Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Holiday Traditions - LIGHTS and more !!!!

Smiles, Love, Family and Friends... what do the Holidays bring for you ?

Our family is big on traditions, after all, traditions are what keep a family going. A tradition is important, and in our family, passed down to generations. 

We also feel it is important to make new traditions with memories to show our kids that they take a piece of what we do and grow it into their own when their family is in bloom one day. 

I also feel like the traditions we keep up are the ones my mom loved most and that means the world to me. 

The Holidays always remind me of my mom. She would bake the most amazing sweets and create a warmth in our home that was inviting to all. My parents tried to show us a little something special each Holiday... I have to say Fall and Winter Holidays were my favorite. 

Apple season begins and the smell of pumpkin everything is everywhere. When winter hits, and by winter in socal I mean a few days that are not in the 80s, my family gets excited for the traditions to begin ! 

Lights Lights and more Lights ! 
The list goes on but some of our favorite things to check out yearly are holiday decor and lights around socal. 
We always seem to check out Candy Cane Lane in RSM, the Light Streets off of Brookhurt and Heil and the Blount Family Light Show !
You can find more info on the Blount Family light show on their facebook page HERE or on the website HERE .
The Lake Forest Christmas website also has great info for a few of the hot spots for lights.. check that out HERE .
I also love to check out the listed Winter Holiday Events that OC.Net posts .. you can find that HERE .

Lights are not the only fun thing we like to do over the Holidays but definitely my favorite !

Irvine Park RR is another one of our Holiday favorites. We go a lot but we never miss a season event there. The Christmas train is a festive experience and this year they have a Christmas Tree Lot ! I'm excited to see what that is all about !! You can find more info on Irvine Park RR HERE . Also check out their facebook page HERE to enter contests for train tickets and more !

A tradition that my parents always surprised us with was South Coast Plaza - I can remember the horses and the decor from the outside and the Carousel on the inside that would bring the Holidays to life. I take my kids and enjoy things throughout the year.. more info on South Coast Plaza HERE .

As our family has grown over the years we have become more and more into the theme parks. We love that were so close to Knotts Berry Farm and Disneyland !

Knott's MERRY Farm is happening now - we have not been in a few years the the Holiday festivities but we were at Knott's this past August and can not wait to get back... this is one annual pass we will have to get again now that our daughter is a thrill seeker, wanting to ride the roller coasters non stop and over and over.... you can find out more info on the awesome fun of Merry Farm HERE .

Disney had festivities going on in the parks that are all over, on top of and under and at Downtown Disney so if you do not have a pass or entry ticket you can still go check out the scene ! There is a winter wonderland of Olaf's and Frozen Sister fun with an outdoor skating rink and lots of things to do, see and photograph with. You can check out more on all the Disney fun HERE .

I feel like the fun in Southern California is endless - winter just adds more opportunity for special events and entertainment.

We are always looking to check out new, fun things to do !

What are your favorite spots in SoCal to check out ?

Happy Holidays ! Enjoy your Thanksgiving !
I'm grateful to be able to share and have the support of my family and friends !
OnTheGoOC

#DisneyHolidays #MerryFarm #Disneyland #DownTownDisney #KnottsBerryFarm #KnottsMerryFarm #CandyCaneLane #SoCal #BlountFamilyLights #OCFun #ThingsToDo #FreeFun #OrangeCounty #LA #FunInOC #FamilyFun #Holidays #HolidayFestivities #Traditions #TraditionsWithFamily #IrvineParkRR

Monday, November 17, 2014

Curry Anyone ?! Homemade Recipe

Afraid to try something new !? Don't be - make some Curry ! 

This was my first time making Curry !

It turned out AMAZING - or so my 7yo and husband said lol .

I started with boneless skinless chicken breast I got on sale at Ralphs - 4 breasts. I picked up the veggies I needed too. Some in a can some fresh .

Needs :
* Curry Spice

* Fresh Bell Peppers - I used 1 orangish red
* Fresh Mushrooms - I used 1 pack
* Fresh Onion - I used 1 medium sized white onion
* Fresh Yellow - I used 1
* Cilantro - 1/4 cup then chop
* Small yellow potatoes cut into small cubes
* 6 pieces of a garlic clove half cooked with the veggies and half with the chicken

* Canned Coconut Milk

Depends how many you are cooking for but this was enough for 4 and for lunch the next day for 3.

I chopped the chicken into little bite sized cubes so that they can be ready to mix with the veggies and they cook faster !

I mixed the fresh veggies so they can cook down to crisp but not mushy like when you see the onion almost clear - cook down in 2 cups of chicken stock (made or bought) and a table spoon of the curry powder seasoning. (2 for more spice 3 for even more spice - for my Mexican spicy loving hubs I also add chili powder to his portion!)

Meanwhile the chicken is cooking in a cup of water and the stock its making. When its almost done I add another cup of chicken stock and 2 table spoons of the Curry powder seasoning.

When both are almost completely done I add the veggies into the chicken and carefully mix the two together and turn down to low and let simmer .

At this time while it is simmering I added the coconut milk and keep adding up to a full can to my families taste.

We all loved it and it says a lot for my 7yo to try and love a new dish first time !

We paired it with saffron rice but white rice would be great too .

I only wish I had fresh Nan Bread for it !!!

Enjoy !




Pics of what I used !

                                                

Try it out.. let me know what you think and what you added too !
OnTheGoOC

#Curry #Homemade #EatWell #Livewell #EatFresh #FreshMade #HerbsToEat #HerbalHealing #YummyformyTummy #GreekCookingCurry #Veggies #Chicken #SoGood 

Apple Tart - for My Sweethearts !!

YUMMY AFTER DINNER SWEET ! YUMMY COFFEE MATE FOR MORNING ! 

The last of the apples . An apple cinnamon tart with sugar crystal on top !

Ok so this one I tossed together lol literally .. heat oven to 425..

I got the puff pastries frozen dough from freezer isle and I cut up 5 apples ..we like tart so I chose those last time I was in store .. cut peel and cook down apples on me with a half cup sugar and a quarter cup brown sugar ..toss in 2 table spoons of cinnamon or to your liking and a teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Stovetop Simmer down to where apples are cooked but not mush ..still need to use side of fork to cut in half if you will... then cover and take off heat... get your dough and cut into 6 .. take the 6 and flatten each a bit and spray down cooking sheet lightly with non stick .. lay them down kind of pulling the 4 edges so that you can pull them up to for a lil star cup later.

Once all are laid our take aid large spoon like soup spoon and put one n half or so spoonfuls onto the dough and fold I corners to touch aided squeeze. Once done I like to have an egg beaten and ready for the last three mins to glaze the top .. 

Pop em in for 18 to 20 mins.. watch it for the burn factor  take em out sprinkle with a dash of sugar or sugar crystals and let sit ..enjoy when cool enough !!


#appletart #homemade #freshfruit #sogood #loveitfresh

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Fall Family Fest brings new products, new tips, and new ideas to the everyday family !

Fall Family Fest brings new products, new tips, and new ideas to the everyday family !

The day started out perfect with weather that was crisp and cool but sunny so that all of us moms, dads and kids at the South Coast Botanical Gardens were able to enjoy every moment .

I attended the blogger morning to see what all the hype was about since I have often heard this is THE EVENT for families to check out ! I was super excited and honored as a newer blogger to be attending - thank you Club MomMe !

As we entered we were greeted with a gift bag and may I say what a gift bag it turned out to be with all sorts of things for baby to toddler and even a few things my 7yo loved !
                                                 
After check in I walked over to where the media/bloggers were. There was an assortment of fruits, veggies, mini sandwiches all from the very tasty @MendocinoFarms and @FreshBrothers, coffee, and more for us to snack on while we were greeted by the amazing HEAD staff of the event and some speakers that represented some phenomenal brands showcased at the main event. Some brands i had heard of and use and others were interesting to learn about !

I wanted to point out a few of the featured brands that I just could not get out of my head once they presented !

* Little Tikes - from the classic #CozyCoupe to the array of Activities they offer for my toddler and more whats not to love .. a childhood classic. #LittleTikesFun

* Bambo Nature - Loving this #EcoFriendly #NonToxic #GreenDiaper that recently won the #BestGreenDiaperAward ! @BamboNature is looking like a winner ! #BamboBaby

* Dr. Smith's Diaper Rash Spray - What ?! Diaper spray.... yes please ! I love it and so far so good.. a few days of using this on my son's booty and were fans for sure ! @DoctorSmiths were fans of your #NoMoreDiaperRash spray .

* Wear the Baby - I am a fan of baby wearing.... I even tried to wear my baby boy (#2) as long as his large man child body would let me ... (not long at all) . I was able to catch a peek of some unique wraps. I was also able to check out the new #ErgoBaby and #LilleLove Colections by @ErgoBaby / @Lillybaby ! I immediately thought of a few of my prego friends that I know love to baby wear too ! Marci and Heather... you came to mind !  #WearTheBabies

* Mamas & Papas - Talk about handy dandy and fast - their #Urdo2 #Stroller is spot on the best bet for ease and speed .. if your like me and have some back and nerve issues you can not sit and fiddle with things when weight of a child and or stroller is too much to handle ! #ArmadilloFamily of strollers is worth checking out !

* Britax - I'm a big fan and I will have a few updated here shortly to add to this post. #tbc Check back after Thanksgiving !

* Lansinoh - For the #MomToBe , #NursingMom , or #PumpingMom , this stuff is just amazingly soothing ! I used a lot of the products myself when I nursed and pumped. Amazing cream while nursing to ease the pain and cool down. They offer the best #breastmilk #storagebags #pumps #wipes and much more. Check them out and follow their news at +LansinohUSA  #LoveMyLansinoh

* Essentia Water - Love it ! Not only did it taste refreshing and great it is replenishing your Alkaline balance and hydration  Love Love.. Win Win ! The taste above the rest and i like it more than the bottled waters I have been drinking.. just need it in more locations ! he he .... #EssentiaChallenge @EssentiaPHW

  
When the round robin was over we were able to head on over to the #FamilyFest main event area.
I was able to check out all of these brands and more up close and test out some as well ! I loved that !
Some moms and kids were taking the opportunity to get pampered with the nails, hair and make up area. Some others were able to nurse in the nursing area while their hubby's relaxed in the DadDe Lounge where they snacked on beef jerky and stayed hydrated .

I loved how there was so much focus on family first and how to keep family safe while out having fun .. all the brands and products seem to tie into one another with a flow of this motto ! Love it !
One of my most favorite innovations I checked out was the new car seats. A few caught my eye ! How they fit into a Toyota was beautiful lol ... I loved how the car seats they are pairing up with (#Safety First and #COSCO seats) make life easier... fitting three car seats that go in and out easily fit across the back row of a sedan !
  



I took a while to just soak it all in and also watched the dads in the DadDe lounge enjoy a moment too !

This event was amazing and well done ! From the start to finish we were treated with new things for all families to enjoy, see and try !

I was able to stay until about 2pm when I had to head out to meet my daughter at Disneyland... I know right.... We love #Disney !

Huge shout out to all that worked so hard to make the #ClubMomMe Event a huge success and thank you to all the partners that paired up to make it all possible . I would suggest anyone check out the event on line for more info HERE ! 

Thank you to @ClubMomMe for the invite to attend - it was an honor to check it all out and can't wait to see what fun you have planned for next year !

To all those interested in next year.. sign up and register fast ! It sells out at all levels !
Thank you ! 
#OnTheGoOC

 


 


 








#LittleTikesFun #LoveMyLansinoh #BamboBaby #NoMoreDiaperRash #ErgoBaby #LilleLove #MendocinoFarms #ArmadilloFamily #WheresBaby #COSCO #BuzXtra #Pria85 #EssentiaChallenge #CMFamilyFest #BESTDayEver #FamilyFun #FamilyFirst #KidsFirst #LoveLaughLive #SouthCoastBotanicalGarden +Club MomMe 



Friday, November 7, 2014

The LG OLED at Best Buy looks amazing ! Gift Ideas this Holiday Season !

Brighten up your Holiday with the LG OLED !

It's the Holiday season already ... well almost ... but there are a lot of gift ideas out there already !

We are always on the look out for the kids in our family and of course it's always toys, toys, toys and more toys !

But, what about toys for us adults ?! Oh, and it seems the kids would win with this one too.

At Best Buy they have the newest in technology for TV display. The stunning design of LG OLED TV is only 0.21" thick at it's thinnest point !



What is LG OLED display ?

Picture quality is beyond amazing ! The contrast ranges from most blazing whites to the deepest blacks thanks to LG's exclusive 4 Color Pixel technology. Bright and vibrant colors for all to enjoy for family nights, gaming and the kids shows. (remember everyone wins with this one lol)

Learn more about LG OLED HERE

Best Buy and LG are beyond thrilled to bring this amazing technology to life this Holiday season !
Some of the highlights of OLED are :

With deeper and richer colors, stunning contrast and ingeniously curved screens, it is unlike any technology you've ever seen, and it delivers a picture that exceeds your wildest imagination.
LG  55EC9300 SKU# 7846019 – OLED TV
·         Infinite contrast ratio and stunning color - delivers more natural, lifelike viewing.
·         4 Color Pixel technology enhances color range and accuracy.
·         Super thin design
·         Find content faster with webOS
It's selling now at Best Buy’s everyday price of $3499.99 that's $500 off the regular price . 
Head into your local Best Buy and see what I saw in the OLED and why it's on my wish list ... Santa please and thanks ! 
OnTheGoOC

@BestBuy #HintingSeason #OLEDatBestBuy #HolidayWishList #HintingforGifts #GiftIdeas #ad

All posts must include the following disclaimer:  The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Irvine Park RR - Christmas Train Tickets ON SALE NOW !

More Irvine Park Fun is headed our way !

I don't know about you but we love Irvine Park so much we visit often !! We also visit the seasonal festivities that go on year round !

They just wrapped up their amazing Pumpkin Patch and are already getting us all in the spirit of the Holidays with the sale of their Christmas Train tickets - ON SALE NOW .

If you have never been on the Christmas Train, I need to fill you in on the fun you can have.

     Come with family and friends and take this enchanting night ride through historic Irvine Regional Park to meet Santa Claus. The train will depart every 15 minutes from the brightly-lit train station and drop passengers off at the North Pole.
     Christmas Train tickets may be purchased to ride the train at a specific date and time — get in line and board the train any time during the hour for which you purchase tickets.

     At the North Pole, visitors may purchase coffee, hot chocolate, freshly-popped popcorn, hot pretzels and cookies from the Elf House Snack Bar.
     Visitors may take their own pictures with Santa or you may purchase a picture taken by Irvine Park Railroad. Each 5” x 7” photo will be presented with an Irvine Park Railroad border and available for pickup shortly after being taken.
                    
     After visiting with Santa, hop back aboard the train and enjoy the colorful Christmas lights and decorations, as well as the magical “Tunnel of Lights”, on the ride back to the station.When visiting the Christmas Train, remember to dress warmly, bring a camera and arrive early to avoid crowds.

The Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train is open on the following dates:
Christmas Train Dates           Christmas Train Hours       Christmas Train Activities
November 28th and 29th         5:00 pm – 9:00 pm              Activities open at 10:00 am
November 30th                        5:00 pm – 8:00 pm              Activities open at 10:00 am
December 5th - 6th                  5:00 pm – 9:00 pm              Activities open at 4:00 pm
December 7th                          5:00 pm – 8:00 pm              Activities open at 4:00 pm
December 12th                        4:00 pm – 9:00 pm              Activities open at 3:00 pm
December 13th and 14th         2:00 pm – 9:00 pm              Activities open at 10:00 am
December 15th through 19th  4:00 pm – 9:00 pm              Activities open at 3:00 pm
December 20th and 21st         2:00 pm – 9:00 pm              Activities open at 10:00 am
December 22nd and 23rd       4:00 pm – 9:00 pm              Activities open at 3:00 pm.

     While waiting to board the train, there are many activities for children to enjoy in Santa’s Village located next to the train station.

     Activities will open one hour prior to when the Christmas Train runs and include:
* Story Time with Mrs. Claus
* Christmas Cookie Decorating
* Carnival Games
* Ice Fishing
* Santa Claus Moon Bounce
* Christmas Coloring Corner
* Picture Stands

                

Prices for activities vary; for additional information and cost please see HERE .

     Tickets may be purchased online ONLY and can be purchased beginning November 1st. Tickets may not be purchased in person.

Please click HERE to purchase Christmas Train Tickets now and for more details.