The newest Disney film to be released to the big screen is The Secret World of Arrietty opening in theaters on February 17, 2012. This film is about little people who reside undetected under the floorboards in a secret world. This animated adventures is based on Mary Norton’s best selling children’s book series The Borrowers – books that I loved as a child!

The movie focuses around Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a 14 year old girl who lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in a garden home but she remains hidden from view. Of course, she sneaks out to “borrow” supplies from the humans above. She is discovered by 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie) and a friendship blooms. Will this discover threaten Arrietty’s family?

You can download fun activity sheets for your kids here and then can have fun coloring and completing fun activities all about the movie.

Have fun watching the trailer, and the see the film in theaters on February 17th!

Hurry! These will go fast! Pay just $5 for an AMC Theatres® Silver Experience™ Ticket, limit two per household. Just head on over to Saveology and buy this deal (if you are not yet a member, joining is FREE). You will get the AMC Ticket, worth up to $12, for 59% off!

Limit 2 per household. Offer must be redeemed within 60 days of purchase. Subject to surcharge for 3D, IMAX®, ETX, alternative content, dine-in theatres, and premium services and locations. Good at any AMC®, AMC Showplace, Loews®, Cineplex Odeon, Magic Johnson, and Star theatres, excluding Canadian theatres. Valid seven days a week. Not valid for Special Engagements — showings of a film during the first two weeks after it’s released.

We were fortunate to be invited by BzzAgent to host a Cars2 Video Game Party at my house! We invited friends and family to come and experience the new video game from Disney. The kids got to play the game, eat snacks and watch the original Cars movie.

Cars2: The Video Game is based on the Disney-Pixar animated film. During the game you get to choose your character and train to become a world class spy at the international training center, C.H.R.O.M.E. (Command Headquarters for Recon Operations and Motorized Espionage). During game play, the players take on dangerous missions, compete in racing events and use spy skills in combat racing and battle arenas. The game is either single or multiplayer with up to four players.

You can choose between 20 different characters including, Mater, Lightning McQueen, Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell. You get to perform cool maneuvers such as backwards driving, air tricks and two-wheel driving.

The game is made for the following platforms: Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, XBox 360, Nintendo DS and PC/Mac/Linux/Unix.

The kids had a great time playing the game. Since only four kids could play at one time, we switched it up a bit and had snacks and a movie at the same time. Even my older daughter who is 12 had a great time playing the game. My son really loved the missions and all the characters that you could choose from. He even showed me the car tricks that he could do!

All the attendees at my party received a $5.00 off coupon for the Cars 2 video game, but I saved a few for my readers! If you would like a coupon (good at Toys R Us), please leave a comment below and I will send you one (I only have a few left). The Coupons expire on August 31st, so if you want one, I will mail it in the next day or two to ensure you get it one time.

Coming on June 24, 2011 to a theater near you is the newest version of Cars – Cars 2. But before the movie is released, you can start playing the video game which is scheduled to be released on June 21, 2011.

Cars 2: The Video Game is available on Wii, XBox 360, PS3, Nintendo DS and PC/Mac. Jump into the world of Cars 2 and take on your favorite Cars personalities in locations around the globe. You will train to become an agent of C.H.R.O.M.E. (Command Headquarters for Recon Operations & Motorized Espionage) and take on dangerous missions. You will be able to use your spy skills in combat racing and compete to become the fastest racecar in the world.

You can choose to be one of 20 characters including Lightening McQueen and Mater the tow truck, or take on one of the new spy personalities. Missions take place in 6 location around the world. Fun for the whole family!

I am a BzzAgent. All opinions are my own.

Summer vacation is right around the corner for us. My kids are busy counting down the days (8 more days) and I am busy getting a schedule together to keep them busy throughout the summer. I try to not have them sit around and watch television or play video games all day and sometimes it is tough to find new activities for them to try.

When I heard about AMF’s Unplugged Summer (their slogan is Turn off the TV. Turn up the Free Fun.) I thought this would be a great idea! We love to bowl at our house, but we don’t always get the chance. My kids are quite competitive with each other and although they are not the best bowlers, they really get into the game!

AMF’s Unplugged Summer is all about family fun. Children under 16 can bowl free at your local AMF. All you have to do is register your children to get weekly coupons via email for two free games per child per day all summer long! Adults and older teens (17+) can bet the AMF Summer 17+ Pass for a one-time price of just $27.95. It is good for up to four people age 17 and older and it is good all summer. That is less than $7 per person to bowl two free games every day this summer.

Where can you get these great deals? Head on over to AMF’s webpage and signup for the summer savings. You will also be able to find a bowling alley near your home that is participating.

I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated in the post are my own.

When I looked to change my cable and internet service last year, I was hoping that Verizon FIOS would be in my neighborhood. Unfortunately, it is not yet here yet. I had heard a lot of good things about Verizon FIOS (a few of my friends have it). Here are a few of the reasons I was looking forward to Verizon FIOS:

• FIOS is more weather resistant than DSL or Satellite. You don’t have as many weather related interruptions. When we have a bad wind and rain storm, our internet and cable are often knocked out for a period of time.
• Since FIOS is fiber-optic connected directly to your home, it is FAST! Plus, it is easier for Verizon to roll out upgrades and internet tools in the futures.
• Verizon FIOS offers Flex-View. If you have kids, you will appreciate this! If you start a on-demand movie and you get interrupted, you can watch the show later, even the next day, at home, or on your computer or phone!
• Verizon FIOS offers TV Widgets that let you interact with your Twitter, Facebook and Youtube accounts while watching televsion.
• Verizon FIOS provides an In-Home Agent PC application that lets you easily manage you FIOS subscriptions and provides solutions for problems.

Verizon FIOS would be a great addition to our home. Not only does my husband work from home occasionally, but I also have a home business that includes working with various online companies. A speedy internet connection would be a blessing. Plus, we have three very active children. Between soccer and basketball games, church activities and the like, we are always on the run. Convenience is something that we look for when we explore new services for our home. How great would it be to be able to take a movie with me on my phone to watch when I have to pick up my three kids from three different schools (we don’t live far enough away to get the bus, and we live a little too far for them to walk!).

When things don’t work right, it can make my day fall apart. It would be great not to worry about internet and phone service and have a company that is striving to provide the easiest most convenient way of staying connected!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Verizon FiOS blogging program for a gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

ABC is launching to new programs for their Fall lineup and both of them look intriguing! The first is Once Upon a Time, the story of 28 year old Anna Swan who, after finding the son she gave up years ago, is drawn into a sleepy New England town, Storybrooke, which is not what it seems. The people who live in Storybrooke are fairytale characters who have forgotten who they are. The story weaves between the fairy tale and the modern town. This series, from the creators of Lost, looks sure to draw you into the story.

The second series, is the return of Charlie’s Angels. Updated story lines and characters will make this show relevant today. The show focuses on three women, each with their own troubles with the law. Enter Charlie. He brings them together, and the crime fighting ensues.

Look for these shows this Fall on ABC!

I have watched American Idol every year except for the first season and I thought this year particularly had great talent. It must have been really hard for the judges to make the cuts that they did. I was pretty happy with the Top 13, but wished there had been a couple more slots. Some of the wacky contestants didn’t make it so I hope I won’t see any weird attire such as leather lingerie or mohawks!

My favorite contestant is still Scotty! Who is your favorite?

The Power Rangers are entering their nineteenth season, but now they have a brand new look. On Monday, January 7th, Power Rangers: Samurai premiered on Nickelodeon. I knew my 8 year old son would enjoy this show, so we watched it together. The Power Rangers has been the world’s most successful kids action series and this new look is martial arts influenced.

Power Rangers combine comedy with action and the show is one half hour. There are new Power Rangers and new villains as well.

Launching along with the new series is the emPOWER movement. emPOWER is a tool for both parents and kids helping them to grow healthy and support healthy communities. emPOWER encompasses the Power Rangers values:

* Standing for What’s Right
* Teamwork and Cooperation
* Confidence
* Health and Physical Fitness
* Caring and Friendship
You can nominate your child as Power Ranger of the Week. Just head on over to the Power Ranger facebook page. Every week the page will focus on one child who is making a difference.

My son and I really enjoyed the show. It was fast moving and the story line was good too!

Do you love to go to dinner and then a movie? Now you can do both at once. AMC has a new line of Theaters called Dine In Theaters. We decided to try out our local AMC Theater in Bridgewater, NJ to try the experience. We arrived a little bit early only to find that the movie we wanted to see was in the adult only theater (Cinema Suites). Some of the theaters are reserved for adults. We quickly regrouped and found two different movies, The Season of the Witch and Green Hornet in the Fork and Screen Theaters. Half of us went to the first movie and the other half to the second. They had plenty of seats in both, but not everyone wanted to see the same movie.

The movie ticket price includes your movie ticket plus value towards your food and beverage purchase. Prices vary by location. We had a $10 credit each for food and drink and spent about $20 more than the credit. Once you enter the theater, menus are available. There is a call button by your seat to call your server at any time. We looked over the menu and ordered our drink and main course. I ordered the Blue Cheese Burger that came with fries. It was delicious! My daughter ordered the kids chicken tenders and fries and her friend ordered the Alfredo Pasta. They both loved their meals. Soft drinks have free refills.

After the show started, I didn’t even think about ordering more food. It was a little difficult to see the menu and I was really caught up in the movie. If you want to order dessert, snacks or popcorn, I would suggest noting what you want before the movie starts then simply press the call button and ordering will be quick and easy. My nephew ordered the popcorn at $7.00 a bag, but there is unlimited refills and I think he refilled it twice.

I loved, loved the seats! They were wide and comfortable. The swing out tables are a little small, but you have room on the side too.

Theaters are popping up all over the country, so keep a look out. For my New Jersey readers, here is a coupon for a free Dessert when a entree is ordered. This coupon is good for the AMC Bridgewater Commons 7, Essex Green 9, or Menlo Park 12 between now and March 2011.

Enjoy!

(click on the image and then on next page click on image again to bring up full size coupon.)