Week In iPhone Photos (11/18-11/21)

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

 

Holiday Tradition at Sheridan Gardens

I grew up in Burbank, CA. It always had that small town feel to me, even though it's considered a part of LA County, and right next door to Hollywood. My mom and Grandma still live there, so we are there a lot. Sometimes just to hang out, and sometimes to go to the local Burbank events and activities. We have a bunch of traditions, and family things that we still do together every year. A number of those special things happen during the holidays.

One of the things we've enjoyed for as long as I can remember is going to SHERIDAN GARDENS for their annual Holiday Open House. Sheridan Gardens is a small nursery located on Hollywood Way, by the studios. It's filled with flowers, plants and gifts for most of the year. But when November comes around it turns into a winter wonderland. Seriously, this is what I picture Santa Claus' house to look like. Sometime around the first weekend in November they have a Holiday Open House. It's a great place to go and get in a festive mood. They serve cookies and warm apple cider and play christmas music. It's stunning to see how they decorate inside, and I look forward to it every year. My sisters usually drive up, and, schedules permitting, we all go together.

This year was the first year I brought my daughter with me to share in the Christmas spirit. She is three now, and I felt she would probably be able to act like a civilized human being. Hopefully not break anything, and allow me to enjoy myself too. If all else failed, I thought I could bribe her with cookies if need be. Well I'm happy to report she did fantastic, juts like I hoped. She loved it. She looked at every ornament, every light, every decoration was in awe, exactly like her mother. She even made a friend. They had a giant, life-sized reindeer that looked real. She fell in love and asked if we could take it home. I had to decline, but told her we could come back to visit him again. She did get a little frustrated with me when I told her she couldn't ride it though.

It was a magical night and a great way to put us all into the holiday mood. If you live anywhere locally in LA, you should definitely stop in and see these beautiful things. They have many one-of-a-kind items to give as gifts, vintage and old fashioned treasures. The people who work there are just lovely, it's a family owned business who cares about their customers. You might just make it a tradition in your family too.

Sheridan Gardens * 817 N. Hollywood Way * Burbank, CA 91505 * (818) 841-8845

Visit their WEBSITE

All of the photos in this post were taken with the Hipstamatic App on my iPhone. Oooh Christmasy!

My Razor Playdate

Recently, my sister let me tag along with her to a fun family event. It was a Razor Play Date hosted by Momfluential. I had never met Ciaran face-to-face and was thrilled to be able to attend. Plus my 3 older kids have had Razor products on their Birthday and Holiday wish lists for the past 10 years. So I was excited to learn about their sweet new rides. 

Me and my "Hair Twin" Ciaran aka Momfluential

Here's my son riding a RipStik. We bought him one for his Birthday a year or two ago, and he stills loves it. He likes it better than a skateboard, thinks it's easier to ride and gives him more flexibility. 

RIP STIK

SOLE SKATE

Another new product is the Sole Skate. I think one of the best features of the Sole Skate is the size. Being this small, the kids can throw it in their backpacks, or sports bags, then take it out and ride it after school or practice. It's very portable which makes it a go-to for any occassion.

GROUND FORCE DRIFTER

One of the coolest electric ride-ons that Razor has is the Ground Force Drifter. They say it's Super Fast, Super Furious, Super Fun. This go-kart steel car goes up to 12mph, can drift, do 180s & throw fishtails.


Check out my son and my nephew riding the PowerWing. It's like a grown-up three wheeler. You've just gotta move your body from side to side, and it does the rest. They also have a pink girlie version, called the Sweet Pea PowerWing.

POWER WING

 

With Christmas / Hanukkah coming up, there are some really great products that Razor has to choose from depending on the age and skill level of your child. Then again, one of these products is probably on your kids lists this year. Great thing about these products is that they last, my kids still have some of the original scooters from years ago, and they still ride them. They just want to upgrade every year and now they have been asking for the E300 Electric Scooter, it travels up to 15 mph, they have the need for speed!


If your family are fans like we are:
Follow @RazorUSA on TWITTER
Like them on FACEBOOK
Check out their official YOUTUBE channel, my kids favorite.
They also have an iPhone Game App. It's called Razor Ultra Pro Rider and it's FREE.


Special Thank you to Ciaran for hosting such a fun event. It's nice to be able to get outside with your family and juts PLAY. Also thank you to Sheena, Razor's PR rep for being such an awesome person to work with! It was so great meeting both of you.

I Loves Me Some RAZOR! lol.

(Disclosure: I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was invited to a Private Razor Event and did receive a 10th Anniversary Scooter.)

ElecTRONica at Disney's California Adventure

Welcome To THE GRID: Prepare to be digitized!

ElecTRONica, the newest night time experience at Disney's California Adventure brings to life the virtual world of TRON Legacy, the new Walt Disney Pictures' film opening nationwide on December 17, 2010. (My husband hasn't been this excited for a Disney movie since Pirates of The Carribean. Ha!) This high-energy street festival takes place in Hollywood Pictures Backlot. It took over for their big summer party GlowFest. (Which I adored.) ElecTRONica to me is a little more adult themed. But perfect for my older kids, ages 12, 14 and 15. It definitely brought out the inner-child in my husband too, he LOVED it!

The magician's at Disney have recreated an authentic version of the original Flynn's Arcade. Which we were most excited about. They have old school games in it, straight out of 1982. Being that I grew up in the 80s, I felt really at home. Just some of the classic games included in the arcade are Pole Position (my personal fav) Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Centipede & Donkey Kong. You need a token to play, so you put your money in the machine, and get a keepsake token. (It's up to you if you want to use it or keep it.) * I've also heard that sometimes when you go to get a fast pass for a ride at California Adventure, some people will get a coupon for a token for Flynn's. Super Cool!

Photo Via: Robin Trowbridge, Disneyland Resort

You get a chance to sneak-a-peak of the new movie: TRON Legacy which opens in theaters on December 17, 2010, we will be seeing this movie FOR SURE! It made me realize how much I miss the People Movers (remember those) They were one of my very favorite rides at Disneyland. Maybe they'll bring them back with the success of the movie.

People dance and party the night away, while the live DJ spins a mix of techno, dance & electronica music. There are dancers and street performers using lasers, doing martial arts. I even had a girl pose for me, which I thought was really nice of her! Their costumes are amazing, but I wouldn't have expected anything different from Disney. The Poreotics (America's Best Dance Crew Season 5 Winner's) are also said to be performing at ElecTRONica from November 21 to the 24th. 

You remember one of my favorite parts about GLOWFEST was that they had alcoholic beverages. ElecTRONica is no different. You can get your incandescent concoctions at the END OF THE LINE BAR. Cheers to you LaserMan!

It's a colorful laser light show filled with digitally projected light cycles that are cast all around. It's something that you won't want to miss. Especially if you are a TRON fan, or are a tween,  teenager and up. I thought it was a little dark for my 3 year old, but TRON isn't exactly a pre-schooler's movie anyway. : )

The Pre-Show is at Sunshine Plaza from 6PM and at 6:45PM

ElecTRONica goes 7 days a week from 7PM til Park closing in the HOLLYWOOD PICTURES BACKLOT 

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this post. I was given tickets in order to facilitate my review.

Kinect, XBox & Launch Parties - Oh My!

Today is the day. November 4, 2010. 

XBox 360 launched controller-free gaming, and the name is KINECT.

This is the gadget that you've been hearing all the buzz about lately. 

(For those who don't know: It's an add-on for the Xbox 360 video game console.)

This is the HOT toy for the holiday season. It's the one that your kids will ask you for. 

The one that will be sold out in stores all across the country. Trust me.
If you are thinking about buying it as a gift, you should do it now. Just Sayin'.

 

Lucky me, I've had a chance to attend a few launch parties - Super Cool.

And I've also had a chance to play KINECT - Even Cooler. 

               

Check out the hotties in the KINECT Photo Booth. 

Making Faces with @SoUThinkUCanMOM * @ShelleysGrand *@ThaHappyHourMom * Adam

Rocking the Green Carpet at a Beverly Hills Mansion, with the FAB @ChrystinaElaine

Some of the games that myself or my family have personally played, and recommend are:

Kinectimals, Kinect Adventures, Kinect Joy Ride, & Kinect Sports

Kinectimals

Check out this cutie playing KINECTIMALS. This game is awesome for the younger crowds too!

Kinect Dance Central

Here's my friend Bernadette, shaking her "Groove Thang" playing DANCE CENTRAL for Kinect!

Here's my nephew getting his Lady Gaga about to play DANCE CENTRAL. Poker Face Baby!

Kinect Joy Ride

Here's my son & my nephew playing JOY RIDE... No License required!

This is how my mom & I KINECT. Oh Yeah!

These people love Xbox so much they got matching tats!

More fun photos from the 90210 Party! Loves It!

For more photos from the events that I took go to my FLICKR account.

For your viewing pleasure, here's a video I shot at GLAMORAMA in Los Angeles, featuring DANCE CENTRAL by KINECT with some really sweet dancers. I'm pretty sure they come with the game.

A very special thank you to the Xbox PR people who invited me to the totally radical events. Jessica Lange & Chrystina Woody. They have upped my cool factor by mucho points. Plus I just love them.

(Disclosure: I was not paid for this post. The views stated are from my own little Kinect lovin' mind.)