Archive | What’s Going On? RSS feed for this section

EXCLUSIVE JOURNEY GIRLS ITALY INSPIRED DOLL COLLECTION AT TOYS R US

23 Jul

My daughter was so excited to hear that we were invited to Toys R Us in Times Square, NYC to get a sneak peek of the latest Journey Girls collection – dolls, fashions, accessories and feast on playful dishes and treats inspired by the country that the Journey Girls are exploring in 2015.

As we arrived we were greeted by al the beautiful dolls. Each child was told to pick the doll they liked. Some kids wanted more than one. Can you blame them? They all rock!! I wanted all the outfits. Lol. Very fashionable and had awesome accessories. 

Here are the names and descriptions of the Journey Girls dolls which will be available for $39.99 each, exclusively at Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com/JourneyGirls for ages 6 years and up, beginning this September:

Chavonne, a multi-talented performer, will guide the girls through Milan, the City of Theatres, in a black-and-white striped top under a vibrant pink petite coat and trendy floral pants that match her navy slip-on shoes. No batteries required.

 

Journey Girl® Callie from Toys“R”Us®

Callie will seek out the best shops to show her friends the latest fashion trends, while wearing a black-and-white mini dress paired with an embroidered, blush colored jacket and elegant pink shoes and headband to complement her entire look. No batteries required.

 

Journey Girl® Dana from Toys“R”Us®

Dana, an animal lover, will be sure to stop by her favorite parco nazionale and protected reserves which are home to a variety of wildlife, all while dressed in a silver knit sweater and brown faux-fur vest with jeans, along with a leopard-print tote bag and chic brown boots. No batteries required.

 

Journey Girl® Kelsey from Toys“R”Us®

Adventure seeker Kelsey will challenge herself by taking on the best hiking trails and exploring marine life within Italy’s 4,000-plus miles of coastline! While out on the town, Kelsey will sport a grey and blue embroidered shift dress with navy headband, as well as a navy and emerald faux-leather shoulder handbag and navy flat shoes. No batteries required.
Journey Girl® Kyla from Toys“R”Us®

Kyla is ready to find the best spots rich with art and culture, dressed to explore the Italian art scene in a ‘Ciao!’ printed top with striped sleeves, pink wrap skirt, a black and white clutch and floral and classic pink flats. No batteries required.

 

Journey Girl® Meredith from Toys“R”Us®

Meredith’s athletic charm will help inspire all her friends to partake in awesome quests in Italy, and her sense of style will shine bright, as she dons a blue sparkle t-shirt, white striped circle skirt, pink handbag and trendy pink shoes. No batteries required.

 

Journey Girl® Mikaella from Toys“R”Us®

Mikaella, outfitted in a purple knit sweater with silver embroidery detail, metallic silver brocade pants, black flats and an elegant silver and pink envelope clutch handbag, will lead her friends to the finest cafes and pasticcerias in town. No batteries required. Available now in Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com. 

Dana was the most popular doll of the afternoon which is who my daughter picked. Of course she would also love to collect them all. Once inside the kids took their dolls to the accessories station to collect new outfits, shoes, hair clips, etc. there was a photo booth with backdrops of Italy, canolli making table, arts and craft and the lunch and dessert was so delicious. 

Here’s what Toys R Us had to say: 

 Toys“R”Us® announced that it is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its award-winning*, private label Journey Girls® brand with an updated collection of artfully crafted fashions and highly detailed accessories. Beginning this September, customers will find their favorite dolls outfitted in styles perfect for their next Journey Girls adventure, an Italian excursion, in stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com/JourneyGirls. The company designed this quality 18-inch doll line in 2010 as an affordable option – at $39.99 – for doll enthusiasts and collectors of all ages. What began as a collection of four dolls and complementary fashions, has expanded to a selection of seven dolls, hundreds of mix-and-match clothing options and dozens of must-have accessories. In the five years since the brand’s inception, Journey Girls characters have gone on worldwide adventures spanning 20,000 miles around the globe, from London to Paris and now Italy, adding to their individual and collective backstory.

In preparation for the 2015 holiday season, Toys“R”Us is stocking its inventory with new, adorable fashions and accessories that help extend imaginative play. From furniture and pets, to stylish clothing and hair salon sets, all fashions and accessories are quality made, realistically detailed and scaled to fit 18-inch dolls. The brand also offers a wheelchair and crutch accessories set, providing children with disabilities the opportunity to reflect themselves during playtime. To coincide with the launch of the latest dolls, new Journey Girls accessories will debut in Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com this September, including a Best in Class School Set, Birthday Celebration Set and Pet Grooming Set.

 The Journey Girls brand is currently available for purchase at all Toys“R”Us stores across the U.S., and select stores in International  markets across the world, including Australia, Canada, France, Spain and the U.K., among many others.

Additionally, to celebrate the gal-pals’ fifth anniversary trip to Italy, the company is encouraging parents and kids to share their Journey Girls experiences with @ToysRUs on Instagram and Twitter, as well as Facebook.com/Toysrus. Fans are invited to post photos of themselves and their dolls traveling the country – or even the globe – as well as engage with one another and Toys“R”Us using #JourneyGirls. For enthusiasts looking for Journey Girls inspiration online, the Toys“R”Us Pinterest page, Pinterest.com/Toysrus, will feature the dolls’ different fashion looks, delicious Italian treat ideas, do-it-yourself arts and crafts and more.

We had a fabulous time and even the boys came and supported Journey Girls. It was a fun day that will always be remembered. My daughter plays with her doll everyday and can’t wait to get her some siblings. Maybe one day we can visit Italy. 

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. We were invited to this event at Toys R Us and was given a doll. Opinions are 100% mine as always. 

   
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
   

Momtrends Back To School Bash Recap 

23 Jul

I still have two kids to go that are still in school so when there’s a Back to School Bash to attend I’m down. I want to see the latest trends in school supplies, clothes and even a few things for myself. Did someone say Lysol? 

I was ready to see what Momtrends Back to School Bash was bringing to the table this year. Well all I have to say is Marvelous Darling!!! Of course it was all about the models. All of the kids did an amazing job showing clothing from Matilda Jane and Stride Rite. This year it was all about the girls. Sorry boys. Love the ruffles and prints that Matilda Jane offer. I’ve always been a fan. Even the book bag has ruffles. We got one in our swag bag. My daughter loves it. Stride Rite took it up a notch and came out with machine washable Made2Play kid shoes line. Say what now? Yes parents, let your kids get dirty. No more worrying because those muddy shoes can go right in the washing machine. Separate from clothes of course. Those are on my back to school list. 

Mabel’s Labels are always a must when school is in session. My daughter and I take pride in labeling everything. Folders, backpacks, clothes, lunchboxes, we do it all. I was glad to stock up on more and there’s a few new labels as well. 

Lysol anyone? Uh, yes!!!! Not only is my apartment stocked with Lysol but I make sure the teachers get a decent supply as well. I’m a germaphobe and if you’re ever around me you know I always pull out some type of sanitizer or wipes. Germs, deleted!! My kids know I don’t play. Don’t touch nothing. Lol. 99.9% viruses and bacteria are killed thanks to Lysol. 

The majority of attendees are parents and sometimes our babysitters cancel at the last minute or we just don’t know who to trust. What about date nights? Shouldn’t  the adults enjoy a few nights out too? Thanks to Date Night now by SitterCity this amazing company will help you find trusted babysitters that were hand picked. How awesome is that? They got you covered. 

Inside the swag bag was Play-Doh. My daughter loves her some Play-Doh. Growing up I loved it too so I see where she gets it from. She can make amazing things. I often find myself playing with her and sometimes without. Lol. It’s so fun. 

WallPops are the hottest wall art around. The most fashionable peel and stick wall decals. My daughter likes to stick her calendar on her desk. I want to decorate my bathroom or kitchen. The patterns and colors are fun. Dry erase maps and calendars and wall word decals are just some of the wall art you can choose from. Have a ball and get to decorating!!

More Sponsors:
Vamousse

ThredUp

Indigo Rooftop

GlamSquad

I had a great time with friends and a big shout out to Momtrends and all the Sponsors. 

For more info check out @Momtrends on Twitter.

Some photos compliments of Momtrends.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 

   
    
 

A Stella & Dot Afternoon In Central Park 

23 Jul

I absolutely love collecting accessories. Growing up I was only into gold jewelry and small handbags. I’d say for the past 20 years I’ve been collecting scarves, handbags, jewelry  of all kinds. Statement necklaces were always hard for me to find because It had to stand out. I never tried bold colors but I notice how great they looked and give your outfit that pop. 

Stella & Dot is an incredible, boutique style jewelry and accessories available exclusively through in-home Trunk Shows by Independent Stylists and online. The one of a kind collections are designed by celebrated New York designers and featured in countless television shows and magazines, including Vogue, Elle, People, In Style and Lucky Magazine as well as on the wrists and necklines of today’s hottest celebrities. The Today Show, Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have praised Stella & Dot for their innovative social shopping concept which brings together the best of e-commerce, social media, personal service and passionate earning to create the ultimate home based business for today’s modern woman and gives her the means to style her own life! G

At an event I attended is where I found Stella and Dot. Their jewelry was just calling my name. I contacted Associate Director and Stylist Jessica Sigler with Stella and Dot immediately and told her how beautiful the collection is and that I was interested in purchasing this gorgeous statement necklace I saw online. It was love at first sight.

We met for coffee and collaborated over how I can become part of Stella and Dot and host an online trunk show. She is so sweet and she could see how much of a fan I was. Jessica suggested a photo shoot to show my readers a few of my favorite pieces of jewelry, and how to throw in a scarf and handbag all from Stella and Dot. She wanted my readers to see how beautiful the jewelry looks on me. You can dress up your outfit with these gorgeous accessories or dress it down. 

Take a look below at what I wore. What colors do you see in the statement necklace? Did you notice the cuff? What about the earrings? Would you dress up or keep it casual? What’s your style? 
I am hosting an Online Trunk Show of the latest and greatest pieces! Shop the link here: http://www.stelladot.com/ts/hjq86 ! This is the first look of two shoots with some of my favorites, including the gorgeous Palmia Necklace, Nancy Studs in gold and the Becker Cuff. I am also a huge fan of the Signature Engraveable Bar Necklace. 

 All  shoppers will be eligible for Trunk Show Exclusive Offers (certain pieces at 50% off!) as well as be entered to win free jewelry and pieces at 50% off. Happy shopping!

Awesome photography taken by Michelle Mouthapong. Check her out!!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Lucille-Photography/349340278431140?fref=ts
Website: http://www.michellelucille.com

Twitter & Instagram: mlucillephotog

Visit: http://www.michellelucille.com/contact–booking-info.html  If you would like to inquire about booking a shoot/contact her for a Standard rate sheet. 
Michelle will only be local to NYC until the beginning of october so you need to book before then. 

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. Opinions are 100% mine as always. 

   
   

BATMAN THE RIDE BACKWARDS AT SIX FLAGS, GREAT ADVENTURE 

19 Jul

Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ is our favorite amusement park. We were invited to the Press/VIP event July 7th to experience the Batman The Ride Backwards rollercoaster. I’ve always loved the Batman rollercoaster and when I found out it was going backwards I knew I was going to enjoy it even more. Joining us was Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and the Dynamic Duo Batman and Robin. I even got my mother on the ride with me. When I told her I was staying on to go again she said she would sit that one out. Lol. Don’t get me wrong, she loves rollercoasters but wanted to space them out. If my two oldest sons were there they would have went on again with me. It was amazing! No lines, media went on first and I could have rode on it all day. 

After the event ended we stayed at the park and got on more rides. My mother, sister and my two younger kids enjoyed the day. There’s so much to do and it was such a beautiful day. We stuffed our faces with delicious food,  kept cool with drinks and unlimited refills, found shaded areas and covered the whole park. My daughter took pictures with cartoon characters including Batman and Robin. Skull Mountain, Superman, Green Lantern, El Diablo, Great American Road Race and Buccaneer are just a few of our favorites. Can’t forget Bugs Bunny National Park, Bumper Cars, Skyway, Tea Cups, Carousel, and many more kid rides. 

You know I never leave without getting the famous Funnel Cake for everyone. We stayed till a little after 8pm and will be returning again this year. My family can’t stop talking about the fun we had. It’s always a pleasure when we spend the day with Six Flags Great Adventure. 

Six Flags Great Adventure, the world’s largest theme park, unveils a second thrilling roller coaster experience for 2015 as it flips one of its most innovative and adrenaline-charged coasters backwards for a limited time.

BATMAN™: The Ride becomes even more intense as it undergoes a gravity-defying role reversal from July 4th weekend to Labor Day weekend. Guests can dare to take on an all-new experience on the world-famous suspended, looping coaster when its chair lift-style train is flipped 180 degrees on the track.

BATMAN™: The Ride Backwards Fast Facts:

Soar backwards, chair-lift style (beneath the track)

50-mph juggernaut

Five gut-wrenching inversions guests never see coming

2,700 feet of twisted track

Since opening in 1993, BATMAN™: The Ride has given more than 27 million thrilling rides and reigns as one of the most popular roller coasters in the world. 

Video of Batman the Ride Backwards can be found here: https://youtu.be/Cf_S0DIXO3c

Disclosure: My family and I were invited to this Press event. Opinions are 100% mine and my family. 

   
    
    
    
 

KIDS BY SAFILO NEW CHILDREN’S EYEWEAR COLLECTION 

19 Jul

I joined Kids by Safilo for a children’s vision and eyewear discussion held at their showroom in NY downtown on Fifth Avenue. They were featuring their new eyewear collection designed for children ages 0-8 with a medical-scientific approach and engineered with advanced technologies and materials. We heared from esteemed speakers, Dr. Andrea Thau (President-Elect of the American Ootometric Association), Ken K. Nischal, MD (Director of the Pediatric Ophthalmology at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC), and Bruce Abramson, (Director of Brand Management at Safilo). We learned about the importance of addressing a child’s quality of vision at an early age and the science behind KIDS BY SAFILO. 

I found out my daughter sight wasn’t good when she would walk up to the television just to see what was on the screen. She was about 2 yrs old. I’m glad it was detected early and she has been wearing glasses since then. My son had surgery on his eyes to correct crossing when he was about 6 yrs old. He now has reading glasses when needed. My 19 yr old started wearing glasses in elementary. It is very important to get thorough eye exams. 1 in 4 kids have a vision problem and 80% of learning takes place by way of vision. 

What I love about the new KIDS by SAFILO LINE is the outcome of careful observation of children’s needs, meeting their requirements with solution designed specifically for them. For kids who play, jump and run these glasses are always firm on the nose whatever the situation, no metal parts, no sharp corners or edges and includes shockproof hinges, bio-based, hypoallergenic and non-toxic materials. Colorful glasses with fronts designed to adequately cover their field of vision and ensure proper eyesight. They do not weigh on the nose, don’t hurt behind  the ears, and if worn all day never tiring, resistant to perspiration and dirt. They are super lightweight and weigh less than 18 grams thanks to tuper-light materials. Flexible, stable, sturdy materials to stop the frames from deforming or weakening. Safely 100% made in Italy. 

The colors and decorations are designed to appeal to children. The fronts pieces are always translucent and become almost invisible in styles for young children so that the glasses have a discreet presence on their face. Take a look at the pictures of the cutie pie models I took below and you can see how they look in them. I love all the styles and colors. I wish these were around when my kids were growing up. 

Check out Safilo website: http://Safilo.com/kids/

http://www.solsticesunglasses.com/sunglasses/safilo-kids?splash=true&viewall=true (Solstice Sunglasses) 

Disclosure: I was given a travel stipend but all opinions are mine 100% as always. KIDS BY SAFILO provided me with information and invited me to attend this special event to learn about the new collection.

   
    
    
 

NEW DANNON LIGHT & FIT TIRAMISU GREEK NONFAT YOGURT #IHeartTiramisu #ad #IC

19 Jul

“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Dannon. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All views and opinions are my own, and do not necessarily represent those of Dannon.”
One of my weaknesses is desserts. I crave sweets everyday and knowing that it’s not doing anything to keep me healthy or in shape I decided to slow it down. I’ve always been a fan of Greek yogurt but who wants to just eat Greek yogurt as a snack? Well there are those that do but I need some flavor in my life. I’ve added fresh fruit and granola but was still craving for my sweets. Was there anyone out there listening to me who would give me the desserts I craved but in my Greek yogurt? Well, apparently there was and with 12 grams of protein, 80 calories and 0% fat per 5.3 oz. Ding, ding, ding. My prayers were answered. 

Dannon came out with one of my favorite desserts in a Greek yogurt called Dannon Light & Fit Greek Tiramisu non-fat yogurt. This is a limited edition flavor. When I heard about this I knew I had to get me some and try it out. Now we all know anything that’s good for you doesn’t always taste good but that wasn’t the case with Dannon. I immediately was craving more after tasting the first one. I still got that Tiramisu flavor without the extra calories. Does that mean I’m hooked? Well let’s just put it like this, my refrigerator is stocked and when I run out I will make a bee line to the supermarket to restock. I’m really trying my hardest to eat light and healthy while staying fit and this is a good start. My doctor even said to cut out sweets so I will show her what I have found and I’m sure she will approve. Dannon Greek yogurt cups are so easy to throw in your purse for on the go and take to the gym for a snack after working out or just grabbing one in the fridge instead of that ice cream. My sister and my son even tried it and like it as well. I guess that means I have to double or triple up in the supermarket. I usually catch great sales in my neighborhood. 

You either have love for Greek yogurt or you don’t. I want you to give it a try and let me know what you think. I can still add fresh fruit or granola to this one as well and even add honey. 

Here are a few of Dannon’s websites and social media pages to check out in your spare time: 

Dannon Website: http://www.dannon.com

Dannon Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dannon

Dannon Twitter Page: @Dannon

Dannon Pinterest Page: https://www.pinterest.com/dannonyogurt/

Dannon Light & Fit Website: http://www.lightandfit.com

Dannon Light & Fit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightandfit

Dannon Light & Fit YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/user/lightandfit

Dannon Instagram Page: https://instagram.com/dannon/

   
 

CABANA COVE GRILL BLOG-B-Q AT HUURICANE HARBOR, SIX FLAGS

30 Jun

The last day of school for NYC kids was June 26 which was also a half-day. Were my kids going to miss out on anything? No, not really because they said goodbye to their classmates and teachers the day before knowing they were going to have an awesome time at Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor Water Park. Who wouldn’t want to hang out in a water park for the day? So their summer vacation started a day early and they were happy. 

Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor is located in Jackson, NJ. We were invited to celebrate the Grand Opening of their new Cabana Cove Grill and test out their delicious food with a Blog-B-Q. From jerk chicken sandwiches , salads, Tri-tip steak sandwiches, fruit salad, hot dogs, brownies, cookies, cotton candy, drinks and the best part we were given a Cabana for the day. The food was amazing and we received souvenir cups for free drink refills all day. The Cabana boys kept serving us delicious mango or strawberry-banana smoothies. Those were very good. Our Cabana kept us cool with fan and a refrigerator for our food and drinks a table, chairs and a couch. Outside our Cabana we had two lounge chairs. 

We were steps away from the Wave Pool and Cabana Cove Grill. There is also more lounge chairs around the wave pool and benches with umbrellas at the Grill. This was our first time at Hurricane Harbor but we are regulars at Six Flags, Great Adventure. Everyone was so polite and catered to our every need. We didn’t need lockers because our things were safe in our Cabanas that were guarded while we walked around park. We also were given wrist bands for the day. One of those were proof you belong in the Cabana area. 

After lunch we headed to the Wave Pool (Blue Lagoon). Little did we know they have safety drills every 45 minutes that lasts for 15 minutes. We though someone was really drowning until a worker told us the real deal. We were glad it wasn’t a real person in trouble and I was glad to see they take their jobs seriously and practice these safety drills. 

Once our blogger friends came we went exploring and took the kids to the lazy pool (Taak It Eez Ee Creek) and a few water slides in the park like: King Cobra and Boreas. There were no lines we got back on as much as we liked. I enjoyed all the rides as much as my kids. I love amusement parks and every summer that’s on everyone’s agenda. 

All of our kids kept calling the Cabanas their homes. I thought that was cute. The day turned out to be great without rain. I love seeing my kids enjoying themselves and just being kids. This was for them and I will continue to keep them smiling. We will definitely return hopefully with another Cabana and amazing food. You know we couldn’t leave without getting Funnel Cake and Churros. Our favorites. 

We enjoyed ourselves and recommend everyone to come check out Hurricane Harbor water rides, the New Cabana Cove Grill and rent a Cabana while you’re there. Visit their website: https://www.sixflags.com for more info. Follow on Twitter: @sixflags 

Disclosure: My family and I were invited to attend a Blog-B-Q Grand Opening of Cabana Cove Grill at Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags Great Adventure. Opinions are 100% mine as always. 

   
                

PART 3 FAMILY VACATION CRUISE ON NORWEGIAN BREAKAWAY (BAHAMAS)

30 Jun

Here is the last post of my 7-day cruise to the Bahamas on the Norwegian Breakaway. 

Day 5 (Nassau Bahamas) Partly Cloudy 75 Sunrise 6:53 a.m. Sunset 7:29 p.m.

This is what we were waiting for. I’ve always dreamed of going to the Bahamas and finally made it. There is lots to do for your shore excursions. Make sure you plan these things in advance so when you get to your destination all you have to do is get transportation to take you there. Tours include Atlantis Resort tours such as: Discover Atlantis, Atlantis Aquaventure, Atlantis Dolphin Interaction & Beach Day, Aquaventure & Walking with Sharks. There’s also Blue Lagoon Tours such as: Blue Lagoon Dolphin Swim, Sea Lion Encounter and Dolphin Encounter. You also can explore the Ardastra Zoo & Garden, Seaworld Explorer, Glass Bottom Boat and Paradise Island & Sightseeing. 

Next time we will check out a few excursions. We wanted to explore the island on our own. We walked around the town, took pictures, shopped and found a Dunkin Donuts (lol). We didn’t want to go too far away from the ship. We went to the famous Straw Market and did shopping as well. It was a bright, sunny, warm day. The locals are friendly and as soon as you get off the boat they ready to grab you and take you around in their taxis. We of course chose to walk. We had a great day in town and can’t wait to visit again. 

On the ship activities were still going on. There was a Thriller Dance Class, Name that Beatles Tune, Rock of Ages show, Deal or No Deal, Awesome 80’s Party and a Breakaway Fireworks Display. I loved the fireworks. I tried the keep the kids up for that but they were tired. My youngest son popped up to see a few then fell back into bed. I thought I had video but I guess I didn’t save it. It was loud and very nice as if it was the 4th of July. 

Day 6 (Sea Day) Mostly Sunny 73 degrees Sunrise: 6:46 a.m. Sunset 7:29 p.m. 

Now that we are headed back to New York we get to finish exploring this big ship and do things we probably didn’t get to do. We had fun with the Giant Chess Play, Aqua Park, Sports Court and Splash Academy. There was a great Ice Carving Demonstartion and also a Basketball and Soccer Tournament. The Towel Folding Demonstartion was very nice. My daughter was able to see how the staff prepared her amazing towel pets that she received every night on her bed. We visited Carlos Bake Shop and Dolce Gelato and ordered goodies. O’ Sheehan’s also has milkshakes and ice cream sundaes you can order for a small price. 

The Charm Bracelet event was packed with women wanting those charms. The Hot Dog eating contest was crazy. The Family Friendly Feud Game Show was fun. There was a Family Pizza Making class. The Breakaway Celebrity Dance off was a hit with everyone. We enjoyed that very much. Tango Dance classes were available and a Family Cake Decorating Class inspired by TLC’s Baking with the Cake Boss. Teppanyaki & Sushi Demonstration was great! 

Broadway Star Kate Shindle performed a musical and theater show and was available for a meet and greet after. 

Dinner at O’Sheehan’s featured BBQ Spare Ribs. We went to the Garden Cafe for dinner. 

Day 7 (Sea Day) Cloudy 64 degrees Sunrise: 6:34 a.m. Sunset 7:29 p.m.

This would be our last full day on the Breakaway. We were sad but we wasn’t going to let that get us down. We enjoyed every minute. After breakfast the activities begun. Rockettes Stretch Class, Fitness Dance Class, Napkin Folding with staff, Shuffleboard Tournament, Fruit & Veggie Carving Demo. 

Afternoon activities included: Samba class, International Crew Talent Show we very very good. The staff is very talented. My kids and I enjoyed this show. Basketball Challenge, Hip Hop Dance Class that my daughter rocked and participated in. The instructor was very nice and even met my daughter after so they could dance together. That was so sweet of her. My daughter enjoyed that class. Meet & Greet with Nickelodeon, Studio portraits were available to purchase. The kids wanted the video arcade, splash academy, sports court and aqua park every day. Can you blame them? 

The evening was full of things to do like Family Cupckae Making, Breakaway Karaoke Idol 2015, Super Shopper Raffle, Perfect Couple Game Show, Farewell Party with the DJ. My kids stayed at Spalsh Academy till about 10pm. Hey wanted their last night to be fun. They refused to go to bed early (lol). 

For dinner we chose Mexican at the Garden Cafe. 

The next morning we arrived back home in New York. The skylines looked amazing early in the morning. Even though we were already missing our vacation we were glad to be back safe and sound. There are definitley more cruises in our future. 

I hope you enjoyed reading about our fabulous vacation on the wonderful Norewegian Breakaway. If you need any questions answered ask away or leave comments. Check out Norwegian on Twitter: @CruiseNorwegian

Disclosure: I won this 7-day cruise from @themoms. Opinions are mine and my kids 100% as always. 

Enjoy the pics!!!

   
        

       

               

SoFabUOTR NYC Recap 

29 Jun

I was was provided a free ticket to attend SoFabU on the Road by Collective Bias, Inc. All opinions are mine alone. #SoFabUOTR #CollectiveBias

I woke up around 2 a.m. Saturday morning beyond excited to get my day started with SofabUOTR. I was so happy I didn’t have far to travel being a few stops away from We Work at the Bryant Park location. I had about an hour to spare so I sat in the lobby and met attendees on their way in. As we made our way up the stairs there was a table full of cute lunch totes filled with goodies. I found a table and the breakfast found me. Fresh fruit, bagels, pastries, muffins, coffee, juice, etc. 

After the Sofab introduction and review from Debba Haupert (Senior Manager, Education & Development Sofab University & SofabU on The Road) the first panel discussion of the day was “How to excel with Sponsored Posts.” Kim Janoko (Senior Director of Community), Kristin Wheeler (Senior Manager Community Programming & Engagement), Diane Nassey (Social Party Coordinator), & Dania Santana (Community Coordinator, Colectiva Latina) led this discussion. I appreciated this topic a lot. Who doesn’t want sponsored posts? Whatever I need to do to increase my sponsored posts I’m all ears. There was so much great information told. 

There were a few favorite tips by Monica Pruitt on Landing a Campaign. 

*Share awesome existing content. When applying for a new campaign make sure to share links for similar posts. 

*Photos are extremely important. Make sure to take courses on Sofab University to increase your skills and expertise on photography. 

* Create content that is going to bring traffic to your blog. 

*Network. Make sure you join the Facebook group for Social Fabric. 

*Bes ure to visit Sofab University regularly and take classes to improve your skills. 

Next up, Phil Hollows (CEO,FeedBlitz) Growing your Influence, Traffic, and Making Money with Email Marketing. A few of my favorites from the slides he showed. 

  
Jessica Woodbury (dontmindthemess.com) discussed How to Use SEO to Supercharge Your Posts. With SEO there are more blogger opportunities, more traffic and new readers. Make sure your blog is mobile friendly. Think beyond keywords, organic content, higher word count sends stronger signals (700 + words). Check spam score in Moz. (https://moz.com/researchtools/ose/) Having a 4 or less spam score is great! I have a 2. I’m very happy. Loved all these tips. 

  
After break and a delicious lunch provided by Panera we continued with Part 2 of How to Use SEO to Supercharge Your Posts. 

  
Ice cream from Graeters was sooo delicious. get ready NY they are coming. Muller Yogurt was very creamy and delicious. So many choices to choose from. Kind bars were on all the tables for a quick healthy snack. Noble Juice naturally pure juices came in amazing flavors like Apple Mandarin Chai, Tangerine Ginger Pomeganate, Honeybell Blueberry and Royal Mandarin Greens juice. They also provided cute lunch bags with goodies inside. IBlog Magazine, Coty, Kraft and Liberty Science Center were also sponsors. We also participated in contests. 

Josh Hicks from Mitsubishi (Drive Shop) taught us Video Tips, Tricks & Tools. Before he started his presentation he went Oprah on us and gave everyone a selfie stick. That made my day. 

One of my favorite tips: Storyboard. Make a visual plan of the shot list. This will help you get all the shots you need and streamline editing. A little extra time here will save hours later.

  
 We divided into groups and headed outside for an Afternoon Education Adventure with NYC Photo Safari. I chose the food group because I wanted to get extra tips on how to work the camera on my food photos. We started at the NYPL on 42nd and 5th Avenue then worked our way over to Penn Station and from there we met everyone at the Strand Hotel for Happy Hour. Once again, I learned so much how to take pics in certain light, up close, and tricks with the filters on the iPhone. I don’t own a DSLR but hope to one day. Happy Hour was great with SoFab attendees, food, drinks, gifts and socializing. 

It turned out to be a great day andthese tips will come in handy and be put to good use. I can’t wait for the next one. Slides provided by Debba Haupert. 

  

   
    

  
  

New “Coach Pups” Campaign Launches with Lady Gaga’s Dog

27 Jun

Coach, Inc., a leading New York design house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle collections, goes to the dogs as it reveals its newest advertising campaign. Titled “COACH PUPS,” the new campaign features canine stars in a series of portraits photographed by Steven Meisel. It launches this month with Miss Asia Kinney, the adorable four-legged companion of Lady Gaga. 

The campaign celebrates the dogs in our lives and captures the pups’ unique personalities as they “model” Coach’s Fall 2015 star bags. Additional PUPS staring in the campaign will be revealed shortly. Miss Asia Kinney, Lady Gaga’s now famous French Bulldog has amassed a substantial social media following in only a few short weeks. The Coach bags she elegantly models in the campaign are the Edie and the Rucksack.

 

Art directed by Fabien Baron and styled by Karl Templer, COACH PUPS will appear in print, online and on outdoor media globally starting in July.

 

Lady Gaga commented: “I am so proud of Miss Asia! She’s a natural in front of the camera, and we’re both so excited that the iconic Steven Meisel shot her for Coach’s pup campaign! I really love getting to watch my best friend be a star.”

 

Stuart Vevers, Creative Director at Coach comments, “’I’ve never had so much fun on a shoot. The combination of Mr. Meisel and the pups was an extraordinary, surreal, special moment. We wanted to create playful images that make you smile. We were inspired by some images from the Coach archive, which featured Eddie—the dog that starred in the TV series Frasier—to create something joyful, with humor and character. That’s a spirit that’s uniquely at the heart of Coach.” 

 

This new initiative will also introduce the social campaign #coachpups, including a range of online activities for fellow dog fanciers, opportunities for Instameets, special talks and other events hosted by the great and the good of the canine world. This will also mark the debut of the Coach Snapchat account.

 

Coach has made a donation to Chicago French Bulldog Rescue (frenchieporvous.org) on behalf of Miss Asia Kinney and her devoted owner.
Coach, established in New York City in 1941, is a leading design house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle collections with a rich heritage of pairing exceptional leathers and materials with innovative design. Coach is sold worldwide through Coach stores, select department stores and specialty stores, and through Coach’s website at http://www.coach.com. Coach’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol COH and Coach’s Hong Kong Depositary Receipts are traded on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the symbol 6388. 

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. 

   

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →