Happy Halloween

Disney

I've always loved this old Donald Duck short. Witch Hazel is hilarious!

Happy Halloween!

This Is Halloween

Disney

I just stumbled across this amazing version of "This Is Halloween" from the Nightmare Before Christmas. It's an acapella version sung entirely by one guy. Pretty cool!

Quote of the Week

When witches go riding

And black cats are seen,

The moon laughs and whispers

'Tis near Halloween!

Harry Potter Halloween Party

We're having a Harry Potter Halloween Party this year. As a result, I've been madly pinning decorating ideas, recipes, and crafts to make. I've made a few of the things so far. The paper wands were a lot of fun and fairly easy. The chocolate frog boxes were a bit time consuming, but well worth the effort, as were the Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans boxes. There are a ton of lovely, free, printable signs and posters that are perfect for decorating with. There are so many fabulous ideas, it's hard to know where to stop!

Boo! For You Halloween

Disney

Have you been watching the Halloween episodes of your favorite Disney Junior shows this month? They're so cute!

Star Wars Party Ideas on Pinterest

As my week of Star Wars comes to an end, I thought I'd share some of the fantastic party ideas I've discovered on Pinterest. There are amazing cakes, clever invitations and decorations, fun games, and loads of really inventive food ideas. This board is filled with my favorites.

Build-A-Bear Star Wars Offer

Build-A-Bear Workshop recently released new Star Wars clothing to dress up your favorite stuffed critter. This weekend, they added a special deal: get the 16" Star Wars bear and any Star Wars costume for $29.99. Since the Star Wars bear is normally $25 and the costumes are $13.50-$18, this is a pretty good deal. And if you order online and spend at least $40, shipping will be free. Costumes include Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, and Kylo Ren from the Force Awakens, and Princess Leia, Han Solo, Jedi Knight, Darth Vader, and Boba Fett from the original series. Other Star Wars critters include a Darth Vader Bear, Stormtrooper Bear, Chewbacca, and a small Ewok. Other clothing includes Star Wars t-shirts, R2-D2 hoodie, PJs and slippers. Accessories include a sleeping bag, red, blue or green lightsabers, red or blue lightsabers with lights and sound, Kylo Ren's lightsaber with lights and sound, a Stormtrooper blaster, Chewbacca's Bowcaster, and Han Solo's blaster. And don't forget to add sound for even more fun; Chewbacca, Darth Vader breathing, R2-D2, Imperial March, and the Star Wars Theme. With all of the different things available, how will you mix and match? This offer is only available while supplies last, so head in to Build-A-Bear and join in the fun.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens POPVinyl

The latest Star Wars POPVinyl collection features all of the new characters. There are 11 figures in the collection, as well as several exclusive characters available from various retailers.

Rey is a resilient survivor, a scavenger toughened by a lifetime of dealing 

with the cutthroats of the harsh desert world of Jakku.

An exclusive Rey with goggles is available from Hot Topic.

A trained warrior desperate to escape his past, Finn is plunged into adventure

as his conscience drives him down a heroic, but dangerous, path.

An exclusive Finn in Stormtrooper armor is available from Gamestop.

A dark warrior strong with the Force, Kylo Ren commands First Order missions with a temper as fiery as his unconventional lightsaber.

An exclusive Kylo Ren with no hood is available at Target.

Arguably the cutest droid in the galaxy, BB-8 is also my favorite of the new collection.

Poe Dameron, the greatest X-Wing pilot in the galaxy, is ready for battle.

An exclusive Poe Dameron without his helmet is available at Wal-Mart.

Faithful First Mate and co-pilot Chewbacca has loyally stood by his captain's

 side through the twisting fortunres of a galaxy in turmoil.

A fastidious and worry prone protocol droid, C-3PO longs for more peaceful times, but his continued service to Princess Leia keeps him in the frontlines of galactic conflict. (I wonder why poor C-3PO is now sporting a red arm?)

An exclusive metallic C-3PO is available from Barnes and Noble.

The final four characters are various types of Stormtroopers. Clad in distinctive metallic armor, Captain Phasma commands the First Order's legion of troopers. The other First Order Troopers include a Stormtrooper, a Snowtrooper, and a Flametrooper. An exclusive First Order Heavy Artillery Stormtrooper is available from Amazon. An exclusive First Order Stormtrooper with riot shield is , available at Walgreens.

Each 3 3/4 inch figure includes a decorative Star Wars base. I love when the figures have bases because it makes it much easier to keep them upright. (While most of the figures with large feet do well, my Buffy figure, Sally, and Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas tend to fall over.)

Star Wars Jelly Belly Beans

I love the new Star Wars Jelly Belly Beans. The pouches feature Darth Vader, Yoda, and a Stormtrooper. And the new Galaxy Mix, which is very sparkly like the Princess Beans,  features seven flavors: Berry Blue, Blueberry, Grape Soda, Green Apple,  Island Punch, Sour Apple, and Wild Blackberry. The Star Wars Jelly Belly Beans are available at grocery stores and mass market retailers for around $1 each.

Star Wars Rebels

Disney

Bean and I love Star Wars Rebels. I got her watching the movies when she was quite little and we both love seeing what new stories Lucasfilm has come up with to fill out the Star Wars universe. Star Wars Rebels, which recently started it's second season, takes place in the time between the third and fourth movie.

The rebels are a ragtag group of misfits with one common goal: stop the Empire at any price. They're led by Hera, a Twi'lek pilot, and Kanan, a Jedi Knight. A Mandalorian artist and explosives expert named Sabine, a Lasat warrior named Zeb, a Padawan from Lothal named Ezra, and a droid called Chopper round out the crew of the Ghost. Together, they strive to defeat the Empire and restore peace to the galaxy.

Along the way, they must evade the Inquisitors who seek to destroy the few remaining Jedi. This season, a new Inquisitor will be introduced: the Seventh Sister. She is devious and cunning, as well as ruthless in her search for Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker's former Padawan who helped the crew of the Ghost at the end of last season. The Seventh Sister will be voiced by Sarah Michelle Gellar, of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame. (The funny thing about that is, her husband Freddie Prinze, Jr., is the voice of Kanan.)

Here's a sneak peak of the Seventh Sister,  and a little clip of Sarah's view of the role.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer

Lucasfilm

Have you seen the latest trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens? Wow, it looks good!

Frozen POPVinyl Set

Bean found the coolest Frozen POPVinyl set at Wal-Mart yesterday.  The set includes Elsa, Olaf, and my favorite,  Marshmallow! And even better, it was on clearance! The only odd thing is that Elsa appears to have a tan and her hair is a bit dark, but she's got a lot of glitter, so it's cool.

Quote of the Week

The Three Witches from "Macbeth, " by Alexandre-Marie Colin, 1827

Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.

Thrice and once, the hedge-pig whin'd.

Harper cries: - 'tis time! 'tis time!

Round about the cauldron go;
In the poison'd entrails throw.
Toad, that under cold stone,
Days and nights has thirty-one;
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot!

Double, double toil and trouble;
Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and owlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

Double,  double toil and trouble;
Fire burn,  and cauldron bubble.

-William Shakespeare,  Macbeth

Zombie Apocalypse Survival Tips

PBS

My mom was telling me about this the other day, so when I discovered it on YouTube, I just had to share it. P. Allen Smith is a gardener with a very informative gardening show on PBS. However,  when he decides to battle zombies, it gets downright hilarious.

I Love Yarn Day

Today is I Love Yarn Day, so I thought I'd share a few of my current projects with you. I am ridiculously fond of knitting dishcloths. I don't quite know why, but I really like making them. With Halloween coming up in a few weeks,  I've been knitting silly Halloween picture dishcloths. I've made a few candy corn from Lily Sugar and Cream, and a cute kitty and adorable Mickey jack o'lantern, both from One Crafty Mama. Next, I think I'll make a skull and crossbones dishcloth from A Little Backwards. All of the dishcloth patterns are available for free.

My other big projects at the moment are a pair of hedgehog mittens I recently made for my mom and a Gandalf scarf. I couldn't find a pattern that I liked for the mittens, so I designed my own. (I don't really like thick mittens, but all the patterns I found were for medium weight yarn. I designed mine to be made with sock weight yarn.) I based them on some traditional mittens with the cute little crocheted spines for added texture. I think they turned out quite well.

The Gandalf scarf is knit in linen stitch for a woven look. I ordered the yarn straight from Stansborough, the same company that provided the wool yarns used in the Lord of the Rings movies and the Hobbit movies. I chose the Kokako color, which is the natural grey of the sheep. I love how it's turning out. The yarn is gorgeous and the knit pattern is beautiful. I can't wait to see it finished.

Well, that's what I've been knitting. What do you have on your needles? Do you crochet instead? Whatver yarn craft you enjoy, be sure to share it today. Happy I Love Yarn Day!

Disney Halloween Ideas

Are you looking for a little Disney to spice up your Halloween? Well, be sure to check out my Pinterest board for some fantastic Disney Halloween ideas, and a ton of Disney inspired pumpkin carving patterns.

What's your bat's name?

Photo credit: Disney

Have you ever asked a hostess at the Haunted Mansion what she named her bat? Each bat, which appears on their hair bow, has a different name. We asked several hostesses during Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Some of the names we discovered were: Flicker, Montgomery, and McCarthy. Bean thought she would name her bat Fang if she was a Haunted Mansion hostess. I think I'd name mine Vlad. What would you name your bat?

Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular

Disney

Have you seen the new Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular at this year's Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party? I loved it when we saw it last month. Here's a sneak peak, straight from Disney Parks.

Tomorrowland Arrives On Blu-ray Today!

Disney

Tomorrowland arrives on DVD and Blu-Ray today. I had a chance to see it in the theater and I absolutely loved it. Caution: Spoiler Alert!

Tomorrowland begins with a look back at the 1964 World's Fair. Young Frank Walker, a budding inventor, has brought his jet pack to the Science competition. Unfortunately, his jet pack doesn't quite work, but it's enough to impress a young girl named Athena, who gives Frank a special pin. When Frank wears the pin into the "it's a small world" ride, the ride changes, sending him to a transport module to Tomorrowland. Tomorrowland is an amazing place full of futuristic inventions.

Flash forward to today, where a teenage girl named Casey (Britt Robertson) is getting into trouble while tring to stop NASA from dismantling the space shuttle launch platform. Casey is arrested for trespassing, and when she's released, she discovers an unknown pin amongst her things. When she touches the pin, she gets a glimpse of Tomorrowland. Casey is insatiably curious, so she decides to find out everything she can about Tomorrowland. Along the way, she discovers that there are people hunting her to protect the secret. She stumbles across Athena, who eventually leads her to Frank (George Clooney). This is where the real adventure begins. Together, Frank, Casey, and Athena must try to save Tomorrowland, and the future.

I loved this movie, as did my family. It was full of action and adventure, comedy and occasionally sorrow. It was a good story with beautiful photography. The scenes of Tomorrowland itself are quite a spectacle. I can't wait to see it again! Tomorrowland is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Combo Pack today, October 13, 2015.

Disney Channel Halloween Movies

Disney

Every year, the Disney Channel debuts another Halloween movie. There have been many great movies over the years. The Halloweentown series and Twitches are a few of my favorites. (Though I also love the really corny films such as Under Wraps and Mom's Got a Date With a Vampire.)

This years film is called Invisible Sister. It stars Rowan Blanchard, Riley of Girl Meets World, and Paris Berelc, Skylar of Mighty Med, as sisters Cleo and Molly. Molly is the older of the two. She's captain of the lacrosse team, popular, and very outgoing. Cleo is a bit goth and a bit nerdy, with a serious head for science. The sisters couldn't be more different. The night before Molly is set to compete in a High School lacrosse tournament, Cleo is busy trying to complete the science experiment her teacher unexpectedly assigned. Cleo accidentally creates a concoction that turns a moth invisible. When the moth lands in Molly's drink, she swallows it, turning her invisible, too. As the sisters realize what has happened, they race to set things right, learning a lot about each other (and the difficulties of being "invisible") in the process. Everything comes together during the annual Romp the Swamp Halloween bash, where the sisters and their friends, including Cleo's nerdy friend George (played by Karan Brar, Ravi on Jessie and Bunk'd), work together to save Molly from a lifetime of invisibility.

I loved this movie. Bean and I watched it when it premiered and plan to watch it again. I really liked the way each sister learned from stepping into the other's shoes for a day. And while there were a lot of funny moments, in the end, it was a movie about the bonds of family. And that may be my favorite type.

If you missed the premiere if Invisible Sister, it's airing again tonight at 8:05pm Eastern time as well as next Saturday, 10/17, at 7:00pm. Disney is also showing Halloweentown, Twitches, Under Wraps, and Mom's Got a Date With a Vampire over the next two weeks. One movie airs each weekday at 3:00am Eastern time. That's a bit early, so don't forget to set your DVR.

Quote of the Week

Twist the bones and bend the back.

Itchita Copita Melaka Mystica

Trim him of his baby fat.

Itchita Copita Melaka Mystica

Give him fur, black as black.

Just... like... thissssss.

-The Sanderson Sisters,

Hocus Pocus

Sherlock Special

BBC

I just saw the trailer for a new Sherlock BBC Special. It's still Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, but this special is set back in Victorian England. It looks fantastic. I can't wait!

Photo of the Week

Trick or Treat?

Attractionistas

There is magic in the world, if you know where to find it. That is the motto of the new Attractionistas dolls from the Disney Parks. These adorable dolls, which kind of remind me of Monster High dolls, were inspired by classic Disney rides. Each doll's name, clothes, pet, and even skin tone are very reminiscent of her favorite ride. On the back of the box, you'll find the story of how these friends became Attractionistas after wishing on a star one night.

First up is my favorite, Gracey. Her favorite ride is the Haunted Mansion and her pet is a bat named Grimm. Her skin is pale lavender and her hair is purple. Her dress features the Haunted Mansion wallpaper and she has a top hat with a veil. Pearl's favorite ride is Pirates of the Caribbean and her pet is a parrot named Jolly Roger. She has golden skin and red hair. Her skirt is a jolly roger flag and she has a large pirate hat.

Maddie's favorite ride is the Mad Tea Party and her pet is a bunny named Sugar. Her skin is pink hair is blue, green, and purple. Her dress is mixed up stripes, dots, and colors and her hat is a stack of teacups. The final doll is Celeste. Her favorite ride is Space Mountain and her pet is a greyhound named Rocky. Her skin is grey and her hair is blue with red stripes. Her black and blue outfit is very futuristic and she has goggles.

The first four dolls are currently available at multiple merchandise locations within the Disney Parks. The final two dolls, Nellie and Carrie, will be available later this fall. Nellie's favorite ride is the Jungle Cruise and her pet is a tiger. She has green skin and orange hair and wears safari gear. Carrie's favorite ride is the Carousel and her pet is a dog. She has pale blue skin and a poufy, white dress with pink and blue trim. The 12" dolls costs $29.95 each.

The Good Dinosaur Trailer 2

Pixar

The latest trailer for The Good Dinosaur looks so sad. While I'm sure it's a great story about Arlo the dinosaur and his pet human Spot, Arlo misses his family. It's probably going to make me cry.

The Good Dinosaur arrives in theaters on November 27.

Quote of the Week

Dip the apple in the brew. 

Let the Sleeping Death seep through.

Look! On the skin! 

The symbol of what lies within. 

Now, turn red, to tempt Snow White, 

to make her hunger for a bite.

Have a bite? 

It's not for you, 

it's for Snow White. 

When she breaks the tender peel, 

to taste the apple in my hand, 

her breath will still, 

her blood congeal, 

then I'll be fairest in the land!
- Evil Queen,
Snow White & the  Seven Dwarfs

Scooby Dooby Doo

I got the cutest new Itty Bittys at Hallmark yesterday. It's Shaggy and his pal Scooby Doo in their Halloween costumes. Scooby has a witch's hat and cape and Shaggy has a vampire cape and fangs. They're so adorable!

Halloween Movies

It's October once again, so it must be time to dust off the movies and begin a Halloween movie marathon. I know I'll be re-watching all of my favorites. (In fact, I've already watched both Twitches, Eloise, and two different Sleepy Hollows.) If you still need a few ideas for movies to fill in your Halloween line-up, be sure to check out my favorites.

Halloween Movies for Kids Part 1
Halloween Movies for Kids Part 2
Halloween Movies for Kids Part 3
More Halloween Movies for Kids
Even More Halloween Movies for Kids 
Halloween Movies: The Classics
Mr. Boogedy and Bride of Boogedy

Mr. Gold's Pawn Shop

While exploring Hollywood Studios in June, I discovered that one of the shops had a new name.  It appears that Once Upon a Time has landed in Hollywood Studios in the guise of Mr. Gold's Pawn Shop.

When I returned to the area last weekend, I noticed that the window display is filled with objects from Storybrooke. The clocktower and the windmill from David's front yard with Katherine.

There is Henry's Once Upon a Time storybook, 

as well as the Heroes and Villains book from last season. 

 

a lantern that may have been used by the Dwarfs in the mine,

 and a box that reminds me of Regina,

The Sorcerer's Hat, Prince Charming's Sword, 

 

Regina's Spellbook and an hourglass,

 Doc and Stealthy's Axes, and a magical sword,

 Cinderella's glass slippers,

the box they used to trap Peter Pan, 

 

magic wands, the egg that Maleficent "guarded" that contained Rumple's true love potion, 

and a set of tea cups, one of which is chipped.

I could spend all day looking at the objects in the window. It's a lot of fun for Once Upon a Time fans to look for all of the hidden meanings behind the magical objects.

And don't forget to look down near the door of the shop. That's where you'll find a stack of The Daily Mirror newspapers with a headline from the first season "New B&B Regulations."

Photo of the Week

I love a bit of Sleepy Hollow near Halloween.