WIN Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Blu-ray #ScorchInsiders

December 5, 2015 by 49 Comments

Disclosure- I am a member of the Fox Home Insiders. I will receive the same DVD.  All info was provided to me, all opinions are my own. For more information, see “I Disclose”.

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Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

The Maze was just the beginning. After the harrowing adventure of escaping the maze, the Gladers find themselves right in the center of an epic mystery in MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS. There’s more action, more excitement and more spectacular effects in this thrilling new chapter of the epic Maze Runner saga by James Dashner.

They may have escaped from the Maze, but Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow Gladers now face a greater challenge: searching for clues about the secret organization known as WCKD. Their journey leads them to the Scorch, a desolate wasteland filled with unimaginable dangers. The mystery deepens at every turn as the Gladers work together to discover their purpose and battle to survive in this must-see, electrifying adventure!

Real Gladers are in line for the greatest of presents this winter, as the MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS Ultimate Fan Edition on Blu-ray includes an exclusive, 24-page printed comic-book with two new prequel stories from BOOM! Comics. In addition, two hours of thrilling bonus content, including deleted and extended scenes will take fans further behind-the-scenes of the suspense and action-packed journey through the Scorch and more!

Check out this fun game to play while you watch-

pic5One of you can win your own copy, feel free to enter using the RC form below.  Good luck!  Ends Dec. 30, 2015.
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Win Fantastic Four Blu-ray #FantasticInsiders #Fantastic4

December 5, 2015 by 46 Comments

Disclosure- I am a member of the Fox Home Insiders. I will receive the same DVD.  All info was provided to me, all opinions are my own. 

Witness a true origins story and see how it all began as FANTASTIC 4 arrives on Digital HD Friday, November 20th, and Blu-ray & DVD Tuesday, December 15th!

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Fantastic Four

The FANTASTIC FOUR make a triumphant return with MARVEL’s next generation of heroes — four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate universe, their physical forms altered in shocking ways. Their lives changed forever, Reed Richards (“MR. FANTASTIC”), Sue Storm (“INVISIBLE WOMAN”), Johnny Storm (“THE HUMAN TORCH”) and Ben Grimm (“THE THING”) must harness their incredible new powers and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy, the infamous DR. DOOM.

Check out the video-


One of you can win a DVD of your own- just use the RC form below to enter. Good luck! Ends Dec. 23, 2015.
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Filed Under: entertainment, giveaway, movie, review Tagged With:

Stackins Stackable Friends for the Holidays @funrise_toys #Stackins

December 5, 2015 by 3 Comments

Have you heard of Stackins Stackable Friends™ ?  They are really adorable, and would make the cutest stocking stuffers this Christmas, or gift for any child who loves cute stuffed toys.

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Stackins Stackable Friends™ is a collectible line of stackable plush animals with adorable facial features, available in two sizes, small and medium. These plush pets are perfect for stacking in play rooms, trading, sharing with friends or snuggling!

Claire’s newest furry friends include Dottie the Ladybug, Shiner the Mouse, Ivy the Blue Owl and Bouquet the Skunk   (pictured top to bottom).

Funrise is supporting the launch via an interactive Stackins microsite with videos, games and product information. Stackins animated webisodes will follow the fun antics of these furry friends and can be viewed on the brand’s YouTube Channel.

Stackins Stackable Friends™ are also available at Walmart stores nationwide.

Stackins Stackable Friends is Funrise Toys’ latest toy line featuring a collectible line of adorable animal-themed plush toys. Stackins Stackable Friends are currently available at Wal-Mart and Toys ‘R’ Us retail stores nationwide.

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Just in time for Christmas and the holidays are these newest, tiny Stackins!

Stackins Pictured: (Left to Right) Shiner The Mouse, Sparkles The Unicorn, Fawna The Deer, Rosie The Robin

I know a little boy that will love getting these adorable holiday themed Stackins in his stocking- time to get them while the getting is good and there are still some left.

Happy holiday shopping to you and yours- let me know how you like these cuties!

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, toys Tagged With: , ,

This Week is National Family Week!

December 5, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that “families who play together, learn together.” With National Family Week in full swing and everyone home from school and work, this is the perfect time for parents and their kids to get together and play some fun Nintendo games! Take this time to show your kids good sportsmanship and gaming etiquette. Here are fix fun Nintendo-themed activities to do with your family through National Family Week that celebrates the togetherness of family:
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1- Dress in crazy sweaters and play the warm-and-fuzzy Yoshi’s Woolly World.
2- Test each family member’s creativity in a Super Mario Maker best level-creation challenge. As a family, judge each other’s Super Mario Maker level – the most creative or hardest one wins the competition.
3- Pit family members against each other in a messy Splatoon competition for the ages!
4- Make your Thanksgiving day special by hosting Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash matches with your family and friends! Play both singles (1v1) and doubles (2v2) matches as your favorite Mushroom Kingdom character. Throw in a twist by asking competitors to play each other and select a random amiibo as a partner. See who wins!
5- Come together as a family and call dibs on your favorite Animal Crossing character in Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival. Challenge each other in fun mini-games!
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If you like these fun ideas and are interested in doing more family activities, check out the holiday website: http://happyholidays.nintendo.com/.
Filed Under: family Tagged With:

Great Books for Snoopy and Disney Princess Fans

December 5, 2015 by 2 Comments

This winter, Thunder Bay Press presents three titles perfect for any pop culture fan’s collection: The Snoopy Treasures by Peanuts expert Nat Gertler, Disney Frozen Crochet by Kati Gálusz, and Disney Princess Crochet by Jana Whitley and Jessica Ward. 

Timed to the release of The Peanuts Movie, The Snoopy Treasures (November 2015; $34.95; ISBN: 978-1-62686-440-5) tells the story of everyone’s favorite beagle from the beloved childhood pet who inspired his creation, to his status as a cultural icon and beyond.

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This comprehensive guide is divided into 12 sections covering Snoopy’s origins, his alter egos from Joe Cool to the Flying Ace, his family at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm, his friends in the beloved Peanuts gang, and his prevalence in pop culture – in songs, movies, books, plays, parades, museums, and even NASA, who named a lunar landing module after him as they prepared to put man on the moon in 1969.

Each page features original Peanuts panels, side-by-side comparisons showing the evolution of Snoopy into the universally recognizable style we know today, photographs from the Schulz museum, and ten pieces of pullout memorabilia: an original Schulz drawing, a Snoopy baseball pennant (popular dorm décor in the 60s and 70s), a letter from President Ronald Reagan to Schulz, a bookmark, a bumper sticker, a punch out model of the Red Baron’s plane, the last Peanuts strip ever printed, and more.

Lifelong fans and first-timers alike will discover something new within the pages of this in-depth compendium, making The Snoopy Treasures the perfect holiday gift for Snoopy lovers of all ages.

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Disney Frozen Crochet (November 2015; $24.95; ISBN: 978-1-62686-443-6): Do you want to crochet a snowman? How about Elsa and Anna, too? Let it go and create all twelve cuddly characters from the Frozen tundra! All the materials you need to create Elsa and Anna are included, and your creativity is sure to snowball from there. The Queen of Cold and all her friends will make great gifts, or adorable additions to your own collection. Don’t hesitate! For the first time in forever, let these characters melt your heart.

  • 12 adorable crochet characters, including Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Sven, and more!
  • Step-by-step instructions accompanied by full-color photos in a 76-page book.
  • All the materials you need to make Elsa and Anna are included.
  • Kit includes 8 colors of yarn, crochet hook, stuffing, safety eye beads, 4 colors of embroidery floss, tulle, and a tapestry needle.

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Disney Princess Crochet (November 2015; $24.95; ISBN: 978-1-62686-444-3): Create 12 of Disney’s most enchanting characters! A full-color, 76-page instruction book with detailed patterns and colorful photos will guide you from “once upon a time” to “happily ever after” using your yarn and hook. To start you off, the kit includes all the materials needed to create Cinderella and Ariel. Each amigurumi princess is sure to be a treasured part of any crochet collection!

  • Detailed instructions to make 11 Disney princesses— Ariel, Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Jasmine, Tiana, Rapunzel, Mulan, Snow White, Pocahontas, and Merida—and Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother.
  • Full-color photos accompany step-by-step instructions in a 76-page book.
  • Kit includes 9 colors of yarn, crochet hook, stuffing, safety eye beads, red embroidery

floss, and a tapestry needle.

  • Featured projects are Cinderella and Ariel.
Filed Under: book review, crafts, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, kids, review Tagged With: , , , ,

Wubble Balls, Fun For All #WubbleX #GloWubble

December 4, 2015 by 5 Comments

Disclosure- I have received the below in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are my own and honest.

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Welcome to the world of Wubble.  The nifty new ball/bubble/balloons that are part bubble, part ball, part wiggly fun.  Wubble is now not only in the form of the regular Wubble which can inflate up to 3 feet, but now includes the WubbleX and Glo Wubble.

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First up, a look at the Wubble X.  The Wubble X is very similar to the original Wubble but inflates to a portion of its size with the included helium can.  The addition of helium instead of air or CO2 makes a big difference.  Now your Wubble floats around the room, sticking to ceilings and overturned hands as if by magic.  Wubble X makes a game of catch so much more strange with the subtraction of gravity.  The little guy liked to make believe he could use ‘the force’ to float his Wubble.  A Wubble X would be the perfect toy for a play room on a rainy or snowy day when there is nothing to do but stay warm and dry inside with a nifty new toy.  What I really liked about the Wubble X is the addition of lubricant to help ease the inflation of the Wubble, and stickers to complete the seal on the Wubble so there was little accidental leakage.

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Next we take a peak at the Glo Wubble.  This brings the familiar Wubble to night time play where your big, bouncy bubble now glows as it bounces around.  These are great fun at night or in a play room with the lights out.  Its a surreal sight when more Glo Wubbles are added to play time outside.  Wubbles floating, bouncing, squishing, and squashing everywhere.

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A Wubble would make a great toy to keep a group of kids busy before a holiday meal in a play room.  OR a great Summer toy as well.  As you add more Wubbles to the equation the more giggles come out.

Wubble balls retail for $19.99 each and the original and Glo Wubble include a pump while the Wubble X retails for $7.99 and the helium can retails for $7.99.

 

Filed Under: Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, review, toys

Entenmann’s and Sara Lee Snacks for the Holidays

December 2, 2015 by 5 Comments

It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but at  times, it can also feel like the most stressful. Holiday  season can make everyone a little crazy. Between shopping, entertaining, holiday parties and every day  life, schedules are constantly booked and families are always running around.

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Using already prepared foods is one of the simplest ways to create holiday bakery delights. This season, Kathleen Robbins, head baker at Entenmann’s and Sara Lee Snacks, is introducing half way to the holiday’s recipes, which are easy to make and save time during all of the holiday madness.

Founded in 1898, Entenmann’s bakery has over 100 sweet baked goods, including a wide variety of delicious donuts. The Entenmann’s Dreamy Chocolate Bars feature the Entenmann’s classic Rich Frosted Donut. This cake-style donut is drenched in rich, wonderfully smooth chocolate. Bite into one, hear the crack of the Rich Frosted shell and enjoy the soft yellow cake interior.

Baked into a delicious chocolate bar, the Entenmann’s Rich Frosted donut is mixed together with flaked coconut, caramel popcorn and a few other ingredients, guaranteed to be a delicious delight your family will enjoy. Double the batch and have an extra on hand for the perfect hostess gift. Check out the recipe here!

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The Entenmann’s name has stood for the finest quality in baked goods and that same commitment extends to the Entenmann’s single serve coffee selections. Working with the finest coffee growers around the world, selecting only 100% Arabica beans and roasting them into small batches ensures consistent quality coffee with every roast. Packaged immediately after roasting to lock in freshness, Entenmann’s coffee cups, available in classic and dessert flavors, are great for Holiday entertaining and were created to be the perfect complement to Entenmann’s baked foods or savored on their own any time of day.

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Sara Lee, the iconic American brand, delivers a new way to snack with fresh baked, individually wrapped snack cakes. Do you love brownies? How about chocolate chip cookies? If you said yes to either, then the Sara Lee Snacks Brownie Chocolate Chip cakes are perfect for you! With rich fudge brownies and sweet chocolate chips, this cake was made to please all chocoholics! The Sara Lee Snacks Brownie Chocolate Chip Cake Jar features the Brownie Chocolate Chip cakes, put together with whipped cream, chocolate pudding and hot fudge. This easy “how-to” is the perfect treat for home and will be a hit for all of those holiday parties!

Filed Under: food, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, holidays, review

WIN Krusteaz National Cookie Day Prize Pack

December 1, 2015 by 77 Comments

Did you know National Cookie Day was coming up on Dec. 4?  Neither did I!  Why do we miss all the fun holidays?  Ha.

Holiday baking can be hectic for many, and Krusteaz is here to help, offering high quality and easy-to-bake cookie mixes – saving you time in the kitchen and making more time for you to spend with family this holiday season. It’s easy to create and share fun holiday-inspired cookie recipes and creatively package them up as small sweet gifts- if there are any left, that is.

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There are tons of options available, and not just cookies- breads, pancakes, muffins, flatbreads for pizzas, cakes, and so much more from Krusteaz. It’s one of our favorite brands, and such a good way to wake up in the morning, too (fresh blueberry muffins, hello!)

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My son and I recently went on a baking extravaganza- making gingerbread up the wazoo here.  Cookies, a gingerbread house, and eventually gingerbread bars as well.  Hey, whatever works. Pick out your favorites and get baking for the holidays (and all the merry-making that accompany them).

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One of you lucky readers will have the chance to win a really great, really timely prize package.  Krusteaz will send you the following items:

  • Two boxes each of the following mixes: Shortbread, Gingerbread, Snickerdoodle, Butter Vanilla Sugar and Oatmeal Scotchie
  • Some fun holiday baking items like an apron, tote bag, cookie cutters, frosting decorating pen and a mason jar (for gifting and storage!)
  • Holiday cookie recipe ideas for inspiration

Please feel free to enter using the RC form below- good luck!  Ends Dec. 22, 2015.
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Filed Under: baking, giveaway, holidays, review Tagged With: