WIN! Creamistry Liquid Nitrogen Ice-Cream! | @CreamistryInc #BelmontShores #Giveaway

Have you heard of the latest ice-cream craze?  Imagine fresh made, icicle free, creamy ice-cream that can be made to order in just 2 minutes, in front of you!  At Creamistry, you get just that.

What makes Creamistry different than other ice-cream shops?  Liquid Nitrogen.

This week were invited to try this anomaly for ourselves at Creamistry's newest location in Belmont Shores.

When the specially trained "Creamologists" inject liquid nitrogen into the mixing bowl, combining it with the ice cream mix, the liquid nitrogen quickly evaporates into a big cloud of smoke. Within seconds, the liquid nitrogen has vanished and you're left with the freshest, creamiest, most indulgent ice cream.

ARCHERY OUTPOST: Great Indoor Archery Range | @ArcheryOutpost #LosAlamitos

With the Hunger Games movies so popular, Archery has gained momentum in popularity with the next generation.  

I have loved the archery sport since I was a child and finally took re-curved bow lessons in college but as life often does, I hadn't shot an arrow in 15 years.  My husband hunts and started looking into hunting using a compound bow.  Soon our children wanted to learn.  

As I watched my family having a great time at our local outdoor archery range at El Dorado Park, I started to get the itch.  For Christmas I received my first compound bow and it took awhile to get it adjusted properly to my arm length and strength. 

Since archers are on their own at El Dorado Park unless you take a class, I looked elsewhere.  

I discovered the Archery Outpost only 10 minutes from my house and less than 5 minutes from El Dorado Park in Los Alamitos.

The Archery Outpost is an indoor range as opposed to the outdoor El Dorado Park range.  This was great as I was able to practice in all weather.  

Mimi's Cafe's New Frites Menu | @Mimis_cafe #MimisCafeFritesGrill #French

This is a post written by Mary Tran for Mimi's Cafe. All opinions are our own.

On Thursday, October 16th, we attended a menu sampling of Mimi's Cafe's new Frites Grill Menu. Featuring five new classic meat and potato combinations, the menu includes Steak Frites, Roasted Chicken & Frites, Grilled Chicken & Frites, Grilled Atlantic Salmon & Frites, and Meyer Lemon Mussels & Frites. 

It took Mimi’s culinary team more than two months in France to perfect the frites recipe. They sampled authentic French frites and talked to local chefs in brasseries, bistros, and Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris, Brittany, and Normandy. The frites are hand-cut, fried-to-order, never frozen, and made with real Russet potatoes.

WIN TICKETS: Knott's Scary Farm! Check Out What's New at Knott's | @Knotts #ScaryFarm #MerryFarm

Knott's Scary Farm has been incredible this year and I want to give you the chance to win tickets to go yourself and experience the horror for yourselves!  Knott's Scary Farm is only open for another week!

Which maze or experience are you looking forward to the most?  The Tooth Fairy?  Infected?  Elvira?  Ghost Town where you never know what horrors will jump out at you through pea-soup thick fog is a favorite. 

Earth To Echo DVD/Blu-Ray Giveaway! | @FHEInsiders #EchoInsiders #Spon

Earth to Echo

Earth to Echo is a movie that slipped under my radar this year at the theaters and now that it is out on DVD/Blu-Ray, I plan to check it out ASAP!  My kids love space and this movie seems right up their alley!

Earth to Echo is a tale told through the eyes of Tuck, Munch and Alex, a trio of pals who make an out-of-this-world discovery. The best friends venture out of their neighborhood to find the true meaning of friendship. After receiving signals on their phones, they meet Echo, a small, but amazingly energetic, alien trying to make his way back to his home planet. As they race to help their new friend, the boys will discover that little Echo has touched their hearts in unexpected ways and changed their lives forever. 

Huggies Snug and Dry SureFit* Diapers and Natural Care Wipes | @Huggies #MC #Sponsored

 I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central for Huggies and Target. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

As a caretaker for twin infants, we go through a ton of diapers and wipes. The last thing we need are the occasional blowouts. Now that they are crawling and pulling themselves up to stand, we need Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers which has a SureFit* design for up to 12 hours of leakage protection.

Ticket Giveaway: STEAM Carnival! Fun, Unique and Educational | @STEAMCarnival #SanPedro #Crafted

Imagine a carnival that is educational, high energy and tech-infused and still designed to thrill, amuse, and re-imagine the way we learn.

The STEAM Carnival in San Pedro does just that!  The Los Angeles STEAM Carnival debuts October 25-26, 2014 from 11am-7pm at CRAFTED at the Port of LA.

What To Expect:

• PLAY custom built games for family fun
• BUILD robots that play music
• EXPLORE technology infused fashion pieces
• RACE friends through a giant laser maze
• CHEER on circus acrobats and fire breathers
• LEARN about science, technology, engineering, art, and math
• ENJOY fun foods and tasting games

Day Out With Thomas: Win Tickets for this Fun Family Event | @OrangeEmpireRail #DOWT #GIVEAWAY

A Day Out With Thomas™ the Tank Engine & Friends 

It is that time of year again when our favorite train, Thomas, makes his way to the Orange Empire Museum in Perris and I have tickets to give away to a lucky winner!

Beloved children's choo-choo train Thomas and his railway friend Percy are chugging into the Orange Empire Railway Museum to greet fans of all ages. Departure dates are Nov. 8, 9, 11, 15 and 16.

Day Out With Thomas™: 9*6+85/6 offers aspiring engineers and their families the opportunity to take a 25-minute ride with the famous #1 engine. This year, for the first time, Percy, the locomotive, will be at the Orange Empire Railway Museum. Children can also meet Sir Topham Hatt®, the Superintendent of the Railroad. 

Win Mr. Peabody and Sherman DVD/Blu-Ray! Free Printables | @FHEInsiders #MrPeabody

Did you ever wish that you could go back in time to experience the Trojan Horse or Ancient Egypt in person?  Mr. Peabody and Sherman helps you do just that with the WABAC Machine.

Mr. Peabody raises Sherman as his own son in the slightly unconventional Dog/(human son) family.  Despite their differences, they come together in love and acceptance as families do.  

Mr. Peabody, a genius, creates the WABAC Machine which gives Sherman the childhood education that dreams are made of.  Living his history lessons instead of reading about them!

Mr. Peabody and Sherman is based upon the beloved characters that first appeared in in the late 1950s and early 1960s animated television series “Rocky and His Friends” and “The Bullwinkle Show,” produced by Jay Ward.

Del Taco Fresca Bowls: Win a $20 Gift Card to Try Them! | @DelTaco #FrescaBowls

Del Taco's Fresca Bowls, a new twist on our old favorites!  I love that I can find a healthier choice for fast food and Del Taco has succeeded again.

Have you heard about the new Del Taco's Fresca Bowls?  

Priced at just $4 each, Del Taco’s Fresca Bowls are served on a bed of fresca lime rice and seasoned black beans, and are offered in the following three varieties:

• Southwest Grilled Chicken & Veggie Bowl combines fresh-grilled chicken and a blend of fire-roasted, red and green bell peppers, caramelized onions and flavorful Poblano peppers
• Pollo Asado Grilled Chicken Bowl is made with marinated, fresh-grilled chicken, hand-chopped pico de gallo salsa, onions and cilantro
• Fire Roasted Veggie Bowl features Del Taco’s tangy green chile sauce, freshly-chopped pico de gallo salsa, and a blend of roasted vegetables

Girl Scouts of Orange County: Fall Products Preview and Giveaway! | @GirlScoutsOC #Giveaway

You might see your local Girl Scout Troops at the grocery stores earlier this year!  No, not for cookies.  Girl Scouts are branching out into a new venture for their Fall Program.  

You can expect to see a wide variety of:

• Nuts
• Chocolates
• Photo keepsakes 
• Magazines

The sales are not just to raise money for the troop activities but to teach our girls the importance of life skills such as:

• Goal setting
• Money management
• Decision making
• People skills
• Business ethics
• Learning how to give back as they donate snacks and nuts to food banks and magazines to the military through the "Care to Share" program.

Haunted Hollywood Sports! Killing Zombies with Airsoft and Paintball! | @HauntedHSP #HauntedHSP

Last week, I tried something completely different and LOVED it!  I had a date night with my hubby and close friends and shot zombies!  Okay, maybe they were actors in costume but they REALLY got our blood pumping!

Airsoft and Paintball shooting had been on my list to try for awhile and when my invitation came to combine the two with zombies at Haunted Hollywood Sports?  I couldn't turn it down.  

Haunted Hollywood Sports has food, drinks, mazes, shooting galleries, photo-ops and our favorite, the Kill Houses!  The Kill Houses have you donning on safety goggles and protective vests with Velcro'd flags attached.  The goal is to get through the obstacle course/houses without being "killed" by the zombies.  Kill them before they kill you.

The zombies are in full protective gear as I can imagine that the pellets would seriously hurt after an hour or two!  Imagine having the walking dead chasing you and your team through dark hallways and courtyards!  It is like being in the TV show!  

A Frightfully Good Time at Queen Mary's Dark Harbor | @QMDarkHarbor #EvilLurksWithin

Are you aware that the Queen Mary is haunted?  There have been numerous ghost hunters and ghost sightings all over this historic ship.  Come to Dark Harbor at the Queen Mary during October and you might get more than you bargained for!

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, Dark Harbor is a great night out with the girls or hubby!   I loved how my girlfriends and I clung together as we ran through the mazes and bowels of the ship.

When we arrived at the Media Night preview, we were greeted by a host of walking zombies.  Everywhere we walked, we were spooked and surprised by them jumping and sliding past us!

Dawn Dish Soap Helping the Environment for 25 Years w/ International Bird Rescue | @DawnDish #DawnDayintheWildlife

You may have noticed that I have a passion for animals.  My degrees are in Biology, Ecology, Zoo-keeping, Conservation, and Animal Management.  

My family has been long standing in helping take care of the environment, being active in beach cleanups above and below the water.  This year marks my 22 year volunteering at the Avalon Harbor Cleanup!

What you may NOT have known is that I used to volunteer at the Marine Mammal Center in San Pedro.  I worked every week, trying to help rehabilitate California Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Elephant Seals and Northern Fur Seals.  Our teams payment was to see the animals that we cared for (sometimes 24 hours) be released back into the ocean fully healed.

Next door to the Marine Mammal Center is the International Bird Rescue where they take in any injured bird.  Up until last week, I had not had a chance to step foot inside although I had dropped off several birds to be rescued.

I was invited to a special event on World Animal Day to experience the ins and outs of the Intl. Bird Center with a couple special guests.

Are you a Pretty Little Liars Fan?  Entourage?  We were joined up with animal activist/actors, Keegan Allen and Adrian Grenier!  Did you know they are passionate about helping wildlife?  They  wanted to get hands on experience with some of the injured animals and be a part of that days successful releases.  

PUMPKIN PATCH DISCOUNTS: Los Angeles, Orange County and Inland Empire

It is that time of year again!  The tents are going up and a sea of orange pumpkins await our kids delight.  The games and activities can get expensive at the local pumpkin patches.   I have scoured the internet for discounts and deals.  I hope this list helps!  If you hear of any other discounts, please send me a note and I will add them to the list.

Boulder Creek Harvest Festival

Hesperia 19099 Lemon St.
Hesperia, California 92345
760-244-0096

Each year, Boulder Creek Ranch transforms itself into a venue for the autumnal revelry known as the Boulder Creek Harvest Festival. During the week, guests trundle about the farm on hayrides, cavort with baby goats in the petting zoo, or pick out their next jack-o'-lantern or replacement head in the pumpkin patch. At the playground and bounce house, kids can build up their cardiovascular endurance with fast-paced trick-or-treating on October 26 and 27.

http://www.groupon.com/deals/boulder-creek-harvest-festival

Knotts Scary Farm: Date Night Horrors | @Knotts #ScaryFarm #ItsHere #ad

This last week, Knott's Scary Farm opened for the 2014 season. Saturday, my hubby and I was invited to see what we thought of the new mazes, zombie killing, shows and of course Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

As Knotts Scary Farm is one of our favorite adult traditions, we couldn't wait.  The new Special Ops: Infected zombie killing area was what we were looking forward to the most!  We are big Walking Dead fans so getting the chance to do shoot zombies was right up our alley!

 

We started off with a wonderful dinner in the Fiesta de los Muertos area with decorations galore.   The food was fabulous and the desserts and drinks made being scared even better!   We even had visits from some of the spooks themselves!