Joie De Viv

finding the joy in every day

Disney On Ice: “Mickey’s Search Party” Recap

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We kicked off the start of winter break with one of our favorite holiday traditions, a trip to see Disney On Ice!  Before the show, we were treated to some arts & crafts, and live mariachi music, in “Coco” theme, to celebrate the first time Coco is featured in the show!

We arrived at the mezzanine about 1/2 hr before showtime and had ample time to food, peruse vendors and shopping, and headed to our seats in time to watch the pre-show entertainment.

TIP:  Bring coats, scarves, and/or light blankets.  The arena can get pretty chilly!  Also, bring your own Disney merchandise for your kids to wear/hold if you feel inclined.  Merchandise can be pretty pricey!  Kids water bottles are allowed to bring in.

TIP:  New rule this year at the Honda Center (and MANY arenas)- clear bags and backpacks only.  Cameras with removable lenses (so all DSLRs) are NOT ALLOWED in the Honda Center.  Despite being there as part of media, a couple of attendees and I had to take our DSLR cameras back to the car last year, so I didn’t even try this year.  Hence, I only had my iPhone to take pictures and videos.  * Thus, many of my photos here will be borrowed from more “professional” images.

This year’s show is called, “Mickey’s Search Party”, with the storyline taking Mickey and Friends on a quest to find Tinkerbell after Captain Hook has captured her for her magic!  They follow his map into the worlds of the French Countryside with Belle, over Coco’s Marigold Bridge, into the wintry wonderland of Arendelle, onto the seas with Moana, watch the toys come to life in Toy Story, experience the best friend Aladdin could ever have, and travel under the sea with Ariel!

Each year, I say the same thing.  They’ve done MORE! It’s the BEST show yet!  But it’s TRUE!  It is simply amazing the boundaries they continue to push with artists on the ice, in the sky, and everywhere in between.  This year we saw Segways on the ice, incredible acrobatic feats in the sky, precariously perched folkloric dancers swaying on sticks, and the ice cutters of Frozen doing skate tricks on ramps!

We had such a great time as a family!  It’s truly a highlight of the season, and precious memories made, especially seeing the magic of Disney On Ice though our children’s eyes!

Although we were given tickets to the show, all opinions expressed are genuine and true, and I will continue this tradition as long as the kids want to go!  Have you been to a Disney On Ice show yet?  “Mickey’s Search Party is in the Greater Los Angeles Area through Jan. 5th, 2020!  Click HERE for more info on dates and shows.  Use Discount Code: MOM20 for select dates!

 

 

Disney On Ice Presents “Dare To Dream” and Introduces Moana!

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This week we continued a holiday family tradition:  we went to see the presentation of the newest Disney On Ice show, “Dare To Dream”!  This was the 3rd time I’ve taken Kaitlyn, and a first for both J and Kingston.  Kingston finally has the attention span to sit through the show, so we made it a whole family fun night!

2018’s Disney On Ice tour introduces Moana on the ice, for the first time ever!

To celebrate the arrival of Moana on the ice, some members of media and bloggers/influencers were invited to attend a special pre-show event that included traditional Polynesian dancing, Kakamora arts & crafts, and a visit with Mickey and Minnie.

We arrived at the mezzanine an hour before showtime and had ample time to buy snacks, peruse vendors and shopping, take a quick potty break, and head to our seats in time to watch the pre-show Coco singalong!  This is definitely a highlight you won’t want to miss!  Especially if your kids are like mine, and belting out tunes from the hit movie all.day.long.  The main event beings promptly on time, so be sure to arrive at least 10 min. beforehand to catch the Coco portion.

TIP:  Bring coats, scarves, and/or light blankets.  The arena can get pretty chilly!  Also, bring your own Disney merchandise for your kids to wear/hold if you feel inclined.  Merchandise can be pretty pricey!  Kids water bottles are allowed to bring in.

TIP:  Cameras with removable lenses (so all DSLRs) are NOT ALLOWED in the Honda Center.  Despite being there as part of media, a couple of attendees and I had to take our DSLR cameras back to the car.  Hence, I only had my iPhone to take pictures and videos.  I did see some people manage to get their DSLRs in, but just a heads up in case you’re thinking about bringing it.  * Thus, many of my photos here will be borrowed from more “professional” images.

The start of the show begins with a fan favorite, Beauty and the Beast.  We loved how colorful and over-the-top this portion was, and how they changed it from previous shows.  No two shows are ever alike!

Photo Credit: Feld Entertainment

The next segment was from Tangled, and the skating Maximus horse was a unanimous crowd favorite, with laughter erupting all around!

The aerial acrobatics in Disney On Ice shows are truly amazing.  No words.  Jaws drop on the kids of all ages.

 

The lantern portion of Tangled always gives us the warm and fuzzies, and it was brought to life in the arena! Love.

Photo Credit:  Disney On Ice

After a brief Intermission, we return to everyone’s favorite Ice Princess, Elsa, and her magical powers.

Photo Credit: Disney On Ice

What can I say?  Ice and Elsa go had in hand!  And there was snow!!!

 

Finally we arrive to the highly anticipated Moana segment, and boy did it blow expectations out of the water! We traveled from the village of Motonui and singing with Grandma Tala, to meeting of Maui.  

Photo Credit: Feld Entertainment

Photo Credit: Feld Entertainment

Perhaps my favorite highlight was the larger-than-life Tamatoa singing “Shiny” with the whole Honda Center reflecting like a disco ball!

Of course, no Disney On Ice show would be complete without a roundup of all our favorites joining together on the ice for a final exuberant number!

Photo Credit: Disney On Ice

We had such a great time as a family!  Although we were given tickets to the show, all opinions expressed are genuine and true, and I will continue this tradition as long as the kids want to go!  It has become such a highlight of the season for us.  Have you been to a Disney On Ice show yet?

Look at THIS POST for dates in the Southern California area and additional tips.  AND use CODE:  MOM20 to save 20% off on select date!  SoCal Dates run until Jan. 27th (including San Diego)!

 

 

SoCal Family Fun Night: Chinese Lantern Festival

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I’ve been gone a minute, I know.  This Kindergarten Life is no joke!   I am very much looking forward to a family fun night for some quality time this weekend at the Hanart Culture’s Chinese Lantern Festival coming to the Pomona Fairplex!  This is the first year the festival is making its way to California and I know it is going to be a wondrous experience for the family.

I’ve long wanted to take the kids to a lantern or light up the sky festival, but they’re always too far and/or too late with little ones.  Not to mention, it’s rather scary to light flaming lanterns with toddlers afoot!

The Chinese Lantern Festival is perfect for families and friends of all ages and sizes!  Most of the 1000+ lanterns are lit up with LED lights, producing bright, beautiful sculptures to safely enjoy.  This year’s theme is “The Wild” and showcases various animals from all continents of the world, some even from the past!  Totally “Instagram-worthy!”

Lanterns have evolved from Buddhist traditions in China, to a treasured and modernized art form excited to be shared with other cultures around the globe.  Lanterns are now synonymous with joyous occasions to celebrate with loved ones.  The festival is not just limited to lantern displays, however!  There will be an immersive multicultural experience that include Chinese folk artists demonstrating crafts, twice-daily live Kung-Fu Martial Arts performances, Dinosaur Rides and a children’s play area, an artist’s marketplace, and a variety of Asian cuisines to choose from.

**DISCLAIMER: My family is invited to this event free of charge, but all opinions and enthusiasm are 100% my own!**

 

INFO:

WHERE:

Pomona Fairplex

1101 McKinley Ave.

Pomona, CA 91768

 

WHEN:

Beginning November 15th – January 6, 2019

Thursday through Sunday (including Holidays)

5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (No admittance after 9:20 p.m.)

 

TICKETS:

Tickets can be purchased at the event or online prior to your visit at https://www.chineselanternfestival.com/tickets. I highly recommend doing this for significant savings!

  • Tickets are $27 at the door or $21 online for adults, $23 at the door or $19 online for
    senior citizens, $19 at the door or $15.50 online for children ages 4-12 and free for children ages 4 and younger.  No pets allowed except service dogs

 

  • Tickets: You may present a printed ticket, or show us on your mobile device your electronic ticket.

  • Refund Policy: Refunds up to 1 day before event.

  • Fairplex Parking: $12/car

  • Weather Conditions: Rain and strong wind can affect everyone’s plans. When rain or high wind comes, patrons will be allowed to use their tickets for another time.

  • *** WITH SOCAL FIRES GOING ON, ADVISE CHECK @chineselanternfest and www.chineselanternfestival.com TO CONFIRM BEFORE EVENT.***

Connection and Updates:

 

 

 

 

Summer Unboxing with Rockets of Awesome!

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It’s been a very hectic Spring leading up to the Summer. So much so that when Rockets of Awesome approached us, I was in the midst of our back-to-back trips. Subscription boxes are all the rage these days, and definitely something every busy mom could use and appreciate! Honestly, as much as I love to shop, I can’t remember the last time I really had the time to go to the mall for an actual shopping trip. After taking a peek at their fun Insta, I hopped on over to their site to take the easy Style Quiz. If there’s something that I do love to do late at night , are silly quizzes. These were so fun, I had to do them for both kids of course!

After a few simple selections, we were done! A stylist would compile the first box for you, OR you could choose from specific items. I loved that they actually were concerned about what your child absolutely would NOT wear, because if you have an opinionated child(ren), such as my own, you would know the challenge getting dressed can be. Still, a surprise is always fun, and Kaitlyn is obsessed with blind boxes and unboxing videos, so we chose that option.  I took so many videos of Kaitlyn unveiling all her new pieces. I love her enthusiasm for everything! It also surprised me what some of her favorites were!

This navy blue top was her absolute favorite because of the soft, stretchy fabric, and the bedazzled stars! It would be perfect for 4th of July and Labor Day!  These glittery, yet soft, dolphin-style terry shorts make for a comfy summer staple.

No surprise here, this rainbow sunnies adorned kitty tee, and glittery pink tutu skirt were huge hits.  She called it her “confetti pop” skirt. I think she would wear this outfit every day if I let her!

It’s no secret we love Disneyland, and this comfy cotton tee is perfect for summer days at the park.  The various graphics seem to encapsulate favorites of young girls everywhere!

Posing with “Disgust”

The best part of the subscription for me, the mama: the service, shipping, and returns are FREE!  You only pay for what you keep, and they send you a return label and mailer in the package.  With the preview option before shipping, I already knew what we would be getting, so we didn’t choose to return anything at all.  Prices and quality seem comparable to CrewCuts or Gap Kids, and best of all, I heard zero complaints about itchiness!

And for the extremely hot summer days, where you need to beat the heat, the box makes for an excellent indoor activity.

Rockets of Awesome’s Summer Box couldn’t have come at a better time.  With Kaitlyn starting school NEXT WEEK, I just haven’t had time or prioritized “back-to-school” shopping.  We received a great bunch of staples and I can focus my time on creating cherished memories.  After all, with only 18 Summers, memories are what really matters!

 

You can try Rockets of Awesome for 20% OFF with my code: VIV20!  

If you do, please let me know how you like it!

Here’s to a summer of awesome, and less time fighting with kids on what to wear!

*** I partnered with Rockets of Awesome for this post, but all expressed opinions are 100% my own, and Kaitlyn’s! ***

KIDSPACE!

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Kidspace Museum in Pasadena (CA), has been on my must visit list for well over a year.  We finally had the right window period to squeeze it in today, despite the 100 degree heat wave!  It was well worth the wait for us because Kingston was able to fully enjoy it just as much as Kaitlyn!

Kidspace is a children’s museum specifically designed for younger children (ideally 10 y/o and younger) and their caregivers.  CAREGIVERS.  I kid you not, this is exactly how it is worded at the museum and on their website.  The live up to that claim.  Shade. Air conditioning. Comfortable seating. They really took into account the giants that accompany the littlest visitor.

My little monkeys could spend hours climbing the various climbing structures at Kidspace.  Was I surprised my kids had zero apprehension about the heights and racing up and down alone?  Not one bit.

The outdoor space is what I had seen tidbits of and the bait for my visit and it lived up to its promises.

Reminder, this museum is designed for younger children.  I could see older children steamroll through all the little wonders Kidspace offers in a flash, but for the toddlers, oh my.  This was heaven!  Play structures, tricyle paths, watering cans and garden planters, a treehouse, musical instruments under the trees, a greenhouse, fishing, and THE RIVER.  I mentioned in my IG Stories how I wish I could have been a toddler at that moment.  I was serious.  Who wouldn’t love to just splash, climb, and roll around in this adorable water feature? Too bad it would have looked foolish for a 30-something y/o woman to do that. lol

The kids and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would have stayed longer had we had the time!  Kaitlyn was begging to come back before we even walked back through the mosaic hall!

Info:  The museum is located in Arroyo Seco valley, right next to the Rose Bowl stadium.  Brookside Park is also next to the museum with a great play structure, and parking is free!  The museum is shut down on certain dates related to Rose Bowl events, so be sure to check before you go.  Admission for adults and children 12 months and older is $13/pp. I couldn’t find any coupons on our date, but I noticed there have been Groupons in the past, and locals might love the family annual pass package!

Tips:  You can bring in your own food and beverages.  I suggest bring an insulated cup with lots of ice! Waterproof shoes for the kids (and advisable for yourself to fish out wet kids), swimming clothes, change of clothes, and a towel.  Hats, sunscreen, coins for the spinning donation thing (Kingston was enthralled), and of course, a camera! 🙂

Let me know if you decide to check it out, or if you’re a fan!

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