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Monday, November 30, 2015

Beauty and The Beast Enchanted Apple Tart Roses Recipe


Beauty and The Beast Enchanted Apple Tart Roses

What You’ll Need
1 extra-large red-skinned apple (gala apples work especially well)
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons coconut oil
¾ cup gluten-free, nut-free all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out the dough
¼ teaspoon xanthan gum
¼ teaspoon salt
Dash of cinnamon
How To Make It
  • 1
    Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Meanwhile, cut the apple in half and remove the core, but don’t peel it. Cut the halves into thin slices (¼ inch thick or so).
  • 2
    Combine the apple slices, water, sugar, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Simmer the slices for 4 to 5 minutes. Then remove them from the pan to cool, reserving the cooking liquid.
  • 3
    Stir the coconut oil into 2 tablespoons of the cooking liquid (adding water if you don’t have enough). If need be, heat the mixture just until the oil melts. Transfer the liquid to a mixing bowl.
  • 4
    Combine the flour, xanthan gum, salt, and cinnamon in a sifter. Sift the dry ingredients into the liquid. Stir until the mixture forms a sticky dough.
  • 5
    Dust a sheet of waxed paper with gluten-free, nut-free all-purpose flour. Shape the dough into a disk, and set it atop the dusted paper. Sprinkle more flour atop the dough, and then cover it with another sheet of waxed paper. Roll out the dough between the sheets until it is about 3/8 inch thick, dusting it with more flour as needed to keep it from sticking to the paper.
  • 6
    Fill a 6-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Use a round cookie cutter (3 inches wide or so) to cut out six pastry circles. Gently fit the pastry circles into the paper liners, using a spatula to lift them from the waxed paper.
  • 7
    Bake the pastries for 8 minutes. Then remove them from the oven to cool slightly in the muffin pan.
  • 8
    Top each pastry circle with 5 or 6 apple slices (red peels facing up), overlapping them slightly as you work from the outer edge toward the middle. Bake the roses for another 6 to 8 minutes. Serve them warm or cooled.

Sasaki Time's Top 5 Kids Educational Toys and Games Holiday Gift Guide



Happy Holiday Shopping Season everyone! Here is a look at some of my favorite choices if you are shopping for kids and looking for something that is fun and educational!

1. OWI 14-In-1 Solar Robot Kit

If your kids love to build things then this is the perfect kit for them! Not only do they get to build a wide variety of cool robots but they are all solar powered so you don't have to worry about batteries!



2. Smart Games Butterflies


A fun puzzle game that is not only pretty to look at but will also help your child with his or her critical thinking and problem solving skills! There are 48 challenges from easy to expert to keep anyone busy for hours!



3. Smart Games IQ Blox

My next favorite game also comes from Smart Games! This is the perfect game to take while traveling! There are 120 challenges here! Another great game to build critical thinking and problem solving skills!



4. Scientific Explorer: My First Mind Blowing Science Kit


So many awesome hands on science experiments to do here such as building a color changing volcano, a sunset in a test tube and so much more!



5. MindWare KEVA Contraptions

Another great kit if you have kids who love to build things! You get over 200 wood pieces to build ramps, tunnels, chutes and more! Build tracks for light weight balls and then have fun taking down what you built!

Sasaki Time's Top 10 Star Wars Holiday Gift Guide!


With Star Wars: The Force Awakens nearly upon us, here are some of my favorite Star Wars related toys and games if you are shopping for your favorite Jedi, scoundrel, bounty hunter or Sith!

1. Star Wars Battleship

First up is this Battleship: Star Wars Edition game! Take the classic Battleship board game but throw in the iconic Star Wars vehicles and ships!




2. R2-D2 Rebel Trainer


One of my favorite Star Wars toys to come out this year is this R2-D2 Rebel Trainer! R2 projects TIE fighters on the walls and you use your trusty blaster to shoot them out of the sky!


3. Star Wars Lost Stars


Next up is my favorite book of the new cannon! Lost Stars by Claudia Gray follows two new characters who grew up to become friends. Thrown into the middle of the events of the original trilogy, you will get clues leading into The Force Awakens. But the story between these two new characters will have you lost among the stars.



4. R2-D2 Shower Head


Next is probably one of the funniest products I have seen, the R2-D2 shower head! I want one for my shower! So if anyone is looking for a fun Christmas gift for me, here it is!



5. Star Wars The Complete Saga on Blu-Ray

If you don't already have the complete Star Wars Saga on blu-ray then here you go! I bought one for a friend of mine who had never seen any of the movies before!



6. Star Wars Battlefront 


Here is the best Star Wars game ever made! Star Wars Battlefront puts you right into the most iconic battles in the Star Wars legacy. Plus, there is going to be a ton of downloadable content for future battles including the Battle of Jakku that will explain the events leading to that massive Star Destroyer crashed into the planet, as seen in the trailers for The Force Awakens. Below are the links for either the Playstation 4 version or the XBOX One version!



7. Disney Infinity 3.0 Starter Set


The latest version of Disney Infinity it out! And the new addition is Star Wars! Below are links for the Wii U, XBOX One, XBOX 360 and Playstation 4!



8. Marc Ecko AT-AT pilot jacket


Here is the link to get one of my favorite jackets! This is the Marc Ecko Star Wars Hoth AT-AT pilot hooded men's jacket! Designer Marc Ecko created this jacket that will be sure to get you attention when you wear it!




9. Sphero BB-8 


My favorite toy of the year is the amazing Sphero BB-8 droid! Controlled by your smartphone, BB-8 can roll and interact with his surroundings. After seeing the real BB-8 roll out on stage during Star Wars Celebration earlier this year and finding out with the rest of the world that BB-8 is a real, practical droid, and then finding out they were making a remote control version that works the same way, this is the hottest toy of the year!



10. Bandai Samurai Stormtrooper and Darth Vader


I saw both of these at Star Wars Celebration earlier this year! These are the Bandai Tamashii Samurai Stormtrooper and Darth Vader! Collectible figures that are amazingly detailed right down to Vader's samurai sword lightsaber!

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Giveaway: Mickey and Minnie Holiday Mug Set plus Starbucks Gift Card


Celebrate the holidays with someone you love with this Mickey and Minnie Holiday Mug Set from Disneyland! Plus I am also throwing in a $20 Starbucks gift card! This giveaway is open world wide! Good luck and Happy Holidays!

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Friday, November 27, 2015

Retro-Styled Posters for Star Wars: The Force Awakens


As this perfect marketing campaign for Star Wars: The Force Awakens continues to steam roll, these three posters were released today, making their debut on IGN. These beautiful retro-styled posters are almost exactly like the ones that were created for the release of the original 1977 Star Wars. The only differences are the new logo for The Force Awakens and in the above poster, the word "Winter" is in place of the word "Summer" for the 1977 poster.



Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Treasure Dash Plush Toy Giveaway - Unique iOS Game Helps Kids Stay Physically Active


A New Kind of Mobile Game Gets Kids Physically Active:
Treasure Dash brings a Virtual Reality experience to the iPhone and iPad

Treasure Dash from Monkey Mojo Games is available FREE on iPhone, iPad and other iOS devices at: http://apple.co/1E4ZCaN

Can a mobile game get kids moving instead of sitting?  Treasure Dash does, by combining motion controls with virtual reality to get kids on their feet and moving as they explore a colorful & immersive 3D world in the spirit of classic Nintendo adventures like Mario & Zelda.

Monkey Mojo Games co-founder Marc Major explains, “We got tired of watching kids sit for hours playing video games.  It’s ironic—our mobile phones are paralyzing us. We wanted to change that by making gaming more active and fitness more fun. Treasure Dash gives kids a double shot of happiness—the excitement of gaming plus the exhilaration that only moving your body can bring.”

The app is available free at http://apple.co/1E4ZCaN

EARLY REVIEWS

APP ADVICE: “In this vibrant game of treasure hunting and enemy slaying, you have no choice but to be immersed in the gameplay … You will explore the lively scenery seeking out secrets as you feel like you are part of the game … you really do feel part of the experience … Although Treasure Dash is intended for children, it is honestly an enjoyable game for adults who are looking for something a little different … This is an entertaining, energetic game with fantastic graphics and great animations.” 

PROTO.IO:  “Games that Move You is the tagline for these mobile app designers, and they mean that literally and figuratively … Monkey Mojo Games wanted to build something to bridge the gap between mobile gaming and physical fitness. The challenge? Making it fun … Monkey Mojo Games proves that mobile gaming need not glue one to the couch. Getting your kids to be more active may start with a simple appstore download.”

MOMTASTIC: “"There’s a new kind of virtual reality game in town that [combines] motion gaming (think PlaystationMove or Wii U) with virtual reality in a way that makes sense to me. One to keep an eye on is Treasure Dash … makes kids get moving and keep moving in order to play the game. Kids are mobile and active while they are engaged in game play – up off the couch and literally jumping! Sounds pretty cool, right? …  It’s certainly given me a rethink about what ‘screen time’ has to mean. My screen-loving son was only too happy to download the app immediately (he’ll take any app, any time) and was soon bouncing around the house slaying enemies – I liked that very much! It makes me feel a lot more positive about where our kids are headed as they navigate the future."



So please download the game and try it out for yourself! I am also hosting a giveaway of Tiger from Treasure Dash! To find out more about either Treasure Dash or Monkey Mojo Games click on the links below:

www.facebook.com/monkeymojogames  
www.monkeymojogames.com



Win this cute Tiger plush from the game Treasure Dash! This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only!

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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Pixar's The Good Dinosaur Movie Review


After taking 2014 off, Pixar is back with its second film of the year, The Good Dinosaur. But before I get into the review, let's take a look at the short in front of the movie, Sanjay's Super Team!


This short is as charming and heartfelt as any of Pixar's best shorts. It is very different in terms of animation style but the heart and soul of a Pixar short is there. This is a very personal story from director Sanjay Patel. It shows the difference between little Sanjay and his love of Saturday morning cartoons, while his father holds on to his Hindu beliefs and wants his son to embrace his culture and heritage. Who will win out? Watch this heartfelt short to find out.


And now to the review of The Good Dinosaur!  Here, the premise is, what if the asteroid that destroyed the dinosaurs never hit the earth? The answer is that the dinosaurs would have been the dominate form of life on the planet and learned to speak. So, with that, we meet a family of apatosaurs, who are farmers and have three children who are learning to carry on the work.

The smallest child is Arlo, who is afraid of his own shadow. His father is set to make his son believe in himself. But Arlo cannot even do the job that his poppa created for him, which was to keep "critters", in this case humans, away from their corn. A human gets caught in the trap Arlo and his poppa made but Arlo can't bring himself to get rid of the human.

This sends the two along a raging river during a storm and the two become separated. Arlo finds himself far away from home. He makes a friend with a human, who Arlo names Spot. Now this becomes a classic boy and his dog story with Arlo being the boy and Spot being the dog.

Arlo and Spot slowly become friends and the two now set off to get Arlo home.


Visually, this is Pixar's finest effort. The photo-realistic backgrounds are stunning. It is almost as if the animators took real footage. The effect is convincing and adds to the vastness of the space making even a dinosaur as large as Arlo look tiny in comparison. This adds to how lost Arlo is and how far away home is.


Arlo and Spot encounter several dinosaurs on their journey but none with a greater impact than a family of  T-Rexes. They help Arlo discover that it's not only ok to be afraid, but how to face that fear.

The Good Dinosaur is a truly heart-warming and emotional family film, with some great humor that I cannot wait to see again.

Captain America: Civil War - Trailer World Premiere


This is the worldwide exclusive trailer debut for Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War.

MARVEL'S DOCTOR STRANGE BEGINS PRODUCTION


BURBANK, CALIF. (November 24, 2015)—Marvel Studios announced today that production has begun on “Doctor Strange,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch (“Black Mass,”  “The Imitation Game”), Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave,” “The Martian”), Rachel McAdams (“Southpaw,” “Sherlock Holmes”) and  Michael Stuhlbarg (“Steve Jobs,” “A Serious Man”)  with  Mads Mikkelsen (“Clash of the Titans,” “Casino Royale”)  and Academy Award® winner Tilda Swinton (“Michael Clayton,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel”).  The film, which opens in U.S. theaters on November 4, 2016, is directed by Scott Derrickson (“Sinister,” “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”). The film will be shot in several locations around the world, including London, New York, Hong Kong and Kathmandu, Nepal. 

“Doctor Strange” follows the story of neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a horrific car accident, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions.  
“Doctor Strange” is the latest film in Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Phase 3’s goal—over the course of four years and nine films—is to introduce audiences to new heroes and continue the adventures of fan favorites.

Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” is produced by Kevin Feige with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Charles Newirth, Stephen Broussard and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.

Director Scott Derrickson’s creative team also includes director of photography Ben Davis, B.S.C. (Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”); production designer Charles Wood (Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”); costume designer Alexandra Byrne (Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”); editors Wyatt Smith (“Into the Woods,” Marvel’s “Thor: The Dark World”) and Sabrina Plisco, ACE (“Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium,” “Charlotte’s Web”); and visuals effects supervisor Stephane Ceretti (Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy”). 

Based on the Marvel comic character who first appeared in “Strange Tales” Issue 110 published in July 1963, Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” continues the lineage of epic big-screen adventures chronicled in Marvel’s  “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Ant-Man” and the upcoming “Captain America: Civil War,” (May 6, 2016), “Guardians of the Galaxy 2” (May 5, 2017) and  “Thor: Ragnarok” (November 3, 2017).

Marvel Studios continued its unprecedented success this year with the May 1st release of “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” which recorded the second biggest opening weekend of all time with a $191.3 million box office. It has also been the #1 release in every country where it has opened and has grossed over $1.4 billion in global box office. On July 17, Marvel released “Ant-Man,” which has grossed to date over $518 million worldwide.

In 2014 Marvel Studios released “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Guardians of the Galaxy,” the top-grossing domestic film of 2014 with $333.2 million and $772.8 million worldwide. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” which broke the opening record for an April release by earning $95 million in its first weekend, went on to gross more than $711 million worldwide.

In 2013 Marvel produced the megahits “Thor: The Dark World” and “Iron Man 3.” The two films have earned over $644 million and $1.2 billion worldwide, respectively, since their openings. In 2012 Marvel’s critically acclaimed “The Avengers” set an all-time, domestic three-day weekend box-office record at $207.4 million. The film went on to gross over $1.5 billion worldwide, becoming Disney’s highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time. 

Monday, November 23, 2015

Disney's Zootopia Official US Sloth Trailer


The new trailer for Zootopia is here! Watch now and see the film in theatres in 3D March 4! 

The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”) and co-directed by Jared Bush (“Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero”), opens in theaters on March 4, 2016.

Voice Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Nate Torrence, Jenny Slate, Tommy Chong, Octavia Spencer, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake, Alan Tudyk, Tommy “Tiny” Lister, Raymond Persi, Katie Lowes, Jesse Corti, John DiMaggio
Directors: Byron Howard, Rich Moore
Co-Director: Jared Bush
Producer: Clark Spencer
Composer: Michael Giacchino

Like Zootopia on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DisneyZootopia

Follow @DisneyZootopia on Twitter - https://twitter.com/disneyzootopia

Follow @DisneyAnimation on Instagram - https://twitter.com/disneyanimation

Follow Disney Animation on Tumblr - http://disneyanimation.tumblr.com/

Friday, November 20, 2015

Review of Marvel's Ant-Man Now Available on Disney Movies Anywhere!


Time to review the digital copy of Marvel's Ant-Man on Disney Movies Anywhere!


We are immediately introduced to a younger Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) whose particle research is highly sought after by S.H.I.E.L.D. and wait until you see the two characters from the MCU that are here! I want to spoil it but you really should be surprised!

Then we shift to San Quentin and meet Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) who is being released from prison. We also learn that he has a daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson) and a very disapproving ex Maggie (Judy Greer). Scott's former cellmate Luis (Michael Pena) picks him up from prison. Luis is definitely a scene stealer. Luis wants Scott to do one more heist but Scott refuses as he wants to keep his nose clean and reconnect with his daughter. But Scott decides to do this one last heist.

Scott finds a one-of-a-kind suit during the heist and takes it with him. Curiosity gets the better of Scott and he tries on the suit only to find that it shrinks him down to the size of an ant. It turns out the heist was all part of the vision of Dr. Hank Pym to make Scott the new Ant-Man. Pym along with his daughter Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) train Scott in how to get the most from his suit.

They are training Scott because Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), who Pym was once the mentor to, is now running Pym Technologies and has come up with his own suit. Pym is afraid that this new suit will fall into the wrong hands

Now the battle for supremacy is on. Who will win?

The film never takes itself too seriously as the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe tends to do. It works because it never loses sight of what it is - simple and at times silly. But the last of the two end credit tags return you into the serious world that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is set in. I won't spoil anything but as always, it's all connected and is leading us into the next Marvel adventure, Captain America: Civil War.


Video Quality:

The video quality is excellent for the digital copy. Images are clean with a fantastic amount of detail. Check out the details on the Ant-Man, Yellowjacket and the Falcon costumes. The detail of Ant-Man;s helmet with all of its scratches and wear and tear on it is terrific. Another great video transfer from Disney.


Audio Quality:

The soundtrack, as to be expected, is big and bold. The rich sound scape fully immerses you into the film. And there is so much fun with the sound due to the various points of view. A suitcase fight is huge then the sound becomes small as the perspective changes.  Another fantastic effort from Disney.


Bonus Features:
  • Featurette: Making of an Ant-Sized Heist: A How-To Guide (1080p, 14:34): A great look at Ant-Man and how he is connected in the MCU, the costume, story, production design, filming locations, cast training, digital effects used in the film, and the future for the character. 
  • Featurette: Let's Go to the Macroverse (1080p, 8:06): A look at the technology involved in the film..
  • Featurette: WHIH NewsFront (1080p): News cast clips from the film's world. Included are WHIH Promo(1:21), Vista Corp Heist (1:49), Darren Cross Interview (2:36), and Scott Lang Live (3:25).
  • Deleted & Extended Scenes (1080p): Fixing the Cable (3:11), Hank Vaults the Suit (0:31), Paxton and Gale (0:22), Qubit Defense Matrix (0:31), Scott and Cassie (0:40), Wish Fulfillment (0:24), The Future of Pym Particles (1:38), and The History of Ant-Man (1:19). 
  • Gag Reel (1080p, 3:25).

Ant-Man is Marvel showcasing a film that is never boring, laugh-out loud funny and still has warmth and heart. Some great bonus material with amazing video and audio quality make this a digital copy you want to add to your collection.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Giveaway: Win 1 of 3 blu-ray copies of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. from Sasaki Time and Dolby!


Sasaki Time and Dolby are teaming up once again to bring you one of the best spy films of the year! 

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is set during the height of the Cold War and centers on CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) as they try to avert a criminal organization from using nuclear weapons and technology to upset the fragile balance of power between the United States and Soviet Union. Dolby Atmos brings the stylish movie to life, with a critically acclaimed soundtrack and a heart-pounding pace that brings the audience right into the action.

Dolby Atmos is the sophisticated sound system that one will find in the very best theaters across the country and world. Filmmakers can now move sound not only around viewers but also overhead. This creates a much more immersive environment for movie watchers. Dolby is now bringing this technology into our homes. Even without an Atmos sound system for the home, you will still notice the difference through your television's speakers or your surround sound system.

To learn more about Dolby Atmos and what it brings to the movie going experience, visit their website Dolby Atmos.

And follow Dolby on Facebook here at Dolby and on Twitter here at Dolby

This is a U.S. giveaway only. Dolby has supplied me with the giveaway. Three winners will each receive a copy of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.!

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Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Disney/Pixar's The Good Dinosaur World Premiere Photos!


Take a look at some of the photo's from last night's The Good Dinosaur World Premiere at The El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood!










DISNEY•PIXAR
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGoodDinosaur
Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/TheGoodDinosaur
U.S. Release Date: November 25, 2015