Over The Top Mommy

Month: December 2016

Find Rudolph and His Friends at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration Through 1/1

When our family received a very special invitation to SeaWorld San Diego’s Christmas Celebration, we were excited to attend! Located just about an hour south of Orange County, SeaWorld San Diego is just a hop, skip & a jump away from our home.
xmascelseaworld-christmas-celebration-just-rudolphDuring SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, in addition to all of the regular shows and attractions, ther are two additional areas exclusive to the event, that you won’t want to miss…Santa’s Christmas Village and the all-new Rudolph’s Christmastown.rudolphs-christmastown-entranceAs soon as we arrived at the park, we began our celebration by heading straight over to Rudolph’s Christmastown. I grew up watching all of the classic Christmas specials on TV featuring Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer™ so I was on a mission to find Rudolph and all of his friends at SeaWorld!seaworld-christmas-celebration-sceneAs you walk through Rudolph’s Christmastown you’ll find so many adorable areas to take photos over there, as well as fun games that are all Rudolph-themed. We also found Rudolph, himself, and he was ready to take pictures. you have the option to take pictures with Rudolph and a couple of his friends. (Characters available may vary.) seaworld-christmas-celebration-us-with-rudolphSeaWorld offers PhotoKey™ services to guests, so you have the option to have their professional photographers photograph your family at designated spots throughout the park and then purchase the photos for sharing online and printing out to create keepsakes of your day! We utilized the service at this location for our photos with Rudolph.seaworld-christmas-celebration-photokeyWe were also pleasantly surprised when Bumble the Snow Monster walked in! He is one of my all-time favorites from the series and we had a lot of fun posing with him. (especially my husband)seaworld-christmas-celebration-us-with-bumbleThere are some very special savory and sweet holiday food offerings in Rudolph’s Christmastown such as gourmet pizzas, a variety of Mac & Cheese, Holiday Crepes, and Waffles on a stick! Warm coffee drinks and hot cocoa are also available!gourmet-pizza-seaworldseaworld-christmas-celebration-waffle-on-a-stickSeaWorld really spoiled us that night and we ate everything I mentioned above. Their culinary team is amazing!

seaworld-christmas-celebration-treeRight near the Arctic Wild, in Rudolph’s Christmastown, you’ll find the 40′ Happiest Dancing Christmas Tree. We enjoyed a fun tree lighting ceremony with singing elves and Rudolph. The tree is beautiful and changes colors and light patterns as the music changes. Here’s a very short video of the countdown to the tree lighting up:

santas-christmas-village-entranceNext, we headed over to Santa’s Christmas Village to find Santa and Mrs. Claus. There are many different activities and things to explore in Santa’s Christmas Village including:

  • Mrs. Claus’ Story Time
  • Elves Dance Party and sing-a-long – Park guests of all ages can dance and sing-a-long at the dance party. Enjoy a snow finale at the end. seaworld-christmas-celebration-sing-a-longseaworld-christmas-celebration-snow
  • Real reindeer – You can meet two of Santa’s reindeer who are vacationing in the park for the holidays,
  • NEW delicious treats – Enjoy treats such as freshly baked cinnamon rolls and Kettle corn.seaworld-christmas-celebration-cinnamon-roll

You can also meet Santa in his cottage and have your photo taken with him, using either the PhotoKey services or your own camera.

seaworld-christmas-celebration-emi-and-santaWait times to see Santa may vary so please plan your day accordingly. You also have the option to reserve your visit to see Santa by visiting hereseaworld-christmas-celebration-us-with-santaWe had so much fun at the media review of SeaWorld San Diego’s Christmas Celebration and look forward to going back during the daytime to experience even more fun. Have you been to SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration before?seaworld-christmas-celebration-hot-cocoaFor more information about Christmas at SeaWorld San Diego, visit here. Connect with SeaWorld on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. I was invited to attend a media event at SeaWorld San Diego in order to write this post. Some images and logo are property of SeaWorld. 

Holiday Peppermint Bark Recipe

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ad #MakeHeartburnHistory #CollectiveBias

The holidays are the best! I love everything about this time of year! The decorations, the shopping for gifts, the festive music, and all of the opportunities to celebrate with family. Our family celebrations always revolve around food. That’s normal, right?holiday-peppermint-bark-for-santaSpending time in the kitchen with my daughter and getting to cook and bake with her this time of year is so special and one of the activities we love doing together most. What I don’t love about this time of year is my “holiday heartburn”! It literally tries to ruin my time! Heartburn is the worst!holiday-bonding-timeI didn’t always suffer from heartburn but now whenever it flares up, I’m extra sensitive to many of my favorite foods and have to miss out. Well,  I am NOT going to let heartburn ruin my holidays this year!Thank goodness I discovered Nexium® 24HR Capsules 42ct at Walgreens near the antacids! It’s just one pill a day and it gives me all-day and all-night protection. nexium-at-walgreensIt’s such a great way to treat frequent heartburn and gives me the confidence and comfort to enjoy all of the festive holiday foods, especially my most favorite: peppermint. I could eat peppermint everything! I think peppermint should be its own food group! I even stock up on peppermint goodies this time of year so I have enough to last me once winter is long gone.holiday-peppermint-bark-mmmOne of the recipes I always make during the holidays is Holiday Peppermint Bark. It’s so simple to make and I get asked for the recipe quite frequently by other family members. The recipe only has a few ingredients and doesn’t take very much time to prepare. all-things-peppermintHoliday Peppermint Bark is also perfect for gift giving. Who doesn’t love to receive homemade goods at the holidays? It’s also something special you can leave out for Santa when he visits your home on Christmas Eve. This year I’m going to leave out some Holiday Peppermint Bark for Santa, along with some Nexium® 24HR. I know he’ll appreciate this too! for-santa

holiday-peppermint-bark-recipeIngredients:

  • 24 oz. White Chocolate Baking Chips (usually 2 bags)
  • 24 oz. Dark Chocolate Baking Chips (usually 2 bags)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Peppermint Extract
  • 12 large or 24 small candy canes, crushed
  • Vegetable oil

Preparation:

  1. Remove wrappers from candy canes, place in a sealable sandwich bag, and crush up to your liking. (Some people prefer to use a food processor but I like my pieces larger.) Set aside.
  2. Line a baking sheet or pan with parchment or wax paper.
  3. Place Dark Chocolate Baking Chips in a microwave safe bowl to melt them in.  Heat for 1 minute, remove, and stir. Put back in for 30 seconds, remove and stir again. At this point, you should add in a little bit of vegetable oil, which will help it stir easier. If it’s still not completely smooth, try microwaving it for about 10 more seconds. *Do not overheat the chocolate.
  4. Pour melted dark chocolate into pan and level it out.
  5. Stick into the refrigerator for 20-25 minutes to firm up. Remove from refrigerator and set aside.
  6. Repeat same steps for microwaving but with the white chocolate baking chips now. Once it’s melted and you can stir it easily, add the peppermint extract.
  7. Pour melted white chocolate into pan, on top of dark chocolate layer, and level with a spatula.
  8. Immediately sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top to your liking.
  9. Place back into the fridge.
  10. Remove and allow to get to room temperature before cracking the bark to serve or package up for gifts.holiday-peppermint-bark-cut

*May take 1 to 4 days for full effect. Use as directed

Tips For Packing More Nutritionally Balanced Lunches

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kaiser Permanente Orange County. All opinions are 100% my own.

Within the first two weeks of this school year, I already felt like I was in a lunch packing rut! I pack a lunch for myself and my daughter, 5 days a week, and It’s literally one of the things I dread the most.was-in-a-lunch-rut I just get bored with the same old lunches and I also find that if I don’t pack enough food or go to work without a lunch at all, I end up grabbing not-so-healthy things. One of my personal goals when this school year started (I’m also a teacher) was to reduce, or even eliminate, “driving through” for lunch.kp-orange-countyI feel like I’m just out of ideas and tired of the same old lunch: a sandwich, chips, and a diet soda. I got pro-active and set up an appointment with a nutritionist at Kaiser Permanente Orange County to talk about some healthier lunch packing options. During my appointment, I got some really great tips and ideas that I want to share with you. a-lunch-doesnt-have-to-look-like-a-lunchThe first thing I leaned was that “a lunch doesn’t have to look like a lunch“.It’s a concept that seems odd and not normal to me. When I think about packing a lunch, I visualize what my own mother used to pack for me. However, I learned that the most important part about packing what you’re going to eat all day when you’re away from home is actually the balance between nutritional value and adequate portions. packing-lunches-trail-mixThe nutritionist helped me think of a long list of “non-traditional” lunch items to include in my lunchbox. Here are just a few:

  • hummus and pita chips
  • cheese and crackers
  • peanut butter and crackers
  • hard-boiled eggs
  • egg salad
  • nuts
  • yogurt and granola
  • a whole-grain bagel and cream cheese
  • quinoa
  • nuts and trail mix
  • salads to go

fresh-salads-in-a-mason-jarHonestly, I love all of these new ideas for lunch. I’ve actually seen other teachers eyeing my lunch in our Teachers Lounge.

drink-your-waterAlthough water isn’t actually food, the nutritionist stressed the importance of drinking enough water on a daily basis. I shared my water drinking challenges with her. As a teacher, there are days when I walk around my classroom just carrying my water bottle around and still have a full water bottle at dismissal!infuse-your-water-with-fresh-strawberriesShe suggested adding natural flavoring by using things like cucumber or strawberry to my water. I love the way it tastes when it’s infused and it’s so much easier to drink my daily requirement now. I also learned that water isn’t just important for your insides, which helps regulate you, but also beneficial for your external appearance, aka your skin! Drink your water!drink-your-water-bottle

meal-prep-pays-offThe nutritionist asked me right away to describe what my weekly lunch meal prep looks like. I really didn’t have an answer for her because prior to meeting with her, I didn’t set aside much time for meal prep. Lunch making was more of a “throw-it-in-the-lunchbox-5-minutes-before-rushing-out-the-door” sort of thing! She discussed the benefits of carving out that time each weekend to do this. On Sundays, my daughter & I team up to make the shopping list for weekly lunch packing, go to the grocery store, and package and measure out portions of foods that can be done ahead of time. (ex. nuts, cut up cheese, etc.) mother-daughter-bonding-time

check-out-your-local-farmers-marketWhile I was at my appointment with the nutritionist at the Kaiser Permanente location in Irvine, there was a Farmers Market going on. I love shopping at a Farmers Market! farmers-market-offers-freshest-produceThey offer the freshest fruits, vegetables, and other products that are all locally grown and made. I found a variety of local produce, honey, nuts, teas, beef jerky, breads, and specialty foods there, many of which are organic!farmers-market-more-produce farmers-market-toasted-cornThere is also food you can order to eat right then and there, such as gourmet tamales. All of the vendors are very friendly and there are lots of great things to sample before you buy. farmers-market-beef-jerkyfarmers-market-fresh-hummusfarmers-market-samplesI found a lot of things there to grab for my lunch packing. It’s free and open to the public, every Wednesday (year-round) from 9-1. To find a Kaiser Permanente Farmers Market in Southern California near you, go herefarmers-market-kaiser-permanenteBelieve it or not, I actually look forward to packing lunches now. I feel like I have a new perspective and it’s fun to mix it up with non-traditional lunch packing. My daughter even asks to help out more in the kitchen now, since we started doing lunch meal prep together. It’s like a mother-daughter bonding time.packed-lunch

Do you have any tips or tricks for keeping your packed lunches exciting yet nutritional?

Open enrollment for Kaiser Permanente kicked off November 1 and goes through January 31, 2017. If you’re looking for a new provider, explore plans with Kaiser Permanente Orange County and you’ll have the ability to select from many services for you and your family including primary and urgent care, emergency facilities, labor and delivery, pharmacy, and lab all housed under one roof. Find out more today at: kp.org/orangecounty.
Connect with Kaiser Permanente Orange County on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

Always seek medical advice from a medical professional.

 

 

The Main Street Electrical Parade Returns To Disneyland on January 20

The Main Street Electrical Parade, one of the most popular of all Disney parades, returns to Disneyland Park Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, with all the lights, sounds, music and fun that have made it a beloved icon. With nightly performances through Sunday, June 18, guests will have a limited time to enjoy the parade’s encore performance.

MAIN STREET ELECTRICAL PARADE RETURNS TO DISNEYLAND RESORT – Brought to light in the early 1970s, the Main Street Electrical Parade helped establish a Disney Parks reputation for innovative, trend-setting live entertainment. As floats illuminate the parade route, this vibrant spectacular brings a variety of Disney animated feature films to life with approximately half a million twinkling lights. The parade's iconic musical theme, the electrically synthesized "Baroque Hoedown," is a beloved fan-favorite interwoven with classic Disney themes. The Main Street Electrical Parade will celebrate a colorful homecoming at Disneyland Park beginning Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (Disneyland Resort)Accompanied by treasured Disney tunes interwoven with the distinctive “Baroque Hoedown”
synthesized soundtrack, the Main Street Electrical Parade brings a variety of beloved Disney stories to life in parade floats covered in approximately half a million twinkling lights. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Goofy lead the way and Cinderella, Peter Pan, Snow White, Pinocchio and Alice in Wonderland are among the characters whose stories unfold along the parade route. Tinker Bell now appears with other fairies on the Peter Pan float, original Main Street Electrical Parade opening float. MAIN STREET ELECTRICAL PARADE RETURNS TO DISNEYLAND RESORT – Brought to light in the early 1970s, the Main Street Electrical Parade helped establish a Disney Parks reputation for innovative, trend-setting live entertainment. As floats illuminate the parade route, this vibrant spectacular brings a variety of Disney animated feature films to life with approximately half a million twinkling lights. The parade's iconic musical theme, the electrically synthesized "Baroque Hoedown," is a beloved fan-favorite interwoven with classic Disney themes. The Main Street Electrical Parade will celebrate a colorful homecoming at Disneyland Park beginning Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (Disneyland Resort)A whimsical train pulls a giant drum unit that proclaims “Disneyland Presents … Main Street Electrical Parade” in bright lights.main-street-electrical-parade-dragonSome of the parade’s most impressive scenes are the 23-foot-tall Clock Tower looming over Cinderella’s Ball, attended by elegant ballroom dancers in costumes covered with lights; and the 108-foot-long finale unit, a red-white-and-blue tribute to America. Elliot, the smoke-breathing, 2 tail-wagging “Pete’s Dragon,” weighs more than 5,600 pounds and is 16 feet tall, more than 10 feet wide and 38 feet long. Guests will need to keep an eye out for Elliot, who disappears from time to time along the route. main-street-electrical-parade-shipThe Main Street Electrical Parade was performed more than 3,600 times for more than 75
million guests during its original run in Disneyland Park. The enduring popularity of the parade led to Electrical Parades at Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The parade returned to the Disneyland Resort with an engagement in Disney California Adventure Park from 2001 to 2010.main-street-electrical-parade-premiere-partyGuests who wish to be among the first to welcome the parade back to Disneyland may
purchase a special, separate ticket for an after-hours premiere on Thursday evening, Jan.19. After the park closes, premiere ticket holders will enjoy a night of exclusive access to select Disneyland attractions and select restaurants from 7:30 to midnight, along with an exciting performance of the Main Street Electrical Parade before its official return on Jan. 20. Tickets to the premiere go on sale for Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders on Tuesday, Dec. 6, and to the general public on Tuesday, Dec. 13. They may be purchased at any Disneyland Resort ticket booth or by calling 714-781-INFO (714-781-4636). For more information about the Main Street Electrical Parade premiere party, happening after hours on Jan. 19, go here.newport-beach-boat-parade

This year, a specially decorated Main Street Electrical Parade boat will appear in the 108th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, Dec. 14 through 18 in Newport Harbor. Mickey Mouse will serve as Grand Marshal for the popular boat parade on opening night, Wednesday, Dec. 14, accompanied by Disney Ambassador Allie Kawamoto. For more information about the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, visit here.

This is not a sponsored post. Some images and logos are property of Disney and Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. All opinions are 100% my own.