music

Summer Events for Teens and Tweens at San Diego County Libraries

Abby H.2 Comments

My kids need to get out of the house this summer. Yours might too. I spent a few hours looking up some fun free stuff for teens and tweens at our favorite San Diego County library branches. Both the county of San Diego and the City of San Diego have library branches, but they are not connected.

City of San Diego library events can be found here.

The complete list of County Library events can be found here. 

Here are a few of the events my kids are excited about going to:

 

Lakeside Branch

SLC Teen Afterhours: Laser Tag and Trivia
Saturday, June 14, 2025
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

SLC Teen Afterhours: Art with Miss Wendy
Saturday, July 12, 2025
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Kids SLC: SD Animal Sanctuary and Farm
Thursday, June 26, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Kids SLC: Super Science Super Show
Thursday, July 17, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Kids SLC: Critter Encounters
Thursday, July 3, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Kids SLC: Don’t Try This at Home-Scientific Serenade
Thursday, July 31, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Santee Branch

Animal show with Zovargo
Friday, August 1, 2025
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
At Mast Park

La Mesa Branch

Construction Club (LEGO club) Ages 4+
Monday, June 2, 2025 meets weekly
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Summer at your Library: Mad Hatter Tea Party
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Teen Backyard Bird Experience
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

 

Casa de Oro Branch

Game Night Unplugged
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (takes place weekly)
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Teen Video Game Hour
Monday, June 16, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

 

El Cajon Branch

Tween Tuesdays
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Tweens ages 8-13 to explore the RIASEC framework while socializing with other El Cajon tweens. Join us each week for games, music, and a RIASEC-themed activity:

* June 24: Catapult Challenge (Realistic)
* July 1: Make Your Own Slime (Investigative)
* July 8: Mask-Painting (Artistic)
* July 15: Lotería with Prizes (Social)
* July 22: Sharpie Mugs (Enterprising)
* July 29: Bingo with Prizes (Conventional)

 

Rancho San Diego Branch

Tween Craft – Perler Beads
Thursday, July 3, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Tween Craft – DIY Bags
Thursday, July 17, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Tween Craft – DIY Shirts
Thursday, July 31, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

 

As you can see, there are tons of great events going on for free this summer! And if your kiddos are looking for more fun, check out my post about Summer Reading Programs!

Lyle Lyle Crocodile Review- We danced in our seats!

Abby H.

Earlier this week the kids and I went to a sneak preview of Lyle Lyle Crocodile.

For those not in the know, Lyle Lyle Crocodile started out as a character in a children’s book in the 1960s. The movie follows these same characters, The Primm family, Hector P. Valenti, star of stage and screen, and of course- Lyle, Lyle Crocodile!

My grandmother read me the original book when I was a child, and I’ve always loved it. I was so excited to share Lyle and the Primms with my kiddos.

Lyle doesn’t talk, but he is voiced through song by Shawn Mendes. The movie also stars Constance Wu and Javier Barden as Hector P. Valenti (and is a great singer and dancer).

The kids loved the story and songs. We all danced along in our seats. and I was informed it was “awesome and a good story” by the big kid, and “full of good music- tell the people on the internet to take their kids to see it” by the little kid. So there you go- a solid review from an 11-year-old boy, and a 7-year-old girl.

Check Lyle out online:

Official Film Site (with lots of fun printable coloring pages and activity pages)
Thanks to Boutique Publicity for getting us tickets to the sneak preview! All opinions are my own (and the kids). We received no financial incentive.

Free Music Classes from Staump Music School

Abby H.

It’s Back!

We received this email from the school district yesterday, and I wanted to share this free deal with y’all.

If you are looking for something fun for the kids to try this summer, Staump Music School is offering a free month of voice, guitar, piano, or ukelele.

Have you been thinking about enrolling your child in music lessons? Now’s your chance to try it 100% risk-free!

What is a 30-Day Lesson Pass?

Their 30-day lesson pass is good for four 45-minute class sessions throughout one month! In other words, you will have one 45-minute group class each week for four consecutive weeks.

How do you sign up for a lesson pass?

Visit Staump Music School’s website here and complete the form.

Your child will get to experience the joys of music for an entire month, completely risk-free! We want to make sure your child truly enjoys their class & has so much fun they want to keep coming back!

This is a really fun opportunity, and if your kiddo has expressed interest in learning an instrument or singing, this is a great way to see if this is something they can get into and enjoy without committing to a lot of lessons (or money).

Free DJ Classes from Bach to Rock

Abby H.

Have you heard of Bach to Rock? It’s a fun music school with locations all over the country and there are a few locations in San Diego county. Kids as young as 3 can learn to play a variety of instruments.

Right now, the Encinitas location is offering a Free DJ mixing class for kids 10+. Join Bach to Rock for a free trial of DJ Mixing! Get back in the groove Mondays from 5:00 – 6:00 PM with our awesome new DJ coach, Michael H.!

Learn how to blend, fade, scratch, and mix songs on state-of-the-art equipment and perform with them at local venues around town.

Call us at: (760) 452-2190 for more information or to sign up for this free class.

 

Free Music Classes from Staump Music School

Abby H.1 Comment

We received this email from the school district yesterday, and I wanted to share this free deal with y’all.

If you are looking for something fun for the kids to try this summer, Staump Music School is offering a free month of voice, guitar, piano, or ukelele.

Have you been thinking about enrolling your child in music lessons? Now’s your chance to try it 100% risk-free!

What is a 30-Day Lesson Pass?

Their 30-day lesson pass is good for four 45-minute class sessions throughout one month! In other words, you will have one 45-minute group class each week for four consecutive weeks.

How do you sign up for a lesson pass?

Visit Staump Music School’s website here and complete the form.

Your child will get to experience the joys of music for an entire month, completely risk-free! We want to make sure your child truly enjoys their class & has so much fun they want to keep coming back!

This is a really fun opportunity, and if your kiddo has expressed interest in learning an instrument or singing, this is a great way to see if this is something they can get into and enjoy without committing to a lot of lessons (or money).

Giveaway: A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN at San Diego’s Balboa Theatre

Abby H.7 Comments

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Y’all know how much I love theatre- and I am so excited to share this!
Sunday, October 20, 2019 at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. you can experience the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical A Night With Janis Joplin rocks the Balboa Theatre – San Diego for two shows only!
Tickets and more info available here.
And my readers can

save 20% on Tickets* when you use coupon code: JANIS20 at checkout!
A Night With Janis Joplin is a musical journey celebrating Janis Joplin and her biggest musical influences – trailblazers like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith, all of whom inspired Joplin to become one of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s greatest legends.
Like a comet that burns far too brightly to last, Joplin exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Her unmistakable voice, filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort, made Joplin a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock. Audiences will enjoy Joplin’s favorites, including “Piece of My Heart,” “Cry Baby,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” and many others.
And it gets better, I am giving away two tickets to the 2pm show! Entering is sooo easy- Just leave a comment! Tell me who you would take to the show with you.
I’ll choose a winner on 10/11/19 in the evening and notify the winner by email.
*Not applicable to $140.00 tickets.

Free Concerts this Weekend from Mainly Mozart!

Abby H.

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Mainly Mozart has a great trilogy of concerts this weekend at Bread and Salt in San Diego. The best part is that all three concerts are FREE. You need to register here for tickets.

Cello Meets Guitar
Friday, May 3 | Bread and Salt, Logan Heights | 7:00pm – Concert

Crossing Borders
Sunday, May 5 | Bread and Salt, Logan Heights | 2:00pm – Concert

Music, Inspiration, and Autism
Sunday, June 2 | Bread and Salt, Logan Heights |7:00pm – Concert

Mainly Mozart has a great series called Mozart & the Mind- and they are having an event on June 1st featuring Key Note Speaker- Temple Grandin. If you are a Regional Center Client, click here for information on how you can attend The June 1st or June 2nd Mozart & The Mind Symposium for free.

Kiddolab Toys and Win a Trip to DisneyWorld!

Abby H.

Recently the cool people over at Kiddo Labs asked me to review a product from their website. Uh, yeah! I love reviewing toys!

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KiddoLab is a new brand which supports the initiative to provide babies with a solid foundation for the development of early skills during play. I love that all of the toys are made in vibrant colors with interesting textures and lights and/or sounds.

Screen Shot 2018-12-22 at 5.44.31 PM.pngI chose the 2-in-1 Activity Center, which features:

  • AN OCEAN OF FUN CHARACTERS: This interactive activity center is decorated with adorable sea creatures including a fish, turtle, clam, crab, and starfish.
  • A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES: More than just a toy piano, all of the fun ocean creatures double as activities of their own; a click-clack fish, a rattle spinner, a sliding star, a push-down squeaker and a baby-safe mirror.
  • LIGHT-UP PIANO KEYS: Three big, brightly colored light-up piano keys are easy to press for little fingers. Intended for ages nine months plus.
  • TWO MUSICAL MODES: Loaded with cheerful music to entertain babies and toddlers, you can choose between free play and tunes to play along with.
  • ATTACHES TO YOUR CRIB: This activity table boasts detachable legs and can then be easily attached to your infant’s crib.
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I set it up, added batteries and let Margaret go to town. She played with it for about 20 minutes. She had a great time.  What I like it that it’s easy to set up and change to attach to a crib. The sounds aren’t high-pitched or tinny, so listening to the sounds wasn’t like most baby/kid toys (parents- you know what I’m talking about!). I love that it’s a toy that can grow with your child. The crib straps and the legs are both easy to install and remove.

Right now, Kiddo Labs is offering my readers a a 25% discount with coupon code: TTPM25  To get started, visit Kiddolab here.

Oh, and it gets better. Not only does Kiddo Labs have great, fun toys for your littles, right now they are giving away a vacation to Disney World. Visit their website to learn more.

 

Thanks so much to Kiddo Labs for the fun toy! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review. Please see my Disclosure Page for more information about reviews.

Free Fun this weekend!

Abby H.

Wow- I’ve been busy this week! I haven’t had a chance to sit down and post all week, but I’ve been trying to post on Facebook and Instagram- so remember to keep up with me there too.

This weekend there will be all sorts of free fun going on! Today is both Free Comic Book Day, and also Cinco de Mayo.

Here are just a few ways to celebrate:

Free Comic Book Day is always the first Saturday in May. Find your local Comic shop that participates here. Most shops have tons of free comics and other fun stuff (like cosplayers who will pose for photo ops with kids. Our favorite shop usually has Batman.)

Cinco_de_mayo_logo1.pngCinco de Mayo- Luckily for us, we’ve got Old Town San Diego State Historic Park close by! Each year, Old Town hosts an amazing festival with music, dancing and art.

If you don’t want to brave Old Town, There is also a festival at Balboa Park,and The Timken Museum will be having a fun, free craft (and the museum is always free to visit).

If you want to avoid the crowds, check out Chicano Park. There are some amazing murals, and it’s close by some pretty tasty restaurants.

And if you are looking for other free fun, The San Diego City Libraries area great place to start. County Libraries may also be having fun stuff too.

Santee has Creative Play ~ Each Saturday from 10:30-11:30 am. Children learn through play! Meet new friends and have fun while developing early learning skills. Geared for ages 5 and under (but they are not strict with it- as long as the kids behave).

La Mesa’s branch library is hosting a Sensory Playtime tomorrow.

 

What kinds of fun events will you be going to this weekend?

Looking for some new digs? Check out the Grand Opening of Nickel Creek Townhomes in Ramona!

Abby H.

NickelCreek-logoColorSome of you may know that we moved into a condo last January. We house hunted for over 6 months, looking at listings online and driving all over the place. It was nuts. The awesome folks at KirE builders are proud to present the Grand Opening of Nickel Creek Townhomes in Ramona on February 27th. Just in time for those of you starting your house hunt in Eastern San Diego County.

There are so many things I love about living in East County:

  • Great Parks: including parks with cheap or free water fixtures for the kids to play in during the hot months.
  • Small Town Feel: most Eastern San Diego County cities and towns average about 60k residents or less each, but most have a great small town vibe with local activities sponsored by chambers of commerce, civic organizations, and local parks and rec commissions.
  • Many opportunities to Get Into Nature: We love discovering nature!  San Diego has a ton of great trails and ecological preserves, several of them are in Eastern San Diego County, and are family friendly!

Even though we’re not in the market for a new home, I’ll be checking out the Grand Opening of Nickel Creek Townhomes in Ramona. We’ve got some friends that are looking to buy in East County and I’ll be doing leg work for them!

I’m pretty excited! Besides the tours of the new townhomes, there will be lunch, a gourmet dessert truck, face painting, and music will be complimentary for all in attendance starting at 11am!

Bring your kids and they can flex their creative muscle and enter to win! Check out the coloring sheet below that kids can color and turn in that day at Nickel Creek, to win 2 tickets to Disneyland, a Kindle Fire, or a $50 gift card!

coloring sheet FINAL FINAL

 

If you can’t make it, but would like more info, check out the  Nickel Creek Interest List.

NickelCreek-Flyer_Back What I like about Nickel Creek is that even though it’s in Ramona, which is know for being pretty east in East County, it’s near the center of town: Tons of opportunities to shop and dine. Oh, and Ramona has a Dunkin’ Donuts. SHHHH- don’t tell my husband!

NickelCreek-Flyer_Front

 

I’ll be live tweeting and Instagramming from the event, make sure to check it out! And I’ll report back with photos and details!