"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!

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 Cœur (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.

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!

 

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!

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!

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!

Thunder and the House of Magic

THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC

Directed by Renowned 3D Filmmakers Ben Stassen and Jeremie Degruson,

With Original Music by Ramin Djawadi

Featuring the Music of Selena Gomez

BRING HOME THIS INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ANIMATED FEATURE ON DVD

and TWO-DISC BLU-RAY™ 3D COMBO PACK (WITH 2D BLU-RAY + DVD+ Digital Copy)

 AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT WALMART STORES EVERYWHERE

 ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

This fall, venture inside an intriguing mansion full of endearing animals and a dazzling array of automatons and gizmos, and spellbound by the exciting animated adventure of THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC. Already a great box-office success in much of the world, this highly entertaining family movie is directed by renowned 3D filmmakers Ben Stassen (Fly Me to the Moon, Sammy's Adventures: Escape from Paradise) and Jeremie Degruson (A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventure), with original music by Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones). The film also features the music by Selena Gomez.

On September 30, 2014, Shout! Factory is proud to present THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC on DVD and on two-disc Blu-ray™ 3D Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D and 2D, DVD and digital), available exclusively at Walmart stores everywhere. The Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack allows viewers to enjoy THUNDER AND THE HOUSE OF MAGIC on the platform of their choice and includes spectacular movie presentation on Blu-ray 3D and 2D, DVD and a digital copy of the movie. This highly anticipated movie can also be seen in select U.S theaters and on VOD September 5.




My Thoughts:
When I read about this movie I knew that it was something that my daughter would enjoy. Basically, it is about two things... a cat and magic. Those are two things that my daughter loves! So we sat down to watch it for family movie night with popcorn and all!

She was engaged through the entire film. She loved the magical mansion and all of the fun characters that come with it. But Thunder was her favorite character, and quite the little hero. The film was filled with positive messages about working together and doing the right things. It's also full of adventure, magic, humor, and fantastic music!

Since family movie night, my daughter has watched the film two more times. It is definitely a hit in our house. And I really appreciate the fact that it was a film our whole family could enjoy together. I would definitely recommend you check it out at your local Walmart store on September 30th.

* I received a free copy of this film in order to provide an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Time For a Bath

Time For a Bath

by Phillis Gershator illustrated by David Walker

We all know kids aren’t the easiest to get into a bath – but what if a little bunny could show them how fun it is?

Go through a year of baths with bunny in TIME FOR A BATH (Sterling Children’s Books, October 2014) by husband and wife team Phillis Gershator and David Walker.  Kids will squeal as bunny gets messy while splashing in puddles, rolling in grass, eating a drippy banana split, and painting pictures. And when there's a mess, it's rub-a-dub-dub from head to toe!

This adorable follow-up to Time For a Hug (2012) will make bath time fun!

Phillis Gershator has written many picture books for children, including When It Starts to Snow (Henry Holt), Listen, Listen (Barefoot Books), and Time For a Hug (Sterling). Phillis worked as a children's librarian for the Brooklyn Public Library and the St. Thomas/St. John Department of Education. She lives with her husband and frequent coauthor, David, in the US Virgin Islands. Visit her at phillisgershator.com.

David Walker is the illustrator of numerous children's books, including Before You Were Mine (Putnam), Time For a Hug (Sterling), and Bears on Chairs (Candlewick).  To see more of David's work, visit davidwalkerstudios.com.

My Thoughts:
My children have been enjoying Time For a Hug for quite some time now. I always get excited when my daughter picks it out for bedtime reading because I know she will be especially cuddly as we read it! The simple, yet sweet story with fabulous illustrations has made it a favorite. So I knew when I heard there was a follow-up, that it would be a hit in our home!

Time For a Bath is a fun little tale that makes making messes and getting clean fun. Bunny is too cute splashing in puddles and having fun! My kids pointed out all the things that bunny did that they like to do. I am a lucky mama and my kids love the bath, it's getting them out that is the trouble!

This book is simply adorable and sweet. And if you do have a child who doesn't like bath time it could be a fun way to show how fun it is!