Local Orange County realtors, Sandi Clark and Debbie Miller have become celebrity real estate agents with their appearances on the ground breaking television show “Leading The Field: World Class Experts Share Their Tips and Advice.” They have been making dreams of homeownership a dream to families all over Orange County and have been just recently published in a new book “Leading The Field: Strategies, Advice and Inspiration From World Class Experts.”
Along with other leading experts and best-selling author Robert Vitelli, they offer inspiration and tips with various practices and professions in the new book.
As a working mom to three young children, my time to read books is extremely limited. When I find time to read a book, I always look for books that are inspirational and offer different types of advice to help improve my life. With this book featuring two local women who have been an inspiration to other women in our community for many years, I was eager to read the book once it was released on April 11th.
Sandi Clark and Debbie Miller shared their tips of how they have been so successful in our community with their “keys to success.” As a mom, I am able to use these tips in my career and my home. Advice and inspiration are not only key in a business world, but also in a personal world. The book is available online for only $4.95 for a limited time.
Fantasy Faire, the newest addition to Disneyland will open to the public on March 12th. Fantasy Faire brings storytelling to life in a magical world where guests of the park can spend quality time with their favorite princesses. Fantasy Faire is complete with new food items from Maurice’s Treats, performances in the Royal Theatre and a gift shop fit for a princess.
Fantasy Faire is located next to Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, previously the Carnations Plaza Gardens Stage.
Disclosure: We attended a media preview day at Disneyland. Video produced by Julissa Rivera & Mark Eades with the OC Register.
The new Fantasy Faire at Disneyland construction is almost complete, bringing a magical home for all the beloved Disney Princesses. Guests can begin their journey in a royal hall where a different princess will be awaiting young children around every corner. Children will have the opportunity to experience an intimate time to take photos and interact with their favorite princess.
In the courtyard, there will be a new show featuring Beauty and the Beast and Tangled in the Royal Theatre. The show will be performed in a comical fun fast paced way by Mr. Smythe and Mr. Jones.
Maurice’s Treats will feature unique dining options inside of the Fantasy Faire courtyard. The food options will include a new drink and tasty pastry items.
The new Fantasy Faire at Disneyland will open to the public on March 12, 2013.
Shelby is an Orange County Native, and is a freelance writer for multiple magazines and websites around LA and Orange County. She can be found writing daily about the hottest happenings at the OC Mom Blog or on Twitter @OCMomBlog.
Children and adults of all ages will unlock a new level of imagination with the new Disney Interactive Infinity. Your favorite Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios character will come to life with endless opportunities. Disney Infinity will be available in June of 2013.
There are two things that I always avoid talking about: politics and religion but when it comes to my children’s education I always have something to say.
When my older son first started school in the public school system, everything was just peachy until I learned that he did not fit into the traditional school model. Just like all humans are different, they also learn differently. The problem is that most public schools only teach one style of learning.
When my son did not learn in the way that our local school was required to teach, he started to fall through the cracks. It was not because he was not smart enough, but because he learned differently than his peers. When I attempted to find alternatives to education in Orange County, the opportunities were limited. There was either private school or a charter school.
There are many charter schools in Orange County, and they all have different teaching methods. When I found the school that was the best fit for my son, getting into that school was not an easy process. Charter schools use a traditional lottery method for school entry, and with thousands of kids trying to get into them, it was just the luck of the draw.
We were lucky to have gotten my son into the charter school that was best for his style of learning, Oxford Preparatory Academy South Orange County. Once he started in the school, I saw him begin to soar. He began to love learning again and is being taught based on the multiple intelligence method that fits his personal needs.
I never thought as a parent that I would be so grateful to a school, but I am. This charter school allowed me to have a choice in my child’s education. They saved him and my other two children from falling through the cracks. I do not feel alone anymore because I now have an entire administration fighting for my children to have everything they need to succeed in school.
Not all parents have been as lucky as we have. There are hundreds upon thousands of children who are stuck in failing schools, or schools that do not teach in a method where those children can learn best. Many families cannot afford to move their children into neighborhoods with thriving schools, and are left with no choices with their children’s education.
This week is National School Choice Week. Parents across the Country are speaking up to fight for every child’s right to a good education. As parents, we have the choice to select the cars we drive, the bread we purchase and even the clothes we wear; but we do not have any choice with our children’s public education. Most children are forced to attend their local neighborhood school even if it is a failing school or a school where they do not learn best.
All parents deserve the choice to pick the learning environment that their child needs. Join me in support of National School Choice Week, and help fight for those parents and children that are left with no choices in their educational plan.
Are your kids superhero fans? We get video games for our kids all the time, and there are few that they genuinely enjoy playing on a regular basis. My boys have been fans of super hero’s since they were old enough to walk, and after The Avengers Movie was released their love for it exploded.
My boys have been unleashing their inner super hero while playing the new Avengers video game. In the case, of world alien invasion – we are all prepared in my household. This new game will make the perfect stocking stuffer for your little super hero. If you are struggling to decide what game to slip into the kids stockings, I would recommend this one for lots of action packed fun on Christmas morning.
Win it! We are giving away one copy of The Avenger’s game to one OC Family Reader!
To enter, just leave a comment below with your kids favorite super hero. We will announce the winner on December 14th.
Pretend City Children’s Museum Senior Director of Education at Pretend City, Linda Hunter, offers these parenting tips for dealing with challenging behaviors from your child.
Are you overwhelmed by the BIG behaviors that your child sometimes exhibits? Pretend City is hosting our annual Symposium for parents this month where leading child development experts will share valuable insight as they deal with challenging behaviors. We would love for you to join us on October 24, 2012 from 6:00pm – 8:30pm. Here are a few tips I can pass along which will give you a taste of what you will learn from the other parenting experts at the Symposium.
When your child is acting out, remember to HALT. H-A-L-T is an acronym for four important things to check out before you proceed. Ask yourself, “Is my child:
Hungry?
Angry?
Lonely (lonely applies to all big feelings like fear or uncertainty)?
Tired?
If you identify any of the above as true, you know where to begin to help alleviate the problem. It’s a quick checklist to run through and may save you a whole lot of energy if you can take care of these items first before being sidetracked by their behavior.
Check your expectations. Is what you expect from your child realistic? Understanding what is typical behavior for your child’s stage of development is critical in setting realistic expectations. For example, if you have a 2-year old and you expect them to sit quietly while you watch your TV program, it’s safe to say that your expectation is unrealistic. When they are 5-years old, this expectation is more realistic as they can color or read or play quietly. On the flip side, if you expect too little, that’s a problem as well. Sometimes children act out because parents are too restrictive and don’t allow children to challenge themselves. A key rule of thumb is to never do for a child what they are capable of doing for themselves – it sends a subtle message to them that you don’t believe that they are competent. The more you understand about what is developmentally appropriate for your child, the more you will set realistic expectations – for your child and for yourself.
Set reasonable limits and be as consistent as humanly possible. Diversion and redirecting is a great way to move children away from a behavior that you want them to change. Redirection is effective in some cases. In others it is important to set reasonable limits for your child. Setting reasonable limits helps children learn social norms and learn to manage their own behaviors. If you are in a restaurant and your 4-year old starts throwing silverware, you need to set boundaries on what is proper behavior in public for them – and remember to be as consistent as possible with the limits you set. Redirection is generally effective with infants and toddlers moving gradually into reasonable limit setting as children move toward their pre-school years.
Explain to your child why something is unacceptable, but don’t over explain. One of the biggest problems I see today’s parents making – and it seems to be on the increase, is that of over-explaining. It almost seems as if parents are wanting their child to somehow validate that parents are doing the right thing by setting limits. While limit setting is not popular with your child, parents shouldn’t be seeking their child’s approval for the way they parent. It is up to parents to learn about child development, set reasonable expectations, and do what is appropriate for their child in each new stage of their development.
Children often use challenging behaviors when they lack more appropriate behaviors or skills to accomplish the same goal or to communicate the message. During the Pretend City Symposium, our panel of experts will share ways to understand challenging behaviors and will discuss a range of helpful tips dealing with ages from birth to 10 years of age. We hope to see you there!
Linda earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Development and Master’s Degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy from the prestigious Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena. Linda joined Pretend City in 2002 prior to its opening and has over 40 years of experience working with children and families in both the fields of early childhood education and family therapy.
Ever since having kids, we have this problem where I just rotate our “stuff” around the house. Nothing seems to have its place in our house anymore. I have baskets upon baskets of toys, overflowing book shelves and my once nicely decorated house now looks like a Little Tykes advertisement. I am continually frustrated with what is the best layout for our furniture, and how can we maximize on our living space.
Since I do not have any decorating bones in my body, I am seeking out the help of Hillary Nichols.
Hillary Nichols in one of Orange County’s top interior designers. She is so talented with a perfect eye for interior design. Although I would love to hire the best interior designer to help with my house decorating dilemmas, it has never been in the budget of our growing family – until now.
She has just launched a new aspect to her company called Box of Design. With just a few easy steps, customers can access Hillary’s talented services for less.
With Box of Design, I will simply complete an online survey with my husband. Then we will upload photos, describe our style and input pieces of furniture we certainly want to keep. Then in just a few weeks we will get our entire room design shipped to us in a special box.
Thinking that doing interior design is going to cost a fortune with suggestions of high-priced furniture? Think again. Box of Design will include items to decorate your room that are reasonably priced. Instead of suggesting to purchase a $3,000 chair, Box of Design will find one that is similar yet priced for a reasonable $300.
The box will include a drawing layout, links of where to purchase suggested decorating items and even paint colors. It is a full interior design package at a fraction of the cost.
I am so excited about finally getting the help I need to bust out of my cream colored walls and subtle furniture with the help of Hillary Nichols. I will be sharing the process of transforming my family room in the coming weeks…stay tuned!
Win it! We are excited to be able to offer one OC Family reader a discount on getting a room in their house redesigned. We are able to offer one 50% discount certificate to one reader. Prices on Box of Design packages start at just $100.
To enter to win, please leave a comment below with your biggest home decorating challenges.
About six months ago, I had a full nonsurgical face lift to help with my skin discoloration. Since the procedure my face is clear of all major sun damage and scaring. In the process of getting the sun damage removed, I learned that it was crucial for me to take better care of my skin. One of the easiest ways to maintain healthy skin is by getting regular facials.
We are all busy mommies, but it is so essential to stop and take time to care for ourselves.
Last month, I went to Spa Gregorie’s for the first time. Shocking – I know. It was hard for me to believe that after living in Orange County my entire life, this was my first time visiting this luxurious spa that is so well known in our community.
I scheduled to get their new Organic Brightening Facial to help with uneven pigmentation, fine lines and to maintain the clarity of my skin. The treatment uses a combination of enzymes, kojic acid, lactic acid, brightening vitamin C, and other all-natural ingredients.
What I was most drawn to about this facial was the use organic and natural ingredients. My skin was able to relax and energize while getting this premiere signature service. The treatment offered a rich mosaic of products that the therapist tailored to match my skin, which indulged my senses.
The Organic Brightening Facial is available at all three Spa Gregorie’s locations in Newport Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita and Del Mar for $119. Relax and Rejuvenate at this elegant Orange County spa.
