Giveaway: The Wizard of OZ 75th Anniversary DVD!

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Enter to win The Wizard of OZ 75th Anniversary DVD. The giveaway is open to the U.S. only.

To learn more about the "There's No Place Like Home" campaign that Warner Bros. Entertainment and Habitat for Humanity have created in celebration of the film, check out the link below!
Official Site: http://thewizardofoz.warnerbros.com/habitat

Wizard Of Oz on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWizardOfOzMovie

Giveaway: Peanuts Holiday Movie Collection on Blu-Ray

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Candy Corn Martini

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces coffee-flavored liqueur
1 1/2 ounces white chocolate liqueur
1 ounce orange flavored and colored vodka, such as UV
1/2 ounce triple sec

Directions:

1 Into a martini glass, pour liqueurs in listed order over the backside of a spoon.

Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/candy-corn-martini-134982

Restaurant Review: The Melt

Today I went with my friend Daisy to check out The Melt at the Irvine Spectrum. They are part of the grilled cheese craze!

I love their list of philosophies!

They have a very simple menu but still too many great sounding options!

Simple continues with the entire layout even in the cooking area!

They take your initials and you just watch the board to see when your order is up!

I don't know why I was so fascinated with their soda dispenser but I was!

I love the dispenser!

Daisy got the regular grilled cheese. For $2 more you can add a side salad or a cup of soup. She went with the sweet corn tortilla. The soup was perfect. Smooth like a bisque with the sweet taste of corn. You also get your choice of a side of chips or pickles.

I went with The Italian Job - fontina and provolone on housemade garlic bread. I added tomatoes to it and also added a cup of soup. I went with the seasonal soup which was sausage and peppers. The soup was smooth as well with the rich taste of sausage and pepper in each spoonful. So good to dunk the grilled cheese into the soup! The Italian Job was fantastic! The soft gooey cheese was melted perfectly and not too hot! The garlic bread was toasted perfectly as well! Just a great comfort food meal!

A great fresh meal that is relatively low cost. I was content, not overly full and definitely not hungry for anything else.

Check out the site for more details and info:
https://themelt.com/

Here is the address of the one I went to:

The Melt Irvine Spectrum
73 Fortune Drive, Space 105
Irvine, CA 92618

Blue Lime Ghost Halloween Drink Recipe!

 

Makes 1 drink

 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ounces lime vodka
1/2 ounce blue curacao
Sprite

Directions:

1 Build in a highball glass packed with ice.

Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/blue-lime-ghost-258442

Thor: Treasure of Asgard Preview!

Come with me and take a look at the latest Marvel addition to the Innoventions building in Tomorrowland at Disneyland! Let's take a sneak peek at Thor: Treasures of Asgard!

A collection of weapons greet you as you wait to see more treasures from Asgard and then take the Bifrost to Asgard for an audience with Thor himself!

We are now entering a small chamber with a few more items from Asgard. Then with an introduction to what is about to happen next from a Cast Member and words from Odin, the king of Asgard himself, we are whisked across the Bifrost to Asgard!

Once we have arrived via Bifrost to Asgard, the mighty doors open to reveal Thor himself as he welcomes us to Asgard!

Thor introduces us to Mjolnir and asks if anyone of us believe we can lift it. What happens next? Well, you just have to come and visit to see for yourself! Then Thor is kind enough to pose for photos with each of us in the audience!

Thor and I discussing the weather! There will be thunderstorms!

Thor and I are seen here sharing a laugh!

Thor and I are ready for battle!

Thor: Treasures of Asgard opens in Disneyland this Friday November 1st!

Giveaway: Monsters University Blu-Ray Combo Pack!

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Giveaway: $50 Disney Gift Card!

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Ghostbuster Halloween Drink Recipe!

 

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients:

1 ounce peach schnapps
1 ounce melon liqueur
3 -5 drops irish cream

Directions:

1 Pour the peach schnapps and melon liqueur into a cocktail shaker with ice.
 

2 Shake well.
 

3 Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
 

4 Add the Irish cream drop by drop into the center of the drink.
 

Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/ghostbuster-258353

Rotting Pumpkin Martini Halloween Drink Recipe!

 

Makes 1 drink

 

Ingredients:

1 ounce peach schnapps
1 1/2-2 ounces cranberry juice (diet is a good substitute)
1 ounce blavod black vodka

Directions:

1 Combine peach schnapps & cranberry juice in a martini shaker with ice.
 

2 Shake well and strain into a martini glass.
 

3 Using the back of a spoon or a pourer spout, carefully pour the Blavod on the edge of the glass so that it rests on top, causing a layered look.

Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/rotting-pumpkin-martini-395997

Giveaway: Best Buy $50 Gift Card!

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Giveaway: Victoria's Secret $50 Gift Card!

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Edible Eyeballs Recipe!

What you'll need

• Cookie sheet
• Waxed paper
• Mixing bowl
• 1/2 cup softened cream cheese
• 22 chocolate sandwich cookies
• Tablespoon
• Lifesaver Gummies
• A handful of chocolate chips
• 2 cups white chocolate chips
• Microwaveable measuring cup or small, deep bowl
• Toothpicks

How to make it

1. Line the cookie sheet with waxed paper and set it aside.
2. Crush the sandwich cookies into fine crumbs. You can do this in a food processor, or seal them in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
3. Combine the cookie crumbs and softened cream cheese in a mixing bowl and stir until the ingredients are well combined.
4. With clean hands, roll half tablespoonfuls of the cookie mixture into balls (about 1 1/4-inch in diameter) and place them on the waxed paper. Use you thumb to make a shallow nickel-size depression in the top of each ball.
5. Chill the cookie balls until firm (about 1 hour).
6. Select a Lifesaver Gummy to use as an iris for each eyeball. Stretch the centers to enlarge the holes a bit and insert a chocolate chip, tip down, in each one. Set the irises aside for now.
7. Pour the white chocolate chips into the measuring cup or bowl and melt them in the microwave according to the directions on the package.
8. Insert a toothpick into one of the chilled cookie balls. Dip the ball into the melted white chocolate and then set it on the tray, using a second toothpick to hold it in place while you pull the first one out. Immediately set one of the irises atop the candy-coated ball and gently press it into the depression. Repeat this step with the rest of the cookie balls.
9. Allow the white chocolate coating to cool and harden before serving the eyeballs. You can speed up the process by chilling them on the tray for a few minutes. Store leftover eyeballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Source: http://spoonful.com/recipes/edible-eyeballs-0

Vampire's Kiss Halloween Drink Recipe!

 

Makes 1 drink

 

Ingredients:

2 ounces raspberry vodka
2 ounces Chambord raspberry liquor (black raspberry liqueur)
3 ounces cranberry juice

Directions:

1 Put ice and water in martini glass, to chill.
 

2 Put all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice and shake the heck out of it!
 

3 Dump ice/water from glass.
 

4 Strain into martini glass and ENJOY!

Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/vampires-kiss-347701

Poison Apple Cookies Recipe!

Download Template for Poison Apple Cookies 

What you'll need

• Template for Poison Apple Cookies
• Batch of sugar cookie dough*
• Red food coloring
• Pair of disposable kitchen gloves (for kneading food coloring into the dough)
• Rolling pin
• Flour
• Wax paper
• Spatula
• Baking sheet lined with parchment paper
• Wire cooling rack
• Green cookie icing
• Thin pretzel sticks broken in half (you need one half for each apple)
• Raisins
• Kitchen knife or scissors

Notes: For the best results, the sugar cookie dough should be on the stiff side. You might have to knead a little extra flour into store-bought doughs so the cookies will hold their shape well during baking.

How to make it

1. Wearing plastic kitchen gloves, knead red food coloring into the cookie dough (this is a fun job for kids). Wrap the dough in plastic and keep it chilled until you're ready to use it.
2. Print and cut out the template.
3. Heat the oven. Cover your work surface with flour-dusted wax paper, and roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness.
4. Use the template and a kitchen knife to cut out the cookies, and then bake them according to the recipe directions. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool.
5. Working with one cookie at a time, gently press the broken end of a pretzel stick half into the top of the apple. Then generously frost the upper half of the cookie with green icing, spreading it right over the base of the pretzel. Use the knife to create a wavy lower edge so the icing looks like it is dripping down over the apple.
6. For eyes, press whole raisins into the icing. Snip a third raisin in half and use one piece for a nose.

Source: http://spoonful.com/recipes/poison-apple-cookies

Green Goblin Halloween Drink Recipe!

 

Makes 1 drink

 

Ingredients:

1 ounce vodka
1 ounce coconut rum
1 ounce peach schnapps
1 ounce dekuyper sour apple liqueur
1 ounce prepared sweet-and-sour mix
ginger ale, to top (optional)

Directions:

1 Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well and pour over ice cubes in an old-fashioned glass. Serve with a lime wedge.

Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/green-goblin-cocktail-267544

Jack Skellington Cupcakes Recipe!

What you'll need

• Batch of chocolate cupcakes
• White buttercream frosting
• 2 toothpicks
• Tube of black decorator's icing

How to make it

1. Frost the cupcakes.
2. For each cupcake, use the tip of a toothpick to lightly etch the outline of two large Jack Skellington eyes in the frosting.
3. Slowly pipe black decorator's icing onto the etched lines and then fill in the inner circles. Use another toothpick to spread and smooth the icing.
4. Pipe on two short lines for a nose. Next, pipe a long line across the bottom of the cupcake for the mouth. For the finishing spooky touch, randomly top the mouth with a bunch of short icing barbs.

Source: http://spoonful.com/recipes/jack-skellington-cupcakes

Giveaway: The Big Bang Theory Season 1-6 on DVD!

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Bewitched Halloween Drink Recipe!

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients:

1/2 ounce vodka
1/2 ounce benedictine
1/2 ounce cream

Directions:

1 Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice.

2 Stir gently and strain into a large shot glass or cordial glass.

Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/bewitched-257254

US Women's National Soccer Team visits Pixar

The US Women's National Soccer Team visited Pixar in Emeryville, CA today, where they spent time with the Pixar Soccer team, and took "Monster Drawing 101" with character designer Chris Sasaki who designed  Art from Monsters University (on Blu-ray Tuesday), and enjoyed a tour of the grounds.  

The USWNT will face New Zealand in a friendly on Sunday at Candlestick Park in San Francisco.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blu-Ray Review: Monsters University!

It's time for another Blu-Ray Review! This time it is for the Monster's University 3D Blu-Ray Ultimate Collector's Edition!

Click the link below to read my review of the movie!
Review of Monsters University!

Video Quality
The 3D as well as the 2D presentations are some of the best ones I have seen all year! The colors are lush and vibrant! You will love the details as you will see every bit of fur, slime and scales with straight from the digital source perfection! The 3D produces a convincing amount of depth! This is one of Disney's best efforts this year! 

Audio Quality
The audio is even better than the video here! The front speakers bring everything to life espeically Sulley's roars! The rear channels are surprisingly active creating a very immersive environment. Voices are crystal clear and there are some great uses of the surround sound field. Wait until you hear the audio created in the library scene as well as the rest of the Scare Games!

Bonus Features

• Blue Umbrella (Disc 1 & 2, HD, 7 minutes): Pixar's latest gorgeously animated short film, is thankfully presented in 3D on Disc 1 and 2D on Disc 2.
• Audio Commentary (Disc 2): Director/co-writer Dan Scanlon, producer Kori Rae and story supervisor Kelsey Mann provide wonderful insight on Pixar's first prequel. You will learn about the the decision of ignoring Mike's line from the original film about meeting in the fourth grade, animation, story development, voice casting, and more.
• Campus Life (Disc 3, HD, 15 minutes): Take a look at a day in the lfie of the movie and it's production from meetings, to animation reviews, to voice recording sessions and more.
• Story School (Disc 3, HD, 9 minutes): Take a look at the process of crafting the story from conceptual artwork, to pre-visualization, to storyboarding.
• Scare Games (Disc 3, HD, 5 minutes): "Pixar takes its fun very seriously!" See how the MU Team brought together a fun competition between the various departments in their own version of the Scare Games.
• Monthropology (Disc 3, HD, 6 minutes): How the MU team created a diverse amount of monsters to make up the student body using every tool in their arsenal!
• Welcome to MU (Disc 3, HD, 6 minutes): Learn about the campus itself, including its architecture, grounds and history.
• Music Appreciation (Disc 3, HD, 7 minutes): Creating the score for Monsters University with Scanlon, music editor Bruno Coon and composer Randy Newman.
• Scare Tactics (Disc 3, HD, 5 minutes): Learn how the animators performed and created the look for the perfect scare.
• Color and Light (Disc 3, HD, 5 minutes): Look at before and after shots of the MU as color and light is incorporated.
• Paths to Pixar: MU Edition (Disc 3, HD, 8 minutes):Take a look at how some of the folks at Pixar came to work at Pixar!
• Furry Monsters: A Technical Retrospective (Disc 3, HD, 5 minutes): Take a look at the differences in animation between the original Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University!
• Deleted Scenes (Disc 3, HD, 22 minutes): Four unfinished deleted scenes -- "Rivalry" (an alternate version of Mike and Sulley's meeting), "Recon," "Movie Night" and "Drama Class" -- with director's intros.
• Promo Picks (Disc 3, HD, 14 minutes): Take a look at all the commercials, promos, teasers, trailers and tie-ins for Monsters University.
• Set Flythroughs (Disc 3, HD, 6 minutes): Check out the Monsters University campus, the Scare School, Frat Row and the OK House beautiful high definition fly-throughs.
• Art Galleries (Disc 3, HD): View a large collection of artwork divided into five categories: "Characters," "Color Keys," "Development Art," "Environments" and "Graphics."

This is an 'A++++' effort by Disney/Pixar. Perfect video, audio, 3D, and a ton of bonus material!
Time to pack up your bags and get ready for another semester at MU! Monsters University hits store shelves October 29th!

Donald's Candy Corn Cookies Recipe!

What you'll need

• Large round soft baked sugar cookies (homemade or store bought)
• Kitchen knife
• Cookie icing (look for it in the baking aisle of the grocery store)
• 3 small bowls (for the icing)
• Red and yellow food coloring
• Plastic wrap
• Butter knives (for spreading the icing)

How to make it

1. Use a kitchen knife to slice the cookies into triangles (the ones pictured here are 3 inches tall and measure about 2 1/4 inches wide at the base). You can save the cut off portions to snack on later or enjoy them while you're frosting the triangles.
2. Put a quarter of the cookie icing into a small bowl (this will be used for the white tips of the candy corns). Divide the rest of the icing between two other bowls, and use the food coloring to tint one of the bowlfuls orange and the other yellow.
3. Now it's time to frost the cookies. Start by using the tip of a butter knife to coat the middle section of each triangle with orange icing (keep the white and yellow icings covered with plastic until you're ready to use them.) You don't have to be too fussy. The nice thing about cookie icing is that it seeks its own level, resulting in a smooth surface. Plus it hardens fairly quickly.
4. When the orange icing has set, frost the bases of the triangles yellow and let the icing set up.
5. Finally, spread white icing on the tips of the cookies, let it set, and the cookies are ready to serve.

Source: http://spoonful.com/recipes/donalds-candy-corn-cookies

Black Cat Halloween Drink Recipe!

 

Makes 1 drink

 

Ingredients:

2 ounces blavod black vodka
1/2 ounce Chambord raspberry liquor

Directions:

1 Combine in a shaker with a cup of ice.
 

2 Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass

Source: http://www.food.com/recipe/black-cat-188017

Giveaway: Win One of Two $50 Bath and Body Works Gift Cards!

Two people will each win a $50 Bath & Body Works Gift Card! Good luck!
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