Food Fun Family

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

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales {Activity Sheets & Special Announcement}

Lolli — Fri, 05 May 2017 17:23:21 +0000

I’m heading to the Red Carpet!

I’m thrilled to officially announce that I’ll be heading to Los Angeles for the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales red carpet premiere May 17-20! This trip is courtesy of Disney and all travel and activities during my stay are covered. All thoughts and excitement are my own.

I can’t wait to see the 5th installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, plus meet and interview some of the talent involved in the film (WOW!). I’ll be updating this post as soon as I learn who is on the interview docket! I’m sure you can imagine who I’m crossing my fingers we’ll get to interview!

While in LA, we will also stop by the Disney Archives to learn about the history of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” attraction (which is my childhood favorite ride at Disneyland!) and then we’ll get to experience the ride first hand with a trip to Disneyland!

We also get to cover the newest Walt Disney Signature Collection release – Bambi. Not only will we get to celebrate this Disney Classic’s 75th anniversary, but we’ll have the opportunity to speak with with two members of the original voice cast – Donnie Dunagan, the voice of young Bambi and Peter Behn, the voice of young Thumper. How cool is that??

Be sure to follow along with the official event hashtags: #PiratesLifeEvent and #BambiBluRay

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Activity Packet

To print this free Pirates-themed activity packet, simply click HERE (or on the image below) and download the full sized PDF booklet. Print as many as you’d like and enjoy!

About Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

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.

Jack’s only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry (Brenton Thwaites), a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune, but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” also stars Kevin R. McNally as Joshamee Gibbs, Golshifteh Farahani as the sea-witch Shansa, David Wenham as Scarfield, Stephen Graham as Scrum, and Geoffrey Rush as Captain Hector Barbossa.

Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg are directing “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” with Jerry Bruckheimer producing. The executive producers are Mike Stenson, Chad Oman, Joe Caracciolo, Jr., Terry Rossio and Brigham Taylor. The story is by Jeff Nathanson and Terry Rossio, and Jeff Nathanson wrote the screenplay. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” drops anchor in U.S. theaters on May 26, 2017.

Connect with Pirates of the Caribbean:

Follow PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyPirates

Like PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PiratesOfTheCaribbean

Follow PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneypirates/

Visit the official PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES website here: https://pirates.disney.com/

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES opens in theaters everywhere May 26th!

I’m Heading to the Queen of Katwe Red Carpet Premiere #QueenOfKatweEvent #ABCTVEvent

Lolli — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 02:53:07 +0000

I’m so honored to have been invited to attend the red carpet premiere of Disney’s QUEEN OF KATWE, coming to theaters on September 23. Travel and accommodations are being covered by Disney, but my excitement is authentically my own.

In just one week, I’ll be hopping on another plane for the Red Carpet Premiere of Queen Of Katwe, based on the true story of Phiona Mutesi & Robert Katende. I’m excited to have the chance to interview David Oyelowo (Robert Katende), Lupita Nyong’o (Phiona’s mother), as well as newcomer Madina Nalwanga, who plays Phiona in the film. We also get to interview Martin Kabanza, who plays Phiona’s brother in the movie, and Director Mira Nair.

But perhaps even more exciting, we’ll be interviewing the real Phiona Mutesi and Robert Katende.

I’m currently reading The Queen of Katwe (Amazon link to the book) and in case you missed it, I’ve teamed up with some of the other bloggers heading on the trip to give away not one but TWO Queen of Katwe prize packs (which include a copy of the book and a gorgeous chess set!).

If you are unfamiliar with Phiona’s story, check out the trailer:

While we’re in LA, we’ll also have the chance to go behind-the-scenes and visit the sets of ABC’s “The Middle” (love that show!) and the new series, “American Housewife.” If that wasn’t cool enough, we also get to have an amazing ONCE UPON A TIME experience!

Once Upon a Time is one of our family’s favorite shows, and our group in LA will be among a select few to get a Sneak Preview of the Once Upon a Time Season 6 Premiere, “The Savior,” which will be followed by a Q&A with co-creators and executive producers Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.

About “American Housewife” (premieres Tuesday, October 11 at 8:30/7:30c): Katie Otto, a confident, unapologetic wife and mother of three, raises her flawed family in the wealthy town of Westport, Connecticut, filled with “perfect” mommies and their “perfect” offspring. Katie’s perfectly imperfect world is upended when her neighbor’s decision to move notches her up from her ideal social standing and sets her on a path to ensure that doesn’t happen, regardless of the consequences.
Check out the official trailer:

About “The Middle” (premieres Tuesday, October 11 at 8/7c): Two-time Emmy-winner Patricia Heaton stars in this warm and witty single-camera comedy about raising a family and lowering your expectations. Middle-aged, middle class and living in the middle of the country in Orson, Indiana, Frankie Heck is a harried wife and mother of three who uses her wry wit and sense of humor to get her family through each day intact. Frankie works as a dental assistant, and her unflappable husband, Mike, is manager at the local quarry and her sardonic partner in the daily grind that is raising their average – yes, most definitely average – family.

Mark your calendars and make sure to follow along next Monday through Wednesday, 9/19-9/21! We’ll be using hashtags #QueenOfKatweaEvent, #ABCTVEvent, #TheMiddle, #AmericanHousewife, and #OnceUponATime

Walking the FROZEN Premiere White Carpet! #DisneyFrozenEvent

Lolli — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 17:00:18 +0000

Disney invited me on an expense-paid trip to Los Angeles for the Disney Frozen Event so that I could report back to all of my readers about the movie and behind-the-scenes details. No other compensation has been exchanged and all opinions are my own. Note: photos that are watermarked with Better in Bulk were taken by me or a friend holding my camera. All other pictures in this post are courtesy of Disney unless otherwise noted.

If you were following me on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook at all this past week, I’m sure you caught a picture or two of the incredible blogging event to celebrate the premiere of Disney’s FROZEN, coming to theaters (finally!) on November 27 – that’s the day before Thanksgiving!

A few years ago I never in my wildest dreams would have guessed that I would have the opportunity to walk down the red carpet at the El Capitan Theater and mingle with celebrities.

And yet, this past week I found myself walking down my fourth red carpet for the world premiere of Disney’s newest animated masterpiece, FROZEN. Except this red carpet was white. What else would you expect from a snowy, icy movie like Frozen?

Yes, there was snow – real snow – on Hollywood Boulevard. Disney knows how to create magic.

I loved staying at the Loew’s Hollywood Hotel, just right across the street from the El Capitan Theater, where the premiere was held. What a convenient location to walking to the premiere and PERFECT for capturing a few extra shots of the Frozen atmosphere. The location is also perfect for the now-traditional group photo on the Oscars steps.

While we gathered to take our group shot, a group of tourists stood watching us, raised their cameras, and snapped away like we were the celebrities. We were all laughing.

We are all indebted to https://notsoaveragemama.com/ for catching our view from the group shot!

There’s not much time for a leisurely stroll down the white carpet – they move you down pretty speedily. I was able to literally bump into Dax Shepard, newly married to Frozen star Kristen Bell (he was speeding past me and surprised me by talking very loudly right into my ear. Well, hello!). I forgave him for the shock.

My biggest thrill of the white carpet experience was running into the McClain Sisters again and giving them all huge hugs. We bonded at the Chimpanzee event over a year and a half ago because they reminded me of my two oldest daughters who are about the same ages as China and Lauryn. And then when our white carpet photo didn’t turn out, we bonded again inside the theater and snapped a few more shots with my phone.

I won’t lie – I was so excited to see tweets from Sierra and Lauryn McClain that night.

Once inside the theater, we found our seats and were entertained with music and people-watching. We were surrounded by Disney Channel stars, but I kept my phone tucked away.

After the movie, I enjoyed food and pictures and games and more celebrity shoulder-rubbing.

My favorite party experience was chatting with actress Bailee Madison from Once Upon a Time and Trophy Wife. She was a complete doll and so sweet to me. I found out later that we share the same birthday (a *few* years apart) so that must be where the instant connection originated.

Between the stars and the food and the magical atmosphere that Disney always seems to create perfectly, my night at the Frozen premiere and after-party could not have been more wonderful.

Pump up the FROZEN excitement with these EXTRAS:

ABC Family is having a Frozen Night beginning at 4:30 this Saturday! They’ll be having sneak peeks and other special features. (Thanks to the tip from Dusty at AsMomSeesIt.com)
Disney’s FROZEN – Free Printable Activity Sheets
FROZEN Coloring Pages and More

Frozen stars the voice talents of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Santino Fontana, Alan Tudyk and Ciarán Hinds and is directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee with original songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

FROZEN Opens November 27, 2013
https://www.facebook.com/DisneyFrozen
https://twitter.com/DisneyAnimation (#DisneyFrozen)
https://www.pinterest.com/disneystudios/frozen/
https://www.disney.com/frozen