Over The Top Mommy

social media

Getting Ready to Go ON THE ROAD for the Disney Social Media Moms Conference!

The day I got an email in my inbox inviting me to attend the Disney Social Media Moms on the Road Conference in Arizona was a Magical One!

OTR invite

I’d connected with so many other Disney-loving moms online who are also in the social media world and this was finally going to be my chance to connect with many of them in person! I was also excited about the location of the conference, The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort! The property looked like it had so much to offer when I checked out the website. Emi was excited for the pools and Sonoran Splash, which are the watersides. I just couldn’t wait for all of it!

As the conference date neared, I started to plan out which necessities I’d need. I made a list of road trip necessities, in-room necessities, and conference necessities! Since Emi was going to be traveling with me to Arizona, although she wouldn’t be attending the actual conference, I wanted to get some extra special things for our trip to maximize our dual Disney Side.

First of all, let’s talk EARS! I love wearing ears. I wear ears when I’m in the parks. I sometimes wear ears when I’m teaching. I wear ears when I’m cleaning the house, unless I’m already wearing a tiara to clean! I will find any excuse to wear ears. Emi and I both already have black and red ears but I was in search of new ones for this special occasion.  I came across an adorable local (to me) shop on Facebook called Popsikle Shop. She makes custom ears, so I decided to order a pair for both emi and I, matching of course!

popsikleNext we went shopping for warm weather necessities. Wait, I didn’t mean warm weather, I meant HOT weather! (Have you ever been to Arizona at the end of June?) Emi wanted to find some items that were matching and Disney-ish. We really lucked at Walmart! Their Juniors section had a ton of really cute bathing suits and swim shorts. Hot pink with white polka dots was VERY “Minnie”

twinsSo adorable, don’t you agree?

visorsDo you like our hot pink visors, too? 

matching dressesWe also found matching polka dotted coverups at Walmart that we wore as sundresses!

Walmart had everything we needed for our trip. We found sunglasses, water shoes, some other summer clothes, sunblock, and even snacks for the road trip! Not only did they have everything we needed, but it was also very affordable!

shirts

We also packed the personalized t-shirts we had made for Disney24 to wear in the room as part of our pajamas. I think this was the first trip we’d gone on where we had almost exact matching wardrobes. It was pretty cute!

I knew I needed to find something special to bring to this conference and hand out with my business cards. I racked my brain for something that I could make, but I truly had no extra time to really make anything by hand. Then I came across a post from a friend of mine, Xenia, who had recently hosted a Disney Junior Familia Party. It was on that post that I discovered alfajores! I KNEW immediately that they where what I needed to bring to the conference. Melo made me some AMAZING Mickey-shaped alfajores in both pink and white animal-cookie flavor and churro flavor! She was sweet enough to wrap them individually for me to pass out to friends. Needless to say, they were a hit!

mickey alfajore

eat alfajores stickerEmi and I picked out a road trippin’ buddy to take with us.  It only seemed appropriate that we chose Minnie Mouse. She sure loved to take pictures with us on our trip.

holding minnieWe even went to Michael’s to buy some chalk paint pens and the night before we left, we wrote on our car windows! We had to be the most prepared car driving through the desert! Emi even wrote “Honk if you love Disney” on my rear window!

chalk painted windwownI  DO think it’s weird that not one person honked though!

Oh well, more Disney for us, right?

 

My Fabulous Night Out at Elements Massage Costa Mesa

When I received an exclusive invitation to attend the 1-year Anniversary for Elements Massage Costa Mesa, I jumped at the chance to spend a night getting pampered with some of my social media friends. 

Erina Buckley, owner of Elements Massage Costa Mesa, and her wonderful staff!
(photo by The Suitcase Studio)

Upon arrival, I was checked in and immediately scheduled for a complimentary mini massage, which is one of the services they offer as part of their Wellness Program. You can count me “in” for anything that involves the word massage! Not only was I entered into a drawing for some fabulous prizes, but I was also one of the first 20 guests to check in, and therefore got one of the amazing swag bags filled with goodies inside from Philosophie, AlternaVites, LeBrisa, Violet Love, and COCOMOCORN! 

Raffle prizes were provided by Elements Massage, SkinAgain, Dermasuri, Pursecase, Violet Love, and Clean Cocktails!
(photo by The Suitcase Studio)

I was excited to meet up with my friend, Alma and also have the opportunity to mingle with some others who I also consider to be fabulous social media superstars. 

+CidStyleFile+FieldTripMom & I representing the SoCal Lady Bloggers!
(photo by The Suitcase Studio)
Hanging out with some fun ladies!
(photo by The Suitcase Studio)

It was fun to see that Michelle from The Suitcase Studio! She just happens to be one of my favorite photographers and was there to capture this fun event with her magical camera! 

Michelle is so tolerant of my “selfie with friends” policy, too! Aren’t we cute?

At the reception, in the lobby of the spa, there were some amazing cocktails being served by Clean Cocktails and a delicious, healthy snack being provided by My Fit Foods. LeBrisa Designs was also there displaying some of their latest pieces, which we had fun trying on. The ambiance was just so relaxing and inviting, which is what I like about this location. 

Samantha from Clean Cocktails serving up some deliciousness!
(photo by The Suitcase Studio)

Healthy AND delicious!
(photo by The Suitcase Studio)
Just some of the beautiful pieces by LeBrisa
(photo by The Suitcase Studio)

It was inspiring to listen to Erina Buckley speak about how she came to be the owner of this Elements Massage location, just a little over a year ago, after first being an Elements Massage client, herself. She told the story of how she exited the corporate world to do something she felt far more passionate about and how she wanted to do something that has a positive influence on others in their journey for overall wellness. 

Erina Buckley, the owner of Elements Massage Costa Mesa. Such a fabulous and passionate female entrepreneur!
(photo by The Suitcase Studio)

I love the idea behind the concept of this spa. What they refer to as the Elements Way is something they created to help individuals achieve overall health and well-being through relaxation and rejuvenation. They use a holistic approach and strive to deliver a personalized program for each individual, connecting health and massage. It’s a truly unique program that you won’t find at other spas or massage places. 
When it was my turn for a “mini massage” I followed the masseuse back to one of the rooms, where he proceeded to ask me some questions about the areas I thought needed most attention and what type of pressure I preferred. He also asked if I got massages often and when the last time I got a massage was? At that point, I think you could hear crickets in the room, as I truly couldn’t remember! I explained to him that I’m a mom and I don’t have very much time for myself, especially not for things like this. He then gave me some very important advice and explained the importance of taking time out for myself, in order to do something to make ME feel better. He said that my excuse of “being a mom and not having time for myself to do these types of things” was even MORE of a reason why I needed to do so! It felt like I’d melted into the table after my 15 minute mini-massage! I think I’m going to take his advice and get back into Elements Massage Costa Mesa for a full massage right away! That 15 minutes felt like a paradise vacation, so I can only imagine what a full hour will be like! 

A post-mini massage group selfie! We sure do all look relaxed! Thank you Elements Massage Costa Mesa!

In honor of their 1 year anniversary, Elements Costa Mesa is offering a special month-long promotion. You can book two 55-minute massages at $69 for each appointment, regularly $99, between now and May 31, 2014 and receive a complimentary upgrade to an 80-minute massage during your second appointment. This is a total of $100 in savings! Mention the promotion “Anniversary” when booking, to redeem this special offer. Both services must be redeemed by May 31, 2014. 
Elements Massage Costa Mesa is located at 2701 S. Harbor Blvd, Suite E-3 in the Mesa Verde Center. To book your appointment call 714.850.0500.

It’s amazing how easy it is for me to drink water when it looks like this!
(photo by The Suitcase Studio)
So, can YOU remember when the last time was that you did something for yourself? 
If not, then you really should change that!

 

Sometimes Instagram is MORE Than Just Pictures

I love Instagram. I love posting pics, I love interacting with others, and I love seeing the variety of pictures that people share. I love seeing pictures of families and fitness and crafts people have made and DISNEY and recipes….etc. Every once in a great while there are pictures that you scroll by and then scroll back to….sometimes several times. You don’t necessarily know the person but then suddenly you almost feel like you want to know them or at least more about them. Today I felt that way about a picture I came across. I have been following this adorable young girl (I’m guessing she’s in her 20s) for just a short while. She is in the fight of her life because she’s battling breast cancer! I don’t know her real name, I don’t know where she lives, I post supportive comments, but the fact that she’s on Instagram, not only sharing pictures of everything she’s going through, but also her thoughts about the cancer is both brave and extremely enlightening for the rest of the world to see! Today I started crying though when I read what she posted with her picture. It was a letter, actually it seemed more like a total PLEA to her cancer. I cried when I read it and then I commented something on her picture and then I read it again.

Here’s the picture she posted: 
Here’s what she wrote: 
“What’s on my mind this morning: my eyelashes. Cancer you’ve taken my hair, my boobs, my periods, you can take my eyebrows, my toenails, whatever, just please don’t take my eyelashes. Pretty please. I’ll buy you some ice cream or a cold pop. But ain’t nobody got time for that, leave the eyelashes. Thank you! Sincerely yours: The girl who’s going to kick your ass!”

I’ve been thinking about it all day. I feel like I want to know her name. I feel like I want to know her. I know I can’t help her much, but even if I can just encourage her and pray for her, I know it’s something. Some people think it’s silly to exert any of your energy on complete strangers. I don’t. Some people don’t quite get the power of social media and how it connects strangers sometimes. I’m guessing that the positive support she gets from her Instagram followers actually helps her get through some tough times, like her rounds of chemo.

Luckily, I am a great investigator and I was able to find her and ask for her permission to share. If you’d like to follow this sweet, adorable chick too, just go and look up @screamqueen13 on Instagram!