Latest Post from Tiny Oranges

The calendar still says May, but we’ve had some beautiful, beach-worthy days here in Southern California. It’s got me thinking of restocking my beach day essentials and heading to the ocean with my kids. So, today I’m highlighting just a few of my favorite things to pack for a (stress free!) beach day with kids.

Beach Day Essentials for Moms

Brush on Block
I love this sunscreen for both my kids and myself. It’s easy to apply and not greasy and doesn’t get in anyone’s eyes. I usually do apply SPF before we leave the house and then take the brush on sunscreen for an easy, no hassle reapply when we’re out.

Melissa and Doug Sand Toys
We received this cupcake sand toy set a few years ago and it is such a hit with kids of all ages. The hardest thing is remembering to pick up all the pieces when I leave.

Baggu
Are you guys familiar with this great line of bags? They’re perfect to have in the car for running errands, and I always take some to the beach to wrap up our wet, sandy items. The bags are machine washable too so they’re easy to clean!

Turkish Towels
My dear friend was born and raised in Turkey and introduced me to these amazing, lightweight Turkish towels. They absorb water surprising fast and dry quickly, while taking up MUCH less space than traditional beach towels. I found these on Etsy, but Bed Bath and Beyond carry a similar style.

Cozy Kids’ Cover-up
J.Crew carries great beach cover-ups for kids and this one happens to be on sale right now. No matter how hot it seems when we leave the house I’m always disappointed if I forget to bring something cozy to wrap around my kids at the end of the day.

Folding Utility Wagon
My husband purchased this wagon two summers ago and we always get asked where we got it when we’re out on the beach. It’s very sturdy and we can put both kids and supplies in it for easy transportation on and off the beach. PS. Pulling it with two kids and supplies is also a great workout!

What are your favorite items for a day at the beach with your kids? Do you have any tips on how to make a beach outing stress free? I’d also love to hear your favorite local beach for kids, I’m always on the hunt for new places.

The Bungalows on Laguna Beach at Pacific Edge Hotel are five uniquely decorated indoor/outdoor beachfront living spaces that can be rented (are you ready for this?)… for the day!! 

Located on the ground floor of one of Laguna’s best located beachfront hotels, these cool retreats give Orange County locals or tourists the opportunity to experience your very own beach house for the day.

Are your wheels turning with how you could use this?

A moms’ day with girlfriends? Your child’s birthday party? An intimate baby shower? A family gathering? Endless opportunities for pull up and park, totally stress-free beachfront fun.

And I haven’t even told you the COOLEST part yet!

Each of the Bungalows on Laguna Beach is individually designed by five local companies who had the opportunity to make a bungalow uniquely “theirs.” They are totally different; but all completely awesome. Here are a few photos…

The Billabong Bungalow:  A Surfer’s Paradise 

The Fox Head, Inc. Bungalow: The Ultimate Man Cave 

The Sleepy Hollow Group Bungalow: Soothing as the Sea

The Hobie & Tuvalu Bungalow: Celebrating 60 Years of Hobie Beach Culture 

 The gorjana & griffin Bungalow: A Modern-Nautical Oasis 

Bungalow day rental includes:

~ Fully private bungalow with keyed access from 11am to 8pm for up to 10 guests
~ Lounge chairs and day beds
~ Beach towels
~ Air conditioning
~ Flat screen TV’s
~ Bottle and food service
~ Direct access to the beach
~ Beach attendant to set up lounge chairs and umbrellas
~ Access to Pacific Edge’s Edge Card, which gives guests discounts at local restaurants and shops
~ 10% discount on guest rooms at the Pacific Edge Hotel

For more information on The Bungalows on Laguna Beach at Pacific Edge Hotel and rental info visit, www.PacificEdgeHotel.com/Bungalows.

[Disclosure: I was invited to attend a media event to preview the Bungalows and received a goodie bag upon departure as a thank you.]

This post is a review of an OC infrared sauna body wrap I recently experienced at Dantian Studio in Costa Mesa, one of Tiny Oranges juicy sponsors.

Dantian Studio offers both a far infrared sauna as well as the far infrared body wrap for those in OC looking to sweat out some toxins. Before I tell you about my treatment, let me tell you a little story about why I needed this so badly.

The other morning we were running a little late for school (again) and in the flurry of  ”Why aren’t you in the car? Where’s your school bag?  Why aren’t you getting buckled?”  I spilled my coffee all over, splashing my clothes on a day I had actually taken a shower before school and actually gotten dressed in real people clothes.

Next thing I know as we are pulling out of the driveway my daughter’s school bag somehow falls forward and into my green smoothie (breakfast). This bag is NOT clean. I had some wipes somewhere at the bottom of the abyss that is the passenger side floor of my car so I was able to salvage her bag, but it had touched my smoothie and contaminated its goodness. So, what did I do? I drank it.

Time for mommy detox.

I had been to a traditional infrared sauna place before but had never heard of a far infrared sauna body wrap, and I was very excited to try it out!  The Dantian Studio experience is centered around health and wellness and this treatment focuses on both of those things.

The far infrared sauna body wrap at Dantian Studio in OC is a serene spa experience.

I was given a plush towel wrap to put on in a cozy room and once situated on the bed, I was wrapped a layer of plastic and then the far infrared wrap over that. I was told if I started to feel a little warm I could remove my arms (which I did a few times).

On a bedside table just to my right was a yummy smelling cold wash cloth, a glass of chilled water and my cell phone.

Jaime (the owner of Dantian Studio) gave me the number to the front desk and said to call if it got to be too much for me.

She did a great job of explaining how it would go: the first 15 minutes I would think, this is relaxing, by 30, I would start to feel very warm, by 30-45 minutes I would be getting quite sweaty and hot and for the last 15 I would feel ready to get out. And she hit the nail on the head!  Knowing what to expect made it easier and more relaxing.

I was scheduled to leave for a wedding in Cabo a couple of days later- so I was thrilled to learn that just a half hour treatment can burn up to 600 calories!  And let me tell you I believe it because I was sweating in there, like, a lot, from everywhere, and it felt good!

After it was over I felt amazing. I took a refreshing cool shower in their tranquil private bathroom with all of their divine products to sample and my skin felt so soft and smooth.

Here’s how Dr. Oz explained the technology in his show on High-Tech Ways to Extend Your Life:

“It makes the same rays that come from the sun and filters out the UV radiation, so it only gives you the infrared radiation.  That radiation that’s infrared goes a little bit into your skin so, without heating you up and the external environment too much, it heats the body up.”

“It gets your heart to beat faster, and it burns calories,” Dr. Oz says.  ”It raises your metabolism a little bit, and also when you sweat, you sweat out the toxins through the skin.”

On the wellness side it can aid with aches, pain, increase circulation, and encourage healing of damaged tissue.

Talk about a detox, I’m sure after that treatment all the yuckiness from my daughter’s school bag was literally left on the spa room bed.

Dantian Studio offers individual sessions, packages of 10 and monthly memberships. Click here for pricing.

[Disclosure: Dantian Studio is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor and I received this treatment complimentary to facilitate this hot review.]

Took this family selfie on the Catalina Flyer on the windy ride home from Catalina Island last weekend. We were blown away by how fun the trip was!

Thanks to Catalina Island Vacation Rentals for hosting our stay. Post to come on all the fun things there are to do on that magical little island paradise ~ only 22 miles away from us!

For more Wordless Wednesday pictures, blow on over to www.angryjuliemonday.com.

One of our sponsors, Abiding Savior Lutheran Church and School, a darling South Orange County Christian school is having a Preschool Information Day coming up next week I wanted to share with you.

Abiding Savior Preschool is a Christ-centered, developmental learning environment for children between the ages of 2.8 to 5 years of age.

My nephew goes to Abiding Savior. Here he is in his class at the front table surrounded by cute girls (smart boy, right?)…

The preschool offers weekly chapel, a vegetable and flower garden, music, indoor and outdoor activities, credentialed teachers, extracurricular activities such as dance, sports and Spanish, along with extended care and summer programs.

You can take your children and learn more at their special information day coming up.

Here is the info:

Abiding Savior Preschool Information Day

Classes for children age 3 to Pre K

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

8:45am – 11:30am

Meet in the Adult Education room for coffee at 8:45am where you will have the opportunity to learn about the program and tour the preschool classrooms. Children are welcome.

Please RVSP to Director of Admissions Paula Carroll at 949-830-1460, ext. 133 or email pcarroll {at} abidingsavior.com.

Preschool Summer Camp 2013

Summer is almost here! If you are looking for a fun Christian preschool summer camp for your kiddo, you have to check out Abiding Savior’s Preschool Summer Camp Program.

Preschool summer camp is open to children who are 3 years old and potty-trained through age 5 and entering Kindergarten in the Fall.

They offer flexible enrollment with 2, 3 and 5-day weekly camp sessions with 3 convenient time options:

Morning only: 9am – 12pm

Morning plus: 9am – 3:30pm

Full day: 7am – 6pm

They also offer optional occasional use of extended care for only $8/hour. Such a nice option for OC mamas!

For those moms interested in looking into South Orange County Christian private schools beyond the preschool years, Abiding Savior has classes up to 8th grade.  Please contact Paula for more information about their wonderful school.

www.AbidingSavior.com 

[Disclosure: Abiding Savior is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor.]