Universal Studios Hollywood Celebrates Lunar New Year! #UniversalStudiosHollywood #LunarNewYear

Lunar New Year with the fam bam at Universal Studios Hollywood!

Celebrate the Year of the Rat during Lunar New Year Now - February 9 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

We were given the opportunity to visit during this event and loved it. Culture celebrated.

From the character meet and greets to the shows and amazing eats, Universal Studios Hollywood Celebrates Lunar New Year with a Bang!

 

Lunar New Year Offerings that you can experience, see, eat or participate in:

 

Universal Plaza decorated in customary red Chinese lanterns. 

 

 

Walk around stunning plum blossom wishing trees along with the 12 zodiac animal signs and their symbolic attributes

 

Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop from Kung Fu Panda comes to life.   

Yes.. including Mr. Ping himself who invites guests to enjoy his culture-themed fare

Global Pop Icon Hello Kitty of Universal’s Animation Studio Store, adorned in her signature red bow and custom designed Lunar New Year attire.

It's Cookie Time... Girl Scout Cookies Are Here! Plus #Giveaway #GirlScoutsOC

Happy Cookie Season... Girl Scout Cookies are back end of this month! 

This only happens once a year & you do not want to miss it! 

We love this time of year. As a girl scout mom, my favorite time is time with my daughter... we like to sign up for mom and daughter booths, we get to hang out and sell together.

 

My daughter has been in Girl Scouts since she was 5, she is now 12.5, she still loves it as much as she did back then. So do we. 

When I ask her what she loves about being a Girl Scout she always tells me the same things year after year. She loves to help others, volunteer, learn new things, give back and gain confidence. (I love the thin mints I store in my Freezer...)

 

All of these things she notices about herself are well noticed by her family and friends as well. So proud of her.

With the commitment she has to her troop and to serve others, she has gained over 100 volunteer hours for herself, and wants to do more. 

These lessons that are learned about life, teamwork, togetherness, commitment, responsibility, confidence and so much more are all part of growing up in her troop with her amazing leader Kelly. 

What I have really loved is seeing my baby girl grow into a respectful, responsible, empathetic, caring, smart, athletic young lady. Girl scouts support these girls doing their best in everything they do. 

Our troop is ready for cookie season... are you?! We work very hard at selling during cookie season. A portion of the sales comes directly back to the troop.

Our troop has used these funds to adopt sea lions, make blankets for shelters, create an adopt don't shop campaign, earning a Bronze Award and so much more.

Here are some tips and fun facts about cookie season and the cookies this year. 

Guide to Everything Peanuts Celebration at Knott's Berry Farm #KnottsPeanutsCelebration

Happy 100th Anniversary Celebration to Knott's Berry Farm 

Kicking off the festivities with this year's Peanuts Celebration! 

Knott's Peanuts Celebration is on during weekends through March 1st plus February 10th, 14th and 17th.

Knott's Berry Farm really does a Berry good job with their seasonal events. All opinions are our own.

The unique food offerings, special shows, hands on fun, sweet, treats, drinks like sarsaparilla floats, character sightings and so much more. 

Let's get into some of our favorites & must do's at Peanuts Celebration.

* Sketch School - visit Bird Cage Theater and learn how to draw your favorite Peanuts character. I surprised myself with my Snoopy sketch. 

* Character Meet & Greets - Big news here! Did you know that Spike, Snoopy's brother, is now in the park during Peanuts Celebration.  You can find Spike in Calico Park during the Cowboy Jamboree with Linus & Franklin and over in Fiesta Village during the Discoteca de Silencio aka silent disco.

* Pig Pen's Pig Pen - Who doesn't love barn animals... little piggies you guys! Of course there's the sweetest dustball around too... Pig Pen! You can find him, a bunch of animal friends & a cute photo opp all at Livery Stable. 

* Happiness Is ... a new show! No, really that's the name of it, Happiness Is! I love that the theme is basically be YOU and those who love you will love you for YOU.

A fun show with songs, dancing and trampolines... True Friendship. On at Calico Mine stage during the day.

* The Food! I am not sure where to begin since we love all the eats & treats at Knott's. 

Each seasonal event Knott's adds in some seriously flavors in all categories from burgers to desserts and then some.

Check out our recap of all things dining Peanuts Celebration here.  

Find all your favorites at these locations.

Family Fun For Everyone 

Not limiting ourselves or you to just our must do favorites... here are more things to do while visiting Knott's Peanuts Celebration. 

(Note.. I really feel like a season pass is the way to go, don't rush through foodie experiences, rides or shows.. just return another day)

Autism, Picky Eating, Diabetes Scare, Visitng CHOC E.R. & Following my Mama Instinct all in a Weekend...

We had to take our son to CHOC last Saturday.

Let me back up to the week leading up.

Last Thursday through Sunday we were in Idyllwild for family time and Silverlakes Norco for soccer. 

Everything all weekend went well, we had a lot of fun exploring the winter snow a bit, winning a championship at the soccer field and getting ready for the week.

I noticed Mikey was saying he was a bit more tired than usual, he seemed to want to rest a bit more than hike or play and that's not like him at all when were outdoors.

I made note cause I know my boy very well. Since he does have his quirks and sensory things here and there he's pretty easy to read and his communication is getting a lot better with verbalizing what's going on. 

After we returned I noticed on Monday and Tuesday he was still saying he was itchy here and there but with no signs of why he would be visible to the eye on the skin. He also by Tuesday started to drink a lot of water and by a lot I mean like double what he was normally drinking.

Wednesday morning rolled around and he had an accident during the night. Wednesday he seemed to urinate more and drink a lot. Still saying he was itchy. 

Wednesday after school he said his ear was bothering him. I called the doctor, meanwhile no raised pulse or fever. They could not see him until Friday late, so I pulled him from school early and went to urgent care. The Dr. said that his left ear was infected and could have been causing him to be off and feeling this way. She prescribed antibiotics and sent us on our way.

Mikey started to tell me his hands and feet were tingly and sleepy. That raised flags for me. He also said his eyes were watery and when I asked him if his vision was blurry or fuzzy he said yes. Sometimes it's hard to tell what he may be wanting to express with the communicating. I have to draw out info and ask for details often with my little love.

Of course its Friday night and our pediatrician is now closed and when I google, I know but the symptoms were worrying me, it came up... signs of diabetes. 

Because we do have diabetes in our family history and because my son is such a picky eater that I can tell you all 15 to 20 things he eats, yes we've done feeding therapy in the past and are re visiting that, I was worried.

I called CHOC and decided I would take him into the ER in the morning. That way it would be fasting and they would be able to run some tests as needed fasting and then perhaps after a snack. Again all was fine and no other complaints or elevated symptoms and at this time none of the above was going on at the moment or all night. 

Running Universal Series Continues.. Registration Now Open for April's Event #Universal #RunUniversal

Run Universal Studios Hollywood in 2020!

We really want to get out to one of these Running Universal events. 

Being more active in 2020 with and as a family is important to us all.. here is a great walk/run for us to do in a place we just love. 

Here are the deets...

New Year, New You!

 

Kick Off 2020 Fitness Resolutions with Universal Studios Hollywood’s Popular “Running Universal” Series Featuring Characters From DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls Franchise on Sunday, April 26

 

Participants Will Receive a Collectible Finisher Medal Featuring Trolls Poppy, Branch or Guy Diamond

 

Register here for the Event; Space is Limited https://www.runninguniversal.com/Hollywood

Ready to get fit in 2020? Fitness buffs, runners, kids and walkers alike are invited to join Trolls Poppy, Branch, Guy Diamond and your favorite DreamWorks Animation characters in Universal Studios Hollywood’s newest “Running Universal” race with a hair-raising tribute to DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls franchise on Sunday, April 26. The event features a 5K, a Kid’s 1K and a 10K run.

Tenaya Lodge Yosemite New Cabins Plus Discount on Stay...

Winter wonderland at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. 

 

FIND WINTER BLISS IN A COZY NEW EXPLORER CABIN AT TENAYA LODGE

   

Updates and aditions are complete...

 

Recent completion of Explorer Clubhouse heightens cabin experience; Winter Bliss promotion offers seasonal savings 

Winter is for cozy cabin getaways, and the Explorer Cabins at Tenaya Lodge are the perfect choice for visitors to Yosemite.  

 

Vacationers planning a winter getaway, can cozy up in one of 50 new, two-bedroom, mountain-modern cabins set amid a forest of towering cedars and pines and tastefully appointed with fireplaces, board games, kitchens, living areas and porches. Winter cabin guests will also be the first to experience the recently completed Explorer Clubhouse, an 1,800 square foot communal retreat exclusive to those staying in the cabins. 

The Explorer Clubhouse is the final piece of the $25 million cabin development, which opened this summer, and offers a relaxed gathering area where cabin guests can check-in, grab daily breakfast, enjoy evening wine receptions or just relax on the expansive deck while soaking up picturesque views of the creek and surrounding forest. 

To experience it all at an incredible value, Tenaya Lodge is offering a Winter Bliss Package that includes 15 percent off best available rates for stays January 1 through April 30, 2020, as well as exclusive discounts on activities at time of booking. Click here.

 

Families can connect with each other during an ice-skating session, snowshoe hike and archery; while couples may opt for the romance of an evening flashlight hike, rejuvenating spa treatments, or paint and wine class.

LEGOLAND CA Lego Movie World Update #legolandca #legolandcalifornia

Big news hot off the press about Legoland CA. There's been a Raptor Sighting!

LEGOLAND® CALIFORNIA RESORT ANNOUNCES THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST LEGO® MODEL IN THE LEGO® MOVIE™ WORLD!

PC Legoalnd CA

We are so excited for this new addition to LEGOLAND California...

The LEGO® MOVIE WORLD, opening this spring at LEGOLAND® California Resort, has officially welcomed the land’s first LEGO® model; a skateboarding, stud-shooting Velociraptor!

Standing over 8 ½ feet tall and weighing more than 870 pounds, the Raptor LEGO model will welcome guests into the Bricksburg!

PC LEGOLAND CA

Inspired by the time-traveling, spaceship piloting raptors from The LEGO® Movie 2©: The Second Part, the LEGO model is built from 90,151 LEGO bricks and took Master Model Builders 401 hours to assemble.

It wouldn’t be safe to have a Raptor in the Park without its trainer! The family theme park also announced the addition of the coolest character around, raptor trainer Rex Dangervest. 


Rex Dangervest is a galaxy-defending archaeologist whose best buddies are Raptors. Guests will have the opportunity to meet and snap photos with Rex Dangervest along with Emmet, Lucy and all The LEGO Movie characters when the land opens this spring. 

Sea World San Diego 2020 Specials for Teachers & Preschoolers

SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO SERVES UP TWO AMAZING FUN CARD OFFERS FOR TEACHERS AND PRESCHOOLERS 

SeaWorld San Diego has two incredible complimentary ticket offers to kick off a new year of education in 2020: the Teacher Fun Card and Preschool Fun Card! For more than 50 years, education has been a critical part of SeaWorld’s mission to inform and inspire youth about wildlife and conservation.

 

PC Sea World San Diego



 

"Every animal we rescue, person we educate, and species we save, can be linked to a teacher who shared their passion for animals."

 

 

Let's get to the deets...

 

Teacher Fun Card

 

In salute to California and Arizona educators, SeaWorld is offering FREE admission in 2020 with the Teacher Fun Card.  This offer is available to all currently credentialed K–12 teachers residing in California and Arizona. In addition to the Fun Card, two FREE, single-day companion tickets are included. Deadline for registration is March 10. To learn more and register, teachers can visit www.SeaWorldParks.com/SWCTeachers .

 

Preschool Fun Card

 

SeaWorld offers an ocean of experiences that are perfect for pint-sized guests. With the FREE Preschool Fun Card, children ages 3–5 living in San Diego and Orange Counties can enjoy year-round fun in 2020. A limited number of FREE Preschool Fun Cards will be available while supplies last. A $20 Preschool Fun Card will then be available. The Preschool Fun Card offer ends on March 31. To learn more, parents can visit www.SeaWorldSanDiego.com/Preschool.

   

 

Both Fun Cards include popular SeaWorld events such as Lunar New Year, Inside Look, Electric Ocean, Halloween Spooktacular and the fan-favorite Christmas Celebration. This summer, SeaWorld is also set to launch Emperor, the tallest and fastest dive coaster in California for park guests to enjoy.

SeaWorld is open year-round including holidays.

 

Park hours vary by season. For more 

information visit www.SeaWorldSanDiego.com or call (619) 222-4732.