This week it's all about Disney's Aladdin, since this live action remake flies into theaters nationwide on May 24, 2019! I attended ...

This week it's all about Disney's Aladdin, since this live action remake flies into theaters nationwide on May 24, 2019! I attended a screening and wanted to highlight a few fun facts about bringing the animated classic into a modern live setting. Because Walt Disney Studios really did an amazing visual job with Disney's Aladdin.

Note: I was invited as media to the movie screening. However any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

Bringing World of Disney's Aladdin Alive

• Set decoration for Agrabah included fabrics, textiles and carvings similar to those found in Marrakesh, lots of colorful woods, metals, fruits and vegetables and a 1,000-year-old olive tree.

• The “Prince Ali” musical sequence is the biggest production number in the film with 250 dancers and 200 extras. Costume designer Michael Wilkinson and his team created more than 200 costumes from scratch just for the extras.

• Production designer Gemma Jackson, who won an Emmy Award® for her production design work on “Game of Thrones,” was tasked with bringing Agrabah to life. She envisioned the city as a gateway to the Eastern world with a vibrant array of colors, cultures and sounds. Her inspirations came primarily from Moroccan, Persian and Turkish architecture and featured elements of Arab, Indian and South Asian cultures, since Agrabah is an Arab country on the Silk Road where cultural influences from other cultures in the regions could be found.

Behind Disney's Aladdin Film Set Design

• The bed in Jasmine’s bedroom was doubled in size to accommodate both the princess and her tiger Rajah. The accompanying bedspread was hand-embroidered in Pakistan to honor Jasmine’s late mother’s kingdom of Shehrabad, which is based in South Asia.

• Aladdin’s sidekick Abu, while entirely digital, was based on a Capuchin monkey

• The 30-foot yellow flower camel on which Prince Ali arrives at the palace was made from 37,000 flower heads and took 15 model makers three weeks to build.

Behind Disney's Aladdin Visual Effects

• The Cave of Wonders was created via a combination of practical sets and VFX work. The cavernous interiors were built on soundstages at Longcross Studios and included an enormous lion’s head at the cave’s entrance and artificial rock formations covered with jewels and miscellaneous treasures. Set decorator Tina Jones sourced jewels from across the region as they are quite colorful, sparkling and bright. Some were recast in rubber and placed on the floor of the cave so the cast and crew could walk comfortably.

• Almost every type of VFX work was utilized on “Aladdin,” including character animation, performance capture, set extensions, digital environments and FX simulations.

• Visual effects supervisor Chas Jarrett built a 6-axis hydraulic platform for use in the flying carpet sequence in “A Whole New World.” The rig on which Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott sat was controlled by a hand-operated input device which moved hundreds of metallic pins up and down and from side to side against a blue screen with pre-filmed backgrounds.

SYNOPSIS

A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, “Aladdin” is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future.

The film stars Will Smith as the Genie; Mena Massoud as Aladdin; Naomi Scott as Jasmine; Marwan Kenzari as Jafar; Navid Negahban as the Sultan; Nasim Pedrad as Dalia and Billy Magnussen as Prince Anders.

Directed by Guy Ritchie, who brings his singular flair for fast-paced, visceral action to the fictitious port city of Agrabah, “Aladdin” is written by John August and Ritchie based on Disney’s “Aladdin.”

Disney's Aladdin Official Trailer


“Aladdin” is produced by Dan Lin, p.g.a., and Jonathan Eirich, p.g.a., with Kevin De La Noy and Marc Platt serving as executive producers.

Eight-time Academy Award®-winning composer Alan Menken provides the score, which includes new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Oscar®-winning lyricists Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and includes two new songs written by Menken and lyrics by Oscar and Tony Award®-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

To learn more, visit -

Facebook - www.facebook.com/DisneyAladdin
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DisneyAladdin
Instagram - www.instagram.com/DisneyAladdin

In honor of its upcoming 70th anniversary, the timeless animated classic, Cinderella, waltzes into the Walt Disney Signature Collection and ...

In honor of its upcoming 70th anniversary, the timeless animated classic, Cinderella, waltzes into the Walt Disney Signature Collection and the hearts of a whole new generation.

Along with the animated film Cinderella being released on Digitally HD and Movies Anywhere on June 18, on Blu-ray and DVD on June 25, the Walt Disney's live-action Cinderella will also be released on 4K for the first time on June 25.

As a fan of both films, I'm beyond excited. FYI, I've written about Cinderella before in case you're interested

Related Reading

• Sharing Princess Cinderella Moments with My Nieces

The Anniversary Edition of “Cinderella” offers two all-new extras: “Cinderella” trivia and fun facts, hosted by Ruth Righi and Ava Kolker from Disney Channel’s “Sydney to the Max,” and “In Walt’s Words: Enhanced Edition,” a special edition of “Cinderella” featuring fascinating production details, original storyboards, archival photos, thumbnail sketches and transcripts throughout the feature film.

Hours of classic bonus material celebrates the masterful animation, memorable music and long-lasting impact of “Cinderella,” showcasing Walt Disney’s core group of animators, the art of Disney Legend Mary Blair, the original demo recording of the film’s title song and Cinderella’s iconic glass slipper.

Recently added to the prestigious National Film Registry, the animated classic centers on kind and hardworking Cinderella, who is ordered around by her cruel stepmother, her awful stepsisters — even the big clock in the church tower tells her when to start another day of drudgery. But they can't stop her from dreaming, and Cinderella has faith that someday her wishes will come true.

When an invitation to the royal ball arrives, Cinderella is sure her time has come — until her stepsisters, with the encouragement of Lady Tremaine, tear her gown to shreds. Just when Cinderella believes all is lost, her Fairy Godmother appears, and with a wave of her wand and “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo,” transforms an ordinary pumpkin into a magnificent coach and Cinderella’s rags into a gorgeous gown, then sends her off to the Royal Ball.

But Cinderella’s enchanted evening must end when the spell is broken at midnight. It will take the help of her daring animal mice friends and a perfect fit into a glass slipper to create the ultimate fairy tale ending.



BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY & DIGITAL:

*NEW BONUS *Bonus features may vary by retailer

• Try This Trivia on for Size – Join Ruth Righi and Ava Kolker from Disney Channel's Sydney to the Max and put your knowledge of Cinderella to the test.
• In Walt’s Words: Enhanced Edition – Watch the movie and gain some insight into its production with storyboards, archival photos, sketches and transcripts.

CLASSIC BONUS

• Diane Disney Miller “Cinderella” Film Intro – In this introduction to the animated classic, Diane Disney Miller describes how Cinderella helped launch a studio renaissance.
• The Real Fairy Godmother – Learn about the real-life inspiration for the Fairy Godmother: Mary Alice O’Connor, wife of Disney layout artist Ken O’Connor.
• Behind the Magic: A New Disney Princess Fairyland – Discover how Imagineers created a Fantasyland at Walt Disney World featuring each of the Disney Princesses.
• The Magic of the Glass Slipper – World-famous shoe designer Christian Louboutin creates a very exclusive “Glass Slipper” in honor of a beloved Disney classic.

THE ART OF CINDERELLA

• Concept Art – View a gallery of concept art from the feature's production.
• Character Model Sheets – View a gallery of character model sheets from the feature's production.
• Story Sketches – View a gallery of story sketches from the feature's production.
• Live-Action Reference – View a gallery of photos taken from live-action footage shot as a reference for the animated feature.
• Pencil Animation – View a gallery of pencil animation from the feature's production.
• Behind-the-Scenes Stills – View a gallery of behind-the-scenes stills from the feature's production.
• Feature Stills – View a gallery of stills from the feature.

MUSIC AND MORE

• “Cinderella” Title Song
• "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes"
• "Oh, Sing Sweet Nightingale"
• "The Work Song"
• "So This Is Love"

“Cinderella” is the ninth title to join the Walt Disney Signature Collection, which includes groundbreaking films created or inspired by the imagination and legacy of Walt Disney, featuring timeless stories and characters that have touched generations. The film takes its place alongside “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Pinocchio,” “Bambi,” “The Lion King,” “Lady and the Tramp,” “Peter Pan” and “The Little Mermaid.”

To learn more about CINDERELLA, visit - www.disney.com/Cinderella

On Facebook - www.facebook.com/Cinderella
On Twitter - www.twitter.com/CinderellaMovie
On Instagram - www.instagram.com/disneycinderella

This year my nephew will enter kindergarten. The family is so excited to see my nephew start school and learn all the things. To sorta prep ...

This year my nephew will enter kindergarten. The family is so excited to see my nephew start school and learn all the things. To sorta prep him, we've started going over some of the basics he'll learn while in class.

Note: I received product sample for review purpose. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

For the most part my nephew knows the basics, but in some areas like his ABCs, he could use some support. So when I learned that the "Sesame Street: Awesome Alphabet Collection DVD" was being released this month, I requested a review copy to watch with my nephew.

Yes I still watch Sesame Street, it's for educational purposes. Ha!


When the DVD arrived my nephew was excited to watch the DVD. I asked him which letters he wanted to watch and learn about and he picked the K-O. My nephew gets stuck a bit around L-P, so this was a good place to start.


While we started there, we didn't end there. My nephew then decided to go back and watch all the alphabets scene on the DVD. We both really enjoyed watching the skits and learning the alphabets through songs, etc.


After watching the DVD, I printed out a few activity sheets pages for my nephew. He also liked these since they featured the Sesame Street characters. I liked them since they reinforced what my nephew learned while watching the DVD. And yeah, that they feature Sesame Street characters. Ha!


These Sesame Street: Awesome Alphabet Collection printable pack includes alphabet cards, bookmarks, coloring pages, drawing activities, letter tracing activities and an alphabet search. Each printable supports Sesame Street lessons encouraging children's learning about the alphabet and language

If your child is starting to learn their Alphabet or just need a reminder for some letter, then get the Sesame Street: Awesome Alphabet Collection and watch it with them.


Sesame Street: Awesome Alphabet Collection - Official Trailer (HD)


It's time for A to Z with Sesame! Elmo and his Sesame Street friends explore every letter of the alphabet in this new collection, brought to you in Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary year. Sesame Street: Awesome Alphabet Collection comes to DVD and digital from Shout! Factory and Sesame Workshop.

Highlights include classics "The Beetles Perform Letter B" and "C is for Cookie," animations, pop culture parodies, and favorite segments from recent seasons. Exploring the alphabet alongside their furry friends is an all-star lineup of celebrity guests. Norah Jones duets with the letter Y, Tori Kelly tries a little kindness, and Pharrell Williams belts it out for the letter B. Maya Angelou stops by to talk hugs, Sheryl Crow helps "I" soak up some sun, and Ricky Gervais tries singing a lullaby to a sleepy Elmo.

The spectacular A-Z compilation has a runtime of two hours, including Elmo’s Amazing Alphabet Race as a bonus feature. ABC-themed printable activities round out this one-of-a-kind collection. This title is available at Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and other e-retailers.

You can buy Blu-rays, DVD's, and More here: www.shoutkids.com

Selfcare. We all know we need too do it, but have very little time. And when we can sneak time, we focus on certain areas for TLC. But what ...

Selfcare. We all know we need too do it, but have very little time. And when we can sneak time, we focus on certain areas for TLC. But what about our feet?

Our feet take us ALL over, around and through our day. Don't they deserve some TLC?

Note: I received product sample for review purpose. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.


This was the thought as I watched my sister going about her day. My sister does all she can for her family, which includes three to seven kids (her four kids plus my other two nephews) and a husband.



Then she goes to work in a hospital, which means she's on her feet for most of the day helping others take care of themselves.



Add in being a sister to me and our brother, a daughter to our mother (who lives with her), plus a friend to her personal pals. As you can imagine my sister is on her feet a lot!




So to encouraged her to slow down and give herself some self care, I gifted her the ARM&HAMMER™ Foot Care Moisturizer + Gentle Exfoliators. Now this might seem a strange gift, but if you knew my sister, you'd find out she loves mini pampering treatments. So this was such a good fit. LOL




With the ARM & HAMMER™ Foot Care Moisturizer + Gentle Exfoliator ($8.79), my sister was able to fit in some self care and treat her tired heels and feet back. Which is good since this can lead to optimal foot health since this new formula moisturizes and gently exfoliates.



The AHA Exfoliators and deep hydrating coconut oil work in together to restore and moisturize heels and feet. An easy to use no touch sanitary massaging brush allows for a quick, easy, and clean hands application. It's all simple to use, easy to apply to heels and feet, and it’s non-greasy formula won’t leave any residue.

My sister LOVED it. She said her feet felt so much better, which led to her walking about her day feeling good herself. That's what self care can do!

Would you like to give yourself some self care? Then try any of these from the ARM & HAMMER™ Foot and Body care collection.



ARM & HAMMER™ Invisible Foot Powder Spray, $6.99

• First ever cake-free invisible foot spray powder, leaving no white mess on clothes, shoes or feet
• Sweat Activated Fresh Guard® Technology keeps feet feeling fresh all day
• Ultra-clear dry spray contains ARM&HAMMER™ Baking Soda and odor neutralizing ingredients to absorb moisture and sweat
• Burst of cool fragrance lasts all day
• Talc Free

ARM & HAMMER™ Invisible Body Powder Spray, $6.99

• First ever cake free invisible body spray powder, leaving no white mess on clothes or body
• Sweat Activated Fresh Guard® Technology keeps body feeling fresh all day
• Ultra-clear dry spray contains ARM&HAMMER™ Baking Soda and odor neutralizing ingredients to absorb moisture and sweat
• Unisex fragrance for all day freshness
• Talc Free

ARM & HAMMER™ Shoe Refresher Spray, $5.99

• Eliminates shoe and sneaker odor on contact
• Unique 360° targeted actuator sprays in any direction even upside down to conveniently spray where you need it
• Sweat activated Fresh Guard® Technology refreshes and rejuvenates shoes, sneakers and sports gear
• Safe for all types of footwear

The ARM & HAMMER™ collection is available in the foot care aisle at select retailers.

To learn more, visit - www.armandhammerfootcare.com

Facebook - www.facebook.com/ArmAndHammerFootCare
Twitter - www.twitter.com/ArmAndHammerFC
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ArmAndHammer_Footcare

When a PR friend gifted me a Brick Mates: Stack By Numbers Puppy 3D Puzzle, I wasn't sure what to do with it. I asked her if it's a ...

When a PR friend gifted me a Brick Mates: Stack By Numbers Puppy 3D Puzzle, I wasn't sure what to do with it. I asked her if it's a brick building set? A Puzzle? Artwork? I learned, in a way Brick Mates is all of that with a STEM tie-in.

Note: I received product sample for review purpose. Any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

The Brick Mates brand is inspired by the need for families to have simple to use STEAM based learning kits that are hands-on and experiential for young children. Whimsical designs in the Stack by Numbers series stimulate children to develop, create, build, and have fun while developing new skills.

Use bricks to create simple 3D designs like a cupcake and a puppy or construct your own designs with a blank template. While the Lock & Learn portfolio teaches the youngest students problem solving, hand-eye coordination, color and word recognition, and group play, it also reinforces imagination.

To test out how Brick Mates works, I asked my nephew to help me build the "Stack By Numbers Puppy 3D Puzzle". Like any 5 yo, he was excited to "help" by building something.


Since everything came inside the box, we were able to quickly set up the base and layout template for the bricks. The template has both colors and numbers in the design, which helps kids know where to put the bricks to make the picture.


Now this was suppose to be a project for me and my nephew, but he quickly figured out how to stack the bricks to make the photo and explained me to "he can do himself". Shesh kid. HA!

For parents worrying about little bricks going all over the place, the Brick Mates® snaps onto the boards to keep the pieces in place! Because all the pieces connect to the baseboards, the sets travel well and can easily be taken while traveling.

The building goes quickly after my nephew learned the system and after a bit, he had his finished artwork. It came out pretty good and we were both happy with the afternoon "building" project.


A new world of hands-on learning in portable educational toys is available from Fun City Toys! Brick Mates invites toddler through elementary school children to discover innovative, visually stunning, easy to use STEM products in both their Lock & Learn and Stack by Numbers segments.

Pop the colorful pieces on the provided inlay puzzle or snap on your own preschool bricks and playset figures to POP, LOCK, and LEARN! All Brick Mates® are compatible with most popular bricks and brick playsets on the market!

To learn more, visit - www.brickmates.com

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