15 Board Books For Young Toddlers

 Entertainment, For Toddlers  9 Responses »
Aug 272012
 

Favorite board books for toddler.

15 Fun Board Books Great For Young Toddlers

We’ve been lucky that Bubbles has enjoyed books and reading practically since birth.  She loves to climb up with Mommy or Daddy and have us read her a book or five, often with multiple readings of each book.  She is also equally content to sit and “read” on her own.  Recently I observed her sitting with one of her “lift the flap” books where you’re trying to find a certain item, and as she lifted each flap, she’d shake her head and say “no” for each incorrect answer.  It was pretty cute to watch.

We’re also fortunate that she has a very thorough library; we received a number of books from her baby showers, and we add to her collection on a regular basis.  I loved books as a child and so it’s hard for me to resist buying when I spot a cute one.  Some of them she has enjoyed more than others, so I thought I would share a list of 15 of our favorite board books.  Most of them are ones that Bubbles brings to us daily, if not multiple times per day.  If you know of anyone expecting, a few of these would make a lovely gift! Continue reading »

Happy National Dog Day!

 Disney movies, Entertainment  1 Response »
Aug 262012
 

Today is National Dog Day!

I honestly didn’t even know there was a National Dog Day; when it comes to our dogs, every day seems like a day dedicated to them – we love them that much!

Growing up we always had a dog.  My parents got their first one – named Benji – a few weeks before I came home.  We literally grew up side by side; I couldn’t have asked for a better friend, and it was heart-breaking when he passed away when I was in junior high.  After that there was Dinah, Gabriel (Gabe), Beauregard (Beau), and Mo (named by the shelter, we actually called him Mozilla for some odd reason).  Pretty sure that somewhere down the road, Mo’s ancestors had bred with a kangaroo, because I’ve never in my life seen a dog leap three or four feet vertically off the ground.

We don’t currently have a dog but my father-in-law received one for Christmas last year, and she visits us often (much to Bubbles’ delight).  So we’d like to say happy National Dog Day to Gus!  (Yes, that’s a boy dog name, and Gus is a girl, but hey.)

Happy National Dog Day Gus

Happy National Dog Day, Gus!

There’s also another dog that will soon be working his way into everyone’s hearts, and that’s Frankenweenie!  He’ll be scampering into theaters on October 5th!  Directed by Tim Burton, it’s sure to be an awesome film; The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favorites!  I’ll have more details for you later, but in the meantime you can check Frankenweenie out on Facebook.

Happy National Dog Day Frankenweenie

Do you have a dog?  Or maybe you had one growing up?  I’d love to hear about them!

Steven Spielberg Brings Lincoln to the Big Screen

 Entertainment  1 Response »
Aug 222012
 

Interested in the story of Lincoln?

DreamWorks Pictures/Twentieth Century Fox movie Lincoln with Daniel Day Lewis

Steven Spielberg, who has brought us a number of amazing movies, has turned his attentions to the 16th President.  His new movie Lincoln, starring two-time Academy Award® winner Daniel Day Lewis in the title role (the resemblance is uncanny), focuses on the last four months of the President’s life.  A war is dividing the country and Lincoln must find a way to unite the people, end the war, and forever outlaw slavery.

Based in part on the book “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” by Doris Kearns Goodwin, the movie also stars Sally Field, James Spader, Tommy Lee Jones, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  I really enjoy history, so I’m excited to see this movie, especially with the great cast they’ve put together.

Daniel Day-Lewis in the DreamWorks Pictures/Twentieth Century Fox movie Lincoln

Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Lincoln

Lincoln is a DreamWorks Pictures/Twentieth Century Fox film, in association with Participant Media, and will be opening in limited release November 9, expanding on November 16, 2012.  In the meantime, you can follow the movie on both Facebook and Twitter.

What about you?  Are you a history buff and looking forward to the movie?

Summer Fun Crafts and Recipes From Disney’s “The Odd Life of Timothy Green”

 Crafts, Disney, Entertainment, Recipes  7 Responses »
Aug 032012
 

Disney’s The Odd Life of Timothy Green comes out in a couple of weeks (August 15th) and I’m really excited.  As much as I love Disney animation, every now and then I like to see a live-action movie that has been sprinkled with pixie dust.  This movie feels like it will deliver on the magic.

Jennifer Garner and CJ Adams in The Odd Life of Timothy Green

The Odd Life of Timothy Green is the story of Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton), a married couple who very much want to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like.  Then Timothy (CJ Adams) – a very unusual boy with leaves growing out of his shins and ankles – shows up on their doorstep during a storm one night.  Timothy shows Cindy and Jim, and the entire town of Stanleyville, that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts. Continue reading »

First Look At The “Oz The Great And Powerful” New Movie Poster!

 Disney movies, Entertainment  2 Responses »
Jul 072012
 

One of the most classic movies of all time is The Wizard of Oz.  We all know Dorothy’s story – but what about the man behind the curtain?

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Oz The Great And Powerful

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures fantastical adventure Oz The Great And Powerful seeks to answer that question.  Director Sam Raimi imagines the origins of the Wizard, himself.  When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot: fame and fortune are his for the taking!  That is, until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting.  Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late.  Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity – and even a bit of wizardry – Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.

Oz The Great And Powerful will land in U.S. theaters on March 8th, 2013.

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