Dinner & A Movie Night #MarvelAvengersWMT

My husband Chris took our 6 year old son Duke to see The Avengers when it came out in May and they could not stop talking about what a great movie it is.  This went on for weeks!  When I heard that The Avengers was finally being released on DVD this past Tuesday, I was excited because I could finally see it for myself!  The minute Duke found out we were going to go on an adventure at Walmart and use The Avengers Augmented Reality app - he was excited!!!  Sadly, we could not get it to work.  I blame connection issues.  I was sad but Duke was even sadder.  We still made it an adventure.  I encouraged Duke to find all The Avengers sections for me and he was good at it!  His favorite section?  You guessed it - Toys.    

Our first stop in Walmart was to pick out a MarketSide pizza for our dinner and a movie night.  My favorite character is Iron Man but none of us wanted cheese so we opted for a Hulk-sized Supreme pizza.  I could not believe how big the MarketSide pizzas are and the price is amazing!  We could not wait to get home!

Here's one of the trigger points we found - it was on the t-shirt display box!

Avengers T-Shirts!  We loved the selection and price!

MarketSide pizza before I baked it - Everything was so fresh!!! I was drooling before I put it in the oven!

Pizza is done and Hulk is going in!  The pizza was delicious!  I want to buy a cheese pizza and add my own ingredients next time!

Duke's guys are checking out The Avengers Exclusive Blu-Ray/DVD/Novel Combo Pack at Walmart

Duke is mesmerized!  He has watched it non-stop since Tuesday!


Want to see more of our shopping adventure?
Get Social with Marvel:  Marvel.com / @Marvel on Twitter / Marvel on Facebook

Select Walmart stores will be hosting Avengers Character Appearances this Saturday, September 29, 2012.  My local Walmart is participating!  You can join the fun at 8450 La Palma Avenue in Buena Park from 3pm-6pm.  Check your local store to see if they are participating.

Disclosure:  I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Marvel.  #MarvelAvengersWMT #CBias #SocialFabric

56th Annual Silverado Days October 19-21 in Buena Park, CA

56th Annual Silverado Days (October 19-21)

The 3-day festival at William Peak Park includes games, crafts, contests, rides, food and fun for the whole family.You can even enter to win great prizes! Admission is FREE.

Park Hours:
Friday    5:00 p.m. - Midnight
Saturday   10:00 a.m. - Midnight
Sunday   8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.


Did you know?
•Silverado Days draws more than 80,000 people over a 3-day weekend to Peak Park in Buena Park
•The festival is sponsored by the Buena Park Noon Lions Club, and this shindig raises thousands of dollars for local charities every year
•Local businesses can join the booster club to help offset festival costs and ensure more money for local charities
•Last year there were 16 food booths, 20 game booths, 90 arts and crafts booth and 30 carnival rides to share with your family and friends
•Featured contests include World Amateur Arm Wrestling Championship, Amateur Horseshoe Contest, Pie-Eating Contest, Hog Calling, Baby Contest, Dog Show, Chili Cook-off and much more!!

For more information visit www.silveradodays.com

Mickey's Halloween Party At Disneyland

We are so excited to visit Disneyland next month for Mickey's Halloween Party - Duke is finally at an age where he will genuinely enjoy and remember the memories!  I know he's excited but I'm more excited!!!

The Happiest Place on Earth is about to get spookier as Halloween Time returns to Disneyland Resort this fall with Disney villains, Mickey Mouse and his friends in Halloween costumes and Mickey’s Halloween Party, along with a special exhibit from , all part of the fun during Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. The season runs from Friday, Sept. 14, through Halloween, Monday, Oct. 31.

The after-hours Mickey’s Halloween Party, a separate-ticket event* which has become an annual highlight of Halloween for trick-or-treating families, will take place in Disneyland Park on 11 special Monday, Tuesday and Friday nights: Sept. 28 and Oct. 2, 5, 9, 12, 15, 19, 23, 26, 29 and 31. Tickets are on sale now for the general public, with information at www.Disneyland.com/Halloween.

Mickey’s Halloween Party invites adults and children to dress up in costume and trick-or-treat at Disneyland.. These revelers can also arrive before the party to “mix in” with regular Disneyland guests for three hours prior to the start of Mickey’s private bash. Highlights of Mickey’s Halloween Party include:

• The special opportunity to play in Disneyland for up to three hours before the party starts; check www.Disneyland.com/Halloween for party hours.
• Fun treat stations offering both candy and healthy treats
• The “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, hosted by “Master of Scare-omonies” Jack Skellington (presented exclusively for guests of  Mickey’s Halloween Party)
•  ”Mickey’s Costume Party” cavalcade, performed twice nightly
• Dance parties, where guests will “boo-gie” to lively music
• An opportunity for everyone in the family to attend the park in costumes
• Photo locations with some popular Disney and Pixar Pals, and Disney Villains
• Favorite Disneyland rides and attractions, plus Halloween-themed attractions Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy
• Parking for one standard-size vehicle

Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party are $54* for select nights when purchased in advance, while tickets purchased on the event days and selected nights are $64.  All tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party on Monday, Oct. 29, and Halloween Night, Wednesday, Oct. 31, are $69.

Jack Skellington also returns to take over the Haunted Mansion and bring back Haunted Mansion Holiday to New Orleans Square in Disneyland.  Transformed to a mix of Halloween spookiness and Christmas tradition, Haunted Mansion Holiday is inspired by the Tim Burton film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Jack’s return to the Haunted Mansion includes the traditional Halloween/Christmas gingerbread house in the Mansion Ballroom, with some special spooky surprises in this year’s design.

What are you and your family doing for Halloween?

Pictures were provided by ©Disney

Disclosure:  This is not a compensated post.  

Blogger Conference Tip: Leave Your Family At Home.

That's right.  Leave your family at home.  You blog about them all the time.  You love them, we get it.  We love our families too but when you go to a blogging conference - You need to be focused and you need to be social.  Blogging is a business.  That's why you are attending a blogging conference in the first place.    

Some of us do this to sell / justify our trip to our significant others:  "Let's make it a family trip!  You'll love _______"  Why do we do that?  Don't we deserve some away time?  Yes!  I have read tweets and posts about frustration about family but yet you want to take them on the only chance at relaxation and freedom?  (I've also seen babywearers at conferences - Good lawd, how do you do it!?  I couldn't!)  THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO ESCAPE!  

Why do we do this to ourselves?  I'm completely guilty of this.  I did it for BlogHer '11 when I convinced my husband that he come with me and hang out with our then 5 year old at the pool or around San Diego.  I felt so guilty leaving at 730am and coming back to the hotel at 1am for two days straight.  My husband was like, "never again!" - He leaves my blogging conference trips to me now - to enjoy myself.  He reassured me that the kids would be fine and insisted I go to Niche Mommy '12.  And you know what happened?  I roomed with some bloggers I didn't know and had only met through email and found out that they kick ass.  Now we're good friends.  I made new friends and had a blast with my blogging BFF Ruby.  I needed that.  Dr. Mommy's keynote also inspired me to stop trying to be a Supermom.  Let go a little.  You can do it.

( I cried my eyes out the night before I left for New Orleans.  I cuddled and kissed my 4 month old baby like crazy.  I was a mess!  You know what helped?  FaceTime.  It was a life saver.  You can Skype, Google+ Hangout, etc.  Proof that fun times at home will happen without you. )  

  

Picture some of the successful bloggers that motivate you - Do they travel with their family to conferences?  And... just imagine if you do get to do some big stuff like an all expense paid trip to  movie releases/premieres... Most of the time there are no kids allowed.  You can't take your kids with you to day long press junkets.  (Just things to think about as you venture deeper into blogging.)  

With that said, my husband has given me his blessing for Blogalicious in Las Vegas this weekend.  I will be missing the crap out of them but am happy to invest my focus into learning and connecting.  

Huge THANK YOU to my awesome conference pass sponsors Latina Mom Bloggers and Blogalicious.  

Disclosure:  This is not a sponsored post.  My Blogalicious pass is sponsored by Latina Mom Bloggers and Blogalicious.  All thoughts are my own.

Hotel Transylvania Review

So happy to have Denise Cortes of Pear Mama as my guest blogger this week!!!

My son Solomon and I made our way from the hot, smoggy Inland Empire all the way to Century City to catch a screening of Hotel Transylvania by Sony Pictures Animation last week. The movie stars Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi and Ceelo Green.

A widowed Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) runs a lavish resort-style hotel for fellow monsters, a place where they can relax and get away from humans. You know, the ones always chasing them with a pitchfork and flames on a stick. Dracula is also a loving and sometimes overprotective daddy to daughter Mavis (played by Selena Gomez), who is about to celebrate her 118th birthday. Like all teenagers on the cusp of adulthood, Mavis wants to go out and see the world but Count Dracula is having none of it. He goes to great lengths--even creating a fake town nearby filled with monsters wearing “people masks” to scare Mavis--to keep Mavis within the walls of the hotel, where she will be safe and sound and away from humans. That is, until one kooky, free-spirited back-packer (voiced by SNL’s Adam Samberg) stumbles upon the hotel. You can tell he’s done some extensive world traveling because the fact that there are giants, werewolves, shrunken heads, skeletons, Frankensteins and mummies walking around doesn’t phase him in the least. Dracula tries to get rid of him but he captures the eye of Mavis and pretty soon, he’s dancing, rapping and capturing the hearts of all of the monsters in the place.

The movie has amazing 3D graphics and top-notch vocal talents. One of the funniest parts of the movie happens when Jonathan is flying away from the hotel. Guess what the in-flight movie was? Twilight. Dracula isn’t pleased. This is how they represent our kind, he hisses. The kids in the theater didn’t get it but all of the adults were cracking up.

Hotel Transylvania opens on September 28th. Take your family and go and check it out! It’s a fun movie that all ages will enjoy.

Disclosure:  raisedbyculture.com was invited by Sony Pictures Animation to check out Hotel Transylvania.  All thoughts are our own.  

Snoopy's Costume Party At Knott's Camp Spooky

We love Halloween and living in a tourist mecca, we take advantage of all the events we can!  We're super excited to check out Knott's Berry Farm's Halloween celebration for kids - Snoopy’s Costume Party! It runs weekends October 6-28 and is included with regular park admission!!!  This daytime, non-scare celebration, of cheer rather than fear, is the social event of the season with shows, activities and of course, trick-or-treating all geared for kids ages 3-11.

Kids can take part in “Snoopy’s Costume Contest and Parade” where they can take their Halloween costume for a test run and compete for special prizes. All participants will then join in for a spirited procession through Camp Spooky.

In the Camp Spooky Theatre the Peanuts Halloween “Spooktacular” will have everyone singing and dancing in the aisles to all their favorite Halloween tunes. For those a little more adventurous, a walk through “The Great Pumpkin Hay Bale Maze” will have you joining Linus as he awaits the arrival of the Great Pumpkin.

Kids will want to make sure they grab their Trick or Treat bag and take part in the “Spooky Ookie Scavanger Hunt” where they can follow the clues to find the five Halloween treat locations. At the “Creepy Crawly Critter Cave” Knott’s park naturalist will amaze them with her slithery, slimy, creepy, crawly critters.

The whole family will enjoy “Scary Stories at the Lodge” where master story tellers will spin the craziest, creepiest, silliest tales this side of the Great Pumpkin Patch.

Knott’s Berry Farm Theme Park operating hours are 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. For more information on all the exciting things that are going on at Knott’s Berry Farm, call (714) 220-5200 or visit us on-line at www.knotts.com.


Disclosure: This is not a compensated post.  I am very proud of my city and will be sharing everything Buena Park, CA.  All thoughts are my own.

Disney Parks Blog - Get Spookier Halloween Meet-Up

I love the Disney Parks Blog!  There is so much action, information and fun events for readers!  We got lucky and made the cut for the Get Spookier Halloween Meet-Up.  It happened last Monday night (after Disneyland closed!) and was so much fun!  We were treated to a panel discussion by David Caranci, Manager of Resort Enhancement and Brian Sandahl, Senior Designer for Disney Entertainment Creative Development at Club Skellington aka French Market Restaurant.

I could tell by the passion in their voices how much they love their jobs.  They told us about how much work and planning goes into Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort.  Some fun facts I live-tweeted:

• There are over 300 pumpkins on Main Street and over 1000 in Disneyland.
• Pumpkins are all hand carved.
• It took a year to get approval for Haunted Mansion Holiday.
• Next year will be the 13th year of Haunted Mansion Holiday and will open on Friday the 13th - September 13, 2013.
• 99% of the Nightmare Before Christmas props are stored in the Mansion!

I really enjoyed listening and learning from David and Brian.  After the panel, we got to ride Haunted Mansion Holiday... as many times as we wanted... till 11pm!  I rode it once with Duke and then he rode it with Chris.  Duke and I were really amused with Jack's Gingerbread House, Zero and Terror Train.  Look out for it in the mansion!    

We were treated to Mickey cookies, Mickey Rice Krispy treats, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate milk + hot chocolate shots...  The chocolate milk + hot chocolate shot was intense, super chocolatey, warm and yum!  

Jack & Sally showed up too!  Jack is a must-see character at the park during the holidays.  I found this out last year!  I was sad that the night had to end and was surprised we got more gifts - tickets to Mickey's Halloween Party next month!  Thank you so much Disneyland!!!

You can check out Disney Parks Blog post on the meet-up here.  

That cowboy wanted to stand in line by himself.

That's Disneyland's Social Media and Print Manager Erin Glover as a Mousekeeter with Duke.

Disclosure:  This is not a compensated post.  I should pay Disney for this amazing event.  All thoughts are my own.

Saturday Photobooth: See What Unfolds!

Today is Saturday but it felt so much like a Sunday.  We all woke up a little late and just lounged around...  Decided to go out for a late lunch and get some grocery shopping done but it ended up being hot out and we came home.  And that's when the fun started.  I popped in a Trident Layers Juicy Berry + Tangy Tangerine and opened up Photobooth.  I'll admit, I haven't chewed gum in years and it brought back fun memories.  (The memories made me feel about 20 years younger and who wouldn't want to feel younger?!)  Duke joined in the fun (more like interrupted my 90s moment) and we couldn't stop laughing which brought Hubby out and then... we had some fun with the baby.  Our sweet, innocent baby... we laughed at your expense.  I can't wait to show these pictures when you are older!  (And your future girlfriends!)

I haven't laughed like that in such a long time!  Be spontaneous and See What Unfolds!    


This fun video is brought to you by great-tasting Trident Gum. Trident: See What Unfolds.



The new Trident Layers flavors include a line up of unique blends including Layers Wild Strawberry + Tangy Citrus, Layers Peach + Mango, and Layers Juicy Berry + Tangy Tangerine.

Disclosure:  This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and TRIDENT.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.  

Knott's Halloween Haunt Turns 40!

Update: Here are coupons for you to buy Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt tickets!

I live in Buena Park and love my city.  It's home to Knott's Berry Farm and even though I haven't been in 17 years, I love Knott's Halloween Haunt and congratulate them on 40 years of screams!  Tomorrow kicks off opening weekend and will be bringing back memories of when I was a teenager.  Going with a big group of friends was so fun, we fed off each other's fears and had amazing amounts of fun.

Are you wondering why I haven't been in 17 years?  I don't think my heart can handle it anymore.  Seriously.  Having kids made me a wuss!  I am completely terrified of the dark and unknown at Knott's Scary Farm.  If you have never been... you need to get your haunt on.  I promise you, you will flinch at least once.      

This year's Halloween Haunt promises to be killer with 13 mazes (5 NEW ones!) and ride through attractions, 9 live shows, and four scare zones.

Knott’s Halloween Haunt dates are September 21-22, 27-30, October 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 25-28, 30-31, 2012. Event hours are 7pm - 1am; Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm-2am.

The Halloween Haunt at Knott’s Scary Farm is a special ticket event not covered by regular Knott’s Berry Farm admission or a Knott’s Season Pass. Ticket prices are $36 - $52 presale online and $60 day of event. 

For more general event information on Halloween Haunt, call the Haunt Line at (714) 220-5200 or visit www.knotts.com 

Halloween Haunt is a scary event and definitely not recommended for children under 13. There are no guest costumes or re-entry privileges allowed for this event.

For the younger set, Snoopy’s Costume Party in Camp Snoopy is an alternative daytime non-scare celebration of Halloween cheer rather than fear offered weekends October 6-28, 10 am to 5 pm and is included with regular park admission. This special, family event includes a costume contest, a live show, kid-friendly mazes, storytelling, and of course, trick-or-treat stations. 

Disclosure: This is not a compensated post.  I am very proud of my city and will be sharing everything Buena Park, CA.  All thoughts are my own.

#Lifeables - Memories Captured. Lifetimes Shared.

My family and my Husband's family both live in Texas.  His family is in San Antonio and mine are in Houston.  There are days where we miss them like crazy - especially around the holidays, birthdays, when Omar was born and when Duke graduated Kindergarten.  It's always a challenge showing off the hundreds of pictures we take, the funny things the kids say and the adventures we go on because the majority of our family aren't social media savvy.  It is really frustrating trying to explain to my parents that they need to check out my blog or if my sister can log into a social networking site to show them the latest pictures of the boys... 

Lifeables is a new, secure free service that automates the entire process of capturing, sorting through, organizing and displaying our family stories.  I tested it out and really loved how fast it filtered through my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram content.  (I can't wait till they add Flickr!)  The Twitter integration is a huge deal to me because I'm always tweeting things Duke says and wondered how I would be able to find those gems again.  More importantly, I love how easy it is to understand and navigate.  I can actually picture my mom signing up for an account and checking up on her grandsons.  Lifeables puts everything in one place and I can categorize and customize the content however I want - by each child or in virtual scrapbook collections.

Lifeables makes it so you can keep your child's story private or shared with family & friends which is really important to me because there are certain moments and pictures that Chris and I reserve for family only.  Lifeables is made by parents for parents and they get it.           

Check out this video about how Lifeables works!  

Lifeables Product Tour from Lifeables on Vimeo.

Memories Captured.  Lifetimes Shared.

Automatically collect posts and pictures from your family's social accounts and combine them with your own (no matter where they are) to tell a better story. 


Disclosure:  This is a compensated post in collaboration with Lifeables and Latina Bloggers Connect.  All opinions are my own.  

Parenting Tips From A Dad!

I can honestly say my husband Chris enjoys being a Dad and he's great at it.  There have been many times where I am just completely wiped out and he has saved the day by taking the kids to do something or keeping them busy while I take a nap.  I asked him how he does it!        

What are your day-to-day challenges of being a parent?

One of the challenges is making time to spend with my boys.  I work full-time and go to school part-time so there are days when I feel so exhausted but I always make it a point to spend quality time with my babies.  I think it's important that I don't show or tell them I'm tired!!! 

What are your tips for new Dads?

My tips for new Dads are just to relax and don't stress.  Remember that you are truly blessed and cherish each moment with your baby.  Your new baby will be adjusting to life on the outside, you need to be calm and cool.  Don't panic!  Remember to laugh!    

Don't hide your feelings from them, it's important for your kids to know who you are and how you feel about them.  Give them lots of hugs, kisses, high fives and I Love Yous!  Yes even when they are babies!  (Especially when they are babies!)        

What are your favorite things about being a Dad?

I get to relive my childhood with my children - I get to play with them and teach them about toys and characters I liked when I was younger!  It's fun to show them movies and cartoons I enjoyed when I was a kid and have your kid like 'em just the same.  

This might be hard to believe but I love learning from them - children can teach us so much about life.

The thing I love most about my kids is that they give me a bigger outlook on life that I didn't have before.  I love seeing them grow smarter and watching their personalities unfold.  

Ask TV Personality and Father of two Poncho de Anda your parenting questions in a live Facebook chat on Thursday, September 20, 2012 from 12pm EST to 1pm EST at: www.facebook.com/HuggiesLatino 

Just look for the picture of Poncho on the Huggies Latino Facebook page to participate.  The chat will be in Spanish.  

Disclosure:  This is a compensated post in collaboration with Huggies and Latina Bloggers Connect.  All opinions are my own.

Crock Pot Frijoles Recipe featuring Mazola Sobrecitos

I'm a busy woman but I love cooking for my family.  There is nothing in the World like a homecooked meal!    One pot meals are great because you can throw everything in the Crock Pot and get other things done around the house.  I call most of the recipes I create, "semi-homemade" because I need the help of good products to pull it off.  The magic is in making your family think you spent the whole day in a hot kitchen.  

I'm very proud of this recipe because it took one try in my test kitchen and my Husband loved it.  He has never liked any of my beans!  I've made chili, borracho beans, refried beans and he rejected all of them.  A few days after I created this recipe, Chris asked me to make it again!  It's also great for bean burritos the day after.

Crock Pot Frijoles Ingredients
1 Mazola Sobrecitos de Caldo de Tomate Packet
8 oz. Pinto Beans
1 7 3/4 oz. El Pato Tomato Sauce with Jalapeno Can
4 cups Water
1 tbsp. Oil

Directions

• Rinse and soak pinto beans for 8+ hours in cold water, drain and rinse again
• Add beans, water, Sobrecitos packet, El Pato sauce and oil to Crock Pot
• Stir, cover and set Crock Pot to Low
• Stir every couple hours
• Cook for 12+ hours

12+ hours?  Yes.  It depends on the beans.  It could take up to 18 hours but ohhh is it worth the wait.    About 12 hours in, I added some jalapenos.  When the frijoles were done, I added it to leftover Spanish Rice with Queso Fresco.  If you want to take it to another level of flavor, you could also add cilantro and/or squeeze half a lime.

Hope you like it!  Enjoy!



New Mazola® Sobrecitos® bouillon packets feature the goodness of all natural sea salt.
Did you know that sea salt is less processed than regular table salt?   I love the option of seasoning my dishes with all natural sea salt because it is less processed than table salt.

Visit the new Spanish-language Facebook page for Latinas! Visit www.facebook.com/MazolaEspanol  to check out new recipes for delicious dishes and special offers from Mazola®.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Mazola® Sobrecitos®. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Mattel Cars Micro Drifters Launch Party!

Mattel knows how to party!!!  We had a great time at the Mattel Cars Micro Drifters launch party last night at the Petersen Auto Museum - Huge Thanks to ModernMom.com!  We got to take a tour of the “From Silver Screen to Die-cast: Disney•Pixar Cars Imagined by Mattel” exhibit, Duke got to test drive the Disney•Pixar Cars Mattel Micro Drifters Motorized Super Speedway, munch on yummy food from Johnny Rockets (the Cars inspired grilled cheese sandwiches looked great and tasted so good!) and watch Cars with all his new friends.


My Husband Chris and I took turns checking out the 2nd floor of the Petersen Auto Museum which was amazing.  I really loved how the event was really for the kids.  I know they all had a blast, Duke can't stop talking about it.  Lucky boy!


Showing me there's 2 different Lightning McQueens
Duke and I made new friends!  Tee of ThatsITMommy.com and her daughter!



Duke loves the The Cars MICRO DRIFTERS™ Super Speedway set.  He built it all by himself when we got home last night.  It took him about 10-15 minutes.  He was racing his cars all night and again as I'm typing this up.  I'm a fan of the micro drifters and love that there are so many that he can collect.  He's already asking for the rest of the Cars Micro Drifters collection for Christmas and recommends it for girls and boys, old and young.  He said check his blog for more of his thoughts.  The Super Speedway is for ages 4+ and retails for $29.99

Highly recommended for Holiday gift giving!







Disclosure: This is not a compensated post.  We were invited to attend the Mattel Cars Micro Drifters event and Duke received a swag bag for attending.  All thoughts are our own.

Found Note

Found this in the courtyard of our complex and wondering which neighbor dropped it.

Day Out with Net10 Wireless!

Summer has been super busy for us and some days, we like to take it easy and just hang out.  Hanging out usually consists of getting yummy food, thrifting and hanging out at our local Barnes & Noble.  This particular Saturday, we took a family vote and Sonic won because it was hot out.  Everyone wanted Sonic's vanilla cone.  I made sure I checked in with my Net10 LG Optimus Net on Foursquare and was ready to take pictures for Instagram.  I love the quality of photos with the LG Optimus Net!

Hubby got a banana shake mixed with Oreos.  I suggested the idea because it's his favorite flavor from Scoops in LA.  He said it wasn't as good as Scoops but it comes in at a close second.  My vanilla cone?  Delicious.  Exactly what I was craving.  And you know what's awesome?  (And I know most bloggers will agree) My Husband and kids know that I have to take pictures before they dive in.  Funny but chalk it up to blogger problem #29.

After we ate, we hit our second favorite thrift store.  On the way there, I checked my email, Twitter and peeked at Facebook.  Saw some interesting things at the store but didn't go crazy.  We found a vintage Adidas jacket for the baby and I picked up a framed art print.  Not the clown in my collage.

To end our day, Chris and I grabbed some magazines and let Duke hang out in the Kids' section of Barnes & Noble.  The LG Optimus Net is a step up from my current Android phone - I love the photo quality, ease of taking video and uploading it, quick load time on all my favorite apps: Facebook, Foursquare, Plume (great Twitter app for Droids) and Instagram.  I'm considering leaving my current service and switching to Net10.  You just can't beat $50 Unlimited Text, Calls, Data and No Contract or Credit Checks!

With Net10 Wireless there are no contracts, credit checks, activation charges or cancellation fees to worry about. Simply buy a phone and purchase any one of several airtime or monthly plans. (See plan details on following page)

Net10 Wireless phones and airtime cards are available at 90,000 locations across the USA, including Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Family Dollar, K-Mart, Radio Shack and CVS stores and online at net10.com (tab buy phones, monthly plans or get airtime).

Net10 Wireless is launching in the US Hispanic market with the “Levántate un 10” campaign featuring Carlos Ponce and Alejandra Espinoza. The campaign brings to life the qualities of NET10 Wireless that make the service a “ten”  “un diez en servicio cellular”, just like the celebrities. (running on America’s best networks, no contracts, unlimited calling, text and data to Mexico and other countries (including cellular phones). There is no other wireless company that offers unlimited international calling to mobiles in Mexico (usually plans offer unlimited calling to landlines only).

Visit www.levantateun10.com and www.facebook.com/net10wirelesslatino for more information about Net10 Wireless.

Disclosure:  This is part of a compensated campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Net10 Wireless.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.  

C. Wonder at Fashion Island

We were invited to the grand opening of C. Wonder at Fashion Island in Newport Beach last month and I brought in my friend Jen as a guest blogger!  Thank you for doing this for us, Jen!

C. Wonder is very "Hamptons".  Lots of really cute accessories and staple clothing items in bright colors. Great readers and sunglasses so if you need readers you don't look like an old broad but more like a hip hamptonite.
They also had great home accessories - I especially loved the bright pillows and dog bowls.
Another great thing they had was initial everything! Paper stock, bracelets, belts, mugs and even monogramming your jeans or totes!
Wait, there's more! They also had a cute little tech display with colorful earphones, iPad keyboards, speakers and even yo-yo's!!
Being a stylist, I was really loving their oversized leather studded cuffs! Charms for charm bracelets were adorbs too! Initial cuffs and bangles. They had bling stud earrings that were super cute!
I'm pretty sure C. Wonder will fit right into Newport Beach!

Sidenote from me:  I checked out C. Wonder's site and LOVE all their offerings.  If you know me, I'm a huge fan of cardigans.  I live in them and appreciate that C. Wonder has a good selection.  Their jewelry, home decor, shoes and bags are also amazing.

Visit C. Wonder on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

Disclosure: C. Wonder invited us to preview their new store, Jen received a swag bag.  All thoughts are our own.