The Mom Jen, Author at Jen is on a Journey - Page 115 of 322

Now on DVD Home Alone: The Holiday Heist

November 1, 2013 by The Mom Jen 10 Comments

I hate being home alone. It’s too quiet and then the softest of creak or crack makes me jump out of my skin. Maybe it’s all the horror films I enjoyed watching when I was young, now they spook me to no end. Don’t get me started on burglars either, that’s why we have a house alarm. Remember those Home Alone movies? They always made me nervous but thankfully with a comedic twist. And, who could resist Macaulay Culkin’s precious and infamous facial expression?! In the latest installment of the franchise on DVD now, Home Alone: The Holiday Heist, Finn Baxter and his family move from California to Maine to their new house. Finn is terrified and believes the house is haunted. While he sets up traps to catch the “ghost”, his parents get stranded across town and Finn is home alone with his sister. Their house is targeted by 3 thieves. The movie is rated PG and has 90 minutes of entertainment!
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I am a part of the Fox Home Entertainment Insiders program, all thoughts are my own.

Saag’s Gordon Biersch Beer Bratwurst

October 31, 2013 by The Mom Jen 2 Comments

When I was a little girl we lived in Germany for three years, thanks to my father’s service in the Army. During those years we were introduced to a lot of wonderful German things, but a standout for me has always been the food. Naturally I didn’t partake of the beer back then, but I became a lover of all things that ended in the word “wurst.” My mother enjoyed cooking up various version of wurst and serving them with spaetzle and sauerkraut and German potato salad. (I’m making myself hungry just thinking of it.)

These days I don’t get to enjoy these glorious German foods as often as I’d like, so I jumped at the chance to try Saag’s Bistro’s new Gordon Biersch Beer Bratwurst. And I’m so glad I did! Not only did we receive the chance to try the wurst, but Gordon Biersch was kind enough to include a variety of their ales for us to partake with, which we were happy to do. There are various ways to cook wurst, but a favorite of mine is to simply put them in a skillet with some water and heat them up. This keeps them from overcooking on the outside, and makes them moist and juicy on the inside. We served them up on French rolls and put out various flavors of mustard to try them with. Each of us tried something different. My fiance added cheese and ketchup to his, and my son did the same. My daughter and I went the mustard route and were both happy. I especially enjoyed a sweeter champagne flavored mustard — it complemented the brat nicely. To wash it down my fiancé and I both partook of a Gordon Biersch beer — him the Blonde Bock and me the FestBier. Both were delicious but secretly I liked mine better. It just TASTED like Oktoberfest! The food and drink worked together very well.

To help get your Oktoberfest on ANY time of the year, head to your local grocer and pick up some Saag’s Bistro Beer Bratwurst and get yourself a German meal on the table. You’ll be doing the chicken dance and toasting your friends in no time!

Merrie is a writer for the Jen is on a Journey and you can also find her at her blog, Sleepless Mornings: “I’m the mother of two beautiful children, newly engaged, a scrapbooker, a baker, and sometimes I’m even fun to be around!”

Product was sent to facilitate this review, all opinions my own.

Passport to Adventure: Disney on Ice Review

October 30, 2013 by The Mom Jen Leave a Comment

Last week I was gifted the opportunity to see Disney on Ice: Passport to Adventure with my daughter. (My son was definitely a little too “cool” for this one and opted to stay home.) I’m always up for anything Disney, as is my daughter, so when we walked into the arena with the lights flashing and the ice colorfully lit up, her eyes got BIG.

The show was a wonderful mix of some of our favorite movies, along with some bits of the Mickey Mouse crew before, during and after. Through the evening they touched on four of our favorite movies — The Little Mermaid, Lilo & Stitch, The Lion King and Peter Pan. The costumes were beautiful, with sequins shining, colors flowing and clever covers for the skates to make them look like shoes or fins, etc. The skaters were extremely talented, and every time one of the girls was lifted up into the air you could hear my daughter take in a big breath, and then I’d hear, “Ooohh!” She was in awe, and kept saying through the evening that she wants to grow up and be an ice skater.

The entire show was filled with all the songs we love from Disney, and you really felt like you were a part of the show, despite where you sat. Often the characters would approach families along the front row and interact with them, which despite making my daughter jealous, was cute to watch. Everyone was smiling from beginning to end, whether a part of the show or the audience, and I loved the family feeling.

If Disney on Ice comes to your neck of the woods, I highly recommend tickets. You and your kids will have a magical time enjoying the music, the skating and the delight of seeing all your Disney favorites up close.

Product was sent to facilitate this review, all opinions my own.

See it Here First! Exclusive Trailer for Captain America: The Winter Soldier #CaptainAmerica

October 24, 2013 by The Mom Jen 2 Comments

Remember that amazing event I attended in Hollywood last Spring? For the Iron Man 3 Red Carpet Premiere? Well I also go to do another amazing thing that I can only tell you a little about at the moment! I and the other bloggers got the opportunity to visit the set of the upcoming film, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLIDER!

YES, I got some behind the scenes experiences and I even met and was photographed with the stunningly gorgeous Chris Evans!! Those photos are under an embargo and you’ll have to wait till NEXT Spring to see how cool they turned out as well as even more about what we saw and did! It will totally be worth the wait!

BUT, what is amazing for you today is that us bloggers that attended the Iron Man 3 event and iTunes are exclusively showing you the first trailer for Captain America: The Winter Soldier! We are the ONLY sites in the entire country to have this trailer for our readers! Please check it out and share it with your friends!