Disney’s New Jungle Book

April 20, 2016 by Laura Lohr Leave a Comment

Last week, we got to see Disney’s New Jungle Book. I have to say that overall, I’m a skeptic about sequels and remakes of movies. It isn’t very often that my socks are knocked off for a remake of an animated classic. This movie, however, totally wowed me! I LOVED IT! First of all, the first rate cast was awesome! The CG animation was stunning! They really did a fantastic job breathing life into a classic movie, without taking away from the magic of the original!

thejunglebook5700520305349 — The fearless crew stand up to Shere Khan

The cast of Jungle Book includes top-notch talent, such as Christopher Walken as King Louie. In Walken fashion, he adds a likable, yet creepy element to his character. I love Bill Murray and have been a fan of his for many, many years. He makes a perfect, lovable Baloo. What a terrific choice for Baloo! Scarlett Johansson’s character Kaa the snake is more dark than I remember from the original, but makes for a twist that only compliments the new version. Ben Kingsley velvety voice makes the beloved Bagheera as magical as he was in the original film.

KingLouieJungleBook — The massive King Louie summons Mowgli.

I hadn’t realized before that the Jungle Book is based on the book by Rudyard Kipling. The movie is directed by Jon Favereau and he really takes the audience on an amazing jungle adventure! Everything about this movie is visually stunning and will keep you on the edge of your seat, even if you’ve seen the animated original. There’s enough plot twists and turns that will keep you guessing what’s going to happen next. I love that there are recognizable themes and characters in the movie, however, there is freshness in this movie that keeps it very contemporary. You’ll be singing along with the familiar songs from the original, including, “The Bear Necessities,” and “I Wanna Be Like You.” In my opinion, no remake of the Jungle Book would be complete without Baloo belting out, “The Bear Necessities.”

Mowgli_Bagherra — Mowgli and Bagherra traveling to get Mowgli to safety, away from Shere Khan.

Mowgli_Ka_Jungle_Book — Mowgli and Ka meet for the first time in the jungle

This movie does have some intense scenes and may not be appropriate for younger, more sensitive audiences. While there are no graphic scenes and without giving any spoilers away, there are some sad scenes. It was very appropriate for Allie, who is 10 years old. Mr. Bear, Allie, and I really enjoyed the movie and found it to be very suspenseful, charming, entertaining, and still honors the classic.

If you’re looking for a great family movie, this one aims to please!
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Visit the official THE JUNGLE BOOK website here: http://movies.disney.com/the-jungle-book-2016

THE JUNGLE BOOK opens in theaters everywhere in 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D on April 15th!

Taste of Temecula Valley Giveaway 5 Pairs of Tickets!

April 15, 2016 by Laura Lohr 10 Comments

TASTE OF TEMECULA VALLEY FUN FOR ALL AGES: The Bungee Tramp is an example of one of many attractions provided by TOTV sponsor Jolly Jumps to keep kids busy at the 6th annual Taste of Temecula Valley. Saturday is known as the family-friendly tasting day, with live entertainment, activities, and fun for all ages. Photo credit: The Photography Specialist, John Tobin

I’ve got a really great opportunity to share with you! The 6th annual Taste of Temecula Valley event is coming to Old Town Temecula this month and I have FIVE pairs of tickets to give away to FIVE lucky winners! This year is the 6th annual Taste of Temecula Valley and you really won’t want to miss the food, the entertainment, and the fun! There’s plenty of food and libations for Taste of Temecula Valley patrons. We are, after all, well-situated in wine country and Temecula boasts many microbreweries and top-notch restaurants. You can take part in two days of music, entertainment, nosh, and thirst quenching, in this fun, local community event. The best part? This event supports the local schools in Temecula Valley, as it is put on by the ***Temecula Education Foundation, and all proceeds go back to our schools.

We have been in Temecula for about 9 months now and I have to brag about this little city! It took no time for me to get involved in the Temecula Valley community. It’s a really fantastic place to live! It’s family-oriented, there are so many sports the kiddos can get involved in, it is a safe place to live, it’s more affordable than many places in California, and we have enjoyed every moment! There is a small town feel here and there’s always fun and exciting things to do. Old Town Temecula has grown over the years and there are fantastic places to eat and great shopping, and it continues to improve every day, it seems. We’re going to attend the Taste of Temecula Valley on Saturday, with the kiddo and we cannot wait!

A Little Bit About the Event

©2015 TVFEE-TOTV and ThePhotographySpecialist.com — **Pechanga Chefs**: The 6th annual Taste of Temecula Valley is April 29-30. Among the festivities is a Friday-only VIP Concert & Dinner catered by chefs from Pechanga Resort & Casino, who are back for their second year. Sponsored by the nonprofit Temecula Education Foundation, the event raises funds for enrichment activities in local schools. Photo credit: The Photography Specialist, John Tobin

On Friday, April 29, from 6:00-10:00 p.m., a special VIP-only event, featuring a concert and dinner is available for a cost of $60 per person. The evening will include access to all 70+ booths, spotlighting Temecula’s best restaurants, wineries, and microbreweries. Additionally, entertainment will be provided by Golden Crown Productions. The evening line-up includes acoustic singer/songwriter Katelyn Marie and producer and Grammy Award- nominee Billy Alexander, as well as a Journey tribute band from Las Vegas, Another Journey. It’s sure to be a lively and entertaining evening!

TOTV 2015: The area’s best restaurants, wineries, breweries and specialty vendors will gather for the 6th annual Taste of Temecula Valley, April 29-30, in Old Town Temecula. The event is a fundraiser for the Temecula Education Foundation, a local nonprofit that raises funds to support student enrichment in the Temecula school district. Photo credit: The Photography Specialist, John Tobin — **TOTV 2015**: The area’s best restaurants, wineries, breweries and specialty vendors will gather for the 6th annual Taste of Temecula Valley, April 29-30, in Old Town Temecula. The event is a fundraiser for the Temecula Education Foundation, a local nonprofit that raises funds to support student enrichment in the Temecula school district. Photo credit: The Photography Specialist, John Tobin

From 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday, the fun continues for the entire family! It’s $10 admission for adults and children under 12 are FREE! Tickets for a taste and for additional activities will be sold at the gate for $2 a piece. It’s a great opportunity try something new and support the community! There will be fun activities available for kids of all ages—it’s fun for the whole family!

Some of this year’s booths will be hosted by Wiens Winery, Karl Strauss Brewery, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Blue Water Grill, Mt. Palomar Winery, PF Changs, Pechanga Casino and Resort, Devilicious, Ballast Point, Bushfire Grill, among many, many others!

Vendors interested in being involved in this year’s event can register online at http://tasteoftemeculavalley.com/. Vendors can contact Katan at markk8ten@aol.com, or 951-551-5352.

Community volunteers, including high school students, are needed. Volunteers must register at http://tasteoftemeculavalley.com/. Mandatory training sessions will be held Thursday, April 21, 6:30 -7:30 PM, or Saturday, April 23, 10 AM – 11 AM. One training session per volunteer is required.

Taste of Temecula Valley tickets will be available at www.temeculaeducationfoundation.org or in person, at the gate.

***About Temecula Education Foundation (TEF): An all-volunteer, 501(c) 3 nonprofit corporation, the Temecula Education Foundation, formerly the Temecula Valley Foundation for Excellence in Education, seeks to assist TVUSD schools by improving and enhancing educational opportunities for students in Grades K-12. The overall goal of the foundation is to support curriculum-enhancement and enrichment programs in the visual and performing arts and sciences. TEF sponsors summer acceleration and enrichment programs and annual grants for educators. Since 2011, the Foundation has awarded over $100,000 in grants to TVUSD schools to support curriculum enrichment. Website: www.temeculaeducationfoundation.org.

Taste of Temecula Valley Give Away

Legoland Ninjago Hard Hat Tour

April 6, 2016 by Laura Lohr Leave a Comment

I was recently invited to a “hard hat tour” at Legoland California before the grand opening of their newest ride, Ninjago. There are some really cool and exciting new things headed to Legoland this spring! The most exciting news? They’ve released the date for the grand opening of Ninjago!

The official opening day of Ninjago is May 5, 2016! Woohoo!

Ninjago is based on the very popular kids’ cartoon with the same namesake. The ride uses technology not ever used in the United States. It uses the latest technology and is sure to be a ride like anyone has seen before! Riders will train to become Ninjas, using some of the most advanced cutting edge technology by Triotech, called Maestro. Maestro is operated using hand gestures, rather than using a handheld gun to train and then battle like a ninja, while wracking up points throughout the quest. This 4D experience will give riders the opportunity to throw fireballs, shockwaves, ice, and lightning.

In addition to the exciting addition of Ninjago, Legoland has created an entire Ninjago World, complete with its very own Ninja kitchen. I was able to sample some of the tasty choices available in Ninjago World and I can vouch for its deliciousness! The Asian street inspired choices are some very healthy options, even featuring a tofu Bahn Mi for the vegetarian visitor. I tried both the chicken and pork Bahn Mi sandwiches and I have to say, it was true love!

The chicken Bahn Mi sandwich was a spicy sandwich, with just the right amount of ginger and veggies to balance the spice. The pork Bahn Mi sandwich was tender and juicy, and while very flavorful, it was not as spicy as the chicken sandwich. The pork sandwich could be prepared on a Vietnamese baguette roll or a soft pita-sort-of-bread. It’s definitely a repeat! Although, I’ll be hard pressed to figure out which to choose from!

There are several other additions to Ninjago World, including 22 NEW Lego models, built with over a million Lego bricks. What Legoland creation would be complete without thousands of Legos? There’s so much coming to Ninjago World and I’m so excited to bring my family to the grand opening!

NINJAGO World is included in admission to LEGOLAND California Resort. For more information, log onto www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO (5346).

Keep up to date with all things Legoland:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/legolandcalifornia

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/legoland_ca

Instagram: https://instagram.com/legolandcalifornia

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/legoland_ca/

Disclosure: I have the pleasure and honor of being a Legoland Insider this year, which means I get all the inside scoop about the happenings at Legoland. I was invited to Legoland for a hard hat tour and in exchange, I am posting my observations, opinions, and experiences. All opinions are mine.

Disney’s Cinderella Movie Review

March 18, 2015 by Laura Lohr 3 Comments

We were recently invited to a screening of Disney’s Cinderella before the movie came out. I’m not sure who was more excited about it, me or the kiddo. I had been itching to go see the movie since I first heard whispers that Cinderella would be coming out. I have to say, we weren’t disappointed.

I had some concerns about the characters. Would I love them? Would the prince be charming? Would they I fall in love with this Cinderella story the way I fell in love with the original animated version when I was a child? I hadn’t heard of Lily James, who played Cinderella and I couldn’t imagine the lovely Cate Blanchett being wretched enough to be an evil stepmother. Would I like it? Would THE MICE, my favorite characters of the Cinderella animated movie have a spot in this one? Would there be a fairy Godmother?

Yes, I loved them. Yes, the prince was charming! Yes, I fell in love with this Cinderella story all over again! Cate Blanchett made a perfectly evil stepmother. Lily James was a wonderful Cinderella! There was a fairy Godmother! There was magic! My favorite Gus Gus mouse was in the movie. All was right with the world!

CinderellaDress — THE dress! Guaranteed to make any prince fall in love!

This Disney Cinderella provided a background story that made you fall in love with the Cinderella character. We learn more about Cinderella’s parents and how the stepmother and stepsisters come to have power over her. On Cinderella’s mother’s deathbed, she gives Cinderella her best advice:

Have courage and be kind.

It was a beautifully done movie and the message really resonated with me. Despite the cruelty of her jealous and greedy stepmother and stepsisters, Cinderella treats them with kindness—even when kindness doesn’t seem like the appropriate or natural response. Cinderella remains kind and takes courage from her mother’s dying words. It is this courage and kindness that eventually wins over the prince. There’s always room for more kindness in the world.

CinderellaPrince — A precious moment in the film, where Cinderella and the prince sneak away from the ball.

I really am a sucker for a good fairy tale and as in the animated version, it is your traditional tale of good vs. evil. We were cheering for Cinderella, while hoping for justice against the nasty stepmother and stepsisters. Would Cinderella be recognized at the ball?Have courage, Cinderella!

EvilStepMotherSisters — The evil stepmother (Middle-Cate Blanchett) and Cinderella’s evil stepsisters, Drisella (Left-Sophie McShera) and Anastasia (Right-Holliday Grainger), doing their best to attract the prince’s attention.

While the fairy Godmother was a small part of the entire film, I love what Disney did to make the scenes with Cinderella’s quirky fairy Godmother magical! Of course, the coachmen, the horses, the coach, the dress, the GLASS SLIPPERS, all had a magical element that made it all fit with the traditional fairy tale, but with some very classic Disney twists.

We loved, loved the Cinderella movie. It had all the traditional Disney Cinderella elements we’ve come to love and a little bit more!

Cinderella

Opens in Theaters March 13, 2015

What was really super cute, was the Frozen Fever feature that played before the Disney Cinderella movie. If you love Olaf, Queen Elsa, and Princess Anna as much as we do, you’ll love Frozen Fever. We laughed and laughed. It was really cute. That Olaf!

Here’s the trailer for Frozen Fever:

Are you planning to see Cinderella? Who will you see it with?

Disney’s Frozen—My Favorite Disney Movie EVER!

December 2, 2013 by Laura Lohr Leave a Comment

Frozen Olaf — Meet Olaf from Frozen. He was one of my very favorite characters.

We had the opportunity to screen Disney’s Frozen in theaters a few weeks ago. I have to say that I loved, loved, loved this movie! It was the cutest movie we’ve seen all year and I cried like a baby. It is a great family movie and it was perfect for kids Allie’s age (she is 8).

Here’s a clip from the movie:

Disney’s New Jungle Book

Taste of Temecula Valley Giveaway 5 Pairs of Tickets!

Community volunteers, including high school students, are needed. Volunteers must register at http://tasteoftemeculavalley.com/. Mandatory training sessions will be held Thursday, April 21, 6:30 -7:30 PM, or Saturday, April 23, 10 AM – 11 AM. One training session per volunteer is required.

Legoland Ninjago Hard Hat Tour

Disney’s Cinderella Movie Review

Disney’s Frozen—My Favorite Disney Movie EVER!

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Community volunteers, including high school students, are needed. Volunteers must register at http://tasteoftemeculavalley.com/. Mandatory training sessions will be held Thursday, April 21, 6:30 -7:30 PM, or Saturday, April 23, 10 AM – 11 AM. One training session per volunteer is required.

See More of Laura Lohr on Instagram

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