Have you heard the exciting news yet? Dunkin’ Donuts, America’s all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, and Baskin-Robbins, the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, are bringing Orange County’s first Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins multi-brand drive-thru restaurant to Foothill Ranch on October 4. 
The new location will open at 5 a.m. at 26722 Portola Parkway. It’ll offer a full array of both Dunkin’ Donuts’ freshly brewed coffee and delicious baked goods and Baskin-Robbins’ premium ice cream and frozen treats. It’s like a foodie’s dream come true! 
The Foothill Ranch Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant is also the brand’s 100th DD Green™ Achievement location which means it was designed with energy efficient and sustainable elements. A milestone originally planned for the end of 2016, Dunkin’ Donuts is ahead of schedule with integrating this program into its new restaurants nationwide. The Foothill Ranch establishment will feature specialty lighting to reduce energy use, high-efficiency mechanical units, water reduction features and more. 
The first person in both the drive-thru and walk-in line on October 4 will earn a $250 gift card, and the first 200 people in both the lobby and drive-thru will receive a free Dunkin’ Donuts tumbler or a Baskin-Robbins campfire mug. Throughout the day, customers can collect a branded keychain by signing up for DD Perks®, Dunkin’ Donuts’ guest rewards program.
Additionally, attendees will have opportunities to take photos with Dunkin’ Donuts brand mascot, Cuppy, in a photo booth on October 8. Furthermore, the local women’s roller derby team will be passing out delicious beverages as well as Baskin-Robbins ice cream cakes for guests in line on October 4 and 8. To continue the celebration throughout opening week, Dunkin’ fans will receive a free medium hot or iced coffee offer with the purchase of a dozen donuts at this new location from October 4 to 11.
The Foothill Ranch location will be operated by Precision Hospitality & Development. Precision Hospitality & Development became a franchisee in 2014 and has since opened Orange County’s first Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant located in Laguna Hills, as well as a location in Irvine. The group has plans to develop several additional Dunkin’ Donuts locations in both South Orange County and North Los Angeles in the coming years.
Dunkin’ Donuts will mark the occasion with a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 10 a.m., which will be attended by Lake Forest dignitaries. In an effort to contribute to the surrounding area and enjoy the day with community members, the franchisees will also donate $1,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Forest during a check presentation on grand opening day. The donation will further the organization’s efforts to support children’s activities in Lake Forest.
Will you be joining in on the grand opening festivities on Tuesday, October 4th? Hope to see you there bright and early! (opens at 5 a.m.)
For more information about Dunkin’ Donuts, visit http://www.DunkinDonuts.com. Connect with Dunkin’ Donuts on Facebook and Twitter. For more information about Baskin-Robbins, visit http://www.BaskinRobbins.com. Connect with Baskin-Robbins on Facebook and Twitter.
Today I’m sharing 10 things you should check out while you’re at Disneyland Resort during Halloween Time!
Since the majority of the Halloween Time fun is inside Disneyland Park, that’s where we actually spent our day. You should definitely take a photo in front of the giant Mickey Mouse Pumpkin, which is located in Town Square. 
As you skip down Main Street, you’ll see the Main Street Pumpkin Festival. where you’ll find so many adorable and unique, hand-carved jack-o-lanterns. They’re up on the rooftops, inside store windows, and hidden in places you’d never expect. You should definitely find the “Elvis” jack-o-lantern. It’s my favorite one this year!
At the end of Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll find the Partners Statue, featuring Walt and Mickey Mouse. Right now, it’s so festive as it’s surrounded by jack-o-lanterns carved with characters in them. Each one is themed to represent a different “land”. I just love the one with Woody on it!
During Halloween Time, you can find several of the characters dressed in their spooktacular Halloween attire. Don’t forget to grab some pics with them and utilize the Resort’s PhotoPass services. The PhotoPass Photographers have ability to capture your magical memories perfectly and they make for great keepsakes of your trip.
I highly recommend grabbing a FASTPASS® early in the day for Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. It’s located in Tomorrowland and doing so will allow you to have at least one ride secured for the day on one of the most popular attractions.
Over in Frontierland, just next to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, you’ll find a special area set up as a tribute to “Dia de los Muertos“. Although this traditional festive celebration for the “Day of the Dead” isn’t something “Halloween” and is more of a celebration honoring those loved ones who have passed away, the Resort includes “Zocalo Park” in the Halloween Time features in Disneyland Park since it’s celebrated immediately after Halloween. The area is absolutely beautiful to visit. . 
The special area has a beautiful display of some cultural art, “calacas” or skeletons, authentic decor, and even face painting. (free of charge.) You can also enjoy special seasonal food offerings at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante.
Another extra popular attraction this time of year is Haunted Mansion Holiday featuring “A Nightmare Before Christmas”. It’s one of the specially transformed attractions during Halloween Time. (It actually stays up through Christmas as well for obvious reasons). 
There’s an exciting addition this year, too. Sally! (Spoiler alert: You can find her in the graveyard scene inside.) I always enjoy seeing the gingerbread house and checking to see if my name is on the “naughty list” inside this spooky adventure.
There are so many special Halloween Time treats and food offerings this time of year, that it would be impossible to try them all. Well, at least to try them all in just one visit. 
The different collectable popcorn buckets that you’ll find at different locations throughout the Parks are one of the more popular keepsakes, as are the travel mugs.
The Jolly Holiday Bakery is a great place to find a bunch of different sweets, as are several other places at the Resort. For a complete list of Halloween Time food offerings, check out what the Disney Parks Blog says
I think the only thing we didn’t really get to conquer was a ride on The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror over in Disney’s California Adventure. I’m dying to ride on it after dark because they offer “Late Check-Out”, an experience guests have never experienced before and a must-do before The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror approaches its final check-out date on January 2, 2017! Late Check-Out is a chance to venture beyond the fifth dimension into complete darkness! It entails free-falling in the attraction’s haunted elevator shaft with all the lights out! You should definitely try to experience this before it goes away forever! 
All of the previous Halloween Time offerings can be experienced during regular park operating hours. The 10th thing I highly suggest you check out though is 
This all-new take on the SMURFS features an all-star voice cast which includes Demi Lovato (Smurfette), Rainn Wilson (Gargamel), Joe Manganiello (Hefty), Danny Pudi (Brainy) and Jack McBraye (Clumsy), and Mandy Patinkin (Papa Smurf).
Not soon after the preview started to play, I began to worry it would suddenly trigger some questions about babies that I wasn’t ready to answer. I mean, everyone knows what storks traditionally bring but I just wasn’t ready to talk about the topic of “babies”, right then and there! Well, I’m happy to report that it didn’t trigger any unwanted questions from my child. The STORKS preview was so adorable that I couldn’t wait to see the whole movie! 
Fast forward. I was elated to receive a special invitation for my family and I to attend an advanced screening and “Blue Carpet” event for STORKS on the Warner Bros. lot. My daughter was so excited to go, she could hardly sleep the night before!
It’s always exciting to pass the lot when you’re driving in the area, but going inside those gates is way more fun! (Have you ever done a tour of the lot?)
As we proceeded to walk around, we saw some of the characters from the film on movie posters. You’re going to love Tulip, you’re going to love The Gardners, and you’re probably going to fall head over hills with The Baby! and ALL the babies!
Inside the theater, I think there were more kids than adults, anxiously awaiting for it to start. If you’re wondering about whether or not you can take your young kids to see it, I’d say yes. 
There were so many toddlers in the audience with us, and not only were they engaged in the story the entire time, I heard no crying. I don’t believe in spoilers, but as a mom, I would say that this film is “safe” to take kids of all ages to see. (other than your newborn, who isn’t going to be interested in anything for that long).
Here’s a little bit about the STORKS movie:
STORKS is now playing in theaters everywhere. Grab your flock and head out to see it! Don’t forget to come back and tell me your favorite part about the film! 
Visit the STORKS official site 
What I do get most excited about are the beautiful, seasonal colors all around, pumpkins appear in the stores, and the feeling that we’re on fast-forward towards the holiday season! My most favorite part about this time of year though, are the foods, I could spend all day cooking and eating my favorite fall recipes! It’s Fall, Ya’ll! (Grab this free Fall printable, 
One of my most popular recipes to make is my “Bountiful Harvest Salad” made with cranberries and apples. It’s a really light and delicious salad that combines baby lettuce, 
I think it’s the “zing” that make them unique. 1/4 cup of Craisins® Dried Cranberries provides 1/2 cup of fruit. 
Ingredients for salad
The dressing preparation is another step that can be done ahead of time and set aside. I usually double the recipe for the dressing in case I need to whip up another batch of the salad. (I told you it’s very popular at parties!) Whisk together salt, pepper, sugar, and olive oil in a small bowl. Finely chop up parsley and add to the mixture. Shake well before tossing onto the salad. 
Salad Preparation
This “tale as old as time” has always been one of our favorite Disney films to watch as we absolutely adore Belle! She is so beautiful and kind and as a teacher, I love that Belle has such a love for reading! She is absolutely breathtaking in her gown and every time we wave to her in the Disney parade, we can’t help but grin from ear to ear.
In honor of the release of this Disney classic’s 25th anniversary, we made a super cute no-sew Belle hair bow. It was very easy to put make.
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own “Belle Hair Bow”: 
How cute did our “Belle” bow turn out?
The film, starring Dwayne The Rock Johnson & Auli’i Cravalho, tells a beautiful story about an adventurous teenager who, with help from demigod Maui, sails out on a daring mission to prove herself a master wayfinder and save her people. 
Well, I think I’ve found a solution! Charmin® Essentials are here to help! Just look at the size of their rolls! They’re huge! 
I’m not saying that having bigger rolls of toilet paper in my bathrooms is going to motivate my family more to help replace them when they run out, but it’s going to make my job as “toilet paper roll changer” much less demanding! Hehe!
Now you can participate in the #CharminEssentials TP swap! Have you heard about it yet? Charmin is inviting shoppers to upgrade their Angel Soft® for Charmin Essentials Soft and Scott® 1000 for Charmin Essentials Strong. All you have to do to participate is simply Tweet their TP swap out request to @Charmin using the hashtag #CharminEssentials and #Promotion, and Charmin will send you a free roll. For more information about it and to read the terms and conditions of this program, go