Suite Escapes Family Vacation Rental Anaheim {Review}

Looking for a reason to take the family to the Happiest Place on Earth?  If our sneak peeks made you want to get away, once you step into this spacious 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom townhouse, you might never want to leave!

Owned by Andy and Jennifer, Suite Escapes (formerly Enchanted Escapes) is a collection of townhomes that have been tastefully renovated with high end furnishings and décor, fresh designer paint, and stocked with everything you could possibly think of to make the home as family friendly as possible.

From the second we entered our townhome, everyone gasped in awe – no joke! The kids excitedly ran around the main floor and raced up the stairs to check out their rooms.  I instantly started snapping photos before anything was moved out of place.  The entire townhome was extremely immaculate and well kept, with attention to every single detail.

        

    Once you've traveled with kids, you come to realize that having a fully stocked kitchen, bedrooms and more than one bathroom is an absolute must.  Of course, this Suite Escapes townhome had it all and I seriously never wanted to leave.  Just think about it:  after a long day at Disneyland, all you want to do is shut your bedroom door, put your feet up and relax on a plush king sized bed.  And that's exactly what I did!

Our Summer Recap + Share Your Smiles with Kinder® Canada! #kindersmiles

Hello September,

What did you do to August? Where did you hide summer? The fun can’t be over already – it just can’t be!

Please bring our summer baaacccck!

Signed,
Everyone

 Once again, summer is over.  It started out with a bang and ended so quickly and quietly, no one saw it coming. At least that’s how it feels to us!

While we didn’t get everything crossed off of our summer bucket list, we still managed to get in a couple beach days and a few trips to the water park.  We also took a couple of mini trips to Bellevue, Washington (our favourite almost-staycation destination) with a stay at the fabulous Hyatt Regency Belleuve and visits with family, and we ended up at one festival (we usually go to one every weekend!) and spent a couple days at The Fair at the PNE (Jadon wants to live there now).  Hopefully, we’ll get to squeeze in another day at the beach this weekend!


Kinder® Canada Facebook Smile Booth App

Thinking about ways to document your summer fun?  Kinder® Canada has an interactive photo app on their Facebook page that allows you to create your own “photo strip” by uploading your summer photos and personalizing it with your choice of frame and filter.

Tell us how you created your own summer memories in the comment section below!  Did you cross everything off your bucket list?  Was Kinder® a part of your summer activities?  We can’t wait to hear your stories!

Sunshine and Shenanigans: Our Plans for Summer 2014! #KINDERMom

I almost can't contain my excitement for what lies ahead the next couple months!  Even if we don't go on vacation to some exotic place far away, I'm certain I'll be just content right here, right where I am.  The reason?  Summer and sunshine!

It always seems like the sun is missing in our part of the world for the majority of the year.  So for those two months that we get strictly sunshine {fingers crossed!} and hot bikini weather, we're ready to hit the beach, take a trip across the border or simply take a staycation.

This year we don't have any definite plans and I feel like we'll just go with the flow.  I actually prefer it when things aren't planned - it always turns out more exciting and no one is disappointed if things don't go as planned!  Whatever we end up doing, we'll be sure to bring our Kinder® Surprise® eggs with us:

We actually just came back from a mini vacation across the border in Bellevue, Washington {post coming soon!}.  Sasha was preparing to visit her mother in her home country and we were able to visit her extended family, with who we've become quite close with.  It was a relaxing and perfect way to start the summer!

The only "planned" activities or events that we go to every summer would have to be the different festivals we have around town, park playdates, girls' nights {SwankSaturdays' anybody?}, a week-long vacation at the end of August {maybe a staycation?}, and some rest and relaxation time with the family.  All I know is that I can't wait for the weekend!

What do you have planned this summer?

Our Spring Break recap + a special deal from The Hyatt Regency Bellevue!

You know you've been busy when you're just starting to write a blog post about Spring Break - that happened almost two months ago!

Yup, that seems to be the way things are going lately.  If I'm not at work or trying to blog, then I'm at home wrangling with the kids and attempting to keep the house in order, or driving the kids to their respective activities and trying to keep them occupied.

Oh and did I mention party planning?

Ah, the life of a working mom.

Luckily, we were able to take a short break from it all and head down to our must-go mini vacay spot across the border - Bellevue, Washington.  I get really excited every time we go because we get to shop, see family and stay at our all-time favourite hotel, The Hyatt Regency Bellevue.

It seems that every time we stay at The Hyatt Regency Bellevue, we end up getting treated like royalty and this time was no exception.  We were just anxious to go back to what has become our frequent stomping ground in Bellevue and walk around the downtown core.  Little did we know, this was waiting for us after a long car ride:

I swear, they nail it every single time.  How sweet it is to feel welcomed and have our stay personalized - complete with regular milk and chocolate milk in the fridge and a library of kid-friendly movies for our kids!  We honestly couldn't have asked for anything more to make our first night, and entire stay, easier for us {and definitely memorable!}.

Cirque du Soleil's Mystère Review {Las Vegas}

During our recent trip to Las Vegas, we had the amazing opportunity to experience Cirque du Soleil's Mystère at Treasure Island.  This high-energy show has something for everyone - comedy, breathtaking acrobatics, amazing choreography, and just an all-around magical feeling from start to finish.

Photo courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

This was my first Cirque du Soleil experience and it definitely didn't disappoint.  As we entered the theater with a sleeping Baby Z, the usher made sure that we were properly seated and we ended up getting upgraded to lower level seating.  I had no idea how well the kids would behave and was actually prepared to spend half the show outside the theater but, lo and behold, the kids were absolute angels!  All we had to do was make sure Lil J had popcorn in hand and Baby Z had food in her mouth literally the entire show.  Mission accomplished!

The pre-show entertainment started approximately ten minutes before the show officially did.  And was it ever funny!  I don't want to spoil the fun but lets just say that Baby Z was squealing on cue and both hubby and I were worried it would attract attention and then the spotlight would shine on us!  Luckily, it didn't happen but a few of our fellow audience members became lucky {unlucky?} participants in the show.

Day 1: Penthouse and The Strip {it's not what you think!} #TheCrossesTakeOverVegas

If you follow us via Instagram or Facebook, you'll know that we just came back from an almost week long vacation in Las Vegas with the kids!! 

Call us crazy but it's my fourth time in Vegas and each time I had gone before, I began to notice more and more families with young kids - strollers and all - walking down the Strip.  I thought, what a fun place to bring the kids and, knowing my hubby, he would totally go along with it.  And why not?  After all, you only live once and if the kids have to come, the kids are coming!

Day 1 started out like this:

I started packing the kids' suitcases a few days before we were scheduled to leave because I knew I wouldn't be able to remember everything all in one day.  List?  What list?  {I hate lists!}.  Besides the essentials, I only usually write down stuff we must NOT leave behind.  If we forget a pair of underwear, we can always buy it when we get to Vegas, right?

So the kids were all packed and, thankfully, Miss S packed her own suitcase.  Hubby repeatedly refuses to pack until a couple hours before we need to leave the house.  I'm left fending for myself and two littles.  And making sure they both have their snacks, lunches and proper liquids - not to mention extra clothes, diapers, wipes, headphones, blankets, toys, stroller, Pack 'N Play, car seat, pajamas and toothbrushes {did I forget to include anything else but the kitchen sink?}.  Packing for kids is no easy feat and I ended up putting together my own list after we came back home {go figure, right?!}.

party of five #TheCrossesTakeOverVegas

Vacation planning.  It's all up to one person.  ME.  I always thought I was good at it and then we started having kids.  And more kids {or so it seems}.

Last night I was trying to wrap my head around what I should pack and what I should leave behind.  Do I bring the kids an extra five changes of clothes or do I do the bare minimum?  I was trying to cut down on the amount of baggage but with a family of five, well, there's a lot of baggage.

It looks like we're going to end up checking in luggage for Lil J.  It's included after all so we might as well take advantage of that.  We're also travelling with a stroller and Pack 'N Play, and possibly car seats {this one I'm trying to veto since we're not renting a car and will probably be taking transit if we venture off the strip - but then the thought of taking public transit with two littles is causing a minor anxiety attack}.

And who knew that a preschooler and a toddler needed so much crap stuff??!  Like extra utensils, food containers, diapers and sippy cups - the list is never ending!!

Staycation {Day 4}: #TheFair at the PNE

Disclosure:  We did not receive compensation for this post whatsoever.  All views and opinions are our own and do not reflect the views and opinions of The Fair at the PNE or Playland.


Day 4 of our staycation a couple of weeks ago was spent at none other than Vancouver's oldest running fair tradition - The Fair at the PNE.

While in recent years crowds have been dwindling {probably due to the expensive admission costs which don't include ride pases}, the first Tuesday of The Fair was packed with people enjoying the first free admission day.

After a walk around the fairgrounds and learning about farm life at the Kidz Discover Farm inside Safeway Farm Country, we took the kids to a summertime tradition to watch The Superdogs!  Aside from a slight scuffle hiccup at the Superdogs show {honestly, if you're going to a family-friendly event, expect kids to be there - duh}, I had a lot of fun watching Lil J enjoy a show that I {and the rest of Vancouver} had grown up watching as a kid.

Staycation {Day 3}: Britannia Mine Museum Experience & Review #CrossFamilyStaycation

Continuing with our staycation trend of discovering local attractions that we wouldn't normally visit, the Britannia Mine Museum was next on our list.  Tucked away in the small community of Britannia Beach in Squamish, BC, the museum features a 45 minute underground tour of the early haulage tunnel, a gold panning pavilion, a number of historic tools, equipment and exhibits, and a family play area.

The beautiful drive to the museum

As soon as we entered the museum, hubby and our older nephew watched a short film on the history of the museum and BC mining while the younger kids had fun exploring the Kids Playce, which featured hands-on exhibits such as trying on gloves to feel for different tools that miners use.

Next up, was gold panning!  Miss S was really looking forward to this and Lil J just loved playing with the sand and making a mess.  I would recommend this activity for older kids unless you bring a change of clothes for the little ones.  Baby Z and I posed for some pictures while the kids panned for gold behind us:

Staycation {Day 2}: Lazy Sunday + a #BTS Shopping Spree #CrossFamilyStaycation

Last Sunday was day two of our staycation and could definitely be classified as a 'Lazy Sunday'.  After a crazy night out with the girls, my body mind was in no shape to be my usual 'let's go do something' self.   I lounged on the couch with my two littles and just enjoyed not having to rush to be anywhere at a certain time.  However, the weather was gorgeous and we did have to get out of the house eventually since a preschooler and a toddler does not equal fun times trapped inside a house all day long.

Our first stop was Metrotown which was {a} indoors despite the beautiful weather and {b} the perfect place to start a little back-to-school shopping for Lil J.  I let him pick out a bunch of outfits himself and, of course, he settled for a number of licensed character tees:

Staycation {Day 1}: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park + a Giveaway! #CrossFamilyStaycation #Vancouver

Even though I just returned to work, I knew I needed a week off to recuperate with the family.  Initially we were planning a trip to Seattle - we really wanted to take the kids down on the train and explore Downtown Seattle.  With hotel rates double or triple the price we normally pay, we decided to stay home at the last minute and enjoy a staycation.

The whole point of our staycation was to discover places around the city that we normally don't take the kids to and the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park was at the top of our list.  Surprisingly, I've lived in Vancouver all my life and don't remember ever visiting the suspension bridge!  Our main reason was for not visiting was the price - it just didn't seem like an affordable family outing. Although, after exploring the suspension bridge and finding out that there was more to it than the bridge, we now understand why the price is a little higher than most family attractions.

We parked our car in a pay lot across from the entrance and found this magical walkway.  Miss S told Lil J that little people live up in the trees and inside the tiny holes:

#SpringBreak 2013 Recap

Over the last two weeks, we've been enjoying Lil J's Spring Break {Miss S went back to school last week} and have we ever been busy!  It seems that whenever the kids are on holidays, I take a holiday from this blog.  Either I get caught up in the busyness or I just get plain lazy.

The first few days were filled with playdates for Lil J and catching up on much needed gossip with my close friends.  It's funny how much time we don't spend actually talking compared to the time we spend making sure our boys aren't throwing sand at each other or wrestling each other to the ground.

There was also some sibling bonding time:

#Hyatt Regency Bellevue Hotel Review

When my husband mentioned that he wanted to go on a mini vacation over the Christmas holidays, my first thought was a quick trip to Bellevue, Washington.  We were just there in the summer visiting Miss S' relatives and fell in love with the city.  My husband and I are no strangers to the Pacific Northwest - over the years we've taken weekend vacations in downtown Seattle and Renton but didn't take a chance to discover Bellevue, until now.

And what took us so long, we asked ourselves.  Last summer we wanted to stay in downtown Bellevue but settled for a hotel just outside of downtown.  This time, I wanted to stay in the heart of it all!

Situated in downtown Bellevue and adjacent to the fabulous Bellevue Collection, the Hyatt Regency Bellevue is a grand choice for families, couples and young people alike.  As soon as we entered the lobby, I knew this was the hotel for my family.  Chic and sophisticated, with a touch of Asian flair, we were greeted by courteous and knowledgeable front desk staff.  We were also treated to the hotel's 12.12.12 holiday promotion where the kids were able to choose a candy cane and each candy cane colour represented a prize that could be redeemed during our stay.  Miss S won us a free in-room movie!

Arriving at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue

Pick a candy cane...

...win a free movie!

Excited to be in Bellevue!
{taken in the hotel lobby}

After our check-in details were sorted out, we headed up to our room on the 14th floor.  Initially, I was kind of bummed that the hotel only offers double beds in rooms that have two beds because I do like my space when I sleep {two queens would have been great!}, but everything worked out in the end.  My husband and I managed to get some much needed shut-eye three nights in a row, despite being used to a king sized bed, and the kids had a blast on the other double bed.  And here's a quick tip for families with toddlers and young kids:  take the two bolster pillows found in the room and place them under the sheet to create a makeshift bed rail to prevent the kids from falling off the bed.  Tuck the sheet back into the mattress and voila!

Even though we were initially disappointed with the bed set-up, we ended up being completely satisfied with the size and comfort of the beds.  We were all able to get a good nights sleep and when you're on vacation, that's all that matters, right?!  Even the kids agreed...

Enjoying the double bed with little sis

Stripes party!

As we entered our room, we were greeted with a fruit, cheese and cracker plate, along with two bottles of wine, dessert and anything in our mini bar.  Talk about being treated like royalty!

There was even a personalized note just for me!

*Movie star status*

The size of the room was what I expected for a guestroom at the Hyatt - a little small for a family of five but manageable.  The room's decor was very modern and tastefully decorated - definitely in tune with our swank taste!  Typically, when we go on family trips we're usually used to staying in boutique hotels with in-suite kitchens, complimentary breakfasts, etc., and we came to the Hyatt Regency Bellevue knowing that we wouldn't have the extra complimentary amenities available to us.  We did, however, get treated to a fabulous complementary breakfast at Eques {more on our experience below!}.  Ah, the sacrifices we make for staying in an upscale hotel!

Double guestroom
Photo courtesy of the Hyatt

My only two complaints about the room were the lack of towels and the fact that it didn't have a microwave to heat up the kids' food {especially baby's}.  We were able to ask the front desk to heat up some milk for Lil J and they did so willingly, but it would have been nice to be able to do it in the comfort of our own room.  Other than that, the beds were extremely comfortable, the room was clean and neat, and our view of downtown Bellevue was amazing!

Our view from the 14th floor

After a late night dinner and a night of much needed sleep, we woke up the next morning excited for our breakfast at the hotel's breakfast and contemporary buffet restaurant, Eques.  We were greeted by a friendly host and an equally friendly server, who provided us with her personal menu recommendations.  I chose the delicious smoked salmon eggs benedict, hubby had an omelet and the kids ate from the continental buffet.

Fresh berries from the buffet and an americano misto

Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict - yum!

Hubby's omelet

Selections from the buffet

The buffet
{Photo courtesy of the Hyatt}

We were also treated to the Honeycrisp Apple Stuffed French Toast and tiramisu pancakes - both to die for!

Eques' decor is very modern, with clean and crisp lines, and very fitting with our dining expectations.  Usually our family doesn't rave about hotel restaurants but Eques is definitely a tasty exception.  We cannot wait to come back and dine at Eques again the next time we stay in Bellevue!  The thought of it is making my mouth water!

Eques
{Photo courtesy of the Hyatt}

Oh, and we didn't forget about the mimosa {only $3!}:

Overall, we had an amazing experience at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue and would recommend the hotel to anyone looking to stay in the heart of downtown Bellevue.  The convenience of staying in a hotel that is within walking distance of all the amenities {shopping, restaurants, entertainment,etc.} is a huge plus when travelling with kids.  Staff at the hotel made sure our stay was pleasurable and I'm excited to call the Hyatt Regency Bellevue our new home away from home!  We may even have to plan a weekend in Bellevue without the kids next time {wink wink!}.

{Photo courtesy of the Hyatt}

Disclosure:  The views expressed in this review are my own and do not represent the opinions or views of the Hyatt Regency Bellevue.  We received compensation in order to conduct this review.