mommypalooza™ ~ a daily dose of mommy mayhem.

Monsters University | Mother's Day Video

I hope you'll love this Mother's Day inspired video featuring Ms. Squibbles and the rest of the MONSTERS UNIVERSITY characters as much as we all do!

 

Monsters University comes out in theaters on June 21, 2013.  To find out more, connect with them here:

“Like” MONSTERS UNIVERSITY on Facebook: http://facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity 

 "Follow" Disney/Pixar on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyPixar

Disney's Monsters University | New Trailer!

Who's ready for a little Mike & Sulley?  I can't tell you how stoked my boys and I are about Monsters University coming out this June.  I've already been asked about a hundred times by my kids if we are going to see it when it comes out.  My reply?  DUH!! Yes...of course!

For now, a sneak peek at the newest Monsters University trailer will have to do.  Enjoy!

 

If the spirit moves you, you can also connect with Monsters University below:

“Like” MONSTERS UNIVERSITY on Facebook.

"Follow" Disney/Pixar on Twitter.

Visit the website: http://www.Disney.com/MonstersU

 

Dane Cook Preps for Take Off in Disney's 'Planes'

There's big news about Disney's 'Planes' circulating the air today.  This family friendly sky flying adventure set to land in 3D in theaters this summer {August 9, 2013 - to be exact} is reaching for the sky with this big news.

Walt Disney Studios has announced that funny man and actor Dane Cook has been tapped to voice Dusty, the movie's charismatic racing plane & lead character.  According to Walt Disney Studios, 

“Dane Cook brings unmatched charisma and brilliant comedic timing and instincts to the character.  He gives Dusty a great edge.”

Disney’s 'Planes' is an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure about Dusty’s dream of competing as a high-flying air racer—and his decidedly unfortunate fear of heights.  Cook is most known for his stand-up comedy appearances on Comedy Central and HBO specials.  He's also collaborated with a slew of other comedians in various films and television episodes.  

In our house, we are BIG {as in larger-than-life} 'Cars' fans so I'm particularly excited about this newest Disney flick, since its inspiration comes somewhat from Disney/Pixar's 'Cars' movie.  My younger two boys have their entire bedroom decked out in 'Cars' / Radiator Springs decor so I'm fully expecting they'll want to switch it up a bit to the 'Planes' theme after this summer.

How about your family?  Will you make it out to theaters in August to hop aboard Disney's newest sky-high adventure?  

To keep up-to-date, you can check out Disney.com/Planes, or find Disney Planes on Facebook and Twitter.

Information courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.

Photo credits: Walt Disney Pictures

 

Get over Go Daddy and the Super Bowl ad.

It won't stop.  The comments, that is, about the recent Go Daddy commercial that aired during the Super Bowl.  Here are my thoughts.

First off, I didn't see the commercial air live, as we were out to dinner with my inlaws and {thankfully} missed it along with the first hour of the game.  I watched it later on DVR and even though I was repulsed, did not find myself surprised.

Then came the slew of comments on my Facebook wall and Twitter feed about how people were now going to change where they registered their domains -- from Go Daddy to some other service -- all because of this poor taste in ad choice.  Personally, I think that's absurd.  I mean, sure the ad is not exactly enticing or in great taste, but did we really expect it to be?  I mean if the past few Super Bowl ads have been any indication, this is exactly the kind of commercial we should all come to expect from Go Daddy.  If you have kids and are worried about them seeing this kind of repulsiveness, then prepare for it.  You know it's coming.

The same can be said about the {in my opinion: lousy} performance by Beyonce during the half-time show.  I'll preface by saying first off that I am NOT a fan of Beyonce's as it is.  Her music doesn't gel with me and in my opinion, she just doesn't appeal to me as an artist.  But, it's BEYONCE for crying out loud.  We all know there's going to be gyrating and booty-shaking and lots of skin showing.  Why are so many people "disgusted" and in shock about how "sleazy" of a show it was?  Actually, I personally didn't think it was all that bad.  I was actually quite bored.  It's nothing we've not seen from Beyonce before, but certainly not beyond what one could expect.  

Am I saying that I enjoyed being subjected to the awkwardness of the Go Daddy commercials or the sight of Beyonce's thighs?  No, not necessarily.  But, I'm not getting my panties in a wad for it all because hey, it's not like I would have expected anything different.  As much as we'd all like to think it's "family friendly tv", it's not.  We all know that.  To be honest, I am more concerned with my kids being exposed to the ads that glorify alcohol consumption, more than the ones that have sexual connotations.  But, knowing this about myself, it's MY responsibility to shield them from watching the ads, not my job to complain that they are part of the show.  

People forget one thing in all this.  The Super Bowl is selling ads.  And the advertisers are going for the jugular in many cases when it comes to their ads.  We have known this for decades and yet every year it seems someone complains about the commercials or raunchy-ness of the half-time show.  This is what makes the Super Bowl the Super Bowl.  You can't get this stuff anywhere else!

So since you know it's coming, either watch it or don't.  But complaining about it is counter-productive.  It will always remain the Super Bowl.  

{giveaway}: Super Bowl XLVII and the #CokeChase prize pack

I've always said it's no coincidence that I've found myself as the mother of a house full of boys.  I am such a sports fanatic and love that there's no shortage of sports-minded males in my brood.  And, when it comes to sports, football is the ultimate!! Blame it on the Texas gal in me who has fond memories of sitting around the living room on weekends with my Dad as our huge console tv blared the Dallas Cowboys game.  Flashes of the late, great Tom Landry and his infamous hat and stoic facial expression would go across the screen.  My dad be yelling at the tv at players as if they could hear him!  The excitement in our house was contagious!

Yeah, I do love me some football.  And, I love Coke.

So, I jumped at the chance to share this new fun twist on the ol' Super Bowl commercials we've all come to anticipate and love.  Keep reading!

The Coca-Cola Company is excited about the debut of their new 60-second commercial entitled “Mirage” during this year's big game.  The ad follows three groups of characters – a band of cowboys, a gang of “Badlanders” and {my personal fave} a pack of Vegas-style showgirls – as they chase after a coveted & elusive bottle of Coca-Cola.  But what makes this spot one-of-a-kind is that the fans will actually determine who will win the race!  Fans are invited and encouraged to log on to CokeChase.com to vote for their favorite group of peeps while slowing down the others' progress by initiating fun acts of sabotage.  At the end of the game, it will be the fans' actions that will actually dictate how the story plays out and which one of three 30-second ads will air following the final whistle of the big game.  This is a first for The Coca-Cola Company.

I'm also looking forward to tracking my character pick - the Vegas style showgirls - over on Coca-Cola’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.  There will be real-time updates on the progress of the race.  You can also keep track of exclusive Coke Chase character content and get a behind-the-scenes look on Tumblr and Instagram.

Fans can also show some love to their favorite group of characters and root for their pick by using special hashtags #CokeShowgirls, #CokeCowboys, or #CokeBadlanders.  If you cast a vote ongame-day by tweeting @CocaCola along with your group's fave hashtag, you'll also get responses from the team, including a link to the sabotage page on CokeChase.com where you can continue the fight in the race!

Then, as the final whistle blows after the Super Bowl, Coca-Cola will reveal the winner of the Coke Chase based on the fans' participation in the form of a 30-second commercial that completes the race and storyline.  I'm sure it will be a fight that comes down to the bitter end!  I can't wait!

Here's a sneak at the Coke Chase ad -- watch it and then pick your fave brood of characters to support and follow along until game day!

 

And now for the giveaway!  Coca-Cola is giving me the opportunity to give one of YOU this fun game-day prize pack to help you celebrate the big game!

Here's what's in the prize pack {valued at $100 retail value}:

• Domino’s pizza gift card/coupons for $50
• An 8” Coca-Cola football
• Pizza cutter
• Galvanized party tub
• A Coca-Cola t-shirt
• Four Coca-Cola 16 oz. cups w/straws
• Coca-Cola product 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Disclosure:  I have received a prize incentive in exchange for sharing the details of this promotion and giveaway with my readers.  The prizes for this giveaway are furnished by The Coca-Cola Company.  All opinions expressed are my own - no one is the boss of me!}

Disney Junior Valentine's Day episodes of "Doc McStuffins" and "Handy Manny"

Photo / image credits: © DISNEY CHANNEL/PLAYHOUSE DISNEY

My 3 year-old is undoubtedly Disney Junior's #1 fan, as he loves tuning in to his favorites, two of whom are included in the special upcoming Valentine's Day episodes - Doc McStuffins and Handy Manny.

I was so excited to learn that Disney Junior will be celebrating Valentine's Day this year with themed episodes of what has become cable TV's #1 series for kids ages 2-5 - "Doc McStuffins" and perennial favorite "Handy Manny."

In the new "Doc McStuffins" episode titled "My Huggy Valentine," Doc receives a stuffed Valentine's Day heart named Val as a gift and Lambie gets jealous because she thinks Doc likes her new toy better.  After diagnosing Lambie with "splitheartitis," {which will undoubtedly go in the big book of Boo-Boos} Doc reassures her that no one could ever take her place.  This episode of "Doc McStuffins" premieres Friday, February 1 at 10:00 a.m., ET/PT on the Disney Channel and 4:00 p.m., ET/PT on Disney Junior. 

And for even more Disney love, in a special Valentine's Day themed "Handy Manny" episode, Manny wants to ask longtime friend Kelly to a Valentine's Day party.  With a little help from the tools, he finally works up the courage and asks her to attend Mrs. Portillo's party with him.  The episode titled "Valentine's Day Party" premieres Thursday, February 14 at 10:30 a.m., ET/PT on the Disney Channel and 6:00 p.m., ET/PT on Disney Junior.

I'm so looking forward to watching both of these fun episodes with my sweet Jacob.  We often enjoy having conversations about the characters and episode messages that are conveyed on the Disney shows we watch.  It's sweet to watch him learn and develop from the things he sees on some of his favorite shows.  My favorite has to be when he sees me tired or not feeling well, he comes over to me and says in a very sweet and endearing tone, "Aww, you need a cuddle!" 

I am so glad he's as big of a fan of Disney Junior as I am!

Walt Disney Studios: 17 Oscar Nominated films including Best Picture

Congratulations to Walt Disney Studios on receiving 17 Oscar nominations for several films.  2012 was indeed a mouse-kerrific year for Walt Disney films, as many of these were my personal picks of the year as well!

Disney's Phineas and Ferb: Agent P vs. The Puzzle-Inator app on iTunes

My kids are big time Phineas and Ferb fans.  Over the holidays they received a few App Store gift cards for Christmas and I'm sure will be adding this new Phineas and Ferb & The Puzzle-Inator game app to their iPods and our iPad.  For $1.99 it seems like quite the value in fun.

Disney Family Deals is now part of Spoonful.com

    

One of my favorite sources for crafts, fun recipes, and seasonal fun stuff -- Spoonful.com -- will now feature great deals from Diney Family Deals!

If you haven't already checked out Spoonful, you should!  It's Disney's newest site for families looking for activities, crafts, recipes, party ideas, and more.  My 3 year-old loves the coloring sheets offered there, especially this Jake and the Neverland Pirates coloring sheet.

{review + giveaway}: Hasbro Marvel toys to the rescue this holiday season! #HasbroHoliday

With three boys in the house, we see our fair share of superheroes.  So, you can imagine how bonkers they all went when we recently received The Avengers Iron Man role play mask and tri-power repulsor (a.k.a. "blaster").

It was as if my 6 year-old was getting to have Christmas early as he tore the box of goodies open and took to wearing this fun Iron Man gear around the house.

Now, I don't know about you but at our house we have an entire SECTION dedicated to all of the role play and "dress up" clothes & costumes we've collected over the years.  My boys are famous for slipping into a costume of their choice on any given day and running around the house as their favorite character or superhero.  That's what I love about the entire Hasbro Marvel role play toy collection.  They're toys that kids will use over and over again, and each time in a new way - reinventing characters they know using their imaginations.  They offer parents a great way to capture the excitement of their kids’ favorite movies and characters. 

The role play toys available on the Hasbro website range from masks, chest lights, gloves, helmets and more.  The Hasbro line of Marvel toys are based on popular Super Heroes like IRON MAN, HULK, THOR or CAPTAIN AMERICA from MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS or SPIDER-MAN and THE LIZARD from THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN.   They're all ideal holiday gifts and stocking stuffers for all the little superhero fans in your life!

And thanks to Hasbro, I'm excited to offer one of you the opportunity to WIN the exact same Hasbro Iron Man role play toys that are pictured above in this post!  Yay!  Your little superhero is going to LOVE unwrapping this under the tree this holiday season!  Just see below for all the details on how to enter.  Good luck and happy holidays to you all!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Disclosure: This is part of a product review campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Hasbro; complimentary products were provided.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.}