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Pure Protein SquareEgg Dog Food will be a hit with your pup!

September 20, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Looking for a New Dog Food for your pup?

Leveraging the world’s most perfect protein source, SquarePet™ developed the SquareEgg dog food line.  With a cage-free egg and whey base, it provides an easy-to-digest and complete protein source. 

An industry first, it contains all the essential amino acids required by dogs for optimum growth and health, and it ranks highest in protein bioavailability.  Ideal for sensitive stomachs and rotational feeding, SquareEgg dog food is designed for all stages of canine life from puppy to senior.

Our Pup Bink was able to ret a sample and he loves it! He’s relaxing (see photo below) after eating and it is a real hit with him!

Proudly made in the U.S.A., SquarePet™ product lines are available for purchase online and at independent pet retailers nationwide.

To learn more about SquarePet’s veterinarian-formulated pet food lines, visit the company online at www.MySquarePet.com.

 MSRP 4.4lbs  $30.99

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post. Top image was also provided.

Filed Under: Pet Corner

6 Family Goals to Pursue This School Year

September 17, 2020 By Leave a Comment

This school year is starting out a little different. Your child might have been learning at home for most of their last academic year, and getting back into things might be harder than usual. They might still be undertaking some home learning, or their school might have initiated new guidelines and restrictions, and their school days might look a little different. Even the school runs might be different, and your days might have had to change accordingly.

But, even with the changes, and at such an uncertain time, once the kids are at school, life seems to pass faster than ever. It’ll be 2021 before we know it, and then, the end of the school year will be hurtling towards us. This is the perfect time to set some family goals for the year.

Why Set Family Goals?

Once the kids are at school, life seems to pass by faster than ever. Our days are busy, we seem to get so much less family time, and what we do have is often taken up by our own interests and hobbies. As our children get older and start to spend more time with their friends, spending quality time together gets even harder.

Setting goals doesn’t mean that you can no longer do your own things, nor does it mean that you’ll suddenly have more time. But it does mean that you are committing to doing things together, that you have the shared intention to take pleasure in your time together, and that you’ve got plenty of fun things lined up, which will make it easier to free up some time for family. Making promises and setting goals means that life is less likely to run away from you.

Prioritize Health and Fitness

Health and fitness are more important than ever. But, if you’ve been spending a lot of time at home over the last few months, it might not have been a priority.

Look at what you can do to start taking better care of your family’s health. Look at their bedrooms, do they need new mattresses to help them sleep? If so, check this post for the latest specials and the best deals. Are you all eating well? Have you booked flu shots? Could you be doing more exercise, either separately or as a family?

Commit to Device-Free Mealtimes

Eating meals together has so many advantages for your family. But, to get the most out of family mealtimes, you need to give each other your attention. Commit to device-free mealtimes and to eating at least one meal a day together, even if it’s a rushed breakfast before school and work.

Enjoy Family Movie Nights

Family movie nights are a great way to spend time together. You can always gather for a movie, no matter what is going on in the world, or what the weather is like. Whether it’s once a month or once a week, try to stick to it and take it in turns to pick the movie.

Find a New Family Hobby

Trying new hobbies together is a fun way to enjoy each other’s company. Support each other, learn together, laugh when it goes wrong, and take joy in a new shared interest.

Take Turns Picking Family Days Out

Family days out when the kids are little are very different from family days out with teens. Younger children do whatever you want them to. Older ones complain. So, start taking it in turns. Commit to one family day out a month, and take turns deciding where to go and what to do.

Do Something for Others

Make it your goal to spend some of your family time doing something for other people, maybe volunteering at a community project, or raising money for charity.

Having family goals doesn’t mean that you can’t be flexible. Things come up; we all know that. Some family movie nights or days out will have to be canceled. But, sticking to them when you can will help you to form a strong family unit, ready to take on the world.

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

Stevie Nicks, Sept. 17th Pet of the Week!

September 16, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Wouldn’t you love to love her? Her name is Stevie Nicks,and indeed, she is like a cat in the dark. In fact, she’s like a cat no matter what position the sun sits in the sky. Like her famous namesake, this beautiful 5-year-old masked girl can be mysterious and shy at first meeting, but once she gets to know you, she’s happy and playful and would love to love you back. Can you promise her heaven? Make an appointment to meet her. Because the shelter is closed to the public, adoption appointments are conducted through email, so contact AnimalRescue@longbeach.gov to meet Stevie Nicks. Ask for ID#A647124.

(This rescue encouraged by the usual suspects.)

Filed Under: Pet Corner

Aquarium to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month with virtual festival 9/25 and 9/26

September 15, 2020 By Leave a Comment
Photo credit required: Aquarium of the Pacific
Pictured from a previous Baja Splash festival: Danza Azteca Cultural Ketzaliztli

The Aquarium of the Pacific invites you to celebrate the beauty and diversity of cultures and wildlife from Central and South America and beyond in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month through its annual Baja Splash festival. For the first time in its nineteen-year history, the Aquarium’s Baja Splash Cultural Festival will be held as a virtual event and will be free to everyone. This year’s festival honoree is TreePeople CEO Cindy Montañez. The public is invited to watch the award ceremony online, in which the Aquarium will present its Heritage Award to Montañez for her commitment to environmental justice and climate resilience. The Baja Splash Festival will also include animal appearances, traditional music and dance, education programs, crafts, and other programming. The Baja Splash kickoff event will take place on Friday, September 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and the Baja Splash Cultural Festival takes places on Saturday, September 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Photo Credit: Robin Riggs.

Latin American folk dancers, Aztec dancers, a musician, and others will share traditional songs and dances from their countries on the Saturday of the virtual festival. This includes an interactive music program with Martin Espino called Sounds of Central and South America. You can also enjoy Animal Meet-and-Greets with a South American penguin, Bolivian bird, frogs, tortoise, and snake and see marine life through the Aquarium’s live webcams. You can tune into the festival award ceremony at 3:15 p.m. to hear from Montañez. She is a lifelong Los Angeles resident who began her community activism as a candy striper for a local hospital at the age of 12. Later she was part of the historic hunger strike at the University of California, Los Angeles, her alma mater, an event that led to the creation of the Cesar Chavez Department of Chicano/a Studies. She was elected the youngest mayor of her hometown of San Fernando at age 25, and then became the youngest person to be elected to the California Legislature. Today, she serves as CEO of TreePeople, one of Los Angeles’ largest environmental movements. TreePeople is dedicated to inspiring people to care for their environment in order to create greener, more sustainable communities for everyone.

During the Baja Splash Kickoff on Friday, September 25, younger children can join an Aquarium educator at 9:00 a.m. to count in Spanish. This class called Contando en el Mar (Counting in the Ocean) is part of the Aquarium’s Online Academy and will highlight Baja animals in celebration of the festival. At 10:00 a.m. join an Aquarium educator for a bilingual class (English/Spanish) where you will learn how to make a crab hat you can wear at home during the festival. Starting at 11:00 a.m. and then available on demand, learn how to make a water drum and other traditional musical instruments from household items with Martin Espino to be ready to play along with him during Saturday’s festivities.

To enjoy the Baja Splash Kickoff and Festival, you can visit the Aquarium’s website at pacific.to/bajasplash

The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and where important challenges facing our planet are explored by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in search of sustainable solutions. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature’s services by building the interactions between and among peoples. Home to more than 12,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include Shark Lagoon, the June Keyes Penguin Habitat, Lorikeet Forest, and the Molina Animal Care Center. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, including lectures by leading scientists, through its Online Academy. The Aquarium offers memberships with unlimited FREE admission for 12 months, VIP Entrance, and other special benefits. NOTE: ONLY OUTDOOR AREAS ARE CURRENTLY OPEN. Convenient parking is available for $8 with Aquarium validation.

Credit: The Aquarium of the Pacific.

Filed Under: Featured Events

These will keep kids entertained while it is safer to be at home!

September 12, 2020 By Leave a Comment

Looking for fun activities for the kids when they are done with their school work and say “Mom, I’m bored…..”? Here are a few of my favorites! The Glow-in-the-Dark Science Lab is really cool! Conduct fun and illuminating experiments with glowing substances and neon pigments! Cast your own glowing neon sidewalk chalk in fun shapes like stars, crystals, and frogs. Make flowers that glow in the dark. Mix up a glowing solution to make your own glow sticks. Observe your glowing creations under a UV flashlight (a blacklight). Learn about light, phosphorescence, and glowing materials. Includes two glowing pigments, UV flashlight, glow-in-the-dark star stickers, plaster for chalk, and tools and instructions. The box doubles as a blacklight showcase. Ages 8+ MSRP: $19.95. Find it on Amazon.com and also at Walmart.

Have a child who loves Unicorns? This next one from Creatto is a must! With CREATTO, you can design and construct illuminated, three-dimensional creations that literally light up your life! The kit includes flexible yet durable interlocking plastic tiles and a string of LED lights that you can piece together to make animals, decorations, or your own custom creations. Each set includes an illustrated manual with easy, step-by-step instructions for multiple designs, but the building possibilities are nearly limitless using your imagination. Creatto is available in 3 fun sizes: mini, medi, and maxi. Kids can choose to build: Moonlight Elephant Safari: Ages 6+ MSRP: $9.95; Magical Moose & Forest Friends: Ages 6+ MSRP: $9.95; Starlight Kitty & Cutie Crew: Ages 8+ MSRP: $19.95; Shimmer Shark & Ocean Pals: Ages 9+ MSRP: $29.95; Sparkle Unicorn & Friends: Ages 9+ MSRP: $29.95. I just love the Unicorn! It can also be found on Amazon.com.

Here are some more of my favorites!

CHALK OF THE TOWN T-SHIRT KIT is sure to be a hit! Dream it, draw it, wear it! These fun chalk t-shirt kits are erasable, re-usable and machine washable and allows kids to create and wear their own specially designed t-shirt. Available in youth sizes XS to XL and adult sizes S to 2XL in lime green! There is also a really cool purple Unicorn shirt! Check them out on Amazon.com.

DINOMAZING EGG DECORATOR — This dynamically different craft kit is actually a craft and activity in one! Pop in one of the plastic eggs included with the kit and let the decorating begin. Use the different colored markers, to add stripes, lines or other fun“prehistoric” designs to decorate your egg. Then, “crack” open the shell to discover a surprise mini collectible dinosaur dripping in cool colored slime! My little nephew found this one really cool! Find on Amazon.com.

FOODIE SURPRISE FOOD CARTS — Unpack each of the different Food Carts from its adorable ‘to-go’ container.  Along the way, kids will discover a variety surprise ingredients and supplies that will let them create their own edible candy! Find at Walmart.com

Have a Trolls Fan? They will absolutely love the AQUABEADS TROLLS WORLD TOUR (Epoch): Perfect time for crafting! Kids make creations from templates or their own imaginations placing beads onto a layout tray, spraying with water to fuse the beads together! Also available on Amazon.com.

I love that these are all very creative and children will have so much fun with all these products!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples of the above items and highly recommend them. Images were also provided.

Filed Under: Featured Products of the Week

Mulan (2020) * Loyal, Brave, True, Honorable and Devoted Describe This 2020 Remake

September 12, 2020 By Leave a Comment

To save her ailing father from serving in the Imperial Army, a fearless young woman disguises herself as a man to battle northern invaders in China. Mulan 2020 is a live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1998 animated film of the same name, based on the Chinese folklore “The Ballad of Mulan.” Directed by Niki Caro. With Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Li Gong, Jet Li. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Dominic D. comments, “This action-packed, family film will keep viewers in suspense while tugging at their hearts along the way. Mulan offers us much to appreciate …culture, a love for family, honesty, peace and so much more.” See his full review below.

Mulan (2020)

By Dominic D., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, Age 10

Loyal, brave, true, honorable, and devoted, all describe aspects of Disney’s new remake of the animated movie, Mulan (1998). Niki Caro, the director of this year’s live-action version, took on the huge challenge of giving new life to the legendary tale of China’s fearless girl warrior after 22 years. This action-packed, family film will keep viewers in suspense while tugging at their hearts along the way. Mulan offers us much to appreciate …culture, a love for family, honesty, peace and so much more. We couldn’t have asked for a better release date for Mulan, as its many messages are powerful and uplifting which are needed during these unsettling times in many communities.

The film follows a fearless young woman named Hua Mulan who is the daughter of Zhou, a warrior veteran. Mulan is not like other traditional women of her age. She is a uniquely gifted woman driven by the power of the chi, destined not to conform and marry the match of her parent’s choice; rather she prefers to use her skills to fight as a warrior and to defend her country, town and family. Her father, who is traditional in his beliefs, warns Mulan to hide her gifts. Upon learning of a possible empire takeover by Bori Khan and his power hungry rebel group, one male from every household is ordered to enlist in the Imperial Army to defend their land. Mulan’s father, the dad of two daughters, is not in good physical condition to take on this feat yet steps up to the challenge. Knowing that her father is in no shape to battle the enemy, Mulan sacrifices everything and faces death to disguise herself as the man of the household and train with the Imperial Army. 

Yifei Liu, who plays Mulan, possesses great star power. She is fierce yet sensitive and shows viewers a wide variety of her emotions throughout the film. A huge shout out to the cinematography, art, set, costume, and make up crews for bringing such light, excitement, and brilliance to the legendary Chinese Empire.  Every scene is colorful, bright, and full of  life. China and New Zealand are perfect landscapes for the film sets and are perfect for captivating the viewers. And despite the adventure and suspense, the film entertains us with several scenes containing humor.

Mulan is a film with many messages of loyalty, bravery, honor, devotion to family, and more. The strongest message  is about empowerment. Mulan, born into a culture where there is a clear division between the roles for men and women, chooses not to conform to tradition and claims her rights to be who she wants to be. Mulan is faced with many heartfelt decisions that, above all, could cause her death, yet she stays true to herself.

I give Mulan 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to ages 8 to 18. Mulan is the perfect family film and adults will love it as much as kids. Mulan will begin streaming on September 4th, 2020 on Disney+. This is a film that you do not want to miss!

Filed Under: Media Reviews

Rubio’s Giving Free Chips & Guac on National Guacamole Day, September 16th

September 11, 2020 By Leave a Comment

On Wednesday, September 16, Rubio’s is celebrating National Guacamole Day by giving out free, freshly made chips and guacamole with any order. Rubio’s guacamole is made onsite daily, using rich Hass avocados, cilantro, garlic, lime juice and natural sea salt. Tortilla chips are also prepared fresh daily with a light sprinkling of all-natural sea salt.

Simply enter coupon code MKTG958 for online orders placed at rubios.com or in the Rubio’s app, or present the coupon: https://www.rubios.com/coupons/national-guacamole-day at any of Rubio’s participating locations. (Guests may only use one coupon per transaction on this day, for either free guac and chips or for Rubio’s Back to School special for a free kids meal with purchase of an adult entrée every Wednesday in September: https://www.rubios.com/coupons/free-kids-meal-purchase-adult-entree.)

Operations at Rubio’s have shifted greatly due to COVID-19. While food safety and cleanliness have always been a top priority at Rubio’s, new initiatives include tamper-proof seals on all delivery orders, daily health checks for all team members, protective face coverings and gloves, extensive sanitizing and disinfecting of restaurants and patios, strict social distancing protocols inside and outside, and contact-free curbside or express pickup and delivery. Guests are encouraged to order through the Rubio’s app and Rubios.com. For more information about Rubio’s Coastal Grill and to view the menu, visit Rubio’s, Facebook and Instagram.

Self Disclosure: Information and images were provided and some form of compensation was received to post. Stay tuned! Rubio’s review coming up later this month!

Filed Under: Featured Events

Book of the week: This one is perfect during COVID 19!

September 9, 2020 By 1 Comment

Looking for something positive during these trying times? Socially Distanced: A Keepsake Journal (www.sociallydistancedjournal.com) by author Robert Stern is a new humorous and helpful illustrated 32-page journaling book and it truly is a positive resource for families.

I enjoyed reading this book and it is a fun way to cope with the on-going pandemic.

Using this book as a helpful tool, parents can sit down with their kids to motivate them to write down their feelings about the impact of the Pandemic on their lives. Parents may want to do this first so it will draw out what’s going on for them that they can share with their kids.  This will also help prepare them for tough questions from their children. 
The book states in a positive fashion that someday this virus will be contained and that we should focus on what we hope our future will look like. This allows for a positive experience and a direction that allows all of us to live in possibility with positivity. 

I recommend this one for all families and it is even a great resource to use with older kids too!

Self Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book. Images were also provided.

Filed Under: Media Reviews
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