SoCal Savvy Mom

Mar 11
2016

Encinitas Spring Egg Hunt 2016

It’s all about the kids! The City of Encinitas will present its annual Easter Egg Hunt Festival on Saturday, March 26 2016 at Encinitas Community Park from 10:00am to 1:00pm.

Egg hunt times are as follows; (PLEASE NOTE: I have contacted the City of Encinitas about the below times and field locations as they are currently incorrect, it will be updated as soon as they get back to me)

• 10:15 – ages 4 & under lower field, 5 & up lower field
• 11:00 – ages 4 & under lower field, 5 & up lower field
• 11:45 – ages 4 & under lower field, 5 & up lower field

Free children’s activities will be hosted by the City of Encinitas Parks and Recreation Department. We invite you to make a day of it and enjoy the beautiful new Encinitas Community Park. Please bring your own basket or bag for eggs. Limited parking is available on-site at the park. Auxiliary parking is available at the Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas lower parking lots, accessed off of Devonshire Drive. For more information, please call the City of Encinitas Parks & Recreation Department at 760-633-2740.

For additional information, please email nbuck@encinitasca.gov.

Encinitas Community Park
425 Santa Fe Drive
Encinitas CA 92024

For additional information, please email nbuck@encinitasca.gov. Or for more information visit event website here.

Mar 11
2016

Bunny Train in Campo is Back!

by Nicole Connerley

The Bunny Train is back! Looking for a new way to celebrate the Easter holiday with your family? Look no farther than the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum! Complete with a train ride, a visit from the Easter Bunny, and an Easter egg hunt, the Bunny Train event at the Museum is perfect for the whole family.

The Bunny Trains and associated events run on the dates listed below at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:30pm. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking the links above or in person the day of the event at the Campo Depot. Advance reservations are required for this event.

The celebration kicks off with a train ride. The Easter Bunny will board the train at the Campo Depot and visit with all of the passengers on the train as it travels through San Diego’s beautiful east-county mountains. After enjoying the one-hour journey along our 12 miles of track, the train stops at the Museum’s Display Building where more fun awaits. Two Easter egg hunting areas will be open for the children. One is geared towards our smallest travelers with eggs in plain sight; the other takes up the entire Display Building with eggs carefully hidden by the Easter Bunny. The children may turn in the plastic eggs they find to Museum volunteers for sweets and other prizes. The best part – entrance into the Display Building and both Easter egg hunts is included in the price of your train tickets!

TICKETS

Reservations are required in advance

Fares for the Bunny Train:

Infants and Toddlers (ages 2 and under) $5

Children (ages 3 – 12) $14

Seniors (ages 65 and older) $15

Adults (ages 13 – 64) $18

Locomotive Cab Rides

Cab rides are $40 per person for ages 6 and up. Persons under 6 are allowed to ride the train, but not in the locomotive.

Only two cab ride spaces are available on each train. Please see the Locomotive Cab Rides page for more details.

Purchase Tickets Now!
March 19, 2016	Buy Now!
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March 26, 2016	Buy Now!

Mar 9
2016

Chooze Shoes as seen on Fox 5

by Nicole Connerley

CHOOZE Shoes were started by a family because their daughter refused to wear the same shoes. Everyday she without fail grab two different shoes and put them on. Knowing her daughter loved this Sharon started Chooze so all kids could mix and match their shoes! Sharon wanted to embrace her daughter’s creative spirit and create a company that would inspire kids and help them tap into their creativity and confidence. CHOOZE was created to serve as a daily reminder to kids to celebrate what makes them unique, to think different, and to be confident in whom they are.

This morning we were happy to share the CHOOZE Shoes line with views on Fox 5 San Diego. The news anchor Shally is expecting her third child and her first girl! Chooze was happy to send some adorable Weechooze in Behave Pink, the left shoe has flowers the right has poke-dots, both in beautiful pink.

My Godson is 2 1/2 and I choose to get him the Scout in Rock, I also got a matching pair for his new baby brother. I can not wait to see those boys strutting their stuff in their matching CHOOZE Shoes in Rock. The left shoe has skull and cross-bones, and the right has guitars on it, both in matching grey, white and black, the shoe retails for $48.95.

Evan my nice is 7 and I told her she could pick out any shoes she wanted, I didn’t know what she would pick with the large array of different types of shoes and different styles. When Molly (her stepmom) called to tell me what she picked I loved it! I said she picked the Punky Brewster shoes! Apparently that means I’m showing I’m in my 30’s because Molly didn’t know who that was. The shoes Evan picked are so adorable they are the Spark in Reach and retail for $54.95.

CHOOZE has an apparel line with dresses, skirts, shorts, and leggings for girls. To see some of the adorable girls clothing that start at only $27.95 click here. There is also a full line of reversible backpacks and lunch boxes for both boys and girls. The lunch boxes are only $24.95 and there are so many fun designs to choose from.

CHOOZE shoes are 100% Vegan, the ‘Green Mom’ I am love that no animals were harmed in the making of these shoes. There are also anti-microbial removable padded insoles, for easy removal for washing. Chooze full line includes sandals, Mary-Janes, Slip-Ons, Sneakers, Slippers, Loafters, Ballet Flats and infant shoes called Weechooze. The shoes retail between $24.95 to $54.95, to see the full line visit CHOOZE Website here.

Mar 9
2016

Swoon Up Bouncer by Babymoov Giveaway

by Nicole Connerley

Did you catch our newborn TV segment on Fox 5 today? The segment was all about the hottest products on the market right now! Video of this mornings segment in the ‘Mommy Daddy Handbook’ can be viewed on Fox 5 San Diego and by clicking here (check back link coming soon)

Swoon Motion by Babymoov is one of our favorite new products this year! The reason we love the Swoon Motion is because of the height, it gets babies off the floor and at a height where babies can interact with their families. There are also two rocking modes. There is a special monitor that reacts if your baby begins to cry, if crying the Swoon Motion will begin to swing to sooth your baby.

babymoov-swoon-motion-zinc-7

The Swoon Motion has 2 rocking modes: sideways or forwards and backwards and 5 swinging speeds. Thanks to the motion detector, the swinging movement starts if the baby starts to cry. You can also select swing time during 10, 20 or 30 minutes. The swing is adaptable with 3 reclining positions and its backrest (2 positions) and seat (3 positions) can be adjusted separately with one hand. Moreover, you can adjust it as you want thanks 360°seat rotation. The toy bar can also be adjusted in 3 positions. For an optimal comfort right from the birth, Swoon Motion as a removable Newborn cushion. And for the safety of your baby, 5 point harness. You can choose between 8 melodies/natural sounds with MP3 quality and sound volume can be adjusted.

The Babymoov Swoon Bouncer retails for $199 depending on which online retailer you choose to purchase from. It is sold online at Albee Baby, Amazon (179.99), Buy Buy Baby, Diapers.com, Target, Kohl’s (219.99), and Ideal Baby and Kids.

To see a video of the Babymoov Swoon Bouncer in action click here.

One lucky reader will receive the Babymoov Swoon Motion for free! We are so excited to be doing a giveaway for this amazing product. To enter our giveaway click here.

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Mar 3
2016

Crying over spilled a2 Milk!

by Nicole Connerley

This post was sponsored by a2 Milk® as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

Did you know that one in four people experience discomfort after drinking milk? My son, my husband and myself are all part of this group. In our house we have three different types of milk, that is not a joke. My son drinks organic whole milk, I drink almond milk and my husband drinks coconut milk. When this campaign came up I knew it was a perfect fit for my family, if I could buy one less type of milk it would make my life so much easier. I am so excited to share I have been chosen to be apart of the a2 Milk® Ambassador Program. What I like about a2 Milk® is it has all the proteins milk should have and none of the A1 which is the cause of most dairy discomfort.

I didn’t tell my son when I exchanged his regular whole milk for the A2 whole milk in his morning cereal. He asked if the milk was different, my husband told him it was and asked if he liked it. He said yes! Why is this so much better? We explained that ordinary cows’ milk contains a mix of both A1 and A2 proteins, yet only A2 Milk comes from cows selected to naturally produce only A2 protein. Which is what makes all the difference. I think we lost him on the last part because he is a little guy, however what he did understand is less chemicals is better for him.

I should also mention while my son was eating his morning cereal there was an incident. The horrible mother I am… I ran to grab my phone to capture this picture because it was pretty funny. But how could I not? Who knew while writing a blog post one of the funniest photos ever happened! (He was fine once I cleaned him up, and most important told him he could have a new bowl of cereal with the a2 Milk®)

a2 Milk® is available in half gallon cartons for $4.49 and include whole milk, reduced fat 2%, low fat 1% and fat free.

It is available for purchase nationally at Sprouts, The Fresh Market, Whole Foods – Mid Atlantic and throughout California in Whole Foods, Ralph’s, Sprouts, Gleson’s and many more. We purchased it at Sprouts located in Carlsbad, California.

Mar 3
2016

Carlsbad EGGstravaganza 2016

by Nicole Connerley

Carlsbad @ Poinsettia Park – Saturday, March 28th, 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 $6 for the Activity card. Which allows you to participate in what is called the “Egg Scramble,” plus 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 – 30 kids will be sent out to collect all the eggs on the field until they are gone. The group will exit the field and the field will be reset for the next group. Parents are welcome to join their kids on the field for great photo opportunities. There is a competitive field for kids 6 and older and also one for 5 and under. There is also a uncompetitive field for young children, children with special needs, and for families wanting to pose for a photo-op.

There will also be sampling from the Parks & Recreation Summer Camps program. Instructors will be on site to perform demonstrations and answer questions about their programs.

Activity card must be purchased for $6 to participate in “egg scramble,” crafts, fun zone or bunny balloon soak.Unlimited fun zone wristbands are also available for $6.

When: Saturday, April 4, 2015
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Poinsettia Community Park, 6600 Hidden Valley Rd, Carlsbad, CA, 92011
Food, beverages, and merchandise will be available for an additional cost.
Special Events Contact: 760-931-6528
Event Map: Click Here

More information may be found by clicking here.

Save time and avoid lines by purchasing activity cards and wristbands in advance.

As a courtesy, $6 activity cards and $6 unlimited Fun Zone wristbands will be available for purchase starting March 7 until March 25, at the following locations during regular business hours:

Alga Norte Aquatic Center, 6565 Alicante Road
Calavera Hills Community Center, 2997 Glasgow Drive
Harding Community Center, 3096 Harding St.
Stagecoach Community Center, 3420 Camino de los Coches

Advance sales must be made in person; no phone or online sales. All sales are final; absolutely no refunds. Activity cards and wristbands purchased in advance that are lost or not brought to the event will not be replaced.

Carlsbad’s largest egg hunt features the Egg Scramble activity where kids race to collect candy-filled eggs among several other fun activities, including face painting, crafts, soak the bunny, cookie decorating, fun zones, and more. Wristbands and activity cards are required for some of the activities and can be purchased pre sale or at the event.