Our Visit to Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, Part 1 #HowDoYouMuseum

We had no school on Friday, and D took the day off of work, so we took a day trip to L.A.  The plan was to use our free IMAX tickets at the California Science Center, but the projector was having technical difficulties.  Fortunately, I had also made reservations at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, which is within walkable distance so our drive to Los Angeles was not all for naught.

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I would recommend buying the tickets online before you arrive.  Adults were $12 and kids were $5 with no service fee.  At the door it appeared that they were charging $10 for kids.

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Right at the entrance to the museum you are greeted by impressive dinosaur fossils.

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The geodes and precious gems were fascinating to look at.  Can you imagine stumbling upon one of these beauties?

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This fish totally grossed me out.  I guess someone found it in the LA River??

I had way too much fun taking pictures of the animal displays.  So nice that they stand still for pictures! 🙂

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I think we need to watch Night at the Museum now!

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There was a whole exhibit dedicated to the history of Los Angeles.

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They had a staring contest.  The polar bear won.

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k is getting close to 5 feet; n is on his tiptoes!

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As you can tell, there was a lot too see.  I will do part 2 tomorrow…

 

 

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Ready in 60 Seconds: Barilla Ready Pasta #ReadyPasta #Tryazon

When making pasta, the part that takes the longest is boiling the water.  Enter: Barilla Ready Pasta.  Cut open the packet and microwave for sixty seconds.  Voila–your pasta is ready!  The pasta comes fully cooked.

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The pasta comes in several varieties.  We tried the gemelli shape.  For the sampling party, I added olive oil and parmesan cheese.  The color of the pasta was a little darker than what we are used to, but the texture was nice and al dente.  I also really like the ingredient list: Water, Pasta [(Semolina Wheat), Durum Wheat Flour], Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Sea Salt.  No preservatives!

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The parents commented that the Barilla Ready Pasta would be a nice quick and easy meal or snack option that the kids could do by themselves.  You really cannot get any easier!

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Pass The Parmigiano Reggiano, Please!

Parmesan cheese is a staple at our house.  We use it to top our pasta and pizza all of the time.  However, the green canister and packets of crumbly parmesan cheese pale in comparison to real Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.  Parmigiano Reggiano is made in Italy, specifically in and around the province of Parma (hence, the name).  The way you can tell its authenticity is to look for the pin-dots on the rind.
Due to its long aging process, Parmigiano Reggiano is naturally lactose-free.  It is also a good source of protein and calcium, which is what our growing kids need.
There are several recipes using Parmigiano Reggiano at http://parmesan.com/recipes-with-parmesan/
I tried this Parmesan Twists recipe: http://parmesan.com/recipe/parmesan-twists/
My son had a fun time helping me make these.  First, we brushed a beaten egg on puff pastry dough.   Then we grated the Parmigiano Reggiano with a microplane and sprinkled it on the dough.
We used a rolling pin to roll the cheese on the dough to make it stick better.  We then cut the dough into 1/2 inch strips.
Next, we twisted two strips at a time and baked them in the oven for about 12 minutes at 400 degrees.
They look fancy, but were so easy to make.  The flavor of the Parmigiano Reggiano really makes these special.  Our whole family gobbled them up!
For dinner, we served the Parmesan Twists with my take on Zuppa Toscana soup, which contains sausage, potatoes and kale.  I added a sprinkling of Parmgiano Reggiano to the soup, as well.  The flavors complemented each other beautifully.
A perfect fall meal!
Click here for the chance to win a Holiday Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese Feast of your own!
*Samples provided through BrandBacker, however opinions are entirely my own.*

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Blue Sharks End of Season Party

We had n’s end of year soccer party at Chuck E. Cheese last night.  We really liked the coach and team this season.  Too bad his coach is not continuing to coach next season.

The last time we went to Chuck E. Cheese was for n’s birthday party.  We still had extra tokens from back then, but they no longer accept tokens!  They changed to an electronic card system, but it was easy to transfer our tokens to the card.

I made my first .gif of cute k playing Fruit Ninja and messing up.

It was fun watching n receive his certificate and trophy.

The coach said some nice words about each boy.  D had his phone ready to record it…we’ll miss the Blue Sharks!

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Dino Dash XXVII

Well, the kids have another race in the books.  This morning they both ran the Dino Dash 5k with D.  I had the task of holding everyone’s stuff.  🙂

We stopped by the LA Galaxy OC booth and saw some friends from church.  n took a picture with Coach Rocky.

I caught k, D and n crossing the finish line.

Official times:

k–30:06 (18th Division Place out of 129)

D–30:10

n–30:14 (14th Division Place out of 163)

D wanted them to run a little faster, but considering they did practically zero training, I think they did well!

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Who Knew? Beer Is Good For Your Hair: BRÖÖ Shampoo + Conditioner Review #MomsMeet #CraftBeerHair

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer.  As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

When I first heard about BRÖÖ shampoo and conditioner having craft beer as its main ingredient, I imagined it making my hair smelling like a frat party.  Well, after trying out three types of the shampoo and conditioner, I can say that BRÖÖ does not leave your hair smelling like beer.  Indeed, I was pleasantly surprised that the beer in this line of products really does feel nourishing to my hair!

The first products I tried were the Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner.  According to the package, it is formulated for dry, damaged hair and has a “hop flower” scent.  I am not sure what a hop flower smells like (it did not smell like beer), but I honestly did not care for the scent.  While my hair did feel moisturized after using it, the scent seemed too masculine for me, and it lingered after my hair dried.  Oh well, I am sure D will be happy using the rest of this one.

The second products I tried were the Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner.  This one is for fine, flat hair and has a citrus creme scent.  I did not know what the scent was before I tried it, and I could not quite place it.  It reminded me of a lemon meringue pie (yum!), which I guess fits into the citrus creme profile.  The shampoo itself is a little thinner than what I am used to, but it worked up into a good lather.  My hair did feel noticeably softer and thicker, so this was a definite winner.

The third products I tried were the Invigorating Shampoo and Conditioner.  This is supposed to serve as a daily detox for the hair and scalp and has a “malted mint” scent.   Invigorating is an apt name, as the mint felt refreshing and tingly.  Again, my hair felt soft and conditioned afterward.

B vitamins, proteins, and minerals are the key ingredients that make this shampoo effective.  I also like BRÖÖ’s “6-Pack Promise”: no sulfates, no parabens, no phthalates, no silicones, no dyes, and no fake fragrances.  It is labeled as color-safe.  According to the store locator on the BRÖÖ website, their products can be found at Walmart stores.  Click here for a $1 off coupon!

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Legoland + Robotics With Cub Scouts

Monday was a teacher work day for our school district, so our Cub Scout den scheduled a field trip at Legoland. Our family was able to use our annual passes, so that was nice.

There were some Halloween decorations.  Now that it is November, I guess it is on to Christmas!

The weather was nice and overcast–perfect theme park weather!

n blowing a bubble and looking at the Star Wars displays.  k was able to hang out with a couple of Girl Scout siblings, so that was nice.

After lunch, there was a short robotics workshop called We Do 2.0.  n put together a Lego froglet on his own and used a computer program to make it move.

Junior Engineers!

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God’s Big Plans for Me Review {Giveaway} #RickWarren #FlyBy

Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church here in Orange County, is well-known for his book “The Purpose Driven Life”.  Well, did you know that he has also written books for children?  One of them is a storybook Bible called God’s Big Plan for Me.  n has been reading this book before he goes to bed, which is a nice way to end his day.  Even though n is reading chapter books now, I think this picture book is still age-appropriate for him (he is eight years old).

The book is divided into forty days, or chapters.  Each day has a short introduction and a Bible story starting with Genesis and ending with Revelation.  At the end of each story, there are are three points: Think (teaching point); Remember (Bible verse); and Question (personal application).  It works as a self-read for older kids, and as a read-aloud for younger or older kids.

About God’s Great Love for You:

God’s Great Love for You, written by #1 New York Times bestselling author and respected pastor Rick Warren, takes children on a whimsical and heartfelt journey that lets them know God’s love is with them wherever they go. With breathtaking illustrations by Chris Saunders, the simple yet poignant text comes alive as a child journeys to places far and near and discovers God’s great love is perfect, and everywhere, and will never end.

Thanks to Propeller Consulting, I am pleased to be able to offer you a chance to win a copy of your own!

 

 

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

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Happy Halloween From A Snowman + Jango Fett

Testing out my new camera that D gave me for my 40th birthday.  We went to our annual pizza party at the pool (thanks, Jeff Jones!) and went trick or treating around the neighborhood.  D went back a little early to watch the World Series.

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I wonder how many kids actually followed my instructions.  n wrote the numbers on the bowls for further guidance–haha!

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Sports Weekend

This past weekend was filled with sports.  k played in the VFW basketball tournament (two games Saturday, one game Sunday) and n had his regular LA Galaxy OC Saturday soccer game.  Although we felt busy, I know of other families with three kids playing in the tournament, so that could be like nine games, which is just insane.  I am also very fortunate to have my parents who are willing to take our kids where they need to be when there are overlaps.

It is fun watching our kids develop their skills and confidence in their respective sports.  Since now I actually have some memory for my phone, I have been trying to take more video.  To date, we have not had a good video of n scoring a goal.  I am so glad I was able to catch this one on video.  Be sure to turn on the audio for the full effect.

Yes, that is D at the very end: “FINISH IT!”

Last year, k’s team won the bronze division, so they were moved to silver.  They did not fare too well there, but I must say that k put in a good effort.  These are a couple of shots on her highlight reel from the weekend. 🙂

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