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I think Maui is a great vacation destination anytime of year, whether you’re looking to travel as a couple, with friends, family or even solo! This summer, I was so excited to take my kids for the very first time, along with their Dad who had never been…plus my sisters and Mom joined us too. For me, it was my third trip to the island, and while I had already been able to explore much of the island, there was so much more I hadn’t done, and it was my first trip with my family. When I was doing research for this trip, a...

I recently experienced a day at the Disneyland Resort for Pixar Fest and the opening of the re-imagined Pixar Pier at Disney’s California Adventure. I was lucky enough to go on a work assignment, BUT even luckier that I was able to bring my two boys and my sister with me too! This was the first visit for myself and my boys to California Adventure. My sister had been before, so we left it up to her to navigate what we needed to experience. A huge key for us was using the Disneyland app and Fast Passes. We did like 5 rides in the...

I am a fan of online (event) invitations. The ease of creating an event invite, tracking responses and even updating/changing event details as needed, makes it very easy. Plus, I don’t have to worry about printing anything, envelopes, postage and getting to the post office, etc… That being said, I do also like setting the “tone” if you will for my event. I’m big on presentation and playing up a theme, and when I can flex my novice design skills + have the time, I like to see what I can whip up. Well, it’s...

I don’t even know where to start, but I will say that if you’re a Bay Area parent and you want to celebrate the “Halloween” season with your kids… GREAT AMERICA should be at the top of your list! We had an amazing weekend and it all kicked off with the Great Pumpkin Fest at Great America, where every weekend from now til the end of October, the park, (from noon -4pm) will be extra fun-filled with its Great Pumpkin Fest event…and it’s all included with admission. The park is open from 10am-5:30pm...

Time flies! We’re just about 4 weeks into the school year and my older son’s foray into Kindergarten. Overall, he’s enjoying it and things are going pretty well. Here’s a look back  into our first 4 weeks… First day of school went very smooth, Raef was excited to see some friends he already knew from ARPD Tiny Tots as well as TBall and day care programs. He lined up first by his classroom too! A post shared by Aubrey Aquino (@fifty3weeks) on Aug 28, 2017 at 8:15am PDT This year we didn’t do...

Right before school kicked in, we took a trip south to visit San Diego. In 4 days and 3 nights we found some great spots to hang out with the kiddos, that were fun for the whole family! 1. Seaport Village – Take a nice walk along the San Diego Bay and take in the beautiful views as you make your way along Harbor Drive to Seaport Village. We began our walk with brunch in the Gaslamp district before walking around Petco Park (home of the San Diego Padres), then toward the water and up to Seaport Village’s cute strip of shops...

  Your home is your own corner of heaven — a place where your family members will interact, enjoy quality time together, and share important events; the nest in which you’ll raise your children; the palace you’ll return to whenever you need comfort and calm. A family home is a space for traditions and heirlooms, to-do lists and laundry, and sticky fingerprints that are frequently removed from the walls. It’s a collection of rooms that are familiar and beloved; a shelter from harm. Your home is your world, and decorating it...

The boys and I trekked over to Marin for a hike through Muir Woods. I had always heard about Muir Woods and the giant redwoods, but I had never actually made the trip, so I figured it would be a fun day trip to do with my boys. My sister and her 2-month old baby boy also joined us for the excursion. I didn’t do much research before our visit, I had a decent idea of where to go and what to expect…so I went with it! Muir Woods is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and it’s known for its giant redwood trees!...

Two parties in six days, that was my life this past week. We started with TMNT for my 5-year old, and finished the birthday week with SPIDERMAN for my now 4-year old.   We chose to have this party at a complex near us, called Bladium. The nice thing about Bladium is that you can choose what activities the kids can do during your party. We chose Rock Climbing as our main activity the first hour, then for the second hour they moved us into another area where the kid’s had use of the basketball court and a giant inflatable slide! At...

Cowabunga dude! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are BIG in my house…and TMNT was the chosen theme for my older son who just turned 5! When it came to choosing a venue for the party, I chose the East Oakland Sports Center. They have an amazing indoor aquatic area and a roomy party room just off the pool. Since his birthday is in the summer, I figured a swim party would be the perfect way to celebrate…and it truly was a big hit! We picked the perfect day to host the party, and while there was a public swim session, it wasn’t...