Sprouts Farmer's Market - Grand Opening

San Diego food lovers- here's more good news to satisfy our palates.

Sprouts Farmer's Market at Carmel Mountain opens its doors on 31 March '10 (Wednesday) from 7am. Its a Produce, Meat and Bulk galore!

Grab your (reusable) shopping bags!

Food Deals

1) Kids Eat Free in many restaurants on certain days:
http://www.sandiegobargainmama.com/bargains/340.html

2) Buy a to-go bakery bag for 1.29 at Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes and fill it up to your heart's content-mine held 3 choco muffins, 2 blueberry and 1 each waffle & french toast.

Also, get to the restaurant around 11:30 on Sundays and you'll get to sample both breakfast and lunch items.

3) Get a $1 kid-sized scoop of ice cream every Tuesday night between 6-10pm, at participating Baskin Robbins stores.

4) Always free samples at See's Candy stores.

5) Join the Birthday / eClub thro' restaurant websites and be treated to freebies on your birthday or even just for joining.

Navagraha Pooja at Shri Mandir

San Diego Services- Beauty Services

Parvati:

Located in Carmel Mountain.
Provides beauty services from her home.
Facials from $20 and eyebrows: $4
858-829-1863

Sangita Desai:

Located in Rancho Penasquitos (near the YMCA)
Call for services/pricing.
858-538-6689

“The Wiggles: BIG BIG SHOW in the ROUND” at UltraStar Cinemas

Join the Wiggles for the happiest show in town featuring acrobats, gymnasts, dancers, trapeze artists and a ringmaster. Watch this must-see children’s performance in Pure Digital™! March 27 & 28; visit Website for show times and tickets. Showing in Poway, Chula Vista and Mission Marketplace in Oceanside.

Visit Ultra Star website for tickets.

Baisaki Celebrations

6th Annual San Diego Race for Autism

Autism is the fastest growing, most common childhood disorder today. About one in 150 children are diagnosed with it in the U.S. every year. The event offers a 5K timed run/walk and a 1-mile family fun walk. Proceeds will benefit programs and services for autistic children living in San Diego.
Date	March 27, 2010
Time	7:00 am - 11:00 am
Location	Balboa Park (El Prado/Balboa Dr. - El Prado - Cabrillo Bridge - Pan American Rd. - Houses of Pacific Relations - El Prado - Balboa Dr. - Quince St. - walkway along 6th Ave. - 8th Ave. Dr. - Marston Point - walkway along 6th Ave. - El Prado/Balboa Dr.)
Admission	$20.00-$30.00 (age 13 & older) ~ $10.00-$15.00 (age 12 & younger) www.raceforautism.org

San Diego Services- Food

Rotis & Parathas by Ratna-ji
Located in New Salem Street, Mira Mesa
Speaks Hindi fluently

858-472-0447

Sweets and bakshanam by Rani Aunty:
Located in Mira Mesa
Speaks Telugu fluently.858-547-8841
Her daughter Pramila speaks fluent English: 858-774-2089

Catering by Sowmya Srikanth
Located in Camino Ruiz, Mira Mesa
South and North IndianVegetarian- rotis & snacks too
858-653-5854

Copper Chimney- Mobile Food service:
Located in Black Mountain Road (opposite Arco Gas Station)
Serving Indian Veg and Non Veg delicacies
Open : Fri & Mon 6-8pm , Sat 1 - 8pm, Sun 1-6pm
Contact Allen (Elango) : 619-997-6946

Free Pastry Day at Starbucks

Get a free pastry on the morning of March 23 with the purchase of a handcrafted beverage.

Visit link below to print coupon:

http://www.starbucks.com/blog/4983/free-pastry-day

Sangeetha Megam - A Concert tribute to Isaignani Ilaiyaraja

Southern California Tamil Manram, on the occasion of Tamil New Year, will join hands with 'Ilayaragham', a professional band from Bay Area, to present a live music concert

Sangeetha Megam - A tribute to Isaignani Ilaiyaraja

On: 04/10/10, Saturday @ 5 pm.
At: Hoover Middle School Auditorium, 3501, Country Club Drive, Lakewood, CA 90712

The proceeds from this event will benefit Udavum Karangal, a non-profit organization, with its headquarters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

The tickets are priced at $12 (General Admission) with kids ages 12 & under being free.
Family donor passes are available for $100 with front row seating.

Please visit http://www.sulekha.com/ticketsv3/ for tickets
or email socaltamilcharity@yahoo.com

Sri Rama Navami - 24 March 2010

Ugadi Celebrations - 16 March 2010

My Child & I

Mom and Dad are discussing about grocery shopping.

Firstborn is listening carefully, and then says in a soft voice:

"I am going to be like Appa soon(!?), but I still don't know how to drive or the way to Henry's store. What am I going to do?"

Dad (hiding a smile): " Appa will teach you how, OK Kanna?"

Firstborn (relieved voice): "Okay! Good that I already have the Audi car to drive!"

Dad: (Is now looking concerned)

Electronic Recycling Event

FREE eWASTE DROP OFF EVENT - SAN DIEGO Saturday, March 13, 2010 9am-1pm 18655 West Bernardo Drive, San Diego, CA 92127
Recycle San Diego is hosting a FREE electronics recycling event which is open for consumers. Bring any amount of ACCEPTED eWASTE to have it recycled for free.

Explore SDSU: Open House

A highlight of SDSU Month, Explore SDSU: Open House welcomes thousands of visitors to campus for a day of informative and fun-filled activities. Young future Aztecs will enjoy the Family Village festivities, featuring a bounce house, a special performance by award-winning entertainment group, The Jumpitz and an appearance by the lovable monkey Curious George. There is something for everyone at Explore SDSU!

Saturday, March 20, 2010
10 a.m. -3 p.m.

http://sdsumonth.com/explore.html

San Diego Science Festival 2010 kicks off with Family Science ay

Science Family Day at Balboa Park on 20 March, which kicks off the Science Festival, offers family-friendly science inspired adventures as part of this park-wide event.

From March 20 to 27, San Diego Science Festival 2010 will present programs throughout the county, culminating in the free Science Expo at PETCO Park on March 27, which will feature more than 150 hands-on exhibits and 20 stage performances. For a complete schedule, visit www.sdsciencefestival.com.

Tall guy at the Library

Being the petite person that I am, get thrilled seeing people who can reach books on a higher shelf without having to use the step-up ladder or bothering a library-attendant.

Spotted a guy who's towering above me, standing in the library check out line.

Me (Politely): " Am sure you get this a lot, but how tall are you, sir?"

Tall-Guy (Show off voice): "6 feet 7 inches!"

Me: "That's so cool- I am so short (point at my 2yr old in the stroller) He could be taller than me next year!"

Tall Guy (sincere voice): "Really?" (and gives my toddler a look of surprise)

Me (hurriedly): "Well, that was a joke!"

Tall Guy (sheepish voice): " Yeah.. I thought so.."

My Child & I

Mom and Dad discussing about a friend who's now a successful musician.

"Am so happy for him. Its his talent and dedication which got him there"

Firstborn (in a serious tone): " Maybe he used a map to get there?!"

Simple words but had me thinking- a map simply is a plan or the right path.

Um...Is Firstborn a budding Vedantic! Maybe that's his Map.

Easter Bunny visits Carmel Mountain

Meet the Easter Bunny. And here's a chance to win a gift-card- Just color the poster and submit.

Friendly Reminders

Day Light Savings Time Begins March 14th (Sunday)- Spring Forward by 1 hour!

First Day of Spring- March 20th (Sunday)

City of San Diego Public Library - Reduced Hour(s) schedule in effect - March 20 (Sunday)

Yours Friendly from San Diego hits the 4 Month Mark on 10th March (Wednesday)

St Patrick’s Day Parade

Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival starts at 11 a.m. on March 13th (Saturday) at 6th & Laurel Street with an Irish Festival following the parade from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. includes music, food, vendor booths, entertainment, children’s area and beer garden.

http://www.stpatsparade.org/

Mandolin Magic

RamaNavami Celebration

Sunderakand Parayanam

Chanting of Sri Sunderkand at Sri Mandir on Saturday 6th March at 5:30 PM.

My Child & I

There have been some practical questions from Firstborn which I found rather amusing and tricky

1) Baby brother bit my finger, so can I bite his belly?

2) Why can't baby brother just grow up and be like me?

3) (Turns candle shaped like 6- up side down) Now, Am I 9 yrs old?

4) My birthday is on 24th and yours is 10. 24 is bigger than 10. Am I am older than you, amma?

5) Can you wash the Broccoli , so it becomes Cauliflower?

6) What are we doing here relaxing in Hawaii? Let's go back to San Diego, so I can do homework!

7) (points at photo) Why am I always staying in the picture?

Kids in the Kitchen

The Junior League of San Diego will hold the 5th annual Kids in the Kitchen

on Saturday, March 13, 2010

at Liberty Station's Ingram Plaza, Point Loma

from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Ingram Plaza is located directly across from 2640 Historic Decatur Road, San Diego, CA 92109.

Kids in the Kitchen is an annual event designed to address the urgent issues surrounding childhood obesity and poor nutrition by getting children and their parents excited about leading a healthy lifestyle through interactive, hands-on activities. Kids in the Kitchen is FREE and open to the public.

Click here to learn more about the Association of Junior League's international Kids in the Kitchen initiative.

Rewards for toting Reusable Bags

Many retail giants are also joining the Go Green Movement by offering rewards / cash back to customers for carrying a reusable bags ; which consequentially reduces use of plastic bags.

Ralph's, Target, Henry's: Offer 5c cash back on each reusable bag used by the customer at check out.

Trader Joe's : Supports customers bringing their own bag, by giving them a raffle ticket for a monthly draw of their store-goodies

IKEA: Has stopped giving free plastic bags and charges a nickel per plastic bag requested.

CVS wouldl offer a higher discount, but you have to be a member of CVS’s ExtraCare rewards program. For 99 cents, members will get a leaf-shaped Green Bag Tag card, which can be attached to a reusable bag. The card will then be scanned at each purchase. After every fourth shopping trip, a $1 Extra Buck coupon will be printed on their receipt.

Walmart would soon stop offering free plastic bags.

Most stores offer reusable bags from as low as 99c (Target) up to $3.99 (Henry's) ;
priced as per size and/or material of bag.

Do Reduce and Reuse!

Appearence by Dora and Diego

Dora the Explorer & Go Diego Go and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan

Sunday, March 14 at 11:00 AM Ultra Star, Hazard Center Drive, Mission Valley.

The beloved children's star and her cousin step off the red carpet into the lobby of the theater to meet their fans. Get your picture taken with Dora and Diego & watch their shows on the Big Screen during this special NICK JR. family presentation presented by NICKELODEON.

Tickets for Dora and Friends screening will be priced at :
$5.00 for adults
$3.00 for kids 2 – 13
Free for children under 2

Click here to buy tickets online to this special presentation!