Summer Fun: Movie Madness

Some of you may have read my post on the upcoming Kids Series at Krikorian Theatres. For those that don't live near a Krikorian Theatre, here are two other great options!

Harkins Theatres "Summer Movie Fun"
Visit Harkins Theatres for locations (Chino Hills and Moreno Valley) and schedules

- All 10 movies for only $5!
- You purchase one ticket good for all 10 movies (1 shown each week during the promotion)
- Your ticket is good for same theatre, same day of the week. (Ex: Thursday of each week during the promotion)
- Showings at 9:45 am every week day.
- Special $4.50 Kid's Concession Combo

Regal "Summer Movie Express"

Visit Regal Entertainment Group for locations (Corona, Eastvale, Ontario, San Jacinto and Temecula) and schedules

- Movies only $1

- Showings on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10am during the promotion

- Portion of proceeds will be donated to Will Rogers Institute

- This program seems to have a wider variety of movies showing. Check out the listings for your local theatre



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