Are you looking for something fun to do with your kids this winter break?
The California Science Center loves our furry friends as much as you do, therefore they are celebrating dogs at their museum, in Los Angeles!
Dogs! A Science Tail exhibit is in it’s final weeks (ends Jan. 5th), and you don’t want to miss it. Have you ever wondered about your dog’s natural instincts and how he sees the world? This educational experience is loads of fun, and great for the entire family!
My youngest has been begging visit this exhibit, therefore we will head on over during his holiday break. He’s been working really hard this school semester, so he certainly deserves this little treat.
Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a family 4 Pack to this fun exhibit!
Thank you California Science Center for partnering with Queen Bee Latina for this giveaway!
About Exhibit
Sniff out the science behind our puppy love! Let curiosity be your guide and discover life from a dog’s point of view in Dogs! A Science Tail. Experience the extraordinary way a dog sees, hears, and smells the world through fun and unique hands-on exhibits in this 9,000 sq. ft. exhibition for humans. From lovable companions to loyal protectors, dogs evolved from ancient wolves into the cuddly canines that live and work alongside us today. Unearth the science beneath our enduring bond and dig deeper into these incredible animals. You will never look at dogs the same way again!
This fun interactive exhibit is great for the entire family!
Enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a family 4 pack to Dogs! A Science Tail
Please note: Humans only! Service dogs that have been individually trained to work or perform tasks for a guest with a disability are welcome, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Pets, comfort animals, emotional support animals, or therapy animals are not allowed, for the safety of the exhibit animals in the Science Center’s World of Life and Ecosystems exhibitions.
Address: 700 Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037
Last month, we had a one-of-a-kind experience celebrating Crayola Glitter Dots at JMP Creative’s “The Magic Workshop” in Irvine, California! We spent a a magical day playing with Crayola Glitter Dots, and took a VIP tour of their insanely cool toy inventor’s workshop.
Check out our photo recap below!
Thank you Crayola Glitter Dots for inviting us to create with you at the JMP Creative Magic Workshop! All opinions are my own.
These sparkly, squishy dots create 3D effects on all kinds of surfaces. Check out our Glitter Craft Kits, Sparkly Supply Sets, and more items for fun ways to make glitter art and DIY glitter crafts. Squish and spread the Glitters Dots, and let the dazzling designs sparkle.
There were so many adorable photo ops. JMP Creative’s The Magic Workshop is an amazing wonderland for toy inventing and content creators!
Why creating is so important
Creating art may boost young children’s ability to analyze and problem-solve. Fostering creativity increases your child’s confidence. You’re also helping him develop mentally, socially, and emotionally.
Kids can increase their artistic skills while enhancing cognitive development when participating in art creation. They learn colors, values, shapes, and drawing while practicing critical thinking skills (this is so important). Let your kids find out what happens when they mix colors together. Not to mention, art is a lot of fun!
We had a blast playing, creating, and taking fun pictures with Crayola!
Thank you Crayola for a fun filled magical day! We can’t wait to create more!
Last week, I headed to Huntington Park High School to meet with the incredible students and staff. The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation and Ford Motor Company Fund donated $20k worth of musical instruments to Huntington Park High School! This wonderful program brings awareness and emphasizes the importance of music education in public schools.
Sadly, many public schools have begun to exclude music and the arts from their curriculums to make room for other subjects. The arts is an extremely important for children to learn and can lead to healthier brain development, increases in human connections, and even stress relief.
The talented culinary students, greeted us with incredible smiles and a delicious breakfast. The school had a wonderful vibe and great school spirit.
The educational panel was moderated by actress, entrepreneur, and singer Jackie Cruz. (Orange is the New Black)
Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY nominee Angela Aguilar shared her experience about the road to success with the Huntington Park students.
Angela spoke very passionately with students. She has been training since the early age of three, but expressed that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible. She was all giggles when a Huntington Park High School student invited her to his prom.
The students were absolutely ecstatic when Angela Aguilar and her brother Leonardo performed for the Huntington Park students.
Since the beginning of the partnership in 2014, more than 6,000 students have benefited from the donation of more than $400,000 worth of musical instruments to schools in U.S. cities such as Aransas Pass, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and New York; as well as internationally in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; and Arecibo, Bayamón, Humacao and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
It was a very memorable moment, and I was so happy to be part of it. Go Spartans!
ABOUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUND
As the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund’s mission is to strengthen communities and help make people’s lives better. Working with dealers and nonprofit partners in 63 countries, Ford Fund provides access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential. Since 1949, Ford Fund has invested more than $2 billion in programs that support education, promote safe driving, enrich community life and encourage employee volunteering. For more information, visit www.fordfund.org or join us at @FordFund on Facebook and Instagram and @fordfund_ on Twitter.
Disclosure: Thank you Disney Book Group for sponsoring this post.
My son is taking the Percy Jackson summer reading challenge and he just finished reading the first book, “The Lightning Thief.” He is hooked on this adventurous series, and can’t wait to go on to the next book!
I’m challenging my son to finish the Percy Jackson series before summer’s end, and I encourage you to do the same with your kids!
Andrew has only been on summer break for a week, and I am trying my best to keep him occupied. We decided it would be fun to make our very own Percy Jackson and the Olympians board game together. I also thought that it would be a great idea to incorporate trivia questions to help him with comprehension.
Summer reading is critical for students to retain the skills learned in the previous school year. Children who don’t read are at risk of falling behind their classmates. Parents can avoid this by making sure kids take time to read. One great way to get your kids excited about reading is to create a game based on the books they’re planning to tackle this summer!
I have attached some printables and trivia questions to this post to help you and your child create a Percy Jackson & the Olympians game like ours!
Here is a list of things you will need to get started:
Blank board game or large poster board
Colored construction paper & glitter
Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
Stickers or computer image printouts
Glue stick
Dice and/or spinner
Instructions for making your game board:
Create a Percy Jackson & the Olympians “world.” Use your images, stickers, paint and glitter to make the board colorful and unique. Cut 1.5 x 1.5 inch squares, and create a path with a game beginning and end. There is no right or wrong when creating your own game board. The point is to be creative and have fun!
We found this blank board game containing game pieces, blank cards, blank spinner & dice online!
We took out paint and glitter, and printed images relating to the Percy Jackson series like lightning bolts and ocean waves. Feel free to use any of the printables I have attached here when making your own game.
Throughout our path of squares that lead from start to finish, we added directions like “Back 2 Spaces”, “Draw an adventure card,” or “Take a spin!”
Instructions for making your spinner:
If you land on “Take a spin!”, you spin the wheel to determine what to do. Divide your spinner into 4 – 6 sections, which you can differentiate by color.
Then we wrote in various game options like:
Go forward 1 space
Go back 2 spaces
Go to the “Underworld” and lose a turn
Take an adventure card!
Andrew also added a rock, paper, scissors option to our spinner!
If you don’t have a spinner, you can still play! Just fill in each of the white squares with directions similar to what would go on the spinner so that on every turn you land on something.
Instructions for making your “Adventure Cards”:
I used Quizlet Online to create my own flashcards of Percy Jackson & the Olympians trivia! Here are some trivia questions to get you started. Print themhere. Click here for quiz cards on the characters from Percy Jackson & the Olympians.
When it’s your turn, and the square or spinner tells you to take an adventure card, you must answer a trivia question in order to move forward in the game. (If you get it right on the first try, move forward 3 squares! If you get it right on the second try, move forward 1 square. If you miss the question after 3 tries, go back two squares.)
Print Instructions: Use the print option shown above.
GAME RULES: Here are the instructions to the game we created. Feel free to use them or modify as you like!
Up to 4 players (participants must be familiar with the book series to play)
1st player throws the dice. If the dice lands on an odd number, move forward 1 space. If it lands on an even number, move forward 2 spaces. Player must follow the instruction of the square they land on (i.e. “Take a Spin!” or “Back 2 Spaces”. If they “Take a Spin!” they must also follow the instruction of what the arrow lands on.
A family that reads together, stays together!
We had so much fun as a family playing our Percy Jackson & the Olympians board game.
Read the 5-book series that has been on the New York Times bestseller list for over 500 weeks!
Learn about Greek Mythology as the Percy Jackson series offers readers a fresh and exciting way to learn about the Olympians, the Titans, the Minotaur, and more while enjoying a fast-paced, highly entertaining adventure!
Who: With HULU, Jim Henson’s Studio, and Blogger Friends
Why: To Celebrate Season 2 Premiere on May 25th by using the hashtag #Doozers
We will be talking about DOOZERS, about Jim Henson’s Productions, and handing out AWESOME door prizes!
Earlier this week we headed to Los Angeles, California to get a sneak peek of Hulu’s Season 2 of DOOZERS! There are so many surprises in these upcoming episodes, it will not disapoint fans.This Pod Squad loves to DESIGN, CREATE, and INNOVATE! These DOOZERS are DOERS – they put their ideas into action. This show has an amazing STEM initiative that educates and inspires kiddos!
Disclosure: Thank you Hulu & Jim Henson’s Productions for inviting me to your DOOZERS Season 2 Party. I received compensation for this post.
DOOZERS is an animated preschool series for kids featuring four best friends who live in Doozer Creek, a wonderful blending a the fantastical, modern and eco-friendly community. Dubbed “the Pod Squad,” Spike, Molly Bolt, Flex and Daisy Wheel bounce from one fabulous kid adventure to the next. Like a scout troop, the Pod Squad engages in exciting projects and has a blast playing together. The series celebrates the spirit of being an innovator and inspires all kids to have an “I can do it” attitude. These DOOZERS are DOERS and put their ideas into action!
There were so many yummy treats!
How cute are these little ants on a log?
My son had a great time making crafts and spending quality time with his papi!
I am senior in high school, and I will be attending a Cal State University in the fall. It’s definitely been a journey, both emotionally and academically. Deciding which school would be a right fit for me, has definitely been a challenge. Recently, the editors of Seventeen Magazine released a new book entitled Seventeen: College Goals, an insiders guide to finding and getting into a school you’ll love. Upon reading it, I am in awe with the resources it provides. It gives me the tools to take on University in terms of study hacks, self care, sex, adulting, drugs and alcohol prevention.
My parents have always stressed the importance of education. After my SAT and ACT prep classes, my mother would feed me and show me how to make protein packed wraps, chicken noodle soup, tofu and other Pinterest worthy meals to prepare me for college. At each of these meals, she would teach me something new that she felt would be vital to my college experience. She would even talk about topics that are considered taboo in my Hispanic culture.
A copy of Seventeen: College Goals and a $50 dollar Visa Gift Card for all your hard work after SATs, ACTs, and for making it through this school year! (U.S. addresses only)
Disclosure: Bluestreak Books is partnering with me for a giveaway and is providing a Seventeen: College Goals prize pack for one of my lucky readers!
With SATs, ACTs, AP courses, and studying this school year has been just a little insane!
As a very anxious student, I have only known a few self-care coping mechanisms:
1. Cry
2. Binge on junk food
3. Watch 500 Days of Summer until my little brother tackles me for the remote
After reading Seventeen Magazine tips, I realize how unhealthy these coping mechanisms are, and how I can better my life with simple things such as eating healthy, maintaining a sleeping schedule, and taking care, and loving my body!
This school year is BIG for me, and I am both excited and nervous at the same time. I have so much on my mind. I am thrilled that I now have an all- in- one journal/guide to place my thoughts, dreams, and goals!
This incredible book makes a great birthday, graduation, and or a just cuz gift!
The only thing standing between you and that college life is figuring out where you might want to go, completing your applications, writing a killer essay, scoring solid test scores, shining in your activities, getting glowing recommendations, and . . . okay, that’s a lot. But even though being accepted into college can seem big and overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be.
That’s where Seventeen: College Goals comes in. This stress-free guide—part-planner, part-journal—will help walk you through the step-by-step process of applying to colleges. There are pages filled with practical cheat sheets, handy life hacks, thoughtful tips, fun quizzes, inspiring quotes from your favorite celebs and leaders, and prompts that will push you to self-reflect. (After all, that’s what college essays are all about!) This way, you can freak out less about if you’ll get in, and actually start thinking about which school’s offer you’re going to accept.
I’m counting down the days to graduation!
When I start attending Cal State, I think I will be slightly more at ease with this book. Not having my mom around will definitely be a struggle as she truly is my best friend, my mentor, and my biggest supporter. This little book will help me organize my thoughts, help with decision making, and reassure me that this is only the beginning of my future…
If so… You need to take them Storymakery in Irvine!
When I was little girl, my cousins and I told elaborate stories around our family’s campfire. We let our imaginations run free and we told stories about ghosts, fairies, and mystic lands. It would have been wonderful to have been able to document our tales. Now imagine, you can actually get your child’s stories published in a book! I recently took my son to Storymakery at Irvine Spectrum, and I was thrilled to discover this incredible place…
Storymakery is a creative space that allows children to create and make their dreams into reality. Creative writing allows children to express themselves artistically, and inspires them to dream BIG!
Thank you Storymakery for inviting my son to publish a book. All opinions are my own.
Storymakery is the FIRST self-publishing destination experience for kids. Children make their own character and build their own stories with their Muses. They have several experiences tailored to age and budget.
The store was bright, colorful, and dreamy. It was a great place to get my son’s creative juices flowing. He was ecstatic about getting started, and the friendly staff walked him through and assisted him throughout the entire process.
I could see my son’s wheels spinning as he created the characters for his book. I loved to see him in his creative zone and in deep thought.
My kiddo absolutely loved illustrating the characters for his book. The computer program was easy to use, and he was able to make each one of his characters unique. He created a wonderful adventure about a Wizard Dragon named Jeff.
We chose the hard cover for my son’s book because we wanted it to be durable and long lasting. The final product was incredible, and we were thrilled with the outcome.
My son could not wait to show his book to our family and friends!
During our visit, the children had the opportunity to meet guest author Lauren Jolliffe. She read her story, “The Adventures of Aunty Apple.”
Storymakery offers Young Author camps and after-school programs! They cover creative writing, story development and self-expression like no other writing class. Children make multiple books.
Storymakery Offers Birthday Parties!
Whether your child loves superheroes, pirates, mermaids or princesses, Storymakery will make their dreams come to life! They have fun options that span informal outings to themed birthday parties. Ages 1-12.
My son had a fantastic time at Storymakery, and he can’t wait to go back and create another adventure!
825 Spectrum Center Dr
(Irvine Spectrum Center)
IRVINE, CA 92618, USA
(949) 431-5061
email: [email protected]
My son has been attending Mathnasium in Laguna Niguel, two times a week for last two months. This Math tutoring program has been extremely beneficial to my son, and he has improved in mathematics tremendously. In fact, we have decided to officially enroll our child in the program.
Last week, I met with the director of the program to check on my son’s progress. I was pleased to learn that in the short amount of time, he has improved by exactly twenty percent! (After two months, Mathnasium conducts a partial assessment to check the student’s progress, and a final assessment is given after a year)
This school year my son started fourth grade, and he has been introduced to more complex and difficult math concepts. Initially, he was struggling and was a bit discouraged in school. Just when we started to look for a math tutor, Mathnasium in Laguna Niguel came to the rescue! We were thrilled to learn about this incredible math center in OC. It is staffed by college-educated, Mathnasium-certified instructors who work with each child individually.
At Mathnasium, my son is taught by caring and knowledgeable instructors well-versed in integrating Mathnasium’s techniques with the math curriculum used in local Orange County schools.
Compensation: Thank you Mathnasium for letting my son try your tutoring service for free. All opinions are my own.
The program began with an assessment to determine his current math level. This assessment is designed to pinpoint a child’s strengths and weaknesses. These results provide the foundation from which Mathnasium constructs the student’s customized learning plan for each child.
During the two month trial period, he worked several math topics including: addition, subtraction, multi-digit multiplication, inequality symbols, skip counting, division, naming fractions, inequality symbols and so much more…
The Mathnasium Method uses a unique combination of mental, verbal, visual, tactile, and written techniques to help children really understand math, and has been developed over more than 40 years of practical experience with thousands of students.
The first half of the hour session my son worked on math concepts. The second half he used to work on homework. Also, when he had an upcoming math exam he took his study guide to review with his tutor.
Prizes and Incentives!
My son is given prizes and candy for his hard work and good behavior. After each session, he looks forward to spinning the wheel for a candy. Also, my son’s math worksheet and a card is stamped. This accumulation of stamped cards can go towards redeeming a big prize.
This prize system definitely motivates my son to work harder, and to be on his best behavior. He often looks at the games a toys on display with glistening eyes. I can see him makes a mental notes of the prizes he desires.
In the short amount of time that my son has been enrolled in the program, his improvement in Math has not gone unnoticed. He recently received this award at school. Since starting Mathnasium, he has become more confident and enthused about going to school!
My son’s overall experience has been positive, encouraging, and promising. My kiddo raves about his tutors and looks forward to going every week! As a mom, I am thrilled about his progress and the self-confidence he has gained.
If your child struggles in Math, this place is to take your child for exceptional tutoring!
This school year my son started fourth grade, and he has been introduced to more complex and difficult math concepts. He began the school year with some struggles, and he was a bit discouraged. On test days I noticed a pattern. He would say, “Mom I don’t feel well. I don’t want to go to school today.” As a mom, it saddened me t0 see how this affected his confidence level.
Just when we started to look for a math tutor, Mathnasium in Laguna Niguel came to the rescue! We were thrilled to learn about this incredible math center in OC. It is staffed by college-educated, Mathnasium-certified instructors who work with each child individually.
The program began with an assessment to determine his current math level. This assessment is designed to pinpoint a child’s strengths and weaknesses. These results provide the foundation from which Mathnasium constructs the student’s customized learning plan.
My son learns math in a friendly, productive learning environment and are taught by caring and knowledgeable instructors well-versed in integrating Mathnasium’s techniques with the math curriculum used in local Orange County schools.
Compensation: Thank you Mathnasium for letting my son try your tutoring service for free. All opinions are my own.
My kiddo raves about his tutors and looks forward to going every week!
I love the fact that the program is tailored to my son’s individual needs, and he can also take in his homework to work on as well. The instructors spend the first half of the time working on his math gaps. During the second half of instruction, he is working on his homework given to him in class.
The Mathnasium Method™ uses a unique combination of mental, verbal, visual, tactile, and written techniques to help children really understand math and has been developed over more than 40 years of practical experience with thousands of students.
I love the time flexibility and the fact that my son can go on weekends…
After starting this wonderful program, I know my kiddo will get the tools he needs to be successful. But most importantly, he will be confident and be more enthused about school!
Mathnasium focuses solely on math and operates on the core belief that virtually any child can excel in the subject. The Mathnasium Method™, implemented at more than 700 Mathnasium centers in the U.S. and abroad, is a unique program that provides each child with a customized learning plan and personalized instruction in a way that makes sense to them.
Since 2010, Mathnasium of Laguna Niguel has provided quality math tutoring and homework help to students in Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills and Aliso Viejo. We’ve won many awards, including Best Instructional Team, Top Performing Franchisee, Best Multi-Center Performance, Best Innovation, and Best Communication.
After starting this wonderful program, I know my kiddo will get the tools he needs to be successful. But most importantly, he will be confident and be more enthused about school!