Say Yes to Hoboken

An Epic Playdate

(Image by David Crowther for Hyundai)

This past weekend we drove down to Santa Barbara for Hyundai’s Epic Playdate event. It was a fun play ‘day’ for a bunch of families from my ad network and a few others that won trips to go. I was in charge of one of the days events, group sand art, and there were other bloggers that were organizing events too throughout the day. Oh Happy Day made giant bubbles, Oh Joy made an ice cream bar, Dooce taught a kid photography class, Mighty Girl organized a giant paint fight, etc.

(Image by David Crowther for Hyundai)

I was really impressed with how well thought out everything was. There was tons of food (I accidentally ate two lunches because the ‘pre lunch snack’ was so substantial I thought it was lunch!), lots for the kids to do and plenty of fun activities everyone could be involved in either doing or just watching. There was even an epic nap tent which had beds and cribs and books for ones that needed some quiet time. Henry and I both needed a little time in there in the afternoon to re-fuel for the evening. The idea of ‘family friendly’ doesn’t always work for kids and parents both but they managed to truly find a happy medium where everyone was having a great time.

After the day event, the families and others that helped organize it moved over to the beach where we played on the beach, ate dinner, sang songs around the fire, and then stayed over night in the coolest tents ever (the top image of the post). I was pinching myself the whole time- it felt like I had been invited to a beautiful wedding of a celebrity. Everything was perfect. I feel really lucky to have been a part of it and asked to participate. It was a day we’ll always remember and I was blown away by all the hard work and thought that went into planning each detail of it.

(Image by David Crowther for Hyundai)

Keep reading for lots more details from the events of the day/evening! Plus the most amazing glamping tents ever…

(All images in this post are my own unless noted)
______________________________________________________________________________________

This post is brought to you by The New Santa Fe from Hyundai.

______________________________________________________________________________________

(more…)

1

  

Redwood Tree Climbing

(I’m climbing the Redwoods!)

Have I told you about my love affair with Redwood trees? I think it must have originated from my mother growing up in Redwood City, a town just south of San Francisco (which turns out doesn’t really have many Redwood trees at all in it), yet growing up in a New Yorker I kind of romanticized her California childhood amongst the giant Redwood trees. We’ve done a few family trips to visit the Redwoods since moving to San Francisco and the obsession with these magnificent trees continues! There’s something so magical about them, and Redwood groves are some of the most peaceful and spiritual places I’ve ever been. Aaaaand, yes, I did love this movie growing up.

(Hyundai Redwood Tree Climbing – Epic Playdate from Liz Stanley on Vimeo)

Above is a video they made when Jordan and I and our families ventured up north last month as part of the Hyundai epic playdate campaign- to climb Redwood trees! When they asked for ideas on what to do, I thought how amazing it would be to experience the Redwoods from up higher than eye level. Plus I knew Henry would love it and it would give him a chance to do something so completely different and new, especially since he spends most of his day in gated parks and schools. My favorite parts of the little video are when we got the kids on the rope and Jordan’s perfect expression sailing through the air amongst Redwood trees.

______________________________________________________________________________________

This post is brought to you by The New Santa Fe from Hyundai.

______________________________________________________________________________________

(All images in the post by Jordan Pay with the exception of my iPhone shots at the end)

(more…)

2