Over The Top Mommy

Summertime Happy Hour at Islands: a Review and Giveaway

July 3, 2014 / Food, Let's Eat!

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post in collaboration with Islands. All thoughts are my own.

Islands is such a great family restaurant. Regardless of which location you visit, they always have a fun, kid-friendly environment with delicious food. My daughter loves to eat there and it’s one of the places we visit often, as a family.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a Summertime Happy Hour media preview with some of my social media friends. I jumped at the chance to spend time with the girls and have adult conversation while sampling some of the drinks and food that are available this summer at a special price during happy hour!

Spending some well-deserved girl time with @fieldtripmom to celebrate the beginning of summer! Cheers! — Spending some well-deserved girl time with @fieldtripmom to celebrate summer!

There were so many different delicious-looking drinks to sample. I just wasn’t sure where to start so I decided to try the Hapa Bourbon Tea first, which is made with Maker’s Mark, passion tea and fresh mint. Although I haven’t had many bourbon drinks before, this was really refreshing and didn’t *taste strong at all.

Next, I sampled the Makaha Maggie, which was made with handcrafted, infused tequila. Anything with pineapple is my weakness. The drink, itself, was like a vacation in a glass!

This is the pineapple infused tequila that Islands uses in the Makaha Maggie!

I munched on some chips, salsa and guacamole while trying a Spicy Mango Shandy, which is made with mango, Coors Light, and a dust of cayenne pepper for a kick. Fun fact: The Spicy Mango Shandy was created with the World Cup in mind!

Hanging out with @fieldtripmom, @cidstylefile, @mydisorganizedlife and @organizedisland. What a fun night! — Hanging out with @fieldtripmom, @cidstylefile, @mydisorganizedlife, @eatsukieat and @organizedisland. What a fun night!

All of the drinks from the Summertime Happy Hour that we tried, paired so well with the food. I decided to be brave and go straight for a Heat Wave burger! This is a seasonal menu item that’s been brought back by popular demand for the summer. The Heat Wave burger is topped with grilled Serrano and green chilies, pepper jack cheese, tomato, onion, lettuce and spicy mayo. If you love HOT, you’ll love this burger.

Don't let the glass of water fool you! The Heat Wave burger definitely earns its name! — Don’t let the glass of water fool you! The Heat Wave burger definitely earns its name!

We also got to sample the Beachside Sliders which are mini burgers topped with caramelized onions and ketchup, Island Reds and pickles, served on toasted buns. I am drawn towards things that are “mini” and these were no exception. I feel like you can eat more of something if it’s mini! Another “mini” option on their Summertime Happy Hour menu are the Hawaiian Sliders, which are a smaller version of the regular Hawaiian burger. These sliders are topped with fresh pineapple, teriyaki sauce, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion, and swiss cheese. You can’t have a burger without some of Islands famous fresh-cut fries. I honestly can’t get enough of their fries, especially with ranch dressing to dip them in!

With so many great World Cup games to watch this summer and this awesome Summertime Happy Hour menu , you need to head over to an Islands to enjoy some of the stress relief they’re offering Monday through Friday from 3-7 pm and Sunday through Thursday from 9 pm-close!

Another reason to visit Islands this summer is so you can also enter to win weekly giveaways at each location. Weekly raffle winners will score a new beach towel, while each Islands location will end the summer by giving away a custom beach cruiser as the grand prize. Guests can enter to win a beach cruiser every time they visit an Islands location, and the winners will be selected during happy hour on Friday, Sept. 5.

I have even more good new though…you have ONE MORE lucky chance to win some Islands goodies right here on my blog!

Islands has generously provided me with a package to give to one lucky reader, which includes an Islands beach towel, a set of Islands grilling tools, and a $50 gift card for Islands Restaurants! Just enter on the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the Live Music & Action Sports Lineup at the 2014 OC Fair!

July 3, 2014 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, OC Fair, Orange County

The 2014 OC Fair will offer a month-long bonanza of great music and wild entertainment in The Hangar and Action Sports Arena from July 11-August 10. Tickets are on sale now and, as always, include free OC Fair admission.

The Hangar at the 2014 OC Fair:

July 11 Journey Unauthorized – A Tribute to Journey
July 12 Zeppelin Live – A Live Rock Tribute to Led Zeppelin
July 13 The English Beat / The Debonaires
July 16 Wild Child – A Jim Morrison Celebration
July 17 Atomic Punks – A Tribute to Early Van Halen
July 18 Joshua Tree – A Tribute to U2
July 19 Kenny Metcalf as Elton John – A Tribute to Early Elton
July 20 MenAlive – Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus Performing the Music of The Beatles
July 23 Purple Reign – THE Prince Tribute
July 24 Strangelove – The Ultimate Tribute to Depeche Mode
July 25 Metalachi – The World’s Only Heavy Metal Mariachi Band / Mex-Zeppelin – A Led Zeppelin Tribute
July 26 No Duh – The Ultimate Tribute to No Doubt / Green Today – A Green Day Tribute
July 27 Ricky Nelson Remembered – Matthew & Gunnar Nelson
July 30 Hotel California – A Salute to The Eagles
July 31 Kalimba – The Spirit of Earth, Wind & Fire
August 1 Rumours – The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show
August 2 KIDZ BOP – Dream Big, Sing Loud Tour!
August 2 Damage Inc. – Southern California’s Tribute to Metallica
August 3 Common Kings / Tini Grey
August 6 Moonwalker – A Reflection of Michael Jackson
August 7 Queen Nation – A Tribute to the Music of Queen
August 8 Hot August Night – The Neil Diamond Tribute
August 9 Dead Man’s Party – The Oingo Boingo Tribute
August 10 Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez

A concert ticket is required to have a seat inside The Hangar during these events. Concert tickets include free Fair admission for the same day before and after the concert.

Action Sports Arena at the 2014 OC Fair:

July 11 X-Treme Freestyle Moto-X
July 12 40th Annual Speedway Fair Derby
July 13 SummerFist VII – Mixed Martial Arts
July 16-20 Monster X Tour – Monster Trucks & Tuff Trucks
July 23-27 ASA Action Sports World Tour – Skate/BMX Half-Pipe
July 30 & August 1 Extreme Rodeo
July 31 & August 2 Broncs & Bulls
August 3 Fiesta del Charro
August 6 & 9 Orange Crush Demolition Derby
August 7 & 10 Motor Home Madness Demolition Derby
August 8 Damsels of Destruction Demolition Derby

Reserved seats include free Fair admission for the same day before and after the event. There is limited free seating available with Fair admission on a first-come, first-seated basis.

Tickets to The Hangar and Action Sports Arena reserved seats can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by phone (800) 745-3000, from all Ticketmaster outlets or at the OC Fair & Event Center Box Office, which is open before the Fair on Wednesday 1-9 p.m., Thursday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and closed Monday-Tuesday and Friday, July 4. The Box Office is also open during the 2014 OC Fair.

The OC Fair & Event Center is located off the 405 and 55 freeways at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. For more information, please visit ocfair.com, become a fan at Facebook.com/OCFair, follow us at twitter.com/ocfair or call (714) 708-1500. Also, download the free OC Fair iPhone and Android apps available this summer.

(images courtesy of OC Fair)

S’mores, Slides & a Scavenger Hunt at The Hyatt Regency Mission Bay: A Review by Over the Top Kid

July 3, 2014 / California, Over the Top Kid, Travel, Uncategorized

This is a guest post by Over the Top Kid! ( Emily, age 9)

A few days ago, I had the chance to take a quick trip with my family down to San Diego. It’s a short drive and I was excited to stay at The Hyatt Regency Mission Bay because it’s right on the water.

When we were checking in, I relaxed by the lobby fireplace with some of my stuffed animal friends. In the lobby there was a coloring table and right next to it is where I picked up one of the Scavenger Hunt pages that they have for kids to do during their stay. If you answer all of the questions, you can win a prize!

On our first day there, it was too late to go on the waterslides but we did go and look at the pool. There were 3 different pools all in the same area and one had a small waterside, while another one had 2 big waterslides. I couldn’t wait to go on them the next day!

Next to the pool area there’s a restaurant called “Swim” and they sell S’mores Kits there that you can roast at one of the hotel’s 3 fire pits. (hint: That’s actually one of the answers to one of the Scavenger hunt questions)

Each kit comes with a bunch of marshmallows, 2 big Hershey’s chocolate bars, a bunch of packs of Honeymaid graham crackers and 4 wooden dowels that you roast your marshmallows on.

It was so fun to make the s’mores by the fire with my parents. We also got to watch the Sea World fireworks when we were out there because Sea World is really close by.

The next day, I think we were at the pool all day long. It’s kind of cool that they give the kids a refillable purple cup to use. I got to have as much lemonade as I wanted. The smaller waterslide was fun because you could ride it with 2 people. I liked the bigger waterslides the best though. It was fun to make my mom go on them too!

At 3:00 there were races by the pool for all of the kids. They actually have different activities for kids by the pool each day, even on the weekends!

I had a fun time staying at The Hyatt Regency Mission Bay! I hope I get to back there sometime soon!

Follow the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram.

The 2014 OC Fair: Summer Starts Here!

July 2, 2014 / Family Fun, Lifestyle, OC Fair, Orange County

We are counting down the days until the 2014 OC Fair begins! The theme this year is Summer Starts Here and I can’t think of a more appropriate theme for the kickoff of summer! This year’s fair will run from July 11-August 10! It’s going to be 23 days of food, rides, exhibits, animals, music, action sports and fun! In addition to all of that, the venue also features the Toyota Summer Concert Series at the Pacific Amphitheatre and events in The Hangar and Action Sports Arena. I think everyone needs to check out the Super Pass option. It’s offered at one price and gives you entrance into the fair for the entire 23 days plus a bunch of other benefits. To get more info about the Super Pass and to purchase online, click here.

When I look back at some of our pictures from last year’s fair, I get even more excited about it! We absolutely LOVE visiting the farm animals, especially the piglets and the chicks! The farm is the first place we walk through each year when we get into the fair. Emi even thinks it’s fun to milk the pretend cow!

Emily also loves going on the kiddie rides. Sadly, she’s getting so tall that I don’t know how much longer she’ll be able to ride on them.

It wouldn’t be a trip to the fair without some of the delicious fair food. We are always anxious to see what new items will be featured each year in the fried foods category, but honestly, I don’t think there’s anything that can beat the BBQ corn!

The Fair is open Wednesday-Sunday. Concert tickets, action sports reserved seats, single-day general admission and the popular Super Pass are available for purchase online at ocfair.com or from the on-site Box Office. Free parking and shuttle service are available on Saturdays and Sundays from the Experian parking structure located off the Bristol St. exit of the 405 freeway.

What are YOU most excited about at this year’s fair?

Is it something you want to see, something you want to ride, or something you’re excited to eat?

Keep Children at Play Safe with Summer Road Safety Tips from Waste Management

July 1, 2014 / Uncategorized

Long summer days mean more time playing outside for children in Orange County. Waste Management of Orange County is encouraging parents to talk with their kids about being safe while playing outside and to watch for the company’s waste and recycling trucks from a safe distance.

This is Jesus Santos, a driver for Waste Management of Orange County. As a worker in the community, he is genuinely concerned about the safety of children playing outside during the day when he’s working.

“Children can be especially curious about our trucks and are always tempted to take a closer look when the trucks are stopped. But, the trucks have many moving parts that could begin moving again at any moment so we encourage everyone to watch from a distance.”

The drivers at Waste Management of Southern California have created a list of recommendations for staying safe around service vehicles:

Garbage trucks, recycling vehicles, postal vehicles and other package delivery services keep regular schedules within each neighborhood so learn which days these vehicles will be in your area.
It takes service vehicles about twice as long to stop as a passenger car, so never cut in front of or stop suddenly in front of one. Always keep a safe distance from a truck.
Vehicles like Waste Management trucks make frequent stops and often back up, so don’t follow the truck closely on a bike, skateboard, rollerskates or rollerblades.
Every Waste Management truck is equipped with a back-up alarm. Whether you are walking or driving near one of our trucks, be sure to move out of the way if you hear this sound or see the white back-up lights.
Keep children and pets at a safe distance from the truck. Never get near or climb on the truck and do not play or stand in trash bins or cans, since you may not know when the truck is coming to empty them. Always keep portable basketball hoops away from trash bins or cans, and never on the street.
Do not attempt or allow children to help with loading any garbage into the truck. In addition to moving truck parts, debris can fall out of the truck when its contents are being compressed.
Be mindful of smartphone use. Don’t text or use earplugs while crossing streets.

Have a fun and safe summer!

ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more about Waste Management, visit http://www.wm.com or http://www.thinkgreen.com.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess: A Review of the Arizona Resort by Over the Top Kid

June 29, 2014 / Arizona, Disney, Over the Top Kid, Social Media Conferences, Travel

This is a guest post by Over the Top Kid! (aka Emily, age 9)

I love summer! I love not having homework, I love getting to sleep in later, and I LOVE getting to go on little vacations! Last week I got to go to Arizona with my mom. She was going for The Disney Social Media Moms on the Road conference and I got to travel with her. When my mom told me she made our reservations at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess , I looked online to see what kind of things they had for kids like me to do. That’s when I got even more excited about the trip! Wow, it looked cool! After staying there for 2 nights and 3 days I was not ready to go back home. Let me tell you about just a few of the things I liked most about this hotel and my stay there.

1. It’s actually on Princess Drive I thought it was really cool that the resort was located on Princess Drive! Obviously that’s why it’s called the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, right? My mom and I LOVE princesses, especially Disney princesses!

2. A cowboy helps you with your luggage

When my mom pulled up in the valet area, a cowboy came up to the car to help us! He was wearing a cowboy hat and real cowboy boots and was super polite. He unloaded all of our things onto the bell cart. We had kind of a lot of stuff and he didn’t even laugh at us!

3. They have golf carts to take you everywhere After my mom checked in and got our room (which was actually a casita), we got to take a golf cart to our room! It wasn’t just a regular golf cart, it was a super long one with a ton of seats. Our driver told us that we could call any time that we needed a ride someplace at the resort. I think I drove my mom nuts when I kept asking her if we could take lots of extra golf cart rides!

4. You can order s’mores in a cup One of the many restaurants at the Fairmont Scottsdale is called The Ironwood American Kitchen. I think my mom would want me to write about how great the food was there, but I honestly can’t stop thinking about the s’mores in a cup that I got there! I really want to go back and have another one. This restaurant is really yummy though. They also have cool things for kids to play with while they’re waiting and not just a kids menu.

5. Our casita was awesome! When we first went into our casita I was so excited! It had 2 beds, a living room, a desk and a TV, all in one room! There was also a fireplace inside and a patio outside the door. In the bathroom there were 2 sinks, a giant tub, a shower and a cool walk-in closet! I always like to organize my things in a hotel closet, as soon as I get there. There were also robes for both of us and some great bath products that I took home for souvenirs. I told my mom that I could live in the casita forever. It was so nice. Also, there was a Keurig in the room and I got to make my own hot chocolate since my mom brought some hot chocolate K-cups with us.

6. *****Sonoran Splash *******my favorite thing about the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess This was the BEST part of the resort for kids! Sonoran Splash has 2 different waterslides that you can go down. You have to climb up the stairs and pick what side you want to go down. They move you pretty fast and it dumps you into a pool at the bottom! It seemed like I rode each of them about 100 times. I even got my mom to go with me a ton of times. I think this was definitely my favorite part of the whole trip! The Fairmont Princess Scottsdale has a lot more activities for kids to do, we just didn’t get a chance to do them. I saw a kids club online, called the Trailblazers Club, that looked really fun. On the weekends they have zip lining, fishing, fireworks and even Dive In movies that you can watch while you’re in the pool. I am begging my mom to take me back really soon so I can do all of the other things that I didn’t get a chance to do. If you were wondering if YOU should take YOUR kid(s) to the Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale, I’d say “YES you should!” Follow the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess on Facebook here, on Twitter here, and on Instagram here.

Let’s Talk About Pool Safety 101

June 26, 2014 / Uncategorized

With school out and the summer break in full swing, families everywhere are often looking for a fun place to spend the day cooling down from the summer heat. With pool safety being a top priority for parents, it’s important to visit a facility that’s trusted in the community and is equally committed to keeping your children’s safety a top priority.

Here are some quick pool safety tips brought to you by Renaissance Club Sport Aliso Viejo:

· Implement a ‘safety break’– Kids can play in the pool for hours on end, which can cause them to become very fatigued. For this reason, experts recommend giving any children under 12 years of age a 10-minute break every hour on the hour. These breaks are a perfect opportunity for children to use the restroom, reapply sunscreen, hydrate, fuel up, and recollect their strength in preparation for re-entry into the pool.

· Invest in swim lessons – According to the CDC, children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates. If your child could use a bit of instruction in the water, the summer is the perfect time to have a professional train them to become accomplished, technically-sound swimmers. By making this investment, it will give your child the tools needed to be a strong swimmer and allow parents an extra piece of mind while at the pool.

· Make a day at the pool fun – By creating engaging activities for kids to participate in while they’re in the pool, it makes swimming a fun and rewarding experience. Various activities like diving and racing allow children to build on their skills, which ultimately creates a safer experience for everyone involved.

Whether you’re looking to enroll your child in a swim class, enjoy a relaxing day poolside, or just to socialize, the pool season has a bit of everything you are looking for this summer. It is important to find a facility that is committed to the safety and enjoyment of all of its patrons and offers all of these amenities and more. Feel free to swing by and enjoy the summer sun with us at Renaissance Club Sport Aliso Viejo! To find out more about aquatics and swimming programs offered by Renaissance Club Sport, click here.

Be safe and remember to live life to discover!

YOU Can “Unlock the Magic” at The Disney Store!

June 15, 2014 / Disney, Travel

Did you know….there is a special, kind of (almost) secret thing that occurs each day at each Disney Store location. Have you heard of “opening The Disney Store” before? It’s a real thing!The first guest at The Disney Store in the morning gets the honor of “unlocking the Magic” as soon as the doors open! If you peek through the windows before they open, you can see that there is something set up at the entryway. It looks like a giant keyhole and has theater-style ropes that are attached to each side of it. It’s almost similar to the ropes the Cast Members use each morning for rope drop in some of the Disney Parks. Most people actually don’t know about this special event. My daughter and and I were in line at our mall one morning, about 50 minutes prior to the Disney Store’s opening time. When we arrived, there was no one else around. We sat down in front of the store to stake out our spot. Eventually, a few other people arrived at the storefront and sat behind us. When there were about 8 of us in line, a conversation began and one of the girls asked the other people what they were here to buy? She let us all know she was in search of Frozen dolls. Another lady from the UK was actually there to buy a Buzz Lightyear. When it was our turn to share WHAT we were there for, we told the others that we weren’t here in search of any specific item but, rather, to “open The Disney Store”. Not one of the other people even knew what we were talking about! At first they looked at us like we were a little crazy but then we explained how it all works.It was exciting to share about it with the others and I almost felt bad that we were first in line and they all weren’t, now that they knew. It’s OK though, they can come back and have their turn any other day. This was my daughter’s day to do it! I’m pretty sure my daughter asked me about every other minute to check the time, as we counted down the time until 11:00 a.m.. When it was finally 11, the doors opened and everyone who had been standing with us seemed anxious to see.

My daughter had the hugest smile on her face as Cast Member “Adam” asked WHO was the first guest in line that day? Emi proudly raised her hand and the Cast Member then explained to her that SHE would be “unlocking the Magic” of the store that day! The ecstatic expression on her face was priceless!

Here’s a little video where he explains what’s going to happen.

At this point, all of the kids were very excited and waiting in anticipation for Cast Member Brittany to bring the giant key!

After the key unlocks the Magic, then the fireworks on the ceiling of the store begin a little show, and finally the ropes are dropped and the store is open for business! One of the other cool parts about being “the one”, is that you also receive your very own key to The Disney Store! The Cast Member presents you with your own keepsake, which is something that I know my daughter will treasure for a lifetime!

Did you know about this magical happening before? Have you ever “unlocked the Magic” at a Disney Store? Share with me in the comments! I’d love to hear about it!

The Box Trolls: A New Film from the Makers of Coraline

June 14, 2014 / Entertainment, Holiday Fun, Movies

I don’t know who gets more excited for the release of new family films, me or my daughter? I LOVE to watch kid-friendly movies with Emily, especially because the filmmakers always seem to include so many clever details to capture adults’ interest too. Now the the makers of Coraline and ParaNorman are coming out with another film, The Box Trolls!

How adorable are they? I already know my favorite one is the one with the shoe!

Here’s a synopsis of the film:

A family event movie from the creators of “Coraline” and “ParaNorman” that introduces audiences to a new breed of family – The Boxtrolls, a community of quirky, mischievous creatures who have lovingly raised an orphaned human boy named Eggs (voiced by Isaac Hempstead-Wright) in the amazing cavernous home they’ve built beneath the streets of Cheesebridge. When the town’s villain, Archibald Snatcher (Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley), comes up with a plot to get rid of the Boxtrolls, Eggs decides to venture above ground, “into the light,” where he meets and teams up with fabulously feisty Winnie (Elle Fanning). Together, they devise a daring plan to save Eggs’ family.