Spooky Buddies Halloween Kids Disney Movie Review & Giveaway, Ends 11/7

Kid Movie Review &
Halloween Giveaway

Entry Details Below, ENDS 11/7/11

Any child who loves dogs, animals, the Air Bud series and/or Disney videos will likely enjoy this really cute and fun Halloween 2 Disc Combo Pack DVD & Blu-Ray set. In this digitally mastered G rated feature adventure film, which runs approximately 88 minutes, boys and girls will be equally enchanted and spooked by the most adorable Trick or Treating puppies in costume ever.

iPhone photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

This does involve a haunted house and both human and animal villains, too, so parents might want to watch this together with their elementary school age children. Younger kids might be a little frightened viewing this humorous action movie shot with real puppies, dogs, and kid actors, so it might be a good idea for mom or dad to preview this before letting toddlers and preschoolers see it.

This is so sweet, hearthwarming and entertaining, I think kids will enjoy viewing this again and again year round. List price $39.99

Disney Spooky Buddies

Double Blu-Ray & DVD

GIVEAWAY

Ends November 7, 2011

HOW TO ENTER

 
Good news: I'm giving away the actual Disney Spooky Buddies Blu-Ray DVD Disc Combo Pack reviewed in this post that is pictured above. The winner of this prize gets both discs in original hard clam shell box (outer cellophane wrapper removed).

Leave a comment(s) below this post.  Contest ends November 7, 2011 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only. Winners will be selected at random from all entries and will be notified via email.

Required (Mandatory) Entry

Simply leave a comment below this blogpost saying what your child will be dressing up as for Halloween this year.  Don't forget to include your email address, Facebook or Twitter contact info in the comment section so the winner can be contacted.

Additional Extra Entries

Get extra entries to win for doing any combination of the easy options listed below.  Just be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert (MBE) to leave an additional comment after each individual extra action you do to confirm so we can record all your extra chances to win.

1.  Follow MommyBlogExpert on Twitter

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3. Subscribe to MommyBlogExpert

Super ***Bonus Entries***
You can earn even MORE chances to win each time you TWEET the message below, up to 3 times each day.  Don't forget to return to leave a comment on this post with the direct link right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive an entry for each of your RTs.

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FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert received the video reviewed and being given away as a gift. I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with 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.

Ultimate Halloween Candy Apple Recipe - Organic Healthy Delicious & Easy With Just 3 Ingredients

Good Food

This absolutely delicious and festive Candy Apple Cupcake Recipe comes to this blog via Handstand Kids which has been covered on MommyBlogExpert on multiple occasions. It is not only fun to make with kids for Halloween and Trick or Treats but for any Fall party with family or friends. One of the best things about this is that it requires THREE basic ingredients (4 if you count the popsicle craft sticks) that you might already have in your kitchen at home or can easily pick up at your local supermarket. It's healthy too, because these are made with organic fruit and the skin is not peeled. 

That's not to say you can't go all out embellishing these sweet treats with  the rainbow of edible decorations available to dip these in from M&Ms, nuts, sprinkles and crumbled Oreo cookies to anything else that sounds good to you. The main thing is to enjoy making these as well as eating them.

The Ultimate Candy Apple 

Ingredients

• 1 cup cinnamon red hot candies
• 2 tablespoons water
• 6 large apples, use a variety of green and red organic apples (since you will
• be eating the skin)
• 6 craft sticks

Directions

1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Insert craft sticks into each apple.

2. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, mix together candies and water. Remove from

heat when the mixture is liquid and let cool slightly.

3. Carefully dip apples in hot mixture and place on waxed paper to harden.

4. Sprinkle with favorite Halloween decoration candies or chopped nuts.*

5. ENJOY!

*The original recipe is from Handstand Kids, but I think you can really get creative with this and jazz them up. The sky is the limit, so feel free to add your own favorite sweet accents: chocolate chips, small candies like Snowcaps, crumbled cookies, or even nuts and dry fruit.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with 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.

Disney Stores Host Free Family Halloween Party Costume Parade & Games Events Oct 21 & 22

Halloween

According to National Retail Federation statistics, 46 million American children are already planning their costumes this Fall for Halloween 2011 with princesses (11%) as top kid costume for seven years in a row. Other popular family friendly boy and girl dress-up choices in the Top 10 for babies, toddlers, and school age youngsters are Spiderman (3.1%), Batman (2.4%), Superman (1.3%), fairies (2.6%), Disney Princesses (2.2%) and vampires (2.4%).  Responding to all the excitement about the upcoming holiday this year, local Disney Stores everywhere will be hosting free in-store Dress Rehearsal Pre Halloween Party events that include a special viewing of Rapunzel's welcoming ceremony, a costume parade and lots of fun kid games.

My Family in Costume as Toy Story Characters
Vintage Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

My own kids are teens now.  How I wish, though, that the Disney Store had been around when they were little. In fact, kids have loved Disney characters for more than a half century and my own children were no exception. When my triplets plus one more born within a year were toddlers in pre school, I spent hours hand sewing several foursomes of Disney costumes for them from patterns. One of my personal homemade favorites (and their's) is the coordinating Disney Toy Story costume outfits I made that you see above representing the film's characters left to right: Woody, Jessie, Buzz LightYear, and Bo Peep.

The Pre Halloween celebration event takes place Friday October 21 and Saturday October 22 at all its retail shops. There are two event sessions at every location on both days. The Friday Session 1 is at 4:30 pm and the Friday Session 2 is at 6 pm, while on Saturday there will be sessions starting at 10:30 am and at noon. In addition, each child that age 3+ who comes in their favorite costume to the event will receive a free gift. One gift per child, while supplies last. 

Disney's 10th Princess, Rapunzel, making her debut
At Historic Kensington Palace in London U.K.

Please note that there is a limit of 50 children per session per store. Also, no line-up is permitted prior to 30 minutes before event begins. The chain retailer says this event is subject to change or cancellation without notice and that events will take place at Disney Stores excluding Outlet locations. Calling your local store ahead of time to confirm participation is strongly suggested.

About Disney Store

Disney Store offers costumes for the entire family. New costumes this season include a Limited Edition Rapunzel Costume -- with only 2,000 total selling in store. Disney Store celebrates the introduction of Rapunzel as the tenth Disney Princess and is offering all 10 iconic princess costumes and accessories for girls. Boys will be able to choose from Captain America, Cars 2, Pirates of the Caribbean inspired Jack Sparrow and Spider Man costumes on store racks. In addition to make it a family affair, there are even more adorable fantasy costumes available for toddlers and infants as well as dress up outfits for adults so parents can coordinate with what their children are wearing.

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Israel Welcomes Home IDF Soldier Gilad Shalit After 5 Years of Captivity by Hamas

A Son's Homecoming

Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped five years ago and held by Hamas terrorists until today, is finally free. This morning, Israel time, he was escorted back to Israel by Egyptian mediators. After meeting with the Israeli Defense Force IDF and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he has been reunited with his mom, dad, and family. Jews and non-Jews around the world have prayed for Shalit's safe return eversince he was captured in June 2006.  Finally, our prayers have been answered and Shalit is safe on Israel soil.

Prior to Gilad's release, women pray at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem for his safe return

Photo by Tara Todras-Whitehill/AP

Below is the short video of Gilad boarding the helicopter prior to safely returning to Israel earlier today.

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Octoberfest Party for So Cal Bloggers in L.A. 10/13 Free Beer, Food - Invitation Details

Blogger Party Event

If you're 21 or over, like beer and seasonal authentic German cuisine, are available this Thursday night and are a blogger -- whether mommy or daddy blogger or a guy or gal that blogs, you'll be glad to know about this. There's a really cool Oktoberfest happening this Thursday, October 13th in the Los Angeles area specifically for the blogging community.

Music plus complimentary steins of beer, schnitzel, artisan brats, angus burgers and bavarian pretzels will be provided. This is a very trendy food and beverage venue that Southern California bloggers will not want to miss.

Traditional German Beer Stein
Photo by iStockPhoto Microsoft Partner

How to Get an Invite?

If you'd like to join the party, please leave the name of your blog and full URL that links to its homepage in the comment section below. Sorry, I can't tell you any more about this blogger event or it's exact location. But, what I can share with you is that I received an invitation to this get together myself and offered to send along a list of some of my Southern California blogging friends I think they should invite. I'll be passing on the info on bloggers that contact me to the brand hosting this. They will then send out invitations at their own discretion. 

No, I don't haven't any influence over who they pick -- wish I did, then I'd put in a good word for EVERYONE. This does sound like it's going to be worthwhile and a great bash and an opportunity for like minds to talk shop over a beer, so let it be known if you'd like to snag a ticket to this free event for bloggers.

FTC Disclosure: I'm simply passing on this opportunity to other bloggers who might want to attend this celebration. MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with 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.