Scooby Doo, the films

Do you have a Scooby Doo fan in your home? The Mystery Inc. gang is back and they're on Blu-Ray! Now, I normally don't buy Blu-Ray videos because of the cost, but surprisingly the price for this set is so affordable that I had not been given it as a complimentary review, I surely would have bought it for my daughter this year.

We have the first film on VHS and I can definitely say upgrading would be a good choice, the Blu-Ray version is cleaner, the soundtrack is crisper, and the colors are so much more vibrant and alive that the special effects really stand out!

And my favorite characters, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby really shine!

You can read my complete review here:

Or you can check out the Youtube trailer here.





You can order Scooby-Doo 1 & 2 Collection (Family Double Feature) [Blu-ray] at Amazon for just $22.49!

Zazzle Shopkeeper Interview with Joni Nickrent

Joni Nickrent, Zazzle shop owner and Pop Art Minis artist, remembers being in grade school when she came to the realization that she'd one day "do something with art". It was the one thing that held her attention. In fact, she would often challenge herself to see how she could work art into whatever she was doing.

In this interview, Joni talks about how important it is for new shopkeepers to use the frequently asked questions page and why organizing one's shop makes sense.

How did you hear about Zazzle?
I stumbled onto Zazzle when I was searching the Internet for places to print my own art on t-shirts.

What drew you to Zazzle?
When I visited the site I immediately thought, "This is pretty cool! It’s the perfect way to get my art on some awesome products and have control over the design."

I liked having the ability to add text to my art, set my own royalty rate, and upload my designs on products that could then be ready to sell in a matter of minutes. Plus, there are so many different product options; options that can appeal to a wide range of consumers!



What has been your biggest struggle with prepping your artwork for Zazzle products and how did you overcome that struggle?
When I first uploaded photos of my artwork to Zazzle I found out that they were not large enough to print on the products, and that they were fuzzy. I had to reshoot my artwork, then save the images at a higher pixel rate.

On the plus side, I discovered that Zazzle has an awesome FAQS page. It offers a lot of the answers to “newbie” questions and even questions for those who have been using Zazzle for a long time. I'd strongly suggest new shop owners read this section before uploading their images.


What has been your biggest promotional tool when it comes to driving traffic to your Zazzle shop?
To drive traffic to my shop I use every form of social media possible: my personal blog, Twitter, Facebook, networking sites for artists, forums, and even a newsletter.

My blog has a contact link on the main page. I create weekly posts that highlight timely products (i.e. seasonal gifts or holiday decor). I repost artwork that first appeared on my blog to my Facebook fan page. And I constantly tweet about products, product pages, or a new design.

The key is to make people feel like they’re a part of what I’m doing. I want my interactions with them to be an experience. I don't want to just put my work "in their face". It's not about the hard sale. With that said, I schedule time in my day, every day, to work the social media scene.


If you could share just one thing, with other shop owners, to help them improve the quality of their shops, what would it be?
Have an organized shop.

Make it easy for your customers to search your shop when they land on the main shop page. By creating a shop with plenty of categories—whether it’s by product type or product designs—your customers can dive right in to the area that interests them the most.

To see more of Joni Nickrent's designs, visit her at Pop Art Minis.

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Interview © Alyice Edrich, All Rights Reserved. www.alyiceedrich.net
Artwork © Jonie Nickrents, All Rights Reserved. www.popartminis.blogspot.com

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles geared towards creating art, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

My Six Loves, the film

Now that you're all done cooking and the kitchen is cleaned, it's time to put in a film that will relax the mind and make the heart soar. And what better film to watch on this day of Thanksgiving than "My Six Loves"?

The film first debuted in 1963 and stars Debbie Reynolds, Cliff Robertson, David Janssen, Eileen Heckart, Hans Conried, Mary McCarty, John McGiver, Max Showalter, Alice Ghostley, and Alice Pearce.

Debbie Reynolds plays Janice Courtney. Janice has worked as an actress since she was a teenager. Starring in many broadway shows, she finally reaches success as a film star only to find herself so exhausted that her doctor demands she take 6 weeks leave from the industry to recuperate.

Upon arriving at her Connecticut vacation home, she is greeted by a very ungrateful and rude housekeeper who seems to think Janice's arrival is an intrusion upon her lifestyle; uncertain how to treat the housekeeper, Janice lets the behavior slide.

Later that day, Janice discovers some odd happening in her home and sets out to uncover the mysteries. Within a matter of minutes she discovers 6 orphan children have set up camp in the wilderness part of her vacaion home--complete with a shack, a burning fire, and hanging laundry.

This is where things get really entertaining.

First, Janice has no clue how to cook, keep house, or take care of herself, let alone six children so she immediately becomes overwhelmed with the whole situation (how many of us can relate to that feeling during the holidays?).

Second, the housekeeper goes on strike upon hearing the news that she's to help care for the children until arrangements could be made for them only to quit an hour later--when the local pastor steps in to help persuade her to lend a helping hand and treat her employer better.

Third, while the children appear to be helpful misfits, they are truly resourceful and immediately begin to pull on Janice's heartstrings but it isn't until the so-called guardians show up that she realizes how much she's grown to care for them.

It is one of those films that makes you stop and think about the little blessings in your life and how easy it is to take for granted everyday things like: a roof over one's head, food in our bellies, more than one change of clothes, and the love of someone special. It's also one of those films that turns a dark topic into a it a light feel good movie that lifts your spirits and makes you feel good when it's over.

If you have not seen "My Six Loves", I encourage you to pick up a copy, or get on Netflix and watch it via instant streaming.

Book Review: Once in a Blue Moon

This is a guest post by Dawn Colclasure. Dawn is a freelance writer and contributing writer for the SIGNews newspaper. She is also the author of Burning The Midnight Oil and can be reached at http://dmcwriter.tripod.com/

Book Title
Once in a Blue Moon

Author
Leanna Ellis

The Review
When Bryn Seymour, an obit writer for the Austin Statesman, meets Howard Walters at a NASA convention, her penchant for taking risks becomes center stage after she eventually agrees to meet with him in Marfa. Howard Walters strikes Bryn as eccentric and paranoid, and she even goes so far as to mock him when they first meet, yet the tables are turned when she discovers that he is a piece of the puzzle that is her past. Using her job as a reporter for her reason to travel alone to meet with this strange man who has some kind of connection to the mother she lost when she was nine, Bryn goes into this dangerous journey that includes being led blindfolded through unknown woods at night by the guidance of a man she barely knows and trusting her safety to people who seem just as odd as Howard Walters. She meets Sam, Howard’s son, who is a former preacher and divorced father. She is introduced to Howard’s “spit and whittle” club, which includes men just as paranoid as Howard is. Despite the escalating tensions between her and Sam, her iffy relationship status with Eric back in Austin, her job and her grandmother suffering from Alzheimer's in a nursing home, Bryn refuses to bail. She sticks around in Marfa for several days, hoping to get the answers she so desperately needs, while harboring a dark secret that she feels she could never tell a soul. It is this dark secret that explains another side of Bryn readers can relate to why she steps into dangerous situations so much.


Once in a Blue Moon is a story taking readers along on Bryn’s journey to find answers to questions buried long ago, both on a major level as well as a personal one. Bryn was a character that took some time to warm up to. It was heartbreaking to read her memories of the horrible secret from her past and I could not imagine how she managed to keep her wits about her for so long after surviving such a tragedy. Yet survive it she did; Bryn is a tough-as-nails kind of woman who tells Sam “I can take care of myself” and proves to do just that. Another shocking piece of Bryn’s past, in which a reverend implies to her that her mother is burning in Hell for her sin, is the straw that break’s the believer’s back. This itself is what turned her away from God and any forgiveness or comfort He could give to her in her grief. She eventually struggles with this choice, especially after many discussions with Sam about what is right and what is wrong about her faith. Even so, some of the choices Bryn made were irritating and questionable. She took risks, sure. That was her character. But several times in the story, she could have used a little more common sense.

Howard strikes me as a guy with way too much time on his hands. What started out as a hobby about conspiracy theories turned into a full-blown obsession for him. Bryn even wonders if Howard is OCD because of his obsession with conspiracy theories, just as she wonders the same thing about Sam since he was first so focused on his job as a preacher then on looking out for his father. Howard’s paranoia is so pervasive that he can’t even have breakfast at a local establishment without using a different name, and he even sees danger where there isn’t any. It was almost comical watching Howard-the-paranoid-conspiracy-theorist in action. I had to feel sorry for Sam, however, who at many times shows embarrassment and shame when his father goes into character.

There are a lot of references to movies similar to this story in this novel. Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Men In Black, Star Trek. Sam and Bryn even make comparisons to being stuck in some episode of The Twilight Zone.

One thing I noticed about the characters is that they pretty much refrain from using any Texas lingo. As it is, Bryn wears cowboy boots and pledges allegiance to a Texas alma mater, but that’s as Texan as she gets. Basically, the characters walk like a Texan but they don’t talk like a Texan. The English is all clear-cut and free of regional expression. Nobody says “y’all” or “howdy.” I know many Texans and their word choice reflects where they hail from. This made it seem like the characters who were supposedly born and raised in Texas were actually raised elsewhere since they pretty much don’t talk like the Texans I know.

Still, this story was an engaging read and hard to put down. It got to the point where I wanted to know the answers about Howard, and about Bryn’s mother, just as much as Bryn did. The topic of conspiracy theories surrounding the first landing on the moon was interesting and thoughtful.

The one thing I took away from reading this story is the understanding that even as things may not always be as they seem, there is a risk of taking caution over the edge. Howard went over the top with his precautions and was long overdue on his Reality shot. As humorous as the actions of a paranoid conspiracy theorist may be, it’s unfortunate how that paranoia can oftentimes cloud a person’s views and keep them from enjoying life. It was interesting watching how Bryn’s risk-taking contrasted with Howard’s fearful existence. In the end, one must learn how to balance that risk-taking with caution so that one won’t override the other.


If you're looking for a good read, order Once in a Blue Moon: A Novel today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the book to review.


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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles geared towards busy parents, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

The Mayan Apocalypse by Mark Hitchcock

Today I have a guest post by Dawn Colclasure.  Dawn is a freelance writer and contributing writer for the SIGNews newspaper. She is also the author of Burning The Midnight Oil and can be reached at http://dmcwriter.tripod.com/

Book
The Mayan Apocalypse

Author
Mark Hitchcock

The Review
Is the world going to end on December 21. 2012? A lot of people don’t think so, but Andrew Morgan, a multimillionaire for an Oklahoma-based oil company, is a believer. In fact, he’s so convinced, that he is a follower of Robert Quetzal, a presumably Mayan priest. It’s the Mayans who predicted the end of the world so Quetzal’s mission to save humanity must be on the up and up, right? Andrew thinks so. That is, until he meets Lisa Campbell, a reporter for the Christian Herald. That’s when everything changes.


Morgan, who still grieves the loss of his wife and son in a tragic plane crash, is at odds with God and Lisa takes it upon herself to try to “save” him from his delusions about Robert Quetzal and his war with God. In the end, what battle can she win? And who will survive this strange onslaught from the men who are willing to kill to protect the real Robert Quetzal and his secrets?

The Mayan Apocalypse by Mark Hitchcock and Alton Gansky is a suspenseful and engaging novel. It had me turning the pages, constantly asking, "What happens next?"

Lisa’s faith throughout the book was inspiring. Even as she struggles with her love for a man who shuns God and copes with a great loss, her faith remains strong. It remains her rock. Time and again Lisa turns to God, praying for strength, guidance, and the wisdom to make the right choices.

Quetzal’s right hand man, Balfour, seems to have world domination on his mind. He is creepy and constantly one step ahead of everybody else in this race to beat fate at its game. He keeps his cool no matter how testy or agitated everybody else gets, and manages to weasel his way through the toughest of obstacles.

I started reading this book as someone who does not believe the world is doomed to end in 2012. I finished this book with that belief unchanged, yet filled with curiosity about the various opinions of this pending catastrophe. It even got me searching on the Web to read about the various opinions of whether or not the prediction is true.

I also had to think about how I, too, would want to meet that end. Would I want to meet it like Lisa does or like Andrew’s bodyguard, Donny? Would I want to save my own skin like Andrew, or find a way to get my family to safety just as one other character suggests?

This book reminded me of how we should keep our focus on what really matters in the end, and how I would want to meet that end. The most important lesson I took away from this book is that, no matter what happens and when the end of the world happens, the important thing is that we hold on to those we love the most, and hold on to our faith.

Order your copy of The Mayan Apocalypse today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the book to review.


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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

For more articles geared towards busy parents, check out The Dabbling Mum eMagazine.

The Goonies, the film

Based upon my daughter's recommendation this year, I included The Goonies in my Halloween countdown. But did you know that I have never watched the film in its entirety until this week? I always seemed to come into the film after the kids have had it on for a bit, and I've always ended up leaving and coming back to it as I've completed dinner.

So imagine my surprise when I watched the film from beginning to end, in one sitting and found myself thinking, "Wow! Now I know why my kids and husband like this film so much! It's really a cute film."

And for all those Cyndi Lauper fans out there, there's a music video of her on the DVD and of course, a blurb of her in the movie itself.

To read my full review, visit http://thedabblingmum.com/reviews/moviesfamily/goonies.htm

To order your very own copy, complete with board game and historical treasures, Click here.

There's even a clip of the film online at YouTube.com




Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the film to review.

Funny Farm, the film

Okay, I'll admit it. I was never a big Chevy Chase fan. I just did not see him as funny. In fact, I thought his characters were rather annoying. Then I got a glimpse of "Funny Farm" starring Chevy Chase and Madolyn Smith Osborne, and everything changed.

Now, I watch this film at least once a year, and just discovered it's on Netflix instant stream! (Woot cause I need to update my worn out VHS to a DVD.)

Basically, Chevy Chase plays a sportswriter named Andy who wants to give up the high life for a more picturesque, low-key country life--where he hopes to spend the next year writing a novel.

There's just one problem, he sucks at writing novels. And to make matters worse, his wife becomes an instant success with her creation of a children's book based upon her husband's mishaps in the country.

Determined to leave the country and get a divorce, the couple bribe the town into portraying a nice Norman Rockwell town in hopes of attracting a quick buyer for their farm.

There's just one problem, the couple fall in love with the make believe version of the town and decide they not only want to stay, but they want to mend their broken marriage.

The film has a nice balance of drama and comedy. Though Chevy's comedic antics aren't new in this film, they actually help make the film.

If you have not seen "Funny Farm", I encourage you to pick up a copy, or get on Netflix and watch it via instant streaming.

Rita Rocks, the t.v. series

I don't know where I've been but I just discovered "Rita Rocks" starring Nicole Sullivan and Tisha Campbell-Martin. Well, I do know. Our stupid cable company doesn't get Lifetime.

Anyway, while searching Netflix instant stream for a comedy to watch, I happened upon this little diddy. At first, I wasn't sure I liked it but as the episodes continued, I soon discovered that I did, indeed, like it.

First, I absolutely loved Tisha Campbell-Martin in "My Wife & Kids" so I was really looking forward to seeing her in another comedy. Second, I have to admit that I was NEVER fond of Nicole's comedy act in "MAD TV"--but then again, I am not fond of "MAD TV"--so I was not sure what I'd think of her in this series but she TOTALLY makes the series.

Rita (a.k.a. Nicole) is a housewife, part-time supervisor at Bed, Bath, & Max, and the mother of two children--three if you count her oldest daughter's boyfriend. She loves her life but has hit mid-life crisis as she struggles with finding her own identity.

Determined to bring back her lost youth, she pulls out her guitar and decides to start playing again. With the aide of her daughter's boyfriend, her mailwoman and an unemployed neighbor, she starts a band.

There is, however, one drawback to the show. The series' title makes you believe the show would be centered around music, but instead it is strongly focused around Rita and her role as mother, wife, employee, and friend. Now, that is not a bad thing since it's a good family comedy. In fact, it's pretty much good, clean comedy about family life.

But I find myself waiting, in anticipation for the brief moments when the band actually plays! I especially love the scenes when Rita is working on her music, or when the Rita and Patty (a.k.a Tisha) are belting out some good tunes.

If you have not seen Rita Rocks, I encourage you to pick up a copy, or get on Netflix and watch it via instant streaming.

Crossroads, the film

My husband and I just finished watching "Crossroads" starring Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca, Jami Gertz, and Joe Morton. The film aired in 1986 and it is probably Macchio's best film--ever!

The film has a great storyline that progresses very nicely. The guitar playing is fantastic, as is the harmonica. The film makes no attempt to glorify the life of a musician and doesn't get caught up in the racial conflicts that is the south. Instead, the film uses history to help progress the storyline without actually deterring from it. It has a nice southern atmospher to it and leaves one longing for the simpler days.

The film is about a young man who attends Julliard as a classical guitarist and has a strong passion for the Blues. His research tells him that legendary guitarist, Johnson, has a lost song out there and he is determined to find it. In the process of searching for the song, he runs into Willie Brown.

Willie Brown talks the young man into helping him escape the nursing home and in return he would help the man find the lost song of Johnson.

The film takes the two on a road trip where Willie Brown meets up with the devil and tries to break his contract. Not believing the devil is for real, the young man makes a pact with the devil to save Willie's soul.

The devil, determined to win the young man's soul, (and keep Willie's soul) pits him against his best guitarist. Only the devil doesn't realize that the young man could really play!

The ending is amazing. It is definitely my favorite part of the entire film and a part that I can re-watch over, and over, and over again.

If you have not seen Crossroads, I encourage you to pick up a copy, or get on Netflix and watch it via instant streaming.

The Pleasure of His Company

Today I had the pleasure of watching, "The Pleasure of His Company" with Fred Astaire and Debbie Reynolds. I had no idea the two acted together. I have been a Debbie Reynolds fan since I was a teenager and saw her in "Tammy". And Fred Astaire, WOW, what is not to like?

My husband says I was born in the wrong era because I love "old timer" movies but the truth is that I love movies that have real dialogue and don't rely soley on things blowing up or jokes/silly antics.

In this film, Fred Astaire plays a playboy father who hasn't seen his daughter in 15 years. He spends his time jumping from continent to continent and only returns to his daughter's life to give her away at her marriage. But when he sees her, he can't give her up.

He realizes what he has missed out on all those years ago and tries to win her heart and well, break up her soon-to-be marriage. And it almost works, too.

But when his daughter explains why she is willing to put her marriage on hold and travel the world with him, he realizes that he loves her too much to allow her to sacrifice her life for his "selfish" needs.

If you haven't seen it, I encourage you to pick up a copy, or at the very least watch it on Netflix instant stream. It's truly a lovely film and very entertaining.

Toy Story 3 Review

I watched Toy Story 3 on Blu-Ray and DVD this weekend and I "STILL LOVE IT!"

You can see the complete review I wrote here: Toy Story 3 And Lessons It Teaches









I even enjoyed the special features. But I have to say it, "Disney what is up with all the ads?! I hate buying a DVD, especially a children's DVD and being bombarded with ads."

Ads by the way, I had to keep forwarding before I could even get to the film. And if that wasn't bad enough, where did the "Instant Play" feature go?

I get that adult films don't need instant play. We can click buttons and do what we need to do to see a movie, but in this modern age, children like to put their own dvds into the players and "instant play" would save so many headaches for us parents.

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the film to review.