Star Wars Downloadable Activity Sheets #MyStarWars

A new TOMORROWLAND featurette is now available including interviews with George Clooney, Director Brad Bird and more.
From Disney comes two-time Oscar® winner Brad Bird’s riveting, mystery adventure “Tomorrowland,” starring Academy Award® winner George Clooney. Bound by a shared destiny, former boy-genius Frank (Clooney), jaded by disillusionment, and Casey (Britt Robertson), a bright, optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity, embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space known only as “Tomorrowland.” What they must do there changes the world—and them—forever.
Featuring a screenplay by “Lost” writer and co-creator Damon Lindelof and Brad Bird, from a story by Lindelof & Bird & Jeff Jensen, “Tomorrowland” promises to take audiences on a thrill ride of nonstop adventures through new dimensions that have only been dreamed of.
Like TOMORROWLAND on Facebook | Twitter
Visit the official TOMORROWLAND website: www.Disney.com/Tomorrowland
TOMORROWLAND opens in theaters everywhere on May 22nd!
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Sofia’s Aunt Tilly returns to give her a gift that will unlock a secret world and appoint Sofia storykeeper of magical books in “Sofia the First: The Secret Library,” the first episode of a four-part story arc, debuting MONDAY, OCTOBER 12 on Disney Channel (9:00 a.m., ET/PT) and Disney Junior (7:00 p.m., ET/PT). The episode features a special appearance by Merida from Disney•Pixar’s “Brave.” Bonnie Hunt and Eric Stonestreet reprise their roles as Aunt Tilly and Sofia’s flying horse, Minimus, respectively. Hugh Bonneville lends his voice as the Narrator throughout the four-part Secret Library storyline. Additional guest stars include Cary Elwes as nefarious Prince Roderick, Ruth Connell as Merida and Dean Norris as Minimus’ brother, Mazzimo.
Today, Tuesday, September 1, Disney Publishing Worldwide releases the illustrated storybook and e-book Sofia the First: The Secret Library, which introduces the tale of how Sofia becomes storykeeper of magical books without endings and now, must pursue adventures that will finish the narratives. An accompanying app featuring three exclusive stories and play experiences will be released on Thursday, October 8.
A full-length preview and game for “Sofia the First: The Secret Library” will debut on WATCHDisneyJunior.com and the WATCH Disney Junior app beginning Monday, October 5.
Disney Junior is hoping to inspire the youngest of kids to put pen to paper with “Dear Sofia,” a special initiative tied to the hit animated series. In today’s digital world, the art of the handwritten letter is often lost. Whether they want to know more about Sofia’s home in Enchancia, her friends, or to tell Sofia about their own adventures and send her a picture that they’ve drawn, Disney Junior is inviting kids to send a hand-written letter to Sofia and receive a response back in the mail. Please visit DisneyJunior.com/DearSofia for more information.

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Today, Jan 9, 2017 is National Apricot Day! We love to celebrate such yummy things around here, so we decided to create a recipe just for it! We made a delicious & juicy apricot chicken with a panko crusted asparagus and even the kiddos were diving in.
I love using jams and jellies in so called unconventional ways…like my PB & J Smoothie or this Apricot Chicken. I do cook for a large family so this one will feed a family of 7.
Ingredients:
2 jars (15oz) of Apricot Fruit Spread
5 lbs chicken thighs or cut up chicken breasts
2 lbs asparagus
3 tbs garlic
1 box garlic panko bread crumbs
1 tbs salt
1 tbs pepper
2 eggs
1 cup flour
1 tbs of parsley or cilanto
Instructions:
Apricot Chicken:
Mix together 1 jar apricot fruit spread 1 tbs garlic, salt & pepper into large bowl
Sear chicken in skillet then place into crockpot
Pour apricot mixture over chicken & let cook on low for about 3-4 hours
Mix together the rest of jar 2 of apricot fruit spread 1 tbs garlic & parsley or cilantro
Remove from crockpot and place onto sprayed sheet pan
Coat chicken with apricot mixture and bake at 450* for about 10 minutes
Panko Crusted Asparagus:
Scramble eggs in low dish & mix in about 1-2 tbs of apricot fruit spread
Wash asparagus dip into flour, then egg mixture then panko bread crumbs and place onto sprayed sheet pan leaving space in between each stock
Bake at 425 for 15 minutes
Serve with chicken & garlic rice (I use RiceARoni)…I know it sounds like a lot of garlic, but trust me, it’s not! It really brings each piece of the meal together with a hint of the garlic flavor but it’s not overwhelming…
What fruit spread do you love to use in your cooking?

If you’ve ever read the Doctor Strange comics, or seen any Marvel movies, you know it takes someone special to take on such an epic & strange tale. As it turns out Scott Derrickson was up to the challenge to bring the mind-bending effects and dimension jumping story to the big screen. Known for his horror movies you can definitely see his touch in this movie.
It’s always fun to interview talent, but sometimes it’s even more fun to talk to the person responsible for bringing the talent and film together to create…well awesomeness.
The Visual Effects
Scott tells us that it was a long time developing the visual effects…
“but it was, it was one of the most creative parts of the whole process because the idea going into it was to use visual effects for a new reason than what you usually get in big event movies. In big event movies, even in Marvel movies, special effects are usually used to destroy things. It’s about destroying cities…create–because that’s what creates screen stimulus. And I just felt committed to the idea of using those big expensive visual effects for something else, something new, something more interesting, and specifically, something trippy, and weird. And to give the audience an unexpected experience.”
Trust me when I say, mission accomplished! (but more on that in my review coming Friday)
Let’s Take A Trip…To The 60’s
The 60’s comics were the primary influence for the movie.
“Those early Stan Lee, Steve Ditko comics, which were very much products of the 60’s, and the 60’s psychedelia…the weird imagery of the movie is so rooted in the Steve Ditko artwork from that era. I listened to almost nothing but psychedelic rock from that era while I was working on this screenplay. I mean, that’s really — that’s, it, it’s why there’s one Pink Floyd track in there that’s from the first Pink Floyd album, back in their early psychedelic days. What I wanted to do was to not make a throwback movie, or a nostalgic movie. I didn’t want to try to go back and recapture the 60’s revolution feel, but I wanted to have that same mindset of open your mind, expand your mind, see things new…The goal was to take that 60’s mentality, and then bring it into a modern superhero movie and do it with a with a character who was about something.”
The Choice of The Ancient One
Okay, so we talked a little about this in our Tilda Swinton interview the other day…but lets here why Scott choose to go with a woman vs the traditional comic ancient Tibetan man.
“That choice was twofold. Um, the first reason was because I was trying to find ways, creative ways, and positive ways, to escape the racial stereotypes from the original comics. You know, they were products of the 60’s for good and bad, those comics. For bad, the Ancient One, and Wong, those two characters were, were pretty offensive racial stereotypes, by modern standards. With Wong’s character, I was able to completely reinvent. I sort of inverted his character. Everything about his character in the comics, I just flipped on its head. Instead of a man servant he’s a master of the mystic arts. Instead of a sidekick, he’s Strange’s intellectual mentor. You know, so that was great. With the Ancient One, I couldn’t really do that. The Ancient One still had to be a magical, mystical, domineering, martial arts mentor, to Doctor Strange.
So the first thing I wanted to do is make it a woman… And I did that to get away from the cliché and the stereotype, but I also did that because I wanted a woman Tilda’s age. You know, I wanted a woman who wasn’t the 26 year old, tightly leather clad, hot, fan boy dream girl. I wanted to have a real woman in the movie, in terms of trying to get diversity in there. I thought about casting an Asian woman. We had lots of discussion about that. But I couldn’t get away from the stereotype of the Dragon Lady.
So then I started thinking, well who could bring the ethereal, enigmatic, mystical qualities of the Ancient One, from the comics, that are good? And I was like, Tilda. I was trying to write the role, and it was the one role in the movie that was flat, it was just a flat role. It just, every version I did of it was just not great. It was not working. And then I, when I came up with the idea in my head about Tilda doing it, suddenly the role came to life, and I wrote it, without her knowing anything about the movie, or knowing that I was interested in her doing it, I wrote it for her, and it was great.”
Casting
All five lead roles were exactly what he wanted…They were all first choice actors and all available to film.
Motivation Behind The Movie: Why Doctor Strange?
“I grew up with Marvel comics. Doctor Strange is my favorite comic. And when I heard they were making it I felt like it was the only comic book character I was uniquely suited to do.”
“When I went in for the first meeting, I was amazed at how in line my thinking about the comic was with theirs. And that was the point where it was almost like a switch flipped in my brain, and I just said, I’m getting this job, and I’m going to outwork everyone on the presentation. I wrote the astral fight that they have in the hospital, that 12 page scene, before my second meeting.”
So what is Scotts favorite Scene & Line…The Same as just about everyone else’s…but I can’t tell you until Friday!
“I don’t think that we could’ve done that, even three or four years ago. It’s like, visual effects have finally caught up with Steve Ditko, you know?”
Be sure to grab your tickets because you don’t want to miss this movie!
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As most of you know we LOVE LeapFrog in our home! We’ve been using and watching LeapFrog products for 13 years now, so you know I love when they come out with something new my kiddos can watch or play with. Their DVD collection has grown immensely over the years and now includes Letter Factory Adventures. The newest LeapFrog Letter Factory: The Great Shape Mystery teaches children about 2D & 3 D shapes, fractions & measurements all while they just think they are watching an entertaining movie.
Solve the mystery of shapes and fractions with the LeapFrog friends! Join the LeapFrog friends as they discover that fun, learning-filled adventure comes in all shapes and sizes. There’s a new machine at the Letter Factory…but no one knows Lily, and Tad set out to unlock the machine’s secret, embarking on an amazing journey that will teach them about shapes, fractions, and measurements – and give them the tools they need to solve The Great Shape Mystery!
LeapFrog Letter Facotry: The Great Shape Mystery is released as a DVD Combo Pack with a digital copy included. Special features include sing-along & curriculum commentary.
DVD Releases: 8th September 2015
Rating: NYR
Duration: 37 minutes
Genre: Educational
Special Features
Sing-Along Videos
Curriculum commentary for Parents
WIN IT!
Three lucky My Sparkling Life Readers are going to win LeapFrog Letter Facotry: The Great Shape Mystery on DVD! This giveaway is open to residents of the US who are 18+ until 11:59 PM EST Oct 13, 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 Lionsgate. In the rare occasion that a prize does not arrive (which has happened), please notify me and I will try to contact the sponsor.
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.”