Into the Unknown: Frozen 2 Red Carpet World Premiere and After Party

Thank you to Disney and The Geekly show for the opportunity to attend!

Have you ever stood in your own way of something so unbelievably amazing because you underestimated your gift and purpose? If you can relate, I'm sure looking back you've either kicked yourself repeatedly out of regret or you rose to the occasion and listened to the sirens of the universe pulling you towards greatness. When the application went out to attend the first-ever Geekly Retreat, I had such a surge of feelings that fluttered between excitement and self-doubt.

Fast forward to months later and I'm so glad that I pushed fear aside and applied. I've always been a true believer that "what's meant for you, will always be for you". Now I'm sitting here pinching myself while thinking of the many incredible moments we just experienced during a whirlwind 4 days this week in California. It's kind of surreal that as part of our retreat itinerary we attended Disney's Frozen 2 red carpet world premiere and after-party all thanks to the ladies of The Geekly Show.

Living in NYC as a freelance family and lifestyle writer, I have been honored to attend advanced movie screenings and to receive opportunities to interview celebrities and directors during press junkets over the last 5 years. Where we've been invited to a few movie premieres in the past, I'd never been invited to actually walk the red carpet. 

Kid Reporters Attend NYC Premiere and Interview John Cena and The Cast of Playing with Fire

What's tougher, being a smokejumper battling dangerous wildfires, a wrestling superstar throwing down in the ring in front of thousands of audiences daily or juggling three witty, high energy kids who keep you on your toes? I'm sure if you ask the adult cast of Paramount Pics' new film Playing with Fire, they'd say that babysitting is no easy feat, even if they're just acting. This month NYC family bloggers and content creators had the chance to attend the Premiere of the family-friendly new film and our mini reporters were handed the mic to ask all the important questions to the cast and Director on everything from what inspires them, owning up to their mistakes & their fave hilarious moments in the movie.  

Sasquatch Spotted in Sunny L.A: Missing Link Press Junket and Review

Disclosure: This post is written in partnership with United Artists

Hey guys! Let me tell you about my trip to LA that just fell into my lap. Completely unexpectedly. You see, Danielle’s been doing such a boss job with this blog and at her actual job that she is now needed on both coast simultaneously. Not being able to teleport and not wanting to lose an important link in the network, Danielle texted me on Tuesday of last week to ask if I’d be able to go to Los Angeles this weekend. I would be attending a screening of the movie “Missing Link” and a press junket where not only would I be in the room with Zoe "IT’S-FREAKIN-GAMORA!" Saldana and Zach Galafinakis but I’d actually be not only allowed to but absolutely encouraged to talk to them!

All this while staying at The Beverly Hilton!! With all expenses paid!!! I checked our family calendar and by some blessed coincidence, we had nothing planned for that weekend. None of my three kids had any activities. There were no birthday brunches. We didn’t even have any house viewings scheduled (we’re currently house hunting in Jersey). All this added up to a resounding LET’S DO THIS and by Thursday I had my tickets in hand.

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.

Rock This Boat Season 2: Interview with New Kids on the Block #NKOTB #Rockthisboat

With the mention of iconic boy band New Kids on the Block I can't help but start singing - "Oh, oh, oh, oh...Oh, oh, oh, oh...Oh, oh, oh, oh...the right stuff!" Having grown up listening to Jordan, Donnie, Joey, Danny & Jonathan belt out tunes that made teenage girls of the 80s and 90s swoon over the heartthrobs, I can't imagine how insanely fun it would be on a cruise ship with those now women as they get to enjoy photo opps and live shows with the heartthrobs that made them melt back in the day. Earlier this month I headed to CBS Studio 's Adorama Live Theater where I had the chance to view an early screening of one of the episodes and sat in on a live streamed Q&A with the boy band  to discuss everything from forgetting the lyrics to their songs before a cruise performance, traveling with their kids and how MTV hated on them back in the day.

Disney Art Academy: A New Nintendo Game that Brings out the Inner Artist in Kids of all Ages

Last month I had a wonderful opportunity to attend a private event at the Nintendo Store at Rockefeller Center to learn all about an amazing new game for the Nintendo 3DS and 2DS Disney Art Academy - a learn to draw game {$29.99} that features over 80 Disney and Pixar characters. With easy to follow lessons, the game takes you through different levels and skills of drawing from basic filling in of favorite character's like Olaf, Winnie the Pooh and Nemo to shading, expressions, portraits etc. There's continuous fun as the game player work's their way up to unlock new characters to draw and can then share with their friends or parents.  

The Release of Disney's Aladdin Diamond Addition with The Moms #AladdinMoms

Aladdin has always been a favorite Disney movie of mine & I'm happy I got to share it with my daughters, Naya 4 and Lanna 2. My girls have watched movies before but this was their first time watching one in a real movie theater, buttered popcorn and all. It was so much fun singing along and watching it with them through their eyes during the screening event with The Moms Network.

Aladdin and Jasmine have always been great role models: Aladdin is so determined and was out to prove that he was more than just a street rat while Jasmine was strong willed and wasn't the type of princess that just wanted to get married.  Princess Jasmine was the first Disney princess doll that my older daughter owned. There aren't that many dolls of color out there and I felt it was important for my daughters of mixed heritage (Trinidadian and Filipino) to have dolls that looked more like them. 

The kids were so adorable in their Jasmine costumes and got to show them all off on stage. After the movie we were lucky to have Scott Weinger and Linda Larkin, the voices of Aladdin and Jasmine make an appearance and answer questions from the audience. Weinger may look familiar to you if you were also a fan of a little show called Full House in the 90's. He played DJ Tanner's boyfriend Steve on the show. He mentioned how he actually took Candace Cameron to the screening of Aladdin when it opened in 1992. Both Weinger and Larkin we're excited to be sharing Aladdin with a whole new generation again. 

Surprisingly Weinger's 6 year old son, Mischa has only recently seen the film. It's one of those movies that is perfect for boys, girls and even adults. Larkin said, "The Genie resonates with adults, there are jokes in there that I got when watching it again." Both Weinger and Larkin were visibly emotional when an audience member asked who played the voice of the Genie. Weinger gathered himself and replied, "A great actor named Robin Williams played the Genie."  It was also my first time watching the film after his passing over a year ago and I too got emotional. 

The two answered more questions from the audience, "Is there going to be an Aladdin 2?" They're too young to know that there was already a sequel. Weinger mentioned a few that went straight to video, Aladdin and the King of Thieves and Return of Jafar. Larkin adds there was even Aladdin the series.  One of The Moms, Melissa Gerstein asked, "Have you seen the Broadway show?" They actually were on their way to see it that afternoon. I think Naya actually saw it on Broadway first before she saw the cartoon movie. I loved how they really brought it to life! 

When they're not playing Aladdin and Jasmine, Larkin is a New Yorker and does a ton of voice over work, most notably on the Royal Caribbean seashell. She's traveling to Florida and California promoting the release of @Disney's Aladdin Diamond Edition. While Weigner is based out in L.A. writing and producing, most recently for Black-ish and Galavant. 

Disney's Aladdin Diamond Edition is now available in stores nation wide and would make the perfect gift for kids of all ages! A special thank you to The Moms for having us.

What's your favorite scene from this classic Disney 

Contributor: Grace Andrews is a Queens mom to two little girls, 4 and 2. She loves taking them on adventures all over the city. When she's not busy doing that, she works in the Education Department at the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI). Opinions expressed are 100% her own and she received no compensation for this post.

Living in the Moments: A Night Out with Celebrity Stylist & Rock-star Mom, June Ambrose

Sometime's the most unexpected moments in life are the most inspiring! Last Tuesday celebrity stylist June Ambrose held an Instagram contest asking fans why we should be chosen to attend her eyewear launch party. I've been a huge fan of June for years, not only because she styles the likes of  Mary J. Blige, P. Diddy and Jay-Z but because while grinding and fulfilling her dreams she is a fully committed mother and wife, who before & after meetings, fittings and shows makes it a priority to wake up at 5am to hit the gym, take her kids to school and cook dinner daily {Yes we are all waiting patiently for her cooking chronicles to hit bookstores} all while sharing these moments in the "Juniverse" with her fans across her Instagram feed and other social media.

Not that I thought I'd even be selected but I figured with my birthday being the day prior to the contest and having just spent twenty, some odd days in the hospital and having major emergency surgery, I could truly use a fun night out. I was one of fifteen chosen on Instagram to attend June Ambrose's launch of her new eyewear collection at Selima Optique in Soho which was hosted by her friend {and fellow rockmom} maternity, lifestyle maven Latham Thomas of Mama Glow.  June's energy and spirit was contagious, we really couldn't help but smile right along with her. When we arrived at Selima Optique, we didn't know what to expect but were thrilled to be there. June was in the midst of taping but took a few minutes to welcome the Instagram winners {coincidentally about half of us arrived at the same time, she jokingly asked if we all took the same bus} with big hugs, as if we were long time girlfriends. As aspiring designers, stylists {like my sissy Nicole who was my guest and the instagrammers posted above, bottom right} and make-up artists, the chosen instagrammers  took full advantage of chatting it up with June, who gladly shared her advise and expertise. 

Despite the cold and slush, several notable and not to mention lovely guests and friends of June came out to celebrate June's eyewear launch and to kick of New York Fashion Week: Lisa Price founder of Carols Daughter, June's assistants Eli and Tukie {whose skin was so gorgeous in her admittedly inexpensive Maybelline foundation}, Dina Manzo of reality show New Jersey Housewives, Beyonce's stylist Ty Hunter and Model Shaun Ross.

During the sit down with Latham and audience Q & A for the Mama Glow Salon Series, June showed us her pieces from the new line and discussed juggling a career & family life, fashion and taking care of self.

June's fave pair of glasses ~ "The Dora, that Mary J. Blige is loving in Tokyo Tortoise."

What June's Loving in Fashion ~ " Lace, Metallics during the day and floral prints are everything."

June on How to Stay Glowy ~ "It's really important to take care of yourself before you can be any good to others. Get enough sleep, stay hydrated, go the gym and use a good moisturizer."

June's advise to her daughter Summer ~ "Smile! Your smile is your soul, no matter what you  are wearing, no one is going to see your beauty if you don't put out that energy." She also reminds her daughter that her body is her temple, and that education is key. 

At the end of the Q & A guests partied on while trying on the gorgeous & chic sunglasses on display.

Amber Sabathia {wearing the Chance in a fun & bold blue}, Dina Manzo {wearing Dora} and friends had fun shopping and posing for pics. My sissy Nicole {pictured below, left} loved Dora in Taupe Crystal and as a huge tokyo tortoise fan,  I was all for wearing Hi Brow as we snapped a few shameless selfies.

  

The evening was a great way to celebrate an amazing and inspirational woman & to kick of my year of New Beginnings. June expressed to guests her gratitude and {my favorite mantra} how she was truly "Living in the Moment", the pics above show just how present she was with everyone who shared the room with her. Thanks June Xx!

In case you were wondering, June is rockin' "Edna" & they are currently  discounted for Mama Glow. Did you spy a favorite pair you'd love to wear?

Be sure to check out Latham's full interview with June on the Mama Glow Series and Stay Tuned for June's upcoming projects with HSN featuring hats, bags, shoes and more launching Fall 2014. I know I'll anxiously be waiting for it!

TRENDscending Time // A Fresh Pixie Haircut

Social media was all a buzz last week when the Queen Bee, singer, Beyonce posted pics of her new short do on Instagram. I personally thought it was a great change for her, seeing as we've seen her with that long golden mane for several years now. Pixie cuts scream, feminine with a touch of bad*ss sassiness that I absolutely adore. There have been many times that I've seen a woman in passing with this short, sophisticated haircut and I instantly imagined myself in the salon chair, with eyes closed & finger crossed. Hoping to twirl out feeling like a brand new me. During both of my pregnancies I debated whether or not to chop it all off for something a little more low on maintenance. Anytime I've gotten close to going through with it, all I could ever think of is that scene from one of my favorite films,  Steel Magnolias when Julia Robert's character bursts into tears after her daring decision to cut it all off. Sadly the closest I have come to a style so bold thus far is a edgy, asymmetrical bob when I turned the  big 3-0.

                             

From the infamous Twiggy to the celebs of today and on the streets of cities everywhere, women of all ages have shown us there are so many ways to rock a fresh pixie. Undoubtedly it's a timeless style we'll see grace runways, film & magazine covers for years to come.  Have you ever chopped it all off for something a little more freeing? Do you have a fave celebrity who has adorned a short coif?

Bunches of Xoxo's,     

                              Dellah

images: Halle Berry // Twiggy // street-style / Rihanna // Beyonce // Liza Minelli // Winona Rider // Charlize Theron // Michelle Williams // Tia Mowry // street -style //  Emma Watson  // Anne Hathaway