The other day I posted about my outing to the Sony Pictures Lot and how I got to meet with Ivan Reitman at Ghost Corps.
I didn’t think it was even possible but the following day was even more exciting!, I was invited to attend Ghostbusters press conference at the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. Guess what was parked outside again? 
We sat with Paul Reig, Katie Dippold, Ivan Reitman, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. What an incredible group! (Sadly, Kristen Wigg was ill that day).
They literally kept each other in stitches the entire time and if none of us were there to ask questions they probably would’ve kept at it all night. Their chemistry and love for each other was so evident and obvious in the room, which clearly translated onto the Big Screen. (Don’t worry, that’s not a spoiler!)
These 4 ladies (including Kristen) are probably the most hilarious group of women that could’ve been cast for this reboot! The first question they responded to was “How much fun was the film to make?” I think Melissa McCarthy summed it up pretty well when she answered, “If that’s like a day at the office (Oh my G-d) then this is a pretty good deal!” Kate and Leslie chimed in too with funny metaphors relating to the filming being like “camp” and talking about all the fun they had at this “camp”. I don’t think these ladies stopped laughing the entire time which made all of us continue to giggle right along with them.
Then came the question for Mr. Reitman that was probably a great part of the world wanted to know….”Why now is the ‘right time’ for a new Ghostbusters?” to which he responded, “I think so, particularly as told by these 4 extraordinary women. It was remarkable to be there and to watch it. It’s something we all wanted to continue but never managed to talk each other into for about 20 years. Suddenly to see it happen again under the Paul Reig’s direction was just a great thrill”
Katie talked about what it was like to write with Paul Feig and said, “When Paul first asked me to write it with him, my brain exploded because I loved the original so much. The second Paul cast these women it was a huge sigh of relief because I think they’re amazing and make everything funnier so that made everything so much easier”
Paul also spoke about working with the ladies in the cast saying, “I just try to stay out of their way. We put the script together, which is like a road map and we know what we need out of each scene but then how we get there, that’s the fun we have of letting these four ladies just go for it!”
There was so much hilarious content in this interview that I included the link above (that black bar) so you can listen to it in its entirety. However, I want to close this by sharing how excited I got, and leaned in immediately, when Ivan was asked, “When will we see the next Ghostbusters?” He responded with, “Soon” but also added, “Last time I said that, it took 20 years!”.
Well, I’m going to hold out hope that a sequel will surface much sooner than 20 years. There’s just no question about whether you should see this film or not…YOU SHOULD! Ghostbusters opens nationwide in theaters on July 15! Will you be there to see it? I know we’ll be seeing it again! 
Oh, and go have some fun making your very own Ghostbusters BitMoji!. Look how cute mine turned out! You can download the app in the iTunes store for free.
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As I approached the lot, I could see the giant rainbow! If you’ve ever driven by the area, you may have seen it because it’s larger than life and visible from the street. Did you know that this rainbow was built as a tribute to Wizard of Oz? When you walk under it you almost feel like Dorothy.
Our group was headed to meet Mr. Reitman at Ghost Corps, which is like the Ghostbusters “creative headquarters”. If you’re a fan of the film(s), it’s pretty much like nostalgia heaven! As we approached the area, I know more than one of us was giddy to find the original Ecto-1, parked right outside. Never pass up a photo opportunity like that! 
Shortly after we took 1000s of photos with Ecto-1, because that’s what women do, we walked through the doors of Ghost Corps to find Ivan Reitman standing with coffee in hand. He was so welcoming and genuinely wanted to chat with us about the Ghostbusters of yesterday, as well as the new kick-butt reboot of the film. (Yes, I’m a fan of the new one.)
You could feel how much his heart was into the entire project as he shared about his vision for the original and all that went into it. He also shared about his desire to put out more sequels and talked about how and why that never continued to happen.
When Mr. Reitman spoke about the loss of the great Harold Ramis, you could feel a true sadness in his voice and he shared that after such a loss, he didn’t visualize himself directing any more Ghostbuster films. 
You could also see his face light up talking about how the new film finally came to life! I don’t think he ever thought another Ghostbusters would happen. It’s a Ghostbusters for a new generation! With a power cast of mainly females, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones really show us how modern-day ghost catching is done! 
Ivan was surprised when we shared how much our own kids loved the film, since we’d screened just the night before. I think it surprised him because he told us that the original was never created with an audience of children in mind, even though many children saw it. (I know I did!) My own daughter already asked when we’d see it again after the screening! 
Mr. Reitman asked us to share all of our thoughts about the new film with him. He was really listening to us and truly wanted the feedback. I can’t imagine he’s getting much sleep these days, anticipating the film’s release on July 15! 
I’m a huge fan of the original Ghostbusters, which came out in 1984. It was a special part of my childhood and has remained part of the nostalgia of my generation. When I stood in the conference room of Ghost Corps, I almost felt like I was part of the brainstorming process! (Ok not really, but it was still exciting!)
It was fun to see some of the original toys in a collectors’ case, inside of Ghost Corps. The case also had some of the new toys in it. As Mr. Reitman said, “Here are some of the new Ghostbusters toys that your kids are going to be begging you for!”. Yeah, I’m sure he’s right. And if not our kids, our husbands!
Some other cool things inside Ghost Corps were actually things that scared me as a kid. I was able to conquer some of my childhood Ghostbusters fears like standing in front of Terror Dog and looking at Stay Puft right in the eye! 
As soon as I heard about a new Ghostbusters being made, one that is going to belong to today’s generation, I couldn’t wait for its release! Seriously, my daughter will have “her own version” with a cast full of females! That’s amazing! By the way, If you’re one of the 5 people who still haven’t watched the trailer for Ghostbusters, here it is:
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As you approach the security area, it can be a little congested at times. It’s always important to remember…you’re at The Happiest Place on Earth! Nowadays, these extra security measures are necessary. I’m actually glad that Disneyland Resort has done this. 
You should know that any bags will be checked, as well as strollers and wheelchairs. 
Once you get through the initial bag screening area, you’ll be going through a metal detector, similar to the ones at the airport. You’ll be asked to unload your pockets and place your belongings in a tray before walking through the machines. It seems that they’re currently doing this for all guests. 
There are things you can do to help speed up the security process for yourself and others around you. As someone who’s been through the lines recently, on a few different “busy days”, I am speaking from experience here. (These are just some of my own tips.) 
First, prior to entering the bag check area, be prepared by already by having your backpack, satchel, and/or purse open for the Cast Members to search. This really helps to keep the line flowing. No one wants to wait extra time while you are asked to remove your bag and open it when you could already be ready. 
Second, avoid carrying items on the prohibited list. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen with “selfie sticks”. They’re on the prohibited list and have been for a while. I’ve even seen this on the news. I’ve also seen guests try to negotiate to be able to bring theirs in with them still. Just don’t! 
Third, have some extra patience when you’re in line. Sadly, I’ve also witnessed other guests acting in a grumpy manner and complaining to everyone around them. Did you know that positivity is contagious? 
Finally, consider actually thanking a Cast Member as you pass through these security areas. Thank them for working to keep you extra safe. Trust me, it’ll make their day!
Lately, I’m a little obsessed with pineapples! I love anything and everything “pineapple” and totally agree with this expression: 
Feeding my family a well-balanced meal is a priority for me, but it can also be a challenge. I often feel like I run out of creative meal ideas, especially ones that are quick and simple to prepare. As a mom, I think it’s just natural for me to be on the lookout for meals that will wow my family. I want to be able to answer with something exciting when I get the infamous question, “Mom, what’s for dinner?”. 
I make a lot of chicken dishes for dinners but wanted to prepare something a little different and new so I whipped up a batch of “Baked Crispy Chicken Tenders“, using panko crispy bread crumbs.(Please see full recipe below.) These help give chicken tenders a crispier texture than just regular baked chicken. I don’t like to fry a lot of foods, I prefer to oven-bake so using these bread crumb crumbs on chicken gives them a little extra “crunch” without having to fry them. 
My trick is to brown up the panko bread crumbs with a little butter in the skillet before using them on the chicken. Let me just share that doing this, instead of using them straight out of the box on the chicken, makes the chicken extra yummy and is a definite kid pleaser! 
Let’s Talk About Cleanup
Scotch-Brite® Scrubbing Dish Cloths are a new product and they seriously take all of the headache out of cleanup! I found them at Walmart, on the “Paper and Cleaning” aisle and can’t rant enough about them to you. 
First of all, they’re cute and don’t look like standard dish cloths. (I like to keep my kitchen stylish.) They’re available in 3 colors: tan, coral, and navy and are priced just under $5.00 at Walmart for a 2-pack. (I bought mine for $4.98.) By still giving you the versatility of a dish cloth, Scotch-Brite® Scrubbing Dish Cloths make cleaning things, like stuck on messes from my chicken tenders dinner, far easier! They basically combine the best of a high quality dish cloth with the power of Scotch-Brite® scrubbing dots for a quicker and easier clean. 
One of the things I like best about them is the fact that they will not scratch any surface! With non-scratch scrubbing power I can clean other areas in my kitchen, in addition to using it on the dishes, without worrying about damaging anything. Another one of my favorite things about them is how sturdy they are and the fact that you can wash and re-use them, which helps you stay “green” in the kitchen. Also, right now at Walmart, there’s a $1 off instant redeemable coupon available on the product that you can redeem at the register when you check out! 
Shared Responsibility in the Kitchen
So, I printed up this cute little printable, framed it, and stuck it in a frame. (To print out your own copy, click 
By stocking our kitchen with Scotch-Brite® Scrubbing Dish Cloths, I just made everyone’s life easier! For more recipes and cleaning ideas, visit
Ingredients
Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty also joined the festivities and danced up on stilts while a brass band played for guests and red, white, and blue confetti flew in the air at the finale of the ribbon cutting ceremony. Here’s a video recap of the event (courtesy of LEGOLAND):
For the first time ever, guests can use a special LEGO tower viewer, giving them a skyscraper view of Miniland U.S.A. The area also features LEGO model replicas of the 9/11 Memorial’s twin reflecting pools, the grove of memorial trees and the impressive World Trade Center Transportation Hub. 
The updated NYC area of Miniland U.S.A. is now open for guests to stop by and pay tribute to. With the upcoming July 4th Holiday, there’s never been a more perfect time to visit the Park. 
The new LEGO models and Independence Day event are included with the price of admission to LEGOLAND California Resort. LEGOLAND® California Resort will be having its annual the Resort’s Red White and Boom! 4th of the July celebration. The family fun event features activities such as water-balloon tosses, burlap sack races, patriotic stroller parade, building activities and a fireworks display at 8:30 p.m. For more information, log onto