Cascade Platinum

16 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by Stefanie Van Aken (RSMLVTravel) in Archive It, Fun

This is an advertorial/sponsored post: “I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

How many times have you heard someone say, “Scrub those dishes before putting them in the dishwasher! Do you think there is a little man inside who gets them clean?”. I never really understood why it was necessary to wash the dishes before you wash the dishes. Isn’t that the point of owning and using a dishwasher?

Fast forward to a being a newlywed with my first house and wifey duties. For the first time, I am making the buying decisions on household items. Of course, as I am wandering through the dish washing detergent aisle, I automatically reach for Cascade. It is the only product I have ever seen my mother and grandmother use their own dishwashers, and therefore, it is the brand I purchase on my own.

A few more years down the road, and a new and improved Cascade product, Cascade Complete is introduced on the market. It promises to clan dishes without washing them first. My ears perk up and I head out immediately to Target to buy Cascade Compete, with the full intention of proving my husband wrong. There is a little man inside the dishwasher that gets those caked on, greasy dishes spotless. His name is Cascade Complete! And, let me tell you how good it felt to say that! For once in my life, I didn’t have to wash the dishes before washing the dishes.

Now, with my little entourage of 4, I barely have time to load the dishwasher anymore, let alone worry about if they are all rinsed and stacked properly inside. Now my biggest task is trying to get rid of those nasty hard water spots the Las Vegas water supply creates on my glasses, and the nasty residue it leaves on the inside of my dishwasher. Before, when I was using Cascade Complete, I would complement its use with another product meant specifically for that purpose. However, newly introduced Cascade Platinum takes care of all my concerns in one small pouch. I just toss it in the dishwasher soap dispenser. Voila! Easy Peasy and no icky dishes.

This is great news because as you know, I like to take lots of pictures of food and share them with you all. Imagine how grossed out you would be if my wine glasses were streaky and my plating dish filmy. I wouldn’t even eat or drink out of either of those, let alone, share them in a photo. Ew. With that in mind, Top Chef judge and Food +Wine editor, Gail Simmons, has partnered with Cascade to discuss why presentation is just as important as preparation. The Cascade “My Platinum” contest is a four week Instagram contest encouraging fans to upload photos related to the weekly contest themes. Show off how sparkly Cascade makes all your pots, pan and plates! This week’s theme (6/17-6/23) is My Platinum Clink: Show off how you serve up creative concoctions in sparkly glasses! Cheers!

Visit the contest landing page (http://tinyurl.com/PlatBlog) for information on how to enter and submit images: Each week, two contestants will be selected to receive a brand new Whirlpool dishwasher. Additionally, one lucky grand prize winner will receive a Platinum kitchen! Be sure to use #MyPlatinum and tag @MyPlatinum when you post an image on Instagram. Awesome, right? I know how much you all love to show off your Happy Hour cocktail, so take advantage of this opportunity!

Learn more about Cascade Platinum on their Facebook page.

FTC DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT RockStarMom Las Vegas aims to provide unbiased editorials. However, I wish to disclose that from time to time I may receive free products or other compensation from companies for blogger reviews.

Best of Disneyland for Summer 2013

11 Tuesday Jun 2013

Posted by Stefanie Van Aken (RSMLVTravel) in Disney, Travel Inspiration

≈ 4 Comments

Heading to the Happiest Place on Earth this summer? Disneyland and California Adventure Parks and Resorts are full of wonderful and exciting attractions, entertaining shows and dining options for every person in your entourage. Sometimes the trouble is finding the right ones that suit your families needs and interests. With so many fun and exciting things to do, the choices can feel endless and a bit overwhelming. Here are my top three Best of Disneyland and California Adventures not-to-be-missed spots to put on your Magical Memories List.

Best Disneyland Attractions for Princesses

The all new Fantasy Faire will delight princesses (and princes!) of all ages. Take a moment from all the non-stop energy of the park to sit in the Royal Theater to watch reproductions of classical storybook adventures featuring your little one’s favorite princesses. Once finished, take a walk through the village where the princesses live, including Rapunzel, and stroll through the Royal Hall to meet and greet with the Disney Princesses. There are individual meeting spaces for three different Princesses. In addition, Belle (from “Beauty and the Beast”), Rapunzel and Flynn Rider (from “Tangled”) greet guests following their shows in the Royal Theatre. Remember to bring an autograph book and your PhotoPass or camera for plenty of photo opps. For Brave little fans, Merida has her own presentation near the Small World attraction.

Cinderella and I chatting it up at the new Fantasy Faire

Bippity Boppity Boutique will transform your little girl into a princess who is practically perfect in every way. Choose from several different packages and styling options. For the full effect, be sure to bring her favorite Disney princess costume to wear to enjoy her princess make-over even more. Get the camera and video ready as she is presented by her Fairy Godmother to the Magic Mirror at the end of her session.

World of Color Photo Courtesy of Disneyland Parks and Resorts

Aerial’s Grotto is one of our favorite character dining spots. Located in California Adventure, Aerial’s Grotto is an ocean themed castle and banquet room with a nice selection of healthier food options and a pretty as a princess presentation. Throughout the meal, Disney Princesses will make their way through the dining room and meet and greet with your princesses. Aerial’s Grotto is open for breakfast or lunch, and reservations are a must. A fun tip: consider the World of Color Dining Package if it is on your list to see both the show and meet the princesses. The World of Color show does start late in the evening, so keep that in mind when making the reservation.

Best Disneyland Attractions for Adventurers and Explorers

Jedi Training Academy is a an awesome adventure at the Tomorrowland Terrace to train like a Jedi and meet some of the top Star Wars characters. Check the show times and arrive about 10 minutes early. This is an audience participation show and children are selected from the crowd to learn Jedi moves and recite the sacred Jedi Oath upon completion of the training. There may or may not be a surprise visit from the Dark Side (keep in mind if your little ones scare easily). Plenty of photo and video opps here, and whether your kids are big Star Wars fans or not, they will still enjoy participating in all the fun. After the show, Die-Hard Star Wars fans will enjoy making their own Light Saber at The Star Trader.

Jedi Training Academy Photo Courtesy of Disneyland Parks and Resorts

Redwood Creek Challenge Trail keeps kids moving and exploring in a simulated Redwood Forest, while you can unwind for a few moments. It is quieter and usually not as crowded. Kids can meet Wilderness Explorer Russell and Dug, the friendly dog from Disney·Pixar’s Up, and earn their Wilderness Explorer Badge. Rope bridges, trails, slides, tire swings and rock wall climbing still allows for some adventure without the long lines and big crowds. Tip: a few of the attractions like the tire swing and rock wall have height requirements.

Radiator Springs Racers at Carsland at Disneyland

Radiator Springs Racers is hands down, my favorite ride in all of California Adventure. Disney Imaginears did such an impressive job of recreating the lovable classic Cars movie into a ride. In fact, it is such an great ride, it is everyone’s favorite. The first thing you should do as soon as the California Adventure park opens is head straight away to the Fast Pass line and get yours. Promise, they won’t last, and both the Fast Pass Return line and Stand-by can be long waits. Fast Pass Return can still be up to an hour, while Stand-By can be up to 3 hours. Tip: Though the ride is mostly compared to a Sunday stroll, there is one “fast” segment that does not last too long. There is also a height requirement, so be sure to check before waiting in line.

My littles meeting Mickey Mouse for the first time with their older siblings.

Best Disneyland Attractions for Littles

The newest live entertainment show to hit Disneyland is Mickey and the Magical Map, and it’s adorable. The best way to introduce young children to live theater is to do it at Disneyland. Performing at the Fantasyland Theater daily, Mickey, dressed as his Apprentice character from Fantasia, is guided by a Magical Map. The map leads him to different spots all over the world where he finds new and old friends, like King Louis from The Jungle Book, the Disney Princesses: Rapunzel, Mulan and Pocahantas, lands in the middle of a Mardi Gras party with Tiana and dances up a storm with Aerial and Sebastian. It really is non-stop fun for the whole family, not to mention, in a seated, shaded area. The Fantasyland Theater underwent recent renovations in order to produce the show. There are some impressive use of props, lighting and affects throughout the performance.

Photo Courtesy of Disneyland Park and Resorts

Fans of the Disney Jr channel shows will love the new Disney Jr. Live on Stage at California Adventure. Now featuring your little’s favorite Disney Jr. characters- Mickey, Jake, Doc and Sofia- invite the kids to stand up, sing, dance and clap. Be sure to check for show times.

Carsland + Bugsland have pint sized attractions for pint sized park goers. At Carsland, littles will love feeling like they are walking right through the middle of Radiator Springs. Night time is even better when the shops and rides light up, reflecting the moment when Lightening took Sally on a stroll through Memory Lane. Bugs Land offers age appropriate outdoor rides for all ages, like a hot air balloon ride made out of take out containers and animal cracker boxes, a train ride through a hungry catepillar’s eating escapades, and even a water splash pad area for kids to cool off.

Bugsland at California Adventure

Best Disneyland Attractions for Mom

Mandara Spa at The Grand Californian- need I say more? The facility itself is tiny, so you really only need exactly one hour to get a massage, grab a cup of tea and regain your sanity. See if Dad will take the kids for dip in the pool while you relax for an hour or two. The services are phenomenal, and the products smell devine. Just as if you were in a Balinese spa. OK, so you might need 2-hours. Book a half day cabana for the kids and Dad, and book yourself for half-day at the Mandara Spa. Your body and mind will thank you for it.

Coffee and beignets at Brennen’s Jazz Cafe at Downtown Disney

When you book your spa appointment, give yourself a buffer to enjoy a hot coffee and fresh beignets from the New Orleans original, Brennen’s Jazz Cafe at Downtown Disney. The coffee is some of the best you will find at Disneyland, and the beignets are made right there, right in front of you, fried up and served in a white paper bag filled with powder sugar. This is my guilty pleasure, and it’s budget friendly.

Best Spots to Eat

For character breakfasts, my favorite is Goofy’s Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. Inside the park, I enjoy the fresh tossed chef’s salads at Carnation Cafe. Healthy snacks? Try Bengal Barbeque in Adventureland. Just to the right of Paradise Pier is an outdoor eating area with many options to choose from like Mexican, Soups and Chowders, and Asian. This is one of my favorite spots to go with my kids because I can get a variety of food to please all their palates. The Lucky Fortune Cookery has rice bowls, fresh mango slices and edamame. The Pacific Wharf Cafe offers soups and chowders in bread bowls from the Boudin Bread Co., and the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill has tasty Mexican options.

Wheatgrass shots at Jamb Juice in Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney options include our family favorite, Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria. ESPN Zone actually has a great Kid’s Menu and treats dad to a little “Me-Time” catching up with the games. In the morning, or afternoon, I like to grab a shot of wheatgrass and a juice at the Jamba Juice, in hopes it will keep my energy up for a good portion of the day.

Best Spots for Adult Conversation

If you are lucky enough to get a bit of a break, or maybe your kids are just that good and you can take them anywhere, here are some great adult spots to enjoy a cocktail and unwind from the long day at the parks: Cathay Circle Lounge at Cathay Circle Restaurant in California Adventure, Uva Bar at Catal in Downtown Disney and Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel, poolside. Wine lovers might enjoy the outdoor ambiance of the Alfresco Lounge at the Golden Vine Winery where you can sip on vintages expertly selected to provide a tasting tour of the Golden State.

Did I leave anything out? Tell me some of your Best Disneyland Parks spots!

Disclosure: I was invited as media guest to experience the new show, Mickey and the Magical Map, the Mandara Spa and the Princess Fantasy Faire. Everything else was experienced on my own accord. All thoughts, opinions are all my own.

An Interview with Disneyland Parks President, Michael Colglazier

07 Friday Jun 2013

Posted by Stefanie Van Aken (RSMLVTravel) in Disney, RSMLV, Travel Inspiration

≈ 4 Comments

The time I have spent in the House of the Mouse all started when I was two years old and my mother took me to Disneyland for the first time. Though I don’t remember to exact details of the trip, I do remember being pushed around in my metal stroller with a suction cupped Mickey Mouse stuck to my plastic snack tray. I had an iconic swirly lollipop in my hand, and I had just snagged a stuffed Donald Duck as we were walking out of one of the stores. After a brief reprimand for taking something that wasn’t mine, my mom’s friend who was with us, purchased the doll for me, which I proudly sat next to me for the rest of our trip.

A few years later, my parents surprised my younger brother and I by pulling up to the Disneyland Hotel, where we would be staying for our first time. They were so excited that they had saved up their money to take us on a most Magical Trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. It was a shining moment for them as parents. It became a cornerstone for a lifetime of experiences with Disney.

Even with Las Vegas a short 4-hour car ride to Disneyland we still felt like we own a little piece of it. My siblings and I would have competitions to find our way around without a map. Every time I walk through those turn-styles, I feel the connection. A home away from home. My playground, so to speak.

Now it is a place where I get to combine business and fun. A few weeks ago I was invited to interview newly appointed President of Disneyland Parks, Michael Colglazier. Mr. Colglazier spent over 20 years with the Disney Company, based in Orlando, Florida, where he served as Vice President, from 2010-2013, of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. But California and Disneyland are new to him.

We sat, face to face, inside the living room of the Dream Suite. Mr. Colglazier looking comfortable in an antique reproduction of a Queen Anne’s arm chair, with a Disney-fied fire illuminating the grand wood carved, white fireplace behind him. We had just taken a tour of the rooms and living space the Disney family had intended to fill upon completion. Sadly, Walt Disney passed before the suite was finished, and the family felt, without him, the suite just wouldn’t be the same and left it unfinished. Years later, the Disney Company decided to re-open the Dream Suite and allow it to be used for very special cases and events. An open conversation about the parks pursued, and a question came up about the main difference between Walt Disney World and Disneyland, Mr. Colglazier said,

” Walt Disney World is clearly a tourist destination, and the people you talk to about it are OK with that, with it being a tourist destination. When I get into any conversation about Disneyland and the Disneyland Resort with my neighbors (here in California), it is clearly not the tourist destination. This place is so woven into the fabric of people’s lives for generations. Everybody has their own version of bringing that out. People really view Disneyland and Disneyland Resorts as theirs. It is a part of their lives, and that is really special. That is important for me to continue to understand more deeply. To undertand what goes into that generationally so we can make sure it continues on as generations move forward.”

I’m not sure if it was the company, the atmosphere or the moment, but when Michael Colglazier made that statement, it went straight to my heart. My throat got tight, and my eyes blinked fast to hold back tears. Yes. Exactly. That was exactly it. It is an ownership. I felt and feel connected to that particular park. It’s my park. Those are my rides. My experiences. My memories. They are my grandparent’s memories of saving up enough money to buy a ticket book and entrance for my mom and her siblings. They are my mom and dad’s memories of bringing us to the park for the first time. My memories with my siblings, my cousins, my friends. And, now my memories with my children. Every inch of Disneyland Park holds a memory for me. It is mine, and it belongs to me. Just like it belongs to you.

The Disneyland Dream Suite is not open to the public. I was invited to a Private Event representing TravelingMom.com.