Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3 Blu Ray Combo Pack Release

Disney is celebrating their upcoming Blu-Ray DVD release of 

Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3. 

Synopsis: 
Everyone’s favorite talking Chihuahuas Papi (voice of George Lopez) and Chloe (voice of Odette Annable ) are back, joined by their five playful pups in an all-new family comedy. It’s canine chaos as Papi’s family (dog and human) move into the posh Langham Hotel, complete with a luxurious doggy spa. But there’s trouble in puppy paradise when Rosa, the littlest member of the pack, feels smaller and less special than ever. Now it’s up to Papi to help Rosa find – and celebrate – her inner strength, which turns out to be bigger than she ever dreamed.

On Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and Digital SEPTEMBER 18

http://disney.go.com/beverly-hills-chihuahua/

Losing Weight while on vacation

Okay remember a few months ago I started my journey with Weight Watchers? Well yea I'm still on that journey. I can admit I haven't been as gung ho about it as I was in the beginning. I have skipped some weigh ins and made excuses for it. It didn't help that I went on 2 vacations in a month. When I returned from the Bahamas I was determined to go back & get weighed in. I needed to face the devil, the scale. I knew I gained weight and I needed to know that I failed to get back on track. Well I didn't gain as much as I thought. It was only 4 lbs which isn't bad for a month. Only a pound a week. So I am happy to say that I did go to my weigh in this week even though my co-worker, who pinky swore to me that we would be back on track, didn't want to do her weigh in. I pushed myself and went anyway. I needed to face the truth. You know what? I lost those 4 lbs. Right back at ya FAT!! I am so happy that I was able to do it. It feels good to know that with some determination it can be done. Losing weight isn't an easy task and it never will be for me. But I know I will be able to do it my way. So I am making a commitment to you, my readers that I will pursue my weekly weigh ins, good or bad. We all need a push. Who else is trying to lose weight and is feeling a little defeated? Share and let's commit together!

Wordless Wednesday

He had a great summer. 2nd place in All Star Speed Dribbling

Paradise Island, Bahamas

 

A few weeks ago the boyz & I took a family vacation. Its been 2 years since we've gone away and we were all due for one. Hubby has been stressed out working and with what happened earlier this year, we needed to just lay back & relax. Our destination this year was Paradise Island, Bahamas. So we shut off our phones and didn't log on to the internet for 5 days. We've never been here and no we didn't stay at the infamous Atlantis. It was out of our budget this year but we have decided that on our return trip we are definitely going to stay there!

We flew into Nassau and stayed at the Paradise Island Harbor View hotel. Its all inclusive which was what attracted it to us. Hubby wanted to have unlimited food and alcohol at his dispense. The people are super friendly through out the island. They have to be the happiest bunch of people I've ever met. The hotel was a bit antiquated in its rooms and decor, but the food was delicious. The pool was perfect for us. Andre was able to swim in his 3ft water and there were always an abundance of kids around that he kept busy. 

 We purchased a day pass to explore the marine inhabitants at the Atlantis. It was beautiful. The resort is HUGE and you could get lost. They have a casino, night club, restaurants, shops, pools and a beach that is a whole separate world. It is so attractive that my husband wants to stay there the next time. 

 We really enjoyed ourselves & most importantly we were able to spend quality time as a family. With our busy schedules its hard to take a break from life. Even though we see each other daily, its really not the same when you're together without interruptions. I feel blessed that I have an amazing husband & son. Even though this vacation wasn't as relaxing as my girls weekend in Puerto Rico, I wouldn't have changed it any other way. I love my boyz!

Cirque du Soleil Dralion #GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Cirque Du Soleil comes to Uniondale, with an astonishing fusion of East and West.  Dralion from Cirque Du Soleil, coming to Nassau Coliseum September 5th through 9th.  Tickets are at Cirque Du Soleil.
Synopsis

Fusing the 3000 year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatic arts with the multidisciplinary approach of Cirque du Soleil, Dralion draws its inspiration from Eastern philosophy and its never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature. The show's name is derived from its two emblematic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West.
In Dralion, the four elements that govern the natural order take on a human form. Thus embodied, each element is represented by its own evocative colour: air is blue; water is green; fire is red; earth is ochre. In the world of Dralion, cultures blend, Man and Nature are one, and balance is achieved.

 Are you excited yet? Well TEN lucky readers will each get a pair of tickets to the Sept 6th 7:30pm show at Nassau Coliseum.

Follow the rules using the Rafflecopter form below. First entry is mandatory. All others will be void.

Tickets can be purchased now at Cirque du Soleil

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sesame Street Live at IZOD center #Giveaway CLOSED

Elmo and the gang are getting ready to hit the stage again.  When my son was younger he absolutely loved attending these shows. They are so interactive. And really who doesn't love the little red guy? Well Sesame Street is set to come to the theater at  the IZOD center with a brand new show 
Sesame Street Live "Can't Stop Singing".
When Elmo gets his furry fingers on Abby Cadabby's magic wand, there's something in the air - and Sesame Street becomes a nonstop, all-singing, all-dancing musical montage! Grover and Baby Bear sing their highs and lows, Cookie Monster sings fast and slow, Bert and Ernie converse in song and Murray makes mouth music for all to sing along! Learn why it feels good to sing a song, but why it feels good to stop, too! What will Elmo learn about the power of musical magic? Join the conga line of fun to find out!

Performance times are listed below:

Thursday Sept 13 10:30am & 7:00pm

Friday Sept 14 10:30am & 7:00pm

Saturday Sept 15 10:30am, 2:00pm & 5:30pm

 Come and play BEFORE the show! VEE Corporation presents Play Zone at Sesame Street Live - a fun way for children to experience their favorite street! Imagine your child sitting in Big Bird's nest, popping up in Oscar's trash can, twirling in Zoe's dance studio or visiting Elmo's World. You never know who'll make an appearance! Families won't want to miss a single picture-perfect moment. Play Zone opens one hour before the show - best of all, Play Zone is FREE with your Sesame Street Live ticket!

One lucky winner will win 4 vouchers good for any performance during September 13-15th at the theater at IZOD Center.

Easy Entry:

Leave a comment telling me what your child's favorite Sesame Street character is! Please leave a valid email address with your comment.

A winner will be selected using Random.org. Winner will be contacted using a valid email address. A response is required within 48 hours otherwise another winner will be selected. Vouchers will be mailed. Contest is valid in US only 18+ Contest ends Thursday 8/30/12.

Tickets are available now for purchase at Ticketmaster.
 Ticket information
• Ticket prices: $15, $25, $30, $42, $58 (VIP) & $100 (Sunny Seats).
• Opening Night Thursday, September 13 at 7:00 pm — All seats $15
(excluding VIP and Sunny Seats).
• Group savings available. Groups 10+ call 201-460-4370.
• Additional fees/surcharges may apply.
Get the ultimate fan experience with Sunny Seats!
Sunny Seats include VIP seating, a Meet & Greet with Elmo and another
Sesame Street Live character before the show, plus access to the
Sesame Street Live Play Zone before the general public!
Here is a great discount offer:
“$3 OFF EACH TICKET!
Sesame Street Live “Can’t Stop Singing” is playing at the Theater at IZOD Center,September 13 – 15! Use the passcode ERNIE at Ticketmaster.com to receive the special offer. 
(Offer excludes Gold  Circle, Sunny Seats, and Opening Night. Not validon previously purchased tickets.  Cannot be combined with any otheroffer.)”

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post.

The Oogieloves in The Big Balloon Adventure CLOSED

To celebrate the culmination of Blogher12,  Family Day was held at Chelsea Piers sponsored by the Oogieloves. My son was so excited that he would get to spend some time with just me & him after a crazed few days.
I never heard of the Oogieloves prior to this event so I was excited to see what they were. The show is very interactive. All the kids were jumping and dancing along with their parents. They are brightly colored characters which I think enhance the child's interest.
Here's a synopsis on the Oogieloves: 

The Oogieloves live in LovelyLoveville, simply the most beautiful and joy- filled place in the whole wide world. A place so lovely that, like a throwback to the 1950s, all of its inhabitants support and bring out the best in each other. From the quirky human beings to the goofy animals to the adventurous Oogieloves themselves, everyone in LovelyLoveville knows how to have a good time!
The film follows the Oogieloves - Goobie, Zoozie and Toofie - as they set out to find five magical golden balloons in time for their good friend Schluufyʼs surprise birthday party. With the help of their best friends, J. Edgar, Windy Window and Ruffy, and the support of many extraordinary new friends whom they meet along the way, the Oogieloves travel throughout all of beautiful LovelyLoveville on their search. They’ll need plenty of creative thinking, teamwork and enthusiasm to rescue these one-of-a-kind balloons in time for the big celebration. But when the Oogieloves work together with the audience, they can achieve anything

In celebration of the Oogust 29th film release I have a great giveaway!

One winner will win the following prize pack:

Oogielove tent

movie poster

one sheet of stickers

frisbee

mobile

temporary glitter body art tatoos

inflatable ball

Please use the Rafflecopter form below. First entry is mandatory. All others will be void if its not done.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Last week I was invited to an amazing private screening of Disney's newest release
The Odd Life of Timothy Green. The beautiful co-star Jennifer Garner made a quick appearance prior to the start of the film. She was lovely as expected. She was asked on how she balances life, family and work. She said she doesn't! Who can relate to that! She did admit to having a wonderful support team including her husband, family & nanny! I loved her honesty.
I wasn't sure what to expect about this movie. Since its Disney, you gotta believe that it would be great, right? Its a story about a couple that have a strong desire to have a baby but they are told that they can not. With all their wishes & hopes a miracle appears in Timothy. He's definitely odd and as parents they try to shield him from any hurt in the world. As Timothy's protectors they realize that being different isn't bad. Its what makes us who we are. I don't want to give away the story so you can get a chance to see it. Just be prepared to have some tissues handy! It definitely made me take a look at my parenting skills & appreciate my little guy much more. Being a parent isn't an easy job but its the most fulfilling.

Thank you to the MOMS and Lipton Tea & Honey for hosting this screening.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green is showing in theaters now nationwide.

The boyz & I are heading out on a plane today for a much needed vacation! We will be back next week. I will have no connection with any social media so this will be a major test for me! I'm sure the unlimited alcohol with help me out :) Have a great week everyone!

Lock Up for the School Year with MasterLock

School is starting back up in a few weeks here in the Big Apple. Even though my son is only entering the first grade, we still talk to him about safety for himself as well as his property. Safety is important at any age or grade.
He always likes to try to bring a toy to school. Although its prohibited, he somehow sneaks one in his book bag. When he does, I have to remind him that he needs to keep his belongings in his cubby and secure his bag at all times. Thankfully his school hasn't had any incidences of theft but you just never know.
Master Lock is helping parents & children prepare for safety at school with an interactive game on that builds awareness. Its the Master Combo Challenge. Take the quiz on their Facebook page to find out how much knowledge you have about safety at school and win back to campus themed prizes too.


Disclaimer: I writing this post, because I am entering a contest for a Master Lock back-to-school prize pack as a member of the Mom Bloggers Club.

How I Survived Blogher

By now I'm sure you've heard that one of the largest blogging conferences was in New York a few weeks ago. When I started blogging last year, all the social media outlets were a buzz with talk about Blogher. I couldn't attend last year but when I heard it was going to be in my city, I knew I had to be there.
I just knew I was going to buy my tickets early on so I get the discounted rates but somehow I never got to do that. Nor did I consider the vacation time I would have to use from work. So I ended up buying the Expo/Parties ticket instead. The 2 days were so busy with events and meeting brands that I'm still trying to catch up on life. I had just come back from vacation when I had to throw myself into the midst of the blogging world. I learned a lot even if I didn't attend any sessions that I will remember for next year's Blogher in Chicago.
Here are my tips for preparing for the BIGGEST blogging event ever:

• Have plenty of business cards on hand. I placed them behind my ID badge for easy access. Everyone will ask for your card. Make sure they have your pertinent info on there such as url, twitter handle & phone number.
• When accepting business cards from brand reps, make sure you write down what company they represent. I didn't do this and now as I peruse through the piles of business cards I have gathered, I have no clue who is from where! It's such a rookie mistake.
• Don't take every free piece of swag offered. Do you really need 25 reusable shopping bags? I tried to take things that I knew I would use or can be shared with family members. I still have tons of stuff to sift through. The only benefit I had was that I live in NYC so I didn't have to worry about flying with the extra stuff but I know for next year I need to be precise in what I want or need.
• Do wear comfy shoes and clothing. I saw so many women in heels that I couldn't fathom how they were walking around all day. You definitely walk around tons going from place to place that you need to think of comfort. 
• Create a spreadsheet to make an organized schedule of your session times and events. I did this and it really helped keep me on track. I had a bunch of events to attend to that were all over the place so seeing it on paper was a reminder of where I had to be.

CheeseburgHers with @MommysMingle

 My most important tip of all is to remember to have FUN!! I didn't get to attend any parties the first two nights because I was simply exhausted. I just couldn't push myself to do it and I'm a NYer. So I made sure my butt went on the last night & I had a blast! The music was on point. They kept the crowd going. The photo booths were so much fun! I haven't danced like that in awhile. Every blogger, male and female, were just enjoying themselves. It was rooms of bloggers gone wild!

A girls weekend in Puerto Rico!

This has been the year of turning 40 for me & a bunch of my friends. It was dreadful to know we would be reaching that top of the hill, but let me tell you its been a blast celebrating! My best friend decided to do it up in her favorite island, Puerto Rico. The best part of it was that I was going without hubby or son. A girls weekend!! Can I get a hell yea!!
This has been about my 6th time going to Puerto Rico, and I have to say I don't get tired of it. Its such a beautiful island rich in culture. Even though I live in El Barrio and have been surrounded by Puerto Ricans all my life, nothing beats going to the island.
I love the beaches, food and the peacefulness of it. This time we went to Vieques as well and stayed at the fabulous W Retreat & Spa. It was such a paradise. The hotel was exquisite and the staff amazing. We really felt like we were in a different world. We laid out in the pools facing the ocean. It was just breath taking. 

Sunset in Vieques

View of the pool at W hotel

Lobby of W Hotel

on the ferry from Vieques to Farjardo

 Puerto Rico has such rich culture. The food is so full of flavor & rather inexpensive if you venture to the local spots. We even had breakfast at a local favorite, Kasalta's bakery which President Obama ate at a few years ago! If you're looking for a family vacation or even a girl's weekend, try Puerto Rico. As they say, Puerto Rico does it better!

The Little Gym & Soles4Souls

A few weeks ago, I was invited by MomCentral to attend the open house of The Little Gym on the Upper West Side. It was the perfect opportunity to have a date with my son since I was leaving for a girls weekend the next day.
I've been to a Little Gym for my nephew's 1st birthday party, but other than that I assumed it was more of a play space for infants. Boy was I wrong!
The Little Gym has over 300 locations around the world and is geared for children 4 months through 12 years. They have a three dimensional approach to learning that is based on three core tenets:

• Get Moving! - Fosters flexibility, strength, balance and coordination.
• Brain Boost! - Fosters listening skills, concentration and decision making.
• Citizen Kid! - Fosters sharing, teamwork, cooperation and leadership abilities.

What I loved about the Little Gym were the team members that interacted with the kids. They were full of energy & were well trained. Andre has a love of doing flips, which totally freak me out. One of the members showed Andre how to correctly flip and she took her time training him until he mastered it correctly. He was so proud that he accomplished this! He had a blast being a "gymnast" for a few hours.

At the open house we also learned of The Little Gym's new partnership with Soles4Souls, a "Big Hearts, Little Shoes" donation campaign. It is an international charity that collects shoes and will distribute them to those in need around the globe. Beginning this fall, parents can drop off shoes that they or their children have outgrown or no longer need.

With such a great campaign at a fun facility, I'm sure to stop by this fall & donate one of the many pairs of shoes that Andre has outgrown. Please check The Little Gym's website to find a location nearest to you & donate. We all have a big heart in helping kids.

Disclosure: A Big thank you to Mom Central for inviting us to this event. I was only compensated for our travel expenses and given a thank you gift for coming. All of the opinions in this post are my own.

Wordless Wednesday

We rock paper bags well #Blogher12 #CheeseburgHer

Kids Foot Locker Back to School #Giveaway

I can't believe that Andre will start 1st grade at the end of this month. That is the beginning to the end of the summer. It really has gone by so quickly that I can't even remember what I did last month! I know that in the next coming weeks I will need to finish up on school shopping. Kids Foot Locker has a great way of ringing in the school year with their 1st ever exclusive launch of the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Crayola collection of sneakers. They come in an array of bright crayola colors that any child would be happy to rock on their first day of school.
Kids Foot Locker also launched their very own game, "Gym Class Hero," available on www.nick.com and www.addictinggames.com. It's a really fun game where the player can choose the Chuck Taylor sneers they want to play in, then draw paths using Crayola crayons to race through school, overcoming obstacles like lockers and homework. They get to unlock bonus shoe colors while reaching their final destination, where there will be an extra surprise.

To celebrate the launch of these amazing new sneakers Kids Foot Locker has offered

 3 lucky readers a chance to win a $50 Kids Foot Locker gift card!!

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. First entry is mandatory and if not done no other entries will be counted.

Quilted Northern Bathroom Habits Sweepstakes #confidentclean #Blogher12

Blogher12 was such an amazing experience this weekend for me. One memory that will forever stick is how I was selected as the grand prize winner in the Quilted Northern Bathroom Habits sweepstakes! Who knew that my tweet would be selected from over thousands of entries! I was in shock when they contacted me to stop by their booth to pick up my prize. What did I win you ask? A $500 American Express gift card!! Wooohooo!!

Thank you so much @QuiltedNorthern for selecting me!

#confidentclean

Enter at Quilted Northern on Facebook for your chance to win today!

Official rules here.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I was the Grand Prize winner of a contest at Blogher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Vacation, Conference and Life just take over!

Wow its been a crazy few weeks. I totally apologize for being on such a long hiatus. I went away with a group of girls for my BFF's 40th birthday, then when I returned I literally worked for 2 days then headed to the events at Blogher. Since it was in my hometown, I couldn't resist going. I am so glad that I did! It was a weekend filled hanging out with some of my favorite blogging friends and I met a few along the way. I felt really awful that I didn't get to spend much time with my boyz and truly grateful that my hubby was a superb Mr. Dad. I am happy that I'm back home & trying to get back to schedule before we head off to our family vacation next week. Gotta get the last one in before school starts at the end of the month. I have so much to share with you all and some great giveaways too. So I better get moving! Stay tuned!