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Abuelita didn't go down without a fight | @WarriorsinPink #FordWIP

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I recently watched Ford Warrior’s in Pink ‘Bang the Drum’ documentary (see below) and I couldn't stop thinking about the hubster's abuelita. Abuelita was your typical strong Mexican woman. She had seen much in her life and was a big influence in the hubster's life growing up. She was the one who would protect him from others, sneak him coffee when she wasn't supposed to and become almost like a second-mother. Her big influence over the hubster made me want to get close to her even more. Over time, we bonded over fish (pre-vegetarianism), pan dulce and coffee.

Abuelita was the first person I knew who fought cancer, but ultimately lost. Once full of life, cancer had ripped so much from her and it pained me to see her held up in the hospital, hooked up to machines and IVs. She continued to be courageous through the pain even though we could see it in her eyes. The heavy medication did not seem to alleviate her pain during her last few days with us. I can close my eyes and hear her moan from the pain that her body was causing her, but even so, one would walk in and see a completely different person. Her courage to fight her cancer also kept a sort of normalcy for her visitors. The family would take turns visiting her throughout the days and would forget how sick she was because she would talk as though she expected to fight the cancer and walk out of the hospital in better health than she had been in years.

My adoptive abuelita lost the battle with cancer, but through it all she showed strength, shared wishes with us and asked us to take care of one another after her passing. I will remember her as a strong woman who lost her battle with cancer, but she did not go down without a fight.


This October, Ford Warriors in Pink® has launched its first ever produced documentary, “Bang the Drum: Living Out Loud in the Face of Breast Cancer.” The film honors 11 men and women breast cancer survivors who have demonstrated strength and courage in their battle with its “Models of Courage” program. 2012 marks Ford Motor Company’s 18th year of support for the breast cancer cause. In that time, Ford has dedicated more than $115 million to the breast cancer cause.

Circle of Hope Scarf - $34
You too can get involved in this tremendously worthy program! When you buy Ford Warriors in Pink apparel at fordcares.com, 100 percent of the net proceeds go directly to support breast cancer awareness all year long.

To keep connected, be sure to check out:

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Ford Warriors in Pink. The opinions and text are all mine.

Share your hilarious "Mom"ents with Zarbee's | @ZarbeesNurse

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Zarbee’s is passionate about families and they’re on a quest to find the most hilarious parenting stories out there! Disastrous messes, embarrassing public moments, gag-inducing stories… Moms have seen it all and your “MOM”ents deserve to be recognized and celebrated.


Head on over to Zarbee’s Facebook page now through November 7th to enter the Hilarious MOMents Contest and you could win a $10,000 dream family vacation.

My first MOMent

My first MOMent happened when I first became a stay-at-home mom. I was in the kitchen washing the dishes and I don't hear anything coming from my kid. I walk into the living room and I see him on the floor with a box of cereal spilled all over the floor, couch, table, etc. The room looked like it was having breakfast along with my kid. It took me forever to clean up those Cheerios.

About Zarbee’s

Zarbee’s uses natural ingredients that are proven safe and effective for children and adults. There are no side effects so you can have peace of mind and confidence. Developed by leading pediatrician Zak Zarbock, MD, Zarbees Cough Syrup was the first natural, safe and effective cough syrup for children 12 months and older.

Follow Zarbee's

Website | Zarbees.com
Twitter | @ZarbeesNurse
 

Zarbee's Family Cough Kit Giveaway 

2 Winners!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is not a sponsored post. I will receive a similar cough kit to use with my kids. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.

Vons Just for You program teams up with Freschetta's Strength of 1 | #Strengthof1CA

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Breast Cancer Awareness month gives you many different opportunities to help out the community. Many times, you receive an incentive to do so as well. Case in point: Vons Just for You program and Freschetta.


With your Vons Club Card in hand, you can hop over to the Vons Just for You Program, register, and then download a digital coupon that will give you $5 off your floral purchase when you purchase any two Freschetta® Multi-Serve Pizzas or Freschetta® Artisan Pizza Crusts. So I'm thinking that you can purchase the pizzas and then gift yourself flowers for being an awesome woman, OR, if you're a guy reading this, keep the pizzas for yourself and gift the flowers to a woman in your life. Trust me, we all like flowers... and we like them even more if we know that you were thoughtful enough to use a coupon on them.


This coupon and promotion ends October 31st so you'll have to head over to your nearest Vons soon and take advantage of it.

If you're on the search for another way to help, you can take the pledge of Freschetta's Facebook page and get $1 off  your next Freschetta pizza. There are so many ways to bring awareness to breast cancer, but not all are as delicious as this one. Thank you for supporting Vons Just for You program and the Freschetta's Strength of 1 campaign.

About Freschetta’s Strength of 1

Freschetta’s Strength of 1 believes that everyone ONE of us has the power to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.
Now through the end of October, 2012, the makers of Freschetta® pizza are helping to promote breast cancer awareness through their new The Strength of 1™ campaign, which includes sponsoring Bright Pink, the only national non-profit organization focusing on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women, while providing support to high-risk individuals. The mission of this The Strength of 1™ initiative is to inspire everyone to realize they can make a difference in some way in the fight against breast cancer.



This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™, but all my opinions are my own.

Free Halloween Event at CVS on 10/21 from 1-3 p.m.

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CVS/pharmacy stores will be hosting a FREE in-store Halloween Party on Sunday, October 21st from 1-3 p.m. This family event is a fun way for kids to show-off their costumes early and for parents to receive coupons towards Halloween necessities.

 

Stores will have staff available during this time for customers to receive a free 5 x 7 photo. Children who are dressed in costume will receive a Halloween fun pack as a giveaway that includes over $5 of free items inside, plus over $10 in coupons, including:
  • Free 5 x 7 photo
  • $5 off any Halloween costume
  • $5 off Hershey’s snack size bag 19 oz. or larger
  • $2 off C&D CVS brand batteries
  • $1 off UNREAL candy

And as long as you're there, check out these additional Halloween deals and promotions at CVS/pharmacy:

Party invitations

CVS/pharmacy Photo Centers offer many Halloween-themed templates for festive photo invitations that shoppers can create in a matter of minutes. Photo invitations start as low as $0.65 each or $12.99 for a set of 20, and are available for same-day pickup.

Snacks and Treats

  • Classic candy favorites shoppers have come to expect alongside surprising options like M&M’s White Chocolate Candy Corn
  • New UNREAL® candy, a brand new “unjunked” candy with nothing artificial – a healthier candy choice for trick-or-treating or Halloween parties
  • CVS Gold Emblem fresh air popped popcorn – a premium quality snacking option at a great value. Perfect for creating popcorn balls and/or adding to snacking bowls/mixes.

Additional Savings

When members of the CVS/pharmacy ExtraCare program buy their favorite Halloween essentials like candy and snacks at CVS/pharmacy, they can earn 4% back in quarterly ExtraBucks Rewards which can be spent like “free CVS money” on most things in-store! Simply enroll in the Double Quarterly ExtraBucks Rewards promotion and shop now to start earning double! Shoppers can also refer to the circular to view the deals of the week and pair weekly deals with manufacturer coupons for even more savings.

Shoppers can sign up for the Double Quarterly ExtraBucks Rewards promotion here: http://bit.ly/PrSO8H

The Children's Place Grand Opening at Westfield Fashion Square Mall | @ChildrensPlace

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The Children's Place landed in Westfield Fashion Square Mall over the weekend, featuring their signature fashion trends and everyday must-haves at unmatched value. This awesome clothing store is best for kids in sizes newborn to 14 (we've been shopping here since our first kid was born and I dread the day we're going to have to stop).

To celebrate its grand opening, The Children's Place is hosting a fun, interactive family event, complete with giveaways, sweet treats, exclusive deals and a very special guest!

shirts at The Children's Place

What

The Children's Place Grand Opening Celebration

Nickelodeon’s most-beloved character, SpongeBob SquarePants, will be visiting the store between 12:00pm and 4:00pm for a meet and greet with customers! A photographer will be on hand to take pictures of parents and their children with SpongeBob. All visitors will receive their framed photo complimentary of The Children’s Place.

PLUS, any parent who brings their child to the grand opening event in their Halloween costume will receive an additional 5% off their entire purchase!

When

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Where

Westfield Fashion Square Mall
14006 Riverside Drive
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

About The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc.

The Children’s Place is the largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer in North America. The Company designs, contracts to manufacture and sells fashionable, high-quality merchandise at value-prices under the proprietary “The Children's Place” brand name. As of January 1, 2012, the Company owned and operated 1,080 The Children’s Place stores and an online store at www.childrensplace.com.

Costume Days at Discovery Science Center | @DiscoveryCube

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Calling all young adventurers! Get ready for Halloween with Discovery Science Center and wear your favorite Indiana Jones costume on October 27 and 28. Kids ages 3-14 that come dressed up in adventure costumes will get FREE general admission into the Center on these special days.

Discovery Science Center
Image courtesy of Discovery Science Center

WHAT

Kids ages 3-14 that come dressed up in Indiana Jones adventure costumes will get FREE general admission to the Center.
 Limit one free admission per paid adult general admission only. General admission does not include Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology exhibit.

WHERE

Discovery Science Center
2500 North Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92705

WHEN

Oct. 27 and 28, 2012

ADMISSION

Tickets for Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology are currently on-sale for just $10 per person, in addition to Science Center admission. Spooky Science activities are included with general admission. For complete schedule and ticket information, visit Discovery Science Center's website at www.discoverycube.org or call (714) 542-2823.


About Discovery Science Center

Imaginations run wild with 120 hands-on exhibits at Discovery Science Center (DSC), Orange County’s leading destination for hands-on science entertainment. Take the Eco Challenge and become a green superhero, feel the power of a real rocket engine launch and explore the inner workings of a two-story tall dinosaur! DSC is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating young minds, assisting teachers and increasing public understanding of science, math and technology through interactive exhibits and programs. It is a community-wide resource where families come together to learn and have fun and school districts can use as an educational resource. For further information, visit www.discoverycube.org or call (714) 542-2823.

About Spooky Science

Spooky Science is now open through October 31st and features a scavenger hunt, Thor's Snake Show (weekends only) and a spooky science photo souvenir! Plus, all children 17 and under will receive a free goodie bag.

Iron Man 3 Trailer Released! | #Marvel @Iron_Man

Coca-Cola and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund | #DestapaSuFuturo

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Out of the gate, let me tell you that I was the first in my family to graduate from college. Better yet, I graduated from college, debt-free. I did that by going to a community college for the first two years, starting a gift basket business and then paying out of pocket from money that I made in my business and my full-time job. I was living under a rock and completely oblivious to many scholarships available to me, including the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. I didn't have monetary support from my parents and I didn't know about scholarships that were available to me, so I didn't take advantage of them. I don't want the same thing to happen to you, or someone you know so I want to share with you about the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and their relationship with Coca-Cola that has been going on for more than 30 years! How I didn't know about the HSF is beyond me.

The HSF and Coca-Cola are committed to meeting an extraordinary goal - having a college degree in every Latino household by the year 2025. Along with HSF, Coca-Cola wants to motivate people to get involved and help make a difference. I can tell you right now that it is a lofty goal. I know plenty of Latino households that still don't have a college degree! Some of it has to do with not having the money to go to school, the resources to find the money, and sometimes it's just because the ambition isn't there. Whatever it is, I say we all get together and support one another. We NEED to get ahead as a group.

We can't deny the Latino culture is rich in music, food, family values and history. Coca-Cola and HSF wants to know how your heritage influenced your career choice. In regards to mine, I chose entrepreneurship because it was and has always been a part of my life. I remember waking up way too early on Saturday mornings to shop at garage sales, only to wake up even earlier on Sundays to resell the items at the swap meet. This went on throughout my childhood and my parents continued to do so up until the day that my dad passed away. As it so happens, my dad's last day before we lost him was spent selling at the swap meet. Entrepreneurship is in my DNA and I couldn't imagine doing anything else. 

I invite you to help me spread the word about the HSF and Coca-Cola's partnership and share with college students that from now through October 31st, students can apply for a scholarship at www.hsf.net/cocacola by answering three thought-provoking essay questions. Students must reflect on how their heritage affects their career goals, the importance of education in their lives and their community service experiences. We all have a story. Why not use it to get money for school and better ourselves?

This post is compensated and in collaboration with Coca-Cola and Latina Bloggers Connect.

How to: Make Buñuelos | #MazolaOil #Spon

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"Con Mazola, no estas sola" - you remember that commercial, right? I don't remember my mom every buying another type of cooking oil other than Mazola. I'm not really sure that she knew about all the benefits of Mazola corn oil  - how it's one of the healthiest oils for your heart or how it contains nutrients that have been proven to help lower your cholesterol. In fact, did you know that corn oil has more cholesterol-lowering nutrients than olive oil, canola oil or grapeseed oil? That's a whole lot of stats and I'm positive that my mom only thought of how versatile and flavorful it is and that's basically why, even to this day, Mazola is the only type of corn oil that we buy. We've even purchased the cooking spray because that one is just as good!

Mazola plays into our every day life, and it's going to play a part in our Dia de los Muertos celebration too. Our Dia de los Muertos altar will be in memory of my dad. Buñuelos were one of his favorite dishes and so we got to work and made a few over the weekend. The recipe is super simple and the results are outstanding. Everything is homemade, from start to finish, and it also happens to be a vegan recipe because it has neither dairy nor eggs. However, it does have sugar so if you're a super strict vegan you'll have to find a sweetener substitute.

bunuelos recipe

Buñuelos Recipe

Ingredients

Buñuelos

  • 2 cups flour
  • 3 tbsp. sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 tbsp. vegetable shortening
  • 1 tbsp. baking powder
  • 3/4 cup water, adjust as necessary
  • Mazola oil for frying

Topping

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup cinnamon 

Directions

  1. Blend all dry ingredients and slowly add water until the consistency of the dough is stretchy and soft. There should be no obvious "holes" in the dough. 
  2. Squeeze out similar size balls out of the dough. Add a bit of shortening on the outside surface of the dough balls and place them back in the bowl. Cover with dish towel and allow them to rest for 20 minutes.
  3. Add Mazola oil to pan and heat.
  4. Flatten out the dough balls into a tortillas. You have a few options to do this.
    1. Option 1 - Place a small amount of flour on your hands and basically play pat-a-cake with the dough while simultaneously stretching out the dough.
    2. Option 2 - Roll out the dough with a rolling pin until it's the size of a regular tortilla
  5. Gently drop the raw tortilla into the hot oil and turn over until both sides are a golden brown.
  6. Take out the fried tortilla (now a buñuelo) and toss it in the sugar and cinnamon mixture.
For a condensed lesson in how to make buñuelos - see the Spanglish video below. A more thorough video will be uploaded shortly showing you a step by step in creating these delicious slices of heaven.


Bunuelos con mama

Follow Mazola on Facebook

 
This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Mazola®. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Updating Fall Wardrobes with Cookie's Kids | @CookiesKids #CookiesKids #Cbias

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I live in Southern California and the need for a sweater doesn't come around too often. Unfortunately, that also means that we don't usually have a hoodie for the kids. This was the case last week. He finally outgrew his one hoodie that he had and now he needs one for this coming season. You would think that I could go to the store by myself, or even online, and purchase him one, right? WRONG! My kid has his own sense of style and I can't get him to wear anything that he doesn't personally choose out. And because I don't like having to tow around the baby while we shop, I gladly sit down with my oldest kid while he browses and shops for his fall fashion clothes.



So on this particular occasion we were on the Cookie's Kids website looking for kids clothes, specifically a hoodie and some nice jeans. If you're an online shopper, you'll be pretty happy shopping on their website. However, if you're in the NYC area, you should be happy to know that they have 7 stores in the NYC area in Bronx, Brooklyn and Jamaica. I would imagine that it would be better to shop in person since they might further discount their already super-affordable kids fashion and school uniforms.

We get online, go to the Cookie's Kids website and go to the pants section first. My kid wants some pants to go with some dress shoes that his abuelita got him. There were A LOT of pants choices. We clicked a few and eventually eliminated the non-jeans pants. That still left us with a lot of choices so we then read reviews on the pants. Now, I don't know about you, but I rely heavily on reviews. I want to know if the pants are going to shrink, lose their colors in the wash, if the length is long enough, etc. Luckily, Cookie's Kids has a reviews section on each item and a few of them had reviews posted. For the ones that didn't I went outside of Cookie's Kids and searched for them that way. After much deliberation, we settled on Nautica "Seamly" Straight Jeans. They're classic, stylish and uber-affordable on CookiesKids.com. Only $19.99 - compared to $37.50 at other retail locations.

http://www.cookieskids.com/Product.aspx?l=00000000000000000000&p=FSH01447?cid=collectivebias|livingmividaloca

Our next stop was hoodies. My kid checks them out and as soon as he gets to the super hero hoodies he stops. He examines each one until he settles on a Spider-Man "Hero for Hire" hoodie.

www.cookieskids.com/Product.aspx?l=00000000000000000000&p=CLI01244?cid=collectivebias|livingmividaloca

At only $14.99, these hoodies are a steal! I love the cool hoodie that doubles as a mask. In a pinch, this sweatshirt could definitely play the part of a Halloween costume too.

Because my kid isn't 5 yet, I always worry that buying him clothing that is size 5 and above will fit him too big. So in an attempt to avoid having to return the hoodie in case it didn't fit I used their Alva Kids tool.


Alva Kids is a tool that allows you to tell what size your child wears in that particular item. You have to register with the site, but their Facebook login button allows you to do it super quick. I did and it took me a couple of minutes. I went to use their sizing tool with the hoodie and it gave me a response telling me that they didn't carry my kid's size. Well, I couldn't explain that to my kid so I just ordered a size 5 and crossed my fingers that it would fit (it did).


In the end I purchased the Spider-Man hoodie and the Nautica dark wash jeans. Of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone so I went on a search for a coupon code to either remove my shipping charges, or throw something in there for free. I scored with the TMNT coupon code. When I added it, it threw in a stationary kit for FREE! I also noticed that Cookie's Kids automatically gave me a Parenting School Years magazine for free. Well... I don't have kids in school so I asked for a refund ($10 value). In the end, I ended up saving $10 thanks to the Parenting magazine reimbursement that I will receive in the mail, and I received a free TMNT stationary kit. Win-win.


The clothes came in and they were perfect. The pants were just an inch shorter than what we usually purchase, but my kid likes them shorter because he doesn't like them to touch the ground. So really, these were perfect jeans for him. The stitching is really top-notch, the wash is dark enough to go dressy if he wants to, and they fit him in the waist.

The hoodie was another score. The sleeves come to his wrist, and doesn't cover his palm. He has this thing (yes, another "thing") about sleeves going lower than his wrist. He doesn't like to feel the fabric on his palm. This hoodie's length in both the sleeves and the waist is so right-on that I'm thinking of going back and getting him the rest of the super hero line. I like that the hoodie part is made of mesh fabric so even if he does have it over his mouth and nose, he can breathe easily through it.


Both the Nautica jeans and the Spider-Man hoodie make perfect play clothes without feeling like he's compromising style. With the cooler season coming, I invite you to visit Cookie's Kids and see the great deals that they have for babies and kids. You can also click through to the #CookiesKids Google+ album and check out other items that I found.

Cookie's Kids Coupon Code

All Living Mi Vida Loca readers can go to CookiesKids.com and get 10% off sitewide by entering coupon code livingmividaloca at checkout. Coupon code expires 11/30/2012.

About Cookie's Kids

In 1972, a young man named Cookie and his brother Marvin went into business together. They rented a 1600 square foot store in Jamaica, Queens, fixed it up, bought inventory and Summer andFall, and opened a day after Thanksgiving with a full stock of holiday toys. The toys were a success and they put the extra money toward buying children's clothing for the next season. When that did well, they bought more clothing. The business was on it's way.

As the brothers Cookie, Marvin and Sonny, who had come in as a third partner in the business, began to open new stores in new locations, inventory expanded. Besides the latest fashions, our customers wanted shoes, toys, backpacks and accessories and we were prepared to deliver.

By the late 1990's there were six superstores throughout the NYC area, and though they previously had different names, by that time they were all named Cookie's Kids. Also in the late '90s came an important addition to Cookie's Kids' inventory: school uniforms. It was the steady success in uniform sales that paved the way for founding CookiesKids.com in 2007, which originally sold uniforms and soon after the entire Cookie's Kids Inventory.

Follow Cookies Kids Online

Facebook | http://www.facebook.com/Cookieskidsfans 
Twitter | https://twitter.com/cookieskids

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ andCookiesKids.com #CBias #SocialFabric

Halloween Zoo-tacular at Irvine Park | @OCParks #OCZootacular

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Please welcome our newest contributor, Heidi Nevelle-Peterson. She stopped by Irvine Park to preview the upcoming Zoo-tacular yesterday (full details below).

If you are looking for a fabulous Fall event to attend with kids of all ages, do not miss Irvine Regional Park's Zoo-tacular this Saturday, October 27th from 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Little kids, big kids and adults alike will have a wonderful time seeing wildlife up close in a Halloween theme environment, filled with critters of all kinds. Wildlife from all over California are on display in this fun, family friendly Halloween environment.


Event goers under the age of 12 can enjoy a scavenger hunt, themed crafts and face painting. The whole parked will be decked out in Fall and Halloween decorations. Beautiful trees, displaying their finest Fall colors can be seen throughout the Zoo, leading you to critters of all kinds, like racoons, birds of prey, mountain lions and bears, oh my! Additionally, you can see lizards, serpents and intriguing insects of all kinds. The animals will be gnoshing on treat-filled pumpkins all day long! Make sure your little ones come decked out in their Halloween finest, as the first 100 children in costume will receive a free special gift.


Halloween Zoo-tacular! is free with admission to the OC Zoo. Children of all ages are welcome! Parking is only $5 per vehicle. If you wish to stay and check out the other fun offerings at the Irvine Regional Park there's a pumpkin patch, bouncers, decorate your own Halloween cookie, tractor rides, a train and paddle boats. The Fall foliage is in full display for the whole family to enjoy.


All the decorations and attention to Halloween detail made it for a special experience. The pumpkins filled with treats for the animals added so much festive fun. The animals at the Zoo really teach kids about their environment around them and the importance of taking care of the world in which they live. Although Halloween tends to focus on frights, the up-close and personal experience teaches kids to not fear, but respect animals. Do not miss this exciting Orange County institution. It is a must see for the Fall/Halloween season!

Halloween Zoo-tacular 

Date

October 27

Time

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Cost

Free with Zoo admission of $2 per child (includes one parent)

Parking

$3 weekday
 $5 weekends

Location

OC Zoo
1 Irvine Park Road
Orange, CA 92869

Website


Contact

(714) 973-6847
oczoo@ocparks.com

Follow Heidi Nevelle-Peterson on Twitter: @JollyGreenMom
 
This is not a sponsored post. I was invited to preview the event as a member of the press. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.

Frugal Friday: Goodwill Marketplace in Orange County | @OCGoodwill #Thrifting

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Do you love thrifting? Ever want to be an archaeologist? For years, I’ve been going to a place that requires my love of both, and it’s time to share the secret. You won’t be troweling in the dirt, but it is physical and patience-requiring work…and totally worth it if you find goodies that make you happy. A word of warning, though- this is not for the faint-of-heart or casual browser. This type of thrifting requires you to roll up your sleeves and be willing to dig, quite literally.


This is the Goodwill Marketplace in Orange County, a.k.a. the “As-Is” yard. My mom and I call it “the Bins” because really, that’s what it is. A giant warehouse filled with bins full of thrifting treasure. Mound upon endless mound of clothing, shoes, books, accessories, and more.

The Marketplace caters to auctions in the back section, and the bins are located in the front. You can go and bid for huge lots, or you can dig for items sold by the pound (currently $2.49/lb). There are also furniture pieces and other large household goods near the front.

Some tips for shopping here:

• On your way in, grab a cart if you can or you may have to get creative to carry your finds.
• Bring cash instead of a credit card. It will limit your spending if you only have $20.
• Bring hand sanitizer, wipes, or even gloves. A lot of hands have been there before yours.
• To dig: Start at one end, pick a bin, and go through it by making an empty space on one end and moving clothing or items into the space, working your way from one side to the other. This is your digging… and your upper body workout for the day. If you make it through all of the bins, you’ll feel like you just did about a hundred lateral pull-downs.
• When you find items, grab them right away. They probably won’t be there later.


• Check potential purchases carefully. Once you’ve accumulated a giant pile of items (and you will), go through them for stains or non-repairable rips.
• Stock changes rapidly daily. Some days you’ll find a lot. Some days, nothing.
• Be patient. Treasure hunting takes time.
• New bins are brought out often. You’ll see people lining up to wait for them. Find a close spot, or just wait it out. There is a serious feeding frenzy once the bins arrive- I almost lost a hand one day. My 15 year-old niece literally dove into the crowd and I didn’t see her again until she resurfaced with a gorgeous Quicksilver jacket and three pairs of Abercrombie jeans.
• Cull with care. Even if a shirt only costs 25 cents, that’s too much if you never wear it. I usually leave with 25-50 percent of what I originally grabbed.
• Items like blankets, heavy jackets, books, shoes, and accessories are priced at the register individually. Prices may vary, but it is still likely to be quite a bargain.

Once you’ve exhausted yourself, gotten a fabulous workout, and found enough awesome clothing (and other assorted items) to last for the next few years, take all your goodies up to the front to be weighed and/or priced. You might find you bought more than you intended…but hey, look at all you saved, right?

Find of the Week: This is a recap of my best day ever at the Bins just to show you the possibilities:


  • New green and white Mossimo tank top
  • Pink and black “Check It Out” tank top
  • Cute, tiny, sheer black top (maker unknown)
  • New red “Morphine Generation” drape neck burnout T-shirt
  • Dark green “Threads for Thought” organic cotton sustainable L/S t-shirt
  • “9Love Mighty Fine” light green Peanuts T-shirt
  • Black “Free People” L/S studded shirt
  • New green/orange “Lucky Brand” sleeveless hoodie
  • “Crimson Ivy” tie-dye maxi-dress in brown and black
  • New grey “Foreign Exchange” maxi-wrap (serious find!)
  • Vintage multi color polka dot scarf
  • Boys “Basic Editions” skull shorts
  • Boys “WRG Jeans” plaid shorts
  • Boys “Seven for All Mankind” signature jeans
  • Boys “Soffee shirts” baseball sleeves T-shirt

And all this for (drum roll, please…)…. $8.62. I spent less for all of it than I would have for even the cheapest new retail price on any single item.

Not every “bins” adventure will be like this one, but you never know what you might find! Happy digging!

About Goodwill Marketplace in OC

Goodwill Marketplace is part of Goodwill of Orange County. There are numerous retail locations to serve you. By shopping at Goodwill, you are supporting an organization that provides jobs and education for people with disabilities and other barriers to independence.

Address | 2722 W. Fifth Street (at Fairview), Santa Ana, CA 92703
Telephone | (714) 541-0406
Hours of Operation | M-Fri: 9AM–6PM, Sat-Sun: 10AM-5PM
Cash and credit cards accepted.


About Justine
Justine is a biological anthropologist, deal seeker, and stay-at-home parent to a rambunctious 4-year-old boy. She digs bones. And donuts. You can follow Justine for more frugal fun and other anthropology tidbits on Twitter: @JustineBurgess1.

This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts, pictures and opinions remain my own.

Baby gifts made easy | @childtocherish #ChildtoCherish

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Shopping for baby gifts is something that HAS to be done sooner or later. Yes, you're often given a gift registry where you can go, pick something from the list, and then gift - but honestly, I think that it's so robotic. I'm really more about shopping off the list. I reserve those "registry shopping" moments for the larger items that a group purchases together.


My neighbor is pregnant. Pregnant and, get this, she doesn't know what she's having! Talk about will power. Though that was my original plan for my second kid, I broke down after the nurse kept walking around me with that sonogram picture and talking about the baby.

So my neighbor has two little boys already, and I'm secretly hoping she has a little girl. Not for the abundance of little girl clothes that I'm sure she'll get, but so that I can gift her the cutest little keepsake block bank.


Sold by Child to Cherish, "A Block To Grow On" is a 6 inch tall block bank made of ceramic with a writable surface on each side. There is a black marker that comes with it, allowing you to record the kid's milestones along the way.

A few things about A Block To Grow On that I like:

It doesn't require a lot of work. Now, I don't know about you, but I never did get that keepsake book filled out - for either of them. There's just too much to fill out, and quite frankly, my mommy brain couldn't handle all those dates. I like it plain and simple.


It lists milestones that you'll actually care about. My kids' keepsake books had spots to be filled in for random dates like, first time on a bicycle and first time taking a bath in a bathtub. Those are dates that I won't really care about in ten years. A Block to Grow On has four milestones: "first tooth", "first smile", "first step" and "first word". You know, the milestones we actually share with other moms.

It doubles as a bank, and I love banks. There's something so nostalgic about gathering coins and sticking them in a container to save. This bank could also be put out at the first year birthday party for those who come bearing monetary gifts. Automatic deposits!


It's a high quality item with its own storage box. I honestly wish I could get an accurate weight for this block. My best guess? A couple of pounds. It's heavy, looks great and thanks to the plastic case that it comes in, can be stored away for that day when it is given to the now-grown-up kid.


A Block to Grow On makes a great gift - especially since it retails for only $23.99. You can get it in either blue, pink or yellow via the Child to Cherish website. Another fun thing about this gift is that you could buy one for each baby shower that you attend and it will always be a hit, even if it's the same girl having all the kids (just thought of this because this weekend I met someone who has ten kids - not lying).

You can find out more about A Block to Grow On on their website, and connect with them here:

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/Child-to-Cherish

Twitter

@childtocherish

Pinterest


http://pinterest.com/childtocherish/

Instagram

http://followgram.me/childtocherish


This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™. All thoughts, images and opinions remain my own.

Halloween/Trick-or-Treating Events at Simon Malls

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Taken at Pumpkin City at Laguna Hills Mall

Westminster Mall

 

What

Halloween Trick or Treat
Stop by Guest Services FIRST to get a trick or treat bag for all your goodies! 

Time

4:30pm-7:30pm

Facebook Details

https://www.facebook.com/events/396587623747278/

Brea

 

What

Kidgits Jump Into Halloween Event

Time

2pm-4pm

Location

Center Court

Facebook Details

https://www.facebook.com/events/432287423485656/
 

About

Halloween is here and Brea Mall is inviting all little ghouls, goblins and boo'tiful princesses to come have a frightfully good time from 2pm - 4pm on October 31st. Event will be held in the Center Court. Wear your cool costume and join us at this free event! Don’t forget your free Trick-or-Treat Bag compliments of The Hub and FREE KRE-O Bumblebee Transformer (limit one per family, while supplies last). It’s sure to be a howlin’ good time!

Laguna Hills

 

What

Halloween Trick or Treating

Time

10am-9pm

Location

Inside of Pumpkin City

Hosted by Radio Disney along with the mall

Facebook Details

https://www.facebook.com/events/500994099910982/

About

Bring your kids in there Halloween costumes on October 31st for trick or treating fun!

The following retailers will be handing out various treats and goodies:
Tokyo Japanese Lifestyle (All Day)
V Generation (6pm-9pm)
Ruby's Diner (7am-9pm)
Lenscrafters (All Day)
Kids By Design (All Day)
Julian Hans Salon (12 pm-9pm)
California Pizza Kitchen (11am-9pm) *Free kids meal during this time!
Laguna Hills Mall Cinema (5pm-9pm)
Total Woman Gym and Day Spa (All Day)
Claire's (All Day)
Mastercuts (All Day)
Hallmark (All Day)
Kore Skate Shop (All Day)

Celebrating Dia de los Muertos with Mazola | #Mazola #Spon

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I was recently over at Nicole Presley's (Presley's Pantry) home celebrating Dia de los Muertos with other bloggers who will also be celebrating this special day. As part of our get-together, we all brought a dish to share with one another featuring my beloved aceite de Mazola.


As you know, I prepared buñuelos with my mom to share with the group. Upon arrival, I was a bit worried that I would have the only sweet dish there because when I think of Mazola, I think of traditional Mexican dishes. However, I was very pleasantly surprised to see that my colleagues had given their own dishes a spin with Mazola and incorporating them into classic desserts, like the pumpkin chocolate bread prepared by Caryn Bailey (Rockin Mama).


There were a lot of desserts, meat dishes like the tinga de pollo prepared by Sandra Ramirez (Mama Noticias) and the always popular papas con carne prepared by Octavio Navarro (Papi Blogger), and it was all brought together by our common bond of cafe, chocolate de Abuelita and Mazola.

I had an amazing time chatting with all the bloggers, discussing Dia de los Muertos and having an honest conversation about our love for Mazola and why we cook with it. We found that most of us had memories of Mazola being in the kitchen with us as we watched our moms cook meals and credit our culture for continuing that strong bond and creating better tasting food with a must-have product like Mazola.


Thank you Nicole Presley (Presley Pantry) for hosting us, and the rest of the bloggers for spending the morning with me and my crazy kids: Carla Maria (Notas de Mama), Caryn Bailey (Rockin Mama), Natalia Carter (Comiendo en LA), Octavio Navarro (Papi Blogger), Sandra Ramirez (Mama Noticias), Stephen Chavez (Latino Foodie), and Yolanda Machado (Sassy Mama in LA). 

I also invite you to take a look at our collective Mazola Pinterest board to get more detail on Day of the Dead dishes that you can make at home for this holiday (or any other special day).

Follow Mazola on Facebook

 
This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Mazola®. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Britax deal announced to celebrate their IIHS Best Bet ratings

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Britax is celebrating today as they've recently learned that a few of their products have earned Best Bet ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS tests proper seatbelt positioning on a child and the Britax Frontier 85 and Frontier 85 SICT (that's the one we have!) are two exceptional booster seat options on the market. I can personally vouch for the Frontier 85 SICT booster seat because that's the one that my 50 lbs./4.5 year old uses. It's great.

To celebrate the travel season during the month of November, authorized Britax retailers are offering a FREE Britax Vehicle Seat Protector (MSRP: $29.99) with the purchase of either IIHS award-winners, the Frontier 85 or Frontier 85 SICT. Adding the free Vehicle Seat Protector offers an engineered, non-slip material for best-in-class car seat crash performance while providing protection to the vehicle seat from spills, debris, and compression.

I hope you get a chance to take advantage of this great offer. The fact that the vehicle seat protector has been crash tested with car seats on them is a big plus - because you KNOW that they're safe to use. 

This is not a sponsored post. Sharing because I trust both of these products.

The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About Christmas! Special - 11/21/12 | @PBSKids

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The cat in the hat knows a lot about that
Image courtesy of @PBSKids

PBS Kids will premiere the first-ever Cat in the Hat Christmas special, The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About Christmas!

About The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About Christmas!:
This adventure finds the Cat in the Hat, Nick and Sally on a journey around the world to help a lost reindeer find his way home to Freezeyourknees Snowland in time for Christmas. On the way, the Thingamajigger breaks down and they depend on a variety of animals – from African bush elephants to bottlenose dolphins to red crabs – and their remarkable abilities to help them make an amazing journey home.

The one-hour special premieres on Wednesday, November 21 on PBS KIDS, with encore presentations throughout Thanksgiving weekend and in December (check local listings).


If you want to watch the The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About Christmas! year round, you can also purchase it on DVD online or in major retailers nationwide.

Ruby Sparks Stars at LA's Downtown Art Walk Lounge!

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Ruby Sparks will be the official Los Angeles Art Walk Lounge sponsor this Thursday, November 8th. More info below.
 

Rise of the Guardians - Local Screening Giveaway | #SoCal #SouthGate #Sorteo

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November 21st, marks the opening day to this year's holiday film of the season, RISE OF THE GUARDIANS, directed by Peter Ramsey and executive produced by Guillermo del Toro. Cast includes Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher and Jude Law! Sounds like a great movie already, right? I love all things holiday and movies are not an exception. I hope to catch this flick with the family on Thanksgiving weekend.

Synopsis. RISE OF THE GUARDIANS is an epic and magical adventure that tells the story of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, and Jack Frost – legendary characters with previously unknown extraordinary abilities. When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children everywhere.

RISE OF THE GUARDIANS es una aventura épica y mágica que cuenta la historia de Santa Claus, el Conejo de Pascua, el Hada de los Dientes, Sandman, y Jack Frost, personajes legendarios con talentos extraordinarios que la gente desconocía. Cuando un espíritu malvado llamado Pitch los desafía para apoderarse del mundo, los guardianes inmortales deberán sumar fuerzas para proteger las esperanzas, las creencias y la imaginación de los niños de todo el mundo.


Connect with Rise of the Guardians


YouTube |http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd71LWhCO4s

Facebook |https://www.facebook.com/#!/RiseoftheGuardians?fref=ts

Website |http://www.riseoftheguardians.com/



Rise of the Guardians Movie Screening Giveaway 

(So Cal Event)


We're hosting a fun giveaway for two 4-packs to screen this movie on Saturday, November 17th at 11:00am. Screening will take place at the Regal South Gate Stadium 20 in South Gate, CA. Please note the address and only enter if you can truly make it to that theater on that date. Buena suerte!

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Wee Generation from Seventh Generation | @SeventhGen #7GenBabyFest

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I'm a Taurus, and according to my astrological sign, I am a loyal person. My loyalty goes beyond people though, it also includes products. There are certain brands that I will purchase time and time again (even if they're not on sale) because I am loyal to them. I may go off and try other products, but it is often the case that I will run back to what is familiar and comforting to me.

Now I want to share with you my new loyalty with Seventh Generation's new Wee Generation baby care products line. My bebes have never been Johnson & Johnson babies. They have been organic, "natural", good for the environment, etc. type of kids because I want what is best for them, not what is fantasized the best in baby commercials.

Before I go any further, do you want to read something scary? Take a look at these two facts and then read on to see how Seventh Generation's baby products differ from others on the market.

Courtesy of Seventh Generation

I bet that slide above will make you think twice about face painting, right?

Anyhow, my oldest kid has eczema and we have tried dozens of products that promise to moisturize and help heal broken skin. So many of these products have failed to come through. Now my second kid also has super-sensitive skin and his skin breaks out in a rash with anything that has too many chemicals. Thankfully, the arrival of Seventh Generation's baby care products is here and I can finally purchase just one product for both kids.


Seventh Generation is known for their "good for the environment" type of products and as an adult, I have used quite a few of them. For years I couldn't why they chose to produce diapers and wipes, but stopped short of producing a complete baby products line. Turns out they were working out all the kinks and making their baby care products line as perfect as they could get them. Now that they've done it, take a look at what makes them special:
  • First complete line of USDA-certified biobased baby care products
  • Endorsed by Healthy Child, Healthy World
  • Products are gluten-free
  • No synthetic fragrances, phthalates, parabens (all ingredients of concern)
  • Tear-free, no worries about getting in eyes
  • Non-toxic, biodegradable formula
  • Made with natural ingredients that come from plants and minerals
  • Extra-virgin olive oil to moisturize and protect
As a lover of all things Seventh Generation, I was recently invited to be on a call with Cara Bondi, Senior Research Chemist at Seventh Generation, and Tina Allen, founder of Liddle Kidz Foundation, to further discuss the new line and to learn some tips on massaging a baby. Once the one hour call was over, I was beyond excited to be able to represent a brand that worked hard to get it done right.

The kids had the opportunity to try out the new line and by far, their favorite is the foaming shampoo and wash. I mean, what's not to like. It smells wonderful, it has a cute logo, fun container and IT FOAMS! Built in bubbles are a kid's best friend.


It smells wonderful and it provides a fun element to the kids when they use it. It also seems to be that it lasts longer because I don't have to squeeze a bunch on the loofah for the bubbles to come out.

We also use our sunscreen a lot. Whether or not the sun is out, the kids will slather on the sunscreen to protect themselves from harmful UV rays. Seventh Generation's baby sunscreen is safe for babies (over 6 months) and it doesn't make my kid itchy (the one with the eczema).


Seventh Generation continues to go above and beyond what consumers have asked for. For example, the new baby care line lists all of their ingredients - in plain English, and they also happen to be gluten free! Now I know that the last part is especially important to a lot of parents with kids that have a wheat allergy. Making their baby care products gluten free means that if the kid gets soap in their mouth and they’re eating the bubbles, they won't have anything to worry about.


During the call, we also received a few tips on massaging babies from Tina Allen, founder of leading children’s health and nurturing touch organization,Liddle Kidz™ Foundation. If your baby is over three weeks old, you may want to consider giving him/her a massage using these tips:

Choose the Best Time and Place. Creating the best environment for massage is an ideal way to give yourself, and baby time to relax. Choose a familiar place that is warm, quiet and with few distractions. The best time for massage is when baby is awake, healthy and happy. Some babies prefer the morning, while others prefer the afternoon or before bedtime.

Be comfortable. Relax, enjoy and have fun! Position yourself so that you are comfortable. Be sure baby is safe and placed on a soft area. Keep in mind, babies roll and become slippery when using oil. Be sure your hands are warm and clean before you begin.

Choosing Massage Oil. While it is not required, using oil can help make massage more enjoyable for some babies and parents. Olive oil and Grapeseed oil are some of the best choices for infant massage. However if you choose to use lotions be sure to choose a non-toxic option, like Seventh Generation baby lotion - which contains olive oil as a main ingredient.

Ask Permission. Infant massage can be a wonderful tool for increasing your communication. Massage is not something that parents do to their baby, but rather with their little one. Listen to your baby. She will give you the signals to let you know she is enjoying massage, or when she is all done for now.

Know When Not to Massage. Never provide massage for your baby without permission (when sleeping, crying or fussy). Avoid massage when he is ill, has a fever or infection. If he has broken skin, rash or bruising. Wait at least 48 - 72 hours following immunizations. For tummy massage, wait 30 minutes after eating. If he has any special healthcare needs seek further guidance as to what would be the safest approach.



So now that I have you (hopefully) just as excited about this new line as I am, I would love for you to come and enter the giveaway below. There will be TWO winners who will receive all six Seventh Generation for the Wee Generation products (prize is worth over $50). Buena suerte!

Seventh Generation for the Wee Generation Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway


This is a sponsored post. I received Seventh Generation products and compensation in exchange for my honest opinions and thoughts on their new baby care line. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
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