The Art of Random Willy-Nillyness: October 2014
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Friday, October 31, 2014

Travel Giveaway: Travel Packing Makeover by Travelon #traveleasier #packflat ~ 2 Winners!


As you all know, I travel, a lot. We try to travel as much as we can because it really is our passion. Whether it be to Europe or a weekend trip 30 miles away, it is always good to be out exploring the world! As much as we travel, we have learned that traveling light is the way to go. When we went to Europe last year we traveled with on piece of luggage and a carry on tote. It was tough because we were gone for 2 weeks and to only pack one bag for 4 cities was hard. But we did it.


Lately when I travel, I still try to pack as little as possible. When I went to Los Angeles last month, I only packed one bag. I was so proud because I still had space available and had enough clothes for the whole trip!

In December, we head out to Cancun and I am still going to follow the rule of only packing one bag with all my stuff. Luckily, Travelon has helped me but giving me a travel makeover. I have all the luggage and accessories I need to travel light but travel smart. Organization is the key to traveling smarter and Travelon products will help you make over your packing and keep you organized!


A carry on bag is a must have when traveling. You can take a suitcase that will fit in the overhead compartment but I need something that easily accessible for all my electronics so I always carry another bag that will fir under my seat. I keep my electronics, snacks and valuables in the that bag. The Travelon 18" Wheeled Underseat bag is perfect for this. It fits under your seat and will hold tons of stuff. I bought a Travelon Wheeled Underseat bag years ago and we still use it because it is the perfect size! Hubby loves it because he can slip his iPad into the front pocket. I love it because my laptop fits in the inner compartment. And I still have space for my other travel items.


I am loving the Packable Crossbody Tote. When we went to Europe, I could have used this. It fits anywhere and then expands to a huge tote that will carry all those extra souvenirs you buy. Plus, because it is a crossbody bag, you can use it to walk around the city without any worries.



I use Packing Organizers when I travel because they save me space. These little cubes are great for your unmentionables and shoes! The Set of 3 Lightweight Packing Organizers are a perfect traveling tool.


I also love the Set of 2 Luggage Tags. We never have a bag without these on. These make it easy to spot your luggage when it comes off the plane! The Folding Jewelry Organizer is great when I travel for business and need to carry jewelry. It fits easily into my 18" Wheeled Underseat bag and holds all my jewelry. The 2 Space Mates Compression Bags, Medium are great when you need extra space. I really could have used these for traveling to Europe because they would have given me a little extra space!



Tired of not being able to take your own shampoo, conditioner and other liquids on the plane? Then the Wet/Dry 1 Quart Bag with Plastic Bottles is perfect for you. This is TSA compliant. Plus, it hangs anywhere so it makes it handy when you are in your hotel room. The Micro Scale is something I have always wanted. There have been times when my bag is just a little too heavy and I have either had to pay extra or take stuff out. The Set of 2 Molded Handle Wraps not only makes it easy to carry your bag but also act as a way to see your bag easily and allow you to put your name and identify your bag. Love these!



This Travelon Travel Packing Makeover is wonderful. I am set for my trip in December and any other trips that come up! Who could ask for more? Now the really good news is that I have a Travel Makeover Prize Pack for TWO lucky readers! How exciting!



The amazing Travel Makeover Travelon Product Giveaway Package includes:

a – Folding Jewelry Organizer
b – Set of 2 Compression Bags, Medium
c – 3 lightweight packing organizers
d – Wet/Dry 1 quart + bag with bottles
e – Micro scale
f – Set of 2 Molded Handle Wraps
g – Packable Crossbody tote
h – Set of 2 luggage tags
i – 18″ Wheeled Underseat Carry-On

This is such a great prize pack for any traveler! I know I am thrilled with my products and I know you will to! For a chance to win, just enter below on the Rafflecopter widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Rules: One entry per person per day. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.

Disclosure: I received a sample product for review purposes. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. Sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes unless otherwise stated. I am not responsible if sponsors do not fulfill prize. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

MARVEL rules the World! #MARVEL #Avengers #AgeOfUltron


If you read my blog you know two things. I love movies. I love MARVEL movies. I don't know when I became such a huge geek about Superhero movies but it was a while ago. It's just in the last decade when those movies have become so good! There are so many good directors and actors out there that bring these characters to life and really bring you into their worlds.

I am a huge Avengers fan. When I saw the first movie, I was in love. I think it's also because Joss Whedon was the director and I love Joss Whedon. But I love all the movies and how they all intertwine. The stand alone films like Iron Man, Thor and Captain America are great as well. And now comes the full line-up of movies all the way to 2019! I am so excited!!

I am glad for more Avengers movies. I love that we get more Captain America and Thor. I love the addition of Ant-Man and the Black Panther! And I am out of my mind for Doctor Strange especially since word on the street is that Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast as Doctor Strange! I love him!

Here is the line-up! And I have included a trailer of Avengers: Age of Ultron that played during Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D the other night! My life just got a little better and I have so much to look forward to in terms of movies! WOOHOO!!




 5/1/15 – AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

7/17/15 – ANT-MAN

 5/6/16 – CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR

11/4/16 – DOCTOR STRANGE

 5/5/17 – GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2 (previously dated 7/28/17)

7/28/17 – THOR: RAGNAROK

 11/3/17 – BLACK PANTHER

 5/4/18 – AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR PART I

7/6/18 – CAPTAIN MARVEL

11/2/18 – INHUMANS

 5/3/19 – AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR PART II


Nestlé Sustainable Chocolate for Halloween!





A few weeks ago, I learned that chocolate might be going away. I panicked. What would the world be without chocolate?? A nightmare.

It's still not going to happen soon but in the past 20 years, demand for chocolate has doubled, while the supply of cocoa beans has remained stagnant. Tough economic conditions, poor social conditions for farmers and lower-yielding crops have put the future of cocoa, and chocolate at risk.

Luckily since 2009, Nestlé has been finding ways to sustainably source the cocoa it uses in many of your favorite chocolate products through its Nestlé Cocoa Plan. Sustainability is all about working toward a bright future and making sure chocolate is around for a long time.

Here are some chocolate facts that are interesting:


I am glad that Nestlé is thinking forward and trying to save chocolate. This Halloween, think about buying chocolates that are sustainable. There are different ways to tell which chocolates to buy. Look for the following logos. 



Remember that sustainable crops are good for all of us. And chocolate is good as well. So this Halloween look for the sustainable labels and keep that in mind when buying your treats! I know my treat bowl will be filled with sustainable chocolates this year!


Wednesday, October 29, 2014

PLANES: FIRE AND RESCUE interview with Bobs Ganaway and Ferrell Barron

Disclosure: I attended the #VeryBadDayEvent #Disneyinhomeevent #maleficent #sleepingbeauty #halloweentime and #fireandrescue events and my expenses: flight, accommodations, transportation and some meals were be covered by Disney. All opinions, however, are always 100% mine.




The interviews with the Planes: Fire and Rescue Creative Teams were some of the most interesting we had. In this interview Director, Bobs Ganaway, and producer, Ferrell Barron, took us through the process of how this animated feature was made. They also spoke about how the the characters are cast, the research that goes into making the film and their partnership with Cal Fire.

I loved hearing how the movie is made. Some people might think animated films are easy to make but they take a long time. Because we had already visited the Cal Fire people at the Van Nuys airport, the interview was more interesting. Because we had seen the planes and spoken with the actual firefighters, everything made more sense.

I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did.



Bobs Ganaway (BG) on the left: We'll answer almost any question you ask!

Q: Is there a third one [Planes movie]?

Ferrell Barron (FB) on the right: First one. First question. Hard reporter.

BG: You know, what's interesting about Disney Toon Studios, John Lassiter is such a wonderful, creative leader. He’s a filmmaker, which is great, to have a filmmaker, a fantastic filmmaker, sort of heading the studios that he oversees.

Disney Animation Studios. And Pixar. Disney Toons. And, so these things take so long to make. It's five years of your life to make. Even though this came out a year later, still, we didn't make it in a year.

FB: Long time.

BG: And so, they can't feel like assignments, because they are something that you're going to basically pour yourself into. So he [John Lassiter] really waits for his filmmakers to be inspired by something, and to go out there, and research it, and meet the people, ride in the vehicles, and come back and tell him and everyone on the team what you'd discovered that was cool.

We hope to make more stories in this world, but we will wait until we find the right thing. That everybody kind of sort of wants to commit to for five years. Because it's a huge commitment, and it has to be a passion, not an assignment. Ultimately I hope to make more. Like I said, I'm still here.
We finished the movie, I'm still coming in every day, and no one's said stop. So I think we probably will do some more.

Q: Do you see Planes: Fire and Rescue as the new Smokey the Bear?

FB: We say Scorchy is the new Smokey the Bear.

BG: We did work with the campaign with the park service.

FB: We did do some PSA's with the park service about that. I think for us it was mainly wanting to pay tribute to the firefighters around the world. We're focusing on wildfire air attack, but it's really for all firefighters. I'm sure you saw Cal Fire, who we worked with.

I mean, it was really important for us, after we'd met them. They became more than just consultants. They really became our friends. I still stay in touch with Travis Alexander, who you probably saw in the pictures. Big Travis. Julie Hutchinson. They really became our friends. And so it was important for us to do right by them, because of all that research, bringing that truth and accuracy to our film making, so that all firefighters really are honored.

You know, that we did that. In the movie, we have the wall of fame. And a couple of the aircraft on there were actual Cal Fire airplanes that went down. We put them with the numbers, and it's the actual aircraft, and we put that in there. And they were really taken aback, and it's such an honor that we honored those brave men and woman that actually lost their lives, but that's in the movie. But, you know, the public is not gonna know that, but they saw it, and it's something that really.

BG: Someone picked up on that. This aircraft here is one that actually crashed in Cal Fire and we don't say that in the movie, but that's the number of the plane that crashed, and someone picked up on it and wrote an article about it, as an honor to that firefighter. And when we showed the movie to Cal Fire, they were like, "that's a lovely thing to do." And it's just the tiny little details we worked with the forest service. If you listen, the fire in the movie is caused by lightning.

Because I didn't want it to be a whodunit situation where we're trying to track down an arsonist. The majority of the fires are caused by lightning. There are over 50,000 wild fires a year in the US, it's crazy, and these firefighters are out there, putting them out all of the time. But some of them are caused by humans. If you listen carefully, on the dialogue, you hear that the caused by an unattended campfire.

And that's something we put in for the forest service, because we wanted to push their message a little bit.

FB: That's part of their campaign, be careful, put your fire out.

BG: It's little things like that that we do because the people we work with, the park service, Cal Fire, they become our friends, and we want to do right by them.


Q: I'm curious about the process. I've heard you guys talk about keeping the scenes versus letting them stay. Do you ever worry about letting something go?

BG: That's what's so great and hard about the animation process. It's very different than a live-action where you've written a script and you go out and you shoot the script. You have lots of coverage, and then it's made kind of in editorial, and then maybe you do re-shoot in live action. In a live action movie, it gets turned around fairly quickly. By that I mean, a year and a half. These [animation films] take five plus years to make. What we do is, we write a script, and then we do boards and do temp dialogue and do temp music, and then put it together in the editorial, and then we watch it with all of our other directors, and then even the whole studio and we all get notes, and then we tear down and rebuild it, and tear down and rebuild it, so it's a constant. So the movie you're seeing is the eighth or ninth version of the film. During that two years, or that two and a half years, or three years, or however long you're doing that, you start to sort of figure out, "We don’t need that," or "This needs to move along quickly," or "There's a pace issue." Things like that. There will be scenes that are in for a long time.

There was a scene in the movie that was in for the longest time, and it was the scene where Blade has crashed. And Dusty's flying around, and he calls for help, and then we had this very lovely scene where Windlifter was carrying Blade back to base. And Dusty's flying alongside, and we're playing temp music in there, “A River Once Stood” or something. And everybody was like, "Oh. This is so emotional, and wonderful, and oh, I'm just feeling so much," and then finally, John Lassiter said, "Yeah. That's great, and everything, but there's something bugging me about it." And we sat there, looked at it for a while. And he goes, "Oh, I know what it is. He's still alive. Ambulances don't go slow. They go fast. Funerals go slow. He's not dead.” So we're like, "Oh my gosh, we gotta get him back, and on the base, and then Maru is doing triage right there in the moment." So, that scene was in there for two years before we realized that it was completely and utterly wrong, and the characters were not reacting in this scene.

We had fallen so in love with the emotion. We had blinders on to this emotion, we didn't look at it relative to what would happen in real life. But, what happened was, that little moment where they're bringing Blade back, we sort of gave [it] to after Dusty crashes where we're not sure whether Dusty is alive or not. So we still got to have that moment. We just gave it to a different character. And then what we ended up getting out of it was this lovely scene where Maru, Curtis Armstrong, who was fantastic. He's like, the waterboy, right?

He doesn't get to fly. He admires these guys. And, so, that's his moment to shine. When they're on the ground, he's gotta put Blade back together. Stuff like that happens, and it takes a long time. That's why you rely upon the other directors and the people around here to sort of look at you and give you notes, and you look for consensus in those notes. Because when you're making the movie you're so into the film, that you might need someone else to go, "Uh, just a question. That doesn't work at all."

Yes, it does! It does work! "Okay, don't get defensive." But, you listen, and eventually you're like, "Oh, yeah, you're right, they would be going fast.” We had some scenes that were taken at the very beginning when Dusty finds out he can't race anymore, and then they go to Honkers and they hang out, and it's sort of like the "cry in a beer" moment. Then he kind of went back to his hangar and he looked at all of his trophies, and then he kind of felt sorry for himself.

And then the next morning he sort of snuck out early and went flying. And John said, "No, no, no if he's really in denial, he'd go flying right then." So we cut all of that out, so while they're at Honkers all talking about it, he's gone, and they go right to him flying. And, oh, would he really just sit around and like, feel sorry for himself and wait till the next day to be in denial? Or he would just go like, no, no, no, I'm a racer. I can still do this, I'll prove them wrong. I'll just go fly now. And it ended up being cooler, because now, it's at night, and now the fire is caused at night, and visually that's more exciting.

You just go through that over and over again. That's part of what we call the process.

Q: Had a question about voice actors. How do you select those? Do you have specific people you're like, "Oh, this person would be perfect for this character," or do you audition and decide that way?

BG: We cast characters that we feel embody the spirit of the character. We won't say "oh, here's an actor, and we want to work with them, let's create a character for them." We don't do that. We've created the character, and then we go out and find an actor or actress who we feel like embodies the spirit of that character already. There's a couple of times when you do have someone in mind already, when maybe you already know you have a character.

Harvey and Winnie [characters in the film] are the perfect example, basically. You have two Winnebagos who are on their 50th wedding anniversary, coming back to Piston Peak to celebrate that. And you want to have instant chemistry between them, and then, from a film making standpoint, it's a plant, because they are gonna be used later. From a casting standpoint, we got Jerry Stiller and Ann Meara who are a comedy couple who've been married for 50 years. It had come preloaded with the chemistry that you'd want to create, so they already embodied the spirit of those characters, and so it was a natural for them to fit into it.

Dale Dye is a veteran, so he's playing the major ex-military aircraft. Wes Studi is obviously American Indian, and so he's playing our American Indian helicopter. We got Ed Harris as a tough guy. We wanted to have Dusty's biggest fan. Someone who's just on the verge of being a little crazy, hopeful is a better word, and so Julie [Bowen] was fantastic for that.

And, Curtis [Armstrong], I'd worked with many times, and I know how great of an actor he is. And I need somebody who could yell at you, but you don't take them that seriously. The more he [Curtis Armstrong] shouts, the funnier he gets. So you kind of go in and you figure, who already the spirit of the character?



FB: And you should know voiceover work is really hard work. These actors are confined in a small isolation booth, alone? Because 98 percent of the time, they're recording alone. They don't have another actor with them. They're just there with headsets out, separated out, having to stay on the mics, can't have them doing a lot of movement.

BG: Not in costume, obviously. [LAUGHTER]

FB: Not in costume. You know. They come in and the director, the voice director, which is usually, Bobs, [is] outside with a sheet of glass between them, reading the lines with them, and they have to perform.

They have to be on cue. And most of these are live action. Ed Harris, he's used to being in front of a camera with another actor, and working a scene, like in theatre, and having another great actor with him. That's not the case in animation. It was their first time to do animation, and it was a big adjust for them, as an actor, to be on and embody that character. And bring that emotion just to the forefront every time, and they all did a great job. We always depend on having high caliber actors like Ed, like Julie, who we know are gonna bring more to the character than what the script may provide.

Like we always say, Bobs is really good about having the script being a starting point. Start there. But, if you're the character, and if you feel like you're gonna say something else, say what you feel like you're gonna say. And, most of the time, they may have just ad-libbed. And Bobs liked better. And that's what we keep, and we cut in, and it's great. But it's a lot of hard work, and they all did and that's a big part of elevating the movie to. The actors you hire. So it's a long process of figuring out who we think is right, because it's also about the voice quality, and you want that to be right.

Q: Can you think of a remarkable ad lib you can remember?

FB: Oh, gosh. I know there was a ton.

BG: "Yeah, they're real," was an ad lib. That was Julie.

FB: Julie Bowen, when her pontoons go down. "Yeah, they're real." And that's Julie Bowen. She's such a great comedic actress. She’s great at improv and she was perfect for that role. She brought so much more to the table. It's one of the funniest lines in the movie, right? So, thank goodness we had her.

BG: With Dale Dyer, we were saying, what do you call parachuters? He said, "We call 'em gravel crunchers." Say that. "Ya buncha gravel crunchers!"

BG: We also worked with Travis Alexander.

FB: Cal Fire.

BG: Cal Fire consultants, and all of chatter went through him. All of the radio chatter, what they would say, "split load," and things like that. And then when he saw the footage, he changed it. He goes, "Oh, I didn't realize that those were 110 feet high. That would be different load levels. Let's change it from four to six." Nobody really will know that but there it'll feel right. The details, all of those details, add up to it feeling real.

And then what they're saying is accurate. And the flight is accurate. And all those help you nest and kind of settle into the film. The world and the characters all feel real to you.

Q: When do the voiceover actors get brought into the process? You said it takes five years, but when do they come in?

BG: The first year we'll spend doing a lot of research. And then we'll start looking into what the needs of the film might be. For example, we knew we were going to make a movie with fire in it, so we -- we started working on not only our research, but on our fire R&D, and we spent two and a half years to develop the fire system for the movie. And, then what you'd do, is, you'd kind of want to kind of feel pretty good about how the story is working before you bring them the actors in too early. Because you don't want to constantly be tearing it down and rebuilding it too much. You want them to kind to come in an take it to the next level.

So you're trying to take it to the first level. Often with our first screening, it'll just be all of us doing the voices. Because you just want to see if the movie works. Because sometimes, you will tear down 80 percent of the movie, 90 percent of the movie. So then, usually around the second or third screening, you'll bring the actors in, and they'll come in five to eight times over the process.

Q: Did they do any of the research? And go and meet any of the people?

FB: They did not.

BG: I don't recall. I mean, there's no reason not to. Sometimes there might be an occasion when our consultants are here at the same time that the voice actors are.

FB: And what we're saying -- what Bobs is saying again, we're building the movie and tearing it down. We do draw it, and build the movie in storyboard, so the actual production voices are recorded before animation, so that goes to the animator.

BG: Right.

FB: Because you want the animator to be working with the actual voice of the actor. And we usually will then videotape Ed Harris in the booth too, because he's still exuding emotion, and he's acting in there, and we send that for inspiration.

Because the animator is also the actor. He's bringing that character to life. So, to see Ed do his acting, he kind of inspires the animator.

BG: We have real time code when recording, so we've known what take we've used, we can actually go in and find the time code of that actual take, and then the animator can watch the actual scene.

Q: But I noticed the planes actually looked like Ed Harris as Blade. If you look at him, he has that slight dimple that Ed Harris has.

BG: Sure. Yeah. We worked hard. Wes Studi has a kind of a down-turning smile. So we'll go in there and let the actors inspire the designs of the characters whenever we can.

Q: Was Windlifter always supposed to be Native American?

FB: That was another part of the research. Discovering that American Indians actually have a long history of wild fire air attack. Mostly hotshots and smoke jumpers, which are the ground crews. Smoke jumpers jump and parachute in. Hotshots drive in, and then hike up to the fire. Both of them are fighting the fires on the ground, but American Indians make up the vast majority of both hotshots and smoke jumpers for hundreds of years. We wanted to pay tribute to them as well, and have an American Indian as a character.

BG: Actually, at the very, very beginning, it wasn't. At the very, very, very, very beginning.

FB: Oh, that's right.

BG: Because we hadn't done all of our research yet. You do research, and then you come back and play with the story ideas, and those story ideas will then help you develop what questions you want to go and ask the researchers. So it's very interactive, when you're going back and forth. And we knew we that's heavy-lift helicopter. It does two main things. It can fight fires and they also heavy lift. They put air conditioning units on top of skyscrapers and things like that.

Originally we were thinking it's a heavy lift. Well, perhaps it could be Russian, because Russia is very famous for their weight lifters. So that was our first sort of area. We based that helicopter loosely on some designs that had sort of Russian origins. So we thought, okay, that would be one area to start, and we sort of explored that idea. And, then, when we had more information, we found out like, we wanted a character that was more connected to nature.

And then we found out the smoke jumpers and the fire fighting, and very, very early on changed it to Windlifter. And then we brought in an American Indian consultant. Because his original name was Strong Wind.



FB: Strong Wind.

BG: And we thought that sounded a little, um...gassy? So we actually asked the consultant. We weren't going to use that name as a placeholder, but we asked our consultant to help us come up with the name.

He actually had come up with the name Windlifter.

Q: Did you go find Wes Studi? Did you have in mind when you learned about the American Indian part?

BG: We looked at different casting options for Windlifter. We definitely wanted an American Indian to play the part, and Wes Studi was the one that we ultimately chose. And I'm from Oklahoma. He's from Northeastern Oklahoma. We ate at the same hot dog place. We hit it off. You know. Just like anything, we cast him. We looked at lot of different people, but Wes was the one who seemed to embody that. He had that sort of gentle giant feel.

And that kind of very, very even, you know, delivery. He's such a nice guy.

PLANES: FIRE AND RESCUE is available for purchase NOVEMBER 4th!! 



Tuesday, October 28, 2014

JOIN ME AT THE #VIVALAMORENA TWITTER PARTY!!




Photo Credit: CarlsbadCravings.com
Do you love a good Twitter Party? You know we do and we're excited to host a party about cooking with La Morena! La Morena is an authentic Mexican food brand that brings a true taste of Mexico into your home cooking. Join us on Wednesday, November 5th at 1:00 pm ET, for the #VivaLaMorena Twitter PartyWe'll be discussing some of our favorite Mexican recipes, our cultures, how we share our foods with friends and family and giving you a chance to win prizes! 

I am so excited to be part of the La Morena Twitter party! I love spicy food. Give me a good pepper  and I am in heaven. I love all types of Mexican sauces and beans. Yummy! Since I am a wannabe foodie, I love trying new products and using them to make foods I have never made before. It is fun taking the traditional flavors I grew up with and changing them into something new. I love using new products like La Morena products when I cook. I am not an expert in Mexican cooking but La Morena helps me take food and make it taste more authentic! You can learn more about La Morena products by joining us at the  #VivaLaMorena Twitter Party! Make sure to RSVP for chances to win!

 RSVP FOR THE #VIVALAMORENA TWITTER PARTY!

SoFabChats-RVSP-Button
DATE:  Wednesday, November 5, 2014

TIME:  1:00 to 2:00 pm ET


PRIZE #1:  1 –  $100 Visa Gift Card
PRIZE #2:  1 –  $100 Visa Gift Card
PRIZE #3:  1 –  $100 Visa Gift Card
PRIZE #4:  1 –  $100 Visa Gift Card
PRIZE #5:  1 –  $100 Visa Gift Card

PRIZE #6    1 –   $100 Visa Gift Card 

EARLY BIRD PRIZE:  1 – $50 Visa Gift Card

HOSTS:  
@Candypo @coolchillmom  @MamaXXI@carogonza, @_Karen
RULES:  
#VivaLaMorena Twitter Party Rules

RSVP & PARTY GRID: 
#VivaLaMorena Twitter Party Page  & #VivaLaMorena Party Grid 


How To Participate In A Twitter Party on SoFabChats!
TIP:  How to join a Twitter Party – sign in! Before party starts, click on the green “Sign In On Twitter” bar at the top of the page!

TIP: Who to follow at a Twitter Party? Follow the Party Team by clicking on the Twitter handle links on the RSVP page!

TIP: Want to win Twitter Party prizes? RSVP by clicking on RSVP button before you join the party, follow everyone on the Party Team, and tweet with the party hashtag during the party to be eligible!

TIP: How to win the Early Bird prize? Watch for chance to share a tweet when you RSVP for chance to win!

TIP: Special deals and brand coupons? Keep that options checked when you RSVP for the party!

TIP: New to Twitter parties? Watch your column and Party Team tweet columns – they are slower paced and easier to follow!

TIP: Where to find Twitter Parties? Check out the SoFabChats Twitter Party Calendar to find more fun parties to attend!

Find more helpful Twitter Party Tips on SoFabChats!

So are you coming?? I hope to see you there! 

Disney Princess Good vs. Evil Collection Review! #disneyinhomevent #maleficent #sleepingbeauty

Disclosure: I attended the #VeryBadDayEvent #Disneyinhomeevent #maleficent #sleepingbeauty #halloweentime and #fireandrescue events and my expenses: flight, accommodations, transportation and some meals were be covered by Disney. I receieved these products to review. All opinions, however, are always 100% mine.

"Channel your inner Disney Princess (or villain!) with a beauty collection that embodies the characteristics, stories and personalities of Disney’s beloved heroine, Aurora, and villain, Maleficent. The collection includes look books, eyelashes, nail art and cosmetic bags."

I am actually the last person who should be giving anyone advice on make-up. I normally do not use it. If I am working outside the house, I wear a little mascara, bronzer and lip gloss. On special occasion, I do wear a little more than usual. I will actually put on some eyeliner and eye shadow along with the mascara and lip gloss. I am just a natural woman.

When we went to Los Angeles for the Disney press trip, we also received some make-up. It is actually quite nice. It is part of the Maleficent collection by Ardell, Elf, SOHO and Kiss. I received 2 make-up bags, 2 sets of false eyelashes and a set of make-up that included mascara, eyeshadow and eyeliner.


I love the SOHO cosmetic bags. One is totally clear that really is perfect for traveling. It is pretty large ad will fit all my mini toiletries. Plus, since it is clear, I don't have to worry about having TSA agents open it. The other make-up bag is adorable. It features both Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent. It is roomy and adorable. The inside lining is also super special.






As far as the make-up goes, I liked it. I am not a make-up expert but I am super picky about my eyeliner and mascara and the the elf products were great. I use elf so I know they are quality products. The mascara was easy to put on my lashes and gave me great length. The eyeshadow came in 6 different shades. I tend to stay toward the darker colors with a little pop of a light color by the brow so these colors worked out great for me.





I did not try on the Ardell false eyelashes because the last time I tried to put on false eyelashes by myself, there was terrible trauma and I ended up looking rather weird. I might wear them for a wedding I have to attend in December but I will need an expert to help me because let's be honest folks, I am a hot mess when it comes to the false eyelashes!



Overall, I liked the quality of the make-up and bags. I love the bags and they will now replace my old ones. I will be styling when I travel!

What I really love about the collection is how unique it is. If you know someone who is a fan of Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent or Disney, these would make an amazing gift. And with the holidays coming up, it is something unique and special to give someone. Or yourself! The Good vs. Evil Disney Princess Collection is available at Walgreens stores nationwide. Channel your inner Disney Villain or Princess, I prefer villain, and check these out. The prices range from $7.99-$9.99 so they make great gifts or stocking stuffers!


Maleficent Blu-ray releases November 4, 2014

Monday, October 27, 2014

Disney's Big Hero 6, Moana and Feast!! #moana #feast #bighero6

I love Disney movies because they are always good and great for anyone. Kids love them and old peeps like me love them as well! I know this year was a great year! 2015 is going to be great and even 2016 is going to be great starting with MOANA.



MOANA, a sweeping, CG-animated comedy-adventure about a spirited teenager on an impossible mission to fulfill her ancestors' quest. In theaters in late 2016, the film is directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements and John Musker ("The Little Mermaid," "The Princess and the Frog," "Aladdin”).

In the ancient South Pacific world of Oceania, Moana, a born navigator, sets sail in search of a fabled island. During her incredible journey, she teams up with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, to traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds and ancient folklore.

“Moana is indomitable, passionate and a dreamer with a unique connection to the ocean itself,” Musker said. “She's the kind of character we all root for, and we can't wait to introduce her to audiences.”


When I was in Los Angeles, we were able to see an extended trailer of Big Hero 6. And it looked so good! I can't wait to see the whole movie on the big screen. It looks funny and cute and action packed. Perfect for families as well. Here is a trailer of Big Hero 6.


Here is a special look at Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new short FEAST is now available. FEAST will open in theaters in front of Walt Disney Animation Studios' new action-packed, big-screen adventure BIG HERO 6 on November 7th.


Like BIG HERO 6 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyBigHero6

Follow Walt Disney Animation Studios on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyAnimation 

Follow Walt Disney Animation Studios on Tumblr: http://disneyanimation.tumblr.com

Visit the Website: http://www.disney.com/BigHero6  

BIG HERO 6 opens in theaters everywhere on November 7th!

Friday, October 24, 2014

Pads, Liners and Underwear, Oh My! #AlwaysDiscreetatTarget




I have always felt younger than I am. This year I turned 50 but I still feel like I am 25. Unfortunately, my body does not. It's been an interesting year with hot flashes, hair loss and a little of the problems older people have. But I do not let that stop me!

One things that makes my life easier and keeps me going is Always Discreet Liners! I never thought I would have to buy them but I did. When I shop, I love shopping at Target for my supplies. And there is nothing discreet about buying Always.

Pf course, some people are a little embarrassed about having to pick up some Always products but why? We all have things we need to deal with and no one should worry. I toss them in my cart along with the hair color I use to cover my grey hair. In the cart is also some Ensure drinks and a ton of vitamins. Being old is hard work!


Always Discreet makes it easier! Always Discreet absorbs 2x more than you need so there are no worries about having a incident that might embarrass you. Protect yourself from bladder leaks so you can dance with freedom, laugh with confidence, and be yourself without worry. If you feel you need a little extra protection, then head over to Target and pick up some Always Discreet products.


They are great to have around the house. I also slip them into my purse in case I get a little crazy and need them. They are easy to carry around. Always Discreet are comfortable and absorbent. Dancing, walking, driving are made easier with Always at my side


There are some great deals for you! Now through October 25, when you buy $20 of Always Discreet products, you get a FREE carrying case. Look for the Always Discreet display at your local Target! You can also Text DISCREET to TARGET (827438) for instant coupons on Always Discreet. (Expires 12/31/14)

If you are shopping online, enter promo code DISCREET at checkout to save $1. Visit this site for details and to also request a FREE sample while supplies last! Subscribe and Save! Discreet delivery to your door at a great value - 5% off + free shipping + an extra 5% when you use your red card.

Remember, you don't have to worry with Always Discreet products. The products are so wonderful for life's little inconveniences!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Neutrogena Pore Refining Giveaway!


I noticed as I get older, my skin is not as nice as it used to be. Every day I notice a little more ruddiness and a few more age spots on my face. It's a sad fact that getting older is not a good thing for my skin. My skin is starting to look dull and I am not happy about it.

Luckily, I use Neutrogena Pore Refining products to help me. I discovered Neutrogena Pore Refining products a few years ago and I have never looked back. The Neutrogena Pore Refining line includes the Moisturizer, Exfoliating Cleanser, Daily Cleanser and the Toner. All products are reasonably priced and you get a lot of bang for your buck.

I use the Exfoliating Cleanser once a week to take away all the dead cells. I follow that up with the Toner and moisturizer. I use the Daily Cleanser daily to keep my skin looking fresh and clean. These really work for me. I always feel like my skin looks younger and it feels younger, at least to me.

I love that the Moisturizer had retinol because that helps brighten the skin. And when you get older, you need all the help you can get. My pores shrink after using the Exfoliating Cleanser. And the Oil Free Toner makes my skin feel tighter. They are fantastic. I will always have these on hand because they work for me.



You can find Neutrogena products at food, drug and mass retailers.

If you have the same problems as me, you should check these out. I really love Neutrogena products because the products work for my skin. If you would like to win a set of these products, then enter below on the Rafflecopter widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Rules: One entry per person per day. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.

Disclosure: I received a sample product for review purposes. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. Sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes unless otherwise stated. I am not responsible if sponsors do not fulfill prize. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.

Marvel’s AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON Trailer!!!

The geek in me cried a little last night when I saw this trailer. I admit, I watched it at least 6 times just to make sure I didn't miss anything. Yes, I am a nerdy Avengers geek. It's been a long time that I have been waiting for this movie. If you know me, you know I love the Avengers. And here is the first trailer for the movie. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.




Like THE AVENGERS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avengers 

Follow THE AVENGERS on Twitter: https://twitter.com/avengers 

Marvel's AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON will hit theaters everywhere on May 1st, 2015! 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Celebrate National Pizza Month with the Cuisinart Alfrescamoré Outdoor Pizza Oven + GIVEAWAY!!


October is National Pizza Month. Because I have been on a kick to start cooking using whole foods and avoiding processed and store bought foods, I have been making my own homemade pizza. It's been tough because making dough is hard. I have yet to master dough making but I do okay.

I also love being able to use different and fresh toppings. I have a pizza stone I pop into the oven but somehow the crust never gets crispy enough. Sometimes the dough does not cook in the middle. Luckily, I was asked to review the new Cuisinart Alfrescamoré Outdoor Pizza Oven. And this made a world of difference!


This portable pizza oven allows you to make homemade pizzas. You can use it anywhere outdoors like at home, tailgating, at the beach or even camping. You can also use the Alfrescamoré to make other foods like chicken, steak, cookies and anything else you can use a grill for.

It was easy to set up. you put a few pieces together. You buy a little can of portable propane gas. We used the canisters used for camping stoves. Then you place the pizza stone in the oven and let it heat up. The pizza peel is great because you use it to place the food on the stone and to take it out. Clean up was easy and the pizza came out yummy.


My challenge was to make a three course meal. I failed at making a three course meal but made a two course meals. I made mini caramelized onion and goat cheese tarts. And a sausage and mozzarella pizza. I wanted to make some sweet tarts but could not find a recipe I liked.


Using the oven was so easy. Once it was hot, I was able to use the pizza peel to place the tarts and pizza onto the pizza stone. I have to say that I was a little worried about the heat because it was cold outside and the oven would not reach the 500 degrees it needed to. But even though it did not heat up completely, the pizza and tarts came out perfectly.


What I loved was that my pizza crust came out crispy! And it was well cooked. I could not believe that it was evenly cooked. It was great. I cannot wait to make more pizzas especially now that the weather has cooled and we can actually sit outside during the evenings.


We are thinking of adding a patio out back and this oven would be a great addition to the outdoor kitchen we might have. It would be great to have when we entertain! You can set up a pizza station and have your guests cook up their own pizzas or anything else they want!


This is a great little oven. It also includes a smoke chip cup so you can add smoke flavor to your pizza like a wood burning pizza oven might do. It's only 35 lbs. so it is portable. You can buy a stand for the pizza oven that makes it easier to use. I found that placing it on my outdoor table worked out fine. The price for the Cuisinart Alfrescamoré Outdoor Pizza Oven is $249.99. The Cuisinart Alfrescamoré Outdoor Pizza Oven is also available at select Bed, Bath & Beyond and Home Depot stores What a great gift for any foodie!

Thanks to the great people at Cuisinart, I have a Cuisinart 12" Pizza Peel and Cuisinart Pizza Cutter to giveaway to one lucky reader! Just enter below on the Rafflecopter widget!.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

It's BO Time! Bojangles Tailgate Everything + Giveaway!

When I moved to North Carolina, I found there were some different fast food places. One of those was Bojangles. Bojangles is a chicken restaurant. And it is super popular here. In our last town, the big chicken place went out of business and Bojangles survived. And I know why. It's because the chicken is delicious! It is spicy and crispy and I prefer it to any other chicken around.


As football season starts, Bojangles is one of my favorite go to fast food meals to pick up for a quick weekday meal or for a tailgate meal on the weekend. Bojangles' “Tailgate Everything” is the perfect meal for those times. Weekday or weekend meals,movie nights, picnics, watching the game from home, all you need is a "Tailgate Everything" to feed a hungry crowd. The "Tailgate Everything" comes in a Big Bo Box with chicken, “fixin’s” , biscuits and iced tea!


* Bojangles’ biscuits are made from scratch using fat-free buttermilk and always served warm and fresh, no more than 20 minutes after coming out of the oven. Bojangles’-certified biscuit-makers use the same recipe today that was perfected by Bojangles’ founders in 1977. 
* Bojangles’ delicious bone-in fried chicken is shipped fresh daily, marinated for 12 hours, then hand-dipped and breaded. 
* Bojangles’ Legendary Iced Tea is made the old-fashioned way – it’s freshly steeped tea that’s brewed every day.



You can also get the Football-Shaped Bo-Berry Biscuit. I wanted to get some but they were out because the biscuits are so popular! But we did get the Bojangles’ 12 Piece Tailgate Special and it was delicious. The mashed potatoes are creamy. The mac 'n' cheese is fantastic and I am in love with the Sweet Tea! This 12 piece meal is $25 and will feed quite a few people.


If you have not eaten at a Bojangles, you need to do so. You can check to see if there is a Bojangles around your house by visiting the website. If there is one around you and you want your own "Tailgate Everything" box, then enter to win a $25 gift card below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Rules: One entry per person per day. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and the winner will have 48 hours to reply back before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to US residents only who are 18 years of age or older.

Disclosure: I received a sample product for review purposes. No other compensation was given and the opinions in this post are solely mine and are based on my experience with the product. Sponsors are responsible for shipping prizes unless otherwise stated. I am not responsible if sponsors do not fulfill prize. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of any prizes.