Monkey Kingdom DVD Review

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There’s nothing more awe-inspiring for expecting parents than the sound of their baby’s heartbeat, heard for the first time during an ultrasound appointment. Now this milestone moment can be preserved forever thanks to the ultimate pregnancy keepsake: My Baby’s Heartbeat Bear. This innovative gift provides everything needed to capture that precious sound and create a permanent treasure.
About MY BABY’S HEARTBEAT BEAR
Capture the memory of hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time with our adorable heartbeat animals. All of our kits come with a stuffed animal and 20-second recorder that will save your recording even after battery changes. Planning a gender reveal party? Our gender reveal kit is the perfect way to find out the sex of your baby and capture the sound of your baby’s heartbeat to be cherished forever. You can even transfer a recording of your baby’s heartbeat from your phone or computer. Don’t forget to download our app and backup baby’s heartbeat for safe keeping.
Thoughts
The idea of a heartbeat bear animal is adorable. I know many people who have had miscarriages or losses who would love to have had something like this to remind them of that oh so precious sound. I like how you can not only have the sound in the small heart of the animal but also have a backup on your phone/computer. Knowing me, I wouldn’t keep a stuffed animal forever (unless maybe I lost a child), I find them to be more of a child’s thing. The Vintage Sloth itself is soft and cuddly and “fun to play with” so my 4-year-old says.

OKAY YA’LL!! Star Wars Excitement!
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS products are set to be unveiled in the world’s first-ever global live toy unboxing event. Unfolding over 18 hours in 15 cities and 12 countries, the event will see highlights from the range of epic merchandise revealed in a rolling New Year’s Eve style celebration featuring top digital stars from the Maker Studios network.
Star Wars toys have always played an important role in how our fans interact with the Saga,” says Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “They’ve inspired multiple generations to relive the experience of the movies and to create new adventures all their own. These spectacular Star Wars: The Force Awakens products will continue that tradition.”
Kicking off in Sydney, Australia on the morning of September 3, and continuing through Asia, Europe, Canada, and North & South America, selections from the new toy line will debut to global fanfare leading up to retailers around the globe opening their doors at midnight.
“Over the course of 18 hours, some of Maker Studios’ biggest stars will each be unboxing a new toy from the Star Wars: The Force Awakens product line in a different city around the world and sharing the experience live on YouTube.” said Leslie Ferraro, President, Disney Consumer Products. “We’ve seen tremendous excitement for these new products and can’t wait to see the global reaction from the Star Wars fan community.”
The Star Wars YouTube channel will host the live stream, which kicks off with the first unboxing in Sydney, Australia at7:45 a.m. local time on Thursday, Sept. 3 (5:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 2), with the grand finale at Lucasfilm in San Francisco at 8 a.m. PDT (11 a.m. EDT) on Thursday, Sept. 3. Each of the 15 locations will reveal a new product inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
These “unboxing” videos will feature online personalities sharing the excitement of opening the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens toys. Unboxing videos overall have captivated millions of Internet viewers and continue to grow in popularity. Eighteen of the top 100 most viewed YouTube Channels worldwide are dedicated to toys and toy unboxings. These 18 channels accounted for 8.1 billion views in Q1 2015.[1]
“We’re excited to be part of this first-of-its-kind initiative,” said Chris M. Williams, Chief Audience Officer, Maker Studios. “The unboxing world continues to expand rapidly as audiences around the world connect with digital creators who share their passions. This shared fandom helps attract billions of monthly views and consistently puts the genre at the top of the YouTube charts.”
The global unboxing event will incorporate traditional toy unboxers such as the popular EvanTubeHD, channels featuring families such as Bratayley, lifehack specialists such as ExpCaseros, gamers such as AlexBy11 and Star Wars fans from around the world, including Chris Pirillo, bringing with them a broad audience and appeal.
The full schedule is available at www.StarWars.com
Several countries will join the live stream from YouTube Spaces (Berlin, Tokyo, London), with Star Wars commentators Anthony Carboni and Andi Gutierrez hosting the event from the YouTube Space, Los Angeles.
Fans can tune in to watch live unboxings at home or on mobile devices, and also enjoy the latest trailers on the upcoming movie, commentary from special guests, fun product videos and demos, and footage from recent Star Wars events.
The global celebration culminates at midnight local time, when many retailers around the world will open their doors to fans to purchase Star Wars: The Force Awakens toys, collectibles, books, apparel and more. Visit starwars.com for more details on participating locations. Additionally, select Disney Store locations around the world will take part. More details are available at www.DisneyStore.com/ForceFriday.
Fans are encouraged to document their experiences around the event on social media using the hashtag #ForceFriday.
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Visit the official STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS website
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS arrives in theaters everywhere on December 18th!

On April 25, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal’s Gorkha region, triggering an avalanche on Mt. Everest and devastating local communities. That’s the story you know. The story you don’t often hear is what happens next: the struggle to get Nepal back on its feet. That’s where you come in.
Intrepid Travel will be donating all profits from its 2015/16 Nepal trips to on-the-ground projects supported by our not-for-profit organization, The Intrepid Foundation. Having already raised over $300,000 USD in our Nepal Earthquake Appeal, our target is to reach $1 million in fundraising by the end of next year’s season. This is an achievable goal, and it needs just one thing to be successful: you.
All you have to do is book a Nepal trip in 2015 or 2016. Intrepid will take 100 per cent of those profits and put them towards on-the-ground projects supported by The Intrepid Foundation.
We’ve accomplished a lot already, but the true test for Nepal still lies ahead. For all the most up-to-date info on our trips, safety assessments and our foundation partners in Nepal, click the link below.
LEARN MORE

A special Thank You to Daddy & Co. for providing a product to facilitate my review! When it comes to having a baby, everyone gets so excited to get gift for mommy and baby…but what about daddy? Daddy gets forgotten half the time, but one company has gone out of their way to make dad feel like a part of the big day too! Daddy & Company® is the offspring of Robert Nickell, who fathered his first four children more than 20 years ago. Daddy & Company® was conceived when Robert, who remarried in 2007, discovered he was about to be a father all over again in 2009! Not wanting to endure the pains of wearing uncomfortable street clothes while comforting his laboring wife, Robert hatched the idea of creating doctor-like scrubs for himself. It seemed a natural thing for him to do — since Robert is a pharmacist by profession. To eliminate the confusion between “who’s the doctor” and “who’s the daddy,” Robert fashioned the concept of “I’m The Daddy®” medical scrubs. We were sent the Daddy Swag Gift Set and hubby was so excited and even more so with everything that I pulled out of the box that it comes in! The box set includes an assortment of great gifts just for Daddy… • DaddyScrubs – Edgy, Navy • I’m the Daddy Tee – White Edgy • I’m the Daddy Hat – Navy • I’m the Daddy coffee mug This set retails for $89.95 and is well worth it! I’m so glad that there is finally a company taking dad into consideration! Daddy & Co. has a variety of gifts…including other gift sets, a variety of apparel, home & office and more! I highly recommend surprising the new daddy in your life with a little gift of his own, especially the scrubs! So cute that he can be in the delivery room in his “I’m The Daddy” scrubs! The scrubs come in three colors..Navy, Green and Khaki. They are made of 65% polyester, 35% cotton and fit a little snug ( I got hubby a 2x his normal size and it was a little snug around the chest area ). The tee shirt is made of 100% cotton and fit true to size. The hat and tee have been worn multiple times and makes him proud every time he puts it on. He uses his “I’m the Daddy” mug with his coffee every morning and uses his pens at work. This has been such a great gift set that last long past the hospital stay!
Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links with fund the Mom of 4 Boys blog. I have received a product(s) for review purposes only, however I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Daddy & Co. has not influenced the editorial nature of this post, and No other compensation was received. Please see our disclosure policy for more information.

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
Winter is finally here, and for those of you who embrace the icy winds and heavy snowfall, a ski vacation is the perfect winter getaway. Feeling the cool air sting your face as you admire the dramatic mountain landscape from atop the ski lift & experiencing the rush of adrenaline as your skis first hit the snow and you stare down the mountain…there’s nothing quite like a day on the slopes. If you’re dying to jump right in and hit the snowcapped slopes, here is a list of 10 Winter Vacation Destinations you’ll want to check out.
10 Winter Vacation Destinations
Lake Tahoe
If you’ve never been Lake Tahoe is beautiful no matter the season! With many massive ski resorts and plenting of dining and nightlife venues, Lake Tahoe is a top destination for travelers. You’ll definitely want to bring your camera to capture the fun and adventure in the winter vacation destination.
Aspen
When you ask someone about to winter sports destinations, chances are you’ve heard the name Aspen, Co pop up. Why? Aspen has slopes that welcomes snow lovers of all skill levels. Plus, when you’ve had your fill of snow for the day, you’ll find plenty of high-end shopping and family fun museums you can check out. Aspen is a winter vacation destination the whole family will enjoy.
Breckenridge
This tiny little town of 4,500 at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Co is known for its gorgeaous ski resort, year-round alpine activities, highest chairlift in North America and Gold Rush history. You can walk downtown, that still has that victorian charm, and visit an array of boutiques, restaurants & bars.
Telluride
This small town in Colorado draws thousands of visitors each year with its array of snow-capped slopes. Spend your day on one of the many peaks at Telluride Resort or enjoy a scenic gondola ride over to the town of Mountain Villiage. You can also enjoy shopping & dining or any of the other winter activities Telluride has to offer.
Vail
Vail is one of the country’s most popular wintertime destinations thanks to its two prime ski areas: Vail Ski Resort and Beaver Creek Ski Resort. Enroll the kids in ski & snowboard school & enjoy the nearby mountain ranges cross-country paths. Plenty of lodging, restaurants, and shopping…you can find the perfect fit for you.
Big Sky
Big Sky not only offers big slopes just outside of Yellowstone, but they offer an array of activities the whole family will love like: Dog Sledding, Ice Skating & Sleigh Rides. The Big Sky resort offers ski lessons and child care so you can even enjoy a kidless lunch or dinner while on your family vacation.
Photo: Glenniss Indreland
Stowe
Enjoy cross country skiing & snowshoeing as well as skiing the highest peek in Vermont! Kids can enjoy the ski school, adventure course or child care facility. You can also enjoy zip tour, gondola rides & a skating rink as well as plenty local restaurants and boutiques. Need a little pampering? Stowe Mountain Lodge can take care of that in their spa & wellness center…even your kids ages 6+ can enjoy the spa experience too.
Lake Placid
Lake Placid is the perfect destination for a family vacation, friendly reunion, or a romantic getaway. With a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities to choose from, the hardest part of planning your vacation will be deciding whether to join us for a weekend or a week! From skiing to skating, spa time to wine and beer tastings, the Adirondacks offers variety for all ages.
Gatlinburg
Surrounded on three sides by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg takes pride in its mountain heritage and the local culture of this gateway city to the Smokies. Small town charm is everywhere you look – from quaint shops and unique art and crafts galleries to the walkable downtown area bustling with friendly faces, fun attractions and hometown restaurants. Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort & Amusement Park provides year-round ice skating and outdoor family fun in addition to great winter snow sports once the 120-person Aerial Tramway takes you to the summit. Gatlinburg vacations are action-packed and fun for the whole family!
Park City
Welcome to Park City, UT – This historic mining town is now world-renowned for skiing and snowboarding. Three major ski areas and the Utah Olympic Parks surround the city while the stunningly beautiful Wasatch Mountains provide a backdrop for an array of other winter activities as well. Enjoy a romantic weekend getaway at one of our many fine lodging establishments, dine at dozens of acclaimed restaurants, visit the galleries and boutique shops, or enjoy snowmobiling, fishing, snowshoe adventures, bobsled, luge, horseback, or sleigh rides.
If you’re looking for a fun family vacation or romantic getaway, each one of these locations has something special to offer. Hit one, or try a few…tag #msladventures on Instagram if you do visit one…I’d love to see your adventure on the slopes! Which winter vacation destination will you check out first?
Need some gear? You might enjoy this post:
Must Have Ski Gear For The Whole Family