Over The Top Mommy

A Pixie-Dusted Playdate to Celebrate the New “Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast” Movie! An Afternoon of Girls, Curls, Fairy Catchers & Fun!

March 9, 2015 / Crafts & DIY, Entertainment, Movies, Parties

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

In our home, just the mere mention of a new Tinker Bell movie coming out on DVD creates a level of excitement that’s off the charts! It could be our love for Disney movies. It could be my own personal connection with Peter Pan (since I’m “Wendy”). It could be that I believe in fairies! Whatever the case, we were ecstatic when we heard that “Tinker Bell and the Legend of NeverBeast” was coming on DVD and in celebration, I decided to throw a Pixie-Dusted Playdate for my daughter and a few of her friends, so they could all watch it together.

As soon as March 3 arrived and the DVD released, I practically flew right over to Walmart to grab a copy for us! Oh and these slipper socks were a “need” also!

I fell in love with these sparkly green slipper socks so I bought some pom poms and put them on with my glue gun! How simple is that? It was like Instant Tinker Bell!

For our Pixie-Dusted Playdate, I wasn’t sure where exactly to begin the planning because I had SO many ideas going through my head, so I hit up Pinterest for ideas and created a Fairy Party board. There are tons and tons of ideas for food, crafts, games and more! I wanted to gear ours toward the pre-tween age since my daughter is 9 and her friends are 9-11 years old. I know that the girls at that age are still imaginative but I also know that nowadays I am also kind of competing with such things the girls’ iPods, cell phones, and their Instagram accounts. I just wanted to have some fun things for them to do that would keep their attention and interest and not be “too young” for them. So, I had an idea. I gave up my (usual) total control of planning this playdate alone and let my daughter help! I asked her to brainstorm some ideas she thought her friends would be most interested in doing. She was so helpful and was there to assist with the set up, gathering things we needed and making samples. Look how cute these simple signs turned out that she made, too!

I asked the guests to arrive at our Pixie-Dusted Playdate dressed “springy” attire. As a special surprise, I hired a hair stylist to do the girls’ hair. I know they love that sort of thing and why not make them feel extra pretty? I love that Tinker Bell wears a bun but I envisioned my daughter and her friends with more of a free-flowing fairy hair look. While they took turns getting their hair done by the stylist, the others were working on one of two crafts that we’d planned.

Our first craft was “Make a Fairy Catcher”.

The girls were excited when they saw the area set up and expressed how cute they thought it was which really made me happy to know I’d picked out something age-appropriate. They really took their time to make each one just they way they liked it. Each one was so cute and perfect to catch a fairy with!

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own “Fairy Catchers”:

Mason jars with tops, 1 per guest
“Magic” stones
Spanish moss
a variety of silk flowers
multi-colored “Magical” gems
small trinkets, such as ladybugs, butterflies, and paper flowers, to put inside
teeny, tiny teacups for the lid of the Mason jar
a few different colors of tulle
a hot glue gun

Instructions for “Fairy Catchers”:

Choose a Mason jar and have the guest write their name on the bottom of the jar with a permanent marker.
Remove the lid from the jar and put some “magic” stones in the bottom of the jar.
Place some Spanish moss on top of the “magic” stones and fill to your liking.
Cut some silk flowers off of the stick and add to the jar. Using multiple colors makes it even prettier!
Grab a handful of “Magical” gems and toss inside.
Add some small trinkets, such as ladybugs, butterflies, or paper flowers, to your catcher, as well.
Glue a small teacup to the top of the Mason Jar, using a hot glue gun. (Parents should help with this part.)
After the glue is dry, replace the lid onto the Mason Jar, until you’re ready to use it.
Choose some tulle to wrap around your jar, tie a bow with it, use a little bit of hot glue to secure it to the glass, and finish off with an embellishment of your choice. (We used metal flowers.)
Now your “Fairy Catcher” is ready to use.

I loved the way that each girl’s fairy catcher turned out. I also loved the little conversations going on while they were working on them.

Our 2nd craft was also something that my daughter came up with. It was a “Decorate Your Own Teacup” craft. It was so simple to set up and the girls needed no help with this. (other than me baking the cups in the oven)

Here’s what you’ll need to set up your own “Decorate a teacup” station:

1 white ceramic teacup for each guest, prewashed (coffee mugs would work too)
1 set of permanent markers in a variety of colors
1 package of baby wipes
1 roll of paper towels
1 sample cup for others to see, if your guests are on the younger side.

Instructions for decorating the teacups:

Have each guest select a cup to decorate.
Start by having them write their name or initials on the bottom of the cup.
Encourage them to make their designs colorful and decorate all the way around the cup and even inside the cup.
Mistakes can be easily “erased” (prior to baking) using a baby wipe. Dry thoroughly with a paper towel prior to resuming the decorating with pens.
Bake cups on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Remove cups from oven and allow them to cool down before distributing them to guests.

*Please inform guests that cups should be handwashed and not placed in the dishwasher.

After all of the girls were finished having their hair done and they’d all done the crafts, they took a break to have some tea and fairy cookies while they finally got to watch the highly anticipated “Tinker Bell and the Legend of the NeverBeast” movie. There were giggles and there were tears, but overall, they loved it!

After the movie was over, the girls sat down outside together in a circle to play “Down By the Bank”! Before each round began, they’d place a fairy prize in the middle that was up for grabs! I don’t know if they realized that I’d purchased a fairy for each girl or not because regardless, they were going to each be going home with one!

After they played a few rounds, it was time for cupcakes! We like to save the best for last! During our party planning, my daughter was the one who planned what kind of cupcakes to serve. I ordered a dozen simple, white cake/white frosting cupcakes from the store bakery and she topped them with a few fondant flowers, and stuck them into a polka dotted cupcake liner all on her own! So simple and inexpensive but they looked elegant!

Transforming plain cupcakes into elegant-looking ones is as easy as 1-2-3!

Cupcakes and fairies in hand! I’d say life is good for these girls!

After all of the guests left and we were just sitting down taking a break, I asked my daughter if she had fun at her Pixie-Dusted Playdate that afternoon? I adore her response!

Have YOU seen “Tinker Bell and the Legend of then NeverBeast” yet? If not, what are you waiting for?

We found the DVD and the adorable fairy dolls at our local Walmart in the entertainment section and in the toy section! We also found everything we needed for our “Pixie-dusted playdate” there! It was a fun afternoon!

Head Over to Knotts Berry Farm’s Boysenberry Festival From March 28-April 12! (I’m Giving Away Tickets to Knott’s, Too!) #KnottsSpring

March 6, 2015 / Family Fun, Knott's, Orange County, Travel

This post was written by me for GigaSavvy. I do not work for or with any brand mentioned in this article, nor do I have any official relationship with them. I am invited to attend a media event for the Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival for which I will receive complementary tickets. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Come celebrate the arrival of spring at Knotts Berry Farm’s Boysenberry Festival harvested in the theme park’s historic Ghost Town. The 16-day festival returns with an unforgettable lineup of exquisite Boysenberry Bites, dazzling daytime/nighttime entertainment, gourmet food and the Wine and Craft Brew Tasting Garden, plus the limited time return of the classic Bear-y Tales characters in a pie making kitchen, and more!

In the 1930s Walter Knott harvested the boysenberry, a cross between a loganberry, red raspberry and blackberry, and named the new berry after its originator Rudolph Boysen. Today, all boysenberries in the world can trace their roots back to Knott’s Berry Farm!

Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect to find at Knott’s Boysenberry Festival:

Boysenberry Bites

The Park will make delicious history with the debut of its very own farm-made Berry Market™ Boysenberry BBQ
Sauce during the widely acclaimed Boysenberry Festival. During the food fest, the tangy, finger lickin’
good sauce will add the perfect flavor to ribs, BBQ chicken, chicken wings, and more.

Other must-try Boysenberry Bites include:

fried cheese curds paired with a spicy boysenberry dipping sauce
fish and chips sandwich with boysenberry tartar sauce
Boysenberry ICEE Floats
Boysenberry Frappuccino & Latte (served at the new Gourmet Coffee Hut which proudly serves Starbucks drinks)
more charbroiled treats cooked on open-air barbeques throughout the streets of the festival.
Wine and Craft Brew Garden*

As part of the festival, the Wine and Craft Brew Garden, located inside of Ghost Town’s Wilderness Dance Hall, features an assortment of wine and craft brew labels, in addition to a variety of boysenberry inspired gourmet food that’s just bursting with flavor!

The Boysenberry Festival also features an extensive lineup of live entertainment from sun up to sun down. At the heart of all of the excitement is Birdcage Square, located in front of the famous Birdcage Theatre. Here, a stage will be set for daily contests like pie eating, a pie walk, and Grandpa’s Boysenberry PJs Contest, where guests will race to stuff the over-sized long johns with balloons.

In the evening, the Square will have guests kicking up their heels with vine dancing, a down home jug band and dueling fiddlers and banjos! At night, just inside of the Birdcage Theatre, things get krazy when Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies mount their toe tappin’, knee-slappin’, gut-bustin’ country comedy show that will have audiences clamoring for more!

The iconic Charleston Circle fountain transforms into a beautiful floral fountain, adorned with colorful flowers and boysenberries creating an iconic centerpiece for the celebration. Located in the Boardwalk area, the stunning monument will serve as a dramatic backdrop for two spectacular interactive shows.

Peanuts Party in the Park celebrates spring in a big way with infectious music, vibrant set design, and an invitation for the audience to be a part of the show!

After sundown, Jammin’ in the Dark will transform the blooming circle into an immersive dance party complete with illuminated boysenberries, vines and LED lighting effects affixed to the Charleston fountain; DJ HowLy will spin the hottest dance music for all ages!

Transformation of Ghost Town

While strolling the bustling streets of Ghost Town, guests can capture the moment and the memories at boysenberry themed stand-in cutouts like wanted posters, a boysenberry farming family and more. Festivalgoers can also watch special demonstrations including chainsaw wood sculpting, glass blowing, and blacksmithing. While enjoying the festival, guests may meet Ghost Town’s Mayor and other charming townsfolk. From day to night, Ghost Town has never looked so deliciously fun.

Boysenberry Festival Plants and Merchandise
Explore a craft fair filled with unique boysenberry inspired merchandise throughout the winding streets of the Old West. You will find a recreation of Walter & Cordelia Knott’s Original Roadside Boysenberry Stand near the Gold Trails Hotel, from which guests can purchase authentic boysenberry plants. The Knott family sold plants and freshly picked boysenberries from the original stand, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Interactive Pie Making

New for 2015, right up the road from Birdcage Square, kids can join the classic Bear-y Tales characters in their very own pie making kitchen inside of Ghost Town’s Craft Barn. With the help of Razz Bear-y, Boysen Bear-y and the other Bear-y family members, each beautifully painted scene will follow the world famous boysenberry from field to blue ribbon winning pie! The pint sized chefs can also make their very own delightfully sweet boysenberry tarts complete with a crumble topping. Additional cost applies for tart making.

Springtime fun has also taken root in Camp Snoopy, Fiesta Village and Boardwalk. During the limited-time event, the whole family can meet the Easter Beagle in his new home, blooming with colorful springtime décor, nestled inside of the recently rejuvenated Camp Snoopy area. The meet and greet location is the perfect place for shareable moments with the boisterous beagle and his friends –Charlie Brown, Lucy, Sally and Linus.

In Camp Snoopy Theatre, Lucy’s Really BIG Spring Show will showcase the Peanuts pals singing, dancing, and celebrating springtime. The theater will be filled with the sweet sound of little ones as they singing-along to the to the show’s cheerful tunes!

Guests don’t have to be experts at the cha-cha-cha to enjoy Salsa Dancing in Fiesta Village, where everyone can to take to the floor to the rhythmic beat of popular Latin dance music.

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm, additional cost for food tasting experiences within the event, which also offers a full day of thrilling coasters and family fun rides, like the beautifully restored Calico Mine ride and the rejuvenated six-acre Camp Snoopy featuring three new rides.

Knott’s has extended their hours during the Festival (March 28 – April 12, 2015) from 10 am-10 pm, allowing guests extra time to take advantage of all of the limited-time offerings. For affordable year-round fun for everyone and to explore the all the Festival fun, Season Passes can be purchased online at knotts.com starting at $84 or with six easy installment payments of $14 now until April 12, 2015.

I’m having a giveaway! Yep! You can win 2 tickets to Knott’s that can be used for park admission during Knott’s Boysenberry Festival! All you have to do is enter below on the Rafflecopter! Read the instructions carefully! Good luck everyone! Hope to see you at Knott’s soon! It’s going to be “berry” fun!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

“Mommy Time in a Mason Jar” Parfait! My New Favorite Indulgence With DOVE® Fruit!

March 4, 2015 / Food, Let's Eat!, Recipes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are 100% my own. #LoveDoveFruits #CollectiveBias

I’m a mom, a very busy mom. I’d say that I spend most of my time doing everything but worrying about myself. Yep, I fully admit that I’m guilty of not doing much for myself on most days! I sometimes feel like I wear about 100 different hats…all of them invisible, of course! The running around usually starts around 5 am and doesn’t stop until I fall into bed, well after 10 pm! Honestly, I’m OK with this though, or I should say I’ve always been OK with this until now. I feel like it’s just what most moms do, but and I’m ready to put a stop to it!

I can’t say that I’ll stop doing all of what I do, because I know I wont, but I am learning to take a little time for me now! I’m learning the importance of “me time”. It’s just a small window each day. It doesn’t even happen every day, but I’m trying to make it happen for myself on most days. One of my challenges is that I get so wrapped up in what I’m doing, I forget to eat throughout the day. This usually results with me shoving not-so-great food choices into my face because I’ve gone too long without eating, I’m now trying to make a conscious effort to change my eating habits though and incorporate better-for-me snacks into my day.

I NEED to share one of my new snacking favorites with you! Have you tried DOVE® Fruit yet? This delicious combination of real fruit (cherries, blueberries, and cranberries) dipped in silky smooth DOVE® Dark Chocolate, combines the wellness benefits of dark chocolate with fruit.

The first time I found these in the grocery section of Walmart, I ripped open the bag as soon as I got to my car because I was dying to try them! I also ate the entire bag! Do you see why I needed to share with you? Oh my goodness, they are soooo yummy! My daughter loves them too! I now carry around a couple of bags in my purse, just in case I need to grab a quick snack.

I recently started incorporating DOVE® Fruit into one of my snacks at home that I like to call “Mommy Time in a Mason Jar“! I just mix vanilla Greek yogurt with granola because the smooth and crunchy textures mixed together are delicious. Adding some of the DOVE® Fruit, makes it all taste even better! They are great to have pre-made in your fridge so you can just grab one when you get home from work and school!

Look at how simple the recipe is:

Ingredients:

1 32 oz. container Vanilla Greek Yogurt
1 12 oz. bag of your favorite granola (I prefer the kind with almonds in it)
1 bag of DOVE® Fruit (I used blueberry for this recipe)

Preparation instructions:

In a mason jar, spoon a bottom layer of yogurt in the bottom, about an inch thick.
Top layer of yogurt, with a layer of your favorite granola.
Drop a couple of DOVE® Fruit on top of granola layer.
Repeat all 3 steps until your Mason jar is filled to right below the lip.
Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for later.

How delicious does that all look? After I’ve made my “Mommy Time in a Mason Jar Parfait”, I like to take it out on our back patio and enjoy the sunset. Isn’t this a beautiful view? It truly is relaxing…even if it just lasts a couple of minutes before I hear “MOOOOOMMMMMYYYYY!” again!

Walmart carries all 3 varieties of DOVE® Fruit. (cherries, blueberries, and cranberries). As I mentioned before, I found mine on the end of an aisle in the grocery section.

Do you take time for yourself each day? Comment below with something that you do for YOU!

See more great DOVE® Fruit recipe ideas on the DOVE® Fruit social hub. You can also download a coupon to save on your DOVE® purchase, here.

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch® Took My Breath Away!

March 4, 2015 / San Diego, SoCal Fun

I recently had the opportunity to spend the day at The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch®, which is located in Carlsbad. They were a magnificent sight that I’d caught a glimpse of a couple times when I’d driven through Carlsbad, but I had never gotten to actually stop and go inside. The Flower Fields feature 50 acres of Giant Tecolote^® Ranunculus flowers with colors that pop against the light blue sky. They’re just a hop, a skip and a jump away from the Pacific Ocean, so it creates this picturesque backdrop.

When you first enter the front gates and are standing there in front of what seems to be an endless field of flowers, it’s absolutely breathtaking! It’s a sight that everyone should get to experience annually when it’s in full bloom! I was there about 2 weeks prior to the full bloom. If it was already this beautiful then, I can’t imagine at full bloom!

This year, The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are open for the 2015 season from March 1-May 10 ( Mother’s Day). The fields are extra vibrant this year and bloomed a little early, most likely attributing this to the mild fall and winter we’ve had. Needless to say, they are a spectacular sight and a must-see for anyone visiting the area.

Visitors have the opportunity to take an open-air ride in an antique tractor wagon, through The Flower Fields, for a nominal fee. The ride is accompanied by an audio commentary of the history of The Flower Fields. It provides for a relaxing ride through the fields and is perfect for picture taking. Guests also have the option to exit the wagon and walk around. The cost for a wagon ride is $5.00 for Adults and $3.00 for Children 3-10.

Probably the most special part about my visit to The Flower Fields was getting meet Paul Ecke III. He’s the owner of the Flower Fields and the man behind the entire operation. Mr. Ecke has extensive family history tied to the agricultural history in this area, dating back about 100 years. Both Mr. Ecke and Mr. Fred Clarke, the General Manager of The Flower Fields, rode around the fields with our group and provided us with some really wonderful information about all that goes on there on a year-round basis, to produce the spectacular landmark. The flowers were so beautiful, each plant an individual, just like us.

Guests who opt to exit during the wagon ride in the middle of the field, have access to walk through certain parts of the Flower Fields where carefully constructed bridges have been added. This is to avoid any damage to the plants themselves but allows a closer look and photo opportunities among the flowers. It’s the perfect setting for some family photos.

As if I wasn’t already in total awe of what seemed to be an endless field brilliant flowers, I was in for another treat that was waiting for us on one of the hillsides. I guess that’s part of the fun about being a “first-timer” but I was WOW-ed when they took us to see the American Flag of Flowers! It was so beautiful and listening to how it’s produced was amazing. This flag is made up of 8998 Petunia plants, is just under 1 acre and is exactly to scale of our own American flag!

After the conclusion of our wagon ride, we spent some time walking the grounds with Mr. Ecke. He was very passionate about taking us to see the area he referred to as “Santa’s Playground”.

I had NO IDEA it was a play area on the grounds, almost entirely made up of authentic pieces from the original Santa’s Village, that had been in San Bernardino, years ago! Mr. Ecke told us the story about how he’d visited Santa’s Village as a child with his own family. Years later, when his own children were small, he attended an auction where he acquired several original pieces from that property.

He transported them to San Diego County and transformed an entire area at The Flower Fields to create “Santa’s Playground”, an area for children to run around and play. You can see how well he’s maintained the original colors of the pieces and he shared that his wife changed the designs of some of the mushrooms, but strived to maintain their authenticity by choosing designs that meshed well with that era. As a child, I’d seen commercials for Santa’s Village, but never had the opportunity to visit before it closed down. Santa’s Playground is such a magical area to visit.

In addition to walking around The Flower Fields and taking a wagon ride, there are several other exhibits and attractions to see and do on your visit.

Some of those include:

Cymbidian Orchid Greenhouse
The Artist Gardens
Sweet Pea Maze
Carlsbad Mining Company
Organic Demonstration Garden
Historic Pointsettia Display
Water Wise Farming

The Flower Fields are adjacent to Armstrong Garden Center and have a partnership set up with them. Fresh cut flowers are available for purchase along with potted plants, bulbs and a variety of other items in the Armstrong Garden Center Gift Shop.

The Flower Fields also host a variety of events throughout the season, including Sunrise Easter Services, which start at 6:30 a.m. You can find the entire calendar of events here.

Admission for The Flower Fields is as follows:

Adults: $12.00
Seniors 60+: $11.00
Children 3-10: $6.00
Children 2 and under are free

To purchase your tickets online, click here.

The Flower Fields are located at 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad, CA 92008. You can also reach them at 760-431-0352. For more information about the Flower Fields, click here.

Have YOU visited The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch® yet? If not, it’s a must-see in my opinion!

Connect with The Flower Fields on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Disclosure: I was invited to attend a media day at The Flower Fields and was provided with admission in order to write my review. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Irvine Park Railroad’s Annual Easter Eggstravaganza Opens March 14!

March 1, 2015 / Family Fun, Irvine Park Railroad, Lifestyle, Orange County

Who else is ready for Spring to get here already? I love the flowers and all of the new baby animals and Easter time! We are so excited about the return of The Easter Bunny Irvine Park Railroad for their annual Easter Eggstravaganza because we had SO much fun together last year! He’s hopping on over starting March 14th!

This year, Irvine Park Railroad’s annual Easter Eggstravaganza will begin March 14th and go through April 4th. It opens daily at 10:00 am. (Note: Irvine Regional Park and Irvine Park Railroad will be open on Easter Sunday, however, the Easter Eggstravaganza events will not be open on Easter Sunday.) This event is held inside of Locomotive Loop… just behind the train station. Children and adults can participate in a variety of fun activities in the beautiful Irvine Regional Park setting.

Here are some of our pictures from last year’s Easter Eggstravaganza!

Irvine Park Railroad train rides (1 ticket per person)
hay rides
carnival games (1 ticket per game)
a moon bounce (1 ticket per person)
face painting (2 tickets per person)
Easter cookie decorating (1 ticket per cookie)
picture stands (free for all visitors)
Easter Egg Hunts– (1 ticket per child) Children ages 2 through 12 can participate in the Easter egg hunt. Each egg will be filled with candy or a prize. Hunts begin daily at 10:00 AM and tickets may be purchased and exchanged for a wristband to participate in an egg hunt at a specific time. Please bring an Easter basket for each child that will be participating in the Easter egg hunt. (Irvine Park Railroad will also offer Easter baskets for sale.) Tickets must be purchased on the day of the event in order to receive a wristband for the Easter egg hunt.
Easter Bunny photos– Children can meet and have their photo taken with the Easter Bunny for the cost of $10.00. This cost includes a complimentary photo that will be taken by Irvine Park Railroad staff. Each additional print of the same photo is $6.00. Photos will be printed in a few, short minutes at the Easter Bunny booth.

Activity Tickets – $5.00 each

Book of 15 Activity Tickets – $60.00 ($15.00 Savings)

*Important Note: Coupons, discounts and any other promotions are not valid for the Easter Eggstravaganza dates and are not valid to receive a wrist band to enter the Easter egg hunt. Activities are not included with the purchase of Easter egg hunt tickets and are an additional cost.

Guess what? I’m having a giveaway and one lucky reader is going to win a package that’s worth approximately $70!

The prize package includes:

6 Tickets (which can be used to ride the train OR participate in Easter Eggstravaganza activities)
1 Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park surrey rental (excludes the double surrey)
1 Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park paddle boat rental

All you have to do is enter on the Rafflecopter below! Be sure to follow the directions carefully! Hope to see you all at Irvine Park Railroad’s Easter Eggstravaganza in a couple of weeks! Good luck everyone!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Irvine Park Railroad is open year-round and is located inside of Irvine Regional Park! They offer other annual events include the Anniversary Celebration, Fourth Grade California History Education Program, Pumpkin Patch, Christmas Tree Ranch, and Christmas Train.

Doc McStuffins: Cuddle Me Lambie Now Available on DVD!

February 28, 2015 / Disney DVDs, Entertainment, Movies

Have you seen “DOC MCSTUFFINS: CUDDLE ME LAMBIE” yet? Released on Disney DVD Febuary 3rd, this adorable movie, from the Disney Junior show, features Doc and the whole gang! Join them as they laugh, play and have a ball fixing boo-boos and discovering great ways to stay happy and healthy. Celebrate the power of true friendship as new, sparkly heart toy Val shows Lambie there’s plenty of love to go around. Meet Donny and Alma’s monster creation Charlie – who turns out to be very sweet and not scary after all. Then, see how Lambie gets out of a super-sticky jam! Bursting with five song-filled episodes and cuddles galore, this “hug-stravaganza” is magical fun your little one will adore!

We are big Disney Junior and Doc McStuffins fans in our home and even have our very own Big Book of Boo Boos that we keep around to record incidents that have happened and require a diagnosis and a remedy, “Doc-style” of course.

This poor stuffed poodle at our house was missing an ear and diagnosed with “One Earia“. Luckily, the remedy was a simple one…”Sew it back on”! There was also one time when *someone (I won’t name any names) burned their tongue on hot cocoa and was diagnosed with “Burnitosis“! It was a pretty easy remedy though…”Drink water“!

When a big box arrived on our doorstep the other day, Emi got really excited to open it! Inside, she discovered a entire Doc McStuffins place setting! So cute! I think it’s going to make eating extra fun!

Who Else is Excited That OC Restaurant Week Begins THIS Sunday March 1? Let’s Eat!

February 27, 2015 / Food, Let's Eat!, Lifestyle, Orange County

The 2015 Orange County Restaurant Week begins Sunday, March 1st and ends Saturday, March 7th. More than 100 restaurants are participating in the countywide event. During the event, participating restaurants will offer special three-course menus, many with a cocktail or signature item at no additional charge. Each restaurant will showcase its best offerings by talented chefs who will personalize each menu to reflect their individual culinary style. Participating restaurants will offer prix-fixe menus within the following price categories: lunch for $10, $15 or $20, and dinner for $20, $30, $40 or $50.

Here is a list of this year’s participating restaurants. (each name is linked to its menu):

The list of participating restaurants is also searchable by name, location and price point at http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com!

Also, in case you hadn’t heard, OC Restaurant Week is teaming with The Girl Scouts of Orange County this year to celebrate the world’s largest girl-led business….Girl Scout Cookies sales! OC Restaurant Week happens to be the last week that Girl Scout Cookies will be available on sale in Orange County until 2016. Select restaurants will offer delicious desserts inspired by and featuring Girl Scout Cookies! Some of the OC Restaurant Week participating restaurants are even hosting local Girl Scouts for a Preview Tasting, where girls will get the chance to taste the sweet treats and meet with the restaurant’s chef, helping them strive towards earning culinary and business badges. To see the full list of restaurants participating in this, click here.

Were you aware that you could also win dinner and a movie for a year? This year, the OC Restaurant Association is offering one lucky diner the opportunity to win! The public is encouraged to post photos from their dining experiences during OC Restaurant Week and use the hashtags #OCRestaurantWeek2015 or #OCRW2015. The photos will be entered to win a grand prize of twelve (12) $100 gift cards and 24 movie passes to enjoy dinner and a movie for two once a month for a year! Diners must post photos between March 1st and March 7th to qualify. How fun is that?

Who’s ready for Orange County’s favorite culinary event to start now? Where should we eat first on March 1st?

Presenting sponsor for the 2015 Orange County Restaurant Week is The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, in Huntington Beach. Other sponsors include Orange Coast Magazine, The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel, 95.5 KLOS, The Fork Report with Neil Saavedra, Irvine Spectrum Center, Fashion Island, Celebrity Cruises, Sub-zero and Wolf, Orange County Register, OC Mom Network, Archive, Melissa’s Produce, Ketel One Vodka, Open Table, Anaheim Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, Greer’s OC, BREAD Artisan Bakery, and The Toll Roads.

You’re Invited to Kaleidoscope Center’s 5th Annual Easter Garden Party!

February 26, 2015 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County

Spring is on its way, with Easter not too far behind it! Mark your calendars because you are invited to Kaleidoscope Center’s Fifth Annual Easter Garden Party. Come out for this free family event on Saturday, April 4th from 12 to 2:30 p.m. when The Easter Bunny will hop into town!

The event will take place in the courtyard of the main level of the center and will kick off with an Easter egg hunt at 12 noon. Children should bring their own basket to collect Easter eggs. Passport cards will be given out to the first 200 children attending the event. They will help direct the children to Kaleidoscope businesses where they will each receive a candy-filled egg. (participants will receive one egg per business)

Children enjoy visiting with the Easter Bunny at last year’s Easter Garden Party at Kaleidoscope.

The Easter Garden Party will also offer a complimentary photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny for guests who bring their own camera. Adding to the fun will be cookie decorating from Donna B’s Bakery, free face painting, and a petting zoo with bunnies and baby chicks.

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Loco Cycle Opening in Rancho Santa Margarita on February 27 with Workouts That “Feel Like a Party”!

February 25, 2015 / Fitness, Lifestyle

Exciting news for South Orange County! Plaza Antonio in Rancho Santa Margarita will welcome Loco Cycle, a new indoor cycling studio. The studio will open on Friday, February 27. Join Loco Cycle and the Mayor of Rancho Santa Margarita, Brad McGirr for the grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony which will take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 28.

Loco Cycle owners Monica & Chuck Gray of Coto de Caza enjoy fitness with their triplets.

The family-owned cycling studio is a state of the art facility with top of the line equipment and a modern atmosphere. It has fully equipped locker rooms with showers for both men and women. The hand-picked staff has been well educated and is ready to assist riders of all levels. You’ll experience an amazing 45-minute workout, led by the industry’s top instructors, that feels like a party!

Loco Cycle will offer free classes and feature grand opening specials throughout the weekend. Sign up for a free grand opening class by visiting http://www.LocoCycleRSM.com. A variety of specially-priced packages for the grand opening are listed on the website and include:

10 rides for $160 (regularly $190)
20 rides for $300 (regularly $360)
one year of unlimited rides for $1,999 (regularly $2,999.)

Loco Cycle is located at 22431 Antonio Parkway, Suite B-190, in Antonio Plaza. in Rancho Santa Margarita. For more information call the studio at (949) 713-1116 or visit http://www.lococyclersm.com.