What do you do when faced with tragedy? How do you persevere when life as you know it is irreversibly and permanently changed? For the Mee family, healing began in an unlikely place.  Of all the films set to be released this holiday season, don’t miss We Bought a Zoo, the heartwarming and inspirational film about a family who literally invests in a zoo.

As the film opens, we learn that adventure writer and newspaper columnist Benjamin Mee has just lost his wife, and is struggling to juggle a career while raising two children on his own.  The Mee family is hurting, and their attempts to continue living in the same neighborhood where so many memories were created is unbearable.  Each are grieving in their own way, and for Benjamin’s teenage son Dylan, that translates into misbehavior at school. When Mee learns that his son is on the verge of being expelled, he is compelled to make a much needed change, which translates into a move out of the city where distractions are minimized.

After searching the city for “the perfect place,” they happen upon an expansive property, far removed enough to feel “country and rural,” yet almost close enough to buy butter. The catch? The property just happens to be a zoo…and one in need of some serious TLC.  Since Mee is an adventurer at heart, this implausible idea actually works, albeit there is a true story to back it.

Mee, who has no concept of how to run a zoo, let alone what changes are necessary to save one from permanent closure, must rely on the few remaining staff to help prepare for the inspector that will determine it’s fate.  What ensues is the raw, emotional, imperfect and at times messy journey of a family working through their grief, all while attempting to save this zoo and the animals they have come to love.

What surprised me most about the film is the fact that I could be laughing one moment, only to find tears streaming down my face the next.  There are moments of incredible tenderness and emotion intermixed with laugh out loud comedy.  It was definitely more heart wrenching than I expected, and for that, I recommend families reserve the film for their older children who are capable of understanding the deep emotions that accompany grief.

In one of the most beautiful and emotion-filled scenes from the film, Benjamin reenacts the day he met his wife at a restaurant for his children. It’s a brilliant and powerful scene that captures the heart of the film.  And as much as I cried during the film, I walked away with a sense of hope and optimism, and for that I know the film is a success.

We Bought a Zoo, which was directed by Cameron Crowe (from Jerry Maguire) and stars Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, and Elle Fanning, opens in theaters today.

No compensation was received for this post. I attended a press junket for the film and meals/accommodations were provided.

Based on the young adult novel by Michael Morpurgo and the play by the same name, War Horse depicts the remarkable and unique relationship between a horse and the young soldier who raised and trained him during World War 1.

As opposed to modern day society, where horses are trained and ridden primarily for pleasure, work was the primary function of horses during this time. A horse’s worth was measured by how efficiently he could perform.  Albert, a young man living during war times, convinces his parents that he can break and train young Joey to plow, a horse they have foolishly invested in, despite appearances to the contrary.  It is during that period of training that the two form a unique bond.

As the war progresses, Albert’s father is forced to sell Joey to the cavalry in order to maintain their land.  It’s during this scene of separation that audiences begin to understand the depth and uniqueness of the relationship between Joey and Albert.

What ensues is a depiction of the first World War, as experienced through Joey.  His journey takes him through the war, where he inspires and touches the lives of those he encounters. What’s interesting about approaching the story and film from the perspective of a horse, is that audiences get a raw, unadulterated look at how animals were treated during the war. But without the relationship between Joey and Albert, I don’t think the impact of animal mistreatment would have been so appreciable.

The climax of the film occurs in No Man’s Land, where Joey ends up after suffering illness and injury. One of the things I found interesting about this scene, is how two soldiers, from two different sides approach the horse to rescue him. In the midst of the inhumanity that is war, a Welshman and a German come together civilly to toss a coin, which determines who will take the horse.

In one of the most powerful and emotion-filled scenes of the film, Joey and Albert are once again reunited.  After years of separation, the fact that this horse would remember his trainer…his owner…his friend…was remarkable.  The commitment and loyalty of Albert and the bravery and resilience of Joey will change the way you think about animals and how they relate to humans.

With absolutely stunning cinematography, a score that compliments the emotion and heart of the film, and a director who brilliantly depicts the horrors and senselessness of war, War Horse is certain to resonate with families this season.

War Horse debuts in theaters Christmas Day.

No compensation was received for this post. All expenses related to the trip provided by Disney/DreamWorks.

Photo credit: DreamWorks

What if you…dads…could get an inside look into this thing called fatherhood…from that first plus sign all the way to “It’s A boy/girl?” Moms…wouldn’t you like to know what your significant other is REALLY thinking?  Now you can with a parenting series by and for dads.  Being Dad, and it’s soon-to-be released sequel are parenting DVDs aimed at helping fathers understand pregnancy, birth, and parenthood.  Here is a little more information about both titles from the site:

Being Dad is a surprising, hilarious and unexpected insight on pregnancy to delivery from 40 dads who survived it.  In intriguing accounts by remarkably honest new fathers from all walks of life, all over the US, the common thread of relief these men feel, having recently survived the pregnancy and delivery process, is entertainingly revealed in the personal experiences they share.

Being Dad 2 follows the transformation in the lives of dozens of new dads from around the world as they share their experiences, missteps and advice on becoming a father. Surprising, funny, poignant and revealing, Being Dad 2 will help men everywhere better prepare for the joys and challenges every new father faces once the baby comes home.

My husband and I took some time on several nights to watch both DVD’s that we were sent to preview.  My husband thought the series was ” informative, humorous, and a great way to give guys perspective on becoming a father.”  We both laughed and I cried (particularly during the segment on premature births).  We found ourselves nodding and shaking our heads in agreement as we reminisced.

There was a time in my career where I taught childbirth education classes for  the hospital I worked at.  I remember how creative I needed to be to engage the fathers-to-be.  I think that segments of this series should be incorporated into childbirth education classes across the country.  Fathers are taking a more active role and I think the series does a good job of modeling this.  Both series are comprehensive and even talk about the most difficult subjects such as sex, miscarriage, premature birth, and postpartum depression.  These are difficult subjects, but they’re also real struggles that families face.  It is important to bring these topics out into the open for discussion.  The expert advice intermingled throughout Being Dad, makes this series more than just an entertaining venture.The series does a great job at identifying common fears and anxieties while providing the assurance and confidence dad’s need.  Much of life’s struggles and arguments can be traced to a break in communication.  Both partners are encouraged to talk about these issues as they arise.

Being Dad is availabe now on DVD.  The sequel, Being Dad 2 is scheduled to be release on May 5.  Both titles can be purchased online and retail for $29.99 each.

Colgate just released the coolest product ever (on April 1 to be exact)…a mini toothbrush that you can carry with you to brush and freshen your breath without water or toothpaste.  Now why didn’t I think about that?  Colgate Wisp is a single-use, mini brush with a refreshing liquid-filled bead, available in three flavors (Peppermint, Spearmint, and Cinnamint).  They come in four and sixteen packs and each mini brush is individually wrapped.  You literally open up a brush, use it, and toss it.  The freshening bead releases flavor as your brush.   I actually like all three flavors, but the Cinnamint is my favorite (I just love the taste of Cinnamon).  None of the flavors are overwhelming and they do in fact leave your breath feeling fresh for several hours. I’ve been using them at work on breaks and after meals and am actually really surprised at how effective they are, considering how small they are.  The cleaning bristles remove plaque and food.  The end of the brush is a soft pick which helps you reach in between your teeth or anywhere else you have difficulty brushing.

I have a package in my purse ready for any time I need a little wisp of fresh breath.  I’m thinking about how PERFECT these are for plane rides and camping and Disneyland and..  You can find Colgate Wisp mini brushes at retailers nationwide.  A pack of four will cost you $2.39.  Download a coupon for $1.50 off of a sixteen pack from Drugstore.com. Colgate also has a coupon for 50 cents off on their site. 

So where does a busy working mom go to find healthy, creative, affordable meals for her family?  I have just discovered Making Life Better, a website that was created by Unilever to “help you feel good, look good and get more out of life.”  One of the categories you’ll find on the site is a food and recipes section.  Here is where you’ll find thousands of family-friendly recipes and affordable meal ideas.  You can search for recipes by name or use a more general search for meal types, holidays/themes, ingredients, or cooking style.  Once you hit the search button, the site will pull up a number of recipes that fit your search category.  The page you come to shows you the names of recipes and the prep/cook time.  I like this because I can scan the list of recipes by prep/cook time without even opening up a particular recipe.  This is great if I’m looking for something quick and simple to make for my husband and my son.  Each recipe also includes pictures and ratings which is helpful for determining how “good” a recipe is!  I did a general search for breakfast recipes (since that is my favorite meal of the day) and found a Chocolate Chip Scone Recipe that sounds divine!  And this Broiled Halibut With Warm Lemon Shallot Sauce only takes 5 minutes to prepare and twelve minutes to cook.  The only thing I’d love to see is the nutritional information on each recipe (right now some do and some don’t).

Easter is rapidly approaching so you definitely want to be sure to check out their brunch recipes.  Be sure to check tomorrow’s paper for a coupon that will get you $20.00 back on your ham/turkey purchase when you buy $40.00 worth of Unilever products in April.

When Dove first launched it’s Campaign for Real Beauty in 2004, it initiated global discussion about the true meaning of beauty.  The campaign seeks to redefine the meaning of beauty, broadening it to include women whom society would not conventionally stereotype as “beautiful.”  How freeing it is to see real women, of all shapes, sizes, and colors, in Dove ads on TV and in print.

Out of this campaign emerges a film for women, about women, directed by a woman, starring a cast comprised entirely of women.  The Women is a remake of the 1939 classic film of the same name and stars Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Cloris Leachman, Bette Midler, and Candice Bergen.  The movie is clever, sassy, and moving.  It’s a story about relationships, weaving in themes like body image, self-esteem, female empowerment, acceptance, and true beauty.  It’s about love and mistakes, forgiveness and second chances.  I laughed and cried and walked away with a broader definition of beauty.  It made me think about how our society dictates the definition of beauty and inspired me to work just as hard on my inner beauty as I do on my outer beauty.

So what is true beauty?  Discuss amongst yourselves!

And don’t forget to grab a girl friend and go see The Women.  You can watch a preview here:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3TCy9EqpBA&hl=en&fs=1]

I also highly recommend watching Dove’s exclusive mini documentary, The Women Behind The Women, created “to encourage women to challenge today’s beauty stereotypes, celebrate opportunities for women to empower one another and explore the diverse definitions of beauty, through interviews with some of the cast and crew of The Women.”  You’ll find it on Dove’s website here.

Profuse thanks to Dove and the Family Review Network for the opportunity to review The Women.

Win It!  Dove is giving away 100 tickets to The Women every day through September 19, 2008.   Head on over for your chance to win!

For those of you who missed The Banana Splits, they’re returning this fall.  Starting September 2nd, you and your children can watch The Banana Splits in comedy shorts and music videos on The Cartoon Network, Monday through Friday between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm.  They’ve just launched a new website (it’s still in beta) geared towards children ages 4-7.  Sit down with your kids and groove to the upbeat tunes and fun music videos, watch comedy shorts from the show, play games, and send your child’s favorite band member an email.  Children can even join The Banana Splits Club.  

Here is a sneak peak at a past clip…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtD4mn9CeH4&hl=en&fs=1]