The Secret Truth About Merida’s Visit to Enchancia: Why Parents Are Missing the Real Magic in Sofia the First

Halloween is my second favorite time of year, and my hubbies favorite. Throw in my 7-year-olds birthday around Halloween, and you know we have to do it big. We love to throw a good Halloween/Birthday party where there’s plenty of treats, spooks and things to do. While I was in LA earlier this month for the #DoctorStrangeEvent we also celebrated Finding Dory coming to Blu-ray Halloween style!
We joined Master Pumpkin Carver, Joseph Yakovetc to learn how to carve pumpkins properly…and all these years I thought I was doing a good job! Let’s go over some tips from the Master Carver himself.
TIP 1. Find a pumpkin with a good healthy stem. The stem sill has nutrients that feed the pumpkin and keep it healthy.
Lets talk about design and carving…
Things you will need:
Printable/Color Page
Transfer Paper
Pen/Pencil
Sharpie
2-4 Push Pins
Baby Wipes
Paint (colors depend on project)
Getting Started:
TIP 2. Don’t cut the stem off the top, this actually makes you pumpkin die…see #1…Instead cut a hole out in the back of your pumpkin, it will last longer and be easier to light.
Lets Get Started “carving”
Clean your pumpkin well with a wipe.
Now you are ready to pin your selected design backed by tracing paper to your pumpkin. Trace every line with your pen/pencil. Once you have that done you can remove the papers and follow outlines with a
Once you have that done you can remove the papers and follow outlines with a permanent marker…you may need to clean your marker now and then to keep it fresh.
Use your baby wipes to clean off surface from graphite paper, you will be left permanent marker lines.
Paint any areas you want to be colored.
Take carving utensil and outline the outside of the design.
Then you will pick areas that you will scrape out…for Dory, we scraped out the eyes and teeth
Photo by EnzasBargins.com
TIP 3. Use an old CD to clean out your pumpkin. The larger surface area and curve makes cleaning out pumpkins quick and easy. Joseph Yokovetc can clean a pumpkin in 30 seconds with this method.
TIP 4. Don’t let your pumpkin sit directly on the pavement, instead use a trivet or table to keep it elevated, and bring it in each night to help it say healthier longer.
FUN FINDING DORY ACTIVITY SHEETS
The summer blockbuster hit, Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory,” swims home just in time for the holidays on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) on Oct. 25 and on Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand on Nov. 15. Viewers can watch Dory’s hilarious and heartwarming quest to find her family and continue the underwater adventure with hours of immersive bonus features.
The film’s playful and plentiful bonus offerings include “Piper,” the theatrical short film starring an irresistible sandpiper hatchling; an all-new mini short featuring interviews with Dory’s pals from the Marine Life Institute; a behind-the-scenes look at the most challenging character Pixar has ever created; never-before-seen deleted scenes, including a digital exclusive featuring the Tank Gang from “Finding Nemo” who make it their mission to get Marlin and Nemo to the Marine Life Institute; and much, much more.
Thirteen years after the original, audiences get a new chapter in the story of their favorite forgetful blue tang. As returning director Andrew Stanton describes, “I realized that I was worried about Dory. The idea of her short-term memory loss and how it affected her was unresolved. What if she got lost again?” His response is a touching tale of friendship and family that’s truly unforgettable … perhaps even for Dory.
Bonus features include*:
Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray & Digital HD:
Theatrical Short: “Piper” – A hungry sandpiper hatchling ventures from her nest for the first time to dig for food by the shoreline. The only problem is that the food is buried beneath the sand where scary waves roll up onto the shore.
Marine Life Interviews (All-New Mini Short) – Meet the inhabitants of the Marine Life Institute as they remember our favorite blue tang.
The Octopus That Nearly Broke Pixar – Pixar’s “Team Hank” unravels the challenges, frustrations, and rewards of bringing to life the studio’s crankiest and most technically complicated character ever.
What Were We Talking About? – This piece showcases the complex routes Dory’s story took as the filmmakers worked to construct a comprehensive narrative involving a main character with short-term memory loss.
Casual Carpool – What’s it like to commute with the voices of Marlin, Charlie, Bailey and Hank? Join “Finding Dory” writer/director Andrew Stanton as he drives Albert Brooks, Eugene Levy, Ty Burrell and Ed O’Neill to work.
Animation & Acting – How do you create a connection between a human audience and a fish? This behind-the-scenes look behind the curtain examines the process of constructing believable performances through a unique collaboration between the director, voice actors and animators.
Creature Features – The cast of “Finding Dory” share cool facts about the creatures they voice in the film.
Deep in the Kelp – Disney Channel’s Jenna Ortega guides us on a research trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium to show how far the “Finding Dory” crew went to make Dory’s world feel real.
Skating & Sketching with Jason Deamer – “Finding Dory” character art director Jason Deamer talks about how he got to Pixar, how he draws the characters in the film, and how falling off a skateboard teaches you lessons you can use in art and life.
Dory’s Theme – A spirited discussion among the composer, music editor and director of “Finding Dory” about the musical elements that shape Dory’s quirky and joyful theme.
Rough Day on the Reef – Sometimes computers make mistakes. Here you’ll see some of the funny, creepy and just plain bizarre footage the crew encountered while making “Finding Dory.”
Commentary – Director Andrew Stanton, co-director Angus MacLane and producer Lindsey Collins deliver their personal perspective on “Finding Dory.”
Deleted Scenes (introduced by director Andrew Stanton)
Losing Nemo – While watching the stingray migration, Dory starts to follow two fish that remind her of her parents, leaving Nemo all alone.
Little Tension in Clown Town – In this alternate version of the film, Dory tries to “follow her fins” to her parents, but ends up in a strange place with even stranger fish fashion.
Dory Dumped – In this early version of the story, Dory’s parents had short-term memory loss as well.
Sleep Swimming – Dory begins to talk and swim in her sleep, revealing what seem to be clues to her past.
Meeting Hank – Wandering the Marine Life Institute’s elaborate pipe system, Dory happens upon the abode of Hank the cranky octopus.
The Pig – Frantically navigating the pipes of the Marine Life Institute in search of her parents, Dory crosses paths with a terrifying cleaning device.
Starting Over – Director Andrew Stanton presents four different versions of the movie’s opening scene to illustrate the filmmakers’ search for the best way to introduce Dory’s backstory and to connect this new film to “Finding Nemo.”
Tank Gang (Digital exclusive) – After a close encounter with a squid leaves them separated from Dory, Marlin and Nemo unexpectedly meet up with the Tank Gang from “Finding Nemo,” who make it their mission to get to the Marine Life Institute … by any means necessary.
Hidden Seacrets of Finding Dory (Digital exclusive) – Take a deep dive to catch secret Easter Eggs throughout the movie. And just like Hank, they’re hidden in plain sight.
DVD:
Theatrical Short: Piper & Commentary
Create a fun Jello Dessert
Ingredients
2 Boxes Dory Jello
6 Cups of Water
1 Bag Sweedish Fish
Fill your cup a quarter of the way and put in fridge for about 1 1/2 hours put in a few fish and fill a little more repeat until cup is full.
Or you can fill cups, let sit in fridge about 1 hour – 1 hour 15 min and push a few fish into place (you will want to top with cool whip if you do it this way)
You will need to let your Jello sit about 4 hours before it is ready to eat.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THESE ARTICLES FROM THE #DOCTORSTRANGEEVENT
Interview with Mads Mikkelsen Scott Derrickson Interview Tilda Swinton Interview Rachel McAdams Interview
Benedict Cumberbatch Interview Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After

Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Holiday Family Traditions are alive and well. I love to continue long-standing traditions that I grew up with while starting my own with my boys. Throughout the holiday whether we think about them or not, we carry out many traditions with food, celebrations and gifts. I can’t think of any other holiday food gift brand more compatible with the Holidays & family traditions than Hickory Farms. With so many possibilities & pairings, it’s easy to see why so many families count on Hickory Farms to set the scene with meats, cheeses, wines and more as part of their holiday tradition. Did you know Hickory Farms also provides a large selection of gift boxes, perfect for that hard to buy for person? Who doesn’t enjoy opening up a delicious box of Hickory Farms product.
Hickory Farms is America’s most famous holiday food gift brand, enjoyed by holiday shoppers seeking the perfect gifts for family and friends for over 60 years. Many Americans have a distinct memory of Hickory Farms at their holiday gatherings; Hickory Farms is very proud to be a part of those nostalgic moments and continues to focus on and celebrate its long heritage of tradition and authentic holiday memories. Hickory Farms helps people appreciate shared moments that are worth embracing and passing down through generations of families, but also creating new traditions and sharing them with loved ones.
Family Traditions Old & New
As I said, Hickory Farms has always been a part of our family traditions…The boys love the summer sausage and get excited every time I buy some. To me the holidays should be warm, cozy, and comforting. I like to serve foods that keep that tradition. We were able to try out Hickory Farms Tea Time Collection Gift Box which had product in it that I had never tried before. I think the chocolate covered pretzels, buttery shortbread biscuits & Belgian truffles will be a new holiday coffee table tradition!
According to a national survey, nearly half of American adults agree that the holiday shopping season officially starts when they see Hickory Farms arrive at their local mall. Hickory Farms’ food gifts are available at Holiday Market locations nationwide, on hickoryfarms.com and at leading retailers.
Connect with Hickory Farms on social media to stay up to date on all of their promotions and delicious products!
Follow them on Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
WIN IT
One (1) lucky My Sparkling Life Reader is going to win a $25 Hickory Farms Gift Card!! This giveaway is open to residents of the US who are 18+ until 11:59 PM EST Nov 30, 2015.
The Fine Print: Entering this giveaway means that you accept both my rules & disclosure. I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Each household is only eligible to win this prize via blog reviews and giveaways once. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Many will enter, few will win! Please allow 8-12 weeks for delivery of prizing. My Sparkling Life is not responsible for any lost or misdirected packages. Prizing provided and shipped by Hickory Farms. In the rare occasion that a prize does not arrive (which has happened), please notify me.
Compensation and products for review were provided by Hickory Farms via MomTrends. I received a free sample of the product for the purpose of this review and to facilitate a giveaway. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Hickory Farms
Related