Mint Green With Envy

Must See Movie This Weekend... "What to Expect When Your Expecting"

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:33:00 +0000

Last week a friend and I got to see a special advanced screening of What to Expect When Your Expecting at the Landmark theater in L.A. The movie is named after a perennial New York Times bestseller a that has been around for years. It carried me through 3 pregnancies and was my go to reference for looking up questions I had regarding pregnancy.

The film was full of good laughs and covered many different angles of what you could expect when your expecting. As seen in the film, all pregnant moms don't fall into the same category. Some moms are have easy pregnancies and others not so much. This fun filled movie showed different aspects of pregnancy through the different characters that were portrayed in a laugh out loud and sometimes sad and sentimental way.

Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Rodrigo Santoro, Ben Falcone and Joe Manganiello all starred in this film. It was great to see such a multitude of talent in one film. This film never had a dull moment. It kept my interest from start to finish.

You will laugh, cry and understand why I recommended going to see this movie this weekend.

"Kilt" piece for Disney/Pixar's BRAVE

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Wed, 09 May 2012 23:12:00 +0000

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Avengers Screening and Press Junket

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

April 11th and 12th were quite eventful as I was invited to attend the screening and press junket for The Avengers which will be coming out May 4, 2012. A star studded red carpet was lined up in front of Grauman's Chinese as I walked to the premier of the long awaited "The Avengers" film. Waiting in line, I was excited to have got a glimpse of Mark Ruffalo looking very dapper in his tuxedo. Just as I was about to turn the corner to walk to the theater, I spotted Robert Downey Jr. who was pulling up in Tony Stark’s prototype Acura NSX. This was a very hot little car that made for a dramatic entrance for Robert Downey Jr.

As I entered the theater I was provided a pair of "Hulk" 3D glasses. Many of the other guests had "Iron Man" and "Captain America" glasses. As I waited for the movie to start, a long time movie reviewer who was sitting next me mentioned that you should always wait until the end credits have stopped rolling. Many surprises may pop-up at the end credits, especially with those movies made by Marvel. Which in this case, was the middle of the movie's credits and not the end. Regardless, waiting in you seat to watch the credits can turn out to be rewarding. You may find a little teaser to get you revved up for the next movie.

After watching the movie, I was excited to get to see all these actors in person at the Press Junket which happened the next day.

I arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills and after I valet parked my car, I headed up to the Hospitality Suite to check in. Complimentary beverages were served and a cool looking Avengers bracelet was being raffled away as I filled out a form about thoughts on the film. I was then told I needed to go down to the ballroom where lunch was being served. I decided to try the lemon chicken sandwiches and a side salad out of the many options that were available. I also had to try the red velvet cupcakes and fruit tart.

After my delicious lunch, I found my seat and eagerly awaited the cast of The Avengers. The cast included;

Robert Downey Jr (“Tony Stark” / “Iron Man”)
· Chris Hemsworth (“Thor”)
· Chris Evans (“Steve Rogers” / “Captain America”)
· Mark Ruffalo (“Bruce Banner” / “The Hulk”)
· Jeremy Renner (“Clint Barton” / “Hawkeye”)
· Tom Hiddleston (“Loki”)
· Cobie Smulders (“S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill”)
· Clark Gregg (“S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil
Joss Whedon (Director)

Here were some of my favorite moments from the Press Junket:

Q : To Chris (Evans), in your Details magazine interview, you joked that Captain America had to take the stairs when all the rest of them were fighting…

[00:06:01]
CE : Yeah, it’s so-- I give all these-- I’m like, you know, if Hulk, you do this impossible thing. Thor, you bottleneck a
portal. And Iron Man, fly over here. And I’ll take the stairs. [LAUGHS] You know.

Q : For Mr. Feige - How long actually have you been trying to make an Avengers film? And what sorts of things did you have to do in the build-up with the others movies to make sure that it all dovetailed into this?
[00:07:05]
KF : Well, one answer is my whole life just 'cause I’ve been a nerd my whole life and wanted to see this movie made for my whole life. The real answer though is-- is sort of towards the end of production of-- of Iron Man One when Sam was gracious enough to spend three hours on a Saturday to come and break into Tony Stark’s house wearing an eye patch and tell him and the world that, uh, you’re part of bigger universe. You just don’t know it yet. And when that movie succeeded is when we realized, wait a minute, we actually have the opportunity to do it. And the only challenge was to try to make all the movies live on their own, even if we weren’t leading towards an Avengers movie 'cause that-- that-- if they’re all just interconnected puzzle pieces, that’s not as fun. They need to be movies beginning to end. So, I would say that was the biggest challenge.

Q : My question is for Mark - You are the first one at the table to be here for the first time; everybody else has suited up before. Can you talk about the challenges of integrating into this world – coming into it fresh…

[00:08:02]
MR : Um, it was, uh, terrifying, and I, uh, I knew what my responsibility was-- or I felt it just by making the mistake of going online and reading some of the fan boy responses to the announcement that I was playing the next version of Bruce Banner. That was a mistake. I will never do that again. Um, but I’ve never had a role be more scrutinized and criticized even before I shot a single frame.

[00:08:32]
And, uh, but, uh, you know, coming onto the set with all of these guys was-- was pretty daunting. Um, many of my heroes, uh, in life are-- are in this cast. And, um, and so, uh, I knew that I had-- had, uh, big shoes to fill, so to speak. And, um, I-- this is becoming a long run-on sentence.

[00:08:56]
RDJ : [CELL PHONE IN AUDIENCE RING] Take it. It could be work.

[00:08:59]
MR : Yeah, it was tough, and I wish that I had a cool

SLJ: But, um, we were in that moment where-- we all know each other. And we-- we all laughed together. And, once we saw each other in that particular setting it was like, okay, we’re actually gonna do this. This is gonna be a lot of fun. And it’s almost like an “our gang” movie.

[00:25:09]
You know, hey, I’ve got some costumes. I’ve got some film. My dad’s got a studio. Let’s get together. And we just decided, you know, it was like we’re gonna have fun.

Q : Joss, what was the biggest challenge for you personally to wrap your head around? You were gonna be the guy who finally did the Avengers film and bring all these people from the other films together.

[00:00:47] JW : Um, I think the exciting thing kind of speaks for itself. Ah, that bunch of characters, that bunch of actors playing them, um, that much money. It was kind of a no brainer. Um, the, and the hardest part is--is and always will be structure. Um, how do you put that together? How do you make everybody shine? How do you let the audience's identification drift from person to person without making them feel like they're not involved. It's a very complex structure. It's not necessarily particularly ornate or original, but, um, but it had to be right, it had to be earned from moment-to-moment, and
that's exhausting. That was still going on in the editing room after we’d shot.

Q : What was your most memorable moment making Marvel's The Avengers?

[00:03:42] CG : Oh, okay, okay. Um, okay, not just because Joss is here, and not just because I want to be impressive for the purveyor of Hollywood Hot Moms website over there. Um, I'm gonna say it was the, the day I got the script, just because I felt
like this was not an achievable task as someone who, who writes sometimes and, and loves movies and watches a lot of them. I just didn't think it was really feasible to have this many characters and have them all get to kind of move forward and to have the story of them kind of coming together really work. [00:04:15] Um, and if it did work with that many amazing superheroes and movie stars, I felt it unlikely that Agent Coulson would do anything but bring some super coffee to somebody. Um, so when I, when I read it and kind of saw that it was my fan boy wet dream of an Avengers script and that Coulson was a big part of it, that was, that was the great day for me. I just kind of drove around the streets with the script in the other seat, just kind of giggling.

TH : I, um, for me, I, ah, there are so many things that are memorable about it because it was such a long, um, shoot, it was the whole summer for all of us and, and we had so many different experiences together and it was an amazing time for me, ah, to work with all of these, you know, some of the greatest actors in the world, sitting at this table, um, and, ah, Clark, um, but I
think probably the thing, if you said how was the Avengers shoot?
[00:05:13] There's an image in my mind, um, which was the first day on set that everybody was there together, um, and it was sort of, it was insane. The picture of everybody in costume, of all of these actors and all of these characters in their chain mail and their capes and their armor and, except for Mark Ruffalo in his, um, grey and white pajamas in the back. Um, but to see everybody finally assembled, it was an extraordinary moment, um, just the picture of, of the Avengers. It was amazing. [00:05:51]

JW : I don't remember any of it. [LAUGHTER] Um, I, you know, mine is super boring, but, um, people kept asking me are you excited that you're directing this movie? And I kept saying, I will be. You know, I, I, just, I don't, I don't, eh, I don't feel things necessarily in the moment. It’ll happen. And, um, we were in the lab where, ah, all of the Avengers, ah, almost all of the Avengers get together for the first time and, and, ah, I was giving ah, Chris Evans a piece of direction and, ah, I walked into the hall and I stopped and I just said to, um, the
producers, it happened. I'll tell you later.
[00:06:33] And that was the moment, just, you know, it just sort of flooded over me and I was like oh, that's nice - excitement.[LAUGHTER] That was it. I told you it was dull.

I received this fun swag bag at the end of the Press Junket. It was filled with all kinds of Avengers memorabilia.

Marvel's Avengers will be released to the public May 4th 2012. I can't wait to see this movie again!

Boxy Backpack Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:05:00 +0000

Winner picks the fashion! Click here to see options.
Click here to go to the Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway An www.IndependentLivingBullion.com Giveaway Powered by Rafflecopter

Disneynature's CHIMPANZEE Family Activity Book

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:44:00 +0000

Fun Activity Book from the movie Chimpanzees coming out April 20th!

CHIMP All Activites

Ugly Eyeglass Frames are a Thing of the Past

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:17:00 +0000

When I was twelve I was told I needed glasses. Being at the vulnerable point in my life when appearances are so important, I was not happy at this news. However, once I saw the eye doctor and got my first pair of eyeglasses and put them on I was in shock at how I had been missing so much of the world with my blurred vision.

Back in small town Indiana in the 90's the choices for eyeglasses were very limited. I was left to choose from a small selection of glasses and tried to find ones that would blend in with the rest of my face as much as possible. I was declared near-sighted and only chose to wear my glasses in class when I was required to read the chalkboard. Otherwise, my glasses would stay tucked away hoping that no one would notice that I even wore them.

Today, choosing eyeglasses is much easier and the selections are much more stylish, especially with so many glasses online sites out there like GlassesUSA.com. I feel that many people's eyeglass frames really define their appearance and character. Some look even better with glasses on than without them at all.

When choosing eyeglasses frames now I usually pick out two different pairs. This helps prevent the hopeless and confusing situation you get into when your frames get broken. I can choose two totally different looks and wear the one I feel in the mood for that particular day.

Eyeglasses today are not the ones you want to hide or tuck away, but the ones you want to accessorize your stylish new outfit and make an impression, whether it's for an interview or a promising first date.

Easter Savings Sale: Take 50% off on your First pair of prescription eyeglasses from glassesusa.com's entire collection. Code: EASTERSAVINGS

Take 10% off any order of prescription glasses. Code: Blog10

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and Mint Green with Envy was compensated for writing it.

ConceiveEasy Fertility Kit Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:38:00 +0000

Studies are showing that more and more woman are waiting until their 30's and 40's before they try and conceive. The longer women wait to conceive the more difficult it is. Expensive In Vitro Fertilizations seem to be the answer for many. However, there is a new option for those looking to conceive, FertiBella’s ConceiveEasy® TTC Kit™ System is comprised of an comprehensive set of natural fertility products that will fight the 7 most common reason of infertility.

In just 28 days women can increase their fertility rate by 33%. The formula found in ConceiveEasy® is made to help those with hormonal imbalances, progesterone deficiency, poor quality cervical mucus, ovulatory dysfunction, high FSH levels, luteal phase defect and irregular cycles.

ConceiveEasy® is an all natural drug free remedy, created by a doctor and has been tested clinically. With no side effects and the opportunity to increase your chance of pregnancy, ConceiveEasy® seems like a great choice.

For more information about the ConceiveEasy® TTC Kit™ System visit www.ttckit.com.

Disclosure: Mint Green with Envy has not used or reviewed this product and cannot verify any results. The free TTC kit is provided by ConceiveEasy and delivery of prizes is the responsibility of the sponsor. Mint Green with Envy was compensated for this post and giveaway.

*Giveaway*

Trying to Conceive (TTC) Starter Kit ™ (a $152 value)

You will receive Conceive Easy's Months 1& 2 Starter Pack and can also choose to customize your new TTC Kit with one of the following exclusive bonus gifts:

Bonus gift #1: 20 Early Result Pregnancy Tests

Bonus gift #2: 20 One-Step Ovulation Tests

Bonus gift #3: 10 Pregnancy & 10 Ovulation Tests

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Product Review: Lalicious

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:55:00 +0000

Lalicious is a decadent skin care line that caters to those who love to pamper their skin and smell sugar-licious at the same time. I was sent 4 of their beauty products and I loved the results of each one.

An amazing combination of Vanilla, Citrus and Rose. This is a highly moisturizing body exfoliator. Before you get out of the shower, scrub all over your body and rinse with warm water. Pat yourself dry and this deliciously sweet scent will layer nicely with your favorite perfume! 16oz

This is a great exfoliator that I use on my elbows and knees while in the shower. The oils in this scrub leave my skin feeling incredibly soft. I love the smell of this body scrub, it is so girly and fun.

Retails for $34

This beautiful combination of Vanilla, Citrus and Rose is enriched with Shea Butter which seals in moisture keeping your skin soft throughout the day. Scoop out with your fingers and smooth all over skin. Use as often as desired for an intense hydrating effect.

This body butter fits it's name because it rubs on just like butter. I apply this right after my shower when my skin is still wet and let this butter do it's magic locking the moisture in.

Retails for $25

This all-natural body oil is made with coconut oil which absorbs quickly and easily into your skin, leaving it moisturized and protected without feeling greasy. Macadamia nut oil is a luxurious oil known to also moisturize and protect the skin. Almond and vitamin-e oils condition, moisturize, and smooth you to perfection!

This body oil is great for those areas needing a little more TLC. I rub this on my elbows and knees to keep them extra soft.

Retails for $24

This Whipped Body Soap contains Coconut Oil and Safflower Seed Oil so that the skin will stay soft after cleansing, not tight. Sulfate free No bubbly lather means this soap will cleanse your skin without drying it out!

This soap has a nice clean smell. It's consistency is more like soap than body wash. It goes on smooth and leaves your skin feeling fresh and invigorated.

Retails for $18

Lalicious has two great promotions going on right now:

OPERATION HAPPY BIRTHDAY As a birthday treat from LaLicious, subscribers will receive a complimentary 16-ounce Limited Edition Birthday Cake Sugar Scrub (a $34 value!) when they spend a minimum of $20 on www.lalicious.com. Blending notes of warm vanilla and sugar, the scrumptious Birthday Cake Sugar Scrub was created exclusively for LaLicious subscribers and will not be available for purchase. To receive this exclusive treat, subscribe on www.lalicious.com and use the coupon code (sent via email on your birthday) upon checkout. Subscribers will have 30 days from their birthday to redeem.

REFER-A-FRIEND Upon subscription, members will have the option to spread the word about LaLicious by sending a 'Refer-A-Friend' email to 3 - 5 of their friends. For every friend that subscribes to LaLicious, both the NEW and ORIGINAL subscriber will receive a voucher for $5 OFF of their next purchase on www.lalicious.com. Spread the love and be rewarded!

Disclosure: I received a free product for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Cute Avengers Target Ad

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:43:00 +0000

Mirror, Mirror Movie Review

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 06:22:00 +0000

A familiar story that never seems to get old, Mirror, Mirror shines a new light on the story of Snow White. The evil queen is played by the delightful Julia Roberts. She does a great job bringing out the evil, self-absorbed qualities of this storybook queen.

The Sweet and Innocent Lilly Collins, the daughter of Phil Collins, was a good fit for the role of Snow White. Armie Hammer, who is known for his role of the twins in the movie "Social Network", played as the handsome and dashing Prince Alcott.

The story although very similar to Snow White, was changed quite a bit and made the classic story line seem more like a Tim Burton movie. The seven dwarfs were nothing like the original sleepy, doc, dopey etc. These seven dwarfs were intensified dramatically in character. You will find them stronger, faster as their role gets changed from miners to forest bandits who steal from the queen.

Fantastic scenery abounded in this movie that was directed by Tarsem Singh, who is known for beautiful picturesque scenes in his movies. The costumes were magnificent and really added great quality to this film. The hats were outstanding and hilarious. Japanese Costume Designer, Eiko Ishioka really went all out on this film.

Mirror, Mirror is a light-hearted, funny and enjoyable movie to take your little ones to.

Spring Giveaway Event: Lill Studio

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 19:16:00 +0000

Lill Studio is giving away their best-selling Andi Bag in Morracan tiles fabric or you can choose to work with their online stylist and create your own custom design bag!

*Discount During Giveaway*
20% off any custom or ready-made LILL product, excluding sale items and gift certificates. To take advantage of the offer you will have to use the code ENVY at checkout on their website.

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Spring Giveaway Event: Brittany's Thyme

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:01:00 +0000

Brittany's Thyme is offering a great giveaway, enter to win the following set:

Outdoor Harmony Organic Bug Spray 4oz, Outdoor Harmony Bug Spray Refill 16oz, Outdoor Harmony Organic Bug Bite Relief

During the time of this giveaway receive 10% an entire purchase on their website with the coupon code: mintgreen10.

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AMF Free Bowling for Kids Deal

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie-Michelle) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 22:29:00 +0000

Here is a pretty fabulous deal for the Summer

FREE BOWLING FOR KIDS
ALL SUMMER LONG!
SUMMER UNPLUGGED IS BACK IN 2012!
Kids registered in the Summer Unplugged program can bowl two games per day, every day all summer long! (Shoe rental is not included.)

Sign-up begins April 1st, so be sure to come back here and register

http://www.freebowling.amf.com/

WANT TO BOWL WITH YOUR KIDS ALL SUMMER?
An AMF Summer Pass is just $29.95 and includes two games per day for you and up to three guests ages 16 and up.

Jamie <3

Spring Giveaway Event: Rugs USA

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:35:00 +0000

Rugs USA Giveaway!

Enter for your chance to win this gorgeous 5x8 Keno Serenity Bold Floral Slate Rug

($239 Value)

Rugs USA is currently having a Spring 35% off sale going on. Make sure to check it out!

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Spring Giveaway Event: Angela Moore (Desert Bloom Spice Jewelry Set)

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Angela Moore Giveaway!

Desert Bloom Necklace and Bracelet Set ($180 Value)

Find incredible jewelry to help accessorize your wardrobe this spring at Angela Moore. They have so many amazing designs and to choose from.

Here are some the great designs Angela Moore has to offer:

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Spring Giveaway Event: Paper Culture

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Paper Culture Giveaway!

Paper Culture is a great option for your Spring stationary needs. With great options to choose from and wonderful personalized stationary, you will find what you need this spring from Paper Culture. For those of you with a little on the way this spring, check out their modern baby announcements and baby shower invitations  .

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Corner Bakery "Meatball Madness" Twitter Trivia Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 01:58:00 +0000

Through the end of March, Twitter followers of The Corner Bakery will have the chance everyday to be one of the first 10 followers to answer a March Madness trivia question and win a free Sliced Meatball Panini.

Happy Feet 2 DVD Release (Pin It to Win It) Closed

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:03:00 +0000

Winner of the Giveaway has been picked from Random.org and #16 was chosen.

Congrats to chrissycrue100.. I will be emailing you with the details of your win.

Pin It to Win It!

Happy Feet 2 Blue Ray/DVD

Happy Feet 2 was released on Blue-Ray Combo pack and DVD today. I am happy to provide one winner with a free copy of this loveable film in a Blue-Ray Combo Pack.

Here is how to enter:

1. Join the Pinterest community if you haven't already. I can send you invite email me at mgwithenvy(at)hotmail(dot)com.

2. Follow at least 1 of my boards on Pinterest.

3. Create a new board called MGwE Happy Feet 2 Giveaway (stands for Mint Green with Envy)

4. Pin this post to your MGwE Happy Feet 2 Giveaway board. ( Pin It link is at the bottom of this post)

5. Leave a comment on this post with a link to your Pinterest board and your email so I contact you if you win.

Contest will run for 1 week. Ends at Midnight on the night of March 19th, 2012 Open to U.S. Residents. Winner will be chosen by online random generator. Winner will be notified by e-mail on March 20th, 2012 and will have 3 days to reply or another winner will be chosen.

Disney's John Carter: Good for Kids?

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:06:00 +0000

Here is a great article on whether or not John Carter is a good movie for kids to go and see.

WIRED
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/03/10-things-john-carter/

10 Things Parents Should Know About Disney’s John Carter

By Tony Sims

I recently had the tremendous privilege to see an advanced screening of Disney’s John Carter. I know there have been many mixed signals in the media lately concerning this movie. I hope that the answers to these questions help our readers make a more informed decision for themselves.

1. What’s it all about?
The author, Edgar Rice Burroughs, wrote the John Carter series of sci-fi/adventure stories about 100 years ago. Burroughs was also the author of Tarzan and many other stories. The main character, John Carter, is transported to the planet Mars. On Mars, he discovers he has superior physical abilities, such as the ability to leap 100 yards and unmatched physical strength. He eventually wins the respect of the local population of alien creatures know as the Tharks. He also becomes involved in assisting the human-like royalty of Mars against the uprising of a group who seeks to strip-mine the planet. If any of these concepts sound familiar – that is because much of our superhero fantasy and science-fiction over the past century has been created from ideas borrowed from Burroughs’ classics.

2. Will I like it?
Yes. If you are reading this site, most likely yes. If you like Star Wars or any other action sci-fi, then yes. You can really tell this movie was created with the passion that only a lifelong fan of this series could devote. Andrew Stanton, the writer/director, was actually working on this film’s screenplay while WALL-E was still in production (before a studio even signed on to do the project).

3. Will my kids like it?
If they are like you and you agree to the above, then yes. I plan on taking my 7-year-old son this weekend and I believe he will love it. It has something for everyone. Take your daughters to see this. It has amazing, strong female characters. In fact, many times they are the ones to fight the battles. Everyone will love Woola by the way – you’ll see.

4. How faithful is it to the books?
Disclaimer – I have not read the books in over 20 years. Even though many sites state that this movie is based on The Princess of Mars, actually it uses elements from Burroughs’ first three books in the series. This way, the audience gets to see the best parts of a third of the series, including more alien life and epic battles. One main difference between the books and movie is how he is transported to Mars; but fans of the book most likely won’t be disappointed with this change.

5. When’s the best time for a bathroom break?
At exactly 1 hour and 5 minutes in there are a few minutes of dialogue you could miss. When the heroes stop for a breather after the halfway point battle – head to the latrine.

6. How are the special effects?
Fantastic. What else could you expect from a movie that was created by Andrew Stanton? The man is behind WALL-E, Toy Story (1, 2 & 3), Finding Nemo, A Bug’s Life, and Monsters, Inc. Not to mention (if you believe the press buzz going around), this movie had a budget of nearly a billion dollars. The imagery is simple breath-taking.

7. What about the 3D?
This is probably one of the only movies where I would say that seeing it in 3D is worth it. Stanton made this movie to use 3D effects just to give the movie depth. This means that there are no “gimmicks” that use the 3D to overwhelm the viewer with “jumping out of the screen” surprises. Also this movie is filmed in primarily desert type regions, so the subtle darkening effect that 3D glasses tend to have on movies is not as noticeable. That being said, seeing it in 2D would not diminish the quality of the movie either.

8. It is rated PG-13. How PG-13 is it?
This was one of my primary concerns. I have younger children, so I wanted to see if this would be a movie I could introduce them to. Here’s the skinny: there is a lot of violence. The majority of the bloodshed is greenish alien blood, so some parents might find it easier to stomach with their children than others. Most of the fighting is sword play, so keep that in mind also. Hardly any foul language is spoken and there are no real intimate moments that need young eyes covered. [SPOILER ALERT, BUT IMPORTANT FOR PARENTS TAKING YOUNG CHILDREN] The one real moment I had concern about occurs in a flashback sequence where you briefly see the clothed remains of his dead wife and child. This is the one event that is a bit disturbing on anyone’s eyes – young or old. This scene takes place during an onslaught of a fight scene. If you want to cover younger eyes, here it is – when the Thark army is taking on John Carter by himself, he goes into a sort of battle rage. When you see this scene, he will flashback to images of his Virginia home which was burned to the ground, he will go back to the fight, the next flashback is that image – after that it is done. [END SPOILER]
Your mileage may vary on this. I will be taking my 7-year-old to see it, but he has also seen the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy (does that make me a bad dad?). If he can handle the battle of Helm’s Deep, then he can definitely handle this.

9. It is a Disney movie. Why can I not find any John Carter toys in the stores?
Disney decided with this movie not to license mass market toys. I know, this is a strange decision; after all, they produced Pirates of the Caribbean toys! Well, that has a good bit to do with it also. The other non-animated toy lines which have been produced in the past have never been big hits except with the collectors. With that in mind, Disney is only going to license John Carter to higher-end collectibles manufacturers. If the movie proves to be huge and the sequels get their green lights, then maybe we will see the mass market open up.

10. Will I want to see it again?
Yes – and you will hope that it does well enough to merit the two sequels that Andrew Stanton already has written and is ready to produce. You will probably want to go ahead and pre-order it on Blu-ray as well.

Product Review: Zazzle Iphone Case

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 20:26:00 +0000

Zazzle let's you make your own custom iphone cases and was happy to try it out for myself to see how good of quality these cases came out to be. I ordered the iphone 4/4S Case-Mate Barely There. Although I thought it would be a cool idea to have a picture of my kids are something personal on my phone I decided to try a stock photo instead. I went onto one of the many stock photo sites out there and looked around for a long time until I found a graphic I was happy with. I then went back to Zazzle added the case to my shopping cart and then was asked to upload my picture.

I was happy that I was able to change and edit the picture the way I wanted before ordering the case. I could make the graphic smaller, or larger and could even rotate the origin of the picture. I like the fact that butterfly wings on my case go around to the sides of the case so that the there is something visual there as well.

It did not take long to receive my phone case and was satisfied with the look of the case once I saw it. I do wish the graphic were a little more clearer and not as blurry, but that probably was based off the picture that I sent.

Zazzle iphone 4/4S Custom Case-Mate Barely There Cases are available for $34.95 and would make a perfect mother's day gift, birthday gift or just something you would like for yourself.

Polar Bear Adventure Sweepstakes

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:53:00 +0000

Ahead of the DVD and Blu-ray release of the acclaimed series Frozen Planet, BBC Home Entertainment and Tauck, a world leader in premium guided natural history travel, today kick off their Polar Bear Adventure Sweepstakes. Two pairs of lucky winners (one in the US and one in Canada) will receive a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe these magnificent, endangered polar bears up close as well as discover the rich human and natural history of Manitoba, Canada.

The six-day adventure grand prize includes:
· Round trip airfare to Winnipeg, Manitoba

· Private charter flights between Manitoba and Churchill

· Local sightseeing and two full-day excursions deep into polar bear country

· A private cocktail party and dinner at the Manitoba Museum

· A storytelling session with a First Nation resident

· A dog sledding demonstration

· And much more

It will truly be the trip of a lifetime for the winners of the BBC Home Entertainment/Tauck Polar Bear Adventure Sweepstakes.

Prize Eligibility
Only persons residing in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, United States and Yukon who are at least 21 years of age can enter. NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY.
To Enter, Visit: www.frozenplanetdvd.com

About Tauck
A world-leader in upscale guided travel, Tauck has been named to Travel + Leisure’s prestigious list of the “World’s Best Tour Operators & Safari Outfitters” in each of the past 14 years, and is currently the magazine’s #1-rated “World’s Best River Cruise Line.” Tauck offers nearly 100 inspiring land journeys and small ship cruise itineraries in 60+ countries. Each reveals the rich, engaging, cultural “story” of the featured destination, showcasing its must-see attractions while providing insider access to authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences that are either unavailable or unknown to most travelers. The company also delivers tremendous value. An independent traveler duplicating a Tauck itinerary would spend up to 40% more than they would by traveling with Tauck.

About BBC Worldwide Americas:
BBC Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Worldwide Americas brings together all of BBC Worldwide businesses across North and South America. The company exists to maximize the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the UK license payer, and invests in public service programming in return for rights. The company has seven core businesses: Channels, Sales and Distribution, Content and Production, Consumer Products, Digital Media, Magazines, and recently formed Brands, Consumers & New Ventures. Under these businesses fall two key brands in the US – digital cable channel BBC America and a bi-coastal production arm responsible for the smash hit Dancing with the Stars for ABC.

New Frankenweenie Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:46:00 +0000

Saturday Giveaway Linkup

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Review and Giveaway: Paperflavor

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:38:00 +0000

Paperflavor is an online store that sells great quality stationary that is unique and whose designs are fresh and fun.

I had the chance to review their Monster Card set and was so pleased when they came in the mail. I love each of the cute little monsters that are presented on each card. These are cards are multifunctional and can be used as cards to say a quick hello and at the same time let me people know what kind of wacky mood your in. These cards could be a great way to let leave a small little love note or appreciation note to your child and let them know your thinking of them, or proud of them.

Here are some of my favorite little monsters from the set:

Cheery Monster

Confused Monster

Silly Monster

Grumpy Monster

This set comes with 8 cards and includes flavorkid hangry monster, cheery monster, goofy monster, sneaky monster, sleepy monster, unique monster, confused monster and grouchy monster card!

Type of Card: Folded
Card Size: 8.25" x 5.5" flat, 4.125" x 5.5" folded
Design Printed On: Front side only, Inside is blank
Paper: 100lb. Bright White Smooth Cover
Envelopes: Assorted colored A2 envelopes.
Price: as low as $12.99 each

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a free product for this review. No monetary compensation was offered or accepted for this post. The opinions above are my own. Others experience may vary.

Type of Card: Folded
Card Size: 8.25" x 5.5" flat, 4.125" x 5.5" folded
Design Printed On: Front side only, Inside is blank
Paper: 100lb. Bright White Smooth Cover
Envelopes: Assorted colored A2 envelopes.
Price: as low as $12.99 each

The Secret World Of Arrietty Screening

noreply@blogger.com (Bridget Doshi) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:47:00 +0000

The Secret World of Arrietty is a beautiful animated film in so many ways. Immediately I was drawn into the film by it's captivating and gorgeous animation. The soft and melodic music was a great fit for this film. Many times I go without noticing a movie's soundtrack while watching the movie. This movie was definitely different, I think each song that was played captured my attention.

The story line was familiar as it was based off of the book "The Borrowers", by Mary Norton. As much as it was familiar, the story line was even better with the colorful characters and the added love interest for Arrietty. My son and I found ourselves laughing many times throughout the film. The whole movie itself has such an adorable feeling about it.

It was fun exploring the world of the little people and getting to see how they viewed the world at large. There were so many heartfelt scenes in this movie, and many life lessons to be learned.

I asked my 11 year old son what he thought of this movie and he said "Well, I loved it." He would love it if there was a sequel to this movie, because the story was so interesting you didn't want to see it end.

This was an excellent movie, I would definitely recommend taking your kids to see this one!

The Secret World of Arrietty opens in theaters everywhere on February 17th, 2012.

‘Like’ THE SECRET WORLD OF ARRIETTY on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/SecretWorldOfArriety

Mint Green With Envy

Must See Movie This Weekend... "What to Expect When Your Expecting"

"Kilt" piece for Disney/Pixar's BRAVE

The Avengers Screening and Press Junket

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Disneynature's CHIMPANZEE Family Activity Book

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ConceiveEasy Fertility Kit Giveaway

Product Review: Lalicious

Cute Avengers Target Ad

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Spring Giveaway Event: Lill Studio

Spring Giveaway Event: Brittany's Thyme

Brittany's Thyme is offering a great giveaway, enter to win the following set: Outdoor Harmony Organic Bug Spray 4oz, Outdoor Harmony Bug Spray Refill 16oz, Outdoor Harmony Organic Bug Bite Relief

AMF Free Bowling for Kids Deal

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Corner Bakery "Meatball Madness" Twitter Trivia Contest

Happy Feet 2 DVD Release (Pin It to Win It) Closed

Disney's John Carter: Good for Kids?

Product Review: Zazzle Iphone Case

Polar Bear Adventure Sweepstakes

New Frankenweenie Trailer

Saturday Giveaway Linkup

Review and Giveaway: Paperflavor

The Secret World Of Arrietty Screening

Brittany's Thyme is offering a great giveaway, enter to win the following set:

Outdoor Harmony Organic Bug Spray 4oz, Outdoor Harmony Bug Spray Refill 16oz, Outdoor Harmony Organic Bug Bite Relief