Disney On Ice Tour Deal

This year, Disney on Ice is celebrating the past 100 years of Disney magic, by touring with four separate shows. DISNEYLAND ADVENTURE includes Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Buzz Lightyear, Baloo, Cinderella and Snow White, and the Incredibles in a laugh-out-loud fun ride. 100 YEARS OF MAGIC brings 65 beloved characters from 18 Disney stores to life, MICKEY & MINNIE’S MAGICAL JOURNEY takes a journey into four well-known Disney stories with music, beauty and laughter, and WORLDS OF FANTASY provides a magical Disney fantasy on ice with dazzling skating and special effects, along with a free Disney Princess Pre-Show an hour before show time.

All four Disney On Ice shows feature exciting action, romance, comedy, athletic world-class skating, beloved Disney characters, and favorite Disney songs to which kids can sing and dance along. Their rich colors, costumes, bigger than life atmosphere, music, lighting, choreography and humor all contribute to making the experience one that builds childhood and family memories for years to come.

Thanks to Mom Central, I have the opportunity to share some great deals with you for Disney On Ice shows:

Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code “MOM” at select ticketing channels*. Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Gold Circle Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers. Other restrictions may apply.

Offer #2: A select amount of Front Row and VIP seats have been reserved for you to buy before they go on sale to the public – just enter the code “MOM” when purchasing those seats.
Dates and cities where families can use the national MOM code are as follows:

• Houston – Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey from April 15-April 19

• Dallas/Ft Worth – Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey from March 18-March 29

• Sunrise/Miami – Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy from March 26-April 5

• Toronto – Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy from March 18-March 22

• Kansas City – Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey from April 1-April 5

• Denver – Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure from March 12-March 15

• Phoenix – Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure from April 9-April 12

• Chicago/Rosemont – Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic from Sept 8-Sept 13

To learn more about Disney On Ice shows touring the country this year, visit http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/ and visit ticketmaster.com to use the 4 tickets for $44 code, MOM.

Top Ten Scariest Childrens Book Characters

Penguin books conducted a survey in which 600 grown-up readers were asked to identify the most frightening literary characters from childrens books.  The list of top 10 scary characters in kids-literature was compiled to celebrate the publication of Mr Toppit, a novel based on childrens writer Arthur Hayman.  Topping the list is the White Witch from “The Chronicles of Narnia.”  I remember not being able to sleep after reading “Where The Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak.

The monsters scared me so much, I didn’t read it again.  In fact, I have avoided reading it to my children while they are little because I don’t want them to be scared.  But that is part of the fun and adventure of reading,  having those intense feelings about a book and remembering those characters for the rest of your life.  A sign of a great book.  In fact, Spike Jonze is filming a movie version of ” Where The Wild Things Are” and just released some pictures on his website of the monsters here. They look as scary as I imagined they would and you can count on me to go see the movie and relive my childhood memories.  The complete list is below.  Do you remember what book scared you when you were a little?

1. White Witch (The Chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis – 1950)

2. Captain Hook (Peter Pan by J M Barrie – 1904)
3. The Grand High Witch (The Witches by Roald Dahl – 1983)
4. Wicked Stepmother (Snow White by Brothers Grimm – 1810)
5. Cruella de Vil (The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith – 1956)
6. Voldemort (Harry Potter books by J K Rowling – 1997)

7. The Child Catcher (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming though in the1968 film not book)
8. Miss Trunchbull (Matilda by Roald Dahl – 1988)
9. The Wolf (Red Riding Hood by Brothers Grimm – 1810)
10. Long John Silver (Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson – 1883)

Games For the Holiday!

We LOVE board games!  They are a fun activity to enjoy with your children and we try to plan game nights in ours.  Games are a great Christmas present for both children and adults. Games are also a cheaper source of entertainment.   Below are some classics, twists on the classics and some brand new games.  You can purchase them at retailers everywhere.

MEMORY Disney Princess Edition Game
Approx. Retail: $8.99

Flip the picture cards to find the most matching pairs. All the fun of the classic MEMORY game – with your favorite Disney Princess characters including Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Jasmine, Ariel.  No reading required to play!  www.hasbro.com

YAHTZEE Deluxe Edition
Approx. Retail: $15.99

Gold glitter dice, flocked dice tray, leatherette dice cup, giant scoring chips. A real treat for YAHTZEE connoisseurs!

* 1 or More Players.
* Includes Dice rolling tray with felt insert, 5 Dice, Dice Cup, Score Cards, 8 Tokens, 2 Pencils, Label, Instructions (English & Spanish).  www.hasbro.com

HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPOS Game
Approx. Retail: $16.99

HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPOS is a frantic marble munching game that kids love. Henry, Harry, Homer and Happy Hippo are hungry. Feed them all of the marbles and see who munches the most.

Includes Hippo Game Base, 4 Hippo Attachments, 4 Hippo Heads, 4 levers, 20 Marbles, Label Sheet, Instructions in English and Spanish.  www.hasbro.com

WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD – Game contains small balls.  Not for children under 3 years.
PLAYSKOOL GAMES GATOR GOLF
Approx. Retail: $20.99  www.hasbro.com

2008 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal
Bring the fun of mini-golf home! Your tots will be tickled to tee off with this goofy, golf ball-gulping gator. With putters that are sized perfectly for little hands, and a ball that’s light enough to pick up and putt with ease, there’s no limit to the fun they’ll have. Kids will giggle with surprise when the friendly gator “gobbles” up the ball, then returns it with a happy swish of his tail. Putt the ball into the friendly gator’s mouth to get a point. Four points wins the game!
• The ultimate mini-golf game for your little puttin’ pro! Kids can play solo or with a buddy, indoors or outdoors.

• Includes gator, 2 putters, 2 balls and instructions.
• For 1 to 2 players.
• Ages 3 and up.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse LETTERS & NUMBERS Game
Approx. Retail: $9.99  www.hasbro.com

Have a blast with the whole cast of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show. Grab a tile and see if you can match the numbers on your board!  Then flip the board over and see if you can pick the right tiles and spell out the names of your favorite Clubhouse characters.  The first player to fill up his or her gameboard is the winner. Will you be the Hot Dog in this game?

Game includes 4 two-sided gameboards (letters on one side, numbers on the other), 60 letter/number tokens, token bag and instructions.  Ages 3 and up.

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? DVD
Approx. Retail: $24.99  www.hasbro.com

Class is in session . . .on your TV screen! It’s time to show what you know as host Jeff Foxworthy asks you questions a 5th grader would know. The entire game is on the DVD so there’s nothing to set up. Just press play!  Ages 8 and up.

OPERATION Game
Approx. Retail: $13.99  www.hasbro.com

Doctor, the patient is here to see you! And he’s got a quite a few complaints, including a broken heart, water on the knee and butterflies in the stomach!

Use all your skill and coordination to remove the patient’s “ailments” with the tweezers – without setting off the buzzer and making the patient’s nose light up! When that happens, it’s time to call in a specialist!

* Requires 2 “AA” batteries (not included).
* For 1 or more players.

MONOPOLY Town
Approx. Retail: $15.99  www,hasbro.com

2008 Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award

Join Mr. MONOPOLY as he makes his way around town! Mr. MONOPOLY does all the talking to guide you through town – if he tells you to move forward two spaces, you know what to do! If you make a mistake, he’ll let you know! Play money and building blocks help make counting fun. And building is easy – just add a block when you land on a colored space.
* Includes 2 “AAA” Batteries
* WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD. Small Parts. Not for children under 3 years.

TRIVIAL PURSUIT DIGITAL CHOICE
Approx. Retail: $ 49.99 www.hasbro.com

Customize your favorite trivia game with TRIVIAL PURSUIT DIGITAL CHOICE. Includes an electronic unit containing 600 pre-loaded questions. Download up to 1,800 questions of your choice at no additional charge. Choose from over 100 micro categories at mytpchoice.com Includes electronic unit containing 600 pre-loaded questions, USB cable, 36 scoring wedges, 6 scoring tokens, 1 gameboard, 1 die and instructions..

TWISTER Hopscotch
Approx. Retail: $19.99

It’s a whole new way to hopscotch! How will you hop… In a straight line? A diamond or a zig zag? Why not make up your own way? Set up your path with the durable, non-slip rings and spin your way to hopscotch fun! TWISTER® HOPSCOTCH is easy to learn, quick to set up, and the movable rings let you change your path and customize your game every time you play!

* TWISTER® HOPSCOTCH is ideal for active indoor play! Set up the durable, non-slip rings and follow the directions on the spinner. Change your path for a new game every time!
* Includes 13 rings, 16 ring clips, spinner with arrow and base, carrying case and instructions.
* For 1 or more players.
* Ages 4 and up. www.hasbro.com
The Office DVD Board Game by Pressman Toy

For 2 to 6 Adult Players; $30; Available August 2008 at major retailers nationwide, including Target, Wal-Mart, Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Toys “R” Us.

The Office DVD Board Game from Pressman Toy combines video on DVD from America’s funniest television sitcom NBC’s The Office with a companion game board  allowing fans to interact with their favorite characters and put their show knowledge to the test.  Players go head-to-head answering trivia questions based on video clips, images and facts from The Office using their DVD remote control and moving around the game board.  Trivia Spaces test players’ knowledge.  Challenge spaces let players collect other players’ Schrute bucks. Clerical spaces test players’ speed, skill and resourcefulness. Michael Cards can help or hinder their path.  The first player to collect $1.00 in Schrute bucks wins.  Game play is different every time.

Guess What I Am! ™ by Techno Source

Ages 3+; $17.99; Available October 2008 at major retailers nationwide, including Wal-mart, Target, Toys “R” Us, and KB Toys. Visit www.guesswhatiamgame.com.

Guess What I Am!  is a tabletop game that puts a hilarious new twist on a classic guessing game. Place your face through the space of the mystery card, transform into one of 30 silly characters, and let the guessing begin. Roll the die to ask yes or no questions like “Do I play sports?” or “Do I have fur?” to narrow down the list of possible characters. The game’s guessing exercises encourage role play and also help develop deductive reasoning skills.  Keep track on the tally pad and cross off the characters to figure out who you are. First player to guess correctly wins. It features four games in one and is simple enough for kids to play alone or with their friends.