I’m going to DISNEY’S SOCIAL MEDIA MOMS CELEBRATION ON THE ROAD Miami! #DisneySMMC @DisneyMoms #WaltDisneyWednesdays

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Hey there…I have some exciting news to share! A few weeks ago it happened. I got “pixie dust” in the mail. What is emailed pixie dust ? A magical invite from Disney to attend an event. How does it feel to receive pixie dust? Like Happiness! In T-minus 7 days, I am going to Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration On The Road in Miami!

I could not believe my eyes! If your inbox is anything like mine, then it is mostly filled with random emails and delete-worthy messages… not awesome news such as this! I was surprised and also grateful to be invited to learn more about Disney, a brand that I’ve always wanted to work with.

Being a mother of a 6 yr old daughter, Disney has provided many educational moments as well as entertaining ones. Before my little one started kindergarten last year, I was a SAHM (stay at home Mom) who got thru many of our days with the help of Disney related fun!

Year 2015, My first time meeting Miss Pixie Dust herself, Tinkerbell with my daughter at Walt Disney World

As a former South Florida resident, we’ve had the chance to visit a couple of the parks when she was age 3 / 4 and I am looking forward to returning and learning what is new. One of my favorite things about being a lifestyle blogger/influencer, I get the opportunity to be a resource and share what I learn with you!

At the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration “On-The-Road” conference, I’ll have a chance to meet other bloggers, influencers and social media enthusiasts and receive educational inspirational content designed to support the goals and unique lifestyle demands of social media influencers. Per the invite, here is what we can expect:

  • A sneak peek of what’s happening at Disney Parks
  • Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Disney Parks does social media
  • Participate in interactive sessions and hear from a dynamic line-up of speakers

There may even be a few surprises too as I have seen mentioned by other bloggers talking about Disney Social Media Moms events. Yes, I am thrilled to get in on the fun but I am keeping in mind that this is a working conference, as well as a great opportunity to learn something new and meet people with similar interests.

It truly makes my heart happy that I received an invite and could share this wonderful news with you! I put a lot of love in my posts and to be recognized is an honor. Thanks for the invite Disney and to all my followers, THANK YOU! 💖

IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW, ANY QUESTIONS YOU WANT ASKED THAT I CAN FIND OUT AT THE CONFERENCE, LET ME KNOW AND I WILL TRY TO GET ANSWERS FOR YOU.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter /Instagram (@SobeSavvy) for more updates + look for #DisneySMMC.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO ANY OF THE DISNEY SOCIAL MEDIA MOMS CONFERENCES OR ANY OF THE DISNEY PARKS? SHARE YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY BELOW. ⤵

Enjoy #NationalNoodleMonth Eats in #Raleigh @ToriiNoodleBar @shopCrabtree #Ramen #dineCrabtree

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SobeSavvy.com Celebrates National Noodle Month at Torii Noodle Bar

There really is a holiday for everything and in case you did not know the month of March is National Noodle Month! Looking for a place to celebrate in Raleigh? May I suggest you go to Torii Noodle Bar at Kanki in the Crabtree Valley Mall. If you read my last feature on this restaurant, then you know it is one of my favorite places to dine especially with my daughter who loves noodles! This past weekend, we were hosted to try some of the noodle dishes on their menu and here are some highlights from our mother and daughter lunch date!

MENU

Leslie, Founder of SobeSavvy.com and her daughter, #outandaboutAva enjoy Japanese soda at Torii Noodle Bar

Torii Noodle Bar has a menu that as soon as you open it you can see the mouthwatering noodle entree bowls available. Appetizers, entrees, beverages, and dessert are served at this intimate & modern noodle bar.

APPETIZERS

SobeSavvy Tip: If you use code “SoBeSavvy” at Torii, you can receive a free appetizer with purchase of an entree!
O

ffer is good through May 14, 2018 and Please limit one coupon per party.

We started with some edamame and dumplings before ordering our entrees. Edamame is good for you and great for sharing for only $3.95 on the menu. If your little dumpling loves dumplings as much as mine does, order the Gyoza. It’s flavorful and fun to dip into their signature ponzu sauce.

Edamame or Gyoza for an appetizer..which one would you choose?

ENTREES

My little one is having fun mastering the art of chopsticks and Torii Noodle Bar has a nice variety of noodle entrees that gives her the practice she needs! Not a pro yet? No worries, they will adjust the chopticks for little hands. She ordered the Yakisoba stir fried noodles and opted to get the sauce on the side. I love that you can customize the noodles to you or your childs liking. Hers was lightly tossed in soy sauce instead which she enjoyed!

Yakisoba Stir Fried Noodles are kid-friendly and flavorful at Torii Noodle Bar

At the wonderful suggestion of our server and being the seafoodie that I am, I was eager to havr the seafood scampi ramen. The portion of this is huge, which quite frankly I did not mind. It was chock full of fresh veggies, seafood and served in this amazing broth.

DESSERT

SobeSavvy Tip: You must save room for dessert and try the Japanese Mochi Ice Cream. We had the strawberry and mango flavors, however you can try a sampler of all the Mochi flavors offered. It was so yummy! A sweet ending to our tasty lunch.

SERVICE

All smiles after our delicious lunch with great customer service at Torii Noodle Bar

Sure, we ate and slurped and drank some fun Japanese soda, but what made the meal most memorable was the service. Our server named Lily, who is also a mom to a daughter named Ava, was simply wonderful. She was patient, knowledegable and pleasant. My little foodie has a lot of questions and is quite curious about things like wanting to know what Torii means in Japanese? Here is what we found out: The entrance of the Jinja (a Shinto shrine) has a traditional Japanese gate called a Torii (鳥居), (literally ‘bird abode’). A Torii is built to show the beginning of a sacred place. It symbolically marks the transition from mundane to sacred.

I think the name of the restaurant is a perfect fit because you will not get mundane service or food once you walk thru the doors at Torii Noodle Bar. The next time you are at Crabtree Valley Mall, treat yourself and your little one to oodles of fun while enjoying a bowl of noodles at Torii Noodle Bar!

Torii Noodle Bar At Kanki

Crabtree Valley Mall

4325 Glenwood Ave

(919) 782-9708

Here’s some #Disney fun for your little ones: FREE #WrinkleInTime Activity Sheets! #DisneyMoms @wrinkleintime

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Raise your 🙌 if you are excited for Disney’s new movie, A WRINKLE IN TIME? I am thrilled to see this film, which is an epic adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic. Directed by Ava DuVernay from a screenplay by Jennifer Lee, this movie is set to take audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and ultimately, the triumph of love.❤ Here’s a peek of the A WRINKLE IN TIME Trailer:

https://youtu.be/UhZ56rcWwRQ

In celebration of the movie A WRINKLE IN TIME opening in theatres this Friday, March 9th, I wanted to spread the love ❤ around and share some new activity sheets! Moms, Dad, Godparents, Teachers can print these out for some FREE Disney fun with their little ones. Check it out!

COLORING PAGES

A WRINKLE IN TIME opens in theatres everywhere this Friday March 9th! Do you plan to this film?

MAZE

FORTUNE TELLER GAME

My 6 yr old daughter, #outandaboutAva, loves to color but her favorite activity was the maze. She said she wanted to help Meg be a warrior and find her Dad before she going to school this morning. She did it…good job!

#outandaboutAva having fun working on a free Disney A WRINKLE IN TIME activity sheet

If you did not read this book, no worries! I believe you and your family will enjoy this all star cast bringing this story to life. Here is a brief synopsis of the film:

Meg Murry (Storm Reid) is a typical middle school student struggling with issues of self-worth who is desperate to fit in. As the daughter of two world-renowned physicists, she is intelligent and uniquely gifted, as is Meg’s younger brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe), but she has yet to realize it for herself. Making matters even worse is the baffling disappearance of Mr. Murry (Chris Pine), which torments Meg and has left her mother (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) heartbroken. Charles Wallace introduces Meg and her fellow classmate Calvin (Levi Miller) to three celestial guides—Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) and Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling)—who have journeyed to Earth to help search for their father, and together they set off on their formidable quest. Traveling via a wrinkling of time and space known as tessering, they are soon transported to worlds beyond their imagination where they must confront a powerful evil. To make it back home to Earth, Meg must look deep within herself and embrace her flaws to harness the strength necessary to defeat the darkness closing in on them.

•Like A WRINKLE IN TIME on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WrinkleInTimeMovie/

•Follow A WRINKLE IN TIME on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WrinkleinTime

•Follow A WRINKLE IN TIME on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrinkleintime/

•Visit the official A WRINKLE IN TIME website here: http://movies.disney.com/a-wrinkle-in-time

A WRINKLE IN TIME opens in theatres everywhere this Friday March 9th! Do you plan to see it?

Hey #Raleigh, Start Your Morning Off Right @TheMorningTimes ! ☕ #Coffee + #Food + #Vibe in #DTR

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Ever try finding a spot with good food and good coffee prior to going to work? As simple as this sounds it’s not always that easy! Well have I got some good news for you. There is a restaurant/café/coffee shop located in the heart of downtown Raleigh called The Morning Times.

The Morning Times Menus..yes, they are kid-friendly!

This coffee shop has been a Raleigh mainstay since 2006 and are a favorite amongst the downtown crowds. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch, this eclectic coffee eatery offers freshly made baked goods of all sorts and they also have some awesome vegan options. You order downstairs when you come in and you can have it upstairs in their loft like space with tables and comfy chairs or you can have take out if time does not allow. Since I sometimes co-work this is also a good spot for coffee and your laptop.

The Morning Times is a bi-level coffee shop. There are a few tables downstairs, but upstairs has more seating and a loft vibe.

I was there along with my family recently for NCMA’s pop-up for upcoming Art in Bloom festival. Customers received a free flower outside of The Morning Times, which gets great foot traffic in the morning.

FOOD

We decided to try their breakfast features of the day (a tomato and arugula omelette and $5.00 honey chicken biscuit) along with an order of their delicious French Toast from their regular menu. I really liked their unique way of making this breakfast classic with challah bread, mixed berries, whipped cream, maple syrup, topped with almonds. My daughter said it was hashtag #YUM!

COFFEE

A busy barista making a fresh cup of coffee at The Morning Times

The staff was friendly and quickly kept the line moving at The Morning Times. They have quite a selection of coffee from Counter Culture, which is a favorite in our household. We settled on a Vanilla Latte and also an authentic Macchiato {hint, it is not what most THINK it is} as a start to our day. If coffee is not your morning beverage of choice, “power up” with their freshly squeezed orange juice.

SobeSavvy Tip: Sign up for their “Eats Club”👉 HERE … and per their website: “Be among the first to know about special promotions such as beer dinners and cask nights at The Raleigh Times, Lebanese festivals at Sitti, blues & barbeque events at The Pit, Italian Feasts at Gravy and other good stuff in the works for our community of customers.”

Also, The Morning Times knows that it’s morning customers are limited on time so they have made it easy for you to order ahead⤵ Check it out!

Next time you find yourself in the Downtown Raleigh area, and looking for a place to grab your coffee & pastry to go or pull up a window seat to dine, head to The Morning Times!

THE MORNING TIMES

10 E Hargett St.

Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

Hey #Raleigh Families, this March see Little Shop of Horrors +Beanstalk! The Musical @RLT1936 #Theatre #Fun

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This weekend, you have two last chances to check out a favorite MUSICAL COMEDY of mine, Little Shop of Horrors! Raleigh Little Theatre extended its run thru March 4, 2018 with more performances playing at the Canton V. Sutton Theatre. I look forward to seeing the final performance as a “Sunday Funday” activity with my family.

I remember watching the remake of the original movie in 1986. I was 13 years old and seeing Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold as part of a Black female singing trio who brought the drama and comedy to life was a memorable moment in this musical comedy. I know all the lyrics, so I definitely will have fun seeing these 3 singers on stage.

If you are not a superfan like me, here is a brief synopsis of the story:

The meek floral assistant, Seymour Krelborn, stumbles across a new breed of plant that he names “Audrey II” after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down-and-out Krelborn, as long as he keeps feeding it BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out-of-this-world origins and intent toward global domination!

Little Shop of Horrors is part of the RLT Sutton Series. Book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. Based on the film by Roger Corman and screenplay by Charles Griffith. Directed by Patrick Torres. The show is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Audrey II is sponsored by Bloom Works.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are available now! Buy them online or from the box office at 919-821-3111. Group sales will also be available from the box office. Seating is Reserved Seating. Final Weekend Ticket prices (including taxes):

Adults: $29 Students/Seniors: $25

Seniors are age 62 and up. Students are through college.

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

Get your tickets now for an upcoming family friendly production, Beanstalk! the Musical!, opening March 16. It is the first production to open in the newly renovated Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre. The production puts a unique spin on the classic fairy tale. For more information go to Raleigh Little Theatre‘s website: http://raleighlittletheatre.org/

SobeSavvy Tip: Did you know RLT offers a summer camp? They are now registering for 2018 Summer Camp – ages 4-18 offered at RLT, Apex, Wendell and Wake Forest locations! Learn about their upcoming 2018/2019 Season: Acts of Courage!

This March, make plans to go see one or both of these Raleigh Little Theatre performances and support the arts with your family/friends. Check back here on SobeSavvy.com for my review of Beanstalk! the Musical! Hope to see you there!

DO YOU ENJOY THEATRE? WHAT WAS THE LAST PLAY YOU ENJOYED?

Looking for a place to create #art while enjoying your favorite #wine? Then hurry to @WineDesignCary 🎨🍷

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This past Saturday I joined some ladies at Wine & Design Cary,NC for a fun girls day out! It literally was a party with paint and a purpose. The purpose was to leave all worries behind and find the time to express yourself by creating art. No experience is necessary. You just need to be ready to release your creative juices. I would recommend this business as a fun thing to do in Cary or any of their other locations. All you have to do is sign up, show up, sip up and paint! Here’s how:

SIGN UP!

Head over to Wine & Design‘s website here: http://www.wineanddesign.com/locations/cary

Review the calendar to see the daily events. They offer a variety of paintings to choose from. We signed up for “BAE” which is a portrait of a beautiful black woman with an afro. I love big hair, so when I heard of this class, I had to be there!

Where: 🍷Wine & Design 🎨
483 James Jackson Avenue
Cary, NC 27513

The price of that class was $35 per person but will vary. How to pay & register: Online or by Phone, 919-535-8695.

SobeSavvy Tip: Use this $5 off coupon code when you book your class – WINE2018

SHOW UP!

Wine & Design stands apart from the other paint and sip studios in many ways. You can just show up during most weekdays at 11 am for their “Pop-In Paint” time. This is a time where you can feel free to paint whatever your heart desires on professional grade materials and products. Show up on the weekends for formal painting events. You can come solo, with some girlfriends or a great date night. Wine & Design is a great place to have corporate team building events and private parties. They also host kids birthday parties. No matter the reason why you chose to show up or who you show up with, be ready to have an awesome time!

SIP UP!

So what did I bring to Wine & Design? My favorite wine, friend(s), snacks, & laughter 👩🏽🍾🍇🥂🧀!! As featured on the popular show “Shark Tank”, this studio has the unique BYOB feature. Most places in the paint and party genre force patrons to purchase pre- selected wine and beer at their painting venue. Here, guests are encouraged to bring ANY wine or beer of their choice.

Come with a group where everyone brings their favorite bottle and you now have a wine tasting event amongst your neighbors! We brought snacks for our sips which included fruit, cheese, crackers, chips, hummus, veggie plates, and mini sandwiches set up on a side table and organized by our group’s party host. It was like having a painting picnic! The studio supplies, ice, cups and bottle openers if needed.

PAINT!

A lead painter (ours was Iseah Mills) guides all the guests for instructional painting of the specific portrait of the evening to take home to display proudly for their families and friends. All supplies and materials are provided: an apron, 3 paintbrushes, water, paint, paper towels, easel and canvas. I was pleasantly surprised to see the canvas was not blank but was lightly outlined with what we were going to paint. I loved the atmosphere of this studio. The pre-selected music playing had us all singing along while we sipped and painted. Faves from Maxwell, Lauren Hill, Erykah Badu, some oldie but goodies RnB were in rotation. Our instructor was very easy to follow and the flow of the class went well. No matter what was needed: more paint, extra paper towels, clean water..you name it and a staff member was there to get it for you. It was a sold out class with 3 tables and ten to each table. Although aproximately 30 ladies were painting, it did not feel cramped. Class lasted for 3 hours. A bit longer than I expected but hey….time flies when you are having fun!

My masterpiece is currently in my living room and I look forward to returning to Wine & Design Cary to paint, sip and get my art buzz on! I hope you are inspired to book a class soon and do the same because🍷+🎨= FUN! Check out more photos here of my experience at Wine & Design and see more of my experience here:

Have you ever gone to a paint and sip studio? What was your experience like?

Event Recap|6th Annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience @BullCityEXP @DPAC #Durham #Food #Beer #Event

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Yesterday, SobeSavvy.com joined a few thousand others at DPAC for the 6th Annual Bull City Food & Beer Experience! The word, “experience” accurately depicts this now iconic annual event that I had the pleasure of attending last year and sharing with you again. Enjoying 30 restaurants paired with 30 beers sounds like a great way to spend a ‘Sunday Funday’ especially while raising money and awareness for the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association.

Pale Ale, Stout, IPA, and various ciders were all properly represented here. Small local breweries served their craft beer and stood side by side with international powerhouse breweries. They all coexisted perfectly. A few liquor brands, such as Social House Vodka, also served up some samples of their spirits. Durham has such an incredible food and beer culture and this event does an amazing job showcasing it! Check out my facebook photo album highlighting more from this event, here.

Taking up space on all 3 levels of the beautiful DPAC lobbies, this event is always a crowd pleaser and this year was no different. Inside the actual theatre, they had the Stella Artois Onstage Experience featuring County Fare. This year the food in this area was served by various food trucks based in the Triangle. These meals on wheels have now become a staple in the food scene not just here but nationwide. Guests mingled on stage and enjoyed some awesome live music by Big Fat Gap and beer garden games like bean toss. One of my favorites were the dumplings by the food truck Chirba Chirba. One dumpling was pork, the other offering were their veggie dumplings. Simply delicious.

Guess what else coexisted perfectly with all that beer? FOOD OF COURSE ! Over 30 restaurants of every imaginable genre/cuisine was there. From Italian to sushi and EVERYTHING in between. The restaurants participating gave unlimited samples of the dish they were serving. What also makes this event unique is that most tables paired a specific brew for the specific restaurant dish. Some foods pair better with a stout or pale ale and vice versa. Attendees didn’t have to wander far to find the perfect beer for their dish, it was right there alongside it! My favorite part was the opportunity to meet and talk with the Chefs from some of my favorite local restaurants.

If I had to use one word to describe this event, I would say ‘Incredible’! Where else can you experience local food, beer, beverage,craft artisians, all in one place?! The foodie in me appreciates organized events like this that I can partner with and celebrate what is offered here. Watch this video for recap of all the food + beer + fun!

Thanks for reading and hope to see you next year! Cheers 🍻

Do you have a favorite food and beer pairing? Let me know in the comments below!

#BookReview | Let The Children March by @MonicaClarkRob + More #BlackHistoryMonth Books Every Child Should Read #sponsored

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Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review of Let the Children March.
Let the Children March is brand new picture book by Monica Clark-Robinson that gives readers an in-depth look at the Civils Rights Movement and the little freedom fighters who had a big impact on changing the world! This is the author’s debut of her first children’s book in which she collborated with Frank Morrison to illustrate and bring these historical moments to life!

This book gave incredible insight and accurate information about the Children’s March in 1963. I personally do not recall learning much about this in school, so it was with great pleasure to learn the story along with my 6 year old daughter. Her reactions to what the children did, how brave they were and the struggles faced at that time were indeed priceless.

The narrator of the book is a young girl so that immediately caught the attention of my daughter. Although the chatacter is fictional, the events are not. You can tell the author put a whole lot of research into this book to make it as real and accurate as possible. Not only was art done by illustrator Frank Morrison, but actual photographs from the events in Birmingham on 1963 were used.

I think everyone’s introduction to Black History in school is probably thru learning about Dr. Martin Luther King. So when my daughter saw that he was a part of this movement, her face lit up as she recognized someone she had been studying about at home and school!

His efforts and purpose of the movement was also shared in the book. His ideas to ‘fill the jails’ with people arrested for marching in order to disrupt government and make change happen had some obstacles when adults were too afraid to lose jobs. The introduction of children to the Civil Rights Movement, he later wrote, changed everything! Watch this video for a look inside this beautifully illustrated book and a read-a-long snippet from #outandaboutAvareads:

👏👏 Bravo to the author and illustrator for finding a balance of giving enough details to tell this story of courage and hope without scaring young readers. My daughter understood that the bravery those children had then makes a difference in our lives now!

With just a week left of Black History Month (although these books can be read during any time of the year), I wanted to share some other books we have enjoyed as part of the #outandaboutAvareads series for families and teachers to know more about Black History. Check these out in addition to Let The Children March:

📚 Mahalia Jackson: Walking with Kings and Queens by @ninanolan111 📚Our Legendary Ladies: Harriet Tubman by @ourlegendaryladies 📚 Bedtime Inspirational Stories-50 Amazing Black People Who Changed the World by @bedtimeinspirational

For more information about Let The Children March, follow
Website: https://monicaclark-robinson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monica.clarkrobinson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/monicaclarkrob
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicaclarkrobinson/

..and hashtags #letthechildrenmarch #childrenscrusade #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth

Ever heard of the Children’s March in 1963? What moments in Black History have you shared with or read to your child? Comment below..and thanks!

Celebrate #GirlDay2018 + National #EngineersWeek with @American_Girl ! #EWeek2018 #Stem

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Did you know that its National Engineers Week? February 18th thru 24th is a week dedicated to increasing public awareness and appreciation of engineers and their work. With two uncles that have careers as electrical engineers, my 6 year old daughter may just become one herself when she grows up! She has an increasing desire to know how things work and when they don’t, she wants to know what can be done to fix it.

Learning, Building, Creating with #outandaboutAva

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, women represent 50.6% of the US population yet make up only 11.7% of all engineers. Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day on February 22, 2018 (part of the larger observance of National Engineers Week) is all about changing that forever and American Girl is inspiring young girls with their 2018 Girl of the Year, Luciana Vega.

Luciana’s first book unlocks behind-the-scenes storytelling

Luciana shows what it can mean to be a girl of strong character today, where creative thinking, collaboration, and STEM literacy provide opportunities for meaningful growth and development. Technology continues to revolutionize what we do and what we know, and Luciana is a character that can bring visibility and valuable lessons to girls at a time in their lives when they’re learning about their infinite potential to change the world.

Saturn V, the rocket that was built to send people to the moon and used in the Apollo program in the 60’s and 70’s, is just one part of the journey to create Luciana’s character

This doll and her story inspires young girls to be curious, courageous, and determined. Bringing this story to life is an all-star advisory board that includes: Dr. Ellen Stofan, former NASA Chief Scientist, Dr. Deborah Barnhart, CEO and Executive Director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Maureen O’Brien, Manager of Strategic alliances at NASA, and Dr. Megan McArthur Behnken, NASA Astronaut.

Luciana’s Mars Habitat unlocks space missions

I love how American Girl sparks a passion for science and problem-solving in our girls while developing toys, books, accessories that complement STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) curriculum. Take a look at this video sharing Luciana’s development and story theme:

More than just one day, Introduce a Girl to Engineering is a national movement that shows girls how creative and collaborative engineering is and how engineers are changing our world. Read more about the #GirlDay February 22 observance on American Girl’s Explore site. Here is a link to that article which is filled with information on how/where to celebrate and more :

http://www.americangirl.com/explore/articles/introduce-a-girl-to-engineering-day/

Thanks American Girl for inspiring girls to learn and be creative thru play. This helps in developing a child’s mind and lays the foundation for a great engineer one day! Be sure to visit americangirl.com/luciana to explore bonus content and discover all the interactive ways to play.

#OutandaboutAva meet Luciana Vega, American Girl of the Year 2018

What ways are you celebrating engineering week? Do you have a girl that creates and play with an American Girl doll?

My experience opening night viewing @theBlackPanther Movie @Raleighwood Cinema Grill ! #BlackPanther #WakandaForever 

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Disclosure: I received complimentary media passes for viewing of first showing at Raleighwood, however opinions about my experience are my own.


In anticipation of BLACK PANTHER coming to theaters it was with great pleasure that I saw Raleighwood, “Triangles’ top rated movie theater, and only truly unique restaurant since 1993” was showing the movie on Thursday 2/15 !! I have heard about this cinema and how you can enjoy great food and drinks while watching hit movies in a casual and comfortable environment. Raleighwood hosted myself and a guest (my friend, fellow blogger Jen of jenoni.com rolled with me) to a girls night out in Raleigh to see a movie we all have been waiting for…BLACK PANTHER!

Why is this movie so important for us to see? Because as African-Americans we rarely, if ever get a chance to see ourselves as a super hero. Marvel Comic has solved that issue with this movie. Without giving away any spoilers, I will say this movie was Ahhh-maaazzzing! From the costumes, to the script, the setting and of course the great acting and action, this is movie that needs to be seen by EVERYONE! I especially loved the representation of powerful women in this film, which showed a great balance of the women leading and serving. SobeSavvy Tip: Stay past the credits (both of them) for movie extras. Just when you think it’s over. It ain’t over! You don’t want to miss what Marvel Studios have planned for BLACK PANTHER!

Synopsis: Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.

Check out this cool featurette for Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER about how the film went from the page to the screen!

Stay informed….

Like BLACK PANTHER on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackPantherMovie

Follow BLACK PANTHER on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theblackpanther

Follow Marvel Studios on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvelstudios/

BLACK PANTHER arrives TODAY in theatres everywhere on February 16, 2018! If you live in Raleigh, plan to see it at RALEIGHWOOD for a unique movie with dining experience. Get there early and choose from the various seating and table arrangements inside the theater. They serve food, beer and wine to be consumed before and during the feature film. We split an order of their chicken wings and a order of steak fries and it was pretty good! The whole experience was great and I plan to go back to see BLACK PANTHER again for the $5.50 matinee today!! Yep..it was that great !

Have you seen or plan to go see BLACK PANTHER? Share your thoughts below! Thanks for reading! Wakanda Forever!

Raleighwood Cinema Grill

6609 Falls of Neuse Road

Raleigh, NC 27615