Best Summer Ever {2013}: Legoland California

If I didn't win the mom of the year award by taking JAM to Disneyland this summer, I definitely put the cherry on top by treating him to Legoland California too! I have never been to Legoland either so I was actually really excited to go as well. Having a little boy, it takes little to no brain cells to know that this is definitely a place to take your little man. I honestly didn't know what to expect when arriving at Legoland, but JAM made it clear that the number one thing on his to-do list today was to get his "driver's license". So, we packed up our huge brood of a family and away all 14 of us went!

A little tip for any of you heading to Legoland, they didn't check our backpacks so we were able to bring in little snacks for the kids to give them a little energy boost throughout the day. It especially helped for my baby cousin to keep her occupied while we waited in line for all the rides. The park wasn't as packed as I expected it to be and the weather was perfect. All the kids were full of energy so we picked out JAM's first EVER roller coaster and headed to wait in line. I'm definitely one who loves roller coasters so I was so excited that JAM was as ecstatic as I was to try out his first roller coaster. Project X was the winner of this awesome "first" and JAM has an absolute blast. We ended up riding it twice that day.

For the littles who weren't quite ready to ride a roller coaster, the family decided to ride the Legoland boat tour. That ride was actually pretty neat. There were so many fun sculptures and figures laid out throughout the tour which were fully made out of legos. It was pretty amazing to see the details of it all. That's one thing I actually appreciated about Legoland, 90% of their rides were accessible to the little ones. Like I said in my Disneyland post, there were 8 kids under the age of 10 in our crew. All of the kids were able to ride most of the rides together and the youngest cousin was four years old (aside from the baby of course).

Legoland has a water park section, but we decided to just explore the amusement park portion. That's ok though because there's a section of the park where it was a whole water section! That was more than enough "water park" action for all the kids. We spent a majority of our time in this area of the park since it was summertime. It was even more fun that the water rides had some variation of being able to shoot other riders with water or shoot the bystanders. We all absolutely loved getting drenched each and every time.

We rode a few more rides and stopped to take some photos of the awesome lego displays throughout the park. We decided to grab lunch at a restaurant that served pizza and pasta since it seemed like the perfect menu for the kids.

Then we were off to check off the number one thing on JAM's to-do list for the day, getting his "driver's license". That area is so cute because they have two tracks, one for the littles and one for the older kids, which I thought was so great. This was just another example of how I explained the park definitely catered to the kids and families of all ages. JAM had a blast driving through the course and learning how to obey the rules of the rode driving through the lego town. After he completed the course he took his picture for his driver's license and it was $5 to purchase the license if you wanted to take it home. Another successful first for JAM and an amazing way to end our Cali trip with the family. All of us had a blast, including the adults and we can't wait to visit again.

What's your favorite part about Legoland?

Best Summer Ever {2013}: First Time to Disneyland

We've finally made it to "The Happiest Place on Earth". I haven't been here since I was a kid, and all I remember was having to wait HOURS in line for rides and I wasn't a happy camper. Now that I'm coming back as a parent, I honestly wasn't too thrilled to take on this beast of a theme park but I was excited to have JAM experience another first in his life. We made it a huge family trip with 8 kids in tow under the age of 10. Lucky for us, there were more adults than kids so everyone buddied up and away we went to start this magical journey.

Like I said, it's been a long time since I've been to Disneyland. JAM and I saw a lot of fun attractions on the Disney channel prior to our trip so we were super excited to check some of them out. Come to find out, a lot of those attractions featured on TV were actually a part of Disney California Adventure NOT Disneyland haha. Whoops. Regardless, I knew that Disneyland was definitely a place I wanted JAM to experience as a kid. Looking at the map as we entered, there was no way we'd be able to cover it all in one day so the adults huddled together to decide on the major areas we wanted the kids to check out. I honestly can't recollect the different "villages" since there were so many, but all the themes in each area were so fun to experience. We saw Goofy up ahead so we stopped at the first store to buy an autograph book for all the kids. Sadly though, once we approached the line there was an associate telling people the line was cut off so Goofy could grab some lunch. Bummer.

To keep the momentum going we decided to choose our first ride. The cool thing about Disney rides is that they have these fast pass machines. Every ride has one. If you don't want to wait in line, you use your Disneyland ticket stub to grab 1 fast pass per ticket stub and the fast pass will have a time stamped on it to let you know when to return. When you do come back at the said time there's a special fast pass line to basically walk to the front of the line! So if you time it correctly, you can grab a fast pass for a ride that has a long line and ride another ride while you wait. For example, It was 11:30am and Space Mountain's line was super long so we grabbed 8 fast passes to come back later. The fast passes said to return at 1:30pm.While we waited we grabbed a bite to eat and rode a ride nearby. It took about 45 minutes to go on the nearby ride so by the time we finished the ride and grabbed a bite to eat it was time to head to Space Mountain. We walked up the special fast pass line and waited only 10 minutes to be seated on the ride! Awesome!

What movie is this from? hehe

Like I said, this was JAM's first time to Disneyland so his first ride here had to be epic. My little cousins recommended the Star Wars ride (AKA Star Tours) first. Along the way we passed many storm troopers. To my surprise, they never wanted to stop to take pictures or interact with the kids. JAM was kind of bummed about that so I just told him to stand near one of them while we were in a traffic jam and snapped a quick photo. The attentiveness of the Disney characters who walked around the premises were pretty crappy throughout the day. We learned really quickly that the only way to snap a pic or get an autograph from the characters was to visit the themed villages were the popular characters "resided". Anyways, back to the Star Tours ride. The line wasn't too long and JAM was so excited to see familiar characters from the movie as we walked through the line. Once we arrived at the boarding area, JAM was thrilled to find out 3-D glasses were required because everyone knows how much this kid loves 3-D anything. There was an "A" and "B" section and once the doors opened we walked to the end of our designated row and buckled up. We were inside a Star Wars aircraft to complete a mission! According to my uncle, the scenario is different in the "A" section from the "B" section we were in. This Star Wars ride was actually super fun! The whole thing moves around as you fly through space and other different areas and it rattles as our enemies try to shoot at our aircraft. The graphics were amazing, which wasn't a surprise since we're working with Disney standards here.

We visited a few other places such as this building where JAM got to virtually transform into Iron Man, and rode other rides like going underwater in a submarine to see Nemo. P.S. I'm you're claustrophobic, I suggest you don't ride this submarine. There's only one way in and one way out plus you're seated in a tight and confined area. One lady almost lost it because she was seated in the middle of the row and felt like she couldn't breathe. Luckily she made it through the whole ride without panicking.

Next stop was Toon Town so that JAM and the rest of the kids could get a few autographs. This place was so cute. There was a cul-de-sac filled with the homes of the Disney greats: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Goofy. The stated wait times were definitely way longer than actual time. The sign in front of Mickey's house said a 60 minute wait but we only waited about 30 minutes, if that. It was so neat too because you get a chance to walk through Mickey's home. It was actually pretty big! You can sit in his chair and check out all the details. The sign said he was in the backyard barn filming a movie, so some people stayed behind to check out Mickey's house while some zoomed right through to the barn. The barn is where the actual line is. Everything was organized real well by the associates letting in two families at a time to Mickey's filming area so that you didn't feel rushed or crowded to snag a photo and autograph from Mickey. Once inside, the associate took photos with our cameras and camera phones then Mickey signed all of the kids' autograph books. By the way, props to "Mickey" for having such an awesome signature with those huge hands and provided tiny pen haha. We also got to have tea with Minnie and act goofy with Goofy. Pluto hung out by his doghouse, and Donald and Daisy weren't home but had pretty neat houses to check out.

While some of the kids rode a couple quick rides, JAM took a power nap (haha). Then it was off to Tarzan's treehouse and a visit to Merida. I told JAM that you can't visit Disneyland without riding "It's a Small World". He wasn't too enthused but it was a must on mommy's list. It ended up paying off because Tom Brady and Gisele were on our boat! We didn't make a scene and told the kids not to either so we politely said hello. They clearly were enjoying a day with their kids too and we didn't want to spoil it for them.

Oh hey Tom Brady! :)

The adults took turns riding a few rides too. My favorite ride definitely had to be the Indiana Jones ride. You swear you were in the movie. Anyways, the day was winding down so we all decided to grab some dinner. There were endless options, but we decided to eat at the Stage Door Cafe since they has simple and easy choices for the kids to eat. Mommy on the other hand didn't want chicken fingers so I walked a bit to grab a bowl of yummy goodness.

Steak Gumbo in a bread bowl. YUM!

The sun was setting and we grabbed a seat on the barricaded walkway to get ready for Fantasmic. This show is a definite MUST SEE when visiting Disneyland. Around 9pm, you find a spot surrounding the waterfront and they have this great show with Mickey and many familiar Disney characters. Especially if you have little ones, I suggest that you reserve your seat early so they can get a good view of the show. Nearing the start of the show they barricade off the section so passerby-ers can still navigate where to go. I don't want to spoil too much off the storyline, but just know, the closer you are the more wet you get. Don't worry, it's just a little mist but I noticed some little kids cried because they got wet in general so if your kiddo is one of those, back up a little hehe. Well, there you have it! JAM's first trip to Disney and we survived! We all had a blast and it was definitely one to remember. Maybe next time we'll make it a whole weekend trip so we can cover more ground.

What's your favorite attraction at Disneyland?

Baby Shower : It's a Boy!

Within the past 9 months I've celebrated or have given gifts for 8 babies, but this was the first baby shower I actually helped coordinate. My cousin and her girlfriend was finally expecting a little boy! I teamed up with her sister to throw the cutest baby shower ever. She knew she didn't want to throw her little sister a typical "it's a boy" baby shower because that wasn't her sister's personality. We also knew our budget so that meant a lot of DIY was going to happen. I'm so proud of how everything turned out and the baby shower was a total hit!

My cousin make this HUGE but cute diaper wreath and added her sister's baby's ultrasound picture hanging in a cute little frame in the center of the wreath. We had to tie each diaper individually so lucky we were able to tag team that portion of the project together (which still took forever ha ha).

Like I said before, I'm known for bringing cake pops to every family get together, but this time I make them with a little flair. This was my first time dying the cake batter and I think the final product turned out so cute! I used mini cupcake liners for the bonnet and tied matching ribbon to hold it in place.

Our cousin motto is that "there's always room for dessert" so to tie into that we took baby items and made them looks like yummy sweets! We bought some toddler bowls and spoons then made "sundaes" with a receiving blanket, onesie, and red sock to look like a cherry on top. Then we took more toddler spoons from the pack and used them for sticks to our lollipop bouquet that was made from burp clothes and onesies. Lastly, we made "cupcakes" by using receiving blankets and a red sock. We then wrapped the final product with a coffee filter and ribbon and placed it in a bakery box to top off the cupcake look.

In my family, a Las Vegas party isn't complete without a cake from Freed's Bakery! Like I said, my cousin and her girlfriend aren't the cliche baby shower type so with a little brainstorming with her sister and the Freed's consultant, we came up with this beautiful creation. Freed's executed the baby quilt look perfectly and the whimsical balls at the top left corner added that extra modern flair we were looking for.

The focus of our decorations was our crave table. If you couldn't tell by now, the color scheme was turquoise and gray because that's the baby's room colors. We created a gray backdrop with a gray table cloth and filled the crave table with both parents' favorite foods! My cousin loves Raising Cane's Sweet Tea and Julian Apple Pie from Julian, CA while her girlfriend has been craving a specific type of orange juice and a variety of fruits her whole pregnancy.

Throughout the rest of the house we carried out the color scheme with these tissue paper poms we made and a complementing "baby boy" sign to our crave table sign over the presents downstairs. The poms were super easy to make! The kiddos helped out and it added to the cuteness to the party.

Our food menu consisted of both soon-to-be parents favorite foods. Everyone loved the modern flair to the baby shower without being too kitschy. Congratulations to my cousin and her girlfriend on finally becoming parents! You guys are great with our kids and I know that SJ couldn't have asked for better mommies in his life! Welcome to parenthood!
 

What are some items that you would have on your crave table?

Movie Screening: "Oz The Great and Powerful"

Earlier this week JAM and I had the opportunity to attend a movie screening a little differently this time around. Usually we get free passes like I talked about in my previous post about movie screenings, and we'd have to arrive 2 hours early to wait in a line to insure that we'd get good seats. This time around we were invited to sit in the "sacred" Press section, which are prime seats that are front and center. These seats are usually blocked off by the fancy red velvet rope and people wish they could sit there since they're some of the best seats in the house. Well, this time around JAM and I got to cross that rope and enjoy an advanced screening of the new Disney movie, "Oz The Great and Powerful". Here's a little synopsis about the movie if you haven't heard about it yet:

Disney’s fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.

We got to watch this movie in 3D, which JAM loves so he's been looking forward to this screening for a couple of weeks. He hasn't seen the original 'Wizard of Oz' movie so he didn't know what to expect except whatever he's seen in the movie trailers on TV. If haven't seen it like Jam, however, this movie is great on it's own so I don't feel like you'd need to see 'Wizard of Oz' in order to understand this movie. I have to say, this movie surprisingly exceeded my expectations, but also caught me off guard in negative ways as well. I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise that the visual effects and animation were amazing with today's technological capabilities and Disney's quest to always go above and beyond. The movie did a great job at making things look so vivid and eye-catching. The storyline was great and intriguing the whole way through, but much of the humor was for the mature mind in my opinion. I honestly didn't expect to laugh as much as I did, but JAM didn't seem to understand the jokes as much. If he was laughing it was because the characters were being goofy not because he understood the puns of the gestures. I naturally love James Franco movies and when I asked JAM what his favorite parts of the movie were, they all had to do with Franco's character. He definitely did a great job playing Oz. My favorite character was the flying monkey, Finley (voiced by Zach Braff). He was most of the reason why I was laughing throughout the movie, plus he's just so cute!

©Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved..

On the flip side, I was surprised at how many scary parts there were. Being a Disney movie, I assumed that it would be kid-friendly but in my opinion there was a lot of scary noises and scenes. Disney did warn us at the end of their movie trailers that some scenes may be too intense for kids, but it got to the point where I caught JAM covering his eyes and ears through those parts of the movies. I get that they're trying to make the effects come to life with vibrant sound effects but I think some of it could have been turned down just a bit. I mean, I even jumped out of my seat a few times. For example, If you've watched the 'Wizard of Oz' then you understand the flying baboons. In "Oz The Great and Powerful" it was just a little too evil and aggressive for a kid's movie in my opinion. The same with the wicked witch scenes. JAM is about to be seven years old this summer, and I don't think I would take any kids younger than JAM to this movie. It would be a lot of fun if I brought my best friend or someone who is a tween and older though. 

Regardless, all in all JAM and I had a great time. On the way home he was raving about all the funny parts and we were quoting the movie until bedtime. If you enjoy the original 'Wizard of Oz' as much as I do, grab your gal pal and check out this movie. It's definitely a must see! It has a great A-list cast who pulls off each of their characters amazingly, the visual effects are beautiful, and the storyline had you intrigued from beginning to end. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

“Oz The Great and Powerful” opens in U.S. theaters on March 8, 2013.