An Afternoon With Shawn Johnson Launched My Daughter's Show Biz Career

Last Wednesday my girls and I had the opportunity to meet Olympic Gold medalist and Dancing With the Stars finalist Shawn Johnson at an event sponsored by Lunchables and Camp Woodward. My 10-year-old daughter Kiyomi could hardly believe her luck - meeting a celebrity AND the possibility of snagging a free Pizza Lunchable.* Safe to say it was the best school day she'd had in a long time.

(*And yes, I do let my kids have the occasional pre-packaged lunch - my aversion to making school lunches is well known and I'm not above asking for a little help from the deli meat section of my local grocer. Now I'll pause a moment for my foodie friends to pass out, come to, and then cross my name out of their address books.)

Kiyomi's day then got even more awesome, as the organizers of the event agreed to let her interview Shawn. Seeing as my kid has high hopes of achieving fame and fortune in show business (we live in L.A. after all, where they come out of the womb asking for an agent) this was the big break she'd been waiting for! The proverbial 'foot in the door' that could possibly launch her wildly successful career in entertainment! Why, she was just steps away from her own talk show, lucrative product endorsements and a scandalous People cover!



Okay, maybe we were getting a little ahead of ourselves, but it was such an incredible, special opportunity and we're grateful to Shawn and the Lunchables team for making it happen. They even gave me a Flip video camera to record the whole thing, and if I was smarter I would have used it instead of my old video camera. (Hence the bad quality.) Luckily this was Kiyomi's first interview and she didn't know any better; I have a feeling a mistake like this on future gigs and she'll have me fired and replaced by one of the more competent, tech-savvy moms.

But my daughter's experience was perfect for the theme of Shawn's cross-country tour, which is to inspire kids to follow their dreams and achieve success. Shawn and the Lunchables crew are partnering with Camp Woodward, a sports, gymnastics, cheer and digital media camp that offers week-long summer sessions to kids ages seven to 17. With classes in unconventional activities like inline skating, skateboarding and BMX, this definitely ain't your daddy's camp. And there's more - Lunchables is currently running a promotion where 50 lucky kids could win an all expenses paid, VIP ticket to Camp Woodward. That's right - your son or daughter could be doing a wheelie or riding a half-pipe this summer instead of laying on the couch and fighting you for the remote control.

The whole event, which took place at a local gym, was a great experience for my girls. Shawn couldn't have been nicer and more accessible, and seeing her easy interaction with the young gymnasts showed why she's such a great choice to be a mentor to kids. (My daughters had a great time, but so did I - I got to hang out with two of my favorite bloggers, Donna and Tara.)

Here's a short video (shot with my brand spankin' new Flip Ultra) that shows how excited these young gymnasts were they first saw their idol Shawn. They had no idea she was going to be in that gym when they opened the door.



Oh, and Shawn - you definitely have our vote on Dancing With The Stars. And if it's not too much to ask, please keep Kiyomi in mind for your victory interview.

If you'd like to see some great demos on what Camp Woodward has to offer, check out these other stops on their tour (Shawn will be making an appearance in Chicago!):

• May 7-9, Grand Rapids, Mich. at the Tulip Time Festival
• May 14-16, Memphis, Tenn. at the Memphis in May Festival
• May 21-23, Charlotte, N.C. at the Speed Street 600 Festival
• May 29-31, Tampa, Fla. at the Taste of Pinellas Festival
• June 4-7, Nashville, Tenn. at the Riverbend Festival
• June 11-14, Chicago, Ill. at Navy Pier
• July 2-5, Norfolk, Va. at the Norfolk Harborfest
• July 11-12, Buffalo, N.Y. at the Taste of Buffalo
• July 24-26, New York, N.Y. at the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning
• July 30-Aug 2, Columbus, Ohio at the Ohio State Fair
• Aug 6-9, Madison, Wis. at the Wisconsin State Fair
• Aug 13-16, San Diego, Calif. at the San Diego Zoo
• Aug 20-23, Sacramento, Calif. at the California State Fair

The tour is open to all ages and will be free of charge.

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tags: shawn johnson | dancing with the stars | camp woodward | lunchables

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We Went to an EA Games Party and I Brought Something Back For You

Last week I took the girls to the EA Games Summer Block Party held at the EA offices in Playa Del Rey. Let me just say the party started before we even walked into the event - this is one of those places that everyone dreams of working at. They have gaming centers everywhere, a beach-like pond in the middle and my favorite - a cafe in the lobby. Imagine not having to lie to your boss about an emergency and then sneaking out to get your afternoon caffeine and pastry fix.

The hedonism didn't stop there; as soon as we stepped in we were pointed towards the make-your-own sundae bar, the buffet table filled with fresh pizzas and the cotton candy and popcorn machines. All this surrounding a huge room with couches, huge screens and all the latest games from EA. The kids of course, went nuts. At one point I saw my 10-year-old with a Wii controller in one hand and a cotton candy in the other and I haven't seen her that happy since I told her she could skip flossing on Fridays.

The best part was, my girls and their friends got to game to their hearts content. Really great new Wii games, like Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, MySims Racing and a new version of Boom Blox, Bash Party. Me, I got a little taste of the new EA Sports Active for Wii, which I loved. That might be just the thing I need to work off all that pizza I ate at the party.

A few of the other games they featured were Tiger Woods PGA Tour (wanted to try this out but got intimidated by an eight-year-old) Sims 3, Madden NFL 10, G.I. Joe, Littlest Pet Shop Spring and video game versions of classic board games like Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit. I'm happy to see EA coming out with Wii games for adults - us grownups aren't just about blogging, Twitter and ordering housewares from Amazon.

And guess what? I brought something back for you: I have a copy of MySims Party for Wii to giveaway, and all you have to do is leave a comment below. I will then determine the winner in a random, reckless manner. Enter before midnight pst on Tuesday, May 19. (Sorry, U.S. entries only.) You may all skip flossing tonight.

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tags: ea games | nintendo wii | mysims party | ea sports active

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My Disney Weekend, Part One: Hugh Jackman, Mickey Hands and Tons of Bacon

I don't know about you, but having a hotel room to myself is one of the greatest pleasures on earth, right up there with all-you-can-eat buffets and gratuitous shots of Hugh Jackman bare-chested. So, throw in that hotel surrounded by a beach resort, amusement parks and a chance to meet some great bloggers from all over the U.S. (and a few from the U.K.) and you have my unbelievable, once-in-a-lifetime trip to Orlando's Disney World last weekend. Hugh Jackman wasn't there, but I think it's safe to say I wouldn't have been willing to share my room even if he was. (But Hugh, don't be afraid to ask.)

I'm still thinking there was some mixup, that my name was mistaken for someone who could actually string together a few coherent sentences and that's how I got invited to the Walt Disney World Mom Blogger Mixer. How else to explain how I ended up with a beautiful room at the Disney Beach Resort, dining on exquisite escargot at the luxurious Chefs de France, enjoying the IllumiNations fireworks show from a private perch while being served hot coffee and an entire table of desserts? Did I mention that was just on the first day? But wait - this is what I came back to find in my room that night:

Can you believe that? Can you blame me for putting on those Mickey hands and dancing around the room for a few minutes in my underwear? See what I mean about the incoherent sentences?

(Before I go any further, here is the crew I got to hang out with on my crazy, decadent weekend. I spent a lot of time dodging their cameras, but I liked them anyways: Megan, Lindsay, Andrea, Beth, Amanda, Lisa, Dawn, Christine, Emily, Leanne, Laura and Maria. I'll write more later about this group of smart, funny, talented women who are all way more photogenic than me.)

I'd never been to Disney World (not to mention Florida) so this trip was exciting for me to say the least. Sure I was a little sad to be there without my husband and kids, but it was a great opportunity for me to check out the park and bond with some other great bloggers. (Also, see gushing references to 'private room' above.) I've always wanted to visit Epcot (what is IN that huge golf ball for gawds sake?) and I've had many people recommend the Disney Cruise, which leaves out of Port Canaveral, as a great first cruise to take the kids on. After my first day at the Disney Resort I was so convinced that it would be the ideal vacation for my family that I came back to my room and started looking up prices online for Disney's Land and Sea Packages. Sure it was hard typing with those big Mickey hands on, but I was caught up in the moment. And I was surprised to find out how truly affordable it really was - especially if you take advantage of their special deals, like the Free Dining plan. That's right - you could get some of that awesome, garlicky escargot for free.

For me, one of the most surprising things about Disney World was it's size. We were told that the properties take up an area larger than two Manhattans (the city, not the drink) and I could see how you could stay there for weeks and not see everything they had to offer. I loved the various resorts that were clustered around lake - I walked out the door of the Beach Club Resort and walked to the neighboring Boardwalk Resort and it's restaurants and shops. We were able to walk to Epcot, but you can also get their via one of their charming boats that will not only take you for a tour around the lake but will whisk you right into the park. This is one of the things I wish I'd had time for and will definitely do when I return, along with the clam bake and the waterslide in the pool. In fact, there are so many things I still want to do there that I'll definitely have to come back for another week. Or thirty.

We also got the opportunity to tour one of the resorts newest properties that is still under construction - the Bay Lake Tower. This place was unbelievable - the modern design was right up my alley and everything my dream home would be. I've never been tempted to steal hotel furniture (maybe just that velour headboard from Vegas) but I could see myself attempting to stuff every knob, door handle and chair in this place right into my suitcase. (Note to Disney management: I'm just joking! About the chair, anyways.) We weren't allowed to take any photos, but you can get a great virtual tour by clicking here. I know - it makes me cry, too.

I ate better (and more) last weekend than I can ever remember. Every meal seemed to be in a first-rate restaurant; from the eco and health-conscious Wave to the classic Hollywood eatery The Brown Derby. I had a wonderful meal on my first night at Spoodles, one of the restaurants on the Boardwalk and had the best olive tapenade I've ever had - and they even offered to email me the recipe. (I heard through the grapevine that Spoodles will be closing soon. Yes, this makes me sad, but it will be truly tragic if I don't get my recipe before then.) Even our breakfasts at the hotel were 'magical' - where else could you get Mickey-shaped hash browns? I meant to take a picture of them but I was too busy loading up my plate with the all-you-can-eat bacon. They don't call it the Happiest Place on Earth for nothing, people.

Check back for my next posts, where I talk about the American Idol Experience, my new blogger friends, doing the SouljaBoy, my daughter's favorite souvenir, and why my taste in rides would even bore your 90-year-old grandma.

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Thanks to Leanne and Laura at Disney and Maria Bailey for making my Disney weekend possible!

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tags: disney world resort | epcot | disney world mom blogger mixer | magicalmoms

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And The Winner Is...

The winner of the We Ski & Skateboard for Wii is...

Heather Ostrom. Proving that bending back the corner of the comment box really does work!

Heather, send me your mailing address so I can get your game to you. You'll be spewing out snowboard lingo like an adolescent boy in no time!

Thanks to everyone who entered - I have another giveaway coming up next week. And no, it's not leftover Easter candy.

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tags: wii ski and snowboard | namco bandai | nintendo wii games | wii fit balance board

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We Ski & Snowboard: Come Out of the Cold - and Win Your Own Copy!

The last time I went skiing, a friend and I stopped halfway down the mountain at a warming hut during our first run. We had only been on the slopes for thirty minutes but we were exhausted and cold, so we sat ourselves down in front of the fireplace, propped our feet up, sipped our steaming cups of coffee and complained. The next thing we knew our husbands came marching in wondering where we had gone to, and it was then we realized we had been sitting there for four hours.

I learned something important on that trip (besides which muffins at the cafe were the best) and that was while I loved skiing, it combined three of the things I hated most in life: Waking up early, being cold and waiting in line. I haven't skied since that day, and while I keep meaning to get back to the slopes the thought of waking up at dawn and standing for up to thirty minutes in freezing temperatures to get on a lift is not my idea of a fun day.

So I was excited when I was asked to try out We Ski & Snowboard, a new game for the Wii. Here was a chance to use my skiing skills, without having to leave my house. I put on a pot of coffee, put a log on the fire and got to work. And the temperature in my living room? Perfect.

We Ski & Snowboard lets you hit the powdery slopes in a virtual adventure through beautiful scenery - you can even do jumps, perform tricks, have races, take pictures and meet up with other Mii skiers. The only thing I didn't find was a warming hut halfway down the mountain so I could take a rest, but thank goodness I was able to pause the game, head into my kitchen and make myself a snack. A girl can really work up an appetite doing a wheelie off a half-pipe.

Just like on a real mountain, there are slopes of varying difficulty for beginners or experts. I had never snowboarded before, so I was excited to try it out. Sure it's not the 'real' experience, but even learning some of the moves is a step in the right direction. Also, the more you play and progress, you're given the opportunity to unlock prizes like costumes and equipment. I haven't gotten that far yet, but I think with a little bit of practice I'll be snowboarding like a pro. At least like a pro who's never actually snowboarded on snow.

We Ski & Snowboard can be used with Wii Fit balance board, or for those days when you're really feeling lazy, with just your remote and a nunchuck. This opens up the possibility of actually skiing while you're sitting on the sofa, but let's not go there quite yet. I used the game with my balance board, and found that it was really responsive and felt like I was using a lot of the same movements as I use when I ski, although crashing into that tree was not quite as painful. And the best part? The only waiting I had to do was hanging out while my 10-year-old showed me how to turn the Wii on and then set up the game for me. Yeah, I haven't mastered that part yet, but when you're a world-class snowboarder you get other people to do the dirty work for you.

Want to win your own copy of We Ski & Snowboard? Leave a comment below by 11pm pst on Sunday, April 5, and I'll be picking a winner on Monday, April 6. (U.S. entries only, please.)

I'll even throw in this cool snow hat, in case it gets a little chilly in your living room.
















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tags: wii ski and snowboard | namco bandai | nintendo wii games | wii fit balance board

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Littlest Pet Shop Spring for Nintendo DS: Ah, The Cuteness!

I've mentioned before how the Littlest Pet Shop figurines are all the rage among the fifth-grade afterschool playground crowd. My 10-year-old daughter and her friends can't get enough of the cute little bobble-headed animals - they lug entire collections to school in their backpacks and spend all their time trading and playing with them. And who can complain? As far as currency goes they're adorable and harmless, although I did hear one little bruiser say during a particularly heated trading session, "Hand over the doggie and nobody gets hurt."

Littlest Pet Shop seems to be one of those things my daughter and her friends never seem to tire of, long after the Polly Pockets and Barbies have been stashed or given away. So I knew that when we received Littlest Pet Shop Spring for Nintendo DS it was going to be a hit. In fact, I barely had time to open the package before she grabbed the game, fired it up on her DS Lite and dove right in. She didn't even need to read the instructions - she was already an expert on Littlest Pet Shop for Wii, and the DS game is very similar, featuring virtual pets from the Littlest Pet Shop line of toys that you can collect, play with and accessorize. Plus there's lots of 'mini-games' which I have no concept of but that my kids tell me is essential for a game to be worthy. (Another thing I don't get is why the DS is always charging in the outlet where everyone trips over the cord, but that's a topic for another time.)

Littlest Pet Shop Spring has an Easter theme, and features pets exclusive to this version like bunnies and kittens - certain to make your tween girl squeal and coo until every little boy in the neighborhood is running for cover. There's also a new spring-themed environment, and seasonal fashions and accessories to outfit your pet. I haven't seen it yet, but I'm thinking a kitten wearing an Easter bonnet would be the cutest thing ever. In fact, I'm betting there isn't anything in this game that isn't cute. Or as my daughter said when I asked her opinion of the game, "SO MUCH CUTENESS, mom." Summed up like a true professional.

As with Littlest Pet Shop for Wii, this version is also a big hit with my daughter and her friends because of its non-competitive nature - it's not really about winning a game as it is about taking care of your pet and exploring the different environments. As a parent I appreciate its non-aggressive nature and think these types of games encourage kids to develop their nurturing side. If only there was a 'mini-game' that gave points for cleaning the cat box...

Of course, the true success of a game is in it's longevity, and a week-and-half later my daughter hasn't removed Littlest Pet Shop Spring from her DS, so that's a good sign. Tweens are a tough bunch to please, and I've seen them cast games aside after only a day if they aren't enjoying them, stuffed into a drawer in that no-man's land beside the bad craft kits and the creepy dolls. If the menagerie of Littlest Pet Shop residing in my daughter's backpack is any indication, these toys, as well as her DS game, will be around for a long time.

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tags: littlest pet shop spring for ds | nintendo ds games reviews | ea games | hasbro

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Ch-Ch-Changes: Let's Talk About Puberty!

A while ago I was sent something called the Changes kit, a cute little boxed set of items that are meant to ease your pre-pubescent girl into the exciting world of menstruation, pimples and mood swings. I say 'a while ago' because it really was a few months ago, and I owe the people behind this product a little apology for not reviewing it sooner. But I received it right on the heels of reviewing another similar product, and I thought that if my tween girls even caught a glimpse of anything that might elicit another one of my 'talks' they'd steer clear of me. In fact, my 'talks' have become so unpopular that I've found that even clearing my throat, or walking in to a room and saying, "There comes a time..." can send them screaming from the house.

Fortunately the Changes kit is a very non-confrontational way of getting some basic facts in front of your teen or tween daughter without having to convene a town hall meeting, or necessitating the use of PowerPoint presentations or flow charts (no pun intended, I swear.) It consists of The Guide, a pocket-sized informational booklet that covers everything from your first period right down to picking out your first bra (there's a couple of paragraphs about toxic shock system that are a little intense and could use some editing - I might give my daughter a little less alarming version, so that she doesn't faint at the sight of a tampon.)

Everything in the Changes kit is beautifully designed, cleverly packaged and, refreshingly - has a contemporary feel to it. This is especially important if you've seen the ancient, completely outdated films that most schools use to educate our kids about puberty. I think the one I saw recently featured a woman using cave drawings to tell her daughters that they had 'the curse' because they hadn't clubbed enough bison that month.

Then there's a journal for your daughter to jot down her innermost thoughts, things like, "I REALLY wish my mom would STOP TRYING TO TALK TO ME ABOUT SEX" and "Dr. Pepper RULES." The journal also contains a handy calendar wheel for keeping track of period days and in a little pocket in the back are some beautiful notecards with matching envelopes. I imagine these wouldn't be used for notes like, "Dear Sarah - I got my period today. SQUEAL!!!" but more like, "Dear Sarah - I swear, if my mom tries to TALK TO ME ABOUT SEX ONE MORE TIME I'm totally going to run away with Todd. I don't care that he smells like lunchmeat."

Last but not least the kit contains a few fun items that my 10-year-old has already taken possession of - a 'Mood Pen' with different colors of ink to "reflect your feelings and moods" and three small bottles of perfume meant to express said moods. She hasn't reached puberty but apparently she's ready to smell like she has. I've already had to restrict the use of one the scents she's been using a little too often, one appropriately named, 'Diva.'

I'd recommend the kit as a supplement to having a good old-fashioned talk with your daughter - nothing takes the place of the real deal, and you can't put a price on seeing the various looks of disgust, embarrassment and boredom that crosses the face of your tween or teen as they hear their mother use words like 'sex' and 'breasts' and 'vagina.' But the Changes kit would make a nice intro to the subject, a gentle way to broach a lot of topics that aren't necessarily easy to bring up. I think my first attempt went something like, "How was school? Well, here's a snack, and I've also got a box of maxi-pads for you."

See? I could use all the help I can get.

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Pinocchio at the El Capitan!

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to see a digitally restored version of Walt Disney's Pinocchio at the El Capitan Theater, celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the beloved film. I love all the old Disney movies, and especially this one - it's so weird and subversive in its own way. I mean, a sneering, evil man invites all the young boys to his island of pleasure and then turns them into donkeys? So un-PC! And when was the last time you saw a bunch of kids smoking in a Disney movie?

This evening was made even better by what took place beforehand: Don Hahn, the producer of Beauty and the Beast, hosted a special presentation of people involved in Disney animation, including Dick Jones, who was the voice of Pinocchio in the film. Jones, who was eleven when he did the film, had some great stories about meeting and working with Walt Disney. Then Hahn took us through the storyboard for the "Give a Little Whistle" sequence in the movie, complete with sound effects. After that he introduced sculptor Ruben Procopia, who was actually carving a little bust of Jiminy Cricket right there on stage, and then an animator who showed us the painstaking process of creating animation using cells. I loved Jones' comment afterwards: "I hate computers!" That led Hahn to divulge that Disney is currently working on a feature film using the old-style of animation - I can't wait to see it.

The pre-show presentation ended with the Disneyland Dapper Dans, who perform on Disneyland's Main Street, singing "When You Wish Upon a Star."

The movie itself is beautiful - the restoration is evident and the seeing it on a big screen at the El Capitan made it that much more spectacular. Then again, seeing a film at the El Capitan is always such a great movie-going experience - I don't think I've ever not liked anything I've seen there. In fact, I could probably see a Pauly Shore movie there and I'd think it was Oscar worthy. Well, maybe not.

Check out Pinocchio at the El Capitan for yourself - it's playing through February 12, and you don't want to miss your chance of seeing Pinocchio turn in to a real boy...

Click here to buy tickets!

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And The Winners Are...

Sorry to all of you for the delay in announcing the winners of my two giveaways. I was busy cleaning up after the Christmas rush, and eating all those holiday baked goods took me longer than I thought. But I put that last brownie aside and finally got a chance to fire up the number-picker at Random.org - and now I have my winners. And here are the names of you lucky people:

The winner of the SpongeBob Rocket Ride Lego Set is:

Jessica New of Moving Pictures.

Congrats Jessica - please email me your address so I can have your Lego set sent off to you! I'm sure you can't wait to send SpongeBob to the moon.




And the winner of the Children's Place Gift Card is:

Betzbaby!

Congrats Betzbaby - please email me your address so I can send you your gift card and you can start shopping! Hopefully you'll get this just in time to scoop up some great after-Christmas deals.

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The Children's Place: Win a Gift Card That Comes in All Sizes

Update: I'm extending the entry deadline to Tuesday, December 23 at 11am pst.

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Last Christmas a friend gave my older daughter a pair of pants that just didn't fit right. We thought maybe she just had to grow into them (yes, go ahead and have another donut, honey) so we put them away for awhile. By the time we remembered they were there they were around five inches too short, so she handed them down to my younger daughter. Well, they were a little too big for her, so back they went into the closet. And - you guessed it - by the time we pulled them out again they were too small. Kids these days and their rapid, freakish growth spurts.

I would have put those pants back into the closet to save for the grandkids in twenty years, but that kind of thing creeps my husband out so we gave them away. A perfectly good, brand new pair of jeans, never worn. Hopefully they ended up fitting someone, but I have a feeling they may be tucked away in someone else's closet, just waiting for that right moment...

Well, here's your chance to win a gift that can't come in the wrong size - a $30 gift card to The Children's Place, the kid's clothing store that sells high-quality, reasonably-priced clothing in sizes 0 all the way up to 14. My daughter has this pair of pajamas and loves them - perfect for our current freezing (65°) L.A. weather.

They have an amazing selection of gifts here for $10 and under - take a look at this skirt I'm ordering for my 10-year-old that costs $7.49. I think that might be less than the price of one sock from Macy's.

All you have to do for your chance to win the gift card is to leave a comment here sometime before 10pm on Monday, December 22. (U.S. residents only, please) I'll be picking a name the next day using Random.org. You know it's all official and stuff when it ends in org.

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