Corolle is the premium French doll brand, designed and styled in France’s Noir Valley.  More than a toy, these dolls are intricately designed to look and feel as real as possible with soft, natural-looking hair and modern, interchangeable fashions.

Here are some of the features that make these dolls so exquisite:

Faces sculpted in the likeness of real babies with a pretty, sweet look.

Fashions inspired by real babies’ clothing and made so that little fingers can easily dress them.

Sized so that each baby cradles perfectly in a young child’s arms.

Smooth vinyl arms and legs, lightly scented with vanilla and soft bodies for hugs and cuddles.

The entire Corolle line is made of of dolls in various ages and sizes so that children at all stages can play according to where they are at developmentally.

Doll play comes naturally to my daughter, and like most children, is a treasured and integral part of growing up.  Through pretend play, my daughter can explore different roles and together, we can talk about what it meas to care for another.  She can also explore, dream, and use her imagination without limits.

During the intimate celebrity/VIP event, guests were given the opportunity to adopt and then outfit their dolls.  Bathing and dressing stations were set up and that is where my daughter (and many of the other children) through the duration of the event. In addition to the array of dolls that adorned the shaded park area, guests enjoyed French-inspired nail polish changes from Hopscotch Kids, creative projects from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, and gourmet dessert creations from Jenny Cookies.

One of the highlights of this event was the fact that each guest was encouraged to bring unopened boxes of diapers and wipes for Baby Buggy, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing clothing essentials and other services to families in need.  I personally love when organizations give back and this is a phenomenal organization founded by Jessica Seinfeld.  Over 6 million items such as cribs, strollers, and high chairs have been donated and Baby Buggy seeks to fill requests for approximately y 60,000 items each month.  And, since the organization seeks to assist families with more than just the temporary needs associated with having children, their efforts are combined with social service assistance (i.e. job training, parenting support & education, financial literacy classes) so that parents can take important steps to become better providers for their children.  The result is that both immediate and long-term needs are fulfilled. After the event, Corolle donated hundreds of dolls to Baby Buggy in addition to the items collected.

Here are some photos from our Parisian Playdate at the Park!

For more information, visit Corolle’s website.

 No compensation was received for this post.  I was invited to a media event and provided a gift bag. 

Images: Noah Graham Photography

We’re heading into summer, a season filled with lazy days by the pool and backyard gatherings with friends and family.  We love the opportunity to host people at our home or gather for family activities and mini-vacations, and inevitably, the associated expenses end up being shared amongst the group of us.  But what happens when the parties involved aren’t necessarily certain of their responsibilities?

Last week, I had an opportunity to speak with Etiquette Expert and Author Lizzie Post, the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post (awesome!). Along with being an absolute delight to speak with, she had some valuable insights to share regarding summer entertaining, the most common manner mishaps (and how to approach them), and some easy tips for ensuring that shared expenses don’t result in awkward encounters.

Lizzie Post co-authored the book Emily Post’s Etiquete, 18th edition, Great Get-Togethers, and recently authored and released How Do You Work This Life Thing? Her writing covers everything from entertaining and lifestyle to advice for the newly independent.  A huge thank you to her for spending a few moments sharing her favorite tips to ensure all of our summer gatherings are filled with laughter and joy rather than awkwardness and embarrassment.

Image: Lizzie Post

During one of my cooking sprees, I picked up a large bunch of Leeks and my intention was to use what was left in a potato leek soup.  But since the hubby was feeling a bit of Asian inspiration, he prepared this easy Salmon Soup Recipe.  I really love fish and while I don’t typically enjoy canned soups, I’ll order homemade soup at a restaurant whenever it’s available. So while the combination seemed a bit fishy (pardon the pun), I figured I would at least try it.  Surprisingly, I was quite sad when I finished this bowl since it was the very last one!

This soup is absolutely delightful and very easy to make.  I love the use of fresh ingredients which makes it lighter than most cream-based soups. The only thing I would have loved to include is seaweed (we simply didn’t have any).

My children enjoy salmon  (and homemade soups) so this soup was a great way to incorporate fresh veggies.  It’s colorful, which is appealing to them, and the noodles really helped them venture to try it (after all, anything with noodles has to be yummy!).

You could easily substitute your favorite variety of fish and vegetables if you don’t have any of the above ingredients. After all, this is a soup you’ll want to make when you have a few odds and ends just itching to be used up!

Recipe, Images: Rockin’ Mama

What is the ExtraCare Program?

ExtraCare is a free savings and rewards program introduced by CVS/pharmacy 15 years ago.  The program works to benefit its customers, offering value nearly every time they shop.

How are rewards earned? 

Once enrolled, you’ll start earning personalized savings and ExtraBucks Rewards that can be spent on most items in the store.

How do I receive savings and rewards tailored to my shopping needs?

Enroll in programs such as the ExtraCare Beauty Club, ExtraCare Pharmacy & Health Rewards or ExtraCare Advantage for Diabetes so that the rewards are specific to your needs.

During Mom 2.0 Summit, CVS/pharmacy hosted an ExtraCare Cocktail Party and showed attendees how easy it is to save money with the program. I was very familiar with the program beforehand, but I came away with a better sense of how the special programs work. We fill all of our family’s prescriptions at the pharmacy and I absolutely love Nuance by Salma Hayek, so it makes sense for me to enroll in the Beauty Club and Pharmacy/Health Rewards programs.

Win It!  Are you enrolled in CVS/pharmacy’s ExtraCare Program?  Tell me what your favorite way to spend ExtraBucks Rewards on and you’ll be entered to win a $50 CVS/pharmacy gift card. Comments will close on June 6th, 2013 at 11:59 PM PST.

US Residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one. Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Pinterest

Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (or something like it) “I just entered a #giveaway to win a @CVS_Extra GC @rockinmama” Daily tweets are allowed but please leave the permalink in the comments section so I can easily keep track

Rockin’ Mama Facebook fans automatically receive an extra entry

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No compensation was received for this post. A gift card was supplied for giveaway.

Images: CVS/pharmacy

Last month, I was inspired by 13 year old Lulu Cerone and her mother Lisa Cerone as they discussed how they turned their passions into action through their work with global charities.  By the age of 10, Lulu had already organized and executed a very successful school-wide fundraiser, which demonstrates that even young children can be motived towards other-centeredness. As the founder of LemonAID Warriors, a non-profit grass-roots organization that helps kids make a difference, Lulu wants to change the way kids party.

Her idea is brilliant.  Too often, busyness is what keeps us from taking action. Philanthro-parties simply turn any celebration into an opportunity to give back.  Many of us are built with an innate desire to help others.  Coming together with friends to help others can have a positive impact on a tween/teen’s sense of self-esteem and acceptance.  To host your very own Philanthro-party, you simply take any celebration and give it a philanthropic twist.  As opposed to gifts or goodie bags, use that money to raise funds or simply awareness for a cause you are passionate about.

 Want to host your own Philanthro-party? Here are some tips from Lulu Cerone: 

Through June 9th, you can enter to win a Ghouls Helping Ghouls Skullership to help you host your own Philanthro-party.   Simply submit a photo or description of your party and five winners will receive a $1,000 skullership to your favorite charity of choice plus a Monster High Gift Bag.

For more information, or to enter, simply visit GhoulsHelpingGhouls.com.

Win It! One of you will win a Monster High Prize Pack that will include the following:

Monster High Doll

Monster High T-Shirt

Monster High DVD

Monster High Magazine

Simply leave me a comment with an idea for your Philanthro-Party. Comments will close on June 6th, 2013 at 11:59 PM PST.

US Residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one. Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Pinterest

Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (or something like it) “I just entered a #giveaway to win a @MonsterHigh Prize Pack @rockinmama” Daily tweets are allowed but please leave the permalink in the comments section so I can easily keep track

Rockin’ Mama Facebook fans automatically receive an extra entry

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb when you blog about other giveaways/promotions

Click on one of the cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments section

Images: Monster High

Owning a home is one of those life accomplishments I looked forward to for years. Apart from the fact that it feels good to have something we’ve invested in, I love that we have creative freedom to decorate our home to our liking.  With two small kids and a busy schedule, it’s a revolving work in progress, and typically I find myself itching to change things up when we enter a new season.

I recently had an opportunity to chat with Cassandra LaValle, founder and editor of coco+kelley.  Named by the London Times as one of the 50 Best Design Blogs., it’s filled with inspiration for everything from fashion to tabletops.  In honor of Home Improvement Month, LaValle shared her thoughts on what trends we are seeing this Spring in regards to color and design, offered easy, affordable tips and DIY projects to transform home spaces, and provided some great resources and sites for additional inspiration.

One of the things LaValle did recently was replace her shower head with the RainFall+ shower head from Waterpik. Installation is quick (approximately 5 minutes) and doesn’t require any special tools, which makes it an easy DIY project.  The result is a luxury spa-like experience within your means.

Win It!  One of you will win a home improvement gift basket that will include a Waterpik Rainfall+ shower head, a $25 Home Depot Gift Card, and a pair of candles. Simply leave me a comment with your favorite tip from the video!  Comments will close on June 5th, 2013 at 11:59 PM PST.

US Residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one. Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Pinterest

Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (or something like it) “I just entered a #giveaway to win a @Waterpik Gift Basket @rockinmama ” Daily tweets are allowed but please leave the permalink in the comments section so I can easily keep track

Rockin’ Mama Facebook fans automatically receive an extra entry

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb when you blog about other giveaways/promotions

Click on one of the cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments section

One of the threads that binds my husband and I together is our love for good food. More than just sustenance, food is an experience.  While I have a handful of “go-to” recipes that I’ll prepare during a busy week, I prefer to experiment with flavors to broaden and diversify our palates. I’m thankful that my husband enjoys foods from different cultures and this allows me the flexibility to experiment with spices and seasonings that aren’t always readily found at your local market.

As adventurous as we are, we still have our favorites, and when frequenting a Mexican Restaurant, fajitas is our must-have menu item. At least once a week, I’ll prepare tacos, rice bowls, and other types of Latin cuisine, but it’s rare for us to cook up Fajitas (although I don’t know why).  Since I’ve partnered with Chef Morito to raise awareness about their line of  spices, seasonings, sauces and specialty foods, I thought I’d recreate this recipe for Shrimp Fajitas, found on their website. Along with being easy to prepare, this dish merges sweet citrus flavors with more traditional savory Latin Flavors. Here is my version of this recipe, inspired by Chef Morito:

Here is a quick visual step-by-step of how to make these easy Shrimp Fajitas:

Prepare the marinade by chopping the ingredients and placing them in a plastic bag. Allow flavors to meld for 1-2 hours

Chop fresh veggies for the Fajitas (and guacamole)

Sauté Vegetables wish a splash of lime juice. Add shrimp and cook 5 minutes, or until done (pink)

Serve with fresh corn tortillas and homemade guacamole

This dish was absolutely delicious and a new favorite or ours. While we found the shrimp, veggies, tortillas, and toppings to be sufficient, you might consider preparing rice and beans to go along with it.

Recently, Chef Morito was named the Official Seasoning of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and through the summer, they’ve partnered to celebrate Latino culture through a year-long initiative called Viva Los Dodgers. Now in its fourth year, the pre-game festival will be held in lot 6, two hours prior to each Sunday’s home game.  Fans who have purchased a ticket can enjoy the free festivities which include live music, Chef Merito samples, and the opportunity to win prizes such as gift baskets filled with products.

Upcoming Viva Los Dodgers Days include May 26, June 9, June 30, July 14, July 28, August 11, August 25, September 1 andSeptember 14.  La Gran Fiesta will take place on the last Saturday is the Dodgers’ marquee National Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. 

For more information, visit LosDodgers.com/Viva.

Win It!  To celebrate the fourth annual Viva Los Dodgers, one of you will win a Chef Morito Gift Basket (shown above). Simply leave me a comment with your favorite product. Comments will close on June 4th, 2013 at 11:59 PM PST.

US Residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.

Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one. Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Pinterest

Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following (or something like it) “I just entered a #giveaway to win a @ChefMerito Gift Basket @rockinmama #VivalosDodgers” Daily tweets are allowed but please leave the permalink in the comments section so I can easily keep track

Rockin’ Mama Facebook fans automatically receive an extra entry

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb when you blog about other giveaways/promotions

Click on one of the cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments section

Since I have never dyed anything (ever!), I perused their projects for inspiration.  My daughter has become increasingly fashion conscious, so I decided to take a pair of her light beige hair clips and add some color to them. (I used this tutorial on the Rit Dye website)

Here is what you’ll need for this project:

Rit Dye in the color of your choice (We chose purple)

Hair Clips

Gloves

Plastic tarp or drop cloth

Plastic (heat-proof) container

1. Cover your work surface with plastic.  This isn’t a particularly messy project, but the dye will stain if spilled on surfaces (after all, it’s dye!)

2. In a heat-proof plastic container, combine 3 tablespoons of liquid dye with 3 cups of very hot water (I actually boiled the water then cooled it a bit)

3. Using gloves, carefully dip each hair clip into the dye and allow to remain in dye bath for 7-10 minutes

4. Remove the hair clips (preferably at the same time so the color is the same) and rinse with cold water

5.  Air dry

Admittedly, I was quite nervous to dye anything, so I decided to stick with a fairly easy project.  I was actually quite pleased with the results, although I suggest using a higher concentration of liquid dye to water if you’re looking for a deeper shade of color.  One of the things I failed to do was remove both hair clips at the same time, so the colors are slightly different, but not entirely noticeable.

One of the next projects I’d really like to try is some fashion accessory pieces (they have a gorgeous Bamboo Dyed Scarf tutorial I’m seriously considering). One of the most compelling things about Rit Dye is the ability to upcycle anything and give it color and new life.

You can find Rit Dye in the craft section at your local Walmart.

What do you do when one door closes, and closes hard?  How do you discover what you’re really meant to do?  That is the question Mike Wazowski must wrestle with in Pixar’s animated film, Monsters University, slated to be released in theaters this summer.  It’s a question I’ve personally grappled with through various stages of my life, and one that will likely resonate with audiences young and old.

Last month, I headed back to “school” to delve into the long anticipated prequel that explores the beginnings of Mike and Sulley’s relationship and venture into scaring.  Set 10 years before Monsters, Inc., the film tells their story.  Mike and Sulley are an unlikely pair, brought together by the one thing they have in common…they both aspire to be scarers.

It’s not surprising that creating a prequel comes with its own inherent challenges.  How do the filmmakers create a compelling, interesting story that still manages to surprise and delight audiences?  During my time at Pixar, I had an opportunity to speak with Producer Kori Rae (of note, Rae also served as Associate Producer on Monsters, Inc.).  From 8th grade English Teacher to Pixar Producer, Rae knows a thing or two about the journey to find your passions…to discover what it is you’re really meant to do.

Interestingly enough, the idea for a prequel was set early on. The filmmarkers at Pixar wanted to explore who Mike and Sulley were before Monsters Inc. and how they ended up becoming the top scaring duo at the famed factory. College isn’t a world Pixar has really explored and so it seemed fitting, given that it is during this time in a young adult’s life where questions about what he/she is meant to do arise. ”It’s happened to most of us…when we talk to our friends, our co-workers, and most of the people working here, a lot of them had other dreams and ended up here in a circuitous way” (Rae).

As the story unfolds, we watch as Mike pursues the one thing he believes he is meant to do…and fails.  We are always told that if you work hard enough, you can achieve anything.  But that isn’t always true in life, and I love how Pixar approaches this in a way that is meaningful and relevant to a very broad audience. “Sometimes that is true, and sometimes you hit that brick wall and you have to figure out where to go from there” (Rae). Pixar’s Monsters University tells a different version of that “story” and as you might expect, it doesn’t end how you think it should.

Sully and Mike could not be any more different, but they are united by their failures and their successes. ”Sometimes you think you’re meant to do something and then you discover that wasn’t really the thing” (Rae).  It is Sulley who helps Mike discover that “thing.”

Monsters University is a heartwarming film about the journey we take to pursue our dreams. It is filled with all of the humor and heart you would expect from Pixar with a touch of nostalgia.  See it in theaters on June 21st, 2013.

You can keep up-to-date with the latest news regarding the film by connecting via the following social media channels:

Facebook

Twitter #MonstersU

No compensation was received for this post. I was invited on a press trip to cover the film’s release and travel was provided. #MonstersUEvent 

Images: Disney/Pixar, used with permission.

Confession: I love looking at model homes.  I’m always inspired by the amount of detail that goes into each home’s unique decor and typically walk away with all sorts of new projects for my husband’s to-do list. Yesterday, I toured the brand new Charleston at River Village community in Valencia, also known as Awesometown. From expansive layouts featuring 4-6 bedrooms/3.5-6 baths to state-of-the-art energy efficiency, these homes really are a dream for families.

Valencia is a quiet community north of Los Angeles, once named by Money Magazine as one of the top 100 places to live. The schools rank among the top 10% in California and the area itself features plenty of parks, open spaces, and shopping districts.  RiverVillage is a new gated community with a small town feel and features a beautiful park, river trails, an upcoming neighborhood retails center, and The Club at RiverVillage (a private resort-style club that includes a pool, jetted spa, indoor/outdoor fireplace, barbeques, etc.)

The single-family residences in Charleston are built-to-order, so families can decide exactly how they want their home to look.  Some of the prominent features include Americana-themed architecture and landscaping, flexible, expansive floor plans (3,777-4,715 square feet of living space), and a number of upgrade options, some of which I’ll highlight below. 

Here are some photos of the first residence we previewed:

What makes these homes so unique and personal is the KB Home Built to Order Experience.  As I mentioned above, a home is not built until a family decides to purchase one. Thus begins the KB Experience. Simply choose your community and floor plan, customize the interior, and construction will begin on the new home. Once it is ready, simply pick up the keys and move in. If you visit the KB Home Design Studio, you’ll glean inspiration through the lookbooks and photos for each room.  Choose your flooring, countertops, cabinets, appliances and more.  My favorite features of these homes include the solar panels (more on efficiency to follow), dual walk-in closets, gourmet stainless steel appliances, an available added sunroom, and lovely 9-foot ceilings.

In spacious homes such as these, energy consumption (and the costs associated with that) is a concern.  Each KB Home is designed to conserve energy with Energy Star features and reduce water consumption using WaterSense standards. Additionally, the homes are built using sustainable materials including recycled/recyclable materias, and options to have insulation, carpeting and decking also built using these materials.

For more information about the new Charleston at River Village Community, just visit their website or call 888-KB-HOMES

Images: Rockin’ Mama