Monte Carlo Movie Review

Recent high school graduate Grace Bennett (Selena Gomez) is Paris bound with her best friend Emma(Katie Cassidy) and stepsister Meg (Leighton Meester). Shortly after arriving, Grace realizes the tour she'd saved for wasn't all she hoped it would be. Frustrated and down the three girls take a break from the tour and accidentally happen upon an heiress (Gomez) who just happens to be Grace's doppelganger. Things quickly turn for the girls as Bennett assumes the heiress' lifestyle and the three head to Monte Carlo. While there they each have the fantasy trip they hoped they would have and manage to find out who they really are in the process.

Monte Carlo starts out slow and misses the mark in really developing some of it's character relationships. Early on we're told Grace and her stepsister don't get along. They're forced in to the trip together and the tension is palpable. Then, it's just gone. There is no real heart to heart or no turning point. They just magically start getting along. It would have been nice to see more explanation about that transition or truthfully that piece could have been left out all together. That said, the scenery is amazing, Gomez is positively adorable and when the heiress discovers her identity has been stolen the hijinks that ensue are amusing.

Monte Carlo is just ok. Parents, if you've got a die hard Selena Gomez fan like I do, I say check out the matinee. It probably won't be your favorite picture of the year but your tween will likely enjoy it.

Betty Crocker "loaded" Instant Mashed Potatoes Review and Giveaway

I love potatoes. Deeply. Baked,fried,mashed I don't think there is much you could do to a potato that I wouldn't like.

Enter Betty Crocker's new "loaded" Instant Mashed Potatoes. Instant? You might question. And I hear you there. But here's the thing: sure sometimes I feel all gourmet and like making my mashed potatoes from scratch but during the week when I'm pressed for dinner prep time after work instant is a godsend.

Each box comes complete with two packages which for many families might make two dinners but for my tribe of eaters made one. I've purchased other varieties of Betty Crocker Instant Mashed Potatoes before and these potatoes, if I'm being honest,weren't my favorite. That's not to say they weren't good. They just weren't as flavorful as I would expect "loaded" potatoes to be. They tasted more like regular mashed potates than "loaded".
What I did love about these is that they're incredibly easy to prepare. Seriously. Add milk,add water,stir a little and you're done. What could be easier than that?

Want to check them out for yourself? Simply leave a comment indicating your favorite way to prepare potatoes and you'll be entered to win a prize pack including 1 box of Betty Crocker Instant "loaded" Mashed potatoes, a mixing bowl, a magnetic hanging pot holder,silicone spoonula and measuring cup.




You may also tweet about and or post about this contest on Facebook for extra entries (1 each). Please leave a seperate comment for each entry.
Contest ends 4/21.

*Disclosure - I was provided with the product, prize pack, information and additional prize pack to give away from Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark.*

Mars Needs Moms!

This past Saturday the kids and I had the opportunity to preview Disney's latest animated film Mars Needs Moms.

The movie, centers around 9 year old Milo (Seth Green) and his quest to save his mom (Joan Cusack) from martians who have kidnapped her in order to use her super mom skills for their own "nannybots". Along the way, Milo meets such colorful characters at Gribble (Dan Fogle) who endears himself with his sense of humor and casual "dude I got this" type attitude and rebel, spraypainting, hippy-esque martian Ki (Elizabeth Harnois), who although she has no nose is postively cute as a button.

Mars Needs Moms is really a pretty cute film replete with plenty of comedy and action that will keep you entertained. In fact, there might be some jokes that are more entertaining for the parents than the kids. The "animation" is phenomenal. The characters are so lifelike it's amazing.
It is important to note that this film is rated PG, and does have some material that could be scary for some very young viewers (aliens shooting, and allusion to death). That said,my family (which at the time was 7 year old twins and my 16 year old stepdaughter) and I got an absolute kick out of it and I feel pretty confident in saying yours will too.

Here check out a short preview for yourselves:


And because I want to share the love I offer to one lucky reader a Mars Needs Moms prize pack (1 Adult tshirt,1 youth tshirt and character tattoos)




















Simply leave a comment with your favorite Disney movie and you'll be entered to win. One winner will be chosen from all entries received by 3/18. The contest is open to US and canadian residents only.

And finally, you should also consider visiting the Mars Needs Moms Facebook page because there you can enter to win a Nissan Quest or a trip for 4 to Disneyland to see a movie premiere simply by liking the page. What could be more fabulous than that, right !?

Good luck!


Disclosure:I was invited to screen the movie for free to facilitate this review. Additionally, I attended a promotional party post screening.