The second concert at each park has fun things for kids to do as well, it is called Art at Jazz.  Art At Jazz offers hands-on visual arts activities for younger TGIF Jazz audience members. Instructors and volunteers guide the children as they make works of art in planned activities.

Art At Jazz  dates in 2013

• Stagecoach Park: July 5
• Poinsettia Park: July 26
• Calavera Hills Park: August 16

Summer movies in the park is a fun and free family event that begins May 17 and will play all summer through September 21.  All of the movies are rated G or PG, the movies range from animated movies like Wreck-It-Ralph and Brave to We Bought a Zoo and The Avenges.  The movies begin about 15 minutes after dusk, some movies are subject to change.  The most up-to-date information can be found on the Summer Movies in the Park – San Diego Facebook page, enjoy!

• 2 Chicken Breasts cut into pieces
• 1 Large Orange (zest & juice)
• 1 Zucchini chopped (add while cooking)
• Mushrooms (add while cooking)
• 1 Carrot chopped (add while cooking)
• 3 tbsp Sesame Oil (1 tbsp is for cooking)
• 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
• 3 tbsp Agave

Combine all ingredients (aside from the vegetables) into a large freezer bag.  Orange zest, orange juice, 2 tbsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 3 tbsp agave, then add the chicken.  If the marinade does not cover all of the chicken add some water (1/4 cup) to ensure the marinade is surrounding the chicken.  Place the bag into the fridge for at least an hour, it can marinate all day.

When ready to cook add 1 tbsp sesame oil to a large skillet over medium heat, use tongs and add chicken to the skillet.  Make sure to add some of the marinade while cooking the chicken.  Add the vegetables and let cook uncovered for 5 minutes.  Use tongs to flip chicken and cover skilled for 4-5 minutes or until chicken and vegetables are cooked.  Once fully cooked serve with orange slices, green onions or scallions as garnish and enjoy!

Below is a list of all of the studio’s and their new client specials and if the first class is free.  Try one out and let me know what you think!

Regal Movie Theater’s has just released the schedule for the Summer Movie Express.  The movies are all rated G or PG so the movies are great for kids of all ages and it is only $1 per person to attend.  All of the movies begin at 10 AM on Tuesday’s and Wednesdays throughout the summer.  Every week there are two different movies playing so the hardest decision will probably be which movie to see.  The start date for movie theaters vary so I have listed the start dates below the list of movies.  The list below is for California if you are outside of California you may find the full list here.  Enjoy!

If you become a Regal Crown Club member (free to join) there are great perks and discounts.   A great discount we always take advantage of is $2 popcorn on Tuesday’s for all Regal Crown Club members.

Flower Fields @ Carlsbad – If you have not visited the flower fields in Carlsbad yet this season this is a great time to go!  The pictures alone are worth the price of admission, for a $2 off coupon click here.  For more information on the Carlsbad Flower Fields click here.

Sunday, May 5

Carlsbad Street Faire @ Carlsbad Village - This fun and free event will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Grand and Jefferson streets.  The Carlsbad street faire is the largest one day street faire in the nation and one we never miss!  There will be over 900 vendors so you are sure to find something you will enjoy!  For more information click here.

Cinco De Mayo @ Old Town – Another fun free family event will be held in Old Town San Diego from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  This event will also be held on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you are bringing your children I would recommend the Sunday event as it is usually more family related things to do.  For more information click here.

With over 900 vendors selling everything from clothes & accessories, plants, household products, art, antiques and home decor. The delicious international food court will host more than 50 booths with everything from Thai to Hawaiian cuisine.

If you are bringing the kids don’t miss the children’s area!  There is everything to entertain youngsters with games, a super slide, a bounce house, a rock climbing wall, face painting and arts and crafts.

Not bringing the kids?  Then head over to the beer and wine garden and check out the large screen TV’s and enjoy live music.

Enjoy!

1 pound ground turkey (I used lean ground turkey but you don’t have to)
1 medium onion chopped
1-2 cloves garlic minced (use two if you love garlic like me)
1 cup Franks Buffalo Sauce (half to cook with half to drizzle on top)
1 tsp olive oil

Romain Lettuce Hearts (Trader Joes)
4 Celery sticks chopped
2 carrots – slivers (I used a potato peeler)
Blue Cheese Crumbles
Ranch Dressing

Add olive oil to a skillet, wait for it to heat up, add the chopped onion, and cook about 5-7 minutes or until you can see through the cooked onion. Add the garlic cook a few minutes, add ground turkey. Once ground turkey is cooked add 1/2 cup of Franks Buffalo sauce and stir together for a few minutes.

Add cooked turkey onto lettuce, add celery, carrot slivers, blue cheese crumbles, and ranch dressing and enjoy!

Rubio’s is hosting the second annual Beach Cleanup & Party to celebrate World Oceans Day 2013!  The event will begin at 10 am and run until 2 pm on May 11th at the Oceanside Pier Amphitheatre, located at 200 N. The Strand in Oceanside.  The beach cleanup will be from 10 am to 11 am with the party starting right after at 11 am.

There will be tons of fun for children and adults with free surf lessons, face painting, fun beach games and much more.  Have I mentioned the free food and drinks yet?  Did you also notice this is an event hosted by Rubio’s?  Which means not only delicious food but free as well!  What is better than that?  Stick around for the live music provided by 94.9FM and Jet West, don’t miss the interactive Game Booth provided by GameStop as well!  There really is something for everyone, free surf lessons for the beach bum, free face painting for the kids, free food for well everyone, and if you are a gamer stop by the GameStop booth.

Plan on joining us at Rubio’s Beach Cleanup and beach party on Saturday May 11, 2013.  Be a friend to the Ocean (all the cool kids are doing it) we hope see you there!  For more information visit the event webpage here.

We are all guilty of throwing stuff in a closet and closing the door, saying I’ll organize it later.  This is especially true when we have gone to the store after work, then have to come home and made dinner, then clean up dinner, then get the kids in the bath, the list goes on and on.  The last thing you want to do is take the time and put everything away, and that is why my pantry looked like the picture below.  As you can see from the picture we use our pantry as a closet because it is pretty big and so a lot of things end up in there.  To find a great way to organize your pantry and keep it that way see my steps below:

The first step was to take everything out, and I do mean everything.  The things I found it my pantry was kind of astonishing, because we kept piling stuff on top of stuff.  I’m saying “we” because I know my husband and my son do this as well, but if I’m being completely honest it is mainly me (shhhhh don’t tell anyone I said that!)

Second step check expiration dates for all food, we had something in there that expired in 2009 (okay it was actually 2007) how horrifying!

Third step ask yourself for all non-food items why do I have this?  Will we ever use this again?  Why am I holding on to this?  For me this was some wine glasses we were given while wine tasting about 5 years ago.  I was keeping them because it was something we did with my mother in law when she was visiting.  We will never use the wine glasses and they have been in the back of my pantry just taking up space for 5 years!  To the trash with them!

Fourth step all food items in bags transfer into Tupperware or some type of plastic storage container.  I used any items I had even mason jars for storage containers.  I also moved all kid snack items to a shelf my son could reach.  In the past I would always but these items up high so he would have to ask for help to get them, but he just thought it was a challenge to climb up and get what he wanted.  Now all of his favorite gluten-free cereals and snacks like pirates booty are at his level.

Fifth step all items not used daily should be put up on a higher shelf, for us this was all of the paper products just purchased from Costco.  Because you never know when the need for a dozen paper towels will hit it is good to be prepared, the paper towels are also stacked on top of each other to save space.

The sixth and final step is to try to maintain the organization, (not going to lie this is hard) if you take a few minutes a few times a week this will not be a problem.