I am beyond excited because I can FINALLY tell you all – this past Spring, I was on the set of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Yup, you read that right – ON SET with 12 other amazing bloggers! Now, that is basically all I can tell you besides STAY TUNED for fun things like exclusive behind the scenes interviews and photos. It has been killing me inside to not be able to tell you guys about this – and I cannot wait to spill the beans about everything!
I am a huge Marvel fan as most of you know, but what you may not know is that the Guardians of the Galaxy comic book series has been one of my favorites for years. So when Marvel announced they were making a movie, I freaked out. I was beyond excited. I couldn’t wait to see it. I loved it and have been itching for the second one since the moment I finished watching the first one on opening night.
Today the teaser poster was released along with a sneak peak of the film and WOW!! This is going to be great guys! I cannot wait for this film to be out, and you better bet I will be there opening night – May 5th, 2017!
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will be in theaters everywhere May 5, 2017!
Disney’s Alice Through the Looking Glass hit stores everywhere today – and not only do I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader, I have some fun printables and a video to help you host the perfect tea party!
Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” forever changed the landscape of children’s literature; Disney’s animated “Alice in Wonderland” embraced this fantasy world filled with peculiar characters; and Tim Burton directed a visually-stunning, live-action film that mesmerized audiences worldwide. Today, the enchanting and beloved franchise that has captivated generations of adventurers continues when Disney’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass” arrives home on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand.
In “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” the all-star cast from the 2010 blockbuster is back with Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter who’s desperately searching for his family; Anne Hathaway as Mirana, the kind, mild-mannered White Queen; Helena Bonham Carter as Iracebeth, the short-tempered, big-headed Red Queen; and Mia Wasikowska as Alice, the heroine at the heart of the story. Sacha Baron Cohen joins the ensemble as Time, a magical being that is part human, part clock, and the late Alan Rickman—to whom the film is dedicated—is the voice of Absolem, the blue Monarch butterfly who metamorphosed from the blue caterpillar “Alice in Wonderland.”
Fascinating, in-depth bonus features invite in-home audiences to further explore the whimsical world of Underland. Three-time Oscar®-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood reveals the creative process behind the film’s ornate costuming; P!nk provides on-set access during production of her “Just Like Fire” music video; Sacha Baron Cohen showcases his quirky new character, Time; and Director James Bobin offers insightful audio commentary and introduces five, never-before-seen deleted scenes.
A Stitch in Time: Costuming Wonderland – Three-time Oscar®-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Memoirs of a Geisha”) explains how costuming helps shape the curious characters of Underland and reveals hidden Easter Eggs within the cast’s ornate outfits.
Music Video: “Just Like Fire” by P!nk – “Watch this madness, colorful charade” in P!nk’s music video for “Just Like Fire,” the hit song featured in “Alice Through the Looking Glass” that powered to the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
Behind the Music Video – Go on set with P!nk for production of her “Just Like Fire” music video, featuring fantastical imagery, aerial stunts, Underland character cameos, and guest appearances by P!nk’s family.
Behind The Looking Glass – Jump back and forth through time during this in-depth look into the making of “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” hosted by director James Bobin.
Time On… – Delight in this discussion with the unpredictable and witty Sacha Baron Cohen who plays Time, the keeper of the Chronosphere, a metallic sphere that powers all time.
Alice Goes Through the Looking Glass: A Scene Peeler – View a side-by-side comparison of raw production footage and final scenes, as Alice enters Underland through a magical looking glass.
Alice Goes Through Time’s Castle: A Scene Peeler – View raw production footage alongside final scenes, as Alice enters Time’s castle of eternity.
Characters of Underland – Get to know the quirky and colorful supporting characters in Underland, such as the tubby twins known as the Tweedles (Matt Lucas) and Absolem (Alan Rickman), the blue caterpillar turned blue Monarch butterfly.
Filmmaker Audio Commentary by James Bobin – Director James Bobin delivers scene-by-scene insight into the creation of “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”
Deleted Scenes with Director Commentary – Bobin introduces five never-before-seen scenes that didn’t make the final cut of Disney’s spectacular adventure.
Thereviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.
As a social media influencer, blogger, and someone who is on the internet a lot, I need to make sure that my connection is strong at all times. I am also a huge gamer so when I power on the Playstation4 and settle in for a long gaming session, I don’t want any interruptions. My husband and I are both very technologically savvy and most of our home is a connected home. We have Hue lights, Ring doorbell system, Nest Thermostats, and a Nest Protect. It has been a struggle to find a router that can put up with our internet use. But we found one that not only does it, it exceeded our expectations. If you want to go into your router settings, you can click to learn more.
The Linksys WRT3200ACM MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router has everything that we need – and more! It is crazy fast because it is powered by Tri-Stream 160 technology – which doubles the bandwidth on all spatial streams for the fastest dual-band router on the market! Gain access to restricted DFS channels at full bandwidth for the clearest Wi-Fi not available to most other routers. Once we hooked it up, I felt like our internet speed tripled. My friend told me that using a wifi adapter can also increase the speed of your internet. It’s highly recommended to read this great wifi adapter guide at Coolest-Gadgets if you want to learn more about this.
Some of my favorite WRT3200ACM features are:
1.8 GHz CPU for high-powered performance
MU-MIMO technology for high-speed Wi-Fi to multiple devices at the same time, same speed
Open-source ready with OpenWrt and DD-WRT® for complete flexibility and customization of functions,
Upgraded Smart Wi-Fi app to manage and monitor your home Wi-Fi from a mobile device, anytime, anywhere
256MB Flash and 512MB of RAM Memory
4 Gigabit Ethernet Ports
There are so many reasons to pick yours up today! If you are struggling with a slow internet connection, your router could be to blame. I have made the switch and will never go back! Trust Linksys – pick yours up at Best Buy today!
When Ice Age 5: Collision Course was in theaters, my husband and I took our young daughters to go see it. Ever since, they have been asking us to see it again. So when it arrived on our doorstep, along with a pretty amazing Space Movie Night package, they were thrilled! And I gotta admit it, I was too! We, as a family, love space. We have been to several planetariums and my girls always love learning about outer space. It was one of their favorite parts about the Collision Course movie.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLo-Uv-hWxR/
With all that was in the package, we were able to create the perfect space inspired movie night! There were lots of goodies from Smithsonian that my girls couldn’t wait to open. There was a telescope, planetarium projector, and a rocket science kit. There was also a Backyard Night Sky book (which I have had my nose stuck in since it came), glow in the dark start stickers, and an Ice Age Collision Course fleece blanket. The first thing we did was set up the blanket on the floor underneath the projector. We had so much fun watching the planets and stars as a family. After about 15 minutes of that, we put on Ice Age 5: Collision Course – and it was even better than we remembered! This is a show that all kids are sure to love – and parents will have fun watching it as well. We are huge fans of the Ice Age series because of the humor and stellar voice cast – Ice Age 5: Collision Course fits right in!
Pick up your copy of Ice Age 5: Collision Course today – and grab some fun space themed items to make a whole night of it! You can also play this super fun Scrat in Space game (that I am addicted to!).
Synopsis
Manny the mammoth starts to worry when his daughter Peaches announces her engagement. Still unlucky in love, Sid the sloth volunteers to plan the couple’s wedding. To Manny’s dismay, nothing can stop the upcoming nuptials, except maybe the end of the world. When Scrat accidentally launches himself into outer space, he sets off a chain reaction that sends an asteroid hurtling toward Earth. Now, the entire herd must leave home to explore new lands and save itself from Scrat’s cosmic blunder.
How would you create a space themed family movie night?
Enter to win a copy of Ice Age 5: Collision Course using the Gleam form below. Be sure to check out my other giveaways while you are here and GOOD LUCK!
My husband and I rarely get date night anymore. We have a 3 and a 5 year old that we love spending time with. We know that we need to take time for ourselves, but it only happens about once a month. When we do get a sitter, we usually go to dinner and a movie. One movie that we have been planning on seeing since we first heard about it is Keeping Up With The Joneses. This movie looks absolutely hilarious – and the stellar cast just adds to our want to see it.
I have teamed up with 20th Century Fox to give one of my lucky readers a $25 Visa Gift Card so that you have your own date night and go see Keeping Up With The Joneses in theaters! Be sure to let me know what you think of it – I am sure we will both love it! You really cannot go wrong with this cast.
Keeping Up With The Joneses, in theaters Friday, October 21st!
Synopsis
An ordinary suburban couple (Zach Galifianakis, Isla Fisher) finds it’s not easy keeping up with the Joneses (Jon Hamm, Gal Gadot) – their impossibly gorgeous and ultra-sophisticated new neighbors – especially when they discover that Mr. and Mrs. “Jones” are covert operatives.
Enter to win a $25 Visa Gift Card for a Date Night Out to see Keeping Up With The Joneses using the Gleam form below! Be sure to check out my other giveaways while you are here and GOOD LUCK!
Open to US mailing addresses only. Prizing provided by 20th Century Fox.
Director: Greg Mottola Writer: Michael LeSieur Producers: Laurie Macdonald, Walter F. Parkes Actors: Zach Galifianakis, Jon Hamm, Isla Fisher, Gal Gadot Rated PG-13
The Rootlets: Trouble at Plantasy Land By Vicki Marquez, for ages 3-9
It’s opening day at Mr. Fungo Fungi’s magnificent amusement park, Plantasy Land…and The Rootlets couldn’t be more excited! With special surprises and newly sprouted rides, this is sure to be the greatest day ever! But when The Rootlets arrive at the park, they realize that something is terribly wrong. Plantasy Land is in trouble! Someone—or something—is destroying the park. Could it be The Great Zucchini, Mr. Fungi’s new magician? Or could there be an even greater danger lurking beyond the park? Most of all, can The Rootlets trust their new super rootabilities to help them save their favorite place on the planet?
What inspired you to create this series? The idea of The Rootlets popped into my head one day as I was thinking about how I could help inspire kids to want to– and to be excited to– eat their veggies and make good, healthy choices. That thought lit a fire inside of me and I immediately knew that these characters were something special – that’s what inspired me to take action, create this series, build this brand and bring these characters to life.
How would you describe the dynamic between the Rootlets—Brocc, Carrotina, Cornelius and Kaley? The Rootlets are best friends, with a special bond and a lot of trust between them. They count on (and value) each others’ unique set of talents and strengths, and they operate like a little team…always rooting for and looking out for one another, no matter what kind of trouble their next adventure brings!
How did you decide what traits the Rootlets would possess? It wasn’t actually a conscious decision – they each began taking on certain characteristics with that initial vision I had of them. Right away it was clear who they were and what was important to each one of them. Brocc was smart and into studying, Cornelius was the jokester who loved to have fun. Kaley was a fancy girly-girl and Carrotina was a brave adventure-seeker. It felt like I knew them. A few months after I wrote the first book (Super Rootabilities), my husband said to me that each Rootlet reminded him of me, like they were me — at the core — divided into four. And in retrospect, I can totally see that…everything that The Rootlets love, I love. So, I guess that maybe I subconsciously selected their traits based on those things…and that each one actually represents a little part of me.
We have to ask about one of the most distinct aspects of The Rootlets—their vegetable hair. What inspired that idea? When I first transitioned to a plant-based diet, my best friend kept calling me her “veggie head.” That nickname was running through my brain when I first had the idea of The Rootlets. I envisioned these adorable kids with big, veggie hairdos: a broccoli afro, carrot pigtails, blonde kernels, leafy green locks…it was how I saw them, and it was absolutely perfect.
The Rootlets features bright and brilliant illustrations. Did the characters look the way you envisioned while writing the book? My illustrator, Jeremy, and I actually developed the characters long before I wrote the first story, so I was lucky to have a very clear visual reference of these kids as I was developing the series. But I will say that when Jeremy sent me those very first sketches of The Rootlets, he 1000% captured on paper what these characters looked like in my head.
Since you are an expert in health and nutrition with years of experience, what types of research did you do to write The Rootlets? The Rootlets series is all about the evolution of these four young kids who learn that they’re superheroes and who now have to navigate the huge responsibilities that come along with that, so all of my research was focused around character and story development, as well as general writing tips and guidelines for kids literature. The health and nutrition aspects of this series are indirect and expressed creatively, so that requires a lot less research, and a lot more imagination.
In The Rootlets, adventurous kids who love to play and a healthy lifestyle go hand-in-hand. Was that connection intentional? Yes, it was intentional, but also very obvious. The Rootlets are relatable role models who love to play, explore and go on little adventures, just like most kids – and those are all really great health-promoting activities to encourage.
What is the key to inspiring kids to make healthier choices? There are two keys: fun and familiarity! Fun is the easy one…kids seek it, love it, have to have it…and they’re motivated by it! So, when veggies and fruits arepresented in a fun, exciting way, kids are much more interested in them. Familiarity is the other key. Most kids (and adults) prefer to try (and buy) things that they’re familiar with. The Rootlets series introduces and popularizes healthy, plant-based foods, so that when kids see them in the grocery store or at the farmers market, they’re much more curious and excited to try them.
Why is reaching and educating kids about healthy choices in elementary school important to their lifelong health? Because so many of the habits that we have as adults stem from the habits that we developed when we were little. Good habits, like brushing our teeth, are gems that’ll serve us well our whole lives, but bad habits — especially unhealthy eating habits — are really hard to break and can lead to serious chronic disease and illness. Teaching kids, from an early age, about the superpowers of veggies and the importance of making good nutritional choices, establishes the foundation for them to build strong, healthy habits that will stay with them as they grow up.
What would you consider to be the biggest challenge to raising healthy kids today? Time…for sure! Parents are SO busy these days that finding the time to meal plan, shop and cook can be a real challenge. That’s why I’m really excited that our Rootlets blog now features quick and healthy kid-friendly recipes that parents can easily whip up and feel really good about sharing with their little ones.
You are a certified plant-based chef. What are some of your most popular dishes among kids? Ooh, there are so many good ones, but I’d have to say that the most popular dishes are the ones that kids can customize on their own or help make. For example: power bowls (where you start with a grain and then add your favorite toppings and sauces) tacos, wraps, homemade pizzas, smoothies…all of those are always kid-pleasers! And anything with cacao or chocolate, of course!
You also host a healthy living cable TV show, “ Nourished.” How does the process of preparing for the show compare to writing The Rootlets? The process is somewhat similar, actually. Each individual episode of “Nourished”and each Rootlets story is part of a larger overarching series, so while each one has to independently stand alone, they also have to be able to work well within that series. As for the actual prep process, it’s basically the same. I begin with an outline, then I put on my creativity cap and continue to write and expand on the story or episode. I edit, get my team involved, consider visuals, edit some more until I have a concrete finished product…then it’s production time!
When did your interest in nutrition and healthy food begin? Which authors inspired you as a child? In my mid-20s, I started paying close attention to what I was eating and how it was affecting me. I cut back on the highly processed junk food that I had been accustomed to eating my entire life, and I began eating real, whole, natural foods. Becoming aware of that food/body connection, and how my diet had been directly impacting my overall health, was a huge a-ha moment for me! Once I saw (and felt) the correlation between eating well and feeling good, my interest in health and nutrition grew naturally. As a kid, I loved Valerie Tripp, Shel Silverstein, Judy Blume, Roald Dahl, Peggy Parish and of course, Dr. Seuss.
The Rootlets are superheroes with special powers, which contribute to their big adventures. Which superpower would you choose to possess? Ooh, good question! I’d LOVE some sort of healing touch power. To be able to free people and animals from pain, sickness and illness…that would be the greatest!
What other projects are you currently working on? Right now I’m devoting the majority of my time to The Rootlets, writing book three, developing our app, attending school events and marketing the brand — and when I’m not working on that, I’m writing, creating content and testing recipes for “Nourished” and coaching my private and corporate clients.
Enter to win a copy of The Rootlets: Trouble at Plantasy Land using the Gleam form below. Be sure to check out my other giveaways while you are here. GOOD LUCK!
Daniel can’t wait to play in the snow, but before he and Miss Elaina can go outside, Daniel learns that he needs to, “think about what you’re going to do, and pick the clothes that are right for you.” Hats and mittens might spoil certain games, but being too cold to play is no fun for anyone! Daniel also discovers that when an activity – such as sledding, ice skating, or dancing in “The Nutcracker” ballet – seems scary or hard to do, trying a little bit at a time can make it easier. Purchase here.
The stories included on this DVD are:
“A Snowy Day”
It’s snowing in the Neighborhood! Miss Elaina is coming over to Daniel’s house to play in the snow. When it’s time to go outside, Mom Tiger helps Daniel change out of his pajamas into clothes that will keep him warm, and Daniel learns how important it is to choose the proper clothes.
“Daniel’s Winter Adventure”
Daniel, Dad, and Prince Wednesday are all going sledding! But once they get to the hill and see how tall it is, Daniel and Prince Wednesday get scared. Dad assures them that if they try it a little bit at a time, they might surprise themselves and have fun. Later, Daniel goes ice skating for the first time. When he tries it a little bit at a time, he realizes it is not so hard.
“Neighborhood Nutcracker”
Daniel is going to see a show called “The Nutcracker” ballet! Once he arrives at the performance, he finds out that Prince Wednesday is sick and needs Daniel to fill in for his part of the ballet. Daniel is reluctant at first but realizes that if he learns the steps a little bit at a time, he can dance “The Nutcracker” and the show will go on!
“Baking Mistakes”
Daniel and Prince Wednesday are at the bakery helping Baker Aker make cookies for the Neighborhood. But Prince Wednesday accidentally spills the milk! No crying though because mistakes can happen. Soon the boys learn that they can try to fix their mistakes and learn from them, too. Trolley cookies for everyone!
Celebrate Christmas with Kate & Mim-Mim and their new DVD, A Christmas Wish! My girls and I are huge fans of this Disney Junior TV show and already have a couple of the DVDs. We were really excited to see a Christmas special DVD as it has become tradition to watch Christmas specials starting every November (we LOVE Christmas!). Since we received an advance copy, we watched all the episodes the first day that it arrived. The episodes chosen to be on this disk are perfect for the holiday season! This DVD would make a great stocking stuffer for your little ones as well.
In the story “A Christmas Wish,” which is a special extended adventure, Tack’s letter launcher is used to send Christmas wishes to Santa. After blasting off for the North Pole, the letter launcher malfunctions, landing in the wrong location and destroying the beautiful Christmas tree Kate and Mim-Mim decorated with their Mimiloo friends. With their Christmas tree ruined and no way to send their letters to Santa, can Christmas be saved? In addition to “A Christmas Wish,” this DVD features two more exciting tales in which Kate and Mim-Mim go snow bowling, get stuck inside an ice cave, and try to find their friend Chilly in order to prevent the Winter Waterfalls from melting. Purchase here.
The following episodes are included on this DVD:
“A Christmas Wish” (extended adventure)
It’s a stormy Christmas Eve and Kate worries that Dad won’t get home in time to put the star on the Christmas tree. In Mimiloo, Kate tells her friends all about Christmas, and everyone is excited to send a wish to Santa Claus. But when Tack’s letter launcher malfunctions, it looks like Christmas will be ruined!
“Snow Bowling”
Kate wants to build a snow fort, but there isn’t enough snow in the yard. In Mimiloo, Kate and her friends go snow bowling in the Winter Waterfalls. They use snowballs as bowling balls and snowmen for the pins. But when the gang slides down into an ice cave, Kate will have to think creatively to help them escape.
“Chilly the Snowman”
Kate’s sad because her snowman is melting! In Mimiloo, it is a sweltering hot day so Kate, Mim-Mim, and their friends head to the Winter Waterfalls to cool down – only to find that all the ice is melting! To re-freeze the waterfalls, Kate will have to find Chilly the snowman who keeps the Winter Waterfalls cold, snowy, and frozen.
Inspired by a real life little girl, “Kate & Mim-Mim” follows the fantastical adventures of five-year-old Kate, who, together with her toy rabbit Mim-Mim, travels to the fantasy world of Mimiloo where Mim-Mim comes alive as a larger-than-life playmate. In each story, Kate and Mim-Mim and their group of loveable friends discover exciting new places and set off on adventures, all in the hope of solving a puzzling problem Kate has encountered in the real world.
Exploring themes of friendship, adventure, and problem solving, “Kate & Mim-Mim” encourages children to use their imaginations and work together, believing no problem is ever too big to solve!
I am a huge Star Wars fan so of course I am beyond excited about all the new Star Wars movies that Lucasfilm is releasing. One that I am actually quite excited for is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. I think it looks incredible! My husband and I have chatted about it at length and we think that it will be the perfect mix of the Star Wars world we know and love – and totally new content and ideas. With a major franchise like this, you have to bring something new to it and I think Gareth Edwards will do just that! Just a couple more months and we will find out for sure – I cannot wait!
About Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY is directed by Gareth Edwards and stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, with Jiang Wen and Forest Whitaker. Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur and Simon Emanuel are producing, with John Knoll and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY arrives in theaters everywhere on December 16th!
National School Lunch Week is this week, October 10th – October 14th, and that means it’s time to start preparing for a week of fun lunches. Welch’s® Fruit Snacks is here to improve school lunch across America ESPECIALLY for those who face child hunger. Through October, Welch’s® Fruit Snacks has partnered with Feeding America® the nation’s largest hunger-relief and food rescue organization to provide 1 million meals to children in need.
Here’s how you can do your part and join Welch’s® Fruit Snacks to fight childhood hunger:
*For each photo received, Welch’s® Fruit Snacks will donate $1.00 to Feeding America®.
My 5 year old loves Welch’s® Fruit Snacks and is always taking them to school with her as part of her lunch. Even on days that she buys lunch, she asks me to throw a pack in her backpack. She often tells me that she wants an extra pack in her bag just in case she doesn’t like what her classmate brings in for snack that day. She is actually has her snack day coming up and she selected some Halloween themed Welch’s® Fruit Snacks to bring in! I forgot her Welch’s once – just once! – and I have yet to hear the end of it.
About Welch’s® Fruit Snacks
The Welch’s® name has been built on the highest quality fruit, proudly grown on family farms. In this tradition of goodness come Welch’s® Fruit Snacks, made with REAL Fruit for the delicious taste the whole family will love! Welch’s® Fruit snacks are Fat Free, Gluten Free, contain No Preservatives and provide 100% of the recommended daily value of Vitamin C and 25% of Vitamins A and E. Welch’s® Fruit Snacks are sure to delight your family with the delicious taste and quality that can only be Welch’s®.
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