Happy New Year!

We hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!

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Merry Christmas!

We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday!

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2012 Year in Review

Do you ever wonder what the most important moments of the past year are?  Google Video makes a highlight video every year detailing how the world has changed. Check it out below, and tell us how have you changed in 2012?

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Holiday Cards and The Whole Family

  What warms kids better than a mug of steamy hot chocolate with marshmallows on top? The next time you serve your chilly children this traditional wintertime treat, put out some paint and a few extra marshmallows to stamp with, and they can create some great winter greeting cards while they enjoy their cup of cocoa.Supplies:
Blank greeting card
Blue paper or cardstock
Large and mini marshmallows
White craft paint
Black, orange and brown markers, paint or paper scraps
Glue stick or white glue
Scissors
Ruler
Paper plate
Googly eyes (optional)
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Here’s How:
- Start by trimming a piece of blue paper to about half an inch smaller than the blank greeting card.
- Cover your workspace and pour some white paint onto a paper plate.
- Dab a large marshmallow into the paint and then stamp it onto the blue paper to build a snowman, re-dipping the marshmallow in paint before each stamp. (If desired, find three marshmallows of slightly different sizes.)
- Then, use mini marshmallows to stamp snow around the snowman, and a large one to make snowy ground underneath.
- Allow the paint to completely dry and then glue it centered on the front of the card.
- Use markers, paint or paper scraps to add a hat, face, buttons and arms, and Mr. Snowman is ready to send off with warm holiday wishes!

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More ideas:
- Cut and fold a sheet of cardstock to create your own blank greeting card. Glue on 3D accents like googly eyes, a felt hat, a yarn scarf or real buttons.
- Decorate gift tags, giftwrap or place cards with this design.
- Stamp other winter pictures like wreaths, trees or fancy snowflakes.
- For other seasons, use marshmallow stamps to make faces, flowers, caterpillars, words or even abstract patterns. For more information see San Diego Family Magazine.
This year you can get help with your Holiday Cards.  Have your children sit down and make this
adorable snowman card together.  This is a great way to make your Holiday Cards faster, and you can get the whole family involved.

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5 Tips for a Beautiful Tree

Have you decorated the Christmas Tree yet?  Here are some great tips on how make that tree look like it is from a catalog.  Start early and make sure to get all the materials you need to have the tree of your dreams in your home.


1. To create more visual impact, hang larger, bolder ornaments closer to the trunk, and lighter, more simple ornaments closer to the edge.

Bigger ornaments can stand out against the bushiness of a tree's interior, and branches are stronger at the base, so this rule just makes plain good sense to follow. Use Glitter Spiked Burst Ornaments to punctuate the interior branches of your tree. Also consider tucking a few larger ornaments, like Paper Mache Animal Ornaments in spots where branches are sparse to fill up space and give your tree a fuller look.

2. Hang smaller ornaments near the top, and larger ones closer to the bottom.

Remember learning in art history class how the Greeks curved the columns of the Parthenon to make them appear straighter and taller when viewed from the ground? You can used the same forced-perspective technique on your tree! Placing smaller ornaments above eye level will subtly make your tree seem taller. It's also smarter as the smaller, more tender branches near the top are often not strong enough to carry the weight of large ornaments. Of course, the one exception to this rule is your tree-topper. The Capiz Star Tree Topper will seem even brighter and bolder when surrounded by smaller, more delicate ornaments at the top of your tree.

3. Mix up shapes and textures.

Variety is key to a perfectly decorated tree.Though it makes sense to stick with an overall theme when selecting ornaments, try to branch out in terms of texture and type. Knits are a great way to add a new, cozy texture to your collection. Try some Knit Animal Ornaments, or Knit Mitten Ornaments for cute shapes and comfy textures. If your tree has a more modern look, consider trimming with Knit Ball Garlands which add a new texture and shape in a clean, simple manner.

4. Use white lights to show off bright ornaments.

White lights, especially super-brights LEDs, provide the cleanest light for showing off glittering ornaments. When decorating your tree consider the placement of shiny ornaments in relation to strings of light. Shatterproof Blue/Green Ornaments, for example, will shine especially bright when reflecting nearby lights.

5. Estimate 150 lights per vertical foot of tree.

150 lights per foot of tree will provide a very luminous glow. Enough to illuminate ornaments as well as provide a soft light for the room.

Of course, none of these tips are very helpful if you don't have a tree to begin with! Artificial trees have come a long way since the days of bright pink metallic "trees". (Though if you're going for a retro Kitschmas, you could still get away with that one). Target has a wide selection, and we're a fan of the 7.5-ft Pre-lit Balsam Fir from Philips. It comes with a stand and is lit with 500 clear mini-bulbs so it's easy to set up. You can also choose an artificial tree by variety, like this Virginia Fir. Whichever tree you choose this year, follow the tips above for great results!

For more information see Apartment Therapy.

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Top Ten Restaurants in San Diego

  In no particular order, San Diego magazine has listed the top ten restaurants in San Diego.  These restaurants include everything from Sushi to Italian.  Take a break this weekend and try one or two of these restaurants to see why they are the best in the area. 

 1. Sushi Shirahama

*No ranking here! Restaurants are listed in no particular order.

We tried to feature Shirahama’s chef, Kotani-san, in our “Ultimate Guide to Asian Food” in November. He basically told us to go fugu ourselves—no photos for us. It was both sad and reassuring, since he’s not into this for the glamour shots. He’s in it for the love of Tsukiji—the famed sushi market from which he sources his fish. There he stands, in this little divot of a strip-mall restaurant, with a barrel of sumeshi (sushi rice) at his side, serving one excellently cut piece of nigiri after another until you say mercy. No rolls. No cream cheese. Sit at the bar; bring your high-limit credit card. 4212 Convoy Street, Kearny Mesa

2. Prepkitchen

With its third SD location, Prep went big in Little Italy. It’s the only second-story perch in the one-story burgh, and designer Matthew Ellis gave the urbanites a visual feast—tree-branch chandeliers, old books of suspect literary caliber, stair banisters, old doors as wall art, blueprint wallpaper, you name it. The food? Just rustic, simple plates made with good, seasonal ingredients by someone who knows how to cook (chef Ryan Johnston). Local mussels in white wine and garlic; that perfect Caesar salad (anchovies included); the papardelle Bolognese with beef, porcini, and just enough rosemary. It’s just a cool-looking place to hang out, get a craft cocktail, and eat well among people who look casually stylish and smart. 1660 India Street, Little Italy

3. Table 926

Chef Matt Richman, a former sous at Pacifica Del Mar (and La Jolla High grad), has created a gourmet hangout popular with the area’s top chefs. A trio of duck confit tacos with two housemade sauces (smoked chile salsa and tomatillo-avocado) is a deft marriage of border-city street food and culinary school protein. The beef cheeks have a sweet glaze that’s nicely offset by tart tamarind over creamy polenta. GM Gavin Cordes knows beer and is hosting pairing dinners with the city’s top craft suds. And they’ve just snagged a top-notch pastry chef, Sherman Chan (a vet of Rubochon and Hong Kong’s three-Michelin starred Caprice). A recent taste of her très leches pumpkin pie with parsnip ice cream proved she’s worthy of her advance billing. 926 Turquoise Street, Pacific Beach

4. TJ Oyster Bar

The line out the door at its original location in Bonita said it all—this taco shop is worth the wait. Imagine a world in which Roberto’s got a shipment of fresh seafood delivered daily and cooked most things fresh to order while the freezer was left to wither from lack of use. They do a lot right here—from the bite-sized pieces of heavily smoked tuna, taco’d with cheese, to the hangover special, aguachile, a giant bowl of soupy shrimp ceviche with a generous dose of lime. It’ll rejigger your night-frayed nerves. But it’s that octopus taco—perfectly softened, excellently seasoned—that makes them truly special. I’ve had lesser octopus for $30 more. It’s part of the reason the place just expanded to a larger location, so pulpo lovers can get their fill without waiting so long. 4246 Bonita Road, Bonita

5. Brooklyn Girl

Restaurant icons Michael and Victoria McGeath made a triumphant return with a bit of N.Y.C. idolatry (their longtime La Jolla spot, Trattoria Acqua, was a recession casualty). Mission Hills needed a spot like this—an open, airy, urban hangout not stuck in 1980-something. With giant birdcages, concrete, and dark, important-looking woods, the room feels comfy in the past, present, and future. The kale Caesar salad is excellent—the stiff-chewing green offset by a creamy garlic vinaigrette and soft-boiled egg. Michael’s Choice pizza—spicy Italian sausage, pepperoni, chile—is pure wood-fired lust for carnivores. The cornbread capped with honeycomb does the South proud. 4033 Goldfinch Street, Mission Hills

6. Solace & The Moonlight Lounge

Chef Matt Gordon’s offshoot of his North Park success story, Urban Solace, doesn’t skip a beat. The Pacific Station location may not have ocean views, but the reclaimed-wood and eco-built vibe is palpable. The food is a little fancier than Gordon’s North Park fare, with Jidori chicken liver pâté spiced with apple, Armagnac, and nutmeg, for example. There’s a yellowtail tartare with a little serrano pepper heat, a nod to the coastal environs. And the sautéed farro with seasonal veggies and Parmesan comes off like a toothier, excellent risotto. As at his other resto, there’s no corn syrup in anything. It’s like a healthier, Pilates-friendly version of what made Gordon a local star. 25 East E Street, Encinitas

7. Que Huong

Nothing says hospitality like crime bars on the front windows. But inside, Que Huong is the freshest, most flavorful, and generously portioned Vietnamese cuisine I’ve found. Bargain-hunting Asian foodies will be disappointed, because this is priced as it should be—like top-notch cuisine. The green papaya salad comes with a bucket of shrimp. The curry doesn’t skimp on the coconut cream (are you here to exercise or eat, anyway?)—whether with frog legs, goat, or plain ol’ chicken. These guys never saw a protein they didn’t want to tenderize. Go ahead and try the boar in lemongrass, chiles, and dill. Almost tastes like Mexico City, Hanoi-style. 4134 University Avenue, City Heights

8. Vivace @ Park Hyatt

A good brunch is often summed up in one word: “Bottomless.” Vivace’s Pranzo is not that brunch. Its power is not in day-after booze or a bazillion-item dining orgy. A few simple stations do a few simple things very well. Carlsbad oysters shucked in front of you. Charcuterie and cheese spilling over another station. Fresh mozzarella and buffala made to order, sprinkled with fantastic olive oil and sea salt. And then a few menu items, like wood-roasted Jidori chicken with fruit mostardo and Wagyu flat iron in red wine reduction. In the airy, sunny space, it feels like what brunch should be: gustatory revival. 7100 Aviara Resort Drive, Carlsbad

9. Haggo’s Organic Taco

It’s less of a restaurant than a trailer in a sliver of dirt in the back of a parking lot. The sort of place where Nicolas Cage would’ve lived during his Raising Arizona days. But there’s local art on the fence; all of the foliage is edible and will eventually go into your lunch; and last I was there, they were halfway through finishing their aquaculture with tilapia. James Haggard is a castoff from Rancho Valencia resort. He wasn’t the big-name chef; dude just liked organic tacos. He buys limited amounts of fresh fish so he never has to freeze it, all of which goes into the daily specials. Everything is locally grown, organic, sustainable, blah blah blah—it’s just real food done by someone who gives a damn. And it’s only open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day, with zero indoor seating. The super-ethical, super-unpretentious taco joint couldn’t embody more the spirit of its host town, one of the last funky beach towns in Southern California. North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas

10. Carnitas’ Snack Shack

Hanis Cavin, swine enthusiast and former Kensington Grill chef, went out on his own with this glorified lemonade stand where he serves pork, pork, and more pork. (He owns a miniature pet pig, the shack’s namesake, which is either honorable or sociopathic.) Want a slab of pork belly without having to fuss with reservations or stainable linen? Gnaw his giant slab, though you may want to wipe off a bit of the glaze. But it’s the steak sammie—top-notch prime beef with pickled serrano peppers, jack cheese, and chipotle aioli—that takes top honors. Take your buddy from Philadelphia and maybe he’ll stop whining about missing Geno’s. 2632 University Avenue, North Park

For more information see San Diego Magazine.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope everyone Has A safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Spend some time with your friends and family and remember everything in life that you are thankful for.

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Broadway Star Comes Near San Diego

 

The La Jolla Playhouse announces a special engagement of Broadway superstar Ben Vereen as part of it’s Cabaret season.  The performances will be in March 2013.  The artist will present his performing show “Steppin’ Out”.

 

La Jolla Playhouse announces a special engagement of Steppin’ Out with Ben Vereen as part of its cabaret series, running on Friday, March 29, 2013 at 8:00 pm, Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm and Sunday, March 31 at 2:00 pm. The four performances will take place in The Playhouse’s specially-designed performance space in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, created by The Playhouse’s scene shop artisans for the theatre’s 2011, 2012 and 2013 Galas.

Steppin’ Out with Ben Vereen has been dazzling audiences around the world. The show highlights Mr. Vereen’s unique artistry, combining a tribute to Broadway, Frank Sinatra and a very special tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. Featuring hit songs such as “Defying Gravity,” “Mr. Bojangles” and “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries,” Steppin’ Out with Ben Vereen is a contemporary yet timeless journey. The New York Times dubbed him “an old-school song and dance man who never lets up. He wins you over with his sheer energy,

good will and showbiz know-how.”

 

“If you’ve had the good fortune to see Ben Vereen on stage – whether in Pippin, Jesus Christ Superstar, in concert or elsewhere – you know what an electrifying performer he is,” said Playhouse Artistic Director http://broadwayworld.com/people/Christopher-Ashley/Christopher Ashley. “Steppin’ Out with Ben Vereen offers San Diegans the opportunity to experience this one-of-a-kind entertainer in a uniquely personal way, as he takes the stage in our specially-designed cabaret setting.”

The 2013 cabaret series will also feature the previously-announced engagement of Chicago’s legendary sketch comedy theatre, The Second City’s Laughing Matters Tour running March 20 – 23, 2013. Tickets for Steppin’ Out with Ben Vereen and The Second City are currently only available in a subscription package. Seating map for the cabaret and additional ticketing details are available by calling (858) 550-1010 or online at www.LaJollaPlayhouse.org.

The nationally-acclaimed, Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse is known for its tradition of creating the most exciting and adventurous new work in regional theatre. The Playhouse was founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer, and is considered one of the most well-respected not-for-profit theatres in the country. Numerous Playhouse productions have moved to Broadway, including the currently running hits Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher and Chaplin: The Musical, as well as Memphis, Big River, The Who’s Tommy, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, A Walk in the Woods, Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays, the Pulitzer Prize-winning I Am My Own Wife, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Farnsworth Invention, 33 Variations and Bonnie & Clyde. Located on the UC San Diego campus, La Jolla Playhouse is made up of three primary performance spaces: the Mandell Weiss Theatre, the Mandell Weiss Forum Theatre and the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center for La Jolla Playhouse, a state-of-the-Art Theatre complex which features the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre. La Jolla Playhouse is led by Artistic Director http://broadwayworld.com/people/Christopher-Ashley/Christopher Ashley and Managing Director Michael S. Rosenberg.

Ben Vereen is currently touring his one man show, Steppin’ Out with Ben Vereen, dazzling audiences throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and Abu Dhabi. Ben’s show is a unique blend of artistry, combining a tribute to Broadway, Frank Sinatra, and a very special tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. Featuring hit songs such as “Defying Gravity,” “Mr. Bojangles,” “My Way” and “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries,” Steppin’ Out with Ben Vereen is a contemporary and timeless journey. Ben headlines performing arts centers and symphonies, with either a quartet or as many as 60 musicians accompanying him. Each performance is filled with song and dance, stories of his life, a great deal of humor and always, multiple standing ovations.

A Tony Award winner for his renowned performance in Bob Fosse’s Pippin, Ben has gone on to solidify his place among Broadway royalty, with starring roles in such Broadway productions as Wicked, Fosse, Chicago, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, Jelly’s Last Jam, Grind, A Christmas Carol and I’m Not Rappaport. He starred in the new play Fetch Clay, Make Man, directed by Jersey Boys director Des McAnuff.

A legend of the stage and screen, Ben is best known for his iconic role as Chicken George in the groundbreaking television miniseries Roots. Ben guest starred on the television shows How I Met Your Mother, Grey’s Anatomy (Prism Award), Tyler Perry's House of Payne, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and co-starred in the Emmy-nominated made-for-TV-movie, An Accidental Friendship, for which he earned a NAACP nomination. Ben is also a well known speaker, lecturing across the country on topics as diverse as Overcoming Adversity, African-American History, Physical and Occupational Therapy and Ben’s Broadway Lecture with Song. In addition, Ben continues to be the spokesman for the leading pharmaceutical company Sanofi U.S., spearheading a proactive and preventive campaign for those living with diabetes. Ben’s new CD Steppin’ Out Live with Ben Vereen is available on iTunes, Amazon.com, and wherever and whenever Ben is performing his concerts and personal appearances.

On January 30th, 2012, Ben was inducted in to The Theatre Hall of Fame. Ben performed for 100,000 people at the Washington Monument on July 4th, 2012 and on August 11, Ben was inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame. In March of 2013, Ben will receive his honorary degree from the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts.

For more information see Broadway.com

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Basketball on a Ship

A college basketball game on the deck of a ship.  This is something that will be happening on the U.S.S Midway.  The game will take place on November 11th.  San Diego State University will take on Syracuse University on the top deck of a ship that is now a museum.

The college basketball game on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Midway between 

Syracuse University and San Diego State University was postponed two days and moved to the early afternoon by forecasts of rain.

The game will remain on the top deck of the decommissioned ship, which is now a San Diego museum, according to the athletics websites of the two schools. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. San Diego time on Nov. 11.

The National Weather Service forecasts a 70 percent chance of rain and low temperatures of 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13 Celsius) on the night of Nov. 9, when the game was originally scheduled. The afternoon of Nov. 11 is forecast to be mostly sunny with a high of 68 degrees.

The game remains the season-opening contest for Syracuse, No. 9 in the preseason Associated Press poll, and San Diego State, ranked No. 20. San Diego State moved its scheduled Nov. 11 home game against San Diego Christian College to Nov. 13 to accommodate the change.

Syracuse advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament last season, while San Diego State lost in the second round.

The University of North Carolina and Michigan State University played a game on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Carl Vinson last year, also in San Diego. The Midway deck seats about 5,200 people. 

For more information see US Business Week.
Bay Vista Apartments.

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Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to Bay Vista Apartment Residents!  What are you being this year?

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Chula Vista and Trick or Treat

San Diego has many neighborhoods to choose from when taking your kids Trick or Treating.  Here are the best neighborhoods where your kids can hang out with their friends and collect their favorite candy.

San Diego County is famous for being a family-friendly place to live with a large number of middle- to upper-income neighborhoods. What more could trick-or-treaters want? There are several factors to take into consideration when planning your kids’ trick-or-treating adventures. First and foremost, you want your kids going door-to-door in the safest neighborhoods possible. While most of San Diego is generally safe, there are a few areas that stand out as the safest places to trick-or-treat that have low crime rates and well lit streets. A second factor is whether or not a lot of other trick-or-treaters will be around the area. Dead towns are no fun for kids where there are few people who celebrate, so make sure you head toward areas where a lot of people will be handing out candy with festively decorated homes. You also want a neighborhood with a good density of homes so it doesn’t require walking a marathon just to visit each house in the area. If you still can’t decide on where to go, there are several planned events around San Diego where kids can trick-or-treat safely. Here is a brief list of the top places to go trick-or-treating in San Diego County.

1. Ocean Beach: The laid back surfer village of O.B. has several good streets for kids to wander and collect bags of candy. The friendly residents love to celebrate Halloween and are waiting with big bowls of candy for all your little ghouls and goblins. The neighborhood has over 12,000 people packed into a 1.5 square mile area which means there are plenty of doors to knock on this Halloween.
2. Carmel Mountain: Carmel Mountain is often regarded as the ultimate trick-or-treating neighborhood in San Diego because of the massive number of streets packed with tract homes right next to each other. The difference between this area and the rest of suburban San Diego is that the median household income is right around the $100,000 range, meaning the candy bars might be a little bigger and better than other areas. All the streets are family-friendly and most people have their own kids heading out on them to collect as many sweets as possible.
3. Pacific Beach: P.B. is another densely packed neighborhood, and you may have to drive around a little to find the perfect streets but the good ones will pay huge dividends (in candy that is). P.B. dwellers love to celebrate any chance they get and Halloween is one of their favorite holidays of the year. Count on witnessing some of the wildest costumes, scariest haunted houses, and friendly neighbors around. With over 7,600 people per square mile, it is almost guaranteed that every street will have some good trick-or-treating.
4. Carlsbad: Carlsbad is the ultimate family-friendly suburban beach town of North County. The median income is well above the San Diego County average and the population of around 100,000 is generally composed of families with young with kids who love to dress up and head out on the streets. Carlsbad is known for its low crime rate and friendly beach-loving residents.
5. Local Church Halloween Carnivals: There are tons of local churches around San Diego that offer Halloween carnivals where kids can play games and fill their bags with just as much candy as they would on the streets of Ocean Beach. A church Halloween carnival is a safe and fun experience for the youngsters and the parents don’t need to worry about them wandering off too far or knocking on the wrong door.
6. LEGOLAND California Brick-or-Treat: The most popular kids’ Halloween event in North County is in LEGOLAND where they host Brick-or-Treat. The event happens a few times throughout the month with the biggest on Saturday the 29^th (because it’s not a school night). The kids can experience the extravagant LEGOLAND Park while indulging in their favorite costumed candy-eating holiday of the year.
7. Trick-or-Treat on India Street: Little Italy offers the kids of downtown a fun and safe option for trick-or-treating. They work with a lot of the local businesses in Little Italy who open their doors for trick-or-treaters to come by and show off their costumes in return for handfuls of candy.

Trick-or-Treat on Magic Street: The radio station Magic 92.5 hosts an annual trick-or-treat carnival on Magic Street in Chula Vista. Driving north to downtown is often out of the question for Chula Vista residents so having something in the center of town that is safe and fun for the entire family is a great way to celebrate Halloween.

For more information see Mission Beach.

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Halloween Party Kids Game

Do you have tons of leftover candy every year that no one wants to eat?  Here is a great low cast Halloween game that is great for kids at a party.  Keep reading to find how to make this super easy candy toss game.

What can be done with all that leftover Halloween candy (besides causing cavities)? Toss it into the open mouths of these three greedy ghosts, and it becomes a fun game for one or a whole party!

Supplies: Cardboard box (at least 12 inches tall and
18 inches wide)
Black and white tempera/craft paint
Scraps of orange paper
Metallic paint pen or permanent marker
(optional)
Glitter (optional)
Newspaper
Tape
Pencil
Paintbrush
Craft knife
Glue stick

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Here's How:

1.|  Find a cardboard box and use tape to close the open end.

2.|  Use a pencil to draw three simple ghosts onto the box; give each ghost a different sized mouth.

3.|  Then, use a craft knife (an adult’s job) to cut out the mouths.

4.| Next, cover the work area with newspaper. Paint the ghosts white and their eyes and the rest of the box (except the bottom) black. (Glitter can be sprinkled into the wet paint for an extra touch.)

5.|  Allow the paint to dry and, if needed, give it a second coat. After the box is completely dry, add designs to the black background with paint or a marker, if desired.

6.|  Now, cut three different numbers from orange paper and use a glue stick to adhere one to each ghost. These will be the points for getting treats into the mouths, so give the smallest mouth the highest number and the largest mouth the lowest number.

7.|  The greedy ghosts are ready to eat! Predetermine the number of tries each player will get and how far back they should stand. Then Trick-or-Treaters can take turns tossing treats into the ghosts gaping mouths, scoring points for each successful throw. (Use math skills to keep score and the game has a hidden educational bonus!)

8.|  When the game is over, players can reach into the mouths to retrieve the candy...if they are brave enough!

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More Ideas:

• Use cut paper instead of paint to create the ghosts.
• Simply paint or write the numbers on instead of using cut paper.
• Decorate the sides and top of the box with Halloween pictures or stickers.
• Leave the numbers off and fill the box with treats, for a Halloween decoration that dispenses party food or favors.
• To play in the dark, paint the ghosts with glow-in-the-dark paint, or put glow sticks inside the box.
• For a fair game when there are several players, only use candy that is all the same size (and unbreakable), such as salt-water taffy.
• Instead of trying to throw the candy in from a distance, place the box with the ghosts up so younger players can stand over it and drop them into the mouths.
• In place of candy, play with small inexpensive toys, like super balls or plastic spider rings.
• Award a prize to the winner; perhaps the contents of the box after the game.
• Make this project with witches or jack-o-lanterns instead of ghosts.

For more information see San Diego Family.

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Creative School Lunches

Do you want to get creative with your kid's school lunches? Here are some great ideas and tips to surprise your son or daughter when they open their lunch box tomorrow.

We have started to make some fun & easy bento school lunches for Halloween.  This Pumpkin Bento Lunch is super easy to make and a fun way to get the kids to eat carrots without complaining!  We used a Easy Lunchboxes Container. 

 

Pumpkin Bento Lunch

2 Pieces of Bread

Cheddar Cheese

Turkey (optional)

Lettuce

1 Carrot

1 Clementine

Large Pretzel Stick

1 Fruit Leather Strip

Pumpkin Shaped Cookies (found at World Market)

Black Edible Marker

We cut our bread, cheese, and turkey with a pumpkin shaped cookie cutter.  You could also just shape it yourself using kitchen scissors if you do not have a cutter.  We placed the turkey in the middle of the 2 bread slices and the cheese on top.  We cut a small strip from our fruit leather using kitchen scissors. We cut the strip into triangles to make the pumpkin face for the sandwich. We put lettuce under the pumpkin sandwich for the kids to put on the sandwich at lunchtime.  We place 2 pumpkin shaped cookies on the sides of the sandwich to look like a pumpkin patch.  

We cut a large peeled carrot into slices. We then snipped out 2 corners from the top using kitchen scissors to shape the slices into pumpkins.  We did end up squeezing a bit of ranch dressing on the side to dip the pumpkin carrots in.  

We cut a small circle from the top of a clementine.  We broke off a piece of a large pretzel stick and pushed it into the top.  We used black edible marker to make a pumpkin face.  We cut a piece of a green grape to look like a leaf. 

 

For more tips and tricks see Kitchen Fun.

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San Diego Free Events

Do you need something to do this weekend?  Here are some great tips on free San Diego events for your family to go to this weekend.

1. Annual Pacific Beachfest

On Saturday, October 6, Pacific Beach will be hosting a one-day event to highlight all that San Diego beaches have to offer. This year the Pacific Beachfest will feature a Pro/Am Surf Competition Final with surfers competing from around the world, an Action Alley where professional skaters will be on hand demonstrating their skills, a beach volleyball tournament, as well as artists, vendors, activities and music.

2. ArtOberfest Walkabout

On Saturday, October 6 from 6:00 to 10:00 PM, visitors can walk around the neighborhood of South Park and enjoy a fun-filled evening festival and be introduced to the shops and cafes of South Park. From Kalmia to Beech Streets, you’ll find shops open late, entertainment, specials and surprises. Browse, explore, shop and celebrate the independent spirit of this legendary neighborhood!

3. Old Town San Diego Art Festival

Watch the streets of Historic Old Town San Diego transform into an art extravaganza on Saturday and Sunday, October 6-7. Stroll down San Diego Avenue and see the variety of artists, entertainment, food and wine. And for the first time this year, there will be a Young Artist area that will feature a children’s art competition.

4. Friday Night Liberty & Fall for the Arts Kickoff

October is when arts and culture takes center stage in San Diego. Fall for the Arts is a month-long spotlight on the many vibrant arts and cultural activities throughout the region in conjunction with National Arts and Humanities Month. On Friday, October 5, at the NTC Liberty Station, local arts and culture organizations will present hundreds of free (and almost free!) events to ensure residents and visitors can get more bang for the buck!

For more information see San Diego Org

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Ocean Beach Oktoberfest

It is the time of the year to celebrate Oktoberfest.  This year Ocean Beach will hold its Oktoberfest celebration on October 7th and October 8th.  There are a ton of events and entertainment for all ages, including beer for the adults. Check out the schedule below.

 

 

What/Why:

 

Ocean Beach Oktoberfest is back again this year with more entertainment, outstanding food and beer, and a good time to be had by all. The food event will take place on Newport Avenue next to the beach.

When:
Friday: October 7, 2012, 4pm - 10pm
Saturday: October 8, 2012, 11am - 10pm

Where: Newport Ave at beach  http://oboktoberfest.com…
Ocean Beach, CA

The O.B. Oktoberfest will feature:
* The Brat Trot
* World famous Sausage Toss with over $10,000 in cash & prizes.
* Live bands on two stages
* A few surprises.

Preliminary Stein Holding and Bratwurst Eating contests will be held on the Seaside stage.
-------------------------­-------------------------­----------

Fri
Beer Garden
4:30 Open
5:00 Happy Hour 'til 6:31
5:30 The Squirming Coils
6:30 MC Funk
7:00 Balloon Blow
7:30 Red Not Chili Peppers
8:00 Stein Holding Mens
8:30 Todash
9:00 Stein Holding Womens
9:25 Back 2 Black
9:30 - last drink ticket sold
9:45 - last beverage poured
9:55 Award Ceremony
10:00 Close
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Sat
Main Beer Garden

11:00 Open    Brew Cup 11-2
           Bloody Mary Party 11-1
11:45 The Electric Waste Band
11:40 Tommy Dubs
2:30 Bratwurst Eating
3:00 Heavy Guilt
4:00 Balloon Blow
4:30 Bavarian Beer Garden Band
5:30 Stein Holding Final - Mens
6:00 BatekeBeat
7:00 Stein Final Womens
7:30 Styletones
8:30 Sausage Toss Final
9:00 Tribal Theory
9:30 - last drink ticket sold
9:45 - last beverage poured
10:00 Close

-------------------------­-------------------------­--

Sat
Sea Side Stage

10:00 Merchants Open
11:30 Bavarian Beer Garden Band
12:30 Stein Holding Prelim M&W
1:00 Bavarian Beer Garden Band
2:00 Stein Holding Prelim M&W
2:30 Bavarian Beer Garden Band
3:45 Lobster Bob
5:00 Todo Mundo
6:30 Stage Closed

 

For more information see Yelp.

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Get Your Closet Ready for Fall

Organizing closets can be a homeowners worse nightmare.  Here are five easy tips to keeping an organized closet throughout the year.  These tips will prevent you from having to spend a whole afternoon cleaning up your closet a few times a year.

1. Put things back exactly where they belong. This tip may be obvious, but I can get lazy about particulars when putting things away. For example, I'll cram my purses haphazardly on their shelf, or throw my shoes on the floor beneath their organizer. If I took an extra two seconds to store things properly, the whole closet would look neater.
2. Take wire hangers back to the dry cleaners. I have Huggable Hangers, but once I transfer my clothes to them, the wire hangers from the cleaners often grow into an unwieldy pile. I'm going to put them in a designated bag and return them whenever I go to the cleaners.
3. Clean the floor monthly. You may need only a broom or handvac, but cleaning the floor means finding the floor. It will keep you honest.
4. If it isn't working, fix it. If you hung scarves on hooks and they keep falling off, or you can't reach the shelf with your jeans, fix it now. Otherwise, it will just keep irritating you. You'll also be less likely to store things there (instead of in a heap elsewhere).
5. A brief seasonal assessment. Don't wait to do a major clean-out once a year — instead, assess your closet at the end of every season. There's likely a few things that can go in the giveaway pile

For more information see Apartment Therapy.

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Hometown Girl Performs at the Democratic National Convention

Hometown girl Jessica Sanchez got the opportunity to perform at the Democratic National Convention last week.  She got the crown to her feet as she sang a motown classic. The young singer is not even old enough to vote, but she is still very excited to be performing at this event.

American Idol” runner up Jessica Sanchez got the crowd to its feet as she performed at the 
 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

The 17-year-old Filipino-Mexican-American singer sang the Motown classic “You're All I Need To Get By” along with the God’s Appointed People Choir.
 
In her official Twitter account, Sanchez said it was an honor that she was tapped to be part of the political event.

“Thank you so much for having me @demconvention. It was an honor to perform tonight,” she said.
Sanchez also posted a photo of her with the choir.

Last week, Sanchez said she may be too young to vote but she’s looking forward to showing her support for U.S. President Barack Obama.

“I might not be old enough to vote, but I'm so honored and excited to perform at @BarackObama's big party in Charlotte next week! #DNC2012,” she tweeted.

Aside from Sanchez, mixmaster DJ Cassidy and American saxophonist Branford Marsalis were also set to perform at the DNC.

For more information see ABC News.

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Themed Days at Living Coast

You could go to the Living Coast Discover Center everyday and always see something different.  There are different themes every day for you to explore with tons of daily events and activities.  It is a great way to educate your children on nature, and a way to spend a day with your family.

The Living Coast Discovery Center is open daily from 10am-5pm. Enjoy a different, super-fun coastal theme each day of the week during Coastweeks! All activities and events are included in the admission costs for the Center.

Shark and Ray Sundays
Sunday is the day for sharks and rays!  Through interactive stations, hands on games, and an up-close and personal look at some adorable baby sharks, discover how these amazing animals have survived for over 400 million years. Make your trip extra special by signing up for a VIP animal encounter to get to feed our sharks and rays (limited space available and preregistration required).

Marsh Mondays
The Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge is a unique ecosystem that many animals, birds and plants call home.  Join us for an opportunity to see the marsh from all angles by pre-registering for a unique kayaking trip or searching for crabs on our protected beaches. Learn about the marsh through a variety crafts, experiments, hands-on stations, animal encounters and onsite exhibits all while visiting with local wildlife.

Tidal Zone Tuesdays
Take a look beneath the surface! Many spineless wonders, also known as invertebrates, make their home along San Diego’s coasts. Come explore the wide range of life that exists in each of the tidal zones. Touch sea stars, urchins and snails, and other marine critters. Discover the most intelligent invertebrate, the octopus, and see if she can open the most challenging of toys to retrieve a special treat. Head to the shoreline for a plankton tow to see how most marine creatures begin life in this unique habitat.

Watershed Wednesdays
Wednesday is water day! Chula Vista’s watershed includes more than 350,000 human residents plus our wildlife neighbors. Come learn how you can reduce your water footprint through small, easy changes that can make a big difference.   Learn how to be a part of the solution while enjoying a variety of hands-on stations,  an interactive local plant tour given by horticulturalist Mark Valen (2pm) and even participate in a wild water fight!

Turtle Thursdays
Did you know that the endangered Eastern Pacific green sea turtle makes its home right here in San Diego Bay? Watch the Center’s four sea turtles through our up-close viewing windows, and enjoy a variety of turtle crafts, turtle games and other hands-on stations. Make your trip extra special by signing up for a VIP animal encounter to get to feed our sea turtles! (limited space available and preregistration required).

Fishy Fridays
Catch a glimpse of the awesome fish that make the waters of San Diego their home. Explore their diverse habitats and unique anatomy up-close through dissections, dress up, games and crafts!  Don’t forget to grab your Seafood Watch card, or download the app, before leaving to be a powerful part of the solution towards healthier fish populations on our coast.

Shore Bird Saturdays
Get to know the beautiful birds that make the coastal California wetlands their home. Discover the endangered light-footed clapper rail and what the Discovery Center is doing to help this rare local bird. We’ll have bird games, bird stories and even the ability to sign up for a special shore bird feed (Limited space available)!  And for the avid birders, we will be opening the refuge early for special bird-watching opportunities!

For more information go to the Living Coast Webpage.

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Labor Day Weekend Plans

Labor Day weekend starts in a few days, and many families are making plans to have a great last weekend of summer.  Here are just some of the great events happening this weekend in your area.  From sand sculpting to a music festival, there is something for everyone this weekend.

 

1. Festival of Sail

More than twenty tall ships and other fascinating vessels from around the world will transform the North Embarcadero into a nautical theme park. The festival kicks off with a majestic parade of tall ships on San Diego Bay, Thursday, August 30. Parade begins at 11:00 AM and can be seen from the Embarcadero, Harbor Island, Shelter Island and Coronado. Festival visitors can enjoy touring the ships, live entertainment at the Festival of Sail main stage, food and drink from dozens of restaurant booths, a petting zoo and more.

2. US Sand Sculpting Challenge

From August 31 – September 3rd, head downtown to see some astonishing sand sculptures from professional world masters, the California masters team competition to student competitions. Other activities include sand sculpture classes for kids, dancers, musicians, pirates, magicians and more.

3. SoCAL Music Festival

Head over to San Diego’s East Village for the SoCAL Music Festival, Saturday, September 1 from 2:00PM to midnight. Over 25 DJ’s and Bands will be performing on four stages. Tickets available starting at $40 per person, 21 years and up.

4. Julian Grape Stomp

 

Drive over to Julian to take part in the annual olde-world style grape stomp and festa at the Menghini Winery Saturday, September 1 from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. There will be two barrels for stomping – one for adults and one for children. Admission is $10 for adults 21 and over, $5 ages 6-20 and 5 and under are free.

For more information see San Diego.

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Big Bay Ballroom's Harbor Hop

The Big Bay Ballroom's Harbor Hop is coming to South Bay this August 24th.  The event is free and open to the public.  You can watch the dancing, take lessons, or show everyone your best dance moves.  The event will be at the Chula Vista Bayfront park from 7pm-10pm.  There sill be various bands performing all night.

It’ll be rockin’ and rollin’ in the park under the stars this Friday night, Aug. 24, in the South Bay.

That’s when the boogying begins at the Harbor Hop, the Port of San Diego’s free Big Bay Ballroom fest in Chula Vista Bayfront Park, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Harbor Hop is the fourth and final gala music and dance event the Port will be hosting this month.
 
The Harbor Hop fun starts with dance instructor Catherine Poole, who will help perfect your moves. She’ll be teaching the East Coast Swing, which she said is known for its “bounciness and swing hip action.” The free dance lessons are set to begin at 7:15 p.m. Poole has been dancing and performing since she was 14. When she graduated from Brigham Young University in 2008, the degrees she earned included a minor in ballroom dance. She also is a dance instructor at Mary Murphy's Champion Ballroom.

From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., you can swing to the Big Band sounds of Swingtown.

Last Saturday night on the Imperial Beach oceanfront, Lenora Porcella was among several hundred people enjoying the Barefoot Boogie.

“What a terrific event,” was her comment to Imperial Beach Patch, which provided a gallery of photos of some of the dancers. “It just doesn't get better than dancing under the stars, at the beach, on a summer evening.”

Other ballrooms have featured salsa dancing and music at Pepper Park in National City and swing dancing and jitterbug at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier.

The Port is hosting the Big Bay Ballroom events and numerous other community events, ranging from concerts and dances to festivals, fitness clinics and eco-tourism celebrations, to enliven the San Diego Bay waterfront. The goal is to create a vibrant waterfront and provide residents and visitors opportunities to enjoy year-round activities in the five Port member cities and their parks and open spaces along the bay and the Imperial Beach oceanfront.

For information on the event, please visit Port of San Diego.

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Essential Cleaning Items for Everyone Homeowner

 Moving into a a new place or reorganizing a new one always has to involve cleaning.  There are a few cleaning necessities everyone needs to start have on hand.   These items will make it much easier to start fresh and clean all the essentials in your home.

If you are moving into a new space, hopefully it has been professionally cleaned, and now the trick is to keep it up. Starting off the move with a kit of new cleaning supplies is the best way to kick things off — here are our top 10 essentials.

1. Start off with an open storage container, like this cleaning caddy from Container Store.

2. I can't get enough of the Method cleaning products, and their all-purpose lavender scented surface cleaner is my favorite all-around product for any surface. From Target

3. Every home has glass surfaces, and Windex is a must have.

4. A natural and fresh scented alternative to harsh scrubs is Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Surface Scrub.

5. One of my favorite inventions to combat dust in recent years is Swiffer sweeper wipes. From Swiffer.

6. Throw one of these cheap, cheerful dustpans in your cart while shopping for moving essentials at IKEA.

7. A new toilet brush is a necessity for a new place, as no one wants to move an old grimy one. For a fresh start, give a toilet wand with flushable wipes a try. From Ace Hardware.

8. A daily shower cleaner is one way to keep a shower looking fresh, and the Method Daily Shower cleaner will help make scrubbing less of a chore.

9. One specialty cleaner that often gets forgotten, but will help with sticky touch ups is Goo Gone.

10. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser should be number one on the list, especially after moving, as this tool magically removes scuff marks from walls and furniture.

For more information check out Apartment Therapy.

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Annual Lemon Festival

This weekend get one last taste of summer with the annual Lemon Festival.  The family will love the entertainment, food, and games.  There is even a Kids' Fun Zone that is a favorite every year.   The festival celebrates the heritage of our town, as it used to be the Lemon Capital of the World.  The event will take place this Sunday August 12th from E to G Streets on Third Avenue.

Squeeze a day of fun into your summer by celebrating at the Lemon Festival! The free festival is returning for the sixteenth year to downtown Chula Vista on Sunday, August 12.

The event celebrates Chula Vista’s heritage as the once self-proclaimed "Lemon Capital of the World.” The community is welcome to join the festivities on Third Avenue, from E to G Streets, beginning at 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Every year, the event increases in popularity bringing up to 40,000 visitors to enjoy a full day of family fun and activities.

This year the agenda includes live entertainment on three stages, local and regional hand crafters and dozens of delicious international food options. Haul the largest lemon in your arsenal to the F Street Stage at 4 p.m. for the annual “Largest Lemon Contest.” New this year is the Scripps Health and Fitness Showcase at the E Street Stage where health screenings, fitness demos and contests will take place. Adults can grab a cold one at the beer garden at F Street and for the young ones, the Kids’ Fun Zone will return to G Street.

For more information go to the City of Chula Vista website.

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Olympic Locals to Watch

The Olympics are exciting for everyone.  However, having so many athletes from Chula Vista and the Chula Vista Training Center makes our city come together to cheer for these hometown athletes.  Everything from Rowing to Field Hockey has a basis at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center.  These athletes have worked for most of their lives for this moment to compete and bring home gold to the USA.  Chula Vista watches and cheers for these athletes in the competition of a lifetime.

Here is a schedule and results for some of the Chula Vista Athletes this week.

MONDAY

Archery: Olympic Training Center residents Brady Ellison, Jake Kaminski, Jacob Wukie, Miranda Leek and Khatuna Lorig are competing. Leek won a morning match, but lost 6-4 to Italy’s Pia Lionetti in the 16.

Rowing: The U.S. men’s team, which is based at the OTC, put oars in the water with heats in the fours, eights and quads. Most notable was the men’s four, which won its heat in 5:54.88 and could be a medal contender.

Water polo: USDHS alum Kelly Rulon had one goal in the U.S. women’s team’s 14-13 victory over Hungary.

TUESDAY

Field hockey: U.S. team, based at Olympic Training Center, plays Argentina.

Rowing: U.S. men’s lightweight four advanced from Monday’s repechage to the semifinals.

Soccer: U.S. women’s team, including Rachel Buehler (Torrey Pines HS), plays North Korea.

Volleyball: U.S. men’s team, with Rich Lambourne (Serra HS), David Lee (Granite Hills HS) and Reid Priddy (grew up in Carlsbad), plays its second match against Germany.

Water polo: U.S. men’s team, including Coronado High alums Layne Beaubein and Jesse Smith, plays Romania.

WEDNESDAY

Archery: Men’s and women’s individual eliminations continues.

Water polo: U.S. women’s team, which includes USDHS alum Kelly Rulon, plays Spain in its second match of the Games.

For more information go to UT San Diego.

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Watch the Opening Games with Authentic British Flair

 Most people can not go to London for the Olympics, but that does not mean you can't celebrate like you are there.  Chula Vista is home to the famous Olympic Training Center, and they are sponsoring an event to watch opening ceremonies with the USS Midway.  This will happen at 630pm on Friday at the USS Midway Museum.  It is free and open to everyone with food and beverages for sale.

 The Olympic Opening ceremonies is such a grand spectacle that watching them from the living room couch doesn’t seem appropriate. Luckily, the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center and the USS Midway will screen the event live on two giant TV screens aboard the aircraft carrier’s flight deck.

Along with watching the glamorous Parade of Nations and performances happening from London’s 

Olympic Stadium, attendees will also be treated to activities on the ship. There will be archery demonstrations with Olympic Training Center resident athletes, photos with a real Olympic torch, juggling demonstrations by the Paralympic soccer team and interactive sports displays.

There will also be authentic British food and beverages for sale to feel like you’re in the center of it all. The gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m. Light lawn chairs will be permitted.

Details: Opening Ceremonies Viewing Party. 6:30 p.m. Friday. USS Midway Museum, 910 North Harbor Drive, Embarcadero. Free

For more information see the UT San Diego News.

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Great Energy Saving Tips for Apartment Living

During this hot summer, energy bills can be through the roof.  Saving money is a priority this summer, and there are ways to start doing that throughout your apartment.  Here are some great tips on how to stay comfortable, but also cut down costs on your energy bills.

Are you living in an apartment and eating super cheap foods to survive the recession? Maybe you can save money on your power bills? Sometimes it can be tough to lower your power bill while living in an apartment. You can't do much about low quality construction, inadequate insulation, or old appliances. But, there are several ways to cut your electric bill in an apartment with little cost.
 
1. High Efficiency Light Bulbs. Perhaps the biggest change you can make in an apartment is to use lamps with high efficiency bulbs and minimize the use of old technology track lighting and ceiling lights. High efficiency light bulbs use a fraction of the energy used by old fashioned incandescent light bulbs. For example, a high efficiency compact fluorescent light bulb that is equivalent of a 40 watt incandescent light bulb uses only 9 watts of power. With high efficiency compact fluorescent bulbs, you can easily reduce your electricity usage for lighting to 1/4 of your costs under incandescent bulbs.
 
2. Turn Off Unnecessary Lights. Being a highly efficient person can lower your lighting costs even more. If you aren't in a room, turn the light off. A turned off light uses no power at all.
 
3. Keep Your Thermostat Set at 78-degrees in the Summer and 68-degrees in the Winter. If you can minimize the use of energy for heating and cooling, you will most certainly cut your power bill. If you wrap yourself in a snuggy or quilt during the winter and set your thermostat a little lower, you will save money. Conversely, in the summer time, you can save money by setting the thermostat a little higher and wearing less clothing.
 
4. Use Fans to Stay Comfortable. While you are letting it all hang out during the summer, you might as well enjoy a breeze. Fans will circulate the air, evaporate sweat, and allow you to feel cooler. With a ceiling fan going, you may even be able to bump your thermostat up to 80-degrees. Remember to turn off fans in unused rooms because they simply allow you to feel cool by helping evaporate sweat quickly.
 
5. Hang Insulating Curtains or Drapes. Insulating curtains or drapes will help keep your apartment home comfortable while saving you money. In mild, temperate, climates you can open the curtains to let the sun's warmth in, and close them to keep the warmth in. Or, if it's bitterly cold outside, you can close the energy-efficient insulating curtains to keep every bit of warmth in that you can. If it's super hot, you can close the insulating curtains to keep that heat at bay. For less than $15 per panel, Walmart.com has Eclipse Dobby Energy-Efficient Curtain Panels that keep out 99% of outside light, reduce outside noise by up to 44%, and save $15 per year in energy costs.
 
6. Plug Drafts. It's hard enough to heat an apartment without having extra cold air seeping in. You need to plug drafts to stop losing cool air in the summer and warmth in the winter. If you have a hand-held hairdryer, the Thermwell Products Indoor Shrink Window Insulation Kit for Standard Windows can save the day. The kit consists of plastic sheets of "shrink film" and "double faced tape" that can essentially shrink wrap a drafty window. While several kits are available, a standard three window kit sells for less than $5 online at HomeDepot.com. For a similar low price at HomeDepot.com, Thermwell has a "Double Draft Stop" that fits under drafty doorways to stop cold air at the front door.

With just a few simple steps, you can save energy, cut electric bills, and live in a more comfortable apartment.

For more tips to save money this summer go to yahoo.com.

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Congratulations to all the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center Athletes

90s Olympic Athletes that were training in Chula Vista will be making their way to London for the 2012 Olympic Games.  Tennis, Soccer, BMX, and other various athletes train in the area year around thanks to the perfect weather all year.

About 90 of the athletes headed to London for the summer Olympics got their training in San Diego. The Olympic Training Center opened 17 years ago in San Diego's second largest city: Chula Vista. 

It's located one-mile north of the Mexican border and a 20 minute drive south from downtown.
Golf carts are the main mode of transportation at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. It's actually the size of a typical golf course -- about 155 acres.

Thousands of Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls have trained here since it opened in the summer of 1995.

"The training I've been getting here is the best in the world, so having the best training in the world will make me the best in the world," Blake Leaper said. He's from Kingsport,Tennessee. At age 22 he's been overcoming the odds most of his life. Born with a congenital birth defect his lower limbs never developed below the knees. His motto for life is to "find the ability in your disability," said Leaper. "The doctor told my father I would never walk, I would never run, I would never play sports, I would be in a wheel chair all my life." Leaper never took no for an answer growing up and as a double leg amputee, he already holds the U.S. Paralympic records in the 100 and 200 meter sprints.

"The energy return on the legs are amazing, I gain energy as I run and as my race prolongs. So there's some good and some bad to the situation, but the fact that I'm out here just running is a blessing for me," he said with a big smile.

San Diego's warm weather makes this yearround training site perfect for almost any Olympic sport. 

Kayakers and rowers train on Otay Lake Reservoir right next to the facility, and participants in the newest Olympic event BMX dirt bike racing train exclusively here for the London games.

"It's kind of like the BMX mecca of the U.S.," said 21-year old Amanda Carr. She's from Punta Gorda, Florida and started racing at age 5. "When it comes to the race there's eight in the gate at once and there's no lanes. So it's whose going to get from the gate to the finish line first," Carr said.
BMX initially got its start in California in the 1970s when teenagers would imitate their motor cross heroes doing tricks and stunts on their dirt bikes. Is this more of a mental or a physical game? "I would say, obviously the physical component needs to be there, but at this level all of us are physically fit to win a race, I believe it comes down to mental," Carr said.

"The athletes that train here are not the big professionals you see. That's why they need a training center. They're not making huge salaries, they're not the professional basketball players. These guys do it because they have a passion for sport," said Tracy Lamb, director of the Olympic Training Center. It's run on public and private donations of about $7 million a year.

Lamb said despite the sluggish economy business is good. "We're the only country in the world that funds its Olympic program through private donations of the American people. It's a tough way to do business, but I think it's a great way to do business," Lamb said.

This sprawling complex hosts sports ranging from tennis and soccer to archery and women's field hockey. But take a tour and you'll notice only 50 percent of the facility is being used. Lamb says it's by design. "So we don't know what sports are going to be in the future, so we have some potential for growth. The athletes are here to reach their full potential and we're still striving as a training center in Chula Vista to still have growth.

The archery, soccer and women's field hockey teams have qualified for London. Along with 19 members from track and field including Paralympic sprinter Blake Leaper. "So right now I'm the top dog in the U.S. but I'm ranked second in the world in my events and there's this one particular guy he's really good," Leaper said.

That would be Oscar Pistorius from South Africa. The first double leg amputee to qualify for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. "He'll have some hype going it to it. I've raced him a couple of times, he's beaten me yes, but I know that the training I've been getting here is the best in the world and come the Paralympic games, I'll be ready for him, so he better be ready for me," Leaper said with a broad grin.

Unfortunately BMX racer Amanda Carr didn't qualify during the Olympic trials. The Summer Games start July 27th in London. And the Paralympics begin two weeks after the close of the Olympics.

For more information on the Chula Vista Training Center go to KPBS.

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Decorating on a Budget

Decorating on a budget can be hard.  Decorating the kids rooms on a budget can be even trickier, especially when they want the latest thing that their teen idol has.  However here are five great ideas for lamp shades that your child will love, and they will also not break the bank.

If you've got an old lamp that needs some sprucing up, changing the lamp shade can often do the trick. We found five fantastic do it yourself ideas that you can do easily to make your own, custom lamp shade for a child's room. Check out our inspiration!

• Handwritten Shade from A Little Glass Box: We love this idea that can be executed in so many ways. Courtney decided to write a letter to her son and attach it to this lamp shade. You could do the same, or write favorite quotes, the lyrics to a special song, or nursery rhymes.

• Pottery Barn-inspired Flower Shade from Sweet C's Designs: With some inspiration from a Pottery Barn Kids lamp, Courtney from Sweet C's Designs came up with this peony-covered shade.

• Custom Silhouette Shade from Chica and Jo: Another great use of typography, this shade is at its most striking when it's lit.

• DIY Ribbon Shade featured at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam: More ideas from Pottery Barn Kids led Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam to feature this ribbon-covered shade that her friend made.

• Kids' Art Lamp Shade at Kid Crave: Have your kids design their own lamp with this kit featured at Kid Crave, or just let them go crazy with some permanent markers and a fabric shade.

For more information on this do it yourself project check out apartment therapy.

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