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Lifestyle

Submarines for the New LEGO® City: Deep Sea Adventure Ride at LEGOLAND® California Resort Have Arrived

May 7, 2018 / Family Fun, LEGOLAND, San Diego, SoCal Fun

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

There’s a new ride coming soon to LEGOLAND® California Resort: The LEGO® City: Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride! As construction continues on the interactive ride, the attraction is expected to open July 2018 and we couldn’t be more excited for it! As it prepares to take its maiden voyage this summer, the submarines officially arrived at LEGOLAND® California Resort! Eight 22,000 pound submarines were unloaded and installed in the 300,000 gallon tank. Up to 12 guests will board one of eight submarines that are designed after the LEGO City Deep Sea Adventure line of toys

LEGO® CITY: Deep Sea Adventure submarine ride is Merlin Entertainments’ single largest investment for a ride in any LEGOLAND® Park. For the first time in the United States, LEGOLAND California Resort brings guests onboard a real submarine where they’ll go underwater to discover a truly amazing world filled with more than 2,000 real sea animals, including several species of stingrays and a variety of sharks. Through the use of touchscreens at each porthole inside the sub, guests can help the LEGO minifigure dive team identify gems, pearls, LEGO® gold coins and more throughout the four minute journey.

The submarine ride will be included in the price of admission this summer at LEGOLAND California Resort. For more information and to sign up for the latest updates, please visit LEGOLAND.com/deepsea2018.

Submarine photo and video are property of LEGOLAND California Resort and used with permission.

Knott’s HangTime “Dive Coaster” Set to Open May 18

May 6, 2018 / Knott's, Knott's, Knotts, SoCal Fun

Knott’s Berry Farm will welcome HangTime, a brand new steel rollercoaster, and the only dive coaster on the West Coast, to the theme park in the 2018 summer season. HangTime will tower 150 feet over the Boardwalk area, showcasing gravity-defying inversions, mid-air suspensions and twisting dive tracks. HangTime will send riders up a vertical lift hill into a 15-story 96-degree drop – the steepest drop in California. The coaster’s train will come to a halt once the highest peak is reached, and will leave riders suspended at the crest for several seconds staring downward at a 60-degree angle, giving the illusion of a disappearing track. Then the train will suddenly descend in a beyond-vertical drop, through 2,189 feet of steel track and five gravity-defying inversions. HangTime will be only the second rollercoaster in the Western Hemisphere to feature a
negative-g stall loop, which gives riders the sensation of floating.

“HangTime’s disappearing track creates a memorable illusion of the unknown as riders feel like they are hanging over a cliff, staring at the ground in nervous anticipation. People who crave that adrenaline rush will want to ride this coaster again and again. Introducing a coaster like HangTime firmly positions Knott’s Berry Farm as a must see attraction among Southern California theme parks, and we look forward to welcoming our guests to this new experience.” Jon Storbeck, vice president and general manager, Knott’s Berry Farm.

HangTime’s ride structure itself will come to life and illuminate the Boardwalk area with
colorful nighttime track chase lighting that will accompany the coaster train’s travels across the smooth steel track. The coaster continues Knott’s legacy in rollercoaster innovation and industry firsts; the park introduced the very first corkscrew inversion rollercoaster with Corkscrew, and the first flywheel launch coaster with Montezuma’s Revenge. HangTime is manufactured by Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, GmbH, and is the company’s next generation “infinity coaster” model.Guests can experience an entire season of fun including the thrill of HangTime with a 2018 Knott’s Season Pass, on sale now at the best price of the year. A Regular Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to Knott’s Berry Farm with no blackout dates, and a Gold Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to both Knott’s Berry Farm and the newly expanded Knott’s Soak City Waterpark with no blackout dates. Regular passes are just $92 or nine easy payments of $10.22 and Gold Season Passes are $110 or nine payments of just $12.22. These offers end October 29, 2017. Applicable taxes and fees apply online. Payment plans are only available at knotts.com. For more information about HangTime, Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Season Passes, please visit knotts.com. Join the conversation about HangTime dive coaster using #KnottsHangTime and #KnottsBerryFarm.

The LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel is Officially Open at LEGOLAND® California Resort!

April 27, 2018 / California, Family Fun, LEGOLAND, Legoland, San Diego, SoCal Fun, Travel

I received hotel accommodations in exchange for coverage. All opinions are my own.

Hear ye! Hear Ye! The brand-new LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel at LEGOLAND® California Resort is officially open!

After a royal ceremony complete with knights on horses, a little girl squire and boy knight plus a hawk that flew the key to the Castle to Merlin the wizard and trumpeters to announce the grand opening of in front of hundreds of media and special guests, the hotel was declared “officially open”! Here’s a short video of the Grand Opening Ceremony that also shows a little bit of the hotel too.

“We’re excited to open a second hotel having learned from the first how powerful the brand is and children love how their experience in our theme park transforms into an overnight magical memory. Not only will this 250-room hotel bring more people to the beautiful city of Carlsbad which benefits local business, but we’re adding more than 200 jobs further boosting the economy in the region. Considering that, plus the amazing locally-sourced food, great entertainment and whimsical features found throughout the new hotel, this is already a great win for us!” – Peter Ronchetti, LEGOLAND California Resort General Manager

A royal LEGO statue marks the entrance and is just one of more than 2,100 LEGO models created out of more than three million bricks. As guests enter the Grand Hall, they are greeted by a towering LEGO wizard conjuring up spells to protect the Castle from the bad knights and dragons.In the Royal Princess rooms, the princess is joining forces with her jester friend to sneak into the grand tournament and compete with the knights. In the Knights and Dragons rooms, the knights are on a mission to defend the king’s castle and protect his treasure. In the Magic Wizard rooms, the wizards are concocting potions and fireworks for the grand tournament. Every room has a children’s sleeping area which includes:

bunk beds
a trundle bed
their own television
a LEGO building station
shooting stars illuminating on the ceiling.

Every adult sleeping area has an ornate head board with LED lights which could resemble a stained glass window, a canopy sparking with twinkling lights or shelves filled with potions and a magical bubbling illuminated cauldron.In Dragon’s Den, a full-service sit down restaurant, guests can watch chefs preparing their food, enjoy LEGO models and entertainers within a unique dining experience. Breakfast is included with each guest’s stay and includes made-to-order items along with a buffet.The Royal Courtyard immerses children in a fairy tale of their own creation with multiple play areas for different age groups, a giant movie screen, resort-style pool with interactive water features and hot tub and a tented stage for live plays and shows.Interactive elements throughout LEGOLAND Castle Hotel include a knock-knock door, a royal throne that makes silly noises, LEGO caricatures to build upon, a self-playing piano and a slide from the first floor to the lobby.

For more information about LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel at LEGOLAND® California Resort or assistance with planning your trip there, please visit http://www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO (5346).

Video and some images are property of LEGOLAND California Resort and used with permission.

Cox Communications Creates Smart Home Options for Seniors To Give Them “Connected Independence”

April 26, 2018 / Lifestyle, Technology

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Did you know that more than 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 every day? My dad falls into that group and comes from the generation that values choices and individual freedom. As he gets older, I often worry about his future and his independence, especially as relating to his ability to stay in his own home.Aging seniors want, and need, accessibility, which is why I’m so grateful for the smart home technologies that have been made available to them by Cox Communications. The senior phase of life encourages people to slow down and simplify but it doesn’t have to mean giving up your independence.Nearly 90% of adults age 65+ would prefer to grow old in their current home instead of moving to an assisted living facility. The want to the ability to “age in place”. With the smart home technology readily available on the market today, this is becoming more a more realistic option for aging Americans. Not only does technology empower seniors to live independently for longer, it is likely a less expensive option than moving.Check out this short video about Cox Communications Smart Home Living for Seniors:

Cox Communications partnered with senior living experts to showcase a new era in digital living that provides older adults with the ability to age in place, and be able to stay in their own homes and recently featured a “Connected Independence” Smart Home in Lake Forest, California, as part of a Cox Communications multi-city tour of its Aging in Place Experience. The home has more than 50 connected devices designed for seniors spread throughout a single-family home. The Aging in Place Experience event included senior living experts and internet-enabled smart devices, demonstrating how seniors can use new technology to live safely, independently and more comfortably at home while providing their adult children and caregivers with peace of mind. Also on hand were national and San Diego-based senior living innovators, businesses and experts. More than 35 interactive demonstrations, powered by Cox Communications’ broadband network, ran simultaneously throughout the home, including:

Rendever, which offers a virtual reality platform so seniors can “travel” to favorite destinations
Trapollo telemedicine services so doctors can diagnose and treat seniors from the comfort of their own home;
A voice-activated TV remote control, giving seniors the ability to find their favorite shows without pressing buttons or navigating through menus
Telehealth technology that allows patients to have live, personal interaction with doctors via video while at home. This technology relieves patients from travel to a medical facility for every consultation.
Double Robotics Telepresence Robot – Provides a way to check on older adults when their loved ones can’t be there in person. People can see and be seen as they steer the robot via remote control from anywhere in the world.
Smart Window/Door Sensor – Wireless device detects when doors and windows are opened.
Pill Dispensers – Helps seniors stay on schedule with their medications. Helps prevent forgotten dosages or mixed medications, and sends audible and visual alerts up to 30 minutes before pills are scheduled to be taken.
Extensive home automation and security features, including the ability to see who is at the front door and lock and unlock doors remotely through Cox Homelife, making it easier for seniors to let visitors and caregivers in and out of the home safely.
An automatic pet feeder controlled through an app
Amazon Kindle, giving users access to a vast library of books at their fingertips
Readable Voice Mail – Sends transcripts of voice messages to email
Clarity P300 Handset Landline Telephone – Makes sounds louder and easier to understand. Seniors can call people by pushing a photo button.
GeniCan – Garbage can that scans items as they’re thrown away. The GeniCan app builds a shopping list based on what needs to be replaced, and schedules home delivery through Amazon Dash.
Parrot Pot – Seniors never have to worry about their plants again. The Parrot Pot gives plants the right amount of water at the right time. This smart flowerpot has four sensors that monitor light, temperature, and soil moisture and fertilizer levels in real time. The simple app even has a database of over 8,000 plants to give seniors advice on how to help their favorite flowers thrive

Additional stations at the event included a Wi-Fi Slow Cooker, Wi-Fi vacuum, Wi-Fi cat (Joy for All Orange Tabby Cat), electronic pet feeder, electronic fork that tracks eating habits, smart door locks and video cameras, glass break sensors, water/flood sensors, motion sensors and other safety devices.

Smart home technology can help families avoid the wrenching decision and the expense of moving an aging parent to an assisted living facility. A connected home ensures seniors can continue their daily routine while maintaining, and even enhancing, their quality of life in their own home.” – said Ryland Madison, director of product marketing, Cox Communications.

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Cox Communications continues to aggressively invest in its network as well as new ventures such as healthcare and Internet of Things to better power smart homes, smart businesses and smart cities of the future. Cox has invested $15 billion in its infrastructure in the past 10 years and is investing another $10 billion in the next five years to bring fiber closer to homes, increase speeds and improve products.

For more information about Cox Communications, please visit here.

Some images and video are property of Cox Communications and used with permission.

Mother’s Day Personalized Jewelry & Gifting Options by Centime

April 16, 2018 / Lifestyle

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

Mother’s Day is almost here and it’s the perfect opportunity to do something nice for all of the mothers and mother figures in our lives. Mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, aunts, mother-in-laws, best friends, etc.There are so many special women to honor and remember on this holiday that’s just for them. This year, I’m planning ahead and remembering the moms in my life with something meaningful and personalized. Centime sent me a couple of Mother Daughter Necklace sets and they are beautiful. Their personalized mother’s necklaces are beautiful quality, can arrive in a gift box if you choose, and are great gifting options for Mother’s Day. Personalized Mother Necklaces
Not only will a personalized necklace for mom will be a great gift for every mother but it’ll also become a great family keepsake. Centime has a large selection of mother necklaces which include new mom necklaces, mother daughter necklaces and necklaces with kids’ names.

The necklaces are sterling silver with 18K gold plate options and are engraved with children’s names. ,
Handwriting Jewelry
Capture those beautiful, meaningful handwritten words and keep them close to your heart with a handwritten necklace, handwriting bracelet or one of Centime’s handwriting ring gifts.These memorial handwriting jewelry pieces make the best keepsake gifts.
If you have an old card with your parents or grandparents’ signature or loving words on it, you can have it made into one of these memorable pieces. This handwritten jewelry pieces are available in sterling silver with 18K gold plate options.Mother Daughter Necklaces
Celebrate mother and child love with this selection of mother daughter matching necklaces, such as the mother daughter heart necklace set and the mother and child necklace. These mother and daughter necklaces are 100% sterling silver with 18K gold plate options.Stackable Mothers Ring
A set of stackable mother rings with kids’ names are the ultimate expression of family pride and motherly love. Perfect both as gifts for new moms and as keepsake jewelry for yourself, these beautiful rings are 100% sterling silver with 18K yellow and rose gold plate.Grandma and Mom Necklaces
You can’t forget to order something special for Grandma, too. Centime has a collection of personalized grandmother necklace with names, which are available in sterling silver and 18K gold plated silver. Their grandmother’s necklace is handstamped or engraved with grandchildren’s names or family names. Choose from grandmother and granddaughter necklace or even a great grandma necklace. The special grandmother(s) in your life will be touched to receive this special gift full of love from the whole family.To view Centime’s entire collection of personalized jewelry and gifting options, perfect for Mother’s Day, please visit their site here. You can also check out their Instagram feed here.

Images are property of Centime and used with permission.

Tips for Teaching Your Child to Be a Responsible Cat Owner

April 9, 2018 / Lifestyle

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LoveTheseCleanPaws #CollectiveBias
A couple of years ago, our family adopted two cats from a local animal shelter. Although the adoption process was lengthy and thorough and required a lot of patience, I can honestly say it was one of the best bonding experiences we’ve been through together as a family. tips-for-teaching-your-child-to-be-a-responsible-cat-owner-plus-printable-kitty-accountability-chart From the moment we brought home our cats, a momma and her kitten, we vowed to shower them with love and cuddles and pamper them as much as possible.After such a rough start to their lives, our cats deserve to be spoiled. “Lucy” and “Lilly Belle” have filled our hearts and taken over our home. The sky’s the limit at our house for these two. They have special food, a hand-decorated water dish, pretty homemade blankets to lay on, a plethora of toys, and of course, only the finest kitty litter for their box: Fresh Step® Clean Paws™ Multi-Cat Scented Litter with the power of Febreze™! It works so well for us and is formulated for homes like ours that have more than 1 cat.Because it’s formulated with a special blend of larger particles, Fresh Step® Clean Paws™ is designed to stick less to your cat’s fur and stay in the box, which is a win-win. (Click on the image below to shop for this amazing product.)

I’d never want my cats to be embarrassed and have others know they were just doing their business in the litter box! Some things are just better when they’re kept private! teach-your-child-how-to-care-for-a-family-pet I purchased my Fresh Step® Clean Paws™ litter at Target in the Pet Food & Supplies area. Can’t you tell by the red shopping cart? Be sure to be on the lookout for a Cartwheel offer running from 4/1-4/7 to find even greater savings on this game changing product. fresh-step-at-target I adore watching my daughter interact with our cats. She has such a special bond with them, especially the younger one. Prior to their adoption, she begged for a pet and now that we have them, I like to involve her in helping out with some of their daily pampering. bond-with-the-cats Teaching her to be a responsible pet owner is something I feel is important. I think it also helps her to see that there’s more to life than just her own needs. tips-for-teaching-your-child-become-a-responsible-cat-owner-5 I created a “Kitty Accountability Chart” to help track my daughter’s daily cat-related responsibilities. She helps out with feeding them, making sure they have fresh water each day, brushing them, and making sure they get their exercise. (I handle the litter box myself, which is so much easier with Fresh Step® Clean Paws™.) tips-for-teaching-your-child-to-be-a-responsible-cat-owner-3 The chart is a great tool to have posted somewhere visible and I also use it as an incentive to earn extra screen time. Download your own printable copy of my “Kitty Accountability Chart” for free here. printable-kitty-accountability-chart Are you a cat owner? Do you have anything special you do to pamper your cats or other pets? I’d love to hear about it. Please share with me in the comments.

New Disney Eats Collection by shopDisney

April 7, 2018 / Lifestyle

I received promotional products. All opinions are 100% my own.

A great way for parents to connect with their kids is in the kitchen. There’s something to be said about spending time together cooking or baking up something special to enjoy together, like these Mickey Mouse cookies we made together. (To recreate this simple recipe, click here.) Well, shopDisney just created the most adorable “big” and little” sets for chefs of all sizes to wear and use in the kitchen together and you’re going to want to get your hands on all of it! This exclusive collection is available online, and in stores starting 4/23. Now you can cook and bake together looking extra cute!

Here are a couple of the items you might deem as necessities on your list:

Mickey Mouse Chef’s Hat and Apron Set for Kids – Your little Mouseketeer will be excited to join you in the kitchen to make fa-mouse treats with this apron and hat set. With dimensional Mickey ears and a fun ”Hi!” apron, this set from Disney Eats makes cooking fun.
Minnie Mouse Chef’s Hat and Apron Set for Kids – Cook up something wonderful in this polka dot apron and chef’s hat featuring Minnie Mouse EARs. This essential set is the perfect ingredient to make family meal times magical.Mickey Mouse Measuring Cup Set – Mickey cooks up a fun mood for measuring with these expandable silicone cups. Each size shows Mickey with a different expression on his face and it’s a great way to teach kids about fractions.
Mickey Mouse Food Mold Set – You can now mold fun treats in the shape of Mickey Mouse. Cut out your favorite toppings in the shape of Mickey’s eyes and smile and add extra flavor to your finished product.Mickey Mouse Food Storage Container – Mickey will be the most popular companion at the lunch tables and keeps food fresh with the storage container. This leak-proof design features a flexible silicone tray and snap-tight plastic lid with a winking Mickey and built-in spork.

How cute are all of these pieces? Which one is your favorite? To check out the entire collection, please visit here.

Join in on the conversation on social by using #DisneyEats and share your fun Disney creations from your own kitchen! Be sure to tag @shopDisney in your posts, too! For some Disney-style cooking and baking inspiration, check out our friends over at The Healthy Mouse, a blog that has the most adorable, edible Disney creations!

Some images and logo are property of shopDisney and used with permission.

To Infinity and Beyond With Eats and Treats During Pixar Fest at Disneyland Resort

April 3, 2018 / Disney, Disney, Disneyland Resort, Family Fun, Orange County, SoCal Fun

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

In case you haven’t heard yet, the first-ever Pixar Fest is coming to Disneyland Resort starting April 13 and I couldn’t be more excited! It’s the biggest theme park celebration of beloved stories and characters from Pixar Animation Studios. During PIxar Fest, the culinary team at the Disneyland Resort looks like they’ll go to “infinity and beyond” with special thematic eats and treats offered especially for the festival! Park guests will find that many of their favorite Pixar Pals are the inspiration behind some of the limited-time treats offered. Let’s look at some of them and where you’ll be able to find them in the parks.Tuna Poke at Cove Bar (March 16 to end of May) and then when the location transforms to Lamplight Lounge opening June 23. (Disney California Adventure park) Deviled Eggs and Toast at Cove Bar (March 16 to end of May) and then when the location transforms to Lamplight Lounge opening June 23, 2018 (Disney California Adventure park)Fried Bologna Sandwich at Carnation Café (Disneyland park)Pork Chop TV Dinner at Carnation Café (Disneyland park)Shrimp Ratatouille Byaldi at Café Orleans (Disneyland park)Charcuterie Plate Starter at Cafe Orleans (Disneyland park) Green Pesto Pasta in Tomorrowland (Disneyland park)

Pixar Fest Celebration Cake – This scrumptious cake is inspired by the familiar yellow Pixar Ball and can be found at Plaza Inn (Disneyland Park) and at Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta. (Disney California Adventure park)Berry Funnel Cake at Golden Horseshoe (Disneyland park)“Lotso” Funnel Cake at Hungry Bear Restaurant (Disneyland park)Rootbeer Float served in a Souvenir Woody’s Boot at Golden Horseshoe (Disneyland park)“Lotso” Strawberry Churro in Tomorrowland (Disneyland park)
Cocoa Churro in Frontierland (Disneyland park)
Alien Macaroon in Tomorrowland (Disneyland park)In addition to all of these limited-time food offerings for Pixar Fest, at Disneyland Park, the popular Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port will transform into Alien Pizza Planet: “A Better Place,” inspired by Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story.” Among the menu items will be new pizzas, including a special pepperoni pizza topped with green peppers and mushrooms, and a hearty cheeseburger pizza.Will you be sharing your Pixar Fest eats and treats with a friend, with your family, or just eating them all on your own? What are you most excited to try at Pixar Fest, which will run from April 13 through Sept. 3, 2018 at the Disneyland Resort. For more information about it, please go here.

Images are property of Disneyland Resort and used with permission.

Sanrio and O’Neill Collaborate for O’Neill ♥ Hello Kitty Summer Collection

April 2, 2018 / Lifestyle

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

Are you ready for the cutest collaboration of the summer? Well it’s about to happen! Sanrio, the global lifestyle brand best known for beloved Hello Kitty pop icon, has partnered with iconic surf and lifestyle brand O’Neill to create a playful offering of girl’s swimwear and related apparel & accessories sizes 2T – 6, beginning with Summer 2018.

The Summer collection will launch April 11^th,followed by a Fall capsule that will makes its debutin mid-May. Inspired by vintage aloha, the O’Neill ♥ Hello Kitty collection includes girl’s swimwear, cover-ups, graphic t-shirts and tank tops and beach accessories, all embellished with adorable Hello Kitty details. Highlights from the initial collection include a one-shoulder maillot with ruffles and an all-over Hello Kitty print, a woven cover-up with pom-pom trim and embroidered cutout design and a tote bag that morphs into a beach towel. The suggested retail prices for the collection range from $18 to $54.

O’Neill ♥ Hello Kitty will be available at Oneill.com, Sanrio.com, select Sanrio stores and independent specialty retailers starting on April 11^th. The Summer collection will also be available on Nordstrom.com and at select Nordstrom stores starting in early May.

Images and logos are property of Sanrio and O’Neill and used with permission.