Summer DVD Releases
August 18, 2010
I think it’s been weeks since my husband and I have watched a movie…particularly one that isn’t animated! Since we don’t get a lot of opportunities to go out to the movies, we rely on DVD and Netflix to catch up on the latest releases.
On August 24th, Image Entertainment will release $5 A Day on Blu-Ray ($29.98) and DVD ($27.98). With an all-star cast line up including Christopher Walken, Sharon Stone, Amanda Peet, and Peter Coyote, $5 A Day will make you laugh and warm your heart. Here is a short synopsis from the site:
Nat (Christopher Walken) is an eccentric conman – a hustler content with a life of schemes and underhanded deals. He lacks one thing: a reconciliation with his son, Flynn (Alessandro Nivola), who has ceased trusting his father long ago. But Nat’s time is growing short: he has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. True to form, Nat cons Flynn into joining him in a cross country journey to an experimental medical facility. Short on money, but not on imagination, the two realize that to reach their destination they can spend no more than $5 A Day. They come up with increasingly ridiculous schemes to keep within their budget – but there is a distance of emotion as well as miles to cover. Are they on the path towards a father-son reunion?
On September 14th, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and Jerry Bruckheimer Films will release Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time on Blu-Ray and DVD. Starring Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and Academy Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley, this action-adventure film is filled with “spectacular visual effects, exotic locales, and breathtaking action.” Here is a short synopsis from the site:
In the spirit of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films transport you to the mystical lands of Persia for this wildly entertaining, epic action-adventure. It‘s a race against time when a rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) reluctantly teams up with a rival princess (Gemma Arterton) to safeguard a magical dagger that gives its possessor the power to reverse time and rule the world. Filled with death-defying escapes and unexpected twists at every turn – Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is a fun-filled adventure that will keep your pulse pounding long after the credits end.
On September 21, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment will release Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue on Blu-ray & DVD. The movie features the voice talents of Michael Sheen, Pamela Adlon, Lucy Liu, and Kristin Chenoweth as fairies and humans meet for the first time. Here is a short synopsis from the site:
What would you do if you met a fairy? Witness the historic moment when Tinker Bell first meets a human being, and it’s not who you think. Years before meeting Wendy and the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell met Lizzy, a little girl with a steadfast belief in the power of pixie dust and the magic land of fairies. During the fairies’ summer visit to the flowering meadows of England, two very different worlds unite for the first time and Tink develops a special bond with a curious child in need of a friend. As her fellow fairies launch a daring rescue, Tinker Bell takes a huge risk, putting her own safety and the future of all fairykind in jeopardy. Experience Disney’s astonishing all-new movie about the true power of faith and friendship.
Lastly, I know it’s not a movie per se, but one of my favorite shows (the 4th season), which is no longer on air, just came out on DVD. Ugly Betty: The Complete Fourth and Final Season, is now available on DVD from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
There are underdogs and then there is Betty Suarez, the ultimate “fish-out-of-water.” Her efforts to fit in with her colleagues at a glossy magazine may bring unintentionally hysterical results, but they also have audiences rooting for their favorite fashionista. Betty sure has come a long way! She is finally coming into her own and getting what she’s worked so hard for. But what she doesn’t realize is that she’s starting over in so many ways, and if she wants to play in the big leagues she needs to keep up.
No compensation was received for this post.
Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Lovely Baby CDs *Giveaway*
December 18, 2009
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winners are Kelly and Wehaf. Congrats!
Every station I turn to seems to be playing Christmas music. From traditional carols to modern remixes, Christmas music is the perfect way to get ready and in the spirit for the upcoming holiday.
In two short weeks, our baby girl will be here (we were hoping for a Christmas baby, but more on that in another post). One of the things I didn’t do a lot of was play music for our son as a baby. Now that he’s a toddler he likes to sing and dance and enjoys music immensely. With our baby girl due very soon, we are planning on introducing music from the very beginning.
Lovely Baby CDs were specifically “created for the emotional, intellectual and physical development of babies.” The series was created by Raimond Lap, a Dutch composer and expert in baby music. The series of CDs are used in elite infant education programs around the world.
My son and I have been listening to the Baby Christmas and Baby Christmas 2 CDs from the series. The compilation was created specifically for babies and toddlers (upto 36 months) and is primarily Classical without any vocals. It’s very soothing and I think it’s definitely geared towards babies, rather than toddlers like my son. Along with several well-known classics are original compositions created by the composer himself.
The entire collection is designed to stimulate your baby’s brain, as music is a beneficial learning tool for babies and toddlers. One of the benefits I’m looking forward to evaluating with our baby girl is whether or not it soothes her when she’s crying (after she’s been fed and changed of course).
Right now you’ll save 10% off the entire site with the code “rockincd.”
Here are some sample audio tracks, courtesy of the company:
We Wish You A Merry Christmas Theme
Win It! Two of you will win a copy of Baby Christmas 2. Simply leave me a comment with another CD from the site that you’d like to have or another benefit you learned about on the site. Comments will close on December 25, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.
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Disclosure: I did not receive compensation for this review. I received a product, courtesy of the company in order to facilitate my review.
Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Little Spirit: Christmas In New York *Giveaway*
October 15, 2009
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winners are Baba, Susan L, and Kelly Ann T. Congrats!
One of the things I’ll be doing a LOT more of lately is spending time at home! I’m getting further and further along and while I still have some events lined up, curling up on the couch with my husband and my son, a cup of tea and a good movie sounds very appealing! Genius Products and Curious Pictures just released a Little Spirit: Christmas in New York, which looks adorable! We haven’t sat down to watch it yet, but I wanted to give you a sneak peak! Stay tuned for my review.
About the movie:
A young boy embarks on the holiday journey of a lifetime in the city that never sleeps in the charming animated movie Little Spirit: Christmas In New York. Moving to a new house in a new city is never easy, but when Leo’s dog (and best friend) Romona is accidently lost in Central Park, Leo is determined to find his furry little friend in time for Christmas. Feeling lost and alone, a magical spirit takes him on an incredible adventure and Leo soon learns that this new city isn’t as scary as it seemed – and that the true meaning of Christmas may just be found in the people he meets along the way.
Check out a sneak peak here:
Little Spirit: Christmas in New York is available now and retails for $16.95.
Win It! Three of you will win a copy of Little Spirit: Christmas in New York. Simply leave me a comment with your favorite thing to do during the holidays! Comments will close on December 1, 2009 at 10 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.
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For more fabulous Holiday Gift Ideas, visit The Mommy-Files
Fall Family Fun
September 14, 2009
Earlier this summer, my husband and I took our little boy to the circus, thanks to Mom Central. We had a wonderful time and my son still talks about the “animals.” I still want to know how that elephant disappeared! If you want to see pictures and read about our experience, check out my previous post.
My parents took me to the circus a few times when I was a child and they talk about how much I enjoyed it. All I really remember was that the animals were huge and magnificent. If I didn’t have a little boy, I would have still attended because the shows are that good. Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey have really changed their shows. The entertainment is so much more than a few animals doing tricks. We were awed by the talent we observed. The show we saw was called Zing Zang Zoom, however, Over the Top will also be playing in select cities. Here is a bit more information about each show from the site:
Through the mystery of magic and the mastery of skill, audiences will be spellbound as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents ZING ZANG ZOOM, a thrill-filled, mind-blowing circus spectacular where family fun is no illusion. Magical Zingmaster Alex and his assistant, the alluring Levitytia, lead audiences through a kaleidoscope of color and imagery revealing extraordinary worlds of fantasy, flight and phenomena that celebrates the uplifting spirit of the circus and wards off a cynical Mr. Gravity and his team of “heavies” who try to bring everyone down.
Over the Top is an all-new live entertainment extravaganza featuring the ultimate tug of war between Ringmaster Chuck Wagner and clown eccentric Tom Dougherty over a magical top hat that controls the circus. When the Ringmaster dons the hat he conjures stupendous spectacles for his circus, like the stunt riding Royal Cossack Cavalry while the clown uses the hat to summon silly and whimsical acts for his circus, such as a cavalry of goats riding on ponies in a Barnyard Bonanza. They continue to top one another until the Ringmaster and clown realize that the magic of the circus is not in the hat but in the hearts of everyone. The show culminates in an amazing display of gigantic glowing rainforest flowers surrounding Chinese acrobats swinging on vines and propelling through the air. Over the Top is two circuses in one providing excitement for the whole family.
With many of us cutting back (I know we are), it’s hard to justify spending a lot of money on a single night. That’s why I’m so excited to tell you about Mom Central’s special offers.
- Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code “MOM” at select ticketing channels. Offer good on all weekday performances, which includes all weekday evening and Friday matinee performances; minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each.
- Offer #2: All weekend performance tickets will be $4 off the original price.
- Offer #3: Get the best Circus Celebrity, Front Row and VIP seats available – We have reserved seats in these sections just for you! Enter the code MOM. No discounts available on these sections.
The above offers are good in the following cities:
- Denver: September 30 – October 11, 2009
- Boston: October 14-18, 2009
- St. Louis: October 15-18, 2009
- Cleveland: October 21-26, 2009
- Rosemont/Chicago: November 5 – 29, 2009 *available for purchase on Sept. 8. 2009
- Auburn Hills: November 18-22, 2009
- Charlotte: January 27-31, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 12, 2009
- Atlanta: February 12-21, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 12, 2009
- Cincinnati: March 10-14, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 21, 2009
- Dayton: April 29 – May 2, 2010 *available for purchase on Sept. 21, 2009
If you go to the show, remember to get their early for the All Access pre-show entertainment. My son really enjoyed getting down into the arena and seeing some of the performers live and up close, doing their magic!
“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Feld Entertainment. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate. I am also part of their Feld Family Activator program”
BlogHer Recap #1
July 30, 2009
Whew…I’m exhausted. I’ve been home for over about 24 hours, and to be honest, I’ve been a little distracted with my sweet little boy who I missed terribly. So much so that I ended up bawling on Saturday night at BowlHer as I was talking to a rep from Pepperidge Farm (I am so sorry and I can’t remember your name!). But those tears of homesickness and remorse over leaving my little boy were replaced with tears of joy when the announcement came that I had won a Toshiba laptop from 5 Minutes for Mom and Toshiba. Can you say SQUEE? I’ve never won anything like that and it was a little surreal.
I have a lot to share…both good and bad (but mostly good because I try to be positive that way). I doubt I’ll get it all written in one post. Maybe it will take 3 or 5. I just don’t know. All I know is that this year was different. Since I had attended last year, I thought I knew what to expect. I thought I was a BlogHer pro. Boy was I wrong. All I have to say is that I’ve learned a lot this year. Many changes to come (good, of course!).
I’ll start with day one today and post over the next week. But before I do, I want to thank my sponsors once again. I hope that I promoted them appropriately and tactfully. I definitely did not want to be annoying and believed that I promoted them with both tact and professionalism. I will be posting my thoughts about the brands that helped make BlogHer a possibility for me in the next week.
Going to BlogHer this year was difficult in every imaginable way. My husband had planned on coming with me so that we wouldn’t have to leave my little boy with the grandparents, but ended up having to work at the last minute. We also didn’t expect that I would be pregnant at this point. Or that I would have been so sick for the first 3 + months. Up until about a month ago, I wasn’t even certain I’d be going because of how sick I was. You may remember I was initially planning on carpooling. My OB thought that was a bad idea, seeing that I’m 4 months pregnant and high-risk. Oh…and did I mention that Chicago is half-way across the country? So yes…going to BlogHer was a struggle…financially, emotionally, physically, geographically… But then I remembered last year. I remembered the friendships that were solidified in person and the networking that resulted in relationships, and I decided that it was worth it to me to go.
Blame it on pregnancy hormones if you’d like but I almost didn’t go through security at LAX on Thursday morning. When my little boy looked at me with tears in his eyes, his arms outstretched, and cried out to me not to leave, it was heart wrenching. With tears streaming down my face my mother made me get on that plane because she wanted me to go and “have a good time.” I would have stayed that day had it not been for her. So mom, I owe my first born thank you, to you.
I went through security, joked with the workers about not needing a pat down in my pregnant state (apparently that is an available alternative to metal detectors for pregnant women), and went to meet Liz, Steph, and all of the other LA bloggers on the #partyplane. I have to say THANK YOU to Southwest and @SouthwestAir for putting up with us accomdating us (oh, and for getting us there and back safely!). I also want to thank Megan for arranging a LIMO from O’Hare to the Sheraton (which is gorgeous by the way). It was awesome cramming 20 bloggers into one limo. But back to the plane ride. It was wonderful meeting so many funny, smart, and talented bloggers who are all right here in LA/OC. Why does it take a blogging conference half-way across the country for us to meet? Jennifer is so smart and I have to apologize to her formally for bombarding her with “green” questions. She finally gave me her book to read since I left my copy at home (was that a hint? LOL!). I also had an opportunity to chat with Heather and her husband on the plane. We talked about pregnancy and well…life. She has this quiet spirit about her, yet she’s not shy. It was a joy talking to her. And Liz? She’s so down to earth it’s refreshing. And we clicked in seconds. Steph truly is the kind of friend you want to stick around forever. She’s kind and gracious and giving…and super smart! And Kim? She’s just a riot! And an incredible writer (read her blog!) I met so many people just on the plane which really helped ease my nervousness about traveling alone (something I rarely ever do).
Landing at Midway was a bit overwhelming. I’m from LA so I’m used to large, international airports. But seriously, the only word to describe my experience there was chaos. Thankfully we had a limo waiting for us so I didn’t have to hail a taxi or catch the train to the city. The President was in town so what should have been no more than a 30 minute drive, ended up taking almost 2 hours. But we had lots of fun chatting (all 20+ of us). The result was that those of us who had aspirations of attending the Swiffer Social Luxe Lounge did not make it. That’s ok…I’m reliving the experience through their amazing photo stream on Flickr. I did, however, have a chance to catch up with some of the Mom Central team for a chat. It’s always nice to put names with faces. Their get-together was relaxed and small enough to actually converse. Some of the parties I attended were so packed with people that it was impossible to connect, let alone hear anyone speak.
I was invited to a Crocs party to preview their new line, so with Liz and her roomie in tow, we ventured via cab to the store (that was closed for the party…how cool is that?). As a nurse, I wear Crocs for work on the unit. If you’re thinking that Crocs are limited to the clog-style they launched with, I’ve got a surprise for you. From casual flip-flops to dressy heels, and everything in between, Crocs‘ new line will change your opinion on the company. Check out some of the pictures I took at THE largest Crocs store ever:
Next up, a much needed and appreciated dinner with the crew from Team Mom at Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush. It was wonderful meeting Stephanie and Marie from Team Mom. I think one the best things about BlogHer (which I mentioned last year), is meeting the people you’ve worked with and connected with over the past year in person. I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Nicole, Angela (who is also pregnant with her second!), Christine, Mariana, Vanessa, (her and her sister are from France!), CanCan (in her lovely dress), and Deb (if I missed you my sincere apologies). Thank you girls for making sure I the baby had enough calamari! We were sent home with some kid’s products from Safeway’s new line entitled Eating Right (more to come when I actually receive it since I had to ship it home to myself). We had high hopes of attending the Room 704 party but I was exhausted and there were way too many people so I went back to the room. And I learned from my roomie about the “swag” and I was more than ok not going or getting it.
Despite the fact that it was a long day it was very rewarding. I was able to meet so many incredible people and overall we just had a great time. I definitely overdid it. But more to come on subsequent posts.
Things I learned today for next year (provided we can venture across the country):
1. Don’t over commit/overbook/over schedule. Unless you have a twin!
2. Wear comfortable shoes. I packed a pair of heels for the evenings, put them on for 5 minutes, then stuffed them back in my suitcase where they still remain.
3. Get in a day before the conference (to rest!). It was very stressful trying to get to events I had RSVP’d for. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone.
I’ve taken a few days off to rest and spend time with my son. It was very difficult leaving him and he and I have needed a few days to get back to our routine. If you have emailed me, I promise I’ll respond just as soon as I am able. Tons more to come. I also have some exciting ideas on the horizon which I’ll share just as soon as they’re starting to come together. Oh…and winners? I haven’t forgotten you!
Mother’s Day 2009: Alli’s Originals
May 7, 2009
Jewelry is something that I love receiving, but don’t often purchase for myself. I like simple, intricate pieces with meaning. For example, our wedding rings were designed by our jeweler and engraved with personal messages. Each piece of jewelry I own, has a memory attached to it…like the bracelet my father gave me when I graduated…and the necklace my husband gave me for Mother’s Day last year.
If you’re looking for a a truly memorable gift that will speak to that mom in your life, you might consider the Princess Charming Collection by Alli’s Originals. This mom-turned-artist started creating jewelry as a hobby nine years ago. Her work has evolved into personalized, hand-stamped pendants and unique casted charms. I received a stunning piece from the Princess Charming Collection, personalized with my son’s name on it. Here is a little more information about this unique collection from the site:
The Princess Charming Collection has become the latest trend in celebrating those special relationships in your life…..it’s about wearing your heart on your sleeve. Each piece is hand stamped to the customers specifications with names, dates of birth, anniversaries, spiritual words or phrases and symbols. Each character is stamped one at a time making each piece truly ONE OF A KIND. This collection is a wonderful way to show off your love, friendships, your children, grandchildren, your spirituality and personality.
There are so many choices and you can really design the necklace (or any piece for that matter) any way you want. Think about that special mom in your life… What does she like? What is important to her? What does she want close to her heart? Alli’s designs help celebrate those special relationships in your life.
My necklace included the following three circle charms: mom, love, joshua. If we have another child, I can add a charm for him/her. It also came with a blue heart Swarovski crystal (my favorite color) which really makes the piece stand out and was packaged in an adorable keepsake tin. The materials used include quality sterling silver, Swarovski crystals, and semi precious stones. My necklace is elegant, feminine, and representative of my personality.
Pricing varies, be sure to note that those listed are in Canadian dollars (the exchange rate is currently in our favor).
Veggie Tales: Abe and the Amazing Promise
February 5, 2009
When I was in college, I taught a children’s Sunday School class for 3 and 4 year olds. I remember how excited the kids got when I would turn on the occasional Veggie Tales DVD. If you’ve yet to watch Veggie Tales, you’re missing out. This is by far the most unique series available for children. I just love their mission: “To enhance the spiritual and moral fabric of society through creative media.”
Veggie Tales teaches children Biblical lessons and values from a modern perspective, with a humorous edge. On February 7, The Big Idea will release the latest DVD in the series entitled Abe and the Amazing Promise. Here is a little more about the DVD from the site:
Learn the story of Abraham and Sarah as they wait… and wait… and wait… for a promised child. Kids will learn God always keeps His promises, even if we have to wait awhile!
Junior Asparagus is anxious for the new show production to be finished. Bob the Tomato responds to a fan’s letter about “waiting” by directing a Bible-times interview with Abraham, Sarah and their promised son. Bob & Junior’s patience is tested by splitting camels, a confused nurse, an easily distracted film crew, and a host of other laughable filming disasters!
The entire Veggie Tales series is not only entertaining and funny…it’s educational. It’s really important to my husband and I that we teach my son about God. Abe and the Amazing Promise does a great job of teaching children about patience. They modernize the story of Abraham and Sarah, thereby making it easier for children to understand how to be patient as well as the value of being patient. The second half of the DVD contains the musical mis-adventure, Blunders In Boo Boo Ville. Join Larry the Cucumber in another adventure as he learns about the value of patience. The DVD’s bonus features include an interactive game, a sing along, an interactive storybook, and more. There are some Biblical stories and concepts that might be difficult for young children to understand. Veggie Tales is a creative media resource for helping children understand these concepts.
Abe and the Amazing Promise will be available for purchase on February 7 for $14.99.
Profuse thanks to the Big Idea and the Family Review Network for this review opportunity.
Giveaway: Zenses for Nintendo DS
December 27, 2008
*Update*
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by! The winner is Carolyn S. Congratulations!
Up until recently, I had thought of video games as a childhood past time. I attended BlogHer in July and was able to demo some of Nintendo’s newest games. I liked them so much that I’m even considering the possibility of having a system in our house. One of the games I think would be so fun and relaxing is the all new Zenses games! These games are geared specifically for women! And..they are stress-free! I promise!
Here is a little more about the games from the site:
Zenses, active relaxation and the perfect “me time” companion, allows the player to transcend the stresses of everyday life, unplug and experience an “active escape.” Zenses, with Zenses Ocean and Zenses Rainforest as its first two titles, will be a series of games targeting women 25 years and older – one of the newest and fastest growing segments of the videogames industry. With a clean, fresh and stylish look and a soundtrack that complements the calm and relaxing atmosphere, Zenses offers the modern woman a brand new and fresh experience.
There are two editions, Ocean and Rainforest and I love that you can escape the stress of daily life while challenging your mind, body and spirit through relaxing puzzle games, soothing ambient sounds, and authentic rainforest and oceanic visuals. One very cool feature is that you don’t have to press a single key…simply use the stylus.
Both the Ocean and Rainforest Zenses games for Nintendo DS retail for $29.99 each and are available now.
Win It! One very lucky reader will win a copy of both the Ocean and Rainforest versions of Zenses. Simply head on over to the site and take a little time to explore each. Come back and leave me a comment with your favorite features. Comments will close on January 10, 2008 at 10 pm PST. One comment per person, please. US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.
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“Win a copy of Zenses Ocean and Rainforest DS games from Rockin’ Mama: http://tinyurl.com/6wac3y”
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Profuse thanks to The Game Factory and the Family Review Network for this review opportunity.
I Love Disneyland!
December 23, 2008
A couple of weeks ago I blogged about the wonderful time we had at Disneyland. I wanted to share with you a little more about how magical Disneyland is during the holidays!
One of the things I love about the holidays is the food! Disney knows how important food is and they’ve risen to the occasion with the Merriest Treats on Earth! There are many traditions that surround food at Disneyland and it is through food that the stories are kept alive and strong. Some of the traditional treats you’ll find during the holiday season include gingerbread cookies, holiday biscottis, rice krispy treats, snowman cookies, cranberry and pumpkin mini loafs, almond and chocolate yule logs, holiday brownies, tres leches desserts, and jiggle mortis with whipped cremation.
We were given a lovely demonstration on the “science of gingerbread houses” by a real French pastry chef. One of the mom bloggers in attendance was right upfront getting in with the decorating action. I went home with some wonderful tips on creating the “perfect” gingerbread house including an icing recipe (Egg white, powdered sugar, lemon juice) that is certain to withstand even the tiniest of tots.
While decorating expert David Caranci was not able to join us for our Mom Blogger evening, the PR team created a video clip of tips on how to turn that holiday fruitcake into a lovely centerpiece. Enjoy!
Disneyland Decorating Tips from Heather Hust on Vimeo.
One of the things we really enjoyed at Disneyland was decorating cookies at Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen. You can choose between sugar or gingerbread and the kit includes frosting and sprinkles to complete your cookie creation. I think more frosting ended up on our little one’s face than on the cookie but we all had fun! While you’re over in Frontierland, be sure to check out Big Thunder Ranch which has been magically transformed into Santa’s Reindeer Roundup where you can sing and dance at the Holiday Ho-Ho-Hoedown, make your own cowboy-inspired gift, and take pictures with your favorite Disney characters. Here is where we took our family picture (more on that in a bit).
One of my favorite things about Disneyland during the holidays is the decor. From the magical glow of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle to the festively international it’s a small world “holiday” you’ll be in the spirit from the moment you step foot into the park. Be sure to take a picture in front of ginormous tree on Main Street decorated with over 60,000 lights (you may even see some snow!). For a complete listing of the holiday happenings, visit their special holiday website.
By now you know how passionate I am about photography. The last “gift” that we were given was from Disney’s PhotoPass Service. You probably remember having your picture taken by one of Disney’s own photographers at any number of places throughout the park. Now you can edit, share, and create photo gifts with one handy little service (and card!). Once you’ve taken your first picture with Mickey, you’ll receive Disney’s PhotoPass card. Re-use the card every time you stop for photos throughout the park. Once you’re ready to view them, go to DisneyPhotoPass.com within 30 days and enter the number from your card. Once you’ve registered, you can order prints or create fun products like calendars, ornaments, and photo books. One of the great things about the service is that you can upload your own photos to create gifts that have that magical Disney touch. All of us mom bloggers received a lovely print of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle and the opportunity to create a Disney Photo Calendar. I can’t wait to show you how our calendar turned out.
I’d like to thank Michele Himmelberg once again for the opportunity to experience Disneyland during this festive holiday season!
Holiday Review & Giveaway: Purry Logic
November 23, 2008
*Update*
This giveaway is now closed. Thank you for stopping by and entering. The winner is Gianna. Congratulations.
There are two types of animal lovers…those who pal around with man’s best friend and those who prefer the independent, free-willed spirit of a furry feline! This season, I have the perfect gift idea for all of the feline fans in your life. Freelance designer and illustrator Jane Seabrook, the author of the popular Furry Logic book series, has just completed her fifth book, Purry Logic. Young and old alike will love this clever little book filled with endearing feline satire and whimsical watercolor paintings.
I initially thought that this book was solely for children. I was so wrong! My son loves to look at the pictures and says “cat.” I like the book for it’s hilariously accurate quips about the life of a cat and it’s relation to “life” in general. I just love this saying: ”I hear the call to do nothing, and am doing my best to answer it!” I so wish I could say that about my life! Such is the life of a cat!
Pick up a copy of Purry Logic today! Retails for $9.95.
Win It! One lucky reader will receive their very own copy of Purry Logic. Head on over to the site and take a look around. Come back and leave me a comment telling me if you’re a dog or a cat lover and which painting is your favorite! Comments will close on December 3, 2008 at 10 pm PST. The winner will be chosen on December 4, 2008. One comment per person, please. US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.
Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.
Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.
Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.
Place my button on your site. If you have difficulty, please let me know.
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Classy Mommy is hosting a fab giveaway for a Nintendo Wii!
I have wanted one sooo bad so I’m shamelessly plugging myself. It’s a popularity contest so head on over and sign up! Then, if you genuinely like me…if you like coming to my blog…vote for me and I’ll give you yet another entry. Of course I have no way of knowing whether or not you did so I will take your word for it because I’m so cool that way! : ) Please don’t just vote for an extra entry! I’d rather you do it because you genuinely want to do so!
Profuse thanks to 10 Speed Press and the Family Review Network for this review opportunity.
