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Spirit Halloween Store in San Luis Obispo on Madonna Road Pictures

September 13, 2020
Spirit Halloween San Luis Obispo
Every year, we take the kids to visit the Spirit Halloween Store in San Luis Obispo. They always have new costumes for the Halloween season. Some of my favorite ones were Marshmello costumes, baby costumes and family matching themed costumes. For 2024, the Spirit Halloween Store in San Luis Obispo was located at the Former Bed Bath & Beyond Store: 317 Madonna Road San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. Jump to the 20% Off Coupon Link for Spirit Halloween.

They always have creative Halloween animatronics that you can step on floor buttons to activate, which can be really fun for those who like a scare. Here's my past video of my Spirit Halloween Store visit in San Luis Obispo below.

Before I go to the check out stand at Spirit Halloween, I would go on their website to check for coupons. There's usually one by going to their store locator tool and finding the one for San Luis Obispo. A 20% off coupon can be used at their Spirit Halloween Store or online. Note: Some features at the Spirit Halloween Store can be a little too scary for the little ones. 

To see upcoming Halloween Events & Fall Festivals and Pumpkin Patches throughout SLO County, go to:

Fall & Halloween Events List in SLO County Page

You can go to this instagram reel to see my Spirit Halloween visit.



You can go to this instagram reel to see our Pumpkin Patch visit in Arroyo Grande during the fall season with kids activities.

You can go to this instagram reel to see our Boo at the Zoo Trick or Treating experience at Charles Paddock Zoo.

Click on this link to see a list of 10 different pumpkin patches in San Luis Obispo County.


Major Haunted Houses in Southern California

Living on the Central Coast, we're only a few hours drive from big haunted houses and famous rides at major attractions. Here are ticket offerings for attractions that offer a Haunted House experience at night.

Universal Studios Hollywood Haunted Experience

Universal Studios Hollywood in LA offers Halloween Horror Nights General Admission for $74 online through arestravel. It is not recommended for kids under 13 years old.  Universal Studios Hollywood is a 2 hour and 56 minute drive south from SLO (if no traffic).
Haunted House Universal Studios The Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios is open on selected nights September 5 - November 3, 2024. See Universal Studios Hollywood Ticket Offerings.

Knott's Berry Farm Haunted Experience

On select nights between Sept 19 - November 2, 2024, Knott's Berry Farm turns into Knott's SCARY Farm! It's so scary, it's not recommended for anyone under 13 years old. Knott's Berry Farm is about a 3 hour and 54 minute drive from SLO (if no traffic).

Halloween Themed Supplies

Posted by San Luis Obispo Mom. Posted In : Fall 

 

Robin's Restaurant in Cambria Review

July 25, 2020

We drove to Cambria earlier this week to enjoy some sightseeing in our county. We live in the South County part of San Luis Obispo County so driving to the North County part is a nice change. 

With the Covid-19 pandemic causing a second round of closures for San Luis Obispo County, many restaurants with patios and outdoor dining spaces are more popular since indoor dining is not allowed at this time. We went to Robin's Restaurant in Cambria to enjoy a very nice lunch in their garden dining area and we throughly enjoyed our meal. I ordered the fish tacos and my husband ordered the mole enchiladas.



They had a kid's menu as well which the kids liked. My older son had the spaghetti while my younger one got the pizza. Everything tasted fantastic. The portions were great and the service was attentive.


This was the menu that we were presented with when we sat down. I can't wait to come back again when we plan on making our way North because then, we can stop in at Robin's Restaurant and enjoy another delicious outdoor lunch!

Activity Suggestions:

To see other pictures of restaurants that I've visited in San Luis Obispo County, go to the Restaurants Page.

Posted by San Luis Obispo Mom. Posted In : Restaurants 

 

Macy's Delayed Delivery During Pandemic

July 12, 2020
I ordered 2 sports bras from Macys.com on June 11, 2020 (over a month ago) and my package has not arrived yet. This is crazy.

I was expecting it to be maybe 2 weeks delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic but over a month? I tried calling Macy's customer service toll free line separate times on 2 different dates but no one picked up when the automated line transferred me to a customer service representative. No customer service personnel right now guys! They are MIA. I am assuming that their customer service call center is overseas and they are probably shut down from Covid-19 or maybe Macy's is going out of business? I have no idea! I wanted to write about this to warn you guys. If you plan on ordering something online from Macy's, allot at least a month. 

I have my tracking number and at first, it looks like it was shipped via UPS, then transferred to USPS. It was like in the LA area for about 3 weeks, not moving. I thought maybe the package is lost. See my tracking progress in the image below. It says, it is finally expected to be delivered tomorrow on July 12, 2020 BUT, my original estimated delivery arrival was June 19, 2020. Who knows! I guess it's the USPS' fault but not being able to get a hold of a person from Macy's customer service toll free line is troubling. I attempted to call USPS' number too tonight and then realized there was finally movement when I went on the USPS tracking link again. I've had an online order delivered to a wrong address because of the delivery's person mistake before and so I truly thought this one was long-gone to someone in a different city. I live in San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County is the next county over so it looks like it is making its way...


Wish me luck, guys! This mama needs new sports bras and if it actually comes tomorrow, I'll update this blog entry with a status update. Macy's customer service line is unreachable right now. Make your online orders from a different website or you may lose your money if something is really wrong with your order.

UPDATE: My Macy's package finally arrived!

Posted by SanLuisObispoMom.com. Posted In : Coronavirus 

 

What To Do for Father's Day for 2024 in San Luis Obispo County

June 4, 2020

Doesn't it seem like there are more events around the area for Mother's Day than Father's Day? Thankfully, some places do have something special planned for the fathers in our lives. Here are some ideas on what to do around San Luis Obispo County that could help make it a more memorable Father's Day.

  1. Go to a Special Event.
    • There is usually at least one free concert in Grover Beach (part of San Luis Obispo County) that is for the public on June 16, 2024 (Father's Day). It is part of the Grover Beach Summer Concert Series at Ramona Park in Grover Beach on Sundays from 3PM - 6PM. It's free music entertainment but bring money to buy food and drinks. There will be food and drinks for sale. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs to sit on. Address: 993 Ramona Park, Grover Beach, CA 93433
    • There is a Daddy & Me Kids Workshop painting event at SLO Public Market on June 5, 2024 from 5PM - 6PM at the Event Center (upstairs). $25 per ticket. They will supply the paint and even set up a photo booth for you to capture some memories. Daddy & Me Kids Workshop Reservation link. Address: 3845 S Higuera St San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
    • There is a Family Dance 5 days after Father's Day in Arroyo Grande that is a great way to bond with your kids. The cost is $68 per couple and $22 for each additional guest. It'll be located at the Heritage House Garden from 6PM - 8:30PM. This event is for anyone 4 years old and older. You would have to register at the City of Arroyo Grande's website to book for this. Address: 126 S. Mason St., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. See the family-friendly events list to see all upcoming events.
    • Paso Robles Children's Museum is often plans an event for dads in June. Museum admission is required and RSVP is also required when they have special events. To RSVP, call them at 805-238-7432. Address: 623 13th St., Paso Robles, CA 93446

  2. Avila Valley Barn - Open every day from 10AM - 6PM, Avila Valley Barn has a storefront that is considered a grocery store so they have remained open during the pandemic. You can feed the animals, walk around the farm and buy some local goods. Parking is always free so you can just stroll around without spending a buck, unless you want to buy some food for the goats. Address: 560 Avila Beach Drive San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

  3. Beach Day at Pismo Beach - There are many beautiful beaches here in San Luis Obispo County, including our most popular one, Pismo Beach.


    As a local, I still love coming to this beach because there are so many restaurants nearby. I love seeing visitors come here and enjoying my county. Some of the restaurants offer clam chowder, sandwiches and ethnic cuisines so the choices are plenty. Parking can be difficult but if you don't mind walking a few blocks away, it is very doable. If you prefer a much more relaxed beach vibe, I suggest visiting Cambria, which is located in the northern part of San Luis Obispo County.

  4. Monarch Butterfly Grove (Grover Beach to Pismo Beach) - Monarch Butterfly Grove is a state park so it's open year round and always a big tourist spot. I come here for the trails behind it and I suggest planning a longer walk to take advantage of its proximity. You can get to the ocean this way! It is such a beautiful walk through the trails but it's not very accessible for the disabled. However, the main Butterfly Grove area is spacious and allows room for those who need accessibility and strollers. You can also get to the Monarch Butterfly Grove from the Grover Beach side off of Grand Avenue using the Meadows Trail.

  5. Go to a Water Park - There are two water parks that are only open during the summer in San Luis Obispo County: one is in Paso Robles (Ravine Waterpark) and one in Arroyo Grande (Mustang Waterpark at Lopez Lake). The Ravine Waterpark is much bigger with a lot of wineries within a short drive. There's even a tasting room across the street from it.

    The Mustang Waterpark is smaller but it's located at a state park so if you have a camper/RV, this might make more sense to you. Since Father's Day always takes place on a Sunday in mid-June, you can expect the waterparks to be open on Father's Day every year! I've rented a cabana at both Ravine Waterpark and Mustang Waterpark before. See bullet points below for links to my personal reviews.

  6. Creek Walk Stroll in Downtown - Whenever we are in downtown San Luis Obispo, we try to walk through it via the creek walk that's adjacent to Higuera St. It's a very easy walk and it actually goes right under the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Church, a famous landmark, as well. This walk is so enjoyable to me and you can get to so many other businesses by going up and down the creek as an alternative route to the busy sidewalks. There are restaurants in Downtown San Luis Obispo with a view of the San Luis Obispo Obispo Creek. See a short video of my visit at Sidecar (adult bar) with a view of the creek below.


  7. Take Him to a Winery or Wine Tasting Room. There are about 2 dozens wineries in Edna Valley (San Luis Obispo City proper) and hundreds of tasting rooms in Paso Robles, a wine country within San Luis Obispo County. So, the options are many! As a local, I've personally visited over 50 of them. See my top 10 favorite wineries/wine tasting rooms in San Luis Obispo County area and the pictures I took during my visits. Many tasting rooms have a unique vibe and scenery. Sometimes I like going to the wineries and tasting rooms just to check our their awesome architecture and fantastic views. See two video shorts from a couple of my wine tasting room visits below.
Suggestions:

To see many pictures of restaurants that I've visited in San Luis Obispo County, go to the Restaurants Page.

See our Family-Friendly Things To Do page to see upcoming free events in San Luis Obispo County.

Posted by SanLuisObispoMom.com. Posted In : Holidays 

 

DIY Face Masks

April 10, 2020
Since disposable face masks were being reserved for our healthcare workers at the beginning of the pandemic, we've resorted to making face masks with things we already have at home. While I was pregnant I picked up sewing to hem my maternity pants. Several years later, this sewing machine is coming around to be so useful for today's pandemic.

Week 1 of Making Face Masks


Using Hobby Lobby's guidelines, here are the two face mask sizes I made pictured below: one standard size and the other one was made to fit my kids. The Hobby Lobby's guidelines is set for the standard adult size for pleated face masks. I attempted to make the first one for my sons but then realized it was way too big so this big green one is now mine and the second smaller one pictured below is for my sons. They both have small heads so I made two of the small ones in the same pattern.
 (These green ones were the very first ones I sewed in March 2020.)

 
(I've gotten much better a year later and these robot ones are the more recent ones that I sewed in April 2021, a year later after the pandemic started.)
During the first month of the pandemic declaration, I couldn't find new elastic bands online for purchase and didn't want to go on a long scavenger hunt at our local stores so I found these old elastic headbands in my bathroom cabinet and used them as ear loops instead. They were amazing substitutes! I had one in black, green and white so they were just enough for our four face masks! I had to make the ear loops for my kids shorter. Otherwise, the small face mask wouldn't fit securely on their faces.


The most time consuming part for me was measuring the pleats evenly on both sides. The pleats are helpful in making sure the mouth and nose get good coverage. 


For the pleated face mask, according to Hobby Lobby's instructions, you'd need a fabric that is 8 inches x 15 inches. I used those dimensions for my husband and me. For the kids, I had to kind of eye it so for my boys (3 and 6 years old), I decided to cut the fabric size to 8 inches x 10 inches for them. It was perfect for my 6 year old but slightly too big for my 3 year old. However, it did not fall off his face and he could grow into them quickly. If your kid's face is on the bigger side, make them bigger than that and use your best judgment. I also feel that if you use hair ties instead of headbands, you'd need to make sure that the hair tie is long enough. I've found hair ties that were too short to use as ear loops.

Other things at home that you could use as elastics for the ear loops include old bikini straps and elastics inside of fitted sheets that you no longer use and can repurpose as a face mask.

This is a picture of the other two face masks I made below. I made my husband's face mask with his favorite NFL sports team's fabric, the Carolina Panthers.

For the kids' masks, you can see that I didn't add as many pleats.

UNIME Anti-Dust Mouth Mask Cotton Mouth Mask,Unisex Black Face Mask Reusable Fashion Mask Anime Face Mask Washable Mask Reusable Mask for Cycling Camping Travel for Men Women,Pack of 2


Week 2 of Making Face Masks
After I finished making pleated face masks for my family, a new trend started online of more people wearing non-pleated masks. Some of them even look like bra cups, which is facinating to me. If we save all of these non-pleated face masks, we can make bikini tops for the summer! I wanted to see if making these masks would be easier to make so I watched a tutorial online from Treasurie's blog and made myself a fabric stencil for it. 


There is definitely more cutting involved for making the non-pleated cup style face masks but I still enjoyed learning to make it. This mask ended up being a 3 layer mask so there is a sense of protection there and I find that this mask style is easier to breathe through than the pleated ones. Whether they offer more or the same protection as the pleated face masks, I'm not sure?


Here's how my non-pleated face mask looks below. I also now use pantyhose cuts as ear loops, instead of elastics because elastics are still so hard to find now. However, I've discovered that these nylon pantyhose subsitutions are so much better for the ears as they don't hurt when you wear them for too long. I also want to note that this sailboat face mask was made from a baby bed sheet that both of my kids used when they slept in a crib. Therefore, any mask that I make out of this has so much sentimental value to me.


Week 3 of Making Face Masks
After a couple of weeks of making face masks, I decided that I was confident enough to make face masks as gifts for friends. Here's how my 3rd week of face mask making looks like below. These are pleated face masks that I've significantly improved since week 1. The ear loops of these below are also made out of 1 inch cuts from a nylon pantyhose. I'm more careful with sizing my pleats and making sure my sewing is more steady. Plus, I'm not taking any more shortcuts and used an iron.


Stay safe, everyone. 

Similar Supplies for Sewing Projects:
Nautical Light Blue Sail Boat Marine Print Cotton Drapery Upholstery Fabric 55"W (by The Yard)

melupa 109 Yards Length 1/4 Inch Width Elastic Bands White Braided Elastic String Cord Heavy Stretch Elastic Rope for Sewing Craft, DIY Earloop, Beading

Posted by SanLuisObispoMom.com. Posted In : DIY 

 
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About Me


San Luis Obispo Mom Originally from San Diego, California, I'm a San Diego State University alumna, veteran's wife and mom of two kids who were born two years apart. After living on the East Coast for 6 years, we now reside in San Luis Obispo County and here, the exploration continues. In between work and momming it, I like to exercise.
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All photos (except for ads) on SanLuisObispoMom.com including: homepage, 'Family-Friendly Things to do' page, 'SLO Restaurants' page,'Mom Groups & Childcare' page, and 'blog' page were taken by me so they are my original content and belong to this blog/website.

To find family-friendly activities in the SLO area, go to the 'Family-Friendly Things To Do' page.

Some of the links are just useful local information that I'm sharing for free and some are commission-based products that may help me earn a small commission for each sale to upkeep with the fees of running this local blog.



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