The Legacy Collection and H2O+ #ShareYourLegacy Contest ⋆ My Sparkling Life

It seems like there’s always something to worry about when having 4 kids…keeping my home safe shouldn’t be one of them. This past weekend my husband and I attended an event and let my oldest baby sit his younger brothers. While I trust him, having all 4 kids home alone was worrisome. Thank goodness a few days before I received the new Canary Home Security System so I was able to implement it while we were out.
The Canary is a small “canister” about the size of a coke can, that sits on a flat surface and captures a high-definition, wide-angle views. The Canary is a motion-sensor activated camera that’s connected to your home’s wifi and to your smart phone or tablet. Not only can you see what’s going on live in your home when you’re not there, but you can also receive smart phone alerts when activity is detected.
I received plenty of alerts while at the event, but every time I checked in on them they were on the couch or the floor watching a movie…or two…or three. So most of the alerts were from when they did a sudden movement or at night when a car drove by and shined the lights through the blinds. I did happen to accidently hit the alarm button at one point during the afternoon, which gave them quite the scare..but hey, at least I know it works well! Having the Canary Home Security System certainly gave me piece of mind!
The Canary Indoor Wireless High-Definition All-In-One Home Security device helps keep your home safe and sound with motion detection notifications, a 90+ dB siren and HomeHealth Technology. It learns the cadence of your home so it can send you accurate notifications with fewer false alarms triggered by pets or other regular activity in your house.
Easy to set up: just place the Canary in a central location, plug it in and connect to your Wi-Fi
Stream live video from your home anytime: Canary’s free mobile app let you see what’s happening from anywhere with your iPhone® or Android smartphone
Vivid HD 1080p resolution allows you to see small details on your screen, the 147° field of view which lets see more with minimal blind spots, and infrared night vision lets you see in the dark – you can keep an eye up to 20′ away when there’s little to no light
The device is a great way to check in on kids or caregivers. If the device is set to “Arm,” you’ll receive a notification when someone arrives in your home. Use the “Watch Live” feature to check on everything from homework being done to house rules are being followed
Gives you a complete picture of what’s going on at home, it puts you in control of how to react when something goes wrong.
Canary is the only solution with a 90+ decibel siren and a localized emergency call feature, which lets you contact authorities close to home from anywhere in the world
Notifications keep you informed: receive movement-detection notifications that contain recorded footage and give you the options to watch live or sound the 90+ dB siren
Since the March 2015 launch, nearly 75 known burglaries, home invasions, caretaker abuse and other emergency situations have been captured by Canary, resulting in multiple arrests
Canary’s HomeHealth feature lets you know if the temperature and air quality of the home is safe and comfortable – you can monitor the air quality, temperature and humidity in your home from almost anywhere
In addition to purchasing the Canary Home Security system, Best Buy has suggestions to make sure you get the most out of your system. Upgrade your router to boost your signal with the Netgear® Nighthawk™ DST Router and DST Adapter with Geek Squad included – exclusively developed between Netgear, an industry leader in the networking world, and Best Buy, to help provide consumers with an easy, all-in-one solution to support their home’s connected devices.
As the number of Wi-Fi dependent products increase in a home – the average US household has 7 “connected devices” – from smart phones (often several in a home), to tablets, to laptops, to computers, and Wi-Fi printers, this puts a strain on the home’s network, especially the router. With the interest in online gaming and 4k TVs, connected devices such as smart thermostats, plus the need to stream shows from Netflix or hulu, it places even more demands on the network. Many households may experience slow Wi-Fi, dropped calls, or experience “dead zones” – which could be improved upon with an “AC” router, Wi-Fi extenders and expert help.
Best Buy makes it easy to set up the new high performance wifi router and extender with Geek Squad Set Up and Support via phone & web, for one full year. You’ll get support via phone or web and get help 24/7 instead of scheduling an appointment.
Disclosure: This is a review for Best Buy. I was sent product, but was not compensated.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Growing up there was nothing I liked more than my little doll. My doll even had a matching tricycle! It’s been many years since then, but dolls are still a top toy for little girls. I’ve noticed a change over the years as well, dolls have gotten more life like and bigger (with the exception on the life-sized ones they came out with years ago). My doll was oh, say 6-8″ tall and it was the best thing ever!
Now I don’t have any girls, so I haven’t really explored the doll department other than to pick my nieces up a thing or two, but I was able to check out the 18″ Springfield Dolls and they’re pretty cool. I know I would have wanted her as a little girl. There are 5 18″ Springfield Dolls: Ella, Paige, Alexis, Madison and Savannah, all of which is known for its silky hair and sparkling eyes now has a brand new and Boutique Collection of cute clothes at a budget friendly price, exclusively at Jo-Ann Fabric Stores.
Trendy tops, pants, skirts and even gowns reflect the fashion tastes of upcoming fashionistas. This month, Jo-Ann Stores will start to stock perfectly packaged outfits like a “Paris printed White T- shirt, floral printed leggings and pink patent shoes” at $14.99.
For those unfamiliar with Springfield Dolls, they have been around since 1996! The “girls” have sparkling lifelike eyes that open and close and boast silky, long, rooted hair that can be brushed and styled. Each doll is soft and huggable with moveable arms and legs, making dressing and undressing easy. Springfield Dolls are a division of Fibre-Craft®, LLC, the beloved company that is celebrating 60+ years of making children’s craft products. As the Springfield Collection proudly explains on its website, www.SpringfieldDolls.com, “we know the importance of imagination and creative play in a young girl’s life.”
Jo-Ann Stores will carry mix and match outfits that fit most 18” dolls. Look for these pieces priced at $14.99:
Black dress with zebra shoes
Panda T-shirt with silver sequin skirt
Pink T-shirt with metallic heart and denim jeggings with embellishments
Blue hi-low shirt with silver glitter design and black tuxedo pants with silver trim on sides
Cropped top with 2 color star and striped tank underneath and solid black leggings
Metallic sweatshirt and polka dot pants in blue
Friendship printed T-shirt with silver glitter design on black sleeve and polka dot pants in pink
White T-shirt with Paris print, floral printed leggings and pink patent shoes
Lavender hooded jacket, athletic pants and lavender trimmed shoes
Lime Camisole, polka dot pajama pants and lamb slippers
Pink shrug over polka dot top, jean skirt and polka dot shoes
Purple gown with gold glitter design on purple tulle, white gloves and black patent shoes
I received Paige – a sweet doll with brown eyes and long brown hair comes wearing a hot pink nightgown. Plus I was able to pick out an outfit…so I thought Paige might like to wear the Panda T-shirt with silver sequin skirt…I mean come on, sequins! The perfect B-T-S outfit!
To see the whole collection, click on www.SpringfieldDolls.com.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Camping with wine can be cumbersome. But glamping with wine? Now that’s nothing short of luxurious. Described as “the art of camping with five-star amenities,” glamping provides a great opportunity to get out of town and get back to nature without leaving your favorite Tuscan blends (or running water) at home.
So in the spirit of vacationing in style, we’ve paired 5 of our favorite U.S.-based glamping destinations with 5 first-class wines fit for a five-star resort:
The glampsite: Ranch at Rock Creek in Philipsburg, Montana
The wine: Masciarelli Villa Gemma Bianco IGT (SRP $18)
This 6,600-acre luxury guest ranch can be found in Montana’s breathtaking Big Sky country. Whether you spend your days hiking in the mountains or soaking in the spa, rest assured you’ll come home to happiness in a bottle by way of Mascirelli’s Villa Gemma Bianco — a flowery blend of Trebbiano and Chardonnay offering fresh notes of apple and jasmine.
The glampsite: Mustang Monument in Wells, Nevada
The wine: Luce Lucente (SRP $29)
This eco-ranch is home to a handful of 300-square-foot tipis adorned with plush leather chairs, hardwood floors, and custom-made beds. The only way to make this glamping experience more luxurious is with a bottle of Luce’s Lucente — a superb blend of Merlot and Sangiovese known for its velvety palate, sweet spices, and supple fruits.
About Lucente:
Lucente 2013 displays a vibrant purple-red colour. Its rich, intense bouquet releases black cherry and wild berry, enriched with fascinating notes of pungent spice. The palate is smooth, with fi ne-grained tannins and an underlying impression of crisp balsam. Overall, this wine is complex, forceful, and elegant.
The glampsite: Autocamp in Santa Barbara, California
The wine: Frescobaldi Ammiraglia Vermentino (SRP $18)
No five-star campground would be complete without a vintage airstream trailer, handcrafted Adirondack chairs, and pastel-colored beach cruisers. Cap off your leisurely Santa Barbara bike ride with a bottle of Frescobaldi Vermentino — a crisp and refreshing white wine with soothing notes of citrus, pear, honey, and almond.
The glampsite: The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch in Saratoga, Wyoming
The wine: Avignonesi Rosso di Montepulciano DOC (SRP $19)
Embody what it truly means to get back to nature with a weekend stay at this glamping resort & spa located at the base of the spectacular Sierras. Get cozy around the outdoor fire pit as you share adventure stories over a bottle of Avignonesi’s Rosso di Montepulciano — a biodynamically produced Sangiovese bursting with bright aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and pomegranate.
The glampsite: TreeHouse Point in Issaquah, Washington
The wine: Attems Cupra Ramato Pinot Grigio (SRP $19)
Glamp amongst towering trees, lush plants, and babbling brooks in this enchanting adult treehouse. Soak in the mountain views as you toast to the joys of summer with a glass of Attems Pinot Grigio — a distinctive copper-colored wine marked by a floral and fruity bouquet.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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This past weekend at the D23 EXPO in Anaheim, CA, Disney, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm presented their live-action film slates! Met with enthusiasm from the excited, fan-filled audience, the lively presentations revealed exclusive news and details about upcoming live-action films and showcased surprise live and video appearances from stars and filmmakers. Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn hosted the highly anticipated biennial event.
“At The Walt Disney Studios, we could not do what we do without the support of the many Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars fans around the world, We feel like our fans are a part of the family, and the D23 Expo is our chance to give a little something extra back to them.” – Alan Horn
After welcoming the crowd to D23 Expo 2017, Horn introduced Sean Bailey, President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, to present overviews of the Disney live-action slate. Later Horn returned to the stage to introduce writer/director Rian Johnson for a look at Lucasfilm’s upcoming film and ended by introducing Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, for a rousing presentation to close the event.
Sean Bailey welcomed A WRINKLE IN TIME cast members Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling and Chris Pine along with newcomer Storm Reid and visionary director Ava DuVernay to the D23 stage, where they thrilled fans with a first look at the film’s teaser trailer and teaser poster. The film, which is an epic adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic, takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and ultimately, the triumph of love.
Meg Murry (Storm Reid) is a typical middle school student struggling with issues of self-worth who is desperate to fit in. As the daughter of two world-renowned physicists, she is intelligent and uniquely gifted, as is Meg’s younger brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe), but she has yet to realize it for herself. Making matters even worse is the baffling disappearance of Mr. Murry (Chris Pine), which torments Meg and has left her mother (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) heartbroken. Charles Wallace introduces Meg and her fellow classmate Calvin (Levi Miller) to three celestial guides—Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon) and Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling)—who have journeyed to Earth to help search for their father, and together they set off on their formidable quest. Traveling via a wrinkling of time and space known as tessering, they are soon transported to worlds beyond their imagination where they must confront a powerful evil. To make it back home to Earth, Meg must look deep within herself and embrace her flaws to harness the strength necessary to defeat the darkness closing in on them.
Sean Bailey shared with D23 Expo 2017 fans Disney’s all-new take on a classic story in THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS. Starring Keira Knightley as the Sugar Plum Fairy, newcomer Mackenzie Foy as Clara, Helen Mirren as Mother Ginger, Morgan Freeman as godfather Drosselmeyer, and featuring a special performance by Misty Copeland, the movie is inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale. THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS is directed by Lasse Hallström and produced by Mark Gordon and Larry Franco.
The film largely takes place in a strange and mysterious parallel world—home to Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers and Land of Sweets. But it’s the ominous Fourth Realm where Clara must take on a tyrant called Mother Ginger as well as a gang of mice who’ve stolen a coveted key from Clara.
Said Bailey, “The Mouse King is made up of thousands of mice—a cutting-edge CG creation. But we wanted him to move in a way that would be wonderfully surprising and incredibly cool, so we called on Lil Buck to provide the style of dance that defines the character. He is so talented and the way he makes this character move is unbelievable.”
Los Angeles-based dancer Lil Buck hit the stage at D23 Expo 2017 to demonstrate the kind of street dancing—called jookin—that informed the way his character moves in the film. The performance earned a standing ovation.
To the delight of D23 fans, Emily Blunt, the star of Disney’s sequel MARY POPPINS RETURNS, took to the stage with director/producer Rob Marshall to talk about the eagerly-anticipated return of the practically-perfect nanny. In this original musical sequel to the 1964 “Mary Poppins,” Mary and her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter played by Lin-Manuel Miranda, embark on entirely new adventures with the next generation of the Banks family to help them find the joy and wonder missing in their lives.
Blunt and Marshall answered questions from Sean Bailey, with Blunt offering insight on how she made the character her own. “I needed to try to pay homage to Julie Andrews, but carve out a new space for myself,” said Blunt. “And we were very loyal to the books.” Rob Marshall shared, “I was incredibly honored to be approached by Disney about directing a sequel. This is a brand-new original film musical from top to bottom, which is very rare, and it is a wonderful opportunity to create something specifically for the screen.” D23 attendees were then treated to an exclusive first look at the film, which was accompanied by a live orchestra performing original new music from the film conducted by composer Marc Shaiman, eliciting thunderous applause.
P.L. Travers first introduced the world to the no-nonsense nanny in her 1934 children’s book “Mary Poppins.” However, the subsequent adventures of Mary Poppins remained only on the pages of the seven other P.L. Travers’ books…until now. MARY POPPINS RETURNS is drawn from the wealth of material in these additional books. The film also stars Ben Whishawas Michael Banks, Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks, Julie Walters as the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen, with Colin Firth as Fidelity Fiduciary’s William Weatherall Wilkins and Meryl Streepas Mary’s eccentric cousin Topsy. Angela Lansbury appears as the Balloon Lady and Dick Van Dyke as Mr. Dawes Jr., the retired chairman of the bank now run by Firth’s character.MARY POPPINS RETURNS is directed by Rob Marshall. The screenplay is by David Magee and the screen story is by Magee & Marshall & John DeLuca based on The Mary Poppins Stories by P.L. Travers. The producers are Marshall, DeLuca and Marc Platt with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer, and the music is by Marc Shaiman with songs by Shaiman and Scott Wittman.
D23 Expo 2017 fans were greeted from across the pond by visionary filmmaker Tim Burton, who is busy directing his next project—a live-action reimagining of Disney’s 1941 animated classic DUMBO. “’Dumbo’ was always one of my favorite Disney films,” said Burton. “We’re trying to give it the same heart, feeling and emotion that we all loved about the original.”
The film stars Colin Farrell as Holt Farrier, a former circus star and war-veteran charged with the care of a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock of an already struggling circus. Nico Parker and Finley Hobbins were cast as Holt’s children, who discover that Dumbo can fly. Danny DeVito portrays circus owner Max Medici who tries to capitalize on the novelty. And Michael Keaton is persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere who swoops in with aerial artist Colette Marchant, portrayed by Eva Green, to make Dumbo a star. Katterli Frauenfelder, Derek Frey, Ehren Kruger and Justin Springer are producing from a screenplay by Kruger. Filmed entirely in England, DUMBO is utilizing state-of-the-art visual effects to portray the big-eared elephant and many of his animal counterparts.
Alan Horn joined Sean Bailey to surprise the D23 Expo crowd with a special look at director Jon Favreau’s new live-action take on Disney’s 1994 classic animated film THE LION KING. The technology team behind the movie are introducing all-new filmmaking techniques that promise striking visuals never before seen on the big screen—bringing celebrated characters to life in a whole new way.
Favreau, who was behind 2016’s blockbuster live-action remake of THE JUNGLE BOOK, joined Bailey on stage.
“This is a story that belongs to everyone who grew up with the original film, I wanted to demonstrate that we could be respectful of the source material while bringing it to life using new techniques and technologies. We wanted to do something special for the D23 Expo audience and give them a first look at what we’re up to.” – Favreau
THE LION KING is one of the biggest animated films of all time with a lifetime global box office gross of $968.8 million. It won Academy Awards® for the original song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (Elton John, Tim Rice) and original score (Hans Zimmer). In 1997, the stage production inspired by the film made its Broadway debut, subsequently winning six Tony® Awards; 19 years later, it remains one of Broadway’s biggest hits.
Starring Donald Glover as Simba, and James Earl Jones as—naturally—Mufasa, Favreau’s live-action version of THE LION KING is produced by Favreau, Jeffrey Silver and Karen Gilchrist.
Alan Horn welcomed Rian Johnson, the writer and director of the latest chapter in the Skywalker saga, STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI. Johnson thrilled the audience by introducing talent from the film, including Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro.
In Lucasfilm’s STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, the Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of THE FORCE AWAKENS join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.
The audience was then treated to a special sneak peek of behind-the-scenes footage from the highly anticipated movie:
For the finale, Horn brought Kevin Feige to the stage for Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR. To start the ball rolling, Feige unveiled the Marvel Studios’ official 10thanniversary logo to the excited audience. Marvel Studios’ 10th anniversary begins with the release of AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR and covers an impressive decade of Marvel Studios’ blockbusters released from 2008 through the AVENGERS untitled film in 2019. In celebration of the anniversary, fans can expect exclusive consumer products and collectibles, along with in-theater events and much more in the coming months.
Then, in a surprise for all that brought the house down, talent from the film made a grand entrance, including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Mackie, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Josh Brolin, Don Cheadle, Sebastian Stan, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan and Pom Klementieff. To top it all off, the thrilled fans got an exclusive early look at footage from the movie, introduced by Joe Russo, one of the directors.
An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time. The Avengers and their Super Hero allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
A live-action take on Disney’s 1998 feature, which will be helmed by Niki Caro (“McFarland, USA,” “Whale Rider”).
A live-action nod to the popular theme park ride. The studio is working with Dwayne Johnson, recently heard as Maui in MOANA, on the project.
Directed by Guy Ritchie, with Mena Massoud as Aladdin, Naomi Scott as Jasmine and Will Smith as the Genie.

Our family loves their music…we have many many songs downloaded and many speakers to listen to them on. Train is one of those bands that we listen to often so you can imagine I was excited to hear about their seventh studio album, Bulletproof Picasso, released 9/16/14. I have listened to it for a few days now and I must say I LOVE this album. It fits right in to our collection nicely.
The album’s first single, “Angel In Blue Jeans,” has soared to the Top 15 of Triple A and Adult Top 40 radio in only a month, joining the band’s successful arsenal of other radio-embraced singles throughout their two-decade career. I have include the video below for your listening pleasure.
As soon as I start playing them my little one starts swaying and moving…you know its good! Bulletproof Picasso was produced by previous Train collaborator Butch Walker, and reflects frontman-singer/songwriter Pat Monahan’s penchant for distinctive musical stylings on this one. I loved all the songs & don’t nessesarly have a favorite because they are all great.
“I’ve always wanted to emotionally connect with people through the songs,” says Monahan. “But I also want to get into people’s lives with this album. We’re very excited about Bulletproof Picasso and we’re looking forward to performing some of the new songs for all our fans.”
If you rocked out to “Hey Soul, Sister” or swooned over “Drops Of Jupiter” and “Calling All Angels”, then you’re going love Bulletproof Picasso! You won’t be disappointed. Pick up your copy when it comes out tomorrow!
Track Listing:
1. Cadillac, Cadillac 2. Bulletproof Picasso 3. Angel In Blue Jeans 4. Give It All 5. Wonder What You’re Doing For The Rest Of Your Life 6. Son Of A Prison Guard 7. Just A Memory 8. I’m Drinkin’ Tonight 9. I Will Remember 10. The Bridge 11. Baby, Happy Birthday
12. Don’t Grow Up So Fast

In honor of DreamWorks Pictures’ charming new movie THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY starring Helen Mirren, attached please find our latest #FoodieFriday recipe to help get you excited for the film! Disclosure: material are provided by Dreamworks pictures for use on my blog.