Now Available to Own on DVD, Digital and Blu-Ray -- Daphne and Velma (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent a review copy in exchange for an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

Scooby-Doo's Leading Ladies Star in Their Very Own Live-Action Feature Film

The All-New Original Movie is Available for the First Time

On Digital, Blu-ray™ and DVD!

Uncover the Mystery Today!

I grew up watching and loving Scooby Doo and friends.  Next to Scooby, my next favorite characters were Daphne and Velma. So, when I heard there was a movie coming out all about Daphne and Velma, I couldn't wait to watch it, especially with my girls.  After seeing the movie trailer, I could tell that this would be a great family movie night movie, and that it was! We were laughing all throughout this fun live-action movie.  We learned through the movie how Daphne and Velma met and became just great friends, and how they have to form a friendship and successful team outside the virtual world they are used to interacting in, to help save the town.

In addition to laughs, this movie is full of action and will you cheering on the girls and rooting for "girl power" for a positive outcome.  Do Daphne and Velma save the day, or do they struggle to be "real" friends to help save the day?  We had so much fun watching this movie, and I hope they come out with more live-action movies like this that put a fun new spin on the Scooby Doo and his friends.

With the long weekend coming up, why not pick up this new release, available on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital as of yesterday, to enjoy with your family.  This is one movie the whole family will enjoy, and want to watch time and again.

More about this new release:

"Jeepers! Your favorite mystery solving teenagers are back in an all-new, live-action feature length movie!  Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release Daphne & Velma on Digital, Blu-ray and DVD on May 22, 2018. The film stars Sarah Jeffery (Disney's "Descendants: Wicked World") and Sarah Gilman (ABC's “Last Man Standing”), and is produced by Ashley Tisdale and Jennifer Tisdale’s Blondie Girl Productions. Daphne & Velma will carry a suggested retail price of $19.98 for the DVD and $24.98 for the Blu-ray.

State of the art robots and high-tech gadgets are common sights at Ridge Valley High, an innovative center of learning for some of the brightest minds in the country, including new transfer student, the bright & optimistic Daphne Blake (Sarah Jeffery) who is excited to finally go to school with her online bestie, the whip-smart & analytical Velma Dinkley (Sarah Gilman). But not everything is as innocent as it seems as mysterious disappearances begin to plague the top-performing students on campus. Once cheery and full of life, kids now appear in a “zombiefied” state - lifeless and shells of themselves. Can Daphne and Velma learn to work together and save the students or will they become the next victims? Get ready for thrills and laughs as we follow the first adventures of Mystery Inc.’s fierce female duo.

Daphne and Velma, the smart and resourceful women of Scooby-Doo fame, come to life in this all-new mystery,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, WBHE, Vice President, TV Marketing, Family & Animation. “Young girls will be delighted to discover how these clever heroines come together for their very first mystery demonstrating that no mystery is too big for these “meddling” girls to solve!”

“Daphne & Velma” is produced by Blue Ribbon Content and Blondie Girl Productions with Production Services provided by Lifeboat Productions Inc. Ashley Tisdale (Young & Hungry), Jennifer Tisdale (Her Universe Fashion Show), Amy Kim (Confess, Chosen), Jaime Burke (Cassandra French’s Finishing School, Quantum Break) and Suzi Yoonessi (Olive and Mochha: First Kiss) serve as producers, with Yoonessi also directing from a script written by Kyle Mack & Caitlin Meares."

BONUS FEATURES

• Daphne & Velma: A New Ambition
• An Updated Classic Mystery
• Iconic Styles of Daphne & Velma Reimagined
• Gag Reel

DIGITAL HD

Daphne & Velma will be available to own on Digital HD. Digital HD allows consumers to instantly stream and download all episodes to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices.  Digital HD is available from various digital retailers including Amazon Video, CinemaNow, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. A Digital Copy is also included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage through participating UltraViolet retail services including CinemaNow, Vudu and Flixster Video.

BASICS

Street Date: May 22, 2018

Order Due Date: April 17, 2018

Total Runtime: 72 minutes

SD: $19.98 SRP

BD:  $24.98 SRP

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.

About Blue Ribbon Content

Formed in 2014, Warner Bros. Television Group’s Blue Ribbon Content (BRC) develops and produces live-action series for digital platforms, tapping the creative talent already working at the Studio while also identifying opportunities for collaboration with new writers and producers. In addition to live-action programming, BRC produces animated content and is also experimenting with emerging platforms such as virtual reality. Live-action BRC programs include the UNINTERRUPTED comedy Now We’re Talking, the comedy series Critters: A New Binge and Golden Revenge, and digital feature Good Girls Get High for Verizon; SpringHill Entertainment’s basketball documentary series Best Shot for YouTube Red; comedies Beerfest and JoJoHead for CW Seed; and the live-action digital feature Daphne & Velma for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. Animated BRC programs include Constantine and Freedom Fighters: The Ray for CW Seed, ellen’s Pet Dish for ellentube, and Ginger Snaps for ABC Digital.

About Blondie Girl Productions

Founded by Ashley Tisdale and run by Ashley and her sister Jennifer Tisdale, with Kaitlin Saltzman as head of television, Blondie Girl Productions is a Los Angeles based production company that develops and produces television and digital programming with a focus on telling stories for millennial women by millennial women. Blondie Girl is most recently one of the producers behind the FREEFORM breakout comedy hit “Young & Hungry”; the company is repped at UTA and currently has a deal at Warner Horizon Scripted Television.

Disclosure: I was sent a review copy in exchange for an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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Make it a Fun Family Movie Night with Air Bud Entertainment's Pup Star: World Tour Now Available on Netflix and Digital HD (Review) + This Tasty Mexican Street Corn Recipe @airbudofficial @airbud @pupstarmovie - Learn more:

Disclosure:  I was provided with promotional product in exchange for my post.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

"Prepare to put your paws up––the tour the world’s been howling for is finally here! Grab the entire family, plenty of treats, and settle in to sing along with Pup Star: World Tour, out now on NETFLIX."

Are you kids fans of Tiny and Scrappy?  If you are scratching your head and wondering who these people are, where have you been?  Just kidding! :-)  First of all, these aren't people, they are actually pups, who star in the hit franchise movie from Air Bud Entertainment, Pup Star.  Back on May 5th, Pup Star: World Tour was released to Netflix and for digital download, which fans of the Pup Star movies were eagerly awaiting the release since last year's Pup Star movie, which introduced fans to Tiny's twin sister, Scrappy.

As the movie title suggests, this third installment in the popular Pup Star movies takes fans around the globe searching for the next Pup Star champion.  Tiny and the judges visit places like India, Mexico, Africa and beyond.  At each stop, "pup idols" give it their best shot to get a golden bone or vote of the doggy judges.  I have to say that out of the three Pup Star movies we have seen (countless time...I lost count after the 25 time of viewing each), that Pup Star: World Tour has the best soundtrack of songs, and will have you singing along, especially to the opening number.

In the second Pup Star movie we met, Scrappy, and in this new movie from Air Bud Entertainment, we meet "Julio," a Mexican heartthrob that seems to steal the hearts of everyone in the audience, as well as Tiny's.  But, something isn't right with "Julio," and as the movie progresses we find old bad guys (think Roland, dog catcher and Bark the Bounty Hunter) resurface to try and bring down Tiny yet again.  Don't worry, I will not ruin the ending, if my chance your family hasn't had a chance to watch the new Pup Star: World Tour, which is now available on Netflix to stream as well purchase on Digital HD, as of May 5th.

Synopsis:

"Air Bud Entertainment's PUP STAR is back, with an all-new movie that takes the popular singing dogs on trip around the world, where Tiny and friends find fantastic new songs and meet exciting new canine singers that prove music really is the universal language!"

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Here is a quick video my girls did giving their own review/thoughts on this movie.

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I also took a video of the girls watching and singing along to the intro theme song, which I have to say is very catchy.  

  

My girls can't go a day without playing this portion of the movie just to sing and dance along to in the living room. And, whenever they are playing with their puppy toys, I will usually hear them singing this and other songs from the previous Pup Star movie soundtracks, which you can buy from iTunes, or stream from your Amazon Prime Music account.

If watching the movie wasn't enough to get the girls excited about Pup Star, they were also sent a cute cardboard suitcase a couple of weeks ago.  

Inside was a promo code to download the movie to watch in advance of the Netflix release, as well official Pup Star World Tour (PSWT) kitchen tools including a spoon, spatula, rolling pin, baster and two PSWT aprons.  There were also a FREE coupon for the girls to pick up a box of our rescue dog's favorite ice cream, Dogsters Ice Cream Style Treats for Dogs.  There was also a VCA Animal Hospital KONG squeaky ball and bag of Old Mother Hubbard's Natural Dog treats, included in the box, as these are some of the fabulous partners of the Pup Star: World Tour movie.  The girls would have been happy with all these great PSWT goodies, but that wasn't all. Inside the suitcase was a recipe book and letter inviting the girls to create one of the four dishes provided in the Pup Star World Tour Recipe Booklet, and have  it judged, for a chance to win a trip to Orlando where you would stay 7 days in an Extended Stay American hotel (you can even bring your pup to these hotels).  I wish you could have heard the loud squeal the girls let out as I read the letter that told them about this fun cooking contest.

The girls quickly grabbed the PSWT Recipe Booklet from the box and started to flip through it.  It was hard to choose a recipe as first as they said they all looked tasty and challenging to make. But, they ended up choosing the Mexican Street Corn recipe, as they both like the "Julio" dog in the movie.

Here are some photos and video I took of the girls cooking up their own version of the Mexican Street Corn dish.  

Who doesn't love crumbling cotija cheese?

They are owning the kitchen. :-)

Mexican Street Corn Recipe

(Sweet corn topped with crumbly cotija cheese and just the right about of spice -- the best corn you've ever had!

Getting ready to make something amazing! :-)

Yield: Approx. 6 ears

Cook Time: Approx. 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 6 ears of fresh sweet corn
• 6 Tbsp. mayonnaise
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
• 6 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
• 1 tsp. chipotle chili powder
• 2 limes, quartered

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Place corn husks directly on the oven rack

3.  Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until fork tender.

4. While corn is cooking, in a small bowl combine garlic powder and mayonnaise

5. When corn is done brush with garlic mayo. Roll in cotija cheese.

6. Sprinkle with cilantro and chili powder

7. Squeeze with fresh lime juice, if desired.

They had so much fun reading the recipe and doing all the cutting and prep work themselves.  I handled putting the corn in and taking it out of the oven, but they did everyone else, including the plating.  My girls were having so much fun in the kitchen and were so proud of their final dish.  

My youngest daughter, was even giving me some plating tips to make my serving their dinner fancier.  

She said a little garnish goes a long way.  I guess she was been busy watching cooking shows on television. :-) 

And, my husband couldn't stop eating the corn on the cob, so we didn't have to ask if he liked it! :-)

My girls are not fans of eating corn right off the cob as it usually gets stuck in their teeth and is too messy.  So, we took the Mexican Street Corn recipe up a notch and it made it our own by making homemade tortilla bowls to use as edible salad bowls. The girls love adding their own toppings to their taco and salad bowls we make, so I knew they would have fun showing my readers how we make our own own homemade tortilla bowls, and how easy it is to make a Mexican Street Corn Salad bowl, even your pickiest eater will eat. :-)

Here is the video the girls made, where I explain how easy it is to make the homemade tortilla bowl...

And, here is a photo I showed of the girls showing off the tortilla bowls once they came out of the oven and cooled a few minutes....

Last, but not least, here are the Mexican Street Corn salad bowls my girls made, and loved!

However you choose to eat this dish, you will be in for a real treat, as it is the best tasting corn dish you will ever have. :-) Yum!

If you are looking for a fun family movie/dinner night this weekend, why not consider having the kids help you in the kitchen to make this easy recipe.  Then, when you are done eating, settle in to watch the new Pup Star: World Tour movie.  My girls are planning to watch it again tonight after seeing me write up this post. And, you know what? I don't mind, as I like the movie, too! :-)

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I want to thank everyone at Air Bud Entertainment, as well as all the movie partners/sponsors for sending along the PSWT suitcase filled with goodies and letting us watch the movie before it released to Netflix.  The movie released back on May 5th, and the girls have already watched it 15 times.  The first day on Netflix, they watched it twice in one day.  The girls can't get enough of Pup Star: World Tour, and I know your kids will feel the same, when you tune in to Netflix and watch this fun family-friendly movie, which will have you all singing and dancing along to the movie.



Disclosure:  I was provided with promotional product in exchange for my post.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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We Had Fun Celebrating Thomas the Tank Engine's Big Day! Choo, Choo!!!

Disclosure:  I was sent promotional product in exchange for writing up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

What were you doing on May 12th?  Did you know it was Thomas the Tank Engine's 73rd birthday.  Seventy-three years old, can you believe it? 

My two little engineers wanted to do something to celebrate this big day, so they decided to throw a Thomas the Tank Engine party, complete with tasty cupcakes, and fun and games.  They invited a few of their friends over and watched their favorite Thomas & Friends episodes form the 20+ DVDs we have in our collection, and I had over a dozen Thomas books on the table for the kids to read, when they weren't playing with the girls' bins of trains and train track pieces.  It was a fun day had by all, and one my girls and their friends will remember for some time to come.

Here are so photos I took of our Thomas the Tank Engine's 73rd Birthday Bash.  Note the fun cupcakes my girls made themselves, right down to the frosting and decorations.  They were so proud of their work, and couldn't wait to take a bite.

Before digging into the cupcakes, I had each of the party goers blow out a candle and make a wish for Thomas...OK, I let them make a wish for them, and one for Thomas. :-)

And, when they were done they colored in birthday cards which they could bring home to remember Thomas' special birthday. :-)

We were sent some fun Thomas & Friends toys to help with our Thomas & Friends themed party, including a Thomas & Friends Duplo Blocks set, a lift-the-flap book, Thomas train whistle, and 2 packs of 3-piece cute Thomas & Friends Minis, which I ended up letting each of the party goers choose one to take home.

I found a few fun Thomas the Tank Engine crafts to do with the kids from Pinterest.  Just click on the images below to download the activity sheets, and get step-by-step directions on making the fun Thomas & Friends felt puppet friends.

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/108930884712108846/

This year we missed the Day out of with Thomas event as Savannah was sick with pneumonia.  This is the first time in 5 years that we have missed this fun train ride.  The girls were so sad when I said we wouldn't be able to make it this year due to illness, but I have a surprise for them in a couple of weeks, as we will be heading to Edaville Family Amusement Park in Carver, MA, where they have a whole Thomas Land for little engineer fans like my two girls.

We haven't been to Thomas Land since they opened a few years back.  So, it will definitely be a nice surprise when the girls want into the amusement and see all the fun Thomas & Friends rides and activities, which I hope will make up for the missed Day Out with Thomas we missed.

Even if you missed Thomas the Tank Engine's 73rd on May 12th, you can still celebrate, as we should all celebrate everyone's favorite blue engine everyday.  Why not consider baking a cake and having your own little Thomas & Friends birthday bash this weekend, and watch some of your family's favorite Thomas & Friends epsiodes or movies.  My girls had so much fun celebrating Thomas's birthday and can't wait to do it again next year.  Come on, who doesn't love to have a birthday party for one of your favorite characters you have grown up with. :-)

Let's take a moment to wish Thomas the Tank Engine a happy, happy 73rd birthday.  Wishing him many more! :-) Choo, choo!!!!

Disclosure:  I was sent promotional product in exchange for writing up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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