Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution are celebrating Valentine’s Day with these familiar DVD titles, which are all available at retailers now! Don’t miss out on fun for the whole family featuring SpongeBob SquarePants; Dora the Explorer; Go, Diego, Go!; The Wonder Pets!; Blue’s Clues; Yo Gabba Gabba! and Ni Hao, Kai-lan:

SpongeBob SquarePants: To Love A Patty
This DVD from SpongeBob SquarePants celebrates SpongeBob’s love for the Krabby Patty.  Included is the title episode and six other fun, fantastical episodes.  In “To Love a Patty,” SpongeBob has trouble saying Goodbye to the most perfect Krabby Patty he has ever cooked.
Special Features:
          · Original Animatic: “To Love a Patty”
          · Karaoke Music Video

Nickelodeon Favorites: We Love Our Friends
Celebrate the love of friends with Dora the Explorer; Go, Diego, Go!; The Wonder Pets!; Blue’s Clues; Yo Gabba Gabba! and Ni Hao, Kai-lan.
Special Features:
          · Team Umizoomi Counting Song
          · Team Umizoomi Celebration Song

Nickelodeon Favorites: Celebrate Family!
Nothing beats the love of family so celebrate it with Dora the Explorer; Go, Diego, Go!; The Wonder Pets!; Blue’s Clues; Yo Gabba Gabba! and Ni Hao, Kai-lan.


About Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years.

WIN IT

Nickelodeon is sending one Mom to Bed by 8 reader both Nickelodeon Favorites: We Love Our Friends and Nickelodeon Favorites: Celebrate Family! DVDs.

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Disclosure: I receive sample(s) from for purpose of testing and review. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Please view our disclosure policy if you have any questions. Mom to Bed by 8 is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

Inspired by LITTLE ANGELS

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents LITTLE ANGELS, the fresh, faith-based, animated educational series for children and their parents, available on DVD on February 14. From executive producer Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”) comes LITTLE ANGELS, created exclusively for preschool-aged children to teach not only practical learning skills, like ABCs and numbers, but also to introduce them to spiritual, moral and ethical principles in a fun and entertaining way.

Each angel in Roma Downey’s Little Angels has its own specialty and personality. Here, we will introduce the Angels with photos and fun facts, in addition to some of the valuable lessons they provide for kids.

Michael

Michael is an archangel and The Boss Angel. Michael is the leader of the little angels, has a commanding presence, and is supremely knowledgeable. If any of the little angels run into a problem, they go to Michael for help.

Gabriel

Gabriel is an archangel, and is second in command to Michael. Gabriel is the Messenger Angel, which means that when the little angels want to announce something very important, they give the job to Gabriel! He always carried a trumpet, which he blows to get everyone’s attention before his important proclamations.

Charmeine

Charmeine is the Angel of Harmony. Not only does she carry and harp and sings, but she works to teach everyone to harmonize, work together, and get along!

Hayley

If you love animals, then Hayley will definitely be one of your favorite little angels! She knows everything there is to know about animals, and loves sharing her knowledge of them with people like you!

Dina

Dina is the Angel of Learning. She loves to help others learn and help show them how to do things. Dina also carries a super awesome iPad-like computer device, so she can access knowledge on the go!

Ariel

Ariel is a guardian angel, and she protects kids from harm. Not only does she protect kids from harm, but she also teaches them how to protect themselves, and shows them how to avoid getting into trouble in the first place!

Uriel

If you like painting, Uriel is the little angel for you! He is the Angel of Creativity, and he carries a palette and a painter’s brush so that he can constantly paint and create new art!

Hamaliel

Hamaliel is the Angel of Logic. What’s really cool about Hamaliel is that he is a kind of “Sherlock Holmes” angel, meaning that he is able to figure out all kinds of different mysteries!

BUY IT:  Pre-order LITTLE ANGELS ABC’s, LITTLE ANGELS ANIMALS, and LITTLE ANGELS 1,2,3’s from Amazon.com. Also available on DVD where movies are sold on February 14th.

WIN IT

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is sending one Mom to Bed by 8 all 3 Little Angel DVDs, Little Angels ABC’s, Little Angels Animals, and Little Angels 1,2,3’s!

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Disclosure: I receive sample(s) from for purpose of testing and review. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Please view our disclosure policy if you have any questions. Mom to Bed by 8 is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

As the excitement about 84th Academy Awards® builds, movie lovers can catch up on many Oscar®-nominated films without ever leaving their homes. With just the push of a remote control button, viewers can instantly watch some of the top films of the season – before the winners are announced on February 26.

The following films received a nomination in at least one of the Academy’s 24 categories and are either currently available or coming soon, to digital cable customers through Movies on Demand™:

• “Anonymous” (avail. 2.7.12)
• “Beginners”
• “A Better Life” (avail. 2.1.12)
• “Bridesmaids”
• “Drive” (avail. 1.31.12)
• “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
• “Hell and Back Again”
• “The Help”
• “The Ides of March”
• “Kung Fu Panda 2”
• “Midnight in Paris”
• “Moneyball”
• “Real Steel”
• “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”
• “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
• “The Tree of Life”
• “Warrior”

Movie buffs can also discover or relive the best of the best in cinematic history with past Oscar-winning movies, which are among hundreds of films offered currently on Movies on Demand on cable. For a full list of Oscar-winning films available on Movies on Demand visit, http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9143231.htm.

Many of the latest films are on Movies on Demand weeks before they arrive in the mail or show up in kiosks, and years before they become available via legal streaming subscription services. Customers can find out what new titles are currently available and what’s coming soon at http://www.rentmoviesondemand.com.

Be sure to also check out the Winning Movie Moments Starring… You! Contest where you can re-enact famous lines from award-winning movies for a chance to win a brand new 3D TV: http://bit.ly/MovieMoments.

WIN IT

Movies on Demand is sending one Mom to Bed by 8 reader a Bridesmaids Prize Package to help get you in the Academy Award mood. This package includes: a Bridesmaids T-shirt, wine stopper, water bottle and tote bag!

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Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Please view our disclosure policy if you have any questions. Mom to Bed by 8 is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

Arrives on DVD February 14

Discover the joy of learning and friendship with this season’s most heavenly new collection! From executive producer Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”) comes the first three volumes of a fresh, fun and inspiring educational series that children and their parents (and grandparents too) can enjoy together in LITTLE ANGELS ABC’s, LITTLE ANGELS ANIMALS, and LITTLE ANGELS 1,2,3’s, soaring onto DVD with Digital Copy February 14 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

For more about LITTLE ANGELS go to www.facebook.com/romaslittleangels or www.littleangels.com.

Little Angels Arrives Printable Coloring Sheet & Valentine Cards

Your protein requirements increase during pregnancy. Nuts and seeds provide protein without the saturated fats found in red meats. They’re also rich sources of the Omega-3 fatty acids critical to your baby’s brain and nervous system development. While cold-water fish like wild salmon contain lots of Omega-3, they may be contaminated with mercury. Mercury is associated with numerous birth defects, especially during the first trimester.

Exercise
Regular exercise is a great stress reliever. The National Institutes of Health claim staying active during pregnancy can:
• Decrease back pain and the risk of diabetes, hypertension or postpartum depression
• Build muscle mass and endurance for an easier delivery
• Prevent excessive weight gain

Thirty minutes of moderate exercise on most days provides all these benefits, so it’s recommended to partake in low-impact exercises like walking, swimming or stationary biking with pre- and post-workout stretching.

What to Avoid
Consuming alcohol has been linked to alcohol-related neurodevelopment disorder. This form of prenatal brain damage can lead to academic and behavioral difficulties.  Fetal alcohol syndrome, also the result of drinking during pregnancy, refers to a pattern of birth defects, including mental retardation, problems eating and sleeping, and even problems seeing and hearing properly.

Smoking during pregnancy should be avoided completely as it drains your system of minerals and vitamins and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke produces carboxyhemoglobin by bonding with your blood’s hemoglobin. This substance starves your developing baby of oxygen.. 
 
After Your Pregnancy
Safeguarding your baby’s health doesn’t end with delivery. With the help of a family cord blood bank you can store the umbilical cord blood for potential future use, should your child or possibly a sibling, become ill and require a source of stem cells. Banking cord blood may help save your child from a long list of blood, immune system or metabolic disorders, or even leukemia and other cancers. Parents should also keep visiting the doctor for regular checkups, and should continue to follow healthy eating and exercise habits to build a strong foundation for the baby’s future.

This article was written by Alan Cassidy, an active writer within the blogging community covering maternity and childbirth, and always advocating for infant and children’s health. Connect with him on Twitter @ACassidy22

 THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL:  Award Winning Stage to Screen Adaptations

February 7, 2012 

Take This Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience Home and Win a Blu-ray!

Broadway’s longest-running production of all time celebrates a triumphant quarter century on stage with THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL, coming to Blu-ray – with perfect hi-def picture and perfect hi-def sound – DVD, On Demand and Digital Download on February 7, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  On October 2, 2011, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh marked the 25th anniversary of their beloved musical extravaganza, “The Phantom of the Opera,” with a lavishly staged production at London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall that was beamed live via satellite to cinemas across the globe. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL, marks the first time a live performance of the blockbuster musical has been made available for home viewing, making it a must-have anniversary release for fans everywhere.

Phantom of the Opera is one of the many notable theater productions whose big screen adaptation went on to be recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures. Universal Pictures’ remake of Phantom of the Opera in 1943 gained two Oscar wins for Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography.  In celebration of the release of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on February 7, we will highlight five other stage to screen adaptations that have garnered Oscar gold, including Chicago and West Side Story.

“Chicago” – Winner of six Academy Awards in 2002, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress for Catherine Zeta-Jones

“Chicago” is a musical set in Chicago in the midst of Prohibition.  The original Broadway production opened on June 1975 at the 46^th Street Theater in New York City and ran for 936 performances.  The West End production opened at the Cambridge Theater in London on April 1979 and ran for 600 performances.  In December, 2002, the film adaptation directed and choreographed by Rob Marshall and starred Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta –Jones and Richard Gere opened theatrically and went on to win six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress for Zeta-Jones.

“Driving Miss Daisy” – Winner of four Academy Awards in 1990, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Jessica Tandy

 ”Driving Miss Daisy” tells the story of an old Jewish woman and her African-American chauffer and how their relationship progresses in the 1950s American South. It made its debut off-Broadway on April 1987 at Playwrights Horizons in New York City.  A year later, the production opened in London’s West End at the Apollo Theater.  The production went on to Broadway with James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave in the starring roles on October 2010 at the John Golden Theater in New York City.  The film adaptation released theatrically on December 1989, starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy, who became the oldest actress to receive the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1990 for her iconic role.

“The Sound of Music” – Winner of four Academy Awards in 1965, including Best Picture and Best Director for Robert Wise

 “The Sound of Music” tells the story of the von Trapp family.  The musical Broadway production opened on November 1959 and went on launch multiple productions and revivals across the globe throughout the years.  The film adaptation launched on the big screen in 1965, with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer as the leads.  The film went on to garner many accolades including four Academy Awards.

“May Fair Lady” – Winner of eight Academy Awards in 1964, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Rex Harrison

“My Fair Lady” centers on Eliza Doolittle who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins to pass as a well-mannered lady in high society.   The original Broadway production opened on March 1956 and closed on September 1962 after 2,717 performances, a record at the time.   The film adaptation, starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison, opened in December 1964 and won eight Academy Awards the following year, including for Best Picture.

“West Side Story” – Winner of 10 Academy Awards in 1961, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for George Chakiris and Best Supporting Actress for Rita Moreno

 “West Side Story” is a musical inspired by William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Set in 1950s New York City, the story centers on the rivalry between two street gangs – the Jets and the Sharks. The original Broadway production opened in September 1957 to positive reviews and ran for 732 performances before going on a national tour and launching multiple revivals.  In October 1961, the film adaptation opened theatrically and became the second highest grossing film of the year in the US.  The film garnered eleven Oscar nominations the following year, where it went on to win 10 of them, including Best Picture.

WIN IT

One Mom to Bed by 8 reader will receive The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall on Blu-ray!

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Disclosure: I receive sample(s) from for purpose of testing and review. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Please view our disclosure policy if you have any questions. Mom to Bed by 8 is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

Now that my children a out of the baby stage, one of our biggest winter activities as a family is going to the movie theather. Though selecting a movie that is a good choice for children ages 5-8 can be difficult at times. I don’t want something that has foul language, questionable impressions or too boring. This is where the monthly Kidtoons feature comes in hand.

Kidtoons is dedicated to helping parents connect with their kids by bringing family friendly animated movies to the big screen every weekend at participating theatres across the country. Participating Kidtoons theatres showcase a fun, affordable family friendly matinee movie and provide a family experience filled with entertaining, kid-friendly characters, as well as cartoon shorts, music videos and sing-alongs before each movie. How fun!

Kidtoons also offers fun giveaways (like the one below) with every featured film. You can also find coloring contests for children. I just printed off 4 of each Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 coloring sheets (full size printable can be found here http://www.kidtoonfilms.com/assets/images/BarbieMermaid2_Coloring1.pdf and http://www.kidtoonfilms.com/assets/images/BarbieMermaid2_Coloring2.pdf) for my children to work on over the long weekend.

Make sure you sign up for the Kidtoons weekly newsletter to keep up to date on what is happening and coming soon. Then visit their site and find a participating Kidtoons theater near you, http://www.kidtoonfilms.com/theatrelocations2.html

So far my children have been pleased with the last three features present by Kidtoons at our local participating theather in Cedar Rapids. This month is no different as with most girls my daughter age, Barbie plays a big part in their playtime lives.

This month Kidtoons is proud to present: Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2:

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 Synopsis

Surf’s up for Barbie™ as she returns as Merliah™, the fun and fashionable surfing champion who’s also a magical mermaid princess!　In this exciting sea-quel™, Merliah™ makes a splash when she heads to Australia for the ultimate surfing competition. When the evil mermaid Eris escapes from her whirlpool with plans to take over the throne of Oceana, Merliah™ and her sea friends dive in to stop her. It’s a fresh new adventure where Merliah™ learns that anything is possible and she really can have the best of both worlds!

WIN IT

Kidtoons is sending one Mom to Bed by 8 reader a Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 theatrical poster and Barbie Mermaid Tale 2 Doll!

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Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Please view our disclosure policy if you have any questions. Mom to Bed by 8 is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

Our family loves to create! We enjoy making crafts and doing art together. This year my little girl wants to make her own Valentine’s for her friends and classmates. Together we came up with this really cute Valentine. And they are so easy, inexpensive and fun to make!

To make them you will need: a picture starring your little invisible balloon holding actor, flat wrapped candies, adhesive (I used Craft Glue Dots), embroidery thread or some other comparable string, a card and extra paper if you would like a mat and a precision knife.

1. First, take the perfect picture! Have your child pretend to be lifted by balloons and catch all the action!
2. Cut a small slit above and below your child’s hand in the picture.

3. Guide three pieces of embroidery thread through the top slit, behind the hand and out the bottom slit. Make sure the long pieces of thread extend upward.

4. Place Glue Dots (or other adhesive) on all corners of the back of the picture. Then secure the thread where it is visible also on the backside.

5. Adhere the picture directly to the card or to the mat and then to the card.
6. Attach the candies and include a witty saying inside. My little girl is very into rhyming things for the moment, so inside the card she will write: “Up, up and away! Happy Valentine’s Day!”

Variations:

• Instead of using individual candies, you could use a large, flat, balloon-like sucker.
• Thin ribbon can be used instead of embroidery thread.
• If you do not prefer to use candy, find large bright buttons and use them for the balloons.

Brought to you by mybabyclothes.com. Make sure you get your little one dressed for Valentine’s Day fun in some sweet baby clothes, tutus and baby headbands.