Over The Top Mommy

Six New Retailers to Join The Shops at Mission Viejo

The Shops at Mission Viejo is preparing to welcome six new retailers to the center over the next few months. The stores, studios and restaurants will include Madewell, The Melt, Full Psycle, A Pea in the Pod, Soma, and Islands Fine Burgers & Drinksshops-at-mission-viejo-facade

Patsy Sanquist, Director of Marketing and Business Development for The Shops at Mission Viejo was quoted as saying, We’re excited to welcome a mix of new fashion, dining and lifestyle options for our shoppers.

Madewell debuted at the center on January 26. It’s the perfect shop to find great jeans and create an effortlessly cool wardrobe. The 3,400-square-foot store is located on the upper level, near Center Court. shops-at-mission-viejo-madwellThe Melt will be making its appearance with a 2,000-square-foot eatery and outdoor dining area in mid-February, with a location on the lower level near Nordstrom, The Melt will offer fresh American cuisine, made with 100 percent natural ingredients.

Also slated for a mid-February opening is Full Psycle, a full-body cycling studio with spin classes that pair standard indoor cycling routines with strength training and pilates-based core exercises.

Three more retailers are slated to join in the spring include:

  • A Pea in a Pod – a store featuring luxury and casual clothes for mommies-to-be. The store will be located on the lower level near Nordstrom.
  • Soma – will also join in the spring, moving into a roughly 2,200-square-foot storefront featuring lingerie and loungewear.
  • Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks – expected to join the center this summer, the restaurant specializes in gourmet burgers, fresh cut fries and tropical drinks that will pair well with their great happy hour deals.

shops-at-mission-viejo-logoFor more information, please visit The Shops at Mission Viejo on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ShopsAtMissionViejo, Twitter, and Instagram

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images and logo are property of The Shops at Mission Viejo. 

{Giveaway} You’re Invited to Irvine Park Railroad’s 20th Anniversary Celebration on 2/19 & 2/20

One of our family’s most favorite places to visit together is Irvine Park Railroad! There’s something about the nostalgia of a train!  I don’t think there’s a kid out there (or an adult) who isn’t fascinated by trains, especially when you can ride on them! Train Promotional Photo_1I wonder if the owners of Irvine Park Railroad, John Ford and Steve Horn, realized what a success their business would be, when they opened it 20 years ago?  The childhood best friends took a chance and opened up in Irvine Park at first as a concession business. From there they expanded to include paddleboat rentals, then added a catering business Finally, after wanting to add more activities and attractions for park visitors, they founded Irvine Park Railroad in 1996. IMG_9518Irvine Park Railroad is one of Southern California’s most popular family destinations, taking . Not only is the railroad open as a regular part of Irvine Regional Park, but they also have events and offerings during special times of the year, such as the annual Fall Pumpkin Patch, Christmas Train and Christmas Tree Ranch, and Easter Eggstravaganza, and Annual Celebration. Picture or Video 170With this year marking the 20th anniversary of Irvine Park Railroad, you are invited to come celebrate the grand occasion on Saturday, February 20th and Sunday, February 21st. They’ll be rolling back prices to their original 1996 prices, including $2.00 train rides! (children under 12 months ride free.)  It’s their way of saying “thank you” to all of their loyal customers who have visited Irvine Park Railroad over the years.

The 20th Anniversary Celebration will also feature other $2.00 activities and concessions including:

  • carnival games
  • hot dogs
  • sodas
  • ice creams
  • popcorn
  • cotton candy
  • bounce house tickets IMG_1506

Face painting and panning for gold will require two $2.00 tickets. FREE giveaways will include Irvine Park Railroad balloons!

Cotton Candy

Note: The $2 tickets are valid during the Anniversary Celebration weekend only. Coupons, discounts and/or any other promotions are not valid on the anniversary celebration dates. 

Raffles will also be conducted on both Saturday and Sunday, every hour from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Winners will receive Irvine Park Railroad prizes ranging in value from $60.00 to $300.00. IMG_1560The festive celebration will feature the Lazy Brad Lewis Band, a country blues with rockin’ soul band. They’ll be around playing on both days from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. IMG_1534While at Irvine Regional Park, be sure and visit the parks other activities including Wheel Fun Rentals® at Irvine Park bike and paddle boat rentals, pony rides and the Orange County Zoo. IPRR20The park entrance fee is $5.00 per vehicle. Irvine Park Railroad opens daily at 10:00 AM. Irvine Park Railroad is located inside of Irvine Regional Park at 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869.

I’m also hosting a giveaway for one of my own lucky readers to win 8 tickets and 1 Wheel Fun Rentals at Irvine Park Bike Rental (excludes the double surrey). Just enter below on the Rafflecopter! Good luck everyone! Hope to see you at the Irvine Park Railroad 20th Anniversary Celebration!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was invited to attend a media day in exchange for coverage and sharing about this event. All opinions are 100% my own. Photos are property of Irvine Park Railroad. 

Meet Magical Cast Member “Captain Al” From Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Last spring, we traveled to Walt Disney World, for the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, and stayed at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. captain-al-disneys-yacht-club-resortIt was our first time there and we were delighted to enjoy the accommodations at such a wonderful location. The hotel has such a beautiful location on the water and the property boasts nautical decor throughout. captain-al-yacht-club-beachOne of the first memories our family made on our visit was when we arrived at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort was when we entered into the hotel’s lobby and were greeted by “Captain Al”. captain-al-front-lobbyIf you’ve been there in recent years, I’ll bet you’ve probably met him too. He’s a very special Cast Member who stands front and center to greet you. Captain Al is one of those people you meet and just know within minutes of talking to them that you want to chat with them more than just a morning “hello”. He wears a very handsome nautical suit and captain’s hat and resembled the nautical Mickey in our hotel room a little bit. captain-al-nautical-mickeyAl’s knowledge about the entire Walt Disney World Resort is amazing. He’ll tell you anything you want to know about it and help you get to where you’re going, What you’ll notice most about him, is that he isn’t in any hurry to get you a quick answer and send you on your way. He would spend all day helping you if that’s what it took. You don’t often find people with that type of work ethic nowadays. captain-al-namebadgeSomething else I adored about “Captain Al” were his old school values. He told us right off that bat that he didn’t have a cell phone or use a computer. He believes that if people want to see him or talk to him will, they should do it the old-fashioned way…by regular (snail) mail or by actually calling him on the phone to talk. I couldn’t help but cling onto his every word because he reminded me A LOT of my own grandparents, who also held those same values. I’ll totally admit I love technology. I love the convenience of having everything in the palm of my hand (via iphone) , but Al was right when he talked about things getting lost in translation. captain-al-be-authenticHow often do young people think that older people don’t know what they’re talking about? Here’s a man, not even trying to preach about anything specific, and yet his simple message spoke loud and clear to us. Be present. Be authentic. Unplug whenever possible. Not only did he talk about these things, he lives by his own motto every single day! Can you see why we adore him?

captain-al-and-usWhen the day arrived and it was time for us to depart from the Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Captain Al insisted on carrying our bags out for us and refused to take a tip. We were sad to leave but happy to have visited and made such special memories together as a family. We were also happy that we got to meet such a Magical Cast Member such as Captain Al. I just hope we get to return one day and meet up with him again!

{Giveaway} LEGO® FRIENDS: GIRLZ 4 LIFE on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD 2/2

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I was provided with some of the materials by Warner Bros. Home Video that I used in this post  and giveaway. All opinions are 100% my own.

If you love LEGO and LEGO® FRIENDS as much as we do in our home, then you’re going to love the lastest Warner Bros. Home Video release on Blue-ray Combo Pack and DVD: LEGO® FRIENDS : Girlz 4 Life! The film, already out on digital HD, will be released on Blue-Ray and DVD on February 2.

lego-friends-girlz-4-life-dvdHere’s a synopsis of the film that tests true friendship in the glamorous world of pop:

Join Olivia, Stephanie, Emma, Mia and Andrea, as they learn about friendship, fame and pop star fun in Heartlake City. The girls’ friendships are tested when mega pop star Livi comes to Heartlake City. When our friends’ hit song “Girlz” is stolen by Livi’s manager, it’s time for a cunning plan.As the girls try to tell Livi the truth about her latest hit single, they all learn that fame isn’t everything and sometimes friendship is the most precious thing in the world.

Have some more LEGO® FRIENDS fun with the LEGO® FRIENDS: GIRLZ 4 LIFE blog app!
Grab your pop star microphone and sing along! Click the play button below to watch the special sing-along music video for “Girlz” by L2M.

With this super fun app you can:

  • Listen to the song High Tops by L2M and click to watch the “Meet L2M” video that introduces the next girl-pop power sensation.
  • Download the “Girlz 4 Life” Activity Pack and to unlock your inner pop star! The downloadable kit includes Selfie props, a “Spot the Difference” game, making the Band DIY pop star instruments, a Friendship Card and more!

Be sure to check out the official L2M website here to stay updated with all things L2M!

Warner Bros. Home Video is also going to provide one of my lucky readers with their own copy of the DVD! All you have to do is enter in the Rafflecopter below! Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Note: Each household is only eligible to win LEGO FRIENDS: Girlz 4 Life Blu-ray via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase a Knott’s “Pink” Ticket to Benefit Susan G. Komen & Breast Cancer Through 4/1/16

knotts-pink-charactersIt’s that time again! Right now, you can help Susan G. Komen Orange County when you purchase a Knott’s “Pink Ticket” to get into the park!  Just by purchasing one of these special edition tickets, Knott’s will donate a portion of your ticket purchase to benefit Susan G. Komen and breast cancer research. Also, if you purchase your tickets online ahead of time, you’ll save $32 per ticket off the front gate price of $72. That means you can purchase a Knott’s Pink Ticket for only $40 online!

Admission tickets are valid for one day admission on any day through April 1, 2016. Valid for ages 12-61. To purchase yours online, go here.

Connect with Knott’s Berry Farm on Facebook, Twitter. and Instagram, too!

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images are property of Knott’s. 

Disney Channel’s Newest Comedy Series “Stuck In The Middle” To Premiere on Sunday, February 14!

In our home, we’re big Disney Channel fans! There are so many fun shows to watch together! You can only imagine how excited we got when we heard the news about the latest comedy series to join the channel’s lineup of shows, “Stuck in the Middle”!

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE - Disney Channel's "Stuck in the Middle" stars Joe Nieves as Tom Diaz, Isaak Presley as Ethan Diaz, Ariana Greenblatt as Daphne Diaz, Jenna Ortega as Harley Diaz, Cerina Vincent as Suzy Diaz, Kayla Maisonet as Georgie Diaz, Nicolas Bechtel as Lewie Diaz, Malachi Barton as Beast Diaz and Ronni Hawk as Rachel Diaz. (Disney Channel/Craig Sjodin)

The engaging single-camera comedy series for kids and families will be presented in a full episode preview on Sunday, February 14  at 8:45 p.m., ET/PT on Disney Channel, immediately following the channel’s premiere of Disney’s Academy Award-winning animated film “Frozen” 7:00 p.m., ET/PT.

Jenna Ortega (“Jane the Virgin”) stars as inventive tween Harley Diaz, the middle child in a bustling household of nine. Told from Harley’s point-of-view, the slice-of life stories find the comedy in everyday life of a big family as this middle child devises creative ways to cope with — and stand out — in her family’s busy suburban Massachusetts household.  The Diaz parents, Suzy and Tom, also have six other kids: Rachel the self-involved eldest; Georgie, a basketball-playing teen; Ethan, Harley’s closest ally; invincible and indestructible twins Lewie and “Beast”,  and the strong-willed youngest sibling, Daphne. It looks like it’s going to be a super cute show!
The “Stuck in the Middle” preview episode will be on WATCH Disney Channel and WATCHDisneyChannel.com, available to users on tablets, phones, set top boxes and computers, beginning SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14. The show will begin in its regular time slot Friday, March 11 (9:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel.

So…who else is excited for this new series? I know we are!

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images and logos are property of Disney Channel. 

ZooMoo: The World’s First Interactive Kids Channel Devoted Entirely to Animals and Nature, Now Available in The U.S. on DIRECTV

Did you know that 80% of children’s dreams are about animals? That’s right! According to research, children are hardwired to be interested in animals. However, if that isn’t nurtured and reinforced when they are young, they are at risk of never developing a sense of respect and caring for the nature and wildlife. zoomoo-logo
ZooMoo, the world’s first children’s channel devoted entirely to animals and nature, is now available in the U.S. exclusively on DIRECTV, as part of the AT&T family! This is wonderful news! Following its highly successful launches in Mexico and throughout Latin America, ZooMoo, is now available here to nearly a million homes throughout the country. It is now the only channel in Spanish for pre-school age children and their parents and is available to DIRECTV Spanish base package subscribers on channel 432.

WHAT IS ZOOMOO?

Designed is a channel that was designed to foster a lifelong love for animals and nature through a safe and unique television experience, that is both entertaining and educational for young viewers and parents alike, ZooMoo interweaves puppetry, animation, and the world’s best natural history footage available in HD to tell stories about the animal world.
ZooMoo’s programming was developed in consultation with a team of leading childhood learning specialists from New Zealand’s University of Otago.

DTVUS Sizzle ENG (1)

The channel is also complemented by a free downloadable App to provide a one of a kind multiplatform experience that allows ZooMoo channel viewers to automatically collect animals they encounter on the TV screen and bring them to life on their tablet or smart phone with games, music, puzzles and other activities. The standalone revolutionary ZooMoo App, which when synced to the channel enhances the interactivity by also turning smartphones and tablets into an extension of the channel, was recognized earlier this year with a Parents’ Choice Approved Award Seal of Approval from the Choice Foundation in the United States.

Karin Simoncini, ZooMoo’s head of programming and production was talked about ZooMoo and said, As a Latina mom of young children I’m personally thrilled that we at ZooMoo are partnering with DIRECTV to bring ZooMoo to Spanish-speaking audiences in the United States, where today, according to Pew Research Center, there are nearly twice as many Hispanic preschoolers as non-Hispanics in the U.S. DIRECTV deserves to be commended for its commitment to offering this audience a fully interactive ‘all animals, all the time’ entertainment experience that will be educational and incredibly engaging.


ZooMoo was developed by its CEO and former president of Fox Networks Group, David Haslingden and has already been seen in 23 countries with a worldwide audience of more than 140 million, ZooMoo’s programming is comprised of wholly original animal stories that have been scheduled into unique one hour blocks. The ZooMoo channel made its worldwide debut in Brazil in September 2013. In September 2014, DIRECTV began offering ZooMoo to customers in Argentina, the Caribbean, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay.

ZooMoo’s leading cast consists of funny, furry puppet characters who help young children develop a knowledge and affection for animals, leading to a lifelong love of conservation, including:

  • Flash, an engagingly good-natured photographer, dedicated, dependable and very charming, he is a keen adventurer with genial humor and a constant can-do attitude who explores the world and often ends up in unknown places in “Lost” and travels to different habitats to find out what animals are really thinking in “Look Who’s Talking?” zoomoo-portraits-018
  • Piglet, a high-energy blast of boundless, breathless enthusiasm, who invents amazing solutions in her awesome workshop and explores the planet in her “Adventure Machine.” zoomoo-portraits-018
  • Owl, who’s smart, wise, particular and slightly precious, as he guesses which animals Flash has sent him in “Download This!” OWL 3
  • Ninja Gorilla, who uses his astounding ninja super-powers to turn everyday objects into amazing balloon creations in “Ninja Pop.” zoomoo-sets-070
  • Baby DJ, a little monkey with headphones, bling and a cheeky grin whose mission is to turn the tables on all things animal and get everyone up dancing. zoomoo-portraits-079

ZooMoo’s U.S. operations are headed by Los Angeles-based General Manager Julio Sobral, a longtime Fox Networks Group executive, alongside Miami-based Marketing Manager Alvaro Krupkin, former director of creative services and production for Telemundo Cable Networks.

 

The Exciting 2016 Lineup of Movies From Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

In 2015, we were wowed in the theaters by so many incredible releases from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures! One day I was looking for a glass slipper and by year’s end it was all things Star Wars! 2016-Walt-Disney-Studios-LineupIt’s hard to believe we’re already into 2016 and looking ahead at sneak peeks of all these upcoming releases coming out of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures in 2016, just makes me want to go to the movies even more!

Here’s what you can expect to see in a theater near you this year:

The Finest Hours – January 29, 2016 (Walt Disney Studios) #TheFinestHours
2016-Walt-Disney-Studios-Finest-HoursZootopia – March 4, 2016 (Walt Disney Animation Studios) #Zootopia

Zootopia – March 4, 2016 (Walt Disney Animation Studios) #Zootopia

2016-Walt-Disney-Studios-Zootopia

I’ve already seen a couple of the “Zootopia” trailers and they’re hilarious! I already have my favorite characters from the film, too! (but I’m not telling) Watch the latest trailer below: The Jungle Book – April 15, 2016 (Walt Disney Studios) #JungleBook2016-Walt-Disney-Studios-The-Jungle-BookThe Jungle Book was one of my most favorite books to read as a child and I loved the animated feature so much that I watched it any chance I got when I was younger. This version looks absolutely beautiful and I’m happy that I’ll get to share this story with my own daughter. Here’s the trailer: Captain America: Civil War – May 6, 2016 (Marvel) #CaptainAmericaCivilWar2016-Disney-Studios-Captain-MarvelAlice Through the Looking Glass – May 27, 2016 (Walt Disney Studios) #DisneyAlice2016-Walt-Disney-Studios-Through-The-Looking-GlassI love anything and all things “Alice” plus Johnny Depp!!!

Finding Dory – June 17, 2016 (Disney/Pixar) #FindingDory2016-Disney-Studios-Finding-DoryThis film is going to be SO cute! I think we’ve been waiting for this sequel since we finished watching “Finding Nemo”! Hurry up, June! The BFG – July 1, 2016 (Walt Disney Studios) #TheBFG2016-Disney-Studios-The-BFGI LOVE when classic children’s books like this are made into movies! I KNOW it’s going to be great! Pete’s Dragon – August 12, 2016 (Walt Disney Studios) #PetesDragon2016-Walt-Disney-Studios-Petes-DragonQueen of Katwe – Release Date TBD in Fall 2016 (Walt Disney Studios)  #QueenofKatwe2016-Walt-Disney-Studios-Queen-of-KatweDoctor Strange – November 4, 2016 (Marvel) #DrStrange2016-Walt-Disney-Studios-Doctor-StrangeMoana – November 23, 2016 (Walt Disney Animation Studios) #Moana2016-Walt-Disney-Studios-MoanaRogue One: A Star Wars Story – December 16, 2016 (Lucasfilm) #RogueOne2016-Walt-Disney-Studios-Rogue-OneI don’t even know WHICH of these films I’m MOST excited for this year? There are SO many good ones coming! What about you? Which one are  most excited for? 2016-Walt-Disney-Studios-Lineup

Blackmarket Bakery Santa Ana Location To Open in Historic Downtown Area on 1/9

Exciting news for foodies! Chef Rachel Klemek will be extending the reach of her award-winning made-from-scratch baked goods when she opens a new outpost, Blackmarket Bakery on Broadway, on Saturday, January 9th, 2016 in the downtown Santa Ana’s Santora building in the Artists Village (211 N. Broadway).blackmarket-bakery-santa-anaChef Klemek’s inspired approach to baking has set her apart within the county’s culinary landscape. Staying true to its roots, the new Santa Ana neighborhood bakery will highlight pastries made from her token “blackmarket” ingredients – butter, flour, sugar, and eggs.

The Santora building, which houses the bakery’s newest 2,300-square-foot space, was built in 1928 and adds a “retro” feel with art-deco elements, reminiscent of simpler times. As the largest Blackmarket Bakery yet, the Santa Ana location remains family friendly and will inlcude the addition of new menu items, craft beers, and hard ciders. The menu will also feature a new lineup of savory “bar bite” offerings, sandwiches made with fresh-baked breads, seasonal salads and sweet and hearty brunch items (the latter of which will be coming this Spring). Just like its Costa Mesa counterpart, the Santa Ana restaurant will focus on its made-from-scratch daily retail offerings, such as Chef Rachel’s artisanal breads and now-famous “eggywiches,” as well as delectable desserts, including the Total Eclipse Mousse Cake, Cookie Monster Bread Pudding, and her famed Black Widow Tart. Guests will have the opportunity to indulge in Blackmarket signature cookies, including Walnut Mudslides, Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies, and the Classic Two Tone.

Blackmarket Bakery Santa Ana will offer Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner daily, as well as a Happy Hour offered Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. During this time, guests can look forward to enjoying small plates to get their evening started. Coming in the spring, guests can also enjoy a relaxing brunch, offered on Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p. m., featuring home-style, made-from-scratch offerings including a spin on Eggs Benedict, Oven Pancakes, and Biscuits & Gravy, inspired by Chef Rachel’s Southern upbringing. Daily breakfast and morning pastry service will feature Kean Coffee, Blackmarket will feature locally roasted Kean coffee and espresso beverages, as well as its signature cold-brew iced coffee. The Santa Ana location will begin to accommodate catering for small and large parties in the months following its opening.

For more information, visit Blackmarket Bakery on Facebook and Twitter.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Image/logo property of Blackmarket Bakery.