Find Your Number with @SleepNumberSara - I'm a 35! #sleepnumberm9

What is the one thing that America goes home to at night?

Their beds! Beds play an important role in our lives and in our health. They can be the root cause of many ailments, arguments, and issues with couples and it's not just what side we're sleeping on.

Recently I've been having quite a bit of back pain. And with that has come irritability and just plain grumpiness. And I've come to realize that it's because of my sleep, or lack thereof, in a comfortable bed. And I got a glimpse into what could be my future when I visited my local Sleep Number store.

Finding Your Number
At Sleep Number, your comfort is their main priority. And they've designed a line of beds to do just that. As soon as I walked into the doors of Sleep Number, Dave, my kind salesman, took me around the store and introduced me to a world I didn't know existed. Peace and comfort in a bed.

Not only does Sleep Number carry a large line of beds, each one is unique and each one has a different set of options. There's a Sleep Number for every person and every price point.

The first thing we did was find my Sleep Number. I sat down and we got to see just where my pressure points were and how much support I needed. The average person is between a 30 and 40 but Dave's seen a range everywhere between 1-100 in his 16 years with Sleep Number. I was happily in the middle of the average with a 35.

The Perfect Fit
Next we headed out to try the different models they had on the floor. I didn't realize there was so much variety in each bed and loved the differences as we moved our way up. And each bed we tried was honestly amazing. From the comfort level to the added perks as we moved our way through the beds I started to realize just how important our beds are and how important a perfect fit is.

The Sleep Number beds come in 4 Series:

• Classic Series
• Performance Series (the most popular)
• Memory Foam Series
• Innovation Series

Each series is defined by the different options they include and I could definitely tell a difference when trying out each bed. We started with the Classic Series and as I laid down and we turned the number to 35 I felt as if I were in my own bed with the perks of more support and comfort. The Classic Series includes the Sleep Number original bed with a whisper-quiet remote.

Total Woman Gym and Spa Pink Anniversary Party in Support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation {San Diego Events}

Help us celebrate our Total Woman anniversary and join the fight against breast cancer at their Pink Anniversary Party!

What: Pink Anniversary Party
Where: Total Woman Mission Valley, 5448 Mission Center Road, San Diego
When: Thursday, October 25 from 5-8pm

The Pink Anniversary Party celebrates the 47th year that Total Woman has been in business in Southern California, while drawing attention to the fight against breast cancer. Admission is free to everyone. Donations will be accepted for the National Breast Cancer Foundation Members and Guests may attend classes and participate in activities at no charge.

“This event allows women throughout San Diego to join together in the fight breast cancer,” Total Woman’s General Manager Rebecca Miller said. “It also gives the public an opportunity to see what Total Woman is all about.” Special rates for membership, Personal Training, and spa services will be available at the event.

Total Woman Gym and Day Spa is the largest full service women’s only gym and day spa in California, now with 13 locations. Total Woman has been in business since 1965 and takes pride in being the leader in women’s fitness in California.

Total Woman is dedicated to providing women with opportunities to reach their personal health goals by offering the finest in fitness services, skin and body care, and wellness education.

This event allows women throughout San Diego to join together in the fight breast cancer!

RSVP Today! 

Enjoy the Following:

• Total Woman Extreme Makeover - Pilates, TRX & one-on-one exercises with Personal Trainers. 5-8pm
• ZumbaThon 5-7pm
• Hatha Yoga class 5-6pm
• Barre Vite class 6-7pm
• Cycle class 7-8pm
• Body Blast class 8-9pm
• Atmosphere Day Spa Specials
• Bra-Fitting
• DJ, Food & Beverages

**Members and Guests may attend classes and participate in activities at no charge.

Remember the classes are free and are open to first come until full so get there early.

For more information on Total Woman Gym & Day Spa visit http://TotalWomanSpa.com or contact Rebecca Miller at rmiller@totalwomanspa.com or call her at 619-692-3738

For More info on the Total Woman Gym and Day Spa Mission Valley location visit:
http://TotalWomanSpa.com/locations/mission-valley

Disclaimer: I received a spa treatment in exchange for this post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

From Birth to 2 Years the @GracoBaby SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 Carseat Has Everything! #GracoSafety

Introducing the Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40
Recently I had the opportunity to learn a little more about a new car seat on the market. From the company I used for our first infant car seat. And I couldn't be more excited to share what I learned with you!

To say that the Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 is new and improved is an understatement. This is not your mother's car seat. And it's 10x better than the car seat I brought my daughter home in less than two short years ago (which was a Graco Snugride we received when I was pregnant with my son 4 years ago). So what amazing achievements has Graco made with the SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40? Let me tell you!

SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 Features:

• 4-40 pound weight limit (a full 2 years!)
• Base adjusts with 8 recline positions for most leg room of any rear-facing car seat for baby's comfort
• The Simply Safe Adjust™ harness systems allows parents to adjust the harness and headrest with just one hand to fit their baby's height as their baby grows, all without having to re-thread the harness for extra convenience.
• Click Connect™ attachment which allows parents to easily transition their babies from the car seat to the stroller through a simple, but secure, one-step "click."
• Available in two gorgeous patterns: Mena (girl) and Moonstruck (boy/gender neutral)
• Available for purchase online and in-stores at Babies "R" Us

Ease of Use
One of the biggest hassles with car seats is adjusting the straps as our kids grow. With the car seats I've owned I've had to re-thread the straps every time my kids grow a few inches. Ok... I'm lying. My husband has had to re-thread the car seats everytime the kids grow. And this gets rather annoying.

With the SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40, there's no re-threading! You simply adjust the back to wherever you'd like to set the height to and ta-da! It's done. In less than a minute, your child comfortably and safely fits in their car seat again.

And did I mention that there are 8 different positions in this carseat? When adjusting the seat, your child actually goes up and out, not just up. So more room is created for their legs and body.

Amazing Detail
With anything from Graco, expect adorable cuteness. Including these foot impressions in the foot rest! Seriously... I can sometimes be that impulse buyer who will only buy an item for features like this. Little toes! Now, now... I wouldn't actually purchase a car seat just for the foot impressions, but the added detail just adds to the total package.

And that's not it! Just like the stroller that came with my travel system, this carseat also comes with a window in the sunshade so that you can peek in on baby without moving the sunshade and disturbing a peaceful slumber.

Safety over Years
The Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 – the first and only newborn to two-year infant car seat that actually grows with your baby from four pounds all the way up to 40 pounds. The car seat is designed for a parent on the go. The infant car seat can be easily removed from the base and used as a carrier when the infant is small, providing portability and convenience so you can easily move your infant in and out of the car without disturbing them.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently made the recommendation to keep all children in rear-facing car seats until the age of 2. Graco set out to make this product so parents can keep infants rear facing longer while still keeping them comfortable.

Learn More About Graco
To learn more about the Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 check out http://www.gracosafety.com/. And to keep up with the latest in Graco news, check out the Graco Facebook page and follow them on twitter at @GracoBaby.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Graco. The opinions and text are all mine.

Mama's Kitchen Pie in the Sky Thanksgiving Bake Sale #MKPies2012

It's that time of year again... Pie Time!!

I know it might be a bit early for most but I've had pie on the brain for a while now and it's for a good reason. This year I'll be selling pies for Mama's Pie in the Sky Thanksgiving Bake Sale and I cannot wait to see how many pies my friends and family order from me to enjoy on Thanksgiving day.

And It's So Simple
Instead of slaving in a hot kitchen for hours making enough pies for the family, you simply click on the link below and purchase a pie from Mama's Kitchen! Each pie sold enables Mama's Kitchen to prepare and deliver over six meals to a neighbor with AIDS or cancer who is in need of nutrition.

Buy Pie! 

Don't forget you can order a Love-A-Client Raffle Pie, too. This provides holiday meals and pie for Mama's clients and also enters you into a raffle to win a new 3rd generation 64 GB iPad. The more Love-A-Client pies you order, the more chances you have to win!

As you sit down to your Thanksgiving celebration, I hope you take pride in knowing that you have made a positive difference in someone's life.

Get Involved and Do More
Many of San Diego’s top pastry chefs, caterers, and bakeries donate traditional Thanksgiving pies for the annual Mama’s Pie in the Sky Bake Sale. Individuals and teams sell pies for a chance to win prizes from generous sponsors, and Mama’s Pie in the Sky volunteers deliver the pies to more than 20 sites throughout San Diego County for pick up the day before Thanksgiving.

Thousands of people – corporate sponsors, committee members, bakers, sellers, buyers, donors and volunteers—generously contribute their time, expertise, resources and enthusiasm to the Pie sale.And if you want to be involved, all you have to do is purchase a pie!

Want to do more? Sign up to sell pies this holiday season and help us expand our reach.

Strong San Diego Woman with Brain Cancer Fights Back {Guest Post}

On the Sunday before Thanksgiving last year, we received shocking news. My husband's sister, Melanie had a seizure in bed and was rushed to the emergency room. After a few tests, they found a tumor. In her brain. We were floored. As we scrambled to catch an airplane to San Diego, a hospital worker told her the kind of tumor she had. The prognosis? 18 months to live.

My husband and Melanie are only 18 months apart in age and are very good friends. As we drove to the airport in Seattle and took a flight to San Diego - we were devastated. To lose a loved one, at such a young age, is heart breaking. My husband barely spoke at all.

Thankfully, when we arrived and spent time in the hospital and met new doctors, we found out that she was misdiagnosed. She did not have that particular tumor. But it was brain cancer. Stage 2 Astrocitoma mixed Oligodendroglioma to be exact. This brain cancer has a 3-8 year life expectancy.

After two brain surgeries and an experimental vaccination, we are hoping the tumor does not grow back. A recent PET Scan was done as a 6 month follow up and showed a "glob" and we are praying it is just scar tissue. With 4 children (3 of them under the age of 8) and a large family who loves her - we want her to live much longer than the 8 years.

My sister in law Melanie has stayed so strong during this time. Not even a year has passed but she joined a half marathon, bought an RV, traveled our country for 7 weeks, and just finished a walk for her brain cancer support group. She alone raised $4K for the walk. They have switched to an organic, vegan diet, and the improvement in their life spiritually, physically and as a family has been phenomenal.

This is why I nominated my sister in law Melanie in the Yahoo! Women Who Shine contest. I nominated her in the survivor category. Because no matter what, she is a survivor. Even if brain cancer takes her one day - she is the ultimate survivor. Please take a moment of your time and vote for Melanie. You can vote one time per person, even if you voted for someone else in the contest you can still vote for her. (You must be logged in to Yahoo! to vote.)

This is a guest post by Seattle area family blogger, LaVonne, author and owner of Long Wait For Isabella.

Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival Recap from a San Diego Mom {Guest Post}

My oldest daughter has loved Hullabaloo since she first saw them preform when she was 3, at one of our playgroups. So it was a no-brainer when Danielle asked me if we wanted to attend The Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival since her family was going to be out of town that weekend.

Gigi (my 2 year old) has seen them twice, and always loves dancing along, especially when the bubble machine comes out. I do have to admit that I was a little nervous that Belle & her girlfriend would be bored, since she is now almost 9 and prefers Katy Perry to kids folk music, but I was SO wrong.

The festival was perfect for both of my kids, and Belle & Grace kept running up to me to say what an awesome time they were having. The kids colored a paper guitar, dressed up in princess clothes, hula hooped, received free candy & tshirts, and that was all before we even watched one of the bands play.

We stayed for a few hours, and finished our day with a visit to the food trucks where the kids happily enjoyed their cheese sticks, hot dogs and french fries.

A great time was had by all, and even my Mom, Ghacki, had a blast!

This is a guest post from my friend Tessa of Grin & Share It Photography. She was kind enough to take my Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival tickets off my hands while I was out of town for the event.

She runs an amazing San Diego photography business and we've been lucky to have her behind the camera for many of our family photo sessions.

5 Great Ways for Moms to Get Out in #SanDiego

Being a mom doesn't mean that we can't get out and have fun anymore. It just means that we need to get a little creative to do so. Lucky for me, I live in a city filled with entertainment and a never-ending list of places to go and things to do.

Since my time away from the family is much valued but short lived, I need to make the most of it and really create great memories to hold me over until the next time I get out. Here are a few ways I like to enjoy my time away from the kids and family while enjoying the city I live in.

1. Happy Hour - 
Now happy hour is not the same as it was pre-kids. No longer are we heading to an upscale bar after work for a few drinks, appetizers, and some girl time. Happy Hour has now become any time the girls get together at a place with food without the kids.

Drinks may or may not happen but all we know is that we're eating a whole meal without having to feed another being. We also will be able to eat our meal while it's still hot and won't have to worry about asking for it to-go because of a tantrum. Meals away from the family means chit chat and girl time at its best... un-filtered!

2. Networking in Disguise - 
One of the best things about my life as a mom is the fact that I get to hang out with other cool moms all the time. And sometimes we get to network with each other finding out that we might be able to help each other more than we thought!

And one event that brings moms together to do just that are the SD Mom's Night Out events. They are an absolutely amazing way to relax, reconnect, and network with other moms in San Diego who you might not have known about. From Momtrepreneurs to bloggers to stay-at-home-moms looking for a great way to get out and explore. Each event is different and has something else to offer.

The next event is their one year anniversary and it isn't to be missed! Not only is it being held at Kin Spa, it also includes some amazing perks and goodies! To read more about the SD Mom's Night Out Anniversary Event, check out my post here.

Click here to purchase tickets for the event.

3. My Favorite Things - 
Every few months my mom friends and I get together for what we call a My Favorite Things party. We each bring 5 $6 items that we've dubbed as our favorite thing and we pass them out to each other (drawing names to choose who gets what). We eat and drink our favorite things too!

I love this type of event because it's low maintenance and it's a way to learn about things I might not have known about in daily conversations with my friends.  Our last Favorite Things party focused on our favorite kid items. And as you can imagine it was pretty hard to chose one item for $6 or less to share. But I was amazed again at the products that were shared and have fallen in love with a few new awesome things!

4. Playdates - 
Yes, I know. This technically is not getting away from the kids but my friends are awesome. And when we get together, we are able to mingle and chat while our kids play around us. Most of the time I'll host playdates at my home and just rope the kids off into certain parts of the house and yard. That way the moms can sit in one central location and chat without having to worry about what trouble our kids are getting into.

This option does require a little bit of work but the reward is much worth it. Not only do we each get to sit and enjoy adult conversations, we also get to tire our kids out so that when we do go home they (hopefully) take nice, long naps. Win-win!

5. Shopping - 
Whether it's for groceries or for clothes... shopping alone is always considered a great way to get out in my book. Not only do I get to enjoy some peace and quiet, I get to participate in one of my favorite activities... spending money!

While I love time with my kids, I don't love having to worry about my kids breaking everything within reach while we're out and about. I've learned that I'm a lot less stressed when I can go to a store alone and actually consider it relaxing to shop knowing that my kids are elsewhere having fun and not asking if they can have every.single.thing they see at the store. 

What do you do for your mom-time without the kids?

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by SD Mom's Night out. I received two tickets for their SD Mom's Night Out Anniversary event in exchange for this post. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Win tickets to @DisneyonIce in #SanDiego and enjoy some family fun!

Join the celebration as 65 of Disney’s unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in

You’ll be captivated by the one and only Mickey Mouse, the irresistible Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and all the Disney Princesses. Be thrilled by exciting moments from The Lion King; Mulan; and Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Toy Story films; in a skating spectacular filled with magical Disney moments you’ll remember forever as Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic!

And opening night tickets are only $10 each! 

A century of classic and new Disney stars are taking to the ice to share memories, laughs and excitement in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic. The celebration, 100 years in the making, is coming to the following venues this tour season:

Oct 10 - Oct 14 - San Diego, CA, Valley View Casino Center 

Oct 17 - Oct 21  - Oakland, CA, ORACLE Arena

Oct 24 - Oct 28 - San Jose, CA, HP Pavilion at San Jose 

Nov 01 - Nov 04 - Sacramento, CA, Power Balance Pavilion

Nov 08 - Nov 11 - Bakersfield, CA, Rabobank Arena

Nov 14 - Nov 18 - Salt Lake City, UT, EnergySolutions Arena

Nov 21 - Nov 25 - Des Moines, IA, Wells Fargo Arena

Nov 29 - Dec 02 - Duluth, MN, Duluth Entertainment Convention Center

Dec 06 - Dec 09 - St. Paul, MN, Xcel Energy Center

Dec 13 - Dec 16 - Moline, IL, i wireless Center

Dec 20 - Dec 24 - Toledo, OH, The Huntington Center

Dec 27 - Dec 30 - Boston, MA, TD Garden

Jan 02 - Jan 06 - Syracuse, NY, The OnCenter War Memorial Arena

Jan 10 - Jan 13 - Reading, PA, Sovereign Center

Jan 16 - Jan 21 - Wilkes Barre, PA, Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Jan 24 - Jan 27 - London, Ontario, Budweiser Gardens

Jan 31 - Feb 03 - Binghamton, NY, Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

Feb 14 - Feb 17 - Milwaukee, WI, U.S. Cellular Arena 

Feb 28 - Mar 03 - Grand Rapids, MI, Van Andel Arena

Purchase your tickets on the Disney on Ice website here  

San Diego residents have the opportunity to WIN a family four pack of tickets to the opening night performance of Disney on Ice at the Valley View Casino Center (formerly the San Diego Sports Arena)!

Simply enter with the rafflecopter form below for your chances to win. Good luck!

Nordstrom Rack Grand Opening in Caramel Mountain Plaza on September 13th

There is one store that I just cannot resist when I'm shopping. One store that I'm always able to find at least one pair of shoes in my size and one adorable outfit that's perfect for the occasion. And an added bonus?

My husband loves to shop there too!

So when my stepmom told me about the Nordstrom Rack opening up 5 minutes from her house I knew I had to get the details and find out when they were opening.

Shortly after that I was invited to attend the pre-opening event at Nordstrom Rack Caramel Mountain Plaza and enjoyed a night of appetizers, drinks, and shopping!

There was music, the atmosphere was electric, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Even the waiters were enjoying themselves. The staff was not only friendly, but helpful as well. I honestly don't think I've ever had a bad experience shopping at Nordstrom Rack and I've always been able to receive help finding what I needed.

Not only is Nordstrom Rack the place to go for quality service, the discounts to be found can be amazing. And shoppers know this.

If you aren't familiar with this store, Nordstrom Rack is the off-price retail division of Nordstrom, Inc. They carry on-trend merchandise from Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com at 50 to 60 percent off original Nordstrom prices. Nordstrom Rack also offers a wide selection of apparel, accessories and shoes from many of the brands carried in Nordstrom stores. These items are purchased specially for Nordstrom Rack, with most at savings of 30 to 70 percent off.

Once I had a drink in hand, and a few samples of the appetizers being tray passed, it was off to do some damage... er... shopping!. I first hit up the kids shoes and found some awesome Stride Rite shoes for my son and a few pair of shoes for my daughter as well (that I ended up putting back because... lets face it... that kid has more shoes than I do and only chooses one specific pair to wear every day).

Then I headed to the kids clearance racks to see if they had anything that caught my eye. I immediately found an adorable dress and a romper for my daughter for over 50% off the retail price. Both ended up costing me around $8 each.

And after that was when I fell in love... with a bag. After a quick phone call to my husband to see if I could purchase my Christmas gift early, the bag was in my cart and ready to be purchased. But not after grabbing a cute pair of swim shorts for my son.

Once I was ready I headed over to the check out line where I was expecting a huge wait. Luckily for me there wasn't a huge line at all and I was kindly helped by a sweet cashier who told me all about the grand opening deals to be had on Thursday!

If you're planning to head over for the grand opening, get there early! I might have to tag along with my stepmom just to enjoy the fun all over again! 

Nordstrom Rack will be holding their 'Race Through the Rack' sweepstakes where one lucky person will be chosen to be the first customer to enter the store and have 90 seconds to select up to $2,000 worth of merchandise! Fill out, print and bring the entry form: http://bit.ly/NbhMx2 

Follow this store on Twitter @CarmelMtn_Rack for clues to find a Golden Hanger!

You too might be going home with a cart full of adorable items and a new purse on your shoulder.

Disclaimer: I was invited by Nordstrom Rack to this event. No compensation or discounts were received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sharp Women's Health Conference {San Diego Events}

An inspiring day exclusively for women.

The Sharp Women's Health Conference is an empowering event designed to enrich and inspire women of all ages to live healthier and more balanced lives. Feed Your Soul is a day to focus on you — whether you choose to take in an early morning yoga class, get pampered in a salon in the exhibit hall or learn about the latest in health advances in everything from cancer prevention to skin care.

Emcee Kimberly Hunt from Channel 10 will lead the day, along with keynote speakers Kathi Burns, Shivani Singh and Marci Shimoff. Learn more about the Women's Health Conference speakers.

Date: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012
Time: Registration, Screenings and Exhibits - 7:30 am
           Conference - 8 am to 4 pm
Location: Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
Cost: $45 per person

Tickets: Purchase tickets online or by calling 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277),
              Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.

Live, Learn, Enjoy!

Feed Your Soul with a day filled with:

• Continental breakfast
• Fabulous gift bag
• Free health screenings
• Gourmet three-course lunch
• Informative breakout sessions on health and fitness
• Opportunity drawing with great prizes
• Pampering booths

And much more!

I am looking forward to listening to the keynote speakers and attending the breakout sessions at this event! Breakout sessions range in topics including skin care, aging, personal finance, fitness (yoga, Zumba, etc.), nutrition, and health topics like heart care, cancer prevention, etc.

Plus, the exhibit hall features free health screenings, Ask-the-Doctor Q&A, free giveaways and product samples from beauty and health sponsors, and fun activities like beauty make-overs and eyebrow threading.

This event is for women of all ages! Whether you're in your 20s or in your 70s, you'll find a great benefit to this conference. Plus I hear the gift bags and food are amazing!!

For additional details, see ticket information and sponsorship opportunities.

Interested in winning a pair of tickets for you and a guest?

Simply fill out the rafflecopter form below by September 21st at 11:59pm and you and a friend will have the chance to attend! Hope to see you there. Good luck!

Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival #FamilyArtsFestSD {San Diego Activities}

The Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival is coming back! And this year its expanded so much they've had to move locations! Come on out for a day of music, memories, and fun as we enjoy the amazing activities set up for us.

Date: Saturday, September 22nd
Time:  11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location:  Liberty Station NTC Promenade, also know as the North Promenade
Admission:  $7 per person; children under the age of 1 are free;
Family Pack of tickets: $20 for up to five family members total!

Purchase tickets here

If you order your tickets in time you will be sent a wristband in the mail so that you can "waltz right in" - How awesome is that?

Here's what you can expect at the festival -  

Music

Families can look forward to hearing two sets of Hullabaloo, but that's not all!  We will also be joined by Patty Hall, and The Hollow Trees.  Sets will go on throughout the festival.

Food
Families can bring their own food this year, or enjoy food from one of four food trucks coming.  I'd save my appetite for the trucks! So yummy!

Miho Gastro Truck (2)
Food Farm San Diego
Mr. Groggy's

Children's Literature Zone

We've paired up with Yellow Book Road to create a relaxing escape where you can hear local San Diego authors read their own books!  Come hear books read by

Kathryn Cloward -- Kathryn the Grape
Charles Johnson -- Storyteller
Luciana Navarro Powell -- My Dad is the Best Playground
Terry Kraszewski -- Surf Angel
Joann Woolley -- Sign4Baby (signing story time)
Darren Perman -- Wookiwoo, I Love You
Jeff Garcia -- Santa and the Molokai Mules

Yellow Book Road is also working on having a character come- more info on that coming soon!

Creativity Zone

Our friends at Art Soup, drop-in art studio in Encinitas, have signed on to provide a full day of art activities at the festival. They always come prepared with fun, creative activities and a great staff to make it fun and easy.

Dance

There will be an entire zone dedicated to dance performance and impromptu dance classes for the little ones.

Handmade Market

Come check out some local handmade artists, crafters and more!  We'll have lots of goodies for sale- get some early holiday shopping out of the way!

A special thanks to the Festival Sponsors: Clif Kids, Urban Sitter, SoCal Kids San Diego, Andersen by Design, and Mon Petit Chateau

You can enter to win an amazing prize pack for the Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival on the Simmworks Family Blog!

One winner will receive:

• one Family Pack of tickets, good for up to 5 people (children under 1 year are free)
• A Clif Kid goodie bag
• A free pass to Mon Petit Chateau, good for a one-day visit, up to three children (siblings only)
• one $50 gift card to Renewal By Andersen Windows
• 1 pass to Smart Kids Time, courtesy of SoCal Kids San Diego
• 1 family pass to the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre, also courtesy of SoCal Kids San Diego
• $20 of babysitting services from Urban Sitter!

Giveaway winners will collect their giveaway prize when admitted to the festival - you must be able to attend the festival on September 22nd to be eligible to win! Enter to win in the rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mia Francesca {A Family-Friendly San Diego Restaurant Review}

Having two small kids can prove to be quite a feat when it comes to dining out. Not only do we have to be very choosy about where we go, we also have to make sure thatthe items on the menu are "kid-friendly." And by kid friendly I do not mean breaded chicken nuggets and quesadillas (not that there is anything wrong with a good quesadilla). I mean something that will actually appeal to my children, whether it be what I order and share with them or what I order for them to eat together.

This afternoon we were invited to head over to Mia Francesca's newest Del Mar Highlands location to taste a bit of what they had to offer. And boy was I glad we went!

Not only is their menu simple and fabulous, everything I tasted was delicious as well! We started out with a few appetizers for the table. There were two types of bruscetta, the first was topped with bruscetta, fresh mozzarella (like... made recently fresh!), and avocado, the other was sans avocado but loaded with cheese! Both were topped with fresh basil. So good!


Next we tried the calamari. Now calamari has been one of my favorite dishes for quite some time. Not only is it delicious, but paired with a tangy marinara it just hits the spot. My son has never had calamari but when I offered him some he quickly approved and gobbled down a few pieces. So happy he enjoyed it!

After allowing our tummies to settle from our tasty appetizers, we were brought our main dishes.

I absolutely loved the kids options. Simple and, for the most part, healthy as well! I ordered pasta with broccoli for my daughter and chicken with fries for my son, knowing he'd share some of his sisters broccoli. Both shared wonderfully with each other.

The one thing I did love was that the chicken I ordered for him was not breaded tenders. It was a full grilled chicken breast perfectly seasoned. I cut it up and he devoured what I offered him. The servings were large and I could probably get away with letting the kids split a meal next time but for now we have left overs for the week!

After being undecided for quite a while about what I was going to get I decided to go with the pizza of the day. As soon as I saw fontina cheese I knew I had a winner. A simple margharita pizza with pesto sauce made my day. Sometimes a slice or two of pizza just puts you in a good mood!

The other pizzas they had ot offer also sounded yummy as well and I know my husband will want to come with us to try a few more of the menu options later on. 

While this location is a bit out of the way for us, I'm looking forward to trying out the Little Italy location closer to home. And coming back to the Del Mar Highlands location when meeting up with  my family in North County. But for the 25 minute drive, lunch was totally worth it! Both locations can be found on their website here.

If you're looking for a family-friendly restaurant with a great, relaxing atmosphere you have to check out Mia Francesca. The patio is the perfect place on a warm day to let the kids play a bit while enjoying a great Italian meal with friends and family.

You can find Mia Francesca Del Mar on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary lunch for myself and my children at Mia Francesca. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.