Balancing The Chaos

A Legoland Birthday | @LEGOLAND_CA

I sent Wendy from OverTheTopMommy.com to Legoland to share her experience of the perfect Legoland Birthday for her daughter.

Deciding to take my daughter and 2 of her closest friends to Legoland California was the most perfect outing for a trio their age. The girls are “pre-tweens” (they’re 9 years old), which is an age where you’re not little anymore, but not a teen either. We hadn’t visited Legoland since our daughter was 4 years old and were excited to be returning again for a Legoland Birthday.

Princess Cupcake Jones Won't Go To School

Book Review: Princess Cupcake Jones

I recall those first day of school anxieties, especially when starting at a new school. Now, as a parent, we try to make it easier on our kids with sharing our experiences. Better yet, there are books available that will immerse children into the situation before it happens so they know exactly what to expect – like the story of Princess Cupcake Jones Won’t Go To School by Ylleya Fields.

Children will dive in to the story when they meet Princess Cupcake Jones, a princess who wakes up the morning of her first day of preschool. She comes up with all kinds of excuses like pretending to be sick; her tutu is not ready and is a mess; she even tries to hide to get out of going to school.

Gymboree Playdate, Disneyland, Anaheim, CA Southern California

A Gymboree Playdate with Disney | @Gymboree #Playdate

This Gymboree playdate post was written by me on behalf of Gymboree. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

With the new fall fashion now available at Gymboree, we can plan a special Gymboree Playdate in style.

For Halloween, the kids had a free day. At their school, the teachers had an In-service day, giving us the perfect opportunity to plan a special Gymboree playdate. We decided to surprise them with a day at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure.

An Educational Experience – Universal Student Housing | @USHHousing

Do you have an extra room in your home? Would you be interested in earning a little extra income? Does $785 for 30 days sound appealing to you? Universal Student Housing (USH) may be just what you need.

USH (Universal Student Housing) is a company that has been connecting international students with local families since 1998. They are currently looking for a few good homes, specifically in Irvine to place incoming English teachers coming from Japan in January who will be attending UC Irvine from January 4th until March 21^st.

A Casual, Classy Night Out at Calivino Wine Pub | @CalivinoWinePub

Living in Anaheim, the hubster and I love any chance we get to sample a new local restaurant. Opened since right around Mother’s Day, May 2014 Calivino Wine Pub is the perfect spot for date night, especially if you are visiting The Honda Center or Angels Stadium of Anaheim or even an event at the The Grove for a special event or performance.

Calivino Founder Daniel Bradley designed and built the Calivino Wine Pub concept from the ground up with a casual comfortable feel. For those who are interested in relaxing and catching a game on the big screen tv above the bar, a comfortable couch can be found in the corner. High top and low top tables in settings of four can accommodate larger parties.

Win Tickets to Disney On Ice Lets Celebrate | @DisneyOnIce

Attention Disney On Ice fans. Kick of the holidays with the next installment of Disney On Ice Lets Celebrate! – Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt.

Join in on the celebration as Mickey, Minnie and over 50 Disney characters from over 16 of our favorite Disney movies will be arriving for Disney On Ice Lets Celebrate in Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire and Long Beach from December 10, 2014 – January 4, 2015.!

Santa Is Coming To Town and Bringing Christmas Trees to Irvine Park Railroad | @IrvineParkRR

It’s that time of the year again! Santa is coming to town, and bringing Christmas Trees to Irvine Park Railroad!

This year the festivities are just getting bigger and merrier at Irvine Park Railroad. On Friday, November 29th, The Christmas Tree Ranch will open. Wander through the Party Pavillion next to the train station, and pick out your family’s “perfect” tree for 2014. Choose among Douglas Fir, Noble Fir and Grand Fir trees ranging from 4″ to 12″.

November: American Diabetes Awareness Month | @ADAOrangeCounty #Skate4YourSchool #StopDiabetes

Did you know that month of November is American Diabetes month? The American Diabetes Association is behind the largest national movement to STOP DIABETES, and we need to help raise awareness.

Last week I had the opportunity to meet with Monet at the American Diabetes Association’s Orange County office to partner up and help spread awareness. It was amazing to find out that nearly 30 million children and adults in the US have diabetes – and we aren’t doing much to encourage our own friends and family members to take a stand and STOP DIABETES.

Girls Night Out With Pippin at Segerstrom Center | @SegerstromArts

This week, since my Mom was in town from Las Vegas, I decided to take her out on a Mom/Daughter girls night out with Pippin at Segerstrom Center for opening night.

Pippin has finally returned to Broadway since it was live on stage 40 years ago. It is the story of a young prince who is on a journey to find some meaning in his life. When he comes to a cross road, he must choose between a simple, happy life or a life with 15 minutes of fame.

Book Review: Maddi’s Fridge | @MaddisFridge #ChildPoverty #Hunger

A couple of weeks ago, my son’s 1st grade class teacher mentioned an idea she had about a lesson plan she was working on. Her inspiration came from a Michael Jackson song: “Man In The Mirror” and how we could make a change in other people’s lives and how there is so much poverty around the world. Just after this conversation, I was contacted about a book called Maddi’s Fridge and felt it would be the perfect book to share with her class.

The story, Maddi’s Fridge, takes youngsters into the friendship of Sophie and Maddi, who are neighbors, classmates and regularly play in the same park after school. One particular day, they became hungry while playing and ran to Maddi’s house for a bite to eat. Sophie discovered that Maddi’s fridge only had a small container of milk. Maddi tells Sophie that they also have bread to eat, but asks Maddi to keep her secret.

Burgers Galore at Smashburger | @Smashburger

Do you have a “comfort food”? I certainly do – it’s the hamburger! My kids have become just as enthusiastic about a great burger as I am, so when I was invited to sample Smashburger, the kids were super excited.

A twist on the typical hamburger, Smashburger takes the burger to a new level. Every burger starts with a fresh, never frozen, ball of natural 100% certified Angus beef. You also have the option to select a tender marinated chicken if you prefer a different option.