TinkerBell Flutterbye Fairies to Fly onto Shelves

Today, I’m heading to a media event where I’ll get to meet, and perhaps, interview the producer for the new Disney straight to DVD movie, Pirate Fairy.  I’ll have more about this cool flick, but in the meantime, I have fairies on my mind.

So, in honor of the stars of Pirate Fairy, I thought I’d highlight one of Spinmaster’s hottest toys: Flutterbye Fairies.  One of Christmas’ must-have toys, Flutterbye Fairies is set to add a few more fabulous flying friends.  Set to launch this Spring, TinkerBell is just one of the newest fairies to join this cool new line of toys.

 

Flutterbye Fairies Magically Flying Tinkerbell MSRP $34 99 copy 2

 

Like her fellow Flutterbye Fairy friends, TinkerBell will be able to dance, fly and flutter with the same kid-navigated technology.  The ability to control her flight path by simply hovering your hand underneath the doll is simply amazing!  Tink launches from her display stand and stops with the push of a button. In true Tink fashion, the TinkerBell Flutterbye features that signature green dress with a dash of pixie dust.

 

Flutterbye Fairies Magically Flying Tnkerbell Pkg MSRP $34 99 copy

For TinkerBell Fans, this new addition to the Flutterbye Fairies line is a magical move. TinkerBell Flutterbye Fairy from Spinmaster launches this Spring and will retail for $39.99

 

Want to hear more about Pirate Fairy, which is set to release on April 1?  Check out the extended sneak peek to see what the Fairies are up to in Pirate Fairy.

 

 

Frozen: Easter Eggs and Printables

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.  

FROZEN Box Art

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 21Lisa 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

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Find Olaf Maze

 

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Elsa and Anna coloring pages

 

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Spot the difference

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

 Download Frozen Activities

 

Photo credits: Disney Studios

Frozen’s “Love is an Open Door” Clip Released; Blu-Ray Combo Set to Release 3/18

With Frozen winning an Academy Award for best animated feature, among a few other accolades, the insta-classic Disney tale of two sisters is still all the buzz.  

FROZEN Box Art

Idina Menzel (or Adele Dazeem, depending on whom you ask) was just on Fallon last night belting out the movie’s signature song, accompanied by the Roots who played children’s’ toys.  It was epic to say the least.

 

 And since Frozen is still flying high this winter, the movie’s other star, Kristen Bell sings quite a few of our favorites.  Her duet with Santino Fontana (Hans) in Love is an Open Door was recently released exclusively by Disney Movies Anywhere. In case you weren’t aware, Disney Movies Anywhere is Disney’s all-new, cloud-based digital movie service. Frozen is now available digitally to own.

Santino Fontana was the prince in Broadway’s Cinderella so my older son and I are totally smitten with this clip.  To watch a Broadway star on stage and then to have him voice a Disney character is pretty cool for a young kid to appreciate.

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Photo credit: Theatermania

Frozen Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Combo Pack to be Released on March 18

With all this talk about Frozen, even though it’s already availably digitally, I’m excited about for when the Blu-Ray/DVD drops on March 18th.  Like many Blu-Ray and DVDs, Frozen will have quite a few exclusive features. 

Here are a few of the exclusive features that will be available on the Frozen Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital combo pack.

  • The Making Of Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)
  •  D’frosted: Disney’s Journey From Hans Christian Anderson to Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)
  • Breaking The Ice – The Real Making Of Frozen (Blu-ray, Digital)
  • 4 Deleted Scenes with introduction by Directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
  • Original Theatrical Short – “Get A Horse” (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)
  • “Let It Go” Music Videos by Demi Lovato, Martina Stoessel & Marsha Milan Londoh (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)
  • Frozen Teaser Trailer (Blu-ray, Digital & DVD)

Making of Frozen still with Jonathan Groff, Kristen Bell and Josh Gad MakingOfThumb 010 R

 

 If you’re anything like us, when we find a favorite movie, we watch it non-stop, sometimes til the disk breaks. We can’t wait for this release!

Super Buddies is fun, furry and family-friendly

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.

Download Activity Games

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

Review: Method Disney Foaming Hand Soap

Method, known for their eco-friendly household products, has partnered with Disney to produce kid-friendly Mickey and Minnie-themed foaming hand wash.  The Mickey and Minnie Mouse Foaming Hand Wash from Method are available in stores now.

The ingredients contained in the mouse-shaped dispenser all seem safe and “green”-er than some children’s products that I’ve seen.  And although it’s not yet listed on EWG’s Cosmetic Database, Method products seem to sway toward the good-fair ratings.

The Mickey Mouse Foaming Hand Wash does the trick, as far as getting the kid to wash his hands.  The foaming aspect of the soap and the subtle reminder of Mickey make it hard to forget to wash hands after using the bathroom.

The design of the packaging, like most Method products, is modern and aesthetically pleasing. I appreciate that the kid loves the Mouse-shape, while not compromising my modern tastes.  I usually don’t welcome too many cartoon characters in my bathroom, but how could I turn away the Mouse, when he’s all unobtrusive.

My main qualm about the Mickey Mouse Foaming Hand Wash is that the scent is a bit too perfumey and overpowering for me.  Perhaps we’re more used to unscented soaps, or something a little gentler, but I just didn’t think the lemonade scent was all that fruity.  When referencing Method’s ingredient list online, a red flag went up about the hand wash’s fragrance.  Listed as partial essential oil and partial synthetic fragrance, all I could think was, “but does it have phthalates?”  According to Method’s listing, this soap is phthalate-free, but the synthetic fragrance does make me ask a few questions.

At $4.50 for 8.5 fl oz, I would’ve loved to get a little more soap for the money.  You get what you pay for, and you can’t deny that the kids love it!  Nevertheless, we use Method products all throughout the house, and I’m sure the Mickey Mouse Foaming Hand Wash will find its way onto my shopping list.  It’s an effective, safe and fun cleaner that’s a”greener” alternative to other products geared to kids.

The Mickey and Minnie Mouse Foaming Hand Wash from Method can be found at stores that sell Method products, like Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Harmon and Babies R Us.  You can also find it online at my personal fave online retailer, Soap.com.

Check it

New to Soap.com and want 20%?  Feel free to use this code: JENR2049
If you enter the above code at checkout, you’ll get 20% off your first order (some restrictions may apply).  Soap.com will also donate $10 to one of the selected charities.  Double whammy.

Full disclosure: I received a product sample via The Mom Blogger’s Club to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions on NKT are my own.

Royal Wedding Fever

Despite the excessive media coverage of Will and Kate’s nuptials, it was hard not to ignore the elaborate details that came together for the whole world to see.  I originally had this post scheduled to post yesterday—before the wedding.  Obviously, that never happened.  And since the wedding happened today, I thought I’d share a few kid-related items that gave a nod to Prince William and the now Princess Kate’s Royal Wedding.

Kate Middleton Paper Dolls

As a little girl, I can barely remember Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ Royal Wedding, but what I do remember was THAT dress.  And perhaps, just like many of us thought of Will’s beloved mother in her gown 30 years ago, I’m willing to bet a generation of little kids will forever remember just how beautiful Princess Kate’s dress was today.

Princess Kate’s dress was a secret leading up to the moment she stepped out onto that Royal red carpet.  The Wedding watchers of the world let out a collective gasp when she revealed that lace and satin gown designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. I thought she looked demure and elegant, with the classic lines and modern details.  As one of the many people gawking at Kate’s dress, to get kids on the dress action, I particularly love Disney Family Fun’s paper dolls that you can print out online.  It’s basically the Disney princesses’ dresses with a brunette Princess that looks somewhat like Kate. Grab the glitter pen, crayon and help the kids create their versions of Princess Kate’s wedding dress.  If only there was a Wills Paper Doll to go along with Kate!



Lego Royal Wedding

Speaking of Wills…have I ever mentioned how much I love when people create Lego Art?  Or my love of Lego Mini Figures?  Check out the creativity of this Lego Royal Wedding featured over on BBC.  My favorite is I Thee Wed, although the real church scenes were much more romantic!  Be sure to check out the rest of the scenes!

Playmobil Special Correspondent

Playmobil has been cracking me up over on their FB page. They’ve had “Sarah” as a special correspondent covering the Royal Wedding all week.  Hilarious!

What Did We Pack? #DisneySMMoms Edition

Traveling, like writing and shopping, is one of my many passions.  But unfortunately, we just don’t get to do enough of it, other than occasional trips to visit our extended family who are spread across the U.S.

Now, combine a social media conference with Disney?  We’re so there, I thought.  After all these weekends working on our house, and the stress that’s come with it, we needed a vacation!  So, when the Disney Social Media Moms conference registration rolled around this year, I crossed my fingers and hoped that our stars would align.

As luck would have it, I got in this year…and well, here we are.

But before any vacation, comes the packing and shopping!

I love getting ready for vacation:  the packing, planning, excitement, but most importantly, the shopping!  And vacationing in the winter/early spring brings with it a boatload of sales.

Shopping for this trip turned out to be a double mission (kinda like this post!) I’d shop for new Spring clothes for the kid and also grab bargains for next season in the next size. By sharing what we packed, I also get to share some new fave products and fun clothes that I found for super cheap!

Last Fall, I posted about H&M’s awesome sale.  When I went back then I scored some 4T shorts for $5 each.  Not just any shorts, but cool shorts for boys that don’t make him look goofy.  Is it me, or do the fit on most pants/shorts for boys make them look like Steve Urkel?  Anyway, I love H&M for their trendy styles and affordability. Love.

Get a pair of shorts (or a few outfits) for Spring and Summer for the kids.  From now until March 27th you can get 20% off of your kids purchase with this coupon.

The Children’s Place is my go-to for inexpensive staples for the kid.  Khaki shorts, funky graphic tees, classic collared shirts–you name it, TCP is always one of my first stops.

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‘Tangled’ to Unravel at Theaters on November 24

In more movie news, maybe you’ve heard about another Disney flick that’s slated to hit screens in just a few weeks?  Y’know, the one that’s touting hair-raising adventures and quite literally, a lot of hair?  As in, 70 feet of golden hair.

Tangled, which is poised to be another Disney classic, is set to be released on November 24th, over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  Tangled follows the misadventures of Rapunzel, voiced by the dynamic Mandy Moore, and her “prince charming,” or rather, her unsuspecting hostage, Flynn Ryder, who is voiced by Zachary Levi, the handsome geek of NBC’s Chuck (one of my favorite shows.)

 

As an all-around Disney fan, I can’t wait to check Tangled out!  I’m looking forward to seeing the modern-day interpretation of Rapunzel, as I’m sure many of you guys are too!  I will be hitting a screening of the movie next week, so be on the look out for my thoughts and reviews, and maybe a surprise, too.
Speaking of which, Disney is spreading the Tangled excitement with a giveaway!

First Look: the New Muppets Movie

Walt Disney Studios are whetting our appetites with some new Muppets awesomeness.  The studios released this teaser and promotional image for the upcoming Muppets movie, which How I Met Your Mother star, Jason Segel co-wrote and is also the star.

What I love most about this image is the action and emotion that’s going on—all at once.  (They’re Muppets, I know.)  The teaser image is sort of Da Vinci-like with its storytelling, yet so indicative of the creativity and eclecticism of  the Jim Henson Studios. The guy holding the iPhone is my favorite.

The working title of the new Muppets movie is called, “The Greatest Muppet Movie of All Time.”  The way Segal and co-writer, Nick Stoller, made us laugh in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and with the new Muppets’ movie’s interesting storyline, plus all of the rumored cameos, will this new Muppets Movie live up to its title?

Here’s a cool quote from Stoller that first appeared in an interview elsewhere:

Basically, we’re gonna do an old school Muppet movie, where the Muppets have to put on a show to save the studio. It’s very simple. A big part of the movie is rounding up all the Muppets from around the world, because they’ve all been separated. So it’s collecting them and bringing them together to put on this big show. It should hearken back to Great Muppet Caper and Muppets Take Manhattan and those kinds of Muppet movies. Jason and I are having a lot of fun writing it. We want to get as many cameos and guest stars as possible. Jason will play a human ventriloquist, and his puppet is alive and wants to be a Muppet.

The Muppets are coming to a theater near you, but unfortunately, we’ll have to wait another year..  The beloved Muppets are set to release this new film during the 2011 holiday season.

Credit: Muppetwiki

Disney Pook-A-Looz are Cute, Edgy and Sweet

I’ve been reading some blurbs about the Licensing Expo that was recently held in Vegas.  Of the interesting information that was dispersed from the annual show that showcases all the hottest licenses in the industry, I was interested to see this one from Disney Consumer Products, which I’ll get into later.

Pook-A-Looz

Speaking of Disney, at the Time to Play Spring and Summer Showcase, Disney Consumer Products had a diverse selection of their latest toys.  Aside from the much-hyped Toy Story and the ever-popular Princesses toys, DCP had some new, but familiar faces.

DCP recently introduced Pook-A-Looz, a plush line of their classic characters who have received a modern-meets-vintage twist.  That probably doesn’t make too much sense, but according to Disney, Pook-A-Looz were designed to capture the personalities of iconic Disney characters in an edgy, offbeat way.  They’re said to be inspired by the urban vinyl toy culture, which began in Asia a decade ago.

 

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