The Momma Blog

Bambi comes out on Blu-ray and DVD in March - Free Bambi activity sheets to celebrate!

2011-02-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

Bambi is coming out on Blu-ray and DVD on March 1, 2011.
In celebration, Disney has shared a set of free fun Bambi activity sheets to enjoy in the meantime.
Click the button below to download the full zip file of fun!

Plus, watch the trailer of Bambi here:

$5 off coupon for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie's Masquerade

2011-02-07T08:59:00.000-08:00

Disney Movie Rewards currently has a $5 off coupon for the Mickey Mote and DVD Play Set for the new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Minnie's Masquerade!
Read more about the movie in my story HERE.

$10 off coupon for the new Alice in Wonderland Blu-ray and DVD

2011-02-02T07:52:00.000-08:00

Disney's offering $10 off the new release of Alice in Wonderland on DVD and Blu-ray. Here's the details (or click HERE):

Disney's classic Alice in Wonderland on Blu-ray for the first time + photos of the original Alice inspiration

2011-02-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

"I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it." - Alice

Here's some sound advice: check out this awesome embeddable slide show for today's release of ALICE IN WONDERLAND: 60th Anniversary Special Edition Blu-ray and DVD!
The below slideshow has still images from the film and photos of Kathryn Beaumont, the original character reference model and voice of Alice, performing in the Disney studios.

Gnomeo & Juliet movie free coloring page and activity sheet for kids

2011-01-29T06:40:00.000-08:00

Gnomeo & Juliet is heading to theaters in February. Here are some fun free coloring pages and activity sheets for the kids to enjoy. (Click the links below each image to download printable fullsize PDFs!)
Another related craft: Gnome hats! All you would need is 9x12 construction paper in either blue (Gnomeo) or red (Juliet) colors. Just staple it together and let the good times roll!

Download in PDF: http://www.mediafire.com/?4jujvvi3h295906

Download full size PDF: http://www.mediafire.com/?6sorvp9x4d74d04

Gnomeo & Juliet movie fun facts

2011-01-29T06:20:00.000-08:00

Filmmakers offer a nod to Shakespeare in several ways:
    •    In a nod to “Hamlet,” Miss Montague’s mailbox is numbered 2B, while her rival neighbor Mr. Capulet’s mailbox is 2B with a red slash through it (“NOT to be”).
    •    “Macbeth” is referenced in a scene in which Juliet is threatened by a bulldog. She slams shut her garden gate and shouts “Out!”—followed quickly by the dog’s distant owner yelling “Damned Spot!”
    •    Featherstone’s shed interior features a ticket stub for “As You Like It.”
    •    The truck that rolls through and accidently drops a couple teapots (later mistaken by several gnomes as a broken comrade), is marked “Tempest Teapots.”
    •    When the Goons glue Juliet to her pedestal, the glue is labeled “The Taming of the Glue.”

FAMOUS FEATURES -- Juliet’s face is inspired by several classic Hollywood faces, and of course Emily Blunt, who lends her voice to the character.

FLAMINGO FORTUNE -- Featherstone gets his name from Don Featherstone, the original sculptor of the classic plastic pink flamingo made popular in the 1960s. Even today, authentic versions of the decorative bird are embossed with Mr. Featherstone’s signature. Just look under the tail.

STREET SMARTS – Filmmakers conducted several research trips to Stratford Upon Avon to explore the world of the movie. Producer Steve Hamilton-Shaw hails from Stratford and served as a great authority.
    •    The Shakespeare statue in the film is based on the actual statue in Stratford, as is the park where the statue is located.
    •    A sequence that features a dog running through the streets of Stratford with Gnomeo in his mouth incorporates real life details of the neighborhood.

REALITY STARS -- Several real-life gnome-populated suburban British gardens helped inspire the locations for “Gnomeo & Juliet.”

ALL IN THE FAMILY – Seeking a disguise for Juliet, Nanette jumps onto the clothesline to fetch a black sock. During her descent, she passes a Kermit the Frog shirt hanging from the clothesline.

FRUIT LOOP -- Montague’s laptop has a Banana logo on it.

NEPOTISM -- The lawn hippo from “Gnomeo & Juliet” is based on one owned by director Kelly Asbury and kept in his California garden.

HEARING VOICES – A few behind-the-scenes pros stepped up to the microphone to lend their voices to “Gnomeo & Juliet.”
    •    Director Kelly Asbury voices the Goons.
    •    Assistant production manager for editorial Julio Bonet provides the voice of the Mankini Gnome.
    •    Associate editor Maurissa Horwitz lends her voice to the Call Me Girl.

SURPRISE! -- Producer David Furnish gifted the London office during pre-production with motion-activated farting gnomes. Emily Blunt and James McAvoy received them as well. http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20070621/the-farting-gnome/

HAPPILY EVER AFTER -- Gnomeo and Juliet ride off into the sunset on a lawn mower with a sign on the back that reads “Matrignomey.”

ALL ELTON, ALL THE TIME – “Gnomeo & Juliet” is the first feature film that exclusively features music from the Elton John-Bernie Taupin library.
    •    For the film’s score, composers James Newton Howard and Chris Bacon incorporated iconic Elton John-Bernie Taupin melodies such as “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” “Bennie and The Jets” and “I’m Still Standing,” among others, and even invited John’s band to record the rock-and-roll segments of the score.

ROCKET MEN – Headed by Elton John, David Furnish and Steven Hamilton Shaw, Rocket Pictures was established in 1996 and has created the indies “It's a Boy Girl Thing” and “Women Talking Dirty,” as well as documentary “Elton John: Tantrums and Tiaras” and two series of the music talk show “Spectacle.” Next up for the production company, “Pride and Predator” adds an alien-horror twist to the Jane Austen world, before the company focuses exclusively on music-driven projects across film, TV and the stage.

DID YOU GNOME…

    •    Some believe that the garden gnome is a descendant of the Greco-Roman fertility god Priapus, whose statue was often found in ancient gardens.
    •    Garden gnomes, which were known as gartenzwerg—or garden dwarfs, date back to 19th century Germany (though the Czech town of Usti nad Labem and present-day Drawno, Poland, were also key players in the terracotta industry at the time).
    •    Philipp Griebel and August Heissner are credited with manufacturing the first garden gnomes, which ultimately spread throughout France and England.
    •    Garden gnomes have long been considered good luck and were adopted by farmers to watch over animals, crops and gardens. According to folklore, the gnomes awaken at night to tend to their chores with a magic touch.
    •    Garden gnomes made their way into the U.K. in 1847 thanks to Sir Charles Isham, whose trip to Germany netted 21 terracotta figures for his gardens in his Lamport Hall home in Northamptonshire. Just one has survived: Lampy is on display at Lamport Hall and is reportedly insured for a million pounds.
    •    Not everyone appreciates the garden gnome, who was banned from the U.K.’s prestigious Chelsea Flower Show (some feel the gnome detracts from serious garden design) until May 2010.
    •    Garden gnomes are also the subject of gnome-napping pranks. The practice, called gnoming, often involves capturing gnomes in an effort to return them to the wild.
    •    There are official organizations involved in gnoming, including the Garden Gnome Liberation Front, which has a presence in both France and Italy. The Italian organization MALAG (Movimento Autonomo per la Liberazione delle Anime da Giardino) claims to be establishing a European Gnome Sanctuary in Barga, Italy.
    •    Ann Atkin founded the Gnome Reserve & Wild Flower Garden in Devon, England, in 1978. Visitors receive a gnome hat upon arrival.
    •    In 2008, a 53-year-old French man in was arrested for allegedly stealing garden gnomes—more than 170.
    •    After Walt Disney’s first full-length animated feature “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1937, many mass-produced garden gnomes reflected the plumper, happier features Disney artisans gave to six of the seven dwarfs (Grumpy was just Grumpy).

    •    The garden gnome’s popularity has surged in recent years.
    •    Travelocity adopted the Roaming Gnome in 2004.
    •    Games Sim City 4 (2004) and Half-Life 2: Episode Two (2007) also feature the garden creature.
    •    The Garden Gnome Theme Park in Trusetal, Germany, features more than 2,000 garden gnomes and is visited by more than 100,000 people annually.

ABOUT THE MOVIE
The greatest love story ever told, starring...garden gnomes? In the upcoming “Gnomeo & Juliet,” Shakespeare's revered tale gets a comical, off-the-wall makeover. Directed by Kelly Asbury (“Shrek 2”) and showcasing both classic and original songs by Elton John, the film features the voices of James McAvoy and Emily Blunt as Gnomeo and Juliet, who have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and thrilling lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness? For more information, visit gnomeoandjuliet.com or like us on Facebook: facebook.com/GnomeoandJulietMovie.

$8 off Secritariat blu-ray & DVD coupon

2011-01-26T08:24:00.000-08:00

We're not horsing around! In celebration of the release of SECRETARIAT on Blu-ray & DVD, Disney Movie Rewards is offering $8.00 off the purchase of the Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack! It expires 1/31/11.
Go here to get the coupon: http://disneymovierewards.go.com/promotions/special-offers/secretariat-coupon?cmp=dmov_dmr_blg_lptw_secretlptw

Captain Blackbeard's sword found!

2011-01-14T16:42:00.000-08:00

National Geographic and Time.com have reported that Captain Blackbeard’s pirate sword has been found! (At least part of it!) A team has been excavating his original ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge, and among the relics was his sword!
Perfect tie-in to the upcoming Pirates sequel. Ian McShane plays Blackbeard in PIRATES OF THE CARRIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES. A great tie-in to the mythology behind the film; It truly is rooted in history that makes all the adventures much more fun! Here's more on the big find: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/14/a-pirates-life-have-archaeologists-found-blackbeards-sword/?hpt=C2

Workout 2011: Walking

2011-01-14T16:31:00.001-08:00

Not feeling good today, I opted to walk around the neighborhood for 20 minutes. Not great but I wanted to do something.

Workout 2011: What to do when you're sick

2011-01-13T20:27:00.000-08:00

I'm coughing, have a runny nose and am feeling run down. On days like this, I try to take the time to recover. I drink extra water, fruit juices, gatorade... keep hydrated all around. Also get plenty of rest. Otherwise, you'll drag out the sickness and will have more days with bad workouts.

Workout 2011: Day off

2011-01-12T21:25:00.000-08:00

Took my day off in the middle of the week this week. Had a big day of work and didn't find the time. After work, I was exhausted. When you aren't feeling it, just make that your day off. Don't feel bad. Flexibility is key to keeping it up!

Workout 2011: Running/walking with the dog

2011-01-11T16:22:00.000-08:00

Today was a day of running/walking with the dog in tow. Only 30 minutes today, it was freezing cold outside and I was tight on time. But ven when it's cold - put on your shoes and gear up. Once you get moving you will warm up. Also don't say I don't have enough time. Go for as long as you can, even if its only 10 minutes. It is better than nothing!

Workout 2011: Step Aerobics on Wii Fit Plus

2011-01-10T14:20:00.000-08:00

Did an hour of free step aerobics on the highest speed on Wii Fit Plus. Watched the BCS Championship game at the same time. Energized!

Workout 2011: Running

2011-01-09T15:19:00.000-08:00

Today I went on a run. 50 minutes. Making better time than I used to. Able to go further without as many walking breaks. Felt good about that!

Workout 2011: Snowshoeing

2011-01-08T13:18:00.000-08:00

Today was another big snowshoe day. My longest snowshoe yet. It was an hour but I went further then ever before!

Workout 2011: Day off

2011-01-07T16:16:00.000-08:00

It's my day off! But don't count this day out. It's a good day to stretch out. Still drink up your water and try to make good food choices

Workout 2011: Day 5

2011-01-06T21:51:00.000-08:00

Today I did a 55 minute walk with my dog in tow up a bunch of hills. Then I did 30 minutes of step aerobics with Wii Fit Plus free step while I watched tv in the evening. My calves were burning from the step work out yesterday. I felt I needed the extra step workout to help my calves stretch back out. Worked well, as they feel better post-workout.
Plus my hubby wanted to go grab burger and fries for a lunch date, so I needed to feel better about that. Not good for the food rules but we did have a nice time.

Workout 2011: Day 4

2011-01-05T21:40:00.000-08:00

Today my schedule was different, so was my workout. I did an hour with Wii Fit Plus. The first 30 minutes, I did step aerobics, rhythm parade, Kung Fu, short and long running programs. For the second 30 minutes I did the free step and added in arm workouts while watching tv. My actual time was about an hour and a quarter, but my Wii Fit points added up to one hour of actual workout time.

Workout 2011: Day 3

2011-01-04T13:36:00.000-08:00

Day three is another 50 minute workout via snowshoeing. Today I did more groomed trails and only a short portion in knee deep snow. Beautiful day in the sun. Have realized it's best to take several water breaks.

Workout 2011: Day 2

2011-01-03T14:34:00.000-08:00

Day two was another day of snowshoeing. This time 40 minutes. Again in mixed snow. I'm getting more familiar with the equipment and how the different trails impact my workout. I'm really enjoying snowshoeing.

Workout 2011: Day 1

2011-01-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

This is my first workout day of 2011. It's off to a great start. 55 minutes of snowshoeing in my new snowshoes. I've want to go snowshoeing for years now. This year I got snowshoes and poles for Christmas and was ready to enjoy winter in a new way. I find it kind of like a cross between two things I enjoy: skiing and hiking. I've found the more packed the snow, the easier the workout. That fresh, untouched snow in an open valley, through the forest, or down a dirt road... That's the good stuff. I did a combo of packed and virgin snow on this snowshoeing trek.

New year, new goals

2011-01-01T21:07:00.000-08:00

This year, I'm declaring the year of getting back in shape. That means exercise and a simple diet plan.
This is a plan I found successful years ago, pre-kids. It's easy and it works. It is a lifestyle, not a diet plan.
First part is exercise. The rules are easy. Six days per week every week you must workout for at least 20 minutes. What I found happening is the more I worked out the more I wanted to work out. Exercise can be walking, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, treadmill, running, yoga, step aerobics, climbing stairs, elliptical machine, Wii Fit Plus, swimming... whatever. I like to change it up. This creates a feeling of freedom and choice plus it makes it more interesting, more fun and maximizes the workout in various body areas. I found the elliptical machine that includes arm movement and a run-walk-hike combo workout to be the most effective in weight loss for me.
Food
Food rules are easy too. No fried foods. No candy. No high fructose corn syrup. One meal per day should be all veggies. That can be a mega salad or a mix of cooked veggies. You can include pasta with the veggies too.
For breakfast, one piece of fruit and/or one crunchy granola bar (make sure it has zero high fructose corn syrup).
It's okay to have French fries on the occasion but no fried chicken or other fried meals.
I also feel it is important to not feel cheated. Have a cookie here or there. But only have 1 or 2. Take the rest of the batch to work for coworkers, give them to neighbors or send them to school with the kids for a dessert with lunch for the next week.
Drink at least 80 ounces of water per day. That's easy. That's just three of those 32 ounce glasses. Then you can also have diet soda, iced tea, coffee, iced coffee, homemade lemonade (use Splenda or the like), etc. Just don't have any of those sugar, super creamy dessert versions of coffee drinks. Beer and wine are fine too.
The idea is to be smart. Don't over eat. Snack smartly. Eventually make smaller portions but ease into it. I find that the more I work out the more I think about what I eat. If I've done a great workout I don't think I've earned more food, I start to think that I don't want to waste a second of that workout, so I tend to eat better naturally.
Last time I went on this diet I went from a size 14 to a size 6 in less than a year.
Every day I plan on putting my workout on this blog. You'll also find food tips, recipes, workout ideas, etc.

FurReal Friends Snuggimals Puppy

2010-06-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

FurReal Friends Snuggimals puppy

Hasbro

Wanting to get the family a dog but don't want the trouble. Consider a FurReal Friends Snuggimals puppy.
My almost three year old daughter is in love with these little pups. They're just her size, fitting in the palm of an adult hand and they're simple to operate: just stroke their back and you'll trigger head bobbing and tail wagging. She thinks the world of her little pup. Now it is nothing like having a real dog: no feeding, potty training, and you can leave it on your bed or in your backpack all day and there's no problem.
The Snuggimals would make a good gift for any pup-loving tot for a second birthday or any other occasion after your tot stops trying to eat toys. Though Hasbro, who makes the toys, recommends them for kids 4 and up.

Mattel's new Sing-a-ma-jigs!

2010-06-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

Mattel/Fisher Price's new Sing-a-ma-jigs! toys are a hoot!

Photo courtesy: Mattel

Mattel's new Sing-a-ma-jigs! are the coolest new toy to hit the market in a while. They can't help but make you giggle.
Fun for all ages, these would make a fabulous birthday gift for children three and up. Also could make a good "get well soon" gift for someone under the weather or a little something special for someone who needs some cheering up, because these little guys will do the trick for sure.
When the Sing-a-ma-jigs! sing, their little mouths open wide for each note, showing off their cute little teeth, creating a look and sound that is truly engaging. Each character features three modes of play: First they chatter; then they each sing their own song; and when kids put them all together and squeeze their tummies one more time, they erupt into a harmonic chorus like none heard before.
As their motto says, “They Love Singing Together,” and when they do, they sing together in perfect harmony each and every time. Each character is featured in a different color and sings its own song, which includes:

• “Where Oh Where has My Little Dog Gone” (Red)
• “Skip to My Loo” (Pink)
• “When the Saints Go Marching In” (Teal)
• “Home on the Range” (Yellow)

My kids (ages 4, almost 3 and 10 months old) have been playing with three Sing-a-ma-jigs! for the last few days. Each playtime turns into a performance. My husband and I both get in on the action because, well, we can't help ourselves. They really are a blast.
Additional characters, each with their own specific color and song, will follow throughout the year for a total of 12 available just in time for the holiday season.

Shaun the Sheep: One Giant Leap for Lambkind on DVD

2010-06-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

Shaun and his buds are baaaack in a new out of this world adventure!

Lionsgate/HIT Entertainment

For some out of this world fun, check out the new six-episode collection, Shaun the Sheep: One Giant Leap for Lambkind.
Like all of the other Shaun collections, my kids had a hoot watching this one, this time even my 10 month old took an interest. My daughters (ages 2.5 and 4 years old) LOVE aliens, so they really enjoyed all the close encounters Shaun and friends had in this disk. Unidentified Farm Objects and paranormal sightings are the norm with Shaun the Sheep and his barnyard buddies Bitzer, Shirley and Timmy, as they encounter more madcap mischief along with those Naughty Pigs next door.

Episodes include:

“The Visitor” – All is quiet at night on the farm when a bright green glow and strange noises awaken the flock. A space craft crash-landed! Can Shaun and his woolly friends help its giant green occupant get air-borne again?
“The Bull” – Shaun learns it’s not safe to wave anything red in front of a bull. But the Naughty Pigs thinks it’s funny to add red paint to the sheep’s bath. What to do with an angry charging bull and all those red sheep?
“Hiccups” – Shirley drinks Bitzer's lemonade too fast and gets the hiccups. Shaun tries all the usual tricks to cure her with hilarious results.
“Bitzer Puts His Foot In It” – Even with Bitzer guarding the fresh concrete the farmer just poured, Shaun and his fearless flock of friends can’t resist treating it like their own personal “Walk of Fame”
“Save the Tree” – The Farmer wants to turn the tree in Shaun's field into firewood, so the flock must take desperate (and humorous) measures to stop their beloved tree from getting felled!
“Shaun Encounters” – Two naughty alien kids land at the farm one night and run riot. Can Shaun and Bitzer stop them before they wake the Farmer?

DVD BONUS FEATURES

“Sing-Along With Shaun”
“Whack-A-Pig” Game

Five minute shorts of the series currently air in the U.S. on the Disney Channel. Fans can only find full length episodes on the DVDs.