Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Disney Mary Poppins 50th Anniversary

Movies

Blu-ray Combo Review, Giveaway


As a Baby Boomer, I couldn't be more excited to announce the release today of Walt Disney's Mary Poppins restored and remastered 2-Disc 50th Anniversary Edition. This is the first time ever that a Blu-ray combo pack and digital HD copy of this title are being offered to fans of all ages.


Dick Van Dyke as Bert the Chimney Sweeper


To celebrate, I invite you to reminisce with me about what makes this rare G-rated movie so special and why it still appeals across the generations five decades after it's original big screen theatrical release. 

Few family classic films are closer to my heart than Mary Poppins, the first picture I ever saw as a child at a movie theater. This was back in 1964, just about 50 years ago, when I was in third grade. 


Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins


Back in the day there were no such things as computers, videos, DVDs, Digital Downloads On Demand and -- with the exception of TV -- all the other entertainment technologies we enjoy today. As I recall, theater tickets for kids were 50 cents which seemed like a lot of money to me at the time, considering going to the movies cost ten times the price of a 5-cent full-size candy bar!

Over the years I've never stopped loving this movie. The music from Mary Poppins, especially, resonates with me. Come to think of it, I distinctly remember singing most of the songs from the musical score again and again, at various times while growing up.

For example, I used to sing Feed the Birds when scattering bread crumbs at our local duck pond. A Spoon Full of Sugar is another tune I used to rely on to get psyched up before swallowing some awful-tasting cough syrup my mom or dad was about to give me. I even remember as an elementary student, running through the leaves on my way to school in the fall, kicking the foilage while belting out Chim Chim Cher-ee. And, I'll never forget singing that tongue twister of a song Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious with my friends to see which one of us could sing it the fastest with no mistakes.

When I finally became a mom of four kids within a year, including triplets, I was determined to share my love for this classic with my own children. So, I would often show the Mary Poppins video we owned with our old-school VCR. As I remember it, whenever this film was on, they seemed to enjoy it as much as I did when I was their age, particularly the singing and dance routines. I wouldn't be surprised if my children did the same thing when they eventually have kids of their own one day.

As one of a select group of mom bloggers that was chosen by SocialMoms to review Mary Poppins, I was privileged to receive an advance copy of the new Blu-ray combo pack that was just released. Everything I remember from the original feature film on the big screen is included on the new edition, but since these were restored and remastered by Disney, the colors are more vivid and the action more fluid and crystal clear than ever before. 

There are even a generous offering of extras included. My two personal fave bonus features are the reunion of the original stars Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and legendary composer Richard Sherman and The Making of Mary PoppinsDisney Mary Poppins 50th Anniversary Blu-ray DVD Combo + Digital Copy is widely available online and instore. Suggested list price is $39.99.

Disney Mary Poppins 50th Anniversary 
Blu-ray DVD Combo

GIVEAWAY
Ends 12/20/13
Disney Mary Poppins 50th Anniversary Edition

  • Use the widget to Tweet about the giveaway
  • Like the Mary Poppins Facebook page below
  • Leave a comment about the movie
  • Follow @DisneyPictures on Twitter


FTC Disclosure:  This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Disney Mary Poppins blogging program. However, opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. In addition to payment, SocialMoms and Disney provided me with the featured Blu-ray DVD combo for this review. Social Moms is administering the giveaway and is responsible for prize fulfillment and shipping of giveaway prizes. 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.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Disney on Ice Opens in SoCal This Week With Shows in LA, Followed by OC, IE & Long Beach

Family Entertainment


This is a sponsored post

All images by Disney on Ice

Family friendly Disney on Ice presents Rockin’ Ever After, an all-new live production, skates into Southern California this week. Performances start out in Los Angeles from December 11-15, followed by shows in Orange County, the Inland Empire and Long Beach through Sunday, January 5, 2014. What a way to spend the holiday season on the West Coast with kids of all ages!

Special Mom Discount - Details Below
See full schedule for 2013 Disney on Ice 

All 4 SoCal venues HERE

I am so excited to be going to see this show with my two daughters and my personal trainer, Laurel, on opening night here in L.A. It will be the first Disney on Ice performance any of us have ever seen, so look for another post after we've watched the show to hear what we think. 

You'll be able to read all about the experience from a first-timer's perspective as well as to see some of the video I capture at the event for the MommyBlogExpert YouTube Channel. I'll also be posting still images via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram live from Staples Center in Los Angeles this Wednesday night, so make sure you're following MommyBlogExpert on these social networks to join in on the fun.


The show sounds like it will really be a blast with lots of action, music and of course, skating. There's a real horse ice skating on all four legs during this high energy production which I can't wait to witness with my own eyes. Also, I'm anticipating that all the skating, dancing, acrobatics and music -- on top of seeing IRL (in real life) the magnificent costumes and sets that Disney is known for -- will make this a memorable entertainment experience for the entire audience.

Ticket Pricing & Where to Buy
Ticket prices $22-$30, $50-$55 (VIP) and $75-$80 (Front Row). Opening Night tickets at each venue just $15 each (not valid for VIP or premium seating). Available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or in-person at the venue Box Office. Note: Tickets may be subject to service charges, facility and handling fees. 


Family 4-Pack Ticket Deal
Only $80 when you use Code: MOM 

FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated post and I am receiving tickets for family and friends to attend Disney on Ice in exchange for my time. In addition, Disney on Ice is providing the prizes for the associated ticket giveaway. 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.

White House Gingerbread Fireplace DIY Christmas Holiday Cookie Recipe Crafts Directions


Celebrations


Don't miss MBE's Post: My visit to the White House for the Holidays

I first became enthralled with the elegant White House Gingerbread Fireplace that was created by the chefs at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for this year's holiday season from a post by @FLOTUS -- the official Twitter feed published by the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama. According to this tweet from the First Lady's Office which included a photo, it took 1200+ cookies to make the latest one-of-a-kind White House Gingerbread Christmas masterpiece.


Hanukkah Gingerbread House I made, MommyBlogExpert.com
As a mom myself, who has enjoyed building original gingerbread houses for Hanukkah in past seasons with my own children, I think the 2013 White House Gingerbread creation looks pretty amazing from these online photos

Since many of MommyBlogExpert's readers appreciate creative Christmas DIY ideas as well as fabulous edible food art, I wanted to share with you a little about how the Obama Family has decorated the White House for Christmas this year.

The official White House video shows how it was made... 



Undoubtedly, it took a whole staff of talented bakers and pastry chefs many hours of baking and decorating to build this piece of art. Among the numerous fine details are realistic miniature candy trees made by creating thin green sheets of hard candy that were then painstakingly layered and assembled into fir trees. 

Also featured in the sugary artistic rendition are likenesses of the Obama Family's beloved pets, First Dog Bo, a male Portuguese Water Dog who is four years old, and First Dog Sunny, a female of the same breed that just joined the Presidential household in August.

The best part is that the celebration isn't limited to the White House this year. America is invited to join in and craft some holiday grandeur of your own at home with some beautiful holiday recipes and crafts.


Christmas decor at Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, MommyBlogExpert.com
Free DIY Directions from WhiteHouse.gov include
  • The intricate and beautiful 2013 Holiday Edible Springerle Cookie to eat or turn it into a hanging ornament
  • Beautiful tissue paper Poinsettia flowers that would be great as a centerpiece
  • Miniature dried fruit edible cookie wreathes
Fellow arts and crafts enthusiasts will no doubt agree. It's good to know that the White House is not only into DIY holiday decor, they are into sharing all the how-tos with the public. Made in America doesn't get any better than that, does it?

FTC Disclosure: The content for this post was sourced from WhiteHouse.gov and other sites. However, no compensation was exchanged for this post. Content also includes my own opinions and several personal photos. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.