Mamma Mia Celebrates 5,000 Performances!

Yesterday my family was fortunate enough to be a part of something really special. We were invited to attend the 5,000th performance of Mamma Mia at the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway! What a fantastic show and an awesome reason to celebrate.

Mamma Mia has always been a special show to me. Years ago I was studying abroad in London and they took us to a show. Mamma Mia was that show. It was fun and fabulous. My girl friends and I left the theatre singing and laughing and imagining that we would be like Donna, Rosie, and Tanya.... the best of silly friends years later!

Coming back to see the show on Broadway was very exciting for me. But it was even more exciting for the rest of my family who had not yet seen it. The most excited was my daughter. She just happens to be a "Dancing Queen" so I knew she would be loving the music, the costumes, and the whole upbeat experience.

The show was simply amazing. We laughed, we cried, and we cheered. The cast looked like they were having the best time. The music was fantastic... from the upbeat and sometimes silly  songs like Take a Chance on me and Does Your Mother Know.... to the tear jerkers like Slipping Through My Fingers. Each song was magical as you felt all the emotions the characters were portraying.

After the show we headed over to the famous Sardi's for a reception filled with food, drinks, stars from the show and creator/producer Judy Craymer. Oh... and a cake... from the Cake Boss. It was a fantastic experience for us all!

My daughter even got her picture taken with a bunch of the stars. 

Donna was one of her favorites!

If you have the chance to check out a Broadway show I would highly recommend Mamma Mia. It's one of the 10 longest running Broadway shows for a reason! Don't miss it!

Winnie The Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year

Available NOW on Blu-ray and DVD 

Get ready to ring in the season with a full-length adventure straight from the heart of the Hundred Acre Wood!  Join Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Roo and the whole gang in Winnie The Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year – now on Blu-ray™ and Digital Copy for the very first time. Newly re-mastered in digital high definition, this sparkling holiday classic is an inspiring celebration of friendship.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but Rabbit will only discover the true spirit of the season after his pals make misguided New Year’s resolutions to change – with hilarious and heartfelt results! Featuring beloved characters, delightful songs and fun-filled bonus goodies, this special “Gift of Friendship Edition” is sure to become a shared family tradition for generations to come!



My Thoughts:
I am so excited! My son is a HUGE Winnie The Pooh fan! My daughter kind of skipped over Winnie The Pooh and fell in love with all of the princesses. But I was (and still am!) a Pooh fan, so seeing my son get super excited when he sees Pooh on the screen delights me!

When my copy of Winnie The Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year arrived I was so anxious to pop it in the Blu-ray player. I had never seen this movie and I was also anxious to see how my son liked it. He was mesmerized through the entire thing... and so was my daughter!

The lovable crew from the Hundred Acre Woods are the perfect pals to illustrate important life lessons. I'm sure Rabbit has some true fans, but I have always seen her as rather cranky. Of course she has some redeeming qualities, but I wasn't too surprised to see her wanting her friends to "change." This isn't the first time she has requested the Tigger stop bouncing. But that's one of the most wonderful things about Tigger! Learning that she loves her friends for who they are is a touching and important lesson. We all have things that "bug" us about our friends and family. But those qualities are all part of what makes them who they are!

This movie is filled with so much happiness and joy. From fun music, to silly old friends, to portraying the holiday spirit in friendship and thoughtfulness. This is a wonderful movie to share this holiday season. There are also some really cool BONUS features that really had my daughter up and excited! This was a hit with ALL the members of my family and will be watched over and over this holiday season!

* I received a copy of this Blu-ray to facilitate my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

30th Anniversary Special Edition: Mickey's Christmas Carol

Available NOW on Blu-ray and DVD

Ring in the holidays with a new 30th Anniversary Special Edition of Mickey’s Christmas Carol. Disney’s timeless tale sparkles like never before on Blu-ray and Digital Copy, with fully-restored classic holiday shorts, plus all-new bonus features!

Make the season merry as Mickey, Goofy, Donald and all their pals star in a heartwarming retelling of Dickens’ unforgettable holiday tale. Ebenezer Scrooge (Scrooge McDuck) is far too greedy to understand that Christmas is a time for kindness and generosity. But with the guidance of some wise ghosts (Goofy and Jiminy Cricket) and a bunch of newfound friends, Scrooge learns to embrace the spirit of the season. Share this wonderful holiday treat with the whole family!




My Thoughts:
This movie has been around for just about as long as I have and has been a family favorite for just as long. We love to watch holiday movies all season long as a family and this always makes the list.

The classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge is brought to a whole new life with the famous Disney characters. Scrooge McDuck is obviously the perfect choice to depict the money hungry Scrooge. Mickey depicts the lovable Bob Cratchit with his lovely wife (Minnie) and sweet children.

This is a "must see" family holiday movie. We all get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays... as we can often see traits of Mr. Scrooge in ourselves. This movie is the perfect way to talk to children about what the holiday season is all about. Money.... or gifts... will not a holiday make. But the love of family and friends... and simply being together... will make for the Merriest Christmas of all!

I would highly recommend you check this out this holiday season. And with it being the 30th Anniversary Edition, there's no better time to add it to your collection!

*I received a copy of this Blu-ray to facilitate an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

HOT Holiday Toys

Have you started your Holiday shopping yet? The Holidays gave taken on a whole new meaning for me syince having kids. I am so caught up in the joy and excitement that I have been shopping all year. And this year I get to shop for two kiddos and that just doubles the fun!

Fisher Price is a brand that my family loves and trust. Everywhere you look in my house you will see their products. I even still have some Fisher Price toys from when I was a kid! Talk about built to last. It's that quality that has made me a loyal customer to this brand. I have yet to be disappointed when purchasing their toys. So I turned to Fisher Price this year to look for some of the hottest toys and must haves for my shopping list.

For my son it was an easy choice. From the moment I saw the commercials for the Crawl Around Car I knew that was number one on my list. His favorite thing to do is open and close things. So this will be a way better option then the current opening and closing of the baby gate! I happened to run into this toy on display in my local Walmart and had a blast exploring all of the things for a baby to do with this toy. My son will love turning that steering wheel, moving the shifter, and sorting the shapes. It's going to be a hit!

·         Laugh & Learn™ Crawl Around™ Car

o   The Laugh & Learn Crawl Around Car puts babies in the driver seat of a fun-filled learning vehicle just their size. The interactive lights and sounds dashboard will take baby on fun learning adventures. ARP: $59.99 Ages: 6-36 months

For my daughter things are getting a little harder. She's at the age where she has clear interests and makes her own wish list. Fortunately, two of the things I had my eye on for her made it to her wish list when she was going through the toy book!

·         Disney Princess Klip Klop Stable by Little People

o   The Little People Disney Princess Klip Klop Stable brings the horses of the Disney Princesses to life. Watch as you place Rapunzel and Maximus on the ramps and they magically "klip klop" down to their next destination. ARP: $39.99 Ages: 1 ½ - 5 years

·         Barbie® Dreamhouse®

o   Barbie® doll’s newly renovated, three-story Dreamhouse® will debut as girls’ new luxury toy home. Every girl’s dream, the new house features six fab rooms and luxe details that any doll will appreciate, including pink “stainless steel” appliances, and not one — but two elevators! ARP: $184.99 Age: 3+

Honestly, I am loving this age with my daughter! She is into imaginary play and is so creative. She comes up with fun story lines for her Barbies and Princess's.... so I know that either of these will facilitate hours of creative play. And they are toys I would totally get down on the floor and play with her!

This is just a sampling of the amazing toy selections for boys and girls this Holiday season from Fisher Price. If you are looking for hot toys that are high quality and priced right... check them out. And you can find Fisher Price at pretty much every major retailer. Happy Shopping!

Save While You Shop with DOLE, in Support of Believe in Heroes

DOLE to Support Veterans through Wounded Warrior Project Believe in Heroes Campaign

Dole Packaged Foods joins other leading CPG brands and retailers 

to show appreciation for military service members

LOS ANGELES – September 19, 2013 – Dole Packaged Foods has joined forces with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors, to support injured service members through the Wounded Warrior Project® Believe in Heroes® campaign. Kicking off on September 11 and running through Veterans Day, November 11, Believe in Heroes calls on Americans to show their support and appreciation for our service members and the newest generation of veterans in a simple everyday way — grocery shopping.

“We are honored to work with Wounded Warrior Project by participating in Believe in Heroes,” said Julie Pierrat, Business Manager, Dole Canned Fruit. “Our servicemen and women, and their families, make extreme sacrifices to preserve our freedom and protect our country, and we are proud to show our appreciation by providing Dole consumers with the opportunity to help Wounded Warriors — simply by grocery shopping.”

As part of its participation, Dole will offer consumers a high-value coupon for $1.00 off any DOLE Canned Fruit that will be available in a special, free-standing insert which will be circulated to 53 million households nationwide in newspapers Sunday, November 3. The coupon will be available for download online through the end of November at wwpbelieve.org.

Believe in Heroes was created to support WWP and make a positive impact on our country’s service members and the new generation of veterans that have made significant sacrifices to protect and defend the United States.

The campaign has grown substantially over the past three years. Beginning humbly with the support of more than a dozen well-known brands and one regional grocery retailer, the program raised approximately $200,000 in 2010. In 2012, the program included more than 55 top national brands and 90 grocery retailers, raising $5.7 million for WWP. The goal of the 2013 campaign is to exceed the amount raised in 2012 for critical programs provided by WWP. To learn more about the Believe in Heroes campaign, visit www.wwpbelieve.org.

My Thoughts:
What a great reason to support Dole, a company my family has come to trust for high quality foods.  We all have to grocery shop... so why not take part in something amazing. I know I will be! Click HERE for the Believe in Heroes application on the DOLE Facebook page.

Vermont Nut Free Chocolates Review

The holidays are coming and to me that always means a time to indulge in delicious treats. As a teacher the classroom is always filled with treats, but with the severity of allergies we need to be extra careful about what snacks are provided to the students or even just in the building. Very often the safest bet is to just make a "nut-free" rule to avoid any risk of a dangerous allergic reaction.

The founder at Vermont Nut Free Chocolates knew this fear all too well as her child had a peanut allergy. So now there is a wonderful solution for those with nut allergies. Vermont Nut Free Chocolates offers a fabulous variety of quality chocolate products that are completely tree nut and peanut free!

About Vermont Nut Free Chocolate
Established in 1998, Vermont Nut Free Chocolates specializes in handmade gourmet treats that are safe for individuals with peanut and tree nut allergies. Its product line includes fudge, truffles, caramels, chocolate bars, granola bars and novelty items. All products are made in small batches with only the finest nut free ingredients available.

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to try some of their newest fall and holiday products with my family. We received some of their Pumpkin Fudge, a chocolate Advent Calendar, and their Hot Cocoa. Here is a little bit about each of these wonderful new items.....

·         Pumpkin Fudge – Our new Halloween treat, spiced pumpkin fudge, delivers the favorite taste of the fall season! Creamy, smooth and rich with white chocolate, pumpkin and spices. Suggested retail price $7.65.

·         Advent Calendar – Available just in time for the Christmas season, the Advent Calendar is a fun way to count down the days until Christmas - by unveiling a delicious nut-free chocolate behind each door.  This new addition is perfect for celebrating the Christmas season with the whole family.  Suggested retail price $12.95.

·         Hot Cocoa – Another holiday favorite, Vermont Nut Free Chocolates Hot Cocoa hits the spot on a cold winter’s day.  Finally a nut free hot cocoa that has the same great taste as regular hot cocoa and has the slightest hints of vanilla, Vermont Nut Free Chocolates Hot Cocoa mix is available in a 16 oz. container. Suggested retail price $9.95.

Everything comes packages beautifully, perfect for gift giving. But the real treat is what's inside. We started with the Pumpkin Fudge.... oh sweet, creamy deliciousness. I had never tasted anything quite like it. It was rich, so just a small piece left me satisfied until a craving returned for more later on. It would be the perfect addition to Thanksgiving dessert!

Then we moved on to enjoying some Hot Cocoa. It was appropriate as we had just entered a cold front and could use some warming up. The Hot Cocoa was rich and creamy and definitely warmed us all up. Perfect to have on hand for cold winter nights.

We have decided to hold onto the Advent Calendar for this coming season. I know it will be far better quality than the ones I normally pick up in the grocery store. So we may be taking turns each morning rather than letting my daughter eat all the chocolate!

Our experience with Vermont Nut Free Chocolate was wonderful! From presentation to taste it is top notch. These are products I would be proud to send to loved ones or serve at my own holiday meals. And knowing that they are safe to send to teachers, colleagues, family and friends without having to worry about anyone with allergies is just awesome!

I highly recommend you head on over to Vermont Nut Free Chocolate's website and check out all the yummy treats they have to offer.

* I received items free of charge for review purposes. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Monsters University on Blu-ray Combo Pack TODAY!

First Contact - Monsters University Blu-ray Clip on Disney Video

Ornaments With Love

I love the holiday season! One of my favorite things to do is decorate for Christmas and the star of the show is the Christmas tree. My family has always had a love for ornaments. Every year each person gets at least one special ornament. An ornament that reflects something special that has happened that year, something they enjoy doing, or an ornament that reflects their personality. Ornaments With Love is the perfect place to find those extra special ornaments.

I have several ornaments from Ornaments With Love, and have given several as gifts. I have always been so pleased with the quality and love seeing the looks on people's faces when they open up a personalized ornament. This year I was offered the opportunity to review one of their ornaments and I knew exactly what I wanted to personalize for this year....

While my son was born shortly before Christmas last year, we didn't have a name picked out. So we weren't able to personalize any ornaments before Christmas. So this Christmas I wanted to get our very first personalized ornament for our beautiful family of 4! I chose the Personalized Snow Family.

This is the perfect ornament to add to our tree this year. Each hat has our names and our family name and year are on the snow underneath. The names are clear and easy to read. This will be an ornament we will treasure for years to come.

Ornaments With Love has a huge selection of ornaments for every person you can think of. From hobbies to pets to occupations. There truly is something for everyone. Head on over and take a look. Now is the perfect time to start your Holiday Shopping!

You can also follow Ornaments with Love on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter for all the latest news!

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