Have you heard about the epic minseries, The Bible, yet? We don’t even have tv service, and I’m excited about this one. I will find a way to watch it, guaranteed!
Roma Downey (Touched By An Angel) and Mark Burnett (The Voice, Survivor, Shark Tank, Celebrity Apprentice) are executive producers for this series, scheduled to premier on the History Channel on March 3.
Here’s a sneak peek:
What do you think? Will you be watching?
For more information on The Bible, check out these sites:
We received the machine a few weeks ago, so we’ve been trying it out as a family before sharing it at our “Drinks on Us” party. We were surprised by the size of the machine – it’s actually quite larger. We have it sitting beside our microwave and the Esio is actually taller than the microwave. While not quite as wide as our microwave, it’s longer from front to back also.
We received a variety of drink mixes to try. I was actually surprised with the variety of drinks that are available. The kids have really been enjoying the cold beverages; but I would have preferred a larger selection of hot drink mixes (more coffees, hot teas, hot chocolate, and hot cider).
I was so impressed with how easy this machine is to operate. You simply fill it with water and the machine runs to keep the water cold (so you can also use it to dispense just cold water, if you like – since we don’t have a water dispenser on our refrigerator, this is a plus!) The machine also heats the water – which, in addition to the coffee drinks, is also great for making instant oatmeal, tea with teabags, etc.
Each multi-serve e-pack will make up to 14 8-oz. drinks. And the cool thing is that you can change them out between every drink, without having to worry about the flavors mixing, etc.
In order to demonstrate how simple the Esio is to operate, I thought I’d have my 6-year-old son show you:
We thought it would be the perfect opportunity to give it a good test run at my family’s Christmas Eve gathering. My parents host this event each year. There were 9 adults and 7 children in attendance (ranging in age from 2-12).
Since we had already used up several of the e-packs, we were happy to find out that they are available to purchase at Wal-mart. Brian headed out one evening and stocked up so we’d have plenty to share at the party! Here are a few pictures of my 12-year-old daughter enjoying the ease of a personalized drink:
So what are our thoughts?
While I probably wouldn’t go out and buy one – simply for the size alone – I would recommend it, especially if you have a large home with plenty of counter space, and are looking for a drink machine that the whole family can use.
Do you have an Esio machine? What are your thoughts?
NOTE: I received the above-mentioned product for free from Esio and BSM Media, in exchange for my personal use and posting about it on my blog. I was not obligated to write a positive post, I only share products that I have used and believe would be of benefit to my readers, and I was not compensated in any other way.
The game did not disappoint! We’ve been having so much fun playing it this week. The kids enjoy it, but it seems like I am the one who always says “hey, let’s dance!”
There are a few different modes of play that you can choose from.
First, you need to select your song. You can choose from a playlist, from the song list itself, or (if you’re feeling an overabundance of energy) just go for the non-stop shuffle! So far, we’ve always opted to choose our own song from the Songs heading.
There is a nice selection of songs from a wide variety of Disney movies and shows. There are oldies – like The Bare Necessities from Jungle Book, right on up to songs from current Disney Channel favorites, like Good Luck Charlie. We’ve tried most of them now and they’re all quite fun and a great work-out. I have to confess that I’m not a huge fan of exercise – but playing is a great way to “sneak” some exercise in!
One of my favorites to do is this one:
In addition to regular dance mode, there are also some other options like “bubble pop” and “freeze & shake” – both of these are the regular dances with extra challenges thrown in (for more fun and more points).
While Ian can beat us all at Disney Sing-It, so far I’ve been kicking his butt at Just Dance Disney – so, yes, I’m pretty excited about that!
This game would make an excellent Christmas gift for any Just Dance or Disney fan in your family! Up to 4 players can dance at the same time (but you do need some room to spread out). You can find Just Dance Disney at many stores and various online retailers – my favorite is Amazon.com (affiliate link).
So, when we were given the opportunity to try a new toy from Fisher-Price, this one with a Disney twist (another favorite around here), we were thrilled! Enter Master Moves Mickey!
When Master Moves Mickey (otherwise known as “M3”) arrived, it was like Christmas at our house! Ian and I couldn’t wait to get him out of the box and see what he could do. We played and danced with him and then he took up residence on my desk (because he’s just way too cute to throw in the toybox!)
In addition to Mickey, we also received 4 M3 t-shirts and 4 little towels (to wipe the sweat from your brown after all that dancing!) Since Ashley is a nanny, she thought it would be fun to take both Ian and Mickey to work with her and have a Master Moves Mickey Party with the kids. THEY LOVED IT!
They started out their party by making refreshments together.
Then, they got down to business (dance business, that is!)
If you have busy little ones in your life, Master Moves Mickey would make a great Christmas gift this year! And, dare I say it? He’d also make a great gift for that Disney Lover in your life too. Yes, I admit, even if I didn’t have kids, I’d get a kick out of this little guy. His dance moves seriously make me smile!
Master Moves Mickey can be purchased directly from Fisher-Price and is also available at your local department and toy stores. Currently, I’ve found the best price to be at Amazon.com
What do you think? He looks pretty cute, huh? Will your kids find M3 under the Christmas tree this year?
SPECIAL THANKS to Ashley, Ian, and the Three E’s for enjoying Master Moves Mickey for the sake of this post!
NOTE: I received Master Moves Mickey for free with the hopes that I would share him with others and post about him on my blog. I was not obligated to post a positive review. This post contains an affiliate link.
A few weeks ago, I posted information about Idlewild Park & Soak Zone and told you how you can get $7 off the regular admission price. Idlewild Park is located in western Pennsylvania, on the outskirts of a neat town called Ligonier. My family and I had never been there – we’d actually never even heard of that park – but we thought we’d plan a visit while my oldest daughter’s friend was visiting us from out of state.
So, on July 24th, we set out on a “3 hour tour” (road trip) to check it out . . .
The park entrance takes you back this “winding dirt road” and you feel like you have to be entering someplace secluded and special. I was impressed with the payment process – you drive through gates (much like getting on the turnpike) and pay your fee at the gate. Then, you simply go find a parking space and head off on your adventure in the parks. Very simple and streamlined process – I wish more parks would use this method. (Trust me when I say we’ve stood in some pretty long lines to get park tickets!)
This section of the park is based on nursery rhymes. 
Our fascination with all-things Disney was pretty obvious here because, well . . . I guess I’ve been remiss in telling my kids the traditional nursery rhymes. Ian wasn’t familiar with the stories, and Gracie (12) was bored. We wrapped our way through most of it (it’s a bit of a maze and there isn’t any shortcuts).
This part of the park seems very old. The paths are dirt and, because it had recently rained, dirt and small stones filled our shoes. Gracie was constantly asking us to hurry out of there! On a positive note, Ian seemed to enjoy it.
We were there during Christmas in July, so Ian got to visit Santa. Embarrassingly enough, he told him that he’d like “money for Christmas”. Oh well.
There was a tent set up with Christmas trees decorated in various themes. You could vote on your tree of choice. Our retro-loving girl chose the peace-themed one, while I liked the Charlie Brown tree.
Both Gracie and Ian decided to attempt climbing this rope thing:
Next on our agenda was to head to the main park, because I knew that Gracie was ready for some real rides. With the exception of a pretty wimpy water flume ride, the first thing we came to was the Howler. We all hopped on and actually really enjoyed this ride. It was very warm that day and the motion of the ride, combined with the breeze, was very refreshing.
Next, the kids rode the Spider. We met up with Ashley and her friend Sam who had scoured most of the park and come away disappointed. It seems that Idlewild is more of a “kiddie park” – there aren’t too many thrill rides for older kids/teens. And the one ride that they were interested in – the Wild Mouse – was closed the day of our visit. I told them to try to make the most of it and sent Gracie off with them to explore the park some more.
Meanwhile, Brian and I took Ian to get in the very long line to meet some of the Marvel Superheroes. Ian was thrilled to meet Spiderman and Hulk. And I was impressed with the great character interaction. Since we are so used to the characters at Disney, I must say I didn’t have very high expectations for the character meet & greets at a smaller park like Idlewild. But the characters spent time interacting with the kids and really paying attention to them. It made the long wait in line seem not quite so bad!
We met back up with the girls after Ian and I took a spin on the merry-go-round. We got a few more rides in – the Flying Aces and the Caterpillar – before the storm came.
Fortunately, we found a bit of an overhanging roof to stand under – so we didn’t get TOO wet.
According the Idlewild website, I knew that – in addition to the Superheroes – Radio Disney would also be at the park on the afternoon of the 24th. After the rain, we ventured back out into the park and found them:
It was fun to see that “little touch of Disney” right there in PA! They were giving out Spiderman comic books and posters (so Ian was thrilled). They were also taking song requests, so the girls had fun picking which songs they wanted to hear.
I knew Ian wanted to go back and meet some more characters before leaving the park, but wanted the girls to have some fun too. So, while they went and rode a few more rides, we went and stood in the line.
We ended up leaving the park much earlier than we had expected – things were wet and the kids were all tired, so we missed several sections of the park that I wanted to see (they have a whole section of the park devoted to Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, among other things).
However, I must say that it was worth the 3-hour trip just for Ian to meet the Super Heroes! He loved it and the characters were just great!
While this probably isn’t a park that we’ll visit often – because of the distance – I’d definitely recommend it to people who live closer and who have younger kids. If you’re not into the nursery rhymes, skip the Storybook Forest and head straight to the more carnival-like atmosphere of the main park.
You may have noticed the new button that I added to my sidebar ===>
Author and longtime media consultant Phil Cooke is encouraging parents everywhere to disconnect from technology – phones, Facebook, Twitter, email, TV – and spend quality time with their kids for 24 hours this Father's Day. And my family is going to be participating.
Why? Because I think it’s an important challenge, and an area in my life that I’ve been struggling with for awhile now. Cell phones aren’t my problem (in fact, as humorous as it may be to some people, we aren’t really “up” in the cell phone age – we still use Tracphones and we’re ok with that!) But, with my job being computer-based, I find myself tied to it way more than I would like to be some days. I’m a perfectionist and want my work to be done to the best of my ability; but am always looking for that balance between work, homeschool, and family. It’s hard to find.
So the challenge to Disconnect to Reconnect on Father’s Day really appeals to me and I hope it will to YOU and your family also. Read more about Phil’s thoughts on this challenge and the importance of it below. Then, at the end of this post, find out how you can win a copy of Phil’s new book - - -
Father’s Day: Want to Reconnect? Disconnect
Media expert, author challenges dads;
Can YOU disconnect for 24 hours?
The research has been conducted and the verdict is in (though we hardly needed it to tell us) - we’re hopelessly addicted to our digital devices. So much so, in fact, that some psychologists are pushing to have “Internet Addiction” broadly classified as a clinical disorder.
But isn’t it really affirmation that we can’t get enough of? We want people to acknowledge us, interact with us, consider our opinions, laugh at our jokes, and take part in our conversations. And these are all legitimate, natural wants and needs, mind you. Although we may seek the approval and affirmation of acquaintances, colleagues and classmates less if we received it from our families more.
*65% of North Americans spend more time with their computer than with their spouse.
**45% of workers say they can’t go more than 15 minutes without an interruption.
**50% of people leave their mobile phones on when they go to bed.
**Workers report that they leave their mobile phones on during movies, church & even sex.
Mobile devices, computers and social media are wonderful things, indeed. They’ve transformed our lives and our world in countless positive ways. But make no mistake, while we’re more connected than ever (and maybe because we’re more “connected” than ever), we’re more disconnected than ever from our families.
Ever texted your child in his or her room to tell them that dinner is ready? Are instant messages replacing conversations at the dinner table? Are you talking to your kids about their “status”? Or, reading about it on Facebook?
Because I’m sure this rings true to more of us than it should, I’m issuing a challenge today to dads across the country.
Disconnect.
That’s right. On June 19th, Father’s Day, disconnect your digital device for 24 hours and reconnect with your family.
You’ll survive. I promise.
In fact, I suspect you’ll be shocked at how much that quality time with your family can jolt those dormant relationships. At how much you can download in a short time. At how much you’ve been missed.
Here are two simple things you can do to make it happen:
1. Before going to bed the night before Father’s Day, check your e-mail one final time, turn off your mobile device and put it in another room. You may get the shakes, but you’ll get over it.
2. Plan the day well. Alcoholics are very susceptible during periods of boredom and it’s no different with an internet junkie. Plan a day of special activities with your family, so you’ll be less inclined/tempted to check email or go online. And, if the family takes you out, leave the mobile device at home! (You may be shocked, but yes – there was a time in ancient days when we actually left the house without a phone).
Remember - your kids watch your behavior more than they listen to your words. And when they see you unable to disconnect from email, text messages and Twitter? You’re telling them that what’s on your phone is more important to you than they are.
So, think about how much time you spend online versus how much time you spend face-to-face with the people you love you the most. And, at the very least, for 24 hours on Father’s Day, think about which connection is the most important to you – the one to the world?
Or, the one to your family?
#disconnect2reconnect
______
Phil Cooke is a filmmaker, media consultant, and author of the new book “Jolt!: Get the Jump on a World That’s Constantly Changing.” Find out more at philcooke.com
*The Tyranny of Email, author John Freeman
** William Powers, author of Hamlet’s Blackberry
CONTEST!!!
I have 3 copies of Jolt!: Get the Jump on a World That’s Constantly Changing by Phil Cooke to give away.
Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment telling me what you think of the Disconnect to Reconnect challenge. Will you be participating this Father’s Day? Why or why not?
Additional Ways to Win (leave a separate comment for each one that you do):
I will leave this contest open for 2 weeks and will draw the winners (randomly) on Monday, June 20th at noon (est). If you are not a follower of Reviews & Reflections, please be sure to leave an e-mail address in your comment. GOOD LUCK!
Welcome to those of you joining me from Return to Disney and those of you who have just hopped aboard. I am the 4th stop on our Magical Blogorail.
~~~~~~~~~~
I was so excited to be offered the opportunity to interview Kristen from Sorcerer Radio and Cooking with Mickey! I knew we had a lot in common, so it was really fun to get to know her a little bit better. I’m sure YOU will enjoy learning more about Kristen also. So, here goes . . .
Heidi: Hi, Kristen! I’m so excited to have you here at Reviews & Reflections today. I’ve just recently been introduced to Sorcerer Radio through the Magical Blogorail. But, seriously, what can be better than all Disney music, all the time?! Please tell us a little about Sorcerer Radio.
Kristen: Sorcerer Radio has been around for 10 years and has several live DJed shows (all DJs are volunteers). Monday through Friday there are 5 different morning shows that cover everything from Disney news to Community information to all things Disney. There are also 3 afternoon shows on Monday, Thursday and Friday. In addition, Sorcerer Radio, which plays all Disney music, all Day long (with lots of park music) has included to its network separate programs – Character Breakfast Podcast, Cooking with Mickey and WDW After Dark. It has a website and forum that people can check out. You can listen to it on your computer or mobile device, so you can take the music with you. If you like Disney, want Disney music and some entertainment, including the latest news… Sorcerer Radio is the station for you.
Heidi: By reading your profile on the Sorcerer Radio website, I can see that you and I have much in common. First of all, you love music! Besides Disney music, what is your favorite style of music? How did you get started in the music industry?
Kristen: I really have quite an eclectic music selection. However, if I have to pick one genre to be my favorite, it would have to be rock. I really like the fact that rock has so many different styles all rolled up into one genre. Of those styles, I’d probably go with alternative.
I got started in the music industry while dating my husband. He was in a band and they were always promoting their shows with flyers. Of course, this is before MySpace, Facebook and Twitter so you had to really work to get your name out there. I started with helping him out and then moved on to helping out other artists. I’ve done some graphic design for CD covers, press releases, bios and put together and promoted a few rock shows over the years. For a short time I worked for a start-up record label doing everything. When I say everything, I mean everything. He had me doing everything that a record label and a management company would be doing. I still do contract work on occasion, when asked.
Heidi: You must also love cooking, since you have your own Disney cooking blog – Cooking with Mickey. What prompted your passion for cooking? And what was the inspiration behind Cooking with Mickey?
Kristen: After the first year of college, I had no money and needed a job that I could make more than $4.25 an hour so I got a job working at a restaurant as a server to pay for school. I worked for a few different restaurants before I found one that had an incredible menu. There was nothing on the menu that I didn’t like. Lucky for me, I was part of the opening staff and we had to try everything that was on the menu. It was a chain restaurant that served Cajun and Creole food. This food sparked my interest in other cuisines than your everyday American fare.
Cooking with Mickey came about because one thing that everyone in the Disney Community talks about is food. I came up with the idea to make videos to teach people how to make their favorite Disney dishes. It was my way to share two things that I love – Disney and food.
Heidi: I see that you, too, have a large collection of cookbooks (me too – I’m a cookbook addict). Do you have a favorite cookbook that you turn to over and over again? Is there a particular Disney cookbook that you would recommend?
Kristen: I have a few cookbooks that I really enjoy. I frequently flip through Tyler's Ultimate: Brilliant Simple Food to Make Any Time, Bobby Flay's Grill It!, and a few German cookbooks that I’ve picked up at Disney. If someone wanted to pick up a Disney cookbook I’d say to go with Delicious Disney (WDW custom pub). It has many of the same recipes as the others do but some unique ones as well. One of my favorites, Curry Butternut Soup is in that book.
Heidi: Tell us about your first trip to Walt Disney World and how many times you’ve visited since. Do you have a single favorite Disney moment?
Kristen: My first trip was a couple of days after Christmas in 1991. It was an amazing trip! It was a high school trip and so I got to visit the park for the first time with friends who had already been and some of them many times. Since that trip I’ve been 18 times and will hit 20 by the end of the year. I don’t really have a single favorite Disney moment because I’ve taken trips with friends, family, my husband and solo; so they’ve all been different. However, one moment that does stand out would have to be when my husband and I were selected to be Grand Marshalls in the “Celebrate Dreams Come True Parade”. It was a lot of fun to wave to people and wish them Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, whatever.
Heidi: I noticed that World Showcase at EPCOT is your favorite park area. What a coincidence – mine too! I could spend days just browsing around the countries. Do you have a favorite thing to do in World Showcase?
Kristen: I love to walk around and meet people. I find other cultures to be so interesting. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled outside of the country to other places, which makes for a nice ice breaker. I also try different foods and drinks from the counter service locations and carts. I love to take pictures so when I’m alone I just walk around with my camera taking pictures of whatever catches my eye.
Heidi: We’ve done several character meals in the past. Do you have a favorite character meal experience that you’d recommend?
Kristen: I’ve tried several but I’m always drawn back to 1900 Park Fare for breakfast. The characters take their time when talking to you and they are more than happy to pose for pictures and sign autographs. Also, the food is great! You have traditional breakfast items mixed with some unusual items like Strawberry Soup and my favorite, Lobster Eggs Benedict. It’s heavenly! They also have an omelet station so you can have an omelet made just the way you like it.
Heidi: I love helping people to plan their Disney vacations. As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, are there any specific tips or tricks you’d like to share?
Kristen: LOL! This one isn’t going to surprise anyone… get the Disney Dining Plan! There is an option for everyone. If your family loves to eat on the go and not worry about reservations, then the Quick Service Plan is for you. If you like to have a few table services meals, either once a day or try a signature restaurant one night, then the Basic Plan is perfect. If you are like me and ALWAYS want to try new places but keep a few of your favorites, eat at the signature restaurants and be able to dine twice a day; then the 3 credits (which can be used at both quick service locations and table service) are exactly what you want! An additional tip: make your Advanced Dining Reservations at 180 days out so you get exactly what you want. Also, don’t ever hesitate to ask your travel agent for advice on dining! If you contact me, there is a really good chance I’ve been to the restaurant (been to 80%+ of the table service restaurants and working on the rest) and can help you out with what’s right for you and your family.
Heidi: Kristen, thank you so much for your time and for sharing a bit about yourself and your passions! It’s been so much fun getting to know you better. Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Kristen: I’d love people to come by and check out my personal site CookingwithMickey.info; they can also follow me on Twitter @CookingwMickey and Facebook – CookingWithMickey. I co-host two shows that people can tune in for – Castaway Midday with Natalie and we are on Thursdays at 1 pm/EST (tropical themed show) and WDW Tiki Room with Aljon and we are on Fridays at 8 am/EST for a 2 hour show (it’s about everything Disney and includes interviews).
The shows can be followed on Twitter @CastawayMidday and Facebook – CastawayMidday and Twitter @WDWTikiRoom and Facebook – WDWTikiRoom. I also co-host a vidcast with Jeff Davis and Aljon Go on Friday nights at 9 pm/EST called WDW After Dark and I do a live segment during the show called “The Disney Drink Special” which you can follow along and make. I post the ingredients on srsounds.com/forum.
~~~~~~~~~~
I was hoping for the opportunity to meet Kristen, as our trips to WDW overlapped in May. However, that didn’t work out. So, instead of a picture of the two of us, I thought I’d leave you with a Cooking with Mickey video. This one features Kristen making one of my favorite Disney dishes – the Strawberry Soup from 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian. ENJOY!
~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Your Highway in the Sky.
Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
1st Stop ~ Disney Go To Girl
2nd Stop ~ Disney Babies Blog
3rd Stop ~ Return to Disney
4th Stop ~ Reviews & Reflections
5th Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky
6th Stop ~ Growing Up Disney
Final Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts
This movie is the story of Jesus from a woman's perspective. As she followed Jesus, Mary Magdalene witnessed changed lives, miracles and His tenderness toward women. Her own life was radically transformed when Jesus healed her and gave her a new purpose for living. You can view a preview of the movie here.
The girls and I sat down one morning last week and watched this film. I found it to be a beautifully done retelling of Jesus’ life on earth and very much appreciated seeing it from the perspective of a fellow woman. Sometimes we women tend to minimize our worth here on earth when there’s so much we could be doing to live up to our full potential. It was amazing to experience what it might have been like to actually live during the time of Christ and be a follower of him. It really made me think and it stirred up some great conversations with my girls.
~~~~~~~~~~
I’d like to share this DVD with YOU! It would be a great film to watch with your family in honor of Easter. Or, even better, maybe you could invite a few girlfriends over for a movie night, complete with popcorn and good conversation!
This prize package will include:
All you have to do to be entered in the drawing is leave me a comment. Please visit the movie’s website first – then come back here and tell me about something that you found of interest there. That’s it! It’s that simple. Because Easter is coming so quickly and I want to make sure you receive this film in time, I’m only going to leave this contest open for a few days. I’ll select a random winner at noon on Saturday (April 16th).
NOTE: I received the movie mentioned above for free, in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. I only recommend products that I use personally and believe will be good for me readers.
A few weeks ago, I shared that my family and I would be going to the Monster Truck Nationals. Well, yesterday was the big day . . .
The show started off with the Freestyle Motorcycles. These guys are CRAZY! I only got one decent picture. They don’t allow videotape and that would have been the only good way to capture the fun of these guys. Let’s just say it’s a good thing I’m not their mother – if I was, I’d be doing a LOT of praying. Each jump literally made my mouth drop open!
There were Five Monster Trucks in the show. Each one had a chance at Wheelies – in other words, running over the parked cars.
Chalkboard Chuck – the truck that wants YOUR autograph
Star Marshall – a PA hometown favorite
Crushstation – the Giant Lobster
Stabilizer
Bigfoot – the original Monster Truck
Next on the schedule is the Donut Competition. Our personal favorite (and apparently that of the whole crowd) was Crushstation. Check out these donut tracks:
After intermission, the trucks go head to head:
The night ends with each truck having a chance at free style. We saw more car-crushing wheelies and more fun donuts. Thank goodness for our earplugs, as there was also a great deal of engine revving during this part of the show! Bigfoot rounded out the free style section:
We all really enjoyed this show! I have to admit, I didn’t go into it with big expectations as I really didn’t think it would be “my thing”. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it. Ian asked when we can go back!
If you get a chance to see the Monster Truck Nationals near you, do it! It might not be your normal entertainment, but that’s ok – step out of your little box and go have fun! I did!
