When I read my email and received the invitation to attend the red carpet premiere of Inside Out, I screamed at my phone!  I have a thing about celebrities, I get completely awestruck, butterflies are rampant in my stomach, and I can’t wipe the excited grin off my face for days.  It stems back to when I was 5 years old and met John Ritter and Carrie Fisher who were filming a TV movie near my hometown.  I loved Three’s Company, had a crush on Jack Tripper, and my mom said I was just plain giddy for days after the meeting! Flash forward 37 years and I was going to be walking the same carpet some of my favorite actresses and actors and mingling with them at the pre-party, someone pinch me!

My last red carpet experience was a more formal gathering, so I was thrilled that this time a late afternoon event had us in more casual attire.  The rainbow of emotions from the movie begged for color on the carpet, so I stepped out of my comfort zone of black dresses and bought something in turquoise.  I grabbed my photo buddy Stefanie from Mommy Enterprises and we set off for Hollywood Boulevard!  The temperature was in the low 90’s and the event was outside so yeah it was hot, it could have been worse and raining so we endured it.  Much to our delight we arrived to a PURPLE carpet event, so unique and perfect for this fun animated film!
Paparazzi were lined up, fans and spectators were ready to capture a glimpse of some of the stars who lent their voices to the film, and here I was aptly filled with every emotion in the book as I took my first steps down the walkway.I definitely got my own 15 minutes of fame. The wall we strolled along was covered with the characters from the film. It’s so exhilarating and the screams and shouts from the crowd sure get those butterflies fluttering!  So we arrive at “Headquarters” for a snapshot (that’s my near decade-long friend Holly from I Like it Frantic on the right) just before entering the pre-party and I’m about to bust.  My anxiety and excitement to spot my first celebrity has me literally bouncing in my wedges and my grin on my face is actually making my cheeks hurt!  Surrounded by food, games, and even juggling clowns on stilts, Stefanie and I make our rounds at the family-friendly event.  Playing it cool, trying to keep my phone at bay with all the photos, I spot Minnie Driver and her son.  She’s gorgeous in green and I can’t keep my eyes off of her.  Next it’s Paula Poundstone in a fuschia tuxedo, David Alan Grier, and then Rob Riggle.  My mouth is dry from the heat and the as we grab an ice water Stefanie says, “oh my god it’s Johnny Knoxville!”  After circling him for about 10 minutes she has the courage to ask him for a photo!Next we see Jared from the Subway commercials, Garcelle Beauvais, Busy Phillips, and someone we think is Tori Spelling but turned out to be a teacher from Los Angeles (which is very cool too)!  Out of the corner of my eye I spot Mario Lopez playing games with his daughter.  It’s the sweetest sight as he is tuned in 100% to her.  I snap a quick photo then I just watch.  I’m entranced by his dimples and a few minutes later I spot him again and I melt!  He’s applying lipgloss for his daughter and the sight is too precious for words.

Oh and do you see those cupcakes back there? Completely adorable and made by Fernanda Abarca Cakes!

Time flew by and we were asked to move toward the El Capitan Theater to begin seating for the movie.  At the same time, my prayers were answered as I glanced back over to the “Headquarters” area and saw Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, and the rest of the main cast of voices for Inside Out!  I gasped and nearly choked and reached for my digital camera as fast as I could to zoom in for some better shots!  I literally had only about 2 minutes before I had to turn in my phone and camera before entering the theater to take photos, but I’m so glad I got the chance!  Oh my gee Mindy is looking right at me!

I spied Kaitlyn Dias (Riley), Lewis Black (Anger), John Ratzenberger (Fritz), Richard Kind (Bing Bong), Kyle MacLachlan (Dad) and Director Pete Docter in there as well! Phyllis Smith (Sadness) was there too just behind her alter ego! My night was made!  I am still grinning ear to ear reliving this experience here on the blog.  I’ve loved Mindy and Amy for years, they are fabulous actresses and so side-splittingly funny I had hoped so much to get a glimpse of them! Stay tuned to the end of the week where I share my Inside Out movie review and continue to follow along with the #InsideOutEvent hashtag on social media to read all the other bloggers’ experiences!  Inside Out is in theaters this Friday, June 19!

Disney sent me on a 3 day all expenses paid adventure but all the opinions are 100% my honest opinion!