I know I am not the only one that is looking forward to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (also known as Star Wars Land) opening at Walt Disney World (and Disneyland!). Ever since they started building, I do my best to get some sneak peeks while I am visiting Disney. Just this August, not only could I see a lot of the progress from the Slinky Dog Dash coaster in Toy Story Land, I found some of the merchandise already available for purchase!
What Is Available?
That’s right, I was just as shocked as you were! My family and I walked off the Star Tours ride and what did we see “New Arrival: Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge” on a few big red signs. These signs let us know that we could be the FIRST to purchase products inspired by the Stay Wars: Galaxy’s Edge lands that are under construction at the two United States Disney Parks. There are mugs, t-shirts, pins, hats, even some awesome rendering prints! If you are a Star Wars fan, these are a MUST to pick up!
I need this shirt in my life!This kids shirt is everything!This tumbler is awesome – and available for purchase online!
As of this moment, only some of these are available to purchase online. And from what I see, the pin that you can buy at Disney World, is different from the one that comes online. Not all of the t-shirts are available for purchase on the Shop Disney website either. And if you are anything like me, you love exclusive, so now is your chance to grab some exclusive in park merchandise. We go back in January and you know I am going to be picking up whatever I can find!
If you are visiting Disney World soon, I suggest picking up what you can – especially those EXCLUSIVE to the parks!
This episode starts out with some characters we have never seen before – Shermy and Beth, and they find Finn’s metal arm. It is beat up looking and really old, which immediately has us realizing this is in the future. Probably the far future. They set out to find the King of Ooo and I couldn’t help but wonder who that would be. Well, turns out they go see B-Mo. Who lives alone. And not in the tree house.
B-Mo tells them the story of the great war, and at a few points makes us think that our heroes are going to meet a really bad end. But luckily everything turned out OK, more or less. But there were a few things that had me crying tears of joy, and sadness.
PB & Marceline
There is a moment where we thought Princess Bubblegum was gone. Dead. No more. My seven year old daughter teared up and I admit, so did I. When I saw her splat from GOLB’s creation, I was devastated. And so was Marceline. I was overjoyed when we discover PB was just fine (save from a potential concussion) and it was just her armor protecting her. Marceline was pretty excited too. And they kissed. And I loved that. More tears. During the ‘Come With Me’ song at the end, we see that these two seem to live a pretty happy life together. Which I thought was the perfect ending for them.
The Death of Fern
My feelings for Fern have been up and down. Sometimes I like him, sometimes I don’t. I imagine most Adventure Time fans feel the same way about him. Still, I wouldn’t want to see him die. Especially after him and Finn defeat the Grass Demon together. He had a good run, and I was happy to see him redeemed before he disintegrated. I did love that he left a seed behind, which Finn and Jake planted where the treehouse used to be before it was destroyed (oh yeah, that was SUPER sad too).
Simon is Back!
The ending to Betty and Simon’s story was not exactly what I was hoping for. But it seemed to make sense, and seemed very real. In the end she sacrificed herself to save Simon. She used the crown to wish to be able to keep him safe. And she took over as GOLB. Poor Simon had just gotten his memory back after GOLB started digesting him and brought him back to his true form. But at least he had his old friend Marceline. In the flash forwards at the end, we see him having fun with his friends. Which is all I ever wanted to Ice King/Simon.
There were some other pretty amazing moments in this series finale. We see the Litch grow up to be good (yay!). And I totally cried when Shermy lifted up the Finn Sword at the very end. That scene was meant to be very reminiscent of Finn and Jake in the opening of the show. It was perfect. What a great ending to an even better series. Be sure to pick up your copy of Adventure Time: The Final Seasons, available today! You know it is worth watching over, and over, and over.
Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year, especially because there are so many great movies that celebrate this holiday. The Nightmare Before Christmas is probably the number one on my list. It is a film that I have enjoyed for years – 25 years to be exact. To celebrate it’s anniversary, there is a special new blu-ray release! It includes not only the film, but also a special sing-a-long version – which my girls are obsessed with now! Get your spook on instantly via Digital, Movies Anywhere and on Blu-ray September 2.
If you haven’t already seen this movie, I encourage you to so. It is so much fun, and something the whole family will love. And it totally doubles as a Christmas movie! At Walt Disney World during the Halloween party, you can even meet Jack and Sally, which is one of the most popular meet and greets for a reason. They are amazing! And during the Christmas party, you can meet Jack as Sandy Claws. These should be on your bucket list, trust me!
About The Nightmare Before Christmas
In “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Jack Skellington, Halloweentown’s beloved Pumpkin King, is bored with the same old annual scare-and-scream routine and longs to spread the joy of Christmas. But his newfound obsession puts Santa in jeopardy and creates a nightmare for good little boys and girls everywhere. Jack is surrounded by a creepy and captivating cast of characters, including Sally, a resourceful rag doll that has trouble fitting in, like her good friend Jack; mad scientist Dr. Finklestein; the two-faced Mayor of Halloweentown; Oogie Boogie, a rambling, gambling bag of bugs; and Lock, one in a trio of trick-or-treating troublemakers.
Bonus Features
One of the main reasons that I pick up a movie on blu-ray is for the bonus features. I love watching the deleted scenes and learning more about the making of a film. It is a great way to really complete the movie, and appreciate it more, if you ask me. These deleted storyboards for The Nightmare Before Christmas are EVERYTHING! Seeing them made one of my favorite movies even better. Check out this amazing list of bonus features for the 25th anniversary:
ALL-NEW BONUS FEATURES
Song Selection
“This Is Halloween”
“Jack’s Lament”
“What’s This?”
“Town Meeting Song”
“Jack’s Obsession”
“Kidnap the Sandy Claws”
“Making Christmas”
“Oogie Boogie’s Song”
“Sally’s Song:
“Poor Jack”
“Finale/Reprise”
CLASSIC BONUS FEATURES
The Beginning
Music
Storyboards
Art Direction
Puppets
Animation
Deleted Storyboards
Behomoth Singing
Oogie Boogie with Dancing Bugs
Alternate Identity of Oogie Boogie
Deleted Animated Sequences
Vampire Hockey Players
Lock, Shock and Barrel
Oogie Boogie Shadow Dance
Tim Burton’s Early Film: “Frankenweenie” (Uncut Version)
“What’s This?” Jack’s Haunted Mansion Tour
Tim Burton’s Original Poem Narrated by Christopher Lee
Looking for a super easy dinner recipe that the whole family will love? BONUS: It is totally keto and low carb approved! It is also easy to customize. For example, we often add broccoli, but you don’t need to. We have also added peppers and tomatoes before. Basically just throw in whatever you have in the fridge and it is sure to be delicious! Yum!
Ingredients
2 to 4 chicken breasts
One bag steamed broccoli (optional)
1 tablespoon seasonings (I use Bucks, salt, and pepper)
1/2 cup bacon bits OR 3-4 pieces of bacon cooked and cut up
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
I don’t always include the broccoli in this recipe, but I had some in the freezer I wanted to use up. Also, I highly recommend buying block cheeses and shredding them yourself. Pre-shredded cheese can have hidden carbs.
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place raw chicken breasts in oven safe pan.
Season breasts.
Spoon ranch dressing over breasts.
Add broccoli, cheeses, and bacon bits.
Bake for 45 minutes.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Carbs: 10 carbs per serving Servings: 4
Video Recipe
To show you just how easy this recipe is, I made a quick video for you. This is something the whole family will love and it takes just minutes to prep!
Super Easy Keto Approved Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Easy to customize per your tastes!
2 to 4 chicken breasts
One bag steamed broccoli
1 tablespoon seasonings (I use Bucks, salt, and pepper)
1/2 cup bacon bits OR 3 to 4 pieces of bacon cooked and cut up
We are a family of gamers and one of our favorite consoles is the Nintendo Switch. We are always looking for new games to play on it as a family. When a complimentary copy of Go Vacation arrived, we were all immediately excited. Just by looking at the case we could tell that this was going to be a TON of fun! We popped it in and have been playing it almost every day since. We even took it on our recent vacation to Walt Disney World to pass the time in the hotel. Another great tip for these times is to look at this Web Safety Advice which explains how to unblock spotify so you can also listen to your music.
WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT IT
Something that we really love about this game is the variety. In it you can play over 50 sports at four different resorts. Tennis, fishing, and snowboarding are some of our favorites – but they are all so much fun! The four player couch co-op is a huge perk for our family because that means we can all play together without taking turns. But it is just as fun with one, two, or even three people – and super easy to just drop a player or two out and keep on gaming.
WHO IT’S FOR
Go Vacation is truly for the family that loves to game together! We have had a total blast playing it. Each night we play a game for an hour or so as a family, and we rotate who chooses it. Both of my daughters are always requesting Go Vacation. It is an easy choice to play before bed because we can choose to do just one or two sports, or go on for an hour or more. Kids of all ages are sure to enjoy this game.
Every day is different on the island of Kawawii! Experience hours of fun and something new every day in Go Vacation. Customize your character, villa, costumes, vehicles and even pets! Daily presents and challenges mean that you will want to keep coming back to the island of Kawawii to explore more terrain and play through activities all over again. Additional game information can be found on govacation.nintendo.com.
AVAILABLE PLATFORMS
The Go Vacation game is now available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch! Go on the family adventure of a lifetime in Go Vacation and enjoy over 50 co-operative and competitive activities including scuba diving, skateboarding, skiing and more. If you and your family are fans of the Wii and Wii Sports, you’ll love Go Vacation for Nintendo Switch.
One of my all time favorite Halloween movies is Hocus Pocus. I remember watching this when I was a little girl and I have now shared it with my young daughters. They love it just as much as I did – especially Binx. Recently I came across a “Binx Is My Spirit Animal” shirt at the Disney Store and I so need it. This is a must see Halloween movie that truly stands up against the test of time. I feel so old realizing that it first came out 25 years ago. WOW! The anniversary edition is now available on blu-ray with some amazing bonus features.
About Hocus Pocus
One quarter of a century ago, three 17th century witches – Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary Sanderson (Kathy Najimy) – brewed the perfect magical movie for the whole family: Walt Disney Pictures’ live-action comedy/adventure “Hocus Pocus.” Personally I feel that this is must see family Halloween movie. My girls are 5 and 7 and just love it. It might be a tad scary for young ones, but I think any kid over 5 should be fine.
In celebration of the film’s silver anniversary, “Hocus Pocus” is being re-released to home audiences with a spellbinding new way to experience the film: the Trivia and Treats Edition. On Sept. 2, fans can watch it instantly on Digital and Movies Anywhere, and bring it home on Blu-ray.
Bonus Features
Who doesn’t love a good collection of bonus features? I know I do! Especially deleted scenes, which we get on the blu-ray of Hocus Pocus. These features make one of my favorite movies even better!
We ♥︎ “Hocus Pocus”: Trivia and Treats Edition – A spellbinding new way to experience the film with:
Fun facts and trivia
Deleted scenes
Cast and crew commentary
Concept art and storyboards
Behind-the-scenes secrets, and more!
Original 1993 Production Featurette – Discover that witchcraft is cinematic artistry in disguise in this resurrected throwback production featurette.
Welcome to my pull list for new comic book day – August 29th, 2018 (8/29/18). You probably know that I am quite the comic book collector. I enjoy reading them and discussing them with others who are reading them. I like to come up with story line theories and predictions. This week, there are some great comics coming out. Here is what I plan to pick up, what do you plan to get?
Marvel
Daredevil Annual #1
Exiles #7
Extermination #2 (of 5): I was hooked after the first page of this comic book issue #1. I have been waiting and waiting for the second one. I am SO EXCITED to read it this week.
Ms. Marvel #33
Runaways #12
X-23 #3: I adore X-23. I really hope she gets her own movie soon. Bonus if Marvel Studios can make it.
X-Men Blue #34
DC
Batgirl #26
Harley Quinn Gossamer Special #1: I used to adore Harley. Then I felt like Suicide Squad ruined her. I will try this one out because I adore Gosssamer too.
Lex Luthor Porky Pig Special #1: I mean, this looks amazing.
Nightwing Annual #1
Other
Red Sonja #20
My Little Pony Ponyville Mysteries #4: My daughters have been reading this book – and loving it! They are so excited that another issue is hitting shelves.
Rick and Morty Vs. Dungeons and Dragons #1 (of 4): Rick and Morty is one of my favorite television shows, so I am really excited for this comic. I have yet to sit down and read any of theirs (I know they have a few), so this will be the first.
Uncle Scrooge #39: Who doesn’t love Uncle Scrooge?
Thank you to Walt Disney World for providing my family with tickets to attend the 2018 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! All opinions are 100% my own.
One of my family’s favorite Walt Disney World events to attend is Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. There are several reasons why, but the top one is all the amazing meet and greets that are really rare to find. Some of them are more popular than others, so you can expect to wait a long time. The character meet and greets change yearly, but I already attended the 2018 party. So here is my ultimate guide to the 2018 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party character meet and greets.
Jack Skellington & Sally
I highly recommend getting right in line for these two at 4:00 p.m. when they start the line. They are still meeting guests at the gazebo in Liberty Square this year. The party doesn’t technically start until 7:00 p.m., however, Jack and Sally make their entrance right at 5:00 p.m. This year, we did some shopping for party exclusives and then hopped in line around 4:30 p.m. By 6:50 p.m. we had already met them and were out of line ready to enjoy the rest of the party!
Winnie the Pooh & Friends
One of the meet and greets I have always wanted to do is Winnie the Pooh and friends. They are dressed up in Halloween costumes during the party and it is ADORABLE! I grew up loving Pooh, but this line is always insane. This year, we decided to wait it out. It only took about 1.5 hours and this was smack in the middle of the party. I did notice it die down a little later in the night.
This is a must if you are a Pooh fan though because you meet Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, and Pooh in their costumes (see above photo).
The Seven Dwarfs are now inside Pete’s Silly Sideshow tent.
The Seven Dwarfs
This is another character meet and greet that has moved locations. It is now inside the Pete’s Silly Sideshow tent because the other area is now home to the Disney Junior Jam (totally worth it, more on that later!). This is a MUST DO meet and greet. We did it in 2016, so we opted out this year. It is one of the only times you can meet all seven dwarfs together (you also can at the Very Merry Christmas Party). Early in this night this was about a three hour wait but toward the end it was only about an hour wait. I suggest heading there early to get in line and knock it out, or wait until about 10:30 p.m. and head over.
Moana meets inside the Enchanted Tiki Room.
Moana
Last year Moana met outside the Jungle Cruise ride, but she has moved this year to inside the Enchanted Tiki Room. While we didn’t meet her this year, we did stop by to check on the line a few times. Early in the evening it was over a three hour wait, but dwindled to about one hour by the end of the night. This is another one I suggest either heading to right away or later in the party if you want to catch her.
Find Cruella wandering the park this year, instead of at a steady meet and greet area.
Cruella de Vil
Last year Cruella was one of the longest meet and greet lines, but this year, she is wandering around the park. Keep an eye out and you just might be able to spot her and get a photo! My daughters were able to chat with her for a couple minutes about our dogs. This is great because last year we waited about two hours to meet her, and this year we just saw her walking around!
FYI, there is no PhotoPass photographer available at the Jane and Terk meet and greet.
Other Meet & Greets and Their Locations
Magic Mickey Mouse: In his normal spot on Main Street U.S.A.
Captain Jack Sparrow: Outside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
Stitch in Costume (Elvis): Inside the old Stitch’s Great Escape ride.
Mad Hatter: By the Mad Tea Party.
The Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee, & Tweedle Dum: By the Mad Tea Party.
Minnie Mouse (in Halloween Costume): Outside the Big Top in Fantastyland.
Mickey Mouse (in Halloween Costume): Outside the Big Top in Fantastyland.
Donald Duck (in Halloween Costume): Outside the Big Top in Fantastyland.
Daisy Duck (in Halloween Costume): Outside the Big Top in Fantastyland.
Goofy (in Halloween Costume): Outside the Barnstormer in Fantastyland.
Cinderella: Inside Princess Fairytale Hall.
Princess Elena: Inside Princess Fairytale Hall.
Princess Tiana: Inside Princess Fairytale Hall.
Rapunzel: Inside Princess Fairytale Hall.
Ariel (with legs) and Prince Eric: Across from The Little Mermaid ride.
Belle (in blue dress) & Gaston: Outside Gaston’s Tavern, where Gaston normally meets.
Jane & Terk: In Adventureland by Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.
Jasmine & Genie: Outside Aladdin’s Magic Carpet ride. (rotates every half hour with Aladdin & Abu)
Aladdin & Abu: Outside Aladdin’s Magic Carpet ride. (rotates every half hour with Jasmine and Genie)
TripAdvisor provided me with a credit to experience their site. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
If you know anything about me, you likely know that I am a Disney Vacation Club member. Because of this, my family travels to Orlando, Florida quite often. Most of our time is spent at Walt Disney World of course, however, there are many other things to do in Orlando. The best part? It can all be booked using TripAdvisor (besides Disney). Grab all your tickets in one place instead of visiting website after website. Then come back and review your experience so that other travelers can know what to expect!
Immerse yourself in wonder at SeaWorld® Orlando, where the aquatic world comes alive. Only here can you experience Orlando’s new tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster, Mako, named for one of the ocean’s fastest known sharks. Then, see the world through the eyes of a penguin in the thrilling, chilling adventure of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin™, and laugh to the all-new Clyde & Seamore’s Sea Lion High™ show. Here you can also climb aboard and ride the mighty Manta®, experience the power and grace of killer whales in the awe-inspiring Shamu® show One Ocean®, and share an epic voyage with sea turtles on the 3D 360 TurtleTrek®.
(PHOTO / Chip Litherland Photography for LEGOLAND Florida Resort)
Go wild with some mind-boggling fun at WonderWorks Orlando. This admission ticket gives you fast-access to the attraction with your pre-purchased ticket. Revel in a full day of entertainment that brings together the scientific, the mysterious and the kooky. Choose your favorite activities from among 100 exhibitions, including earthquake simulators, a bubble lab, a gyro and more.
What is your favorite Orlando, Florida attraction?
I remember sitting in a movie theater with my new husband and seeing a trailer for Adventure Time. We thought, ‘hmmm…that is strange that to see a TV show trailer, but man, that show looks great.” Because of that trailer we made a point to check out Adventure Time when it first aired in 2010. Since then, we have gone through a lot – had two kids – but Adventure Time has always stayed constant. It is something we have watched religiously, with our children, and I am crushed it is coming to an end. We were lucky enough to be sent a copy of the final DVD set, which includes the series finale. This finale will air on September 3rd and it totally delivers.
Brings the Feels
This extended episode will bring the feels. Not going to lie, I cried. I looked over at my 7 year old and she was tearing up as well. I think a major part of it is that we have known these characters for a long time. For my daughter, her entire life. We love them. We are invested in them. Knowing we won’t be able to watch new adventures of theirs anymore, it hurts. There will be some pretty amazing surprises in this episode that are sure to warm your heart. And break your heart. So pay close attention and have tissues handy.
Ties Up Loose Ends
If you have been watching this series, then you know there are a lot of characters. While they obviously can’t all be touched on in this episode, keep your eyes peeled in the backgrounds. You will see a lot of familiar faces. There are even some loose ends, which more or less will be tied up, so don’t worry about an ending that will leave you frustrated and wondering what happened with certain story lines.
About to pop this in because I just cannot wait to watch the end of #AdventureTime. I can't believe it is ending…. 😭😭😭
Overall, I saw the Adventure Time finale is a must watch for any fan of the series. I have been there since the beginning and was very pleased with the outcome. I will miss these characters, but this is also a show I know I will go back and watch again and again. The Adventure Time series finale airs on Cartoon Network Monday, September 3rd at 6 p.m. ET.The Final Seasons DVD will release the day after the finale, along with my spoiler filled review (because I just had to get some feelings out!).
Get the Soundtrack!
Featuring over 20 tracks from the action-packed finale episode, the release includes a cover of Main Title by special finale voice guest star, Willow Smith; original music by show composer, Tim Kiefer; an all-new song by Rebecca Sugar (creator, Steven Universe) and the full-length version of Island Song (Come Along With Me) by Ashley Eriksson. The soundtrack will be available for pre-order starting Saturday, September 1 on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon Music, and will be available for digital download and streaming on all major platforms on Tuesday, September 4.
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