cvegnad, Author at Working Mommy Journal

February 12, 2017

Stay in With Netflix This Valentine’s Day #StreamTeam

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner now and I am sure you have stressed yourself out with the planning, organizing and even gift buying. In our home, we try to keep Valentine’s Day low-key, especially when it falls during the middle of the week like this year. We go out for a dinner on the weekend before (this year we hit up Swiss Chalet) and then we enjoy the night itself in the house with movies and pizza.

So why not ditch the stress of going out on Valentine’s Day and plan a night in with either a homemade dinner or take out and a huge list of Netflix movies that can suit whatever mood you are in.

Here are the top picks from Netflix for Valentine’s Day based on theme:

If you are looking for a girls night in with lots of wine, laughter and fun, then these picks are just for you! My personal favourites from this list are Brides Maids and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days – I still find myself cracking up when watching these films! I definitely plan on checking out Tyler Perry’s The Single Moms Club. I love Tyler Perry films so I am sure this one will be a hit as well.

If you are feeling lonely, no date, no single friends to hang out with or you just enjoy watching those movies that make you bawl your eyes out (we all get in those moods!), here are your top picks playing now on Netflix:

Maybe you just want a simple love story, nothing too big but not too small either. Netflix has you covered with these top hits:

And for our hopeless romantics (definitely not me but I know a few in my life!), here are the top picks for you:

So don’t go crazy this Valentine’s Day – instead relax, unwind with these top picks that will make your day that much more special. Happy (early) Valentine’s Day friends!

Disclosure: I am a Netflix #StreamTeam member and receive perks with this affiliation. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 7, 2017

Canadian Release of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir #Giveaway

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir is set to release on DVD in Canada on February 7th!

About Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybuy and Cat Noir is coming to DVD in Canada on February 7, 2017, from Shout! Kids, in collaboration with ZAG. The release features seven incredible episodes, bonus features, and a French language track – très bon! Wildly successful on Nickelodeon in the United States, and now airing on the Family Channel and YTV in Canada, its legions of fans worldwide know that Miraculous™: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir is superhero super fun.

Marinette and Adrien, two seemingly normal kids live what appears to be an ordinary teen life in Paris with daily encounters that create amusing circumstances in school, with friends, family, and even with strangers. But when the evil Hawk Moth threatens their beloved city of Paris, they transform into the superheroes Ladybug and Cat Noir using super powers gained with the help of their magical friends. Hawk Moth is using his evil energy to transform normal people into super villains, so our two heroes need to use all their skills to defeat him.

Becoming Ladybug is a complicated process. First, Marinette needs a “Kwami,” which is a tiny magical assistant (called Tikki). She also needs a “Miraculous,” which is a magical accessory (her special pair of earrings). Tikki uses the Miraculous to transform Marinette, but her Ladybug super powers only work for a limited time!

It is a good thing that she gets a little help from her superhero partner, Cat Noir even though she insists she doesn’t need him. If only she knew Cat Noir’s true identity – her school crush, Adrien! It will take a lot – friendship, teamwork and skill – to outwit Hawk Moth. Will Ladybug and Cat Noir be able to balance their double lives and keep Paris safe? Will they ever find out each other’s true identity? Until then – there is a whole city of baddies to defeat… SPOTS ON, CLAWS OUT!

Episodes:

The Bubbler
Mr. Pigeon
Stormy Weather
Timebreaker
Copycat
The Pharoah
Lady Wifi

Bonus Features

Episode Animatics
Sing-Along
Cast and Crew Interviews

Our Thoughts

We love the tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir and was super excited for this Canadian release. Where else can you find a funny, strong female superhero that both boys and girls will love. The graphics and animation are fantastic and well suited to young children. The humour is the best – appropriate for young children, slightly older children and adults (which is a must for the shows that we watch together). This DVD is perfect for after school fun, PA days and holidays.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Canadian readers can now enter to win their own special Canadian release of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir via the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 6, 2017

Grimm Woods Book Review

A remote summer camp becomes a lurid crime scene when the bodies of two teenagers are found in a bloody, real-life rendering of a classic Grimm’s fairy tale.

About Grimm Woods

A remote summer camp becomes a lurid crime scene when the bodies of two teenagers are found in a bloody, real-life rendering of a classic Grimm’s fairy tale. Trapped in the wilderness, the remaining counselors must follow a trail of dark children’s fables in order to outwit a psychopath and save the dwindling survivors before falling prey to their own gruesome endings.

Drawing on the grisly, uncensored details of history’s most famous fairy tales, Grimm Woods is a heart-pounding thriller about a deranged killer who uses traditional children’s stories as tropes in elaborate murders. Set against the backdrop of modern-day Michigan, it’s a journey through the mind of a dangerous zealot and a shocking glimpse into the bedtime stories you thought you knew.

My Thoughts

A horrifying, suspenseful novel that has some of the most famous fairy tales at the heart of the story. I knew most fairy tales have a more twisted and scary original version but I never realized how much so! I actually had to look some of them up after this novel and I was a bit shocked. He wove these fairy tales so well into the story with just enough history and just enough explanation on how each fairy tale related to the murder. You can fully appreciate the amount of research and planning that this must have taken to work out the plot in this novel. He did an amazing job.

The story itself is well thought out – the ending was not at all even remotely what I thought was coming. The murderer was someone I did not even see coming and it was a curveball that I loved. Each chapter had something new and I could not stop reading this novel. You just had to know what was happening next.

While it is a horror and there is a some graphic murders, it is actually not as gruesome and descriptive in the deaths as some horror novels that I have read. There is also a good balance between the intense moments with calmer moments as we get to learn more about the characters. Grimm Woods is a fantastic read for horror fans! Happy reading.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

D. Melhoff was born in a prairie ghost town that few people have heard of and even fewer have visited. While most of his stories are for adults, he also enjoys terrifying younger audiences from time to time, as seen in his series of twisted picture books for children. He credits King, Poe, Hitchcock, Harris, Stoker, and his second grade school teacher, Mrs. Lake, for turning him to horror. For more information, visit www.dmelhoff.com.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 2, 2017

Celebrate Family Day with Kidapalooza!

Family day weekend is all about fun, family and being together. Kidapalooza brings all of this to the table and more.

So what is Kidapalooza? It is a three day celebration of the imagination that will have families creating, exploring and playing together. It provides a hands-on, creative experience for families from all across the Greater Toronto Area. The event takes place indoors at the Markham Fair Grounds, so no need to worry about the cold weather we are currently going through. The event runs Family Day long weekend, from February 18-20.

The event has expanded this year to include 45,000 square feet of activity stations, play zones, interactive inflatables, performance stage, dance parties and vendors. There is an endless list of activities for you and your child to do together.

My readers can now enter to win their own family pack of tickets (two adults and two children) to attend Kidapalooza. Please make sure that you are close enough to the event to attend as transportation and accomodation are not provided. GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure to check out the Kidapalooza website for more information and contest to win a Springfree Large Oval Smart Trampoline (valued at $2,749). Don’t forget to follow them on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with event details, giveaways and more.

February 2, 2017

A Fine Year for Murder Spotlight Tour

After months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy.

About A Fine Year for Murder

After months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy.

When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may have witnessed the murder of a family living near a winery owned by distant relatives she was visiting and suppressed the memory.

Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims, Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker, a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an end to the Thorny Rose couple?

You can buy the book on Amazon.

Book Trailer

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

The Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this spotlight tour and review later on. All opinions expressed are my own.