"Call Me Maybe" Carly Rae Jepsen FREE Concert at CityWalk

WHO:

Pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen will be performing her infamous hit single “Call Me Maybe” TONIGHT 4/14 in a FREE concert at Universal CityWalk! The first 400 customers to buy her new single will be able to get it SIGNED after the show! The concert starts at 8:00pm with Carly going on at 9:00pm.

“5 Towers” at Universal CityWalk Calls Fans to Attend Carly Rae Jepsen’s

First Debut Concert Performance Featuring her Hit Single “Call Me Maybe”

WHAT: 

 Universal CityWalk’s “5 Towers” concert venue to feature a FREE live concert by breakout pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen.

“Call Me Maybe” co-written by Jepsen, has sold over 700K singles in the US in just 6 weeks and is climbing the iTunes chart, already cracking the Top 5. The Canadian-born singer/songwriter is poised for stardom after signing to Schoolboy Records/Interscope run by Scooter Braun and multi-platinum Schoolboy/RMBG/IDJ artist Justin Bieber.

Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” received an additional boost with a homemade viral video featuring Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale and other young stars who filmed themselves lip-synching and dancing to the song. The video racked up a million views in 24 hours and has gone on to earn over 28 million views on YouTube.

*The first 400 customers to purchase Carly Rae Jepsen’s new single, “Call Me Maybe” on site will receive a wristband for a CD signing following the performance.*

WHEN: 

 Saturday, April 14

Live Entertainment Begins at 8PM

Carly Rae Jepsen Performance Begins at 9PM

WHERE: 

 “5 Towers” concert venue – 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608

PARKING: 

 Enter Universal Studios Blvd. off the 101 Freeway or Universal Hollywood Drive off Lankershim Blvd.

Accepted or Rejected?

Today is the big day. The day the school of our choice sends out a letter that will change the course of our daughter’s life. Forever. We have sent in all of the paperwork including application, teacher’s letters of recommendation, report cards and financial aid forms. We visited the school on numerous occasions. Attended the various Open Houses. Shook hands and smiled a lot at the meet and greets. And divluged out our inner most secrets at the parent interview. Our daughter did both small AND large group assessment. We’ve gone to the question and answer sessions with the faculty. We’ve toured the campus with current students as our guides. And most recently we attended a Diversity Breakfast. Now we play the waiting game… to see if all of our time, energy and hard work will pay off. No, our daughter isn’t a high school senior trying to get into Harvard or Yale, she’s 4 and we are trying to get her into private school Kindergarten in Los Angeles.

To some this process sounds bit absurd for a preschool child, but to parents of children that live within the LAUSD borders it sounds all too familiar. Our neighborhood school is (to put it nicely) less than desirable, and even though we live in a great area, there are good and not so good pockets on every other street in Los Angeles. If our daughter does not get into this private school, and we do not get picked in the various lotteries of other excellent local charter/magnet schools that we have applied to, we will be forced to move. We feel it is our only option, and last resort.

I grew up and went to school in Burbank where they have their own excellent school district so all of this is new to me. There was never a question about what school I would attend. Private school was never even a thought in my mother’s head. I mean why on earth would you pay for your child to go to school? We lived in a house across the street from a great elementary school, so we went there. After graduation, we went to corresponding middle school, and then high school. They were all good schools, and I had a great learning experience with excellent opportunities. I will accept nothing less for my own child.

So for the next few days forgive me if I seem on edge. I AM ON EDGE. I’m also distracted and nervous, which when blended all together, make a really lovely combo. Just ask my husband. The last few months have all been leading up to this moment, this one little letter of acceptance or rejection for our four year old.

A Medieval Night to Remember

Taylar turned 14 last week, and we went to Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament to celebrate.

It was was opening night of the all new show, and we were excited to be attending. I hadn't been there since before we had Kaia, and they've made a lot of changes since then. It's now a 2 hour show filled with more Rivalry and more Revelry! The lighting and the colors throughout were really vibrant, and helped bring the castle-inspired arena to life. There is more jousting, sword fights and horsemanship then ever before. And who says chivalry is dead, Taylar caught one of the flowers tossed by our Yellow Knight, which she immediately had to hand over to Kaia. (little sisters can be such a pain) They've enhanced menu options too, but still no silverware! They start you off with a hot cauldron of "Dragon Soup." (Tomato Bisque) The main course immediately follows with warm focaccia bread, oven roasted chicken, a spare rib and large herb potato wedges. (They also have a vegetarian option.) For dessert it's an apple pastry, pleasantly served warm. It was delicious especially with my decaf coffee. All of us (except my husband) took home to-go containers because it was a lot of food.

The most important thing to me is my family and I love making new memories with them, even more so on birthdays and special occasions. Last night was one of those knights (pun intended) for us. We were happy to make our daughter's 14th birthday a memorable one. Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament is a unique Los Angeles experience that takes you back in time, when Kings and Queens ruled, and knights were the thing to be. Thank you Medieval Times for allowing us to enjoy all of the new action, and excitement!

For more coverage on opening night, go check out my sister Becky's blog www.HappyHourMom.blogspot.com.
And see my "Fresh Tips" below on how to make the most out of your night.

Fresh Tips:

• Get there early and/or stay late. Before and after the show you can meet, greet and take photos with the cast. And moms, you do not want to miss your hand being kissed by one of these fine gentlemen. (Just ask my sister) Those knights sure are easy on the eyes! (I'm talking to you, Yellow Knight)

• Before the show make sure to visit the gift shoppe and purchase a flag for any of the younger members of your party. They cost next to nothing, but were priceless to us. Kaia was SO into the waving of the flags when it was our turn to cheer for our knight, she did it all the way home. (well half of the way, until she fell asleep in the car) FYI; the crowns are free!

• If you like, they will announce your special occasion over the loud speaker. Make sure to let them know ahead of time. It will make the birthday boy or girl feel that much more special when they hear their name spoken by the announcer (with Taylar turning 14, we were sworn to secrecy, and promised no funny birthday stuff - teenagers are no fun)

If you'd like to experience the adventure for yourself:

Medieval Times Website

Medieval Times Facebook

Medieval Times Twitter

Or simply call 1-888-WE-JOUST

Disclosure: I was not paid for this post. I was given passes for me and my family to attend a media preview. The opinions on this blog are 100% mine and 100% fresh!

Talk Nerdy To Me

One of the best parts about having an older sister is being able to wear their clothes. Since Kaia and Taylar are so far apart in age, they don't exactly wear the same size. Enter in the glamorous world of accessories! Kaia just loves wearing her older sister's glasses, mustaches necklace, and fedora hats. It sure is fun being a girl! And it's even more fun to be a girl in nerd glasses with a mustache, no? Wow times sure have changed! Heh. (photos taken on my iPhone and edited in Instagram.)

If you love these glasses as much as we do...

Hello Kitty Nerd Glasses from Sidecca.
(I couldn't find them online, but we bought them at the store in the Burbank Mall.)

Holidays at Disneyland: A Family Tradition

Going to Disneyland for the holidays is something that our family has done for a long time. It's a family tradition and in my family, ya don't mess with tradition!

It's something that we can all count on each year. We know that no matter how crazy things get, how hectic and busy our lives become that we will all come together and meet for a family date at Disneyland during the Christmas Season.

There's so much to see and do there that we actually have to go a few times during the holiday season just to get it all in. Thank god for annual passes. And even then, we still end up missing a few things - how is that even possible? But one thing we never miss is the Haunted Mansion Holiday, which is taken over by Jack Skellington and his friends! It's perfect for kids of all ages, and the whimsy of it all makes it a lot less scary.

This year was no different and we all planned a day to visit the Merriest place on earth. We attended the family media day and had some really special photo ops at the reception. The fact that our youngest daughter had quality one-on-one time with some of her favorite characters is absolutely priceless. I mean how many kids can say that they've played tag w/ Pinocchio?

It was an amazing day and we made a lot of family memories that I know I will treasure forever. That's one of the biggest reasons that moms love Disneyland, knowing that when you spend a day in the magic kingdom you're going to take with you a whole new set of moments. By the time we got to take our family photo at the ginormous tree on main street the youngest one was already asleep in the stroller. Oh well, looks like we will have to try again next year!

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort are not to be missed, so you must visit by January 8th to catch all of the festivities. For more info on all things Disney Holidays check out the WEBSITE. And when you visit the park, be sure to take one of those silly, crazy, awesome JUMPING pictures, like the one below! PRICELESS!!!!

Disclosure: I was not paid for this post. I was given passes for me and my family to attend a media preview day. The opinions on this blog are 100% mine and 100% fresh!

Merry Grinchmas To All, And To All A Goodnight!

You'd think living in Los Angeles and working in the Entertainment Industry that I'd be jaded with all things Hollywood, but it's actually the opposite. I love LA and anything that has to do with making movies, music and television - Enter in Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park where movie making comes to life! This past weekend I attended a special media preview at Universal Studios Hollywood. I was excited, because it's been over 10 years since I've been. Plus it's literally like 5 minutes away from my house which is a total bonus! All of the other So Cal amusement parks that we frequent are much further away.

Their holiday, or should I say Who-liday Celebration opened this weekend and goes thru January 8th. It centers all around the Grinch from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." It's more the Jim Carrey version then the Dr. Suess cartoon version, but it's great all the same. They roll out the red and green carpet just for their guests. There's a meet and greet with the Grinch and his dog Max (Cutest Dog Ever) in a designated area to play with real snow, which is quite a thrill for these Southern Californians.

They also have a wide varieties of characters represented all over the park in shows like Shrek 4D and play areas like The Adventures of Curious George which is great for younger guests like my daughter. But they also have big rides for my older kids and husband like Revenge of the Mummy and Jurassic Park: The Ride.

Then there's the world famous "Studio Tour" which is now hosted by Jimmy Fallon. It has all of the old classics that I remember like the flooding, Jaws and the Bates Motel. There has also been newly added features such as King Kong in 3D, Fast and the Furious Cars and a tour of Wisteria Lane on the Desperate Housewives set. Our 4 year old got scared on a few parts of the tour (I'm talking to you King Kong 360 3-D) so make sure to use your own discretion when it comes to the younger children in your group.

We finished the day with a reading of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by overnight YouTube sensation, Greyson Chance and the Wholiday Tree Lighting Ceremony and Show. Which is take your breath away gorgeous and it snows too! Not real snow, but the fake soap bubble snow, ah the magic of Hollywood!

We really want to get season passes, and with the current deal they are offering of buy a day, get all of 2012 for free it makes it to good to pass up. So Cal click HERE for that great deal! They also have a Front of the Line Pass and an All You Can Eat Pass if you're interested. Check them out on Twitter @UniStudios for all of the latest info. See ya on the set! *ACTION*

Full Disclosure: This is not a paid post. I was given passes from Universal Studios for me and my family to enter the park. The opinions on this blog are 100% mine and 100% fresh!

The Hub: Bringing the Old School to the New School

I used to have Strawberry Shortcake Dolls. 

My husband used to play with Transformers.

I remember loving to brush the hair of My Little Ponies.

I remember adopting my first Pound Puppy.
I used to watch Jem and the Holograms faithfully as a girl. (It's showtime Synergy)

Besides being really awesome back in the day, what do all of these things have in common?
They all live together! I mean they all have a home at The Hub. The new(er) network that is bringing back all of our old favorites by introducing them to our children in a new way. This channel is for families of all ages, sizes, and even for people who are just big kids. (You're probably already tuning in.) My favorite show on the network is Jem and the Holograms, which also was my favorite cartoon as a little girl: "Jem is my name no one else is the same, Jem is my Name." The Hub has been on air for about a year. It's run by Discovery Communications and Hasbro, Inc. Two companies who know a thing or two about entertainment.

I was excited to learn more about what they have going on at The Hub TV channel and online HubWorld.com at a recent "Haunted Hub" event in LA. We tricked, we treated, we played, we hunted, we crafted, and we watched. WE MET STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!!!! Oh sorry, I was just a tad excited to take my photo with her. (A childhood dream - lol) We saw a preview of the My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Halloween Episode. It was very cute. They've been running a ton of Halloween programming to get all of your little spirits in the holiday mood. And did you know that there is a new berry character in Strawberry Shortcake's world... Her name is Cherry Jam and she's just as delish as all of the other girls! Check her out on Berry Bitty Adventures. There's also plenty of shows for the older kids like R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour and Goosebumps. (remember those) Coming soon to The Hub is Clue a new series to be introduced on the network, sounds perfect for tween kids. Notice a trend here... Popular games and toys of our time being reinvented and recreated on The Hub TV Network. It's pretty genius to me.

On their website, HubWorld.com there are plenty of Games to play with or without your family, including all of your favorite board games like Scrabble, Pictureka, The Game of Life, and also Nerf games. Can you say Family Game Night?

There's also a club you can join, called Club Hub. It's free and gets you access to cool Hub World stuff.

And learn more info on their Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Full Disclosure: I was not paid for this post. I was invited to a media event & screening. (It's truly outrageous, truly, truly, truly outrageous.) 

Our Day with Disney Interactive

Every parent knows about the Disney Parks, Disney Movies, and the Disney Store but there is one entity of Disney that sometimes gets overlooked... the Disney Interactive Media Group. Actually you may not have even heard of them unless your kid is a gamer. Or even if you have heard of them, you may not know exactly what they do.

I attended a special Halloween Bash the other night with my family hosted by Disney Interactive and found out all of the amazing things that they produce. Who knew? They have games, apps, crafts, recipes, penguins, fairies, and more! Here's a little breakdown... (You're Welcome - LOL)

Disney Family.Com & FamilyFun.Com

For the Martha Stewarts out there and even for the not-so-crafty moms and dads, Disney has a site online that can inspire you to create holiday masterpieces. Check out Disney Family.Com and Family Fun.Com. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthdays, they've got it all. If crafting isn't your thing, maybe cooking is more up your alley. There are fabulous recipes with plenty of healthy meal choices for your family, even those with picky eaters. (I'm so there) Check out these Halloween Cupcakes sure to scare up some smiles at your house or Halloween Party.

Disney Interactive Studios

Disney Universe just launched last week, but this is the Epic Mickey of this year. This was definitely the most popular game of the event. Everyone loved playing it... Including Stitch himself! That's not the only game that is new and exciting, there's also Cars 2 The Video Game, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean the Video Game, Phineas and Ferb Across the 2nd Dimension. (I think Phineas and Ferb was my daughter's favorite game, but I also think that she has a crush on Phineas - Shhh! Don't say anything.)

Disney Mobile

Now that iPhone, and iPads are the latest gaming systems for the younger generation (My 4 year old is hooked) I'm always looking for kid-friendly game apps that will make her sit still in one place long enough for me to grocery shop. Here are 2 that are sure to do that. Where's My Water App said to be the new "Angry Birds" of apps. This Crocodile Swampy is all the buzz lately. He's even got a Twitter Account and Facebook Page. And he's getting his own web series next year too! That's one Cool Croc. They also just came out with another App called Puffle Launch for the new iOS software. We haven't played yet, but any game that has launch in the title, I already know my daughter will like it.

Disney Online Studios 

There are whole virtual worlds that you may not even be aware of... I know, it's crazy right? They're full of Penguins and Fairies and you can do all sorts of cool stuff if you become a member, like a Halloween Party and an Awesome Contest.

Club Penguin.Com

Pixie Hollow.Com

Full Disclosure: I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was invited to an event to help facilitate my review. These opinions are 100% mine & 100% fresh!

Highly Inappropriate Parenting

So these photos are probably totally inappropriate, but they made me Laugh. Out. Loud! 

I hope they do the same for you on this Monday!

Holy Giant Squash Batman!

Back to School

Do you ever have a moment where you want to stop time and stay there forever?

I know that most kids started school back in September, but for our youngest, she had her first day last week. She will be 5 next year and starting Kindergarten, so we thought that it would be most beneficial to her education if she went to pre-k. So she's back in school and couldn't be happier. The toughest part is getting her up in the mornings, because she is definitely is a night owl. (like her mama - ahem) We got her a new backpack (Disney - Jessie from Toy Story) and she was super excited about it, the smile says it all. I want to remember this face, this smile, this moment FOREVER!!!

The Lion King Returns

For the first time in years The Lion King returns to DVD, this time you can purchase it on Blu-Ray and High Definition. Hakuna Matata Baby!

It's the classic Disney tale we all know and love. A coming of age story of Simba, the lion cub who will one day be king. After suffering the loss of his father, he runs away from his family and home. Being that you can never truly run away from your problems, he eventually realizes that he must go back to his pride and claim the land back from his sinister uncle. Good triumphs over evil, and Simba becomes king of the jungle. You know, thinking back... He just couldn't wait to be King. (lol)

We got a chance to see a sneak peek of the Lion King in 3D at the D23 Expo.
It was stunning. Don't you want to see The Circle Of Life in all of it's glory.

I got all 4 of my kids together (a miracle) and asked them to talk about what they love about THE LION KING. Needless to say, this video is classic in it's own right! Here are ADAM, DEVEN, TAYLAR and KAIA doing their review of the movie.

Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

For more info you can go to the official website for THE LION KING.

 Or you can like the page of the LION KING Facebook.

Full Disclosure: This is not a paid post. I was given a DVD to help facilitate the review. 

These opinions are 100% ours and 100% fresh.