Free Family Summer Play Dates at MainPlace Mall

If you are looking for a fun way to keep your kids entertained this summer and get them out of the house and off the screens, then head to MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana for their free Summer Play Dates series. Starting Wednesday, June 20th and continuing each Wednesday through August 1 (except for July 4th) you can bring your kids to MainPlace for an interactive themed play date. During the play dates your kids can participate in fun-filled activities, crafts and story time.

The play dates will take place select Wednesdays this summer beginning TODAY! from 11am-1pm in the Family Dining Area in Courtyard Eateries. The upcoming themes and dates are:

June 20, 2018: Superheroes

June 27, 2018: Train Time

July 11, 2018: Summer Garden

July 18, 2018: Unicorn Party

July 25, 2018: Colorful Art Paint Party

August 1, 2018: Book Worms & Bugs

The play dates are designed for kids 4-12 years old and are part of one of the many ongoing initiatives MainPlace Mall has created in an effort to provide a shopping and entertainment destination the whole family will love. In addition to the play dates, throughout the summer, MainPlace will also be hosting complimentary Art Walks and Party on the Patio events on the second Saturday of each month. 

For a full list of events at MainPlace Mall visit www.shopmainplacemall.com.

Orange You Glad It's Summer Teacher Gift + Printable

If you hadn't heard, I have a certain daughter that loves orange. She is crazy for it! She wants her hair orange, she wants her clothes orange, she loves orange food best and everyday involves orange in one form or the other. So, when it was time to do end of the year teacher gifts I knew that orange would need to be involved in some way. Since we had already done the Orange You Glad I'm Eight when she got baptized almost 2 years ago, I thought that Orange You Glad it's Summer would be the perfect theme for a teacher gift.



So I gathered up as many orange things as I could find and filled up a cute orange sand bucket that I found in the Dollar Spot at Target (or whatever they're calling it now) and loaded it up.

The orange things I included:
Orange Wooden Earrings (I sprayed painted a wooden pair I bought.)
Orange bubble wand
Orange sunscreen
Orange water gun
Orange soda
Orange gum
Orange Tic Tacs
Orange box of candy (Reese's Pieces)
Orange nail polish
Orange magazine
An ORANGE!

I lucked out in finding the HGTV magazine with an orange armoire on the front that went perfectly with the orange theme. I bought cute wooden leaf earrings and sprayed painted them orange. They turned out so cute!! I also included a gift card and made an orange gift card holder for it with a scrap of scrapbook paper and some orange washi tape.

It all fit in the bucket perfectly and then I added a cute little tag that I made by attaching it to the bucket with orange baker's twine. My daughter was thrilled with how it all came together. It was so much fun to make and I love that you can put anything in it you think that your teacher would love that is ORANGE!

{FREE ORANGE YOU GLAD IT'S SUMMER PRINTABLE TAG}
If you'd like to make one and use the free printable tag, you can download it HERE.

Fine Print:
Please feel free to use this printable for your personal use. 

Please be kind and give credit where credit is due. 

Any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please do not remove the watermark.

Splash Into Summer and {SAVE} at Raging Waters

I didn't grow up in Southern California, but my husband did and I have heard
his tales of Raging Waters in San Dimas. We've lived here for almost 15
years and I still haven't been! However, that is all going to change this
summer and I can't wait to visit and find out what the largest water park
in Southern California has to offer!

This 50 acre water adventure has something for everyone! This is really 

important to me because I have kids that are in different stages. JT is ready for 

the big slides, Isabella wants the medium, and Grace is good to kick it in 

the kiddie pools. Raging Waters San Dimas has four areas just for kids and 12+ 

rides and slides for the more adventurous. Not to mention the waves, rivers,

and pools for relaxing and chilling.

{H2Go Passes - Your Fast Pass to Rides}
Did you know that Raging Waters has fast passes? The H2Go Pass
allows you to wait for rides without waiting in line. So you can get
some more time in the lazy river or eat lunch and then pop back into line when
your H2Go pass tells you your time to ride is up! You can purchase them online
and at the gates, but do it quick! They are available each operating day, but only
in limited quantities. So, once they're gone, they're gone!

{RAGING WATERS DISCOUNT}

If you follow my link and visit RAGING WATERS website right now you can
save $8 off the weekday ticket prices and $5 off the weekend ticket prices.
This promo code expires September 1st!
PROMO CODE: PolkadotgiraffeSBlog17

Some helpful tips when visiting Raging Waters:
*Parking is $15 and a tram will take you from the lot to the front gates.
*Lockers are available to rent starting at $12 for the day.
*No outside food or drinks are allowed.
*Arrive early to claim your spot and make the most of your day!
*Cabanas are available to rent.

The Five {BEST} Things About Knott's Soak City

Disclosure: We were invited as guests to enjoy the opening day of Knott's Soak City 2017. All opinions are our own.

It's almost summa-summa-time and I am ready to sit back and unwind.
There is something about summer that makes me want to chill to my favorite
Will Smith songs and kick it at the water park. So I was really excited to be
invited to opening day at Knott's Soak City to check out the new 2 acre expansion
that added SEVEN new water slides to the soak-tastic line up.
So, let's find out what's new and countdown the
FIVE BEST THINGS ABOUT KNOTT'S SOAK CITY
and why you should add it to your summer bucket list.



{1} NEW SHORE BREAK SLIDES
Just when you didn't think that Soak City could get any more awesome,
they expanded by 2-acres and added seven new slides!!!  These new slides
includes Shore Break which adds 2 dueling tube slides and
four Aqua Launch chambers that drops single riders into a high speed free
fall down a 60-foot tall slide full of drops and loops.


Both of my big kids LOVED the Shore Break dueling slides. These new slides
have a single or double rider option. Isabella said it was a blast to zoom down
the tube slides with her friend and never know what drop was coming just
around the next turn.


JT was the only brave enough in our family to try out the Shore Break Aqua
Launch chambers. He said you stand inside and then wait for the floor to
drop out from beneath you. Then he said you free fall down the 60-foot slide
through a bunch of drops and loops. He can't wait to do it again!

{2} THE WEDGE FAMILY SLIDE
The kids loved this new family friendly water slide! It can accommodate up to six
riders, so everyone in the family can enjoy it! You all ride in an open raft and zip
down hair-raising twists, turns, and unexpected dips. This was by far Isabella's
favorite. She's a daredevil is someone can share in the adventure, so this is the
perfect thrill ride for her. You need to check out
my YouTube video of our day
to see the awesome footage my friend Jaime captured of them riding
The Wedge!

{3} NEWLY REMODELED LONGBOARD'S GRILL
While Longboard's Grill isn't new to Knott's Soak City, it has returned with a new
remodel and expansion! This means the same great theme, but fancy new digs
and some yummy new menu items. You'll still get your classic favorites like
grilled burgers and hot dogs, but now you can also enjoy hand breaded chicken
tenders, fish and chips (YUM!), and assorted wraps.

Something I learned while we were there - they don't have lids or straws for their
cups! In an effort to reduce waste they've done away with this items for your
beverages. So, the safer bet is to get a reusable cup and fill up at one of the NEW
refill stations. Then your 3-year-old can enjoy her Boysenberry Punch without
dumping it on the ground - oops!

{4} TIDAL WAVE BAY {AKA WAVE POOL}
There is something exciting about jump waves - especially when you're a kid.
Ok, when you're grown up too! I love the wave pool because we can all enjoy it
together, there isn't a wait, and sometimes you get lucky and find a stray tube
floating by so you bob up and down in the ebb and flow of the waves. If you're
under 48 inches you have to wear a life jacket. They are free and available to
use, but I brought our Puddle Jumper because Grace likes it better. Just make
sure your flotation devices are US Coast Guard approved!

{5} THE BEACH HOUSE

My kids have always loved water - especially my oldest. He could never

understand why other kids didn't like being splashed or squirted in the face,

because he has always thought it was the coolest. 

So, THE BEACH HOUSE is the perfect place for him. He can join with all 

the kids that love it just like he does and wait for the giant red bucket to dump 

500 gallons of water on his head. I like that there are shady spots and chairs 

surrounding it, so he can get soaked and I can watch from a safe distance.

You have to be 42" ride the slides, but no minimum height to get squirted

in the face! Ha!

Those are our favorite things about Knott's Soak City! I was surprised that

all of my kids could have a fun time. That's sometimes hard to do when there

is an 8 year age difference and water is involved. But there is something for 

everyone, and we all had a great day beating the Orange County summer heat!

Until next time, Soak City!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO AT SOAK CITY?
ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH TO RIDE THE SHORE BREAK AQUA LAUNCHERS?

Out of This World Circus Debuts in Southern California!

Disclosure: We will be provided tickets to opening night at the Honda Center for our honest review. All opinions are our own.

For the first time in it's 145 year history, Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey circus will

be debuting it's new show Out of This World on the West Coast!

The tour world premiere of this innovative show will be start at STAPLES Center

in Los Angeles on Thursday, July 14, 2016, travel to Citizens Business Bank Arena in

Ontario July 22-26th and finish up the West Coast debut at the Honda Center 

in Anaheim July 29-August 7th. Tickets for all California shows are on sale now!
 

  In Out of This World you will be riveted by an action-packed storyline that will have you
joining the Circus Space Fleet on an epic mission of good versus evil as you travel to the
interstellar worlds of sand, water, fire and ice. For the first time the circus will feature
thrill skaters, along with the acrobats, animals, and clowns. The show will transition 
seamlessly from floor to air to ice - a feat never before done in Ringling Bros. history.

LOS ANGELES
Thursday, July 9 – Tuesday, July 14
STAPLES Center – 1111 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Thursday, July 14 7:30 PM
Friday, July 15 12:00 PM and 7:30 PM
Saturday, July 16 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM
Sunday, July 17 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM
Monday, July 18 7:30 PM
Tuesday, July 19 12:00 PM and 7:30 PM

TICKETS: Tickets start at $20 for Adults & Kids (age 2-12) tickets available for only $10 each (with discount coupon from participating Chick-fil-A locations)

Opening Night Special Discount tickets are only $15 each 

(not valid for premium VIP/Front Row seating)
Tickets available for purchase online at AXS.com, 

charge by phone at 888-9AXS-TIX or in-person at the venue Box Office.
Note: Tickets may be subject to service charges & facility fees.

ONTARIO

Friday, July 22 – Tuesday, July 26

Citizens Business Bank Arena – 4000 Ontario Center Parkway, Ontario, CA 91764

Friday, July 22 7:30 PM
Saturday, July 23 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM
Sunday, July 24 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM
Monday, July 25 7:30 PM
Tuesday, July 26 12:00 PM and 7:30 PM

TICKETS: Tickets start at $20 for Adults & Kids (age 2-12) tickets available for only $10 each (with discount coupon from participating Chick-fil-A locations)
Opening Night Special Discount tickets are only $15 each 

(not valid for premium VIP/Front Row seating)
Tickets available for purchase online at AXS.com or CBBankArena.com, 

charge by phone at 888-9AXS-TIX or in-person at the venue Box Office. 

Note: Tickets may be subject to service charges and facility fees.

ANAHEIM
Friday, July 29 – Sunday, August 7
  Honda Center – 2695 E. Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92806

Friday, July 29 7:30 PM
Saturday, July 30 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM
Sunday, July 31 1:30 PM and 5:30 PM
Wednesday, August 3 1:00 PM and 7:30 PM
Thursday, August 4 10:30 AM and 7:30 PM
Friday, August 5 1:00 PM and 7:30 PM
Saturday, August 6 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM
Sunday, August 7 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM

TICKETS: Tickets start at $20 for Adults & Kids (age 2-12) tickets available for only $10 each (with discount coupon from participating Chick-fil-A locations)

Opening Night Special Discount tickets are only $15 each 

(not valid for premium VIP/Front Row seating)
Tickets available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com or HondaCenter.com, 

 charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or in-person at the venue Box Office. 

Note: Tickets may be subject to service charges and  facility fees.

TICKET DISCOUNT CODE
Use the code "MOM16"

Minecrafts Nights at BrainStorm STEM Eduction in Irvine

Disclosure: We were invited as guests of BrainStorm STEM Education to attend Minecraft Night. All opinions are my own.

 I had seen BrainStorm STEM Education as the hosts of workshops in the IPSF booklets

that come home each semester, but I hadn't looked into them and I definitely didn't know

what STEM stood for. So, when we were given the opportunity to check out BrainStorm

and have the kids attend Minecraft Night, I hopped on the computer to find out all about

this place and why it was so popular with parents from all over Orange County.

I found out that STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

and that BrainStorm is a tech-based academy for children. It was started by film engineer

Darren Jones as a place where cutting-edge STEM curriculum could be taught to close the

gap in the global STEM crisis that leaves US students ranked 26th in math and science.

All I had to do was say "Mincraft" and JT was on board for Minecraft Night at BrainStorm.

He loves playing the PC version and complains that he doesn't have enough computer time

during the school year to figure out more things about Minecraft like mods and skins.

Isabella was a little bit nervous about going, since she's never actually played Minecraft,

just watched over his shoulder as JT plays. But I convinced her that it would be a fun night

of Minecraft, pizza and a movie.

Once we stepped into BrainStorm the kids were totally lost to me. I could have faded 

away into the night, never to be seen again, and they would have been perfectly content

to live at the place of computers, LEGOs, 3-D printing machines, and a vending machine

for the rest of their lives. I have to agree that all the LEGOs and bright colors are very

inviting and make you want to sit down and make something. The staff was helpful and very

knowledgeable and able to answer all of my questions about BrainStorm, STEM, and why

Minecraft is a good vehicle for making STEM education accessible to kids.

The kids got right to work checking out the computer and finding out what was going to

be happening at Minecraft Night, while I got a tour of BrainStorm and found a little bit more

of what they are all about. I found out that Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts can earn merit badges

through one day workshops at BrainStorm. I learned the BrainStorm has LEGO robotics

teams that compete in robotic competitions. And that you can have a Minecraft birthday party

at BrainStorm with all your best buddies. Plus, the kids can learn how to create and print with

a 3-D printer and bring their Minecraft creations to life.

I was really impressed with the location, the venue and the staff at Brainstorm. The kids

were there on a Saturday for Minecraft Night, so the group was smaller than their

Friday nights, since they just added Saturday evenings due to the Friday night popularity.

The Friday night before we were there they had a big group of 30 or so. They have kids

that come from all over Orange County to play and enjoy a night with friends.

There is a large screen that projects the Minecraft world, so all the kids can see what is 

going on with the game. Then, when it's time for the movie to start, after the the team games

are done, then they've got a big screen to enjoy the movie. Isabella said what she liked most

about BrainStorm was that the staff was nice and helped her if she needed it and that she

was allowed to walk around and look at all the LEGO models and no one even got mad.

JT said he liked playing Minecraft with kids that know a lot and learning new things from 

them and the BrainStorm staff.

I really enjoyed checking out all the LEGOs and watching the kids have fun figuring out 

the Minecraft world and games. I like that for $35 per child you not only got a date night

out, but your kids were learning new skills, meeting new kids, and having fun. The staff said

they have kids that come 1-2 times a month and really get to know one another and have a 

great time making friends and learning at the same time while mom and dad are having a night

out.

The kids were not thrilled when I showed up at 9:30 and broke up the party. They were

watching a movie, finishing up their pizza, and playing around on Minecraft on their own.

They both talked non-stop on the way home about all the cool things they learned,

saw, experienced, and ate! They begged to be able to go back soon and invite their

friends to come with them and join in the fun.

Minecraft Nights are held Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30 to 9:30PM at the

BrainStorm brick and mortar location at 5430 Trabuco Road, Suite 150 in Irvine.

Now is a great time to try a Minecraft Night and find out more about their summer

camps and enrichment programs. I know that JT wants to try one of the more

in-depth Minecraft classes this summer.

Do you know a child that would love BrainStorm STEM Education Minecraft Nights like my kids did?

Stay Put Hooded Towel Tutorial with Huggies® Little Swimmers®

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SwimAdventureContest #CB #CollectiveBias

Summer is coming and in southern California, that means pool days all day, every day!
Grace loves the pool, but pool time with toddlers can be a bit more complicated than
with older kids. That's why I appreciate anything that can make pool days easier - like
Huggies® Little Swimmers® Disposable Swimpants. They make quick changes
at the pool a breeze! I love to pair them with a rash guard and then poolside changes
are easy and uncomplicated.

That's why when I was shopping at Sam's Club and saw they had

Huggies® Little Swimmers® in the special Finding Dory large box that is

perfect for multiple pool days a week during the summer, I had to nab them.

Now, I am ready for pool days with Grace that are just a little bit simpler.

Another thing that makes pool days with a toddler just a bit easier are my
Stay Put Hooded Towels! After a fun pool day there are few thingsmore frustrating to a
toddler than being cold and wet because her towel keeps falling off as we walk home.
Thus, the Stay Put Hooded Towel was born!

It's easy to make and then pool days end with smiles from both

Grace and mommy.

What you'll need:
1 large towel
1 hand towel
thread
sewing machine

STEP ONE

To make the hood, take your hand towel and trim it to about 24" long.

I usually like to trim off the decorative edge, but this hand towel was exactly

24", so I kept the decorative edge this time.

STEP TWO
Fold the hand towel in half lengthwise, find the center and match it with

the center of your embellishment. If you aren't embellishing your hood,

then you can skip to STEP THREE. Pin your embellishment near the folded

edge of the hand towel, unfold the towel, and sew on the embellishment. 

STEP THREE
Now, refold the towel with right sides together, and the short ends together.

Then, sew down the open sides that are opposite from one another.

 

STEP FOUR
Turn it right sides out, so that you have a little towel pocket.

STEP FIVE
Invert corner "1" and push it back into corner "2".

STEP SIX
Then open it and lay it flat so that you have a little hood for your towel.

STEP SEVEN
To make the body of the towel, fold your large towel in half.
Then, find the center of the folded edge.
Use the neck hole of a shirt and make a pattern piece for the neck opening.
Cut out the neck opening.

  
STEP EIGHT

Open up your neck opening and pin down the front half of the ellipse to the wrong side.
Then sew a 1/4" seam around the pinned edge. I use a zig zag stitch.

STEP NINE
I added a cape to this hooded towel. If you're not adding a cape, 

you can skip to STEP TEN. For the cape, I cut 2 pieces of shimmer tulle

that were 12x24 and matched the center of the towel to center of the cape,

pinned right sides together, and then sewed with a zig zag stitch.

 
STEP TEN
Time to attach the hood! Find the center of the back part of the ellipse
and mark with a pin. Then match the center of the hood to the center of the ellipse
and pin the hood to the poncho right sides together. Sew the hood to the poncho
with a zig zag stitch.

STEP ELEVEN
This step is optional, but I like to do it on the towels for the little ones

because it keeps the breeze from blowing through. Measure 7 inches down

from the the shoulder on both sides and sew a 5 inch seam close to the

edge. It creates little arm holes and keeps the breeze out, keeping your toddler

toasty and warm for the trip home.

And there you have it - The Stay Put Hooded Toddler Towel!
You'll thank me when there is no whining about towels falling off or
having black pool towels because they've been drug across the parking lot
because she's just given up trying to keep the towel on.

Be sure to grab your Huggies® Little Swimmers® Disposable Swimpants in
the special Finding Dory packaging from Sam's Club for easy poolside changes
this summer. Then, snap a picture of your fun summer moments and share on your
social media channels with the hashtag #SwimAdventureContest. Or, if Twitter and
Instagram aren't your thing you can upload your photo directly to SamsClub.com for
the chance to win one of five $1000 Sam's Club gift cards! Contest ends 6/1/16.

What are your tips for making trips to the pool with 
a toddler a bit easier?
Comment below! I'd love all the help I can get!