Latest Post from Tiny Oranges

Okay, mamas – get ready for my Disney-theme follow-up – this one is all about my tips for visiting Disney California Adventure, a fabulous park that has LOTS of toddler-friendly, fun rides and activities. In case you missed my last post, here are my top 10 tips for visiting Disneyland with toddlers.

Here they are in no particular order…I hope these tips and tricks for visiting Disney California Adventure (or DCA) in Disney lingo!

Don’t Miss These Rides!

1.  “A bug’s land” is a great area for toddlers.  The rides are similar to “Fantasyland” at Disneyland – the Francis’ Ladybug Boogie is like the teacups, the Flik’s Flyers are like Dumbo, and so forth.  My munchkins love this area, and can easily spend awhile here.

Bonus?  There is a small splash pad to let the kids cool off on hot days, so make sure to pack a swimsuit, towels, sunscreen, etc. if you plan on getting wet

Note to mamas – the bug’s It’s Tough to be a Bug “live show” can be scary for little ones – it’s a cute show, but is “underground” and the majority of it is in the dark with…well…bugs.

2.  Cars Land. A super fun “land” that tends to be one of the busiest places in the park to visit since its grand opening.  A word of advice – if you know that the Cars “Radiator Springs Racers” ride is really important to you and your kids, go straight to the FastPass line, like first thing when you enter the park (walk straight in, pass the Carthay Circle Restaurant on your left, and it is tucked in on the left). The ride is pretty awesome, but is typically a 90-minute+ wait.  FastPass is the only way to go, but they run out quickly.

I also have to give a shout-out to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree.  Super cute ride, cute music and cute things to look at in line.

Note to mamas- most of the line is covered – important in warm weather!

If you can, try to be walking along the Cars Land “main drag” at dusk…they light up the streets and play music like they do in the movie (you know what I’m talking about if you’ve seen the movie 83 times, like I have).  Super cool and super cute.

3.  Take a ride with the Little Mermaid – I have never waited more than 10 minutes for this ride (usually five minutes!).  It is air conditioned, adorable, and my kiddos want to go on it multiple times.  Works for me!

Note to mamas – if your kids are uncomfortable in the dark, this ride is not for you.  I wouldn’t consider it scary at all, but you are “under the sea,” and there are pockets of darkness in between the singing and character displays.

4.  Love Toy Story?  My kids do.  The 4-D “Toy Story Mania!” is a must, but always has really long lines…with no FastPass option.  So if you know you want to do this, head over after you pick up your Cars Land “Radiator Springs Racers” FastPass and try to avoid the crowds.

Need a Break?

5.  Disney Junior – Live on Stage.  THE show to be at, according to my kids.  Yes, mamas.  There is an actual “live” show that  features Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First – interactive, air conditioned, and lots of room to squeeze in people (you sit on the floor…lots of room and I’ve never actually been turned away from a show…there always seems to be enough places to sit).  This show is so cute…and such a fun way to get off your feet, cool off, and enjoy seeing your kids go nuts over their favorite Disney Junior characters!

6.  The Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.  This is a cute play area next to the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa and is a GREAT place to let your kids run around and burn off some excited energy.  There is an obstacle course for the kids, caves to walk through, slides for little ones, a “zip line” for older kiddos, and even a chance to earn a “Wilderness Explorer badge,” by searching for clues (on a guided map).

Note to mamas – no strollers allowed, they must be parked outside of this area.

7.  The Grand Californian Hotel and Spa has cute little rocking chairs with fun, black and white Disney cartoons on televisions in their lobby, if you and your kids need a break to cool off.  You can enter from the DCA park, but remember – make sure to get your hand stamped for re-entry!  Also, the entrance to DCA from the hotel is reserved for hotel guests, so beware that you may have to re-enter the park from the main entrance if you plan to return.

Rumbly in our Tumblies

8.  We took our daughter to Ariel’s Grotto for a “princess lunch” on her birthday (they also do breakfast).  Oh.my.word.  This was SUCH a cool experience for both of my kids.  The food is fabulous (several courses from a fixed menu), the atmosphere is beautiful and Ariel and her princess friends are announced to the room, enter, and actually walk to each table to chat with you and take as many pictures as you want.

My little girl was in heaven.  When we were there, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Cinderella, and Snow White were part of this experience (in addition to Ariel greeting each family as we walked down the staircase and into the dining room).  Make sure to call ahead for reservations (I would make them as far in advance as you can) – (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463.  It’s a little pricey, but it is WORTH it!

9.  Disney California Adventure has lots of yummy places to eat, so you really can’t go wrong.  My personal favorite is the Pacific Wharf Cafe on the “Wharf” – they have great salads, fresh bread bowl soups, fruit, nice, plump sandwiches…yum! (Note to mamas – seating is outside on the wharf).

Keep an Eye Out for Characters

10.   On “Hollywood Lane,” we typically find the Disney Junior characters right outside of the Disney Junior – Live on Stage area.  Toy Story characters are usually on the Paradise Pier in the little gazebo across from the carousel.  We’ve seen Buzz Lightyear, Jesse the Cowgirl and Woody – super cute and rarely long lines.

Who else loves Disney California Adventure as much as my family does?  What tips and tricks do you have?  Please comment below and share your ideas!

This post is about how to find, and keep, a great babysitter.

A great babysitter is not a luxury, it’s a necessity for any mom. But how do you find a great babysitter? And more importantly, once you find one, how do you keep her happy?

One of our Sponsors, UrbanSitter, a high-tech innovative site to search for sitters your friends use and love wrote some expert advice on how to find a great babysitter. Then, I share my  tips on the things I think are important to keep sitters happy (and coming back to help!)

Tips on How to Find a Great Babysitter

by UrbanSitter 

Are your Saturday nights met with an exhausted flop on the couch and a feeling of regret over not finding a babysitter (again)? Here are some ways you can find a sitter that is right for your family, and ways that UrbanSitter can help make the process easier for you.

1. Trust your friends for recommendations.

Now, we all know that good sitters are kept close to the heart. Your mom friends will most likely be reluctant to pass along names and numbers. UrbanSitter automatically connects you to hundreds of sitters through your friends and parenting associations (YMCA, child’s school, mother’s groups, etc.) so you get that element of trust along with the digital ease of scheduling jobs online.

2. Post a “Babysitter Wanted” on your local college’s job board.

Young people pursuing a degree are also often looking for part-time work. And you could strike gold by securing a sitter majoring in early childhood development. An even better and faster option would be to post a part-time job on UrbanSitter. It takes only minutes and you can then choose from the sitters who respond.

3. Find a babysitter who has experience with your kids’ age.

If you have an infant, but the neighborhood’s star sitter has never cared for a child under 3, you have a problem. Same with sitters who have zero history with second graders. Do your homework and find a sitter who’s qualified. UrbanSitter lets you filter by several categories: experience, hourly rate, location, response time, languages, and more. This way, you get exactly what you want.

4. Don’t break the bank.

If you are on a tight budget, but feeling a little spent (emotionally and physically), take solace in the fact that not all sitters are $20 an hour. Most babysitters base their hourly rate on their experience level. If you’re comfortable giving a “green”sitter your business, go for it! Trust your gut, of course, but sometimes a new-to-the-game sitter is very dedicated and determined to do a fantastic job. A sitter might also reduce her hourly rate if the children will be asleep the majority of the time. And one child is always cheaper. Perhaps consider taking the 5 year old, but leaving the baby? We all know caring for one child feels like a vacation. You have the option to search UrbanSitter for sitters who charge less and interview them. When you have hundreds of sitters to choose from, you’re sure to find one who has experience yet charges a reasonable rate. And you can negotiate!

How to Keep a Great Babysitter

by Jen 

I have been lucky to have have found two different fabulous long term babysitters over the last six years. Our babysitters have become like family members. When you find a great sitter, you want to keep them. Here are some simple things you can do to keep your sitter happy and hopefully in it for the long haul!

1. Communicate, communicate, communicate.

No one is a mind reader – be as direct as you can as far as what you expect from your sitter. For example ~ don’t want to return home to a mess? Tell her you would like her to have the kids help tidy up when they are done with something, so you don’t walk into a hurricane. The more you lay out your expectations, the more likely they are to help make things easier for you.

2. Round up $$$.

If you are close to the end time, but not quite there, pay for the entire hour. I think even a little extra goes a long way.

3. Don’t cancel last minute.

I know things come up, but if you book a time with a sitter, I recommend keeping your commitment when possible. They likely made their schedule around yours, and no one wants to feel like their time isn’t valued.

4. Compliment her!

Ever worked for a boss who had nothing nice to say? Not a very fun place to work, right? If you like something your sitter does, tell her! Compliment her! Encourage her! Everyone likes to work someplace where they feel appreciated.

5. Up your pay with increased responsibility.

If your situation changes and the sitter starts taking on more responsibilities, increase her pay accordingly.  Even it if is not by much, the gesture alone will make her feel like you appreciate the work she does.

6. Keep your kids in check. 

No one wants to be overworked or abused, right?! Sometimes when a sitter is at a kid’s beck and call, they can turn into demanding tyrants and will try to push boundaries to see what they can get away with. It’s natural, but NOT okay!

Set the expectations with your children ahead of time on how important it is to respect and listen to the babysitter. On the flip side, tell the babysitter what you expect of your kids so that she can appropriately remind them if needed. Sometimes I would overhear my kids forgetting their manners with my sitter, and I would quickly tell her that they need to say a “please” before responding to any request.

No one wants to be ordered around; make sure you let your sitter know you value how your children treat her.

Hope these tips help! Anyone else have tips to share on how to keep a great babysitter?

[Disclosure: UrbanSitter is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor]

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I wanted to share my favorite finds for unique Mother’s Day gifts. Isn’t it remarkable how after becoming a mother, you instantly appreciate your own mother that much more? Because if anyone deserves something special, it’s definitely mom!

Here are some of my favorite unique Mother’s Day gift ideas…

Mother & Daughter Letter Book

In a world filled with emails, texts and facebook messages, the gift of a hand written letter is more meaningful than ever before. I love this mother daughter letter book because along with the set of 40 cards and envelopes, it also includes hundreds of inspirational ideas that encourage you to share tidbits about your life that you may not have thought to include. It’s a perfect gift for any mom, especially one that you may not get to see everyday. $38

Morse Code Necklaces

How cool are these morse code necklaces by jewelry studio COATT? The dots and dashes make up a word of your choice such as “Love”, “Luck” or, “Mom”. Necklaces are available in three different lengths and six different colors. Also offered as a bracelet. I’m totally hooked! $80

Plan a Picnic Date

I’ve always loved to give (or receive) an experience rather than a material gift. With this Rattan Picnic Basket from Pottery Barn you can do both. Fill this picnic basket with your mom’s favorite goodies and head off on a picnic date. If you need some ideas on what to pack, check out our Tiny Oranges summer picnic board on pinterest. $89

The Gift of Cozy

Do you want to let the special mom in your life know she deserves to kick back and relax? These pajamas from The Marigot Collection are the perfect way to do it. The line offers luxury cotton and cashmere options. I’d happily spend my Sunday mornings lounging around in any of these pretty prints. $120

Something to Make Her Laugh

Last but not least, there’s nothing better than giving your mom a chuckle and I guarantee this funny mug will make her smile! $14

What do you think, would you like to give or receive any of these? Do you have any Mother’s Day plans or traditions you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them.

I’m always looking for children’s room decor that is timeless and won’t need to be swapped out as my kids get older, so it’s no surprise that these live animal art prints taken by photographer Sharon Montrose caught my eye.

The photos, available at The Animal Print Shop, are so pure and gentle that they’d be perfect for a new nursery, but they’re also lively and spunky enough for any “big kid’s” bedroom or play area too. I mean, how could you not be happy waking up to any of these little darlings?

Do you have any tips and advice for decorating your child’s space? How do you create a room that can grow along with your child?

All images via The Animal Print Shop

Sidecar Doughnuts, a specialty doughnut store in Costa Mesa, opened its doors this month to the delight of Orange County doughnut aficionados everywhere.

First off, I love that they use the spelling of doughnut vs. donut, which after a quick Google search, is in fact the grammatically correct spelling. Who knew? I guess they did, and the spelling was only the first of many things they got right with their new business!

Dare I say, they really did score a hole in one. Sorry, couldn’t help it.

I was invited to a media sneak peek before it opened to the public and was able to meet the owners and find out more about their offerings.

We were also given this sampler plate of doughnuts along with a freshly brewed Stumptown latte. By the way, Sidecar is the only location in Orange County where you will find Stumptown coffee. AAAAMMMAAZING!

Now I am going to be honest: typically I eat a donut about once a year at a garage sale ~ a decision I usually end up regretting after when I get that “blah” feeling.

Not so with these yummy confections!

Sidecar Doughnuts is revolutionizing the doughnut world with doughnuts made from real ingredients.  We are talking doughnuts made fresh from scratch on the hour, using the finest ingredients and no preservatives.

Their speciality doughnuts include real yeast-raised, cake, and buttermilk varieties dressed up with fun extras to make unique flavors like Maple Bacon or Birthday Cake. Think your kiddo might like that one? You guessed right.

It was love at first taste for me. You can really taste the difference. My favorite? Maple Bacon hands down. It was an entire breakfast experience in one bite.

 Gluten-free Fridays! Avoiding gluten these days? Every Friday you will find gluten-free doughnuts; and even vegan options from time to time. Follow Sidecar Doughnuts on Facebook to find out when.

They are pricer than your typical donut, but worth the upgrade for the fresh ingredients and hip location. Plus, where else would you find a fresh, hot doughnut topped with crispy bacon?

www.SidecarDoughnuts.com

[Disclosure: I was provided scrumptious bites and a latte complimentary; along with a doughnut box filled with some goodies. Glad they spotted me on the corner with my sign, "Will work for doughnuts.']