Celebrity Photo Opps with Tony Stark at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum! #Ironman3Event

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tony stark at Madame TussaudsTony Stark is one of those fictional characters that I really wish was real. After all, what more could you ask for than genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist?

But he’s not real, so I had to settle for a photo with the very lifelike wax figure of Tony Stark at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Hollywood. The group of bloggers who attended the Iron Man 3 red carpet premiere visited the museum the following day to take photos with Tony Stark’s likeness, the Iron Man suit and plenty of other celebrity statues.

tony stark at madame tussauds wax museum hollywoodI did enjoy pretending to be in love with Iron Man, too!

There are so many statues in Madame Tussauds and many a posed in very lifelike scenes. You can take a look the Madame Tussauds Hollywood Facebook page to see their newest and most popular figures!

madame tussauds hollywood wax museumAs I was wandering around, I took some pictures with the intention of texting them to my husband and sister. I’m pretty well-known in our family for not being very photogenic unless I’m working hard to pose nicely for a picture, so I knew they’d find goofy pictures of me with wax celebrities funny.

Cell reception in Madame Tussauds with minimal, and almost all my “celebrity” photos went unsent and were forgotten until I looked at all my pictures this morning. Instead of sharing them with the two people I’m closest to, I’m going out on a limb and sharing them here:

photo with michael jacksonI had to take a picture with Michael Jackson’s likeness.
ET at madame tussauds wax museumThe opportunity to hop on Elliot’s bike and fly away with ET couldn’t be passed up!

tony stark at Madame TussaudsYou’ve probably learned that my favorite thing to do is imitate the wax figure’s pose! It’s pretty clear from these photos that I’m never going to be an actress:)

Visiting a Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is something I’ve always wanted to do, and it was just as fun as I had expected it to be! The staff was so nice, and I’ll be entertained by the photos of myself for quite a while!

Disclosure: Thanks to Disney for covering my travel expenses for my participation in this press trip.

May 8, 2013 | Filed Under: travel blogger | Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Brandcation: Because It’s All About Relationships!

baby dealsI didn’t know about blog conferences until months after I started this website back in 2008. From the talks on various websites and Twitter, it seemed that popular blog conferences were all about swag.

I heard stories of the biggest women’s blogging conference being a free-for-all of samples, gifts and more stuff than anyone would ever need. It was so bad that the attendees seemed to become immune to it. Products big and small were left behind, trashed and taken for granted.

Sadly, that “relationship” the brand was hoping to form with a huge group of influential women by gifting them with swag backfired, and their products were generally lost in the sea of goods that everyone took home with them.

Personally, I didn’t have it in me to attend a gathering like that. Sure, I love freebies, but the investment of time away from my family and travel expenses along with the emotions involved in attempting to find a place among thousands of people was far more than what I anticipated getting in return.

No. If I was going to attend a conference, it was going to be worth my while. I needed  to see a return on my investment. I didn’t know what type of gathering it would be, but I’d know it when I saw it.

BOBNOLA (Bloggers on Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA) popped up. I didn’t personally know any of the people who were attending. I’d never been to New Orleans. But it felt right. I admired a good number of attendees. The itinerary was adventurous. There were well-known sponsors. There were only 30 tickets available for purchase. When 29 were sold, I bought the last one.

baby dealsThat event changed my blogging life. So much so that when the event name was changed to Brandcation (by Brandfluential) and the next one was announced for Kissimmee, Florida, I bought my ticket right away and got even more out of Brandcation Global Getaway than I did from BOBNOLA.

Why is Brandcation different than other blogging conferences? I’ll say it loud and clear:

BRANDCATION IS ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS

Brandcation attendance is limited to about 30 people, including the organizers. That means you learn everyone’s names, you learn their websites. You find out where people are from, what they’re passionate about.

Brandcation sponsors understand the intimacy of the event. The brands are spoken about, tweeted about and appreciated via blog posts and social media. But they’re not glorified, and they’re not the centerpiece of the entire event. Rather, brands exist alongside the bloggers, supporting but not interfering with the relationships forming among participants.

There are no formal classes, sessions or seminars. But that doesn’t mean attendees don’t learn. I learned more about the intricacies of search engine optimization in one car ride with Trisha and Jess than I had ever learned from articles and documentation. Courtney educated me on building a mailing list while waiting for a ride from Disney World back to our rental home. Shasta encouraged me to blog about the personal details of my life during a late night conversation with her and Kathleen. Bridgette, Cissy, Nicole and Maggie totally schooled me on Twitter hashtags when I was least expecting it, and the impromptu education cemented my friendships with all of them.

Brandcation proves that taking away formal classes doesn’t eliminate education and growth. The learning happens naturally, because the attendees want it to happen.

baby dealsBrandcation also easily proves that a conference doesn’t require a brand to sponsor a swanky party with ridiculous party favors and over-the-top antics to leave a lasting impression in an influential mom blogger’s mind. Though it’s approaching three years ago, I’ll never forget that Lingerie.com provided a New Orleans Ghost Tour for all BOBNOLA attendees. They didn’t give out swag (it wasn’t necessary), they just asked that our two fearless leaders wear adorable corsets from their shop for the duration of the tour. Now that’s a memorable way for a brand to reach out to bloggers!

I’m also thrilled with the connection I’ve made with Global Resort Homes during both Brandcations I’ve attended. Global is a solid brand. I like their team. I believe in them and I recommend their vacation rentals whenever I talk to anyone planning a Florida vacation.

I was unable to attend the two Brandcations that took place in 2012. Now, I’m so excited that I have plans to attend the 5th Brandcation: It’s not the Journey, It’s the DESTINation in Destin, Florida in May.

Bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to brands, even brands to brands. The relationships formed at Brandcation are like none other, and I’m so thrilled that I’ve had the opportunity to grow and cultivate my own relationships as a Brandcation attendee.

Brandcation It’s Not the Journey it’s the DESTINation promises even more of what I’ve come to expect from Brandcation. I have no doubt that I’ll walk away with fabulous new friends, new business relationships and an overwhelming amount of ideas for how to reach new heights both personally and professionally!

Special thanks to the following Flickr users/bloggers for some of the photos used above: Trisha@MomDot, Mommy23Monkeys and LorieShrewbridge.

March 15, 2013 | Filed Under: travel blogger | Tagged With: , , ,

Days and Nights of Family Fun at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure #BraveCarsLandEvent

baby dealsGrowing up, I was lucky to have parents who took us on several family vacations to Disney World in Florida. I’ve always loved everything Disney, and those vacations satisfied my need for all the wonder and magic that I loved. Disneyland in California rarely crossed my mind, and I was often only thinking and mentally planning for the “next time” we’d head to Florida.

I had the opportunity to travel with a group of bloggers to California for the Brave movie premier, and I was excited to learn that a visit to Disneyland was also part of the press trip. I was super-excited to get there for the grand opening of Cars Land, but I didn’t know what to expect of the rest of the park.

I was beyond surprised to learn that Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are big, beautiful and overflowing with things to do, people to meet, food to eat and sights to see! While I had to cut my trip short to get back for my mother-in-law’s memorial, it was a bittersweet realization to know that there were plenty of things I didn’t have a chance to do. It only made me think, “I’ll need to come back with my family so we can see it all together!”

I remember hearing a few times over the years that Disney World was much bigger than Disneyland, and I can’t deny the truth of that. At the same time, there’s nothing small about Disneyland.

Given the extensive and exciting growth the entire Disneyland resort has seen over the past five years, Disneyland is definitely a vacation destination. A single day or a side trip to the parks won’t be enough time to see and do everything, especially if you have little ones in tow!

baby dealsIn my visions of taking my husband and two toddlers to Disneyland, I’ve come to realize that it’s going to require a little strategy to ensure we work everything into the trip with as little running as possible!

The traditional rides of Disneyland and California Adventure are guaranteed to take up a big chunk of time, but it’s important to me to experience the magic with my little ones while they’re still, well, little! These classic activities are key to my visit:

  • Seeing Sleeping Beauty’s Castle
  • Boarding the Disneyland Railroad
  • Riding the merry-go-round on the King Arthur Carousel
  • Taking off on Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Watching my toddlers on Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Twirling at the Mad Tea Party
  • Floating on the Mark Twain Riverboat
  • Walking Main Street USA
  • Cruising on the Jungle Cruise
  • Getting spooked in the Haunted Mansion
  • Singing with the birds at the Enchanted Tiki Room

I’m also well-aware that almost any child will be ready and geared up to experience the more modern and adventurous attractions. I’m pretty sure that I’ll be game for all of these , too!

  • Playing the 3D video game ride Toy Story Mania!
  • Drifting through The Little Mermaid – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
  • Conversing at Turtle Talk with Crush
  • Riding along at Monsters Inc: Mike and Sully to the Rescue
  • Space traveling at Star Tours: The Adventure Continues
  • Racing with Lightning McQueen at Radiator Springs Racers
  • Spinning on Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

And let’s not forget the shows, parades and visits that provide enchanting entertainment from the first step inside the parks to the long-after-bedtime moments that make nighttime at the parks so special:

  • Phineas and Ferb Rockin’ Rollin’ Dance Party
  • Character shows at Disney Junior – Live on Stage
  • Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
  • Pixie Hollow meet and greets with Tinker Bell and her fairy friends
  • Nighttime neon lights of Radiator Springs
  • The World of Color nighttime water spectacular
  • The Red Trolley’s on Buena Vista Street

baby dealsA trip wouldn’t be complete without taking time to explore the shops and restaurants of Downtown Disney.

Plus, a stay at the Disneyland Hotel deserves time for exploration and enjoying everything the hotel has to offer! The hidden Mickey’s just in your hotel room will consume more time than you imagine!

Disneyland surprised me with all it has to offer, and I know that my family couldn’t do it all in a day. I’m hoping to make my dream of bringing my little ones to the Disneyland resort come true. When we do, I’ll be sure to share all the details here!

Thanks to Toni of A Daily Dose of Toni for some of the photos featured above.

Disney covered costs of this blog travel press trip to Disneyland. Opinions remain my own. 

July 30, 2012 | Filed Under: travel blogger | Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tim Burton’s #Frankenweenie is Creepy, Captivating and Charming

baby dealsI had the privilege of screening select footage from Frankenweenie when I was in California for the Brave Premier and Disneyland Cars Land opening last month.

I’m not a huge Tim Burton “superfan” by any stretch–I haven’t seen all of his movies and I don’t know all that much about him. I have, however, thoroughly enjoyed every movie of his that I’ve seen. Big Fish is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen, and The Nightmare Before Christmas is so well-made, eerie and sweet that I can’t help but love it!

Because I find both of those movies so incredibly endearing I was pretty excited to see the scenes from Frankenweenie and get a better feel for the characters and the story. I’m so happy I did!

From creative genius Tim Burton (Alice in Wonderland, The Nightmare Before Christmas) comes Frankenweenie, a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog.

After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life—with just a few minor adjustments. He tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers and the entire town all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous.

A stop-motion animated film, “Frankenweenie” was filmed in black and white and rendered in 3D. The talented voice cast includes: Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, Atticus Shaffer, Robert Capron, Conchata Ferrell and Winona Ryder.

Presented by Disney, Frankenweenie is directed by Tim Burton, produced by Tim Burton and Allison Abbate, from a screenplay by John August, based on an original idea by Tim Burton. “Frankenweenie” releases in U.S. theaters on October 5, 2012.

It’s not unexpected that the plot is a bit chilling, even though it’s an animated movie. Yet, even in the 30 minute preview I was able to see that the film still has incredibly sweet characters and silly scenes that lift the film out of the darkness.

One of the best “behind-the-scenes” aspects of this movie was that Frankenweenie was the first full story that Tim Burton conceived, and the story has been in the works since Burton was 10 years old! It was originally produced as a 30-minute short back in the 1980′s, but Burton always felt that the story needed to be told again.

It seems to me that creating this full-length, stop-motion animated Frankenweenie is what Tim Burton has been working towards for his whole life, and I have nothing but admiration for that sort of passion and perseverance!

Frankenweenie opens on October 5, 2012. Watch the Frankenweenie trailer, and like Frankenweenie on Facebook to find out more about this film!

July 30, 2012 | Filed Under: Entertainment | Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

5 Reasons to Stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles/Hollywood {Hotel Review}

baby dealsLast month I had the amazing opportunity to attend the premier of Disney/Pixar’s BRAVE in Los Angeles. To say that I was excited for this experience of a lifetime would be an understatement.

By now, a month after the entire experience, you may know that every minute of the trip exceeded my expectations, and it all started the moment I arrived at the Hilton Garden Inn in Los Angeles.

These are my Top 5 Reasons to Stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles/Hollywood:

1. Location: The Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles is absolutely centrally located in Hollywood and it’s just a short walk from multiple tourist hotspots. I walked to CVS to pick up a few items after I arrived at the hotel and I surprised myself by walking right through the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater! Did you also notice that I mentioned the word “walk” a few times? Whether you’re looking for shopping or sightseeing you don’t need a car to take in much of what Hollywood has to offer.

2. Design: The Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles/Hollywood is newly remodeled with a fantastic modern design that I really appreciated!

baby dealsThe lobby is decorated with bright, welcoming colors and sleek furniture. The modern lighting and accessories make it feel very “Los Angeles” to this Minnesota mom blogger!

I also thought this was a nice touch in my room:

baby deals

It’s a small gooseneck light above the nightstand along with a compact alarm clock with an iPod dock! While I didn’t use the iPod part of the clock, it was a nice way to integrate a bit of technology into the room. The light was pretty fantastic, too. It had a brushed silver finish and an LED bulb for extra brightness. Both of those little details helped me get extra-comfortable in my bed and they were nice to look at!

3. Comfort: I have to say that one of the best things about going on blog trips is getting my own bed, even if it’s just for a night or two! Upon arrival, I made plans to go out and explore the area around our hotel for a bit before we all had to meet up with the rest of our group. Once I sat down on the bed I texted Melissa and said that I was staying behind. I couldn’t resist a nap while I had time to take advantage of it!

baby dealsAfter the nap and the next night of sleep, I realized that the bed was especially nice. Then I found out that the bed had a Serta Perfect Sleeper Bed. No wonder I slept so well!

I also did a bit of blogging while I was in my room and knew right away that the office chair I was sitting in was far superior to the dining room chair I usually sit on at home. I later learned that it was a Mirra ergonomic chair and the desk was actually ergonomically designed.

4. The Pool and Whirlpool: Personally, I didn’t take advantage of the pool or whirlpool during my stay. I didn’t even look at it until it was too late to actually use it. It’s really too bad because the pool area is absolutely gorgeous and begging to be used!

baby dealsIf  I return to the hotel in the future I will definitely be taking a dip in the pool at my first opportunity!

5. The coffee (in the room and in the lobby!): My number one requirement when I stay at any hotel is cleanliness. If the room and common areas are clean, I can handle pretty much anything else, especially for a short stay. After that, I think it’s the little things that really make a stay worthwhile. I loved having an in-room coffee pot with both regular and decaf coffee at the ready. I brewed a cup of coffee while I was getting ready in the evenings.

In the mornings, I was too rushed to make my own coffee. there was no need to worry, though, because the hotel lobby supplied fresh-brewed Starbucks coffee with paper cups and to-go lids! It was incredibly convenient to be able to grab a cup of strong regular coffee on the way out the door for the day’s activities.

All in all, I had a great stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles. My room was fantastic, the staff was nothing but nice and I couldn’t have asked for anything to make the experience any better than it was!

If you’re heading to the Los Angeles area you should definitely look into staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles! 

I stayed at this hotel during a portion of the #BraveCarsLandEvent press trip. All expenses were covered, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.

July 28, 2012 | Filed Under: Reviews | Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Trolley Trivia! 10 Facts About Disneyland’s Red Car Trolleys on Buena Vista Street #BraveCarsLandEvent

baby dealsI recently visited Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort. I was completely enamored with the park from the moment I walked in with the rest of my press group, and the feeling was almost entirely because of the new Buena Vista Street.

Buena Vista Street is the 100% redesigned entrance to Disney California Adventure, and it brings the magical spirit of Walt Disney into the park in a different way than ever before.

baby dealsCreated to feel reminiscent of Los Angeles at the time when Walt Disney arrived in California, Buena Vista Street captures the feel of the 1920′s with the lightness of everything Disney.

One of the most talked-about aspects of the new Buena Vista Street are the Red Car Trolleys that run the length of the street and add another dimension to the already authentic, nostalgic feel of the park entrance. The trolleys really are beautiful, but I didn’t truly appreciate them until I read up on how they were created and integrated with Buena Vista Street.

baby dealsStraight from the Disneyland Resort, here are 10 fun facts about the Red Car Trolleys of Buena Vista Street:

1. The Red Car Trolleys are inspired by Los Angeles’ historic Pacific Electric Red Cars from the 1920s and 1930s.

2. Two red Car Trolleys operate each day, and they move gurest from Buena Vista Street, through Hollywood Land all the way to the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. They stop several times along this route.

3. The trolley interiors showcase the light green and cream colors of the 1920s and 1930s. Interiors are also decorated with vintage-style ads highlighting food locations throughout the park.

4. Each Red Car Trolley has a bell and a whistle, which adds to the authentic and melodic sounds of Buena Vista Street.

5. The “Red Car News Boys” is a musical show performed on Buena Vista Street. The “News Boys” are inspired by the Broadway musical, Newsies, and they roll to their performance space on a Red Car Trolley.

6. Each Red Car Trolley is 26 feet long, 8 feet wide and 11 feet tall.

7. The Red Car Trolleys are attached to inactive catenary lines (classic above-trolley electric cables). They’re really powered by 12-volt batteries that are recharged nightly.

8. One Red Car Trolley is numbered 623. The 23 is a nod to the year 1923, when Walt Disney himself first arrived in California. The 6 is based on the 600 series of trollies built in 1922.

9. The other Red Car Trolley is numbered 717. That’s a reflection of the birthday of Disneyland park, July 17, 1955. It also represents the 700 series of trollies made in 1925.

10. Each Red Car Trolley has seats for 20 guests with additional room and accessibility for a wheelchair.

baby dealsI didn’t have the opportunity to ride the Red Car Trolleys during my visit, but I was happy to see them running more than a few times throughout my day at the park. I’m hoping to go on a family vacation to Disneyland sometime within the next year, and I will definitely be hopping on a Red Car Trolley during my next trip!

Disclosure: Disney provided my transportation, accommodations and covered most expenses for this event. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

July 5, 2012 | Filed Under: Reviews | Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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