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Have a little chef in the family? Then you will love The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora

I have a little chef in my family, well really actually two. My son and daughter are obsessed with baking and trying to help me whip something up in the kitchen. Last week when I was invited by Disney to attend the  premiere of the new online video series, The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora, designed for budding little chefs and moms, I jumped at the opportunity. I headed to the Disney Studios and was in for a treat!

The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora is a fun cooking  show geared for kiddos and their families. The show is entertaining and features fun cooking tips for the entire family and tips on pleasing even the pickiest of little eaters. One of the things I learned from Cat, who is a mom to little ones herself, is to not sneak food in. She believes in educating children about their food choices. Cat gave out great tips. My favorite and one that I immediately put into practice is on how to introduce new food to your children. She believes that you encourage your kids to get out and try new foods at least once. If they don't like it, they don't have to eat it again but they at least have to try it out once. I sat down with my daughter before heading out to dinner this past weekend and encouraged her to try asparagus and salmon. She tried both and discovered that she liked asparagus but not salmon. It's a great way to have the little ones expand their taste buds!

We sat down and watched an episode last night with the kiddos and they loved it. It is a great show and the site is full of cooking tips, recipes, etc.. It is a great place for moms to check out for fun and easy recipes for the entire family. 
You can watch the series on DisneyFamily.com or Disney.Go.com

Halloween Roundup: Guest post- Seaworld Spooktacular

There are so many fun places to visit this Halloween Season and Seaworld's Spooktacular is one you do not want to miss.Today's guest post comes from my friend Katie, from OCmomactivities.com, who shares all the not so spooky details!

One of the biggest benefits to living in Southern California when raising kids is the constant seasonal activities and the Halloween season is no exception!


We headed down to the Sea World San Diego Halloween Spooktacular and I'm so glad we did! This was our first year going and I know we will go again next year because it was a great experience for the whole family.

In terms of scale, it's not as big of an event, but is still pretty cool. I would have liked to have seen more strategic planning of the traffic flow for the dozen or so trick or treat stations but the creativity and quality of the treats far surpassed my expectations! I absolutely LOVED the baby banana's followed by the individual peanut butter dipping cups!!! What a cool way to run with a theme! (P.S. - Sea World can I have a job in your marketing department? I can't think of anything more fun than organizing things like that! Just kidding.)

Another neat touch was the employees handing out Believe (Shamu) pencils just after exiting the park.

The boys donned their NASA astronaut and Clone Trooper costumes for the event and Sea World provided the trick or treat bags. The event runs weekends from 1-6pm until the end if this month and is included with your admission for the day.


Definitely make time to head down there if you haven't yet this season!

To read more about Katie's adventures head here. 

Guest Post- Saving California's State Parks

Do you know about Proposition 21?

Michele Whiteaker is a blogging friend of mine over at FunOrangeCountyParks.com. At a recent event, she alerted me to an important proposition vote on the November ballot concerning our state parks. I asked her to write a guest post, so I could encourage my readers to get out and vote!

Hi Fans of DayTrippingMom!

Aracely is the best, isn't she?  Tromping all over Southern California and beyond to give us the scoop on great day trips to take with our kids!  (Plus, she's really nice in real life.)

In a nutshell - voting YES ON 21 will provide a stable, adequate source of funding for our ailing state parks.  You would pay $18 each year on your vehicle registration -- and your vehicle becomes your admission ticket to California State Parks. If you drive up to a state park in your vehicle with current registration, you get in for "free."  Since it costs $10-$15 in day use fees now - it only takes 2 visits to get your money's worth. It's the BEST deal on an annual pass around!!!

There are some who would say: "But I don't use the parks, why should I pay?"

• C’mon. It’s $18 dollars A YEAR.
• Don’t you think you might go at least once after you put in your $18 investment into a Trust Fund for the people of California and beyond?  I hope you do.
• Once we lose these parks, this wildlife, these open spaces — they will be gone forever. We can’t take that chance.
• You must know some families with kids — or friends — who make use of the parks. It’s a Good Samaritan thing to do. I think giving friends (or even strangers) the gift of connecting to nature is very honorable.
• If you are already paying for an annual pass, you’ll actually save money.

My favorite explanation on WHY this is important comes in the form the  a YouTube video above "45 Reasons to Vote Yes on Prop. 21" by Folk4Parks.org. 

"I'm voting for Prop 21 because it solves the California State Parks funding problem once and for all. For a relatively small portion of the total California budget, Prop. 21 ensures that all of our park system is protected and preserved. And that the beauty and history of our state parks are exempt from having to prove their value on an annual basis." -Christopher Grant Ward (Folk4Parks.org)

If you want to learn more, you can read my long-winded (but entertaining) posts:

• I Care About California State Parks, Do You? (Sept 2010)
  
• Pretend I'm Schoolhouse Rock (Feb 2010)

Watch more videos from Folk4Parks.org.  Or better yet, follow Yes for State Parks on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news. For more information on Prop. 21, visit www.yesforstateparks.com or email info@yesforstateparks.com.

if you receive my emails/feed read on

A big hug and thanks to all of you who receive my email blasts or subscribe to the feed! I will be changing servers and revamping the site and will be moving to a new blogging format. If you would like to continue receiving the emails, please come back Thursday or Friday to Daytrippingmom.com and resign up for the emails/RSS Feed!

I am revamping the site and can't wait to share the new look of it! It will be the same blog, just a new cleaner look. Thank you all for reading and your support. I love receiving your emails, questions and am so grateful to have such amazing readers! Thanks again for all of your support!

Halloween Roundup: Legoland's Brick or Treat Party Nights

Last Saturday I packed a bag and headed south to Legoland to experience their spooktacular  Halloween Party. Legoland's Brick or Treat Party Nights are held every Saturday night in October. The kids put on their costumes and we hit the park. Brick or Treat Party Nights are not so scary and are perfect for your little ones.

The Halloween Party features a costume party, dance stations to boogie the night away, live entertainment and of course Trick or Treating on the Brick or Treat Trail.  The kiddos headed right for the Trick or Treat Trail and loaded their bags not only with candy but other fun treats, including a free kid's meal to Chipotle! They had a blast trekking on the trail on a quest for their next treat. We also were able to sneak in a couple of rides and some dancing. We had an incredibly fun time and were pretty much wiped out at the end of the night. I always say that a fun night ends with kids crashing before leaving the parking lot and last Saturday was most definitely a fun night!

The best part of Legoland's Brick or Treat Party Nights is that they are included with the price of admission. If you have are a member, this special night is absolutely free! If you have been planning on visiting Legoland, make sure to pay a visit on a Saturday this October, and be prepared for quite a treat!

Legoland's Brick or Treat Party Nights will be held every Saturday in October from 5pm to 9pm.
To learn more about the party or about Legoland head here.

Halloween Roundup : Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland

I love this time year and all the fun that Halloween brings. This week I will be featuring all of the local Halloween treats that you do not want to miss! I wanted to kick off our week with Mickey's Halloween Party.

I had the opportunity to take the family to Mickey's Halloween Party this past Friday night and let me just say that we had a fantastic time! This year Mickey's Halloween Party moved from Disney California Adventure to Disneyland. At first, I almost couldn't believe that this fun party could get any better but guess what? It did!

Real Live Scarecrows

Disneyland will host Mickey's Halloween Party every Tuesday and Friday in addition to Halloween Night. It is the one Halloween Event that you do not want to miss. Let me tell you why: First and foremost for the kiddos are the trick or treat stations. They are everywhere! My kiddos were in candy heaven (don't worry there are healthy treats at most stations). My favorite part of Mickey's Halloween Party is the special fireworks show.  It is in my opinion the best fireworks show of the year and you can only watch it during Mickey's Halloween Party. My kids love the dance stations. They are fun for the entire family and the live entertainment will have you dancing the night away.

This year you can also enter the park, three hours before the party begins, allowing for plenty of time to explore the attractions. Mickey's Halloween Party is also host to two very fun parades. I have to say that my absolute favorite part of the entire night is that the Halloween Party feels exclusive. Because there is a limited number of tickets, it really feels like a private party and that means little to no wait on most rides. There are not that many people around and you are able to enjoy all of the rides without much of a wait. After the fireworks show, we were able to just walk up and ride Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Pirates of the Caribbean. We could have done much more but we were tired from all of the dancing and trick or treating.

Dancing away at Club Skellington

Mickey's Halloween Party has become a tradition for our family and we look forward to it each  year. This was our 4th year in a row and in my opinion the best one yet.


To learn more about the event or to purchase tickets head here.

Meet our new sponsor: Newport Landing Whale Watching

I wanted to introduce our newest sponsor, Newport Landing Whale Watching and sports fishing in Newport Beach.

Newport Landing offers great Whale Watching tours at a low price. The month of October is perfect for blue whale watching. Starting in November and in  December, the gray whales start up their migration. There are various cruises throughout the week. You can head here for a half off coupon on their whale watching tours. 

Stay tuned for other discounts and giveaways.

To learn  more about Newport Landing head here.

Best advice for new and expecting mamas

Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in a chat on the best advice for new and expecting mamas at TheMotherhood.com sponsored by AVENT. I had a great time and it made me think back to that time in my life when I didn't know what to expect and those first few months of being a new mom and feeling like I didn't know anything. Don't get me wrong, I sometimes feel like I don't know anything when it comes to this whole motherhood thing, but after two kiddos, I feel much more comfortable.

I was able to chat with some amazing mom bloggers and was hosted by Dr. Jen Trachtenberg, who happens to be a mom herself. We discussed everything from resting during pregnancy to the sleepless nights that come with a newborn. We also discussed some of the best advice that we received as new moms. I wanted to share some of the highlights and best advice from our chat.

•  One of my favorite pieces of advice to give mommies is listen to all the advice but only do what you feel is best for your families. (MommyBKnowsBest)
• The best advice I got was to take a little time for ME every day. It's easy to get lost in the minutia of caring for someone else (and everyone else!). (RookieMomHeath)
•  from Dr. Jen- One thing that's really important to do after you give birth is to find that right pediatrician for you and your family. To start with, ask for recommendations from friends/family and meet with a few in your area to see who you hit it off with - because it's hopefully going to be a long-lasting relationship! Remember, you're looking not just for an expert to take care of your child when they're sick, but also a parenting partner.

These are just some of the tidbits from our chat. To read more head here.

This was a sponsored chat from TheMotherhood and AVENT. 

Winners!

Happy Sunday! Let's start off the new week with some winners...

The winner of the OC Zoo and Irvine Park RR giveaway is comment #26

`        Elizabeth said...

My 3 kids love going to the park. The zoo is a extra bonus. Thanks for the giveaway. and the goodie bag from Stonyfield goes to comment #27 robin said... YUUUMMMM !! We have done a huge overhaul to our eating habits in our household and greek yogurt is a very welcome addition to that .. what a treat to get to see all that can be done with it as a substitution :) and the winner to the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch is ...comment #6 meredith said... We LOVE the Pumpkin Patch!!!! It's always great family fun for everyone. Please email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with your info.  Please email me within 48 hours. If I have not heard back from you, I will reselect winners. Thank you all for entering and stay tuned for some fun giveaways!

Orange County Zoo Toddler Classes and giveaway!

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you are all ready to enjoy this first weekend in October.

I'm a big supporter of the local parks and zoos. I am a big fan of the Orange County Zoo, which is located inside Irvine Regional Park. It is a fun smaller zoo and it is a big hit with my kiddos. The Orange County Zoo offers classes for the kiddos year round. If you have toddlers, you definitely do not want to miss out on this class. The zoo has space available in their October 14th class, Bats, Cats & Spiders from 10am to 11am for 3 to y year olds. The class is $5 and it covers one adult. You have to register to be able to participate. To register call 714-973-6846.

To learn more about the zoo head here. 

I have a quick little giveaway that will run until Sunday. Enter to win a four pack of tickets to the OC Zoo and a four pack of tickets to the Irvine Park Railroad for a fun afternoon or morning. Just leave a comment letting me know why you love or would love to visit the OC Zoo and you will be entered. Good luck!

Galapagos Tortoise Exhibit at the San Diego Zoo

Today's post about the San Diego Zoo's new Tortoise Exhibit, comes from the very talented Caryn, who blogs at Rockinmama.net

When my son was about a year and a half, we visited the San Diego Zoo with him for the first time. We only covered about half of the zoo at the time because it's huge! At 100 acres, it's one of the largest zoos in the world and home to 4,000 rare and endangered animals which represent more than 800 species and subspecies.

Last week, we had the privilege of attending the grand re-opening of the Fetter Family Galapagos Tortoise Exhibit. Apart from the Ecuadorian Islands, the Zoo has one of the largest colonies of Galapagos tortoises in the world. And now, they have a brand new living space, thanks to San Diego Trustee Emeritus Tom Fetter, and 1,700 donors. You may not know that the zoo has been home to 17 Galapagos tortoises since 1928, which means many of them are over 100 years old.

With a bigger living space, enhanced landscaping, three new pools and state of the art amenities, these tortoises will be living the next several years of their life in luxury. Located in Reptile Mesa, visitors can pet and feed the tortoises at certain times of the day.

While we were visiting, we learned a few fun facts about tortoises:
They can live to be 100 years or more, with the oldest living to be 171 years old.
Their favorite foods include flowers, leaves, grass, and carrots
They can go without eating or drinking for up to a year. You know those shells? They actually serve a purpose and can store food and water.

The San Diego Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats and participates in research and education around the globe.

For more information, just visit their website.

No compensation was received for this post. I was invited to attend a media preview at the zoo.

What I learned from Stonyfield and giveaway!

Im trying to make some healthy changes in our family. I'm slowly integrating organic products and trying to change our eating habits. Last week Stonyfield invited bloggers to a special evening out to learn about healthy eating and the amazing benefits of yogurt.

I love yogurt and have recently become hooked on Greek Yogurt. It is creamier, more satisfying and in my opinion it is much tastier than regular yogurt. We learned about the benefits of yogurt and in particular the benefits of Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt. We were also able to try some amazing entrees, appetizers and even some delish dessert and  all were  made with Greek Yogurt. I learned that we can easily substitute Greek Yogurt for mayonnaise, sour cream and so much more. The dishes were out of this world and so tasty! I'm making chicken salad tomorrow and plan on using Oikos Greek Yogurt instead of mayonaise.

I also learned that there are only a few true Greek Yogurts on the market. There are plenty of Greek Style or Greek Inspired Yogurts but one a few are true Greek Yogurt.  Do you know how to tell if it is authentic Greek Yogurt? Grab a spoonful and hold it upside down. If it stays and doesn't move, it is authentic.  Stonyfield's Oikos Greek Yogurt is 100% authentic and certified organic.

Ready to try out some Stonyfield Greek Yogurt? Enter to win a goodie bag from Stonyfield. All you have to do is leave a comment and you will be entered to win a gift bag. Contest ends on Sun, October 3rd at 11:59pm. Winner will be selected at random. Good Luck!

Be Our Guest

“Beauty and the Beast Sing-a-Long” is currently playing at the El Capitan theater in Los Angeles. If you use the code “Daytripping Mom”, you can get tickets at the special rate of $9.00 a piece. The discount for Tiny Tot Tuesday or any other day Monday through Friday (Sept 27-Oct 7). Show times are at 10:45, 2:00, 4:45, and 7:30 and tickets are on sale now at the theater, online, or via phone (1-800-DISNEY6).

If you or the kiddos love Beauty and the Beast, this is one fun show you do not want to miss!

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort!

Halloween time is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the weather, decorations, costumes and visiting Disneyland for Halloween has to be at the top of my list! This year Halloween Time at the  Disneyland Resort  is better than ever and the new Mickey's Halloween Party  is out of this world!

This year Mickey's Halloween Party has moved from Disney's California Adventure to Disneyland and it promises to be amazing! The party will be held every Tuesday and Friday nights in October plus Halloween night. The dates are as follows. October 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29 and 31

•Tuesday Nights: 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.


•Fridays and Halloween Night: 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
 

There will be more Trick or Treat Stations than ever before and almost all of the park will be open with the exception of Toontown. Guests will also be able to enjoy the park for three hours before start time and be able to enjoy the party before it  even starts! One additional treat is that the Halloween Fireworks Spectacular will be exclusive to Mickey's Halloween Party.
 
I had the opportunity to attend a special media preview for Halloween Time at the resort and I can't rave enough about the decorations, Haunted Mansion Holiday and my absolute favorite, Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. It is out of this world! I also had the opportunity to visit Big Thunder Ranch Halloween Roundup and let the kiddos join Woody and Jesse as they got their craft on! I could go and on about how much I love the Disneyland Resort during Halloween but don't take my word for it! Go out and explore the resort, you will love it!
 
To purchase tickets for Mickey's Trick or Treat Party Head Here.
Tickets sell out fast! Make sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time.
Advance Purchase Ticket Prices*



Ticket Prices are as follows:


•$49 Special Discount for These Dates

October 1, 5, 12, 19 and 26

Day-of-Event Ticket Prices*



•$54 If Purchased and Used on These Dates:

October 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22 and 26

•$59 If Purchased and Used on These Dates:

October 29 and 31
 
Stay tuned for additional coverage. We had such a great time and I can't wait to share more!

Peter Pan

Peter Pan opens tomorrow night at the OCPAC for its only Southern California stop on its world tour. It's performed in the round so there are no bad seats! You can get discounted tickets at Goldstar for shows starting next week.  It's for all ages.  We can't wait to see it.

Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch Giveaway!

                                    * photo courtesy of Irvine Park Railroad

I love visiting the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch during Halloween time. It is now open and we will be heading there next weekend. I want you to be able to join in on the fun!. It's giveaway time!

Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch has generously given us a 15 pack of tickets for various pumpkin patch  to giveaway and an family bike  rental for an hour.  All you have to do is leave a comment and you are entered to win. For additional entries you can:
- "like" Irvine Park Railroad on Facebook
- "like" me on Facebook
- "follow" me on Twitter. 

Good luck!

Winner of Disney on Ice

Happy Monday! The winner of Disney on Ice is comment #44 selected at random.
Cel who said...
My kids would LOVE this! My husband would LOVE this! I would LOVE this!

Please  email me asap at mom@daytrippingmom.com. If I don't hear an answer by tonight, I will select another winner. Thanks!

Thank you all for participating and stay tuned for a fun giveaway coming up. 

Komen Orange County Race for the Cure

The Susan G. Komen Orange County Race for the Cure is coming up soon on Sunday, Sept. 26 at Fashion Island in Newport Beach .



There is a one-mile fun walk that takes place at 8 a.m. where parents and children of all ages are invited to walk for the cure. There is a  great area called the KidsZone sponsored by FreeCreditScore.com in the Wellness Expo, which will be open from 6:30 a.m. to noon. Parents must accompany their children in the KidsZone, but there are fun activities that the whole family will enjoy. Some of the activities to look forward to are the Home Depot Plant-a-Pot, Hollywood Glamour Girls trailer, rock climbing “ Mt. Komen ,” face painting, “Mad Science” activities, and CHP motorcycles.

 Race participants are encouraged to take the 125 challenge – a call-to-action for each person to raise at least $125, the average cost of a life-saving mammogram. For Facebook users, raising money for the cure is made even easier with a new application allowing users to extend fundraising efforts to their networks of friends.

To learn more about the race and the cure head here.

Free Wagon Rides at Tanaka Farms

If you are looking for something to do this weekend and would love to help a great cause, head to over to Tanaka Farms this weekend .  There is a bone marrow drive on Sept 25 and Sept 26 at Tanaka Farms. There will be  FREE wagon rides will be given to anyone who fills out a very simple questionnaire available at their website or at the produce stand.

Tomorrow is the opening of the pumpkin patch season at the farm and would be the perfect opportunity to take the kiddos for a fun Free ride! There will also be a corn maze, pumpkin picking, petting zoo, and so much more!

To fill out the questionnaire head here.

Green Port Fest in Long Beach - This event is a must!!

Green Port Fest Long Beach is taking place on Saturday, October 2nd. Don't know what Green Port Fest is? Well let me tell you, if you or your kiddos have ever wondered how one of the biggest ports in the world works and functions, this is the opportunity you have been waiting for!

You will be able to learn all about the Port of Long Beach with a free tour. There will be a harbor tour which will take you by sea lions, the massive cargo ships and the massive cranes. Boats will be departing every 15 minutes from the docks next to the Queen Mary. Shuttles will take you  from the Port's Administration Building, near the festival, to the docks. Tours depart every 15 minutes from 10:45am  to 3:30pm .

There will also be train tours. You will be able to tour the port and be able to see it in full working swing. You will be able to see the longshoremen in  action as the load and unload the cargo from the large ships. Trains will be departing every hour beginning at 10:30 and ending with the last train at 2:30 pm.

Green Port Fest is held in the grounds of the Port Administration building. The event is absolutely free and open to the public. You can part at the Long Beach convention center and will be shuttled for free to the event.

There will also be activities, entertainment, exhibits and a children's area were the kiddos will be able to jump around, craft or learn all about marine life from the Aquarium of the Pacific's exhibit.

There is something for every member of the family!




Green Port Fest
Port of Long Beach
Saturday, October 2nd
Begins at 10:30 am


For directions and to learn more about this free event, head here.

Orange County Children's Book Festival

The Orange County Children's Book Festival is an event that I highly recommend for families with children. The one day festival brings the joy of reading to children and features over 80 children's book authors and vendors.

Not only is this an educational event, it is an absolute fun event! There will be so many fun activities for the kiddos including free train rides, a kids craft corner, face painting, petting zoo and much more. There will also be storytime, entertainment and if your kiddos love the Wonder Pets there will be a live performance. There will be art demonstrations and live entertainment. It's one event you do not want to miss!

The best part is that the event and parking to the event are free.
The Orange County Children's Book Festival
Sunday, October 3rd
9:30am to 4:30pm
Orange Coast College
2701 Fairview
Costa Mesa

For additional info head here.

Disney on Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey Giveaway!

The Disney on Ice show is coming to  the Ontario Citizens Arena from October 1st to the 3rd. The show takes audiences on a fun-filled tour to four  exciting destinations filled with favorite Disney friends. With Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as tour guides, guests will visit the enchanting worlds of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Lion King,
 Lilo & Stitch and Peter Pan.  

It promises to be great fun for the family. Best of all I have a family four pack to giveaway for Friday, October 1st performance. All you have to do is let me know why you would love to go and you will be entered to win. Follow me on facebook or twitter and leave a seperate comment for each one for additional entries. Winners will be selected at random. Contest ends Sunday, September 26th at 11:59pm. Good luck! 

Winners of Glee and Modern Family

Happy Sunday everyone! The winners of Glee the complete first season are...

CSeppala who  said...

I would LOVE to win because I totally missed out on the first season...and I hear it is sooo good. This would enable me to catch up on episodes so I can start watching this year's new ones! and 

Megan  who said...I have to pick just one?! The Neil Patrick Harris episode for the duets with Matthew Morrison. And I LOVED the flash-mob "Safety Dance" scene.

The winners of Modern Family are...

Jennicnichols who  said...My favorite character on this fantastic show is Gloria. When she sits with her husband and tells of the heroic and manly exploits of her ex-husband, I just crack up!

and

Akane   who said...
I like Cameron...he is just a sensitive father who is hilariously funny!


Congrats to the winners! email me at mom@daytrippingmom.com with your info.

Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch is now open!

I think if you read this site on a regular basis, you know that I'm a fan of Irvine Park Railroad. One of my favorite times of the year is Halloween and heading to Irvine Park Railroad to pick a pumpkin and participate in the fun activities has now become a tradition for our family.

There are plenty of places for photo opportunities and the pumpkin patch has great size pumpkins at a pretty reasonable price. We usually head there twice during the season. 

This year’s Pumpkin Patch activities include:  Train rides, hay rides, a haunted house, a hay maze, pony rides, a moon bounce, carnival games, John Deere tractor racers, face painting (weekends only), picture stands, great food and The Orange County Zoo. A new activity for this year is panning for gold.

The Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch is open daily from
September 18th through October 31st
Weekdays 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Weekends 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Admission into the Pumpkin Patch is free. Prices for all other activities vary; please visit www.irvineparkrailroad.com for additional information and costs

We are going to have a fun giveaway next week to the patch. Stay tuned for details! 

Irvine Park Railroad
Irvine Park

1 Irvine Park Rd.

Orange, CA 92869

Peter Pan at the Orange County Performing Arts Center

 

We are big fans of theater in our home. My daughter has now watched a couple of shows and my son has watched two. I can't tell you how excited I am that Peter Pan, a threesixty production, is coming to the Orange County Performing Arts Center, in just a couple of days. Not only are we theater lovers in our home, we are huge Peter Pan fans and I am literally counting down the days until we can attend as a family. 

The new threesixty° stage production of PETER PAN, J M Barrie’s classic story will be performed in a state-of-the-art theater pavilion at the Orange County Performing Arts Center for a limited engagement starting Tuesday, September 28, 2010, with the opening night set for Sunday, October 3, 2010.

One of the most striking elements of this new production is the setting in which it is presented. The threesixty° Theatre, allows for performance “in the round” in a 1,300 seat theater-tent, which will stand beside the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The entire interior of the tent is lit with more than 15,000 square feet of Hi-Resolution video – three times the size of Imax screens – so that both cast and audience are immersed in a CGI Neverland. When Peter and Wendy fly to Neverland, the audience flies with them over 400 square miles of virtual London and beyond.

I don't splurge for many things, however, theater tickets and cultural events always have room in our budget. This is one event you do not want to miss! Tickets are on sale now at the Orange County Performing Arts Center's box office or by heading here. 

The show will run from Sept 28th-Nov 21st.

For additional info and to purchase tickets head here. 

This is not a compensated post.

Glee - the complete first season - review and giveaway

I'm a fan of great television and Glee has to be hands down one of the best shows on television. It is funny and well just plain fun to watch. You will find yourself singing, dancing and cheering right on. I've caught a couple of episodes and found myself singing along and grinning from ear to ear!  The show is bringing musicals back and you will find yourself singing along.

Glee, the complete first season, is now available for sale and is a must have for all Gleeks. If you aren't a complete Gleek, like me, you will find yourself turning into one after watching most of the episodes. This DVD set is one that I plan on gifting to family and friends because it is that good!

It's giveaway time! Two lucky readers will win a copy of Glee, the complete first season. All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know your favorite episode of Glee or why you would like to win and you will be entered to win. Contest closes on Sunday, Sept 19th at 11:59 PM. Winner will be selected at random. Good luck!

For extra giveaway entries, you can.

• Follow me on Facebook
• Follow me on Twitter 
• Tweet about this giveaway. 

 I was not compensated for this post. I did receive a copy for review.

Free Event- Meet Sid the Science Kid at the California Science Center

Sid the Science Kid is coming to the California Science Center on Sunday September 26th. During this FREE event, open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., kids and their parents will be able to watch, touch, discover and explore their world at several interactive stations throughout Ecosystems, the Science Center’s newest exhibit gallery.


At the interactive stations, Little Scientists will learn about different science concepts and discover the rules of ecology, helping them understand more about some of the Earth’s most fascinating ecosystems and become better stewards of the environment while journaling about the day in their Sid the Science Kid Journal.

They will:


Investigate. In The LA Zone, Little Scientists will learn about the importance of recycling and how to sort through items and decide what can be reused.
Explore. At the touch tanks located in the Rocky Shore and Central Organizer, kids will get up close and personal with some of the creatures who live along the rocky shore.
Compare and Contrast. In the Curator’s Lab, Little Scientists will learn how kelp is different from plants, and how brine shrimp is different from other tiny sea creatures.

Save the Beach's Walk for the Beach

 

I love the beach and a good cause. Save the Beach helps clean our beaches by conducting monthly beach and wetlands cleanups in Seal Beach and Long Beach.  You can support this great organization by participating in Save the Beach's Walk for the Beach. 

Walk for the Beach and will take place this Saturday, September 18th. There will be yoga, a kids zone, boot camp and much more. Registration is $20 and includes parking. You can register online here.

Modern Family the complete First Season Review and Giveaway

I love Modern Family. When I was offered the opportunity to review and do a giveaway, I could not pass it up! This show is funny and it is the one show I look forward to watch during the week. This giveaway is for the grown ups!

Featuring an all-star cast led by Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vargara, Julie Bowen, and Ty Burrell, Modern Family takes a refreshing and funny view of what it means to raise a family in this hectic day and age.  Multi-cultural relationships, adoption, and same-sex marriage are just a few of the timely issues faced by the show’s three wildly-diverse broods.  No matter the size or shape, family always comes first in this hilariously “modern” look at life, love, and laughter.

The complete first season of Modern Family is coming to DVD on September 21st. 

It's giveaway time! I have two copies of Modern Family to giveaway. All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know who your favorite character is and you are entered to win. 
Contest ends on September 20th at 11:59pm. Winner will be selected at random. 
For additional entries, like me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. Good luck!  

Disney on Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey

We love Disney on Ice shows, and there is one coming to Southern California that I can't wait to watch. Disney on Ice presents Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey. 

 

             Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey takes audiences on a fun-filled tour to four  exciting destinations filled with favorite Disney friends. With Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as tour guides, guests will visit the enchanting worlds of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Lion King,
 Lilo & Stitch and Peter Pan.  

The show is coming to the Citizens Business Bank Arena Oct 1st to the 3rd. You can purchase a 4 pack of tickets for $44. It's a great deal for what promises to be a good show. Just make sure to use the promo code: Mom when purchasing your tickets.  

Location & Showtimes

Citizens Business Bank Arena
4000 Ontario Center Parkway, Ontario, CA 91764

-          Friday, October 1            7:30pm                

-          Saturday, October 2       11:30am; 3:30pm; 7:30pm                           

-          Sunday, October 3          11:30am; 3:30pm; 7:30pm           

To learn more about Disney On Ice, log onto www.disneyonice.com