Archives for November 2013

Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed New Game for Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS

November 22, 2013 By DeniseB 2 Comments

It’s time for Katsuma to take the spotlight! We’re very excited to announce that Moshi Monsters^™: Katsuma Unleashed^™ – the newest game in the best-selling series for Nintendo 3DS^™ and Nintendo DS^™– hit shelves nationwide on November 5, just in time for the holiday season! The new game is based on Moshi Monsters^™, the popular interactive online world with 70 million registered users worldwide!

A vibrant, side-scrolling, action-adventure platform game, Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed (3DS SRP $29.99; DS SRP $24.99) will bring fans of all ages into the Moshi Monsters world like never before. The non-stop action begins when Dr. Strangeglove, intent on his evil mission to learn the secret of Moshi Picchu, captures Elder Furi and all of the innocent Moshi Monsters – except Katsuma! As the most popular Moshi Monsters character, players embark on a far-reaching voyage, traveling through six new worlds packed with mini arcade challenges and epic boss battles. Katsuma must work to rescue his Moshi Monsters friends, so he can gain their unique powers – from Furi’s “Smash” to Diavlo’s “Flight” – to help him combat the enemies and keep the secret of Moshi Picchu safe!

Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed is jam-packed with bonus content and includes hidden areas for players to unlock, plus exclusive codes that they can redeem to earn virtual items at www.MoshiMonsters.com. In addition, Nintendo 3DS Streetpass^™ users can search for interactive maps and special monster attack games that allow them to play as each Moshi Monsters character and enjoy their distinct set of “moves”! Here’s a special sneak peek trailer, so you can check out the new game in action!:http://www.katsumaunleashed.com/us/

Developed by UK-based studio Sumo Digital, Moshi Monsters: Katsuma Unleashed, follows on the “tail” of the first two hit Moshi Monsters Nintendo games, Moshling Zoo and Moshlings Theme Park. The game is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB for Nintendo 3DS. (It is not yet rated for Nintendo DS.)

One of our new young reviewers reviewed this fun game for us! Check out Parker’s review:

Katsuma Unleashed is a really fun game! It is like my favorite game, Mario Bros because it is a platformer and has the same controls. It is challenging and I get to use strategy. The monsters are hard to defeat and the boss fights are even harder, which is fun. I’m on World six and it gets even harder!

Katsuma is a cat guy that spins around to defeat monsters but he can also transform into different guys with different upgrades that you gain when defeat bosses. It gets two thumbs up.

Parker, age 7

Self Disclosure: We received a game to feature this review but any opinions expressed are by our reviewer.

Filed Under: Archived Content, Featured Products of the Week

pediped black Friday Sale

November 21, 2013 By DeniseB Leave a Comment

This is pediped’s one andonly BOGO sale of the year where you buy one get one half off all styles November 25 –December 2. Use code FALLBOGO13 at checkout.

A great time to shop for holiday footwear and gifts. Happy shopping to you!!

About pediped®
Exceptional quality, unsurpassed comfort and distinctive styling have made the award-winning company the fastest growing children’s footwear brand in the United States. pediped^® footwear has been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for the promotion of healthy foot development, and preeminent orthopedic medical professionals, Dr. Mininder S. Kocher and Dr. Thomas W. Vorderer, deem pediped® shoes an excellent choice for parents/caregivers who want their children’s feet to develop naturally and healthily. In 2011 Earnshaw’s, the premier media resource serving the children’s market recognized pediped® with Earnshaw’s Earnie Award for Company of the Year and Best Footwear. In 2012, Earnshaw’s recognized pediped® for their philanthropy efforts of nearly $2 million, and pediped® was awarded the Earnie Award for Company for Good.

pediped^® footwear is sold in over 2,500 stores in the United States and 40 countries worldwide with an offering of more than 140 designs for boys and girls between their three lines, Originals®, Grip ‘n’ Go™ and Flex®. Originals®, Grip ‘n’ Go™ and Flex® are available in EU sizes ranging from 17 to 33. For more information, visit www.pediped.com.

Follow pediped:

• Facebook address: http://facebook.com/pedipedfootwear

• Twitter address: http://twitter.com/pedipedfootwear

• Instagram address: #pediped

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

CHLOE THE SEA OTTER PUP TO MAKE HER PUBLIC DEBUT ON EXHIBIT AT THE AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC NOVEMBER 21, 2013

November 20, 2013 By DeniseB Leave a Comment

A stranded sea otter pup will be joining the Aquarium family. Chloe has been behind the scenes at the Aquarium of the Pacific for the past few months and is now ready to go on exhibit. Chloe the sea otter pup will debut on exhibit on Thursday, November 21 starting at 9 a.m.

Chloe was born November of 2012, found stranded on Pismo Beach on December 1, 2012 and rescued by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sea Otter Research and Conservation (SORAC) program. She was housed and cared for at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for seven months and then moved to her new home at the Aquarium of the Pacific in June 2013, after being deemed non-releasable to the wild.

According to the Aquarium of the Pacific’s mammal biologists, Chloe is far from a picky eater. “She enjoys all the food the sea otters are fed here at the Aquarium, including restaurant-quality clams, shrimp, and squid,” said Dudley Wigdahl, Aquarium of the Pacific curator. Chloe is now eating roughly seven pounds of food a day. Chloe weighed 28 pounds when she first arrived at the Aquarium and now weighs 34 pounds. Long Beach resident Marla Graham was the winner of an Aquarium membership opportunity to name the sea otter pup and selected the name Chloe. Since Chloe’s arrival to the Aquarium, she has been undergoing basic training to aid biologists in providing her daily care and for enrichment. Chloe has learned stationing—learning how to sit calmly in front of her trainer. She is also working with a target pole, learning to target a shape, and learning to take vitamins in liquid form.

WHERE: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

Starting November 21 at 9:00 a.m., the public can see Chloe, the new sea otter pup, in the sea otter exhibit. The Aquarium of the Pacific is open 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily and until 8:30 p.m. during Discounted Thanksgiving Late Nights on 11/29-30. Aquarium admission is $25.95 for adults 12+, $22.95 for seniors 62+, $14.95 per child (ages 3-11), and free to Aquarium members and children under age three. Admission during Late Nights is $14.95 per person after5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.aquariumofpacific.org or call (562) 590-3100.

Photo Credit: Robin Riggs

Filed Under: SoCal City Kids News

bestowed= healthy & delicious!

November 19, 2013 By DeniseB 1 Comment

Looking for a way to try new healthy foods? We found the perfect way! We found a great website called Bestowed and they offer a monthly plan and an annual plan. You can receive a box with 5-7 NEW healthy foods delivered straight to your door every month-each one chosen by celebrity nutritionist and author, Heather Bauer. I received the November Box to preview and it is just perfect for this Fall season. This season is the perfect time to get out and exercise because it is not too hot and it is not too cold! November’s box has some great products for you when you are working out. It includes the following: Wild garden Hummus Dip which is really creamy and delicious! It is gluten-free and lowfat and it tastes good too! The box also includes: Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers, Eat Green Tea, LifeIce, Nektar Honey Crystals, Perfect Fuel Chocolate, Quest Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter, Salba Smart Chia Boost, Skratch Labs Exercise Hydration Mix and ZICO Chocolate. I loved the Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers with the Wild Garden Hummus Dip! I also liked the LifeIce because they are like mini popsicles! These 30-calorie trays of mini frozen treats are portion-controlled and portable! You can even eat these late at night! All these products are not only healthy but delicious too!

It’s such a great way to try these new products! The monthly plan for The Box is $19.00 a month or you can pay annually for $209. a year. The Boxes will ship and arrive on the 5th of every month and shipping is included. (Boxes ship via USPS and within the US only).

Want to try it our for yourself? Our readers can use the discount code HELLOTEN105 to get their first Bestowed box for $10 (normally $10). This code expires on 11/30/13! So, what are you waiting for?

Don’t forget to check out their website and also look for bestowed on Facebook!

Self Disclosure: I received the November Box for Free to facilitate this feature but any opinions expressed are my own. Photo Credit: bestowed.

Filed Under: Archived Content, Featured Products of the Week

Fun family DVDs for the Holidays!

November 19, 2013 By DeniseB 8 Comments

“Saving Santa” (BR/DVD Combo SRP $29.99; DVD SRP $21.98)

An upbeat tale of the ultimate holiday rush, “Saving Santa” starts at the top – the top of the North Pole, that is – where Bernard (Martin Freeman), a low-ranking Elf, dreams of one day joining Santa’s elite team of great inventors, the very elves who make the magic of Christmas possible! But when one of Bernard’s wacky inventions accidentally reveals the secret location of Santa’s workshop to an eccentric billionaire scoundrel (Tim Curry), Santa (Tim Conway) and Christmas itself are in jeopardy. It’s up to Bernard to time-travel (again and again) to get Santa home in time for Christmas! In addition to its collection of top talent and non-stop, action-packed entertainment, “Saving Santa” features must-see bonus content, including the animated music video for “Some Kind of Miracle” sung by Ashley Tisdale (voice of Shiny), “behind-the scenes” voice recording sessions with the film’s talent and a special “Why Saving Santa?” featurette!

“Chief Wilson” (SRP $14.98)

Preschoolers will embark on trainloads of stimulating and engaging escapades alongside Wilson and the whole Chuggington crew with the DVD release of “Chief Wilson”! In six exciting adventures, Wilson competes to be Chugger of the Year, attracts unwelcome magnetic powers and takes over Mtambo’s tours – leading a wild and crazy journey through Safari Park! Wilson also helps Action Chugger prepare for a movie role and puts his own skills to work when he performs a series of rescue tests on the Chugasonic Speedway. With friends like Koko, Brewster, Jackman and Hanzo along for the ride, Wilson and young Chuggers at home will learn important lessons about problem solving and working together to help ride the rails of life!

We received both of these DVDs to review and Saving Santa is a really fun one for this holiday season! My son and I both loved the time travel! Chief Wilson is a great one for younger children!

We have teamed up for a special Holiday gift package! These DVDs would make great gifts! You must be a subscriber to enter! Next, leave a comment below telling us your favorite holiday character (Frosty is mine!) and make sure to like our Facebook page! Deadline to enter is November 28th, 2013. One winner will randomly be selected from all entries!

Self Disclosure: I received DVDs to facilitate this feature.

Filed Under: Archived Content

Celebrate an Old Time Christmas

November 19, 2013 By DeniseB Leave a Comment

Capture the holiday spirit at Rancho Los Cerritos’ “Old Time Christmas Festival” scheduled for Sunday, December 8 from 1-4 p.m. A great family event, people of all ages will experience 19th century Christmas traditions from the California frontier while learning about history in one of Long Beach’s most historic homes. Admission is $3 per person, or $10 per family and includes tours of the adobe home, craft activities, storytelling, piñatas, a visit with Santa Claus, light refreshments and holiday music.

The two-story adobe will be decorated with greenery and homemade items popular in Victorian times, and costumed volunteer docents will share holiday customs and Rancho history with guests as they tour the home at their leisure. Children will have an array of activities to entertain them. They can try to break a piñata, make old-fashioned holiday decorations for their own trees at home, create handmade gifts for friends and family, and enjoy popular tales from long ago as presented by our lively costumed storytellers.

Visitors are encouraged to bring cameras to capture family members posing with Santa Claus. Throughout the afternoon, the Rancho will be filled with joyful holiday music performed by local groups including the festive choral music of Women of Note and a group from Poly High Schools’ acclaimed music department. Light refreshments will be served in the backyard, and visitors are encourage to stop by the Museum Shop to search for unique holiday gifts.

Rancho Los Cerritos is at 4600 Virginia Road in Long Beach. The 1844 adobe home will be adorned with Victorian greenery and decorations throughout the holiday season and can be toured during public hours, Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. The Rancho will be closed December 24, 25 and 31, 2013, and January 1, 2014.

Filed Under: Archived Content

“Unexpected Guests for the Holidays”

November 19, 2013 By DeniseB Leave a Comment

The time is the evening of Monday, December 23, 1878, at Rancho Los Cerritos. Owner Jotham Bixby and his wife have just returned from a business trip to San Francisco to check on wool shipments. Many relatives and friends are here helping prepare for Christmas, which the extended Bixby family will celebrate at Rancho Los Cerritos this year.

Suddenly the Rancho’s evening activities are interrupted by unexpected visitors – YOU! Your stagecoach en route to Los Angeles has arrived at the Ranch, having been lost in the fog on the road from Santa Ana. After a brief rest for the horses, your coach will continue to Los Angeles. From there you can board the train for San Francisco tomorrow morning. While the horses rest, the Bixby family will most assuredly welcome you and provide for your comfort.

Step back in time to December 23, 1878 and celebrate a Victorian Christmas at Rancho Los Cerritos! Tour the decorated adobe home with a costumed living history docent, and meet the Bixby family, friends and workers on this active sheep ranch as they share holiday traditions and discuss daily life in the Los Angeles area through theatrical vignettes. You’ll hear how the workers will spend the holidays, learn about advances in technology, and explore women’s views on suffrage, temperance and children’s education. Your magical evening will conclude with gingerbread, hot cider and live music in the gardens – and perhaps some shopping in the Museum Store where you’ll find decorative ornaments, children’s toys and unique handmade Christmas crafts.

Tours begin every ten minutes between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday evenings, December 14 and 15. Tickets are on sale now for $15 and will not be sold at the door. To reserve your candlelit journey back in time, call 562/570-1755 or download the form from the website: www.rancholoscerritos.org.

Filed Under: Archived Content

Laura Mercier’s 2013 Holiday Collection

November 19, 2013 By DeniseB 3 Comments

This year’s Holiday Colour and Holiday Bath & Body Collections are available in Laura’s signature shades and scents. These beautifully packaged products make the perfect gift for your mom, your friend, your sister – or even yourself! I received samples of the bubble bath in the Crème Brûlée fragrance to review and it’s my favorite bubble bath! I love how it smells and leaves my skin feeling soft!

Laura Mercier National Colour Collection
Product Name	Product Details	Available Shades	Pricing
Petite Baked Eye Colour Bonbons – Multi-Finish	Flawlessly festive pops of colour in a delicious trio	Available in: · Bronze Trio · Amethyst Trio · Emerald Trio	$25
Luxe Colour Wardrobe Dual Decker Colour for Eye & Cheeks	This ultimate holiday accessory is filled with everything you need to perfect your flawless face – it’s luxury at its best	Set includes: · 8 Eye Colours · 1 Face Highlighter · 2 Second Skin Cheek Colours · 3 Tightline Cake Eye Liners · 1 Mini Longwear Crème Eye Pencil · 3 Brushes	$125
Colour to Go Portable Palette for Eyes, Cheeks & Lips	All you need colour essentials for glamour-on-the-go	Available in: · Natural Nudes · Smoky Violets	$50
Luxe Travel Brush Collection	Sleek, chic, clutch filled with essential brushes for the flawless face	Set includes: · Full-Size Cheek Colour Brush · Secret Camouflage/Camouflage Powder Brush · All Over Eye Colour/ Pony Tail Brush · Eye Crease/ Smudge Brush · Flat Eye Liner/Angled Eye Liner Brush	$125
Line & Define Mini Longwear Crème Eye Pencil Collection	Five mini pencils in classic, pure-jet shades to contour, outline and define	Set includes: · Violet · Espresso · Noir · Sage · Cobalt	$45
Shimmer Effects Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour Collection	Perfectly portable sizes to create soft-glimmer highlights and endless effects	Set includes: · Pink Opal · Amethyst · Rosegold · Sugar Frost	$40
Mini Lip Glace Collection	A holiday set of must-haves for extra sparkle and shine	Available in: · Bare Nudes · Bold Brights	$48
Laura Mercier National Bath & Body Collection
Product Name	Product Details	Available Scents	Pricing
Soufflé Body Crème Sampler	Indulge in four of Laura’s favorite ultra-whipped crèmes to nourish the skin	Set includes: · Ambre Vanille · Almond Coconut Milk · Crème De Pistache · Fresh Fig	$60
Body & Bath Travel Quartet	A symphony of indulgence for the ultimate traveler. Set contains travel-friendly sizes of Crème Body Wash, Body Butter, Hand Crème and Eau Gourmande	Available in: · Tarte Au Citron · Fresh Fig	$50
Body & Bath Duet	Indulge in the ultimate luxury of a warm, fragranced bath. These softly scented bath salts work to melt away the stresses of the day, while the Soufflé Body Crème exfoliates, softens and soothes skin	Available in: · Almond Coconut Milk · Crème Brûlée	$48
Hand Crème Sampler Collection	Give hands a luxurious taste of ultra-rich and velvety hydration	Set includes: · Fresh Fig · Crème Brûlée · Almond Coconut Milk · Crème de Pistache	$28
Body & Bath Luxe Quartet	Indulge and escape with Laura’s luxe quartet in three delectable gourmande scents, which contains Honey Bath, Body Scrub, Souffle Body Crème and a candle	Available in: · Almond Coconut Milk · Crème Brûlée · Ambre Vanillé	$80
Votive Candle Sampler Collection	Get warm and cozy for the holidays with four of Laura’s delicious votives	Set includes: · Crème Brûlée · Fresh Fig · Ambre Vanillé · Tarte au Citron	$65
Luxe Signature Candle	Roasted chestnuts, nutmeg, spicy berry, clove and warm vanilla sugar cream are all wrapped up for the holidays	Available in: · Warm Roasted Chestnuts	$58