Saturday, July 11, 2015

7 Tips for Taking your Toddler to a Dodgers Game


Our trip to Chavez Ravine at Elysian Park was long overdue. 
I love baseball games and rooting for the home team, if they don't win it's a shame...Cause it's one, two...
Fine...I'll stop.
Benny is two and a half and had never been to a Dodgers game. But that changed last night when, I got a hold of a pair of tickets and decided to take my son for a "Mommy date" to go see the L.A. Dodgers play against the Milwakee Brewers! It was a very spontaneous, last-minute decision.
It was very exhausting but Sooooooooooooooo much fun, especially because the Dodgers beat the Brewers 3-2 and there was a fireworks show at the end of the night.
But the reason it was so tiring was because it was just me and Benny and he's adventurous and inquisitive and constantly wanting to explore new places!
We must have left our seats at least six times...but... we were seated for a round of "Waves" which Benny found exciting and we were at our seats for crowd cheering and screaming after an awesome play by Andre Ethier! We were also there for the 7th inning stretch and got to sing "Take Me out to the Ball Game..." (as referenced above...hehe).
All this to say, it was an amazing Friday night with Benny.
Here are some photos and seven tips for visiting Dodger Stadium with a Toddler.




1.         Children 3 and under can enter Dodger Stadium free as long as they sit on a parent/guardian's lap. I bought Benny his own ticket because he gets so squirmy sometimes that I figured we would both be better off with our own space!

2.        To avoid kids separating from their parents, there are “seat location” wrist bands that you can get at any Fan Service station. If you choose to get one for your toddler, he/she will get a wristband with their seat location and they get to wear it the entire evening, just in case.

3.        If it’s your toddler’s first time at a Dodgers game, they can get a Certificate of Recognition! These are also available at any Fan Services location. The certificate itself is signed by Magic Johnson and it reads: "First Time at Dodger Stadium"




4.        Make sure to sign your children up for the Dodgers kids club, the Jr. Dodgers! For more information please visit www.dodgers.com/jrdodgers (It’s free).

5.         The Reserve Level (Sections 31 and 32) has a play area for the little ones with giant bobble-heads and playground type structures. There are monitors nearby for parents to watch the game. I took Benny briefly but I was so focused on getting back to our seats to watch the game, that I didn’t snap a picture of this cutesy little playground.

6.         The Kid's Corral gives your little ones a chance to visit the Dodger Stadium warning track and see players up close! You must enter through the left field, field level entrance and go to aisle 27 to get to the warning track for this “Kid’s Corral”. They open it two hours prior to the game and you can get in as long as you have a ticket (pavilion & outfield seats excluded). People are rotated every 10 minutes so that everyone has a chance to visit and the Kid’s Corral ends as soon as visiting batting practice ends.




7.         When it comes to food, there are PLENTY of options. If you’re like me, you’ll forget the fruits and vegetables for a day and get a famous “Dodger Dog” but if you’re a 2 year old toddler, you’ll want pizza (as always) and ask for a Dodger Dog Plush Toy….(this really happened). All jokes aside, you can spend a little extra cash and purchase a “Dodger Nacho helmet”… Just think large Dodger Baseball helmet with the most delicious nachos inside. It’s a great snack and souvenir for your baseball loving kid!





Thanks for reading!




En español

Ya nos habíamos tardado en visitar el Chávez Ravine en Elysian Park.
Me encantan los juegos de béisbol pero Benny nunca había estado en un juego de los Dodgers.
Sin embargo, eso cambió anoche cuando conseguí un par de boletos y decidí llevarlo a ver a los Dodgers jugar contra los Brewers de Milwakee! Fue una decisión muy espontánea de última hora.
La salida fue muy agotadora pero demasiada divertida, sobre todo porque los Dodgers vencieron a los Brewers 3-2 y hubo un espectáculo de fuegos artificiales al final de la noche.
Pero la razón por la que quedamos rendidos fue porque fuimos sólo yo y Benny y el niño es un aventurero, muy inquisitivo y siempre con ganas de explorar nuevos lugares!
Seguramente dejamos nuestros asientos por lo menos seis veces... pero... estuvimos sentaditos para una ronda de "olas" que Benny encontró emocionante y estuvimos en nuestros asientos para animar al jugador Andre Ethier tras una jugada increíble! También estuvimos sentados para la actividad de estiramiento durante el séptimo inning cuando se canta la famosa canción "Take Me Out to the Ball Game”.
La verdad, pasamos una noche increíble.
Aquí están algunas fotos y siete consejos para visitar el Estadio de los Dodgers con menores.

· Los niños menores de 3 años pueden entrar al Estadio de los Dodgers gratis, siempre y cuando se sienten en las piernas de los papás. Yo le compré a Benny su propio boleto porque se pone tan inquieto a veces que me imaginé que sería mejor que cada uno tuviéramos nuestro propio espacio!

· Para evitar que se separen los niños de sus padres, hay pulseras de ubicación de asiento que pueden obtener en cualquier estación de servicio. Si deciden ir por una para su niño, él / ella recibirá la pulsera con el numero de asiento, por si acaso se llegaran a perder.

· Si se trata de la primera vez de su niño va a un juego de los Dodgers, pueden obtener un Certificado de Reconocimiento! Estos también están disponibles en cualquier estación de servicio. El certificado dice: “Primera Vez en el Estadio de los Dodgers”.

· Asegúrese de inscribir sus hijos al club de niños, Dodgers Jr.! Para obtener más información, visite www.dodgers.com/jrdodgers (Gratis).

· El Nivel de reserva (secciones 31 y 32) tiene una zona de juegos para los más pequeños con figuras gigantes de jugadores famosos y juegos. Hay monitores cerca para que los padres puedan seguir disfrutando el partido. Llevé a Benny brevemente, pero estaba tan centrada en regresar a nuestros asientos para ver el partido, que no tomé fotos de este pequeño parquecito infantil.

· El “Kid’s Corral” da a los más pequeños la oportunidad de visitar una pista especial y ver a los jugadores de cerca! Debe entrar por el campo izquierdo, por la planta baja ir al pasillo 27 para llegar a la pista especial. Se abre dos horas antes del partido para todas las personas con boleto de entrada que deseen pasar (excluye boletos de pabellón y asientos del outfield). Cada 10 minutos sacan a un grupo para que todos tengan oportunidad de visitar el famoso “Kid’s Corral”, que termina tan pronto se acaba la práctica de bateo.

· Cuando se trata de comida, hay un montón de opciones. Si eres como yo, te olvidarás de las frutas y verduras para un día y comprarás un famoso "Dodger Dog", pero si eres un niño de 2 años, que siempre quiere pizza, optaras por una pizza y pedirás a mamá que te compre un Dodger pero de peluche (esto sucedió anoche). Pero ya en serio, si pueden gastar un poquito más para unos nachos, compren un Casco de Nachos Dodger ... Es un casco grande de los Dodgers con nachos deliciosos. Una rica merienda que además te deja un recuerdo para tu niño fascinado por el béisbol!



Gracias por leer :)

Summer Family Vacation Contest!

Here's an awesome chance to enjoy some amazing attractions for the whole family in Orange County!


All you have to do is:
Email Visit Buena Park a video on why you deserve a vacation and you could win a Buena Park Escape for 4! 
Contest includes a 2-night stay at the Radisson Suites, tickets to Knott’s, Soak City, Medieval Times, Pirate’s Dinner Adventure, Titanic and Bodies Exhibition, Big Air Trampoline Park, $50 gift card to Farrell’s and a $250 shopping spree to the Outlets of Orange.  CLICK THIS LINK for more details: VISIT BUENA PARK! 


Thursday, July 9, 2015

Discover the Dinosaurs-- A Traveling Exhibit That Your Kid Will Love!


Last weekend, knowing Benny and I didn't have any Sunday plans, my husband called from work to let me know he had bought tickets for us to attend "Discover the Dinosaurs" a traveling exhibit that was taking place at the LA County Fairplex in Pomona. I was really endeared by his gesture. Paul found the event on his own (I knew nothing about it), figured it would be fun for Benny and purchased the tickets for us to go on the last day of the exhibit.
Then I asked how much the tickets cost and he said: "Twenty Five Dollars"
"Each ticket!?"
At first I thought a $25.00 child ticket was a bit excessive for an exhibit but Benny had so much fun that I'm just glad we went.
Apparently, the promoters of the exhibit didn't quite receive the turnout they had expected because of the 4th of July weekend, which probably made the trip a little less stressful for me given there weren't THAT many children, But folks at the event did said they'd be returning to Los Angeles County next year. Check out the Discover the Dinosaurs website for upcoming exhibits... If you're in a different part of the country, you may still get a chance to take your kids! 
Here are a few highlights from our Dinosaur outing:

The exhibit consists of three dark rooms with a variety of dinosaurs. The darkness and sounds may scare the younger kids a little bit but there are interactive activities outside of the exhibit rooms. Many of the dinosaurs are automated and make sounds & movements



The last exhibit room features dinosaur rides for kids, where they can choose to ride a Triceratops, a Velociraptor or a T-Rex. Benny chose the Triceratops, probably because it seemed to be friendlier and slower than the other two. He was a bit scared. 

Kids are given an opportunity to do a scavenger hunt for a dinosaur prize at the end.

Benny's face when we left the exhibit and entered the Dino Shop. Like many theme park attractions, the end of the exhibit leads to a giant dinosaur toy shop. 

The shop has a vast amount of Dinosaur toys from plush toys to books and dinosaur umbrellas to fossil kits.
Outside of the Dino shop is a giant Dinosaur-themed play area for the children with bounce houses, slides, dinosaur miniature golf, a dino theater playing dinosaur movies, among many other activities. Most attractions are free with a child admission ($25). In this picture, Benny goes down the T-Rex Slide!




He changed his mind about a face painting and went for a T-Rex on his arm instead!!

Later in the afternoon, once we were home after plenty of Dinosaur fun, I decided to make a Kiwi Triceratops. I made this by cutting several small pieces of a Kiwi into the Triceratops silhouette. The most time-consuming part was getting a single kiwi seed in the right place to serve as the dinosaur's eye...LOL!!





En español


El pasado fin de semana, sabiendo que yo y Benny no teníamos planes el domingo, mi marido me llamó del trabajo para hacerme saber que había comprado boletos para que atendiéramos a una exposición ambulante llamada "Descubre los dinosaurios" que se llevó a cabo en los terrenos de la feria del condado de Los Ángeles, en la ciudad de Pomona. El gesto me provocó ternura. Y es que Paul buscó el evento (yo no estaba enterada de esta exposición), se imaginó que sería de mucha diversión para Benny y compró las entradas para su esposa e hijo para el domingo, que sería el último día de la exposición.
Entonces le pregunté qué cuánto le habían costado las entradas y me dijo que veinticinco dólares cada boleto.
Al principio pensé que un boleto de niño de $25.00 era muy caro para una exposición ambulante, pero Benny se la pasó tan feliz que me da gusto haberlo llevado.
Al parecer, los promotores de la exposición no recibieron la participación anticipada debido al fin de semana del cuatro de julio. Sin embargo, la gente del evento dijo que regresaría al Condado de Los Ángeles el próximo año. Echen un vistazo al sitio web de “Discover the Dinosaurs” para las próximas exposiciones... Si vives en otra parte del país, es posible que aún tengas oportunidad de llevar a tus hijos.
Aquí hay algunos momentos memorables de nuestra excursión al mundo de los dinosaurios.


Wednesday, July 8, 2015

White Outfit with a Splash of Yellow!


I love white clothing!
I find white clothing items to be fresh and slimming and perfect for the summer.
I'm taking part of a 7-day Instagram challenge where participants are asked to post a daily picture on a specific topic. Today's prompt called for the #OOTD or "Outfit of the Day".
Here is mine! Basically, white everything with a splash of Yellow!
I decided to post a blog entry on my outfit since I received several compliments about my necklace and shoes, plus, the hubby was available to take extra pictures :)
Have a good night, friends!


When I first laid eyes on this necklace, I reached for it and couldn't let it go. It's from ZARA.


How weird do my toes look here?...LOL! Anyway, my yellow fringe shoes are by Steve Madden. 


Top: Forever 21 / White jeans with gold embellishments: Michael Kors / Necklace: Zara / Shoes: Steve Madden / Triangle Ring: Leola Lace / Watch: Michael Kors / Purse: Audrey Brooke
Good Night & Thanks for reading!


En español

Les comparto los detalles de mi 'look' porque varias personas me preguntaron sobre mis zapatos y collar el día de hoy. Esta fue la segunda entrada del Desafío Fashionista-- una competencia de fotos en Instagram, que se llevará a cabo durante siete días, en la cual estoy participando.
Siento que el color blanco es muy fresco y hace que uno luzca más esbelto.
Siendo que el día amaneció bastante nublado, decidí vestir de blanco ya que es un color neutral pero alegre. Luego agregué accesorios amarillos, que llamaron la atención. El collar fue comprado en Zara y los zapatos en la zapatería “Steve Madden”.


Gracias por leer!


Saturday, July 4, 2015

5-Minute 4th of July Strawberry Shortcakes!


Happy 4th of July!
In case you're still trying to figure out what to bring to the highly-anticipated 4th of July party, here's an idea that's sweet and simple-- strawberry shortcakes with condensed milk and strawberry ice cream syrup.
You add whipped cream, a large strawberry and a festive straw so you can enjoy the condensed milk and syrup before the shortcake fully absorbs it.
It takes about 5 minutes to prepare these, as long as you purchase premade shortcake shells, of course.








Hope everyone has a fantastic day!
Happy, Birthday, America... So proud to be living in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave!