Do you remember when Reindeer were made fun of for having red noses? Do you recall how Kris Kringle became Santa Claus? Was it only once upon a time that snowmen could come alive and dance through the streets? Perhaps all these stories only happened in our dreams as visions of sugar plums danced through our heads. Or maybe, they are memories of some of the most classic Christmas Movies the holiday has ever seen. Hold onto your elf hats because you are about to be snowball pelted with the biggest Christmas nostalgic moment you will ever have this side of the North Pole!

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That’s right, avalanching to the shelves this Christmas is the Original Christmas Classics Anniversary Collectors Edition! Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, the Little Drummer Boy, Cricket on the Hearth, Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, and Frosty Returns are all collected together in one Christmas Classic Bundle. All those childhood stories once again come to life for a whole new generation on Blu-Ray! That is, if the new generation can pry it from my fingers.

I will be honest, the moment I received the blu-ray collection, I tore off the plastic faster than Rudolph could light his nose in a fog of peanut butter. I grew up with these films plastered all over the VCR every Christmas. We always had one Christmas Classic or another playing. So when this blu-ray collection landed in my hands, I couldn’t wait to restart the tradition of Christmas movies playing in the background or the family gathering around the TV, drinking hot cocoa and watching some of my favorite movies.

I could continue my ramblings of my love for these Classic Christmas movies, but it would probably become more long winded than Yukon Cornelius. So let me make it clear and simple: I love these stories. The adventures each character goes through to grow and become something more than just an image on the screen is far beyond what we see today…Or at least I think so. Take Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, it is a perfect movie to show what bullying can do to someone who is just a little different. It also shows how one needs to be strong because a brilliant light could be around the next iceberg. Frosty the Snowman teaches us to share and be kind, Santa Claus is coming to Town teaches us that a little kindness can melt even the coldest hearts and that everyone needs a little fun in their life. No matter how old you are, these films not only have a message, they are entertaining and contain the most lovable Christmas Characters.

This collection comes in a two disc collection with the seven timeless Christmas Stories and wonderful bonus features.
The Christmas Classics included are:

• Santa Claus is Coming to Town
• Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
• Frosty the Snowman
• the Little Drummer Boy
• Cricket on the Hearth
• Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol
• Frosty Returns

Each of these films have been Digitally remastered for wonderful sound and crisp vibrant images. They have been dusted off, cleaned up, and repainted so that a whole new generation can enjoy the masterpieces of the Christmas Classics. All I can say is, Beautiful. To see my favorite films reborn made my Christmas Season glow brighter than Rudolph’s nose.

With a line up like that, you may already be thinking this is the greatest thing since the downfall of the Burgermeister Meisterburger, but it gets better. Not possible? Oh but it is. Try adding epic bonus features that will engage the audience, child or adult, for even more Christmasy fun! You can become an artist, make toys read the facts, sing-along to some of the most classic songs and more!
Bonus Features include:

• Be an Artist & create

Learn to draw Rudolph, Santa, Frosty and more from a professional animator. Plus fun craft activities for the whole family.
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• Santa Special Delivery

Enjoy 45 jolly notes about Santa and what makes the holidays so special.
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• Rudolph unwrapped

Gift boxes are unwrapped to reveal 50 magical facts about Rudolph and all his friends
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• Magical Melody and Kringle Jingle

Sing along to the memorable holiday tunes, Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
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• Frosty Snowflake Surprises

Magical snowflakes reveal 45 fun facts about everyone’s favorite snowman
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• Sam the Snowman’s Sing-alongs

Join the fun and sing along to Holly Jolly and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

You too can share the wonder and the joy of these seven timeless stories with your children and grandchildren and create new memories and holiday traditions that you will cherish through the years. Simply purchase Original Christmas Classics Anniversary Collectors Edition from Amazon.com and begin the magical Christmas Journey with Rudolph, Frosty, Santa Claus and more.

Be sure to check out all the cool Christmas Crafts that dreamworksholidays.com features on their Holiday Website. Build Toys, print activity pages, solve mazes, connect the dots, write a letter to Santa and so much more can be found ready to print for you and your family to create. You can even build a rocking horse, make some delicious REESE’S PIECES COOKIES, or make Popcorn Snowmen (click the images below to fly over to the craft). How cool is that!?!?

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Disclosure: SKGaleana receives products in order to conduct reviews. Unless noted otherwise, no monetary compensation was provided. I only share and recommend products or services I think will be a good fit for my readers. All the opinions are 100% my own. In exchange for referrals, some posts may contain affiliate links that I may receive commission for payment. (See more here)
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Before the shopping, the mad rush for the stores and the best deals, before people go insane for sales and Black Friday door busters, I would like to take a moment and remind everyone that this week is much more than consumerism. This week is a time to reflect on what we have, what we have gained and what we are most thankful for. Like so many, I will admit that I sometimes forget to look at what I have and give thanks. That is why we need this day. Sure the food is wonderful and the shopping is…chaotic.. but there is nothing like family and friends getting together to spend time with each other and being thankful for everything we have and the blessings we receive.

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Being thankful is not limited to physical items, it can also be for something not necessarily tangible but just as important. For example we can be thankful for the love in our lives, our health and even the rights we posses. It wasn’t long ago when women were not considered equal to men. Women had to fight for their rights and make their voice heard. That is why it is so important to recognize what we have and what we need to do to keep moving forward.

I have spent most of the #19DaysofSuffrage asking all of you to think about what it means to you to be a woman, what changes need to occur to make it better and how these changes can be made. There have been some amazing answers from many of you! Here are just a few that I find incredible.

These comments are awesome and I would like to continue this amazing momentum. Therefore, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, this week I want to change it up a bit. I want all of us to reflect on what rights we are thankful to have. Comment your answers below. Is it the right to vote? The right to free speech? Or perhaps you are simply thankful for the right to choose?

I will start with my personal thanks. I am most thankful for the right to speak my mind through writing and/or speaking. There was a time when women were seen and not heard. Women suffered in silence and scorned if they spoke. With my loud voice and my love of writing, if I had lived in that time, I think I would have died a little inside each day. I say, “Thank You” to the women before me, who struggled and fought to give me and the women of today a voice.

Unfortunately, not all women enjoy the rights much of us have. So While you are thinking of the rights you are most thankful for, remember that many women are still struggling for even the most basic rights the #fightsnotover yet!

“Sisterhood”

Suffragette will be released on Blu-Ray and DVD February 2, 2016. Pre-order your copy from Amazon.com

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Disclosure: SKGaleana receives products in order to conduct reviews. Unless noted otherwise, no monetary compensation was provided. I only share and recommend products or services I think will be a good fit for my readers. All the opinions are 100% my own. In exchange for referrals, some posts may contain affiliate links that I may receive commission for payment. (See more here)
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The Drac Pack is back and coming to Digital HD when Hotel Transylvania 2 arrives Dec. 22! That is just in time for Christmas! It will be released on Blu-ray 3D™ Combo Pack, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD on Jan. 12 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment! Special Features Include Fifth Harmony’a Music Video, Sing-Along Scary-oke, Deleted Scenes, and more!

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Culver City, Calif. (Nov. 23, 2015) – Sony Pictures Animation’s monster family box-office hit HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2, which grossed more than $430 million in theaters worldwide to date, will debut on Digital HD Dec. 22, just in time for holiday viewing and on Blu-ray 3D™ Combo Pack, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD on Jan. 12 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The Hotel Transylvania sequel reunites ‘Drac’s Pack’ of loveable characters, led by “Vampa” Drac (Adam Sandler, Grown-Ups) as they try to put Mavis (Selena Gomez, Spring Breakers) and Johnny’s (Andy Samberg, TV’s “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) son Dennis through a “monster-in-training” boot camp to bring out his vampire side. But little do they know that Drac’s grumpy and very old, old, old school dad Vlad (comedy legend Mel Brooks) is about to pay the family a visit to the hotel. And when Vlad finds out that his great-grandson is not a pure blood and humans are now welcome at Hotel Transylvania, it doesn’t take long for things to get batty!

The record-breaking film, which scored the best September opening of all-time previously held by the original Hotel Transylvania and was the #1 family film internationally for eight consecutive weeks, also features Kevin James (Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2), David Spade (TV’s “Rules of Engagement”), Steve Buscemi (TV’s “Boardwalk Empire”), Keegan-Michael Key (TV’s “Key and Peele”), Molly Shannon (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”) and Fran Drescher (TV’s “The Nanny”). HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 marks the return of 3-time Primetime Emmy winning director Genndy Tartakovsky (Star Wars: Clone Wars), along with producer Michelle Murdocca (Hotel Transylvania). The screenplay is by Adam Sandler and Robert Smigel (TV’s “SNL”).

The Blu-ray combo pack and DVD are full of extras, including Fifth Harmony’s “I’m in Love With a Monster” music video, a character sketch gallery, an inside look at how the filmmakers and animators created Hotel Transylvania 2 and director commentary with Genndy Tartakovsky. Exclusive to the Blu-ray are interactive featurettes on how to throw the ultimate monster party and draw your favorite characters from the film, a special Monster Scary-oke, which gives viewers the chance to sing along with Dennisovitch to spooky versions of three classic songs, must-see deleted scenes and much more.

Synopsis: In this all-new monster comedy adventure, everything seems to be changing for the better at Hotel Transylvania! However, Drac is worried that his adorable half-human, half-vampire grandson, Dennis, isn’t showing signs of being a vampire. So while Mavis is on vacation, things get batty as Drac enlists his monster friends Frank, Murray, Wayne and Griffin to put Dennis through a “monster-in-training” boot camp!

DVD Special Features (also on Blu-ray & Digital*)

• Fifth Harmony Music Video: “I’m In Love With A Monster”
• Character Sketch Gallery
• Feature Commentary with Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel and Allen Covert
• Feature Commentary with Director Genndy Tartakovsky

Blu-ray & Digital Exclusives*
All DVD Bonus Features Plus…

• Sing Along with Monster Scary-Oke!
• Deleted Scenes
• Make the Scary, Silly Sounds of Hotel Transylvania 2
• How to Throw The Ultimate Monster Party
• How to Draw Your Favorite Characters
• The New Guys: Meet Vlad, Dennis, Kakie and More

* Digital Extras only available with iTunes Extras and Vudu Extras+

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 2 has a running time of 89 minutes and is rated PG for some scary images, action and rude humor.

Buy Hotel Transylvania and Hotel Transylvania 2 from Amazon.com

Grab the FREE Hotel Transylvania 2 Printables here. There are Recipes, bookmarks, masks and more! Get the free printable Cubeecrafts I made of Mavis, Johnny, Denis and the Drac Pack to help celebrate the epic release of Hotel Transylvania 2 by clicking the image below!

Throughout American History, our currency has featured images of great leaders and landmarks that express our American values. For example, the last theme created on our currency was “The Symbols of Freedom.” The State of Liberty’s Torch ($10), the Great Seal of the United States ($5), the Eagle ($20), the American Flag ($50) and the Declaration of Independence ($100) are all symbols of America and the freedom we posses. While this theme has been a part of our currency since 2003, it will not be for much longer. It is time for a change to a new theme and a new look.

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According to the The New 10 website, the new currency theme will be “An Era of Democracy.”

Over the last few years, Treasury staff has worked to identify potential themes reflective of the values of our current era. After historical research and reviews of previous designs and themes, democracy was chosen by Treasury Secretary Jack Lew as the theme for this next generation of currency.

From the founding of the nation, democratic ideals, and our striving to make those ideals a reality, have defined the United States of America. Our continuing efforts as a nation to form a more perfect union are something we plan to use the next family of Federal Reserve notes to celebrate thenew10

In 2020 we will see one of the most dramatic changes to our U.S. Currency. The $10 Bill will be introduced with a new face, and not just any face, but the face of a Notable American Woman. The U.S. Department of the Treasury is currently in the process of deciding which inspiring American woman will appear on the $10 bill.

This week during the ‪#19daysofsuffrage campaign, I would love for you to think about the women through history who have inspired you. Who do you think would be a worthy candidate for #TheNew10? There are many to choose from!

• women’s rights leader Susan B. Anthony,
• civil rights activists Rosa Parks & Harriet Tubman,
• mental health rights activist Dorothea Dix,
• disability rights activist Helen Keller
• and so many more

State what notable women you would like to see On #TheNew10 in the comments below. Share the image above with hashtag #TheNew10 with your choice to make your voice heard. Use #TheNew10 hashtag to tell the U.S. Department of the Treasury your ideas, symbols, designs or any other feedback that can inform the Secretary as he considers options for the $10 redesign.

Then be sure to enter for a chance to win our ‪#19daysofsuffrage Giveaway. The prize is a Suffragette Tote Bag, Journal, Bracelet and Mini Poster by clicking the image below.