If you are looking for a great place to get a quick bite this holiday season, I recommend the Corner Bakery Cafe! I actually have never visited before but found out about them because they participate in a monthly beach clean up. My son and I participate in a beach clean up at Rosie’s Dog Beach in Long Beach and the Corner Bakery Cafe gives out samples of their delicious mini chocolate chip cookies. These always taste really fresh! We decide to visit our local one in Redondo Beach.

My son and I had the opportunity to visit today for lunch and were quite impressed! By the way, my son can be quite particular and will no longer eat off a Kid’s Menu so eating out is not always the best option, so to speak. But, he gave the Corner Bakery Cafe a thumbs up!

He loves Macaroni and Cheese but can be particular about it too! He tried the Mac & Three Cheese and gave it a 10 out of 10! That is saying a lot! Not sure what he liked best since he just said “it’s good!” Maybe, the bead crumbs…but it definitely was a hit! I was going to try one of the New Grilled Flats which are less than 330 calories. I mean..how good do these sound?!

·         Southwest Chicken with all-natural grilled chicken, zesty slaw, corn and tomato salsa, house-pickled jalapeños and avocado ranch dressing (280 calories)

·         Chicken Caesar with all-natural grilled chicken, romaine, bruschetta tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing (330 calories)

·         Caprese with fresh mozzarella, bruschetta tomatoes, arugula and Parmesan cheese (310 calories)

·         BBQ Pork with pulled barbecue pork, tangy slaw, house-pickled red onions and avocado ranch dressing (320 calories)

But, something else caught my eye!

An Original Grilled Panini! I tried the California Grille on whole wheat harvest. Okay, so it didn’t have 300 or even 320 calories but it was delicious! It has a mixture of grilled zucchini, marinated artichoke hearts, roasted tomatoes, and pesto with fresh spinach and provolone cheese. I was planning to eat half and take the other half home but it was so good that I ate the whole thing including a pickle and a bag of chips! And, I still had room for a delicious coffee and YES! They even had those free mini chocolate chip cookies that tasted like they just popped out of the oven!

I know my son and I will be going back to visit again soon! I think we may have to try breakfast next time!

Find a Corner Bakery Cafe near you! A great place to stop by this holiday season!

Self Disclosure: I received free coupons which discounted our lunch meal. No other compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own.

With summer coming to an end and school quickly approaching, it’s not surprising that your kids will be filled with mixed emotions. It may be sad leaving summer behind but here are five ways to help your kids get excited for the upcoming school year!

Go Shopping for a First Day of School Outfit

Who doesn’t remember going back to school shopping with their parents? Getting a new outfit that your child loves and feels confident in, is all you need to get them pumped up for the first day of school. I remember I was so excited about wearing my new school outfit; I wanted to sleep in it the night before (my mom said no)!

Personalize EVERYTHING! 

Some kids are happy just walking into an office supply store, others, not so much. If you’re buying school supplies for more than one child, why not personalize them with your last name or a family motto? Or, let you kids express themselves via a custom t-shirt showcasing their hobbies, favorite quotes or personal artwork. From t-shirts to hoodies to notepads – there’s an assortment of products that can be customized to your child’s liking on CustomInk.com. You could also volunteer to create the custom shirt this year for your child’s class – a cool class t-shirt will help bring all of the students together by showing off their class pride!

Plan Playdates

Some kids might be bummed because they aren’t in the same classrooms as their friends.  Since most schools provide class rosters before school starts, get on Facebook and set up playdates!  This will give your child a head start on knowing his or her classmates and is a great life lesson – change is good and meeting new people is important.  If your child already knows everyone in class, even better!  Invite the kids over so they can reconnect.

Sign Up for Activities

Encourage your child to explore what they like to do and try new things. Whether its extra-curricular activities through the school or signing your kid up for a hobby on the weekend – a great way to get your kids excited for school is by helping them find a sport or club to participate in throughout the year.

Take a school tour

If you child is starting at a new school this year, say going from elementary school to middle school, take your child on a walk or a drive to their new school.  If they know where and how they’re getting to school every day, it’ll take some anxiety away (even if they don’t know they have any). Show them where they’re going to have recess and play with their new and old friends and tell them fun stories about when you were in school.

Credit: Guest post by Limor Suss. This school year, CustomInk is partnering with this amazing lifestyle & party planning expert.