Goodbye Christopher Robin In Theaters Now #GoodbyeChristopherRobin

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Goodbye Christopher Robin- Based on the true story

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Winnie the Pooh has been a household name around here forever. Being a mom of three kids each one eight years apart from the other has had me parenting forever.  Along with that it’s just a natural that I absolutely love Winnie the Pooh. It was always my goto bedtime song for all three of my children as well as telling the tales and reading whichever Pooh bear book was close at hand. It’s hard for me to understand how someone could not love that adorable little bear and him companion, Christopher Robin. When I first heard about the movie, Goodbye Christopher Robin I could only speculate what the movie would be about. I was hoping it would not be a movie that would have me surrounded by tissues that entire time especially since it is based on a true story.

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Goodbye Christopher Robin is an amazing chance for us all to get a peek into the life of  A. A. Milne who penned the Winnie the Pooh stories. Played by (Domhnall Gleeson), we get to see how father and son Christopher Robin (Will TIlston) get on. If you are not familiar with the movie, it is a story based on the real life of Christopher Robin and his world of toys. Christopher Robin brought his world to life as he played with his best friends Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore, creating a magical world of adventure. Along with his mother Daphne (Margot Robbie), and his nanny Olive (Kelly Macdonald), Christopher Robin and his family are swept up in the international success of the books. We all know that success does come with paying a price. Set in England following the First World War, A. A. Milne’s stories bring hope and joy to all of those who read them. But with the eyes of the world on Christopher Robin, what will the cost be to the family? Sometimes what we view as perfect or a perfect family has many tears that we cannot see. During the movie you will find out Christopher Robin’s true feelings about his family and about his best bear, Pooh. 

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Recently I had the chance to attend the NYC advance screening of Goodbye Christopher Robin and chat with the director, Simon Curtis. Following are what I thought was most important that he touched upon during the talk. 

“So many films in this day and age are about nothing and his film could be about so much. So many things that are important to us, particularly family.”

“It was perfectly natural for a child to be handed off to a nanny on day one, and then shipped off to boarding  school as soon as possible.”

In regard to the scenes of childhood depicted. 

“It’s our intention to tell the true story. It’s a sad story in some ways, but it’s a story of England.”

“I loved the sequence when the father and son play together in the summer. You can see him fall in love with the idea of being a father. That to me is the heart of the film.”

On Margot Robbie and Domnhall Gleeson- “They are two of the brightest actors I’ve ever worked with, this is proper acting.”

“The most important message throughout the movie, to me, is cherish your family.”

Check out everything about the movie here: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/goodbyechristopherrobin/

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Disclosure: This post was written in partnership with the Role Mommy Writer’s Network. All opinions are 100% my own.

#BakeItHappen Raises Funds For Metastatic Breast Cancer By Baking and Sharing! #BreastCancer

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Two Sisters Launch Innovative Campaign In Mom’s Memory That Raises Funds For Metastatic Breast Cancer Simply By “Baking and Sharing” Her Coveted Recipes on Social Media! 

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Taste Buds Kitchen, The Cancer Couch Foundation, Sweet Loren’s and Ford Warriors in Pink to Partner with “Bake It Happen” Campaign During October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month

There is one thing you may not know about me although my life is pretty much an open book. Breast Cancer is something I know a lot about. My mom had breast cancer and a mastectomy because of it. I was terrified of the entire experience and just did not understand anythinga bout breast cancer while the entire thing was going on. I did know one thing, my mom was scared but tough and so was I. As time went on I learned more about the cancer and also how it takes anyone it wants to. There is no rhyme or reason. If you do know someone with breast cancer the best thing you can be for them is available. Be there to listen, to just talk, to give them ride, bring them a book or a drink of tea or just sit with them while they cry. Just be there.  When I heard about Bake It Happen I had to know more, I had to be a part of it. I had to help in some way.  I did not know that we had to bake one of Judy Levin’s recipes when I started this campaign- I baked my mom’s favorite muffins- pumpkin spice and although I did shed a few tears as the scent filled my kitchen the sweet memories that filled my heart made it all worth it. My mom and I shared many  pumpkin spice muffins together. In fact, she IS the reason I ever started my love for the entire pumpkin craze. She loved pumpkin spice back before it was a “thing”. When September and October hit, her house smelled like happiness. Today, my house smelled like happiness. An although it has been ten years since I have heard my mother’s voice and ten years since we have shared a pumpkin spice muffin, today, it was like she was sitting right there beside me.  Thank you “Bake It Happen” for helping with breast cancer and thank you for making me stop and just connect to many many pumpkin spice happy memories. 

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 “Bake It Happen” an innovative fundraising campaign started by two sisters whose mission is to find a cure for Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC), gains strong momentum and will kick off its fifth year with the help of strategic partners The Cancer Couch Foundation, Taste Buds Kitchen, Sweet Loren’s and Ford Warriors in Pink.  The fundraising effort – which honors the legacy of Judy Levin, a talented baker/cook and mom who sadly lost her battle with Metastatic Breast Cancer – requires only that participants “bake” and “share” photos of Judy’s recipes on social media.  An anonymous donor will donate money for every Bake it Happen photo “shared.” 100% of the funds raised from Bake it Happen will go to directly to The Cancer Couch Foundation to fund Metastatic Breast Cancer Research.

 

While 41,000 individuals die from MBC each year, little funding for research is allocated to this deadly disease.  As a result, Judy’s daughters, Shari and Stacy have been the driving forces behind a creative fundraising campaign aimed at helping accelerate treatment options for patients battling this most aggressive form of breast cancer. “Even throughout her six year battle with Metastatic Breast Cancer, our mom’s kitchen was a communal table for family, friends and even strangers who embraced the tastes and love emanating from her dishes,” says Shari. Her sister, Stacy adds, “After receiving multiple requests for our mom’s recipes, we realized we could spread Judy’s culinary love  — all in the name of Metastatic Breast Cancer research.”  And so, in 2012, the Bake it Happen campaign was born.

 

The Bake It Happen campaign was first introduced on Shari’s blog My Judy the Foodie, which has an incredibly loyal following, and is dedicated to her mom and her amazing recipes.  In its first year, the campaign was shared by influential parenting and food bloggers across the country who lent their support and digital influence to the fundraising effort.   Over time, thousands of supporters across the country began to pass on Judy’s culinary legacy and hope for a cure.  After five years, the Bake it Happen campaign achieved its goal: to build the baking campaign into a national fundraising movement where supporters would bake and share Judy’s recipes or donate to the cause.  To date, the Bake it Happen campaign has raised over $60,000 for breast cancer research and this year, Shari and Stacy are determined to raise even more.

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This year, Bake It Happen will be donating all of the funds raised by its fundraising efforts to The Cancer Couch Foundation – a non-profit organization founded by Dr. Rebecca Timlin-Scalera (an amazing woman who was initially diagnosed, incorrectly, at Stage 4 and then restaged and currently battling Stage 3c breast cancer). Rebecca is a neuropsychologist who, upon diagnosis, quit her private practice to dedicate ALL of her time to raising as much money as she can to fund metastatic breast cancer research.  The Cancer Couch Foundation, in just the first six  months, raised over $500k for cutting edge metastatic breast cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.  The Cancer Couch Foundation is privately funded allowing 100% of donations and event proceeds to go directly to these carefully chosen research projects to accelerate treatment for MBC. Furthermore, every single dollar is matched and this year they are on track to put 1 million dollars toward this life saving, critical research.

 

“I will never forget what it felt like to have been initially diagnosed at Stage 4, knowing there is no cure, and I will not leave behind those who are still living with this,” commented Founder Rebecca Timlin-Scalera, PhD (Stage 3c).

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Bake it Happen has also formed strategic partnerships with Taste Buds Kitchen. TBK is a Kids Kitchen by  day and a BYOB Adult Kitchen by night offering cooking classes, parties and special events to ages 2-99. With their flagship location in NYC and franchise locations in cities around the country, all locations will offer special Bake It Happen themed classes this October for budding chefs ages 2 to 8 along with a caregiver to make a special recipe from the campaign. All locations have committed to donating a portion of the proceed from those classes to The Cancer Couch Foundation! “We are honored to contribute to the Bake it Happen campaign and support the efforts to find a cure for this terrible disease. Our budding chefs are excited to make a difference,” commented Jessi Brelsford, founder of Taste Buds Kitchen.

Additionally, Ford Warriors in Pink and Sweet Loren’s (amazing, all-natural cookie dough) have joined the campaign as social media partners and will help amplify the message about Bake It Happen via their digital platforms.

 

Six Tips for Surviving Friday the 13th of October @SFGrAdventure #FrightFest

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Six Tips for Surviving Friday the 13th of October from the Fear Experts at Six Flags

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With the immense popularity of Halloween, October has become synonymous with all things frightful. For those with “friggatriskaidekaphobia” – fear of Friday the 13th – the second Friday of this month is particularly distressing. So what is a friggatriskaidekaphobic to do?

The nine-syllable word is derived from Frigg, the Norse goddess of wisdom after whom Friday is named, and the Greek words “triskaideka” meaning 13, plus “phobia” meaning fear. Since this terrifying day typically makes an October appearance once every five to six years, emotional and physical preparation is mandatory.

Fear experts at Six Flags Great Adventure recommend Six Tips for Surviving Friday the 13th this month:

1.    Know the Enemy – Whether it’s a black cat crossing the street, a ladder leaning against the side of a building, or a rogue salt shaker getting in the way at the table, be aware of the surroundings and what lurks just around the corner.

2.    Eat Finger Foods – Crossing a fork and knife at the dinner table is said to be an invitation for bad luck and often symbolizes difficult times to come. By eating fish sticks, jalapeno poppers or chicken fingers, there are no utensils involved. Phew!

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3.    Hang Out with 11 of your Closest Friends – If you dare to leave the house, make sure your friend group doesn’t include more than 12 people, including yourself. A group of 13 people on Friday the 13th is a perfect recipe for rotten luck.

4.    Knock on Wood – It doesn’t matter whether it’s oak, cherry or mahogany. If you’re in a pickle, you can always just knock on wood. The origin of this superstition comes from the Germans who believed that if bad luck is present, knocking on wood grants protection from mystical tree fairies.

5.    Stay Positive – Chances are, if you think bad things are going to happen, they probably will — so keep the good vibes flowing. Think positive, and not even a broken mirror can bring you down. If you’re feeling particularly daring, test your luck! Step on that crack, walk under a ladder, and dance the tango with lady luck. If you’re a little hesitant, cross your fingers.

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6.    Embrace Friday the 13th – If all else fails, embrace the fear and bad luck that comes with this day, and what better way to do it than by visiting Six Flags Great Adventure for Fright Fest? Terrifying zombies, clowns and mutants roam the streets all night long. If that’s not your speed, there are tons of thrilling rides and spook-tacular monstertainment to help you celebrate the most feared day of the year in terror-ific style.

Fright Fest runs Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 29 plus Monday, Oct. 30 and Tuesday, Oct. 31. For more information, call 732-928-2000 or visit www.sixflags.com/greatadventure

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Disclosure: Diane Sullivan/3decades3kids is a Six Flags Great Adventure partner blog. All opinions are that of Diane and do not represent the views of the parent company represented. Complimentary media family pass and VIP front of line access pass provided. Contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net or @3decades3kids across all social media platforms. https://www.sixflags.com/

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI – New Trailer, Poster & Images! #TheLastJedi #StarWars

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Star Wars: the Last Jedi- New Trailer, Poster and Images!

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Every day that we wake up is another day closer to STAR WARS: The Last Jedi!! Our family is beyond excited about this one. How can we not be, being the total Star Wars obsessed family we are!? So I cannot wait to share this trailer with you! I’m sure if you are a Star Wars fan you have already seen it, but who cares??? There is always time to watch it again, right?

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Like STAR WARS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starwarsmovies/  

Follow STAR WARS on Twitter: https://twitter.com/starwars  

Follow STAR WARS on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/StarWarsMovies/

Follow STAR WARS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/starwars

Visit the official STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI website: http://www.starwars.com/films/star-wars-episode-viii-the-last-jedi

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI opens in theatres everywhere December 15th!