(Note: Post is long with photos & video so please make sure to check those out! Thanks.)

Waking up at 6 am is something I usually don’t like doing in the summer. I’m a wahm (p/t)  so the summer days for us are also lazy days. We go to sleep late from watching TV, movies or playing games and usually the kids are sleeping til 9am.

This past Tuesday was exceptionally different. Several days ago I received an invitation from a representative of Tide detergent about the upcoming advanced screening of Ramona and Beezus (which is also based on the popular book Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary) and the possibility of meeting the stars of the movie, Selena Gomez & Joey King in person.  As soon as I told my girls that they may be able to meet Selena Gomez and Joey King in person, they freaked out!  They saw the trailer of the movie while watching the Disney channel plenty of times so they were extremely ecstatic.

I mentioned to my girls that it would a public event so we may or may not meet Selena but will probably have an opportunity to take a photo with her. They were gleaming with excitement. The only thing they were not happy about was waking up at 6am.

The day of the premiere, my girls surprised me by waking up with no problem. I’m sure Selena Gomez helped out with that.

When we arrived to Madison Square Park, we saw a crowd of people but the crowd wasn’t too bad. The Tide tent was up, the mural and paint were ready to be used and the crowd was getting ecstatic about seeing the stars of Ramona and Beezus.  You can definitely feel the positive vibe in the air.

Before Selena and Joey arrived, the Tide team gave out t-shirts (to cover ourselves while we help paint the mural), samples of the new Tide Acti-Lift detergent and of course free passes to see an advance screening of Ramona and Beezus that same day at Loews Theater on 19th St..

While waiting for the big stars to show up, my girls, Migdalia, her son and I decided to get a snack so I walked over to Shake Shack and waited on line to finally taste a Shack burger. It wasn’t long before I sank my teeth into a delicious and addicting burger.  I heard a lot about the Shack burger but never knew it was that tasty.  If you’ve never been to a Shake Shack in New York City, you are missing out. They are GOOD!

After our lunch, people were lining up to finally catch a glimpse of Selena and her co-stars but since bloggers are considered “media”, we had the VIP treatment thanks to Tide.  We didn’t have to stand on line, we actually went in the tent with the other Tide members and the people behind the scenes of the movie.  It was great being able to wait inside with less people than waiting outside with the crowd of screaming girls (there were a ton of girl scouts that were just too loud for me but Tide loved every minute of it).

It seemed like we waited for hours but finally the stars were walking the “red” carpet.  The first star I saw was Hutch Dano who played Selena’s crush.  He was very personable to the media who were interviewing him and smiling the whole time.  The second star I saw was Bridget Moynahan, who played Ramona and Beezus’s mom.  She is as gorgeous in person as she is on the big screen.  A few minutes later, Joey King walks in and the screams from the girl scouts grew even louder.  I bet she will do well like Selena because you can see the sparkle in her eyes as she walked down the carpet. She was loving every second of everything.  She loved being the center of attention and the fans love her too.

After everyone walked the carpet, it was time to take pictures with the stars.  It was getting chaotic once the stars got in the tent with the rest of the VIP attendees.  It got so crazy that the family photo opp was never done (Tide mentioned that this would be a possibility). Instead the kids took a group shot with Selena and Joey.  They seemed happy about it.

I asked Selena’s bodyguard if I can take a picture of my girls w/ Selena but he said no but Selena said YES!! And so it happened!! Kiss that bodyguard! Oh and don’t worry about my little one. She was upset because SHE was not next to Selena.

Once the craziness was over, it was time to walk over to AMC Loews Theaters to see the advance screening of Ramona and Beezus.

We got there a bit early so we just chilled out inside the main lobby on the floor.  It felt so nice to finally sit down after hours of standing.

Before going in the theater, we were all treated to a small popcorn and a small soda thanks to FOX.

Inside the theaters, I noticed that we were going to be sitting just a few feet away from the stars of the movie minus Selena (she had a prior engagement with David Letterman).  I thought that was really cool to be able to sit down in a theater with the actors from the movie.  It was my first experience and hopefully won’t be my last.

Before the movie started, the cutie pie Joey King announced the movie to the crowd and it was finally time to see the screening.

About the movie; Ramona and Beezus:

The adventures of young Ramona Quimby (Joey King) and her big sister Beezus (Selena Gomez) come to life in this all new film based on the best-selling books (over 30 million…and counting) by Beverly Cleary. Ramona’s vivid imagination, boundless energy, and accident-prone antics keep everyone she meets on their toes. But her irrepressible sense of fun, adventure and mischief come in handy when she puts her mind to helping save her family’s home.

Our thoughts (no spoilers ):

My girls and I absolutely loved the movie. It was better than I expected.  I laughed, had tears in my eyes and could relate with many different situations that happened in the movie. It was not in any way far-fetched either.  It was like real life. There were no huge mansions, fancy cars or anything that didn’t seem real out the world that “normal” people live in.

Bridget Moynahan and John Corbett did really well as Ramona and Beezus’s parents.  They were sincere and very genuine.  Ginnifer Goodwin did wonderfully as Aunt Bea.  She took the time with her nieces to guide them to the right path.  Josh Duhamel was the cutie (isn’t he? lol) next door who turned out to be someone’s true love (I won’t spoil it by saying who) and the guy who played Selena’s crush, Hutch Dano was pretty good too. All the tweens and teens adored him. I can see him as a future heart throb with all the young girls screaming out his name wanting an autograph.

I give Ramona and Beezus 5 stars.  It’s a great family movie and I think it’s a movie we all can relate to.

This pic was pure luck! Literally a second after the flash went off, her publicist called her and said no more photos!

If you haven’t seen the trailer, check it out below:

Ramona and Beezus will be in theaters everywhere tomorrow, July 23rd.

It was all about my girls yesterday at Madison Square Park.  They had a once-in-a-lifetime experience they will never forget.  They both met two of their favorite actresses: Selena Gomez & Joey King.

Both photos above “almost” didn’t happen. Read on to find out what happened.

The first one with Selena: I respectfully asked one of the bodyguards if I can take a pic of my girls with Selena, he replied back with a firm no but seconds later, Selena decided to say c’mon girls, and I took the shot. Thanks Selena for making my girls super happy!

P.S. My little one was upset because she was not standing next to Selena. Oh the drama! lol

The second one with Joey King: While at the premiere of Ramona and Beezus, we noticed that some of the stars from the movie will be joining in the theater with us.  As soon as Joey King came in the theater, the crowd went wild! People were going crazy taking pictures with the adorable actress. One point she walked to the other side of the theater to say hi to her family members and I asked the relative if I can take a picture of my girls with Joey. She said of course! She’ll love that! Joey came toward my girls, placed her arms around them both and I took the shot. Sadly her publicist said no more pictures so that made other kids very sad.

Overall, my girls and I had a fabulous time! The day was extra special because my daughters and I got to spend the day with Mslatina and her handsome son.

Happy WW Day!! If you want to join in on the WW fun, please link up your post below. I would love to see your WW photo!

This past Saturday, I went to the city for a show (post coming up) and when I got off the train, there was a festival with vendors selling clothes, jewelry, music, all types of food from different cultures, Pooh & Tigger dancing to reggae music & lots of people walking around enjoying the scene.

My daughter and I walked around a bit and bought some empanadas (savory meat pastry) from a Puerto Rican vendor and it was delicious! We also bought some ice cream and a strawberry & pineapple smoothie.  Later that day I met up with my friend Rachel and her daughter. She shared her decadent crepes with Nutella & strawberries (which I’ve got to try making – it was so good) with me.  How sweet of her .

It was such a fun day!

For more Wordless Wednesday, please visit Latinaonamission.com & Ridingwithnohands.com.

Please join the fun and add your linky!

Watching shows on Food Network has been an obsession for me since my husband and I got DirectTV when we first moved into our house.  I had no idea there was a channel dedicated to food (no, I wasn’t living under a rock but it sure felt like it…lol).  I remember watching Emeril Live and Rachael Ray (they were my fave shows back then) cooking up some delicious meals,  I would get so relaxed but also wishing that I was there tasting all the yummy foods too.

My obsession is still with the Food Network channel but now it’s geared towards their cake shows.  After the first episode of Ace of Cakes, I was hooked!  They just don’t make cakes, they create masterpieces.  The cakes are phenomenal and breath taking. Some even look like the real thing but in a miniature form like the Harry Potter cake, which is my most favorite cake that was ever created.  You can take a look here.

Lately, I’ve been having some great opportunities to meet some of the chefs from the Food Network and I’m loving every minute of it.  Who would of thought that little ol’ me would be meeting some amazing, famous people? Not me, that’s for sure.

This past Thursday, I had the privileged of attending an event to promote Duff Goldman’s (Ace of Cakes) new cake supplies that are exclusively sold online and at your local Micheal’s Craft stores.

When I first got there, I was thrilled.  I couldn’t wait to learn how to decorate cakes and “play” with fondant (something that I have never done before).  I was really hoping that my cake would turn out like the cakes I see on his show (I know, wishful thinking).

Lots of people were there already with cool aprons that had his name on it and about 12 stainless steel rectangular tables that were set up as stations.  Each station was set up with cake stands, tools, bowls (for mixing icing and food coloring) and rolling pins.

After seeing a few of my friends, we were asked to choose our cakes (either chocolate or vanilla – I chose chocolate…yum) and get ready to do some cake decorating.  While we were trying to figure out all the supplies and setting ourselves up, Duff was mingling with everyone and talking like he knew everyone.  He seemed as nice as he is on his show which was great to see.

A few minutes later, as I had everything on the table, I was overwhelmed because there was so much “stuff.”  I didn’t know where to start but luckily there were professionals on hand to help us amateurs with whatever question we had.

(Photo credit: Vera Sweeney)

Even though I was a bit overwhelmed with all this new stuff, I stuck it out, went in and did my thing.

Here are some pictures I captured with my LG Dare (which didn’t go so great because the camera SUCKS! Time for a new camera.).

Our base cake.

I flatten my fondant (Note: You have to microwave the fondant so that it's pliable)

I molded the fondant onto the cake.

After trimming the fondant, this is what it looked like.

Using Duff's cake tattoos (so easy to use!)

The finished product! And yes, this was my first time doing this. Beginner's Luck!

Would you buy this cake? Trust me, it's delicious.

Too late. We ate half of it already! LOL

You see, I did meet him.

Thanks to Vera for letting me use her fabulous photos. Below are some she took with her fabulous camera:

Me and Vera working that fondant.

Look @ me mixing icing. Look @ Jessica working that fondant.

Adding the finishing touches to my creation.

Looking thru Duff’s great web site, I have promised my family to try this project next so wish me luck!

A huge thanks to Sarah from Gartner Studio’s PR firm for inviting me to this special event. I had the best time ever! I’m still smiling

A few weeks ago, I was invited by my lovely friend Nancy to attend
the YouCake event that was held at the MoonSoup. If you don’t know what
YouCake is, let me explain.

YouCake is a custom-made cake topper (can be from any photo) that’s made from edible ingredients. It’s made out of corn starch, sugar & food coloring (edible ink) – that’s it! The topper is totally edible, tastes great and looks beautiful at the same time.  The cake toppers are kosher, allergen-free, gluten-free & lactose-free AND very affordable on any budget (average price of $14.99).

The reason for the event was to launch their new cake toppers and to showcase how it can be used.  At first I thought it was only for cakes that are either round, rectangular or square but I was mistaken.  They can even customize cookies and cupcakes! I thought that was brilliant.

Who doesn’t love a cupcake? I sure do!! And the best part, it’s customizable!  You send them your photo or you can have them design one for you (for a nominal fee).

Carolyn, the creator of YouCake Custom Cake Toppings.

Carolyn demonstrating to us the proper way to apply the topper onto the cake.

Overall, it was a fun event. The kids (and adults) had fun eating the sweet treats and they all love the play place in the back of MoonSoup (it truly is a nice & safe area).  It was also great to see all of my bloggy friends and chat while the kids were playing in their own little world.

I can’t wait to get a YouCake topper for my son’s birthday in September. I’m just wondering what photo he’ll choose to be on the cake. Hmmm, we shall see.

For more information on getting one for yourself or a loved one, go to their site for more information. You can also visit them on Twitter and Facebook.

Giveaway has ended. Winner is:

CONGRATULATIONS RACHEL. PLEASE SEND ME YOUR MAILING ADDRESS TO:  Lisa [at] Newyorkchica [dot] com ASAP! Thank you to all who entered.

**********************************************

John Tartaglia is an actor, singer, dancer and a well-known puppeteer for Sesame Street. He starred in the musical Avenue Q, appeared on Broadway in Shrek The Musical and in Disney’s Beauty and The Beast. He also created and starred in the Playhouse Disney series “Johnny and The Spirites.” With all those shows under his belt, he now brings to you, ImaginOcean.

ImaginOcean is a magical black-light musical for the entire family.  Chock-full of puppets, special effects and an original score that ranges from motown to swing, ImaginOcean tells the story of three best friends who just happen to be fish – Tank, Bubbles and Dorsel, and their journey through the ocean to find a scret, hidden treasure.  Jellyfish, Seahorses and even a big lovable octopus join in on the fun in this exciting show – perfect for a child’s first musical.

GIVEAWAY

One lucky New York Chica reader will win two (2) tickets to see ImaginOcean at New World Stages at 340 W 50th St.. Tickets are valid the whole month of June for performances on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

HOW TO ENTER

Tell me what is your favorite puppet growing up? Is it from Sesame Street? The Muppets?

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES

1. Follow me on Twitter @NewYorkChica & Tweet this:

Win 2 Tickets to see ImaginOcean – An Undersea Adventure for Kids in NYC from @NewYorkChica Ends June 1st http://bit.ly/b0b0Dy #giveaway

[Leave a comment with the tweet’s url so you can get a valid entry (ex. click on the time your tweet was sent). You can Tweet ONCE A DAY. If you Tweet more than that, that entry will be disqualified. (Must have 50 or more followers on Twitter)]

2. Subscribe to New York Chica by email. Click on the link on the right sidebar to enter your email address (5 extra entries).

*Please be sure to confirm your subscription or the entries will be disqualified. If you are already a subscriber (Thank you for your loyalty, we really appreciate it!), leave us a comment with your email address telling us you are a subscriber.

3. Add our button to your sidebar or Blogroll, come back here and let us know (3 Extra Entries).

4. Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post and let us know which post (5 Extra Entries).

5. Like/Fan us on Facebook (3 extra entries).

*Please note that you must comment each time for EVERY entry. For example, if you subscribe to our updates, comment 5 times for that entry and let us know what the comment is for. It makes it easier for us to count the # of comments.

Thank you for entering & Good luck!

Giveaway ends on June 1, 2010 at Midnight EST. The winner will be announced the following day with the help of RANDOM.ORG and will be contacted via email.

If the winner does not contact us within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: Tickets were received in exchange for this post/giveaway.

Three weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the Wish-Bone Salad Night Live event with Tyler Florence from the Food Network.  It was held at the beautiful Rustico Cooking School on the West side of New York City on 39th St.

I was beyond thrilled to be a part of this special event because I was going to meet Tyler Florence, watch him cook literally a foot away and see up close and personal how Tyler dresses up his salads. And we’re not talking about just lettuce here people; he was going to make a complete meal!

For me, this was a dream come true because I love the Food Network and Tyler Florence.   You can ask anyone in my family, what’s my favorite channel to watch on television – They will all say the Food Network channel.

The event could not start at a better time because May is National Salad Month so that is something we can all celebrate  – on eating healthy and introducing salads as part of our everyday meal.

Before the cooking demonstration officially started, we were all served some delicious appetizers and decadent wine.  Tyler Florence mingled with everyone and he seemed very genuine, personable and sincere.  I was filled with pure excitement because I was going to be THISCLOSE to a famous chef cooking and showing me his tips and tricks on cooking.

After the mingling and chatting, we all gathered around a huge stainless steel table and we all watched while Tyler Florence did his magic.

During the demonstration, we learned that the oils in Wish-Bone salad dressings actually help the body better absorb the Vitamin A and Vitamin E from salads.  Wish-Bone also uses olive oil in their dressings which is low in saturated fat and good for the heart.

Overall, my time at Rustico Cooking School was amazing.  I learned a lot and was happy to see some of my bloggy friends also.  It was definitely a night to remember!

Click HERE to view a video from Wish-Bone.com and check out my favorite recipe from Tyler Florence.

*I took a brief video from the event but unfortunately, I am having trouble uploading it from my computer. If I can figure out the problem, I will update this post and add the video.  In the mean time, enjoy the collage I made with Picasa (thanks to my friend Ofelia).

(Click to enlarge)

To check out some great photos that were taken by Patrick Butler, you can view it on Wish Bone’s flicker page.

GIVEAWAY

(Click to enlarge)

One lucky reader will win an autographed book signed by Tyler Florence, 2 bottles of Wish Bone dressings, a pair of salad tongs, a Fit or Fresh salad container and a Salad Night Live With Tyler Florence apron.

HOW TO ENTER

1. Become a New York Chica subscriber by entering your email address on the right sidebar.

2. Question: What is your favorite dressing when it comes to “dressing up” your salads? (You must be an email subscriber and answer #2 question in order for all entries to be valid)

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES

1. Follow us on Twitter @NewYorkChica & Tweet this:

Win a Tyler Florence Prize Pack sponsored by Wish Bone from  @NewYorkChica . http://bit.ly/9hOC1b #giveaway #newyorkchica

[Leave a comment with the tweet’s url so you can get a valid entry (ex. click on the time your tweet was sent). You can Tweet ONCE A DAY. If you Tweet more than that, that entry will be disqualified. (Must have 50 or more followers on Twitter)]

2. Subscribe to New York Chica by email. Click on the link on the right sidebar to enter your email address (5 extra entries).

*Please be sure to confirm your subscription or the entries will be disqualified. If you are already a subscriber (Thank you for your loyalty, we really appreciate it!), leave us a comment with your email address telling us you are a subscriber.

3. Add our button to your sidebar or Blogroll, come back here and let us know (3 Extra Entries).

4. Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post and let us know which post (5 Extra Entries).

5. Like/Fan us on Facebook (3 extra entries).

*Please note that you must comment each time for EVERY entry. For example, if you subscribe to our updates, comment 5 times for that entry and let us know what the comment is for. It makes it easier for us to count the # of comments.

BONUS: Visit my friend Raquel for another chance of winning the Tyler Florence Prize Pack!

Thank you for entering & Good luck!

Giveaway ends on June 4, 2010 at Midnight EST. The winner will be announced the following day with the help of RANDOM.ORG and will be contacted via email.

If the winner does not contact us within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

**U.S. residents only**

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was given. The above prize pack was given to me for attending the event.  All opinions are my own and were not influenced by anyone.

Those of you who will be attending the Hebrew National “Better Than A Picnic” Picnic at Randall’s Island will also get to be up close to a well-known celebrity.

If you know the infamous show “Curb Your Enthusiasm” then you must know who Cheryl Hines is, right? Or if you have little ones, they’ll know her as Sudsy Bubblestein from Jack’s Big Music Show.

Well, she will be our celebrity spokesperson at Randall’s Island!!

How exciting is that??

She will be helping out with a local charity along with everyone else and of course, enjoying the delicious  Hebrew National’s hot dogs and having a grand ol’ time.  I love her in Curb Your Enthusiasm.  She really knows how to put Larry in his place. LOL  If you’ve never watched the show, you must watch it! It’s hilarious!

Anyway, if you haven’t RSVP yet, don’t worry – there’s still time.  Email me at Lisa [at] newyorkchica [dot] com and let me know you are coming!

If you’re on Facebook, you can RSVP there too!

That’s it! See you there!!