Peppa Pig + The Muddy Puddles Project

April 11, 2016 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

On the heels of our recent Spring Break trip, we had DVDs on repeat in the car. Like most preschoolers, my younger guy loves Peppa Pig. So, naturally, since we couldn’t access YouTube Kids while on the road, my kids were watching a lot of Peppa Pig. Peppa Pig’s Cold Winter Day is always playing, and I think I know all the words by heart by now.

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There are 10 fun-loving episodes with winter themes. My guys love the Pig family’s crazy antics, especially Daddy Pig becomes the toboggan. ha! “Why can’t our daddy be a toboggan, mama?” Wouldn’t that be awesome, though?

The Muddy Puddles Project

As huge fans of Peppa Pig, I loved learning about The Muddy Puddles Project and Wellie Walk, which is Peppa Pig’s chosen charity. The fact that this beloved brand has their own chosen charity warms my heart.

I first learned about The Muddy Puddles Project on one of my PBS Kids Annual Meeting trips. I remember tearing up at this young man’s legacy and his amazing family’s advocacy.

So proud “@jenrab: Sadly, her son passed, and she ended up starting the http://t.co/H8ju8AjaiQ. Btw, not a dry eye in the crowd. #pbsam”

— SuperTy (@SuperTyCampbell)

May 15, 2014

The Muddy Puddles Project is a fundraising platform for the Ty Louis Campbell (TLC) Foundation, a certified 501(c)(3) that funds pediatric cancer research. The project was inspired by Ty, a little boy who loved Peppa Pig and dreamed of jumping in muddy puddles when his cancer was cured. Since his passing, the Muddy Puddles Project continues to grow by leaps and bounds with families all across the U.S. joining the mission and participating in special fundraising activities.

Though we missed it, April 1^st was officially proclaimed “National Jump in Muddy Puddles Day” by the nonprofit and it kicks off a whole season of special events – including Peppa-inspired Welly Walks to benefit the charity. Kids and families can help celebrate the beginning of Spring by organizing a Welly Walk to raise funds in honor of the Muddy Puddles Project.

This statistic from the Muddy Puddles Project is staggering:

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Looking for ways of spreading the love for this wonderful charity? Learn more about the Muddy Puddles Project and ways you can organize your own Welly Walk in the name of helping families affected by pediatric cancer. We hope to take our own walk in the near future…when it starts to feel more like Spring!

Full disclosure: we received a sample dvd for review purposes. As always, opinions on NKT are my own.

Celebrating Chuggington Fire Patrol Rescue DVD at the NYFD Museum

April 23, 2015 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

All aboard chuggers: Anchor Bay DVD has released the latest installment in Chuggington adventures: “Chuggington Fire Patrol Rescue.” In this new dvd, there are more adventures to be had and we even meet a new friend, Asher. Wilson sets out on fire patrol duty with Asher and learns to use a fire hose in a rescue. There is a friendly contest of Chug Patrol versus Speed Fleet; Hodge find himself in a high-rise jam; and all the Chuggers practice emergency drills at the roundhouse.

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As longtime Chuggington fans, we were all excited for the release of this new dvd that helps kids learn about fire safety and community service. Since Littles absolutely loves trains, he perks up every time he hears Chuggington’s theme song! In honor of the launch Chuggington Fire Patrol Rescue, we were invited to the NYFD Museum in downtown NYC.

The boys and I got to enjoy an afternoon celebrating the launch, learning all about fire safety and we even got to chat a little with Sarah Ball, Chuggington head writer and producer.

The boys enjoyed getting up close and personal to the educational historical material at the NYFD Museum, not to mention getting to watch an episode of the new DVD.

7 Reasons That Make Disney’s Pirate Fairy Magical

April 8, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

By combining mystical fairies and scheming pirates, Disney has created yet another enchanting tale with their latest release, The Pirate Fairy. The Pirate Fairy follows a beleaguered dust-keeper fairy, Zarina, whose curiosity lands her in a tough predicament. When Zarina finds herself in trouble after disobeying rules, she flees Pixie Hollow and joins forces with the pirates of Skull Rock.

Pirate Fairy Box Art copy

In her new domain with the pirates, Zarina becomes Captain of the ship. Her adventure as Captain lead her back to Pixie Hollow, as she goes tete à tete with the fairies. But when schemes go awry, pirates will be pirates, but will fairies come through in the end?

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Just before the Pirate Fairy’s release, together with a number of bloggers, I was invited to an intimate lunch with producer, Jenni Magee-Cook, where I learned so many fun facts about the new movie.

7 Reasons That Make Disney’s Pirate Fairy Magical

1. Pixie Dust

It’s all about the pixie dust. Any glorious tale about fairies must include gratuitous amounts of pixie dust. And in true Disney form, Pirate Fairy does not disappoint with plenty of pixie dust. The Pirate Fairy follows the main character, Zarina’s, curiosity and fervor for pixie dust. Ultimately, the dust keeps the pixies afloat—literally!

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2. Pirates

Who doesn’t love a hearty band of pirates? In Pirate Fairy, we meet a colorful cast, but it’s one pirate in particular that made us smile.

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The sly cabin boy, James, caught our eye, but most importantly, he gave us a glimpse of the young Captain Hook. It was big boss John Lasseter who influenced this latest Fairy Tale. In a meeting as described by the producer Jenni Magee-Cook, all the creative storytellers were in a meeting discussing the latest story for Pixie Hollow, when Lasseter joined. Minutes before having to leave for another meeting, in a quiet room, Lasseter yells out “Pirates!!” And from there, Pirate Fairy was born.

PF MEET JAMES

3. Stars Aligned

Speaking of James, The Avengers’ Tom Hiddleston voiced our now-infamous cabin boy. From Mae Whitman’s Tinker Bell to Christina Hendrick’s Zarina to Carlos Ponce’s Bonito, the voice talent was plentiful in The Pirate Fairy. Not only were the celebs voicing the magical characters, they were also dressing them too.

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4. Fashion

Christian Siriano of Project Runway fame and known for his whimsical and show-stopping designs, consulted with the filmmakers at Disneytoon Studios on Zarina’s pirate fairy costume. It was all about those boots! They were fierce, to say the least! According to producer Jenni Magee-Cook, said Siriano was tapped to incorporate high fashion, rather than a regular costume. Zarina’s eye-catching ensemble certainly shows for the Project Runway influence.

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5. Crocky

Disney is so great at creating fluid storylines, and that goes for Pirate Fairy and familiar faces. Because there are several overlapping themes and characters from Neverland, it’s no surprise we get to see a baby Tick Tock Crock, Captain Hook’s nemesis from Peter Pan and also seen in Jake and the Neverland Pirates. In Pirate Fairy, a baby Crocky can be seen dawdling as cute baby crocs do.

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6. Neverland

Neverland is known as a mystical place where no one ever grows up. As the backdrop to Pixie Hollow AND Peter Pan and friends, it’s interesting to see how the landscape aids in the storyline. Not only has Neverland captivated generations past, it continues to engage wonder with kids now in Jake’s stories, as well as Disney’s latest, The Pirate Fairy.

7. True Friends Triumph

The storyline follows Zarina’s quest from dust keeper to pirate, and her struggle with authority. Will Zarina’s stubborn ways lead or astray forever? or will true friendship and forgiveness triumph. In Disney fashion, I think you know the answer to that question.

Frozen: Easter Eggs and Printables

March 20, 2014March 20, 2014 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

With the Frozen DVD and Blu-Ray hitting the shelves this week, we’re in a Frozen state of mind to say the least! In case you didn’t pre-order from Amazon, it looks like the major big box stores—Target, Toys R Us, Walmart—have Frozen on sale for $19.99 this week.

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And, of course, if you’re the totally digital family who doesn’t even bother with hard copies of anything, you’ve been watching Frozen day and night for several weeks, right?

So, in honor of Frozen, I thought it would be fun to re-visit some fun stuff found in the movie. Disney and Pixar is well known for their generous helpings of Easter Eggs throughout their movies. In case you haven’t already seen these, I thought I’d share the Frozen Easter Eggs as revealed in the Disney Blog!

Did you catch Eugene and Rapunzel at Queen Elsa’s coronation? They’re over here in the bottom left. I read some even cooler fan theories over here about Flynn Ryder and Rapunzel’s attendance. This would make total sense to me!

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And what about the chocolates that Anna is eating? Supposedly, these chocolates were also featured in Sugar Rush from Wreck It Ralph.

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One of the paintings from “The First Time in Forever” was also spotted on Tangled.

Lisa Swing Painting Part 21 Lisa Swing Painting Part 11

And, of course, the Mouse makes a very subtle cameo at Oaken’s Trading Post. Do you see him hiding on the first shelf?

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Frozen Printables

Beyond the movie itself, we’ve been having a blast playing Frozen-centric games and doing cool activities. During the push for the initial release of the movie, Disney Studios provided these fun activities and printables. We had a blast making dancing Olaf at our recent Disney Side Party! Check out the other activities below!

Be sure to save the below images to your computer to print out yourself!

Build an Olaf

Find Olaf Maze

Elsa and Anna coloring pages

Spot the difference

To download even more printables and fun games check out the link below:

Photo credits: Disney Studios

Super Buddies is fun, furry and family-friendly

August 26, 2013August 25, 2013 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Those adorable pups are back for another installment in Disney’s “Buddies” Franchise. Super Buddies, out tomorrow, August 27, is a fun, furry and family friendly adventure that follows the cutest caped crusaders. In Super Buddies, Budderball, Mudbud, B-Dawg, Buddha and Rosebud discover mysterious rings that grant them each a unique super power. Each pup has their own ability and are eager to rescue, despite the evil lurking in the form of a shape-shifting alien.
Since we’re major Disney fans, we got a big kick out of Super Buddies. Biggie, in fact, has watched the movie every chance he gets! I will say, though, the alien is a bit freakish, which made my 5 year old wince quite a bit. Beyond the eye-covering, Super Buddies makes for a fun family movie, and one that everyone giggled and enjoyed. Does it get any sillier than super hero puppies? The littles are sure to enjoy this one!

If you love Super Buddies and want to check out a clip before heading out to buy tomorrow, be sure to check out some clips. While you’re clicking, feel free to grab some fun activities at the below links.

Full disclosure: I was provided with a sample to facilitate this review. As always, all opinions on NKT are my own.

Yo Gabba Gabba Goodies: New Bedding, DVD and more

May 3, 2012May 4, 2012 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

There’s lots of good stuff on the horizon that our fellow Gabba fans will appreciate. Not only has DJ Lance and the crew taken over our tvs, toy box and tunes, but now, they’re helping the kids get cozy for bedtime.

A range of reasonably-priced, super cool YGG bedding in now available at Walmart. The Yo Gabba Gabba bedding that’s sure to be a hit with tune-loving tots includes a 4-piece toddler bedding set, a variety of blankets and some cool Pillow Pals.
We received a cool toddler blanket, just in time for a recent bug and bout with a double ear infection and then newborn congestion and cold. (ugh!) Needless to say, this cuddly blanket has been a comforting sidekick over the past few days. My 4yo has been clutching it day and night, and I don’t blame him. It’s so soft, warm and because of its smaller size, it’s totally portable. Even though it’s toddler-sized, it still does the trick for my tall guy.

Super Spies on DVD

And speaking of Yo Gabba Gabba goodness, there’s a new dvd that also recently hit the shelves. The hilarious Jason Bateman guest stars as a spy in the new four episode of Yo Gabba Gabba!, “Super Spies,” which debuted on DVD on April 17. Yo Gabba Gabba Super Spies is full of adventure and the usual Gabba fun, but with a quirky musical spy recovery mission mixed in. It’s been the perfect complement for our quarantined sick days as of late.

More YGG Goodness

And for even more Gabba-related coolness, in case you missed it, co-creator Scott Schultz was the keynote speaker at Kindiefest last weekend. The musical mecca of the coolest kid music, Kindiefest celebrates the best of the best in the kid indie musical scene. There was tons of great coverage, but I particularly loved my friend, Amy at Media Macaroni’s take on things. I’m so sad I missed Kindiefest yet again, but Amy’s recap of Schultz’s Keynote underscored my love for YGG AND made me feel like I was really there.

And just a little more Gabba goodness, I recently had the unique opportunity to interview the other co-creator of YGG, Christian Jacobs. I love interviewing fascinating people involved in the baby and kid space, but when I get to connect to inspiring creatives like Jacobs, that’s when I truly geek out. We chatted about the awesomeness that is The Aquabats, the show that’s been squatting on our DVR and reinventing our Saturday mornings. If you’re a Gabba fan or a fan of punk, or just a fan of quirky shows, tune to The Aquabats on The Hub at 11am on Saturday mornings. It’s wacky and weird, but oh so funny. I’ll post that interview soon!

NKT at CES 2011

January 6, 2011January 6, 2011 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Howdy from Las Vegas, everyone! As everyone was gearing up for the New Year and packing up their Christmas decor, I was fielding emails, setting up appointments and mentally preparing myself for the Consumer Electronics Show, the world’s largest technology conference.

What’s a blogger—more specifically, a blogger who focuses on kid stuff—doing at a tech conference?

I’m doing what most other members of the press are doing: checking out and reporting on the latest innovations in technology. Most importantly, what I’m here for, is to learn about all this new technology and how it intersects with families and kids.

This holiday season, I noticed that more and more handhelds for kids and gadgets lined the shelves of big box electronic stores. In the age of iPads and smartphones, apps help our kids to read stories, tablets are being harnessed for educational purposes and moms…well, we’re still doing most of the buying decisions, especially when it comes to technology throughout the entire house. It’s more than evident that technology is embraced by the entire family, with mom and kids influencing a good portion of the techy marketplace, now more than ever.

With CES officially opening today, I be on the look out for a superfluous amount of #CES tweets, my pictures on Flickr, and of course, some blog posts all about the family friendly tech gear that I find on the showroom floor.

Toy Story 3 Features Hidden Easter Eggs

November 4, 2010November 4, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

The highest grossing animated film of all time and one of our family’s favorite movies of the year (and maybe yours too?), Toy Story 3, was released on DVD and Blu-Ray earlier this week. We, of course, were first in line to grab our copies.

Since picking up our copy of TS3, it’s no surprise that we’ve watched it no less than four times already. Each time, I’ve found myself searching for even more quirky surprises that I missed before. Pixar is well known for hiding easter eggs in their films, so I thought I’d repost the link to a great site that shares many of those hidden gems of Woody, Buzz and the gang.

Slash Film did a great job dissecting some of the most important scenes in the film that were chock full of interesting tidbits, many of which reference other Pixar films and characters, with quite a few nods to next year’s Cars 2. One easter egg that I found interesting was the significance of the number of A113 found in several other Pixar flicks, just like TS3.

Watch This: Abby in Wonderland

March 1, 2010 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

With the upcoming release of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, the Tim Burton-directed adaptation of the classic story, Alice’s adventure and tea party is fresh on our minds.

In fact, another whimsical adaptation of Alice in Wonderland has us seeing the Cheshire Cookie Cat, the Grouch of Hearts and a fuzzy red rabbit.

Wait, what?

The always-precocious fairy-in-training, Abby Cadabby, stars in Abby in Wonderland, the Sesame Street version of this classic tale. In this re-release from Warner Home Video and Sesame Workshop, along with Elmo and several friends, Abby dreams that she takes a journey down a rabbit hole and bumps into some familiar friends along the way.

The kid, who is way too young for the latest Disney version of Alice in Wonderland, has fallen in love with Abby in Wonderland. Over the past week or so since receiving the review copy, we have watched Abby in Wonderland nonstop. It’s a 30-minute primer to the storybook classic that cutely incorporates a few Sesame Street characters who play Alice in Wonderland characters, and even has Abby and Elmo singing a few sweet tunes. This watered down version of Alice in Wonderland is a great alternative for preschoolers, especially those who have piqued interest in the eye-catching Disney commercials. And to boot, this DVD release comes with 5-song CD that features a few favorite Sesame Street hits.

Abby in Wonderland, the Sesame Street adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, goes on sale March 2, 2010 but of course, I have a copy for one NKT reader.

To win a copy of Abby in Wonderland, comment below and tell me who your favorite Alice in Wonderland character is and why.

For extra entries, share about this giveaway on any social media site and comment below. Sign up for the NKT newsletter below and get 2 extra entries. (If you’re already a subscriber, invite a friend to subscribe.) Please leave a comment for every entry.

This contest will end this Friday, March 5, 2010 at midnight. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will then be notified by email.