Stay local and booked with these festivities. El Nino might put some holiday snow on the local mountains, but down at Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm, the snow will follow on scheduled times. Bright, warm sunlight won’t keep you from skating on the ice. It’s a Southern California holiday that...
Check out these educational, fun and functional gift ideas for the family. Play Smashers Monster Truck Surprise Get ready to build, race, crash and smash to discover and construct your Monster Truck. Features 25 smashing surprises. Ages 3+ $24.99 | amazon.com Story Time Backgammon Teaches young kids and adults how...
(Photo Courtesy of Desiree Williams) Local physical therapist and TV personality offers seven tips to help new moms create a healthier lifestyle for the whole family. Welcome to the most impactful, exhausting, overwhelming, all-encompassing, full-time job you will ever have — motherhood! As a new mom, finding the balance between...
(Photo Courtesy of Ralph/Discovery Cube OC) Discovery Cube Orange County creates its first-ever STEM musical in time for the holiday season. It’s the night before the big science fair, and 17-year-old high school student Lumina is working feverishly in her makeshift Santa Ana garage lab amid storage bins and holiday...
Holidays at Disneyland Stay local this holiday vacation season. From theme parks to boat parades, the holiday fun for families doesn’t stop. Here are some of our favorites to keep your calendar full. The fake snow is falling at scheduled times each day. The palm trees are all sparkly and...
Still don’t know what to get the kids? We got you covered with this toy and game gift guide sure to light up your kids’ holidays. Create & Play Magnetic Monsters A monstrously good time awaits as kids create one-of-a-kind monsters by mixing & matching magnetic heads, arms, torsos and...
(Photo Courtesy of iStock) With the festive season fast approaching, it’s incredibly important for parents to give themselves the time and space to prepare for the upcoming challenges. For adults, the holiday season can be incredibly overwhelming. We are exposed to a constant stream of advertising, our communities and homes...
(Photo Courtesy of Canva) This Father’s Day, we’re reflecting on the life lessons that fathers can pass on to their children — particularly boundaries. Father’s Day is just around the corner. There are so many essential life lessons that dads pass on to their children. Father’s Day is a reminder...
(Photo Courtesy of Park Hyatt Aviara, Carlsbad) Beyond LEGOLAND and sandy beaches, a great resort is transformed into something extraordinary. Ranging from laid-back to luxurious, Carlsbad has many looks: venture beyond Legoland and you’ll find some of SoCal’s most beautiful beaches, three waterfowl-packed lagoons to explore, dozens of easy-walking trails,...
(Photo Courtesy of Canva) Unwrap excitement this season with on-trend stocking stuffers and unique local finds for everyone on your list. FOR KIDS (Photo Courtesy of Red & Olive) Red & Olive Co. Stuffed Dolls Each doll created by stepmother-and-daughter team Lita Barreda and Destiny Conner has its own personality,...
When dress-up enters the realm of mockery it’s cultural appropriation EDITOR’S NOTE: Born out of an online discussion that was sparked by the George Floyd protests, Nubia-Feliciano’s monthly column offers inspiration, tools and conversation starters to assist parents in raising a compassionate next generation. Like everything else in 2020, Halloween...
Get the family into the Halloween spirit this year with these fun products. Feeling Witchy Gift Box Feeling that Halloween itch? This gift box from Peace Organics includes a black charcoal cold-process soap bar, a candle of choice and a box of matches. The candle is available in several fall...
An Occasion to Learn More About the Black-Latino Connection EDITOR’S NOTE: Born out of an online discussion that was sparked by the George Floyd protests, Nubia-Feliciano’s monthly column will offer inspiration, tools and conversation starters to assist parents in raising a compassionate next generation. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually...
Celestial Silk’s 25 Momme Silk Pillowcases Not only are silk pillowcases great for your hair and skin, they are at the height of luxury. Celestial Silk’s 25 Momme Pure Mulberry Silk Pillowcase will help your mom feel like a queen. The pillowcases regulate body temperature to keep you warm in...
Readers share their favorite places to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Amber Waves Restaurant Buena Park “We went to Knott’s Amber Waves Restaurant for their Valentine’s deal … and it blew us away! The price: unbelievable. The service and food was amazing. They gave each woman a rose as you left. It...
BetterAir Cold and flu season is in full effect. According to the EPA, the more time we spend indoors, the more harmful microorganisms we come into contact with. Rid your home or office of harmful pathogens and allergens this winter with BetterAir’s environmental purification system. The company offers a unique...
Anaheim-resident Daniel Barrett is creating a way kids can give to kids in need. Daniel Barrett (pictured above) remembers his rough childhood all too well. Fortunately, he learned a few things from it and he insists it doesn’t have to be that way for every kid. While he’s not trying...
Santa Claus is coming to a town near you. Irvine Park Railroad’s Christmas Train Sunday December 1-Monday December 23 Take a little ride to the North Pole to meet Santa, share your wish list, and have a photo with him. Santa’s Village presents more holiday merriment: carnival games, cookie decorating,...
Your guide to holiday shopping at Orange County-based businesses. FOR KIDS Learn to Surf Let the pros teach your little ones how to surf the best waves with surf lessons at Newport Beach-based Learn to Surf. All surf instructors are either lifeguards or pro surfers ready to teach all ages...
PICK OF THE MONTH: Knott’s Merry FarmSaturday, December 1 - Monday, January 6The fun of Knott’s Merry Farm is now underway and continues through Jan. 5 with all its usual merriment and some new additions, too. This year, the park debuts a new holiday-themed production at the Calico Mine Stage...
Roger’s Gardens’ Christmas Boutique Friday November 1-Wednesday December 25 Roger’s Gardens can help make your 12 days of Christmas last almost two months with the return of its Christmas Boutique. “Enchanted Christmas” is this year’s theme, and you will undoubtedly have an enchanting time wandering around all the wondrous decorative...
PICK OF THE MONTH: Holidays at the Disneyland ResortFriday, November 8 - Monday, January 6“World of Color — Season of Light” again illuminates evenings at California Adventure, where you can also experience Disney Festival of Holidays and Santa’s Holiday Visits. Disneyland presents the festive “A Christmas Fantasy” parade and “Believe…in...
These OC Halloween enthusiasts are so passionate it’s scary. The Pirate's Cave Haunt Dave Larson started building his first haunted house in his parents’ garage back when he was in junior high school. He never stopped. Only now, he’s building with his own son, Jacob, a 15-year-old sophomore at Villa...
Create trendy costumes for your kids without breaking the bank. Every year there’s a new batch of movies, TV shows, comic books and other forms of pop culture outlets to stimulate the imagination of our kids’ curious minds. And every year, on Oct. 31, they have the chance to bring...
PICK OF THE MONTH Parenting OC’s Learn & Grow Expo Saturday, October 5 This health, education and special needs expo gives families the opportunity to connect with more than 60 exhibitors that focus on healthy living. These are experts in the community that can offer parents valuable tools, experience and...
Moxxly Flow For moms who are breastfeeding, there is finally an easier way to pump on the go. The Moxxly Flow Accessory Kit is made especially with working moms in mind, allowing them to pump discreetly from any location. The smaller and more efficient sizing of the pump makes the...
PICK OF THE MONTHBear Awareness DaySaturday, May 4th Ursine enthusiasts will barely be able to contain their excitement over today’s activities (10 am–3 pm). Gather family and friends for a day of bear-themed activities, zookeeper chats and more. Chat with bear keepers and visit learning stations where you can discover...
Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to show the sweeties in your life how sweet they are. And there are plenty of places in Orange County to help you get your sugar fix. Treat your kids (or spouse) to any of these unique desserts for a happy heart day. Honey...
Get your heart rate up and your om on with these Valentines Getaways for Body Buddies, Golf Lovers and Snorkeling Sweethearts. As we head into February, odds are you have already broken your New Year’s resolution to get fit and lose weight. Statistics show 80% of us fail to stick...
Scrap the usual New Year’s resolutions and make a vision board instead. New Year’s resolutions can give us fresh hope and perspective, starting us on new habits. Or, possibly more often, they become a millstone of our own making around our necks, dragging us down as we fail over time...
Working at night, crews with cranes & ladders transform theme parks for the holidays in a hurry. Visiting local theme parks is an extra special experience for families during the holidays as the parks are dressed in their holiday best. But it takes fast-working crews to, in a matter of...
Unique, trending and local — suggestions for everyone on your list For the Family 52 Essential Conversations Card Game A busy mom of three, Jenny Woo, of Irvine, wanted to create something to help maximize quality time with her children. She came up with a simple yet effective card game....
Get inventive with these toy options for kids this Halloween. Maybe it’s time for us to be spoilsports, just a little bit, starting with this Halloween. There was once a time when you couldn’t get me to consider giving a trick-or-treater anything other than candy. Chocolate, in fact, was a...
Three mischievous spirits roam the decks, cabins and Engine Room on The Queen Mary. The Queen Mary is home to a long and varied history full of legend and ghostly tales. More than a few stories have been shared of ghostly apparitions and unexplained occurrences. On a recent visit to...
Halloween is a time for creativity and innovation—and it doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Put together some fun and memorable Halloween ensembles with these quick tips from local Halloween experts: “Great creative and start early,” said Liz Merritt, visual specialist assistant and Halloween costume expert at...
PICK OF THE MONTH Pageant of the Monsters October 26-28, 31 The legendary Pageant of the Masters transforms into the spookier Pageant of the Monsters this month. But this masterfully creepy event doesn’t come around every Halloween, so you don’t want to miss it. Located on the grounds of Laguna...
Comfy and summery items from local vendors and beyond. OC Girl Hello Kitty Tankini This adorable baby blue Tankini with seashell pattern features a Mermaid Hello Kitty on the chest with bow detail on the back. Comes in sizes 2T-6. $54; available online at Oneill.com, Sanrio.com and at select Sanrio...
Along with trees to trim and halls to deck, it seems the holiday season brings added stress for everyone. For those suffering from even mild depression, the holidays can tip the scales from “doing okay,” to not. That’s easy to understand because the holidays have gone from being a simple...
It's that time of year again and we present the 2017 Parenting OC Annual Holiday Gift Guide. We've got out-of-the-box stocking stuffers that prove that big things come in small packages, unique wheels and outdoor fun options for the whole family, dolls with an eye to giving and multicultural celebration,...
Smithsonian Motorized 3D Puzzles Part puzzle, part wind-up marching toy, these Smithsonian Institute-inspired wild things will be a crowd pleaser for all ages. Dinos and endangered species available, fun fact and info cards included. $4, www.skullduggery.com HEROCLIP This mom-invented 3-in-1 clip, swivel, and hook can hang anything up to 50...
Basic Outfitters Create-a-Drawer This personalized drawer of essentials just brought the classic grandma socks-and-undies gift to the next level. Pick a set of stylish socks, underwear, undershirts and bonus wildcard item (we love the Christmas pug boxers and lumberjack longjohns) and refresh your wardrobe from the inside out. $60, www.basicoutfitters.com...
Goobi and Goobi Juniors Magnetic Construction Set These ingenious magnetic design tools let creators build 360 degrees of fun, and their little sibs get in on the fun without worries about choking/swallowing. The award-winning design even got a rare certification from Toy Safety Standards in the USA, for children one...
Adora Dolls This progressive OC-based company makes these wildly realistic and award-winning dolls with BPA Free and non-toxic materials so you can feel good as your little one snuggles up. We love their expressive features, different ethnicities, and wealth of boy dolls and gender neutral accessories for inclusive play. $119,...
Max Traxxx Tracer Racer Remote Control Twin Loop Set Light Trail Technology turns cars into blazing streaks of light on Skullduggery’s Glow-in-the-Dark track. Perfect for both beginning and advanced race fans as variable speed remote control cars and adjustable track heights allow racers to control course difficulty. (Includes glow-in-the-dark dual...
Oakley Line Miner PRIZM Goggle These Oakley’s offer the ultimate in peripheral vision thanks to a cylindrical style design which helps the goggle hug close to the face. Downward and side-to-side periphery is enhanced by new PRIZM Inferno lenses. $150, www.Oakley.com K2 Spyne 120 Heat If the thought of skiing...
Web Riderz Swing This 39” platform swing is safety-rated to carry up to 600 pounds, for outdoor fun with sibs or friends. Hang from two points for traditional back-and-forth or from a single point to spin merry-go-round style. M&M’s tire swing line is made from repurposed tires, making them not...
Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder Kids will certainly channel the force when they hop into this vehicle, modeled after the sand-pocked and sun-faded X-34 craft from Star Wars: A New Hope. With seats for 2 riders (up to 130lb), an interactive dashboard with lights and real movie sounds, and conservative 5mph driving...
Gel-a-Peel Studio Release your child’s inner fashion designer with these easy to use gel silk-screening stencils and accessories to create unique tees, clutches, book covers and more. The 15 design templates offer endless decorating options. $25, target.com Project Mc2 Perfume Maker Get your sweet, sweet science on with this perfume...
WÜSTHOF CLASSIC IKON 7 Piece Block For instant satisfaction while whipping up your signature dish or a fancy cheese tray for the fam, there is no replacement for a great knife. This classic block offers everything you need to filet, trim and chop up a feast. (Includes a 3 1/2”...
Beats by Dr. Dre Studio3 Wireless Traveling with a crying baby is rough, even if it happens to be your own. Tagteam with your partner to protect one parent’s sleep and sanity with these Over Ear headphones (or slip over a sibs’ ears to keep them in snoozeville). This new...
Los Cerritos Center’s Santa HQ Friday December 1-Saturday December 24 At this interactive experience, kids not only can meet, and get a photo with, Santa, but they can check out the Elf-Ray Vision and the Naughty-or-Nice ‘O Meter. Santa HQ guests are invited to bring new unwrapped toys or sports...
Nutcracker Luncheon & Sugar Plum Tea Sunday December 3 Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort | 2110 PCH, Huntington Beach 714-962-5440 | www.festivalballet.org Ballet Etudes’ The Nutcracker December 2–3, 9–10 Huntington Beach High School Auditorium | 1905 Main Street, Huntington Beach 855-222-2849 | balletetudes.com/performances Laguna Dance Theatre’s The Nutcracker Thursday December 15–Sunday...
A parental guide to film watching as a family. Star Wars-The Last Jedi Cast: Oscar Isaac, Benicio Del Toro, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher. MPAA Rating: PG-13. Opens: December 15. Plot: The second film in the famed and incredibly popular sequel trilogy digs into Rey’s past and...
October is here and that means one important night to a kid: Halloween. And with Halloween comes every parent’s worst nightmare: CANDY! Many parents groan as they think of the sugary loot our littles bring in from the festive fall night. How can you best celebrate this holiday and navigate...
At a loss for ideas for this year’s costume? Below are 26 DIY options, one for each letter of the alphabet. Each one is just an outline, fashion yours with whatever you have on hand. Have fun! Angel Use an oversized white dress, robe or shirt. Belt with thick gold...
Thankfulness should come easy. I preach thankfulness to our kids, correct my husband if he forgets to say thank you, and have taught the dogs to bark and smile when I give them their morning treat. Not really, but I wish. I can spell “thank you,” define the word perfectly,...
Activity Kits Kiss Naturals Kits Kids learn about what goes into lip balms when they mix beeswax, Shea butter and safflower oil to get the perfect formulation into a jar, or a twist-up tube. This all natural kids’ cosmetics line pulls back the curtain on what goes into beauty products...
A parental guide to film watching as a family. Trolls Cast Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Russell Brand, James Corden, and Gwen Stefani. MPAA Rating PG Opens November 4 Plot After the Trolls make a daredevil escape from the Troll-eating Bergens, this story picks up some 20 years later. Princess...
Hallmark is great, drugstore cheapies have a certain allure, but there’s no beating the heart of a hand-crafted Valentine. Here are a few fun ideas to try with the kids, young and old. Free-Form Striped Heart Making this heart-shaped image is self-explanatory, but kids will love adding personal flair to...