Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Bringing Good Things Together: American Express Launches New Plenti Credit Card & Rewards Program w/ a #PlentiTogether Concert

Plenti Together Live Show

Typically I'm not a fan of Sunday nights because it just means the dreaded Monday blues start to set in, but when the opportunity arose to cover a concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom here in NYC for The Mama Maven Blog popped up, I set all my qualms aside and counted down till girls night out with my sissy.

Last week we attended the first-ever PlentiTogether LIVE show, on behalf of the new Plenti Credit Card from Amex, which featured amazing performances from Nick Jonas, Pitbull and Keith Urban! Those three talented, and not to mention very good looking guys, sure know how to put on a beyond entertaining show that had all the ladies swooning! So because Plenti is all about bringing good things together, it only makes sense that they would plan a concert featuring these 3 mega - superstars. 


The Crowd was full of energy and the DJ was on point while z100 morning show host Elvis Duran hit the stage to introduce the performers. Nick Jonas crooned hits like "Jealous" and "Chains" while grabbing up the phones of audience members so that he could snap pics of himself. Check out my video down below, hope it doesn't make you to jealous!


Nick Jonas at The PlentiTogether Live Show

A video posted by Danielle (@dellahsjubilation) on

Nick Jonas at the PlentiTogether Live Show

  Keith Urban performed "Cop Car" and "Somebody Like You" while shredding guitar in the midst of the crowd on the dance floor and he even had an audience member join him.


Keith Urban at the PlentiTogether Live Show

Keith Urban at the PlentiTogether live show

 Mr. WorldWide, Pitbull closed out the show with his gorgeous dancers while singing #1s "Timber" and "Give Me Everything." 


Pitbull at the PlentiTogether Live Show

Pitbull at the PlentiTogether Live Show


Plenti is the first loyalty coalition involving major US brands, like AT&T, Exxon, Macy’s, Rite Aid, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Hulu, that lets you earn Plenti points at one place and use them for savings at another. With the new Plenti Credit Card from Amex, Card Members can earn 1 Plenti point for every dollar spent on eligible purchases in addition to the ones earned through the Plenti rewards program. 


Disclosure: I was provided with 2 tickets to attend on behalf of TheMamaMaven.com Opinions expressed are 100% my own and no compensation was received. 

Monday, July 27, 2015

Celebrating the 5th Anniversary of the Toys R' Us Journey Girls Dolls with an Italy Inspired Collection


Bienvenuto ! That was the welcome we received at the Journey Girls 5th anniversary celebration at Toys R' Us in midtown, NYC. From the music and decor everything was simply stunning, while we checked out the latest in the line and definitely made a lasting impression on my princess who will certainly cherish the memories. 

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. 



Featuring fresh faces, trendy fashions & delightful accessories, the Journey Girls collection is comprised of seven 18-inch dolls that offer children the opportunity to take imaginative, adventurous journeys with characters they can identify with. Little ones can select the doll that most inspires them, choosing from Chavonne, the multi-talented performer; Callie, an aspiring dancer; Dana, the animal lover; Kelsey, who loves to seek out exciting new adventures or participate in extreme sports; Kyla, an amazing artist; Meredith, the energetic team athlete; and Mikaella, the latest addition to the Journey Girls who loves cooking and baking.


We were welcomed by a lovely display of Journey girls dressed in stylish & fun new clothing. Upon entering my Audrey was asked which dolls she wanted, she was in such awe she couldn't reply for about five minutes. After carefully reviewing what each doll was significant for, she chose Kelsey, the adventurer.

Once we were escorted to into the beautifully decorated room, it was clear that we were on a journey to Italy. The sounds and smells of Italy just came through the door. The look of delight on the faces of all the little girls was such a sight. My Audrey was a little nervous at first, this being our first event like this but as soon as the activities were set out she was in heaven. Moving from station to station like a little buzzing bee. 






She started at the dressing room area, where she was asked to select one item of clothing to "change" her doll into. We thought it was just an outfit but we were wrong. It was the entire outfit including fun hair accessories. After closely looking through everything she selected a pretty lace dress with purple shoes and bag to match and a few hair clips to finish the look. While she dressed her Kelsey, we had a chance to speak with the creative wardrobe designer Jenny who explained how she used sites like Tumbler, Pinterest and social media to help influence her designs from Italy.






We then moved on to playing with the newest accessories. She was obsessed with two really cool items: a wheelchair, which had her turn and say "mommy now even my friends who can't walk can have a doll like them" and a moped. Let's just say I now need to purchase both, but with such a comfortable price tag, I actually don't mind. 

After coloring, decorating luggage tags and making her own cannoli let me say she was tired and excited to share stories about her day with everyone. Before we left we sampled some wonderful food, mini meatball sandwiches, mozzarella ,tomato, basil skewers and mini gelato shakesit truly was a heavenly display. 

My favorite part besides seeing my princess's face of pure joy was the interactive photo booth. After posing for a picture, Audrey and I got to select a background for our image. Once more, we were torn by the several choices and she ended up selecting the background of an outdoor cafe in Italy. 




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.

It was truly a magical time and we look forward to more adventures with the journey girls. 
Audrey has new obsession and I don't mind the next journey we go on.




Contributing Writer: Jocelyn Santiago is a teacher, mom of three and baker. Enjoying adventures with three  age ranges {teen, elementary and newborn} to the fullest.

Note: We were invited as media to attend and received a giftbag. No other compensation was received and opinions expressed are 100% our own.

Friday, July 10, 2015

They're Back! The Minions Have Returned to the Big Screen #Minions


Those Twinkie resembling, gibberish speaking, comical and mischievous Minions have cracked us up in Descpicable Me 1 and 2 and now those laughter-inducing little guys have their own film that's sure to be enjoyed by kids of all ages.




 If you aren't aware of Minion Mania you must be living under a rock or possibly back in prehistoric time because they are taking over the world as we know it! My lil'  monsters and I couldn't wait to screen the movie earlier this month in anticipation of finding out how the Minions came to be.


This July, go back to where it all began. #Minions is in theaters in RealD & IMAX 7/10
The story of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s Minions begins at the dawn of time.  Starting as single-celled yellow organisms, Minions evolve through the ages, eagerly hoping to serve the most despicable of masters. After many unsuccessful attempts at keeping these masters—from T. rex to Napoleon—the Minions find themselves without someone to serve and fall into a deep depression.


 But one Minion named Kevin has a plan, and he—alongside teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob—ventures out into the world to find a new evil boss for his Minion brothers to follow.



The trio embark on and adventurous journey that ultimately leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Academy Award®winner Sandra Bullock), the world’s first-ever female super-villain. 

They travel from frigid Antarctica to 1960s New York City, ending in mod London, where they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind...from annihilation.

CHECK OUT THE FUN TRAILER





Starring: Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, Allison Janney & Steve Coogan
Directed by: Pierre Coffin & Kyle Balda
Rated PG

Get Social with the #Minions

Like ‘MINIONS’ on Facebook
Visit the Official Site

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Grand Fiesta Americana Launching of the New $ 2M EduTainment Providing Coral KidZ Club



We aren't avid travelers yet but we hope to get bitten by the travel bug sooner than later now that my Crohns disease flareups have subsided a great deal this year.Of course we daydream of where our next family destination will be and ultimately it will have to be kid friendly. We know first hand as parents to a 10 year old that appealing to Generation Z is not easily accomplished because kids today are so easily consumed by the abundance of apps that take them on adventures without the need to ever have to leave their cushy sofa or to move away from a screen. With that in mind, where do you go as parents to escape to paradise and that has fun "Edutainment" for kids?

We recently headed to the Sony Wonder Technology Lab in NYC to learn all about The Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun opening it's doors to its newest family member, the $2 million, 40,000 sq ft state-of the-art ‘Coral KidZ Club.



Designed for children ages of 3 to 12 or ‘Gen Z-ers,’ the new Coral KidZ Club will turn up the dial on make-believe and take the playground concept to another level.With the use of cutting edge technology, the club is designed to encourage interaction with other children as well with parents. It would almost seem torturous to our kids if we had them travel without any of their gadgets and gizmos. I honestly would welcome a reprieve for all of us from technology and social media to sit on a sandy beach and take in the calmness..

“We wanted to create the best possible kids club, one that breaks the mold in terms of innovation, and technology. It is why we wanted to work with Launch by Design as they have created some of the world’s most impressive children’s programs,” said Alberto Gurrola, Managing Director of Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Cancun 

Anna Bada Crema is an award winning designer and the founder and president of Launch by Design Inc. Under her vision the company has become a world leader in creating dynamic state of the art spaces for kids entertainment and learning experiences. While chatting with Anna about the new Coral Kidz Club she conveyed to us that everything she does is driven by her passion to inspire children because they are our future. 





From the very moment when they enter the Coral KidZ Club, kids are greeted by bright colors and fun patterns’ that are splashed on the walls along with international greetings which make guests from all around the world feel at home. After checking in, kids can store their personal items inside a cubby and set off to find their age appropriate zone.

Having to figure out how to keep our two boys, who are nearly 6 years apart entertained is no easy feat these days as our oldest, CJ (now age ten) has been spending more of his downtime on the phone with friends and plugged into his tablet and video games. Recently at a local amusement park I ended up allowing CJ to hangout with the thrill-ride chasers closer in age, rather than be miserable with his lil' brother following behind him.


Young guests between the ages of 3-5, will find an area devoted to imagination and learning where toddlers can choose their own path - city, park or jungle. The cityscape features: Mexican-style homes and a fire station with a firehose which can be used to put out a virtual fire; an I-spy wall made up of Latin American iconography; a construction zone; a Mercado and play kitchen. Next door is the Jungle room, a quiet zone deep in the forest where kids can curl up in a nook with a book. As soon as our 4 year old spotted this room on the slideshow, his eyes lit up in excitement as he spotted the monkey (his daddy he calls him monkey) swinging from the vine. Having individualized spaces based on age is such a great detail that makes the experience more personalized for kids of all ages.


Tweens and teens will pass through an awesome illuminated arched portal and are transported to the computer zone & in the futuristic gaming area they will enjoy the latest interactive video games. With the goal of bringing the Mayan culture into the 21st century, Launch by Design commissioned an interactive 30 square foot LED wall with an electronic game that teaches children about the ancient culture through learning, interactive play and fun facts. Kids will love the idea that they can earn rewards from playing these games and can claim their prizes throughout the hotel. 

If your children are little creatives then they will delight in an Open Play Theater which features a stage with a digital backdrop, theatrical curtains, a light-up dance floor and a backstage dressing room complete with costumes, make-up and dressing mirrors. While the Arts and Crafts area is designed for maximum creativity and offers stunning views of the ocean through three large porthole windows.


The Coral KidZ Club extends its fun and sense of discovery to the outside.  Active play is enhanced with innovative NEOS®, the world’s first electronic play system for the playground, that combines both the speed and fun of video games with the lively movement of aerobic exercise.  In the Open Play area kids will also find a basketball hoop and custom race car track for racing their very own remote controlled cars, while traditional Mexican sidewalk games can be found on the ground throughout. A casual outdoor lounge area with rock-shaped furniture is a spot for both children and adults who want to take a moment to relax. 




After mingling and enjoying flavorful Mexican fare and drinks, my hubby and our boys headed back into the theater with a few other kids and dads to play video games. But they missed out on AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!

Little did they know, that while they were immersed in gaming, after me placing my business card in the raffle bowl at the last minute we were blessed enough to be chosen as 1 of 3 Winners of a 4 day, 3 night stay at The Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach Resort and our prize includes our meals for the duration of stay. Isn't that amazing? We are so thankful for such a beautiful opportunity to share with the lil' monsters. I was dang near in tears, CJ couldn't stop cheeseball smiling while the hubby profusely said Thank You! We already agreed to unplug once we landed and since we haven't been on a trip on our own ever (even during our honeymoon we had family join us) and managed to persevere through a bumpy 2 years due to my Crohns disease, we definitely plan to take advantage of dropping the boys off at the Kids Zone which launches in less than a week! Beyond Exciting!

            



Make sure to follow The Grand Fiesta Americana Coral Beach on FacebookInstagram and Twitter & Launch By Design on Facebook // Instagram and Twitter!

We can't say thank you enough to Alberto, Marcusio Anna, Launch By Design and Grand Coral Beach for such a generous opportunity and we can't wait to take you guys, our readers on vacay with us as we share the trip on social media and the blog, so stay tuned! 


*Disclosure: We were invited as media to attend, opinions expressed are 100% my own. No other compensation was received for this post. We entered  raffle to win the trip provided.


Monday, July 6, 2015

Kicking Off Summer Vacation at Cabana Cove Grill's Blog-B-Q at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor


Six Flag's Great Adventure

Can you think of a better way to kick off summer vacation then to spend it splashing around in the water, soaking up the sun and diggin' into some delish food on a Friday afternoon? Summer is meant for fun adventures with family and friends, so we couldn't pass up the opportunity to head to Great Adventure's Hurricane Harbor in Jackson, New Jersey to try their assortment of lunches at the new Cabana Cove Grill for a wonderful Blog-B-Q. Unlike the lil' monsters and I, my hubby had been to Hurricane Harbor in the past and couldn't wait to get the boys in the water after we tried out the menu. 


Despite the cloudy skies, the weather was warm and we knew we were going to enjoy the day with our blogger friends and their families. Hurricane Harbor definitely gives you a laid back, mellow feel in comparison to it's counter part Great Adventures. It was great that we couldn't hear the loud whirling rides in the distance an could just kick back. We were greeted by super friendly Cabana Cove staff that guided us to our private cabanas for the day, which was a really nice experience. They were extremely attentive and offered their assistance often, and offered us refreshing fruit smoothies while we got acclimated.

Have you ever rented a Cabana at an amusement park or resort before? Renting one was new to us but everyone enjoyed t for sure. The kids were so excited, they kept referring to the cabanas as "home" and would run from one to the next to visit each other. Each cabana came furnished with a  a few chairs, table, a fan and a fridge for comfort and convenience.  

Six Flag's Great Adventure


After we all dropped off our belongings we headed for lunch at the outdoor bar and grill  and gathered around tables that overlooked the wave pool. My boys chose the foot-long hotdog and grilled chicken sandwich with chips, while the hubby ordered a Jerk chicken sandwich {he's Jamaican, so any chance he gets to indulge in Jerk-anything he will} and I had the fresh Jerk chicken Caesar salad. 

The food was prepared in front of us, while the cooks chatted with the kids and we were given large red tumblers that allowed us to get refills on drinks throughout the day. The menu has something for everyone and offered generous size portions that left us all happily full. Sometimes it's nice to just "Go" somewhere without worrying about packing lunches for the day like we normally do for our day excursions. The great thing about renting a cabana is that the packages for up to 4 people provide you with food!

 Six Flag's Great Adventure

Six Flag's Great Adventure

Six Flag's Great Adventure

Six Flag's Great Adventure

After chowing down and relaxing, it was time to SPLASH AROUND!







It was nice to watch my boys relax after a very hectic school year and I was so proud of them for being brave enough to jump in the Blue Lagoon wave pool with their daddy and friends. The older kids had the best time because there were way more attractions geared towards them, they had a blast on The Cobra and The Bamboo and Reef Runner and the littlest monsters enjoyed a few spins around the lazy river.










If you're looking for a little escape from the hustle and bustle we'd definitely recommend living it up poolside to enjoy the cabana experience and lunch at their outdoor grill and bar Cabana Cove. Thanks for having us Six Flag's Hurricane Harbor, we had a fantastic time!

     
Disclosure: We were invited for a media day with complimentary admittance. Opinions expressed are 100% my own and no compensation was received for this post.

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