Adventures of Flat Stanley {Sea World}

Our family was recently asked if we wouldn’t mind hosting for a few months. Flat Stanley hadn’t yet visited Southern California and was excited to participate in all of the fun adventures awaiting him. So we agreed to have him over until he returns to his classroom in March. We decided it’d be nice to track his visit and post pictures of everywhere he goes. He’s had quite a busy first month and he’s excited to see whats on the calendar for January. So far he’s visited Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, Coronado Beach and Disneyland. I’m hoping to post his adventures once a week in an effort to keep up with how busy he’s been.

This week I’m posting pictures of his visit to Sea World. We went during the month of December so Flat Stanley was in for a special treat… snow! You see it doesn’t snow much in Southern California near the beach so Sea World brings in their own snow for playing with. We got to build snow men, sled down a small makeshift hill and slosh around a bit. But snow wasn’t the only thing we saw. There were plenty of animals up and ready to show off for us as we made our way around the park.

Our first stop was to Turtle Reef where we got to see a handful of sea turtles of all sizes swimming around a beautiful aquarium with their tropical fish friends. We learned all about what different types of sea turtles ate as well as where they migrated to in order to lay their eggs. They were quite cool to watch!

After we got our fill of sea turtles we headed over to the Penguin Encounter. We watched as the penguins waddled around on land and then watched underwater as they sped around chasing one another. Boy did they move fast!! You never would have guessed they could move so fast from how they move on land.

Next we visited the Wild Arctic exhibit. We were able to see beluga whales (including a baby whale), a funny walrus who liked to spit his food out and then eat it again, and a very sleepy polar bear. We learned about the Arctic expeditions and got to view the cool equipment scientists use to observe the animals of the arctic. We also got to climb around in a polar bear den.

We also went to visit the Shark Encounter and played for a bit at the Bay of Play before heading out ofr the day. We didn’t get to see Shamu this visit since she was practicing for her next show but we promised Flat Stanley that we’d visit Sea World again before he left! Everyone was exhausted after our trip and we all ended the day by taking a nice long nap. Now that’s the sign of a good visit!

The only snow Flat Stanley will see on his visit!

Wonderland Tea Party {Miss M’s 1st Birthday}

I had so much fun planning this birthday party for my dear little girl. The ideas that I came across, some used and others not, were never ending and I loved how each person had their own take on the Wonderland Tea Party.

I was able to grab ideas from many different places on the internet and was so excited to see it all come together for my one year old’s birthday party.

The decorations were all either borrowed, re-purposed or made. The only things I purchased were the plates, cups and utensils (all eco-friendly products that are compostable). A few generous friends lent me some hanging paper lanterns that I hung on our patio out back. I used a few in other areas of the house as well including our mantel where I re-arranged our NOEL stocking holders to spell out ONE.

I used some fabric I had on hand to make a pennant that I strung from the fireplace as well as from the kitchen as added decor. It was quite easy to make and I’m thinking about making it for other times of the year as well. The only item I purchased for the decor was the pinata because… lets face it… if I would have made it things would not have ended well.

Cherish Paperie designed the beautiful stationery found throughout the party including the Happy Birthday sign and the food labels. They even designed the beautiful invitations I sent out a few weeks prior to the event. I was amazed by how perfect all of the stationery turned out and was so excited that it fit my vision perfectly.

I tried to keep the food simple and traditional to a tea party. Below is the menu:

Sandwiches
Tuscan Tuna Sandwiches
Creamy Chicken Salad (my new favorite!)
Ham Sandwiches & Hay (ham on croissants)
Bread & Butterfly Sandwiches (sunflower butter & jelly)

Other Foods
Rabbit Food (veggie tray) with Cucumber Dip
Fruit
Mini Quiches
Salad

Desserts
Brownie Bites
Lemon Bites
Scones
Red Queen Red Velvet Cupcakes
White Rabbit Carrot Cake
Pink Party Cake

Drinks
Strawberry Lemonade
Iced Tea
Hot Tea
Coffee
Juice Boxes
Water

The little straws had drink me tags on them and the mini desserts had eat me signs as well to go with the theme. I got the idea for the drink signs from this pin here. I purchased the paper straws on Etsy from Making Memories Fun and got the idea for the tags from this pin here.

I got the idea for the cake from this pin and decided at the last minute that I just didn’t have enough time for the ribbon decorations for the frosting so I went with a simple, very un-perfect frosting design and used sprinkles from this cake I found on the sides and top of the cake.

The recipe for this amazing cake can be found on my cooking blog under the Perfect Party Cake. And yes, I did use the same recipe from my son’s first birthday. However I made a few minor changes with the filling and used a different butter cream recipe from Dorie’s. It still turned out quite fabulous.

My ever so talented friend Melissa of Le Petit Kupkak (now My PB&J) designed and baked up the yummy cupcakes for the event and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the results. We are always excited to indulge in one of Melissa’s cupcakes and I couldn’t not have them at such a special occasion! Miss M seemed to enjoy them just as much as I do.

I purchased the stamped bamboo forks from Etsy as well. The seller, Sucre and Spice, was amazing to work with and I’m already planning on ordering more for future parties we host should we need forks. She can put just about any phrase on the forks and uses different colored ink as well. We went with two phrases, “We’re all mad here” and “curiouser and curiouser” and I loved how they turned out.

We also had a few activities for the kids to partake in. I already mentioned the pinata but we also had a jumpy house as well as bubbles and flamingo croquet in the front yard. The bubbles weren’t really labeled very well but my plan was to have a caterpillar of some sort (you know… the one smoking the hookah?) and use bubbles instead of smoke.

The jumpy was supposed to have a sign that read, “We’re all mad here” as well but that didn’t work out either 🙂 The one thing that did work out wonderfully was the croquet set. It looked so great in the front yard and the kids had a great time playing.

It was simple to create too. I just used a pink boa, a few large playing cards I found at Party City, some black paper and a glue gun. The idea came from this pin here and was combined with this pin to create the final version.

I made some sugar cookies and frosted them as thank you party favors for our guests. Since I left frosting as a last minute job the frosting didn’t quite dry on all of the cookies so I only ended up bagging a few. The rest were taken without the packaging but all of the cookies were consumed.

I used the recipe from this pin for the cookies but wasn’t quite sold on them for future events. And I got the idea to use CD sleeves to house the cookies from this pin.

Even with the craziness of putting the party together and all of the work involved in hosting it I don’t think I would have done it any other way.

We were surrounded by friends and family in celebration of a very special girl and I’m so happy to have her in our lives. I’m grateful to those who came to celebrate and to those who helped me create the birthday I envisioned.

A special thanks to Adrienne of Cherish Paperie for all of her hard work on the decor and Louise, Miss M’s godmother, who scouted out tea cups and dishes at rummage sales, came early to help set up and do just about anything I asked her to. I’m so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life!

Grin & Share It Photography {San Diego Family Photographer}

Tessa of Grin & Share It Photography has been doing our family photos since before we had kids. The first photo shoot we did with her was actually a gift for my mom for Christmas. All 6 of us kids were in the same place at once and I knew I had to capture that on camera. I’m pretty sure the pictures brought my mom to tears. Tessa was just starting her photography career.

Tessa then took my maternity photos with my son, followed by newborn, 6 month and 12 year photos. The same were taken for my daughter – newborn, 6 month and now a family session that will take the place of her 1 year photos. And every time Tessa shoots our family I am amazed at what she comes up with. Her photos are absolutely stunning.

Now I’m not talking about our family and how we photograph. No, I’m talking about the lighting, the feel, the way the photos capture our true essence as a family. And that is why I will continue to go to Tessa for our family photos year after year. She knows how to get those shots that stop you and make you fall in love with your kids and your family all over again.

Not only is she a great photographer but she is also a professional. She also is a great resource for figuring out what to wear, where to do your photo shoot and has some great ideas for photo props, etc. If you have a vision I’m pretty darn certain that she can make it come true. From a sofa on the beach to a classroom in her backyard, she has the creative eye to make beautiful and artistic portraits to treasure forever. 

If you are in the San Diego County area and need a good family photographer I could not recommend Tessa enough! She simply is the best and I have the pictures to prove it! If you would like to see more please check out Grin & Share It Photography’s blog and facebook page. You’ll find great information on her mini sessions and other specials she has going on by becoming a fan. If you have any questions or want to book a session with her check out her website here.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way for writing this post. All opinions are 100% my own. I only promote products and businesses I believe in 100% and will always disclose this information to my readers.  

Cutest Sushi Roll Ever {The Wishing Elephant}

Some moms and dads would rather not attempt to DIY a costume for their kids. Whether it be a hectic schedule, lack of materials or they’re just plain bad at crafts, it’s ok! There is a way to have your kids look super adorable in a DIY costume with none of the super glue or felt flying around the house. A great place I like to look for DIY costumes is Etsy. Some of the Etsy stores I’ve stumbled upon have costumes that would be perfect for your little ones.
 

A few weeks ago a good friend, Heather, posted a link to The Wishing Elephant’s Etsy store. The link went to a sushi roll costume and I knew it was the perfect idea for a great DIY costume. Now I don’t have a lot of time on my hands but I was prepared to try and re-create this costume for a news segment we were invited to participate in for The Mama Mary Show and Fox 5 News. I was already making the dino costume for my son so what’s another costume, right? But when I showed Mary the costume she contacted The Wishing Elephant and they surprised us by offering to send over a onesie in my daughter’s size!

Photo Courtesy of The Wishing Elephant

We were able to get the costume in time for the segment and as soon as we made it to the Fox 5 green room we put it on and were in awe of the cuteness! Everyone who saw Miss M fell in love with the costume and I’m pretty sure that she stole the show. At least she caught the eye of the news anchors! The costume was simple, well made and super comfy for any infant. I added a pair of neutral cream baby legs to protect Miss M’s knees and a cute headband from Evi Luna Boutique to create the look you see above.

And not only does The Wishing Elephant have adorable costumes for Halloween, they have a whole array of cute onesies that range from adorable gnomes to the ever so popular Mario and Luigi from The Super Mario Brothers. I’m especially smitten with the bow tie onesie. If we ever had another little boy I’d have to purchase it for pictures (NO! I’m not pregnant!). If you are looking for unique onesies for your little one or the perfect baby shower gift, you’ll find it here! Their appliques are made with eco felt (100% post consumer recycled plastic bottles) so you can feel good about your purchase.

Make sure to head on over to The Wishing Elephant’s Facebook page or blog and show them some love from The Simmworks Family Blog! We truly appreciate their generosity.

Ah! Sushi-zilla!

Rawr Dinosaurs! {DIY Dinosaur Costume}

DIY Dinosaur costume

My son is obsessed with dinosaurs. He’s loved them ever since he was introduced to Dinosaur Train on PBS Kids shortly before his second birthday. I thought it’d be fun to try and design a simple dinosaur costume for him to wear whenever he wanted around the house. I didn’t want to spend too much money so I used simple materials I already had and some sponges I picked up on a recent shopping trip. I got the idea from Rookie Mom by doing a simple search for DIY Dino costumes and just adjusted it to fit a two year old. For his 3rd birthday I might attempt to make this Buddy the Dinosaur costume (the no-sew option)… maybe.

If you want to make your own DIY Dinosaur costume just follow these simple steps below.

How to make a DIY Dinosaur Costume [Read more…]

Best Start Birth Center San Diego {Review}

When I learned that I was pregnant for the second time I knew I wanted to pursue other options when it came to where I gave birth. The experience I had with my son was not my ideal situation and I wanted to make sure that I did everything possible to make sure I would receive the birth I dreamed about. Yes, I know that sounds crazy but I just knew I could give birth naturally with no intervention and wanted those around me at that time to believe so too.

I went in search of a birthing center that not only allowed for a natural birth but was also covered by my insurance. And that’s when I learned about Best Start Birth Center San Diego Best Start is the only state-licensed, nationally accredited, free-standing birth center in Southern California. That means they are not part of a hospital or HMO. They are a private practice owned and operated by midwives. They have physicians associated with the practice whom we consult with and refer clients to as needed, but they are not here for deliveries — it is the midwives who do the deliveries. Best Start is also the only state-licensed, nationally accredited facility in San Diego offering Water-birth.

Best Start Birth Center

When I went in for my first appointment I was immediately set at ease. I received a tour of the facilities, met a few of the midwives there that day and got to know the reception staff and nurses. I would come to find out that they are a tight knit group who work very well with each other. Every time I called in or had a question or concern at an appointment I was quickly helped and given great information and answers. I never felt like my concerns weren’t important nor did I think that anyone was hurrying me up or brushing me off. I was important and they cared as much about my pregnancy as I did. My best interest was their concern.

Each time I went in for a prenatal appointment I would see a different midwife. They do this so that you get to know each midwife at the practice. The midwives rotate who is on call so when you go into labor you don’t know who’s on call until you call in. As luck would have it the only midwife I didn’t get to meet due to schedule conflicts (I always had to make my appointments for certain dates and some midwives were off on those dates) was the midwife who would deliver my daughter.

But that wouldn’t matter. From the first few moments I met Brita on the day I came in to deliver my daughter I knew things were going to be ok. Throughout the birth both Brita and her birth assistant were reassuring, calm and empowering. I wasn’t sure if I could get through my natural birth without my trusty doula and best friend by my side (like at my son’s birth) but with these two women I knew I could. Every step of the way they were there to guide me. They offered me different suggestions and positions and never once said I had to do anything. They let me decide what I felt most comfortable with and when I needed direction the most they helped me out.

Being placed in mommy's arms 5

As soon as my daughter came into the world I knew I had made the right decision in going with Best Start Birth Center. She was immediately placed in my arms and was allowed to stay with me for a bit. Then she was taken to be measured and weighed while I delivered the placenta. I then tried to get her to latch on before handing her over to Daddy while they sutured me up (yup… I tore!). The whole time we were there after giving birth she was in the room with us either in my arms or in Daddy’s arms. My son came to visit two hours later with my mother-in-law with lunch in tow and four hours after that we were headed home.

Coming home from the birthing center

Two days after I gave birth a nurse came to my home to check on me and the baby. She offered help with breastfeeding and gave me great suggestions for different foods to eat, teas to drink and how to overall care for myself while caring for a new baby. At my 6 week check up I was greeted by congratulations and smiles while everyone oohed and aahed at my new daughter. I felt as if I had come full circle from the first time I visited the birthing center seeing the new mom next to me waiting for her 6 week appointment. If I decide to get pregnant again I will more than likely be turning to Best Start to deliver my third child.

To read my full birth story go here. And if you are considering a birthing center for the birth of your child and have more questions please feel free to contact me at any time!

Bates Nut Farm 2011 – A Family Tradition

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before but I love traditions. And when I had kids I knew I wanted to create some traditions with my little family that we could continue to do every year. One of those traditions was going to a pumpkin patch every year. And not just any pumpkin patch, Bates Nut Farm. Ok… so no, it’s not called Bates Pumpkin Patch but this farm is a great location for family fun during the Fall season.

Swim Lessons {Adventures in the Water}

Before we went on our vacation to Hawaii I wanted to prepare my son for the water. He is an avid water lover and enjoys baths and the beach so I thought he’d also love swim lessons in a pool. I looked around, did my research and decided to sign him up for beginning swim lessons at the local YMCA. The price was the best in town and I’ve always gotten the warm fuzzies about envisioning my kids in various activities at the Y.

So I headed out to sign him up (you can’t do it over the phone or online unless you’ve been enrolled previously). And while I was there I decided to just suck it up and join the YMCA with a single parent membership. No, I’m not a single parent but my husband wouldn’t set foot in a gym unless it was to watch his kid in a class. But more about my gym membership in another post.

We were set. Scheduled for swim lessons at 5:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My mother in law would come with us so Molly could join in as well and we would switch kids as needed throughout the lessons. When we went to our first class I saw how much my son enjoyed being in the water and trying new things. The only thing he couldn’t quite get was closing his mouth under water. So we had many coughing episodes as water had gone down the wrong tube when he tried to breathe in.

I liked how the instructors went through the basics with the kids. There were three main concepts the children worked on for the 4 weeks of class, kicks, scoops and bubbles. Each lesson would use another tool or technique to practice the three main concepts. there were rubber duckies and frogs, kick boards and mini hula hoop type toys to help each kid practice. The one thing I didn’t realize was that this was not a water survival class. The children would not be learning how to react in case they fell in the water on accident. But that was just my misunderstanding about swim lessons in general.

Now if I were to do it again I probably wouldn’t have signed Molly up for this type of class. I would have probably invested a bit more money into a water survival class for infants. But she did thoroughly enjoy splashing and swimming with mommy and Grandma. And it did get her ready for a week of fun in the sun of Hawaii and more used to water in general so I still think it was a great experience for her.

After our initial 4 week session we decided to sign E up for the transitional two’s class after we got back from vacation. This class was a smaller, more focused class where the instructor and kids were the only ones in the water. The parents just sat or stood on the edge of the pool watching. It was a class that focused again on the three main concepts of kicks, scoops and bubbles but also expanded and started showing the kids how to position their arms, how to safely climb up out of the pool and, again, to feel more comfortable in the water.

The first few classes were great. E was enjoying himself (and his newfound friends) and it seemed as though he was getting a bit more comfortable. Then the third week in he started acting a bit different. He wasn’t as excited to go to class and would rather go to the gym child care to play instead. He even asked to go home after the first half of class (and I took him home). Then the last week of classes he told me he didn’t want to go. He was getting over a stuffy nose and I thought he just didn’t feel good but the next Thursday he clearly stated he didn’t want to go to swim lessons. So we didn’t go. I was sad but felt that leaving this up to him was the best way to go.

Looking back I think the biggest problem E had with the class was the student to instructor ratio and not feeling safe with going under water. The class we enrolled in had 4 kids in it. Four toddlers to one instructor is quite overwhelming. They don’t quite listen as well and definitely don’t sit still so a majority of the class wasn’t spent with fun in the pool, it was spent being redirected and reprimanded for goofing off in the water. I’ve been told by another parent in the class that the previous classes she was in only had 2-3 students.

And while E does love the water, he did not feel as comfortable with his instructor and going under water. I think that if I practice with him a few times a week before enrolling him again it might be more beneficial. I think that he’d be more trusting if I were in the water with him while he practiced going under and swimming.

All in all we enjoyed the instructors and the techniques used to teach the basic swimming lessons. And we will definitely be taking classes in the future. I really do think that swimming is an important thing to learn when young especially since we live in Southern California. We are always around water whether it be at the beach or at a friends house that has a pool. And water safety is important with small children. And these lessons have made E more eager to go out and explore things on his own. He doesn’t mind being away from me and enjoys his freedom a bit more when someone else takes the lead. I think this will help us when we transition to preschool next year.

Top 10 Gifts for a One Year Old

As it nears closer and closer to my daughter’s first birthday (how did that happen!?) I’ve began to think about what top ten items she would love to receive from us as well as suggestions for friends and family members who want to give her something.

Some of the items I’ve thought of are items we’ve already used and love with our son and others are new items we’ve played with or used at friends houses and play places. Do you have any other suggestions to entertain a 1 year old? You know, besides cardboard boxes and pots (and the given money for her college education)? I’d love to hear them!

I’ve included pinks and purples in with the blues and greens because honestly, my kids don’t care about the colors yet, just about the toy and playing with it. My son plays with dolls and my daughter plays with trucks. And I’m cool with that.

1. Little Tikes Push and Ride Doll Walker
We played with this push toy at our last visit to Kidding Around and Miss M just loved it! She sat on it and let me push her around. And the whole time she was on it she was grinning from ear to ear. When I stopped pushing her long enough to take a picture she started crying. That was immediately resolved by pushing her around again. And after we were done with riding on it she used it to “walk” around a bit. Win-win because it serves two purposes.

2. Music Instruments
My daughter is already in love with drums. She constantly steals her brother’s drum and drum stick and beats just about everything she can find on in (including poor Sophie the Giraffe). So when I saw this music set from one of my favorite toy brands, B. Toys,  I knew that it would be a perfect fit for our home. And while we haven’t used it yet I’ve heard rave reviews from many friends about the instruments included and the durability of the product.

3. Pull-Along Toys
Now this is a toy that my son received for his first birthday by our dear friend Alanna. And he still plays with it. He’s almost three! He was able to play with this toy as he crawled around on the ground, when he started to toddle and now he runs through the house with the snail behind him. I’ve never seen a snail run so fast!

This snail has taken quite a few beatings over the years but still looks as new as the day we took it out of the box. Miss M is having quite a fun time chasing after the snail, and her brother. And I love Plan Toys. They are an awesome toy company that use green materials and green manufacturing. They not only make quality toys, they are a quality company I love to support.

4. Fisher-Price Little People: Animal Sounds Farm
Every little kid needs a Little People farm. Seriously. They’re awesome. I find myself gravitating to our farm every time I go into my son’s bedroom to play. And Miss M loves playing with her brother’s animals and farm. She even puts the animals in and out of the barn. There’s also a tractor that goes greatly with this farm. The farmer gets to ride around in the tractor and a little piggy pops out of the hay bale in the back. M laughs every time she sees it!

5. Baby Stella Doll
My son asked for his first doll at about 18 months so we purchased one at the mall we were at and didn’t really put much thought into what doll we bought. We have three baby dolls now but whenever my daughter tries to play with them (or gnaw on them) her brother quickly takes them away. So I know I need to get a doll just for her. This Baby Stella doll is perfect. Soft, small and cute, just like her! And I’m considering getting a boy doll for my son so he can play with her.

6. Activity Cube
We got this awesome Activity Cube for my son’s first birthday. He and his friends still play with it to this day. This cube is a great investment. It is a great toy from kids ages 6 months to 3+ years. And even though I can’t find our exact cube for sale anymore I still have seen great reviews for it. And there are plenty of activity cubes out there to choose from.

7. Bath Accessories
While this isn’t technically a toy we really love our faucet covers. When our kids started getting more mobile in the bath tub we knew we needed to protect their little noggins from hitting the bath faucet. And we wanted to make bathtime fun. So we got a super cool Crayola octopus bath faucet cover and were gifted an equally cool Boon Flo cover.

And toys to go in the bath as well as something to scoop up the toys (like this awesome Boon frog) are also great gifts for a 1 year old. I know my son loves playing with his Discovery Toys stacking cups and his Fisher Price Amazing Animals™ Tubtime Tugboat™ the most. Baths stop being about getting clean and start being about having fun in the water!

8. Sensory Balls
My kids love balls. They love to throw them, attempt to eat them and bounce them. We have them all over the house. But the best ones I’ve found for one year olds are the ones they can get a grip on. We found a large pack of sensory balls at Costco last Christmas and they have held up very well. Half are in the house and half are in the front yard. What kid doesn’t like to play with balls?

9. Blocks
We have many different sets of blocks for the kids to play with. From soft, cloth blocks to squishy, squeaky blocks to wooden blocks. Each different set helps teach the kids to stack, line up and make fun structures. Every kid needs a good set of blocks to play with. And the best part about these sets is that they don’t just last for a small period of time, most of the block sets we own will be used for a few years. Especially the wooden one. That’s a favorite of my son’s right now (thanks Aunt Miranda for buying them!).

10. Anywhere Chair
Every kid needs their own sized chair. Whether it be the Anywhere Chair or one similar, smaller, child-size chairs always seem to attract kids of all ages. My son loves to grab a book and pretend to read in his chair. He also likes to watch movies while sitting in it. When he was 18 months old I remember that he grabbed his chair, dragged it into the living room and pushed it into place between mine and my husbands chairs. It was so adorable! He wanted to be just like us. So we know we’ll have to get our daughter one of her own for Christmas this year. It just makes sense!

This is not a sponsored post. I either own and have used the toys with my own children, or have heard great reviews from reliable friends and family. I was not compensated by any of the companies listed above. The opinions stated are my own. 

Firefly Wellness Review and Giveaway {Massage Therapist and Esthetician in San Diego}

Every mom needs to find a moment or two to herself. Over the years have come to realize how important it really is to take time for myself and indulge in some pampering every once in a while. And in the crazy hectic world I live in, taking an hour or two every few weeks just for me helps keep me sane. I am a better mother, wife, friend because of it.

So when I first heard of Karen of Firefly Wellness through Joann’s Sign4Baby facebook page I knew I had to check her services out. Karen not only provides massage therapy but is a licensed esthetician as well.  She has been working as a massage therapist and esthetician in San Diego for 11 years. And her office is conveniently located in North Park, right up the freeway from us!

Background about Firefly Wellness
She started out in the corporate world as a computer programmer. She would hold training seminars and programed for a large software company. After a while she began to realize that she didn’t love what she was doing and decided to “jump ship”. She went to school to become a licensed massage therapist and esthetician and started working in a spa. After a few years the spa closed shop and Karen made the jump from working in a spa to working in her own private office.

She continued to work at other locations offering chair massages at events and going to clients homes for in-home services. But when she gave birth to her son 4 1/2 years ago she decided to move her business all to her private office and now provides services in a beautiful and tranquil cottage in North Park. When you walk into her courtyard you first find a cozy seating area usually occupied by a friendly and cuddly black cat. Then you are taken into the room and are immediately put at ease by the calm and tranquil energies that surround the area.

Why You’ll Love Firefly
Karen takes her time in talking with you about your main concerns, what you want to focus on and what she can do to help you out. If you are receiving a facial or microdermabrasion treatment she will ask about your skin and what your goals are. She can customize the treatment she uses to your needs. And her massage therapy techniques aren’t any different, every massage is customized to the need of the client. Karen’s life experiences and education have helped her become an amazing massage therapist and esthetician.

I’ve experienced both her prenatal massage and mini facial. Both were amazing experiences. With my first pregnancy a good friend told me how important massage was for my pregnant body. So I made sure to indulge twice during my second trimester and once during my third. When I became pregnant with Molly I knew I wanted to do the same (if not more often). So I decided to try Firefly. And I was so glad that I did. I left her office relaxed and refreshed. My sore back and aching shoulders felt much better and it wasn’t as difficult to pick up my son. Caring for a toddler really takes a toll on a pregnant woman’s body!

And the mini facial I received was the perfect end to my week. I went with a more relaxing facial then an extraction-based facial and when I left I definitely felt relaxed. I almost wish I upgraded to a full hour facial like Laura did. I was cleansed, massaged and masked. My skin and lips were glowing afterwards. And not only does my skin feel amazing, I was given great suggestions for products to use on my face to continue the glow. And I’ve already booked a pumpkin peel with Firefly Wellness for later on this month.

Services Offered
Facials

Each facial is customized for the client depending on their skin type and current skin condition. Facials may include any combination of the following: cleansing, exfoliating,extractions, massage, mask and hand/arm massage. Facials can also be combined with microdermabrasion

Firefly Signature Facial – $80.00
Mini Facial – $50.00
  – De-stress and Relaxation – $50.00
  – Deep clean/extractions – $50.00
Back Facial – $80.00

Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion improves skin texture while diminishing fine lines, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone and the appearance of scarring, resulting in smoother, lighter, and brighter skin. There is minimal discomfort and no recovery time is required.

Microdermabrasion – $80.00
Body Microdermabrasion $65.00/area
  – back, chest, arms, hands

Facial & Microdermabrasion – $140.00

Massage
Each massage is customized for the client based on their current needs.
– Deep Tissue Massage
– Circulatory Massage
– Pregnancy Massage
– Neuromuscular Therapy

30 Minute Session – $50.00
60 Minute Session – $80.00
90 Minute Session – $110.00

Firefly Wellness also offers skin rejuvination treatments as well as waxing. Basically Firefly Wellness is a one stop shop for all of your pampering needs! And packages are offered with discounted pricing. There are two different payment options for packages; either pay as you go or pay up front for a $10 discount. Gift certificates are also available for purchase.

Special Offer
Firefly Wellness is currently offering a BOGO 1/2 off special on a Pumpkin Peel. Come in before October 15 for a Pumpkin Peel and schedule another one before the end of the year to get the BOGO deal.

The regular price for a Pumpkin Peel is $80, so with this deal you can get two for $120. (Must be paid in full at first appointment.) There is a limited number of openings for this deal, so call now to reserve your time!

There are also options to add the Pumpkin Peel on to a full facial, and it can be a great compliment to microdermabrasion as well.

To reserve your time and schedule your Pumpkin Peels, call 619.249.4323, or email Karen@FireflySanDiego.com.

Win a Treatment! 

Firefly Wellness has been kind enough to offer one lucky reader a 30 minute massage, facial or microdermabrasion treatment – winner’s choice! Want to know how to win? It’s simple. Just follow the instructions below and enter your responses in the Rafflecopter prompts.

(can’t see the form to fill out above? just leave a comment with your name & email and you’ll be entered)



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