Omie's First Christmas - A Trip To See Santa!

Chris and I aren't the type of parents to take the kids to see Santa every year.  From what I've seen, the Santas aren't what they used to be and the pictures are pricey.  I was invited to check out the Macy's Santa Tour at MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana and I was a skeptic.    But the minute I saw the big guy himself, I began to believe again.  This Santa looked and acted like I had always pictured him to be.  Santa sang to us, read us a story and he is the type of Santa I want my sons to believe in.  I can't thank you enough Macy's for all the new holiday traditions we started this year - Thanksgiving Day Parade and now, a trip to see Santa!  

Not only were we able to take as many pictures of our kids with Santa as we wanted but each kid was given a holiday plush, coloring book and crayons.  The best part of all was that every kid could mail a letter to Santa in the special mailbox and for every letter received, Macy's donates $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation (up to $1 million).   

We got to meet Make-A-Wish kid Sarah Poulsen.  Sarah is 8 years old and has juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.  She wants to be a chef and Macy's gifted her with the cutest chef apron, hat and basket of cooking and baking goodies!

Santa was dozing off during story time and Sarah had to wake him up!  (He's a busy man, kids!)

My gorgeous littles!  One of the elves had Omie's attention!

Omie's First Christmas!  He's checking out Santa and we asked Duke why his arm is all funky and he said he didn't want to put it on Santa's belly (LOL)

Gift from Aflac, Thank you! You can buy the Aflac Holiday Duck 2012 online or at Macy's - All proceeds go to over 50 hospitals dedicated to the research and treatment of pediatric cancer.

Two letters to the North Pole!


For more info on all of Macy's Holiday Events, visit macys.com/holidayevents
    

Disclosure: I am a member of the Everywhere Society and Everywhere provided me with compensation for this post about Macy's Santa Tour.  However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own. #culture #newtraditions 

10th Annual Noche de Altares in Santa Ana, CA

This will be our 3rd year attending Noche de Altares in Santa Ana.  It's an amazing Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead celebration in Orange County.  Santa Ana Art Walk happens to fall on the same night as Noche de Altares.  There is so much to see and do so we make a family day/night out of it.  I always encourage friends and family to check it out.  My friend Ariana came to visit last year specifically for California Halloween / Dia de los Muertos fun!

Here are my tips for Noche de Altares:

• Get there early!  Especially if you want to find good parking.  Noche de Altares starts at 1pm and it gets BUSY!
• Bring cash!  Almost all the street vendors only take cash.  
• Wear comfy shoes and bring a jacket/hoodie/coat.  Southern California weather has been weird, it does get cooler at night.
• Bring your camera!  
• La Catrina starts her procession at 4:30pm.  You do not want to miss the lighting of the candles.
• Bathrooms - GCAC, OCCCA and Santora Arts Building are your best bet.  
• I suggest checking out the altars in the day and again at night.  Trust me, there is a difference!  

El Centro Cultural de Mexico & Calacas Inc. proudly present
10th Annual Noche de Altares
Saturday, November 3rd, 2012
4th and Birch Streets,
Santa Ana, CA

Free/Gratis

Schedule of Events
1:00 pm – 1:20 pm              Santa Ana Youth Skit/Kids Cumbia Class
1:25 pm – 1:55 pm              Chinelos
2:00 pm – 2:40 pm              Centro Ballet Folclorico
2:45 pm – 3:25 pm              Mariachi de Santa Ana High School
3:35 pm – 4:20 pm              Son del Centro
4:30 pm – 5:10 pm              Olmeca

4:30 pm Sunset              
La Catrina begins Procession & Lighting Candles

5:20 pm – 6:10 pm              Santaneros
6:20 pm – 7:10 pm              Banda Estrella de Michoacan
7:25 pm – 8:20 pm              La Misa Negra http://www.lamisanegra.com
8:35 pm – 9:30 pm              La Santa Maria http://www.lsmmusic.com



Here is a compilation of art shows from galleries we love:  

Siempre Es Hoy at OCCCA
Curated by Sol Art Gallery
6-11pm

Bringing Out The Dead Group Show at GCS Santa Ana
7-11pm

Note*  GCS is located on street level at the Santora Arts Building.  There is a basement level that is home to The ARTbar and several other galleries.  Santora Arts Building is gorgeous, it is also home to Santa Ana College Arts Gallery on the 2nd Floor.  There are also other galleries on the 2nd Floor.    

Tony de los Reyes at Grand Central Art Center
Border Theory
www.tonydelosreyes.com
7-10pm



Shops: The ARTbar / Librería Martínez / The Road Less Traveled Store
Food: Memphis at the Santora / Lola Gaspar / Playground / Gypsy Den / Chapter One

Downtown Santa Ana

Here's a map I made of the areas for Noche de Altares and Santa Ana Art Walk.  Enjoy!

View Noche de Altares / Santa Ana Art Walk in a larger map

Disclosure:  This is not a sponsored post.  We love Santa Ana Art District and support Noche de Altares and Santa Ana Art Walk.