Over The Top Mommy

2015 Mickey’s Halloween Party Dates Released! We Can’t Wait! #HalloweenTime

July 16, 2015 / Disney, Disneyland Resort, Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County, Travel

Guess what’s returning to the Disneyland Resort on September 11? Halloween Time! We are SO excited for it’s return too! If you’ve never been to the parks during Halloween Time, it’s something you’ll want to make happen this year.

With the Disneyland Resort’s Diamond Celebration already happening in the parks this year, guests will get to enjoy extra sparkly Halloween decorations this year. There are also seasonal attractions to experience such as Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain’s “Ghost Galaxy”.

One of the biggest events of the year at the Disneyland Resort is Mickey’s Halloween Party! This is an after-hours Halloween party that requires the purchase of a separate ticket. (don’t worry, it’s totally worth it!) The party is held inside Disneyland and guests of all ages are invited to wear their favorite costumes for the occasion. There is plenty of trick or treating throughout the park and the characters will be out and about in their own Halloween costumes.

This year, guests in attendance at Mickey’s Halloween party will be able to watch a special “Halloween Screams” fireworks show, in addition to the “Paint the Night” parade. It’s truly a party not to be missed!

With your Mickey’s Halloween Party ticket you get:

Admission to Disneyland Park up to 3 hours prior to the event’s start time.
Parking for one standard-size vehicle. (Larger vehicles may require an additional fee.)

Here are the dates for Mickey’s Halloween Party 2015:

Friday, Sept. 25
Monday, Sept. 28
Wednesday, Sept. 30
Friday, Oct. 2
Monday, Oct. 5
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Friday, Oct. 9
Monday, Oct. 12
Wednesday, Oct. 14
Friday, Oct. 16
Monday, Oct. 19
Thursday, Oct. 22
Friday, Oct. 23
Sunday, Oct. 25
Tuesday, Oct. 27
Thursday, Oct. 29
Saturday, Oct. 31

Tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party sell out every year and you’ll want to plan now for your date and grab a ticket as soon as they go on sale. This year, you’ll also be able to purchase your Mickey’s Halloween party tickets early on your mobile device. How cool is that?

Here are the dates for ticket sales:

July 22: Ticket sales to Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders, Disney Rewards Visa card holders and Disney Vacation Club members.
July 29: Ticket sales begin for the general public.

The hours for each day of Mickey’s Halloween Party vary slightly from day to day. The prices also vary. For more information about times and ticket prices, visit the official Disney site here.

Calling All LEGOLAND Heartlake City Fans! Take This Fun Quiz to See Which LEGO Friend You Are!

July 16, 2015 / Family Fun, LEGOLAND, Lifestyle, San Diego

Have YOU had the chance to visit LEGO Friends Heartlake City at LEGOLAND California Resort yet? We are big fans of the entire resort but after visiting Heartlake City on our last visit, it instantly became our favorite area in the park! It’s absolutely adorable and you are made to feel like you’ve stepped right into one of the Heartlake City LEGO sets.

I also love visiting because you have the chance to see the Heartlake City LEGO friends sing and dance and you can also interact with them!

My daughter actually started building with LEGO when she was around 3 when she was given about 5 tubs of original LEGO bricks that were her dad’s when he was a boy. She played with those LEGO bricks, which included some of the original Star Wars sets, without thinking twice about the fact that there were no pink ones in the tubs. I’ve never believed in “boy” vs. “girl” toys and taught her to appreciate all toys equally. However, when the first Heartlake City LEGO sets showed up at the LEGO Store with a whole bunch of pink and purple, we were excited to get our hands on those!

As a mom, I adore the Heartlake City LEGO friends! You can find Andrea, Emma, Mia, Olivia and Stephanie all hanging out in Heartlake City when you visit LEGOLAND. I appreciate most that they each have a distinct personality and different interests but all encourage each other and have a very strong friendship!

Now YOU can find out which LEGO Heartlake City Friend YOU are by taking this fun quiz! It said I’m most like “Mia”. You can take the quiz too by clicking here! Don’t forget to come back here after you take it and comment which friend you’re most like! Have fun!

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

This is not a sponsored post.

Spending Summer with the @OriginalBombPop….UNPLUGGED! {Giveaway} #BombPopMamas

July 15, 2015 / Family Fun, Food, Let's Eat!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I was provided with products and compensation for writing this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Summer time is my favorite time! Since the days are longer, there is so much more time to fit in all of the things that you normally can’t during the busy school year. Every day has the potential to be something different! Every day could technically include something new to write about in the Summer Bucket List Journal. The possibilities during summer are endless!

I’ve noticed this summer differs from last summer and the summers before that though. What I’m referring to is the increase in the use of technology in our home. I, too, am guilty of this, since I spend a lot of time online, working on my blog and sharing on my social media channels. The part that I’ve really noticed is my daughter being online more now too though. I monitor her use of the Internet and she’s mostly looking up recipes, DIYs, and watching mom-approved You Tube channels such as Brooklyn and Bailey and EvanTubeHD, but I’ve started to be bothered by a noticeable increase in her usage.

So, I decided to be proactive and do something about it! Well, at least for a day! I planned a good old-fashioned summer day for us to spend together…UNPLUGGED! Yep! I was really inspired to recreate a summer day similar to one from my own childhood, when I came across Original Bomb Pops at the grocery store. Oh my goodness! Talk about a blast from my past! I LOVED Bomb Pops when I was a kid!

The difference between now and then is that back then we had to wait for the ice cream truck to come down our street to buy a Bomb Pop. Nowadays, they’re available at Pavilions and Vons stores! There is only one authentic and Original Bomb Pop! It’s red, white, and blue, has an iconic rocket shape, and includes cherry, lime, and blue raspberry flavors all in one!

I used to love eating Bomb Pops as a kid because they made my lips red from the first layer and I would pretend like I was wearing lipstick when I was too young for makeup! Can anyone else relate to that?

Our day was so much fun! It’s amazing how much you can do that doesn’t involve technology! We drew and colored. We played Barbies. We played Monopoly. We had a picnic in the park. We rode bikes. We ate Bomb Pops. We went to the pool. We ate Bomb Pops! I know I already said that. We *may have eaten them twice during our day! They’re too good not to have two! Did YOU eat Bomb Pops as a kid? Have you eaten them recently? I feel like I’m late to the game, as an adult, but I’m going to be sure to keep this tradition going now with my own daughter!

I have something fun involving Bomb Pops and my readers! I’m part of a group giveaway with “Bomb Pop Swag” as the prizes! To celebrate the remainder of this wonderful summer, 8 lucky winners will receive a prize pack that includes a Bomb Pop hat, Bomb Pop beach towel and some special Bomb Pop stickers! Each prize pack will also include product coupons AND a gift card to your local retailer so YOU can buy your own Original Bomb Pops! How fun is that? All you have to do is enter in the Rafflecopter below! Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Learn more about Original Bomb Pops here. Connect with Original Bomb Pops on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Contest: Enter to Win a Southern California Staycation from McDonald’s When You #StaySoCalFresh! Southern California Summers Are the BEST!

July 15, 2015 / Food, Let's Eat!

This is a sponsored post however all opinions are 100% my own.

Summer in Southern California is the best! After the hustle and bustle of the busy school year, I’m grateful to have the summer to relax and reorganize. I love the lazy mornings I get to spend with my daughter. I love staying in my pjs and drinking coffee as long as I want. I love all of the summer fruits. I love beach days. I love pool days too. I love summer sunsets. My list goes on. I just love summer!

I always feel healthier in the summer time. I snack on a lot more fruit and I find myself drinking more water, which is so important. This summer, I’ve notice myself craving salads more often. I’m kind of a creature of habit, so when I find something I really like, I often find myself eating it a bunch of times in a row.

That’s how I feel about the McDonald’s Premium Asian Salad. I can’t get enough of them! If you haven’t had one yet, you’ll want to run out and grab one after hearing about how delicious they are! The salad is made with your choice of either a savory crispy chicken breast filet or juicy grilled chicken breast filet mixed with a variety of premium greens, including crisp chopped romaine, baby spinach and baby kale, topped with a vegetable blend that mixes edamame, red bell peppers, and snow peas, and finished with sliced almonds and mandarin oranges, and served with this delicious low-fat Sesame Ginger dressing that’s beyond YUM! For a vegetarian option, you can order the Asian Salad without the chicken. The salad is so ideal for anyone who’s constantly on-the-go and as you can tell by the description, it doesn’t skimp on flavor!

I did mention that I love the slower pace of summer but I do also still find myself on the go a lot, even in summer. My daughter is a very busy girl, so in between summer day camps, swim team and cheer practices, it’s very convenient to drive through McDonald’s and grab a quick salad to munch on while I wait for her. I usually ask for a glass of water to go with my salad. I think part of me just loves the cups they serve their drinks in right now! It seems McDonald’s and I are on the same page! You’re right, McDonald’s, a glass half full IS greater than a glass half empty!

So far this summer, I’ve found myself enjoying McDonald’s Premium Asian Salads in several different places. I’ve eaten one at the park, one by the pool, one at the beach, etc. I think you get an idea of quick they are to grab and how easy they are to take on the go. It’s all part of how I “Stay SoCal Fresh“.

Now you can win a Southern California Staycation from Southern California McDonald’s for showing how you “Stay SoCal Fresh“! Yep! One winner will enjoy three days, two nights at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. Enjoy a spa date for two and a $250 American Express Gift Card too!

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

Snap a photo showing where you are enjoying your McDonald’s Asian Salad.
Tag the photo on Twitter or Instagram with #StaySoCalFresh.
Follow @McDonalds_SoCal on Twitter.

It’s so easy to enter! To read complete details and rules, click here.

Interact with Southern California McDonald’s on Twitter!

Braintastics Now Open at Kaleidoscope With Classes and Camps That Focus on Science, Technology, Education, Arts & Math!

July 9, 2015 / Family Fun, Kaleidoscope Center, Lifestyle, Orange County

Braintastics, a unique new program for kids that fosters brain development in a fun-filled environment, has opened its first location at Kaleidoscope in Mission Viejo. Based on a national movement dubbed S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Education, Arts and Math), the focus of Braintastics is to provide more science and technology exposure to kids to foster brain development and help with educational advancement.

Braintastics was created by Heidi Landraf, who through her own brain research in her Masters program and her experience within a classroom, saw a need for a program that gives kids the time and space to explore their curiosities. Heidi has partnered on Braintastics with Cheryl Beck, owner of Bold Girlz, also at Kaleidoscope, since Cheryl’s mission is focused on building self-esteem and empowerment.

Braintastics offers an environment for true brain development and cognitive growth while having fun in a setting that is inviting, stimulating, and exciting. Caine and Caine also suggest that a brain-compatible learning environment should go beyond rote memorization and rote memory thinking and processing. Braintastics allows children’s imagination and creativity to reach their full potential of self-expression.

Braintastics’ schedule includes daily workshops and weekly Summer Camps, including a Robotics class taught by James Reynolds, a Robotics teacher and advisor at Mater Dei. There are also a variety of Birthday Party packages available with themes including Braintastics Fun, Robotic Fun, Minecraft® Mania, and It’s All an Act, in which party-goers get to be the star of the show and produce their own video.

Braintastics is located on the upper level of Kaleidoscope at 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, Ste. 315, in Mission Viejo. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, please call 949-348-1844 or click here. You can also visit Braintastics on Facebook!

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Images and video property of Braintastics.

Gourmet Grilled Cheese at Boudin! Your Favorite Comfort Food Just Grew Up! #BoudinGrilledCheesePlease

July 9, 2015 / Food, Let's Eat!, Restaurant Reviews

I am a HUGE lover of Boudin, especially their San Francisco Sourdough bread! When I was invited to the Boudin SF in Huntington Beach for a media tasting of their latest line of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, I jumped at the chance to experience one of my favorite comfort foods all grown up!

After checking the littles into the “Kids Area” of the event to have their own fun, Boudin’s Corporate Chef, Alan Skversky, was on hand to chat about his latest gourmet grilled cheese creations with the “Mom Bloggers“.

He first spoke about his inspiration behind creating these delicious new grilled cheese sandwiches. He knew that he could take the already famous San Francisco Boudin Sourdough Bread and make something fabulous with it, something that people would oooh! and aaah! about. That’s exactly what we all did when we first saw them and then again when we tasted them!

The Great Grilled Cheese is currently available on the Boudin menu. It’s made with Havarti Danish & Sharp Cheddar cheese melted on a parmesan-crusted sliced sourdough. You also have the option to add Applewood thick cut bacon to it. (for an additional fee) Is your mouth watering yet?

The Jalapeño Cheddar Grilled Cheese is new to Boudin. It’s served on their fabulous Jalapeño Cheddar Sourdough Bread with Cheddar cheese and sliced jalapeños inside of the sandwich. The flavor is amazing and if you’re worried about it being too hot, trust me when I say it’s not! I am a wimp when it comes to spicy foods and this sandwich was so yummy, I even had seconds. (and thirds).

The third sandwich we got to try was the Grilled Brie with Apples & Fig jam. This one was as delicious as it sounds, too! It was almost like a dessert, which is why I saved it for last! It’s made with Brie and Havarti cheeses melted inside a parmesan-crusted multigrain bread and stuffed with sliced apples and fig jam. My mouth is watering just typing this! I think this was my favorite of the 3!

Now it’s YOUR turn to get into your local Boudin & try one of these new and delicious gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches! I actually have a coupon, because Boudin REALLY wants you to try one of these gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. You’ll receive one FREE kids’ meal with the purchase of any grilled cheese sandwich. Why not make a date with your little one? Just click here to get your coupon now!

Do YOU have a favorite menu item at Boudin? If you go and try the grilled cheese sandwiches, be sure to come back and tell me which one you liked best, OK?

Rubio’s® Invites Southern Californians to Celebrate the Ocean with 4th Annual CoastFest on July 18!

July 8, 2015 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, San Diego

Rubio’s® Restaurants has counted the ocean as a source of inspiration since its founding more than 30 years ago and remains committed to helping protect it.

Here are just some of the ways that Rubio’s® is a friend to the ocean:

Most of the seafood they serve is sustainable.
They celebrate World Oceans Day each year in June and have given away over 60,000 reusable tote bags to help prevent plastic from ending up in our ocean.
They use compostable packaging.
They recycle plastic and glass bottles in their restaurants when infrastructure exists.

On July 18, Rubio’s is inviting Southern California residents to its 4th annual Rubio’s CoastFest in Oceanside, Calif. One of the largest organized beach cleanups in San Diego, the clean up includes a celebration of the ocean with live music, complimentary food and drinks, a beer garden, and dozens of activities for kids of all ages including a mobile ocean education center, surf lessons, disc golf, surf-shaped corn-hole and more.

Rubio’s CoastFest has continued to grow year after year, with a record turnout of more than 2,000 attendees and over 400 pounds of trash removed from the coastline in 2014. This year’s event is gearing up to be even bigger with the addition of performances by one of Billboard magazine’s chart-ranking artists, The Mowgli’s, as well as popular children’s band Hullaballo.

Additional experiences include an exhibit from the California Surf Museum, pop-up gardens featuring fresh ingredients used in Rubio’s dishes, an outdoor cinema provided by Cox Media and photo booth provided by Cox Communications.

The festivities at the Oceanside Pier will kick off at 10 a.m. with community members going the extra nautical mile at a beach cleanup hosted by I Love a Clean San Diego.

To get in on the cleanup action, participants should plan to bring a reusable bucket, gloves, comfortable clothing, sun protection and a reusable water bottle. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate. A signed waiver (available for download here) is required for each participant. The check-in process will be more streamlined if you bring a waiver that is already signed, especially if you are part of a large group. For beach cleanup participants that are looking for community service credit, volunteer verification forms will be available on site. Simply ask a CoastFest representative for a verification form when you are done with the cleanup.

Following the beach cleanup, the CoastFest celebration includes:

Complimentary food and drinks – Attendees will get to sample the Santa Fe Crusted Tilapia Taco that’s not yet on the menu, in addition to enjoying handmade guacamole and chips, freshly prepared salsa, beverages and more.
Music festival – Guests are invited to visit the main stage throughout the celebration for free live music from a collection of local Southern California bands, as well as giveaways from 94.9 FM and KSON 97.3. Standout musical acts include The Mowgli’s, a Los Angeles-based group incorporating rock n’ roll, indie-folk and heartfelt ballads to create a quintessential California sound, and Max and the Moon, an alternative rock band with sounds that resemble the classic harmonies of the Beach Boys and early Coldplay.
Beer Garden – Guests 21+ can enjoy a cold brew at the beer garden featuring local craft selections. All proceeds from the beer garden will benefit I Love A Clean San Diego.
Kids’ Zone – To help ensure a love of the ocean is passed down to future generations, there will be several educational and experiential activities for children that teach kids about different aspects of the ocean. These include a mobile learning center courtesy of the Wyland Foundation®, San Diego County Office of Education Splash Van, Rubio’s prize wheel and performances by popular children’s bands Hullabaloo and Clint Perry & the BooHoo Crew.
Activities and Games – Guests of all ages can enjoy free onsite surf lessons from Surfin’ Fire and a sea of other activities including face painting, corn-hole, disc golf and more.

This year’s on-site event partners include: I Love a Clean San Diego, Cox Communications, Motts®, Wyland Foundation, Honest Kids, Regal Springs® Tilapia, Trident Seafoods, Dasani®, Spy, Fiat, San Diego County Water Authority, San Diego County Office of Education, San Diego Credit Union, Surfin’ Fire and more.

For directions to CoastFest, click here. For other info about the 2015 CoastFest, click here.

Movies Under the Stars at Rancho Las Lomas Benefitting Rancho Las Lomas Wildlife Foundation!

July 7, 2015 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, Orange County

Rancho Las Lomas will be hosting a Friday night movie series as a fundraiser for the facility and its Rancho Las Lomas Wildlife Foundation. Tickets are $15.00 each and include access to their zoo and the movie of the week. Gates will open on Fridays at 6:00pm for guests to enjoy the property, grab a drink from our bar and find a seat for the movie. Look at the great selection of movies to choose from:

July 10th – “Dirty Dancing”
July 17th – “Beethoven”
July 24th – “Braveheart”
July 31st – “Jumanji”
August 7th – “Top Gun”
August 14th “Forest Gump”
August 21st “ Jerry Maguire”

Why not have a family night, date night or even a girls night out at Rancho Las Lomas? Guests are encouraged to bring low back chairs, a blanket and even a picnic dinner!

If you’d like to attend, you must RSVP prior to [email protected] or call 949-589-7900, as there is limited seating.

I’m also giving away a 4-pack of tickets to one of my lucky readers for their choice of movie night at Rancho Las Lomas. To enter, just comment on this post and tell me which movie you’d like to win tickets to see. The giveaway will close on Wednesday, July 15th at 11:59 p.m. and I’ll choose one winner from the Random Number generator on Thursday, July 16th. Winner will be notified by email.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Mickey’s Beach Bash at Disney Social Media Moms Celebration #DisneySMMC

July 7, 2015 / Conferences, Disney, Technology/Social Media, Travel

As if staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort during the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration wasn’t amazing enough, we were invited to attend a private family party on the shore of the Beach & Yacht Clubs on one of the nights. As our family walked together towards the beach, we could hear relaxing steel drum music playing in the distance. The beautiful sunset that evening reflected off Disney’s Boardwalk and the lake in the background. I loved the casual vibe in the air and how relaxed everyone was. It was so fun to see Mickey & his friends dressed in “beachy” attire for the occasion, I was also in awe of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration sand sculpture that must have taken quite some time to carefully construct.

Everywhere we turned, there were mini buffets set up for guests to enjoy delicious salads, gourmet main dishes and delectable desserts. The chefs at Disney really took the time to put together a menu that offered something for everyone in a family, even including adults and children with dietary restrictions and food allergies. There was also an bar set up along the beach, serving all kinds of drinks, including some refreshing tropical libations for the adults. It’s much more fun to drink Rum Punch through a Mickey straw, don’t you agree? The kids had a blast playing on the sand and dancing with the Mickey and his frends, as well as some of the young, energetic Disney dancers. My daughter adores Teen Beach Movie, so this kind of dancing and entertainment was right up her alley! I enjoyed myself immensely and took advantage of the time to connect with other social media Disney friends like Flowers Croon and her daughter. Mickey’s Beach Bash was a blast and definitely a night our family will always remember!

I was invited to The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration as media and received a media rate for our accommodations. All opinions are 100% my own.