Popsicle Blog

9/16/17

Back to School with OshKosh B’gosh

finally…the kids are back to school. it was no easy feat getting them ready for school this year. having a new little one and a son going into high school for the first time, left my middle boys getting less attention than previous years. as a mom, i try my best, but things don’t always go smoothly. luckily, i was able to sneak each of them out individually to do a little back-to-school shopping. they were very excited to get a few outfits for the school year…ones that show their personalities…because boy, they both have big personalities. so, i have partnered with OshKosh B’Gosh to share with you my back-to-school shopping trip with little Vann. (make sure to enter the giveaway below!) i love OshKosh B’gosh for many reasons….first the quality, but also that they make clothing that is easy for Vann to mix and match and create stylish outfits. he loves to be fashionable with a quirky twist. graphic tees are alway his go-to. so i let him browse the tees while i picked up some of the essentials he will use all year long. i was excited to see all the jeans on sale…plus i signed up for emails. so i received a great coupon to use with my purchase. the prices are awesome. and i was happy to pick up two pair of skinny jeans…each under ten dollars! PLUS a pair for the B’gosh Jeanious campaign.

B’gosh Jeanius

in 2014, OshKosh B’gosh launched The B’gosh Jeanius Campaign as an annual effort to support their customer’s local communities with donated clothing and school supply needs. Since then, they’ve partnered with DonorsChoose.org, Delivering Good (formerly K.I.D.S. fashion delivers), OshKosh Moms, families and friends to collect over $1.1 million and distribute more than 66,000 articles of clothing to impact the lives of over 260,000 students. you can join the effort by donating a new pair of jeans in-store or making a cash contribution in-store or online at oshkosh.com/bgoshjeanius from July 25 through September 18. And, share your “shop to give style” on social media using #BgoshJeanius. need some style tips? OshKosh B’gosh has you covered. just check out the cuteness. we left with a great new fall wardrobe…and shhhh! i couldn’t help myself from stopping by the little girls section to pick up Miss Dani Kat a few goodies. wanna see what we got? next stop was the park, for a little fashion photoshoot. we got so many great pieces to mix and match!and not to forget Miss Dani….i am in love with her little dress. and this fall we can pair it with some leggings and a little sweater for a nice transition piece.the detail! ooops! i bought one more outfit for her. she’s celebrating back-to-school too.

OshKosh B’gosh Coupon Code

OshKosh B’gosh is one of our favorite stores. have you been lately? here is an OshKosh B’gosh Store Locator to find a store near you. and to make your shopping trip even more successful, here is an OshKosh B’gosh coupon code for 20% off! either print, or us code: OKBG3352 Happy shopping! hope your back-to-school shopping trip is as fun as our was. now we are off to school!

OshKosh B’gosh Giveaway

SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave enter to win a $50 OshKosh B’gosh Gift Card via rafflecopter below! contest ends September 27, 2017 at midnight. winner will be chosen randomly. must be 18 years or older and a resident of the U.S. Good Luck!!!! a Rafflecopter giveaway { This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of OshKosh B’gosh; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.”} SaveSave

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Posted by Jill | 9/16/17
Filed Under: Style

16 Comments

9/12/17

70 Orange County Halloween Events for Kids 2017

and just like that, the Halloween season is about to arrive in Orange County! soon, fun Halloween events will be popping up all over Southern California. i have compiled a list of over 70 Orange County Halloween events for Kids and Families…most of which are kid-friendly or family-friendly. and all of them are scheduled around the OC and SoCal this Halloween season.

it’s time to get your calendar out and pick out the ones that look like the most fun for your family. i love to make the Halloween time extra special for my family, and taking them to a couple fun Halloween events, make the Halloween season one will always remember! (be sure to check back here, as more events will be added to the list as they are announced.)

2017 Orange County Halloween Events for Kids and Families

Irvine Park Pumpkin Patch
September 16th – October 31st | Irvine Regional Park, Orange
the best pumpkin patch around. be prepared to spend the day roaming through pumpkins, decorating cookies and running through and hay maze! you can enjoy pony rides, haunted house, face painting, bouncy houses, games, food and best of all….the train ride!

Knott’s Spooky Farm
Every Weekend in October | Camp Snoopy and Ghost Town at Knott’s
this daytime, non-scare event is a celebration of cheer rather than fear! you can enjoy shows, activities and of course, trick or treating. kids can take part in the “Monster Dance Party and Costume Parade,” sing and dance along with the Peanuts gang as you watch the “The Monsters are Coming, Charlie Brown” in the Camp Spooky Theatre, walk through the “Spooky Hollow Maze”, visit the Creepy Crawler Cabin, have fun in Ghost Town Trick or Treating and join Snoopy’s Costume Contest and Dance Party. click here to go directly to the Knott’s website.

Spooky Science at Discovery Science Center
Weekends in October | Discovery Science Center OC
Giant bugs, creepy crawlers and friendly spooks are all making their way to Discovery Cube for Spooky Science this October. Join us as we explore bugs of all colors and sizes among over-sized exhibit sets and hands-on learning stations. Even the youngest of goblins will enjoy spooky fun while exploring insects like never before.

Mickey’s Halloween Party
September 20, 22, 25, 27 & 29th, October 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27 & 31st | Disneyland Resort
Party with Mickey Mouse in Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, go trick or treating & watch the spectacular Halloween Screams Firework Show. guest of the party get to enter Disneyland 3 hours before the party to enjoy the park!

Halloween Time at Disneyland
September 15th – October 31st | Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Resort and Disney’s California Adventure are dressed up for Halloween! Check out the decorations and enjoy special Halloween activities throughout the park.

Boo at the Zoo
October 21, 22, 28 & 29th • 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. | Santa Ana Zoo
A “Merry not Scary” family friendly event where everyone is encouraged to come in costume! One of the safest places for children (ages 2-12) to trick-or-treat for Halloween enjoying goodies from 10 Stations.

Pretend City Trick Or Treat Through The City
October 31st | Pretend City Children’s Museum
Pirates, Ghosts, & Princesses Pretty! Come Trick-Or-Treating at Pretend City! On Halloween, we are having a special trick-or-treat extravaganza for all our friends! Stop by the museum and take part in our Halloween Bug Bash as well as trick-or-treat at different stations through the city! We will surely have a ghouly good time!

Costume Week at Pretend City
October 22 – 28th | Pretend City Children’s Museum
Black cats and witch’s brew, we want to dress up with you! Wear your costume to Pretend City this whole week and receive 25% off your second admission!

Healthy Halloween at Pretend City
October 30th | Pretend City Children’s Museum
Happy Healthy Halloween! This time of year brings lots of treats and sweets into kids’ lives that may make them fall into a junk food funk. Serving Kids Hope is joining us at Pretend City to share fun tips and tricks to keep your kids eating healthy this Halloween!

Frankenstein Friday!
October 27th | Pretend City Children’s Museum
Have a monster of a time at Pretend City and pay tribute to Mary Shelley’s classic fictional character, Frankenstein with these monstrously fun activities. We will be dancing to the Monster Mash, making Frankenprints, and doing some Monster Science and Math Activities. Let’s have a monster of a time!

Build Your Own Scarecrow
September 15th | Pretend City Children’s Museum
Fall into the autumn season with our scarecrow workshop! Join us in building a small scarecrow that you can keep as decoration all season long! Admission not required to attend.

Fall Festival Fun!
September 22nd | Pretend City Children’s Museum
FALL into this season as the leaves change colors and the weather gets colder! This season brings lots of exciting things for families, including holidays, fall themed foods, and maybe some family traditions in the making! Pretend City is celebrating Fall with our Fall Festival Day! Join us as we create art, play games, and do activities all focusing on fall, leaves, pumpkins, and gourds!

Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch & U-Pick Tours
September 29th – October 31st | Tanaka Farms, Irvine
take a wagon ride around the farm, wander through the corn maze, pick your own vegetables, visit our petting zoo, take pictures by “Tanaka’s Pile of Pumpkins” & finally pick your own pumpkin right off the vine. on the weekends there is a Fall Harvest Festival with food, games, atv rides and more!

Historic Yorba Cemetery Tour
October 7th • 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Woodgate Park, Yorba Linda
enjoy a guided tour through Orange County’s oldest private cemetery. FREE

Knott’s Scary Farm
September 21st, October 31st | Knott’s Berry Farm
be prepare to get SCARED!!!! this event is definitely not for the kiddies. send your teenagers or make a date night at this frightfully scary night of terror. you can go through the monster mazes, watch the traditional Hanging Show, and be sure to try out the new interactive Trapped Maze. a pre-show buffet is offered at an additional price.

Aliso Viejo Fall Harvest Festival
October 21st | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Grand Park, Aliso Viejo
Children’s Crafts, Carnival Games, Balloon Twisters, DJ Entertainment and more! Wear your costume as you walk through the costume parade. Parade begins at 10:30 am. AVCA will also be hosting a Canned Food Drive with South County Outreach. Bring FIVE (or more) canned food items, pet food or make a donation and your child receives a wristband for a pony ride. The only way for your child to ride a pony this year is to donate and receive a wristband! Canned food will be collected and distributed by South County Outreach to those in need here in Orange County. FREE

Halloween Animal Art – Toddler Program
October 5, 11, 13, 14, 17 & 20th | 10:15 a.m. | OC Zoo, Irvine Regional Park, Orange
Come learn about creatures that are associated with Halloween! Class includes hands-on learning, fun crafts, and meeting zoo animals up close!Read More…

Posted by Jill | 9/12/17
Filed Under: Orange County

10 Comments

9/8/17

Our Home Just Got More Awesome With Sengled Smart Light Bulbs

This is a sponsored post.

currently, our family is in the middle of a big move. this past weekend, we’ve finally moved to a bigger house after fourteen years. now that baby Dani has arrived, we no longer had any extra space in our home, and no place to put a crib or a bedroom for her. so we made the decision to get a bigger house. wow… you’d be amazed at how much a family of 6 can accumulate after fourteen years. slowly but surely, we have finally moved most of our belongings to the new house. it’s been fun starting over fresh. each room is getting decorated and organized to meet each family member’s needs. i have been able to declutter and simplify and it feels GREAT. i’ve also been able to add some fun touches to each room….like Sengled Smart Light Bulbs.

i rarely get super excited about technology…that is my hubby and boys thing, but i am loving the Sengled Smart Light Bulbs. i never would’ve thought a light bulb could have functions like Sengled light bulbs do…but wow, light bulbs have come a long long way.

for the little kids, we are using a combination of the Sengled Element Plus light bulbs and Sengled Twilight light bulbs.

the Sengled Element Plus light bulbs allow you to set the lights to turn on whenever you want. you can program them to turn on before you get home from the kids after school activities or while you’re on vacation. also, you can control the lights or set schedules remotely using the Element app directly from your mobile device. from anywhere!!! the Sengled Element Plus light bulbs can even be set to mimic the sun rising by automatically turning on and becoming brighter as your wake-up time approaches. this is GENIUS!!! it has helped so much when getting them to wake up for school. the younger boys are hard to wake…so this helps them rise without being so grumpy.

other awesome features include – being able to adjust brightness, color temperature, lighting schedules from the app. they can integrate with your existing wall and dimmer switches and also be set to create mood lighting. whether it’s cool bright light while working or a soft warm glow for a romantic dinner, you can adjust Element to suit your mood.

BONUS! for every Element bulb sold, Sengled will plant a tree that will negate any carbon emitted while the bulb is in use – turning one eco-friendly act into something truly green.

the Sengled Twilight light bulbs have been the newest lifesaver in our home. especially using them in the little boys room. every night we used to hear fighting between the boys, arguing over which one of them would have to turn off the lights. they didn’t like having to run back to their beds in the dark. now that isn’t the case. once you turn out the light, there is dimming for a period of time after being shut off, perfect for youngsters in your home. the courtesy delay helps with navigating out of a dark room and can provide a calming transition to bedtime for children.

the Sengled Twilight is a long-lasting energy efficient LED bulb with the added benefit of an additional 15 seconds of dimmed light after the power switch is turned off. Twilight can be used in any room of the house in any standard light fixture and will last for over 20 years with average usage.

for my oldest son, we set-up his room with Sengled Pulse light bulbs. a JBL® Bluetooth® speaker system has been built into a light bulb that is App-controlled and Bluetooth-enabled. it turns any light socket into your own personal sound system. if you are looking for a great gift for teenagers this upcoming holiday season, this is it! in fact, this is great for any age – teens, tweens, young adults and adults.

with the Singled Pulse light bulbs, you can play music and adjust lighting in every room. the Pulse light bulb system lets you add and control up to 8 bulbs in your home for whole-home audio, and puts the power of sound and light in the palm of your hand. this is an award-winning innovation! the Pulse Starter Kit includes one Master bulb and one Satellite bulb, with additional Satellites that are sold individually.Jackson, my oldest son has loved the Pulse light bulbs. it has been fun to see him in his room doing his homework while enjoying his favorite music.

setting up the Sengled Smart Light Bulbs in our home has been awesome. it has made our move to a bigger and better house even more exciting. i can see us using them throughout the whole house, and can’t wait to get them for or family members for their upcoming birthdays and holidays. these light bulbs are that cool!

{Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. }

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Posted by Jill | 9/8/17
Filed Under: Products I Love

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9/7/17

Do’s and Don’ts for Keeping Your Teen Son Fresh for Back to School

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of AXE^®. All opinions are my own.

yikes! i can’t believe that this week, i am officially a mom of a highschooler. my oldest son is heading off for the ninth grade. he is no longer my little boy, he’s a full fledged teenager. which of course comes with all the challenges that high school has. homework, friends, teachers, popularity, insecurity, fun and not-so-fun. so i have partnered with AXE to share some ideas on how to keep your teens high school experience fresh all day.

Do’s and Don’ts for Keeping Your Teen Son Fresh for Back-to School

Don’t: kiss and hug your son in front of his friends when you drop him off at school.

Do: let your son know that you are always there for him, but also give him the space he needs. this has nothing to do with how much he loves you. it’s just part of growing up. (hug him before you leave the house)

Don’t: let your son wear a hat instead of brushing his hair.

Do: remind him to brush it before he puts his hat on. a fresh ‘do every morning will make sure he’s looking fly. he will thank you once his first period teacher makes him take that hat off during class.

Don’t: pick out your son’s clothes; he and dad don’t need to be matching. that’s definitely too much plaid and too much neck tie.

Do: let him wear what makes him feel good about himself and gives him self-confidence….no matter how awful you may think it looks.

Don’t: don’t pack your son’s lunch with cute little stickers and notes. don’t put milk in a thermos. don’t use that lunchbox from grade school. don’t pack leftovers…unless they are yummy.

Do: keep that lunch pail fresh. pack him an extra snack and a variety of fresh fruits, veggies and proteins. and nothing says “I Love You” more than a yummy treat to end the meal. (tip: freeze water bottles the night before, so by lunchtime, he’ll have a cold fresh bottle of water to enjoy.)

Don’t: let your son skip on washing his school gym clothes…there’s nothing fresh about that. stinkpot central.

Do: make sure your son’s gym bag is prepared for his sport. a clean uniform, the right shoes, socks, a water bottle, and don’t forget antiperspirant such as AXE dry spray antiperspirant

i totally lucked out in the non-stinky sports department. my son plays water polo…so yeah, less stinkiness there!

Don’t: make your son use dirty folders and broken pencils from the year before.

Do: send your son to school with fresh school supplies for new school year. new notebooks, pens and pencils always ease the pain of doing homework a little bit less.

Don’t: let your son smell. you never want to let your teen walk around with body odor or sweaty underarms all day.

Do: have your teen son use AXE YOU Body Spray to stay fresh all-day long, and use AXE Signature Gold Dry Spray or AXE Signature Night Dry Spray to stay dry for up to 48 hours. my son especially loves the AXE Signature Gold Dry Spray.

hey moms (and dads)!!!! now here’s where you come in. if you’re like me, in the past you probably bought your son deodorant and just handed it to him. have you ever….actually ever…showed him how to use it???!!! it’s never dawned on me that i needed to teach my son how to use it. and apparently, most guys don’t know how or when to use AXE body and dry sprays. did you know that 64% of young guys think body spray and dry spray are the same thing?!!!!! and 1 in 2 guys think that they should apply body spray to their underarms!

*Ipsos Body Spray Drivers and Barriers, 2017 or Ipsos, 2017

Don’t: let your teen over-spray AXE YOU Body Spray – creating “a cloud.” clouds belong in the sky.

Do: have your teen spray AXE body spray, like AXE YOU, in the shape of a “7” across his chest and mid-section, and only spray for only as long as it takes to say the word “AXE.”

Don’t: use body spray as a deodorant. sweat and cologne mixed together isn’t fresh at all.

Do: use AXE Signature Dry Sprays to stay dry for up to 48 hours. simply apply AXE dry spray antiperspirant under your arms for sweat protection (in place of an antiperspirant stick). and watch this video to help your son learn to use the products, too.

i want to make sure Jackson fits right in with all his high school friends. there is no way my son is going to be known as the smelly one, or the kid who wears too much cologne. and with these tips, i don’t have to worry about this. to learn more about AXE and its proper usage, visit axe.com.

and most of all…

Don’t: nag your son.

Do: be his biggest fan. believe in him with all your heart, and tell him that you love him EVERY DAY. regardless of what he does or does not accomplish, if he knows that you are there for him, things will stay fresh between you.

Now it’s time for school!

every year of school brings a fresh start. exciting and new and just waiting to unlock the potential and amazingness of your wonderful teen. good luck son…i know you’ll be great.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of AXE.

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Posted by Jill | 9/7/17
Filed Under: Tips

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9/5/17

DIY Veggie Pizza Pockets for your School Lunch Boxes

the kids are finally back to school, which means let the lunch packing begin! i don’t know many parents who love packing lunches, but there is really no way around it. so i’ve been trying to figure out some fun and creative ways to to give my kids a wholesome lunch that they will eat. that’s the key. do you know how many times i send my kid to school with a full lunch box, only to have everything come right back home uneaten?!!!! so frustrating. so, i have partnered with Kroger to share a fun idea for Back-To-School lunch packing!

i headed across the street to Ralph’s, a my local Kroger store. when it comes to buying food for lunches, i find myself buying food from natural and organic brands such as Horizon Organic. i have to say that it’s one of my favorites. Kroger has tried to ensure that finding natural foods for your family are easy to find because purchasing real food for our families shouldn’t be time consuming. all you do, is go to an aisle and look for the “live naturally” signs. you can find them on almost any aisle and even in the refrigerator section. this is were the organic and natural products are found, and where i purchase most of my groceries.

here is my stockpile of Horizon products from cheeses, milk, to pastas, to crackers and cookies, there’s a lot to choose from.

my boys were especially excited about Horizon’s Good to Go! snack packs. we’ve never gotten them before, so they all wanted to try them as soon as i brought them home. boys….you have to wait for lunch!

and now to pack the lunches. i’ve got something up my sleeve that i know the boys will love. winning!!!!!

Easy Lunch Box Veggie Pizza Pockets

as most kids do, my boys like those pre-made DIY lunch kits. they do like the meat, cheese and cracker varieties, but their all-time favorites are the DIY pizza kits. so that’s what i decided to make for their first school lunches.

to make this DIY Veggie Pizza Pocket Lunch, all you need is some Horizon Organic Mozzarella sticks, sliced veggies such as bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, whole grain pita bread, and marinara sauce. (i used the Simply Truth brand).

i started by cutting the pita bread into quarters, and made sure to pull it apart so the boys could easily stuff them with pizza toppings. i also cut the cheese stick in have and pulled apart the tops so the were easy to shred.

i filled a disposable condiment cup with marinara sauce, and sliced up some bell peppers. cucumbers, zucchini, onions and even carrots would taste great too. whatever your kids will eat is what is best to use.when it’s lunch time, they can have fun filling each pita quarter with sauce and then their favorite pizza toppings.

paired with a Horizon Organic milk box and a Simply Truth Organic Applesauce pouch, this is a great lunch choice any day of the week. my boys were super excited to take this one to school, and they said their friends wanted to try them too.

plus you can’t forget a snack. the boys are loving the Horizon Good to Go! new snack combos. they are a fun snack kids love. peel open before practice or pack it their lunchbox. with real organic nutrition and 6 grams of protein, it’s a deliciously easy way to keep them going. just toss them in with the lunch and they’re good to go! no pun intended.