Fieldtrip 101: Temecula Berry Co.

I've been to a few U-Pick farms and Temecula Berry Co. is by far one of my favorites! We live an hour away and make the drive every year. The farm is beautiful and the staff is amazing! They truly go the extra mile to make your experience a good one!

When you arrive, they will give you directions and tips for getting the best berries. If you are a returning customer, you can just grab a bucket and start picking!

In addition to the berry picking, there is a hen house for the kids to look in on their resident chickens(they feature chicken shows every afternoon at 3pm and farm fresh eggs Mon. & Thur. at 4pm). There are hay bales and a tractor for the kids to climb on, too.

If you're looking for something more than fresh blueberries, they sell Raw Honey that is simply amazing! I'm not even a fan of honey and I bought some! Monday mornings (around 9:30am) they have fresh blueberry bread from Great Harvest Bread Company.

They have great family events every week. Tuesdays at 9:00 and 10:30am, they have "Nana's Story Time". And every Friday night they show a family friendly movie on a huge screen at 8:00pm. What a perfect way to spend a summer evening! This is definitely a must visit place with the family! Stay tuned to see what we make with our berries!

Temecula Berry Co.
39700 Cantrell Rd., Temecula, CA
www.temeculaberryco.com

Hours: 8am-6pm 7 days a week (open later on Fridays for movies)
Price: $5 per pint
Good For Ages: ALL
Notes: Visit earlier in the day or late afternoon on hot days. They have canopies and hay bales throughout the farm for you to rest, but the blueberries are out in the sun. Don't forget the sunscreen. They do sell assorted drinks, but it doesn't hurt to bring your own.

Giveaway: Cuppycakes & Puppycakes

I realized my blog has had over 400 views in it's first month. Not too shabby. So, I thought I'd do a giveaway!

The Prize: A dozen delcious Crimson & Cream Red Velvet Cupcakes courtesy of Cuppycakes & Puppycakes. (Must live within 40 miles of 92399. Can be substituted for a dozen Puppycakes to be mailed in the United States)

How to Enter: Visit Cuppycakes & Puppycakes on Facebook and "like" the page. Then, comment here to let me know you did it. Easy as that! You can gain an extra entry by follwing the Kisses & Crumbs blog. Winner will be chosen at random one week from today.

If you're in Southern California and haven't checked out Cuppycakes & Puppycakes, you won't be dissapointed. If you can dream up a flavor, I can make it. Some of my best sellers are Banana with Chocolate Buttercream, Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting and Chocolte with Mint Buttercream and Andes Mint pieces. Yum!

If you have a canine friend, treat them to their very own Puppycakes! Made from human ingredients that are safe for canine consumption. This come in mini muffin size and are a perfect alternative to store bought treats that are full of unknown ingredients.

Summer Fun: West Coast Thunder

Memorial Day is only a couple of days away. Some might think this is national BBQ day, a chance to celebrate Summer or just another day off of work. But please don't forget to pause and reflect on the real reason we celebrate Memorial Day. Don't forget to thank those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy living ours.

This is also a perfect chance to teach your children the true meaning of the Holiday. If you're in the Riverside area, I highly recommend watching the procession of West Coast Thunder. Each year, the streets are packed with over 7,500 motorcyclists who participate in the ride from Skip Fordyce Harley Davidson to Riverside National Cemetery. Proceeds from this annual ride benefit Riverside National Cemetery.

It's quite an experience as people line the streets in true American honor, waving flags and wearing our country's colors. As the bikes approach, you can feel the rumble before you can see them. The sight of so many bikes parading together leaves the children (and adults) in awe. I took my son a couple of years ago and I plan to take him this year, too.

The parade departs at 9:11am and will travel the following route: From Indiana Ave. turn right onto Arlington Ave. Proceed on Arlington Ave. and turn right onto Alessandro Blvd. Proceed on Alessandro Blvd. and bear to the right at Trautwein Rd. Proceed on Trautwein Rd. and turn left onto Van Buren Blvd.

You can pull over on the side of the road or park on a side street. I suggest chairs or blankets (if you have a pick up) to hang out and watch. Bring water, sunscreen, snacks and your camera!

West Coast Thunder

Riverside, CA

Date: Monday, May 28, 2012

Time: Parade starts at 9:11am

Good for ages: ALL

Cost: FREE

Notes: See parade route above for locations to park

Life's A Peach Photography

We hadn't taken professional family photos since LC was 3 months old. So, it was definately time for new ones. We wanted something outside of a studio, something timeless, something we could use for Christmas cards, something to adorn our walls and something that was "Us".

If that's what you have in mind, then look no further. Life's A Peach Photography. I was hoping to get a few good shots- It's hard with a 5 year old boy jumping around. Instead, I got so many GREAT shots that it was hard to choose which ones I loved the most! She seriously captured the personality of all three of us and I hate to say it (or love to say it), but I like these more than my wedding photos! (Which by the way- she also does engagement and wedding photography)

So, if you're looking to capture your life with beautiful images that you'll cherish for a lifetime, check out Life's A Peach Photography.

This was our Christmas Card photo

Fieldtrip 101: Los Angeles Zoo

When you think California and Zoo, San Diego instantly comes to mind. But, if you're looking to "Go Wild"  and don't want to drive that far or pay that much, then be sure to check out the Los Angeles Zoo.

Nestled in middle of Griffith Park, the Los Angeles Zoo holds an afternoon of fun for the whole family.  They have all of the major animals that kids love to see (Lions, Tigers, Zebras, Elephants, Giraffes, etc.) and some of the more unusual creatures as well. Be sure to check out their new LAIR exhibit- dedicated solely to reptiles. (My son loves the floor to ceiling snake cages and watching the zookeepers feed the crocodiles out front.)   They have a petting zoo where kids can groom some of their resident sheep and goats, a fun prarie dog exhibit with tunnels below them that allow you pop up into domes in the middle of their habitat and a great children's playground.

Enjoy lunch while looking out over the giraffe exhibit or pack your own picnic- there's plenty of space for picnics near the Neil Paipano Play Area.

My family and I have annual passes (a great deal with exclusive member events!) and it typically takes us 3-4 hours to do the whole zoo. It tends to get more crowded in the afternoon, so we usually go in the morning when it opens. For those who don't want to be on their feet all day and want to see the best of the zoo, there is a Shuttle ride for a small additional fee.



Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA

Admission: Adults $16; Seniors (62+) $13; Child (2-12) $11; Under 2 FREE
Parking: FREE
Hours: Mon- Sun 10am-5pm (closed Dec 25th)
Notes: Please note that the zoo starts putting animals away for the night at 4pm. Ticket sales will cease one hour prior to closing.

Summer Fun: Interactive Fountain at Victoria Gardens

If you're like me, shopping with a little one is a comparable to pulling teeth. So what do you do in order to get some retail therapy in? Bribe them of course! I make a deal with LC. If he's good while we do a little shopping, then he can go play in the water. It works like a charm. Get some shopping done, grab an iced latte, sit in the shade and let the littles go crazy. It works like a charm to tire them out too!

Victoria Gardens
12505 N. Mainstreet, Rancho Cucamonga
located in the Town Square

Admission: FREE
Parking: FREE
Good for Ages: ALL
Notes: See rules above

Fieldtrip 101: Amy's Farm

If you're looking to give your kids a taste of farm life, then Amy's Farm is the place to go! Located on the border of Ontario and Chino, Amy's Farm offers tours for all ages. If you have a group of 10 or more, you can schedule a tour of your own. If it's just you and your kiddos, send them an email and ask if they have tours that you can add on to. (This is what LC and I did).

Each tour is a little different based on what they have going on at the farm, but here is a little bit of what we did. It starts off with a tour of the garden area. The farmer shows different types of food they're growing and kids get to smell different herbs that are growing in the garden. We got to meet and learn about one of their resident cows on the farm. Later in the tour, kids were able to pet her nose and get up close to say hello. We then moved on to the petting zoo where we got to meet some of their brand new baby sheep. The kids were then allowed to grab a handful of veggies (taken from their garden of course) and feed geese, a pig, a turkey or chickens. We moved on to meet some cuddly bunnies, brush a mini horse and my favorite- milk a cow!

Amy's Farm also offers fresh produce for sale and self-guided tours on Saturdays.

Amy's Farm

7698 Eucalyptus Ave, Ontario

Admission: $7 per person

Parking: FREE

Hours: By reservation only. Check out their website for more information

Good For Ages: 3-12

Notes: Bring water. Bring Sunscreen. Tour is on dirt, but can accomodate larger strollers (not umbrella strollers). It gets hot out in the sun- the earlier the tour, the better!



Fieldtrip 101: Ocean Institute

A couple of weeks ago I posted about Baby Beach in Dana Point and mentioned the Ocean Institute. Well, this weekend we made a visit to the beach with some friends, and since it was on a weekend, we decided to also visit the Ocean Institute.

I use to come here often as a child- way before the remodel when it was just a one room facility. This is probably the place that sparked my love of ocean animals for many years to follow.

It's small, but there are great learning opportunities around every corner. It hosts a variety of sea creature viewing tanks with everything from Jellyfish, to giant Lobsters and even an Octopus. The kid's favorite exhibit was the touch tank where they were able to feel Starfish and Sea Cucumbers.

We happened to get there in time for a tour of one of the tallships. If you have a pirate enthusiast in your family, this is a must see! I'd recommend it for older children. Our 5 year olds weren't into all of the mechanics and history of the ship, but they did enjoy turning the steering wheel and ringing the bell.

The Ocean Institute also hosts educational programs and camps throughout the year for all ages. Check out their website for more information.

Left: Touch tank with starfish and sea cucumbers    
Right: "Steering" The Pilgrim

Checking out Orca and Bottlenose Dolphin skulls

Ocean Institute
24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point

Admission: Adults $6.50, Ages 3-12 $4.50, Under 3 FREE
Parking: FREE
Hours: Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm
Good for Ages: 3-13
Notes: Closed to the public Mon-Fri. Don't forget to pack water safe shoes to visit the tide pools. Please be aware that this is a protected site and is illegal to remove any animals, shells, rocks, etc.

Summer Fun: Krikorian Kids Series

Krikorian Premiere Theatres is excited to announce the return of kid's movies throughout the Summer! Every Tuesday from June 19th through August 21st, Krikorian locations will be hosting the 2012 Summer Kids Series, a 10 week series of kid's movies that are fun for the whole family. Two showings per day will be available at 10:00AM & 12:30PM.
Tickets are only $1.00 and are the same price for adults and children.

Check out the website for specific dates, but here is a list of the movies they'll be showing: Alvin & The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Mr. Popper's Penguins, Rio, We Bought A Zoo, Hugo, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss In Boots, Rango and the Adventures of Tin Tin.

So if you didn't want to pay full price for your kids to see one of those movies, or if they're showing one of your family favorites, this is a great Summer deal! It's also a perfect time to take first timers. If they decide not to sit through the entire movie, you don't feel like you wasted $10. And if they're noisy- it's ok! The whole theatre is full of kids!

Krikorian Premiere Theatres
Redlands, CA (other locations are listed on their website)
www.kptmovies.com

Dates: Every Tuesday from June 19th through August 21st
Times: 10am and 12:30pm
Admission: $1.00 for adults or children
Notes: Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. Some showings sell out. Please arrive early.

Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken

Looking for a new way to cook chicken? How about one that only takes 5 ingredients? Sounds good to me!

This is my first time making this dish and my photos didn't quite turn out like theirs, but the taste is amazing! The brown sugar carmelizes and creates a sweet, garlicky sauce underneath the chicken. Definitely worth a try! And the fact that it only takes 30 minutes and you probably have all 5 ingredients on hand? Bonus!

INGREDIENTS
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 Tablespoons brown sugar
3 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 cup chopped onions

DIRECTIONS
1 Preheat oven to 500 degrees and lightly grease a casserole dish
2 In a small pan, saute the garlic and onion with the olive oil until tender
3 Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar
4 Place chicken breasts in the baking dish and pour brown sugar mixture over the top
5 Add salt and pepper to taste
6 Bake uncovered for 15-30 minutes

Hubby likes onions, so we added extra

Polka Dot Tiered Pots

First things first. I can't take credit for this adorable idea. A friend of mine posted hers (she did it as a Mother's Day gift- what a great idea!). As soon as I saw it, I had to make my own for my patio!

It turned out to be such a fun Mommy & Me project! And inexpensive as well.

SUPPLIES:
2 Terra Cotta pots. (You can use any size you wish, just as long as the smaller one will fit inside the larger one. My larger pot is 8.25". I didn't get a chance to measure the smaller one, but you get the idea.)
3 colors of paint. One for each of the pots and one for the polka dots. She spray painted her pots- which is probably smarter than me, and used acrylic paint for the dots. I used acryclic paint for everything since I already had it on hand.
Potting Soil
Round Sponge Paint Dabbers Found in paint brush section
2 different types of flowers. I used Gerbera Daisies for the top and Celosia for the bottom.

DIRECTIONS:
1 Paint the pots the base color of your choosing
2 Wait for paint to dry and add polka dots
3 Add flowers to smaller pot
4 Add potting soil and flowers to larger pot, filling just the front area of the pot with flowers.
5 Set the smaller pot in the larger pot on top of the soil. Push it up against the back rim. (You can also change this up and center the smaller pot and plant the flowers in the bottom pot going all the way around.)

Easy, Fun, Colorful and only $15 for all of the supplies!

My Polka Dot Tiered Pots

The one that inspired me! (Thanks Melissa!)

Summer Fun: Solar Eclipse May 20, 2012

The first solar eclipse of 2012 will take place this Sunday, May 20th. Depending on where you live, some may be able to witness an annular eclipse in which the moon blocks out all but a ring of the sun's light. Others will see the sun as a crescent, partially obscured by the moon for a period of 4 to 5 minutes. This is a great time to teach your children about solar eclipses and have a little fun with it, too!

According to NASA, If you're living in the Riverside area, it will begin at 4:26pm, with the maximum eclipse time at 5:38pm, and the end of the eclipse at 6:42pm.

VERY IMPORTANT: NEVER VIEW THE SUN WITH THE NAKED EYE OR WITH ANY OPTICAL DEVICE, SUCH AS BINOCULARS OR A TELESCOPE

So, how do you view the eclipse? There are commercial glasses and viewers that you can buy, or you can go the very simple route as described below:

1 Get 2 pieces of white cardboard or cardstock
2 Cut a square in one piece of cardboard and tape a piece of foil over the square
3 Poke a pin hole through the middle of the foil
4 With the sun behind you, hold the pinhole cardboard as far from the other piece of cardboard as you can. The second piece will act as a screen. Remember, the farther away you are from the screen, the bigger the image.

Photo courtesy of Exploratorium

Check out their "How To" guide HERE

My Dog Stinks and the Fido, Friends and Food Truck Festival

We have 3 dogs. A big bully mix, a medium jack russell/lab mix and a small chihuahua. I love them, but they smell. We bathe them regularly, but they spend a majority of the day outdoors- which means they roll in dirt, grass and who knows what! And even when they're clean... they still smell like dogs.

Well, here is a perfect product for that solution! "My Dog Stinks" Odor Eliminator. This isn't a perfume to mask your dog's smell. It's not an air freshener. It ATTACKS and ELIMINATES the odor upon contact! In fact, if you smell the product from the bottle, it has no odor at all!

We use it directly on our dogs when they need a little freshening, but the huge difference for us is their bedding! We have a large bed in the living room that it works great on and at night time, they are crated in the office. When you walk into the office, the first smell you notice is "dog". Even if they aren't in there. Since using this product, I'm happy to report that our office no longer smells like a kennel!

Check them out at www.mydogstinks.com or on Facebook

They will also have a booth at a great family event called the Fido, Friends and Food Truck Festival!

Fido, Friends and Food Truck Festival

Ontario Convention Center

www.iepetshow.com

Date: Saturday, May 19, 2012

Hours: 11am-6pm

Admission: $5 (12 and under are free)

Parking: FREE

Notes:  Well socialized dogs, provided they are kept on a maximum 6' leash, are permitted at the Fido, Friends and Food Truck Festival. See website for more details.

Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls

Hubby loves Cinnamon Rolls- especially from Cinnabon. And me? Well, I've always been intimidated to make them. But, when I saw this recipe, I thought it looked fairly simple and I'd give it a go. The results? Hubby walked in from work, straight to the kitchen, picked up a fork and ate them straight from the pan. I made a half batch (12 rolls) and intended on sharing them with friends. But, to be honest, there's none left!

The original recipe is from Love From The Oven. She has amazingly creative baking ideas for every occasion! I halved the recipe because there's only 3 of us and changed the frosting a bit because Hubby loves cream cheese frosting. The recipe below is for a full batch and will make 24 rolls.

CAKE MIX CINNAMON ROLLS
Servings: 24 rolls
Cook Time: 2 1/2 hours (includes time for dough to rise)

INGREDIENTS
1 box white or yellow cake mix
2 packages dry yeast
2 1/2 cups warm water
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
5 cups flour

FILLING
2 cups brown sugar
1 stick butter, softened
cinnamon

FROSTING
1 8oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 stick butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS
1 Mix yeast and warm water until dissolved
2 Combine cake mix, flour and salt in large bowl
3 Add warm water/yeast mixture and vanilla to cake mix/flour mixture. Mix well. This may require kneading with your hands to completely combine ingredients.
4 Cover tightly. Let rise for one hour. Punch down and let rise for another 30-60 minutes.
5 On a floured surface, roll dough into a rectangle shape, approx. 1/4" thick.
6 Once dough is rolled out, brush with softened butter.
7 Sprinkle with brown sugar. Sprinkle with cinnamon- use as little or as much as you like.
8 Starting at end opposite from you, roll the dough towards you until all of the dough is in one long piece.
9 Slice the dough into 24 equal size pieces
10 Place rolls in two 9x13 greased pans. Cover and let rise until doubled in size.
11 Bake at 350 degrees for 15-25 minutes or until golden brown
12 Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
13 Prepare frosting. cream the butter and cream cheese together and gradually add powdered sugar. If you like your frosting to melt into your rolls, frost them after 10-15 minuts of cooling. If you like your frosting to sit on top of your rolls, wait to frost them until completely cooled.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

What's your favorite cookie flavor? Peanut Butter? Oatmeal? Chocolate Chip? How about all 3 combined? Sounds amazing to me!  The best part is, I already had all of the ingredients in my cupboard.

These make a perfect after school snack, quick dessert, or a yummy treat for hubby to come home to (or to hoard for yourself. Go ahead, I won't tell.)

i adapted the recipe a little bit for myself. The original recipe can be found at "The Girl Who Ate Everything". She has an amazing site full of recipes that we'll be trying in the near future!

PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Servings: 16 cookies
Cook Time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature  (Note: If you only have salted butter, omit the salt in recipe)
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with foil and set aside.
2 Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside
3 On medium speed, cream together the butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract., about 3 minutes. Add the egg and beat to combine. On low speed, gradually add the flour until just combined. Stir in the oats, and then the chocolate chips.
4 Drop rounded Tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are lightly golden. Cool completely on the baking sheet and then store in a airtight container at room temperature.

Summer Fun: Baby Beach in Dana Point

I've been coming to this beach since I was about 5 years old. It's by far my favorite kid beach. Why? No waves, shallow water, grass picnic areas, clean sand, free parking, bathrooms, showers, nearby tide pools, Ocean Institute and tall ships. Yep, there's a lot to do here and it's a good family environment.

The swimming area is marked off by buoys (as seen in the photo). We arrived around 10am and a crew was just finishing cleaning up trash from the beach. The bathrooms were as clean as a beach bathroom can be and in the summer time, there is a lifeguard on duty. I definitely recommend the trip if you have little ones who aren't quite big enough to battle waves and rocky shores.
If you plan on visiting the Ocean Institute, keep in mind that they are only open to the public on weekends.

BABY BEACH OF DANA POINT
Directions from Inland Empire

Depending on where you're coming from, there are various ways to get to Dana Point.
Once you're heading on the 5 South, exit Camino Las Rambles/PCH 1 and turn Right.
You'll pass under the pedestrian bridge and turn left onto Dana Point Harbor Drive.
Take that all the way to the end. You can park on the left hand side or across the street for free. It's a very short walk to the actual sand.

Easy Taco Casserole

I'm a big fan of trying out new recipes on Pinterest. It's been a process of trial and error. I've found some recipes that I've fallen in love with and some ended up in the trashcan and we ate pizza that night. This is one of the good ones- and perfect for busy nights. It's quick, easy and delicious!

The original recipe can be found on Plain Chicken.

EASY TACO CASSEROLE
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6-8

Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef or turkey
1 can Ranch Style Beans (undrained)
1 10-12 ounce bag tortilla chips, crushed ( I didn't use the entire bag)
1 can Ro-tel tomatoes (undrained)
1 small onion, chopped
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 package taco seasoning
1 can cream of chicken soup
sour cream and salsa for serving

DIRECTIONS
1 Preheat oven to 325. In a large skillet, brown ground beef and onion and drain.
2 Stir in tomatoes, beans, soup and taco seasoning. Simmer over medium-low heat until everything is well combined and heated through.
3 In a 9x13 casserole dish, put down a layer of crushed tortilla chips, followed by a layer of the meat/bean mixture and a layer of shredded cheese. Repeat layers. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly.
4 Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. Top with sour cream and/or salsa, as desired.

Summer Fun: March Field Airfest

March Field Airfest 2012 "Thunder Over The Empire" is coming May 19th and 20th to March Airfield in Riverside. If you haven't taken your kids to see an air show, I definitely recommend it! This is one of the few times they can get an up close look at static displays and witness airplanes as they perform right in front of them. The best part of this event? It's FREE! If you go, please keep in mind that you will be sitting in the open without shade/cover. They suggest bringing folding chairs or blankets to sit on and sunscreen. I also suggest snacks, bottled water and a misting fan if you have one. The schedule, directions and more information can be found on their website below. Have fun!

March Field Airfest 2012
Riverside, CA
www.marchfieldairfest.com

Dates: Saturday May 19th and Sunday May 20th, 2012
Hours: Gates Open at 8AM and Close at 6:30PM each day
Admission: FREE!
Parking: FREE!

Notes: There will be a mandatory metal detection and bag search.
NO coolers, pets, bicycles, glass containers, alcoholic beverages, E-Z ups, skateboards or roller blades

Snakeworx: Rattlesnake Avoidance Training

If you're anything like me, your dogs are more than just pets- they're family members. You feed them, bathe theme, give them their shots to protect them from diseases.
But what about rattlesnakes? It's starting to heat up and that brings about snake season.

If your the person who takes your dogs on hikes, this is for you. If you're the kind of person who doesn't, this is for you. Because, let's face it- our homes are built in their natural habitat and every dog is at risk.

Snakeworx comes out to your location and trains your dog to recognize the scent of a rattlesnake and to avoid coming in close contact with it. All three of our pups have been trained- from our 5lb. chihuahua to our 75lb. Bully mix.  We're glad we took the next step to ensure our dogs are protected and we hope you will too!

This is our littlest dog, Bravo, during his training session

SNAKEWORX
www.snakeworx.com
951-202-7470

Summer Fun: Kids Bowl Free

Looking for a way to beat the heat and get in some good family time? Kids Bowl Free is a great program that allows kids to bowl FREE every day in summer. Each participating bowling alley's rules vary, but I'm going to post the information for our local alley- Empire Bowl in Redlands, CA.

All you have to do is sign your kids up at Kids Bowl Free. You can add up to 6 kids per account ages 15 and under. They will give you weekly vouchers for each child to bowl up to 2 games every day! All you have to pay for is bowling shoes.

They also have a great Family Pass offer that allows you to add up to 4 adults. For a one time fee of $24.95, they will also be allowed to bowl 2 games all summer long!

Kids Bowl Free
Empire Bowl Inc.
940 W. Colton Ave., Redlands

Admission: FREE for kids. Option to add Family Pass for $24.95
Hours: June 1- Aug 31, 8:30am to 4:30pm
Good for Ages: Kids program good for ages 15 and under
Notes: Must register on website and print weekly vouchers. Good for various bowling alleys nationwide. Must pay for bowling shoes or bring your own.

Stuffed French Toast

This is Hubby's absolute favorite breakfast. He'd eat it every day of the week if I would make it for him.

STUFFED FRENCH TOAST
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
8 slices of bread of your choice (Cinnamon Swirl makes it extra yummy)
3 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
powdered sugar (for dusting the tops of the sandwiches)
1 lb. strawberries (sliced and mixed with a Tbsp. of sugar)
1 tub of Cool Whip for topping

Cream Cheese Filling
4 ounces softened cream cheese
3 Tbsp. butter, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

DIRECTIONS
1 Mix cream cheese filling ingredients in a small bowl. You can add more powdered sugar if needed. It should be spreading consistency.
2 Spread out the slices of the bread and spread some of the cream cheese filling on each slice. Put two slices together to make a "sandwich"
3 In another bowl, mix the eggs, milk and vanilla together with a whisk. Dip the sandwiches in this mixture and fry in a pan or griddle over medium heat until browned on each side.
4 Dust the sandwiches with a little powdered sugar, top with strawberries and whipped cream.

(Note: The photo of the Mickey shaped breakfast is regular french toast with strawberries and whipped cream on the side. Special order from the 5 year old.)

Fieldtrip 101: Kidspace Children's Museum

This is my first post on a series of places to take the kids in or around Southern California.

Today LC and I visited Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena. It's approximately a 75 minute drive from home base.

I'm not gonna lie- when I got there, I was slightly disappointed in the size of it. The website makes it seem a lot larger, but don't let the actual size fool you. They pack a lot of fun into a small space. 

LC had fun digging dino fossils, climbing up raindrop towers, observing bugs and playing in their water features. Be prepared to get involved with your kids here and explain to them the wonders of a bee colony, a vortex and the scents of different plants in a garden (like Peppermint).

A bonus feature is the park that surrounds the museum. It has plenty of space for a nice picnic lunch and a wonderful playground to tire their little butts out!

Kidspace Children's Museum
480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena

Parking: FREE
Admission: Adults and Children over 1- $10
Hours: Tue-Fri 9:30am-5:00pm; Sat & Sun 10:00am to 5:00pm (open on Mondays during Summer months)
Good for Ages: 2-8
Notes: Pack water shoes and a change of clothes if you plan on playing in the water features. There is a Cafe on-site, but it has an excellent park for picnics

Brilliant Ideas

I find myself coming across great ideas for the home, for the family and for the tummy. But where can I write reviews on them? How do I let my friends know what works, what tastes good, what's fun?

My Facebook status is only shown temporarily. My Pinterest takes some digging into. And so this Blog was born.

Stay tuned for some ideas to make Wifey and Mommyhood a little simpler, a little funner and a little yummier!