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DreamWorks Character Halloween Masks & Stencils

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dreamworksThe approach of Halloween means that the weather is getting cooler and it’s the perfect time of year for family movie nights on the couch at home. All of the scary movies being shown on TV aren’t exactly family friendly, so as a parent you may be finding it difficult to come up with things to watch with your little ones. Luckily for you, DreamWorks is releasing three fantastic films on DVD releasing on October 15! Below, you can find out more about the characters to be watching in these family-friendly titles this Halloween.

musicalShrek the Musical
The greatest fairy tale never told comes to life as never before in DreamWorks’ Shrek The Musical, the highly acclaimed Broadway production based on the smash-hit movie. Called a “triumph of comic imagination” (Elysa Gardner, USA Today) that “never stints on spectacle or laughs” (David Rooney, Variety), Shrek The Musical received eight 2009 Tony Award® nominations including Best Musical, winning Best Costume Design of a Musical (Tim Hatley) and received a Grammy Award® nomination for Best Musical Show Album.

shrekShrek
Shrek may not want to welcome visitors to his home in the swamp, but this big green ogre would make a fun guest in your home this Halloween! Although he puts up a tough front, Shrek has a soft spot in his heart for those he cares about, especially Donkey and Fiona. This goofy guy brings the laughs with his Scottish-Irish accent and one-liners! He’s also great for scaring off enemies with his stinky breath, huge size, and frightening yell.

mvaMonsters vs. Aliens: Cloning Around
Get ready for a world of hilarious monster mischief and alien antics in this all-new animated TV series inspired by DreamWorks Animation’s ginormous hit movie Monsters vs. Aliens. Join team leader Susan, muscle-bound Link, ingenious Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D., and B.O.B., the gelatinous blob, as the residents of the government containment area embark on fun-filled adventures under the not-too-watchful eye of General Monger!

bobB.O.B
B.O.B., short for Benzoate Ostylezene Bicarbonate, got his name when he was accidentally created in a laboratory from some scientists experimenting with chemically- and genetically-altered food products. This one-eyed blue blob was held in captivity in Area Fifty-Something for decades, but he still has a friendly personality and contagious smile. Since B.O.B is a large gelatinous mass, he can change his shape easily and absorb any object. Although he has no brain, B.O.B. is quite intelligent! This big, blue blob is exactly the person you want by your side on a creepy Halloween night.

cockroachDr. Cockroach, Ph.D.
An intellectual mad scientist, Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D. is known for bursting into psychotic laughter while completing his experiments. But, don’t be fooled. Dr. Cockroach has not always been this way. In the 60’s he developed a device that would allow humans to live a lifespan similar to that of a cockroach. When his creation went wrong, Dr. Cockroach came away with the head of a bug and the ability to climb walls and digest garbage just like cockroaches. His intelligence and lifespan make him a force to be reckoned with!

kfpKung Fu Panda: Scorpion Sting
Get ready for more high-kicking action and fur-flying fun in this awesome animated TV series based on the Academy Award®-Nominated hit movieKung Fu Panda*! He may not be your typical warrior, but Po packs an arsenal of martial arts skills as big as his heart…and his stomach. Always ready to fight for what’s right, Po and the Furious Five—Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Crane and Viper—face exotic dangers at every turn, including a pair of magic shoes with an evil “sole,” and Scorpion, one of the sharpest villains in all the land!

poPo
The courageous dragon warrior, Po Ping, is always up for a new adventure. Although Po is not your typical Kung Fu warrior, he uses his personality and his strengths to solve problems and protect those who need him most. He has an excitement for life and is determined to be the best warrior that he can possibly be. Sometime Po can be a little immature and rambunctious, but he has a kind heart and knows the importance of family.

tigressTigress
A vital member to the Furious Five, Tigress has unmatchable strength and bravery. She is a master at Kung Fu and at one point was considered to be destined for the title of Dragon Warrior. Although her short temper can still appear sometimes, Tigress has learned to be more friendly and calm. At times she is quiet and less sociable than the other members of the Furious Five. Overall, she possesses a strength and dignity that makes others admire her.

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Check out the following Halloween Masks and Stencils, click on them to enlarge, load to your computer, and print out for the holiday!

imagesMvA_Halloween_Pumpkin_Cockroach imagesKFP_Halloween_Pumpkin_Tigress imagesKFP_Halloween_Pumpkin_Po imagesMvA_Halloween_Pumpkin_Bob imagesMvA_Halloween_Mask_Squeep imagesMvA_Halloween_Mask_Bob imagesKFP_Halloween_Mask_Po imagesKFP_Halloween_Mask_Shifu

Product for review and giveaway is offered through my partnership with Fox Home Entertainment Insiders. No compensation was received for this post.

Rediscover The Humor And Magic of Classic Animated Disney Films

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disney-classicsDisney classic movie lovers will be thrilled to know that you can now get three beloved films on Blu-ray Combo Pack for the first time ever!  Some of these films are older than I am, but I remember them and would love to show them to my youngest and show her the magic of old-school Disney as mom saw it!

The Sword In The Stone
Synopsis: Disney proudly presents the 50th anniversary edition of a spellbinding and beloved animated classic. Conjure up magical family fun with the humor, adventure and Academy Award®-nominated music (Best Score – Adaptation or Treatment, 1963).

Take an amazing journey with a young orphan named “Wart” and the extraordinary wizard Merlin. According to legend, only someone with the purest character and inner strength can pull the enchanted sword from the stone and claim the throne of England. Armed with newfound confidence and the power of friendship, Wart discovers his destiny and learns the best magic is the kind you find inside yourself!

Voice Cast: Sebastian Cabot (The Jungle Book, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh) as Sir Ector, Karl Swenson (The Birds, Judgment at Nuremberg) as Merlin, Rickie Sorensen (Tarzan and the Trappers, Tarzan’s Fight for Life) as Wart,  Junius Matthews (The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too) as Archimedes, Martha Wentworth (101 Dalmatians, The Stranger) as Madam Mim, Norman Alden (The Transformers: The Movie, Back to the Future) as Sir Kay, and Alan Napier (Marnie, Batman) as Sir Pellinor

Bonus Features:   New Alternative Opening: Where Wart Meets Merlin plus all the original Classic DVD Release Bonus Features including Music and Magic: The Sherman Brothers, Sing-along with The Movie, All About Magic (excerpt), A Knight for a Day & Brave Little Tailor

Robin Hood
Synopsis:  To commemorate its 40th anniversary, experience all the fun, thrills and celebrated music (Academy Award® Nominated Music for Best Original Song “Love” in 1973) of this legendary adventure with perfect picture and sound!

Join Robin Hood, his trusted companion Little John and his hilarious band of Merry Men as they outfox greedy Prince John to save the good people of Nottingham. Dashing from one daring deed to the next, Robin won’t rest until he wins the hand of Maid Marian and restores King Richard to the throne. One of Disney’s most beloved movies is even better on Blu-ray Combo Pack!

Voice Cast:  Brian Bedford (Nixon, Grand Prix) as Robin Hood; Phil Harris (Aristocats, The Jungle Book) as Little John; Andy Devine (Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) as Friar Tuck; Monica Evans (The Odd Couple, Aristocats) as Maid Marian; Terry Thomas (It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, The Abominable Dr. Phibes) as Sir Hiss and Roger Miller (Into the Wild, Broke Back Mountain) as Allan-a-Dale

Bonus Features: Deleted Storyline “Love Letters” (NEW), Alternate Ending, Oo-de-lally” Disney Sing-Along Song, Disney Song Selection, Robin Hood Storybook, Robin Hood Art Gallery, “Ye Olden Days” Bonus Short & Sing Along with the Movie

Oliver and Company
Synopsis: Celebrate the 25th anniversary of a Disney classic and relive this charming animated adventure, packed with excitement, fun and unforgettable songs by Billy Joel, Bette Midler and Huey Lewis.

In the heart of New York City, Oliver, a mischievous orphaned kitten, is befriended by Dodger, a carefree pooch and his ragtag family of misfit mutts. Life gets even better for Oliver when he is adopted by a lonely little girl named Jenny. But when tough guy Sykes and his Doberman sidekicks try to keep Jenny and Oliver apart, the spirited kitten and his newfound friends discover the meaning of courage and find a home where they truly belong.

Voice Cast: Joey Lawrence (Summer Rental, Urban Legends: Final Cut) as Oliver, Billy Joel (Hangover Part II, 13 Going on 30) as Dodger, Cheech Marin (The Lion King, Grindhouse) as Tito, Richard Mulligan (Little Big Man, Trail of the Pink Panther) as Einstein, Roscoe Lee Browne (Treasure Planet, Babe) as Francis,  Dom DeLuise (All Dogs Go to Heaven, History of the World: Part I) as Fagin, Natalie Gregory (Alice in Wonderland, Wait Until Spring) as Jenny, Bette Midler (Fantasia/2000, Beaches) as Georgette

Disney’s Planes Review

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Planes FriendsLast week my nine year old daughter and I were lucky enough to see Disney’s newest animated film, “Planes.” I hadn’t done any before hand research on the movie — I simply went into it knowing two things: I love Disney and I loved “Cars.” Those two things alone gave me hope that I would enjoy “Planes,” and low and behold — WE LOVED IT!

This movie is a classic underdog tale with a lot of heart. Right off the bat we fell in love with Dusty, the sweet crop duster who dreams of nothing but racing with the big boys. Shortly into the movie you learn that there is an international race coming up, and it’s Dusty’s dream to enter it.

“The fact that he’s not really built for competitive racing doesn’t deter him from pursuing his dream—but his fear of heights just might. With a little help from his friends — and a WWII vet with wisdom to spare — Dusty takes off on an adventure of a lifetime, going prop-to-prop with champions while daring to reach heights he never imagined possible.”

Planes DustyAlong the way Dusty builds friendships with the other fun characters in the movie, including a feisty Casanova-infused plane named El Chupacabra, and the exotic and mysterious Ishani, who catches Dusty’s eye. Back home, Dusty has a strong crew of friends who support and back him up in his quest for adventure. Chug is a fuel truck who brings to mind a certain sidekick from Cars, otherwise known as Mater. His best pal and cohort is Dottie the Forklift, who can fix anything, and is proud to be on team Dusty.

Aside from the loveable characters, I was even more impressed with the excellent storyline and how wrapped up I became in the movie. It’s not easy to get a 37 year old woman excited about an animated film, but Disney really did it. Throughout the movie there were exciting moments that had you on the edge of your seat, and in between them were the touching moments between characters as their stories unfolded. Another impressive aspect for me was how well they represented the various countries that the planes traveled through. When in the Himalayas, there were beautiful snow covered mountains and monks. When in India, they flew over the Taj Mahal. And when in Germany there was beer. I enjoyed everything they did to portray a little bit of each place for our kids.

Planes CarrierMy favorite part, overall, came when Dusty ended up spending time on a US Aircraft Carrier — the “Fleisenhower.” I always have a soft spot for the military, so I was pleased that Disney treated the Air Force characters with respect and made them the good guys. I loved having my daughter see that and it made me proud to be an American. That, and when there was a bit with an American plane. Both made me feel good.

Run, don’t walk, to take your kids to see Disney’s “Planes!” You will have as good a time as them — maybe even more!

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, an Executive Assistant, a scrapbooker, a baker, and sometimes I’m even fun to be around!”

Our screening was hosted to facilitate this review, all opinions my own.

Disney Fairies: Tink’s Pixie Paradise Pool & Bubble Tink Reviews

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Tink's-Pixie-Paradise-PoolMy little girl loves all things Disney and Fairies. We tried out the Disney Fairies Palm Tree Cove toy:  Tink’s Pixie Paradise Pool that features a twirling slide, a spinning starfish wheel, and a leafy lounge chair.

Tinker Bell floats on a  flower boat and rides and spins down the slide. Fill the pool with water and launce the frog  on the leaf diving board. The frog changes colors in the water, something we didn’t notice too much, maybe our water wasn’t cold. TinkTink comes with removable wings and a removable sarong. Easy to put together (5 minutes), the pieces stay together pretty well, but often when bumped or moved the chunky plastic comes apart and gets a little frustrating!  We played with it outside and in the tub, both water-friendly spots! For ages 4 and up, my daughter played with it for a while consistently, now just plays with the doll in the tub. $19.99 arv.

Here’s the toy in action:

Bubble Tink is for Tinkerbell and bubble lovers alike.  bubbleBubbles always make kids and moms smile and it’s such a relaxing activity, looking at the rainbow of colors in the sun! The set comes with one fairy, removeable shoes, detachable wings, a bubble wing tray, and one bottle of bubble solution. Simple to use, pour, dip, and blow!bubble3

When mom blows the bubbles, my daughter will chase and pop them.  Even with my daughter at age seven, I still do the pouring because the bubble solution gets spilt so often…I’ve yet to find the best recipe to make my own!  Best part, wings can be removed and the all-plastic doll can be played with inside, in the car, or even in the tub! $9.99 arv.

bubble2Products sent to facilitate this review.  All opinions our own.

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