The Croods: A New Age

The Croods: A New Age

By Erin

*Thank you Universal Pictures for sending us this fun gift pack to have an at-home-movie night filled with adventure! All thoughts and opinions remain my own*

DreamWorks Animation presents The Croods: A New Age, a colorful story brimming with heart and hilarious moments that is sure to guarantee repeat viewing everyone in the family will enjoy! Join Grug, Eep, Guy, and the rest of the Croods gang as they face off against the more-evolved Bettermans.

The Croods have survived their fair share of dangers and disasters, from fanged prehistoric beasts to surviving the end of the world, but now they will face their biggest challenge of all: another family! Dun Dun Dunnnnn!!!

(from left) Thunk Crood (Clark Duke), Sandy Crood (Kailey Crawford) and Gran (Cloris Leachman) in DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods: A New Age, directed by Joel Crawford.

The Croods need a new place to live. So, the first prehistoric family sets off into the world in search of a safer place to call home. When they discover an idyllic walled-in paradise that meets all their needs, they think their problems are solved … except for one thing. Another family already lives there: the Bettermans.

The Bettermans (emphasis on the “better”)—with their elaborate tree house, amazing inventions and irrigated acres of fresh produce—are a couple of steps above the Croods on the evolutionary ladder. When they take the Croods in as the world’s first houseguests, it isn’t long before tensions escalate between the cave family and the modern family.

(from left) Guy (Ryan Reynolds) with his pet sloth, Belt, and Dawn Betterman (Kelly Marie Tran) with her pet sloth, Sash, in DreamWorks Animation’s The Croods: A New Age, directed by Joel Crawford.

Just when all seems lost, a new threat will propel both families on an epic adventure outside the safety of the wall, one that will force them to embrace their differences, draw strength from each other and forge a future together. The Croods: A New Age is now available on Digital and coming to Blu-ray/DVD on February 23rd!

The Croods: A New Age features the voice talent of returning stars Nicolas Cage as Grug Crood, Catherine Keener as Ugga Crood, Emma Stone as their daughter, Eep; Ryan Reynolds as Eep’s boyfriend, Guy; Clark Duke (Hot Tub Time Machine) as Thunk and Cloris Leachman as Gran. They’re joined by new stars Peter Dinklage (HBO’s Game of Thrones) as Phil Betterman, Leslie Mann (Blockers) as Hope Betterman, and Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: Episode VIII-The Last Jedi) as their daughter, Dawn.

The film is directed by Joel Crawford, who has worked on multiple DreamWorks Animation films, including Trolls and the Kung Fu Panda franchise, and is produced by Mark Swift (Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted).

Now get ready for a fun movie night!

Here is a fun recipe to make for viewing the film! This is a fun and super easy recipe to make, even the littles can help you pour and mix the ingredients into the bowls.

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Disney’s Flora & Ulysses

Disney’s Flora & Ulysses

By Erin

Disney's Flora & Ulysses

Ready to meet the cutest squirrel EVER!!? Disney’s Flora & Ulysses is a comedy-adventure based on the Newbery Award-winning book about 10-year old Flora, an avid comic book fan and a self-avowed cynic, whose parents have recently separated. After rescuing a squirrel she names Ulysses, Flora is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora’s life–and her outlook–forever. Disney’s Flora & Ulysses is available exclusively on Disney+ (where Disney+ is available) now!

Matilda Lawler as Flora and Ulysses the squirrel in FLORA & ULYSSES, exclusively on Disney+.

Flora and Ulysses stars Matilda Lawler, who appeared on Broadway in “The Ferryman,” makes her film debut as Flora, with Alyson Hannigan (“How I Met Your Mother,” “American Pie”) as Flora’s romance-novelist mother, Phyllis, and Ben Schwartz (“Parks and Recreation,” “Modern Family”) as her struggling comic-book-artist father, George. Also in the cast are Anna Deavere Smith, Danny Pudi, newcomer Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Janeane Garofalo and Kate Micucci.

Directed by Lena Khan (“The Tiger Hunter”) and produced by Academy Award®–nominated film producer Gil Netter (“Life of Pi,” “The Blind Side,” “Marley & Me”), with James Powers (“The Maze Runner” series) and Katterli Frauenfelder (“Dumbo,” “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”) serving as executive producers. The novel “Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures,” by Kate DiCamillo, was adapted as a screenplay by Brad Copeland (“Ferdinand,” “Arrested Development”).

Matilda Lawler as Flora in FLORA & ULYSSES, exclusively on Disney+.

First published in 2013, “Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures” is an illustrated novel by Kate DiCamillo. The story follows Flora Buckman and a squirrel named Ulysses, who develops unusual intellectual and physical capabilities after being sucked into a vacuum cleaner. In bonding with Ulysses, the guarded Flora learns to discard her cynicism and be more open to the world. “Flora & Ulysses” features a tough female protagonist and an eclectic, eccentric and diverse cast of characters, as well as an adorable anthropomorphic animal central to the plot.

This is one of those movies that kids will love, but adults—whether or not they’re parents—will also enjoy watching. The script is incredibly witty. It’s original, fresh type of humor, and is genuine. If you (and your kids) haven’t read this Newberry Medal award-winning book “Flora & Ulysses” yet by author Kate DiCamillo, I highly recommend doing so!

Ulysses and Matilda Lawler as Flora in FLORA & ULYSSES, exclusively on Disney+. © 2020 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Following the life of Flora and the super-powered squirrel Ulysses, this unlikely duo teams up to save the world! With Flora’s creative mind and Ulysses’ animal hijinks, it’s a coming of age story that is full of love, hope and unlikely heroes. Be on the look out for lots of fun comic book Easter Eggs: think Marvel superhero references as well as Easter Eggs for the author, Kate DiCamillo, and even some Duck Tales eggs are in the mix!

Ben Schwartz as George and Matilda Lawler as Flora in FLORA & ULYSSES, exclusively on Disney+.

I am a huge animal lover and I think everyone will have a new appreciation for squirrels after seeing this. Be sure to watch until the end as there is one pre-credit end scene that will have young and old alike giggling. Sweet, simple, and creatively daring this modern day family film is one you will want to watch multiple times, because, SQUIRREL!!!

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Let me know what you think about the film!

Valentine’s Day Cake Pops!

Heart Cake Pops for Valentine’s Day

By Erin

Who else is ready for some more Valentine’s Day treats? My favorite has to be these Valentine’s Day heart cake pops. These Valentine’s Day pops may be simple, but I think they are still so pretty! Who needs flowers when you can have some cake pops? 😉 Although I’d still accept flowers if anyone brought me some. <3

Valentine’s Heart Cake Pops

Prep time: 20 minutes

Total time: 40 minutes

Makes 4

Ingredients:

2 cups of crumbled cake or cookie

1 cup of icing

2 cups of melted red chocolate wafters

¼ cup of white chocolate chips

Sprinkles

sticks

Instructions:

  1. Melt white chocolate chips 
  2. Pour a small amount into the molds and scoop the melted chocolate up the sides. When you are scooping, make sure that you get the chocolate up the sides in the middle of the mold as well. In order for the cake pops to look complete try to get a good thick layer on the sides.
  3. Place molds into the fridge for freezer for 10 minutes to allow the chocolate to set. 
  4. Crumble cake or cookies in a bowl and mix with icing. Press some into the set molds and then top with remaining chocolate. 
  5. Insert sticks and place back into the freezer to set for about 10 minutes
  6. Pop out of molds
  7. Drizzle melted white chocolate and garnish with sprinkles

Happy Valentine’s Day!! <3