2014 Disney Shareholders Meeting Highlights

• Incredibles 2 
• FROZEN made over 1 BILLION, just opened in Japan 
• Shareholders certificate is now collectible, Disney moving to paperless certificates
• D23 will be in Anaheim next year August 14-16
• Disney Shanghai will have Pirates Land  
• Cars 3
• Star Wars EP 7 happens 30 years after Return of the Jedi - R2D2 is the only confirmed cast 
• Avatar Land opens next year
• New Maleficent Trailer

Taste Wine Like A Pro With BevMo! Cellar Master Wilfred Wong

I was invited to a private wine tasting at the new BevMo! store in Riverside last month with Wilfred Wong, BevMo! Cellar Master.  A few awesome things happened that night - I was handed a glass of Veuve Clicquot which is a new favorite, I got to chop it up with Wilfred before the lesson started and my husband got to pick out hard-to-find craft beer before the store officially opened to the public.

Wine is intimidating to some people like me but Wilfred Wong is quite the character and sold us on wine without being a salesman.  I love when industry folks talk with us and not at us.  The biggest takeaway from the cellar master himself was that it's okay if you don't like a wine but know why you don't.  He certainly has the resume to back up his thoughts:  40+ year veteran of the industry, Wong tastes 6000-8000 wines, spirits and beers annually!  He is responsible for managing the wine rating system at BevMo!, creating product descriptions for all the wines and working with the wine team to develop private label wines.

The 4 S's of wine tasting:
SEE: The color of the wine.  As white wine ages, the color gets darker, and as red wine ages the color gets lighter.  Color can also help you determine how heavy or light the wine will taste/feel.
SWIRL: Coat the side of the glass to help the wine open up and release aromas for the next step
SMELL: Sniff three times and come up with three words to describe the wine
SIP: You will taste sweet, sour, salty and bitter

I actually preferred the more savory food with darker wines and the fruity and sweet food with white wine. Popcorn goes good with white and so does the tortilla chip with guacamole but my absolute favorite is Veuve Clicquot with the strawberry!  I'm definitely a white wine fan even though Wilfred Wong says Pinot Noir is the holy grail of wines.  

A lesson in "corkiness" - having worked in hospitality for years, I never heard of the term corkiness.  It is when you open a bottle of wine and it doesn't smell right.  It happens and BevMo! has an awesome return policy on wine - take the bottle back with the receipt and you'll get a new bottle!

Me with BevMo! Cellar Master Wilfred Wong!

BevMo! is your neighborhood beverage store and they have everything you need to make every occasion special #BevMo2TheRescue
The new 8000 sq. foot Riverside store will feature thousands of wines, spirits and beers along with hundreds of gourmet food items, cocktail mixers, glassware, bar accessories and more.


Get the ClubBev! card - it took a minute to fill out and I saved $1 on my visit!  

This label rocks!

BevMo! is popular for their 5 Cent Wine Sale - Buy one bottle of wine, get the second bottle for 5 cents. You have to love how it is clearly marked!  Over 200 bottles to choose from!

My husband Chris scored Lagunitas Sucks and Bootlegger's Brewery Knuckle Sandwich (not pictured) and I just might have won Best Wife that night!

Visit BevMo! to find a store near you - the new store is located at 7562 Mission Grove Parkway, Riverside, CA 92508

Get social with BevMo! on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest

Get social with Wilfred Wong on Twitter / Instagram

Enter for your chance to win a $50 BevMo! gift card!

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Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post in collaboration with BevMo!  All thoughts are my own.

I'm At The OC Latina Moms & Surf And Sunshine!

So excited to share I'm a contributor at The OC Latina Moms!  I am thrilled to share my favorite places in Orange County and learn more about the hot spot I live in!  If there's anything you want me to write about, let me know!  I hit publish on my first article there last week and feeling right at home. 

I had an epiphany this year that soup is one of my favorite foods.  Making good ramen broth is an art form, you need patience to create the depth and richness for what is basically a delicate base.  Gomen Ramen delivers on that promise of authenticity, the environment itself is homely, making me feel right at home on some random street in Japan while never leaving Orange County.  Read my post at The OC Latina Moms here.

I also had the unique opportunity to cover an event for another blog and had a blast - I think stepping out of my comfort zone and little bubble here is the motivation I needed!  

I always assumed the food in TV and movies were… inedible.  That those dishes had to be plastic food props that were painted really really well. Wrong! I recently spent the day in Food Stylist Chris Oliver’s kitchen learning tips and tricks on how to make that magic happen for the camera. Chris Oliver is the master at making food on-camera ready and delicious, having recently been featured on Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks.  Read my post at Surf and Sunshine here.

Sunset Millennial Summit: A New Blogger Conference

I ended up on a train heading to San Diego a day before Women Get Social.  I somehow scored a special invite to the inaugural Sunset Millennial Summit (lucky me!) and was crazy nervous and out-of-my-skin excited.  Nervous because I have never slumber partied with a big group of women before, most of them I didn't know.  Excited for the open discussion about work/life balance at a vacation home in Ocean Beach.  But you know me...always putting myself out there, challenging myself to try new things and maybe suffering a little FOMO (fear of missing out).  I settled in to my seat and embraced my escape.  My best thinking is done both in solitude and surrounded.  One of the sponsors of #SMsummit, Chelsea of Millennial Blogs graciously picked me up at the Old Town train station and I eased up a little on the ride.  I was the first to arrive and got to help Amy, the owner of Sunset Vacation Rental (the other gracious sponsor) in the kitchen making caprese skewers and good conversation.   

The ladies started trickling in and I felt at home with the loud chatter (everything from photography to birth control) and laughs.  Dinner was a group effort and incredibly fun.  But the real fun was when Chelsea opened the floor to our questions and shared information I always want to hear at blogger conferences.  She threw out actual factual numbers.  Money is such a taboo subject at conferences and always makes us wonder if we are getting our worth.  Just knowing what is possible in my future reinforced why I need to stay on my path.  

After the Q&A, those of us staying the night got to pick out our beds, the home is a 2 bedroom but the rooms are HUGE!!!  I wanted to crash on one of the couches, I'm weird like that.  Some of the ladies went home and those of us that stayed got in pajamas and either went to bed or laughed the night away. 

Chelsea and Amy celebrating with wine and cupcakes!

Woke up to a yummy breakfast!  I'm gonna need your recipe Amy!

Sunset Millennial Summit was inspiring and kicked off the sisterhood I would also feel at Women Get Social.  I needed to be surrounded with women who are doing the same things I'm doing.  Women whose shoes I want to walk in.  Women who get this business.  Women who get me.  I came home refreshed and wanting more.  Chelsea and Amy are onto something.  

Big thanks to Whole Foods La Jolla for hooking up the food and swag bags - I've since been back to my local Whole Foods to pick up more 365 Everyday Value Blueberry Blaze Trail Mix!  I got to try the strawberry jam from Jackie's Jams out of El Cajon on my morning waffles and can't wait to use it as a topping on my vanilla ice cream!  

Visit my new friends!

Chelsea:  Someday I’ll Learn and Millennial Blogs

Amy:  Sunset Vacation Rental and Beloved Atmosphere

Alli:  Diapers -n- Heels

Heather: Baby Bump and Beyond

Heather and Whitney:  Rookie Moms

Pauline and Lynnee:  Club Chica Circle

Tiffany and Carole: Toot Sweet 4 Two

Elizabeth:  The Pirate Prerogative

Megan:  Sunshine Wonderland

Jillian:  Mommy Testers

Bri:  Bri Geeski

Becky:  MissPriss

Danielle:  Simmworks Family 

Dear Tyler: Smellcome To Manhood

Disclosure:  This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Old Spice. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Most days I find myself saying to myself - You are a mom of boys.  Like this is something new!  Maybe it's a subliminal pep talk to myself or a reminder of what's to come, I haven't decided which yet.  My youngest moves up to the big 2 next month and my oldest just turned 17.  Their age gap plus my two middles keeps me feeling young and in tune with what's cool.  But you know, that all sounds good on paper but inside, I'm trying to embrace my baby becoming a man.  I try to put myself in their place sometimes because I remember how hard it was being a teen - boys have it rough too you know. Smelling stinky is one concern of mine, I mean theirs.  And trust me, they have had their days.  I have gagged at the stench from over spraying cologne and wasting money buying new bottles!  

Old Spice sent a very cool Smellcome to Manhood kit to check out and I laughed at the second step of How To Scent Responsibly because hello! I've been doing it all wrong!  Tyler already told me that's gonna be a hard habit to break.  We started spraying the air and loving all the scents.  Not too manly, kinda refreshing in my opinion!  He loved Swagger because well, that's what his generation is all about!  Maybe he just likes saying it too.  Me: What are you wearing? Tyler: Swagger. Old Spice Swagger.  I would personally use the body spray it smells that good.  

Go off in to the World my child and spray the word to your friends!

We want you to smell good, enter for a chance to win a Smellcome to Manhood kit!

• Old Spice Re-fresh Body Spray – "Scent Responsibly" and smell like a man, not a middle school locker room.
• Old Spice Branded Earbuds – James Blunt never sounded so manly.
• “Over the Top” DVD – Dominate at arm wrestling like Lincoln Hawk, without having to go to truck driving school.
• Duct Tape – Fix anything on the planet.
• Old Spice Branded Wood Flash Drive – Important Old Spice files everyone should memorize (Old Spice “Scent Responsibly” education video, Informational Infographic, Fact Sheet, etc.)
• Art of Manliness Book – Becoming a man is an art and a science. It was much safer to send a paperback book than a Bunson Burner.
•   Smellcome to Manhood Certificate – A made-up diploma to add to your LinkedIn profile
•  Bonus! Old Spice Hair Product – Guys who use Old Spice Hair product just seem to do better in life. Don’t you want to do better in life?

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SuperFun Adult Drink Pouches FTW!

I totally enjoy kids things more than I'd like to admit.  I'm just that kinda mom.  One thing I've always been envious of is those darn juice pouches.  Why do kids get all the cool stuff?  Love packing them for the beach, at the park, by the pool.  I always think of Summer fun when I see juice pouches.  But maybe this love and fascination goes way back to my childhood, visiting my grandpa in the Philippines for the Summer and ordering a drink from the corner cantina.  The vendor would pour a bottle of soda into a baggie, throw a straw in there and tie the plastic bag.  Sounds crazy, right?  Oh but it was so fun as a kid!  So when I was brainstorming what cocktail I should create for the #NickMomPJParty at #SoFabCon14, I came up with a kid-inspired adult twist I'm calling SuperFun Adult Drink Pouches in Fresh Watermelon Margarita flavor!  I want to attend SoFabCon because I had a blast last year.  I learned SEO, bonded with fellow bloggers and it snowed!  SNOW in Arkansas in May made my life! So if I win, we can be sip sipping these babies at the pajama party!    

Super easy to make and you can find the long reclosable bags at your local craft store in the jewelry supply section!  Cheers!  

For the virgin version, just remove tequila!  You can also add fresh lemonade or lime slices to be extra!  This recipe makes 6 pouches.

  

Like a #collectivebias boss!

Our Favorite Knott's Berry Farm Memories

Disclosure:  This post is a collaboration with Knott's Berry Farm.  All thoughts are my own.

I live in Buena Park so I always get warm fuzzy feelings when we pass Knott's Berry Farm.  I'm always tempted to check-in on FourSquare too.  You would think by growing up in Southern California that I would get used to the Knott's skyline but the pride never goes away, it only grows.  I just feel a strong connection to the memories I made as a kid visiting the park and now bringing my own kids!  Knott's is an extension of our family, it is home for us and the memories we've made over the years are priceless - worth more than the cost of a season pass!

Knott's Merry Farm 
Not surprised this got so many votes.  We love the holidays at the farm!  We've been two years in a row and it is one of our newest family traditions.  It's Christmas, Snoopy! ice show is my absolute favorite, it is enchanting and a must every year.  The Gift of The Magi is another family favorite - the story made the kids really think about Christmas beyond gifts.  I wish it was December already!

It's Christmas, Snoopy!

Boardwalk Opening
I was lucky I got to cover the official opening of the Boardwalk and visit again later with my family.  I was thrilled to show off Boardwalk Bay, Coast Rider, Surfside Gliders and Pacific Scrambler.  Duke screamed like crazy on Pacific Scrambler and I could not stop laughing.  My favorite ride growing up was the log ride so it was awesome to try out the new remodel of Timber Mountain Log Ride with the family!    

This picture was probably taken before Duke screamed his head off!

Camp Spooky
Camp Spooky is another new family tradition for us - we absolutely love seeing Camp Snoopy transform for Halloween!  It is cute seeing all the little monsters and princesses trick-or-treating!

Our favorite dog!

Favorite Food at Knott's

• Mrs. Knott's Fried Chicken
• Boysenberry Punch
• Funnel Cake
• Churro Sundae
• Carne Asada Fries from La Papa Loca
• Ribeye from Ghost Town Grill 

Knott's Skyline
On a good day, you can see the skyline from the 5 freeway - the kids know when they see it, we're home.



Knott's Berry Farm is giving away FOUR SEASON PASSES - enter for a chance to win here.