Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Support for the Goleta Mom work



Do you love to get events in our area on Facebook and Instagram? Consider supporting the work I do by supporting some things we love! (I do get a small kickback from these, but I only recommend things that I have tried and truly love.)

Online Cooking and life skills classes for kids & teens:  https://sl290.isrefer.com/go/vip/rdupar/
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Friday, July 11, 2025

Bowlero


Recently we purchased a summer bowling pass from Bowlero. For $40, you can bowl 2 games every day and have free shoe rental (Sunday- Friday open-close and Saturday open-4pm). For $55, you can upgrade to any location, a daily $5 arcade credit and 15% off food/nonalcoholic beverages. The passes are good May 13th - September 1st. 

Otherwise: 
Cost: Online Reservations will put the cost at about $125 for a lane for 2 hours including shoe rental. It is far cheaper to walk in and get the lane, but you are not guaranteed a quick spot.  
Location: Goleta near Yogurtland on Calle Real
Directions: From downtown, take the 101N to the Fairview exit and take right onto Fairview. Take another right onto Calle Real. Bowlero is about 1/2 block down on the right. 
Parking: Free on site
Hours: M-W 2pm-11pm Th/F 2pm-12am, Saturday 10am-12am, Sunday 10am-11pm
Time: 1-2 hours
Drive Time: 10 minutes 
Nearby:  Goleta Library, Fairview Gardens 

Quote from my 11 year old: "It's great to bring friends." 

Related Posts: 

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Monday, June 16, 2025

Refugio Nature Program


We spent a weekend camping at Refugio State Park and enjoyed perfect weather (in June!). We noticed that they have a junior ranger program with activities. The little house where the junior ranger programs are located is at the far end of the day use parking lot.


Otherwise: 
Cost: Day use pass for the Refugio State Beach is $10.
Location: Refugio State Beach 
Directions: From Goleta, take the 101N to the Refugio exit just past El Capitan. Take a left to go under the freeway, another left to follow the frontage road and a right to the kiosk.  




Parking: In the day use area unless you are camping. 
Hours: see the Instagram page for updated info


Time: 45 minutes if you do the craft
Drive Time: 20 minutes 
More Information: Instagram or State Beach Website
Nearby:  Refugio State Beach, El Capitan State Beach (Closed in 2025) and Gaviota State Beach






Quote from my 11 year old: "I liked the craft." 



Related Posts: Choose Your Own Adventure 2025 

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Monday, June 9, 2025

Slime and Playdough

 


This Week with one teen in school and one tween at home. We did a lot of play dates, pool time and a class campout! 

Here are our favorite playdough and slime recipes we often make on play days like this! 

Fav Slime Recipe: https://mamapapabubba.com/2013/02/05/valentines-day-slime-favours/






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Monday, June 2, 2025

REEF

 



Recently we checked out REEF, UCSB's teaching aquarium. (REEF stands for Research Experience and Education Facility.) If you have seen touch tanks at a school science night. they probably came from here. The tanks are interactive, educational and fun. 

Cost: Free
Location: Near Campus Point at UCSB 
Directions: From the 101 take the 217 to UCSB. Take the second roundabout exit (left towards the beach). Follow the road along the bluff and park in the last lot on the left (there are coastal access spots.)
Parking: Saturday $4 or $3 an hour
Hours: Open House hours are on Friday 3:00pm–5:00pm and Saturday 11:00am–2:00pm (but only during the school year). Spring dates are April 11-June 7. SPRING DATES END SOON!
Time: 30 minutes 
Drive Time: 10 minutes 

Quote from my 11 year old: "I got to hold starfish, a sea cucumber and urchins. It was very fun and I learned a lot. It is fun for all ages and I really recommend it."

Educational videos from 2020: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzNC-IK5BNlgY3cZrGrWEqQ  











Related Posts:

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Friday, May 16, 2025

Choose Your Own Adventure 2025

 

Over the past two summers, I have realized and accepted that summer blogging looks different with a teen and a tween! I only blog about things I have actually done with one or both of my kids, but I have kept a list of things I would like to do and so we have done a handful of things over the past few summers and I have written them up! Here is the list I am chipping away at that we have done a few things from in 2023 and 2024. If you have any suggestions, let me know. 

From 2015 Parks

From 2016  and 2020 Beaches
Rincon Beach
Sandyland Beach ?
Padaro Beach ?
Loon Point Beach 
Finney Beach 
Summerland Beach 
Gaviota Beach

From 2017 Nature Walks
Wind Tunnels at Gaviota State Park
Cheltham/Westmont Trail
Allan Road Footpath
Ortega Hill Loop
Ennisbrook Trail

From 2018 Day Trips
Lake Casitas Water Park got a facelift! 
Canzelle Alpacas
Great American Melodrama
Pump It Up (Ventura)
Marina Park (Ventura)
Ventura Aquatic Center
Quicksilver Miniature Horse Ranch (Santa Ynez)
Solvang
La Purissima Mission
Seein Spots Farm

From 2019 Museums
Old Mission Santa Barbara
Rancho La Patera & Stow House
Santa Barbara Carriage and Western Arts Museum
Santa Barbara Historical Museum (El Presidio)
Ablitt House
Bellosguardo Estate
Casa del Herrero
Casa Dolores
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
Reagan Ranch Center
Ridley Tree Museum of Art (Westmont College)
Santa Barbara Art Museum (UCSB)
Santa Barbara Surfing Museum
Santa Barbara Veterans Museum
Susan Quinlan's Doll & Teddy Bear Museum
UCSB Multicultural Center
Elveroj Museum of History and Art
Guadelupe-Nipomo Dunes Center
Guadelupe Cultural Arts Center
La Purissima Mission
Refugio State Park 
Santa Maria Museum of Flight
Santa Maria Valley Historical Railway Museum
Wilding Art Museum
UCSB Marine Science Institute (REEF)

From Kids Choice Awards 2021 
Bowlero
Lotusland
Lompoc Aquatic Center
Art from Scrap

From 2022 Hikes
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Thursday, April 17, 2025

Spring Snapshot 2025

                                               

While I have kept posting events on Instagram and Facebook, I haven't kept up with the blogging!  I have some more capacity to blog again over the summer and I am excited about it! 

Favorite New Product: Trader Joe's Leave In Conditioner My curly girls and I have used a lot of leave in conditioners and detanglers over the years. Out current favorite is this one from Trader Joe's.        

              

What is Working for Me Right Now: Audiobooks! As part of my job, I have been driving to Carpinteria often. I have an Audible subscription, but I also have been enjoying free library books through Libby and Hoopla. Fun Hoopla fact--with Goleta card you can check out 5 items a month, but with a Santa Barbara card you can check out 10 items a month. The items are slightly different between the two libraries as well. You can have both library cards.

Last Book I Finished: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Mille goes to work for the Winchester family because she is desperate for a job. The wife is crazy, the husband is hot. I could see what was happening from a mile away from when we hear the dark secret of how the wife is crazy. The ending was interesting but didn't outweigh the predicability or the creepy.

                                                


Life Project: Getting Ready for house guests and revamping our guest room. 

What we are eating today: "Rainbow Quinoa Casserole" I shared this one back during the 40 recipes the year I turned 40! 


Related Links:
Fall 2023
Summer 2023
Fall 2022
Spring 2022
Winter 2022 Snapshot
Fall 2021 Snapshot
Summer 2021 Snapshot
Spring 2021 Snapshot
Winter 2021 Snapshot
Fall 2020 Snapshot
Summer 2020 Snapshot
Spring 2020 Snapshot
Winter 2020 Snapshot
Fall 2019 Snapshot
Summer 2019 Snapshot
Winter 2019 Snapshot
Fall 2018 Snapshot
Spring 2018 Snapshot


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