An Interview With ‘Timeless’ Actress Abigail Spencer

This post was sponsored by the Role Mommy Writer’s Network but all thoughts are my own.

One thing you all may have learned about me is that I love tv. In the fall there are so many great new premieres and my DVR is set to record them all. One new show that I was excited to see was Timeless, which airs Monday nights at 10pm EST on NBC.


Timeless is a thrilling action-adventure series in which a mysterious criminal, Flynn (played by Goran Visnjic), steals a secret state-of-the-art time machine, intent on destroying America as we know it by changing the past. Our only hope is an unexpected team: Lucy (played by Abigail Spencer), a history professor; Wyatt (played by Matt Lanter), a soldier; and Rufus (played by Malcolm Barrett), a scientist, who must use the machine’s prototype to travel back in time to critical events. While they must make every effort not to affect the past themselves, they must also stay one step ahead of this dangerous fugitive. Throughout the show we will wonder if this handpicked team can uncover the mystery behind it all and end his destruction before it’s too late.

This morning I had the privilege of being on an interview call with Abigail Spencer who plays Lucy in the show. A group of us asked her questions about many things, including her thoughts when she first read the script, if she would go back in time if she could and how she got into character. Abigail said that when she first read the script she thought the concept of time travel was “crazy” but added that she thinks that is what makes her more authentic as the character. She also said she thought the female character as a “hero” was a great role model for girls. She also loves the costumes in the show and adds that her mom always used to make her clothes when she was younger which I thought was an interesting fact.

I was most interested in what she said during the interview about being a working mom and parenting since I always love hearing how other moms manage success and family. Abigail said that she shoots during the week and flys home every weekend and makes sure to include her son in the process. As a mom she just takes things one day at a time and it’s all about coordinating things, which she does with a great support network around her.

Two things she said really stood out to me on this topic of parenting. In response to a question I asked, she told me that she is showing her son that “mommy had a dream when she was a little girl and she went for it.” She also said that her dad (an important person in her life who sadly passed away when her son was 2) always told her, “find what you love and make a whole life of it” and that’s what she’s doing and what she’s showing her son is possible for him. What an inspiration she is as a mom! Whether her son chooses to follow in her footsteps as an actor or do something entirely different, he’ll know that he is open to pursue anything he loves and will be encouraged to go after his dreams. Isn’t that what all of us moms want for our children? To see them truly happy?

Abigail was a delight to interview and seemed so down to earth and kind. I look forward to watching her every week in Timeless on NBC!

 

A Look At Versailles

This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own.

Do you love shows that bring you back to a different time period? If so, you’ll love the series that is premiering tomorrow on Ovation called Versailles. This new show captures the romance, drama and betrayal surrounding King Louis XIV of France while featuring the beauty and opulence of France’s 17th century high society.

King Louis XIV of France commissions Versailles, the most beautiful palace in Europe, which serves as the King’s gilded prison – keeping his friends close and enemies closer. Watch the trailer below to enter in to a world of untold wealth, power, and passion.

The two hour premiere of Versailles starts on October 1st at 10pm ET/PT. I will be live tweeting during the premiere episodes and giving away TWO $25 American Express gift cards during that time period. For a chance to win, all you have to do is retweet or reply to anything I (@aliciamarie112) tweet between 9pm CST and 11pm CST on October 1st, 2016. Two users will be selected at random to win!

Check out the video below to get special access at one of the premiere events that happened this week in NYC! I wish I lived out there and was able to attend because it looks like a lot of fun!

Will you be tuning in to watch this show tomorrow?

 

25 Ways To Waste Time While You Wait

This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own.

Whether it’s the school pickup line, the dentist’s office or the DMV, most of us spend hours each month waiting for things to happen. I thought I’d make a list of some things you could do while waiting.

  • Clean out your email inbox
  • Backup the photos on your phone
  • Make a workout playlist
  • Write a letter to a friend
  • Read the news
  • Plan your next vacation or roadtrip
  • Make a to do list
  • Pay bills
  • Clean out your purse or wallet
  • Call a loved one to say hello
  • Learn a new language using a language app
  • Say hello to someone around you and get to know a stranger
  • Schedule an appointment for the doctor or dentist
  • Review something you purchased online
  • Watch your favorite show using a streaming app
  • Find a new phone app that makes life easier
  • Make a bucket list
  • Donate to a favorite charity
  • Shop online for gifts or necessities
  • Send pictures to a loved one
  • Look up the scores of your favorite sports team
  • Find a new recipe to make for dinner
  • Observe people
  • Write your goals down
  • Play a fun game, like Panda Pop

Panda Pop is a fun mobile app that I’ve been enjoying the past couple months. The game requires the use of strategy to “save” the baby pandas. There are over 1,000 levels of play so you will never be bored with this game! I also love that you can compete against your friends. Download the game for iPhone or Android here and see what all the excitement is about :)

Curious George Is Now Streaming On Hulu

Thank you to Hulu for sponsoring this post and offering all my readers trials of the Hulu service.

Curious George is now streaming commercial-free on Hulu! For nearly 65 years, generations of young children have been charmed by the literary adventures of Curious George and now he is ready for his next adventure! Based on the best-selling Curious George books by Margret and H.A. Rey, the series expands George’s world to include a host of colorful new characters and original locales, while maintaining the charm of the beloved books. The series aims to inspire kids to explore science, math, and engineering in the world around them.

In celebration of George’s move to Hulu they are offering all of my readers a 30-day free trial of Hulu. Click the image below to claim your free trial before 5/4.

Dave & Busters Summer of Games

I love spending time outside during the summer but sometimes it’s just too hot to do anything but stay inside in the air conditioning. On days like this, I am thankful for places like Dave & Buster’s. They invited my family for a complementary summer preview and we enjoyed spending the afternoon there.

We headed to one of the Dave & Buster’s locations in the Chicago area one afternoon for lunch and to play some games. Normally places that offer games for kids have kid-friendly foods but not many offerings for adults. Dave & Buster’s has a whole menu full of food that adults like and a great kid’s menu.

We got the boys a hamburger with fries, Sinisa had steak, chicken, and shrimp kabobs, and I had grown up mac and cheese. The servings were so large that I brought home enough leftovers from my meal that I had lunch the next day. I also had a delicious watermelon flavored drink with strawberry ice cubes. Yum!

 

Summer is just getting started, and already Dave & Buster’s is heating things up on the entertainment scene! As part of the “Summer of Games” promotion, Dave & Buster’s will give guests free play on five of the newest games when they purchase or re-charge a PowerCard, from now through August 25th. There were almost a couple hundred different games to play and there were a variety for all ages. I liked the card system at Dave & Buster’s. Points are loaded on cards and then all you have to do is swipe them at the game you want to play.

The kids loved playing the games!

Another great feature of Dave & Buster’s is their ticket and prize system. Each ticket is worth two typical tickets which makes walking around with tickets much easier. They also have amazing prizes. The manager at the store told me that a prize at one location is a motorcycle! Who wouldn’t love to play games to take one of those home?

and for the video game lovers….

The boys ended up each getting enough tickets for a stuffed animal and a water gun filled with candy. They were happy to take home their special prizes.

Have you ever been to Dave & Buster’s? What are your favorite games to play there?

(Disclosure: As stated above, Dave & Buster’s invited us for a free media preview. All thoughts are my own.)

The Amazing Spider-Man Themed Party

With The Amazing Spider-Man movie’s upcoming release on November 9th the stores have been full of Spider-man mania and infected our house! The kids and I wanted to throw a Spider-Man party for our extended family so we headed to Walmart to get our food and decorations.

We got Spider-Man tableware, party favors, and themed activities to do during the party. It was then time to head to the grocery side and stock up on food.

I was excited to find The Amazing Spider-Man pizza boxes that Walmart had out for the movie release. Closer to the movie launch, Walmart will be releasing Amazing Spider-Man themed Augmented Reality triggers that will be included on the pizza box & display pallet, triggering special Amazing Spider-Man experiences on shoppers’ iPhone, iPad or Android in-store.We also got boxes of cheese-it’s and fruit snacks that had Spider-Man packaging. And what party would be complete without some kind of dessert? We got a package of cupcakes that had Spider-Man rings on top of them.

I decided to host the party at my mom’s house since it’s larger than mine. My brother’s family came over for the party and the kids are always excited to see their cousins. Each of them wore a Spider-Man shirt for the occasion. While the pizzas cooked and I set the table the kids watched Spider-Man cartoons.

I kept the table-settings easy. I used disposable Spider-Man plates and plain napkins. I was going to get disposable cups too but Walmart had kid’s reusable cups for less than a dollar each so I chose to get them and then each child could have one to take home. I loved the masks because they were an inexpensive way for the kids to pretend to be Spider-Man. They were a hit with the adults, too! My brother put one on and was a good sport and let me take his picture!

After we ate pizza the children enjoyed doing a variety of activities. They colored Spider-Man pages, made sticker books, and played with Spider-Man character figures.

Before leaving everyone enjoyed the Spider-Man cupcakes.

At the end of the party each child took home a goodie bag with Spider-Man figures, fruit snacks, stickers, sticker books, rings, masks, and cups.

Are you a Spider-Man fan? Did you know that you can view the movie before it comes out on the 9th?! Since we bought the pre-purchase case we were able to watch the movie on October 30th and will get the hard copy mailed to us when it’s released. If you get The Amazing Spider-Man Pre-Purchase from Walmart you can watch the movie on VUDU now along with being able to access special features. You can get all of the details by reading my post from last month. This is a must buy for any Spider-Man fan!

(Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment #CBias #SocialFabric #SpiderManWMT )