Joy - The Movie, The Company, The Woman

Joy. I had a total love affair with this simple word last year. In fact, it was my One Little Word for 2015, and I found inspiration everywhere I looked. I found a fabulous Essential Oil Blend named Joy, I discovered Joy marquee lights at Target . . .everywhere I looked, there was Joy.

Before 2015 ended, I discovered a different kind of Joy. It was a movie. After a bit, I learned that not only was it a movie, but it was a real-live person. After more time (I'm a slow learner), I discovered that Joy the Movie, was a real person that developed the Miracle Mop. Well hello there small world.

Pure Magic - Disney-Pixar's The Good Dinosaur

Dinsey Magic. It's hard to explain, but you know it when you feel it. Having grown up with Disney, I have felt it time and time again, in some very unexpected places. And while Disney is almost always good - it's not always magic. But when it it . . .it's amazing.

Last weekend, we got to see a super secret screening of the new Disney-Pixar movie, "The Good Dinosaur". My kids don't often ask to see particular movies, but Owen made a point of telling me he really wanted to go see this one.

Movie Review | The Jungle Book The Movie: Rumble in the Jungle

What to do on a cold, snowy Saturday? Cuddle up and watch a movie! We popped some pop-corn, grabbed a snugly blanket and popped in The Jungle Book The Movie: Rumble in the Jungle.

The advanced copy is available exclusively at Walmart ($14.86) beginning February 12 and includes a downloadable activity kit, slide show and exclusive collectible Mowgli and Mani toys.This DVD is the the first in a new series that features old favorites like Mowgli and Baloo, and introduces new characters and plots as well.

In the movie, there's trouble in the Jungle and Mowgli and Mani (an adorable little monkey) are at the center of it all! Shere Kahn is up to his typical sneaky trouble making too. He recruits a sneaky jackal to help him with his tricks. The movie is adorable. The animation is great and the story is easy for kids to follow along with. The new characters are just as lovable as the treasured favorites, and this movie will soon become a family favorite.

This is a great movie for kids ages 2-6, but any Jungle Book or Disney fan will enjoy it. It runs approximately 62 minutes.

The Jungle Book The Movie : Rumble in the Jungle will be available as a limited edition with collectable toys exclusively at Walmart stores in the US on February 12, 2013 and on March 5, 2013 in Canada. The DVD will release nationwide in May 2013.

catch you soon -

note - I received a copy of the DVD to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are my very own.

How a Movie Can Inspire Learning

We had the opportunity (thanks once again to Jersey Family Fun) to see the premiere of Big Miracle.

If you are not familiar, Big Miracle stars Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski, and is the story about a family of whales trapped beneath the ice in Alaska. The movie is inspired by a true story.

The movie is rated PG - for language. There is a lot of "hells, shits and damns" and you can hear them quite clearly. I chose not to bring Owen as his attention span for 2 hours is not that great still, so it was a movie date for Ryan and I.

Despite an independence mishap, we both really enjoyed the movie and had a wonderful time.

Ryan was full of questions when we got int he car.  He was truly interested in the fact that something like this really happened.  He asked me if I remembered it. . .and sadly, I don't.

So, we looked it up. It would seem that in October of 1988, an Inuit hunter discovered three grey whales trapped in the ice in the Beaufort Sea near Point Barrow in Alaska. Just like the movie. The movie deviates from true life in many of the other aspects - creating a more entertaining story. The end result is that the Soviet Union DID help free the whales. The efforts cost the US approximately $1 million and was criticized by some scientists. Two of the three whales made it out of the ice into open water.

As for the movie - there is plenty of drama, some romance and a happy ending. The cast is well done, the scenery is gorgeous, and it brings a whole new way of life to light.

What I loved the most, was that this movie inspired my child to learn. To learn more about whales,  to find the original book the movie was based on, and to learn about the facts the movie was based on.  Sometimes a movie is more than just entertainment.

If you see Big Miracle (and I HIGHLY suggest you do), stop by and tell me what you thought!

catch you soon -