Thursday, October 30, 2014

Planes: Fire and Rescue

THE PLANES ARE BACK IN THE YEAR’S ULTIMATE
HIGH-FLYING COMEDY ADVENTURE!

DISNEY’S “PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE”



Landing on Disney Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, Digital HD, Disney Movies Anywhere,
DVD & On-Demand Nov. 4, 2014!

~ Includes All-New Exclusive Animated Short “Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular” and More! ~

BURBANK, Calif. September 12, 2014 — Disney’s Planes are back in the high-flying comedy adventure “PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE,” landing on Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack, Digital HD, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand platforms Nov. 4, 2014. In this heart-pumping, laugh-filled follow-up to last year’s smash hit “PLANES,” world famous racer Dusty Crophopper joins an elite fire and rescue unit and learns what it takes to be a true hero. Featuring non-stop action, memorable characters and never-before-seen bonus features, “PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE” is this fall’s must-own animated family film!

After flying to the top of the box office this summer as the #1 animated movie in America three weeks in a row, “PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE” soars to spectacular new heights on Blu-ray and Digital HD, featuring wondrous high definition picture and sound, plus thrilling bonus features, including the all-new exclusive short “Vitaminamulch: Air Spectacular;” the mock-umentary promotional piece "Welcome to Piston Peak;” “CHoPs” TV Promo and “Air Attack:  Firefighters From The Sky,” an exciting inside look at the making of the film featuring real-life smoke jumpers and firefighters. Additional bonus features include Spencer Lee’s "Still I Fly" music video, deleted scenes with filmmaker introductions, and two “PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE” shorts: “Dipper” and “Smokejumpers.” Exclusively available on Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) are the bonus shorts “Blade Ranger” and “Piston Peak.”



“PLANES: FIRE & RESCUE” is fueled by a star-studded voice cast that includes Dane Cook (“Planes”) as Dusty, Julie Bowen (“Modern Family”) as Dipper, Ed Harris (“Gravity”) as Blade Ranger, Captain Dale Dye (“Saving Private Ryan”) as Cabbie, Cedric the Entertainer (“Ice Age”) as Leadbottom, Erik Estrada (“CHiPs”) as Nick “Loopin” Lopez, Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) as Chug, Teri Hatcher (“Desperate Housewives”) as Dottie, John Michael Higgins (“Pitch Perfect”) as Cad, Hal Holbrook (“Into the Wild”) as Mayday, Stacy Keach (“Planes”) as Skipper, Regina King (“Ray”) as Dynamite, Anne Meara (“Night at the Museum) as Winnie, Jerry Stiller (“The King of Queens”) as Harvey and Wes Studi (“Avatar”) as Windlifter. It was directed by Roberts Gannaway (“Secret of the Wings”) and produced by Ferrell Barron (“The Fox and the Hound 2”).

My Thoughts:
I have two kids... a little girl who is 5 and a little boy is is quickly creeping up on 2. Finding things that keep them both entertained is about as easy as finding a needle in a haystack. So orchestrating family movie night is tough. Usually we will have one kid totally enthralled... and the other one will be running around with zero interest. We've gotten lucky a few times... but this scene plays out more often than not.

With this new DVD, I figured we would be pleasing my son and my daughter would be twirling around in front of the TV in a princess dress. I was pleasantly surprised! Both kids were totally interested and laughing through the whole thing. My daughter loved Dipper and her relationship with Dusty... while my son thought Dusty was so cool!

My kids are excited now to share this movie with their Papa. My dad is a volunteer fireman, so they are sure that he will love watching all of the excitement as these cool planes race to the rescue and work together to fight fires. I liked how this movie picked up with our old favorite, Dusty, as he explores a new way of life....flying high above the forest fires. After the movie was over they were running around with fire hats on. arms wide open as planes, fighting fires all around! So fun!

The movie is filled with fun characters, humor, adventure,  and great music.  It was the perfect family movie night film to keep everyone happy... including mom and dad! I would highly recommend you check it out with your family.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks

THE NEW FULL-LENGTH FILM
MY LITTLE PONY EQUESTRIA GIRLS: RAINBOW ROCKS
TO BE RELEASED ON BLU-RAY AND DVD
OCTOBER 28, 2014



Los Angeles, CA – There’s a brand new full-length film in the ever-popular My Little Pony canon. Following a theatrical run in the fall of 2014, where the film opened with enthusiastic reviews to packed crowds in over 400 theaters, My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks will be released October 28 in the U.S. and Canada from Shout! Factory Kids, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios, as a single-disc DVD, and in a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo. Bonus features include an Audio Commentary, 8 Prequel Shorts and Sing-Alongs.

In My Little Pony Equestria Girls, released in fall 2013, Twilight Sparkle’s crown was stolen from the Crystal Empire, and she pursued the thief, Sunset Shimmer, into an alternate world where she finds herself turned into…a teenage girl! To regain her crown and return to Equestria, Twilight had to learn how to fit into this strange, new world and defeat Sunset Shimmer in a competition to become crowned Princess of the Fall Formal at Canterlot High.

Now, the girls of Canterlot High are back, and this time they’re rocking guitars! In My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks, Canterlot High (CHS) is hosting a musical showcase, and Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy are going to be performing with their new band, The Rainbooms. But when The Dazzlings, a new girl group, arrive at CHS and convince everyone to turn the friendly showcase into a Battle of the Bands, tensions mount between the competing musical acts. A now-reformed Sunset Shimmer realizes that The Dazzlings may not be ordinary girls and are after something far more sinister than just being named Best Band at Canterlot High. The Rainbooms call on Princess Twilight to restore harmony to their world to help them perform a musical counter-spell so that they can win a battle that now determines the fate of the entire school.

My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com, ShoutFactory.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com, and will be in stores everywhere October 28.
For more information on My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks, please visit www.mlpeg.com.



My Thoughts:
My 5 year old daughter is a HUGE My Little Pony fan. We have been catching episodes on TV whenever we can. When My Little Pony: Equestria Girls first came out it quickly became a favorite. We saved it on our DVR but were thrilled to be able to snag it on DVD so we knew we had it. When I heard that the girls of Canterlot High were back.... I knew this was a cannot miss for my little girl!

My predictions were right. My daughter was totally mesmerized by this full-length film. While she loves all the characters, Rainbow Dash is her absolute favorite. She was cheering the Rainbooms on as they rocked their way to to saving the day! I, personally, favor Twilight Sparkle (maybe because I think her dragon, Spike, is awesome). So I was nervous for her as she worked to create the perfect counter-spell.

This movie is filled with our favorite characters, great music, adventure, excitement, and more. It's a great one to watch with your My Little Pony fan!

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Staying Snug and Dry with Huggies and Target! #MC #Sponsored

* I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central for Huggies and Target. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.


I am on my second baby in diapers... so my life has been filled with diapers for several years now. Buying them has become a routine... and expensive... part of my life. Since I shop at Target very frequently for a variety of things, it makes sense to purchase my diapers there. So the other day we went on a mission to find Huggies Snug and dry Diapers and Huggies Natural Care Wipes. Even with all the diapers I have put on in mu life, I have never tried Huggies Snug and Dry or the Natural Care Wipes, so this was an exciting mission!

My local Target does a great job of putting up giant signs for each department, so even if you weren't a frequent Target shopper like I am you would still easily find the baby department. And once you are there you are greeted by an entire aisle dedicated to all your diapering needs! And the Huggies Snug and Dry and Natural Care Wipes were well represented in the aisle.



The shelves were stocked and they had a variety of boxes and packages with different amounts of diapers and in sizes 1-6. So I grabbed a nice big box for our house and a smaller package to send over to grandma's since we try to keep stocked up on diapers over there, too. Then we grabbed some Huggies Natural Care Wipes, did a bunch more shopping, and checked out. We were in and out in 30 minutes and got everything on our list. Gotta love Target!



So this shopping trip worked out perfectly, but Target has another option for getting your diapers that just may change your life. Target has a new subscription program where you can have your diapers and wipes delivered right to your doorstep. You even get to set how often you need them and they ship automatically. This is such a great program for busy moms!

Well, now that the shopping was done it was time to try out the diapers and wipes. My son has always had pretty sensitive skin and even suffered from baby acne and eczema when he was very tiny. Fortunately, his skin has cleared up, but we continue to watch it and use a special moisturizer. So whenever I try a new product I am on the lookout for any breakouts or irritations on his skin. I was feeling pretty confident going into this because Huggies is aware of baby's sensitive skin and created these Snug and Dry diapers with a *SureFit design to keep that diaper on snugly and moving with them (boy do I have an active mover on my hands!) while providing up to 12 hours of leak-free protection. All sounds good... but we needed to put it to the test.



My little guy was more than happy to test out these new diapers because they feature his favorite guy... Mickey Mouse! And the wipes were thick enough that I felt like I was getting him really clean, but they were also surprisingly soft. And of course I love the fact that the wipes use natural ingredients, so I've been using them for cleaning hands and faces too! I felt pretty confident after using the wipes and putting on the new diaper.


He was ready to rock and roll! We have now been using these diapers and wipes for several days and his skin has been soft and irritation free. We haven't had any leaks and he's still getting excited every time we take Mickey out for a diaper change! I am very pleased with our new adventure into Huggies Snug and Dry diapers and Natural Care Wipes.

Of course, as all moms know, diapers aren't cheap... but you gotta have them So take advantage of this great coupon to snag some Huggies at your local Target!

NEW Purex Crystals Aromatherapy


I am sure that many of you can agree that laundry is a thankless, endless job. Every time I get a load done I find more in the laundry basket. It's a never ending chore that has to be done. And in this house I am the lucky one that gets to do it. Luckily, Purex keeps coming up with fantastic products that help make doing laundry a bit more enjoyable!

The newest Purex product basically has my name written on it... Purex Crystals Aromatherapy. Ahhh, that is so up my alley as I LOVE fabulous scents that help to bring about calm feelings. I truly believe in aromatherapy and even use lavender spray every night on my pillow to help me fall into a relaxing sleep. So the idea of sending some of these fantastic scents into my laundry and AMAZING!

There are three scents that are blended with essential oils to choose from - Energy, Well Being, and Serenity. I want to try them all! But for this review they were kind enough to read my tired mommy mind and sent me some Energy.


I popped this open, took a sniff, and fell in love. The citrus scent was invigorating and soothing. I couldn't wait to pour these little bits of magic in with my dirty clothes and bring them back to life in a whole new way!


So these tiny little crystals simply get tossed in with your clothing, towels, anything you wanna send for a wild ride in the washing machine. Then, while being swirled around with your water and detergent something happens. I can't tell you what it is. It's like they send out sunbursts and rainbows that get absorbed by your clothes and everything comes out sunnier. Yes, the clothing and towels were sunnier because they smelled fresher, brighter, happier! I know.. that seems weird but it's true.



The Purex Crystals Aromatherapy have now found their place in my laundry routine. They are a crucial part of the process because they bring the soothing scents into my daily life with their long lasting effects. I really think you should try them... and let me know what you think!

I am going to help one of my lucky readers have the chance to try them by giving away a FREE coupon. Yay! Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* The Purex brand provided me with a sample of Purex Crystals Aromatherapy in exchange for a product review. However, all the opinions expressed are my own.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Monsters University: Party Central - Disney Movies Anywhere


Join a monster of a party with the Disney Movies Anywhere premiere of PARTY CENTRAL.  The Disney•Pixar short is now available to view for free for the first time, and reunites everyone’s favorite monsters, Mike and Sulley, for another hilarious adventure.  Download the Disney Movies Anywhere app for iPhone or iPad to watch Party Central now, for a limited time!



Featuring Billy Crystal as Mike, John Goodman as Sulley and directed by Pixar's Kelsey Mann, Party Central features Mike and Sulley's return to Monsters University for a fun-filled weekend with their Oozma Kappa fraternity brothers. The gang is throwing their first party, but no one’s showing up. Luckily for them, Mike and Sulley have come with a plan to make sure “Party Central” is the most epic party the school has ever seen.

Go to Disney Movies Anywhere to find out more about collecting, watching, and taking your favorite Disney, Pixar and Marvel movies anywhere you go! Visit www.disneymoviesanywhere.com or download the app at http://di.sn/hvV

Chuggington: Snow Rescue


Arrives on DVD December 9,  2014

If you have a big Chuggington fan like I do... then you will
want to scoop this DVD up just in time for the holidays!

It's wintertime in Chuggington and the Chuggers are busy making preparations for the Parade of Lights Festival, adorning themselves in glowing colored lights for a special procession through Chuggington! But, when freezing fog traps Koko and a snowy avalanche derails Fletch, that’s when Wilson and the Chug Patrol team must set out on a wild winter rescue! This action-packed collection features five Chuggington specials, including the all-new Snow Rescue Special airing for the first time this fall on Disney Junior! With added bonuses including new character montages and coloring sheets, your own little Chugger will discover important lessons about safety, responsibility and teamwork.

Monday, October 20, 2014

Sleeping Beauty - Diamond Editon


Beauty Awakens for the First Time on Diamond Edition Blu-ray™,
Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere October 7, 2014!

All-New Magical Bonus Features Includes 3 Never Before Seen Deleted Scenes and more!

BURBANK, Calif. May 9, 2014 – Finally releasing from the Disney Vault, Disney's ultimate princess fairytale classic “Sleeping Beauty” will be available for the first time on Diamond Edition Blu-ray, Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on October 7, 2014. Experience all of the pageantry and power of this wondrous tale on Blu-ray - and for the first time on Digital HD - with incredible high definition picture, thrilling, soaring sound, and all-new Diamond Edition special features that make this a must-own for every family’s classic collection!

Creating the ultimate at-home viewing experience, Disney’s 2-Disc Diamond Edition Blu-ray Superset (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) contains digitally restored picture and sound, a digital copy of the film, and a variety of magical new bonus features, including “Once Upon A Parade,” in which “Modern Family” star Sarah Hyland tells us the tale of Walt Disney World’s new Festival Of Fantasy Parade, “Art of Evil: Generations Of Disney Villains,” a legacy piece spotlighting Disney’s favorite villain animator and Maleficent creator Marc Davis, and “@DisneyAnimation: Artists in Motion,” in which Walt Disney Animation Visual Development artist Brittney Lee goes through the process of creating a three dimensional sculpture of Maleficent, completely out of paper.

Additional all-new bonus features include never-before-seen deleted scenes “The Fair” (with Deleted Character The Vulture,) “The Curse is Fulfilled” and “Arrival Of Maleficent,” plus the Beauty-Oke sing-along to “Once Upon A Dream.” The Blu-ray Superset also includes classic DVD bonus features and more!




My Thoughts:
Disney has brought so many classics into our lives... and Sleeping Beauty is definitely one of those classics. Growing up we watched Sleeping beauty often, as it was my mom's favorite Disney movie. It is filled with magic, adventure, danger, and love. It is one to share with your family over and over again.

My daughter had already seen Sleeping Beauty, but she was thrilled when this brand new Diamond Edition arrived so that we could add it to our movie collection. So over the weekend we all settled in for a family movie night featuring this film.

My daughter, of course, loves Aurora. But she also really enjoys the 3 fairies who watch over Aurora. My husband and I both favor Maleficent. She may be evil, but she is so good at being evil! She is filled with so much magic that you are just drawn into her character and personality. For my husband, she also brings all the action and excitement to an otherwise very romantic story.

My daughter met Aurora in Epcot this year and was totally star-struck!

This movie truly has something for everyone. It made everyone in our house happy, even my son who is only 22 months was fascinated by the dragon! It's a fun family movie night pick, and a Disney classic that will live on in the hearts of children and adults for generations to come. Don't miss your chance to capture this classic in this fantastic Diamond Edition with so many extras packed in!




* I received a free copy of this movie for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Get Ready For Halloween with My Little Pony!

Click Communications: BLOGGER BUTTONS &emdash;

And be sure to look for My Little Pony: Spooktacular Pony Tales on DVD!

Monday, October 13, 2014

Bramble and Maggie - Early Reader Series

My oldest is a kindergartner this year! It's a little sad that she is so big, but it's also so amazing to see how excited she is to learn. She has settled into her new position very nicely and loves to come home and tell me all the things she is learning and doing in school. She is even excited to do homework!

Part of her homework is to read with a parent every night for about 20 minutes. So my husband and I decided that this is a great time in her life to introduce some early readers, so that she can start following a story over the course of several days. So I was really excited to learn about an early reader series that sounded just like something she would love, Bramble and Maggie.



This series focuses on a horse-crazy girl, Maggie, and a stubborn, yet lovable horse, Bramble. The first book introduces us to these fun characters and how they come to find each other and create a real bond. My daughter was really able to relate to Maggie, as they share a love for horses. And she found Brambles personality to be silly and funny.

This is my daughter taking care of her favorite horse, Minnie.

The next two books follow Bramble and Maggie on new adventures in Give and Take; which is a fantastic story for children my daughter's age to learn about how you don't always have to want to do what your friends want to do but it's important to work together and give and take, and Spooky Season; which was my daughter's favorite book because it's Halloween season and she loves all things spooky!


The newest book takes place just before Halloween, and Bramble gets a little frisky at the sights and sounds--is the scarecrow real? What is the crunchy sound the leaves make? When Halloween comes, can Maggie trust Bramble to brave the tricks and lead them both safely to the treats?

I would highly recommend this fun early reader series for the new readers in your life. The books have such a nice flow and keep the readers engaged and interested. Not to mention that they have fantastic full-color illustrations to help bring the story to life! I really enjoyed reading these stories with my daughter and having a fun bonding time.

You can also check out Jessie Haas's website where you will find a free curriculum guide for all three books. This free resource can help you make the most out of your reading time and support reading comprehension and more!

* I received copies of the books for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Friday, October 10, 2014

"Modern Family" Fall For All Event

"Modern Family" Fall For All Event
Union Square on 10/19
12 PM - 8 PM



This October, a "Modern Family" family-friendly Fall event is taking over Union Square. Families will be treated to a free, immersive Fall experience complete with an interactive corn maze (over 60’ long and 8’ tall!) and pumpkin patch. As guests journey through the corn maze, they will be met with several activities that allow them to test their “Modern Family” knowledge, retrieve iconic show clips through an augmented reality experience, and strike a pose before exiting into a pumpkin patch full of surprises!

The event will have numerous photo- and video-friendly opportunities for families including seasonal pumpkin patch with hundreds of art pumpkins, a 20" interactive gallery wall with clips from the show, snacks, face-painting, and more!

This sounds like an amazing event.... especially for big Modern Family fans like me! Don't miss out!

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Ornaments With Love Review

It's hard to believe, but the holiday season is just around the corner! I have already started my Christmas shopping... have you? I am a huge fan of the holiday season and love to decorate like crazy. But of course, my favorite part of the decorating is putting up our tree and covering it with memories and special ornaments.

My family has had ornament traditions for as long as I can remember. When I was little I would get a special ornament every year that symbolized something special in my life. It could have been a favorite character or a sports themed ornament. The year I got my cat I got a cat ornament. All of them are so special and hold such wonderful memories.

Now that I am married with a family of my own, I continue that tradition with my family. But in addition to everyone getting a special ornament... we also do a family ornament every year. Ornaments with Love is the perfect place to find all of the special ornaments I am looking for... and it's where I get our family ornament every year.

Ornaments with Love has so many great ornaments to pick from... and they can be personalized! You really can't beat that when you are looking for a meaningful gift. From sports to characters to special events... they have it all.

This year we decided to be the Moose family and picked out this fabulous ornament from Ornaments with Love to have our names and the year put on.


I am just thrilled with the new addition to our collection. The names are printed on each moose clearly and our last name and the year go across the bottom. It really is a very special and personal ornament.

I would highly recommend you check out Ornaments with Love for your special gifts this holiday season. They quality is great, the writing is clear, and the shipping time is fast. You can order everything on line and the process is simple and well organized. It was a great experience from start to finish!

* I received an ornament in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart

JACK AND THE CUCKOO-CLOCK HEART
A Film Directed by Mathias Malzieu and Stéphane Berla
Produced by Virginie Besson-Silla, EuropaCorp

Featuring All-Star English Voice Cast of Orlando Seale, Samantha Barks, Michelle Fairley, Stephane Cornicard and Richard Riddings
The French Language Version Features the Voice Cast of Mathias Malzieu, Olivia Ruiz,
Grand Corps Malade, Jean Rochefort, Rossy de Palma, Babet, Marie Vincent, Emily Loizeau,
Dani and Arthur H.                               
             
INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED MOTION PICTURE FINALLY ARRIVES
ON DVD AND TWO-DISC BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK (BLU-RAY+DVD+DIGITAL)

IN STORES EVERYWHERE ON OCTOBER 7, 2014 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

“The greatest animated romance since Tim Burton’s stop-motion masterpiece Corpse Bride” -James Verniere, Boston Herald

This fall, step inside the imaginative story book world of the highly popular French novel La Mécanique du CÅ“ur (The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart) and beguiled by  the wildly inventive adventures of Jack and Miss Acacia as they leap from page to the screen. On October 7, 2014, Shout! Factory, in collaboration with EuropaCorp, is proud to present JACK AND THE CUCKOO-CLOCK HEART on DVD, two-disc Blu-ray™ Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital) and Digital HD. The Blu-ray Combo Pack allows viewers to enjoy JACK AND THE CUCKOO-CLOCK HEART on the platform of their choice and includes spectacular movie presentation on Blu-ray, DVD and a digital copy of the movie. This internationally acclaimed film can also be seen in select U.S theaters and on VOD September 24.




My Thoughts:
This was a fantastic movie that I really enjoyed watching with my daughter! Poor Jack was born with a frozen heart that is replaced with a clock to save his life. But with this gift comes three rules he must follow... one of which is to never fall in love.

The animation is unusual but beautiful. The characters have a very interesting, almost creepy look - which my 5 year old is totally in to! So she was excited to see it. And the music... oh it's simply beautiful.

The movie is filled with good lessons, like controlling your anger and being kind to others. But it's also filled with adventure and love. There is love between Madeleine and Jack... and then the love that he feels for the beautiful girl singing on the street corner. Parts of the story are a bit heartbreaking, like abandonment by his mother and the helplessness that he feels when he can't fall in love. But the film runs so smoothly and with such emotion that it works.

While I don't think that my daughter fully understood all of the topics that are addressed in this film, she still really enjoyed it and even called it magical. I think it is definitely worth watching.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Sleeping Beauty Awakens Tomorrow!

If your family is as excited as mine is about the Sleeping Beauty Diamond Edition 
being released tomorrow... then you need to check out these fun crafts!

  Download Fun Crafts

Fire Safety with Planes Fire and Rescue!

My dad is a fireman, so Fire Prevention Week is always a big deal in our house! My kids loves anything that has to do with fighting fires... so Planes Fire and Rescue makes Fire Prevention Week even more FUN!


Download Fire Safety Activities

Friday, October 3, 2014

Guardians of the Galaxy - Coming December 19th

 My husband went to see this movie without me. I know... how dare he! So I am super excited for it to be available on Blu-ray, 3D Combo Pack and DVD on December 19th. And if I get reallllly anxious... I can check it out on Digital HD or Disney Movies Anywhere on November 18th. One way or another I am going to see it!



From Marvel, the studio that launched the epic franchises of “Iron Man,” “Thor,” “Captain America” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” comes an unlikely new team—the “Guardians of the Galaxy.”  The Marvel Cinematic Universe expands into the cosmos when brash space adventurer Peter Quill steals a coveted orb and becomes the object of a relentless bounty hunt. To evade his enemies, Quill forges an uneasy truce with Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon; Groot, a tree-like humanoid; the deadly assassin Gamora; and the revenge-driven Drax. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb, he must rally his ragtag band of misfits for a desperate battle that will decide the fate of the galaxy. Featuring amazing new characters and exclusive bonus features, this must-own blockbuster will have you hooked on a feeling… of pure adrenaline!

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection


AWARD-WINNING, BEST-SELLING
CHILDREN'S RECORDING ARTIST
LAURIE BERKNER
TO RELEASE NEW COMPILATION OF FAN FAVORITES


THE ULTIMATE LAURIE BERKNER BAND COLLECTION
October 14, 2014

"The queen of children's music."
-- People Magazine

"A kind of sippy-cup Sheryl Crow."
-- Time Magazine

"One of the hippest children's artists ... Berkner's a blast."
-- Family Fun

NEW YORK -- Beloved children's recording artist and preschool TV favorite Laurie Berkner will release a compilation of greatest hits, The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection, on October 14th.  The album is the follow-up to The Best Of The Laurie Berkner Band, which has consistently been a top-seller on the children's music chart since it was released in 2010.

Six of The Laurie Berkner Band's CDs are represented: Whaddaya Think of That? (1997); Buzz Buzz (1998); Victor Vito (1999); Under A Shady Tree (2002); Rocketship Run (2008) and the DVD/CD Party Day! (2011). The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection also features three bonus tracks, including the song "One Seed," which has not appeared on any previous album.

A former preschool music teacher by day and indie rocker by night, Laurie Berkner started selling her music over fifteen years ago out of her living room on her own label, Two Tomatoes Records.  She is now widely recognized as a pioneer in the "kindie" music genre and was dubbed "The undisputed queen of kindie rock" by USA Today.  The Wall Street Journal noted, "Her music is distinctive because it speaks to kids without talking down to them, charming youngsters without boring grown-ups."

Laurie was the first artist to ever appear in music videos on Nick Jr. and was featured in nearly all of the episodes of the channel's Jack's Big Music Show.  She currently stars in the animated musical short-form series Sing It, Laurie! on the Sprout preschool channel and makes regular appearances on Sprout's Sunny Side Up Show.

The Laurie Berkner Band features:  Laurie Berkner, vocals/guitar; Susie Lampert, keyboards; Brady Rymer, bass; and Bobby Golden, drums/percussion.  Visit www.laurieberkner.com for more about the band, including tour dates and links to the band's Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter pages.


My Thoughts:
My five year old daughter is a huge Laurie Berkner fan! For her birthday last year she got her own CD player... and this CD has been playing for days. It is a truly fabulous mix of some of our favorite Laurie Berkner Band favorites all in one CD. I love watching her and her little brother dance around to their favorites, like I'm A Mess and The Airplane Song. And even my favorite, My Family, made it on in an extended full band version!

This CD has been providing my kids with hours of music and movement. It is sure to be a hit with any Laurie Berkner Band fan! And while I hate to say it so early... this is a GREAT stocking stuffer idea!