San Diego Zoo Review!

 

I love animals so any chance I get to visit a new zoo or animal spot, I am up for the adventure! For the fourth of July weekend we took a short vacation to San Diego to enjoy a beach day and made plans to visit the San Diego Zoo. They also have the San Diego Safari park which is a sister park to the zoo & is located within an hour drive from the zoo, we plan on visiting that one in the future. We arrived to the park just before opening, so we were lucky to snag a parking spot up from and we were able to get our tickets quickly. The Zoo puts on a small opening ceremony where they bring out a big box full of large parrots that they raise up above all the zoo guests & open it to let all the birds fly out. It was fun to see the assortment of colored parrots. Tickets into the zoo are a bit high compared to other zoos we've explore coming in at $74 for ages 12+ and $64 for ages 3-11, however that is mainly due to the size & number of animals they have at this zoo. The San Diego Zoo is one of the twelve largest zoos in the US.

This zoo is huge! When visiting you should schedule out several hours if not most of the day to explore everything they have to offer and to really take your time seeing the animals. One of the cool things about this zoo is they have several animals that few zoos in the US have such as the polar bears & the newest inhabitents that will be on display soon are the new Panda bears that just moved in. If you would like to leave the zoo to eat lunch at your car or simply go somewhere such as back to your hotel to take a break the zoo does all you to get your hand stamped & you can come back later in the day to show your stamp + ticket to get back into the zoo. This is actually something we took advantage of as it was very humid the day we went so after seeing half the zoo we needed a break, so we went to get lunch and cool down at the hotel for a bit before heading back to check out the other half of the zoo. 

The San Diego Zoo has a few enclosures that are the biggest I've seen at a zoo, such as the Elephant enclosure and the Baboons who had massive areas to live an explore. When we were looking at the Elephants, I also noticed that they have many more enrichment toys then other zoos I've been to. Each area of the zoo is set up to reflect a theme such as the reptile walk, or Asian passage. A few of the bird aviaries are also quite large, one of them towered above you with several levels to explore - we couldn't even figure out how to get to the lowest level. I loved the number of birds, waterfalls, exotic plants and spots to sit they have throughout the bird areas. 

While on your adventure around the zoo, you'll also find plenty of areas with souvenirs and spots to grab food + drinks. They have a souvenir cup you can purchase that comes with free refills all day; you just need to show them the receipt when you get a refill. They are $15 each, however if you buy more than one you will get a discount on all of them. We thought the cups were worth it, we were able to get a few lemonades and a few times I asked for just ice so I could get water & you get to keep the cup to take home which is a bonus. The zoo itself had lots of shady spots, plenty of benches and was over all a very clean park. They also have a small splash zone where kids can play and cool off, when it isn't super-hot out there is also a play area. 

We had a great time at the San Diego Zoo, it was quite the adventure! We spent a total of around six to six and a half hours exploring the zoo. I was very happy with the photos and videos I was able to get as well, I will of course be adding quite a few of them to my nature photography accounts on Instagram & Tiktok - So if you love seeing wildlife and nature content and don't follow me yet, please head over and follow my pages. We can't wait to visit the safari park the next time we are in this area of California. 

★ This is not a sponsored post, we paid for this on our own. I enjoy sharing new places we explore with my followers.

Pinches Tacos Review! (Phoenix, AZ)

 

When it comes to lunch or dinner, I am always down for tacos or nachos so when I heard about a new taco shop in our area I looked forward to trying it out. My family & I were invited to come try a few of the items on the menu & this is definitely a spot we will be back to. The spot is called Pinches Tacos, This spot has not only tacos but they also sell burritos, quesadillas, plates and sides. Pinches Tacos Al Carbon is located at 520 West Union Hills Drive Suite 102 Phoenix, AZ 85027 which is in North Phoenix. This spot is not only family friendly, but it is quite affordable as well. 

You can get tacos for as low as $1 for a bean taco, or opt for it as a bean & cheese burrito for just $2.50. Inside of the restaurant you'll find a salad bar where you can choose from a number of sauces, or toppings like cut up onions, limes and cabbage. If you ordered to go, they have small containers with lids so you can still grab what you want from the salad bar to take home. Everything looked fresh & was kept stocked and swapped out when needed. 

Let's talk about what we ordered! I'll start off with one of my personal favorites out of what my husband and I picked out to share. The Asada Fries are so good and it comes with a lot more than I had expected. The fries were packed full of flavor & some bites were slightly spicy due to one of the sauces on it (you can ask them not to include it if you don't like spice). My husband ordered a Alambre plate which is almost Philly cheese steak filling on a plate, with a side of beans and five tortillas. I tried a bit of it & was so good, I like that you can eat it with just a fork or in a tortilla if you choose. 

My son selected a plate as well, he selected the green chili mix. He really enjoyed it, they included quite a bit of green chilis which is nice as some spots can skimp a little. Again they are another option that comes with quite a bit of food & for the price, it is perfect! My daughter is a big fan of quesadillas so she decided to try out the Mulitas quesadilla which is steak and cheese. She was a big fan of it, it was cooked just right and didn't need any sauce. 

As for myself I decided to try out the quesabirria, it had more meat in it that I thought would be in it! I thought the shell had just the right amount of crisp and went really well with the green chili sauce. I added in a bit of onions too which really gave it an extra pop. I also ordered the Vampiro which is an open faced taco on a tortilla which has steak, beans and melted cheese. You'll get a little mounted of sliced steak on top of the tortilla & are sure to love it. 

Everything was cooked perfectly, we didn't have any issues with our food. The staff were friendly & the food was made quickly. The restaurant itself was very clean & had plenty of seating if you decide to dine in instead of taking your food to go. I also really liked the dragon mural they had painted on the wall, over all it was a very enjoyable experience and as I mentioned before this is a spot we will 100% be stopping at for dinner again since it is both fast & affordable, perfect for nights when no one wants to cook or you are too busy to cook. If you are in or near the Phoenix area, I highly suggest stopping by to check out what they have to offer. 

🌮 Does this sound like a spot you'd enjoy? Which do you prefer Tacos or Burritos?

🌵 If you live in Arizona check out the "Things to do in Arizona" section of my blog to find entertainment, restaurants, vacation spots & more. (Click on the name or locate it on the right-hand side of my page).

Disclaimer-  Pinches Tacos provided a meal for us for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Review!

 

Did you know that the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey is back with an all new and updated show. One of the biggest things they've updated is that the show no longer features live animal acts, instead you'll see an adorable robot dog performing some tricks instead along with an action packed show. The team at Ringling went all around the globe to collect a variety of acts to perform in their new show. We were recently invited to check out their show when they were in Phoenix. 

The show last about two hours with a short intermission between, they've set everything up to where you can see the action no matter where you sit. Not only do they have main focus acts in the center, but they often had secondary acts to the far sides of the state as well so the show felt up close and personal. The way the show flows is done so well, the staff are very quick with getting the stages changed out and making sure the next act is ready to go. 

We were very happy with all of the acts who went on. There were some pretty awesome tricks and stunts that take years to master. The mixture of acts from someone playing the drums to acrobats jump roping on a tight rope and fast paced bike stunts this show is sure to have something for everyone's taste in acts. 

They are currently on tour & may be stopping by a city near you. Tickets range in price depending on where you choose to sit. This show is completely family friendly & fans of all ages will enjoy this show. The new show was a lot of fun to watch, we enjoyed it and we are glad we were able to attend to see all the new acts that have been added. I look forward to seeing what they do next! Stop by their website to see where they are headed to next.

Disclaimer- Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey provided tickets for us to visit for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Maricopa County Home Show!

 

When it comes to the weather in the summer here in Arizona, inside events are a must! Instead of being stuck in the house all day hiding from the heat, going to an indoor event can be a great way to get out of the house while avoiding the sun. The Maricopa County Home Show is a family friendly event where you can not only find services for your home such as yard maintenance, or blinds but there are also small local businesses selling things like soaps, bags, plants and more. You'll also find spots like hotels, dog training and more offering specials for anyone who signs up at the home shows. 

While you are walking through looking at all the booths, you'll also be able to test out certain things like massagers that can be placed onto any chair, full massage chairs, mattresses from some local mattress stores and depending on if food vendors are there, you'll have the chance to try out some treats as well. The vendors at the home shows can vary depending on which location the show is hosted at. When it was hosted at the fairgrounds there seemed to be quite a few more local small businesses selling assorted goodies vs bigger vendors like electricians, windshield replacement, etc. The three main spots the events seem to be hosted at are the Statefarm Stadium, The Fair grounds downtown and Westworld in Scottsdale. 

We enjoy going to the home shows because we like browsing the range of plants sellers have & we usually purchase several while we are there. We also like that they put on live demos and classes showing you different aspects of gardening which can be very helpful for beginners. You can find a list of seminars & workshops on their website prior to the show so you can figure out what time everything starts & where to be. Some of the workshops are simply demonstrations you will watch, and others are hands on with small freebies you can take home like potting succulents or creating small projects. 

If you have children under the age of twelve, they offer a kid's craft corner that has everything your child needs to complete a project they have set up for the day. If you have older kids attending, they also have a handmade headquarter that is similar, but with crafts that are more advanced. Each show last for three days, you can attend just one day or all three days if you want to go back. The next event will be September 27th-29th at Westworld in Scottsdale, tickets are $6 per adult and children under the age of twelve are free. Find more information on their next show on their website!

🌵 If you live in Arizona check out the "Things to do in Arizona" section of my blog to find entertainment, restaurants, vacation spots & more. (Click on the name or locate it on the right-hand side of my page). 

Disclaimer- Maricopa County Home Show provided tickets for us to visit for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

Win a box full of books!

 

Where are the book lovers at? In case you aren't follow me on Instagram or Tiktok, here is a small announcement to let you know I am hosting a giveaway for a box stuffed full of books! I will be dual hosting it between Insagram & Tiktok, you can enter it on just Insta or just TT or you can double your entries and enter on both socials. When the giveaway ends all of the entries will be put into a randomizer & the winner will be messaged directly via DM on either TT or IG depending on which app the winner is on. 

To enter visit either:

The Giveaway on Instagram!

or

The Giveaway on Tiktok!

Operacaffee Authentic Italian food in San Diego!

 

When we were in San Diego for the fourth of July, we wanted to find a spot to eat dinner that looked delicious & was open as many spots were closing early due to the holiday and fireworks shows. We found a Italian spot called Operacaffe, located at 835 Fourth Ave San Diego, CA 92101. This isn't a sponsored post, I just like sharing delicious eats, fun destinations & more with my followers, so let's dive into this spot. There is limited parking along the street so you'll need to look for one of the public parking garages and walk to the restaurant. The area itself isn't the greatest, however the restaurant itself is lovely inside. 

The staff were all friendly & the service was quick, our food was prepared quickly and was delicious. The prices are a little on the higher side ranging from $16 for a pizza to $20+ for pasta dishes and $40+ for steak dishes but we all really enjoyed what we had selected for our dinner. 

The Gnocchi asiago was so good and very filling. The Penne carrettiera had quite the spicy kick to it, but it was delicious as well. The pepperoni & salsiccia pizza was full of flavor, our only qualm about the pizza was that is was slightly difficult to eat how you'd normally eat pizza because all of the cheese & toppings were sliding right off as soon as you went to lift it up.

Most of our dishes came with a pretty purple flower on the side which adds a little pop of color to the plates when they are brought out. The desserts looked and sounded delicious, but we were too full after dinner to try any. Over all it was a lovely Italian restaurant, the food was worth the trip to the restaurant & we had a nice time eating out together. So if you are near the area & in the mood for Italian food, this is a good spot to keep in mind.

Trekking Through History Review!

 

Back in May, I wrote a review for a board game called Trekking the World from Underdog Games. Today I will be covering another great board game from Underdog Games called Trekking Through History. This family friendly game is not only fun to play, but it is also a great way to learn about some historical moments or people of the past that you may not have heard of before. 

This game is designed to be played with one to four players over the course of thirty to sixty minutes, it is recommended for ages 10+ & can be purchased for $49.99 from the Underdog website. The game features visually pleasing artwork on the game cards, we enjoy viewing each of them as they are played out onto the game board. I also like how the individual player pieces look, the colors are vibrant & bold. 

Over the course of the game your goal is to collect "Treks" of your adventures through time, you want to start out with the earliest date possible on your turn, then collect later years as you take turns. If it isn't possible to pick a card that is at a later date than the previous card, then you can either visit a ancestor which acts as a "blank card" and can be any date, or you start a new trek. 

Each time you select a new date in history to add to your Trek, it cost hours of your time which are tracked using the large clock shown in the photos above. Once you reach 12 o clock, you are done for that round so you'll want to use "time gems" to lower the cost of the cards which will allow you to gain more cards for your trek before the round is over. Certain cards also give bonuses like extra time gems, and tokens which are placed onto a player mat that grants bonus experience. 

After three game rounds, the game is completed & you will tally up your score based off of how long each of your Treks are. This is a fun & easy to play fast paced game that is wonderful for an assortment of ages. We think this makes a great addition to our board game collection & have played it several times already, we look forward to playing it more and seeing more cards we haven't played with yet. 

If you want to find more great board games like Trekking the World head over to check out my Board Game Reviews section.

Disclaimer- The products mentioned above were provided by Underdog Games for the review free of charge no other compensation was provided. However, no product compensation will influence the outcome of any review. My honest opinions are used in all reviews, they are solely my own & they may vary from others. My reviews are posted for readers in order to provide an informed decision before purchase.

July Beauty & The Book Giveaway!

 

It is always crazy when I start writing the prompt for the new months Beauty & The Book Giveaway because it means another month has passed by, we are now past the half way mark for the year! Some months seem to drag on so slowly & others simply fly by, How was your June? On my end, we had a good month. We finished settling into our new place, we celebrated my husbands birthday & Father's day, we also went on a short trip to visit my father-in-law who lives in the Northern part of our state. So far this month has been going great as well, we took a short trip to San Diego for the fourth of July weekend & we went to check out the newly updated Ringling Circus. 

I always have fun picking up new products for my monthly giveaway & putting everything together. Some months have themes & others don't, this month I didn't go into it with any theme in mind but as you can see I ended up with lots of purple & pink hues of product packaging. If you are new to my blog, welcome! This is a monthly giveaway I put together as a way to give back and say thank you to everyone who follows & supports my page. 

💙 Included In This Month's Bundle: 💙

★ Paper copy of "The Fault in our stars"
★ L.A Girl Eyeshadow Palette 
★ Morphe Lipstick
★ Maccibelle New York Cuticle oil 
★ Essence Makeup Brush Set
★ Creme Shop Face Mask
★ Candle
★ Wet N Wild Eyeliner
★ Two Pink hair ties that double as bracelets
★ Real Techniques Sponge
★ Sweet Tooth perfume by Sabrina Carpenter
★ Fake Nail Set
★ Bath Soak
★ B Pure Peach hand cream
★ Pair of fake lashes

This is open Worldwide! Please remember if you DO NOT leave a comment on this blog post as your mandatory entry into the giveaway then all of your entries will be void. Doing the Daily entries will increase your chance of winning. Winners have 72 hours to respond to the notification email! This giveaway is hosted by ME.

This giveaway ends on 08/10/2024

Giveaway entry question: Leave a comment answering at least one of these questions.

Which item in this bundle are you most excited about?

Do you have any fun upcoming plans?

What is something you are looking forward to?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It is easiest if you log onto Rafflecopter using the Name/Email Address option. 

You can complete as many entries as you want, there are several one-time activities and daily activities that can earn you more entries into the giveaway. Be sure to keep an eye on my site & social media pages for more giveaways headed your way.