Over The Top Mommy

Month: December 2017

Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic is Coming to Long Beach and Ontario January 18-21

I was invited to attend a media event in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic is coming to Southern California and making stops at both Long Beach Terrace Theatre and Ontario! Open the door to reveal mesmerizing worlds of unforgettable Disney moments and grand illusions at Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic.

disney-live-mickey-and-friends-coverJoin Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and the comical duo of Donald and Goofy as 25 of your favorite characters surprise and captivate at every turn of the knob! disney-live-mickey-minnie-donald-goofySee the Fairy Godmother transform Cinderella’s rags into a beautiful ball gown in a split and gets her ready to meet up with Prince Charming at the Royal Ball! disney-live-cinderella-prince-charming-and-fairy-godmotherCheck out the Toy Story gang as they defy the dimensions of Andy’s toy box,  with the help of the green army men! Watch the spectacular stage debut of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider as they rise into the sky amidst the floating lanterns. There’ll also be special appearances by Snow White, Tinker Bell and Aladdin’s Genie, disney-live-aladdin-jasmine-genieDisney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic will be at the Long Beach Terrace Theatre on Thursday, January 18 at 6:30 p.m. and  Friday, January 19 at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Long Beach Terrace Theatre  is located at 300 E. Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802. Tickets for these shows start at just $20 and are available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com,. You can also charge by phone at 800.745.3000 or in-person at the venue Box Office.
*prices subject to change; additional venue/ticketing fees may apply

The show will also be at Citizens Bank Business Arena in Ontario on Saturday, January 20 at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 21.at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.. Citizens Business Bank Arena is located at 4000 Ontario Center Parkway, Ontario, CA 91764
TICKETS: Ticket prices start at $20 and are available for purchase online at DisneyLive.com or Ticketmaster.com,  You can also charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or purchase in-person at the venue Box Office.
*prices subject to change;additional venue/ticketing fees may apply

You never know what to expect or who might join in the fun. In Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie’s Doorway to Magic, you hold the ultimate key to unlocking your imagination.

Images are property of Disney LIVE! and used with permission. 

Ring in the New Year at The Triangle in Costa Mesa

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

If you’re looking for something fun to do to celebrate New Year’s Eve this year, head over to The Triangle in Costa Mesa, where you’ll find a variety of dining and entertainment options, perfect for creating a memorable night with family or friends.Here are some of the offerings you’ll find there, nye-the-triangle-exteriorTavern+Bowl – Both Family and Adult Bowling packages will be offered at Tavern + Bowl on Sunday, December 31. The Family Bowling Package is $99 per lane, with up to six people on one lane. Reservations are available from 1 to 3:30pm, 4 to 6:30pm, and 7 to 9:30pm. The Family Package includes bowling, shoe rentals, and buffet-style food service with three flatbread pizzas, boneless wings and Caesar salad, along with unlimited soft drinks, and one glass of Champagne or sparkling cider per person.
The Adult Bowling Package is $129 per lane, with up to six people on one lane. Available from 10pm to 1am, this package includes three hours of bowling, shoe rentals, buffet-style food service with three flatbread pizzas, boneless wings, Caesar salad, and a shared appetizer of nachos and spinach dip, as well as unlimited soft drinks and one bottle of Champagne.nye-bowl-tavernBoth Bowling packages must be booked and paid for in advance with Tavern+Bowl’s events department. Please call 949.438.2320 for reservations.
Tavern+Bowl will also have Open Bar Packages available, with times from 9 to 11pm, and 11pm to 1am. Tickets are available for $30 per person in advance, and $40 per person at the door. Included in each ticket are domestic and premium draft beers, bottled beer, house wine, well cocktails and soft drinks. Advanced tickets can be purchased at Costa Mesa Ticket Sales.nye-la-vida-cantinaLa Vida Cantina – Celebrate New Year’s Eve with family and friends at La Vida Cantina’s festive brunch on Sunday, December 31. Guests can enjoy La Vida’s brunch menu with bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys from 10am to 2pm. La Vida will reopen at 5pm for a New Year’s Eve Party, which will include live music, a DJ, dancers, Happy Hour pricing including $2 street tacos, $3 Coronas and domestic draft beer, and $5 margaritas.

On Monday, Jan. 1, La Vida Cantina will also host a New Year’s Day Brunch Party from 10am to 6pm, with bottomless Mimosa and Bloody Marys, Happy Hour all day, live music and a DJ, $3 Coronas and domestic draft beer, and $5 Margaritas. Also, if you celebrate New Year’s Eve at Time Nightclub, bring your admission ticket to La Vida on Monday to get one entrée 50% off when you purchase one entrée.NYE-at-the-triangleTime Nightclub – Festivities at Time Nightclub will begin at 9pm on New Year’s Eve with DJ Morten performing. For tickets, please click here:nye-time-nightclub-1On New Year’s Day, Time Nightclub will also have a Daybreak Party from 6am until 12 noon, with more entertainment by DJs Danger House, Trevor Shawn, Rozco, Snowball and others. For tickets to the New Year’s Daybreak Party, click herenye-time-nightclub-2Saddle Ranch Chop House – A Prix Fixe menu will be available at Saddle Ranch Chop House beginning at 7:30pm, and VIP Bottle Service table reservations will be available at 10pm. Packages, which include dinner, live entertainment, a magnum of Champagne, party favors and a Champagne toast at midnight, begin at $396 for four people. To purchase tickets, click here. For more information, call 949.287.4652.nye-saddle-ranchThe Triangle is conveniently located at the end of the 55 Freeway, where Newport Blvd., Harbor Blvd. and 19th Street intersect, in Costa Mesa. The center offers seven levels of free parking, as well as a Valet on the first level near Tavern + Bowl. nye-the-triangle-logoTo sign up for their newsletter, please go here. Connect with The Triangle on Facebook and Instagram.

Images are property of The Triangle, Tavern + Bowl, La Vida Cantina, Time Nightclub, and Saddle Ranch Chop House and used with permission. 

Feed Your Fandom With Foster Farms + Enter to Win

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

College football bowl season is well underway! Game Day can be like a holiday in our home meaning that it’s a great chance for friends and family to get together and enjoy great food while we watch the game. Our times are always filled with lots of laughter and good, clean rivalry.Foster-Farms-BowlUp until the early part of January, there are plenty of opportunities to everyone together to watch the games and “Feed Your Fandom” with Foster Farms, especially when it comes the bowl games. including the Foster Farms Bowl, which will feature the exciting match-up between the Arizona Wildcats of Pac-12 and the Purdue Boilermakers of the Big Ten, and air on Fox Sports on December 27th at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. Will you be tuning in?Foster-Farms-Bowl-Feed-Your-FandomFoster Farms has a great line of products for all of your game day needs. Whether it’s a platter filled with wings, ground turkey for tacos, chili or juicy burgers, chicken breasts and legs marinated in your favorite sauce and grilled to perfection, Foster Farms .nuggets and corn dogs, Foster Farms also offers sliced turkey which goes great for game time hoagies and sandwiches.foster-farms-corn-dogsAt participating supermarkets you will find a code to scan on specially-marked Foster Farms packages of fresh chicken, ground turkey and lunchmeat and also on signs in the frozen food aisle that will connect to up to $7.50 in coupon savings when buying participating Foster Farms products.foster-farms-packagesAlso on the packages and at this Foster Farms website you will find great game day recipes like Buffalo Blue Cheese Roll-Up Sandwiches, Easy Chicken Party Poppers, Chicken White Bean Chili and other game day recipe ideas as well as savings to Feed Your Fandom during the college football bowl season.foster-farms-corn-dogs-on-tableYou also have to remember to set out kid-friendly options on your Game Day table. It’s so easy to please kids with Foster Farms Corn Dogs, Mini Corn Dogs, Popcorn Chicken and Crispy Strips. I set up ketchup and ranch for the kids to put on their plates for dipping. I also attempt to be clever by leaving some fresh vegetables on the table as well.foster-farms-corn-dogs-and-vegetables
Somehow kids don’t mind eating their veggies when there’s ranch. Have you noticed that? The more content the kids are during a game, the more watching time you’re going to get in. On Game Day, it’s definitely Foster Farms for the win! foster-farms-game-day-set-up
Do you have a favorite recipe or dish you like to prepare for your table when you host everyone over to watch the game? Share with me in the comments.

enter-to-win-orangeI’m excited to be hosting a giveaway for one (1) lucky winner to receive $58 worth of Foster Farms Coupons (3 of the $9.99 Frozen Chicken Coupons and 4 of the $6.99 Corn Dog Coupons) To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway open to U.S. Resident 18+ and is open until 11:50 p.m. on December 2017. Winner will be chosen from the Rafflecopter and entries will be verified and winner will be notified via email. No purchase is necessary. Giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.Foster-Farms-BowlFeed Your Fandom by stocking up on Foster Farms during the college football bowl season and head to Foster Farms for great game day recipe ideas and savings. Don’t forget to watch the exciting year-end action when the Arizona Wildcats of the Pac-12 battles the Purdue Boilermakers of the Big Ten in the Foster Farms Bowl airing on Fox Sports on December 27th at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA.

Some images property of Foster Farms and used with permission
.

ZIPIT Must-Have Holiday Gifts for Kids

I received promotional products in exchange for coverage. All opinions are my own. 

The holiday gift buying season is coming to an end and if you’re like me, you still have a bunch of people left to buy for on your list. I know on my own list there are several nieces and nephews to buy for and I want to score points for being “the cool aunt” by picking out the perfect gifts for them.zipit-funThis year, my nieces and nephews have some fun ZIPIT items listed on their Holiday Wish Lists. Have you seen this adorable line of pencil cases and pouches, storage boxes, backpacks and bags before? They are so cute!IMG_8341ZIPIT bags stand out in a sea of boring, unoriginal bags and cases. They are a hot item that every kid seems to know about. My daughter was the one who first told me about them and now she has an entire collection of ZIPIT that she uses for school.
I’ve put together a little ZIPIT Holiday Gift Guide to showcase some gift ideas that you can check out for those left on your list to buy for. Here are some of the coolest ZIPIT gifting items this year:
Grillz Junior Backpack – IPIT Grillz Children Backpack come with built in attitude so you can go through your day in style! The hood, eyes and shimmering grillz combine to make this one cool school bag.grillz-mini-backpackColor Boxes Storage Case – Durable pencil box with a hard, protective shell. It holds up to 60 pens and pencils! It can also store your scissors, sharpeners, crayons, markers, and more. I love this bold geometric design.zipit-colorz-storage-box Talking Monstar Pencil Case – The design features one long zipper that can be fully zipped and unzipped! It’s a cool pencil pouch for boys or girls zipit-talking-monstar-pencil-caseAs an added feature, there’s a free Monstar app that goes with this poiuch and is so  fun and playful. You can download the free app to your iOS or Android device and your pencil case will come to life with a personality of its own! Play games, take photos and videos, and share them with your friends on social media. Here’s a short video showing how it works:

Beast Box Storage Case – keep your school supplies, office supplies and more safe inside this sturdy fabric covered case. This is a cool pencil box for girls and boys of all ages!zipit-beast-box-pencil-case

Shell Backpack – Keep everything safe and sound inside the protective soft shell exterior of this super cool backpack with zipper closure.zipit-shell-backpackMonster 3 Ring Binder Pouch – A 3 ring pencil pouch with a playful Monster smile to protect your school supplies and help you stay organized all year long.Trustzipit-monster-3-ring-pouchTrust me when I say, any ZIPIT product you decide to give as a gift this year will hit it out of the park with the kids on your list! ZIPIT is sold in over 30 countries around the world, the worlds’ major chain stores, and soon in our own specialty retail store and is constantly growing and developing an ever-changing variety of products. To see their full line of products, please visit their site here.  For holiday delivery, shop for ZIPIT products on Amazon here and don’t forget to select expedited (or Prime) shipping at checkout. Happy Holidays!zipit-holiday-gifts

Connect with ZIPIT on Facebook and Instagram.

Some images and logos are property of ZIPIT and used with permission. 

STEM Toys Holiday Gift Guide for Girls and Boys

I received promotional items in order to write this post. All opinions are my own.

If you’re a parent, I’m sure you’ve heard the term “STEM” used all over the place lately, especially when talking about education. STEM is an acronym and stands for Science Technology, Engineering and Math. stem-1Many school districts and private schools have already began implementing curriculum and activities in schools that integrate these very necessary subjects into fields of study. Very important to remember is that STEM isn’t aimed at just one gender but rather, includes and encourages both genders.stem-merry-and-brightThis holiday season, why not consider giving STEM toys from Educational Insights as gifts to the child(ren) on your list? Educational Insights has so many great ones, designed for all different ages, that’ll make Merry and Bright gifts. Here are just 3 of the many great reasons to do so:

    • STEM gifts help better prepare a child for subject matter in school by providing them with the building blocks to succeed in science, technology, engineering, and math.
    • STEM gifts occupy children without the usage of screentime or TV. They’re a great alternative to video games and social media.
    • STEM gifts are perfect for fostering playtime for both parents and children.

stem-gift-guide-geo-safari-jr-talking-microscope-2Here are just a few great STEM toys to consider for this year. Lucky for you, they’re all available for purchase on Amazon, with shipping options that’ll get them to your doorstep in time for the holidays.

Educational Insights GeoSafari® Jr. Talking Microscope – Featuring Bindi Irwin – for Preschoolers! – I love that Bindi Irwin is the face of this product, as I’m a big believer in encouraging girls to take an active interest in all.curricular areas, especially Science. Bindi Irwin shares kid-friendly facts about nature! Take a closer look with the only talking microscope for preschoolers packed with photo-quality images and audio about the amazing, up-close world of animals, plants, everyday items
stem-gift-guide-geo-safari-talking-microscopestem-talking-microscopeLearning Resources 1-2-3 Build It! – Your budding engineer will love using these mix-and-match pieces to build three different modes of transportation—an airplane, a tugboat, or a car (one at a time). Use the play screwdriver to put the large, durable pieces where they go.

stem-gift-guide-learning-resources-1-2-3-build-it

stem-build-it

Educational Insights Kanoodle®, Jr.– Puzzle play isn’t just for the big kids anymore! Based on the award-winning Kanoodle® brain game series, Kanoodle Jr. offers on-the-go spatial-reasoning fun with simple-to-follow instructions and large puzzle pieces, perfect for little hands. Kanoodle Jr. includes 60 head-scratching puzzle challenges that easily slide into the Kanoodle Jr. board for solo play—perfect for kids 4–7 stem-holiday-gift-guide-kanoodle-jr

stem-kanoodle-jrEducational Insights Smash Pong™ Game – Ready, aim, smash! Get the whole family poppin’ with the hilariously fun and strategically silly challenge game perfect for kids 7+. Smash Pong!™

Educational Insights GeoSafari® Constellation and Solar System Explorer – Stargaze from any room in the house with this telescope-shaped projector to view all 12 Zodiac constellations in three view modes: celestial, connected, and illustrated. Includes a 28-page explorer guidebook, packed with facts and stories about the constellations.stem-2GeoSafari® Motorized Solar System– Watch the planets rotate just like they do in space with eight motorized planets and a glowing light-up sun. Turn off the lights and project a star show on the ceiling for the ultimate in-room space experience!
stem-motorized-solar-systemEducational Insights Playfoam® Shape & Learn Alphabet Set Preschoolers can practice making letters and more with this all-new Playfoam set featuring 8 colored Playfoam bricks and 13 double-sided cards for learning letters. Kiddos can place their squishy, squashy Playfoam on top of the letter card to practice molding the letter shapes for alphabet mastery. Make learning last with no-mess, non-stick Playfoam that never dries out!
stem-playfoam

As I mentioned before, you can order these Learning Resources STEM Toys and more here through Amazon and select expedited shipping options, including PRIME, to have them here in time for the holidays! That’s a win-win! Good luck finishing your shopping! Happy Holidays!

Connect with Learning Resources on Facebook,

 

Some images are property of Educational Insights and used with permission. 

Kids Can Create Shareable Holiday Wish Lists With Elfster

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

What do you do when you’re in the middle of the holiday season and you still have people left to buy for, but have no idea what to get them? For me, sometimes the hardest people to buy for are family members who live far away, specifically kids. With extended families living further apart and seeing each other less these days, holiday gift buying has become way more stressful. IMG_8341There’s nothing worse than giving a gift you know someone won’t like. Yes, we should all be grateful for what we receive but as a working adult, I don’t want to .spend my hard-earned money on gifts that others won’t really use. Can you relate? elfster-home-pageWell, I think I have the perfect solution! It’s called Elfster! If you haven’t heard of Elfster before, it’s a FREE gift exchange website that makes gift giving easier. This holiday season why not take advantage of Elfster’s Shareable Wish List Maker?  kids-can-create-shareable-holiday-wish-lists-with-elfsterNot only is it easy to put together a Holiday Wish List, it’s also easy to share it with friends and relatives. This definitely makes gift giving way more fun and easy. and will help take the guessing out of your holiday shopping. If you’re the cool aunt, uncle, or grandparent looking to buy the best gift for the little ones in your life, Please keep in mind that Wish Lists aren’t just for kids to create, they also have items for men and women. After all, the holidays aren’t limited to just the children, right?

Do you ever find yourself asking yourself these questions when you’re out shopping:

  • What do they like this week?
  • How old are they, again?
  • What’s their size?
  • Where in the world do I buy a (insert this year’s most popular toy)?

Well, Elfster will definitely help take the guessing out of your holiday shopping and put you at ease. Kids can work with their parents to build a list of everything they want from anywhere online. Then parents can either access it for themselves and their own shopping trips or email it to relatives who want to pick out that special and perfect gift this season and score big points with nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

elfster-will-help-take-the-guessing-out-of-your-holiday-shoppingHere are 4 easy steps to put together a Shareable Wish List on Elfster:

  1. Go to either https://www.elfster.com/ or open up the Elfster app on your mobile device. (The mobile app is pictured below.) elfster-moblie-app
  2. Click on “Convenient Wish Lists” and you’ll find yourself on a page with a search bar asking “What are you wishing for?” This search bar will help you pull up just about anything you want to find. There are a variety of gift categories to select from for men, women, kids, home, entertainment, electronics, occasion and sports. Not only can you search by categories, you also have the option to search by price. Once you see something you’ll like to add to the Wish List, you just click to add it.elfster-categories
  3. After a Wish List is complete, you can email it to friends and relatives who are asking what to buy this year.
  4. If you are the one buying gifts, once you access an Elster Wish List, you have the ability to actually buy the items directly through the list.elfster-popular-guides

It’s so easy and convenient to be able to access an Elfster Shareable Wish List and then buy directly from the list, since every item on the site is connected to where you can purchase it. I wish Elfster was around when I was a kid! Boy have times changed!  Do you have family or friends to buy for still? Why not have them make you a wish list on Elster? It definitely makes holiday shopping a lot easier.

You can connect with Elfster on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, too.

Some images are property of Elfster and used with permission. 

{Giveaway} Brea Mall Holiday Gift Guide + Enter to Win

I was invited to attend a holiday media event at Brea Mall in exchange for coverage. All opinions are my own. 

Brea Mall is one of my favorite shopping destinations in Southern California. With 5 major department stores, over 175 specialty shops, a variety of popular eateries and a full-service spa, it’s easy to spend an entire day there. brea-mall-signRight now, with all of the season’s hustle and bustle, Brea Mall is a great place to find something for everyone on your holiday shopping list. It’s also a great place to find something for yourself, while you’re there. I absolutely love their holiday decor this year. Everything looks so festive and really gets you in the holiday spirit and excited to shop! brea-mall-holiday-gift-guideI was invited to a special Holiday Gift Guide sneak peek event at Brea Mall, to get a closer look at some of the top gifts at Brea Mall this year. There were several retailers there, showcasing some of their most popular gifting items for this year year. It was a fun event and helped me put together this Brea Mall Holiday Gift Guide Light bites and sips for the event, were provided by Nordstrom Cafe and CPKbrea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-light-bitesbrea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-2017Williams-Sonoma – This is a great place to shop for the gourmet on your list. Offering a selection of professional-quality cookware, small kitchen appliances, cooking utensils, and decor to match your cooking and entertaining style. They also have a great selection of gourmet foods for purchase. I loved all of their holiday place settings and decor. They also offer the Insta-Pot at a great price! It’s the hottest item right now in the cooking world.brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-williams-sonoma-1Lululemon – As a top brand for workout wear, Lululemon is a “go-to” stop for men and women of all ages. Their workout attire is both quality and fashionable. They also have an entire line of “Athleisure” clothes that allow you to be fashionable and comfy at the same time. If you’re traveling, their new winter pieces, including warm jackets, offer warmth and comfort without being heavy. How perfect would they be for winter travel? brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-lululemon-1brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-lululemon-2Swarovski – Nothing shines like Swarovski crystals. They have some beautiful jewelry pieces as well as gifts for friends, colleagues, and teachers on your list. This year they even have several Star Wars-inspired pieces. brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-swarovskiKiehl’s – This year, Kiehl’s collaborated with Disney to create a collectible and adorable line of products together that you’ll want to get your hands on. This line of skin and body care is for men and women and benefits Feeding America. Together, Kiehl’s and Disney are working to raise 1.1 million meals for those in need through this collaboration. It’s a great line of products that came just in time for the holidays.brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-kiehls-1brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-kiehls-x-disneyGodiva – Chocolate and Christmas go hand in hand and Godiva has treats and gifts perfect for gift giving to family, friends, and colleagues. There are beautifully arranged gift baskets already wrapped up and ready to give. You can also have a hand-selected box of chocolates packed. There are so many beautiful collections in the store, you just have to stop by to see them. Be sure to grab a treat for yourself while you’re there, too. brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-godivaTypo – You can find a great range of gifts, stationery, art, craft, decor, cards, decorations, lighting and seasonal gifts and more at Typo. brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-typo-2

brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-typo-1Ben Bridge Jewelers – If you’re looking for a special piece of jewelry to give as a holiday gift, there are so many exquisite pieces in the store. Their Toscano Collection of handmade pieces is exclusive to Ben Bridge.  In addition to jewelry for all occasions, you can also select from beautiful time pieces by top brands for both men and women.  brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-ben-bridgeTommy Bahama – You can never go wrong with a gift that brings a little bit of the Island Life to someone. Tommy Bahama has a wonderful collection of island-inspired fragrances and candles that smell absolutely heavenly! They also offer fashions for men and women that are perfect for getting in that “Aloha” mood, even when you’re not on vacation. tommy-bahama-fragrancesbrea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-tommy-bahama-candleBoxLunch -This is another retailer I love because they give back to those in need.  BoxLunch is the destination to shop for pop culture-inspired gifts, accessories and apparel for men & women. brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-box-lunchMorphe – One of the Brea Mall’s newest retailers to open is Morphe, If yo haven’t caught wind of Morphe on social media, it’s an amazing cosmetic brand that offers the latest looks in makeup in an affordable price range. They will also help you achieve whatever look you’re envisioning for yourself this holiday season. In addition to the cosmetics, Morphe offers false eyelashes, brush sets, and other gifting options for the beauty lover on your list.brea-holiday-gift-guide-morpheMicrosoft Store – Right now, if you stop by the Microsoft Store in the mall, you can tell them your “wish” this holiday season and it might even be selected to come true! While you’re there, you can also  check out the full line of products fit for the tech needs in your life.brea-holiday-gift-guide-microsoftbrea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-microscoft-wishBe sure to stop by these retailers when you visit Brea Mall, in addition to all of the other specialty shops. I can assure you, you will knock out all of your holiday shopping in this great destination shopping location.brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-retailersbrea-mall-sign

If you’re like me, and you have a whole lot of holiday shopping left to do, don’t worry! Brea Mall is offering special extended holiday hours right now and is open extra late. For more information about the center’s hours, go here. Don’t forget to stop by and see Santa while you’re out holiday shopping. He’s awaiting your arrival and keepsake holiday photos are available for purchase.

brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-santaBrea Mall has tons of great gifting options for your holiday needs! You can also purchase Simon gift cards, as well as many other kinds of gift cards at Customer Service, which is located in next to Starbucks. Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? If not, consider stopping by Brea Mall soon.

giveaway

I love hosting giveaways for my readers so stop by my Instagram HERE and enter to win a $50 Simon Mall Giftcard. How to enter and rules are listed on the post. Thanks for reading! Happy Holidays!

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

 

 

43rd Annual Boat Parade of Lights in Dana Point Harbor

I was invited to a media event in exchange for coverage. All opinions are my own.

This holiday season, Dana Point Harbor will welcome more holiday festivities and entertainment than ever before during the 43rd Annual Boat Parade, which will take place on December 8, 9, 15 and 16.dana-point-harbor-boat-parade-of-lightsFamilies are invited to to come and celebrate this year with “A Superhero Holiday” theme at the 43rd Annual Boat Parade of Lights in Dana Point Harbor. The young and the young at heart are encouraged to dress as their favorite superheroes during the Boat Parade. dana-point-harbor-duskEveryday heroes, including first responders and military, will be collecting unwrapped toy donations for Operation Santa Claus under the corridor of lights at the pergola. Donations
will also be accepted at businesses throughout the harbor.dana-point-harbor-superherosVisitors of Dana Point Harbor are invited to participate in jolly activities with a superhero twist on select dates December 8-16, by the water’s edge. On each evening of the
parade, OC Parks will host free family activities throughout Dana Point Harbor
including:

  • games
  • crafts
  • photos and selfies with Santa
  • superhero encounters
  • live entertainmentdana-point-harbor-boat-parade-of-lights-carolers

The family-friendly festivities begin at 4:30 p.m.and culminate each night with the spectacular boat parade which starts at 7:30 p.m.dana-point-harbor-snowmanThere are so many brightly-lit and festive areas to check out down by Dana Point Harbor, making for great photo opportunities. dana-point-harbor-parade-of-lights-family-selfieFree trolleys for each night of the Boat Parade will be running from 3:30 to
10:30 p.m. and will be dropping off and picking up along Dana Point Harbor
Drive at Doheny State Beach, The Visitor’s Center, Ocean Institute, Baby
Beach, Island Way, Retail Area and back to Doheny. For more information on the evening’s festivities, please visit DanaPointHarbor.com.

 

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration Featuring New Live Nativity Through January 6

I was invited to attend a media event in order to provide this coverage. All opinions are my own.

I was so excited when family and I were invited to a special night at SeaWorld San Diego to experience their Christmas Celebration. Wow, SeaWorld goes all out, with more than a million holiday lights, hundreds of Christmas trees and 5,000 feet of garland. The lights of SeaWorld’s 320-foot Skytower Tree of Lights, which is the largest Christmas tree in Southern California, dance in sync with classic holiday songs.seaworld-celebration-family-photo-1

What’s New at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration for 2017
This year at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, there’s an all-new live holiday musical, O Wondrous Night. It brings the moving story of the Nativity and the meaning of Christmas to life through song and celebration, It is “The Greatest Story Never Told:.seaworld-o-wondrous-night The spectacular stage show is performed nightly, under the stars, in the Nautilus Amphitheater It tells the Christmas story from a new point of view: through the eyes of the animals. The musical features more than 30 carols, beautiful storytelling puppets and live majestic animals, including camels, a donkey, llamas, sheep and doves. seaworld-o-wondrous-night-nativity-sceneIt’s absolutely amazing and beautiful and will fill your heart with the true message of Christmas. Here’s a look at “O Wondrous Night”:
In addition to O Wondrous Night, all the seasonal favorites that have made SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration a family holiday tradition are back for park guests to enjoy. Here are some of the other fun holiday festivities you’ll find this year at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration:
Rudolph’s Christmastown

Returning this holiday season is the most famous reindeer, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in his very own area, Rudolph’s Christmastown. rudolphs-signWe were excited to see our friend Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer again this year. Did you know SeaWorld is the only theme park on the West Coast where people can meet Rudolph?rudolph-and-friends Yep! Rudolph is hanging out with his friends Clarice, Bumble, and Yukon Cornelius. You should get over there to visit him and take advantage of the fun photo opportunities. seaworld-christmas-celebration-just-rudolph Nightly Tree Lighting
There’s a nightly tree-lighting ceremony featuring the 40-foot Happiest Christmas Tree, which is accompanied by the Misfit Brass band. It was a delight to sip on hot cocoa and watch all the fun! seaworld-christmas-celebration-hot-cocoaFestive Food Offerings
There’s also an special holiday menu featuring Holiday Pizzas and delicious varieties of Mac & Cheese.  Feast on Mashed Potato, Cranberry Arugula and Classic Pepperoni Pizzas.seaworld-mashed-potato-pizzaThere’s also Holiday Mac & Cheese, Christmastown Mac & Chese and Classic Mac & Cheese.

seaworld-holiday-mac-and-cheeseSanta’s Christmas Village 
Friends and family can cozy up at Santa’s Christmas Village, where children listen to Mrs. Claus during story time. Kids can share their wish list and take pictures with Santa at Santa’s Cottage. seaworld-santa-and-mrs-clausParents can also check in for a pager that will hold their spot in line to meet Santa so that the family can explore the Village, including educational encounters with real reindeer from Santa’s workshop, “Merry Moments” with Santa’s friendly elves and delectable culinary creations. You’ll also want to join in the Christmas Sing-Along with Mrs. Claus and the Elves, as well as the Elves Dance Party. For extra fun, mae sure to stick around for when it starts to snow! seaworld-christmas-celebration-snowDolphin Island Christmas
SeaWorld’s Christmas-themed dolphin show celebrates the holidays with a tropical twist as dolphins and pilot whales perform amazing athletic feats set to island music.seaworld-dolphin-island-christmasClyde & Seamore’s Christmas Special
The park’s prank-loving pinnipeds Clyde and Seamore have a hilarious holiday time in this Christmas-themed sea lion and otter show!seaworld-christmas-sea-lionsCat’s Christmas Parlor
Outside Nautilus Amphitheater, guests will find the Cat’s Christmas Parlor, where the feline stars of Pets Rule! hang out in their own holiday-themed house. It’s so cute to see them hanging out!

seaworld-celebration-lightsAll of SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration festivities are included with park admission. (with exception of arcade-style games and reserved experiences such as Breakfast With Orcas and Santa) SeaWorld has a variety of admission ticket offers that provide tremendous value perfect for both local residents and tourists, including the SoCal Annual Pass for less than $100. seaworld-family-photo-2.Did you know….a visit to SeaWorld helps support animal rescue programs as well as provide millions of dollars in donations and in-kind services to conservation projects around the world? Seeing animals at SeaWorld supports saving them in the wild. For more information, please visit http://www.SeaWorldSanDiego.com or call (619) 222-4SEA.

Some images are property of SeaWorld and used with permission.