ABC Family is once again counting down to Christmas with 36 days of family-friendly programming which includes original Christmas-themed movies and a host of holiday favorites.  As a mom, I look forward to this time of year and the festive programming offered as a way to spend some time together as a family creating memories and reliving moments from my own childhood.  Through November 30th, ABC Family is counting down to the 25 Days of Christmas, which will begin December 1st and run through the 25th.  Programming will be featured on air and online, with an entire site dedicated to the 25 Days of Christmas.

Some of the highlights of this year’s program line-up include the premiere of original films like Desperately Seeking Santa and 12 Dates of Christmas, and family favorites like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, A Very Pink Christmas, Disney-Pixar’s Up, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Beginning December 1st, you can enter ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas Sweepstakes where the grand prize is $25,000.

Be sure to visit the website for holiday e-cards you can send to family and friends, custom videos, sneak peeks, recipes, music, games, coupons, and more.  You can also download an app for the latest schedule!

For programming information and more, visit the website or keep up to date on Facebook/Twitter.

No compensation was received for this post. Information and a gift were provided by ABC Family but all opinions expressed above are solely that of the author.

Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

Last week, I shared a couple of songs that resonated with me from the Soundtrack to Pretty Little Liars. The playlist includes a compilation of songs featured during important scenes throughout the series.  Music has a way of evoking emotion on screen as it often does in life.  Jack and Jill, by Katie Herzig, is played during a romantic scene between Ezra and Aria, two of the show’s characters. The song is romantic and depicts a couple who have something to say to each other but can’t or won’t. The song is largely left up to the listener for interpretation but has a definite tragic romantic appeal.

In the video below, Fay Wolf talks about her song Your Love, which is one of the more popular songs on the soundtrack.

Pretty Little Liars airs on Mondays at 8/7c on ABC Family. To preview the soundtrack or pick up a copy of the album, visit iTunes.

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote the Pretty Little Liars Soundtrack.

On those rare occasions when the kids are napping in the car or they’re with my husband, I relish the opportunity to listen to “grown-up” music.  I’m very open to a wide variety of music genre and recently had an opportunity to check out the Soundtrack to Pretty Little Liars.

Photo Credit: Warner Bros.

Pretty Little Liars is a popular mystery/drama TV show on ABC Family based on a series of novels written by Sara Shepard. The series, which is geared towards teens, follows four girls who’s friendship dissolves after the disappearance of the leader in their group.  Only they know what happened and this secret is tearing them apart.

The soundtrack includes a mix of songs played during pivotal scenes within the series.  The soundtrack has a very indie, urban feel and includes music from artists like Colbie Caillat and Katie Herzig.  The two songs I really enjoyed were Colbie Caillat’s “I Won’t” and Brooke Waggoner’s “Fresh Pair of Eyes.”

“I Won’t” played during the Pilot in a scene where Aria and her family are unpacking after spending a year abroad.  The song is about love and loss and the resolve to hold onto a love that’s been lost.  And while it’s played during the scene in which her father approachers her about a secret, the artist, like Aria, is committed to staying true to her beliefs and it’s fitting.

“Fresh Pair of Eyes” played during a romantic scene between Aria and Ezra and the lyrics are simple yet profound…”I want to be seen with a fresh pair of eyes.”  Since the show is about keeping secrets and truth-telling, it seems fitting to include a song about seeing someone for who they are rather than the stereotypes (or in this case the lies) placed on them.

You can watch Pretty Little Liars on Mondays at 8/7c on ABC Family. To preview the soundtrack or pick up a copy of the album, visit iTunes.

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote the Pretty Little Liars Soundtrack.

On December 25th, ABC-TV will air the 27th annual holiday special, Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade. Ryan Seacreset will host at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Nick Cannon will host at the Disneyland Resort in California what promises to be the year’s “magical, musical, coast-to-coast entertainment extravaganza.”  Musical guests Mariah Carey, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Selena Gomez, and more will sing and entertain you while your favorite Disney characters march and dance throughout the Disney Parks.  I can’t wait to open presents and watch the parade for the first time with our kids!

Here are the scheduled broadcast times:

Eastern Time Noon-2pm

Central time 11AM-1PM

Mountain Time 10AM-Noon

Pacific Time 5PM-7PM

Los Angeles (KABC) 9AM-11AM

Today, Disney Online launched a site dedicated to everything you need and want to know about the Christmas Day Parade.  The site features the following:

Behind-the-scene video segments with Selena Gomez and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Video interview with Debby Ryan and Santa Paws, Mariah Carey and an exclusive with Ryan Seacrest on Dec. 21!

Performance video of Selena Gomez

Performance video of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, singing a song from their holiday album, “Phineas & Ferb: Holiday Favorites”

Special Disney movie trailers

Holiday gift guide featuring the hottest Disney movies, music, video games, books, toys, and more!

Recipes, crafts and activities from Disney Family.com

Be sure to check out the exclusive interview with Ryan Seacrest on December 21st!

Win It! To celebrate, one of you will win all seven of the Disney movies featured in their holiday gift guide. Simply leave me a comment with your favorite item from the gift guide (other than the movies).  Comments will close on December 24th, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  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.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Like me on Facebook

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

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.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

Giveaway items supplied by the company.

Mesmerized by all the bears in the store!

This is how they look before they’re stuffed!

Already a techie, just like his dad!

Ok, how do I stuff my bear?

Intently studying the art of bear stuffing

Oh…a heart!

Make a wish…

Say bye bye to the little heart…

Hugs, Kisses, Love to the Mooses!  (is that a word?)

All dressed up….

After a little lunch break, we headed over to the theater for a private screening of the movie (which airs tomorrow on ABC at 7:00 PM ET/PT).  After a long day, I was very surprised when I looked over at my 2 year old, eyes fixed to the screen.  Later in the car he proceeded to tell us all about Holly and Hal and how they played in the snow (so cute!).  The movie is adorable.  And it is the first time that Build-A-Bear Workshop has brought it’s plush animals to life (so you definitely want to make sure you get a chance to sit with your kids to watch it).

The one hour movie is based on a book and series of webisodes that debuted last year. Here is a little summary of the movie:

Start a new family tradition with Holly the level headed inventor and Hal the dreamer, both filled with imagination and heart, destined for adventure.  This sibling duo finds their way to the North Pole and closer to each other’s heart in this uplifting holiday tale, which will inspire you to follow your dreams…no matter how high they may seem. Will they be able to work together to save Christmas in time for Santa to make his famous flight?

I like the positive messages conveyed in the movie.  Children are dreamers at heart.  I don’t know when it is that we lose that as adults, but this is a time when children should be encouraged to think big.  Working together is another positive message conveyed in the movie.  It’s short enough to hold the attention of toddlers.  My son was captivated by the Moose pair!

If you somehow manage to miss tomorrow’s airing (which you won’t, thanks to me!), an encore presentation will air again on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 10 AM ET/PT.