Homemade Hummus Summer Recipe.

It is hot this summer and dips and salads are a welcome meal. PBS Foods has this easy recipe for hummus. When I look for easy to do recipes, I usually go to PBS Foods. I wanted to share this easy recipe. Click to get the full instructions: Homemade Hummus: Make a big batch of homemade hummus to share with friends and family. 

Ingredients you will need and might already have in your kitchen.

1 pound garbanzo beans, soaked overnight in cool water

3 small garlic cloves, peeled 

1/2 cup water 

1/4 cup tahini 

Juice from 1 1/2 lemons

Salt to taste (about 1 tablespoons) 

1/4 cup olive oil, plus more as a garnish

food processor or blender

 See the complete receipe at PBS Food.

Disclosure: This is from PBS Foods. The ingredients are different than the original recipe less salt and garlic. Please visit PBS Foods to get the complete process. 

California Citrus State Historic Park family field trip.

Our family field trip to the California Citrus State Historic Park proved to be very informative. Did you know that citrus has a rich history and its origin is Asia? Citrus traveled by boat to Brazil, California, Florida, and even parts of Europe during the seventeen hundreds (1700-1799 AD). Two rare citrus finds include species named Buddha's Hand and the Yellow Tiger Lemon. At this historic park, you will find these rare types of citrus. The parks' museum and visitor's center offers citrus history as well as samples of the different types of fruit. 

California is great for growing Buddha Hand Citrus. The park has a few trees that are located near the front of the museum. The fruit cannot be found in local groceries stores.  

While in the museum, volunteers share slices of the oranges, lemons, and grapefruit that grow on the grounds. Make sure to stop by the sampling table and taste all of them. They are sweet and very yummy. It is best you stop there first before walking around the orange groves because picking the fruit is not allowed. So get your fill of citrus inside at the museum. 

The park is about 240 acres big and perfect to hike, picnic and just relax. It is recommended that you check the weather as it can get very hot. When we visited it was 91 degrees and it was a little warm. We drove to the corner to buy oranges and water to stay cool.

California Citrus State Historic Park is located at:
9400 Dufferin Ave Riverside, CA 92503
Tip: Bring cash for entrance fee $5.00. Across the street, they sell oranges and beverages but is cash only. Wear comfortable shoes and check the weather before traveling. 
You can visit their website at http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=649 or call them at 951-780-6222. For more information on booking their facility for Weddings and parties, call 951-515-6689.  More information can be found on their website.
Source: 
https://californiacitruspark.com/
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=649
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/02/explore-food-citrus-genetics/

Ongoing research - https://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/46428

Public Art in Southern California.

Exploring the city of Long Beach might leave you breathless this summer because of all the street art that has been brought to life. The city has been participating in the Pow Wow Festival since 2015. This international art festival began in Hawaii with only a few artists to help bring awareness to art, culture, and music. It is a movement that has been part of  Southern California in an effort to bring communities together. Just walk through the streets of Downtown Long Beach to see how art transformed this city. We photographed this public art wall in downtown Long Beach just a few weeks ago. Standing there you could feel the wind pushing us closer to the wall. 

Cinta Vidal

425 E 4th StLong Beach, CA 90802

A  happy and colorful painting of vegetables is waiting for the public to visit at 967 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90802. 

Another remarkable painting is a few blocks away at 1253 East 4th Street, Long Beach, CA 90802.

To find more information regarding street art. Please go to their website: http://powwowhawaii.com/about-pow-wow-hawaii/ 
or
http://www.powwowlongbeach.com/murals/

New Murals coming to Long Beach, CA  2018

Andrew Hem
1129 Gaviota Ave, Long Beach, CA 90805
CASE
404 Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90805
Fafi
741 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90813
Fintan Macgee & Evoca1
300 Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90805
Jason Keam
4321 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90805
Joon the Goon
625 Anaheim, Long Beach, CA 90805
Juan Travieso
1253 E 4th Street, Long Beach, CA 90805
Kamea Hadar
60 E 4th Street, Long Beach, CA 90805
Kaplan Bunce
333 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90805
KozDos
1731 E 4th Street, Long Beach, CA 90805
Leon Keer
107 Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90805
Lolo YS
145 E 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90805
Ms. Yellow
2841 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90805
NeverMade
256 E 3rd Street, Long Beach, CA 90805
Noelle Martinez
5248 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90805
Shane Sun
416 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90805
Shantell Martin
1923 7th Street, Long Beach, CA 90805
Sydney James
2301 E 7th Street, Long Beach, CA 90805
Tatiana Velazquez
1731 E 4th Street, Long Beach, CA 90805
Wiley Wallace
70 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802

Ant-Man and the Wasp movie review!

Ant-Man and the Wasp did not disappoint. This is a great week to attend the movie-theatre because of the great movie choices. As a family, we enjoy super-hero movies and comic books. So, Ant-Man and the Wasp movie was a perfect choice.  Check out their movie trailer.  

We left the theatre feeling we could be superheroes too!

Superhero Field Trip Mom uses her super-power the credit card to defeat summer boredom. Movie coming soon!!!

Disclaimer- sources https://www.marvel.com/movies/ant-man-and-the-wasp

2018 Public Fireworks Shows

The 4th of July is upon us and its time for BBQ's, Swimming Pools, Family, Friends and Fireworks.  For the safety of everyone's children, elders and pets, visit one of these amazing community fireworks displays instead of buying and lighting your own stand bought or illegal fireworks.  Stay safe this holiday season, light your BBQ, not illegal fireworks!

Aliso Viejo - 4th of July event - Find out more and plan ahead. Visit their link to get more information on 4th of July celebration.  

http://www.avca.net/editor_upload/File/Event%20Flyers/July%204th%20Celebration%202018%20Final.pdf

Knott's Berry Farm  - Season holders and summer fans will love their annual celebration. Direct link to Knotts.

https://www.knotts.com/play/events/july-4th-fireworks

Dana Point  - Calendar of events and a direct link to 4th of July celebration. 

http://www.danapoint.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/11680/68

Doheny State Beach - 4th of July Extravaganza- Direct link to their website.

http://www.dohenystatebeach.org/ehttp://www.wva.org/page/21440~342608/Recreation-Newsvent-items/4th-of-july-fireworks-extravaganza/

Irvine - Woodbrige Village Associate - 4th of July Neighborhood celebration. Requires wristband and early sign-up. Link to their site is here:

http://www.wva.org/page/21440~342608/Recreation-News

Ladera Ranch - 4th of July neighborhood celebration - Visit their website for more information on times for the firework display. 

http://www.laderaranch-realestate.com/ladera-ranch-events.php

Laguna Hills - Fourth of July celebration starts at 4:00 PM- Carnival Rides, Activities, Music, Food Booths Open 4:00-8:00 PM- Patriotic Crafts & Face Painting 9:00 PM- Mayor's Welcome 9:10 PM- Fireworks

https://www.ci.laguna-hills.ca.us/Calendar.aspx?EID=262&month=7&year=2018&day=4&calType=0

Mission Viejo Street Faire - The fun begins at 12:00 noon with live entertainment on the Main Stage and youth bands performing on our Freedom Stage. There will be rides for the kiddies to enjoy. Food and Game Booths operated by local service groups will be available to delight your taste buds and bring fun and laughter to the little ones. There will also be over 30 booths with wonderful craft and gift ideas. Admission is FREE with tickets being sold for games and rides. For your convenience, a free shuttle will operate from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Shuttle stops are located at twelve stops clearly marked around Lake Mission Viejo. Please no pets, skateboards or roller blades, bicycles or barbecue grills are allowed.

http://mvactivities.com/july-4th-entertainment/

Tustin - Tustin High School Stadium, 1171 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA, 92780
The fun begins at 6:30pm. Arrive early to get seats. Bring canned goods and donate to a worthy cause, "Homeless Veterans". Click on the link and see the flyer for the 4th of July celebration details. 
http://www.tustinca.org/civicax/calendar/inc/blobfetch.aspx?BlobID=28324

Yorba Linda -4th of July celebration is one of Yorba Linda's most beloved traditions, the event will be held on Wednesday, July 4, 2018  at Veterans Parkand Yorba Linda Middle School.  The entertainment and activities will begin at 5 p.m. and the "Fireworks Spectacular" will begin at 9 p.m.

https://www.yorbalindaca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=57

Art Float Riverside family field trip.

Art Float is the largest community art project Riverside County has ever experienced. The Riverside Art Museum (RAM), in collaboration with the City of Riverside’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD), is hosting a signature community art event that involves over 350 huge, floating, hand-painted spheres in Lake Evans at Fairmount Park. Called Art Float – Riverside, the project is patterned after one staged a few years ago by Portraits of Hope in Los Angeles. The Art Alliance of the Riverside Art Museum, the volunteer fundraising group of RAM, is spearheading the event that will take place May 11 - June 1, 2018. When complete, the floating artwork will feature hundreds of hand-painted spheres painted by Riverside School children representing 48 RUSD schools. 

Each plastic sphere is six feet in diameter and will be brightly painted that will float in Lake Evans. A three-week festival that will end on June 1, 2018.

The Art Float is located in Fairmount Park 2601 Fairmount Blvd, Riverside, CA 9250. For more information on the project, please Riverside Art Museum: www.riversideartmuseum.org/

Field Trip to Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park.

Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park located north of Santa Barbara, CA is an amazing field trip to take your children to.  This historic location provides evidence of our local Native American families and showing the artistry and communication left by their ancestors. Address: Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park, Hwy 154, Santa Barbara, CA 93105

The Chumash Native Americans called home in the coastal area between Malibu and Paso Robles extending inland to the western edge of the San Joaquin Valley.  Noted as hunters, gatherers, and fishermen, the Chumash were considered more prosperous than other tribes due to their access to land and sea resources.  The Chumash found caves to use for sacred religious ceremonies using charcoal for their drawings.  Colorful pigments of red, orange and yellow depicted human and animal figures with dots to make them more distinct.  Chumash was passed down from generation to generation until the 1700 and 1800's when the Spanish decimated the population.

The site is located 3 miles south of the San Marcos pass:  Take Hwy 154 out of Santa Barbara and turn right onto Painted Caves Road.  This is a steep, narrow and winding road so caution should be taken and we recommend an experienced driver on this road.  The cave is located about 2 miles up the mountain.  The pullout will only accommodate one or two cars.  There are several resident drives so please be respectful of the neighbors.

This is a fantastic trip to make as the Chumash were vital to the California Mission System.  This topic is studied in depth in 4th grade.  Bringing it to life for your children is a great way for them to remember this topic.  Make an effort to stop at Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Inez, San Miguel or San Buena Ventura as part of your trip.  This makes an amazing addition to the learning experience and your field trip.  We hope you enjoy this family field trip as much as we did.

EVENT SCHEDULE

Saturday, October 6
10am - 10pm
Gourd Dance: 12pm & 6pm
Grand Entry: 1pm & 7pm
Dinner Break: 5pm

Sunday, October 7
10am - 6pm
Gourd Dance: 12pm
Grand Entry: 1pm

The pow-wow is open to the public, free admission. Dance contest, drum contest, food booths and arts and crafts vendors. This is a drug and alcohol-free event.

Parking: $5 per day (including motorcycles)

Camping: $35 for weekend
Camping spots are assigned on a first come, first serve basis.

Check in with the pow-wow staff on site for payment and restrictions.

Find a P

OW WOW near you....

https://calendar.powwows.com/events/celebrating-life-creation-pow-wow-2018/