Product reviews and videos of stuff for parents and their children
Take a peek at this video as Celebrity Actress Molly Sims reveals her new Nursery for the baby boy she is expecting this June. Molly created this video while working with Valspar Paint to benefit charity – for each view or share of the video, Valspar will donate $1 to Habitat for Humanity, raising money for their work helping low income families in need of affordable housing. Molly hopes to raise $100,000. Awesome!
Molly chose the Zen Garden color for her little boys nursery. Looks styling!
I’m all over this after my poor sweet 3 year old was diagnosed with a whopping 8 cavities last fall. Yes make that 8 cavities! Uggh. The poor kid. Culprit apparently was his dedication to eating lots of raisins when he was about 3 1/2 as he doesn’t even drink Juice or any kind of gummy treats. Poor little guy!
Did you know that 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related conditions?
To learn more about healthy teeth for you and your kids visit this link for more info.
Since tooth decay is nothing to smile about, Sesame Street has launched “Healthy Teeth, Healthy Me” to give preschoolers and their families the tools to practice good oral health for life. Nicole Kidman joined up to support this campaign. Yeah Nicole!
The Lorax hits theaters on March 2 and after our sit down with Zac Efron, we got the inside scoop on his thoughts about voicing his 1st animated character for a film. It was interesting to get his perspective on what it was like lending his voice to a 12 year old animated boy searching for a Truffula Tree in the movie The Lorax, based on Dr. Seuss’s classic story. If anyone could make that adventure sound manly, Zac sure can!
If you haven’t caught the trailer for The Lorax – check it out here too:
Here’s us ladies hanging out with handsome Zac.
Blogger: Did you have to be alone in the animation studio? How do you get yourself psyched up when you do the voice over?
Zac Efron: You would usually film really early in the morning, and my voice is not my best. So, normally, we’d sit around for about a half hour and drink green tea while my voice recouped. Then, we’d get going, and I’d raise it two octaves. It was very fun, yes.
Blogger: Did you work with Taylor Swift at all or hear her lines before?
Zac Efron: Sort of, not really. That’s not the way it works. We didn’t get to hear each other’s performances that much. But, the further you go and the more recording gets done, the more they’re willing to show you. Animation starts to progress. You get more stills. So, you start to really get a feel for what’s going on.
And I remember I heard Taylor’s voice and they showed me what her voice is going sound like in the movie. And it’s angelic. It’s soothing. She has an incredible speaking voice.
Blogger: What did you find to be the most challenging doing an animated voice?
Zac Efron: Challenging? It was fun. I think the hardest part about it, and it’s just like anything else, is you’ve just got to let go. You’ve got to be free.
And the first two days I did it, you’re self conscious. There’s a camera in your face. You know you look like an idiot. You’re saying ridiculous lines and making big hand gestures. Someone’s going to see this footage.
Once you let go and commit and just be free and have fun, that’s when the real spontaneity and improvisation comes out, and it just turns into one of the most fun things in the world. So, just letting go, forget where you are.
Blogger: Did you ever show up in your PJs or anything?
Zac Efron: Oh, yes. I think you guys have a bunch of pictures of me.
Blogger: Just one. You just have a t-shirt on.
Zac Efron: Yes, I definitely came straight from bed.
Blogger: We don’t know what you have on.
Zac Efron: See, look at her when she does it.
Blogger: All dolled up.
Blogger: How many hours a day were you in there doing your lines? Just the mornings like you mentioned, or was it all day?
Zac Efron: Most of the time, it was in the morning. We’d do anywhere from an hour to three and a half, four hour sessions. Yes.
Blogger: I just want to know if your involvement with the film made you more environmentally aware and if so, how?
Zac Efron: It did. I always have this feeling in the back of my mind that I’m never doing enough, you know? And it’s true. It’s like you can never do enough.
So, I was really searching for a way to get involved. What is the way I’m gonna jump in and how can I take charge and make a difference? And that was one of the best parts about this movie is I feel like, finally, I’m representing a cause. This is gonna plant those seeds out there. People are going to see this movie and maybe it’ll tip one or two people to become more green. And those are the small things that really count.
Other than that, I try and do the regulars. I try and conserve as much as I can, yes.
Disclosure: Thanks to Universal Pictures for paying for my travel expenses to attend the press junket for The Lorax – which hits theaters in 3D on March 2nd, 2012. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax hit theaters on on March 2nd and my favorite celebrity Grandma Betty White‘s role seemed like it was written just for her. I had a chance to get up close and personal with Betty and she was fabulous.
When walking into her interview with us, a woman complimented her on a great performance, and Betty replied with “Have I got her fooled.”
It’s no surprise that this spunky woman is playing an adventurous grandma who gets into just as much mischief as her grandson. I tried to pull a few of my favorite answers from our interviews with Betty so you can see how truly genuine and spirited she is. Hope you enjoy as much as I did. Here’s a snapshot of all the bloggers hanging with Betty – we just adored her!
Blogger: You have the most brilliant comic timing. Have you always been? Were you the funny kid? I just think you have the best delivery.
Ms. Betty White: Oh, bless your heart. I was an only child with the best mother. I did a magnificent job of choosing a mother and father. And there wasn’t a straight man in the house. I mean that in a nice way.
But, we would have Sunday morning breakfast together or we’d have dinner together every night around the table, and my dad would always ask me how things were at school and somehow, we’d get into silliness and fun. And we also would talk very seriously. It wasn’t all giggle time.
But, I think those dinner tables and those breakfast tables went a long way on teaching me how to appreciate the positives as opposed to the negatives.
Blogger: How did it feel to have the world celebrate your birthday and to have the President wish you a happy birthday?
Ms. Betty White: Do you believe what he did? He broke me up. I’ve never met him. I’m a tremendous fan of his, but I’ve never met him, anything like that. So, my agent called and he said, “Wait till you see what President Obama did.” I mean, the people out here didn’t generate that.
They did that in Washington, and I loved him picking up my picture and putting it so it blocked Michelle’s picture. I still can’t believe it. I play it over and over again, and that kind of sense of humor and the fact that he would take the time to do that. But, it really blew me away and made me laugh and still makes me laugh.
Blogger: Happy belated.
Ms. Betty White: Oh. That’s a way to celebrate your birthday. He didn’t have to do that to get me to vote for him. He didn’t have to go to all that trouble.
Blogger: Was it hard to do the animated voice over alone like in a studio without other actors? How was that?
Ms. Betty White: Well, you feel kind of silly because they ask you to make all these weird noises and you don’t know what they mean by, well, it’s a gasp, but you’re doing this. So, you’re sitting there by yourself and you finally feel rather ridiculous.
But, somehow, pretty soon, you get into it, and then you get into the beautiful visual thing that it is as well as the Dr. Seuss loveliness. And so, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really enjoyed it.
Blogger: What was your favorite part of the movie? What was your favorite part of creating the movie or your favorite scene of being the voice?
Ms. Betty White: Overall, the beautiful colors and the celebrating the environment and the caring about the environment, which is one of my big, big, big things, and the fact of looking for trees and wanting to find trees. Dr. Seuss has a way of doing, you could get into it. I hope everybody else loves it as much as those of us involved in it.
Blogger: How did you get involved with it?
Ms. Betty White: They called me and asked me. It’s all the things that I believe in and love. And I think it’s a great message to send out to kids to get the thing across about appreciating trees, for example.
Blogger: I love strong empowering female roles. So, in this, you’re the kickass grandma. I was just wondering how it felt? You’re just that granny that just makes it happen, because you’re all soft and sweet, and then you make it happen.
Ms. Betty White: Oh, that’s the fun of it. And I love the way they wrote it because it doesn’t make fun of anybody. It’s not mean spirited.
Blogger: It seems like you’re really connecting to the teenagers.
Ms. Betty White: I think it’s honesty. I think they’re pretty honest at this point, and if you start talking down to them, they’ll turn you off in a minute. But, please thank them for me.
Watch and share The Lorax trailer on Facebook! Watch clips, play games, get free mobile downloads and download printables!
THE LORAX is now on Pinterest! Browse the film’s boards at http://pinterest.com/
Disclosure: Thanks to Universal Pictures for paying for my travel expenses to attend The Lorax press junket in Los Angeles, CA – which hits theaters in 3D on March 2nd, 2012. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ahoy Matey! Today in New York City, celebs David Arquette and Sharon Osbourne were hanging out with Mickey and Minnie Mouse to help launch Disney’s new line of toys from Disney Junior.
Sharon Osbourne and David Arquette play the voices of Mama Hook and Skully on Jake and the Never Land Pirates. You can see photos of the new Disney Junior Toy line here.
Disney Consumer Products is introducing new toys from a multitude of brands. The line features colorful play sets, figures and feature plush from Fisher Price; role play sets, accessories, plush and dolls from Just Play; interactive board games from Wonder Forge; children’s electronics from VTech; ride-ons from Kiddieland; and bikes and scooters from Huffy to name a few.
First Lady plays tennis with local kids at Walt Disney World today. I love Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiatives to promote healthy eating and living for our kids – and to see her literally getting out there on the court with the kids.
The event celebrated the First Lady’s Let’s Move! Initiative and recognized Disney’s efforts to promote healthier lifestyles among kids and families. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)
Celebrity Mom Elizabeth Banks is HOT right now.
Gracing the cover of Women’s Health this month, Elizabeth is currently starring in Man on a Ledge. Later this year she’ll play Effie Trinket in the much anticipated Hunger Games and also star in What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Here’s the scoop from the article and her behind the scenes interview with Women’s Health:
On playing Effie Trinket for The Hunger Games…
“Effie Trinket was a really fun role to get ready for because so much of it was about her hair and her clothes and the way she talks and walks. She is a very theatrical person. I watched a lot of Auntie Mame to prepare for playing Effie.”
On working on What to Expect When You’re Expecting…
“I had a great costar named Ben who had never done a kissing scene before so I had to guide him very sillily through our kissing moment. He had a hard time touching me and I literally had to take his hand and like put it in inappropriate places to get him used to the idea of touching me inappropriately.”
On the best advice she ever got…
“I get great advice from lots of people. I suppose the best advice I ever got, frankly the advice that changed my life, came from my uncle who told me to go to drama school and study acting instead of taking a job, because he said the job would always be there.”
On staying fit while traveling…
“My tips for staying fit on the road include, drinking tons of water, trying to get as much rest as you can, and yummy blankets, stay warm so you’ll sleep really well at night.”
On her favorite splurge…
“I don’t really diet, but I love to splurge on chocolate and cupcakes. I’m a huge cupcake fan, especially Magnolia Bakery. It gave me great joy when they opened inLos Angeles, where I live now.”
Last weekend at the Big Miracle movie junket we had the chance to hang out with Ted Danson and Dermot Mulroney. They were both such a treat. And pairing these fellows together just brought out their personalities and sense of humor. Big Miracle hits theaters on February 3rd, 2012. I think it’s a must see family film that is surprisingly fabulous on so many levels.
The Moms loved these guys and we think the feeling was mutual since we suspect our “Parent Blogger roundtable” is more relaxed, less intense, and just more fun, than the more stressful interviews they need to do with mainstream journalists during the day. So the actors truly seem to just like the break & be willing to spill fun tidbits with us – which we of course devour and love.
When we asked them about their family life they were quick to share details and jest away with us upon our inquires if their wives or children visited frigid Alaska during the filming of Big Miracle. Ted was quick to quip that although Dermot’s 3 children didn’t make the trek to Alaska (given it’s dark there half the time not to mention freezing) that Dermot did enjoy a conjugal visit from his wife but that he had to travel for his. I felt like I was watching a mini comedy act with the 2 guys joking with each other.
Ted reported he had just become a proud grandfather 9 days earlier for the very first time.
Ted Danson: “And I think the reason why I took CSI, which is what I’m doing now, which is in town, with this great cast, great crew, but, to be here in Los Angeles and to be able to be at the birth and to be able to hang around and babysit and do all of that and not be in Anchorage, Alaska. And to be able to work in town at my age is such a treat. I’m so grateful.”
Dermot certainly seemed down to earth when it came to figuring out child care for his 3 young kids as he didn’t report having live in Nannies but instead said that with his crazy schedule – sometimes traveling 10 out of 12 months in a year, that he is lucky to rely on their mother -in-law for extra support.
Dermot: “In the last 14 or so months since the start of this, these are the places that I had to go for work reasons: Anchorage, Toronto, Vancouver, Nashville, Pittsburgh, New York, Bangkok, Thailand for a month, Washington, D.C., and back to Bangkok, Thailand to finish.”
Dermot: ”I have a mother-in-law who’s young and vital, so she’s indispensable. She only has a six-month visa, though. So, she can only be in this country precisely six months a year.
So, we use it like it’s gold. And I had all this business, and this job came up. So, we get her for three weeks and send her back to Italy, because later, if I’m working, I’m going to need her to come back so that we don’t go over the 180 days or whatever it is.
So, the whole thing is this incredibly intricate Web, like I’m sure most of you also have to deal with. I don’t separate myself to any higher plain of complexity.”
The Moms hanging out with the guys below when our interview ended.
On a more serious note, Ted Danson, who plays the “Big Oil” guy in Big Miracle, is actually an incredible advocate for our Oceans.
His first tip was to download the Seafood Watch app for our smartphones & his second was to sign up for Ocean.org, an organization he founded in 2001, to become an advocate for our oceans.
Ted Danson: “This app will tell you, wherever you are, it’ll see where you are in the country. It’ll tell you what’s good to eat, what’s not, and why. So, if you start educating yourself on what’s sustainable, you will end up having an impact on the markets, which will have an impact on the fisheries, hopefully. (Note: You can download Seafood Watch free from the iTunes store here.)
But, the truth is, you need to be international advocate. And the best way to do that, from my opinion, is to go to Oceana.org, click here, and say, “Yes, I will become an advocate.”
And then, in your busy, crazy, insane week, you can spend five minutes a week by looking at your e-mail and clicking here and clicking there, and you will send letters that Oceana directs you to that have a huge impact, because this is such an out of sight, out of mind subject, the oceans.
Disclosure: Thanks to Universal Pictures for paying for my travel expenses for this lovely stay in Santa Monica to attend the Big Miracle Press junket. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Seriously this “What to Expect When Your Expecting” movie looks like it will be hysterical and relatable to all us Moms. I am loving these movie posters showcasing the actresses various “take” on their pregnancy. If you’ve ever been pregannt you will relate!
Here’s Jennifer Lopez’s movie poster for “What to Expect When Your Expecting” :
And here’s Cameron Diaz – I can’t wait to see her pregnant in real life someday.
Here’s Elizabeth Banks perspective – I admit I have to agree with her based on my pregnancy experiences – non stop nausea, pre term labor, back pain, and pre-eclampsia. No thank you to all of the above!
Brooklyn Decker ‘s thoughts…. yeah right!
Last week in Santa Monica I had the chance to sit down with Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski to get the inside scoop on their experience filming the movie Big Miracle in Alaska. This inspirational movie is based on the true story about the rescue of 3 whales trapped under Arctic ice in 1988. It’s a fabulous feel good movie that I highly recommend – it will leave Moms & Kids alike feeling inspired that they can make a difference.
Both Drew and John could not have been more real or down to earth. There was no “diva” in the air from either of them.
Drew spilled on her love of snail mail, hot yoga, and cozy sweatpants. Love it! Here’s a quick shot we were able to take with Drew & John after our Parent Blogger roundtable interview ended. Aren’t they both so adorable? And yes Drew’s brand new engagement ring was beyond gigantic and super sparkly – but that was truly the only “fancy” thing about her.
As for John Krasinski – he is literally the “guy next door” and I felt like he just personified his role as “Jim” from the Office in person. Super funny, friendly, quietly cool & confident, and seemed like he could easily be your closest buddy after only a 15 minute conversation.
My best friend from college actually went to high school with John – and her sister even went to Brown with him. So at the end of our interview, I was able to make a connection with him and relay a “hello” from my friends. He was super excited to hear I knew his old high school & college comrades and wanted to hear all about how they were doing. Given his fame, I’m sure he often gets the “do you remember so and so” game from strangers, but he could not have been more genuine in his inquiries and memories about my friends. John even admitted to once being in love with my friend’s sister in high school. This was too funny but I’m sure very true as she is super adorable and every boy always had a crush on her!
Very sweet and John certainly won me over with his boy next door personality.
Big Miracle opens in theaters on February 3rd, 2012 and here’s some of my favorite tidbits from our conversation with these lovely superstars.
Ms. Drew Barrymore: It was very fun.
Mr. John Krasinski: And Anchorage is a really, really cool town.
Ms. Drew Barrymore: I just like slowing down up there. There’s just only so much to do on another level. And you get really quiet, and you go to work, and I would do some hot yoga at night.
Then, there would be some poker. And we all lived on the same floor, so it was very dormitory, and it was just–.
Mr. John Krasinski: It did. It felt like camp. It was amazing.
Ms. Drew Barrymore: And I got a lot of letters from my friends because I tend to shut down when I’m doing parts as an actor and just want to not email, not be on the cell phone. And it’s a great excuse for me to say, “I’ll see you in three months.” But, if we want to write letters, here’s the address. And it’s a full tilt snail mail campaign.
Mr. John Krasinski: Wow.
Ms. Drew Barrymore: So, it added to the camp element, because it would be dear such-and-such–
Mr. John Krasinski: Yes, she made me write letters to her. I couldn’t talk to her directly until now, actually.
Mr. John Krasinski: I did. I went up to Fairbanks, Alaska and it’s kind of like the Jetson’s. Everybody has these little planes because it’s the only way to get around Alaska.
And so, while we were shooting, there were hundreds of planes flying around.
Ms. Drew Barrymore: So many.
Mr. John Krasinski: So, we went up to Fairbanks. I had a day off, and I just wanted to see another place, and I went up to Fairbanks with Ted Danson, Rob Riggle and Ted’s wife Mary. And we went to these hot springs that were 115, 120 degrees in the middle of below temperatures in a snowstorm. That was totally surreal and a fantasy of mine, so check, done.
Drew’s thoughts on filming the “underwater scene” with the whales -which were actually gigantic life like animatronic whales – think robotic puppets the size of real whales. She actually had to jump into a freezing cold seal tank for this footage.
Ms. Drew Barrymore:
It was so cold.
Freezing, freezing, but just wonderful. Again, it’s that sort of conviction where you’re like I just want to do it, please let me do it. I think they were afraid the conditions were too bad.
And so, they want to sort of be nice to you and not have you do it, and they talk about how they’ll do it in post-production. And I said, “no, please,” let me do this.
Well, Ken, our director, again, he wanted us to be in Alaska, and he wanted to make sure that the whales looked and felt real. I mean, it’s in the room. It’s not like CGI where it’s added in later, these whales. It’s authentic. They’re really there.
And I know that that makes a difference for us, and I think it makes a difference when you’re watching it because it is in the room and not painted in later in another location.
And the same with stuff like getting to scuba dive, I was so game and just wanted to do it so badly.
It’s funny, when you do stunts or you do anything like that, they say, well, we’re gonna bring in a double, and you’re like, no, you’re not. I have to do that.
They were talking about a double, and I thought, no, no, please no. So, I think you end up sort of begging to do something just because you really want to be the person that gets to do it
Ms. Drew Barrymore: Thank you. And I like to play dress up, you know? Sometimes, I want to wear all pink and put on a lot of makeup and then, sometimes, it’s sweat pants. I don’t think there’s anything more that I value than my sweatpants. I just like being at home and being cozy.
Watch and share the Big Miracle trailer on Facebook and Universal Pictures will donate $1 to Oceana!
Brush up on your whale facts by visiting the Big Miracle Infographic. Plus check out the very special Twitter Sweepstakes featured within where 100 randomly selected Twitterers who follow @UniversalPics and include the hashtag #everybodyloveswhales will win a Big Miracle T-shirt!
BIG MIRACLE is now on Pinterest! Check out the film’s boards at http://pinterest.com/
Disclosure: Thanks to Universal Pictures for paying for my travel expenses for this lovely stay in Santa Monica to attend the Big Miracle Press junket. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
