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Inside Out is a Must See Family Movie of the Summer

Tessa Smith
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21
Inside Out is a Must See Family Movie of the Summer

Disclosure: Mama Smith received an all expense paid trip from Disney/Pixar to attend this event. All opinions expressed are 100% her own.

Inside Out Premiere

Unless you are living under a rock than you have heard of the latest Disney/Pixar movie – Inside Out. Well, I was lucky enough to attend the World Premiere in Hollywood earlier this month (read about my red carpet experience here) and all I can say is WOW! This movie sure is emotional. I was bawling within the first few minutes of the movie (actually before the movie if you count the short that plays before it, Lava).

One of the very first images is Riley as a baby and I think that is why I teared up – I was missing my baby girls. I couldn’t help but be entertained as each of the five emotions were introduced – the actors were perfectly cast. Phyllis Smith stole the show for me as Sadness. I just wanted to just give her hugs the entire movie. Bill Hader (Fear), Mindy Kaling (Disgust),  and Lewis Black (Anger) had me cracking up. And Amy Poehler as Joy was dead on! She was so exuberant and jolly the whole movie. This movie is a must see for families – but specifically for parents. I think that they can learn a lot about how their actions can effect their child while watching this movie. I know I rethink a lot of things I say in front of and to my girls after seeing it.

InsideOut

There were lots of moments throughout the film where I would tear up – either from happiness, sadness, or just from sheer “I have been there before” feelings. Bing Bong (Richard Kind), Riley’s imaginary friend, is sure to be loved by everyone who watches this movie as well. Dad (Kyle Maclachlan) is another character that provides some comic relief. Although, there were a few times he had my eyes welling up too. I got to sit down with Kyle and pick his brain about Inside Out – watch for a post on that early next week.

InsideOut

No spoilers for you guys, but I will say that this film is a must see family movie. It is one that I plan to save for my girls when they get to be “that age” because I know it can be tough and confusing as a child. Inside Out breaks down Riley’s mind to different islands of things that shape her personality – Honesty Island, Family Island, Friendship Island, Hockey Island, and Goofball Island. I love how Pixar explains how different memories will effect your personality and shape you as a person. The animation itself is incredible (but do you expect anything else from Pixar?).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W6rntBADUQ

This movie had me laughing, crying, and put me in a genuine good mood. Looking at my girls now, I feel like I can picture the emotions in their headquarters doing their thing. I can see as each one takes over. I know I have said it a lot, but that is because I believe it to be true, this movie is going to be “Frozen big” so get your tickets, get your products, and get ready! I have already purchased tickets to take my whole family this afternoon and I cannot wait to see their reactions – and to see it again. This time I am going prepared, with lots and lots of tissues! Oh and stay for the credits! You will not regret it.

INSIDE OUT opens in theaters everywhere TODAY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEHLnTOyptQ

Movie Synopsis:

Do you ever look at someone and wonder what is going on inside their head? Disney•Pixar’s original new film “Inside Out” ventures inside the mind to find out.

Based in Headquarters, the control center inside 11-year-old Riley’s mind, five Emotions are hard at work, led by lighthearted optimist Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), whose mission is to make sure Riley stays happy. Fear (voice of Bill Hader) heads up safety, Anger (voice of Lewis Black) ensures all is fair and Disgust (voice of Mindy Kaling) prevents Riley from getting poisoned—both physically and socially. Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith) isn’t exactly sure what her role is, and frankly, neither is anyone else.

When Riley’s family relocates to a scary new city, the Emotions are on the job, eager to help guide her through the difficult transition. But when Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind—taking some of her core memories with them—Fear, Anger and Disgust are left reluctantly in charge. Joy and Sadness must venture through unfamiliar places—Long Term Memory, Imagination Land, Abstract Thought and Dream Productions—in a desperate effort to get back to Headquarters, and Riley.

Like INSIDE OUT on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixarInsideOut  
Follow INSIDE OUT on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PixarInsideOut and https://twitter.com/headquarters
Follow INSIDE OUT on Instagram: https://instagram.com/PIXARINSIDEOUT/
Follow INSIDE OUT on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/disneystudios/inside-out/
Visit INSIDE OUT on Tumblr: http://insideoutheadquarters.tumblr.com/
Follow Disney/Pixar on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DisneyPixar
Visit the official INSIDE OUT website: http://movies.disney.com/inside-out/

Must Have Inside Out Toys Based On The Movie

Tessa Smith
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28
Must Have Inside Out Toys Based On The Movie

Disclosure: Mama Smith received an all expense paid trip from Disney/Pixar to attend this event. All opinions expressed are 100% her own.

Inside Out ProductsLet me start off by saying get your Inside Out toys and products NOW. This movie is going to be as big as Frozen (if not bigger) in my opinion. Think back to when Frozen came out – it was impossible to get any Frozen items. I remember having to resort to paying a lot more than I wanted to on websites for items just to please my daughters. I don’t want to relive that again, and I don’t think you do either. I have put together some of my favorite items from Disney Consumer Products featuring the emotions (and Bing Bong!) from Inside Out. I suggest looking through it all, deciding what you want to purchase, and doing it TODAY – remember, Inside Out comes to theaters everywhere TOMORROW. And once everyone sees it, they are going to want all of these amazing products!

Talking Plush   Inside Out Talking Dolls

Let me jump right in with what is sure to be kids’ favorites. There are many options for dolls and if my girls had their way, they would each have the full sets already. The Inside Out Deluxe Talking Dolls are my personal favorite. They are all really cute and come with their own “memory ball” – just slide in a photo of your joy, anger, sadness, fear, or disgust memory. When you press each doll’s hand, it’s face lights up and it talks – repeating favorite phrases from the movie. These are only $19.95 each and are available at the Disney Store and DisneyStore.com. The Inside Out Talking Plushes are very similar, except they are plush and do not come with memory balls. They each repeat key phrases from the film as well and are available at Mass Retailers (Target, etc). They can even be purchased on Amazon here. I was lucky enough to take home one of each (Deluxe Talking Doll – Sadness & Talking Plush – Fear) and my girls are in love with them already. They carry Sadness and Fear around with them everywhere. Below are a couple of videos I made of the dolls talking so you can hear them. I love that they feature the same voice actors as the movie, and they both have lots of phrases! My (almost) 4 year old runs around yelling “I regret everything!!” because she thinks it is super funny when Fear says it.

https://instagram.com/p/3uc_aSPvo2/

 

 

https://instagram.com/p/3uYiMSvviY/

There are also two play sets that my girls were begging me for. One is the Inside Out Headquarters and is really cool! Kids can recreate how Riley’s emotions work to guide her by storing Memory Spheres in her long term memory. There is even a mini console that projects them on the Screen of Consciousness – and it comes with Joy. You can purchase this at DisneyStore.com right now. If you are a fan of any Disney TV show or movie than you know about the Disney Figure Play Sets. My house is filled with these little characters from all of my daughters’ favorite Disney movies. I had to grab them an Inside Out play set while I was visiting the Disney Store and I am so glad I did! They have gotten so much play out of these figures already – and my oldest has slept with them in her bed every night since I brought them home. Purchase yours on DisneyStore.com here.

Inside Out Play Set Inside Out Play Set

If you have a tween then there are lots of great Inside Out items for them as well. They have cell phone cases for the iPhone5/5S that are adorable! This is a clear case that comes with all of the emotions and they are interchangeable to fit your tween’s mood of the day (I am not looking forward to those years with my girls). Purchase this case at DisneyStore.com here. I know lots of tweens who will flip for the Inside Out LED Color Changing Headphones. They feature four different light up modes. These will be available on Amazon later this month. There is even Inside Out inspired Footwear. These are Uggs and they are beyond adorable. They only go up to size 7.5 and that makes me very sad. I am a size 8.5 and I might try to squeeze my feet in them because they are amazing. Browse and purchase them on the Ugg website here, they are sure to go very quickly!

Inside Out Uggs    Inside Out Cellphone Covers

Speaking of footwear, there is a lot of Inside Out apparel available. There are socks, shirts for kids (and adults – yay!), hats, and even pajamas! I purchased a T-Shirt and a set of pajamas for my girls and they love them. They already know the names of all of the characters and they have not even seen the movie yet (we have tickets for tomorrow, don’t worry!). We read the set of Inside Out books over and over – my oldest even has them memorized. Each emotion has their own book – and each one makes me laugh. They are a great way to get to know the emotions and help your children learn to read at the same time.

Inside Out Books  Inside Out PJs

And moms, I have not forgotten you! They have a collection of Inside Out Character Mugs that I have fallen in love with. I value my coffee and love collecting fun mugs so these are made for me. They featured the faces of the characters and come in fun shapes. I am a huge fan of the Sadness mug – but I do love them all! There are also Pillow Buddies and Bedding that will be available at Walmart on June 27th. The Disney Store also has character pen bracelets (bracelets, that are pens!!) and rings that you can mix and match. Several of the bloggers on this trip purchased these because they are so fun and super cute!

Inside Out Mugs
Already selling out everywhere!

Inside Out Braceletes and Rings bing bong

Oh and one more thing – get yourself a Bing Bong! He smells like cotton candy and is a great cuddle buddy. Everyone needs a Bing Bong!

Inside Out comes to theaters everywhere – TOMORROW – June 19th. 

Father’s Day Brunch Recipes

Tessa Smith
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2
Father’s Day Brunch Recipes

Father-s-Day-Brunch

Father’s Day is fast approaching. I know my husband loves it when the kids and I cook for him. If the father in your life is the same way, check out these delicious Father’s Day Brunch Recipes! These come from the mastermind of Pritikin, Executive Chef Anthony Stewart, the brunch recipes below are not only healthy and great-tasting but kid-friendly too, so they can help you and the kids prepare some of Dad’s favorite meals without a Sunday morning carb overload.

Quesidilla

Egg-cellent Breakfast Quesadilla

Ingredients:

1 cup diced assorted vegetables (the more colors the better!)
½ cup egg whites
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 whole-wheat, low-sodium lavash thin bread
3 tablespoons shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
2 tablespoons fat-free sour cream
¼ cup pico de gallo (no salt added) or no-salt-added salsa (like Enrico’s brand)

Directions:

In a medium nonstick skillet, sauté vegetables until they begin to brown. Add in egg whites and scramble. Season with black pepper.
On a warm griddle or flat-top grill, place lavash thin bread and let the side facing the heat get hot.
Turn the bread over on the griddle or grill and sprinkle the cheese on the top side.
On half of the top side, spread the vegetable scramble and cilantro.
When the cheese begins to melt, fold the thin bread in half to cover the vegetables. Press firmly using a tool like a large firm spatula or the bottom of a pan. Flip onto the other side and grill for about 2 minutes, then press.
Remove from heat. Cut quesadilla into four pieces and serve two pieces per person with fat-free sour cream and salsa on the side.

Bison

Mighty Meat Bison with Mushroom & Onions

Ingredients:

4 four-ounce grass-fed, free-range bison steaks
½ pound button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
½ pound shiitake mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
4 garlic cloves, finely sliced
½ pound onions, thinly sliced
1 ounce balsamic vinegar
¼ cup red wine
¼ cup R.W. Knudsen’s low-sodium Very Veggie juice
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon

Directions:

Heat a large nonstick sauté pan over high heat. Sear bison for about 90 seconds per side, or until a crust is formed but the meat is not fully cooked. Remove bison from pan and set aside.
Add mushrooms, garlic and onions to the pan; sauté until soft and lightly browned (about 4 minutes).
Deglaze pan with vinegar. (To deglaze: Pour vinegar into pan, then gently scrape bottom of pan with a wooden spoon to loosen the caramelized juices.)
Add wine, R.W. Knudsen’s low-sodium Very Veggie juice, thyme and tarragon. Simmer for two minutes.
Add bison steaks back to pan and simmer until bison is cooked through.

Oatmeal

Chocoholic Chocolate Brownie Oatmeal

Ingredients:

½ cup rolled oats, cooked with 1 ½ cups of water
1 teaspoon raw, unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup non-fat milk
1 tablespoon walnuts (optional)
1 cup Blueberries (optional)
2 tablespoons Splenda

Superfood: The raw cocoa powder, believe it or not, is actually one of the healthiest parts of this dish. While normally adding chocolate would make the dish unhealthy, adding raw unsweetened cocoa powder is different because It comes straight from the cacao bean, containing antioxidants, polyphenols, a bit of fiber and some protein too.

Directions:

Cook the oats with 1 ½ cups of water until the oats are fluffy and all water has disappeared (You can do this by cooking for 2 minutes in the microwave, stirring and then cooking for 2 more minutes).
Add cocoa powder and cinnamon to the cooked oats while they are still hot.
Stir until everything is fully combined and your oats have a deep chocolatey color.
Add walnuts and the milk (You can add as much milk as you’d like, but about ½ cup gives the oats a nice creamy consistency).
Add Splenda and stir to combine until the oats have the consistency you like. If you’re using blueberries, add them in now.

 

 

Whip It Up Wednesday

Have a recipe you would like to share? Link it up below!

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What goes into making an animated movie?

Tessa Smith
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0
What goes into making an animated movie?

inside out

I have always wondered how much work goes into making an animated movie. So when I saw this clip where the cast of Inside Out explained it, I was thrilled! I always knew little animated people drew the animations – thanks for confirming it Mindy Kaling! This short video is hilarious – it really makes me even more confident that the movie voices were perfectly cast!

INSIDE OUT opens in theaters everywhere this Friday, June 19th! Get your tickets now!

Movie Synopsis:

Do you ever look at someone and wonder what is going on inside their head? Disney•Pixar’s original new film “Inside Out” ventures inside the mind to find out.

Based in Headquarters, the control center inside 11-year-old Riley’s mind, five Emotions are hard at work, led by lighthearted optimist Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), whose mission is to make sure Riley stays happy. Fear (voice of Bill Hader) heads up safety, Anger (voice of Lewis Black) ensures all is fair and Disgust (voice of Mindy Kaling) prevents Riley from getting poisoned—both physically and socially. Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith) isn’t exactly sure what her role is, and frankly, neither is anyone else.

When Riley’s family relocates to a scary new city, the Emotions are on the job, eager to help guide her through the difficult transition. But when Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind—taking some of her core memories with them—Fear, Anger and Disgust are left reluctantly in charge. Joy and Sadness must venture through unfamiliar places—Long Term Memory, Imagination Land, Abstract Thought and Dream Productions—in a desperate effort to get back to Headquarters, and Riley.

Like INSIDE OUT on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixarInsideOut  
Follow INSIDE OUT on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PixarInsideOut and https://twitter.com/headquarters
Follow INSIDE OUT on Instagram: https://instagram.com/PIXARINSIDEOUT/
Follow INSIDE OUT on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/disneystudios/inside-out/
Visit INSIDE OUT on Tumblr: http://insideoutheadquarters.tumblr.com/
Follow Disney/Pixar on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DisneyPixar
Visit the official INSIDE OUT website: http://movies.disney.com/inside-out/

#InsideOut #InsideOutEvent

My Little Pony: Cutie Mark Quests

Tessa Smith
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0
My Little Pony: Cutie Mark Quests

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

My Little Pony

My daughters LOVE My Little Pony. I mean, they are beyond obsessed with this show. We have more ponies than I can count in this house and my daughter’s 4th birthday party (which is going to be this weekend) is My Little Pony themed. They know everything about all of the ponies – their cutie marks included. I wish I had recorded their reaction when I gave them this My Little Ponies: Cutie Mark Quests DVD (although the photos capture it well) because they flipped out. I had to open it up and put it on IMMEDIATELY or there were going to be some fits thrown. They loved watching a few of their favorite episodes (and of course loved the bonus sing along as well). I must admit, I am a fan of My Little Pony as well. It is a great family show and I highly recommend it!

My Little Pony   My Little Pony   My Little Pony

Synopsis: 

Join the Mane 6 and friends for a quest of epic proportions! My Little Pony – Friendship Is Magic: Cutie Mark Quests is coming to DVD on June 30 in the U.S. and Canada from Shout! Kids in collaboration with Hasbro Studios. In Equestria, being true to yourself is the key to earning your cutie mark. Join Twilight Sparkle, Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash—as well as everyone’s favorite Cutie Mark Crusaders, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom—as they journey to find their own Cutie Marks, take on the spirit of chaos and disharmony and visit a village where… everypony has given up their Cutie Marks?! It’s all here in Cutie Mark Quests! My Little Pony – Friendship Is Magic: Cutie Mark Quests carries a suggested list price of $14.98 and is now available for pre-order at amazon.com and shoutkids.com.

Episodes Include:

  • The Show Stoppers
  • The Return Of Harmony, Part 1
  • The Return Of Harmony, Part 2
  • Cutie Markless, Part 1
  • Cutie Markless, Part 2

Interview: Chrissie Fit & Jordan Fisher From Teen Beach 2

Tessa Smith
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10
Interview: Chrissie Fit & Jordan Fisher From Teen Beach 2

Disclosure: Mama Smith received an all expense paid trip from Disney/Pixar to attend this event. All opinions expressed are 100% her own.

Chrissie Fit & Jordan Fisher

While in LA recently, I was lucky enough to sit down and chat with Chrissie Fit and Jordan Fisher from Teen Beach 2. They play CheeChee and Seacat in the movie, and provide a lot of the comic relief in it. As you know, I also took a dance lesson from them (read about that here) but one of my favorite parts of that day was talking with Chrissie and Jordan. They are both so down to Earth and fun to be around – I felt like I was hanging out with a couple of good friends. I had just seen Teen Beach 2 so it was interesting to talk with them about it. There were a lot of good questions from my fellow bloggers – and I even got to ask one as well. Below is a video of Jordan & Chrissie answering the question “What kind of advice [do] you have for an aspiring Musician, Artist, Dancer?”

Both Chrissie and Jordan are very well spoken and full of great advice, as you can see. Chrissie explained to us how she is not a professional dancer (although she says Teen Beach 2 makes her look like one – haha!). She was a singer who became an actress – with no dance background. Boy does she fool us in the movie! Both Chrissie and Jordan discussed how they got in to the arts – and funny enough, their stories were very similar. Both of them had crushes on someone that was in to the arts and so they joined, hoping to fall in love. They both fell in love – both with the arts, not with their crushes. We sure lucked out that they had those crushes because now we get to watch them do what they are good at.

MOM BLOGGERS
Photo Credit: Disney XD/Valerie Macon

In Teen Beach 2, Chrissie wears a hair piece as CheeChee. She performs a song with Jordan (which is stuck in my head all the time by the way) and the dance moves were too elaborate for her own hair. She told us that it was a lot better for her hair, but that if there is a Teen Beach 3 she will go back to using her regular hair. She felt like the piece would slide all over the place and it was a lot more maintenance than just using her own hair. Chrissie was actually filming another movie for a lot of the conditioning time so she missed a lot of dance practice. She says that is why CheeChee hides in the back for a lot of the dance numbers (I will pay more attention to this next time I watch the movie).

CHRISSIE FIT, JORDAN FISHER
Photo Credit: Disney XD/Valerie Macon

One of the things that I found most interesting is how open the set of Teen Beach 2 was. Jordan and Chrissie both explained how if any one of the actors or dancers had a problem with a costume or certain dance moves, they could speak up and something would be changed. The surfers have it much easier than the bikers when it comes to costumes. Keep in mind, they were on an island, dancing in the sand, in the heat. That cannot be as much fun as it looks on film. Chrissie mentioned: “I initially had to dance in that outfit that had the corset. And you know I was like, “I don’t, I don’t know if I feel comfortable dancing with this? So right away it was just like, Alright let’s figure something out and we got a new outfit where I felt really comfortable.”

CHRISSIE FIT, JORDAN FISHER
Photo Credit: Disney XD/Valerie Macon

I could tell from talking with Chrissie and Jordan that a lot of good times were had on the set of Teen Beach 2. They talked about a rap game that John DeLuca made up. The point of the game was to keep rapping as long as you can. For example “It’s like the tree without the branch. It’s like the olive without the sand.” Chrissie said she wasn’t very good at it but that several others were amazing – that it was like they got a “new persona”. One of Chrissie’s favorite moments on set (that she captured on video actually) is Jordan singing Stay With Me by Same Smith and Ross Lynch playing the guitar. She calls it “beautiful, and so gorgeous” as well as “gloriousness”. Chrissie and Jordan both really like the messages and lessons that Teen Beach 2 gives to the people watching it. These messages are the biggest take away from my interview with them. As Chrissie said:

“There’s many wonderful messages in this movie you know. I’m big about female empowerment and you know in this – we’re seeing these two girls Mac and Lela have an actual friendship and not compete against each other for something. I feel that’s really important for our young girls to see and that there are healthy friendships and relationships. They both help each other figure out you know um uh things that, that, that they might have felt insecure about, which is also the thing for kids you know. So aside from all of like the great you know musical numbers and the dancing and all that stuff I feel that this is a great movie for kids because it just shows you how important friendship is and it shows you like healthy and positive friendships with females. It also like uh you know totally to believe in yourself.”

CHRISSIE FIT, JORDAN FISHER, MOM BLOGGERS
Photo Credit: Disney XD/Valerie Macon

Tune in to Teen Beach 2 on June 26th at 8pm EST on the Disney Channel.
Follow Chrissie Fit and Jordan Fisher on Twitter.

#InsideOutEvent #TeenBeach2Event

Game of Thrones Finale: 5 Characters Who Didn’t Make It

Tessa Smith
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0
Game of Thrones Finale: 5 Characters Who Didn’t Make It

***SPOILER ALERT** If you have not yet watched the Season 5 finale of Game of Thrones, stop reading. This post contains spoilers.

Game of THrones

Last night’s Game of Thrones Season 5 Finale was pretty intense. If you have not read the books, and were going in to the show totally blind, there were some shocking deaths. There were also some that we have been hoping for. This is my small tribute to those that we lost.

game-thrones-myranda

1. Myranda

I don’t know about you, but I hated Myranda from the moment she was introduced. Ramsay Bolton is a crazy dude and I do not like him at all. Not one little bit. So of course, his little girlfriend, Myranda was not on my favorites list either. After threatening Sansa Stark, last night, Theon Greyjoy finally grew his balls back and pushed her over the side the wall in the Winterfell Castle. She hit the ground with a splat. She will not be hunting down people for fun with Ramsay anymore.

Ser_Meryn Brant

2. Meryn Trant

Arya has been saying his name over and over for quite sometime. Last night, she stole a face from the Many Faced God and pretended to be a girl in a whore house. The scene that followed was amazing. Arya did not just kill him, she stabbed him in the eyes, in the chest, and then slit his throat. It was amazing.

Stannis and Selyse Baratheon

3. Stannis and Selyse Baratheon

Stannis and Selyse Baratheon both died last night, but not together. Selyse hung herself because she could not deal with what they did to their daughter (good!) and Stannis died on the battlefield trying to take over Winterfell. It was not that simple either. Brienne of Tarth was able to avenge Renly Baratheon’s death – finally. Being a book reader, I was pleased with this little twist. Breinne deserved that “win”.

Myrcella Baratheon

4. Myrcella Baratheon

This was a twist I did not see coming as well. Although, when I saw Ellaria kiss her right on the lips as she left, I just knew that she had poisoned her. I feel bad for Jaime because she had just told him that she accepted him as her father – and was proud to have him as a father even.

jon snow

 

5. Jon Snow

This is the death that has the internet stirring this morning. Jon Snow, arguably the most popular character in the show, was stabbed (a lot) by the men of the Night’s Watch. Many people thought he might become King eventually. Even Olly, his personal steward, plunmged a knife into Jon. It was a heartbreaking moment. Et tu, Olly?

A Party on the Purple Carpet #InsideOutEvent

Tessa Smith
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32
A Party on the Purple Carpet #InsideOutEvent

Disclosure: Mama Smith received an all expense paid trip from Disney/Pixar to attend this event. All opinions expressed are 100% her own.

Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre
Photo Credit: Disney/Pixar

“There is nothing like a Disney Red Carpet.” That is what I was told as we pulled up to the Inside Out red (or should I say purple) carpet premiere at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood. I knew this was going to be an amazingly wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experience but I didn’t know the half of it. I got butterflies as I stepped out on to the purple carpet. I snapped a picture and then put my phone in my wristlet so I could look around and take it all in. I could have stood in that spot the entire night and watched the bustle of the carpet. The paparazzi on one side, behind barriers, yelling stars names hoping for the perfect shot – on the other side, fans hoping to get a selfie with or a wave from their favorite actors. A wave of emotions overcame me (fitting I guess considering the movie) and I felt overwhelmed for just a minute. Then it was time to focus and enjoy my night.

Inside Out Premiere

 Inside Out Premiere   Inside Out Premiere

The carpet was filled with family friendly activities. Everywhere I looked there was a project or a game that kids and their parents could enjoy. Right at the top of the carpet there was a hair coloring station where kids could add a streak of red, blue, purple, yellow, or green to their hair. I was really tempted to get something added myself! As I walked down the red (purple) carpet I stopped to get my photo taken with all of the characters displayed on the backdrop. That in itself was very surreal. I have seen countless photos of actors and actresses in front of premiere backdrops and never thought I would get my photo in front of one. At the end of that walk was the desk from headquarters inside Riley’s head from Inside Out. And behind that – well, behind that was something I could never have imagined.

Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre
Photo Credit: Disney/Pixar

Inside Out Premiere Inside Out Premiere

Inside Out Premiere Inside Out Premiere

Inside Out Premiere   Inside Out Premiere

As I walked through the giant archway, the first thing I laid my eyes on was a juggler on stilts. Behind him were tables and tables of food – bars filled with drinks, and coolers strategically placed with water and soda (it was a hot one guys). Right in the center was the memory bank. There was balls of each color (Joy – Yellow, Disgust – Green, Fear – Purple, Anger – Red, Sadness – Blue) and I was able to write a memory on one of those balls and put it in the memory bank. I chose Joy, and wrote about the birth of my daughter – then sent it up the shoot in to the bank. This was a really fun and cool experience. I love how it really tied in with the movie (just like all the activities did) and was fun for everyone to participate in. There was also Imagination Island (where you could create stress balls, family trees, decorate Snackeez, and emoticon rocks), Honesty Island (where you could wear a helmet and take a lie detector test to see if you really like broccoli pizza or have imaginary friends), Goofball Island (where you could play fun games like tossing a ball into spinning circles). There was even a place to make your own flip book (check out the video of mine below with April from April Go Lightly and Shelley from Sweep Tight).


https://instagram.com/p/3v3Qg9vvgF/

 

 

Inside Out Premiere Inside Out Premiere Inside Out Premiere

Inside Out Premiere

Walking around the carpet and seeing celebrities experiencing this fun with their families was amazing. I got to watch Garcelle Beauvais and her family were in front of us in the flip book line and we got to see them goofing around as they made theirs. I got to watch Patton Oswalt and Mario Lopez play at Goofball Island with their daughters. Having two girls myself, I love seeing that father/daughter bond in action. It is truly heartwarming. There were many other celebrities at the Inside Out premiere – Johnny Knoxville, Billy Crystal, Bobby Moynihan, Rashida Jones, even Pink! If you scroll down just a little bit, I have included lots of photos of the celebrities from the Inside Out Premiere and purple carpet.

Inside Out Premiere Inside Out Premiere Inside Out Premiere

Inside Out Premiere     Inside Out Premiere

Joy and Sadness were also walking around the carpet taking photos with people. That was a fun touch that I know all the kids loved (and OK the adults too). As everyone was heading in to the theater to watch the movie, the voices of Inside Out went up by the headquarters desk and got a group photo (with Joy and Sadness). I was right behind them as they took it and that was pretty awesome to see – so much talent all together, laughing about their journey making this film and excited to see it on the big screen.

 Inside Out Premiere    Inside Out Premiere

Inside Out Premiere Inside Out Premiere Inside Out Premiere

We had to check our phones and cameras in before going in to the El Captian Theater to watch the film so I do not have any inside photos for you. That was one of the coolest parts of the night. As I went to my seat someone was up on stage playing the piano and putting everyone in a party mood. I got to sit in the front row of the theater and really take the whole movie in. It was an incredible experience all around. I will have a full review of the film coming soon (Hint: bring tissues), as well a post about the product line, and Inside Out’s involvement with Disney Infinity 3.0. I even got to sit down and chat with Kyle MacLachlan (who voices Dad in the movie) and will have something up about that as well. Inside Out comes to theaters this Friday, June 19th so be sure to go see it. After watching the film, I can honestly say it is going to be as big as (or even bigger) than Frozen.

Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre

Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre Los Angeles Premiere And Party For Disney-Pixar's INSIDE OUT At El Capitan Theatre
Photo Credit: Disney/Pixar

Movie Synopsis:

Do you ever look at someone and wonder what is going on inside their head? Disney•Pixar’s original new film “Inside Out” ventures inside the mind to find out.

Based in Headquarters, the control center inside 11-year-old Riley’s mind, five Emotions are hard at work, led by lighthearted optimist Joy (voice of Amy Poehler), whose mission is to make sure Riley stays happy. Fear (voice of Bill Hader) heads up safety, Anger (voice of Lewis Black) ensures all is fair and Disgust (voice of Mindy Kaling) prevents Riley from getting poisoned—both physically and socially. Sadness (voice of Phyllis Smith) isn’t exactly sure what her role is, and frankly, neither is anyone else.

When Riley’s family relocates to a scary new city, the Emotions are on the job, eager to help guide her through the difficult transition. But when Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind—taking some of her core memories with them—Fear, Anger and Disgust are left reluctantly in charge. Joy and Sadness must venture through unfamiliar places—Long Term Memory, Imagination Land, Abstract Thought and Dream Productions—in a desperate effort to get back to Headquarters, and Riley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEHLnTOyptQ

Top 4 Gifts for Dad this Father’s Day

Tessa Smith
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7
Top 4 Gifts for Dad this Father’s Day

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

Top 4

Father’s Day is fast approaching. If you are looking for the ultimate gift for dad, check out this collection I have put together. You are sure to find one for the father in your life!

capresso   capresso

For the Dad on the Go

If the father in your life is always on the go than I have the perfect gift for you to surprise him with! The Capresso On-the-Go Personal Coffee Maker is perfect for brewing a quick cup of coffee (right in to a travel mug) and getting out the door quickly. You can use the 16-oz stainless steel thermal travel mug or your own (up to 7″ tall).  The large permanent filter can hold up to 6 tablespoons of medium ground coffee for maximum strength – just adjust strength by adding less ground coffee. The On-the-Go also works with pre-packaged soft coffee pods for an even quicker brew and faster clean up. As an added convenience and safety feature, the unit automatically shuts off after the brew cycle is complete. It also includes an On/Off button to save energy when not in use. Use the mug to measure out the water before filling the water tank to ensure no coffee will overflow. This is a great time saver and my husband has loved using this before he rushes off to work for the day.

KorBáta    KorBáta

 

For the Stylish Dad

For Guatemalan tie making company KorBáta, a tie is not merely an accent piece or an afterthought. Their hand-woven ties tell a story. When the thread is woven, the rich history and heritage of the Mayan people are woven along with it. That is because each thread has been put in place by the hands of a Mayan woman whose efforts preserve Guatemala’s textile traditions. Crafted from 100% cotton, each hand woven pattern is unique, never to be duplicated. By producing ties, KorBáta is creating jobs for women and men weavers in rural areas, that otherwise may not have employment. KorBáta also donates 30% of their sales from specific stores in Guatemala to FUNDAL. FUNDAL is dedicated to help those Guatemalans with multiple disabilities. My husband loves his stylish tie. This gift is the perfect choice for any day who likes to give back, while looking great!

growler    growler

For the Outdoorsy Dad

If the dad in your life is an outdoorsy guy and always going camping, hunting, fishing, or just hanging out in the backyard than he needs the Vacuum Growler from reduce. The Growler is designed for craft beer, but for so much more. It is 64-oz and insulated. The air tight closure holds carbonation in and guarantees to keep hot beverages hot for 12 hours and cold beverages cold for 48 hours.  The Growler protects beet from being lightstruck and getting a skunky flavor by blocking harmful UV rays. Since it is stainless steel it also naturally resists bacteria. It also does not retain odors. It is perfect for holding beer but works just as well for ice tea, lemonade, or even coffee! My husband loves using his while he mows the lawn. It keeps his beverages “colder than cold” for the whole hour and a half.

tempforktempfork

For the Grilling Dad

If the father in your life loves to grill than he needs the TempFork Themometer from CDN. This is perfect for checking the temperature on your meats while you grill. My husband tends to break thermometers very easily (don’t get me started) and this was a life saver for us. Since we received it, he has been using it every day. It is heat resistant and holds up to 10 lbs. It has a backlight and 7 pre-programmed and programmable temperature settings. It also turns itself off after 5 minutes – which is perfect for the forgetful dad. And of course, the plastic handle always stays cool. This gift is great for the avid griller or even the occassional griller. It is always important to be sure you meat is cooked to the correct temperature for safety purposes.

Dancing Along to Teen Beach 2

Tessa Smith
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5
Dancing Along to Teen Beach 2

Disclosure: Mama Smith received an all expense paid trip from Disney/Pixar to attend this event. All opinions expressed are 100% her own.

JORDAN FISHER, CHRISSIE FIT
Photo Credit: Disney XD/Valerie Macon

Teen Beach Movie is one of my family’s favorite movies to watch together. My young daughters love dancing and singing along to all of the songs. I was lucky enough to be invited to LA to see Teen Beach 2 before it airs on the Disney Channel (it is also available on DVD the same day – June 26, 2015). I must say that the actors and dancers have really stepped it up this film and my toes were tapping the entire time. If you were impressed with the moves in the first one, you will be blown away by Teen Beach 2. I know I was. One of my favorite dance sequences was during “Gotta Be Me” but little did I know that just a half hour later, I would be learning those moves from two of the stars of the movie – Chrissie Fit “CheeChee” and Jordan Fisher “Seacat”. Watch the clip from Teen Beach 2 below and you will see what I am talking about.

OK, so at least they didn’t try to teach us the entire dance. I think that would have taken a lot longer than the twenty minutes we spent with them (like months). But we did learn the dance steps to “March to the beat. I march to the beat gonna do my thing.” See below for the moves.

Arms: (Lf elbow-body down)      (rt elbow up)         (lf elbow up)             (rt elbow down)
March           to           the             beat
Feet: right left                   right left             right left                    right left   (1/4 turn to rt )

Arms: (lf arm pulls forward-arms together on 2-3 out to the side as turning back forward)
I        march       to        the           beat
Feet: (rt left rt-step back on rt then lft on 3rd ¼ turn forward)

Arms: (Arms out as fingers point down at toes for 4 counts-pose)
Gotta do my thing
Feet: (hop/slide to the left-then pose)

Credit: Gayle Turner

The entire experience was amazing. I am not a dancer by any means, but Chrissie and Jordan are awesome teachers. They were cracking jokes and made us all laugh and feel very comfortable. I suddenly didn’t care if I was going to make an idiot out of myself, I wanted to have fun! They had us switch rows every few minutes so that no one could hide in the back of the room either, which was a great idea. I actually got the moves down and have since taught my young daughters the dance. It took them only one run through to get it, which made me feel a little silly but also really proud. They are only 2 and 4 but they are really looking forward to watching Teen Beach 2. My daughters love to dance and I am excited for them to be able to watch a new movie and learn those new dance moves. They are always eager to learn. As I showed them photos, my 4 year old said “Another beach one! Yay! When can I watch it?”.

JORDAN FISHER, CHRISSIE FIT  JORDAN FISHER, CHRISSIE FIT
JORDAN FISHER, CHRISSIE FIT
Photo Credit: Disney XD/Valerie Macon

Teen Beach 2 is such a great family movie that instills some pretty amazing values in young girls so I cannot wait to share it with my daughters. I will have a full review on it soon, so be sure to check back for it. The dancing itself is incredible to watch – and the story line is captivating.  Before our dance lesson, we got to chat with them about the movie. So look for a post on that soon as well. Overall, the entire experience with Chrissie Fit and Jordan Fisher was a blast! I felt like I was hanging out with a couple of good friends. They are so nice and welcoming. I really feel like they had just as much fun with us as we did with them!

CHRISSIE FIT, JORDAN FISHER
Photo Credit: Disney XD/Valerie Macon

Tune in to Teen Beach 2 on June 26th at 8pm EST on the Disney Channel.
Follow Chrissie Fit and Jordan Fisher on Twitter.

#InsideOutEvent #TeenBeach2Event

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