Archives for May 6, 2015

WordGirl’s Worrrd Up! is Just in Time for Mother’s Day!

 

WordGirl May Newsletter

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and WordGirl, Scholastic Media’s Emmy-winning animated series on PBS KIDS, is getting ready to celebrate moms from coast-to-coast! Attached is the May issue of WordGirl’s Word Up!, your source for word-powered tips, activities and all things vocabulary!

Credit: Scholastic/PBS KIDS.

 

Foxy Roxy is Pet of the Week!

Foxy Roxy, May 7 Pet of the Week

Foxy Roxy is a lovely 8-year-old female kitty. She’s a little shy, but if you work on it, she’ll respond with affection. Foxy Roxy was dropped off at our shelter because her owner moved and couldn’t take her along. She deserves to move, too, right into a forever home. If you can provide one, meet Foxy Roxy on the shelter side of Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring St., (562) 570-PETS. Ask for ID#A544237.

(This rescue encouraged by the usual suspects.)

Credit: Thank you to our friends at Companion Animal Village.

timi & leslie bags for New Moms this Mother’s Day!

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Looking for the perfect gift for a New Mom this Mother’s Day? They are quite functional and very stylish! They are a celeb favorite and very on trend with current fashion styles.

timi & leslie’s designs are inspired by the philosophy that being a parent does not mean sacrificing style to gain function. With timi & lesliebags parents get the best of both worlds. They can look chic and stay organized.

 

The creation of timi & leslie revolutionized the diaper bag and ushered in an era where moms could also be style icons. In 2005, Women’s Wear Daily named timi & leslie number two on a list of those who have made a difference in the children’s business in the past 20 years.

Sold throughout the U.S. and internationally at stores such as Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and buybuy BABY, timi & lesliepioneered the stylish yet functional diaper bag movement.

 

With celebrity fans that include Angelina Jolie, Cindy Crawford, Courtney Cox Arquette, Nicole Kidman, Jessica Alba and Jack Black, timi & leslie bags are the choice of parents who know luxurious style, practical function and great quality.

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They also have really cool Tote bags that can be used for the beach! A real Must-Have in So California!

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For more information go to http://www.timiandleslie.com/

Self Disclosure: No compensation was received to post. I will be reviewing later this month. Photo Credit: timi & leslie.

Whole Foods Market and Instacart offer affordable, convenient options for Mother’s Day floral and gift delivery

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An estimated 54 million American households will purchase flowers or plants for Mother’s Day* so Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM) and Instacart are making it more convenient by delivering flowers in as little as one hour across 15 major US metros, along with a selection of thoughtful gifts for moms. Through an exclusive partnership, the two companies are offering a more convenient and affordable alternative to traditional floral delivery, including blooms that have higher standards like Whole Trade® or Responsibly Grown ratings.

Between May 1 and 10, customers can log onto Instacart.com or the Instacart mobile app on iOS or Android devices and choose from two Whole Foods Market bouquet options, then use the “notes” feature to specify their preferred color** and what they would like to say on a handwritten card. Customers can also choose a delivery window of within one hour, within two hours or at a scheduled time. Orders can be placed up to six days in advance.

The bouquet options available on Instacart from Whole Foods Market are a dozenWhole Trade® roses in assorted colors for $29.99, or 20-stem tulips in various colors for $24.99. Delivery fees start at $3.99, but are free for first-time Instacart users. Each bouquet will come wrapped in festive paper.

Unlike traditional floral-only delivery options, customers can use Instacart’s Mother’s Day “aisle”  to also purchase teas, chocolates, candles, body care items or even ingredients to cook mom breakfast, all curated by Whole Foods Market experts and available for delivery with the bouquet. Instacart’s database of recipes from Whole Foods Market recipes come with automated shopping lists to add ingredients to the online cart.

In addition to added convenience, this partnership offers customers responsibly sourced floral choices. All rose bouquets are backed by Whole Foods Market’s Whole Trade Guarantee, a certification-partnership program that helps ensure better wages and working conditions for farm workers, fair prices to producers and supports community improvement programs in areas where the roses are produced. Most roses and tulips** offered are rated under Whole Foods Market’s new Responsibly Grownprogram, which means they come from farms that are taking major steps to protect human health and the environment.

“After seeing how much customers loved our Valentine’s Day floral delivery with Instacart, we’re now excited to offer a convenient, affordable way to celebrate moms everywhere with Whole Trade flowers that give back to women and communities around the globe,” said David Lannon, executive vice president of operations for Whole Foods Market. “In keeping with our mission to delight shoppers, we also think customers will love ordering with Instacart’s automated shopping lists for brunch recipes, or finding mom a new favorite candle, all in a format that fits their schedule.”

“Creative, value-driven solutions like this are a perfect example of how Instacart and Whole Foods Market work together to serve our customers with convenience and quality,” said Apoorva Mehta, CEO and founder of Instacart. “It’s rewarding to see how our technology combined with Whole Foods Market’s great product selection can make it easier to create memories with mom.”

Instacart delivery from Whole Foods Market is currently available in stores across 15 markets: Atlanta; Austin; Boulder; Boston; Chicago; Denver; Houston; Los Angeles; New York City; Philadelphia; Portland, OR; San Francisco; San Jose; Seattle and Washington, DC.

Credit: Whole Foods Market. No compensation was received to post.
*According to Prince & Prince, Inc., a market research group for the floral and green plant industry, as published in Perishable News
** Flower colors are subject to availability on the day of delivery.
*** The Responsibly Grown program is still rolling out across Whole Food Market stores nationwide. While all flowers are not yet rated, shoppers will find plenty of “GOOD”, “BETTER” or “BEST” rated options to choose from.

Free, Style-Focused Event Lets Moms Enjoy an Evening of Fashion, Beauty, Shopping and Food

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The Shops at Montebello invites moms to celebrate Mother’s Day by enjoying an evening that focuses on fashion and fun. Indulge, Fashion + Fun for Moms, takes place on Friday, May 8, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Center Court, and provides moms with a much-needed opportunity to treat themselves to a night out and celebrate motherhood through a fun, fashionable shopping experience, complete with celebrity appearances and more.

 

At Indulge, event attendees can do much more than just shop for spring style must-haves. Moms and their friends can experience:

  • Celebrity Appearances: Whitney Thompson, America’s Next Top Model’s very first plus size model winner, will give fashion tips on looking your best no matter what size you wear. Models from Lane Bryant, Torrid Plus and Charlotte Russe will join Thompson on stage to show off the latest Spring and Summer fashions, as KKGO Go Country 105.1 on-air talent Christine Martindale emcees the fashion presentation. Thompson will also be available to sign autographs for attendees.
  • Pampering Stations: Moms can indulge in pampering stations in Center Court including temporary Henna tattoos from Ziba Beauty, sampling from GNC, a display of spring and summer accessories from Caire’s, and fashion tips and demonstrations provided by gap, G by Guess, and more. In addition, JCPenney Hair Salon and Sephora will provide mini-makeovers on the lower level in front of JCPenney. Macy’s will showcase the latest scents at a Spring Fragrance Bar on the center’s lower level, in front of Macy’s.
  • Social Media Lounge: Stop by The Shops at Montebello social media table in Center Court to enjoy complimentary Marie Callender’s pie and Starbucks coffee, iced tea and red velvet cupcakes. Doubletree by Hilton Los Angeles – Rosemead will also treat shoppers to their famous chocolate chip cookies.
  • Food Sampling: Try samples from the area’s local eateries, including pizza samples from BJ’s Restaurant and Brewery, while supplies last.
  • Stylish Sounds: KKGO Go Country 105.1 will be providing music, entertainment and giveaways to add to the festive atmosphere.
  • Gift with Purchase: Spend $150 or more and receive a Croc cosmetics bag filled with samples from Macy’s.  Visit Simon Guest Services with same-day receipts to receive the free gift.
  • Giveaways: Attendees will also have a chance to enter to win a four-day cruise for two from Santa Barbara to Ensenada, Mexico, a Coach Edie shoulder bag and wallet, and a shoe shopping spree at Aldo, Steve Madden and Lady Foot Locker.

 

“Simon has had a longstanding tradition of celebrating Moms and the important roles they play in our lives,” said Marida Petitjean, Director of Marketing and Business Development at The Shops at Montebello. “Held right before Mother’s Day, Indulge events create a perfect opportunity for Moms – who always think of others first – to focus on themselves and enjoy a social evening of fashion, food and fun.”

 

Simon’s Indulge events are free and open to women of all ages. For more information, visit http://www.simon.com/mall/the-shops-at-montebello/stream/indulge-3220558.

Credit: Simon.

FIRST LOOK! Action Image of Tyrese Gibson as Roman Pearce in the New Thrill Ride

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Universal Studios HollywoodSM continues its “Road to Fast” campaign with the debut of a Tyrese Gibson (“Roman Pearce”) image for its all-new thrill ride “Fast & Furious—Supercharged,” opening June 25 as the grand finale of the world-famous Studio Tour.

A lengthier, more detailed look at the making-of this revolutionary new attraction, featuring commentary from the cast, including Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Luke Evans and the producers, can be seen here.

“You’re in Hollywood already…you’re able to get on the tram and experience your favorite movie and TV show sets; that’s a big deal. Everything about Universal Studios puts you in the driver’s seat to really experience Hollywood,” said Tyrese Gibson, adding, “Fast & Furious has the best fans in the world!”

“Fast & Furious—Supercharged” is a technologically advanced, epic ride that reunites stars from the Fast & Furiousseries in a groundbreaking mega-attraction designed to catapult guests into the high-stakes underground world of street racing at perceived speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour.  This high-octane ride is conceived as a new installment to theFast & Furious franchise and will debut as the grand finale to Universal Studios Hollywood’s behind-the-scenes Studio Tour that can only be experienced at The Entertainment Capital of L.A.

Join the conversation online using #FastFuriousRide, and for all the latest news, “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @UniStudios.

Credit: Universal Studios.

Shutterfly for Mother’s Day Gift Ideas!

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It’s almost Mother’s Day and my favorite gifts have been the personalized photo gifts that I have received in the past 11 years. I can’t believe that I have been a Mom for 11 years now! But, that is a different story. My favorites have been from Shutterfly. They have the best photo gifts! This year my favorites are that Postage Stamps, Mousepad (of course I had to choose a Dog one this year since I am a new Puppy Mom!) and the New Serving Tray.

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The Postage stamps are so cool! I think it is just amazing that you can have stamps with a personalized photo on them. You can choose a size (Large is .71 and the Small are the .49) and a design color and photo image. I have always liked the Photo Mousepads from Shutterfly. I like that they are great quality, there is a variety to choose from and it is always tough to just choose one. This time it was simple for me because I loved the dog design. My son actually chose the photos for this one and I honestly haven’t looked. My 11-year-old son did check it out when it arrived here and says it is perfect! My favorite this Mother’s Day is the Serving Tray! Just perfect for breakfast in bed. It is waterproof, multi-functional and there is a variety of designs and of course, you can can customize with your photos.

Check out all the personalized photo gifts at Shutterfly !

This year we have teamed up for a Special Mother’s Day Giveaway! Winner will actually be chosen on Mother’s Day! One winner will win a Serving Tray. To enter, leave a comment below telling us your favorite of the designs. You can go to Shutterfly and look.  Deadline to enter is May 9th at noon PST. One winner will randomly be selected via Random.org.

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this Mother’s Day featured post. Photo Credit: Shutterfly.

5 Flights Up – A Wonderful Humorous Drama About Aging and Change

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Based on a novel called “Heroic Measures” this is a charming film that many will resonate with. A long-time married couple spend a hectic weekend pondering the sale of the apartment they have shared for more than 40 years. They’ve spent their entire lives together in a gorgeous Brooklyn home only to realize now, when they want to move, what a nightmare it is to move in New York. Starring Morgan Freeman, Diane Keaton and Carrie Preston. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Gerry O. comments, “From the storyline, it may seem that this film will be boring to kids. But, when I started watching this film I fell in love with it.” His full review is below.

5 Flights Up

Reviewed by Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

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From the storyline, it may seem that this film will be boring to kids. But, when I started watching this film I fell in love with it. Morgan Freeman’s perfect timing of jokes and Diane Keeton’s wonderful and priceless emotions make this film entertaining and heartfelt from the very start to the last second.

It is a bit hard to say what the main genre is. Of course, there is a lot of romance between the two characters, Alex (Morgan Freeman) and Ruth (Diane Keeton), there is also that funny side that makes it all that more enjoyable. And, there is still a serious dramatic side which keeps you on the edge of your seat till the end.

The story starts when an elderly couple, Ruth and Alex, live in a high up, massive apartment in New York City, Brooklyn actually. However, the five flight of stairs they need to take is getting more and more challenging so they decide to move to a location with an elevator. To add to the challenges, their dog is in the hospital undergoing treatment for spinal injury.

The director, Richard Loncraine makes this movie feel authentic and rustic and also shows how current society  stereotypes elderly people, how they truly feel about it and how wrong it is. The cast is wonderful and the acting is just superior with serious and comedy scenes mixed together and standing out all the time. I also like how they lightly touch upon problems of the past as well as problems of today. For example, Ruth and Alex got married in a time when bi-racial couples were not welcomed with open arms. Then it shows how today a gay couple is making an offer on a house. They submit it along with a note telling how they tried to adopt a child and finally  were able to adopt one. It is something Ruth and Alex wanted to do when they were younger but were denied.

My favorite scene is when they have an open house to sell their apartment and a huge crowd of people comes through, looking at everything and touching everything. Alex doesn’t like it but Ruth tries to see the positive side but fails. I like the scene because it shows how the couple’s life isn’t perfect and also makes the film feel very real. Not only this moment does that but many others as well.

This film has perhaps several moments of adult content but none that is too mature. I recommend it to kids ages 10 to 18 and give it 5 out of 5 stars. This film opens May 8 in U.S. theaters so, mark your calendars.

Credit: KIDS FIRST!