Summer Smiles

This is a summer Wordless Wednesday link up all about celebrating fun, memories and Summer Smiles! Each Wednesday, join Sharon from Hobbies on a Budget and me as we share the pictures from the past week that show the experiences and memories that each of us is making with our families and friends!

This week my family went strawberry picking! I can't think of a better way to start the summer than eating fresh strawberries still warm from the sun and being able to run with true abandon in wide open spaces...

Have you taken any pictures that show your love for Summer? 

Bloggers - Link up your pictures from your blog so we can all enjoy the Smiles of Your Summer! 

Not a blogger? - Just add your picture to your Pinterest boards and link up that way! 

We want to see what makes you smile this week!

Free Gas! ~ and a Giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

No really! Though I am not giving away free gas, Honda is! This coming weekend SoCal Honda Dealers want to reward Honda drivers by giving them free tanks of gas. Watch the video below to see last year's event!

So this Memorial Day, be on the look-out for those helpful Honda guys (and girls) at gas stations all over Southern California. They will be giving away free tanks of gas, pumping the gas and even washing your windshields!

In case you don't own a Honda, or live in SoCal, the helpful Honda guys are also offering some great items to giveaway - just because! So enter below for your chance at winning a great prize pack - one LA Galaxy t-shirt, one honda polo and a Dodger water bottle!

Use the rafflecopter form below to enter. Giveaway ends 6/3/13 at 12:00 AM. Any US resident is eligible to enter. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mother's Day Should Last a Weekend!

I had an amazing mother's day weekend. I got to spend it with my mother and my son :)

We went to visit my parent's in the desert - and I am amazed at how much fun we had in 100+ degree weather! My husband and I saw a movie (in the theater, no less?), we went for a great hike in Idlyllwild, got to walk El Paseo, hung out with some of my favorite friends, went to brunch, giggled with the little guy in the community pool, and enjoyed some down time with my mom, dad and husband!

I also got to watch my parents play with A. It is clear that he loves them and they adore him. It makes me so so happy! I am one very lucky mom - and daughter :)

I hope all the mom's out there had a wonderful mother's day!

Help me Pick my Minted Business Cards

Disclaimer: I will receive a sample in exchange for this post, all opinions are my own.

I was lucky enough to go to a mini-blog conference a couple of weeks ago. It was amazing - I learned tons, met amazing bloggers and made great connections. I realized however, that I failed in one big way. I did not have any business cards. Here I was, meeting amazing southern California bloggers and had no way to share my information!

So I am here to remedy that! 

I want to let you know about some creative, indie-designed business cards at Minted. I've pulled a few of my favorite designs...but I need some help! I am not the most creative designer, so I need your advice...which one should I choose? 

Not a fan of any of the ones I like? Head over to Minted and give me some advice :) I'd greatly appreciate it. I wanted to look professional and prepared next time I have the chance to meet some amazing bloggers...

Thank you!

Zoo Trips - America's Teaching Zoo

One of the things I've really been trying to do recently - is enjoy time with my family. Life is short, and time is precious. Seeing the joy on discovery through a two year old's eyes is pretty amazing.

Close to our home is this little zoo called "America's Teaching Zoo" - it's part of Moorpark College and it's a great spot for little kids. It's only open weekends from 11-5, so it's not always easy to fit in a visit with naps :). However, it's pretty small, so you really don't need more than an hour and a half.

 One of the great things about it is that it really is a teaching zoo! So all the shows are by students and there are always folks out practicing their training techniques with the animals. By far the best part is the "monkey" section in the back. All A can talk about is going to see the monkeys!

He also loves the reptile house and the "Did you know board!" Who new opening little doors could be so exciting?

Of course the show is great - though it's at noon - so having it right at lunchtime can mean a cranky kid if you don't prepare (I did not bring enough snacks last time - learned my lesson!). The beaver swimming in the pond was pretty awesome!

Definitely worth buying a family pass if you live nearby. Right now there is a great deal on groupon for half off admission! A perfect quick trip for a Sunday afternoon. I noticed last time that there was a birthday party going on - the kids seemed to be having a great time. One woman kept telling me the party food was ready - I almost took her up on that, even though I wasn't a guest :)

There is also a great book about the students at the zoo if you want to know more!

You Know You're Lucky...

...when on a Friday morning, you can decide on the spur of the moment to go with your family to go whale watching in a beautiful location!

Last Friday we got in the car and went to Point Dume Nature Preserve in Malibu. It's a breathtaking little state park right on the Pacific Ocean. We were lucky enough to get one of the 8 free parking spots and be able to enjoy two hours of amazing views.

We saw five whales! In addition, we saw sea lions, dolphins, and amazing sea birds. We had a good half hour of an entire beach to ourselves - where A had fits of giggles as he jumped and ran in the waves.

We saw the Biggest Losers, and A enjoyed four helicopters flying pretty low overhead! Everyone we ran in to was so happy to be seeing whales, people were spontaneously applauding for them and clapping when they breached. It was an amazing scene. Of course, being Southern CA, the weather was perfect as well.

I can't remember when I've had a more enjoyable morning!

Horseback Riding in Griffith Park

Sometimes you just need to do something a little different! My husband and I went for a horseback ride (and Mexican food buffet) in Griffith Park this past weekend. We had a great time, though our horses, Starsky and Ginger, did not enjoy each other's company that much, so we couldn't really spend too much time riding side-by-side! I had no idea what a complicated maze of paths and tunnels there are around Griffith Park - it was fun to explore. Though I was a bit sore the next day - my horseback riding muscles are not being used enough...

We enjoyed our time at Griffith Park Horse Rentals and plan to go back soon (being that as part of the livingsocial deal we have another voucher for a trail ride in the next 2 months).

The Salton Sea

I grew up upwind from the Salton Sea. Some of you may know exactly what that means.

That means that the only time I thought about the Salton Sea was when my entire town smelled like rotten eggs. Occasionally the lovely smell of sulphur wafts up to the Coachella Valley and, well, stinks.

But my recent trip proved there was more to the sea than a bad smell :) As an adult I'd gone down to the area to hike the canyons, but I'd never actually stopped to see the Sea. So this past Christmas Eve, we decided to explore. It's really a strangely fascinating place. A huge body of water, with amazing birds, ghost towns, graffiti, palm oases and sand made of decomposing fish and shells.

We enjoyed the sunny weather, birding, hiking and abandoned towns. Though, the date shake on the way home was probably the highlight for me!

Enjoying the Great Outdoors - Paradise Falls

Sometimes I feel sorry for myself that I live in Southern California. There aren't really changing colors to mark the transition of autumn, there is no snow or really any cold. The grass is always green - or greenish brown - the sun is almost always shining...ok, no I can't feel too sorry for myself.

One of the things I love is that I can  go hiking year round, and in many ways winter and early spring are the beautiful seasons for hiking (if a little muddy). Just recently we went on a beautiful hike to Paradise Falls in Wildwood Park, Thousand Oaks. We may have gotten a little lost...but overall it was a wonderful way to spend a few hours. I would suggest finding a good trail map, since signage was not always readily available...

Some of my favorite parts of the hike:

Gorgeous Day!

So don't forget to get outside this holiday season. Whether there is sun or snow - take a minute to enjoy, maybe even get lost :)

Knott's Berry Farm #MerryFarm

This past weekend we had the opportunity to visit "Knott's Merry Farm!"  It was a rare rainy day in Southern California - which meant a perfect time to beat the crowds and have an incredibly enjoyable day at an amusement park!

A had been to Knott's Berry Farm with the grandparents once before, but this was the first time that we got to take him to an amusement park. I was not disappointed. Not only is Knott's perfect for an almost 2 year old, it was lots of fun to go while it was all decked out for the holidays!

First of all, Camp Snoopy is just right for little guys like A. He was in heaven. Everything is perfectly sized for a little guy. He also went on his first Log Ride - Elf Mountain! The Timber Mountain Log Ride was transformed for the holidays with many elves! I think A waved at every one :)

We also had the opportunity to see the "It's Christmas Snoopy" ice show. A was totally mesmerized. He kept checking the snoopy in his hand and comparing it to the one on stage to make sure he wasn't seeing things - truly the cutest thing ever. I was impressed with the skaters - especially the pairs skating!

I think the ice show solidified Snoopy as A's new favorite :) He wouldn't let go of the Snoopy ornament for anything. He stayed safely in his pocket during the rides. We were lucky to be visiting for Knott's Merry Farm. We got photos with Santa Snoopy, were able to explore Knott's Christmas Crafts Village and even see Santa Claus! A got his first Candy Cane from Santa! Yummy but messy...

We were excited to see "A Peanuts Holiday Parade," but it started to rain a little harder in the late afternoon, so unfortunately the parade was canceled. That didn't stop A from absolutely enjoying himself. He was thrilled (I was a little scared) to ride the red baron all by himself. 

We also took off a little early due to the rain so missed the lighting of the Christmas tree and Snoopy's Magical Night of Lights. We'll just have to come back! All in all it was one of the best amusement park trips I've ever experienced. If we lived a little closer I'd take advantage of a season pass - only $66.99! Don't miss out on the fun :)

Disclosure: I was provided with media tickets to enjoy a day at Knott's Merry Farm. All our photos, thoughts and opinions are of my own.

Underwood Family Farm ~ Best Birthday Party!

There is this great little farm just 5 minutes from our house. I used to get boxes of vegetables weekly from there - but now just can't keep up! But in addition to having great produce they have lots of great things for kids to do. They have seasonal festivals, a petting zoo, pony rides, trains....it's a little kids paradise.

Another great thing that we discovered this past week was birthday parties. We were invited to a birthday party for a little girl down the street (Happy Birthday!) and it was awesome :) There was a horse drawn carriage ride around the farm, pizza, cake, pinata and then some time to enjoy the activities that usually cost money - for free! A is in quite the horse phase - so he was absolutely enthralled by the horses as well as the pony rides. He kept yelling "neigh" at the top of his lungs. It was very cute. He loves the trains, tractors, pony rides, tractor rides and even hung out sitting on the back of the fire engine with the fire chief for awhile. All in all - quite the amazing day.

I highly recommend Underwood Family Farms for birthday parties - as well as just some great fun :)

Loving the train - and making friends! 

Enjoying his own cow train car - scared Mommy though!

Loved the ponies - not so much the misters!

Get thee to the Getty

I've been in the LA area now for, oh, a little over 3 years. The entire time people have been asking if we've been to the Getty yet. Finally, I can answer --- yes! I can't say enough good things about it. It has something for everyone. The kid's room - awesome. A was in the "tube room" for 20 minutes (quite a feat for his attention span!).

The grounds are also stunning - I can't explain how beautiful the gardens were. Flowers, views, waterfalls, stairs (A's favorite), lawns for picnicking....paradise for a 1.5 year old!

So, get thee to the Getty :) Oh, and the exhibits are awesome too!

Camarillo Chili Cook-off

We made a last minute decision to go to the Camarillo Chili Cook-off recently a couple of weeks ago, I'm finally getting around to looking through my photos ;) It was actually a lot of fun! Though, we were deciding between Malibu and Camarillo - and apparently we missed lots of movie stars at the Malibu Chili cook-off. We've lived near LA for three years now and still haven't seen anyone famous! But I think we made the right choice! The chili was good, the music was good and the we had a good time!

Brew at the LA Zoo

Last weekend we managed not only to have a date night but to go all the way into LA for our date :) This is quite a feat for us suburbanites! I admit, it really wasn't that far, and totally worth it.

So earlier this year we joined the LA Zoo...part of my quest to give money locally this year! So a few weeks ago I got an e-mail for "Brew at the Zoo" - beer tasting and animal watching after hours. Since with our membership we got a discount, I decided why not go for it :)

It was a lot of fun. We got there early, so for most of the time there were not huge lines, many of the animals were out (after an oppressively hot day of hiding) and there were even live bands and a comedy show.

It was fun just hanging out with my husband, not worrying where our toddler was running off to next. Date nights are so very important :)

And, we found two new breweries that we love: Hangar 24 and Noble Ale - both Southern California local!

Overall, I'd call that a success!

Cheers!

First Amusement Park: Knott's Berry Farm

Recently both Mr. K and I went to NYC for a conference. My parents came up to our house to stay with A. I was nervous, as this was the first Time A had been without either my husband or myself for more than one night. But I did not need to worry, he had a blast. Partially, because his grandparents spoiled him rotten (in a good way)...they even took him to his first Amusement park :)

Knott's Berry Farm is apparently quite good for little kids. There were a good number of rides that A could go on...and my parents said he loved them. Of course, his favorite was the little cars. He clapped when he got off and even tried to get into another car right away. I wish I could have seen that.

My parents even said he was patient while waiting in line. Enough crazy people and other things to look at to keep him occupied. He loved the horses, looked adorable and, as always, rocks the hat (like his grandpa?). I can't wait to share in his next amusement park experience!

It's HOT in Palm Desert

My parents were here last weekend and mentioned that we should visit them...which I think is a wonderful idea...but then I remembered...Where not to go in summer? Palm Desert :)

A and I went to go visit the grandparents last summer...and it was HOT.

So we went to the pool.

While we were at the pool it was lunch time. Grandpa bought these spoons...they turn white when the food temperature is too hot. Just by sitting in the sun at the pool, they turned white. Clearly, Palm Desert is TOO hot.

Morning walks to the park were lots of fun however :) And sleeping in the pack n' play - super exciting!

But I really think that we will wait at least until the fall to venture down there again...warm enough to enjoy the awesome community pool, yet not hot enough to melt anything (my ATM card once melted in the car, true story!).

It's lots of fun to hang out with the grandparents - but perhaps in more mellow climate! I sometimes can't beleive I grew up there.

So, it was wonderful to see you mom and dad - come visit us this summer!

Fishing with a toddler

On a whim, we decided to try out "Troutdale." It was fun, but no fish were caught. A tried really hard to jump in the fairly gross water. He probably scared all the fish away by hitting the pole in the water. I think that we will be waiting until he gets a bit older to try again. In the meantime - he really was adorable. The cutest little fisherman ever!

One of these days the beach will be warm...

To me, summer means warm weather, sunny skies, and if I play my cards right...trips to the beach. Growing up we would take a long weekend every year and go to the beach. We'd spend the day camped out on our towels, surrounded by thousands of people. We'd go shopping, eat beach food, ride the waves. These were some of the fondest memories of my summers. 

Now that I live a mere 45 minutes from the beach, I want to make sure that beach trips are part of A's childhood memories...that he loves the sand between his toes as much as I do! But so far, every time we go, it's windy, cold and dreary! How can I teach him to love the ocean if he is always shivering with blue lips?

So we tried again, and yes, it was cold, dreary and windy. So plan B - we rented a bicycle "surry" (even had a fringe on top)...We rented it for an hour and A LOVED it. He smiled the whole time. Gave passing pedestrians the "thumbs up" sign. He waved, said bye-bye, and bounced up and down. He was thrilled to be sitting in front - though occasionally he turned around and tried to "drive." 

When we had to return the surry he almost cried when we had to give back the helmet. He kept knocking on it to make sure it was still there. Overall, I think we are doing a pretty good job of making fun summer memories~now if only the weather would cooperate!

Making sure we were still there!

So excited!

Enjoying the cold beach!

My little mini-golf pro!

First time and he's already better than me :)

Travel Town - LA

On a whim last Sunday, we decided to go to Travel Town in LA. On a side note, Every time I decide to go to Griffith Park it ends up being over 90 degrees! My husband loves trains, so we take every opportunity we can to indoctrinate A into the world of trains...

We also enjoyed a lunch picnic in Griffith park - lots of picnic tables available...

His rosy cheeks attest to the heat - he scarfed down an entire adult sized water bottle, on top of his sippy of milk! He loved the train ride (and trying to pull the person' hair in front of us). After we got off the train, he wanted to run after it and wave at the folks as they took their turn...too cute :)

He also really enjoyed the "big" trains. Touching the gears, the numbers, looking out windows. Paradise for an inquisitive 13-month old!