I Wish I had a Home Cinema System

I love to watch movies. It’s one of my absolute favorite things to do. I don’t like going the theaters much for a few reasons. It’s too expensive, there are other people there, I can’t press pause it if I need to, and I can’t wear my jammies.  Not to mention I eat way too much popcorn and then get a stomach ache.  Noah has started to like movies a little bit, but I remember one time we went to the movies.  He cried and talked during parts of it. He wouldn’t watch it, he ate too much popcorn. He is much better now but man oh man. I prefer to stay at home in my jammies and watch movies.  I can relax and I don’t have to worry about making noises or dealing with people who kick my chair.  One thing I do miss when I watch dvds at home is the surround sound and the THX capabilities.

 I don’t have a home theater. I hope to some day to have home cinema speakers from MK Loudspeakers. I remember when I would go with my dad to look at the show homes some of them had movie theaters in their houses. They even had the theater seating.  I thought that was the coolest thing.  I don’t think that I would want to have theater seating because I am too old for that but a nice surround sound system would be great. As big as a movie buff I am I should already have one.  Some TVs especially older ones don’t have great sound so in order to hear the movie or show you have to have it turned up really loud depending on what channel you are watching. When you change the channel it scares you because it is so loud it makes you jump.  I think that if you are however watching a scary movie or a thriller, those loud noises are meant to make you jump and make your heart race.  It can really lose its scare factor when you are watching it at the movies vs. watching it at home without surround sound.  My ex husband and I had made our own home cinema speakers. We used  a big speaker that also dubbed as our coffee table and an old radio receiver hooked up to our TV.  It was nowhere near as nice as an actual system but it worked for a while.  I will have to wait until I am no longer living in an apartment because I wouldn’t get the full effect of having it.

Do you have a home theater system in your home?

Ten Movies I Can't Stand

I have blogged about my favorite movies so it’s only fair that I blog about movies I hate or don’t like. I am a huge movie buff. One of my favorite things about my trip to visit my aunt and uncle was talking about movies with my aunt.  She loves movies as much as I do which is awesome because my mom isn’t a big movie watcher. We always sit around and watch movies at my aunt and uncles house. It is so relaxing so here is my list of movies I don’t like, in no particular order.

Napoleon Dynamite-  This was the stupidest movie I have ever seen. The only time I laughed was when there was a llama on the screen and that was because I was watching it with my old best friend and we had inside jokes about llamas and the teacher who said he ate them.

Queen of the Damned- Really this movie made no sense to me.  I wouldn’t sit through it again for a truckload of cash.

The Order- I turned it off after the first five minutes.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail- I know it is supposed to be British humor but it drove me crazy, especially when the Knights who say Nee come on. Then you hear Nee for three weeks after. I actually was dumb enough to buy my ex that movie and it was the first one I put in his pile when I kicked him out. I ended up getting another copy from a friend it was in a bag of dvds she didn’t want. Needless to say it was at Blockbuster two hours after she left.

Underworld enough said.

March of the Penguins- I went with my old best friend and her kids, thinking it was a kids movie. We were all disappointed when we realized it was a documentary. I think we all almost fell asleep.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Anything with Cheech and Chong

  

The Ring- it gave me nightmares for a week.

The Notebook- Really I am not in to anything from Nicholas Sparks, I didn’t like Message in a Bottle       either.

There are 10 movies I don’t like. I am sure there are more. What are some movies that you can’t stand? That you cringe anytime you think about it. I would love to hear what you have to say and what you pick.

Hey Arnold Season 1 DVD Review

I used to watch Hey Arnold on Nickelodeon. It was a great cartoon and really funny. So, when I had the opportunity to own the first season on DVD, I was excited. I want to share shows I watched when I was younger with Noah. Hey Arnold is one of those shows that aren’t too full of weird potty jokes, which find their way in to kids’ shows these days. It always seems like there is a lesson in each episode. There is just something endearing about Arnold. He is a good kid that always does the right thing.  Arnold has a football shaped head, and is occasionally referred to as Football Head.  Arnold lives with his grandparents in the boarding house their family owns. Grandpa is the typical tall tale telling grandfather. Arnold’s grandma likes to go on crazy adventures that usually have her dressed head to toe in black. You get to know the boarders who are all very funny.

Gerald is Arnold’s best friend and partner in crime. I mean if Arnold would commit a crime.  He is a cool cat that loves listening to jazz music.  Then there is Eugene, he is a typical nerd that gets hurt in almost every episode. It’s nothing serious, just a lot of broken bones.  Eugene is considered very unlucky and even thinks that Arnold is a jinx.  Helga is the bully of the school. She is very mean to Arnold, she treats him badly. Arnold is always really nice to her, even when she treats him badly. We quickly find out that she is secretly in love with Arnold.  She even has a diary of poems about him and a secret Arnold shrine.  There are so many more characters, all very lovable in their own way.

I hope you enjoyed Hey Arnold as much as I do. Hey Arnold is out on DVD now. Check it out and share your favorite Football Head with your children. Hey Arnold is at major retailers now.

Thank you to Nickelodeon for providing me with Hey Arnold Season One for my family to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Secret Life of the American Teenager Volume 4 Review

I am really enjoying this season of The Secret Life of the American Teenager. I think last season was left at such a big cliffhanger. It made me wonder for months what was going to happen. All of the other seasons you had an idea what was going to happen when the show picked up again on ABC Family. Last season was a complete surprise. I love being able to watch the older shows of The Secret Life of the American Teenager on DVD. It is fun to re-watch them knowing how it will turn out and relive the touching moments with the characters that I have grown to love and watch.

So, when I had the opportunity to review volume four of The Secret Life of the American Teenager I was really excited. I think it is great if you haven’t watched the show since day one like I have, you have the opportunity to start from the beginning. I have friends that don’t have cable and they don’t watch shows on TV when they come out, they just wait for it to come out on DVD. I guess that is a great line of thinking if you are busy and don’t have the time to sit down every week and watch the shows you love.

The Secret Life of The American Teenager is a show about a girl named Amy who is a teenage mother. Like I said before it would be a great way to open up to your teenage children about sex and relationships. I still love that they are realistic in the way that teenage motherhood is portrayed and how it is not all cute little baby clothes and accessories. It is really neat to see how Amy’s character has evolved from the beginning when she was a scared kid who was pregnant now to a strong young woman. The Secret life of the American Teenager not only shows the reality of being a young mother but it also shows that if you are in that situation you can rise up and be a good parent. I definitely enjoy watching this show and even my friends know not to text me when I am watching it.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager Volume Four is in stores now. It is a great addition to your DVD collection.

Thank you to Walt Disney Entertainment for sending me a complimentary copy of The Secret Life of the American Teenager to review.

John Deere Earth Mover Action DVD Review and Giveaway!!

Noah is really interested in construction vehicles. He loves to look at them and talk about them we are in the car or on a walk. He names them with their proper names each time he talks about them. When he builds something he doesn’t say I am building something, he says “I am doing construction.” He is fascinated with backhoes, bull dozers, steam rollers and cranes. I think cranes are his favorite. He likes to build cranes out of other toys and strings that he finds. So, when we had the opportunity to review John Deere Earth Mover Action DVD, I was really excited because I knew how much Noah would love it.

Not only are excavators, dozers, graders, etc. irresistible to kids, but grown-ups love to watch, too. So it is to this background that TM Books & Video releases the all-new John Deere Earth Mover Action rumbling onto DVD April 13, 2010. This 40-minute tribute to big-machines – excavators, front-end loaders, graders, scrapers, and backhoes, includes a fascinating look at John Deere’s newest – the fast, powerful, four-track 764 Dozer.

TM Books & Video’s crews scoured the country to find John Deere big machines working hard in interesting places – watch a grader plowing snow in the Rockies, excavators digging dirt and loading big articulated dump trucks, dozers climbing hills and pushing dirt, front-end loaders moving big rocks in a quarry – powerful, big-time earth-mover action that will thrill and delight young and old alike. Learn interesting facts about these mighty vehicles and play the “Let’s Pretend” game where young viewers imagine being the operator of an earth-moving machine. Stop-action segments feature die-cast toys and articulated super heroes mining candy at the Big Rock Candy Mountain Quarry. Sing-along to all-new toe tapping tunes by award-winning singer/songwriter James Coffey. Kids will learn, laugh, and want more.

When the DVD arrived we watched it immediately. Noah was so excited when it started. He sat on the couch and named everything in sight. He watched in anticipation to see what was coming up next. We really enjoyed watching John Deere Earth Mover Action and we have watched it many times already. It is a great go to DVD when there is nothing on TV or when there is a show on that I don’t really want Noah watching.

This DVD is perfect for your little boy. They recommend this DVD for ages 3 and up.
John Deere Earth Movers will be on DVD on April 13, 2010, for a suggested retail price of $14.95. To order, call toll free 1-800-892-2822 or visit TM Books and Video.

Thank you to TM Books and Video for sending us a review copy and providing the DVD for the giveaway.

One lucky winner will receive their very own copy of John Deere Earth Mover Action DVD.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me what your child’s favorite construction or farm equipment is and who you want to give this DVD to.

You must do the mandatory entry for the extra entries to count.

Extra Entries:

Subscribe to my blog via email. You must verify your subscription

Follow my blog

Add my button to your side bar and include a link so I can find it easily.

Follow @sheilacakes7 and tweet about this giveaway including the link to this post. This can be done daily.

Please remember to include your email address in your comments or make it accessible on your blog.

This giveaway is open to US Residents Only.

This giveaway will end on April 17, 2010 at 11:59 pm ET.

I Wish These Shows and Movies Were on DVD

There are quite a few great things that should be on DVD but aren’t. Most of them are from my childhood that I want my son to be able to watch and now that I don’t have a VCR after my DVR-VHS combo broke I am constantly looking for these shows and movies on DVD. Here is my list. Let me know if there is something you would like to see on DVD. Maybe someone will see my list and do something. A girl can dream can’t she? The list is no particular order.

1. Merry Mirthworm’s Christmas

2. The Torkelsons

3. Lamb chop’s Play Along

4. Zoobilee Zoo

5. Salute Your Shorts

6. Hey Dude

7. The Jetsons meet The Flintstones

8. Daffy Duck Fantastic Island

9. Hey Vern It’s Ernest

10. Today’s Special

11. Cold Case

12. Pinwheel

13. Seasons of Judge Judy

14. The Frog Prince – The Muppets version

15. As Told By Ginger

16. The Adventures of The Little Koala

17. You Can't Do That on Television

18. Ghostwriter (tv series)

19. Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

Please put all of these on DVD. I want to be able to share some of these with my son. Some of them are things I loved growing up and love today.

The Princess and the Frog Giveaway!

I love Disney movies! The movie The Princess and the Frog comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray on Tuesday March 16, 2010. The Princess and the Frog is about Princess Tiana who meets a frog and she ends up kissing the frog and instead of the frog turning in to a prince, Tiana turns in to a frog. It is a new twist on the Frog Prince story. I am really excited to share it with my family. We haven’t tried to go to the movies yet, so we wait until they are released on DVD. We will be trying that out this summer though. I will be viewing this DVD soon and I will be writing a follow up of my thoughts on the movie. In Celebration of the much anticipated release of The Princess and the Frog on DVD and Blu-Ray I have a giveaway for you.


One lucky reader is going to win their very own copy of The Princess and The Frog on Blu-Ray +DVD

Thank you to Walt Disney Entertainment for providing the copy of The Princess and the Frog for the giveaway.

Mandatory Entry: Tell me why you want to win this and who you want to share it with.

You must do the mandatory entries for the extra entries to count.

Extra Entries:
Subscribe to my blog via email

Follow my blog

Follow @Sheilacakes7 on twitter and tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post. This can be done daily.

Please remember to put your email address in your comments or make it accessible on your blog.

This giveaway is open to US Residents only

This giveaway ends on March 26, 2010 at 11:59 pm ET.

Good Luck

MOTHERHOOD DVD Review and Giveaway- 2 winners

As you all know, I love to watch movies. Some of my favorites are ones that I can relate to. I think they should make more movies about being a mom. There are some great ones but I have a new one to throw in the mix. It’s called MOTHERHOOD. Raising kids is never easy. Eliza Welsh (Uma Thurman), a stay-at-home mom of two, finds this out first hand on a seemingly endless day when she must plan her daughter’s birthday party, deal with her scatterbrained husband (Anthony Edwards), saver her car from being towed, and write an essay for a parenting magazine before the approaching dead line. That’s motherhood.

Eliza Welch (Thurman) is a former fiction writer-turned-mom-blogger with her own site, “The Bjorn Identity”. Putting her deeper creative ambitions on hold to raise her two children, Eliza lives and works in two rent-stabilized apartments in a walk-up tenement building smack in the middle of an otherwise upscale Greenwich Village. Eliza’s good-natured but absent-minded husband (Edwards) seems tuned out to his wife’s conflicts, not to mention basic domestic reality, while her best friend Sheila (Minnie Driver) understands this – and Eliza -- all too well.

I thought MOTHERHOOD was hilarious. I couldn’t stop laughing. I could totally relate to some of the things that Eliza goes through. I am sure most moms can relate to this movie and would highly enjoy it. It would be a great movie to watch with your other mom friends on a Girl’s Night Out. You could swap your own motherhood stories. I know I have some doozies.

I will share one of them with you guys. My cousin was visiting with her kids when Noah was about 4 months old and he had a dirty diaper. I went to go change it and I noticed that he wasn’t quite finished going to the bathroom so, I closed up his diaper and waited for him to finish. After I changed him, I came back out with Noah to spend some more time with my family. I was sitting there and I ran my finger through my hair, which is something I do often and noticed I had something in my hair, I thought it was spit up. I was wrong. I had Noah’s poop in my hair. My cousin’s kids thought it was hilarious. They even called their dad and told him about it. I’m telling you Motherhood is definitely not easy!

For more information on MOTHERHOOD please visit here

Look for MOTHERHOOD on DVD and BluRay in stores now.

Thank you to National Entertainment Media for sending me a copy of MOTHERHOOD on DVD for me to review and providing the giveaway prizes.

I have a giveaway for you. Two (2) lucky winners will win a copy of the MOTHERHOOD DVD

Mandatory entry: Tell me one of your funniest motherhood or parenting stories.

You must do the mandatory entry for the extra entries to count.

Extra entries:

Subscribe to my blog via email

Follow my blog

Follow @Sheilacakes7 on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway including the link. This can be done daily.

Grab my button and post it on your sidebar. Please tell me where to find it.

Please remember to put your email address in your comments or make it accessible on your blog.

This giveaway is open to US Residents ONLY.

This giveaway ends on March 24, 2010 at 11:59 PM ET.

VeggieTales: Pistachio Review and Giveaway- 2 Winners

I used to teach Sunday school and I would do some occasional babysitting during the week. Most of the time when I would babysit during the church events, we would watch a video, this was back when VCR’s were still big. We would always watch a VeggieTales tape. I enjoyed watching it with the kids back then and I decided when I became a mom that I wanted my child to watch VeggieTales too. I really like the characters, stories and messages. I also think they do a great job of holding a child’s attention. Watching Christian based DVD’s with my son is important to me. We have another series we really like to watch too. So, when I had the opportunity to review the newest VeggieTales DVD Pistachio, I was really excited. I only had one VeggieTales DVD that I had bought online.

Check out the Trailer for Pistachio here

VeggieTales is made by Big Idea Entertainment. It stars all kinds of fun vegetables. There is Larry who is a cucumber and Bob who is a tomato to name a couple. All of the stories are made to teach you a lesson and it also uses Christian values and morals to help the Veggies learn about right and wrong. They sing the cutest songs too. My favorite VeggieTales song is God is bigger than the boogie man. The songs are catchy and they get stuck in your head really easily. They are so much fun to dance to and sing along.

When I received the DVD, I couldn’t wait to watch it with Noah. He really enjoyed watching it. He talked about the different veggies. He loves to name things he sees. Pistachio really gauged his interest and he thought it was hilarious. At one point he was laughing so hard I thought he was going cry. His laughter was deep belly laughs and I could tell he really likes it. He liked it so much that he asked to watch it again. He only asks to watch something again if he thought it was good. Of course I couldn’t resist his little please can I? Can I? Can I? Mommy please? I hope you all check it out with your little VeggieTales fan. It is a great movie that all ages will enjoy. I thought it was adorable and really liked it.

For more information and to order please visit Big Idea Entertainment’s Website. You can also find Pistachio at a store near you.

Thank you to Big Idea Entertainment for providing me with a complimentary copy of Pistachio for my family to review and providing the giveaway prizes.

I have a giveaway for you. Two (2) lucky readers are going to win a copy of the Pistachio DVD.

Mandatory entry: Please visit Big Idea Entertainment's website and tell me another VeggieTales DVD you would like to purchase.

You must do the mandatory entry in order for the extra entries to count.

Extra entries:
Subscribe to my blog via email. It must be verified

Follow my blog

Join the Big Idea email list for all the latest and greatest VeggieTales news HERE.

Follow @Sheilacakes7 and tweet about this giveaway including the link to this post. This can be done once a day.

Grab my button and put it on your sidebar. Please tell me where to find it.

Please remember to leave your email address in your comments or have it accessible on your blog so, I can contact you if you are a winner.

This giveaway is open to US Residents ONLY

This giveaway will end March 21, 2010 at 11:59 pm ET

Lets Grow: Let's Lend A Helping Hand DVD Review and Giveaway!

As you all know I am a member of PBS Sprout’s Band of Bloggers. I had the opportunity to review the new Let’s Grow: Let’s Lend a Helping Hand DVD. It is a fun children’s DVD about helping others and lending a helping hand to anyone who might need your help. Sprout has teamed up with HIT Entertainment to start a new series of DVD’s called Let’s Grow; that focus on areas preschoolers encounter daily such as helping out, manners, safety, friendship,
cooperation and more. Our friends Kelly and Chica from the Sunshine Barn on The Sunnyside Up Show host this wonderful gem of entertainment.

It features episodes of Barney, Thomas and Friends, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, and Angelina Ballerina. All of the shows are on Sprout and produced by HIT Entertainment. Kelly and Chica also award the characters The Good Egg Award which Sproutlets get for being great helpers. You can even nominate your little Sproutlet for one HERE.

Noah saw the Let’s Grow: Let’s Lend a Helping Hand DVD on the counter and constantly talked about Barney and Thomas and “Fire Sam”. Last night I promised we would watch the DVD in the morning. Noah and I sat down together and watched the DVD. Noah loved it. He sat there and watched it, occasionally commenting on what was on the screen. It caught his attention and he wanted to watch it again after it was over. Noah can be pretty picky about what he watches when. So, it was great that he was really enjoying the Let’s Grow: Let’s Lend a Helping Hand DVD. I really like that there is an episode of Fireman Sam as that show is one of Noah’s favorites and it is harder to find. I love Kelly’s energy on The Sunnyside Up Show and everyone loves Chica. Chica is definitely awesome. Noah talks about Chica all the time. If your children love Sprout this is a must have DVD to add to your collection. The Let’s Grow: Lets Lend a Helping Hand DVD is in stores now.

For more information please visit Sprout’s website.

Thank you to PBS Sprout for The Let’s Grow: Let’s Lend a Helping Hand DVD for my reviewing purposes and providing one for the giveaway.

One lucky winner will win their very own copy of the Let’s Grow: Let’s Lend a Helping Hand DVD.

You must do the mandatory entry for the extra entries to count.

Mandatory Entry:
Tell me how your child has helped out lately

Extra Entries:

Subscribe to my blog via email. You must verify to count

Follow my blog

Tell me your child’s favorite Sprout character

Follow @Sheilacakes7 and tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post. This may be done once a day.

This giveaway ends February 2, 2010 at 11:59 pm ET.

This giveaway is open to US residents ONLY.

What will you give me for a basket of kisses?

I don’t know if I have told you guys or not but I hate scary movies. My favorite scary movie is not scary at all. However at the time it was a very scary movie. It was made in the 1950’s though. It was about something that no one thought about. I randomly stumbled on this movie at the library when I was with my old best friend. We were bored and were picking out movies to borrow. We always watched weird movies together; like Mary Reilly and we got it just because we could. We watched it and I ended up loving it. I got really excited when I found it on DVD at Borders. I of course had to snag that up since I would watch it every time it was on Turner Movie Classics which was not often.



The movie is called The Bad Seed. It is about a little girl named Rhoda Penmark and when she’s good she is very good and when she is bad she murders. She will kill anyone who stands in her way. I really don’t want to give away any of the movie. I had my cousin Dan watch it and he really likes it. It’s not gruesome at all. Movies back then were not allowed to be. The Motion Picture Production Code was enforced on this movie. It basically means crime cannot pay and you can’t get away with it and you must be punished so they had to change the ending in the movie from the books ending. No one in the 1950’s would ever imagine that a child could be a murderer. That is way it was scary. All of the actors are amazing too.The movie is in black and white and I think that it gives it an eerie effect. It is really believable.

So, be on the lookout for The Bad Seed on TCM. It is usually on at night normally pretty late. Also check your local movie rental place. It is definitely worth it. Rhoda’s manipulative behavior will make the hair on your neck stand up. Let me know what you think or if you have seen it. It one of those rare gems that not too many people have seen.

Wubbzy's Christmas Adventure DVD Live Giveaway

I had a giveaway a while back for the Wubbzy's Christmas Adventure DVD and one of my winners didn't respond. This DVD needs a home. It is a great DVD. So, I am going to do a live giveaway in hopes that it goes quickly.

Leave me a comment. Please keep it clean and nice. You can comment as much as you want.

Comment #30 wins.

Good Luck!

Blockbuster's Dysfunctional Families Trivia and Giveaway

The Holiday Season is officially here! That means lots of great food and shopping and gifts and of course your family. To help you cope with the holidays, I have teamed up with Blockbuster to remind you that your family might not be as dysfunctional as you think. Blockbuster has composed a list of Dysfunctional Family Movies for you to enjoy.

The list of movies are Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Scent of a Woman, Hannah and her Sisters, Nobody’s Fool, Home for the Holidays, Pieces of April, The Ice Storm, and The House of Yes. Blockbuster has also complied a fun trivia game for me to share with you. All of the questions have come from these eight movies.
Here are the questions:

1. In Nobody’s Fool, Paul Newman’s character Sully lives in a rooming house owned by?
A. His eighth-grade teacher
B. His ex-wife
C. His doctor
D. His childhood neighbor

2. In Nobody’s Fool, Paul Newman’s character Sully is best friends with a mildly retarded handyman named?
A. Bernard
B. Rub
C. Lenny
D. Catch

3. In Planes, Trains and Automobiles, how does Steve Martin’s character Neal meet annoying salesman Del (John Candy)?
A. They share a cab to the airport.
B. They get trapped in a hotel elevator together.
C. They sit next to each other on a plane.
D. They meet as distant relatives at a family reunion.

4. After a few too many drinks in Home for the Holidays, Geraldine Chaplin’s character Gladys confesses?
A. She used to be a burlesque dancer.
B. Her long-ago lust for Henry.
C. She has been married four times.
D. Her mother never loved her.

5. In Scent of a Woman, Al Pacino’s character Frank, who is a blind, retired army colonel, intends to visit his family, have a few terrific meals, sleep with a beautiful woman and, finally?
A. Commit suicide
B. Undergo an experimental eye surgery
C. Move to an isolated cabin in the woods
D. Fall in love for the first time

6. When Katie Holmes’ character April decides to cook a Thanksgiving feast for her family in Pieces of April, what occurrence threatens to ruin her meal?
A. Her electricity goes out.
B. She forgets to thaw the turkey.
C. She gets the flu.
D. Her oven doesn’t work.

7. In The Ice Storm, Christina Ricci’s 14-year-old character Wendy is obsessed with what subject matter?
A. Animal autopsies
B. Socrates
C. The Watergate scandal
D. Snow

8. Michael Caine’s character Elliot in Hannah and Her Sisters is married, but spends the majority of the film lusting after?
A. His wife’s sister Lee
B. Lee’s live-in boyfriend Frederick
C. His wife’s sister Holly
D. His ex-wife

9. In Hannah and Her Sisters, Diane Wiest’s character Holly is a recovering?
A. Alcoholic
B. Co-dependent
C. Cocaine addict
D. Bulimic

10. Where does Josh Hamilton’s character Marty Pascal meet his fiancé Lesly in The House of Yes?
A. The grocery store
B. A doughnut shop
C. On the subway
D. During a date with another woman

11. In The House of Yes, Parker Posy’s character Jackie is obsessed with:
A. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
B. William Shakespeare
C. Her brother’s finance
D. Civil War reenactments


Thank you to Blockbuster for providing me with two complimentary dvds and providing the Dysfunctional Families Prize Pack for the giveaway.

I also have a giveaway for you.

One (1) lucky reader will win a Dysfunctional Families Prize Pack which contains two (2) of the eight movies from the list above and a ten dollar Blockbuster gift card.

Mandatory Entry: Answer the trivia questions.

If you don't know just guess as the drawing will be random and it just for fun. Please answer 1. Q 2.Q

You must do the mandatory entry to receive the bonus entries.

Bonus Entries:

Subscribe to my bog via email you must verify the subscription

Follow my blog

Tell me a short story about your dysfunctional family

This giveaway is open to US Residents only

Please remember to leave your email address in your comments or make it accessible on your blog.

This giveaway will end on December 10, 2009 at 11:59 pm ET

Scholastic’s Treasury of 25 Fairy Tales, Magic, and More DVD set Review!

Growing up I loved to read books. Scholastic books were always ones I liked to read. I remember when my teachers would send home the order forms for me to order books. It was always fun to pick out a couple books to purchase. My mom is a teacher too so we always had Scholastic Books at home. One of my favorite stories was Strega Nona. I always thought it was a cool book. I loved how she could magically “cook” spaghetti from her magic pot and how much trouble Big Anthony got in for touching the pot. It was a story my mom liked to teach her students. She made up a song about Strega Nona and we still sometimes sing it today. Noah doesn’t like the song. It’s pretty scary if you ask me honestly. Don’t tell my mom I said that though.

So when I had the opportunity to review Scholastic’s Treasury of 25 Fairy Tales, Magic, and More DVD set, I was really excited. I was happy to see that I would be able to watch Strega Nona and share the story with my son. I am so glad to see that they have brought all kinds of stories to life. I know that through your imagination they come to life but seeing them come to life through another person’s imagination is a great experience. There are all kinds of stories on DVD from Scholastic. It reminds me of when I was in Elementary School and we would occasionally watch a video of a book during Library.

We love the Treasury of 25 Fairy Tales, Magic, and More DVD set. I was so eager for my son to be able to watch them all. I am one of those moms who wants to share things from my childhood with my son. There are certain things I want him to see and do and certain traditions I want him to take a part in. Books and movies are definitely one of them.

Watching the Treasury of Fairy Tales, Magic, and More, I reminded me of my childhood and reading and hearing these stories that I had heard back then. Some of them I had forgot and some of them I remember like it was just yesterday.

Noah was hearing and seeing them for the first time. He sat on my lap part of the time and he also would just stare at the stories with his full attention. It was really cool to see his response to the stories. He loves for me to tell him stories and read him books. I am so lucky to be able to share with all of you about these wonderful DVD sets. They are so wonderfully done. They use the same illustrations as the books. Something else really cool is you can select the read along option if you have a child learning to read or wants to read along. I will be using that feature in the future. Some of the stories are also animated.

They are something that would be great for a holiday or birthday present. I think the Treasury of 25 Fairy Tales, Magic, and More DVD set is the perfect addition to any family’s DVD collection. You will probably remember some of the stories too and be reminded of your childhood just as I was.

For more information and to find out where you can purchase these, Please visit here.

Thank you so much to Scholastic for providing me with the Treasury of 25 Fairy Tales, Magic and More DVD set to review.

Movie Moments Pack Review and Giveaway!

The most important meal of the day is breakfast. We all know that General Mills makes the cereals Cheerios, Chex , Lucky Charms, and Wheaties to name a few. Well, I have a really cool promotion to share with you that I learned about, If you buy participating cereals (Honey Nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Trix, and Reese’s Puffs). When you purchase two boxes of participating cereal you can go online to the Movie Cash Website and enter the codes found inside the box and print your movie cash. They are valid at many movie theaters in the United States. They are valid at both of the movie theaters by me.

I love movies. I love watching movies, and going to see them. Let’s face it though, going to the movies can be expensive ok it is expensive. Sometimes it is worth it to go a movie though. You don’t get the same experience as you do in the theater at home. I know I don’t have a huge TV with loud speakers. Even then you don’t have the magic of the movies at home. It’s like you are transported in to the movie because everything is almost life sized, which is something that doesn’t happen at your home.

There are some movies like The Lord of The Rings where you must see it in a theater because if you don’t you miss something. Gollum doesn’t sound as creepy at home. Sauran’s eye doesn’t give you that creepy effect like the big screen does. I know that people can’t afford to go to the movies as often as they used to.

So why not cash in on this promotion. I know I buy Cheerios anyway because my son absolutely loves them. Just think you can provide a nutritious breakfast or snack for your family and then take them out to a movie as a treat. You are happy, your kids are happy it’s a great thing for everyone. Don’t have kids? Movies are a great date night too.

We used our free cereal coupon on Banana Nut Cheerios. My son loves them a lot.
Thank you to General Mills for providing me with 4 Movie Cash Certificates and a coupon for a box of General Mills cereal and providing the same prize package for the giveaway.

I had the opportunity to be a part of this because I am a member of My Blog Spark.

I have a wonderful giveaway for you all.

One lucky person will win

Four (4) Movie Cash certificates (up to $12.00 a piece)
One coupon for a free box of any General Mills cereal (up to $6.00)

Mandatory Entry: Tell me your favorite movie as a CHILD.

You must do the mandatory entry to receive the bonus entries

Subscribe to my blog via email

Follow my blog

Follow @sheilacakes7 on twitter and tweet about this giveaway please include a link to this post (this may be done daily)

Tell me your favorite Movie.

Please remember to put your email address in your comments or make it accessible on your blog for me to find.

This giveaway will end on November 25, 2009 at 11:59 pm ET.

This giveaway is open to US Residents ONLY.

Wubbzy's Christmas Adventure Review and Giveaway -- 3 winners

What’s little and yellow and super cute? It’s Wubbzy from the show Wow Wow Wubbzy! He is back in a new Christmas DVD! We really enjoyed watching Wubbzy’s Halloween adventures in Wubbzy Goes Boo. We just had to see the newest Wubbzy adventure. Wubbzy’s new DVD is called Wubbzy’s Christmas Adventure. Join Wubbzy this all-new Holiday collection! Everyone’s favorite bendy-tailed buddy pitches in to decorate The Figgity-Fig Tree, fix Walden’s snow sculpture and even solve the mystery of the
Snow Shoo-Shoo!

When I told Noah I had a new Wubbzy DVD to watch he got so excited. I told him I was going to go get it and he started to follow me up the stairs. I told him to wait down stairs and I would go get it. I heard him saying Wow Wow Wubbzy Wubbzy Wubbzy Wow Wow. I came down stairs with the screener and Noah started jumping up and down as the music started. He was so happy.

He watched Wubbzy’s Christmas Adventure with pure glee during dinner. There was a part where Wubbzy and his friends were dancing. Noah said I gotta get down and dance. I let him out of his little booster chair. He danced happily along. When the dancing was over he came back to the table and finished dinner. He watched intently to see what happened next. Laughing and smiling during the whole screener DVD. It was really fun to watch the screener DVD with Noah and also watch Noah’s reactions to what Wubbzy was doing.


When it was over, He wanted to watch it again. I let him watch part of it again until bedtime. I am pretty sure he was dreaming of sugar plums and Wubbzy and friends. The next morning Noah was sleepy and kind of grumpy. He didn’t want to do anything or watch anything. He was being a little stinker. So I put in Wubbzy’s Christmas Adventure and he was just as excited as he was the first time he saw it. We have grown very fond of the little yellow creature.

Thank you to Anchor Bay Entertainment for providing me with a screener and providing the copies of Wubbzy’s Christmas Adventure for the giveaway!


Three (3) of my readers are going to win their very own copy of Wubbzy’s Christmas Adventure (valued at $16.98 each)

Mandatory Entry: Tell me who you want to win this for and why.

You must do the mandatory entry for the bonus entries to count.

Bonus Entries:

Subscribe to my blog via email

Follow my blog

Follow @Sheilacakes7 and tweet about this giveaway please include the link (this may be done once a day)

Please remember to put your email address in your comments or make it accessible on your blog.Don’t forget to make each entry in a new comment.

This giveaway will end November 23,2009 at 11:59 pm ET

This giveaway is open to US residents ONLY.

eebee's Mix and Mash Review

I have said this before but I really love to cook. I am a great cook and it is one of my passions, in my quest to teach Noah to cook. I had the opportunity to review eebee's Mix & Mash Adventures dvd and book. The book and dvd shows you how to cook with your baby. It is something that toddlers can handle and even babies. Yes babies. It is really cool. Most people would think you couldn’t cook with your baby but eebee makes it possible. The recipes are for 6 months and up. A few of the recipes are for older babies. Your child is the chef and you are the assistant. All of the recipes are healthy and really easy. One of the steps your child does is shake. Noah loves to shake things. It is so cute because he says “shake shake shake”.

This is so cool. I love being able to share this with my son. I often find myself wondering what he can do in the kitchen with me. This book and DVD have not only opened me up to new recipes but new ideas as well. Noah and I will be trying out some of the recipes together and I am sure we will laugh and laugh while we are making some delicious recipes that are not only fun to make but healthy too. These recipes will be something we will enjoy for years to come.

Noah and I decided to make the blueb-eebee soup. Noah helped me pour the blueberries in the bowl and add the water and he even pressed the start button on the microwave with my assistance. We used some yogurt we had in the refrigerator too. Noah loved cooking with me. He was laughing the whole time. We sang songs while we cooked together. He loves to explore in the kitchen and through this book we will be able to come up with more ideas that even my little boy can do.

Noah and I loved the taste of the blueb-eebee soup. Noah said mmm it’s delicious. He asked to make it again later but we were out of blueberries. We only made half a recipe. Next time we will make a whole one. I have to remember to add some of the ingredients on my grocery list. Something else that is really cool about the book is there are little nutrition tidbits with each recipe. I now know why blueberries are blue. Do you?
For more information on eebee’s Mix & Mash Adventures please visit the website. eebee’s Mix & Mash Adventures in the Kitchen for baby and you is available at Barnes and Noble bookstores nationwide.


Thank you to eebee for sending me a complimentary copy of eebee’s Mix & Mash Adventures.

Wubbzy Goes Boo Review and Giveaway

Wow Wow Everyone! We love Wow Wow Wubbzy at my house. My son loves that little yellow creature. When I told my son we were were going to watch a Wow Wow Wubbzy Dvd, he became very excited. As soon as it started playing, Noah was in a frenzy of running around the house, singing and even rolling on the floor in excitement. He normally doesn’t get that excited about TV. It was really cute he kept saying Wow Wow Wubbzy.


We had the opportunity to view a screener of Wubbzy Goes Boo. It’s our pal Wubbzy in a Halloween dvd. Noah and I love Wubbzy’s adventures and like to see what he gets in to this time.

Noah and I enjoyed watching the dvd. In the first episode, Wubbzy is a magician and is making all kinds of crazy things happen. We really liked the elephant and all the monkeys that were in the barrel. Noah kept looking for them after they disappeared finally. There was a short little episode in between about a kickball tree. Noah liked that one too.

Noah is so smart. There is an episode about Fall where the leaves change colors and the leaves fall off the trees. Noah said “It’s Fall”. We liked the Halloween epsoides too. I won’t give away all the surprises though. The one about the ghost made Noah a little nervous but nothing major. He doesn’t really know much about ghosts so I think it was more surprised than actually scared. Noah learned all kinds of information about Halloween too.

All in all we really like Wubbzy Goes Boo and I hope you will too. In fact as I write this he is chanting Wow Wow Wubbzy, Wow Wow Wubbzy but it is bedtime so it will have to wait until tomorrow.


Thank you to Anchor Bay Entertaiment for sending me the Wubbzy Goes Boo screener.
I have two Wubbzy Goes Boo dvds to giveaway to two lucky winners.
DVD’s are valued at $16.98 each.

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me what your child or children are going to be for Halloween.

You must do the Mandatory Entry for the bonus ones to count

Bonus Entries
Subscribe to my blog via email. Please remember to verify it.
Follow my blog
Tell me what your favorite Halloween Candy is

This giveaway is open to US Residents ONLY

This giveaway will end Friday October 16th 2009 at 11:59 pm ET I will pick the winner s and Email them. They will have 24 hours to get back to me.

Please note this is a short giveaway because it would be great to have this out by Halloween so you can watch it before or after Trick-or-Treating.