Disney World Girls Weekend: Fun Planning Tips to Try on Your Magical Getaway

Who can agree it's time for a girls weekend at Walt Disney World? There's been a recent social media rant from a mom that's getting lots of buzz on banning kidless Millenials from visiting the most magical place on earth. I think that's such nonsense, especially over a pretzel her 3 yr. old son didn't get due to expected long lines. Disney is meant to be enjoyed by everyone! Can you imagine growing up and not being able to afford to go to Disney until you hit your adult years, only to be told you can't visit the parks because you're not a parent?

I'll never forget a spontaneous crazy six hours of kids free fun I had a few years ago with my girls Tiffani of MyMommyVents and Valerie of Mommyrandr running through Magic Kingdoms Main Street to Milly Rock with Frozo during a parade, grabbing dole whip and turkey legs and cracking jokes on a magical carpet ride before getting caught in a freaking downpour. When you don't make strategic plans you end up hanging out on all the kiddie rides and we could care less that we were soaking wet, we rode "It's a Small World" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" without our own kids fussing and whining and ended the night with spectacular fireworks. I put the dang mom guilt aside and had the absolute best time! Watch the fun here.

If you are taking a break with your girlfriends at Disney, I have some great planning tips for you. Follow these awesome Walt Disney World girls weekend ideas to have the time of your life with your girl gang at Disney!

Photos [polynesian @brittanyburwellmickeytravels // toystory @clumsydragon28]

Spread Love It's the Brooklyn Way! 6 Places to Celebrate Your Birthday in Williamsburg

"Stay Close to People that Feel Like Sunlight"

Unless one of us is out of town and traveling, birthdays are usually the ultimate reason for my three high school besties and I to get together to celebrate another spin around the sun! Of course, crazy schedules can sometimes make getting a date on the calendar difficult, whether it's an annual park picnic, a pop-up shop experience or good eats and cocktails, we love having a few hours together to catch up on the ups and downs of life as we age gracefully. Our tribe encompasses a family doctor, an architect and two work from home mama's so as you can imagine we don't need any excuse at all to want to get together for a night out but celebrating our girl Venesa's belated twirl around the sun was a perfect reason.

My girls, Natacha, Venesa, Marta and I met in the hallways of our high school Brooklyn Tech, so hanging out in BK is always a good time for us to reminisce on the good ole days while creating new memories. We can't ever seem to get over how much the neighborhoods have changed in the last two decades and although we're not a fan of all the gentrified changes we did enjoy spending a summer night in our favorite borough.  If you're ever in the neighborhood, here are a few fun ways to get out and celebrate while chilling in Williamsburg: 

Mama's Night Out on Broadway: Pretty Woman the Musical and Discount Code

Disclosure: This post is made possible by support from Pretty Woman: The Musical. All opinions are my own.

Meeting up with my wifey for lifey Erin back at our old stomping grounds of Times Square (where we taught preschool together) for dinner while catching up on life and then to see Pretty Woman: The Musical on Broadway were the makings of a fantastic early Mother's Day celebration. Clearly, growing up we were both fans of the cult classic 1990's movie starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere and wondered how this adaptation would translate on a Broadway stage. It can really be hit or miss trying to recreate such an iconic story to a live audience in a way that will allow viewers to separate the film from the show with an open mind and appreciation for any newer elements.

Grab your Tickets to the NYC Screening of A Bad Mom's Christmas #Giveaway #BadMomsXmas

Grab Your Tickets to the NYC Advance Screening of A Bad Moms Christmas!

Monday- October 30,2017

7 pm

AMC 34th Street

New York, NY 10001

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. 

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. 

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 

Grab the Popcorn and Pass the Wine! Girls Night In with Groupon Coupons #Sponsored

Can you believe it will be Thanksgiving next week? It may be seasonably warm for this time of year but I'm beyond ready to let the holiday festivities commence. I've already started humming those classic soulful holiday tunes and we might actually get our Christmas tree up over Thanksgiving weekend. This time of year can definitely cause a frenzy of spending and although I do love my quality time with friends and family I'm not trying to go broke! Think about it, decorations, fancy schmancy outfits, the mani-pedis and blowouts, the gift giving...... the list goes on and on. One thing I do know is that I have no intention of having to commute across the five boroughs from one soiree to the next and will gladly partake in a house party or two to avoid the high costs of getting into some of these insanely high priced - so called "trendy" NYC venues. Thanks to Groupons Coupons you can crank up your Penatonix, Jackson Five,  holiday mix and Karaoke the night away with your favorite people while indulge in some popped corn and bubbly in the comfort of your own home.

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

Grab Yourself Some "Me Time" & See Mom's Night Out #MNOMAMARAZZI #MOMSNIGHTOUT

As moms how often do we find ourselves torn between wanting to spend quality time with our kids and spouses as often as we can while juggling housework, careers and schlepping kids to various activities? Thanks to The Moms, earlier in the month I was invited to attend a screening with my fave mom-bloggers of the newly released faith-based, comedy film Moms Night Out which stars Patricia Heaton {the hilarious mom from Everybody Loves Raymond and Malcom in the Middle} and Sarah Drew {the quirky and loveable Kepner on Grey's anatomy}, Sean Astin and David Hunt. Before the screening we mingled while sipping delicious Mom-mosas  and other yummy cocktails courtesy of Martini and enjoyed sweet treats from  Baked by Melissa.  

From the first ten minutes the theater was all laughs, which really never died down throughout the entire film as we watched Allyson a Stay at home mom, wife of a busy travel-for-work husband and mom blogger navigate her way through the perils and joys of motherhood to 3 high energy children. How is it possible that when you seemingly have it all: the successful & good looking husband, the white picket fence and adorable kids, you are still unhappy with your life? A dilemma that has Allyson spazzing out like Susie homemaker turned incredible hulk, and sobbing in a closet {while looking at old glitzy party shoes} about her life that once was.

One of the moments/ quotes that stood out to me in the film was when Allyson's very understanding husband {played by Sean Astin} explains to his wife that she needed to heed the advice that most flight attendants give at the beginning of a flight. "You must put your oxygen mask on first, in order to be of any help to anyone else", comparing a girls night out or a hobby to an oxygen mask, a necessity to live.  As moms we sometimes forget that we need to take care of ourselves first, both physically and mentally before we can be good to anyone else. One of the many things I love and appreciate about my own hubby is that he encourages me to take moments for myself, whether a long bubble bath, a walk around the block or brunch with the girls because he knows I need it for my own sanity every now and then.

So as recommended, Allyson rounds up her ladies {the pastors wife, played by Patricia Heaton & the best friend Izzy} and we follow along as the movie takes us on an outrageous girls night out adventure in which  the hubbies are left in charge of the kids, and we witness the disastrous yet hysterical series of events unfold, while these glammed up moms give it their best efforts to paint the town red.

We've all been there, paralyzed by stress and guilt: questioning our parenting skills, wondering if others are judging us, seeking an identity outside of being a mom, and occasionally needing a moment to ourselves to enjoy the things and people we loved before having kids. No joke it's a balancing act, I stayed home with each of my boys for their first 2 years as a choice. One that my husband and I made because honestly childcare expenses are so high in NYC and with me being an educator I just couldn't see my kids being cared for by anyone else but myself or close family. Often I wanted to pull out my hair, and still do from the sleepless nights and potty training days of long ago, to battles over the TV and meltdowns of today and needed an outlet which was in part why I started this blog. Through events like these hosted by The Moms I've been blessed to be able to meet and become friends with lots of other mom bloggers who have all at some point tried to find their voice in the blogosphere while managing a household.

After the screening we were all lucky enough to sit in on The Moms live Q&A with the cast for SiriusXm radio, which was a blast! They discussed the ups and downs of parenting and marriage while managing careers in the spotlight and it's great to see that despite their celebrity status we all go through the same things and try to be the best parents we can be since there just isn't a manual on how to do it. I was able to ask Sarah Andrew on air if there was a friend or family member who she had been nervous about watching her child only to be relieved that everyone was safe & sound and had a good time. Fortunately for her she says she's been blessed with amazing family who insist she go out while they babysit. In the midst of my question, the adorably handsome Sean Astin {of Lord of the Rings and 80's classic The Goonies} walked in.

This Mother's Day I was able to indulge in the best of both worlds {thanks to my mother-in-law who gladly relieved me of my mommy duties}, an entire day to myself which included the rare joy of sleeping in past 8am, lounging in pajamas while watching tasteless -girly television {hubby had to work} and actually being able to talk to my bestie Liza on the phone {without hyper monsters yelling in the background}, opposed to just shooting her a text in ten minute intervals. After a relaxing Saturday, my two monsters returned home, eager to greet me with hugs and kisses. My hubby prompted our 3 year old and asked "What do you have to tell mommy?" he jumped up in my arms and with conviction yelled "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY" which had me cracking up. We ended up playing board games and cuddled upon the couch watching movies and had breakfast for dinner.

By far some of the best movies are the ones that you can find yourself relating to, that make it easier to laugh at yourself and that make you realize you aren't alone in this crazy life as parents. If  you have yet to see Moms Night Out, arrange a sitter,  grab your girlfriends or go alone for two hours of  "mommy" time because you deserve it!  Watch the Trailer, I guarantee you and the family will laugh a bunch and even get a little teary, if you're a cheese-ball like me sometimes.

How do you find time for yourself & what's been your own favorite Moms Night out Moment?

Girls Night Out with Toyota & "She Buys Cars" at The New York International Auto Show #NYIAS #NYIASgirls #RevelinNY

 Disclosure: The opinions expressed are 100% my own. I was invited as a Blogger and received a gift bag along with previewing the Auto show, no other compensation was given.

Last Thursday night I was invited to join a few of my favorite bloggers for a Girls Night Out / Women's Blogger Event event hosted by Toyota and She Buys Cars {some of us brought our hubbies, personally I knew I'd never hear the end of it if I hadn't asked him to join me}.While at the show we mingled, toured the showroom and discussed how the car shows aren't just for the fellas these days. Women are greatly interested in the safety and reliability of their vehicle, how environmentally friendly it is and they want their car to reflect and enhance their own personal style. What better place to be then the New York International Auto show to discover tons of great choices?

Now if you know me, you know I can't drive a lick, and yes it's crazy that I don't even have a permit! Honestly It's because I didn't grow up with car, I took the subway to Brooklyn Tech all four years of high school and to John Jay my 4 years of undergrad. And now that I'm older and a mom of 2, I'm really petrified of driving on NYC streets. Apparently, they say just like living here, if you can manage driving in New York City unscathed then you are capable of driving anywhere.

Don't get me wrong, I love the comfort and convenience of being in a car, hence why our neighborhood taxi company loves our frequent business. You know, like on that day you take a quick trip to Target to buy a Starbucks Latte, a pair of jeans and toiletries. Only to walk out with all of that, plus a new bookshelf, pull-ups for the lil' monster and 2 ginormous bottles of laundry detergent {because there was a really great sale}and a few groceries. I also wouldn't mind having a car so that our family of four could safely travel out of state more:  for a weekend in Upstate NY to see the hot air balloon festivals or even to Florida to visit friends and Disney World. For now, while the hubby convinces me that car is a necessity to have, we use our Zipcar membership.

During a study conducted by the University of Michigan a quarter of the participating teens responded to a text 1 or more times while driving, which means their eyes weren't on the road! With safety being one of our biggest concerns, one of the innovative highlights for the Hubby and I was Toyota's TeenDrive365. This collection of resources and events was created to give parents the tools to help initiate the conversation on the importance of safe driving with teens who are getting behind the wheel for the first time. Both teens and adults were invited to give the simulated distraction drive a try, while other visitors watched on the screen. No matter how safe a driver you are, when prompted to pull out their phone to text message, or to reach for a bottle of water the simulated TeenDrive365 experience proved to guests {like my hubby} that bad car habits are dangerous and could prove to be life threatening.

Dr Oz The Good Life magazine's editor in chief Alison Bower was on hand to provide a quiz to guests on Car safety and I over heard a few bloggers say they were shocked at some of the answers they got wrong after driving for years. We all received a copy of the May/ June issue of the Good Life Magazine which highlights healthy snacks to pack on the road. * Remember not to eat while driving because it's a distraction, it's safer to pull over.

• Fill a travel mug with cardamon tea which stops sugar cravings before they start.
• Kiwi for a boost of energy
• Walnuts or almonds, which are proven to reduce risk of dying from chronic illnesses.
• SeaSnax, lightly salted seaweed only has 16 calories

When making decisions about what car to purchase, function and safety are top priorities but we all want to look good driving it too! Remember the days of the bikini clad models stretched out on a car ads, well now that woman are playing a greater role in the decision making process {We buy 60% of the cars purchased here in the U.S} the car industry is definitely taking notice and is trying to appeal to our style. This year Ford Mustang is celebrating 50 years of production and recently collaborated with beauty line OPI to offer women a limited edition of nail lacquers to show off their unique sense of personal style while they steer.

The stylish moms and fashion and beauty experts Vera Sweeney and Audrey McClelland gave us the deets on the latest trends to have us ladies looking fabulous behind the wheel. You can't go wrong with bright colors, plaid and statement making jewelry this season. While the sassy & funny Latina actress and blogger Lizza Monet Morales had us creating fabulous Cover Girl moments with selfies and fantastic, vibrant lip colors.

A party's not a party without fun favors to leave with! Thanks to sponsors Tieks, Kate Spade and Ellella cosmetics, a few awesome ladies {self included, thanks Ellela}  got to walk away with some great raffled prizes.

Attending the New York International Auto Show has always been an exciting event for my family. By attending you get first glimpses at the latest, innovative cars being released and have the chance to partake in activities like the Ride Along, interactive displays, video games and simulators and may even get to meet a few celebrity personalities from the entertainment and sports industries.

We all had a great time at the The She Buys Cars Girls Night Out, and loved that the evening showed that us ladies love beautiful cars too! The New York International Auto Show is going on from now until Sunday April 27th. What do you look for when deciding on buying a car? If you are interested in a chance to go to the NYIAS, whether with your girlfriends or family, head over to my Dellah's Jubilation Instagram Page & leave a comment on the post for a 4 pack of tickets!

Revel in NY: A Sparkling Summer Evening w/ BaubleBar and Rank & Style

I'm always on Eventbrite trying to spy fabulous fun or inexpensive events that are great for networking, girls night out or date night to share with my readers and followers on facebook . Last weeks Midsummer Night event hosted by RankandStyle {who partnered up with Benefit Cosmetics, Physique57 and SujaJuices} at BaubleBar was the perfect evening to try on fashion-forward jewelry, sip cocktails and sample treats all while discussing with the ladies of Rank and Style what makes the site so uniquely awesome! 

Images //  The BaubleBar girls ringing up customers who were thrilled to get $10 off for the night //  My sis Nicole and I enjoying our Godiva cocktails // Photo-booth pile up of pics // Arm candy I'm coveting // Mingling // Make-overs with Benefit Cosmetics // Decision making // The lovely ladies {Sonal, Pooja and Sarika} of team Rank and Style. 

I've always been the type of shopper that needs a good review of a product before purchasing.  Endlessly scrolling webpages while on the look out for how many stars were given by various reviewers {oh 4 stars, but only 3 reviews, maybe there's something better out there?} and if a magazine style editor or blogger loves it, I'm swearing their opinion is the end all, ultimate choice because they are who they are, they know what's the cream of the crop.

If you told me that in order to figure out which pair of running sneakers were the greatest, I'd be required to use some sort of scientific, mathematical algorithm to get the best choices, although logically it makes sense I'd probably run away without the sneakers. Luckily that's where the site Rank and Style comes in to help with all your time-consuming shopping decisions. 

Having Launched four months ago and since been Featured on Fox5 news, People StyleWatch magazine, Refinery29 and more, the team behind the site are definitely on to something. Their Top Ten Lists are created with an unbiased method, using best-seller lists, product reviews, picks from all the top sources we trust and love and then all that information is compiled to generate results of the best products in fashion and beauty. So If deciding on what mascara, nude shoe or sports bra gets you frustrated, this modern day "consumer reports" site is just what every shopper needs. 

Image: Top Ten list cards for categories like: mascara, sunscreen, tanner and anti-frizz hair products

My girlfriends Natacha and Chrissy tried to decide between the three different flavored Godiva cocktails

Rank and Style Listed products from Benefit Cosmetics

So many choices, but towards the end of the evening my bestie Natacha and I chose the Love bracelet to adorn our wrists. We tried on statement necklaces and eyed items we'd be back for, like many of the other shoppers. Other guests posed and got silly for pics in the photo-booth and then were able to print out and email the photos to themselves as a souvenir of the event.

All of the guests were asked to hashtag their photos of the evening with #rankandstyle to win a prize of beauty goodies from Benefit Cosmetics, Josie Maran, Caudalie, Rahua & two free classes from Physique57. I just wanted to say thanks to Rank and Style for choosing my photo collage {at the top of the page} as the winner and can't wait to receive and try out the products and take to the barre at Physique57.

Bunches of Xoxo's

                              Dellah