Over The Top Mommy

Entertainment

Watch the All-New Trailer for The Secret Life of Pets 2

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 
The Secret Life of Pets 2 will be heading to theaters this summer and we couldn’t be more excited about it! The first one was so adorable and this sequel looks adorable as well! The blockbuster series is focused around the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day. (I’m sure my cats are at home partying when we’re gone.) 
Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborator Janet Healy will produce the sequel to the comedy that had the best opening ever for an original film, animated or otherwise. Here’s the brand-new Max Trailer:

The Secret Life of Pets 2 will see the return of writer Brian Lynch (Minions) and once again be directed by Chris Renaud (Despicable Me series, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax). 

The Voice Cast includes:

  • Lake Bell
  • Hannibal Buress
  • Dana Carvey
  • Harrison Ford
  • Tiffany Haddish
  • Kevin Hart
  • Pete Holmes
  • Garth Jennings
  • Ellie Kemper
  • Nick Kroll
  • Bobby Moynihan
  • Patton Oswald
  • Jenny Slate
  • Eric Stonestreet

Director: Chris Renaud
Co-Director: Jonathan Del Val
Writer: Brian Lynch
Producers: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy

The Secret Life of Pets 2 is coming to theaters this summer on June 7, 2019. For the latest updates about this film, please visit their site at http://www.thesecretlifeofpets.com/

Images and trailer are property of Illumination and used with permission. 

All the Reasons to To Love Disney Channel’s Fall Programming

I was invited to a media event in order to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own. 

If you’re a Disney Channel-watching family like we are, you waited for what seemed like forever, to watch the season premieres of this Fall’s programming! We had the honor of attending a very special event on the Disney Studios Lot and were so excited to get an advanced peek at the Season Premiere episodes of “Andi Mack and “Raven’s Home Remix” and it’s obvious this season on Disney Channel is going to be the best one yet and there are all the reasons to be watching! 

Andi Mack

Do you watch Andi Mack? The series, on its 3rd season, premiered as a contemporary coming-of-age story about a relatable girl (Andi) who’s trying to determine where she fits in and the many amazing ways she can live her life. On the eve of her 13th birthday, Andi learns that her older sister, Bex, is actually her mother. This revelation puts Andi on an unfamiliar path of self-discovery which she navigates with the help of her loving albeit complicated family; her two best friends, Cyrus and Buffy; and her middle school crush, Jonah Beck. Along the way, Andi learns that sometimes the unexpected is what makes life great.Fast forward to the season finale of season 2 and that cliffhanger ending? I was dying to know all summer, what exactly was going to happen with Andi’s parents! And now that the season premiere for season 3 has already happened, can we just talk about Andi and Jonah now? Personally, I’m so proud of how far Andi has come in knowing what she wants and what she deserves.We got to meet  Lilan Bowden (aka “Bex” or Andi’s mom on the show) and Sophia Wylie (aka Buffy) at the Fall Programming event we attended and they were both so nice and very sweet in person. You can catch Andi Mack, Mondays on Disney Channel at 8 PM ET/PT.

Raven’s Home: Remix

The highly anticipated “Raven’s Home” fall premiere, “Raven’s Home: Remix,” is about how Booker sets out to land the starring role in the school’s musical about a boy who loves playing basketball and performing hip-hop. When Raven has a vision of Booker receiving a standing ovation, she’s convinced he’s perfect for the role and encourages him to go for it. However, when Nia discovers the part requires someone who is great at basketball and can rap – two things Tess excels at – she tries to convince Coach Spitz to let Tess audition for the role. When he refuses because Tess is a girl, a determined Nia takes a stand to prove girls can do anything boys can do.The dynamic all-musical episode features eight original songs and dance numbers performed by the multi-talented cast and showcases strong themes about girl empowerment (girls being able to do anything that boys can do), following your heart, self-empowerment and self-expression. Did you catch the episode? It was so good!
Catch new “Raven’s Home” episodes on Friday evenings at 8:00pm ET/PT on Disney Channel.

Coop and Cami: Ask the World

Although we only got a sneak peek at the all-new series Coop & Cami”, it was so cute when we watched the full season premiere on Disney Channel.The live-action family comedy follows Cooper (Coop) and Cameron (Cami) Wrather, two middle school siblings who co-host Coop’s online show “Would You Wrather.” With the help of their little brother Ollie and Coop’s best friend Fred, the duo fields offbeat questions and results to the show’s millions of followers (aka Wratherheads) who help them solve problems – both mundane and madcap. Every day is an adventure in the Wrather’s hectic household, which also includes their older sister Charlotte and mom Jenna, as Coop and Cami tackle adolescence and everyday family situations with humor and heart.You can catch new episodes of “Coop & Cami Ask the World” Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on Disney Channel.

Disney Channel’s All-New “Legendary” Music Video

I think my favorite part of the event was when we got a sneak peek at the all-new music video “Legendary” featuring Raven’s Home star Navia Robinson, as well as 16 other dynamic, multi-talented and collaborative young actresses/leading ladies from the Disney Channel. “Legendary” is an affirming anthem and music video that supports girls’ great potential everywhere and heralds the United Nations’ International Day of the Girl Child (Oct.11). The video debuted Monday, Oct. 8 on Disney Channel. Aimed at tweens, ages 8-14, “Legendary” encompasses the spirit of camaraderie and delivers the powerful message that when girls and young women support each other and work together, nothing is out of reach. This initiative further amplifies Disney Channel’s brand promises: “Express Yourself,” “Believe in Yourself” and “Celebrate Your Friends and Family.” The music video was directed by Hannah Lux Davis (director of Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Fifth Harmony music videos) and the song was written and produced by The Heavyweights; the GRAMMY®-nominated production team composed of Jamie Jones,Jack Kugell and Matt Wong; along with songwriter Hanna Jones. Watch the “Legendary” video here:

Have you and your family watched any of these shows this Fall? If so, what’s your favorite? Share with me in the comments!

Some images and logos are property of Disney Channel and used with permission. 

Have a Movie Night at Home with Hotel Transylvania 3 Now on Blu-ray™/DVD

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.


The Drac Pack is back with Hotel Transylvania 3  and is now available on Digital HD and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD, just in time to for a spooky, fun, family movie night right before Halloween!This must-own family comedy from Sony Pictures Animation was directed by three-time Emmy®-winning director Genndy Tartakovsky, written by Genndy Tartakovsky and Michael McCullers and produced by Michelle Murdocca, To date, it’s grossed more than $425 million in theaters worldwide. I love the extended trailer:

Here’s a synopsis of the film:

When Mavis surprises Dracula with a family voyage on a luxury, haunted monster cruise ship. Of course, the rest of the Drac Pack has to tag along, and that’s when things get a little…batty. The monsters are having a great time, indulging in all of the shipboard fun the cruise has to offer, from monster volleyball to colossus-sized buffets and exotic excursions, but then the unexpected happens when Drac falls for the ship’s mysterious (and dangerous) human captain Ericka. The third film in this family-friendly monster franchise is the best reviewed installment and you’re invited along on the haunted cruise vacation!

Hotel Transylvania 3 brought the all-star voice cast back, along with some new faces, including:

  • Adam Sandler (Grown-Ups)
  • Andy Samberg (TV’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”)
  • Selena Gomez (Spring Breakers)
  • Kevin James (Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2)
  • David Spade (TV’s “Rules of Engagement”)
  • Steve Buscemi (TV’s “Boardwalk Empire”)
  • Keegan Michael Key (TV’s “Key and Peele”)
  • Molly Shannon (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”)
  • Fran Drescher (TV’s “The Nanny”)
  • Kathryn Hahn (Bad Moms)
  • Jim Gaffigan (Super Troopers 2)
  • Mel Brooks (Young Frankenstein).

Hotel Transylvania 3 is filled with more than an hour of engaging bonus materials including three “All-New Scary-Oke Sing Alongs,” a monster dance party dance along to “I See Love” by Joe Jonas featuring Jonas Blue, plus a fun zing-tastic read along with Drac.Bonus Materials Include:

  • Three All New Scary-Oke Sing Alongs: Sing along to three Hotel Transylvania 3 inspired songs with your favorite characters!
  • “Dennis Had a Giant Dog” – Sung by Dennis & Winnie
  • “Monsters Like to Party Down” – Sung by Johnny\
  • “Oh These Wolf Pups” – Sung by Wanda Werewolf
  • Plan Your Own Spook-tacular Sleepover: This feature will give you all details on how to make your own sleepover spook-tacular!  From snacks to crafts to games and more, follow these steps to create a Hotel T sleep-over with your friends and family, the perfect setting to binge watch all 3 Hotel Transylvania movies.
  • Vampire Make Over: Mavis and Drac Tutorial: Learn how to turn yourself into your favorite Hotel Transylvania 3 characters.
  • Behind the Screams – The Voices of Hotel Transylvania 3: Step behind the “screams” with the returning stars and hilarious new cast to see how these characters are brought to life in the recording booth.
  • Johnny’s Home Movies (Franchise Recap): Johnny brings viewers up to speed on what’s happened in the Hotel Transylvania franchise so far.
  • “I See Love” Monster Dance Party Dance Along: Get up and get moving to this haunting monster mash.
  • Drac’s Zing-tastic Read Along: It’s storytime with your favorite characters have a silly tale about Drac’s search for a Zing! Read along or sit back and enjoy!
  • Two Mini Movies (rated G): Two mini-features that will have you howling (Puppy and Goodnight Mr. Foot.)

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 has a run time of approximately 97 minutes and is rated PG for some action and rude humor. 

We celebrated Hotel Transylvania 3’s release with an at home movie party! It’s easy to create the perfect Hotel Transylvania snacks with popcorn and gummy worms Our kitty even got in on the fun with her very own Mavis doll! Have you grabbed your own copy yet?

Watch the New Trailer for Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 
I always get excited when the holiday season rolls around but this year I’m extra excited!  Illumination and Universal Pictures will present “The Grinch” this November, their eighth fully animated feature, based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved holiday classic. The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl’s generous holiday spirit. Funny, heartwarming and visually stunning, it’s a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism. Watch the trailer:

Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch lends his voice to the infamous Grinch, who lives a solitary life inside a cave on Mt. Crumpet with only his loyal dog, Max, for company. With a cave rigged with inventions and contraptions for his day-to-day needs, the Grinch only sees his neighbors in Who-ville when he runs out of food.

Each year at Christmas they disrupt his tranquil solitude with their increasingly bigger, brighter and louder celebrations. When the Whos declare they are going to make Christmas three times bigger this year, the Grinch realizes there is only one way for him to gain some peace and quiet: he must steal Christmas. To do so, he decides he will pose as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, even going so far as to trap a lackadaisical misfit reindeer to pull his sleigh.

Meanwhile, down in Who-ville, Cindy-Lou Who—a young girl overflowing with holiday cheer—plots with her gang of friends to trap Santa Claus as he makes his Christmas Eve rounds so that she can thank him for help for her overworked single mother. As Christmas approaches, however, her good-natured scheme threatens to collide with the Grinch’s more nefarious one. Will Cindy-Lou achieve her goal of finally meeting Santa Claus? Will the Grinch succeed in silencing the Whos’ holiday cheer once and for all?

So how great is Christmas season 2018 going to be now? The Grinch hits theaters November 9 and you can bet I’ll be there to watch it that day! For more information and to view the latest updates on this film please visit http://www.grinchmovie.com.

Great Wolf Lodge Announces Star-Studded Junior Chef Council

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

One of our favorite resorts to stay at, Great Wolf Lodge, just announced some exciting news!  They’ve formed of a Junior Chef Council, a panel comprised of the country’s top kid chefs and culinary tastemakers, who will come together to advise on and help develop a new kids’ menu for Great Wolf Lodge’s 17 indoor waterpark resorts!

“The idea of a Junior Chef Council is something we have been discussing internally for the past year. We’ve really enriched the culinary offerings for parents, and thought it would be fun to create a menu for kids, by kids. These are no ordinary kids, these are true junior chefs who have been around the culinary arts for years and will help create a kids menu unlike any other in the country.” – John Suley, Great Wolf’s Vice President of Food & Beverage

After an extensive search to identify youthful and passionate culinary talent who will bring a unique perspective to Great Wolf Lodge’s ever-evolving and innovative food and beverage program, the Junior Chef Council was formed. The six-person Junior Chef Council brings a diverse culinary background to Great Wolf, and will work together on developing a completely new kids menu.
Great Wolf Lodge’s Junior Chef Council members include:

  • MasterChef Junior Season 2 winner, Logan Guleff (15)
  • MasterChef Junior Season 5 winner, Jasmine Stewart (13)
  • Jonas Cora Ehrlich (12) and Gavin Cora Ehrlich (10), sons of Iron Chef Cat Cora and wife, Nicole Cora Ehrlich
  • Madeline Zakarian (11) and Anna Zakarian (9), daughters of Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian;
  • Conrad Elliot (8) and Jed Elliot (6), sons of Chef Graham Elliot.

The talent level of the council is impressive. Logan and Jasmine each won a rigorous TV cooking competition, while the other members of the Junior Chef Council bring a different degree of culinary experience to the group, being children of some of the world’s most talented chefs. While Conrad is an official member of the Council, Jed will serve as the Council’s official taster, ensuring his brother and other members are delivering on the culinary goods.Great Wolf Lodge has placed a tremendous emphasis on expanding and enhancing the culinary offerings found at its family-friendly resorts over the past two years. With the launch of its Colorado Springs resort 18-months ago, the company introduced an elevated farm-to-fork dining experience called Barnwood that has now expanded to three additional resorts; and it recently established a food hall style Tex-Mex restaurant called Timbers Tacos which debuted at new resorts in Georgia and Illinois. The new kids’ menu will initially be featured exclusively at full-service restaurants at Great Wolf Lodges across North America.The Junior Chef Council will get together as a group later this summer at one of Great Wolf’s world-class resorts in order to collaborate on their menu with the resort’s executive culinary team, with plans to roll-out the menu nationwide later this fall. For more information about the Junior Chef Council and Great Wolf Lodge partnership, please go here.

Logo is property of Great Wolf Lodge and used with permission. 

 

Pacific Sales Presents the Pacific Wine and Food Classic August 18 & 19

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own .

It’s almost time for this year’s Pacific Wine & Food Classic, presented by Pacific Sales. Come celebrate Summer and the bounty of Southern California at this amazing annual event which will take place on August 18 & 19, 2018. at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. This irresistible event offers guests more than 100 experiences including: the best local chefs serving vibrant summer inspired cuisine, wineries, cold beer and delicious crafty cocktails.The Pacific Wine & Food Classic is an all-inclusive event that is designed for guests to enjoy food and wine in a beautiful setting. Soak up the beautiful soft sand, blue waters and sweet summer air. Tickets are limited to ensure an absolute quality experience for you! ​​​

Here’s a video showing some of the fun from last year’s event:

For more information about this year’s Pacific Wine & Food Festival and to purchase tickets, please go here.

Images and video are property of Pacific Wine and Food Festival and used with permission.

Have a Movie Night To Celebrate Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

I received promotional products in order to write his post. All opinions are my own. 

Summer is well underway and we have been anticipating the upcoming arrival of Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, as it’s going to be in theaters July 13! In this new film, the entire “Drac Pac” goes on a summer vacation together! It looks like another hilarious movie to go see together as a family.Here’s a synopsis: Join our favorite monster family as they embark on a vacation on a luxury monster cruise ship so Drac can take a summer vacation from providing everyone else’s vacation at the hotel. It’s smooth sailing for Drac’s Pack as the monsters indulge in all of the shipboard fun the cruise has to offer, from monster volleyball to exotic excursions, and catching up on their moon tans. But the dream vacation turns into a nightmare when Mavis realizes Drac has fallen for the mysterious captain of the ship, Ericka, who hides a dangerous secret that could destroy all of monster kind.
Now watch the Hotel Transylvania 3 extended trailer:

Have you seen the first 2 movies yet? I immediately fell in love with “The Drac Pac” after watching “Hotel Transylvania”. I love that these movies have such a fun storyline and include so many funny parts that are aimed at entertaining the adults in the theater too. I also love the all-star voice cast in each of the 3 films.To celebrate the upcoming arrival of Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation in theaters on Friday, July 13, we threw a summer vacation-themed movie party at home and re-watched Hotel Transylvania and Hotel Transylvania 2. It’s fun to set up this kind of party for all of the neighborhood kids to watch with us.
Here’s what we used to throw Summer Vacation-themed Movie Party:

  • The Hotel Translyvania and Hotel Transylvania 2 DVDs
  • Hotel Translyvania themed toys
  • popcorn
  • fun, fruity candies
  • pineapple drinking cups
  • leis
  • sunglasses

What are you doing to celebrate your summer vacation? Have you already purchased your tickets? Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation will be in theaters everyone July 13, which will be here before you know it and you don’t want to miss the boat! If you haven’t purchased your tickets, you can do so here. After you go and watch it, be sure to come back here and tell me what you thought. I can’t wait to hear all about it! Happy Summer!For the latest movie updates, please visit here. Join in on the conversation on social using #HotelT3!

Some images, logos and teaser trailer are property of Sony Animation Studios and used with permission. 

Butterbeer Ice Cream now available at “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

More fun and tasty news from Universal Studios Hollywood! Butterbeer™ ice cream is now being served at “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™”, arriving just in time for summer.wizarding-world-of-harry-potter-logo

The rich palate-pleasing Butterbeer-flavoured hard pack ice cream is a delightful and delicious new addition to the menu of Butterbeer items currently available, including such Butterbeer favorites as traditional, frozen and hot beverages, as well as Butterbeer Potted Cream and Butterbeer Fudge.

butterbeer-ice-creamReminiscent of butterscotch and shortbread, Butterbeer ice cream is perfectly fine-tuned as a cool Hogsmeade treat and will be served at various carts located within Hogsmeade and at Three Broomsticks™.

Gathering inspiration from historic British taverns, the adjoining Hog’s Head pub features original draught beers and spirits created exclusively for the land, including Hog’s Head Brew, Dragon’s Scale, Wizard’s Brew and Fire Whisky. Also available are Pumpkin Fizz and Gilly Water and the three Butterbeer choices: traditional, frozen and hot.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s compelling stories and characters that were brought to life in the Warner Bros. films, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” at Universal Studios Hollywood is a masterful recreation, faithful to the visual landscape of the fiction and films, including as its iconic focal point, Hogwarts castle.

From its snow-capped roofs and cobblestone streets to the historic British sensibilities that characterize the whimsical look and feel of the land, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” transports guests of all ages to the very places they watched on the silver screen.

The architecturally stunning land also includes the captivating and highly acclaimed “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey” thrill ride, enhanced with 4K-HD and ride film projecting at an astounding rate of 120 frames-per-second for an even more immersive glimpse into Harry Potter’s world, as well as “Flight of the Hippogriff™,” Universal Studios Hollywood’s first outdoor family coaster.

“The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” resonates with immense detail, inviting guests to enjoy authentic food and beverages at multiple locations, including Three Broomsticks and Hog’s Head pub, as well as the Magic Neep and Butterbeer carts. A foray through the shops adds to the authenticity of the land with such retail venues as Honeydukes™, Ollivanders™, Owl Post™, Zonko’s™ Joke Shop, Wiseacre’s Wizarding Equipment, Dervish and Banges™, Gladrags Wizardwear, Filch’s Emporium™ of Confiscated Goods and the Hogsmeade™ Station.

For more information please visit http://www.UniversalStudiosHollywood.com. Join the conversation online using #WizardingWorldHollywood.

Images and logos are property of Universal Studios Hollywood and used with permission.

The Ultimate Hotel Transylvania Giveaway + Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation in Theaters 7/15

I received promotional items in order to host this giveaway. All opinions are my own. 

School’s out and this summer’s highly anticipated release of “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” is just around the corner! In Sony Pictures Animation’s Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, join our favorite monster family as they embark on a vacation on a luxury monster cruise ship so Drac can take a summer vacation from providing everyone else’s vacation at the hotel. It’s smooth sailing for Drac’s Pack as the monsters indulge in all of the shipboard fun the cruise has to offer, from monster volleyball to exotic excursions, and catching up on their moon tans. But the dream vacation takes a dangerous turn when Mavis realizes Drac has fallen for the human captain of the ship, Ericka, who holds a mysterious secret that threatens them all. Have you watched the official trailer yet?

Before going to see this all-new movie in theaters July 13, you can catch up on all the fun and laughs in Hotel Transylvania and Hotel Transylvania 2 with a family movie night. Why not grab your monster-sized popcorn and get ready for the ultimate family night in because I’ve got a a double feature giveaway of Hotel Transylvania and Hotel Transylvania 2 on DVD from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment at the bottom of this post. (So keep reading!) We loved both of these movies and can’t seem to re-watch them enough times. Hotel-TAll About Hotel Translyvania: Welcome to Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up and no humans are allowed. One special weekend, Dracula (Adam Sandler) has invited all his best friends – Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Werewolf family, and more – to celebrate his beloved daughter Mavis’s (Selena Gomez) 118th birthday. For Dracula, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem, but the party really starts when one ordinary guy stumbles into the hotel and changes everything.

DVD Bonus Features Include:

  • “Goodnight Mr. Foot” Mini-Movie: Directed and Animated by Genndy Tartakovsky
  • 3 Deleted Scenes
  • “Problem (Monster Remix)” Music Video by Becky G Featuring will.i.am
  • Behind the Scenes of “Problem (Monster Remix)”
  • Commentary with Director Genndy Tartakovsky, Producer Michelle Murdocca, and Visual Effects Supervisor Daniel Kramer

Hotel Transylvania has a running time of 91 minutes and is rated PG for some rude humor, action and scary images.HotelTransylvania2All About Hotel Transylvania 2: In this monster comedy adventure, everything seems to be changing for the better at Hotel Transylvania! However, Drac is worried that his adorable half-human, half-vampire grandson, Dennis, isn’t showing signs of being a vampire. So while Mavis is on vacation, things get batty as Drac enlists his monster friends Frank, Murray, Wayne and Griffin to put Dennis through a “monster-in-training” boot camp!

DVD Special Features:

  • Fifth Harmony Music Video: “I’m In Love With A Monster”
  • Character Sketch Gallery
  • Feature Commentary with Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel and Allen Covert
  • Feature Commentary with Director Genndy Tartakovsky

Hotel Transylvania 2 has a running time of 89 minutes and is rated PG for some scary images, action and rude humor.giveawayWhether you are going to plan a movie night or just want to refresh your memory by watching Hotel Transylvania and Hotel Transylvania 2 before Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation comes out, be sure to enter my giveaway by filling out the Rafflecopter below! Good luck, everyone! Thanks for reading!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Images and trailer are property of Sony Animation Studios and used with permission.