D-Backs Fan Fest

It's that time!!!  Baseball is here and the Arizona Diamondbacks will host the 14th annual Chevrolet D-backs Fan Fest from Noon-4:00 p.m. next Saturday, Feb. 17, at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The free event will offer fans access to current players, coaches, alumni and broadcasters.

The annual event will include unique access throughout the award-winning Spring Training complex and will feature a variety of activities for everyone, including:                       

• Free autograph sessions for all fans, on a first-come, first-serve basis, with current and former players
• Free photograph sessions for all fans, on a first-come, first-serve basis, courtesy of Smile Generation
• D-backs Stage Show, presented by Chevrolet, featuring Q&A with players, management and alumni
• Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation Yard Sale           
• Open Batting Cages
• Wiffle ball fields featuring staff from the D-backs Baseball Academy, presented by Phoenix Children’s Hospital, including catch-a-fly ball
• D-backs Team Shop
• D-backs Authentics featuring game-used memorabilia
• Live Sports broadcast on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM throughout the day
• FOX Sports Arizona #DbacksFanFest Live Show
• FOX Sports Arizona KidKaster auditions and fan photo booth
• Virtual Reality, presented by Cox Communications, featuring new and exciting experiences
• MLB.com Ballpark Zone where fans can learn how to utilize the app and access augmented reality experiences available only at Fan Fest
• Sanderson Ford Cronista Infantil D-backs Spanish broadcast auditions for Univision Deportes Radio 105.1 FM
• D-backs inflatables & face painting
• Exclusive presale access for the D-backs 8-game mini plan

Among the D-backs players currently scheduled to attend include Nick Ahmed, Alex Avila, Anthony Banda, Jake Barrett, Brad Boxberger, Silvino Bracho, Archie Bradley, Sócrates Brito, Andrew Chafin, Patrick Corbin, Randall Delgado, Daniel Descalso, Brandon Drury, Neftalí Feliz, Reymond Fuentes, Zack Godley, Paul Goldschmidt, Zack Greinke, Jeremy Hazelbaker, Chris Herrmann, Yoshihisa Hirano, Matt Koch, Jake Lamb, Domingo Lebya, Ketel Marte, Jeff Mathis, T.J. McFarland, Jared Miller, Shelby Miller, John Ryan Murphy, Kristopher Negron, Chris Owings, David Peralta, A.J. Pollock, Robbie Ray, Jack Reinheimer, Jimmie Sherfy, Braden Shipley, Albert Suarez, Yasmany Tomás, Ildemaro Vargas, Christian Walker and Taijuan Walker. Coaches expected to participate include Manager Torey Lovullo, Bullpen Coach Mike Fetters and Quality Control & Catching Coach Robby Hammock. Broadcasters Bob Brenly, Steve Berthiaume, Greg Schulte, Tom Candiotti, Mike Ferrin, Rodrigo Lopez and Oscar Soria will also be in attendance, as well as President & CEO Derrick Hall, Executive Vice President & General Manager Mike Hazen, Luis Gonzalez and Randy Johnson.

The D-backs Fan Fest Stage, presented by Chevrolet, will feature special Q&A sessions, including:

12:15 p.m. – Hosted by Berthiaume with guests: Ray, Walker, Corbin and Godley
12:45 p.m. – Hosted by Hall with guests: Hazen and Lovullo
1:15 p.m. – Hosted by Berthiaume with guests: Goldschmidt, Lamb and Drury
1:45 p.m. – Kids ask questions! Hosted by Ferrin with guests: Bradley, Boxberger, Hirano and Chafin
2:15 p.m. – Hosted by Soria (in Spanish) with guests: Marte, Tomas and Lopez
2:45 p.m. – Celebrate the D-backs’ 20th anniversary! Hosted by Schulte with guests: Gonzalez, Johnson and Grace
3:00 p.m. –Hosted by Schulte with guests: Pollock, Peralta and Owings

Absolutely Love this time of year!!

Celebrate!

We love to celebrate!  Any little chance we get to have fun, laugh, enjoy and make memories is good in my book!  This year, I’ve resolved to have more little moments of celebration in the New Year. We all look forward to the big celebrations, like Christmas, New Year’s and July 4th. But did you know there are so many other quirky holidays on the calendar just begging to be commemorated? What about a slice of garlic bread for National Garlic Day? Some pet cuddles for National Cat Day?

I’m excited to share that I’ve partnered with viral holiday website National Today to share the ultimate 2018 holiday celebration calendar. Below, you’ll find the most exciting holidays for the next couple months!  Throughout the year we will be posting more — so you can party all year round with us. 

I love celebrating at National Today because, not only do they clue me into each month’s holiday—they also give some fun holiday history, facts that will blow my mind, and helpful deals that help me celebrate in style.  This is great if you have kids!  We homeschool, so throwing these facts in and getting a chance to celebrate gives my kids memories that they will never forget and maybe even carry on with their own children. 

Remember to mark these holidays on your calendar, and cheers to a 2018 full of celebration!

FEBRUARY HOLIDAYS

Here are a few classic February holidays. Galentine’s Day, anyone?

National Pizza Day (Feb. 9)

Pineapples on pizza, yes or no? The debate rages on.

Galentine’s Day (Feb. 13)

This classic holiday was made famous by Parks and Recreation.

Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14)

Let’s be real, isn’t all of February pretty much Valentine’s Day?

Random Acts of Kindness Day (Feb. 17)

It can literally make someone's day!

MARCH HOLIDAYS
Get ready to celebrate these 5 holidays … but remember to beware the Ides of March!

National Pancake Day (Mar. 7)
‘Pan’ I have a whole plate of these?

International Women’s Day (Mar. 8)
In my book, every day should be Women’s Day.

Ides of March (Mar. 15)
Did you know “ides” actually means “15”?

National Puppy Day (Mar. 23)
We all deserve a puppy (or five).

Red Nose Day (Mar. 24)
This holiday is huge in the U.K. — it’s comedy relief for charity!

Deadline for Prepaid Tuition Contest is January 31

Hurry! Get on this quick! The Nevada State Treasurer’s Office is reminding Nevada families to enroll in the Nevada Prepaid Tuition Program before January 31 to be entered for a chance to win a year of free tuition valued at over $6,000. Visit www.NVPrepaid.gov to enroll.

“There’s no better time to start planning for your child’s higher education expenses than the start of a New Year,” said Dan Schwartz, Nevada State Treasurer. “We can help you get started on that path with the Nevada Prepaid Tuition Program. Don’t forget to enroll before January 31 for your chance to win a free year of tuition.

Nevada Prepaid Tuition benefits may be used at any FAFSA eligible school in the country, and payment plans start as low as $38 per month for community college tuition and $49 per month for university tuition. An educational savings strategy can never start too early; Nevadans can enroll their children in the Prepaid Tuition Program at any age from newborns through 9th graders.

New enrollments received before January 31, 2018 are automatically entered in the contest. The winners will be selected from a random drawing after the deadline and announced at a later date.

Plans offered by the Nevada State Treasurer’s Office include the Nevada Prepaid Tuition Program, SSGA Upromise 529 Plan, the Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan, the USAA 529 College Savings Plan, Putnam 529 for America, and Wealthfront 529 College Savings Plan. Each plan is different and they can be used together to offer families a complete savings strategy.

To learn more about any of these programs please visit www.NV529.org

Stars and Stardust: Sidewalk Astronomy in The Neon Boneyard

One of the year’s most anticipated and distinctive family events, “Stars and Stardust: Sidewalk Astronomy in the Neon Boneyard” returns to the Neon Museum this Saturday, Jan. 27. To be held from 6 to 9 p.m., this event offers stargazing especially for families and is presented in partnership with the Las Vegas Astronomical Society and the College of Southern Nevada Planetarium.

The evening will begin in the dramatically illuminated Neon Boneyard before the lights are dimmed to afford a clearer view of the stars.  Participants in the “Stars and Stardust” astronomy event will enjoy using a variety of professional telescope equipment to observe the night sky.  Children will also enjoy a self-paced solar system scavenger hunt activity and making space-themed scratchboard art.

This program is part of the Neon Museum’s ongoing effort to provide enriching educational experiences to people of all ages in a culturally important setting.

Admission to Stars and Stardust is free and no registration is required. For more information about tours and special events at the Neon Museum, go to www.neonmuseum.org or call (702) 387-6366.

ABOUT THE NEON MUSEUM
Founded in 1996, the Neon Museum is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic, arts and cultural enrichment. It has been ranked No. 1 in Las Vegas Weekly’s list of “Twenty Greatest Attractions in Las Vegas History,” one of “Sin City’s Best Retro Sites” by MSN, “No. 1 Las Vegas Museum Sure to Entertain and Educate” by USAToday’s 10best.com, “One of the Top 10 Coolest Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do” by Forbes.com, one of the “Top 10 Historic Spots in Las Vegas” by Vegas.com; one of “15 Most Fascinating Museums in the U.S.” by VacationIdea.com; and earns a consistent 4.5 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor. On its 2.27-acre campus, the Neon Museum houses an outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard (“boneyard” is traditionally the name for an area where items no longer in use are stored); the North Gallery, used mainly for education programs and special events; the new Boulevard Gallery outdoor exhibit and event space; and its visitors’ center, housed inside the former La Concha Motel lobby. The museum collection also includes nine restored signs installed as public art throughout downtown Las Vegas and one restored sign on view at the outdoor Fashion Show Plaza on the Las Vegas Strip. Public education, outreach, research, archival preservation and a grant-funded neon sign survey represent a selection of the museum’s ongoing projects. Both the Neon Boneyard and the La Concha Visitors’ Center are located at 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North in Las Vegas. For tour schedules and pricing information, visit neonmuseum.org.

8 Year Old Writes Children's Book to Raise Funds for School Charity

8 Year Old Author Arden Pala launched a new book series to help kids and his fellow peers learn about different cultures around the world and promote understanding of diversity. He came up with Idea while accompanying his parents on a business trip to China. Arden launched his very first book in the series The Adventures of Noah's Flying Car: Through China. Arden can't wait to write his next book in the series, which he plans to write about his travels to Mexico, Turkey and various historical areas in the USA. He will have many more adventures to come with his flying car.  100% of the revenue made from this book will go to a school scholarship fund for children who are less fortunate.  

Retails for only $8.99 and available on Amazon

Find All Your Sesame Street Friends Now on Hopster!

Sunny days sweepin’ the clouds away! It’s easier now than ever to visit your Sesame Street friends Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Burt and Ernie with Hopster.

Hopster, the preschool learning and entertainment app, is now teaming up with Sesame Workshop to bring the longest-running American children’s television series Sesame Street to Hopster’s line-up. The collaboration brings Sesame Street segments that supports Hopster’s mission of helping kids learn through the shows they love. 

The newly added Sesame Street segments on Hopster includes:

● Global Grover - A segment that shows kids the diversity of the world we live in, teaching them to respect different languages, cultures and religions

● Count TV - This program teaches simple mathematical concepts and counting

● Best of Friends - This segment offers important lessons presented by Elmo and Abby Cadabby about dealing with emotions, taking turns while playing, bicycle and road safety and more

Black Panther

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.

“Black Panther” stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, with Angela Bassett, with Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis.   The film is directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nate Moore, Jeffrey Chernov and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole wrote the screenplay.

  Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” hits U.S. theaters on February 16, 2018.