Food Fun Family

Chippokes State Park: The Founders District

Lolli — Thu, 27 May 2021 12:32:07 +0000

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Founder’s District. All opinions are 100% mine.

Living on the East Coast for the last 25 years has been a fascinating journey for me. I grew up on the West Coast and learned about missions and the Gold Rush and the Oregon Trail in school. Early American history seemed so “foreign” to me that it might as well have taken place in another country.

It has been interesting to raise my own kids in a totally different part of the country, with new-to-me things to discover and explore. I have come to love this area – the DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia) as locals like to call it – and the rich history that this land is home to.

Just this past year, I was thrilled to discover that I have ancestors who lived in Jamestown in the early days of American history.

Years ago, when my mom was visiting us in Maryland, we drove down to Virginia to visit Historic Jamestowne and the surrounding sites. Little did I know during that first visit to Jamestown Settlement that there was so much more to explore right in the same area. In fact, there are eight amazing destinations in The Founder’s District, each with something unique to learn and enjoy.

Jamestown Settlement
Colonial Parkway/Colonial National Historical Park
Historic Jamestowne
James County Marina
Chippokes State Park
Jamestown- Scotland Ferry
Hog Island Wildlife Management Area
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

Today, though, I want to feature Chippokes State Park, which is at the top of my list for places I want to visit with my family.

Chippokes State Park is one of the oldest continuously operated plantations in the nation. Established in 1619 by English Captain William Powell, a Lieutenant Governor of Jamestown, this 1,400-acre farm located opposite Jamestown Island, has been the site of an active agricultural operation for nearly four centuries. Powell named the plantation after Choapoke, an Algonquian Indian Chief who was friendly to the English settlers in Jamestown.

Since moving to our farm in Maryland a year and a half ago, I’ve become even more fascinated with the type of farming that built our country. I also love being outdoors and exploring the beauties that this area has to offer.

At Chippokes State Park, families can take advantage of modern recreational activities (like an Olympic-sized swimming pool, hiking, biking and horseback trails, and gift shops) as well as enjoy a glimpse into life in the colonial days. The park has a campground and four overnight cabins that allow visitors to stay on the historic grounds.

So pack a picnic for a day trip or grab your tent and sleeping bags for a family weekend getaway and see all that Chippokes State Park and The Founders District has to offer.

Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge: A True Winter Wonderland!

Lolli — Sun, 16 Dec 2018 05:26:44 +0000

My family and I were invited on an expense-paid FAM trip at Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg at the beginning of the month. Although our accommodations and activities were covered, all thoughts are our own. I’m happy to answer any questions about staying at Great Wolf Lodge – there were so many things that didn’t make it into the post (I could just go on and on!).

I’ve always been curious about Great Wolf Lodge, but we’ve typically been the type of family that takes vacations to visit family and friends out of state. Somehow we just never made it to Great Wolf Lodge, which is just a couple of hours south of us in Williamsburg, Virginia. Now that we’ve experienced Great Wolf Lodge, we are counting the days til we can go back. It was an unexpected hit with the whole family!

I was initially worried that my kids would be a little too old to appreciate Great Wolf Lodge (my last 3 kids at home are 13, 15, and 17), but I was surprised to discover that there are a ton of engaging activities for kids of ALL ages.

We stayed in a standard family suite, which sleeps up to 6 comfortably (it’s so hard to find a good hotel room for bigger families, but this was perfect for us!), but there are a host of amazing options for families of all sizes and needs, like upgraded themed suites with bunk beds and fun decor!

Snowland at The Lodge

From the moment we walked into the lodge, we were transported into a winter wonderland. The atmosphere was delightful! Great Wolf Lodge has four seasonal themes each year, corresponding to the four seasons: Spring-a-palooza, Summer Fun in the Sun, Howl-o-ween, and Snowland.

I can’t wait to experience all four seasons at the Lodge!

We spoke with the director of guest services and found out that staff decorated the lodge for Snowland for about 9 days. They have 30 trees in the property, and 20 of them were new this year. It even “snows” every night in the main lobby. It is simply magical!

Santa makes an appearance every night between December 7th and the 25th and is available to take pictures with guests each night. Bonus: photos are complementary for guests and they are happy to snap pictures with your phone or camera for you!

Another fun winter season treat: you can get warm cookies and milk delivered to your room at night!

Year round, there are 10-20 activities available for guests of all ages each day, from morning yoga to story time at night, from dance parties and character appearances to arts and crafts. Activities are a little heavier on the weekends, but weekdays are still full of fun.

We enjoyed bowling, hours of fun at the 24-hour arcade, sharing cups of candy from the candy shop, and just hanging out together. We highly recommend the Paw Passes to get the best value for the paid activities like bowling, MagiQuest, miniature golfing, the rope course, etc.

My personal favorite activity was my 30-minute deep-tissue massage in the spa (they’ve got a kids’ spa, too!). I had the best, most relaxing massage of my life!

MagiQuest at Great Wolf Lodge

MagiQuest was a surprise hit for all three of my teens. We started our first afternoon off with a visit to the MagiQuest store, where they each picked out a wand, and chose a “magical” name to register and activate their account. The great news – they can bring their wands back to Great Wolf Lodge each time we visit again and only have to pay to activate a new game.

MagiQuest is an interactive game that sends kids exploring all over the hotel (there are stations on three floors). Kids can run from station to station on quests, interacting with things throughout the hotel and earning points along the way. All three of my kids agreed that MagiQuest was both fun and a great workout! Throughout the day, you’ll find kids thoroughly engaged in completing quests and gathering coins. It is nearly as popular as the waterpark with the older kids!

Great Wolf Lodge purchased the rights to MagiQuest so the game is ONLY available at Great Wolf Lodge. They release four to five new quests each year, so you can have a totally new game experience each time you visit.

The Indoor Waterpark

The enormous indoor waterpark is one of Great Wolf Lodge’s biggest attractions. No matter how cold it gets outside, it’s a comfortable 84 degrees in the waterpark. The slides were so much fun (we even got on one ride with all 5 of us together on a raft!) and we were sad when we had to end our day at the park. We could have used several more hours of water play time!

The Food

My husband could not stop talking about the French toast at the breakfast buffet in the main restaurant. He said it was the best French toast we had ever had. The dinner buffet was equally as enjoyable, with a huge variety of delicious foods. We also enjoyed a casual pizza night in our room while we watched a movie and had a burger and fries lunch while we were hanging out at the waterpark.

There are seven restaurants on the property, and there’s always something delicious to satisfy your cravings.

Big Changes Coming!

Starting in mid-January through the second half of March 2019, Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg will be undergoing a 20 million dollar renovation project, including all guest rooms and public places. The lodge will still be open during the renovations and guests will not be impacted. I can’t wait to see how they redecorate the 405 suites!

Have you been to a Great Wolf Lodge? Our family highly recommends it as a fun family getaway. You can check in and never leave the hotel until you’re ready to head back home! Find out more and book your stay at Greatwolf.com/williamsburg

There’s a New Queen in Town – Medieval Times’ New Storyline

Lolli — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 20:10:17 +0000

Over the years, I’ve had many opportunities to participate in fun family activities with my husband and kids, and I’ve noticed that there are some outings that are more popular than others. Medieval Times is one place that we’ve been to on several occasions but I can guarantee that my family will be excited and eager to go each time. This past week, I was invited to a media night (along with my daughter) to enjoy the new show, meet and chat with the Queen and Head Knight, and even tour the stables to meet the real stars of the show – the horses! Our meals and entertainment were covered, but all thoughts and opinions and photos are our own.

I must say – after seeing the “old” story line half a dozen times or so, I never got tired of the show. However, seeing a totally new story line this past week totally kept me on my toes! It was exciting and action-packed, and it felt like a natural progression to the show I’d seen so many times before. Don’t worry…I’m not going to spoil anything for you if you haven’t been to Medieval Times recently. Just know that the Queen is WONDERFUL (a true leader!) and there IS a twist at the end that is the perfect way to wrap up the knights’ competition.

About the New Show at Medieval Times

For the first time since 2012, Medieval Times has just unveiled a new storyline, featuring a Queen, at its castle located in Hanover, Maryland at Arundel Mills. The Maryland/DC castle is the 8th Medieval Times location in North America to roll out the new show. This new story line is a major break from Medieval Times’ 35-year tradition of casting a king in the show’s lead role. The queen is now in charge and sole ruler of the land, and inherited the throne after the passing of her father, the previous king. She is a firm but kind ruler, respected throughout the kingdom.

The decision to change the story line to feature a queen was based in part on guest feedback that they would like to see women having more significant roles in the show.

What else is new at Medieval Times?

We love Medieval Times for the hot, four-course feast (eaten with your hands!), jousting, swordplay, and the horses (of course!) – and those elements are still there in abundance. Some of the changes, in addition to the updated script are:

• More than 700 new costumes for all nine castles’ performers, including horses, all of which are custom-designed and handmade at a dedicated costume shop in-house.
• The new suits of armour, shields and helmets are custom-designed and handmade at a dedicated armoury in-house.

• Over 200 team members and 20 horses trained and rehearsed new interactions and fight scenes for three months while still presenting the former show.
• For the first time, audiences will see a Queen riding horseback in the Castle.

• New music was composed by Dr. Daniel May, composer and jazz pianist who scored “Everest” and other films and who worked with Sting, The Moody Blues and others. He directed and recorded Medieval Times’ new show composition in Kiev with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. He directed the choir in Ukraine with lyrics written by poet and choir member, Solomia Gorokhivska, solo cellist, Gloria Caceres, and violinist, Maksym Grinchenko, concertmaster at the National Symphony of Ukraine.

Behind the Scenes at Medieval Times

I loved seeing the horses “backstage” after the show. They are so much bigger up close than I imagined they would be! We were reminded that these horses are work horses – not pets – and at over 1000 lbs each, they are not animals to play around with.

I loved the attitudes of all of the head knight and head horse trainer. They said that the horses didn’t volunteer for this job, so they try to make sure that the horses are treated very well. The horses get more “vacation” days than the people involved in the show – they get to spend a lot of time at the ranch about 15 minutes away from the castle.

Horses used in the Maryland/DC castle, as well as the eight other working castles in North America, are bred and raised on a 280 acre ranch in Texas. Did you know that all of the horses seen at Medieval Times are stallions? They start training at the castles at around three years old, and they practice and exercise every single day. They are athletes and would not be happy if they weren’t exercised regularly.

I can’t wait to go back to Medieval Times again! Have you been? What was your favorite part?

The Animation Research Library: Disney’s “Secret Weapon”

Lolli — Thu, 31 May 2018 13:31:44 +0000

Disney invited me earlier this month to Los Angeles as part of the #HanSoloEvent, #ABCTVEvent and #PeterPanBluray press event. Travel, accommodations, and prizes were covered, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not many people, at least people who are not Disney employees, ever see the Animation Research Library (ARL) or the collections housed inside. It’s not open to the public, but it is available to Disney employees at any time. The fact that our group of 25 bloggers got a peek inside this amazing building is pretty incredible.

As we walked down the halls and stepped inside a few of the eleven vaults in the facility, it was easy to imagine hearing Alan Menken working on the music for the Little Mermaid on the piano down the hall (he really did!).

Fox Carny, the manager of research at the Animation Research Library, led our tour, and it was obvious how much he loves his job. He was excited to not only show us original artwork from Peter Pan, in honor of the 65th anniversary of the movie, but to introduce us to the work that goes on at the ARL daily.

The Animation Research Library (ARL) is the repository of all the original art work that was created at Walt Disney Animation Studios from the 1920s to present day. In the ARL building alone, they estimate that they have over sixty-five million pieces of art.

Walt Disney, an artist himself, wanted to keep all original art work so that people could learn from it. The collection was and still is meant to be accessed; the ARL is a living facility.

Fun Fact: Even though all Disney artwork is digitized now, artists and animators say nothing beats seeing and handling the original, physical items.

At the ARL, employees work daily to digitize and catalog all of the artwork from the very first animated features to today. You can scan a lot of images, but if you don’t have the cataloging information attached to it, then no one will be able to find it or access it. Interestingly, they do vert minimal restoration work at the ARL. Most pieces that need restoration are sent out to other facilities that specialize in restoration.

The Animation Research Library’s 11 vaults not only store paintings and animation cells, but they also house puppets and other “dimensional objects,” such as the models that animators use to get an idea of their characters angles and shapes from all perspectives.

The library used to be referred to as the “Morgue” and was located in the basement of the Ink and Paint facility at the Walt Disney Studios lot. The check out procedure at the Morgue was quite a bit looser than it is today at the ARL (now all of the pieces stay at the ARL, so employees must come to the library to study). This is an important step to preserve the original artwork. The ARL is a fully climate-controlled facility (62 degrees and 50% humidity), and access to the public is extremely limited.

Fun Fact: The original artists didn’t keep all of the animation cells. Several of the original cells from animated features were either destroyed or sold for $1.50 at Disneyland!

After seeing some of the artwork, we were able to see the process of capturing the digital images. As one who has had years of experience working in photography, I can appreciate the time and care it takes to take consistent and clear images.

Fun Fact: The majority of the pieces in the collection at the ARL are 17.5 inches wide 11.5 inches tall, so they can keep the lights and cameras in the same spot when taking photos to digitize the artwork. That not only saves time, but helps keep the digital images consistent.

On average, photographers at the ARL shoot about 1000 pieces of animation drawings a day (depending on the condition of the artwork). Story boards are photographed at a rate of about 400 pieces a day.

Quality control can go through a few thousand pieces of art per day, looking for consistency in color, etc. It is very important to capture all four edges of the artwork.

Fun Fact: The transformation of Cinderella into her ball gown was one of Walt Disney’s favorite animated scenes of all time.

As Fox Carney gathered us around the big black table, he introduced us to the variety of types of artwork that go into making an animated feature.

Fox said, “These are actually original pieces of artwork from the production of “Peter Pan” which was released in 1953. We have selected a lot of different types of art for you to see because there are a lot of different processes in making an animated feature. You have the story process, you have the animation process, you have the back-ground painting, you have layouts and concept art…”

Model Sheets: “These are the pieces of artwork that would often be photographed and then printed on photo paper and given out to the crews of each individual character. When you have multiple people drawing the same character, how do you keep them consistent, how do you keep them on model? Thus, they would use the model sheet. You can look at the various poses and we need to keep this shape of the face this way or the body proportions this way.”

Concept and Story Art: “What is our film? What will it look like? What are the kind of moments that might happen in this film, so as you look at the concept art pieces, you get an idea that you have this whole series of artists who are trying to understand what it is that the film would look like and what may happen in the film.”

“But then you also have story artists and they create thousands and thousands of story sketches. Which they will pin up on boards and then they will pitch to Walt and the various directors and say this is what happens and this is what happens and this is what happens. What happens that causes the next action to happen, and causes the next action; so, what is our beginning, middle and end of this story? You have your concept artists and your story artist working roughly at the same time.”

Animation Drawings: “These are what the artists, the animators actually drawn out as what are their characters doing, once they have figured out their actions, they would have to draw all that. And then it would be these drawings that at this time, the inkers and painters would actually trace. The Inker would actually trace on a piece of acetate that would be on top of the drawing. And then they would take those once the inkers were done and they would go to the painters.”

Rough Drawings: “And then over here this is actually a rough drawing. Are any of you familiar with Mark Davis or any of the nine old men? Okay. Well, Mark Davis, was one of the amazing animators of that time. He was the supervisor animator for Tinkerbell and so what he would do he would do what we call a rough animation drawing. And so, he would roughly try to figure out the emotion and the action of the character. This wouldn’t quite translate well to how would an inker figure out which line to do, so the assistant animator would go off at the time and then do a fine line draw over so the inker would have nice, clean drawings.”

I wish I could show you more of what we saw during our time at the ARL. It was a wonderful window into years of inspired work from Disney animators.

Want more? Click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event/Peter Pan Bluray coverage.

Walking In Walt’s Footsteps: Suite 3H and Walt Disney Studios Lot Scavenger Hunt

Lolli — Tue, 29 May 2018 14:32:45 +0000

Disney recently invited me to Los Angeles as part of the #HanSoloEvent, #ABCTVEvent and #PeterPanBluray press event. Travel, accommodations, and prizes were covered, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Amazon affiliate links are used in this post.

It’s pretty incredible that I’ve been privileged to have once-in-a-lifetime experiences more than once. Not many people have the chance to tour Suite 3H, the private offices of Walt Disney, yet earlier this month I was able to tour them for a second time.

It was just as magical during the second tour as it was the first time.

You can read my first post about Suite 3H here, but today I thought it would be fun to share a few fun facts that I learned during my latest visit.

Fun Facts About Suite 3H: Walt Disney’s Private Offices

Suite 3H was Walt Disney’s private office space from 1940 until his death in 1966.
Walt Disney’s office space was broken up three main parts: the Secretary’s Office (everyone entering the other offices had to pass by the secretary), Walt’s Formal Office (where he met with important guests or spent time listening to the Sherman Brothers compose at his piano), and Walt’s Working Office (and office that was “constantly in motion” and where he spent the majority of his time). Suite 3H also housed a private room for Walt which he often used to relax at the end of the day or play with his kids.

Walt Disneys Formal Office

The Disney Studios lot (where Suite 3H is located) was built in 1940 with the proceeds from the animated feature Sleeping Beauty.
Dave Smith documented Walt’s office space with photos and a meticulous inventory of every item between 1968 and 1969. When recreating the office space, they placed books back on the shelf in the same place and positioning as Walt left them. Even the number of paper clips on his desk was duplicated.
Walt’s secretary documented every activity and appointment every day – from when he arrived each morning, to who he ate lunch with and where, to when he went home each night. What an incredible log!

Walt Disney’s secretary’s office

Walt’s favorite song was “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins.
Walt loved both collecting and making miniatures. You’ll find lots of fascinating collectibles throughout his office. He started collecting miniatures to replace his previous hobby of playing polo (his wife made him stop).
Actor Ed Wynn was considered by Walt to be his lucky charm, so he kept a picture of him in his working office.

Walt Disney’s working office

When Walt travelled, he would carry cans of food in his bags. His personal kitchen in his working office (which was created for him by General Electric) has some of his favorite canned foods (liked canned chili con carne and Spam!)

Another favorite tidbit that I had forgotten about after my first tour was that artist Norman Rockwell drew sketches of Walt Disney’s two daughters as a gift to Walt. Those sketches are hanging to each side of Walt’s desk in his formal office.

Our Peter Pan Scavenger Hunt on Walt Disney Studios Lot

Our skills, knowledge, endurance…and hand-standing ability were tested on the Walt Disney Studios lot as we embarked on a Peter Pan-themed scavenger hunt to celebrate the 65th anniversary of PETER PAN (available on Digital 5/29 and Blu-ray 6/5).

We were split into random teams of five (I was on Team Hook) and sent on a mission to find hidden clues, solve puzzles, recreate photos, find Peter Pan’s shadow, and more.

We started out with a map of the studio lot and a single clue. We had to decipher the clue and figure out our next destination, all while avoiding the other four groups as much as possible – we got points for catching the other teams off guard and jumping on their shadows (let’s just say that the shadow-jumping got pretty intense!).

We worked our way through 11 clues and destinations, collecting photos, Peter Pan-themed props (we chose the hooks, of course!) and pixie dust along the way. We answered trivia, put together a puzzle, played games, and more.

Our group had a blast together. We worked amazingly well with one another and had a wonderfully positive attitude. Our hour together was one of the highlights of my trip!

Yes, thats ME doing the hand stand! Anything in the name of more points for our team!

Of course, no Peter Pan scavenger hunt would be complete without a treasure at the end! And this treasure was pretty incredible. Each member of the winning team won an Apple TV!

It took a while for Disney staff to count up the points earned by each group, and Team Hook was shocked when they announced US AS THE WINNERS!

Deric McCabe from A Wrinkle In Time just happened to be in the room when we were announced as the winners, so he jumped in the photo with us. So. Much. Fun!

Want more? Click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event/Peter Pan Bluray coverage.

General Hospital – Celebrating 55 Years of Daytime Television #GH55 #ABCTVEvent

Lolli — Tue, 15 May 2018 16:00:00 +0000

Can you believe that General Hospital is 55 years old?!

I was invited on an expense-paid trip to Los Angeles by Disney to attend the #HanSoloEvent and #ABCTVEvent in exchange for coverage on my blog. No other compensation was provided. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

FRANK VALENTINI (Executive Producer), me & JOSHUA SWICKARD (“Detective Harrison Chase”)

This past week, I had the chance to tour the set of General Hospital, the iconic American daytime soap opera that is celebrating 55 years on TV. It’s incredible to think that the writers and actors have been carrying this story line for longer than I’ve been alive. Daytime drama/soap operas are an American creation. To be carrying one evolving story line for 55 years is an incredible feat.

Warning: fun staged photos ahead. I had a ton of fun posing in different scenes!

We had the awesome opportunity to tour the set and then hang out in the green room with Executive Producer Frank Valentini and actor Joshua Swickard, who plays “Detective Harrison Chase” while we enjoyed some delicious mini bundt cakes. We also got an exclusive sneak peek of Josh’s top-secret performance at the Nurse’s Ball. Trust me, if you have watched General Hospital at all recently, you won’t want to miss the Nurse’s Ball (which airs May 16-21, 2018).

There’s something magical about being on a working set. I was fascinated to learn that they switch sets around regularly (ie, one week, they’ll have Maxi’s living room up in one spot, and the next week they’ll take it down to make room for another scene). They also use “frags” or fragmented sets to save space and time. Basically, they’ll set up a corner or a small section of a restaurant or another large setting when they only have to film a small portion of the scene.

Some of the hilarious set “secrets” that we learned were:

Snacks in vending machine have stickers on them so that they display fake names (“Cool Chips” instead of “Chips Ahoy”)
The snacks in the vending machines and drinks at the restaurant bar have been around for YEARS. Don’t eat or drink them! In fact, the vending machines don’t even work. There are snacks in the bottom just waiting for an actor to grab.
Elevator doors don’t actually work. They have prop guys physically open and close the doors each time
The pens in the pen holders at the nurse’s stations in the hospital are glued in place so that pens don’t accidentally walk off!
The drinking fountains don’t actually work! The actors just lean over like they’re drinking, and water sound effects are added later during editing.

It’s amazing how much the producers of General Hospital are able to do with a small budget. They often reuse or repurpose sets. For instance, in the hospital, they use the same set-up but change the floor numbers and signs. Throughout the set, they reuse walls and furniture and props.

One really “hot” topic of conversation during our tour was story lines with fires and earthquakes and other natural disasters. Natural disasters are really difficult, complicated, and expensive, so the writers try not to add too many of those types of elements in the story line. Remote shooting is really expensive, so they don’t do many location sequences anymore. Even outdoor scenes are limited to every 6 months or so, and those are often shot at a small park next to the studio.

Filming a day time drama like General Hospital is a lot of work. They film throughout the year, with only 16 “dark weeks” spaced out over the year (versus prime time shows that film the whole season in a few months). The shoot an average of 6 shows or so per week, and rarely work on the weekends, except for “extra” preparation like they needed for the Nurse’s Ball episode.

Filming a day time drama is a lot of work!

And because the story line is continuous, daytime actors tend to stick around for longer. It’s almost unheard of in the entertainment industry to go to the same job for 15-20 years, but it’s not uncommon for soap opera actors! Not only do the actors stick around for longer, but the fans do, too. Executive Producer Frank Valentini is proud of General Hospital’s strong Family connection – fans have watched when they were kids with their moms or grandmas and now they’re watching as adults.

Frank Valentini mentioned that he and the General Hospital team of writers feel a great sense of responsibility in the stories that they tell. They recognize that there are ways to tell stories that change people’s lives. They have recently been following an Alzheimer’s story line and have learned a lot in the process. For instance, did you know that 2 out of 3 people with Alzheimer’s are women? Most of the Alzheimers caregivers are women as well.

Are you a General Hospital fan? Did you ever watch it with your mom or your Grandma? I know I did!

Make sure to tune in to upcoming episodes! I know a few things that are going to be happening and you’re not going to want to miss a thing!

CONNECT WITH GENERAL HOSPITAL

Watch GENERAL HOSPITAL weekdays on ABC (check your local listings) or streaming or on the ABC app.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/generalhospital
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GeneralHospital

Hashtag: #GH or #GH55

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/generalhospitalabc/

Website: https://abc.go.com/shows/general-hospital

FRANK VALENTINI (Executive Producer): https://twitter.com/valentinifrank

JOSHUA SWICKARD (“Detective Harrison Chase”): https://twitter.com/josh_swickard and https://www.instagram.com/joshswickard/

SOLO: A Star Wars Story World Premiere {My #HanSoloEvent Red Carpet and After-Party Experience}

Lolli — Mon, 14 May 2018 15:51:12 +0000

I was invited, along with 24 other bloggers, on an expense-paid trip to Los Angeles by Disney to attend the #HanSoloEvent and #ABCTVEvent in exchange for coverage on my blog. No other compensation was provided. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Talk about a magical night. I’ve been to a dozen or so red carpet premieres, and I have to say that THIS red carpet was my favorite so far. This was the first time that bloggers have been invited to attend a Star Wars movie red carpet, so it was a new and magical experience for all 25 of us.

HOLLYWOOD, CA – MAY 10: Cast and crew of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” attend the world premiere of ?Solo: A Star Wars Story? in Hollywood on May 10, 2018. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) *** Local Caption *** Alan Horn; George Lucas; Clint Howard; Jonathan Kasdan; John Powell; John Williams; Joonas Suotamo; Ron Howard; Woody Harrelson; Emilia Clarke; Thandie Newton; Phoebe Waller-Bridge; Alden Ehrenreich; Donald Glover; Paul Bettany; Jon Favreau; Kathleen Kennedy; Simon Emanuel; Jason McGatlin; Alan Bergman

There was an energy present from the moment we stepped onto the red carpet until the moment we left the after-party around midnight on Thursday night that was unlike any other I’ve felt. The thing that stood out to me throughout the night was that everyone – from the everyday people like me to the stars of the movie – felt a sense of excitement and honor in being involved in a Star Wars movie.

Chewbacca poses with Alden Enrenreich at the world premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story in Hollywood on May 10, 2018..(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages).

The Solo Red Carpet Experience

Stormtroopers ‘selfie’ at the world premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story in Hollywood on May 10, 2018..(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages).

When you’re greeted by a life-sized replica of the Millennium Falcon on Hollywood Blvd, you know it’s going to be a good walk down the red carpet. We’re always advised to keep moving along, but I have to admit that it’s tough to not stop and stare when Ron Howard or George Lucas walk by just feet away.

I spent as much time as I could soaking it all in, and while I was excited to take my seat in the Dolby Theater to see the movie, I enjoyed the ambiance on the red carpet so much that I didn’t want it to end.

For a Star Wars red carpet, I built my look around a LuLaRoe Sarah from the Elegant Collection. The black background and gold sequins seemed to be the perfect look for a Star Wars movie. I wore a simple black LuLaRoe Nicole underneath and accessorized with gold jewelry, a gold handbag, and sparkly gold shoes (which surprisingly didn’t hurt my feet at all!). I felt very comfortable on the red carpet and in the theater (apparently I was one of the only people who didn’t freeze throughout the movie!).

A Star Wars After-Party

After the movie ended, we walked above the Dolby Theater to attend the after-party with the cast and other Hollywood elite.

Talk about a star-studded party! Everywhere we looked, there were celebrities. Lucky for me, I was hanging out with my adorable and super-friendly partner-in-crime, Elayna from ThePositiveMom.com, who makes friends everywhere she goes. Let’s just say that Elayna is a great co-pilot when you’re making your way through a crowded room full of Hollywood stars.

I do believe that my picture with the one and only Mark Hamill (aka THE Luke Skywalker) is my most liked and commented-on photo ever! I have to admit, it’s pretty epic and one that I will cherish forever.

Me with Mark Hamill

Me with Woody Harrelson

Me with Joonas Suotamo (“Chewbacca”)

Peter Mayhew (the original Chewbacca) and Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca)

Not only was the after-party loaded with celebrities, but it was full of amazing food, fun music, costumes from the movie, and exciting photo opps. I could have used another hour at the party (there were many people I wasn’t able to meet) but we were all pretty exhausted after a busy day and long night. I was happy to get back to the hotel and get some sleep…dreaming about taking a ride on the Millennium Falcon and hanging out with Han Solo.

https://foodfunfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/IMG_6591.mp4

About Solo: A Star Wars Story

Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo befriends his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.

The film stars Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Joonas Suotamo, and Paul Bettany.

Ron Howard directs “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” and Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur and Simon Emanuel are the producers. Lawrence Kasdan, Jason McGatlin, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller serve as executive producers. Jonathan Kasdan & Lawrence Kasdan wrote the screenplay.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY opens in theaters everywhere on May 25! Tickets are available to purchase now – and I recommend getting your hands on some tickets ASAP. This is a movie you don’t want to miss!

Website: https://www.starwars.com/films/solo

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starwarsmovies

Follow our exclusive coverage (with review and interviews coming) by checking out hashtag #HanSoloEvent

The Great Pumpkin Fest at Kings Dominion

Lolli — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 16:14:28 +0000

This post is sponsored by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.

This past Saturday, three of my kids and I spent the day at Kings Dominion for the Great Pumpkin Fest. We had a BLAST! Talk about getting us in the Halloween spirit (although the weather felt a whole lot like middle of the summer!). There is something for everyone and EVERY age at Kings Dominion during the month of October!

Weekends starting September 23, and then September 30 to October 29 between 12:00pm and 5:00pm, the Great Pumpkin Fest is open! The Great Pumpkin Fest is a fun activity for the whole family and includes Halloween-themed live shows, Sally’s Pumpkin Painting Patch (decorate and take home a small pumpkin!), Franklin’s Scarecrow Hollow (a kid-friendly maze), Pig Pen’s People Washer (play and splash around in a “pool” of suds!), a petting zoo (adorable animals!!), and so much more! Your favorite rides are open during the day, as well as the entire Planet Snoopy kids’ area.

For more information about the Great Pumpkin Fest, please click here: https://www.kingsdominion.com/things-to-do/the-great-pumpkin-fest

We spent the daylight hours riding a few of our favorite rides and enjoying the Halloween festivities. The kid-friendly activities at Planet Snoopy wound down around 5:00pm, and then the park started the transformation to “HAUNT.”

Although my kids weren’t interested in getting scared, we were all impressed with the length that Kings Dominion went to to decorate for Halloween! We stayed about 90 minutes past sunset, so we were able to experience plenty of the spooky part. We especially enjoyed the after-dark shows, like the The Grave Walkers (a family-friendly wandering band with fun dancers) and the flaming torch juggler.

Be Scare-Proof with the No-Boo Necklace!

My 18-year-old was nervous about being scared by costumed monsters while walking around the park, so she purchased one of the No-Boo glowing necklaces and wore it proudly all day. The no-boo necklace worked like a charm once the sun went down and the monsters came out! Don’t worry about your little ones if you plan to stay in Planet Snoopy. Everything in the kids’ area is fun and kid-friendly and not scary at all.

Free Pre-K Pass!

Don’t forget about the free Pre-K pass – you don’t want to miss out on this offer! This special pass grants free admission to 3-5 year olds for the rest of the 2017 season and all of 2018! More info can be found here: https://www.kingsdominion.com/tickets-passes/pre-k-pass

Love to be SCARED?

For adults and teens, Kings Dominion goes ALL OUT for their Halloween HAUNT. From costumed “monsters” wandering the park to fog machines to spooky shows, mazes, haunted houses, and rides converted to Halloween themes, there is something for every level of Halloween fan!

Here’s a little of what you can expect: Start your night of fright at the Overlord’s Resurrection, where monsters will be unleashed into the park and out of your worst nightmares. Guests who are brave enough can enjoy eight mazes, five scare zones plus several live shows. If that isn’t enough fun, get your thrill fix on more than 20 rides, including Intimidator 305, as fog and darkness blanket the park.

Test your limits and experience fear beyond your worst nightmares with 5 all-new Skeleton Key rooms exclusive with Fright Lane. You’ll face extra terror as you unlock exclusive chambers and complete sinister tasks in order to escape.

Connect with Kings Dominion:

Kings Dominion official website
Click here for park hours & directions: https://www.kingsdominion.com/hours-directions
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingsdominionva
Instagram: @kingsdominionva
Twitter: @kingsdominionva

Kings Dominion BBQ and Brew Fest 2017

Lolli — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 21:20:19 +0000

My family and I were thrilled to receive an invite to BBQ and Brew Fest at Kings Dominion this past weekend. We couldn’t wait to return for our second year in a row (although this was BBQ and Brew Fest’s 3rd season at the park). The post was sponsored by Cedar Fair in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand, but all thoughts, excitement, and photos are my own.

We decided to make this year’s BBQ and Brew Fest at Kings Dominion a fun family weekend getaway and stayed in the Richmond area Friday and Saturday so we could have a full day – opening to closing – at the park. We couldn’t have asked for better weather for a day at Kings Dominion, especially for August!

What is BBQ and Brew Fest?

BBQ and Brew Fest, in it’s 3rd season, runs Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8pm between August 5 and August 20. Park-goers can enjoy mouthwatering BBQ from all over the region and relax or dance along with live entertainment (whichever strikes your fancy!). For those of you who are 21+ and enjoy a good craft beer, you can quench your thirst with the best local craft beers in Virginia. Since I’m not a beer drinker myself, I just enjoyed as much of the BBQ as possible!

Memphis Dry Rub Ribs

Memphis-style Mac & Cheese

North Carolina Pulled Chicken Wontons

Shish Kabob Beef from Georgia

How it Works

Visit BBQ booths around Candy Apple Grove to taste sample size BBQ dishes from Texas, Georgia, Memphis, North Carolina, Virginia, and St. Louis. Each sample size portion costs 2-4 Taste Tokens. Tokens can be purchased at the Festival Information Center. The “sample” sizes were very generous, and we all got plenty to eat!

BBQ and Brew Fest Menu 2017

We all spread out and visited several BBQ regions. I think my favorite item was the tater tots with pulled duck and creamy gouda cheese. How delicious does that sound?! It was as tasty as it sounds and looks!

Tater tots with pulled duck and creamy gouda cheese

Live Entertainment

There is live music and entertainment every day of the festival between 12-2pm and 4-6pm – perfect for the lunch and dinner crowds! There are places to sit and enjoy the music while you sip on a cold drink and nibble on some tasty BBQ.

Enjoy a Day at Kings Dominion

Of course, we enjoyed the rest of the day at Kings Dominion riding as many rides as possible and taking a relaxing break or two at a show, too! Check out this summer’s shows at https://www.kingsdominion.com/play/shows-and-entertainment. We loved Jump: The Ultimate Dog Show (which runs through September 4 in the Peanuts Showplace) and Origins: A Cirque Experience (which runs through September 4 in the Kings Dominion Theater in Old Virginia).

Origins: A Cirque Experience at Kings Dominion

Jump: The Ultimate Dog Show at Kings Dominion

There’s so much to do at Kings Dominion – from family-friendly rides to thrill rides to water rides to shows! We did a little bit of everything last weekend!

Caricature Drawings at Kings Dominion

Cooling off on the Shenandoah Lumber Company Log Ride

Hurry over to Kings Dominion for the remainder of BBQ and Brew Fest 2017. You’ll love it!

Connect with BBQ and Brew Fest

Learn More about BBQ and Brew Fest: https://www.kingsdominion.com/play/events/bbq-and-brew
Park website: https://www.kingsdominion.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kingsdominionva
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingsdominionva/
Twitter: @KingsDominionVA

Disneyland Ushers in Summer 2017! Summer of Heroes and Pirates of the Caribbean’s 50th anniversary!

Lolli — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 18:37:40 +0000

My recent #PiratesLifeEvent press trip would not have been complete without a visit to the ride that inspired the movie franchise – Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland! My travel, accommodations, and activities during the press event were covered by Disney. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland

Did you know? The Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, was the last ride that Walt Disney personally worked on, though he never had the chance to ride the completed ride. Pirates of the Caribbean has not only thrilled kids and adults alike for the last 50 years, but it has inspired a hugely popular movie franchise as well as and entire Pirates Land at Shanghai Disney.

Photo courtesy of DisneylandNews.com

There are several Disneyland and Disney World rides and attractions that have been inspired by movies over the years, but Pirates of the Caribbean remains unique in that the ride came first and inspired everything that followed!

Photo courtesy of DisneylandNews.com

After riding Pirate of the Caribbean as a group, we had some free time to spend at the park. I explored the park with two friends – Captain Jack and Emily from CleverHousewife! We had a blast, despite the crowds!

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

The newest ride at Disney California Adventure Park – Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! – is NOW OPEN! I missed the opening of the ride by days, but I know that it is epic! The new Guardians of the Galaxy ride is now a permanent attraction at Disney California Adventure!

Photo courtesy of DisneylandNews.com

About Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!: the brand new ride launches guests into an action-packed adventure that’s full of irreverent humor, combining a breathtaking free-fall sensation with all-new visual and audio effects. The action jumps to the beat of the attraction’s “awesome mix tape” of music, inspired by the films’ soundtracks. Guests will discover multiple ride experiences as they help Rocket in a daring plan to free the Guardians–a band of extraterrestrial misfits–from the fortress of The Collector, Taneleer Tivan.

Photo courtesy of DisneylandNews.com

Summer of Heroes

In Disney California Adventure:

“Avengers Training Initiative”: Black Widow and Hawkeye assemble young recruits for a series of tests to see if they have what it takes to join the ranks of the Avengers.
Heroic Encounter: Black Widow: Black Widow arrives on the scene several times throughout the day in an armored Avengers vehicle for her heroic encounter with park guests.

Grab a Piece (or Bite) of the Action: Special themed merchandise, plus food and beverage items, will be available throughout Hollywood Land.

Photo courtesy of DisneylandNews.com

“Disney Junior Dance Party!”: This fun concert experience invites adults and kids to dance and sing along to the music. Popular Disney Junior characters from Disney Junior TV shows “Doc McStuffins,” “Sofia the First” and “The Lion Guard” are joined by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse from the new series “Mickey and the Roadster Racers.”

“Pixar Play Parade:” presenting the colorful and exciting worlds of the Disney•Pixar pals from “Toy Story,” “Monsters, Inc.” “Finding Nemo,” “Cars” and others, the Pixar Play Parade has returned to Disney California Adventure with daily performances full of fun and surprising movement and effects.

Princess Elena: the adventurous heroine of the Disney Channel series “Elena of Avalor” and the first Disney Princess inspired by diverse Latin American cultures will greet her fans in the patio of Paradise Garden Grill.

**Guests will enjoy these Super Hero experiences year-round:**

Super Hero Encounters: Meet Groot, the First Avenger, Captain America, and the friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man up close and personal!

“Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off!”: Join Star-Lord and his old-school boom box as everyone (including Groot, of course!) gets in the groove and shows off their moves!

Photo courtesy of DisneylandNews.com

In Disneyland:

Main Street Electrical Parade: the classic parade has been extended by popular demand through August 20, 2017! This nighttime parade features half a million twinkling lights and favorites like Cinderella’s ball, Elliot from “Pete’s Dragon” and the “To Honor America” finale.

“Fantasmic!” is coming back: the popular nighttime spectacular will be re-opening this summer on the Rivers of America, featuring Genie from “Aladdin,” and characters from “Tangled,” “The Lion King” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Returning this summer are the Disneyland Railroad and these Rivers of America attractions: the Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes and Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.

Star Wars Launch Bay: In Tomorrowland, Star Wars fans can meet some of their favorite Star Wars characters and take a look at replica props and models from Star Wars movies, including the latest “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” Work is continuing on the new Star Wars-themed land, set to open in 2019!!

For more information, visit DisneylandNews.com.