Family Field Trips

Visiting The Tanaka Farms x Sanrio Pumpkin Patch

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Last week I took the kids to the Tanaka Farms pumpkin patch before n’s soccer practice.  I wanted to check out their Sanrio collaboration that they started last year.  They offer wagon tours and games on the weekends, but we just did the activities that are included with the $4 basic admission.

There are so many cute photo ops!

Look at n trying to smile without dropping his pumpkin!

In addition to pumpkins, there is also a petting zoo.  Our kids were never too into petting zoos, but this would be fun for kids who are.

There is a small corn maze that the kids enjoyed going through.  The corn is not too tall, so adults will not get lost!

The sunflower patch is a cute idea, but it was a little past its prime.

All of the signage is really just too cute. I was literally squealing at each new sign.

Sanrio Scarecrows = LOVE!

I could not resist the 40% off sale in the gift shop.  (Sale ends 10/12/18, so go now while you can!)

The pumpkin patch is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  Parking is free Monday-Friday.  Reservations are required on the weekends.  Check out their website for more details.

Tanaka Farms

5380 3/4 University Dr.,

Irvine, CA 92612 

949.653.2100 

INFO@TANAKAFARMS.COM

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Celebrations, Featured, Food, Sponsored

Easy and Festive Fall Gatherings With Tyson® Any’tizers®

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This post is sponsored by Tyson Foods, Inc but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I am so excited that fall is finally here!  One of the reasons fall is my favorite is that it signals gathering around the table with friends and family.  Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, and birthdays for both me and my husband, we have many occasions to celebrate this season.  As the weather cools down, I feel drawn to entertain indoors, in a warm and cozy environment.

Fall entertaining should not be stressful, as the focus should be on spending quality time with those you love.  Tyson® Any’tizers® Snacks are an easy option, and can be used for an appetizer, snack, or light meal.

Here I placed some Tyson® Any’tizers® Popcorn Chicken in mini muffin liners and added some fancy toothpicks to make them portable.  Having different dipping sauces allows guests to customize their flavor experience.

This is an easy recipe for Spicy, Sweet & Sour Sauce:

1 1/2 t. cornstarch

1/4 c. sugar

1/3 c. water

1/4 c. ketchup

2 T. cider vinegar

1 T. hot sauce

Combine the cornstarch and sugar in a small saucepan.  Gradually stir in water, and blend until there are no lumps.  Add ketchup, cider vinegar, and hot sauce.  Cook until thickened.

Tyson® Any’tizers®Boneless Chicken Bites come in Honey BBQ and Buffalo Style.  These flavorful bites add a nice variety and would pair well with a vegetable platter and other finger foods.

Being grateful is something that should be done year-round, but fall is a natural time to really stop and reflect upon all that you have been given.  Delicious food, conversation, and laughter are some of the things for which I am grateful.

This guy could not wait to take a bite!

It is a good idea to stock up on Tyson® Any’tizers® Snacks to make sure you have them ready in your freezer for fall entertaining.  They are available at your local Walmart, as well as other grocery stores.

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Food, Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

A Treat Without The Tricks: Koochikoo Lollipops Review + Giveaway

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Disclosure: Samples were provided in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Happy October!   Since today is the first day of October, that means we have thirty days to prepare for Halloween and the trick-or-treaters that come to our door.  Well, I recently discovered a treat without the tricks: Koochikoo Lollipops!

These lollipops are the world’s first organic, no sugar added lollipop brand.  They are sweetened with organic prebiotic fiber and contain 5+ grams of fiber per lollipop.  In addition, they are gluten-free, vegan, Non-GMO and contain only 10 calories each.  Because the sweetness comes from organic tapioca fiber, you do not have to worry about any questionable artificial sweeteners.  These lollipops are also manufactured in a gluten-free, dairy-free, and peanut-free facility.

Koochikoo lollipops

We tried all of the flavors, and they are all super yummy.  They are sweet and tart, and will satisfy any sweet tooth.

Here is k enjoying a Koochikoo Lollipop as an after-school treat.

This is n enjoying one of the lollipops while doing his homework.  And yes, sometimes he does his homework on the floor!

These lollipops are such a great alternative to the sugar-laden, artificial flavored candy that is handed out to kids during this time of year.  Koochikoo Lollipops can be purchased on Amazon.  Use Amazon promo code “lollipower” for a 10% discount. (Code is good through the end of October.)

I am also excited to announce a giveaway for my readers for three of the 20 ct. canisters of Koochikoo Lollipops, (60 lollipops in all!)

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Reviews, Sponsored

New Natural Products: #NewHopeBloggerBox

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Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

The quarterly arrival of the New Hope Blogger Box is something to which I look forward to now.  It is always filled with new and interesting products that could potentially benefit my family.  This quarter’s box was no exception.  Here are the products that were included, along with some of our thoughts regarding some of them.

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Family Field Trips, Sponsored

Kinderfest: A Family-Friendly Oktoberfest Celebration

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Disclosure: I received free samples from Old World Village Oktoberfest in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

It is always fun to learn about other cultures through food, music and entertainment.  Last weekend we had the opportunity to introduce our kids to German culture by attending Kinderfest (a family-friendly Oktoberfest celebration) at Old World Huntington Beach.

This celebration takes place a small village in Huntington Beach hidden just off of the 405 freeway.

The center of the action is the Old World German Bar & Restaurant.

The oom-pah-pa band provided a lively atmosphere.

The “Chicken Dance” song prompted a lot of people onto the dance floor!

The Wiener Dog Races were fun to witness.  I had to laugh when the announcer warned contestants not to “launch” their dogs.

There were two different places inside the venue to order food.  Note the “cash only” sign.

A close-up of our food: Oktoberfest Brawurst with steamed vegetables, roast chicken with mashed potatoes, and Smoked Beer Cheese Bratwurst with sauerkraut.

The kids also split a cheeseburger.  We enjoyed both of the brats, and the sides were a nice touch.

We also strolled around the shops and admired the architecture of this small enclave.

We also stopped inside the store/bakery that is connected to the main restaurant.

The kids were excited to try a slice of Black Forest cake since they had seen it featured on MasterChef.  According to Wikipedia, it originated in Germany and is “a chocolate sponge cake with a rich cherry filling based on the German dessert Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, literally “Black Forest Cherry-torte”. Typically, Black Forest gateau consists of several layers of chocolate sponge cake sandwiched with whipped cream and cherries.”

The store had an interesting variety of products from Germany.

This was a wonderful cultural experience for our family.  Kinderfest is being held on Sundays, through October 28th, from 2 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  Admission for adults is $7, kids 6-12 is $3, and kids under 5 are free.  See the Kinderfest website for more details.

Here is some more information from the sponsor:

Orange County’s original Oktoberfest is underway and will run from Sept. 9th – Oct. 28th No One Does Oktoberfest like Old World! Old World Huntington Beach has been hosting Orange County’s Biggest Party since 1977! That’s 41 years! This year’s Oktoberfest promises to be the best celebration yet, offering authentic German Food (voted “Best Bratwurst” in California), imported German Beers, German Bands straight from Germany, and Oktoberfest Skate Squad plus other festivities, competitions, games & more. So, come on down and experience the best Oktoberfest celebration in the World – Old World Huntington Beach.
Visit our website at http://www.oldworld.ws/ for more information about Old World. Visit http://www.oldworld.ws/oktoberfest-orange-county.html for all Oktoberfest activities and go to http://www.oldworld.ws/oktoberfest-admission-ticket.html for tickets.

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Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

A Delivery of Cuteness: Kawaii Box + Giveaway

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Disclosure: I received a free sample in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

As you may recall, the kids and I had so much fun reviewing the Japan Candy Box.  Therefore, when I was contacted about reviewing a Kawaii Box, I did not hesitate to say yes.  The concept is similar, but the Kawaii Box is a monthly subscription box focused on all things kawaii, or “cute”.

We received the September box to review, and the theme was “Travel With Sumikko Gurashi”.  I have been a fan of Sanrio for as long as I can remember, and this relatively newer set of characters makes me smile.  Sumikko Gurashi literally translates to “living in a corner”.  I am not exactly sure what that means, but this line is adorable!

I was thrilled that a Sumikko Gurashi notepad, plushie, and travel badge were all included in this month’s box.  I think I am going to have to fight with my daughter over these items. 🙂

Not surprisingly, my son was immediately drawn to the Happy Nikukyu Paw Gummies.  These gummies are soda flavored, which makes them unique and fun to eat.  Going along with the “cute dog” theme, is this pad of Inu Sticky Notes.

Gudetama is a Sanrio character that I have been seeing a lot of lately.  I personally do not see the appeal of a character who is a “lazy egg”, but these stickers are pretty funny.

Items featuring unicorns still seem to be quite popular.  Any unicorn fan is sure to love this Unicorn Pen With Light, Sweet Unicorn Gel Pen, and Unicorn Washi Tape.

For those us who cannot have enough decorative tape, this month’s box also included a Sparkly Deco Tape Set.

Kawaii Box offers different lengths of subscriptions at varying price points ($17.90-$19.90/month) and shipping is free!  This would make a wonderful gift for anyone who would appreciate a box of cuteness delivered to their doorstep every month.

Enter today for a chance to win a Kawaii Box for yourself!
LimByLim Kawaii Box Giveaway

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Family Field Trips, Food

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth In Little Tokyo

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Little Tokyo in Los Angeles occupies a fairly small area, but it is still fun area to browse and explore.

I think this was our first time buying pastries at Cafe Dulce.  After this visit, this place will be a must stop anytime we are in the vicinity!

We tried the famed Green Tea Donut.

I am pretty much a fan of anything with vanilla custard.  Yum!!

We also tried the Green Tea Roti, which was described as being filled with melted buttercream.  It has a light cake-ish texture, and is hollow inside.  I did not feel as guilty eating this one-ha!  The matcha flavor came through nicely in both.  Definitely worth a try!

We picked up a quick lunch to go from Nijiya Market.  I think k could live off of onigiri.

D artfully divided the ginger onto his spicy tuna roll, so I had to take a picture.

We ended the day with fresh mochi ice cream from Mikawaya.  Coconut Pineapple for D and me, Salted Caramel for k and Cookies & Cream for n.  $1.50 per piece.

After our visit here, we realized that the kids have not been to Chinatown or K-town.  I guess we will have to plan another trip to L.A. in the near future.

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Family Field Trips, Food

An Eye-Opening Experience at the Japanese American National Museum

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Today was Free Museum Day, so I arranged for us to go to the Japanese American National Museum in downtown Los Angeles.

I do not think we had taken the kids here before.  It has been a while since I have been, as well.

We had discussed the subject of Japanese American internment with them, but I am not sure how much they understood.  This museum does an excellent job in depicting the Japanese American experience during that time.

This display of the living conditions in the internment camps is a real eye-opener.

A model of Manzanar, where my grandparents were interned.

Wow, these school chairs do not look very comfortable!

Had to take a picture with Kokeshi Hello Kitty!

For the record, n is 11 apples tall, k is 13 apples tall, L is 14 apples tall and D is 15 apples tall!

This was part of the hapa.me project.  There were side by side pictures of people who identify as “Hapa” (part Japanese) and their reflections from fifteen years ago and now.

The Kaiju vs. Heroes exhibit showcased an extensive Japanese toy collection.

Taking a break outside in the courtyard.  If you are at all interested in learning more about Japanese American history, I recommend visiting this unique museum!

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Reviews, Sponsored

Treat Your Gut Well: Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics #MomsMeet

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Disclosure: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

It seems like the benefits of probiotics are being touted everywhere these days.  Over the past month or so I have had the opportunity to try Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics.  What makes this brand of probiotics unique is that it contains prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics that work together to improve your digestive health.  Now, I do not have any type of science background, so I will not attempt to explain how these “biotics” interact with one another.  However, after taking these probiotics for a month, I can feel the difference in my body.  I do not want to be guilty of sharing too much information, but I do feel more “regular”.

I am a fan of the natural ingredient list: fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and seaweed.   The capsules are also 100% vegetarian, gluten-free, non-dairy, and non-gmo.  Unlike most other probiotic products, Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics are not grown in a laboratory.  Instead, they are fermented for three years and hand-made in Japan.  I appreciate that dedication to quality, especially when it comes to health supplements.

Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics is available for purchase on amazon.com/essentialformulas.

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Giveaways, Sponsored

Moms Meet WOW Summit 2018 Coming to Orange County + Giveaway

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Disclosure: Samples were received. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

wowsummit18-influencer-promocode

I am so excited to share that Moms Meet WOW Summit 2018 will be held right here in Orange County, California, at the Hyatt Regency in Anaheim, on November 2-3, 2018.  I had the opportunity to attend this conference back in 2015 when it was held in San Diego.  It was my first time attending an event for moms and/or bloggers and I remember not really knowing what to expect.  However, it was such a wonderful experience to be surrounded by moms that had similar interests regarding natural products.  I came away from the conference feeling inspired to make better choices for my family.  I was also really excited to share my bag full of samples with my family and friends!

There are two types of passes available: Blogger Pass and General Admission. The Blogger Pass is good for both days, Friday, November 2 and Saturday, November 3.  Now that I am doing more sponsored posts for this blog and collaborating with brands, I am really excited to attend the blogger workshops being offered, such as:

• Nicky Omohundro: SEO: Going Beyond Yoast’s Green Button

• Carolina King: Leverage the Power of Pinterest to Increase your Blog Traffic

• Julie Cole: The Blog and Beyond: How Influencers Can Effectively Work with Brands

I feel like I have so much to learn as a blogger, so I am eager to receive advice and tips from those who have more experience than me.

There is also an exhibit hall with natural brands that are interested in connecting with bloggers and spreading the word about their products with moms.

Here is just a small sampling of some of the products that will be featured.  Personally, I am especially excited to connect with and learn more about Don’t Go Nuts, True Made Foods, OCHO Candy and Hippo Sak,  For a more extensive list of brands that will be represented, go here.

The General Admission Pass is for Saturday, November 3 only, and is open to all moms (as well as grandparents and dads!)  The speakers and topics will appeal to a more general audience, not just bloggers.  The exhibit hall will be open on this day as well.  The epic goody bags (worth more than $150!) will be handed out to everyone in attendance on Saturday, so you do not want to miss out!

Don’t these speakers and topics sound interesting?

• Dr. Bill Sears (Keynote): Your Top Parenting Questions, Answered!

• Dr. Jonny Bowden: From Vegan to Keto: Unpacking the Myths About Healthy Eating

• Leah Segedie: Green Enough: 101

• Lucy Riles: Balancing Romance and Motherhood

For all speakers and topics, visit summit18.momsmeet.com/speakers.

If you are interested in attending this year’s Moms Meet WOW Summit, register here and use code WOW30 at checkout to receive a 30% discount for an event pass (General Admission or Blogger).

In addition, Moms Meet is providing me with the opportunity to give away an event pass (General Admission or Blogger) to two of my readers.  Hope to see you there!

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