Why I Traded My iPad For The Samsung Tab S

In anticipation of American Odyssey’s premiere this Sunday, April 5 at 10/9c, I wanted to share some fun news with you! NBC and Google have teamed up to create an extended world for the show with an online companion site “Explore American Odyssey,” powered by Google Maps, that will focus on key cities and destinations from the show and allows fans to uncover hidden secrets, make new connections and view exclusive content. Fans can check back after new episodes have aired on NBC to view new content and discover the latest leaks and interceptions.
From writer-director Peter Horton (“Grey’s Anatomy”) and writers Adam Armus and Kay Foster (“The Following”) comes “American Odyssey,” a complex journey through global politics, corporate espionage and military secrets involving three strangers who only have one thing in common… the truth. In this “Traffic”-like action drama, an international cover-up explodes when the lives of a female Special Forces soldier, a disillusioned corporate lawyer and a political activist from a privileged family unexpectedly collide.
After a team of American soldiers battles jihadists in North Africa, they’re shocked to learn that they’ve stumbled upon and killed Al Qaeda’s top commander. Sergeant Odelle Ballard (Anna Friel, “Pushing Daisies”), a soldier, mother, wife and the unit’s only female member, discovers computer files that prove a major U.S. corporation is funding the jihadists. But before she can tell anyone, her team is attacked and killed. The world is told that the unit was wiped out by enemy militants, but the truth is that Odelle survived and is the only witness to her unit’s true assassins: private military contractors – Osela (think “Blackwater”).
The Fight of Her Life (Preview)
American Odyssey premieres Sunday, April 5 at 10/9c on NBC.
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We love all of the colorful rainbow and green recipes and crafts that come around during St. Patrick’s Day. This Rainbow Mobile (or Windsock) craft from The Neighborhood Moms is a super easy (and cheap!) craft that you can do with the kids. Hang it up inside or out and spread a bit of the St. Patty cheer! Click here for the instructions!
Be sure to also visit our other 12 Days of St. Patrick’s Day posts below!

This week marks the end of my post for the #McFarlandUSAEvent I attended in LA a few weeks ago. This week I get to share a few posts for Tinkerbell and the Legend of the Neverbeast! Before I get to the review, which i’ll have for you tomorrow, I’m going to share my interview with Ginnifer Goodwin, who plays Fawn thee animal fairy.
Now don’t kill me…but I’m going to admit I’m prob the only one on planet earth who didn’t know who she was. I don’t watch any of the shows she’s been on, so I had to do my research before attending the interview. Before we get to the questions, let me say that her pictures do nothing for her, she is strikingly beautiful, and very down to earth. Even though she has already given birth, she still has a glow about her that’s very alluring.
As you know from my other posts about it, I love Tinkerbell, so to get to meet one of the voices behind it was exhilarating.
Q: Do you share any traits with Fawn?
I think I’m always sort of cast for myself , but I think that, I’ve almost only been, yes, cast for the characters that I naturally exhibit. I think optimism and, faith and hope and, love of life. Love of others. I think that Fawn and I are both animated in the same way as it were.
I do think
that I’m certainly cast for being me, absolutely.
Q: Is that your first figure/doll?
I hadn’t thought of that, yes, I think it is
Q: Being that you were pregnant did that help with the emotional levels?
Yeah. Just call me in for like any job that requires crying. I’ve never had a problem being overly emotional. I think that we all sort of I don’t know. I think a lot of actors we’re just sort of like freaks who really conveniently found outlets. I don’t know what I would do if I weren’t an actor because I am such a crybaby. I would just be like that weird cat lady that always crying, but instead I found a career that totally gives me an outlet. Being pregnant was like a whole other level of crying on cue.
She was told by her dr. during her pregnancy that she needed to get off her feet…but that didn’t stop her, Disney made up a bed for her to come in and record on!
I was told by my Doctor I had to get off my feet and they offered to postpone recording but I really wanted to do it so they were like Oh, we got something great. We got something great. And I’m OK. And we go in a Recording Booth and they’ve set me up in a bed in the Recording Booth and it’s covered in like Disney Stuffed Animals. And I got to record from the — the lying down with Disney Stuffed Animals for a couple of sessions and that was so good.
Q: Having a child now – do you think it changes the roles that you take?
I don’t know. Well, ironically I feel like after “Once Upon a Time” I think I need something a little more adult for my own creative satisfaction. Ironically maybe it’s kinda done the opposite where I feel like I have so much imagination in my life now. Because I’m with this youthful creature 24/7, I think that though I will want to for sure take jobs that will make him happy and proud like this one I think will.
Like the rest of the trip this was another amazing experience. A truly genuine and gracious person, I can’t wait to see what else she does..and oh, catch up on what she’s already done!
You can pickup Tinkerbell And The Legend Of The Neverbeast TODAY on Blu-Ray & Disney HD!
Follow TinkerBell: #Neverbeast #NeverbeastBloggers
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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.”

Life, like the weather, can be unpredictable. One minute you’re huddled up by a warm fire beating the chills of winter the next you’re peeling off layers as spring hits.
With the warm weather right around the corner we take a look at three tips to help prepare your hair and skin for the changing of the seasons, without the drama.
In the power of a fantastic skin care routine, morning and evening. Over the colder months, you might feel that your skin and hair needs a little extra TLC and is prone to drying out more but with the sun comes just as many challenges so at the very least step up that sunscreen application. Harmful UV rays might be the number one cause of ageing but they also play a key part in damaging skin that can lead to some types of skin cancer, so invest in a quality product today.
Your hair too will no longer have the frizz factor that comes with constantly whipping a wooly hat on and off, so now’s the time to treat your locks to some deep nourishing. Hair down is the new look over the summer so make sure your tresses are radiating shine. A great cut will do wonders for your overall sense of wellbeing, get rid of those dry ends and put back a summer swing in your step.
Cheap mascara is a false economy and unfortunately, it’s easy to end up buying beauty products that promise the earth but deliver very little. So our next tip when buying summer beauty products is to do your research. Whether you’re looking for a new set of hair straighteners or some tinted moisturizer, what you pay is often what you get.
When it comes to buying electrical goods, you don’t want to run the risk of getting landed with some faulty wiring so check out reviews on sites such as All The Stuff and lifestyle blogs to check out what everyone’s raving about and what’s best to avoid like cheap mascara.

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
Disclosure of Material Connection: This travel was #Hosted which means The company who sponsored it compensated me via all expenses paid trip, 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.”
Day 3, The last day at the D23 Expo! It’s bitter-sweet, I know within 24hrs I will see my kids again, get some sleep…yes sleep, we’ve been up till 1 am, and up at 6:30 am..so sleep is on my mind at this point…Yet there is so much more to see or do! It’s All Music And Games today!
Well to start we get to have breakfast and a Q&A with 4 Disney Short Director/Producers!! WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS SHORT FILMS COLLECTION which was released 8/18 is an an extraordinary new collection of award-winning and beloved short films including the never-before-released Frozen Fever, starring Frozen’s Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Sven and Kristoff, and the Oscar-nominated Lorenzo.
After breakfast we headed over to the D23 Expo for the final day of panels and shopping the show floor! We started at the It’s Game Time: Disney Interactive Takes the Stage panel.
Free Time! Time to explore some more of the Expo Floor!
Disney In Concert: A Silly Symphony Celebration…this was an amazing panel!! I mean, how often do you get to watch Silly Symphony cartoons/shorts with a live symphony?!
After that epic show, we headed over to the Disney Music Emporium to check out the new Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection series. This collection includes 12 collectors edition soundtracks from beloved Disney movies that are all celebrating a milestone this year. Walt Disney Records has teamed up with H2O+ in celebration of the release of The Legacy Collection through an empowering #ShareYourLegacy campaign. Read More
Our last free time, it was time to check out a few of the shops to see what goodies I could find & explore more of what the show floor has to offer. The Pod from Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy, Yoda made from Jelly Belly’s, Mini Radiator Springs Replica, and plenty of Disney Infinity 3.0 Fun! Plus, Look, Alex and Ani Bracelets! I stood strong, and didn’t buy anymore, but have several on my list!
“The Tunes Behind the Toons” screening and Q+A panel was our last panel at the D23 Expo. This was a short form documentary that celebrates the power of music in animation. From the silent film days when organists played live accompaniments, to the music within today’s animated features, this documentary traces the origins of cartoon music and its pioneers. We didn’t get to stick around for too much of the Q&A because we had to leave to catch flights.
Once we returned to the hotel, we said goodbye to many of our new friends had some dinner and drinks at the bar and then finally caught my shuttle to the airport at 9:30. My flight wasn’t until 12:50 am PST so it was a good thing I had Mariah from The Simple Parent to sit and talk with until our flights.
Goodbye Selfie
It wasn’t such a long flight from LA to Houston…maybe because I fell asleep right after take off…lol…hey, 4 days of early to rise, late to bed will catch up to you! Then I had a 3 hour layover in Houston…thank goodness it was in one of the smaller terminals so it wasn’t busy and I could just relax and try not to fall asleep. Finally boarded my hour flight to Corpus and guess what…fell asleep again! lol…I made it home around 10:30 am CST. It was a long weekend, but so worth it! I would jump at the chance to do it all over again!
THANK YOU DISNEY & PUBLISISTS (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) FOR INVITING ME ON SUCH AN EPIC WEEKEND! HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON!

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
Spring is around the corner and it’s time to get creative! Create the perfect Easter basket for your friends and family with a variety of our favorite DIY books. I have 2 of these titles and have been browsing them for about a week now. I have Home Decor Cheat Sheets and Smart Mom’s Guide to Essential Oils.
These DIY books from Ulysses Press are a great idea for any DIY lover!
Smart Mom’s Guide to Essential Oils
The primary concern for you, as a mother, is making sure your family is in good health and your home is a safe environment—a more difficult task than ever in an increasingly toxic world. Using the carefully crafted recipes and healing practices in this book, smart moms everywhere can take advantage of the incredible power of essential oils to overcome this vital dilemma.
Packed with hundreds of practical, holistic solutions, this complete guide to essential oils covers the most fundamental applications, from creating non-toxic homemade cleaners to relieving common aches and pains. Included are recipes for everyday emergencies and on-the-go first aid, while other concoctions aim to enhance individual mood, sleep, and weight.
With detailed information on the benefits of every type of oil, tips for safe practice, and a comprehensive list of resources, Smart Mom’s Guide to Essential Oils is an indispensable reference for moms looking to get the most from their oils.
Home Decor Cheat Sheets
You want your home to look good. But unfortunately, without knowing design principles, it’s very easy to make one little mistake after the next and turn your dream home into a decorating disaster. Distilling years of design school into a handy pocket primer, Home Decor Cheat Sheets shows you how to avoid common missteps and achieve a professional, stylish look.
With vital information and concepts presented in hand-drawn illustrations, this book’s unique approach requires mere seconds to bring you up to speed on a wide range of home topics, including furniture and lighting, rugs and tile, curtains and wall hangings, pillows and fabrics, and even hardware and fixtures.
These universal design rules and timeless decorating secrets apply to any space and situation, from low-priced apartments to high-end houses. With the help of Home Decor Cheat Sheets, you will finally feel confident that you’re making the right decisions when selecting a sofa style, determining curtain length, arranging pictures on their walls, picking the right size rug for a room, choosing a tile pattern, and so much more.
More From Ulysses Press
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.”