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.
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.
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.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TotalBleachControl #CollectiveBias
We stay extremely busy and do a lot of running around. Whether it’s getting to work, school, after school activities, sports practices or play dates, I often feel like I don’t stop moving. I also sometimes feel like I don’t ever get anything done around the house, especially the laundry. I’ve got major “Busy Mom Problems”!
I recently discovered some new & wonderful Clorox® products that I swear were invented specifically for moms like me! Have you tried Clorox® Bleach Crystals™ and Clorox® Bleach Packs™ yet? Well, they are like a mom’s laundry dream come true! Seriously, these products are both water activated and only start working when you want them to. The water activated component takes the fear out of using bleach because there are no more spills, splashes or bleach damage to my clothing! Both the packs and the crystals are compact and easy to store, too.
My personal favorite of the two are the Clorox® Bleach Packs™ because not only is there no bleach pouring required, you also don’t have to measure anything.
Just toss one little bleach pack in with the load in your washer and walk away without worrying! Clorox® Bleach Packs™ are literally game changers for me and I’m going to tell you why!
One of my biggest pet peeves is when my daughter can’t find a pair of clean, matching white socks. She has to have bright white socks for cheer practice and competitions and there’s nothing worse than watching her search the house for socks and hearing her say that she doesn’t have any clean ones! I buy her so many socks that there’s no way she doesn’t have any!
I know I can always find some socks for her in her cheer backpack…DIRTY socks! It can be frustrating because I often ask her to toss the dirty socks into the hamper so I can wash them. However, now I feel more confident knowing these Clorox® Bleach Packs™ will come to my rescue and get the socks bright white again, the way her cheer coaches demand they be! It’s a lot of pressure to be a cheer mom! (Ok, I may be exaggerating a bit!) I feel like I could jump for joy over how white her socks get with these. I think I’ll let the cheerleader do the jumping though!
I found both the Clorox® Bleach Crystals™ and Clorox® Bleach Packs™ in the laundry aisle at Walmart. They were right near the other Clorox® bleach products. So easy to find!
So, are YOU ready to incorporate Clorox® Bleach Crystals™ and Clorox® Bleach Packs™ into your laundry routine? To learn more about Clorox® products and to find a coupon for your next purchase, click here.
Have you heard the latest exciting news coming from the LEGOLAND® California Resort? For a limited time only, they’re offering $20 off a Resort Hopper ticket, PLUS a 2nd day free, when you reserve 7+ days in advance. (Save $5 PLUS a 2nd day FREE when you book 2-6 days in advance.)
This special pricing is offered exclusively online to guests.
The Resort Hopper includes admission to:
LEGOLAND® California
SEA LIFE®Aquarium
LEGOLAND Water Park
Hurry up and grab this offer though, before time runs out! Click here to purchase your Resort Hoppers!
Note: Date of visit must be selected in order to receive savings. Ticket must be used on date selected at time of purchase. Discount varies by date selected. 2nd day free valid only when pre-purchasing this offer online. 2nd visit must occur within 9 days of 1st visit.
There’s something else cool happening at LEGOLAND® California called Reserve ‘N’ Ride service! It allows you to reserve your seats on 12 of the Park’s most popular rides. It can either cut down or even completely eliminate waiting in line, depending on what level of device you opt for.
With Reserve ‘N’ Ride you can make one ride reservation at a time and the device will let you know when it’s your turn to ride! Reserve ‘N’ Ride is waiting in line FOR you, so you can come back sooner. Plus, depending on the level of device you choose, it’s actually cutting down that wait time – Express by 25%, Deluxe by 50%, and Ultimate by 90%. The three levels of service vary in price range. This means you can get on more rides with less waiting! Awesome!
Here’s how Reserve ‘N’ Ride Works:
Choose your ride from the attractions list on the device and confirm your reservation.
Receive your ride time on the Reserve ‘N’ Ride device screen.
Explore all the Resort has to offer while the Reserve ‘N’ Ride device counts down for you.
When your device beeps and vibrates, it’s your turn to ride!
Go to the special Reserve ‘N’ Ride entrance at your time or any time after.
Show your device to the attendant to be validated.
Enjoy your ride!
Repeat these steps to enjoy your next ride.
Here are some other things you’ll want to know about Reserve “N” Ride:
Each Reserve “N” Ride device is good for up to 6 people
You can buy your device online
When you hear a buzz, you can head to your ride anytime after that
Pass Members get 10% off
For more information about Reserve ‘N’ Ride, click here.
Last week, we spent the perfect day with friends at Buccaneer Cove inside BOOMERS in Irvine! If you haven’t been there yet, it’s somewhere you should definitely hit up THIS summer with the kids!
Buccaneer Cove is a giant water play area (inside of a self-contained gated area) located inside of BOOMERS in Irvine. It features 5 different water slides, each catering to adventure seekers of different heights and ages. In addition to the water slides, Buccaneer Cove also has a wet tunnels, spray loops, spray cannons an interactive Aqua Dome, and a huge splash bucket! It’s like a kids’ paradise. Let’s talk a little bit more about the slides though. First of all, they each have a name.
The Yellow Slide is the tallest and longest slide in Buccaneer Cove. It’s 380 feet, from start to finish. You’ll climb up to the top (on the 4th level) and slide down this fully enclosed yellow tube. As you slide down, you’ll twist through a figure 8, then pick-up speed with a straight chute and spiral to the end! The Blue Slide is one of three slides that begin on the 3rd level. This slide is one curvy ride! Also an enclosed slide, once you push off into the blue tube, you’ll whirl through a figure 8, pick-up steam in a straight run, then sling through a power bend to the end! The Red Slide is another one of the three slides that begin on the 3rd level. This one is fast! When you drop off into the enclosed red tube, you’ll quickly fly through a splashy S-curve, then plummet through a spiral to the end!
The Open Slide is the only non-enclosed slide intended for the bigger kids! It also starts up on the 3rd level and puts you through the paces. You’ll whirl through a counterclockwise spiral and then suddenly sail through another spiral in the opposite direction. Then – splash! It’s over, and time to do it again!
This is the perfect slide for the smaller water babies. It’s a two-lane open slide and both lanes start at the 1st level. It’s a gentle slide but a big thrill for kiddies under 36” with parental supervision. In addition to the water slides, Buccaneer Cove also has wet tunnels, spray loops, spray cannons, an interactive aqua dome, and a huge splash bucket! It’s literally a water wonderland for kids!
As a mom, one of my favorite parts about the entire place is that you can see your kid(s) from most locations that you’d choose to sit at. It doesn’t require that you, too, go on all of the slides or be in the water play area, unless that’s your sort of thing. There is plenty of seating all around Buccaneer Cove.
Buccaneer Cove offers guests the option of renting a cabana for the day. For a very reasonable price of $75 for the entire day, the cabana includes services of a host or hostess for an hour and a bucket of bottled water for your party. You can order food from your host or hostess, which they can bring to you.
The cabana comfortably accomodates 6 guests but we actually had more. Also, the kids in your group will most likely never come into the cabana except to eat. Cabanas at Buccaneer Cove are limited so you’ll want to plan ahead of time and even reserve one online here.
Right inside Buccaneer Cove is a snack bar where you can purchase snacks, sweets, and beverages. You are also able to walk over to the snack bar inside of BOOMERS to order food that you can bring inside of Buccaneer Cove. The BOOMERS snack bar has items on the menu such as chicken fingers, hot dogs, nachos, and salads. (The Caesar salad was delish!) They also serve entire pizzas which are perfect for a big group. Please note: there is no outside food or drink permitted inside of Buccaneer Cove.
Buccaneer Cove is Open from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.
The hours are as follows:
Monday – Friday 11:00am to 6:00pm / Weekends Only 11:00am to 7:00pm
For more information about tickets and operating hours for Buccaneer Cove, click here.
It’s no secret that I’m super excited about the PIXELS movie! I loved playing all of the video games in the 80’s and I was actually good at a lot of them! It’s fun to see my daughter developing an interest in a lot of the characters from some of my old favorites, too! We even dressed up like Mario and Luigi last Halloween!
Have you watched the official trailer for the PIXELS movie yet? It’s hitting theaters on July 24th and going to be such a fun experience!
In anticipation of the upcoming PIXELS movie, we decided to have some fun doing Pixels-inspired nail art. We first bought some fun, bright polishes, along with basic white, and a few nail tools. (You can usually purchase the tools in a pack together.)
The first thing you have to remember (if you’re not a pro) is that you’re doing this to have fun! My 10 year old got a bit frustrated when her first attempt didn’t turn out quite right. I was letting her try out her PIXELS nail art skills on me.
Start out by painting your nails with a coat of white polish. You may need to use 2 coats to get a good amount of coverage. Allow about 15 minutes to have it dry enough to put designs on top.
Next, pour some of the colored polish onto a plastic surface and allow it to sit for about a minute to get “tacky”. Use the tools of your choice and continue to dip into the color and apply to your nail. My daughter used the little flat brush to make the “pixels” on my nails. Tip: If you make a mistake, just keep some polish remover nearby and “fix it” or start over.
She did one color at a time, attempting to keep them in square shapes, and descending like stairs. In between colors, she rinsed the brush in polish remover. After she finished each nail, she sealed it with a nail art sealer. (or top coat).
As you can see, she ended up making a Pac-Man on one of my nails! I think they came out pretty cute, considering we’re not nail pros! What do YOU think?
It’s funny how movies can inspire fun ideas like these nails! Maybe YOU can try some of your own now! Don’t forget to catch the PIXELS movie in theaters everyone on July 24th!
I recently escaped my everyday life for a quick getaway at the Anaheim Marriot. You should never pass up an opportunity for a staycation because staycations are the best! The Anaheim Marriot is conveniently located in the hub of Anaheim, adjacent to the Anaheim Convention Center, within walking distance to the Anaheim GardenWalk and just a hop, skip & a jump away from the Disneyland Resort.
The Anaheim Marriot is a great property to stay at whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, and when I say “pleasure” I’m most referring to Disneyland®, although there are a bunch of restaurants, shops, movie theaters, and even a bowling alley, all within walking distance of this hotel! Other popular places to visit within a short driving distance include Knott’s Berry Farm and Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
After checking into the hotel, my daughter was immediately enamored by the uber cool elevator call button. It’s more like a computer and takes the guessing out of your wait for an elevator. You key in the floor you’re going to, the screen tells you which elevator you’ll be getting in, and then you head over to wait for it. Watch how it works!
Our guest room was absolutely perfect! With a modern decor throughout, it had 2 very comfortable beds with luxurious bedding, a nice sized desk, a giant LCD TV, and a cozy sitting area. My daughter was especially excited by the Minnie Mouse surprise that was awaiting her in the room! You can call ahead of time and arrange for a surprise of your own to be there for your child(ren).
The bathroom was very clean (that’s always a biggie for me) with marble countertops and there were premium toiletries set out for us to enjoy. I love hotel toiletries, especially when they’re aromatherapy! I always appreciate when hotels do their part to care for our planet, don’ t you?
Some other in-room amenities included a single cup coffee maker, an iron and ironing board, and High speed Wi-Fi (available for a fee). You have the option of ordering your breakfast to be delivered to the room when you wake up, as well as traditional room service any time of day.
The balcony area has a gorgeous view of the city of Anaheim and a bird’s-eye view of the pool area down below. It was relaxing to sit out there with a drink and take it all in. That’s what a staycation is for!
We’re very fortunate to have such great weather in Southern California, which makes it possible to enjoy the pool area of the hotel almost any day of the year.
The Oasis pool offers both an indoor, semi-covered area and an outdoor area. There’s also a jacuzzi. Both the pool and jacuzzi are equipped with an aquatic wheelchair to provide access for any guests with those needs.
There are lounge chairs for sunbathing all around the pool area, as well as tables where guests can enjoy food and drinks from the Oasis Pool Menu, and even some fire pits.
I couldn’t get enough of the food at the Marriot! They offer quick take away service inside the hotel from Pizza Hut and a Starbucks. However, my favorite spot to hit up for a meal was nFuse Bar and Kitchen, the main restaurant in the hotel. We actually ate there twice, once for dinner and another time for breakfast!
The restaurant was recently renovated and is beautiful! There’s a variety of seating areas for guests who are dining. When you walk into the restaurant, you notice several different intimate tables or “social lounges” available for guests to sit at and enjoy a drink or small plates if they wish.
We sat in the main dining area. I started with one of their handcrafted cocktails called the “California Love“. It came highly recommended by our server and as soon as I took the first sip, I knew why! It was delicious!
While I looked over the menu, I thoroughly enjoyed the homemade bread served with butter. I think you can tell what that was like by looking as this picture, right?
The menu had so many delicious plates to choose from! I decided to order the nFuse “Prime” Tenderloin Filet. It pretty much melted in my mouth. I also sampled some of my daughter’s Rigatoni with broccoli. The food was truly delicious and prepared just right. I would love to go back and try some of the other creations on the dinner menu.
Luckily it wasn’t long before we returned to nFuse for breakfast the next morning. NFuse offers a traditional breakfast menu with several gourmet creations on it, as well as an All American breakfast buffet. I can’t resist buffets so that’s what I chose.
Breakfast buffets always seem to be the most ideal when you have children in your party mostly because of all the choices. There was so much delicious fruit on the buffet. I also enjoyed the freshly baked pastries.
I think there are very few people who can walk by bacon that looks this good without stacking it high on their plate! Can you tell I’m a bacon lover?
My most favorite item at the buffet though were the fresh, made-to-0rder Belgium waffles. It’s fun to add toppings and create it just the way you like it.
My staycation at the Anaheim Marriot ended way too soon but I’m happy to say that it was a wonderful experience overall. The rooms are top-notch, the location is prime, the food is excellent, and I was well-rested after getting to escape from reality for a short time. I can’t wait to back for another stay!
When I first heard about PIXELS coming to theaters, my 80’s self was ecstatic! I can’t wait to see all of my old favorites on the big screen! I’m not talking about actors, I’m talking about all of my old favorite video game characters! They’re all going to come to life right in front of me! I don’t know if I’m most excited for Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Centipede or Q Bert? And there’ll even be other ones in this movie! It’s going to be awesome!
Here’s a synopsis of the film:
As kids in the 1980s, Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler), Will Cooper (Kevin James), Ludlow Lamonsoff (Josh Gad), and Eddie “The Fire Blaster” Plant (Peter Dinklage) saved the world thousands of times – at 25 cents a game in the video arcades. Now, they’re going to have to do it for real. In Pixels, when intergalactic aliens discover video feeds of classic arcade games and misinterpret them as a declaration of war, they attack the Earth, using the video games as the models for their assaults — and now-U.S. President Cooper must call on his old-school arcade friends to save the world from being destroyed by PAC-MAN, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Centipede, and Space Invaders. Joining them is Lt. Col. Violet Van Patten (Michelle Monaghan), a specialist supplying the arcaders with unique weapons to fight the aliens.
Now take a peek at the official trailer!
So now aren’t you even more excited about Pixels? I cannot wait until July 24!
It’s the time all of Orange County has been waiting for! The 2015 OC Fair has returned to the Costa Mesa Fairgrounds and it’s going to be”One Big Party”!
Our family can’t get enough of the OC Fair! We love the food, the rides, the animals, all of the entertainment, and and so much more!
This summer the fair will be open from July 17 through August 16! (Wednesdays through Sundays).
You have 2 options for fair admission. You can purchase either a single day admission or an even better value would be to purchase a Super Pass.
Single-Day Admission prices are as follows:
General (13-59) $12
Senior (60+) $7
Youth (6-12) $7
Children 5 and younger are free
Single day admission to the Fair can be purchased either online here when you print at home or at the OC Fair Box Office at the Pacific Amphitheatre. To check Box Office Hours click here.
The Super Pass is an option that gives you access to the fair for all 23 days. It also includes Express entry at all public gates during Fair hours, as well as 2-for-1 discount for tickets to select Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar and Action Sports Arena Concerts and events.
The Super Pass also includes:
20% off Fair apparel
2015 OC Fair souvenir pin
Free Admission to the Orange County Market Place (valid through December 27, 2015)
A Carnival value book (2-for-1 ride on La Grande Wheel, 2-for-1 carnival games, Free water bottle with a $10 purchase of treats from carnival food vendor, Free refill with a souvenir cup purchase in the carnival)
The Super Pass can be purchased at The OC Fair Event Center Box Office, The Hangar Box Office or any OC Fair admission gate through Friday, August 14, 2015.
Fees for parking at the OC Fair:
General Passenger Car $10
General Buses & Limos $20
Pacific Amphitheatre VIP $30
Important: Parking is cash only. There are no in-and-out parking privileges. General parking is not available for advance purchase and can only be purchased when you arrive at the Fair.
Free Off-Site Parking is also available on Saturday & Sunday Only
Free parking and shuttle service is available on Saturdays and Sundays from the Experian parking structure located off the Bristol Street exit of the 405 Freeway. Follow the signs to “Experian.” The shuttle operates from 10 am-1 am weekends only.
The OC Fair offers a TON of different discounts to fair-goers. Here are just a few, but click here to find ALL of them!
Active Military & VeteransFree admission for active-duty military and veterans with appropriate military ID (DD214, etc.) Not valid for spouses or dependents
Read & Ride
Bookworms ages 5-11 can read 2 books to earn 3 free carnival rides. To download the book report form, click here.
Completed book report forms can be redeemed for ride tickets at the Centennial Farm Information Booth during Fair hours. Tickets are valid July 17-August 16, 2015 only. Note:Official OC Fair Read & Ride Form must be used in order to participate in program.
We Care Wednesday Presented by
FREE admission and one (1) free carnival ride per person each Wednesday with appropriate donation (donation changes weekly.) Acceptance of donated items is at the discretion of the OC Fair. Promotion is limited to one free admission and one free carnival ride per person. Guest must be present with donation to receive free ticket.
July 22, Noon-3 pm Food Drive: Free admission with donations of 5 cans of food.
July 29, Noon-3 pm Children’s Book Drive: Free admission with donation of 3 new or gently used children’s books.
August 5, Noon-3 pm Clothing Drive: Free admission with donation of 5 new or gently used clothing items
August 12, Noon-3 pm School Supply Drive: Free admission with donation of NEW school supplies valued at $5 or more. Accepted items: pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, notebook paper and school backpacks. Receipt Required.
$30 Unlimited Carnival Ride Wristband (on Wednesdays and Thursdays only)
Enjoy all the rides you can handle for one price plus 2 free games. (Sold until 5 pm. Valid until 8 pm. Required Fair admission sold separately.)
Kids Day is every Thursday!
Children 12 & under receive FREE Fair admission all day. (why not combine the free admission with the $30 unlimited carnival ride wristband?)
So tell me, what’s YOUR favorite thing about the OC Fair? Mine are the piglets!
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!
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.
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!
