Acronis one the of the global leaders in online backup just released Acronis True Image 2019. In making the announcement, Acronis revealed that its artificial intelligence-based anti-ransomware technology – which is integrated into all of its backup solutions, including the new product – stopped more than 200,000 ransomware attacks on 150,000 customers last year. With current ransoms demanding an average of $522 per attack, the defense prevented more than $104 million in damages.
Acronis True Image 2019 is the only home solution that allows users to make full image backups to both local and cloud storage, or lets users clone an active system disk on either a Windows or Mac machine – capabilities that strengthen the user’s control over their data protection and management.
Standard is a perpetual license designed for customers who store their data on local drives only. No cloud storage or cloud-based features are included. Pricing starts at $49.99 for one computer.
Advanced is a one-year subscription that includes 250 GB of Acronis Cloud Storage and access to all cloud-based features. Pricing starts at $49.99 per year for one computer.
Premium is a one-year subscription that includes blockchain-based data certification and electronic signature capabilities, as well as 1 TB of Acronis Cloud Storage. Starts at $99.99 per year for one computer.
All versions include Acronis Active Protection against ransomware and cover an unlimited number of mobile devices. Subscription customers can purchase additional cloud storage as needed.
By adding the ability to create an all-in-one recovery tool on an external hard drive, Acronis True Image 2019 makes restoring a system as easy as plugging in the external drive. Called the Acronis Survival Kit, it is as comprehensive and flexible in emergencies as a Swiss Army Knife – containing everything a user needs to restore a system from boot media to the system partition and all of their backups.
Creating backups is also easier with new event-based scheduling options, such as automatically backing up when an external USB drive is attached. For a personal backup solution that already offers tremendous customization, the new trigger-based options provide even more flexibility to users.
Do you have plans for Father’s Day? or are you still thinking about what your plans are? Well I’ve got a great round up of really cool things to do around NYC for Father’s day!
Breakfast at Belmont – now celebrating their 150th year at Belmont, it’s an exciting time to be at the track! This event is family-friendly and includes activities such as tram rides through the stable area, a Paddock Show and Starting Gate demonstration.
but for Father’s day they have a special line up events https://www.nyra.com/belmont/calendar/2018-06-17
Real Men Wear Pink Luncheon [Tickets]
Come celebrate Father’s Day and honor those continuing the fight against cancer at The Real Men Wear Pink Luncheon. There will be a premium buffet, DJ, raffles and a rose tasting provided by Notorious Pink Rose. A portion of each ticket sold will go to the American Cancer Society.
Father’s Day Cruise in NYC[Tickets] It’s time to do better than socks for Father’s Day, and Hornblower’s Father’s Day Beer Brunch Cruise is the perfect time to start a new tradition that dad will genuinely love… And the rest of the family will enjoy, too.
What’s Included:
Two hour cruise
Reserved Seating
Bountiful brunch buffet
Dessert station
Signature coffee and herbal teas
Live jazz band & DJ on board
Sunday, June 17th Boarding: 12:00pm | Cruising: 12:30pm – 2:30pm Dress Code: Casual attire. We recommend bringing along a light jacket or wrap as it may get breezy on board. Weather Conditions: Cruise sails rain or sun! Atmosphere: Beer, brunch and jazz with family and friends while taking in New York City’s sights.
Celebrate the spirit of our community at the Rubin Museum’s annual Block Party. Join thousands of other New Yorkers at this outdoor event (happening this year on Father’s Day), featuring art and activities for all ages inspired by the Rubin’s yearlong exploration of the future.
Multigenerational activities for kids and adults of all ages, including Father’s Day activities and Interwoven Families, an artist project that weaves family narratives
Futuristic art-making stations that allow you to create and imagine across time and space, including Build a Future City, Spectacular Starscapes, Inner Voyages, and The History of Us
Live performances including cham dance by Palyul Monks, a musical journey with Falu’s Bazaar, garba dance from India Home elders, and Bhangra and Bollywood dance by Ajna Dance
Activities led by community partners Grassroots Movement in Nepal (GMIN), India Home, Jumpstart, YindaYin Coaching, Siddhartha School, and Mongolian Connections
Drone demos
Healing Garden indoor plant trailer
Himalayan snacks from Café Serai and food trucks, including Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, Wafels and Dinges, and Brooklyn PopcornCompany
Free museum admission all day
Rock and Roll Playhousewill celebrate Father‘s Day in Brooklyn with a pair of concerts bringing to life the music of The Grateful Dead for Kids at Garcia’s at Industry City on Saturday, June 16 and Brooklyn Bowl on Sunday, June 17.
Industry City (274 36th St) on Saturday, June 16 or at Brooklyn Bowl (61 Wythe Ave) on Sunday, June 17.
The Celtic Developers Group, who own Oscar Wilde in Nomad, Papillon Bistro & Bar in Midtown and Lillie’s Victorian Establishment in Times Square and Union Square. Come celebrate Father’s Day at one of their locations for a special evening of quality time and quality eats.
Located right in NoMad, Oscar Wilde features New York City’s longest bar at 118.5 feet with over 300 whiskeys, 32 beers on tap and an assorted menu. For $85 on Father’s Day Oscar Wilde will offer steak for two with two sides and two drinks (select beer or house wine). Can also treat dad with a classic, Oscar Wilde’s $14 Smoked Old Fashioned made with Old Gran Dad Bourbon, Smoked Simple Syrup, Charred Cedar, Orange Bitters and garnished with a lemon.
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment, covered in ornate wooden carvings, antiques and ostentatious décor, offers an eclectic yet traditional menu with an impressive range of domestic and imported beers. Lillie’s Union Square location will offer a $24 Father’s Day special, which will include their Craft Beer flight and Lillie’s Half Pound Cheeseburger complete with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheddar cheese & hand cut fries.
Papillon Bistro & Bar can be found in the heart of Midtown and offers a fun and lively environment for patrons. For $17, dine dad with the Classic Beef Burger complete with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheddar cheese & hand cut fries. Additional add-ons are available: bacon, avocado or mushroom & onion.
Just in time for summer break, Disney’s “A Wrinkle in Time,” from acclaimed director Ava DuVernay, comes homeon Digital HD and Movies Anywhere and on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, DVD and On-Demand. The stunning story of an ordinary girl’s extraordinary adventure through time and space offers exhilarating entertainment and positive messages for the whole family—encouraging self-confidence, inclusion and pushing imagination to the next level.
More than 50 years after Madeleine L’Engle’s young adult novel “A Wrinkle in Time” was awarded the prestigious Newbery Medal, the big-screen retelling of this timeless classic takes audiences on a transformative journey, exquisitely illustrated through jaw-dropping visual effects, a stirring musical score and diverse, star-studded cast. Three celestial guides, Mrs. Which (two-time Academy Award® nominee Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Whatsit (Oscar®, Golden Globe® and Emmy® winner Reese Witherspoon) and Mrs. Who (Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling), come to Earth to share their wisdom and love with struggling eighth-grader Meg Murry (Storm Reid) as she journeys across dimensions with classmate Calvin (Levi Miller) and younger brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe) in search of her father (Chris Pine), a world-renowned physicist who mysteriously disappeared four years ago.
As fantastical as the film’s premise and imagery may seem, “A Wrinkle in Time” centers on a universal human need that feels particularly relevant and relatable today. “This is a story about belonging,” says DuVernay. “It’s about a girl who just doesn’t feel strong in her mind, body and spirit. But through this epic journey, she finds her strength and learns that the center of the universe starts inside her. It’s about Meg feeling like she belongs in the universe and has a mighty part to play… as do we all.”
Bonus features include**:
BLU-RAY & DIGITAL HD:
A Journey Through Time – Take an up-close look at the making of this magnificent movie with Director Ava DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey, and the cast and crew.
Deleted Scenes (with optional director audio commentary)
Ant on a String
Aunt Beast
Meg Learns About Calvin’s Dad
Papergirl
Audio Commentary
Director Ava DuVernay
Producer Jim Whitaker
Co-Screenwriter Jennifer Lee
Production designer Naomi Shohan
First assistant director Michael Moore
Editor Spencer Averick
VFX supervisor Rich McBride
Bloopers
Original Songs/Music Videos
“I Believe” performed by DJ Khaled featuring Demi Lovato
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther,” is a global cultural phenomenon!
If you havent seen it, wow you’re missing out on pop culture history. Pick it up on Digital, Movies Anywhere, Blu-ray & 4K [amazon]
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther,” the highly celebrated story of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), a young African prince who takes on the mantle of King and Super Hero, has thrilled and inspired generations of moviegoers around the globe. Now, fans can bring home the phenomenon, packed with light-hearted fun, pulse-pounding action and a powerful message, and watch it over and over again.
10 THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT MARVEL STUDIOS’ BLACK PANTHER
To celebrate the in-home release of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, we’ve uncovered 10 stellar secrets from the making of the epic super hero saga. The mighty new Marvel movie is released Digitally in HD, 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere on May 8 and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on May 15. Wakanda forever!
SUPER HERO SECRET #1
THE COMIC BOOKS WERE A HUGE INSPIRATION FOR THE FILMMAKERS
When it comes to the inspiration behind the story of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, director and co-writer Ryan Coogler admits that he delved deep into the history of the acclaimed Marvel comic book series. “We pulled from all of the comics,” Coogler explains. “When you watch our film, you will probably see something from every writer that has touched T’Challa’s character in the BlackPanther comics. Everything from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s initial runs through to Don McGregor, Christopher Priest, Jonathan Hickman and Brian Stelfreeze. We grabbed from it all. Each writer left their own mark, so Agent Ross [played by Martin Freeman in the movie] came from Christopher Priest’s run and the character of Shuri came from Reginald Hudlin’s run. Each run left something for us to pull from, but we pulled from absolutely all of them.”
SUPERHERO SECRET #2
THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL ON SET WAS MIND-BLOWING FOR THE ACTORS
“It was incredible to walk on to the Wakandan sets,” enthuses Danai Gurira, who plays Okoye in the movie. “Our production designer, Hannah Beachler, was amazing. I remember walking into the Tribal Council room and thinking, ‘This room is stunning.’ The floors were see-through. There were massive, beautiful panther statues. The throne was very African. The entire décor was very African. It was an amazing experience, which was very rich for my character because I stood there and I thought, ‘This is like nothing else on the planet and it’s my character’s job to protect it.’ Hannah pulled from lots of awesome traditional African esthetics. You don’t get to see it in the movie, but she also designed T’Challa’s office, which was another amazing room on set. We shot some scenes in there, which were left out of the movie – but the office was constructed and it looked amazing.”
SUPER HERO SECRET #3
THE PRODUCTION TEAM TOOK A TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA TO RESEARCH THE MOVIE
“We took a really important trip to South Africa to do a ton of research for Black Panther,” reveals production designer Hannah Beachler. “We went up and down the country, which helped immensely when we started to create the sets. It was incredible to see all the colors, the textiles and the way things were built. In the end, we shot a lot of plates and second unit footage in South Africa. We shot footage in Uganda, which was used to show the farm land and open space of Wakanda. It was beautiful. We also shot at Victoria Falls in Zambia. When the fighters come flying through the falls and get to the challenge pool; that flight through the falls is Victoria Falls. But when you get to the challenge pool, what you see behind them is a bit of Iguazu Falls, which is in South America. We smashed the two together because we wanted a horizon.”
SUPER HERO SECRET #4
SEBASTIAN STAN WAS ONLY ON THE BLACK PANTHER SET FOR ONE DAY
“The tag scene with Bucky [played by Sebastian Stan] at the end of the movie came as a wonderful surprise to me,” explains Letitia Wright, who plays Shuri in Black Panther. “I was so happy when I read about it. Props to Ryan [Coogler] for adding it to the movie. This scene was shot quite late in the production, but I really enjoyed it. It was a beautiful day on set and I thought it was a great way for us to find out where Bucky had been hiding in Wakanda. We shot the scene in a forest area somewhere in Atlanta, but it only took a day. Sebastian was really great to work with. He’s a good chap.”
SUPER HERO SECRET #5
THE IN-HOME RELEASE IS PACKED WITH DELETED SCENES AND OUTTAKES
Marvel fans can delve deeper into the wondrous world of Wakanda with the exclusive bonus features packaged with the in-home release of the movie. Not only are there behind-the-scenes featurettes and never-before-seen outtakes, but there are also a number of deleted scenes. “There are a couple of scenes with Okoye and W’Kabi [played by Daniel Kaluuya] that I would love people to see,” explains Danai Gurira. “There’s a scene between Okoye and W’Kabi, which takes place after Killmonger tells us what he’s going to do with the kingdom. Okoye is very disturbed by her man seeming to positively respond to Killmonger. There’s also a scene where W’Kabi and Okoye go head-to-head. Okoye pushes W’Kabi to a place where all the rage he had towards T’Challa comes out. I hope some of those moments end up in the deleted scenes.”
SUPER HERO SECRET #6
LUPITA NYONG’O HAD TO LEARN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES FOR THE MOVIE
“The African language that we speak in the movie is Xhosa, which is a Bantu language from South Africa,” reveals Lupita Nyong’o, who plays Nakia in Black Panther. “It has the clicks which my native tongue does not have, so I had to learn it for the movie. I worked very closely with a dialect coach to get it right. I also speak Korean in the film, which was a doozy. A week before we shot the scenes in South Korea, they finalized exactly what Nakia was going to say, so all week I kept practicing the lines over and over again. However, I slipped up from time to time. At one point, the Korean extras laughed because they told me I’d said something about a barbecue by mistake – but we got there in the end.”
SUPER HERO SECRET #7
LETITIA WRIGHT DISCOVERED SHE’D WON HER ROLE IN A RATHER UNUSUAL PLACE
“The audition process was really interesting,” admits Letitia Wright. “I sent over two tapes from London and I didn’t think anything would happen – but then I got a call asking me to fly out to Los Angeles for a screen test. That’s where I met Ryan [Coogler] and Chadwick [Boseman, who plays T’Challa]. Thankfully, we had an immediate connection. I went home and I didn’t hear anything for a couple of weeks – but then I was called back for another screen test. This time, I flew to Atlanta and they put braids in my hair – and I knew I just had to have fun with the audition. I remember thinking, ‘Man, if this happens, it will be very special for me.’ A couple of weeks later, I found out they wanted me for the role of Shuri. I was standing at a bus stop in London when the call came through. I went crazy! I was screaming at the bus stop! I was overjoyed to be part of this epic movie.”
SUPER HERO SECRET #8
CAST MEMBERS HAD TO TACKLE A GRUELING SIX-WEEK BOOT CAMP
Before the cameras started to roll on Black Panther, cast members flew out to Atlanta to prepare for the movie’s awe-inspiring action sequences. “The boot camp lasted six weeks,” reveals Danai Gurira. “It was really helpful to get athletically conditioned for the film shoot, although we also got into the specifics of the movements of our characters. We learned fight choreography, as well as different techniques of how our character was going to move on set. It was intense, but I learned a lot. Okoye is the general of the army and the head of the Dora Milaje, so the way she fights is very traditional. Her movement with the war spear comes from very ancient movements of the nation. It was really interesting to learn.”
SUPER HERO SECRET #9
THERE WERE RAP BATTLES BETWEEN THE ACTORS ON SET
An exclusive gag reel has been created for the in-home release, which is packed with comedy bloopers and slapstick slip-ups from the set of the movie. “There were a lot of funny moments during the filming of Black Panther,” recalls Letitia Wright. “Even though the shoot was a lot of hard work and there were some incredibly physical scenes, we always found moments to have fun. We had rap battles in between takes, or we organized dinners and bowling sessions. There was a day where we did a Get Out challenge, because we had [Get Out star] Daniel Kaluuya working with us. Who won the rap battles? To be perfectly honest, I think I was the best. I was up against a lot of people, but their rapping skills were terrible.”
SUPER HERO SECRET #10
LOOK CLOSELY AT THE MOVIE’S KIMOYO BEADS FOR HIDDEN QUALITIES
Hannah Beachler admits she had a ton of fun working on the high-tech gadgets for the movie. “The Kimoyo beads are my favorite,” the production designer admits. “I really pushed the design on them because I knew the beads needed to be something really cool. The Kimoyo beads were originally introduced in the Black Panther comics – but Ryan [Coogler] loved the idea of using them for communicating in the movie. If you look closely at the beads, you’ll see there’s a prime bead, which is given to you when you’re born in Wakanda. There is a little peak on the prime bead, which makes it stand out from the others. All the beads’ symbols light up, but the prime bead lights up completely. A Nigerian language – nsibidi – is used for the symbols on the beads. You’ll also see nsibidi writing on columns of some of the iconic buildings in Wakanda, too.”
More about the DVD, BluRay
Through the 4K Cinematic Universe Edition of “Black Panther,” fans will experience the exhilarating adventure in stunning 4K Ultra HD with next-generation high dynamic range (HDR) visuals and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. Never-before-seen extras feature commentary from director Ryan Coogler; deleted scenes; outtakes; and several making-of featurettes, which detail the Black Panther’s evolution, the remarkable women of Wakanda, the history of T’Challa’s proud nation, and the cosmic origin and technological applications of vibranium. Also included are a roundtable discussion with “Black Panther”filmmakers and writers; a featurette tracing the countless connections between heroes, characters and storylines within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The global cultural phenomenon of “Black Panther” has dominated the box office charts emerging as the third biggest movie of all time domestically with over $665 million – the first film in eight years to spend five weeks at No. 1 – and rising to the global top 10 of all time with over $1.3 billion. In the acclaimed film, T’Challa returns home to the hidden high-tech African nation of Wakanda to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king, following the death of his father. But when a man named Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) appears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he’s drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Pitted against his own family, the king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and embrace his future as an Avenger.
The film features a fierce group of Wakandan women, including Nakia (Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o), a War Dog and Wakandan spy; Shuri (Letitia Wright), T’Challa’s little sister and tech wizard; and the Dora Milaje, the all-female Wakandan Special Forces led by Okoye (Danai Gurira). They team up with reluctant ally CIA agent Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) to help T’Challa defend Wakanda against the forces threatening to destroy it. The extraordinary ensemble cast of “Black Panther” also includes veteran actors such as Academy Award nominee Angela Bassett as Ramonda, T’Challa and Shuri’s mother; Academy Award® winner Forest Whitaker as Zuri, the spiritual leader of Wakanda; and Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, an illegal arms dealer; and standout performances by Academy Award nominee Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, Royal Counsel to T’Challa; Winston Duke as M’Baku, the formidable leader of the Jabari tribe; and Emmy Award-winner Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu, a Wakandan War Dog.
The action in “Black Panther” is intensified through a musical score by GRAMMY-nominated composer Ludwig Göransson and soundtrack curated and produced by GRAMMY Award-winning global superstar Kendrick Lamar and Billboard Magazine’s Executive of the Year Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith. “Black Panther: The Album” topped the Billboard 200 chart for five consecutive weeks and the end-credit track, “All The Stars,” featuring Lamar and SZA, spent nine weeks in the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
BONUS MATERIAL (may vary by retailer):
Blu-ray:
Director’s Intro
From Page to Screen: A Roundtable Discussion – Delve into the film’s making
Crowning of a New King – Explore the world of “Black Panther” in all its color and complexity
The Warriors Within – Get to know Wakanda’s women and the actors who portray them
The Hidden Kingdom Revealed – Wakanda’s diverse people
Wakanda Revealed: Exploring the Technology
Deleted Scenes
U.N. Meet and Greet
Okoye And W’Kabi Discuss the Future of Wakanda
T’Challa Remembers His Father
Voices from the Past
Gag Reel
Exclusive Sneak Peek at “Ant-Man and The Wasp”
Marvel Studios the First Ten Years: Connecting the Universe
Director’s Commentary
Digital Exclusives:
In World Wakanda Tourism Ads
Come to Wakanda “Before”
Come to Wakanda “After”
“BLACK PANTHER” CAST & CREW:
“Black Panther” stars Chadwick Boseman (“Captain America: Civil War,” “Get on Up”), Michael B. Jordan (“Creed,” “Fruitvale Station”), Academy Award® winner Lupita Nyong’o (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “12 Years a Slave”), Danai Gurira (“The Walking Dead,” “All Eyez on Me”), Martin Freeman (“The Hobbit” trilogy, “Sherlock”), Daniel Kaluuya (“Get Out,” “Sicario”), Letitia Wright (“Urban Hymn,” “Glasgow Girls”), Winston Duke (“Person of Interest, “Modern Family”), with Academy Award® nominee Angela Bassett (“American Horror Story,” “London Has Fallen”), with Academy Award® winner Forest Whitaker (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” Lee Daniels’ “The Butler”) and Andy Serkis (“Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”).
Ryan Coogler (“Creed,” “Fruitvale Station”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with Joe Robert Cole (“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”). Kevin Feige is producer with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nate Moore, Jeffrey Chernov and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.
The “Black Panther” creative brain trust includes frequent Coogler collaborators: Oscar®-nominated director of photography Rachel Morrison, ASC (“Dope,” “Fruitvale Station”), production designer Hannah Beachler (“Creed,” “Fruitvale Station”), editor Michael P. Shawver (“Creed,” “Fruitvale Station”) and composer Ludwig Göransson (“Creed,” “Fruitvale Station”); along with editor Debbie Berman (“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Timeless”), costume designer Ruth E. Carter (“Selma,” Lee Daniels’ “The Butler”), Academy Award®–winning makeup designer Joel Harlow (“Star Trek Beyond,” “Black Mass”), visual effects supervisor Geoffrey Baumann (“Doctor Strange,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron”) and eight-time Academy Award® nominee/special effects supervisor Dan Sudick (“Captain America: Civil War,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”).
Personally I feel like spring time is when you start to do all new and exciting things outside – especially if you’ve been cooped up … so today we’re talking some great gifting ideas for taking outside to play with baby this spring.
Into the Forest Musical Nature Stroll [amazon] This sunny on-the-go flexible arch features 6 different baby-activated toys that encourage the development of fine motor skills and is compatible with baby’s age and preferences.
Meadow Days Thomas Jitter [amazon]
Thomas, an all-smiles inquisitive bunny, is a charming on-the-go clip toy with jittery feedback that stimulates the senses and helps develop fine motor skills.
Meadow Day Dynamic Gymini [amazon] A uniquely versatile baby activity mat with adjustable moving arches that adapt to baby’s age and stage, encouraging the development of fine and gross motor skills from day one.
We’re giving away a prize pack from Tiny Love that includes The Meadow Days Dynamic Gymini and the Thomas Jitter.
How to win it: Leave a comment with which animal you think the cutest is…
Contest ends 11:59 pm EST on May 16, 2018. Limited to US residents only. Must be over the age of 18 to enter. Winner chosen at random.
With Mother’s Day quickly approaching it’s time to think of those last minute gifts to purchase (we have plenty more to say on that) but it’s also time to start thinking about the card. Rather than buying a card, why not make something from the heart. So I’ve partnered with the Paper & Packaging- How Life Unfolds campaign to share some creative ideas on how you can make your own cards and gifts for mom.
As you can see below, my girls are making mom some one-of-a-kind cards using colorful construction paper. Another simple project I love is taking colored sticky notes and having my kids write little personal notes to mom. Then they can stick them around the house and mom will find little surprise notes throughout the day.
This is a really, really beyond simple project, but it teaches the kids to remember all the small things that mom does for them. Like “Thanks for making my lunches”…. “Thanks for reading me my bed time stories”…. “Thanks for picking out my school outfits”…. “I love singing songs in the car with you”… think of it as little notes of appreciation.
Plus we’re giving away 1 – $150 Amazon giftcard to make sure a mom has an extra special day thanks to #HowLifeUnfolds
But first the step-by-step guide.
We’re using this great paper set we found at staples or amazon.
Have the children take a sheet of paper and you can do a daily note (365 of them – if you go with this option if you write the month and a day in a corner it could become a pull calendar too) a weekly note (52) of them or just keep filling out notes till you feel like that’s enough.
Place notes back into plastic and gift wrap it up.
How to win it: Leave a comment with one saying you’d like to write on a note to mom.
Contest ends 11:59 pm EST on May 12, 2018. Limited to US residents only. Must be over the age of 18 to enter. Winners chosen at random.
From Marvel Studios comes the eagerly anticipated “Avengers: Infinity War,” the third installment in the “Avengers” franchise and 19th Marvel Studios film to date. The release also marks the 10-year anniversary of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which began with the release of “Iron Man” in 2008.
Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” is the preeminent collection of iconic Super Hero characters in one film and stars Robert Downey Jr., as Tony Stark/ Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Don Cheadle as Colonel James Rhodes/War Machine, Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/Black Panther, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Paul Bettany as Vision, Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Falcon, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Idris Elba as Heimdall, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Benedict Wong as Wong, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Dave Bautista as Drax, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, with Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, with Benicio Del Toro as The Collector, with Josh Brolin as Thanos, and Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord.
First appearing in the “Iron Man” #55 comic book issue in 1973, Thanos is a powerful Titan warlord who rules over the furthest regions of space and commands massive armies known as the Chitauri and the Outriders. “We always knew that the bar was very high with Thanos,” says Kevin Feige. “He made a very brief appearance in ‘The Avengers.’ He had a couple lines of dialogue and a brief appearance in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ and we saw him very briefly at the end of ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron.’ But other than that, we’ve never really seen him do anything. We’ve just been teasing his presence and the coming of Thanos since ‘The Avengers.’”
Feige continues, “In our story, Thanos had to deliver a threat far beyond anything the Avengers had ever seen before. That’s not just making him strong and powerful. It’s about having a villain who’s charismatic and who you surprisingly begin to feel for. More so than any of our other movies, this is very much a story about Thanos and his drive, goals and past. This is the first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that a film is really told from the villain’s point of view.”
“Thanos is this virtually indestructible character who’s stronger than the Hulk and has invincible skin,” explains Anthony Russo. “Many years prior to ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ his planet, Titan, experienced a cataclysmic shift. They were running out of resources, and they were overpopulated. Thanos made the recommendation to exterminate half the population randomly to save the rest of the population. Titans rejected his notion, branded him a mad man and exiled him. And the planet ended up dying.”
Ok so crazy Titan is hunting infinity stones to fix the universe in a similar way he saw a solution for his own planet.
THE INFINITY STONES PRIMER
SPACE STONE (Tesseract)
Color: Blue
Power: Used to control space and create advanced weaponry
Currently in possession: Asgard
REALITY STONE (Aether)
Color: Red
Power: Ability to warp reality at will, immense strength, durability, powers, and subjective influence over the universe
Currently in Possession: The Collector
POWER STONE (Orb)
Color: Purple
Power: Increases physical abilities, allows manipulation of energy. Can obliterate an entire planet when unleashed.
Currently in Possession: Nova Corps
MIND STONE (from Loki’s scepter)
Color: Yellow
Power: Subjugate the minds of others, bending them to the will of the user. Increased intelligence.
Currently in Possession: Vision
TIME STONE (Eye of Agamotto)
Color: Green
Power: Able to control the flow of time.
Currently in Possession: Doctor Strange
SOUL STONE
Color: Orange
Power: Unknown
Currently in Possession: Unknown
Avengers, Assemble!
There is NO mid credit scene in Avengers: Infinity War, however there is only a end credit scene.
Is this movie ok for kids? This is a tough question because I will say there are tough discussions to have and having to tell a child well it’ll only be a year before the next one comes out doesnt really fly either. so I think for older kids, they’ll get it. younger kids might not.
I will say I loved this movie and it totally did justice to the 10 years and 18 other films leading up to this moment…. now if you’re a fan of the comic books I going to say I believe the next avengers movie (part 4) which hasn’t had its official name released yet might be called Avengers: Secret Wars.
As we finally had our first taste of spring this weekend it means that its time to start prepping the BBQ grills for those family cookouts. My wife watches The Chew daily (sometimes even cooks a thing or two from the show) when I heard that Michael Symon (one of The Chew co-hosts) had a new book out called “Playing With Fire” I just had to check this out.
The 72 finger-licking, lip-smacking recipes here draw inspiration from his favorites, including dry ribs from Memphis, wet ribs from Nashville, brisket from Texas, pork steak from St. Louis, and burnt ends from Kansas City–to name just a few–as well as the unique and now signature Cleveland-style barbecue he developed to showcase the flavors of his hometown. Michael offers expert guidance on working with different styles of grills and smokers, choosing aromatic woods for smoking, cooking various cuts of meat, and successfully pairing proteins with rubs, sauces, and sides.
Clarkson Potter sent me a copy of Playing With Fire AND they’re providing a prize pack for one of you! The Grillmaster prize pack includes:
Michael Symon cooks with soul, having grown up in a Greek and Sicilian family. The Cleveland native shares his exuberant, approachable cooking style and infectious laugh with viewers as an Iron Chef on Food Network and as a co-host on ABC’s The Chew. Michael is the chef and owner of more than 18 restaurants, including Lola and Mabel’s BBQ in downtown Cleveland, locals of B-Spot Burgers throughout the Midwest, and Angeline at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. He is also the author of five cookbooks.
How to win it: Leave a comment with your favorite food to grill!
Contest ends 11:59pm EST on April 21st, 2018. Limited to USA residents only. Must be over the age of 18 to enter.
What in my mind was the best Star Wars film in the last 15 years is finally available to bring home for your endless enjoyment.
Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi—the next action-packed chapter of the Star Wars saga— Earned critical acclaim and theNo. 1 spot atop 2017’s list of highest-grossing films. The visually stunning film welcomes the return of original characters, including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Yoda, R2-D2 and C-3PO and further explores the deepening journey of the saga’s new members, Rey, Finn, Poe, and Kylo Ren. Now families can bring home the movie digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and via Movies Anywhere and now 4K Ultra HD™ Blu-ray, and Blu-ray™ disc. This release also marks Disney’s first title available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in both Dolby Vision™ HDR and Dolby Atmos® immersive audio, delivering consumers a transformative viewing experience.
The film stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern with Frank Oz, and Benicio Del Toro. Star Wars: TheLastJedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman. J.J. Abrams, Tom Karnowski and Jason McGatlin are the executive producers.
Bonus features include*:
The Director and the Jedi – Go deep behind the scenes with writer-director Rian Johnson on an intimate and personal journey through the production of the movie—and experience what it’s like to helm a global franchise and cultural phenomenon.
Balance of the Force – Explore the mythology of the Force and why Rian Johnson chose to interpret its role in such a unique way.
Scene Breakdowns
o Lighting the Spark: Creating the Space Battle – Get a close-up look at the epic space battle, from the sounds that help propel the action, through the practical and visual effects, to the characters who bring it all to life.
o Snoke and Mirrors – Motion capture and Star Wars collide as the filmmakers take us through the detailed process of creating the movie’s malevolent master villain.
o Showdown on Crait – Break down everything that went into creating the stunning world seen in the movie’s final confrontation, including the interplay between real-word locations and visual effects, reimagining the walkers, designing the crystal foxes, and much more.
Andy Serkis Live! (One Night Only) – Writer-director Rian Johnson presents two exclusive sequences from the movie featuring Andy Serkis’ riveting, raw on-set performance before his digital makeover into Snoke.
Deleted Scenes – With an introduction and optional commentary by writer-director Rian Johnson.
Audio Commentary – View the movie with in-depth feature audio commentary by writer-director Rian Johnson.
