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Lifestyle

{Giveaway} Rubba Ducks® Have Arrived at The Boathouse in Disney Springs! Enter to Win One of Your Own!

August 22, 2015 / Disney, Lifestyle, Travel

You may have heard some major QUACKING goin’ on at The Boathouse Restaurant in Disney Springs and it’s not Donald Duck! They’re actually Rubba Ducks® and you’re going to fall in love with them! (We have already!) Rubba Ducks are the premiere rubber duck toys with personality. Each one is super cute! They’re lots of fun to collect and give as gifts. They’re also the only non-Disney toy sold in The Boathouse gift shop.

Rubba Ducks® was founded in 1997 and was the first company to bring character rubber ducks to life. What’s special about these ducks is that they are uniquely designed to communicate their individual personality and characters. While there are the traditional-themed ducks dressed as police, firemen, sports and animals, these ducks go a step further in incorporating specialized hobbies and interests like a train con’duck’tor, a marathon runner duck, a ‘groovee’ duck, and even a duck who loves a good cappuccino!

Each of the Rubba Ducks® is adorned with a tattoo on its tail feathers reflecting its unique personality and has its own hatch date with an engaging bio found on its trading card.

It’s all in the details. These ducks are chock full of elements, from vibrant colors to ornate sculpturing to decorative costumes and designs. Here are 2 fun facts about Rubba Ducks that parents are going to especially love:

They float upright at all times. Rubba Ducks are designed with weights at the bottom so they will always float upright whether it’s in your own sink, bathtub or pool!
Most rubber ducks have a hole in the bottom which, when used in the bathtub, can retain mold. Rubba Ducks do not, which means Rubba Ducks don’t get moldy from being played with in the water!

You can enter to win a Rubba Duck of your very own, too! All you have to do is comment on this blog post, telling me who you want to win one for? (It’s ok if you say it’s for yourself). Giveaway ends on August 31st at 11:59 p.m. and I will choose one winner randomly on September 1st. Thanks for reading and entering! Good luck!

Swim on over and connect with Rubba Ducks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

{Giveaway} Summer Fun at BOOMERS Irvine! Enter to Win a Family 4-Pack of Tickets!

August 20, 2015 / BOOMERS! Irvine, Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County

This summer, we’ve been trying to make the most of our time off by doing as much as possible together before school starts! One of the items on my daughter’s Summer Bucket List was to spend a day out with friends at BOOMERS! in Irvine. If you haven’t visited BOOMERS! yet, it is so much fun for both kids and adults. It’s free to get in and walk around and there are a ton of things to do inside. (pricing for the attractions varies) Also, there’s no charge for parking.Here are just some of the attractions you’ll find at BOOMERS:

Miniature golf
Thunder Road Go Karts
Lil Thunder Road Go Karts
Bumper Boats
Rock Wall
Batting Cages
Laser Tag
King Arthur’s Carnival (kid-sized rides)

At BOOMERS! Irvine, you’ll also find a game room with a TON of arcade games. Some of the games even allow players to earn tickets that they can turn in for prizes!

It’s super convenient that BOOMERS! has an indoor snack bar for when the kids (and moms) get hungry. The menu offers a variety of food and drinks, including pizzas, salads, and kids meals.

As a parent, I like that I could go to BOOMERS! and be inside supervising everything that the kids were doing. The attractions area, itself, has a gate around it, and as you walk around, trailing your kids, there are several areas for you to sit and watch and chit chat with the other adults in your party!

Our group included 6 kids and 5 moms and we were there for over six hours on our visit! The kids just kept on going and did not want to leave when it was time to go. I highly recommend visiting BOOMERS with a group of friends. It’s a great way to create fun memories!

Pricing for the different attractions varies. I think the best value if you’re going for the day is the 4 hours of unlimited attractions for $39.99. However, they offer some amazing deals on passes too! To get more information about pricing, click here.

I’m so excited to be able to host a giveaway for my readers! Yep! BOOMERS! Irvine is giving me TWO family 4-packs of tickets to give away to 2 of my awesome readers! To enter, just follow the instructions below in the Rafflecopter. Oh and don’t worry, the winners’ tickets are good for any time, not just summer! (I know a lot of kids have already gone back to school) Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Connect with BOOMERS! Irvine on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Thank you BOOMERS Irvine for hosting us for a day of fun!

Your Love For Disney…..When Did It Start For YOU? #DisneySMMC #WDIS4U

August 18, 2015 / Disney, Disney, Lifestyle, Social Media, Social Media Conferences, Travel, Uncategorized

As a mom who loves Disney and shares A LOT about Disney online, it was such an honor for me to receive an invitation to the 2015 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. I am so grateful for all of the opportunities we (the attendees) received at the celebration, including access to hear amazing speakers like Jeffrey Epstein from D23. Jeffrey’s presentation at the conference had me teary-eyed (in a good, Disney way, of course) and beyond emotional. He shared one of D23’s latest campaigns with us called “When Did It Start For You?“.

The campaign asks Disney fans to share when they first remember falling in love with Disney and becoming a lifelong fan. It was fun to watch different clips of celebrities, a Disney Legend, some current Imagineers, and even some D23 fans. I couldn’t help but tear up as I watched each video. Listening to these people who all shared a common Disney bond share about their own personal reasons for loving Disney and feeling inspired by Disney was something I could relate to.

What inspired me the most though was when I looked up at the screen and realized there was a “When Did It Start For You” clip of someone that I knew up there! She’s mostly an acquaintance I know online, which is how this whole social media thing works, but regardless, to look up and hear Ashley speaking about her own experience was literally speaking straight to my own heart! The picture of her as a young girl was adorable!

It really hit home when she proceeded to talk about being bullied and how her love for Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” was her own escape from the ugliness of bullying. The “Ashley” I know online is a fun-loving, adorable Disney girl who posts tons of beautiful Disney photos. I had NO IDEA about all she’d been through and that she’d overcome so much. I admire her immensely for sharing her story on the big screen!

Watch her story here (you’ll probably need a tissue):

I’m trying to remember when it started for me? I can’t remember exactly though. I think I was a baby! I grew up living pretty close to Disneyland. When our family did visit Disneyland (it was a single park back then), it was in the summer and we always had to make the most of one day, from park opening to park closing. It wasn’t like present day where so many people are fortunate enough to have an Annual Pass and can just visit for a couple hours at a time.

I only have faint memories of my early Disneyland days. I can recall things like The Matterhorn, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, and It’s a Small World. I remember eating lunch at Carnation Gardens and I remember watching the Main Street Electrical Parade at night.

Our day at Disneyland was like the one day a year I didn’t fight with my younger brother since we were too busy being in awe of all the magic! What I do remember is that it was all about being with our little family and creating memories together.

As I got older, my love for Disney continued to grow and I’d visit Disneyland with my friends (and no parents. One of my high school dreams was to dance in one of the Disneyland parades. I never had the technical training to make it to the final cuts of Disney auditions, but I will say that it was fun to spend hours and hours on the old backlot of Disneyland where they used to hold the auditions.

Luckily for me, they created a parade for Disney’s 45th anniversary that guests could actually dance in. It was called “The Parade of the Stars” and guests were picked up along Main Street, U.S.A. in the Omnibus and taken backstage to learn their parts.

We got to dance the entire parade route from It’s a Small World to the top of Main Street, U.S.A.! I danced in it on two different occasions, so it was a dream come true…twice! They even gave each of us a commemorative pin for participating.

Once I became a mom, my love for Disney was something that I quickly passed on to my own daughter. Her first visit to the parks was at Christmas time when she was just 7 months old. I don’t know how much she remembers about that particular visit, but when she was about a year and a half, she and I started visiting the parks together approximately 2-3 days a week together.

My daughter and I watched “The Parade of Dreams” so many times during its run at Disneyland! Now, just hearing the music from that parade brings back all of the fun memories we created together when she was really little.

I would say that my love for Disney has come full circle because now I’m here blogging about it too. I could go on typing thousands of words about this topic too, but I think everyone gets the message loud and clear. “When Did It Start For You?” is something we can ALL relate to. It’s fun to hear others’ personal stories.

Do YOU have a particular memory or reason for when it all started for YOU? Share with me in the comments!

Family Travel Made Easier With the New Cars Daredevil Garage App! #DisneyPixarCarsToGo

August 5, 2015 / Apps, Travel

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DisneyPixarCarsToGo #CollectiveBias

At the beginning of summer, when we were making our “Summer Bucket List”, we thought it would be fun to add some family travel, like a little road trip for our family of 3, to the list. I love road trips. I love exploring new areas. I love driving in what seems to be the middle of nowhere because of all the beautiful nature. I just love the idea of getting away (but still having our own car). There is one thing I don’t adore about road trips though…the questions that come from the back seat!

I’m almost sure the Road Trip Fairy timed the release of a new app called Cars Daredevil Garage to coincide with our road trip this summer because it came out right before our trip!

My daughter LOVES watching the Disney Pixar Cars movie and anything Cars related! The Cars Daredevil Garage app is fun for kids (and moms like me) because they get to join Lightning McQueen, Mater and all of their favorite Cars characters to power through virtual worlds of heart-racing stunts. There are over 160 cars to choose from in the new Cars Daredevil Garage app! The app is now available as a free download and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It’s optimized for iPhone 5, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6.

How cute does it look?

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Go to the App store on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or iPhone. (I have it downloaded on more than one device).
Search “Cars Daredevil Garage: App. It’ll look like this.
Click “Get”. Be sure to have your Apple ID ready because it usually asks you to enter it when you download a new app.
Click “Install” and wait for the app to fully download.
As soon as it’s fully downloaded, it’ll look like this on your desktop.

Before we left on our road trip, we made a special trip to Toys “R” Us to check out some of the Pixar Cars toys they had and found some exclusive Cars Die-Cast vehicles like Hudson Hornet, Antonio Veloce Eccellente and Green Ramone that are exclusive to Toys “R” Us. They also had a bunch of the Radiator Springs Story Sets on the shelf, so I grabbed one to bring with us for the hotel room.

You can find all of these fun Cars toys in the toy section. I didn’t refer to any of it as a “Boys Toys Section” or “Girls Toys Section” because I’ve always encouraged my daughter just to play with anything and everything!

When you first open the app, this is the screen you’ll see. *Cue the fun music As you navigate through the game, you’ll be given choices for things you can play.

I appreciate that the app informs users, right away, about in-app purchases. It’s always important for kids to get permission from parents before adding on these kinds of things, especially when they know the password to easily download things on their own.

The app also gives you tips on how to scan in some of the Die-cast vehicles to add to your own garage in the game. It’s important to note that they must come from specially marked packages to work with the scanner. After you have them scanned in, you can actually play with those cars in the app. It’s really cute! We’re kind of partial to the Green Ramone.

Although I don’t encourage my daughter to be on her device for hours at a time, it was nice to have her engaged as we set off on our road trip. It was also so cute to hear all of the sounds coming from the game in the backseat. I can’t get enough of Lightning’s voice! The Cars Daredevil Garage app is such a fun game and I loved the Ultimate Piston Cup Speedway Set we bought for the hotel room because it kept her occupied.

What do YOU do to keep your kids occupied on a road trip or when you’re on-the-go?

In-Store at Toys “R” Us 25% Off All CARS Die-Cast $9.99 And Under (7/26 – 8/22)

I’m a Lifestyle Blogger Who Teaches. Does That Make Me a “Teacher Blogger”?

August 3, 2015 / Lifestyle, The Teacher in Me

Did you know, that in addition to being a Southern California lifestyle blogger, I’m a teacher too! Yep, I teach full- time during the regular school year. I’m a first grade teacher. I love first grade! So, if I’m a blogger who teaches, does that make me a “teacher blogger”? It actually doesn’t, but it was a fun thought to ponder.

Teacher bloggers are a totally different breed, as in way awesome! It’s like a whole other world of blogging and for me, it’s so much fun to explore and look through teaching blogs! Not only are teacher bloggers holding it down in the classroom and doing an amazing job teaching, but they’re also producing some crazy creative stuff on their blogs! Did I also mention that a great majority of them are also Teachers Pay Teachers sellers? If you’re not familiar with what that is, it an online curriculum store that’s like a Disneyland for teachers! Seriously though, teacher bloggers are total rockstars!

I’ve decided that THIS school year I’m going to attempt to blog a little bit more about teaching! I’m not going to stop doing what I’m doing as a lifestyle blogger, I’m just going to feature some of what I’m trying in my classroom on my blog! I’m been attempting to get some new motivation and inspiration through some of the teacher blogs I’ve been reading. I’ve been searching for ideas I can implement in my own school and classroom. Our school could really use a bit of inspiration right about now!

I’m sure it’s no secret that I love Instagram (and Twitter)! The other night, I came across this fun activity @farleyfarleyfarley’s Instagram. She’s one of those rockstar teacher bloggers I was talking about earlier. You should go check out her blog! (It’s way adorable!) “Currently” is just a fun way to share about what you’ve got going on right now! Here’s mine:

I feel lucky that I’m actually still on summer break because a lot of other teachers in different parts of the U.S. have already started their new school year! This school year, I’m going to make the biggest effort ever to knock it out of the park for both my students and I! I’ll do my best to “bring it” come August 28! Just you watch!

Handstand App – Workouts on Demand! It’s Like a Gym in Your Pocket!

July 29, 2015 / Apps, Technology/Social Media

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Let’s talk about working out! For many of us, including myself, getting into a good workout routine, and maintaining it, can sometimes be difficult. Whether your job requires long hours in the office, a series of what seem to be never-ending business trips, or just has you stressed out, it can sometimes cause you to get off track with keeping active. I know many moms who spend so much time caring and doing for others in their home, that they don’t leave much time for themselves. (I may be speaking from experience here.)

Here’s the thing…nowadays, it’s more important than ever, to maintain our health and an active lifestyle. We honestly can’t afford NOT to work out. We need to be here for our family and friends, especially those who rely directly on us. We need to be able to do our jobs and and do them well. We have appointments, errands to run, events to attend. Most of us have extremely busy lives and the best way to keep up with it all, is to stay healthy.

Well, there’s a new Handstand App that’s the perfect way to help balance all of it. For me, a lot of the reason I don’t find time to work out is because of my schedule. With this app, you can schedule workouts when it’s going to work for you!

The app, Handstand, is new and currently services the greater Los Angeles area. It gives users the ability to sort, book, and pay for top certified trainers and instructors to come to them…all with just a tap! With Handstand, you’re able to schedule a session of yoga at home, a cardio bootcamp class with your best friend at the park, or do some weight loss training at your apartment gym. Whatever your preference, you have that freedom to schedule what works for you! It’s like having a gym in your pocket!

All of the trainers on the Handstand app are $49 an hour and come from the top gyms and studios in LA such as Equinox, Barry’s Bootcamp, The Bar Method, YogaWorks, and many notorious others. The Handstand app has been featured on several news segments and publications such as Focus Magazine for Los Angeles.

The user base for the Handstand App is mainly comprised of young professionals, mothers, fathers, and families. The popular website HandstandApp.com, and now iOS app, allow users to choose their trainer, as opposed to just being assigned one at a gym. There’s no tipping, no hassle, and no cash payment involved. Handstand allows you to pay seamlessly through the app. You’re emailed a confirmation of your scheduled session and even sent a text one hour prior to your session! How helpful is that?

After a workout, users have the option to rate their trainer and leave a review if they wish. They can choose to rebook the same trainer for their next workout session or may also find another one. There are no contracts required!

It’s beyond convenient to be able to schedule a workout that fits your own needs, all from the palm of your hand. With the Handstand App, there’s no more dealing with driving in traffic or inconvenient class times or the lack of variety of workout options. There isn’t even a gym membership required. It’s just a free download of the app and you’ll be ready to get started!

Just remember, with the right trainer or instructor by your side, you can do anything! We face challenges everyday. Exercising shouldn’t be one of them! I have a special promo code for my readers too! It’ll save you $15 off your first Handstand session! Just enter the promo code below! So…what are YOU waiting for? Download the Handstand app today and schedule your next workout!

Connect with Handstand on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Some images property of Handstand.

LEGOLAND® California Resort is Adding a New LEGO® Ninjago™ Area and Ride for 2016!

July 28, 2015 / Family Fun, LEGOLAND, Lifestyle, San Diego

Have you heard thee latest news coming out of the LEGOLAND® California Resort? Well, they just announced that they’re adding a new expansion for 2016….a New LEGO® Ninjago™ Area and Ride is scheduled to open in spring 2016! Such exciting news for LEGO fans of all ages! I know WE can’t wait!

LEGO NINJAGO tells the story of four young Ninja heroes – Kai, Jay, Cole and Zane – who train under the watchful eye of Sensei Wu to master an ancient martial art – Spinjitzu.

LEGO® NINJAGO fans had 22 new building sets loaded with features and functions to choose from that were released this year. There have also been brand new episodes of the popular series, NINJAGO: Masters of Spinjitzu aired on Cartoon Network. Now with this new LEGO NINJAGO being added inside of LEGOLAND California Resort, fans of all ages will be able to have hands-on experiences with interactive elements and a new ride featuring the key characters from the NINJAGO universe.

The new NINJAGO area will be included in the cost of admission to LEGOLAND California Resort. To find more information and tickets prices, click here.

Connect with LEGOLAND California Resort on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images property of LEGOLAND California Resort and LEGO®.

{Giveaway} Disney Screen: Your Favorite Disney Films in Cinemark Theatres! Enter to Win Tickets! #DisneyScreen

July 28, 2015 / Entertainment, Family Fun, Lifestyle, Movies, Orange County

Disney Screen is coming to Cinemark Theatres! If you’ve never heard of Disney Screen, it’s an extra fun way to watch many of your favorite classic Disney films on the big screen! Starting Friday, July 31st, 6 select Cinemark Theatres across the U.S. will begin to feature 4 classic films each week. With a different theme for the movies each week, the theaters will run the films daily at 10:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. for an entire week! So basically it’s Disney films all day, every day! Oh and did I mention that the films are also accompanied with a short film? I LOVE classic Disney movies AND short films! What a great thing to do in summer with your family!

Here’s a sneak peak of what Disney Screen is all about:

Take a look at all of the fun films they’ll be showing starting July 31st!

Disney Screen admission is offered to guests as 4 different pass options, each at a great price! Each pass offers unlimited viewing for that time period.

Here are the passes you can choose from:

Daily ($5) -When you purchase any Disney Screen showtime, you are granted full day access to see all four Disney Screen movies on that same day.

Weekly ($10) – This pass grants you unlimited admission for 7 days.

Monthly ($20) – This pass grants you unlimited admission for 1 month.

Quarterly ($40) – This pass grants you unlimited admission for 3 months.

Please note: One pass admits one person.

Passes for Disney Screen can be purchased at the box office.

This summer, Disney Screen is offered at 6 theatres across the U.S., as it’s being tested out. The California Locations that are hosting the Disney Screen are Century Huntington Beach & XD and Century 25 Union City & XD. Here is a list of all 6 theatres.

I’m so excited to live so close by the one in Huntington Beach! I’m also excited to be able to give away 2 family 4-packs of passes to my readers!

Each prize pack will include 4 tickets and each ticket is valid for one free admission. The Disney passes are available in theatres which means you can just exchange it for a Disney Screen ticket when you arrive at the theatre! So cool, right? I’ll be picking two different winners to enjoy the passes with their families! All you have to do is enter my giveaway is leave a comment below telling me your favorite Disney movie AND your best email address in case you’re one of the winners! The contest will be open until Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at 11:59 p.m. I will draw two (2) winners using the Random Number Generator and notify them by email. I will also be mailing the tickets to the winnners’ homes. Must be a U.S. resident to enter and 18 years of age or older. Good luck everyone!

This is not a sponsored post. Images property of Disney Films and Cinemark Theatres.

Wines and Wishes Event at Kaleidoscope Center on July 30 to Benefit Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire!

July 26, 2015 / Kaleidoscope Center, Lifestyle

Wine lovers will once again enjoy a festive summer evening of wine tasting under the stars to benefit Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire, when Wines and Wishes returns to Kaleidoscope Center on Thursday, July 30 from 6 to 9 p.m. The fifth annual wine tasting will feature nearly 20 boutique and renowned wineries including Justin Vineyards, Cakebread Cellars and Rombauer Vineyards, along with bites from Kaleidoscope’s award winning restaurants, live jazz, raffles and more.

Wines and Wishes kicks off with a Champagne reception at 6 p.m. and every guest will receive a commemorative wine glass upon arrival. Small bites will be offered throughout the evening starting with specialty cheeses served by Chef Starr Cornwall. Riptide Rockin’ Sushi & Teppan Grills will be center stage as Master Sushi Chef Ken Cruz prepares freshly made sushi, while other Kaleidoscope restaurants tray pass small bites for all to enjoy. Donna B’s Bakery will be providing sweet treats, and Milk Box and Market 2 Plate, both opening later this year at Union Market Mission Viejo, will be serving samples.

A special VIP experience is also offered, where guests can enjoy their wine tasting with a private Sommelier in reserved seating, artisanal cheese and fresh fruit, and a swag bag. Tickets are limited for the VIP experience.

This is the fifth year for Wines and Wishes, which is sponsored by Kaleidoscope, Norm Reeves Acura of Mission Viejo and Salt Creek Wine Company. Between one and three wishes have been granted to Make-A-Wish children each year by Kaleidoscope’s Wines and Wishes event.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Pre-sale tickets are $55 per person or $100 per couple
Tickets at the door will be $60 per person at the door.
Limited tickets are available for the VIP experience. The cost is $75 per person.
Designated driver discount tickets are $25 per person.

Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

Kaleidoscope is located just off the 5 Freeway at 27741 Crown Valley Parkway in Mission Viejo. The center has Convenient self-parking, as well as a valet is available at the center.

Find Make-A-Wish on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.