AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and recommend. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.
Orange color themed Easter gift basket for teens
My mother was the best at making holidays magical when I was a kid, and I have such fond memories of Easter Sunday morning. The night before Easter, my parents would help us set out carrots for the Easter bunny to munch on as a thank you for stopping by our house. We’d wake up early, run downstairs, and see our pastel wicker Easter basket filled with goodies! Some of the top Easter basket filler gifts that I remember were coloring books, a Barbie doll, a VHS of “Beauty and the Beast,” a giant chocolate bunny and Cadbury Creme Eggs. Man, those creamy, chocolatey eggs are GOOD!
These days, I hear of parents giving some outrageous gifts to their kids for Easter, like concert tickets and bikes. When I was growing up, Easter basket gifts were never as big as Christmas gifts. Whatever fit into our small baskets is what we got, and I’d like to keep that tradition for my kids. I try to make the gifts even more practical and fun with themed baskets! By sticking to a theme, parents keep from overspending on unnecessary trinkets and toys. I also love a practical theme, like a “summer” themed basket to prep kids for their summer activities and trips. If your kids are growing like weeds, like mine, then they’ve likely outgrown last year’s swimsuit, and they could probably use a swim goggles upgrade along with some summer vacation road trip activities and crafts to keep them entertained while at home on a hot summer day.
Yep, themed baskets are the way to go, and I have 5 fabulous ideas to share for you to recreate for your kids Easter baskets! Below are my recommendations for Easter basket theme ideas for kids aged newborn to teen!
Baby’s First Easter Basket
An adorably personalized basket for newborns and infants celebrating their first Easter!
A personalized baby’s first Easter themed gift basket from Personalization Mall
There’s nothing more precious than creating memories around your baby’s first Easter, and one way to make the memories last forever is with personalized keepsake Easter gifts from Personalization Mall, like a bib and diaper cover. Personalization Mall provides thousands of unique keepsakes that can be delivered quickly for Easter and beyond. They are the go-to resource for creating personalized gifts that are perfect for celebrating Easter with your kids – especially if it’s your baby’s first holiday! Give baby something to love with a personalized security blanket, stuffy and personalized book, too! For Easter 2024, be sure to place your order by March 19 for the personalized book in order for it to arrive in time for Easter, as this item takes 7-10 days to personalize and ship. For all other items, you can order up until March 29 at 9 am PST to receive in time for the holiday. But, if you order by March 25 you will save big on shipping!
A basket filled with age-appropriate arts and crafts from Michaels is sure to keep your toddler busy and creative this Easter season!
Busy toddler themed Easter basket with lots of activities and crafts from Michaels
I’ve been a fan of shopping at Michaels for holidays for my whole life. Seriously, I’d go with my mom when I was in preschool to buy craft supplies to make our July 4th t-shirts and paint our Keds tennis shoes! Now, Michaels has more than ever, and it’s your one-stop-shop to make festive and creative Easter baskets for your kids, including stuffers, baskets, Easter grass and decorative cellophane wrapping! I love how many options Michaels has for fun and easy crafts for little kids. Create the perfect Easter basket for your busy toddler with the products below:
A practical basket to get your kids ready for summer activities and trips!
A summer themed Easter basket for kids from Maisonette including swimsuits, goggles, egg and bunny shaped chalk, finger crayons, outdoor toys and “seed pops” for your little one to garden!
Maisonette is one of my most favorite online marketplaces for kids apparel, toys, gifts and home decor, because everything they sell is unique and special. Maisonette is your one-stop shop for the best baby and kids products from around the globe! With the warmer seasons right around the corner, Maisonette has all the essentials you need to get your mini ready for Spring and Summer. Whether you’re staying home, taking a vacation, or gearing up for camp, Maisonette is your online destination for quality products of every kind for the little ones in your life; plus, inspiration and intel that’ll make your shopping experience an easy one! For last minute Easter baskets, outfits, activities and decor select 2-day shipping at checkout to make sure you’re Easter Sunday ready. Here’s what to buy to create your child’s summer themed Easter basket:
Your pre-teen or teenager will love these age-appropriate beauty and self-care products from Ulta Beauty!
Lots of beauty and self-care goodies for this Easter basket from Ulta Beauty!
You’ve probably heard that pre-teen skincare is all the rage, so if you have a middle or high school aged kiddo, they’ll love a beauty themed Easter basket! Ulta Beauty has all the best products to introduce your beauty and self-care obsessed kiddo to age-appropriate skincare and makeup. Plus, many of the products come in bright spring colors, so the aesthetic of your basket will be perfect for Easter! Consider all these great skincare, makeup and nail polish ideas for your beauty basket:
Surprise your child with an Easter basket filled with goodies of their favorite color!
Pink themed Easter basket with gum, Starbucks pink drink, holiday Lip Smackers, lip mask and Easter candy!
An orange color themed Easter gift basket – great for older kids!
Is it just me, or are older kids so hard to shop for? It seems like all they want is gift cards, which takes the fun out of gifting, in my opinion. For an easy Easter basket idea for teenager, college kid, or even your spouse, make a basket filled with items that are their favorite color. This basket idea is also relatively affordable, as you can buy lots of colorful treats at the dollar store, Target, Walmart or Amazon. Here’s what I bought for an orange color themed basket that I put together:
I’d love to hear what type of Easter basket you’re putting together for your children! Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more fun family-friendly ideas!
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and recommend. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.
We’re a big banana bread family. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I made one banana bread for every month that the city of Los Angeles was in “lockdown.” I think I made six banana breads, maybe more, as the city continued on with various restrictions. With all that baking, I was able to perfect the BEST chocolate chip zucchini banana bread recipe ever. You can find a version of that recipe as muffins with healthier swaps for flour and sugar here.
Today, we went to make that amazing bread recipe and realized that we didn’t have zucchini on hand. However, we did have shredded carrots, which I thought was even better with the Easter holiday upon us! The result was even better than expected. This banana bread with chocolate chips and carrots is gooey on the outside with a lightly crispy top, and the flavor is both sweet and savory, making it a perfect bread for breakfast, snacks, desserts, and a yummy treat to pair with coffee or tea.
If you’re like me and always looking for ways to sneak veggies into your kids’ food, then this is the perfect recipe for you! My kids are usually veggie adverts, and they devoured this chocolate chip banana carrot bread! My 3-year-old daughter also loved helping me make this recipe. She was the “official banana masher.”
This is a great recipe for your family, and I know you’ll love it! If you kids asked who ate it all, you can just say the “Easter Bunny!”
Preheat oven to 350º. Line a 9-inch bread loaf pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mix together melted butter, sugar, egg and egg yolk, sour cream, and vanilla. Add mashed bananas and shredded carrots and stir until combined.
In the same bowl, add flour, baking soda, and salt and stir to combine well.
Fold in chocolate chips and transfer to prepared baking pan.
Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool 10 minutes in pan, then transfer onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
I hope you love this recipe! Let me know if you try it in the comments below, or connect with me on Instagram or TikTok!
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and recommend. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.
Delicious and nutritious: ALOHA Protein Bars Raspberry White Chocolate flavor
As a busy, on-the-go mama, I’m always looking for convenient ways to add more protein into my diet. Protein helps boost my energy, keeps me fuller longer and supports my fitness goals. But, sometimes, it can be challenging to get enough quality protein into my diet in between carting the kids around to school and their activities and my full work and volunteer schedule. I’m always on the lookout for new, delicious protein options, so I was thrilled when ALOHA sent me their Raspberry White Chocolate Protein Bars, which the brand claims is the most popular flavor on social media, to do a taste-test! To really get to know these bars, I went out and purchased for myself the Peanut Butter Cup and Coconut Chocolate Almond flavors to taste. Below, I share my honest review of ALOHA Protein Bars and answer some common questions about these delightful bars. And, if you want to try ALOHA for yourself, make sure you read through to the end to get 20% your first order!
What are ALOHA Protein Bars?
ALOHA Protein Bars are convenient, individually wrapped, plant-based protein bars that come in indulgent flavors like Raspberry White Chocolate (limited edition), Peanut Butter Cup (best seller), Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chocolate Mint, Lemon Cashew and other yummy flavor combos. ALOHA Protein Bars are packed with 14g of a nutrient dense protein blend and healthy fats so you can stay energized for hours. Currently, ALOHA sells its protein bars in packs of 12 of the same flavor or two variety pack options. According to the brand’s website, ALOHA’s sustainably sourced plant-based products are high in protein, amazingly low in sugar, USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan. That’s a lot of goodness in one bar!
Are ALOHA Protein Bars good for you?
If your goal is to conveniently add more protein into your diet with clean ingredients, then, yes! ALOHA Protein Bars are good for you, because they’re high in protein and low in sugar while being made with sustainably sourced plant-based products that are USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan.
It’s important to me to have as much natural foods as possible in my diet, so my favorite thing about these bars’ ingredients is that there’s no artificial or or overly refined sweeteners. I’m not into fake sweeteners at all, and I was pleased to see that ALOHA uses monk fruit or tapioca fiber to sweeten their bars. Their protein source is also natural – brown rice or pumpkin seed – which I like more than some competitors’ ingredients, like whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate and soy protein isolate. Consuming too much whey/milk protein isolate can irritate your stomach, and I’ve personally noticed that it makes me bloated. With soy, there’s lots of conflicting studies about whether too much disrupts your hormones, and since I’ve been trying to balance my hormones the last couple of years, I just avoid it to be safe. I also really like that the bars have a good amount of fiber – around 6g-10g per bar – which is great for overall health, especially when consuming lots of protein!
If you’re on low-cal diet and trying to lose weight, I probably wouldn’t eat this bar as a snack, because it has a lot of calories for one bar (220-250 calories per bar). Some may argue that because of its high protein and healthy fat content, the bar will keep you fuller longer, but I’ve never been one to get “full” from eating one bar, no matter what’s in it. ALOHA’s calories per bar are comparable to competitor protein bars, though, so if you’re going to choose to eat a protein bar, I’d choose this one because of its clean ingredients. ALOHA also offers “Protein Minis” which are smaller bars with less calories and protein if you’re calorie-conscious. Calories in the Protein Minis range from 100-110, but there’s less flavor options.
First, if you want to easily add protein to your diet, ALOHA Protein Bars have 14 grams of protein and come in a variety of delicious, dessert-like flavors! Win-win!
Next, as previously stated, this product only has USDA organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan ingredients. You get the protein and flavor without all the crap that’s put into most “health bars.” They’re also free from gluten, soy and dairy, which is huge for me. If I’m going to eat a packaged product instead of whole foods, I want it to be as clean as possible.
Additionally, ALOHA is a bar you’ll feel good about eating, not only for your personal health, but also because of the company’s commitment to doing good. ALOHA’s brand really cares about its impact on the environment and is committed to the path of becoming climate neutral. It’s also dedicated to supporting its community while partnering with Kupu, Hawaii’s leading nonprofit working to foster the next generation of environmental and cultural stewards, and Conscious Alliance, a leading non-profit that helps families and children experiencing food insecurities. ALOHA is B Corp Certified, which is a prestigious designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. According to ALOHA’s website, fewer than 4% of all companies that apply to be B Corp Certified make the cut. And those that do, obtain the certification because they meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability as well as balance both profit and purpose.
What do ALOHA Protein Bars Taste Like?
I tried three ALOHA Protein Bars flavors: Raspberry White Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cup and Coconut Chocolate Almond. I was elated when ALOHA sent me the Raspberry White Chocolate flavor, because that’s typically my favorite flavor combo for desserts (hello, Cheesecake Factory’s Raspberry White Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake!). I chose the other flavors, because Reese’s and Almond Joys were my favorite candies to get in my Halloween trick-or-treating bag growing up. I love that ALOHA’s flavors are decadent, so your mind is tricked into thinking you’re getting a dessert when you’re really eating good-for-you protein! Here’s my thoughts on these three flavors:
Raspberry White Chocolate – This chewy bar has a very delicate raspberry taste with a creamy white chocolate coating. I like that there’s little bits of dried raspberry in the bar to add some interesting consistency. It’s a little dry, but wasn’t grainy. My 3-year-old daughter is always interested in what I’m eating, so she took a bite and thought it was dessert!
Peanut Butter Cup – This flavor doesn’t taste just like a Reese’s, but it is like eating an indulgent candy bar! The savory peanut butter covered in decadent chocolate is the perfect flavor combo. It’s harder to chew than a Reese’s but it’s not too sticky. It’s simple but delicious!
Coconut Chocolate Almond – If you’re a coconut lover like me, this bar is for you! I really love that this bar has bits of coconut shavings and almonds, but it’s not overpowering. I’m a big Almond Joy fan, so this bar is a good replacement for me.
I love that the Raspberry White Chocolate flavor is coated in creamy white chocolate and has small bits of raspberry in the middle
When and how do I eat ALOHA Protein Bars?
My favorite way to eat ALOHA Protein Bars is on-the-go, since they’re individually wrapped and I can easily take them with me everywhere. It’s a great way to eat protein when you can’t have a fresh protein source like meat, dairy or a plant-based protein source that’s a bit harder to travel with like quinoa. Speaking of travel, I love taking convenient health food like these bars with me on long airplane rides when I don’t want to eat airplane food but also don’t want to go through the hassle of packing a full meal with me. I could also see health-conscious people potentially eating these as a convenient dessert, because of the tempting treat-like flavor options. An ALOHA Raspberry White Chocolate Protein Bar is definitely a better choice than cheesecake!
ALOHA’s Raspberry White Chocolate is the most popular flavor on social media!
Where can I buy ALOHA Protein Bars?
I live in Southern California where I’ve seen ALOHA Protein Bars sold in Whole Foods, Erewhon, Sprouts Farmers Market, Ralphs, Gelson’s and Albertson’s. You also can purchase ALOHA Protein Bars on Amazon here and save money by subscribing to a recurring order. I personally prefer to purchase ALOHA Protein Bars direct from the brand’s website where you can build a variety pack of different flavors and get big discounts when purchasing 1-3 packs on auto-ship subscription. Currently, ALOHA’s website offers 1 item for 10% off, 2 items for 15% off and 3 items for 25% off if you select to auto-ship at checkout. So, for example, if you’re buying three 12-packs of the Peanut Butter Cup, that $98.97; But if you choose auto-ship subscription, you save 25% and the cost is $74.23. A great deal! The best part is that you can choose your subscription timing, so you can select whether you want to receive the bars everyone one, two, or three months. You also can get 20% your order with my code: MAGGIEJACKSON
ALOHA Protein Bars Pros
Here’s what I love about ALOHA Protein Bars:
Large variety of decadent flavors to choose from, including variety packs and limited edition flavors
High in protein
Low in sugar
Clean ingredients – Free from dairy, soy and gluten; plus, USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan
Brand cares about social and environmental responsibility
Chewy taste for when you’re craving a treat
Conveniently packaged for on-the-go-snacking
ALOHA Protein Bars Cons
I love ALOHA Protein Bars, but they’re not perfect. Here’s what’s not so great about the bars:
Not low-carb
High in calories
Pricey – At the time of writing this, a 12-pack is $23.99 so that comes out to almost $2.75 per bar. A variety pack of 12 bars with three flavors is $36.99. Considering the bars’ high-quality ingredients, though, I think this pricing makes sense.
The consistency is a little on the drier side for what I expected for dessert-like flavors
A delicious snack or dessert: ALOHA Protein Bar Raspberry White Chocolate
The Bottom Line: Do I Recommend Aloha Protein Bars? Yes!
ALOHA Protein Bars are going to be my go-to protein bar from now on, because it is a bar I can feel good about eating. ALOHA Protein Bars align with my wellness values with no weird unidentified ingredients, and the bars help meet my health goals with 14g of plant-based protein. Plus, they came in so many yummy flavors! I will definitely be carrying these bars with me in my tote bag for the times I need a protein rich snack on-the-go!
I love ALOHA Protein Bars and highly recommend trying them for yourself! Use my code MAGGIEJACKSON to get 20% off your first order at Aloha.com. I’d love to know what you think of ALOHA Protein Bars and which flavors are your favorite.
Let me know if you have any questions about ALOHA Protein Bars in the comments below, and be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more healthy lifestyle recommendations.
If this is your first time hosting Thanksgiving, I know it can be very intimidating!
How much food should I serve? How do you make sure all the food is ready at the same time? How long do I have to cook the turkey?
That’s just a small sample of the many questions that come with playing hostess for the nation’s biggest meal of the year!
If you’re looking for guidance on how to make Thanksgiving easier and less stress-free, I have pulled together my 6 top tips for hosting!
Tip #1 – Create a timeline and master to-do list
Make Thanksgiving Day a breeze with a little extra organization and preparation. I like to make a master dinner prep timeline that includes what I should be doing 2 weeks leading up to Thanksgiving Day, along with a master shopping list. You can see my 2-week Thanksgiving dinner prep timeline here.
Tip #2 – Make as much food in advance as possible
In my opinion, the worst way for a hostess to spend Thanksgiving is spending the entire day in the kitchen without the opportunity to mingle with her guests. The solution? Make as much food in advance as possible! I like to make most of my dishes the day before Thanksgiving, but most casseroles can be frozen two weeks in advance! On Thanksgiving Day, all I have left is the turkey, a fresh salad, fresh vegetables and rolls. If you need inspiration for great dishes to make ahead of Thanksgiving, check out this list of my favorite casserole recipes.
Below are my favorite casserole dishes for Thanksgiving and anytime of year!
A week or two before Thanksgiving, check to make sure you have enough chairs, that your table linens are laundered and confirm that you have all the serving dishes you want to use. Growing up, we had a formal dining room in our home, and my mom would set the Thanksgiving table weeks in advance. Not only did it look beautiful in a space we rarely used, she didn’t have to scramble right before dinner to get the knives and forks on the table. My current home does not have a formal dining room, so I set the table immediately after breakfast on Thanksgiving Day.
Here are some simple tips I learned from Emily Post Institute to remember how to do a formal place setting:
Who’s bread plate is that? Holding your hands in front of you, touch the tips of your thumbs to the tips of your forefingers to make a lowercase ‘b’ with your left hand and a lowercase ‘d’ with your right hand. This reminds you that “bread and butter” go to the left of the place setting and “drinks” go on the right.
Picture the word “FORKS”. The order, left to right, is: F for Fork, O for the Plate (the shape!), K for Knives and S for Spoons. (Okay, you have to forget the R, but you get the idea!)
Informal Place Setting from Emily Post Institute
Tip #4 – Don’t turn down help!
If someone offers to help with the Thanksgiving meal, allow them! Appetizers, salads, side dishes and desserts are great to delegate to willing guests. Sometimes, all they have to do is swing by a gourmet grocer to pick up a ready-made dessert or side. I especially love Bristol Farms for desserts, because they have such a high-quality selection and everything is made with the best ingredients! Currently, they have a seasonal Maple Pecan Bundt Cake that is absolutely delicious and perfect for Thanksgiving. If you’re a guest at someone else’s Thanksgiving, I highly recommend offering to pick one of these up to bring to your host!
Tip #5 – Have a drink station ready-to-go!
Create a drink station for guests to serve themselves while you’re getting dinner prepared. If dinner is late, no one will care with a drink in hand! For wine, I love serving bottles with a story. My favorite for this Thanksgiving is Thorne Wine, as its my friend’s and neighbor’s family’s wine. The 2019 Pinot Noir is the perfect Thanksgiving dinner pairing. This vintage is the kind that will please a wide range of palates with notes full of juicy blueberry, blackberry and plum with hints of juniper and white pepper. If you’re more of a white wine lover, I recommend trying Thorne’s 2020 Chardonnay, which is full and rich with yellow apple, pineapple and lemon zest notes on entry with vanilla, clove and cream accents. Both wines are available at thornewine.com and can be at your Southern Californian home in time for Thanksgiving if you order by November 19, 2023.
Thorne 2019 Pinot Noir
If you’re into cocktails, try Bristol Farms seasonal mixers, which are made in-house daily at the Fresh Juice Bar. For Thanksgiving, the Winter Rosemary Grapefruit Mixer (great with gin) and Citrus Dragon Fruit Mixer (nice with tequila) are perfect options to impress your guests!
I also always have a pitcher of water and glasses available at our drink station, so our guests don’t have to go hunt down their own water.
Cocktail bar of my dreams | Photo by David Tsay
Tip #6 – It’s okay to do store-bought
Look, hosting Thanksgiving can be a lot, and no one will blame you for outsourcing a few (or all!) of your dishes — especially if they taste great! When choosing where to purchase premade meals, Bristol Farms is a top choice to trust because the chain is known for its excellent quality in SoCal for over 40 years. Their meat department only serves the freshest, highest quality meats, which is hugely important when the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving dinner is the turkey. However, they do offer vegan and vegetarian options, as well! Bristol Farms is offering a wide selection of premade, read-to-heat and eat dishes, like Cornbread Stuffing, Butternut Squash Risotto and Cranberry Relish. And, don’t forget the Roasted Mary’s Turkey, of course! It’s free-range, antibiotic free, simply seasoned with a little salt, pepper, and fresh thyme, and slow roasted for full-flavored tenderness. Make sure you order your Bristol Farms Thanksgiving dinner orders by Tuesday, November 21, 2023 in time for pickup or delivery before Thanksgiving.
The nation’s biggest meal is upon us! If you are playing host(ess) this Thanksgiving, I’m delighted to share this 2-week dinner prep timeline to help you manage your time and stress leading up to the holiday. No one wants to be frazzled and rushed on Thanksgiving Day! As the person who is sacrificing their time, their home, their kitchen, their money and their sanity to host such a monumental meal, you deserve to mingle with your guests, have a glass of wine… heck, you even deserve to take some time to sit down and rest!
How gorgeous is this outdoor Thanksgiving tablescape? Stole this inspo from andeelayne.com.
You’re probably wondering what makes me qualified to share this Thanksgiving dinner prep timeline. As I’m writing this post, I’m preparing to host my 9th Thanksgiving in California. While I’m probably not as experienced as your granny who’s been making Thanksgiving for decades, I feel like I’ve learned all the rights and wrongs of how to prep for the “big feast” over the last 9 years with minimal help. You see, while I host 6-12 family members for Thanksgiving every year, I don’t actually have any family that lives close by to help prepare dinner (all of our relatives live in Texas). Other than my mother lending me a hand in the kitchen the day of Thanksgiving, there’s rarely any other assistance or delegation for the meal. My family is usually staying in hotels, so unless they pick up something from a restaurant or grocery store, no one is bringing appetizers and side dishes to contribute. And, to be honest, that’s okay with me. There’s no old auntie who insists on bringing her infamous green jello salad (thank god), so I have full liberty to craft our family’s Thanksgiving to my liking. Wow, that makes me sound like a control freak, which I promise I’m not — or am I?! No, what its really about is that I’m delighted to GIVE this meal to my family for Thanksgiving. What an honor it is to have so many family members travel thousands of miles to spend Thanksgiving with us. My husband and I are both the babies of our families, and it’s our way to thank our parents and older siblings for everything they’ve done for us over the years and thank them for making the trip to be with us on this holiday.
Our simple 2021 Thanksgiving tablescape. Rather than making our table busy with decor, I wanted to guests to enjoy each other and the view!Our 2014 Thanksgiving tablescape. We hosted 8 adults and 1 baby in our small condo. Now, we have 6 children in our family!
Below, you’ll find my 2-week Thanksgiving timeline with suggestions for food, drink and table preparations. This is the timeline I follow every year for a nearly seamless Thanksgiving Day where I can actually relax, sit on our balcony and chat with with my family and sip sangria while taking in our home’s beautiful SoCal mountain views.
If you’d like to learn from some of my past Thanksgiving hosting mistakes (or just have a good laugh!) scroll to the bottom of this post where I share three “Turkey Day Dinner Blunders.”
Ultimate Thanksgiving Dinner Prep Timeline:
2 Weeks Before
Plan out your table – Pull out your serving ware, dishes, table linens and décor you plan to use for Thanksgiving dinner. Make sure you have enough chairs for everyone.
Take inventory of kitchen tools – Is your food processor still missing that one blade? Do you know where your turkey baster is? Is it time to upgrade your mixer? Now is the time to locate and update your cooking gadgets, especially if you haven’t seen them in a while.
Plan your dinner and make your shopping list – List everything you plan to serve. Make note of the spices and ingredients you already have on hand and make a list of what you need to purchase.
Weekend Before
Buy your turkey and non-perishable food products and drinks – If your turkey is frozen, put it in the refrigerator to thaw. Stock up on your canned beans and vegetables, dried seasonings, nuts, seeds and beverages.
If you’re planning to make casseroles and desserts ahead of time and freeze them, make them now – For less stress on the day of Thanksgiving, desserts, dressing and casseroles, like sweet potato casserole, corn casserole and macaroni and cheese, can often be frozen then reheated in the oven.
3 Days Before
Shop for perishable food products – This is when you purchase your produce and dairy so it’s fresh for cooking the big meal
Day Before
Move frozen casseroles and dessert to fridge – If you made and froze your casseroles and dessert ahead of time, this is now the time to start letting them thaw.
Make remaining casseroles and dressing – If you didn’t already make your casseroles and freeze them, make them now and keep in the refrigerator until one hour before dinner.
Prep for remaining dishes and sides – Chop vegetables, make yeast rolls recipe to rise overnight, try to do as much as possible to make your holiday easier, and make a list of when everything should go in the oven tomorrow to be ready at the same time.
Thanksgiving Morning
Take the turkey out of the refrigerator and start prep – Let your turkey sit for 2 hours at room temperature before roasting. Plan on 13 minutes of roasting time for every pound or 15 minutes per pound if stuffed. You can view my Thanksgiving Turkey recipe here.
Set the table and arrange any centerpieces.
Get wine chilling and get your cocktail/drink station ready.
3-4 Hours Before Dinner
Assemble appetizers and remaining side dishes – Get as much completed as possible. You can always reheat dishes the hour before dinner.
2 Hours Before Dinner
Turn on music – Before guests arrive, set the mood for your party with music. Town & Country created a great Thanksgiving music playlist if you need inspiration.
Set out appetizers – The focus of the day is Thanksgiving dinner, so don’t stress about this too much. Some simple cheeses, crackers, fancy nuts and a fruit bowl is perfect. I also love the ease of premade snacks from my grocer’s freezer section and premade cheeseboards and dips from the deli section.
Set out drinks – Have your chilled wine and signature cocktail (if you’re making) easily accessible to guests. If dinner’s late, they won’t care if they have a drink in hand and some simple snacks! My guests have always enjoyed this Thanksgiving Sangria. I also fill a large pitcher with ice water and sliced lemons.
Let casseroles come to room temperature.
1 Hour Before Dinner
Take turkey out of oven – You turkey needs to rest 30 minutes to 1 hour before carving.
Reheat casseroles – Adjust oven temperature to
30 Minutes Before Dinner
Carve the turkey.
Assemble salad if making.
15 Minutes Before Dinner
Set out food – Take everything out of the oven and set on your dinner table or buffet table.
Light candles if using.
My 2022 roasted turkey was beautiful! My secrets for the best-ever juicy turkey include (1) cooking the bird breast side down for the majority of the roasting, (2) seasoning with Williams Sonoma turkey seasoning paste and (3) topping with Williams Sonoma turkey roasting glaze the 30 minutes of roasting.
Turkey Day Dinner Blunders
As promised, here are some of the silly mistakes that I’ve made when hosting Thanksgiving. Learn what not to do from my past blunders!
But it ain’t got wing: My first year hosting, I was intimidated to make a turkey, so I bought a premade smoked turkey from a local BBQ joint thinking that my barbecue-loving Texan relatives would get a kick out of it! I ordered a 12 lb. turkey to feed 8 adults. Well, when I went to pick up the turkey on Thanksgiving Day, they gave me a turkey that was 9 lb. because they “ran out” of the larger turkeys. I had no other choice so last minute, so I took the smaller turkey. Not only did we not have enough meat to happily feed everyone, the turkey was missing a wing… so it was ugly! I’m thankful to my mom and sister-in-law for offering to only have a “taste” of turkey that year. Lesson learned: If you’re going to order a premade turkey, make sure its from a reputable seller who guarantees the size of the turkey you ordered! This was my first time ordering from the restaurant and found them on an internet search. There wasn’t many restaurant reviews, so I should have taken it as a sign to order something else from them to test before Thanksgiving or at least be a bit skeptical!
When more is a bore: My second year hosting, our house was being renovated, so we rented a condo in Newport Beach to host everyone. Because I had a 3-month-old baby and wasn’t stoked about cooking a large meal in a kitchen I was unfamiliar with, I ordered a premade Thanksgiving dinner from a local grocery store. I was scarred from not having enough turkey the year before, so I over-ordered. I justified spending the extra money with that we’d be able to eat leftovers for a few days and I wouldn’t have to cook (I was an exhausted first-time mom and business owner at the time!). Not only did we have way too much food — think three 9×13 baking dishes of mashed potatoes — the food was TERRIBLE! The stuffing was so bland. I kept adding butter and seasoning trying to spruce it up. The salad was so boring with only iceburg lettuce, diced tomatoes and mini croutons. The turkey was so dry that I was dipping it in BBQ sauce. It was the saddest waste to dump multiple containers of uneaten food in the trash. We considered trying to donate it, but couldn’t figure out all the logistics in time. Lesson learned: Don’t overdo it on food. Again, if you order premade anything, make sure its reputable with good reviews — it’s even better if a friend who’s tried it recommends it!
Don’t dispose-ALL: One year, I was doing a lot of prep work the day before Thanksgiving. As I was cutting and chopping all of the vegetables that I would use in the stuffing, green bean casserole, and sweet potato casserole, I put all of the veggie waste in our sink’s disposal. I grew up in a house where we put everything in the disposal (banana peels, rotten bunches of lettuce, egg shells… seriously, everything!) in an effort to not stink up the trash, and I didn’t realize that this is not normal behavior until I started living with someone else. Sure enough, I clogged our sink, and boy did it STINK! Every time I turned on the disposal, smelly toxic green-brown sludge came spewing from the drain! It took us the evening and half of Thanksgiving Day to fix, so I was so delayed in prepping my meal without access to the kitchen sink. Needless to say, my Mr. Fix-It (A.K.A. my husband) was not very pleased. And, I hated feeling rushed to make all our dinner the day of Thanksgiving. Lesson learned: Not everything needs to go in the disposal. Also, have a handyman on-call who can come help fix any last-minute house repairs before guests arrive. It seems something in our house always breaks right before we host guests!
Now that I’m looking back, these Thanksgiving mishaps are hilarious! And, I realize that this is what Thanksgiving is about… It’s about the effort. It’s about wanting to create a meal that’s meaningful for your family. It’s not going to be perfect, but you’re going to learn a lot. I also believe that hosting Thanksgiving and the mistakes that can come with it is almost like a rite of passage. I watched my mother host Thanksgiving so many times, and while most of my memories are of how it appeared as though she effortlessly perfected an elaborate meal, I also remember her burning rolls, undercooking the turkey, forgetting to thaw the dessert and other funny little blunders. If you’re not able to execute your perfect Thanksgiving meal as you envisioned, brush it off. From my Thanksgiving missteps examples, I hope you can rest easy knowing you’re not the only one. And, you have 365 to try again (haha!).
Thanksgiving tablescape inspo! I dream of hosting an outdoor Thanksgiving like this one day! Image is from kpetersondesign.com.
Please let me know if this timeline is helpful and if you have any questions in the comments below. Connect with me on Instagram and TikTok for easy recipes, party ideas and tips to simplify your life!
Don’t let short notice hold you back from hosting a party! If you’re low on time and money, I have some easy, affordable ideas for throwing a last-minute Halloween party!
You can see all my Halloween party ideas on KTLA Morning News! It’s always so fun to join the KTLA team live in-studio! On this visit, I shared some spooky snacks and a creepy (but cute!) dessert using products from Siete Foods and Gelson’s Markets. I also made some simple Halloween decor using items from around my home and craft supplies from Michaels Stores. All my Halloween decor used in the KTLA TV segment is from Michaels (as well as almost all the decor I use in my home for every holiday!).
Halloween party food and decor ideas from Lifestyle and Party Planning Expert Maggie Jackson on KTLA Morning News
EASY HALLOWEEN PARTY FOOD IDEAS
Spiderweb Nacho Dip
An easy and festive Halloween party snack with Mexican flair using my favorite Siete Foods ingredients!
Spiderweb Nacho Dip using Siete Foods products
INGREDIENTS: Bottom layer: 2 cans Siete Foods Vegan Refried Ranchero Beans 2 tbsp lime juice 1.5 tbsp Siete Foods Mild Taco Seasoning 1 tsp minced garlic 3 roma tomatoes, sliced Middle layer: 1 cup Siete Foods Mild Salsa Roja 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese Top layer: 1 cup guacamole (I used @gelsonsmarkets fresh guac or you can make your own) 1 cup sour cream (I used Daisy brand’s squeezable for the spiderweb piping) For serving: Siete Foods Tortilla Chips (my favorite are Siete Foods Lime Tortilla Chips)
DIRECTIONS: Arrange sliced tomatoes around edge of large platter. Assemble bean mixture and spread in center of platter, leaving some tomatoes showing. Make sure that you create a bit of a “bowl” with the bean mixture for the salsa to sit in without running all over the platter. Spread salsa on top of beans, leaving some edge of beans showing. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of salsa, leaving some salsa showing. Spoon guacamole over cheese layer and smooth into thin layer. Use Daisy Squeeze Sour Cream to create spider web design. Top with toy spiders. Serve with Siete Foods tortilla chips.
These “witch fingers” are quick, easy and no special chef skills are required! When hosting a big party, I’m all about cutting corners to save time, so for this recipe, I used a frozen cheese pizza and premade dipping sauce that I picked up at Gelson’s Market.
Pizza Witch Fingers
INGREDIENTS: Frozen thin-crust cheese pizza (I used Newman’s Own Four Cheese Pizza) 1 red bell pepper, cut into small triangles Premade pizza sauce or marinara sauce Litehouse Jalapeño Ranch Dip (or your other favorite dip like garlic aioli, ranch or marinara)
DIRECTIONS: Cook frozen pizza according to package instructions. Cut pizza into very thin triangle slices. Arrange pizza on circular platter with skinniest ends of the slices facing outward. Use marinara/pizza sauce as adhesive to add red bell pepper triangles to ends of pizza to resemble fingernails. Add a small bowl of Jalapeño Ranch Dip in the center of the platter for dipping. Enjoy!
No baking required for this easy and spooky cake! Take 2-3 brownies from the bakery section of the grocery store and add chocolate icing to make a “brownie cake.” Gelson’s Market sells decadent dark chocolate brownies by Renaud’s Patisserie, which works perfect for this! Melted marshmallows create a spiderweb effect!
Create a spiderweb effect on chocolate cake with melted marshmallows!
INGREDIENTS: 2-3 chocolate brownies from your grocer’s bakery section (I chose Renaud’s dark chocolate brownies sold in my local Gelson’s Market) 2 16oz containers of creamy chocolate frosting 1.5 cups mini marshmallows
DIRECTIONS: Remove brownies from packaging. Place first brownie on platter and top with thin layer of icing. Add second brownie on top of first brownie and add another thin layer of icing. Repeat this step if you are using three brownies. Cover the sides of the “brownie cake” with remaining chocolate icing. Place marshmallows into a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Using a fork, stretch melted marshmallows around brownie cake to create a spiderweb effect. Decorate with toy spiders. Enjoy!
DIY HALLOWEEN DECOR IDEAS
Upcycled Ghosts
I pulled empty containers out of our recycling to make these cute ghosts! I ended up using an apple juice bottle, coffee creamer bottle and smoothie bottle, but you could also use jars. Here’s the list of all the materials:
-Recyclable containers –Flour sack towels (cheap at Target or Walmart if you don’t have old ones lying around) -Sparkly black felt adhesive (you could also use regular felt or even construction paper) -Battery operated twinkle lights –Clear plastic ornaments or polystyrene craft balls (the clear plastic ornaments are fun because you can add lights inside but I didn’t have enough for all 3 ghosts)
This garland is so simple, and there’s no sewing! Create your own cute ghost garland with a handful of items you may already have at home, like safety pins, clear elastic bands and cotton balls. I got my ribbon, fabric marker and fabric shears at Michaels, which has been my holiday craft and decor go-to store for years! What I love about Halloween crafts is that there’s no pressure to make them exactly right – the imperfections make them spooky!
DIY Ghost Garland for Halloween
Ghost garland made with items from around the home and craft products from Michaels
Learn how I made this ghost garland in the video below!
Look around your backyard to create this easy centerpiece that will surely impress your guests! I cut branches from a tree and spray painted them black. You could also use dried branches found at Michaels floral department. Next, I created a bat stencil from a bat-shaped cookie cutter and used it to cut about 15 bats from black glitter felt that I found at Michaels. Then, I glued the bats to the branches. I recommend using a hot glue gun, Gorilla super glue or Krazy Glue to ensure they have a strong stick. After they dried, I assembled them into a tall glass cylinder vase. It could be fun to use a spooky vase like this one.
Which of these easy Halloween food and decor ideas would you try? Be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok where I share more easy recipes and fun DIY party ideas!
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and think you will, too. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.
There’s nothing I love more than discovering a great new wellness brand, especially one that lives up to the hype!
For example, last year, I discovered Juna Detox Drops, which transforms my water into an antioxidant-rich powerhouse drink, and Seed Daily Synbiotic, a 2-in-1 capsule-in-capsule probiotic and prebiotic. The combination of these two products has been life changing for my skin and overall health. The first thing I do every morning is add two droppers full of the Juna Detox Drops (psst.. use code MAGGIEJACKSON for 15% off on juna-world.com!) into a glass of water and drink while taking the Seed Synbiotic capsules. I credit this morning ritual with clearing up my skin from some crazy hormonal acne that popped up after my second baby.
But that’s a story for another time…
This year’s best new health brand discovery is KROMA WELLNESS! And pst… use code MAGGIE15 for 15% off your first purchase of all Kroma Lifestyle Resets and Daily Essentials!!
Kroma Super Porridge topped with OMG Cookie Butter
Why Kroma Wellness?
I’m always on the lookout for ways to live better and healthier, so most of my Instagram feed is filled with brands, celebrities and influencers who do the same. I was leisurely scrolling through the ‘gram one afternoon when I noticed one of my fave influencers, who happened to be pregnant, answer a question from another user about why she was doing the Kroma Reset while expecting a baby. That seemed unusual for a pregnant woman to be doing a “reset” diet to me, so I was immediately intrigued. The influencer responded with something like, “I use the products from Kroma because they’re nourishing.”
Reset… Nourishing... Those are the two words that stuck out to me. And two words I never thought would go together when associated with the typical wellness cleanse… So, naturally, I had to know more!
I went on a deep dive exploring Kroma Wellness and discovered that this brand isn’t your stereotypical cleanse or celebrity diet that requires you to fast, only drink juices or eat bland food that completely eliminates an entire food group (or two!). As someone who once had many issues with dieting and exercise (like, MAJOR issues that wrecked havoc on my health and landed me in years of therapy), I’m very conscious of any sort of fad or social media trend claiming to detox, cleanse or jump-start weight loss. Anyone who’s been fooled into doing a program like that knows what I’m talking about. Those are quick fixes and not sustainable. I find that true wellness is a lifestyle, and Kroma is just that.
Kroma’s Reset introduces you to how great you can feel (and look!) when your diet is full of nutrient-dense superfoods without processed sugar, gluten and dairy. Kroma is designed to keep you satiated and energized with simple meal, drink and snack solutions that literally anyone can do at home or on-the-go. And, Kroma offers a variety of convenient products to continue your superfood health journey after the reset is over. The company was founded by mom and health guru Lisa Odenweller with renowned Functional Medical Expert Dr. Will Cole advising on nutrition, so you know it’s legit!
Learning all of this, I was SOLD and decided to purchase Kroma’s Signature 5-Day Reset to try the first week of January 2023. I first learned about Kroma in December 2022, while I was in the midst of holiday parties, indulgent eating, excess sugar intake and drinking too much alcohol. I was definitely not feeling my best and longing to not only get back to “normal” eating but reach an even higher level of health. Kroma’s website described the company as helping others to live their “healthiest, most vibrant life,” and that was exactly what my body and mind was craving!
Kroma 5-Day Reset | Photo credit: Allison Zaucha
First Impression
After ordering my Signature 5-Day Reset, it took about 3 days to arrive. I was giddy to find it on my doorstep and opened it immediately. The Reset comes in a beautiful white box, and your food and drinks for the next five days are color-coded and displayed in a circle with Kroma’s famous OMG Cookie Butter in the center. Each day contains 10 sachets of nutritious food, drinks and supplements. The reset includes the following for each day:
Break Your Fast – Beauty Matcha
Breakfast – Super Porridge
Hydration – Cranberry Hydration Elixir
Boost – A plant-based smoothie like Blueberry Acai Immunity, Banana Cacao or Vanilla Cinnamon
Lunch – A broth like 24K Chicken Bone Broth, 24K Beef Bone Broth or a Veggie Broth with Plant Protein
Fuel – Supergreens Elixir
Snack – A latte, like Spicy Passion Latte, Change Your Life Chai Latte or Ultimate Vitality Latte
Energy Snack – OMG Cookie Butter
Dinner – A broth like 24K Chicken Bone Broth, 24K Beef Bone Broth or a Veggie Broth with Plant Protein
The beautiful and nourishing foods in Kroma 5-Day Reset
The package also included a comprehensive brochure to help guide me on my reset. The brochure included information on three reset protocol options: Lifestyle, Lean and Active. Lifestyle is the most popular protocol and “for anyone looking to lose a few pounds, reset habits, rejuvenate, and feel better overall.” The Lean protocol is for someone looking to accelerate weight loss, and the Active protocol is for athletes or for those who need additional nourishment to optimize their active lifestyle. I decided to go with the Lifestyle protocol, because I wanted to feel great and lighter without feeling deprived or depleted. The brochure featured tips for success, my grocery shopping list, daily schedule and a plan for after the reset was over. I was ready to get started!
My 5-Day ResetExperience
Here is a breakdown of my experience with each sachet in my 5-Day Reset:
Break Your Fast: I was so excited to start feeling the benefits of this reset that I truly didn’t care that I’d have to eliminate my morning coffee and replace it with Matcha. This was huge for me, because I’ve been drinking morning coffee daily since I was a senior in high school (I don’t want to date myself but that’s almost 20 years!). On the first day, I blended Kroma’s Beauty Matcha with 8 ounces of Unsweetened Almond MALK — which is the ONLY brand of almond milk anyone should buy, because as far as I know, it’s the only one on the market that doesn’t have oils, gums and other filler ingredients in it. I drank the Matcha warm hoping to play a trick on my body and mind that it was the same thing as my usual coffee. It wasn’t as sweet as my normal morning coffee, but I was desperate for a pick-me-up so it went down fast. I immediately wished I had another Matcha or could drink a cup of coffee, but I was determined to stick to the program. The next morning, I tried the Beauty Matcha blended with Almond MALK over ice instead of warm, and I liked it way better! Not sure why or how, but it tasted sweeter over ice. For the first two days, I would start to get a headache mid-morning that would last through the afternoon, which is very rare for me. I seriously never get a headache, so I knew it must have been the caffeine withdrawals from skipping my morning coffee. Still, I didn’t cheat and kept going with the program. Go me!
Breakfast: I really liked the Super Porridge for daily breakfast, and I assume that’s because I normally love to eat oatmeal in the morning. This was like a supercharged oatmeal with nuts, seeds and other superfoods rich in antioxidants. Every morning, I ate the Super Porridge warm, mixed with Almond MALK and topped with a handful of raspberries. If you already like oatmeal like me, you’ll love this for breakfast!
Hydration: Immediately after breakfast, I drank the Cranberry Hydration Elixir. This was delicious! I could see myself drinking this every morning for a boost of electrolytes, which I’ve recently learned is so important to add into your diet, especially if you workout a lot like me. I guess I was scarred from all the junk in traditional sports drinks that we guzzled in the 90s. True to Kroma, this is made with only good stuff: Coconut Water, Cranberry, Citric Acid, Ginger Extract, Aquamin Mg®AG, Himalayan Pink Salt, Stevia Leaf Extract (Rebaudioside M), Ascorbic Acid, Cayenne Pepper*, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin.
Boost: On the first day around 10 a.m., I had the Vanilla Cinnamon Plant Based Smoothie blended with Almond MALK, spinach and a handful of frozen blueberries. It was tasty and filling, almost like an entire meal. On the second day, I blended the smoothie with less berries and only water. On the third, fourth and fifth days, I simply blended the smoothies with water or half MALK and half water, because I was starting to feel full and like I was consuming so much constantly. I realized this reset definitely wasn’t a depleting diet!
Lunch: I LOVE Kroma’s Bone Broths! On the first day, I ate the 24K Chicken Bone Broth and added wilted spinach and zucchini slices that were sautéed in olive oil from dinner the night before. I also added a dash of Sriracha because I love anything and everything spicy! This was such a quick and easy lunch to make. I loved that the 24K Bone Broths glittered like they’re actually made of gold! The Veggie Broth was yummy, too, but Bone Broths were the winner! Again, I felt very satisfied and like I ate a complete meal.
Energy: Every day, I treated myself to post-lunch dessert with a spoonful of the OMG Cookie Butter, and that really did make me say O-M-G! What a delightful little treat that’s rich and nutty with hints of coconut. And, I love the goji berries for little surprises of extra sweetness in every bite!
Fuel: A couple hours after lunch, I drank the Supergreens Elixir, which tasted great and really made me feel like I was drinking some sort of magical superpower drink! The Supergreens Elixir is made with 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole food-sourced ingredients to make getting your daily dose of greens easy and incredibly enjoyable. You’ll never have to eat a salad again!
Snack: The reset includes an afternoon latte to curb afternoon cravings. My favorite was the Spicy Passion Latte. To be honest, I never felt like I needed one of the lattes to curb any afternoon cravings. The reset was so nourishing that I really didn’t have any cravings! In fact, adding the latte felt like too much, so I skipped drinking them the last two days of the reset, but I enjoyed them the following week.
Photo credit: Allison Zaucha
Dinner: The last meal of every day is a 24K Bone Broth or Veggie Broth again. I really liked that I could add veggies and lean protein to the broths, so it didn’t feel like I was eating the exact same thing all the time. However, I have to admit that I got a little tired of only eating broths for lunch and dinner towards the end of the five days. For dinner, I’d make my family our normal healthy dinner and simply pull a few pieces of protein and veggies from the meal and add them to my broth. So, I still feel like I partook in our family Mexican and Mediterranean nights while doing the reset!
Photo credit: Allison Zaucha
After Dinner Supplement: Every night, I drank the Calming + Restore Magnesium mixed into a glass of water. I’ve been hearing a lot lately about the benefits of taking magnesium before bed, so I was excited to implement this into my routine to calm my mind, relax my muscles and support my digestive system. I slept like a baby during the 5-Day Reset, so I have attribute the great snoozes to this supplement!
My Reset Benefits
At the conclusion of the 5-Day Reset, I truly felt rejuvenated — my mind felt clearer and my skin was glowing! However, I wasn’t miraculously slimmer and didn’t drop weight. (I did lose two pounds a couple days after the reset was over, which I thought was interesting.) To be honest, I was a bit bloated the last couple days of the reset, and… TMI… I got a little backed up, if ya know what I mean. I think my bowels were used to my morning coffee as its daily diuretic and trying to adjust to my new healthier lifestyle without it. I think that if I stuck to the Reset diet for a few more days, my body would adapt.
Here are the two best things that came from my Reset:
(1) Healthier heart rate – On the morning after the Reset was over (day 6), I was sitting on the floor playing with my kids, and my Apple Watch alerted me that my average heart rate per minute dropped by 9 heart beats over the last five days! WHAT! That’s phenomenal! A diet that removes processed sugar, gluten and dairy and supplements with nourishing superfoods can truly optimize my health to its very best. I’ve always heard that food can be medicine, but I never thought I could have results like this! And in only five days!
(2) My view of optimizing daily health was forever changed – I’ve always considered myself a healthy-ish eater, so I never thought much about the occasional indulgences, like alcohol, dessert and processed snacks. But, watching how my health significantly improved in only five days on the Reset was extraordinary! The Reset was an education for me on how superfoods can positively optimize my overall wellbeing and gave me the confidence in moving forward with this regimen as a daily lifestyle. I’ve often thought that eliminating certain foods or taking on a new diet was too hard, expensive or intimidating, but Kroma made it so easy to do and underscored the importance of making quality nutrition a priority in my life.
The notification I received that my average heart rate dropped while doing the 5-Day Reset
The first morning after completing the Reset, I poured myself a cup of coffee, because I thought I missed it so much. I took a sip, and WHOA…. it tasted so bitter! As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been drinking coffee forever, so I’ve never had trouble with the taste. I’m not sure what some sort of magical change the Reset had on my tastebuds, but I was shocked that I didn’t love drinking coffee as much as I did before completing the program. I’m a little ashamed to admit that coffee has found its way back into my morning routine… however, I only drink one cup in the morning now, and I’ve replaced my second cup with the Beauty Matcha.
My most favorite product has been the Supergreens Elixir, because I feel like it helps me reach optimal nutrition even if I fall off the wagon a bit. Like, even if I have a cheeseburger for dinner, I feel good because I got all my vitamins, minerals and greens from the Supergreens Elixir earlier in the day. It may look a little intimidating being green and all, but I promise it tastes great! It has a hint of vanilla sweetness to it, and I look forward to drinking it every morning.
I really do feel like I’ve had a lifestyle shift since my first 5-day Reset. I’ve cut out alcohol during the week, significantly eliminated added sugar and cut back on gluten. I’d say I’m really living a vibrant existence, and Kroma’s Reset helped me get here.
As I’m writing this, I’m looking at my next 5-Day Kroma Reset. This time, I ordered the Deluxe edition, which includes additional tools, like the Gold Kroma Frother, Kroma Tumbler, Hemp Travel Pouch and Tumeric Ginger Tea. I got the Signature 5-Day Reset the first time I did Kroma and used my own frother, but I coveted the pretty Kroma branded products I saw in the brochure. Now that Kroma is a part of my daily life, I figured it made sense to get them.
Deluxe version of the 5-Day Reset
So, Is Kroma’s Reset Worth It?
Kroma’s Signature 5-Day Reset (the first one I did) costs $395, and I’d say it’s completely worth it if you can afford it. For me, the 5-Day Reset wasn’t a quick weight-loss fix (although I did feel great after completing the program); it was a full-on lifestyle shift that I’ve carried with me now months after completing my first Reset. I now integrate many of the Daily Essentials into my everyday life. If you’re ready for REAL lifelong results, DO IT!
If you’re on a budget but would like a sample of what Kroma can do for you, I recommend choosing 2-3 Daily Essentials products that you’d like to start integrating into your daily routine. If you’re new to Kroma, I recommend trying the Beauty Matcha, Supergreens Elixir and Cranberry Hydration Elixir, because they’re super easy to add into your routine, don’t take a lot of time or skill to make, and they’re non-perishable!
Kroma Daily Essentials
The Bottom Line
The 5-Day Reset is for anyone looking to optimize their wellbeing. Kroma offers three different personalized tracks to align with your intention of doing the reset, whether you’re looking to lose a couple pounds or enhance your workouts. No matter which track you choose, you will not be deprived while doing this reset. I promise, I never felt hungry in the five days. But, what I did feel was nourished and energized!
Ultimately, Kroma positively changed the way I view food and nutrition. Not only did I feel the healthy change on the inside, my Apple Watch’s heart rate monitor proved to me what was happening on the inside — My heart rate dropped an average 9 beats per minute during the 5-Day Reset! To me, that is clear proof that this reset is worth the investment. Do it for yourself. Your body and mind will thank you.
Now that I’ve been using Kroma’s products for 7 months, I’d love to know any questions you may have about the 5-Day Reset or Daily Essentials products. Drop your questions in the comments below, or connect with me on Instagram at @maggiehjackson.
And, DON’T FORGET!! You get 15% off your first Kroma purchase with my promo code: MAGGIE15
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and think you will, too. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.
Father’s Day is around the corner, and if you don’t have a gift for dad yet, it’s not too late! Believe me, I know it’s not a good feeling when you wait until the last minute to get someone a gift, but, hey, it happens! And, let’s be honest, dads can be really hard to shop for! If the dad in your life is the kind of guy that either has everything or says he doesn’t want anything, I got you! I’ve pulled together a list of the best last-minute Father’s Day gifts for every kind of dad, from the frequent flyer to the home bartender to the golf enthusiast, below.
For more information on these unique products, tune in to my KTLA Morning News segment about last-minute Father’s Day gift ideas below!
Top 5 Last Minute Father’s Day Gifts
Rollink Flex 360°Spinner
A collapsible suitcase that’s great for the frequent flyer!
If dad is always on the go, make his traveling easier with Rollink‘s collapsible suitcases! Rollink is the world’s slimmest, collapsible suitcase that is trendy, sustainable, durable, and practical. Upon returning home, dad simply collapses the bag and conveniently stores it away for the next use without occupying a lot of closets or hotel room space — you can even stow it under a bed! Rollink suitcases are made with sturdy polycarbonate hard shells, come in three different carry-on and checked bag styles, multiple colors and collapse to 2 inches thick! Rollink’s newest line is the Flex 360° Spinner Collection, and it is the most versatile for your traveling dad. It’s impact-resistant, plus the silent and smooth 360° double spinner wheels provide optimal maneuverability! Rollink’s suitcases are available with 2-day shipping via Amazon Prime, so shop now to get it in time for Father’s Day!
Bushnell Golf Tour V6 Shift Rangefinder and Wingman GPS Speakers
Level up dad’s game with the best golf tech!
Don’t let dad return from the golf course complaining of his missed shots again! Bushnell is the #1 trusted optics brand in professional golf that will help dad improve his game. If you’re not familiar with golf rangefinders and GPS systems, these tools take the guesswork out of how hard dad should hit the ball, informs him on what club to use and helps him improve his overall golf skills. Trusted by 98% of Tour players, Bushnell Golf products will make dad feel like one of the pros!
Debuted earlier this year, the Bushnell Tour V6 Shift is the newest, best performing model with exceptional optics, accuracy, and consistency. It features Bushnell’s patented Slope Technology, which gives dad an idea of the distance between him and his target while taking into account how much yardage there is with the terrain in front of him. The Tour V6 Shift also features improved PinSeeker with Visual JOLT where the PinSeeker algorithm has been enhanced to give golfers even greater confidence that they have locked onto the flag or their intended target. Another plus of this rangefinder is its integrated “BITE” magnetic cart mount which allows the laser rangefinder to be secured to the golf cart without the need for any aftermarket accessories. You can pick up this rangefinder at your local DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Roger Dunn Golf Shops, or get it in 2 days with Amazon Prime.
Bushnell also launched two new GPS speakers earlier this year, the Wingman View and Wingman Mini, that are great additions to dad’s golf game. Combining GPS and Bluetooth technologies and featuring an all-new LCD screen, the Wingman View provides dad audible and visual front, center, and back distances, and up to six visual hazards per hole, all while listening to the music of this choice through mobile applications. A removable magnetic BITE remote seamlessly secures the remote atop the Wingman View unit and provides GPS Distances, full music control adjusts, and plays 1st tee introductions and custom messages at a touch of a button. The Wingman View is available locally at DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy and Roger Dunn Golf Shops. At the time of writing this, the Wingman View was available on Amazon but not with Prime 2-day shipping.
A more affordable option, the Wingman Mini packs a big punch in a small speaker. Ideal for both walkers and cart riders, the Mini features audible GPS distances, first tee introductions and custom messages, integrated BITE magnetic cart mount, water resistant IPX7 construction, 10-hour battery life and carabiner clip to easily attach to your golf bag or belt loop. Snag the Wingman Mini in store at DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy and Roger Dunn Golf Shops. You also can get 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime.
You also can get all of Bushnell Golf’s products in time for Father’s Day when you select overnight or 2-day shipping at checkout on bushnellgolf.com.
Crafthouse by Fortessa Cocktail Shaker Set and Smoking Box
The best bar tools for dads who love craft cocktails!
Dads know the benefit of having the top-of-the line tools for any job, whether its woodworking or taking care of the lawn, so make sure dad has the best bar tools from Crafthouse by Fortessa for his at-home cocktails! These finely made tools will look great on your home bar and make it easy for dad to create professional-level cocktails regardless of his mixology experience! Designed by Charles Joly, world-champion bartender and creator of Crafthouse Cocktails, and made in collaboration with Fortessa, a world-renowned designer of tableware, these bar tools celebrate the bold spirit of handcrafted cocktails. Every cocktail enthusiast needs a solid Shaker Set, and I love this this one from Crafthouse by Fortessa because its well designed and includes everything you need: a two-piece Boston shaker, Hawthorne strainer, jigger and beautiful walnut wooden muddler. To get the Shaker Set in time for Father’s Day, it’s available for pickup at select local Williams Sonoma stores or you can get it online with 1 or 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime.
Help dad really impress his friends with a fancy Smoking Box for infusing cocktails with savory smoky flavor. The Smoking Box includes handheld smoker with smoking wood chips. The clear glass design adds a level of showmanship, allowing dad to flaunt his professional-level cocktails as they are being smoked. This product isn’t just for finishing off your favorite drink, it also works great for smoking your favorite foods! The Smoking Box is available online or in-store at Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table or online with fast shipping from Amazon Prime.
Den Mother Wellness Box
Modern self-care for the wellness enthusiast or dad who needs to destress
If you have a dad that needs some stress relief or if your dad loves staying up-to-date on the hottest wellness trends (hello cold plunging!), give him the Wellness Box from Den Mother, a healing house on Abbot Kinney in Venice devoted to techniques and therapies from ancient cultures. Created special for Father’s Day, Den Mother’s Wellness Box features a curated selection of the best supplements and herbs for the wellness dad that will ease muscle aches, reduce inflammation and improve digestion. Products in the box include Evil Bone Water for pain relief, Onsen Saru Bath Fizz for relaxation and to aid sleep, Salt N Stone high performance deodorant, Tame the Flame gut supplement, Royal Rest supplement. Add an optional gift card for a cold plunge + sauna session ($85 for 30 minutes or $145 for 1 hour) to really help dad relax! Everybody is talking about cold plunge and sauna “contrast” therapy which is one of the most sought-after therapies for circulation, inflammation, relaxation and healing from injury.
Den Mother is one of the hottest wellness spaces in LA with a treatment menu designed to help regulate the nervous system for our modern day living. Treatments include everything from massage to acupuncture to neuromuscular testing. Dad also can enjoy plant-based meals and snacks from The Butcher’s Daughter restaurant (located next door) on Den Mother’s patio post treatment.
Pick up this wellness gift set in a masculine branded box for around $150 at Den Mother, located at 1209 Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice Beach. I recommend calling ahead of time to reserve your box: 310-310-8905.
Nanoleaf Elements
Upgrade dad’s man cave with smart wall art lighting!
Help dad transform his home office or man cave into a sophisticated space with an elegant and organic feel with Nanoleaf Elements Hexagons. It’s like glowing artwork for his walls! These wood-like LED smart panels provide a warm light that’s perfect for wellness, work and living spaces. They respond to music and touch, which will leave guests and Zoom colleagues in awe. Nanoleaf provides design recommendations, or he can create his own. They’re simple to operate from the touch panel or from his smart phone. He can create unlimited color schemes or he can use others’ designs within the app. Nanoleaf Elements are in stock at select Best Buy stores or you can get one-day shipping with Amazon Prime.
Which of these products would be perfect gifts for the dads in your life? I know my husband would love the Bushnell Golf V6 Shift Rangefinder to improve his golf game! Let me know what you think of these products in the comments below or connect with me on Instagram and TikTok!
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We have some fun travel plans coming up, and I’m so looking forward to exploring new destinations with my family! There’s something so magical about being able to share travel experiences with your children. I love seeing the world through their eyes… The way they light up when they see the ocean; how they get so enamored with nature on walks and hikes in new places; the big proud smiles on their faces when they get to try something new, like skiing or boogie boarding. It makes this mama’s heart so happy to see them enjoy our amazing, beautiful world!
You know what doesn’t make me happy, though? The actual traveling with kids. Let’s be honest, long plane and car rides are a bit more challenging with children in tow. Their little busy bodies don’t like sitting still for long periods of time, and it seems like they whine for a new snack, like, every 30 minutes. Oh, and they have so much stuff!! Strollers, car seats, changes of clothes, toys, books, ahhh!!
My husband and I have been determined to make traveling with our kids as simple as possible. Some parents will buy every hot travel gadget, toy or stroller they’ve been influenced on Instagram to feel prepared for long travel days, but take it from me (someone who’s experienced in traveling alone with two young children and also worked in the travel industry for 10+ years), you don’t need more STUFF to lug through the airport to make travel easy. What you need are the easy basics — items that will help keep your luggage at a minimum, things that are simple for kids to carry and will help keep them occupied. So, while I doesn’t necessarily look forward to the travel days with kids, I believe we’ve found ways to make it very tolerable… and sometimes even pleasurable! Heck, sometimes I actually get to take a nap or sip on a glass of champagne! And when that happens, I arrive to our destination cheerful and ready for our family adventure!
Want to know my essential travel items for kids? I shared 5 must-have products with KTLA Morning News, and you can watch by clicking play, below! I also linked all the products we use to make our flights and road trips with kids simple and painless below the video.
Packing and unpacking your family is so easy with this four-tier packing cube that acts as a carry-on closet to keep your belongings organized and in plain view. You will no longer have to dig in your suitcase to locate your 2-year-old’s tiny socks! What makes this luggage organizer stand out among other packing cubes out there is the fact that it has four compartments — three shelves to store folded clothes and one zip-up container at the bottom that’s great for stashing toiletries, shoes or dirty laundry — and two hooks so that it can hang, making it easy to unpack and repack at your destination. This packing cube is durable and lightweight, in addition to coming in two different sizes and multiple different colors. I purchased the large and extra large in grey earlier this year, and it has been such a game changer to keep mine and my children’s belongings organized. I typically put pajamas, socks and underwear in the top compartment, my son’s clothes in the middle compartment and my daughter’s clothes in the third compartment. I’ll put shoes in the bottom zip-up compartment. In the large size, I was able to pack 4 days worth of clothes for the kids, who are ages 4 and 2 as I’m writing this. I love that I simply hang it up in the closet when we arrive, so we’re no longer living out of disorganized suitcases or accidentally leaving a shirt or sock behind in a hotel drawer! Do yourself a favor and get this portable hanging organizer before your next trip!
Car seats are a huge pain to schlep through the airport, especially if you have more than one child, like me! I also dislike taking them with us to a destination where we’re not renting a car. Constantly installing the car seat in Ubers then carrying it into a restaurant or museum can be really annoying. Enter: The RideSafer Vest!!! This is a safe, legal and convenient device that makes it easy to travel in taxis or ride shares when you get to your family’s destination. The vest lightweight (less than 2 pounds) and comes with a small backpack that children can easily carry themselves. Most importantly, it’s crash tested and safety certified – it meets or exceeds Federal safety standards! The RideSafer Vest features a unique, 3-clip design that positions the car’s seat belt comfortably and correctly on your child. Just slip it on like an article of clothing, fasten in the front and place the seat belt through the metal belt guides. Most children can do all of that themselves if you teach them and practice a few times. It also comes with a shoulder tether for a consistent sitting position and increased security. The tether also makes it possible for kids to ride safely in the middle seat without a shoulder strap! RideSafer offers four different sizes of the Vest, so this device is an option for parents with children ages 2 and up.
The same company that makes the RideSafer Travel Vest also makes an extremely lightweight TravelSmarter Booster Seat. This seat can be used with the vest, and they both fit into a backpack weighing less than 3 pounds. My kids have no trouble carrying it! The TravelSmarter Booster Seat is great for smaller children who may enjoy looking out the window, but it is not required to use with the vest. You can use the booster alone or with the vest or you can use the vest without the booster.
There’s a growing concern over the rise of noise-induced hearing loss from headphones and earphones, leaving parents alarmed and looking for solutions to protect their children’s ears. Thankfully, I found Puro Sound Labs Junior Jams bluetooth headphones, which help keep little ones entertained on long flights while limiting volume to 85 decibels (the recommended listening level). What sets these volume-limiting headphones apart is their 22 hours of battery life, superior sound quality and fold-up feature, making them easy to store in little kids backpacks. These headphones also boast a sophisticated design, bright color options and durability. We have gone through a couple of headphones in the last 3 years that simply couldn’t hold up to travel or stopped working shortly after purchasing, but Puro Sound Labs creates quality headphones with a 1-year warranty! These headphones are perfect for children ages 3 to tween.
Puro Sound Labs also has developed PuroQuiet, which features active noise cancelling for little ones to tune out the loud world around them without having to increase their headphones volume. PuroQuiet bluetooth headphones have a volume limit of 85 decibels, 35 hours of battery life without the active noise canceling on, and 23 hours with it, and blocks out 78% of background noise. The PuroQuiets cost a bit more than the Junior Jams, but they’re so worth it for the active noise cancelling feature!
Our favorite toy brand Melissa & Doug is fantastic at developing toys and activities to keep babies and toddlers engaged through screen-free open-ended play. The Water Wow! reusable travel painting sets have been a staple in our house since my firstborn was around 18 months old. I love to throw these in my diaper bag and surprise the kids with them once we get on the plane or when they need to keep busy at a restaurant. Simply fill the pen with water, and your kids can paint the pages in the book to reveal colorful, educational scenes. The color disappears when the pages dry, so kids can paint them again and again. The best is that there’s no mess (besides maybe a little bit of water)!
For babies under 1 year old, Melissa & Doug just launched the Take Along Ice Cream Toy that clips to strollers, diaper bags, high chairs, car seats, and more to keep the fun close to little hands. Babies love pulling the cone to reveal four adorable ice cream scoops with friendly faces. When expanded, the toy vibrates and plays chiming sounds as it shrinks again. This toy helps kids develop fine motor and sensory skills with its multi-textured features, vibration and sounds. If I had a baby again, I’d definitely bring this cute little toy with me! Make sure you check out all of Melissa & Doug’s awesome travel-friendly toys on their website!
One of the best things a family can do when traveling together is have each person responsible for their own stuff! Traveling got so much easier once my toddlers were able to wear a backpack filled with their favorite snacks and toys. Plus, it’s fun for them! They love the sense of purpose and responsibility, and my kids enjoy packing their own backpack, too! The North Face has been a trusted brand for family adventures for years and makes three different sized backpacks to fit your child’s travel needs at every age. The Mini Explorer is perfect for preschoolers, the Youth Mini Recon is great for elementary school age children and the Youth Court Jester is a solid choice for tweens and high schoolers. I love The North Face, you get a lifetime guarantee with free returns, durability and high functionality. These are high quality backpacks that your kids can use for everything!
Hello, fellow LA families! I don’t know about you, but I’m already over our SoCal’s so-called “winter” and daydreaming about all the fun to be had when the temperatures warm up this 2023 Spring Break! I’m so excited about Spring Break that I’m sharing these 5 kid-friendly Spring Break ideas live on CBS-LA (KCAL; Channel 9) on Saturday, Jan. 28 during the Weekend Morning Show! If you miss it live, check back here after it airs to see the recorded version of the segment!
I know it’s only January, but as a classic Type A personality, I’ve already been planning our family’s activities and road trips for this year’s Spring Break for weeks. I’ve been researching across the internet and chatting with local event and travel experts to find the very best Spring Break ideas in March and April for Los Angeles area families. When planning my family’s Spring Break, I’m always on the lookout for the four E’s — Engaging, Entertaining, Enriching and Educational — and I’ve pulled together a list of five fabulous ideas that meet all of these! From local camps and theme parks to memorable nearby hotel stays, be sure to book one of these adventures for an unforgettable Spring Break!
5 Spring Break Ideas for Los Angeles Families:
1. Super Nintendo World Opening at Universal Studios Hollywood
The newest attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood is Super Nintendo World, opening February 17, just in time for families to explore during their Spring Break! What makes this SUPER (pun intended) exciting is that this is Super Nintendo World’s United States debut! The original is located at Universal Studios Japan, so it’s pretty rad that the first U.S. location is here in our backyard at Universal Studios Hollywood!
The new Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge ride at Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood
According to Universal Studios’ press release, this all-new, dynamic land will be a visual spectacle of vibrant colors and architectural ingenuity located within a newly expanded area of Universal Studios Hollywood. Super Nintendo World will feature the groundbreaking “Mario Kart™: Bowser’s Challenge” ride complete with augmented reality (AR) goggles, as well as many thrilling and interactive activities designed to engage the entire family within the captivating Mushroom Kingdom. Along with themed dining at the Toadstool Cafe™ and shopping at the 1-UP Factory™ retail store, Super Nintendo World will be an inspiring, game-changing addition to the world-famous theme park.
Sneak Peek at Super Nintendo World!
When I read about the new Super Nintendo World, I got instantly excited while reminiscing on the old days of playing Super Mario Bros. and Mario Kart with my brothers and friends! The whole family will love exploring this new land within Universal Studios Hollywood!
Super Nintendo World is included with regular admission to Universal Studios. Visit universalstudioshollywood.com to purchase tickets.
2. Spring Break Camps: Kidspace Children’s Museum and YMCA of the Foothills
Camps are perfect for families whose children’s caregivers can’t take off work while their children are out of school or who want their children staying physically and socially active during Spring Break, and I have two outstanding options that will keep your children engaged and learning with their community!
Camp fun at Kidspace Children’s Museum
First, Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena is hosting a garden themed Spring Break Camp, April 3-7 from 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily, for ages 5-8. Children will explore the world of soil, plants, and the worms, bugs, and other creatures who love them. Price is $575/week for general audiences, $550/week for members (members receive $25 discount plus 2 weeks of priority registration – camps tend to sell out!). Visit kidspacemuseum.org to register and follow @KidspaceMuseum on social media to keep up to date with registration openings.
March and April are also Kidspace’s annual Butterfly Season where families enjoy exploring the lifecycle of butterflies. You can adopt a caterpillar, help nurture the museum’s community garden, go on a bug safari, and costume play with beautiful butterfly wings. There’s so much to explore at Kidspace in the springtime! My kids love Kidspace’s current Muddy Boots Farm exhibit where they pretend to garden with mini hoes and wheelbarrows, then weigh and sell their bounty at the farm stand. We’ve also made lots of great memories in the museum’s Arroyo stream where the kids splash, play and get messy! Don’t forget to bring a spare pair of clothes!
Another wonderful camp option is the YMCA of the Foothills, which is hosting two Spring Break Camps: the first for Glendale Unified School District, March 13-17, plus a one-day camp on Monday, March 20, and the second camp for LAUSD, April 3-7. Camp is from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You do not have to be a YMCA member to participate! Campers will be swimming, playing organized games, creating arts and crafts projects, participating in STEM activities and sports such as soccer, dodgeball, basketball and so forth on daily basis. New to camp this year is on-site adventures, like a reptile party, magic show and canvas painting. Camp is held at the Verdugo Hills campus in Tujunga, located at 6840 Foothill Blvd., for grades K-8. Price for Family Memberships is $270 and non-member program participants pay $300. Go to YMCAFoothills.org to register. What I love about the YMCA is that they will never turn away a family because of their circumstances. Financial assistance available, please contact Aazizian@ymcafoothills.org to apply.
For me, there’s nothing more relaxing than a beach escape, and I love a destination that caters to families like The Seabird Resort in Oceanside. Newly opened in North County San Diego, The Seabird Resort was designed with families in mind, with grand coastal architecture, breezy living spaces, private balconies and stunning Pacific views that give off the vibe of a family beach house. The resort boasts an expansive pool deck, multiple dining options to watch the sunset, Sunny’s Spa for parents to relax and rejuvenate, and the famous Top Gun House right across the street (which my husband is stoked about!).
Surf lessons at The Seabird Resort
The Seabird Resort is ideal for kids with its Little Seabirds programming, offering year-round activities for your smallest travelers to enjoy during their stay, from building stuffed animals to craft hour and an art scavenger hunt, as well as surf lessons. The resort also offers a Little Seabirds Eat Free package that’s ideal for families, including a meal at Piper and a Seabird stuffed animal (for children 12 and under, limit two meals per child). Call the resort 855-413-7573 and mention that you saw this CBS LA segment and they’ll also throw in free parking!
The Seabird Resort Pool
The Seabird Resort is perfect for my beach-loving family, as its set directly on Oceanside Beach – close enough to see the surfers paddling out in the morning and hear the crash of the waves as you sip cocktails with the setting sun. The Seabird also has a vintage Beach Rambler set up right on the Oceanside strand, offering complimentary beach chairs, towels and umbrellas for a relaxing day soaking up the sun.
Making family memories at The Seabird Resort
Oceanside is easily accessible from Los Angeles by both car and train, with rail service from Los Angeles available on Amtrak and Metrolink. The Seabird Resort is conveniently located near the Oceanside Transit Center. From The Seabird, Spring Breakers can also enjoy accessible attractions across the region, including Disneyland, SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND, Knott’s Berry Farm and more.
Nightly rates start at $299. Visit theseabirdresort.com for more information.
4. Mar Monte Hotel in Santa Barbara
Our family adores the quaint city of Santa Barbara, just a short drive north of LA. My husband and I were actually married there, so it’s a wonderful nearby escape to reminisce on our wedding and create new family memories with our children! I love the beautifully reimagined Mar Monte Hotel because of it’s Spanish-Colonial inspired decor blended with forward design and cutting-edge amenities. But, I think the hotel’s top selling point is it’s location, location, location!! Mar Monte Hotel is a short walk from the award-winning Santa Barbara Zoo, where families can enjoy hundreds of exotic animals, play areas for children, exciting exhibits and more. The hotel also is just steps from East Beach, which offers a beach playground for your little ones to let out their wiggles! If you’re looking for more to explore from Mar Monte, take a short drive or bike ride to the famed Stearns Wharf and Downtown Santa Barbara, where you’ll find the interactive MOXI Museum, dozens of restaurants, diverse shopping options and more.
Mar Monte Hotel’s fabulous location in Santa Barbara
The hotel’s ocean view rooms with balconies are perfect for families, and you’ll enjoy dining at the two on-site restaurants – costa Kitchen & Bar and Café Lido – and spending time in the heated outdoor pool. Families can enjoy the complimentary beach cruiser bikes and resort games, such as backgammon, checkers, chess, tic-tac-toe, bocce ball courts and a giant Jenga. You can also rent beach equipment and toys for an awesome day at the beach.
An ocean view room with balcony at Mar Monte Hotel
For Spring Break, I recommend booking Mar Monte’s Day at the Zoo Package on their website – MarMonteHotel.com – under their special offers page. Book by March 31 to get (4) free zoo admission, train rides, and giraffe feeding which equals a $150.00 value! The hotel’s average nightly rates start at around $350. For booking and more information on Mar Monte Hotel, visit MarMonteHotel.com.
Mar Monte Hotel Pool
5. Ojai Valley Inn
It’s amazing to think that Angelenos have been escaping to the iconic Ojai Valley Inn, located 70 miles north of LA in the secluded and scenic Ojai Valley, for 100 years! That’s right, the world-class luxury resort is celebrating its centennial in 2023, commemorating all the multi-generations who have enjoyed the idyllic retreat!
Scenic Ojai Valley Inn
I love that Ojai Valley Inn has something for all ages to enjoy. The resort recently reopened Camp Oak, its fabulous kids’ camp that invites young guests (ages 4-12) to participate in outdoor adventure, arts & crafts, and learn about the region’s rich history through storytelling and science projects. Available for full days (9am-4pm), half days (9am-12pm), and night camp (5pm-10pm) Camp Oak kiddos enjoy immersive themed programming curated to the Ojai experience, such as science experiments, scavenger hunts throughout the resort grounds, and daily themed lessons such as Space Camp, Color Wars, Critter Connection, Around the World, and themes surrounding the Chumash Native American traditions and culture that define the region. Lunch, snacks, and dinner are included based on the camp package selected, so parents can sneak away to the spa or enjoy a romantic dinner while the kids are having fun! That’s my kind of vacation!!
Camp Oak at Ojai Valley Inn
The resort has additional family-friendly programming for a memorable Spring Break: Family craft hour at the Artist Cottage, moderate group hikes that are fit for most ages, in-room game night baskets for the whole family to enjoy, including popcorn, a picnic pack, Jacks, a classic card game, charades, Connect 4, Sorry, an in-room movie, and more. There’s also golf and tennis for a day of family sports, or for when mom and dad want to improve their game while the kids have a blast at Camp Oak!
Family s’mores at Ojai Valley Inn
For Spring Break, Ojai Valley Inn is offering a Spring Family Fun package that includes breakfast at The Oak, a picnic lunch from Libbey’s Market, and DIY s’mores roasting around a communal fire table. This package is available during select dates in March, April and May, and book soon before they sell out!
Family pool day at Ojai Valley Inn
Average nightly rates start at $689. For booking and more information visit ojaivalleyinn.com.
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Which of these Spring Break activities and/or trips would you like to do with your family? Any guesses what our family will be doing? I’d love to hear what your plans are for Spring Break in the comments below. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more family and lifestyle ideas!
Maggie Jackson 