Category Archives: Holiday

Movie review: Delgo – a mom’s review and an exclusive movie image

every battle.   every journey.    every adventure.    needs a hero

Just reading that gives me the shivers.  Delgo, an action packed, family-friendly (rated PG), romantic, and humorous movie is truly one-of-a-kind.  Delgo features a voice cast of Freddie Prinze, Jr. (Delgo), Jennifer Love Hewitt (Princess Kyla), Anne
Bancroft (exiled Empress Sedessa) as well as Chris Kattan (Filo), Val
Kilmer (Bogardus), Lou Gossett Jr. (Nohrin King), Michael Clarke Duncan
(Lockni Stonesage Council), Kelly Ripa (Kurrin), Burt Reynolds (Delgo’s
Father) and Sally Kellerman (Narrator).  Very impressive for a production not made in Hollywood.  Delgo was created by Atlanta based Fathom Studios with a small but extremely talented staff and is the first feature length CG film created outside of the studio system. 

Here is an exclusive image from the film, Delgo, thanks to Team Mom.

Delgo

A mom's review (me) of Delgo – based on the trailers – The variety of character types includes fairy, dragon, dinosaur, and sea creatures. Delgo's characters are colorful, and their impeccably smooth motions bring them to life in a way that I've never seen in a computer animated movie before.  I can't wait to see the entire film!

Press release excerpt –
"The
story takes place in the magical land of Jhamora which is divided
between two cultures – the Nohrin, winged masters of the skies, and the
Lockni, the terrestrial tribe who harness the mystical powers of the
land. When Delgo, a reckless Lockni teenager, forms a forbidden
friendship with the spunky Nohrin Princess Kyla, hostilities between
the two peoples escalate, setting the stage for an exiled empress to
exact her revenge and reclaim her rule. Falsely imprisoned, Delgo and
his best friend, Filo, must put aside their differences to join forces
with a sworn enemy, Bogardus, and travel to the mysterious land of
Perran to rescue Princess Kyla. Here they encounter fanciful creatures
and discover more than just a kidnapped princess, they learn the value
of different cultures and the importance of working together."

Delgo teaches children about the need
for people to come together, despite their culture, history, and backgrounds, to
work for a better future for everyone and that it can be done.  Delgo is rated PG but there is violence in the form of a war.  As far as I can tell from the trailers, you won't see blood or other distressing signs of bodily injury.  

Delgo looks very sci-fi which I like because I think that gives younger children less chance of taking the characters as reality and holding on to the more violent parts of the film which are far surpassed by the funny, romantic, humorous parts.

Click on 'Downloads' on the Delgo.com website to download free Delgo Wallpapers for your computer, a Delgo screen saver, and Delgo buddy icons.

Go to Delgo.com to watch two trailers for the movie and check out the Scrapbook while you are there.  It's really interesting.

I would love to get your feedback on Delgo after you've seen it!

Matchbox Pop Up 360° Haunted House Adventure Set

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I have a hard time getting inspired to decorate for Halloween.  Getting costumes is enough.  In fact, Sebastian has worn the same costume for two or three years.. we just switch it up a little every year.

Lucky for the kids, inspiration came in the form of a Matchbox Pop Up 360° Haunted House Adventure Set this year. Watching them play with this toy helped me get motivated to do something different for Halloween this year.  Different = actually get involved in Halloween activities and show some Halloween spirit.  For example, Sebastian helped unload the local pumpkin patch’s delivery truck and I have put together what I think is going to be a super cute costume for Madelyn… before the day before Halloween!

The spooky sounds, moving parts, and characters including a ghost, knight, and a skeleton make the Matchbox Haunted House set fun to play with a lot and it folds up so the kids can toss it in the car and take it to Grandmother’s house to play with there.   I love the trap doors, and the ghost.  I put the ghost on my finger and Madelyn cracks up.  She’s easily amused.. sometimes.  The accessories fit nicely inside the house so they won’t get lost and the house has a carry handle for easy transportation.

Available at Amazon.com here: MATCHBOX Pop Up 360° Haunted House Adventure Set

Cost: Around $34

My Fruit Rollups – the perfect Valentine’s Day surprise!

MyfruitrollupsbigAre you tired of the same old princess and superhero Valentine’s Day cards? I am. It’s the same thing every year. We go to Target to get Valentine’s Day cards and the shelves are full of tacky Pokemon, Bratz and other character cards.  What happened to creativity? I remember making Valentine’s Day cards for my friends, myself.  That was about 25 years ago. I suppose times have changed.

Fruit Rollups brings creativity back into Valentine’s Day and just about any other special occasion, with their new Fruit Rollup Invention Center.

The website is colorful, fun, and action packed. You start by selecting a picture, personalized message or both, from the Invention Center.   If you are ‘creative challenged’ and don’t want to design your own Fruit Rollups, you can select from their design suggestions.  After you have designed your personalized Fruit Rollups, you will create an account and tell them where you want your Fruit Rollups shipped.

Personalized Fruit Rollups are the best of both worlds. It’s a Valentine’s Day card and treat all in one!

GIVEAWAY!

I have THREE promotional codes good for a free order of 30 personalized Fruit Rollups to giveaway. All you have to do to enter to win is leave a comment using the comment link below, telling me the sweetest Valentine’s message you have sent or received.

Icon_website2  MyFruitRollups.com

CardStix – greeting cards that stick

Cardstix
I can’t tell you how many times Sebastian has been to a birthday party and the recipient had no idea who gave him the gift because Sebastian forgot to make or bring a card. Card Stix solves that problem once and for all.  Card Stix stick to wrapped gifts, gift bags, bottles, and I’m sure you can come up with plenty of other places where you can stick these cheery cards.

So you are probably thinking that Card Stix must be outrageously priced.  Wrong! A collection of 12 Card Stix is just $12!  That is way less than what you would pay at the drug store.  Add $5 to have your Card Stix personalized with a name and/or greeting. What’s even better.. Insider readers get 15% off your Card Stix order! Use coupon code insider15.

Card Stix collections include ‘Wine Stix’, ‘Wedding Stix’, ‘Baby Stix’, ‘Holiday Stix’, ‘GrownUp Stix’, Kids Birthday, Tween Boy, and Tween Girl.

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Card Stix – greeting cards that stick.

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Insider readers get 15% off your Card Stix order! Use coupon code insider15.

Play and Freeze Ice Cream Ball

Icecreammaker1
I love ice cream… my kids (even Madelyn) loves ice cream too.
What I don’t love about ice cream though is that most of the time I can’t pronounce half of the ingredients on the label. Now, Sebastian and I make our own ice cream in about 20 minutes. What’s even better is that we can make whatever flavor we want!  Craving cookies and cream ice cream? No problem.. just add some Oreo’s to the mix. Sounds like too much trouble, doesn’t it?  It’s not! I am not one to make things hard on myself. I like to take the easy way out whenever possible. That’s where the Ice Cream Ball comes in really handy.

There are five simple and FUN steps to making your own ice cream with the Ice Cream Ball.
1. Put ice and rock salt in the ice end of the ball.
2. Pour your ice cream mix (cream, sugar, and vanilla) into the other end.
3. This the fun part.  Shake and/or roll the ball for about 10 minutes.
Read steps four and five on the website.

The Ice Cream Ball is not just a great way to make yummy ice cream but also a wonderful way to have fun with your kids.

You can make up your own recipes or get recipes from the Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker website.Playandfreezeball Recipes on the website inlcude Rum Coconut, Smores Ice Cream, Juice Slush, Grasshopper, Chocolate Chip, and many more!

As most of you know, I LOVE oreo’s so I add about 1/2 cup of crumbled Oreo’s to the original vanilla recipe to make a great cookies and cream desert for me! Seriously YUMMY!!!

Your kids will be so proud of themselves for making their own ice cream.  The Play and Freeze Ice Cream Ball is a great addition to birthday party activities and holiday celebrations.

Where to buy: Amazon.com