Epic Playdate - Block Party Style!

I don't remember being a daydreamer when I was a kid but I know now that I'm older with four fun sons and an adventurous husband... I find myself wanderlusting every single day.  I'm either daydreaming about vacations or epic playdates.  Both of them fall under the same category for me - freedom and fun.

I can think up hundreds of outrageous and amazing scenarios for an epic playdate but the one that keeps popping up in my head is right here in my front yard.  I would close off our cul-de-sac and host the most epic block party!  See, I don't live in luxury.  We're not privileged and most of the kids in my neighborhood have never been to a waterpark or experienced a kid's pizza party.  I would let the kids run wild, at least for a few hours.  There would be tables of cupcakes, candies, cakes, donuts, cookies, brownies!  And coolers full of soda and pop, pop and soda!  And freezers of ice cream and paletas.  There would be two different cotton candy carts - one would be pink and the other blue!  I want a dunk tank with a clown sitting inside and a pie-in-the-face booth!  Our epic playdate would need hundreds of balloons, bright red ones - ready to be handed to anxious and happy kids.  There would be a balloon animal station but the only animals that you could have are dinosaurs.  But the most epic thing would be the bounce house water slide.  With soap.  Making lots of bubbles!  Kids screaming with excitement and encouraging all the adults to try it out.  Everyone slipping and sliding.  And then when the lights went down, we would put on the best fireworks show.

It would be EPIC.
What would you do for an epic playdate?

Hyundai Santa Fe hosted an Epic Playdate Weekend in April and my favorite post was from blogger Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day.

Epic Playdate in the Redwoods from Jordan Ferney on Vimeo.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

OC Fair 2013 - It's All About The Food

One of my favorite things about Summer is the OC Fair!  The kids love the rides and games.  Chris and I love looking at all the outrageous food offerings.  Fair food is amazing.  AMAZING!  Here's the deal, I usually dislike copy & pasting press releases but it was too delicious not to!  Are you ready for this Summer's OC Fair food?  It's all about the FOOD!

Featuring 23 days of deep-fried food, celebrity chefs, decadent desserts and culinary competitions

• Chicken Charlie: Chicken Charlie is churning out new food with Krispy Kreme Sloppy Joes, Deep-Fried Bacon-Wrapped Pickles and Waffle Dogs (a hot dog wrapped inside a waffle and all on a stick). Plus, don’t miss deep-fried cookie dough!

• Bacon A-Fair: This year’s new additions at Bacon A-Fair include Truffle Gouda Bacon Fries, Bacon Beer (root beer) and Cheesy Bacon Bombs. Plus, wild boar bacon on a stick will be served exclusively at the OC Fair.

• Biggy’s Meat Market: Channel your inner cave man (or woman) and come to Biggy’s Meat Market for the returning 17-inch The Big Rib plus the new Biggy Sausage, a 2-foot-long smoked sausage on a stick, and the Big Chic, 24 ounces of chicken breast on a stick of course.

• Ten Pound Buns: The mad scientists at Ten Pound Buns have added ground bacon, whipped butter and Nutella on top of their famous sourdough “pizza” for the Bacon Nutella Bun.

• Pink’s Hot Dogs: Long known for their innovative hot dogs named after celebrities, the Ghiradelli hot dog takes it to a new level. It is a beef dog topped with cream cheese, honey mustard, crumbled bacon and dark chocolate.

• More New Food: There are new tastes to be found throughout the OC Fair this year including deep-fried strawberries, a macaroni and cheese hamburger, fried bacon ice cream, deep-fried lobster, cream cheese on a stick, mango & chamoy popsicle (spicy-sweet lemon chile flavoring), heart-shaped funnel cake, Dirty BBQ Tasti Chips and more.

• OC Fair Foodies: New this year the OC Fair is introducing food-themed mascots including Scoop, Carl, Dip and their foodie friends all inspired by iconic Fair and farm foods such as ice cream cones, cotton candy, corn dogs, vegetables, fruit and more. Costumed characters, plushes and signage will be representing the foodie friends throughout the Fair.

• $2 Taste of Fair Food: Every Friday from Noon-4 p.m., Fairgoers can sample the best the Fair has to offer for only $2 each sample. Fun-sized samples include funnel cake, BBQ tri-tip, lemonade, cinnamon rolls, corn dogs, tacos, gelato, cotton candy and more.

• Celebrity Chefs: The 2013 OC Fair presents two shows in The Hangar featuring charismatic celebrity chefs demonstrating their culinary prowess. Scheduled appearances include the owners and chefs of the award-winning La Casita Mexicana Restaurant Jaime Martin del Campo and Ramiro Arvizu (July 20, 4 p.m.) and award-winning chef and owner of Bottega in Napa Valley and Coqueto in San Francisco Michael Chiarello (August 1, 4 p.m.) Free with Fair admission.

• Culinary Presentations: In addition to celebrity chefs, the 2013 OC Fair is also featuring local professional chefs from some of the county’s top local restaurants and other culinary artisans in the OC Promenade. Presentation days and times vary.

• Food Truck Fare at the OC Fair: On top of traditional and new Fair foods, Fairgoers can purchase gourmet fare from their favorite food trucks from inside the OC Fair gates every Thursday from Noon-10 p.m. Access is free with Fair admission and prices for food and drinks vary per truck.

• Kitchen Challenge: Watch local culinary professionals show off their chops and go head-to-head in a series of live cooking challenges set to various themes every Thursday in the OC Promenade: Meatheads (July 18), Time to Make The Donuts (July 25), Firehouse Chefs (August 1) and Vegan (August 8). Winners will receive bragging rights and an award to commemorate their culinary victory. Viewing is free with Fair admission.

• Contests and Competitions: Most of the traditional Culinary Arts competitions have closed their registrations but the Culinary Arts department is again hosting live contests that offer late registration with the Special Culinary Contests held the last four Saturdays, including the popular OC Cupcake Classic on August 3. Registration for these contests is the Wednesday before each contest. New this year is the Salad Daze contest, which is judging for the best picnic-ready salads. For a complete list, visit ocfair.com/competitions.

• Food As Art: Chef Ray Duey is an acclaimed food sculptor who was a gold medal winner from the Food Network’s Challenge Team and will be creating works of art out of fruits and vegetables daily in the OC Promenade. Award-winning Shaile Socher creates masterful floral arrangements out of sugar and will be demonstrating her intricate and dazzling talent in the OC Promenade daily. Demonstrations are free with Fair admission.  

• Centennial Farm: Experience being home on the range in this year-round, three-acre demonstration farm complete with crops, livestock and the Millennium Barn. Check out educational exhibits, agricultural organizations and the fruit and vegetable competitive entries. Visit ocfair.com/competitions for details on the Garden and Floral competitions offered.

The 2013 OC Fair, themed Come & Get It is July 12 – August 11 and brings 23 days of food, rides, exhibits, animals, music, action sports and fun, as well as the Toyota Summer Concert Series at the Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar and Action Sports Arena. The Fair is open Wednesday-Sunday. Concert tickets, action sports reserved seats and single-day general admission are available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com or from the on-site Box Office. The popular Super Pass, which offers the passholder 23 days of admission, is available for purchase online at ocfair.com from the onsite Box Office.

The OC Fair & Event Center is located off the 405 and 55 freeways at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. For more information, please visit ocfair.com, become a fan at Facebook.com/OCFair, follow us at twitter.com/ocfair or call (714) 708-1500. Also, download the free OC Fair iPhone and Android apps featuring a Food Finder and schedules of events.

Bacon Bombs from Bacon A-Fair
Photo credit: OC Fair & Event Center

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Disclosure:  I am receiving passes for my family and a lucky reader.  I genuinely love OC Fair and if I didn't, I wouldn't be posting about it.

My Kia, My Growing Family

My family is growing.  Not only did we add another child to the mix but Ty (we affectionately call him the biggest) is pushing 6'1" at 16 years old.  Duke can't fit into his clothes anymore and every time I blink, Damien is growing a new hair on his 14 year old face.  I wish my kids didn't have to grow up.  I need more time to enjoy them while they are kids.  I want them to slow down!

With all these expected growing pains, it is time for us to look for a new SUV.  Our current SUV is paid off but can't handle these almost adults anymore.  And as much driving as my husband does, we really need a reliable truck that isn't hurting our wallet at the gas pump.  The Kia Sorento is always skating by on my Twitter stream and my friends are so happy to share their stories.  I honestly can't see our family in anything but a Kia Sorento.  It just fits us.

Image credit: kia.com

Image credit: kia.com

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Let's Talk About Postpartum Poo!

I'm going to be completely honest.  When this campaign showed up in my inbox, I questioned whether or not I should do it.  I mean really, who wants to talk poo!  I struggled with it, seriously.  But then I remembered the times I wish my mom would talk to me about sex, pregnancy, labor and delivery.  I wish it wasn't so awkward for us.  My doctors and nurses never mentioned "that first postpartum poo" either!  I wish it was an easier subject to talk about so I'm doing this post because I want it to be easy for everyone.  I tell ya, that first poo is scary.  Prepare yourself for pregnancy's discomforts with these tips!

• Medicate yourself- Take a pain reliever and stool softener.  DulcoEase® Pink™ Prevents and Relieves constipation, stimulant free, comfortable relief, #1 OB/GYN recommended stool softener ingredient, from the makers of #1 consumer preferred stool softener (chosen over Colace®)
• Avoid dairy, caffeine and spicy food- These are considered irritants and stimulants so stay away!  Eat fruits and veggies!  
• Relax- Don't overthink it!    

 

Save $1.50 on any DulcoEase® Pink™ Stool Softener 25 count or higher

Please check with your doctor before trial/use of the product if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Every new mother’s toolkit should include DulcoEase® Pink™, the #1 OB/GYN recommended ingredient* for going #2. So if you are pregnant or breast feeding, ask your doctor if you should think Pink. Find savings on DulcoEase® Pink™ at www.MomsTalkDulcoEase.com!

*Among stool softener ingredients

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of DulcoEase® Pink™. The opinions and text are all mine.

Slater's 50/50 Is GOOD.

What this post needs is scratch & sniff and a lickable screen.  I wish I could just gleep you some yummy goodness that is Slater's 50/50.  The powers that be invited me to a sneak peek of the new menu debuting on July 1st.  If you haven't been to Slater's 50/50 - just know that they are generous and gracious.  This was actually my 3rd visit to the Huntington Beach restaurant in a week.  I'm a fan but my husband Chris is the superfan.  He wanted Peanut Butter & Jellousy for his Birthday and then again when meeting up with out of town friends.  He was supposed to be my +1 but he got sick and I was so sad he couldn't join in on all the fun!  I ended up having a blast with Ruby, Becky and Jennie.  

Slater's 50/50 owner and founder Scott Slater welcoming us!

Kale & Quinoa Salad - The only healthy offering on the sneak peek menu and I appreciated it. The lemon tahini dressing woke up my palate!

Twice Grilled Cheese - If you look to food for comfort, this sandwich is for you.  It is like a warm, loving hug from your grandma.  I love hugs from my grandma!

Twice Grilled Cheese and Tomato Basil Soup - I'm only going to say it once so listen up!  This tomato basil soup is phenomenal.  I had to stop Slater's 50/50 owner and founder Scott Slater and ask him if this was the real deal.  It is.  Made in-house with fresh everythang.  It is thick and warm, I loved dipping my sandwich in it!

The Old Timey - The classic American burger with Sterling Silver ground beef, American cheese, thick cut bacon, grilled onions, green leaf lettuce, tomato and 1000 island dressing on white brioche.
There's burgers and then there's BURGERS.  I usually design my own burger at Slater's 50/50 because that's fun but if there was a burger I'd order straight off the menu, this would be it.  It isn't just a classic American burger - it is a great American burger.

Almond Joy - You know what's better than a milkshake?  An ADULT MILKSHAKE!  This is glorious heaven in a cup.  You keep sipping and sipping and it hits you.  Back in my day, we called drinks like this a "one hitter quitter".  Sooo good that it creeps up on ya!  The toasted coconut on the top is heaven sent.  Kissed by angels.  Yeah!

Scott Slater telling us about the return of The 'Merica burger this July.  100% bacon patty and not the famous 50/50 split.  The bacon pretzel buns are made specially for them.  Nothing says America like bacon everythang.  Bacon on bacon on bacon.  The burger tastes like breakfast but breakfast for any time of the day - I love the egg and cheese.  It's good stuff.

The 'Merica Burger in all of it's American glory.

This is what the backside of 'Merica looks like.  YUM!

S'mores - Just so you know, you can get all of these ADULT MILKSHAKES without the adult.  This is good stuff.  It was gone in 20 seconds.  No really.  Slater's 50/50 also let us sample the Bananas Foster adult milkshake but the picture didn't come out right.  It has fresh bananas in it and was good stuff.

Bacon Blondie - I was beyond stuffed when dessert came around.  But let me tell you, this is what dreams are made of.  Blonde brownies with bacon and peanut butter and topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup, OH MY!  Just so you know, this was sample size.  The actual size was insane.  You could probably split it with four people.  I had to take mine home and you bet I had it for breakfast.  SO SO GOOD.


Slater's 50/50 is only in Southern California for now.  Their 6th location in Rancho Cucamonga opens on July 1st.   They are incredibly involved in the community and have tons of fun things lined up at all of their locations.  They have an incredible happy hour:
Mon – Fri: 3pm – 6pm
Sun-Thurs: 10pm – close
$3.50 well drinks, house wine, select appetizers, domestic beers and select craft beers.

Even though Slater's 50/50 invited me as their guest to sample their new menu, all thoughts are my own.  It really is good stuff.

Hit Knott's Boardwalk This Summer!

Knott's Boardwalk opened last month and I was invited to attend the celebration which was a huge honor for me because I adore my city and have a lifelong love for the park!  I have been so excited about the new Boardwalk and newly renovated Timber Mountain Log Ride!   The bright colors on the Boardwalk Midway immediately caught my attention - the water looked so blue and inviting.  I was ready to jump in!  Live music by Big Fat Steve Band and screams by excited thrill-seekers filled the air.  
I headed to the pier and did one of my favorite things ever - people watched.  What I saw was far from what I expected...  the adoration for Snoopy.  I saw kid after kid run up and hug Snoopy.  The smiles and laughs were contagious!  But nothing in life compares to watching a determined 7 year old boy with cerebral palsy walk up to Snoopy and hug him for the longest time.  It was the most beautiful, inspiring thing I've seen in a very long time.  Keep the kids busy and hit the Knott's Boardwalk this Summer!

In addition to rides for kids and adults - there are tons of live shows and entertainment!  New this Summer - Snoopy Unleashed Ice Show, Boom Town and Snoopy's Starlight Spectacular!

SO MUCH MORE FUN --- Make sure you click Read More!

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A Baby Adventure with Huggies & Dad!

This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Bloggers Connect and Huggies®. Babies R’ Us has provided me with a $50 gift card to supply to one reader for a giveaway. I have been financially compensated to provide my opinion and review of the products. Even though I received compensation for this post, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on the products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines, 16 C.F.R Part 255.


There is a six year age gap from our last baby to our newest baby.  I can tell you the funniest baby adventures about each and every one of them.  All parents remember 'em like it was yesterday - I know I do.  Ready to embarrass our kids when they hit those lovely teen years.  Our littlest Omar, is an busy baby.  He fears nothing except the vacuum cleaner.  He started crawling at 4 months and started walking when he turned one.  We love Huggies Snug & Dry new SureFit design because he's so mobile and the closer-to-body fit to move with his twists and turns!  As he gets older, his little personality is shining through - a little bit defiant, he knows what no means but will smile and do it anyway.  He knows he's the baby and he knows he can do whatever he likes which brings me to his squirmy story.

Last year, before school let out for the Summer - we were trying to get Duke's paperwork in order so that we could homeschool him.  We had to head to the district office to fill out a form to release him from our district.  After running around all day, I thought it would take a minute to drop off the release but the district campus is huge and I had to walk 2-3 buildings all the way to the back.  My husband Chris was waiting in the truck with Omar.  I came out 20 minutes later, my husband had moved the truck and the back hatch was open.  I came around the corner and saw my husband's face - it had the look of disgust and disappointment.  I looked down and saw the baby laying on a blanket, smiling and a pile of 20 used baby wipes.  Chris bursts out, "I don't know what happened but his poop is everywhere!  We should just throw out his onesie!"  It was so funny!  Amazingly enough, the Huggies diaper did it's job - my husband on the other hand, acted like a new father and forgot how to wipe a squirmy baby!

You can find Huggies® Snug & Dry at Babies R Us®

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Teach Your Kids About Identity Theft

Disclosure:  Raised by Culture aims to provide unbiased editorials. However, I wish to disclose that from time to time I may receive free products or other compensation from companies for blogger reviews.

I have been online since 1996 and always been a little leery of sharing too much personal information online.  Nowadays with more technology and identity theft on the rise, it's even harder to protect yourself on the Internet.  Now that my kids are getting older and staying busy online with their phones, iPods and computers - I shared these common sense tips with them:

Don't share your Social Security Number!
Don't share your full Birthdate!
Don't share your Birth Certificate!
Don't share my Maiden Name!
Don't share your E-Mail Address!
Don't share your License/ID and/or our License Plate!
Don't post pictures of any of these and please don't share your debit/credit cards on Instagram!

I can't tell you how many times I see credit cards on Instagram without the numbers pixelated or blocked.  This is the worst mistake for kids to make!  I don't sugar coat identity theft with my sons, I tell them there are people out there that can ruin their identity and make it hard for them to get credit or even jobs when they get older.

Rewind to about six years ago, when my husband got his annual benefits statement from Social Security in the mail, I noticed that he had salary listings for about 4 years when he was only 10 years old.  He definitely didn't work at that time but we had no proof of who did it so we couldn't pursue it.  Thankfully that person just used his social security number for employment and didn't rack up any credit cards, loans or bills.

Now with LifeLock, they help protect you against more than just credit fraud and identity theft. LifeLock alerts you whenever we detect your personal information being used to apply for wireless services, retail credit, utilities, and mortgage loans within our extensive network.  Don't worry about another thing in life and get with LifeLock...

The Accidental Keynote #SoFabCon

I have been home a month since SoFabCon and I still think about Jasmine Banks powerful closing keynote.  Every day actually.  The funny thing about all this is - Jasmine wasn't even the scheduled speaker - it just kinda happened.  Something with US Customs at the Canadian border.  But that's okay, sometimes things happen for a reason and I put it in my mind that we were all meant to hear Jasmine's story.  It was beautiful, painful and inspiring.  She made us cry and she made us laugh by keeping it real.  That cliche about a breath of fresh air - this keynote was it.  Everywhere I look online - blogs and Instagram mainly - I see picture perfect homes, food and families.  I have asked myself is this for real?  Is this real life?  Because I know no one like that.  Jasmine calls this stylized content.  I call it cookie cutter.  The majority of bloggers these days are the same.  Pushing out the same perfect content in the same layouts, following the same formula and not breaking new ground.  Yawn.  What works for them, might not work for you.  Don't follow anyone else's formula.  This blogging thing... it is DIY and open for interpretation!      

When I made the decision to monetize, I struggled with authenticity.  Not because I wasn't authentic but because I didn't want to scare off brands or new readers by keeping it real.  Do I sell out or do I stay true to myself?  The answer:  Stay true to yourself.  Brands, bloggers and your readers want you to BE YOU.  


When Jasmine put this slide up, everyone laughed.

What is your story then?

I used to have another blog and rebranded in April 2012.  In November 2012, I had a breakdown.  I was grateful with all the opportunities that were coming my way but I felt like I was losing my voice.  That breakdown was one of the best things to happen to me.

What is your story now?


And then Jasmine dared us to start a #ThisIsMe movement by writing a love letter to ourselves.  And this is me daring you to write a love letter to yourself.  

A Saturday at the Swap Meet

Today we wanted to give mommy a break and let her catch up on work. So I decided to take the little ones to the local swap meet in Sante Fe Springs. Parking can be a problem if you don’t get there early enough. We were lucky enough to get a parking spot near the entrance. Once we got in the entrance, the smell of churros and bacon wrapped hotdogs was in the air. We decided to check out a t-shirt vendor in the front and Duke saw a t-shirt he liked. The shirt had a diamond and said “Cali” on it. I thought it looked pretty cool, so we bought it and he threw it on. We kept it moving and looked around. You wouldn’t believe all the stuff this swap meet carries. They got everything!  Clothes, underwear, music, dvds, house decor, tools, pets, etc. You name it.  Most likely they have it.  Haha. I  was looking for a little Metallica shirt for Omar, but had no luck finding his size. They had some cool ones for toddlers 2T and up though. Duke was whining that he was hungry and hot. So we went to the middle of the swap meet where they have a food court and a shaded area with a live band playing. I was getting Duke some fries, and the security guard was laughing because Omar was dancing to the music. I got myself a beer and then we sat down and watched the band playing. They were called “Strange Days”. They were covering songs by The Doors and they were pretty good!  Omar was jamming out and kept bouncing himself. He loves rock 'n' roll music. Duke and I kept laughing, because he got so into it.  Once we finished up, Duke wanted to go ride the train in the lil amusement area. After that, we walked around some more.  I didn’t realize how long we were there until we saw a lot of vendors packing up and closing. We called it a day, picked up a pizza for dinner, and headed home. It was a fun Saturday with my babies.

-Chris


Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet
13963 Alondra Blvd.‎
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670

New Premium Salads at Chick-fil-A #FreshMade

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Chick-fil-A and Mom It Forward.  All thoughts are my own.

My family loves a good salad and the trouble with that is we almost always have to sit down in a restaurant to get a premium salad.  When you have two teenagers, a picky 7 year old and a busy 1 year old we call, "The Blur" it's difficult to actually enjoy a meal in a restaurant and not pay a pretty penny.  I want it fast with high quality ingredients at a price I can afford and not feel guilty about the cost and calories!  I'm kidding, I worry more about cost than calories!  We don't have dietary restrictions and aren't extreme about eating healthy but when we want to eat fruits and veggies, it's good to know that Chick-fil-A has a new menu that meets all of our needs!  

I had the honor of hosting a salad tasting party and backstage tour for blogger friends at my local Chick-fil-A restaurant in Buena Park, CA.  We learned about the company and the new offerings!

I go into detail below but I wanted to put it out there that you can order any of the salads with grilled chicken or Chick-fil-A Nuggets.  Each salad has completely different flavor profiles.  We didn't sample the enhanced Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap but I was intrigued by the new all-natural high-fiber flax bread.  Chick-fil-A doesn't have a secret menu but they do have gluten-free options!  YAY!

We had Peach Milkshake for dessert and it was perfection.  Real chunks of peaches!  Only in season till September - get you some!      

Blogger friends excited about their Chick-fil-A Backstage Tour passes: Lala of Delightful Ideas, Melanie of LA Explorer, Ann of Ann About Town, Minhchau & Victor of Formal Normal and Ruby of Growing Up Blackxican

Chick-fil-A Buena Park Operator Steve giving us the history about the company

Let's talk some facts:  Chick-fil-A added calorie counts to all their menu boards.  How transparent is that?  You don't have to go hunting for a pamphlet, it is right there clear as day next to the price.

The Asian Salad is my favorite and I'm not typically an asian salad fan.  My dislikes on asian salads are the crappy wontons, pungent dressing and excess of cabbage.  Chick-fil-A does it right, they don't do any of that - their asian salad has Chick-fil-A nuggets (pressure-cooked, sliced and served hot) on a fresh bed of chopped romaine lettuce and baby greens, topped with shredded red and green cabbage, carrots and mandarin orange segments.  Served with Honey Thai Almonds, Chinese Garlic & Ginger Wontons and Honey Sesame dressing.  330 calories and 13 grams of fat without dressing!  It is so filling, tasty and yummy!  

Grilled Market Salad is just as tasty and filling.  The combo of flavors really lights up your mouth.  It is refreshing.  The ingredients are grilled and sliced chicken breast served on a fresh bed of chopped romaine lettuce and baby greens, topped with shredded red cabbage and carrots, crumbled blue cheese and a mix of red and green apples, strawberries and blueberries.  Served with Harvest Nut Granola, Roasted Nut Blend and Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette.  This cool salad clocks in at 180 calories, 4 grams of fat without dressing!  Go wild!

Cobb Salad, I can remember the first time I tasted you - you were an instant fave.  I had never had anything like you before until I had a Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad!  This salad gave the asian salad a run and the reason is the Charred Tomato Crispy Red Bell Peppers.  Chick-fil-A should sell those as chips they are so good and so unique.  We are talking cooking show competition type stuff here.  The salad is Chick-fil-A Nuggets (pressure-cooked, sliced and served hot) on a fresh bed of chopped romaine lettuce and baby greens, topped with shredded red cabbage and carrots, roasted corn kernels (another fave!), a blend of shredded Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, crumbled bacon, diced eggs and grape tomatoes.  Served with Charred Tomato Crispy Red Bell Peppers and Avocado Lime Ranch dressing (this was a HUGE blogger fave!).  The Cobb Salad without dressing is only 430 calories and contains 39 grams of protein.

I really am so proud of my city - I love that my local Chick-fil-A does so much for the community.  Take a look at their board!

This cowbell is not in every restaurant - this is special to the Buena Park restaurant - I love ringing it when we leave!


We didn't have a clear winner on a favorite salad - you are just going to have to try it yourself!  
Follow @raisedbyculture on Twitter and like Raised by Culture on Facebook for a chance to win a giftcard to try the new Chick-fil-A salads!

Get Social with Chick-fil-A:  @ChickfilA on Twitter / Chick-fil-A on Facebook