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  Los Angeles, Calif., September 19, 2012 —Disney began production today on “Saving Mr. Banks,” the account of Walt Disney’s twenty-year pursuit of the film rights to P.L. Travers’ popular novel, Mary Poppins , and the testy partnership the upbeat filmmaker develops with the uptight author during the project’s pre-production in 1961. Two-time Academy Award ® -winner Tom Hanks (“Philadelphia,” “Forrest Gump”) will essay the role of the legendary Disney (the first time the entrepreneur has ever been depicted in a dramatic film) alongside fellow double Oscar ® -winner Emma Thompson (“Howard’s End,” “Sense and Sensibility”) in the role of the prickly novelist. Before actually signing away the book’s rights, Travers’ demands for contractual script and character control circumvent not only Disney’s vision for the film adaptation, but also those of the creative team of screenwriter Don DaGradi and sibling composers Richard and Robert Sherman, whose original score and song ( ...

WON'T BACK DOWN - if your kid was in a school like the one in the film, what would you do? If they are, what are you doing???  Read the title again. I viewed this film on Wednesday night in Philadelphia. The theater had a talkative crowd in attendance. You could really tell they were into the film. It's almost as though they were having a conversation with the actors on the screen. All in a positive way . I could tell there were parents in the seats, parents who were watching the film to see the outcome of one hard working parent's attempt to improve her daughters school environment. The audience was rooting for the Mom and teacher all the way! Yes, there are famous actors in the film, but it could be you or me. It could be a mom or a dad you know doing the same thing, wanting a better education for their child. I wasn't watching the film to see who wins in the end. It's not about winning or loosing, it's about change. I was watching it to see how change could ...

In a few days it will be October, the month of Halloween, the month of sugar, the month of chocolate and the month of calories. Don't you wish you could have your candy with less junked ingredients? Now you can UNJUNK your candy!!!  A new brand of candy is available just in time for Halloween!   UNREAL™ BRAND  is  now available in stores such as CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, and will be available in more retailers this Fall.   My favorite is UNREAL™ 54, candy coated chocolate with Peanuts. The candy has a nice crunch, the peanuts taste so fresh, just like you cracked open a peanut shell, and the coating is made with plant juices. I love the deep rich colors of the shells. UNREAL Candy cost about the same as a typical Candy Bar. There are five candies in the line up : UNREAL ™ 54 : Candy Coated Chocolate with Peanuts  (my all time favorite) UNREAL™  41: Candy Coated Chocolates UNREAL™  5: Chocolate Carmel Nougat Bar UNREAL™ ...

The new school year is in full swing. Back to school nights are on the calendars, and students are busy learning and sharing in the classroom. From the first day of school parents are taking photographs of their child's  field trips, holiday parties, school plays, sporting events, and graduation ceremonies. Instead of storing all those adorable photos on your computer, share them in a yearbook  you can create from Shutterfly!  These yearbooks are so adorable! Choose from a variety of templates, designed pages, and more. Shutterfly offers tips on making your yearbook, and even a disccount when you contact them. You can get the whole class a yearbook for as low as $6.00 each. What a great price. I've paid around $40-$80 for yearbooks for my kids and they did not look nearly as nice as Shutterfly's. I really like that you can use your own photographs and chose the layout. You'll know what your are getting since you design the yearbook. Hold a day of sharing w...

Those busy squirrels are taking the acorns right off the tree!

  How food smart are you? Do you know these answers? Find out more on from the infographic! MYTH #1: “If I microwave food, the microwaves kill the bacteria, so the food is safe.”   MYTH #2: “Of course I wash all bagged lettuce and greens because it might make me sick if I don’t.” MYTH #3: “I don’t need to use a food thermometer. I can tell when my food is cooked by looking at it or checking the temperature with my finger.” MYTH #4: “I can’t re-freeze foods after I have thawed them – I have to cook them or throw them away.”    Want to learn more?  Go to:   fightbac.org www.foodsafety.gov

 Jack Skuller is a contestant on Radio Disney's N.B.T. (Next BIG Thing) Season 5, a multi-platform talent contest. This 16 year old heartthrob-in-the-making is equal parts passion, vintage rock vibe and pure pop sensibilities. Jack Skuller was born in New York City and raised in New Jersey. Jack's influences range from Elvis Presley and The Beatles to The Ramones and the Black Keys.  Jack started singing in school talent shows at age 8. At 13 he won first place in a NJ 101.5 FM radio sponsored talent show performing his own song "Love Is A Drum."  Jack has received rave reviews in the press: Teen Vogue called him its "new favorite singer songwriter" New York Post dubbed him a "mini Jack White." Time Out New York said "Jack Skuller is poised to become your family’s next obsession." He's also been featured on J-14, Twist, the New York Press and the Examiner . Jack made his TV debut performing live on FOX TV's Good Da...

Progresso Recipe Starters sauces can help you make dinner!  Chose from five varities that you can turn into many home-cooked meals. You can also find recipes at Progresso.com/RecipeStarters . And to get a coupon for savings click here: Progresso . Save money and time with Progresso for dinner. These sauces are pretty handy to keep in your pantry because you can get the recipe right off the can, and most likely already have the ingredients you need in your kitchen. On the recipe starters can you'll find a list of "things you'll need",  like for Chicken Parmesan-which is what I am making for dinner tonight! It list seven things including the can of Progresso Recipe Starters coking sauce- fire roasted variety. The label has a pull away tab to reveal the recipe. How easy!  I have all the ingredients I need and don't need to make a special trip to the store for some fancy ingredient. Chicken, bread crumbs, cheese and the can of Fire Roasted Tomato and let's...

    Just imagine, a nice day outside, having a snack, milk, and reading a book.  I'd vote for that kind of day. The reality is its September and the kids are back in school. Parents are dropping off and picking up kids from school, sports, and activities that  keep families on the go.   Milk Unleashed is here to help! Milk Unleashed is handy single-serving shelf safe milk. You can take it on the go without lugging along the refrigerator! Really!  Pack it in the kids lunch box, pack a few in the diaper bag, throw some in a cooler for a day out or even keep one in your purse. It's shelf save so you can store it out of the fridge!   Milk Unleashed goes where you go. Is ready when you are. Home or away Milk Unleashed is ready to drink.  Want to learn more? Want to Try Milk Unleashed? closed.   Enter this giveaway! Leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite game is from Milk Unleashed app below. Take the F...

POMPEIAN has a new blend of extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, and grape seed oil. It is perfect for salads, sauteing and frying. You can also use it for grilling and baking.  Replace your  vegetable oil and butter for Pompeian OlivExtra® Mediterranean Blend . Head over to enter the sweepstakes at  POMPEIAN's web site. There are daily chances to win a trip to the Mediterranean, IPads, IPods, free products and coupons.  Find some new recipes for the Fall Season.  Like them on Facebook for exclusive offers. I tired it out on a chicken Marsala recipe. It adds a nice flavor to the sauteed mushrooms and chicken. This unique blend of oils is made up of predominantly monounsaturated fats (7.8 g/serving), which are considered relatively “good” fats, essential omega-6 (3.4 g/serving) and omega-3 (0.8 g/serving), Vitamin E (0.25 mg/serving), and can also be used with high heat cooking of up to 450°F and is a perfect replacement for your other vegetables oils, s...

Beginning WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 , DisneyJunior.com is inviting families to visit DisneyJunior.com/Halloween where parents can upload videos of their child explaining and acting out what he or she wants to be for Halloween for a chance to be shown on air !   The videos will be selected at random and will be shown every Friday on Disney Channel and Disney Junior throughout the month of October. The site will also feature Halloween-themed music videos, games and coloring pages based on favorite Disney Junior series. Disney Junior is treating viewers to special Halloween-themed episodes and movies airing every Friday throughout the month of October. Highlights include:     A new Halloween-themed episode of "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" premiering FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 at 8:30 a.m., ET/PT, where Jake and crew invite Captain Hook to join them as they "Trick and Treasure" throughout Never Land and Izzy dresses up as the Pirate Princess to fool the Sea Witch, who ha...

DISNEY/ABC TELEVISION GROUP SPONSORS INVENTIVE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES DURING WORLD MAKER FAIRE 2012 AT NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE, SEPTEMBER 29-30 Interactive Events Celebrate Creativity and Innovation Celebrity Chef Carla Hall, Co-host of ABC’s “The Chew,” To Give Healthy Cooking Demonstration Disney/ABC Television Group will sponsor interactive activities for kids and families to celebrate creativity and innovation, at World Maker Faire 2012, a two-day exposition spanning science, technology and the arts at the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI), September 29-30. These next generation of thinkers and tinkerers are invited to take part in an inventive healthy cooking demonstration by celebrity chef Carla Hall, co-host of ABC’s popular daytime series “The Chew;” participate in activities inspired by Disney’s hit series “Phineas and Ferb” and “Jake and the Never Land Pirates;” and use human-power to activate an eco-friendly Disney XD game.   The lineup of Disney/ABC Televi...

Progresso ® Light soups are here just in time for cool weather. Two new creamy flavors at 100 calories per serving.-Light Creamy Potato with Bacon and Cheese and Light Chicken Pot Pie Style are only 100 calories per serving!  Warm up with a bowl of light soup from Progresso . And you can get a coupon  to save on Progresso Soups. Soup is the prefect lunch time meal or even soup and sandwiches for dinner on busy school days. Take a can to the office or send soup along to school for the kids lunch time.   These two new Progresso Light creamy soups are joining the lineup of more than 40 flavorful soups that are 100 calories or less per serving These Weight Watchers ® endorsed soups have 100 calories and a 2 PointsPlus ® value per serving The Creamy Potato with Bacon & Cheese variety boasts pieces of potato with savory bacon and rich cheese flavor The Chicken Pot Pie Style variety exudes a home-style essence with cuts of white-meat chicken, hearty potatoes and class...

AboutOne Supports FEMA’s National Preparedness Month with Recommendations to Help Families Prepare for Emergency AboutOne supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s September “Ready Campaign” with recommendations about essential information to organize and store for ready access in case of emergency. Paoli, PA, September 13, 2012 – Earlier this month, as Hurricane Isaac continued to affect parts of the country, the Federal Emergency Management Association launched the ninth annual National Preparedness Month. Spearheaded by FEMA’s Ready Campaign, this annual event is a nationwide effort to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Online family organizer AboutOne ( http://www.aboutone.com/ ) has joined this effort by preparing a checklist and accompanying video tutorial ( http://www.aboutone.com/ checklists/ ) of recommended emergency preparedness documents and information families should have on hand. In 2009, the Citizen Corps National Surv...

These are pretty cool. I even tried them! alternaVites Kids ® make vitamin taking a whole lot easier for kids. There is no sugary, gritty taste. I tried Raspberry Cotton Candy. That just sounds good. alternaVites Kids are different, here's why: Melts in your mouth Is truly delicious, available in two flavors:  Strawberry Bubble Gum and Raspberry Cotton Candy Just one packet per day 0 Grams of sugar Free of Aspartame and high fructose corn syrup Does not contain artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors or preservatives No animal products or by-products Does not contain egg, milk, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish or shelfish Certified Kosher pareve How to use alernavites kids: Simply sprinkle alernavites kids onto the tongue where melts quickly Mix alernavites kids into yogurts, puddings, or smoothies. Sprinkle alernavites kids on top of fruit or lick it off a spoon. or be creative and find what your kids like For  information on the company, product and their philosophy visit;...

Who likes to clean toilets? Not me. We have three bathrooms, that means three toilets. I'd really like one more bathroom on our first floor. I know-why would I want another bathroom to clean, right? When we have a party or company- two bathrooms on the first floor would be ideal. Not to mention when we come home from somewhere someone always heads right to the first floor bathroom. Three bathroom, one kitchen and one laundry room sink, all need regular cleaning. Spray cleaners are my friend. Spray cleaners that can spray upside down-well that's even better.   I tried a new household cleaner from Soft Scrub  that cleans great! Soft Scrub really does spray up side down, which is great to spray under the toilet rim-who knows what grows under there. What I like about HouseHold Cleaners  from: Soft Scrub Total All Purpose, Total Bath and Bowl, and Total All Purpose with Bleach: Works Upside Down- Patented trigger that allows you to clean with a fine mist or a thick foam O...

Last Saturday I spent part of the morning watching the screening of Finding Nemo 3D. Yes, I have seen the film a few years ago,  but this time it was 3D. We were given these really fun 3D glasses to watch the film: Nemoo 3D Glasses from the screening Day The sea comes alive when you are watching it in 3D. The colors are much deeper and vibrant too. You'll feel like you are swimming with Nemo and Dora!  Finding Nemo 3D is a fun film for the whole family. The kids loved the 3D glasses and so did the adults. If you have young kids take them to see this film or go see it again in 3D. I  give it an A+!  

“Like” LINCOLN on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LincolnMovie Follow LINCOLN on Twitter: http://twitter.com/lincolnmovie Official LINCOLN site: www.thelincolnmovie.com LINCOLN arrives in theaters November 9th (Limited) and Nationwide November 16th!  

Enter the Play & Win Sweepstakes! Complete missions, earn coins, and get the chance to win a hero's journey from Adventures by Disney: http://di.sn/k3h  Like WRECK-IT RALPH on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WreckItRalph Follow WRECK-IT Ralph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wreckitralph