Thursday, April 21, 2011

On Vacation!

I just wanted to pop in and let all my super fabulous readers know that my lack of posting lately is because my family and I are enjoying a vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC.  We are having some wonderful weather, had a great day at the pool yesterday.  Be on the look out for lots of pictures!!  We're off for another day of family fun!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure



Mark your calendars for April 19th and get ready for lots of pink, lots of fun and lots of laughter!  You're not going to want to miss Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure!

The first thing I thought of when I saw this movie was El Woods in Legally Blonde (which happens to be a favorite movie of mine).  Sharpay Evans is a year out of high school and is on a mission to find fame.  The question is, will she find fame or will she end up w-w-w-working, gasp!, for her father at the country club?  Will she find love in the big apple or will her adorable pup, Boi, find the stardom that Sharpay has been longing for?  Will super spoiled Sharpay figure out what life is really about or will she get caught up in silly pranks and schmoosing to try and outwit her toughest competition?
My daughter really wants this pink dress!!!!!
My daughter, 3 1/2 yrs old, absolutely adores this movie and cannot get enough of it.  The humor is silly enough that she giggles, complex enough that my 6 yr old son "gets it" and a bit over the top for mommy and daddy to watch with the kids and get a chuckle.  We love all the pink and the sparkles and the girly-girl mannerisms.  I totally recommend this movie!



Disney Proudly Unveils A Full Three Minute Sneak Peek  
Of Its All-New Movie Starring Ashley Tisdale in 
 SHARPAY'S FABULOUS ADVENTURE
Premiering On Blu-ray™ & DVD April 19, 2011  

Burbank, Calif., March 23, 2010 – On April 19, 2011, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment 
will be proudly unveiling Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure, an all-new movie on Blu-ray™ and DVD 
staring Ashley Tisdale reprising her role as Disney Channel’s global sensation “High School 
Musical” drama queen character Sharpay Evans. A full three minute sneak peek of the movie is now 
widely available for fans of all ages to get a glimpse of this hilarious fish out water tale about a small 
town Diva and her dog’s adventures in New York City athttp://www.youtube.com/disneymovies. 

Additionally, a brand new Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure facebook page 
(www.facebook.com/DisneySharpay) and Twitter handle (@DisneySharpay) have also launched so 
that fans can join and stay on-top of all the latest news, sneak peeks and messages from key cast 
members. 

Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure releases nationwide as a 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack Superset 
(Blu-ray + DVD+ Digital Copy) which includes a limited edition pink clutch purse, a 2-Disc Blu-ray 
Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD), and a 1-Disc DVD.  Hilarious bonus features include bloopers of 
Ashley Tisdale and cast, special footage shot on-set by actor Austin Butler, and, exlcusive to the 
Blu-ray disc, ”The  Evolution of the Sharpay,” a fun look back at the famous High School Musical 
character, Sharpay Evans. 

From the original producers of High School Musical and the director of The Tooth Fairy,Sharpay’s 
Fabulous Adventure is a witty comedy about pursuing your life-long dreams and believing in 
yourself. The films catchy tunes, Sharpay’s lavishly glittery “pink” outfits, and the adorable featured 
male co-stars - Austin Butler ("Life Unexpected," "Ruby and the Rockits" and “Zoey 101”) and 
Bradley Steven Perry ("Good Luck Charlie") - will be sure to keep viewers fully entertained and 
laughing throughout. 

Bonus Features: 
 BLOOPERS (on Blu-ray & DVD) - Ashley Tisdale and the cast cut up on set. 
 AUSTIN CAM (on Blu-ray & DVD) - Actor Austin Butler, who plays student filmmaker Petyon, 
not only shoots scenes needed for the movie, but takes his camera behind the scenes to see 
how Ashley Tisdale has fun between takes. 
 THE EVOLUTION OF SHARPAY (on Blu-ray only) - Ashley Tisdale traces the development 
of her bigger-than-life character from the High School Musical movies through her current 
movie. 
Suggested Retail Price: 
3-Disc Superset (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) with Limited Edition Pink 
Clutch Purse - $49.99 US/$54.99 Canada 
2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) - $39.99 US/$44.99 Canada 
1-Disc DVD - $29.99 US/$35.99 Canada 

Feature Run Time Approximately 89-minutes 
Rated G 
Technical 1.78:1 widescreen – enhanced 
for 16x9
Sound Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Languages French and Spanish  
Subtitles French and Spanish

I received a copy of Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure to facilitate this review.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed within are 100% my own. 

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Mailbox Monday Blog Hop ~ April, 11, 2011



Welcome to Mailbox Monday!! 

A blog hop to boost your subscriber count!


Hosted by: This Mama Loves Her Bargains and A little of this A little of that… and this week's guest host: Sew Me Mine!

Here’s how to join in the fun:
  • Add your blog link to the linky
  • Subscribe by email to the two hostesses and the guest host. They will return the favor.
  • Visit the other blogs on the list and subscribe by email to the ones that interest you. Leave them a comment with your blog link so they know you are subscribing from Mailbox Monday. Don’t forget to confirm your subscription!
Everyone is welcome to participate. Each week a new linky will be generated so make sure you stop by on Mondays to add your blog.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Book Review: My Name Is Not Alexander By: Jennifer Fosberry

When you were little did you like to pretend that you were someone famous?  A cartoon character?  A president?  A movie star?  My brother was Mighty Mouse - I can still see him with his red robe tied around his neck screaming "Here I come to save the day!"  I'm not quite sure I was any one specific character.  I remember pretending I was a nurse, a mommy, teacher etc.  But I remember how "cool" and sophisticated it made me feel to wear someone else's shoes.

My Name Is Not Alexander is a story about a little boy, named Alexander, who wakes up in the morning and declares that his name is not Alexander!  During events throughout the day, Alexander proclaims which famous person he is.  Who will he be next?  A president?  An inventor?  Or perhaps a ball player!

My kids absolutely LOVE My Name Is Not Alexander and ask for it regularly.  And when my husband or I are not reading it to the kids, you can hear them "reading" the book to themselves.  The illustrations alone provide the kids endless adventures thru their imaginations.  I read this book several times to my son after his surgery a few weeks ago.  I had my husband bring it to the hospital and I'm so glad I did.  It was an instant hit!

In the back of the book you will find a glossary that contains short bios of the "Men Who Changed The World" that are featured in My Name Is Not Alexander.  Perfect for explaining why the men in the book were so famous!  Never too early for a history lesson, right?

My Name Is Not Alexander is the follow-up to the New York Times Bestseller and Indie Bookseller 2010 Favorite (heard on NPR’s Morning Edition) My Name Is Not Isabella, which I had the opportunity to review several months ago.




My Name Is Not Alexander
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; ISBN: 978-1-4022-5433-8; Picture Book; $16.99
March 2011
About the Author

Jennifer Fosberry is a science geek turned children’s book writer. After working in the high-tech industry in Silicon Valley and running away to Costa Rica for a few years, she returned to the San Francisco Bay area to read, write, raise kids, and not do too much housework. She lives with her husband and three children and wishes for a puppy.

Praise for My Name Is Not Isabella:

Winner of the NAPPA Gold Award
Indie Bookseller 2010 Favorite on NPR’s Morning Edition

“The exuberance of the text and typography, coupled with Isabella's force of personality, ensures that the pages fly along, largely and blessedly free of the earnestness that plagues so many "girls can do anything" books.”
Publishers Weekly

“Use this story to ignite young readers’ interest in women’s history”
School Library Journal

“Speaks frankly about self-identity and self affirmation... 
as Isabella decides she possesses the best parts of all of the women she looks up to.”
ForeWord

“Will inspire other little girls to go for their dreams, no matter how big or hard the road may be to get there.”
New York Journal of Books

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Networked Blogs Blog Hop

Life's Gristle

Not getting enough followers on FB's NetworkedBlog's?
Welcome to the Networked Blog Hop by Life's Gristle and Peanut Butter and Hopey!

Rules:
~ ONLY link up your NetworkedBlog link. 

 IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS GADGET SOMEWHERE ON YOUR BLOG;




THEN YOU ARE NOT A NETWORKED BLOG!

~ Follow the co-hosts Life's Gristle and Peanut Butter and Hopey(spots 1 and 2).
Follow our guest host, spot #3 we'll pick a random guest each week using (starting next week), Random.org 
~ Follow the link before and after yours, and then follow more!
If you would like to spread the news of this hop, Grab the button and post somewhere on your post, side bar, wherever.

Thanks for linking up!

VISIT PEANUT BUTTER AND HOPEY FOR THE LINKY

Always Ask, Never Assume


My father-in-law sent this to me today and it was too funny not to share!  How many times have we all shot ourselves in the foot by assuming something?  Always and never are two words that really need to be used selectively, as they are often used with much exaggeration.  But when it comes to assuming things, you should Always Ask, Never Assume! :-)

His request approved, the CNN News photographer quickly used a cell phone to call the local airport to charter a flight. 
He was told a twin-engine plane would be waiting for him at the airport. 
Arriving at the airfield, he spotted a plane warming up outside a hanger. 
He jumped in with his bag, slammed the door shut, and shouted, 'Let's go'. 
The pilot taxied out, swung the plane into the wind and took off. 
Once in the air, the photographer instructed the pilot, 'Fly over the valley and make low passes so I can take pictures of the fires on the hillsides.' 
'Why?' asked the pilot. 
'Because I'm a photographer for CNN' , he responded, 'and I need to get some close up shots.' 
The pilot was strangely silent for a moment, finally he stammered, 'So, what you're telling me, is . . . You're NOT my flight instructor?'

Yanni Truth of Touch

I first started listening to Yanni years ago.  I don't remember how I was introduced to his music but I loved it from the moment I first heard it.  Yanni's music is so calming and relaxing to me and his new album, Truth of Touch is no exception.  Even the up tempo songs have a calming effect, yet they are strong and powerful.  I can't describe it in words, it just works.  His instrumental compilations are my favorite tracks.


Did you know Yanni launched a 40-date tour of the US?  I can hear the squeals now; I know because I'm so excited, too!!  I would love to see Yanni "live on stage" as my kids would say.  I can only imagine his live show is nothing short of amazing!!


Shows are already selling out!  No surprise there, right?  See the link below to see if Yanni will be visiting a city near you!

Yanni Tour Dates   
I received a copy of Yanni Truth of Touch CD from One 2 One Network to facilitate this review. By posting this review by April 8, 2011 I am eligible to win a Visa Gift Card. No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Review: Beautiful Blue Eyes by: Marianne Richmond

I had the pleasure of reviewing the children's book, Beautiful Blue Eyes by Marianne Richmond, with my kids.  I reviewed If I Could Keep You Little a few months ago, also by Marianne Richmond, and I just knew we'd love Beautiful Blue Eyes every bit as much.

First thing I noticed about the book is the breathtaking illustrations, also by Marianne Richmond.  The illustrations are simple yet the attention to detail, colors, shading and shapes are quite appealing to the eye.  My kids were mesmerized by the images as I read the book to them.  Each time we read the book the kids also notice something different in the illustrations that they hadn't noticed before.

I absolutely love how Beautiful Blue Eyes teaches kids about how our eyes "speak".  We can tell so much from a person by the expression on their face, and a lot of that is told by our eyes.  Of course the kids think this is absolutely cool and think that us mommies are now magic :-)

Do I recommend this book?  You bet I do!  Without a doubt.


Beautiful Blue Eyes
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky; ISBN: 978-1-4022-5639-4; HC $15.99
April 2011

About the Author
:

Marianne Richmond turned a personal tragedy into a motivational vehicle, becoming an award-winning author and selling over a million books in the process.

Her career was launched by accident; she was diagnosed with a brain tumor (thankfully benign), the cause of numerous epileptic seizures through her childhood. During her five-week recovery period, Marianne created hand-painted thank you cards for her many well-wishers. With Jim’s, her new boyfriend, and friend’s encouragement, she decided to launch her own greeting card business, Marianne Richmond Studios, Inc.  As distribution for her cards increased, she decided to try her hand at writing a book, honoring her biggest fan, her now-husband Jim, with The Gift of an Angel.

Beginning with her first book in 1997, Gift of An Angel, writer and artist Marianne has touched the lives of millions over the past decade through her line of greeting cards and gift books. Since then she has become a recognized creator of numerous books that celebrate milestones in life, memorable journeys, and relationships.  Marianne currently lives in Minneapolis, MN with her even-keeled husband, Jim, their four kids, and their senior citizen Border Collie, Clay. Find out more at her website www.mariannerichmond.com

Praise for If I Could Keep You Little:

“A book that truly comes highly recommended.”

This is sure to be a favorite with both parents and children, a rare trait to find in a children's book.”

“Sure to resonate with both parents and growing children who are proud of their accomplishments.”

“This is just a lovely book with a lovely message, and is sure to become a fast favorite for lap time or bedtime. Want to keep your child little? Well, you can’t…but you can have fun trying. Just read, If I Could Keep You Little.”

“An endearingly bittersweet book where parents who don’t want their babies to grow up too quickly, and yet, want to see their kids realize their dreams and experience life’s ups and downs.”
— Parent Reviewers

I received a copy of Beautiful Blue Eyes to facilitate this review.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed within are 100% my own.

Monday, April 4, 2011

E-mail Security Concerns with major retailers.

A head's up. Please please read. I got these emails from BOTH Target and Walgreens (kind of waiting to see what other companies use Epsilon at this point- wondering how many more emails we'll get) within 10 minutes of one another today!
Dear Valued Customer,
On March 30th, we were informed by Epsilon, a company we use to send emails to our customers, that files containing the email addresses of some Walgreens customers were accessed without authorization.
We have been assured by Epsilon that the only information that was obtained was your email address. No other personally identifiable information was at risk because such data is not contained in Epsilon's email system.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Mailbox Monday Blog Hop ~ April, 4 2011




Welcome to Mailbox Monday!! A blog hop to boost your subscriber count! 

Hosted by This Mama Loves Her Bargains and A little of this A little of that…
Here’s how to join in the fun:
  • Add your blog link to the linky
  • Subscribe by email to the two hostesses. They will return the favor.
  • Visit the other blogs on the list and subscribe by email to the ones that interest you. Leave them a comment with your blog link so they know you are subscribing from Mailbox Monday. Don’t forget to confirm your subscription!
Everyone is welcome to participate. Each week a new linky will be generated so make sure you stop by on Monday’s to add your blog.

The Mailbox Monday Blog of the Week is Keeping up with The Rheinlander's which takes the #3 spot on the linky. Next week, we will choose from this week’s participants for the Blog of the Week.




GRAB THE LINKY CODE HERE

Friday, April 1, 2011

Pinocchio 70th Anniversary - Goes back to the vault April 30th!


Get it while it lasts!  
This classic Disney movie will be going back to the vault on April 30, 2011.
I just ordered mine and cannot wait to watch it with the kids!

Ultimate Blog Party 2011

Ultimate Blog Party 2011

I'm ready to party hardy!  Can't wait to see what all these fabulous blogs are offering for giveaways.  I especially want to give a shout out to all the awesome sponsors who are supplying the super fantastic prizes!
And also to 5 Minutes for Mom.com for organizing the whole thing!
It's a huge undertaking and they rock for making it happen!

So grab a drink and join me for some blog hoppin' FUN!
Good luck to everyone!

FREE Orville Redenbacher's Pop Up Bowl Sample


Click photo above to sign up for your free sample!

Don't miss out on the chance to try out Orville Redenbacher's Pop Up Bowl's!
Offered exclusively by All You magazine.

*Note that the website is currently having technical difficulties with their registration form.  Keep checking back so you can be one of the 50,000 to receive your FREE sample!

Read My Feed Blog Hop - I'm the guest host!!!

Read My Feed Weekends is hosted by This Mama Loves Her Bargains, Coupons are GREAT and The Thrifty Things!!

The goal of Read My Feed Weekends is to find some cool new blogs to follow. The blog's subscription link is in the linky below which is a quick resource to hop along quickly. A great benefit to bloggers is that your RSS feed subscription will increase! And we all know that we love our stats to go up, up, up! We would love if you shared this very simply blog hop with your blogging friends.

This week we're also adding a GUEST HOST for the hop, and will continue to add a guest host each week chosen by random.org from the prior week's participants. This week is A little of this a little of that in the #4 spot!!

Please link up with your RSS link. Any non- RSS links will be deleted!! The link MAY look something like: http://feeds.feedburner.com/yourblognamehere Here is a helpful link if you do NOT already have an RSS subscribe option on your blog!!

Please do subscribe to each of the three hosts and the spotlight - and feel free to subscribe to one or all of the blogs listed in whatever reader you choose. All of the hosts will be following all participants who link directly to their RSS subscription. Its always nice to help a fellow blogger out!!

Please when you do subscribe to someone's feed, leave them a quick comment on a non-giveaway post and let them know, so they can return the favor!! Feel free to tell them how great you think their blog is, too, we all love a compliment now and then...