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Lifestyle

Clorox® Bleach Crystals™ and Clorox® Bleach Packs™ Are This Cheer Mom’s Dream Come True! #TotalBleachControl

July 24, 2015 / Cleaning Tips, Motherhood

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TotalBleachControl #CollectiveBias

We stay extremely busy and do a lot of running around. Whether it’s getting to work, school, after school activities, sports practices or play dates, I often feel like I don’t stop moving. I also sometimes feel like I don’t ever get anything done around the house, especially the laundry. I’ve got major “Busy Mom Problems”!

I recently discovered some new & wonderful Clorox® products that I swear were invented specifically for moms like me! Have you tried Clorox® Bleach Crystals™ and Clorox® Bleach Packs™ yet? Well, they are like a mom’s laundry dream come true! Seriously, these products are both water activated and only start working when you want them to. The water activated component takes the fear out of using bleach because there are no more spills, splashes or bleach damage to my clothing! Both the packs and the crystals are compact and easy to store, too.

My personal favorite of the two are the Clorox® Bleach Packs™ because not only is there no bleach pouring required, you also don’t have to measure anything.
Just toss one little bleach pack in with the load in your washer and walk away without worrying! Clorox® Bleach Packs™ are literally game changers for me and I’m going to tell you why!

One of my biggest pet peeves is when my daughter can’t find a pair of clean, matching white socks. She has to have bright white socks for cheer practice and competitions and there’s nothing worse than watching her search the house for socks and hearing her say that she doesn’t have any clean ones! I buy her so many socks that there’s no way she doesn’t have any!

I know I can always find some socks for her in her cheer backpack…DIRTY socks! It can be frustrating because I often ask her to toss the dirty socks into the hamper so I can wash them. However, now I feel more confident knowing these Clorox® Bleach Packs™ will come to my rescue and get the socks bright white again, the way her cheer coaches demand they be! It’s a lot of pressure to be a cheer mom! (Ok, I may be exaggerating a bit!) I feel like I could jump for joy over how white her socks get with these. I think I’ll let the cheerleader do the jumping though!

I found both the Clorox® Bleach Crystals™ and Clorox® Bleach Packs™ in the laundry aisle at Walmart. They were right near the other Clorox® bleach products. So easy to find!

So, are YOU ready to incorporate Clorox® Bleach Crystals™ and Clorox® Bleach Packs™ into your laundry routine? To learn more about Clorox® products and to find a coupon for your next purchase, click here.

Connect with Clorox on Facebook and Twitter.

LEGOLAND’s Limited Time Ticket Offer (Save Up to $20 PLUS 2nd Day FREE) and New Reserve ‘N’ Ride!

July 23, 2015 / Family Fun, LEGOLAND, Lifestyle, San Diego

Have you heard the latest exciting news coming from the LEGOLAND® California Resort? For a limited time only, they’re offering $20 off a Resort Hopper ticket, PLUS a 2nd day free, when you reserve 7+ days in advance. (Save $5 PLUS a 2nd day FREE when you book 2-6 days in advance.)

This special pricing is offered exclusively online to guests.

The Resort Hopper includes admission to:

LEGOLAND® California
SEA LIFE®Aquarium
LEGOLAND Water Park

Hurry up and grab this offer though, before time runs out! Click here to purchase your Resort Hoppers!

Note: Date of visit must be selected in order to receive savings. Ticket must be used on date selected at time of purchase. Discount varies by date selected. 2nd day free valid only when pre-purchasing this offer online. 2nd visit must occur within 9 days of 1st visit.

There’s something else cool happening at LEGOLAND® California called Reserve ‘N’ Ride service! It allows you to reserve your seats on 12 of the Park’s most popular rides. It can either cut down or even completely eliminate waiting in line, depending on what level of device you opt for.

With Reserve ‘N’ Ride you can make one ride reservation at a time and the device will let you know when it’s your turn to ride! Reserve ‘N’ Ride is waiting in line FOR you, so you can come back sooner. Plus, depending on the level of device you choose, it’s actually cutting down that wait time – Express by 25%, Deluxe by 50%, and Ultimate by 90%. The three levels of service vary in price range. This means you can get on more rides with less waiting! Awesome!

Here’s how Reserve ‘N’ Ride Works:

Choose your ride from the attractions list on the device and confirm your reservation.
Receive your ride time on the Reserve ‘N’ Ride device screen.
Explore all the Resort has to offer while the Reserve ‘N’ Ride device counts down for you.
When your device beeps and vibrates, it’s your turn to ride!
Go to the special Reserve ‘N’ Ride entrance at your time or any time after.
Show your device to the attendant to be validated.
Enjoy your ride!
Repeat these steps to enjoy your next ride.

Here are some other things you’ll want to know about Reserve “N” Ride:

Each Reserve “N” Ride device is good for up to 6 people
You can buy your device online
When you hear a buzz, you can head to your ride anytime after that
Pass Members get 10% off

For more information about Reserve ‘N’ Ride, click here.

These are some great savings and options to consider on your next visit! Connect with LEGOLAND® California on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. Some images are property of LEGOLAND California.

Buccaneer Cove at BOOMERS in Irvine is a Kids’ Paradise!

July 22, 2015 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County

Last week, we spent the perfect day with friends at Buccaneer Cove inside BOOMERS in Irvine! If you haven’t been there yet, it’s somewhere you should definitely hit up THIS summer with the kids!

Buccaneer Cove is a giant water play area (inside of a self-contained gated area) located inside of BOOMERS in Irvine. It features 5 different water slides, each catering to adventure seekers of different heights and ages. In addition to the water slides, Buccaneer Cove also has a wet tunnels, spray loops, spray cannons an interactive Aqua Dome, and a huge splash bucket! It’s like a kids’ paradise. Let’s talk a little bit more about the slides though. First of all, they each have a name.

The Yellow Slide is the tallest and longest slide in Buccaneer Cove. It’s 380 feet, from start to finish. You’ll climb up to the top (on the 4th level) and slide down this fully enclosed yellow tube. As you slide down, you’ll twist through a figure 8, then pick-up speed with a straight chute and spiral to the end!
The Blue Slide is one of three slides that begin on the 3rd level. This slide is one curvy ride! Also an enclosed slide, once you push off into the blue tube, you’ll whirl through a figure 8, pick-up steam in a straight run, then sling through a power bend to the end!
The Red Slide is another one of the three slides that begin on the 3rd level. This one is fast! When you drop off into the enclosed red tube, you’ll quickly fly through a splashy S-curve, then plummet through a spiral to the end!

The Open Slide is the only non-enclosed slide intended for the bigger kids! It also starts up on the 3rd level and puts you through the paces. You’ll whirl through a counterclockwise spiral and then suddenly sail through another spiral in the opposite direction. Then – splash! It’s over, and time to do it again!

This is the perfect slide for the smaller water babies. It’s a two-lane open slide and both lanes start at the 1st level. It’s a gentle slide but a big thrill for kiddies under 36” with parental supervision. In addition to the water slides, Buccaneer Cove also has wet tunnels, spray loops, spray cannons, an interactive aqua dome, and a huge splash bucket! It’s literally a water wonderland for kids!

As a mom, one of my favorite parts about the entire place is that you can see your kid(s) from most locations that you’d choose to sit at. It doesn’t require that you, too, go on all of the slides or be in the water play area, unless that’s your sort of thing. There is plenty of seating all around Buccaneer Cove.

Buccaneer Cove offers guests the option of renting a cabana for the day. For a very reasonable price of $75 for the entire day, the cabana includes services of a host or hostess for an hour and a bucket of bottled water for your party. You can order food from your host or hostess, which they can bring to you.

The cabana comfortably accomodates 6 guests but we actually had more. Also, the kids in your group will most likely never come into the cabana except to eat. Cabanas at Buccaneer Cove are limited so you’ll want to plan ahead of time and even reserve one online here.

Right inside Buccaneer Cove is a snack bar where you can purchase snacks, sweets, and beverages. You are also able to walk over to the snack bar inside of BOOMERS to order food that you can bring inside of Buccaneer Cove. The BOOMERS snack bar has items on the menu such as chicken fingers, hot dogs, nachos, and salads. (The Caesar salad was delish!) They also serve entire pizzas which are perfect for a big group. Please note: there is no outside food or drink permitted inside of Buccaneer Cove.

Buccaneer Cove is Open from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.

The hours are as follows:

Monday – Friday 11:00am to 6:00pm / Weekends Only 11:00am to 7:00pm

For more information about tickets and operating hours for Buccaneer Cove, click here.

Connect with Boomers in Irvine on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

I’d like to thank the entire staff at Buccaneer Cove for your hospitality and hosting us for the afternoon!

The 2015 OC Fair is Here and it’s Going to Be #OneBigParty!

July 17, 2015 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, OC Fair, Orange County

It’s the time all of Orange County has been waiting for! The 2015 OC Fair has returned to the Costa Mesa Fairgrounds and it’s going to be”One Big Party”!

Our family can’t get enough of the OC Fair! We love the food, the rides, the animals, all of the entertainment, and and so much more!

This summer the fair will be open from July 17 through August 16! (Wednesdays through Sundays).

Fair hours are as follows:

Wednesday-Friday Noon-Midnight
Saturday-Sunday 10 am-Midnight
Monday-Tuesday Closed

You have 2 options for fair admission. You can purchase either a single day admission or an even better value would be to purchase a Super Pass.

Single-Day Admission prices are as follows:

General (13-59) $12
Senior (60+) $7
Youth (6-12) $7
Children 5 and younger are free

Single day admission to the Fair can be purchased either online here when you print at home or at the OC Fair Box Office at the Pacific Amphitheatre. To check Box Office Hours click here.

The Super Pass is an option that gives you access to the fair for all 23 days. It also includes Express entry at all public gates during Fair hours, as well as 2-for-1 discount for tickets to select Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar and Action Sports Arena Concerts and events.

The Super Pass also includes:

20% off Fair apparel
2015 OC Fair souvenir pin
Free Admission to the Orange County Market Place (valid through December 27, 2015)
A Carnival value book (2-for-1 ride on La Grande Wheel, 2-for-1 carnival games, Free water bottle with a $10 purchase of treats from carnival food vendor, Free refill with a souvenir cup purchase in the carnival)

The Super Pass can be purchased at The OC Fair Event Center Box Office, The Hangar Box Office or any OC Fair admission gate through Friday, August 14, 2015.

Fees for parking at the OC Fair:

General Passenger Car $10
General Buses & Limos $20
Pacific Amphitheatre VIP $30

Important: Parking is cash only. There are no in-and-out parking privileges. General parking is not available for advance purchase and can only be purchased when you arrive at the Fair.

Free Off-Site Parking is also available on Saturday & Sunday Only
Free parking and shuttle service is available on Saturdays and Sundays from the Experian parking structure located off the Bristol Street exit of the 405 Freeway. Follow the signs to “Experian.” The shuttle operates from 10 am-1 am weekends only.

The OC Fair offers a TON of different discounts to fair-goers. Here are just a few, but click here to find ALL of them!

Active Military & VeteransFree admission for active-duty military and veterans with appropriate military ID (DD214, etc.) Not valid for spouses or dependents

Read & Ride
Bookworms ages 5-11 can read 2 books to earn 3 free carnival rides. To download the book report form, click here.
Completed book report forms can be redeemed for ride tickets at the Centennial Farm Information Booth during Fair hours. Tickets are valid July 17-August 16, 2015 only. Note: Official OC Fair Read & Ride Form must be used in order to participate in program.

We Care Wednesday Presented by

FREE admission and one (1) free carnival ride per person each Wednesday with appropriate donation (donation changes weekly.) Acceptance of donated items is at the discretion of the OC Fair. Promotion is limited to one free admission and one free carnival ride per person. Guest must be present with donation to receive free ticket.

July 22, Noon-3 pm Food Drive: Free admission with donations of 5 cans of food.
July 29, Noon-3 pm Children’s Book Drive: Free admission with donation of 3 new or gently used children’s books.
August 5, Noon-3 pm Clothing Drive: Free admission with donation of 5 new or gently used clothing items
August 12, Noon-3 pm School Supply Drive: Free admission with donation of NEW school supplies valued at $5 or more. Accepted items: pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, notebook paper and school backpacks. Receipt Required.

$30 Unlimited Carnival Ride Wristband (on Wednesdays and Thursdays only)

Enjoy all the rides you can handle for one price plus 2 free games. (Sold until 5 pm. Valid until 8 pm. Required Fair admission sold separately.)

Kids Day is every Thursday!

Children 12 & under receive FREE Fair admission all day. (why not combine the free admission with the $30 unlimited carnival ride wristband?)

So tell me, what’s YOUR favorite thing about the OC Fair? Mine are the piglets!

Visit the OC Fair on Facebook and connect with them on Twitter and Instagram as well!

2015 Mickey’s Halloween Party Dates Released! We Can’t Wait! #HalloweenTime

July 16, 2015 / Disney, Disneyland Resort, Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County, Travel

Guess what’s returning to the Disneyland Resort on September 11? Halloween Time! We are SO excited for it’s return too! If you’ve never been to the parks during Halloween Time, it’s something you’ll want to make happen this year.

With the Disneyland Resort’s Diamond Celebration already happening in the parks this year, guests will get to enjoy extra sparkly Halloween decorations this year. There are also seasonal attractions to experience such as Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain’s “Ghost Galaxy”.

One of the biggest events of the year at the Disneyland Resort is Mickey’s Halloween Party! This is an after-hours Halloween party that requires the purchase of a separate ticket. (don’t worry, it’s totally worth it!) The party is held inside Disneyland and guests of all ages are invited to wear their favorite costumes for the occasion. There is plenty of trick or treating throughout the park and the characters will be out and about in their own Halloween costumes.

This year, guests in attendance at Mickey’s Halloween party will be able to watch a special “Halloween Screams” fireworks show, in addition to the “Paint the Night” parade. It’s truly a party not to be missed!

With your Mickey’s Halloween Party ticket you get:

Admission to Disneyland Park up to 3 hours prior to the event’s start time.
Parking for one standard-size vehicle. (Larger vehicles may require an additional fee.)

Here are the dates for Mickey’s Halloween Party 2015:

Friday, Sept. 25
Monday, Sept. 28
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Friday, Oct. 2
Monday, Oct. 5
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Friday, Oct. 9
Monday, Oct. 12
Wednesday, Oct. 14
Friday, Oct. 16
Monday, Oct. 19
Thursday, Oct. 22
Friday, Oct. 23
Sunday, Oct. 25
Tuesday, Oct. 27
Thursday, Oct. 29
Saturday, Oct. 31

Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party sell out every year and you’ll want to plan now for your date and grab a ticket as soon as they go on sale. This year, you’ll also be able to purchase your Mickey’s Halloween party tickets early on your mobile device. How cool is that?

Here are the dates for ticket sales:

July 22: Ticket sales to Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders, Disney Rewards Visa card holders and Disney Vacation Club members.
July 29: Ticket sales begin for the general public.

The hours for each day of Mickey’s Halloween Party vary slightly from day to day. The prices also vary. For more information about times and ticket prices, visit the official Disney site here.

Calling All LEGOLAND Heartlake City Fans! Take This Fun Quiz to See Which LEGO Friend You Are!

July 16, 2015 / Family Fun, LEGOLAND, Lifestyle, San Diego

Have YOU had the chance to visit LEGO Friends Heartlake City at LEGOLAND California Resort yet? We are big fans of the entire resort but after visiting Heartlake City on our last visit, it instantly became our favorite area in the park! It’s absolutely adorable and you are made to feel like you’ve stepped right into one of the Heartlake City LEGO sets.

I also love visiting because you have the chance to see the Heartlake City LEGO friends sing and dance and you can also interact with them!

My daughter actually started building with LEGO when she was around 3 when she was given about 5 tubs of original LEGO bricks that were her dad’s when he was a boy. She played with those LEGO bricks, which included some of the original Star Wars sets, without thinking twice about the fact that there were no pink ones in the tubs. I’ve never believed in “boy” vs. “girl” toys and taught her to appreciate all toys equally. However, when the first Heartlake City LEGO sets showed up at the LEGO Store with a whole bunch of pink and purple, we were excited to get our hands on those!

As a mom, I adore the Heartlake City LEGO friends! You can find Andrea, Emma, Mia, Olivia and Stephanie all hanging out in Heartlake City when you visit LEGOLAND. I appreciate most that they each have a distinct personality and different interests but all encourage each other and have a very strong friendship!

Now YOU can find out which LEGO Heartlake City Friend YOU are by taking this fun quiz! It said I’m most like “Mia”. You can take the quiz too by clicking here! Don’t forget to come back here after you take it and comment which friend you’re most like! Have fun!

Connect with LEGOLAND California Resort on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post.

Braintastics Now Open at Kaleidoscope With Classes and Camps That Focus on Science, Technology, Education, Arts & Math!

July 9, 2015 / Family Fun, Kaleidoscope Center, Lifestyle, Orange County

Braintastics, a unique new program for kids that fosters brain development in a fun-filled environment, has opened its first location at Kaleidoscope in Mission Viejo. Based on a national movement dubbed S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Education, Arts and Math), the focus of Braintastics is to provide more science and technology exposure to kids to foster brain development and help with educational advancement.

Braintastics was created by Heidi Landraf, who through her own brain research in her Masters program and her experience within a classroom, saw a need for a program that gives kids the time and space to explore their curiosities. Heidi has partnered on Braintastics with Cheryl Beck, owner of Bold Girlz, also at Kaleidoscope, since Cheryl’s mission is focused on building self-esteem and empowerment.

Braintastics offers an environment for true brain development and cognitive growth while having fun in a setting that is inviting, stimulating, and exciting. Caine and Caine also suggest that a brain-compatible learning environment should go beyond rote memorization and rote memory thinking and processing. Braintastics allows children’s imagination and creativity to reach their full potential of self-expression.

Braintastics’ schedule includes daily workshops and weekly Summer Camps, including a Robotics class taught by James Reynolds, a Robotics teacher and advisor at Mater Dei. There are also a variety of Birthday Party packages available with themes including Braintastics Fun, Robotic Fun, Minecraft® Mania, and It’s All an Act, in which party-goers get to be the star of the show and produce their own video.

Braintastics is located on the upper level of Kaleidoscope at 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, Ste. 315, in Mission Viejo. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, please call 949-348-1844 or click here. You can also visit Braintastics on Facebook!

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Images and video property of Braintastics.

Rubio’s® Invites Southern Californians to Celebrate the Ocean with 4th Annual CoastFest on July 18!

July 8, 2015 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, San Diego

Rubio’s® Restaurants has counted the ocean as a source of inspiration since its founding more than 30 years ago and remains committed to helping protect it.

Here are just some of the ways that Rubio’s® is a friend to the ocean:

Most of the seafood they serve is sustainable.
They celebrate World Oceans Day each year in June and have given away over 60,000 reusable tote bags to help prevent plastic from ending up in our ocean.
They use compostable packaging.
They recycle plastic and glass bottles in their restaurants when infrastructure exists.

On July 18, Rubio’s is inviting Southern California residents to its 4th annual Rubio’s CoastFest in Oceanside, Calif. One of the largest organized beach cleanups in San Diego, the clean up includes a celebration of the ocean with live music, complimentary food and drinks, a beer garden, and dozens of activities for kids of all ages including a mobile ocean education center, surf lessons, disc golf, surf-shaped corn-hole and more.

Rubio’s CoastFest has continued to grow year after year, with a record turnout of more than 2,000 attendees and over 400 pounds of trash removed from the coastline in 2014. This year’s event is gearing up to be even bigger with the addition of performances by one of Billboard magazine’s chart-ranking artists, The Mowgli’s, as well as popular children’s band Hullaballo.

Additional experiences include an exhibit from the California Surf Museum, pop-up gardens featuring fresh ingredients used in Rubio’s dishes, an outdoor cinema provided by Cox Media and photo booth provided by Cox Communications.

The festivities at the Oceanside Pier will kick off at 10 a.m. with community members going the extra nautical mile at a beach cleanup hosted by I Love a Clean San Diego.

To get in on the cleanup action, participants should plan to bring a reusable bucket, gloves, comfortable clothing, sun protection and a reusable water bottle. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate. A signed waiver (available for download here) is required for each participant. The check-in process will be more streamlined if you bring a waiver that is already signed, especially if you are part of a large group. For beach cleanup participants that are looking for community service credit, volunteer verification forms will be available on site. Simply ask a CoastFest representative for a verification form when you are done with the cleanup.

Following the beach cleanup, the CoastFest celebration includes:

Complimentary food and drinks – Attendees will get to sample the Santa Fe Crusted Tilapia Taco that’s not yet on the menu, in addition to enjoying handmade guacamole and chips, freshly prepared salsa, beverages and more.
Music festival – Guests are invited to visit the main stage throughout the celebration for free live music from a collection of local Southern California bands, as well as giveaways from 94.9 FM and KSON 97.3. Standout musical acts include The Mowgli’s, a Los Angeles-based group incorporating rock n’ roll, indie-folk and heartfelt ballads to create a quintessential California sound, and Max and the Moon, an alternative rock band with sounds that resemble the classic harmonies of the Beach Boys and early Coldplay.
Beer Garden – Guests 21+ can enjoy a cold brew at the beer garden featuring local craft selections. All proceeds from the beer garden will benefit I Love A Clean San Diego.
Kids’ Zone – To help ensure a love of the ocean is passed down to future generations, there will be several educational and experiential activities for children that teach kids about different aspects of the ocean. These include a mobile learning center courtesy of the Wyland Foundation®, San Diego County Office of Education Splash Van, Rubio’s prize wheel and performances by popular children’s bands Hullabaloo and Clint Perry & the BooHoo Crew.
Activities and Games – Guests of all ages can enjoy free onsite surf lessons from Surfin’ Fire and a sea of other activities including face painting, corn-hole, disc golf and more.

This year’s on-site event partners include: I Love a Clean San Diego, Cox Communications, Motts®, Wyland Foundation, Honest Kids, Regal Springs® Tilapia, Trident Seafoods, Dasani®, Spy, Fiat, San Diego County Water Authority, San Diego County Office of Education, San Diego Credit Union, Surfin’ Fire and more.

For directions to CoastFest, click here. For other info about the 2015 CoastFest, click here.

Movies Under the Stars at Rancho Las Lomas Benefitting Rancho Las Lomas Wildlife Foundation!

July 7, 2015 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County

Rancho Las Lomas will be hosting a Friday night movie series as a fundraiser for the facility and its Rancho Las Lomas Wildlife Foundation. Tickets are $15.00 each and include access to their zoo and the movie of the week. Gates will open on Fridays at 6:00pm for guests to enjoy the property, grab a drink from our bar and find a seat for the movie. Look at the great selection of movies to choose from:

July 10th – “Dirty Dancing”
July 17th – “Beethoven”
July 24th – “Braveheart”
July 31st – “Jumanji”
August 7th – “Top Gun”
August 14th “Forest Gump”
August 21st “ Jerry Maguire”

Why not have a family night, date night or even a girls night out at Rancho Las Lomas? Guests are encouraged to bring low back chairs, a blanket and even a picnic dinner!

If you’d like to attend, you must RSVP prior to [email protected] or call 949-589-7900, as there is limited seating.

I’m also giving away a 4-pack of tickets to one of my lucky readers for their choice of movie night at Rancho Las Lomas. To enter, just comment on this post and tell me which movie you’d like to win tickets to see. The giveaway will close on Wednesday, July 15th at 11:59 p.m. and I’ll choose one winner from the Random Number generator on Thursday, July 16th. Winner will be notified by email.

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