BEST OF WARNER BROS. 50 CARTOON COLLECTION
Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels. Not rated. On DVD 6/25. Ok for kids 3+. This 2-disc set features a great collection of iconic Looney Tunes cartoons from Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng, Robert McKimson, and more. As part of Warner Bros. 90th Anniversary, the set includes such funnies as Knighty Knight Bugs, Speedy Gonzales, the definitive musical masterpiece What’s Opera Doc?, and The... Read More
Wellness Warnings: Statistics Parents Need to Know
Drug Bust! More than 3.1 million teens ages 12 to 17 report abusing prescription drugs. 70% of children who abuse prescription drugs get them from family or friends. Prescription drugs are the #1 drug choice among 12-13 year olds. Florida has the highest rate of prescription painkiller sales in the country. InformedFamilies.org VIIIth city for HIV Orlando ranked 8th on the Centers... Read More
K-9: THE COMPLETE SERIES
Reel Review: 4 of 5 Reels. Not rated. On DVD 5/07. Ok for kids 7+. This live-action family spinoff from the cult favorite “Doctor Who” series features his longtime robot pet dog, K-9, as re-imagined by “Doctor Who” creator Bob Baker. However, if you’re a “Doctor Who” fan, don’t expect any major crossovers. This was not produced by... Read More
MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: QUEST FOR THE CRYSTAL MICKEY
Reel Review: 4 of 5 Reels. Not rated. On DVD 5/21. Ok for kids 4+. Mickey Mouse channels Indiana Jones in this super-fun DVD for little ones. There’s no time to lose after greedy Plunderin’ Pete snatches the legendary Crystal Mickey statue from the Clubhouse. Without the sparkly statue’s magic, the Clubhouse will disappear forever! Can the world’s most extraordinary... Read More
BUBBLE GUPPIES: SUNNY DAYS!
Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels. Not rated. On DVD 5/28. Ok for kids 2+. The Bubble Guppies are stars of a Nick, Jr. preschool show set in a vibrant, aquarium-inspired underwater classroom. Molly, Gil, and their fish-tailed classmates are just like all preschoolers ─ learning about the world around them through playful investigation. The show covers a wide range of topics, from dinosaurs... Read More
IRON MAN: RISE OF THE TECHNOVORE
PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence and action. On DVD/blu-ray 4/16. Ok for kids 13+. Reel Preview: 4 out of 5 Reels. Billionaire Tony Stark (voiced by Matthew Mercer), in his Iron Man armor, prevents an attack from a mysterious new foe, but innocent bystanders are killed including his best friend War Machine, Lt. Colonel James Rhodes. Detained for questioning by S.H.I.E.L.D.,... Read More
THE BIBLE
Not rated. On DVD 4/02. Ok for kids 9+. Reel Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Reels. If you caught this 10-part miniseries that aired on The History Channel in March, you already know how epic it is. Executive producers, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, crafted an engaging story based on the Scriptures from Genesis through Revelation. Breathtaking in scope and scale, “The Bible” features... Read More
Crohn’s Disease & Family Planning
In the middle of a chilly night in January 2009, then 26-year-old Beth Smith awoke with a severe, surging sensation in her lower abdomen. She assumed that her appendix had burst, but upon arrival at the hospital, a scan revealed that Beth had Crohn’s disease, a chronic condition involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The Crohns & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) describes... Read More
Raising a Vegetarian
Many parents choose to raise their children with a vegetarian lifestyle, which usually consists of a plant-based diet that allows the consumption of dairy products, but no meat. Others would like to explore this option, but simply don’t know how to safely start a vegetarian meal plan. It is known that some children gravitate toward a plant-based diet by themselves after finding... Read More
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN – PART 2
Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels. PG-13 for sequences of violence, including disturbing images, some sensuality, and partial nudity. On DVD/blu-ray 3/02. Ok for kids 13+. After the birth of her daughter Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy), Bella (Kristen Stewart) is enjoying her new life as a newborn vampire. But her joy is short-lived as Irina (Maggie Grace) rallies the Volturi to destroy... Read More
BROTHER BEAR & BROTHER BEAR 2
Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels. Rated G. On blu-ray 3/12. Ok for kids 5+. In this animated tale from Disney, Joaquin Phoenix voices a young hunter named Kenai in prehistoric North America. After he kills a bear, the boy actually turns into a bear himself and ends up being hunted by his own brother. Sounds tragic, but it’s actually a sweet story about the relationship between... Read More
Expecting Moms, Unexpected Skin Conditions
Tips for Minimizing and Treating “Pregnancy Mask” For every mother-to-be, pregnancy brings an abundance of expectations. With a sense of excitement, a woman anticipates her growing belly, feeling that first kick, and hearing her newborn cry in the delivery room. But she doesn’t expect hormone-related skin conditions that can change her appearance and create a sense of self-consciousness. Unfortunately,... Read More
Chickpea Pancakes with Ginger Apple Compote
Valentine’s Day dinner may be reserved for the love of your life, but breakfast can make the perfect date with the apple of your eye. Before you indulge in that heart-shaped box of chocolates, start your day off with this chickpea pancake recipe. A little healthier than your average flour pancake, this dish delivers great flavor with the added benefits of protein, fiber, iron,... Read More
THE CARRIE DIARIES
Show: “The Carrie Diaries” Airtime: Mon., 8/7c on The CW Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels TV Rating: Not rated, but TV-14 if I was in charge Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Teen Cast: AnnaSophia Robb, Austin Butler, Ellen Wong, Katie Findlay, Stefania Owen, Brendan Dooling, Freema Agyeman, Matt Letscher Ok for Ages: 14+ Official Site: http://cwtv.com/shows/the-carrie-diaries PARENTS... Read More
Surge in Surrogacy
Motherhood is one of life’s greatest gifts. Yet, pregnancy can be a challenging journey filled with morning sickness, swollen feet, and stretch marks. Wouldn’t it be amazing if babies really were delivered by a stork or perhaps another carrier? Celebrities including Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicole Kidman, Elton John, and Giuliana Rancic have all expanded their families with the... Read More
VEGGIE TALES: LETTUCE LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Reel Rating: 5 out of 5 Reels. Rated G. On DVD 1/15. Ok for kids 4+. The produce section feels the love as Bob, Larry, and a bushel of Veggie friends share three hilarious stories and ten fun tips on how to show love to others. Featuring a faithful man who loved his family, a king who loved his duck, and a river rambler who loved his friend ─ this collection will inspire kids... Read More
Is Co-Sleeping a Healthy Habit?
Making sure your newborn has the safest sleeping environment is essential to helping him/her grow up strong and healthy. Sleep habits are a prevalent topic of conversation among new moms and dads, as optimizing the quantity and quality of sleep is vital to an infant’s wellbeing (and mom and dad’s, for that matter). Unlike their exhausted new parents, babies sleep or drowse between... Read More
ANGELINA BALLERINA: DANCE AROUND THE WORLD
Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels. Rated G. On DVD 1/8. Ok for kids 3+. When life gets tough, turn to adorable mice for comfort. And, oh yeah, this DVD is also fun for little ones. Angelina and her friends explore dances from near and far as they boogie, bop, skip and hop around the world in exciting adventures. In step with a lively Irish Jig, the festive Chinese Dragon Dance, the... Read More
Making Your Own Baby Food
There isn’t a more powerful emotion than holding your child for the first time. I’ve been blessed to experience that remarkable feeling three times over with my children — Roman (7), Mila (5), and Noah (3). When the time came to introduce baby food, my wife and I chose to make our own. This option is certainly healthier for babies and can offer financial savings for your... Read More
LEAP FROG: ADVENTURES IN SHAPEVILLE PARK
Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels. Rated G. On DVD 1/22. Ok for kids 4+. Leap Frog continues to raise the bar when it comes to preschool learning. In this cute DVD, Scout & Friends head over to Shapeville where little ones learn what circles, squares, and triangles can really do. A new playground is being built at the park by the Beaver Brothers, and soon the pets have their hands... Read More
ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT
PG for mild, rude humor and action/peril. On DVD/blu-ray 12/11. Ok for kids 6+. Reel Rating: 4 out of 5 Reels. The rag-tag group of Neanderthals is back; and this time, Scrat’s nutty pursuit of that elusive acorn has world-changing consequences. Namely, a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Denis Leary), and Sid... Read More
