Monsters University

I was invited by Disney to preview the new Disney Pixar movie Monsters University. It's hard to believe it's been 12 years since we last saw Mike and Sulley and now they're back, back in time - in Monsters University!

This is Mike's story - about pursuing his dreams and struggling to find his place along the way. His goal in life is to become a Scarer at Monsters Inc and the path that he needs to follow starts at Monsters University!

Here the Monsters are introduced before they come of age and are comfortable with themselves, much like a mirror of real college life. The characters are young, wide eyed and full of dreams of how they think their futures should be. We get to see new sides to them compared to when they were introduced to all those years ago.

There are new characters too! Along with the voice talents of Billy Crystal and John Goodman as Mike and Sulley, Steve Buscemi returns as a young Randall along with Helen Mirrin, Alfred Molina, Nathan Fillion and more and look out for the icon of all Disney Pixar movies, a cameo by the voice of John Ratzenberger!

As we go back in time we've actually moved forward in technology! Since the Monsters debut in 2001 Pixar has developed new ways to make the monsters bigger, brighter and furrier! With over 500 new characters and so many colorful settings, Monsters University made the college setting all felt very real. From moving into the dorm on the first day to finding you way around a sprawling campus, you get to experience and explore along with Mike and Sulley.

Monsters U is a hilarious and enjoyable movie for both kids and adults with an honest, inspiring message that life doesn't always work out the way you planned but when "one door closes, another one opens." A fun, touching story about life and friendship!

 Monsters University will be in theaters June 21.
*Disney invited me to a screening of the movie with no monetary compensation. All opinions and reviews are my own.

Darth Vader goes to Disneyland

Thomas Edison, Genius of the Golden Age

Here's how you know your kids are growing up, their schoolwork evolves from abcs and playtime to full on dioramas and historical reports. sigh. College is a hop, skip away.

This year the Kid had his very first oral report and they have to dress up in period outfits, no less. He picked Thomas Edison which was great in terms of historical facts, but hardly an outfit that we were familiar with.

A quick internet search and trip to the costume store and we had a nice 1900s era brown suit with tails all ready to go. The Kid researched and did his written report but I thought it'd be fun to add an element of comics too.

A big shoutout to my friend Bully who always comes through for me whenever I ask things like... "Does a comic book about Thomas Edison exist??" Of course it does.

I ordered the biographical comics Thomas Edison and the Electric Age by Tatsuyoshi Kurosawa. In reading it through it was very visual and all historically accurate too, so it just added more fun facts to the Kid's research on the history of Wizard of Menlo Park..

The Kid couldn't help but notice that the manga Thomas Edison looked an awful lot like his new obsession, Doctor Who. What with the brown suit and if you squint your eyes just so that's...surely a sonic screwdriver in his hand, no? Uh...no. But that didn't stop him from adding his own touch to the book cover.

Suit on, notecards in hand, the Kid was rehearsed and ready to go. But that wasn't quite enough. See, the Kid is an inventor himself and wanted just the right prop. So he got a flashlight, fashioned a mock 'lightbulb' out some of my architectural trace around the top, and presto! Instant faux lightbulb, just what he needed for the wow factor for his presentation.

I learned a lot about Thomas Edison but more than that, I'm prepared for next year when it's the Baby's turn for historical reports. "What do you mean you don't want to do Thomas Edison? No? Are you SURE?? But, I have the comic book...and a prop....and..." Oh well.

Doctor Who...?

Last week the news came out that Matt Smith is leaving Doctor Who. This is sad news but I can't wait to see what number 12 brings!

I made up some Matt Smith cookies and a bundt cake for a dinner party. The Kid (who LOVES Doctor Who) noticed that we were missing something important and quickly drew up a Tardis. I'm thinking Land of the Cake Monsters has a good ring to it for an ep, eh Steven Moffat?

Goodbye, Matt Smith. We will miss you.

Odd Duck

My friend Cecil Castelucci is a known as a popular YA author but recently released a new kids graphic novel called Odd Duck!

It's a wonderful story about being yourself and fun of being unique! There was a book release party and signing at one of my favorite LA bookstores, Skylight Books. There was tea and cupcakes and a whole bunch of kids who came out for the book party!

Cecil read the whole book and the kids enjoyed her descriptions and the way she engaged the audience.

When she asked which duck was the odd one, it was a surprising answer. It was fun to see the different reactions to the story from the parents and the kids point of view.

I think the kids loved the fun story and wacky characters and the adults could relate to the quirkiness of staying true and believing in yourself.

My  own kids were so inspired that the Baby drew an homage to Theodora Duck. I think he captured her uniqueness and sweetness very well and did a great job of channeling Sara Varon's adorable illustrations.

The book is heartwarming and fun and a great read for the summer. My kids read it and can't wait to read it over and over again! You can find Odd Duck in bookstores or online.

Odd Duck
Cecil Castelucci

Get ready for Monsters University!

Ah college, it was the best of times, it was - well, it was the best! And Monsters University is looking like a whole lot of fun!

 I am SUPER excited for the new movie and the clips just keep on comin'!

When Mike and Sulley first meet it takes me back to the old days of college when you find yourself thrown together with a stranger and you're forced to share a room.

When my college "matched" my roommate and I, it worked well and we had a great freshman year and great friendship - something I can't wait to see develop for Mike and Sulley too!
Mike and Sulley being courted by fraternities is hilarious but listen closely - oh that familiar voice... Oh captain, my captain...

Prepare for class and design your own MU badge and School Crest to get ready for Monsters University on June 21, 2013!

Justice League at Target

For the first time ever Target and Warner Bros in partnership with DC Entertainment have teamed up to sell over 50 products featuring the Justice League inspired by The New 52.

There are some great items from dinnerware to beach attire, all of them so you can represent your fave superhero!

The large amount of items available will make any fan happy. They range from amazing to the absurd and here are a little of both:

I love hooded towels and these were the first items I went for in the store. The Flash and Batman are adorable because of the head gear, but the Superman and Wonder Woman towels are pretty awesome because they are wearable towel capes!

My one beef is that all the Wonder Woman stuff is pink and purple - obviously to make it more 'girly' but TOTALLY unnecessary. Wonder Woman is cool just as she is.

Truth be told I thought these sippy and snack cups were pretty weird. Why would I want to drink out of their hair? I dunno. But yes, they are still...cute? In a weird way.

Tho there's that unnecessary purple and pink again. Purple Wonder Woman hair? Hm. I decided to pass on the hair and bought the Batman snack cup because I can't resist the pointy ears.

Since these are summer products the line is extended to pool items. Batman water gear? Cool I guess though the waterproof cowl is a strange choice for beach attire, still - who wouldn't want to dress like Batman when you go for a swim?

Kickboards are all the rage in the summer both at the pool and the beach. The blockbuster fave Iron Man 3 is front and center on these.

This time it's Batman who gets the purple treatment on the kickboards. If it was an homage to 60s Batman I could understand but I doubt the thought went that far.

Aha! Now we're talking - a Bat utility belt that's useful in real life! This a sand tool belt perfect for a day at the beach. I love these! Shovel, cup, sifter, spade - everything you need to build a sandcastle AND fight crime.

Do the JL garden on a regular basis? Who knows, but either way they are marketing superhero garden tools now.

Honestly I'm at a loss at this one. I could think of a much better Batman glove design for gardening, but this is what they're offering.

Oddly enough the Woman Woman gardening tools are the traditional blue and red with stars, but the gloves are pink and purple.

There are a lot more items at select Target stores. Melamine dishes, chairs with capes (what), aprons and even watering cans. One might ask, do we really need all these Justice League home goods in our life? And the answer of course is YES.

These are a few of my favorite things....

Very Vanilla cupcakes

Chocolate cupcakes

Hello Kitty cookies

Yoda cookies

Disney's Star Wars Weekends

By far one of the best benefits of my trip to Food Blog Forum in Orlando was that it coincided with Star Wars Weekends!

I've always wanted to go but seeing as how it's across the country and all, there never seemed to be time to take advantage of such a great fan event.

Luckily things worked out this year and as soon as I got off the plane to collect my baggage I was reminded that my timing couldn't have been better!

Star Wars Weekends takes place at Disney's Hollywood Studios over a series of weekends in May. It's the perfect location with plenty of space to accomodate the massive amount of Star Wars fans!

Of course it's still Florida hot in May, with temps in the 90s and skyrocketing humidity, so I truly felt for all the cosplayers in dark Jedi robes! They were real Troopers to put up with the heat.

It's a fan's paradise with stage events, guest appearances and of course themed food! There were special cocktails and a decadent Darth Vader peanut butter chocolate cupcake.

There were tons of meet and greets throughout the weekend and most people lined up in the wee hours just to get a fast pass to meet their favorite Star Wars actors.

At the signing areas I saw Ray Park, Darth Maul, as well as Boba Fett himself, Jeremy Bulloch!

What's a fan event without lots and lots of merch? The Studios Villains store had a pretty cool set up of all of our fave enemies! I just noticed Darth Maul has a rainbow on his face. Hm.

Not only were there special items just for the weekends but they even had a separate tent set up, themed out as "Darth's Mall"! It was ridiculously crowded and while I pondered a plush Salacious Crumb, the two hour wait (just to get in) in the scorching heat was definitely a deterrent

There was so much to buy and believe me, if it was close enough to drive, I would have bought 10 times more than I did. But with an airplane flight and the looming thought of baggage weight I held back.

Being able to attend Star Wars weekends made this trip even better and provided even more great Disney memories. It was a wonderful weekend and a must to experience at least once for any Star Wars fan. I just wish they'd extend it to the West Coast as well! May the Force Be With You!

Unenthused

 Unenthused Fashionistas are back and unenthused about...science?! 

#melsbbq