Want to watch the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop? I’ve got a webcast for that!

Want to watch the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop? I’ve got a webcast for that!

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Grammy Nominated Music Sensation Jessie J Announced as Headline Entertainer for Times Square New Year’s Eve Live, Commercial-Free Webcast 

Jessie J to Perform John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Many of Her Top Hits;  Singer-Songwriter Daya to Perform Hit Song “Hide Away” 

National television and radio personality Allison Hagendorf (Host on The CW, VH1, Fuse TV, SiriusXM) returns to host the live, commercial-free webcast for the fourth year. She will be joined by Maggie Rulli, Andrea Boehlke and Jeremy Hassell, who return for their third New Year’s Eve webcast. Rulli and Hagendorf will kick-off the six-hour celebration at 6 p.m. EST and welcome the nearly one million revelers attending the celebration in Times Square as well as introduce the star of the show, the Times Square Ball. At the top of each hour, Hagendorf will be joined by a special guest who will talk about his or her New Year’s Eve experience and Confetti Wish for the New Year and then lead the revelers in an hourly countdown. Throughout the night, Hagendorf will keep the revelers informed about the musical performances and other exciting entertainment in Times Square. Rulli will provide exclusive interviews and backstage access while Boehlke and Hassell will get the fun personal stories from the revelers arriving from around the world to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Times Square.

 

 

The seventh annual webcast, enabled by Livestream, will cover the action and festivities in Times Square, beginning with the Ball Raising at 6 p.m. EST, plus live musical performances, hourly countdowns, behind-the-scenes stories, and star-studded interviews as anticipation builds towards the midnight countdown and the famous Ball Drop.

International music sensation and Grammy Award nominee Jessie J will perform several of her top hits throughout the night and will continue the New Year’s Eve tradition of singing John Lennon’s “Imagine” moments before midnight. The British artist is best known for her wide vocal range and unconventional performance style, mixing soul vocals with contemporary, hip-hop and pop.

Additionally, singer-songwriter Daya will perform her hit song “Hide Away.”  Univision will present musical performances by Maluma and CNOC, winners of Univision’s hit reality show La Banda. Last year’s webcast was watched by more than 1.7 million unique viewers representing nearly 200 countries.

Image by Countdown Entertainment, LLC

Beyond last minute Christmas shopping at Sam’s Club #SamsClubHoliday

Beyond last minute Christmas shopping at Sam’s Club #SamsClubHoliday

Sams-Club-Logo-300x300Life happens, we all understand that – you can be a planner and have shopped for weeks and still be missing some items for people or you could kind of be like me this year and have absolutely nothing ready.  I dont even have food for the guests when they come over…  So when Sam’s Club reached out and asked if I shopped there I said yes and how can I get involved, which brings me to why I’m writing this piece.

I’m making one stop this year – Sam’s Club … Yup that giant warehouse store that has it all…. I can get some pots and pans for my dad (if you’ve ever seen his pans you’ll wonder what you were eating)… I can get some son the latest and coolest electronics, video games and toys.  I’ll get some cute PJs for the girls and some toys.

Plus I can pickup all the food to feed the family. Like that shrimp platter everyone loves (when I say everyone I really mean me).

So here are 5 items I found… Sam’s Club also published their winter catalog that helped things along.

KitchenAid Stainless Steel 14-Piece Cookware Set

Hotel Luxury Reserve Collection 1000-Thread-Count Sheet Set

Apple TV 4th Generation

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Puppy & Friends Learning Table

Samsung 2.1 Channel 290 Watt Soundbar with Subwoofer

I’ve found them in my local store and well some giant bags of chips later I’m a pretty happy guy.  Thats why when I was asked I had no problem writing this article.  All thoughts are my own and while I was gifted with a gift card all the picks of products are my own.

 

The Philips Norelco shaver 9700 the best electric shaver

The Philips Norelco shaver 9700 the best electric shaver

S9721_84-PID-global-001 The Philips Norelco shaver 9700 is the best electric shaver I’ve had yet.  I’ve been a long time user of Norelco shavers.  I’ve tried nearly all the models (and yes you get what you pay for!) but when I was offered to try out the 9700 – this is like the lexus of electric razors – I jumped at it.  But there is a sale on amazon on them (notice the coupon by the add to cart button).S9721_84-RTP-global-001

This is a work of art and a beast all rolled into one… the idea of the self cleaning station is amazing. The shave I got from this unit was by far better then my prior 8000 series by a mile.

Even they state the 9000 series cuts hairs up to 30% closer to skin with its V-Track precision blades*. The shaving heads, with contour detect technology, move in 8 directions to cut up to 20% more hair in a single pass.

There are four major features they talk about…

Philips Norelco Shaver 9700, Philips Norelco, Electric Shaver, wet dry shaver

Philips Norelco Shaver 9700, Philips Norelco, Electric Shaver, wet dry shaver

Philips Norelco Shaver 9700, Philips Norelco, Electric Shaver, wet dry shaver

Philips Norelco Shaver 9700, Philips Norelco, Electric Shaver, wet dry shaver

Contour Detect Technology

With the unique Contour Detect Technology, each shaving head independently moves in 8 directions to follow your face’s every curve. This improved contouring helps cut up to 20 percent more hair in a single pass.

V-Track Precision Blades

The newly designed V-Track Precision Blades collect hair in the optimal cutting position, resulting in a more comfortable shave that’s 30 percent closer. The blades also self-sharpen to ensure a premium shave day after day.

Personal Comfort Settings

For a more personalized shave, Shaver 9700 offers 3 comfort settings so you can choose the speed that best fits your skin and hair type. Slow: for an even more skin-friendly shave, Medium: for a standard thorough shave, and Fast: for a high-powered shave

SmartClean PRO System

At the touch of a button, the SmartClean PRO keeps your shaver like new every day. Its advanced multi-display indicator tracks the progress of the shaver through each step in the SmartClean cycle. With an alcohol-free, skin-friendly formula, the SmartClean system cleans hair, foam and gel through a unique dual-filtration system. The system also lubricates the shaver’s blades to reduce friction and keep your blades in top condition. After each cycle, the SmartClean system also thoroughly dries and charges the shaver it so it’s always ready to go.

bonus is that it comes in one of those great travel cases. Really its by far the best again when it comes to electric shavers you get what you pay for… this is worth every penny.

 

Great Holiday Gifts from ThinkFun Games

Great Holiday Gifts from ThinkFun Games

I love the holiday season… but over the last few years – its been very digital I’ve picked out some of the best board games from ThinkFun that I think your family would like as I know my family certainly has…

Compo-1600-HiResSpillCompose Yourself – The Lego of music, Compose Yourself uses a set of musical “building bricks” that encourages anyone with or without musical ability to “play with” music just as they would with a construction kit. The digital music game also includes access to an exclusive website to compose, share with friends and family, or download/print your own custom sheet music – featuring more than a billion melody combinations. (Ages 6+) Find it on Amazon. 

 

CodeM-1950-LoResSpill-TargetCode Master – A puzzle board game that takes kids on the ultimate coding adventure, Code Master provides the structured thinking discipline and teaches key logic skills rooted in computer programming principles without a computer…and by making it fun. (Ages 8+) Find it on Amazon.  

 

LaserJr-1044-LoResSpillLaser Maze Jr. – Your mission: Expertly transport the laser beam to the rockets so that it can safely return to earth! Younger players can now experience the fun of the award-winning game Laser Maze with an age-appropriate design and challenge for grade school children with real lasers. (Ages 6+)  Find it on Amazon. 

 

rushhshift-5060-wld-loresspillRush Hour Shift – The best-selling sliding block logic game is now available for two players! Every move counts in this race as you strategically plot to move your car and cross grid-lock traffic before your opponent. The potential moves are endless and the shifting Traffic Grid and Instruction Cards add a whole new dimension to play. (Ages 8+) Find it on Amazon.

Mastermind Is The Ultimate Game For Brain Boggling Family Fun!

Mastermind Is The Ultimate Game For Brain Boggling Family Fun!

mastermindMy kids and I loved this game… we played it again and again all week long. Sure, it made our brains twist a little, but who doesn’t love challenging their loved ones in a friendly setting?

Mastermind is like the new-age Battleship. A codemaker will set any code of four colored pegs and hide it behind a pop-up shield. The codebreaker’s mission is to crack the code in 10 moves or less. After each guess, the codemaker will use red and white pegs to offer clues as to whether the codebreaker is getting warmer or cooler. With six different colored pegs and an ability to double the color in a code, no one game can be the same; the kids can never get bored!

Not only is this game conveniently packaged with a storage spot for all the pieces, it is rather quiet. My kids went back and forth switching roles as codemaker, the person who creates the pattern, and codebreaker, the player who tries to solve the pattern, for hours.

I also loved the educational piece to this game. It really stimulated my kids to come up with different problem-solving methods. Mastermind is great for honing logic and deductive reasoning skills, as it teaches the children to think outside the box, assess situations and try different approaches.

I would definitely recommend Mastermind as you plan your next family game night! It is available at Target, Toys R Us, Walmart, Kohl’s and Amazon for an affordable price of $15.99.

Ant-Man shrinks on to Blu-Ray DVD and Digital downloads

Ant-Man shrinks on to Blu-Ray DVD and Digital downloads

 

unnamed-1Marvel, the Studio who brought you “The Avengers”, now brings to life one of the original Avengers —Marvel’s AntMan. Bring home the epic heist as Antman embraces his inner hero and harnesses the unique ability to shrink in scale to save not only the world, but his daughter. Full of both humor and heart, Marvel’s Antman is the perfect gift this holiday on Blu-ray and Digital HD.

unnamedThe next evolution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces the newest member of the Avengers: Marvel’s AntMan. Armed with the amazing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang joins forces with his new mentor Dr. Hank Pym to protect the secret behind his spectacularAntMan suit from ruthless villains! With humanity’s fate in the balance, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a daring heist against insurmountable odds. Filled with humor, awesome special effects and exclusive bonus features, this action-packed adventure takes you to new levels of pulse-pounding excitement!

Last minute gifts and deals at GameStop

Last minute gifts and deals at GameStop

GameStopTime is ticking but if you haven’t checked everything off your holiday gift list, don’t fret. GameStop, a family of specialty retail brands that make the most popular technologies affordable and simple, can help you find the gifts you want at a great price. Today through Saturday, December 19, last-minute shoppers will find discounts on video game hardware, software, collectibles, accessories, and more – only at GameStop.

To customers that prefer to shop online, GameStop will be offering all discounted items available inside GameStop stores to online shoppers as well at www.GameStop.com. Items purchased using standard shipping by 12:00 p.m. on December 17 will arrive byDecember 25.  These items include:

All offers valid from 12/13-12/19 unless otherwise noted

Video Game Hardware

  • PlayStation 4 Star Wars Battlefront Bundle- $299.99 (regularly priced at $349.99)
  • Xbox One Gears of War Ultimate Edition Bundle- $299.99 (regularly priced at $349.99)
  • Mario Kart 8 WiiU Deluxe Set- $249.99 (regularly priced at $299.99)
  • GameStop Exclusive PlayStation Vita Aqua Blue System- $169.99 (regularly priced at $199.99)
  • Purchase any pre-owned PS4 or Xbox One system and receive two pre-owned games under $20 for free
  • Pre-Owned Nintendo 3DS XL- $99.99
  • Pre-Owned PS3 (320GB)- $99.99
  • Pre-Owned Xbox 360 (4GB)- $59.99

Video Game Software

  • Star Wars Battlefront- Save $20 (valid through 12/15)
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 3- Save $20 (valid through 12/25)
  • Batman Arkham Knight- Save $30 (valid 12/16-12/22)
  • Mortal Kombat X- Save $20 (valid 12/16-12/22)
  • Forza Motorsport 6- Save $20 (valid through 12/26)
  • Halo 5- Save $10 (valid through 1/2)
  • LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack- Save $30 (valid through 12/22)
  • Guitar Hero Live guitar bundle- Save $20 (valid through 12/19)
  • Destiny Taken King- Save $20 (valid through 12/19)
  • Until Dawn- Save $20 (valid through 12/19)
  • Madden NFL 16- Save $20 (valid through 12/19)
  • FIFA 16- Save $20 (valid through 12/19)
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt- Save $20 (valid through 12/19)
  • Skylanders Superchargers Starter Pack- Save $35 (valid through 12/19)

Accessories

  • GameStop exclusive Xbox One Lunar White wireless controller- Save $10
  • PlayStation Gold wireless headset- Save $20
  • PlayStation Camera- Save $20
  • Turtle Beach 420x wireless headset- Save $30
  • Nyko Xbox One charge base- Save $10
  • WiiU Fight Pad controllers- Save $5
  • Astro A50 headset- Save $50
GlowCicle

GlowCicle

78791b38d4f05790706cb192b14bce64_originalI have seen dozens, if not hundreds, of Kickstarter campaigns, but GlowCicle shined brighter than the rest with its creative design, customizable features and delicious flavor.

GlowCicle is set to get your party glowing, especially when the lights go out! It’s a patented frozen treat featuring what they call “side-by-side chambers”, which is where all the magic happens. One chamber holds a tasty treat made with natural colors and flavors and the other chamber holds a glow stick. When you’re ready to treat yourself, you snip the top off of the frozen treat, bend and activate the glow stick and slip it into the patented side pouch. It’s really that simple! Not only does the glow stick make the frozen treat shine, but it also acts as the perfect handle so your hands don’t get too cold. And when you’re done eating the frozen treat, you have a glowing bracelet to wear.

Something else that’s pretty unique to GlowCicle, although this frozen treat comes in a variety of colors, it only comes in one tropical flavor, featuring hints of pineapple, orange, lime, cranberry and Tahitian vanilla. I was convinced that the different colors were different flavors when I first tasted them, but oh boy was I wrong! The red treat tasted like cherry and the blue tasted like blueberry. I was surprised to hear that they were all the same flavor.

The GlowCicle Pops are made for all occasions and events. From blank wrappers to pre-labeled with a generic message like, “Happy Birthday!” or “Happy Anniversary!” to my favorite, to Personalized GlowCicle Pops for your one-of-a-kind situation such as “Happy 10th Birthday, Ava”…these guys have thought of everything!

The Kickstarter campaign is live for 35 more days. You can check out GlowCicle’s Kickstarter page here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/glowcicle/glowcicletm-frozen-party-pops-that-glow-in-the-dark

 

Must-Try Cookie Recipe

Must-Try Cookie Recipe

cookieWHITE CHOCOLATE GINGER COOKIES
(chewy cookies with a ginger kick)
makes 2 dozen big/over indulged cookies
makes 4 dozen smaller/less decadent cookies

INGREDIENTS:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla paste, can substitute vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger (we suggest using a microplane)
  • 11 ounces white chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
    In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, salt and baking soda.
  2. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a hand mixer cream together the butter and sugars. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until fully combined. Add in the vanilla paste and ginger, mixing until just combined. Gradually add in the flour mixture 1 cup at a time. Add the white chocolate chips.
  3. Drop by the heaping tablespoon full onto the prepared baking sheet and bake until lightly golden (12-15 minutes), cookies will appear still slightly soft in the middle, but will set up firmly as they cool.  (Note: For smaller less decadent cookies use a teaspoon measure and bake for 8-10 minutes). Using a spatula, remove cookies from the parchment to cool. Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.

www.terraskitchen.com

Sesame Street Live: Let’s Dance! at the Theater at MSG

Sesame Street Live: Let’s Dance! at the Theater at MSG

Hosted by two live performers, Sesame Street Live “Let’s Dance!” offers an up-close, interactive experience like you’ve never experienced before! You, the audience, are invited to dance as all of your favorite Sesame Street friends join you on the floor – dancing with fans of all ages! In addition to ongoing dance parties, Elmo uses his imagination to “Do the Robot,” Cookie Monster teaches all ‘feets’ to dance, and Ernie shares the fun of dance with the Sesame Street favorite “Shake Your Head One Time.” Favorite friends join the audience on the floor – dancing with fans, not just for them. It’s Sesame Street Live like you’ve never experienced it before!

Click here to watch a promo trailer from Sesame Street Live “Let’s Dance”.

One thing I love is to save a little cash – so we’ve got a great coupon code BLOG25 and its a discount of 25% off ALL SHOWS! Check out which dates work for you here http://www.theateratmsg.com/sesame.

Stayed tuned to our DaDa Rocks Facebook page for a chance to win tickets.