November 2014 - Over The Top Mommy

Month: November 2014

Get Ready to Create Holiday Family Memories at The Shops at Mission Viejo With Santa Photo Experience and Much More!

November 27, 2014 / Holiday Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County

It’s that time again….the decorations are up, holiday music is playing and Santa has arrived at The Shops at Mission Viejo! Eager children and their families can experience the joy and magic of the holiday season with a visit to the Simon® Santa Photo Experience, where Santa awaits them in his winter wonderland. Located on the lower level near Nordstrom, children can visit and be photographed with Santa every day until December 24, when he has to head back to The North Pole.

This year, you can save time and avoid the line with Santa by making an appointment! Reserve your magical moment with Santa online at http://simon.noerrsanta.com. For a complete list of Santa’s dates and times, click here. The Simon Santa Photo Experience is, once again, sponsored by Gymboree.

Caring Santa

The Shops at Mission Viejo also provides children with special needs and their families with an opportunity to enjoy a carefully managed Santa photo experience through the Caring Santa program, which provides a sensory-friendly environment for families of children with special needs, to safely experience the time-honored tradition and magic of Santa.

Caring Santa will be held at The Shops at Mission Viejo this year on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Space is limited (1 reservation ticket per family); please visit theshopsatmissionviejocaringsanta.eventbrite.com to make your reservation. Caring Santa events have expanded from 7 Simon malls in 2011 to over 100 Simon malls today, reflecting the positive impact of this unique program. In 2013, Simon and The Noerr Programs were honored by Community Gatepath, earning a Community Impact Award for their efforts in pioneering Caring Santa.Caring Santa program.

Family Holiday Events at The Shops at Mission Viejo

The Kidgits Holiday Celebration will take place on Saturday, December 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the lower level, near Forever 21. Kids can get festive with various crafts and activities including making their own ornament, writing a letter to Santa and decorating a gift box to celebrate The Boxtrolls, available this Holiday Season.

The Kidgits event on December 6 will be followed with a celebration of the grand re-opening of the center’s updated Dining Pavilion. Beginning at 11 a.m., head to the pavilion for live entertainment, face painting, a balloon artist for the kids, and more. Don’t miss giveaways every hour, and swag bags while they last. Special offers will be available from food pavilion eateries, which include Blaze Pizza, Charley’s Grilled Subs, Great Khan’s, Muscle Beach Lemonade & Hot Dogs, Panda Express, Paradise Bakery & Café, Rubios Baja Grill, Ruby Thai, Sarku Japan and Smashburger.

Although this is just a rendering of the updated Dining Pavillion area, I think I see myself eating at a table!

New to the holiday event lineup this year is Holidays on Ice Mission Viejo, the first-ever seasonal ice rink at The Shops at Mission Viejo. From November to January 11, skate under festive lighting, and celebrate the season with music and family fun. The 50-foot by 70-foot outdoor ice rink will accommodate approximately 120 skaters, and is located in the exterior parking lot, near Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour. The rink will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The Shops at Mission Viejo will offer several additional amenities during the holiday season. Additional valet will be available. A giftwrap station will be available in December, and located near Zara. Proceeds from the giftwrap station will benefit the Girl Scouts of Orange County and the Simon Youth Foundation.

There are so many fun things happening at The Shops at Mission Viejo! Happy Holidays!

Holiday Snow Days + Winter Nights November 22-January 4 at Legoland California Resort! #HolidaySnowDays

November 24, 2014 / Holiday Fun, Legoland, Travel

Disclosure: We attended a media preview of Holiday Snow Days and Winter Nights. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

I’m always excited for the start of the holiday season! Emily and I had the opportunity to kick ours off by spending a special day together at LEGOLAND California Resort to preview their Holiday Snow Days + Winter Nights!

It was a beautiful Southern California day and we enjoyed skating and playing in the snow, while wearing short-sleeved shirts and getting a little bit of a suntan!

Every day at LEGOLAND from November 22 through January 4 is a Holiday Snow Day! With a regular admission, park guests also get to enjoy a ton of fun activities! The Fun Town area is transformed into a snowy wonderland for the holiday season!

On Holiday Snow Days, park guests can have fun:

Snow Tubing
Snow Play, including getting to build a snowman and throwing snowballs at fun targets
Watching live entertainment
Doing a Holiday Village Build in the LEGO Clubhouse
Enjoying special holiday treats available for purchase on the Fun Town Holiday Food Truck.

Also, enjoy the spectacular 30-foot tall LEGO Christmas Tree, made of more than 245,000 green DUPLO® bricks and adorned with ornaments made of LEGO bricks. Look out for special holiday characters like LEGO Santa, Lego Toy Soldier, and more. There are definitely lots of photo opportunities!

As part of Legoland’s Holiday Snowy Days +Winter Nights, the Winter Nights portion will take place on November 28, 29 and December 6, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 from 5-7pm. Holiday Snow Days activities continue into nighttime and guests can also enjoy watching holiday entertainment, including The Big Test Holiday Show, and see the magic of holiday lights come to life after dark as the buildings, trees and the LEGO Christmas Tree twinkles along to Festive Holiday tunes throughout Fun Town. Guests can also enjoy Holiday Fireworks will at 7pm on December 26-30.

New this year…..Ice Skating!

It’s so exciting that LEGOLAND California Resort has set up a real ice skating rink, between the ticketing booths and the Legoland Hotel! It’s was so fun to skate outdoors in the sun! Admission for ice skating is separate from park admission. Although you are welcome to bring your own ice skates, the cost of your ice rink admission tickets includes skate rentals and helmet protection for guests requesting extra head protection.

Guests may also rent a “bobby”, which is a seal-shaped skate aid. A child or adult can push it in front of him to help balance. A small child can also sit on the front of the bobby while the adult pushes the bobby. I used one to push Emily around and it helped me avoid the embarrassment of falling down! I think the bobby was the best invention ever created!

When you purchase your ice skating ticket, you will be asked to reserve a specific time slot. Session are 90 minutes long and there are 6 ice sessions available each day* and there is limited capacity, so book your ticket now by clicking here. *There are only 4 sessions available on the following dates: Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17.

Skaters must be ages 3 and up, and must be able to walk unassisted. All skaters (or guardian for under 18) must sign Release and Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risk Agreement (fill out the waiver once for entire season). Go straight onto the ice by filling out the Ice Skating Waiver form in advance! http://www.smartwaiver.com/v/LEGOLANDiceskate

After you spend time out on the ice, you can purchase a s’mores kit and head over to the fire pits to make your s’mores. They’ll even provide a long dowel so you can roast your marshmallows over the fire. This was one of our favorite parts about our day! I think everyone loves s’mores!

LEGO® Christmas Tree Lighting

This year, the official annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on December 1st. There will be a surprise celebrity guest who will help light the world’s tallest LEGO Christmas tree. Families in the park are invited to gather around the Lego Christmas tree in the middle of Fun Town at 5:30 pm. Other opportunities to view the LEGO Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony will take place at 5pm on December 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. Here comes a cool part….One lucky child has a chance to light the LEGO Christmas Tree December 4-Decemeber 24. Winners will be selected each night through LEGOLAND California Resort’s Facebook Page, so keep an eye on their page if you’re planning on visiting the park during that time.

Legoland’s Free Ticket Offer

LEGOLAND California has a very special gift for you. When you visit LEGOLAND between November 1, 2014 and January 4, 2015, you’ll receive a FREE ticket to return between January 5 and March 1. You must present your paid admission ticket at the Our Gift To You kiosk inside the Park on the day you visit to receive a ticket to return to LEGOLAND California and SEA LIFE Aquarium. Additional restrictions may apply. For more information, click here!

We had such a fun time at Legoland Calfornia Resort and can’t wait to go back again!

Why Did I Wait So Long To Get SMASHed at SMASHburger?

November 11, 2014 / Food, Orange County, Restaurant Reviews

Have you gotten SMASHed yet? I hadn’t until recently and now I’m wondering why I waited so long? I noticed the sign in the food court of “my mall“, The Shops at Mission Viejo, but just hadn’t gotten a chance to try it.

I decided to start with one of their shakes while I checked out seriously extensive menu. There were a ton of shake flavors to choose from, but the manager suggested I try one of their specialty flavors, so I chose something you can’t get just anywhere…the Salted Caramel Shake! A shake is an appetizer, right?

Whoa! Look at all of that whipped cream and that caramel drizzled on top! Their shakes are all hand-scooped and made with Haagen Dazs ice cream! I was having hard time getting very much of it since Emi seemed to have fallen in love with it first and isn’t the best at sharing!

After I finally got my shake back from Emi, I stood there in front of the menu, drinking it, and feeling a bit overwhelmed, but in a good way. Their menu has A LOT to offer. I knew I at least needed to try a Classic Smash. In case you’ve never had one before, they’re “smashed”, seared and seasoned to order, using fresh, premium beef.

I opted for a Classic Smash with cheese. It has American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and plenty of Smash sauce, which is a blend of mayonnaise, yellow mustard, pickled relish and lemon juice, and is served on the yummiest egg bun ever! (they actually make all of their own buns, too!)

I was told that you really shouldn’t have a Smashburger without having an order of Smashfries to go with it! So, I did! Smashfries are shoestring fries tossed in rosemary, olive oil, and garlic! They are beyond addicting and although the menu also features regular fries on it, I have no idea why someone wouldn’t order Smash fries. They are just THAT good.

I also ended up with a Smashchicken, which is the chicken version of the Smashburger. It was the picture on the menu board that caught my eye and I KNEW I needed to try the Buffalo and Blue Cheese Smashchicken. You have a choice of a grilled or crispy chicken breast and it’s topped with Franks’s Redhot Buffalo Sauce, crumbled blue cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo, served on an egg bun.

I swear the minute I finished it, I wanted another one! The combo of the buffalo sauce and the blue cheese is crazy good! Some of the menu items (like this one) are considered “regional” and are only offered at certain locations. You can check that availability online.

Although I do love food and love to share about food, I think one of my other favorite parts about getting to write about places I visit, is making a connection with people. The afternoon that I visited SMASHburger, I got to chat a little bit with the store manager who figured out right away, that I was a “first-timer”. Jen was BEYOND knowledgeable about the menu, food preparation and even special menu items (I have friends who are gluten-free and vegan). Above all though, what really made the experience even more special was how genuine and nice Jen was. It truly makes all the difference when the person running the store is personable like that and is what will keep guests coming back again and again!

I cannot wait to go back to SMASHburger and try more items from their menu! I already know I’m going to have ANOTHER Buffalo and Blue Cheese SMASHchicken! Have YOU eaten at a SMASHburger yet? What is YOUR favorite menu item?

Knott’s Merry Farm: A True Southern California Holiday Celebration #MerryFarm

November 8, 2014 / Knott's, Knott's

Disclosure: I was invited to attend a social media day at Knott’s Merry Farm and provided with information to share with my readers about Knott’s Merry Farm and 2015 Knott’s Season Passes. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

The holiday season is officially underway! There are decorations popping up in stores everywhere, Christmas commercials are playing on the radio and on TV, and moms like me are already starting to think out about WHAT to buy everyone on our Christmas Shopping List! (I already feel like I’m behind on that part!) There are so many fun family holiday activities and events happening around Southern California this time of year also. Our family is really excited to be invited to experience the opening day of Knott’s Merry Farm this year on November 22! It’ll be our first time and we’re counting down the days.

Knott’s Merry Farm has been a Southern California Holiday Tradition since 1985 and is one of Knott’s Berry Farm’s seasonal events. The celebration of the Christmas season will start on November 22 this year and go through January 4, 2015. The event includes park-wide lavish decorations, festive food, live entertainment, and a shopping wonderland filled with local artisans.

Festive Food

Knott’s Berry Farm’s culinary elves have created delicious festive treats including Santa’s homemade cookies, sundae bar, decadent hot chocolate topped with hand carved chocolate shavings, and winter wine and craft beer tastings. Savor the ultimate comfort foods with Knott’s world famous desserts, including fresh made-to-order Maple Lollipops, churros from the Churro Factory, cakes, cookies, muffins and gingerbread men in the Farm Bakery, as well as the legendary cooking at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. I can hardly contain my excitement.

Live Entertainment

I think I’m most excited to experience all the things Snoopy that Knott’s has in store during Merry Farm, starting with going to see a performance by the world famous beagle, himself, as he performs a brand new ice spectacular, Merry Christmas, Snoopy!, held inside of the 2100 seat Charles M. Schultz Theatre.

Other live entertainment offerings include:

• Live performances of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” or O. Henry’s “A Gift of the Magi” in an intimate setting of the historic Bird Cage Theatre.

• When the sun sets on the Farm, Calico Stage lights up with the celebration of the season in Snoopy’s Merriest Tree Lighting. Join us for a musical, whimsical tree lighting featuring a cast of Toy Soldiers, Snowmen, Elves and America’s most famous beagle, Snoopy!

• Over in Camp Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus and Lucy invite you to dance, sing and join in on the holiday fun in the Camp Snoopy Theatre.

• Introduced in 2013, the Ghost Town and Calico Railroad celebrate Christmas on Engine 41. Climb
aboard a vintage railcar and meet an ever-changing group of Ghost Town residents eager to share their
Christmas plans and songs with you.

• Ghost Town also celebrates of the sounds of the season with its very own Dickensian vocal quartet, Calico Carolers and interactive country Christmas blue grass quartet, the Ghost Town Miners.

Santa’s Christmas Cabin

Christmas wouldn’t be complete without visiting Santa Claus. The Wilderness Dance Hall in Ghost Town becomes home to Santa’s Christmas Cabin for the holiday season. Here, the young and the young at heart can share their wish lists with jolly Santa Claus and take home a picture of the occasion. We’re excited to capture a special family memory like this because we like to use our annual Santa photo for our family holiday cards!

At Santa’s Christmas Cabin, guests can also indulge in holiday delights such as:

Santa’s homemade cookies
Hot fudge sundae bar
Decadent hot chocolate topped with hand carved chocolate shavings
Winter wine and craft beer tastings paired with fresh fruit, cheese and more!

Christmas Crafts Village

Relax and unwind in Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village as it transforms Ghost Town into a shopping wonderland filled with dozens of local artists and artisans selling their unique wares including a chainsaw sculptor and glass blower. Entrance to the Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village is free Monday through Thursday and is included daily with theme park admission.

So, let’s get back to when I mentioned about how I’m starting to think about WHAT to get everyone on my holiday shopping list! I came up with the best idea! It’s a one-size, fits all, and it’s sure to please EVERYONE who receives it! It’s a 2015 Knott’s Season Pass! Why not grab one for everyone on your list? Seriously though!

Look at some of the benefits of having a Regular Season Pass:

Six Easy Payments (as low as 13.25 each)
One FREE Merry Farm Visit
Additional 2014 Visits Only $9.99
Unlimited Visits In 2015
Early Ride Times
Food & Merch Discounts
Knott’s Hotel Discounts
Scary Farm 2015 Ticket Discounts
Bring A Friend Days

Knott’s is California’s best amusement park and the prices for a year-long season pass are incredibly affordable! All the fun activities, shows and entertainment happening during the holidays at Knott’s is something you don’t want to miss! Why not purchase a Knott’s Berry Farm 2015 Season Pass for someone (or your entire family), which makes the perfect holiday gift and plan your own day out at Knott’s Merry Farm this year, which would be included with your pass as your one 2014 visit?

We’ll be there on the 22nd and can’t wait to share a ton of fun pictures with everyone! Will you be going to Knott’s Merry Farm this year? I sure hope so!

Photo and Logo Credit: Knott’s

Irvine Park Railroad’s 19th Annual Christmas Train AND Brand New Christmas Tree Ranch!

November 7, 2014 / Celebrations, Holiday Fun, Orange County

I think the holiday season is my most favorite time of the year! There are an abundance of family fun holiday events to attend and enjoy together as a family. People everywhere just seem so happy during this time of the year.

One of our favorite things to do before Christmas is to visit the Irvine Park Railroad’s Christmas Train! You can visit with family and friends and take an enchanting night ride through historic Irvine Regional Park to meet Santa Claus. The train departs every 15 minutes from the brightly-lit train station and drops passengers off at the North Pole, where Santa is waiting for the children!

It’s fun to ride the train at night and see all of the twinkling lights! Don’t forget to dress warmly!

We didn’t get to go last year so this year we’re extra excited about visiting on the weekend after Thanksgiving, which is opening weekend! We like to get there early and walk around Santa’s Village, which is set up just next to the train station. Emi loves to participate in all of the fun activities there. (Activities in Santa’s Village will open one hour prior to when the Christmas Train runs)

Irvine Park Railroad always sets up adorable photo props! I think we make a pretty cute penguin and polar bear, don’t you?

Here’s what you’ll find in Santa’s Village:

• Story Time with Mrs. Claus
• Christmas Cookie Decorating
• Carnival Games
• Ice Fishing
• Santa Claus Moon Bounce
• Christmas Coloring Corner
• Picture Stands

Enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus in Santa’s Village. (photo credit: Irvine Park Railroad)

Activities are open weekends ONLY. Activities will be open daily starting December 15th Prices for activities in Santa’s Village vary; for additional information and costs, visit http://www.IrvineParkRailroad.com.

Let’s get back to talking about the Christmas Train though. When visitors are transported on the Christmas Train to “The North Pole”, they are greeted by Santa and his elves.

Santa will be waiting to take pictures with you and your family when you arrive at The North Pole! (photo credit: Irvine Park Railroad)

Coffee, hot chocolate, and other snacks are available for purchase from the Elf House Snack Bar. (A full kitchen menu is also available at the train station) Visitors may take their own pictures with Santa or may also purchase a picture taken by Irvine Park Railroad. Each 5″X7″ photo will be presented with an Irvine Park Railroad border and are available for pickup shortly after being taken.

This was our keepsake photo with Santa from 2012! (excuse the quality of it being a picture of a picture)

After visiting with Santa, hop back aboard the train and enjoy the colorful Christmas lights and decorations, as well as the magical “Tunnel of Lights”, on the ride back to the station. You’ll LOVE the tunnel! Oh and there’s (faux) snow too!

The Tunnel of Lights! (photo credit: Irvine Park Railroad)

Christmas Train tickets may ONLY be purchased online and can be purchased beginning November 1st! Tickets may not be purchased in person. You can purchase your tickets to ride the train on a specific date and time. Then, you print them out, bring them with you, and get in line to board the train any time during the hour for which you purchased your tickets.

Here’s what’s NEW this year at Irvine Park Railroad…..

After visiting Santa, why not pick out your own special Christmas tree to take home at the all-new Christmas Tree Ranch? (photo credit: Irvine Park Railroad)

Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, families will be able to purchase Christmas trees at the all-new Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Tree Ranch! Visitors will be able to choose from among Douglas fir, Noble fir, and Grand fir trees ranging in height from 4′ to 12′. Christmas tree stands, preservatives, tree disposal bags, wreaths, and garland will also be available for sale. The Christmas Tree Ranch is open daily at 10:00 am beginning Friday, November 28th through Tuesday, December 23rd. Families can walk the Christmas Tree Ranch to find their perfect Christmas tree.

Irvine Park Railroad staff will help you load your Christmas Tree into/onto your car. (photo credit: Irvine Park Railroad)

I am already feeling the holiday spirit and am pleased to announce a giveaway hosted by the Irvine Park Railroad! I’m giving away 4 tickets for the Christmas Train, 6 Christmas Activity tickets, 1 Wheel Fun Rentals® at Irvine Park bike rental (excludes the double surrey), and 1 Wheel Fun Rentals® at Irvine Park paddle boat rental! Just enter below on the Rafflecopter! Good luck and happy beginning of the holiday season!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dogs and professional videography/photography are prohibited. Hours are subject to change without notice. The Christmas Tree Ranch is open weather permitting.

Annual Irvine Park Railroad events include the Christmas Train, Anniversary Celebration, Easter Eggstravaganza and Pumpkin Patch.
Visit Irvine Regional Park’s other activities including Wheel Fun Rentals® at Irvine Park — fun and unique bike rentals that can be enjoyed by single riders or an entire family — paddle boat rentals, the Orange County Zoo and pony rides.
Irvine Park Railroad is located inside of Irvine Regional Park. The address is:

Irvine Park Railroad
1 Irvine Park Road
Orange, CA 92869

Become a fan of Irvine Park Railroad on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Flickr.

For pricing, park directions and complete details, please visit http://www.IrvineParkRailroad.com.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend a media event as a guest of Irvine Park Railroad and given information to share with my readers. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas at Disneyland Resort!

November 3, 2014 / Disney, Disney, Disney, Orange County, Travel, Uncategorized

It’s only November 2nd and Christmas is popping up already, all around Disneyland Resort with a heavy emphasis over in Toontown! Yep! I really couldn’t be happier about it, either!

We ventured into Toontown this morning to ride Gadget’s Go Coaster and I immediately noticed the decorations on the firehouse! As I looked around, I could see that there were beautiful garlands hanging on the boughs of the buildings and houses in Toontown!

I loved the patriotic decorations hanging on Toontown City Hall. I was lucky enough to catch Pluto peeking out of the door when I was standing there! He gave me a big hug and then stopped to take a selfie with me before continuing on his way!

I think my most favorite parts in Toontown were the decorations on Mickey and Minnie’s houses! They’re so lucky that they each get their own Christmas tree in their front yard!

Mickey’s house is all ready for the holidays!

How adorable is Minnie’s house? The CM told us that Minnie was up late last night working on that heart-shaped wreath!

Disneyland Resort is most definitely “My Happy Place” but with Christmas decorations slowly appearing all around the parks, it Just Got Happier! I can’t wait to go back soon and see it when everything is decorated for Christmas!

Do YOU have a favorite part about Christmas time at Disneyland Resort?

The 13th Annual Tree Lighting Concert at The Citadel Outlets on November 8!

November 2, 2014 / Lifestyle, Los Angeles

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I was provided with information and details about this event to share with my readers. All opinions are 100% my own.

If you’re looking for a fun way to kick off the holiday season with something fun, you should consider attending the 13th Annual Tree Lighting Concert on November 8, at the Citadel Outlets! This event has become a holiday tradition in Los Angeles and is expected to draw over 20 thousand attendees to witness the lighting of the World’s Tallest Live Cut Christmas Tree (115-ft), see the World’s Largest Bow atop the Citadel wall and enjoy the free, outdoor concert headlined by country star Jana Kramer, The Voice’s Christina Grimmie, YouTube sensation Cimorelli, pop boy band After Romeo and X Factor’s Josh Levi.

Presented by AMP 97.1 and FOX 11, television personalities Tony McEwing and Maria Sansone and radio personality McCabe will host the night’s events. Immediately following the concert performances, Tony & Maria will direct attention to center court where guests will be invited to participate in a countdown leading up to the lighting of the World’s Tallest Live Cut Christmas Tree.

The Citadel Outlets’ record-breaking tree is an impressive 115 feet talk and is sourced from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. It spans 20 feet longer than an NBA basketball court and stands at twice the size of the famous Hollywood Sign. In addition, the center’s Christmas tree is 40-feet taller than the Rockefeller Christmas Tree in New York City. In addition to hosting the World’s Tallest Live Cut Christmas Tree, Citadel Outlets is also home to the World’s Largest Bow. Sitting atop the iconic Citadel wall overlooking the 5 Freeway, the World’s Largest Bow is 36 feet wide by 21 feet tall with 18 loops and two 72-feet long tails that drape down the front of the building. Over 4,000 cans of red paint and primer and one half-ton of glitter were used to cover the striking accouterment.

Event attendees are encouraged to bring gift donations for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. To maintain safety and well being of CHLA patients, only new and unwrapped toys will be accepted. Please note that CHLA cannot accept stuffed toys or toys with small pellets or beans. All donations should be non-toxic, free of sharp edges and cannot promote violence and/or aggressive behaviors. Thanks to generous supporters CHLA is able to gift approximately 80,000 toys per year.

Previous headline performers to grace the Citadel Outlets’ stage include Jesse McCartney (2013), Ariana Grande (2012), Big Time Rush (2010), Justin Bieber (2009), Ashley Tisdale (2009), Demi Lovato (2008) and many more.

This year’s star-studded line-up includes:

After Romeo – The Los Angeles-based, five-person boy band reached number one on the MTV music charts with Free Fall. After Romeo’s songs have been playing on-air Radio Disney and have reached number six on their countdown. Hits singles include Love on Lock, One Night and Save Some Snow.

Josh Levi – The Houston native triple threat began dancing, singing and acting at age five. Levi had a recurring role on NBC’s hit series “Friday Night Lights.” In 2013 he began focusing on his singing career and also competed in season 3 of X Factor where judge extraordinaire, Simon Cowell stated, “we might just be looking at the next big star.”

Cimorelli – Winners of 2013 Teen Choice Awards for Choice Web Star, Cimorelli is a six-woman band comprised of sisters with a passion for singing. With almost 3 million subscribers on YouTube and music deal with Universal Records, Cimorelli is enjoying a meteoric rise. They are set to release their latest EP, Renegade, on October 27, 2014.

Christina Grimmie – The American singer/songwriter finished in third place on Season 6 of NBC’s The Voice. Grimmie’s studio version of her performances reached top 10 on iTunes charts. She released Must Be Love early in July and has been touring with previous contestants of The Voice.

Jana Kramer – The Country-singing sensation and One Tree Hill star’s hit “Why Ya Wanna” reached number 3 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart and has grown in popularity ever since. In 2013 Kramer won Top New Female Artist at the American Country Music Awards. She is currently on tour performing her new songs Deal Breaker, Pop That Bottle and Don’t Touch My Radio.

Citadel Outlets is located just off the Interstate 5, just 10 minutes south of downtown Los Angeles, at Atlantic Blvd North at100 Citadel Drive, Suite 480 Los Angeles, CA 90040. For more information please visit http://www.citadeloutlets.com. For updates on the tree lighting ceremony and holiday concert, please follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CitadelOutlets.

All images property of Blaze PR and The Citadel Outlets.

Keep Calm and Grab a 2015 Knott’s Season Pass Now at Their Lowest Prices of the Year!

November 2, 2014 / Knott's

Now that Halloween’s over, it’s officially “that time of year” again…time to start thinking about what to get for everyone on your holiday shopping list! I know what the people in my family are asking for this year….a Knott’s Season Pass!

(image by Over the Top Kid)

If you haven’t seen what amazing prices Knott’s is offering their 2015 Season Passes at right now, you need to! Right now, the Regular Season Pass is available for 9 low monthly payments of $8.50! I know there are many families who can appreciate the option of that payment plan, too. It’s such an affordable price and something that you could buy for your whole family to enjoy together, over and over. This is the lowest pass of the year and will go up after November 4th. Another amazing offer this year is Knott’s Season Pass With An All-Season Dining Plan! The plan includes one lunch and one dinner (beverages are not included) at participating locations throughout the park, every day you visit Knott’s Berry Farm in 2015 and can be purchased as an $11 add-on to your Season Pass. Meals can be a big expense during a visit to an amusement park, so this is a really great deal, too!

Our family recently spent a really fun day together at Camp Spooky, which is a non-scary way to celebrate Halloween time together at Knott’s. We can’t wait to go back next year and create even more memories together!

It’s so much fun for me to be able to watch my own daughter enjoy some of the same rides at Knott’s that I enjoyed as a kid. I also adore that she loves Snoopy and all of the other Peanuts character that I grew up with.

The 2015 Knott’s Season Pass also includes one 2014 visit. (additional days in 2014 can also be purchased for only $9.99 each) Here are some of the other Season Pass benefits:

unlimited visits to Knott’s in 2015
early ride times
food and merchandise discounts
Knott’s Hotel discounts
Scary Farm 2015 ticket discounts
Bring a Friend Days
Access to special Season Pass events and surprises
Access to Knott’s great seasonal offerings, including Knott’s Camp Spooky, Knott’s Merry Farm and Knott’s Berry Bloom
Option to add on unlimited access to Soak City OC
Option to add on a dining plan for only 9 easy payments of $11

Why not grab 2015 passes for your family now and use your 2014 visit to experience Knott’s during their annual Knott’s Merry Farm celebration, beginning at the end of November? Whatever you do, you might want to hurry up and grab this deal before November 4th, when the prices increase! For more information about Knott’s Season Passes, click here.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own.