DIY Toddler Closet Update

Early this year I posted JD's new and improved closet, you can see it here.  Since then I've made a few updates and added some color!  The closet was originally painted in flat paint which tends to get very dirty, so I decided to repaint the entire closet in semi-gloss.  I thought it would also be fun to add some color while I was at it, and allowed JD to pick the color (Behr New Green)!

Grand Park Los Angeles

A couple weeks ago when summer finally arrived to Southern California we needed to find a place to beat the heat, and hubby had a great place in mind!  We headed to Downtown LA, and after a quick stop at Wurstküche in the Arts District for lunch, we made our way to Grand Park.  The park opened about a year ago, but this was our first time visiting it.  It really is a beautiful park and the fountain and wading pool will keep any child (or adult) cool and happy for hours.  Although the park is free and open to the public, the parking can be a little pricey in DTLA, but we are happy to report that parking is available at the Cathedral for $5 all day on Saturdays and Sundays (the park is about two blocks away), or you can take the Metro Red Line! 

About Grand Park

A city’s urban heart is an expression of its people, its diversity, its interests, and its passions.  The new Grand Park, with its majestic views extending from the Music Center to City Hall, provides Angelenos of all walks of life a place where they can come together to celebrate, reflect, and shape the future, in one central gathering place.  Throughout Grand Park, open spaces are available not only for casual sitting and leisurely strolling, but also for civic gatherings.  Grand Park has four distinct areas featuring amenities ranging from a restored historic Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain with a new wade-able membrane pool, a small intimate performance lawn, a community terrace planted with drought tolerant specimen plants representing the diverse cultural make-up of Los Angeles itself, and a grand event lawn.  The new Grand Park allows for a strong visual and physical connection from Grand Avenue via a series of stairs, accessible ramps and sloped walks as well as a new elevator to invite more pedestrians into a vibrant garden environment, a place to come together in a welcoming and distinctly urban oasis.

200 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, California

Wordless Wednesday: Monsters, Inc.

Underwood Family Farms

Saturday JD's aunties and I (daddy was working) decided to take JD on a little day trip.  While searching the web for fun things to do in Southern California we came across Underwood Family Farms. The Moorpark farm was about an hour away from our home and looked like a great place visit.  Once we arrived we realized the drive was well worth it.  This farm has it all: a farmers market, pick your own produce, an animal center, a playground, pony rides, animal show and so much more! The staff was super friendly, the farm was very well maintained and above all JD was completely entertained.  Weekend admission is $6, but if you decide to visit during the week it's only $3. I personally can't wait to visit again, this time with daddy of course.

Garcia Family Summer Bucket List

Lately I've come across so many wonderful summer bucket lists on some of my favorite blogs, including a really cool one over at Our Precious Jas.  It seems like such a fun idea, so I decided I would create one for our little family too! I started with 25 must do summer activities, but I'm pretty sure we will add more before summer ends. Does your family have a summer bucket list?!

Pretend City Children's Museum

On Sunday I took JD to Pretend City Children's Museum in Irvine.

Pretend City Children’s Museum provides children with unlimited opportunities to develop creativity and learn through purposeful play. Through 17 interactive exhibits and activities guided by a highly trained professional staff, children learn foundational math, reading and science skills, while fostering curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, organization, teamwork, self-confidence and socialization.

JD had a really great time. He especially loved the construction site and of course getting money from the ATM after working hard all day!

Julian's Dinosaur Party at the Natural History Museum

Like most boys his age, JD loves dinosaurs but we can honestly only credit this love for dinosaurs to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles! We began visiting the museum with him in 2010 and became members soon after; we haven’t stopped visiting it since. When the Dinosaur Hall opened last year JD became completely fascinated with dinosaurs and fossils. There isn't a week that goes by that he doesn't ask to go to the “Dino Museum.” So, when the time came to plan his 3rd birthday party we knew dinosaurs would be the theme. When we found out the NHM of Los Angeles had a birthday party program, we didn’t have to think twice about the location.

The Natural History Museum's birthday party program is really great! They provide everything you need to throw an amazing dinosaur party, everything but the food and cake! The program even provides event assistants (really awesome assistants) to help you run your party and direct all the activities and games. All your party guests also get admission to the museum for the day!

Julian had no idea his 3^rd birthday party was going to be at his favorite museum, when he arrived and saw the balloons and decorations, the expression on his face was priceless! JD and his friends had such a great time. They played "Tyrannosaurus Says", Pin the Horn on the Triceratops, they made dinosaur masks and their very own fossils.  I have to admit that this party was amazingly stress free thanks to the help of our very supportive family, the wonderful staff at the Natural History Museum, and especially Kersti Kooiman.  Kersti not only helped me decorate, but she is also the incredible photographer behind these amazing pictures of JD and his dinosaur party!

Photography: Kersti Kooiman
Kraft Bags: Little Horse Bakery
Kraft tags & birthday banner supplies: Retro Rox Vintage
Muslin bags: Urban Homesteaders
Julian's Carnivore Shirt: Vicarious Clothing
Invitations, cupcake stand, cupcake decorations, cake decorations, plant arrangements, gift bags, dinosaur egg bags, fossil cookies &  chocolate dinosaurs: Quaintly Garcia