Blah Blah Blog

The Disneyland 2fer Ticket is Back!

2010-01-05T10:35:00.000-08:00

(copied and pasted from an email from Disney)

The 2fer Ticket is Back at Disneyland Resort!

Southern California Residents Can Enjoy Two Parks on Two Days (with One Day Free) Through April 12

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Southern California families looking for value and the best way to spend their entertainment dollars will find an unbeatable offer at the Disneyland Resort in the new year. With the “Southern California Resident 2fer Ticket,” guests will be immersed in the magic of fun attractions and high quality entertainment at Disneyland or Disney’s California Adventure park on one day, and then come back on another day to play in the other park – for free.

The full details about the return of the 2fer ticket – plus some tips on how to make the most of a deal that gives fans of the Disneyland Resort two days of magic and adventure for only $36 a day per person – are at disneylandnews.com

The 2fer ticket can be purchased now at Disneyland.com/2fer, The Disney Stores, Vons, Pavilions, Albertsons, Ralphs, Stater Bros, Gelson’s, Food 4 Less, Toys R Us, Dearden’s, Korea Daily, Irvine Spectrum and other locations. Guests whopurchase online can print their tickets at home and avoid waiting in ticket lines.

For more information on the 2fer ticket, visit www.disneyland.com/2fer or call 714/781-7290.

Joy! Joy! Joy!

2010-01-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

Disney's "Give A Day. Get A Day." program makes me giddy! I absolutely love the entire concept. I know some skeptics will say that people are only doing it for the free ticket, so the good deed somehow doesn't count, but I think that is unfair. If a free ticket to Disneyland gets people to volunteer for a worthwhile organization then it's a good thing. Period! Just think of how many hearts will be opened to the magic of volunteering in their community. There is no greater reward than that feeling of helping to make the world a better place. So many people will continue volunteering long after the glow of their day at Disneyland has worn off. Those who want to extend the goodwill even further can donate their ticket to one of the following non-profit organizations designated by Disney Parks:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern California
Boys & Girls Clubs of Florida
Dreams take Flight Canada

In a quick search, I found local organizations that accept volunteers as young as 6 years old. Young children can assist with refurbishing books, make blankets, prepare meals for the homeless, fill food boxes, clean beaches, walk animals, clean cages, etc. The value of the lesson of service is unparalleled.

So much to learn, so little time.

2009-12-28T20:35:00.000-08:00

As New Years Eve approaches people all over the world are considering resolutions to lose weight, stop smoking, spend less time online, start exercising, etc. Many years ago I accepted the grim reality that I don't keep traditional resolutions very well, so I take a different approach to bettering my life.

Every year I set out to learn something new or try something I have never tried before. Just over the last few years that has meant dirt biking, roller derby, krav maga, kayaking, crocheting and jewelry making. (My "have done" list is actually longer than my "to do" list.)

I have a long list of things I still want to try and I add to it all of the time. Some are even travel goals. Here is a quick glimpse of what is still on my list....

try fire dancing

learn a few fancy bullwhip tricks

belly dancing

yoga

crash a demolition derby car

drive a jetski

tai chi

learn more American Sign Language

yodeling lessons

sailing

scuba diving

Luxor, Karnak, Thebes, Valley of the Kings, Giza, Cairo (Egypt)

learn to read heiroglyphics

go on an African safari

vacation in Bora Bora (over-water bungalow)

wander Le Louvre Museum for days

Vatican City, waterways of Venice, Roman Forum, Colesseum, Palantine Hill (Italy)

Ancient Ruins of Greece

renew marriage vows in Austria

train a companion animal

visit Birkenau Auschwitz in Poland

learn how to do cartwheels and walkovers

enter a real cooking competition

take an Alaskan cruise

visit Bran castle in Romania

swim with dolphins

space travel

ride a unicycle

hold a monkey or chimp

deliver a baby (not my own)

build a house with Habitat for Humanity

take a horse-drawn sleigh ride in the snow

and so on..... the list is very long.

It looks like most of those things will have to wait a little longer because I've been sitting on a shiny new banjo and a very cool brazing/welding set-up for the last couple of years and I'm thinking its high time I found myself the right teachers. If you know anyone who brazes/welds or plays the banjo, please give them my contact info. Even if they can't teach me, they might know someone who can. I'm especially interested in playing some punk rock on my banjo, but I'm not picky. Pardon the pun.

Bring on 2010!

2009-12-28T17:37:00.000-08:00

So much cool stuff going on, but so crazy busy. I'll make this short and sweet.

Had a great xmas with the family. In an effort to put more heart into our gifts I made some pretty bracelets and four batches of delicious caramels. I even crocheted a couple of blankets. I know not everyone appreciates getting homemade gifts, but I think I chose the right people to make the effort for. Our boys got way too many toys from relatives and friends, as usual. They also some got very cool microscope slide sets. Such a great gift idea for science-minded kids.

I'm really happy because Drew bought the two of us passes to my favorite place on Earth... Disneyland! It's hard to believe that it's been eight years since we've had passes. Bring on the corn dog date nights! I know many people will think we are mean because the kids did not get passes of their own, but we don't want the magic to be jaded by overindulgence. They get to go once or twice a year for birthdays or special events and that keeps it super exciting for them. I think that little kids should be so pumped up that they can hardly sleep the night before a trip to Disneyland. It should be one of the highlights of their year, not just another play date location.

Spent today at San Diego's Natural History Museum (Balboa Park). We went to see the Darwin: Evolution Revolution exhibit. It was truly exciting to view such an amazing display. I could have spent another three hours reading every little note. While we were there, we saw the film "Mummies 3D: Secrets of the Pharaohs" and it was fascinating. They said they have the largest 3D screen in the state. I highly recommend both experiences for inquisitive minds of all ages.

Bring on the jolly!

2009-11-29T10:09:00.000-08:00

I am feeling the cheer of the season all the way down to my toes! Last night we went to visit the Peanuts Christmas House on Santa Ana Avenue in Costa Mesa. Drew lived down the street from it as a boy and we try to make it over there every year. I think we only missed a couple of years when we lived in Murrieta. This giant animated display wraps the home around the entire corner. (Where on Earth do they store it all year?) I couldn't get enough flash to get a good photo so you'll have to go see it for yourself. They will have Santa visiting each night after Dec 18 for photos. The love and pride these people put into this enormous display just warms your heart.

Every morning I turn on our tree lights and sip tea by the glow after the kids are off to school. It's such a calming way to start the day. As I sit here admiring our eclectic display of ornaments I am reminded of where or whom each one came from. It makes me really sappy sometimes.

What kind of ornaments do you have on your tree? Do you have a theme of any kind? We don't have any theme but you can certainly see some trends. I have a love affair with Santa Claus so I have quite a few glass Santas. I also have more than a dozen beaded, sequined and feathery bird ornaments. I adore vintage Polish glass ornaments and just about anything that sparkles. I have a real soft spot for pretty Disney ornaments too. Right now I can see my three glittering princesses (Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty), the three good fairies (Flora, Fauna & Merriweather) and my sparkling Mickey icons. Last week I received a gorgeous 2009 Mickey icon ornament as a gift and it is twinkling front and center this year. We also have an ever-growing collection of official White House ornaments because Drew's grandmother buys him a new one every year. They are quite beautiful and they're something the boys get very excited about hanging each year.

What tops off your tree? We have a mother of pearl six-pointed star that we got before we were married, but it really doesn't suit us so this year we have decided to replace it. We struggled with what we wanted to put in it's place. A big robot was leading the race for quite a while, but in the end we decided that I would make our new topper. We bought a big wooden "C" which I still need to gold leaf and embellish with a big flower and bow. This will share the top branch with a frog prince dressed in a glittering costume complete with a feather in his cap. I know that may sound crazy to many of you but the kookiness of it suits us just right. The only problem is, I haven't had time to work on it so the top of our tree is a bit naked right now. Hopefully I can get it done before this weekend or I will have to pull out the old star one more time.

So how's your holiday shopping coming along? I don't have a ton of shopping to do because I am committed to putting my heart into our gifts this year. I am making many gifts by hand. Most of the gifts I do purchase will either support a good cause or be bought from a small business or local consultant. To be completely honest, there have been some Target and toy store purchases, but for the most part I am going to keep it heartfelt. I can't tell you about all of the different things I am making because I don't want to spoil anyone's surprise. I can say that my various projects require crochet hooks, butter, chocolate, wire and needle nose pliers. Not all together, of course.

One of my favorite things to do is wrap gifts. Each year I labor over choosing the perfect theme for our papers and ribbons. A long time ago, I made myself a promise never to use bags or stick on bows for christmas. I consider it part of the gift to make the packaging beautiful and festive. I'm not a snob by any means, heck, when it comes to birthdays and other occasions I am all about bags and stick on bows. I usually go with a lot of golden traditional papers, but last year I went with a more kid-friendly bold red and green and loved it. So this year I took it a step further and opted for whimsical red, pink, turquoise and lime green papers and glittered ribbons. It's a good thing both of my boys like pink because any other boys would probably freak out to have their gifts tied with hot pink satin bows.

Here are a few photos of favorite trees and ornaments:

The first is my new 2009 Mickey Mouse icon ornament.

I just love this little red bird. In my book, it's not a real christmas tree without a pretty red bird on it. Disco ball Mickey icon behind it.

Our boys in front of their favorite tree from the past. They got to really help decorate this one.

Our stockings all hung by the chimney with care.

This was the tree from our first christmas in our Murrieta house.

My frog prince and yet another red bird.

One of my pretty princesses.

Hey Sarah...

2009-11-18T20:03:00.000-08:00

Main Entry: ¹rogue

Pronunciation: \ˈrōg\

Function: noun

Etymology: origin unknown

Date: 1561

1 : vagrant, tramp
2 : a dishonest or worthless person : scoundrel
3 : a mischievous person : scamp
4 : a horse inclined to shirk or misbehave
5 : an individual exhibiting a chance and usually inferior biological variation

Main Entry: ³rogue

Function: adjective

Date: 1872

1 : resembling or suggesting a rogue elephant especially in being isolated, aberrant, dangerous, or uncontrollable
2 : corrupt, dishonest
3 : of or being a nation whose leaders defy international law or norms of international behavior

Main Entry: ²rogue

Function: intransitive verb

Inflected Form(s): rogued; rogu·ing or rogue·ing

Date: 1766

: to weed out inferior, diseased, or nontypical individuals from a crop plant or a field

(definitions courtesy of Merriam-Webster )

Ask for "The Insider Special"

2009-11-12T10:18:00.001-08:00

Have you been to Prime Cut Cafe & Wine Bar yet? It's a great restaurant that Drew and I have enjoyed many times. The have a terrific lunch menu and the prices are very reasonable. I love their comforting tomato bisque and refreshing granny smith apple salad. Drew likes their prime rib burger a lot. Their hot chocolate cake is supremely delicious. It has a toasted marshmallow center and they serve it in a mug with vanilla ice cream and a little cup of melted chocolate to pour over the top. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Today I found out about this great dnner deal and I want to share it with you. It is available by request only, so ask for "The Insider Special". Enjoy!

Starter ~ Choice of Salad or Soup:

BLT Salad ~ Prosciutto, Wild Arugula, Cherry Tomatoes & Fresh Burrata Mozzarella Cheese
Granny Smith Apple Salad ~ Candied Pecans, Point Reyes Blue Cheese & Dried Cranberries
Hearts of Romaine Caesar ~ Parmesan Croutons and our Roasted Garlic Dressing
Soup of the day or Tomato Bisque

Entree ~ Choice of Prime Cut Filet Mignon or Fresh Fish of the day:

Prime Cut Filet Mignon ~ Aged 21-28 Days with Potato Gratin and Roasted Garlic
Fresh Fish of the day ~ Olive Oil & Citrus Marinated Cherry Tomatoes, Fresh Herbs & Whipped Potatoes

Dessert ~ Choice of any Dessert:

"Hot Chocolate"...Cake ~ A Decadent Molten Chocolate Cake Baked to Order with a Marshmallow Center served with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
French 'Jelly' Doughnuts ~ Hot Fresh French Pastry prepared to order with an Assortment of Jams and Preserves to make your own "Jelly Doughnuts"
Cookies & Milk ~ 3 Fresh Baked Homemade Cookies, served Warm with a Glass of Ice Cold Milk for Dipping
Seasonal Fruit Cobbler ~ Fresh Seasonal Fruit individually baked in Skillets with a Sour Cream & Brown Sugar Crust, served warm with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Wine Flight Pairing Available for an Additional Charge

Filet Mignon Flight $16 : Zaca Mesa, Syrah, Santa Barbara, '05 ~ Bodega Colomé, Malbec, Estate, Salta, ARG '07 ~ Freemark Abbey, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa '05
Fresh Fish Flight $12: Bottega Vinaia, Pinot Grigio, Trentino, ITA '08 ~ Kim Crawford, Sauvignon Blanc, NZ '08 ~ Ventana, Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco '07

[beverages, tax and gratuity not included]
Available through Sunday, November 29th.

I Want Out!

2009-11-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

I have had a nasty flu since Saturday and I am ready to be well. My fever finally went away yesterday afternoon and I was feeling pretty darn good. I enjoyed the day playing with my kiddos and slow-cooking a delicious pot roast. As we sat down to dinner it hit me... a full blown allergy attack. (I haven't had a real allergy attack since last Thanksgiving and that one sent me into an asthma attack so I spent the night in the ER.) OK, I figured it was a minor set-back so I took two Benadryl and went to bed. What a crazy night of dreams that was! This morning I slept through my alarm for 15 minutes or so. When I finally woke up I was feeling pretty darn good.

Not so fast! By 8am it started again so here I sit. I am getting stir crazy being stuck in this house. {insert sad face here}

Pocket Disneyland

2009-10-27T08:26:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to see an iPhone application for Disneyland. The brand new app is called MouseWait. MouseWait is the first free social Disneyland / California Adventure iPhone application. The creators have been Disneyland passholders for over 15 years and understand that Disney guests want accurate wait times for attractions, real-time news about what rides are closed, park hours and what events are going on inside the parks. You can see all of the restaurant menus with pricing for Disneyland, California Adventure Park and Downtown Disney too. Passholders will enjoy the easy access to block out date calendars. Travelers will appreciate having ticket and guided tour information, trip planning and hotel reservation resources right at their fingertips. You can also connect to the top Disney blogs through the app and they have joined the Magic of Disneyland with social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

I downloaded the application this morning and it is very easy to use. As I type, the wait time for Peter Pan's Flight is only 10 minutes, which is unheard of. Oh, it just makes me want to be there so much more. The historic Disneyland videos have me entranced. I always get teary-eyed listening to Walt Disney speak. Here is one that I got a kick out of from the late 60's. It makes me miss the People Mover, Skyway and Adventure Through Inner Space. Come to think of it.... I really miss Country Bear Jamboree too. My kids would have loved that.

MouseWait's live webcam is like having a little window to Disneyland right in your pocket. It's official... I love this app!

Spending too much on groceries?

2009-10-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

Want to save on your monthly food budget?

Do you know a family who is struggling to make ends meet?

Do you know of a senior who is living on a limited budget?

The Treasure Box (a pre-assembled box of popular and nutritious grocery food items worth between $65-100) provides 25 pounds of frozen food for just $30. One Treasure Box is enough food to feed a family of four lunch and dinner for almost a week or a senior citizen for nearly a month

Anyone can purchase Treasure Boxes, regardless of your income. There are no restrictions, conditions, coupons or qualifications needed to order one or more Treasure Boxes. You can order as many boxes as you want.

Where do they buy the food from? "The Treasure Box has relationships with more than 500 major food manufacturers across America, including Heinz, USA, Nestle, Jenny O and ConAgra, Kraft, Sara Lee and Harvest Farms. When these manufacturers overproduce for grocery stores and/or restaurants, we are able to purchase that surplus food at a lower cost. Our food is high quality, since it the same food purchased by restaurants and grocery stores. As an "off-price" distributor of food, we deliver value similar to what TJ Maxx and Marshalls offers consumers for apparel."

Visit TheTreasureBox.org to see the monthly menu and convenient pick up locations. Purchasers can order online or directly from the nearly fifty Orange County organizations participating in the program. The food boxes are dropped off at those sites for pick up on specific dates. The holiday box for November is now available for order. The holiday box includes a 10-12 lb. turkey, 2 lb. sliced ham, frozen vegetables, seafood pasta entree, corn bread stuffing and rolls, pumpkin pecan praline pie.

If you are one of the fortunate folks who has a steady income and plenty of food on your table, please consider buying a box and delivering it to a family you know who could use a little extra help right now. You can also donate a Treasure Box directly to our partner organizations throughout the community. Go online, order a Treasure Box and choose a donor organization from the list. The box will be donated to a recipient from that organization.

Pay it forward.

The Pumpkin Patch Experience

2009-10-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

I got a kick out of a recent post over at Peace, Love & Momminess. During the entire month of October Armstrong Garden Center is offering all the pumpkins you can carry for the price of just one. Well, Debbie and her husband made this cute video showing some folks piling on the pumpkins in an effort to beat their previous years record. The man trying to stack them a bit high between his legs was showing some serious determination. I am considering challenging Drew to this one. It would be fun to see if my extra-long reach would fair as well as his muscles.

The kids are getting antsy because I've been putting it off our annual visit to the pumpkin patch. I cant help it. It just feels all wrong in this heat. I let them each choose a pumpkin at Trader Joe's the other day to hold them over (only $3.49 each), but that just isn't the same as the pumpkin patch experience. We were going to head over to Tanaka Farms in Irvine yesterday after our family picnic but it was ridiculously hot and the kids started crashing from their sugar highs as soon as we got in the car. We have all agreed that we will go next weekend regardless of the weather.

We just love Tanaka Farms for pumpkin picking. The kids like to take a ride out to the corn maze on the tractor-pulled wagon. We all enjoy the stop at the pumpkin cannon. It just cracks us all up to watch those little pumpkins fly. There's also an excellent petting zoo, fun games for the kids, an arts and crafts area, delicious treats and lots of great photo ops. Tanaka Farms is open everyday from 9am-6pm and you won't find friendlier service anywhere. There is no admission charge and parking is always free.

The Carter Family Adventure Team hamming it up at Tanaka Farms in the past.

Watch the Ellen Show today

2009-10-16T11:07:00.001-07:00

In a new segment called "Legs Go Andy", Ellen sends her staffer, Andy Zenor, to ref an OC Roller Girls bout. See what happens on the show today when they get Leggedy Andy out of his ref shirt and into some OCRG gear. Hopefully, Brik and Dirty didn't hurt him too badly.

Here's a sneak peek!

Everyone hail to the pumpkin song!

2009-10-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

As a child, I loved Halloween. I would start planning it months in advance. What costume would I wear? How many pumpkins would I carve? How far would I be allowed to walk that year? I savored every little detail. My Mom made most of my costumes as a child and they were always very special. Some of my favorites were the red clown, the Hobo, the Indian Princess, the Gypsy and the French Maid. On the big day I would wear my chosen costume to school and proudly march in the parade. I could hardly wait for the afternoon bell to ring so the real fun could begin. I would rush home to freshen my make-up and hairdo and then impatiently wait for the sun to go down. That darn sun never set fast enough on Halloween, but once it did I was free to begin trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. My parents walked with us as we went door-to-door gathering sweets. As we walked, I always watched the sky for witches and ghosts. When we got back home we would dump all of our candy out on the floor and sort it out. My Dad would pull out anything with a loose wrapper and fill a bowl for himself with all of the candies we didn’t like. Funny thing is… there always seemed to be loose wrappers on his favorite candy bars, which did not end up in the trash but in a bowl at the back of the freezer.

my clown costume

(made with love by mom)

As an adult, I still adore Halloween. I start the planning process a couple of months in advance. What costumes will my children wear? I love it when they choose something creative that I can make for them from scratch (see photos below). How many pumpkins will we carve? One year we had over 30! How far should we walk this year? I guess not much has changed. We spend hours carving out pumpkins and picking just the right candies to pass out to classmates. (Sadly, not one child has knocked on our door in the five years we have lived in our Anaheim Hills townhouse.) As I walk with my children along their chosen trick-or-treat path, I point at the moon and tell them to watch for witches and ghosts flying high across the night sky. Now I am the one searching the loot bags and sneaking out candy bars with the so-called “loose wrappers” to hide in the freezer. I hope that I never grow up so much that I forget the magic of Halloween.

Noah's beloved superman costume

Cole's pink flower with a bug on it

(Daddy helped me make this one.)

Cole's glow in the dark skeleton bunny with green frog boots

Noah's spooky-ookey ghosty

As the moon climbs high o'er the dead oak tree,
Spooks arrive for the midnight spree.
Creepy creeps with eerie eyes,
Start to shriek and harmonize.
Grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize.
(Grim Grinning Gjosts lyrics by F. Xavier Atencio)

Nobody Does It Like Disney

2009-10-05T11:59:00.001-07:00

The magic of Disney never ceases to amaze me. We went to Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party at Disney's California Adventure Park on Friday night and it was incredible!

Our fun began as soon as we came in to Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and a little girl was screaming with joy across the lobby because she thought I was one of the Disney Princesses. I have never been more flattered. We all received quite a few compliments on our costumes as we headed for the gates, which helped to build our cheerful mood for the evening. There is something magical about walking around in public wearing a silly costume that just makes people lower their guard. Everywhere we looked children and adults alike had big smiles on their faces. Total strangers were going out of their way to talk to each other. Music and laughter filled the air. It was just pure fun and I couldn't wipe the grin off of my face.

Our boys were some of the lucky few who received special Mickey Mouse pumpkin buckets and flashlights when we arrived so they were feeling like VIPs as we toured the Treat Trails. The staff working at the treat stops seemed to be having a great time as they passed out huge handfuls of candy to the kiddos. They even offered a few treats to Mom and Dad. There were also nutritious snack options (apple slices, fruit leather, etc.) for the more health conscious guests. The lines were fairly short because this is a special ticketed event and the park limits the number of guests.

There are lots of fancy Disney character photo stations all over the park and those lines weren't ridiculously long either. I really enjoyed the gathering of Disney Villains in Candy Corn Acres. The Bowler Hat Guy from Meet The Robinson's stood next to me as I prepared to take a photo of my family and just as I snapped the picture he stepped right in front of the camera then sauntered off. He is a dastardly villain indeed!

We had such a good time pointing out the elaborate decorations and other guest's costumes to each other. There has probably never been a larger gathering of glittering fairies, pretty princesses and Clone Troopers in one place. Even with the abundance of Star Wars characters, Cole was the only Obi-Wan Kenobi we saw that night. He had a tiny lightsaber and pointed it in warning toward a few small Darth Vaders as they walked past him. It's so cute when the kids get into the character of their costume.

Drew and Noah's costumes were a BIG hit. It's surprising how many people know and love the Jabbawockeez. All over the park people were pointing them out and giving them compliments. When someone would excitedly call out, "JABBAWOCKEEZ!" Noah would thump his chest and toss up peace signs at them. It was hilarious! Noah's confidence grew with all of the positive attention. By the end of the night, he was doing arm waves and showing off his robot dance moves whenever he heard music. Coley also enjoyed the the festive music and, as bashful as he can be, was caught dancing more than once.

At the end of the night, as they headed for the gates with candy buckets almost too heavy to carry, the boys agreed that this was one of the best nights of their whole lives. It just doesn't get any better than that!

What are you waiting for? Order your tickets online.

Value-minded vacationers have plenty to celebrate this fall with a special travel offer: savings of $400* at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California. From Aug. 12 through Dec. 19, 2009, guests will save $400 when they book a 4-Day/4-Night Disneyland Resort vacation package, featuring Disneyland Resort hotel accommodations – Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier – and park hopper tickets. The offer is valid for arrivals Aug. 23 through Dec. 20, 2009. Pricing starts as low as $87 per person, per day, at Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.

Countdown to Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party

2009-10-01T23:49:00.000-07:00

We are super excited to go to Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party on Friday! I'm so excited I probably won't be able to sleep tonight. I'm such a kid! If you happen to be there tomorrow and see a princess in pink flanked by a tiny Obi-Wan Kenobi and two Jabbawockeez (from America's Best Dance Crew) say "boo"!

Disney's website info:
Dress up and trick-or-treat in the ultimate Disney neighborhood! Excited Guests wear their Halloween best and make Disney's California Adventure® Park their playground at this amazing party! Treat yourselves to a night of fun with friendly, costumed Disney Characters and such delights as trick-or-treat stations featuring Ghirardelli chocolate, live music, entertainment and more on select dates throughout October. Save on ticket costs with advance purchase of select dates.

Ticket Prices and Event Dates*

Advanced Purchase Ticket Prices
$32 Regular Admission Price for These Dates — October 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29

Day-of-Event Ticket Prices
$39 If Purchased and Used on These Dates — October 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29
$42 If Purchased and Used on These Dates — October 30 and 31

Ages Two and Under: No Charge

Special Annual Passholder Rates

Event Times
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday — 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Friday and Halloween Night — 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Mickey's Trick-or-Treat Party promises not-so-scary fun for the littlest trick-or-treaters as well as adults! Throughout the spookiest month of the year, Disney's California Adventure® Park hosts an exciting event where Guests experience Disney's unique spin on Halloween.

Don't miss out on:
* Memorable Disney Characters decked out in colorful costumes
* Trick-or-treat stations offering both candy and healthy treats
* Live entertainment for getting into the groove — alongside some familiar faces
* Festive crafts perfect for the whole family
* Spooktacular activities befitting the evening's spirit
* The wondrously gigantic candy corn in Candy Corn Acres
* You'll also enjoy complimentary parking for one vehicle at the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure. Larger vehicles may require an additional fee.

Photo stolen from MouseInfo.com.

President Obama addresses school children on Sept 8th

2009-09-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

Sadly, we have been informed that Orange Unified School District has instructed our elementary school not to show the Presidents address to school children tomorrow. No big surprise there. I am fully aware of the fact that I live in the bizarre wonderland we call Orange County.

We have chosen to have our boys stay home to watch it then head to school after we’ve discussed it at length. As concerned parents, we have read the speech and activities list and would have chosen to have our children stay home to listen even if it was George W. Bush addressing them. It is a positive message from the leader of our country. We are confident enough in our parenting skills not to be worried about our children becoming “brainwashed” by a speech on the importance of education. (I find that to be such a ridiculous argument and am embarrassed for those who use it.) As for the suggested activities, we may pull a few talking points from it to share with our children. We will play it by ear and see what questions our boys come up with on their own.

I wish people on both sides could be level-headed enough to set aside political furies and keep the focus where it belongs. Inspiring and exciting children about their education is a good thing. These children will lead us one day. Give them every chance to find inspiration and confidence to succeed.

ADDITION: The speech was terrific and my boys really got the message. It was the first time I have ever seen them grab their backbacks and run for the car to go to school. They are totally pumped up on learning.

OC Roller Girls 3rd Annual ROLL FOR A CURE

2009-06-14T23:47:00.000-07:00

OC Roller Girls are Orange County's Premiere Women's Flat Track Roller Derby League.

June 20th is OCRG's 3rd Annual Roll For A Cure, a double-header fundraiser event to benefit Breast Cancer Angels, a non-profit organization that is currently assisting the family of a 10 year-old girl who is being treated for breast cancer. Breast Cancer Angels financially assists women, men and now girls who are in treatment for breast cancer. They provide food certificates, offer rental and utility assistance, help with medical co-pays and have also paid for hospice and final expenses. They are a volunteer organization and 100% of all funds raised goes directly to patient needs.

Doors open at 5pm on Saturday, June 20, 2009!
* GAME #1 - 6pm Wheel Housewives of OC vs. Bakersfield Diamond Divas
* GAME #2 - 8pm Orange Crushers vs. Arizona Roller Derby

Silent auction and a raffle with GREAT prizes! Proceeds go to Breast Cancer Angels.

Fun shopping opportunities provided by our FABULOUS vendors!

Halftime show by the crew at FREELINE SKATES.

Live music performed by BLUE LION PROJECT!

Breast Cancer Angels BEER GARDEN (21+ with valid identification)

BOOBIE CUPCAKES & chocolate lollipops for sale!

A portion of every ROLL FOR A CURE t-shirt sold goes to Breast Cancer Angels.

FREE Parking!

Arcade and Snack bar

FREE admission for kids 10 and under.

FREE entrance to AFTER PARTY at My Place Sports Bar & Grill. (directions in program)

Tickets are available online at: Brown Paper Tickets
A portion of every regular-priced ticket sold goes to Breast Cancer Angels.

If you can’t make it to the bout, please consider making a donation to Breast Cancer Angels on our Active Fundraiser Page

If you have something you would like to donate for our raffle or silent auction, we’d be happy to accept that too. All proceeds go to Breast Cancer Angels.

Watch the OC Roller Girls promo video !!

www.OCRollerGirls.com
www.BreastCancerAngels.com

Need a fun workout?

2009-04-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

FIT NOT HIT skating classes are a fun way to get in shape. Pull out your roller skates and hit the rink with dirty Deborah Harry of OC Roller Girls! She is an awesome skater and a damn funny lady. Every Sunday for $20 a month. You can't beat those prices for a good workout anywhere. All skill levels are welcome. Contact info@ocrollergirls.com for more information.

My Disneyland Surprise Party

2009-03-16T16:13:00.000-07:00

Drew surprised me for my 40th birthday with a party at Club 33 in Disneyland. We have celebrated many birthdays at the Club but I certainly wasn't expecting to walk into a room full of friends and family. He even flew my brother in from Washington! I cried my head off. I was totally overwhelmed with excitement. After lunch, we ran all over Disneyland and California Adventure Park. I think we rode just about everything that day. Here's a few photos of the merriment. Please excuse the lack of make-up as my tears washed it away.

It's A World of Laughter....

2009-02-05T10:40:00.000-08:00

Disneyland re-opened the It's A Small World ride today!! They did a lovely job with it too. The new characters blend right in and do not distract from the original beauty in any way. They have regrouped some of the scenes, but never for a moment does it feel like that old magic is gone. This was always my favorite ride as a child and I was worried about the changes ruining my memories, but that is not the case. It's perfect! It just seems as though the colors are more crisp and the sound is more clear. The addition of some classic Disney characters enhance the whole attraction.

Disneyland Press Release

As you may know, our family had a sneak preview last weekend. If you look carefully at the video below you will see the back of our heads in the first two rows of the boat going under the Asian arch and dragon kite (right after the flying carpet scene). It's just the back of Drew (white shirt and blue sweater vest in second row) and I (white shirt in front row of boat). Ha Ha! I know that it's slly to be excited about seeing the back of our heads on the video clip, but it was thrilling to be a part of the magic!

Did You Know?

2009-02-02T09:26:00.001-08:00

The classic attraction “It’s A Small World” at Disneyland celebrates peace and honors humanity with a joyful boat ride around the globe.

For the first time, guests will be able to see the child dolls dressed as selected Disney characters, in countries where their stories take place.

Originally created for the 1964 New York World's Fair, "it's a small world" has more than 300 Audio-Animatronics® figures.

You can spy such globally recognized landmarks as the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben.

The attraction has wheelchair access and handheld captioning is available.

A stylized sun or moon (“There is just one moon/And one golden sun …” ) appears somewhere in each region (some have both sun and moon.)

The design of the new characters replicates the bold yet childlike designs that were created by Disney Imagineering art director
and color stylist Mary Blair, who was honored as a “Disney Legend” posthumously in 1991.

“It’s a Small World (After All)” Lyrics
It’s a world of laughter
A world of tears;
It’s a world of hopes
And a world of fears.
There’s so much that we share
That it’s time we’re aware

It’s a small world after all.
It’s a small world after all,
It’s a small world after all,
It’s a small world after all,
It’s a small, small world.

There is just one moon
And one golden sun
And a smile means
Friendship to ev’ry one.
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide,
It’s a small world after all.

TOP SECRET MISSION: Disneyland

2009-01-28T17:13:00.001-08:00

Disneyland invited some OC mom bloggers, like me, to bring the family for a preview of the newly renovated "It's A Small World" ride!! This Saturday at 9am, we will be cruising through the rooms of the world singing our happy song. We were asked to ride four or five times in a row because they will be doing some promotional filming. I am thrilled because it has always been one of my favorite rides. (I am one of the few people who never gets sick of the song.) We haven't told the kids yet. We plan to surprise them on saturday morning. You know how hard it is for kids to sleep the night before going to Disneyland. I only hope that I can sleep! I am beyond excited!!

By the way.... don't ask.... I can't share any details until after 10am on February 5th. It's all very hush hush! : )

Poor Little Tashi & The Shrieking Women

2008-11-23T14:57:00.001-08:00

This morning I woke up with a nasty hangover from the little party I threw last night. I relaxed in a hot bath for a while then drove out to Temecula to pick up my kiddos from Grandma's house. Grandma wanted to take the boys out to lunch. I wasn't really looking forward to smelling food, but what the hell. While pulling out of her driveway I see a women standing in the street sobbing with a dead (read as: "squished, ripped apart and gooey") cat in her arms. I pull the car back in the driveway and Mom and I run over to help. The poor woman was just a total wreck and the cat was literally dripping from her arms. It was one of the grossest things I have ever seen. My mom went to get a box to put the cat in and a wet towel for the woman to clean up with so I am left standing on the street holding on to a woman I have never met as she weeps for the mess in her arms. (Thankfully, I pulled in across my mom's driveway so the boys couldn't see what was happening from the car.) I just kept talking to her and trying to get her to calm down. She told me her daughter was around the corner looking for their other cat. It turns out they didn't know that THIS cat, Tashi, was even out of the house. They were looking for a different cat! We get her to put poor little Tashi in the box and wipe herself off. She doesn't have a clue how much cat is left on her. She told us she lives across the street so we started to walk her home. I was carrying the box of Tashi, which made me gag over and over again from the stench. (Not a good time for a hangover!) As we near her house, the woman's adult daughter comes around the corner, takes one look at us and loses her mind. She starts screaming and sobbing too. The mom tells her it's not her cat and that it's "Tashi" (their other cat) and the girl shrieks again. She didn't know Tashi was outside either. I send my mom back to the car to sit with my boys and continue to walk the two hysterical women home while trying not to throw up on the way. We get to their house and I put the box down near the garage. I took the towel from the woman and covered the kitty with it. I didn't want the daughter to see poor Tashi like that. They just stared at me and sobbed. The woman asked me if I wanted the towel back. Ummm, GROSS! She was obviously not thinking straight at the moment. I didn't know what to do so I offered my sympathies, hugged the daughter and shed a few tears with them before heading back across the street. It was such an odd situation. I was so sad for these poor woman. Their hearts were broken and here they are stuck with a box of cat. It was just a nightmare. I went back to my moms and scrubbed up before taking the boys to lunch. It was rough to eat after that. When we got back the box was still sitting there in front of the house. I can't imagine what they are going to do with little Tashi now. I just hope the other lost kitty doesn't come home and sniff out the box and run away again.

OK, I'll admit it. I really wanted to call this post "Smelly Cat", but I just couldn't do it.

"Alive In Wonderland" is my favorite blog ever!

2008-11-11T10:03:00.000-08:00

Suzanne Broughton is my favorite blogger! She writes "Alive in Wonderland". This woman is so "real". She's witty, smart, open-minded and all around AWESOME! Go check out her blog and you will be hooked! She also wrote a great article on OC Roller girls for the OC Register. She's just a great writer and a great photographer no matter what subject she is focused on. Today she sent me this video that she made at OCRG's Suburban Assault on Saturday night. (Yes, that's my little guy sitting on Daddy's shoulders with the the "I <3 Foxy Roxy" sign.)

Go watch the video on "Alive In Wonderland" and don't forget to leave her some lovin'. She deserves it!

A day for the history books

2008-11-05T20:58:00.000-08:00

On a positive note...
I am thrilled that Barack Obama will be our President and I am proud to have participated in this beautiful historic event. After shedding tears during his eloquent speech, I feel hopeful for our great country again. I ran upstairs and whispered promises of a better future into the ears of my sleeping children as soon as it ended.

On to the downside....
I am deeply saddened that Prop 8 passed. On July 4, 1776 our Founding Fathers signed their names to the Declaration of Independence envisioning a country that would guarantee basic freedoms to ALL of its citizens. So what happened? There will be a place in the history books for this day when Californians used their right to vote to eliminate the rights of others. There will be a whole chapter about it right next to the Trail of Tears, slavery, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the Jim Crow Laws, internment camps, Zoot Suit Riots and the Ku Klux Klan (just to name a few). I am sickened and disgusted in the fear, hatred and lies the Mormon and Catholic churches spread to persuade their followers to vote for discrimination. The amount of money they spent to push this hate-fueled campaign could have fed the hungry, sheltered the homeless and protected those who can not protect themselves. A shameful shadow has been cast in the name of "christianity". It sickens me to the very core, so I am utilizing my RIGHT to Freedom of Speech, while I still have it.