Monthly Archives: January 2017

January 31, 2017 · 1:38 am

Disney’s Pinocchio Arrives on Blu-ray and DVD Today!

Today is a great day because Disney’s timeless tale Pinocchio, winner of two Academy Awards, joins the Walt Disney Signature Collection! This classic film is ready to delight a whole new generation of dreamers with its masterful animation, unforgettable characters and award-winning music. The movie which inspired the world to wish upon a star,is available TODAY on Blu-ray and DVD with hours of new and classic bonus features.

We received this recently and I could not wait to share it with my youngest children who had never seen it. How fun to watch through their eyes as they discovered this classic movie for the first time! You can view the trailer HERE.

 

 

The Walt Disney Signature Collection release includes hours of classic bonus material and exclusive features including a reinvented rendition of “When You Wish Upon a Star” created and performed by music influencers from Disney’s Maker Studios; never-before-seen artwork from the film’s Pleasure Island sequence; archival recordings of Walt himself during “Pinocchio” production; and a recently restored and scored 1927 short featuring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

“Pinocchio” tells the tale of wood-carver Geppetto’s beloved puppet who embarks on a thrilling quest – with faithful friend Jiminy Cricket – that tests his bravery, loyalty and honesty, all virtues he must learn to fulfill his heart’s desire: to become a real boy.

Bonus Features:

BLU-RAY, DIGITAL HD* & DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE:

  • Walt’s Story Meetings: Pleasure Island – The Pleasure Island scene in “Pinocchio” had much more development than what is seen in the film. Join Pixar’s Pete Docter and Disney historian and author J.B. Kaufman as they explore artwork recently discovered in Disney’s animation research library revealing some of the attractions, gags and games, which Disney animators created for this iconic location of the film, that never made it on screen.
  • In Walt’s Words – “Pinocchio” – Hear Walt himself discuss the making of “Pinocchio” through archival recordings and interviews.
  • The Pinocchio Project: “When You Wish Upon a Star” – Music influencers Alex G, Tanner Patrick and JR Aquino from Disney’s Maker Studios, a global leader in short-form videos, gather in a creative workspace to create their rendition of the film’s signature song, “When You Wish Upon a Star,” and produce a fresh new music video.
  • Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in “Poor Papa” – This recently restored and scored 1927 short features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit who gets multiple visits from the stork and is forced to attempt various methods to help stop the onslaught of baby deliveries.
  • Classic Bonus Features – These offerings from prior home entertainment releases include hours of bonus material, such as the making of “Pinocchio,” deleted scenes, sing-alongs, storyboards and theatrical trailers.

*Bonus features may vary by retailer

Feature Run Time:                         Approximately 88 minutes

Rating:                                                G in U.S. and Canada

 

I received this film on Blu-ray in order to facilitate my post. My words and views are 100% my own. 

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January 29, 2017 · 2:31 am

My Top 11 Kitchen Essentials

I am in the middle of a huge home renovation including a new kitchen, 2 bathrooms, flooring throughout and more. It is a bit chaotic to say the least but I am trying to focus on the end result. I was thinking about what I would consider my top 11 kitchen essentials. I have a lot more than that, believe me, but let’s start with 11.

KitchenAid Mixer

My first would be my KitchenAid Mixer, it is actually my second one. My first was a classic and is still great but when we redid our kitchen almost 10 years ago, my husband bought me a bigger, badder one that matched our stainless steel appliances. I have the KitchenAid Professional 600 Series Bowl Lift Mixer in liquid graphite.

I never use anything else to mix up dough, cookie batters, cakes, frosting and so much more. It is definitely at top of my kitchen essentials list. 

Number 2 would be a good set of knives. I have a Wusthof Knife Set with Knife Block. However, in our new kitchen we have a knife block that is built into a cabinet and a drawer with knife storage so we will be storing our knives there. With or without the block they are a great set of knives and tools.

 VitaMix Blender

Number 3 is my VitaMix Blender. I did a lot of research before getting this blender and I have not regretted the purchase once. I have both the wet and dry container and just love it. I used to have to keep it on my island as it was so tall with the container, but in the new kitchen design we created a special area for it. The cabinets will be raised up so that my VitaMix can fit underneath the counter even with the tall 64 oz container on. Imagine designing our kitchen around our VitaMix! That is how much we love it!

I use it to make all kinds of smoothies, soups, frozen treats and more. It works so well and I love the retro look. If you are considering one, just go for it, you will not regret it. I just found out they now make a low profile VitaMix with a wider 64 oz container that fits under most cabinets. I am still confident I did the right thing because these blenders are workhorses that last forever. I also like the retro appearance of mine better that the low profile models.

Cast Iron Cookware

Number 4 is our cast iron pans. I no long like to cook in non-stick cookware due to the potential health effects. We have our stainless steel pots and pans but also invested in several pieces of cast iron cookware. I really like that it releases iron into the food which is important to women like myself, who need to supplement their iron.

 Emile Henry Bread Pans (Number 5,6 & 7)

Another favorite is my Emile Henry Bread Loaf Baker, Bread Cloche and Baguette Baker. I never knew I could make bread like this constantly from the first time. I adore these and would not dream of baking bread any other way.

 Emile Henry Butter Jar

With fresh bread you need to have butter and that brings us to number 8 in the top kitchen essentials list, the Emile Henry Butter Jar. I love how I never need to deal with hard butter and have spreadable butter all the time.

 Vita Clay Smart Organic Multicooker

Next up, my Smart Organic Multicooker by Vita Clay. With all the news about crock pots leaching lead into food, I love this healthier option to slow cook my food. Not only that, this is a rice cooker and yogurt maker. Best of all no lead leaching in our food.

 Keurig 2.0

The strangest thing happened, I used to be a major coffee drinker but my friend told me about bullet proof coffee, you know that coffee you make with grass-fed butter and coconut oil or MCT oil. I hated it, but drank it to see if it would give me the crazy energy it promised.
It did not, I am high energy anyway and it did nothing to boost that. I will tell you what it did do, it made me hate coffee! Coffee was something I used to savor and look forward to. The short time that I was drinking the bullet proof coffee, it totally killed my taste for coffee. Even when I went back to drinking it like I wanted, I could barely finish a cup. Anyway, I totally cannot drink it now and drink only tea.
My husband on the other hand is a coffee addict and so my next kitchen essential is our Keurig 2.0. We have been Keurig users since 2010 and have 2 larger Keurigs and one mini. However he has full use of it now that I am not drinking coffee.
 

 Electric Tea Kettle

My Electric Tea Kettle as a tea drinker is my best friend. I can bring it almost anywhere like in my office and have my tea without any hassle. There are all kinds of electric kettles, my daughter loves her Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle and has it at her desk at work. She says it is the best and can have her tea at the perfect temperature any time.

Well, that is my top 11. It was hard to pick and I could go on for at least another 11 that I feel are essential to the well performing kitchen. I will do that another time.

In the meantime, tell me what some of your top kitchen essentials are? I would love for you to share your answers in the comments.

 


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January 25, 2017 · 11:25 pm

Find Out How a TOTO Washlet can Make You Feel Shiny and New Every Day of the New Year

Happy New Year everyone! I hope it is off to a great start for you. You have probably heard people use the adjectives shiny and new to describe the new year. Feeling shiny and new is exactly what I want to share with you today. I bet you don’t know where this is going. We are going to take this into the bathroom. I don’t want to talk about spring cleaning but do want to tell you about another kind of cleaning. Let’s call it personal cleaning.

I am not talking about a bidet. Quite frankly, I think bidets scare a lot of Americans who do not know what they are or how to use them. Not to mention, they take up a good footprint of space in your bathroom. So is there a better way to get that shiny and new feeling that is easier and faster than taking a shower every time you use the bathroom?

There is, it is called a Washlet. The Washlet was introduced in Japan by TOTO back in 1980 and has become one of their signature products. The first Washlet had 3 functions: rear cleansing, dryer and a heated seat. 10 years and numerous innovations later the Washlet came to America. In 2016 a milestone was reached when 40 million Washlets were sold worldwide.

So what is a Washlet and what’s in it for you? A Washlet is a bidet seat and you will be amazed at everything it can do for you. Do you get upset if the male members of your household do not close the lid after using the toilet? That is one of the first ways a Washlet will help you. The Washlet lid opens and closes automatically, so no more unpleasant surprises. If you worry about chilly seats, the Washlet has that covered too with a cozy, heated seat.

I love that it has an eWater+ system, that uses electrolyzed water, a proven, chemical free disinfectant to mist the bowl after every use. No need for harsh chemicals which are already banned in my home.

The wand of the Washlet is automatically cleaned before and after each use.
Eliminating waste effectively is easier when you are not starting with a dry bowl surface, the premist feature uses the incoming water supply to mist the surface which is 80% more efficient.

 

Next, let’s talk about rear cleansing, I know you are chuckling but also intrigued. The rear spray is designed to provide your derriere with a targeted, pleasant yet strong water stream to get you squeaky clean. The front wash feature provides cleaning in the way of large, soft drops for a comfortable wash that leaves you feeling clean as a daisy.

TOTO is not going to make you drip dry, they have thought of everything! The warm air dryer will make sure you are nice and dry before you go on your way.

Finally, there is an effective deodorizer that cleans the air around the toilet using powerful filters. Air is drawn in, passing through a catalytic deodorizer to eliminate unpleasant odors.

If you want a Washlet with all those features, the S350E is the way to go. It is available in round or elongated and comes in cotton white or Sedona beige. If you would like to see videos of all the features, visit TOTO on YouTube.

We are putting one of these awesome Washlets on our Guinevere Toilet. I will show you more on both as we are further along in the renovation of our bathroom. You have to love constructions delays. In the meantime, if you want to see more about the toilet we chose or some things to consider when choosing a toilet, you can check it out on our post HERE.

To learn more about Washlets and all their fabulous features click HERE. Do you have one of these in your home? Have you been thinking about getting one? Is this the first time you have heard of it? Let me know what you think or about your experience.

Special thanks to TOTO for all their help and for providing us with a Washlet S350e for our project. As always all my words and opinions are 100% my own.

 


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· 2:28 am

Discover “The Light Between Oceans” #Giveaway

In this film based on the acclaimed, best-selling novel, a traumatized and withdrawn World War I hero named Tom wants to live a quiet life. He is hired to be the lightkeeper at Janus Rock, a lighthouse off the coast of Western Australia. He meets a radiant, spirited local girl named Isabel and falls in love. The pair marry in 1921 and start a life filled with marital bliss. Heartache strikes when Isabel has 2 miscarriages and fears she may never carry a child to term.

Not long after losing the second baby, a boat washes up on shore with a baby girl and a dead man. Isabel begs Tom not to report the discovery and to take the baby and pass it off as their own. Tom reluctantly agrees and buries the man. They name the baby girl Lucy.

When Tom and Isabel go to the mainland to have Lucy baptized, Tom witnesses a woman kneeling in front of a grave with the names of a man and infant daughter who were lost at sea the same day Lucy was found. Tom cannot stop thinking that the woman may be Lucy’s mother so he writes an anonymous letter to her. In the letter he lets her know that her husband is dead but that her baby girl is alive, safe and well taken care of.

Tom, Isabel and Lucy spend the next three years living an idyllic life together. Everything is turned upside down when they attend a celebration for the anniversary of the lighthouse.

I will not spoil the movie for you but it takes an abrupt turn at this point and the lives of Isabel, Tom and Lucy will never be the same. Will Isabel be forced to give Lucy up? Will the couple be charged with a crime for not reporting their discovery? The rest of the movie will hold those answers and will draw you deeply in. You can view the trailer Here.

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL HD Bonus features include:

• Bringing The Light to Life – For weeks, the cast and crew of “The Light Between Oceans” lived in trailers on Cape Campbell, an isolated region of New Zealand, to film the movie adaptation of the best-selling novel. This documentary chronicles the unique approach and shooting style of director Derek Cianfrance and the production journey that inspired Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Rachel Weisz to fully embody their characters and explore the power and depths of love.
• Audio Commentary – View the film accompanied by an in-depth and thoughtful conversation between director Derek Cianfrance and his film studies professor Phil Solomon.
• Lighthouse Keeper – The filmmakers, cast and Cape Campbell Lighthouse inspector/maintainer Rob Sword share the history of the lighthouse and explain the typical duties a lighthouse keeper like Tom Sherbourne would have during an assignment on Janus Island.

Would you like to win The Light Between Oceans on Blu-ray and Digital? If so enter our giveaway below.

Giveaway

The Light Between Oceans on Blu-ray and Digital HD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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January 23, 2017 · 9:07 pm

“The Gruffalo’s Child” Re-Released on DVD #Giveaway

Yesterday, I told you about the re-release of, The Gruffalo and today, I am here to tell you all about the re-release of, The Gruffalo’s Child. This film is based on the beloved children’s picture book by Julia Donaldson. I can’t tell you how much my kids love these films. I have to admit, I do as well. They are so beautifully done that they captivate our attention from beginning to end. In The Gruffalo’s Child, The Gruffalo tells his child about a Big Bad Mouse that he ran into many years before.

The curious little Gruffalo cannot contain her curiosity and sets out to see if this creature really exists. She encounters the same fox, owl and snake from The Gruffalo who each tell her where she can find the Big Bad Mouse. Feeling that she had been tricked and there is no Big Bad Mouse, she finally runs into the little mouse from The Gruffalo. The little mouse is just as clever, and invites The Gruffalo’s Child to meet the Big Bad Mouse using the moonlight to cast a shadow that scares the Gruffalo’s Child and sends her fleeing.

These films show children that brains can prevail over brawn. Check out the trailer HERE!  Helena Bonham Carter narrates as she did in The Gruffalo. Special features include a Behind the Scenes Documentary and Artwork Gallery. You can purchase this film on Amazon. If you would like a chance to win this DVD, enter the giveaway below.

Giveaway

The Gruffalo’s Child DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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January 21, 2017 · 11:23 pm

Award-Winning Children’s Book, “The Gruffalo” re-released on DVD #Giveaway

I am excited to share an enchanting film based on the award-winning children’s picture book by Julia Donaldson. The Gruffalo  has just been re-released on DVD and tells the story of a mouse who walks through the woods in search of a nut. Along his route he runs across several other creatures who think he looks like a tasty treat.

This tiny mouse shows that smart thinking can outwit a hungry fox, owl and snake. Mouse invents an imaginary monster with frightening features to scare them away.

He tells them all he is having lunch with this scary creature and that his favorite food is them which sends them running for cover. Mouse is feeling pretty smug thinking about how easy it was to trick them.

That smug mouse was very surprised to happen upon the very creature he made up, the frightening Gruffalo. The Gruffalo wanted to eat the mouse on a slice of bread but that mouse thought quickly and told the Gruffalo everyone in this forest is afraid of him.

The Gruffalo laughed and said he would walk behind the mouse to see just how frightened everyone was. It worked like a charm and sent the snake, owl and fox running. The mouse then told the Gruffalo that his favorite food was Gruffalo Crumble at which the Gruffalo turned and fled. The mouse found his nut and all was well!

This delightful story brought to life is narrated by Helena Bonham Carter shows that one does not have to be big to be mighty and is wonderful to share with your children. You can watch the trailer HERE!

Would you like a chance to win this tale on DVD. If so enter the giveaway below.

 

Giveaway:

The Gruffalo DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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January 19, 2017 · 9:09 pm

You Need To Read This When You’re Feeling Sick #Giveaway

Seems like everyone had been sick this winter, it is all I see when scrolling my Facebook feed. Given that, I think this blog tour for When You’re Feeling Sick by Coy Bowles could not have come at a better time!

They say laughter is the best medicine and this laugh-out-loud picture book by the guitarist for the Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band, will have sick little ones feeling better fast!

The book is full of encouraging, rhyming advice on how to get through sick days with courage and a positive attitude. It truly is, just what the doctor ordered! It comes with a sheet of stickers that will make sick little ones smile. There are even feel better songs to keep the germs away!

We have more happy news, you can enter to win a copy of this great book below in our giveaway!

Giveaway

Penguin Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own copy of When You’re Feeling Sick! Thank you to Penguin Random House  for the review book and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

When You’re Feeling Sick Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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· 12:43 am

Take an Awe-Inspiring Journey with “Long Way North” #Giveaway

Christmas may be over but an awe-inspiring journey to the North Pole is what you will be embarking on when you watch the visually exquisite animated feature, Long Way North.

A spirited and inspiring tale of hope and courage, Long Way North tells the story of a young heroine persevering through a physical and emotional journey to find her explorer grandfather and his lost ship, the Davai. This award-winning animated movie offers an immersive cinematic adventure that brims with heart, action, powerful storytelling and gorgeous animation in equal measure.

Long Way North was just released on DVD and two-disc Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack on January 17th!

 

Watch the official U.S. movie trailer for Long Way North HERE

Long Way North is set in the late 19th century Saint Petersburg. Sacha, a young girl from the Russian aristocracy, dreams of the Great North and anguishes over the fate of her grandfather, Oloukine, a renowned scientist and Arctic explorer who has yet to return from his latest expedition to conquer the North Pole.

Sacha has always been fascinated by the adventurous life of her grandfather and has the same calling as Oloukine to be an explorer. But Sacha’s parents, who already made arrangements for her marriage, strongly disapprove of the idea to say the least. Defying her destiny, Sacha flees her home and launches an adventure-filled quest toward the Great North in search of Oloukine and his ship.

Long Way North DVD and two-disc Blu-ray+ DVD Combo Pack contain English and French audio tracks, English subtitles and insightful bonus content.

  • Conceptual pilot
  • Behind-the-scenes featurette
  • Interview with director Rémi Chayé and producer Henri Magalon
  • Still gallery – character design
  • Still gallery – concept art
  • Animated storyboards

Would you like a chance to win this great film? If so, just enter the giveaway below.

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Long Way North DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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January 18, 2017 · 3:00 pm

You May Never Need To Clean Your Toilet Again!

When you ask people what their least favorite household chore is, at the top of the list of most people is cleaning the toilet. Can you imagine if there was a toilet that would take care of that dreaded task for you? Well, you can stop dreaming about it because American Standard’s ActiClean toilet is real! This toilet cleans and removes stains at the touch of a button.

I will admit, I was very shocked to learn about this toilet a few months ago. We actually have one and cannot wait to install it. Our “little leak” in our kitchen that caused extensive damage to our home, has delayed our bathroom renovation projects just a tad. We will update with all the details as soon as we are ready to resume that project. I thought I would share my joy with you in the meantime about this amazing toilet.

How does the ActiClean System work?

After selecting a Quick Clean or Deep Clean cycle, the cleaner will make its powerful entrance into the bowl, scrubbing the walls of the toilet bowl! The cleaner will saturate the bowl for a set time that corresponds to the cleaning cycle you selected.

After that, the rinse cycle is automatically started, siphoning the cleaning agent and rinsing the bowl leaving you with crystal clean bowl! After cleaning you are left with a sparkling clean bowl and a pleasant, fresh scent.

Cleaner by Design

The toilet design adds to the easy care. It has a CleanCurve Rim which eliminates the rim area where all that nasty dirt and buildup likes to hide. The entire toilet surface is finished with an EverClean glaze. This super smooth glaze makes the toilet easier to clean and stay clean even after years of use. The robust plastic seat has no-slip bumpers and a release button that allows you to remove the entire seat for quick and easy cleaning.

Performance

The toilet has VorMax Flush Technology that helps maintain a clean bowl in between cleanings. VorMax Flush has been proven to clean 2 times better than conventional toilets.

The cleaning system is powered by 4AA batteries (included) that will last about one year. Using one Quick Clean and one Deep Clean cycle per week, the ActiClean Toilet Cleaning Cartridge should last about 9 weeks.  You can purchase the ActiClean Toilet and Cleaning Cartridges at Lowe’s in store or online.

The ActiClean Toilet has great flush performance moving 2.2lbs of waste in one flush! It earned the score of 1,000 MaP at 1.28gpf which is the highest possible. It meets EPA WaterSense criteria and is a high-efficiency toilet.

The toilet is easy to install and every thing needed for installation is included. It can even be hand tightened! Get peace of mind if you purchase this toilet with the lifetime warranty on chinaware, 10 years on mechanical parts, 1 year on electronics and 1 year on seat. Click here to learn more!

So what do you think? Would you like to have a toilet like this in your bathroom?

American Standard provided us with an ActiClean Toilet for our project. As always my words and views are 100% my own.

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January 16, 2017 · 3:12 pm

The Lion Guard is Available Now on DVD #Giveaway

If you haven’t heard, The Lion Guard is out now on DVD. Continuing with Simba and Nala’s second-born cub, Kion and his Lion Guard team as they protect the Circle of Life.

Complete with a crew of unlikely heroes: Bunga the honey badger, Fuli the cheetah, Beshte the hippo and Ono the egret. Follow the adventures of this heroic band as they use their unique abilities to protect the Pride Lands and maintain the Circle of Life. This series also features Simba, the spirit of Mufasa and the hilarious antics of Timon and Pumbaa.

Join Kion and His Friends on their Adventures in the Pride Lands as they Learn Lessons of Leadership, Teamwork and Trust! You are sure to go wild for all the ferocius fun! Whether the Lion Guard team is tracking a rogue leopard, foiling tricky jackals or facing stubborn crocodiles, Life in the Pride Lands is always “hevi kabisa“-totally intense! 

This new DVD, features five new episodes of Disney’s The Lion Guard and is packed with laughs, music, beloved characters and heart, The Lion Guard: Life in the Pride Lands is a must-own for the entire family! Includes Five FREE Exclusive Silicone Bracelets! Bring home this heroic adventure on Disney DVD TODAY!

Episodes:

The Rise of Makuu (featuring guest star Blair Underwood as the voice of Makuu)
The Kaputana Celebration
Bunga and the King
Never Roar Again
The Imaginary Okapi

Bonus: Music Videos:
• A Trail to Hope
• Teke Ruka Teleza

“It’s UnBungalievable!” Shorts
• Who’s Quicker?
• Who’s Hungrier?
• Who Has Better Hair?
• Who’s Cuter?
• Who’s Louder?
• Who’s Mightier?

Would you like a chance to win this DVD? If so, enter our giveaway below.

Giveaway:

is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win a . Thank you  for the review product and for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

The Lion Guard: Life in the Pride Lands DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Open to US residents

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