Are you looking for hotels near Knott's Berry Farm? The Marriott Courtyard Buena Park is just down the street. It's clean, comfortable & has great …
Hotels Near Knott’s Berry Farm: Marriott Courtyard Buena ParkRead More
Homeschooling at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Are you a homeschooling family looking for fun, educational field trip ideas? Check out our recommendations for homeschooling at the Monterey Bay …
Pirate’s Dinner Adventure Christmas Show
Are you looking for family fun in Buena Park, CA? The Pirate's Dinner Adventure Show is where it's at! You get a meal and an interactive show for one …
Create Family Memories at Knott’s Merry Farm
Are you looking for a fun way to create family memories in Southern California? Knott's Merry Farm is full of fun activities, thrills and holiday …
Four Seasons Westlake Village Let It Snow Event
Looking for a magical holiday experience for your family to enjoy? The Winter Wonderland Package at the Four Seasons Westlake Village is so much …
Kia Sedona: The Ultimate Family Roadtrip Vehicle
Are you looking for the ultimate family roadtrip vehicle? Then you need to drive a Kia Sedona. This minivan is spacious, comfortable and has all the …
Our Family Picnic at Point Lobos State Reserve
Are you planning a trip to Carmel by the Sea? Then you need to visit Point Lobos State Reserve and have a family picnic in nature! It's so …
An Evening of Divine Food and Wine Tasting in Carmel and Monterey
Are you planning a vacation to Carmel and Monterey, CA soon? Then you'll want to enjoy the wonderful dining and wine tasting in Carmel and …
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Family Friendly Travel at the Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel by the Sea
Are you looking for a wonderful, family friendly hotel in Carmel by the Sea? Then look no further than the Hofsas House. Read about our vacation in …
Family Friendly Travel at the Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel by the SeaRead More
A Rich History: Hofsas House in Carmel by the Sea
Are you looking for a hotel in Carmel by the Sea that's rich in history? Hofsas House is the place you want to stay! Read about the history of Hofsas …
Best Western Plus Peppertree Inn: Family Friendly Santa Barbara Hotel
Are you looking for a family friendly Santa Barbara Hotel for your next family vacation? Read about our experiences at the Best Western Plus …
Best Western Plus Peppertree Inn: Family Friendly Santa Barbara HotelRead More
12 Family Friendly Activities in Santa Barbara
Thank you to Visit Santa Barbara for helping us coordinate our trip to Santa Barbara and suggesting so many great family friendly activities in Santa …
The Best Way to Go Wine Tasting in Santa Barbara
Thank you to Visit Santa Barbara for coordinating our adventures in wine tasting in Santa Barbara on the Urban Wine Trail! Do you enjoy going wine …
How This Little Blog Allows Our Family to Travel
When Chrystal started this blog almost 7 1/2 years ago, we had no idea what was in store for us or the amazing adventures and opportunities that would …
Is the 2016 Kia Soul Right for You?
It's been 2 years since I last drove a Kia Soul. Last month I had the opportunity to drive a 2016 Kia Soul for a week, and I have to say it was pretty …
Our Cross Country Roadtrip in the 2017 Hyundai Elantra Eco
Looking for an eco-friendly car that can comfortably take you on an 11-state tour through the US? Check out how the Hyundai Elantra Eco stacks …
Our Cross Country Roadtrip in the 2017 Hyundai Elantra EcoRead More
2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD: A Great Compact SUV for Families
I have had the pleasure of test driving many SUVs and Compact SUVs over the last few years. I have very much enjoyed some of them and others have …
2016 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD: A Great Compact SUV for FamiliesRead More
Mommy Daughter Road Trips to Knott’s Merry Farm & Aquarium of the Pacific
The girls and I have got quite a routine down with our road trips. We've been doing more and more together, even when Daddy is out of town, and we …
Mommy Daughter Road Trips to Knott’s Merry Farm & Aquarium of the PacificRead More
Modeling for Little Skye Children’s Clothing Boutique
This was a sponsored post we did for Little Skye Children's Clothing Boutique that was originally published on Happy Mothering. Since this was a …
Modeling for Little Skye Children’s Clothing BoutiqueRead More
Things to Do in Boulder on a Girls Weekend Getaway
In college, I had two very best friends. The 3 of us were inseparable. If it happened that only 2 of us were out and about on campus, people asked …
2016 Kia Sorento SXL: Nearly Perfect for Our Lifestyle
A couple years ago, I had the opportunity to drive the 2014 Kia Sorento and absolutely fell in love with it. If I could have kept that Kia Sorento, I …
2016 Kia Sorento SXL: Nearly Perfect for Our LifestyleRead More
Family Trip to Vegas in the Hyundai Azera Limited
The Hyundai Azera Limited was the absolute perfect car for our Las Vegas Family Vacation. Sleek and stylish barely begins to describe the all new …
Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa: Fun for Mom & Dad
If you enjoyed reading about our room and activities for kids during our stay at Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa, then you'll love this one - fun for …
Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa: Fun with the Kids
This is part 2 in a 3-part series about our stay at Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa. We are so grateful they hosted part of our stay - we had a …
Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa: Checking In and Our Room
Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa is an absolutely wonderful destination for the entire family if you're planning a Las Vegas family vacation. This …
Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa: Checking In and Our RoomRead More
Family Fun at Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix
The Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix Family Fun Center is a great place to take the kids during the day if both parents and kids like to have fun. When we …
GO Card Las Vegas: The Best Entertainment Value on the Strip
The Go Card Las Vegas is hands down one of the best deals - if not the best deal in Las Vegas - you will find. If you go to Las Vegas and don't use …
GO Card Las Vegas: The Best Entertainment Value on the StripRead More
Buddy V’s Ristorante: The Cake Boss Knows Family Dining in Las Vegas
When looking for a good restaurant that's family friendly in Las Vegas, it's hard to know what's what when it comes to non-chain restaurants. And if …
Buddy V’s Ristorante: The Cake Boss Knows Family Dining in Las VegasRead More
How to Plan a Las Vegas Family Vacation with Kids
Are you planning a Las Vegas family vacation? There are so many things to do in Las Vegas with Kids. Read about Vegas hotels, restaurants and …
Staying on the Las Vegas Strip with Kids at Circus Circus
When staying on the Las Vegas Strip with kids there are many things to consider. When we decided to go ahead and take our trip to Las Vegas we decided …
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Kia Sportage SX: My New Favorite Crossover SUV
I have made no effort to hide how much I love the Kia vehicles I have driven. I finally had the chance to drive the 2015 Kia Sportage SX. It did not …
Stride Rite Made 2 Play Shoes are Perfect for Active Kids
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stride Rite that was originally published on Happy Mothering. Zoë loved modeling for photos when …
Stride Rite Made 2 Play Shoes are Perfect for Active KidsRead More
Hyundai Accent: Best Subcompact Car I’ve Driven So Far
The 2015 Hyundai Accent GLS is one of the best subcompact cars I’ve driven. Usually when I think of a “subcompact” car I’m picturing a super small, …
Hyundai Accent: Best Subcompact Car I’ve Driven So FarRead More
Family Friendly Museums in San Diego
Thank you to the San Diego Tourism Authority for providing us with 2 Media Passes for some of these San Diego attractions and museums. Can you …
Appreciating My Family for Its Unique Qualities + Quirks
All families have their own unique qualities and quirks that define who they are. My family is no different. I grew up in a family where there was …
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2015 Mazda5 Review: An Affordable Minivan for Families
Do you know how long it's been since Brian and I had the opportunity to spend a weekend away from home without the girls? Well, I think it was …
2015 Mazda5 Review: An Affordable Minivan for FamiliesRead More
San Diego Road Trip in the Hyundai Sonata Limited
Over Spring Break, the girls and I decided to go spend a week in San Diego. We did lots of fun stuff, spent lots of time with family and I got to …
Appreciating the Beautiful Mess of Parenting
Parenting is the greatest thing I've ever done in my life, but that doesn't mean it's not a mess... a very beautiful mess. We all have our ups …
Get in Touch with Nature at Your Local Park
Today, we're all very connected - electronically. Technology seems to have taken over our lives. Instead of meeting for lunch, we chat on Facebook. …
Kaylee Models Her Janelle Funari Handmade Christmas Dress
My two daughters are very different in how they like dress. Zoë is very much more casual in her style like I am. Kaylee, on the other hand, is a girly …
Kaylee Models Her Janelle Funari Handmade Christmas DressRead More
Zoë and Kaylee’s Bouncy House
It never fails. Every time we drive by a place with a bouncy house, the girls freak out. "Mommy, look a bouncy house! Can we go, can we go? Please, …
Kaylee’s First Day of Pre-School
I have gone back and forth on whether to send Kaylee to pre-school for a while. After we sent Zoë to Kindergarten last year, Kaylee started …
5 Tips for Acting Like a Real Life Princess
This is a sponsored post we did for Disney on Happy Mothering several years ago. The girls were so cute in it, I just couldn't part with it, so I …
Finally a Diagnosis – Neurocardiogenic Syncope
I finally have a diagnosis - neurocardiogenic syncope. Read about what I went through and what the diagnosis means. Back in May, I shared that I …
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a Great Family Vehicle
So we got a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited to review. It's a pretty rad SUV. The power in the Santa Fe surprised me. It has a lot more get up and go …
On the Road in the Hyundai Elantra GT
I got to test drive a 2014 Hyundai Elantra GT and boy was it a fun car to drive. I like performance along with bells and whistles. The Elantra GT …
My Beautiful Girl Graduated Kindergarten!
This time last year, we were debating whether we should homeschool, or send Zoë to the small, private school in town for Kindergarten. After a lot of …
Drive in Luxury & Style in the 2014 Kia Cadenza
When we took our recent trip to San Diego, we had the opportunity to take a 2014 Kia Cadenza along with us on the trip. I was really excited about it …
4 Fun Family Activities in San Diego
Sometimes you just need to get away for a long weekend. Even though we live in a mountain resort town, it's nice to change it up every once in a …
8 Reasons Big Bear is the Best Place to Live in Southern California
I grew up in San Diego, and I've lived all around the county over the years. It's a beautiful place and a lot of people love living there. However, …
8 Reasons Big Bear is the Best Place to Live in Southern CaliforniaRead More
An Update on My Health: I’m Home From the Hospital
As I shared last weekend in this post, I was admitted to the Telemetry Unit at the hospital on Monday for testing. I had never stayed in the …
I’m Facing Uncertain Health Concerns – Positive Thoughts Appreciated
I have always considered myself to be a very fortunate person who is grateful for everything that I have. My health was always one thing I was …
I’m Facing Uncertain Health Concerns – Positive Thoughts AppreciatedRead More
Happy 6th Birthday Zoë!
It's hard to believe this sweet baby... Is now a beautiful little girl... I love you Zoë! Happy Birthday! …
Zoë’s Invention Convention
It's Science Fair at schools across the country. Since Zoë is in Kindergarten this year, I wasn't expecting her to have to create a Science Fair …
Kaylee’s 4th Birthday Party
My baby turned 4 on Valentine's Day - I can hardly believe it! There has been a lot of illness going around town, so we had a small party with a few …
Happy 4th Birthday to My Sweet Kaylee Monkey!
Four years ago today, I was in the hospital in Uruguay, holding my brand new sweet girl Kaylee, and missing my little Zoë who was staying with some of …
Mazda6: A Great Family Car That’s Fun to Drive
I drove the Mazda3 a few months ago and really liked it, so I was excited to have the opportunity to drive a Mazda6 a few weeks ago. Brian, the girls …
Family Fun at the Hollywood Wax Museum
Back when we did a lot of family travel on Happy Mothering, we had the opportunity to visit the Hollywood Wax Museum as part of a sponsored post we …
My Life Could Be a Show About Kids and Bathroom Adventures
I never knew what comedy was before having kids. Seriously, every day in our home is full of laughs and giggles. Not only because we have fun …
My Life Could Be a Show About Kids and Bathroom AdventuresRead More
Kia Forte EX is Fast & Fun to Drive
A few weeks ago, I got to drive my third Kia (I previously drove the Kia Sorento and the Kia Optima Hybrid). This time I got to drive the Kia Forte EX …