Lego Movie 2 Experience at Legoland, CA on Friday, February 15, 2019.(Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Legoland)
Calling all LEGO fans!
Everything is awesome- especially at Legoland California where a New Lego Movie 2 Experience has opened for a limited time! My nieces were ecstatic to see all their favorite movie characters in Apocalypseburg!
Disclosure: Thank you LEGOLAND California for inviting us to The Lego Movie 2 Experience! All opinions are our own.
The LEGO® Movie 2 Experience at the family theme park in Carlsbad! Guests can experience movie magic by stepping onto an actual LEGO® set as seen in “The LEGO® Movie 2: The Second Part,” that recently opened nationwide. Returning heroes Emmet, Lucy, and their LEGO co-stars can be spotted in their hometown of Apocalypseburg in miniature scale and Park guests can meet the characters in person as well.You’ll be amazed by the details that go into making this exciting new big-screen LEGO animated adventure!
EEvent highlights include:
THE LEGO® MOVIE™ 2 Character Meet & Greets Meet the stars of the movie!
THE LEGO® MOVIE™ 2 Dance Party Show off your dance moves as you party with Emmet and his friends!
Miniland Scavenger Hunt Emmet and his friends have lost their way – find them in Miniland U.S.A. to save the day and complete your entry form for a chance to win a The LEGO® MOVIE® prize pack!
THE LEGO® MOVIE™ 2 Mystery Mosaic Build First come, first serve. Work together to build a LEGO® mosaic and check out our FB page to see it completed!
WB Family GameSpace featuring THE LEGO® MOVIE™ Videogame Join Emmet and his friends in their quest to thwart Lord Business’ evil plans!
The LEGO® MOVIE™ 4D: A New Adventure Follow Emmet and his friends as they’re thrust into the middle of an evil secret plot!
The LEGO® MOVIE™ 2 Giveaway Pick up your own THE LEGO® MOVIE™ 2 poster, while supplies last.
Plus…experience movie magic making and go behind-the-scenes of a movie set at The LEGO® Movie 2 Experience, now open at LEGOLAND California!
Lego Movie 2 Experience at Legoland, CA on Friday, February 15, 2019.(Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Legoland)
It was incredible to see the REAL LEGO Movie 2 figures up close. You don’t want to miss this unique experience!
Don’t miss this incredible experience at LEGOLAND California! Get your tickets here...
Last week, I got a behind a scenes glimpse of the the new upcoming film and I met with the voice actors America Ferrera and Jay Baruchel at DreamWorks in Glendale California.
I screened this adorable new film the night before, and then headed to DreamWorks the following day. There we celebrated the new film with themed activities, photo and video ops, and more. It was memorable and so much fun!
Farewell How to Train Your Dragon…. It hurts to see Toothless and Hiccup go! The original movie that debuted on March 26, 2010 taught me about honor, the importance of conservation, and to be fearless. And now nine years later, the new film continues to inspire, teach, and also has a great message. This movie touched my heart in many ways, and I can’t wait to see it again with my little brother!
There were many hilarious parts in the film. I found myself laughing uncontrollably out loud.
Yes… That’s me flying high and exploring “The Hidden World”
From DreamWorks Animation comes a surprising tale about growing up, finding the courage to face the unknown…and how nothing can ever train you to let go. What began as an unlikely friendship between an adolescent Viking and a fearsome Night Fury dragon has become an epic adventure spanning their lives. Welcome to the most astonishing chapter of one of the most beloved animated franchises in film history: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.
Now chief and ruler of Berk alongside Astrid, Hiccup has created a gloriously chaotic dragon utopia. When the sudden appearance of female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup and Toothless must leave the only home they’ve known and journey to a hidden world thought only to exist in myth. As their true destines are revealed, dragon and rider will fight together—to the very ends of the Earth—to protect everything they’ve grown to treasure.
Clarissa: “Did you guys intentionally give your characters the attributes of feminist and environmental activist because there’s a lot of dialog that is just really empowering.”
Jay Baruchel: “It’s more Dean I would think. It stems from our writer, director, who is a very hopeful, forward-thinking man with a big, wide-open heart and believes in the best in people in the world. Any of those messages that you felt, we paid homage to, that’s all from him. That’s all his belief system, which is ours as well.”
America Ferrera: “Yeah. And I will say like over the years, Dean and I have had conversations about how to evolve Astrid and how to keep her active in her own journey and feeling empowered and she has a full character that isn’t just about sort of being the girl to the guy. So, we’ve had a lot of conversations about that, and he has done her more than justice in really allowing her to develop into a full character that really has a role to play in the larger journey and what ends up happening with the series.”
I felt the characters were developed with the intention to empower. I could see traditional values develop into a new wave of progression; thanks to our beloved actors and directors and producers.
How cute are these dragons?
This film is action packed with dragons, Vikings, strong female characters and teaches about environmental conservation. I love this!
The September 11, 2011 attacks shook the entire world to its core. I clearly remember watching the footage on the television, and feeling devastated and confused. The entire world stood still as the the chaos and tragedy unfolded. This week, my daughter Clarissa and I attended the premiere of “Come From Away” at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa . This show is the longest Broadway running show in Canada, and it is no surprise because this unique musical is sensational!
Disclosure: Thank you Segerstrom Center for the Arts for inviting us to see “Come From Away.” All opinions are my own.
This incredible musical is based on a true story that took place Gander, a small town in Canada. This story gives audiences a glimpse in the week following the September 11th attacks, and what transpired when 38 planes were ordered to land unexpectedly in this remote town. The characters in the musical are based on (and in most cases share the names of) real Gander residents as well as some of the 7,000 stranded travelers they housed and fed. During “ Operation Yellow Ribbon, “cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships and surprising romances.
We laughed, we cried, and the music deeply moved us. This show was like a running carousel that had seamless song and scene transitions. There was no intermission. The story is told through storytelling catchy music.
The multitalented performers flawlessly changed voices, accents, and sang harmoniously in sync. We were blown away by their insane talent and versatility.
Don’t miss this breathtaking new musical written by Tony® nominees Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and helmed by this year’s Tony-winning Best Director, Christopher Ashley.
This The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part hits theaters February 8th…
Last week, I screened the Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and met with the cast, screenwriters, and directors in Los Angeles, California. There were tons of laughs and memorable moments in our roundtable interview. I can’t remember when I laughed this hard.
Check out my recap below!
Sponsored: Thank you Warner Bros Pictures for inviting me to interview the Cast, Producers, and directors of Te LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. All opinions are my own.
Watch the trailer!
About
The much-anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, global box office phenomenon that started it all, “The LEGO® Movie 2: The Second Part,” reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are now facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO® invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than it can be rebuilt. The battle to defeat the invaders and restore harmony to the LEGO universe will take Emmet (Chris Pratt), Lucy (Elizabeth Banks), Batman (Will Arnett) and their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds, including a strange galaxy where everything is a musical. It will test their courage, creativity and Master Building skills, and reveal just how special they really are.
Tiffany Haddish is a BIG hit in the new film. She stars as Queen Watevra Wa’Nabin in the new LEGO film. Her character transforms and changes throughout the film . And YES! Tiffany is just as funny off-screen as on-screen!
Question: “How did they come about adding Tiffany Haddish?”
Director Mike Mitchell: “That was–well we knew we wanted a character who was going to shape-shift and change into different things and almost be like that genie from Aladdin.”
Director Trisha Gum: “Right. And we wanted somebody like funny and strong and confident, and she just–she embodies all those things that we wanted.”
Director Mike Mitchell: “Man, she exudes that energy. She never loses her energy. Trish and I would be exhausted at the end of recording her voice. She is unstoppable, right?”
Director Trisha Gum:“Yes. She’s fantastic. And Yes, she’s a very strong–like I said strong confident woman. She just embodied that character, so.”
Tiffany Haddish: “ I relate to my character in many ways, because all she really wants to do is bring joy and happiness. And like Maya Angelou always says, when someone tells you who they are in from the beginning, believe them, that’s who they are. And she constantly was tellingthem, I’m not evil, I just want to give you gifts, I just want to shower you with love.” (LOVE her)
Will Arnett returns as the voice of “Batman.”
Will Arnett:“It is a great environment that they create, and you know, and I had some of the most profound big–biggest laughs of my life being in a booth working with those guys.”
Screenwriter Phil Lord: “Well I think, oh the first movie, the first LEGO movie, we always said I want–we want to make a movie that makes you feel more creative on the way out than you felt on the way in. You know, and the premise was like we are all inherently creative beings, and we’ve been doing this for millennia and why wouldn’t we still be doing it? And then–and this movie, you know, was about can you feel more generous and empathetic on the way out than you did on the way in, you know.”
Screenwriter Chris Miller: “Right and because you know when you start growing up as a kid, you–there’s a moment when you realize that not everything is awesome and then you can choose to go two ways with it. You can choose or like I’m going to prove that I’m grown up by being cynical and angry and detached, and gritty. Or what we think is a more sophisticated and actually more mature thing is to choose to be kind, to choose to be positive, to choose to be”—
Question: “Did you have, you know, anything–was it spontaneous or had you thought about it?”
Elizabeth Banks: “We do a lot of different ways. Like everything is scripted, but then, there’s a lot of playing, right. So, there was a lot of, “Try this, try this. “And we were–they were refining jokes until like two weeks ago. [Unintelligible] was in the booth two weeks ago on this movie.”
This new LEGO film is seriously loads of fun. I laughed hysterically on several occasions during the screening. You must take your entire family to see this film, because there is BIG laughs in store for everyone!
Stephanie Beatriz voices Sweet Mayhem.
Stephanie Beatriz:“They created an environment that’s very free. They’re very, very giving and collaborative and they just want to see what you have and then build off of that. They’re open to everything which is why their work is go good. It’s so good. It’s so fresh. And it feels so alive. Because they’re allowing us to do the thing that we do best which is use our imaginations.”
Get tickets to #TheLEGOMovie2 in theaters February 8!
For a second consecutive year, Knott’s PEANUTS Celebration is back! Happening weekends now through March 10, 2019, plus President’s Day weekend February 11, 15 & 18. Admission is included with a regular park admission ticket or a 2019 Knott’s Season Pass.
Last weekend, my family headed to Knott’s Berry farm to celebrate with their favorite characters. It was opening weekend, and we could not wait to see what was in store! This special event celebrates the PEANUTS characters. Fans can step inside the pages of a Charles M. Schulz comic strips as the PEANUTS characters take over the entire park for the first time!
PEANUTS inspired decor can be see throughout the park, and provides the perfect animated backdrop for your fun social media pics. Make sure to use the #KnottsPeanutsCelebrationhashtag when you’re at the park!
New character experiences, activities, live entertainment, and deliciously themed-treats will tops off this unique celebration…
The new shows are a MUST at Knott’s!
Do you have a sweet tooth? Sharing is caring!
Drool Alert! During the Knott’s Peanuts Celebration try the delicious themed treats like the Peanut Butter Funnel Cake, Charlie Brown Marshmallows, Peanuts Sugar Cookies, and much more!
YUMMM… Knott’s has added jelly beans to their already delicious Funnel Cake. OMG
The photo ops throughout the park are just adorable! “Say Cheese!”
How adorable are these little pigs? My son asked if he could take one home. Lol
Don’t forget to stop by and check out the Knott’s PEANUTS Celebration themed gifts!
Don’t miss the Knott’s PEANUTS Celebration this season… Take your entire family!
One of my goals for 2019 is to get more organized. I embarrassed to share I suffer from an overloaded mom brain. Lol… I am unorganized and often use Post-it notes, the back of my my kids school flyers, and even scratch paper to write my list of to-dos. (Can you relate?) I am so thrilled that I have been recently introduced to Purple Trial online, and I came across this adorable planner. (shown above) I sooo need this in my life put my thoughts, schedule, and dates in order!
Purple Trail has adorable stationary, theme invites, baby announcements, customized labels, wedding planners, guest books and so much more!
Thank you Purple Trail for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
Purple Trail is passionate about making custom stationery and printed items individually hand made just for their customers. They only use fine paper, high-quality materials and state-of-the art printing.
I LOVE all the little details that make these announcements and invitations so special!
The website is super easy to navigate through, and there is a HUGE selection to choose from.
I can choose the cover type, color, and even personalize my selection. How cool is that?
Are you looking for the perfect gift?
Purple trail has a GINORMOUS selection of gifts too! You can also choose from customized mugs, T-shirts, engagement gifts, graduation gifts, and even teacher gifts. There is sooo much to choose from, you’ll definitely find something you love!
The Kid Who Would Be King is NOW in theaters. Last week my son and I got a first look at the new film at 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles, and we were blow away! Old-school magic meets the modern world, we loved it!
Thank you 20th Century Fox for inviting us to screen “The Boy Who Would be King.” All opinions are my own.
Old school magic meets the modern world in the epic adventure THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING. Alex (Ashbourne Serkis) thinks he’s just another nobody, until he stumbles upon the mythical Sword in the Stone, Excalibur. Now, he must unite his friends and enemies into a band of knights and, together with the legendary wizard Merlin (Stewart), take on the wicked enchantress Morgana (Ferguson). With the future at stake, Alex must become the great leader he never dreamed he could be.
Watch the trailer!
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY-Joe Cornish
PRODUCED BY- Nira Park, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner
CAST- Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Dean Chaumoo, Tom Taylor, Rhianna Dorris, Angus Imrie, with Rebecca Ferguson and Patrick Stewart
My little guy is obsessed with Merlin 🧙♂️ and his magic !✨( his favorite character in the film) He said, “His hands are mesmerizing mom.” It’s been hilarious watching him try to imitate him.
This film is action packed! There is good vs evil, sorcery, sword battles, and it also has great message!
This outstanding film is great for the entire family. Go see it in theaters January 25th!
The West Coast Premiere of Harlequinade begins Thursday, Jan 17 – 20 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. My family cannot wait to experience the magic!
On January 17, 2019, Segerstrom will celebrate the show’s opening by featuring kid friendly activities, photo opps, craft and coloring stations. The children will also have an opportunity to meet the sensational dancers from the American Ballet Theater. The pre-show activities will begin promptly at 6pm.
When my girls were little, they attended ballet classes. ( I miss those days) My youngest son would press his face against the studio window, and gaze at the ballet dancers in awe. He would call them princesses, and tell me how much he loved watching them. I can’t wait for him to experience this lovely, kid friendly show!
Thank you Segerstrom Center for the Arts for inviting us to opening night of Harlequinade. All opinions are my own.
The Story In the first act, the Harlequin and Columbine are kept apart by her father Cassandre, who would prefer that his daughter marry the wealthier (and older!) Lèandre. Not to be deterred, Harlequin tries futilely to win Cassandre over, only to be turned away again and again by Cassandre and his servant Pierrot. Finally, with the help of a Good Fairy and Pierrot’s sympathetic wife Pierrette, Harlequin’s bad fortunes are turned around, and Cassandre agrees to bless the union. Harlequin and Columbine are married in the festive second act, when love finally triumphs over all.
The Center’s International Dance Series is made possible by the Audrey Steele Burnand Endowed Fund for International Dance and The Segerstrom Foundation Endowment for Great Performances. Segerstrom Center for the Arts thanks its corporate partners including Kia Motors America, Official Automotive Partner; and United Airlines, Official Airline.
Use promo code KIDS when purchasing your tickets!
On opening night of Harlequinade on January 17th, families can purchase a full-price ticket and receive a second ticket free for children!
Don’t miss this sensational show!
AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE: HARLEQUINADE Segerstrom Center for the Arts – Segerstrom Hall 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA
January 17 – 20, 2019 Thursday – Friday at 7:30 pm Saturday at 2:00 and 7:30 pm Sunday at 1:00 pm Tickets – Start at $29
Phone – (714) 556-2787 Open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily Group Sales – (714) 755-0236 Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Charlyne Yi, Alan Aisenberg, Jennifer Lopez, and Annaleigh Ashford star in SECOND ACT.
Have you ever thought about reinventing yourself?
So apparently the 40s are the new 30s? Well I don’t know about that, but I do know that I have a huge bucket list that is yet to be fulfilled. After numerous career changes, I have found that it is not impossible to start over. In fact, it can be fun. My life has taken unexpected turns, and it has led me to new adventures.
Last week, I met with Jennifer Lopez, her bestie Leah Remini, and Director Peter Segal at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, to ask some big questions about their new upcoming film, Second Act.
Thank you STX Entertainment for inviting me to screen , interview the cast, and the director of Second Act. All opinions are my own.
This romantic feel good movie is just adorable. Watch the trailer!
Second Act is a comedy in the vein of Working Girl and Maid In Manhattan. Jennifer Lopez stars as Maya, a 40-year-old woman struggling with frustrations from unfulfilled dreams. Until, that is, she gets the chance to prove to Madison Avenue that street smarts are as valuable as book smarts, and that it is never too late for a Second Act.
After 15 years at Value Shop ,the past six as assistant manager, she’s ready to run the big box store in Queens. Her resumé doesn’t scream upper management, but her track record sure does. She’s an innovator who listens to customers, knows what they need and finds a way to deliver. But Value Shop hires “the right man for the job” –a man with an MBA–not GED-certified Maya. Maya’s boyfriend Trey (MILO VENTIMIGLIA) and best friend Joan (LEAH REMINI) try to boost her spirits, but Maya is frustrated as once again street smarts doesn’t equal book smarts. Was her entire future determined when she was 16, or can she actually reinvent herself in her 40’s?
I love working with women who are always upbeat and always reinventing themselves. This movie is both inspirational and relatable.
Leah Remini and Jennifer Lopez star in SECOND ACT.
Watching Jennifer Lopez and her bestie Remini on and off screen is hilarious. I loved watching them together in the film. You can tell some of the scenes were improvised, which made it much more entertaining.
In our interview Jennifer Lopez said, “I’m a romantic. I don’t know if you’ve heard [LAUGHS ]at heart. I’m a romantic at heart and there’s just something about this genre that it’s like real life to me. I know some people like the drama , the reality and the grittiness and I like that too. I love being in movies like that but there’s something that speaks to my soul about this. Life is funny and Shish*** happens and in romantic comedies you really get to see somebody break through a really deep fear usually that they have inside. I’ve struggle with that in my lie and everybody does and it’s so relatable. I love these and I love the comedy part of them. That’s why it was so great to do this with Leah, who is one of my best friends. How many times have we been sitting and talking about something, got angry with each other, started crying and then make a joke…all in the same moment. That’s what these movies are like and that’s what I love about them because that’s what life really is.”
Jennifer Lopez and Vanessa Hudgens star in SECOND ACT.
Director Peter Segal said, “To balance drama with comedy is not easy. I’ve done all sorts of comedies. I’ve done joke book comedies with Naked Gun and this has more heart and gravitas. There’s a story. A story we can’t really advertise because there’s a bit of a twist. In that…there’s a lot of serious stuff and to be able to do that and then turn around and make you laugh…there are not a lot of people who can do that and I had two.”
There were many unexpected surprises in the film. There is also some tender moments that led me to shed some tears. (take tissues to the movies just in case! )
Jennifer Lopez and Milo Ventimiglia star in SECOND ACT.
This romantic comedy is great for a girls night or date night!
It’s never too late to start over, and we can all have a Second Act, third, or even fourth… Second Act hits theaters December 21st!
The holidays have arrived and my kiddos are counting down the days to winter break!
Knott’s definitely knows how to put the Merry in Christmas, and there is just so many incredible things to do during this joyous celebration. It was a magical experience to see how our beloved theme park has transformed into a winter wonderland. Merry Farm is opennow through January 6th, and is a great spot to visit during the holiday season with your entire family.
Spend the most wonderful time of the year with your family at Knott’s Merry Farm enjoying thrilling attractions, live entertainment, a Christmas crafts fair, festive food, lavish holiday decorations, and nightly snow in Ghost Town.
Here’s a holiday guide to help you enjoy your visit to Knott’s Merry Farm to the fullest!
Thank you Knott’s Berry Farm for inviting my family to Merry Farm. All Opinions are my own.
1. Take a stroll in the park and enjoy the holiday decorations!
As you walk into the park the streets and buildings are covered in lights. It’s remarkable!
2. Stop At Wilderness Dance Hall For a Treat and a Picture with Santa
Santa’s warm cookies and milk are always a special treat during the holidays… Indulge in one-of-kind seasonal treats like mouthwatering pastries, exquisite chocolate dipped cheesecake on a stick, seasonal craft beers, gourmet hot chocolate with marshmallows and hot spiced holiday wine, plus much more.
Don’t forget to visit Santa and take a pic!
One of my favorite things to do is EAT at the park. Check out the holiday treats
3. Enjoy A Delicious Holiday Treat
One of my favorite things to do is EAT during Merry Farm! Here is a photo recap of some tasty treats I tried at our media preview night.
What?! Yes… Tamales are now available at Knott’s during Merry Farm. ¡Que rico!
Guests of all ages can embrace the joy of Christmas at Knott’s Merry Farm, with classic shows like the Holiday Ice Show featuring Snoopy, the Peanuts Gang and a cast of world class ice skaters, the nightly tree lighting ceremony and The Christmas Carol. Plus stroll through the merry streets of Calico for unique seasonal treats, Santa’s Christmas Cabin, traditional live Christmas Carolers, a Christmas Crafts Village, an enchanting Snow and Glow show with nightly falling snow, and so much more.
Here is the official show schedule!
5. Go to the Calico Tree Lighting Ceremony Located in Calico Park
The Calico Tree Lighting Ceremony is a memorable experience. Christmas carolers invited the audience to sing along to Jingle Bells and other holiday favorites…
6. Head to Ghost Town For Some Holiday Shopping
I found some unique gifts at Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village and fell in love with these adorable Christmas Tree ornaments.
Ghost Town transforms into a shopping wonderland filled with dozens of local artisans selling their unique gifts. Can’t-miss highlights of the Village include artist demonstrations of chainsaw wood carving and elegant glass blowing.
7. Let It Snow In Ghost Town!
Every night during Merry Farm, when the sun sets on the Farm, the buildings and paths in Ghost Town’s Main Street and School House Road are filled with glow and snow! Thousands of sparkling lights dance to the beat of Christmas music while snow gently falls in this spectacular one-of-a-kind moment.
In between the holiday shows get on the rides, enjoy some holiday treats, and enjoy the park to the fullest! I hope you enjoy your time at Knott’s Merry Farm as much as we do…
Happy Holidays to you and your family! XO
Queen Bee Latina
The perfect stocking stuffer is now on-sale!
The perfect stocking stuffer is now on-sale. A new 2019 Season Pass includes one free visit toenjoy Merry Farm in 2018, unlimited visits in 2019 with no blackout dates, discounts on select food and merchandise, and access to exciting year-round seasonal events. A Regular Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2019 to Knott’s Berry Farm and a Gold Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2019 to both Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Waterpark with no blackout dates. Now at the lowest price of the year, Regular Season Passes start at just $95.00 or eight easy payments of $10.00 after initial payment and Gold Season Passes are $115.00 or eight payments of just $12.00 after initial payment. These offers endJanuary 6, 2019. Applicable taxes and fees apply online. Payment plans are only available at knotts.com.
