Pretty excited about taking the girls to see the new Dare to Dream Disney on Ice show tomorrow night.  I’ve been noticing the commercials advertising it and the other night, my 6 year old came up to me and asked if we could go see it.  I didn’t see shows like this when I was a kid, so it kind of makes me feel all warm and squishy inside to be able to experience something like this with my girls.  Eric is coming too.  Oh, he’ll love it and he knows it.  I also heard that Meg Ryan’s mom is going to be there.  Pretty stoked to see her, too.

I’ll tell you all about the show after we see it tomorrow night!

Here is a special discount if you want to take your kids to see the show, too:

Get 4 Tickets for $44 on Weekday Shows OR Save $4 on Weekend Shows.

Weekday shows include any performance Monday through Thursday. Weekend shows include any performance Friday through Sunday.

Redeem the offer with code MOM through Ticketmaster.com, Box Office, or call 1-800-745-3000

Fine Print:

Offer not valid on Front Row or VIP seating. No double discounts. Service Charges, Handling and Facility Fees may apply.

www.disneyonice.com

The fine folks at Feld Entertainment are giving me complimentary tickets to enjoy this show, which is absolutely what I plan to do.

I hope I can channel my holiday excitement right back at you through ParentSphere.  Let’s start with a huge holiday DVD gift set giveaway. Yes! Let’s!

This giveaway is being offered via Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment.  I have three holiday DVD gift sets up for grabs.  Each gift set includes three DVDs.  So, you’re getting a total of nine cheery DVDs to pass along to your kids or grandkids or nieces/nephews.  Yeah. That’ll make you pretty darn cool.

Here are the titles included in the giveaway:

Thomas & Friends Holiday Favorites

• Merry Winter Wish
• Ultimate Christmas
• Holiday Express

Barney Holiday Favorites

• Night Before Christmas
• Christmas Star
• Frosty Friends

Angelina Ballerina Holiday Gift Set

• The Nutcracker Sweet
• Love to Dance
• Ballet Dreams

Thomas & Friends Holiday Favorites

A new collection of adventurous, holiday-themed DVDs featuring Thomas and his engine friends.  Whether reveling at the Misty Island Christmas Party, sharing holiday cheer with the Sodor townsfolk or ringing in the holidays with smiles, laughter and song, Thomas & Friends continues to teach timeless life lessons such as discovery, friendship and cooperation, inviting children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train and the words of a story.

Barney Holiday Favorites

Spend the night before Christmas at Santa’s Workshop, search for the perfect gold star to top the Christmas tree and welcome fellow preschool favorites Bob the Builder™, Kipper™, Thomas & Friends™ and Pingu™ for additional frosty, festive fun.

Angelina Ballerina Holiday Gift Set

Celebrate the season with Angelina and all her friends as they prepare for the holiday showcase and learn all forms of dance at Camembert Academy. With games and karaoke, it’s the perfect present for little ballerinas everywhere!

This giveaway is definitely big entertainment fun for the toddlers and preschoolers.

How to enter:

It’s pretty easy, actually.  Just leave your entry comment on this post.  In your comment, tell me something fun, like, who you’d give these gift sets to if you win them.

This giveaway is open to residents within the continental US.  Deadline to enter is Monday, December 12th at midnight, PST.  A winner will be chosen at random from the comment section of this post and notified via email (Be sure to double-check your email address when you leave your comment).

*Here is a free holiday coloring sheet for you!  Click on the image to open it full-size and save it for printing.

*While you’re shopping for the little ones, don’t forget to check out these other new holiday DVD titles offered from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment (these titles are not part of the giveaway listed above):

Shaun the Sheep: We Wish Ewe A Merry Christmas
Barney™: A Very Merry Christmas – The Movie
Angelina Ballerina: Dancing on Ice
Thomas &Friends™: Merry Christmas, Thomas!

Back when I was a kid in the ’80s, the Smurfs were all the rage.  If you would have told me that in the year 2011 I would be virtually dancing with them, I probably would have giggled and said, “No way, cool!”.  It’s the year 2011, I’m now a 30-something and what am I doing?  Virtually dancing with the Smurfs.  Kinda funny how that works.  The cartoon characters I loved when I was a small child are now dancing across my television screen and my two young daughters are dancing right along with them.

Above: My daughters, Hailey and Teagan, dancing with Smurfette

Can I just tell you that when I danced along to some of the tracks on The Smurfs Dance Party, I was getting a serious workout? Awesome! I’m making this a daily thing. It’s fun and energizing. I love the video games of today where your entire body gets a workout, not just your thumbs!

Ubisoft is a world-wide leading developer/distributor/publisher of video games and just judging from The Smurfs Dance Party, I can see why. This is our first experience with one of the interactive dancing games for Wii and overall, I’m very impressed.

Pictured above: My daughter, Hailey, dancing along with Smurfette

I recommend checking out The Smurfs Dance Party if you were ever a fan of the little blue people as a youth.  I can pretty much guarantee your kids will love moving and grooving with them!

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft.  I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

I remember last year’s Lollapalooza festival like it was yesterday.  I remember when the weekend was over, how I couldn’t wait for this August to get here.  We made a ton of great memories and a bunch of new friends at Lollapalooza 2010.  It was most definitely an unforgettable experience.

I’m so happy that it’s finally here again!  Lolla is this weekend and celebrating its 20th anniversary to boot.  My favorite part of the festival is Kidzapalooza (year 7!), for obvious reasons.  We’re bringing both of the girls tomorrow and I hear the weather is supposed to be fantastic.

Hailey had a blast last year.  It will be fun to have both of the girls with us this year.  This is Teagan’s first Lolla and Hailey’s…third!  Lucky kids.  I love that they get to experience a music festival like this.  There are so many fun things for them to do in the Kidza area.  I’m sure both girls will have their hair punked up a bit, learn some hip hop with the Q Brothers and rock out to the awesome bands on the family stage.

In case you weren’t aware, I do quite a bit of the online social outreach for Kidza.  So, you’ll find me updating the Kidza Twitter account, Facebook page, blog, website, etc. all weekend long.  There are some great acts this year, like, Big Bang Boom, Kate Diaz, Ralph’s World, Northbrook Garage, etc.  I’m so excited to see them all!

So, whatever you’re doing this weekend, I hope it’s an inspiring one!  Hard to believe it’s August and the kiddos start school again soon.  Time flies…

Hailey in the VIP area of The National's set - Lollapalooza 2010

Just last month, I took my kids to see Dot & Ziggy.  It was such a cute play geared toward my pint-size toddler!  I’m happy to work with the Chicago Children’s Theatre and offer TWO tickets for giveaway to the Dot & Ziggy NOON performance at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago on Saturday, June 18th

To enter, just leave a comment on this post.  You can let us know if you’ve ever taken your toddler to an interactive play like this one (if you want to know more about this type of play, just read my review)

A winner will be chosen at random from the comment section on Tuesday, June 14th.  The winner will be notified via email.

*Please note, transportation to and from the play is not included.  This giveaway is for two free tickets to the Dot & Ziggy performance noted above.  The Victory Gardens Theater is located at: 2433 North Lincoln Avenue | Chicago, IL 60614

If you are thinking about purchasing tickets to the 6/18 noon performance, the code SPHERE will get you $2 off admission (Saturday, June 18 at noon only).  To take advantage of the discount admission, call 773.871.3000

Good luck!

My mother-in-law and I recently took the girls to see Dot & Ziggy at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago.  In a nutshell, the production was a huge hit with both the youngsters and their parents/caregivers.

I was nervous at first, because my toddler is very busy and I expected at least one or two melt-downs.  However, I was prepared.  Like always, I packed a bag full of snacks and drinks.  I had read that this particular play is geared toward the younger crowd (between 6 mos. and 4 years) but I wasn’t exactly sure what that meant.  So, I put my doubts for a successful outing into the back of my mind and hoped for the best.

I couldn’t have been more entertained by the performances of Don Darryl Rivera (Ziggy the skunk) and Roni Geva (Dot the ladybug).  They magically held the attention of the children in the audience.  (Ages ranged from newborn to at least 5 years old.)  We watched in delight as the two characters, Ziggy and Dot, romped around the room discussing their similarities or lack-thereof, as a friendly spider helped them find ways to share and cooperate.

For me, the truest test was if this interactive play could captivate my 22 month old for any length of time.

Not only did they keep her entertained, she practically joined them “on stage”!  I sat on one of the colorful, fabric triangles that separated the stage from the audience and watched as my toddler followed the actors around during their performance.  I was half ready to spring up and grab her (out of habit) and half mesmerized at how they almost seamlessly incorporated her into the show…without actually incorporating her into the show.  Pretty impressive, I must say!  Most of all, they were mindful of their movements around the audience of smaller humans.

The show runs about 45 minutes and all throughout, the lines of the characters are simple enough for toddlers to understand and the actors convey them in such a way that truly captures the attention of the busiest of children.

Dot & Ziggy is a must-see for parents and kids, preschool-age and younger.  My 5 year old had a blast watching her little sister enjoying herself so much and she even participated in the various performer/audience interactions during the show.  I was thrilled to have experienced this play with my kids (and my mother-in-law!).

If you are around the Chicago area between now and June 26th, I highly recommend checking out Dot & Ziggy with your toddler/preschooler.

Dot & Ziggy is presented by the Chicago Children’s Theater and runs May 9 through June 26, 2011 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.  For the complete schedule of family-friendly weekday and weekend matinee show times, to purchase tickets and for more information, call 773.871.3000 or visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org

*We were given complimentary tickets to this play, however, all of my thoughts and opinions about the performance I attended are my very own.  We just loved the play and will without a doubt check out more from the Chicago Children’s Theater.

I’ve been so anxious to write about Meagan Francis’ new book, “The Happiest Mom”.  I’ll pull out my cool card right away and tell you that Meagan is a friend of mine.  We met through blogging and have attended many of the same events and conferences.

Me and Meagan.  This grainy little gem was taken a couple of weeks ago at the World of Whirlpool blogger lunch.

Maybe our friendship makes me a *little* biased for highly recommending her book or maybe it’s because I have read it and have laughed out loud at our similar parenting styles.  In my opinion, The Happiest mom should serve as a guide to help us all refocus and RELAX a bit.  When life hands you lemons, make lemonade (make it even if life hands you the powdered, sugary kind, which I use).

The Happiest Mom gets three R’s from me.  It’s a lighthearted and Refreshing parenting Resource.  Most of all, it’s a Reminder to sit back and smell the roses every once in a while.  You’re not alone.  There are others going through the same thing as you.  Come on, we don’t actually have it all that bad.  So what if your daughter just slid across the carpet with a diaper full of liquid poo? It’s not the end of the world.  This too, shall pass (and come clean with some heavy duty carpet cleaner).

I don’t know if this guide to enjoying motherhood hits home with me more because I am a parent of two or not, but if you are a new parent or even if you’re not so new to the parenting grind, please pick up a copy of this book.  It will help you laugh (out loud), it will have you nodding your head in agreement and best of all, it will help you refocus on being happy.  For me, life became so much more crazy after adding a second child to the mix.  Referring to The Happiest Mom for reminders and advice and self-reflection has been wonderful.

I am looking forward to gifting a copy of The Happiest Mom to my sister-in-law, who in a few short months will become a mom for the first time.  It’ll be interesting to hear her thoughts after she’s had countless sleepless nights and leaky boobs.  (Love ya, Em!)  I can’t imagine these 10 secrets to enjoying motherhood won’t bring a smile to her face.

The Happiest Mom is a must-have for any new or seasoned parent.  We could all stand to hear some girlfriend advice and who better to hear it from than The Happiest Mom herself.

*Congratulations to our winner, comment entry number 36, Sharon!

We’ve got a nice little collection of what we call, “baby movies”. The collection started back in 2005 with our first daughter and the quantity of said baby movies has grown in size since our second daughter’s arrival in 2009.

In late 2010, The Baby Einstein Company released Baby Einstein Discovery Kits.  The Discovery Kits (MSRP $19.99) include a DVD, CD and cards or a book.  I say, more bang for your buck and more entertainment/play options for your little ones.  It’s nice to have the accompanying music and/or book in the car, especially when you can’t get a certain someone to chill out in the backseat (egh-hem…I’m not naming any names).

We were sent a free copy of the World of Rhythm Discovery Kit (released this past February).  This is one of the newest releases, geared toward toddlers.  Currently, there are nine different Discovery Kits and each kit falls under one of three levels; Level 1: Experience, Level 2: Explore, and Level 3: Expression.  As you can guess, the levels coincide with your baby’s age, from infant to toddler.

Both of my girls love watching World of Rhythm and one of the many reasons why would be because of the galloping horses.  My kids are obsessed with horses.  This particular kit is very fitting for us, since we’re always singing and dancing around the house…and galloping.

The Baby Einstein DVDs have a familiar theme and the kids really enjoy them.  We have owned Baby Einstein infant products for many years and their quality and craftsmanship has never disappointed me.

On behalf of LBi and the Baby Einstein program, we’re happy to give away one of the new Baby Einstein Discovery Kits to one of our readers.

To enter, leave a comment on this post and let us know which of the following three new Discovery Kits you would choose if you win:

If you already “Like” Baby Einstein on Facebook, then you can consider “Liking” our ParentSphere Fan Page and/or Tweeting about this giveaway.

Deadline to enter is Monday, May 2nd.  A winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email.  Good luck!

On Saturday, Hailey and I drove to Rosemont, IL to catch the Imagination Movers on their “In A Big Warehouse” tour. The Movers are halfway through their United States tour, playing over one hundred shows along the way. That’s the big time, people.

We arrived early and when I say early, I mean, the parking lot was not even open yet. We were to meet with Rich, Scott, Smitty and Dave for a pre-show interview and since I’m famous for being fashionably late, I did my best to get us there in plenty of time.

Since we had some time to kill before we could even park the car, Hailey broke out her crayons and created a poster of colorful assorted cheeses for the one and only, Warehouse Mouse. She also drew a picture of herself with the Movers and Nina, which she would later present to the fellas as a token of appreciation for providing her with music and entertainment since she was just a wee one.

Finally, it was time to park the car and head inside of the Rosemont Theatre. We met with John, the group’s manager, who was super gracious right off the bat. He lead us into the venue, where the Movers were doing their sound check. There we were, the two of us in this otherwise vast empty theater, getting a first-hand look and listen at the performers who would bring the house down in just over an hour. Pretty cool stuff.

After their sound check, we were lead “backstage” by John the manager to conduct our interview. After all is said and done, I am more likely to call our “interview” just a fun, slaphappy conversation with four friendly guys from New Orleans.

Here is a candid look at four very genuine guys before they take the stage for two sold out shows at The Rosemont Theatre:

Scott, Smitty, Rich and Dave were delightful. They were relaxed and comical and made us feel very welcome, even though we kind of overstayed our welcome and gave them just minutes to spare to get ready for their first performance. Oops! Hey, we were having fun and it was hard to leave!

After hanging out with the Imagination Movers, we ventured out into the theater to watch their first performance. Genevieve and “DC” of Choo Choo Soul on Disney Junior opened the show and they did a great job getting the crowd pumped for the Movers. We danced and sang along to some of our favorite Choo Choo Soul songs. It was a total treat for the five year old.

During their set, Genevieve made an impressive comment geared toward the young ladies. She said they need someone like her to look up to, someone who is covered from her neck to her toes. Being a mom of two young daughters, I heard that message loud and clear.

The Imagination Movers took Chicago by storm, selling out both of their shows. The atmosphere in the place was energetic and exciting. The kids were giddy. Many little ones were even dressed up in the Movers signature blue overalls, a signature Smitty hat or sporting Dave’s backwards red baseball cap. (Oh, the cuteness!)

The audience, which consisted of moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas and all kinds of other caregivers were having so much fun watching and dancing along with those turkeys, I mean, Movers. I even witnessed grown men in the audience bopping their heads and dancing! We were all having a good time.

The Imagination Movers incorporate many different styles into their songs, a real collaborative effort. They are lively entertainers and their chemistry is undeniable. I give them props for playing their own instruments and really giving their young fans an experience of a lifetime.

The group let their musical influences shine through during their set, even breaking into some Panama by Van Halen. There were also lots of cheese jokes that were, well, cheesy. (Yes. Pun intended.) It was quite obvious that these guys pour their heart and soul into their performance.

The lovely Nina, Warehouse Mouse and Eddie the monster made guest appearances. Eddie is either a dust bunny from the warehouse floor, Knit Knots on steroids or Jack Black. I’m not sure.

When the Movers left the stage, the kids in the audience were taught how to press for an encore performance. Something every young child should know – It’s not over till it’s over! The group came back out and the audience was still as pumped as when they first took their seats.

For their encore, they performed a mash-up medley of some hit songs to close out the show. At the end of the show, confetti fell from the sky and fans cheered and clapped.

Let me tell you, these guys know how to engage and rock the crowd. Honestly, there were several points during the concert where I forgot I was at a kid’s show. The Imagination Movers live show is a must-see.

Finally, if you are ever in the area, the Rosemont Theatre is an exceptional venue. The sound quality in the place is sharp and the staff there is very courteous. Many may know that I’m a fan of smaller venues but if I have the chance to attend future performances at the Rosemont Theatre, I wouldn’t hesitate.

Here are some of our pictures from the Imagination Movers live performance:

*Congratulations to our winner, Jill!

Wow. We have some pretty sweet giveaways this week.  This one is one of my favorites. The Juno Company is back with their original orchestral music and stories and this time, geared toward the growing preschoolers.  Not that the toddlers wouldn’t like it; my toddler swoons over anything Juno.

New Juno Jr. DVD: One Bunny Band:

After Bunny’s “serenade stand” doesn’t live up to her expectations, Indie hires her to be his own, personal “One Bunny Band.” Indie gets more than he bargains for as Bunny misses the music mark time and time again. But in the end, Bunny and her friends learn how to put feeling into their music through concepts such as tempo, dynamics and articulation.

New Juno Jr. CD: Welcome to Harmonia Springs:

Sing along with Juno, Murphy, Bunny, Indie and Rai Rai to this collection of songs from the Juno Jr. series. Featuring all tracks from “One Bunny Band,” “The Day the Music Stopped” and “Friends Make a Symphony,” “Welcome to Harmonia Springs” features the original, orchestral music composed by Belinda Takahashi, Ph.D., as well as the fun, thoughtful vocals of Juno and her lovable friends.

Bunny Plush Doll

Always the shining star, Bunny can’t be missed! Outfitted in a necklace and pompom accessories, Bunny adds a little color to your child’s plush collection. Adventurous and fearless, Bunny is always ready to explore.

Do you want this stuff?  Ok!

We’re giving this prize pack away.  It includes the new DVD and CD, along with the Bunny plush doll, limited edition canvas tote bag, 20% off coupon valid on the Juno Company website and Juno & Friends magnet.  The prize package has a retail value of around $50.

To enter, we ask that you please subscribe to the Juno newsletter so you are in the loop on the Juno happenings.

Click here to enter this giveaway AND subscribe to the Juno Company newsletter

(Psst: Please list “ParentSphere” for how you heard about this giveaway.)

A random winner will be chosen on April 1st – April Fools!  No, just kidding.  A winner will definitely be chosen that day.  You can enter up until 2:00 am CST on the 1st.