Sunday, October 30, 2011

Water for Elephants available Nov 1st!

Water for Elephants will be available November 1, 2011 on DVD.  This movie is based off the book and while I read the book I had yet to watch the movie.  I found the costumes and setting so amazing!  Just beautiful!  Rob Pattinson is very easy on the eyes as well!!

Synopsis:

Devastated by the sudden death of his parents at the height of The Depression, a young dreamer from the wrong side of the tracks, Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson), abandons his veterinary studies at
Cornell University. With no other family, no house, and no money, Jacob stows away on a train carrying the circus performers of The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth.  Hired as a veterinarian to care for the troupe’s animals, Jacob is temporarily filled with the promise of an exciting life that comes with a traveling circus troupe. However, as he builds a rapport and falls in love with the star of the show, Marlena (Witherspoon), they become prey to the circus’s owner, Marlena’s violent and abusive husband August (Waltz). As the circus begins to crumble from within and against all odds, Jacob and Marlena come together and fall in love through their compassion for a special elephant. With their love on the line, Jacob and Marlena come to a crossroads that will forever change their destiny.

Be sure to pick up your copy this Tuesday ~ available on DVD or Blueray at your local retailers. 

Thank you to Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment for providing a advanced copy for review.  Any opinions expressed are my own.  I did not receive any monetary compensation for posting about this DVD.





Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, LLC (TCFHE) is a recognized global industry leader and a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. Representing 75 years of innovative and award-winning filmmaking from Twentieth Century Fox, TCFHE is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming, acquisitions and original productions on DVD, Blu-ray Disc Digital Copy, Video On Demand and Digital Download. The company also releases all products globally for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Brain Tumor Society needs our support!


My cousin Mark is an amazing man!  In 2006 he was diagnosed with a Brain Tumor at age 29.  He has had 6 surgeries,  radiation and chemotherapy since.  He is currently off chemo and doing well.

His amazing attitude and love for Family and Friends is one of the most remarkable things about him.  Since being diagnosed he had been taking an active roll in raising money for the National Brain Tumor Society.

He will be walking on November 6, 2011 in Philadelphia.  You can support him and his team by donating here.  Thank you for taking the time to read this and I know we can make a difference through prayer and donations.


Sunday, October 23, 2011

Over at As They Grow Up!



I've been writing for As They Grow Up for a few months now.  If you haven't taken the time to visit the site I suggest you do.  We currently have over 20 giveaways up with many more coming in the next few weeks.  Lots of stuff like eyeglasses, leapfrog toys, books, skin care! I know most of my followers are crafters but I also know you all love winning at blog hops ~ so this is an easy jump to just comment for the giveaway.
Hope you will join me and support the site!  Thanks!!


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

“Happiness Is…Peanuts™: Snow Days” available October 18, 2011

We recently had the opportunity to review the newest title from The Peanuts : “Happiness Is…Peanuts™: Snow Days”.  What a great movie.  We are big Peanut fans and so the kids and I camped out in the living room with our blankets to sit and watch.  The always enjoy Charlie Brown getting tricked so this movie was no exception.  My personal favorite is Snoopy and there is plenty of his goofiness too!  I'm sure your family will love this title as much as mine did!  

Here is more information on this title and others coming out:


BEAT WINTER’S CHILL
WITH WARNER HOME VIDEO’S
HEARTWARMING DVD RELEASE OF
HAPPINESS IS…PEANUTS™: SNOW DAYS
AVAILABLE OCTOBER 18, 2011

All-Time Favorite Classic Peanuts Seasonal Specials Including
A Charlie Brown Christmas, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Others are Also Available This Fall



New to DVD:

Happiness is…Peanuts™: Snow Days – The newest Peanuts collection of stories celebrates everyone’s favorite thing about a long chilly winter: snow days! This DVD is comprised of one newly remastered classic Peanuts television special, She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown and one episode of The Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show. In She’s a Good Skate, Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty trains for a figure skating competition with Snoopy as her tough coach, and crafty costume designer. The smiles continue with three short tales from The Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show including: The Play; Sweet Babboo! and Snoopy’s Story. It may get cold outside but the Peanuts kids are sure to bring lots of warmth and happiness into everyone’s homes this winter! Happiness is…Peanuts™: Snow Days will be available in stores October 18, 2011 and will retail for $14.97 SRP.

Holiday Classics:

Peanuts Holiday Collection – Is comprised of three of the most popular Peanuts specials including A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, A Charlie Brown Christmas and It’s a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. The DVD set features loads of bonus material including three extra episodes.  Peanuts Holiday Collection will be available in stores October 2011 and will retail for $29.98 SRP.

Bonus Episodes:

  • The Mayflower Voyagers
  • It’s Magic, Charlie Brown
  • It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown –This special centers on Rerun Van Pelt, Linus’ and Lucy’s lovable and wise-beyond-his-years little brother who wants a dog for Christmas after he sees what a great relationship Charlie Brown and Snoopy share.  The Van Pelts however, don’t think he’s ready or capable to care for a pet yet. Rerun turns to Snoopy for some amusement and holiday cheer. 

Bonus Features:

  • Sibling Rivalry: Growing Up Van Pelt – This documentary featurette explores the creation and development of Rerun Van Pelt and how his arrival changed the family dynamics between Lucy and Linus.  Jeannie Schulz, Lee Mendelson and others discuss why Charles Schulz considered Rerun such a treasured new addition to the strip.

  • Happy New Year, Charlie Brown (Bonus Episode) – This delightful special was first broadcast in 1986 and was included on DVD for the first time on this release. It tells the story of Charlie Brown, who attends Peppermint Patty’s New Year’s Eve bash even though he has to finish a book report on War and Peace.  He attempts to read the novel at the party but winds up falling asleep and wakes up to find out he has missed his chance to dance with the elusive little red-haired girl, who wound up dancing with Linus instead.

I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown will be available in stores October 2011 and will retail for $19.97 SRP.

A Charlie Brown ChristmasIn this Emmy® (for Outstanding Children’s Program in 1966) and Peabody Award winning classic, Charlie Brown is upset by how commercial the Christmas holiday has become. To coax him out of his holiday blues, Lucy suggests he direct the school’s Christmas pageant and decorate a glorious tree.  Charlie Brown concedes. The tree he finds however, is puny, prompting everyone to ridicule him.   

Bonus Features:

  • A Christmas Miracle: The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas – An in-depth look at how the producers brought a newspaper comic strip to animated life in a new medium. Under intense pressure and with many doubters, the show creators were able to create the Peanuts in a new medium and make the show a smash success.

A Charlie Brown Christmas will be available in stores October 2011 and will retail for $19.97 SRP.

Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales – This special, which originally premiered on ABC in 2002, is comprised of a series of delightful animated vignettes, each of which showcase a different member of the Peanuts gang. The DVD also includes the rarely seen Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? In this television special, Charlie Brown and pals face the departure of Linus and Lucy, who must move when their father is transferred to a job in another town.

Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales, will be available in stores October 2011 and will retail for $14.97 SRP.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie BrownThis Emmy® Award-nominated (in 1967) special, finds the Peanuts gang outfitted in costumes, ready for trick or treating and crashing Violet’s Halloween party. Charlie Brown is in a ghost costume (with more eyeholes cut out than needed), Lucy dressed as a witch and Snoopy in a World War I flying ace costume. Linus decides to steadfastly hold vigil in the pumpkin patch as he awaits the Great Pumpkin. 

Bonus Features:

  • We Need a Blockbuster, Charlie BrownDocumentary featurette focusing on the myth and tradition of the Halloween staple Television program, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.  Revealed along the way through original interviews with the Schulz family and producers are the pressures and challenges of following up an underdog hit with a bigger and better TV special. 

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown will be available in stores September 2011 and will retail for $19.97 SRP.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – In this Emmy® Award-winning (for Outstanding Individual Achievement in 1974) special, Peppermint Patty invites herself to Charlie Brown’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. Marcie and Franklin are soon added as dinner guests. Charlie Brown admits that his culinary skills are limited to “cold cereal and maybe toast.”  Snoopy and Woodstock transform the ping-pong table in the backyard into a dinner table.   As the guests arrive, they are each served two slices of buttered toast, some pretzel sticks, popcorn and jelly beans. Patty is outraged at the meal and berates Charlie Brown until embarrassed and dejected, he leaves the table and goes back into the house.

Bonus Features:

  • The Making of a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving – A look at the final installment of the Peanuts holiday trilogy and what it meant to its creators and the public.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will be available in stores September 2011 and will retail for $19.97 SRP.



About PEANUTS WORLDWIDE
The PEANUTS characters and related intellectual property are owned by Peanuts Worldwide LLC, a joint venture owned 80% by Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and 20% by members of the Charles M. Schulz family. Iconix Brand Group, Inc. owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio of consumer brands including CANDIE'S (R), BONGO (R), BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE BOXER (R), RAMPAGE (R), MUDD (R), LONDON FOG (R), MOSSIMO (R), OCEAN PACIFIC(R), DANSKIN (R), ROCA WEAR(R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R) and WAVERLY (R). In addition, Iconix owns an interest in the ARTFUL DODGER (R), ED HARDY (R), ECKO (R), MARC ECKO (R), ZOO YORK (R), MATERIAL GIRL(TM), and PEANUTS brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its in-house business development, merchandising, advertising and public relations departments Iconix manages its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and equity.

About Warner Home Video:
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc., commands the largest home entertainment distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Cinema.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment/videogames, direct-to-DVD production, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. WBHEG is responsible for the global distribution of content through DVD, electronic sell-through and VOD, and delivery of theatrical content to wireless and online channels, and is also a significant worldwide publisher for both internal and third party videogame titles.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Bibs?

I have at least 30 bibs for Jace.  I never ever use them though!  He isn't a big drooler so I don't have to worry about him sitting with a wet neck.  So I realized that I change his clothes constantly with the snacks he eats because he gets those puffs stuck to his shirt.  Well, I was complaining to someone recently (sorry I forget who)  about how I have to change him all the time and they were like 'do you use a bib'  ~ well it was like a lightbulb went off!! LOL!  Of course I don't but I will be now!  Guess all those adorable bibs are going to get some use after all. 

And if your wondering don't I use a bib for feeding him his mushy baby food ~ yes I do but I have those plastic ones ( love them) that you just wash off.  You really only need 3 of those tops because you can wash them at the sink. 

Well hope you are having a great day.  Jace is 11 months old in this picture.  Where did the year go?

Friday, October 14, 2011

Menu for this past week

Totally forgot to post up my menu for the last week.  I have to say it was nothing fancy!

Monday:
hot dogs and home made mac and cheese

Tuesday:

Pork chops, stuffing, bag of mixed veg and bag of corn on the cob , biscuits

Wednesday:

Chicken legs (some barbq some italian dressing), french fries, rice

Thursday:

manwich

Everything I cooked was easy and quick for the most part which was a great help because I have a terrible head cold! 

For the Mac and Cheese:

1 box of elbow macaroni
2 blocks extra sharp cheddar cheese (white)- shredded (reserve 1/2 cup for topping)
2 cups milk
1/4 stick of butter
1/4 cup of flour
bread crumb

Preheat oven 350.  Cook elbow macaroni according to instructions.  In saucepan melt butter, add flour mix well.  Add milk.  Allow to thicken (if too thick add a lil more milk)  then add salt/pepper for taste.  Stir in cheese.  Mix with Pasta ~ put in a baking dish top with a sprinkle of remaining cheese and sprinkle of breadcrumbs.  Bake til bubbly approx 30 mins. 

Mega Swagbucks Friday


Today is Mega Swag bucks friday.  

Have you signed up for Swagbucks yet?  


Swagbucks is a search engine that pays you in swagbucks when you search.  Save up your swagbucks for giftcards.  My favorite is amazon gift cards because you can store them in your amazon account and when you need to buy something  you'll have money to spend.  If you start now you could potential earn a lot of swagbucks and help pay for Christmas!  What are you waiting for??  It is free and you can earn lots of swag before Christmas!! 

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Menu Planning Q & A

I received a great comment with some questions on my menu planning so I thought I would post up in case anyone else is wondering the same things.

Hey Lisa, on your two-fer meals do you do the exact same meal two nights in a row or do you make it a little bit different the second night? How do you get your family eat the same thing two nights in a row? Thats great! I wish I could do the same! Also how much do you average on groceries a week? What do you do for Saturdays? Menu planning is one of my favorite things to do so I love getting ideas from other people!
~ Sarah Jane 



For my two-fer meals it depends on what it is.  When I made meatballs we had meatball sandwiches the first night and spaghetti and meatballs the second.  Tacos and chilli tend to be nachos the second night.  As for eating the same thing in a row Xander my middle is happy to eat anything we make him.  John is sorta on the same page too.  (Unless it is pork chops or chicken his least fav meals!)  He knows we are trying to keep grocery cost to the bare minimum while paying down debt and getting through the holiday giving season.

For Friday nights we almost always get a pizza or something out.  It is my break night and then Saturday and Sunday it depends.  Sometimes I will schedule in foods but often times we have parties or other engagements so I don't have to plan anything.  I plan on $100 a week for groceries.  This week I did only about $70 with coupons and I was so excited!! I always plan around the sale flyer and only buy meat that is on sale.  I'm going to be trying to do one or two meatless nights a week if possible.  

The hardest part for me is not running to Wawa because it is literally 10 houses away!  We probably spent 1/3 of our earnings there before I got strict.  I don't even want to share how much in take out!   I love to cook but I love eating out so much more!  I also have been brewing my own coffee in my keurig which is saving me about 40cents a cup too!  Couponing has saved me the most overall though because I never pay full retail on toiletries, paper products or cleaning supplies.  I also stockpile as much FREE as I can.  (Diapers are bought a the cheapest price as well!) 

Hope that answers some questions! 

Monday, October 3, 2011

Swagbuck Extravaganza! Monday 10/3

Search & Win




Swagbucks is having a big free code day on Monday!  If you are not already signed up now is the perfect time.  Swagbucks is free and it is basically a search engine (like google)  but it randomly rewards you swagbucks for using it.   Those swagbucks are redeemable for things like amazon gift cards (or other gift cards) and prizes.  It is fairly easy to accumulate swagbucks and you will be surprised how fast it adds up!  I think it is just one of the easiest ways to earn gift cards and highly recommend it to everyone!!


The details:

The Swag Nation loves Swag Codes, and we can’t blame you – who wouldn’t want a fun and easy way to earn a few extra Swag Bucks? I think it’s time to let you all in on a little secret: we love Swag Codes too, and that’s why we’re having a Swag Code Extravaganza on Monday! If this is your first extravaganza, it means we’re release multiple codes throughout the day – 60 Swag Bucks worth of codes in total, in fact – and the fun kicks off at 6am with a code on Twitter, so go ahead and follow us now so you’re ready to go! Some of the codes will be easy to get, and some will require some work, so be sure to bring your thinking caps with you!
If you need more info on Swag Codes, click here. For tips on finding Swag Codes, click here. Of course, you’ll get some opportunities to practice between now and Monday, of course…


Sunday, October 2, 2011

What's for Dinner this week?

Naturewood is my dish pattern.
Menu planing take 3 (or is it 2?)


This week I'm planning meals for Sun-Thurs night.  We will eat leftovers on one night as well.  That is one of the ways the food stretches around here.  There are 3 meals that always are two-fers   pasta dishes, chilli and tacos.

The main key to my menu planning is to take the circular and buy things that are on sale (meat/ veg) and make them fit into what we eat.  I usually shop at ShopRite and I use Living Rich With Coupons to do my match-ups and get the most for my money. 

This weeks menu:

Sunday:  tacos
Monday: tacos
Tuesday:  Ravioli & Garlic bread
Wednesday:  Roasted chicken legs, mashed potatoes and veg
Thursday:  Eggs, ham and buttermilk pancakes.

Friday night I've been doing 'dinner out'  this week will probably be Wendy's Drive-thru because we are heading to see Yo Gabba Gabba Live!  and will be on the road.

So the question of the day..... Whats for dinner at your house this week?

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Two Halloween Layouts!

These layouts are from a few years ago. My sister-n-law and I dressed up to go trick or treating with the boys.  Our neighborhood gets all involved.  Most of the adults sit outside and give out candy and it is a lot of fun. 
Photobucket
The boys were Bobo Fett and Jango Fett.  This page was simple I mostly used matting and patterened paper to make it stand out.  The focus is really the pics ~ which is a true reflection of my scrapbook style.



Photobucket
This paper was from a patterened paper pack I probably got at Target. I love the paper packs they carry because they usually only have a few pieces.  I stamped the Happy Halloween sentiment in the corner.  I must say this layout was my favorite from Halloween.  I think the picture being one big focus is why I like it so much. 

Hope you enjoy!! Remember I love FEEDBACK so leave me a comment please!!