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An Interview with Jason Mewes

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As most of you know, I am a huge comic book nerd – so naturally, I was pretty excited when I found out I would have the opportunity to chat with Jason Mewes. You probably know him best as Jay from the Jay and Silent Bob films or Jimmy in the TV series Todd and the Book of Pure Evil but he is also the voice of Kit in the new movie Bling (available for free on Google Play until April 10th). To say it was an honor to speak with him is an understatement – I have been a fan of his for quite some time.

I wanted to start off by telling him happy early birthday to his daughter. She turns 1 in April and I could tell how much he loves her the second I brought her up. I was curious if having a child (or even a daughter in particular) would change the types of roles Jason accepts but he assured me that it wouldn’t (yay!). “If there is a character or a script that I think is fun or challenging, I’ll still do it” – so have no fear dirty comedy and horror film fans – Jason Mewes isn’t going anywhere. He stated that his daughter won’t be seeing them and/or understanding them so he has no concern doing them. However, he has changed something about his career since having a daughter – he no longer spends extra time away from home while filming. “If I was going to shoot a movie for 2 days in London, I would leave 5-6 days early to adjust to the time difference and get to sight see – or even if it was New York, I would go visit my family and spend 8-9 days there even if I was only working 2 days. Now, it’s like alright I work 2 days – I’m gonna leave the night before, and wake up, work for 2 days, and wake up the next day and come home.” As a mom, I can totally relate to that one! I want to spend as much time as possible with my kiddos.

Speaking of his daughter, Jason has watched Bling with her already. In fact, he thinks she might even have recognized his voice as Kit. “She will look at the screen and smile and giggle.” I let him know how much my daughter enjoyed the film, and asked if there would be a sequel (possibly based on the super hero team this time). Jason’s response was exactly what I was hoping to hear “I hope so, I really do. I had a blast and I think it’s a great fun movie.” When asked what he wanted kids to take away from Bling, Jason said “Follow your heart, don’t worry about all the Bling. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be – just go for it.”

I found it interesting that Jason said it had been a while since he recorded the voice of Kit. He had a lot of fun doing it over the course of about 3 days (not full days but 3 times going in to record). I know that movies are a long process, especially animated films, but it still surprises me when I hear how long they take from conception to final edit.

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I had to ask Jason if he prefers voice over work vs. live action since he has done both. “I definitely don’t prefer one over the other – I enjoy both of them. I have lots of fun on live action because you go somewhere and you get to dress up – maybe drive a car, and then shoot fake bow and arrows – whatever it is – it is fun to do and play something else. I really dig that part of it. The animation is fun because it’s nice to wake up and if your late or it’s really early in the morning and your tired and don’t want to shower, you don’t have to shower. You can go in your pajamas if you want and you can just sit there and go through dialogue and not worry about all that other stuff that you would shooting a movie in live action.

Jason’s favorite role that he has even played is Vinnie the Mobster in The Last Godfather. “I got to play a mobster and I got to drive a 1950’s Lincoln and I got to shoot a tommy gun. It was a lot of fun and definitely one of my favorite characters to play – besides of course, Jay, because Jay is one I have played many, many times and I’ve been lucky to play that and it’s got me to where I have been able to do other things. Second to Jay, is Vinnie the Mobster.” Since he brought up that he has played Jay so many times, I asked if he felt that when someone hears his name, they immediately think of Jay – or are there some other real stand out roles of him. “I feel like Jay or Jimmy – Jimmy is another fun one – it’s a show called Todd and the Book of Pure Evil. It’s a show that was on for 2 seasons, it was shot in Winnipeg, Canada.” If you are a fan of this show, you will be happy to hear that they are doing an animated movie to complete the story line since it was not picked up for a 3rd season. “A lot of people come up and mention that character – and then of course Lester from Zack and Miri Make a Porno. But I definitely think Jay is the one that stands out the most.

I know that Jason is good friends with Kevin Smith (his counterpart to Jay) so when I asked who his favorite actor to work with was, I had to mention besides Kevin. “I would say my favorite, and the coolest for me, was Johnny Depp in Yoga Hosers. Doing Yoga Hosers, I got to play a rogue cop and I got to do a scene directly with Johnny Depp and that was pretty amazing to me. Johnny Depp is one of my favorite actors, so this was a pretty great response in my mind.

Kit in Bling is part of a super hero team and is a monkey-type robot with some awesome karate skills. Being the comic book fan that I am, and knowing that Jason is one too, I couldn’t get off the phone with him before asking him what super power he would like to have.Jason did not even have to think about this question. “Mine would be flying for sure, just because I feel like I travel a bunch and I hate getting to the airport on time and delays and missed flights and cancelled flights and sitting on a plane for 5 hours and all that so flying would definitely be it. If I could fly over to New York and see my family real quick and fly back, that would be fantastic.

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BLING Synopsis
Lowly theme park mechanic Sam dreams about his childhood sweetheart Sue. With the misguided belief that only a bling ring can win the girl of his dreams, Sam plans the most perfect night to propose to his one true love. But when supervillain Oscar shows up with an evil scheme involving a ring of his own, Sam’s plans are thrown into utter disarray. After mistaking each other’s rings for their own, Sam teams up with his robot superheroes to track down his engagement ring and save the city… learning that it’s not about the size of the bling, but the size of your heart.

This family-friendly, feature-length animated adventure is available exclusively for free on Google Play until April 10th, 2016!
You can check out my review of the film, printable activity sheets, and a fun giveaway HERE!

FanGirl Friday

BLING is also part of Google Play’s family-friendly discovery experience that is designed to help parents find apps, games, movies & TV shows and books that are appropriate for their kids. Simply tap the “Family” button on the Apps, Games and Movies & TV homepages or the “Children’s Books” button on the Books homepage to find recommendations by age and interests.

About Google Play
Google Play is an online store with millions of digital songs, movies, TV shows, apps, games, books and more. With access to 35 million songs, thousands of new release movies and next day TV shows, millions of apps and games, and thousands of news sources, Google Play is your one stop shop for digital entertainment on any device.

About Momentum Pictures, an Entertainment One Company
Momentum Pictures is focused on distributing multiplatform film, television and special interest content in the U.S. and around the world.

The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).

Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey at SXSW

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Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey, ” a feature-length documentary will have its world premiere during the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW®), being held in Austin, Texas, March 11-19, 2016. The documentary, a bonus feature on the upcoming Digital HD and Blu-ray Combo Pack release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is an inside look at the making of this epic movie, revealed through in-depth footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers.

The documentary will be shown at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin on Monday, March 14, at 12:00 p.m. Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ BAFTA Award–winning and Academy Award®–nominated visual effects supervisor Roger Guyett, Academy Award®–nominated supervising sound editor Matthew Wood and co-producer Michelle Rejwan will be on hand for a Q&A following the screening.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens shattered box office records upon its debut to become the cinematic event of a generation with over $926 million domestic and $2 billion worldwide. I saw it the night it opened and it was incredible! I cannot wait to see it again when it comes to DVD/Blu-Ray. I just know that I will catch a lot more the second time around. I honestly think that even new fans that have not seen the rest of the series will love the film. It was so well made.

The epic movie will be available to own early on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on April 1, and is available on iTunes and other digital providers for pre-order now. Fans can also explore all things Star Wars at iTunes.com/Starwars. It comes home on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on April 5.

In celebration of the documentary “Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey” premiering at SXSW Film Festival, The First Order TIE Fighter and stormtroopers landed in Austin today. The feature-length documentary, which is an in-depth bonus feature on the upcoming Digital HD and Blu-ray Combo Pack debuts at the Paramount Theatre on March 14th in Austin, Texas. The TIE Fighter will be stationed at South Bites at SXSW throughout the weekend for festival goers to experience the landing!

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens is coming home on Digital HD April 1 and is available on iTunes and other digital providers for pre-order now.

ABOUT STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
Lucasfilm and visionary director J.J. Abrams join forces to take you back again to a galaxy far, far away as Star Wars returns with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The screenplay is written by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt.

ABOUT SXSW
Now in its 23rd year, SXSW Film brings together creatives of all stripes over nine days to experience a diverse film line up and access to more than 500 Conference sessions with visionaries from all corners of the entertainment and media industries. SXSW 2016 takes place March 11-20 in Austin, TX.

The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences & Festivals offer the unique industry convergence of music, film, and interactive technologies. Fostering creative and professional growth, SXSW is the premier destination for discovery. The event is a launch pad for innovative content with new media presentations, music showcases and film screenings providing exposure for creators and compelling entertainment for attendees. For more information, please visit sxsw.com.

 

FanGirl Friday

The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).

2016 Spring Reading List

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Spring Reading Featured


opposite zooThe Opposite Zoo

Whimsical and stunningly illustrated, THE OPPOSITE ZOO (On sale March 8, 2016 | Ages 2–5) is a charming picture book that gives readers a simple introduction to opposites through animals with diverse appearances and traits. Featuring a sleeping panda and an awake owl, a hairy lion and a bald hippo, Il Sung Na revels in the beauty and wonder of zoo animals in the night when the zoo is closed. Reminiscent of the textural beauty found in Il Sung Na’s A Book of Sleep, THE OPPOSITE ZOO is sure to enchant young readers and is the perfect bedtime book.

Written by: Il Sung Na
Purchase Here


My ShadowMy Shadow

Inside, outside, climbing up the stairs, or jumping into bed, your shadow may be following you! He may even be one step ahead as you run down the street! Complete with a cast of the whole family, a cat, a dog, and a teddy, this story is for everyone. Little ones who are just discovering their shadows for the first time will find inspiration between these pages, while older, more experienced kids are sure to learn new ways to play with their shadows. Get ready to laugh and giggle and then find the nearest light source and try out some shadows of your own!

Written by: Robert Louis Stevenson
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Hypnosis HarryHypnosis Harry

No pajamas at the park. No toys in the toaster. Harry’s parents say no to everything! That is, until Harry learns about hypnosis. With a little practice, and Grandpa’s watch, Harry puts his parents in a trance and envisions a future full of fun and yes’s! Comic books by the crate, night-vision goggles for his teddy bear, a pet monkey (or two)—no request is too big or too bizarre. Harry loves his new freedom and, not to mention, all that bacon. So what if his robot goes rogue and playmates are hard to find? But when his ninja moves result in a playground pile-up, Harry starts to wonder if he really wants his every wish granted. Hypnosis Harry is a wildly funny, sweetly silly look at the real meaning of the word no. Children will delight as little Harry answers the delicious question: What would you do if you could do anything? This charming romp is perfectly captured in the lively, layered illustrations of Sarita Rich. Each read reveals clever new details, making this the perfect reread for parent and child.

Written by: Catherine Bailey
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Hattie PeckHattie Peck

Poor Hattie Peck simply loves eggs, but she has only ever laid one egg—and it never hatched. Eggs are all she thinks about, all she dreams about. No egg is too big; no egg is too small. So if she can’t lay another egg, she’s going to have to go out into the world to find one. Hattie embarks on a journey in search of all the abandoned eggs. She dives to the deepest depths of vast oceans. She soars over gigantic cities and climbs up mountains towering above the clouds. Through gloomy dark caves, deep below the ground, Hattie searches. And she doesn’t find just one egg. There are so many abandoned eggs, just waiting for her to find them! Energetic and colorful illustrations fill this story with humor and fun. Kids will take away positive messages about making your dreams come true in unexpected ways. This can also work as an adoption story about unconditional love. With a cute surprise ending, this is sure to make kids laugh and smile. A picture book for children 3 to 6 years old, this is a sweet and simple story about how to love all different kinds of people. It has a great message for adopted children and their families as well as lots of humor for read alouds.

Written by: Emma Levey
Purchase Here


teen frankensteinTeen Frankenstein

High school meets classic horror in Teen Frankenstein, Chandler Baker’s modern reimagining of Mary Shelley’s gothic novelIt was a dark and stormy night when Tor Frankenstein accidentally hits someone with her car. And kills him. But, all is not lost―Tor, being the scientific genius she is, brings him back to life… Thus begins a twisty, turn-y take on a familiar tale, set in the town of Hollow Pines, Texas, where high school is truly horrifying.

Written by: Chandler Baker
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101 personality quizzes101 Fun Personality Quizzes

Open this book to any page and you’ll find a personality quiz that’s both fun to fill out and revealing in its results. Just grab a pen and get started. You already know the answer to every question, but do you dare discover what those answers say about who you are… really?!

Purchase Here
Connect with Ulysses Press: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest


fisherdawgFisherdawg

Well Woofo there! Sorry, my mouth’s a bit full here. I’m the one and only FisherDawg. Kind of like Superman! Dawg – I meant to say SuperDawg! In this book, I’ll tell you about my hero, the Phil-man and why I was nicknamed the FisherDawg. And let me tell you, it only gets crazier from here! Hold onto your seat – or in this instance – your fish! This is a children’s series that you and your child will both love! None of those illustrations though! You get the real me on every page. Really! Look inside! Uh-oh, my ego is showing! Woof!

Written by: Lisa L Phillips
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little starThe Little Star

The Star family is overjoyed when their newest Little Star is born. Everyone in the rock pool celebrates, but their excitement is soon taken away when the Little Star becomes very ill and dies. How will the Star family cope with this tragic loss? How will the other animals in the rock pool deal with the news and support the family? Will the rock pool ever be the same again? The Little Star tells the true story of the Mortimer family and how they coped with the death of their precious baby boy, Charlie, and supported their two boys, Harry and Adam. It includes their brave decision to bring baby Leo into the world. It aims to support families who have been through a similar experience and provides information and discussion questions to help children deal with the death of a baby.

Written by: Kay Moorby
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teeny tiny toadyTeeny Tiny Toady

When a giant hand scoops up her mama and puts her in a pail, a terrified tiny toad named Teeny hops faster than she ever did in her life. “Mama’s stuck inside a bucket! Help me get her out!” she begs her big, clumsy brothers. “Don’t you worry, kid. We’ll save her!” they promise, bumbling and stumbling and jumbling out the door. But as the boys rush headlong to the rescue, pushing their little sister aside, it becomes clear: brawn isn’t always better than brains—and the smallest of the family may just be the smartest one of all. Written in lilting verse, this teeny book packs in humor, emotion, and triumphant girl power.

Written by: Jill Esbaum
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ah-chooAh-Choo!

When hunting for his new best friend, a boy goes through an alphabetical menagerie of animals. From an antelope, to bobolink birds, to wolves and zebras—and of course, a cat and dog, too—he brings them all home. But each creature just makes his sister go AH-CHOO! Will he ever be able to have the perfect pet? This children’s book is a delightful way to talk about pet allergies and getting a first pet! I’d love to send you a copy for review, and I provide a copy for a giveaway on your blog or website.

Written by: Lana Wayne Koehler
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Joey Visits GrandpaJoey Visits Grandpa

This story is about a loving relationship between Joey and his grandpa. Joey visits his grandpa and they do many fun things together. But soon afterwards Joey’s grandpa discovers he has a problem and not just one problem. Discover how Joey solves the problems and finds a solution at the end of the story. This imaginative story will captivate both children and adults and will delight the reader with its lighthearted humor.

Written by: Patricia Nichvolodoff
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ZoonicornsBuffy Meets the Zoonicorns

In Buffy Meets the Zoonicorns, Buffy feels a little ignored and wants the freedom that the older animals have. Within Buffy’s dream, she meets the Zoonicorns and learns to appreciate the balance of freedom and responsibility. After waking up from her dreamland adventure, Buffy quickly realizes how much she appreciates her life… just as it is! Each book includes a life lesson for positive reinforcement.

There are even Zoonicorn stuffed animals that you can buy. They are soft and cuddly – and perfect to go along with the book! My daughters love their Valeo one, but there are four to choose from.

Written by: Mark Lubratt
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sophies squashSophie’s Squash Go to School

This charming sequel to the beloved Sophie’s Squash is the perfect antidote to the back-to-school jitters. Sophie goes to school for the first time and has no interest in making friends that aren’t squash. Here’s a gently humorous read-aloud that proves that making friends, just like growing squash, takes time.

On Sophie’s first day of school, nobody appreciates her two best friends, Bonnie and Baxter, baby squash that she grew in her garden. Even worse, one classmate, Steven Green, won’t leave Sophie alone. He sits by her at circle time. He plays near her during recess. And he breathes on her while she paints. Steven just wants to be friends, but Sophie isn’t interested. Still, Sophie knows that her squash friends won’t last forever. Maybe it would be nice to have some human friends after all. . . .

Written by: Pat Zietlow Miller
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CrayonsHow the Crayons Saved the Rainbow

The Sun and the Clouds are best friends. Together they keep the world warm, the gardens growing, and the sky full of beautiful rainbows. But one day they get into a fight and refuse to be in the sky together. And that means there are no longer any rainbows. Without rainbows, the colors start disappearing until Earth was left with no color … except for one little forgotten box of crayons in one little school desk.

Determined to save the rainbows and fix the Sun and Clouds’ friendship, the crayons draw rainbows all over town. Their attempts go unnoticed. Soon they realize that they’re going to have to do something big to get the attention of the former friends. So, the crayons create the biggest rainbow they can and hope it’s enough to bring color back to the world.

Written by: Monica Sweeney
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IzzyIzzy the Very Bad Buglar

Izzy comes from a family of excellent burglars. But every time Izzy takes something that doesn’t belong to her, she gets a bad feeling in her stomach that won’t go away. She tries to tell her parents about the bad feeling, but whenever she mentions it, they tell her she needs to be a good burglar.

Izzy finds ways to make the funny feeling in her stomach subside. She and her friend, Frog, start by tidying up as they burgle. They make the beds, dust, wash the dishes, and do the laundry. When the people come home, some of their things will be gone . . . but at least they won’t have any chores to do.

Written by: Amy Proud
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Amazing DadMy Amazing Dad

With bright illustrations from award-winning illustrator Tom Jellett and minimal text by award-nominated Ezekiel Kwaymullina, My Amazing Dad celebrates the unconventional father who may not always get it right but certainly knows how to turn every day into something special.

This dad is not like other dads. He is not good at: Mowing the lawn, Getting his children to school on time, Baking cakes, Fixing a leaky faucet, or Remembering bed time

But, he is good at: Making mazes, Getting his children to school eventually, Eating cakes, Making bubble baths, and Telling bedtime stories. And this is what makes him so special.

Written by: Ezekiel Kwaymullina
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my grandpa is a dinosaurMy Grandpa is a Dinosaur

This little girl has been watching her grandpa for a very long time, and she is almost absolutely certain that he is a dinosaur. So why is it that nobody believes her? Why can’t anyone else see what she sees? He roars! (And no, it’s not just a snore.) He has green skin! (And no, he’s not from outer space.) He even has a tail! (And no, he’s not a horse!) Determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, the little girl goes straight to the source. It’s time to ask Grandpa once and for all: is he a dinosaur?

Just like Gorillas in Our Midst, this book is all silliness and fun. Comic artist Richard Fairgray’s illustrations are filled with wonderful, quirky details for kids to discover with each read. Kids will love that they can see that Grandpa is a dinosaur when nobody else can. And, of course, a story like this can’t end without a surprising twist!

Written by: Richard Fairgray
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The SpinfordsThe Spinfords

What’s the one thing in the world that scares kids the most? Being different. But not Salvatore. You see, Salvatore’s webs are different. Much to his family’s disappointment. Because this family of circus-performing spiders has built their act off tradition. Webs are circles, period. But not Salvatore’s. And over his father’s squashed body is he going to let him perform with them. It would ruin all they worked for since Grandpa Sebastian Spinford started their show back in 1934. But Salvatore knows better. He knows the crowd is craving something new and fresh. And with his grandfather’s help, he’s going to prove it. Salvatore’s story will give children of all ages the confidence to be themselves, no matter what.

Written by: AnnMarie Martin
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New Trailer & Poster for Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War

Captain America Civil War

I want to start this off by apologizing to you guys. I could have gotten this BRAND NEW Captain America: Civil War trailer to you much quicker by I was too busy watching it over and over. To be fair, I did put it on Facebook and Twitter so maybe you saw it there first. If you are a fan of Marvel Comics, or just the movies, or none of the above – you will love this trailer. There is no way that you cannot be excited about this movie after watching it. The fight scenes, the drama, the characters (watch to the very end) – there are so many amazing things about this trailer. I cannot wait for the film to come out on May 6th, 2016 (oh and you can already grab your tickets here, I have mine!).

Captain America Civil War

The comic book story line came out in 2006-2007 so if you are (and have been) a Marvel Comics fan like I am, then you are familiar with it. I must say, this is one of my favorite story lines of all time and leads in to some even more amazing story lines. Therefore, I was nervous and excited at the same time when I heard about this movie. Marvel Studios has never steered us fans wrong though, so I am sure they are going to do a fantastic job with the movie. Everything that I have seen about it so far has confirmed that. There is a lot of speculation about which characters and will appear – and if they all will survive. I am keeping my mouth shut but if the movie ends how the comic story line did, it is going to be HUGE – and absolute must see! Watch the trailer below over and over and over like me – and get amped up! Less than 2 months to go, we can do this guys!

P.S. Go #TeamIronMan!

About Captain America: Civil War
Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in twocamps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Emily VanCamp, Frank Grillo and Martin Freeman, with William Hurt and Daniel Brühl. Anthony & Joe Russo are directing with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Patricia Whitcher, Nate Moore and Stan Lee are the executive producers. The screenplay is by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely.

Get ready to pick a side and join the nonstop action playing out on two fronts when Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” opens in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2016.

Like CAPTAIN AMERICA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaptainAmerica
Follow CAPTAIN AMERICA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaptainAmerica
Follow Marvel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvel/
Visit the official CAPTAIN AMERICA website here: http://marvel.com/captainamerica

Captain America Civil War

Kid-O-Bunk: An Absolute Must Have for Camping with Kids

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

kid-o-bunk-camping-with-kids

If you are an on the go family like we are, then I have a product that you really need to check out! My husband has every Monday off so we love to spend weekends away and take trips to visit new and exciting places. That means, this summer, we plan to do a lot of camping. But we needed something for the girls to sleep on – and discovered a must have for camping with kids that I want to share with you!

kid-o-bunk camping kit

The Kid-O-Bunk is Easy to Set Up

I was told about the Kid-O-Bunk by Disc-O-Bed, and I just knew they were something we needed to get for all of our plans! It is a portable bunk bed, that is great for kids on the go. When it arrived at our house, I must say, I was a tad intimidated. I mean, there were what seemed like so many pieces!

The instructions that came with it are very clear and easy understand. I was afraid that it was going to take hours to set up – but it took me less than ten minutes. And that was just the first time. After years of owning it now – and taking it all around with us each summer – it takes me less than five.

The Kid-O-Bunk can be used as two single cots, a bunk bed, or even a sitting bench.  I was pleased to see that it comes with two carrying bags that make storing and transporting it a cinch. My daughters love their Kid-O-Bunk. They say it is the most comfortable thing to sleep on when camping – and even prefer it over an air mattress. 

kid-o-bunk-packaging

Room For Everything!

My daughters especially love the side organizers in the Kid-O-Bunk. They use them to store all their camping must haves: iPads, water bottles, stuffed animals, snacks, and, well, whatever they feel like taking with them.

“Kid-O-Bunk is perfect for stress-free sleepovers, family vacations when you don’t have enough sleeping arrangements, camping trips, overnight stays at the grandparents, you name it,” said Douglas Owen, co-owner of Kid-O-Bunk. “We’re a family business with success working with military and disaster relief organizations for over 25 years, and creating Kid-O-Bunk is an exciting and natural next step for us as a brand.” 

Kid-o-Bunk-camping-with-kids

Durable Too!

We have been using this bunk bed when camping with the kids for nearly four years now, and it has help up wonderfully! If the kids do spill anything (they are kids, you know they will) or if you get any dirt on the cots,  don’t worry! They are super easy to clean because they are machine washable. 

The Kid-O-Bunk comes in many different colors, so your child(ren) can choose their favorite. I personally love that they can be set up as a bunk bed, or two separate cots. This is great when you have a large tent and room to spread out (and the kids don’t need to be literally on top of each other anymore).

We love to camp, and the Kid-O-Bunk made my list of our favorite camping accessories!

kid-o-bunk-set-up

Connect on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/discobedworldwide
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kidobunk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCP8twe31GQ2N6jde3oRt8w

Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Tales Comes to DVD on 3/8

Disclosure: Mama Smith’s Review Blog received this item in exchange for her honest review. All opinions expressed are 100% hers.

LPS Pet Tales

My daughters are huge The Littlest Pet Shop fans! In fact, I am too. It is one of my favorite shows to watch with them. We have quite the collection of the DVDs already, and were so thrilled to add another one to it! Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Tales features 5 must see, hilarious episodes! Pre-order or purchase.

LPS Pet Tales

Synopsis

These Pets Are Sharing Extraordinary Adventures And You’re Invited! Join Blythe and her pet friends – Zoe the spaniel, Pepper the skunk, Sunil the mongoose, Russell the hedgehog, Penny the panda, and Minka the monkey – as they return for five outrageous tales, including their tangles with fairies and witches, mysterious jungles, quarreling koalas and much, much more! It’s all here in the Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Tales! The following episodes are featured on this DVD:

  1. So Interesting
  2. What’s So Scary About the Jungle? Everything!
  3. Feud For Thought
  4. Fish Out Of Water
  5. Proud As A… Peacock?

This collection of episodes is great! There is even a bonus sing along (which Littlest Pet Shop has on most of their DVDs).

BLING is a Hit with Kids + Free Activity Sheets

bling

Rock out to a superhero adventure for the whole family with the exclusive debut of BLING on Google Play. Featuring the voice talents of Taylor Kitsch, Carla Gugino and James Woods, BLING follows the tale of lowly theme park mechanic Sam whose plan to marry the girl of his dreams is thwarted by a super villain. It is up to him and his team of superhero robots to save the city. Can this accident-prone amusement park mechanic get back his ring, stop the villain, and win the girl before it’s too late?

bling       bling

I just watched this amazing film with my 4 year old yesterday and we love it! It is available right now on Google Play for free (until April 10th!) and I highly recommend that you check it out. My daughter was glued to the laptop the entire movie (and that says a lot because she tends to gets distracted about half way through feature length films that she watches at home). She didn’t say a word until about 20 minutes in (and what she did say was “Wow, I like this movie.”). I had a lot of fun watching it with her – and I really enjoyed it as well! The movie is fun, hilarious, and has some great characters. I may have even teared up at the end (I refuse to tell you why because I don’t want to ruin the movie). As soon as it ended, my daughter went on a 15 minute spiel about the movie. She recapped the whole thing and then told me how awesome it was. She says she can’t wait to watch it with her little sister and dad. It is definitely family movie night material and we will be adding to our rotation!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCgKSawvvoV/

Synopsis
Lowly theme park mechanic Sam dreams about his childhood sweetheart Sue. With the misguided belief that only a bling ring can win the girl of his dreams, Sam plans the most perfect night to propose to his one true love. But when supervillain Oscar shows up with an evil scheme involving a ring of his own, Sam’s plans are thrown into utter disarray. After mistaking each other’s rings for their own, Sam teams up with his robot superheroes to track down his engagement ring and save the city… learning that it’s not about the size of the bling, but the size of your heart.

I have some super fun BLING activity sheets that you can download to your computer by clicking on the image below. My 4 year old asked me print them out “right this second!” so that she could do the maze and the mix and match. I really think that BLING is her new favorite movie – she cannot wait to watch it again!

BLING Activity Sheets

BLING MAZE

Bling MixAndMatch

This family-friendly, feature-length animated adventure is available exclusively for free on Google Play until April 10th, 2016!

*Available for free until April 10, 2016 on Google Play to residents in U.S., Canada U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Botswana, Cambodia, Fiji, Iceland, Jamaica, Macedonia, Malta, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.*

Giveaway Alert

Enter to win a BLING T-shirt and Google Play $25 gift card using the Gleam form below. Be sure to check out my other giveaways while you are here and GOOD LUCK!

BLING T-Shirt & Google Play Gift Card

FanGirl Friday

BLING is also part of Google Play’s family-friendly discovery experience that is designed to help parents find apps, games, movies & TV shows and books that are appropriate for their kids. Simply tap the “Family” button on the Apps, Games and Movies & TV homepages or the “Children’s Books” button on the Books homepage to find recommendations by age and interests.

About Google Play
Google Play is an online store with millions of digital songs, movies, TV shows, apps, games, books and more. With access to 35 million songs, thousands of new release movies and next day TV shows, millions of apps and games, and thousands of news sources, Google Play is your one stop shop for digital entertainment on any device.

About Momentum Pictures, an Entertainment One Company
Momentum Pictures is focused on distributing multiplatform film, television and special interest content in the U.S. and around the world.

The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).

Learn How To Draw the Stars of Zootopia

zootopia-3

I am so excited that the weekend is finally here! Zootopia arrives in theaters today and I cannot wait to take my girls to see it! I have heard so many good things about it and of course, knowing that it is Disney, I know it is going to be amazing. It currently has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100% so that says a lot too! Several good friends of mine have seen it and tell me it is fun for the whole family. My daughters have been asking nearly every day if it was time to go see it yet. We went to the zoo last weekend and they kept pointing out animals that they know are in the film like the Fennec Fox and the Sloth. The entire family has been waiting for this movie since we knew it was coming out. If you go see it, please let me know what you think!

Zootopia Rotten Tomatoes

In celebration of Zootopia’s arrival this weekend, I am excited to share a couple of how to draw videos. In them you can learn to draw Judy Hopps and Flash! How cool and fun is that!

Zootopia Judy Hops

Zootopia Flash

ZOOTOPIA opens in theatres everywhere TODAY March 4th!

Zootopia Coloring Sheets

Check out the Zootopia Coloring Pages & Activity Sheets here!

Like ZOOTOPIA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyZootopia
Follow ZOOTOPIA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyZootopia
Follow Disney Animation on Instagram: https://instagram.com/disneyanimation/
Visit Disney Animation on Tumblr: http://disneyanimation.tumblr.com/
Visit the official ZOOTOPIA website here: http://movies.disney.com/zootopia

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Releases in April

star wars

Star Wars: The Force Awakens shattered box office records upon its debut to become the cinematic event of a generation with over $926 million domestic and $2.05 billion worldwide. As announced this morning by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Iger at The Walt Disney Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the epic movie will be available to own early on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on April 1. It comes home on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on April 5.

I am a HUGE Star Wars fan and am thrilled to hear this news! My husband and I had our honeymoon at Star Wars Weekend at Disney World (and we have planned our wedding so that the dates would line up). We are big fans and have cannot wait to start our daughters on the films. At ages 3 and 4 we plan to start soon and we know that they will really take to them. They love the Clone Wars cartoon and can already name just about every character. My 4 year old was Rey last Halloween and still wears the costume several times a month. She also has Rey pajamas. We have all of the other Star Wars movies and cannot wait to add The Force Awakens to our collection! I went to see it opening weekend and it did not disappoint. Unfortunately since we have two young kids, we were unable to go back a second time. I am dying to watch it again and pick up on things I missed. I will for sure be grabbing it the day it comes out!

https://www.instagram.com/p/_cnp8LPvmc/

 

Discover the complete story behind the making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens with in-depth documentary and bonus material that will take fans on an exciting journey behind the scenes.  Secrets will be revealed through extensive footage, never-before-seen deleted scenes, and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers. These have me even more excited for the film release! Bonus features include*:

Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey – For the first time, discover the complete story behind the making of The Force Awakens, revealed through in-depth footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers in this feature documentary.
The Story Awakens: The Table Read – Cast members familiar and new reflect on the memorable day they all first came together to read the movie’s script.
Building BB-8 – See how the filmmakers brought the newest droid to the screen, creating an instant fan favorite in the Star Wars universe.
Crafting Creatures – Watch movie magic as the filmmakers bring a cast of new creatures to life.
Blueprint of a Battle: The Snow Fight – Go deeper into the epic, climactic lightsaber battle between Rey and Kylo Ren.
John Williams: The Seventh Symphony – The legendary composer shares personal insights of his work on Star Wars and The Force Awakens.
ILM: The Visual Magic of The Force – An insider’s look into the remarkable digital artistry of the movie’s visual effects.
Force For Change – Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. See how the Star Wars: Force for Change initiative has united Star Wars fans all over the globe to help others.
Plus Deleted Scenes
Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer

Follow on SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/StarWarsMovies
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWars
Website: http://www.starwars.com/the-force-awakens/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/StarWarsMovies

Star Wars: The Force Awakens saw the eagerly anticipated reteaming of original Star Wars stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill, along with Anthony Daniels, the only actor to have been in all seven Star Wars films, and Peter Mayhew. The returning cast was joined by newcomer Daisy Ridley, who beat out fierce competition to take the principal role of Rey; BAFTA Rising Star Award winner John Boyega (Attack the Block, Imperial Dreams) as reluctant stormtrooper Finn; Emmy nominee Adam Driver (Lincoln, Girls) as the villainous Kylo Ren, and Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis, The Bourne Legacy) as Resistance pilot Poe Dameron.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens was directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt. Lucasfilm president and eight-time Academy Award® nominee Kathleen Kennedy and J.J. Abrams, along with his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, are the film’s producers.

Having established a musical legacy with his iconic scores for the previous six films in the Star Wars Saga, acclaimed composer John Williams returned to score Star Wars: The Force Awakens, ultimately garnering his 50th Oscar nomination for it.

Star Wars

ABOUT STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS:
Lucasfilm and visionary director J.J. Abrams join forces to take you back again to a galaxy far, far away as Star Wars returns to the big screen with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The screenplay is written by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt.

ABOUT LUCASFILM LTD.
Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company’s activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.
Lucasfilm, the Lucasfilm logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

ABOUT DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE (DMA):
Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) is an engaging and family-friendly cloud-based digital movie service that makes it simple to buy your favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies once and watch them anywhere. With DMA you can explore Disney’s library of over 450 eligible digital movies, discover hours of new and exclusive short-form content, and watch your digital movies from the comfort of the living room or across multiple mobile devices. Using the free DMA apps and website, you can connect your DMA account with participating providers including iTunes, Amazon Video, VUDU, Microsoft Movies and TV and Google Play and unlock access to your eligible movie collections across platforms and devices – iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV/Airplay, Amazon’s Fire tablets, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Microsoft Movies and TV service on Windows and Microsoft Xbox devices, Android mobile and tablet devices and Android TV, Chromecast and the Roku® platform. In addition, you can redeem Digital Copy codes found in Disney, Pixar and Marvel Blu-rays and DVDs, as well as earn Disney Movie Rewards points with every digital purchase.

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:
For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

5 Reasons to Spend Spring Break at Kalahari Resorts Poconos

Disclosure: This review and giveaway was made possible by iConnect Influencer Management and Kalahari Resorts. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Kalahari Resort

My family and I recently spent a night at Kalahari Resorts in the Poconos and we are already planning another trip there. We all had so much fun! There is so much to do for every member of the family – no matter their age. We have told all of our friends and family about it and would love to take a large group with us next time for at least a couple of days. Below are 5 reasons that I think you should start planning your trip there as well.

Kalahari Resort Kalahari Resort

The Rooms
Besides the lobby, the rooms were the first thing that we saw. We were all impressed immediately. My daughters are only 3 and 4 but they love staying in hotels. We take overnight and weekend trips quite often and so they are starting to get picky when it comes to the rooms they stay in. But this room passed their tests with flying colors. They loved all of the pictures that were up in the room of the animals – there was a mommy tiger with a baby that they just adored! Kalahari Resorts has 457 guest rooms & suites. The room that we were in had two queen size beds, a couch, a desk, and so much more! All rooms include: A microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator, iron, ironing board, in-room safe, complimentary Wi-Fi, remote control television with cable and pay-per-view movies, alarm clock, voice mail system, hair dryer, luxurious bath amenities and of course admission to Pennsylvania’s Largest Indoor Waterpark! These rooms are truly a home away from home – and would be very comfortable to stay in for a few days. The size of the bathtub is perfect for two little ones (in case you were wondering). Kalahari Resorts even has 2 and 3 bedroom suites (and penthouses!) which is perfect for staying in while traveling with a large family or group.

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Kalahari Resort
Kalahari Resort
Kalahari Resort

The Waterpark
The indoor waterpark at Kalahari Resorts is a whopping 100,000 sq ft. As soon as we walked in to it, we were stunned. There were more water slides than we could count and numerous families having the time of their lives! The atmosphere was incredible – and catching. The girls were so excited, I wish you could have seen their eyes! They were chomping at the bit to go in the water. We started with the “little kid” area to get them used to the slides and the water. In this area there are six slides off the side (and 3 or 4 inside the actual pool area as well) and two of them parents can go down with children. We went down together as a family a couple of times and then the girls decided to try slides themselves. We of course waited for them at the bottom, but they loved it! After they went down about 20 times we decided to check out the lazy river. This was really fun to do as a family! My husband and I each took one girl and we went around at least 5 or 6 times. There are giant waterfalls and they were my 3 year old’s favorite part about the lazy river. She loved covering her eyes while going under them. We had a blast!

Our second day in the park, we decided to graduate to the larger slides. My girls were so brave and went down them all by themselves, I couldn’t believe it! My 4 year old was big enough to go on some of the larger rides with my husband or I like the Anaconda (so fun!). There is food, a swim up bar, and even an indoor/outdoor family whirlpool! There are private cabanas that you can rent that have comfortable chairs and TVs! These would be great if you are going with a large group (but there are plenty of tables throughout the park as well.

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The Family Entertainment Center
We spent about 3 hours total in the Famliy Entertainment Center. It is 30,000 sq ft and has black light mini golf, XD Dark Ride, bowling, arcade games and more! While we didn’t do anything besides play the arcade games, we had so much fun! We got an arcade card and loaded it up with points. We played pretty much every game there was and my girls loved it! We earned about 4000 tickets and they were excited to pick out some new toys and stuffed animals. Two of our favorite games were the Angry Birds and the Fishing Hook one. With Angry Birds, you wold actually aim an angry bird ball with a slingshot and shoot it at the screen to knock down pigs! The fishing one was something we could all play together. You just shoot out a hook and real in fish (on a screen of course) to earn tickets. While playing a game where you throw balls into glasses, my 3 year old got a winning shot in and we won the jackpot – 1,000 tickets! There is so much to do in the entertainment center and I love that it is connected to the waterpark (no walking outside at all!).

Kalahari Resort
Kalahari Resort
Kalahari Resort
Kalahari Resort

The Food
There are so many great options for food at the Kalahari Resorts, there is no need to leave the hotel at all. We ate at several places and loved all of them! The Brandberg Restaurant is a must! We had dinner here and it was delicious. I just loved my flat bread pizza! This restaurant is a classic tavern with a modern twist and there are lots of options – even for the kids. We ate at the Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet for breakfast. It offers traditional breakfast and for dinner a family style buffet with extensive options for children. My husband and I were both shocked by the amount of items they had for breakfast! There were even confetti pancakes (which my girls were super excited about!). The Ivory Coast Restaurant is where we ate lunch both days. It has a cozy atmosphere and is just off the lobby with sandwiches, salads, appetizers and great beverages. I will say the first day service was a little slow, but the food was delicious! We of course checked out The Last Bite for some dessert after dinner. They have hand-dipped chocolates, fabulous caramel apples, homemade fudge, ice cream and so much more! I wanted to try everything because it all looked so good! Java Manjaro is where we went for our morning coffee, and they offer pastries, desserts, hot sandwiches, smoothies and more.

Kalahari Resort

The Deals
Kalahari Resorts is the place for you to visit with your family this spring break. The deals are unbeatable! There is a Family Safari Package that includes an overnight stay for up to 4 people, admission to the waterpark, breakfast for 2 kids and 2 adults at the buffet (yum!), a pizza and soda, and a $50 credit to the arcade – starting at just $249.99! Another great deal is the Couple’s Romantic Retreat which includes an overnight stay in a Whirlpool Suite or Honeymoon Suite, admission to the waterpark, breakfast at the buffet, chocolate covered strawberries and champagne, $50 credit to the spa, 2 3-hour passes to the Spa/Hydro Escape, and (coming in April) complimentary admission to the 1 mile round trip hiking excursion to see a stunning waterfall! All of that starting at $249.99 again! There are many other deals such as the Easter Sunday Buffet Special, a Two Night Winter Family Escape, and the Spring Break Memories package.  Check out all of Kalahari Resorts’ spring break deals here – I promise you, you will have the time of your life!

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If that is not reason enough to go visit, there are also tons of family friendly activities! There are scavenger hunts, crafts for the kids, and even story time at 8pm every night where your little one can go in their PJs and meet one of the several Kalahari Resort Characters! They also have a Spa and Salon, an 18 hole Donald Ross designed golf course, multiple retail shops, hourseback riding, archery, fishing, skiing, sledding, snow shoeing and more nearby. They will even be expanding come late 2017/early 2018 by adding 520 additional guest rooms and suite (for a total of 977), 100,000 sq ft of additional indoot waterpark space (that is a TOTAL of 200,000 sq ft making it the largest), a convention center expansion to 200,000 sq ft, and a Safari Outdoor Adventure Park with dry play features, hiking trails, and more! Overall, I highly recommend Kalahari Resorts! It is fun for the whole family – from ages 0 to 100!

Connect with Kalahari Resorts on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalahariresorts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KalahariResorts
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalahariresorts/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/KalahariResorts

Giveaway Alert

Enter to win a night’s stay at Kalahari Resorts (Sun-Thurs) and TWO free days in the waterpark using the Gleam form below! Be sure to check out my other giveaways while you are here and GOOD LUCK!

Kalahari Resort Stay