Kid Time | SoCal Savvy Mom

Jan 31
2015

San Diego Museum Month February 2015

This February is Museum Month in San Diego! San Diegans will have a chance to discover what’s new at 45 area museums with incredible savings. Macy’s Museum Month was created in 1989 and since then has grown every year. This year will have the most museums participating than ever before. It is a great way to promote awareness of our amazing museums. Perfect for field trips for children’s classes or just a day out with children.

If you wish to participate you may pick up a free Macy’s Museum Month Pass at any local Macy’s store to enjoy half-off admission to all of the participating museums through the entire month of February.

“This community program is special for us as every year—our customers and employees plan their calendars around Museum Month. We’re thrilled to officially be part of the title, marking the significance of our long-term partnership with the San Diego Museum Council,” said John Gorham.

SVP, Macy’s Regional Director of Stores – Southwest Region. “Macy’s Museum Month extends our reach in the community and we are proud to support a variety of new exhibitions and favorite museums and make them more accessible with a discounted admission.”

Museum Month passes may be picked up at any of Macy’s 15 locations in the San Diego area, including Temecula and Imperial Valley. Guests with a pass may bring up to three people to participating museums to receive half-off admission for the entire party. Additional fees may apply for special exhibitions at participating museums.

Each pass also features an exclusive $10 coupon off any purchase of $30 or more at Macy’s, which may be my favorite part!

Participating museum’s include:

Adobe Chapel
Barona Cultural Center & Museum
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum
California Surf Museum
Coronado Museum of History & Art
Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum
Gaslamp Museum at William Heath Davis House
Heritage of the Americas Museum
Japanese Friendship Garden
Junipero Serra Museum
La Jolla Historical Society
Living Coast Discovery Center
Lux Art Institute
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Marston House Museum & Gardens
Mingei International Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Downtown
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla
Museum of Making Music
Museum of Photographic Arts
Oceanside Museum of Art
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
San Diego Air & Space Museum
San Diego Archaeological Center
San Diego Automotive Museum
San Diego Botanic Garden
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
San Diego History Center
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
San Diego Natural History Museum
Santa Ysabel Store
The New Children’s Museum
The San Diego Museum of Art
Tijuana Estuary Visitors Center
Timken Museum of Art
USS Midway Museum
Veterans Museum & Memorial Center
Visions Art Museum
Warner-Carillo Ranch House & Museum
Water Conservation Garden
Whaley House Museum
Women’s Museum of California

Museum Month is generously sponsored in part by:

Jan 21
2015

Oceanside’s Best Fish House – Hello Betty

by Nicole Connerley

Located just steps away from the Oceanside Pier, Hello Betty is perfect for locals or for those visiting the area. Hello Betty is one of my favorite restaurants, since it opened we have had my birthday there, my mother’s birthday and my best friend also had her birthday celebration there! It is one of those places you take anyone who is visiting from out-of-town, and how could you not with the view?

With daily drink specials from 4-6 it is the perfect place to stop on your way home from work, you will not find a better view on the coast. During the summer the best place cool off with a drink is the roof top deck, which hosts drinks and light appetizers. For my birthday I invited around a dozen friends to join me on the roof top deck for drinks and tacos. Because Hello Betty had just opened a few months prior no one had visited before and everyone was blown away! My friends couldn’t believe the incredible view and the exquisite tacos put it right over the top for a great birthday. The hardest decision will be which taco to choose, with Mahi Mahi, Shrimp, Carne Asada, Veggie or a huge list of different types of fish tacos you will want to try them all.

Hello Betty’s menu is not limited to just fish, the Spicy Grilled Chicken Sandwich (garlic mayo, chopped lettuce, tomato, avocado, pickled jalapeño, jack cheese all on a brioche bun) is the best in all of North San Diego County! Last week I tried the Herb marinated Chicken Breast which is mesquite grilled and is accompanied by roasted potatoes and seasonal vegetables. The dish was so heavenly from beginning to end, I may have found a new favorite on the menu. My mother in law was visiting from Florida and she LOVED the Steamed Mussels with chorizo, tomato, chilis, garlic and dos equis amber she said they were the best mussels she had ever had.

The decor in Hello Betty is spot on, with the surf theme touches throughout the restaurant. The picture below is the hallway leading to the restrooms made out of surfboards. You may even watch surfing movies while at the restaurant as it is usually playing on the many TV’s located in the bar area. If there is a big game on they will of course put a game on for you if you would prefer. A huge BONUS for dining with children is the little mini arcade located on the first level of the restaurant. It is perfect as you can see your children playing video games (think old school ones) from your table. The kids are close enough to see but not so close you have to listen to the sound of video games. All of the games are only a quarter or two, not like some sports bars that charge upwards of $1 for one turn on a video game, this is a highlight if you are dining with children.

When you visit Hello Betty be sure to sign up for their loyalty card, I just saw this last time I was there and couldn’t believe I didn’t know about it sooner. Reservations are not required it is walk in’s only, even if there is a small wait you will not be bothered by it as you sit outside on the patio with a drink while waiting for a table. Did I mention the view? For more information or for the full menu click here. Let us know after you visit and tell us what you think, but really what is better than a fish taco and a margarita…nothing, visit Hello Betty today and thank me tomorrow!

This is not a paid post, products and services were exchanged for a review.

Jan 20
2015

Easy, Fun Valentine’s Treats with kids

by Nicole Connerley

Valentine’s Day treats are so fun to make, especially with little ones, my son and his friend helped make these treats. Items needed for these treats are:

1 box Oreos (we used Trader Joe’s) Traders has a gluten-free option for these cookies as well
2 bags of Candy Melts
2 to 3 different Valentine’s sprinkles
30 Lollipop sticks
Wrappers and ties if you are giving them out

Candy melts made by Wilton are great for making tons of different types of candy. The most important part of this recipe is to not over cook the candy in the microwave, it we be ruined if you over cook or melt rather.

Microwave for 1 minute on 50% power
Remove from microwave and stir (which will be minimal at this point)
Microwave for 30 seconds at 50% power
Remove from microwave and stir
Repeat steps 3 & 4 until tit is smooth

Carefully remove one half of the cookie
Use stick to remove some of filling so stick will lay flat in the filling
Add melted chocolate over the stick and filling to reconnect cookie
Let cookies set for 10 minutes so the chocolate and cookie are reconnected completely otherwise cookie will fall apart

Dip both sides of the cookies so completely covered in chocolate
Wipe excess off of the one side (not the side you are going to use sprinkles on)
Dip into sprinkles
Set aside on wax paper for an hour or two until firm to the touch

If you are planning on passing these out in your child’s class I would recommend using the treat bags and twist ties. Very inexpensive the 50 treat bags cost $1.99 and the twist ties $.99 both from Michael’s. The chocolates were on sale from $3.99 to $1.99 this week also at Michael’s, the sprinkles I got at Target for a few dollars.

The finished treats! Since it is before Valentine’s Day I brought these into my mom’s chemo nurses’ today and they loved them, I plan on making them again and bringing to my son’s class. Something to note Traders has a gluten-free option for these cookies, which is great because my son’s class has a couple of children who need this option. I love that Trader’s has made it that much easier to make these treats for everyone in his class.

Jan 15
2015

Why you should sponsor a child when you can

by Nicole Connerley

Why you should sponsor a child when you can

There’s a song that goes something like, “I believe that children are our future” and that is a universal fact. No matter where they come from, what culture they grew up in, and how their personalities differ from one another, they will shape the future of the world as we know it one day.

Unfortunately, not everyone is given the chance to live a life that can prepare them in shaping the world one day. A lot of children live in fear because of diseases such as Ebola, political turmoil that causes war, and other problems caused by the lack of good governance.

Thankfully, there is a way for parents who care to help children in need. Today, helping kids break out of poverty and hunger is easy and inexpensive thanks to a program called sponsorship.

Sponsorship is different than giving a one-time monetary donation to someone. It is a long-time commitment in providing a child with basic necessities, such as food and education, until he or she is old enough to work. If you’ve never heard about sponsorship but are interested to help a marginalized kid living in fear, here are a few reasons to get you interested.

Child sponsorship acts as shield to the susceptible and defenseless

Have you seen some of the news photos circulating around the web that shows classrooms in the Middle East caving in because of attacks? They’re very depressing. The sad thing about war is that even if the adults started it, it’s the children that pay the ultimate price. Children are vulnerable to hunger, thirst, and homelessness because of war, and without funds, no one will be able to help them. Unakids, a charity that helps deprived children due to the consequences of war, has helped hundreds of children cope with today’s reality. It is charities like it that provide a safe haven for our future’s generation.

Sponsorship develops long-term positive effects

A lot of kids who benefited from sponsorship give back to society. Many of them don’t forget where they came from and are very much committed in changing the world like you. In addition, sponsorship slowly cures the causes of poverty, disease, hunger, and bad environmental impacts done by bad people. By developing programs that make the world a better place for children, charities act as catalysts in making the world a better place and you can be a part of it.

Seeing your sponsored child grow into a wonderful adult is a great feeling

Most kid-oriented charities allow patrons to send gifts or letters to their sponsored children. Seeing pictures of how grateful they are can be a life-changing experience. By sponsoring, you are giving children hope, encouragement, and love. In return, you get these feelings from the children you support.

According to Science, giving help has great benefits to a person’s well-being, including having a lower blood pressure, better pain management, and longer lifespan. So if you want to feel good inside and out, try reaching out to those who can benefit greatly from your extra buck.

Remember, today’s children will one day become leaders and it is how we mold them as people that will affect everyone’s living conditions.

Jan 10
2015

Kids Marathon at Legoland California

by Nicole Connerley

Legoland is celebrating the Carlsbad Marathon by hosting their own 1-mile kids fun run! The special 1-mile fun run for kids of all ages and abilities will be held on Saturday, January 17th. Before the doors open to the public, they’re opened for you to enjoy the sights and sounds of Legoland! Participants can run, walk, skip or stroll, or even be pushed in a stroller or carried on a back as they wind through the park, making their way to an exciting, spectator-filled finish line. Each finisher is presented with a shiny finisher’s medal and treated to a fun post-event party with a DJ, activities, light refreshments and booths. The event concludes at 10 a.m. with the opening of LEGOLAND® and SEA LIFE™ Aquarium where registered participants ages 3 to 12 can enter the park for free and moms and dads can enter for 50% off admission.

The parking lot opens at 6:30 a.m., parking is free for those participating in the kids marathon mile. Registration opens at 7:00 a.m. at the Sea Life Aquarium, and the race starts at 8:00 a.m., at 9:00 a.m. is the diaper dash. Immediately following the kids races, the event stage will feature entertainment and fun activities. All kids will receive a free pass to Legoland/Sea Life Aquarium 1/17 – 1/19. Space is limited, so hurry and register today!

Jan 7
2015

8 Tips to Keep Kids’ Identity Intact Online

by Nicole Connerley

8 Tips from SoCal Savvy Mom and AT&T to Keep Kids’ Identity Intact in a ‘Share’-Happy Age

As a mom I always keep an eye on what my child is doing online, for us this is usually learning websites. But you never know who is on the other side of the computer, even on kid sites. Something crazy I just found out is in 2012, researchers estimated that more than 80 percent of children under 2 years old already had a digital profile! Yes, an online presence of some kind mainly because of their parents’ online activity. Additionally, older children spend almost eight hours consuming media every day through TV, online games, mobile apps and social media. 8 hours!

Kids are growing up online more publicly than ever before. Embarrassing photos and videos that used to be reserved for family are now wafting out over the Internet and onto social media networks. Below are some tips on how to keep your children safe in the ‘share’ happy world we now live in.

Think before you share. Could this photo or video come back to haunt your child or your relationship with him or her? Is this something they will want in their digital portfolio? Some things are better stored in your heart and memory instead of on the Internet.
Share judiciously. You don’t have to go all or nothing. There are many ways to share photos online with distant grandparents that don’t involve putting them in the public domain. This is an issue for us as my in-laws live on the coast in Florida, and they are not the most digitally savvy. One way to send them the photos without over-sharing on social networks is to set up a password-protected site on a photo-sharing site such as Picasa Web Albums™. Apps such as Evernotelet you do much the same thing from your handheld devices. DayOne is an app for journaling that lets you selectively and easily share entries with others. You can also use Facebook privacy controls and photo albums more than most of us do to limit who sees which photos on that site.

Be part of your kids’ online world. As kids begin to venture online themselves, run alongside the bicycle for as long as you need to. Insist on having your kids’ passwords to their Facebook pages and know what’s going on in their online lives—just as you do in their offline lives. For young ones, make it fun with apps like Digital Passport. Check your middle schooler’s Facebook page to see if there are postings that might make them feel sad or bad—and maybe send a quick pick-me-up text. Friend your teens on Facebook; it’s a valuable glimpse into their world.

Help teens see their online postings through adult eyes. As your teens wriggle out of your online grasp, help them understand how adults view postings that they and their peers think are like totally hilarious. The college admissions officer or HR director will not be smiling. There are many people who have not been hired because of what their Facebook postings say about them. We can show our kids real examples we all probably know someone in our own circle of friends who posted something and it didn’t end well. Some young people who have had cherished dreams blocked by dumb pictures on Facebook is so sad, don’t let this happen to your child.

What would grandma say? Before you do anything with a camera, cell phone, or computer, imagine the person who means the most to you standing over your shoulder. If you’re OK with that person seeing what you’re about to do, go ahead. If not, don’t do it. I think this is something that should be done in everyday if you wouldn’t do whatever it may be in front of your parents or grandparents odds are you shouldn’t be doing it at all.

If you are more concerned with managing the amount of your child’s screen time, there are ways to help your kids develop balanced screen time habits with these three tips:

Online: Set firm rules and stay alert

Kids should clearly understand online time limits and consequences for breaking the rules. Keep computers in a common area of your home so you can supervise usage. We never let our son play the computer or iPad within two hours of bedtime, we usually read books in the evenings.

Phone: Enforce appropriate behavior.

Set clear expectations for responsible smartphone use. There are tools you can use to restrict times of day the phone can be used for messaging, browsing, and outbound calling.

TV: Make TV a reward, not an expectation

Be sure that homework, chores, and family activities come first. Treat TV viewing as a reward for good behavior or completing tasks. We have been playing a lot of board games lately. The new games that are a hit at our house are Bounce Off and Pop the Pig, believe me Bounce Off is just as much fun for the adults as the children!