Need To Know's About Disney's The Jungle Book | Film Review

This was really cool and I wanted to share the news! Khan Academy just launched Pixar in a Box, a behind-the-scenes look at Pixar Animation Studios’ creative process. It’s a Free online curriculum that shows how Pixar filmmakers use science, technology, engineering, art and math to create movie magic.
Through a series of video lessons, interactive exercises, and hands-on activities, students will discover how the academic concepts they learn in school enable Pixar filmmakers to create new worlds, animate unique characters and tell stories through animation. Although designed especially for students in middle and high school, these resources are available to learners of all ages, completely free of charge.
“Our mission at Khan Academy is a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere,” said Sal Khan, Founder and CEO of the not-for-profit Khan Academy. “Sparking student interest in math and other academic fields is a key part of that, and we’re delighted to collaborate with Pixar to achieve this goal. Pixar in a Box gives students a new way to engage with key academic concepts and see how creative these concepts can be.”
Khan and Catmull officially unveiled Pixar in a Box at a special event yesterday evening on the Pixar campus in Emeryville, CA. After an introduction from Klaidman, local educators learned the story behind the project and then received a live demonstration of Pixar in a Box from two of its creators – Brit Cruise, Content Producer at Khan Academy, and Tony DeRose, Senior Scientist and Research Group Lead at Pixar. The evening concluded with a question-and-answer session moderated by Klaidman.
“Many students start to lose interest in academics in middle and high school, partly because they don’t see how academic concepts relate to things they care about,” said DeRose. “Pixar in a Box aims to address this disconnect by showing how Pixar filmmakers use these concepts for creative benefit in their everyday work.”
Starting today, students can access Pixar in a Box and learn:
· How combinatorics are used to create crowds, like the swarm of robots in WALLŸE.
· How parabolas are used to model environments, like the forest in Brave.
· How weighted averages are used to create characters, like Buzz Lightyear and Woody.
· How linear and cubic interpolation are used to animate characters.
· How trigonometry is used to create the worlds in which Pixar stories take place.
· How simultaneous equations are used to paint all of Pixar’s images.
“These lessons are the first phase of the project,” said Cruise. “While the first year focuses on math, future Pixar in a Box lessons will explore science, computer science, arts, and humanities.”

It doesn’t matter whether it’s your 1st baby, or your 6th…we all have trouble telling whether it’s true labor or not. I know for each of my boys it was different, and Braxton hicks sure feel a lot like the first stage { 0-4 } of true labor…Here is a guide to help you determine whether or not it’s truly Miracle Time!
I’ve been told a few things about false labor… first, if you drink a couple glasses and lay down on your left side false labor should let up. Second, if you walk, the contractions will get stronger if it is real labor. I can say that with false labor a couple glasses of water and a nap will take care of them for me. The walking part hasn’t been as true for me… and since every woman is different it is hard to be sure.
I have found the only reliable way to know whether or not it is true labor is time. You will either continue to have contractions – or they will fade out and stop. It’s always good to ask your doctor when s/he would like you to call when you think you are in labor. Generally, all doctors say to call if you think you may be in labor before 37 weeks, but after that time your doctor will probably tell you to call when your contractions are 5-7 minutes apart and have been for over an hour.
When did you know you were in “true” labor?

A Special Thank You to Minky Chic for providing a product to facilitate my review! When it comes to my babies I love to get things that are silky and adorable. And nothing is more silky and adorable than baby blankets! And I can never have too many! I was recently given the opportunity to review a super silky minky & satin blanket from Minky Chic! Minky Chic is a company of love, a love of everything plush! Minky Chic is a one-woman, home-based business. All items are handmade in my personal studio. I am a perfectionist and strive very hard to make sure all blankets meet my own high standards as well as those of my consumers. As a mother myself I know how important baby blankets in particular can be. Security blankets are a wonderful part of childhood, providing a sense of ownership and safety in a nice warm and very soft package. After making my first minky blanket I became fascinated with the fabric. I began researching it’s history and found out that minky fabric was first used to make mostly stuffed animals, changing pad covers and shopping cart seat covers. Then came the blankets and its popularity soared. It has created a rage in all markets and is much loved by all who have discovered it. At Minky Chic I provide a wide assortment of minky products for all ages. Minky blankets and pillows are great additions to any living room, family room or bedroom. Minky blankets are also great additions to a teenagers room or college dorm room. Everyone can find a blanket they’ll love at Minky Chic. From the moment it came out of the shipping box I knew I was in love! Not only do they stitch with love, but they pack it with love too! The blanket came wrapped in tissue paper, and a satin ribbon. I love hand made items just because you know there was love put behind it…it wasn’t machine made, it was made by someones hands, and you know they take pride in their work, the Minky Chic blanket is no exception! Silky satin on one side, soft minky fabric on the other and trimmed in silk makes this blanket super cuddly! And the 30×40 size makes it big enough to last the whole first year and possible beyond (depending on your child’s size). I choose a brown color because it is a neutral and it can go with any gender or theme! Being a tad thicker, it is unusually cool to the touch, but warms nicely to match your little ones temperature. This satin will soften more and more over time as washed and yet will hold up well over multiple washings. All minkys are made of 100% Polyester making them both hypoallergenic and fade resistant. Minky blankets are far superior to fleece and even cotton as fibers will not break down over time with multiple washings. I love this blanket and am excited to share Minky Chic with you! Minky Chic has so many designs & styles to choose from! And even if you don’t like the satin, they have two sided minky blankets to choose from! They also do embroidery, pillows & pet products! Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links with fund the Mom of 3 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. Minky Chic has not influenced the editorial nature of this post, and No other compensation was received. Please see our disclosure policy for more information. Now that you know all about Minky Chic, its time to win your own! Just fill in the form below for your chance to win!

With two boys in school, I try often to show my appreciation to the ladies and gents that take care of them 80% of the time…yes, I’m talking their teachers. They didn’t have to choose to teach the next generation and they certainly put up with a lot of crap…trust me I remember my days in school and I know it hasn’t gotten any better. So what better way to show your appreciation for all that they do..the late nights, the yelling over an overly excited class of 32, the endless pile of paperwork, the “days off” organizing the class room..than to gift them something special.
Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated every year, and this year will be celebrated from May 4th through May 8th. Lakeshore Learning recognizes that there are many great teachers out there who go above and beyond. To celebrate, they are sponsoring this Lakeshore Learning Prize Package giveaway worth $180 that you can gift to a special teacher in your life!
I had many teachers who helped me throughout the years..but there is one teacher that I still keep in touch with that helped me in both the written word and the spoken word…Cindy Timms was both my English teacher and my Drama teacher. English was never my forte or passion, and I was terrified to get up in front of others, let alone speak in front of them. Two years with her in each, and while I’m still not the best a writing, I do enjoy doing it, or hey I wouldn’t be here right?
Now with my boys in school, there have been many teachers that have loved my boys like their own. My oldest has a bit (ok a lot) of ADHD and his first year in school was awful, the teacher treated him like the plague and he still talks about how crappy she made him feel to this day..thank goodness we changed schools after that and the next teacher worked diligently with him and enjoyed having him in his class despite the inevitable disruptions…imagine if every teacher were like the first, I’m sure I would be homeschooling at this point, but it’s been teachers like his 1st grade teacher (forgive me I can’t remember names) that make learning fun and renewed my sons love of learning and my faith in teachers.
#LakeshoreCelebratesTeachers
Do you have a teacher that has made a difference in your’s or your child’s life? I would love to hear all about it!
One lucky My Sparkling Life Reader is going to win the Lakeshore Learning Prize Pack listed above ! This giveaway is open to residents of the US who are 18+ until 11:59 PM EST April 23, 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 Lakeshore Learning. In the rare occasion that a prize does not arrive (which has happened), please notify me and I will try to contact the sponsor.

I LOVE my jewelry! And love getting new and exciting pieces to add to my collection. So when I ran across a SOUFEEL charm bracelet, I knew I wanted to check them out!
The main focus of SOUFEEL are the charm bracelet, but they also offer necklaces, rings and earrings. The charms are from SOUFEEL which are 925 sterling silver and can fit Pandora, Chamilia bracelet with the lower price.
To create my bracelet, I chose a basic bracelet on which I would attach my charms. The bracelet is 925 sterling silver and it’s a very simple one. I like the simple bracelets, that way it doesn’t overpower the beautiful charms, and you can wear it on its own for a simple look. The clasp is unlike anything I’ve seen, and when it closes it looks just like another charm on the bracelet! The clasp is pretty simple to close and it NEVER opens by accident.
To start I picked three charms that were close to my heart! A Vintage Camera, A Red Suitcase & An Ocean Waves & Beach Glass Bead.
The Vintage Camera Charm, is for my passion for photography. I’ve always had this passion, even before I was old enough to have my own camera. I can’t tell you how often I drive my husband crazy with, “oh, that would make a great picture, I wish I had my camera with me!” The charm captures this beautifully! It’s sterling silver with a “diamond gem” for the lens. You all know I love sparkle so adding that touch made this charm even more special for me!
The Red Travel Suitcase Charm is for, well, my LOVE of travel. It’s in my soul. Ever since I was little I’ve wanted to travel the world and explore new (to me) places and experience new adventures. All the history, magic and wonder that the world holds is summed up in this tiny red suitcase charm!
The last bead that I ordered was the Waves and Beach Faceted Murano Glass Bead, it’s a beautiful ocean blue bead with gold foil inserts that represent the sand. I got this bead for my love of the open ocean and the fact that we live on the coast. I love that it adds a bit of classy color to my bracelet!
My finished bracelet is so cute and is really a reflection of me. It was tough narrowing it down and there are a few more charms I’ll be picking up: Passport, Cool Drink, and the Blue Heart that will represent my 4 little hearts that fill my heart. Plus a few spacers to fill it out!
If you are interested in purchasing SOUFEEL jewelry, definitely visit their website. I also have a discount code for you guys, which is Fry5. It will give you 5% off on your order. When you spend $59, $79, you will get special offers & SOUFEEL offers free shipping worldwide with orders over $50 and 365-day return and exchange guarantee. The presale items are very popular, and they have new presale items each month, so be sure to check back each month so you can fill up your charm bracelet!
Connect with SOUFEEL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
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.”