Styling Kids for DIY Holiday Photos

Kids Style

Tips to Style a Kids Holiday Smartphone Photo Shoot 

The holidays are upon us. If you're looking for some smartphone tips and inspiration to easily create heirloom-quality images of your kids this season, you've come to the right place. Keep reading, because as you can see from these pictures, a children's photo shoot doesn't require either an expensive hired photographer or fancy camera. All you really need to capture beautiful family portraits like these are a good smartphone, happy kids, an uncluttered background (ideally with natural outdoor lighting), a little parent patience, and several well-made, vintage-style classic coordinating outfits from Feltman Brothers Fall and Winter 2021 children's wear collection.

 

MBE partnered with Feltman Brothers

Good Looking Outfits Key to Great Photos

"From the moment the Striped Knit Set and the Chunky Knit Set styles from Feltman Brothers arrived, I couldn't wait to try these classic and cozy matching outfits you see in this post on my little guys and start snapping some pictures, to share with family and friends," says Rachel Marks, a Southern California boy mom of two including an 8 month-old and a 3-1/2 year-old. 

"I was really looking for some photogenic kids clothing just like this which would be functional and comfortable, as well as stylish," she explains. "In fact, the homemade knit details, quality tailored construction, and classic small details went above and beyond what I was expecting. What's more is the matching styles both my sons photographed even more beautifully than I could have ever imagined.

"The Feltman Bros. classic look, which the company is well-known for, is so refreshing," she continues. "Truly such a nice change from all the contemporary boys' apparel in stores that involves dinosaurs, cars, sharks, trains, or other similar motifs. Beyond just wearing these for matching family pictures, both styles are nice enough to be worn throughout the holiday season.  And what could be more fun and cute than brothers wearing matching outfits, right? 

"Both pieces we received from the brand are cozy, timeless and the fit was generous and ran true to size with a bit of leeway so they can be worn a little longer. Without a doubt, these styles will be well-loved by my boys throughout this fall and winter," Rachel sums up.

Fall and Winter Feltman Brothers Children's Collection

The two outfits above -- which you see the Marks boys modeling above, are available in sizes 3 months to 4T and are made of 100% cotton. These styles are just a glimpse of what's new this season. True to the Feltman Brothers brand, these adorable two-piece sets are designed in classic style in soft pastel colors such as French blue, coral rose, and ivory. Boys and girls styles include scalloped collar knit, rosebud knit, V-shape knit, argyle raised stripe knit, daisy tunic knit and a few holiday designs including a holly knit set and toy soldier cardigan.

More About Feltman Brothers

Founded more than a century ago in 1916, Feltman Brothers is known for their classically-styled, hand-embrodiered and smocked, old-fashioned quality children's wear. From newborns to babies to toddlers a huge range of beautiful styles for boys and girls including 1 piece and 2-piece outfits, children's clothing accessories, christening gowns, baby bonnets, and more is offered. To check out the full collection and keep up to date on what's new at FeltmanBrothers.com visit the brand's site as well as  follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

 

DISCLOSURE: We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program without any extra cost to consumers that allows our site to earn a bit of compensation for including referral links within our posts to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Thanksgiving Artisan Chocolatier Review, Giveaway

Thanksgiving

MBE partnered with Delysia Chocolatier for this Review & Giveaway

A Gracious, Unique & Delicious Holiday Gift

Looking for a way to add a touch of elegance to your Thanksgiving entertaining this year?  Perhaps you're searching for a thoughtful, beautiful and memorable seasonal host/hostess thank you gift? Or, though you  may be separated across the miles this holiday, you'd still like to send a sweet present to loved ones to let them know how much you misss them? Delysia's beautiful, hand-made holiday-inspired artistic boxed chocolates would be perfect for any of these Thanksgiving occasions.

Delysia Autumn Harvest Hostess Collection

This beautifully packaged, limited edition 16-piece chocolate truffle red box ($55.95) with white satin ribbon creatively captures everything I love about fall and Thanksgiving. From colorful leaves, cranberries, apples, turkey with stuffing and acorns, to pumpkins and a sense of gratitude for the bounty of food on our table during this time of year, these sweet beauties say it so eloquently.

The extraordinary edible chocolate art collection is wrapped ready for giving making it an gift to give for Thanksgiving. The assortment, which like all Delysia products is made with only finest quality chocolate and ingredients, includes a foursome of truly imaginative truffle flavors you won't find anywhere else.  

Truffle varieties in this gorgeous 16-piece assortment

• 4 Sweet Potato Casserole Chocolate Truffles
• 4 Cranberry Sauce Chocolate Truffles
• 4 Apple Pie Chocolate Truffles
• 4 Caramelized Stuffing Chocolate Truffles

With Delysia handcrafting just 50 boxes for Fall 2021, this limited edition is selling quickly. Order today to get yours before they're all gone.

More Fall, Thanksgiving Chocolate Gifts Available Now 

A wide variety of other Autumn and Thanksgiving-inspired smaller and larger Delysia chocolate gifts and gift sets ($7.95 - $139.95) can be purchased, ready for shipping direct to your gift's recipient or if you are lucky enough to live in the Austin, TX area there's also the option to order, then pickup IRL at the shop. 

From Delysia Handmade Solid Chocolate Pumpkins and Turkeys -- the latter available in Gold, White, Milk or Dark Chocolate flavors -- to various sizes of boxed collections with seasonal truffles and other chocolates and gift items, there is truly something here for every taste and budget.

2021 Delysia Holiday Collection - Time to Pre-order 

Be sure to check out the equally exquisite 2021 Delysia Holiday Collection and order early so you're not disappointed. Among the many beautiful, unique, and delicious gifts you'll discover are the boutique chocolatier's exclusive 25-piece holiday countdown Chocolate Advent Calendar inspired by 25 different countries around the world and their diverse holiday culinary traditions. 

With such beautiful and delicious handcrafted chocolates which double as works of edible art, MBE is excited to be hosting a chocolate lovers giveaway. This time, we've partnered with this fine gourmet brand to offer you the chance to win a Delysia 16-piece Chocolate Truffle Gift Boxed Assortment of your own. 

Read on to find out how to enter this special giveaway...

GIVEAWAY

Delysia Chocolatier

16-piece Truffle Gift Box

MBE Giveaway
on Instagram

Now thru 11/14/21

Thanks to the brand, ONE (1) lucky MBE giveaway participant will win a 16-piece Delysia Chocolate Truffle Gift Box, ARV $59.95. To enter this giveaway Mommy Blog Expert is running, visit this MBE Instagram post. Contest is open to US residents only and qualifying winner will be selected at random. Hurry, this giveaway ends November 14, 2021 at 11:59pm EST. Delysia Chocolatier is providing the prize and is responsible for delivery to winner.

About Delysia Chocolatier

Founded in 2008 by Chef Chocolatier Owner Nicole Patel, who was named 2020's Best Chocolatier in the Americas, Delysia is an award-winning artisan chocolate maker based in Austin, Texas. The company's handmade products are available for domestic U.S. shipment via FedEx, as well as for curbside pickup. For more information on the brand's holiday and year-round sweets and other gift items, how to order online and for local pickup in Austin, visit Delysia.com. You are also invited to keep up with all this gourmet chocolatier's news by following them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Clifford The Big Red Dog Movie Release

Movies

Clifford The Big Red Dog Movie Now in Theaters, Paramount+

Woof! Who's excited about this new family-friendly feature film release for kids? The long-anticipated Clifford The Big Red Dog animation-live action hybrid movie from Paramount Pictures and Scholastic Entertainment FINALLY opens in theaters and can also be seen on Paramount+ as of Wednesday, November 10th.

The Storyline

The new adventure comedy movie, like the long-running animated TV series, is based on the character Clifford The Big Red Dog made famous by the Scholastic book series authored by Norman Bridwell. In this full-length picture, the tale is more realistic than ever, with middle school student Emily Elizabeth (played by Darby Camp), meeting a magical animal rescuer who gives her a small, sweet red puppy which she brings home. 

A scene from the film, Darby Camp on the Red Carpet

Soon after Emily brings her new pet home, she is amazed to wake up in her tiny NYC apartment to find that her little pup has been transformed into a giant 10 foot tall red dog. While her single mom is away from home, Emily, her loveable big red dog, along with her fun, but mischievious Uncle Casey take off on a non-stop adventure to explore the Big Apple together.

Teaching Tips, Free Printables

Click on the Clifford The Big Red Dog Teacher Tips Sheet image below for a classroom teaching guide as well as fun, free kids coloring pages and activity printables for parents to download for children to enjoy at home.

Clifford-Size Your Pet

Connect to the free Clifford-Size Your Pet mobile app to magically turn your own pet's photo into a giant animal just like Clifford The Big Red Dog.

Clifford AR Experience

There's also more free fun to celebrate the Clifford The Big Red Dog movie release. Check out the new Clifford AR Experience app now!

More about Clifford The Big Red Dog Movie

As of today, Clifford The Big Red Dog Movie (2021, rated PG) is now in theaters nationwide as well as is watchable on Paramount+. Stay up to date by following the new movie on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Smallville Complete Series Bluray DVD Digital

Movies

MBE partnered with Warner Bros.   Post contains affiliate links

Special Smallville 20th Anniversary 10 Season Edition

Another complete series is leaping tall buildings and flying through the sky onto Blu-ray this fall. This time around, for the first time, it's Smallville: The Complete Series 20th Anniversary Edition from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, now available on Blu-ray and DVD -- in addition to Digital.

The Storyline

Smallville, as serious fans already know, is based on DC Comics characters and the series developed for television is the backstory of the ultimate superhero Superman AKA Clark Kent. The series takes viewers through the young man's early life from his arrival in Smallville, Kansas from the planet Krypton to his subsequent adoption by The Kent Family  through his teenage years ultimately growing into and accepting his destiny as the Man of Steel. Throughout the series from start to finish, the audience is treated to plenty of scenes loaded with action, drama, adventure and of course, heart and humor. 

The Cast

The series stars Tom Welling as Clark Kent, Allison Mack as Chloe Sullivan, Kristin Kreuk ast Lana Lang, Michael Rosenbaum as the villain Lex Luthor, Erica Durance as Lois Lane, Annette O'Toole as Clark's mother Martha Kent and John Schneider as Clark's father Jonathan, as well as other regulars. Among my personal favorite Smallville guest stars through the show's history are Tori Spelling (Beverly Hills 90210), Jane Seymour (Medicine Woman), Brian Austin Green (Beverly Hills 90210), and the late Christopher Reeve who played the lead role in the Superman movie in 1978 and its three sequels.

Bonus Features 

• The Adventures of Superboy, the 1961 original pilot starring John Rockwell
• A Retrospective Look at the Series' 10-year Journey, an indepth behind the scenes look at the shows 10-year run
• A Decade of Comic-Con Featurette
• Paley Festival Featurette
• Smallville's 100th Episode: Making of a Milestone
• Deleted & Extended Scenes, Gag Reels and More

More About Smallville

The new Smallville: The Complete Series 20th Anniversary Edition 42-disc set features all 10 seasons, including each of the 218 episodes which originally aired from 2001-2011 as well as more than 28 hours of bonus content; in the US only a Digital Copy is also part of this special anniversary entertainment package. The Blu-ray set is $179.99 SRP ($209.99 CDN); a DVD set is also offered at $154.99 SRP ($184.99 CDN). Buy it on Amazon now. 

SUPERMAN and all the related characters and elements are trademarks of and ©DC. DC is a WarnerMedia Company. For more information, visit dccomics.com and dcuniverseinfinite.com  

 

DISCLOSURE: We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program without any extra cost to consumers that allows our site to earn a bit of compensation for including referral links within our posts to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

SpongeBob iHeartRadio Podcast Debuts

Entertainment

SpongeBob BingePants iHeart Radio Podcast Premieres

SpongeBob SquarePants enthusiasts of every age have something new and fun to look forward to this fall. Debuting today, the Nickelodeon SpongeBob Binge Pants All-New Original Podcast begins airing on iHeart Radio with 40 weekly episodes planned. The show is hosted by SpongeBob SquarePants mega fans Frankie Grande (Henry Danger) and Hector Navarro (Geek & Sundry), both millennials who grew up with the original beloved Nickelodeon SpongeBob SquarePants animated series which officially debuted in 1999.

The tongue-in-cheek podcast, an audio recap and commentary of each episode way back to the beginning of this very popular kids series, is intended to appeal to a broad audience age-range including younger and older fans alike.  

Along the way, as they rewatch and analyze each episode, the show's dynamic host duo -- as well as an impressive list of special guest interviews -- will be diving deep, revealing secrets, fun facts and more about the loveable yellow sponge character and the rest of his Bikini Bottom friends. Throughout the show's first podcast season, a full lineup of entertaining and eclectic show guests will share their own 2 cents and chime in about anything and everything SpongeBob SquarePants.

A Q&A With the New Podcast's Hosts 

One of the things I like most about being an influencer is covering what's new in family-friendly entertainment that I think you will enjoy. Nothing is more thrilling than to go behind the scenes to talk directly to the talent and share all about their brilliant insights with you, especially when we're talking about one of the most popular and enduring of children's entertainment dynasties. 

So, without further adieu, here is the recap of MBE's interview with both SpongeBob BingePants Podcast hosts: Frankie Grande and Hector Navarro.

Janis Elspas,  Mommy Blog Expert 

Q: Both of you are millennial kids who grew up with SpongeBob SquarePants. Who is your personal favorite character and why?

Frankie Grande, SpongeBob BingePants Host

A: I've always related to SpongeBob Square Pants, including today. I'm attracted to his effervescence, unapologetic love of everything around him, his volume level -- these are things I deeply identify with -- and of course, his laugh, just the fact that he tries to bring joy into the world. That's something I've tried to do every single day. So I think I've always been a SpongeBob.

Hector Navarro, SpongeBob BingePants Host

A: I think I've always loved Patrick Star most because Patrick is the funniest cartoon character. He makes me laugh more than any other character probably from any cartoon I have ever seen. It is so difficult to do a really smart dumb character and Patrick is a brilliant smart dumb character. So that's why I love him, I loved him as a kid and I love him now even more as an adult because I can really appreciate the writing and the performance.

Janis

Q: Who would you like most to interview as a guest on the SpongeBob BingePants Podcast, living or dead, and why?

Hector

A: For sure, Stephen Hillenburg, the show's creator who sadly passed away in 2018. But I feel so lucky I was able to talk to him years ago and tell him as a fan how much the show meant to me. Stephen was an amazing guy and -- in some place beyond what we know of as our existence -- it would be so wonderful to see him again and have another chance to talk with him. We have an awesome lineup of guests for this first season, though, and we've only really just scratched the surface of possibilities.

Frankie

A: Of course, I'd want to interview Stephen, too, but unfortunately he's gone. Still, if I could interview anyone living or dead, my go-to person would probably be Dame Maggie Smith. I would love to know what her SpongeBob story is. Can you even imagine having her on our show? The great actress would say (in her British accent) something like, "I believe my favorite is Squidward." Looking torward other wish list guests, I hope one day we get to have Tom Kenny, who plays SpongeBob. Now that would be a truly iconic interview!

Frankie Grande

About Frankie Grande

Born in New York in 1983, Frankie is an multi-faceted performing artist and pop culture icon with roles as a dancer, actor, singer, producer, television host, and YouTube personality. His resume includes performing on Broadway (Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia!), producing and appearing in multiple cabaret acts and in his one-man show Livin La Vida Grande. In 2017 the pop culture icon with 2.1M followers on Instagram guest-starred for two episodes as Frankini on Henry Danger, another Nickelodeon show.

Hector Navarro

About Hector Navarro

Self-described as a cartoon nerd, Hector Navarro was born in 1988 on the opposite coast in San Diego, California. He holds a Media Arts and Animation degree from The Art Institute of California and is a former Nickelodeon intern. Over the years, he has worked in visual effects (The Avengers, Iron Man 3, and the Shrek movies) as well as an actor and producer. Projects include Callisto 6, Shield of Tomorrow, and Pencils and Parsecs, he has also worked as a Geek & Sundry host, among other gigs. Follow him on social @Hectorisfunny

About SpongeBob BingePants

The SpongeBob BingePants podcast that just debuted is co-produced by Nickelodeon and iHeartRadio. Starting today the new 40-episode weekly show will be available on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts can be heard. During the first season, guests revealed to date include SpongeBob SquarePants show cast and crew: Carolyn Lawrence, Mr. Lawrence, Kenny Pittenger, and Jennie Monica, with additional talent to be announced. Get a peek at the fun that lies ahead with the official trailer now on YouTube. Then, keep up with the latest news about this entertaining podcast, by following @Nickelodeon, @NickAnimation and @SpongeBob on social.