February 2009

February 1st:
* Surf City Marathon, 1/2 Marathon & 5K
* Art Station at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, noon-4pm.
* Village Art Fair, 9 am, Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente.
* Target FREE First Sunday at the Bower's Museum & Kidseum
* Bowers Museum, FREE day for Santa Ana Residents
* Centennial Heritage Museum, FREE day for Santa Ana Residents
* Dana Wharf FREE kid's fishing clinic, noon.
February 2nd:
* Taco Bell Discovery Science Center, FREE day for Santa Ana Residents
* Mommy & Me Playtime at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 10:30am-1pm.
* Open Play Nights at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 5-8pm.
February 3rd:
* Story Time, Pottery Barn Kids (South Coast Plaza or The Shops at Mission Viejo), 10-10:30 am.
* Mommy & Me Playtime at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 10:30am-1pm.
* Open Play Nights at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 5-8pm.
* Surf City Nights, 5-9pm, Main Street, HB
* Family Night at Partyopolis in Lake Forest, 5pm - 8pm.
February 4th:
* Fun at Pirates Cove at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, 10 - 11 am. Reservations required (949)675-8915.
* Toddler Playtime at Scooter's Jungle in Aliso Viejo, 10:30am - 12 noon, ages 6 & under.
* Open Play at Partyopolis in Lake Forest, 10am-12pm.
February 5th:
* Toddler Playtime at Scooter's Jungle in Aliso Viejo, 10:30am - 12 noon, ages 6 & under.
* Open Play at House of Bounce in Anaheim, 10am-12pm & 3:30pm-5:30pm.
* Open Play at Partyopolis in Lake Forest, 10am-12pm.
* Toddler Playtime at Scooter's Jungle in Placentia, 10:30am - 12 noon, ages 6 & under.
* Family Game Night at the Yorba Linda Library, 6pm. Play Wii, Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution, BINGO, & board games.
February 6th:
* Pier Plaza Art-A-Faire, an arts & crafts event at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach, noon - sunset
* Irvine Fire Ring Extravaganza, 6-8pm, come eat dessert by the fire.
February 7th:
* Bolsa Chica Wetlands Tour, FREE tours begin every 15 minutes from 9 - 10:30 am.
* Kids Workshop, a FREE kid-friendly "How-To Clinic", at your local Home Depot, 9am & 12pm. This month's project is a trinket box.
* FREE crafts for kids at Lakeshore Learning Centers in Fountain Valley & Laguna Hills, 11am - 3pm.
* Target FREE First Saturday at the Children's Museum at La Habra, 1:30-3:30pm. Face painting, crafts & stilt walkers.
February 8th:
* Art Station at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, noon-4pm.
* Dana Wharf FREE kid's fishing clinic, noon.
February 9th:
* Mommy & Me Playtime at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 10:30am-1pm.
* Open Play Nights at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 5-8pm.
February 10th:
* Story Time, Pottery Barn Kids (South Coast Plaza or The Shops at Mission Viejo), 10-10:30 am.
* Mommy & Me Playtime at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 10:30am-1pm.
* Open Play Nights at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 5-8pm.
* Surf City Nights, 5-9pm, Main Street, HB
February 11th:
* Fun at Pirates Cove at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, 10 - 11 am. Reservations required (949)675-8915.
* Toddler Playtime at Scooter's Jungle in Aliso Viejo, 10:30am - 12 noon, ages 6 & under.
* Open Play at Partyopolis in Lake Forest, 10am-12pm.
February 12th:
* Toddler Playtime at Scooter's Jungle in Aliso Viejo, 10:30am - 12 noon, ages 6 & under.
* Open Play at House of Bounce in Anaheim, 10am-12pm & 3:30pm-5:30pm.
* Open Play at Partyopolis in Lake Forest, 10am-12pm.
* Toddler Playtime at Scooter's Jungle in Placentia, 10:30am - 12 noon, ages 6 & under.
February 13th:
* Pier Plaza Art-A-Faire, an arts & crafts event at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach, noon to sunset
February 14th:
* FREE crafts for kids at Lakeshore Learning Centers in Fountain Valley & Laguna Hills, 11am - 3pm.
* The Knack Free Family Event at your local Michael's store, 1pm-3pm: Free Science Fair Demo
February 15th:
* Dana Wharf FREE kid's fishing clinic, noon.
* Art Station at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, noon-4pm.
February 16th:
* Pier Plaza Art-A-Faire, an arts & crafts event at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach, 10am to sunset
* Mommy & Me Playtime at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 10:30am-1pm.
* Open Play Nights at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 5-8pm.
February 17th:
* Pier Plaza Art-A-Faire, an arts & crafts event at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach, 10am to sunset
* Bowers Museum, FREE day for Santa Ana Residents
* Story Time, Pottery Barn Kids (South Coast Plaza or The Shops at Mission Viejo), 10-10:30 am.
* Mommy & Me Playtime at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 10:30am-1pm.
* Open Play Nights at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 5-8pm.
* Surf City Nights, 5-9pm, Main Street, HB
February 18th:
* Fun at Pirates Cove at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, 10 - 11 am. Reservations required (949)675-8915.
* Toddler Playtime at Scooter's Jungle in Aliso Viejo, 10:30am - 12 noon, ages 6 & under.
* Open Play at Partyopolis in Lake Forest, 10am-12pm.
February 19th:
* Toddler Playtime at Scooter's Jungle in Aliso Viejo, 10:30am - 12 noon, ages 6 & under.
* Open Play at House of Bounce in Anaheim, 10am-12pm & 3:30pm-5:30pm.
* Open Play at Partyopolis in Lake Forest, 10am-12pm.
* Toddler Playtime at Scooter's Jungle in Placentia, 10:30am - 12 noon, ages 6 & under.
February 20th:
* Pier Plaza Art-A-Faire, an arts & crafts event at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach, noon to sunset
February 21st:
* Los Alamitos Race on the Base
* FREE crafts for kids at Lakeshore Learning Centers in Fountain Valley & Laguna Hills, 11am - 3pm.
February 22nd:
* Dana Wharf FREE kid's fishing clinic, noon.
* Art Station at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, noon-4pm.
* Train Rides at Costa Mesa's Fairview Park, 10am - 3:30pm: enjoy a ride aboard the Orange County Model Engineers miniature train & travel over 3 miles of track. For more information call (949)548-7246.
February 23rd:
* Mommy & Me Playtime at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 10:30am-1pm.
* Open Play Nights at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 5-8pm.
February 24th:
* Story Time, Pottery Barn Kids (South Coast Plaza or The Shops at Mission Viejo), 10-10:30 am.
* Mommy & Me Playtime at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 10:30am-1pm.
* Open Play Nights at Hullabaloos Clubhouse in Orange, 5-8pm.
* Surf City Nights, 5-9pm, Main Street, HB
February 25th:
* Fun at Pirates Cove at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, 10 - 11 am. Reservations required (949)675-8915.
* Toddler Playtime at Scooter's Jungle in Aliso Viejo, 10:30am - 12 noon, ages 6 & under.
* Open Play at Partyopolis in Lake Forest, 10am-12pm.
February 26th:
* Toddler Playtime at Scooter's Jungle in Aliso Viejo, 10:30am - 12 noon, ages 6 & under.
* Open Play at House of Bounce in Anaheim, 10am-12pm & 3:30pm-5:30pm.
* Open Play at Partyopolis in Lake Forest, 10am-12pm.
* Toddler Playtime at Scooter's Jungle in Placentia, 10:30am - 12 noon, ages 6 & under.
February 27th:
* Pier Plaza Art-A-Faire, an arts & crafts event at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach, noon to sunset
* Bird Survey at Shipley Nature Center
* Jazz Monsters Concert at Soka University, 7-9:30pm. $15/ adults, 18 & under free. For more information (949)480-4081
February 28th:
* Annual Huntington Beach Kite Party, watch some of the best professional kite fliers in the country, 11am - 5pm, just north of the Huntington Beach Pier.
* FREE crafts for kids at Lakeshore Learning Centers in Fountain Valley & Laguna Hills, 11am - 3pm.

25 Loves: Poppies

Another Valentine find on Etsy

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Swanky Paper

Pretty paper always makes my day and Swanky Paper has a great selection.

xoxo, C

The Magic School Bus at the Discovery

If you haven't had a chance yet, be sure to check out the Discovery Science Center's latest exhibit The Magical School Bus Kicks up a Storm. As the website says "the bilingual, hands-on traveling exhibition is based on the best-selling Scholastic books and the ever-popular television series. The exhibition is designed for children ages 5-12, parents, caregivers and teachers. Visitors can become immersed in the weather exhibition in a uniquely Scholastic's The Magic School Bus way by visiting Ms. Frizzle's Classroom, climbing aboard the bus itself - transformed into a Weather Observatory - or visiting the Walkerville Weather Center. Through these three interactive environments, visitors can explore the water cycle and its relation to weather, and how influences from air, heat, water and land combine to create weather."

For ticket information & directions go HERE. (Be sure to check out the daily field trip schedule, so you can plan your trip when the Discovery Science Center is less busy.)

xoxo, K
image via Discovery Science Center

25 Loves: Comfort

Nothing like a cute hoodie to provide comfort.

xoxo, C

Panera Bread Freebies

Today, Wednesday January 28th, Panera Bread is serving up FREE coffee & samples of their new breakfast offerings, all day long... Grilled Breakfast Sandwiches, Granola Parfait, & fresh brewed coffee. In addition to celebrating these new menu items, Panera will also be collecting donations to support their Operation Dough-Nation Community Breadbox program, which assists local non-profits organizations. To find your closest Panera Bread location go HERE.

xoxo, K

25 Loves: Roses

Love these roses from Jcrew

xoxo, C

Ski Free on Your Birthday.

These days Disneyland isn't the only place granting FREE admission on your birthday. If you'd prefer to spend your birthday racing down the slopes, then check out Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, Mountain High, Snow Valley, or Mt. Baldy... all of these Southern California Ski & Snowboard Resorts are offering a FREE lift ticket on your birthday. Simply present a valid photo I.D. at any ticket window on your ACTUAL birthday.

Have fun playing in the snow!
xoxo, K
image via flicker.

Super Bowl Sunday, What's for Dinner?

Every year my in-laws host a Super Bowl party & every year i look forward to my mother-in-law's "soup bar." She always has two - three soups cooking on the stove for everyone to enjoy, it's a great way to serve the crowds. Last year her tortilla soup was especially good, so i thought i'd share (hope she won't mind)!

Stef's Super Bowl Tortilla Soup
Boil and shred 4 chicken breasts in a large stockpot.

Sauté 1 chopped onion until softened, in olive oil
Add 6 cloves of minced garlic & 1 can of diced green chilies & continue sautéing until garlic is soft, then add it to the stockpot with the chicken.

Add to stockpot:
1 can tomatoes with jalapenos
2 cans of chicken broth (or 1 chicken and 1 beef)
1⁄2 cup -1 cup medium salsa
1 can of black beans (drained)
1 can of corn (drained)
1 can tomato soup
2 soup cans of water
1⁄4 cup cilantro
1⁄2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
salt & pepper to taste

Simmer 1 hour

To serve: garnish with shredded jack/cheddar cheese, tortilla chips, avocado.

xoxo, K
image & guacamole recipe found HERE. (although it is in spanish.)

25 Loves: Hugs and Kisses

Available on Etsy

xoxo, C

Happy Year of the Ox!

image via Alpha+Mom

Its  Lunar New Year  and the year of the Ox.  You can read your fortune here based on the year you were born.

Make sure to mark your calendar for the Tet Festival that celebrates the new year in Garden Grove.  It starts this Friday, January 30th and is one of the biggest celebrations of the lunar New Year.   The festival includes cultural performers and food.  Check the website for details and times.

If you can't make it to the festival try making one of these great crafts with the kids found by Crafty Crow.

xoxo, C

Orange County College Admission Consulting

Applying to college can be overwhelming . We offer comprehensive college admission consulting services to Orange County residents that change the college application process from a stressful situation to a rewarding experience. Students who worked with College Materials this year have already been accepted to Stanford, Georgetown, and Columbia. College Materials provides the knowledge and guidance necessary to make students competitive applicants.Our goal is to work with students to make sure that they are prepared to apply successfully to colleges that meet their social and academic expectations. All students work directly with Coleen Bryan, a seasoned Independent College Admission Counselor from southern Orange County to ensure quality of service.

Services we offer:

* Application Assistance

* Developing an academic plan for competitive colleges

* College Essay Help (How to write a memorable essay)

* Challenging course selection and productive activity identification

* Constructing an impressive co-curricular resume

* Interview Coaching

* Identifying community service opportunities in the local area

* Early College Planning

College Materials Serves The Following Areas:

Aliso Viejo, Coto de Caza, Corona del Mar, Dana Point, Dove Canyon, Foothill Ranch, Irvine, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Monarch Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Talega, Trabuco Canyon

Become a fan on facebook to get the latest college admissions news!

25 Loves: Sunday Naps

image via flickr

xoxo, C

25 Loves: See's Candy

See's Candy is my candy of choice for Valentine's Day. It was also my Grandma's treat of choice and I am happy to carry on the tradition.

Here's a great recipe using See's Candy:

Minty Grasshopper Pie

• 1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• Green food coloring
• 1/2 lb See's Mint Krispys* (coarsely crushed)
• 8 oz whipped topping
• 6 oz ready-made chocolate piecrust

Using a mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Stir in food coloring and the crushed Mint Krispys (save 1/4 to sprinkle on top). Fold in whipped topping. Pour into crust. Place in freezer until firm. Garnish as desired with crushed Mint Krispys. Store leftovers in freezer. Serves 8.

image via flickr

xoxo, C

Getting to Know: Michele & Fun OC Parks

I don't know about you, but as a mom to little ones, I'm always on the look out for new parks to check out. Although we definitely have our favorites we like to visit, it's always fun & exciting to "play" somewhere new... that's why I LOVE Michele & her website Fun Orange County Parks. But rather than try to explain who Michele is & what she is all about, why don't I let her do it in her own words...

Basically, I'm a nut when it comes to my enthusiasm for parks and play. Add a talent for writing, a compulsion to organize information, ridiculous attention to detail, and a desire to share all this good stuff and you've got Fun Orange County Parks on Play Parks Central.

How does it work? I play with my team of expert playground testers (7 year old son and 3 year old daughter - and any other kid we can drag into the mix). I talk to the locals to find out the REAL highlights and hazards. I take tons of photos and post them to the blog, along with a map link and checklist. Then I cross my fingers and hope for comments.

My biggest wish is for more experts (that's you!) to share their experiences. Only mommy's know a day at the park with a 15-month old -- who trips on everything and eats bark -- is different from the school-aged kid who wants slides to be bigger and faster. So if you decide to try out Aliso Beach Park and you don't agree with my assessment, please share your own story in the comments.

Better yet, I'll have really done my job if you are inspired to fill out my form sending ME to YOUR favorite park. I live for those days! A new playground experience? Guided by someone who knows the inside scoop? Hurray!! Each individual contribution builds a stronger resource. And if you run a website, like Just Spotted, I reward you with a link back to your site.

My website is all about finding play parks. I want my visitors to have fun. I always say, "If just one mom brings her kid to a new park, then I've done my job." When I asked my computer-literate son what I should write for this post, he said "You're a good park finder. You find parks and say 'This one has a bathroom and that one doesn't.' The parks we find are always good. Your website stands out - how you use the real pictures of the park. I think it's a kid-friendly park website to look at because it has all the options of which parks you can go to."

Fun Facts
Newest Site Resource:
A link to dog-friendly parks under the Orange County Resources menu.

Most Useful Post also wins as Hardest Post to Write:
"Direct Links to City Website Parks Pages"

Proudest (Unofficial) Partner in Play:
I found KaBOOM ("a national non-profit that empowers communities to build playgrounds") through my work on Play Parks Central. They named me one of their "Playmakers in Action" for 2009. I try to help their worthy cause by spreading the word about their social network and Playspace Finder.

Who under-utilizes this resource?
I think it's PERFECT for parenting groups, like MOPS or MOMS Clubs. It would make playgroups SO much easier to plan. I've done all the work, they can just link to the site. It's also a great place for those planning birthday parties - I've had visitors e-mail me and we work together to find the best location.

What else am I crazy about?
My husband of 15 years, LEGOS, new music, Trader Joe's, sunsets over the Pacific, easy recipes, and Yosemite.

____________________________________________________________

So next time your looking for a new place to "play", be sure to check out Fun Orange County Parks. Better yet, next time your at the park, any park, be sure to share your playground experience with Michele, so that we can all benefit!

xoxo, K

25 Loves: A Romantic Spot (at Disneyland)

image via flickr

I love a great romantic spot to spend time with my husband and finding the ideal romantic spot is essential for Valentine’s Day. We spent our Valentine’s Day at Disneyland three years ago and my husband made reservations at the Blue Bayou. You know the place, its that swanky restaurant that you float by on Pirates of the Caribbean. The restaurant is graced with amazing lighting and has a wonderful ambiance for a dinner for two. The food is reasonably priced when you compare it to the other dining choices in the park and here are the details on the menu from the Disney website:

Savor down-home, Louisiana-inspired cooking and full table service in moonlit ambience as Pirates of the Caribbean passenger boats drift past. This popular restaurant serves a range of delectable dishes for lunch and dinner (children's menu available):
Fish and beef entrees — including mahi mahi, roast New York strip and an exquisite dinner special featuring surf and turf
Cajun classics like Tesora Island chicken, jambalaya and a Monte Cristo sandwich
Cajun-inspired wedge salad and gumbo (with entrees)
Specialty desserts like crème brulee (includes pirate keepsake)

For some reason I thought the restaurant was exclusive or impossible to get into, but it turns out all you have to do is call the reservations line (714) 781-DINE) ahead of time. Make sure to get reservation because it is almost impossible to get a seat if you try the day of and don’t forget to try the Crème Brulee.

xoxo, C

25 Loves: Mail

image via flickr

I love getting mail.  Holiday cards, baby announcements, handwritten letters, and wedding invitations make my heart swell with happiness.  Even better than receiving is sending mail, so our annual family V-Day tradition is decorating mailboxes for everyone in the family, so we can send one another Valentines all month long.  The kids have so much fun decorating their mailboxes and really take pride in writing notes to everyone (my youngest draws pictures). Luckily, I spotted the perfect mini mailboxes in the dollar bins at the Target at Irvine Spectrum.   

Here are some other ideas:

Valentine Letter Box

Super Crafty Cute Mailbox

Valentine Holder Craft Kit

Keepsake Valentine Box

xoxo, C

25 Loves: A Good Party

For Valentine's Day I thought it would be fun to share 25 things I love. One of my loves is a good party and one of my favorite parties last year was the incredible baby shower my dear friends threw for me (pictured above). As you can see the color palate is perfect for Valentine’s Day and the party was made a little more simple for the hosts by getting Sprinkles (all red velvet, my personal favorite) and having Z Pizza cut appetizer size slices of their pizza rustica to serve with salads.

The decorations were bright, but simple. They assembled pom-poms via Martha Stewart's instructions and hung them around the house. I think one of the best parts of the party was how the candy worked as a decoration as well (thanks to the inspiration of Amy Atlas). Hope this inspires you to create your own sweet party for V-Day.

xoxo, C

Meatball Sandwiches

Trust me, your family will thank you for making these. & you will thank me for the recipe, they are so easy. This is literally like a 20 minute meal.

Meatball Sandwiches

2 lbs frozen meatballs, Italian style
2 loaves bakery Italian bread, or hoagie rolls
1 (28 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 dash garlic powder
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large pot combine frozen meatballs and spaghetti sauce. Heat over medium until meatballs are heated throughout.
3. Meanwhile, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, Italian seasoning, pepper, garlic powder & set aside.
4. Slice Italian style bread loaves horizontally with serrated bread knife, I like to cut them almost all the way, but not completely through the bread. Cut loaves into three- or four-inch sections to make small sandwiches.
5. Spread cream cheese mixture on insides of each sandwiches' tops and bottoms.
6. When meatballs are heated, spoon onto sandwiches and top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
7. Put sandwich tops on and place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake about 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

xoxo, K
image via here.

Orange County College Admission Consulting

Applying to college can be overwhelming . We offer comprehensive college admission consulting services to Orange County residents that change the college application process from a stressful situation to a rewarding experience. Students who worked with College Materials this year have already been accepted to Stanford, Georgetown, and Columbia. College Materials provides the knowledge and guidance necessary to make students competitive applicants.Our goal is to work with students to make sure that they are prepared to apply successfully to colleges that meet their social and academic expectations. All students work directly with Coleen Bryan, a seasoned Independent College Admission Counselor from southern Orange County to ensure quality of service.

Services we offer:

* Application Assistance

* Developing an academic plan for competitive colleges

* College Essay Help (How to write a memorable essay)

* Challenging course selection and productive activity identification

* Constructing an impressive co-curricular resume

* Interview Coaching

* Identifying community service opportunities in the local area

* Early College Planning

College Materials Serves The Following Areas:

Aliso Viejo, Coto de Caza, Corona del Mar, Dana Point, Dove Canyon, Foothill Ranch, Irvine, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Monarch Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Talega, Trabuco Canyon

Become a fan on facebook to get the latest college admissions news!

Change Has Come

I am hoping that I have time to take the boys to this book signing at A Whale of a Tale to celebrate inauguration day. Change Has Come: An Artist Celebrates Our American Spirit uses visual illustrations from the talented Artist , Kadir Nelson to document the historical election of Barack Obama. The book has inspiring quotes from Obama's speeches to link the reader to moments from history. The book signing starts at 2:30.

A Whale of a Tale
4199 Campus Dr. Suite A
Irvine, Ca. 92612
Phone: 949-854-8288

xoxo, C

Free Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Yum! Yum! Krispy Kreme has announced that it will be "honoring American's sense of pride & freedom of choice on Inauguration Day, by offering a free doughnut of choice to every customer on this historic day, January 20. By doing so, participating Krispy Kreme stores nationwide are making an oath to tasty goodies - just another reminder of how oh-so-sweet "free" can be."

For the nearest Krispy Kreme location go HERE.

For a list of other Inauguration deals, check out the list over at the OC Register HERE.

xoxo, K

Pat & Oscar's

If you've never been to Pat & Oscar's, it is definitely a "family place". The menu has everything from pizza & pasta, to salad, chicken, ribs, & my personal favorite part of the meal... bread sticks. They even have complete "meals" available for one, two or four. The food is pretty tasty (especially those bread sticks I mentioned earlier), the prices are pretty reasonable, & most importantly... for a family with little ones, the service is quick!

Every Tuesday night at Pat & Oscar's kids eat FREE. On Tuesdays "diners at all of Pat & Oscar's 19 Southern California locations will receive a free Just for Kids Meal with any adult purchase of $5 or more (limit one free just For Kids meal per person and purchase.)" Looking for other deals & discounts? Sign up for their Breadstick eClub, or check out the Pat & Oscar's Family Rewards.

Pat & Oscar's has 19 Southern California locations, with 4 located here in Orange County. To find your nearest location go HERE.

xoxo, K
image via flickr.

Martin Luther King Jr. Late Nights at the Aquarium

Enjoy MLK Late Nights at the Aquarium of the Pacific!

The Aquarium of the Pacific is offering extended hours (5-9) and admission is $10 for everyone after 5:00PM this Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the nighttime activities of the animals and the beautiful environment of the Aquarium for a discounted price. For more details click here.

xoxo, C

image by alexi holford, via flickr

Whale Watching at Dana Point Harbor

Did you know that Dana Point Harbor is considered the "Whale Capital of the West"? Whale Watching is definitely in full swing right now. With thousands of California Gray Whales migrating from the cold Artic Seas to the warmer waters of Southern California & Baja, Dana Point Harbor is the perfect place view these beautiful creatures. In fact, right now the harbor is reporting that "currently we are seeing an unusual sighting of the majestic Finback Whale. These magnificent creatures are generally 45-70 feet in length and weigh 40 tons. They are listed on the endangered species list."

Interested in setting sail on your own little adventure? Check out what some of these companies have to offer:

Dana Wharf Sportfishing, (949)496-5794, (Be sure to check out the 1/2 price specials on Tuesdays!)
Dana Island Yacht Charters, (949)248-7400
Aventura Sailing Association, (949)493-9493
Ocean Institute, (949)496-2274
Captain Dave's Dolphin Safari, (949)488-2828

If you happen to visit the harbor on a Sunday, be sure to check out the Free Kid's Fishing Clinics. The fishing clinics are held every Sunday at 9am & 12pm. Your kids will receive "dockside experience... Ask the experts and learn new fishing techniques, new hook tying secrets, win raffle prizes and so much more! No reservations are needed!"

xoxo, K
image via Dana Point Harbor

A Recipe for Inauguration Day

President Elect Obama has been making this chili recipe featured on GMA since college. The recipe is getting rave reviews in the blogging world and would be a great dish to serve on Inauguration Day (Jan 20).








xoxo, C

Newport Beach Restaurant Week (January 18-22)

I love trying new restaurants and Newport's Restaurant Week gives me the perfect excuse. About 100 eateries participate in the event to encourage people to try some of the best cuisine in southern California by offering affordable gourmet three-course, prix-fixe menus at each restaurant. Lunch is $15 or $20 and Dinner is $20 0r $35, you can go to the website for details about restaurants and pricing.

Here's more details from the website:

The Newport Beach Restaurant Association is proud to present Newport Beach Restaurant Week. Spanning five days in late January, Restaurant Week is a special citywide culinary celebration produced by the Restaurant Association positioning Newport Beach as Southern California’s Premier Dining Destination. Close to 100 of Newport Beach’s best eateries are expected to participate in this citywide, culinary celebration by offering delicious bargain priced three-course, prix-fixe gourmet menus for lunch and dinner.

It is a fun promotion that will attract local patrons and visitors to new and classic restaurants to sample a variety of the exceptional dishes being prepared by the best chefs in Newport Beach. The community is invited to celebrate its love of food during Restaurant Week, which offers great deals on outstanding culinary delights with bargain three-course prix fixe-lunches and dinner menus prepared especially for this event!

xoxo, C

Prenatal Yoga in Orange County

My belly is growing bigger daily, my body is starting to ache a bit more & my "normal" exercise routine is getting more uncomfortable daily. Luckily, one aspect of of exercise regime doesn't have to change... my yoga practice. In fact prenatal yoga is often encouraged because it helps you learn to breathe deeply & relax - something that will come in handy in the next the couple of months!

Baby Center has some great tips regarding prenatal yoga: "Seek out an instructor who is specifically trained in prenatal yoga, but if that's not possible, make sure your instructor knows you're expecting... Be aware, that your slowly expanding girth will affect your sense of balance. Don't try to hold poses for a long time, and remember to sink into yoga positions slowly & carefully to avoid injury. Take your time and don't overdo it. During the second-trimester avoid lying flat on your back now, too, to keep blood flowing properly to your uterus."

Looking for something you can do from home? Check out THESE yoga poses that are recommending during pregnancy, or try THIS DVD.

When it comes to yoga studios, Orange County has lots to offer. Here's a list of local studios that offer specific prenatal yoga classes. However, if you can't find a class nearby, call your local studio, more than likely their instructors are trained in prenatal yoga adaptations.

Costa Mesa:
Yoga Center, (949)646-8281
Yoga Works, (949)642-7400

Irvine:
Triad Yoga & Pilates, (949)724-1479
Yoga Shakti Wellness Center, (949)856-9642

Laguna Beach:
Yoga Works, (949)415-0955

Lake Forest:
Orange County Yoga Studio, (949)307-9517

Mission Viejo:
Yoga Works, (949)380-9642

Newport Beach:
Yoga Works, (949)640-9642

Orange:
Yoga in the Hills, (714)289-2248

Tustin:
Soul at Home, (714)573-7685

xoxo, K

Get in Shape 2009: Run Surf City

The USA Surf City Marathon and 1/2 Marathon of Huntington Beach are full, but if you hurry you can still sign up for the 5k and start the new year off running. Its a great race that boasts an oceanfront course and raises funds to give specially designed wheelchairs to individuals all over the world.

xoxo, C

Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular

Did you know you can see a Broadway style play at Disney's California Adventure Park? Playing at the Hyperion Theatre, which is located in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot (near The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror), is Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular. It's a 40-minute musical version of the movie we all know & love. Complete with amazing sets, flying magic carpets & gigantic walking elephants. This is definitely something for the entire family... the first time we saw the show, my one & two-year-old we completely enthralled! & on a hot day, the theatre is the perfect place to escape the heat for a little while. Just a few tips: For show times, go HERE. Seating is limited, so you do want to arrive at the theater a little early & you should know that the doors to the theater will close five minutes prior to the start of the play. & although there is no age requirements, do realize that the play is 40 minutes long, so plan accordingly. If you have a stroller, you'll have to leave it outside, so be sure to bring along anything you might need. Hope you enjoy the show!

xoxo, K
image via here.

Inspiration for a Homemade Valentine

Looking back at all the delightful handmade holiday gifts from 2008 featured on blogs, I found two that I thought might just work for Valentine's Day or at least serve as a little inspiration.


The first favorite homemade treasure I spotted was on Oh Dee Doh and created by Sarah of The Small Object. She wrote a simple letter to her niece and formatted it on Photoshop to send to Spoonflower, so they could create custom fabric from her Photoshop image. The result is a sweet and personal quilt that her niece will always enjoy.

Here are some Valentine ideas that were inspired by this gift:

• a pillowcase with a memorable quote to that special someone
• a quilt with kids drawings to Nana
• custom Valentine Bags for the kids

The second homemade treasure I spotted was on Oh Happy Day and created by Jordan. She designed a simple leisure book to give to her husband, so that he could easily find fun things to do in his free time. She asked friends and family for suggestions and compiled all the ideas in a notebook divided into sections. I also love this gift because you do not need to be super crafty, the format is simple because she used a moleskin notebook with tabs to create the book. The best thing about the gift is that you can continue to add to your leisure books as you find new sites, restaurants, and things to do.

Here are some Valentine ideas that are inspired by this gift:

• plan a surprise trip and give a "leisure book" that include your romantic plans for the trip
• create a reflection book of a special vacation and include favorite spots and memories

xoxo, C

Just Spotted: Bumble & Bumble at Target

Okay, I know this isn't exactly big news, because I actually "spotted" it awhile ago, but silly me, I keep forgetting to post about it. & although I figured everyone already the news, after talking to some friends this weekend, I realized I still needed to spread the word.... Did you know that Target is now carrying Bumble & Bumble Products? No more traipsing all the way down to the salon when your supply is running low, simply swing by your local Target. Thanks Target for making my life just a little bit easier!

xoxo, K
image via here.