Things to do in So Cal Archives - Page 3 of 4

October 13, 2014 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Hiking Holy Jim Falls with the Family

It’s been awhile since I just posted a good ole’ fashioned lifestyle post.
I think Instagram ate my blog.
This makes me sad.
I will fix that.

One of my most favorite memories of the summer was hiking Holy Jim Falls in the Cleveland National Forest, out in Trabuco Canyon. The hike is doable with kids. We had all 4 of ours (ages 8, 6, 4 & 2) and the boys wore their flip flops with no trouble.

We got out to the trail early, before it was too hot.
It is quite a drive to the trailhead. It’s a rough road and you have to go slow! In fact, one of our friends says their car has never been the same since they drove that road. It took us about half an hour in our minivan to get to the parking lot.

Brad brought his camel back filled with water and a few snacks. It wasn’t easy, and there was quite a bit of complaining every so often on the way to the falls. But all in all the kids had a wonderful time!

On the way up we stopped often in the shade for quick rests and water. We stopped about three quarters from the top for a snack and we should have stopped to eat sooner… and we should have brought more snacks. They were so so so much better after eating!

The scenery on the hike is fantastic! You won’t feel like you are in Orange County.
Doesn’t being in nature just make you crave more time in nature.
Doesn’t it make you want to buy poperty and just live off the land?
Oh, that’s just me?
Ha!

The children named this the “wave of sticks!” I love to see the world through their eyes!
What a privilege it is to be a parent!
Don’t ya think?

We let the kids explore quite a bit off the trail. As much as I wanted to power through the hike and get a workout, I wanted more for them to love this adventure.

There are 4 trail stops on the way and we all had fun learning about the actual man, Jim, the trail is named after. He kept bees in the canyon and I think I want to too!
(I’m only getting more eccentric folks when it comes to ecology type things. Get ready as I start to share more soon!)

Of course, when you take a hike and it gets tough… remember the way back is always easier! I’m so glad we pushed though to the “falls,” because now we can say, we’ve done it!

I know you want to see a picture of the actual falls. But how could I ruin the surprise? You need to discover this with your family on your own.
Spoiler Alert: The “Falls” are just a trickle in the summer. Try to go after the next good rain in So Cal (hahahahahaha).

Things you should know if you go: Holy Jim Falls

From the main road (Live Oak Canyon Rd) you’ll turn onto a dirt road next to Trabuco Creek, then you’ll take the dirt/gravel road about 4.5 miles to the trailhead. Keep an eye on your mileage, because about two miles in there is a rest stop type area with a porta potty and since you are going so darn slow you might think you are at the trailhead already!
Bring more than one snack! We should have done a whole lunch. It would also be fun to bring a short book to read at picnic rock or the falls. What a special memory for the kiddos… reading in the forest!
The way back is much easier than the way up! This is a great time to encourage your kids during a challenging situation. Pushing toward a goal. It would be a lot of fun to claim this verse before the hike, then have a prize at the end. Maybe cookies secretly waiting in the car! “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13b-14

June 25, 2013 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Discovery Science Center and a LEGO Castle and We Like it

There is lots to do in Southern California.
Discovery Science Center is a family favorite around here!
Right now they have two amazing exhibits. LEGO Castle Adventure and Da Vinci: The Genius. Both are awesome!

If you have a LEGO kid in your house you should really add this to your Summer Bucket List. It’s an actual castle that looks like it’s made from giant Lego bricks.

The castle is filled with lots of interactive learning stuff. (Yeah, I said “stuff” check out the Discovery Science Center’s site for details.) Life sized LEGO creations and LEGO scenes are everywhere. Along with LEGO building tables. But I didn’t let Eli sit and build for long, because he can do that at home. I’m mean.

And a slide…

The Da Vinci exhibit is spectacular. It really is fascinating how much that man did in his short life. I would love to spend some time looking at everything without the children or just with the big kids

Want more LEGO awesomeness?
OK!
Check out the Summer Rockin’ Boys Club’s Lego Challenge. Every week they give a new building prompt and you can email a picture to info (at) rockinboys.com or post a picture on Instagram and tag @RockinBoysClub with the hashtag of the week. The winner get’s a prize!! Last week it was a $10 gift card to the LEGO store!

Here are Eli’s first two entries…

Happy Building!

December 4, 2012 by: Kara Noel Lawson

December is here, yo!

It’s the 4th and I’ve done NOTHING for advent. Eeeek! (Is feeling like a failure daily, a huge part of being a mom, or is that just me?) My friend Carlee told me about the Jesse Tree last year and I REALLY want to try to get it together… but I will have to wait till next year. I still have the Truth is in Tinsel and I’m hoping to do some of that this advent.

The excuse in my head is that my husband’s company Christmas party (which is rad and a super big deal) came quickly so my whole month feels a little off. This year’s theme was Alice in Wonderland and my hubby and I ran with the Mad Hatter theme… (You must check out 2011 2009 2008)

Below are scenes from this year. Be warned. We like to dance… no, we love to dance… no, we were made to dance.

I look forward to dancing with this group of peeps every year. REALLY. If we can only find a place without half naked gogo dancers and where people over 25 aren’t shunned. Or if we could bring our lil’ dance posse with us to every wedding. We would be golden. (There are a few friends missing… who has a wedding on a Friday anyway!?!?)

The next day we had the Family event. I’m not going to say the my husband’s kids company party is better than yours… but I’ll show you pix and let you be the judge… (2009 2011)

We also got to go to a preview of this year’s Christmas at the Zoo this weekend. It was sooooooo fun! Locals, try to go if you can. The animal keepers put special treats in Christmas boxes and it looks like the animals are opening presents. The price is right! (And I’m giving away free tickets below!)

Details:
Date: Saturday, December 8, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Cost: $2 per person (2 and under FREE), Parking $5
Location: OC Zoo (Inside Irvine Regional Park), 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
Contact: 714-973-6847 www.ocparks.com/oczoo

While we were in the Irvine Park, we met up with Kyla from Funky Polkadot Giraffe for the Christmas Train ride. Our kids are a hoot together!

The Christmas Train has really become a special tradition for our family. It’s refreshing to be outdoors with some cocoa and a cookie instead of bombarded with toys and commercial stuff. (Though the cookie station by Santa needs a better display tray… ask me and I’ll pick something up, on the house.)

The train ride through the park filled with Christmas lights is magical…

And light speed…

Christmas Train
Date: December 7th-9th, 14th-23rd. I think the first train is just after 4ish.
Cost: $10 per person (children under age 2 ride free), Parking $5
Location: Irvine Park Railroad (Inside Irvine Regional Park), 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
Contact: (714) 973-6835 or (714) 973-3173 Christmas Train site

Don’t cry because you didn’t get to go with us.

Win tickets below! 3 winners.

1st winner: 4 tickets for the train and 16 passes for the OC zoo. (NOT the Christmas Train, the regular train ride at the Irvine Park Railroad. 4 OC Zoo tickets which are good for 4 people each.)

2nd winner: 2 tickets for the train and 8 passes for the OC zoo. (NOT the Christmas Train, the regular train ride at the Irvine Park Railroad. 2 OC Zoo tickets which are good for 4 people each.)

3rd winner: 8 passes for the OC zoo. (2 OC Zoo tickets which are good for 4 people each.)

Good Luck Friends!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 27, 2012 by: Kara Noel Lawson

How does your garden grow?

We have a yard at our new house. I love it. It’s my flavor-favorite thing about the house. Because our home was a foreclosure with 20 people living in it before us (prison ankle bracelets involved) the yard was in various states of disrepair. Every weekend we remove a bush or move a plant. And sometimes we just like to break sprinkler pipes and spend the rest of the day googling how-to videos about plumbing. We are cool like that.

It’s my dream to have a fruit and veggie garden in our side yard. I had no idea where to begin, then I went to this amazing garden class at Greenleaf Chopshop hosted by Harvest to Home! Greenleaf held the classes on Saturday mornings at 10am through the Summer. I really hope they do more classes. I think this would be a great activity for moms groups through the year as well (call them)! I took Eli for some mommy time and to help foster his gardening dream. The class was great! The teacher/owner Mike Saralyian, really got the kids involved by touching and tasting all the different herbs and veggies.

We did a tour and hands-on lesson in the Harvest to Home garden. Then the kiddos got to plant their own herb. I think we got basil (can anyone tell me for sure?) and it has grown so well (see the pic below right before I trimmed it for some pasta I made). I really think the plant has thrived because of the self watering pot we got at the class. It has a spout at the bottom and that you fill with water and it gets right to the plant roots and the soil is covered with coconut husk chunks that keep in the moisture.

Harvest to Home is a pretty unique gardening service. They come to your home to set up your own home garden! They do all the hard stuff and then you get the benefit of an organic grocery store in your yard. I would love love love to do this someday when the budget allows. Check out these videos about how it all works.

Here are a few beginning gardening tips I filmed with Mike about doing a Summer garden (I know I’m late for summer… just pin it in your memory bank for next year).

P.S.
I really loved the décor at Greenleaf Chopshop. I was trying to figure out a way to smuggle out this giant mirror and barrel planter. I’m thinking something Lucy and Ethel-ish… who wants to dress up in “exterminator” disguises and help me load these puppies into the back of my minivan????
Seriously.

September 4, 2012 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Summer Sunset Hikes

We fell in love with sunset hikes last summer with Inside the Outdoors. LOVE! (Pic below taken 7/23/11 with Tess in my belly. Check out the Inside the Outdoors schedule here! I highly recommend everything they do.)It’s so much fun to explore local places that go unnoticed- like a secret adventure made just for your lil’ family. It’s magical. Now that we live so close to the canyon I put Tess in a wrap and we can practically walk out our backdoor and into the lovely Saddleback mountains.

Hiking makes me want to live in the wilderness with my own vegetable garden. And have chickens. And make bread. Churn butter. Hell… how about a barn raisin’??

I’m being serious.

As we hike, I pretend we are walking through our land (I’m weird like that).

We also like to invite friends into our lil’ world. If you come over for dinner we’ll take you too! No matter how many peeps in our group. One night this summer we had 13 kiddos. (Just 3 families and all the kiddos are 8 and under.)

(I love the pic on the right because the oldest kiddos from each family are studying the Trail Regulations together. Oh, the responsibilities of being a 1st Born.)

On one hike, with just our family, we took a rest to look at the view. Eli made a profound observation, “I can’t believe there are so many people down there, and we are the only ones enjoying this beautiful nature.” It started a conversation about the values in our family. That sometimes it may seem like we are on the outside looking in on the world. But our “outside” is so filled with beauty and splendor. SO FILLED. Beyond filled with things people on the “inside” can’t even fathom.

Unless we invite them.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

August 22, 2012 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Let’s play pretend {city)

Living in Orange County means we have national tourist spots in our backyard. One of our flavor-favorite spots is Pretend City! (I’ve posted about Pretend City before.) So so so fun for little ones. And they were nice enough to donate favors to my pinterest party. THANK YOU thank you THANK YOU!!

Eli got to go on a field trip to Pretend City in June. He hated it:

Pretend City was created for kids like Eli. Imagination at it’s funnest! (Hey, that would be a great tag line. You have my permission to copy me Pretend City.)

If you are looking for something to do this Friday check out “When I grow up” day. Your kiddos will get to meet: Angels Baseball Player (he’s now retired), Doctor, Personal Trainer, Shoe Designer, Dentist, Firefighter, Policeman, Lifeguard, Chef, Hairdresser and more!

Or Parent’s Night Out, Children’s Night In – Treasure Hunt! on Friday, August 31 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. For all kiddos 4-8 years old. It’s $35 per child, $30 per child for two or more children from the same family, $25 per child for members. And the kids will learn how to make maps of Pretend City and watch Muppet’s Treasure Island. You have to register for the Parent’s Night Out by 8/29/12 so check out this link for details.

August 6, 2012 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Top 10 Tips for the OC Fair

I thought I would share my Top 10 Tips for those of you going to the OC Fair (or any local fair) because I’m super mom.

Now presenting…

Top 10 Tips for the OC Fair from a Super Mom… (me)

OC Fair Tip #1: Forget your sunglasses.
There is nothing better than squinting your way through the crowds while your two-year-old bolts to the nearest shiny attraction.

OC Fair Tip #2: Don’t bring sunscreen.
You’ll thank me later when your husband’s head looks like a tomato and you have a kick a&$ farmer’s tan. All that skin “cancer is caused by sunburn” research is bogus anyway.

OC Fair Tip #3: Be sure to go to the OC Fair at the hottest part of the day.
When your knees are sweating, you know you got it right. (This will really heighten the impact of tips #1 & #2)

OC Fair Tip #4: The OC Fair is great for little kids.
Especially if they are under 36”. They won’t mind at all if they can’t go on any rides. NOT ONE RIDE!

OC Fair Tip #5: Play the fishing game in Kid Land.
Even if you lose, your kiddo will get a light saber. And we all know a three foot light saber is the perfect toy for a crowded place, especially in the hands of a two year old. And it’s only 10 freakin’ tickets. (He has mad skillz, right?)

OC Fair Tip #6: Bring water and snacks.
Unless spending $50 on water and animal legs is your thang.

OC Fair Tip #7: Try to have a minimum of two bathroom trips per child.
The first trip is just a teaser for the second trip, which includes #2 (if ya know what I mean), a potty that doesn’t flush and roughly 4 squares of toilet paper.

OC Fair Tip #8: Stand next to the balloon pop game.
The balloons popping pierce your ears like a gun shot and your 4-year-old might even find a chew toy… from the ground.

OC Fair Tip #9: Do the petting zoo near the green gate.
Seriously. It’s free. They have refreshing water misters to keep the animals cool and your lil’ animals will get to learn first hand how goats poop. (This really is fun and is always a huge highlight for us and they have the cutest baby pigs right now)

OC Fair Tip #10: You can’t take tickets home, so give them away.
No matter how you plan it, you will always have a few tickets left on your card. Not quite enough for a ride or a game. Head on over to a ticket line and let your kids pick another kid to bless. We had a great conversation with our kiddos about giving and prayed for the kiddo who would receive our tickets. They picked a kid wearing a giant cowboy hat and it was SO MUCH fun to watch the excitement Eli and Cora Jane had about blessing another friend.

###

This post is a bit silly, but we actually had an awesome time. REALLY! We love love love the OC Fair. Check out this OC Fair post from 2009 about the awesomeness. (I’m going to try to post some pix from last year soon!)

AND…

I got an email today about a FREE movie at the OC Zoo. We already have plans that night, but I wish we were going! Here are the details…

Event: Zookeeper at the OC Zoo
Location: OC Zoo, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869
Date Friday, August 10
Time: 5 to 10 p.m. (movie starts at dusk, 7:45ish)
Cost: Free
Parking: $3

Clip from the movie…

August 4, 2012 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Pageant night

Every Summer we look forward to going to Pageant of the Masters. We’ve gone every year since we started dating in 2004. It’s fun. If you live in OC you should go. It’s a great excuse to get dressed up, hang with your friends, and see some amazing art (and make fun of the really strange “art” too).

2008 & 2009…

2010 & 2011

Part of our tradition is to go to Taco Loco in Laguna Beach. It’s a glorified taco stand with vegan food. (Warning: I think smoking pot and dreadlocks are a prerequisite for working there.) So yummy. If When you go, get the Blackened Mushroom and Tofu burger. It won’t disappoint!

We went last night and since I’m writing this post ahead of time I’m assuming we had a blast, as usual.

Last year we took the tram back to the car and the driver started group singalongs.

It was like a musical come to life.

Which was like a dream come true for me.

REALLY.

We caught the tale end on video…

We always buy our tickets in January, right after they go on sale, but I just got an email saying they are 50% off right now! So if you have a spare night this month you should check it out!

I’m not sure why, but this picture from last year makes me smile…

Happy Saturday!

January 28, 2012 by: Kara Noel Lawson

Dora and Diego Make Toddlers Squeal at DSC

I’m always looking for fun stuff to do with the kiddos and it’s no secret The Discovery Science Center is one of our favorite spots! We were invited to check out the new Dora & Diego – Let’s Explore! exhibit.

The kiddos were just giddy to get inside! Can you see the excitement on Cora Jane’s face!? She is VERY into Dora. So much so, that I may or may not have accused them of using subliminal messages in some way shape or form.

The exhibit is hands-on-fun. I got to follow Cy around while my hubby hung out with the big kids. It was awesome to watch him discover everything on his own. Though the exhibit is geared for 3-8 year-olds (in my opinion), he was able to find lots to do at each station. The maze below was a big hit with him…

How was I able to hang out with Cy??

I pawned off Tess on some friends. Jill from Sandy Toes and Popsicles and Liz from Thoughts of a Mommy. Thank you guys for blessing me with free arms!

Everything was really fun and the pirate ship was a huge hit with Eli!

The Dora and Diego – Let’s Explore! is fun fun fun. I recommend going if you have little ones. It was super interactive just like the Sesame Street one last year. There is so much to do it would be perfect for a one on one day. The exhibit will run from January 28th- – May 6th and is included in the regular ticket price (adult – $14.95, children 12.95). For loads of info about each part of the Dora & Diego exhibit click here.

Of course we have to do our regular Discovery Science Center stuff…

I think Tess may be a future Dora lover too…