We have been talking about Finding Dory for months now. This is not only because I went to California on an invite from Walt Disney Studios (Disclosure: The Trip was All Expenses Paid) to learn how to carve pumpkins with Master Pumpkin Carver, Joseph Yakovetic. Rather, it is because Andrew has been mentioning every single day that his birthday party will be a Finding Dory themed one. We held his birthday party with friends this past Saturday and I was able to bring my Finding Dory pumpkin along with the Finding Dory themed birthday cake that Allison made him and that he got to cut with a sword. Needless to say, Finding Dory has been on our minds. Andrew ended up with so many Finding Dory things for his birthday and he was thrilled!
Before I learned that I was going to be attending this trip I was hopping that I’d be sent a copy of Finding Dory on Blu-ray before the official release date of today. We wanted to be able to play the movie during the party for the kids. Instead, I’ve watched it several times with Andrew and have had a great time checking out all of the special bonus features of the Blu-ray. There are a ton of them. I personally like all the behind the scenes features like the one about creating Hank the septopus and all the challenges that went along with that. Hank is one of the most complex characters that Pixar has ever animated.
Below I have a list of all the bonus features of the Blu-ray that you can pick up today.
One rather busy Tuesday today. I’m behind on my Koko Fit Club sessions and can’t fall behind on my 12 X 12 X 12. I doubled up on my strength and cardio this morning and have to do it again on Thursday. I was pretty wiped afterward but it was really satisfying. Andrew and I had lunch and then I worked up a post for tomorrow, it is an interview with Benedict Cumberbatch from last week’s #DoctorStrangeEvent.
While I worked on my post Andrew had a nice little nap on the couch. He was looking sleepy and rather than make him go to his room I let him have his time on the couch. He was already sleepy and wrapped up in his puppy dog blanket. When I was done with my post I snuck upstairs to take a quick nap. Twenty minutes of shuteye and Andrew was waking me up before I knew it.
His little nap must have done some good. He was really focused in karate this afternoon. So much so that the Sensei and Mr. Jacob both came up to tell him how well he was doing today. They were really impressed and I was very proud of him.
When we got home Eva, Andrew and I played some 5-Minute Dungeon. This is a game that I’ll be reviewing tomorrow. It was so much fun. I’ll tell you more about it tomorrow in a full review. You can find out more information at 5-Minute Dungeon and their Kickstarter starts on November 1, 2016.
Last week I was invited to California by Walt Disney Studios (Disclosure: The Trip was All Expenses Paid). While I was in California last week I had the unique and incredible experience of learning how to carve pumpkins from a Master Pumpkin Carver, Joseph Yakovetic. This was part of a celebration for the launch of Finding Dory on Bluray (November 15) and Digital HD (Today!). I was particularly excited for this part of the trip because Andrew’s birthday party theme is Finding Dory. I’ve been going crazy raiding the dollar spot at Target to get items for the gift bags for the guests. If the kids weren’t four and five year-olds I may have thought to do Finding Dory pumpkins like the one I did on the trip, but I don’t think anyone at the house has the patience to do that.
Carving the Finding Dory pumpkin was really fun. We got to the Walt Disney Studios Lot and went to an Atrium in one of the buildings. There were perfect looking pumpkins set up on each table. There were also pieces of graphite paper, a Finding Dory stencil, Finding Dory tablecloths and plates to keep things clean and for color reference. Then there were packs of tools for each person to use for tracing, carving and painting. On top of that there were some really nice gift bags and stuffed animals from the movie. I was lucky enough to get a Dory one for Andrew. He’s going to love it. Continue reading Tips for the Perfect Finding Dory Pumpkin Carving Party→
On my second day on this Disney Press Trip I had all sorts of cool experiences. There was talk of giant robots, carving pumpkins with a master pumpkin carver and finding love after the final rose with Freeform. I have a whole bunch of posts coming in the next couple of weeks but for now you can check out my vlog with some of the things that we did today. I know that I am being vague but that is because there is so much that I can’t talk about quite yet.
I flew out to California today for a couple of days interviewing people for various media events. I’m here to screen the movie Doctor Strange and interview some of the cast. I’m also going to learn master Pumpkin Carving Techniques to celebrate the release of Finding Dory on Bluray. I’ll help the Bachelor look for love when I interview Ben and Lauren from “Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After?”. I’m also going to learn about giant robots with Mech X4, a new show on Disney XD.
While here I was able to catch up with Mike Schmidt of The 40 Year Old Boy podcast. We hung out for a while and talked. I was about to find a few fun toys at Hot Topic. I found the Ahsoka Tano exclusive Pop figure and also the Doctor Strange and Kaecilius ones. For tonight;s activities we went to the Saddle Ranch Chop House for some tasty food and fun watching people ride the Mechanical Bull. I did not ride it. However, Melissa of The-Mommyhood-Chronicles.com did and I captured it on today’s vlog.
I teased this in a couple of vlogs recently but on October 17 I am heading back to California for a few days to rub shoulders with 24 other bloggers, a sorcerer supreme, a forgetful fish, a bachelor and his bride-to-be and a giant robot. I am more than thrilled to be part of the upcoming #DoctorStrangeEvent, #FindingDoryBluray, #BenAndLaurenEvent and #MechX4Event. That is many events in one few day period. This trip is an all expenses paid press trip. I receive no monetary compensation but may receive promotional materials. My opinions are my own, as always.
My days will be jam packed with so many once in a lifetime experiences. Here’s what I’m going to be doing, as far as I know right now. More activities may be added as we get closer to the event.
Back about a year ago my friend Andrew Kardon of Mommy’s Busy, Go Ask Daddy and I decided that we were going to do a ton of promotion for Captain America, Civil War by having our own Blogger Civil War. He would be Captain America and I would be Iron Man. We went back and forth over the course of that year with our main intention to be asked to the Captain America Civil War Event. Turns out that even if we had been asked, neither of us could have gone. I’m not saying that our little project was the reason that we were asked to be on this trip, but our passion was undeniable. I am so excited to be attending this alongside my friend.
Viewing the film DOCTOR STRANGE
Opens November 4, 2016
The Impossibilities Are Endless
Yes, I will be screening Marvel’s DOCTOR STRANGE which opens in theatres on November 4, 2016. I will also be able to attend the press junket where you I will interview some of the talent from the film! I certainly hope to interview Benedict Cumberbatch, but I am really hoping to get to interview Benedict Wong. I have said that many times in my past posts. Benedict Wong will play the part of Wong in the film. Benedict Wong also plays Kublia Khan in the Netflix series Marco Polo. The series fascinates me and Wong’s portrayal of the Mongol leader is exceptional. Needless to say I’m crossing my fingers.
I imagine that maybe you aren’t as up on your DOCTOR STRANGE knowledge as I am so here’s the trailer and after that a small synopsis of the film.
From Marvel Studios comes “Doctor Strange,” the story of world-famous neurosurgeon Dr. Stephen Strange whose life changes forever after a horrific car accident robs him of the use of his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he is forced to look for healing, and hope, in an unlikely place—a mysterious enclave known as Kamar-Taj. He quickly learns that this is not just a center for healing but also the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying our reality. Before long Strange—armed with newly acquired magical powers—is forced to choose whether to return to his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence.
“Doctor Strange” stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt and Scott Adkins, with Mads Mikkelsen and Tilda Swinton. Scott Derrickson is directing with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Stephen Broussard, Victoria Alonso, Charles Newirth and Stan Lee serve as executive producers. Jon Spaihts and Scott Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill wrote the screenplay. Join Strange on his dangerous, mystifying and totally mind-bending journey when Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange” opens in U.S. theaters on November 4, 2016.
Getting super excited about the upcoming #DoctorStrangeEvent, I went out and found the DOCTOR STRANGE Funko Pop. This one is the classic DOCTOR Strange figure but there will be some coming for the DOCTOR STRANGE Movie. I know that those will be pretty awesome and also the upcoming DOCTOR STRANGE Marvel Collector Corps will be amazing as well.
We played lots of LEGO Dimensions today. Andrew and I opened the Ghostbusters Level Pack and played that a bit. When Eva came home she got to open the Harry Potter Team pack and play for a while, too. It was so much fun playing with her, she was so excited to see things around Hogwarts.
Today I built my DOCTOR STRANGE LEGO Set. This is a set that includes DOCTOR STRANGE, Karl Mordo and The Ancient One. Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum features a portal beast with rotating teeth, moving eyes and tentacles that can trap minifigures, shelves for mystical artifact accessories, levitation effect for 2 minifigures, and levitation function for Doctor Strange’s cloak. It was a great one to put together and it has gotten me super excited for what is coming for me in two weeks. Watch today’s vlog to find out more!
Exciting things are happening here. After coming home coloring a big Skylanders coloring page with Andrew and then taking him to school I was able to get about an hour and a half of sleep. When I picked him up from school I took him over to Morin’s for Breakfast for lunch. Today is National Pancake Day and I was craving a short stack. I prepared it the way that Bosch does in the Amazon series, Bosch. He puts the syrup on the plate and then puts the pancakes on top of that. It is a good way to enjoy them.
We got home and cleaned up the backyard a bit. Some weeding, cleaning up and removing some fallen branches.
After the cleanup we came inside and opened a couple of LEGO Dimensions Funk Packs that I had purchased. We opened Emmet from The LEGO Movie and Slimer from Ghostbusters.
Tonight I got some great news which I’ll share with you very soon. All I can say right now is that I am so excited about it!
I also received a beautiful new Disney Book today. It is Disney Frozen: A Pop-Up Adventure by Matthew Reinhart. This was sent to me for free and I’m giving my honest opinion on it in the video below.
