Showing posts with label MARTINI Wines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MARTINI Wines. Show all posts

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Today is National Cereal Day! Find out how Cereal, Wine, Tina Fey and me are connected! #admission #hellocereal

Admission Theatrical Poster and vignette of General Mills Cereals - Hello Cereal Lovers!

March is certainly a busy month, and I keep finding fun facts for the month of March, did you know that today is National Cereal Day?

Are you a cereal lover?

How many mornings do you get to spend with Movie Directors, Celebs, Mimosas (aka MOMosa's for those in the know) and combine them with creative cereal pairings? Morning MOMosa anyone? Just another  Tuesday morning for us bloggers in New York City!

I think you all know just how much I enjoy the Mamarazzi® events hosted by The Moms, and this one definitely delivered! Just look at how we were welcomed:

MOMosa Anyone?


And then we were offered some pretty unique eats to pair with our signature MARTINI Wines 'MOMosa's', CEREAL! I don't know about you butterfly, but I had never paired my cereal with Sparkling Wine and OJ before! Have you?

There were tables with treats on display:

Cinnamon Toast Toffee Crunch Bars


Little Lucky Whoopie Pies

And even once we were seated cereal was delivered directly to us at our seats!

Your pick of General Mills Cereal delivered directly to your chair!


I mean seriously, how can you say no to that smile? I have never had Cereal brought to my chair during a movie before, NEAT! And in our cupholders we found Mayan Chocolate Chex Mix in cute little popcorn bags:

Guess which Cereal I chose! :)

I thought it was super creative, and so you know I had to make a cute little vignette and get a shot of it all before I dove in! Now this is the way to put together a Movie Screening! If only all of them were this creative, fun and organized!

And before the movie began there was a Questions and Answers Session with Director Paul Weitz and Actress Tina Fey! Here is the YouTube video so you can get in on the fun too:



Here are some of my pictures (sorry butterflies, my camera battery was going wonky and my pics are a bit blurry, so I'm going to include some pro shots so you don't have to strain your eyes too  much!):

Left: Director of Admission Paul Weitz, Actress Tina Fey, The Moms Melissa Gerstein and Far Right: Denise Albert

Left: Director of Admission Paul Weitz, Center: Actress Tina Fey, Far Right: The Moms Melissa Gerstein

Thankfully the pros got good shots! Doesn't Tina look awesome  in her blue wrap dress?


Event Sponsors MARTINI Wines, Hello Cereal Lovers, The Moms and Focus Features Admission put together one very enjoyable movie screening!

This event was actually featured recently by Perez Hilton, because you know, that's how I roll, Page Six here I come!

ABOUT ADMISSION:


Admission Theatrical Movie Poster



Every spring, high school seniors anxiously await letters of college admission that will affirm and encourage their potential. At Princeton University, admissions officer Portia Nathan (Tina Fey) is a gatekeeper evaluating thousands of applicants. Year in and year out, Portia has lived her life by the book, at work as well as at the home she shares with Princeton professor Mark (Michael Sheen). When Clarence (Wallace Shawn), the Dean of Admissions, announces his impending retirement, the likeliest candidates to succeed him are Portia and her office rival Corinne (Gloria Reuben). For Portia, however, it’s business as usual as she hits the road on her annual recruiting trip.

On the road, Portia reconnects with her iconoclastic mother, Susannah (Lily Tomlin). On her visit to New Quest, an alternative high school, she then reconnects with her former college classmate, idealistic teacher John Pressman (Paul Rudd) – who has recently surmised that Jeremiah (Nat Wolff), a gifted yet very unconventional New Quest student, might well be the son that Portia secretly gave up for adoption years ago while at school. Jeremiah is about to apply to Princeton.

Now Portia must re-evaluate her personal and professional existences, as she finds herself bending the admissions rules for Jeremiah, putting at risk the future she thought she always wanted – and in the process finding her way to a surprising and exhilarating life and romance she never dreamed of having.

RECIPES:

Want to make the cool treats we got try out at the screening? Here are the recipes butterflies:


Mayan Chocolate Chex Mix


Mayan Chocolate Chex Mix:

3 cups Corn Chex Cereal
3 cups Chocolate Chex Cereal
2 cups Cinnamon Chex Cereal
1 cup Whole Cashews
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 teaspoons ground ancho chile pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereal and cashews
2. In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, chili and red pepper uncovered on high about 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until melted and smooth. Stir in Vanilla. Pour over Cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
3. Microwave uncovered on high 5 to 6 minutes, stirring after every minute. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool. Break into bite-size pieces; stir in chocolate chips. Store in airtight container.

Tips: Pecan Halves can be used in place of the Cashews!

Little Lucky Whoopie Pies:

Little Lucky Whoopie Pies


Ingredients:


Cake
1
box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® butter recipe chocolate cake mix
1
cup water
1/3
cup vegetable oil
3
eggs
Frosting:
1/4
cup vegetable shortening
1/4
cup butter
2
tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2
teaspoon pure mint extract
Green food color
1
tablespoon milk
2
cups powdered sugar
1
cup marshmallows from any size package Lucky Charms® cereal



  • 1Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • 2In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, and eggs on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
  • 3On a parchment lined baking sheet, drop heaping tablespoons of cake batter two inches apart.
  • 4Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean in the center of a cake.
  • 5Allow cakes to cool on parchment for 10 minutes on a wire rack.
  • 6In medium bowl, beat shortening and butter with electric mixer on high speed 3 minutes.
  • 7Reduce speed to low and add granulated sugar, mint extract, food color and milk.
  • 8Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time until smooth.
  • 9Spread a small spoonful of mint frosting between two cakes and decorate the edges with Lucky Charms® marshmallows.

Cinnamon Toast Toffee Crunch:



Ingredients:


4
cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch® cereal
1
cup butter
1
cup packed brown sugar
1
bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
3/4
cup chopped pecans or sliced almonds, toasted
  • 1Heat oven to 350°F.
  • 2Line 15x10x1-inch pan with heavy-duty foil. Spray foil with cooking spray. Spread cereal evenly in pan.
  • 3In 2-quart saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar. Using whisk, mix butter and brown sugar together as butter melts. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium. Boil 2 minutes without stirring. Immediately pour mixture evenly over cereal in pan.
  • 4Bake 12 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Let stand 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate; top with pecans. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Refrigerate 20 minutes to set chocolate; break into pieces. Store covered in refrigerator up to one week.
MY TAKE:

The Official Website sums this film up perfectly - It's about the surprising detours we encounter on the road to happiness.

My friends it really is about the journey, it just takes some of us longer than others to realize it. There are also great lessons about learning when to let go in this movie. We sometimes hold on to things that no longer serve our higher purpose, and while it seems difficult, sometimes you really have to close a door forever for the better one to open.

And as always, Lily Tomlin is BRILLIANT! Gloria Reuben also does a perfect job playing that office back-stabbing rival that we all will end up confronting at some time or another!

It was also fun learning some creative ways to use cereal in recipes and mix it up a bit!

ADMISSION hits theatres March 22! (Hmmm... if you read yesterday's 'Seriously, it's Celebrate Your Name Week!' post you'd know why it's totally ironic to me that this movie is being released on the 22nd!)

Butterflies once you've had a chance to check out this film, please come back here and let us know what you thought! And don't forget to tell us which Cereal you rang in National Cereal Day with!

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FTC Disclosure: I attended a special New York City Screening of the Movie Admission, Gift Bags were provided to attendees, however all opinions are 100% my own. I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." See our Full Disclosure Policy HERE

Thursday, October 18, 2012

MARTINI, The Moms, & Kristin Chenoweth 'Toast to Survivors' Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon #BCAM #martiniminis



On Monday, October 15th I got the opportunity to attend a very special event. The 'Toast to Survivors' Luncheon which was held in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Alison Eighteen Restaurant in the Chelsea area of Manhattan, New York City. The event celebrated strong and beautiful women and toasted them with MARTINI Sparkling Rose. Television personalities Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein, known collectively as 'The Moms', along with speakers Elizabeth Chabner Thompson, MD, MPH, Debbi Musen, Dee Dee Ricks and celebrity guest actress Kristen Chenoweth all shared their personal stories, and MARTINI donated $10,000 to Kristin Chenoweth's Charity, Maddie's Corner, to be allocated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Right Action for Women.

Here are some event highlights:

Debbi Musen, Breast Cancer Survivor and mom of 'The Moms', Melissa Gerstein speaks about her battle with Breast Cancer.

Debbi Musen, Breast Cancer Survivor and mom of 'The Moms', Melissa Gerstein speaks about her battle with Breast Cancer.

Debbi Musen, Breast Cancer Survivor and mom of 'The Moms', Melissa Gerstein speaks about her battle with Breast Cancer, her daughter Melissa is standing on the right hand side of the shot.

Debbi Musen, Breast Cancer Survivor and mom of 'The Moms', Melissa Gerstein speaks about her battle with Breast Cancer, her daughter Melissa is standing on the right hand side of the shot. I don't know how Melissa was able to hear her mom recount her story without breaking down herself! She remained incredibly composed. I for one was trying very hard to hold back tears during the entire luncheon!

Above: Debbi Musen concludes and her daughter Melissa is on hand with a hug!


Above: Speaker Dee Dee Ricks, a Patient Advocate and  Survivor, named among Wall Street's Most Powerful Women!

Above: When Dee Dee Ricks quoted Harold P. Freeman of the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute of which Ricks is chairman, by saying "Poverty should not be an offense punishable by death" There was applause throughout the entire room!

Above: The Moms thank speaker Dee Dee Ricks


Above: The daughter of a breast cancer survivor and a patient herself, Elizabeth Chabner Thompson, MD, MPH, as a Radiation Oncologist she learned the most about the Battle when she went through it herself, it's not so easy when someone who is normally on the other side of things experiences it first hand. Her organization, Best Friends for Life, has a mission to improve the patient experience and the BFFL bags that are distributed to patients (directly now from various hospitals) is packed full of everything a breast cancer patient needs during treatments.


Above: Right before Kristen Chenoweth was about to take the stage!


Above: Kristen Chenoweth takes the stage and greets Melissa Gerstein with a Kiss, to the right  Denise Albert

Kristin was in a bad accident this past summer, she cried to her mother, "Why Me?" Her mother gave her excellent advice. She said, "Why not you? Don't say why me, say why not me and deal with it."

Earlier one of the speakers asked if there were survivors in the room, by number of years, my mom raised her hand when they asked if there were any survivors over 10 years in the room, Kristen remembered that my mom had raised her hand, and she was pointing to her when this shot was taken, which is why this picture is particularly special to me!

Kristen Chenoweth thanks event sponsors MARTINI Wines who sponsored the 'Toast to Survivors' Luncheon and provided Sparkling Rose!

Tony and Emmy award winning actress Kristen Chenoweth took time off years ago to care for her mother as her mother battled Breast Cancer she shared her story with warmth, openness and an endearing grace and humor!

MARTINI Wines presented Kristen Chenoweth with a check for $10,000 for her charity, Maddie's Corner!



Kristen Chenoweth receives a check for $10,000 for her charity Maddie's Corner,  as you can see she was genuinely touched and very grateful for the support for her cause!


Above: Left: Melissa Gerstein, Center: Kristen Chenoweth, Right: Denise Albert all wearing lovely pink  dresses and bracelets in support of Breast Cancer Awareness during the Questions and Answers Session at the "Toast to Survivors" Luncheon held at Alison Eighteen in New York City.


AboveLeft: Melissa Gerstein, Center: Kristen Chenoweth, Right: Denise Albert all wearing lovely pink  dresses and bracelets in support of Breast Cancer Awareness during Questions and Answers Session at the "Toast to Survivors" Luncheon held at Alison Eighteen in New York City.


AboveLeft: Melissa Gerstein, Center: Kristen Chenoweth, Right: Denise Albert all wearing lovely pink  dresses and bracelets in support of Breast Cancer Awareness during Questions and Answers Session at the "Toast to Survivors" Luncheon held at Alison Eighteen in New York City.


Left: Denise Albert, Right: Melissa Gerstein collectively known as 'The Moms' wrap up another amazing Mamarazzi event in New York City!


Above: Kristen Chenoweth poses for pictures during MARTINI and The Moms Mamarazzi 'Toast to Survivors' Luncheon in New York City


Left: Denise Albert, Dee Dee Ricks, Center: Elizabeth Chabner Thompson, Debbi Musen, Far Right: Melissa Gerstein, Pro Image Used WITH Permission. 'Toast To Survivors' Luncheon, New York City.



Left: Denise Albert, Center: Kristen Chenoweth, Right: Melissa Gerstein



Above: 'Toast to Survivors' Luncheon Sponsor, MARTINI, provided their Sparkling Rose to attendees



These lovely ladies kept the MARTINI Sparkling Rose flowing !



Right: Denise Albert and her lovely mom!


Left: Melissa Gerstein and her lovely mom, Right: Debbi Musen, Survivor and event speaker at the 'Toast to Survivors' luncheon in New York City!



Above: Left: Ascending Butterfly, Right: Mama Butterfly


It was an amazingly emotional but wonderful event and I'm honored to have been invited. All the speakers were amazing. It's not easy to be that honest and raw about an experience that is so harrowing. I know full well just how vulnerable hospitals make you feel. All of the speakers faced their battles with humor and grace, and if during the battle of their lives they could remain inspired, so can YOU. My mom is my inspiration and example, she is a survivor too, and I loved that she was able to share this day with me! As you know I'm not prone to featuring Celebrities on Ascending Butterfly, my exception is when they are involved in giving back. I don't care where celebs eat or shop. I don't care what they wear. But when they are doing something for the greater good, I am more than happy to share that! Anyone who is willing to stand up and share their story to make things easier for the next person is someone who will always have my admiration and respect! As always, The Moms pulled off another incredible event. I don't know how they do it!


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FTC: Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. No monetary compensation has been received to share my recap coverage of this event. And before other PR firms and brands get excited, Ascending Butterfly will only post about or recap events we have attended personally. If we did NOT attend we will not post about it here!