Aug 09 2019

Avengers Endgame Is a Love/Dislike Movie

The final chapter of the 22 movie MCU series is given a fitting title, Avengers: Endgame.After 11 years, everything we have endured side by side with our favorite characters is coming to an explosive end with a nearly 3 hour cinematic not-to-be-missed story. It is already released on digital but will be on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand Aug. 13.

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WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW

I will admit, I love/dislike this film. I love the characters, the graphics, the story, the hope, the gains, and the emotions that this final movie managed to induce. It is great to see all of my favorite characters interact as each story line comes to a head and collides to form a cohesive end. I am still teary-eyed that this is the end of the old, however, it looks like it could be the start of something new.

At first we learn how the team has dealt with 50 percent of the animals and humans missing from the planet. It has certainly placed many of our characters into a slump, some more than others…Poor Thor.

Beer Belly Thor

Despite the fact that many of them have had to come to terms with a severe loss in their life, they still show how heroic they are by putting aside their troubles to attempt a one last, all -in move to save the world and the universe from their past failure . The team gets back together!

Of course, the only way to fix the world is to use what destroyed it in the first place, Meaning, once again, the infinity stones are on the list to find. But the only way to do that is time travel. Our heroes must take a trip in the past, which is now their future, so that they can save their future from the past…yeah..that made sense.

In going to the past, it also means that past enemies, past friends and family, and past events will be in the way of their elected quest, and this includes Thanos.

All of their adventures come together in the final scene when Thanos once again threatens the world, and this time, he plans to wipe out all of the terrains. This is where the dislikes come in. But I don’t want to say too much since it would spoil a lot. I know I put a warning above so I will simply say, I don’t like death, especially when it is characters I love. I always feel like the story could have gone another way, where everyone lives and they all stay together.

However, even with my dislike, I still give this movie 5 stars. It really kept my attention through the ups and downs, I laughed and I cried, and it was a fitting conclusion to the 11 year movie series…with the exception of a few things.

Be sure to get all of the fun crafts, printables, and recipes I have posted featuring Avengers Endgame by going to my blog here.

Aug 08 2019

Avengers: Endgame Thor – Inspired Recipe and Craft

Happy THORSday! Avengers Endgame is coming to DVD and Blu-ray Aug 13! To celebrate, we have a new DIY armor and cape craft and a yummy sundae recipe for all the fans to enjoy, this time featuring the god of thunder, Thor..

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The Stormbreaker Sundae recipe is a little more complicated then the past Avengers recipes I have shared. it requires creating the Stormbreaker out of fondant, layering treats, and devouring the deliciousness. The ingredients required to make the Syormbreaker Sundae are:

  • Gray fondant
  • Brown fondant’
  • 1/4 cup crushed chocolate cookies
  • 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream
  • 2 tbsp caramel sauce
  • 1/2 golden apple, sliced
  • 2 tbsp chocolate shell sauce
  • Whipped Cream
  • 1 dark cherry

The DIY Armor and cape craft comes with design templates and a how-to guide. Simply click the image below to save the recipe and guide to your computer. Then print and create! Be sure to also get the recipes and crafts for all the other Avengers from my blog (they include Hawkeye, Hulk, Black Widow and Captain America).

Aug 07 2019

Avengers: Endgame Black Widow – Inspired Recipe and Craft

Avengers Endgame is on digital in HD, 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere! It will also be coming to DVD and Blu-ray Aug 13! To celebrate, we have a new DIY craft and yummy recipe for all the fans to enjoy, this time featuring Black Widow (I can’t wait for her solo movie!).

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The Meat and Cheese plates are very simple because it is literally pepperoni sticks layered on a cheese spider-web. With only 5 items needed to make, the time it takes to create the recipe is quick and painless…unless some of you are perfectionists like myself. Word of wisdom..it is going to be eaten and destroyed in less than 12 seconds, just get it on the plate.

Black Widow Meat and Cheese plate

The ingredients needed to make the Black Widow Meat and Cheese plates are:

  • Romano Cheese )Brie will also work)
  • 4-5 Mozzarella string cheese sticks
  • Prosciutto
  • Pepperoni sticks
  • Black plates
Black Widow DIY Belt craft

The DIY Black Widow craft turns elastic and foam into a fun Black Widow Belt. Using the template, a glue gun, and some paint, the belt will be ready for and Avengers Adventure!

To get the recipe and the craft, click the image below and save the PDF to your computer. Then print and create to prepare for Avengers Endgame. be sure to also grab the crafts and recipes inspired by Hawkeye, Captain America, and the hulk!

Aug 06 2019

Descendants 3 is on DVD!!!

Continuing the Descendants Saga is Descendants 3, once again featuring Mal, Evie, Carlos,and Jay. This time the group returns to the Isle of the Lost to recruit new students for Auradon Prep. However, this visit leads to a mess load of evil plots, impossible odds, and tough decisions, including the possibility that Villain Kids (VKs) will never leave the Isle of the Lost again. At least all of us fans won’t be locked up in anticipation because Descendants 3 is on DVD today!

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By a stroke of luck, I was able to score a review copy.

NOTE; Spoilers are below.

I could write about the music, which I loved, the cast, which I adore, or the story, which has literally become one of my favorites. However, I want to focus on my favorite part of Descendants 3 which is a message that I think many people, young and old, can connect with. In a time where differences of opinion, looks, and even a political stand can turn some of the most normal people to hate and despair, it is wonderful to see a film share that our differences make us who we are. We can cast aside our hatred and work together to make this world great.

Hades trying to leave the Isle of the Lost in Descendants 3

From the start, we have Mal’s fear of Uma, Villain Kids (VKs) fear of a new school, and a country afraid of Villains breaking through the barrier. It certainly doesn’t help when Hades tries to escape the Isle and attacks Mal, sucking her power away on national television. With so much fear, the peace and happiness in Auradon is short lived, especially when a marriage proposal turns a good girl into a villain..

This now bad girl attacks the kingdom by casting a sleeping spell on all who are in Auradon, leaving the VKs and their friends to try and save the day…if possible. However, in order to save the day, anger and hate must be put aside, they must accept each others differences and learn to get along. For Mal and Uma, that is easier said then done, because there is a lot of bad blood between them.

A not so happy Uma

In this movie, however, bad blood is just a word and being rotten to the core is more of a connection then they realize. This means the enemies, Mal and Uma, find a way to work together and save Auradon, which includes an epic fight scene with an army of knights. Actually, this is one of my favorite scenes in the whole movie. With swords, knights, and awesome dance skills to match the perfect fight song, who wouldn’t like it? Check it out below.

If it wasn’t obvious, I absolutely love this film. It is a perfect ending to the Descendants Saga. The music is marvelous, the cast is fantastic, and the message is one that resonates with all. This is amazing and worth every star of the 5 stars.

For those looking for fun activities to go with the Descendants 3 Movies, click the image below. There are recipes, activities, coloring pages, crafts and more!

Jul 30 2019

Avengers: Endgame Captain America – Inspired Recipe and Craft

In celebration of Avengers Endgame being released on Digital in HD, 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere today, we have another fun recipe and craft! Along with the Hawkeye Pizza Dip appetizer and the Green Hulk Taco entree comes a refreshing summer drink inspired by Captain America. With it’s red, white, and blue colors it s sure to make the Avengers party a hit.

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The Captain America Summer sip take very few ingredients but will be a wonderful addition to any meal. Simply layer each ingredient carefully so they don’t mix, and serve. The ingredients needed are:

  • Sparkling Vanilla Soda
  • 1.5 oz Grenadine
  • Ice
  • Glass
  • Blue Sprinkles
  • Fun Straw

After the meal, enjoy a DIY craft to make the Captain’s sheild out of a flying disk. To get the recipe and craft click the image below and save the PDF to your computer. Then print and create to have a fantastic Avengers Endgame celebration!

Captain America Summer sips recipe and craft

Jul 29 2019

Avengers: Endgame The Hulk – Inspired Recipe and Craft

Like the Hawkeye Pizza dip, we have another fun recipe and craft, this time featuring the Hulk, to celebrate the release of Avengers: Endgame coming to Digital in HD, 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere July 30th and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand beginning Aug. 13

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After having Hawkeye Pizza Dip as an appetizer, follow the meal with some Hulk tacos. These tacos are green in color to pay homage to the Hulk. With cabbage, chicken, and pickled onions, these tacos will have you screaming, “Hulk Smash Another into my mouth!”

The ingredients required to make these tacos are:

  • 1 LB Ground Chicken
  • Taco Seasoning (1 tsp Cumin, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp coriander, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder)
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 3 Tbsp Water
  • 6 Spinach Taco Shells (they are green!)
  • 2 cups shredded cabbage
  • Pickled red onions for garnish
  • Lime wedges as desired

Along with the Hulk Taco Recipe is a fun green slime craft called Hulk Slime. Using a few simple ingredients (white glue. green food coloring, foam shaving cream, baking soda, and saline solution) the whole family can Hulk Smash fun slime.

To get the recipe click the image below and save the PDF to your computer. Then print and create for some Avengers Endgame fun and flavors.

Jul 24 2019

Avengers: Endgame Hawkeye – Inspired Recipe and Craft

Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame,” the climactic conclusion to an unprecedented, 11-year cinematic journey in which the Avengers take one final stand against Thanos, delivered the biggest opening weekend in history and is currently one of the highest-grossing films of all time. On July 30, Avengers fans around the world are invited to assemble once more for the in-home release of “Avengers: Endgame” on Digital in HD, 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere, followed by a physical release on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand beginning Aug. 13.

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n celebration of Avengers: Endgame, we have an exciting Hawkeye – inspired recipe and craft the whole family will enjoy. The recipe is a fun target inspired pizza pretzel dip. Build the dip to look like a target and use pretzels as the arrows. The ingredients required for the recipe are:

  • 8 oz Cream Cheese )softened)
  • i tsp Italian )or pizza) seasoning
  • 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 cup Marinara/pizza sauce
  • 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 tbsp Shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup Chopped pepperoni
  • 1/2 cup chopped black olives
  • Pretzel Sticks (arrows) for dipping

The craft is perfect for back to school fun with pencils turned into arrows using purple feathers. To get the recipe and instructions for the craft click the image below and save the PDF to your computer.

Avengers Endgame Recipe and craft.

Jul 11 2019

Live Action 2019 Aladdin Movie Printables

It’s a whole new world in the all new Disney live action movie Aladdin. We have a different genie, a different street rat, and a way different princess. But thankfully, Disney still delivers the same fun printables that we have come to rely on. Fun activities that we can all print, create, and enjoy.

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In celebration of Aladdin 2019 making it to theaters and soon to blu-ray and DVD, Disney has released a fun activity pack featuring coloring pages, mazes, spot the differences, printable bookmarks, and a fun Memory game, To download the activities simply click the images below and save the PDFs to your computer. From there it becomes a print and create party!

Aladdin (Mena Massoud) meets the larger-than-life blue Genie (Will Smith) in Disney’s live-action adaptation ALADDIN, directed by Guy Ritchie.

While you enjoy the awesome Aladdin Disney Printables below, be sure to check out some of the cartoon printables available on my blog here: Fun Disney Aladdin Printables and Crafts. There are paper crafts, cubeecrafts, coloring pages and more activities to print and create!

Live Action 2019 Aladdin Movie Printable
Bookmarks
Spot the Differemce
Spot the Difference
Memory Game
Maze
Maze
Coloring Pages

Jul 10 2019

Yummy Walnut Inspired Recipes!

I was watching a little TV yesterday evening (I love Christmas in July) and the ads came on. Usually I step away while the ads play or pause the TV and fast-forward after five minutes. I am not one to watch pharmaceutical ads or ads for financial advice, they get a little crazy with their “we can help you” routine. However, this time my hands were full with a nasty little skein of yarn (let’s just say it was a tangled mess), so the ads played their familiar scripts. Only this time I heard something worth while and discovered there is a website dedicated to the one and only Walnut at Walnuts.org.

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As it turns out, Walnuts.org contains a lot of useful information including nutrition information, expert advice, and…RECIPES! For example, a little nutrition fact::

As a nutrient-dense food, walnuts are an excellent way to improve overall diet quality and are certified by the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark.

https://walnuts.org/nutrition/nutrition-information/

I suppose I better start adding Walnuts to my daily diet with all the facts and advice I am reading, which leads me to ways to include them in my diet…the free recipes! From BBQ Sliders to Carrot Cake Smoothies, the recipes contain slices of heaven for any occasion. One recipe I will try in the near future is the “Pork Walnut Meatballs in Coconut Walnut Soup“. It sounds weird but after trying peanut soup and loving it, this has to be good.

Pork Walnut Meatballs in Coconut Walnut Soup

Of course my favorite all time recipes are usually the smoothies. I love smoothies. They are refreshingly sweet drinks that are perfect for any time of day…and the directions are usually one sentence, “combine all ingredients, blend, and serve”. One such delicious recipe is the “Mixed Berry Walnut Chia Smoothie“. Anything that combines strawberries and blueberries usually has my vote. I guess I will have to pay attention to TV ads more often.

Mixed Berry Walnut Chia Smoothie

  • Servings: 2
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Seasonal berries, California walnuts and chia seeds make this smoothie a refreshing superfood powerhouse that will keep you satisfied for hours. Try freezing peak season berries from the market for more intense fresh fruit flavor.


Credit: Walnuts.org

Ingredients

  • 1 cup low fat milk (or substitute non-dairy milk of choice)
  • 1/4 cup frozen strawberries
  • 1/4 cup frozen blueberries
  • 1/4 cup frozen raspberries
  • 1/4 cup frozen blackberries
  • 2 tablespoons California Walnuts
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until smooth..


Jul 08 2019

Berry Yummy Star-Shaped Pies Recipe

Picture from the Dollar Tree Blog

The Fourth of July is over but Summer is still here. With all the fun in the sun: adventures, fireworks, fishing, games, and more, we are all sure to be hungry by the time we arrive home. Thanks to the Dollar Tree Blog, we have an easy snack that is sure to make everyone smile!

These Star-Shaped pies embed a Strawberry and blueberry compote into a pie crust and baked to form the perfect snack. Personally I love dipping them in peanut butter, it nearly turns them into a PB&J (Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich), which just so happens to be one of my favorite sandwiches of all time.

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I did change a couple of things from the original recipe. One: I added Peanut butter as an option because there are others like me looking to enjoy a creative PB&J pie. And Two: I included the recipe to make your own pie crusts. Of course, it is always an option to purchase two pre-made pie crusts, but I have learned nothing beats homemade. The recipe for a pie crust is simple and quick with only four ingredients. .

NOTE: If you are looking to buy your own pie crusts, you will no longer need the following ingredients: 3 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup butter, and 4-6 tablespoons of water. Simply “X” those out and replace with two store bought pie crusts. You will also skip directions 2-4 and simply roll your store bought crusts on a flour surface and continue from directions number 6.

ENJOY!

Berry Yummy Star-Shaped Pies Recipe

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

A Delicios Summer Snack.


Credit: Dollar Tree Blog

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup (Frozen) Strawberries
  • ½ Cup Blueberries
  • 1/3 Cup Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
  • 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
  • Peanut Butter (optional)
    • Pie Crusts or simply buy 2 pre-made pie crusts
  • 3 cup flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 cup of butter (cold)
  • 4-6 Tablespoons water (cold)
    • Items Needed
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Cookie Sheet
  • Star-Shaped Cookie Cutter
  • Pastry Blender

Directions

  1. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix together the berries, lemon juice, sugar, and cornstarch. Set aside
  2. In a large mixing bowl mix together flour and salt
  3. Slice the sticks of butter into cubes and use the Pastry Blender to cut it into the flour mixture until it is a small crumble
  4. Add water a tsp at a time while stirring the flour mixture until a dough forms. The less amount of water used the more flaky the pie crust will be after baked.
  5. Cut the dough into two equal balls and roll them out on a flour surface until they are 1/4 inch thick. If using store bought pie crusts, simply roll them out on a flour surface.
  6. Using the Star cookie cutter cut 6 stars from each round, flat dough disk
  7. Lay 6-star shapes on a greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet.
  8. Using a spoon, scoop a small amount of berry mixture onto the center of the stars.
  9. Place adjoining star shapes on top of the berries and seal the edges by crimping the dough with a fork. Cut small slits in the top of each pie to allow the steam to vent.
  10. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes, or until crust is browned.
  11. Let the pies cool completely on the cookie sheet, remove carefully with a spatula, and serve or store covered in the refrigerator.