December 2014 - Page 2 of 2 - Over The Top Mommy

Month: December 2014

OC Simon Malls Will “Spread Love” By Giving Out Free Simon Giftcards to Select Shoppers! Get There!

December 5, 2014 / Lifestyle, Orange County

The Shops at Mission Viejo will be bringing to life its holiday ‘Spread Love’ campaign on December 6 by surprising randomly selected shoppers with free Simon Giftcards®. The event will encourage the giving spirit of the holidays by offering the lucky shoppers two cards, one to keep and one to share with a fellow shopper. The Simon Giftcards will be distributed at random by The Shops at Mission Viejo management teams.

“Our shoppers demonstrate time and again how generous they are by contributing to our local food and clothing drives, donating to Simon Youth Foundation®, and participating in our community events benefiting others,” said Patsy Sanquist, Director of Marketing and Business Development at The Shops at Mission Viejo. “On December 6, we want to say ‘thank you’ to our shoppers while tapping into that contagious spirit of generosity and encouraging Giftcard recipients to ‘Spread Love’ to other shoppers.”

So…who’s ready to head to the mall now? Will YOU be one of the lucky ones selected? How exciting is all of this?

Spend a Kid-Friendly New Year’s Eve This Year at Legoland California Resort!

December 4, 2014 / Celebrations, Holiday Fun, Legoland, Travel

If you are looking for a super fun way to spend New Year’s Eve with your kids this year, you need to see what’s going on at Legoland California! Our family hasn’t been there for New Year’s Eve before but we’re hoping to make it this year. It looks like they throw a great party over there!

If you DO make it that day, you can still enjoy all of the fun at their Holiday Snow Days. LEGOLAND is planning another very kid-friendly New Year’s Eve Celebration this year, which includes an amazing lineup of performances by Recess Monkey, The Pop Ups, The Not Its, Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players, and Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band! It’s like a kids super concert!

(photo credit: LEGOLAND California)

There will also be a New York style “brick drop” at 6pm when LEGOLAND California re-creates the Times Square ball drop with a giant LEGO brick falling 22 feet in the air! A special celebrity will be leading the countdown. Guests are given festive hats for the occasion, as well as 3-D glasses for the spectacular fireworks display which follows the brick drop and illuminates the sky! What a great ending to an amazing year!

Here’s a clip from their celebration last year:
Seriously…how fun does that look? It’s literally San Diego’s largest Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party and you won’t want to miss it! For more information, to download the New Year’s Eve Entertainment Guide, and to purchase tickets, click here.

I forgot to mention one more thing, one VERY important thing…. LEGOLAND’S gift to you this year is a free ticket offer to return in 2015. Receive a second-day return ticket to LEGOLAND and SEA LIFE Aquarium for FREE on the day of your visit when you present your one-day paid admission ticket at Guest Services or the Our Gift To You kiosk, inside the Park, any time between November 1, 2014 – January 4, 2015! You must request your second-day ticket on the day of your first visit. Your second-day ticket must be redeemed between January 5 – March 1, 2015. Other restrictions may apply. See the LEGOLAND website for details!

Well, doesn’t New Year’s Eve at LEGOLAND sound fun? Hope to see you there!

Annie Across Two Generations: Mine and Now My Daughter’s! We Can’t Wait! #AnnieMovie

December 3, 2014 / Entertainment, Movies

I could barely contain myself when I first heard about a new “Annie” movie coming to theaters on December 19. I remember seeing the preview and getting actual tears in my eyes. I love the story of Annie so much! It’s a very happy-sad story. It reminds me of my childhood. Not the actual story, itself, just the movie. It was one of my favorites when I was a little girl.

Here’s a synopsis of the new Annie movie:

A Broadway classic that has delighted audiences for generations comes to the big screen with a new, contemporary vision in Columbia Pictures’ comedy Annie. Director/Producer/Screenwriter Will Gluck teams with producers James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith & Will Smith, Caleeb Pinkett, and Shawn “JAY Z” Carter, Laurence “Jay” Brown, and Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith with a modern telling that captures the magic of the classic characters and original show that won seven Tony Awards. Celia Costas and Alicia Emmrich serve as Executive Producers. The screenplay is by Will Gluck and Aline Brosh McKenna, based on the musical stage play “Annie,” book by Thomas Meehan, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and on “Little Orphan Annie,” © and ® Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Academy Award® nominee Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild) stars as Annie, a young, happy foster kid who’s also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Originally left by her parents as a baby with the promise that they’d be back for her someday, it’s been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mom Miss Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). But everything’s about to change when the hard-nosed tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx) – advised by his brilliant VP, Grace (Rose Byrne) and his shrewd and scheming campaign advisor, Guy (Bobby Cannavale) – makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in. Stacks believes he’s her guardian angel, but Annie’s self-assured nature and bright, sun-will-come-out-tomorrow outlook on life just might mean it’s the other way around.

As a little girl, I absolutely adored the original “Annie” and would watch it anytime I got the chance. I remember being out in public and having people ask my mom, if I was Aileen Quinn, the actress who played “Annie” in the original movie made for the big screen. It happened more than once, too. What do you think? Do we look alike? (no I’m not naturally blonde) I’d say at least totally different noses!

(photo credit for top and left photo: Aileen Quinn IMDb)

My most favorite scene in the original “Annie” movie was when they performed “Hard Knock Life“. I remember being in awe of all the orphans doing back handsprings on their beds and was amazed by their gymnastics in that scene. I actually think there was more of that in the original “Hard Knock Life” than the newest one.

My other favorite part about the original was the soundtrack. I knew (and still know) ALL of the lyrics to ALL of the songs! I even bought the soundtrack as an adult and used to drive around doing some pretty epic car karaoke, just please don’t ask for a demo.

At some point a couple of years ago, Emi also got hooked on the original “Annie” movie. It’s fun to see her love something that was so special to me as a young girl. We have watched it together so many times and she, too, enjoys listening to the soundtrack. We’re both equally excited for the December 19th release! It can’t get here soon enough! I know it’s going to be adorable!

Are YOU a big Annie fan? Have you seen the original? Are you looking forward to the new one like we are?

Find the new Annie Movie here, “like” on Facebook, and follow on Twitter!

Head Over to The Irvine Park Railroad For KTLA’s Live Broadcast to Support the Salvation Army Toy Drive

December 2, 2014 / Lifestyle, Orange County

Get up early and head over Thursday morning, December 4th, and head over to Irvine Park Railroad, when KTLA Channel 5 and Henry DiCarlo will broadcast LIVE from the park to accept new and unwrapped toys for the Salvation Army’s annual toy drive! Come out to support a great cause and have some holiday fun too!

Henry DiCarlo from KTLA Channel 5! (photo credit: Irvine Park Railroad)

Each person that brings a new, unwrapped toy will receive a free regular train ticket*. (photo credit: Irvine Park Railroad)

The broadcast begins at 4:30 am and continues through 10:00 am. Come and ride the Christmas Train and enjoy the Christmas Train activities at no cost this morning. There will be NO COST to ride the train this morning only and you may bring your personal camera to take pictures with Santa. Free coffee and hot chocolate will be served beginning at 4:30 am.

Ride the Christmas Train: 4:30 am – 7:30 am

Christmas Train Activities: 8:00 am – 10:00 am

Irvine Park Railroad will continue to collect toys for the Salvation Army through December 19th. Also through this date, each person that brings a toy to the train station will receive a free regular train ticket*.

(photo credit: Irvine Park Railroad)

IMPORTANT NOTE: This event may be cancelled by KTLA Channel 5 ONLY if there is major, breaking news. I suggest that you their Facebook page or Twitter before you visit the park for this event.

Come out to support this great cause and have some early morning holiday fun! Hope to see you there!

*Not valid to ride the Christmas Train.

Celebrating the Holiday Season at Knott’s #MerryFarm With Our Little Family!

December 1, 2014 / Knott's, Lifestyle, Orange County, Travel, Uncategorized

Disclosure: My family & I were invited by GigaSavvy to attend a Media Day at Knott’s Merry Farm in order to write this review of our experience. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.The holiday season has just began and our family had so much fun kicking it off with a visit to Knott’s Merry Farm this year. We live locally and love going to Knott’s Berry Farm but this was actually our first time getting a chance to visit during “Merry Farm”, which runs this year from November 22nd to January 4th! The park is adorned with holiday decorations and the Peanuts characters are dressed in holiday attire! The sunny Southern California weather justified us wearing summer attire that day.

Our first stop of the day was at Camp Snoopy! Emily loves the kid-friendly rides and all of the little areas to explore in Camp Snoopy. During Knott’s Merry Farm you can catch one of several performances of “Lucy’s Wish List” show, each day, over the Camp Snoopy Theatre.

Some of Emi’s favorite rides in Camp Snoopy include The Balloon Race, The Grand Sierra Railroad, and the Linus Launcher . While we were there, we decided to stop by and show Woodstock his other house. Emi also got to take a picture with Charlie Brown and sought some helpful (psychiatric) advice from Lucy. We love Camp Snoopy!

It was fun to walk through Ghost Town, which has been transformed into the Christmas Crafts Village for Knott’s Merry Farm. It’s a shopping wonderland filled with dozens of local artisans selling their unique gifts. Some of the highlights of the Village include artist demonstrations of chainsaw wood carving, pottery sculpting, and elegant glass blowing. We found a lot of photo opportunities in the Christmas Crafts Village. We also enjoyed listening to carolers sing.

As you continue to walk deeper into Ghost Town, you’ll find Santa’s Christmas Cabin, located inside Wilderness Dance Hall. Santa is right inside, sitting up on the stage, and waiting for you to bring your little ones to chat with him about what they’d like for Christmas this year. He also reminds them to be good for their parents, which was my favorite part! There are photographers on hand to capture the perfect moment with your little one(s) and Santa in photos available for purchase afterwards.

Inside Santa’s Christmas Cabin, there are plenty of treats to choose from including homemade cookies & milk, hot chocolate, gourmet coffee and hot chocolate, s’mores on a stick, roasted nuts, winter wines and beer. It’s a nice place to sit down and take a break for a snack. Emi loved sitting at one of the little wooden tables to share some milk and cookies with Snoopy!

During Knott’s Merry Farm, the Calico Railroad is converted into a special Christmas on Engine 41 train ride experience. After you climb aboard the vintage railcar, you get to interact with a whole cast of characters who are ready to brighten your holidays with songs and chats about their traveling adventures. It’s a Christmas train ride filled with holiday cheer.

Just past the Calico Railroad, standing in front of the Calico Square Stage, stands the Knott’s Christmas tree, adorned with hundreds of ornaments. It’s so beautiful standing tall against the sunny blue sky! Emi and Snoopy liked checking themselves out in the giant ornaments!

After the sun goes down, you can enjoy watching Snoopy’s Merriest Tree Lighting on the Calico Square Stage as it lights up with the celebration of the season. It’s a musical, whimsical tree lighting featuring a cast of Toy Soldiers, Snowmen, Elves and the world’s most famous beagle, Snoopy!

(photo credit: Knott’s)

After dark, there’s also snowy fun each night during Knott’s Merry Farm along the buildings and paths in Ghost Town’s Main Street, as they are filled with glow and snow! Thousands of sparkling lights dance to the beat of “Let It Snow” while snow gently falls in this spectacular one-of-a-kind moment you can enjoy with your family in the Ghost Town.

(photo credit: Knott’s)

Emi, Snoopy, and Woodstock really wanted to eat dinner at Grizzly Creek Lodge, located inside of Camp Snoopy! They loved having a cheeseburger, fries and some Knott’s Berry Punch together. It’s one of our family’s favorites that we HAVE TO have on each visit to the park. Emi loved the keepsake lunchbox that her kids meal was served in. She truly adores the Peanuts gang.

I think our most favorite show at Knott’s Merry Farm was the “Merry Christmas, Snoopy” Ice show, which is in the Charles M. Schultz Theatre. I grew up watching Peanuts on TV and now Emi loves them too. Watching her face light up as all of the characters came out to skate during the show was priceless. Skating Snoopy was precious, the costumes were beautiful, I loved the songs they chose and the story lines, and the skating was amazing! What true talent!

It was a great day at Knott’s Merry Farm and we’re already planning our next visit. Have you checked out all of the benefits that come with a 2015 Knott’s Season Pass? They’re very affordable and make great holiday gifts! We’re considering grabbing 3 of them for our own family! If you purchase a pass now, you get one 2014 visit to Knott’s Merry Farm for free! For more information, click here!

Thank you again, Knott’s! As you can tell by the smile on her face, she LOVED Merry Farm and our family is so grateful for the opportunity to have spent the day creating more memories together! Happy holidays!