Hi yall! Today I am excited to share coverage of a new feature film coming out on March 6.  If you like sports this one is for you.

THE WAY BACK will be in theaters nationwide on March 6, 2020. You can find more information here:

Do you have a comeback story you want to share with me? You could win a set of Fandango tickets to see The Way Back in the theater! Comment below to enter.

Through this first year of teaching I have learned so much about myself.  I have discovered parts of my personality that I didn’t even know I had, and developed other parts that needed strengthening.  Though no one is ever perfect, I have largely learned to embrace my flaws.

All my life, I have been told that I was too sensitive.  I have easily cried before at the drop of a hat, and of course at times when I needed to be strong.  Truth be told, I have cried this year at work!

I’ve always been made to feel that my immense emotions were a negative thing; I was regularly told as a child to “toughen up,” “stop crying so much,” “get over it” and the like.  But what I have come to realize is that my compassion is a gift in my line of work–children need understanding and emotional attachment to their teacher.

Although some might say I’m not tough enough, I believe I am the ideal blend of gentle and tough on my second graders.  They know I will follow through when I need to discipline, but that I am always there to give advice and make them feel validated with what they need to tell me.  And that is how a weakness turned into a strength.

Looking for a film that will allow your kids to know perfect isn’t always best?

UGLYDOLLS is an animated adventure in which the free-spirited UglyDolls confront what it means to be different, struggle with a desire to be loved, and ultimately discover who you truly are is what matters most.

The film stars Kelly Clarkson (American Idol, The Star), Nick Jonas (Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), Janelle Monáe (Rio 2, Hidden Figures), and Blake Shelton (Pitch Perfect 2, The Angry Birds Movie).

In the adorably different town of Uglyville, weird is celebrated, strange is special and beauty is embraced as more than simply meets the eye. Here, the free-spirited Moxy and her UglyDoll friends live every day in a whirlwind of bliss, letting their freak flags fly in a celebration of life and its endless possibilities. The endearingly unique residents of Uglyville occasionally look to the sky above the town, where a new UglyDoll will appear and be embraced by the community.

Moxy (Kelly Clarkson) loves her square-peg life in this round-hole town, but her curiosity about all things leads her to wonder if there’s something – anything – on the other side of the mountain which nestles Uglyville. Moxy gathers a group of her closest friends and sets off to find what’s on the other side. They discover another world – Perfection – a town where more conventional dolls are trained in protocols before they graduate and are sent to the “real” world to find the love of a child.

In Perfection, Moxy and her crew are subject to the manipulations of Lou (Nick Jonas), the perfect doll in charge of training recruits. Here, the UglyDolls will confront what it means to be different, struggle with their desire to be loved, and ultimately discover that you don’t have to be perfect to be amazing because who you truly are is what matters most.

When I am home with my kids on holiday weeks such as this, I love to spend time with them watching movies I loved from my own childhood.  My 10 year old always asks me about how certain things were “in the nineties” (so long ago, right?) so I show him films I grew up with.  He always loves sports based movies the best, such as The Sandlot, The Mighty Ducks, and Rookie of the Year. But the one we like best is Little Giants!

For a boy, it hits all the movie marks: football, kids being funny, and fart jokes.  I can appreciate it now on another level as a mom because it shows my son that you don’t always have to be the biggest and best to win, and that heart is the most important aspect of whatever you participate in. He might not quite grasp that upon watching the movie at first, but I hope he can get the message.

If you’re looking to be inspired this holiday season, the film CREED II is what you’re looking for.

“Every champion was once a contender who refused to give up.” 

“But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

– Rocky Balboa

Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.

The film releases in theaters on Wednesday, November 21.

All Clara (Mackenzie Foy) wants is a key – a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a box that holds a priceless gift. A golden thread, presented to her at godfather Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual holiday party, leads her to the coveted key—which promptly disappears into a strange and mysterious parallel world. It’s there that Clara encounters a soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and the regents who preside over three Realms: Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. Clara and Phillip must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve Clara’s key and hopefully return harmony to the unstable world. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, Disney’s new holiday feature film “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston, and inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale.

The cast includes: Keira Knightley, Mackenzie Foy, Eugenio Derbez, Matthew Macfadyen, Richard E. Grant, Miranda Hart, Sergei Polunin, Jayden Fowora-Knight, Omid  Djalili, Jack Whitehall, Meera Syal, Ellie Bamber, Misty Copeland, with Helen  Mirren and Morgan Freeman. The film is directed by Lasse Hallström and Joe Johnston.

In Theaters Wednesday, November 21st

#Creed2

Is there a place you’ve always wanted to venture to with your family?

I think we all grow up with hopes and dreams of traveling the world, but as we grow older, we learn the world can get in the way.

As a child, nothing seemed more exotic to me than traveling to another continent.  I would love to one day take my children to experience the splendor of Italy, and specifically, Rome.

Books were my best friends growing up.  Though I could read just about anything I put my hands on, I truly loved reading about faraway places and imagining what life was like all those ages ago.

I believe that taking my boys to Rome would give them a real sense of history and impress upon them just how far civilization has come, and how humans centuries ago weren’t that different from us now.  Of course, they will imagine that it was hard to grow up without a phone or tablet!

The upcoming film Smallfoot also teaches a lesson about pushing your boundaries and exploring the unfamiliar.

 An animated adventure for all ages, with original music and an all-star cast, “Smallfoot” turns a myth upside down when a bright young yeti finds something he thought didn’t exist—a human.

News of this “smallfoot” throws the simple yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in an all new story about friendship, courage and the joy of discovery.

“Smallfoot” stars Channing Tatum (“The LEGO® Batman Movie,” the “Jump Street” films) , Zendaya (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”), Common (“Selma”), LeBron James (upcoming “Space Jam 2”), Danny DeVito (“The Lorax,” Oscar nominee for “Erin Brockovich”), Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”), and Yara Shahidi (TV’s “Black-ish”).  It debuts in theaters on September 28.

Operation Finale releases in theaters on August 29.

Trailer and more:  https://operationfinalefilm.com/

Statistics say that over 65 percent of American households have at least one pet.  And of those, over 40 percent of homes have a dog.  There’s a reason why pups are so often featured in movies and television shows–they are central to so many of our lives and they bring a joy all their own!

DOG DAYS is a hilarious and heartfelt ensemble comedy that follows the lives of multiple dog owners and their beloved fluffy pals.  When these human and canine’s paths start to intertwine, their lives begin changing in ways they never expected.  This is a sweet film about the joy our furry friends bring into our lives and what they can teach us about treating people with kindness and compassion.  DOG DAYS releases in theaters in August 8.

Our family lost our own pup just over a year ago.  Jasper was a stray we rescued from the side of a highway.  We turned him from a shy, skittish pup into a furry ball of energy that loved to play with my boys.

Jasper was the first dog my kids ever had, so I know they will always have fond memories of him.  He loved to snuggle up in covers with us, play fetch, and eat treats! Jasper taught my older son how much responsibility comes with owning a pet, and that animals can quickly become important family members.

Before bringing Jasper into our lives, I would have said that I was, without a doubt, a cat person! But now, I know that when the time is right, we will welcome another pup into our home and give it an amazing amount of affection!

Be sure to check out Dog Days and reminisce about your own furry friends on August 8!

Vanessa Hudgens stars as “Tara” in Ken Marino’s DOG DAYS, a LD Entertainment release.
Credit : Jacob Yakob / LD Entertainment

Quick Question:  If GOD asks you to be his FB friend, would you…A) Confirm or B) Ignore His Friend Request

This September, a new and uplifting television series premieres on CBS.  GOD FRIENDED ME is about an outspoken atheist whose life is turned upside down when he receives a friend request on social media from God, and unwittingly becomes an agent of change in the lives and destinies of others around him.

This is an inspirational show about hope, faith, and a question we’ve all asked ourselves – what’s my purpose in this world – how can I be of service to others and be an agent of good?

GOD FRIENDED ME is created by Bryant Wynbrandt and Steven Lilien, the producing team behind some of tv’s biggest hits including, GOTHAM, HAWAII FIVE-O, andALCATRAZ.  It stars Joe Morton (Justice League, The Good Wife), Violet Beane (The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow), Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi, Homeland) and newcomer Brandon Micheal Hall.  The series premieres on Sunday, September 30 on CBS Television.