Holiday Gift Ideas | SoCal Savvy Mom

Nov 3
2011

$5 off of $10 at Hallmark

by Nicole Hughes

I love all of Hallmark’s holiday items, and usually spend at least $50 a year on Christmas items alone at Hallmark. Yesterday I was super excited to receive a $5 off of $10 coupon via e-mail because I am on the mailing list. I was sad because I didn’t see how I could share it with all of you. Today on the Hallmark Facebook page the same coupon appeared! Just ‘Like’ Hallmark on Facebook and print the coupon, easy as that! Coupon is valid until 11/13/11, this weekend is a great time to use it because of the open house there will be amazing deals!

Nov 2
2011

Too early to decorate for Christmas?

by Nicole Hughes

My Halloween decorations will be coming down today, and my Thanksgiving decorations are nothing to write home about. So… the question is may I skip Thanksgiving and go straight into Christmas? I love my Christmas decorations, I decorate almost every room in the house. The best part is when I open the boxes and find all the items I bought last year after Christmas for 50-90% off. I always forget what I bought by the time Christmas comes around again so it is a little present for me by me! I don’t think it is fair I only get one month to enjoy all of the decorations I have spent years accumulating. Am I crazy? Does anyone else feel this way? My husband already thinks I’m a little nutty because the day after Thanksgiving we go buy our tree. If he had his way then we would wait until it was actually December. Although the tree is something different entirely, the Christmas tree is my work of art. My husband helped me decorate the first year we were married and now I do everything. I bought my son his own tree and he has his own ornaments, we have the mama tree and the little boy tree. I want to make Christmas cookies, decorate gingerbread houses, sit by a fire and enjoy the smell of a fresh Christmas tree. Just writing all of this I’m getting so excited… So is it too early to start decorating for Christmas?

December 2010 my son and I making cookies

Oct 28
2011

Fun & Free Halloween Events 10/29-10/31

by Nicole Hughes

Halloween event for kids 2014 click here.

Saturday, October 29

Halloween on Elm – The Village in Carlsbad from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fun and FREE family event! Bounce houses, costume contests, trick-or-treating, carnival games with live music. There will be a Farmer’s market with special Halloween activities and hands-on art making. This is a fun event and for little ones, for more information visit the event website here.

Balboa Park – Halloween Family Day. Children 12 and under are free to a dozen museums with a paid adult. There will be tons of fun activities for kids, special spooky tours, crafts and goodie bags! Adults with a Stay-for-the-Day Pass will receive a special discount to five museums. If your children are in costume stop by the Balboa Park Visitors Center for a free gift! For more information on this event visit the event website here.

Palomar Park Halloween Spooktacular from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Bring the kids in their costumes and have a free professional photo at the pumpkin patch. There will be safe trick-or-treating, a treasure hunt, and over $200 worth of prizes! Also print this coupon and receive a free slice of pizza from Palomar Pizza, you may print up to 3, sounds like a free lunch to me! For more information on this event visit the event website here.

Brick-or-Treat @ Legoland. *This event is not free however the cost of admission is lowered to only $25 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Included in this fun event are FIREWORKS a Brick-o-Lantern contest, Candy Corn Scavenger Hunt, Haunted Hideaways, jugglers, unicyclists, stilt walkers and a fun Dance Party in the Imagination Zone. For more information click here.

Sunday, October 30

Day of the Dead in Oceanside – Dia de los Muerto @ Old Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fun and free event for the entire family! Come to experience fun children’s activities, arts & crafts, food, live mariachi bands, and an exciting mini-carnival. For more information visit the event website here. *Free event, parking is $5 per car*

Monday, October 31

Safe Trick-or-Treat on Pumpkin Lane in Encinitas from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Lumberyard in Encinitas will have tons of games, entertainment, carved pumpkins and treats for the little ones! There will also be a live music performance by Bucket Ruckus from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the courtyard at the Lumberyard. Trick-or-treat at your favorite local business, for more information visit the Downtown Encinitas Mainstreet Association.

Oct 28
2011

$20 FREE to Mrs. Fields online

by Nicole Hughes

Looking for a gift for a loved one out-of-state? This is so perfect for any occasion, because who doesn’t like cookies? The deal is $10 for $20 at Mrs. Fields online, when you sign up for an account (look to the right of the screen and scroll down to get the $10 FREE credit) the deal is free after your $10 credit. There is no credit card required, and you may use your deal as soon as tomorrow. Below are a few of the goodies I found for under $20 at Mrs. Fields online. Please note it does take a while to receive a verification e-mail but it will come. Happy Halloween!

Oct 27
2011

Halloween events for Kids 10/27-10/31

by Nicole Hughes

2014 Halloween Events for Kids click here.

Thursday, October 27

Haunted Market Downtown Oceanside – The Farmers’ Market will be transformed into a ‘Haunted Market’ from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. All children 12 and under in costume may trick-or-treat at over a hundred vendors. At 6 p.m. there is a costume parade around the Market with spooky music! For more information on this fun and free event visit event website here.

Boo Blast at Kid Ventures in Pacific Beach – Fun night for bobbing for apples, monster mash, trick-or-treating, and of course a costume contest. This event is $20 for non-members and only $12 for members, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. For more information click here.

Friday, October 28

Harvest Festival – La Jolla from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wonderful family event and everything is FREE! Crafts, pumpkin decorating, game booths, bounce houses, and some surprise activities. There will also be hot dogs, chips, drinks, cotton candy, and popcorn for free. Perfect for younger children, feel free to have them dress in costume. For more information click here.

Saturday, October 29

Halloween on Elm – The Village in Carlsbad from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fun and FREE family event! Bounce houses, costume contests, trick-or-treating, carnival games with live music. There will be a Farmer’s market with special Halloween activities and hands-on art making. This is a fun event and for little ones, for more information visit the event website here.

Balboa Park – Halloween Family Day. Children 12 and under are free to a dozen museums with a paid adult. There will be tons of fun activities for kids, special spooky tours, crafts and goodie bags! Adults with a Stay-for-the-Day Pass will receive a special discount to five museums. If your children are in costume stop by the Balboa Park Visitors Center for a free gift! For more information on this event visit the event website here.

Palomar Park Halloween Spooktacular from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Bring the kids in their costumes and have a free professional photo at the pumpkin patch. There will be safe trick-or-treating, a treasure hunt, and over $200 worth of prizes! Also print this coupon and receive a free slice of pizza from Palomar Pizza, you may print up to 3, sounds like a free lunch to me! For more information on this event visit the event website here.

Brick-or-Treat @ Legoland. The cost of admission is lowered to only $25 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Included in this fun event are FIREWORKS a Brick-o-Lantern contest, Candy Corn Scavenger Hunt, Haunted Hideaways, jugglers, unicyclists, stilt walkers and a fun Dance Party in the Imagination Zone. For more information click here.

Sunday, October 30

Day of the Dead in Oceanside – Dia de los Muerto @ Old Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fun and free event for the entire family! Come to experience fun children’s activities, arts & crafts, food, live mariachi bands, and an exciting mini-carnival. For more information visit the event website here. *Free event, parking is $5 per car*

Monday, October 31

Safe Trick-or-Treat on Pumpkin Lane in Encinitas from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Lumberyard in Encinitas will have tons of games, entertainment, carved pumpkins and treats for the little ones! There will also be a live music performance by Bucket Ruckus from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the courtyard at the Lumberyard. Trick-or-treat at your favorite local business, for more information visit the Downtown Encinitas Mainstreet Association.