san diego – Page 31 – Hewes Family Fun

Looking for Frugal Fun for Christmas? Check out Neighborhood Light Displays

December 22, 2016December 22, 2016Abby H.

One of the family traditions I want to carry over from when I was little is driving around to look at Holiday light displays. And for those of us in San Diego, we’re in luck!

Bitty Bird, Excited to see the Sesame Street decorated house at Starlight Circle!

Here are our favorites, addresses and info courtesy of San Diego Family Magazine.

Here is a link to the original PDF so you can print it off and take it with you! It’s got addresses and more info.

We’ve already visited most of these east county locations:

EL CAJON, 92021

Jingle Bell Hill (also known as Pepper Dr. Lights). Solomon Ave./Pegeen Pl. and surrounding area. Off 67 & Bradley. Dec. 8-26, Mon-Th 6-9 pm, Fri-Sun 6-10 pm. Our favorite is the Nightmare Before Christmas House!

LAKESIDE, 92040

10248 Paseo Palmas Dr. Nicknamed “Tinsel Town”. Dec. 1-25, 5:30-9 pm. Most of the houses on this street are very well decorated with lights and moving displays!

SANTEE, 92071

Starlight Circle, East and West Glendon Circles. Dec. 17-26, 7-10 pm. This is extremely popular! You can park and walk through. There are neighbors selling cocoa, coffee, popcorn, and cotton candy. If you walk, take money with you! Starlight Circle even has a facebook page!
9773 Roe Dr. 27,000 Christmas lights dance to 10 songs over 128 computer channels. Food Bank and St. Jude donations accepted. Dec. 3-Jan. 2. Sun-Th, 6-10 pm and Fri & Sat, 6-11 pm.www.DBChristmas.com It is very impressive!
If you love South Park, after you stop by Roe, cruise down Lake Canyon Drive (in the 9400 block, East of Carlton Hills Blvd) and check out the Woodland Critter Christmas Display.

We pack the kids into the car after dark with snacks and head out for a drive. It’s a fun way to spend time together, and it’s pretty frugal!

What holiday traditions do you want to share with your kids?

Help kids play with Ikea’s Let’s Play for Change!

November 20, 2016Abby H.

play_for_change If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you saw all of my crazy posts this morning from Ikea San Diego. A group of bloggers (and our kids) enjoyed breakfast in their cafe and learned out Ikea’s winter Good Cause Campaign, Let’s Play for Change, which highlights the benefits of play for all Children.

Honestly, the best part of being a kid is free time to play and learn. Children learn through play: social skills, emotional development, and so much more. Anyone shopping for the holidays at Ikea stores world wide can help the cause! For every children’s book and toy sold through November 20- December 24, 2016, the IKEA Foundation will make a donation of €1 (that’s about $1.10 USD) to projects in some of the poorest communities in the world. And you can help twice- Each store has a drop box where you can drop off purchased toys. If you buy toys at Ikea, that’s a double dip for the cause!

You can learn about the campaign by watching the video:

Ikea has partnered with Handicap International Federation, Room to Read, Save the Children, Special Olympics, UNICEF, and War Child. You can learn more about the Ikea Foundation by visiting their website.

And if you hasn’t visited Ikea lately, check out their awesome Ikea Family savings card! It’s free to sign up and you score all kinds of great deals and perks every day!

In addition to those perks, you score family only prices on tons of items each month. It’s definitely worth signing up. It’s free and easy to do.

Review: Daniel Tigers Neighborhood – LIVE

November 3, 2016Abby H.

Last Friday Lil’ Man and I had a great date night! We had dinner at Olive Garden and then sang and danced along with our friends, O, Daniel, Miss Elena, and Katerina Kittycat! Trolley is even in the show, helping our friends get all over town! Daniel Tiger LIVE was a fun night out.

It was a great show! Lots of fun music, dancing, and audience interaction!

There were lots of kids from little tiny to Kindergarteners.

If you missed the show, they’ll be back real soon! And don’t forget that you can check out episodes of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood on your local PBS station, and the PBS kids app too.

Here is a video I shot with some of the fun!

Giveaway: Enter to Win Two LegoLand California Park Hopper Tickets!

October 25, 2016October 25, 2016Abby H.17 Comments

I am so excited to share these tickets! As a LegoLand Blogger, I am given two free Park Hopper tickets each year. I can use them myself, or give them away.

I’ve decided to give them away. I want one of you to experience the fun of Legoland! This pair of tickets expires 12/31/16, so you still have a while to go and experience the fun of Legoland California!

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A post shared by Abby Keen Hewes (@hewesfamilyfun)

If you haven’t been to Legoland, it’s a great way to spend a day! There are tons of fun things to do: Rides, Shows, and of course, stations to build and play! We love the build and play area next to Heartlake City. It has a Duplo Theme. There is a playground, and in the playground you will find various stations where kids (and grown ups) can build whatever you’d like!

If you are looking to save some money, I recommend that you take a bottle of water (at least one). All of the snack stations/restaurants will refill your empty bottles. We take our Camelback bottles. The kids have these smaller bottles, and hubs and I have these larger bottles. We also take snacks to munch on throughout the day. Family favs include: Apples, orange slices, fruit snacks, crackers and seed butter, protein bars (we are currently digging on Balance Bars). However, we do splurge on the Apple Fries- They are sooooo good!

To enter to win the pair of Legoland California Park Hopper ticket, please use the Rafflecopter widget below (or visit here). Please note that it is not mobile friendly, you need to enter from a desktop!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Two free offers at San Diego area McDonald’s!

September 8, 2016September 8, 2016Abby H.

Right now there are two great free offers at McDonald’s! Both of which are on the healthy side.

screen-shot-2016-09-08-at-9-50-19-am This week, Sept. 8-10 from 7 to 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., visit a participating San Diego County McDonald’s restaurant to sample a Fruit ‘N Yogurt Parfait made with nonfat vanilla Chobani^® Greek Yogurt.

Combined with the sweet taste of strawberries and blueberries, and topped with granola, Fruit ‘N Yogurt Parfaits are perfect for breakfast, as a side, or a mid-day snack – especially with the classic vanilla taste of Chobani^® Greek Yogurt. YUM! I think Bitty Bird and I will hit up our local McDo’s after the Y today and get a coffee and free Parfait!

And offer #2 is a favorite around these parts!

On Tuesday, Sept. 13, participating restaurants will offer free breakfast from 6:30-9:30 a.m. to students in kindergarten through eighth grade when an accompanying adult uses the McDonald’s App. In San Diego County, students can enjoy an Egg McMuffin or Egg White Delight, apple slices and milk.

To redeem this offer, an adult must download or have already downloaded the McDonald’s App, present the offer to the cashier and ask the cashier for the free back-to-school breakfast. Students younger than 13 years of age are required to be accompanied by a parent/adult to redeem this offer at participating McDonald’s restaurants. This offer may vary throughout the state and only one breakfast is allowed per student.

The MCDonald’s App is pretty cool. You can earn free McCafe Beverages, and there are coupons that are only available on the app (like BOGO happy meals and free upgrades!).

So there you go! Two tasty deals. Thanks to my Friend Su for the heads up on the second offer!

San Diego Fire Rescue 5K & Kids Run October 8!

September 1, 2016September 1, 2016Abby H.

I am so excited to share this great event with you all!

Fire danger is real here in San Diego, and as a result, San Diegans have a special affinity for Firefighters and other emergency workers. To help these firefighters train and continue to hone their skills, The San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation is proud to sponsor the San Diego 5K & Kids Run.

The event is on October 8, 2016- It’s also a great way to kick off Fire Prevention Week!

The San Diego Fire Rescue 5K & Kids Run is for everyone and offers several divisions including:

5K Run/Walk,
5K Run/Walk Stroller Division,
5K Public Safety Division,
1-mile Kids Run and a 100 meter Sparky Sprint

Firefighters will run along with participants and meet them at the finish line to hand out finisher’s medals.

Families, the community and race participants can also enjoy the interactive Fire Safety Expo. The Expo features firefighter demonstrations, SDFD specialty divisions including Bomb Squad, Hazmat and Heavy Rescue. Also present will be Sparky the Fire Dog, San Diego Project Heart Beat, CERT San Diego, San Diego Lifeguards, SDG&E Fire Safety House and more.

Race Details:

When: Saturday, October 8, 2016 First Race Start: 8:30 am

Where: Embarcadero Marina Park South 200 Marina Park Way San Diego, CA 92101

Admission: Entrants may sign up online here. I have a special for my readers, Save $5 off your entry fee with coupon code: SDFIRE5K

$40 – July 1 through September 11
$45 – September 12 through October 1
$50 – October 2 through October 7
$25 – 1 Mile (Kids ages 6 – 12)
$10 – Sparky Sprint (Kids ages 3 – 5)

Entry fee includes: race shirt, drawstring goodie bag, custom finisher’s medal, access to the safety expo and beer garden (21+). Individuals, families, and kids are welcomed participants. Awards will be presented for first place male and female in each division!

As the course is very flat and stroller friendly, we’ll be walking as a family, and I’d love to see readers out there as well! If you participate, please let me know!

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Daniel Tigers Neighborhood – LIVE is coming to San Diego!!

August 30, 2016Abby H.1 Comment

Lil’ Man is stoked! Daniel Tiger and all of his friends are coming to town!!

The legacy of the beloved “Mister Rogers” lives on with the hit television series, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, from The Fred Rogers Company and airing daily on PBS KIDS. Now, Daniel and all of his friends are hopping aboard Trolley to delight live audiences with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! coming to the California Center for the Arts, Escondido on Friday, October 28th at 6:30pm. Tickets at artcenter.org, 800.98.TICKETS, or the California Center for the Arts Escondido Box Office.

Donning his iconic red sweater, Daniel invites the audience on an interactive musical adventure as he and his friends explore the vibrant world of their much-loved Neighborhood of Make-Believe, sharing stories of friendship, helping others, and celebrating new experiences. This live theatrical production filled with singing, dancing, laughter and “grr-ific” surprises will warm the hearts of multiple generations.

And to make this show even more affordable, my readers can Save $5 on Daniel Tiger tickets in Escondido!

@usfg

The new Freedom Tower at Legoland California- And a great deal!

July 3, 2016Abby H.

If you follow me on Instagram, you saw that Lil’ Man and I hit up the town on Thursday- The Legoland Mini-town that is.

On June 30th, Freedom Tower, the Miniland version of the One World Trade Center was revealed! It’s pretty amazing! It’s built with 250,000 Lego Bricks! It weighs over 1000 pounds, stands over 26 feet tall (that’s the tallest lego structure in the US!), and it took 8 Master Builders 1200 hours to complete. It’s breath taking!

In addition to the Freedom Tower, there are replicas of the 9/11 Memorial’s twin reflecting pools, the grove of memorial trees, and the World Trade Center Transportation Hub.

Here are some views from the Coast Cruise ride:

Little Man’s hand at the bottom- practicing his Vanna moves.

If you don’t have plans for the 4th tomorrow, Check out the Legoland Red, White, and Boom!

Don’t miss Fireworks set to a patriotic musical tribute with great viewing in designated locations throughout the Park. Throughout the day, kids of all ages can enjoy performances, meet their favorite LEGO^® Friends and Characters, and participate in all-American family picnic games, like water-balloon tosses, burlap sack races, the Family Build Challenge and LEGO Hamburger relay.

The celebration lasts from 1:00pm to 9:00pm with fireworks at 8:30pm. All Red, White and BOOM! activities are included in the cost of admission to LEGOLAND California.

Speaking of Admission, here is the deal I alluded to earlier… When you buy one Legoland Play pass at regular price, you can come back to play the rest of 2016 FREE! Enjoy unlimited admission now through December 25, 2016 to LEGOLAND California. For details and to purchase, click here.

Our Rockin’ Party at Rockin’ Jump!

June 30, 2016Abby H.

Lil’ Man’s Birthday is in March and Itty Bittums turned one mid-June, but I’m never one to turn down a party! When Rockin’ Jump offered me a party for 10 jumpers in exchange for a review, well, I jumped at the chance!

Screen Shot 2016-06-30 at 4.58.31 PM The party was so much fun! We had 9 jumpers, and we bounced, jumped, and played for 90 minutes. In addition to the Open Bounce area, There is the X-Beam, Dodgeball, basketball, Stunt Bag Arena,Vertical OPS Climbing Wall, and mini golf! Mini Golf wasn’t included in the party package, but you can add it for an extra cost. Screen Shot 2016-06-30 at 5.00.33 PM

Screen Shot 2016-06-30 at 5.06.09 PM

Then we retired to our private party room for pizza and drinks. The parents enjoyed a pitcher of Diet Pepsi, and the kids had Capri Sun’s. You can bring in your own cake, so not one to pass up a chance to eat cake, Lil’ Man asked if I could bring one. So I did. It was soooo good. It was from the nearby Gaemme Bake shop.

The kids had an AMAZING time. I got lots of texts and messages via Facebook afterwards letting me know that the kids took naps in the car or spoke of nothing else but the fun time they had bouncing.

Having done a lot of research for party venues, I am completely impressed with the value that Rockin’ Jump offers! It’s clean, well-maintained, and the party package is perfect for any busy family! You even get an editable email invitation to email out for your party!

No clean up, no food to prepare (other than the cake you bring), no games or prizes to think about, in other words: no hassle! You even get your own party host (ours was Stevie- he was super nice!).

There are discounts off the Ultimate Birthday Package, Jump Time and Jump and Mini-Golf combo’s! Find all the great deals here.

Screen Shot 2016-06-30 at 5.06.28 PM — PIZZA!!! Even Bitty loves it!

I received this party for free from Rockin’ Jump and USFG in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own, and all of the photos are courtesy of Christine Boyce at Clicks by Christine!

Review: Little Red Howse Soaps!

June 9, 2016Abby H.2 Comments

Now we have no excuses- No stinky Hewes Family!

There are few things I love more in this world than helping other women succeed at what they love. And one of my friends has blossomed at what she loves: making natural body care products that are cruelty free, artificial fragrance and dye free, and most of the products are vegan! Little Red Howse is a locally owned, female run company with awesome products!

Chiffon makes a full line of all natural bath and body products for the whole family. This includes handcrafted artisan soap, hand cream, sugar scrub, bath tea & salts & bombs, lip balm, baby soap & bum balm, essential oils (singles + blends), herbal salves.

Chiffon gave me a whole lot of great products to try- The only one not pictured above is the baby soap. I took it into the bathroom and used it in the kids bath as soon as we got home from camping. Those kids were DIRTY! The baby soap is perfect for delicate and sensitive skin! It’s unscented and makes tons of bubbles/lather, which is important when you have a baby who loves to play in the bath!

Henry’s Favorite soap is the “lemon scrubby soap” aka the Loofah soap. It’s got lemon essential oil in it, and a slice of loofah in it. He told me that it makes him feel “Soft and pink”. Little boys have gross elbows and knees and after his bath, both were soft and pink, just like he said! Honestly, I haven’t tried anything I didn’t like.

The baby butt balm is a big hit too- Bitty Bird gets diaper rash if you look at her sideways and most of the creams we had tried didn’t go anything. I’ve stashed the tin in my purse, so it’s always with us!

Little Red Howse can be purchased online through their Facebook page, or events all over San Diego. They always have sales and specials too!

Right now, The specials include 3 Oz bath bombs $3, soaps $5, lip balms 2/$5, hand creams $6. Military Discount 10% off year round. And wholesale pricing available for 25+ bars. Mother’s Milk (breastmilk) Soap 12 bars for $50. Only 15 oz of mother’s milk is needed (you’ve gotta supply that yourself!).

These products make awesome gifts! If you are looking for baby or bridal shower gifts, a bar of soap, a bath balm and a lip balm would be great tucked into a gift bag! A tube of lip balm or a bar of soap would make a great shower favor.

Check out Little Red Howse on Facebook or Instagram!

Talk-Back: What scent helps you relax?

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