The Easter Bunny will hop into town on Saturday, April 15 from 12 to 2:30 pm, when he visits with youngsters at Kaleidoscope’s Seventh Annual Easter Garden Party.
The free family event will kick off with an Easter egg hunt at 12 noon, beginning in Kaleidoscope’s courtyard. Passport cards will be given out to the first 300 children, directing them to the participating shops and restaurants where they will receive candy-filled eggs and prizes. The completed passports can then be handed in for a chance to win a Grand Easter Basket. Children should bring their own baskets to collect eggs.
In addition, the Easter Garden Party will offer a complimentary photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny for guests who bring their own camera. The fun afternoon will also include free face painting, a balloon artist, and a petting zoo with bunnies, baby goats, chicks and ducklings. It’s going to be so much fun and a great family event! Hope to see you there!
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Celebrate Disney’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ With Custom Invitations from Evite
The countdown is on until the release of Disney’s live action feature film “Beauty and the Beast” in theaters nationwide on March 17 in IMAX & 3D! I cannot wait for this movie.
As a huge lover of the original animated version of “Beauty and the Beast”, released in 1991, I am excited to see how this live version compares to the original. How can you not be excited for this adaption of everyone’s favorite Disney Classic?
I’m also excited to see it because I’m a huge Emma Watson fan. Not only is she a talented actress, her voice is amazing too! Have you watched the “Beauty and the Beast” Official Trailer yet? (Be sure to grab a tissue.)
Just in time for the film’s release, Evite has created a special Be Our Guest – Beauty and the Beast custom category of invitations that Disney fans are going to love! There are 10 invitations in the category to choose from, suitable for different events like Girls’ Movie Night Out, Dinner Party, Awards Party, Birthday for Kids, etc. How fun is that? Here are some of the designs.
My favorite invitation from this Evite collection is the Girls’ Movie Night Out design and I’m planning mine already so I can use it. My plan is to invite several of my closest girlfriends over, along with their kids, and host a Beauty and the Beast potluck dinner, prior to going out all together to see the film in the theater. I love that Evite allows you to include a list, when you send one of their invitations, so each of your friends can choose something to bring your party. Evite makes party planning so much easier especially access on my phone via the app. To view the entire collection of Beauty and the Beast invitations, go here.
In honor of Disney’s newest “Beauty and the Beast” film and one of my favorite characters from the animated version, I decorated a Beauty and the Beast-Inspired “Chip” cup. I love Chip! He just holds a special place in my heart. The mug is perfect for cocoa or coffee and is pretty durable. It was very simple to do and is something you can easily recreate on your own.Here are the supplies you’ll need to make your own:
- a plain, white ceramic mug
- fine and regular tip permanent markers (oil-based, paint markers work best)
- paper towels
- baby wipes
Directions for decorating your mug:
- Make sure your mug has been washed and is completely dry.
- Find an inspirational picture of Chip’s face to use as a guide.
- Start by coloring the rim of the mug with yellow (or gold) and use a black marker to create the “chip” at the top.
- Making sure the handle of the cup is centered as the nose, and start with black, drawing his face, including eyes, eyebrows, and mouth. Color in the eyes with blue and draw on cheeks with pink. *If you make a mistake, immediately wipe off your error with a baby wipe and dry the area with a paper towel before re-drawing.
- After you’ve drawn the face, use yellow (or gold) to color the handle. (a.k.a. the nose)
- Allow the mug to dry for a few hours.
- Before using the mug for anything, it needs to be baked in the oven. Start by placing the mug, on a cookie sheet, in a cool oven.
- With the mug already inside the oven, turn the oven on to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes.
- Turn off the oven and allow the mug to completely cool down inside the oven. This will prevent cracks.
Note: The mug is best if washed by hand.
Although “Beauty and the Beast” opens in theaters everywhere on 3/17 in IMAX & 3D, you can now purchase your tickets on pre-sale by clicking here. I already purchased tickets for all of my friends who are coming to my potluck party because I plan on being there on opening night! Have you gotten your tickets yet?
Don’t forget to follow Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest movie news! Connect with Evite on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, too.
LEGOLAND® California Resort to Kick Off LEGO® Batman™ Movie Days with Human Bat-Signal on 2/17 + Chance for Free Park Tickets
Calling All Caped Crusaders! LEGOLAND® California Resort is inviting children and parents out on February 17 to help bring to life the famous bat-signal used to call the dark knight of Gotham City, Batman!
The human bat-signal will officially kickoff the Family Theme Park’s The LEGO® Batman Movie Days, February 18-19 and 25-26. Guests will get to meet the LEGO super hero during this celebration of the Warner Bros. Pictures’ feature film, which also includes photo opportunities with the scene-stealing star, a themed scavenger hunt and LEGO Batman-inspired LEGO build activities.
The first 500 people to attend the bat-signal event will receive a ticket to LEGOLAND California Resort. Attendees will also have a chance to win LEGO Batman product through LEGO Batman Movie trivia. The LEGO Batman Movie Days activities are included in the price of admission to LEGOLAND California Resort.
Participant registration will begin on February 17, 2017 at 7 a.m. at the Park entrance. The First 500 guests (3 and older) will receive a ticket to LEGOLAND California Resort! At 8 a.m. Human Bat-signal will be displayed in ticket Plaza at Park Entrance. All participants will have chance to win LEGO Batman product through LEGO Batman Movie Trivia.
During The LEGO® Batman Movie Days at LEGOLAND, you’ll find the following activities:
- LEGO® Batman Character Meet & Greets*
- Life Size LEGO® Character Build
- Build & Test Your Own Batmobile
- Mystery Mosaic LEGO® Build*
- Miniland Scavenger Hunt* – The Villians have escaped!
- WB Family GameSpace featuring LEGO Batman Games* – Play all your favorite action-adventure packed LEGO Batman video games with these amazing superheroes.
*Event times, length of activities and dates are subject to change without notice. While supplies last.
For more information about The LEGO® Batman Movie Days at LEGOLAND or to purchase tickets, go here.
Santa Has Arrived at The Shops at Mission Viejo + Kidgits Holiday Extravaganza 12/17
Santa has arrived at The Shops at Mission Viejo and he’s waiting for you to come visit until December 24! Grab your wish list and head on down for a visit and special keepsake photos at the Santa Photo Experience! You’ll find Santa in his workshop, located downstairs in Why not make a reservation to see Santa? For more information and to make your reservation to see Santa, go here.
This year, The Shops at Mission Viejo is, once again, offering the Caring Santa program. This very special program is exclusive for families of children with special needs. This year’s event will be held on Sunday, November 20 from 9-10:30 a.m. To reserve your spot, go here. 
If you’re interested in having your pet photographed with Santa, you can register here for Santa Pet Photos, which will be held on Sunday, November 13 from 6-7 p.m., after mall hours. There is no fee to register but please make a reservation. 
Don’t miss out on this year’s festive Kidgits Holiday Extravaganza! The event will be held on Saturday, December 17 in the Center Court from 8:30-10:30 a.m. For more information about Kidgits Club, go here. 
Connect with The Shops at Mission Viejo on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
NINJAGO® World is Now Open at LEGOLAND® California Resort
Have you gotten a chance to visit NINJAGO® World yet at LEGOLAND® California Resort, yet? Our family has been anticipating its arrival since the first official announcement back in September! 
The newly-themed area opened at the beginning of May and even includes a brand new attraction, NINJAGO The Ride! 
Take a look at this video, highlighting the opening of NINJAGO® World. It even includes footage inside the ride! (video credit: LEGOLAND California)
NINJAGO The Ride is the center of NINJAGO World where interactive experiences test guest’s creativity, speed, balance and agility. It uses cutting-edge Maestro hand gesture technology, manufactured by Triotech, the world leader in media based interactive attractions, and enables guests to throw fire balls, shock waves, ice and lightning to defeat villains. Riders collect points for their training and battle efforts and scores are displayed when their quest is completed. Effects such as heat, smoke and wind are incorporated throughout the adventure, giving guests the ultimate interactive 4D experience. 
Twenty-two new LEGO models flank the new land, in addition to a new retail outlet, Wu’s Warehouse, which carries everything you might need to be a Ninjago ninja, regardless of your age or gender! 
The area also welcomed a new dining option for the hungry, Ninja Kitchen. LEGOLAND chefs put a special twist on Asian street food with Banh Mi sandwiches on fresh baked baguettes or steamed Bao Buns with crispy pork belly, lemongrass chicken or baked sweet chili tofu. 
NINJAGO World is included in admission to LEGOLAND California Resort. For more information, visit http://www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO (5346).
“Finding Dory” Free Printables Including Memory Game
I don’t think there’s a person out there who isn’t excited and counting down the days until “Finding Dory” swims in theaters on June 17! 
This long awaited sequel to “Finding Nemo” is going to be the best kickoff to our summer yet! If you haven’t watched the trailer yet, here it is:
Well, they just released a fun memory game and some other free printables for you to print out and enjoy with your family. I can’t wait to use the “Finding Dory” calendar! It’s a great way to keep track of our family’s schedule during our crazy-busy week! You can download and print these out by clicking on the links below each image.
To download this fun Finding Dory Memory Match game pages, click here. I highly recommend printing the game out on cardstock.
To download the Finding Dory Family Calendar, click here.
To download the Finding Dory dot-to-dot sheets, click here.
To download this Finding Dory coloring pages, click here.
Don’t forget to follow “Finding Dory” movie on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Will you be seeing it when it hits theaters on June 17? I know I will be!
{Giveaway} Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia” on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand June 7
Have you seen the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ comedy-adventure, “Zootopia” yet? Actually I should ask how many times you’ve seen it? (We’ve seen it three times!) This hilarious family film has broken records worldwide earning more than $900 million at the global box office to date and was named the best reviewed movie of 2016. 
Critics and audiences around the world have fallen in love with the wonderfully innovative animal metropolis of “Zootopia” and the comedic chemistry of rookie rabbit officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and scam-artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). The voice cast of “Zootopia” is epic. We rushed out immediately after seeing it and bought a bunch of Tsum Tsums to make this cute little stop-motion video on my daughter’s Musical.ly account.
Well great news…it arrives home on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand (does not include bonus) platforms June 7, 2016, viewers will not only be able to enjoy the vibrant world of Zootopia and reunite with their favorite characters, but also discover more about the evolution of this extraordinary tale through in-depth bonus offerings. 
Features include:
- candid conversations with filmmakers and artists behind Zootopia,
- an alternate opening
- never-before-seen characters and deleted scenes
- a sneak peek at some of the hidden Easter Eggs that make reference to Disney Animation’s most beloved films and characters.
Bonus features include*:
BLU-RAY 3D, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL HD:
- Zoology: The Roundtables: Ginnifer Goodwin hosts an in-depth look at the movie’s characters, animation, environments and more. The artists at Disney Animation give a rare and in-depth look at the complexities of bringing an all-animal world to life from the ground-breaking technology behind the characters’ fur and clothing to the varied and vast environments of Tundratown, Sahara Square and the Rainforest District as well as the deep thought and research given to bringing 64 unique animal species to life through animation.
- The Origin of an Animal Tale: Follow the story’s development from its origins to a big story shift that turned the film upside down. In this feature-length documentary, filmmakers give a candid look into the difficulties of creating the story of Zootopia and the bold decision to switch the main character late in the production process, putting one resolute rabbit center stage.
- Research: A True-Life Adventure: The filmmakers traveled the globe to find inspiration for the diverse characters and amazing city of Zootopia. They reflect on the importance of research and how a deep dive into animal behavior at Disney Animal Kingdom theme park and a deep immersion into animal society on the African savanna shaped and inspired the characters of Zootopia and changed the filmmakers’ lives forever.
- Z.P.D. Forensic Files: Find the movie’s hidden Easter Eggs. Every city has its hidden gems, especially when it has been created by the filmmakers of Disney Animation who love nothing more than sprinkling hidden references to some of Disney’s greatest animated features throughout the story.
- Scoretopia: Academy Award®-winning composer, Michael Giacchino spotlights five of cinema’s greatest percussionists and how they brought an organic, animalistic sound to his powerful and emotional music score.
- Deleted Characters: Directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore introduce citizens of Zootopia who did not make the final cut.
Deleted Scenes:
- Alternate Opening: Young Judy Hopps rescues a fellow classmate and realizes she can reach beyond a life in carrot farming to a future in law enforcement.
- Wild Times! Pitch: Nick desperately pitches the bankers of Zootopia on funding Wild Times!, an amusement park made exclusively for the predators of Zootopia and a sure-fire, money-making scheme for Nick and his friends.
- Alternate Homesick Hopps: After a frustrating first day on the force, Judy has a conversation with her parents. See how this scene changed from a heartfelt conversation with her parents to tough love when her parents discover their daughter is only a meter maid and not a “real cop.”
- Detective Work: Judy borrows a fellow police officer’s computer to conduct research, which turns out to be no small task.
- Alternate Jumbo Pop: In this early version of the story where Nick was the main character, the filmmakers and Jason Bateman were able to take hustling to a new level.
- Hopps’ Apartment: When Judy’s entire family pays her a surprise visit they are shocked to discover the company she’s keeping.
- The Taming Party: In this emotional clip from an early version of “Zootopia,” Judy attends her first “taming party” and gains a deeper understanding of the plight of the predator.
- “Try Everything” Music Video by Shakira
DVD:
- Scoretopia
- “Try Everything” Music Video by Shakira
DIGITAL HD EXCLUSIVE:
- International Character Reel: See the variances in news reporters in Zootopia around the world!
We’re so ready to own our own copy of “Zootopia” and be able to watch it together as a family at home this summer! I’m also having a giveaway! One of my lucky readers will win their very own copy of “Zootopia”! You can enter below on the Rafflecopter! Giveaway only open to US Residents. Good luck and thanks for reading!
Yogurtland’s 4th Annual “Flavor Quest” Returns Through June 1
One of our favorite places to go for a treat is Yogurtland. Have you visited a location yet? They always have so many delicious flavors, that it’s hard to decide on just a few. (luckily the cups accommodate more than 2 flavors at a time!) 
On a recent after school trip to Yogurtland, we got to experience something extra special happening. Their 4th Annual “Flavor Quest” is happening now through June1! Yogurtland’s “Flavor Quest” will take fans on a global culinary journey with nine hand crafted, custom flavors and three new toppings, in honor of nine countries around the world. A new flavor launches each week and will be available for two weeks. 
The fourth annual Flavor Quest special flavors and toppings are:
- Indonesian Chocolate Java Cake: This decadent dessert takes the cake with rich chocolate and subtle notes of coffee to create this Indonesian-inspired perfection.
- English Toffee: Blended with real butter toffee sauce, this rich gourmet sweetness will bring out your British side.
- Thailand Mango Coconut Tart: Taste a true tropical treat from Thailand and one of the country’s most beloved culinary combos. This flavor pairs two of the best mango varietals in the world and blended it with coconut water for a lightly tart flavor that refreshes your taste buds.
- Austrian Apple Strudel with Caramel: A new take on the classic Austrian dessert, this flavor blends real caramel, apples and notes of cinnamon for a delectable treat.
- Middle Eastern Fig & Honey Gelato: To create this sweet combination, figs, a staple from the Middle East, are paired with a touch of honey to create a rich and sophisticated gelato.
- Mexican Horchata: With real cinnamon and almonds, this creamy treat is an authentic spoonful of the deliciously sweet and popular Mexican rice drink.
- Argentinian Dulce De Leche Cookie: Creamy dulce de leche is combined with shortbread cookies to create an irresistible South American flavor.
- New Zealand Kiwi Raspberry Sorbet: This flavor-packed sorbet blends real raspberries and kiwi fruit to create a naturally sweet and crisp combination.
- American Peanut Butter Parfait: Enjoy a taste of true Southern comfort food without the guilt. This no sugar added flavor combines rich vanilla with real peanut butter for a delicious spoonful of flavor.
- Flavor Quest will also feature three new toppings: light French Galette cookies, rich and creamy Venetian Chocolate Truffles, and buttery Mini Shortbread Fingers.
So far we’ve tried 5 of the 9 flavors. We loved each one for a different reason so please don’t ask me to choose my most favorite! If you haven’t visited Yogurtland during their “Flavor Quest”, you should do so before it ends on June 1st!
Millennium Dance Complex Opening New Studio in Orange County, California on 4/16
The premiere studio of the commercial dance world, Millennium Dance Complex is opening a fresh studio in the heart of Orange County, California! Come out for the Millennium Dance Complex Orange County official Grand Opening party on Saturday, April 16th from 11am to 4pm! They’ll be offering free classes from all of the instructors. 
The grand opening event will include:
- A Magical T Dance Battle
- Giveaways
- Live DJs
- Live Dance Performances
- Free Classes
- Photo Booth
- The Hang Ten Taco Truck
The Grand Opening FREE Class Schedule is as follows:
11:00 – 11:45
Hip Hop | Katisha ‘Blaze’ Adams
Hip Hop | Jahmie Lynn
House | Scotty Hseih
11:45 – 12:40
Hip Hop | Ashley Nelson
Contemporaty | MaryAnn Chavez
12:30 – 1:15
Hip Hop | Romiah Puertollano
1:15 – 2:00
Hip Hip | Irene Ashu
Contemporary | Mackenzie Crosley
3:00 – 3:45
Hip Hop | Mikey DellaVella
Pumpfidence | Brittanie Brant
Reserve your spot now at http://www.mdcoc.com/schedule
For more information, please visit Millennium Dance Complex here.