New Trailer for Monsters University

I loved the movie Monsters, Inc. and can't wait for Monsters University which is being released on June 21, 2013.



From the official studio boilerplate:

Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3”). For more information, like us at facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity, and follow us on http://twitter.com/disneypixar. The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in 3D in select theaters. For more information, check out disney.com/MonstersU.

Disclaimer: The information in this post was provided to me by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. I have not been compensated for sharing this information. I have attended free screenings of Walt Disney Studios releases in the past.  All opinions are 100% mine.

New Iron Man 3 Clip Available

There is a new clip available for Iron Man 3 which opens on Friday, May 3.

My daughter is very excited (and hoping that I give her permission to see the movie after screening it).



From the studio:

Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” is directed by Shane Black from a screenplay by Drew Pearce & Shane Black and is based on Marvel’s iconic Super Hero Iron Man, who first appeared on the pages of “Tales of Suspense” (#39) in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with “The Invincible Iron Man” (#1) in May of 1968.

“Iron Man 3” is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures and DMG Entertainment. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing and Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Alan Fine, Stan Lee and Dan Mintz are executive producers. The film releases May 3, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Disclaimer: Walt Disney Studios provided this information to me and has invited me to an advance screening. All opinions are 100% mine.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Big Savings on a ZooBooks Subscription

My daughter LOVES receiving mail. She is always asking if she has mail and is thrilled on days when her magazines or catalogs come. Just yesterday, she was excited that we received the American Girl catalog. For the last few years, she has been receiving High Five (a younger version of Highlights) and this year has upgraded to Highlights. She also received the LEGO Club Jr magazine which upgraded to LEGO Club when she turned 7. LEGO Club or LEGO Club Jr are free magazines that you can subscribe to on the LEGO website.

from Groupon.com

Today's Groupon is for a $10 yearly subscription to one of the Zoobooks magazines - Zoobooks, Zootles, or Zoobies (a $29.95 value). You can also select a 2 year subscription for $19. Each magazine is geared to a different age group. Zoobooks is for children ages 6-12, Zootles for kids ages 3-6, and Zoobies for kids 0-3.

Each Zoobooks issue contains 20 full color pages of drawings and photography, detailed anatomical illustrations highlighting muscles, bones, and other important body parts, a 4 page pullout of puzzles, games, and crafts, and descriptions of different species of the animal. There are 10 issues in a yearly subscription.

Each Zootles issue has animal facts, photographs, backyard games and activities for a beginning scientist, an illustrated animal story, puzzles, a featured letter, sound, or number, and more. There are 6 issues in a yearly subscription.

Each Zoobies issue includes lift the flap and peek-a-boo features, durable toddler-tough pages, concepts like colors, shapes, and sizes, and more. There are 6 issues in a yearly subscription.

The deal is available for purchase through 11:59p Tuesday, April 30, 2013. Once purchased, you must activate your subscription by March within 180 days. This means you could purchase the deal now and start it for a birthday, or other event. The deal is only valid for new subscriptions and not renewals. There is a limit of three deals per person with 3 additional given as gifts..


Disclaimer: I am a Groupon affiliate and a ZooBooks affiliate and am compensated for sales through Groupon and ZooBooks links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. Please read all terms and conditions of the deal before purchase, they are only summarized here.

Movie Marketing Questions Again?

I am so frustrated with movie marketing that targets young kids for PG-13 movies.

I remember in 2009 when Avatar was in theaters. The movie was rated PG-13 and Avatar themed toys were in McDonald's Happy Meals. My daughter was almost 4 at the time, and wanted to know why she was getting toys for a movie that I went to see that she couldn't.

Last sumer with the release of The Avengers, I noticed a lot of marketing to young children. The Avengers were on the cover of LEGO Club Jr (for children under 7), young children were in the Target commercial, etc. At the time we were able to deflect our daughter to the Disney XD cartoon. We let her watch the movie on DVD after the release at home. Watching the movie at home gave us more control. We could distract her through a more disturbing/violent scene and the smaller screen and low-level lights made them less scary.

Since then she has watched Captain American and Thor and enjoyed both movies. In these movies, we felt that the violence was the main reason for the PG-13, so we were ok  We held off on Iron Man since it earned the PG-13 status for more than just violence.

However, with Iron Man 3 being released, we did let her watch Iron Man last weekend using the same techniques as well as fast-forwarding though a few scenes. We are hoping to repeat the process this weekend with Iron Man 2.

When I was in Target last week I saw plenty of Iron Man 3 picture books and easy readers that are marketed towards emerging readers who are well under the PG-13 age. Now, I saw a Subway commercial for Kids Meals in an Iron Man 3 bag that includes a chance for the grown-up to win a ticket to see Iron Man 3. In my experience, Kids Meals are designed for kids under age 10 or so. Even though they are advertising the ticket as for the adult, I find it extremely frustrating that the ticket giveaway is linked to the purchase of a Kids Meal. I'd feel better if the giveaway code was linked to an adult purchase.

While we did make the decision to let our daughter watch Avengers when it came out on DVD, I feel that a PG-13 film should not be directly marketed towards children under the age of 10. Our plan for Iron Man 3 (and Thor: The Dark World in November) is to see the movie without her and evaluate whether she can see it in the theaters or whether we will wait for video and watch it at home like we did with the others.

Get a Great Deal on Disney Magazines

My daughter loves when she gets mail, especially if they are her magazines or catalogs. The magazines and catalogs tend to accumulate in the backseats of our car where she is always reading them. Last year I bought my niece a subscription to Disney Princess magazine which she enjoyed.

Disclaimer: I am a LivingSocial Associate and am compensated for sales through LivingSocial links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

Today, LivingSocial is offering a deal on Disney Magazines. For $15 you will receive a one year subscription (8 issues) which is a $30 value. The included magazines are

• Disney Junior
• Pixar Cars
• Disney Princess
• Disney Fairies
• Disney Phineas & Ferb Magazine.

There is a limit of 1 voucher per transaction. Your voucher will be valid at full value until July 17, 2013.

Thor: The Dark World Trailer Premiered Today

Today the trailer for Thor: The Dark World premiered on iTunes. Thor: The Dark World is coming to theaters on November 8, 2013.

My daughter loves the Avengers, so the last thing we did before bedtime was watch the trailer on our Apple TV.




From the official studio boilerplate:

Marvel’s "Thor: The Dark World" continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s "Thor" and "Marvel’s The Avengers," Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all. 

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” is directed by Alan Taylor, produced by Kevin Feige, from a story by Don Payne and screenplay by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely and is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book “Journey into Mystery “ #83 in August, 1962. 

“Thor: The Dark World” is presented by Marvel Studios. The executive producers are Alan Fine, Nigel Gostelow, Stan Lee, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Craig Kyle. The film releases November 8, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Thor was the first of the individual character Avengers films that my daughter saw. She is fascinated by Thor. We routinely watch Jeopardy and one night she ran a category about the Norse god Thor from her knowledge from the Avengers.


Disclaimer: The information in this post was provided to me by Walt Disney Studios Pictures. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hello Target, Good-Bye Panera

As a busy Mom, I often find myself with extra time while my daughter is at an activity or before I need to pick her up from school. When I am out and about, it often does not make sense to go home so I typically look for a place with WiFi so I can blog, check e-mail, surf the web, etc from my laptop or iPad instead of my iPhone.

Today, I had about 30 minutes after I finished shopping at Target before I needed to pick my daughter up. I could have gone home (10 minutes in the opposite direction from school). I would have spent more extra time driving than I would have at home. Fortunately our Target location recently added WiFi, so I'm sitting in their cafeteria with my iPad. (As an added plus, I can now check prices online while in the store). 3G service (even phone service) was pretty spotty in spots of the store before.

Panera used to be my go-to spot. With 5 Panera locations in my town, it is easy to find one near me. However they have started limiting their WiFi sessions to 30 minutes. I understand the need to limit time, but 30 minutes seems excessively short. If I connect while I wait for my meal to be ready, by the time I'm done eating my 30 minutes would be nearly up. A few weekends ago, I visited while my daughter was a birthday party. I had a little under 90 minutes. It was too early for lunch, so I ordered a drink when I arrived and then ordered lunch. Even with two purchases, I still only got the 30 minutes. I was meeting friends there the other day but was arriving early after dropping my daughter at school. I had to bring both my laptop and my iPad to bump it up to an hour of online access.

I will also use McDonald's. As a bonus, their sodas are only $1 so it doesn't cost me very much money to stop there.

What about you? What do you do when you have some down time before picking your child up from an activity?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

"Mom, You Pick the Best Dinners"

That was the compliment that my daughter gave me at dinner last night. She started as a picky eater but has been expanding her palate recently. Oddly one of the main things she still does not eat is hot dogs.

We were having taco mac & cheese - my own creation. I took the mac & cheese recipe that I typically use (Alton Brown's recipe) and mixed taco meat with it. When I make the macaroni and cheese I typically double the recipe and bake it in a 13x9 glass casserole dish. Since I was adding the meat, I did not double the recipe, but still used the 13x9 pan.

To make the taco meat I browned 1 pound of ground beef with onions and then added taco seasoning, a can of diced tomatoes (drained), and a can of diced green chilies (drained). I let that simmer for about ten minutes.

I mixed the taco meat with the macaroni noodles before adding the cheese sauce. Instead of using all cheddar cheese, I used a Mexican blend of cheese to top the dish and then added the Panko bread crumbs.

I was very happy with how this dish turned out. Some of my recipe creations don't turn out as well as I envision them, but this was a success. My daughter loved it. Although she split the dish eating the macaroni separate from the beef.

There were two downsides to the dish...the number of dishes it generated (pasta pot, ground beef pan, panko pan, and sauce pot) and the fact that macaroni and cheese was the school lunch today. Since we're having leftover tonight, she didn't want mac & cheese for lunch as well and I had to pack her a lunch today. She remembered me saying that it isn't good to eat the same foods all the time because you have the same good and bad nutrients each time. Next time I'll check the school lunch menu before making dinner.

If you are making the mac & cheese, make sure to keep stirring the milk mixture so it does not thicken. It is also important to temper the egg. Both of these steps are key to achieving the proper consistency in the sauce. I can't wait to try a few other variations on the macaroni and cheese.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Celebrate Earth Day with Pudding Plantings

This year I was signed up to bring snack for my daughter's  Daisy troop on Monday, April 22 - Earth Day. I wanted to bring a snack themed for Earth Day and thought of dirt cups...chocolate pudding with crumbled Oreos and gummy worms.

When I was thinking of different ways to decorate them, I realized that we could represent different planting stages by using different toppings. We used pretzel sticks to divide the plate into four sections and spooned pudding into each section. I used about a 1/2c (1 serving) of pudding on each plate.

Winter: I thought of either whipped cream or marshmallows for snow. My daughter liked the idea of both with the whipped cream as the base and the mini-marshmallows as snowballs to throw.

Ready to Plant: I made a traditional dirt cup with crushed Oreos and a sour gummy worm to signify when the land is ready to plant.

Emerging Plants: We added a little bit of green coconut flakes to represent plants beginning to sprout.

Harvest Time: For harvest time, we used more green coconut flakes and added fruit snacks (Welch's) that are shaped like fruit.

I tinted sweetened coconut flakes using the directions on the bag (a few drops of food coloring mixed with 1/2 tsp water). I had to repeat the process twice to achieve the desired color.

The plan is for the Girl Scouts to assemble their own snacks. If you pre-assemble, I recommend only putting the whipped cream on at the end as it tends to deflate over time.

Thor: The Dark World Teaser Poster and Trailer

My daughter loved the Avengers movie and we have been working our way though the individual character movies. She's seen Thor and Avengers. With Iron Man 3 coming in a few weeks, we let her watch Iron Man tonight on DVD (we did fast-forward through a few scenes).

After Iron Man 3, the next release is Thor: The Dark World in November 2013.

From the official boilerplate:

Marvel’s "Thor: The Dark World" continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s "Thor" and "Marvel’s The Avengers," Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all. 

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano and Jaimie Alexander with Rene Russo and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World” is directed by Alan Taylor, produced by Kevin Feige, from a story by Don Payne and screenplay by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely and is based on Marvel’s classic Super Hero Thor, who first appeared in the comic book “Journey into Mystery “ #83 in August, 1962.  

“Thor: The Dark World” is presented by Marvel Studios. The executive producers are Alan Fine, Nigel Gostelow, Stan Lee, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Craig Kyle. The film releases November 8, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

The trailer for Thor: The Dark World will be released on Tuesday, April 23 exclusively on iTunes Movie Trailers. We will definitely be checking out the trailer on Tuesday.

Disclaimer: Information in this post was provided to me by Walt Disney Studios. All opinions are 100% mine.

Personalized iPhone Cases

Disclaimer: I am a Tiny Prints Associate and am compensated for sales through TinyPrints links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

My iPhone is easily my most important accessory on a daily basis as it is rarely out of arms reach. When TinyPrints asked me to share this infographic, I was shocked at some of the statistics. I can't believe that only 76% of people have dropped their phone. I drop mine on a regular basis - although I have gotten better about it. Because of my propensity for dropping it, I bought a case with my phone. Even when my old case started cracking, I left it on until I bought a new case.


I think my next case will be a personalized case. It will certainly make it easy to find among all my family and friends who also have iPhones.

Which statistic below surprises you - or what minority do you fall into?

The Minions Go Back 2 Work with Despicable Me 2 This Summer

Despicable Me 2 is coming to theaters this summer with a July 3 release date.

Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, Russell Brand and Al Pacino, Steve Coogan, Ken Jeong, Elsie Fisher, Dana Gaier, Moises Arias 

Directed by: Chris Renaud & Pierre Coffin 

Written by: Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio 

Produced by: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy 

Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment’s worldwide blockbuster Despicable Me entertained audiences around the globe in 2010, grossing more than $540 million and becoming the 10th-biggest animated motion picture in U.S. history. In summer 2013, get ready for more Minion madness in Despicable Me 2.   

Chris Meledandri and his acclaimed filmmaking team create an all-new comedy adventure featuring the return of (former?) super-villain Gru (Steve Carell), his adorable girls, the unpredictably hilarious Minions...and a host of new and outrageously funny characters. www.despicable.me

Prior to the movie's release the Despicablimp will be touring the country. From this press-release, it is quite an impressive airship.

The Despicablimp is one of the largest airships in the world at 165-feet long, 55-feet high and 46-feet wide, and is one of only 15 flying today. The blimp will travel approximately 20,000 miles, crisscrossing the country three times over the course of its six-month journey and will have multiple stops across the continental U.S.  Making its first appearance over the Nickelodeon 2013 Kids’ Choice Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23, the gigantic Minion can be seen over hundreds of events across the U.S., including: 

      + Telemundo’s Billboard Latin Music Awards, Miami, FL – April 25, 2013
      + The Kentucky Derby, Louisville, KY – May 4, 2013
      + The Despicable Me 2 World Premiere, Hollywood, CA – June 22, 2013 

The Despicablimp may be tracked in real-time via GPS at the Despicablimp Command Center (www.despicablimp.com).   Fans can tweet sightings of the blimp or post photos to Instagram or Flickr using #despicablimp to see it featured on the site, and participate in weekly prize giveaways.  Visitors to the site can also enter for a chance to win a trip for four to the Hollywood world premiere of Despicable Me 2 and get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride in the blimp!

Other upcoming stops include:

• April 21-25 Miami (including Telmundo's Billboard Latin Music Awards)
• April 30-May 4 - Louisville, KY (including Kentucky Derby)
• May 8-11 Philadelphia
• May 13 - Boston
• May 15-23 New York City
• June 23-24 - Los Angeles
• June 27-30 San Francisco

Get 5 FREE Cards through April 24

With spring coming, there are so many card giving occasions coming up - Mother's Day, Graduations, Birthdays, Father's Day, and of course wedding/anniversary season. Plus, it's time for teachers cards whether for National Teacher Appreciation Day on May 7 or the end of the school year.

In June we have a 7 day span that includes:

• Last Day of School
• Two Birthdays
• 1 Anniversary
• Father's Day (3 Dad's)

Definitely a big card sending week in our house. And that is after Mother's Day!

Disclaimer: I am a Shutterfly affiliate  and am compensated for sales through Shutterfly links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

Shutterfly is here to help by offering 5 free photo cards! I love using photo cards, but am not usually organized enough to make the cards ahead of time. This promotion is a great incentive. It is an AFFILIATE EXCLUSIVE – From 4/18 through 4/24, use promo code 5FREECARDS to get 5 free 5x7 or 5x5 cards from Shutterfly.com

Additionally, Shutterfly had a deal on photo books. From 4/18 through 4/24, use promo code BOOK40 to get 40% off photo books from Shutterfly.com!

Finally, they are offering free shipping on orders over $30. Receive free shipping on all Shutterfly.com orders of $30+ with promo code SHIP30 offer valid through 4.30


5FREECARDS: Offer expires 04/24/2013 (11:59 P.M. PST). Offer is good for five free 5x7 flat stationery cards or five free 5x7 folded greeting cards at shutterfly.com. Offer valid for one-time redemption per billing address. Customer must choose only one of the two offers. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. 

BOOK40: Offer expires 4/24/2013 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for 40% off photo books and pages at shutterfly.com. Offer valid for one-time redemption per billing address. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. StorytellingTM styles and elements, hard photo cover with matte finish and memorabilia pocket will incur additional fees. For more details, please click here. 

SHIP30: Offer expires 04/30/2013 (11:59 P.M. PST). Offer is good for one free standard shipping on one qualifying merchandise order of $30 or more shipped within the U.S. only at shutterfly.com. Offer valid for one-time redemption per billing address. Taxes and handling charges will apply.

Family Reading Time

My daughter loves to read and is a fairly advanced reader for her age. She was reading Magic Tree House books out loud to me by the time she started Kindergarten. We used to read nightly at bedtime, but when she started school we never seemed to have enough time. She was always looking at books, so I never worried about the reading time. However, in February I noticed that she was not reading stories. She loves the Fact Trackers that accompany many Magic Treehouse books. She also loves reading the Star Wars reference books - Visual Dictionaries, Character Encyclopedias, etc. But, she was never reading chapter books. She was reading books that she could flip through and read a page that interested her, but she was not reading a book start to finish.

Over her mid-winter break in February, I instituted a "Family Reading Time" of 15-20 minutes per day. We both go into the reading room and each read a book. I do require her book to be a book with a story and not a research guide. I am an ebook reader and usually use my phone instead of my Kindle. However, I try to remember to have my Kindle charged and available to use during reading time so I am not distracted by e-mails, texts, Facebook, etc. We also retreat to our "reading room", a sitting room off of the master bedroom. Having a dedicated reading area also cuts down on the distractions.

Family Reading Time is going well. She is engaged in her books and we have even started reading a book together at bedtime that is a little too difficult for her to read on her own during family reading time. Last week she spent an afternoon with her grandparents after school and insisted on bringing a book and doing Family Reading Time with Grandma. We did skip Family Reading Time when we were on vacation and we have skipped an occasional day when we are too busy. But, overall we are doing much more reading. My daughter is still doing her reading of the "fact books", but is also reading chapter books.

What about your house? How do you encourage Family Reading Time?

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate and am compensated for sales through Amazon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

Lalaloopsy TV Show airs on Nick on Fridays

Does your child love Lallaloopsy? My daughter never developed an interest, but a few of her friends did.

I just found out from Nickelodeon's Facebook page that they began airing a new Lalaloopsy television show on March 29. Lalaloopsy airs on Nickelodeon at 1:30p on Fridays.

There are also several Webisodes available online through nickjr.com or YouTube:

You can find the webisodes on my Lalaloopsy PlayList on YouTube

Disclaimer: I am an iTunes Affiliate and an Amazon Associate and am compensated for sales through Amazon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

If you missed the first few episodes, they're available on iTunes and Amazon Instant Video.

FREE Pinkberry Greek Yogurt

Pinkberry is offering FREE Greek Yogurt at their locations on Wednesdays in April. Free yogurt is available from 11a-2p.

Note: Pinkberry Greek Yogurt is not frozen. Please verify that the location nearest to you is participating.

Get a Jump Start on Summer at Great Wolf Lodge with These Deals

Disclaimer: I am a Groupon affiliate and am compensated for sales through Groupon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. Please read all terms, conditions, and dates of the offer before purchase. They are only summarized here. 

Are you looking to plan a fun family getaway this spring? If so, you may want to check out these deals for Great Wolf Lodge locations around the country.


Groupon: Up to 38% off Great Wolf Lodge Deals

Our family visited the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, MI in October 2011. We have considered staying at the Sandusky, OH, Pocono Mountains, PA, or the Niagara Falls, ON locations. Unfortunately, the deals are at the locations I have looked at the deals are only valid through mid-June when my daughter is in school during the week and has soccer on the weekends.

.

LEGO Iron Man 3 Movie Poster

I love how LEGO and Marvel have started cross-promoting their movies. My daughter loves both LEGO and Marvel, so she loves the combination of them.

 

The official movie boilerplate:

Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man? 

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” is directed by Shane Black from a screenplay by Drew Pearce & Shane Black and is based on Marvel’s iconic Super Hero Iron Man, who first appeared on the pages of “Tales of Suspense” (#39) in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with “The Invincible Iron Man” (#1) in May of 1968. 

“Iron Man 3” is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures and DMG Entertainment. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing and Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Alan Fine, Stan Lee and Dan Mintz are executive producers. The film releases May 3, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Now, if they only make LEGO Marvel movies like the LEGO Star Wars episodes. She loves them. By the way, over the weekend we discovered the Star Wars in 2 Minutes (part 1 & 2) which are extras on the Padawan Menace BluRay. Part 1 covers the original trilogy and Part 2 covers the prequel trilogy.


Disclaimer: Images and movie boilerplate provided by Walt Disney Studios. I have not been compensated for sharing this post. I am an Amazon Associate and am compensated for sales through Amazon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. 

Get a Sneak Peek of Disney's new Henry Hugglemonster Series

Disney Junior has a new show, Henry Hugglemonster, which premiers on Monday, April 15 at 5p/4c on Disney Junior the Channel.

Henry Hugglemonster is based on the children's book I'm a Happy Hugglewug: Laugh and Play the Hugglewug Way by Niamh Sharkey. Henry Hugglemonster premiered on Disney Junior in the UK in February.

The trailer is included below:


Can't wait for the new series to premiere? You can download the first episode (The Huggleflower/Monster Lullaby) from iTunes for FREE right now.

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate and iTunes affiliate and am compensated for sales through Amazon and iTunes links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. Please verify the purchase price of the episode before purchase as the price may change.

FREE Doc McStuffins Episode on iTunes

Has your child seen Doc McStuffins on the Disney or Disney Junior channel? My daughter (age 7) had outgrown the Disney Junior shows before the premier of Doc McStuffins. However my nieces (age 3 & 5) love Doc McStuffins. They both received doctor's coats and Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins is the iTunes TV Show of the week. iTunes is giving away a FREE Episode. The FREE Episode is Out of the Box/Run-Down Race Car which was the premier episode on March 23, 2012.


Disclaimer: I am an iTunes Affiliate and am compensated for sales through iTunes links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. Please verify the video is FREE before purchasing as it is only free for a limited time.

FREE Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's

Today, April 9 is FREE Cone Day at participating Ben & Jerry's locations nationwide (you can verify online that a location is participating).

After years of living places without a Ben & Jerry's, we do have a location in our current town. I would love to get my free cone, but I know what the line looks like. Free ice cream across the street from a college campus does tend to equal long lines.

It just isn't worth it to me to get a free cone. I'll go tomorrow and pay for my ice cream. What about you? Is a FREE Cone worth a 20-30 minute line?

New Iron Man 3 Trailer Released

My husband has always been a Marvel comics fan, so he and I have been watching the latest Marvel movies as they were released beginning with Iron Man. My daughter (7) has now learned all about the Marvel super heroes and was a devoted fan of the Disney XD series The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

We debated taking her to see Marvel's The Avengers in the theater, and decided to hold off a little longer. After it was released on DVD, we allowed her to watch it at home and she loved it. She has since watched Thor with Captain America: The First Avenger next on our watch list.

My daughter has been very excited about the new Iron Man 3 when she sees commercials, trailers, the Iron Man LEGO Sets, and the monorail at Walt Disney World. We are still debating whether to take her to see Iron Man 3. I think we will see it without her and make a decision.





From the official studio boilerplate:

Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man? 

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” is directed by Shane Black from a screenplay by Drew Pearce & Shane Black and is based on Marvel’s iconic Super Hero Iron Man, who first appeared on the pages of “Tales of Suspense” (#39) in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with “The Invincible Iron Man” (#1) in May of 1968. 

“Iron Man 3” is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures and DMG Entertainment. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing and Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Alan Fine, Stan Lee and Dan Mintz are executive producers. The film releases May 3, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate and am compensated for sales through Amazon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. Information in this post was provided to me by Walt Disney Studios. All opinions are 100% mine.

Michaels Earth Day Kids Club Crafts

Does your child love doing crafts?

The Kids Club at Michaels stores offers half-hour classes for kids on Saturdays with sessions starting at 10, 10:30, 11, and 11:30a. Each session costs $2/child. You can shop in the store while your child is in class.

The craft for Saturday, April 13 is an Earth Friendly Fox.

On Saturday, April 20 they will celebrate Earth Day with Trash to Treesure.

Jurassic Park in 3D Opens Today

My daughter loves dinosaurs. While she has watched Jurassic Park on DVD at home, she is eager to see it in 3D on the big screen.

Jurassic Park 3D opens in theaters today, Friday, April 5. It is being shown in both the IMAX 3D and regular 3D formats. Many theaters will also be showing the movie in traditional 2D.

Rave Cinemas are offering a free kids sized popcorn with the purchase of a ticket for Jurassic Park. You will need to print this coupon to redeem the deal.

Watch the Trailer for Jurassic Park.




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Book Release/Signing: Kingdom Keepers VI: Dark Passage

The last time we were at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, I was looking at the Kingdom Keepers series of novels. The books are geared a little older than my daughter (the recommended age is 10-14, she is 7). I think she will really enjoy these books as she gets older since they are set in the Magic Kingdom and feature teens battling the Disney Villains (actually I am tempted to read them). The sixth book in the series Kingdom Keepers VI: Dark Passage by Ridley Pearson was released today, April 2, 2013. There is one additional book planned for the series.


The Kingdom Keepers Series is available for purchase in bookstores and are also available for e-readers.

The press release below includes information on the series, author, and tour dates:

Kingdom Keepers VI: Dark Passage

By Ridley Pearson

The New York Times bestselling co-author of Peter and the Starcatchers

Ridley Pearson’s New York Times bestselling Kingdom Keepers series continues with the thrilling sixth book: Kingdom Keepers VI: Dark Passage!

The Kingdom Keepers (young teens who were tapped as models for holographic Disney theme park "guides") and their friends have uncovered a startling truth: Maleficent and the Overtakers (Disney villains) are plotting a catastrophic event that could have repercussions far beyond the world of Disney. Aboard the Disney Cruise Line's inaugural passage through the new Panama Canal, the Keepers and their holograms uncover a puzzle hidden within the pages of a stolen journal. The point of that puzzle will reveal itself in the caves of Aruba, the zip lines of Costa Rica, and the jungles of Mexico. A destructive force, dormant for decades, is about to be unleashed—and the Kingdom Keepers are to be its first victims.

Now, for the first time, readers get the chance to help write the seventh and final book in the series via the Kingdom Keepers Insider app, launching April 2nd! Available on all mobile devices, e-readers and online, the app will provide a groundbreaking interactive fan experience for readers of the Kingdom Keepers series, allowing them to follow along as Ridley Pearson writes, voting on plot points, character involvement, and locations—even contributing ideas for dialogue! Plus, there will be writing contests based on the previous book in the series and judged by Ridley Pearson, promoting writing and literacy in a safe environment with characters readers already know and love! Learn more at www.kingdomkeepersinsider.com.

Ridley Pearson is the award-winning author of multiple adventure series for (young-ish) readers, including The Kingdom Keepers, Steel Trapp and with Dave Barry, Peter and the Starcatchers. Ridley is also a best-selling crime novelist of more than 25 titles, which have been translated into 22 languages and distributed in 70 countries. Pearson was the first U.S. citizen to be awarded the Raymond Chandler/Fulbright Fellowship in Detective Fiction at Oxford University. In 2008 Ridley served as a visiting professor at Fudan University, Shanghai, China. In 2013, Ridley was awarded Missouri's Quill Award and inducted into that state's Writers Hall of Fame. As a "full time dad and husband," Ridley, along with his wife, Marcelle, live with their two teenage daughters in St. Louis, MO. Find him online at ridleypearson.com and on Twitter: @RidleyPearson

Kingdom Keepers VI: Dark Passage
By Ridley Pearson
Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: April 2, 2013
ISBN: 9781423164890; Price: $17.99; Ages 10-14

TOUR CITIES:

• April 2: 7:00 PM event at Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville, IL
• April 3: 7:00 PM event at Barnes & Noble, Paramus, NJ
• April 4: 7:00 PM event at Book Revue Huntington, NY
• April 6: 2:00 PM event at St. Louis County Library, St. Louis, MO
• April 7: 2:00 PM event at Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL
• April 9: 7:00 PM event at Books-A-Million, Brandon, FL
• April 10: 4:00-6:00 PM signing at Once Upon a Toy in Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL
• April 11: 9:30-11:30 AM signing at Writer’s Stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Orlando, FL
• April 19: 6:30 PM event at Poisoned Pen, Phoenix, AZ
• April 20: 2:00 PM “Sagas and Series” panel at Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Los Angeles, CA

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate and am compensated for sales through Amazon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. This press release was provided to me by Disney Books. No compensation has been received for sharing this information.


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New Movie Announcement: Finding Dory

Are your kids a fan of Nemo? If so, you will definitely want to mark your calendars for November 25, 2015 (yes, 2.5+ years from now) for the release of Disney•Pixar's Finding Dory!



Finding Dory is a sequel that occurs roughly one year after Finding Nemo (2003). In addition to Dory (with Ellen DeGeneres returning to voice the character), it will feature appearances by Nemo, Marlin, and the Fish Tank Gang plus some new characters. Personally I hope to see Crush and Squirt as well.


From the official press release announcing the movie:

Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” to Dive into Theaters
November 25, 2015

Ellen DeGeneres, the Voice of the Beloved Blue Tang Fish in 2003’s “Finding Nemo,” Shares Plans for the All-New Big-Screen Adventure

BURBANK, Calif. (April 2, 2013) – When Dory said “just keep swimming” in 2003’s Oscar®-winning film “Finding Nemo,” she could not have imagined what was in store for her (not that she could remember). Ellen DeGeneres, voice of the friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish, revealed details today about Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory”—an all-new big-screen adventure diving into theaters on Nov. 25, 2015.

“I have waited for this day for a long, long, long, long, long, long time,” said DeGeneres. “I’m not mad it took this long. I know the people at Pixar were busy creating ‘Toy Story 16.’ But the time they took was worth it. The script is fantastic. And it has everything I loved about the first one: It’s got a lot of heart, it’s really funny, and the best part is—it’s got a lot more Dory.”
Director and Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton takes audiences back to the extraordinary underwater world created in the original film. “There is no Dory without Ellen,” said Stanton. “She won the hearts of moviegoers all over the world—not to mention our team here at Pixar. One thing we couldn’t stop thinking about was why she was all alone in the ocean on the day she met Marlin. In ‘Finding Dory,’ she will be reunited with her loved ones, learning a few things about the meaning of family along the way.”

According to Stanton, “Finding Dory” takes place about a year after the first film, and features returning favorites Marlin, Nemo and the Tank Gang, among others. Set in part along the California coastline, the story also welcomes a host of new characters, including a few who will prove to be a very important part of Dory’s life.

“Finding Nemo” won the 2003 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature; the film was nominated for three additional Oscars® (Best Writing, Original Screenplay; Best Music, Original Score; Best Sound Editing). It was also nominated for a Golden Globe® Award for Best Motion Picture–Comedy or Musical. In 2008, the American Film Institute named “Finding Nemo” among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made. At the time of its release, “Finding Nemo” was the highest grossing G-rated movie of all time. It’s currently the fourth highest grossing animated film worldwide. The film has more than 16 million Likes on Facebook, and Dory—with more than 24 million—is the most Liked individual character from a Disney or Disney•Pixar film.

DeGeneres’ distinctive comic voice has resonated with audiences from her first stand-up comedy appearances through her work today on television, in film and in the literary world. Her syndicated talk show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” is in its 10th season and has earned 38 Daytime Emmy® Awards. DeGeneres has won 12 People’s Choice Awards and the Teen Choice Award for Choice Comedian for three consecutive years. Additionally, her show won two Genesis Awards and a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Talk Show Episode. For her unforgettable turn as Dory, DeGeneres was nominated for an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance.

Like Finding Dory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixarFindingDory
Follow Disney/Pixar on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyPixar

We can't wait to see more images, sneak peaks, and information on Finding Dory.



Disclaimer: Information on Finding Dory was provided by Walt Disney Studios. I have not been compensated for sharing this information with you. I am an Amazon Associate and am compensated for sales through Amazon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.




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Coming Attractions: Disney Planes

Last week I shared the movie poster for Disney Planes with you.



This week I wanted to share this sneak peak:




Did you notice anything special about the airport runways they fly over (about the 1:07 mark)? If not, re-watch the trailer to check it out!



The Studio's description below gives you more information on the project.

From above the world of “Cars” comes “Disney’s Planes,” an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty (voice of Dane Cook), a plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing—and he happens to be afraid of heights. So he turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps Dusty qualify to take on the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar. “Disney’s Planes” takes off in theaters in 3D on Aug. 9, 2013, and will be presented in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters.

Disclaimer: Image and description provided by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. No compensation was received for this post.
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