Tag Archives: blogger

The Latest From LEGOLAND®: NINJAGO World & NINJAGO The Ride Now Open!

Today, NINJAGO World and NINJAGO The Ride are open at LEGOLAND®! As a LEGOLAND® blogger, I’ve got some exclusive pictures of when Dominic, my sister and I attended the media preview last week, including the press preview video (you may see some familiar faces). Before you become a master of Spinjitzu, you can hone your skills at Zane’s Temple Build, Kai’s Spinners, Cole’s Rock Climb, Jay’s Lightning Drill and present all of what you learned on NINJAGO The Ride! NINJAGO The Ride is a 4D experience, allowing you to take direct action in the ride to determine the outcome. Please enjoy the pictures and I hope you get out to LEGOLAND® to visit NINJAGO World and try out NINJAGO The Ride!

The food at the new Ninja Kitchen was fantastic. I highly recommend the Bao Buns (pictured on the left)!

Dominic is ready for the festivities!

Such an action packed opening ceremony. I think the Ninjago ninjas have found a new recruit, Dominic is a natural!

Like my sister, Rholnna, you have to wear 3D classes to enjoy the full effect!

Oh NO, Master Chen is a bad guy?!

We definitely had a lot of fun on NINJAGO The Ride, but we didn’t quite grasp the concept (it was quite overwhelming to experience the whole 4D thing). We figured it out in the end, and we vow to return and better our scores!

Trying to master Kai’s Spinners, with 10 News in the background…no pressure!

Look who else we got to see from the local news world: Brad Perry from KUSI’s Good Morning San Diego! We watch him and the whole crew every morning!

Dominic with Kai at the end of our day. Although it started off a bit wet, the sun eventually came out and we had a great time!

(Most pictures taken by Rholnna Jiao, with some iPhone pictures by yours truly. Press video courtesy of Legoland California.)

Designer Vault Showroom Grand Opening April 28th!

I purchase all of my Chanel vintage jewelry from one very specific place: Designer Vault (see one of my favorites here). I’ve gone to a few of their events in the last couple of years (here and here), and I’m excited to share that they will be celebrating the grand opening of their showroom in Carlsbad!

If you would like to join the festivities, here’s the information. Hope to see you there!

Date:

April 28, 2016, 5p – 9p

RSVP by 4/26/16:

[email protected]

Location:

Designer Vault

2734 Loker Avenue W, Suite H | Carlsbad, CA 92010

Dear Prince: Nothing Compares 2 U

How can this be? How can another musical icon’s time end so soon? I feel like I just got over David Bowie’s untimely passing, and now Prince. The sting of someone so influential and so unique is definitely something I’m feeling on a level I never thought I’d feel. Is it because this is yet another missed opportunity to see a musical great live? Is it because Prince was merely 57 years old and performed a show just last week? It’s all so overwhelming and confusing, and scary at the same time. There is a growing list of icons leaving Planet Earth in 2016, and it’s only April.

Prince was like Bowie: A controversial musical genius and fashion icon. He did what he wanted (including changing his name to a symbol), and fans loved every minute of it. Prince’s music crossed genres in so many ways from R&B to pop to rock. All in all, most will agree: his music was just plain good. An early Prince memory was a bus ride home from Disneyland when I was in the 8th grade, singing songs from the radio. One song we went back to over and over was “Little Red Corvette”. I wasn’t truly aware of what it all meant, I just knew it was a great song.

Since I’m still trying to process the news, I’ll just post about how Prince influenced my fledgling dreams of being a rock star when I was a teen:

I wrote a couple of songs when I was in junior high and high school. I fancied myself to be like Depeche Mode, making the keyboard my instrument of choice. My first one was a Casio, which I chose as a Christmas present. I would set up a mock recording studio in the privacy of my bedroom with a tape deck and a microphone. I finished my first recorded song and presented it live in one of my English classes my senior year. I recall being scared out of my wits because I was not only performing live in front of my friends, but I was putting my creative soul out there for judgement. It went very well, and my friends were so supportive.

In my first few years of college, I wrote many songs, but recorded only one demo. I wrote a song called “Destiny’s Arms”, which was a duet ballad. It was inspired by “The Arms of Orion” by Prince from the 1989 Batman soundtrack, also a duet with Sheena Easton. I love the idea love prevailing above all, no matter where, when, time or space. I recorded “Destiny’s Arms” with one of my former teachers in his mini-home studio over the period of about a month. I even sent the demo tape and lyrics to be copyrighted at the Library of Congress. I never sent my demo anywhere, but in hindsight, I wish I had sent it to Prince. I don’t know if he would have ever responded, since it was a basic little love song. But I wish I had sent it just so he knew that a 19-year-old kid in San Diego found inspiration from one of his works of art.

Farewell dear Prince, rest in peace.

In the heart of a sleepless moon
I’ll be with you forever
This is my destiny
‘Till my life is through

The Arms of Orion by Prince

(Top image from my personal collection)

Spring Fling x Love Tatum This Weekend!

Love Tatum Jewelry will have a pop-up shop at the Girl on The Go Spring Fling Event this Saturday April 23rd! There will be a lot of fun things happening, including free swag bags for the first 25 attendees. What a great way to end a Saturday night!

(From the Girl on the Go website)

RETAIL POP-UP SHOPS

Love Tatum | One of a kind jewelry, including necklaces, rings, earrings and cuffs

Style on the Go | The latest fashion and accessories for women and men

Good Life | Nutrition expert passionate about clean beauty products, self-care, and holistic healing

AsiiaByCara | Made by scratch soy-wax candles, body oils, and room mists

DELICIOUS FOOD & DRINK

Open bar with season cocktails, wine, and local beer

Marcel Belgium Waffle Truck | For purchase, delicious waffle goodness

COMPLIMENTARY SPA SERVICES

Enjoy a free polish change (must not have shellac or acrylics on), chair massage, skincare consultation, and live massage demo

Learn about and try our skincare and make-up product lines

MORE FUN STUFF

Photo Booth!

Music!

Raffle & Giveaways!

FREE SWAG BAG FULL OF GOODIES FOR THE FIRST 25 ATTENDEES!!

The Latest From LEGOLAND®: Strike a Ninja Pose!

In celebration of the new Ninjago World and Ninjago The Ride at LEGOLAND®, you can win a Family 4-Pack of tickets simply by striking a Ninja pose!

Here’s how to enter, and remember, be creative and show everyone your inner-Ninja!

Facebook: Login to Facebook and use our Photo Submission App on our Page to share your photo. Or compose a new Facebook Timeline post on the LEGOLAND California Page and include the hashtags #LEGOLANDCA and #NINJAGOWorld with your photo.

Twitter/Instagram: Post your photo on Twitter or Instagram that the hashtags #LEGOLANDCA and #NINJAGOWorld

Checking Out The Carlsbad Flower Fields & Premium Outlets

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I have been spending a lot of time up in Carlsbad lately. Although I’ve lived in San Diego my whole life, I rarely got the chance to get to know the North County because when I was younger, it always seemed so far away. That has definitely changed, and I was recently invited as a blogger to re-explore a couple of my favorite places in Carlsbad during a media day: The Flower Fields and The Premium Outlets. I remember once going to The Flower Fields with my dad because he was such a plantsman. Then I went a few times after, most recently last year (post here). But this was the first time I actually rode the tractor and toured the entire grounds of The Flower Fields in-depth, really learning about the family behind the beautiful gardens. The Ecke Family currently owns the land and we had the pleasure of Paul Ecke III giving us the tour of his family’s farm. There really is so much more to explore at The Flower Fields, as you can see in the pictures below. The Flower Fields will be open until May 8, and you can purchase tickets here.

After exploring The Flower Fields, bloggers were treated to lunch at Blaze Pizza, then toured the Carlsbad Premium Outlets with Terri Mannes, General Manager and Janissa Reyes, Director of Marketing and Business Development, both of Carlsbad Premium Outlets. Thank you to Noelle of Curator PR for the invite and to everyone at The Flower Fields and The Premium Outlets for a fun-filled day of exploring and shopping!

Fun Facts about The Flower Fields:

– There are over 70 million flowers!

– Most of the flowers in the main field are ranunculus, also known as the Persian Buttercup.

– Ranunculus are native to Asia and are normally a cold season plant.

– The seeds are kept in a 32 degrees cooler, then planted.

Our souvenir bouquets of beautiful ranunculus to take home!

Paul Ecke III mentioned they purchased all of the pieces in their Santa’s Playground from the original Santa’s Village in Arrowhead. He had a bidding war with Paul Rubens (aka Pee Wee Herman) on one of the mushrooms!

Being silly with Laura of Laura Neuzeth at Santa’s Playground!

In addition to Santa’s Playground, kids can pan for treasures at The Carlsbad Mining Co!

We didn’t get a chance to try it, but I want to come back with my husband and son to take on the Sweet Pea Maze!

Events can be held at Ecke Family Barn, which has an additional seating area for an outdoor affair!

The Ecke Family are known for their poinsettia, grown beautifully in their greenhouse.

I’m sure it’s the influence of my dad, but orchids are one of my favorite flowers, and The Cymbidium Orchids Greenhouse had some gorgeous ones that I’m sure my father would have loved!

My humble attempt at emulating Anton Corbijn’s photographic style (blurry forefront, clear background).

Paul Ecke III, Angelica Banales of IMW Agency and grower Jess Williams of Mellano & Company, our hosts and tour guides at The Flower Fields.

Lunch c/o Blaze Pizza, which makes artisan pizzas from their established menu or you can have them create a custom pizza from their selection of toppings. That blood orange lemonade is fantastic!

(Photo courtesy of Carlsbad Premium Outlets’ Twitter page)

All of the bloggers who attended that day, including some of my fellow San Diego Style Bloggers!

Somehow I always end up at Kate Spade when I shop at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets!

This was an awesome goodie bag!

(All photos taken by me, except where noted)

FTC Disclosure: Bloggers were treated to a tour of The Flower Fields, and we received a gift card as a courtesy to enjoy the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, but not as compensation for this post. Although I did receive a gift card, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Kelly Cardenas San Diego Celebrates 1 Year!

Happy 1 year anniversary to the Kelly Cardenas Salon in Hillcrest! Can you believe I’ve been going there for a little over a year (posts here and here)? I practically celebrated with them throughout the day by first getting my hair styled and colored earlier in the morning (by Salvador of course), then going their anniversary party that night.

Congratulations to everyone at Kelly Cardenas, and cheers to many more years to come!

My haircut and color from earlier that day. Back to purple!

(Wearing “Keiko” Bon Look prescription sunglasses; Forever 21 dress; Zara long bomber jacket; La Vidriola Cassette necklace)

With my hubby at the anniversary party

With the stylist who works all of his magic on my hair, Salvador!

I got to pose with Kelly himself!

The Kelly Cardenas staff, from all of their locations: San Diego, Carlsbad, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Chicago

My outfit for the evening: Lucy Paris jacket (bought second hand at Lost & Found for $20!); Forever 21 shirt; SOHO Apparel leggings; BCBGeneration shoes; Kate Spade bracelet and clutch; La Vidriola Cassette earrings; Lookmatic glasses

(Pictures 1, 3, 4 and 5 courtesy of the Kelly Cardenas Instagram and Facebook pages)

Love Tatum Sample Sale March 26, 2016!

One of my favorite jewelry designers, Love Tatum, is having a sample sale at her showroom tomorrow from 9am – 4pm! If you’re not in San Diego, she will have an online Sample Sale from March 26th 2016 to March 28th 2016. She is such an amazing designer, and I’m quickly building my own collection of her fabulous jewelry (in the third picture).

I’ll be stopping by as well, so I hope to see you there. Cheers and have a great weekend!

Kipling’s 2016 Spring Line!

Last month, a few bloggers were invited to an “Empowering Women Event” at Kipling’s Fashion Valley location, where patrons could save 20% on their purchase that day by donating their gently used handbags. We were treated to sips, sweets and songs as well as a preview of their new Spring line. I adore the staff at Kipling because everyone is so sweet, and they were so excited to share with us all their latest handbags, totes and backpacks. What better way to celebrate the “Year of The Monkey”!

Always great to see my blogger friends Lilia of Curls & Fashion, Laura of Laura Neuzeth and Alessandra of Alessandra Gonzalez!

(Photo courtesy of Alessandra)

Isn’t Laura holding the cutest Kipling monkey? With his little laptop, it’s perfect for bloggers!

Bright and Colorful: Key words for Kipling’s new Spring line!

My absolute favorite: The new Claudia handbag in stone metallic. Looks like leather!

Thank you Kipling at Fashion Valley for the bright new additions to my growing collection, these will come in handy for traveling this summer!

The Cheeses of Europe Pop-Up at Fashion Valley

I love attending events that are different from what I’m used to, especially at a place like a major shopping mall. Recently, I attended the media event for “The Cheeses of Europe” pop-up shop held at Center Court at Fashion Valley. It featured several varieties of cheeses from Europe (mainly France), offered at a lower price point. The Cheeses of Europe is presented by The Cheeses of France Marketing Council, and their hope is to build awareness and demand for The Cheeses of Europe in the US and the world through national and regional programs. My favorite cheeses of the sampling were the creamier ones and the salted butters. Although I didn’t purchase any that night, I’m happy to know that these cheeses are available at any local Whole Foods, because I will most definitely be trying some of the fabulous dishes on their recipes page. Without a doubt, The Cheeses of Europe know how to Make it Magnifique!

Wine and champagne was available to try with all of the wonderful cheeses for the evening!

The dishes in this mini-sampling were so delicious!

It was great to check out all of the tasty cheeses with Lilia of Curls and Fashion and Vanessa of Fashion Mixtape. One of my favorite cheeses was that Paysan Breton whipped cheese, and another favorite was the Baked Brie with Chipotle Mango Honey Cilantro Shots from the flight of dishes pictured above (pictured bottom right).