The Smith-Kangs go to Mexico by Sonia Kang | August 06 2018, 0 Comments

If you know my family and me, you know that we are not the most organized “krew”. We are a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of family. The Smith-Kangs are a special breed. We are a large party of 6 and with that many people, chances are we are going to forget or lose something. Each trip we vow to do better and this trip to the Nayarit Riviera, Mexico, was no exception.

When I received word that I would be attending an influencer trip to the W Punta Mita, I told myself this trip would be different. I was going to be everything I had not been up to now. It was going to be like opposite day, Freaky Friday and Bizarro World all rolled into one.

Instead of waiting until the last moment, I was going to be prepare, if it killed me!  

Here’s my list of things to do and to remember when planning and traveling with your family to Mexico.

Days before:

Start a list of items you’ll need for the trip. Start gathering said items a few days before. Items I knew we wouldn’t use, I started collecting them and placing them in suitcases.

Travel essentials:

1. Passport-check expiration dates
2. Credit card (don’t forget to call the card company before you leave to notify them that you will be in Mexico so they don’t set a fraud alert and potentially stop any transactions)
3. Identification/drivers’ license
4. Check weather to help pack accordingly (umbrella/heavy jackets, etc)
5. Research local attractions to help plan out your itinerary ahead of time. Make reservations if necessary.
6. If you’re family wants to snorkel but get the ickies when using rental snorkel gear, you may want to purchase a set or two prior to the experience so you’re not on the open water reassuring them that they have been adequately cleaned and there just aren’t any other options out here in the ocean at that moment. I’m not Amazon Prime people! Just sayin'!

Clothing essentials:

1. Coordinated family outfits. Essential? I know what you’re thinking…but yes I am that mom! I love me a good coordinated look. We’re not super matchy-matchy but I do try to make us look like we’re “’posed to be.”
2. Minimally pack utilizing carry-on suitcases. Ok, this right here is where I could spend most my blog space discussing. After decades of travel, I am yet to travel efficiently and effectively. Decades. Le sigh!
3. 3-5 shirts, undies, 1-2 shorts, bathing suit, pair of pants, pjs, socks, flip-flops, walking shoes, workout clothes,1evening out/special occasion clothes
4. Travel sized Wool Light or detergent for washing in the tub if a Laundromat or facilities are unavailable
5. Packing cubes or clothing bags to keep organized and tidy (a mama can dream)
6. A plastic bag for dirty clothes

Medical/Safety Essentials:

1. Health insurance cards
2. Bottle water
3. Daily medications (keep with you in case luggage is lost)
4. OTC medications like Motrin and Benadryl in case of fever, pains or allergies medication
5. Locate your nearest consulate, hospital or urgent care
6. Extra packable duffle bag or backpack for beach days or hikes
7. Sunscreen, hats, Off! bug spray and sunglasses, unbrella

Entertainment essentials:

1. Snacks and drinks
2. iPad with programmed movies
3. Headphones-enough for each kid because god-forbid they share
4. Portable games, crossword puzzle, Sudoku, coloring books and crayons

Electronics

     1. Phone/mobile devices (verify with your phone service so you don’t spend                 more on roaming charges than your whole trip)

     2. Waterproof phone covers

     3. Cameras

We had an amazing time and hope you get to explore with your family. Stay tuned for some more on Mexico.

Note: I may or may not have done all of these. I may or may not have added some in writing this post in hindsight after learning another Smith-Kang lesson, ahem, the hard way.

 *This trip was sponsored by the W Punta Mita and Riviera Nayarit but all opinions are mine.

Disney’s CHRISTOPHER ROBIN by Sonia Kang | July 10 2018, 0 Comments

Hey all you A.A. Milne fans and movie goers! Grab your advance tickets for Disney’s CHRISTOPHER ROBIN  available for purchase!

To celebrate, check out a new sneak peek of the film as well a featurette on the legacy of the beloved A.A. Milne characters.

“Sneak Peek”:

“Legacy” featurette:

About the movie:

In Disney’s heartwarming live action adventure, the young boy who shared countless adventures with his stuffed animal friends in the Hundred Acre Wood has grown up and lost sight of what’s important in life. Now it is up to his childhood friends to venture into our world and help Christopher Robin rediscover the joys of family life, the value of friendship and to appreciate the simple pleasure in life once again.

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN is directed by Marc Forster from a screenplay by Alex Ross Perry and Allison Schroeder and a story by Perry based on characters created by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard. The producers are Brigham Taylor and Kristin Burr, with Renée Wolfe and Jeremy Johns serving as executive producers. The film stars Ewan McGregor as Christopher Robin; Hayley Atwell as his wife Evelyn; Bronte Carmichael as his daughter Madeline; and Mark Gatiss as Keith Winslow, Robin’s boss. The film also features the voices of: Jim Cummings as Winnie the Pooh and Tigger; Brad Garrett as Eeyore; Toby Jones as Owl; Nick Mohammed as Piglet; Peter Capaldi as Rabbit; and Sophie Okonedo as Kanga.

Like CHRISTOPHER ROBIN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyChristopherRobin/

Follow Walt Disney Studios on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneystudios  

Follow Walt Disney Studios on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneystudios/

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN arrives in theatres everywhere on August 3rd! 

Teen Titans GO Movie by Sonia Kang | July 06 2018, 0 Comments

Sometimes my kids think my work is cool especially when we get invited to press junkets and movie screenings for movies they enjoy.

That's exactly what happened last weekend we got the opportunity to participate in an experiential press day for the upcoming Warner Bros. Animation movie, TEEN TITANS GO! TO THE MOVIES. 

The kids felt like stars when they walked the “red carpet” and were greeted by lively paparazzi taking photos.

These two decided to forego the usual saunter down the red carpet and go for an unconventional dance culminating in the popular dance craze, the dab! 

We got a chance to interact with the voices of their beloved characters from the movie, enjoyed the stand-up style interview opportunity and photos with them.

We were then ushered into the theatre for a quick informational before the movie.

Following the movie screening, the kids were treated to pictures with costumed characters Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, Raven and Beast Boy!

The reception and the afterparty was a blast! We were treated to yummy foods, desserts and fun activities.

The movie was hilarious and exactly what my kids enjoy about the tv show. We totally recommend you checking it out when it opens July 27th.

The only thing they regretted from the day was not being able to say hey to Lil Yachty who voiced Green Lantern. They screamed when they saw him but like most super heroes, he was fast and disappeared quickly! 

 #teentitansgomovie

Turtle Odyssey by Sonia Kang | June 19 2018, 0 Comments

As a proud military brat, my family and I were stationed on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii. Last Summer I took my children to visit O'ahu and we spent time time on the North Shore at Turtle Beach learning about sea turtles.

Imagine how excited I was to see that Turtle Odyssey, a Definition Films production will be narrated by Russell Crowe. It will be released by SK Films this summer in select museums, science centers and IMAX® theaters worldwide.

 Although our visit to O'ahu was brief, we quickly understood how important it was to not touch the turtles and respect them as they are endangered.

My family and I are looking forward to Turtle Odyssey which tells the heartwarming story of one tiny sea turtle’s big adventure.

Turtle Odyssey explores the unique lifecycle of an Australian green sea turtle named Bunji and her incredible journey across the open ocean. The film follows Bunji the green sea turtle from a hatchling into adulthood as she swims thousands of miles, meets incredible creatures and has some really wild encounters. She will eventually migrate, with mysterious precision, back to the very beach where she was born – to lay her own eggs that are the foundation of the next generation.

Russell Crowe narrates the film as he is already such a champion of turtle conservation, it was a natural fit for all of us, and the perfect way to give a voice to an animal that now more than ever needs to be heard.” says the film’s Producer David Gross.

Based in Australia, Crowe maintains a close association with Australia Zoo in the conservation and protection of sea turtles, creating a perfect synergy between the voice and messaging of this landmark film.

“We are tremendously excited to release Turtle Odyssey. Having such an engaging voice combined with the immersive Giant Screen format will take audiences on an unforgettable journey.” says Jonathan Barker, SK Films.

There are only half as many turtles in the ocean than a hundred years ago, and the biggest threat to their survival is not life in the wild, but in sharing their world with humans.

To support the international release of Turtle Odyssey, the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga will be creating an educational initiative to deepen the learning from the film and provide kids, families and educators with the tools and knowledge they need further understand the importance of marine life conservation.

Raise A Child Honors Event and Summer Party by Sonia Kang | June 17 2018, 0 Comments

RaiseAChild is the family building business. We are the nationwide leader in the recruitment and support of LGBTQ and all prospective parents interested in building families through fostering and adoption to meet the needs of the 43,000 children in the U.S. foster care system. RaiseAChild recruits, educated, and nurtures supportive relationships equally with all prospective foster and adoptive parents while partnering with agencies to improve the process of advancing foster children to safe, loving and permanent homes. Since its inception in 2012, our organization has recruited 4,000 prospective foster/adoptive homes for our agency partners in Southern California, and another 2,000 prospects nationally~Rich Valenza | Founder & CEO RaiseAChild | Let Love Define Family®

I am so honored to support this special organization and event whose mission is  “building loving families for foster children®!” 

I will be joining over 400 guests that are expected to attend this year’s RaiseAChild HONORS event.

This event is known as the most fun and inspiring event of the year, the current list of event sponsors includes CBS, HBO, Banc of California, KidsEmbrace, Southwest Airlines, 89.3 KPCC, and The David Geffen Foundation. 

Stuart Krasnow, President of Telepictures Productions, Inc., a division of Warner Bros., has agreed to serve as a RaiseAChild HONORS event co-chair, along with Vincent & Isabel Mastrangelo, and James & Jeff Bresyn/Hernandez.

Van Lathan form TMZ, Taye Diggs, Gilles Marini and a few retired LA Kings attending as well as Jon Cryer and Lisa Joyner being Honored at the event.

More about RaiseAChild HONORS event:

Now in its sixth year, this annual event is the main fundraiser for this extraordinary organization that is building loving families by way of fostering and adoption throughout Southern California and across the nation. Being a Raise A Child Board Member and having the chance to be part of this event and the organization on a daily basis is specially close to my heart as my oldest brother is adopted.  I can’t imagine my life without my brother and I never want to imagine his life without our family, and I want that same opportunity to be available for each and every foster child that is currently in the foster care system

Raise A Child is Building loving families for foster children® and they understand community matters most. 

So please join me at this year’s Raise A Child HONORS - The Summer Party • Sat, June 23rd at Jim Henson Company Lot. It's the largest, most fun and inspiring event of the year! BUY TICKETS NOW before June 15 for a loyalty discount at http://bit.ly/RaiseAChildHONORS#LetLoveDefineFamily® 

Dumbo by Sonia Kang | June 17 2018, 0 Comments

Did you know the beloved Disney classic, Dumbo, is now a live-action adventure?

Check out the trailer and poster for Time Burton’s all-new live-action DUMBO that opens in theatres everywhere March 29th, 2019!

ABOUT THE MOVIE

From Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, the all-new grand live-action adventure DUMBO expands on the beloved classic story where differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight. Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland. Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant (Eva Green), until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets.

 #Dumbo 

Like DUMBO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyDumbo/

Follow DUMBO on Twitter: https://twitter.com/dumbo

Follow DUMBO on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dumbo/

Visit the official DUMBO website here: https://disney.com/dumbo

DUMBO opens in theatres everywhere on March 29, 2019!

Incredibles 2 by Sonia Kang | June 07 2018, 0 Comments

The wait is almost over!

INCREDIBLES 2 opens in theatres everywhere June 15th but in the meantime, we wanted to share some fun new coloring pages and recipe.

 ABOUT THE MOVIE

In INCREDIBLES 2, Helen (voice of Holly Hunter) is called on to lead a campaign to bring Supers back, while Bob (voice of Craig T. Nelson) navigates the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life at home with Violet (voice of Sarah Vowell), Dash (voice of Huck Milner) and baby Jack-Jack—whose super powers are about to be discovered. Their mission is derailed, however, when a new villain emerges with a brilliant and dangerous plot that threatens everything. But the Parrs don’t shy away from a challenge, especially with Frozone (voice of Samuel L. Jackson) by their side. That’s what makes this family so Incredible.

INCREDIBLES 2 Trailer:

 #Incredibles2

 Like INCREDIBLES 2 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixarTheIncredibles/

Follow INCREDIBLES 2 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheIncredibles

Follow INCREDIBLES 2 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theincredibles/

Visit the official INCREDIBLES 2 website here: http://disney.com/incredibles2

INCREDIBLES 2 opens in theatres everywhere on June 15th!

RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2 by Sonia Kang | June 07 2018, 0 Comments

Friends, RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2 arrives in theatres everywhere on November 21st! 

You have got to check out the all-new trailer and poster for RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2 

Ay, the Disney Princess scene is everything!

In RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2 leaves Litwak’s video arcade behind, venturing into the uncharted, expansive and thrilling world of the internet—which may or may not survive Ralph’s wrecking. Video game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) must risk it all by traveling to the world wide web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope’s video game, Sugar Rush. In way over their heads, Ralph and Vanellope rely on the citizens of the internet—the netizens—to help navigate their way, including a webite entrepreneur named Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson), who is the head algorithm and the heart and soul of trend-making site “BuzzzTube.”

In “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2,” Vanellope von Schweetz—along with her best friend Ralph—ventures into the uncharted world of the internet. When she finds herself surrounded by Disney princesses, she’s surprised to learn that she actually has a lot in common with them. The scene, highlighted in a new trailer for the film, features several of the original princess voices, including Auli‘i Cravalho (“Moana”), Kristen Bell (Anna in “Frozen”), Idina Menzel (Elsa in “Frozen”), Kelly MacDonald (Merida in “Brave”), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel in “Tangled”), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana in “The Princess and the Frog”), Ming-Na Wen (“Mulan”), Irene Bedard (“Pocahontas”), Linda Larkin (Jasmine in “Aladdin”), Paige O’Hara (Belle in “Beauty and the Beast”) and Jodi Benson (Ariel in “The Little Mermaid”). Featuring Sarah Silverman as the voice of Vanellope, “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2” opens in theaters nationwide Nov. 21, 2018.

#RalphBreaksTheInternet

Like WRECK-IT RALPH on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WreckItRalph/

Follow WRECK-IT RALPH on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wreckitralph

 Follow WRECK-IT RALPH on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wreckitralph/

 Visit the official RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2 website here: http://movies.disney.com/ralph-breaks-the-internet-wreck-it-ralph-2

THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART by Sonia Kang | June 07 2018, 0 Comments

Taco Tuesday is back y'all - and everything is AWESOME!

In honor of the release of the new trailer for THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART - mi familia received a little package our friends at Warner Bros. and Boutique Publicity. 

Por favor, check out the new trailer: 

Test Drive: Mazda CX-9 by Sonia Kang | June 01 2018, 0 Comments

Thanks to DriveShop, I got a chance to test drive a Mazda CX-9 for one wonderful week. 

I loved so many things about it. With a family of 6, this 7-seater had ample space in all three rows so we were very comfortable.

It was a perfect time to have this vehicle as we look for a new car for our teenage son. He is ready to get into a new car right away but we will take a slower pace to make sure we make the best decision with and for him. Sure, comfort and design are important, but safety is my utmost concern.

The Mazda CX-9 has all that covered with SKYACTIV® TECHNOLOGY.

When you drive, there is a full-color active driving display that really gives you all the information you need to help keep your family safe while driving,