January 2016 - Page 2 of 2 - Over The Top Mommy

Month: January 2016

Mountain High Hosts World’s Largest Lesson Day with Guinness Record Event on January 8, 2016

January 4, 2016 / Lifestyle, SoCal Fun

January’s arrival marks the start of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month at Mountain High and the resort is participating in the World’s Largest Ski and Snowboard Lesson Day set for Friday, January 8 at 10:00 a.m! If you’re a beginner skier or snowboarder, this is especially for you! Attempting to set the World Record for the LARGEST multi-venue ski & snowboard lesson for the Guinness Book of World Records is going to be SNOW much fun! The current record for world’s largest ski lesson (both single and multiple venue) is 594 and 500 for world’s largest snowboard lesson (both single and multiple venue).

Ski and snowboard areas across the U.S. including Mountain High, will host a 10 a.m. beginner lesson for skiing or snowboarding as part of this event. You are invited to come learn to ski or snowboard on this exciting day as multiple winter resorts across the U.S., including Mountain High, will attempt to set industry and Guinness World Records for teaching people how to ski and snowboard. All participants receive an official Certificate Of Completion.

Lesson participants will:

Learn how to properly use equipment
Be introduced to basic skiing and snowboarding skills including safety
Learn about types of terrain
Demonstrate and be evaluated on what they learned during the 90 minute class

*All attendees will receive an official certificate of completion upon finishing the lesson. World’s Largest Ski and Snowboard Lesson Day results will be certified by appropriate Mountain High personnel and sent to industry and Guinness World Records for verification and approval. To register for the World’s Largest Ski and Snowboard Lesson Day at Mountain High and be a part of this fun, record-making event, click here or call 888-754-7878. Event registration ends Thursday, January 7, 2016.

Connect with Mountain High on Facebook and Twitter!

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images and logo are property of Mountain High.

Disney Princess: A Magical Pop-Up World Book Review

January 3, 2016 / Lifestyle, The Teacher in Me

If you know me, you know I LOVE anything Disney! Anything that’s Disney PRINCESS is even better! When I was asked if I’d like to receive a copy of “Disney Princess: A Magical Pop-Up World Book to review, I answered with a squealing “Yes!” I remember loving pop up books as a kid. There’s just something special about having the pages fold out into something that seems so real. This book cover is beautiful and has so much gold detail that it sparkles in the light. The book, itself, is like a piece of art and I was excited to share it with my daughter. As you flip through each page, you get to experience the intricately designed pop-ups that span through eleven classic films, where you’ll find all of your favorite princesses, as well as some other characters and surprises from stories that Disney fans have enjoyed over the past decades. Each of the 27 pop-up scenes folds out into a transformative scene with brilliant colors and classic Disney renderings. On the bottom corner of each page, there’s also a pull-tab flap that you pull down to read the accompanying text for these classic stories. What a special way to experience interactive reading together as a family! My daughter also enjoys reading it to our kitty! Here’s a video showing some of the stories in this book:

Disney Princess: A Magical Pop-Up World” is a special one-of-a-kind keepsake that my daughter will be able to treasure for a lifetime and pass onto her own children. Paper Engineer Matthew Reinhart, has truly captured the magic inside this book! Right now, Insight Editions is offering a Friends & Family discount of 35% off all Insight Editions titles, including this book, to my loyal readers! Just visit their website here and simply use the code IEFRIENDS at check out. They have also provided me with one copy of “Disney Princess: A Magical Pop-Up World” to give away to one lucky reader. Enter below on the Rafflecopter. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is not a sponsored post. I was provided with a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% my own. Some images and video are property of Disney and Insight Editions.

NFL Happy Hour Specials at Islands Restaurants + Enter to Win a $25 Gift Card

January 2, 2016 / Food, Let's Eat!, Restaurant Reviews

Have you dined at Islands Restaurants lately? It’s the perfect place to go with the whole family and always has something on the menu for everyone in our group! On a recent rainy day, our family ventured out to our local Islands to grab some lunch. I’m addicted to their Passion Fruit Iced Tea and it’s my “thing” to order some right away along with an order of their Chips & Salsa with Fresh Made Guacamole! I’m kind of a creature of habit, so I usually order their Yaki Tacos. The combination of the grilled chicken, teriyaki sauce, pineapple salsa, jack cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes is the best! They’re usually served with Ranchero Beans but I felt like substituting for some other their famous fries. I love sprinkling some of Islands’ “Secret Seasoning” on them and dipping each one in ranch dressing! My daughter usually orders the Jr. Tiki Tenders from their Gremmie Menu with applesauce and carrots and ranch. As a mom, I’m pleased that Islands also offers healthy choices for their sides.

A slice of their Kona Pie for dessert, which has Mocha almond fudge ice cream & cookie crust topped w/chocolate fudge, whipped cream, roasted almonds & a cherry. didn’t last very long at our table. It was a delicious way to end our lunch! Right now, Islands Restaurants has NFL Happy Hour going on, that offers football fans ice cold beer, tropical drinks and tasty game day fare all season long. Monday and Thursday happy hour deals are extended from 4 p.m. to close in the bar, with specials available all day long on Sundays. Those looking for the full viewing experience can catch all the action with NFL Sunday Ticket and won’t miss a single touchdown or interception with NFL Redzone playing on big screen TVs at every Islands location.
Hungry fans can blitz brand new menu items including the Nalu Nalu Dog – garnished with a roasted garlic aioli and topped with sautéed onion, red and green bell peppers, deli pepper rings and melted Swiss cheese – and the Pipeline Dog covered with chili, onions and American cheese, which will be available in the bar area.
Additional Sunday NFL specials will run all day and night in the bar, and include the following:

Coors Light for $2.99
Featured IPA for $4.59
Bloody Marys for $3.99
Island Nachos for $7.95

Football lovers can stay hydrated and satisfied while cheering on their favorite team with these signature tropical drinks and food specials every game day:

the Mai Tai ($4.39)
the Hand Shaken Strawberry Daiquiri ($5.59)
Hawaiian Sliders ($5.99)
Quesadillas ($3.79)
Cheddar Fries ($4.85)

No matter the score, guests will celebrate Islands NFL Happy Hour with a touchdown victory dance and unique promotions at each store location. The game day experience will vary by location with bartender-call-it discounted drinks, giveaways and games.
For more information, please visit http://www.islandsrestaurants.com.

note: during playoffs, Islands will only be doing specials for NFL playoff games on Saturdays and Sundays, including the Super Bowl.

Now for the exciting part! Islands Restaurants will provide 1 of my lucky readers with a $25 Islands gift card. Enter to win on the Rafflecopter below. Good luck everyone! Happy New Year!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is not a sponsored post. We were invited to lunch at Islands Restaurant in order to write this post. All opinions are 100% my own. Some images property of Islands Restaurants

NEW Zootopia Trailer Featuring Shakira’s New Song “Try Everything”!

January 1, 2016 / Entertainment, Movies

Just as 2015 comes to an end, more exciting footage from Walt Disney Animation Studios has been released for the upcoming film “Zootopia”! This Big Screen adventure is Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 55th animated feature and is set to release in theaters on March 4, 2016.

I’m extra excited about this newest trailer because it features the new song “Try Everything“, written by singer-songwriter Sia and songwriting duo Stargate, and performed by Grammy®-winning international superstar Shakira. The single will be available everywhere 1/8. Revered worldwide by herds of fans, Shakira voices Zootopia’s biggest pop star Gazelle who is a socially conscious celebrity with equal parts talent and heart. I LOVE her!

Watch the latest trailer: Here’s a synopsis of ZOOTOPIA:
The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”), and produced by Clark Spencer (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “Lilo & Stitch”) opens in theaters on March 4, 2016.
Are you as excited for the release of this film as we are?
Connect with ZOOTOPIA on Facebook and Twitter!

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images and footage are property of Walt Disney Studios.

Meet Lea Clark™, American Girl’s 2016 Girl of the Year™!

January 1, 2016 / Lifestyle

She’s here and children all around the world, including my own daughter, are celebrating her arrival today! Meet Lea Clark™, American Girl’s 2016 Girl of the Year™!Lea is a talented photographer with an adventurous spirit. In her story, Lea discovers a wide world of possibilities when she embarks on a faraway adventure to Brazil. The 18” Lea doll has warm hazel eyes, medium skin, and long wavy hair. She’s beautiful!Lea arrives in a colorful dress with braided trim, underwear, and sandals with crisscrossed laces. Also included are her colorful canvas messenger bag, a pretend compass necklace, and the Lea Dives In paperback book by award-winning author, Lisa Yee.
In Lea Dives In:

Lea is ready for adventure on a family trip to Brazil, where her big brother Zac is studying the rainforest. She can’t wait to see the ocean—but quickly realizes she’d rather take photos of it than swim in it. Disappointed in herself, Lea longs to show Zac that she’s as bold and brave as he is. She finds inspiration in a new friend, who encourages her to embrace the excitement and beauty that Brazil offers. But when the fun turns to danger during a hike, Lea must prove to Zac—and herself—that she has what it takes to face adventure head-on.

There are three 2016 Girl of the Year books in all, written by Lisa Yee—Lea Dives In, Lea Leads the Way, and Lea and Camila, which introduce girls to a curious ten-year-old girl with an adventurous spirit. Lea’s collection is only available for one year and includes the beautiful 18-inch Lea™ doll featuring long wavy hair and warm hazel eyes, plus several tropical-inspired outfits, accessories, and toys that reflect her Brazilian travels, including Lea’s Rainforest House includes over 30 pieces!
Also, an all-new, action-adventure film will debut on DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment in summer 2016! We love all of the American Girl movies and can’t wait for this one! Giving Back with Lea
It’s so important to teach our children about the importance of giving back. To show girls that, together, they can make a difference in helping protect animals and their habitats, American Girl has created Wild at Art, a year-long fund-raising campaign in support of World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Starting January 1, American Girl is encouraging girls to use their artistic abilities to host an art sale and donate the proceeds to WWF. To launch the campaign, American Girl has made a $50,000 donation to WWF and also invites customers to contribute at American Girl retail stores and americangirl.com. To learn more and register for Wild at Art, plus get animal-themed craft ideas, and be entered into a sweepstakes for the chance to win one of 17 Lea prize packages, visit here.
In addition, from January 1 through December 31, 2016, for every purchase of one of the three plush animals in Lea’s collection—the margay, sea turtle, or sloth—American Girl will donate $1 (up to a maximum of $100,000) to WWF.
Lea™ Born for Adventure Paid App and Online Play:
Girls can join Lea in Brazil for an adventure of a lifetime with this paid app, featuring beautiful graphics, exclusive content, and endless play. The app retails for $1.99 and is available for download here. Girls can also visit the Lea-dedicated site for book excerpts, movie-related content, games and quizzes, wallpaper and e-cards, and much more. Optimized for iOS 7 or later. Compatible with iPad 2 or higher, iPhone 4S or higher, and iPod Touch 5th generation. Lea In-Store Events
American Girl stores will be hosting Lea’s Debut Event on January 1 and continuing throughout the weekend! Girls will get a first look at her full product collection, plus enjoy in-store activities, colorful crafts, giveaways, and a fun photo opportunity. Girls can also take part in free and paid Lea-related events throughout the year. For more details on the in-store events, visit here.

The Lea collection is available through American Girl’s catalogue at americangirl.com, at all American Girl retail locations nationwide, and at American Girl specialty boutiques at select Indigo™ and Chapters™ in Canada and El Palacio de Hierro locations in Mexico City. The Lea books can also be purchased through retail and online booksellers. To learn more about Lea and the Girl of the Year™ line, visit American Girl on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram. To request an American Girl catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images and logos are property of American Girl.