local event

Grossmont Healthcare District Open House!

Abby H.

This was in my email this morning, and in the past, the Grossmont Healthcare District has had some really fun events, including an open house last year where I won a set of pots and pans!

The open house is on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, 10 AM – 1 PM. At 10:30 AM, a brief program in the auditorium will feature highlights of the hospital, library, and district history. Then stay for:

  • Enjoy free food and beverages
  • Live music from Paul Nichols, Intentional Healing Music
  • A community painting project with Linda Bounds, new stARTs therapeutic arts program
  • A walking art tour with Carol Lockwood, La Mesa Historical Society
  • Crafts in the Library
  • A drumming fitness class
  • A scavenger hunt and more

 

The Library address is 9001 WAKARUSA ST. LA MESA, CA 91942. More info and RSVP information can be found here.

2022 San Diego Halloween Events!

Abby H.

It’s that time of year: Spooky Season! We’ve got our Halloween decor up, and I’ve started the kid’s costumes. They love wearing their costumes as much as possible, so we’re always looking for fun Halloween events.

Here are just a few that are big hits with my little ghouls:

As more events pop up I will add to this post, and post on Social Media as well.

Talk Back- If you know of any free Halloween events in San Diego, please leave a comment!

 

 

 

October is Kids Go Free Month 2022 Edition!

Abby H.

October is a great time to be a kid in San Diego!

This October 1-31, kids 12 and under receive free admission at many arts, cultural, and science museums and historical sites in San Diego County.

For those of us with curious kids, this is perfect! Kids can get into over 40 museums in the San Diego area free with paying adults (all the info can be found here).

Some of the participating organizations include:

Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Fleet Science Center (Galleries only)
Heritage of the Americas Museum
Japanese Friendship Garden
Living Coast Discovery Center
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Marston House Museum & Gardens
Mingei International Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
Museum of Making Music
Museum of Photographic Arts
San Diego Air & Space Museum
San Diego Automotive Museum
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
San Diego History Center
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center
Timken Museum of Art (it’s always free for everyone FYI)
Women’s Museum of California

A full list can be found here. Oh, and as part of free October, Kids can get into the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park free when accompanied by a paying adult!  Other Kids go free attractions include: Legoland, Sea World, and the USS Midway!!

*Some museums charge fees for special exhibitions, programs or films. Some museums may limit offer use to once per month per guest. Purchase of a Balboa Park Explorer Pass does not qualify as a paid adult admission for the Kids Free in October program. Purchase of a Go San Diego Pass or card does not qualify as a paid adult admission for the Kids Free in October program at most museums; call museum(s) before visiting to enquire. 

Homeschooling Parents: San Diego Gameschooling Expo 8/19/22!

Abby H.

The Stronghold is excited to present its very first San Diego Gameschooling Expo!

  • Friday, August 19, 2022
  • 10AM-2PM

Venues:

  • The Stronghold:Check-In and Primary Gaming Area for Ages 6+
  • The Dancehouse: Teen Gaming Area (Ages 13+ only)
  • Yeeha Boba: Trivia
  • Point Loma Library: Parent Conference and Vendor Fair

What’s the Expo about?

Bringing together families for a fun, interactive Gameschooling mini convention accompanied by homeschooling vendors throughout San Diego! Join them for the Parent Conference, Gameschooling activities, Vendor Fair, Prizes, and more!

What’s the cost to attend?

Adults are FREE! Kids Ages 6-12 are $15, and Teens (13 and up) are $20 a ticket. Interested in volunteering to get a free ticket for your kids? They have limited opportunities to waive up to one registration per adult.

What does the ticket include?

Ticket includes access to our Parent Conference, THREE of the Gaming Areas, including the following but not limited to Board Games, Chess, Puzzles, and Trivia. Please note they will not be having Video Gaming at this event.

To learn more about this event and secure tickets, visit their Eventbrite page here. 

 

7/15/2022 An All Inclusive Day of Play for Families!

Abby H.

We’ve gone to this event in the past, and it’s always a fun time with great resources.

FREE community event with activities, games, crafts, raffles, shopping, and resource booths for families of all abilities.

Activity Stations for kids including favorites:

  • Light Saber Creation Station
  • Jurassic Photo Op
  • Under-the-Sea Sensory Tent
  • Super Wheelchair Course
  • many more!

Family Resources & Networking  – Resource and service providers will be on-site to speak with parents and offer helpful information. Be sure to pick up a copy of Flourishing Families and San Diego Family at the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego booth.

Sign up for your FREE TICKETS here.

Dream Dinners: Earn Free Dinners & Special Offer for your Friends!

Abby H.

Dream Dinners in La Mesa has a new Meal Prep Workshop program.  This is an exciting new twist on the in-store party and it’s a great opportunity for you to introduce your friends to Dream Dinners and earn fun rewards!

Here’s how it works:
As the host, you attend the workshop for free! You also have the opportunity to earn up to $75 in host rewards!

Your friends pay $50 to attend and learn about Dream Dinners. This includes three pre-prepped medium-size meals, and everyone will get to assemble the Campfire Cobbler Trio, at this private, in-store event with your friends. They’ll enjoy delicious samples of our food. They also have some exciting perks for them if they place an order at the workshop!

Call/Text 619-460-6800 to learn more and schedule your event!
If you’ve never tried Dream Dinners, it is a great meal prep company with locations all over the US. I love Marsi and her staff at the La Mesa Location. When compared to other meal prep/meal plan programs, the prices and freshness are out of this world. For more about why Dream Dinners is tops in my book, check out this post.

Faith Chapel: Food Distribution Monday June 6th and More Upcoming Dates!

Abby H.

Late last year I posted about the Faith Chapel neighborhood food distributions. Here is an update on more upcoming dates, and date changes due to upcoming holidays.

There is a June 6, 2022 food distribution. Sign-up for the event can be found here.

The 7/4/2022 Distribution has been moved to 7/11/2022 due to the holiday. Later in the summer, the 9/5/2022 Distribution has been moved to 9/12/2022 due to the holiday.
As a reminder, these are drive-thru-style events, so you don’t have to leave your vehicles. The events start at 10:00am, but I suggest that you arrive about 20 minutes early to get in line.
The types of food vary each month, but it’s usually a selection of shelf-stable, frozen, and fresh foods. It is a great variety and plenty of food to help with your family’s food budget.

The Address:

Faith Chapel
9400 Campo Rd.
Spring Valley, CA 91977

 

Kids Night Out at Parkway Plaza!

Abby H.1 Comment

Parkway Plaza is back at it with kids’ events!

Gather the kids and take a night off!
Bring them out to Parkway Plaza on the 2nd & 4th Friday of every month for kids’ night out! Craft, dance and play with friends and family in our Channel 93.3 Lounge. Experience the real radio station set up and take family photos at one of the selfie stations throughout the lounge.
The next event is on May 27th!

Free Craft Event at JCPenney for Kids 5/14/2022

Abby H.

Are you heading to the mall on 5/14? Check out this fun, free craft from JCPenney’s.

Visit the Kids Zone inside JCPenney and kids can decorate a holiday magnet.  Parents/Adults score a 10% off coupon, which can be combined with another coupon. JCP Coupons can be found here.

JCPenney hosts a fun craft event in store for kids on the second Saturday of each month.  They are easy for kids, and fun, free activity.

In-store events are only where local mandates allow.  All kids must be accompanied by an adult.

Looking forward to June, there is a cute baseball craft, which includes beads, charms, a cord, keyring, card, envelope, and marker.

And if you are looking for Mother’s Day deals, check out the JCP Doorbusters! You’ll save 60% off regular prices!

 

Free Food Distribution Monday April 4th, 2022

Abby H.

Per my email from Pastor Josiah- Food Distribution is going down, this Monday, April 4th at Faith Chapel.  Thank you for registering ahead of time to help the line move faster.

And as a reminder:

Faith Chapel will be having free food distributions on the 1st & 3rd Mondays throughout 2022 at 10:00am.

Faith Chapel
9400 Campo Rd.
Spring Valley, CA 91977

This is a drive-thru-style event, so you don’t have to leave your vehicles. The types of food vary, but in the past, there has been milk, cheese, eggs, canned goods, seasonal fresh produce, shelf-stable dry goods (beans, pasta, etc.).

In addition to free food, there is also a boutique open to be shopped at during these distribution times. Everything in our boutique is FREE and available to any guests that come through. You can find everything from clothes to household furnishings, kitchenware, toys, etc.