Free Shipping and a Giveaway Reminder

Happy Tuesday, everyone! :) I hope your week is going well so far.

I just wanted to pop in and let everyone know that the Disney Store website is currently offering free shipping with the purchase of any new item. The promo code is SHIPNEW. So for any of you out there (like me) who are planning on purchasing some of the new Classic dolls, now is a perfect time to buy them. ;) You can see all of the new items that qualify for free shipping HERE.

I also wanted to remind everyone of the current giveaway on the blog, a free 18" doll dress, coat, and pair of shoes from Etsy seller MarcotsGirlsDolls. The giveaway is open until this Saturday, so be sure to enter soon. You can see all of the details in my previous post HERE.

Happy shopping, and best wishes in the giveaway. :)

Disney Store Twice Upon a Year Sale plus Free Shipping Today

I realized it's been a while since I've posted about sales. Even though I want the main focus of my blog today to be about recognizing our fallen soldiers, I wanted to let you know about a good sale at Disneystore.com, too.

The "Twice Upon a Year" sale is currently going, and many items are priced up to 50% off. This includes some of the singing dolls, some Disney Infinity figures, plush toys, and more. You can see all of their sale items HERE.

Also, today only, they are offering free shipping on every order. Just use the promo code FREESHIP.


Have a wonderful day, and Happy Shopping! :)


I am not affiliated with the Disney Store, nor do I receive any sort of reimbursement for these posts. Just a Disney fan who likes to keep my readers aware of budget-friendly sales. ;)

Sale and Free Shipping on Disney Parks Items

Hey everyone! Just a quick post to let you know that Disneystore.com has a great promotion going on: 20% off all Disney Parks items and free shipping with any Disney Parks purchase. Apply promo code PARKDEALS.

Personally, I caved for some of THESE adorable doll costumes. I haven't seen these in person yet, but several of my online collector friends on Flickr have posted pictures of them, and they look great!

I used the Disney Store gift card I didn't end up using on the birthday trip to purchase Belle's, Rapunzel's, and Anna's. (Are you surprised?) ;) So once those arrive, I'll be able to share pics and such.

I'm especially excited to get Belle's costume, as it's been out of stock for a few weeks. :)

Happy Shopping! :)

Back from Our Trip and Free Shipping on Disneystore.com :)

Hello everyone! After a fun-filled weekend of shopping and traveling, the girls and I are back home. Everyone is tired, but happy. We'll have pictures and goodies to share over the next week or so.

I wanted to be sure to mention that today is the last day for the 25% off sale at the Disney Store and disneystore.com. Also, today only, there is free shipping on all orders. Just thought you guys would like to know. :)

Happy Shopping, and talk to all of you again soon! :D

Disney Store Offers, Twitter, and Upcoming Posts

Hey everyone! Hope your week is going well. Mine is great, but crazy! ;)

The good news is, I found my camera! :D I hope to have my promised Rosabella Beauty review up by the end of this week, and I'm working on some other posts to publish, too.

I also wanted to let everyone know that I decided to open a Twitter account again. I'm trying to delve slowly into the world of Twitter, but I post YouTube and blog updates there along with a few other things. You can see my Twitter account HERE.

I also wanted to let you Disney fans know that there are a few great promotions on the Disney Store website right now. There are some items that are 40% off in an online-exclusive sale. Just use the promo code KACHOW. The sale items include the live action Cinderella dolls, some of the singing dolls, a few DAC dolls, and more. You can see all of the items HERE. This promotion lasts until Thursday of this week.

Also, there is free shipping with the purchase of any Disney Parks item, good until Wednesday, when you use the promo code PARKFREE. Check out all of the Disney Parks items HERE.

Happy Shopping, everyone! I'll be back soon with another review. :)

Long Time, No Blog

Contrary to what you might believe, I am still alive and well. ;)

Okay, I guess it's only been a little over a week since I posted, and that seems to have become the norm for me, but it feels like it's been much longer.

 I do have some exciting news, though. I've now officially finished my second post-Mount Hermon draft of my book! :D It's not ready to send off just yet. I'm currently reading through it from start to finish and making corrections. I'm also having some writing friends help me edit it in the coming weeks.

Still, this is a huge victory for me. Why? Because this is the first time I've actually written the thing from start to finish since I started...ahem...five years ago. :} Getting a great idea is one thing. Writing a book all the way through, imperfections or not, is much harder.

I don't know what God has planned for this book, but I'm excited to find out. Traditional publishing would be my first choice. My self-doubts like to kick in and inform me that it's not really good enough for anyone else to want to publish it. Maybe it's not. Maybe it is. All I know is that I'm moving forward with it, no matter what. If nothing else, I can start a Kickstarter page to fund self-publication. ;) Even if only ten people read it and are blessed, I've done my job and shared my joy. :)

Again, I can't thank all of you enough who have encouraged me, supported me, and done so much for me every step of the way. :)

I wish so much that I didn't have to pixelate this picture. Part of me wants to post everything right now and share it with you right away! ;) But I know that in the long run, waiting until it's ripe and ready for everyone to read is the best way. I can't wait to share this story with all of you. :)

So, as you can imagine, this project has kind of distracted me from blogging. Once I hand it off to my editing friends, though, I'll get cracking on those sad little draft posts that have been waiting for me for so long. Blog comments responses and email responses are high on my priority list, too.

I think I need a secretary. ;)

I haven't talked about the gym much here on the blog since I started in August. I've tried to keep it pretty low key here since this is a place people come to talk about dolls and toys. However, for those of you who are interested, I have been keeping up with my gym vlogs. I'm up to 26 of them now, with more on the way. :) (You can see all of them on my Gym Vlogs Playlist HERE.) My plan is to record vlogs until Skinny Jeans ends in mid-November.

Going to the gym has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. I'm feeling and seeing changes in my body, I'm learning a lot, and gaining confidence. I don't even hate pictures of myself anymore! :) As evidenced by my selfie session in the school parking lot today, taken while waiting for my girls to finish Homework Club:

I should have been editing my book, but I felt like being goofy instead. ;)

I have four weeks left and can't wait to see the further changes that come my way. :) Going to the gym throughout the week has made my schedule a little crazier, but the benefits to my body and my health are definitely worth it.

And since I really should give you some toy news of some kind, here are a few little tidbits. :)

Disneystore.com is offering free shipping on any purchase until Wednesday (tomorrow). The promo code is FREESHIP. I put some things in my cart but was a good girl and walked away before clicking the order button. ;)

While traipsing around town today, I found some fun MLP-related goodies at Walgreen's that I haven't seen anywhere else. 

First up, there were giant Princess Celestia...

...and Princess Cadance brushables. These are the same size (around 8 1/2 inches tall) as my giant Fluttershy, which I reviewed HERE. They're super cute, but I'm focusing more on Funko Vinyl ponies and Blind Bag ponies in my collection now instead of brushables. Plus, I have no room! ;) 

Both ponies were $9.99 each.

Right next to them was this cute Pinkie Pie and Scootaloo set with a little stove, also priced at $9.99.

And then there were these plastic-haired Equestria Girls dolls that I'd seen online but never in person. They're pretty simplified and not my style, but I thought I'd mention them in case anyone else is interested. :)

I haven't been tempted by much of the Equestria Girls line (aside from THIS darling Rockin' Hairstyle Fluttershy with the sweetest face who has tried to jump into my shopping cart several times). ;) However, I'm really looking forward to THESE VERSIONS of them, created with Hasbro by the founder of the Pocket Princesses. :D I might have to add at least Fluttershy and Twilight to my collection when they're available. :) Plus, they're small, so they won't take up much room! :D

Now if she would just work with Hasbro and design collectible Pocket Princesses! ;)

Okay, I think that's about all I've got for you now. Stay tuned for toy review posts! I know I keep saying that, but bear with me. They're coming. :} Really and truly. ;) 

Disneystore.com and Americangirl.com Alerts and a First Look at Frozen Fever! :D

Hey guys!  This week is going to be super busy for me, as I have the Doll Club coming to my house on Wednesday and we have Spirit Week at the school (so I'll be working on Neon, Disney, Under the Sea, and Red, White and Blue costumes for all three girls). :}  In spite of the craziness, I hope to have at least one "real" post up for you later this week.  In the meantime, here are a few things that might interest you.

First off, Americangirl.com has some new markdowns on their sale page, including several cute outfits and some of the pre-BeForever historical books (for just $2 each).  You can see all of their sale items HERE.

Also, the free shipping with any Frozen item promo at Disneystore,com has ended, but from now until Wednesday, there's free shipping with the purchase of any Disney Parks item (use the promo code PARKFREE).  You can see all of the Disney Parks items HERE.

And speaking of Frozen (sort of), there's a few sneak peak pictures of "Frozen Fever" on USA today!  You can see it HERE.  I don't know about you guys, but I'm even more excited to see it after seeing these pictures! :D

Happy Shopping and geeking out over pictures, everyone! ;)

Free Shipping on Frozen Merchandise

Hi everyone!  Just wanted to let you know that Disneystore.com has free shipping with the purchase of anything from their Frozen items when you use the code FROZEN.  In the email they sent me, they also said there were some new Frozen arrivals, but I wasn't able to find anything that looked new.  You can see their Frozen shop HERE.  

Also, for those of you who are interested, several YouTube reviews have popped up of the new live-action Cinderella dolls.  I've pinned some of them to a Pinterest board HERE if you want to check them out.  I'm still undecided on the dolls.  I think I like the Mattel face better, but I like the Disney Store hair and clothing better.  I just wish they hadn't given Cinderella such a wide jawline, and I wish they'd made both Cinderellas and the Prince look a little happier.  Like Barb the Evil Genius mentioned in an earlier comment (which I'm still working on responding to...sorry, Barb!), this is supposed to be their wedding day, and they both look rather miserable. :}  The hefty price tag is also causing me to hesitate.

Anyway, I hope these links help you guys make some dolly decisions of your own. ;)

Happy Shopping!

New Mini DAC Dolls on the Disneystore.com Website with FREE Shipping!

Hey everyone!  I've got to get girls to school, but I wanted to do a quick post to let you know that the mini DAC (Disney Animators Collection) dolls have appeared on the Disneystore.com website.  Even better, for two days Disney Store is offering free shipping on any purchase from their new releases (which includes the mini DACs) when you use the code SHIPNEW.

Here are the mini DACs that have been made so far:

Mini DAC Anna (original image HERE)

Mini DAC Elsa (original image HERE)

Mini DAC Ariel (original image HERE)

Mini DAC Cinderella (original image HERE) 

Mini DAC Jasmine (original image HERE)

I think they did a great job with these, and I love the fact that they have the same cute faces as the larger DAC dolls, but are smaller and easier to store.  I love all of their fun accessories and pets, too.

Anna and Elsa will definitely be coming home with me at some point.  Will any of these dolls make their way to your collections? ;)

Happy Shopping!

P.S. Thanks to Hollys Dollys on Facebook for bringing to my attention that these finally showed up online! :)

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day to my friends in the USA.  I hope you have a wonderful time with your families today.  May we always remember the price of freedom.

On a lighter note, in celebration of the holiday, Disneystore.com is offering free shipping on all orders when you use code: FREESHIP.

Happy 4th, and Happy Shopping. :)

Singing Elsa and Anna Available on Disneystore.com!

Hey everyone!  Just wanted to let you know that a few Frozen items are back in stock on Disneystore.com, including the Singing Elsa and Anna dolls.  As you all know, these sell out quickly, so grab yours while you can! :}  You can see all of the available Frozen items HERE.

Also, there's a free shipping promotion right now.  If you buy any Disney Parks items, you get free shipping on your entire order (apply code PARKFREE).  You can see all of the Disney Parks items HERE.

Happy Shopping! :D

Happy Memorial Day plus Free Shipping at Disneystore.com :)

Happy Memorial Day, everyone!  May we take the time today in the middle of barbecues and family get-togethers to remember the real reason for this holiday: honoring those who have given their lives for the freedoms we enjoy.  May we never forget.

And even though Veteran's Day isn't until November, it never hurts to thank those who served our country and didn't lose their lives.  Today's veterans didn't make the ultimate sacrifice like their fallen comrades, but they still made sacrifices of their own and fought bravely for our freedom and our country.  They deserve our thanks. :)

I hope to have the first of my review posts up a bit later this afternoon.  In the meantime, Disneystore.com has free shipping sitewide today in honor of Memorial Day.  Unfortunately, the Frozen dolls are not back in stock yet, but there are lots of other fun goodies to stock up on with the shipping discount.  Apply code FREESHIP.  You can see all of their items HERE.

Happy Memorial Day and happy shopping!  Talk to you again soon! :)

Happy 2014!! :)

Wow, I can't believe that 2014 is here already.  Where has the time gone? :}  On to a brand new year, full of unknown adventures and challenges.

I decided this might be a good time to check on the thirteen things I wanted to work on in 2013.  Then I wished I hadn't.  I pretty much bombed on all thirteen!!   Part of that was me being too clever.  Thirteen goals can be a bit overwhelming, especially for a non-organized perfectionist like me. ;)

So, since I didn't want to spend the day huddled in a corner going over all of my failings, I thought I'd review some of the things I did accomplish this year. :)  Hopefully I won't sound too conceited here...you can let me know if I do. ;)

1.  I gave my blog a completely new look, making it less cluttered and (hopefully) a bit easier to navigate.

2.  I added Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube to my social media accounts.  I tried Twitter, too, but that didn't work out so well for me, so I dropped it.

3.  I hit 300 followers and then passed it by. (310?  Seriously?) :D  I reached over 734,000 page views.  Incredible.  I had no clue I would come so far in this blogging journey.  You guys are amazing. :)

4.  This year marked the first time a toy company contacted me and offered me a product to review for free.  (Ahhh Products' "Lil Me" Bean bag chair for dolls and Moose Toys' "The Zelfs") :)

5.  I did do a pretty good job with family devotions this summer.  Every morning, the girls and I read a chapter from the book of John, a chapter from the Bible Knowledge Commentary about the same chapter in John, and then watched the corresponding chapter in "The Gospel of John".  (Although the translation used in this version is not my favorite, I appreciate the fact that they dramatize the story using the text of the Bible only, so there's a lot less room for odd creative license.)  It was a really wonderful experience for all of us, and we had some great discussions. :)

6.  I started teaching an art class.  It's been a unique experience...a little crazy, but rewarding. :)

7.  I joined my local doll club and had the opportunity to be the special speaker at least three times. I'm so thankful for the friendships I've made there.

8.  I exercised and ate right for several stints.  This year, I hope to make it a little more regular. :}

9.  All three of my daughters attended school this year, so I've had a bit more free time, though not nearly as much as I'd envisioned. :}

I'm probably missing something huge and significant, but that's all that's coming to mind at this point. ;)


So this year, I thought I'd be a little less clever and post five things I'd like to focus on in 2014. ;)

1.  Devotions, devotions, devotions.  One of my friends gave me a devotional book that I'm looking forward to using.  It helps you read through the entire Bible in a year.  I'd love to accomplish that this year, and to grow in my relationship with the Lord.

2.  Writing.  I'd really like to focus on getting a regular writing schedule in, both for my blogging and my novels.  My novels will never be finished if I don't treat my writing time like a regular job.

3.  Health.  I'd love to be better at eating right and exercise this year, so I can be more energetic and accomplish the things I need to do.

4.  Time Management.  This goes for house cleaning, vocal workout, time spent with family, writing, and everything.  I'd really like to be a better steward of my time.

5.  No fear.  This year, I don't want my fear of failure or whatever else to stop me from doing what God wants me to do.  By His grace and through His power, I want to do the things He has planned for me this year.  This also means I need to be open to changes in the plans I've set up for myself. :}  Sometimes, He has different things in mind for me, but what He has prepared for me is always for my good.

Not sure how well I'll do on these, but I'd like to try. :)

Before I go (and head up to my sister-in-law and brother-in-law's house for the day), I'd like to leave you with a few bits of news.

First, Disneystore.com is offering free shipping today only when you purchase any of their new arrivals (in celebration of the new year).  Use the code SHIPNEW.

Secondly, there are new Zelfs on the way!!  I'm so excited! :D  They aren't up on the official Zelf site yet, but you can see a few pics on their Facebook page (some of the photos were posted by fans who have already found them).  I can't wait until everything is officially released. :)

For those of you who don't know already (but I'm sure you do), Isabelle, the new Girl of the Year from American Girl, is up on the site.  Be sure to check out her collection.  She's really cute, but probably not a doll I'll be adding to my 18 inch girls. :)

Also, there are new posts up on Tess and Maggie's blog and Belle's Bulletins, for those of you who are interested (click the names to see them).  Belle's post is her VERY LAST POST EVER.  It's been a great three-year run, but she's ready to move on and focus on her family. :)  Be sure to stop by and wish her well, if you like.

I have a lot of fun review posts coming up for the month of January, so stay tuned!  In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Day. :)

Disney Store Frozen Promo This Weekend

Hey guys.  Yes, I'm still alive. ;)  Just wanted to drop in and let you know that the Disney Store is offering free shipping this weekend with the purchase of any Frozen merchandise (just add promo code FROZEN).  The shipping can really add up on a Disney Store order, so if you were already planning on ordering some Frozen stuff, this is the time to do it. :)  You can see all of the items from Frozen HERE.

I'm not exactly sure that I'll be posting much until later this weekend, or maybe even next week.  My fever and chills have gone away, but I have this horrid cough that is lingering, and yesterday I pulled or strained something in my rib cage.  It hurts terribly when I have to cough.  Please pray that I can hang in there 'til this nasty thing is over.  And maybe pray that it won't last too much longer, since I still have to blog, send Christmas cards, finish my Christmas shopping, finish my Christmas decorating, clean the house...yeah, I'm feeling just a wee bit overwhelmed. :{

I also have an absolutely adorable little newborn niece who was born in November, and I haven't even had the chance to meet her yet! :(  I definitely don't want to pass this stuff on to her or Mommy, though, so I've been keeping my distance.

Yesterday was a pretty tough day.  I normally try not to be too down in the dumps, but between hormones, the seemingly unending bouts of sickness in our family, and some other things, I've just been really struggling.  I'm trying to keep my focus on the Lord right now and remember that He has everything under control, even seemingly insignificant things like colds and such.  It's hard to hold onto that when you're in the middle of everything, though.  (Yesterday was pretty much a, "Lord, help!" type of day...with lots of sobbing...which probably didn't help the whole coughing thing.) :}

I also need to remember that my "trials" are quite small compared to some of the things others are going through this Christmas season.  I have many things to be thankful for, and I need to remind myself of them daily.

I've been missing blogging.  I'm so eager to get Belle's Bulletins all wrapped up, get Tess and Maggie's blog going again, and get back to regular posting here.  For now, though, I just need to lay low so I can get better.  Thank you for understanding.  I'll be back as soon as I can manage it.

Until then, Merry Christmas (I can't believe it's so close!) and happy shopping at the Disney Store. :)

Frozen Movie Review

Something amazing happened last night...I got to see "Frozen" in my local theater!! :D  

(Sorry about the "meh" quality of the pictures...I just had my cell phone with me.)

I happened to notice while browsing the Internet that there were two evening showings, one at 7:00 and one at 9:25 (both were in 2D...I didn't bother about the 3D showings since I don't care for 3D).  I knew that the earlier showing would be pushing it with Hubby's schedule, but I called to see how he was doing and whether he thought he'd be home in time to watch the girls so I could make the second showing.  He wasn't sure.  

By 8:30 PM, the online site showed that all of the tickets were sold out. :(  Hubby got home about twenty minutes later.  Since there were still about forty minutes before the show started, and since the theater was only about a mile away, I decided to go just in case.  I thought that maybe someone might have cancelled their ticket, or maybe someone wouldn't show up.  I knew I was grasping at straws, but I figured it was worth a shot. ;)

Imagine my surprise when I discovered I was the first one to purchase a ticket for that showing!!  (Obviously I need to ignore the ticket status on the website!) ;)  Here's what the theater looked like when I stepped in: 

There ended up being about twenty people there by the time the movie started.  It was great...enough people that I wasn't alone but not so many that it was distracting.  :)  

As you know, these past few weeks have been pretty crummy.  Having the chance to get out of the house for a bit, not having the continuous chorus of coughing children around me, and being able to see a movie I've been waiting to see for months made a HUGE difference.  I feel like I can cope with whatever this week brings now. ;)

Oh, and before I get into the review itself, as a fun little addition to this post, Disneystore.com is offering free shipping today only in honor of Frozen.  Just purchase at least one item from their Frozen merchandise and use promo code FROZEN.  You can see all of their Frozen items HERE.  

Okay, on to the review!!

I'd like to start with a little disclaimer, though.  Normally, I try to keep my movie reviews fairly spoiler-free.  That's not going to be the case this time.  Many of the points I want to discuss involve spoilers.  I will give warnings before any major spoilers, but if you're the type that doesn't like to know anything before the movie, you need to stop right here.  Here's a condensed review for you:  The movie was awesome...go see it now!!  That's all you need to know. ;)  If you want a few more details about content and such, you can read pluggedin.com's review HERE.  

So, what did I think of "Frozen"?  Let me just say that it completely lived up to my expectations in every way.  It. was. amazing. :D  I'd put it right up there with "Beauty and the Beast" and "Tangled", and as you know, that's saying a lot. ;)

The Story:

  The story of Frozen is, essentially, a story about the relationship between two sisters.  Elsa and Anna are very close as children, but due to an unfortunate accident, Elsa is kept apart from Anna, and they grow up in solitude.  I think everyone knows by now that Elsa has magical ice-making powers. :}  Because of the aforementioned accident, Elsa fears her powers and what they can do.  When her abilities are discovered on her coronation day, she flees from the kingdom, believing that the safest thing for her subjects is for her to be away from everyone else.  The rest of the story details Anna's quest to find her sister and return her to the kingdom.  Well, that's the very basic story...there's so much more:  love, family, sacrifice, comedy...you get the idea. ;) 

Okay, this is the section you're definitely going to want to skip if you don't like spoilers.  However, if you're like me and don't like having unexpected twists with characters thrown at you during a movie, you might consider reading it. ;)

The Characters:

   Frozen is full of colorful, well-rounded characters.  The voice actors chosen to portray them did a fabulous job giving them life and believability.  

      Elsa:  The older sister of the two princesses, Elsa keeps her distance from her younger sister, Anna.  What Anna doesn't realize is that Elsa stays away because she is trying to protect her.  Elsa is deeply burdened by the abilities she was born with.  She lives in constant fear of discovery and of what her powers might do.  Her fear keeps her trapped and isolated from everyone else.  Beneath it all, though, she is a sweet, noble person who deeply cares for her little sister and her kingdom.

     Anna:  Anna is the energetic, quirky younger princess.  She loves and looks up to her older sister Elsa, and remembers the fun they had as children with bittersweet longing.  More than anything, she wants her sister's approval and love.  She also longs to see the world and to escape from the solitude of the castle.  Anna is optimistic and willing to do anything to be reunited with her sister.  Through her love and bravery, she becomes a true heroine by the end of the film.

     Kristoff:  Kristoff is a mountain man who sells ice and has a reindeer for a best friend.  While he starts off grumpy and reluctant to help Anna in her quest to find her sister, he grows to appreciate Anna's spunk and determination.  He has a rather strange habit of talking to his reindeer (and providing his reindeer's voice).  In spite of his oddities, we grow to love this guy with a gruff exterior who's really just a big softie. ;)  

     Hans:  SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER Oh, Hans...why?!?  This seemingly sweet and handsome prince has something else up his sleeve.  So this is the huge twist in the plot that I've been keeping inside for the past month or so.  Some of you might remember how excited I was when I found out that Santino Fontana, who is currently playing the prince in the Broadway adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella", was playing Hans.  Well, just a day after I discovered this bit of information and got all excited, I found out that Hans SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER was the villain. :(  While I appreciate the break from the traditional "love at first sight and then everything is hunky-dory" plot, I wish they hadn't gone so far as to make Hans evil.  He seemed so sweet and sincere throughout the whole movie up until the transition point.  It was so hard to believe he was completely lying through his teeth the entire time.  This is the type of thing that would have really upset me and possibly ruined the movie for me if I hadn't found out about it ahead of time.  I would have hated "Love is an Open Door".  Thankfully, since I knew ahead of time about Hans, I was prepared and was able to enjoy the movie without getting too attached to him. :}  I know not everyone is like that, but I certainly am! END OF SPOILER 

     Olaf:  I'm sure everyone knows who Olaf is by now, with all of the marketing. ;)  But for those of you who don't know, Olaf is a magical talking snowman that can fall into pieces and recover from just about anything.  I wasn't sure if I would like this character when I first saw him featured in the commercials and trailers.  He seemed a bit goofy and uninteresting, simply there for comic relief.  But here's the deal.  This guy is actually pretty hilarious...and what makes him even more endearing is that he's so much more than a random source of comic relief.  He ends up having some real depth to his character...in a completely clueless, lovable sort of way. ;)

     Sven:  Sven is Kristoff's trusty sidekick and faithful friend.  He is similar to Maximus from "Tangled" in that he doesn't speak (except when Kristoff speaks for him), but his facial expressions and physical acting let you know exactly what he's thinking.  He makes you want a pet reindeer of your own. ;)

   

The Animation:

   I couldn't get over how absolutely beautiful the animation was on this movie, from the gorgeous landscapes, to Elsa's stunning ice palace, to the intricate details of the snowflakes in the sky.  The facial expressions and movement on the characters were perfect, too.  Disney keeps getting better and better. :)    

The Music:

   All sorts of people have been raving about the music, and I absolutely have to agree with them.  The songs move the story forward beautifully.  All of the actors have excellent singing voices.  I have to say, that was one drawback for me on Tangled...no offense to Mandy Moore fans.  Mandy had a sweet voice, but in my opinion, she didn't have the power, quality, or breath control of Idina Menzel or Kristen Bell in this movie.  The entire soundtrack, both score and songs, is wonderful...the type of old-school Disney songs that will be stuck in your head for weeks. ;)    My four very favorite songs were "Do You Want to Build a Snowman", "For the First Time in Forever", "Let it Go", and "Love is an Open Door".  

   "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" is a heartfelt, poignant song sung by Anna.  It shows Anna's progression through the years, from a little girl to a young woman.  Aside from being lovely, at times humorous, and wistful, it does an excellent job of moving the story forward in a way that grips your heart like only music can.  

   "For the First Time in Forever" is sung by Anna, and Elsa joins her towards the end of the song.  This is Anna's "I Want" song, so popular to the Disney musical, and expresses her excitement about the fact that she's finally going to meet people and have the perfect day. By contrast, Elsa sings of her nervousness about her coronation and whether she'll be discovered.

   "Let it Go" is the song that was released by Disney earlier, and is Elsa's power ballad.  I love Idina's take on this song.  To be honest, if I was choosing a singer to listen to on a regular basis, I would be more likely to choose someone with a softer, purer tone like Kristen Bell.  However, for this particular type of song, Idina has the type of voice that really makes it work.  She can belt something out with amazing power and yet still convey all of the conflicted emotions of her character.  "Let it Go" is what Elsa sings after fleeing her coronation, and is her "this is who I am and I'm not going to hide it anymore" song.  SPOILER   SPOILER   SPOILER  When taken by itself, it sounds rather selfish, even though most of us have probably had a time in our life when we felt like we couldn't be ourselves and were tired of pretending to make other people like or accept us.  However, when the song is put in the context of the movie, we see its real brilliance.  Elsa comes to realize that she isn't truly free or happy by running away from her problems, throwing off her restraints, and isolating herself from everyone else.  It is only when she allows Anna's love to come back into her life and finds a way to use her power healthily that she finds true freedom.  END OF SPOILER

  "Love is an Open Door" is just a super fun, upbeat love song between Hans and Anna.  It's a typical, love-at-first-sight situation, but this couple is anything but typical.  They're both cute and quirky.  You can't help but smile when you hear this song. :)  Besides, it's Kristen Bell and Santino Fontana singing.  What's not to like? ;)  SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER Of course, I would have enjoyed this song a lot more if the ending of the movie was a little different. :{  END OF SPOILER

  Really, I could say something about every song ("Fixer Upper" and "Frozen Heart" are both wonderful, and "In Summer" is hilarious), but then this post would be a lot longer. ;)  If you're interested in checking out the soundtrack for yourself, you can purchase it in stores or on Amazon.  It's also available for download on iTunes and is on Rhapsody.com as well (I'm listening to the soundtrack on Rhapsody as I type). :)

One of the great things about the soundtrack is that it has some deleted songs with introductions from the song writers (my favorite was the deleted song for Jonathan Groff). :}  There are also several score demos, as well as karaoke tracks for "Let it Go" (both Idina and Demi Levato's versions), "For the First Time in Forever", "Love is an Open Door", and "In Summer".

Objectionable Content:

   There really wasn't much I had to object to in this movie.  All I can think of is a reference to "tinkling in the woods" in one of the songs and two uses of the word "butt".  (I realize this word is not a big deal for most people, but in my house growing up, "butt" was a big no-no word, and I still don't really like it.) :}  Anna mentions in one song that she's not sure if she's elated or gassy.  Kristoff makes the claim that all men pick their noses and eat their boogers (even princes), and there is a humorous disclaimer from the Disney company about this in the credits.  Anna also gets hit in the face with Kristoff's spit when he's spit-shining his sled (most of us saw this clip in the trailers).  In a clumsy moment, Hans and Anna fall on top of each other.  It is not done in a sensual way, you just feel their embarrassment at the awkward situation.  And honestly, that's it.  Depending on your type of humor, most of the objectionable things might not even be objectionable at all.  Certainly nothing like "Shrek" or some of the other animated films that rely on adult or crude humor to get their laughs. 

For those of you who have more sensitive kiddos, there are a few intense chase scenes, one with wolves and one with an over-sized, scary snowman.  They're not overdone in the scary department, but it would still be enough to freak out my five-year-old. ;) 

  

This is another major spoilery section, so you might want to skip this part, too. :}  Sorry to do this, but in order to share what I want to share, I have to go into a little detail.

The Message:

    I think what I loved the most about this movie were the beautiful, simple messages it portrayed.  It really has a genuine, down-to-earth feel to it, but the things it teaches are lessons we can all take to heart.  

    SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER  First off, contrary to the typical animated Disney story line, this movie puts aside the "love at first sight" tradition and instead opts for a more realistic approach to love.  In this story, the handsome prince who instantly sweeps Anna off her feet and asks her to marry him is actually NOT the charming stranger he appears to be.  Meanwhile, Kristoff, who is not conventionally handsome, with his stockier build and rather large nose, ends up being the one who shows Anna true love.  

     

     STILL PART OF THE SPOILER The movie demonstrates the fact that the truest love is seeking the best for the other person (Olaf actually states this basic idea when talking to Anna), and is cultivated through friendship and over time, not the warm, fuzzy "connection" you make with someone at first sight.  Granted, Kristoff and Anna pretty much learn to love each other in a day, but I appreciated the fact that they don't get married at the end of the film.  Much like Tangled, it allows you to imagine how their relationship will grow and develop over time. :)  I think this is an excellent message for the kiddos (and single girls) watching this movie.  As fun as it is to watch movies like "Cinderella" and "Sleeping Beauty", it's so important to keep in tune with reality and the dangers of immediately giving your heart to someone you don't truly know.  I also appreciated the fact that the movie specifically mentions (in the song "Fixer Upper") that people don't usually change (striking down the idea of "I'll marry him and change him"), but that showing love to someone can help bring out their best.  END OF (THIS) SPOILER

   The other thing I love about this movie is that the "true love" that is emphasized in the movie is NOT the love between a man and a woman, but the love between sisters.  SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER Anna selflessly sacrifices herself to save her sister, and through this action, she breaks a spell and also frees her sister from the fear that holds her captive.  END OF SPOILER

   This message leads right into the next one.  There will be some *gasp* spiritual application here.  You've been warned. ;)  Throughout the film, we see how Elsa is completely controlled by her fear.  She lives with the constant dread that she will harm someone with her abilities.  Every time she gets worried or lets her emotions get the best of her, her ice gets even more out of control.  SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER It is only after Anna's love breaks a spell and Olaf mentions "Only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart" , that Elsa realizes her love for Anna can help her control her powers.  SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER  

This instantly brought to mind the first part of I John 4:18:  "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear..."  In the context of the chapter, this verse is talking about Christ's love for us, and how when we abide in that love, we can live without fear of His judgement and can also reach out to others with the love of Christ.  Still, I think there is something that can be applied here.  

In our world, there is a lot to be fearful about.  It would be easy to curl up into a fetal position and let our worries and fears completely consume us.  It is only through "letting go" of those fears, ;) trusting and resting in God's love for us, and opening our hearts to love from those around us that we can finally be free. :)

As you can probably tell, I LOVED this movie and would highly recommend it.  Just go see it...you won't regret it. ;) 

And it's official:  I have a third favorite Disney movie. ;)  How about the rest of you?  Has anyone else had a chance to see Frozen?  What did you think?   

P.S.  If you're not a fan of spoilers, I would suggest not reading the comments on this post, as I can't add spoiler warnings to other people's comments. :}

"Let it Go" By Idina Menzel and Other Disney News

Hey guys!  I've got to get kiddos to school, but I just found out that you can listen to Idina Menzel's version of "Let it Go" from Frozen in its entirety! :D  You can listen HERE if you're interested.

I'm sooo excited for this movie! :D

Also, at Disneystore.com, you can get free shipping with any Disney Parks purchase (use code PARKFREE), but it ends tonight!  And for the next three days, the Animator's Collection Small World Dolls are on sale for $25 each instead of $29.95.

Happy Shopping, everyone! :)

Lala-Oopsies Post Tomorrow

Hey guys!  I had a few unexpected things come up with my schedule today, so the Lala-Oopsies review will be up tomorrow instead of today.  Sorry to make you wait! ;)

In the meantime, just a heads up...there's free shipping at Disneystore.com this weekend when you purchase any Disney Parks merchandise.  Happy shopping! ;)

The Zelfs Contest and Last Call for Free Shipping at Disneystore.com

Hey everyone!  Just a quick update this morning.  :)

First off, free shipping at Disneystore.com ends tonight, so if you've been debating whether or not to use it, you need to make up your mind soon! :)

I also came across a fun contest this morning from The Zelfs for US residents.  Miss Clover is hidden in different locations on the Zelfs Facebook page, on their YouTube channel, and on their website.  If you can find these locations and email them to Moose Toys, you have the chance to win a free Miss Clover as well as a ton of other Zelfs! :)  You can see the official rules HERE.

Now, a few details to put this into perspective.  Miss Clover is not very hard to find on the different sites, and even though they don't exactly specify, I can't imagine that they'll offer this package to every single person who finds her.  So I'm guessing it will be a random drawing or something.  I'll keep you posted if I find out more.

Also, the Facebook page mentions that you have to find Miss Clover three times, while the official rules say only two times.  Just to be safe, I decided to mention three locations.  You might want to do the same. :)

Have fun, everyone!  A new pony post will be up tomorrow. :)  

Toy R Us My Little Pony Sale

Here's some exciting news for all My Little Pony fans!  Right now, Toys R Us is having a sale which includes 20% off of select My Little Pony items, plus FREE SHIPPING. :D  The usual shipping fee at Toys R Us is a flat rate of $7.99 up to purchases of $79 dollars, so this is a great time to order online.  You can see all of the My Little Pony items HERE.

It's as if Toys R Us is honoring "Lala-Pony-Palooza Month"!

Okay, don't worry...I'm not conceited enough to think that's the connection. ;)  Anyway, since MLP is one of our focuses this month, I thought it would be fun to bring this up.

Oh, and just so I'm being fair to both categories, there are a few Lalaloopsy items on sale as well, including the large Silly Hair Lalas and some of the newer large Lala dolls (like Mint E. Stripes).  No free shipping on these, unfortunately. :(  You can see all of the Lalaloopsy items HERE.

Happy shopping, everyone! :)

Free Shipping at Disneystore.com! :)

Whoo-hoo!!!  Just what I've been waiting for! :)  Disneystore.com is offering free shipping sitewide right now.  Apply code FREESHIP at checkout.

Happy shopping, everyone!! :)