I have been so excited about Disney’s “Moana” since I first heard the announcment about it, I was ecstatic. 
Disney Animation Studios never ceases to amaze me! She’s beautiful, as is the scenery! I love visiting Hawaii and cannot wait for this film to be released on November 23, 2016! \Watch the new teaser trailer:
“Moana,” is an animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity. 
“Moana” is directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements
and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”) and produced by Osnat Shurer (“Lifted,” “One Man Band”), 
“Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016. Find Moana on Facebook and Twitter.
DIY Decorative Mason Jars for Kitchen Organization
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PowerfulFusionClean #CollectiveBias 
We recently moved into a new home and I am absolutely in love with having everything brand-new, especially my kitchen. One thing I still haven’t gotten used to in this kitchen though is having such a large countertop space. My counter top is grey quartz and includes the sink, the prep area, and an area to sit at barstools, directly in front of the sink. There’s no real separate place to set my dish cloth, pot scrubber, and my dish liquid, NEW Palmolive® Fusion Clean™.
It seems kind of awkward to have these things sitting right in front of where people gather, The big countertop is intended to be the focal point of the room. It’s also the area where everyone’s things “land” when they come home, like keys, wallets, planners, etc. I’m going to share a picture of what my counter top looks like on any given day with you, so please don’t judge. 
I realized that I needed help staying more organized in that area. So I decided to make a decorative sink organizer using a Mason jar, that I could keep right up on the counter. 
Lately, I’ve been doodling and coloring in those adult coloring books, as a way to relax. Have you seen those yet? I wouldn’t call myself an artist but I got brave and decided to draw my own design on the Mason jar….freehand! (I practiced on paper first, of course.) 
It was so easy to do. Honestly, if you feel like it’s not looking cute, just wait until you admire it from afar. There are parts of mine that turned out asymmetrical but don’t show. I’m kind of obsessed with my design! (see below to learn how you can make your own decorated Mason Jar) 
So let’s look closer at my sink area now. Storing the metal scrubber, the scrubber on a stick, and the dish cloth in the Mason jar seems to keep it all looking nicer. I like having my Fusion Clean™ Baking Soda & Lime out on its own because I use it so often. Have YOU tried it yet? 
New Palmolive® Fusion Clean™ dish liquid provides a Modern Twist on Cleaning™ It’s specially formulated for tough cleaning challenges and as you could see from my previous sink photo, my dishes sometimes pile up and don’t get washed right way. Luckily, the unique formula removes 24 hour stuck-on food. It’s available in Baking Soda & Lime (the green one) and Baking Soda & Grapefruit (the pink one).
I found mine at Ralph’s,on the household cleaners aisle, and couldn’t decide between the two, so I bought both! You can find New Palmolive® Fusion Clean™ dish liquid at Kroger and Kroger Banner Stores. (Ralph’s, Fred Meyer, and Food 4 Less). 
I love how organized my sink area jar looks now and how the colors shine through the Mason jar on my counter.
Pick up some NEW Palmolive® Fusion Clean™on your next trip. You can also grab a coupon for $0.50 off 22oz or larger one by clicking here. 
Here are the supplies you’ll need:
- a Mason jar
- fine point oil-based paint pens (I used black)
- cotton swabs
- nail polish remover
Directions
- Thoroughly wash and dry your Mason Jar.
- Draw your design onto the jar. I highly recommend practicing beforehand on paper.
- If you make a mistake, you can “erase” by dapping the area with a cotton swab containing nail polish remover. Make sure the glass is dry again before resuming the drawing.
- When you are completely happy with your design, allow the jar to dry for 24 hours.
- After 24 hours, you’ll need to “bake” your jar, to set the design on the glass. Place the jar, upside-down on a baking sheet, into the cooled oven, Turn on the oven to 350 degrees, allowing the jar to heat up along with the oven. Having the glass heat up with the oven, will help avoid cracking of the glass.
- Allow the jar to “bake” for 30 minutes. At this point, turn the oven off and open the oven door to allow the jar to cool down with the oven.
- Remove the jar after it’s cooled down.
- The jar will be completely sealed at this point. I highly recommend hand washing the jar instead of putting it into the dishwasher.
Ruby’s Diner Candy Shakes Extravaganza and Sliders: Just in Time for Summer
With summer just around the corner, Ruby’s Diner, the iconic Southern California destination for America’s favorite burgers, fries and milkshakes, is introducing new summer menu items. Ruby’s new rich, Candy Shake Extravaganza, three versions of tasty new sliders and a delicious new poke appetizer are available for a limited time.
Our summer menu items remind us of the best part of being a kid – a burger that fits in your hand and the special treat of candy. We updated that taste of nostalgia with popular flavors and together these are a perfect fit for the family-oriented atmosphere at Ruby’s. – Doug Cavanaugh, CEO and founder of Ruby’s Diner.
Ruby’s Sliders, small in size but big in flavor, are available in three mini-sized variations. American Sliders: Super-juicy, all-natural USDA choice beef, served sizzling hot on grilled Kings Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, topped off with tasty Ruby Sauce and caramelized onions.
Southwest Sliders: These are perfect for spicy food lover! Made with Cajun spiced all-natural beef patties, pepper jack cheese, salsa, and chipotle mayo, topped off with the deliciously addictive Ruby’s hot sauce.
Hickory Sliders: All-beef patties, cheddar cheese, onion rings, bbq sauce, topped off with tasty Ruby Sauce and crispy bacon. BBQ smokehouse fans won’t be able to resist these!
Ahi Poke: This appetizer is the perfect option for seafood lovers! It’s made with fresh-diced Ahi Tuna and onions in a ginger, sesame-soy marinade and served on crispy wontons with green onions. 
Candy Shake Extravaganza: Candy lovers, get your taste buds ready to experience the new decadent, thick and creamy shakes! The decadent Peanut Butter Snickers shake is made with real chunks of Peanut Butter Snickers, the M&Ms shake is loaded with nuggets of M&M morsels, or try crunchy, peanut buttery flavor of a Butterfinger shake.
In honor of the new Candy Shake Extravaganza, Ruby’s is launching a Show Us Your Shake Face photo contest, where fans are encouraged to share photos of their shake face – that deliriously happy face you make when you drink a delicious Ruby’s shake, using the tag #RubysShakeFace for a chance to win a pair of Go City cards, the ultimate multi-attraction passes. (Visit http://www.rubys.com for more details.
Finding Dory Snack Mix With M&M’s®
I love to make fun snacks. It’s even more “fun” if they’re something I can quickly throw together that tastes good and doesn’t make too much of a mess. Also, snacks with M&M’s® earn bonus points in my book! With Disney-Pixar’s “Finding Dory” in the front of my mind (since it’s about to be released) I made a batch of this “Finding Dory Snack Mix” the other day. Before we go any further though, have you watched the trailer yet?
When I was at the store the other day, a box of M&M’s® landed in my shopping basket, which isn’t a rare occurrence, considering they’re like one of my favorite candies. 
Then, I came across these adorable “Finding Dory” sprinkles. How could I not do something with these? So, I bought them both! 
Once I was home, I almost immediately opened the box of M&M’s® and starting to separate out the “Dorys” and the “Nemos”. You know all the blue and orange ones? (Do you ever do that?) I actually ended up sorting all of the candies and finally made a big heart! 
Since my mind is pretty much always snack-focused, I popped a couple bags of popcorn in the microwave and separated out any un-popped kernels.
In my cupboard I found some pretzels and some cute yellow, green, and blue sprinkles. In my opinion, sprinkles are magical! 
Finally, I grabbed a large bowl and started to combine the ingredients. First the popcorn and the pretzels, followed by the M&M’s®. Then the sprinkles. I saved the little “Finding Dory” candies for last so they’d land right on top! I love how cute the snack mix turned out! 
I love how the popcorn, pretzels and M&M’s® taste together. It’s the perfect combination of salty and sweet. For some reason, I always have cute little snack boxes in my stash, so I had to serve them in a coordinating box! I’m hoping they’ll help me to speak “Whale”! Yep, it’s all about “Finding Dory”!
Do you have a “go-to” snack that you make with M&M’s®? If so, share it with me!
Kaleidoscope Continues “Second Saturday” Pet Adoptions This Saturday 6/11
I am a huge supporter of pet rescue organizations and adoption events. I, myself, am a proud adopter of two cats. If you’ve ever peeked at my Instagram, you already know this. (Read my own pet adoption story here.)
I’m extra excited about the Pet Adoption Days at Kaleidoscope in Mission Viejo, which are held on the second Saturday of every month. Presented by CARMA (Compassionate Animal Rescue for Medical Aid), the Pet Adoption Day is from 1 to 4 pm and allows the community to come visit with dogs who need loving homes. 
Cats are also available for adoption, but aren’t brought out to the Pet Adoption Day. The event will be held in the center courtyard. Please remember “Adopt, Don’t Shop!” Hope to see you there! 
Kaleidoscope is located off the Santa Ana (5) Fwy. at Crown Valley Parkway in Mission Viejo. For more information, call CARMA at 949.542.4417 or visit http://www.gokaleidoscope.com.
ALDI: A Fresh & Affordable Option For Grocery Shopping
Let’s talk about grocery shopping. As a mom, I am always seeking out places to shop where I can get the best prices on high-quality foods, like natural, top choice meats and dairy, fresh produce (bonus points if it’s organic), and even non-GMO products! 
I try to be creative with ways to save money on our weekly grocery bill. I watch the weekly ads, cut coupons whenever possible, and even get a rewards card at certain stores. 
Last week, I experienced a whole new way to save on groceries. I was invited to try out grocery shopping at new ALDI. I found one in my area and I LOVED it and am super excited to share about it with you! 
If you haven’t heard of ALDI yet, it’s an amazing store offering quality groceries at great prices. You’ll soon be seeing even more ALDI locations pop up in Southern California, too! 
I’m at the point in my life where I don’t place as much importance on fancy marketing as I do affordability. As I mentioned before, ALDI offers groceries at amazingly low prices to customers. Ninety percent of the groceries ALDI sells are under its own ALDI-exclusive brands, which are regularly tested to make sure they taste just as good, if not better, than the national brand. ALDI-exclusive brands include:
SimplyNature® – line which includes USDA Certified organic and Non-GMO verified item
liveGfree® – exclusive gluten-free products
NeverAny! – products that are free from added antibiotics, hormones and animal by-products. 
Take a look at my own personal grocery haul in the picture above! I was amazed at how far my money went at ALDI. There were so many great deals and I was wow-ed by the selection they offered. I found so many of my weekly necessities and the pricing of the produce. There were so many organic offerings, too. I was beyond impressed with the selection of cheeses. There was even a whole aisle of wine to choose from! 
Premium, natural, and organic food should come at prices affordable for all, putting quality staple grocery items within everyone’s reach, don’t you agree? 
One thing you should know about shopping at ALDI is that they don’t provide bags to shoppers to put their groceries in. This helps keep their overhead cost down, translating into lower prices for you, the consumer. Honestly, we should all be bringing reusable shopping bags with us wherever we go anyway. When you pay for your groceries, the cashier places your items back into the shopping cart, and you have the option of either bagging them yourself or putting them in your car without a bag. I suggest coming prepared. (For a nominal fee, ALDI does have both paper and plastic bags for purchase.) 
Another way they keep costs low for shoppers is by putting shoppers in charge of their own grocery carts. Before you walk into the store, you can obtain a grocery shopping cart by leaving a quarter deposit, which unlocks the cart for you. At the end of your shopping trip, when you return your cart, you get your quarter back. This is such a clever system. Honestly, it’s not hard to return your cart to the entrance of the store. (I always do this anyway!) 
As a mom who’s trying to stretch our budget as far as possible, I am so happy that ALDI has made its way to Southern California. Being able to purchase the high-quality of products there at their amazingly low prices is really what matters most to me. For more information or to find a location closest to you, visit their site at http://www.aldi.us. 
Don’t forget to connect with ALDI USA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
{Giveaway} New Dinosaur Train DVD “Under the Volcano” Available on DVD July 12
Exciting news surrounding the PBS Kids’ popular series, “Dinosaur Train”! Fans of the production from The Jim Henson Company will be able to purchase a new DVD “Under the Volcano” on July 12! (I’m giving away a copy, too, so see below!)
Join Buddy and his family as they watch the mighty volcano, Old Smoky, erupt! In this DVD featuring dino-mite adventures, learn all about lava and geysers, see what happens when Mr. Pteranodon and Larry Lambeosaurus get stuck in a mud pit, and get inspired to make nature art when Buddy, Tiny, Shiny, and Don find ways to use a pile of leaves, petals, wood, and shells from the family nest. 
Here are the episodes included on the DVD:
“Under the Volcano” – Buddy, Tiny, and Dad take the Dinosaur Train to see Old Smoky, the local volcano. It’s such a spectacular sight that they go back for the rest of the family, only to discover they’ve already gone to see the volcano! The merry mix-up concludes as the whole family meets up just in time to catch Old Smoky erupting.
“Old Reliable” – Mr. Pteranodon and Mr. Lambeosaurus take all the kids to see a field of geysers – holes in the ground that hot water shoots out from! At the same time, Mrs. Pteranodon and Mrs. Lambeosaurus are relaxing nearby in soothing pools of warm water, called hot springs. In the end, the kids love seeing the geysers and then joining the Moms in their hot springs, while accidentally surprising Mr. Conductor who is secretly trying to relax in his own private hot spring pool!
“Nature Art” – Mrs. Pteranodon cleans out the clutter from the family nest and the kids are amazed at the pile of stuff – leaves, flower petals, pieces of wood, and shells. Tiny stops Mom from throwing out all the stuff, determined that she and Buddy, Shiny, and Don will find a use for it all. And, they do – the Pteranodon kids have fun making nature art on the beach using the items from the nest!
“The Big Mud Pit” – There’s big trouble at the Big Pond when Larry Lambeosaurus gets stuck in a mud pit, and then Dad tries to get Larry out, and ends up getting stuck himself. Buddy and Leroy Lambeosaurus have to think quickly to pull their dads out before some big meat-eater finds them!
“Derek the Deinonychus” – Buddy, Tiny, and Mom visit a family of Deinonychus dinosaurs with large, sharp toe-claws. They meet a kid named Derek who uses his toe-claws to not only hunt with but to carve great art!
“Triceratops for Lunch” – Our Pteranodon family eats lunch with their friend Tank Triceratops and discovers that he and his family are all plant-eaters, with great leaf-eating teeth and giant appetites!
“The Forest Fire” – When a forest fire comes to woods not far from the family nest at Pteranodon Terrace, the family takes the Dinosaur Train to visit a nearby area where a fire has already been. The Conductor leads the kids on a Nature Tracker hike through the woods to see how new life is growing back – even after the forest fire’s devastation.
“Sunrise, Sunset” – Dad takes the Pteranodon kids on an overnight camping trip where they watch both a sunrise and sunset, learning that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. The kids also find out more about nocturnal (night-active) animals, and diurnal (day-active) animals.
The Jim Henson Company’s “Dinosaur Train” helps kids ages 3 to 6 to apply scientific thinking as they discover new types of dinosaur species, compare and contrast dinosaurs to today’s creatures and embrace the living sciences of paleontology and natural science. DINOSAUR TRAIN airs weekdays on PBS KIDS (check local listings).
Enter to win a copy of your own on the Rafflecopter! Good luck everyone!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
See ‘Frozen – Live at the Hyperion,’ a New Stage Musical, Now at Disney California Adventure Park
Today’s the day! It’s finally here! “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion,” a new theatrical
adaptation based on Disney’s animated blockbuster film, opened today, at the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure Park in Southern California. This new theatrical interpretation for the stage immerses audiences in the beloved world of Frozen and takes audiences on the heartwarming journey of Anna and Elsa, with all of the excitement of live theater. Under the direction of Tony Award® nominated Director Liesl Tommy, the show features elaborate costumes and sets, stunning special effects, and show-stopping production numbers. An exceptionally large production, the show features an opening cast and crew of more than 200, six full musical numbers and a 2,200 square foot video wall which combine for an unforgettable theatrical experience. 
Disney Creative Entertainment, the arm of Walt Disney Imagineering responsible for live
theatrical entertainment at Disney Parks, has produced this new stage interpretation of “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” with all of the creativity and resources of its predecessor “Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” which ran for a remarkable 13 years at the 2,000 seat Hyperion Theater.
As would be expected from Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Parks, new technologies –
especially with projections, fabrics and special effects — will delight audiences in new and
unexpected ways. Guests are immersed in the world of “Frozen” from the moment they enter
the theater and are surrounded by a specially lit “Aurora” curtain. As the musical unfolds, the scenic design and large moving set pieces create a cinema-style energy enhanced by state-of-the-art projections that create dynamic environments for the performers. Custom sound design envelops the audience in music and audio effects. And, of course, there will be snow throughout the interior of the theater.” – on stage and over the audience. 
“Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” is based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios “Frozen,”
which is the number one animated feature of all time. It is the winner of two Academy Awards
(2014) for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.
“While our production of ‘Frozen’ stays true to the heart and soul of the film, we have adapted it for the stage so it’s truly a musical theater production that befits our beautiful Hyperion Theater. The goal of this creative team is to take all audiences, including those who know the film, and those new to these characters, on this exciting and touching adventure with Anna and Elsa. We know that for many in the audience, adults and children alike, this production will be a first or rare theater-going experience, and we want to make it as magical as possible. – Dana Harrel, creative entertainment executive with Walt Disney Imagineering
The new adaptation features music and lyrics by the creators of the film score, Kristen
Anderson-Lopez (“In Transit,” “Up Here”) and Robert Lopez (“Avenue Q,” “The Book of
Mormon,” “Up Here”), and is adapted from the screenplay by four-time Tony Award® nominee Chad Beguelin (“Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” at Hyperion Theater; Broadway: “Gotta Dance,” “Aladdin,” “The Wedding Singer,” “Elf”). “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” is directed by Tommy, who was recently nominated for a Tony Award® for her Broadway show “Eclipsed.” The choreographer is Christopher Windom and this is his seventh collaboration with Tommy. The musical supervisor/arranger/adaptor is Jason Michael Webb, whose Broadway credits include “The Color Purple,” “Motown: The Musical,” “Violet,” and “Memphis.” Clint Ramos, the principal costume designer, was also nominated this year for a Tony Award® for his work on “Eclipsed.” 
“I am approaching ‘Frozen’ as I would any new work – to search the story for what resonates most emotionally, which is the story of the relationship between Anna and Elsa, their coming of age and conquering their worst fears. It’s what made the movie so intensely satisfying and fresh. The theatrical version of ‘Frozen’ that my designers and I are creating for the Hyperion builds on the film’s emotional intensity using beautiful performances, thrilling choreography and the most cutting-edge design elements.” – Liesl Tommy, Director
A great amount of creative energies have been employed to bring “Frozen – Live at the
Hyperion” to the stage. Harrel and Tommy have assembled a team of creative talent from both Broadway and Disney to create this production. The principal designers are Robert Brill (scenery), Charles Lapointe (wigs), David Weiner (lighting), Aaron Rhyne (projections) and Broken Chord (audio), and Ramos (costumes). 
The challenge of bringing the animated non-human characters of Sven and Olaf to the stage was assigned to master puppet designer Michael Curry, who co-designed with director Julie Taymor the animal creations of “The Lion King” on Broadway, the magic mirror in “Snow White: An Enchanted Musical” at Fantasyland Theatre, and many other Disney parades, shows and projects, as well as projects for Cirque du Soleil and the Metropolitan Opera. Curry’s intricate designs created for Olaf and Sven allow the performers to connect with the characters and bring them to life on stage in new ways. 
More exciting news surrounding “Frozen” is that an entirely separate two-act Broadway production of “Frozen” is currently being prepared by Disney Theatrical Productions and is slated to join Disney Theatrical’s New York productions of “Aladdin” and “The Lion King” for spring 2018 at a theater to be announced. It will have a pre-Broadway engagement starting in summer 2017 in Denver!
To locate daily performance times and Fast Pass information for “Frozen – Live at the Hyperion,”, visit here.
The Melt at the Shops at Mission Viejo
The Melt, newly opened inside of The Shops at Mission Viejo is a fun, casual eatery that boasts bright white and orange decor and a menu that caters to cheese lovers of all ages!
The Melt’s menu is built around a simple key principal: better comfort food for today’s kids (and adults). They feature a variety of our favorite All-American classics on the menu, but prepare them in a way that doesn’t leave you feeling with discomfort or heaviness you sometimes take away from a typical “comfort food” meal. 
The Melt uses only the freshest ingredients, including locally sourced produce for their menu items. They’re nostalgic about their no-artificial-flavors-necessary offerings like ooey, gooey grilled cheeses melted to order. They offer juicy burgers made with a custom blend of Angus and Wagyu beef, chicken sandwiches, comforting homemade soups, and mac n’ cheese with real aged cheese. 
Oh and did I mention their all-natural sodas and shakes? You won’t find any artificial color or sweeteners used in them. Their handmade shakes are delicious! 
The Melt offers a great kids menu. The portions are hearty and are served with sliced apples. We added a salad onto ours. 
I believe our most favorite item on their menu, hands down, was the Mac Daddy! It’s a grilled cheese sandwich made with an Aged Sharp & Mild Cheddar Cheese Blend, Macaroni, and Bacon, served on grilled Artisan White Bread! This sandwich is everything!
The Melt prides itself on the ability to create some real happy moments for its customers, using quality ingredients including everything from high fructose corn syrup free-ketchup to artisan-baked buns to the season’s peak produce. As a parent who’s trying to feed her family the best food choices, this makes me a “real happy mom“!
To find the closest location to you, visit their site here.