Wordless Wednesday: Peaceful Slumber Edition

Can You Believe This?!?

I was watching The View the other day, cause of course that's the only way I ever get news unless it is on my google home page or a trending topic on Twitter.

They were talking about a couple in Arizona whose children were taken away from them temporarily after a WalMart employee turned over photos they had taken of their children partially nude during bathtime.

I could not believe this! I have taken pictures of my kids bathing or even in their undies because they are so frickin' adorable. Of course, I use a digital camera and never get photos printed at WalMart, but that's not the point. The point is that what was an innocent family photo op was turned into allegations of sexual abuse that have traumatized an entire family! On The View it said they lost custody for a month, but other things I've read said days to weeks. Either way, they should not have lost them at all. I know that people were doing their job by investigating, but just looking at the photos should have shown how harmless they were.

The couple is now suing the state of Arizona (they are from Peoria, IL) along with WalMart. What do you think about this?

Oh, and the couple's names are Anthony and Lisa Demaree and I believe their kids were all under 5 at the time the photos were taken. Here's another link if you'd like to read more.

October is Thrilling! TCM

As I think I've pointed out (cause you know more about me than you ever wanted to!) my favorite genre is horror, followed by comedy. But, thrillers are up there because some thrillers have a horroresque in nature, but I love whodunits and mystery! October is full of thrillers at Turner Classic Movies (TCM), a channel that I've long since adored. I'll take a Jean Arthur comedy anyday over something as mindless as Paul Blart Mall Cop. Not to mention some of the class thrillers like The Bad Seed any anything Hitchcock.

To kick off the month of October, TCM is airing A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers, an hour long look into the genre of thriller. Think of it as Film Studies 101 tutorial that gives an in-depth look at the different types of thrillers, tools used in the trade and interviews with well-known directors, authors, hosts and stars.

This begins a new series that will include future installments from other genres followed by a month of movies related to that genre that air on Fridays. The Suspenseful World of Thrillers was written, produced and directed by Laurent Bouzereau and is made in cooperation with DreamWorks Television. Mark your calendars for October 2nd to see the world premiere of this special. Here is the list of movies planned for the month:

Friday, Oct. 2 – Thrillers and Hitchcock

8 p.m. A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers (2009) – premiere.

9 p.m. Rear Window (1954), starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly.

11 p.m. A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers (2009) – encore.

Midnight Shadow of a Doubt (1943), starring Joseph Cotten and Teresa Wright.



Friday, Oct. 9 – Political Thrillers

8 p.m. The Manchurian Candidate (1962), starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Angela Lansbury and Janet Leigh.

10:15 p.m. The Parallax View (1974), starring Warren Beatty and Hume Cronyn.

Midnight The Boys from Brazil (1978), starring Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck.



Friday, Oct. 16 – Crime Thrillers

8 p.m. The Narrow Margin (1952), starring Charles McGraw and Marie Windsor.

9:30 p.m. A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers (2009) – encore.

10:30 p.m. Lured (1947), starring George Sanders, Lucille Ball and Charles Coburn.

12:30 a.m. The Lodger (1944), starring Merle Oberon and George Sanders.



Friday, Oct. 23 – Gothic Thrillers

8 p.m. The Night of the Hunter (1955), starring Robert Mitchum, Lillian Gish and Shelley Winters.

10 p.m. Dragonwyck (1946), starring Gene Tierney, Walter Huston and Vincent Price.

Midnight Rebecca (1940), starring Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier and Judith Anderson.



Friday, Oct. 30 – Psychological Thrillers

8 p.m. Gaslight (1944), starring Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten and Angela Lansbury.

10 p.m. Night Must Fall (1937), starring Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell and Dame May Whitty.

Midnight Psycho (1960), starring Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles and Martin Balsam.

Be sure to check them all out or head to TCM for more information!

Bill Hader as Keith Morrison Rocks My World!!!

As you all know, I value hilarity as much as I value life... pretty highly. I also find humor to be very endearing! Anyway, Bill Hader (SNL) does this hilarious bit where he portrays Keith Morrison of Dateline. He's done it several times, but I thought I'd share a clip for you that I found on YouTube. Oh, Dateline and SNL are both NBC productions. Enjoy!

Wizards On Deck With Hannah Montana DVD Review

Oh, Disney, when will you stop surprising me with your ability to capitalize on every show you have in every way possible? Disney has cleverly come up with a full length movie that features characters from Wizards of Waverly Place, The Suite Life on Deck and Hannah Montana. And I'm starting to realize that I have a bizarre fascination with Miley Cyrus, so pretty much I'm willing to watch anything she's in.

All three shows collide when the kids show up on a cruise to Hawaii for different reasons. Their wacky antics, tween related problems and all the hyped up drama that it entails makes for an interesting combination. I wish I could say I hated it, but I didn't. It was cute and fun! Special features also include behind the scenes footage, cast bloopers and more.

Family Time Factor: Not something toddlers would watch, but not unbearable for parents. I would say for ages six and up.

MOTR Grade: B

Disney's Wizards On Deck with Hannah Montana is now available on DVD!!!

Anecdote for the Day

So as you may or may not know, my little sassypants, A, will be four in December. She's one sharp cookie, if I do say so myself.

Anyway,

Yesterday she was talking about how cranky everyone was and I said to her, "your mama's cranky!" (I'm super mature.) To this she responds, "I know! You're my mom and YOU.ARE.CRANKY!"

I love it! (Remind me that I said this when she's 16.)

Dear Dairy Queen

For the past 27 years, I have been on a quest for the meaning of life. Never would I have guessed that the road to happiness that leads to the meaning of life is paved with moolattes and quesadillas!

As an avid Arby's lover (connoisseur, if you will)I have long been loving their jamocha shakes. The first time my lips touched the straw to a moolatte, inhaled the coffee aroma and then tasted the delectable nectar of the Gods, I forgot what the jamocha even is! There is nothing on earth that compares to its creamy, coffee goodness...

Then there's the quesadilla. Despite the slogan, "hot eats, cool treats," I'd go as far as to assume that not many people consider Dairy Queen a place to go for anything other than ice cream. However, they owe it to their taste buds to do just that! The black olive is underrated. The mixture that you put into your quesadillas makes me want to die of bliss... it is THAT good... cheese... veggies... chicken.... olives... I see nothing worthy of complaints.

I would go as far as to wonder if on the seventh day when God supposedly rested if he was not perfecting the moolatte recipe, but it isn't in the Bible because he was worried someone would steal it... but you have... and I'm not sure stealing from God is a good thing, but in your case, I'll allow it (just don't tell God.)

In closing, despite the unhealthy amount of calories, and despite my fear of gluttonous retribution, I would go as far as to say that I could eat your quesadillas and drink your moolattes every day until I die.

Sincerely,
hamsterkitten

Jonas: Rockin' the House DVD Review

What's not to love about the Jonas Brothers? Besides everything, that is. I'm pretty sure that these boys made some kind of pact with the devil in order to become famous, but that is a little harsh.

So Disney, in its infinite wisdom (and money hungry ways) decided to cash in on the "fame" of the Jonas Brothers and give them their own TV show. I know they've been in Camp Rock and what not, but apparently that was not enough airtime... they needed 30 minutes every week.

In Rockin' the House, you get five episodes of Jonas along with two full world premiere bonus episodes and "You've Just Been Jo Bro'd" (I think I just threw up in my mouth a bit) which is a featurette that has the brothers surprising one of their co-stars.

The shows are pretty much what you'd expect. Each episode is about a trio of brothers who are going through the normal teenage situations... but they're also in a famous band. (I'm sure it was a stretch for their acting abilities.)

Family Time Factor: I think this mostly appeals to girls ages 10-14.

MOTR Grade: D+

Jonas: Rockin' the House is available now on DVD!!!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Plus CNN Story)

As you may or may not know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I thought I'd bring it up early so that you can get a jump start on thinking of ways you might be able to help. Whether it's something as small as putting a pink ribbon on your twitter avatar or something as big as becoming an advocate, it's a worthy cause to get behind. I highly recommend the Susan G. Komen site.

Also, I wanted to provide the link to a story done by Campbell Brown of CNN about a mom who got fired for breastfeeding in the work place. If you're a breastfeeding mom, have ever been, or plan to be, you owe it to yourself to watch this!

http://campbellbrown.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/17/mom-breastfeeding-cost-me-my-job/#more-1486

iCarly Season 2 Volume 1 DVD Review & Giveaway!!!

One of Nickelodeon's breakout hits has been iCarly. It stars Miranda Cosgrove (School of Rock cutie, Drake & Josh regular) as Carly, a girl who becomes a quasi celebrity in Seattle after broadcasting a webshow starring herself and her friend Sam. Carly's friend Freddie is the technology guy for their show.

Carly lives with her older brother Spencer and he is her legal guardian. This leads to the possibility of much more shenanigans and hijinks than when you're under parental supervision.

Each episode has Carly living out her regular life, without letting her fame get to her head. She is an intelligent and honest girl, which makes her a good character for young children to watch.

Another great element of iCarly is the fact that it is very now and current because Carly's show is on the internet. Kids will appreciate that it's not the same old boring storylines that could be transposed into any given decade.

This is the first volume to be released for season two and it features eleven episodes on two discs. It includes the "iGo to Japan" TV Movie, making of, behind the scenes and other fun extras!

Family Time Factor: This is not really something older teens would probably enjoy. It's more of a tween thing or perhaps a bit younger. Parents can appreciate it's good plots and appropriate content, but isn't likely to be enjoyed as an entire family venture.

MOTR Grade: B-

iCarly Season 2, Volume 1 is available now!!!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS!!!

I have one copy to giveaway! Contest is open to US and Canada residents and ends October 3 at noon. You can enter as many times as you'd like as long as it adheres to one of the following entry options.

To enter:

1) Visit my new creative outlet blog, Miss Advice and tell me which post you liked/disliked most and why.

2) Digg this, tweet this or post a link on your website.

3) Subscribe to this site (new subscribers only) or Miss Advice (new only).

4) Follow me or Miss Advice on Twitter.

Giveaway Winners!

The winner of the Monkey Business Sports Giveaway is:

joeandbridge

And the winners of A Glove of Their Own book are:

Donna
mom2anutball
kristy
mail4rosey
purango

Congratulations to the winners and thanks to everyone that entered! I have several more giveaways coming up (as soon as I muster up the energy to post them.) So keep checking back, tweeting and reading! You're all awesome!

I'm Honing My Skills

So I had this interesting conversation with a fellow grad student the other day. I'm going to say this is all hypothetical in case any of my professors read this (which I'm sure they won't) so it could all be a lie. (But it's not.)

Since grad school has started and towards the end of undergrad, I had perfected the art of bullshitting. I like to call it "rhetoric." (This is to annoy my classmates who may be reading this.) My memory is about as long as that of a goldfish. I believe I've posted about this before. So, if I sit down to read an assigned text, not only will I not remember what I read five minutes later or which text said what, but I am so bored I want to stab out my left eye with a stick. And there's something about me that abhors boredom. So, I have since adopted the philosophy that my goal will be to get the same grade as my friends who read 24/7, but I will not actually read. So far it has worked perfectly! One of the major differences I've found in grad school is that professors appreciate the value of discussion over most everything else. By discussion, they figure out if you understand what you're learning/reading. And you can bet I'm always one of the first to raise my hand and I'm a huge participant in all discussions... but I don't read the assignments. I like to think I just learn quickly and know a little about a lot.

Now I'm starting to sound cocky, so I'll move on. I've also made several friends. I love it! And we've started a weekly Wednesday night gathering where every Wednesday we go out after class and hang until the wee hours. This works great for me because I get to sleep in on Thursday mornings. Plus, by the time I would have returned home from class, the kids would be asleep anyway.

Last night was the first week of said shindiggery and it was a blast. Fortunately, what happens in Macomb stays in Macomb, but I will say that I had the pleasure of my first field sobriety test and I passed! Hooray! Being arrested is on my bucket list, but I'm saving that until I can pass it off as being a "crazy old lady." Speaking of bucket lists, sometime before I die I want to save a pig that is on the way to be slaughtered.

Okay, time to pay some bills and do some reviews!

Power Rangers RPM: Race for Corinth DVD Review

If you're unfamiliar with the Power Rangers, they're a group of crime fighting teenagers with different colored suits on. Each has come from a different background, but has become a power ranger for different reasons. They have their own abilities and their own personalities that make them unique.

In Race for Corinth the Power Rangers must face an evil army of mechanized “Grinders.” Battling from the doomed city of Corinth, Dr. K’s elite team of teenage heroes face the sinister Venjix Computer Network, which is intent on taking over the world’s communication and defense systems. I'm gonna leave it up to you to decide if the Power Rangers will succeed or if they will all be obliterated and never heard from again.

Personally, I am not a fan of the Power Rangers. I never understood the hype. If you take it at face value and consider the age group that it is supposed to entertain, I suppose that it is good, clean fun and it's just another group of heroes out to save the world- is that a bad thing?

Family Time Factor: Definitely something that is geared towards (probably boys) ages like 7-12. Not really something that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

MOTR Grade: C-

Power Rangers RPM: Race for Corinth is available now on DVD!!!

Alvin and the Chipmunks Star Wreck and The Very First Alvin Show DVD Reviews

Alvin and the Chipmunks has been a beloved classic since 1961. There have been many a movie, series and musical experience spawned from the very original. My personal favorite has always been The Chipmunk Adventure, but I'm always interested in sharing more great ones with my kids when I come upon them.

The Very First Alvin Show has never before been released on DVD. It is the first show that was broadcast back in 1961. This DVD features that episode along with two bonus episodes: A Chipmunk Reunion and Rockin' Through the Decades.

Star Wreck is an Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies feature. A spoof of Star Trek, Alvin stars as Captain Dirk, Simon is Mr. Speck, Brittany is Uhaha and Theodore is Dr. McRoy, who has been abducted by aliens. Along with this movie, there are two bonus episodes: Elementary, My Dear Simon and Chip Tracy.

As aforementioned, I loved the Chipmunk Adventure as a kid, but find the chipmunks to be rather annoying in general. They have been shoved down our throats too much and I just want it to stop. I did not enjoy the first episode because it's like watching beginning seasons of the Simpsons where the old animation drives you nuts. Plus, I didn't find it funny. The spoof Star Wreck was cute and clever, but not being a Star Trek fan at all, I didn't really like the plot.

Family Time Factor: Kids like the cartoons, some adults do as well, so I'd say it spans the ages.

MOTR Grade: D+ and C+

These two Alvin and the Chipmunks titles are available now on DVD!!!

Wordless Wednesday: Cute Pics That Were in a Forward I Received

MOTR Recipe: Easy Cheesy Tuna Casserole

This is another favorite in my house. And I'm all about easy but tasty food!

Ingredients:

1 can tuna (drained)
1 can cream of mushroom
1 package of mac and cheese (any kind- can even use the kind that has the cheese sauce)

Optional:
onions
tomato
fried onions
shredded cheese
frozen peas or corn

Prepare the mac and cheese according to package instructions. Add cream of mushroom and tuna. Mix together. Throw in onions and any other optional ingredients you want. Keep on low on burner until everything is heated through. If you want you can throw it in the oven for a thicker sauce and to melt shredded cheese if you added it.

That's it! It's super easy and tastes yummy! Everyone in my family likes it.

X-Men Volumes 3 and 4 DVD Review

Marvel Comics has teamed up with Buena Vista Entertainment/Walt Disney to bring all you comic book junkies X-Men in animated comic form. (You can now jump up and down with excitement.)

Volume 3 features The Dark Phoenix, which inhabits the body of Jean Grey. Enter the X-Men who must battle with evil forces in order to save Jean. This 2 disc set contains 15 episodes, which includes the four part "Dark Phoenix" saga.


Volume 4 features Beyond Good and Evil. Surprise, the X-Men are battling evil forces in this saga as well. Apocalypse is a mighty mutant who has been driven mad by his powers. What do you think? Can the X-Men prevail or will they be obliterated from existence never to be heard from again? This 2 disc set contains 14 episodes.

I think that hardcore fans will love seeing their favorite comic come to life with brilliant, colorful animation that is true to the comic pictures themselves. The plots are entertaining and it is easy to see how people become lifelong fans.

Family Time Factor: X-Men can be enjoyed by all ages and since its animated, your youngsters will probably like watching it as well. I hesitate to point out that I think it is geared more towards males, for fear I will get a stiletto to the eyeball.

MOTR Grade: B+

X-Men Volumes 3 and 4 releases on DVD today!!!

Wendy's Boneless Chicken Wings Review

I'm a big fan of Wendy's as a choice when I'm in a rush and have to go through the drive thru. Mainly because they have so many other choices besides burgers and fries and they are super affordable. I love the chili and the fact that they have baked potatoes. Their dollar menu rocks my world, lol. My only complaint is the toys in their kids menus. In fact, I had previously written them a letter about this.

While trying to be different and offer a variety, Wendy's has come up with a new line of boneless chicken wings. Made with 100% whole chicken breast, the wings get hand tossed in one of three flavors: Bold Buffalo, Honey BBQ, or Sweet & Spicy Asian. I really like the honey bbq, but am not brave enough to try the buffalo- I'm a wuss when it comes to spice! The asian ones were okay, but not my favorite. The price is not unreasonable either, but I would like to see them offer five for 99 cents like they do regular nuggets. I don't know if this will ever happen, but I think it would be a good idea for them to make more money.

If you love Wendy's or need an idea for something different the next time you get fast food, try something new! The boneless wings are great for kids, too because most kids love chicken and they are easy to eat! (Make sure you have wipes on hand, though!) Plus, there's no need for a kids meal when the toys are kinda lame. (I always ask for a 3 and under toy cause my kids like it better, just an FYI.)

If you've tried them, tell me what you think. If you haven't, try them and then tell me what you think... or you can tell me how much you love it when they have the mushroom and cheddar melt sandwich... mmmmmmmm....

Anyone Have the Time?

With so many analogies about time, you'd think I would have experienced such an issue with it before. There is just not enough time in the day! Especially when you're someone like me who enjoys a good night's sleep (not that I've had one in awhile, just saying.)

Let me tell you a little bit about a typical week for me. I'm not whining or complaining or expecting pity, just saying! Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I leave for school at 10:30am. I get home from work/school at around 9pm. The only break I get during this time is about an hour and a half between work and class. Sunday I work and am gone for 5 hours. Throughout the rest of the week, I have stuff I sell on ebay, I have to write reviews of the stuff being sent to me, read for school, do homework, respond to emails and promote my blog/socialize on Twitter to keep the followers coming.

Then, add to this the fact that I have a 19 month old and a three year old. I get up with them every morning and take them to daycare the three days I have class. I also have everything that's associated with children/household management. There's laundry, cooking, cleaning, picking up toys, playing with the kids, doctor appointments, grocery buying, dishes and so on and so on.

I thrive on being busy, but sometimes I feel like I have to pick and choose what I have time to do. Plus, I want to be able to socialize from time to time as well, but it is a rarity. I want to make sure to give plenty of time to my family, but in order to do so, I find myself going to bed later and later every night or waking up at 4am and not being able to go to sleep because I have so much stuff I feel I could be doing instead.

Okay, so maybe this sounds like a complaint, but I guess I'm just venting. I know it was my choice to go back to school and I feel it is an absolute must if I ever want to make decent money. It's just unfortunate that no one cares about how much "stress" I'm under but me... if only I had a maid, babysitter and chef living in my home, it might be a little easier.

Thanks for listening to me rant!

The Art of Cleaning

I noticed Hoarders was a trending topic on Twitter last night and it inspired me to blog. Growing up, I was a pretty bad hoarder. My room looked like a rat's nest, full of useless things that I just refused to let go of. I also tended to hoard animals.

As I've gotten older, I've learned that I want to be an anti-hoarder. Now my parents have many great attributes, but organization is not one of them. I'll spare the details of their clutter, but it has scared me out of being a hoarder. I notice on the show that most people who hoard have some psychological reason for it that needs to be resolved in order to let go. For instance, I remember one man who refused to give away anything that reminded him of his dead mother because memories was all he had. I feel him. I used to absolutely refuse to part with anything my mom gave me because I felt guilty if I did.

I'm over it.

I loooooove getting rid of stuff! Be it the Salvation Army, ebay or the trash can, I'm constantly looking for things to get rid of. Unfortunately, there's too much stuff that I can't get rid of because it is not mine or I need it for school, cleaning, etc.

Last week we started going through our hall closets that were packed. Each year I find myself more and more willing to let go and it makes cleaning that much nicer. At some point we hope to tear this house down and put up a new one, so not having all the junk lying around will make moving so much easier.

Do you watch Hoarders, know of any hoarders or are you a hoarder yourself? I'd love to hear some horror stories!

Disney Princess Enchanted Tales Follow Your Dreams DVD Review

I am sure I am just one of the millions of moms out there whose daughter is going through a Disney Princess phase. She wants to be a princess, dresses up like a princess, collects princess barbies and in general expects to own everything princess related. Her favorite is Cinderella and she watches it ALL THE TIME. Since I was a Disney fanatic in my youth, I don't mind at all!

I was excited to have the opportunity to review this Enchanted Tales DVD because I knew my daughter would eat it up PLUS it has music and teaches a moral- believing in oneself. Any anything that tricks my kids into learning is awesome!

Follow You Dreams features the princesses Jasmine and Aurora.

The bonus disc set includes:

*Exclusive footage of Disney’s newest princess from Princess and the Frog.

*Two never-before-seen music videos featuring Cinderella and Mulan.

Original DVD Bonus Features includes:

*”Aurora Dress-Up” game

*”Find Sahara” game

*”You’ll Never Lose This Love” music video featuring Belle

One thing I would like to point out that irks me is that there is a preview for the upcoming "The Princess and the Frog" movie. This movie has been advertised for AT LEAST a year... and everytime my daughter sees a preview or commercial for it, she begs me to buy it for her. I have to explain each time that it hasn't even come out in the theater so I can't buy it. Come on, Disney... pleeeeeeeeeeease don't do that to parents! Hurry up and put the freaking movie out already and quit hyping it up!

Family Time Factor: Obviously more girl oriented and probably for ages 12 and under.

MOTR Grade: B+

Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams is available on DVD today!!!

National Child Protection Week 2009

Today is the beginning of National Child Protection Week. I received a forward that reminded me of it and it held a very powerful poem and photos inside that I wanted to share with my readers. All children deserve to be loved and sometimes it takes outsiders to protect them from those that are supposed to be giving them the world. There are many organizations out there that have more information about helping prevent child abuse, NAPCAN is one. Please, please, please don't let child abuse go unreported!!!

"My name is Sarah
I am but three,
My eyes are swollen
I cannot see.

I must be stupid,
I must be bad,
what else could have made
my daddy so mad?

I wish I were better,
I wish I weren't ugly,
then maybe my Mommy
would still want to hug me.

I can't speak at all,
I can't do a wrong
or else I'm locked up
all the day long.

When I wake I'm all alone
the house is dark
my folks aren't home.

When my Mommy does come
I'll try and be nice,
so maybe I'll get just
one whipping tonight.

Don't make a sound!
I just heard a car
my daddy is back
from Charlie's Bar.

I hear him curse
my name he calls
I press myself
against the wall.

I try and hide
from his evil eyes
I'm so afraid now
I'm starting to cry.

He finds me weeping
he shouts ugly words,
he says its my fault
that he suffers at work.

He slaps me and hits me
and yells at me more,
I finally get free
and I run for the door.

He's already locked it
and I start to bawl,
he takes me and throws me
against the hard wall.

I fall to the floor
with my bones nearly broken,
and my daddy continues
with more bad words spoken.

'I'm sorry!' I scream
but its now much too late
his face has been twisted
into unimaginable hate.

The hurt and the pain
again and again
oh please God, have mercy!
oh please let it end!

And he finally stops
and heads for the door,
while I lay there motionless
sprawled on the floor.

My name is Sarah
and I am but three,
tonight my daddy
murdered me."

Gayle Jones Staples, 1975 ?

Terry Fator Live From Las Vegas DVD Review

America's Got Talent has expired in my book of interests, but I used to be an avid viewer! I was so torn at the end of the season that Terry Fator won, because it was between him and this sweet teddy bear of a guy who sang and played guitar. I wanted Terry to win because he was HILARIOUS, but I wanted the other guy to win because he loved to sing, but couldn't pay the bills singing and he had a wife and kids. So I was not mad at all when Fator won, but will someone find the other guy and give him a million dollars?

Terry Fator was born for Vegas. He is a very unique ventriloquist in that his puppets are gorgeous, he does excellent vocal impressions, especially past singers, and is very funny! His act could become a lifelong hit in my impression.

Now, you are able to enjoy Terry Fator live on your television. This DVD is 71 minutes of pure entertainment!

Family Time Factor: I think this dvd spans all ages because kids will enjoy the puppets and adults will enjoy the humor.

MOTR Grade: B+

Terry Fator Live From Las Vegas is available now on DVD and Blu-Ray!!!

Here are some interesting tidbits about Terry Fator:

·Terry was the winner of NBC’s popular show “America’s Got Talent” – Summer 2007’s most watched TV program, averaging 12 MILLION viewers a night.

·Terry returned to “America’s Got Talent” this season to perform.

·Terry has performed on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

·Terry signed a 5-year $100 million dollar deal with The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. He performs 48 weeks a year, 5 sold out nights a week in the newly built Terry Fator Theatre.

·He is the author of the recently released autobiography, Who’s The Dummy Now?

Dear Tide (Guest Post)

I did not write this, but I sure wish I had! Sarah forwarded it to me and I laughed my arse off. Also, if you are a loyal follower, you know that I write humorous letters to businesses entitled "Dear (Business)."

The letter goes as follows:

"Dear Tide:

I am writing to say what an excellent product you have! I've used it all of my married life, as my mom always told me it was the best. Now that I am in my forties I find it even better!

In fact, about a month ago, I spilled some red wine on my new white blouse. My inconsiderate and uncaring husband started to belittle me about how clumsy I was, and generally started becoming a pain in the neck. One thing led to another and somehow I ended up with his blood on my new white blouse! I grabbed my bottle of Tide with bleach alternative, and to my surprise and satisfaction, all of the stains came out! In fact, the stains came out so well the detectives who came by yesterday told me that the DNA tests on my blouse Were inconclusive and then my attorney called and said that I was no longer considered a suspect in the disappearance of my husband.

What a relief! Going through Menopause is bad enough without being a murder suspect! I thank you, once again, for having a great product. Well, gotta go. Have to write to the Hefty bag people."

The original email was sent by:

Diana Petruzzi
Outside Buyer
diana.petruzzi@mannpacking.com

And I don't know if she wrote it or found it and started forwarding... kudos to whomever is the author, though!

Monkey Business Sports Review & SpiderBall Toy Giveaway!

As a mom, the kind of toys my kids play with is very important to me. I want them to be fun, but safe and something that they can get hours of enjoyment with. If you've never heard of Monkey Business Sports, you're missing out (and so are your children!) They have improved some old classics and brought forth some new and innovative toys.

Having young children, I have certain requirements when looking for a toy. SpiderBall fits most of those requirements. SpiderBall is a rubber ball with wiggly legs. The ingenious part about it is that you don't have to worry about the ball rolling away. Most young children (and parents) don't want to go chase a bouncy ball half a mile away. The "spider" aspect of this ball adds a cute character, but the legs prevent the ball from rolling off. Each SpiderBall has its own name and a little bit of a story to go along with it. Not to mention, they are reasonably priced!

When you visit Monkey Business Sports website, you definitely should check out their outlet store for awesome deals on unpackaged and discontinued items! You can get toys for up to 40% off!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Monkey Business Sports is offering one lucky reader a free SpiderBall! Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and is open until noon on September 19.

To enter:

Visit Monkey Business Sports' website and leave a comment below about a different toy that you think your kids would like.

2) Follow them on Twitter or become a fan of theirs on Facebook.

3) Digg, post, tweet, etc. this contest.

Good luck!

A Glove of Their Own Book Review & Giveaway- GREAT CAUSE!!! (Second Round)

Back by popular demand and wonderful reason for more exposure...

A Glove of Their Own is a children's book, that goes far beyond the pages of the book itself. The story is timeless and tells about one of those neighborhood ballgames where the bases are made of sticks and what few gloves are had get shared between players. And then there's the man who comes in with a special gift for the children that reminds them about the importance of giving and having compassion in your heart for those in need.

A Glove of Their Own is also a movement. So many youth out there are underprivileged and don't enjoy city organizations like Little League or Pee Wee League. We encourage these youths to stay off the streets, become educated and enjoy clean fun, but they need help to do so. By showing these children that people care, it inspires them to do good with their life and in turn, pay forward the goodness that was bestowed on them.

There are many organizations right now currently raising money, working with athletes (athlebrities) and companies to help gain funds for sports programs or equipment in areas where it is not available. I urge you to donate or get behind these programs as they are FANTASTIC and as a parent, it is important for me to back things that keep kids doing what kids SHOULD be doing without having to worry about adult issues like the economy and hardships.

Visit A Glove of Their Own's website or email them at agototellus@aol.com for more information!

A special thanks to Bob Salomon, Lisa Funari-Willever and Franklin Mason Press for the opportunity to host this giveaway!

A Glove Of Their Own was written by Debbie Moldovan, Keri Conkling and Lisa Funari-Willever and was illustrated by Lauren Lambiase.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

I have FOUR copies of this book available for giveaway!!! It is open to US Residents only and ends September 18 at noon.

To enter:

1) Tell me about something generous that you have done for someone else or something that someone has done for you.

2) Tweet, digg, stumble or post a link to this giveaway somewhere and comment below.

3) Follow my blog (new subscribers only) or follow my Miss Advice site via feedburner or google reader.

My Current Job

I've had several people ask me about the job that I have at WIU, so I thought I'd share a bit about it with everyone. I am a tutor at the University Writing Center. I love it! I get to help people work on everything from resumes to research papers to crossword puzzles, lol. I'm even listed in the directory! (Although they haven't put up my bio yet.)

And apparently once upon a time (or last year) they made a video about it... check it out!!!

SpongeBob DVD Winner!

Congratulation to the winner of the SpongeBob Squarepants DVD!

Kathy Pease

Thanks to everyone that entered! I have two new giveaways starting as soon as I get them posted, one for a book and one for a toy, plus other DVD giveaways will be coming soon! Please keep checking in for more great posts!

Little Einsteins Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff DVD Review

Playhouse Disney is excellent at figuring out ways to keep preschoolers and toddlers entertained! Little Einsteins is just another of their genius programs.

If you're unfamiliar with the show,

"Originally created as a television series specifically for preschoolers in 2005, Disney Little Einsteins was developed with child development experts and musicians. The lovable and diverse cast of Little Einsteins – Leo, June, Quincy, Annie and Rocket – each bring a special talent to the group of spirited adventurers. Leo is six years old, loves music, and is the conductor of the group. Annie is four years old and Leo’s sister. She loves to sing and can make up a song on the spot. She’s also the only one who can fly Rocket all by herself. Quincy is an instrument virtuoso who plays any instrument he gets his hands on. He’s five years old and especially likes the trumpet and violin. Quincy tells great jokes as well! June is six years old and loves dancing. Her leaps, spins and twirls help change the direction of each mission. Rocket is the best friend of all four children. He has lots of gadgets, and can transform himself into anything
imaginable."

This DVD features 4 episodes including the never before seen Fire Truck Rocket, in which the Little Einsteins must travel all over the planet in order to save the day. This helps teach children about travel, foreign countries along with other important educational components.

My kids loved this show! We weren't familiar with it before, but it is now a staple in our home. And of course, if my kids love it, I love it.

Family Time Factor: I'd say 6 and under.

MOTR Grade: A-

Little Einsteins Fire Truck Rocket's Blastoff is available on DVD September 8th!!!

Bedknobs and Broomsticks: Enchanted Musical Edition DVD Review

I'm sure there's thousands of people out there who are giddy with excitement over Disney finally releasing a deluxe edition of Bedknobs and Broomsticks on DVD... call me cynical, but I'm not one of them.

I'll take Angela Lansbury in Murder She Wrote or as the voice of the teapot in Beauty & the Beast over her witch character in this movie any day!

In 1971 when this movie first released, I think there were a lot of people who were still "hungover" from the sixties. The shrooms had not lost their effect and the trippiness of Bedknobs appealed to a whole generation of people out there. However, I have never been a fan of movies that have humans and animation... it just is too unrealistic.

The premise of this movie is that a witch, 3 kids and a conman try to figure out a way to keep England safe during World War II using magic. Many mishaps and adventures ensue that I presume are supposed to be funny. I'm bitter.

The bonus features are fantastic for those that loved the movie and consider it a classic. You get to learn all about how the special affects were done as well as have the opportunity to hear from some of the people who made the movie what it was. Since I was not a big fan of the movie, the bonus features didn't really thrill me or make me want to watch it again, lol.


Family Time Factor: In theory, it can span any ages.

MOTR Grade: C-

Bedknobs and Broomsticks releases on DVD September 8!!!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Adventures in Wonderland DVD Review!

After the reaction my son had the first time he saw Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, I have become a loyal fan! Therefore, any DVD that comes out is a must have!

This newest DVD is a full length movie and has a new twist on the Alice in Wonderland tale spun only the way that Mickey and the gang can do!

If you're unfamiliar with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, it's one of the staples on Playhouse Disney and is geared towards toddlers and preschoolers. Both my kids love it. I think it's very educational. Kids learn letters, numbers, colors, vocabulary, but don't realize it because the show is so fun!

Family Time Factor: Probably best enjoyed by kids 6 and under. Not terrible to watch as a parent, but I'd much rather be cleaning, lol.

MOTR Grade: A

Mickey's Adventures in Wonderland releases on DVD Sept. 8!!!

Wordless Wednesday: Misc. New Pics Edition

Disneynature Earth Blu-Ray Review

I am a sucker for documentaries, nature, animals and especially documentaries that showcase nature and animals! I think I'm a total nerd at heart (and perhaps part tree hugger) and these things fascinate and entertain me like none other!

So, color me excited when I heard that Disneynature was putting out a Blu-Ray that highlighted the lives of whales, elephants and polar bears in their natural habitats. The imagery, the stories, the adorableness and the learning aspect made Earth so fun for me to watch! (And who doesn't love voiceovers by James Earl Jones?!) I watched it with my 3 year old daughter who found it exciting, too, but probably didn't care so much about the learning aspect.

Being on Blu-Ray made the picture reminiscent to what you might expect to see in an IMAX theater. The color and clarity were breathtaking! The bonus features were also a great addition to the whole experience! The making of featurette really showed you how incredibly difficult it was to get some of this amazing footage. It's great that people are so determined to expose the world to things they can't see in their backyard.

Also, if you buy the Blu-Ray it comes with a bonus copy on DVD.


Family Time Factor: I definitely recommend it for the whole family because it's educational and enjoyable.

MOTR Grade: A

Disneynature Earth is available on Blu-Ray and DVD today!!!

Blu-Ray specs: 1080p high definition/1.78:1, English 5.1 DTS-HD

Dear State of Illinois

I have two words that are heaven-send. They evoke wonderment, hope and promise for a brighter tomorrow: FOUR LANE!

As a person who commutes from a small town in Iowa to Macomb, Illinois as a student/worker at Western Illinois University, I find myself traveling HWY 136 most days of the week. Road rage is such a small potatoes term to the feelings that I get driving on this meager two lane stretch to Carthage where I (thank you, Jesus) get on a 4 lane expressway that takes me all the way to Macomb.

Upon my travels, I find myself getting stuck on said two lane behind people going about 10 miles under the speed limit. Of course I would love to pass them, but being that it is only a two lane, and oncoming cars and semis are constantly approaching, I find myself gripping the steering wheel and wondering, "why oh why, state of Illinois, do you not make this road a four lane?!"

Not only that, but have you just tucked Western Illinois University off in a corner and forgotten about it? The nearest airport to Macomb is in Peoria, but since it is only two lane most of the way, people generally choose to drive farther to Moline in order to enjoy the four lane. And apparently WIU finds many an invitee lost or uninterested in visiting our lovely university due to the randomness of its location and the dreadful two lanes that surround it.

So, please, get on the ball, Illinois! Don't you realize that a four lane is an investment? Just driving to Monmouth makes me want to stab my own eyeballs out! With more four lanes, perhaps people will want to spend more time at these Universities, shopping places and perhaps even just drive around and enjoy the corn and cows!

Sincerely,
hamsterkitten