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Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que Hosts Fundraiser Supporting April’s Autism Awareness Month

April 11, 2018 By 1 Comment

Family-owned, award-winning barbeque destination, Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que has teamed up with three autism organizations to raise awareness and funds during the month of April to support the autism community. The three organizations include Autism Speaks, the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center and the Grant a Gift Autism Foundation.

During the month of April, Lucille’s will donate to these three worthy causes through Round It Up America contributions – in which guests “round up” their purchases to the nearest dollar – at all 23 Lucille’s locations throughout Arizona, California and Nevada.

For donations of $5 or more made during the month of April, Lucille’s will give guests a $10 bonus card good for a return visit between May 1 and June 30, 2018 (one per table, please).

As another way to support these organizations, Lucille’s will be serving up a drink called the “Blue Bayou,” inspired by the color for autism awareness and is made from fresh blueberries & blackberries, 1800 Reposado and Coconut Tequila, Cointreau, fresh lime juice and agave nectar. For each Blue Bayou sold in April, Lucille’s will donate an additional $1 towards the cause.

“We first started this fundraiser in our Las Vegas restaurants in 2016 because this condition hits close to home for many at Lucille’s, employees and guests alike” said Brad Hofman, President, Hofman Hospitality Group. “We have since taken the fundraiser across all of our locations. We have seen that the Lucille’s community can make a difference when we come together for a common cause, and we know that this year will only prove the same for these three organizations.”

Lucille’s restaurants are reminiscent of a Southern roadhouse with a distinctive Southern décor that features reclaimed wood outline doors and windows for a rustic yet contemporary look. Lucille’s features blues-inspired art throughout the restaurant and the Flying Pig lounge.  Lucille’s has been participating in Round It Up America, platform that encourages restaurant guests to donate change; over the past ten years, Round It Up America has collectively raised millions of dollars for charitable organizations and programs across the country.

I had the opportunity to visit Lucille’s in Torrance and had a great visit! They have the best food! My favorite is the Southern Fried chicken! It is delicious! The chicken actually seems to melt in your mouth! I am not kidding! 

My husband loved his meal too! Doesn’t it look tasty?

The food tastes great and I love how large the portions are! I also love their Sweet Tea, great choice of appetizers and they have the BEST Banana Pudding!

    

No photo of the Banana Pudding because I ate it too fast! But, you just have to try it!

Lucille’s is open for both lunch and dinner and I highly recommend the service at Lucille’s in Torrance! Our server Harriet was simply awesome!

 

Check out Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que this month!

Facebook – @lucillessmokehousebbq

Twitter – @Lucilles_BBQ

Instagram – @Lucilles_BBQ

#lucillesbbq

About Autism

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. We now know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, and each person with autism can have unique strengths and challenges. Most are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental influences, and many are accompanied by medical issues such as GI disorders, seizures and sleep disturbances. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 1 in 68 children is on the autism spectrum.

About Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. We empower people with autism and their families with resources, online tools and information covering the life span. Go to AutismSpeaks.org to learn more, donate or join a fundraising walk.

ABOUT GRANT A GIFT AUTISM FOUNDATION

Founded in 2009, Grant a Gift Autism Foundation grew out of the struggle of a mom whose son, Grant, was diagnosed with autism and other neuro-developmental conditions. Grant a Gift Autism Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization helping children, youth and their families fight autism by providing diagnostic and treatment funding, support services, social skills and vocational training, transition planning, and education.  For additional information, please visit www.GrantAGiftFoundation.org.

About SARRC
Established in 1997, the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) is an internationally recognized nonprofit that conducts innovative research, provides evidence-based practices, disseminates effective training and builds inclusive communities for individuals with autism and their families. For more information on SARRC, visit www.autismcenter.org.

About Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que

Signal Hill, Calif.-based Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que (lucillesbbq.com) offers award-winning, savory, Southern-style food in 23 full-service, high-energy restaurants throughout California, Arizona and Nevada. Signature slow-smoked barbeque, flavorful appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, sides and desserts are served with a large helping of down-home, friendly service. Lucille’s restaurants are reminiscent of a Southern roadhouse replete with its distinctive front Southern decor, and select locations offer live blues entertainment at the Flying Pig Lounges. Family-owned, Lucille’s has plans to expand its unique brand of Southern hospitality to more locations in the future.

Self Disclosure: I had the opportunity to visit Lucille’s as Media. Images: SoCal City Kids.

Filed Under: Featured Content, Featured Services

Marty, April 12th Pet of the Week!

April 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Marty, what do you wanna do tonight? I dunno, friend, what do you wanna do? Wanna play in the water? Wanna play with some other dogs? Wanna take me home? Marty’s an adorable 8-month-old German shepherd, and he’s been working hard for a long time learning to be a dog! He came to the shelter as a shy, shut-down stray, and he’s finally come out of his shell and is ready to be adopted! He should be in a home that has a dog already so that he can continue his canine studies. Meet Marty on the shelter side of the Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring St., (562) 570-PETS. Ask for ID#A603349.

(The usual suspects contributed to this rescue)

Credit: Courtesy of the Companion Animal Village.

Filed Under: Pet Corner

Rimmel London Insta Duo Contour Stick is a Beauty Must-Have this Spring!

April 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Swipe and blend, that’s all you need to do with RIMMEL LONDON INSTA DUO CONTOUR STICK. Regardless of where you are, keep this portable duo on hand to define and highlight your features.
Formula & Benefits: Selfie approved formula, Dual-sided applicator, Ultra-smooth formula, available in three duos to work with your skin tone
Available Shades: Light, Medium and Dark.
This is one beauty product that will be one that you will want to use every day! You can highlight and shape your features instantly!
Look for it where Rimmel London Products are sold! Retails for $6.99.
Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this beauty post. Images were also provided. 
Filed Under: Beauty and Fashion, Beauty and Fashion Corner

Spring Clean Your Beauty Routine with Colgate

April 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Colgate® Optic White® Stain-Less White™ Toothpaste is formulated to remove unwanted dark stains caused by coffee, wine and soda, ensuring your pearly whites are fresh for spring. This product is super simple to incorporate into your beauty routine, ensuring you can continue enjoying your favorite beverages with a visibly whiter smile all season long.

I love how this toothpaste really does whiten and brighten my teeth! It also doesn’t have a bad aftertaste and it is safe to use every day! It also works quickly….within 3 days! With continued use, it really does help remove unwanted stains on your teeth from coffee and even soda. This formula is professionally designed with Hydrogen Peroxide for deep set stain removal.

Suggested retail price: 3.0 oz toothpaste for $4.99 – $5.99.    Availability: Mass, Food and Drug stores nationwide. Look for it at a store near you! 

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post. Information and images were also provided.

Filed Under: Beauty and Fashion, Beauty and Fashion Corner

Yogurtland Grand Opening Celebration in Long Beach April 9-15

April 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment

You don’t want to miss visiting this week!

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

Can You Protect Your Child from Pediatric Cancer?

April 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Pediatric cancer has been on the rise for decades and it is only now that the problem is starting to get the attention it deserves. Even then, insufficient funding in the field is curbing the speed of research. All of this leads us to the question; can we protect our children from pediatric cancers? The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no.

There are Ways to Decrease the Chances

The causes for pediatric cancer are far from being clear at the moment, but environmental factors such as being exposed to radioactivity can definitely contribute to the development of cancer in infants and children. On that note, here are a few precautions that parents can take to at least reduce the chances of their children developing any form of the disease.

  1. Exposure to chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, cleaners, etc. should be limited or stopped totally
  2. Smoking during pregnancy or being in an environment with tobacco smoke is to be avoided
  3. Doctors may suggest preemptive surgery in certain cases to eliminate the chances of the child developing cancers due to genetic inheritance of susceptible genes
  4. Adoption of an organic source of nutrition over processed food by the parents might help to reduce the chances of pediatric cancers in the infant
  5. Radiation inspections before buying or renting a house/apartment is a must, especially if the building is an old one

Prevention May Not Always be an Option

Unfortunately, most of these precautions are not an exact science and there isn’t sufficient data behind them for us to consider them anything more than precautionary measures. In more than 80% of the detections, pediatric cancer is a result of genetic anomalies and abnormalities, so there’s very little that the parents can actually do to prevent cancerous developments in such cases. Nevertheless, timely detection and treatment often saves the lives of thousands of children every year. In other words, although prevention may not always be an option, treatment during the early stages can work.

What Other Option Do We Have?

The situation regarding pediatric cancers is quite murky as of now, since a lack of sufficient research data has made it quite difficult to detect the effects of possible causes and the extent to which they play a role in bringing about the disease. Our best hopes for the future lies in better research today, but that can only be brought on through childhood cancer donations made by individuals and corporate and government agencies. The research personnel involved need the funding to improve the quality of care, treatment and maybe even find a better cure for the disease in the future.

As is evident, preventing childhood cancer through preemptive surgery is possible in a very rare number of cases and the other precautions might reduce the chances somewhat, but if a child has developed symptoms of pediatric cancer, it is important to understand that in most situations, there is probably very little anyone could have done differently to prevent it.

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

Adventure Day Returns to Caspers Wilderness Park April 7th

April 6, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Celebrate a world of outdoor activities and discoveries at the return of Adventure Day at Caspers Wilderness Park in San Juan Capistrano.

The event on Saturday, April 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. invites guests to enjoy a day of adventure with natural history tours, wildlife exhibits, musical entertainment, arts and crafts, games and refreshments.

“Caspers Adventure Day provides a great opportunity for people to explore the County’s largest Wilderness Park,” Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District, said. “With guided hikes, entertainment and family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”

Spend a fun-filled day under the sycamores at Caspers with a full schedule of guided hikes, games, storytelling, wildlife exhibits, workshops and puppet shows. Families and friends of all ages can partake in numerous activities, while learning about Caspers Wilderness Park’s natural and cultural history.

Participants include OC Birds of Prey Center, Sierra Club, Tree of Life Nursery, Share mountain bike club and many more! Food will be available for purchase from food vendors, including Front Porch Pops.

Caspers Adventure Day admission is free and adults and children of all ages are encouraged to attend and participate in the fun. Caspers Wilderness Park will be extending complimentary parking to all attendees for this special day. Let the adventures begin!

Caspers Adventure Day

Date: Saturday, April 7

Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Location: Caspers Wilderness Park

Address: 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Website: http://www.ocparks.com/caspers/

Cost: Free

Parking: Free

Public Contact: (949) 923-2210

Credit:

OC Parks

OC Parks manages nearly 60,000 acres of parks, historical and coastal facilities and open space for the County of Orange as part of OC Community Resources. http://www.ocparks.com

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

The Little Prince Celebrates its 75th Anniversary

April 6, 2018 By Leave a Comment

The Little Prince marks its 75th anniversary this week and delights fans across the globe through social media campaigns, unique events and new official merchandise. The Little Prince line of items ranges from a collection of graphic bag accessories to a 75th Anniversary edition of the novel, to a range of environmentally-friendly baby products.

Pioneering aviator, best-selling writer and humanist, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote The Little Prince in 1943. Long considered one of the greatest pieces of French literature ever written and voted as “The Best Book of the 20th Century” in France, The Little Prince also has a very special American connection. The book was written in the United States, while Saint-Exupéry was in exile and living in New York City. To date, the book has sold over 200 million copies and has reached more than 500 million readers around the world. In the US, 100,000 additional copies of The Little Prince are sold every year. A special 75th Anniversary edition of the book is available for pre-order now on Amazon and goes on sale in October.

The story is inspired by Saint-Exupéry’s own experience of being a pilot stranded in the Sahara desert in the 1930s after a long-distance race.  He originally wrote the book for young children, but it resonated with readers of all ages through its messages of respect for humanity, friendship, authenticity, and charity.

A true cultural phenomenon, millions of fans are also experiencing The Little Prince in ways the author could have only imagined with visits to the theme park in France, the museum in Japan, and the flagship store in Paris. The Little Prince movie has been seen by 32 million viewers in theaters and 30 million on Netflix. A robust social media presence is driven by more than 10 million Facebook followers and 4 million views on the official YouTube channel.

“It’s incredible to see how many people adore The Little Prince and that its wisdom is creating, connecting, and compelling fans everywhere seventy-five years later,” said Thomas Riviere, General Manager, SOGEX, an arm of the estate of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

True to the spirit of The Little Prince, the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation (www.fasej.org) was established in 2009 to concretely actualize the book’s mission by supporting projects for children around the world. In the last eight years alone, over $3 million dollars has been raised to fund more than 50 projects in 20 countries.  In the US, Foundation efforts benefit art and education projects for the visually-impaired. Every partner of The Little Prince is engaged in giving back; through their contributions to good works in the name of The Little Prince or a percentage of proceeds from the sale of licensed merchandise.

Fans of the story can continue the good works inspired by The Little Prince on social media as well. As part of the diamond jubilee, people can participate in the anniversary celebration and send a “Happy Anniversary” message by posting their favorite quote from the book or a photo inspired by The Little Prince to social media platforms during April 2 to April 15th with #TheLittlePrince75.  For each post, the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation will make a donation to a new scholarship in the name of The Little Prince to help blind American students pursue their academic goals and achieve their dreams. (TLP75 Video).

There are over 150 licensees worldwide offering new products and merchandise collections for fans of The Little Prince to keep the story and key messages top-of-mind during the anniversary milestone including:

  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt– Master Publishing Partner of 75th Anniversary Edition of the classic novel available October 23, 2018. Pre-order now on Amazon.com.
  • LeSportsac– Spring ’18 Collection of Backpacks, Baby Bags, Cosmetic Bags, and Cross-body Bags LINK
  • Out of Print– T-shirts, Hoodies, Pin Sets, Unisex Socks and Totes; The Little Prince Nook Tablet Cover (Exclusive to Barnes and Noble)
  • Little Unicorn– All new line of Swaddles and Quilts featuring Little Unicorn’s signature watercolor take on iconic images from The Little Prince story.
  • Running Press– Light-up Rose Mini-kit. The Little Prince’s cherished rose, set under a clear dome and on a base bearing the story’s most famous bit of wisdom: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

The 75th Anniversary collection of product also includes: infant apparel and sleepwear from Finn and Emma, a cotton fabric collection and a soft storybook from Riley Blake, men’s and women’s socks from Socksmith, a calendar from Rizzoli’s Universe imprint, boxed gift mugs, bookmarks and prints from Culturenik, an encyclopedia from Cernunnos (distributed by Random House), and music boxes and gifts from Trousselier.

Because of The Little Prince’s American origins, the collection also includes a number of products specifically Made in the USA. Among them are: earrings and necklaces from Vinca, infant caps and baby blankets from Storiarts, t-shirts, scarves and posters from Litographs, inspirational shower clings from Dezign Your Mind, laser-cut wood décor from GArts, and a full range of lift-and-place wall graphics from Walls360.

The Little Prince also celebrates its 75th Anniversary with remarkable event partners such as The Morgan Library & Museum in NYC (LINK), which will host a special exhibition of newly discovered drawings by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.  A special screening of The Little Prince animated movie will also take place there on June 3, hosted by the film’s director and Foundation’s Goodwill Ambassador in the US, Mark Osborne. Throughout 2018, guests of Sofitel Hotels can enjoy special offers themed to The Little Prince through the chain’s “Magnifique Family” program (www/sofitelhotels.com).

Self Disclosure: Information and images were provided. Some form of compensation (product) has been received to post. 

Filed Under: Featured Products of the Week
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