Awesome Awaits at the Park…after dark! Brick-or-Treat Party Nights at LEGOLAND® California Resort are back for more Halloween excitement! 
The entire Park is open for Party Nights Saturday September 30, and every Saturday in October. The home of Halloween fun is filled with…
- Live entertainment + new shows!
- Character Meet and Greets
- Costume Contests: Group, LEGO® Theme, Most Creative
- Treat stations with more than one million pieces of candy
- Heartlake City Fall Festival with Pumpkin Patch Build and craft time with the LEGO Friends
- The AstroBash Dance Party
- Brick-or-Treat Party Nights Pop Badge Challenge
Also, don’t miss candy,decorations and your fishy friends at SEA LIFE® Aquarium included with your Party Nights ticket.
Brick-or-Treat Party Nights is a special event and admission can be purchased for as low as $49 if purchased online in advance. New this year, guests can purchase a full 2nd day Resort Hopper ticket to enjoy LEGOLAND California, SEA LIFE aquarium and LEGOLAND® Water Park.
We’re really excited to share more about Brick-or-Treat nights when we attend later on in October. For more information about Brick-or-Treat Party Nights at LEGOLAND® California Resort or to purchase tickets, go here.
I was so lucky to be invited to work out at my local Curves® location. Curves® is a one-stop-shop for every woman’s fitness needs. When you’re enrolled in Curves’ Fitness® Program you’re able to participate in a 30 minute, total-body workout on strength training machines. The circuit classes are designed to burn fat, increase strength, and kick start weight loss. It’s exactly what I needed to do for me.
This month, Curves is turning 25 this month and celebrating all month long with special offerings and happenings during the month of September. They’re even giving away a free annual membership for the first 25 new members at each location. 
During my first visit to the Curves near my home, I did the registration prior to my workout First, I was given a tour to familiarize myself with the facility (where to get water and towels, where to change and use the restroom, where to leave my stuff while I work out.)
I also got to meet with an instructor, on a one-on-one basis. She measured my height and took my weight and my measurements. Through an analysis, she determined where I am on the scale of health and also worked with me to set some personal goals and expectations for my working out this month at Curves.
Curves® can really help any woman on their journey to get stronger and feel empowered 
I’ll be working out over the next few weeks and sharing with you more all of it. Have you visited a Curves® before? If not, you should do it, especially during their birthday month! To find the nearest Curves location, go 
Cigna provided some useful fitness and nutrition tips to participants in the weeks leading up to the marathon weekend. Whether a runner, walker, or cyclist, participants can utilize these tips as a way to help accomplish their race goals.
For me, someone who hasn’t had a lot of race training, I really appreciated some of the tips and insight I found on their Facebook page and the way they tied in with 
The Cigna Blogger Meet-Up was held at Disney’s Grand California and began with a healthy lunch and a whole lot of photo taking. (because that’s what bloggers do.) 
We were placed into character teams, (I got to be on Team Donald), to collaborate a little bit before we were released into Disney’s California Adventure Park to compete in the “Cigna Great Race”!
Despite the fact that it was 99 degrees that day plus it was humid, our team really rallied through Disney’s California Adventure Park like a bunch of champs!
As we continued to check off challenges and intersections, I really felt the support from my “Team Donald” teammates. Whether it was completing a challenge where we had to collaborate with another team in the race or just completing tasks and intersections within our own group, I always felt encouraged by the others. 
The RunDisney community seems to be comprised of people who unconditionally support each other. It’s a great group to be hanging around with. 
Although I wasn’t running the Disneyland Half Marathon that weekend, I admired those who did complete it, especially in the (almost) unbearable weather condition which didn’t let up through the weekend.
Team Donald didn’t “win” the Cigna Great Race, but I still came out feeling a sense of accomplishment and made some new friends along the way.
Mickey and Minnie were wearing their best race outfits and were ready for photos with everyone! I even got to take my very own photo with them. How magical is that? The Cigna Blogger Meetup was so much fun and I feel lucky to have been invited!
If you don’t know who Charles Phoenix is, lean in. He’s a showman, tour guide, food crafter, and author known for his crowd rousing retro slide show performances, fun field trips, mad cap test kitchen videos, and colorful table books. He’s described on
On TV, Charles appears this season as a judge on Food Network’s Cake Wars: Christmas. He’s also guested on Storage Wars, Conan, Queen Latifah, and Martha Stewart, and is often heard on National Public Radio. Los Angeles Times says, “Call him the King of Retro,” and LA Weekly anointed him the “Kodachrome King.”
If you’re in the Southern California area, you’re to his Book Launch party Sunday, October 8th! A ticket purchase for the event includes a signed copy of his book “Addicted to Americana”! For more information or to purchase your tickets, go 
This is exactly what I teach my own daughter and try to live by, placing other important things above vanity. With that being said, the clock isn’t slowing down and I’m here to talk about something I did for myself in attempt to reverse some of the aging on my face.
I don’t know if life is more stressful nowadays or what exactly is going on but I felt like I was at a point where I dreaded looking at myself in the mirror. It honestly felt like every time I’d look in the mirror, all I would see was stress written all over my face…in the form of wrinkles! Do you ever feel that way? If the answer is “yes”, you aren’t alone.
I couldn’t stand my wrinkles! It was as if motherhood, marriage, my job, financial stuff, current politics, and age, all got together for a collaboration..on my face! Once I hit my late 30’s, it became a race to keep up and fight the aging process. It’s the worst! 
Luckily for me, I connected with an amazing female board-certified Orange County plastic surgeon Dr. Tenley Lawton. She’s a mom, too, so she gets it. She’s practiced cosmetic surgery for years now and I actually have a couple of friends who have gone to her for reconstructive surgery after battling Breast Cancer.
During my consultation, I felt like Dr. Lawton really listened to me explain my concerns and expectations for the visit. My biggest areas of concern included:
Dr. Lawton gave a thorough analysis about what she could (and couldn’t) do to counter the wrinkles and other areas on my face that were bothering me. 
She suggested non-surgical options, which was fine with me because I’m not even close to ready for a face lift. Using Botox injections is very effective for the problem areas I mentioned above.
Did you know that as you age, your face loses its fullness too? As if wrinkles weren’t bad enough, now my face was falling? There’s no way I’m willing to “age gracefully”! I fully intend to fight this process and not let it get the best of me! 
In addition to some of the areas on my face with Botox, Dr. Lawton also suggested using some Juvederm Voluma in my cheeks. in the areas formerly known as the “apples” of my cheeks. 
Know before you go
What does it feel like?
I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Tenley Lawton and that I had such a wonderful experience. She is passionate about her work and about her patients, regardless of what they’re in the office for. Her passion is even obvious on her social channels like 
LEGO® NINJAGO® Days are new for this year and guests will be able to join their favorite ninjas – Lloyd, Jay, Kai, Cole, Zane and Nya – to experience LEGO NINJAGO attractions, meet LEGO NINJAGO characters, and celebrate the September 22 opening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ all-new big-screen animated adventure THE LEGO NINJAGO MOVIE! With unique building activities, giveaways and more, you won’t want to miss out on the fun! Have you watched the trailer yet? Here it is:
Mystery Mosaic LEGO® Build -Work together to build a LEGO mosaic and check out the LEGOLAND Calfiornia Facebook page to see it completed! Please note: This activity will be available on a first come, first serve basis. 
All of the activities available during LEGO Ninjago Days are included with the price of a regular park ticket. For more information or to purchase your tickets ahead of time, please go 
Nowadays, students have such rigorous curriculum and the educational expectations are immense but necessary for this generation of 21st Century learners. Kids need an outlet for their energy and built up stress. They also need a place to play and interact with their peers. Having proper equipment and facilities on a school campus is crucial for this.
I am also a first-grade teacher in an extremely impoverished area and am all-too-familiar with the site of a playground that is lacking in every way. A couple of years ago, the playground at my school site had minimal “toys” (a.k.a. a tiny and very old play structure) for the students to play on and the free space to run around and play organized sports games was sad. Fortunately for the students at my school, we received a playground makeover and it was a true gift for them.
Sadly, there are still so many school campuses throughout Southern California, actually nationwide, that lack necessities. I’m here today to talk to you about Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s 
This past summer, Dr Pepper Snapple Group kicked off the “Let’s Play High School Makeover Challenge”, a video contest benefiting student-athletes at underfunded high schools across the U.S. The winning school will receive $100,000 in brand-new athletic equipment. The Let’s Play High School Makeover Challenge is the largest one-time donation Dr Pepper Snapple will make as part of the company’s Let’s Play initiative. How exciting is that?
Guests visiting this year during Halloween Time will be able to experience Halloween for the first time in Cars Land in Disney California Adventure, as it’s transformed with a special HaulO-Ween makeover.
The citizens of Radiator Springs will don Halloween costumes and decorate their respective homes for the season. Lightning McQueen, Mater, Cruz, Red and DJ will be all dressed up–as a super hero, a “van-pire,” a pirate, a clown and a punk rocker, ready to go “trunk-or-treating.”
Attractions will be transformed, too, with Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree turning spooky as the Graveyard JamBOOree, and Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters getting a seasonal twist to become Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween. 
Scary the Scarecar will stand guard over the entrance to Route 66, a preview to the Haul-OWeen transformation awaiting guests in Cars Land. With Fillmore’s Jack-Oil Lanterns, the web spun over Flo’s by a Spider-Car, and the Cozy Cone dressed up in car-stumes, the townsfolk turn Radiator Springs into Radiator Screams.
Disney California Adventure also will be featured for the first time as part of the pre-party mix-in for Mickey’s Halloween Party, a separate-ticket event that features special entertainment, Disney characters in their Halloween attire, and trick or treating at locations throughout Disneyland. 
This year, a ticket to Mickey’s Halloween Party has even greater value as guests will be able to visit Disney California Adventure as well as Disneyland during the three hours prior to the beginning of the party in Disneyland.
Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party went on sale July 17 for Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club members and Disney Visa Card holders and on July 24 for the general public so you should purchase yours before they sell out. For more information about Mickey’s Halloween Party, including dates, read the post I wrote about hit here. Party tickets may be purchased online and on mobile devices at 
What are you most excited about this year during Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort? Share with me in the comments!
Road trip prep and packing has changed over the years. Gone are the times of loading up the car with pillows, blankets, snacks, and paper maps for a road trip. Do you remember watching your parents use actual map books? (and even squabbling over which route to take?) I do. I don’t even think kids nowadays know what paper maps are. I mean, with technology, the need for those kinds of maps seems obsolete.
One thing that was so helpful to have on our road trips was our
If you aren’t familiar with Navdy, it’s a Head-Up Display system you install on your vehicle’s dashboard. Navdy has many convenient features for you to access, all while remaining hands-free and keeping your eyes on the road thanks to hand gestures, voice control, and the dial attached to your steering wheel. With smartphone information like texts, maps and calls projected directly in your line of sight, you never have to look down at your actual phone.
Let’s face it, cell phones and distracted driving are a big problem nowadays. Navdy also has these other technological features:
Keeping your eyes on the road, especially in a road trip situation, is the most important thing. With the projections right in front of you on the screen, it minimizes the distractions because you don’t even have to look away to do such things as use maps or voice command to call one of your contacts. Navdy is set up to project into the distance with transparent images, so the road stays in focus at all times.
Navdy is projected onto the screen right in front of you and is clearly visible to the driver whether it’s bright and sunny outside, cloudy and grey, or there’s a dark, nighttime sky. There was no need to feel like I was rushing to beat the daylight to still be able to use it. I also didn’t have to worry if it was cloudy or even if it rained outside. Navdy has the capability to be visible to the driver regardless of the lighting situation and the weather outside, and that was reassuring.
I already mentioned that maps is one of the basic features on Navdy. However, the part I really appreciated the most about using Navdy on a road trip was the fact that no matter where we were driving, especially in the middle of nowhere, Navdy still had capability to navigate. Thanks to its onboard GPS, Navdy has a clear line of communication with the satellites above. Since its access comes from offline maps stored within the device, it didn’t matter if there was cell reception or not. How many times have you been on a road trip and had your “maps” go out because your phone had “No Service”? That’s scary! Being able to access maps through Navdy, regardless of where we were, was the ultimate win on our road trips.
In addition to these things, being able to make phone calls, receive and reply to text messages, and control the music in the car ― all while remaining hands-free ― was very convenient and something that helped our family on our road trips. You can customize your Navdy’s display system ahead of time, too. 
Whether you’re going someplace local or are out on a road trip, you want to avoid distracted driving at all costs because it isn’t safe and can result in dangerous, unsafe situations for all of those on the road. Navdy technology was an immense help on our road trips and I highly recommend it for everyone! .
Now if Navdy could just come up with a feature that stops kids from asking “How many more minutes?”, that would be the ultimate dream!
For more information about Navdy, please go