Noon Year's Eve at the Discovery Science Center

If you are looking for something fun to do with the kiddos tomorrow, you definitely will want to check out Discovery Science Center's Noon Year's Eve. Families can celebrate the New Year early (and without staying up past bedtime) with celebrations at 12pm and 2pm, December 31, 2009. The kiddos can build a seltzer rocket and create your own personalized party popper! There will also be karaoke and hundreds of balloons with fall from the ceiling as you ring in Noon Year’s Eve! Ginger ale toast included for all guests.

It's a great way to allow the kiddos to participate in the New Year's celebrations without making them stay up until midnight. For additional info head over here.

Rose Parade Viewing tips

If you are thinking of heading out to Pasadena to view the 2010Tournament of Roses Parade- here's a list of tips to make it a fun and comfortable experience

 1. Layer up- The high for New Year's Day is supposed to hit a high of 70 degrees- but it is very chilly at night and in the early morning. Dress in layers so that you can easily remove a layer or two when it starts to warm up. If you're bringing little ones I would also bring scarves, gloves, a blanket and mittens
. 2. Overnight camping is permitted only on the night before the parade. Do not arrive before noon the day before the parade.
 3. If you plan on camping - bring plenty of blankets, sleeping bags and pillows. You are also allowed to bring a small barbecue. You may not bring tents or start any form of bonfire.
 4. If you are camping be prepared for a sleepless night. I've camped out a couple of times with my family and didn't sleep a wink. The crowd also gets a bit rowdy. I really wouldn't recommend camping out if you have small children.
 5. If you would like to view the parade in style and be as comfortable as possible- splurge on grandstand tickets. For more info click here- Tickets are still available.
6. If you are light sensitive make sure to sit on the west side of the street
 7. The Tournament of Roses Parade follows the same route every year: Starting on Ellis St., it heads north on S. Orange Grove Blvd., then east on Colorado Blvd, north (left turn) on Sierra Madre Blvd., and ending at Paloma Street.- Plan ahead to determine where you would like to seat- also there is no public, curbside parade viewing on Orange Grove Blvd. from Del Rosa to Colorado Blvd. and on Colorado from Orange Grove to Terrace. Grandstand ticket holders only.
8. If you would like to see the parade live in person, but have small children or the idea of camping out seems like a nightmare- this might be for you- Our friends suggested to leave about 30-45 minutes before the parade starts and head over to the end of the parade - on Sierra Madre blvd. You can easily find a spot without having to camp out.
9. Parking can be a nightmare. You can park in residential areas but be prepared for a walk. You can also pay anywhere between 10-25 dollars and park close up to the parade route in any of the private lots. If you are planning on this make sure you bring cash.
 10. The parade starts at 8am sharp and is approximately 2 and a half hours long.
11. Bring plenty of water and snacks. If you have little ones- bring them along in a wagon and store your supplies in the wagon.
12. If you would still like to view the floats close up but can't make it out to the parade don't worry- Buy tickets for the best and most interesting part of the Rose Parade: float viewing. You can get closer to the floats and talk to their builders here. Crowds will be smaller if you can arrive immediately when they open on the morning after the parade. Use an area park-and-ride lot, or if you have a carful of people, try for one of the paid lots near Pasadena High School. I will be covering this in a later post.

Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy

Last Tuesday, my family had the opportunity to attend the opening of Disney on Ice- Worlds of Fantasy. I've seen a couple of Disney on Ice shows and this one was definitely one of my family's favorites.  Worlds of Fantasy features segments with Cars, The Little Mermaid, Lion King and Tinkerbell. My son and daughter both loved the show!

My son who is an absolute Cars fanatic was in auto heaven!

My daughter who is in love with both Tink and Ariel was in Princess Heaven!

There is a Preshow that is included with your admission and starts an hour before the performance. The Preshow features appearances by a Disney Princess. We were able to catch a glimpse of the new princess Tiana and Cinderella. There is also  a collection of  ball gowns and mementos from the Disney Princess stories.

Disney on Ice - Worlds of Fantasy will play at the Honda Center until December 27th. It then moves to the Ontario Citizens Arena from December 30th to January 3rd and finishes the run at the Long Beach Arena from January 6th to the 10th.

For tickets and additional info head here.

You can receive a special offer if you enter the coupon code MOM and you will be able to receive 4 tickets for $44 on weekday performances or $4 off single weekend tickets. You can order online by heading to http://www.disneyonice.com/ or http://www.ticketmaster.com/ You can also order tickets by phone: 800-745-3000 or at the venue box office.

Merry Christmas!

I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful day with your families! We are spending Christmas morning at home and then heading to Big Bear to enjoy the rest of the day and weekend with our family. I hope your day and weekend is filled with much joy!

Last Minute holiday tips and decorations

Christmas is here! I love everything about this day- the opportunity for families to be together, traditions, presents, decorations and of course the delicious food! Last week I had the opportunity to attend a fun event at Albertsons with some blogging buddies, where we learned some very fun recipes and tips to put on a great holiday party.

They shared some very fun ideas that were simple and inexpensive to make your holiday party a hit! One of my favorite ideas was to create a hot chocolate bar.

A hot chocolate bar is easy to create. First you will need some hot chocolate. A suggestion given by the good people at Albertsons was to use a crockpot to keep your cocoa warm.

Once you have some warm cocoa, you can set up your bar. Fill several small bowls with your favorite hot chocolate toppings including marshmallows, bits of reeses pieces, hot cocoa mix, crushed candy canes, your favorite candy, etc.

Set out some cups and have your guests dip the rim of their cup is milk or water. Next, dip the cups in the cocoa mix or crushed candy canes and add your hot chocolate.

Finish off by adding some marshmallows, candy and topping it off with some whipped cream.  We tried this at home and my kiddos loved it! It's a fun and inexpensive idea that I just had to share.

We also learned to make the most darling centerpieces that even someone that is creatively challenged (yours truly) can make in minutes.

All you will need is a clear container, a tea candle and some fresh cranberries.

Fill your container with about a third of water, add your cranberries, stick in your candle an that's it! You will have a great centerpiece that is not only fabulous but easy to make and inenexpensive!

You can find all of the ingredients to make the cocoa bar or centerpieces at your local Albertsons.

Kids are out on break. What to do? 10 ideas that won't break your bank or wallet

Monday marks the beggining of a two week holiday break for most kids. I know I've had a number of friends ask me.. Ok Aracely what is there to do? I want to do something fun and inexpensive with the kids. Here are a couple of suggestions that will not only entertain your kiddos but that are either free or not very expensive..

1. The California Science Center. I can't rave enough about this wonderful place. It is at the top of the list in my book for something to do in So Cal that is fun, different and oh did I mention that it is absolutely FREE!(all you have to do is pay for parking). Pack a lunch or splurge a little and enjoy Mcdonald's on the first floor of the museum.
2. The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium- While it is is not the Aquarium of the Pacific or Scripps. It is a great little aquarium that has the most amazing staff and some fun exhibits.The Aquarium is absolutely FREE and parking is a $1 an hour
3. The Getty Museum and Getty Villa- These two beautiful jewels sit perched on a hill with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. Both are FREE  to the public and while many of you may be thinking- no way- my kiddos would be bored out of their mind, think again! My kiddos had a blast and they have a fun kids area that your kiddos will never want to leave!
4. Enviromental Nature Center- pack a good pair of shoes and enjoy a fun hike on the center's trail. Also stay a bit to explore the Center. It's a fun little place your kiddos will enjoy. Did I mention it's FREE?
5. Zimmer's Children's Museum- In my opinion one of the best children's museums in the area. The theming is out of this world and not very crowded. While the museum is not free, admission prices are reasonable($5 for kids and $8 for adults) It's a great alternative to the movies.
6. Hit your local dollar theater. We love the dollar theatre. It's fun, cheap and the kids have a great time. The best part is that our entire family can catch a flick and get some treats for less than $10! You can't beat that!
7. Travel Town Museum- a family favorite. This little train museum is pretty darn cool and admission is absolutely free. Make a day at Griffith Park by bringing some toys and have some good old fashioned fun playing in one of the many playgrounds or by taking a little hike.
8. Griffith Observatory/Park- I can't make one of these lists without talking about one of my favorite LA Landmarks. I am a bit of an astronomy geek (I begged for a telescope when I was a child) and love learning all about the planets. Not only are the views out of this world on a clear day, you and your family will love all of the different exhibits and the planeterium. A must visit on break!
9. Natural History Museum- Los Angeles. Love Night of the Museum? well you will definitely love the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Your family will fall in love with this amazing museum and the best part is that although it does not offer free admission- admission prices are pretty darn reasonable. Children under 5 are free, kids 6-12 are $2 and adults are $9. For less than 20 bucks you can treat your family to an incredible day and learn a thing or two. I love it!
10. Santa Ana Zoo in the afternoon. Did you know the Santa Ana Zoo offers half price off after 2pm? We love the Santa Ana Zoo and it has one of the best play areas. It's shaded, there is a snack bar  and a play area for the tiny tots and another for the older ones. We love sitting in the aviary and having a few moments of peace and quiet. It's a fun little place that my family loves!

Winner of Sid the Science Kid Plush

Happy Sunday! Hope you are all having a great weekend and an unbelievable upcoming week. Things have kind of been hectic here at home with finals, work and preparing for Christmas. It's a busy time of the year but also in my opinion the best time of the year.

To kick of the week, I wanted to start by announcing the winner of the Sid the Science Kid plus.

The winner selected at random is

NSMOM  who said...


to my two sweet boys - it would be great for them to have a fun toy but also learn something in the process. Cool. Thanks, Maureen

Maureen email me at mom at daytrippingmom.com with your info. Thank you all for participating and stay tuned for other fun giveaways and don't forget to enter our Monster Truck giveaway!

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade

Are you ready to really swing into the holiday spirit?? Looking for something that is fun to do and absolutely free?? Look no further and mark the dates on your calendar. The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is celebrating it's 101th year and better than ever.
 
Watching the parade is one of my family's favorite Christmas traditions. The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is a definite must see. The parade begins on Wednesday Dec 16thand ends on Sunday December 20th. The parade starts off at Bay Island at 6:30pm and ends there at approximately 9:30. 
 
 Just a couple of tips to make your evening as enjoyable as possible.
 1. Dress warmly. I forgot to bring gloves last year and I will make sure not to forget them this year. I also will remember to bring a blanket for each of my kiddos.
 2. Arrive as early as possible. Traffic is horrible and arriving early will assure you a spot and less congestion. 3. Be prepared to pay for parking. Whether you are parking in one of the state lots to an improvised private lot make sure to bring at least 10 dollars for parking. If you want to save on parking make sure to bring good walking shoes and park a little further away from the bay area.
4. Bring something warm to drink . We bring something warm to drink and lots of fun treats!
5. Some of the best viewing spots are the Balboa Peninsula/Ferry area and Balboa island. You can't miss at any of these two spots.
6. If you would like to view the parade in luxury many of the waterfront restaurants along the parade route have dinner/viewing packages. Check to see if your favorite restaurant is offering a deal.
7. check out this website for additional information.
 
I know that your family will enjoy this as much as my family does!! I promise!!! Don't forget to enter one of the giveaways!
 

Another fun giveaway !

I wanted to share a fun giveaway that is going on at KidsandMice.com. Head over there for a chance to win a family 4 pack to Disneyland! There are only a few entries. Odds are pretty good! Good Luck!

Monster Jam-Monster Truck Tour at Angels Stadium Giveaway

My son Mikey, is into anything and everything related to trucks. He loves watching them and is mesmerized when he catches a glimpse of them on tv. He loves every kind of truck, from a Ford truck to a big rig. He also loves dirt and that means he will for sure love the Monster Jam- Monster Truck Tour coming to Angel Stadium January 16th, 30th and February 6th.

 Monster Jam® shows consist of three main elements – The Built Ford Tough Party in the Pits where fans can meet the drivers and see the trucks up close, monster truck racing and monster truck freestyle. Dirt and Trucks? My son is going to be in dirt heaven along with my husband. I actually can't wait to catch one o the shows because the shows look like a blast.


Tickets for the 2010 Monster Jam events at Angel Stadium start at just $10 for kids ages 2-12 and are available for purchase at the Angel Stadium Box Office, participating Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 1-800-217-1700. For more ticket and event information visit http://www.monsterjam.com/.

Show dates and time:
•January 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

•January 30, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

•February 6, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.


Two lucky winners will win a family 4 pack to the event of your choice. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me why you would love to win. That's it! Come back daily and leave a daily comment for additional entries.

You have until December 31st to enter. Winner will be selected at random on January 1st.
Good luck!

Giveaway Time! TALKIN’ SID THE SCIENCE KID Plush

Happy Sunday Evening. I usually don't look forward to Sunday evenings because it means back to the grind, so to help ease my Sunday night blues, I decided to do a giveaway! This is one that your kiddos will enjoy.

About a  week ago I received a Sid the Science Kid Plush to review and let me just say that as soon as my son saw what it was he could not wait to get it out of the box and start playing with it. It is super cute and my son has walked around with it all week.

 Did I mention he talks? Oh yes he does! You can squeeze his tummy and he repeats several cute phrases from the show. It's been a hit with both of my kids and I'm sure he would make a perfect present. If your kiddos are fans of the show, they will definitely be in love.

This giveaway is coming directly from the producers of the Sid the Science Kid series, The Jim Henson Company and KCET (PBS/ Los Angeles) and is open to US residents only.

 The toy retails exclusively at Toys-R-Us for $24.99. You can get a $3.00 off coupon by heading here and  clicking on the “Toy and Game” link on the left hand side of the page.

One lucky reader will win one of these very cute plushes. All you have to do is leave a comment on you would give this to and why. That's it! You have until Wednesday the 16th of December to enter. Winner will be announced and selected Thursday morning at random. Good luck!

Guest Post- La Brea Tarpits/George C Page Museum

The fabulous Michele, from Fun Orange County Parks recently visited the La Brea Tarpits and George C Page Museum and shares her outing with us.

We visited the Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits near Miracle Mile in Los Angeles as an excursion with extended family. I'd never visited the Page Museum with my kids so I didn't know what to expect besides my recollection of fossils.

The museum itself is nothing spectacular and rather dated. It's a square building with an atrium (koi pond with turtles) in the center. At the entrance, you're routed to your left to follow the great halls around in a clockwise direction until you come out back where you started. My 4yo and 7yo are rather patient and into seeing and reading all the exhibits and it still only took us about 30 minutes to take it all in. Some of the exhibits are downright disturbing for little ones.

The real treasure lies outside the museum's walls in the meandering paths and tar pits outdoors.

We easily spent an hour in Hancock Park. We took a walk out the entrance and across the bridge by the main tar pit. We continued down Wilshire to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art where they had an installation of lampposts on the sidewalk.

The walk through the park back toward the Page Museum was pure, delightful discovery. The kids led the way and found all sorts of tar pits in the lawn and viewed the excavation sites. The little demonstration garden and statues were high points. Don't forget to allow time for the kids to roll down the grassy hills outside the museum entrance.

Parking $7. Adult admission is $7 and kids under 5 are free. Visit the website for more information on admission and hours. The Petersen Automotive Museum is also nearby.

Michele writes about OC playgrounds and play ideas on her Fun Orange County Parks blog

LA Auto Show and Kid Zone

Last Saturday morning the kiddos and I woke up early and headed to the LA Auto Show. The LA Auto show invited a couple of mom bloggers to check the all new  Kids Zone. All I can say is that my kiddos were in complete car heaven. Not only is the Auto Show a fun event in itself, the Kid Zone provides an area dedicated to help the kiddos get the wiggles out and have a fabulous time!

The Kids Fun Zone features a Jeep obstacle course that my son was absolutely in love with, a couple of bounce houses, video games, bubble fun and much more. There are also tables and chairs for parents to relax while the kids work out their energy and have a great time. My little ones did not want to leave. Although they enjoyed the main convention floor that featured the different cars they fell in love with the Kids Zone and there was a tear or two shed when they were told it was time to head out.

I love that not only can parents have an amazing time but so can the kiddos. My kiddos absolutely loved the different boune house areas and we literally had to remove them because they didn't want to leave.

The best part is that the Kids Zone  is included with the price of admission! You won't have to pay anything extra to have a great time.

We loved every single part of the LA Auto Show and I think you will also. It's a seriously fun event that the entire family will enjoy.The LA Auto shows will be here until  Sunday, December 13th. The Kids Zone is available only on the weekends.  For discount coupouns and additional info head over here,

.

Metrolink Holiday Toy Express Train

We are in full holiday mode and that means the Metrolink Holiday Toy Express Train is coming to an area near you. For the 13th consecutive year, Santa’s glittering train will travel from city to city, entertaining families and collecting toys for those in need of some holiday goodwill. The 47-city tour will visit six counties (San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles) and bring a brightly packaged gift to Metrolink communities—a 450-ton train decorated with holiday displays and 50,000 twinkling lights that delivers a live musical performance, Santa, and community fun.

While Santa’s sleigh is magic, his train can’t run in the rain. In the event of bad weather, please call Metrolink’s customer-service line at (800) 371-LINK (5465) to find out whether your hometown visit will be rescheduled

The remaining stops this year are

Saturday December 12th

• Anaheim 5:15pm
• Orange 6:00pm
• Santa Ana 7:00pm
• Fullerton 8:30pm

Sunday December 13th

• Montalveo 5:00pm
• Oxnard 5:45pm
• Camarillo 7:00pm
• Moorpark 8:30pm

Friday December 18th

• Covina 7:30pm
• El Monte 8:30pm

Saturday December 19th

• Baldwin Park 5:30pm
• Claremont 7:00pm
• Montclair 7:45pm
• Upland 8:30pm

Sunday December 19th

• Lancaster 5:00pm
• Palmdale 6:00pm
• Vincent Grade/Acton 6:45pm
• Via Princessa 8:15pm

For additonal info head here

Knott's Merry Farm Toys for Tots Program... a little different this year

Knott's Berry Farm will be sponsoring their annual Toys for Tots program with a few changes this year. Instead of admission on the weekends, you can head over from December 5th to December 20th and take advantage of the program. This also means weekdays! This year guests can simplify their holiday gift buying by purchasing a $15 gift from one of several merchandise locations in Knott’s Marketplace and then bringing it to Knott’s Main Gate for free admission. Those wishing to bring their own, new, unwrapped gift valued at $15 or more, will be able to purchase a regular Knott’s Merry Farm admission for only $15. It's a great way of helping others and also being able to do something fun for the family!

For additional information head over here.

Also Knott's Theme Park salutes Fire & Police personnel with free park admission November 26 through December 20. The offer is good for fire and police personnel and their spouse, or one guest. Up to six additional tickets can be purchased for only $15 each. Fire and law enforcement ID required.

Winner of Wii Fit plus Board!

Happy Tuesday!
To start off the day I wanted to announce the winner of the Wii Fit Plus Board. I must warn you that it is heavy and winner will have to meet me somewhere so that I can drop off.
With that being said the winner of the Wii Fit board is....
as selected by random.org


is November 17, 2009 7:02 PM


Autumn said...

I asked Santa for a Wii fit last year and he never got the memo...hoping for one this year and would add the Jillian game for sure!

Autumm please email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with your info!
 
Thank you all for participating!

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa

Two  weeks ago I had the opportunity with a couple of other Mom Bloggers to head out for a special tasting to the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa. I had never been before and it is a breathtaking resort.  It's located across from the Pacific Ocean and has the most amazing views.

We were invited to attend a special cooking demonstration by Chef Priscilla Willis in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month. It was an incredible experience with the most delicious food. Chef Priscilla is the Sous Chef at the hotel's Californian restaurant and is in charge of the healthy and vegeterian menus. The food was amazing and I can't wait to head back for more. I had the most incredible Salmon soup and for dessert had what some would consider an interesting combination of Strawberries and Balsamic Vinegar. The taste however was anything but  absolutely delicious! I can't wait to head back for some delish and healthy food.

The Hutington Beach Resort and Spa is family friendly and features many activities geared for families. I can't wait until it warms up to spend a couple of days there on staycation. With the current financial climate, I think my family will be skipping on big vacations in the near future and focusing on exploring the beautiful area we live in.

The LA Auto Show and Guest post : Chevy Volt and Cruze

Did you know the LA Auto show kicks off it's 10 day run today? The LA Auto show is an event my husband and I have attended before we had kiddos and  now  it is something that we look forward to attending  as a family.  This year they have added a Kids fun zone area which I know my kids are going to absolutely love. It features a kids Jeep driving course, face painting, crafts and other fun activities. I'm heading tomorrow morning to check it out. We have always enjoyed visiting as a family and I can just imagine my kiddos are going to love  the new kids area. The LA Auto shows runs from Friday December 4th to Sunday, December 13th. For discount coupouns and additional info head over here.


My family has been sick this week and I had been invited to preview the Chevy Volt and Cruze this past week, but was unable to make it. My friend Katie at ocmomactivities was able to make it and here is what she has to say.

On the way home last night, I came across (unfortunately) a common sight on the freeway here in Southern California – a bad accident. Thankfully it looked like there were no fatalities, but the pick-up truck was very badly beaten up. It was a Chevy. The synchronicity of seeing that wasn’t lost on me because not one hour before I was at the Chevy Special Preview Event before the LA Auto Show. If there was one overwhelming thought on my mind as I drove home, it was how proud I was of Chevy as an automobile company. Yes I said that. I have been one of those Mom’s rooting for Chevy to evolve in to a company I would buy more than a Tahoe from. I’m betting that day is finally here because after having a sneak peek at the much hyped Chevrolet Volt and less well known Chevrolet Cruze… I think they’ve finally done it.



The Chevy Volt is nothing like what I thought it would be. Although I really can’t describe to you what I thought it would be, all I knew was it had AMAZING gas mileage and I wanted it. Last year I spent almost $400/month to gas up my large SUV for my “around town” driving. I remember hearing about the Volt and thinking “Yeah Right, I’ll see it when I believe it”. And no folks, I have it on pretty good authority that it will be well below the $50,000 price point I’ve heard discussed.


I hadn’t heard about the Chevy Cruze before tonight. This car left an impression on me. It’s the less hyped sibling of the Volt. It’s a Hybrid meant to go head to head against the Honda Civic. But I can tell you, in size, it is larger than the Civic. It’s much roomier inside and actually a great family sedan in my opinion. The price point is supposed to be extremely competitive with the Civic also probably about in the $20,000 range!

I walked away from the night being proud of Chevy (still surprising myself with that…). I’ll save it for another post, but as a working Mom, I also walked away with a newfound respect for Chevy as a company. Their embrace of women and mothers in their workforce is impressive and I can’t wait to tell you more specifics about how real that is, not in theory – but in practice!


For more specific information about the vehicle check out this YouTube Video they have created:





About Katie…
She’s a busy working Wife and Mom to two young boys (ages 6 & 7). When they aren’t at Disneyland, the beach or school, Katie is busy writing posts for OCMomActivities or KidsandMice (anything and everything about Disneyland for families). Stop on by and say hi! Become a fan on Facebook of OCMomActivities or KidsandMice or follow her on Twitter @OCMomActivities or @KidsandMice

"Holiday in the Harbor" Dana Point -Friday December 4th and Free boat rides with Santa!

If you are looking to really get into the Holiday Sprit, you have to check out Dana Point's "Holiday in the Harbor". This family celebration will take place on the three areas of the Dana Point harbor (Dana Wharf, Mariners Village and Mariner's Alley). There will be crafts and holiday activites for the entire family. There will also be face painting, live  entertainment, food and of  course photos with Santa!

The festivities will kick off at 4pm and wrap up at 8pm. 

The fun doen't end there. On Saturday December 5th and Sunday December 6th from 10 am to 2pm, Dana Wharf  will offer free boat rides with Santa.You will board the “DANA PRIDE” for a twenty-minute Harbor cruise with Santa and his helpers.  The El Camino Real Junior Woman’s Club will be on hand to help you get that great shot (this years it's BYO Camera). What a unique and fun way for kids of all ages to visit with Santa! No reservations needed, just show up! For more information call them at (949) 496-5794.

For additional information on both events head here or here

Michaels The Knack Santa's Workshop- Free Family Friendly Event

If your kiddos love crafts, you won't want to  miss this Free Family Event!  On Saturday December 5th from 10am to 1pm  at participating Michaels arts and crafts stores each child can make great gifts for loved ones and friends for free! . There will also be a  free demonstration on the American Girl Crafts­™ Paper Chain Friendship Bracelet.


I love make and takes and especially ones that are FREE. You can't beat that! For additional info head over here.

Holiday Boat Parades in Southern California

It's that time of year again and I love it! One of my favorite things to do during this time of year, is to bundle up my family and head to Newport to watch the holiday boat extravaganza! This year I plan to on watching a couple of more. Here is a list of the local holiday boat parades. Start your plans, bundle up and have a wonderful time! Click on the links for detailed information. The best part is other than parking, watching any of the parades is absolutely Free!

1. Newport Boat Parade - December 16th-20th
2. Parade of lights Dana Point- December 11,12& 18,19
3. Naples Holiday Boat Parade- December 19th
4. Long Beach Parade of 1000 lights- December 12th
5. Venice Canals Holiday Parade- December 13th
6. Marina Del Rey Boat Parade- December 12th
7. Huntington Harbor Boat Parade- December 12th and 13th