SD Mom’s Night Out is an event I have been lucky enough to be apart of for a few years now and the Mother’s Day event is right around the corner. What mom do you know that doesn’t need a night out?  We all need a night out every once in a while and SD Mom’s Night Out is its put on by local moms for local moms.  Right now tickets are on sale buy one get one free!  The price at the door will be $35 so hurry and get your tickets now at half off for you and a girlfriend!

This year’s Mother’s Day event will be held on Thursday May 9th at Roppongi in La Jolla.  Today I will be heading down to Roppongi to taste the menu for the event, I am thrilled as I have yet to try the La Jolla sushi and asian fusion restaurant.

The SD Mom’s Night Out Mother’s Day event will feature chocolate and wine pairings compliments of Chuao and Constellation, light appetizer fare, mini spa treatments with Evian Salon & Spa, a fun evening to mix and mingle with friends and much more. It’s all you need for a very happy Mother’s Day and celebrate National Mom’s Nite Out!

As with every event that SD Mom’s Night Out hosts there is a very worthy cause that will benefit and the foundation is The Promise Walk for Preeclampsia™ which supports the mission of the Preeclampsia Foundation. They provide patient support and education, raise public awareness, catalyze research and improve health care practices for millions of mothers and their babies every year who are impacted by preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Please join us on May 9th for a fun-filled evening out with your girlfriends.  DId I mention the wine and chocolate pairings?  If you were on the fence that should have pushed you over I’m guessing.  To purchase tickets or for more information click here.  

Today seems like a perfect day for soup so I’m making my chicken tortilla soup for dinner in my crock pot.  My house smells so good right now because of this soup!  I don’t use my crock pot that often, but this is so easy and delicious I may start using it more!

All of the ingredients I purchased are from Trader Joe’s so some of the items are kind of specific, of course you can add or substitute as needed.

• 4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 30 oz. Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth
• 2 Green Onions chopped
• 1 Small Can Tomato Sauce (or if you only have large can just use half of it)
• 1 Small Can Fire Roasted Diced Green Chiles
• 1 Can Whole Kernel Corn
• 1 Can Diced Tomatoes
• 1 Can Organic Black Beans
• 1 Package Trader Joe’s Taco Seasoning Mix
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 Tablespoon Trader Joe’s Crushed Garlic

Combine all ingredients into your crock pot (except the black beans, add the beans when only 2 hours left)  Set the cook time on low for 6-7 hours, after 3-4 hours shred chicken.

Once finished add cilantro, avocado, tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sour cream.  Add a lime for garnish and Enjoy!

The 30th annual Encinitas Street Fair will be held on Saturday April 27 and Sunday April 28th 2013.  We love going to the Encinitas street fair and I’m hoping the weather is a bit nicer than today!  The street fair will host over 450 food, arts and crafts vendors, five live music stages, children’s rides, and the Beer Garden Stage sponsored by Stone Brewing Company and Port Brewing Company.

Don’t miss on Saturday the Encinitas Fire Department will host the annual pancake breakfast in the 7/11 parking lot from 7 am to 11 am.

See below for the lineup:

Stone Brewing Co. & Port Brewing Co. Beer Garden Stage- Location: Lumberyard parking lot at HWY 101 & I Street–  Open from 11:00am-4:30pm in the Lumberyard parking lot on I Street and Highway 101. On Saturday, catch Bill Magee Blues Band (12pm-2pm) andSTRANGER (2:30pm-4:30pm).  Sunday’s lineup features The Retro Rocketts (12pm-2pm) and Jerry HotRod DeMink (2:30pm-4:30pm).

Center Courtyard of the Lumberyard Stage- Come join the fun at the center courtyard stage of the Lumberyard! On Saturday, catch The Blue Moonies (11:45am-1:45pm) and Peter Sprague Trio (2:15pm-4:15pm). Sunday listen to Allegato World Jazz (11:45am-1:45pm) and Elaine Faye & the Big Bang  (2:15pm-4:15pm).

Getting there: The best way to go to the street fair is always the Coaster, we love taking the coaster because it drops you off right where the fair begins. This is also helpful if you are planning on hitting up the beer garden  The coaster schedule may be found here.

As always there is no parking on the 101 from D to J on Saturday and Sunday and if you are there your car will be towed!

For more information visit the event website here.

The Flower Fields in Carlsbad are absolutely beautiful right now, we visited yesterday and my mother in law said there are no words to describe how beautiful it really is.  There are fun things for kids to do like the Sweet Pea Maze, which my mother-in-law and I got lost in but my son found his way out within a minute.  There is also a coupon available for $2 off your visit per person the coupon is valid now through May 12th.  You do not have to print this out I just showed it to them off my phone and they accepted it.  Enjoy!

It is one of those days again in SoCal where the sun is nowhere to be seen.  Lucky for us today is Family Day at the Lux Institute in Encinitas.  Your whole family is invited today to enjoy free admission, free studio tours, refreshments and hands-on art projects, there will also be live music by The Yes Team.  This family day is  best for children 3 and older but of course all children are welcome.  For more information visit the event website here.

The Carlsbad Flower Fields will be hosting the annual Kid’s Day this Sunday, April 7 from 9 am to 5 pm.  We love the Carlsbad Flower Fields and usually visit more than once a season.  If you do plan to visit more than once by the season pass, as it will pay for itself within two visits.

 Kid’s Day at The Flower Fields ®, is a day full of fun activities for kids like arts and crafts, face painting and Ronald McDonald! There’s also a sweet pea maze, Santa’s playground and live music! Don’t miss this great day full of fun for kids and parents alike.

This year there will also be a Gourd Art & Crafts Jubilee. Gourd Art Sales, free Demonstrations plus Make and Take workshops! Learn what a gourd is and how to transform it into art.

For more information click here.

Don’t forget to do the tractor ride my kids love it!  P.S. only the two on the left are related to me, the other two are close friends.

The Wave Waterpark in Vista is offering summer camps all summer long and right now they are offering these camps at 52% off!  The camps begin on June 10th and run through August 16.  The camps begin at 8:00 am and run until 2:30 pm, there is an offer to extend the end time to 4 pm if needed.  There are four different types of camps for the children to choose from including aqua camp, water sports camp, jr. lifeguards, and counselor-in-training camp.  The camp is for children ages 7 to 15 and are required to be able to swim the length of the pool by themselves, if they can not swim the distance of the pool they have to wear a life jacket.  I think I’d be more comfortable with my son wearing a life jacket because he will just be turning 7.

The camp is $60 for a full week, see below for the dates currently offered.  For more information or to purchase this deal click here.

This is so perfect as I happen to have a family photo from Easter I wanted to print so I thought I would share this deal with all of you!  The regular price for a 5×7 print at Rite Aid is $1.98 each so this is pretty great savings.  I ordered 4 and my total price was only $2.00 with a savings of $5.96.  You can use promo code 50cents or 5×750, the code will work for more than two as you see below, you can even pick up your prints today!  I ordered 4 so I can give a copy to each of my brothers and my parents and keep one for myself as well.  To order prints click here.

Carlsbad @ Poinsettia Park - Saturday, March 30th, the annual EGGStravaganza Spring Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Poinsettia Park.  Please note this is not a free event, the cost is $5 for the Activity card which allows you to participate in what they call the “Egg Scramble,” but there are tons of fun things for the kids to do in the Fun Zone with bounce houses, a giant slide, obstacle courses and  a chance to “soak the bunny.”  The kids will collect eggs in the ongoing “Egg Scramble” activity between 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Children race to collect assorted eggs on the baseball fields.  This activity sends groups of approximately 20 children of similar age into the out field to collect as many eggs as they can.  For more information click here.

Encinitas @ Ecke Sports Park - Saturday, March 30, the City of Encinitas Easter Egg Hunt Festival will take place from 10 a.m.  to 1 p.m. at Ecke Sports Park, located at 278 Saxony Rd. This free event features arts and crafts, entertainment, prizes, jump houses, face painting, pictures with the bunny (for a fee) and over 24,000 eggs! Egg hunt times are as follows: 10:15 – 2 years and under, 10:45 – 3 year olds, 11:15 – 4 & 5 year olds, 11:45 – 6 & 7 year olds, 12:15 – 8 & 9 year olds. For more information, please call (760) 633-2740.

Mission Bay @ Mission Bay High School Football Field - Saturday, March 30th, the first annual Easter Egg hunt will be held at Mission Bay High School, the fun begins at 11 a.m. There will be over 10,000 eggs filled with toys and candy, there will also be giveaways and raffle prizes.  For more information on this Easter Egg hunt click here. 

Oceanside @ Joe Balderrama Park - Saturday, March 30th the annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held from 9:30 am to 10 am for children ages 3-12.  For more information click here.  This event is sponsored by The City of Oceanside Neighborhood Services department and Eastside United Community Action.  More information may be found here.

Oceanside @ Buddy Todd Park - Saturday, March 30th, the annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held beginning promptly at 10 a.m.  Children may visit with the Easter bunny and search for the golden eggs worth prizes!  For more information click here.

San Marcos @ Walnut Grove Park – Saturday, March 30th from 8 am – 10 am stop by to have breakfast with Peter Cottontail at the Williams Barn in Walnut Grove Park.  The whole family will enjoy this early morning chow-down of pancakes and sausage, tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for children.  ****The Holiday Egg Hunt will begin at 10:15 am toddlers through 5th graders are invited to the community “Holiday Egg Hunt” where eggs with prizes will be well hidden by the bunny!  There is a $5 donation per family.

Santee @ Santee Lakes – Saturday, March 30th from 9 am to 3 pm the Eggstravaganza will take, the egg hunt is for children 8 and younger, there is no fee for the egg hunt however there is a $5 parking fee.  This is more than just an egg hunt, there will be carnival rides, pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, inflatable bounce houses and more.  For more information click here.

Solana Beach @ La Colonia Park – Saturday March 30th at 10 am the 24th Annual Spring Egg Hunt will take place for children 9 years old and younger.  THere are ofther fun activities for the children as well and don’t forget a photo with the Easter Bunny!  Enjoy complimentary drinks, cookies and popcorn, for more information click here.

There are a few Easter Egg Hunts going on this weekend these are the ones I found… enjoy!

Cardiff @ San Elijo Lagoon – Saturday & Sunday March 23-24 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. the San Elijo Spring Eggucation will be held. There will be an egg hunt, themed crafts, face painting and much more for more information click here.

Escondido @ Bates Nut Farm – Saturday, March 23 celebrate Easter with an old-fashioned Easter Egg Hunt! There will be separate divisions for different age groups, so every child will have a chance to find an egg with candy or a toy inside, the fun begins at 10 a.m.. Pony rides and other family friendly activities are scheduled, so plan to spend the day at Bates Nut Farm, for more information click here.

Fallbrook @ La Palomoa School - Saturday March, 23 there the Fallbrook Community Center is hosting the Spring Egg Hunt, the hunt for children ages 5-11 begins at 10:30 a.m.  There are prizes and games for children 2-4 and lots of fun activities.  For more information click here.

Otay Mesa @ Montogmery-Waller Recreation Center-  Saturday, March 23, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for children ages 3 and up there will be a Spring Egg Hunt.   There will be a coloring contest, fun, games and prizes. Volunteers are needed to help with the egg hiding. This special event will be held at Montgomery Waller Recreation Center, 3020 Coronado Ave., San Diego, CA 92154.  For more information click here.

Vista @ Vista Optimist Club – Sunday, March 24th from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. stop by for an Egg Hunt and pancake and sausage breakfast.  There are contests and prizes including a bonnet contest.  The Egg Hunt begins at 10 a.m. and there will be more than 10,000 eggs, the hunt is for children 11 and younger.  Tickets: $5 (includes breakfast, games and pictures with the Easter bunny) for more information e-mail marycdraves@cox.net.