Mom & Dad Time | SoCal Savvy Mom

Apr 23
2015

Fun events this Weekend in San Diego

San Diego Kids Fest & Expo @ Del Mar Fairgrounds – Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26, there are over 200 booths about fitness, sports, health and nutrition, learning devices, safety products, natural products, summer camps and much more. It is not too early to start planning for the kids summer camps, they book up super fast so get a head start at the San Diego Kids Expo. Children FREE, adults $8

Encinitas Street Fair @ Downtown Encinitas – April 24th and 25th, 2015, Visit the over 450 unique food, arts and crafts vendors plus four entertainment stages, children’s rides, Dog Zone, Kids Zone, Bike Valets, and a Beer Garden! FREE

Vista Rhythm & Brews Music and Craft Beer Festival @ Vista Village – Rhythm & Brews continues the tradition of bringing many of the nation’s most popular craft beers together with talented musicians in a beautiful outdoor festival located in the historic Vista Village district. $55 day of for tickets.

Earth Day on the Bay @ Maritime Museum San Diego – April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Created particularly for children and youth, participants become new recruits to the Clean Water Challenge Task Force, with a mission to solve mysterious disturbances in the health of our nation’s water habitats via a 4D theater experience and hands-on science activities. Opportunities to go on a bay cruise or sailing adventure with a naturalist aboard will be available for a nominal charge. FREE

25th Annual MotorCars on MainStreet @ Coronado Main Street – Sunday April 26, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be live music featuring The Cat-illacs and drawings throughout the day. Thousands of spectators are expected and viewing is FREE.

Mission Federal Art Walk @ Little Italy – On April 25 & 26, 2015, Mission Federal Art Walk will fill 15 blocks in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood. Thousands of attendees come to view and purchase artwork, enjoy the music and dance and participate in interactive art experiences. FREE

Poway Spring Family Festival @ Midland Road – Sunday, April 26, 2015, The “Poway Spring Family Festival” is a FREE regional event (street fair) that attracts over 10,000 participants from the greater San Diego area. The event will feature live music, a community stage, 100+ vendors, local foods, shopping opportunities, a car show and more! This is a FAMILY FRIENDLY event – pets welcome! FREE

The 2nd Annual San Diego Shaka Fest @ Crown Point San Diego Mission Bay – Saturday April 25, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fusion of Hawaiian Culture, Arts, & Athletics! Bring the entire family to this super fun and family oriented event which includes a Stand Up Paddle race open to adult and youth racers, the Keiki Heihei Waʻa (Youth only Hawaiian canoe regatta), SUP & Health Wellness Expo, Classic Woody Car exhibit, Hoʻomau Hula O Nā Keiki – Keiki Hula Competition, lots of your favorite boutique and food vendors, and da kine Hawaiian entertainment. FREE

Adams Avenue Unplugged @ San Diego on Adams Street – Music is scheduled from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, and 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 26. Some artists will be playing multiple sets allowing attendees more opportunity to catch their favorite performers. FREE

Apr 21
2015

Encinitas Street Fair this Weekend

by Nicole Connerley

The Encinitas Street Fair happens every April, and is a great event for the whole family to enjoy. Visit the over 450 unique food, arts and crafts vendors plus four entertainment stages, children’s rides, Dog Zone, Kids Zone, Bike Valets, and a Beer Garden! Take advantage of free family fun, entertainment, a National Award Winning Main Street and a traditional So-Cal beach town. Come for the sun, stay for the moonlight. The Encinitas Street Fair will be held on April 24th and 25th, 2015.

Head over to the Kids Zone with the family for free activities. Savor craft beers from Stone Brewery and soak up the sun while listening to the best bands in San Diego rock out at the newly extended Beer Garden Stage – now open til 7pm Saturday! There is even fun to be had for your four-legged companion in the VCA Dog Zone, featuring free canine activities in the dog park. Take a break from the hustle and bustle by listening to the eclectic music at The Lumberyard Courtyard Stage. See the stars of tomorrow perform at the Hansen’s Community Stage and the Encinitas School of Music Stage! On Saturday, come out for the Encinitas Fire Department’s Annual Pancake Breakfast from 7:00am – 11:00am in the 7-Eleven Parking Lot located at D Street and Hwy 101. Great news cyclists, our two free Bike Valet stations are open both days to store your bicycles while you enjoy the Street Fair. Speaking of bikes, Electra Bikes is offering free test rides of their latest models, so enjoy the sea breeze and amazing ocean views while cruising from their J Street booth to Cardiff and back. Smart Carwill be back with their electric cars for test driving at J Street.

PLEASE NOTE that there is NO PARKING on Hwy 101 from D to J Street on Saturday and Sunday from 4am – 6pm. Your car will be towed by law enforcement if parked in the specified area. There will be signage leading up to the Street Fair as a reminder.

Directions, Parking & Transit Info

Entertainment:

Stone Brewing Beer Garden Stage

The Lumberyard Courtyard Stage

The Hansen’s Community Stage

Encinitas School of Music Stage

Don’t forget to check out North County Deals! Stop by and spin their prize wheel, so many fun things you can win! Tell Jodi SoCal Savvy Mom sent you~

Apr 21
2015

Annual Carlsbad Village Street Faire… coming soon!

by Nicole Connerley

More than 100,000 people will take in the beauty of our seaside city while browsing through unique booths, indulging in delectable eats and enjoying family entertainment when the largest one-day street faire in the nation returns next month.

The Carlsbad Village Faire will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 3, 2015. Each year, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce hosts the faire in May and November. Now in its 40th year, the free event has grown to be so popular that it not only continually attracts people from all over Southern California, but also from other states. Some visitors even plan their vacations around the bi-annual event.

“The reason so many people return to the faire every year is that they can count on finding quality items to purchase because of the wide variety of vendors,” said Ted Owen, president and chief executive officer of the Carlsbad Chamber. “You name it and it’s for sale at the faire.”

Just like at past faires, over 900 vendors will sell everything fathomable, including clothes, accessories, plants, household products, art, antiques and home decor. The international food court will once again feature more than 50 booths serving everything from Thai to Hawaiian cuisine. The children’s area will entertain youngsters with games, a super slide, a bounce house, a rock climbing wall, face painting and arts and crafts.

The Rotary Club of Carlsbad’s beer and wine garden will entertain fairgoers with a large screen TV and live bands. The Kiwanis Club of Carlsbad will continue its more than 25-year tradition of hosting a pancake breakfast at the Carlsbad railroad depot. The meal, which includes pancakes, sausage, coffee and juice, will be served between 7 a.m. and noon.

Grand Avenue from Carlsbad Boulevard to Jefferson Street, and all of the cross streets in between, will be closed for the event. To make parking more convenient, complimentary shuttles will run to and from the faire. Shuttles will pick up and drop off passengers at the Poinsettia Coaster Station and the northwest corner of Sears at Westfield Carlsbad.
For more information on becoming a vendor in the future, download this form or call 760-945-9288.

Apr 12
2015

Enjoy All-Day Fun At Spring Family Fest April 19

by Robyn Lass

Join the online community of moms, expectant parents and families for a day of interaction, education and fun. Club MomMe’s Spring Family Fest, held Sunday, April 19th from 11:30am to 5:00pm at The Muckenthaler Estate & Cultural Center, Fullerton, CA. This all day event will include seven interactive lounges, panel discussions, music, play, and plenty of activities for the whole family.

Start the day with a Media Breakfast from 9:30am-11am where you can get a sneak peak at all of the exhibitors before everyone else! As an add-on to your event ticket and check out the VIP playdate with Lalaloopsy & Thomas The Train from 10:30am – 11:00am at the Children’s Gazebo. Spaces are limited.

Fill the remainder of your day with any of 4 key discussions and panels, from vaccines, to work/life balance, to developmental milestones and play for your little ones. Throughout Spring Fest you’ll also find 8 lounges with the newest and coolest baby and toddler products. Don’t worry dads, you’re invited too! There’s a Daddy Lounge with comfy chairs, beer and munchies, plus fun races and games for all.

Spring Family Fest has it all, from an Activity Area with lots of fun for little ones including an interactive activity play area featuring Little Tikes, Mobo Cruiser, and Combi, plus face painting, balloon artist, Super Soccer Stars play area, crafts, music by Jennifer Paskow & Snooknuk, and many others. There’s also a safe play space for the really little ones by Babyganics and Green Toys. Urban Sitters & The Nanny League will be there to help out!

Be sure to check out the Wellness/Green Lounge that features local partners like Cold Pressed Juice, Acai Bowls, natural products by Pure Made Baby, and eco-friendly and safe body and baby care products. Healthy, non-GMO baby, toddler and kid food by Love Child Organics, Happy Family, NurturMe, Go Go Squeeze and more!

SoCalSavvyMom readers, save $10 on your registration by clicking here to purchase your tickets.

For more information and to register click here: http://clubmommeevents.com/

Mar 11
2015

Rancho Valencia in Rancho Santa Fe

by Nicole Connerley

Rancho Valencia is a beautiful resort set on 45 acres of gardens and olive groves, in Rancho Santa Fe, a 20-minute drive north of San Diego. A few years ago the property underwent a 45 million dollar renovation, and there is not one stone that when unturned. Most recently Rancho Valencia was voted #1 resort in the U.S. by U.S. News & World hotel rankings. It is no surprise as everything at Rancho Valencia is 5 star down to the heated toilet seats, and all is perfection. The resort features a spa, fitness center with exercise classes, sports facilities (including tennis, croquet and bocce ball), 2 heated pools and hot tubs (1 adults-only), 2 restaurants and a wine bar, plus complimentary use of luxury cars.

Rancho Valencia really does stand apart from most 5-star hotels, you will find everything has been perfected. There are no resort fees, no parking fees, complimentary WiFi, and waiting for you in your room are delicious snacks and drinks to enjoy during your stay at no extra charge. In the morning any newspaper you would like will be delivered to your door along with fresh squeezed orange juice. Enjoy coffee on the private patio, while reading the newspaper.

Suites feature flat-screen TVs, stereo systems and private patios, plus high-thread-count linens, espresso machines, designer toiletries and 24-hour in-room dining. My husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary at Rancho Valencia during this trip. The resort knowing it was a special anniversary celebration for us, had a bottle of wine and an artisan cheese plate with dried fruits and nuts upon arrival.

After we were settled in, we hopped down to the Pony Room for a drink by the outdoor fireplaces while watching the sunset. For dinner we decided to opt for in-room dining and we ate out on the private patio. The patio hosts an outdoor fireplace, and a two person hot tub, perfect for a romantic getaway.

After dinner we took a stroll around the property and found the beautiful brick lined Wine Room. The room is perfect for an intimate birthday dinner or just nice dinner for a small group of friends. The wine cave has over 250 of some of the finest bottles of wine I have ever seen, the sommelier has to be one of the best in San Diego. With wines from France, Italy, Turkey, Mexico, South Africa and of course California you will be able to find a perfect wine for the occasion.

For breakfast we went to Veladora, one of the two restaurants on property. Veladora is beautiful and refined without being over the top, although can you really have too much luxury? We enjoyed latte’s and fresh pressed slow juices, as well as the famous fresh squeezed orange juice. My husband ordered the crab Benedict with vine ripe tomatoes, grilled asparagus, country bread with a chipotle hollandaise. I ordered the California breakfast panini with free range eggs, smoked bacon, avocado, white cheddar and herb roasted potatoes, it was divine! The only problem with breakfast is we couldn’t finish it all, but they were nice enough to box it up for us and had it waiting for us to pick up after we dined.

Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa is offering an exclusive offer right now of 15% off room rates. During the summer and during Del Mar Race season the resort will be booked solid, don’t wait make a reservation to visit this beautiful resort now!

Accommodations, meals, and spa treatments were complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are my own. See full disclosure policy for more information.

Feb 27
2015

Rainy day schedule – go see McFarland USA

by Nicole Connerley

What is this wet stuff coming down from the sky? It can’t be rain, we live in Southern California! As we all know in SoCal we are in desperate need of rain, and this is the BIGGEST storm of 2015! While the rest of the country would laugh at our weatherman in describing this storm, we are wimps when it comes to weather. Since we will all be on a rainy day schedule this weekend I thought I would remind everyone of Disney’s newest movie McFarland USA. The movie received 5 stars and is perfect for most children as it is rated PG.

McFarland

The movie is base on the 1987 true story, that follows runners from McFarland, California a farm town located in Central California. The story is about a newcomer to the mostly Latino high school a coach named Jim White (Kevin Costner), he soon realizes the exceptional running ability the boys have. Between the family relationships and the relationships between the boys and coach something magical begins to happen. The cross-country team overcomes odds and goes all the way to the championship.

Disney’s “McFarland, USA” stars Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Morgan Saylor, Martha Higareda, Michael Aguero, Sergio Avelar, Hector Duran, Rafael Martinez, Johnny Ortiz, Carlos Pratts, Ramiro Rodriguez, Danny Mora, Valente Rodriguez, Vanessa Martinez, Chris Ellis and Diana Maria Riva, and is directed by Niki Caro with screenplay by Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson, and story by Cleveland & Gilois. Gordon Gray and Mark Ciardi are producing, with Mario Iscovich and Mary Martin serving as executive producers. “McFarland, USA” and was first released February 20, 2015.

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