This Full House Reviews

Celebrity Crushes: 6 Degrees of a Vampire Love Story

I am very honored to be working with Hallmark as a Life is a Special Occasion featured blogger and for their sponsoring this blog post, allowing me to share personal stories, insights and inspirations in enjoying simple, every day moments, with you (yes, YOU!)

This new generation of vampires is so much more shiny-er, yes?

I began my obsession with Twilight in the Summer of 2007 when my oldest daughter (she was 13 at the time) insisted that...YES!...it would keep her interest and...OF COURSE!...the genre would make an absolutely perfect fit into her 8th grade summer reading list.

"It's a vampire love story!"

Uh-huh.

So, I read it first to make sure that it was...you know...appropriately shelved in the teen readers section and...YES!...it truly was love at first bite.

[cringe]

Don't worry, Stephenie Meyer writes way good-er than me and had an excellent run with a story line that is not really all that unique.

"You know, I had a thing for vampires, back in the day..."

In fact, some of whom have just now entered their twilight years, these actors continue to remain my top celebrity crushes, have done very well for themselves and ALL have hung out (in one form or another) with vampires:

Disney Classics Giveaway: QUICK! Before These 5 Disney Titles Go Back Into the Vault!

4/30/12 UPDATED TO ADD: This giveaway ends TODAY! Monday (4/30) at 8:00 p.m. (est) rather than the original published end date of Friday (5/4) as per the request of Disney.  So happy to be sharing these awesome movies with you, Patricia Wojnar Crowley (comment #63) please check your email for further instructions, thanks :)

A bunch of my blogging friends are attending 2012 Disney Social Media Moms, this weekend.

I was very kindly invited to register (thank you, Disney!) however, with my oldest daughter graduating high school, the day before my youngest daughter's birthday, a few days before she graduates elementary school (hold me!) and other pressing issues here at home (stupid roof, dumbass Hurricane Irene!) we just couldn't swing it.

You can follow along their adventure(s) with the hashtag #DisneySMMoms on Twitter:  I am purposefully keeping away from Twitter because, well, you know, I am NOT one of them.

Also, we may be the ONLY family on the planet who has NOT been to Disney.

My kids grew up watching Disney movies (me, too!) and each had they're favorites:  lyrics from Cinderella, Little Mermaid, Peter Pan and Sword in the Stone have often times been quoted, randomly, throughout the years.

It was SO FUN to introduce my kids to these Disney classics, as each title would be re-released to theaters and then available as a video.

My favorite Disney movie?  Beauty and the Beast:  I saw it in theaters, with my bff even before my kids were born.

5 DISNEY CLASSICS ARE HEADING BACK INTO THE VAULT ON APRIL 30, 2012 (THAT'S THIS MONDAY!) BUT, WE GET THE CHANCE TO SHARE BEFORE  THE DOOR CLOSES ON THESE TITLES, NEXT WEEK:

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:  So glad to be sharing this with you, Karen M (comment #11) please check your email for further instructions, thanks!!!

I have a confession to make:  I am a Potterhead!  In fact, my kids and I are HUGE Harry Potter fans and we are WAY beyond excited for the premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 in 10 days (and counting!)

Have you seen the official trailer, yet?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was my favorite book in the entire series (I read all 700+ pages over a weekend) and, although, it's been Harry Potter this AND Harry Potter that, for the last 10 years, I'm sad to see it ALL end...sort of.

With the launching of the Pottermore website in October (a site where fans help continue and contribute to Harry Potter books) and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (on our bucket list, btw) sounds like our friend, Harry Potter, is going to be around for a long, long time.

Do you know a Potterhead?  Did you miss watching Deathly Hallows - Part 1?  Or, would you like to, again?

Warner Brothers is inviting fans to catch up on all previous films, now available For Download on iTunes (http://bit.ly/HP_Films) and via Movies On Demand.

Check this out:

The Help Movie Trailer

Although, it's not scheduled for release in theaters until August (dangit!) The Help was my favorite summer read from last year!

Hearing my excitement, not to mention concern when I first saw the trailer for the summer release of the movie version, my 17 year-old is now reading it, too.

Frankly, I grew very, very fond of Skeeter, Aibileen, Minny and even Hilly (sort of) and I read Kathryn Stockett's awesome book in 2 days (for me, that's quick) so, yeah, I was a little concerned about the casting on this one.

Until, I saw the trailer:

 

Thanks to Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard's fantastic teaser, August cannot get here quick enough.

In the meantime, I highly recommend adding The Help to this year's summer reading list, too.  Go ahead, I'll wait!

Disclosure:  Contains affiliated links -- no payment was received for this blog post.

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Deal Alert: Free Redbox Movie Rental Coupons

My kids are anxiously counting down the days until spring break on the 18th (me, too!) but, you know what, I don't ever remember Easter being THIS late, do you?

Tonight, however, is movie night (TGIF!!!) and our friends at Redbox are offering families (like ours) free movies:

Now through April 11, when you rent two (2) Redbox movies at one time you will be emailed a promo code for a free one-night rental.

We usually rent 2 movies, anyway (at only a dollar a day, sometimes even more) so, this is a pretty sweet deal for us.

Aaaand, if you're having trouble deciding on what to rent for your kids, here's a list of the Top Ten Movies from last week:

The bunny denotes the movies we haven't seen...yet...so, yeah, besides the fact that I am a cheapskate trying to be frugal (ahem) at least, my kids have got a lot to choose from, right? 

[sound of crickets, chirping]

TGIF and have a great weekend, everyone!!!

© 2003 - 2011 This Full House

Disclosure:  No payment, product or any other consideration, besides sharing stuff we like with other families (like ours) was received for this blog post.

Pride and Prejudice and (Internet) Zombies

TFH Holiday Picks 2010

My oldest girl (she's 17) is an avid Jane Austen fan and just about wore out the DVD of ¹Becoming Jane gifted to her, last Christmas AND she SWEARS it has nothing to do with the fact that James McAvoy stars as Jane's (played by Anne Hathaway) love interest, Tom Lefroy.

Uh-huh.

Actually, we BOTH salivate appreciate especially, the scenes featuring James good acting DANG, but that boy is SO gorgeous when we see it!

Imagine our surprise at receiving a beautifully bound leather case, addressed to us, along with a letter, from Elizabeth Bennet (lead character in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice) detailing her efforts to "fight the dreadfuls" in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and on their internet page, courtesy of Quirk Books.

[eyes go wide]

Want to see what's inside?

[cue really eerie music]

Visitors to www.quirkclassics.com/zombies can navigate through and keep up with all character profiles and blogs, as well as the custom "Unmentionable Preparedness Kit" (pictured above) we received, featuring:

• Bleed-Banishing Balm
• Gnaw-be-Gone Purifying Poultice
• Reanimate and Perambulate Smelling Salt.
• A hardcover biography, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a tale inspired by Elizabeth Bennet's family struggle to defeat the unmentionables.

FINAL VERDICT:  Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is NOT for everyone -- Author ¹Seth Grahame-Smith has taken the liberty of chronicling the Bennet family's trials and tribulations in fighting an outbreak of zombies, or "unmentionables" in 19th century England in gruesome detail -- however, I must admit, this book is a fun (albeit, totally twisted) play on the classic and would make a GREAT addition/edition to your "hard to buy for" gift list.

IF you can get passed all the eyeball rolling and head explosions, literally.

LINKY LOVE BYTES:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Webpage (includes FUN character profiles and links to Facebook pages and Mrs. Bennet's Mom blog...SNORT!):  http://www.quirkclassics.com/zombies/

UNMENTIONABLE PREPAREDNESS KIT ON ETSY:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/62339690/unmentionable-preparedness-kit?ref=pr_shop

Feel free to check out some other REALLY cool stuff we found by visiting our Holiday Picks for 2010!

Also, click here to check out some of our other favorite stuff we're sharing (when you have time, of course) or, check out my personal blog (ditto) and I'll love you forever :)

© 2003 - 2010 TFH Gone Shopping - This Full House Blog

DISCLOSURE:  No payment, or any other consideration, besides a sample of the featured product, was received for this blog post.

¹Indicates an affiliate link, which helps us make a little milk money when ordering stuff from it, THANKS!!!

Klutz Book of Animation Blog Tour (Stop #10) Review and Giveaway!

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: So, glad to be able to share this with Janette (comment #58) please check your email for further instructions!!!

My middle girl (she's 14) is a freshman and studying digital animation in a school specializing in communications, graphic design and media.

Much to the chagrin of her 16 year-old sister, who also applied to the same high school and well, let's just say that I have 4 kids, attending 4 different schools...AGAIN...this year! 

So, as Stop #10 in the Klutz Book of Animation Blog Tour, I am very excited to tell you that anybody with a computer, camera, internet connection and a little bit of creativity can create animated films. 

The Klutz Book of Animation is a how-to-guide with step-by-step instructions that show you how to create a variety of different classic stop motion special effects and make a movie of your own. 

We did -- want to see?

Nanny McPhee Returns Sneak Preview and Nanny Pack Giveaway

Comments are closed:  Sharing with Katrina (comment #2) Melanie (comment #26) and Karen M (comment #6) enjoy!!!

She first introduced herself in 2005 and, quite honestly, I am a sucker for feel-good movies like Nanny McPhee! 

Starting on August 20th, Emma Thompson returns to the role of the magical nanny who appears when she’s needed the most and wanted the least in the next chapter.

This time, she appears at the door of a harried young mother, Mrs. Isabel Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who is trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war.  However, once she’s arrived, Nanny McPhee discovers that Mrs. Green’s children are fighting a war of their own against two spoiled city cousins who have just moved in and refuse to leave.

Maggie Smith (who I absolutely adore) also stars, however, this installment does NOT include Colin Firth (who I've been crushing on since Pride and Prejudice) still, I am looking forward to Nanny McPhee Returns and celebrating with a little back-to-school giveaway, too!

First, the sneak preview:

Despicable Me: Movie Review & Giveaway

SHARING WITH:  CDZIUBA (COMMENT #16) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!

Despicable Me is due to be released in theaters nationwide on July 9, 2010 (in 3D, too!) but, my kids and I had the pleasure of being invited to a special screening (i.e. we had reserved seats and everything) close to home, right here in Jersey (thank you, Dina!) on Saturday and, well, I had my doubts.

I hadn't heard much about it, besides that Steve Carell was in it (or, at least his voice) and the kids and I absolutely LOVE him! 

Did I mention, we had reserved seats and, well, I left early (i.e. before shore traffic) AND fully-armed with donut holes?

Netflix Now Available on Nintendo Wii: Complimentary 3 Month Nextflix Membership

[CONGRATULATIONS:  LORI A. (COMMENT #21) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

It's no secret, we love our Wii and I personally have enjoyed working with Nintendo in bringing families (like mine) up to date on the latest and greatest stuff in video gaming.

Why?

In our house, Family Game and Movie Nights are one of the few times we get to spend, doing something we ALL like, together.

Have you heard about the cool new Netflix streaming feature available on the Nintendo Wii system?

Sharing Redbox Top Ten Family Rentals & 10 Free Rental Codes!

[FINISHED: CONGRATULATIONS, SANDRA (COMMENT #50) LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING WITH YOU, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

Last month, I personally professed my undying love for renting movies from Redbox. 

Why?

Their pretty little red kiosks are conveniently located at our local Shoprite, Walgreens and Stop and Shop stores.  There are NO membership fees and, since we only pay $1.00 per movie (per day) vending our Friday Night Game and Movie Night dvds is totally budget-friendly.

TGIF! 

My friends at Redbox have offered to help celebrate family fun night with us, by sharing this week's Top Ten Family Rentals and are ALSO sending me 10 (ten) free rental code cards to share!

[drum roll]

Redbox Top Ten Family Rentals & Free Rental Codes

We love renting movies from Redbox (their kiosks at our local Shoprite, Walgreens and Stop and Shop stores) it's convenient and -- since there are no membership fees and you only pay $1.00 per movie, per day -- it's budget-friendly.

Now, if we can ONLY remember to take it back, the next day, right?

Still, another really great feature to renting movies with Redbox is you can sign up for SMS (your cell phone) or email messaging and get a free rental code each Monday which you can use for one night's free rental.

Here's how you can find one, along with a cool list of family rentals available, this week, if you happen to be planning an at home New Year's Eve party, like us!

ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas Holiday Giveaway

[FINISHED: CONGRATULATIONS CRYSTAL (#22) WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE SHARING SOME OF OUR FAVORITE STUFF WITH YOU - PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR INSTRUCTIONS!!]

I know...I know...there's, like, only 9 more days left until Christmas!

[slams forehead on laptop]

WHAT, where was I?  Oh, yeah.  We are HUGE fans of ABC Family and their 25 Days of Christmas (which can be accessed by clicking on the banner above, linking to their programming guide, with sound) featuring a few of our favorite television Christmas classics.

 

The Year Without a Santa Claus [shown here, with permission] is one of my personal favorites -- remember the Heat Miser and his stepbrother, the Snow Miser?

Disney Pixar Short Films are also featured, like the awesomely adorable Gerri's Game.

Not to mention, it's Harry Potter month -- Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite, because, well, I happen to like bad boys, like Professor Snape!

RAWR!

This Full House is proud to partner with ABC Family in helping to promote family television, by hosting a 25 Days of Christmas Holiday Giveaway.

Holiday Survival Guide 2009: Day 3 - CHILDREN'S BOOKS Going Digital with Disney

[COMMENTS ARE CLOSED:  CONGRATULATIONS, FIREMOM (#3) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS -- HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE GIVEAWAYS ARE STILL GOING ON !!!]

Welcome to Day 3 of our Holiday Survival Guide 2009 sponsored by some of the most awesomely generous brands we know and have reviewed throughout the year, who have graciously agreed to provide some really cool stuff for Her, Him, the Grandparents...okay, isn't it time we ALL put the WIN back into the winter holidays and made re-gifting a rule?!?

Seriously, I've got some really great stuff to share with you.

Raising 4 kids (did I mention, we've got two teenagers in the house, this year?) my husband, Garth [not his real name] and I are trying (really hard) to remember to take back the holidays and keep it as stress free as...well...you know,.

We've got a little something for everyone and giving away some pretty cool stuff, too:

DAY 1:  HOLIDAY BAKING - Pumpkin Lattice Tart Food Channel Recipe and Holiday Gift Pack from Pampered Chef

DAY 2:  WARM HOLIDAY FUZZIES - Love, Hugs, Peace and All Things Jonas Brothers with Build-A-Bear

DAY 3:  CHILDREN'S BOOKS - Going Digital with Disney

DAY 4:  HOLIDAYS LONG DISTANCE - Keep in Touch with Skype and Buddy Cam

DAY 5:  QUIET HOLIDAY TIME - Grandpa Read's Quiet Time Tales

DAY 6:  FAMILY GAME NIGHT - Playing the "I'm Bored" Games with HABA

DAY 7:  MORE FUN TIME - Xbox 360 for When You're Home for the Holidays

Just so you know -- my picks, product features and blog posts (as always) are advertorial free. No one is paying me, to talk about their product. It's just some really nice stuff that I thought you guys would like, too.

Let's get started, okay -- did you know that Disney Books have gone digital?

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian on DVD

[CONGRATULATIONS:  WE'RE SHARING WITH KRISTIE (#21) JENNETTE (#110) KAREN M (#11) PAT (#32) AND VICKIE COUTURIER (#35) PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

I've got a confession to make.  Okay, so, I've been crushing on Ben Stiller since, well, forever.  There's just something about the characters he plays; average, every day guys who get mixed up in some really weird situations. 

No matter the movie, I empathize with his character's dorkiness (being a professional dork, my ownself) as he attempts to create some sense of order, out of total chaos (trust me, I know) that makes me think, you know, the man is NOTacting.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian is being released onto DVD on December 1st (Holy Hannah Montana, December is NOT that far away, you know?) so, it's time to get your dork on.

[sound of crickets chirping]

Want one?