5 Things Every New Parent Needs ⋆ My Sparkling Life

You read that right! Things just got wild here at My Sparkling Life! In just one weeks time, I will be back in L.A. with 24 other bloggers to attend The Jungle Book Premier! That’s Right! I will get to be glammed up, and walk the carpet with the stars of The Jungle Book including Bill Murray, Sir Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o, Scarlett Johansson, Giancarlo Esposito, Neel Sethi and Christopher Walken & Director: Jon Favreau!!
FOLLOW ALONG APRIL 3-5 #JUNGLEBOOKEVENT
As if that wasn’t enough, we will be sitting down to interview a few of these very talented folks!
Director: Jon Favreau
Sir Ben Kingsley
Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Bagheera is a sleek panther who feels it’s his duty to help the man-cub depart with dignity when it’s time for him to leave his jungle home.
“Bagheera is Mowgli’s adoptive parent,” says Ben Kingsley, who lends his voice to Bagheera. “His role in Mowgli’s life is to educate, to protect and to guide. My Bagheera was military—he’s probably a colonel. He is instantly recognizable by the way he talks, how he acts and what his ethical code is.”
Lupita Nyong’o
Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Lupita Nyong’o voices Raksha, a mother wolf who cares deeply for all of her pups—including man-cub Mowgli, whom she adopts as one of her own when he’s abandoned in the jungle as an infant.
“She is the protector, the eternal mother,” says Nyong’o. “The word Raksha actually means protection in Hindi. I felt really connected to that, wanting to protect a son that isn’t originally hers but one she’s taken for her own.”
Giancarlo Esposito
Photo by: Sarah Dunn. ©2016 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Akela is the strong and hardened alpha-male wolf who shoulders the responsibility of his pack. He welcomes Mowgli to the family, but worries he may one day compromise their safety.
“Akela is a fierce patriarch of the wolf pack,” says Giancarlo Esposito, who voices the character. “He believes the strength of the pack lies in what each and every wolf offers. He’s a great leader, a wise teacher.”
Neel Sethi
©2015 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
How awesome is that lineup?!? What questions would you have if you could sit down with them?
Our adventure doesn’t stop there…We are also getting the privilege to check out a Disney XD special screening of the hilarious new hidden camera-practical joke series Walk the Prank.
Featuring live-action scripted comedy interspersed with fully produced unscripted pranks, the show follows an ensemble cast as they plan and execute hilarious over-the-top pranks for an online hidden camera show.
We will also be visiting the Paramount Studios where we will be viewing the production for an upcoming episode (hope the pranks not on us!!) as well as interviewing members of the Walk the Prank cast.
Walk the Prank premieres on April 6th at 8:30 pm on Disney XD!
About The Jungle Book:
Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”), based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, “The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (voice of Bill Murray). Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (voice of Scarlett Johansson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (voice of Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire. The all-star cast also includes Lupita Nyong’o as the voice of the fiercely protective mother wolf Raksha, and Giancarlo Esposito as the voice of wolf pack’s alpha male Akela. “The Jungle Book” seamlessly blends live-action with photorealistic CGI animals and environments, using up-to-the-minute technology and storytelling techniques to immerse audiences in an enchanting and lush world.
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THE JUNGLE BOOK opens in theatres everywhere in 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D on April 15th!

I wanted to share with you the exciting news that Marvel Studios has begun principal photography at Pinewood Studios in Atlanta, Georgia on CAPTAIN AMERICA CIVIL WAR, the third installment of its Super Hero franchise. It just went into production and all the current details including the cast are below! The movie opens in theaters everywhere on May 6th, 2016!
Marvel Studios has commenced principal photography at Pinewood Studios in Atlanta, Georgia on “Captain America Civil War,” the third installment of its Super Hero franchise. The production will shoot on location in Atlanta, Georgia, which serves as the base for the film’s production, as well as locations in Germany, Puerto Rico and Iceland.
Set for release in the United States on May 6, 2016, “Captain America: Civil War” is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Community”) from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (“Captain America: The Winter Solider,” Marvel’s “Captain America: The First Avenger”). The film returns Chris Evans (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron”) as the iconic Super Hero character Steve Rogers/Captain America along with Robert Downey Jr. (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Marvel’s “Iron Man 3”) as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”) as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Sebastian Stan (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: The First Avenger”) as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”) as Sam Wilson/Falcon, Paul Bettany (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Iron Man 3”) as The Vision, Jeremy Renner (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Marvel’s “The Avengers”) as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Don Cheadle (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Iron Man 3”) as Jim Rhodes/War Machine and Elizabeth Olsen (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Godzilla”) as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch.
After his debut in Marvel’s “Ant-Man” on July 17, 2015, Paul Rudd (“Ant-Man,” ”Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues”) will make his first appearance alongside the Avengers as Scott Lang/Ant-Man in “Captain America Civil War.”
The film also includes outstanding additional cast, including Chadwick Boseman (“42,” “Get on Up”) as T’Challa/Black Panther, Emily VanCamp (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Revenge”) as Sharon Carter/Agent 13, Daniel Brühl(“Inglourious Basterds,” “Bourne Ultimatum”), Frank Grillo (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Warrior”) as Brock Rumlow/Crossbones, William Hurt (“A History of Violence,” Marvel’s “The Incredible Hulk”) as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and Martin Freeman (“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”).
“Captain America: Civil War” picks up where “Avengers: Age of Ultron” left off, as Steve Rogers leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to enlist the services of the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers while they try to protect the world from a new and nefarious villain.
Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” is produced by Marvel Studios’ president, Kevin Feige, with Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Victoria Alonso, Patricia Whitcher, Nate Moore and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.
Directors Joe and Anthony Russo’s creative team also includes director of photography Trent Opaloch (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Elysium”), production designer Owen Paterson (“Godzilla,” “Matrix”), and three time Oscar®-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”).
Based on the Marvel comic character first published in 1941, “Captain America: Civil War ” continues the lineage of epic big-screen adventures chronicled in “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor,” “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Avengers,” “Iron Man 3,” “Thor: The Dark World,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and the upcoming release schedule, which includes Marvel’s “Ant-Man” on July 17, 2015, Marvel’s “Doctor Strange,” on November 4, 2016, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy 2,” on May 5, 2017, and Marvel’s “Thor: Ragnarok,” on November 3, 2017.
Marvel Studios most recently continued its unprecedented success with the release of “Avengers: Age of Ultron” on May 1, 2015. The film recorded the second biggest opening weekend of all time with a $191.3 million box office. It has also been the #1 release in every country where it has been released.

Did you know that in order for the skin to protect our bodies from UV radiation, microorganisms and toxic agents, it must be kept adequately hydrated? Hydrated skin will remain flexible and allow our protective barrier to remain intact. If skin is broken, environmental factors can damage our bodies and cause exacerbated water loss, feeding a cyclical pattern of more damage due to further dehydration.
Skin1 is a professional skin care organization with over 35 years experience in every aspect of skin therapy. Our Aestheticians and Skin Care Therapists are licensed experts in skin and its proper care. We are serious about education and believe that on-going training is critical to keep the most recent advances in skin care available to our customers, no matter what their skin condition may be.
Skin1 sent me the G.M. Collin Hydramucine Treating Mist to try out. Even though I don’t have cracking or broken skin, it can use some hydrating.
The G.M. Collin Hydramucine Treating Mist is for all skin type & is specially designed for skin of all types in need of moisturizing. G.M. Collin Hydramucine Treating Mist evenly disaperses the lotion on the face, neck, and decollete with a gentle, refreshing mist, adds moisturizing actives to boost the skin’s level of hydration, purifies, soothes, reduces redness and refreshes the skin.
How To Use:
After thorough rinsing of G.M. Collin Hydramucine Cleansing Milk, spra and massage G.M. Collin Lotion Hydramucine carefully. Follow with the adequate G.M. Collin skin care cream. Use morning & evening, as recommended by your skin care professional.
What impressed me most about the product was how deeply hydrated and moisturized my skin felt after using it. With the winter coming up you will need to stock up on some great skin care and this one is it! It’s a little pricier than some, but when I find a great product I like to stick with it.
Buy it
Online
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Win It
Four of my lucky readers will win a G.M. Collin Hydramucine Treating Mist!! This giveaway is open to US residents 18+ until 11:59 PM EST November 25, 2014. No PO Boxes. 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. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook, twitter, or Pinterest in any way.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. 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.”

I received the boxes of Immaculate Dry baking mixes as inspiration for my peanut butter cupcake brownies…so looking at the four boxes I had Ideas sparking in my mind…one of which I’m going to share with you today.
For more on the Immaculate Dry Baking Mixes see my full post HERE!
Peanut Butter Cupcake Brownies with Peanut Buttercream Icing A delicious mix of chocolate cupcake on top and brownie on the bottom topped with an peanut butter buttercream icing and garnished with shaved chocolate and a peanut butter cup.
1 Box Immaculate Dry Chocolate Cake Mix
3/4 cup Milk
3/4 cup Butter, melted
4 Eggs
1 Box Immaculate Dry Brownie Mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 Eggs
2 cups Powdered Sugar
2 tbsp Peanut butter
1/2 cup Butter, softened
1/2 cup Vegetable shortening
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 tsp Heavy cream
12 Peanut butter cups
1 Chocolate Bark
Preheat oven to 350*
Mix together ingredients for the brownie mix, place into 2 greased or lined and sprayed cupcake pans (24 cupcakes). This will fill about half way.
Mix together ingredients for the cake mix, fill remaining space in the cupcake pans. You will have leftover cake mix, i used this to make 12 more cupcakes.
Bake for 20 min. Check on it by sticking a toothpick in it, if it comes out clean its ready!
Cool completely on wire racks.
If your adventurous, you can pipe peanut butter into the center of the cupcake for authentic peanut butter cupcakes.
Combine Butter, vegetable shortening, vanilla, and heavy cream. Mix in peanut butter, then slowly add in powdered sugar while mixing. Mix till smooth.
Place icing into piping bag and pip generously onto the cupcake.
Garnish with a Peanut butter cup and chocolate shavings
My Sparkling Life https://mysparklinglife.com/
Disclosure: The Immaculate Baking Mixes were provided by Immaculate Baking through Platefull Co-Op to serve as inspiration for this recipe, however recipe is my own.

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
The benefits of making your own baby food are enormous …
You know exactly what your baby is eating – none of the dreaded “fillers” commonly found in commercial baby food
You know that the ingredients are fresh and healthy
You can “tailor make” your baby’s food to best suit his/her preferences and needs
You will save money. These homemade baby food recipes cost a fraction of the price of ready made foods
And most importantly … making your own baby food is tremendously satisfying – for you AND your baby.
It’s not nearly as time-consuming as you might think! On the baby food preparation and storage page you’ll learn how to prepare batches of food quickly and easily.
Your baby might be ready for solids if he/she:
Sits up alone, without assistance
Consistently seems hungry after a full feeding
Shows interest in or grabs at your food
Can refuse food by turning head
Has outgrown reflex to spit out solid food
My Sparkling Life recommends introducing one food at a time, waiting at least 3-4 days before introducing another food. Watch closely for adverse reactions such as excessive gas, diarrhea, vomiting or a rash. If there is a reaction, discontinue food and wait at least 2 more weeks before reintroducing the food.
Sweet and delicious, it’s sure to please your little one’s palette. And the recipe could not be easier!
1 package frozen organic peas*
½ cup water
Place frozen peas in steamer. (If you don’t have a steamer, place metal colander over a pot of boiling water and cover.) Steam peas for 6-7 minutes or until tender.
Remove cooked peas from steamer/colander and put in food processor. Add water and process until completely smooth.
Once cooled, distribute mixture evenly amongst ice cube trays or cupcake tins, dependent upon desired portion size. When ice cubes are frozen, remove cubes from tray and store in a resealable plastic freezer bag or freezer container. Label package with contents and date. Use within 1 month. Before serving, let thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
*You can substitute frozen peas with fresh, but I’ve found the quality is exactly the same and it’s much less labor intensive to use the pre-shelled frozen peas. And we busy moms need all the time-savers we can get!
2-3 medium sweet potatoes
1/3 cup water
¼ tsp. fresh ground cinnamon (optional, for babies at least 6 months old)
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, for babies at least 6 months old)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place washed sweet potatoes directly on a baking sheet, lined with aluminum foil. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until sweet potatoes are completely tender. Set aside to cool.
Once sweet potatoes are cool, peel off skin and cut into large chunks. Place sweet potatoes in food processor, add water, cinnamon (optional) and vanilla (optional) and puree until completely smooth. Add more water if necessary, to achieve desired consistency.
Distribute mixture evenly amongst ice cube trays or cupcake tins, dependent upon desired portion size.
Go get your green on with this yummy vegetable staple! Their mild flavor ensures little ones will gobble up their greens!
1 lb. fresh green beans, washed and ends removed
½ cup water
Place green beans in steamer. (If you don’t have a steamer, place metal colander over a pot of boiling water and cover.) Steam beans for 7-8 minutes or until tender.
Remove cooked beans from steamer/colander and put in food processor. Add water and process until completely smooth.
Once cooled, distribute mixture evenly amongst ice cube trays or cupcake tins, dependent upon desired portion size.When ice cubes are frozen, remove cubes from tray and store in a resealable plastic freezer bag or freezer container. Label package with contents and date. Use within 1 month. Before serving, let thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
1 4 ounce large carrot, cut in 1-inch chunks
1/2 cup water
Place carrot in a medium saucepan. Add water. Bring water to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 15 to 20 minutes or until tender.
Remove carrot with a slotted spoon and put in food processor. Add water and process until completely smooth
Once cooled, distribute mixture evenly amongst ice cube trays or cupcake tins, dependent upon desired portion size. When ice cubes are frozen, remove cubes from tray and store in a resealable plastic freezer bag or freezer container. Label package with contents and date. Use within 1 month. Before serving, let thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

In Disney•Pixar’s new animated film COCO Dia De Los Muertos is brought to life as we follow Miguel on an extraordinary journey through the stunning & colorful land of the dead to unlock the real story behind his family history. COCO was inspired by the deep roots and traditions in Mexico that center around the Dia de los Muertos holiday. Dia de los Muertos is about family, traditions, and remembering those that have paved the way for us to be who we are.
Fun Fact: The team that worked on COCO spent over 3 years visiting Mexicos’ many markets, plazas, workshops, churches, haciendas, and cemeteries, soaking in the culture, true meaning and significance of Dia de los Muertos.