I love finding new places for our family to explore. There is an endless amount of attractions to visit in LA and in California! But sometimes it’s nice just hanging with friends and eating! Teagan and I were invited on a lunch play date. What was different? We were going to make our own pasta with a pasta machine. To get ready, our new friend prepared the dough and also prepared pasta sauce and rolls.

The girls were distracted with playtime but eventually came around for their turn at the pasta machine. They turned the crank and helped created uneven lengths of pasta! The girls helped hang the pieces. Cooking is a fun way to teach teamwork! And also for kids to participate and eat what they create!

Don’t be afraid to let the kids help out the kitchen. I’ve learned that even the smallest kid wants to participate and they love making their parents happy.

YUM! The best part is eating! Especially eating something we created. Thanks Karen and Dani! I can’t wait for our next cooking date.

- Tee and Teagan

Still planning to get away this summer? You might want to consider San Diego for a quick getaway. San Diego is one of our favorite family destinations. We haven’t been there in awhile and decided to spend a special weekend there for my birthday! With Teagan in tow, we added LEGOLAND and Sea World to our itinerary. LEGOLAND recently opened their new Water Park. Sea World’s newest attraction is Blue Horizon. The excitement started to build as we thought of our adventures at the new attractions. For lodging, we decided to stay at the Embassy Suites Hotel in La Jolla. La Jolla is a beautiful location and an easy ride to and from both amusement parks. – Tee, Sean and Teagan

LEGOLAND, CARLSBAD
www.legoland.com
1 Legoland Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008-4610

Kids 3 and under get in free to LEGOLAND California. The Water Park Hopper passes get you both into LEGOLAND and the Water Park. Toddlers (ages 1-2 years) are required to have an admission ticket to the Water Park ($3). Adults (age 13-49) $79, Seniors (age 60+) and children (age 3-12) are $69. The Resort Hopper also gives you entry to SEA LIFE but seeing all three attractions in one day can be tough! Adults pay $87 and children $77. Parking is $12.

I suggest the Annual Resort membership passes for families that live locally. You can make up the costs after only a few visits. This pass allows admission into all three attractions, LEGOLAND, the Water Park and the SEA LIFE Aquarium.

The Water Park is only accessible through LEGOLAND. The new Water Park is located at the north end of LEGOLAND in Fun Town. It was extremely clean and offers restrooms, changing rooms, lockers (for a fee), and showers for their guests. Life jackets are also available free of charge. The Water Park shuts down for 10 minutes every two hours to remind guests to take bathroom breaks. Also, kids 3 and under are required to be in swim diapers. You can tell that safety is LEGOLAND’s number one concern at their water park. There are numerous lifeguards on duty and they made sure they kept things clamped down but didn’t damper anyone’s fun.

The focal point of the Water Park is the 45-foot-tall tower. The tower has three large slides that dump kid and families into the wading pools below. Kids have to at least 42” for this attraction. The Splash Tower is a big hit with the kids. Every 10 minutes or so the Tower releases water on top of some unexpected guests. I loved the reaction on the faces of every kid that got doused!

Build-A-Raft River

Build-A-Raft River was our next stop. The line was long but moved fairly quickly. Kids can customize their rafts with over-sized LEGO bricks before they take a relaxing float down the river. Teagan and my hubby rode down together so I could take pictures. I’m the designated family photographer but that’s by choice! LEGOLAND is photogenic but don’t worry, I know when to step from behind the camera to have fun.

LEGOLAND Water Park also offers cabana rentals. Rentals are available for full or half day. What a great option for birthday parties! Also, we didn’t eat at the Water Park but there is a snack bar and restaurant.

Lifeguard ready to lend a hand

The Water Park was crowded but they do limit the amount of guests. We spent about 3 hours in the water park and would’ve spent more time if Teagan could get on the taller slides. When we were done, we had to change back into our clothes because bathing suits are not allowed outside of the Water Park.

Although the Water park was the meat we did get a slice of other LEGOLAND fun:

Bob the Builder! Can we fix it? My daughter loves Bob The Builder and was ready for some 4D movie action. The movie is the perfect length and has some cool effects. Bob and his Can-Do-Crew build a roller coaster! Expect some dips with 4D elements! I don’t want to spoil anything for first time guests!  Teagan literally sang the theme song ALL DAY LONG after watching the 10-minute movie. You might even catch a glimpse of a live Bob the Builder. I actually met him outside for a quick photo op!

There aren’t many “adult” rides so my husband took advantage of Castle Hill’s Knights’ Tournament. It’s a giant robotic arm that flips and turns and basically shakes you around. He was daring to select the difficult level of the ride (5 out of 5) and loved it.

See, I do exist

Definitely take the kids over to the Land of Adventure area. Teagan loves all the rides in this section. She screamed the entire time on the Beetle Bounce and a definite favorite of hers is the Dune Raiders slide. We slid down this 50-foot slide 5 times. She couldn’t get enough of it!

The Sky Cruiser always has a long line. We decided to brave the lines and waited 1.5 hours. We were disappointed about the wait time especially when the ride was over. The ride is kid powered but that was only for a small portion of the ride. The views are nice but I definitely suggest getting to this ride first thing in the morning or skipping it so you don’t waste any time.

I love that LEGOLAND is constantly expanding and adding new features. We think this park is perfect for families, especially families with young kids (I suggest 3+ or at least 36” tall). The park is colorful and there is no shortage of Legos and Lego creations! The Water Park is a great addition to the LEGOLAND California resort. With some planning you can see a good amount of the park and there are photo opportunities at every corner.

Dune Raiders slide

TIPS & DISCOUNTS:

• LEGOLAND is currently offering Free Kids’ meal between 5-7pm now through August 28, 2010. Offer is available at certain restaurants and an adult entree purchase is required.

• Check out AAA for current discounts. I just checked and www.AAA.com and they are offering 10% off and $13 off 2-Day Resort Hopper Tickets.

• Sign up your kids for the free LEGO magazine! I heard that you get some discounts!

• Apple fries in the Knight’s kingdom, they are yummy.

• Read my post “Legoland Imagination” for more tips and holiday experience at LEGOLAND California.

• Get to the park early to take advantage of what they have to offer especially when the hours go back to 10-5 which happens September 6, 2010

EMBASSY SUITES La Jolla
4550 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 91214
www.embassysuites1.hilton.com

Embassy Suites La Jolla - Photo Courtesy of Embassy Suites

Traveling with kids means researching family friendly hotels. Does the hotel have a pool? Kids meals? After some careful research we decided on Embassy Suites in La Jolla. Embassy Suites is about 20 minutes south of LEGOLAND. This hotel houses 340 rooms and 12 floors. Checking into Embassy Suites La Jolla was easy and quick. The hotel offers self-parking at $19 a day. That can be pricey if you’re staying for an extended period. It looked like there were spots on the street. But we were not sure of local parking restrictions. The area felt safe but I always like parking on hotel property.

Embassy Suites has guaranteed late check-in that was nice since we were coming directly from LEGOLAND that night. When we did check-in, I immediately noticed the attractive interior of the hotel.  The lobby had a nice Koi pond and every floor looked down to the nicely landscaped pond and restaurant area.

We rode up a glass elevator to the third floor. We were directly across from the elevators so there was some hallway/elevator traffic but the distance from our bedroom to the living room was a nice buffer. We didn’t hear any of the outside noise while we were sleeping. The only thing that was a little noisy was the air conditioner. It wasn’t loud enough to complain but I did notice it a couple of times.

Our room was clean, spacious and comfortable. The beds and 6 pillows were very comfy and we had no problem relaxing before we fell asleep. All the rooms are two room suites. The couch is a pull out bed and has a foot stool. Both the living room and bedroom have nice flat screen TVs! I’d say the space is perfect for a family of 4-5. The suite had an executive feel but wasn’t overly stuffy. Nice decor and a table that looks great for laptops and offers USB plugs that we used to charge our phones. The room came equipped with a mini refrigerator and a microwave. This is great if you’ve brought some drinks or snacks to help save some money.

Lounging in the hotel room

The first morning, I awoke to Teagan squealing in the living room. She was stretched out across the couch and foot rest. She was watching PBS while dad was looking through the hotel binder. We read about the complimentary extensive breakfast and decided to make our way down to the lobby. Breakfast hours are 7-10:30 a.m. Sat-Sun and 6-9 a.m. during the week. The highest traffic time is 9:00-10:00 on the weekends. We were downstairs at about 9:30 and the line was considerably long. The staff was busy restocking trays and cleaning up tables. The buffet was stocked with breakfast items; eggs, bacon, sausages, pancakes, pastries plus they had a nice fruit bar and the usual cereal bar. A nice added bonus was the made to order omelet station. We didn’t make it back there since we filled up on the other various food options. We sat outside for breakfast and dinner that night because we loved the patios. They’re very attractive and the sound walls shielded the traffic noise. We enjoyed our dinner at the on-site restaurant called Indulge. The attire was casual and we sat outside near the fire pits, which were a nice touch. Our waitress was very friendly, accommodating and patient. A bonus when eating out with kids! The food was delicious and the portions were generous. We ordered the cheese pizza for Teagan and what an overwhelming kid’s portion! I definitely recommend staying in and enjoying a night at Indulge.

The hotel pool was small but perfect size for young children. There’s also a workout room, sauna and small hot tub in the same area (on the lobby floor). All amenities are small so it can get crowded. We went later in the evening and it wasn’t too crowded.

Also, my husband went to the business center and took advantage of the free internet access. We didn’t mind not having it the room. This was a family getaway so our objective was to stay off the computer and iPhones as much as possible!

Hotel interior

The hotel is across from a P.F. Chang’s restaurant where we wound up ordering out for one dinner. There’s also a nice outdoor Westfield (University Towne Center) mall with an ice skating rink. There are definitely a lot of eating options in the local area if you want something other than the hotel restaurant. Just to note, the hotel restaurant does offer a free kids meal with the purchase of 1 adult entrée.

Embassy Suites La Jolla is only 10 minutes away from Sea World and about 15 minutes away from La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Cove. Just a word of advice,  get to the beach early! We drove to the beach just after noontime to hang out on our second day and it took us over an hour to find parking.

Koi Pond

We really enjoyed our stay. Nice looking hotel with comfy rooms so very close to major highways and attractions. We love the natural light in the lobby that came in through the roof. We’d recommend this property to other traveling families. The breakfast is a huge plus. The hotel staff, from the front desk to the bartenders, were very helpful and friendly. Make sure you ask to feed the fish!

EXTRAS & TIPS

• Ask the front desk for food for the fish. Teagan loved feeding the Koi.

• FREE happy hour from 5-7pm!  All drinks (yes, alcohol) and snacks are free.

• Kids East Free now through Sept 6, 2010. Buy an entrée and a beverage and receive a free kid’s meal. Choices are cheese Pizza, Grilled Cheese and Fries, Spaghetti and Marinara sauce.

• Free internet access from the business center.

• Book a stay using promo code “AIR” and your kids will receive an exclusive The Last Airbender movie prize pack upon check-in and be entered for a chance to win a Hawaiian vacation! Read more here.

• The hotel recycles! Use the provided recycled bag to dispose of glass jars, bottles, newspapers, and more.

• Hotel can provide a crib.

• Fun site for your children, EmbassyKids.com.

• Need diapers? The gift shop sells some but sizes are limited.

SeaWorld San Diego
500 Sea World Drive
San Diego, CA 92109
www.seaworld.com/

Single-Day Admission prices

• $69 for guests age 10+
• $59 for guests ages 3 through 9
• Free for guests 2 years old and younger
• Parking is $12

Our last day of our trip was spent at Sea World San Diego. We haven’t been to the park in a couple of years and we were looking forward to seeing their new Blue Horizon show. We also wanted to check out Sesame Street Bay of Play.

We love extended summer hours at amusement parks. You don’t have to get to the park at the crack of dawn and there are fun night shows and fireworks to enjoy at night.

New Blue Horizons show

I definitely suggest planning your day around the shows Sea World has to offer. There are so many shows and you can spend a lot of time waiting in line especially for the new Blue Horizons show in San Diego. The first show we tried to catch was already full (got there 30 minutes prior). We wound up getting to the next show one hour early. Inquire about wristbands on the weekends. Teagan LOVED Blue Horizons. She was totally mesmerized from beginning to end. Dolphins, birds, high divers, trapeze artists make up this exciting new 25 minute show. Blue Horizon is THE show to see since the trainers still perform in the water with the animals.  Dolphins are so much fun!  Their personalities make a splash that goes far beyond the “Soak Zone”!

Sesame Street Bay of Play

Watch your favorite Sesame Street characters perform at the Sesame Street Bay of Play

Sesame Street Bay of Play area offers rides for the little ones. The best part is when the Sesame Street characters  make appearances and do a show! You can also get your picture taken with your favorite Sesame Street character. Teagan loved seeing Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster, Elmo and Zoe. But, Teagan wanted to know where Big Bird was! The lines were a little long. We waited about 30 minutes to get on Oscar’s Rocking Eel ride. There’s a big play area with a rope and net jungle gym. Definitely a great way to burn off some energy! Parents are more than welcome to accompany their children. I advise this for parents of young children. There was a young boy who was very upset about not knowing how to get down.

Sesame Street Presents: Lights, Camera, Imagination! 4D

Sesame Street Presents: Lights, Camera, Imagination! 4D movie runs throughout the day. This is a fun movie featuring all the Sesame Street characters. We loved Cookie Monster’s skit but be warned, you may get a little wet from the 4D portion of the film. Be careful of your belongings!

We ate at the The Deli (right of the park entrance) for lunch and the Shipwreck Reef Café for dinner. I was happy to see that they offered vegetarian meals. I had the Veggie wrap at The Deli and a Vegetarian burger at the Shipwreck Reef Café. We ordered the healthy meal for Teagan, which was a half turkey sandwich with carrots & raisins. For dinner, Teagan had the Chicken Tenders with Island Fries. How many turkey sandwiches can you eat? The kid’s meals come with a souvenir plate and kid’s beverage. We liked that the majority of the restaurants offered healthy options for kids.

Shamu Rocks show

We ended the day at The Shamu Rocks show. Unfortunately, this show was a small let down.  The introduction features amazing graphics and visuals and even a live guitar player! My husband and I even enjoyed the musical selections (the show started off with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts “I Love Rock and Roll.”) The killer whales are amazing and people love the thrill of the “Soak Zone.” But what let us down was the feeling of a little disconnection since the trainers are no longer performing in the water with the whales. I understand why and the need plus I agree with this new approach but the show did feel a little empty. Too much random dance moves from the trainers and no more breath taking interactions. I remember going to Sea World Orlando with my family as a kid and I was in awe of the trainers and the whales. They always did an amazing job. The last Shamu Rocks show segues into the fireworks finale. Looks like fireworks run through Sept 6th.

All in all, we had a fun time at Sea World. My favorite part of the day was going through the Penguin Encounter with Teagan. We went through a few times on the moving floor. I love watching the penguins propel themselves out of the water. The exhibit had the feel of what penguins might look like in their natural environment.

Tips & Specials:

• Get a Child’s Ticket for Only $5.00 and Help Wildlife Conservation! www.seaworldcares.com

• 2010 SeaWorld Fun Card, Pay for a Day, Get the Year Free Ages 10+ $69 and ages 3-9 $59. Why not??

• We opted out of the dinner plan but suggest purchasing it if you plan on eating three meals at the park. Plus, the price includes all you can drink, all day. Adult $29.99 plus tax, Child $14.99 (Ages 3-9) plus tax

• Inquire about wristbands for the Blue Horizon show. I hear weekends are really busy!

• There are a few mother’s nursing rooms throughout the park. One is located near Dolphin’s Stadium and another near the Shipwreck Reef Café. Many of the bathrooms have diaper stations.

• The Skytower and Bayside Skyride are not included in the price of admission. They are $4 for one ride or $6 for two rides. We didn’t get a chance to ride these but they both look like they offer amazing views of Mission Bay.

• Bring a change of clothes, sunblock, and plastic zip lock bags if you plan on getting wet on some of the rides. Lockers are available for $9.

* We did not receive monetary compensation for this review. That’s IT Mommy was provided with passes to both amusement parks, and a complimentary one night stay at Embassy Suites through the The Last Airbender promotion. Second night was paid by That’s IT Mommy at a discounted rate. The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your results and opinions may differ.

• All photos are owned by www.thatsitmommy.com unless otherwise noted.

OC Fair bread sculpture. Picture by Tee/That's IT Mommy

Have you been to the OC Fair this summer? If not, the fair runs until August 15 in Cosa Mesa and your kids will not be bored! There’s too much to do. We arrived around 11 AM and our first stop was the Centennial Farm. Teagan noticed the barn and hoped that there would be animals around! We stopped and visited with many of the new baby cows, chickens, and the highlight…piglets! We were some of the first visitors that got to meet the newest additions born that morning!! Awww!

Highlights:

• Visual arts gallery-Teagan watched a painter paint a portrait of live model. I loved viewing the photography exhibits and the food as art exhibits. Check out the OC Fair bread sculpture. Way too intricate and pretty to eat!

• Kidland was a hit for Teagan. She was able to ride all of the rides by herself! All rides are suitable for kids 36” +. We were having a proud mommy and daddy moment while we watched her on the roller coaster and I have a feeling that Teagan is going to be a thrill seeker. She actually loved the giant Euroslide and slid all the way down with daddy and a big smile across her face

• Fun zone offers hands-on activities and crafts, live entertainment and a huge sand pit! What kid can resist playing in a huge sand box?

• Plenty of foods to eat so don’t count your calories at this fair. There are too many goodies to sample! I actually tried the deep fried Klondike bar. It wound up being too rich for me but my husband gladly finished up the dough. We could not believe they actually serve up deep fried butter and chocolate covered bacon! Looked like the corn on the cob was a huge hit and of course my hubby had to have a BBQ sandwich.

• The Hangar had some entertainment and we bopped our head along to some rock n roll.

All the rides, games and food can get pricey for a family but it’s a truly a fun time for everyone. It seemed like the whole park was in a good mood. Remember, you can do as little or as much as you feel. We were there for eight hours and didn’t get to see it all!

The OC Fair has been going strong for 120 years! Make sure to stop by the Forever Fair building and view the history of the OC Fair. I learned that the fair grounds were formerly an Air Force base! Seeing all the old pictures and the beginnings of the fair truly brings meaning to this year’s theme- “The Beat Goes On”.

I can’t wait to visit next year!

Some helpful tips from the OC Fair website:

• Wear sunscreen

• Wear mosquito repellant

• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes – Open toed shoes are not allowed on some carnival rides

• Drink a lot of water

• Have a great time!

The fair is open from noon-midnight Wed-Fri and 10 a.m.–midnight Saturday & Sunday. Closed Mon and Tuesdays!

Check out this page for promotions (Kid Free Thursdays, Senior Day Fridays, etc.)

Admission: Adult $10, Senior $7, Child (6 & up) $5

OC Fair runs through Aug 15. Visit www.ocfair.com for more info!

Visit the chics at Centennial Farm. Picture by Tee/That's IT Mommy

Face cut-outs are fun! Picture by Tee/That's IT Mommy

Takin' a ride on the Euro Slide. Picture by Tee/That's IT Mommy

I give her the cutest orange topper award! Picture by Tee/That's IT Mommy

View from the La Grande Wheel. Picture by Tee/That's IT Mommy

Deep-fried Klondike. Picture by Tee/That's IT Mommy

Rejuvenating the feet. Picture by Tee/That's IT Mommy

The Family Fair Way has rides for kids 36" and taller.

* We did not receive monetary compensation for this post. That’s IT Mommy received passes to the fair, $20 food voucher and ride tickets.
 This will in no way sway our opinion of the product or service.
 The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your results and opinions may differ.

We attended opening night of Ringley Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Funundrum at the Staples Center. This was my daughter’s first visit the circus. All aspects of the show fascinated her. She applauded and cheered along with the captivated audience. I haven’t been to the Ringley Brother’s Circus since I was a little kid. My favorite memories are of the trapeze artists and souvenirs! Funundrum was a totally different experience. The production was amazing! Exciting visual effects as well as amazing costuming and perfectly timed routines and set changes. The Ringmaster had a booming voice and infused an exciting flavor through singing and announcing!

I don’t particularly care for the animal segments. I prefer acts where the talent is what people can do with their bodies! I was totally impressed by the Body Benders. Can you imagine three women stuffed into a glass chest? But my favorite and my husband’s was the Globe of Steel portion. Talk about The Greatest Show on Earth!! I was on the edge of my seat when seven motorcyclists entered the globe. The motorcycle group is from the same family and they had audience members on the edge of their seats shrieking!! I also liked how they used black lights in the beginning of their segment. No detail was over looked!


My husband appreciated the live band! The lead trumpet player directed it. The soundtrack they created was appropriate especially when creating sense of suspense.  There were some incredibly impressive musicians highlighted throughout the show.  The bass player was a total madman on his instrument!  And we also got a big kick out of the clown in a car routine with each clown representing an outrageous superhero. “Iron Man” with an ironing board built in and the Flash drinking a giant can of Red Bull. Teagan LOVED every minute of it.

The tour is no longer in LA but you can still catch them at the Honda Center in Anaheim. After that the tour moves on to No. California, Colorado, Missouri and Indiana. Find out about tickets at ticketmaster.com.

Globe of Steel

Finale

* We did not receive monetary compensation for this review. That’s IT Mommy received tickets to the Circus to facilitate this review.
 This will in no way sway our opinion of the product or service.
The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your results and opinions may differ.

Considering Las Vegas for a family getaway? Las Vegas may be known as Sin City, but the odds are in this glitzy town you’ll hit the family-fun jackpot.

My family visited the Adventuredome at Circus Circus earlier this year. The Junior rides are perfect for the little ones. My daughter and her cousin enjoyed Miner Mike (tot size roller coaster) which is suitable for kids between 33 and 58 inches tall. The kids also enjoyed the B.C. Bus and Drifters (ferris wheel). You must be at least 42 inches to ride these two rides solo unless your accompanied by a paying adult. There’s a little bit for everyone at the Adventuredome and what a great place to have a birthday party! 

Circus Circus Las Vegas

Circus Circus is currently offering THE ultimate Vegas escape packages!

Summer Camp Room and Board Package at Circus Circus

Offering one of the best summer values on The Strip, Circus Circus invites guests to enjoy low rates and All You Can Eat All Day passes at the Circus Buffet for only $20 per day per guest.

Cost: Rates start at $22.95 per night plus tax

Reservations: www.circuscircus.com

Family Fun Getaway at Circus Circus

Save over $260 in attractions. Book a two night stay and get discounts on attractions including: Adventuredome, the Roller Coaster at New York-New York, Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, the Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage, Lance Burton tickets at Monte Carlo, Tournament of Kings at Excalibur, Titanic Exhibition and Bodies Exhibit at Luxor, and The Lion King at Mandalay Bay!

Cost: Rates start at $38.95 per night plus tax

Availability: Now through September 5, 2010

Reservations: www.circuscircus.com

Excalibur Hotel

Excalibur is another family friendly hotel option on the Vegas strip. Check out the Camp Excalibur Package:

Enjoy summer fun at The Castle and receive:

• 2-for-1 tickets to Tournament of Kings

• 2-for-1 admission to The Adventuredome at Circus Circus

• 2-for-1 Magic Motion Ride admission

• Ten (10) Free Play Passes at Fantasy Faire

• 20% off Admission to Bodies…The Exhibition and Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at Luxor

• Buy 1 Get 1 50% off admission at The Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay

Cost: Rates start at $56 per night plus tax

Availability: Now through September 30, 2010

Reservations: www.excalibur.com or (877) 750-5464

Promotional Code: XFPK10

Would you like to explore outside of Las Vegas? Make sure to visit the Hoover Dam. The Hoover Dam impounds Lake Mead and is located 35 miles outside of Las Vegas in Boulder City. Click here for more info. Or maybe take a hike and explore the beauty of Red Rock Canyon. Wildlife, vegetation and cultural resources can round out your fun filled Las Vegas trip! More here.

Make sure to bring sunblock and prepare for hot Vegas days. Unless of course you’re staying at the Circus Circus or Excalibur. The AC is wonderful!

Teagan on Miner Mike's roller coaster at the Adventuredome

* We did not receive any compensation or product for this post.
 This will in no way sway our opinion of the product or service.
The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your results and opinions may differ.

Last month marked a special occasion in our family—Kieran turned 3!  We decided to combine her two loves, princesses and Central Park.  All of her friends were invited to wear their favorite princess dress to the party.  In order to not exclude the boys, they were provided with pirate regalia (hats and eyepatches). To be fair, the boys did have their own pirate invite, too!

We opted to give the party favors out at the beginning of the party.  First reason, the little princesses were to receive tiaras and wands, so we thought it fitting that they have them for the entire party.  Second reason, since this was an outdoor party for a bunch of tots, I didn’t think the bags would remain intact and that everyone would, in fact, receive their bag if I left them on the lawn for 2 hours.  I also wanted the little pirates to have their hats and eye patches.  And, if the kids were hungry before the pizza arrived, there was some Pirate’s booty stashed in all the gift bags and boxes to be enjoyed!

I felt lucky that with a bunch of mainly 2-4 year olds I didn’t feel the need to plan for any games.  All of the kids were happy to run around on the grass, although a couple of the kids did bring their own bubbles (always a hit!).

Since we are moving soon, we decided to have as much NYC in her party as we could.  Besides having the party in Central Park, we had pizza delivered there, too.  Here’s a note, they wouldn’t deliver into the park, but we had them meet my husband at 72^nd and 5^th for the exchange.  Just in case you are in NYC and wish to do the same, we ordered from Don Filipo’s on Lexington Ave.–it was delivered right on time, hot and delicious!

Once lunch was out of the way, it was time to sing the birthday girl (I mean, princess) her customary song.  I laid out all the cupcakes on the grass, and the kids quickly descended around them!  Thankfully, the cupcakes remained 100% intact until after the song (and pictures) were through.  We decided on cupcakes from Two Little Red Hens on 1^st Avenue.  My husband and I have made a pretty good circuit of the local bakeries and agree that these are the tastiest.  According to the reactions of our guests, I’d have to say we were right!

The day was magical.  We were even able to get almost all the kids together in one shot for a group photo (by almost, I guess I mean about half!).  Kieran still talks about it—even over a month later.  It was a great experience for all!

If you are throwing a Princess & Pirates party, here is a helpful list of items to get you well on your way!

Princess Invites & Thank You’s, Cupcake Toppers and Gift Bags

Pirate Invites & Thank You’s (Meri Meri also has Pirate-themed cupcake toppers and gift bags)

Pirate Cupcake Toppers

Tiara and Wand Party Favor

Pirate Gift Box and Favors

Princess Carriage photo-op

Pirate photo-op

Pirate’s Booty

Meri Meri is one of the featured vendors in this story.  They are a UK-based company that has been making beautiful handmade-style stationary for over 25 years.  Their products include greeting cards, invitations, partyware, gifts, photo albums and journals.

GIVEAWAY: Meri Meri is kindly offering one (1) That’s IT Mommy reader an Invitation/Thank You kit to help get your party started right! THANK YOU, Meri Meri.

MAIN REQUIRED ENTRY – Go to Meri Meri and choose from one of the currently available sets listed here:

• 45-0020 Pirate Box Set
• 45-0026 Bridal Shower Box Kit
• 45-0040 Mermaids Invite Set 8/Box
• 45-0043 Ready Set Go Invite Kit 8/Box
• 45-0045 Twinkle Toes Invite Set 8/Box
• 45-0119 Animal Parade Invite & Thank You
• 45-0135 Fairy Wishes Invite & Thank You
• 45-0139 3D Robot Invite/Thank You
• 45-0155 Teddy Bear Fun Invite/Thank You
• 45-0029 Princess Cupcake Set (Invite/Thank you not available during this giveaway period)

(Remember if this MAIN ENTRY is not followed then no other entries will count)

Optional Bonus Entries - Leave each extra entry in a separate comment.

• Visit Meri Meri and tell us another item that they sell (not offered in the giveaway)
• Follow Meri Meri on Twitter (2 extra – 2 comments #1, #2)
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This giveaway will run through midnight on August 3, 2010 (PST) with winner being announced sometime on or before August 5, 2010 (PST). Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact us before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to residents in the lower 48 states only (18+).

* We did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The items mentioned in the review were previously purchased by Heather.
 This will in no way sway our opinion of the product or service.
 The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your results and opinions may differ.

New York City has been my favorite place to explore for years. But this summer my exploring needs to be planned a bit more creatively. Some may view being a mom with a double stroller and two very active kids under four in New York City as an obstacle, I choose to see it as a challenge.

This Summer me and my boisterous brood are taking on the playgrounds of Central Park. One park, 21 playgrounds within it, and three summer months for it to be conquered by one very ambitious family! www.centralpark.com is a great resource for all things Central Park and supplies local and visiting families with a complete list of playground information.

Our adventure began this month with three playground visits.

Playground #1: Billy Johnson Playground (East side of 67 St)

Just north of the Children’s Zoo this playground is a great stop on your way home from feeding the sea lions. This playground has lots of rustic features that make one feels like they are deep in a wooded area of the park rather then parallel to the traffic on Fifth Avenue. There is a cool stone bridge, a 45 foot-long spiral granite slide, toddler swings, a water sprinkler and huge sand box with a beach-like setting. I was especially appreciative for the adult seating in the middle of the sand area that allowed me to watch playtime from a safe distance.

Playground #2: Pat Hoffman Friedman Three Bears Playground (East 79 St)

Located on the south side of the Metropolitian Museum of Art this small playground is easy to miss. The entrance is right behind one of my favorite statues in the park – the Three Bears. Worth the stop for the photo moment alone! The playground is an odd mix of older playground equipment. There is a raised sand box area with an incredibly steep twisted metal slide within the middle that I spent a large portion of our visit distracting my one year old from climbing.

There is also a separate gated area with toddler bucket swings, and a water sprinkler surrounded by benches often filled with waiting caregivers eagerly holding out dry towels.

Playground #3: East 72 Street Playground (East side of Fifth Ave & 72nd St)

Today we had to be a bit more focused and strategic in our play since this playground was designed for school-age children. We happily played in the sandbox and sandy swing and slide area. The maze-like cement ramps and stone pyramids are a blast for older kids but bit too much for a mom trying to keep her eyes on two pre-schoolers running in opposite directions.

-That’s IT Mommy friend, Jill

Three little pigs and the three little bears have been very popular around our house lately. My three year old daughter loves to hear the repetitious nature of both stories. So I jumped at the chance to see a modern adaptation in a puppet show form that integrated both stories.

The current original show created by the Marionette Theatre in NYC’s Central Park is called “Three” and has the Big Bad Wolf returning to fairytale land to earn a new name, The Big Good Wolf, by stepping into the stories of the three little pigs, the three bears and the three Billy goats gruff and helping them out with good deeds.

Taking my daughter to see live entertainment was such a treat. The marionettes and theatre sets were beautifully designed and painted. The theatre in the Swedish Cottage is small with wooden, curved child-sized benches. It felt like stepping back in time. I could envision little kids seventy years ago sitting on the same benches. The focus is certainly on catering to kids but the witty dialogue and catchy musical elements of the show kept me entertained as well.  It amazes me that a group of young kids raised on cartoons and video games presented on high-definition television can still be appreciative and captivated by marionettes. They were entranced for an hour and participated by dancing and voting on the wolf’s destiny.

Founded in 1939, the Marionette Theatre Company continues to fashion its own scripts, make its own puppets, and produce its own shows. I never realized what a gem we had in the Swedish Cottage in Central Park. Whether you’re a native or a visitor, this is a must-see activity for kids under 12.

Tickets are $5 for children and $8 for adults.  Reservations are required. Purchase tickets at www.cityparksfoundation.org

That’s IT Mommy friend, Jill

Ice rink by winter, carnival ride park by summertime? Only in New York. And only by Donald Trump! (As some may know: Donald Trump owns and runs Wollman Ice Rink – the home of Victorian Gardens) The view of Midtown Manhattan skyscrapers from the rink is picturesque as you wave to your little ones spinning around on carnival rides at this lovely site.

We took our pre-schoolers to Victorian Gardens and had a great night.  My daughter is already asking when we can go back. With twelve rides and two carnival games, this amusement park offered the perfect mix of choices without being overwhelming for our young and active family. I would highly recommend Victorian Gardens to anyone with children five years and under looking to escape for a couple of hours.

Both my kids loved the Mini Mouse Roller Coaster, Jump Around Frogs, Hydro Racer Boats and Convoy rides. My three-year old daughter could go on all four of these rides independently which she loved.  The minimum height requirement on all rides is 42 inches. Children must ride with an adult if below the minimum. Although my son would meet the height limits he is a bit too young to stay put with the seat belts so either my husband or I accompanied him. There is room for adults albeit a little snug for those of us with longer legs.

We went on a perfectly breezy summer night but I have heard that it can get pretty hot if you head over in the daytime since there is not much shade for the riders and their doting parents so remember to pack hats and sunblock. There are refreshments sold on-site, but they were perfectly fine with us toting in our own water bottles, sandwiches and snacks.

Since the park is using the Wollman Rink space there is a permanent building there with clean, indoor bathroom facilities and space to park strollers. The park is also available for birthday parties and private groups for a fee.

Victorian Gardens is open Mon-Thurs 11am-7pm, Fri 11am-8pm, Sat 10am-9pm and Sun 10am-8pm. I’d suggest calling the park (212) 982-2229 or visiting their website www.victoriangardensnyc.com to check on their schedule before planning your visit.

Prices are reasonable with two options. Either pay as you go with a $6.50 and $1 per ticket charge (all rides are 2 tickets and games are 3 tickets) or Unlimited ride for $18.50.

Directions: The easiest way to get to Wollman Rink is to enter Central Park from 59th Street & Sixth Avenue. Its about a 10 minute walk north in the Park on a paved path that is easy to navigate with kids and strollers.

That’s IT Mommy friend, Jill

My three year old and I just headed over to the historic Flour District of Manhattan (otherwise known as W27th Street) for a trial class at Cupcake Kids! Cooking School and had an absolute blast. The school’s adorable studio kitchen is bright, colorful and inviting for little ones.  Tons of brightly colored baskets, bins and junior-sized, professional-grade tables and cookware made me truly feel like I was at a culinary institute for the mini set. Our instructor, Morgan, did a fabulous job keeping our small class of 2-4 year olds entertained and engaged as we learned how to make mini blueberry pies. I really appreciated how the instructor incorporated counting, color identification, listening skills and manners in a playful manner that captured my daughter’s attention for the full hour.  We began with identifying ingredients and mixing up our creations. While the pies baked Morgan made a game of cleaning up that included colorful sponges for washing the tabletops. Then she read “If You Give A Mouse A Cupcake” and led the kids in setting up a picnic table with place settings  to enjoy the fruits of their labor.  We even got to color pictures just like the main mouse character in the book and hang them on the studio’s refrigerator.

According to Cupcake Kids!, they offer weekly cooking classes, summer camps, birthday parties, field trips and other special occasion events. The new kitchen studio is the first and only kitchen studio in Manhattan just for kids. Their instructors can also come to your school, home or a nearby NYC location.

The idea for Cupcake Kids! was born when Jessi Walter decided to combine her love of kids and food in a practical way. Jessi set out to create a company that would provide students with hands-on cooking experiences designed to provide them with the opportunity to have fun in the kitchen while learning about food and nutrition. Jessi believes that creativity and education in the kitchen play an important role in a child’s development and help kids to build self-confidence and independence.

Check them out at www.cupcakekids.com for schedules and pricing.  I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to pass on the love of food and cooking to the next generation.  According to their website one can also purchase gift certificates. What a great gift idea for grandparents. Even better have them take them to class and create an experience they will remember far longer than the season’s latest toy.

Check out Cupcake Kids on Facebook! Keep up with their latest and greatest events, giveaways, and recipe ideas.

- That’s IT Mommy Friend, Jill

* We did not receive monetary compensation for this review. Jill received a free class to facilitate this review.
 This will in no way sway our opinion of the product or service.
 The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your results and opinions may differ.