Designed with families and Generations Y and Z in mind, Canon U.S.A. Inc has released a new PIXMA printers to help tackle homework, term papers and projects.


These latest PIXMA printers lineup offers a variety of new and improved features that easily address consumers' printing needs such as


PIXMA TS3320 (SRP:$79.99)

• Features a wireless connect button, which simplifies the set-up process and allows printing projects for home, work or school, quickly and easily (as compared to the PIXMA TS3120 printer)

PIXMA TS5320 & PIXMA TS6320 (SRP:$99.99 and $149.99)

• Available in a selection of bright, modern colors such as Pink, Green, and Navy to organically integrate into any home décor or stand-out as a fun accessory

• New, high-contrast OLED screen to clearly see copy and print settings, as well as a new Status Bar for a smart and sleek way to view the printer status from almost anywhere in the room

• Improved FINE cartridge system with new Dye Color for better photo printing on Photo Paper Plus Glossy II paper (as compared to the PIXMA TS6220 and TS5120 printers)

• Compatible with the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY (CPIS) app and Easy-PhotoPrint editor (EPP) app, allowing consumers to easily tackle projects for home or school that are big or small

PIXMA TS8320 (SRP:$199.99)

• Designed to provide seamless integration with compatible smartphones through improved 5GHz Wi-Fi® capability (as compared to the PIXMA TS8220 printer) providing easy, convenient and fast mobile printing options

• Features a large 4.3 inch touch LCD screen, allowing users to easily view the printer status, configure settings and navigate menu options

For more information, visit www.shop.usa.canon.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/canonusa
Twitter - www.twitter.com/CanonUSAimaging
Instagram - www.instagram.com/canonusa

Designed with families and Generations Y and Z in mind, Canon U.S.A. Inc has released a new PIXMA printers to help tackle homework, term pap...

As American kids go back to school, LG's Electronics USA award-winning "Life's Good: Experience Happiness" program is expanding to more school districts with the goal of reaching more than 1 million teens with science of happiness skills.


According to the American Psychological Association, when school is in session, kids are the most stressed group in the country. Teenagers feel this stress most acutely, especially during the first days back at school, a time of mixed emotions that bring both excitement and anxiety.

Through its Life's Good: Experience Happiness initiative, LG has brought together leading non-profits, scientists, educators and media partners to combat this anxiety by teaching teens the skills that lead to sustainable happiness.

LG is expanding its commitment this year by increasing the number of schools that non-profit partners Project Happiness and Inner Explorer will reach, while going beyond the classroom to reach teens and parents through social media channels they follow.


A trailblazing new LG partnership with award-winning media and entertainment company SoulPancake will help reach an additional 500,000 people this fall, teaching the science of happiness outside of schools.

By reinforcing LG's commitment in local school districts and expanding the program through new social channels, parents can take part in the program. LG is asking parents and teens alike to share their back-to-school stories and to set their goals for the new school year.

They can simply post their own story of the first day back to school in social media, using the hashtags #Day1 and #LGoals. For each post, LG will provide an extra $1 to its non-profit partners to help them carry forward the science of happiness.

Happiness is a skill that can be taught, learned and practiced to combat increasing level of stress.

To learn more, visit www.LGExperienceHappiness.com and www.GetstartedLG.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LGUSA
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lgus
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lgusa

As American kids go back to school, LG's Electronics USA award-winning "Life's Good: Experience Happiness" program is expa...

To get us ready for The Angry Birds 2 release in theaters, we were invited by Sony Pictures Animation to an advance screening and family after party.


Note: I was invited as media to the screening and after party event. While this is a sponsored post, any personal views expressed are always 100% my own

To be very honest, I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy The Angry Birds Movie 2. As a major fan of the first The Angry Birds movie, I wondered how they could top all the humor and amazing storytelling.

But The Angry Birds 2 did top the first film! And even better then that, it used the power of friendship and engineering to do. Which is what the original game was all about. Remember those sling shot?! I was so excited to see it used in the film's storyline. More about that later!



So before joining the #AngryBirdsMovie2 activities, we had to pick a mask with some of The Angry Birds characters. This was such a fun way to start.

While I am definitely an "Angry Birds", I felt I needed to be open to what the "Pigs" had to say in this film. Plus how cute is Leonard and his piggy assistant Courtney?!

Once we had our masks, we headed into the screening to see The Angry Birds 2. I confess I laughed so much, I might have also shed a tear and cheered a bit at the end. The Angry Birds Movie 2 offers so much for families to enjoy. But more on that after I tell you about the family after party.

Sony Pictures Animation provided everything an "Angry Birds Movie 2" fan could enjoy after seeing the film.



Families were able to take photos with both Red and Silver. Enjoy Angry Birds themed drinks and snacks. Do varies Angry Birds activities and crafts including making a raft to save the Hatchlings. You'll understand why after you see the movie.

The kids (and to be honest adults also) had a great time and left feeling so happy. Which is kinda the feeling families will have after seeing The Angry Birds 2.

MY REVIEW

While the first The Angry Birds focused on anger for Red and his bird friends, this time around it's about love, friendship and ironically engineering.

Having to deal with a "new threat that puts both Bird and Pig Island in danger" brings both birds and pigs together. This leads to a unique team using all their skills to save both island communities. The team plans together, builds wacky products together and eventually discovers something amazing about all the islands together. At the heart of this team is Red and Silver.

Silver who has an open mind, a caring heart and is super smart. Because of Silver we get to see a new side of the Angry Birds crew and the return of STEM ideas. Which lets be real, makes sense since this was behind the original Angry Birds game.


But more important the idea of Silver (and piggy Garry) highlights how important is to keep finding ways to encourage kids (and families) to use science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to envision, invent and create a better world. Whether for birds, pigs or humans.

For young girls especially, this encouragement is needed. So I wanted to share this PSAs (public service advertisements) of the Ad Council's She Can STEM campaign in partnership with Sony Pictures Animation/Rovio Entertainment.


This PSA encourages girls to pursue their STEM passions by challenging obsolete stereotypes and surprising girls with how cool, unexpected and inspiring STEM can be.

To learn more about She Can STEM, visit - www.shecanstem.com

Twitter - www.twitter.com/shecanstem
Instagram - www.instagram.com/shecanstem

SYNOPSIS

The flightless angry birds and the scheming green piggies take their beef to the next level in The Angry Birds Movie 2!

When a new threat emerges that puts both Bird and Pig Island in danger, Red (Jason Sudeikis), Chuck (Josh Gad), Bomb (Danny McBride), and Mighty Eagle (Peter Dinklage) recruit Chuck's sister Silver (Rachel Bloom) and team up with pigs Leonard (Bill Hader), his assistant Courtney (Awkwafina), and techpig Garry (Sterling K. Brown) to forge an unsteady truce and form an unlikely superteam to save their homes.

Directed By: Thurop Van Orman
Screenplay by: Peter Ackerman and Eyel Podell & Jonathon E. Stewart
Produced by: John Cohen

To learn more, visit - www.AngryBirds-Movie.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/AngryBirdsMovie
Twitter - www.twitter.com/AngryBirdsMovie
Instagram - www.instagram.com/angrybirdsmovie

To get us ready for The Angry Birds 2 release in theaters, we were invited by Sony Pictures Animation to an advance screening and family aft...

Geared for ages 4-9 years, KidiBuzz G2 is the Wi-Fi smart device that kids and parents will love. Kids get the messaging, photography, games and music they want—and parents get peace of mind knowing kids can play, connect safely and learn along the way.

"Kids want to have the same cool technology as adults, but parents aren't always willing to hand them their expensive devices," said Andy Keimach, President, VTech Electronics North America. "That's where KidiBuzz G2 comes in. It looks like a high-tech phone and also keeps parents in control of who their child interacts with. It's a win-win!"

The KidiBuzz G2 also comes with 40+ learning games that cover math, spelling, science, problem-solving, music, Spanish and more. Plus, kids can enjoy access to a free trial of LeapFrog Academy®, an interactive learning program filled with 2,000 engaging games and activities.


In-demand features include the Wonder Masks app that lets kids add movement-responsive face filters to pictures. For augmented reality fun, kids can play Creature Detective, which blends AR gaming with learning.

The device also works with the free KidiConnect™ app. Kids can use the app on their KidiBuzz to send texts, voice messages and images to an approved list of contacts including other KidiBuzz devices and smartphones.

Parents can use the app on their smartphone to approve their child's contact list, set time limits and add their own list of specifically-approved websites.

KidiConnect is available on the App Store and Google Play.

KidiBuzz G2 retails for $99.99 and is available now at major retailers nationwide.

For more information, visit www.vtechkids.com/kidibuzz

Facebook - www.facebook.com/VTechtoys
Twitter - www.twitter.com/VTechToys

Geared for ages 4-9 years, KidiBuzz G2 is the Wi-Fi smart device that kids and parents will love. Kids get the messaging, photography, games...

Earlier this year I learned about Wonderscope, the augmented reality children's reading app. The app is both fun and educational for children who enjoy playing with augmented reality. They will be amazed by the various AR storybooks, including the newest - Clio's Cosmic Quest.


Clio's Cosmic Quest joins the Wonderscope app's growing catalog of read aloud, interactive adventures, which allow children to converse with characters and play an active role in the narrative.

Wonderscope: Clio's Cosmic Quest



In Clio's Cosmic Quest, children are invited to journey into space where they meet Clio, a tiny particle of stardust who dreams of illuminating the universe as a big, beautiful star. Tasked with helping her, kids read out loud to challenge bullies, meet the Sun and bring the nebula back together, learning facts and engaging with a fully interactive solar system along the way.

Wonderscope's library of titles, include:

• A Brief History of Stunts by Astounding People, where children take part in three of history's most impossible stunts and meet the real people that made them happen: Betty Bromage, an 88-year old grandmother that stood on the wings of an airborne bi-plane; Helen Gibson, Hollywood's first stuntwoman; and Charles Blondin, the first person to tightrope walk across Niagara Falls.

• Little Red the Inventor, where kids pair up with Red, a modern-day Little Red Riding Hood who has added "inventor" to her resume. Together they solve tricky situations to evade the Big Bad Wolf, using their voices to stand up for what's right, and their smarts to become heroes in this new take on a classic fairy tale.

More stories being released in the coming months.

AR as a Tool for Learning

Introducing Wonderscope: an augmented reality iOS app for kids


Just as there are different types of learners, the essential skill of reading comes to children in different ways. Wonderscope's voice recognition system is built to understand and nurture confidence in new readers at a wide range of levels, and with different dialects and accents.

The app provides visual and aural feedback by highlighting words, and having characters make eye contact and react expressively back to the user. Clio's Cosmic Quest ends with a fully interactive bonus scene where users explore and learn more about space, planets and solar systems, developing a playful appreciation for STEM.


Pricing and Availability

Wonderscope is the first AR app from Within. It was designed for iOS using Apple's ARKit. It is FREE and currently available on all AR-enabled iOS devices*.

From August 13-August 25, in time for back-to-school, all Wonderscope stories are available for $.99. Stories are regularly priced at $4.99.

Wonderscope is geared for kids 6 years and older, does not require user registration or a credit card and currently holds a 4-star rating from Common Sense Media.

To learn more, visit - www.wonderscope.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/WonderscopeApp
Twitter - www.twitter.com/WonderscopeApp

Earlier this year I learned about Wonderscope, the augmented reality children's reading app. The app is both fun and educational for chi...

When I learned that The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy offered Fishing Clinics as part of its 20th Anniversary of free, public programming, I knew it would be a great family activity for the day!


So we joined Scherrie (ThirtyMommy) and her family in Brooklyn Bridge Park for a day of water fun and summer chill.


Getting to the Fishing Clinics is super easy since it's right on Pier 5. Once there, you check in, learn which time group your in (each fishing group is about 15-30mins) and then get your location number.


Before heading over to your location, groups learn the basics of line fishing from marine biologist and expert anglers. They also demo how to tie fishing knots, bait a hook, cast a fishing rod, and even reel up a fish. While you could keep some of the fish, most fish are catch-and-released.

Since the clinics are produced in part by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, and equipment is provided on-site, once you learn the basics, you can head over to your location and start fishing!



Since we're new to fishing, we received help from one of the "anglers" who walk up and down the pier in case anyone needs assistance. He took my son through the steps, explained a little about sea life under the pier and gave some tips to help us catch a fish.

Sadly during our time there, we didn't catch any fish, but my son still enjoyed the experience of "fishing". Meanwhile I enjoyed just have a moment with him learning something new.


After our fishing time was up, we checked out a few of the fish caught that day by others. There was a shark and another fish I don't remember the name of. Who knew those lived in the water under the pier!

So if your in the Brooklyn Bridge Park area, check out the new Fishing Clinics for kids and adults. The 7-part series will take place at Pier 5’s fishing station from May-September.

To learn more, visit - www.brooklynbridgepark.org

Facebook - www.facebook.com/brooklynbridgepark
Twitter - www.twitter.com/BBPNYC
Instagram - www.instagram.com/BrooklynBridgePark

When I learned that The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy offered Fishing Clinics as part of its 20th Anniversary of free, public programming...

Get ready to snap your fingers! The first family of Halloween, the Addams Family, is back on the big screen in the first animated comedy about the kookiest family on the block.



Funny, outlandish, and completely iconic, Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures presents THE ADDAMS FAMILY in theaters everywhere on October 11, 2019

Cast: Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, Snoop Dogg as "IT", with Bette Midler and Allison Janney, Martin Short, Catherine O'Hara, Tituss Burgess, Jenifer Lewis, Elsie Fisher, Aimee Garcia



Executive Producers: Kevin Miserocchi, Andrew Mittman, Joe Earley, Aaron L. Gilbert, Jason Cloth
Producers: Gail Berman p.g.a., Conrad Vernon p.g.a., Alex Schwartz p.g.a., Alison O'Brien
Based On: Characters Created by Charles Addams
Directors: Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan

To learn more, visit - www.AddamsFamily.Movie

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MeetTheAddams
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MeetTheAddams
Instagram: www.instagram.com/MeetTheAddams

Get ready to snap your fingers! The first family of Halloween, the Addams Family, is back on the big screen in the first animated comedy abo...