All About Kimberly

Sailing Along the Life of Single Parenthood

Category Archives: Reviews

31 Days of Oscar

If you like award winning movies – from the old to the new – now is the time to become a regular Turner Classic Movie fan.  Currently TCM is running their 31 Days of Oscar. During this festival, every film that TCM shows has received at least one Academy Award and/or nomination.  These350 movies will be shown unedited and without commercials.  (This would be a great tim to DVR some favorites).  The series started February 1st and will end March 3rd.

TCM chose a really cute theme this year called “TCM University.”  The movies are categorized by Departments and Course Offerings.  How cool is that?  Today’s subject – my favorite – ENGLISH….Today you can view, Intro to Charles Dickens, Shakespeare Tragedies, and British Novelists including Rebecca (one of my favorite books).

Check out the complete movie schedule here.

There’s also a contest going on over at TCM to enter for a chance to win a 31 Days of Oscar Composition Notebook in the TCM 31 Days of Oscar® Sweepstakes.  This is a really handy composition book (I have one) with the schedule in the front and regular composition paper in the back.  I’m using mine for my blogging notes to myself.  Find TCM on your channel line up and check out all the movies that will be airing over the next month – you’re sure to find a few old favorites or great movies you missed seeing.

It’s That Time of Year

When we take turns being sick.  I was sick all week last week. Friday Becka seemed to come down with it and is recovering. Now it’s probably just a matter of time before Cameron is the one feeling icky. This means that I need to stock up on children’s medicine.  One of my favorites is Triaminic.  Cameron still can’t (or won’t) swallow medicine so I love that Triaminic always seems to do the magic with their Thin Strips and chewables.

I recently found out that Triaminic has recently joined with the National Association of School Nurses to create Sick Day Guidelines to help parents decide when to send our kiddos to school and when to keep them home.  As a Mom who hates to keep her children home (Cameron has missed 2 days since she was in Pre-K), I think this is a great find.  I’ve printed it and stuck it to my message board in the dining room. Check out the Triaminic Mom Site for more information.

New Season, New Show

I’ve been given an awesome chance to preview the new season of The Closer and the premier of a new show called Trust Me. Both will begin on TNT on Mnday January 26 (at 8 and 9 CST).  I had seen a few episodes of The Closer, but for some reason never set the DVR to keep up with them.  After watching the preview that I was sent, I have already set up my DVR to record the entire season (along with Trust Me).

The Closer is a hit crime drama (one of my favorite types of TV shows) starring Kyra Sedgwick. This season will have five new episodes airing each Monday.  During this season you’ll find out the fate of Detective Sanchez and whether or not Brenda (Sedgwick) and Fritz will get married.  We’ll also see the return of Brenda’s parents and meet her sister, Claire.

I’m even more excited about Trust Me as I’ll be able to get in on the beginning of the series and know exactly what is going on.   It stars two actors I already know I love, Eric McC ormack and Tom Cavanagh. The two will be great friends and work at an advertising agency in Chicago.  In addition, we’ll see Monica Potter, Griffin Dunne, Sarah Clarke, Mike Damus, and Geoffredy Arend.  You should recognize several of theese find actors.   While the two have worked together as a team at the advertising agency and been very successful, the story will revolve around a promotion – for only one member of the team. Uh Oh! You can already guess there ‘s going to be issues now.

Family Retreats

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I’m not sure if you noticed, but not too long ago, I wrote about how neat the town of Branson looked for a family vacation, and now I have the chance to share with you the types of vacation packages offered by Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel this holiday. Maybe it’s too late to plan a trip this holiday season, but they run these types of deals for various holidays so it’s still useful knowledge.  I am thinking that I may look into 4th of July packages come summer.

As a point of reference, the New Years Eve Package. This includes deluxe accommodations, party favors, a four course dinner for two, $50 gift card and Bloody Mary breakfast buffet for two. For a couple who wanted to get away, wouldn’t this be a special way to spend New Years Eve.

Maybe you are planning a getaway for an anniversary or birthday?  There’s also a Romance package that includes wine in your room upon checkin, access to hotel health club, pool and whirlpool spa, full American breakfast for two in your room, and if you stay beyond one night, you’ll get a buy one entrée and get a second one of equal or lesser value at no additional cost in the hotel restaurants. And finally, you can get a late checkout upon request.

Currently, they are also offering a Family Package (available through March 2009) that as long as you book at least 14 days in advance, you receive 20% off your stay. That could easily add up to some great savings.

If you are looking for a vacation destination that would be laid back and a place where you could spend quality family time together (or maybe just a getaway for Mom and Dad), check out Branson and the Hilton hotels. You might just find a winner for your  family.

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A Mother’s Promise

Did you know that Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S.?  Evenflo is working to change that and they feel that together, we can make a difference.  What are they doing? 

They have created a FaceBook comunity called, “A Mother’s Promise.” They are focusing on bringing moms together in a quest to keep children safe while on the road.  

I personally have never let Cameron ride ANYWHERE without her car seat.  Just last night I heard an advertisement on the radio reminding everyone that 4’9″ is how tall our children should be before we let them get out of a booster seat.  Not only do we still use a booster seat (at age 8), it was just over this past summer (at 7) that I let her get out of a booster that had the back and sides.  And she still whines from time to time and wants it back – the only reason we gave it up was she was embarrased when friend’s rode with us, and she was still in a “car seat.”  She loves those sides though as it makes sleeping in the car so much easier.  We actually kept it for long trips still.

I think it is so great that Evenflo is launching this program to make everyone more aware of automobile safety.   If you have a FaceBook account, I encourage you to head over and post on the Wall, pledging to your children to do everything within your power to protect them.  If you don’t have a FaceBook account and are interested in checking this out, join and create a profile over at FaceBook and then search for “A Mother’s Promise” so you can post your promise. You should also consider spreading the word to other family members, friends, mothers – everyone you know. Together we truly can make that difference that Evenflo is encouraging.

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