I was not going to spend $40 plus a service fee per ticket to take my 6-year-old to see The Fresh Beat Band. I mean $40 for crappy, second to the last row seats that were not even side-by-side but instead one in front of the other. The LAST two seats at the “regular” ticket price that were remotely near each other even though the show was more than a month away.

No way.

Especially no way was I going to buy one of the closer seats that were available through “ticket brokers,” or “scalpers” as I call them. Those babies were selling for double and more face value per ticket, and there were lots of great seats available through the brokers, but, NO WAY. I can’t even believe that scalpers would get involved with a kids’ show. Boo!

But then I noticed there was an after party where we’d get to learn a Fresh Beat dance, enjoy “healthy snacks” and meet the band…all for the low, low price of $60 per ticket plus a service fee. But the back stage pass was only available if you had a show ticket.

Were those crappy $40, one-in-front-of-the-other seats still available? YES they were and YES I did spend more than $200 to take my daughter to her first concert and then backstage to meet the band.

Was it worth it?

Well, I’ve easily spent $200 on less important things than sharing an awesome first concert experience with my child.

And, I could afford these tickets, even though I wish they had cost less.

I knew it would be great, girly fun for my daughter and me. (hey, I know all The Fresh Beat Band songs too!)

But maybe the main reason I splurged on this experience was because of a mom named Anna, who is suffering terribly after the recent death of her son. Anna asks a lot of “what if,” type questions, and I find myself living for today more than ever.

You know what else? The Fresh Beat Band music is innocent, upbeat, positive…just what I want my children singing and dancing to. I’m happy that Mal has their poster up on her wall and that she went to sleep that night listening to their new cd with the backstage pass and lanyard sitting on the night stand right next to her bed.

I think she’ll always remember that day, and I KNOW I will. Oh yes I will!

Don't let anyone tell you there are no bad seats at the Balboa Theater. When you are 6 or younger, it's not fun being this far back.

Now this is more like it! Our friends who paid ticket brokers $100 per ticket told us during intermission that there were at least 8 open seats in their section so we moved down, which meant that when they threw beach balls into the crowd, blasted confetti and ran down the aisles shaking hands, we were part of the fun instead of watching from the 2nd to last row of the balcony.

I won't always be able to pull off back stage passes, but this was a super fun indulgence!

I want to thank the many advertisers whose participation in this year’s guide makes it possible to print and distribute across the county. If you’re wondering who they are, just look to the right of this post and, if you’re so inclined, please click the tile ads to visit their websites!

And I want to thank the companies that contributed to our special “Life’s Better When You BOGO” section. Get your guide, and you’ll be treated to more than $50 in BOGOs at:

FUNbelievable
Java Mama
Mon Petit Chateau
My Kids Clubhouse
Playtown
PlayWerx
Seaport Village’s Antique Carousel
The UTC mall Kiddie Train

If you are a military mom, please check with your Fleet & Family Support Center…they will have guides in offices across the county for you beginning next week!

If you are a playgroup organizer, please use the contact form to request copies of the guide for your members.

And if you’re a mom like me who loves to be out on the town with the kiddos, then let’s meet up this month! Remember, it’s Museum Month, and that means that from February 1 through February 29th we can get into 40 San Diego museums for 1/2 price. What a great time to check out some of the family programs we’ve been eager to attend. I will bring your copies of the 2012 Mom’s Guide with me to the following events, so mark your calendar, visit Macy’s for your Museum Month Passport, and let me know if you’re coming!

Thursday, February 16th: Mac’s Kids’ Corner at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Monday, February 20th: 10-11 a.m. it’s History for Half Pints “All Aboard A Train Adventure” at the San Diego History Museum.

Thursday, February 23rd: We’re going to check out the miniature train display and pot a plant at the San Diego Botanic Garden for their Thursday toddler playdate from 10-11 a.m. That afternoon from 4-6 p.m. we’ll be at Kid Ventures in Pacific Beach with Positively Kids playing “I Choose To Be Happy Bingo” and meeting Captain Positive! Click here for more info. and, be one of the first 25 moms to give us the secret code CAPTAIN POSITIVE because you do NOT want to miss out on the fab grab bags being handed out.

Friday, February 24th: From 2-4 p.m. we’re headed to the Lux Art Institute for the Family Friday tour, nature trail walk and an artist-led art project!

Saturday, February 25th: It’s Family Science Saturday at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. Join us from 1-3 p.m.

Sunday, February 26th: We’ll be hanging out with Ms. Frizzle @ the 2:15 p.m. Wacky Science Sunday show at the San Diego Natural History Museum.

Hope to see you in February!

Hopefully you’ll be celebrating in a sweet way on February 14th, but why not give yourself the extra gift of a girls’ night out just before Valentine’s Day? The fabulous ladies of SD Moms’ Night Out have put together another terrific event.

I’ll be there…will you?

When: Thursday, February 9, 2012 from 7-9pm

Where: Sè Spa at Hotel Palomar San Diego, a Kimpton Hotel,

1047 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101

Parking: Valet $7/hour or Park at Horton Plaza – parking is free for 3 hours with validation

Cost: $20 online through midnight on Thurs., Feb 2, 2012/ $25 at the door – tickets can be purchase on the SD Moms’ Night Out website.

Your MNO ticket includes:

- Entrance to Sè Spa
- Complimentary wine throughout the evening!
- Light appetizer fare courtesy of Hotel Palomar Salt Box Dining & Drinking
- Special discounted mom menu for future spa services when book at the event.
- Hand masseuse and chair massage on-site
- Live acoustic entertainment
- (1) raffle ticket
- Opportunity to win amazing raffle prizes
- Support the American Heart Association. Click here to visit our Go Red for Women Campaign fundraising page and make a donation today!
- A night to relax, mix and mingle with like-minded women
- A fabulous night out!

Tickets start at $18.50, making it one of San Diego’s more affordable special attractions. And, there are lots of special offers floating around out there to help bring that cost down (hint…get your playgroup together and buy group sale price tickets!)

Fans of the Toy Story movies will love seeing the characters come to life on ice. Our kids were thrilled when the green army men arrived, one by parachute, and proceeded to “march” on ice. My favorite part was when Ken and Barbie couple skated to “Dream Weaver.” I just LOVED it.

We’ve been to each Disney on Ice performance over the past three years, and each and everyone has been excellent. But Toy Story was the one that appealed most to our whole family. Even Mallory, who is a princess-lovin’ girl, claimed that Toy Story 3 on Ice was the best show yet.

Check it out if your family is looking for something special to do this week!

What mom doesn’t want more pampering and time with her girlfriends? Before I had children, it didn’t seem possible that I’d have to work at making myself a priority in my own life…that carving out time for myself would actually become a new year’s resolution.

But that’s where we are, so I’m thankful for Serenity Spa for helping me kill two birds with one stone. Last night, eight of us headed to Sorrento Valley for Serenity’s spa happy hour, enjoying cocktails, delicious 1/2 priced appetizers and fabulous mini-spa treatments.

I’ve loved Serenity for years now specifically for their high quality, affordable happy hour treatments that each come with a cocktail of choice. There’s a sauna, jacuzzi, pool and relaxation room to sit and chat with your girls. This spa is connected to the Hilton Gardens hotel. When I first noticed that, I had low expectations. But I promise you will not be disappointed with the quality of the treatments or the food that is served from the hotel’s Bistro 39.

Last night, from the happy hour menu, I had fresh crimini mushrooms baked with boursin cheese and white wine, served with toasted baguette slices and jumbo marinated artichoke hearts quick-fried and served with parmesan cheese and garlic aioli. YUM! My girlfriends had the grilled mahi tacos and said they were excellent. My sister raved about the ahi.

The total cost for my 25-minute “stress buster” massage, an awesome 25-minute scalp massage, two glasses of white wine, two fabulous appetizers plus a generous tip was a whopping, $82. Four fun hours at the spa with my girlfriends…PRICELESS!

At the SEA LIFE Carlsbad Aquarium (at Legoland), your family can get up close and personal with the fish at Underwater Parks Day.

On January 21 from 11am until 4pm, ocean enthusiasts will learn about marine protected areas or “underwater parks” during the Aquarium’s fourth annual Underwater Parks Day. This event is an effort by Southern California aquariums to explain the need for marine protected areas that replenish fish populations and restore the health of coastal waters.

SEA LIFE will host kid-friendly activities including prize giveaways, a special underwater dive show, an educational craft event, a conservation expo with hands-on exhibits and more. Tickets for kids (3–12) are $15 and $20 for adults.

To mark 20 years at its current location along Expedition Way in La Jolla, Birch Aquarium at Scripps is offering San Diego County residents half-off admission on the 20th of every month through this September.

The special deal is valid for residents living in zip codes 91901-92199 who will be asked to show a valid ID to receive the offer (limit two children per paid adult; cannot be combined with other offers).

Aquarium visitors can explore more than 60 marine tanks teeming with fish, corals and invertebrates from the chilly waters of the Pacific Northwest to the warm currents of the tropical seas. A showcase 70,000-gallon tank houses a forest of gently swaying kelp, treating visitors to a serene view of a complex marine community that flourishes off the San Diego coast.

In addition to marine-life exhibits, the aquarium showcases ocean and earth science in its interactive, award-winning museum. Boundless Energy, the aquarium’s newest exhibit, opened last summer. This outdoor, interactive playground – celebrating ways we can harness clean energy from the planet – is a natural extension of Feeling the Heat: The Climate Challenge, an adjacent exhibit that presents the science of global climate change.

You can’t go wrong with a trip to SEA LIFE or Birch Aquarium, and even better is a FREE outing to each. Leave your comment with which aquarium you’d most like to visit for your chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets!

This year I’m taking the kids to check out a few San Diego festivals and parades, including…

The 30th Annual San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair
It’s the year of the dragon, and this year’s Chinese New Year Food & Cultural Festival will take place downtown at Third Ave and J Street on Saturday, January 28 and Sunday January 29 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The free celebration will include lion and dragon dances, martial arts demonstrations, traditional Chinese music performances, folk dances, taiko drumming and a wide variety of food and craft vendors. Children will be able to make lanterns and masks in the Children Craft Area, and march in the Lantern Parade to the main stage at 2:00 pm each day. A full schedule of events can be found at the Fair website.

San Diego St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Irish Festival in Balboa Park
Doesn’t everyone feel Irish on St. Patrick’s Day? Saturday, March 17 will mark the 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival including marching bands, floats, police and fire department units, the Emerald Societies, clowns, equestrian entries, bagpipe contingents, dancing groups and more.

The Parade starts at 10:30 am from Sixth Avenue and Juniper Street, and the party continues into the afternoon in

We love crawfish!

Gator by the Bay Zydeco, Blues & Crawfish Festival
This close-to-my-heart event takes place each mother’s day weekend in Spanish Landing Park at Harbor Island. It’s the real deal with 8,000 pounds of crawfish and authentic music from the bayou. There’s kid-friendly food and activities as well, making this festival a fun outing for the whole family.

Our son is not so sure about crawfish.

KidsFest San Diego
After a one year hiatus, I was glad to see that KidsFest is returning to NTC Promenade in Point Loma with its messy zone, make-and-take creation station, build it construction square and sweet studio for young chefs. KidsFest is scheduled for June 9th – 12th.

I thought I’d close out the year with 11 favorite things of 2011.

Did you do something wonderful in 2011? I would love to know what we should plan for in 2012 so please do share!

Enjoying Some Free Fun San Diego Style

In no particular order…

1. Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland
2011 marked our first visit to Mickey’s Halloween Party, which required its own special $49 ticket (no passes allowed). The park shuts down to anyone without the Halloween party ticket, which means it was less crowded than I could have imagined. There were lots of free trick-or-treating stations throughout (they were shoveling candy at us even as we left the park!), a fun, all-ages dance party, special “villain” meet and greet opportunities and, best of all, little-to-no-waiting on all rides. We are making this a family tradition!

Feeding Guinea Pigs @ Zoomars!

3. Pennypickle’s Workshop (The Temecula Children’s Museum)
If I didn’t have a friend in Temecula with a daughter the same age as Mallory, I might have missed out on this most unique children’s museum. I can’t count the number of times my kids have asked to go back, which is interesting to me since they are really a bit young to completely “get” it. The museum’s focus is on science and experiments, but it’s funky and fun for all ages, and my kids have literally asked to go back more than they’ve asked to go to Disneyland.

Silly Science Fun @ Pennypickle's Workshop

5. The Royal Fairytale Princess Camp
This was the first year we let Mallory attend a camp, and what a wonderful choice we made. There were mini-manicures, dancing, crafts, stuffed animal making, tea parties and more. Just the type of sweet, girly-fun we were looking for!

6. Zoomars Petting Zoo
For this one I can thank the daily deal companies again because, while I had heard of Zoomars in San Juan Capistrano, it was unlikely that I was going to make a special trip there just to pet some animals. However, when several daily deal companies starting offering discounted tickets, and when our favorite San Diego petting zoo closed (Victoria’s Gardens), we headed north. The visit was so worth it for the mini-train ride, the pony rides, the playground and petting zoo that I bought the deal the next time it crossed my inbox and, we want to go again! The part my kids enjoy most is the bunny and guinea pig corral where there must be 100 little animals hopping around for them to cuddle with and feed. My advice to you…get there early before those animals are stuffed and weary of being man-handled. I know several families who enjoy taking the train from San Diego to San Juan Capistrano and then staying for a lunch at Ruby’s Diner.

Jammin' at The Museum of Making Music

8. Snow!
We aren’t sure how we managed to live in the East County for five years before discovering that just a half hour away, near the Viejas Outlet Center, lies a winter wonderland called Mount Laguna. Thanks to our playgroup buddies, we made a spontaneous trip up there after a particularly rainy and chilly week and, voila, see for yourself!

9. Feed the Ducks, Ride the Trolley, Go to the Beach
There are a lot of free or cheap things to do in San Diego that thrill kids as much as anything else. It’s one of my personal goals for 2012 to enjoy more of the simple things our fine city has to offer.

San Diego Winter Wonderland

11. Fancy Nancy Tea Party
Each year the Junior League of Orange County hosts a super fun Christmas shopping extravaganza at the OC Fairgrounds. At this year’s children’s event, the illustrator and the author of the Fancy Nancy book series were the special guests at a Fancy Nancy Tea Party. It was stupendous, fantastic and fabulous for the kids. The best part of the event for me? Meeting the ladies behind the series and, now, working with them to bring a Fancy Nancy tea party to San Diego in 2012! More details to follow, but let me just say, it will be splendiferous!

Family Fun @ Petco Park

And they say that once you have the shingles, you need to rest and reduce your stress levels.

Imagine trying to rest and reduce your stress levels when you get the shingles at Christmastime, as I did. Ha!

Getting shingles at the (relatively) young age of 42 when I have little ones to care for and the biggest holiday of the year to prepare for was not only painful, but a big pain. With a lot of time to lay around and think, I started to wonder… are my children, who have been vaccinated against chicken pox, protected from this kind of pain and inconvenience? And did the vaccination help them avoid catching chicken pox from me? To find out the answer I asked the experts at Children’s Physicians Medical Group, and Dr. Gina Rosenfeld was kind enough to answer in her blog, Kids’ Health 1st.

Here is Dr. Rosenfeld’s response:

At least 3-4 times a month I get asked about chickenpox, the vaccine, and its protection against and relationship to shingles.   Most people have heard about shingles, may even know someone who has had it, seem to know there is some relationship to chickenpox, but don’t fully understand what that relationship is. For that reason, I thought that this would be a good topic to discuss and I could give a quick chickenpox-shingles 101 lesson.    

Chickenpox is a member of the herpesvirus family.  Humans are the only source of infection for this highly contagious virus.  It is spread quite easily from person to person by direct contact, airborne droplets and respiratory secretions (that means sneezing and coughing) and direct contact with vesicular lesions from both chickenpox and zoster (or shingles) lesions.  Once you become infected with chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus never leaves your body, but becomes dormant in your nerve root endings.  Reactivation of the virus results in zoster, or “shingles”.  

As chickenpox is characterized by an itchy, vesicular rash all over the body, shingles consists of grouped vesicles in 1 to 3 small areas that are innervated by the nerve root ending that the virus reactivated from (these are called dermatomes).  Shingles is usually quite painful and can continue to be uncomfortable even after all of the lesions have cleared up.  

As mentioned earlier, both the lesions from chickenpox and shingles are highly contagious.  Persons with the disease are contagious from 1-2 days before the vesicles are visible and remain contagious until they are all crusted over.  Both chickenpox (varicella) and shingles (zoster) cause chickenpox in susceptible children and adults who do not have immunity, either by disease or immunization.  Remember, you can’t get shingles without first having chickenpox or the vaccine.

Most parents worry about their kids getting shingles or chickenpox from a family member who has shingles.  Most of the time it’s a grandparent.  Here’s the good news, most toddlers and children have received their chickenpox vaccine at 12 months of age and a second dose between 4-6 years, and therefore are protected and free to be around that family member.  If, however, they are under one year of age or have not received their vaccine, I would recommend avoiding exposure, as they are definitely susceptible to contracting chickenpox.  

Does the vaccine protect you from getting shingles?   No, but data has shown that the severity of shingles seems to be milder among vaccinated children compared to children that contracted chickenpox the old fashioned way.    

How effective is the vaccine?  The efficacy of 1 dose is 70-90% against contracting chickenpox and 95% effective against severe disease. Those are some pretty good numbers!  

How long does the vaccine keep you protected?  The vaccine has only been licensed in the United States since 1995, but current studies from Japan indicate persistence of immunity for at least 20 years.  

Finally, does my child really need this vaccine? Yes. Most parents remember getting chickenpox as children. They remember the itching, maybe a fever and some achiness, oatmeal baths, calamine lotion, and missing a week of school. For the most part that is what chickenpox is all about. I too remember all of the above, and I also know that I was single handedly responsible for the majority of my kindergarten class contracting the disease. However, not all cases of chickenpox are harmless. Complications from chickenpox can cause hospitalization and in rare cases death. I saw this first hand during my residency. The 7-year-old boy in the ICU with severe pneumonia and respiratory distress syndrome. He was on a ventilator with multiple chest tubes when I began my rotation and he was still the same, one month later, when I finished. Then the teenage girl with half of the skin on her back removed from the extreme staph skin infection complicating her chickenpox. Finally, the little baby who just turned 18 months, and was in the crusting over phase of his chickenpox when he stopped breathing and died. On autopsy it was discovered that he had a chickenpox lesion in the area of his brain that controls breathing. None of these kids were fortunate enough to have had the chickenpox vaccine because it was not yet available.

Now the good news, since the introduction of the vaccine, the overall rate of hospitalization from chickenpox has declined by 90% and there have been few fatal cases. As with many diseases today we forget how bad they can be. Let’s not forget and instead be thankful that our kids are fortunate to live in an era where they can be protected through vaccination.

Button batteries, chaffing dishes, holiday nuts…we’re hustling and bustling, meeting and greeting and all awhile we need to keep track of these potential holiday hazards. Thank you to Children’s Physicians Medical group for this helpful and timely video.

CPMG physician discusses pediatric holiday hazards