Over The Top Mommy

Orange County Simon Malls Will Make Books Come to Life at Their Annual Simon Kidgits Club Book Blast Event on February 28!

February 25, 2015 / Brea Mall, Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County, The Shops at Mission Viejo, Westminster Mall

On Saturday, February 28, the Simon Kidgits Club® at Brea Mall, Westminster Mall and The Shops at Mission Viejo are welcoming families to experience the magic of reading at the mall. Each of these Orange County Simon® malls is hosting an annual Book Blast event and inviting parents and children to bring books to life through special read-aloud sessions, giveaways and story-inspired activities. The events will be taking place at the following times and locations:

The Shops at Mission Viejo: Event runs from 10 a.m. to noon on the center’s upper level near the Play Area. Book Blast event activities will kick off with an exciting read-aloud session of the “Olivia” book series, followed by a character appearance from “Olivia” herself, who will pose for photos with families. Children’s crafts and special retailer activities will be available as well.
Westminster Mall: Event runs from 10 a.m. to noon on the center’s lower level in Target Court.
Brea Mall: Event runs from noon to 2 p.m. in Center Court.

Simon is also teaming up with Better World Books to provide Kidgits Club members who attend the event with a pre-loved book and Kidgits seat cushion to take home, while supplies last. In addition, families are encouraged to bring a gently used book to the event at The Shops at Mission Viejo, to be donated to a local charity.

Simon Kidgits Club’s Book Blast will provide families the chance to make reading a fun, social experience with various kid-focused offerings. Book Blast event activities will kick off with an exciting read-aloud session presented by surprise guests from the community.

The Simon Kidgits Club is a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children ages 3-8. Since 2003, the Simon Kidgits Club has kept children and parents alike amused with various events and activities while providing incentives for club members, such as special offers, rewards and games. Kidgits Club members receive a variety of goodies, including a Kidgits Club T-shirt, membership card, birthday card and gift, discounts and scheduled activities. For more information about the Simon Kidgits Club, click here.

Eliza J Dresses Speak My Love Language!

February 24, 2015 / Lifestyle, Shopping

It’s hard to really complain about winter here in Southern California because most days are beautiful and sunny. When the chilly weather does finally roll around, I get to bundle up in warm sweaters, jeans, and boots. However, I’m going to be honest though…I just pretend that I love dressing for winter! It’s fun to bundle up like that for about 5 whole minutes! As soon as I start to see spring fashions pop up in the months of December and January, I get crazy excited and I think it makes me instantly ready to fast forward to spring already!

This spring I plan on spending a lot of time with Eliza J dresses! Not only with them but wearing them! Have you seen their line of dresses? Just take one look at their Instagram and you’ll be as enamored as I was! I swear Eliza J dresses speak my Love Language!

The Eliza J Instagram page is too cute for words!

Eliza J dresses are made with such beautiful prints and fabrics, each developed by talented artists and are feminine and unique. I love all of the different styles of dresses. They have every ingredient for being labeled as “that perfect dress” in your closet! From day to evening, they are the perfect fit for today’s modern form. They’re available in regular, petite & plus-sizes, and each one is designed to make a woman look fabulous and “feel pretty“!

After combing through Pinterest, Instagram, and the Eliza J site, I think I’ve come up with some of my favorite Eliza J dresses for this spring! One of the fun parts about living in sunny SoCal is that I can get away with wearing any one of these dresses in the day or night. It’s so easy to change their look a little by just swapping out accessories and shoes!

I love the combo of black and white with stripes & dots on this dress with the overlay!

I also love the combination of black, floral & dots on this dress! It, too, has that pretty overlay!

How fun are these springy florals? This picture makes me want to dress up with of my girlfriends in Eliza J!

Since I am usually a very “matchy-matchy” person, I LOVE LOVE the stripes with floral on this one!

How adorable is this gown? Guess what? It has pockets, too!

I think you can probably see a recurring theme here with my picks? I’m always a fan of black but am also loving the combination stripes and dots. Of course florals are always traditional for spring, too. I love dresses that fall just above the knee but am also fond of the long gown length. I could go on for hours about my favorite Eliza J dresses! In case you wanted to see some of my other picks, I also put together an Eliza J Pinterest board! It’s no wonder this line is a favorite of fashion bloggers everywhere!

So have YOU picked out a favorite Eliza J dress for spring yet? Was it one of the ones I picked out?

Eliza J is available at Nordstrom, Lord and Taylor, Dillard’s, House of Fraser, Von Maur and specialty stores. Connect with Eliza J on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram!

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. (photo credits: Eliza J)

M&M’s® Crispy Are Back! Best Comeback EVER!

February 23, 2015 / Food, Let's Eat!

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

Let’s talk about one of my favorite subjects…M&M’s®! I’m probably one of the biggest fans of these delicious chocolate candies! I love all things M&M’s® and always hurry to try any and all of the new flavors that come out. They are my favorite go-to snack, a movie theater necessity (as a mix-in for my popcorn, of course) and something I love to incorporate into any special occasion and holiday!

It was such exciting news to hear that M&M’s® Crispy were coming back! I have no idea how I missed M&M’s® Crispy the first time when they were around in the 90’s though? Did you try them when they were last available? Watch this adorable M&M’s® “Fans” Commercial sharing the big announcement!

As soon as started seeing the tweets and articles about them and after I watched this, I headed straight over to Walmart to grab my very own stash of M&M’s® Crispy! I may have missed them in the 90s but I was determined not to let that happen again!

I found the bright green “Share Size” bags in the checkout aisles! They’re perfect for sharing with a friend or someone fun in your life! M&M’s® Crispy contain only 180 calories per serving. They are also available in a big bag in the candy/baking aisle. Whatever the case, I stocked up on a bunch of the share-size bags, just in case they ran out. I’m sure once the word gets out to everyone, they’re going to be flying off the shelves!

M&M’s® are something I grew up loving as a child. Now that I’m a mom, there’s an even greater significance behind them. My daughter’s name is “Emily” and early on, we started calling her “M & M” for short. At age 3, she even made a connection between her nickname and the candies and it just sort of stuck. She, too, has grown up loving M&M’s® just as much as I do. Our love for M&M’s® runs deep. I can’t think of a more perfect person to share my new M&M’s® Crispy with! Since we try to set aside some quiet time after school each day to read, I think the next time we do so, I’ll break out one of my share-size bags to share with her while we read.

Of course, with the delicious crunch inside each one, I’m not sure how “quiet” our reading time will actually be, but I’m OK with that! (and I’m sure she will be too).

I also plan on stashing a few bags in my purse to take to my classroom. Sometimes I need a pick-me-up right around 1 o’clock in the afternoon, which happens to be my last hour of teaching each day. It’s going to be a little tricky to eat them during class time without my students hearing the crunch. Oh well, I’ll figure out a way.

Have YOU gotten a chance to try M&M’s® Crispy yet? If not, guess what I’m going to tell you to go do…like right now? You guessed it! (Go grab some of your own!)

See more great M&M’s® Crispy recipe and party ideas on the M&M’s® Crispy social hub where you can also download a coupon to save on your M&M’s® purchase.

Girl Scouts and Chefs Team Up During 2015 OC Restaurant Week! Did Someone Say Girl Scout Cookies?  

February 22, 2015 / Food, Let's Eat!, Lifestyle, Orange County

Girl Scouts of Orange County is partnering with OC Restaurant Week from March 1st – 7th to celebrate the world’s largest girl-led business, Girl Scout Cookies sales, during Orange County’s favorite culinary event!

Slapfish Girl Scout Cookie Dessert

During OC Restaurant Week – which 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 – all important as many of them strive to earn culinary and business badges.

Provenance Girl Scout Cookie Dessert

Featured desserts include:

Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Restaurants – Lemonades Cookie Cream Soda
Maro Wood Grill – Girl Scout Cookie Crunch Sundae with Gluten-Free Trios Crumble
Pascal – Thin Mints Mousse Cake
Paul Martin’s American Grill – Homemade Ice Cream with Assorted Girl Scout Cookies
Provenance – “Girl Scouts Rock” – Chocolate & Peanut Butter Mousse Torte with Gluten-Free Trios Cookie Crust
Slapfish – Caramel deLites Chipwich with Thin Mints-studded Ice Cream
Slater’s 50/50 – Peanut Butter Patties Push Pops and Caramel deLites Push Pops
Sundried Tomato American Bistros and Catering – Lemonades Cookie Sandwich
In 2015, new Gluten-Free Trios were added to the traditional cookie lineup. These Girl Scout Cookies feature chocolate chips nestled in a gluten-free peanut butter oatmeal cookie. Meet all the cookies here!

Maro Wood Grill Girl Scout Cookie Dessert

Watch this video featuring adorable Girl Scouts of Orange County as they prepare a decadent dessert! https://vimeo.com/channels/foodenthusiast/119776627

ABOUT OC RESTAURANT WEEK
The 2015 Orange County Restaurant Week will be held Sunday, March 1st through Saturday, March 7th with more than 100 restaurants participating in the countywide event. During the weeklong event, participating restaurants will offer special three-course menus, many with a cocktail or signature item at no additional charge. Each restaurant will have the freedom and flexibility to showcase its best offerings by talented chefs who will, no doubt, 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. Guests will have the opportunity to search the list of more than 100 expected participating restaurants by name, location and price point at http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com.

Pascal Girl Scout Cookie Dessert

Presenting sponsor for the 2015 Orange County Restaurant Week is The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, in Huntington Beach, who will host the event’s official launch party on February 28, 2015. 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.

Discovery Cube Celebrates National Engineer’s Week with Exhibits, NASA Guest Speaker and Egg-Drop Competition

February 18, 2015 / Discovery Cube LA, Discovery Cube OC, Family Fun, Family Fun, Lifestyle, Los Angeles, Orange County

Aspiring engineers are invited to learn and experiment at Discovery Cube Orange County and Discovery Cube Los Angeles between February 21 and March 1, 2015. The Cube is celebrating National Engineer’s Week with a lineup of friendly competitions, hands-on activities, and a special guest speaker from NASA to engage young minds in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The week begins on Saturday, February 21 with hands-on activities that allow guests to put their engineering talents to the test. Guests will experiment and compete for prizes in daily parachute drops, learn about physics, electrical engineering, and participate in the annual Egg Drop Competition during this week-long workshop.

Activities include:

Parachute Drop: Build and test a parachute, daily prizes awarded for the longest “hang-time”
Mini Monoliths: Strategically stack as many blocks as possible to build the tallest tower
Snap Circuit Building: Interactive electrical engineering table top that teaches about series and parallel circuits.
Forces & Motion Stage Show: A game show style presentation teaches guests about the basic physics of forces and motion in a simplified demonstration relating to Newton’s First Law of Motion.

Guests are also invited to join the annual Egg Drop Competition and enjoy a special presentation by NASA Ambassador, Richard Stember, on Saturday, February 28 at Discovery Cube OC and Sunday, March 1 at Discovery Cube LA. Guests who participate in the thrilling Egg Drop Competition must create an “ETV” (egg transport vehicle) to protect an egg as it drops 20 feet to the ground. Prizes will be awarded to the builders of the three devices with the lightest weight, least amount of materials, and a surviving egg.

Doors open to the public February 21, and Engineer’s Week is included in general admission to Discovery Cube OC and Discovery Cube LA. Tickets can be bought at Discovery Cube or online at http://www.discoverycube.org. Prices are as follows: adult ($16.95), senior ($12.95), and children 3-14 ($12.95). Discovery Cube OC and Discovery Cube LA are open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Currently, Discovery Cube LA has a special admission price of $10.00 for any guest.

Union Market Mission Viejo at Kaleidoscope Center Announces First Restaurants & Retailers

February 14, 2015 / Kaleidoscope Center, Lifestyle, Orange County, Shopping

Union Market Mission Viejo has announced more than a dozen specialty retailers and restaurants who have begun construction at Kaleidoscope Center! It will open a 28,000 square foot space in early summer, featuring 20 independent retailers and chef-driven restaurants. This is such exciting news! Here’s a sneak peek of what’s been announced to join Union Market Mission Viejo so far:

Restaurants

Portola Coffee, a specialty coffee bar that was recently honored as Roaster of the Year 2015
Milk Box, a healthy, playful and premium brand bringing organic ingredients to milk teas, along with boba and desserts
Hummus bowl, a fresh, organic hummus bar
Oyu Shabu, a Japanese Shabu-Shabu that offers a fun hot pot (cook it yourself) dining style
Poke Shack, offering a unique and interactive experience where guests will build their own meal with an array of fresh ingredients to suit their preference. Diners will watch the process as their bowl of rice, choice of protein, sauce, vegetable and condiment is prepared to order
Kroft, featuring a farm to table menu and reinventing comfort food with fresh, local, organic, sustainable and seasonal ingredients (F.L.O.S.S.) with sandwiches and poutines (Canadian French specialty fries.)
Central Bar, serving specialty craft cocktails and libations, using only fresh and local ingredients, and a wine bar featuring eclectic and small boutique wines. Central Bar will offer an educational and fun experience with monthly wine and spirit tastings
Anchor Hitch – Seafood and Raw Bar, is a contemporary take on the traditional fare of a fish and oyster bar, focused on sustainable and fresh seafood
Noodle Bar, traditional Vietnamese Pho with a modern build-your-own experience
Youngstone Cheese Shop, featuring cheese plates, fondue, and build-your-own grilled cheese sandwiches
Market 2 Plate, offering pasta and freshly made salads

Retailers

Bambu Earth, responsible and natural soap and skincare products
Miel, women’s clothing and accessories

Other concepts soon to be announced include a bakery, olive oil bar, juice bar, a baby & children’s boutique, home décor, and a jeweler.

Union Market Mission Viejo will include indoor and outdoor dining with stunning views overlooking the city of Mission Viejo, as well as communal areas to dine, meet with friends, or relax over coffee.

Be sure to follow all the happenings at Kaleidoscope via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Annual Orchid Expo to Take Bloom at Westminster Mall February 13-15!

February 13, 2015 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County, Shopping, Westminster Mall

The Newport Harbor Orchid Society will host its 13th Annual Orchid Expo and Sale, this year themed “Orchids: Jewels of the Jungle,” February 13-15, at Westminster Mall.

The Expo, which is free and open to the public, will showcase thousands of high quality orchids in bloom from all over the world. Orchids are the largest family of flowering plants with over 35,000 known species and hybrids.

Without having to leave Southern California, show goers will be dazzled by the diversity and beauty of the orchids to be displayed by professional growers, area orchid societies, and individual hobbyists.

A large sales area will feature expert commercial growers who will be offering unique species and hybrids for sale. There will also be two potting workshops designed specifically for new growers, which are scheduled for Saturday, February 14, and Sunday, February 15. Registration is limited to the first 20 registrants for each class. To register, e-mail [email protected].

Judging of the plants will be conducted by accredited judges of the American Orchid Society and the Cymbidium Society of America, as well as by local society members. An exhibit of orchid art by members of the Westminster Mall’s Kidgits Club will also be on exhibit during the show.

Show admission and parking are free. Specific hours are as follows:

Friday February 13: 10am – 9pm
Saturday, February 14: 10am – 7pm
Sunday, February 15: 11am – 6pm

For more information visit http://www.nhosinfo.org/.

About The Newport Harbor Orchid Society:
Founded in 1979, the Newport Harbor Orchid Society has over 150 participating members who reside in Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside Counties. The organization’s primary mission is to foster the culture, cultivation, and conservation of orchids and to educate its members and the public about orchids. The society meets onthe third Tuesday of each month at the Neighborhood Community Center in Costa Mesa, 1845 Park Avenue. Guests and new members are welcome.

About Westminster Mall:
Westminster Mall is a modern shopping center that features some of the best names in retail including Macy’s, JC Penney, Sears, Target, Victoria’s Secret, PINK, Old Navy and more. In addition to more than 180 specialty stores with shops ranging from teen apparel to shoes to women’s apparel and jewelry, Westminster Mall also features exciting dining destinations such as Outback Steakhouse and TGI Fridays.In November 2008, Westminster Mall completed a multi-million dollar renovation. Included were brand new family restrooms, a first of its kind children’s fully soft play area, new interior and exterior directional signage. The entire lower level of the center was carpeted for guest’s shopping enjoyment and comfort. For a map and store listings, as well as directions, events and job listings, visit http://www.simon.com/mall/westminster-mall or call 714-898-2558.

Connect with Westminster Mall on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Join OCTA on February 21 For a Free Family Event at the Irvine Station to Celebrate the Lunar New Year! (They’re Giving Away Tickets to Ride the Metrolink, Too)

February 12, 2015 / Celebrations, Holiday Fun, Lifestyle, Los Angeles, Orange County

Lunar New Year is the most celebrated holiday of the year for the nearly 1.5 million people of Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese descent living in Southern California. Celebrate Lunar New Year by visiting the 116th Annual Golden Dragon Parade and Festival in Los Angeles’ Chinatown. With colorful parades, elaborately decorated floats, marching bands and cultural performances by some of the nation’s best Chinese acts, this free event is fun for all ages.

Before riding Metrolink to L.A. on February 21, join OCTA for a Lunar New Year celebration at the Irvine station. This is a free event for the whole family. Just arrive at the Irvine Metrolink Station at 8:00 a.m. Enjoy a traditional Lion Dance and enter to win Lucky Red envelopes. Bring a non-perishable food donation for Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County to play Plinko and win a prize.

The first 100 people at the Metrolink Irvine Station on February 21 will each receive a free Metrolink ticket too, for a ride up to LA! (First come, first served)

Metrolink is the best way to get to LA from Orange County. You’ll avoid traffic and parking hassles and enjoying a relaxing ride with friends and family. The train is a great way to start your family adventure to Los Angeles.

The Irvine Metrolink station is Irvine Station is located at:
15215 Barranca Parkway
Irvine, CA 92618
(Free parking)

For more information about Metrolink and to find the train schedules, click here.

Connect with OCTA on Facebook and Instagram!

(images provided by OCTA)

Come to Irvine Park Railroad’s 19th Anniversary Celebration 2015 on February 21st & 22nd!

February 9, 2015 / Family Fun, Irvine Park Railroad, Lifestyle, Orange County

Come celebrate Irvine Park Railroad’s 19th anniversary on Saturday, February 21st and Sunday, February 22nd. They’re rolling back prices to their original 1996 prices… including $2.00 train rides! It’s their way of saying thank you to all of their loyal customers who have visited Irvine Park Railroad over the years.

Irvine Park Railroad has become a favorite destination for families (like ours) from across Southern California. While the train takes passengers on a 12-minute ride through scenic Irvine Regional Park, the engineer narrates the ride pointing out all of the history inside of the 114 year-old park.

The anniversary celebration will also feature other $2.00 activities and concessions including carnival games, hot dogs, sodas, ice creams, popcorn, bounce house tickets and cotton candy.

Face painting and panning for gold require two $2.00 tickets. FREE giveaways include Irvine Park Railroad balloons.

The $2 tickets are valid during the Anniversary Celebration weekend only. (Coupons, discounts and/or any other promotions are not valid on the anniversary celebration dates.)

While at Irvine Regional Park, be sure and visit the parks other activities including Wheel Fun Rentals® at Irvine Park, bike and paddle boat rentals, pony rides and the Orange County Zoo. The park entrance fee is $5.00 per vehicle.

Irvine Park Railroad opens daily at 10:00 AM. The cost for train tickets during the anniversary celebrations weekend is $2.00 per ticket; children younger than 12 months ride free. Irvine Park Railroad is located inside of Irvine Regional Park at 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869.

Irvine Park Railroad is open year round (excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day). Our annual events include the Easter Eggstravaganza, Anniversary Celebration, Pumpkin Patch, Fourth Grade California History Education Program, Christmas Tree Ranch, and Christmas Train. Please visit http://www.irvineparkrailroad.com for details.