we’ve already been two weekends in a row! Yep, we loved it so much the opening weekend that we returned last weekend for a 2nd time! The not-too-spooky Halloween party in the park welcomes guests of all ages to enjoy extra special time in the park, from 5 to 9 p.m. but guests who purchased wristbands, can actually enter the park starting at 4 p.m. LEGOLAND is only a hop, skip & a jump from Orange County and Los Angeles, so it’s not a bad drive at all!

Brick-or-Treat Party Nights tickets are offered at a great price!

For being the biggest kids’ Halloween celebration in San Diego , Brick-or-Treat Party Nights ticket is offered at a great price! If you just want to attend the event, itself, from 5 to 9 p.m., it’s $45 per person if you buy it that day at LEGOLAND. However, you can also buy tickets online and in advance for $35, which is highly recommended.

If you are already visiting the park for the day, you to add the event to your ticket, at Guest Services, for just $20. more ticket to yours for just
Passholders are also offered Brick-or-Treat ticktets at a discount. California Annual Pass and Merlin Annual Pass Standard Members can upgrade to purchase a Brick-or-Treat Party Nights event ticket at a discounted price, while event admission is free for Merlin Annual Pass Premium Members, Ambassador and Ambassador Resort Members.

Everyone is welcome to dress up AND there’s a COOL costume contest with prizes!

It’s fun to have the option of dressing up for the occasion with the entire family! I saw all kinds of costumes in the park, ranging from really intricate ones to simple costumes. I also saw people in regular clothes or just wearing a Halloween shirt. Overall, it’s a fun and casual environment and because it’s in Southern California & it’s beautiful weather regardless. (I recommend bringing a light jacket.)

The Costume Contest is open to children 12 and under. Guests must be present at the Miniland Stage at the scheduled time for your registered costume contest category. A new contest for each of the three category themes will be held each Brick-or-Treat Party Night in October 3,10, 17, 24, 30 from 5pm-9pm. Participants must sign up at the registration table in the Model Shop Alcove no later than 15 minutes before each contest starts.

There’s REALLY GOOD trick-or-treating and an all-new Candy Quest interactive adventure!

You can grab an empty bag at one of the candy stations and fill it up! There are stations located throughout the park, as well as 2 BONUS treat stations inside SEA LIFE® Aquarium, which is also part of this event. Look for the “Boo Crew” as they will be handing out treats to guests including: a Brick-or-Treat Commemorative Brick, a Brick-or-Treat Hat, a LEGO® Magazine, a LEGO® City Collector Magazine, Clif Kids, Clif Kid Z-Bar, and a Shutterfly^®promotional card.

You also won’t want to miss the all-new Candy Quest, which is located inside of Adventurers Club! It’s an interactive walk through where kids will meet characters and receive more treats for their trick or treat bags!

This year there are new roaming candy carts this year, where kids can gather treats and other surprises from trail partners: Shutterfly^®, LEGO®, Clif Kids™, Honest Kids^®, Red Vines^®, SMARTCANDY^® and and Airheads^®.

Trick or Treat Tip: We spent the last 20 minutes just going from station to station and filling up our bags because by that time, there weren’t many people in lines!

You can still access all of the regular attractions!

Guests can enjoy all of the regular attractions during Brick-or-Treat Party Nights because they’re all open. There’s even a special Halloween version of “Coast Cruise” as it’s transformed into “Ghost Cruise” just for the event. Note: Splash Battle, Pirate Reef and Soak ~N~ Sail will be close at 6:00 pm each evening. (Some rides subject to ride closure)

LEGO^®Friends Heartlake City has a special Fall Festival!

If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit LEGOLAND California’s newest themed area, it’s called ” LEGO^®Friends Heartlake City” and it’s adorable! Young guests will find that some of their favorite LEGO sets have come to life!

For Brick-or-Treat Party Nights, Heartlake City is having a Fall Festival where you can enjoy a Bluegrass Band, LEGO Friends Meet and Greets, interactive, Not-So-Scary Storytelling at Village Theater, and a LEGO Pumpkin Patch Free Build inside Heartlake City Stables

There’s a TON of live entertainment and shows at Brick-or-Treat Party Nights!

Guests in the park can enjoy a special shows, hands on activities, and live entertainment during Brick-or-Treat Party Nights! There are two fun shows in the Courtyard Theater Stage on Castle Hill. “Mail Order Monsters” and “The Witchettes” have several shows each night. (see guide for times) Also enjoy “Monster Fighter Mash” and the Ultimate Dance Party over on Miniland Stage. Continue dancing the night away at Hubble Bubble’s Dance Party AND at Wanda’s Jellyfish Disco inside Sea Life Aquarium.

Throughout the park, there are roaming entertainers including stilt walkers, ball walkers, and even unicyclists.

It’s a chance to create more family memories together!

For me, the most important reason why I think you should attend Brick-or-Treat Party Nights this weekend is because it’s another chance for you to create more family memories together! I am all about making memories that will last a lifetime! Don’t forget to bring your camera because there are lots of photo opportunities in the park for your memory books!

There’s so much to see and do at LEGOLAND^® California Resort’s Brick-or-Treat Party Nights! Will YOU be attending this weekend? For more information and to purchase your tickets, click here.

Come Meet Olivia Rodrigo, star of the American Girl Movie, Saturday, 10/17, at Williams-Sonoma South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa!

October 14, 2015 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County, South Coast Plaza

Meet Olivia Rodrigo, star of the American Girl movie, “Grace Stirs Up Success” and Chef Amanda Haas, Williams-Sonoma’s Director of Culinary this Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Williams-Sonoma South Coast Plaza!

Williams-Sonoma is introducing a line of exclusive, branded products as part of the partnership the brand launched in June with American Girl. The new line includes a dedicated, hardcover cookbook, now available, called Baking-Recipes for Cookies, Cupcakes & More.

The illustrated book is 90 pages and contains 40 images with 30 recipes that complement the American Girl cooking classes Williams-Sonoma introduced this summer. The American Girl by Williams-Sonoma line ranges in price from $9.95 to $59.95 with products available at Williams-Sonoma. American Girl stores will also carry all non-food products from the line and at its retail stores nationwide, starting October 8.

In “Grace Stirs Up Success”, Grace has a special talent for baking and a passion for making delicious dreams come true and Williams-Sonoma aims to inspire cooks of all ages. Williams-Sonoma President, Janet Hayes comments, According to Williams-Sonoma President, Janet Hayes, the partnership between Williams-Sonoma and American Girl and the development of the product line is another exciting way that aims to engage the entire family in the kitchen.

At the in-store event, Amanda and Olivia will bake together and take questions from the audience with cookbook signing to follow. This fun baking demo and signing celebrates the product launch of Williams-Sonoma for American Girl.

This is a ticketed event. Secure a ticket by visiting Eventbrite or contacting the hosting store to purchase a ticket. Ticket price includes the new Williams-Sonoma cookbook, Baking-Recipes for Cookies, Cupcakes & More. All guests will also receive a copy of the American Girl DVD “Grace Stirs Up Success” as a bonus!

Williams-Sonoma South Coast Plaza is located inside at:
3333 Bear Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 540-1397

*Proof of purchase required. Returns prohibited. This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Images property of Williams-Sonoma and American Girl.

Southern California Great Wolf Lodge® Set to Open in February 2016! #GWLSoCal

October 11, 2015 / California, Family Fun, Great Wolf Lodge, Lifestyle, Orange County, Travel

Great Wolf Lodge® is opening in Southern California and our family is ecstatic! I was invited to take a hard hat tour of the newest location, which is currently under construction in Garden Grove and I’ve never seen anything like it! Great Wolf Lodge refers to themselves as the ultimate family vacation destination and I can see why! They pride themselves on providing quality accommodations, exceptional services, and a variety of amenities and entertainment all under one roof. The 603-room all-suite resort is going to WOW when they walk in!

At the start of the facility tour, I got to meet Wiley the Wolf, who is the official Great Wolf Lodge mascot. As I was During my hard hat tour, I felt like my mouth kept dropped open around every new corner! Seriously, I cannot wait for it to open!

The GIANT 105,000 square-foot indoor water park at Great Wolf Lodge is the most popular amenity for resort guests. Water park passes are already included in the cost of your stay and are exclusive for the guests staying at Great Wolf Lodge.

The water park itself is maintained at 84 degrees which means that weather will never affect your stay. Unique water slides and attractions will offer something for everyone.

The Howlin’ Tornado is the water park’s signature ride and is six stories tall! It sends riders swooshing up and down its enormous funnel before the final splash into the catch pool! I can’t wait to get on it!

Let’s talk about the accommodations! There are more than a handful of different suite options to choose from at Great Wolf. Each suite offers a complimentary coffee pot, microwave, and refrigerator. Families have plenty of room to spread out and relax and can choose the accommodations that best fit the size of their family.

Double Queen Suite – Features two queen beds and sleeps up to 4 guests.
Family Suite – Features two queen beds and a full sofa sleeper and sleeps up to 6 guests.
Wolf Den Suite – Features a queen bed, full sofa sleeper and a themed Wolf Den, complete with a set of bunk beds. Sleeps up to 6 guests.
KidCabin Suite – Features a queen bed, full sofa sleeper and a Great Wolf Kids-themed KidCabin complete with bunk beds and a twin bed. Sleeps up to 7 guests.
Grand Bear Suite – Features a private master bedroom with a king bed and a full bathroom. The main area includes two queen beds, a full sleeper sofa and a second bathroom. Sleeps up to 8 guests.
Great Bear Suite – Features two queen beds and a semi-private living room, complete with a private master bedroom with queen bed. Sleeps up to 6 guests.
Great Bear King – Features two queen beds and a semi-private living room, complete with a private master bedroom with king bed. Sleeps up to 6 guests.

The dining options at Great Wolf provide something for everyone in the family to enjoy. I like that Great Wolf not only acknowledges kids can be picky eaters but also offers options for guests with food allergies and have special dietary needs ,such as a gluten free diet. It’s something that moms can really appreciate as it isn’t often easy to dine out when your child has those kinds of needs.

Lodge Wood Fired Grill – A full serve a la carte restaurant open for lunch and dinner, with delectable shareables and unique signature items to create the perfect place to eat.
Hungry as a Wolf – Family meals on the go for lunch and dinner featuring fresh made pizza, sandwiches, salads, and pasta.
Bear Paw Sweets & Eats – A confectionary that offers a variety of treats, such as fresh-baked pastries, ice cream, lodge-made fudge and more.
Buckets Incredible Craveables – Located inside the water park, the casual menu offers burgers, hot dogs, french fries, cold beverages, ice cream, and more.
Loose Moose Family Kitchen – A buffet style restaurant, open for breakfast and dinner, that has options for the entire family.
Grizzly Jack’s Bar and Grill – Located by the outdoor water park, this is the place to refuel for more fun in the sun, offering a variety of food and drinks to choose from.
Dunkin’ Donuts – Located right inside the resort, this is America’s favorite all-day stop for coffee and baked goods.

Although most people are going to spend a lot of time at the water park, there are a ton of other attractions and entertainment to enjoy during a stay at Great Wolf Lodge including:

Character Appearances – Daily appearances with Wiley the Wolf and Violet the Wolf.
Story Time – The entire family can gather in the Grand Lobby each evening to hear a story about the Great Wolf Kids characters before bedtime.
Wolf Walk – Learn about the many animals and wildlife living in the Northwoods and make an origami wolf to take home.
MagiQuest – Battle dragons, befriend a pixie and wave a magic wand in this live-action adventure game throughout the resort. The games feature three unique chapters, each with their own challenges and quests.
The Great Wolf Kids Program – Daily activities for kids that take place around the resort, including dance parties, face painting, and games such as Wiley Bingo, Character Floor Memory, and Character Trivia.
Howly Wood XD Theater – This motion thrill ride transports riders directly into the movie action with every effect amplified, creating an unforgettable experience.
Howl at the Moon Mini Golf – 9-hole themed indoor miniature golf course.
Northern Lights Arcade – More than 100 interactive video and redemption games that allow guests to redeem points for prizes.
Scooops Kid Spa – A unique spa created for kids, complete with ice cream-themed manicures, pedicures, and more. Each service includes a real ice cream treat.
Ten Paw Alley – Family-style bowling with pint-sized bowling balls.
Clubhouse Crew – Interactive Scavenger hunt through the resort starring the Great Wolf Kids characters. It’s the perfect experience for the resort’s youngest guests.
Laser Frenzy – An exciting arcade-style game with the latest in touch and LED technology. Players can see who is fastest as they dart between the “laser beams”.

The Great Wolf Lodge Southern California also features over 20,000 sq. feet of meeting and banquet space. It’s the ideal location to host corporate meetings, youth excursions, family reunions, special occasions or more. With 12 separate and configurable meeting rooms, the resort’s team of experienced meeting professionals can create the perfect space to your needs.

Great Wolf Lodge Southern California is now accepting reservations for its newest location. You can book reservations for March 2016 through December 2016 by visiting http://www.greatwolf.com or calling 1-888-960-WOLF (9653).

So what are YOU most excited for at Great Wolf Lodge Southern California? My answer to that is “all of it!“

Connect with Great Wolf Lodge Southern California on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Friendly Ghosts, Delicious Treats and Tons of Not-So-Spooky Halloween Fun at Knott’s Spooky Farm! #KnottsSpookyFarm

October 7, 2015 / Knott's, Orange County, SoCal Fun

I was invited to attend a media day at Knott’s . No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Have you had a chance to check out Knott’s Spooky Farm yet? This year you can enjoy not-so-spooky daytime Halloween fun, throughout the park, every weekend in October! There are so many things to see and do and it’s all focused on Halloween cheer rather than fear! Activities are geared towards children ages 3-11 but I’m *29 and had the best time there last weekend!

Here are some of the cool things you’ll find at Knott’s Spooky Farm this year:

Ghost Town Trick or Treating – Kids will have so much fun trick or treating in Calico Ghost Town. They’ll encounter a different friendly ghost at each station and receive a special treat from them! Be sure to bring a trick or treat bag or bucket!

Creepy Crawler Cabin – Explore creepy crawlers and other things that’ll make your skin crawl in the Creepy Crawler Cabin, located inside the Pony Express Outpost in Ghost Town. There are even opportunities to touch some of them if you’re extra nice to the resident there…a witch!

“The Monster Are Coming, Charlie Brown!” Show – Over in the Camp Spooky Theater, located inside Camp Snoopy, you can catch one of the daily shows of this musical production, starring some of your favorite Peanuts characters. Snoopy’s Costume Contest and Dance Party – Sign up to enter the costume contest held in the Camp Spooky Theater. Guests (under age 12) in costumes who enter have the chance to win fun prizes. Note: Adults are not permitted to wear costumes in the park.

Spooky Hollow Maze – Travel through a spooky forest with gigantic jack-o-lanterns and you might even encounter the Headless Horseman. For a nominal fee, you can decorate your own pumpkin after you exit the maze. Monster Masquerade Ball – Join in on some karaoke fun at the Monster Masquerade Ball! Kids can sing along with their favorite songs and also choose a Halloween mask to color and decorate and take home.

See? I told you there’s a ton of stuff to see and do at Knott’s Spooky Farm! I love that they’ve made this family friendly Halloween celebration a park-wide event this year because we also spent time going on all of our favorite attractions, too! All of the Knott’s Spooky Farm fun is already included in the price of your regular park ticket! Why not consider getting a Knott’s 2016 Season Pass? Right now it includes one 2015 visit, which you could use for a day at Knott’s Spooky Farm! For more information about Season Passes, click here. You can also purchase your Knott’s tickets online at a discount. To purchase yours, click here.

A very special thank you to Knott’s for hosting us for a very fun day in the park.