Free Admission to LA Zoo 9/15 Celebrating Los Angeles Tillamook Loaf Love Tour Stop

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Plus FREE Tickets to L.A. Zoo on 9/15

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Easy, fun & healthy DIY Kids treat Tillamook Cheese Shapes from Cookie Cutters

We've been Tillamook fans here at the Elspas household for years, having enjoyed the brand's products as well as taken the company's factory tour in Tillamook, Oregon with our kids. This cheese brand is usually on our weekly shopping list and I typically buy 4-6 bars at a time when shopping at the supermarket because I have four teens: triplets (15) and big brother (16) and they seem to always be eating. We keep kosher, so our go-to variety is always the Tillamook Kosher Medium Cheddar. We use it in so many recipes that they love to nosh on: Mazah Grilled Cheese, Macaroni & Cheese, homemade pizza and veggie tacos to name a few. 

When my children were younger, I even used cookie cutters to cut out Tillamook cheese shapes to pack in their lunch boxes and to serve as healthy snacks at home much like the cheese novelties you see pictured in this post above. With such a positive experience I'm particularly excited to announce that this weekend Southern California adults and kids can literally say cheese and eat it too when the Tillamook Loaf Love Tour rolls into the Los Angeles Zoo this Saturday.

My daughter's Macaroni & Cheese wouldn't look this good w/o Tillamook

As part of the celebration to share some loaf love with local L.A. residents, the Loaf Love Tour is treating the first 100 adults or children sporting their best bright Tillamook orange FREE admission to the Los Angeles Zoo located at Griffith Park starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 15. After the first eligible 100, all others that day wearing the company's flagship color will receive $1 off general zoo entry costs. Fans should look for the Tillamook Baby Loaf bus located in the parking lot outside the zoo's main gate to check-in and participate.

All it takes is another slice of Matza on top & you have Matza Grilled Cheese

Once inside the zoo, event-goers of all ages can taste a variety of Tillamook Cheeses, take pictures with the Loafy costumed character, join in zoo bingo, and lots more fun. As an added bonus attendees will have the chance to taste and take home yummy samples of Tillamook Yogurt, which is new to the Los Angeles area. 

Tillamook Loaf Love Tour Stop

A scene from last year's fun Loaf Love Tour, Image courtesy of Tillamook

At the Los Angeles Zoo

5333 Zoo Drive Los Angeles, CA 90027

Saturday, September 15th

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

About Tillamook & the Loaf Love Tour
Tillamook is a 103-year-old, farmer-owned cooperative located in Tillamook, Oregon. The brand is well-known for its award-winning, naturally aged cheddars as well as offering other cheese varieties, ice cream, sour cream and yogurt products.
  
The current Loaf Love Tour is the third annual mobile sampling event dedicated to bringing tasty cheese to the public. In addition to offering free zoo admission here in L.A. for the first 100 eligible people and $1 off general zoo admission to every one else wearing Tillamook orange there will also be a number of company sponsored activities inside the zoo for everyone to enjoy.

The bright orange fleet of Loaf Love Tour mini buses can be seen rolling around the streets of L.A. from September 11th - September 29th at a variety of locations. Fans can find them making pit stops at assorted Southern California grocery stores and special events spreading the word about Tillamook products and offering samplings of the brand's Oregon-made cheeses. For more information and to sign up for cheese-filled news updates visit LoafLoveTour.com. To track all the festivities you can also follow Tillamook on Facebook and Twitter.

FTC Disclosure: Tillamook will be sending us product coupons to facilitate some more family taste and review projects at our house.  I did not receive any payment or other compensation related to this post.   See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum Must Visit NYC Landmark for Families + Kids

Remembering 9/11

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As a Baby Boomer who grew up in the Tri-State area, I visited New York City countless times as a kid. Even living as an East Coast transplant in California for the past 30+ years I've managed to visit the city that never sleeps every year or so. In fact my last dose of Manhattan before the September 11, 2001 calamity was in August 2001, just about two weeks before the World Trade Center Twin Towers were brought down at the hands of terrorists.

WTC Freedom Tower under construction, view from Subway exit

Every New York family vacation and business trip taken since 9/11/2001, I've wanted to visit Ground Zero. To go in reverence to all those who lost their lives on that horrific day -- and to also remember the many who survive but are living with lifelong mental and physical challenges that you don't hear much about. Finally last month I made that pilgrimage of a lifetime to the hallowed place that's been on my mind for the last 11 years. This is my story.

My solo visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum -- which encompasses about 50% of the original 16-acre WTC site -- began with making an online reservation months before arrival to ensure a free admission ticket when I was in town for BlogHer 2012 women's blog conference in early August.

Rainy day at the National September 11 Memorial, Museum in background

I arrived in New York on the Red Eye from L.A. and by early afternoon was heading down to Lower Manhattan via the A Train. The second I emerged from the subway to walk the few short blocks to the site I saw it: the new Freedom Tower rising majestically as it is being built floor by floor into the sky. It made me feel joyous to see this phoenix rising from the ashes IRL (in real life).

Rain drops dotted the engraved name plaques, reminiscent of tears

Appropriately enough on the day I visited, New York was experiencing some unseasonal summer rain. So arrival here was a poignant reminder of the tears that continue to be shed for all that was taken from us, the physical and spiritual, that fateful 9/11 day. Good thing it was drizzling so that no one noticed the tears that streamed down my own cheeks. It was comforting somewhat to know, though, that I wasn't the only one there crying outwardly or inside. 

Standing in the rain without an umbrella I wanted to absorb as much I could. In fact I was so immersed in the meaning of this place I didn't realize until after I'd left the site that the hairstyling I'd had just hours before at John Barrett's new Pony Tail Bar at Bergdorf Goodman was totally ruined. Life's luxuries certainly do seem trivial after an experience like this.

Security here at the Memorial is tight, like elsewhere since 9/11

Prior to 2005 the public only had the viewer platform to pay their respects here. Ever since the World Trade Center grounds have been buzzing with all kinds of new life. At the same time the new tower complex is being built, the museum on the adjacent Memorial sector of the site is also under construction marching toward opening as soon as possible.

Old buildings remaining after 2001 are a stark contrast to the WTC site 

The new tower in progress seems to defy barbed wire at its base

Sure there's a lot of building activity going on now, but there is also so much to see on the beautifully landscaped property that is already available for public use.  The outdoor National September 11 Memorial is open seven days per week, having just celebrated its first anniversary of operation this week. Already 4.5 million people from around the U.S. and world have visited.

The 9/11 Memorial named Reflecting Absence is comprised of two huge black, seemingly bottomless reflection pools designed by architect David Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker. The names of the 2,983 people whose lives were snatched in the 1993 and 2001 attacks are engraved in a meaningful order on bronze parapets that frame the top edges of the pools. There's even a free smartphone app called the 911 Memorial Guide that will help you fully appreciate the memorial area as well as aid you in locating a particular name on its walls.
  

One of the two Reflecting Absence pools at National 9/11 Memorial 

Each of the reflection pools is massive, covering about an acre of ground with 30 foot waterfalls cascading down all sides. You can't see where the water finally disappears into an abyss at the bottom of the inner squares at the base of the pools. This represents an inner void that remains, a lasting and beautiful reminder of the lives gone forever and all the entombed human body parts that remain within.

Says Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, the 9/11 Memorial Chairman, "The 9/11 Memorial serves as a beautiful place of reflection, a symbol of  perseverance and a sacred site to remember the tragic events that occurred 11 years  ago. With the help of millions of visitors and other supporters, we can ensure this national tribute will be here for generations to come."

Follow the WTC complex construction site progress online at WTCProgress.com

Iconic New York skyline will soon have a new look, View from SoHo rooftop

Just steps away from the Memorial plaza where the footprints of both towers are outlined in water, the Visitor's Center building is also open. It combines a mini exhibit with a gift shop where you can purchase a variety of meaningful souvenirs with some of the profits going to fund the new museum now being built. Inside this structure, which does not require reserved tickets, you and your family can see a handful of historical artifacts from the tragedy as well as watch a moving multi-media presentation featuring the 9/11 story and the people who lost beloved family members that day.

The elegant National 9/11 Memorial Museum under construction

Under construction: Museum in foreground, Freedom Tower in back

Steel beam from original WTC as viewed through glass of new museum

No one that I knew personally was murdered on September 11th. Yet, like many others, I still haven't found complete closure to the events of 9/11. And may never will. But going to the memorial was certainly a step in the right direction and I hope to bring my hubbie and four children back to visit again once the new museum is opened. In the mean while I urge everyone who has the ability to visit. Especially if you are a mom or dad consider bringing your children here. After all, today's kids are tomorrow's future and this is one of the most important modern historical places in America you can visit as a family.

Visitor Exit & ambulance remind you: For many there was no exit

Due to ongoing construction at the World Trade Center site, reservations for timed passes are required to visit the memorial. Tickets are by reservation and you can get yours at 911memorial.org.

Read more about 9/11 in the MBE's 2010 11-day post series 

September 11th Memorial

10th Anniversary Series of Hope & Renewal

Thursday, September 1, 2011 - Imagery of a Pink Hand Bag

Friday, September 2, 2011 – Life is Too Short After 9/11 Book Review

Saturday, September 3, 2011 – Charity Event Fitting Memorial to 9/11

Sunday, September 4, 2011 – Songs & Music Inspired by 9/11

Monday, September 5, 2011 – Faces of Hope - Babies Born on 9/11 Book Review

Tuesday, September 6, 2011 – Memorable Tweets, Facebook, Blog Posts & More For 9/11

Wednesday, September 7, 2011 – Teaching Kids from K-12 About 9/11

Thursday, September 8, 2011 –  9/11 Acknowledged by Fashion's Night Out

Friday, September 9, 2011 – Children's Readathon at World Trade Center 9/10
Saturday, September 10, 2011 – 9/11 National Day of Service & Remembrance
Sunday, September 11, 2011 – 10th Anniversary is Marked in Cities & Towns Across U.S.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

In Memory of the 11th Anniversary of 9/11

Remembrance

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No content today in memory of 

11th anniversary of 9/11

An unusual summer rain resembled tears at the WTC Reflection Pool the day I visited

Watch for a post tomorrow recalling in great detail my heart felt visit to Ground Zero last month. 

FTC Disclosure: I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.