Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Make Christmas Memories With Your Santa Story

Growing up in a Polish household we didn't make a big fuss about Santa Claus, but when I had children of my own I knew I wanted to include Santa in our celebration.
 
My kids would write letters and circle the toys they wanted in circulars. We'd stand in line for what seemed like hours, to visit with Santa at the mall and get the annual picture taken. The visit was quick, to accommodate the thousands of children behind us.

On Christmas Eve, we'd leave cookies and milk out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. The kids never fussed about bedtime on that special night. When they woke up way too early the next morning the cookies, milk and carrots would be gone and Santa left a thank you note and lots of presents under the tree.

Then it happened.

They stopped believing.

We still celebrated Christmas of course, but now the magic of Santa Claus was gone.

Until the grandmunchkins arrived!

Last year I was introduced to Your Santa Story and it was THE coolest Santa experience I'd ever seen.


Your Santa Story is a DVD customized especially for your kids.  No two are alike! Santa will mention each of your kids by name, as well as any pets you have. He'll mention the big milestones or special accomplishments of your kids too. This isn't a cheesy voice over in a generic video, Santa really talks to your kids! But even before you hear Santa, you'll have a quick tour of the stables where he keeps his reindeer. The video concludes with Santa telling the kids about one last present they missed and the location of that present. The look on their little faces will be priceless!

Your Santa Story can be purchased for $29.95 at www.yoursantastory.com. Quantities are limited so act quickly to start making Christmas memories for your family.


Now that you've heard about one of my Christmas memories, leave me a comment below telling me one of your favorite Christmas memories for a chance to win your very own copy of a Your Santa Story DVD. This is a super fast giveaway that ends at noon on November 30th to insure delivery in time for Christmas. Please leave an email so I can reach you in the event that you win.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.
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Saturday, November 17, 2012

Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat and The Frog Prince, Continued

On January 26, 2013 Emerald City opens two hot new titles at their Lincoln Park home, The Apollo Theatre. Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (a Chicago premiere) and The Frog Prince, Continued (a world premiere) open on the same day and will run in repertory with each other during the winter and spring on 2013. 

After a critically acclaimed premiere at The National Theatre in London, Katie Mitchell's stage adaptation of Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat is crossing the pond for its Chicago premiere at Emerald City Theatre. The Cat, Fish, and Things One and Two all come to life on stage in this script that the Evening Standard calls "faithful to the chaotic exuberance of the original, yet also winningly fresh." 

Running concurrently is the world premiere of the musical adaption of The Frog Prince Continued with music and lyrics by the acclaimed Ryan Scott Oliver. Ryan Scott Oliver is a 2008 Richard Rodgers Award Winner and a 2009 Jonathan Larson Grant recipient. In addition to this commission from Emerald City, Oliver is currently writing the score for Disney Theatricals' Freaky Friday. This adaptation of the favorite John Sciezka (The Stinky Cheese Man, True Story of the Three Little Pigs) brings Ryan Scott Oliver to a Chicago theatre for development of a new script for the first time. 

Tickets: Starting at $13 for kids and $16 for adults 
Location: Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave. 
Schedule: Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat January 26-May 19, 2013 

The Frog Prince, Continued! January 25-June 2, 2013
Performance times vary. Please consult calendar at EmeraldCityTheatre.com

Dr. Suess' Cat in the Hat The Cat in the Hat is the perfect friend for a boring rainy afternoon. From games and mischief to Thing One and Thing Two, The Cat brings all sorts of trouble to this grey day--but will Sally and her brother be able to explain the mess to Mother? This Dr. Seuss classic leaps onto the stage with chaotic exuberance in this adaptation from the National Theatre in London. 

As the day moves from dull to daring with the help of The Cat in the Hat, Sally and her brother share a story about Learning Responsibility. The story's theme is the main educational focus for each Emerald City Theatre show. Each production seeks to access a life skill that is relevant to early learners and their grownups. A preshow activity in the lobby and the unique Grown-up Guide in every production's Playbill let families connect with the show and the story's Theme throughout their experience. Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat will explore what it means to be responsible when others are making poor decisions. 
 
About The Frog Prince, Continued When "happily ever after" isn't what he expected, The Frog Prince heads out for a new adventure. While searching for his true amphibian self, he meets witches from Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, and Cinderella's Fairy Godmother. This musical tour through the enchanted forest is an Emerald City world premiere. 

While adventuring through the fairy tale kingdom, the royal family will share a story about Building Self-Esteem. The story's theme is the main educational focus for each Emerald City Theatre show. Each production seeks to access a life skill that is relevant to early learners and their grownups. A preshow activity in the lobby and the unique Grown-up Guide in every production's Playbill let families connect with the show and the story's Theme throughout their experience. The Frog Prince, Continued will explore what it is like to find out what it truly means to "be yourself" and be unafraid of who you are meant to be. 




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Friday, November 16, 2012

Give the Gift of Sports Illustrated Kids this Holiday Season


SPORTS ILLUSTRATED Kids is THE magazine for boys and girls who love sports. It presents sports the way kids want to read about them: with great action photos, easy-to-read stories about star athletes, helpful instructional tips from the pros, and humor, comics, and activities. SI Kids is a great way to encourage kids to read, and it has won highest honors from the Association of Educational Publishers and the Parents' Choice Award.

Special Offer: Receive an entire year of SI Kids in print and on tablet for only $19.95! 

Need more reasons to give the gift of SI Kids this season?

Reason #1: It’s the perfect stocking stuffer. 
Reason #2: It promotes reading for children who are reluctant readers. 
Reason #3: Each issue is full of exciting stories, photos and games that are a perfect distraction while traveling. 
Reason #4: No gift wrapping – it’s delivered straight to your door.  
Reason #5: It’s the gift that keeps on giving the whole year through. 

Take advantage of this great offer by subscribing HERE.
 
For more information go to: http://www.sikids.com/

Like SI Kids on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SIKids

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Thursday, November 15, 2012

BATMAN LIVE in Rockford



For the first time in DC Comics history, Batman - the worlds most popular DC Super Hero - is now an all-new, live-action arena spectacular which is taking the world by storm. BATMAN LIVE is a 15 million dollar stage production with an original story featuring a 43 strong cast of actors and circus trained acrobats, a 3D Gotham City landscape, a bespoke symphonic score, custom-built state-of-the-art stage, a 100 foot bat-shaped LED video wall, pyrotechnics and the impressive Batmobile, designed especially for the show by legendary racing car designer Professor Gordon Murray.
 

Faithfully adapted from the DC Comics characters and stories, BATMAN LIVE focuses on Robins quest for justice, which leads him to follow in the footsteps of his hero the mysterious vigilante known as Batman, much to the dismay of his protective guardian, billionaire Bruce Wayne, whom the audience knows is secretly Batman. This dynamic triangle resolves itself in a non-stop thrill-ride across Gotham City that transforms Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson into the legendary crime-fighters, Batman and Robin. The adventure transports the audience from the Big Top of Haly's Circus to the depths of Arkham Asylum, and from the glittering peaks of the Penguins Iceberg Lounge to the subterranean wonders that await inside the Batcave.   

Batman Live is coming to the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford for THREE days only Nov. 30 - Dec. 2!  Save $10 use promo code: BATMAN  http://www.usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?regionid=460&bid=10937&dealid=1033

Disclaimer:  My family received tickets to attend the show


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The Heart of Christmas



Image Entertainment's release of The Heart of Christmas is the heartbreaking film about a family faced with losing their child and their quest to give him one last Christmas. Based on the inspiring true story that gained national attention, The Heart of Christmas boasts a stellar cast that includes Candace Cameron Bure (“Make It or Break It,” “Full House”), Jeanne Nielson (Faith Like Potatoes), George Newbern (Father of the Bride), and Erin Bethea (Fireproof). The film recently received an Emmy® nomination for Outstanding Lyrics and Music for its title song, composed and performed by Grammy®-nominated singer/songwriter, Matthew West, who is also featured in the film.

Dax Ryan Locke, born to Julie and Austin Locke on June 26, 2007, was diagnosed with AML M7, a rare form of leukemia, when he was 13 months old.

The Heart of Christmas is told in flashback from the perspective of Megan (Candace Cameron Bure), a successful businesswoman, wife and mother of two, the storyline unfolds when her commitment to faith and family is renewed after reading the blog of Julie Locke, (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/daxlocke), the online journal that Julie kept after Dax was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
 
Through Megan's narrative, we are introduced to Dax's father Austin (Eric Beck), who is deeply concerned about Dax's prognosis; the type of cancer has poor survival rates in children Dax's age. Determined to give Dax one last Christmas, Austin Locke surprises Julie and Dax with a Christmas tree- even though it's October. The neighbors quickly catch on and surprise the Locke's by showing up at their home to give Dax, his family and the community a magical night to remember.

This is a perfect movie to watch while recovering from your turkey and stuffing hangover on Thanksgiving night.  It will tug at your heart and make you hug your kids just a little bit harder at bedtime.



For further information on , the Dax Locke Foundation, visit, www.stjude.org/heartofchristmas.

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of the movie and no other compensation.
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Friday, November 2, 2012

Reading Eggs



I've always heard that from grades K through 3, children learn to read and then from grades 4 on they read to learn.  It's important to make reading fun while kids are learning to read.

At Reading Eggs, learning to read is enjoyable as well as very rewarding, by combining books with online reading games and activities.. Every lesson ends with a new book and a new critter to add to your growing collection.

The Reading Eggs program has been developed by a highly experienced team of teachers, educational writers, animators and web developers. Reading Eggs focuses on a core reading curriculum of skills and strategies essential for sustained reading success and is suitable for children aged 3 through 12. Since launching in the United States and Canada in 2011, Reading Eggs has signed on more than 500,000 subscribers and presented more than 15 million lessons in North America.

This new world of interactive reading and writing activities will help to set kids up with positive attitudes about reading and learning for life. Receive a Free Two-Week Trial Offer. No credit card required. Visit www.readingeggs.com for more details.

Disclaimer:  I received a free subscription for sharing this information.
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