Disclosure: Thank you Disney Book Group for sponsoring this post.
How are you keeping cool this summer?
Summertime heat has peaked, and we are trying our best to keep cool!
My son is taking the Percy Jackson summer reading challenge and he just finished reading the third book, “The Titan’s Curse.” In this book, Percy faces one of his biggest and most dangerous challenges yet! Andrew can’t wait to read “The Battle of the Labyrinth” next!
Andrew was excited when he described the book as adventurous and action packed. “Percy Jackson is an awesome book mom. Oh… and there is romance too. His powers and battling skills are killer, and he Percy is hilarious!” Andrew loves Greek mythology (just like his mama), so this was the perfect summer series for him.
His favorite character is Percy himself. He is a demigod, the son of Poseidon. Andrew said his favorite part of the series (book 2 “The Sea of Monsters”), is when a Cyclops grabs Percy’s friend Annabeth (the Greek demigod daughter of Athena) and drops her on her head Naturally, Percy then has to fight “a thousand smelly pounds of Cyclops” with a “very small sword.” Andrew found the phrasing in this part very humorous, and giggled when he shared this.
In celebration of summer and the Percy Jackson book series, Andrew and I have created a fun summertime drink to quench your thirst and keep you chill…
Below we have included a super duper easy “Percy Jackson Punch Recipe” to make with your kids!
I’m challenging my son to finish the Percy Jackson series before summer’s end, and I encourage you to do the same with your kids!
About The Titan’s Curse:
When Percy Jackson gets an urgent distress call from his friend Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he will need his powerful demigod allies at his side, his trusty bronze sword Riptide, and… a ride from his mom.
The demigods rush to the rescue to find that Grover has made an important discovery: two powerful half-bloods whose parentage is unknown. But that’s not all that awaits them. The titan lord Kronos has devised his most treacherous plot yet, and the young heroes have just fallen prey.
They’re not the only ones in danger. An ancient monster has arisen — one rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus — and Artemis, the only goddess who might know how to track it, is missing. Now Percy and his friends, along with the Hunters of Artemis, have only a week to find the kidnapped goddess and solve the mystery of the monster she was hunting. Along the way, they must face their most dangerous challenge yet: the chilling prophecy of the titan’s curse.
Last night in celebration of the UglyDolls Movie release on Blu-ray and DVD, we enjoyed a special movie night with our familia and our new adopted stuffed friends. Tori and Clarissa were thrilled to introduce this story to their little brother for the first time.
When mis niñas (my little girls) were little, they would snuggle up with their silly UglyDolls, and read the Ugly Guide comic books until lights off. They simply loved the adventures and humor of these adorable dolls.
Thank you Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for sponsoring this post. All opinion are my own.
”This summer, you’re invited to a magical place where weird is celebrated. Strange is special. And beauty is more than meets the eye.” ~Narrator, UglyDolls ♥️
Unconventionality rules in UGLYDOLLS, STXfilms’ new animated musical adventure starring the acting and singing voices of Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe, Blake Shelton and Pitbull. The film is inspired by the unique and beloved global plush toy phenomenon launched in 2001.
In the adorably different town of Uglyville, weird is celebrated, strange is special and beauty is embraced as more than simply meets the eye. Here, the free-spirited Moxy and her UglyDoll friends live every day in a whirlwind of bliss, letting their freak flags fly in a celebration of life and its endless possibilities. The endearingly unique residents of Uglyville occasionally look to the sky above the town, where a new UglyDoll will appear and be embraced by the community.
Moxy (Kelly Clarkson) loves her square-peg life in this round-hole town, but her curiosity about all things leads her to wonder if there’s something – anything – on the other side of the mountain which nestles Uglyville. Moxy gathers a group of her closest friends and sets off to find what’s on the other side. They discover another world – Perfection – a town where more conventional dolls are trained in protocols before they graduate and are sent to the “real” world to find the love of a child.
This film has such a great message for kids!
BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY, DVD AND DIGITAL
Sing-Along Edition
Sing Along Tease –A small taste of the big fun the Sing-Along Edition provides.
Fun with the Cast of UglyDolls –Watch the cast of UglyDollsplay fun games that showcase their unique talents.
Making UglyDolls–A closer look at the music behind the film and the talented voice cast that brings these rich characters to life.
CHOC Hospital has been a HUGE part of our lives. My daughter Elisha was born with a really rare chromosome abnormality (Chromosome 4q deletion), and also my niece Jerrica battled Leukemia 5 years ago. This year, I will walk the CHOC WALK for both Elisha and Jerrica…
They say that God only gives you what you can handle, but this has definitely been a very difficult journey for my family. I don’t usually write about this on my blog, because it’s very hard for me to open up and discuss this publicly. Elisha requires 24 hour care and nursing. She is in and out of the hospital, for numerous ongoing medical issues. It’s just become part of our “norm.”
I’ve decided to finally come out of my shell, and share our story. I feel this is important because I want to show my gratitude for everything CHOC has done for Elisha and Jerrica.
Carlos and I were young parents, and we had no idea of the amount of medical care that Elisha would need. CHOC was there for us from the very beginning. They helped us manage her care, and get the best medical treatments available. The doctors at CHOC were very compassionate, and helped us tremendously throughout most of her childhood.
Her pediatrician, Dr. Teresa Hollander, was wonderful and was very attentive. She often called us after her office hours at home, when Elisha was sick or not feeling well. She also helped us with her transition to adulthood.
Her life expectancy was only 7, but she is now she is 27 years old. I cannot say that I have done this alone. My incredible parents, familia, Dr. Hollander, and the sensational CHOC staff have been a HUGE part of her story.
This year I will walk for my daughter Elisha and my niece Jerrica!
Muchismas Gracias CHOC, we could have not done this without you!
Join me Sunday, August 11th at the 2019 CHOC WALK In the Park! Join my team or donate to #JerrBear here.
Hey fellow foodie friends… There is a new modern and chic eatery in town. Check it out!
On Saturday, July 20th we hit Mess Hall Market in Tustin for their grand opening. It is located on the campus of Flight at Tustin Legacy, the premier food hall features a collection of critically acclaimed OC innovative chefs under one roof, such as Chef Danny Godinez of Anepalco and Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish fame.
We also tried fresh concepts from the teams behind Another Kind Cafe, The Lost Bean, and more! We were are still in a food coma after trying all these delicious and innovative dishes.
Here is a photo recap of some to of the dishes we tried…
Thank you Mess Hall Market for inviting us to your grand opening. All opinions are my own.
We started our foodieventure with this delicious Acai Bowl from The Lost Bean. They also serve fresh brewed coffee, and smoothies. OMG the blended “Mocha Monkey” was insane good.
” Team Player” from the Fowl Play
“Crab Roll” from Slapfish on toasted bread roll. Yummm…
Photo credit to Slapfish
This “Traditional Lobster Roll” from Slapfish is served with warm tossed lightly drawn butter, mayo and lemon…
Mess Hall Market is FLIGHT’s chef-driven market food hall, offering a wide assortment of mouthwatering food and beverage options.
Start your day with gourmet coffee and an invigorating breakfast, and finish it with a drink (or fresh squeezed juice) and dinner from our full service bar and culinary shops. In between, make the most of your lunch break by stopping in for a quick bite or a working lunch with coworkers and friends in our one of a kind dining environment.
Address: 1705 Flight Way, Ste 8 Tustin, CA 92782
Hours: Mon-Sun 7 a.m.- 9 p.m .
!Salud! Victoria Eliana Camacho, goes by “Tori.” This = SoCal Latina loves to write, eat, travel, and explore. She enjoys indulging in new experiences, and share them with others. She works as an office admin in OC, and is also full time college student, majoring in Business.
Nants ingonyama bagithi baba sithi uhhmm ingonyama! The Lion King has hit the big screen for a second time. The new LIVE action film has been recreated, with an all new star studded cast. Last week, we got a sneak peek of the new film, and I could not help but to feel a little nostalgic. The film stays true to its original 1994 roots, honoring the original release. So don’t worry, Lebo M who created its original magnificent scores, with homage to Africa has recreated the magic once again!
Disney Studios has created a cinematic masterpiece, and who better to recreate the magic with Beyoncé, and Donald Glover? This epic duo creates sensational harmonies, while Seth Rogan and Billy Eichner add hilarious improvisational humor. To everyone’s surprise, Seth Rogan sings exceptionally good, rifting and showcasing other professional vocal qualities.
Thank you Disney Studios for inviting me to screen “The Lion King” and attend the Press Junket. All opinions are my own.
Director Jon Favreau, (The Jungle Book, Chef) crafted a stunning, photorealistic CG. The film is so futuristic, that it is perhaps the pillars for CG technology evolution, as a film like this has never been created before.
Favreau said, “We are dealing with very engaged audiences that often times have grown up with these properties. And they have an emotional connections to them—in certain cases spanning generations within their family. So, you’re not just remembering ‘The Lion King,’ you’re remembering ‘The Lion King’ when you were 7, or when you brought your kid to it, or when you saw it then later introduced it to your kid. People have a whole basket of memories and emotions that are related to this movie, and there’s a certain protectiveness that people feel because those memories belong to them.”
Disney’s upcoming film journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon, and utilizes pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring treasured characters to life in a whole new way.
Another exciting bonus, is the playful 40 second easter egg. Prepare a for unbelievable sunsets, and sensational musical vocals!
We laughed, we cried, and the new film moved us. Much like the original…
Don’t miss the magic. Watch The Lion King in theaters today!
Last week, my daughter and I headed to the Montage hotel in Beverly Hills to meet with the sensational cast of Disney’s, The Lion King. In celebration of the new film, Clarissa and I jammed out to Donald Glover’s and Beyonce’s music on our way up to in the car. Not only because these are our favorite musicians, but they are also the voice talent in this upcoming new film!
Thank you Disney Studios for inviting me to screen “The Lion King” and attend the Press Junket. All opinions are my own.
The talent in attendance were: Donald Glover (voice of “Simba”), Seth Rogen (voice of “Pumbaa”), Billy Eichner (voice of “Timon”), Chiwetel Ejiofor (voice of “Scar”), Alfre Woodard (voice of “Sarabi”), Keegan-Michael Key (voice of “Kamari”), Florence Kasumba (voice of “Shenzi”), Eric Andre (voice of “Azizi”), John Kani (voice of “Rafiki”), JD McCrary (voice of “Young Simba”), Shahadi Wright Joseph (voice of “Young Nala”), Director Jon Favreau, Composer Hans Zimmer, and Lebo M (AfricanMusic Consultant / Performer)
Below are some of my favorite excerpts from last week’s press junket!
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JULY 10: Creator/producer African vocal/choir arrangements Lebo M. and Clydene Jackson perform during the Global Press Conference for Disney’s THE LION KING on July 10, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
A woman dressed in traditional African clothing slowly raised her arms. The room silent stood still, and then a harmonious choir began to sing. It was surreal.
Lebo M and Carmen Twillie surprised the room, by singing some belting recognizable iconic notes, “Circle of Life”. The two moved their feet in sync and their hearts were connected to every lyric they sang. It was mind blowing, and my tears were flowing uncontrolabley…
After this memorable and heartwarming performance, we were introduced to the cast by the moderator. “Just look at this stage. There’s so many names up here. Everyone up here is so accomplished.”
Disney’s upcoming film journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon, and utilizes pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring treasured characters to life in a whole new way.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JULY 10: Director/producer Jon Favreau attends the Global Press Conference for Disney’s THE LION KING on July 10, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
MODERATOR: And then how long did you work on the film? Because I saw the footage at Cinemacon two years ago. And then you slowly teased it out to the world and it broke the Internet with 224 million views in the first 24 hours when folks got to see what I got to see two years ago. So how long have you been working on this now?JON FAVREAU: I’ve been working about three years on this one. And a lot of them have been working for the same amount of time. Because they came in back when it was pencils. So it was a huge leap of faith for this fantastic cast we have. And of course musically, Lebo M and Han Zimmer, who were so involved with the first one to trust that it would turn out well. It was a big leap of faith for everybody. And in many cases, they kept coming back and recording again and trying new things, especially with the comedy bits.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JULY 10: Donald Glover attends the Global Press Conference for Disney’s THE LION KING on July 10, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
MODERATOR:Yeah. I heard your son was very excited to just be able to see it. What did you tell him going into it? You’re like, just so you know, daddy is Simba. DONALD GLOVER: I didn’t tell him anything. I really didn’t. It’s his favorite movie. I was like oh, I’ll just wait until he gets there. But somehow he found out about it, but still didn’t know I was in it. He was just like oh, the one with Beyonce. And then during the movie, he’s like oh, dad’s in it, too. This is great. Bonus. You know.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JULY 10: Seth Rogen attends the Global Press Conference for Disney’s THE LION KING on July 10, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Seth Rogan always makes me laugh. He doesn’t even need to try. He’s is just hilarious!
MODERATOR:It’s really amazing. Again, people are going to want it. So Disney, make it happen. Billy and Seth, you guys robbed every scene last night and stole every scene last night. It was completely hilarious. I couldn’t hear a lot of your dialogue, because people were laughing over it. So I just kind of have to ask you guys. How much was you and how much did y’all just pull out as you were going through it? SETH ROGEN: Yeah. Okay. I’ll start. It was a lot of improvisation with Billy. Yeah. And we were actually together every time that we recorded, which is a very rare gift to have as someone who is trying to be funny in an animated film, of which I’ve done a lot, and you’re often just alone in there. And I think you can really tell that we’re playing off of each other. It’s an incredibly naturalistic feeling. And they really captured Billy. That is what is amazing. I would say, he essentially played himself on a TV show for years. And this character is more Billy than that character somehow. It’s like endlessly, it’s remarkable to me how his character specifically makes me laugh so hard.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JULY 10: JD McCrary attends the Global Press Conference for Disney’s THE LION KING on July 10, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
MODERATOR: Okay, so JD, you grabbed the mic. So tell us about the video game. JD MCCRARY:It was so cool. It’s like watching your favorite movie, but everything, like you’re in it. You’re in the movie. That’s exactly what it was. You did an amazing job with this. So it was me and Shahadi and Mr. Favreau. We put on the headsets, we had these little controller things in our hands, and we could fly. It was like we were Zazu. We were birds. We were whatever we wanted to be. And we saw everything. We saw the Pridelands. We saw Pride Rock. We saw the watering hole. We saw the elephant graveyard. We saw it all, man. And it was so cool, dude. It was so cool.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JULY 10: (L-R) Actors Eric Andre, Keegan-Michael Key, Florence Kasumba, Billy Eichner, Creator/producer African vocal/choir arrangements Lebo M., Composer Hans Zimmer, actors John Kani, Shahadi Wright Joseph, JD McCrary, Seth Rogen, Alfre Woodard, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Donald Glover and Director/producer Jon Favreau attend the Global Press Conference for Disney’s THE LION KING on July 10, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Disney never disappoints at these junkets, and I always look forward to them. There were many laughs and memorable moments at this press conference. This movie is a wonderful entry into the world of CG photorealism, along with a proper homage to the unseen beauty of Africa!
Last week, we explored a SoCal travel gem in Marina Del Rey, California. We didn’t have to travel far for this fabulous mini getaway! In fact, it was only an hour drive out of OC for the perfect family “daycation.”
This adorable and colorful beach town combines a picture perfect marina, excellent waterfront restaurants, and numerous summer activities.
It was so nice to just get a away, disconnect, and feel like we are somewhere abroad…
Disclosure : A special thanks to Marina Del Rey CVB for hosting our wonderful family daycation. All opinions are my own.
We started our day at 7:15 a.m. at dock 52, for some sport fishing with Spitfire Sportsfishing! (it was easy to find parking in the early am).
We told the staff we were newbies at fishing, and were extremely patient and helpful with hooking our bait and casting our lines.
Conveniently located in Marina Del Rey, CA. The 65’ x22 ft. United States Coast Guard inspected Vessel Spitfire runs daily, year round out of Marina Del Rey Sportfishing . Built in the mid 1990’s the Spitfire is a fast ,modern, roomy fishing vessel with state of the art fish finding electronics and large bait capacity. The grade A galley seats 25 comfortably and serves hot and cold meals as well as ice cold beer and soda.
Within minutes of arriving at our ocean destination, we felt our lines tug. My son’s smile was ear to ear when he caught his very first fish. “Look mom, I did it!” ~ Simply priceless.
The ocean breeze and the crisp air was refreshing. Oh and the views were simply stunning!
It was so nice to see my girls disconnect from their devices, laugh, and just spend time as a family.
Check her out! In no time, we were catching 2-3 fish at a time…
By the end of our fishing tour, we caught about 50+ fish! Never in our wildest dreams, did we think we could catch so many. It was a wonderful bonding experience and we can’t wait to do it again!
Next… After our fishing trip, we decided to eat brunch at Beachside.
To our bellies delight, Beachside offers a variety of breakfast and lunch options. It was difficult to decide on breakfast or lunch, because everything on the menu sounded so good. So we ordered both!
We sat in front of the marina, and enjoyed the sensational view. We could see families on the sand playing and laughing. The sea breeze kissed our cheeks. It was sooo nice!
These Crab Cakes Benedict (above) were covered in a rich cream sauce. They sat on garden fresh arugula.
Located on waterfront in Marina del Rey, the newly redesigned Beachside Restaurant & Bar offers fresh California cuisine and innovative creations for a savory menu in an unparalleled beachfront setting. Executive Chef Victor Morales takes Marina del Rey seafood restaurant to the next level by creating decadent and thought-provoking dishes, using only the best seasonal ingredients available, providing a truly unique culinary experience for patrons to dive into.
My Tori daughter devoured her Lobster Pasta within minutes. The al dente pasta was prepared in a rich sauce, and was delectably garnished with lobster tails, and fresh peas.
The crispy chicken and waffles was insane delcious! The bread was toasted to perfection, and melted in my mouth. The fried chicken absorbed the sweet syrup perfectly.
Last, we hit “Mother’s” Beach for a stand-up paddleboard experience with Pro SUP Shop, located in the rental truck at the far end of the Jamaica Bay Inn parking lot.
Our friendly guide, showed us the beauty of Marina Del Rey, giving us a personal tour of the scenic views. Sea lions greeted us with their presence, and gondolas past us by. A very in love elderly couple held hands and greeted us as we paddled by. It was just beautiful.
The calm flat water of Mother’s Beach, Marina Del Rey is the best place in the Los Angeles area to learn the sport of Stand Up Paddle Boarding and kayaking, Pro SUP Shop’s professional ASI & WPA Certified Instructors will help guide you into the fastest growing water sport in the world! Everyone sent out at Pro SUP Shop receives a lesson of instruction and safety procedures.
Pro SUP Shop is located in the Jamaica Bay Inn parking lot right on the enclosed waveless beach for hassle free stand up paddle board and kayak rentals. We’ll have your board or kayak on the beach and ready to go in just minutes.
4175 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 1-310-989-4350; https://www.prosupshop.com
Marina Del Rey is a SoCal hidden gem, and our summer “daycation” was perfect. Our family will forever cherish this day in our hearts.
Disclosure: Thank you Disney Book Group for sponsoring this post.
My son is taking the Percy Jackson summer reading challenge and he just finished reading the first book, “The Lightning Thief.” He is hooked on this adventurous series, and can’t wait to go on to the next book!
I’m challenging my son to finish the Percy Jackson series before summer’s end, and I encourage you to do the same with your kids!
Andrew has only been on summer break for a week, and I am trying my best to keep him occupied. We decided it would be fun to make our very own Percy Jackson and the Olympians board game together. I also thought that it would be a great idea to incorporate trivia questions to help him with comprehension.
Summer reading is critical for students to retain the skills learned in the previous school year. Children who don’t read are at risk of falling behind their classmates. Parents can avoid this by making sure kids take time to read. One great way to get your kids excited about reading is to create a game based on the books they’re planning to tackle this summer!
I have attached some printables and trivia questions to this post to help you and your child create a Percy Jackson & the Olympians game like ours!
Here is a list of things you will need to get started:
Blank board game or large poster board
Colored construction paper & glitter
Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
Stickers or computer image printouts
Glue stick
Dice and/or spinner
Instructions for making your game board:
Create a Percy Jackson & the Olympians “world.” Use your images, stickers, paint and glitter to make the board colorful and unique. Cut 1.5 x 1.5 inch squares, and create a path with a game beginning and end. There is no right or wrong when creating your own game board. The point is to be creative and have fun!
We found this blank board game containing game pieces, blank cards, blank spinner & dice online!
We took out paint and glitter, and printed images relating to the Percy Jackson series like lightning bolts and ocean waves. Feel free to use any of the printables I have attached here when making your own game.
Throughout our path of squares that lead from start to finish, we added directions like “Back 2 Spaces”, “Draw an adventure card,” or “Take a spin!”
Instructions for making your spinner:
If you land on “Take a spin!”, you spin the wheel to determine what to do. Divide your spinner into 4 – 6 sections, which you can differentiate by color.
Then we wrote in various game options like:
Go forward 1 space
Go back 2 spaces
Go to the “Underworld” and lose a turn
Take an adventure card!
Andrew also added a rock, paper, scissors option to our spinner!
If you don’t have a spinner, you can still play! Just fill in each of the white squares with directions similar to what would go on the spinner so that on every turn you land on something.
Instructions for making your “Adventure Cards”:
I used Quizlet Online to create my own flashcards of Percy Jackson & the Olympians trivia! Here are some trivia questions to get you started. Print themhere. Click here for quiz cards on the characters from Percy Jackson & the Olympians.
When it’s your turn, and the square or spinner tells you to take an adventure card, you must answer a trivia question in order to move forward in the game. (If you get it right on the first try, move forward 3 squares! If you get it right on the second try, move forward 1 square. If you miss the question after 3 tries, go back two squares.)
Print Instructions: Use the print option shown above.
GAME RULES: Here are the instructions to the game we created. Feel free to use them or modify as you like!
Up to 4 players (participants must be familiar with the book series to play)
1st player throws the dice. If the dice lands on an odd number, move forward 1 space. If it lands on an even number, move forward 2 spaces. Player must follow the instruction of the square they land on (i.e. “Take a Spin!” or “Back 2 Spaces”. If they “Take a Spin!” they must also follow the instruction of what the arrow lands on.
A family that reads together, stays together!
We had so much fun as a family playing our Percy Jackson & the Olympians board game.
Read the 5-book series that has been on the New York Times bestseller list for over 500 weeks!
Learn about Greek Mythology as the Percy Jackson series offers readers a fresh and exciting way to learn about the Olympians, the Titans, the Minotaur, and more while enjoying a fast-paced, highly entertaining adventure!
Growing up, I rarely saw little girls in cartoons that resembled me. I had broomstick hair, brown colored skin, and jet black eyes. I also don’t remember seeing other people of color, LGBQ+ families, or people with disabilities. Sadly, that’s just how it’s always been.
Last week, we spoke to voiceover talent TR Knight (Sir Cedric) and Storm Reid (Nia) from the new Hulu original children show, The Bravest Knight.
The new series “The Bravest Knight” is breaking boundaries, featuring a household with two dads (Sir Cedric and Prince Andrew), making it one of the first children’s television series with an openly gay main character. Following the inspiring and perseverant former pumpkin farmer, Sir Cedric, now grown and married to the prince of his dreams, “The Bravest Knight”recounts personal tales of his journey. Sir Cedric shares his story with his adopted 10-year-old daughter Nia, on how he transformed from day-time farmer to full-fledged knight. Nia, who is training to become a brave knight herself, learns important values such as honor, justice and compassion; proving that knighthood is much more than slaying dragons.
The Bravest Knight — “Cedric & the Cave” — Nia is taught how to track in the woods as she hears the tale of Cedric and Grunt hiding from a Yeti in a mountainside cave. By being resourceful, they are able to escape the beast and find the secret to its anger. (Photo courtesy of Hulu)
The show boasts a star-studded cast including T.R. Knight as “Sir Cedric,” Bobby Moynihan as young Cedric’s troll sidekick “Grunt,” Storm Reid as Not-Yet-Knight “Nia,” and will also feature the voice talents of RuPaul, Christine Baranski, Wanda Sykes, Wilson Cruz, Teri Polo, Steven Weber, Donna Murphy, AJ McLean, Dot-Marie Jones, Maz Jobrani, Chance Hurstfield and more. The Bravest Knight’s opening theme song was written and performed by Grammy-nominated musician, songwriter and activist Justin Tranter.
Unfortunately, our marginalized communities have learned to grow without representation. However, things have changed with the new Hulu original The Bravest Knight! In this new show, not only do we follow a young African American lead, but she has same sex parents. Throughout the series, Storm Reid said we will see conclusions centralized around love, acceptance, and empowerment. I absolutely LOVE this!
This is a wonderful stepping stone for LBGTQ+ visibility, and the normalization of two partner parents. The 4.5% of Americans that identify as queer, deserve to see themselves as leaders, parents, teachers, politicians, doctors, or literally anything they want on television. This new show will subtly normalize what has been prohibited for so long, while also representing a strong African American, female lead. Bravo Hulu!
The Bravest Knight — “Cedric & the Green Leaf” — Nias jousting lesson turns into the story of Sir Cedrics first tournament as a Not-Yet-Knight, and the folly of underestimating your opponent. (Photo courtesy of Hulu)
This new heartwarming show is great for kids and has wonderful life lessons. Stream it with your kids on Hulu today!
Clarissa Elyse is an actress, model, published author, and a passionate Latina activist. Follow her on Instagram @ClarissaECamacho
Summer of Spork: TOY STORY 4 Feeds Fans Only the Best
Disclosure: Thank you Disney Pixar for inviting us to screen Toy Story 4. All opinions are my own.
Disney and Pixar’s TOY STORY 4 is sure to be the summer’s favorite film, feeding fans another serving of fun. Consider this the kickoff to the Summer of Spork.
Since the franchise’s last release in 2010, the world hasn’t been the same. Toy Story 3 ended with the toy gang in the arms of a new kid and it changed everything. Toy Story 3 had a magic to it—allowing nostalgia for the generation that knew and loved the first two films, all while perfectly entertaining a new generation of young moviegoers.
Along with familiar favorites, Toy Story 4 welcomes a new cast of toys. At the center of it all is Bonnie’s favorite homemade toy—Forky (Tony Hale). Forky is the complete opposite of Sheriff Woody (Tom Hanks)—scared, insecure, and completely content without the love of a child. In a quick turn of events, Woody vows to be Forky’s guardian and the duo find themselves in the worst possible predicament for a toy to be in—they become lost.
The film follows the pair as they try to return to Bonnie, and to everyone’s surprise, they come across Woody’s past love Bo Peep (Annie Potts). Bo is a different toy since her last appearance in Toy Story 2, as she presents herself as resilient, tactful, and protective. As the female toy with the most screen time (sorry Jessie [Joan Cusack] fans), Bo’s character is unique and strikes interesting conversations about self-worth and purpose.
Director Josh Cooley ensures the chemistry of new and familiar characters is electric. In wonderful fashion, the introductions of Forky and Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) are memorable and hilarious—presenting multi-faceted characters, completely fresh from the lovable, yet worn favorites of Toy Story 1 and 2.
Saving the best for last, Toy Story 4 introduces the oddest toy BFFs of all, Ducky (Keegan- Michael Key) and Bunny (Jordan Peele). Nothing can stop this carnival couple from being truly themselves—toys with the best escape plans.
Toy Story 4 is a breath of fresh air, and a film to entertain any age group. From physical comedy to inside jokes, the film reminds viewers how fun it is to play with toys.
Vanessa Bañuelos-Dawson is a Disney-loving, nonprofit professional based in Southern California. She contributes to lifestyle blogs when not enjoying the sights, sounds, and shopping at Disneyland. A graduate (B.A. and M.A.) of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film, she’s an avid fan of movies.
