Our 6 Favorite Orange County Pumpkin Patches

by Kate LowethOctober 13, 2021

Fall comes whether the days get colder or not. The first signs of fall in Orange County are the pumpkin patches popping up all over town. We’ve gathered our favorite OC pumpkin patches that include family-friendly activities like corn mazes, apple cider donuts, bounce houses and hay rides. Scroll through to find one near you!

Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch
This spot wins out for most authentic feel as it actually is a working farm! Wander through the pumpkin patch to pick one off the vine. This year they are doing drive-through on the weekends and wagon rides on weekdays. Parking passes are required on weekends for $10.

5380 3/4 University Dr.,
Irvine, CA
Online: tinybeans.go-vip.net

Zoomars Pumpkin Patch
Bring your family this autumn and experience a full pumpkin patch on this historic farm. Hop aboard the kiddie train and giddy-up on the horse ride. Travel back in time to the old Western town and try your hand at gem mining.

31791 Los Rios St.
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Online: tinybeans.go-vip.net

Irvine Park Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch
Come and enjoy tons of family activities like face painting, hay rides, a moon bounce, panning for gold, cookie decorating, carnival games and more. Admission is free, but each activity costs tickets. If you plan to visit on the weekends, arrive early to avoid parking lot closures.

One Irving Park Rd.
Orange, CA
Online: tinybeans.go-vip.net

Enchanted Country Pumpkins
You'll find loads of perfect pumpkins at this Brea patch with spots for photo ops, carnival games, a petting zoo and more. Come back in the winter to grab your Christmas tree. They also have a sister lot in San Dimas.

480 N. State College Blvd.
Brea, CA
Online: tinybeans.go-vip.net

COVID-19 Update: Visitors are asked to wear a mask.

Pumpkin City's Pumpkin Farm
Meander through thousands of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes in a charming farm atmosphere. Enjoy a host of amusement rides, game booths, and activities all set under the canopy of the beautiful autumn sky. Admission is free and the fun is guaranteed!

24203 Avenida de la Carlota
Laguna Hills, CA
Online: tinybeans.go-vip.net

The Pumpkin Factory
This pumpkin patch is a family favorite. You'll find exciting rides, fun games, delicious food and even a petting zoo. You're sure to find the perfect pumpkin here!

Main Place Mall
Santa Ana, CA
Online: tinybeans.go-vip.net

—Taylor Clifton & Kate Loweth

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The Holidays Return to Starbucks & You Can Score a Free Collectible Cup

by Jennifer SwartvagherNovember 5, 2020

Many consider the release of Starbucks red cups as the unofficial launch of the holiday season. Starting Fri. Nov. 6, the coffee chain’s fan-favorite holiday beverages are back. Plus they are giving away a free collectible red holiday cup to customers who order a handcrafted holiday beverage tomorrow.

Head over to Starbucks to enjoy a Peppermint Mocha, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Caramel Brulee Latte, Chestnut Praline Latte and Eggnog Latte. The bakery case is also getting a seasonal upgrade with the new Cranberry Orange Scone and returning Sugar Plum Danish, Cranberry Bliss Bar, Snowman Cookie and Snowman Cake Pop.

The chain is releasing four new cup designs this year:

Ribbon: This design brings forward all the joyful elements of the holiday season in ribbons of brand greens and a jolly red like a cozy holiday sweater. Look closely and you’ll see a familiar crown, tail, and scales. The design is repeated on this year’s collectible Starbucks red holiday cup.
Dot: Stripes swirl around a field of Starbucks house green punctuated by playful polka dots, sharing the sentiment to “carry the merry.”
Sparkle: This red cup has vintage vibes, with cutout shapes in green like glittering holiday ornaments. The motif is repeated in a snowy white on Starbucks cold beverage cups.
Brand Wrap: This modern, scaled-up version of the ribbon design features bold bands of holiday color and the Starbucks wordmark, designer street style.

If you are looking to enjoy your favorite seasonal beverages from the comforts of home you can find Christmas Blend whole bean coffee when you pick up your holiday beverage at Starbucks. You can also pick up your favorite Starbucks seasonal flavors like Holiday Blend and Peppermint Mocha in Roast & Ground, K-Cup pods and ready-to-drink formats wherever groceries are sold.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Starbucks

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LUMI Brings Music Class to Your Home

by Jennifer SwartvagherNovember 4, 2020

With many kids learning remotely, parents are looking for enrichment activities that can be accessed from home. LUMI offers a way to learn how to play the piano without leaving the house.

The all-in-one LUMI system lets you choose the songs you love from Beyonce to Beethoven in the app and play them instantly by following lights on an illuminated keyboard. You can select from hundreds of songs, lessons and exercises that will help to build lifelong musical skills

Roland Lamb, founder and CEO of ROLI, said: “We set out to make LUMI the world’s first fully integrated hardware, software, and content platform for music learning. Its growth and evolution over the past year truly make LUMI the easiest and most fun way to get started learning the piano. Meeting a need that’s more important than ever before, LUMI empowers people who love music to teach themselves an instrument entirely from home.”

Previously available only on Kickstarter, LUMI was the most-funded music learning project ever on that platform. Over the past year, ROLI has comprehensively upgraded LUMI Keys and the LUMI app based on feedback from thousands of early users. These improvements include:

Internally redesigning LUMI Keys 1 for an overall stronger build. Now 77g heavier, the keyboard is more durable. Its key action performance is better and its key sensitivity is even more precise.
Tripling the size of the LUMI Complete content library, now with 400+ songs and 100+ lessons.
Introducing new ways to read music and play songs, including through traditional black-and-white musical notation.
Introducing 360 exercises for practicing scales and chords in every key.
Improving navigation, interactivity, and the performance of the app experience on an expanded range of devices.

Stock of LUMI Keys 1 is limited, and all preorders will be delivered on a first-ordered, first-shipped basis. Early buyers save $130 in a limited-time bundle offer that includes LUMI Keys 1, a free Snapcase, free shipping, and a $50 discount voucher to LUMI Premium all for $299.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of LUMI

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Netflix’s “Floor Is Lava” Is Your Family’s New Favorite Show

by Jennifer SwartvagherJuly 1, 2020

If you are looking for a fun show to watch with your kids head over to Netflix. The streaming service just released Floor is Lava, a game show based on the popular children’s game of jumping from across the room, surfing across pieces of furniture without touching any part of their body to the floor. Be prepared, your kids are going to want to recreate the scenarios at home.

According to Netflix, “Teams compete to navigate rooms flooded with lava by leaping from chairs, hanging from curtains and swinging from chandeliers. Yes, really.”

Hosted by Rutledge Wood, the series walks viewers through the various obstacle course routes. The audience is given a clear picture of what needs to be done in order to conquer each level. Contestants need to work together as a cohesive team to finish each challenge.

As contestants advance to higher levels in the game they travel to the different rooms in a house, from scaling the bug infested basement walls to spinning around on a four poster bed.

Just remember, the floor is lava!

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of ADAM ROSE/NETFLIX

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A Virtual Babysitter? Yep, It’s a Thing Now

by Maria ChambersApril 9, 2020

Sittercity has been a valuable resource for parents looking to find nannies and babysitters for nearly 20 years. You post your job, review profiles for applicants and pick a caregiver who fits your family. It’s that simple. With many parents temporarily working from home and juggling homeschooling, Sittercity has scaled their business model to lend a hand virtually. Find out how this service that simplified childcare is getting creative with supporting Chicago families.

photo: Sittercity

Sittercity Goes Virtual
It might sound a wee bit like something straight out of The Jetsons, but Eizabeth Harz, mom of 2 and CEO of Sittercity, has introduced a virtual arm to childcare. You won’t have The Jetson’s Rosie flitting about, cleaning spills and making meals, but you will have a professional to engage your kids digitally for a short period of time so you can work, or take a breather, in peace. You can utilize Sittercity’s pool of stellar resources to assist with schoolwork or engage your child in an interactive game online.

Is it Safe?
Even though this person won’t physically be in your home, Sittercity recommends you still go through the same vetting process you would for any other babysitting experience. They encourage you to never leave your child unattended, the sitter is not able to physically supervise or control your child via video, and to review with the sitter any planned activities to determine what’s appropriate for your child.

photo: Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

How Much Do You Pay a Virtual Sitter?
You can post a job and browse sitters for free. Regularly priced subscription plans are $35 for one month, $70 for three months or $140 for 12 months. However, they are currently offering 50% off full premium access for one month.

While the responsibilities are different for a virtual sitting session vs an in-person experience, paying the standard rate, if you’re able, is appreciated. According to Sittercity, the average hourly rate in Chicago, and the nation, is $16.50/hour. If you’re curious to see how Chicago stacks up, you can view their chart that lists average hourly childcare rates in top U.S. cities.

photo: Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels

Extra Support for Chicago’s Essential Workers
We’ve been instructed to stay home and socially distance as much as possible, but for many Chicagoans deemed as essential, this is an impossibility. This creates a tricky situation with their kids home from school, still in need of supervision.

Sittercity has partnered with the City of Chicago to launch Chicago Responds, a program that helps the city’s essential workforce by connecting them to volunteers to help care for their families. Frontline workers who sign up will receive three free months of Sittercity Premium. If you’re an essential worker who needs assistance or would like to volunteer to care for their kids, click here.

— Maria Chambers

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Now You Can Buy a Jason Momoa Coloring Book

by Jennifer SwartvagherApril 7, 2020

Adult coloring books are a great stress reliever. A fantasy-filled coloring book featuring Jason Momoa has fans excited to get their hands on it since they can’t get their hands on his actual biceps. Crush and Color: Jason Momoa A Coloring Book of Fantasies With an Epic Dreamboat, featuring more than 35 “Momoa moments” for your enjoyment is now available on Amazon.

The book’s illustrations depict Momoa swimming with sharks, taking a bath, lounging on the bed, cooking a steak, walking his dogs, riding a horse, chopping down a tree, surfing, mowing the lawn and more.

According to the book’s description, “Escape to your very own rugged utopia with your favorite star! Crush and Color: Jason Momoa is a collection of daydreams come to life on incredible coloring pages. Immerse yourself in more than 35 completely unique, life-like drawings of the rugged dreamboat in the zone and on top of the world. Let him take the helm on a sunset sail, witness impressive physical strength as he scales a colossal cliffside, and take in the serenity of quieter moments through colorable works of art. Caught on every page is Jason’s breezy charm and irresistible vigor ready for coloring detail. Color your way to a dreamier day with enamoring reveries and stirring displays of masculinity on each page!”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Amazon

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Here’s How to Make a Mini Dinosaur Terrarium in a Mason Jar

by Christal Y.March 31, 2020

If you’ve got the kind of green thumb that makes most houseplants go extinct, we’ve got your solution right here! A small-scaled terrarium that’s home to dinosaurs! It’s easy to make, hard to kill and brought to you by horticulturist Katie Elzer-Peters. Read on to find out how to DIY a fairy-sized and kid-friendly version of Jurassic Park.

Supplies:
Glass container (mason jar works)
Small low-light pants (i.e. table ferns, polka dot plants, Selaginella, Croton, Alternanthera, and Ficus plants)
Few cups of sterilized seedling mix or potting soil
Reindeer moss
Activated charcoal
Dinosaur figurines

Good to Know: Enclosed terrariums need a little light for the plants to grow and keep the water cycle going. Otherwise, plants will rot. If you can see condensation inside of the glass, then the terrarium is getting enough light. If the plants start to rot or become mushy, open the cover and let it dry out for a week or so. It may take a while to find the right balance of water for the terrarium to reach equilibrium.

Step by Step:
1. Fill the bottom of the container with ½ to 1 inch of rocks.

2. Pour activated charcoal on top of the rocks until the rocks are barely covered by the charcoal.

3. Add the potting mix on top of the charcoal. Start with 1 inch of potting mix. This doesn’t seem like much, but it is easier to start with a little, than it is to add more potting mix and dig holes.

4. Place the plants. If you’re using accessories, such as the dinosaur, you can set them in among the plants to gauge the effect see if you want to move the plants around prior to planting.

5. Remove plants from pots and plant them. The bottom of the plant root balls can be touching the rocks. Use a spoon to fill in with soil around the plants.

6. Add decorative mulches such as preserved reindeer moss or tumbled stones.

7. Position the accessories.

8. Water the terrarium. This is the trickiest step. It’s easy to overwater and then difficult to get the terrarium to dry out. Start by watering so that the top inch of soil (which might, in this case, be all of the soil) is about as damp as a wrung-out sponge. You can always add water.

9. Place the cover on the terrarium, set it in bright indirect light, and enjoy.

Even in such a small terrarium, you can make separate little scenes. Ideally, you’ll use accessories to make the terrarium interesting and inviting from all sides.

Katie Elzer-Peters is a horticulturist and author of gardening books, blogs, and articles. She also teaches classes and runs workshops dedicated to gardening and garden writing in Wilmington, North Carolina. Her guide to making “fairy + mini” gardens can be pre-ordered here on Amazon.

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Starbucks Mermaid Tumbler Is Fit for an Under Sea Princess

by Shahrzad WarkentinJanuary 14, 2020

The latest addition to Starbucks line of cups and tumblers is totally channeling The Little Mermaid.

Starbucks newest tumbler features an iridescent, scaled pattern in hues of teal, and turquoise and purple colors in certain lights and angles. The cup is appearing in posts all over Instagram, because obviously it’s fabulous.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7CBB0rlIA_/

The Starbucks mermaid tumbler is available in stores now in Grande and Venti sizes, perfect for trying out the newest Starbucks non-dairy drinks, like the Coconut milk latte.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ruth Magana (@bellavendetta84)

If you happen to have a pint-sized mermaid fan, you might want to grab two. This is one cup you won’t want to give up.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Rachel Swedberg via Instagram

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Autism Markers Aren’t Always Linked to Developing Autism, New Study Finds

by Shahrzad WarkentinMarch 20, 2019

The development of autism has long been linked to delays in an infant’s motor skills. However, new research that examines how to identify autism has uncovered motor problems in autistic infants are no different than those in babies with other developmental conditions.

Researchers used a common assessment of cognitive and motor abilities known as the Mullen Scales of Early Learning and were unable to identify problems that were clear markers of autism and nothing else. The study, which involved 625 babies from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Israel, assessed the babies’ motor and language skills at six-months-old and then evaluated them for autism at 36 months.

photo: Sandy Millar via Unsplash

Although the babies in the high-risk group showed weaker fine-motor skills, there was no difference in gross motor skills when compared to the control group of infants developing typically. They also found that there were no differences overall between those kids who were diagnosed with autism versus those who were diagnosed with other developmental problems.

The researchers believe that combining fine- and gross-motor scores or pairing these with a test of other autism-related traits, might be able to help distinguish between autistic infants and those with other developmental issues. The team is also continuing to study the connection between language development and motor skills.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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Explore the Cosmos at the Griffith Observatory

by Jennifer O'BrienFebruary 19, 2019

The City of Angels may be chock full of stars, but the Griffith Observatory gives families the best opportunity to see the ones in the sky. Between the mesmerizing planetarium shows that take kids on a journey of cosmic exploration and discovery, fascinating exhibits, and telescopes that provide the most amazing views of LA and the stars above, the Griffith Observatory is the perfect pitstop for all the astronomers in your family.

photo: Griffith Observatory

Samuel Oschin Planetarium
The Samuel Oschin Planetarium is a truly magical and memorable experience for families. As the Zeiss Star Projector and digital projection system transform the dome into the night sky, visitors are transported to worlds beyond their wildest dreams.

Presently, the planetarium offers three shows to choose from that are presented by a live and engaging storyteller: Centered in the Universe takes visitors on a journey of cosmos; Water is Life leads the audience on a search for water and possibly life beyond Earth while Light of the Valkyries (their 75^thanniversary show) reveals the magic of the Northern Lights.

Live presentations are scheduled every 60-to-90 minutes. Note that children under 5 are only admitted to the first show each day (12:45 p.m. on weekdays and 10:45 a.m. on weekends).

Insider Tip: It gets quite dark in the planetarium at the beginning of the show, so prepare your astronomers, especially those that may be afraid of the dark. Tickets may only be purchased on-site at the Observatory for that day’s shows—no advance purchases are available.

photo: Griffith Observatory

The Exhibits

Within the Griffith Observatory, there are two floors of incredible exhibits waiting to spark the imaginations of visitors and encourage them to ponder their own relationships to the universe.

Don’t miss: Scales that tell guests how much they would weigh on each planet and our moon, the Foucault Pendulum—one of the largest scientific instruments in the world that proves Earth is spinning on its axis, and the Tesla Coil which discharges sizzling lightening sparks to the walls of its alcove.

photo: Griffith Observatory

The Telescopes

The main highlight for every Griffith Observatory visitor is getting to look through the famous Zeiss telescope on the roof. More people have looked through this telescope and learned about the movements of the heavens than any other telescope on Earth! After checking out this viewfinder, make sure to check out the other telescopes located on the vast terraces that provide more earth-bound, breathtaking views like the Hollywood sign, DTLA, and the Pacific Ocean.

photo: Jennifer O’Brien

Observatory Events

Special events occur all year long at the Griffith Observatory, but little ones will especially love the “Let’s Make a Comet” presentation in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater during holiday breaks and summertime. During the 30-minute show, visitors help create a comet out of household ingredients.

Once a month, the Observatory hosts a Star Party where kids of all ages can look through dozens of telescopes on the lawn and interact with astronomy enthusiasts from local astronomy clubs, as well as Griffith Observatory employees.

Insider Tip: If you plan on visiting the Griffith Observatory on a Sat. or Sun., try to arrive right as close to 10 a.m. when they open to the public. Crowds will be lighter, and there should be available parking (with the exception of holiday weekends which can get a little crazy to say the least). If you become a member of Friends Of The Observatory, you can reserve parking ahead of time and even book tickets to the planetarium shows.

Where to Eat: Hungry star watchers can grab a bite on the lower level of the Observatory at Wolfgang Puck’s Café at the End of the Universe. A vast menu (including meals for kids) is available with everything from soups and salads to sandwiches and sweet treats. Visitors will find plenty of seating inside or outdoors on the terrace with stellar views of the city and Hollywood sign.

2800 E. Observatory Rd.
Los Angeles
213-473-0800
Online: griffithobservatory.org

To see what Red Tricycle Editors are up to this month, follow us on Instagram!

–Jennifer O’Brien

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