One of the funnest things we did on the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 event was learn to salsa! Well, I tried to learn to salsa. We got to go to an actual dance studio with some of the Dancing with the Stars dance troupe and learn some moves. The Dancing with the Stars dance troupe are the dancers that appear in all of the routines. They also open and close the show. They are super talented dancers and it was a lot of fun to learn from them.
When we first arrived we got to chat with them a little bit and learned that their days are pretty intense. Since they are in more than one dance, they practice a lot. As the week closes in on show day (Mondays) their days get longer and longer. Sometimes the dance troupe members step in for dancers that are injured and they dance with the “stars” on the show. All of them agreed that the season flies by – and they couldn’t believe they were already on week 6! They all have backgrounds in dance – and a few of them were even on So You Think You Can Dance before joining the DWTS cast.
After we had a little bit of time to talk, we learned a few steps as a group. Then we were split in to groups and were each given one of the troupe members as a teacher. My group had Alan Bersten as our leader – and he was a lot of fun! We were told we were all going to perform at the end in front of the other groups for a friendly competition. Well, Alan takes competition seriously so he had us add in some more “flare” to stand out. I was surprised at how well I did – but of course, when it came time to record our dance, I forgot everything and messed up a bit. Still, it was a lot of fun! I will definitely enjoy watching Dancing with the Stars more now that I have met the dance troupe! They were all super nice!
Dancing with the Stars airs on Monday nights at 8pm EST!
As most of you probably know, I am a gamer girl. I have loved video games since I was a little girl playing on NES. My husband is a big gamer too and we actually still own an NES. We have bought every Nintendo console that has come out – including the newly released Nintendo Switch. It can be hard to find in stock, but if you can, I highly recommend picking it up, and here is why.
The Games
OK, so there are not a lot of games out just yet. Zelda: Breath of the Wild is by far the best game that you can get for the Switch right now – but there are lots of other fun ones. For example, if you have young kids, I highly recommend picking up 1, 2, Switch because they will have a ton of fun. This game has multiple mini-games that young kids (and adults too) will have a blast playing.
Over the course of the year, a handful of games that are sure to be incredible are coming out. From Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, to Splatoon 2, to Mario Odyssey. These are all obviously going to be worth having the Switch just for them. I love the variety of games that the Switch offers – and can offer thanks to it’s unique design. From fun party to games to full length RPG games.
Take It On The Go – Or Don’t
I love how flexible this gaming system is. It is a console and a handheld gaming device – all in one! You can play games with up to 8 players or solo. It is really easy to switch back and forth too – much simpler than I expected it to be. The Joy-Cons can be used together as one controller or separate as two. I recommend picking up at least once separate set, as well as the charging grip (which you can purchase instead of the pro controller). You can take the Switch with you on the go, play it connected to your TV, or play it on the couch while your kids watch TV (speaking from experience).
In my opinion, the Nintendo Switch is worth picking up. It is fun and unique and there are going to be a lot of great games coming out for it. It is a great family gaming system and I know I will be playing it for years to come.
DisneyNature movies are some of my favorite movies to cuddle up with my daughters and watch. They love them because they are filled with adorable animals, and I love them because – well, basically the same reason. I am always impressed by how much my girls learn about nature and animals when we watch them. Yes, there are usually some rough parts to get through, but they understand the circle of life very well for a 4 and 5 year old – in part due to films like these.
Character: Chiru
While in LA for the Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 premiere we also saw Born in China. I was told going in to it that I would need to bring tissues with me – and honestly I need them for just about every movie I watch. I did need tissues, and a lot of them. The movie was exactly what I have come to expect from DisneyNature – entertaining, adorable, and very real. I loved learning about all of the animal babies and their families. You do get a bit of “circle of life” stuff as I mentioned above, so make sure your child (and OK, you) can handle that.
Character: TaoTao’s family – Golden snub-nosed monkeys
There are so many cute animals in this film – from playful monkeys, to silly pandas, to gorgeous snow leopards. It is by far a movie worth seeing. Go see Born in China during it’s first week in theaters and you will not only see a great movie – you will get to give back as well! DisneyNature is donating a portion of the profits from the first week to the World Wildlife Foundation! You can help make the world a better place and save animals – all while enjoying a must see film!
Born in China Synopsis Disneynature’s “Born in China” ventures into the wilds of China, capturing intimate moments with three animal families: a doting panda bear mother who’s guiding her growing baby as she begins to explore, a two-year-old golden snub-nosed monkey who feels displaced by his baby sister, and a mother snow leopard who faces the very real drama of raising her two cubs.
We are what you would call a Disney family. We are Disney Vacation Club members and go to the parks at least once a year. We have also been on a Disney Cruise twice in the last year. We love all things Disney and pretty much any get-together or party we put together has a Disney theme. The last two years we were selected to host a Disney Preschool Playdate, and this year I was picked again.
I always feel so lucky when I get chosen for these because the packages they send are incredible. This year everything was inside of an American Tourister Sofia the First suitcase. I was really excited because American Tourister is my favorite luggage brand – every single suitcase we own is from them. They are really well made, super durable, and there are so many different designs to choose from. I love showing off my love for Disney with them.
Inside the suitcase was a bunch of items that would help us throw the perfect playdate party! From games to necessities like plates, napkins, and cups. There was even a Finding Nemo Pillow Pet that my youngest daughter claimed immediately. HP was nice enough to throw in a TON of Social Media Snapshots – you can print your own photos with a sticky back! HP also included a card and invitation kit so we could create invited to our playdate. They even included Pop Secret Popcorn and Suave Handsoap with Lotion – they seriously thought of everything! We had a ton of fun and I wanted to pass along some game ideas for throwing your own Disney Playdate Party!
Games
Magic Match Magic Match is a memory game that features some of Disney World’s favorite rides. Kids love this game!
Character Charades This game is one of my favorites. Print out the cards and put them in a bowl, hat, or bucket. Each guest will choose one card and act out that character while others guess who they are.
Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunt This game is a ton of fun! Simply print out these Mickey heads and place them around the house. Kids will search to find the hidden Mickeys! We love looking for hidden Mickeys at the parks and on cruises, so this game reminds us of being on a Disney vacation!
This is a sponsored conversation from Mums the Word Network and The Stork OTC. All opinions are my own.
Every once in a while I really open up to you guys and get (probably) too personal. One of my very first posts was about my home water birth with my youngest daughter. I am not sure if I have really mentioned it before, but my first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. My husband and I had only been married for a couple of months and were thrilled. When we found out we lost the baby, it was extremely hard. In fact, it was not confirmed for about a month which was very hard on us.
To set the scene, my husband was still in the United States Navy – so we had great healthcare. We went in for a pregnancy confirmation appointment and were told we were in fact pregnant. They scheduled an appointment with a doctor to check for heartbeat and do an ultrasound confirmation after I hit the 5 week period. We went in and were told they could not find the heartbeat. They went ahead with the ultrasound and said that the baby was measuring right at 5 weeks. Potential options were that I was off on my dates (I was certain that I wasn’t) and I was told I should come back in about a week or two.
A couple weeks later we were back at the Navy hospital and it was confirmed that the baby had no heartbeat. My body was not “taking care of it” by itself so I was told I needed to either have a D&C or a pill that would start the process. I opted for the pill. For me, personally, I needed to experience losing the baby to actually fully understand mentally that I lost it. My husband was right there with me every step of the way, thank God. And if he had not been, I don’t know what I would have done or where I would be now.
My miscarriage was literally the worst experience I have ever been through. I think about that baby every single day. I am very thankful to have two little girls – they are my whole world – but I can’t help but wonder what their older sibling would be like. My husband and I are very open with them and they know they had an older brother or sister who was never born. I feel this pain in my heart every day so I know what struggling with infertility and pregnancy issue can be like. I recently learned about The Stork OTC and I am hoping that they are a product that will help less and less people go through this struggle that I have gone through.
The Stork OTC is a uniquely designed innovative device you use at home, during ovulation, to assist your chances of becoming pregnant. The FDA–cleared, over-the-counter device uses cervical cap insemination. This smart technique enables the sperm to quickly bypass the vaginal tract and places the sperm as close as possible to the opening of the cervix, right where it needs to be to swim up through. No Shots. No Scans. No Prescriptions. No Procedures. Because trying to get pregnant is challenging enough.
I also wanted to share this great deal with you! Head to your local CVS now through April 29th to get $30 CVS ExtraBucks when you purchase 2 Stork OTC devices at CVS/pharmacy™!
Twitter Party!
On April 25th at 8pm EST I will be participating in a Twitter Part to learn about Male Fertility! You can join in with the hashtags #TTCwithStorkOTC & #becomingadad to win some awesome prizes!
My girls and I love watching movies together. In fact, once a week we have family movie night. We rotate who gets to choose the movie between the girls, myself, and my husband. Recently, we got an advance copy of Arctic Adventure on Frozen Pond and so of course, my youngest picked it for that week’s movie night. Now, I admit, sometimes kid’s movies are not at all entertaining for my husband and myself – but we grin and bear it for our daughters. This movie had both of us pleasantly surprised. It was actually really cute and fun. What a great film for the entire family to enjoy!
About the Movie
SMOSH’s Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox, the comedy duo from the highly popular YouTube channel with over 6.1 billion video views to date, star in the animated motion picture Arctic Adventure: On Frozen Pond, releasing on DVD, Digital HD and On Demand April 18 from Lionsgate. The film has been dubbed “a delightful tale” by the Dove Foundation, and has been awarded the Dove Family Seal of Approval.
Synopsis
Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox (YouTube’s SMOSH) join Jon Lovitz (Hotel Transylvania) in this hilarious tale of brave frogs on a bold quest. For centuries, the Crystal Frog has protected the Frog Kingdom with its magic. But when sneaky One-Eye (Hecox) plots to steal the artifact and become King, it’s up to Freddy (Padilla) and the Frog Princess to make the arduous trek to the Holy Land. Through forest, desert, river rapids, and icy caverns, the bravery of the frozen warriors keeps this colorful saga hopping.
DVD Special Features
“Giving the Characters a Voice: At the Recording Studio with Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox (creators of SMOSH), Ambyr Childers, and John Lovitz” Featurette
I cannot believe that A League of Their Own came out 25 years ago. I remember watching it over and over when I was younger. My mother and I watched it together a few times. She always told me that it was important for me to watch it because I would know to be myself and fight for what is right. And that is the same reason I plan to watch it with my daughters as they get older.
Every young girl should watch this movie so they can see that girls can play sports and succeed too. Times were different then but the prejudice is still around. Part of me thinks it always will be. But if watching this movie can help girls understand that they can accomplish things, then I think they should all watch it. I mean it was based on true events.
Synopsis
Celebrate the 25th anniversary of this hilarious and beloved comedy starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna. Hanks stars as Jimmy Dugan, a washed-up ballplayer whose big league days are over. Hired to coach in the All-American Girls Baseball League of 1943 – while the male pros are at war – Dugan finds himself drawn back into the game by the hearts and heroics of his all-girl team, led by the indomitable Dottie Hinson (Davis). Lori Petty, Rosie O’Donnell and Jon Lovitz round out the all-star roster. Based on the true story of the pioneering women who blazed the trail for generations of athletes.
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN Blu-ray Bonus Features
ALL-NEW: “Bentonville, Baseball & The Enduring Legacy of A League of Their Own”
15 deleted scenes
Nine-part documentary featuring interviews with the cast and filmmakers
Madonna’s “This Used To Be My Playground” music video
Filmmaker commentary
Theatrical trailer
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN has a run time of approximately 128 minutes and is rated PG for language.
My girls have loved the show Mia and Me for a while now. They enjoy watching it and playing the games online. We were all excited to get an advance copy in the mail – and we loved it! This DVD includes half of all the season one stories! Join Mia and her friends on thirteen adventures that include the group fighting hordes of evil Munculus on dragons and protecting a newborn unicorn named Onchao who has some special talents.
This show is great for little ones. My daughters love it and so do their friends. I catch them talking about it all the time. These stories teach kids great lessons like be strong and be yourself. I highly recommend it for any one with young girls!
About Mia and Me
“Mia and me” is an enchanting program which features live action and animation. On Mia’s first day at a new boarding school in Florence, Italy, she receives an amazing gift – a book and bracelet that have the power to transport her to the magical world of Centopia! Upon arriving in Centopia, Mia discovers that the once idyllic kingdom is embroiled in conflict. The evil Queen Panthea seeks to capture the unicorns of Centopia and harness their power to keep her young. Utilizing her unique ability to communicate with the unicorns, Mia and her new friends Prince Mo and Yuko work to defeat Queen Panthea and save Centopia.
I am so excited to let you all know that I will be heading to Los Angeles from Tuesday, April 18th – Friday, April 21st for another amazing press trip! This one is filled with Marvel, Disney, DisneyNature, and ABC events! Myself and 24 other bloggers will be bringing you exclusive photos, interviews, and more while there so be sure to follow along. Trust me, you don’t want to miss any of this! We will be posting on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (you can find a lot of my content using the multiple links in bio that I recently created!), Snapchat, and more using these hashtags:
While in town, we will be screening Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2! That isn’t even the most exciting thing. We will be screening it AT THE HOLLYWOOD PREMIERE! Yup, we will be walking the red carpet and brushing elbows with the cast and other celebrities! I cannot wait! I have been dying to see this movie since, well, before I even saw the first one. The comic book series is one of my favorites and has been for years and years. I was lucky enough to visit the set and interview some of the cast (and Director James Gunn!) last year – read all about that here.
While in LA we will also get to attend the press junket where we will interview talent from the film! This list incredible guys, so brace yourself. Are you ready for this?
Chris Pratt (“Peter Quill / Star-Lord”) Zoe Saldana (“Gamora”) Dave Bautista (“Drax”) Kurt Russell (“Ego”) Michael Rooker (“Yondu”) & Sean Gunn (“Kraglin”) (paired) Karen Gillan (“Nebula”) Pom Klementieff (“Mantis”) & Elizabeth Debicki (“Ayesha”) (paired)
Director James Gunn and Producer and President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige (paired)
Let me know if you have any questions for any of them!
Synopsis Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 blasts into theaters on May 5, 2017!
I just started watching Dancing With The Stars on ABC this season – and I don’t know why I waited so long to do it! Truth be told, I started watching is solely because of Nick Viall from The Bachelor. I adore him. Well I am sure glad I started watching because while in LA we will be taking a dance lesson led by Dancing with the Stars troupe members Brittany Cherry, Britt Stewart, Hayley Erbert, Brandon Armstrong and newest member Artur Adamski! I have absolutely no coordination but I am super excited about this because I know it will be a ton of fun!
The troupe is a group of immensely talented dancers who perform on every episode in special dance bits and as back-up dancers with the celebs & pros. They also sometimes sub in for an injured dance pro, as troupe member Alan Bersten is doing now for Maksim Chmerkovskiy – he’s dancing with actress Heather Morris while Maks is healing from an injury.
Tune in to Dancing With The Stars Monday Nights at 8 EST on ABC!
While in town we will also be screening Disneynature’s new film Born In China! I honestly have been really intrigued by this movie! I love watching Disneynature movies because I love animals – and I know my girls are dying to see it too. My youngest is very sensitive so I am glad I have to chance to watch it before she does just to make sure she can handle it. Either way, I alreayd know I will be watching this with my oldest daughter in theaters the weekend I get home! This movie looks so adorable, I just love Pandas!
Synopsis Disneynature’s “Born in China” ventures into the wilds of China, capturing intimate moments with three animal families: a doting panda bear mother who’s guiding her growing baby as she begins to explore, a two-year-old golden snub-nosed monkey who feels displaced by his baby sister, and a mother snow leopard who faces the very real drama of raising her two cubs.
Born in China opens in theaters on Earth Day, April 21, 2017!
In LA, we will also be getting an exclusive sneak preview of the ABC Series Premiere for “Downward Dog”! This show looks really good. I am a dog lover (I have two pups of my own) so I think I will really enjoy this show! I have watched the trailer a few times and this show is sure to be hilarious! I am even more excited about this because our screening will be followed by a Q&A with Allison Tolman “Nan” and Samm Hodges (Co-Creator / Executive Producer AND the Voice of “Martin,” the dog)!
Synopsis
Martin is the lonely, philosophical type. Martin is also a dog. That doesn’t stop him from making observations on the life of his owner, struggling millennial, Nan, and the complexity of relationships in the 21st century. While both are waging their own battles concerning life in the modern age, a session at obedience school makes it clear to both of them that even at their lowest points, they might just be the best thing for each other. Executive producer Samm Hodges also provides the voice for Martin.
Special Sneak Peek airs May 17th at 9:30 EST!
Time Slot Premiere on May 23rd at 8 EST!
I love American Housewife! It is one of my favorite comedies on TV right now. The more I watch it, the more I relate to Katie Otto – the perfectly imperfect wife and mom! This show is hilarious and every mom should watch it. If you watch already, then you know Katie Otto loves her “second breakfast” time with her pals after dropping her kids at school. While in L.A., I am so excited to tell you that I’ll be enjoying a quintessential “Second Breakfast,” Katie Otto-style! And as if things couldn’t get better than that – afterwards I will be meeting and interviewing the “American Housewife” herself: Katy Mixon!
Synopsis
The wealthy town of Westport, Conn., is full of cookie-cutter mommies and their seemingly perfect offspring, but the members of the Otto family can’t be counted among them. Confident housewife Katie Otto shares a home with her husband, Jeff, and their three children Taylor, Harrison and Anna-Kat, and while she loves them all dearly, she recognizes they probably aren’t going to land themselves in a magazine spread anytime soon. The matriarch knows her family is beautifully flawed, and she’s far from sorry.
American Housewife airs Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC!
Descendants is one of my favorite movies to watch with my daughters! I have always had a soft spot for Disney villains so I just love all the Villain Kids! So I am beyond excited that Disney Channel will give me peek at key scenes from “Descendants 2,” while I am in LA! And that is not all – some of the cast will be on hand for a very special Q&A session – check Twitter for that morning to find out who! WHAT! How awesome is that!
Synopsis The story deepens in the music-driven sequel to the global smash hit “Descendants,” as the teenage sons and daughters of Disney’s most infamous villains – Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay (also known as Villain Kids or VKs) – try to find their place in idyllic Auradon. When the pressure to be royally perfect becomes too much for Mal, she returns to her rotten roots on the Isle of the Lost where her archenemy Uma, the daughter of Ursula, has taken her spot as self-proclaimed queen of the run-down town. Uma, still resentful over not being selected by Ben to go to Auradon Prep with the other Villain Kids, stirs her pirate gang including Captain Hook’s son Harry and Gaston’s son Gil, to break the barrier between the Isle of the Lost and Auradon, and unleash all the villains imprisoned on the Isle, once and for all.
One last thing – we will also be celebrating the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards, music’s biggest event for families! We will be attending a special musical performance and Q&A about the fifth anniversary of the show! I must say this has me beyond excited as I love music. I am dying to find out more details!
About
The 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards take place on Saturday, April 29th at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with performances by some of the biggest artists along with tomorrow’s rising stars in music. The ceremony will be shown on Radio Disney and Disney Channel the following night on April 30, 2017 from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
We recently went on our second Disney Cruise. This time, we decided to head down the night before – you never know with February weather and Upstate New York. My husband and I normally like to try out a different hotel every Disney trip, and so this time we decided on the Art of Animation hotel. Now, we generally prefer to stay at a moderate or deluxe hotel, but since we were only going to be there one night we figured a value hotel made the most sense. We have since joined the Disney Vacation Club, so we likely will not be staying at another value resort again, however if we were going to, we would stay at Art of Animation for sure – and here is why!
The Value
If you are looking for a value Disney resort that will leave you feeling like you didn’t – Art of Animation is for you. While you only get a quick service restaurant and no sit down one, you are still met with wonderful accommodations. The beds are comfortable and the rooms are big enough to relax in, or enjoy some food in. They are not huge by any means, but myself, my husband, and my two young girls (ages 4 and 5) had more than enough room to spread out. For what you are paying, this is a great hotel!
The Themed Rooms
The Art of Animation has several themes throughout – The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Cars, and Finding Nemo. We stayed in a Little Mermaid room and the little girl inside of my was beyond excited. My daughters loved it too! The whole room was made up like the movie – from the beds to the bathroom. Even the dresser looked like something Ariel would own. One of my favorite touches was the framed photo of Prince Eric on the wall. If you are looking for some Disney movie magic, then any of the Art of Animation rooms are sure to impress!
The Grounds
I loved walking through the ground of the Art of Animation resort! There were so many characters and details to look at. My girls LOVED going through the elephant graveyard and seeing the hyenas in The Lion King section. One of my favorites was seeing a giant Ursula – she is one of my favorite villains. Even if you do not stay at the Art of Animation, I highly recommend taking one of the buses over there just to check it out. There is so much to see! Any Disney fan is sure to love it!
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