Winter Fest OC Returns December 16th-January 1st!

Winter Fest OC!

By Erin

This is a sponsored post written by me for GigaSavvy.

14713589_1186250828131508_944537696896897448_n

We may not get any snow here in Southern California, but that does not mean there is a shortage of fun holiday adventures to go on!  Winter Fest is coming back to the OC next month, but with even more holiday experiences for all to enjoy. Located at the OC Fairgrounds, new this year is a Festival of Lights with 10 holiday themed lands, a Snow Play area with real snow blown in daily, live mini cartoon shows with meet-and-greets, World’s Largest Rocking Horse rides, an outdoor skating rink, a New Years Eve celebration, and more! *PLUS* enter for a chance to win a 4-pack of tickets to experience it all for yourself below! Even though we don’t get real snow here, doesn’t mean we cannot bring the snow to us to enjoy all the snowy winter fun with ice skating, and hot chocolate!

Here are a few things I am looking forward to most about this years Winter Fest!

Festival of Lights

winter-fest-oc-costa-mesa-1

*Some of the cool lights from last years Winter Fest!*

Stroll through a 2 million light illuminated pathway and explore 10 holiday themed lands that you and your family can walk through. It will be a great, memorable time for all!

Outdoor Ice Rink–*additional cost* 

winter-fest-orange-county-oc

It wouldn’t feel like the holidays without some ice skating fun!

The FOOD!

homemade-tamales-e1479668035833Being a total foodie… I have to check out all the delicious holiday food and drinks on hand at Winter Fest!

Santa’s Furry Friends

winter-fest-oc-animals

You have to say hello to Rudolph and all of Santa’s other furry friends! They are so cute!

Continue reading »

Moana is Out in Theaters Now!

Moana

By Erin

Moana. ©2016 DisneyMoana. ©2016 Disney

Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows exactly why.

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) meets the mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), a larger-than-life trickster and shapeshifter who was inspired by multitudes of varied tales and legends about him throughout the Oceania region. He can pull up whole islands from the sea with his fishhook; he has the power to slow down the sun. Maui is on his own journey of self-discovery and he reluctantly guides Moana in her quest to become a master wayfinder and save her people. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, she fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.

Tenacious teenager Moana (voice of Auliʻi Cravalho) recruits a demigod named Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) to help her become a master wayfinder and sail out on a daring mission to save her people. Directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker, produced by Osnat Shurer, and featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa‘i, “Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016. ©2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Disney ©2016

For as long as Moana can remember, through the stories of her ancestors that her grandmother shares, the island they live on had always been lush and beautiful. Now everything is dying out. There are no more fish to be found anywhere in the reefs. Coconuts are dried out and rotting. Plants and flowers aren’t blooming. The island is growing dark. The ocean is calling Moana, but her father forbids her from going out into the ocean. She knows she needs to go for it though to help save her people. Through the tales that her aging grandmother tells her, she learns about Maui. Demigod of the wind and the sea who attempted to steal the heart of Te Fiti. The heart is lost in the process though and Maui disappears. Moana’s grandmother knows Moana is their only hope and encourages her to listen to her heart. What happens next? Go see the movie to find out! It’s way more magical than I could ever make it by telling you the whole story here.

MOANA - (Pictured) Grandma Tala and Moana. ©2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Grandma Tala and Moana. ©2016 Disney

Both young and old will fall in love with Moana. This isn’t your typical Disney princess movie. Moana is a  sweeping magical musical adventure that kicks the old Disney princess mold and brings us something that feels fresh and alive. There is no prince charming or any kind of love interest. She is determined to become a master wayfinder and is a bit of a tomboy. Both boys and girls can fall in love with this Disney Princess and learn to listen to their own intuition, to follow their heart and that working together is the only way to make big things happen in this world. Other characters like Pua and Hei Hei will have you laughing out loud too with their actions. This film is full of heart, but it’s also full of some really great laugh out loud comedy too. You will also want to go out and buy them at your nearest Disney Store, they are just that lovable and oh so cute!

MOANA - (Pictured) Pua and Hei Hei ©2016 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

Pua and Hei Hei ©2016 Disney

The soundtrack is also something you will want to look out for. It is filled with catchy songs and island music. Lin-Manuel Miranda did an awesome job of capturing the heart and soul of the story of Moana. I absolutely love and adore the music and so will you. Also, come on everyone, The Rock is Maui! How can you not? He is the most sexiest man alive, er I mean demi god!

moana57d7ae7e1548f-1

This Thanksgiving make sure you go out and see this one, you will be thankful you did! 😉 Happy Thanksgiving!

Moana is out in theaters everywhere now! 

Like MOANA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/disneymoana

Follow MOANA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneymoana

Visit the official MOANA website here: http://movies.disney.com/moana

Experience Winter Magic at The Queen Mary’s CHILL: Alice in Winterland!

The Queen Mary’s CHILL: Alice in Winterland!

By Erin

*We will be attending as media*

unnamed-1

It’s that magical time of year! The Queen Mary’s 5th Annual CHILL returns to the majestic ship November 23, 2016 with a special opening night of festivities including the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, hosted by Pitch Perfect 2 star, Chrissie Fit, and Teen Choice Award nominee, New District, with help from Santa Claus. Open select dates through January 8, 2017 CHILL is Southern California’s coolest holiday adventure complete with ice-skating, ice tubing, swingin’ sleigh rides, visits with Santa, gingerbread decorating and the all-new interactive attraction, Alice in Winterland. I cannot wait to see everything that is new this year!

hatter-pov-v1-1

NOV. 23 OPENING NIGHT ACTIVITES:

  • 3-7PM: Tune in to KOST 103.5FM’s holiday broadcast with Mark Wallengran live from CHILL
  • 7PM: CHILL opens to the public
  • Experience the gift of giving and donate a toy to ABC7 and Firefighters Spark of Love Toy Drive at the ticket box office for 50% off of general admission ticket. Restrictions may apply.

  • 7:30PM: Pitch Perfect 2 star, Chrissie Fit, and Teen Choice Award nominee, New District, hosts the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony with a special visit from Santa Claus
  • 8:15-9PMAutograph signing with Pitch Perfect 2 star, Chrissie Fit, and Teen Choice Award nominee, New District
  • Special Performance by 14 year old Olympic hopeful, Gia Kokotakis, Bronze Medalist in the 2015 United States Figure Skating National Championships on The Looking Glass ice skating rink

queen-mary-chill-ice-skating

CHILL Attractions:

*Alice in WinterlandNEW!! Light up the night and follow The Queen down the rabbit hole this holiday season with the all-new interactive and digitally immersive attraction. A 14,000-square foot walk-through adventure. Experience larger than life lanterns as you venture with Alice and friends into the Hall of Doors, the White Rabbit’s Kitchen, Mad Hatter’s Work Shop, the infamous Tea Party, Hedge Maze, Caterpillar Garden and the newest addition to the beloved story, Queen of Diamonds.
*Glacier Glide Tubing Run! Grab a tube and barrel down the 150-foot, two-story .
*Magic Mushroom Martini Bar! NEW Experience!! A one-of-a-kind interactive bar with RFID technology featuring Winterland Vodka Flights and Magical Martinis in the all-new .
*Ice Skating! Lace up some ice skates and glide upon The Looking Glass Rink, a 6000 square foot outdoor ice skating rink under the stars.

Continue reading »