$500 Halloween Spooktacular Giveaway from Oriental Trading

* I received no compensation for the below post.  I merely wanted to share the information with my readers!

It is no surprise that I am a huge Oriental Trading fan!  I mean they have such a huge assortment of crafts and gift ideas and just so much more than you can imagine.  Right now they have an awesome new giveaway going on; check out the details below...

$500 Halloween Spooktacular Giveaway from Oriental Trading 
From 8/25/13 through 10/19/13, enter to win $500 in Halloween products of your choice from Oriental Trading. Plus, we’re giving away a $25 Oriental Trading gift card every day! Find more details and to enter HERE ! 


It literally took me like five seconds to enter and then I also scored an extra entry by sharing on Facebook so be sure to enter today for an opportunity at a sweet grand prize!  So if you haven't entered yet go now and if you are not familiar with Oriental Trading - check em out after you enter!

HEART OF THE COUNTRY dvd review

* I received the below mentioned product solely for review purposes.  The below mentioned opinions are completely honest and completely my own.

Based on the novel by Rene Gutteridge and John Ward, Heart of the Country is a love story starring country music singer Jana Kramer (“One Tree Hill”), Randy Wayne (“True Blood”), and Gerald McRaney (“Major Dad”). Faith (Kramer) and Luke (Wayne) have it all. Faith is a beautiful singer and Luke is an up-and- coming businessman. When their life together is shattered and she is forced to return home to the family she turned her back on years ago she must find the strength to love again.

MY THOUGHTS


I am a huge country music fan so I was excited to get the opportunity to review Heart of the Country with Jana Kramer in it.  I was really wondering how she would do in her first movie role and I have to say that she did a really good job!  

Gerald McRaney did an excellent job as Jana's dad in the movie and it was good to see him in it.  The movie is a feel good one that moms will enjoy and that they can watch while the kids are in the room too.  My fiancee and I both enjoyed the movie, but of course I did more ( it is a chick flick kinda! ).  

The dvd is available now and also features a first time look at the music video - "First Time and Last Time" featuring Jana Kramer.  I definitely recommend this movie and think it would make a great girls' night movie for sure.  So be sure to grab a copy today and enjoy one of country music's hottest new stars - Jana Kramer!

SUPER BUDDIES blu-ray/dvd review

* I received the below mentioned product solely for review purposes.  The mentioned opinions are completely honest and completely my own.

Watch the fur fly as a new breed of super hero is born in Disney's fun-filled epic adventure. An ordinary day at Fernfield Farms turns extraordinary when Budderball, Mudbud, B-Dawg, Buddha, and Rosebud discover mysterious rings that grant them each a unique super power. Before you can say, "Buddies, assemble," the pups unleash their amazing abilities and race to the rescue when a shape-shifting bully from outer space threatens the planet. But can they succeed in kicking major tail without revealing their new secret identities? A must-own movie event packed with laughter, action, and incredible new characters, Super Buddies proves when you use your wits and work together, you don't need super powers to be a super hero!

MY THOUGHTS

MY kiddos are big fans of the Buddies so they were really excited to hear that the Buddies were now going to be Superheroes.  I have to admit I also like the Buddies as well.  They are great family movies for our weekly Family Movie Nights.

My daughters loved all the animals in the movie and of course they simply adored the Buddies in their Superheroes costumes.  The great thing with the movie is my tween son also really enjoyed the movie as well.  This movie had a lot of laugh out loud scenes and the whole family enjoyed it thoroughly.  

I highly recommend it for any family's collection and especially if you are a Buddies fan.  The dvd is available now where dvds are sold nationwide and at online retailers like Amazon.  Right now the blu-ray/dvd combo is only $ 22.99.  So be sure to grab a copy today .  It would make a great gift especially with the Holiday season fast approaching!

SNEAK PEEK of SHREK THE MUSICAL'S TRAILER

My whole family loves Shrek.  I mean how could you not love a story about an Ogre, a singing Donkey, a Skilled fighting Princess, and of course Puss N Boots!  Well, fans of Shrek have a new movie to enjoy.  Shrek the Musical is coming to blu-ray, dvd, and digital HD on October 15th for those who have missed Shrek and especially love a good musical!!!

Featuring a fantastic score of 17 all-new songs, Shrek The Musical was filmed on stage to capture the magic of a Broadway performance and stars an amazing celebrated cast including Brian d’Arcy James (Shrek), Sutton Foster (Fiona), Daniel Breaker (Donkey), Christopher Sieber (Lord Farquaad), and John Tartaglia (Pinocchio). The film was shot live on Broadway with 10 cameras and directed by Michael Warren. Now you can bring the magic of Broadway to your home and get the best seat in the house when the Deluxe Edition Blu-ray™ and DVD arrives on October 15th! Fans can join in on the performance with sing along Shrek-tastic songs on the Deluxe Edition Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital HD™ or single-disc DVD. And the Deluxe Edition Blu-ray™ goes even deeper into the fairytale’s journey, taking viewers behind-the-scenes to see how the show became a smash hit that “will make your heart dance.” (Cindy Adams, The New York Post). 

Shrek The Musical tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues a feisty princess and learns that real friendship and true love aren’t only found in fairy tales. 


Now here's a peek at the trailer for the dvd...ENJOY!!!!

Looks like a great movie for the whole family showing a family classic in a new way!

BACK TO SCHOOL with WILSON JONES review and giveaway

* I received the below mentioned products solely for review purposes.  The below mentioned opinions are completely honest and completely my own.

About WILSON JONES...

Wilson Jones was founded in 1893 and is the inventor of the three ring binder. The Wilson Jones mission is to help you manage life, make the most of your time and accomplish your goals. Our products facilitate organization and include binders, dividers, sheet protectors, filing products, business essentials, accounting supplies and report covers.

With over 100 years in business, the Wilson Jones team has talked to thousands of people and knows how to build organizational tools that are flexible - flexible enough to let you build the system that works best for YOU.  In 2013, WJ successfully reinvented the binder to create a more durable and more stylish solution for organizing paperwork. Our new Ultra Duty and Heavy Duty Binders, in addition to our existing assortment of products, are designed with ideas from around the world to help you do what you do better - whether you’re at work, school, home or anywhere in between.

Back to School is in full swing at my household which has meant back to school shopping.  This year 2 of my 3 kiddos had to have binders and dividers to start the school year.  Now last year my son only had to have one binder, but this year he had to have 2 binders and 2 sets of dividers.  Add to that my oldest daughter needing a binder too.  Now I knew I needed a sturdy binder for my kiddos since they would be using these everyday.  SO I started doing my research and learned that Wilson Jones had new Ultra and Heavy Duty Binders - perfect for my kiddos.  Wilson Jones sent me a nice assortment of products ( shown above)...

I received four binders and two sets of binder dividers.  I received two binders that were 1.5 inch binders and two 1 inch binders.  Two of the binders have a 5 year guarantee and the other two have a 1 year guarantee which is perfect for my kiddos' needs.  I love how the binders have a guarantee since a lot of the binders out there don't.  Trust me I have had my share of binders that do not make it through a school year more less for 5 years.  So I am excited to see if my binders last even longer.  

Now my oldest daughter quickly grabbed up the pink binder which is her fav color and it also has the clear front on it that she needed for school so the teacher can put a personalized cover sheet in. Also it features the Single Touch Release making it super easy for my daughter to open.  ( I have to say I love the single release which is basically just one easy button to click open the binder rings ).  My son picked out the red binder since that is his fav color and needed a 1.5 binder for all his classes.  He also had to use the binder dividers which I really loved since you do not actually write on the tabs like most.  Rather they have instructions on how to print out a sheet you personalize that slides in which means the dividers can be changed frequently if needed.  I love that feature so that they can be used more than once!

Wilson Jones also has a feature to help you select the best binder for you here.  So if you are not sure what size or kind of binder you need, they can help find the perfect fit!  You can find Wilson Jones products at several locations nationwide and online here .  Now I have been lucky enough to have hte opportunity to host a giveaway featuring some awesome Wilson Jones products ( check out the prize pack below) !

·         2 Ultra Duty Binders 

·         2 Heavy Duty Binders 

·         4 Binder IDs 

·         2 Tabbed Envelopes 

·         2 Zip Pouches 

·         4 Snapper Folders 

·         1 set of 8 tab View-Tab Dividers 

You can click on any of the products above to find out more information on them.  To enter for the chance to win this sweet prize pack, just enter the Rafflecopter form below.  And as always,  GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!

MY LITTLE PONY : EQUESTRIA GIRLS dvd review

* I received the below mentioned product solely for review purposes.  The below mentioned opinons are completely honest and completely my own.

Join Twilight Sparkle And Her New Canterlot High Friends In This Brand-New Animated Feature! 


When her crown is stolen from the Crystal Empire, Twilight pursues the thief, Sunset Shimmer, into an alternate world where she finds herself turned into…a teenage girl! To regain her crown and return to Equestria, Twilight must learn how to fit into this strange new world and defeat Sunset Shimmer in a competition to become crowned Princess of the Fall Formal at Canterlot High. Luckily, she’ll have the assistance of Spike and five teenage girls who remind her of a certain group of ponies back home.

MY THOUGHTS

Now in my household, My Little Pony is a huge hit with my daughters especially my oldest ( who would literally watch the show all day ).  So when I showed them the trailer of the movie, they were so excited.  Now we had wanted to go to the theater, but we never go the chance so I was excited to get the chance to review the dvd.

My daughters squealed with delight and were so excited to get the chance to watch it as part of our Mommy and Girls day.  They literally were squirming with anticipation ( it was so cute!).  For the length of the movie, they were mesmerized by Twilight becoming a girl.  They thought the girls who resembled the ponies were so pretty and of course are now begging for the dolls from the movie.  ( Which I have to admit are very pretty to me as well.)  

I have to say this movie did not disappoint my girls which I worried about with the whole pony becoming human part.  Instead it has quickly become a new favorite of theirs.  I definitely recommend this dvd for My Little Pony fans or any little girl for that matter.  

The dvd is available now nationwide where dvds are sold and also at online retailers like Amazon ,  who currently has it for $ 11.69.  So with the Holidays fast approaching, be sure to grab a copy today ( It would make a great stocking stuffer!!!)  

ACTIVITIES featuring SUPER BUDDIES ( out on release August 27th)

If you have kiddos like mine who love the "Buddies" Disney movies then they are in luck!.. On August 27th, a new Buddies is coming to dvd - SUPER BUDDIES!  Here is a little info about the latest movie...

An ordinary day at Fernfield Farms turns extraordinary when Budderball, Mudbud, B-Dawg, Buddha and Rosebud discover mysterious rings that grant them each a unique super power. Before you can say, “Buddies, assemble,” the pups unleash their amazing abilities and race to the rescue when a shape-shifting bully from outer space threatens the planet. But can they succeed in kicking major tail without revealing their new secret identities?

SO while the kiddos are waiting for the movie to come out, here are some fun activities they can enjoy!

10 GREEN TIPS for BACK TO SCHOOL from EPIC ( out on August 20 - Tomorrow!)

Going Green For An Epic School Year

Debuting on Blu-ray & DVD August 20

That time of year has come again! The kids are heading back to school and they are filled with excitement to see their friends and experience new things. The new school year is a new beginning filled with new teachers, experiences, and lessons. You can start off in the right direction by being environmentally friendly in your preparations for this school year. Take some advice from the Leafmen and follow these ten tips for going green to ensure you have an EPIC school year!

From the creators of Ice Age, the year’s funniest, most exhilarating animated adventure comes home as EPIC debuts on Blu-ray Combo Pack, Deluxe Edition Blu-ray, and DVD this August 20 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Directed by Chris Wedge (The Ice Age Franchise) and featuring an amazing voice cast including Colin Farrell, Amanda Seyfried, Christoph Waltz, Jason Sudeikis, Steven Tyler, Pitbull, and Beyoncé, the blockbuster film comes home just in time to help families become one with nature and end the summer in Epic style.

1. Before heading to the store in search of supplies, take inventory of what items are left over from last year that can still be used this time around. Shopping for school can be exciting with all of the bright, fun items! Try to make sure you aren’t forgetting what you came for and don’t buy any unnecessary products that will go to waste.

2. When you have reduced your list of school supplies to the necessities, ensure that you think about what you buy. Look for pens and pencils that can be refilled or supplies that are made from recycled product. Read the labels and make smart decisions to help preserve the magic of Moonhaven!

3. There are so many ways to decrease the pollutants created by getting to and from school each day! If your child’s school has a bussing system, let them take the bus with their neighborhood friends each day. For older kids who live close to school, walking or biking each day not only provides them with exercise, but also completely eliminates any pollution from cars.

4. The Leafmen made their own clothes and armor from natural products to help protect the environment. You can also make a difference with your clothes by arranging a clothing swap party with some of your kids’ friends!

Everyone will walk away with new clothes and a happy conscience when they realize they are helping the environment!

5. The end of the day can be quite hectic as you run around dropping kids off at various after school activities! You can save your sanity and the earth by setting up a carpool schedule with other parents. Bonus: your kids will love the extra time with their friends!

6. When packing lunch for your little ones, keep the residents of Moonhaven on your mind. Invest in reusable water bottles, lunch boxes, and food containers. The kids will probably have tons of fun picking out lunch supplies with fun patterns and themes! Buying these products will also conserve tons of unnecessary waste!

7. The packaging isn’t the only part of lunch you can change to become more green! Send healthy, eco-friendly snacks and lunches with your little ones each day. Things like local, organic fruits and veggies are a great addition to your kids’ lunch!

8.  In Epic, Queen Tara wears a gorgeous dress made from flower petals and leaves! You can get creative like her by changing the style of your backpack! Instead of purchasing a new bag every year, have a craft day and let your kids change up their bag with patches, paint, or other supplies.

9.  Find out if your school already has a recycling program in place. If they don’t, take a stand and help set one up for each classroom! If recycling is already part of the plan, be sure to inform your own kids of the benefits of recycling so that they will participate!

10. Consider buying used books for your young students! Look online for gently used books or visit a local bookstore. This tip benefits students from grade school through college, when textbooks get extra expensive! 

JUST ANOTHER MANIAC MONDAY!

So last week, my kiddos started back to school.  It has been really hectic because of unexpected issues like my son's calculator from last year being broken in his backpack.  This incident alone sent me running all over town looking for a new one before school started.  It also sent me to Staples twice in 24 hours and also creating some not so pleasant feelings with my once favorite Office Supply store, but that's another post!  I also had to buy my oldest daughter's new tennis shoes after I thought we were set in that department.  ( It was actually easier to find her shoes than my son's calculator and they were cheaper!  GO Fig! )

Anyhow back to my Maniac Monday yesterday...  It started like any other Monday except my daughters just simply seemed to refuse to get motivated and wake up.  This resulted in us running behind and us rushing out the door then it got worse...  The sliding door window on my minivan fell out when my kiddos shut it!  Now it didn't fall completely out; more like dangling from one side.  All I could think was "Really?! We need to be leaving like ten minutes ago!"  ( Of course I was glad that the window fell out then and not going down the road and breaking.)  SO I had to rush into the house to get my fiancee up so he could drive us.

After we got the kiddos to were they needed to be, we had to come home to start working on the window.    My fiancee quickly went into action and started working on my window ( I am so lucky to have such a resourceful guy who is equally talented!) .  You would think it wouldn't take that long, but over 3 hours later we finally got the window secured. This of course made my love late for work, but luckily for us his boss understood.  We would have waited til later, but it was kinda rush due to severe thunderstorms heading in before he would have gotten off work.

After all that, I had to struggle with my phone not working properly which seems to be happening a lot lately.  I so need an UPGRADE!  Then to add to that, I got caught in the rain while loading groceries.  I mean it's been awhile since I had a Monday like this and well, I hope it's even longer til I have another.

How about you?  Have you had a Maniac Monday recently?  What happened?

HEART OF THE COUNTRY coming to dvd August 20th plus a giveaway

* The below post is simply a giveaway.  I received no compensation for it.

 Based on the novel by Rene Gutteridge and John Ward, Heart of the Country is a love story starring country music singer Jana Kramer (“One Tree Hill”), Randy Wayne (“True Blood”), and Gerald McRaney (“Major Dad”). Faith (Kramer) and Luke (Wayne) have it all. Faith is a beautiful singer and Luke is an up-and- coming businessman. When their life together is shattered and she is forced to return home to the family she turned her back on years ago she must find the strength to love again. Watch Jana Kramer in her first leading movie role in the year's most inspirational and romantic movie event when it debuts on DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on August 20. 

Rising star Jana Kramer is one to watch on and off the big screen. Selling an impressive 1.5 million tracks off her self-titled debut album, including her current single “I Hope It Rains” along with her debut hit single, “Why Ya Wanna,” Kramer was named Academy of Country Music’s New Female Vocalist of the Year for 2013. Performing in 30 cities, Kramer just kicked off an America-wide tour opening for Grammy-nominated platinum-selling superstar Blake Shelton’s Ten Times Crazier tour this summer. While all dates can be found on her website, a highlight of the tour includes the following cities:

● Cincinnati, OH - July 28 ● Chicago, IL - August 3 ● Raleigh, NC - August 9 ● Atlanta, GA - August 29 ● West Palm Beach, FL - August 31 ● Hartford, CT - September 6 ● Nashville, TN - September 14 ● Kansas City, MO - October 3

The Heart of the Country DVD features an exclusive first look at the music video from the movie for “The First and Last Time” sung by Kramer.

Debuting on DVD August 20^th

North Carolina is certainly not the state that springs to mind when you think about locations where movies are filmed. Most people immediately think of California or New York, but North Carolina has surprisingly made a name for itself as a fantastic location for filming. Over the years, the number of films shot in the eastern state has grown and now there are a wide variety of genres included on the list. Here, we count down some of the most picturesque movies filmed in North Carolina.

Based on the novel by Rene Gutteridge and John Ward, Heart of the Country is a love story starring country music singer Jana Kramer (“One Tree Hill”), Randy Wayne (“True Blood”), and Gerald McRaney (“Major Dad”). Faith (Kramer) and Luke (Wayne) have it all. Faith is a beautiful singer and Luke is an up-and- coming businessman. When their life together is shattered and she is forced to return home to the family she turned her back on years ago she must find the strength to love again. Watch Jana Kramer in her first leading movie role in the year's most inspirational and romantic movie event when it debuts on DVD from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on August 20. 

Heart of the Country

Many members of the cast and crew for Heart of the Country likely felt right at home while filming in Wilmington, North Carolina. The singer and actress Jana Kramer had previously spent many years filming scenes for One Tree Hill in the beach town. Director and writer John Ward grew up in Wilmington and began his career there. In fact, some classmates of Ward’s from Cape Fear Academy helped out with the movie. Ward clearly captured the essence of the beauty in the coastal region of North Carolina through this film.

A Walk to Remember

The majority of the movies based on Nicholas Sparks’ books are located and filmed in North Carolina including Safe Haven, Nights in Rodanthe, and Message in a Bottle. But, A Walk to Remember stands out among the rest as it really captures the southern beauty of NC. Even the houses and white church where Landon and Jamie are married represent the feel of living in this coastal state. The movie was filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina and used many of the sets from Dawson’s Creek.

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood was filmed in Wilmington at the same time as A Walk to Remember and Dawson’s Creek. Seven other small towns in North Carolina were used for various scenes in the film including Wrightsville Beach and Kure Beach. The scenic Orton Plantation, which has been spotted in over 20 films, also makes an appearance. Visitors to Fort Knox might recognize the winding roads from the scene where ViVi is driving along the coast.

To Gillian on her 37^th Birthday

The beaches of North Carolina can be seen in the 1996 film To Gillian on Her 37^th Birthday. The cast split their time shooting the film in Massachusetts, California, and North Carolina. The interiors of the Lewis family’s house were from a home in Wilmington, North Carolina. Many of the beach scenes, including the sand castle competition, were filmed in Wrightsville Beach.

The Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees was shot entirely in North Carolina in the small towns of Lumberton and Watha. The film captured the true essence of old southern homes.  The audience can really get a true picture of the plants and flowers that are often seen throughout North Carolina. The Secret Life of Bees not only told a beautiful story, but also portrayed a beautiful image of this southeastern state.

The Last of the Mohicans

One of the most appealing factors of North Carolina is that it has both a coastal region and a mountainous region, providing plenty of beautiful background scenery.  Although The Last of the Mohicans was supposed to be set in New York, it was filmed in the Appalachian Mountains. Visitors of the North Carolina mountain region may recognize Chimney Rock as the backdrop for the final fight scenes of the film or the brick arched bridge at The Biltmore Estate. Hikers can also reach many of the waterfalls used throughout the film including Bridal Veil Falls and Hickory Nut Falls.

Dirty Dancing

Although a large portion of Dirty Dancing was filmed in Virginia, one of the most famous scenes was shot in North Carolina. Yes, we’re talking about the lift scene in the lake. This romantic, memorable scene was shot in Lake Lure, NC. At the time of filming, the water was so cold that Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze were shivering and had blue lips. Several other scenes were shot at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville. This attraction still draws in many tourists, especially around the winter holiday season. 

I have been lucky enough to offer you, my readers the opportunity to win a copy of Heart of the Country dvd and the novel it is based on.  SO be sure to enter the Rafflecopter below and as always GOOD LUCK to everyone!

IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME!!!!

Well, I am sure you may have noticed the lack of posts the past week.  Well, this week my kiddos are going to be starting back at school.  So of course with that comes shopping and early bedtimes ( which has seemed to be harder this year for all of us it seems! ).  It was literally down to the wire with school supplies purchases which is not normally my style.  Of course I had no idea my son's calculator was broken and my oldest daughter's tennis shoes would need to be replaced.  Or that somehow my pencil supply disappeared resulting in having to rush out for new pencils!

All of this has taken its toll on this momma.  Geez, that sentence made me sound really old!  Nonetheless I think I may have things somewhat caught up at least for today anyways.  With that said, I have a few "Back to School" reviews coming and also some good giveaways so be sure to keep your eyes peeled!  And hopefully this time I won't have any more long absences!

SLUGTERRA ; SLUGS UNLEASHED dvd review

* I received the below mentioned product solely for review purposes.  The below mentioned opinions are completely honest and completely my own.

Slugterra is an epic sci-fi comedy adventure set deep underground, where the ammo's alive and only the quick survive! Follow our hero Eli Shane, his gang, and his best slug buddy Burpy as they adventure in a luminous high-tech world beneath our feet. Every cavern holds a new adventure, new battle and magical little slugs to be discovered!

MY THOUGHTS

My whole family are huge fans of the Slugs!  I have to admit that there are few cartoon shows nowadays that my whole family enjoys, but Slugterra is definitely one.  SO we were all excited to finally get a chance to sit down together and have a short Slugterra marathon!  

I have to admit we are always excited to see what new slugs are coming next and what will be there special power.  My kiddos all take turns guessing what will be the next power.  I also really like the different personalities of the slugs!

This dvd has five episodes on it and runs around 2 hours so it's not too long for a family movie night.  It's also not too short that it ends quickly.  I definitely recommend grabbing a copy of this dvd for your next Family Movie Night and getting to know some Slugs.  

The dvd is available nationwide where dvds are sold and at online retailers like Amazon.com, who have it right now for $ 12.99.  SO I recommend grabbing a copy today for the Slug lover in your life or a copy for anyone who hasn't watched Slugterra yet.