Hop to the Music! ~ Disney Music Review & Giveaway

Free products were received from Entertainment New Media Network and Disney Music Group to facilitate this review and giveaway. 
No other compensation was received. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. 

All opinions expressed are my own.

The Easter Bunny arrived a bit early to our house last week to let us know about some great Easter Basket options for your Disney music fan! Our friends at Disney have gathered together some fantastic favorites to help you and your family Hop to the Music this spring!

We are so excited to bring you a super fun giveaway for some super fun music ~ 
a Hop to the Music Prize Pack ~ from the Disney Music Group!

Here's what we've got:

Frozen: The Songs
Do I even need to say anything about this album? Probably not! We've had this one memorized for quite some time. It's full of all of your sing-a-long favorites as well as the beautiful instrumental music from the film. We love, love, love this CD... no surprise. This version comes with a collectible poster.

DJ Shuffle 2
DJ = Disney Junior, and that, in and of itself, should tell you this this CD is loads of fun! We were huge fans of the first edition of DJ Shuffle and when we realized that a new album was now out with new and updated favorites from our old friends like Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Jake, Sheriff Callie, and Henry Hugglemonster we were incredibly excited. Add to that our excitement to see additions from our new friend Miles from Tomorrowland and a new catchy DJ Shuffle dance tune, and this edition of one of our favorite CDs really got us up and moving! There is nothing more fun than Disney Junior... except dancing and singing along... which is exactly what you'll do while listening to this CD, guaranteed!

Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1
Imagine you're listening to a walkman with a great mix tape playing, and you'll love this CD with all the music you'll remember from the film by the same name. This fun soundtrack album comes with a link and code for a free digital download.

Into the Woods
This 2-disc deluxe edition soundtrack will bring you right back to the theater. Including both the lyrical music and the instrumental music from Into the Woods, this set also includes a lyric booklet so you'll be singing along in no time (hooray! my favorite feature of a CD!).

All of this fun music is available for purchase at the links above or in the new Disney Music Emporium!

Enter to win your own Hop to the Music Prize Pack here!

Entrants must be age 18 or older at the time of entry. No purchase necessary. Giveaway open to residents of the US only. Giveaway will have 48 hours to respond to notification email with requested information and if they do not, winnings will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen. Walt Disney Records is responsible for prize distribution. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. If it comes to this blogger's attention that the winner has won the same prize on an additional blog, this blog reserves the right to choose another winner. Contest ends on Monday, March 30, 2015 at 11:59 PM.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!!

"Making Today a Perfect Day" ~ from Disney Frozen Fever

We haven't made it out to the theater to see Cinderella yet, but if you have, you've seen Frozen Fever and heard this super sweet and fun song, "Making Today a Perfect Day!" We are loving this new song from our Frozen friends!

The track is now available exclusively on iTunes for a limited time! 

^^ You can preview and purchase by clicking on the link! ^^

Here's some background from our friends at Walt Disney Records:

“Frozen Fever” welcomes back to the big screen the voices that helped bring the “Frozen” favorites to life, and introduces a new song, “Making Today a Perfect Day.” For a limited time, the track is available exclusively at iTunes (http://smarturl.it/ffs1).

Kristen Bell (Showtime’s “House of Lies”) once again lends her voice to Anna, and Idina Menzel (Broadway’s “If/Then”) returns as the voice of Elsa. Jonathan Groff (Fox’s “Glee”) voices Kristoff, and Josh Gad (“The Comedians”) provides the voice of unforgettable snowman Olaf. Oscar®-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez (“Up Here”) and Robert Lopez (“Broadway’s “The Book of Mormon”) wrote the all-new song for the short, and composer Christophe Beck (“Cake”) provides the score.

In “Frozen Fever,” it's Anna's birthday and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever, but when Elsa catches a cold, her powers may put more than just the party at risk. The tale is told musically with “Making Today a Perfect Day,” with Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad lending their voices to the original song.

According to the songwriters, “Making Today A Perfect Day” showcases Elsa’s great desire to surprise Anna—all while battling an ever-worsening cold. “I think on some deep level,” says Lopez, “she knows she shouldn’t be doing this party. She should be in bed. But Elsa is fierce and her love for her sister is fierce. So the song has a really intense drive to it—especially the piano.”

Adds Anderson-Lopez, “We wanted it to be that perfect sunny-afternoon song so that it fought against the situation that she’s getting sick; that adds to the comedy.”

Reuniting with the performers was like getting together with old friends, says Anderson-Lopez. “I feel like we’ve been through something extraordinary together and that connection will never go away.”

Directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, produced by Peter Del Vecho and Aimee Scribner, and executive produced by John Lasseter, “Frozen Fever” opens today, in front of Disney’s live-action “Cinderella.” The “Cinderella” soundtrack is also available on CD.

For more information on Walt Disney Records releases, become a fan at Facebook.com/disneymusicemporium or follow us at Twitter.com/DisneyMusicEmp. “Making Today A Perfect Day” sheet music is available from www.SheetMusicDirect.com.

Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure ~ Discounts and Giveaway!

We were provided with complimentary show tickets to help promote this event. All opinions expressed are our own.

We are so excited to announce that Disney On Ice is coming back our way this spring!

Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt will be playing at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA from April 2-5!

Embark on the ultimate sightseeing vacation with all your favorite Disney characters in Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt. Join Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Goofy and Daisy on a journey to the magical worlds of Disney's The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, and Lilo & Stitch. You and your family will explore the African Pride Lands with Simba, Timon and Pumbaa; voyage deep under the sea to Ariel's mystical underwater kingdom; tour London with Peter Pan and Wendy before flying to Never Land to join Tinker Bell; and travel to Hawaii to visit Lilo and Stitch. Upbeat music, lovable characters and exciting destinations make Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure a vacation your family will never forget!

We are so excited to attend the show and I can smell that yummy Feld Entertainment Popcorn already!

You can get your tickets at Ticketmaster.com or at the Box Office, starting at just $15!

Exclusive savings for our readers: 
$6 off all price levels on select show times!

Offer valid on $60, $45, $35, and $25 tickets to the following performances:

April 2, 7:00 PM - $15 opening night tickets available!

April 3, 1:00 PM 

April 3, 7:00 PM

April 4, 11:00 AM

April 4, 7:00 PM

April 5, 2:00 PM - $10 kids tickets available!

Just follow these 3 easy steps to purchase: 

1. Go to Ticketmaster.com and choose your performance
2. Enter code MBLOG in the offer code box
3. Select your seats and check out!

No double discounts. Cannot be used for prior purchases or group sales orders. Service charges, handling and facility fees may apply. Please note that prices reflected on Ticketmaster.com INCLUDE service charges and facility fees. Select "Price Details" on the purchase page to confirm discount price.

Or *WIN* a 4-pack of tickets to opening night right here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No purchase necessary. Entrants must be age 18 or older at time of entry with valid photo ID. Winner will use photo ID to pick up tickets at the Box Office of the DCU Center in Worcester, MA on the night of the show. Contest runs from Thursday, March 12 through Monday, March 23 and ends at 11:59 PM on that day. Winner will be notified via email and must respond within 24 hours to claim prize or a new winner will be chosen. 

Good luck!

Real Bug Dig It Out Science Kit from Discover with Dr. Cool

We received free product to facilitate this review. 

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. 

All opinions expressed are my own. 

We love bugs around here... and we love hands-on exploration... and just plain cool science stuff. So, we were pretty excited to have the chance to try out the Real Bug Dig It Out Science Kit from Discover with Dr. Cool!

This totally hands-on science exploration kit, winner of the Brain Toy Gold Award - Academic's Choice 2013, comes with a beetle-shaped digging block which contains 3 little critters, enclosed in acrylic, as well as some tools. Your job (or your child's job) is to excavate the bugs!

If you dig, dig, dig, you'll eventually uncover a scorpion, a spiny spider, and a fortune beetle. Once you dig them out, you can clean them off with the enclosed brush and study them with the enclosed magnifying glass. You can also learn some cool facts about each of the bugs and engage in some fun educational games included within the enclosed activity booklet.

This kit is especially designed for children aged 6-12. Our little science lover is 4 years old but she was super excited to see her new excavation kit and get right to work to find the bugs. She lasted just a few minutes before asking for my help. I did my best to help her but so far we've only excavated one of the bugs... and it's been several weeks. Yikes! This is the real deal! Bug excavation is not for the weary, my friends. My hands got super tired, sore, and a little cut up in the process and we decided to save the rest for Daddy.

So, my thoughts? We like the kit, but 4 years old is a little young. I'm thinking 10-ish is probably right on target in terms of age-approriateness. I think kids younger than that could do it with patience and dedication... but not likely in one sitting. I'm not sure anyone could do this in one sitting! It's hard work, but fun and rewarding, if you have the strength and patience to stick with it... (or strong power tools - only kidding - sort of - leave that up to the grown-up's discretion!).

We're looking forward to completing our excavation with Daddy's help soon.

If you have a science loving big kid, I think they'll like this kit! It would also make a great addition to a classroom setting, where everyone takes turns. Teamwork would definitely make it faster, easier, and likely even more fun.

You can find the Real Bug Dig It Out Science Kit on the Discover with Dr. Cool website or on amazon.com.

      

Too Cute to Toss ~ Consignment Event This Month!

I am so excited to share with you about Too Cute to Toss, a children's consignment sale event created by two of my sweet and creative friends! They have several, very popular, events each year. If you're local to Massachusetts, you need to get to one! Here's a message from Alycia and Lauren and all the details about this month's event...

We are two North Shore moms who daydreamed about owning our own business while entertaining our children at our playdates. Our vision has now grown into Too Cute to Toss - a children's consignment event business where you can sell and/or buy gently used children's clothing, toys, books, shoes, gear, and much more! 

We LOVE recycling and were looking for a better way to save money on new clothes and also allow our gently loved clothes to move on to good homes. We accept and sell newborn up to size 16. It is a great way to pass on those extra items that your kids grew out of or no longer need and make some money in the process! We have 3 events a year in the North Shore area of Massachusetts.

We can do all the work! We gather up your gently used items, tag and price them or you can tag your items yourself for a higher profit and lower fee. The consignment events are open to the public to buy items at great prices! We look forward to you joining us!

Visit Too Cute to Toss this month!

Saturday, March 28 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

Sunday, March 29 9:00 am - 2:00 pm (most items 50% off)

DoubleTree Hilton

50 Ferncroft Road

Danvers, MA

Alycia and Lauren are still accepting consigners for this event who can tag their own items!

You can view more details on the Too Cute to Toss website or Facebook.

Urbini Dream Nursery Contest!

I participated in a Blog Blast Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Urbini. 

I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

A cozy nursery with high quality furniture is a must-have for new babies (and new parents)! Urbini has created a new line of nursery furniture, including some beautiful wooden cribs and to help spread the word, they are giving away not only some of their nursery furniture, but a full nursery makeover at the hands of Rachel Dacks, their designer!

Isn't that gorgeous?! This is a giveaway you will not want to miss!

If you're not working on creating or updating a nursery, don't despair! You can still win a $50 Walmart Gift Card by helping to promote the contest.

All of the details are below. You can enter the giveaway through the widget in this post, or at www.UrbiniDreamNursery.com.

Here's what you'll win!

Grand Prize:

One Urbini Crib

One Urbini Changing Table

One Urbini 6 Drawer Dresser

One Urbini Cubi Play Yard

A home visit by Urbini designer Rachel Dacks to personally outfit a newly designed nursery

Second Prize:

Choice of one Urbini Crib

Third Prize:

One Urbini Cubi Play Yard

Sweepstakes Winners:

Each day, one Sweepstakes participant will be randomly selected to win a $50 Walmart Gift Card

To enter the Urbini Dream Nursery Contest to win the Grand, Second, or Third Prizes, you must post to your personal Instagram account a photo of the room you want to design, tagging #UrbiniDreamNursery and #Contest. For all other entry information, including entering to win the daily $50 Walmart Gift Cards, please visit www.UrbiniDreamNursery.com.

Urbini Dream Nursery

Contest ends Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Entrants must be age 18 or older at the time of entry. Open to legal residents of the continental United States and the District of Columbia. Official rules are available at www.UrbiniDreamNursery.com.

Good luck!

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