LA COOKIE CON - ALMOST SOLD OUT !

SWEETS SWEETS and more SWEETS !

LA COOKIE CON is coming and it will be here January 25th .

The buzz this morning was that the VIP tickets were already SOLD OUT - WHAT !?

Here are the details just in case you missed them !

Join LA's biggest baking and pastry party!

Sunday, January 25th 10am-5pm / Pasadena Convention Center!

A baking, pastry and sweets extravaganza for the whole family, with hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the best in baking products as well as sampling pastries, sweets and snacks! Plus fun programming including contests, celebrity chef/author appearances, pastry decorating classes and more. A portion of proceeds benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW HERE

Get More info on the whole show and also who will be guest attending as well as speaking HERE

Follow LA COOKIE CON on FACEBOOK HERE

Follow LA COOKIE CON on TWITTER HERE

and see tons of yummy sweet pics on their INSTAGRAM HERE

I cant wait - See you all there ! 

 Happy Friday ! 

#OnTheGoOC 

#LACookieCon #Sweets #Pasadena #OC #LA #SweetFun #Cookies #Pastries #LetsEatSweets #OCMomBlogger 

It's COOKIE TIME ..almost !!!!! are you ready for GIRL SCOUT COOKIES !?

Oh yes .. you know you all love them and their cookies !

The Girl Scouts are back in action with their cookie selling that starts on January 25th this year .

Do you know the flavors ? Here they are ! Some oldies and goodies with one new one !

There is a new cookie this year - a gluten free ! It's called the TRIO - and I hear that it's yummy goodness ! With Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Oatmeal all wrapped up into one tasty treat ! I can't wait for those !

My favorite is and has always been the Peanut Butter Patties or in my day, the 80's lol the original tag-a-longs ! Oh yeah for these babies I will date myself ! hehee 

Whatever cookie is YOUR favorite, be sure to grab a box or two, you know they don't last long but you always want more - gotta love the Girl Scout Cookies !

I am lucky and unlucky enough to have a girl scout in my house so I will have my cookies on the 25th ready to open and eat haaa !

Will you be ready !? Only thing.. are you prepared to pay $5.00 a box ? Yup that's the price this year but I think with this heads up you can figure out how to manage for a box of your favorites !

My daughter always sets her goals for selling. She started 2 years ago and this will be her 3rd year selling and really loves it. She learns teamwork, goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, business ethics and marketing ! I love that too !

This year she is excited to sell because her cookie sales will help go towards troop activities that these sweet lil brownies voted on ! How cool is that ! In the past they have adopted a sealion and we were privileged to watch her be re released.. one of the best animal experiences for us all ! 

I love what the Girl Scouts have taught my daughter and myself ! I was not in a troop so I am having a great time seeing what it has done and will do for my daughter.

More info on the Girl Scouts go HERE

Remember ZOE will have cookies on hand JANUARY 25th !!!! 

Cookie sales end March 8th !

Happy Tuesday !

#OnTheGoOC

#GirlScouts #GirlScoutsOfOC #CookieTime #GirlScoutCookies #ThinMints #CaramelDelights #peanutbutterpatties #Samoas #supportgirlscouts #buygirlscoutcookies #buildingconfidence #MustHaveNow #GirlPower 

Knott's Berry Farm has gone PINK !!

 A cloudy overcast and somewhat rainy day did not keep supporters of Komen OC away from Knott's Berry Farm at all !

In fact there was a great turn out on Saturday to show love and encouragement to all fighting and surviving breast cancer !

We got to the event so excited to show our support for all these brave women ! My daughter made a special bracelet for a special mama friend - +Jaime Jenkins and we were eager to hug her ! 

We parked and put our hoods on and hurried up to the main gate where we checked in. 

Walking into Knott's main gate you can see the beautiful floral display PINK and BOLD ! 

We made our way over to the main event and as we walked into the ballroom there was PINK everywhere ! 

It was such a humbling sight to see these brave courageous and strong women with their family and friends rallying together for this FIGHT !

So cool to be greeted by the Peanuts gang in PINK ! I am so proud to say I have grown up going to Knott's.. when I was little it was Knott's the cool theme park with awesome coasters. Now that I am grown, Knott's is not only all of that, but also a huge part of everyday peoples lives in Orange County on a LIVE WELL level . 

Zoe was just as excited to see Jaime as we all were. She made her a special pink bracelet with a charm that says "Faith" and (okay here comes the crazy Greek in her) put one single blue bead with little silver in it for the evil eye.. yes that is what you read... the evil eye ... you know to ward off the negative ! I know Jaime liked it and so did Zoe cause the rest of the day she kept telling me... "Mama she was so happy when I gave it to her it makes me happy too" 

Thanks to Knott's we ate breakfast and were privileged to hear from some of the main people that make all of this possible ! 

I was so shocked to learn that there are so many Latina women that go unscreened and get diagnosed later or not at all. The amazing efforts of Komen OC and Knott's to educate, raise money and BE out in the local community is amazing !

Jaime also spoke to all of us and for me spoke directly to my heart. I am well aware of cancer. We have had to see that crappy disease take a few people in my family as well as attack my nephew in the womb. When she stood up there and shared how a year ago she was at the same event cheering on women fighting and was cancer free and two weeks later found lumps... I just looked at her with so much praise and love. I wanted to tell her how we pray for her daily and how as another mother I have been humbled by her story . 

Zoe told me before we left the house.. "mama she is a mama too and that means that it could be you or someone else too right..?"  and for a moment I hesitated to answer the truth but I have always told her the truth, so I swallowed that lump in my throat and looked at her and said "YES baby girl YES, it could be me, your dad, anyone of us at any time". My little girls eyes filled with tears and said miracles can happen we know that so lets just ask God. 

Wise words for a 7yo... so when Jaime was done I felt a sense of calm in my heart... calm because she is a beautiful warrior on a mission! She knows what she's up against and while fighting it she smiles and keeps it real not only for herself but for those that care about her and are supporting her journey !

It was still raining outside but for a moment the rain just stopped and we were told that all these amazing women that are survivors and or fighting were going to take a ride on Jauguar ! So cool !

I was able to ride with these inspirational women - the chills took over as I once again saw how powerful people united can be... for a cause... for anything ! I saw all smiles and cheers as we screamed by on that coaster ! These women have or ARE fighting the fight of their lives ! 

Photo Credit - OC Register http://www.ocregister.com/articles/knott-647768-pink-park.html

As I walked off that ride I felt blessed. 

The rest of the day was spent enjoying Knott's just a bit more than the usual... with my family close and around so many PINK supporters. One of the most memorable "Cause" events I have been to.

Knott's has always been a great place for family fun year round. I have a soft spot for this theme park ever since my parents brought us here back in the 80's and continued to do so for years. I now celebrate with my own family there too.
BUT - It is beyond priceless when a place that makes so many people happy inside it's walls, reaches out to the community outside, the community that in return supports them !

Did you know that... 

* Knott's raised nealry $100K last year their 1st year doing this event !

* NOW until March 27th Knott's Pink event will be running in full swing !

* "Pink Tickets" and Pink merchandise will be sold and will benefit Komen OC !

* Cost for a "Pink Ticket" is $39 for adults and $35 for children !

At this price and knowing that a portion of your "Pink Ticket" will be donated to Komen OC to help local women get screened, help and any assistance they may need... It's a WIN WIN !

You can find out more information on how to help support Komen OC HERE 

Get all the details on Knott's Pink tickets and more HERE 

Read more about our friend Jaime's inspirational testimony on her blog HERE

I adore Jaime.. she is ONE IN A MILLION and were the lucky ones to know a true gem like her !

Thanks Jaime for making my daughter smile with your kind words ! We cant wait to see you and your family again ! 

I feel so honored to have been part of this event. Thank you +Knott's Berry Farm for the invite and for all the efforts Knott's puts forth in the local community. Thank you to Komen OC for just doing what you do to help so many women yearly ! 

Be grateful for what you have and who you are - be kind to others cause you never know what they have on their plate - positive out and positive in ! 

OnTheGoOC

#KnottsBerryFarm #KnottsPink #KomenOC #ForTheCure #CancerSucks #JaimeJenkins +Knott's Berry Farm +The 3-Day #PinkTicket #CedarFair #KnottsFamilyFun #OCFun #FightCancer #TeamJaime #CancerAwareness #BreastCancer #GetScreened #KnottsRocks #GiveBackOC #OC #SoCal 

*We were invited to attend the Komen OC/Knott's event. All opinions are my own. Thank you Jaime, Knott's and KomenOC !*

L.A. Travel & Adventure Show is coming to town ! **GIVEAWAY** **UPDATED with Celebrity List !**

Who doesn't love travel and adventure !?

It's funny that I ask that since I notice a decline in the adventure side and increase in travel side of myself since children. 

If you had asked me 8 years ago to sky dive or jump off a cliff into the ocean, I would have been ready for that opportunity in a moments notice !

These days, since children, it is harder for me to say yes to the adventure and I lean more to the travel side of things. I will totally travel to the beautiful empty plains that my friends will land on when sky diving and enjoy the view from the ground !

I have a lot of younger in laws and they are all about the thrill of the adventure while I love to enjoy the travel . So what a more perfect way to soak it all in than the L.A Travel and Adventure Show !!!

This show is so cool.. close to LA, O.C. and even the I.E. ... it is easy to get to Long Beach Convention center from anywhere in SoCal . 

The event takes place February 21st and 22nd this year - you can find more information HERE !

Here are the details on the admission:

BUY ONLINE:

One Day Adult Ticket:  $16.00  $11 for a limited time only!
Adults 17 and over

Two Day Adult Ticket:  $25.00  $17 for a limited time only!
Adults 17 and over

BUY ONSITE:

One Day Adult Ticket:  $16.00
Adults 17 and over

Two Day Adult Ticket:  $25.00
Adults 17 and over 

Children 16* and Under are free with an adult:
* All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. To attend the public conference sessions you must be registered for the expo. No exceptions.

Re-entry: Wristbands must be worn at all times for SAME DAY ONLY re-entry.Note: Cash Only is accepted at the Box Office. ATMs are readily available at the Convention Center. 

You can BUY ONLINE HERE !!

Also something to check out and do to be ready for the show... the planner.. yup... you read that right.. and those of you who know me know me... know that I LOVE TO PLAN ! haaa that's an understatement !

Here is the link to pre-plan your visit - HERE 

A few things I totally want to check out !? Prices on some vacations.. not that I will be going on one anytime soon but just to compare and see whats out there !

Also there will be a lot of travel experts, adventures to check out and new outings offered.. all while possibly winning a raffle !

I am excited to check out some of the key speakers this year - Travel  Channel  hosts,  Samantha  Brown  and  JoshGates, The Amazing Race Host, Phil Keoghan, award-winning television personality and author,Rick  Steves,  Joseph  Rosendo,  Host  of   the  PBS  series,  Joseph  Rosendo’s  Travelscope® andEditorial Director of the iconic Frommer Guides, Pauline Frommer, among many others.

 I will be there !

Sound interesting to you too ?

 I will also be giving away a PAIR of tickets to attend the show ! 

ENTER BELOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THE SHOW !!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck to everyone and hope to see you all there !
#OnTheGoOC


UPDATE !!!! Celebrity LIST is now available ! CHECK IT OUT !

THE LOS ANGELES TRAVEL & ADVENTURE SHOW ANNOUNCES  LINEUP OF 2015 SPEAKERS AND A NEW SPEAKER STAGE   The LA Travel & Adventure Show Will Feature the Largest Group of Celebrity Travel Personalities Ever Assembled for a Consumer Show of its Kind   (Long Beach, CA) – The nation’s largest travel show is returning to the Long Beach Convention Center for its 10th year and will feature an impressive lineup of keynote speakers including travel personalities Rick Steves, CBS Travel Editor Peter Greenberg, Josh Gates of Travel Channel’s Expedition Unknown, Pauline Frommer, Travel Channel’s Samantha Brown, PBS’ Joseph Rosendo and The Amazing Race Host, Phil Keoghan. Southern Californians are invited to gain valuable insight, learn travel tips and immerse themselves in the stories of the most experienced travelers in the world. In addition to the keynote speakers, the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show will also feature two other speaker stages for attendees who are looking for in-depth travel information.  New for 2015, the Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show will debut the Savvy Traveler Theater, making it the third speaker stage at the show. Here, visitors will learn the best how-to tips on traveling smarter and more hassle-free. The Savvy Traveler Theater will showcase the latest travel technology, provide travel safety information and teach handy travel skills. The Destination Theater, back by popular demand, will highlight destination-specific seminars where wanderlust travelers can draw inspiration and get detailed information about the world’s most sought-after travel destinations including Asia, Africa, Europe, the U.S. and even luxury train travel. Keynote Speaker Schedule Rick Steves:  Join the travel expert – acclaimed for his bestselling guidebook series, public television series, and public radio shows – as he shares all the latest in smart European travel. Freshly back from travel hot spots, Rick Steves will explain the practical, money-saving ins and outs of independent travel. Packed with tips on getting the most out of every mile, minute, and dollar on your next trip, this will be a must see discussion! Saturday, 10:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:15 a.m.  Autograph signing immediately following each session. Samantha Brown:  Travel Channel Host, Samantha Brown has spent more than a decade at Travel Channel.  Her travel goal is to always show that if she can do it, you can do it.  With years of experience being on the road, she takes a look back at just how much the travel world has changed.  She touches on such topics as the evolution of using an app to book a flight (from the days of calling airlines) to the change in what motivates people to travel.  Samantha is still living in airports, hotels and out of a suitcase, but things are way different now than they were then! Saturday, 1:15 p.m. and Sunday, 1:15 p.m. Autograph signing immediately following each session. Phil Keoghan:  Although best known for his role as host and producer of the Emmy Award-Winning television show, The Amazing Race, Phil Keoghan is an also an avid adventurer. He has gone on to work in over 100 countries around the world as a motivational speaker, author, television host, actor, producer and cameraman on thousands of program episodes.                                                                               Event attendees are invited to join Phil as he takes the audience on a journey through his travel adventures around the globe and shares his passion for living life and fulfilling dreams. Phil’s NOW (No Opportunity Wasted) philosophy will teach audiences to live by letting go of the handrails, thinking outside the box and using imagination as currency. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Autograph signing immediately following. Pauline Frommer:  As founding editor of Frommers.com, nationally syndicated radio talk show host, Pauline Frommer,  will lead a fast-paced seminar about money saving methods of travel, less usual destinations, and ways to tailor a vacation so that it fits each traveler’s personality. Saturday, 12:00 p.m. Autograph signing immediately following. Peter Greenberg:  A multiple Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and producer, Peter Greenberg is the nation’s most recognized, honored and respected front-line travel news journalist. Greenberg regularly reports for CBS This Morning, CBS Evening News and CBS Sunday Morning. Join him as he shares cutting-edge travel information and insider tips that all travelers should know before ever leaving home. Listeners should definitely bring a pen and paper (or tablet) to take notes! Sunday, 3:30 p.m. Autograph signing immediately following. Josh Gates: Having traveled to more than ninety countries, Josh Gates is an adventurer and avid explorer with a unique brand of humor and deep-rooted passion for off-the-map excursions that take him in search of the world’s most enduring mysteries. Gates will be featured in the upcoming Travel Channel series “Expedition Unknown,” set to premiere in January 2015. Gates previously served as host and co-executive producer of the Syfy Channel series “Destination Truth,” based upon his bestselling book, Destination Truth: Memoirs of a Monster Hunter. Sunday, 12:00 p.m. Autograph signing immediately following. Joseph Rosendo: Emmy-award winning director and travel host Joseph Rosendo has been a travel, food and wine journalist and travel broadcaster for more than 30 years. Since 2007, he has hosted, directed and written Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope®, the award-winning travel television series. Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Autograph signing immediately following. Patricia Schultz, author of the New York Times Bestseller, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die will be hosting the Destination Theater and will be available for autograph signings each day. The event’s National TV Media Sponsor is Travel Channel. Supporting sponsors include Rick Steves’ Europe; Taiwan Tourism Bureau; Indonesia; Tourism Authority of Thailand  and Yosemite/Mariposa County Tourism Bureau.  Contributing sponsor is the Japan National Tourism Organization. Official Airline Sponsor is Ethiopian Airlines. The 2015 Los Angeles Travel & Adventure ShowTM will take place February 21 and 22 from 10 am to 5 pm at the Long Beach Convention Center, located at 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802.  Tickets are available online for $11 for one day or $17 for two days (use promo code: LAPR). Children 16 and under are free.  At the door, tickets will be available, cash only, for $16 for one day and $25 for two days. For tickets and information please visit www.LAtravelshow.com, emailinfo@travelshows.com or call (203)878-2577. About UNICOMM LLC UNICOMM LLC is an independent business-to-business communications company specializing in originating and managing world-class trade shows and conferences. Unicomm’s properties include the nation’s largest and longest running series of travel events, Travel & Adventure Show® in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco Bay Area, Washington, D.C., San Diego, and Philadelphia.   # # #

#TravelShow #AdventureShow #TravelAndAdventureShow #LongBeach #LBConventionCenter #LA #OC #Explore #TradeShow #SoCal #GetOutAndTravel #ThingsToDo #FebruaryFun #Explore #Fun #Giveaway #Contest #EnterNow

*I was given two tickets to attend the show and all opinions are my own* Happy Traveling*

Time for a SWEET TREAT !

It's almost that time... Love will be in the air and chocolate in my face !

February is always fun for us ! My dad's birthday is actually Feb 14th .... but cause he was born on a farm in a small little Greek village, they were unable to get him recorded until Feb 17th . A fun little story to share and pass down for generations !

I love all the festivities that go into the month of love - the pink, red and white. The floral designs, the cute little key chains that kids love to buy their moms, the single roses and so much more ! BUT... who can forget the SWEETS ??? NOT ME !

Sweets are my most favorite part about most any holiday. The sweets that come out for Valentine's day are just amazing and lately my friend Michelle over at @MichellesCakes is just nailing her edible craftiness to perfection !

I have had Michelle make cakes for me when I can not make them myself and they are always so flavorful, beautiful and just picture perfect ! When she said she was doing Valentines cookies and would make me some for my readers/followers as a giveaway, I was so excited ! Not only was I super excited to do a giveaway but, honestly her goodies always taste so great, I am happy to share her edible goodness with others to try !

Here are some of her awesome cookies just waiting and ready to be painted then eaten !

See more of Michelle's creations HERE

As a special request by everyone who tries them just once - Oreo Truffles and they will be in full swing in our house this Valentines Day . You can see more at HERE !

To Celebrate the #NewYearNewYou I am giving away 12 Oreo Truffles (they DO have dairy) and a set of Paint Your Cookies !

Love must be in the air... these sweets will make you melt .

The winner can use them as they want.. for themselves, a gift, split it up...

To enter please see below !


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks Everyone !

Happy 2015 - Sweets to February Fun !
#OnTheGoOC





#Sweets #PixieSweetsAndTreats #ValentinesDay #Valentines #OreoTruffles #OC #Treats #Cookies #PaintYourCookie #MichellesCakes 
**The Paint Cookies were gifted to me towards this giveaway by Michelle's Cakes - thank you! All Opinions are my own**