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Brookside Responds To Fan Love, Creating “100 LB Bag Of Brookside Chocolate”

November 10, 2015 By Leave a Comment

 

BROOKSIDE_Logo_brand

Brookside fans are known to express their love of Brookside –the brand known for its soft fruit flavored centers, covered in smooth dark chocolate—in hyperbolic ways. Describing it as “The Answer to Life” (@sweetbrunette96) or even “The best snack this side of the galaxy” (@luanmaiej20) Brookside fans are not at a loss for words when it comes to these “Amazeballs” or “Devil in a bag” chocolates. Their comments have powered the brand’s recent ad campaign. Today, Brookside brings one brand fan’s wish to life, and gives consumers nationwide the chance to further indulge in their love of Brookside Chocolates via 100lbsofBrookside.com.

brookside bag

“Why is this bag only two pounds? Aargh…. They’re rich and smooth and velvety…..”

Brand fan, Christopher B.

 

Taking a cue from Christopher B., Brookside created the brand’s first and only 100 lb. Bag of BROOKSIDE Chocolate*, chronicling its epic journey by video to the front door of Christopher B.  View the expedition of a lifetime here on YouTube as “George” lugs 100 lbs. of Brookside through treacherous terrain to Christopher B.’s door!*

 

Now, in the spirit of his comment, the brand launched the #100lbsofBROOKSIDE sweepstakes enabling all fans the chance to grab up their own 100lbs of Brookside Chocolates. Through November 22, 2015, Brookside is asking fans to tell them what they would do to receive 100 lbs. of Brookside Chocolates to share with family and friends.  Visit www.100lbsofbrookside.com for full details.

 

Brookside will deliver – in total – nearly one ton of “The best slash worst thing that’s ever happened to me.” (@JenniferVills) chocolates to lucky fans over the course of three weeks. Each day of the sweepstakes, three entrants will be randomly selected to receive a 2lb bag of Brookside Chocolates. Each week, five grand prize winners will receive 100lbs of assortedBrookside Chocolates.

*Dramatization.  Not actual weight.  Chris B. received 100 lbs. of assorted Brookside Chocolates.

https://youtu.be/aU-5WuWaHC0

How it Works:

Now through November 22, 2015, Brookside is asking fans to tell them what they would do for their own 100 lb. bag of BROOKSIDE chocolate. Fans are encouraged to respond as creatively as possible via Twitter by following @BROOKSIDE_Choc and using hashtag #100lbsofBROOKSIDE #sweepstakes, or by posting on Instagram, Vine or Tumblr for the chance to have 100 lbs. of Brookside delivered to their door.

 

The winning entries will receive a variety of Brookside products including:

  • Brookside Dark Chocolate Acai & Blueberry Flavors
  • Brookside Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Flavor
  • Brookside Dark Chocolate Goji & Raspberry Flavors
  • Brookside Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters Berry Medley Flavors

 

win 100

For more information, visit www.100lbsofbrookside.com.

 

Credit: The Hershey Company.

Filed Under: Announcements

DOOHICKIES Custom Lacing is a must-have for Kids!

November 10, 2015 By 6 Comments

Do you have a child who hates shoelaces? I know that I do! Yes, I know that it is important to learn to tie shoes but my son has always rather have shoes with out them. So, he would be thrilled with no shoelaces!

Yes, there are Velcro shoes but sometimes they really just aren’t as cool or stylish as the shoes with shoelaces. Well, now there is another option!

DOOHICKIES!  These are a new colorful and completely customizable shoelace replacement system that turns kids’ sneakers into slip-ons! DOOHICKIES lacing works by threading seamlessly through the eyelets of any shoe, then snapping in place for a hassle-free fit. Fasten once and kids never have to tie their sneakers again! 

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We received a sample in a cool Camo which is perfect for boys! There is a wide variety of colors/styles to choose from. What I really like about these are that they are super easy to use. We tried them out on a pair of my son’s sneakers, and he was quite impressed that his shoes no longer needed to be tied. So, to put it mildly, these were a big hit!

DOOHICKIES are one-size-fits-all for boys and girls.  Kids get to choose from super fun color packs and a number of different lacing techniques.  They are available for purchase online at DOOHICKIES.com and at select retailers for $9.99 each.

You can also follow DOOHICKIES at the following:

Facebook: facebook.com/HICKIES

Twitter: @HICKIES

Instagram: @HICKIES

Hashtags: #DOOHICKIES #ReplacetheLace

We have teamed up for a Giveaway! Do you want to win a pair to try for yourself? Check out their website and in the comments below tell us which style would be your child’s favorite! Deadline to enter is November 16th, 2015 at noon PST. One winner will randomly be selected via Random.org.

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post/giveaway. No other compensation was received. Photo Credit: DOOHICKIES. SoCal City Kids is not responsible for sending out prize to winner. DOOHICKIES will ship prize. US Residents only.

 

 

Filed Under: Featured Products of the Week

Artemis is Pet of the Week!

November 10, 2015 By 2 Comments

Artemis, Nov. 12 Pet of the Week

Artemis was named for the Greek goddess of the wilderness, animals and nature. Shelter staff feels that this one-year-old Staffie is well named, as she’s energetic and would be a great companion on nature hikes. Artemis was a surrender because her owners lost their home, and she’d love to be the goddess gracing your hearth. Meet her on the shelter side of the Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring St., (562) 570-PETS. Ask for ID# A560390.

 

(The usual suspects contributed to this rescue)

Credit: Companion Animal Village.

 

Filed Under: Pet Corner

World-Class 4-D Theater Experience Debuts On The Queen Mary

November 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment

The Queen Mary will open a new state-of-the-art 4-D Theater experience on November 20, 2015. This attraction will replace a decades-old theater located in the aft section of the world’s best-known ocean liner. This innovative and exciting experience is the latest addition to a growing array of visitor venues and ship upgrades.
The 4-D Theater was designed by SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment in close collaboration with Queen Mary historians. This theater attraction will complement the look and feel of the Queen Mary and evoke a sense of old Hollywood glamour and art deco style.

The 121-seat theater delivers a high-definition viewing experience in 3-D with 7.1 digital audio surround sound and features a variety of sensory surprises that are built into the seats and theater environment. On-screen images are brought to life with coordinated 4-D effects such as bubbles, wind, and scents for a fully immersive cinematic experience.

“Our guests are not only going to enjoy the shows in the theater but appreciate the authenticity of the environment itself,” said Queen Mary General Manager, John Jenkins. “We could not be happier about the timing of the opening with our popular CHILL holiday event and launching this incredible new theater with the Polar Express 4-D.”

THE POLAR EXPRESS 4-D Experience® will run from November 20 – January 10. This 13-minute show is a family-friendly, modern classic.

Starting on January 11, the 4-D Theater will feature SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D: The Great Jelly Rescue and Planet Earth:  Shallows Seas 4-D Experience®, along with a custom pre-show content featuring scenes from the many Hollywood films shot on and around the Queen Mary.

Queen Mary 4D Theater

Credit: The Queen Mary.
About Queen Mary
Located in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary (www.queenmary.com) features a rich maritime history, authentic Art Deco décor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. At the time of her maiden voyage in May of 1936, she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built. The Queen Mary features award-winning restaurants, historical attractions, numerous special event salons and 346 staterooms.

About SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment
SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment specializes in designing, building and operating special F/X driven cinematic attractions that feature blockbuster content form the world’s major film studios. We build successful partnerships that provide 4-D Experiences® films and services to over 150 attractions in more than 30 countries. Our attractions generate revenue, drive attendance and provide family-friendly memorable experiences to over 50 million guests each year.

THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.  (s15)
Planet Earth: Shallow Seas is a BBC/Discovery Channel/NHK co-production in association with the CBC. © 2015 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon,
SpongeBob SquarePants and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
SpongeBob SquarePants created by Stephen Hillenburg.

Filed Under: Announcements

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas for the Holidays!

November 9, 2015 By 12 Comments

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This holiday season, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas invites you to take a break from hectic seasonal shopping and planning to meet with friends and loved ones and warm up with cozy cocoa to create lasting memories.

Bonding over drinks is a delicious way to stay socially connected with the people you care about the most and it may ease holiday stress. Studies have shown that spending time together increases happiness and helps alleviate depression ( Greatist.com).

Here is a wonderful recipe from our friends at Nielsen-Massey Vanillas:

Gourmet Peppermint Hot Cocoa

Serves 6

⅓ cup unsweetened quality cocoa powder (Dutch processed)
1½ cups powdered sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
4 cups whole milk
2 cups half-and-half
1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract
½ teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Peppermint Extract
¼ teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Chocolate Extract

In a medium saucepan, combine cocoa powder, sugar and salt. Place over medium-low heat and gradually whisk in milk and half-and-half until combined. Stirring occasionally, heat to desired temperature, being careful not to let the mixture boil. Stir in pure vanilla, peppermint and chocolate extracts.

Before serving, top with a Vanilla Bean Marshmallow. For an extra blast of peppermint, drop a peppermint candy in the bottom of each mug before serving.

I received a sample of the Nielsen-Massey Pure Chocolate Extract and it is a real baking must-have!

Visit the Nielsen-Massey website for more product information and additional recipes.

We have teamed up for a Holiday Giveaway! One winner will win the Pure Chocolate Extract! To enter, visit their website and tell us in the comments below which recipe is your favorite! Deadline to enter is November 15th, 1015 at noon PST. One winner will randomly  be selected via random.org.

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post. Recipe/photo credit: Nielsen-Massey.

 

 

Filed Under: Featured Products of the Week

HGTV Celebrates The Holidays With ‘Santa HQ’ At 10 Macerich Malls

November 9, 2015 By 1 Comment

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HGTV’s interactive “Santa HQ” holiday activation will continue to revolutionize the traditional Santa Claus experience when it returns to 10 top Macerich malls, connecting the brand with millions of targeted consumers in key markets.

 

For seven weeks, from Thursday, Nov. 5, through Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, Santa HQ spreads holiday cheer to guests of all ages with a 21st century immersive journey that features state-of-the-art digital technology. In addition to the classic photo with Santa Claus, mall guests can take an Elfie selfie to star in their own holiday video, use Elf-Ray Vision to explore Santa’s Observatory, and test out the Naughty or Nice O’Meter.

 

At select locations, fans can get autographs and take photos with HGTV and DIY Network stars, including Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri (America’s Most Desperate Kitchens) and Alison Victoria (Kitchen Crashers).  Anthony and John will appear at Danbury Fair on Nov. 7; and Alison will appear at Tysons Corner Center on Nov. 20.

 

“Santa HQ was a tremendous success for HGTV last year so we are expanding the event this year to make it even more magical for kids and their families,” said Shannon Driver, senior vice president, marketing and creative services. “Holiday celebrations go hand-in-hand with home, so this is the perfect time to engage with our fans in a meaningful way.”

 

The unique attraction offers a powerful HGTV brand experience at each of the high-performing, market-dominant Macerich properties that host Santa HQ. “Our beautiful, amenity-rich retail properties are magnets for families during the holidays, providing an unrivaled marketing platform for brands to connect with ready-to-shop consumers in top markets,” said Ken Volk, chief marketing officer, Macerich. “Santa HQ is an excellent example of a well-executed strategic partnership that enables brands like HGTV to come to life at our malls to engage their target audiences.”

 

While visiting Santa HQ, guests can customize their individual experience by using augmented reality to view Santa’s Workshop and Observatory in a magical way. Visitors can download the Elf-Ray Vision app or use a provided tablet to discover the enchanting world of Santa HQ in stunning 2D and 3D digital scenes. Shoppers can continue their adventure with a custom photo opportunity, a visit with Santa inside his modernized sleigh and an opportunity to enter for the chance to win $10,000 in HGTV’s Spreading Holiday Cheer Sweepstakes. Reservations to visit the experience can be made in advance at santa-hq.com/reservations. HGTV knows the holidays are a special time for the network’s audience, so fans are encouraged to share their Santa HQ experience on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #loveHGTV for the chance to appear on HGTV.com/santahq.

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The Santa HQ experience will be featured at 10 Macerich properties as follows:

Arizona:

Chandler Fashion Center, Chandler, opens Nov. 7

Scottsdale Fashion Center, Scottsdale, opens Nov. 14

California:

Vintage Faire, Modesto, opens Nov. 5

Los Cerritos Center, Cerritos, opens Nov. 7

Lakewood Center, Lakewood, Calif., opens Nov. 7

 

Colorado:

Flatiron Crossing, Broomfield, opens Nov. 7

Connecticut:

Danbury Fair, Danbury, opens Nov. 6

 

New Jersey:

Deptford Mall, Deptford Township, opens Nov. 5

 

Oregon:

Washington Square, Portland, opens Nov. 7

 

Washington D.C. area:

Tysons Corner Center in Virginia opens Nov. 14

 

Santa HQ was conceived in collaboration with HGTV, Macerich and Pop2Life, a New York-based experiential marketing agency.

ABOUT HGTV

America’s leading home and lifestyle brand, HGTV features a top-rated cable network that is distributed to more than 96 million U.S. households and HGTV.com, the premier source for home-related inspiration, instruction and entertainment, attracts more than six million people each month. The brand also includes the HGTV HOME™ consumer products line which showcases exclusive collections of paint, flooring, furniture, plants, fabrics and other home-oriented products. For more information on HGTV HOME branded products and to find a retailer, go to www.hgtvhome.com. In partnership with Hearst Magazines, the HGTV Magazine, a home and lifestyle publication, is currently available on newsstands. Viewers can become fans of HGTV and interact with other home improvement enthusiasts through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., HGTV is owned by Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI).

 

ABOUT MACERICH

Macerich, an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States. Macerich currently owns 55 million square feet of real estate consisting primarily of interests in 51 regional shopping centers. Macerich specializes in successful retail properties in many of the country’s most attractive, densely populated markets with significant presence in the Pacific Rim, Arizona, Chicago and the Metro New York to Washington, DC corridor. Additional information about Macerich can be obtained from the Company’s website at www.macerich.com.

 

ABOUT POP2LIFE

Pop2Life is an experiential marketing + music agency that specializes in branded entertainment, social experiences, and unique promotions that “go beyond.” The company was founded in 2003 by former VP of Marketing & Promotion at RCA Records, Eric Murphy, who played a vital role in launching the careers of notable artists and bands including *NSYNC, Dave Matthews Band and Christina Aguilera.  P2L works with some of the biggest media + entertainment brands in the world including Clear Channel Media + Entertainment, MTV Networks, HGTV, AMC, Cartoon Network, Dreamworks, Food Network, NBC and many more.

Credit: HGTV, Macerich and Pop2Life.

Filed Under: Featured Events

Hair Warrior is a Beauty Must-Have!

November 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Hair Warrior 4

If the heat and sun are taking a toll on your hair, then you need to try Hair Warrior. Hair Warrior adds hydration and protection to your hair during physical activity and fitness. Apply it prior to yoga, running, hiking, or working out and Hair Warrior will work with your body heat to smooth, protect and condition each strand – preventing damage and strengthening your hair. Works on ALL hair types! Hair Warrior is cruelty-free, tested only on humans and solar-manufactured in the USA. Comes in a travel size for $4 or 6 ounce tube for $24. Hair Warrior is sold at gyms and yoga studios nationwide and also online at http://hairwarrior.co.

I received a travel size and highly recommend! I tend to have hair on the dry side and it is color treated and it worked great on my hair!

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post.

 

Filed Under: Beauty and Fashion, Beauty and Fashion Corner

Curiosity DIDN’T Kill The Cat! PBS KIDS NATURE CAT PREMIERE

November 9, 2015 By Leave a Comment

PBS KIDS Nature Cat Logo

PBS KIDS’ newest super-hero cat will be joining the neighborhood next month! NATURE CAT, a new animated series that encourages children to explore nature debuts Wednesday, November 25, the day before Thanksgiving. Inspired by research on the health and educational benefits of spending time outside, NATURE CAT encourages families to get active and go on their own outdoor adventures.

 

The weekly action-adventure series stars an ordinary housecat Fred (voiced by SNL’s Taran Killam) who becomes his alter-ego, “Nature Cat”, backyard nature explorer extraordinaire, when his family leaves for the day.

Each episode, packed with humor designed for kids ages 3-8 – and their parents – provides science-based adventures to spark children’s interest in their own adventures, with the clever use of music and pop-culture references. Kids and parents can share their own discoveries and experiences as they observe and absorb the natural world around them through nature-based activities and ideas.

Voiced by an all-star cast parent will recognize from late-night TV fame, NATURE CAT harnesses the power of creative playtime with the quality science and technology children’s programming viewers have come to expect from PBS KIDS.  With the addition of NATURE CAT to the cadre of quality science children’s programming, PBS is continuing to lead the discussion to connect kids to science at a younger age.

Credit: PBS KIDS.

Filed Under: Media Reviews
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