Kung Fu Panda 2™ Kung Fu Po Wrestler GIVEAWAY!!!

I am giving away a Kung Fu Panda 2™ Kung Fu Po Wrestler!


Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment stating Who is your favorite "Kung Fu Panda" 1 or 2 character? You must sign in with a Google account. (It takes 1 minute to create if you don't already have one.)

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry by following my blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
If you are already a follower leave it in a separate comment and it will count.
2) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter at bernadette923
If you are already a follower leave it in a separate comment and it will count.
3) Earn one additional entry for tweeting this contest (leave a link to your tweet as your comment).

Please follow all the rules or your entry will not count.

This contest is open until Sunday, June 12th 2011 at midnight. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment OR be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Good luck!

Bern-Baby-Bern

Kung Fu Panda 2: Toys, Treats and a Tour!

A few weeks ago my family and I got a chance to preview Kung Fu Panda 2 at DreamWorks Animation and it was an afternoon filled with fun, toys and treats!!!


My daughter had never seen the first "Kung Fu Panda" so I wasn't sure how she'd enjoy the sequel. When the movie started she was hooked! We all loved the action-packed sequences with the Furious Five and touched by the flashbacks of Po with his family as a baby panda. A new evil peacock villain named Lord Shen, voiced by Gary Oldman, was introduced. We find out that Lord Shen played an intricate role in Po's past and the fate of his panda family.


I thought the overall movie was enjoyable but my only complaint would be that I wish the Asian actors such as Lucy Liu and Jackie Chan played more prominent roles in the movie. Although they were two of the Furious Five characters they had very minimal dialogue. Kudos to casting for choosing the talented James Hong as the voice of Po's adopted father in the form of a hyper noodle-making goose. Overall, I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to audiences of all ages.


After the screening we got a chance to test out all the "Kung Fu Panda 2" toys by Mattel. My daughter's favorite was the "Smack Talker" Po. It says phrases like, "Whoa hoa!", "You just been PANDA-ED!" and my favorite "SKA-DOOSH!!!". All the little boys gravitated towards the toys that shot off some type of weapon such as the "Kung Fu Cannon" and the "Rickshaw Racer".We could barely pry my daughter from the play mat but after enticing her with some of the tasty treats she agreed to have a few bites before playing again.

We ended our day with a tour of the DreamWorks Campus. The buildings were not of your typical stuffy workplace. It looked like,...well, a college campus! Throughout our tour we saw employees eating lunch, partaking in boot-camp classes and even a health assessment center set up that day especially for the employees. Did I mention they provide all this for free?! By the end of the tour I was wondering where I could drop off an application.


Be sure to catch Po and his friends in "Kung Fu Panda 2" opening on May 26th, 2011!

Thank you to DreamWorks and Mattel for allowing me and my family to participate in the "Kung Fu Panda 2" Awesomeness Event. SKA-DOOSH!!!

Bon VONAGE!!!

I shot a Vonage commercial earlier this year and wanted to share the final product. It was very exciting despite the fact that I was fighting morning sickness and trying to squeeze my growing body into my non-maternity clothes. Thank goodness for hair, make-up and wardrobe!!!

Here are the 2 versions that are currently out:
Vonage Last Bill International

Vonage World Premium Unlimited

Bern-Baby-Bern

Here We Go Again...

I haven't posted anything in the last three months and with good reason. It's been very difficult to do so with nausea, migraines and pure exhaustion.

My husband and I discussed having another child last year starting in August. It was one of those discussions that started with, "If we're going to do it we have to do it now." I figured it would be simple because the last time we "discussed" it I was already pregnant. I was disheartened to find out that this time around would not be as easy.

Month after month, negative. By December I began to feel like we should feel blessed to have one child and accept the fact that we were probably going to be a family of three. So during the month of December we agreed that by January we stop "trying". We gave it all away. Rocking chairs, car seats, baby toys you name it we got rid of it. The ONLY stuff I held onto were baby clothes so I could go through and have some as a keepsake of my little baby girl.

Needless to say December was a VERY hectic month: Christmas shopping, holidays and trips out of town. It came and went very quickly so the last thing on my mind was, "Hmmm, when should I get my period?"

January was here and by the 9th I started to get a suspicion that my "little friend" was late for her visit. I bought a test and was curious to see what it would say. I went to a Coffee Bean at 6:45am and asked to use their bathroom. I figured I'd take the test and see the minus sign and not bother my husband with the results. Reason being, every month prior to this I would tell him very excitedly, "I think I'm pregnant!!!" and every month I was wrong. Immediately after I peed on the stick there was a minus sign and I said out loud, "Sad." then placed the stick on top of the sink while I washed my hands. By the time I went to place the stick inside the safety plastic wrapper I saw a positive sign. What the WHAT?!!! I looked into the mirror and all I could see was a giant smile on my face.

I'm ecstatic. Even with the migraines, nausea and exhaustion I look forward to meeting this little person I am growing.

Bern-Baby-Bern

Due Date: September 18th, 2011
Sex: Boy

"In Mother Words" Tickets Giveaway!!!

You and a friend can join me at Geffen Playhouse on Sat. Feb. 19th @ 3pm for their very special event "Mom's Day Out"!

As moms we work VERY hard, and it's rare that we get an opportunity to take some time out and enjoy the company of other moms in a fun environment, so we're hoping you and a guest will join me for a special afternoon of entertainment featuring the new show, "In Mother Words." This show, written by some of contemporary theater's most talented voices, tackles the subject of motherhood in an eye-opening, hilarious and irresistible night of theater and makes its West Coast debut with award-winning actors Jane Kaczmarek, Saidah Arrika Ekulona and James Lecesne. As the program states, "Whether you are a parent, have a parent or ever want to become a parent, this play will elate and terrify equally - much like motherhood itself."

There will also be a food and drink reception following the show from 4:30pm to 7:30pm.I know I could use a drink.

Mandatory Entry: What TV mom do you admire?

Bonus Entries (leave a comment for each entry - if you put it all in one comment, I'll count it as one entry):

1) Earn one additional entry by following my blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.
If you are already a follower leave it in a separate comment and it will count.
2) Earn one additional entry for following me on Twitter at bernadette923
If you are already a follower leave it in a separate comment and it will count.
3) Earn one additional entry for tweeting this contest (leave a link to your tweet as your comment).

Please follow all the rules or your entry will not count.

This contest is open until Tues, Feb. 15th at midnight. I must have a valid way to reach you, so leave me your email address in your comment OR be sure your profile has your email address visible. No duplicate comments will count. This giveaway is open to US residents age 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random.org and must respond within 48 hours of being notified by me or I will select a new winner.

Good luck!

Bern-Baby-Bern

Tiny Tot Tuesday at the El Capitan with "The Little Mermaid"

If you have a toddler and avoid the theaters because it's too dark and loud and your kid is too busy trying to cruise the aisles and asking questions during the movie then I have a solution for you!!!

Tiny Tot Tuesday at the El Capitan presents the Disney classic "The Little Mermaid" on January 25th! For this special screening the lights are slightly dimmed, the sound level reduced and the kids are encouraged to dance in the aisles if they get the urge. Parking is conveniently available across the street at Hollywood and Highland with validation.

AND they are offering a "Mommy" code discount to all my readers at $9.00 per ticket.

Don't miss this Disney classic at the historic El Capitan Theater! You'll be glad you did.

Bern-Baby-Bern

Young, Blonde and Beautiful AIN'T Got Nothin' on ME!!!

The past two days I've gone for a hike @ 6:45AM. I know, crazy but it's the only time I can get it in. Each day I've seen the sun come up and I relax and enjoy the beautiful sunrise while still holding my keys in the "in case an attacker comes out" position in between my fingers. BTW, both days Richard Grieco (AKA Johnny Depp's replacement on "21 Jump Street") has said good morning to me.

Towards the middle of my hike, which is done in a slow yet steady pace, I saw two blonde, beautiful...no stunning (they looked like they were Ford models) in their early 20's in their cute workout matching clothes probably Lulu Lemon or Lucky or just Hot and Young Workout Gear. As they jogged toward me I could hear their conversation:

Hot Girl 1: We should get breakfast...
Hot Girl 2: OMG, totally!!!
Hot Girl 1: You know what sounds good?

As they bounced away from me I couldn't hear the answer but just heard giggling as I slowly strolled away. I remember those days of just being care-free and flying by the seat of my pants. You wanna go hike? SURE!!!! Maybe get mani/pedi's after? Why not?!!! Never having to worry about nap schedules, laundry, dirty dishes in the sink because I was single and only had to worry about me, myself and I. BUT with all those responsibilities comes GREAT joy. Every time my daughter says, "I love you mommy" and wraps her arms around my neck all the work becomes worth it. When she asks to see "Beauty and the Beast" for the 187th time and chimes in during the "Be Our Guest" song when the candlestick says, "Don't believe me..." she yells with anticipation and excitement, "ASK THE DISHES!" then looks to see if I'm as excited as she is. I say to myself, who needs to have an open schedule for spontaneous hikes and mani/pedi's...not me.

I love where I am today as opposed to where I was in my early 20's. My life is richer and fuller. Sure there are some days where it's tough and I have to dig deep and say "just get through it". Good thing I have an extra large shovel.

Thanks for letting me share my random thought of the day.

Bern-Baby-Bern