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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald {Review and Cast Q&A}

Lolli — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 21:41:08 +0000

My son and I were invited to a very special screening and Q&A with the cast of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – the second of five all new adventures in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. The movie opens in theaters this weekend, November 16, 2018 and is rated PG-13.

This review and the following Q&A are spoiler-free, so read on without fear of ruining the movie! Many thanks to Warner Bros. Entertainment for the opportunity to see the movie ahead of time! Amazon affiliate links are used below. All thoughts are my own. #WandsReady

If you haven’t seen the trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, let’s start there. But really…if you haven’t seen this yet, where have you been hiding the last few months?

About Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.

In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided wizarding world.

The film features an ensemble cast led by Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, with Jude Law and Johnny Depp. The cast also includes, Zoë Kravitz, Callum Turner, Claudia Kim, William Nadylam, Kevin Guthrie, Carmen Ejogo, and Poppy Corby-Tuech.

“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is directed by David Yates, from a screenplay by J.K. Rowling. The film is produced by David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram.

My Reaction

If you are a fan of Harry Potter (or any part of J.K Rowling’s Wizarding World) then this movie is a must-see. Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them (yes, we totally had to order it on Amazon last month so we’d be ready for Crimes of Grindelwald) was a fun, well-made movie, but the second installment tied Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter together so well. It was the ultimate backstory, giving as a peek into where our beloved Harry Potter characters were before we met them.

I love how this trailer focuses on the connections between Fantastic Beasts and the Harry Potter stories:

This movie is much darker than the first, as we get to know Gellert Grindelwald and his plans. However, in my opinion, if your kids have seen any of the Harry Potter movies, they should be just fine seeing Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

My 13-year-old Son’s Experience

My youngest is a huge Harry Potter fan. He creates hand-made replica wands in his free time. So when I received the invitation to go to the screening, AJ told me “If you can bring someone, it HAS to be me.” He spent the morning before the screening re-watching Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts videos from two of his favorite YouTubers, Super Carlin Brothers. On our way to the theater, he actually wondered out loud if they would be sitting in a theater somewhere at the same time seeing a screening that day, too.

Imagine his shock when he saw them in OUR theater.

I challenged him to go up to the brothers and talk to them before the movie. They were kind enough to suggest taking a picture together, and AJ supplied them each with a wand for the shot.

AJ loved the movie, especially the addition of the new characters, and he’s already excited to see it again. He’s also eager for his friends to see it so he can finally talk about the movie with someone other than me.

Q&A with the Cast

I have to start off by saying that the Fantastic Beasts Q&A was broadcast live in our theater and dozens of other theaters throughout the US. The actors were at Universal Studios Hollywood and I was sitting in a theater in Virginia. And, while I did take notes throughout the Q&A session, I don’t have a recording or a transcript of the interview, so quotes are not necessarily word-for-word accurate. It’s still fun to hear the actors’ reactions to the movie.

Eddie Redmayne spoke about what it was like to return to the magical world in his second Fantastic Beasts movie. He said, “I had so much fun on the first film, and then they got some fresh blood and they raised the game.” Newt Scamander is (and always has been) an outsider, but you see him opening up in this film. “Love is what bring him to Paris. Love opened him up.”

Zoë Kravitz, who played Leta Lestrange, was one of those newcomers to the Fantastic Beasts franchise. She commented that she was “nervous, like the first day of school. The best moment is when they give you your wand. The worst day is when they take it away.”

Speaking of wands, the “newbies” let us know that the actors were each given the chance to choose their own wands (except for Gellert – his was already chosen for him!). Before even getting to the set, Jude Law spent time on a family vacation “practicing” wand work with a twig. After all of his practice, he only got to use one spell in the entire movie!

Callum Turner (Theseus Scamander) apparently could have used some extra wand practice. He broke his wand the very first time he used it.

Jude Law addressed the pressure and responsibility of portraying a younger Professor Albus Dumbledore. He said he felt the great responsibility of playing Dumbledore, but appreciated that he was given the freedom to interpret his character himself. He spent a lot of time with author J.K. Rowling before filming the movie, which I’m sure helped

Eddie chimed in, referring to the first time he saw Jude on the set, “Jude encaptured in one look everything Dumbledore is.” He said that Jude had the Dumbledore “twinkle” in his eye.

I agree: Jude was a perfectly magical Dumbledore!

Are you excited to see Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald?

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Disneynature’s Born in China – Activity Packet and More!

Lolli — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 18:29:54 +0000

Disneynature’s newest film, Born in China, opened in theaters everywhere this past weekend! My kids and I have loved every Disneynature movie, and we were excited to hear about this latest production. No compensation was received for sharing this information. All activities, photos, and information about the movie has been provided by Disney. Thoughts are my own.

Did you know? Moviegoers who see Disneynature’s new True Life Adventure film “Born in China” during its opening week (April 21-27, 2017) will benefit the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Based on opening-week attendance, Disneynature, via the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, will make a contribution to the WWF to help protect wild pandas and snow leopards in China.

China’s unique way of looking at nature is central to the story of “Born in China.”

“It is a story of life and death,” says director Lu Chuan. “In China, death is not the end of life. It’s another beginning. Wildlife has many beginnings, and we wanted to explore that in the movie. I want to help audiences around the world better understand this philosophy.”

According to Lu Chuan, directing a movie like “Born in China” initially called for a different approach. “For a feature film, you use your imagination and create everything from a blank page,” he says. “Disneynature films are character-driven stories, but the characters are the animals. So the story comes from the footage and is inspired by the lives these animals lead.”

“We shot so much footage,” said nature filmmaker Phil Chapman. “I’ve never worked on a project that had such an extreme shooting ratio. But as we sat and went through the rushes, watching and cataloging everything, these dramatic and touching stories began to emerge.”

Says Lu Chuan, “The footage was just great. I realized a nature movie is not so different from a feature film. I wanted to make a special movie—not just for audiences, but also for myself. I wanted to show how these animals are metaphors. They give birth, like we do. They do their best to raise their cubs, like we do. They succeed and they fail. And when they fail, consequences can be dire. Their drive to do what is best for their families resonates with all of us.”

Meet the Animals

Born in China features several different animals and their unique and touching stories. I love how the movie is built around the stories that unfolded naturally as filmmakers watched animals in their native habitat over an extended period of time. This is true “reality TV” at it’s finest!

GIANT PANDAS

From the moment “Born in China” was envisioned for the big screen, filmmakers knew pandas would be a central character in the film. “You can’t really do a nature movie set in China without featuring giant pandas,” says producer Phil Chapman.

Revered in China, the panda is endangered—there are only 1,864 living in the wild according to a 2014 census. Filmmakers captured stunning imagery of a mother panda and her cub as they interacted in the Sichuan Wolong National Nature Reserve, which is located in the Sichuan province in central China.

To ensure that the filmmakers would not endanger the animals by habituating them to humans, filmmakers were required to don “panda suits”—black and white garments made to look and smell like pandas—that allowed them to blend in with the subjects they were filming.

RED-CROWNED CRANES

Character: Red-Crowned Cranes

Filmmakers ventured to the Zhalong wetlands and Yancheng Coastal wetlands to film the cranes—beautiful birds with snow-white plumage, dramatic black markings and iconic red crowns. The film spotlights the migration of the bird, its ever-changing habitat and the distance it travels as the seasons change.

According to cinematographer Paul Stewart, getting up close to the birds was easier than he expected. “They are very nervous birds,” says Stewart. “When we wanted to get close to film the birds with their chicks, we were very cautious because we didn’t want to disturb a rare species like this. We were delighted that they accepted our presence and allowed us a rare glimpse of their lives with their chicks.”

GOLDEN SNUB-NOSED MONKEYS

Join Disneynature on a remarkable journey to see the beauty of China and experience the epic stories of animal families set against a vast canvas.

Filmmakers initially planned to feature the first year of a monkey’s life. After capturing hours of footage of newborn monkeys, searching for the right, compelling story, filmmakers noticed a youngster who had recently welcomed a new baby sister.

“TaoTao’s life is turned upside down when his family turns its collective back on this young monkey—who previously was the center of attention,” says producer Roy Conli. “He no longer understands how he fits into his family or his troop.”

MIGRATING CHIRU

Character: Chiru

Fewer than 75,000 chiru remain on the planet, due to generations of poaching.

Every spring, thousands of female chiru bid adieu to the males and make an epic journey en route to the legendary Zhouonai Lake in the remote uplands of the Qinghai Plateau. There, they welcome new calves. Mothers and newborns bond and practice essential skills—like walking—before making the long trek home. “They take on what is perhaps the most difficult migration of any animal anywhere to give birth by this lake,” says field director Ben Wallis. “Nobody knows why, exactly, but the tradition is breathtaking to witness.”

SNOW LEOPARD

Disneynature’s Born in China – Dawa and her cub – Snow Leopard

China’s Qinghai Plateau, the highest mountain plateau on Earth, is home to the stunning and elusive show leopard. Experts estimate that there as few as 4,000 snow leopards left in Central Asia’s high mountains—though their hard-to-reach habitat and phenomenal ability to disappear make it difficult to gauge.

The film features a snow leopard mother—likely a first-time mom—struggling to take care of her cubs—and herself. “Dawa is an experienced hunter, but still has very little success, especially after being driven into a new territory by rival snow leopards,” says Leith. “One of the biggest myths of the wild world is that life is somehow easier for
predators. It’s not. Life is just as tough, maybe even tougher than it is for the prey.

Born in China Activity Packet and Educators Guide

These printable activity packets are not only entertaining and a great tie in to the movie for kids, but they are educational and encourage kids to dig deeper and learn about the animals and the environment that they see in Born in China. Simply click either of the images below to download the full-sized PDF and print at home.

Connect with Disneynature and Born in China:

Like Disneynature on Facebook: https://Facebook.com/Disneynature
Follow Disneynature on Twitter: https://Twitter.com/Disneynature
Follow Disneynature on Tumbler: https://disneynature.tumblr.com/
Follow Disneynature on Instagram: https://instagram.com/disneynature
Visit the official BORN IN CHINA website: https://nature.disney.com/born-in-china

What We Love About the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica

Lolli — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 19:28:55 +0000

This post is sponsored by FCA US; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. #DrivePacifica

I realize that most people don’t get excited about a minivan. I’ve been a minivan driver for the last 17 years (nothing beats a minivan for space for big families like mine!) but I have never driven a minivan as cool as this. I think the Chrysler Pacifica might sway more than a few minivan-skeptics. It’s a game-changer.

We recently test-drove the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica for a week, which happened to include a weekend trip up to Pennsylvania, with my husband, four of my kids (of the big, teenage variety) myself, and all of our stuff. I got to drive while the rest of the family got to enjoy being passengers in this one-of-a-kind vehicle.

When I asked my husband’s opinion about the Pacifica, from a passenger’s perspective, he immediately commented that it was the best minivan he had ever ridden in. My teenagers were equally sold on the Pacifica, continually trying to convince me that it was a good idea for us to replace our current vehicle and ask Chrysler to just leave the Pacifica with us forever. Since it seats eight comfortably, (and holds all our stuff comfortably, too) the Pacifica is ideal for a family like mine.

Perhaps the coolest thing about the 2017 Pacific is that it is available in a Hybrid model. Yes, you read that correctly….a hybrid minivan for active families. That’s revolutionary.

If your car is like mine (2006), it was made before the latest round of safety features. Although I have driven cars with some safety features, driving the Pacifica was like jumping in a time machine. It helps you with parallel and perpendicular parking. When you’re just driving forward it has collision warning and lane departure warning for those of you who wander all over the road (like I do sometimes).

Also, these safety features have what are called “mitigation” which means they give you an audible warning before something happens, so that you can take action yourself first. Basically, it’s a safety feature that tells you that you are about to do something stupid and encourages you to change. If you don’t listen, it takes corrective action – like a parent who slaps you gently before yanking you out of the road so that you don’t get hit by a car.

Lots of cars have the rear cameras now, so you can see what you are about to back into as you park, but Pacifica has rear park assist with auto stop so that you don’t actually hit the wall or your spouse’s car. Again, it’s nice to see what you’re about to smash. It’s better to have something prevent you from hitting it. Thanks Pacifica!

Here’s where the rubber hits the road, or better said, how you keep your kids from hitting each other while you’re on the road. The Uconnect Theater will stream from a tablet or mobile device to the onboard screens. There are two 10-inch screens for passengers riding in the second row. Uconnect also has nine build in games and apps. You can play the games alone or on both screens. So, this is an easy way to end the arguments about who gets shotgun. The second row is where the action is.

Depending on what type of system you want, the 2017 Pacifica offers options that feature an 8.4-inch central display screen with two 10-inch rear touchscreens. You can pair your screens with mobile phones, tablets and headphones, or use the built-in travel apps. The next time you get the “Are we there yet?” you can tell them to check the app.

Let’s talk cool…The Pacifica has hands-free rear hatch and sliding doors. You can’t just walk up and say “Open Sesame”, but it’s almost that good. If you have the keys in your pocket, just wiggle your foot underneath the car and “viola”, the hatch or sliding doors will open.

If you don’t feel like using the fancy hands-free opening, the Pacifica’s power sliding doors open with the push of a button, not a jerk of the handle. Even the driver’s door unlocks when you touch the handle, so there’s no reason to fish in your purse for the keys. The car literally senses that the keys are there, and when you reach for the handle, it takes care of you.

They also added a capless fuel filler nozzle (I can’t tell you how much I wish our truck had this. Actually, it does, but that’s only because we always lose my gas cap). Chrysler has also added ventilated seats to cool your posterior, led interior lighting (no more dead battery when you kids leave the lights on) and one last sweet, feature – an optional tri-pane sunroof. Who cares, you ask? Well, everybody sitting in rows 2 and 3 cares, because now they can look up and see the sky, the stars, the moon and look for shooting stars. I think I’ll start sitting in the back from now on.

The back had a nice deep luggage area and the rear seats were incredible and very spacious (leg room galore). You can fold them over, slide them down and they disappear. The marketing term for that is Stow-and-Go Assist Seats, but I call it “holy crap, they fold up and go all the way into the floor seats.” You’re left with a huge amount of space for whatever you need.

That’s bedding, luggage, and food for a cabin vacation for six!

The console had everything you wanted right at your fingertips. I suggest taking a minute before you start driving so you can see everything and know how to turn things on and off. We bounced between listening to Sirius XM radio and connecting our Pandora in the front while the kids watched a movie in the back. It was nice to be able to let them do their thing while we did ours. I like having full control of what I listen to and this van was exactly what I needed.

If that’s not enough to convince you that the Pacifica is a parent’s DREAM car, it even has an optional built-in vacuum (how many times have you needed THAT?!). And for everyone’s comfort and convenience, there are cupholders and power outlets everywhere! You really have to see this one to believe it.

In the end, I have to say it was the coolest minivan I have ever been in.

Connect with the Chrysler Pacifica:

Twitter: @Chrysler
Facebook: @Chrysler
Instagram: @ChryslerAutos

SING Giveaway #SingMovie

Lolli — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 04:30:23 +0000

Every once in a while a movie comes out with a message that seems to be written for someone you know. Sing is that kind of movie, and I can’t wait to see it with my kids (we actually get to see an early screening soon and we are so excited!!). Sing comes to theaters everywhere on December 21, just in time for holiday movie-going! This giveaway post is brought to you by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment. All thoughts are my own.

About SING

Illumination has captivated audiences all over the world with the beloved hits Despicable Me, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, Despicable Me 2 and Minions, now the second-highest-grossing animated movie in history. Following the release of this summer’s comedy blockbuster The Secret Life of Pets, Illumination presents Sing this holiday season.

SING – Matthew McConaughey as Buster Moon

The event film stars Academy Award® winners Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, alongside Seth MacFarlane, Scarlett Johansson, John C. Reilly, Taron Egerton and Grammy Award-nominated Tori Kelly. (warning: I’m totally obsessed with these character shots. Aren’t they the best??)

Sing Scarlett Johansson as Ash

Set in a world like ours but entirely inhabited by animals, Sing stars Buster Moon (McConaughey), a dapper koala who presides over a once-grand theater that has fallen on hard times. Buster is an eternal—some might even say delusional—optimist who loves his theater above all and will do anything to preserve it. Now faced with the crumbling of his life’s ambition, he has one final chance to restore his fading jewel to its former glory by producing the world’s greatest singing competition.

Sing Reese Witherspoon as Rosita

Five lead contestants emerge: Mike (MacFarlane), a mouse who croons as smoothly as he cons; Meena (Kelly), a timid teenage elephant with an enormous case of stage fright; Rosita (Witherspoon), an overtaxed mother run ragged tending a litter of 25 piglets; Johnny (Egerton), a young gangster gorilla looking to break free of his family’s felonies; and Ash (Johansson), a punk-rock porcupine struggling to shed her arrogant boyfriend and go solo.

Sing – Tori Kelly as Meena

Each arrives under Buster’s marquee believing that this is their shot to change the course of their life. And as Buster coaches each of his contestants closer and closer to the grand finale, he starts to learn that maybe the theater isn’t the only thing that is in need of saving.

Sing – Seth MacFarlane as Mike

Featuring more than 65 hit songs, Sing is produced by Meledandri and his longtime collaborator Janet Healy. Together, they have produced all of Illumination’s films since the studio’s inception.

Sing – Nick Kroll as Gunter

Don’t let fear stop you from doing the thing you love. Watch the new holiday video featuring a special message from Grammy Award-nominated Tori Kelly and don’t miss SING in theaters December 21.

Sing – Taron Egerton as Johnny

Download Your FREE SING Activity Sheets and Coloring Pages Here

Click the image below to download free SING activity sheets and coloring pages to keep the kids entertained before and after the movie!

SING – Real Talent from Real Life Contest

ILLUMINATION ENTERTAINMENT, UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND YOUTUBE PARTNER TO SHOWCASE “REAL TALENT, FROM REAL LIFE” ON THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR VIDEO PLATFORM IN SUPPORT OF SING.

Fans Have a Chance to Be Featured on the YouTube Homepage Masthead, and Three Lucky Fans Will Win a Trip to L.A. and Get to Participate in a “Next Rising Star” Digital Development Workshop at YouTube Space L.A. to Learn How to Become a Top Content Creator on YouTube.

To enter, go to www.RealTalentFromRealLife.com and submit a video to the film’s new original song “FAITH” by Stevie Wonder featuring Ariana Grande.

Submissions must be received by November 30th.

Enter to WIN a SING Movie Prize Pack

ONE winner will receive:

Fandango gift code redeemable for two tickets to see SING in theaters
Pair of SING headphones
SING Stationary set and Pencil with topper

Estimated prize pack value $55. Prize is courtesy of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment. This giveaway will run through December 4 at 11:59pm ET, after which a winner will be chosen at random and notified via email.

NOTE: The Fandango codes can be redeemed on Fandango.com and expire on 1/31/2017. Fandango code can be redeemed for 2 Movie Tickets to see SING ($40 max. one time use only).

Buy movie tickets in advance, find movie times, watch trailers, read movie reviews, and more at Fandango.

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Alice Through the Looking Glass Director James Bobin

Lolli — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 16:32:56 +0000

This exclusive interview with Director James Bobin on the new movie, Alice Through the Looking Glass, was part of the #ThroughTheLookingGlassEvent press trip with Disney. All travel, accommodations, and activities were provided by Disney, but all thoughts are my own. All interview photos are courtesy of Jana Seitzer / MerlotMommy.com. Amazon affiliate links used in this post.

Exploring a Childhood Classic

Director James Bobin grew up in England, where he says that Alice is part of every child’s life. He read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland as a kid. His parents read it to him. His grandparents read it to him. And now he has done the same with his own children.

He said, “When I found out we were doing Alice Through the Looking Glass, I was really excited because, when you know something (as well as I know Alice) it’s a quite good way for starting it. You think you have a clear idea of who she’s going to be in the film, and who I felt Alice was to me growing up.”

James mentioned that he has always appreciated Lewis Carroll’s witty language and style of writing. One of the first things he wanted to do when he began work on the movie was to bring some of the British comedy back a bit, compared to the first Alice in Wonderland that Tim Burton worked on.

This new film has a slightly different feel compared to Alice in Wonderland. The color palettes are a bit brighter. The world is more Victorian (a decision based on James’ childhood memories of his Alice in Wonderland books which were illustrated by John Tenniel). The story line is very much about human and family relations.

Photo ©Disney

James said, “I think sequels need to be different. It’s nice to pay tribute and make sure you respect the origins of the story and the characters. But people want to see something which is a progression or something new or a different sight, feel or tone.”

He also said that, “…even as a kid I realized that Lewis Carroll wasn’t that concerned with narrative. He liked imagery, ideas. And the book kind of falls in on itself deliberately. Things happen. And then other things happen. And they seem very consequential. It’s only cause and effect. And so I knew that for a film would make an interesting avante guarde movie.”

He continued, “The book’s incredibly important. And Lewis Carroll is very important to me. So I wanted to take elements of the book like the backwards room and the looking glass and the characters and the spirit of Lewis Carroll, the idea of something which is fairly complex but not so complex that (a child would not understand it). It’s important you understand the story. But also I remember as a kid, I liked working stuff out in a movie. I didn’t want to be given it all straight away. And so this is kind of a puzzle plot in a way.”

James Bobin began working on Alice Through the Looking Glass in 2013 – from the initial planning stages to shooting in Shepperton Studios in London in 2014 to finalizing the last shots about a month ago (just in time!). He mentioned that, “it’s so nice for me to show the film to people because I lived with it for a very long time by myself in a small room in Burbank. It’s a funny thing where you live with it for so long, it (becomes) a part of you. And it’s just a nice part of it is to kind of let it go and show people the thing you’ve been doing all this time.”

The Character of Time

I loved Sacha Baron Cohen’s character, Time. James said that he was excited to work with Sacha again, and thought he was a perfect match for the new character.

Photo ©Disney

James said, “When you work with someone as brilliant as Sacha, you always try to think of ways of getting him back involved in things you’re doing. He and I worked years ago on Borat and Ali G and Bruno.” He knew that Sacha would be able to play a very good “confident idiot,” as he put it.

James found the idea of Time as a person directly from Lewis Carroll.

He said, “Lewis Carroll talks about time as a person in the book Alice in Wonderland. Hatter says, when he first meets Alice at the tea party, he’s kinda stuck and he says to her ‘I’ve been stuck here since last month where Time and I quarreled.’ And I thought that was a brilliant idea for a character. In Wonderland Lewis Carroll thinks Time is not just an idea but a man, a person. It felt very right for the movie to have a new character and that it would be Lewis Carroll’s idea.”

I love the fact that they did not create another “bad guy” since, as James put it, “we have a really lovely bad guy in the Red Queen. We don’t want to do that again. It gets confusing.”

Photo ©Disney

So instead of being an evil character, Time is simply an obstacle. He stands in the way of Alice’s goals.

Interestingly, they choose Time’s accept very deliberately. Because the Swiss are known as clock and watch makers, and since both French and German are spoken in Switzerland, they chose a spin off of a German accent.

Photo ©Disney

Learning from Alice

One of James’ major objectives in making this movie was that he would create a world where movie-goers would be happy to spend an hour and a half of their time. It makes him sad that there are so few things in the world these days that you do for an hour and a half. “I really wanted to make sure everyone was very happy and you sure must be sad to leave at the end.”

The concept of Time, whether it be James’ goal to help viewers get “lost” in time while in the theater, or the more complex themes can be found throughout the movie. I loved all of the powerful quotes (as well as the silly jokes) about time. James said, “It’s very important that (Alice) learns that time gives as much as he takes. For me the book, Through the Looking Glass, is really a book about Alice growing up and about the passage of time. But it’s really a metaphor for Alice Liddell who, by that time, had grown into a woman. So for Lewis Carroll it was the idea of the passage of time. And it made him kind of sad. The book is sad. The book ends with a really beautiful poem, which is a poem about the time he wrote the book for her when she was a little girl. It’s him remembering the golden afternoon in the water. It was like really beautiful. And if you look at it, it’s what’s called an acrostic poem, which means that the first letter of each line adds up to the name Alice Pleasance Liddell down the side. So it’s a very clear dedication to the girl, which is lovely.”

James continued, “It’s got a very sort of melancholy feel. In my personal life I feel too the passage of time can sometimes be a sad thing. And the way I overcome that is to appreciate the time that you’re in and the people you’re with. You can’t have regrets because you did your best to appreciate it at the time. And that for me is the brilliant message for your life. Alice kind of learns that in this film — she does learn to appreciate time and the fact that her father has passed. That was the past. And she’ll deal with that. But her mother is still here. If you can appreciate the time you have then that’s the thing to go away with.”

James ended our interview with a funny piece of insider news that he just recently learned. Did you know that Helena Bonham Carter, as the Red Queen, wears bloomer with hearts sewn into them. Despite the fact that no one will ever see them, James still thinks it’s brilliant. “She knows they’re there. And that is so brilliant for a character — as an actor, you are completely the character once your underwear is also for that character.”

If you haven’t already seen Alice Through the Looking Glass, head out to theaters to see it now!

See my other Alice Through the Looking Glass Posts:

Interview with Producer Suzanne Todd (and the story of her blue Alice shoes!)
10 things to love about Alice Through the Looking Glass

Interview with Mia Wasikovska (Alice Kingsleigh)

Alice Through the Looking Glass Red Carpet Experience
Alice Through the Looking Glass Activity Pages and Coloring Sheets
My announcement post!

More coming soon!

5 Fun Ideas for Personalized Father’s Day Gifts

Lolli — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 04:36:32 +0000

I was lucky. I grew up with a fantastic dad who turned into an even greater Grandpa. And I married a man who became an awesome, engaged, fun dad to our five kids.

Dads today are more engaged with their kids than ever before….and they’re redefining what it means to be a dad. I love that! No longer is dad seen as the disengaged provider who wouldn’t dream of helping with the housework or the kids. And no longer are ties or black socks the preferred Father’s Day gift.

Dad’s roles are changing, and he deserves gifts that are personal, inspirational, fun, meaningful and imaginative…just like he is!

This year has been pretty monumental in our family. Watching your first daughter say “I do” and become someone’s wife is a big deal for any parent, but I think it might have an even bigger impact on a dad. Do dads ever stop seeing their daughters as their little girls? Their dressed-in-pink princesses?

This Father’s Day, I wanted to do something special that would serve as a memento of the wedding as well as a “thank you” to Dad. I wanted to create something unique that would serve as a reminder of all he has accomplished raising 5 beautiful, talented kids.

I wanted to make something that would make him smile every time he saw it in the house.

So I headed to Snapfish.com and created a couple of fun but meaningful Father’s Day presents to give to the father of my kids. (PS – the kids are NOT off the hook, even though he got some early presents this year!).

5 Fun Ideas for Personalized Father’s Day Gifts

Wall Hanging – I immediately thought about printing a family picture (new and improved, with another son in the shot!) but I wanted to try something a little different this time. Instead of printing a photo to have framed, or printing a canvas to hang, I had my favorite family picture from the wedding printed as a wood wall panel. The quality of the finished product is striking, and I can’t wait to find the perfect place to display it in our home.

Personalized Pillow – I had so much fun designing a pillow on Snapfish.com with memories from the wedding. It’s definitely a conversation piece! I loved that Snapfish had themes and templates that I could choose from to begin my design.

Photo Book – I made a photo book with my siblings to present to my dad for Father’s Day last year. We included pictures of all of us together through the years plus memories, funny or touching stories, and more. We had a blast making it for him, but the best part was watching him read it and look through the pictures.

Personalized phone or tablet case – I love creating phone and tablet cases that show off some personality…and where better to show off pictures of the family than ON your mobile phone or tablet?

Photo mug – one of the very first personalized gifts I made for my husband was a mug with a favorite picture of him with one of our daughters when she was little. That mug still makes me smile whenever I see it in the cupboard.

What are your favorite personalized gifts to give OR receive? What would the special men in your life love to get this Father’s Day?

Enter to WIN a $50 Snapfish product code!

Giveaway details:
Prizes: One of thirty-five $50 Snapfish product codes
Dates: Runs through Friday, June 10 at 9pm PT

Winners will be randomly selected and notified by Clever Girls and/or Snapfish by Friday, June 17

Terms & Conditions: The official Terms & Conditions are included in the widget; here is the high-level eligibility criteria: Age 18+ | US resident only | Only one winner per household

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Family. Time. Together. {Give Me Your Best Shot PSF}

Lolli — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 05:26:29 +0000

When we got back from our family vacation, “real life” hit me so hard that I hardly had time to reflect on our vacation and the wonderful time our family had together. Frankly, I should be in bed right now and not longingly looking through vacation pictures, but such is my life, right?

I need to start off this post by saying that I have decided to discontinue Give Me Your Best Shot/Photostory Friday. This will be the last link up. Maybe at some point I will decide to start up another photography link up, but I have not been giving this series the attention or the passion that it deserves, and I think it’s simply time to move on to things that I AM passionate and excited about.

And there really ARE things that I’m excited about, both on the blog and in that “real life” that hit me so hard last week.

I have also become very passionate about improving my photography in my Instagram stream, so I do hope you’ll join me there if you haven’t already.

Before I show off a few of the family vacation shots that we captured in Florida, I thought I’d share the VERY FIRST Give Me Your Best Shot post, from almost exactly 7 years ago. SEVEN years! No wonder AJ looks like a baby here!

I have to say…it was a whole lot easier and more fun to take pictures of adorable toddlers. Teens seem to like to give me weird faces more often than they like to smile pretty for the camera. Still, we were able to get some great memory shots during our family vacation (all shots taken on my iPhone). Don’t you think?

(this is the moment that the girls realized that their big sister was asking them to be her bridesmaids!)

Please feel free to link up your photo posts below. I’m going to miss this weekly link up, but I’m excited what is in store for this little blog of mine. Don’t be a stranger!

An InLinkz Link-up

Seven Nights of Sunsets #PSF Give Me Your Best Shot

Lolli — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 03:19:19 +0000

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a week since we packed up the car and started driving back home from Florida. We might have only been in Florida for a little over a week, but the sun and the heat (in the mid-80s the whole time!) literally transported me to a different time and place. I found myself forgetting that we were still in the middle of winter. I was reminded during our stay in Florida that I am not a cold weather person. I like my warmth. I like my sun. I also really love being somewhere where I can actually see the sunset (versus seeing some colorful clouds above my neighbor’s roof tops). Since I captured so many sunset shots (I might have gone a little overboard!) during my stay on the beach, I thought they’d make a perfect Give Me Your Best Shot – Photostory Friday.

Every night at 5:30, I would drop everything I was doing and walk down to the beach. I’d invite anyone to come along with me, so I always had a few beach buddies to appreciate the beautiful landscape with me. It’s incredible how unique each sunset is, even from the exact same vantage point. (In these pictures, there is only one sunset shot from a different beach). Each night was a new inspiration for me. These sunsets filled my spirit.

I think the only sunset I missed during my time in Florida was Christmas Day because I was too busy cooking a big Christmas dinner for 13 people. But that’s another story…

That last picture is my daughter and her fiance. YES…her fiance! If we aren’t friends on Facebook, you might not have seen the news. My daughter got engaged the week before Christmas, and her wonderful fiance joined us in Florida (if we didn’t scare him off after more than a week of living together in close quarters, then I don’t know what will). We are excited to have him join the family!

If you’re wondering…no, I’m totally not old enough to have a daughter getting married. Thanks for asking. ;)

Now it’s time for the first Photostory Friday – Give Me Your Best Shot of the year! We’re pretty laid back here. If you have a post with photos from this past week, feel free to link up below. No rules. Just some good, old fashioned sharing and connecting.

Happy weekend!

An InLinkz Link-up

ZooAmerica at Hersheypark

Lolli — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 04:55:47 +0000

For years, my sister and her family lived right across the street from ZooAmerica (we could see – and smell some of the animals from her front door). And yet, before this month, I had never spent much time ZooAmerica. What a missed opportunity with my kids! Now that I’ve been introduced to the zoo, I can’t wait to take my kids back. Although I think I got a little spoiled with our behind-the-scenes access – the kids might expect the same. I visited ZooAmerica while on a press trip to learn all that Hershey, PA has to offer. Accommodations and activities during the press trip were provided, but all opinions are my own. Note: photos that do NOT have my watermark on them were provided courtesy of Hershey.

About ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park

ZooAmerica is an 11-acre, walkthrough zoo that cares for more than 200 animals representing more than 60 species from five regions of North America. The thing that I loved the most about ZooAmerica was that every animal at the zoo was native to North America. These are animals that live near us – animals that you can see in the wild throughout the United States.

The exhibits are broken up into 5 bio-climactic regions of North America:

Southern Swamps
The Great Southwest
Eastern Woodlands
Big Sky Country
Northlands

The other thing I loved about ZooAmerica was that the 11-acre size is manageable to be able to see all of the exhibits in a day without totally wearing the kids (and mom or dad) out. I’ve been to too many zoos that were so huge that there was no way to see everything in one day.

ZooAmerica prides itself on its focus on education and conservation. The zoo offers a variety of educational programs for people of all ages – kids and adults alike. You can check out the zoo’s website for details on upcoming programs and events.

History of ZooAmerica:

ZooAmerica opened as Hershey Zoo in 1910, when Milton S. Hershey received a dozen prairie dogs. That zoo closed in 1971, but it reopened in its present format – a facility that highlights North American animals – on May 7, 1978. ZooAmerica currently operates as a department of Hersheypark.

The Zoo is open daily year round (except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day). Same-day admission is free with Hersheypark tickets. Hours vary by season.

Our Experience at ZooAmerica

The first animal that we met was Mumford the grey faced screech owl. He weighed less than half a pound but was FULL of attitude. He was a hoot! (that was a bad joke…lol) We each got a chance to hold Mumford, and I’m happy to report that none of our shoes were ruined in the process. It was close, though…

We also had the chance to see baby alligators, born in Florida in August, and on loan at the zoo. They still live inside at this point.

I was impressed, as we walked through the zoo and saw various animals, that our guide, zoo curator Dale Snyder, was able to point out where each of the animals came from and what their names were. The animals at ZooAmerica are often rescue animals – animals that have been injured in the wild and would have died if they had not found a new home.

We met Chief and Butch, the black bears, and even had the opportunity to feed them berries. Dale taught us a command that Butch (the larger bear) knows well. If you hold your fist out towards his face, he will lick your fist and then expect a berry for his “trick.” Butch had to lick my hand quite a few times in order to catch it on camera.

Do your kids (or you??) love to visit the zoo? You will love ZooAmerica!

Photostory Friday – Give Me Your Best Shot Link Up

Link up your photo posts from this past week on the linky below.

Please note: there will be no link up next week due to the holidays. I will be celebrating with family off line. I hope you have a fabulous Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate!

An InLinkz Link-up

Holiday Gift Guide: 10 Items on a Food Blogger’s Wishlist

Jody — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 03:30:13 +0000

Being a food blogger is a rewarding and at times frustrating business (especially for those of us that didn’t start out as food bloggers). A lot of work goes into setting up what can seem to be a simple shot – cooking, staging, lighting, adding props, keeping little hands out of the food before you shoot, and a whole lot more. In preparation for the holidays and inevitable gift wish lists, I gathered 10 ideas that make the food bloggers life a little easier. Note: Amazon affiliate links used to products.

10 Things a Food Blogger Would love to Get For Christmas

[1] Backdrops – With food photography luckily you do not need huge backdrop setups. 3’x3’ is generally an adequate size. There are a ton of pretty patterns and colors out there to choose from, right now simple wood is all the rage.

[2] Camera Strap – Even if they already have one or two camera straps, a unique and fun camera strap is a photographer’s favorite accessory. They can switch straps out to match outfits or moods.

[3] Camera Cleaning Kit – I am bit ashamed to admit that my camera gets a bit of build up on it. I try to give it a quick wipe down after each food shoot but sometimes there is still debris in the cracks and crevices. A good cleaning kit is a must have.

[4] Dishes – Simple white dishes are the most popular and give your food a clean palette, but a pretty colorful dish now and then can really set off your food.

[5] Fabrics – Burlap, muslin, cheesecloth, runners, scrap fabric – they can all come in handy to set up shots and add texture to them. We all have a collection and are always adding to it.

[6] Props – Pretty food related props often help make the shot. Simple, useful tools are best like a salt cellar, rolling pin, and measuring spoons.

[7] Extra SD Cards – I know it seems I never have enough space to keep all my shots. There are tons on my computer, burned to discs, on memory cards, flash drives, etc. I try to keep them separated by month and then also keep mine separate from my clients. Multiple SD cards are just a great idea.

[8] SD Card Holder – This goes hand in hand with #7 – if you are going to have many memory cards you need a convenient place to keep them organized.

[9] Books – Most food bloggers are always looking to improve their game, and books with helpful tips can teach new techniques or inspire new point of views.

[10] Light Box – Nothing is more frustrating to a food blogger than having a perfectly set up shot except when the weather decides not to cooperate on your most productive day. Light boxes with a set of good lights can give you a natural light look on overcast and downright gloomy days.