Over The Top Mommy

Month: August 2016

Back to School Shopping at Brea Mall + Enter to Win a $5000 Shopping Spree

I was provided with a gift card in order to shop for this post. All opinions are 100% my own. 

Back to School shopping is no easy task for a mom like me. It usually involves several trips to get everything that’s on “the list”. Luckily, I live close to Brea Mall. There are 4 major department stores (JcPenney, Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Sears) at Brea Mall plus pretty much any other specialty store you can think of, so you know you’re going to find what you need there. (including a Starbucks for yourself!)brea-mall-back-to-school-starrbucksIt’s kind of funny to look at the fashion trends for back to school this year because they remind me of when was in high school! Lots of denim, including denim jackets and acid wash jeans, lace, plaids, chunky boots, preppy pieces, florals, and the best part is that they call a lot of it “vintage”.

Watch this hilarious clip about Moms and Back-to-School Shopping and see if you can relate?

Right now, Simon Malls, which includes Brea Mall, are having a “Throw Back to Back to School” contest. Here are the details:
Did you rock acid wash in the 80s? What about double denim before it was a trend again? Since there’s nothing we love more than a fashion flashback, we want to see your best back to school themed throwback photo from the 80’s and 90’s. To enter, just share your photo to Twitter or Instagram using #tbtbts and #contest for a chance to win a $1,000 gift card, plus a chance at our grand prize $5,000 shopping spree.You can also enter by commenting on your local Simon center’s Facebook contest post with your picture. Click here to go to the Brea Mall Facebook page contest. 

Some of the shops we hit up for Back-to-School shopping at Brea Mall include:

Vans – Right now they have a bunch of Nintendo merchandise including hats and backpacks that coordinate with tennis shoes. My daughter loves Princess Peach and was all over their collection. Word on the street is they can’t keep these items in stock. I guess we lucked out the day we went shopping!brea-mall-back-to-school-vans

Gymboree – I adore the collections at Gymboree because they always feature several pieces that you can mix and match to create different outfits. My niece was excited about the sign featuring Disney Channel’s Sofia Carson, and highlighting some of her favorite Gymboree picks. Everything kitty cat and sparkly gold, including a headband with cat ears on it. I couldn’t resist buying it all for her!  I also loved the superhero merchandise they had for both boys and girls, too! brea-mall-back-to-school-gymboree

Crazy 8 – My favorite thing in this store was the entire wall in both the boys and girls area, dedicated to “8 day denim…wear every day + more!” How clever! That’s exactly up my own alley except it’s just way too tiny. I also found more lunchboxes and backpacks that were matching. They have a ton of cute clothes at Crazy 8 including lots of navy/khaki and white school uniforms, all at great prices.brea-mall-back-to-school-crazy8Champs – Every kid needs tennis shoes. Some wear them every day as school shoes, some kids change into them for P.E. They have a huge selection of shoes in sizes ranging from toddler to adult. Champs also has t-shirts, shorts, workout wear, hats, athletic socks, and more. brea-mall-back-to-school-champs

Lush – Although this isn’t a typical store for shopping for “Back to School”, my daughter will tell you differently and insist it’s a “necessity”! She said we needed to get her all stocked up on these beautiful bath bombs and soaps and handmade cosmetics. I can see why all the girls want to shop here on mall trips. It smells amazing inside the store! brea-mall-back-toschool-lush

Hollister – You can find cute, trendy basics in here like denim jackets, t-shirts, skinny jeans, and cute summer tops. They also have shoes and purses. We’re so lucky to live in California and be able to dress like this pretty much year-round. brea-mall-back-to-school-hollister

Abercrombie – If you’re looking for “preppy” looks, this is the place to shop at. I found a lot of denim in here, as well as jackets, polos, and button-up shirts.brea-mall-back-to-school-abercrombieCharlotte Russe – The first thing that caught my daughter’s eye were the shoes! They had a big selection of the ankle boots that I used to wear. They also have a ton of denim choices and adorable tops and jackets. We found a lot of things to buy for school here. brea-mall-back-toschool-charlotte-russeClaire’s – If you’re a “girl mom” you probably already know about Claire’s. It’s more than just the place to get your ears pierced, it’s the ultimate accessory shop. They have a huge selection of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, hair accessories, backpacks and purses, phone cases and holders, tablet covers, stickers, nail polishes and lip glosses and more! The girls were all over the sparkly pineapple accessories!brea-mall-back-to-school-clairesWell, as you can see, we had a lot of luck during our back to school shopping! Have you finished all of yours yet?

Connect with Brea Mall on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram too.

 

 

 

My Thoughts about Pete’s Dragon + FREE Printable Coloring Pages

I don’t even know where to start with Pete’s Dragon! I was so fortunate to attend an advanced screening of the film and it was absolutely beautiful! I swear I’m not just saying that because it stars Robert Redford either, although I wish my grandmother was still here to see him in it!

You may (or may not) remember the original “Pete’s Dragon” back in 1977, which was a Disney original, live-action animated musical film. This Pete’s Dragon is more of a reboot of the origina than a remake and gives the story line a different twist
Have you watched the official trailer yet?

Pete’s Dragon is the tale of a small town where Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) resides and tells his tales to the town’s children, about the dragon that lives deep in the woods.Petes-Dragon-Robert-Redford His adult daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), also lives in the town and works as a forest ranger in the woods. She fails to believe any of her father’s stories are true, as she has never encountered anything such as a dragon in the woods. Petes-Dragon-GraceEverything Grace believed in changed the day she met Pete, a 10 year-old boy, who seemed to be living in the woods and have no family or real “home”.

Oakes Fegley is Pete in Disney's PETE'S DRAGON, the story of a boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just happens to be a dragon.After Pete finally opens up to Grace, he talks to her about his giant dragon “Elliot”, who he lives with in the woods. The rest of the film, you’ll have to see for yourself! I don’t believe in posting spoilers for others. Petes-Dragon-Elliot“Pete’s Dragon” is such an exciting and magical journey and will pull on your heartstrings…a lot! I absolutely fell in love with each of the main characters, especially with Elliot!petes-dragon-1It was so special to be able to see this film with my own daughter and share one of the stories from my own childhood with her in a more modern version. The film is rated PG but I’d recommend it for most children. The only thing that might be a little scary would be the dragon, Elliot. Normally, I just tell my daughter that something in a movie isn’t real, in hopes that she won’t be scared. However, I wouldn’t say that about this dragon. Remember…”Just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean it’s not there!”just-because-you-cant-see-somethingWatch this hilarious clip of Bryce talking about what it’s like to work with Elliot the dragon on set:

I’m also including these fun, free printables you can print out! There’s a coloring page and a maze. Just click below each image to print out. Enjoy!petes-dragon-coloring-page-tail

petes-dragon-flying-dragon-coloring-page
petes-dragon-coloring-sheet-petepetes-dragon-coloring-page-forest

To download this coloring sheets, go here.

petes-dragon-coloring-maze-photo

To download the maze, click here.

Have you already gone to see Pete’s Dragon? If not, I highly recommend doing so with whole family,,,and watch it in 3D! You’re going to love it!

Connect with Pete’s Dragon on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Main Street Electrical Parade is Returning To Disneyland!

I was elated to find out some magical news last night on the Disney Parks Twitter….thetweet

Did you see? They announced that the Main Street Electrical Parade, currently residing at Walt Disney World, will have it’s final run (for now) at the Magic Kingdom on October 9th before it hits the road for California! This is the best news for Guests of the Disneyland Resort, although I do feel sad for anyone who will be missing this parade when it leaves Walt Disney World. The Main Street Electrical Parade, actually had a run as Disney’s Electrical Parade” at Disney California Adventure park from 2001 to 2010, but it hasn’t been in Disneyland park in 20 years, so we’re ecstatic! According to the Disney Parks Blog, the Main Street Electrical Parade will be at Disneyland as a limited-time encore engagement, at the beginning of 2017. tinkerbellCurrently, I just feel like Christmas came early! After it was just last week that the “Paint the Night” parade would be going dark at the end of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration, this news about the Main Street Electrical Parade is so exciting. However, on the Disney Parks Blog they also announced that the “Paint the Night” parade will actually return on select nights during the holiday season later this year! Yay!

To keep up on the latest updates, you can visit the Disneyland our eye on Disneyland Resort’s Entertainment Calendar here.

This is not a sponsored post, I just like writing about Disney a lot! All opinions are 100% my own. Main Street Electrical Parade image property of Walt Disney Company.  

 

Classroom Cleanup Made Easy with WaterWipes

This post was sponsored by WaterWipes as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

As a first grade teacher, I get to work with the cutest kids! 6 and 7 year olds are so sweet. They also make some of the biggest messes and manage to get completely dirty during a single morning recess. kids-have-the-abilitySince I’m also a mom, things like dirty hands and faces or runny noses don’t bother me when I’m in the classroom. I do, however, place importance on cleanliness both at home and in my classroom. I’m really particular about the products I choose, always trying to find cleaners that don’t contain chemicals. I know that I don’t want my daughter coming in contact with harmful chemicals and I”m sure my students’ parents want the same thing for them! art-is-supposed-to-be-messyIn my classroom, we like to do art whenever it fits into a school day. Since we don’t have a sink in the room, I have to be creative with cleaning and hand/face washing, especially during art. I truly believe that art is supposed to be messy and I’m Ok with it.  messy-little-handsI was excited to learn about WaterWipes. Have you heard of them yet? They are chemical-free baby wipes that only contain two ingredients: 99.9% pure Irish water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract. I found mine at Babies R’ Us near the diapers and wipes. I carry around baby wipes with me at all times and use them for everything. For a store locator, go herewater-wipes-at-babies-r-us WaterWipes are just the perfect kind to keep on hand in my classroom though. I appreciate brands that are considerate about the ingredients they choose to include in their products.water-wipes-at-babies-r-us-cart I’ve found WaterWipes to be both durable and effective for cleaning up classroom messes and little first graders’ hands, without containing any of the harmful chemicals that may be found in other baby wipes. I’m looking out for my students so I choose WaterWipes as a safer, natural option for my classroom cleanup regimen.

Do you have a “go-to” for cleaning up little hands and faces? enter-the-water-wipes-giveawayRight now, you can enter to win one of five (5) $100 Babies”R”Us gift cards. You can enter below through August 18, 2016. Winners will be randomly selected from all of the entries. Good luck everyone!
WaterWipes Babies”R”Us Giveaway

Connect with WaterWipes on Facebook and Twitter.

 

LEGOLAND® California’s New Mobile App and FREE Resort Wifi

Have you heard the latest news to come out of the LEGOLAND® California Resort? Your visit to the Park just got easier because you can access their new and improved Mobile App, which offers step by step navigation. It’s the ultimate adventure tool. legoland-app-step-by-step-navigationPark guests can enjoy the convenience of the App in the Park by connecting to the FREE Resort wifi. This will definitely help with your phone roaming and draining the battery so quickly. Having in-park wifi is so much more efficient.

The LEGOLAND Mobile App Features include: 

  • Wait times for rides
  • An Interactive map that makes exploring easy
  • Daily entertainment guide so you don’t miss any of the fun
  • Ride information, including height guide
  • Park hours and directions
  • Helpful in-Park tips
  • Exclusive dining and retail offers
  • Car Finder marks where you parked

 

legoland-mobile-appYou can download the app for free and it’s compatible with iOS and Andriod devices. Your visit to the LEGOLAND California Resort will be easier when you have control in the palm of your hand! When is your next trip?

Connect with LEGOLAND® California Resort on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Some images are property of  LEGOLAND® California Resort. 

 

Celebrate Ghost Town’s 75th Anniversary at Knott’s

This summer has been such an exciting one at Knott’s Berry Farm with the 75th Anniversary Celebration of Ghost Town happening. knotts-ghost-town-signRight now when you visit the Park, you get to experience the Old West town of Calico, in a whole new way during Ghost Town Alive! It’s an interactive experience and will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a time capsule, as you join in on the daily lives of the citizens of Calico and are treated like one of their own. knotts-75th-ghost-town-celebration-saloonHere are just some of the fun activities you’ll should do while visiting Ghost Town:

  • Grab a copy of the town paper ghost-town-newspaper
  • Go to the Barbershop for a “shave” and a mustacheknotts-ghost-town-barbershopghost-town-mustache
  • Play a game of cards with the town Sheriff
  • Have your photograph taken the old-fashioned way knotts-ghost-town-75th-anniversary-photographers
  • Meeting the prospector and his trusty burro, Brutus
  • Get locked up in the town Jail knotts-ghost-town-75th-celebration-jail
  • Visit the animals in the Livery Stable 
  • Help the town folk by drawing “WANTED” posters
  • Participate in the town election and vote for the Mayor knotts-ghost-town-75th-celebration-the-mayor

Every evening, the day’s “story” culminates with a town-wide celebration of 75 years of Calico. You won’t want to miss out on the Hoedown. It’s fun for the entire family. ghost-town-2While you’re at Knott’s, you should also take a ride (or a few) on GhostRider, the longest, fastest and tallest wooden rollercoaster on the West Coast. It was recently re-opened after an extensive renovation and I speak from experience when I say, you NEED to go on it! It’s way smoother to ride now and kept me screaming the entire time! Watch this video of me braving GhostRider, along with my friends from Popsicle Blog, Polka Dots on Parade, and Dandelion Moms. (I’m in the 2nd row.)

Another must-do when you visit Knott’s is to have a delicious meal at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. It’s located just outside the gates of the Park and was also newly reopened after a complete refurbishment, which now also includes an outdoor dining area! There’s nothing quite like a meal from Mrs. Knott’s! To learn more about all of the new additions to the restaurant and menu offerings, go here.

Ghost Town Alive! is happening every day this summer at Knott’s Berry Farm. You’ll want to make sure to visit before it all goes away on September 5.ghost-town-burroConnect with Knott’s on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I was invited as a guest of Knott’s to spend a day in the Park in order to write this post. All opinions are 100% my own. Some images and logo are property of Knott’s. 

Road Trip Sanity Savers For Parents Traveling With Kids + Free Printable

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RoadTripOil #CollectiveBias road-trip-sanity-savers-for-parents-traveling-with-kidsI get excited for family road trips. It’s the chance to get away, see new places, and explore together. Slowly but surely, we’re checking states off of our map. We’ve visited beaches, deserts, theme parks, farms, and so many other fun places, Some of our road trips are just local ones, but a getaway is a getaway, right?

road-trip-tips-yellow-flowersGetting the Car Ready
Before hitting the road, there are some things I always need to do to prepare. I made a stop at Walmart a couple of weeks ago to shop for some road trip necessities and noticed a Rollback sign at the Automotive Care Center. Did you know many Walmart locations had these? They’re open 7 days a week, too. How convenient! walmart-auto-centerRight now, through September 28, you can get an oil change with Pennzoil® High Mileage Vehicle® motor oil for $35.88. (It’s on Rollback from $39.88) Since my car has over 75,000 miles on it, most likely from all of the road trippin’, that’s what kind I need to get. If you’re not sure which one you need, the Automotive Care Center Manager can help you when you’re there. Pennzoil® High Mileage Vehicle® motor oil helps clean out the sludge lesser oils leave behind, while helping to reduce leaks and oil consumption in worn or higher mileage engines. road-trip-tips-oil-change-menuIt’s a motor oil specifically designed for new or late model vehicles with over 75,000 miles, with the mission of keeping engines running clean and going strong. If your vehicle has less than 75,000 miles on it, you’ll want to road-trip-tips-peace-of-mindStocking up the Car
Once my car was all set and had the oil changed, I could start packing and gathering things to keep everyone in the car happy. My husband sometimes says I pack a little too much into the car, but I just call it being prepared.

road-trip-tips-preparedHere are some of the things I never go on a road trip without:

  • snacks – both dry snacks and some fresh fruit
  • water/other drink options
  • a cooler with ice, to keep in the back
  • plastic sandwich bags or plastic cups – for serving snacks to the kids
  • baby wipes – I use these for everything. Trust me, you need these on your trip!
  • a roll (or two) of toilet paper
  • tissue
  • a first aid kit
  • Ibuprofin –  for adults and kids
  • allergy medicine – you just never know if you’ll need this
  • extra towels
  • blankets

I know some of these things seem like you’d never forget to bring them, but I’ve seen so many people trying to buy some of these items at rest stops or gas stations in the middle of nowhere and either they don’t carry them or they’re really expensive. Hopefully this list will help you before your next road trip. road-trip-tips-disneyKid-Friendly Road Trip Activities 
I was trying to find things to occupy the kids, that would help save my sanity. I was also attempting to find things that don’t involve technology, although I know it’s inevitably going to come out at some point on the trip. road-trip-tips-how-many-more-minutesThe thought of a road trip can sometimes be so ideal in your head, before you actually get on the road, but hearing things like, “How many more minutes?” or “Are we almost there?” from the little people in the backseat, can drive you nuts! I sometimes think kids must teach each other these phrases because they all seem to say it. road-trip-bingo-card-blue-borderIn “the olden days”, when I was a kid, our options included: staring out the window or playing the license plate game. I wanted to be a little more creative than that. I suppose this version of “Road Trip BINGO” is just a modernized version of the license plate game, except I’ve upped the game…I added a prize! They have one card to share, which is supposed to promote “working together” and when they get “BINGO”, they get to choose where we stop for our next treat. Seems like a win-win for me, don’t you think? I printed two different cards, so they could play again on the way home! I figure it’ll buy me at least a little bit of time without having to hear those annoying questions. Check out my two favorite parts on the BINGO game. I circled them for you! road-trip-bingo-fav-parts

You can print out your own copy of these free printable here. I suggest printing it on white cardstock.

Do you have any special road trip tips that you like to use when traveling with kids? Share with me in the comments! Happy Road Trippin’!

Connect with Pennzoil® on Facebook and YouTube.

Disney Store To Celebrate Grand Opening of New Location in Santa Ana on 8/6

Disney Store will celebrate the grand opening of its new store at MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana on Saturday, August 6 at 10 a.m.  Orange County’s newest location of The Disney Store will offer an immersive retail experience with a touch of magic for Disney fans of all ages, including unique elements, some of which are exclusive to Santa Ana, such as:

  • a blue Pixie Dust Trail
  • Magical Trees
  • a Disney Store Theater
  • Storytelling Neighborhoods featuring Disney, Marvel and Star Wars products
  • a customized skyline incorporating local landmarks, such as ithe Old Santa Ana City Hall and Bowers Museum, in addition to classic Disney features and magical storytelling moments.

The Disney Store grand opening celebration will feature a festive song, composed specially for Disney Store and performed by the store Cast Members. Disney Store Grand Opening Ceremony where one lucky child will be invited to “Unlock Imagination. Getting to be the first person to help open The Disney Store is a HUGE DEAL! We actually participated in this before and it was magical. To read more about it, go heredisney-store-keyThe first 500 guests to attend the opening celebration will receive a free gift (*while supplies last). Guests will have an opportunity to meet Donald Duck and Daisy Duck in the lower level Macy’s court from noon to 4 p.m.  Guests are encouraged to bring their cameras. *Characters alternate every 30 minutes. Character appearances are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

Disney Store at MainPlace Mall is located at:
2800 North Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92705

Hope to see you there!

Connect with The Disney Store on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Logo is property of Disney Store. 

Knott’s All Day Dining Plan

We recently enjoyed a “Sunday Funday” at Knott’s Berry Farm and were there from park opening to park closing. There’s just so much to see and do there, especially right now during their 75th Anniversary Celebration of Ghost Town. Have you been yet? If you haven’t, you must make it there before September 5, when it all ends. knotts-ghost-town-celebration-newspaper

When you spend that long in the park, you’re going to eat more than one meal there. Did you know that Knott’s offers an All Day Dining Plan? It’s a great deal because for only $31.99 per person, you can enjoy one select entree and one side (drink not included) from any of the participating dining locations in the Park.

Here’s a list of the participating dining locations and the meal choices:

  • Sutter’s Grill (located in Ghost Town) – Cheeseburger, Buffalo Style Breaded Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Tenders, Western BBQ Bacon Burger, Caesar Salad
  • Bigfoot Broiler (located in Ghost Town) – Cheeseburger, Foot Long Hot Dog, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Caesar Salad
  • Grizzly Creek Lodge (located in Camp Snoopy) – Cheeseburger, Chicken Tenders, Jumbo Hot Dog, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza Wedge & Side Salad, Caesar Salad
  • Boardwalk BBQ (located on the Boardwalk) –  Cheeseburger, Jumbo Hot Dog, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza Wedge & Side Salad, Caesar Salad
  • Coaster’s Diner (located on the Boardwalk) –  Cheeseburger, Southwest Burger, Chicken Tenders, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Caesar Salad
  • Hollywood Hits (located on the Boardwalk) – Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza Wedge & Side Salad 
  • Cantina (located in Fiesta Village) – Tostada Salad with beans & rice, Grande Burrito with beans & rice, Two Tacos with beans & rice, Caesar Salad

knotts-dining-plan-cheeseburgerThe easiest way to add the All Day Dining Plan is to purchase yours online, before your visit. After you purchase the option online, you print out your voucher and take it to one of the participating dining locations, where you’ll receive a wristband. During operating hours, the wristband entitles you to dine every 90 minutes if you desire. knotts-dining-plan-chickenWouldn’t it be fun to spend an entire day at Knott’s, just eating every 90 minutes? Ok, I’m just joking. knotts-souvenir-bottleThe All Day Dining Plan doesn’t include drinks but I need to share one of the best drink deals in the Park with you! You can purchase a 2016 Souvenir Bottle for only $14.99 and get free drink refills the entire day! It’s a great deal and we used it in between meals to carry around ice water, which they’d also refill for us. It’s almost always hot outside in Southern California so having the option to get a cold, icy drink constantly refilled was a life-saver. Also, if you purchase it online before your visit, it’s only $10.99! knotts-souvenir-bottle-2For more information about Knott’s All Day Dining Plan or general park information, go here.

Connect with Knott’s on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. I was invited to visit Knott’s and received media tickets in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% my own.