Trick or Treat at Arundel Mills Mall & Medieval Times Halloween Show @MedievaltimesMD

No compensation was received for this post.  All info. provided by Medieval Times MD.

If you're looking for kid-friendly and safe Trick-or-Treating, you can head to Arundel Mills Mall tomorrow 10/31 from 6-8PM.  {I suggest that you get that EARLY as this will be very crowded}

Stop by the food court to receive a Halloween trick-or-treat bag with extra special goodies in exchange for a $5 donation to Fort Meade Alliance.  A list of participating stores will be located at the Guest Services Booth.

Once you're finished Trick-or-Treating, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament has a special 7:30 PM Halloween Show.

Not familiar with Medieval Times in Hanover?  Check out my latest review of Medieval Times Castle Baltimore.

Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat {Wordless Wednesday}

Elsa & Olaf are off to Trick or Treat at the Library!

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit Five Minutes for Mom.  You can also share your post in the linky below.  Happy Halloween!

How to Adopt an Echo @fheinsiders #AdoptEcho #EchoInsiders #sponsored

We received Earth to Echo goodies as a Fox Home Insider.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Have you seen Earth to Echo yet?  We recently watched the blu-ray together during family movie night and my little one loved it!  The movie is definitely a fun adventure for kids and uses today's technology {iPhones & apps} to make it relevant.   It's kind of like The Goonies meets E.T. {am I showing my age here?}


And that Echo, well, my daughter fell in love with him.  When the Echo plushie arrived at our house, AK was so excited to officially adopt him!  

How to Adopt an Echo

1.  Introduce him to your family 

2.  Make him a part of your every day routine.

AK decided he needed to play dress up and wear the sunglasses too.

And then we set off to run some errands and took Echo along.  They enjoyed a car ride together and a trip to the grocery store.

3.  Show him that you love him.

How can you Adopt Echo?

Your child can Adopt Echo too!  You can find the Echo plushie at Relativitystore.com.

Call Him Echo App

Have some fun with your cell photos with the Call Him Echo App!  Available on iOS, watch Echo fly out of any Earth to Echo poster art or the Blu-ray/DVD cover through the power of augmented reality technology.

1. Download the free app from the App store on any iOS system - https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/call-him-echo/id925984709?mt=8

2. Point your device's camera at any Earth to Echo key art 

3. Make sure you are in a well-lit room and enjoy Echo zooming around 

4. Take a picture with Echo wherever you go on your adventure!

And don't forget to enter to win Earth to Echo on Blu-ray {Giveaway ends 11/4/14}

When Calls the Heart: Change of Heart #sponsored #Hearties

Thank you to Edify Media for giving me a review copy of When Calls the Heart: Change of Heart.  This post contains affiliate links.

Are you a fan of the series on the Hallmark Channel called When Calls the Heart?    In case you need to catch up, here are episodes so far:


When Calls the Heart (debut movie)
When Calls the Heart:  Lost & Found
When Calls the Heart: A Telling Silence
When Calls the Heart:  The Dance
When Calls the Heart: Second Chances
When Calls the Heart: Change of Heart
When Calls the Heart: Rules of Engagement 

Synopsis:

Jack finally gets Elizabeth to agree to join him for a dinner date just as Elizabeth’s younger sister, JULIE THATCHER, arrives in Coal Valley, surprising Elizabeth.  Julie is accompanied by Mountie PATRICK O’REILLY, the man who has been sent to inform Jack of his new posting, and become the new Constable of Coal Valley.  Jack had already forgotten that he sent in a request to transfer the week he arrived in Coal Valley, and the news takes him by surprise.

The When Calls the Heart television series debuted on the Hallmark Channel to more than 3 million viewers, making it the No. 2 for the night on all of cable for the primary telecast at 9 p.m and No. 3 overall in households.   Distributed by Word Entertainment, previous DVD’s are available to purchase in Christian Retail.

In Change of Heart released Oct. 14th, we get to know more about Elizabeth's younger sister Julie who comes for a visit.  She is a bit of a "city" girl and optimistic to the point of being somewhat naive.  There are some interesting things that happen while Julie is there (including a handsome but dangerous stranger) which makes for a great side plot.   Jack & Elizabeth's relationship is a bit tested as he realizes he sent for a transfer and may be leaving Coal Valley.  I won't spoil it for you, but it definitely keeps you wondering what will happen!

The story line is compelling and the plot has a great pace.  And yes, it is more of a "chick flick" type series, but one that you don't have to worry about content around your kids with good "old fashioned" values.  There's action, some clean romance, and great life lessons about faith, truthfulness, friendship, and family.

And did you hear? They renewed the series for a second season.  If you're a fan, follow #hearties on twitter for all the latest buzz!


Where to Buy:

Follow When Calls The Heart #Hearties

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Tuesday Giveaway Link Up 10/20

<a href=" http://totsandme.blogspot.com/search/label/Tuesday%20Giveaway%20Linky "><img alt="Tots and Me" src="http://i597.photobucket.com/albums/tt58/kewkewphoto/TuesdayGiveawayLinkup2.jpg" border="0" alt="num2"></a>

Welcome to Tuesday's Giveaway Link Up with your hosts Karen @ Tots and Me and Emily @ Emily Reviews

So glad you could join us as we share our giveaways. 

Our co-hosts this week are Sue from My Photopage and Shelly from The Attic Girl.

Now, onto this week's Link Up!

This link up will be posted Monday at 7 PM est. and run all week long! Stop in as often as you can to list your latest giveaways.

Here is how to use the Giveaway Link Up

1. Post your reviews and/or giveaways, as many as you have, be sure to add the end date (family friendly please)

2. Help spread the word about the giveaway link up by grabbing our button, Tweeting or posting on Facebook. (Not mandatory- but it helps get more exposure to your giveaways as well!)

3. Take a moment to enter any giveaway that strikes an interest to you!

If you would  like to follow the  hostesses, we will gladly follow you back! Simply leave us a message to do so.

Featured Giveaways

Pattern LA Transitional Diaper Bag (5 Runners Up will receive a TT Essentials Cosmetics Bag)

US only Ends 10/27

$50 Hard Rock GC & Prize Pack US only Ends 11/3

Thank you for linking up with Karen @ Tots and Me & Emily @ Emily Reviews along with Sue from My Photopage and Shelly from The Attic Girl.

Earth to Echo Blu-ray Giveaway #EchoInsiders #sponsored

I will receive a copy of Earth to Echo as a Fox Home Insider. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. 

Earth to Echo is coming to Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD Oct 21, 2014!   My kids can't wait to see this as it's been talked about as this generation's E.T.  I loved E.T. growing up and can't imagine anything can top that nostalgia, but I've watched the trailer and it looks like a fun family film.

This wonderful journey, “full of adventure, bravery, excitement, and friendship…has something for audiences of all ages” (Claudia Puig, USA Today). The “lively and likable” (Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times) tale is told through the eyes of Tuck, Munch and Alex, a trio of pals who make an out-of-this-world discovery. After receiving signals on their phones, they meet Echo, a small, but amazingly energetic, alien trying to make his way back to his home planet. As they race to help their new friend, the boys will discover that little Echo has touched their hearts in unexpected ways and changed their lives forever.

Blu-ray Special Features

·         Creating the Truck Scene

·         Casting the Characters

·         “We Made That!” The Making of Earth to Echo

·         Friends No Matter How Far

·         Six Deleted Scenes

·         Theatrical Trailer

Earthly Adventures with Echo

Earth to Echo is a tale told through the eyes of Tuck, Munch and Alex, a trio of pals who make an out-of-this-world discovery. The best friends venture out of their neighborhood to find the true meaning of friendship. After receiving signals on their phones, they meet Echo, a small, but amazingly energetic, alien trying to make his way back to his home planet. As they race to help their new friend, the boys will discover that little Echo has touched their hearts in unexpected ways and changed their lives forever. To prepare you for this adventurous, exciting and heart warming film, we have compiled a list of the best ways to spend time with your friends- outside and away from your cell phones!

1. Pick Up Games

                There is nothing like starting a sports pickup game with all your neighborhood friends. Between sitting in class all day and coming home to do homework, a quick game, whether it is hockey, baseball, basketball or soccer, will let you use up some of that energy you’ve been storing! Not only this, but this is an awesome way to make new friends.

2.   Bike Rides

With your parents permission of course, take a cruise around the neighborhood with your friends! Also, make sure you wear a helmet. You can use your imagination and make fun adventures out of your journey!

3.    Hide N’ Seek

A neighborhood game of Hide N’ Seek is the ultimate outside activity. With permission from your parents, and of course, using the buddy system when it comes to hiding, Hide N’ Seek is sure to be an awesome time. 

4.  Backyard Campout

Ask your mom and dad to set up a backyard camp out for you and your friends! Start by setting up a tent and marking your territory with your sleeping bag! You can spend the night telling scary stories and eating S’mores!

5.   Chalk

The most underrated outside activity has to be chalk! It is so much fun to create fun pictures and even games with all your friends. You can play hopscotch or tic-tac-toe or use your imagination to draw wonderful pictures!

Giveaway:

One reader will receive Earth to Echo on Blu-ray {$25.99 value}

Just use the Rafflecopter form below.  You must be a US resident 18 or older to enter.  You must complete each task entirely or your entries will not count.  

 This giveaway is not in any way associated with or endorsed by Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.  Giveaway Ends 11/4/14 at 12:01 AM EST.  US Residents **18 and older** only may enter. One entry per household and IP address.  Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have **48 hrs** to respond to email or another winner will be chosen. Entries are verified.  No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.  The Attic Girl is not responsible/liable for prize delivery.


Disclosure:  I will receive a copy of the movie as a Fox Home Entertainment Insider.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. Sponsor is providing the giveaway prize. For more info. see my Disclosure Policy.

Hard Rock Cafe Roxtars #HRRoxtars #ThisIsHardRock #sponsored

The information, gift card, gift pack and giveaway have been provided to me by Hard Rock International.  All opinions are my own.

Music is a big part of our family life.  My husband played the drums in a rock band years ago and my teenager plays acoustic guitar like I did in high school.  Even my little ones love to listen to upbeat music {including rock} and listen to me sing {even if off key}. 

The atmosphere of Hard Rock Cafe is funky and fun.  We've been to the Hard Rock Cafe in Baltimore's Inner Harbor for date night and look forward to bringing our kiddos there too.

Now Hard Rock International is rockin’ and rolling out a new band of cool characters to help make your little rock stars’ experience at Hard Rock Cafes and Hard Rock Hotels awesome! The Hard Rock Roxtars are each designed to inspire kids of all ages to rock, allowing their originality to shine.

  

Members Include:

   *Razzi™, “the motherly type” who is famous for squishy hugs and keyboard skills

   *Sir Kingston™, a British-invasion inspired rock-and-roller on lead guitar

   *Styler™, a free-spirited and accompanying guitar player

   *Buddy Jr™, a wild man who loves nothing more than a good drum solo

                           *Skiddley™, the lead singer and “Mr. Cool” of      the group  

How cute are they?   I know my three year old will love these!  My little rockstar loves to sing with her microphone and play her Elmo guitar around the house.  {She's asked Santa for her own drum set; I think mommy should ask for some earplugs!!}

Kids who dine at Hard Rock Cafes worldwide will be given VIP treatment and greeted with their own Hard Rock Roxtars activity book, themed menus, guitar-shaped plates and photo opportunities. The menu will offer healthier food options, such as Skiddley’s “Not-so-diddley” chicken breast and “Twisted ‘n tasty” cavatappi pasta.


Plus kids who stay at Hard Rock Cafe Hotel locations with their families receive a special Hard Rock Roxtars Activity book at check-in, and unlimited entertainment at Hard Rock Roxity Kids Club.  This is a family-friendly, music inspired haven where kids can rock to their own rhythm, catch a live Hard Rock Roxtars performance, or take part in experiential, engaging and music-infused learning activities.  

Sounds fun, right?  In addition, they are hosting a fun contest for your little rockstars!


Dress Like a Roxtar Contest:

As part of the Hard Rock Roxtars launch, Hard Rock Cafe is also hosting the "Does Your Child Look like a Rock Star?" Contest to encourage interaction with the new characters, kids menu, and merchandise.  For one night during the contest, kids eat free at Hard Rock Cafe with a paying adult!  You can also bring your paint-sized rock star dressed in their best costume to the cafe for a chance to win a Hard Rock Cafe gift card or a 2015 birthday party!

For more info. check out your local cafe.  

                

**No celebrity or musician has endorsed the “Does Your Child Look Like a Rock Star” contest**


Find out More:

•  Hard Rock website: www.hardrock.com
•  Hard Rock Roxtars website: http://www.hrroxtars.com/
• ·Hard Rock Twitter: https://twitter.com/HardRock
• ·Hashtag: #ThisIsHardRock, #HRRoxtars

Giveaway:

One reader will win a Hard Rock Prize Pack including:

• a themed guitar-shaped plate
• 6” plush Hard Rock Roxtars character 
• Hard Rock adult t-shirt
• an activity book
• $50 Hard Rock gift card

Just use the Rafflecopter form below.  You must be a US resident 18 or older to enter.  You must complete each task entirely or your entries will not count.  

 This giveaway is not in any way associated with or endorsed by Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.  Giveaway Ends 11/03/14 at 12:01 AM EST.  US Residents **18 and older** only may enter. One entry per household and IP address.  Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have **48 hrs** to respond to email or another winner will be chosen. Entries are verified.  No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.  The Attic Girl is not responsible/liable for prize delivery.

Disclosure:  The information, gift card, gift pack and giveaway have been provided to me by Hard Rock International.  All opinions are my own.  No celebrity or musician has endorsed the “Does Your Child Look Like a Rock Star” contest.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman Printables & Blu-ray Giveaway #PeabodyInsiders #sponsored

This is a sponsored post with Fox Home Entertainment and contains affiliate links.

Unleash the fun at home with the hilarious comedy-adventure, DreamWorks Animation’s MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN!  Mr. Peabody (Ty Burrell) is an inventor, scientist and genius who just happens to be a dog. With his son Sherman, he will embark on the most extraordinary adventure imaginable as they race against time to repair history and save the future. “Heartfelt and snappy” (Jessica Herndon, Associated Press), MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN has been hailed by critics as “a great adventure for the entire family” (Mike Wilbur, NBC Newschannel), receiving outstanding audience reaction and a coveted “A” CinemaScore®.
 
Directed by Rob Minkoff (THE LION KING, STUART LITTLE) and from the team behind family favorite franchises THE CROODS and HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN is “fun” and “fast moving” (A.O. Scott, The New York Times) and features hilarious performances from an incredible voice cast of popular stars including Ty Burrell, Ariel Winter, Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann, Max Charles, Patrick Warburton and Allison Janney. 

MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN is based upon the beloved characters that first appeared in in the late 1950s and early 1960s animated television series “Rocky and His Friends” and “The Bullwinkle Show,” produced by Jay Ward. 

Jay Ward fans will want to get the 3D Blu-ray™ release which has everything for enthusiasts to celebrate the Jay Ward legacy including a 5-minute All New Rocky & Bullwinkle short and several original TV episodes.

My kids have been eagerly awaiting the Blu-ray/DVD release of Mr. Peabody & Sherman Sept. 14th.  They have been wanting to see it since it came out in theaters, but like most movies, we usually wait until it's available to watch at home.

We were sent a few fun surprises from Fox and each of my kiddos dressed like Mr. Peabody in anticipation of watching the movie.

Who do you think makes a cuter Mr. Peabody?

To celebrate the Blu-ray/DVD release, I have some fun printables for your kids to enjoy.  Simply right click and save to your computer to print.  They are great for family movie night or for rainy day activities!

Giveaway:

One reader will receive Mr. Peabody andSherman on Blu-ray {$25.99 value}

Just use the Rafflecopter form below.  You must be a US resident 18 or older to enter.  You must complete each task entirely or your entries will not count.  

 This giveaway is not in any way associated with or endorsed by Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.  Giveaway Ends 10/30/14 at 12:01 AM EST.  US Residents **18 and older** only may enter. One entry per household and IP address.  Winner will be drawn using random.org and will have **48 hrs** to respond to email or another winner will be chosen. Entries are verified.  No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.  The Attic Girl is not responsible/liable for prize delivery.


Disclosure:  I will receive a copy of the movie as a Fox Home Entertainment Insider.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own. Sponsor is providing the giveaway prize. For more info. see my Disclosure Policy.

Paper Plate Pumpkin Craft, Books, & More Pumpkin Themed Activities for Preschool

One of the goals on my Fall Bucket List is to do more crafts with my preschooler.   The other day we had a bit of time while the baby was napping to do a few fun Pumpkin Themed activities.

The first activity was a Pumpkin Paper Plate Craft{I found this on Pinterest}.    This is a very simple craft you can do with items you probably already have around the house.

Supplies You'll Need:

1 paper plate
1 sheet of green construction paper
1 sheet of black construction paper
a pencil
scissors
glue
orange craft paint 
paintbrush 


AK was excited about painting; it's one of her favorite things to do.  I used a heavier paper plate, flipped it over to the white side, and let her paint it completely orange.  Once she was finished, we put it aside to dry {it took about an hour}.

Then I traced AK's hands to make the green leaves and cut out a simple stem.  I cut out a simple face of triangle eyes and a triangle nose with a smiley mouth for her pumpkin. 

She glued the face, stem and hands onto the pumpkin with some Elmer's glue.  And voila!  Her pumpkin was finished.

After we did our craft, we read the 5 Little Pumpkins booklet and she colored in the pictures.  This is a great story for sequencing.


5 Little Pumpkins Coloring Booklet from DLTK



I found this great Pumpkin Themed Preschool pack online and printed out some of the activities.  She likes the pumpkin matching puzzles and pumpkin seed counting.  I keep them in a little folder for her to go back to so they can be used over and over again.

Pumpkin Tot Pack from A Teaching Mommy


We also read some fun books about pumpkins that we checked out at the library. 


Books About Pumpkins:

AK had a lot of fun doing these Pumpkin themed activities!  What pumpkin crafts or activities would you recommend for preschoolers?

New GoPro Cameras @BestBuy #GoProatBestBuy #sponsored

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

The holidays will be here before we know it and it's never too early to start shopping.  Are you looking for the latest cameras, camcorders or accessories for the techie in your life?


Best Buy has the latest cameras and camcorders, including the full line of new GoPro cameras, plus a large assortment of accessories. GoPro cameras make perfect holiday gifts for everyone, from kids and teens, to gadget gurus. GoPro’s new line of cameras allow you to beautifully and authentically capture and share the experiences that bring purpose, adventure, and joy to your life.

Imagine capturing your family's adventures with this type of quality!  My little 'ol camera can't do this.  And I have to confess, I suffer from a bit of camera envy when I see shots like these: 

What makes the GoPro Camera so special?  Check out these great specs & features:

GoPro HERO4 Black: 

the most advanced GoPro ever, featuring improved image quality and a 2x more powerful processor with 2x faster video frame rates1, HERO4 Black takes award‐winning GoPro performance to a whole new level.
         
GoPro HERO4 Silver: 

the first-ever GoPro to feature a built-in touch display. Controlling The camera, playing back footage and adjusting settings is ultra-convenient—just view, tap and swipe the screen. With 1080p60 and 720p120 video, and 12MP photos at a staggering 30 frames per second, HERO4 Silver combines powerful, pro-quality capture with the convenience of a touch display.

GoPro HERO: 

Featuring high‐quality 1080p30 and 720p60 video, and 5MP photos up to 5 fps, HERO captures the same immersive footage that’s made GoPro one of the best-selling cameras in the world.
12x more powerful processor with 2x faster video frame rates



The new GoPro Cameras are sure to be at the top of your wish list this holiday season!

Learn more at www.bestbuy.com/GoPro or visit your local Best Buy to check out the latest cameras in person.