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.

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.

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!

Disney on Ice is Coming to San Diego!

Be part of the festivities when Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic comes to the Valley View Casino Center (formerly known as the San Diego Sports Arena) in San Diego, Oct. 10-14!
More than 60 of Disney's captivating characters and their unforgettable stories come to life in this commemorative celebration, produced by Feld Entertainment.

In this lavish ice show, everyone's favorite sweethearts, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, take audiences on a fun-filled adventure, sharing memories with Disney friends including Goofy, Donald Duck, the beloved Disney Princesses, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio, Mulan, Timon, Pumbaa, Stitch, Nemo, the Incredibles and many more!

Beautifully choreographed skating, breathtaking production numbers, stunning costumes and toe-tapping songs will inspire fond Disney memories. Families can share this once-in-a-lifetime skating spectacular as Mickey and the rest of the gang take the audience on a whirlwind tour of favorite Disney moments.

The Details

What: Disney on Ice

Where: Valley View Casino Center (formerly San Diego Sports Arena)
               3500 Sports Arena Boulevard San Diego, CA 92110

When: October 10-14, 2012
             Wednesday, Oct. 10 7:00 PM
             Thursday, Oct. 11 7:00 PM
             Friday, Oct. 12 7:00 PM
             Saturday, Oct. 13 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
             Sunday, Oct. 14 1:30 PM (Spanish) & 5:30 PM

Tickets: Ticket price levels are $17, $23, $39, (VIP) and $55 (Front Row).

Opening Night tickets available on select seating for only $10 each!

(not valid on premium seating; limit 6 tickets per order). 

Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or at the venue Box Office.

To discover more about Disney On Ice, go to www.DisneyOnIce.com, or visit us on Facebook and YouTube or on Twitter at @DisneyOnIce! 

Disclaimer: As a Feld Family Ambassador, I received a family 4-pack of tickets to this show. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

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!

@Sign4Baby turns 5! Lets Celebrate! {San Diego Events}

Sign4Baby Turns 5!

I can hardly believe it has been 5 years! Thousands of babies and their parents have participated in Sign4Baby programs including myself and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate this amazing birthday with Joann.

Come celebrate with us!

Date: Friday, September 14th
Time:  12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Location:  KidVentures Pacific Beach
Admission:  $12 per child; siblings $8; children under the age of 1 are free
RSVP: Sign4Baby Playgroup

*Please remember that Kid Ventures is a socks only facility*

There are so many reasons to head over and boogie on down. Here are a few:

• There will be goodie bags*!
• We'll have activities and games!
• Enjoy delicious treats!
• Participate in the amazing raffle!
• And of course a few stories and some dancing!

*Goodie bags are limited to the first 50 families arriving after 12:00. The goodie bags alone are worth more than the price of admission!

Joann and my little one at Sign4Baby's 4 Year Anniversary

Raffle tickets will be for sale $1 each or $10 for 20.

We'll be having fun until 3pm so if your little one naps at the noon hour - still plan to come down and enjoy the second half!

Sneak Peek at just a few Raffle Prizes: 

• Kathryn the Grape books and cd
• Hullabaloo cds
• Pair of tickets to San Diego Moms Night Out 1 year anniversary on Oct 26th
• Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching package
• $50 gift card to Babies in Bloom
• Belly casting kit from Mamatoto Birth Project
• Family 4 pack to Sea Life Aquarium
• Lookin' Snappy pize pack incorporating favorite Sign4Baby books!

..... many many more to come!

SD Mom’s Night Out 1 Year Anniversary

In celebration of the SD Mom’s Night Out 1 Year Anniversary and Halloween, we invite you to enjoy a night out at Kin Spa at Manchester Grand Hyatt and have an opportunity to get out, relax, and mingle with other moms. Not only is this a night to get out, it's also the best way to network in disguise!

Where: Kin Spa at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
              1 Market Place San Diego, CA 92101
When: Friday, October 26 from 7-10pm
Cost: $40 Presale, $50 at the door *$35 for the first 35 people who register!

Purchase Tickets Here

Own a local business? Want to get the word out about your services or product? Find out how you can get involved in this event and reach local San Diego women and moms by filling out this form here. Let SD Mom's Night Out know I sent you over!

The beneficiary for this event is Foundation for Women, a non-profit organization located in San Diego dedicated to eliminating global poverty through microcredit loans.

To support this organization, a portion of each ticket you purchase will go to Amanda Taylor, a local single mom who is a member of the Foundation for Women. Coffee will also be available for purchase*. The Foundation for Women’s Micro Loan Blend is made from Women Entrepreneurs. All coffee proceeds will support Amanda Taylor.

*Coffee will be distributed at the event and can be purchased online.

Tickets Include:

• A donation to Amanda Taylor – Foundation for Women 
• Complimentary parking or Valet for $10 at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego 
• Entrance to Kin Spa and pool deck at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego 
•  3 raffle tickets 
• Opportunity to win prizes from our amazing sponsors including the Grand Prize of (1) Night Stay at Manchester Grand Hyatt and spa treatment for (2) at Kin Spa 
• Free flowing wine throughout the evening 
• Light appetizer fare 
• Complimentary indoor/outdoor spa services from Kin Spa 
•  Special discounted menu for spa services purchased at the event 
• Kin Spa Swag Bags for the first 200 guests 
• Special Swag Bags for the first 50 guests 
• Discounted room rates for guests who want to stay overnight 
• A fabulous night out as YOURSELF!

Purchase Tickets Here 

Event covered by The Pulse SD