Friday, August 30, 2013

Koala Kid Anti-Bullying Message Appeals to Kids

Movies


MBE partnered with 20th Century Fox for this post

Koala Kid Kids Movie Review

Despite all the positive messaging in schools and media, according to NAAAS.org, one in four kids is being bullied regularly. Because bullying continues to be such a serious problem, we need to do even more to reach kids early when they are young to help fight it. Rising to the occasion is recently-released Koala Kid, from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. This animated action comedy movie is the story of an endearing rare white koala bear that seeks acceptance among his animal peers in the Australian Outback, wanting to fit in more than anything else in the world.
 
Koala Kid DVD
Koala Kid DVD, Image from Fox Home Entertainment

My daughter and I had the opportunity to view this charming movie at a fun pre-release screening event hosted by Fox at the Los Angeles Zoo which also included an educational and fun private tour of the koala enclosure with a very knowledgable docent. 


Me at L.A. Zoo Koala Kid Event, MommyBlogExpert.com
We learned lots about Koalas, MommyBlogExpert.com
And saw a Koala, too, MommyBlogExpert.com

Koala Kid, which has a run time of 86 minutes, succeeds on multiple levels. It entertains young kids, but it also teaches them the concept of friendship and acceptance, about how to embrace others who are a little different, rather than exclude them.

View the official Koala Kid trailer to see the cute characters




The film features some big names voicing the characters including Rob Schneider, who plays Johnny the white koala bear, Tim Curry, Alan Cumming, and Jenni Pulos, the voice of Charlotte the Koala. From what I could tell, the movie is rated PG primarily because there are a few hurtful things that are said to Johnny and there's a scary scene or two. I don't any problems with young kids watching this, but each parent needs to decide for yourself if it's okay for your child to view this.

During the hosted Media Day we were fortunate to have the opportunity to meet Pulos, who was on hand to talk with a small group of mom and dad bloggers about how Koala Kid gets the anti-bullying message across and some simple things kids can do if they are being bullied or know someone else who is.


My daughter, Jenni Pulos, Me, MommyBlogExpert.com

The Koala Kid DVD, released on April 30, 2013, is exclusively available at Walmart, Walmart.com and Sam's Club with a list price of $22.98.

FTC Disclosure: I disclose that I am a Fox Home Entertainment Insider brand ambassador and that I was invited to this Fox-hosted event as well as received the DVD featured to facilitate this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Model Brand Ambassador Influencer Program Verizon Lifestyle Blogger Network #VZWBuzz


Brand Ambassador



This is a compensated post

If you are either a brand or a blogger who has ever wondered what makes a brand ambassador program a win-win for everyone involved, keep reading. In this post I'm going to give you a behind the scenes look at the Verizon Lifestyle Blogger program which is now in it's second full year of operation.


Me w/ friends at Verizon TimeShift Party, Chicago, Image by WellconnectedMom.com
Organized by Monica Vila, TheOnlineMom, I'm proud to be a charter lifestyle blogging member of this growing network of influencers which started in 2012. 

Our eclectic group includes celebrity bloggers like Ann Tran, tech savvy mom bloggers like me representing MommyBlogExpert, Robyn Wright of RobynsWorld, and Jacqueline Cromwell of NerdMom and others; dad bloggers such as Paul O'Reilly, TheTechDad; as well as men and women bloggers without children.


The BlackBerry Z10 I reviewed for Verizon, MommyBlogExpert.com 
Monica Vila, foreground, w/ Twitter Party team, MommyBlogExpert.com
We bloggers serve a kaleidoscope of different readerships, for sure. But what we all have in common is a deep passion for Verizon, a love of technology, and a driving desire to keep up to date on the company's latest wireless mobile innovations.


Me with Ann Tran at our Irvine conference, MommyBlogExpert.com
My latest Verizon smartphone, MommyBlogExpert.com
Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers do lots of different things to learn about Verizon's wireless products and services. We get scoops on major company news before it goes public and have many hands-on experiences testing the coolest smart phones, cameras, tablets and other new wireless products and accessories. But our network also gives us the opportunity to get to know the brilliant minds at Verizon (as well as to be a sounding board for some of their new ideas), have access to the company's top executives, participate in Twitter parties, to interact with fellow brand ambassadors IRL and online and so much more.

MommyBlogExpert.com
MommyBlogExpert.com
Among my favorite aspects of the #VZWBuzz program are the periodic face-to-face meetings with the brand and blogger team including both the Lifestyle Blogger conferences we've had at Verizon Wireless Irvine, California West Coast Headquarters and the Verizon Application Innovation Center in San Francisco. 


MommyBlogExpert.com
MommyBlogExpert.com
MommyBlogExpert.com
In just the past few months alone, we've also gotten to socialize and learn from the brand at intimate events at mega conferences like BlogHer and International CES.


MommyBlogExpert.com
MommyBlogExpert.com
MommyBlogExpert.com
All of this has lead to a wonderful synergy that has enabled each blogger in our group to create great content for our individual blog audiences as well as to develop some deep and lasting friendships with some of the smartest people I've ever met both on the brand and blogger sides. 
MommyBlogExpert.com
That, in a nutshell, is an overview of what the Verizon Lifestyle Blogger program is all about. It's a model I think that a lot of other brands might consider emulating to successfully reach and engage consumer audiences through social media.


FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I disclose that I am a Verizon Wireless Lifestyle Blogger and serving in this capacity I have received various products as well as all expenses paid trips to attend Verizon blogger conferences. However, opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

50th Anniversary MLK I Have a Dream Speech - Dr. Martin Luther King, August 28, 1963


History



Today marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's historic and inspiring I Have a Dream speech at the March on Washington addressing every American.

MLK Delivering I Have a Dream Speech, Image from National Geographic
Dr. King opened his speech on that sweltering August 28, 1963 day on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC by saying, "I am happy to join with you today in what will go down as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation." 

Today, in 2013, I have no doubt that Dr. King is smiling down at us all from heaven seeing how his dream has turned into reality and how far Civil Rights have come. 

To commemorate this important day in American history, I invite you to watch and listen to the original I Have A Dream in it's entirety right now. I know I'm even more moved by those words today than I was when I was 7 years old watching this speech live on my family's black and white TV back in the summer of 1963.



This is the ultimate example that dreams can and do come true! Thank you Dr. King for touching so many generations with your passionate and heartfelt words.

FTC Disclosure: I did not receive any payment or other compensation in exchange for this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.