Steve Carell in Despicable Me!! { GIVEAWAYS! }

Here is a new release for you guys today! AND, read below...there is a big giveaway too! Ends Friday so don't delay in getting registered!

The ultimate entertainment for the entire family, Despicable Me is packed with never-before-seen bonus features including games, behind-the-scenes featurettes and filmmaker commentaries that will keep the entire family enchanted for hours. The perfect gift for the holidays arrives in the hilarious and heartfelt animated box office sensation, Despicable Me... For a limited time only the fun continues with a trio of all-new, hilarious adventures starring the film’s endearingly mischievous Minions, available only on the Blu-ray™ and Blu-ray 3D Combo Packs and the DVD Double Pack. All three products include a digital copy of the movie to watch anytime, anywhere. A single disc DVD will also be available.

Have you heard of this movie before, or not? I saw previews but I just wasn't familiar with it. It is a VERY funny, with dry humor that both my husband and I can watch with the girls and we are all entertained. AND..not to mention that Steve Carell is the voice of Gru...and he is seriously one of our favorite actors! Here is a synopsis of the movie:

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden deep beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by an army of tireless, little yellow Minions, we discover Gru (Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon. Yes, the moon! Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. One of the world’s greatest super-villains has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.

If you were watching the Macy's Day Parade, you probably saw those fiesty little minions running around too! Here is the trailer to Despicable Me in case you haven't seen that yet:

Click HERE if you want to see more trailer, information on the show!

GET YOUR OWN! Despicable Me was released on Blu-ray & DVD TODAY! You can get your own copy where you currently buy your DVD's or you can find a copy HERE and have it shipped right to you!

{ ** GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED!!! ** }

WIN YOUR OWN! One person will win a Grand Prize and 4 additional people will win runner up prizes as well. Here is what is up for grabs:

DESPICABLE ME Single Disc DVD
DESPICABLE ME Blu-ray and DVD Beannie (one size fits most)
DESPICABLE ME Blu-ray and DVD Stickers
DESPICABLE ME Blu-ray and DVD Activity Sheets

To enter, let us know who you would love to win one of these for! Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each):

• "Like" SIMPLE on Facebook
• Follow our tweets @simplereviews
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets allowed): Enter to win a Despicable Me Prize DVD or other prize at @simplereviews: http://tinyurl.com/25g9uja #giveaway
  

Winner will be randomly selected and announced December 17, 2010. Good Luck!

*I was provided with a copy of Despicable Me free of charge in order to give my unbiased opinion and to conduct this review. What was written above is my opinion!*

DidiPop Goes To Hawaii

It is cold and snowy here in Michigan and I can think of nothing better than a trip to Maui.  All this cold makes me want warm sand, umbrella drinks, fresh pineapple and Hawaiian music.  Ahhh... relaxation. :)

Unfortunately Fortunately, I will not be taking my two small children on a 20 hour plane ride to Hawaii anytime soon and there will be no warm sand or umbrella drinks in our near future.  Thankfully, we can enjoy the sounds of Hawaiian music with DidiPop Goes to Hawaii and have our own virtual vacation in the car or at home.

The songs on the album were inspired by Deborah Poppink's (aka DidiPop) actual visits to Hawaii with her family.  The songs are kid friendly, and very catchy.  Every time "Wowie Gazowie" plays, I can't help but sing along and Michaela is learning how to say humuhumunukunukuapua'a from listening to "The Hawaiian Alphabet Song."

Check out the "Mango" video of an actual mango picker on Maui and get a peek into the recording session for DidiPop Goes to Hawaii:

GET YOUR OWN:  DidiPop Goes to Hawaii releases on December 14 and can be ordered with free shipping through 1-1-11 from her website!!!  Just visit the DidiPop shop to order your copy today!

WIN YOUR OWN!!! One lucky SIMPLE reader is going to win a copy of DidiPop Goes to Hawaii!  To enter please visit the DidiPop website and come back to tell us which DidiPop Goes to Hawaii song makes you feel most like you're going on a Hawaiian vacation.

Extra Entries: (leave a separate comment for each)

• Follow DidiPop on Facebook
• Tweet this giveaway: Enter to win a DidiPop Goes to Hawaii CD from @didipop over at @simplereviews: http://tiny.cc/nqi6r#giveaway 

WINNER will be randomly selected and announced on December 18, 2010.  Good luck!!!

*I was provided with the DidiPop Goes to Hawaii, CD free of charge to conduct this review. The opinions provided are my own.
 

Monkey Around with Monkey Music!

"The DVD inspires kids to “get up off the sofa,” dance, and sing along to an array of fun, rockin’, energizing tunes that encourage movement and imagination. From jumping high, to exploring New York’s Chinatown, to flying around the country, Meredith LeVande’s upbeat, educational music comes to life through a highly creative blending of live action videos and colorful animation."

Oh, do we love music over here! When I was first introduced to the DVD, I clicked on some of the teaser links. Lili was asking if we could watch it over and over. Just today she put this DVD in again. It is a very fun set full of very entertaining music. Lili gets up and dances all around. She was singing today, "Let's go Down, Let's Go Down to China Town!". If you want to see what she is singing about, you can check it out here:

"Meredith...devoted herself to performing for children in intimate settings, becoming a favorite among NYC area families and creating a repertoire that has grown organically from one-on-one interactions with children of virtually every culture imaginable. Meredith heads up a project with the marvelously mischievous moniker Monkey Monkey Music, with a focus on “putting the child back into children’s music.”

GET YOUR OWN! You can get your own copy of Monkey Monkey Music: The Videos with Meredith Levande HERE! Or you can check it out on Amazon.

*I was provided with a copy of Monkey Monkey Music: The Videos with Meredith LeVande free of charge in order to give my unbiased opinion and to conduct this review. What was written above is my opinion!*

Fantasia Forever!

When I put the new Fantasia DVD in the DVD Player, I was instantly brought back to my childhood. I distinctively remember when the first Fantasia was released. I was standing in the grocery store with my mom pleading for it. She eventually caved and it was ours. My sister and I watched it together, great memories. Approximately 15 years later. I am excited for my girls to have the opportunity to create similar memories with this movie.

“FANTASIA is an extravaganza of sight and sound — brilliantly presented with an all-new digital restoration! Now you can experience Walt Disney’s animated musical masterpiece, FANTASIA, and the triumphant classic it inspired, FANTASIA 2000, together in this special 2-Movie Collection. Fully immerse yourself in the wonders of this innovative blending of music and animated imagery. Audiences of all ages will thrill to the soaring soundtrack and be delighted by the spectacular animation, including Mickey Mouse in his most famous role in "The Sorcerer’s Apprentice."

Here is a trailer for your viewing if you would like:

Also, here are some fun activities that you can download and print out for your little ones. If you are anything like me, I am always looking for a little change with our daily activities. Here is a quick fix for that for you too!

GET YOUR OWN! Fantasia / Fantasia 2000 is Available on Blu-ray & DVD Now! You can get your own copy where you currently buy your DVD's or you can find a copy HERE and have it shipped right to you! Don't forget to check out the special promotion shown below...just click on it if you have a Disney Rewards account! EXPIRES DECEMBER 7th! Just in time for a great stocking stuffer :)

*I was provided with a copy of Fantasia / Fantasia 2000 (Four-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) free of charge in order to give my unbiased opinion and to conduct this review. What was written above is my opinion!*

Mind of My Own with Frances England

I will freely admit that I enjoy listening to children's music with my kids.  There is nothing quite like hearing their little voices singing along with a favorite song, or watching them dance with complete abandon because of some silliness they are hearing in the lyrics.

Sometimes though I want something that isn't quite so much the screeching of "Wheels On The Bus" and more like the music I enjoy when there are no kids around.  That's why I like Frances England's Mind of My Own.  She has managed to combine a relaxing folksy sound with kid-approved lyrics.

Every time her song "Jacques Cousteau" comes on I find myself singing along and my daughter loves the title song "Mind of My Own".  After listening to her Family Tree and Fascinating Creatures albums online we have officially become Frances England fans. 
 
GET YOUR OWN: Head on over to Frances England's website to take a listen and purchase the physical CD or download from iTunes.

WIN YOUR OWN! One lucky SIMPLE reader will get their own copy of Frances England's Mind of My Own. To enter just tell us what kid (big or little) in your life that you think would get the most enjoyment from this CD.

Extra Entries: (leave a separate comment for each)

• Follow Frances England on Facebook
• Tweet this giveaway: Enter to win a Mind of My Own CD from @francesengland over at @simplereviews: http://tiny.cc/bsttt#giveaway

WINNER will be randomly selected and announced on December 11, 2010.

*I was provided with the Frances England, Mind of My Own  free of charge to conduct this review.*
 

Disney's Newest Release - The Sorcerer's Apprentice!

If you have been reading SIMPLE for any amount of time now, you know that we love Disney. They recently released The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Here is a non-exclusive clip from the DVD:

This is not one that we will be watching with our girls for quite some time - afterall they are only 1 and 4. It isn't a young kid friendly movie in my opinion. There are some "scary" parts. It was nice to get a movie night in with my hubby! I love Nicholas Cage and he did a fabulous job in this movie...just like all the others he has done!
Here is a little more about it if you haven't seen it yet:
A fun, modern-day adventure follows Dave (JAY BARUCHEL), just an average college student, or so it appears, until the sorcerer Balthazar Blake (NICOLAS CAGE) recruits him as his reluctant protégé and gives him a crash course in the art and science of magic. As he prepares for a battle against the forces of darkness in modern-day Manhattan, Dave finds it is going to take all of the courage he can muster to survive his training, save the city and get the girl as he becomes THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE.

GET YOUR OWN! The Sorcerer's Apprentice is available on Blu-ray & DVD Now! You can get your own copy where you currently buy your DVD's or you can find a copy HERE for convenience.

Don't forget to check out the special promotion shown below...just click on it if you have a Disney Rewards account! EXPIRES DECEMBER 7th! Just in time for a great stocking stuffer :)

*I was provided with a copy of The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo) free of charge in order to give my unbiased opinion and to conduct this review. What was written above is my opinion!*

To all the Charlie Brown Lovers!

For all you Charlie Brown lovers out there, I am featuring two for you today!

First, we have Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales. In standard format, it's a "holiday special made up of a series of animated vignettes, each featuring members of the Peanuts gang." Perfect for anyone who loves the Peanuts! Also included on this disc is the rarely seen "Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown?". This is about when Charlie Brown is faced with the departure of Linus and Lucy who must move when their father is transferred to a job in another town.

Next, we have the Peanuts Holiday Collection. This is newly released on blu-ray for the first time! This is a "box set that contains three popular seasonal Peanuts specials in one set ("A Charlie Brown Christmas," "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving," and "It's a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown"."

Lili has been learning all about Thanksgiving at her school the past few weeks. I just love listening to her tell me about what she has learned. It was fun to pop this in and watch it with her. She thought it was super funny that in "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" she got to see the "characters" she had been learning about in school.

"To many watching these seasonal specials on TV each year has turned into an important tradition. We wanted to capture these programs in one beautiful collection and preserve them in gorgeous Blu-ray definition so that they could be shared with future generations." "Peanuts Holiday Collection is a must-have DVD compilation. It features some of Charles Schultz's greatest work and we are proud to offer it to consumers."

GET YOUR OWN! These are both available NOW - you can get them where you buy your DVDs or you can pick up via these links, HERE and HERE!

*I was provided with a copy of each shown above free of charge in order to give my unbiased opinion and to conduct this review. What was written above is my opinion!

Santa Paws - Get yours now for Christmas!

Here is another DVD review to get you into the Christmas spirit! Keep reading to see how you can get some craft pages, view some movie clips and see some still images of the new The Search For Santa Paws! This is the NEW prequel to 2009's hit, Santa Buddies. Your little ones will LOVE this new DVD out by Disney! Just in time for the Holiday's!

Lili, my 4-year old, requests to watch this one over and over. I thought I would get sick of it because we have watched it so much, but I haven't! Super cute AND filled with adorable little puppies! Definitely wins a "thumbs up" from us!

Click HERE to get your hands on some coloring & activity pages for the little ones!

Here is a clip for you as well:

My little 4-year old is constantly asking question about Santa Claus about this time of year - especially since we see him everywhere. I was sent this little article and I thought I would share it with you as well:

As parents, we pass down the stories and traditions of Santa Claus. Even if we can’t think of a logical explanation as to how he visits every home on one night or why there are so many Santa look-alikes all around town each December, it is important that we support the TRUE meaning of Christmas... The simplest thing is to tell your children to have faith and to just believe. Children love magic, so if you just explain that Santa is magical, that should hopefully help them understand the underlying spirit of Christmas.

Santa Claus is a wonderful tradition, and establishing traditions in your family that get passed down from generation to generation—such as baking cookies for Santa and his elves each Christmas Eve or leaving carrots out for his reindeer—helps create a bond between you and your children. It also makes the holiday more meaningful, memorable and fun for kids, who otherwise might complain about wearing a coat and tie to Christmas Eve dinner at grandma’s. So despite the fact that logic may tell you otherwise, make a point of teaching your children about Santa Claus, his 8 tiny reindeer, his sleigh, his workshop...

GET YOUR OWN! THE SEARCH FOR SANTA PAWS is Available on Blu-ray & DVD November 23rd! You can get your own copy where you currently buy your DVD's or you can find a copy HERE and have it shipped right to you! Don't forget to check out the special promotion shown below...just click on it if you have a Disney Rewards account!
WIN YOUR OWN! I have been given the opportunity to giveaway TWO (2) The Search For Santa Paws Blu-Ray and DVD sets!

**GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED - CONGRATS TO #19 (FABERGRE) AND #42 (HEATHER R)**

To enter, let us know who you would love to win one of these for!

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each):

• "Like" SIMPLE on Facebook
• Follow our tweets @simplereviews
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets allowed): Enter to win a Blu-ray + DVD combo pack of The Search for Santa Paws at @simplereviews: http://tinyurl.com/26e4d6m #giveaway
  

Chosen winner must be from either the US or Canada. Winner will be randomly selected and announced November 29, 2010. Good Luck!

*I was provided with a copy of The Search For Santa Paws free of charge in order to give my unbiased opinion and to conduct this review. What was written above is my opinion!*

Two new DVD's released from PBS Kids!

When we first signed up for cable television, Lili was about 3 years old. We don't watch TV a whole lot, but it almost always comes to SuperWhy when it is on. I really like this show because it isn't just another brainless children's show. The kids are learning with this! I hear Lili yell from the room as she is interacting with the show.

Twas the Night Before Christmas includes:
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
The Ghost Who was Afraid of Halloween
The Three Feathers
The Stars in the Sky

Super Why: Twas the Night Before Christmas has become an immediate hit in our house overall! There are 4-30 minute episodes - 120 minute long DVD. This would be perfect for the holidays - whether to get the kids excited about Christmas or as a stocking stuffer!

Another favorite in our house is Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs in the Snow. I love the little dinosaurs in there - they are so sweet!

"Dinosaur Train embraces and celebrates the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains while sparking an interest in life science, natural history and paleontology."

Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs in the Snow episodes include:
Dinosaurs in the Snow
Night Train
Fossil Fred
King Cryolophosaurus
Dinosaur Block Party
Buddy's Surprise Birthday Party
Mom's Day
Cretaceous Conifers

GET YOUR OWN! You can get your own copy now - they are both on sale where you currently buy your DVDs or you can pick up a copy of Super Why: Twas the Night Before Christmas or Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs in the Snow
at the links provided too!

*I was provided with a copy of Super Why: Twas the Night Before Christmas and Dinosaur Train: Dinosaurs in the Snow free of charge in order to give my unbiased opinion and to conduct this review. What was written above is my opinion!

A Whole New Way for Kids to Watch and Play!

Disney is launching tomorrow, November 16th, a version of a child size remote/video game for kids aged 2-5. It is called the Mickey Mote - and I was sent this along with two games/DVD's to try out! I think it is very fun and VERY simple for the little ones to enjoy. We have a wii gaming system and have some kid friendly games, but those games are not near as simple at this new Mickey Mote! They are releasing this just in time to add this to your little one's Christmas list. If they love the Disney channel, they will love what this has to offer. Here is a little more info:

"...discover a whole new way to watch and play their favorite Disney preschool DVDs, with the all-new "Mickey Mote". This one-of-a-kind, kid's remote control...packed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Numbers Roundup
and Handy Manny: Big Construction Job. The new Mickey Mote will provide hours of fun, engaging and challenging adventures for kids age 2-5. The Mickey Mote is a value for moms and fun for kids!

These DVD's are very fun to watch - either with or without the remote! :)

You can read and learn a LOT more about this over at the Disney site, you can click HERE to be automatically directed to it. Or you can watch this video now to learn more:

And while you are on that page that is linked above, look right below the video that is playing and you will be able to see some great clips from these DVD's. Here is one for you to look at now if you want :)

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Numbers Roundup
Fun Fact

GET YOUR OWN! There are 9 total DVD's right now available that will work with the Mickey Mote - the two pictured above are examples of what I received! They are available for purchase starting November 16th! You can get your own copy where you currently buy your DVD's or you can find a copy HERE and have it shipped right to you! ONE LAST THING TO MENTION...be sure to grab the coupon on the front of the package if you are purchasing your own at the store. You can instantly save $8 on any two Mickey Mote titles, or inside there is another coupon for $3 off of a single title.

*I was provided with a copy of Disney's New Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey's Number Roundup and Handy Manny: Big Construction Job DVD's as well as the Mickey Mote free of charge in order to give my unbiased opinion and to conduct this review. What was written above is my opinion!