Disney's "Savings Mr. Banks" - in theatres today!

A new live action Disney film, Savings Mr. Banks, is in theatres today.  I was fortunate enough to attend an early screening of this movie.  I loved it!

Saving Mr. Banks is based on true events -- it's the story of the woman who wrote the original Mary Poppins books, and her reluctance to sell the book rights to Walt Disney.  Emma Thompson's performance is outstanding as Mrs. Travers, and Tom Hanks is as great as ever in his portrayal of Walt Disney.  The film goes back and forth between a childhood in Australia and the two weeks Mrs. Travers is spending in California trying to be woo'd into giving up the rights to her character.

I highly enjoyed the historical aspects of this film, and some of the "behind the scenes" feeling about a movie I hold dear from childhood (Mary Poppins).  Mary Poppins is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary (the special edition DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack is now available!), so the timing of this film is perfect.

The characters are enthralling, and watching this film makes me want to research even more about the uptight and somewhat traumatized Pamela L. Travers.  Some initial "Googling" is already proving her story to be very intriguing indeed.  I recommend you stay through the credits, as the real recorded voice of Mrs. Travers is played and it just continues to affirm how perfect Emma Thompson played the role!  The actors who played the supporting cast were each outstanding in their own right, as well.

I definitely recommend this film be seen by all -- however, I believe that children may miss the nuances of the story, I would imagine this is best for young adults and older.  If you ever cared for Mary Poppins, then you will really find this history of the film interesting.  There's a chance this could be an Oscar contender, so if you're like me and you try to see as many Oscar nominated films as possible, definitely add Saving Mr. Banks to your must watch list!  Emma Thompson has already been nominated for a Best Actress Golden Globe - very well-deserved!

Saving Mr. Banks is in theatres everywhere today!

Review: The Little Mermaid Diamond Edition DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack NOW Available!

I am a Disney fan, as you'd notice by how often I'm reviewing/promoting Disney movies that have been "released from the vault".  Far and away my favourite Disney film is "The Little Mermaid".  On October 1st, the Diamond Edition DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack was in stores!

"The Little Mermaid" is a timeless classic for me.  The music is so appealing, so very fun to sing along with.  "Part Of Your World" is one of my favourite songs to sing in the shower to this day!  I love Ariel's sense of adventure, and still feel frustrated when Ursula tricks Prince Eric into almost marrying her.  When Sebastian the Crab is singing "Under the Sea" or "Kiss the Girl", I'm hit with a wave of nostalgia, remembering how many times I've watched those classic scenes in my lifetime.  When I was a little girl, my neighbour and I would pretend to be mermaids and play "Little Mermaid" in her backyard.

I'm so happy for this DVD/Blu-Ray to be available so a new generation of children can experience the joy of "The Little Mermaid" - the music, the loveable characters, and the fun and romantic plot.   Kids who were like me would LOVE singing along with the "Crab-e-oke" bonus feature on the DVD.  We used to always rent the Disney sing-along VHS tapes from our local video store when my brother and I were growing up, so I love this feature being included on the DVD.  It's so exciting to watch my favourite Disney film in beautiful digital HD.  

I'm just so happy "The Little Mermaid" has come out of the vault!  You can own it today, but remember -- it's only available for a limited time!

Movie Review: Les Miserables

It's become a tradition for my Sitcom Group of Friends and I to go see a movie on New Years Day, following our New Years Eve "Fancy Dress House Party".  This year we chose Les Miserables.  I absolutely love musicals, and see a lot of shows on stage when they are in Toronto... however, I've never seen Les Miserables, and know only a few songs from it. (Yes, Katie Holmes singing "On my Own" in the first season of Dawson's Creek is one of the only references I have for that song. Shuddup.)

I was eager and interested in seeing this film, regardless, because of my love of musicals.  This movie DID NOT disappoint!  I was absolutely enthralled throughout the whole thing.  The story was fresh to me, so I was shocked and surprised at many of the very sad and unexpected moments (unexpected for me, again I have zero Les Mis knowledge or experience).  My friends who know Les Mis loved the film too, so it seems  it was appealing to either type of person.  I've heard they made changes from the play, some of the musical arrangements are different and some songs are shortened, but I think that makes sense since creating a film version of a stage show will need some differences in order to apply appropriate cinematic devices.

I was pleasantly surprised by all of the actors and their singing talent, and the drama and emotion brought to the screen.  Anne Hathaway was incredibly enthralling, when she sang "I Dreamed a Dream", it was so emotional!  I don't have much background knowledge of how she is as a singer, and I wasn't sure what to expect -- I was impressed!  The children were also fantastic actors and singers, and Master of the House was hilariously performed by Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter -- excellent casting, that's for certain.

Overall, it was a very dramatic film, very depressing at times (but so it should be based on the title!), with a bit of comic relief by the dynamic duo of Cohen and Carter.  If you are like me and don't know the play, but absolutely love musicals, I think you'd enjoy this film.  If you do know the play, I think you'll be happy with this adaptation.  I know that can be pretty subjective, but in my personal opinion it was a fantastic movie.  I loved it.  I'm going to watch out for the next time Les Miserables is on stage in Toronto, and will be making a conscious effort to get some tickets!

VH "Excite Your Dinner" Blog Tour! (+ Giveaway for Canadians!)

Disclosure – I am participating in the VH Excite Your Dinner blog tour by enCompass Media on behalf of Con Agra Foods. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion.

Well, here we are in 2013... the holiday season coming to an end.  It was another excellent Christmas and New Years for me, I love this time of year a lot!  One of our Christmas traditions is a big pot luck dinner party with my mom's side of the family on the Saturday before Christmas.  I was fortunate enough to have some VH Sauce and some new recipes to try, providing me the opportunity to bring a delicious, and very simple, appetizer for the dinner!

I'm not a cook, Mr. Lock is the resident chef around this condo.  So, I prefer an easy-to-assemble dish whenever possible!  I love VH Sweet Thai Chili sauce, so I chose to make this easy appetizer - Grilled Sweet Chili Flatbreads.  They were a huge hit!

I made a few small changes to the recipe, substituting feta for the called-for goat cheese (personal preference), and using the broiler on my stove rather than a sandwich press or grill (because I don't have one), but it was so easy to adapt this delicious recipe that way, and the Sweet Thai Chili Sauce was the star anyway!  This really inspired me to explore the VHSauces.ca website, and the VH Facebook page which has lots of great tips for adding a fun twist to your everyday meals.

One lucky Canadian reader has a chance to win their own VH Sauce prize pack!  From now until 12:01 am on January 13th, 2012 you can enter on the Rafflecopter widget below.  You will need to take a look at VH Sauce Recipes for the mandatory entry.  Good luck!

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Movie Reviews: "The Hobbit" and "Lincoln"

This is my favourite time of year for so many reasons, one of which is it is time to prepare for my annual Oscar night tradition with my family -- meaning, I need to be sure to see potential "Oscar-worthy films" while they are still in theatres!  Now that the Golden Globe nominations are available, it's time to consider that as an indication of later potential Oscar nominees!

I've seen two movies the past two nights.  First, The Hobbit, and then Lincoln.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
or... "Oh Gawd, More Lord of the Rings... Why am I even bothering?"

So, I don't like the Lord of the Rings series.  I know that might be shocking to some, but they were just SO LONG and BORING to watch.  I enjoyed Fellowship of the Ring, I suppose, well enough to see The Two Towers at its midnight opening screening... but I was a high school student, I went with the flow of my friends.  After that, I couldn't stand the series (not that I didn't see Return of the King in theatres, because I, of course, did).  I have zero interest in ever re-watching these long, boring, drawn out movies -- even if the New Zealand backdrop was stunning.  Okay, okay, I am also not an Elijah Wood fan so that could be part of why I don't care for these films.

I wanted to see The Hobbit, though, because I felt like I should.  I felt like it may be an Oscar-nominated series of films one day too, and so I have a duty to see it.  I've never read the book, so I don't have any background knowledge about this story.  I really like the actor playing young Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) because I absolutely love him as Watson from BBC's Sherlock.  The movie was long... as expected.  That was the "completely expected journey".  They are apparently doing two more films, so ... ack!  It had lovely cinematography and all, but was too long, and not overly interesting as someone who is not a Hobbit fan from childhood.  It was a likeable enough film, had a few funny bits, but all in all... eh.  Lord of the Rings: The Prequel - Still Boring!

Lincoln
or... "History: Disney Style"

I love history, so I definitely enjoyed Lincoln.  Daniel Day-Lewis did a stupendous job.  The film mainly follows Lincoln and the political men he works with as he tries to pass the 13th Amendment, which abolishes slavery.  There are only a couple of gruesome scenes of the Civil War, mostly the film takes place in the White House and in the House of Representatives (or whatever political building that was), and there is a lot of chatter, chatter, chatter.  It's a film that's a lot of talk, a bit bland... but that's how historical films are at times, so it's not unexpected.

I did feel like it was a film distributed by Disney that felt like a film distributed by Disney.  It was a bit light, it didn't feel like an "epic historical film" the way I would imagine a Best Picture nominee to feel.  I actually am a bit confused right now as to how much of an Oscar winner this will be -- other than Daniel Day-Lewis perhaps winning as best actor because he did a fantastic job.  It just felt a bit like those A Part of Our Heritage commercial rather than an epic film, in my opinion anyway.  It wasn't exactly what I was expecting.  Mr. Lock doesn't completely agree with me on this, so I think it was my perception and you may feel differently if you see the film yourself of course.

Oh, and I have to say that Tommy Lee Jones was a distraction for me.  I felt like I couldn't believe him as a character from that time, I just kept seeing and hearing Tommy Lee Jones... and it was too bad.  I really think he ruined it for me, though he's a fine enough actor, he isn't diverse enough and all I saw was him... not his character.

Overall, a good film, but a bit dry, and definitely not as climactic and "epic" as I would imagine a potential Best Picture Oscar nominee to be.

So, the reviews begin!  I have many more films to see... we are off to Les Miserables on New Years Day!  I'm looking forward to that one!

Giveaway! Disney's "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" Blu-ray Combo Pack (For Canadians Only)

Just in time for the holiday season, I have another awesome Disney film to give away to ONE lucky reader!  The film is "The Odd Life of Timothy Green", and the prize is a Blu-ray Combo Pack copy of this beautiful and heart-warming family movie!

I was fortunate enough to see this film in theatres, so you can re-read my review on this post here.  I will post a review of the blu-ray combo pack when I receive it, so keep an eye out soon for another post about this awesome movie!

From Walt Disney Motion Pictures:

About the film 

From Academy Award-nominated writer/director Peter Hedges (Dan in Real Life, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape), and starring Golden Globe® winner Jennifer Garner, Joel Edgerton, Oscar® winner Dianne Wiest and CJ Adams as Timothy Green, comes this highly imaginative story about a happily married couple who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. Then one stormy night young Timothy shows up on their doorstep. Soon they and the small town in which they live learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts. The story is written by Ahmet Zappa (“American Gangster,” “Changeling”). 

THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN Blu-ray Combo Pack provides viewers with the chance to delve deeper into this captivating movie experience through never-before-seen bonus features, including the documentary “Family Roots: Bringing ‘The Odd Life of Timothy Green’ to the Screen,” which looks at this unique family story and the creative team that brought it to life; “Glen Hansard: Behind ‘This Gift” - the Academy Award® winning songwriter tells how he and Marketa Irglova crafted the moving end-credits song; “This Gift” Music Video by Glen Hansard; Five all-new deleted scenes; and a director audio-commentary.

If you would like the opportunity to own "The Odd Life of Timothy Green", and if you are a Canadian resident, then enter via the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win!  The giveaway ends at 12:00 am on Friday, December 14th.  You will be asked a skill-testing question upon winning the Blu-ray combo pack via email when notified of your win.

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Review: Disney/Pixar's "Brave" Collector's Edition Disney Blu-Ray Combo Pack

There is still time to enter to win a copy of Disney/Pixar's Brave, a 5-disc DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack.  Just click over to this post right here to enter the contest!  It ends at 12:01 am on Friday, November 23rd!

I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this Blu-Ray Combo Pack to review.  My friends and I watched Brave on Blu-Ray this Sunday, and I was again reminded of how fantastic this movie is!  I love the plot so much, and the brilliant animation using Pixar's state-of-the-art technology is so impressive.  It has sparked my interest in Scotland and Scottish history very much.

This DVD set is INCREDIBLE.  You don't only get the movie on DVD and on Blu-Ray (already so awesome to receive both in one package), but you ALSO get a Disney Digital copy of the film to enjoy on whatever device you choose, AND a copy in Blu-Ray 3D format for 3D players!  You also have an entire disc of Bonus Features, let alone the bonus features found on the other discs too!  The bonus videos are so fun, and make an excellent addition to your viewing of this film, especially for kids who may like a little extra information and experience with the characters.  The behind-the-scenes features are always interesting, I love hearing more about the process of creating films.

This is just an amazing amount of stuff in one set -- what a fantastic gift for this upcoming holiday season!  

There is also a bonus short entitled "The Legend of Mordu".  This short goes in to more detail about a legend described in Brave, and it's great to have the option to explore this legend further and hear more about the background of the character Mordu.  This bonus short may be a little "dark" for some little ones, so I do advise parents watch it first and use your discretion about what your own children can handle watching.  A lot of legends have a darker history, so this is an interesting way to inspire kids to want to explore legends, myths, and historical stories -- I do love this as a starting point for further research or storytelling!

I thoroughly enjoy this movie, and think you will too!  This "Ultimate Collector's Edition" Blu-Ray + Blu-Ray 3D + DVD + Digital Copy is available in stores now.

Thanks, Walt Disney Motion Pictures Canada for allowing me to receive 1 review copy of this set!  It's incredible!

"Cinderella" on Disney Blu-ray Diamond Edition Combo Pack

When I was a little girl I loved all of the Disney princess movies.  I had only one younger brother at that point in my life, and on rainy days I remember going to select a Disney movie and having my mother reprimand me because I had to be FAIR to Miles and choose something other than "the girly Disneys" now and then!

Well, one of my top three favourite Disney films to try to pressure my brother in to watching whenever I could was Cinderella.  It is so exciting that as of today it has been released from the Disney fault, and is available on Disney Blu-ray Diamond Edition Combo Pack!  I was fortunate enough to relive this amazing film at a screening event last week, and it was just as magical as I remembered!

We were treated like Princesses!  Sparkling wine!

Delicious cupcakes to enjoy while watching the film!  These were HUGE and so yummy!

Also, did you know that Christian Louboutin designed a special edition "glass slipper" in honour of this DVD release?  He only made 20 of these amazing shoes, and one pair was given away to a very lucky Toronto resident at the screening event last week!

I am so glad to have the opportunity to be YOUR Fairy Godmother... you can win your own copy of Disney's Cinderella by entering the giveaway on the Rafflecopter form below!  I have one Diamond Edition Combo Pack to give away, and the contest closes at 12:01 am this Friday - October 5th! a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Good luck!  Bippity, boppity, boo!

Movie Review: The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Every now and then it is very refreshing to watch a film that tells a sweet story, that appeals to the whole family (young and old!).  This is exactly what you get when you see Disney's The Odd Life of Timothy Green.  I was fortunate enough to see this movie at a pre-screening event, and it was just such a feel-good, family film.  I cannot recommend it enough!

The Odd Life of Timothy Green tells the story of Jim and Cindy Green, a couple from a small town who desperately want to add to their family.  One evening, after getting the bad news that it is unlikely they can ever have a baby themselves, Jim and Cindy take the time to imagine what their child would have been like.  They try to move on from the pain of the knowledge that their child is never to be, and then something miraculous happens.  The film stars Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Garner as Jim and Cindy, and it reaffirms that I do indeed highly enjoy every Jennifer Garner film!

This story is full of heart, and optimism.  It shows you how one person's attitude can change the world, and I think it's a very encouraging and uplifting tale.  I don't want to spoil the story too much, so that's all I'm going to say about that!

I encourage you to take your family to see this film, it opens in theatres on Wednesday, August 15th.

Review & Giveaway: My Little Pony - Friendship is Magic: Royal Pony Wedding!

When I was a little girl, one of my most favourite toys were My Little Pony.  I had a massive collection that I kept in a very special toy bin in my basement, and I remember my ponies fondly.  I also had my dad record a My Little Pony movie that was on TV during my childhood, and I think I wore out the VHS tape re-watching it!

Ah, VHS.  The... good old days.... (? Eh.  The days.)

Did you know that YOUR little girl could be watching My Little Pony on DVD?  Just released, on August 7th, was My Little Pony - Friendship is Magic: Royal Pony Wedding.  This DVD from Shout! Factory in collaboration with Hasbro Studios features FIVE episodes of the show, as seen on Treehouse TV in Canada and the HUB TV Network in the USA.  The DVD also includes colouring sheets and two sing-alongs as bonus features.  The animation may be an updated style, but the thought of little girls getting as much joy out of My Little Pony as I did as a little girl myself?  Warms my heart!

Now here's where it all gets a little... weird.

I was fortunate enough to receive a review copy of this DVD set.  The first thing that happened was, my boyfriend enlightened me that there is a whole group of ADULTS who find the new My Little Pony animation omgz super awesome.  They apparently think it's "amazingly well-produced", and that the musical numbers are catchy.  I was pretty shocked to find this out, but it sure adds an interesting twist to this review!  Apparently they call themselves "Bronies", and while this totally squicks me out initially, it's oddly awesome to hear a grown male friend of mine explain the whole phenomenon (he's a producer for a radio station, he has his finger on the pulse of popular - and nerd - culture).  I have been so enlightened since receiving this DVD to review... I feel like I now possess a very treasured piece of media.  Who knew?! (I like the meme with the first date... the gal who is remembering classic Pony, which is what I did when I saw this DVD series, and the Brony being all, GET OUT OF MY CAR.  Amazing).

But what do I personally think of this series now that I've had the opportunity to watch it myself?

Well, I absolutely see why adults find this show entertaining.  Lauren Faust, the original executive producer and storyboard artist for this show, used to be a story artist for The Powerpuff Girls.  You can definitely see the similar flash animation style, and it's very appealing.  There is a lesson that is appropriate and sweet for kids, but there is a lot of humour that grown-ups would 'get' too.  I was actually impressed with how much I enjoyed watching this cartoon!  The songs are well-written and extremely catchy.  I love the way the theme song of the show begins with the classic "My Little Pony" tune and then ramps up to a newer, catchier tune.  That sets the overall tone of this show, a great nod to the classic 80s show with a very modern twist.

Would you like to receive a copy of this DVD?!  You can share it with a little lady in your life, or apparently a grown adult gaming nerd -- the possible target audience is so wide with this series!  (I feel so "in the know" now.)  All you have to do is fill in the Rafflecopter form below, and a winner (US or Canada) will be drawn on within 48 hours of 12:01 am Saturday, August 18th.  In order to be eligible to win, make sure you click "leave a comment", and leave the mandatory entry comment.  Otherwise, you will not be eligible.

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Becoming a "Norwexer" {Review}

I am so excited about some new products I've purchased -- yes, purchased.  This is a product review, but it was for products that were recommended to me, and that I purchased myself.  I just love them so much I want to write about them, haha.  Is that rare in today's world of blog reviews?  Oh well!

I have been using Norwex cleaning cloths for a couple of months now.  I wanted to give them a good try before writing about them, so I could share how I really felt.  Well, I am just in love!  I ordered a starter set of items from Norwex consultant Mandy Kuelz (visit Mandy's Green Vision to order for yourself!).  I ordered the "Household Package" which includes an antibacterial microfiber EnviroCloth, an antibac Window Cloth, the antibac Dusting Mitt.  I ordered an additional EnviroCloth, the dishwashing liquid, and the Power Plus laundry detergent.  Mandy was so sweet, she included a Veggie & Fruit Scrub Cloth with my order to review.

Cleaning the windows!  Streak-free shine!

Well, this is LOVE, people.  Absolute LOVE!

Mr. Lock was totally on board with ordering and using these cloths because he is not a fan of using chemical cleaning products, and he'd rather just wipe the kitchen and other areas down with a cloth and good old fashioned water -- these antibacterial microfiber cloths are the perfect compromise between my desire for antibacterial cleaning and his desire to not use chemical cleaners (a desire I've been feeling more and more on board with myself).  The dusting mitt is AMAZING, our condo tends to get very dusty and our dark furniture is no help in hiding it.  With the dusting mitt, the dust clings so well and doesn't just fly back up in the air only to land again seconds later.  This is a BIG DEAL to me, as one of my personal pet peeves is watching the dust settle back down as soon as you finish wiping a surface.  My Norwex dusting mitt?!?! -- THE BEST.

I love you, dusting mitt.

I've gotten great use out of the Veggie & Fruit Scrub Cloth, and am so grateful to Mandy that I have one now!  It is regularly used to wipe my fruit, and I like that it has one abrasive side and one softer side, it works wonderfully to remove dirt and debris, and I often use it to gently dry fruit I've just rinsed off with water -- and I then have less of an environmental impact because I've stopped my terrible practice of ripping off a small piece of paper towel to dry my washed fruits and vegetables (I know, I was terrible before, I am changing my ways, honestly!).

Blurry shot, but oh well.  This is the fruit and veg scrub cloth in my kitchen!

When I am using my Norwex products I feel more eco-friendly, healthier overall, and inspired to continue looking for ways to eliminate harsh chemicals from my household cleaning routine.  After a few months of cleaning my kitchen exclusively with a Norwex antibac EnviroCloth, I can report I feel totally safe from food bacteria and that my kitchen is coming out clean and spotless with such a low environmental impact!  I'm also saving money over time, now that I've stopped having to purchase cleaning products.  What a win!

The EnviroCloth, pure magic!

Essentially, everything I've ordered I love to use.  I'm going to be contacting Mandy again, because I would like to include some more Norwex products in my life -- including the smaller sized travel pack of EnviroCloths, as when I was recently travelling I realized how awesome they would be to carry with me!  I am drooling over the catalogue right now!

If you would like to contact Mandy and become a Norwexer too (and you really should), you can visit her website: Mandy's Green Vision , or find her on Twitter: @_greenmandy , or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mandysgreenvision .

I do also need to send a shout out to Amanda from MultiTestingMommy.com, as she was the one who inspired me to get started with Norwex products.  Thanks so much, MTM!

Awesome Mark's Product I Have to Brag About!

So, I'm fortunate at times to get to preview some of the collections from Mark's (formerly Mark's Work Wearhouse).  I've already written about them here and here (oh how I do love that sweater!).  I seriously love their store and have for quite some time, and Mr. Lock shops there A LOT...well before I was ever approached to attend any of their events, he was already decked out head to toe in Denver Hayes, haha.

So, before we went to Las Vegas we were naturally shopping at our local Mark's store, because I wanted Mr. Lock to find a few nicer polos or dress shirts to wear out and about on our vacation - God love him, but his typical wardrobe consists of funny t-shirts, and every now and then I like to force him to dress up a bit.  Fortunately, when I suggest Mark's as a shopping stop, he's on board for looking around, and is pretty open to trying stuff on.

The one thing I absolutely HAD to push for him to buy were their "Don't Sweat It!" brand of dress shirts.  Like many people, especially men, Mr. Lock does tend to sweat a lot (hence why he often likes to wear t-shirts before anything else - winter months included!).  We went to a wedding in May, and after a few drinks during the midday, outdoor cocktail hour... well.. he had really soaked through his dress shirt under his suit jacket.

Whoops!

Sweat stains on a typical dress shirt!

... okay, honestly, this was kind of funny. But anyway, this was an extreme case (suit jacket, hot sun, many lovely beverages), however it does illustrate a common problem for a lot of men!

So, we bought one of the Don't Sweat It! shirts and took it with us to the desert that is Vegas, and Mr. Lock was quite pleased with how it worked!  I was pleased too, haha.

The stylish, Don't Sweat It! shirt from Mark's, being worn in Vegas.

Now, this was another extreme case -- we were in the heat of Las Vegas, in July.  So, when Mr. Lock didn't show any sweat stains on his back... well, that's a big success!  The shirt has technology built in that does not allow the wetness to show through to the outside of the shirt, as the breathable fabric quickly absorbs perspiration.  Again, being an extreme place there was one flaw we noticed...

Pit stains!

Yes, there were still armpit stains.... but typically Mr. Lock would have those stains ALL OVER his dress shirt in this type of heat, so it was still considered a success.  We might advise Mark's to review how it works at the arm pits, but we figure that in more typical summer weather here in Canada, this shirt will do wonders for Mr. Lock in helping to show a lot less sweat than his other dress shirts.  We are still MAJORLY impressed!

So, this was a super cool product and I'm glad I was introduced to it and was able to encourage Mr. Lock to give it a try.  If you've got a man in your life with similar sweat issues when you go out dressed up, then you might consider looking into the Don't Sweat It! shirts at Mark's as well.  Heck, just pop in to your local Mark's and look around in general -- they are renovating and updating their retail locations, and it's really great to see progress like this by such a great Canadian company.

REVIEW: Phineas & Ferb: The Perry Files

I had the opportunity to review a copy of Phineas & Ferb: The Perry Files on DVD.  Since I'm an elementary school teacher, and often a baby-sitter, I enjoy knowing what's cool and new in DVDs and TV series for kids.  This show is SO funny, even as grown-ups, Mr. Lock and I were laughing out loud when watching it for review purposes (okay, okay, and just for fun!).  I could see Phineas & Ferb being one of those shows that parents and kids can sit down to watch together -- which is truly how most television should be viewed by kids.

Phineas & Ferb: The Perry Files comes as a 2-disc combo pack.  You get seven episodes, as well as bonus features on the first disc.  The second disc is the Disney Digital Copy for watching on the computer or on portable devices -- I'm thinking, perfect for family road trips, or keeping a kid occupied when waiting for a flight this summer!

The DVD pack also comes with an activity kit, which is adorable.  There are stickers, a postcard, a small puzzle, and a search and find game.  There is also a really cute magnet, that the teacher in me LOVES, that has a pop out frame, and images of Perry the Platypus, with the names of different emotions around it.  Kids can move the frame around their emotion -- though Perry's face is the same in every image, I still love this idea of kids identifying various feelings this way.  Honestly, a great little addition and something so important for kids to be able to name and identify!  Super cute.  If you have more than one kid, the activity pack will need to be shared which I could see causing a bit of trouble... but I suppose there's a teachable moment in that experience, too.

Since I don't have any kids myself, I can keep the activity pack all for myself. ;-)  (Unless Mr. Lock tries to fight me for it!).

Anyway, this is such a cute and funny show, and if you're looking for some new kids DVDs to pick up for your kids, I totally recommend Phineas & Ferb: The Perry Files.  Heck, watch it WITH your kids... it's a cute and very humorous program!!!

*Disclosure: I received 1 complimentary copy of Phineas & Ferb: The Perry Files 2-disc combo pack for review purposes.

Disney/Pixar's BRAVE opens today!

There's a new movie in theatres today that I really think you'll enjoy.  Yup, YOU, any of YOU who are reading this right now!

The movie is Disney/Pixar's latest hit, Brave.  I was fortunate enough to be invited to a pre-screening event, and let me tell you -- this movie is a winner!  It is so entertaining, and tells a great story.  It has everything you've come to expect from Pixar - amazing animation, with such crisp and vivid images.  As the director himself said at the event I attended, the beauty of the textures of Scotland are captured  here in computer animated form.

The plot is very funny, and also touching.  It isn't predictable.  I must not have heard much about the plot before I saw the film, but I was surprised all the time by where the story was taking us.  It was really, really enjoyable! The characters were strong, and well-developed.



For so many years now we've all been enjoying Pixar films, and I truly think you will add this to your list of favourites.  There are some dark and slightly "scary" scenes, so parents should use a bit of caution and perhaps this film is best in theatres for children over age 8 or so.  Just be advised, for parents of more sensitive children, that a few scenes get a bit loud and scary.

If you don't have any kids, GO SEE THIS MOVIE RIGHT AWAY ANYWAY!  Like usual, this Pixar film is meant for everyone out there.

Please enjoy this "Behind the Scenes" featurette as well!  I got to see a Q & A with direct Mark Andrews, and it was so interesting!  I hadn't realized that Pixar films are all written completely within the Pixar family, they take years to create because they do not buy options or scripts the way other movie studios do.
 


Anyway, it's a great movie.  Just go see it!  Really!

Review: "Celtic Run", a school-age novel by Sean Vogel

I was sent a copy of the novel Celtic Run by Sean Vogel to read and review. This novel is for ages 8 and up.  It tells the story of 14-year-old Jake McGreevy and his friends during a summer exchange to Ireland.  When they first arrive, they find a clue to a possible Spanish treasure lost long ago.  They wind up in a mystery adventure, chased by thieves and thugs, as they search for more clues and possibly their fortune.

This novel was a nice read.  I could see kids being swept up in the story.  There were a few romantic parts as well, as Jake reveals his crush on his best gal pal (Julie) and later on with the daughter of his host family (Maggie).  I think this adds a bit to the story to make girls enjoy the tale just as much as the boys.  There isn't a lot of back story to the characters, but it is a suitable read for middle school aged kids, I would think maybe 9 - 11 year olds would be the best target audience.  I find the grade seven and eight students at my school go for meatier tales than this provides.

I think kids can get lost in the excitement of other kids going on a fantastical adventure searching for buried treasure.  It would be fun for them to be swept away into Jake's experience in beautiful Ireland.  It's nice to see the growth of the characters over the course of the story as well.

The front cover of the book says, A Jake McGreevy Novel, which makes me think that perhaps Sean Vogel is planning on writing additional stories with this character.  I would be interested to read more stories about Jake, if only to get a better sense of who he is.  There is some character development in this story, but it is mostly driven by the plot.  I'd like to read more to gain an even greater connection to this little crew of characters.  I find the students at my school highly enjoy reading a series of books, so it would be great to watch and see if Sean Vogel writes a sequel.

Book Purchase Links and Details

Amazon

Paperback

http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Run-Sean-Vogel/dp/096241669X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336253114&sr=8-1

Kindle

http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Jake-McGreevy-Novel-ebook/dp/B007TERVL6/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1336253114&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble

Nook

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/celtic-run-sean-vogel/1109795351?ean=9780962416675

iBook (eBook with no audio)

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/celtic-run/id520553710?mt=11

ibook (fixed layout with audio – coming soon)

Tales2Go members can download the audio from www.tales2go.com

Website links

Author: www.seanvogel.com

Publisher: www.mbpublishing.com

www.facebook.com/seanvogelauthor

www.facebook.com/mbpublishing

twitter: @mbpublishing

Movie Review: Disneynature's CHIMPANZEE

Disneynature's latest film, Chimpanzee, is out in theatres today.  I was fortunate enough to attend a pre-screening for this film, and let me tell you... it was SO CUTE!  Beautiful cinematography, a touching story, and just an amazing look at this fascinating animals.

I was impressed with how well adults or children could enjoy this film.  The narration, by Tim Allen, is lovely and funny.  The images are incredible, as well.  It was definitely a film I thoroughly enjoyed, while thinking the whole time that kids would definitely enjoy it as well.  Though Oscar experiences a sad moment, the story has a lovely happy ending.  It is just so amazing to see how human like the chimpanzees are in their mannerisms and behaviour.

If you see Chimpanzee during opening week, a donation will be made from the ticket sales to the Jane Goodall Institute to care for orphaned chimps, habitat protection, as well as to educate future generations on caring for this amazing creatures.  It's "See Chimpanzee, Save Chimpanzees", and I think it's a wonderful pledge.  This would be a great film to see in celebration of Earth Day on Sunday!

First Day of Spring! Also... REVIEW for Marks!

It's the first day of spring, and also a much better day for my mood.  Phew!  I slept a little better last night, it makes a big difference.

In trying to dress a little more appropriately for this "summer" weather, I decided to wear a new cardigan from Mark's (formerly Mark's Work Wearhouse), which I was fortunate enough to receive to review.  This is from the new spring/summer 2012 line.  This is an image of the cardigan.  It's the Denver Hayes Floral Printed Cardigan.

I wore it today over a black tank top, with a pair of skinny jeans and black flats.  It was a really complete-yet-easy-to-put-together outfit, and the sweater was very comfortable for the hot weather with it's 3/4-sleeves.  It's a short sweater, so you do need to wear something longer underneath.  My favourite thing about this sweater are the fine details - there are some small, black beads on some of the flowers and there are clear jewel-like buttons.  It just dresses up a casual outfit just the right way.

I felt great wearing this, and was surprised by the fact that three different co-workers complimented me on my sweater today.  I was able to tell them all I got it from Mark's, and they all commented on how there is "some really great stuff there now", and how surprised they are by how the store has changed.  I think this sweater is a great example of some of the high-quality, stylish-yet-affordable clothes you can get at Mark's.

I'm eager to go shopping for more outfits for this spring and summer, and am now drooling over some of the Denver Hayes products on the Mark's website (such great prices too!  That's very attractive, indeed!  I mean, seriously, you can go to the "bottoms" section of the women's wear, and the only option for "sort by price" is "Less Than $50".... the ONLY option!  FOR PANTS! UNDER $50 ONLY!).  With the early arrival of summer heat (though I know it might not last yet), I'm eager to pull out my summer wardrobe and see what new items I might need (okay, okay want, but whatever!) to add to it this year.

So, overall a much, much better day than yesterday - phew!  Thanks, Mark's, for sending me a fantastic piece for my spring wardrobe, and for giving me a boost of confidence after a rough day yesterday.  It was nice to receive a few compliments and lift my spirits!

Now for me wearing the sweater... a couple of photos I took myself.

Super cute, amirite?!

Review: Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin

As a BzzAgent, I've been fortunate enough to try out Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin.  I was able to try the Sensitive Facial Cleanser, and the Sensitive Daily Moisturizer.  I love that these products contain 99% natural ingredients, and are fragrance-free as well as hypo-allergenic.  This Sensitive Skin line contains cotton extract, which softens the skin quite nicely.

I tried both of these products for a week while forming an opinion about them.  There are many positive things about these products!  First of all, the packaging is very attractive.  I love the dispenser for the moisturizer.  I noticed that a little goes a long way, which would mean these products will last for awhile and be worth the cost.  The Facial Cleanser is priced typically starting at $12.99 CDN, and I only needed a little bit each time I washed my face.  This is really important to me, as high-quality skin care products can be expensive to replace if they run out too quickly.  I loved the way my skin felt after using these products.  After washing my face, I felt very clean and fresh, and my skin was very soft.  The moisturizer also left my face feeling soft all day.

There were a few issues I personally had with these products, however.  First, my skin has a tendency to break out.  I need a face wash that has a bit more acne control.  I would be, personally, more likely to continue to purchase my Burt's Bees deep pore cleanser than this particular Sensitive Skin cleanser.  Again, this is a personal issue of needing more oil and acne control based on my skin type.  Otherwise, I quite liked the facial cleanser and how my skin felt after using it.

A second issue I had was with the scent of the products.  They are fragrance-free, and my very sensitive-to-smell mother found the scents to be fine.  Personally, I was a bit turned off by the natural smell that the products had anyway.  I preferred the face cleanser to the moisturizer in this area, I didn't enjoy the scent of the moisturizer at all.  This, again, is a personal issue.  You, like my mother, might smell it and not notice anything at all.

My final issue with the facial moisturizer is that it does not contain any sun protection.  I always use a face cream with an SPF 15 or higher, therefore I would not continue to use this face cream in the future based on that.

I really love Burt's Bees products, and use them often.  If you have sensitive skin and are looking for a product line to try, I highly recommend giving this one a whirl.  There are other products in the line, including a Sensitive Night Cream and Sensitive Eye Cream.  I really did enjoy the feel of these products on my skin, there were just a few personal factors that I need to be honest about in my review.  Make sure to smell the products yourself before purchasing, just in case you feel the same as I do about the natural scent they have.

Disclosure: I received 1 each of the Sensitive Facial Cleanser and Sensitive Daily Moisturizer to review as a member of BzzAgent.com .  All opinions about the products are my own.

Movie Reviews: The Tree of Life and Midnight in Paris

**SPOILER ALERT:  There may be some plot talk in this post.  Nothing too spoilery, but you have been warned, to be fair to those who hate to hear anything about a film before watching it.**

The other night I was having dinner with Mr. Lock's family (it was his mom's birthday), and his dad pulled out some recent DVD purchases.  Turns out he had three Oscar nominated films on DVD.  I quickly asked to borrow The Tree of Life and Midnight in Paris, two of the films I had not seen yet (and didn't even expect to ever see).  I really didn't know anything about either of these films, but I'm on a mission to see as many Best Picture Nominees as I can, and I've made pretty great progress this year!

The Tree of Life

Mr. Lock and I chose The Tree of Life as the first film to watch, he really wasn't sure he cared about Midnight in Paris.  HA.  What a great decision! [/sarcasm, so much sarcasm].  We popped it in before going to bed on Wednesday night.

We were instantly confused.  Our initial thoughts: "Oh great, this has a religious tone.." and "Double you tee eff?!" ***

It's an artistic film in the style of... here are some flashes of images!  Put it together yourself!  Figure out what's going on! Understand our deep, deep message!  You are so dumb if you don't GET this!

Then the twenty minutes of screensaver-esque images began.  Shots of waves upon the shore, mountains, and space.  So many shots of space.  Here's sunrise over the earth!  OOH.  AHH.  And... WHAT IS THIS!?!

And, really, can you win Best Picture just for using stock photos?!  Because I'm sure those were Getty Images.

There was no talking for ages, and then some whispers... whispers and biblical type talk.  Then the kid started acting all weird... and at the 1 hour, 30 minute mark we just gave up.

So, I have no idea how it ended or what the hell was even happening in the parts I saw.  I bet this Gee Dee movie will win Best Picture.  Because it's WEIRD.  Booo.

Midnight in Paris

This afternoon I put Midnight in Paris on.  Mr. Lock and I didn't know what it was about, and then we both really enjoyed it!  It was definitely a much better film than effing The Tree of Life.   It was funny and romantic and whimsical.  Owen Wilson was his usual self, and I do tend to like his movies.  I am a huge fan of "the roaring twenties" anyway, so for me it was a fun fantasy of "better times".  I just really liked the story and the way it was told.

The actors did a great job playing famous artists and writers from the past, Adrien Brody as Salvador Dali was hilarious.  We were both big fans of the Ernest Hemingway character, too, haha.  Being very nostalgic myself, I was very drawn to the story in this film.

So, overall I really, really liked it.  I'm very glad I had the sudden opportunity to watch this movie, since before I had no clue what it was and I really would have missed out.

I am definitely unsure what to vote for for Best Picture, this year.  The films are very different from each other, and yet so many of them just tell stories without any particularly epic film-making... so it's hard to know what will win!  I am pretty impressed that I've seen six out of the nine films this year though!

*** Footnote from Mr. Lock:  Hey folks. Tree of Life was great, and I made sure to record a transcript of the insightful dialogue between Ms. Key and I as we took it all in:

"What?"

"What?"

"What?"

"Zzzzzzz"

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2012 Academy Awards Best Picture Nominees (in order of Seen, Likely to See Someday, Might Not See):
The Help  (SEEN IT, love it!  Best Picture, though?  Not sure the Academy would think so.)
Moneyball  (SEEN IT, it's okay...totally not anything more than a story, not Best Picture, kthx.)
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close  (SEEN IT, very good, has potential for Best Picture.)
The Descendants (SEEN IT, quite good actually!  Maybe potential for Best Picture?)
The Tree of Life (SEEN most of IT..... super odd, did not like, at all. Bet it will win Best Picture to spite me.)
Midnight in Paris (SEEN IT, really, really enjoyed it!)
Warhorse 
Hugo
The Artist

Movie Review: The Descendants

***Spoiler Alert:  Minor plot spoilers, though I try to dance around them rather than say them?  If you've read a summary or seen, and understood, the previews than there won't be any spoilers for you.***

To continue my quest to see some of the Best Picture nominees for the Academy Awards, my mom and I went to the theatre last night to see The Descendants.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to see this film, I wasn't really 100% clear on the storyline, and had it in my head it would be a sad, depressing film.


I'm very glad to admit I was wrong about that.  There is a sad storyline to it in a way, as the mother has been in a boating accident, though I think you'd find it sadder only if you had a personal experience that it reminded you of.  Making a more personal connection to the sad part of the film would make it infinitely more depressing, because you'd be remembering your own sad experience and would probably not be able to let that go.


Being that I've never experienced what this family does (KNOCKS ON WOOD) I found only parts of the story sad, and the rest was just a good movie that told a good story.  I only teared up twice, and I was expecting to cry more than that.  It was the perfect balance of touching, believable scenes mixed with humour.


The actors all did a great job, I was impressed with George Clooney.  Blown away?  Not by any means.  It was a good job, though.  He played his character in a believable way.
If you're looking for a film to see that tells a good story with just a touch of sadness to it, then I do recommend seeing this one.  I suppose it could be a contender for Best Picture, but I'm not sure.  


This year, I'm finding the films I've seen out of the nominees are all just good stories, but not that exciting or creative.  Perhaps The Artist will win best picture just because it's creative?  I haven't seen it, but I don't know what to think this year!  It's too bad I was only able to catch four of the nine Best Picture nominees, maybe next year I'll be more organized and I'll be able to see more.


Now I think I'll go back to watching other movies just for fun, like The Vow and Big Miracle... totally want to see those!  I'm loving this movie kick I've been on lately.  Just one more week until Oscar night, by the way!
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2012 Academy Awards Best Picture Nominees (in order of Seen, Likely to See Someday, Might Not See):
The Help  (SEEN IT, love it!  Best Picture, though?  Not sure the Academy would think so.)
Moneyball  (SEEN IT, it's okay...totally not anything more than a story, not Best Picture, kthx.)
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close  (SEEN IT, very good, has potential for Best Picture.)
The Descendants (SEEN IT, quite good actually!  Maybe potential for Best Picture?)
Warhorse 
Hugo
The Artist
Midnight in Paris
The Tree of Life