The Secret Garden 2020 Movie Review

Movies 

MBE partnered with STXfilms for this Review

Movie Based on Classic Book Released

British newbie young stars Dixie Egerickx, Edan Hayhurst and Amir Wilson hold their own in the family drama fantasy The Secret Garden (2020, STXfilms), which was released on On Demand Everywhere (PVOD) today. At 15 years old and younger, this trio of kids performs alongside an adult cast ensemble of veteran actors including Academy Award winner Colin Firth (winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor in The King's Speech), Dame Julie Walters (Harry Potter, Mamma Mia) who has been nominated twice for Academy Awards, and other mature performers.  

Image by STXfilms

Shall I Tell You a Story? 

This is the latest interpretation of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett based on the 1911 classic title. Like the original book and three earlier films which portray it, the secret garden central to the plot in this picture is set in the countryside of England. 

However, what distinguishes th2 2020 movie release from previous adaptations is that the time period has been fast-forwarded to 1947 with the story beginning in British India. It was a time of great upheaval and violence on the eve of the Partition of India, separating the former empire into two independent countries, India and Pakistan.  The setting then moves to England post World War II, where the UK is in the midst of rebuilding its economy and is being forced to institute bread rationing for the masses.

Image by STXfilms

The story revolves around a 10-year-old orphan girl Mary Lennox (Egerickx) who loses both wealthy British parents suddenly in a terrible accident while their family is living in British India on the eve of the Partition. Following their deaths, she is uprooted from the security of the home she grew up in and is sent to England to live with her unaffectionate widower uncle, Lord Archibald Craven (Firth), a complete stranger, residing on a vast and lonely country estate on the Yorkshire Moors. 

Immediately upon her arrival she experiences a sense of imprisonment. Feeling like a captive locked in a cage full of hopelessness, loneliness, and boredom, Mary craves freedom and companionship. So, she begins exploring forbidden rooms in the creaky, old mansion as well as outdoors, unbeknownst to her uncle and the severe governess Mrs. Medlock (Walters) who is charged with looking after her. 

Image by STXfilms

Soon the curious young girl stumbles upon some family secrets, including her sickly cousin Colin (Hayhurst) who she never knew existed until now, as well as a magical garden hidden away on the property. Discovering kindred misfitting spirits in her newly discovered cousin and a new friend named Dickon (Wilson), the trio sets off looking for happiness and adventure together, escaping into the fantasy world of a garden with magical powers.

Brought to viewers in the US, Canada and around the world by the producers of Harry Potter and Paddington and shot in various locations around Yorkshire, North Wales and other rural places around the UK, the garden scenery is stunningly beautiful. So outdoor garden scenes are particularly engaging and magical, of course. 

Top that off with some good acting by a talented cast which spans multiple generations and you have a movie the extended family, kids, mom, dad, and grandparents will all enjoy watching together at home. A new book The Secret Garden: The Cinematic Novel, which includes the adapted storyline and photos from the 2020 movie, also was just published by HarperCollins Children's Book.

The Secret Garden: The Cinematic Novel, 2020

About The Secret Garden

From STXfilms and rated PG, The Secret Garden (2020) is widely available for viewing through On Demand platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, VUDU, cable providers, and more as of Friday, August 7, 2020. See the official site  for more about the film and some fun, free activities. Also, learn more by following the movie on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Decorating With Chocolate Pen for Kids

Food Art

MBE partnered with  Chocolate Pen for this campaign and this post contains affiliate links

Easily Create Beautiful, Edible DIY Chocolate Art

Who doesn't either love chocolate or know someone who does, especially kids, right? If you have one or more chocolate-loving kids or grandkids who also enjoy being in the kitchen and/or getting creative, you have to check out the new, updated Chocolate Pen Craft Kit from Skyrocket Toys which we discovered at the virtual toy fair and conference Sweet Suite at Home just a few weeks ago.

As you can see from the candy, cookie and cake masterpieces crafted for this story by my darling nephew (age 6) and niece (age 4) -- created under the watchful eyes of Nuriyyeh, their crafty mom -- the Chocolate Pen is a fun creative outlet for both boys and girls. It's an activity which can help build your child's creative skills, fine motor skills, and sense of pride and accomplishment, too. 

Once the box is opened and you've reviewed the simple instructions with your youngsters to set everything up, kids can let the magical fun begin, to easily draw, write, and decorate with the included pink, blue, white and brown meltable chocolate as well as make colorful, detailed chocolate candies  with the candy molds also included in the set.

But, the delights don't have to be limited just to younger kids. Crafty tweens, teens and grownups with more developed hand and eye coordination and skills and a longer attention span might also have hours of fun making fancy chocolates, and decorating homemade and store-bought cookies, cakes and other sweet treats with chocolate. Potentially this can result in some edible works of art you'll be proud serve for every day and special occasions.

How the Chocolate Pen Works

According to Nuriyyeh, "The Chocolate Pen has so much going for it and is a great way for mom, dad or the grandparents to engage with kids as well as bond and enjoy some quality time together. Straight out of the box, the well-written instructions are easy to follow. What's more is that this unique pen, which when filled releases melted chocolate at the push of a button, came already assembled. All I had to do was get out a screwdriver to open the pen and add two AAA batteries which I luckily had on hand to get started.

"The warming tray took about 20 minutes to warm up and kept the chocolate at a good consistency to use with the pen the whole time the kids were working with it. The pen is also simple to switch from "fill mode" to "draw mode" and fits in small hands well. The chocolate molds in this starter set including some bonus molds inspired by Blume Dolls are really fun to make, setting well and producing nice shapes.

"Adding to the fun is the see-through parchment paper with tracing sheets which also came with the set, building creative confidence and guiding the kids with the design process. An added plus, from a mom-perspective, is that both the pen and warmer are easy to disassemble and clean.

"Long story short is both my kids had a real blast letting their inner artist go wild with the Chocolate Pen and were so proud of their creations as you can see by their big smiles," Nuriyyeh says. 

"Luckily the brand offers chocolate refill packs, so you never have to run out of chocolate to decorate more sweets after you've used up the generous amount of melting chocolate that is included in the set. Thinking ahead, this will be a handy kitchen creative tool for them (and me) to use to decorate cookies and desserts for holidays and special occasions throughout the year as well as to make gifts for their teachers, family and friends."

Multi-Generational Fun: See the Chocolate Pen in Action...

The Chocolate Pen Craft Set includes

• Chocolate Pen Designed for Kids
• Drawing Tip
• Warming Tray With Lid
• 4 Tasty Chocolate Colors
• Stirring Stick
• 40 Mold Designs
• Charging Cable
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Recommended for Ages 6+

Additional Items Needed (Not Included in Set)

• One 2 Amp Powerblock Wall Plug for the Warming Tray
• Two new AAA Batteries for the Chocolate Pen

More about the Chocolate Pen

The Chocolate Pen from Skyrocket Toys is fun boys and girls, as well as tweens, teens and grownups.  The Chocolate Pen crafting kit  and the Chocolate Pen refill set are available in-store and online in the US and Canada. In addition to the basic kit featured in our review, there is also a Chocolate Pen Bonus Set which comes with even more chocolate for crafting sweet treats. 

Remember, whichever set you buy, you'll also need a 2 amp powerblock wall plug (for warming tray) and two AAA batteries for the Chocolate Pen.

• One 2 Amp Powerblock Wall Plug for the Warming Tray
• Two new AAA Batteries for the Chocolate Pen

For lots of creative inspiration and to learn more check out the brand's website as well as follow them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and  Twitter.

DISCLOSURE: Mommy Blog Expert participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that allows our site to earn compensation for including referral links within our posts to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

The Secret Dare to Dream Movie Review

Movies 

MBE partnered with Lionsgate for this Review and Giveaway 

Releases Friday, Don't Miss Giveaway Below 

Against the beautiful rural backdrops of both Louisiana and Tennessee, the inspiring and thought-provoking new movie The Secret: Dare to Dream from Lionsgate, originally made for the big screen, is available for home viewing on Premium View On Demand as of July 31 in the US and Canada.

Starring Katie Holmes and Josh Lucas, along with Celia Weston and Jerry O'Connell the feature film is based on the 2006 best-selling book

Nothing seems to be going right for Miranda Wells (Katie Holmes), a hard-working young widow struggling financially and emotionally to be a loving and attentive mother to her three children (a demanding teenage girl with a younger brother and sister). 

Miranda has almost lost all hope of being the mom she wants to be and finding love again after the sudden loss of her husband several years prior. Then, when a powerful hurricane hits and her family's rural house on the bayou not far from New Orleans is badly damaged by the storm, a mysterious man named Bray Johnson (Josh Lucas) blows into her life. 

Like the book which received rave reviews from Oprah Winfrey and many others, the movie The Secret: Dare to Dream is all about inspiration for living, no matter what challenges one faces. It's about the belief based on the Law of Attraction, that thoughts have the power to change a person's destiny. If you follow Byrne's three-step process: Ask, Believe, Receive, you can potentially positively impact any area of your life whether in money matters, relationships, and more.

In this day and age with the Coronavirus Pandemic continuing to rage through the world like an out-of-control relentless hurricane storm leaving a trail of sickness and death in its wake, a feel-good movie like this could not be more timely and inspirational to us all. 

Speaking of the book The Secret, which this new movie is based on, I'm excited to announce a flash giveaway of five digital copies of this life-changing book. Read on to find out how you can enter and win! 

Giveaway 

The Secret

5 Digital Books for US/Canada Winners! 

MBE Giveaway on Instagram

Thanks to Lionsgate, FIVE (5) lucky MBE giveaway participants will each win a digital copy of the book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. To enter this giveaway Mommy Blog Expert is hosting, visit this MBE Instagram post to enter. Contest is open to US + Canada residents and ends at July 31, 2020.

About The Secret: Dare to Dream 

From Lionsgate and rated PG, The Secret: Dare to Dream is available for rent for $19.99 through On Demand platforms such as Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, VUDU, and cable providers starting Friday, July 31, 2020. See the official site and follow the movie on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube to learn more. All images in post courtesy of Lionsgate.