Blog About It All: January 2023

January 28, 2023

Monster Jam Review | Sacramento Golden 1 Center 2023

Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

We attended the opening night of Monster Jam, it was action-packed with flips, tricks, vertical two-wheel skills, and racing at speeds up to 70 miles per hour to produce jaw-dropping, live motorsports action. All this weekend you can catch Monster Jam. As Big As It Gets!™ Save $5 on select seats with offer code DIGGER.

Our family loves going to Monster Jam, the crowd gets into cheering for their favorite truck and drivers. The energy inside the Golden 1 Center is so exhilarating! It really does take so much skill to maneuver those huge trucks in such a tight spot.

There are competitions between the trucks and you can vote for your favorite right on your phone. They start out with a racing competition, then a 2-wheel skills challenge, there is a donut competition, and our favorite the freestyle competition. All the drivers bring excitement and fun but the driver of El Toro Loco Elvis Lainez was definitely our favorite of the night. He made everyone want to get up on their feet, he even did the griddy dance. He also proudly represented the Latin community, making my Latina heart happy. Speaking in Spanish and English, he encouraged the young people in the arena to dream big and follow their passion, I loved it! El Toro Loco was the winner across the board for Friday's Opening Night.

Another favorite part of the show is the motorcycles! They also get in on the action, doing jumps and doing flips, and tricks in the air. If you want a sneak peek check out my TikTok or Instagram Stories @BlogAboutItAll.

Things to know before you go:

Golden 1 Center has a no-bag policy. Only small clutches and wallets smaller than 8"x6"x1" are allowed, they are strict on this, so leave your purses and bags at home, or consolidate them into a small fanny pack size bag. They permit infant bags and medical bags. All bags must go through an X-ray machine. The entry line we were in, went rather quickly and smoothly.

The concession stands accept Apple Pay, which I love because then I just need my phone. They had Monster Jam merch and souvenirs for sale as well as snow cones, popcorn, and Golden 1 Center Food (nachos, hot dogs, pizza, and more).

Popcorn is $15, and it comes with a Monster Jam tote bag. Cotton Candy is $20 it comes with a mask. They have two different Snow Cone cup styles, which are $20 and $25. The Golden 1 Center has a souvenir bottomless soda cup for $10.

If you have never attended Monster Jam, it is really loud, if you have younger kiddos, bringing ear protection or some kind of earplugs is important. They do have ear protection you can purchase there, but if you want to save some money, buy them before you arrive.

You can reserve your parking spot ahead of time at SacPark.org. You can also use the Spot Hero App. We typically park at the Wells Fargo Center, it is a short walk, the in-building elevators have you exit right next to the Il Fornaio Restaurant. The Wells Fargo Center Parking Garage costs $13.

Here is ticket information and showtimes for this weekend:

Saturday, January 28, 2023 – 7:00 PM

Pit Party open from 4:30 PM–6:00 PM

Saturday Event Ticket & Pit Pass are required for entry.

Sunday, January 29, 2023 – 1:00 PM

Pit Party open from 10:30 AM–12:00 PM

Sunday Event Ticket & Pit Pass required for entry.

WHERE:

Golden 1 Center – 500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814

TICKETS:

Tickets are affordably priced for the whole family!

Tickets and Pit Passes will be available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com

In-person tickets are available at the venue box office.

*Ticket prices are subject to change – additional venue/ticketing fees may apply

TRUCK LINEUP:

Grave Digger® driven by Krysten Anderson; El Toro Loco® driven by Elvis Lainez; Earth Shaker® driven by Tristan England; Jurassic Attack driven by Dalton Widner; Monster Mutt® Dalmatian driven by Bailey Shea; Raminator driven by Mark Hall; 2 trucks/drivers TBA

For specific Sacramento local event info, please click here.

Follow Monster Jam on our social media channels:

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

Subscribe to the Monster Jam YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/MonsterJam

About Monster Jam

Unexpected, unscripted, and unforgettable, Monster Jam® features world-class athletes competing for championships on perfectly engineered dirt tracks that push these ever-evolving, state-of-the-art trucks to the limit. Beyond the 350 global live events each year, the Monster Jam brand extends off the track into the home through products, content, and merchandise that keep the fun alive year-round. For more information, visit MonsterJam.com.

About Feld Motor Sports:

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SuperMotocross World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.

January 24, 2023

Anaheim Howard Johnson Hotel Review

Disclosure: This post is in collaboration with Howard Johnson Anaheim when you click the link below it is what's known as an "affiliate link". If you book a stay I earn points towards future stays and I could earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support of my blog!

Are you planning a trip to Disneyland in 2023? Check out the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel! We just returned from our stay here while visiting Disneyland and California Adventure. I was pleasantly surprised at how close it is to the Disney parks. It is literally right across the street, you can see the Matterhorn right from the parking lot. It was so nice being so close to the parks at a great family-friendly hotel.

We had an early morning flight into Long Beach, CA on the day of our arrival, we dropped our bags off at the Hotel and headed straight to Disney California Adventure. Check-in is at 4 PM. They will hold your bags for you if your room is not yet available, and they will text you when your room becomes available.

It was less than a ten-minute walk from the Hotel to the park's main gate area. We even had my son with a sprained ankle on a scooter, and it was still less than a ten-minute walk.

We stayed in Building 1 in a Kids' Suite, the kids' bedroom had bunk beds and a sofa sleeper as well as their own bathroom with a bathtub. The kids' room had its own television and table eating area. The parents' bedroom had a spacious King bed and we also had our own bathroom with a walk-in shower. This is extremely helpful with a family the size of ours, with everyone getting ready in the mornings.

Our bed was very comfortable, which is a necessity after walking all day at the parks. We walked 30,000 steps a day! We arrive at the parks early morning for rope drop and close out the parks. I am extremely picky when it comes to mattresses and pillows, and I was so happy and comfortable here. Our room also had a television and an eating area as well. We also had a microwave, mini-fridge, and Keurig coffee maker. Our room had pirate-themed artwork throughout our suite, which was perfect for our family who loves the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, it is one of our favorite rides.

You will find a gift shop conveniently located in Building 1. In the gift shop, you will find plenty of snacks, quick breakfast items, water bottles and so much more. This is a great way to save a little money, you can purchase your water bottles and snacks from the Hotel before you head into the parks.

They also had so many souvenir items, from Minnie ears, t-shirts, and luggage, to Loungefly Disney-themed backpacks and so much more! If you forgot something, no need to worry, you will most likely find what you need in the HOJO Gift Shop!

They currently have a special discount code for stays in January or February with some rooms as low as $149 depending on when you go and the room type you select.

Click HERE for my affiliate link and enter this Discount Code in the Corporate Code Box 1000038114, this code only works for January and February stays.

If you are planning a trip later in the year use this Corporate Discount Code 1000022077 for 15% off or if you are a Disneyland Magic Key Passholder use this Corporate Discount Code 1000025935 for 20% off.

You can see a video tour of our room on our Instagram and on our TikTok.

The heated swimming pool and water playground area looked like so much fun. The pool area is open from 10 AM to 10 PM. You will receive wristbands upon check-in. We did not get to enjoy the swimming pool and water playground on this trip. We will definitely have to plan an extra day on our next trip so we can relax by the pool.

Check-out time is at 11 AM, since we had a late afternoon departure time, we left our bags with the HOJO Staff in the lobby, they have a special holding room for luggage. Then we walked over to Downtown Disney for shopping and lunch before catching an Uber to the airport.

On Saturday mornings from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, they also have complimentary face painting available for the kids! This is a super family-friendly hotel!

You will find a variety of places you can eat on your way to or from the parks, Mimi's Café is right across the street and there is also a McDonald's, IHOP, Denny's, and some other places to eat nearby.

Staying at the Anaheim Howard Johnson was extremely convenient, we had no need for a rental car or to pay for parking at the parks, more ways to save! We had such a great stay and can't wait to go back!

Thank you for following along on our family adventures we appreciate every like, comment, and share. For more of our every day follow us on social media, you can find us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.

January 13, 2023

Valentine's Chex Mix Treat

Do you love Chex Mix Cereal or Chex Mix snack mixes? Make this easy Valentine's themed Chex Mix Treat.

You can make this so many different ways, I am always a proponent of using what you already have and mixing things up the way your family would most enjoy.

My husband loves Chex Mix as a trail mix, so he would probably leave the white chocolate part out, unlike me, he does not have a sweet tooth.

The kids and I, on the other hand, give us all things chocolate and especially white chocolate, yum!

I made this batch for the kids, so it has all their favorites.

What you need:

4 Cups of Chex Mix Cereal (I used 2 Cups of Corn and 2 Cups of Rice)

2 Cups of Chocolate & Strawberry Cheerios (you can use any Cheerios)

2 Cups of Popped Kettle Corn

2 Cups of Mini Marshmallows

2 Cups of Pretzels

1 Cup of Valentine's M&M's (save remaining in the 10 oz bag for topping at end)

12 oz Bag of White Chocolate Chips

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients in a giant bowl and toss them together. I put the popcorn in last as you don't want to break the popcorn.

Have a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper ready.

In the microwave, melt the white chocolate chips. Heat in 30-second increments and stir in between until it is all melted.

Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the combined ingredients and stir to coat evenly. You have to move quickly while the chocolate is melted. You can not reheat it, the chocolate consistency changes when you do that. Learn from my mistakes. So have your lined cookie sheet ready, and have your utensil ready to stir the mix as soon as you pour. I actually split the mix into to bowls and then drizzled half the melted chocolate in each bowl so I could stir it easily, without it overflowing out of the bowl.

Once combined, pour onto parchment paper and let harden for at least one hour. Then break apart and enjoy.

This is such an easy treat to whip up. I made this in the afternoon before school pick up and the kids were so excited to snack on it when they arrived home. This really is the perfect treat to place in cute Valentine's bags and share with friends and family or put in mason jars as a gift. Those adorable Dollar Tree Valentine Jars would be a great way to gift this snack.

Here are some other Valentine's Treats I have shared on the blog.

Easy Crockpot Valentine's White Chocolate Bark

Keto Strawberry Jell-O Pretzel Hearts

Valentine's Rice Krispie Treats

Valentines Buñuelo Recipe

If you like to watch recipe videos, be sure to check out this recipe and more on our Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Thank you for all your love and support! I wish you all a sweet and Happy Valentine's! XOXO Jessica

January 5, 2023

Planning a Trip to Disneyland in 2023 Check Out The Howard Johnson Anaheim

Are you planning a trip to Disneyland in 2023? Check out the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel! We have a trip and stay booked for later in January. They have a special discount code for stays in January or February with some rooms as low as $149 depending on when you go and the room you select, so I wanted to share this deal with you now.

Click HERE for my affiliate link and enter this Discount Code in the Corporate Code Box 1000038114, this code only works for January and February stays.

I hear this hotel is a short 8-minute walk to Disneyland and is very family-friendly, they even have rooms with bunk beds. I can't wait till we go and I will be sure to share all about our stay and what they have to offer so be sure to follow us on Instagram as that is usually the first place I share.

The heated swimming pool and water play area looks like so much fun, our kids are so excited to check it out. If you know someone headed to Anaheim please share this deal with them!

The photos on this post are from the Howard Johnson website. Thank you for following along on our family adventures we appreciate every like, comment, and share. For more of our everyday follow us on social media, you can find us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Sacramento Monster Jam January 27-29, 2023 | Golden 1 Center

This. Is. Monster Jam™! The most unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable motorsports experience for families and fans in the world today returns to Sacramento for an adrenaline-charged weekend at Golden 1 Center from January 27-29, 2023.

SAVE NOW 20% off select seats with code ELTORO, valid on all shows, expires on 1/29. At Monster Jam®, world champion athletes and their 12,000-pound monster trucks tear up the dirt in wide-open competitions of speed and skill.

Monster Jam drivers are trained, world-class male and female athletes who have mastered not only the physical strength and mental stamina needed to compete, but the vital dexterity to control 12,000-pound machines capable of doing backflips, vertical two-wheel skills and racing at speeds up to 70 miles-per-hour to produce jaw-dropping, live motorsports action seen around the world. Monster Jam. As Big As It Gets!™

The excitement begins at the Monster Jam Pit Party held in Sacramento on Saturday and Sunday. Fans can see the massive trucks up close, meet their favorite drivers and crews, get autographs, take pictures and enjoy other family-friendly activities. This fun-filled experience is the only place that allows people to get up close access to the Monster Jam teams and get an insider’s look at how these trucks are built to stand up to the competition.

Sacramento fans will be on the edge of their seats as world-class drivers show off crazy skills and all-out racing in fierce head-to-head battles for the Event Championship. Engineered to perfection, the 12,000-pound Monster Jam trucks push all limits in Freestyle, Skills and Racing competitions. The Stadium Series Red Champion will receive a highly coveted automatic bid to the prestigious Monster Jam World Finals® to compete for the title of World Champion. The 2023 Monster Jam World Finals will be held in Nashville on July 1.

The Arena Championship Series West features eight skilled athletes fighting for the championship while putting on a spectacle, constantly innovating and always entertaining. Krysten Anderson in the legendary Grave Digger® aims to repeat as series champion. Earth Shaker’s Tristan England looks to lock in the championship. Elvis Lainez grabs the bull by the horns behind the wheel of El Toro Loco®.

WHEN:

Friday, January 27, 2023 – 7:00 PM