Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Pups New Year w/ Miranda Lambert for MuttNation, DreamBone and Hear Doggy #Giveaway



Did you get that new puppy you asked for this year or were your Pups well behaved and gifted lots of treats? Where our old man doggy Sonic the terrier has been pretty good this year, his crazy roommate Nutella the Bully has had some very questionable moments - like sneaking into bed with the kids, stashing away snacks and getting caught in the kitchen and destroying my stash of lifestyle magazines while we were out. Yet and still even when they are at their worst, they are just too cute and we figured our two pooches deserve to start their new year off with some new goodies and yours do too! So to celebrate the holiday season and welcome the New Year we're hosting a giveaway of fun products from Miranda Lambert's collection with MuttNation, Yummy treats from DreamBone and fun toys to keep your doggies busy from Hear Doggy. 

Disclosure: We were provided samples to facilitate this giveaway and any opinions expressed are 100% our own. 

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Lift Your Spirits into the New Year with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater



Disclosure: Opinions expressed are 100% our own. We were provided tickets to facilitate this review. 

Gifting an experience seems so much cooler to me than new pajamas, a glitzy piece of jewelry or a gadget that will end up being not as trendy in just a year. In a world where we seem so caught up in who has what new hot item, creating long lasting cherished memories with loved ones is truly what the holiday season should be about. Dance is such a beautifully uniting art form that doesn't isolate or exclude, it pulls you in and captivates your spirit and mind and to me that's such a priceless gift to give and receive. You'll witness such stunning bodies of art, gracefully tell culturally rich stories to the audience of an Alvin Ailey Dance Theater performance, in a way unlike any other show you've seen. The new repertoires of work led by artistic director Robert Battle effortlessly evoke the feeling of Ailey's dictum that "dance is for everybody" as theater goers from all over witness refreshing works.

Friday, December 22, 2017

Trip to SantaLand at Macy's 34th Street and Discount Offer to ELF the Musical

 

Disclosure: Opinions expressed are 100% our own & we were provided media tickets to ELF the Musical 

Year after year I wonder if it will be the last one where the boys will still BELIEVE in Santa and all of the magic of the holidays, but luckily this isn't that year! We've had our fair share of visits to the North Pole but this year thanks to Macy's new reservation only policy, our visit was the quickest and smoothest ever and it was just the inspiration we needed to get into the holiday spirit before we experience Elf the Musical at Madison Square Garden. 

If you've visited SantaLand at Macy's 34th street in years past then you are oh so familiar with the crazy long wait as you navigate the merry maze of winter wonder, but on our recent trip our journey to see Saint Nick was only a swift 30 minutes! 

Monday, December 18, 2017

Celebrate the Season and Visit Godiva's Rockefeller Center's "Chocofeller" Tree


There's nothing more iconic in NYC during the holidays than the stunningly lit Rockefeller tree, but wouldn't it be beyond amazing if there was a version you could actually eat?  Personally, the holidays and delicious sweets go hand and hand during gatherings with family and friends so it only makes sense that GODIVA is celebrating the season in chocolate!  The GODIVA team paired its chocolate chef Thierry Muret with Chocolate Genius Paul Joachim  who created an innovative holiday storefront display at Rockefeller Center - a scale replica of the entire plaza and a life size Christmas Tree made entirely out of chocolate, complete with a 7’6” Chocofeller Tree (get it?), a 9’+ chocolate Rockefeller building made of petite fours, an ice-rink with skaters all lit with over 1,000 lights controlled through Twitter.  

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Lil' Monsters in NYC 2017 Holiday Gift Guide and Giveaway #MustHavesforLilMonsters



Unbelievably the holidays are swiftly approaching, have you finished your holiday shopping for the little ones yet, any last minute toys you're still on the hunt for? With our first snow in New York officially behind and the start of Hanukkah, we've been counting down the days till Santa makes his appearance now that the boys have mailed off their letters to the North Pole. 

This year marks our 4th annual Must Haves for Lil' Monsters Holiday Gift Guide and we're highlighting our favorite products that we've had the chance to try out at toy events this year or reviewed at home. Excitedly we're offering our awesome readers a chance to win 12 Top toy products for kids of all ages thanks to partnering brands.  Check out our Must haves for Lil' Monsters!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that I can receive a small commission. Opinions expressed are 100% our own and we received samples to facilitate this Gift Guide. 


Sunday, November 26, 2017

How to Draw Ferdinand Master Class & Ticket Giveaway for NYC Screening #Ferdinand


As part of the The Film Society of Lincoln’s Center’s, MY FIRST FILM FESTIVAL at the beautiful Walter Reade theater in NYC, we were luckily invited to meet the director of fan favorites Rio and the Ice Age trilogy, Carlos Saldanha, whose newest project is the upcoming 20th Century Fox release "Ferdinand" and had the chance to sit in on a master class on how to draw the famed director's future animated film star.The evening proved to be a wonderful experience for everyone as the kids were able to see a director's cut sneak peek into the movie, and we got to meet some of the voices for the characters. Set in Spain, FERDINAND explores fundamental life themes such as “kindness”, “embracing diversity” and “BULL-living you can achieve anything.”

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

The 91st Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and A Grandstand FlashBack #MacysParade


Before we can even think about digging into my hubby's or mama's mouthwatering, food-coma inducing holiday meal for lunch {LOL, yes I said lunch because it's rare that we actually start eating later than noon and by dinnertime some of us may be on our third helping} there is one activity that is an absolute must and that's watching the magical Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

This year marks the 91st year and there's always new floats, balloons, and appearances to get excited about. Since the hubby isn't a fan of crowds and he prepares the holiday feast, he gets a pass on attending, so I'm left debating whether or not the boys and I will see it all up close or from the comfort of our pj's at home this time around. 

Friday, November 17, 2017

WONDER the Movie Prize Pack Giveaway #ChooseKind, #WonderTheMovie



Disclosure: The opinions expressed in this post are 100% our own and we received product for creating this content. 

Imagine a world where we were all accepting of one another's idiosyncrasies. Our differences, although sets us apart should be a reason why we are brought closer together because we all know the day to day would be so boring if we were all the same, wouldn't it?  In the movie Wonder, we're told of the inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to find their compassion and acceptance, Auggie's extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie Season 1 on Amazon Kids #IfYouGiveaMouseaCookie

             


Bedtime in our home would not be complete if you didn't hear the hubby or I saying "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, he's going to ask for a glass of milk......." at least three nights a week to our youngest. Both boys have been fans of the clever & adorably illustrated series of books from Laura Numeroff & Felicia Bond for years as they followed the daily adventures with Mouse, Mouse, Pig, Cat and Dog and they were always a requested read a by my preschool students back when I used to teach.

Last Fall we learned of the new series and even had the chance to meet Laura, who signed a copy of the book for Tristan's birthday and now we're all excited because we can watch them on the small screen in their very own Amazon Kids Original Show. I wouldn't put it pass the kids to binge watch the entire season this weekend, even the tween is excited to tune in!

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Celebrating Halloween with Dr Panda's Candy Factory and Home Designer


Disclosure: We were provided samples to facilitate this review and there was no compensation. Opinions expressed are 100% our own. 

Nobody loves candy more than our Tristan, his sweet tooth is pretty intense and if it were up to him he'd go trick or treating everyday of the year! We're really not sure what makes the month of October cooler, the fact that it's his birthday month or that his favorite holiday entitles him to collecting buckets full of sweets. Lucky for him and other lil' monsters, kids of all ages can now explore the exciting and delicious world of Dr. Panda Candy Factory—which got a spooky makeover just in time for Halloween! 

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Haus of JR x PAW Patrol Kids Clothing Line



PAW Patrol fans get excited! Children's brand Haus of JR has teamed up with Nickelodeon for a new collection of exclusive everyday pieces inspired by the network’s hit animated preschool series PAW Patrol. Available Friday, October 27, the Haus of JR x PAW Patrol collaboration consists of fourteen unisex children’s pieces including premium tees, hoodies, denim, joggers and a tracksuit featuring the heroic rescue pups from the series: Chase, Marshall, Skye and Rubble.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Unleash Your Warrior in the Fight Against Breast Cancer with WWE and Susan G. Komen


Having to persevere with Crohn's, a chronic auto immune disease for nearly 2 decades, there have been incredible lows as I battled painful flare-ups, two bowel resection surgeries and a combination of bi-monthly infusions and hundreds of pills prescribed just to maintain. I am always in awe and fully support the women and men who have to face any life altering illness like Breast Cancer. To coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, WWE is continuing its partnership with Susan G. Komen for the sixth consecutive year by encouraging fans to take action in the fight against breast cancer through the “Unleash Your Warrior” campaign.

Unleash Your Warrior celebrates everyday heroes making a difference in the fight against breast cancer, encouraging them to “Be Strong, Act Bold, Always Believe,” a sentiment echoed by WWE Hall of Famer The Ultimate Warrior.  

Disclosure: The WWE provided me with an Unleash Your Warrior Tshirt to support this campaign as a WWE Mom Ambassador. The opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Inspire The Next Generation to Make the World a Better Place with the "Imagine If, With Jif" Contest


Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Post, Opinions expressed are 100% my own

Imagine a world where kids can make a difference in creating a better world to live in through the wonderful traits like bravery, confidence, kindness and and creativity that they already possess. Our two boys Tristan and CJ have always been taught the importance of giving back and this year they are looking forward to supporting an organization that helps children and families in need. As blogger kids they are very fortunate to have the opportunity to review the latest and greatest toy products and they know that often there may be kids in shelters and hospitals who won't get to spend their holiday with their loved ones, and who's families may not have the time or funds to shop for presents. 

During this years MomTrends Night Out, influencers learned about the latest products from Jif and their "Imagine If, with Jif" campaign while sharing how they inspire the next generation of changemakers right at home. 

SpongeBob SquarePants Hits Broadway in December


Really, it's ok! Even if you're an adult with kids of your own, you can admit to being a SpongeBob Square Pants fan! You'll get no judgement from me. When the hit Nickelodeon show first aired back in the late 90's I was in High School and rarely watched cartoons but my sissy Nicole and younger brother Jay were obsessed with the hilarious sponge who lived in a pineapple under the sea with his pet snail Gary and got into all kinds of trouble with his best friend Patrick the starfish. It's no surprise that nearly 2 decades later, my own two boys and kids all around the world are still tuning in. 

On Broadway this December, fans of this long time running show can now get ready to dive to all-new depths of theatrical innovation at SpongeBob SquarePants, where the power of optimism really can save the world! Stakes are higher than ever before as SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation of their undersea world. Chaos erupts. Lives hang in the balance. And just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage.

Personally, all the quirky humor of this iconic pop culture show is a great way to detach from all the stress of adulting, so I can only imagine how fun it will be to watch live on stage. 

Monday, October 16, 2017

When Life Calls for a Mom's Night Out You Take It! #MTNightOut2


Squeezing in an hour or two just for myself kind of seemed trivial, knowing how tragic September ended for my family - loosing a loved one unexpectedly is never easy to wrap your head around. Yet at the same time, I needed a moment to breathe, to stop crying....... I needed a night out even if it meant it was a "work" thing. Despite rocking our best smile from cheek to cheek, I'm sure a handful of mama's in the room probably had some form of crap going on. Being able to revel in a MomTrends night out while learning about the latest products and destinations to help ease the day-to-day of #momlife was just the break I needed and beyond appreciated.  

Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Post in partnership with Meredith Publications. All Opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Tips, Tricks and the Best Photo Gear Picks for the Holiday Season #CTAPhotoNYC

Photography is the beauty of life captured
Capturing those priceless candid shots and special moments with family and friends are a must this time of year as our calendars fill with penciled in gatherings and festivities.You know, those adorable shots of your toddlers first time pumpkin picking in a field of gourdes larger than themselves, or the hilarious pics of your favorite crazy uncle dressed as Santa & your terrier dressed as Rudolph are always fun to show off.  I've found that this especially rings true when you realize with a blink of an eye or a flash of your camera that your loved ones, unexpectedly may not be there to celebrate these love and laughter filled moments with you the following week, month or year. There are literally thousands of photos living on our laptops , cellphones and cameras and I'm so thankful to have them because they've allowed us to take bitter sweet trips down memory lane as the boys and I remember loved ones we've had to say goodbye to. With the holiday season in full swing I was thrilled to host an intimate lunch and learn which provided the best photography tips, tricks and products for an amazing group of local bloggers on behalf of The Consumer Technology Association, CES and Techlicious 


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

Monday, September 18, 2017

LEGO NINJAGO Back To School Bash with Jamie Foxx and a Chance to Win Fandango Hollywood Movie Money




Back to School is in full swing, and with the first official week behind us, luckily the boys still have smiles on their faces this rainy Monday morning as they prepare to tackle 2nd and 7th grade. This weekend we're planning to spend some quality time with the monsters and are heading to the theaters to see the latest Lego Movie that's sure to be full of laughs and adventures. 

In the New Lego Ninjago Movie six young ninjas Lloyd, Jay, Kai, Cole, Zane and Nya are tasked with defending their island home, called Ninjago. By night, they're gifted warriors, using their skills and awesome fleet of vehicles to fight villains and monsters. By day, they're ordinary teens struggling against their greatest enemy: high school.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Giveaway #GotGVol2


Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. hit store shelves this week on August 22nd and as huge fans of Marvel we have been counting down to it's release and are looking forward to some major action and laughter in this latest installment. Not to mention as WWE fans we love when our favorite film franchises include some of the awesome wrestling superstars like Dave Bautista who plays Drax. 

Sunday, August 13, 2017

New Yorkers Celebrate Summer Reading & Vote in Nationwide #BookBattle for NYC Kids to Win 100,000 Free Books #Sponsored



Disclosure: This is a Sponsored post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own

Did you know that by age 3, children from wealthier families have typically heard 30 million more words than children from low-income families?(AEC, 2010) That is such a huge difference right? One of the best ways to help little ones to develop such a vast number of words is by exposing them early on to age appropriate books & unfortunately in several cities around the U.S, kids live within book deserts and don't have access to adequate reading materials. This month the boys and I headed to popular NYC bookstore, The Strand to celebrate summer reading and the Soar with Reading Program. With one daily vote, through the Soar with Reading Program the public has the chance to vote in an online book battle which will reward the children of one city 100,000 FREE books

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Grab Your Boogery Friends for The Grossery Gang Putrid Power Movie & Giveaway! #MustHavesforLilMonsters #Sponsored


Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Post. The Opinions expressed are 100% our own. 

Back in the day I loved collecting Garbage Pail Kids trading cards, do you remember those? If not just humor me a sec, but if you were an 80s baby then I 'm sure you may have had a stack of these grotesque yet funny looking characters that were a crude spin-off of the Cabbage patch dolls. These days it's no surprise that my boys along with thousands of other lil' monsters around the world are really into "The Grossery Gang" an assortment of mini collectibles that kids are obsessed over.  We couldn't wait to share the news that at the end of July Moose Toys’ The Grossery Gang announced the release of their first ever film, Putrid Power: The Grossery Gang vs. The Clean Team

In Putrid Power , fans will be treated to a gripping story of The Grossery Gang taking on the new evil force known as the Clean Team. With Cheap Town now under the terrible threat of being cleaned up for good by the evil Vac Attack and his team of clean freaks, Putrid Pizza, Dodgey Donut and the rest of the gang must band together to fight the power of clean; to save themselves from getting mopped up by the baddies.

It kinda reminds me of the battle in my house where I'm trying defeat two messy, youtube watching zombies who leave food wrappers, stinky socks and trails of toys everywhere. 

Friday, August 4, 2017

Soar with Reading: Vote for NYC Children to Win 100,000 FREE Books from JetBlue and Random House Kids #BookBattle




"If you're going to get anywhere in life, you're going to have to read a lot of books" 
~ Roald Dahl. 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. The opinions in this post are 100% my own. 

At the start of the summer, JetBlue and Random House Children’s Books launched it's annual Soar with Reading™ initiative, which provides age-appropriate books to children who need them most and until August 31st of 2017 we all have the chance to vote for one of four cities, including NYC to win the next donation of 100,000 FREE books in a good ole' internet #bookbattle 

During school breaks I remember my mom would take my sister, brother and I to the library and we'd check out as many books that were allotted, typically more than we actually wanted to carry home and our dad proudly ordered us the full set of World Book Encyclopedia and we'd get lost in a world of imagination and history.

Being a mom who was an avid reader as a child, I knew that the day I'd have children of my own that I would spoil them with shelves of books very early on. My husband thought I was crazy to have subscribed to a book club for a baby, but sure enough CJ came home from the hospital with a shelf of books to get him through the first two years of life. Over a decade later and with another Lil' monster in the house, that shelf is bursting from the seams and filled with an array of books. Heck yes we've been fortunate to have access to so many pieces of literature but today there seems to be a vast number of areas around the U.S that have limited offerings of age appropriate books. 

Monday, July 31, 2017

The Emoji Movie: Not as Poopy as the Critics Make it Seem & a Few Fun Interviews #EmojiMovie



Let's face it, we're all so darn connected {maybe too connected} that sometimes it's just a lot easier to throw up a smiley face, a thumbs up or side eye emoji to quickly express what's on our mind.  And Seeing as our daily lives are consumed with the usage of apps that help us get through the day, whether it be a space to save our photos and keep our family schedules organized or a strategic game to keep the monsters entertained on our commutes all over the city, we honestly admit that we really wanted to see Sony Animation's new family friendly release of The Emoji Movie. The usage of emoji's has been a fun + simple way to express ourselves without the complexities of trying to find just the right words to get your feelings across and it's a form of communication that unlike trending slang seems to have no age barriers. Gotta love when the grandparents text back using them, it's kinda cute! This week we had the chance to screen the film before it hit theaters and leading up to it's release I had the opportunity to sit down with some of the cast and director of the film Tony Leondis.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Beyond Tablet: Taking Family Game Night to the Next Level #Sponsored #MustHavesforLilMonsters




We all know how hard it can be to pull the kids away from their precious screen time, especially during summer vacation. I'm sure if you haven't eliminated screen time entirely you are often questioning how much game play your children should have. Over the vacation we've allowed the boys to play 3 days a week, for a a max of 2 hours or so to avoid them becoming zombies. I'll admit, since I work from home that there are moments where the Xbox and Playstation are lifesavers because I just need the boys to be quiet for a chunk of time. Not to say it lasts long because it's guaranteed there will be an argument over a controller or something. This summer we were recently introduced to Beyond Tablet which is the first tablet of it's kind that has no display screen and incorporates blocks, cards and figures for variations of educational, hands on play for the entire family. 

Monday, July 24, 2017

Exclusive E3 2017 Video Game Play of Mario & Pokémon at the NYC Nintendo Offices #E32017 #MustHavesforLilMonsters


Hey guys it's Chris from Lil' Monsters in NYC and today I'm giving you my input on three new Nintendo games that will be coming out on Nintendo switch soon. My lil' brother Tristan and I had the very awesome chance to visit the Nintendo corporate offices with our parents while getting sneak peeks at the new games                    


The first game that we got to test out was Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. Now this game really surpassed my expectations and was a really fun and addicting. Did you know that Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Won Best original and Best strategy game at E3 this year? Well that's how amazing this game is. Now you're probably wondering where the crazy awesome Rabbids come in? Well let me tell you what story is: The mushroom world was undergoing chaos when a mysterious vortex appeared in the sky bringing these Rabbids to the mushroom world. So now Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Yoshi must team up with the four hero Rabbids on a journey through 4 different worlds to restore peace and order back to the mushroom kingdom.

Monday, July 17, 2017

Building Self Esteem with City Parks Foundation Summer Sports Program #LilMonstersinNYC



It's the summer Tristan has been waiting for! He's six and a half and finally old enough to participate in the free sports programs hosted by the City Parks Foundation in local playgrounds around the 5 boroughs of New York. Every summer for the last six years he's been watching his big brother CJ leap hurdles during Track and Field at Juniper Park  and practice his tennis swing at Cunningham Park and he's always wanted to step off the sidelines to show his ever growing grit on the field and courts. For the first year ever, the city introduced soccer to the roster which has always been a sport he's wanted to play, so this FREE program was a definite must to add to our Mommy Camp schedule.  

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Spider-Man HomeComing: Press Junket and Review from Queens Proxy Blogger #SpidermanHomeComing



Sometimes being your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man just isn't enough! Spider-Man Homecoming was released in theaters nationwide on July 7th, 2017 and before it's premier I had the exciting chance to cover a press junket with a few local NYC + west coast bloggers and media. Not only am I not a real reporter, I'm not a "real" blogger but Danielle's long time Queens neighbor, friend since High School & proxy for her blog when she's not available. The movie is definitely thoroughly a high school movie: the actors actually look like teenagers and the relational dynamics they build between the characters are very dimensional. 

Having spent my childhood and currently raising my gaggle of three in the borough, extra kudos to Marvel & Sony for making the population of a Queens high school look very ethnically diverse without having to supply an explanation for it. When the producer Amy Pascal was asked during the press junket what was the inspiration for that she answered (rightfully so): "Reality." It got a big positive reaction from the crowd. 

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Kick off Summer with Chef Capon and Pine Mountain ExtremeStart Fire Starters #PineMTNGrilling


Disclosure: We were invited to attend & opinions expressed are 100% my own. 
Who doesn't love a good cookout, with yummy food, friends and family, music and games?Our family surely does! But I have to admit that one of my biggest pet peeves during family functions, especially the ones that we host is that my hubby is always slaving in the kitchen, or during the summer months - stuck behind the grill. To him it's no big deal because in his eyes grilling is the quintessential thing to do as often as possible, all summer long. It doesn't matter the day of the week, Mike enjoys throwing down probably just as much as we all love stuffing our faces with the food he prepared. Last week we were invited to "The Grilling Games" presented by Pine Mountain® firestarters and firelogs and Royal Oak®charcoal which had Chef Chef Josh Capon, the executive chef behind Lure Fishbar, B&B Winepub and El Toro Blanco in New York City as their special host.   

Friday, June 30, 2017

Summer Looks for Stylish Kids from Orchestra and $50 Gift Card Giveaway #AD #MustHavesforLilMonsters

Disclosure: We received a gift card as compensation for this post.
 Opinions expressed are 100% our own. 

Now that school is out for the summer our travel planning is in full swing and we're currently on the hunt for a new Summer wardrobe for CJ & Tristan as we get ready for our family reunion in Atlanta. I'd always thought shopping for boys wouldn't be as fun, especially after noticing how limited the selections were in major retailers when our tween was born. If you've seen one plaid shirt, you've seen them all! As parents we've always got an eye out for stylish, quality pieces with an affordable price tag that our boys will love rockin'. You have no idea how excited I was when introduced to Orchestra, a French clothing line for kids that launched online this Spring in the United States and at The King of Prussia mall in Philadelphia.

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Rev Your Engines and Grab Tickets to Disney Pixar's Cars 3 NYC Advance Screening #Giveaway #Cars3



Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post but we were given passes to attend and to facilitate this giveaway. Opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

Countless weekend hours were spent by my boys kneeling on the floor as they pushed around mini hot wheel figures of their favorite Disney Pixar Cars characters. The Cars movie franchise is one that our kids have grown up loving and watching over and over, each time being just as entertaining as the last. We've been trying to contain our excitement as we countdown to June 16th when Disney Pixar's Cars 3 races into theaters nationwide.

Just last month my girlfriend Marta and her hubby took their gaggle and our lil' monsters to the Road to the Races Tour at Atlas Park to check out the cars, preview a snippet of the movie and more. I can admit that I was pretty bummed that the hubby and I couldn't see our boys reactions to seeing the race cars in full size. We can only imagine how hyped they all were when they stepped inside of  the long tractor trailer that featured a pretty cool movie theater for guests to view clips before it's release. 

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Top 3 Must Haves for Lil' Monsters at The 2017 New York Baby Show #MTBloggerLounge #NewYorkBabyShow #AD



Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

The 2017 New York Baby Show was bigger and better than ever with over 5,000 families in attendance! It was the place to be for new and expectant parents to discover the latest trends and innovations in baby gear, listen in and ask questions to experts on panel, learn how to capture the best photos and so much more. Let' be honest with so many options out there it can be so overwhelming to decide on what you will absolutely need to get you through those first few years and of course there are the products that may not be a necessity but have you swooning nonetheless. Earlier this month my sissy Nicole, my 13 month old nephew baby Q and I were invited by Momtrends to Pier 94 for an afternoon of fun while checking out the coolest must haves for lil' monsters and essential services to make life simpler as a new parent.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Advanced Screening #aPiratesdeathforme


There's been so much buzz around Disney's highly anticipated Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales release in theaters on May 26th. The movie franchise always hits the mark with daring stunt filled adventures and snarky humor & has become a fave of my hubby and I! Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” The rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), escape from the Devil's Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea—notably Jack. 

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Amelie: The Quirky Broadway Adaptation #AmelieBroadway



Disclosure: We were provided with media passes to facilitate this review, opinions expressed are my own. 

It's always interesting to go to a Broadway show with no expectations for the performance, which is what I had when I viewed Amelie with my former work-wifey and friend Erin who is a huge fan of the original 2001 film. Having not seen the film prior to the show {you can check out the movie on Netflix by the way} I went in with an open mind and couldn't wait to see Tony nominee Phillipa Soo's performance after hearing and reading all of the buzz about her performance in Hamilton as Alexander Hamilton's wife. 

Saturday, April 29, 2017

DISNEY·PIXAR’S “CARS 3” ROAD TO THE RACES ROLLS INTO QUEENS, NEW YORK MAY 6th AND #GIVEAWAY


"Kachow, Kachow" Disney Pixar's Cars was the very first and long time favorite movie of our tween son CJ and it's a miracle that the DVD still plays after the hundreds of times we've watched it. As if it were yesterday I remember his little body as he'd speed through the apartment & he revved his engine while belting out "I am Lightening McQueen" and pushed around his toy Mater and Lightening. As a family we can't wait for Cars 3 to hit theaters and we're certain it will be full of action and laughs! While fans countdown for the release of the latest installment they can check out Cars 3 Road to the Races, a nationwide tour inviting fans of #95 Lightening McQueen to a fun filled afternoon of activities and a sneak peek of the movie. We're giving away 20 passes to our readers for the Queens, New York pit stop so enter to win a Family 4 Pack down below!

Disclosure: We've been provided passes to attend the Queens tour stop & opinions expressed are 100% our own!

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Mazda's New Rides and Girls Night Out at The 2017 New York Auto Show #NYIAS #AD

 

2017 marks the fifth year that She Buys Cars has partnered up with The New York International Auto Show to host bloggers and influencers for an amazing Girls Night Out where we had the opportunity to check out the latest automotive eye candy from some of the best brands {Mazda, Genesis, Toyota and Hyundai} in the car industry. It's personally one of my favorite nights of the year, where we head to the Jacob Javits center to check out the latest & hottest vehicles & trends coming out before the masses on opening day of the auto show. This year I had the wonderful opportunity to attend as a Mazda ambassador which was a pretty awesome pairing seeing as our family absolutely loves their line of vehicles and have had the chance to test drive a few working with Driveshop & Mazda over the last two years. 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and opinions expressed are 100% my own 

Monday, April 3, 2017

The 2017 New York Baby Show: FREE Ticket Giveaway #MTBloggerLounge #ad


Like clockwork, once Spring is in the air - baby fever kicks in and I always find myself looking for the must have essentials for the newest bundles of joy to join our loved one's families. Last year we highlighted our top 3 products  and back in 2015 we shared our total New York Baby Show experience at Pier 92. It''s simply not a show to be missed and you'll walk away having discovered some great new items for not only baby but mama/dad. So go ahead & get excited because we're offering Ten tickets to attend thanks to Momtrends and the New York Baby Show. 

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Circus 1903 at Madison Square Garden: 4 Ticket Giveaway and 25% off Tickets


By far, one of the greatest things about living in New York is the wide variety of live shows that hit city stages from month to month. We're always looking for unique performances that are perfect for the entire family or date night and can't wait to check out the new show Circus 1903 a circus re-imagined that's perfect for all ages! And if you aren't a fan of watching real animals as entertainment then you'll totally appreciate the usage of puppetry throughout their show.

Disclosure: We are being provided tickets to attend opening night, all opinions expressed are 100% our own.

Monday, March 13, 2017

Spring Themed Crafts & Treats with Wonderful Halos #MTHalosFun #ad


It takes a lot to keep us indoors on the weekends here in New York, with so much to do we're typically out and about looking to start a new adventure & it's always a must to have a few sweet treats on hand to energize us throughout the day. Bonus points if it's something that's not only tasty but healthy to boot! That's the wonderful thing about Halos, they're juicy and sweet and definitely a favorite among my citrus loving boys! This month my oldest & mini me CJ and I headed out on one of the windiest days in New York to enjoy a morning of spring time crafting at the Children's Museum of the Arts.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, opinions expressed are 100% our own.

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