Bribing my daugher for my sanity

I spent much of the day smiling. Why? Because, as the cliché goes, money talks.

Essentially, my daughter had a mission to buy a laptop. I had a mission to keep my sanity.

So I did what I've long tried avoiding as a parent, the bribe.

"So what if instead of inviting so many friends, you just have three max spend the night?"

"What do you mean, Mom?"

"I'll give you money toward that laptop you want so much.

"What?"

"You heard me. I know some of your friends will be left out, but parties are expensive and exhausting for your mom."

She starts thinking. And oh is it difficult deciding what to do.

She runs through her friends. She always invites her closest buds, but she also invites a few new girls as well as her long-time friends who may not be as close these days. Let me just say that because of this effort for inclusiveness, her party turns into two or three parties in one, divided by cliques. I'm left dead tired trying to make sure drama is at a minimum. She's exhausted making sure everyone feels included.

She makes a list, and then she hesitates. "Can I invite more than three?"

"Sure, if you don't want all the money."

I feel a little guilty. But I'm too old for 10+ screaming pre-teens. And it's all about my sanity.

In the end only two girls would stay the night. Perfect.

She's happy because she now has a laptop. I'm happy because there wasn't the kind of drama that drove me insane the last few years.

Review: Disney on Ice presents 100 years of Magic

I took my family to opening night of Disney on Ice's current spectacular. The show, 100 Years of Magic, is at US Airways Center through April 15. It features Mickey and Minnie, of course, as well as Goofy, Donald Duck, Disney Princesses, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio, Mulan, Timon, Pumbaa, Stitch, Nemo and the Incredibles.

Tickets are as low as $11, excluding fees, when a minimum of four are purchased. You just need a special discount code that you can find in my blog. Details and restrictions are mentioned. Just click the link to learn more.

BTW, I tried the code for today's (4/13/12) 10:30 a.m. show and WOW! I could get a $24 ticket in section 102 for $11. Fees still apply no matter what ticket you buy. But the fees are less with the code. Just saying...

When I mentioned Disney on Ice, my teenager scoffed at first. "That's kid stuff!" But once he settled in, I saw a smile on his face. My daughter, who's 11 going on 18, whispers to me: "I'm still a kid. I love this."

It was an enjoyable evening. If you're a regular at these shows, it will seem familiar at times. The scenes and characters move quickly, but little ones will enjoy seeing a huge array of their Disney favorites.

Sharing some of my photos from the night — they tell you more about the night than I can in words. Hope you and your family get a chance to enjoy the show, too.

Color Mickey and Minnie

If you're going to the show this week, here's an activity: Coloring Mickey and Minnie. Just print out my blog. Enjoy the show.

Oh, and if you haven't gotten tickets yet, try using the moms discount code to get 4 tickets for $44 for select shows, while supplies last. Just click link to my earlier blog.

Disney on Ice trivia

Since Disney on Ice presents 100 Years of Magic comes to the Valley this week, I thought I'd share some fun trivia. It'll be fun to throw out some before the show. Maybe make it a game. The prize that you decide to give your kid is up to you. I'll post answers at the bottom...

BTW, remember you can get discounted tickets — 4 for $44 — with the code in my earlier Disney on Ice blog.

1. What is Geppetto’s profession?

2. According to the song, what is the only thing Pinocchio has to do when he wants his conscience to be his guide?

3. What character did Walt Disney say he created on a train ride from New York to California?

4. How many edges does a figure skating blade have?

5. What character uses the words, "Little puppet made of pine, wake, the gift of life is thine"?

6. What song includes the phrase, "An actor’s life for me"?

7. Who saves Pinocchio from the evil puppeteer and showman, Stromboli?

8. Which Disney character teaches you how to spell the word "encyclopedia" in a Mickey Mouse Club song?

9. What Disney dog was named after a planet?

10. What does Pinocchio wear in his hat?

11. What Disney villain lives in a wagon?

12. According to the Blue Fairy, what kind of wood was Pinocchio made of: oak, maple or pine?

13. What character always struck the gong at the beginning of the Mickey Mouse Club: Dumbo, Donald Duck or Goofy?

14. According to the Beast, where is the only place in the castle Belle is not permitted?

15. When was the United States Figure Skating Association founded?

16. In Toy Story, what toy is the song "You’ve Got a Friend in Me" about?

17. What does the Beast give Belle when she leaves the castle?

18. What do Pinocchio and the Beast have in common?

19. In Beauty and the Beast, according to LeFou, "No beast alive stands a chance against. . ." whom?

20. What is the longest word in any Disney song?

21. In Aladdin, what is the name of Jasmine’s pet tiger?

22.What Disney character from Aladdin does impersonations of Jack Nicholson, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ed Sullivan?

23.According to the Genie, besides not allowing wishes for more wishes, what are the only three types of wishes he cannot perform?

24.What song includes the words, "They’re just lousy with loyalty"?

25.How many Academy Awards® did the film Aladdin receive?

26. In The Lion King, what is Timon and Pumbaa’s motto?

27. In Beauty and the Beast, who is Lumiere’s love interest?

28.What was the first official Winter Olympic sport?

29.What is the name of the lioness with whom Simba forms a romantic attachment?

30. Who wrote the "Mickey Mouse Club March" and the "Mickey Mouse Club Alma Mater"?

31. Who composed the songs for The Lion King?

32.The Lion King has an all-animal cast. What are the only two other full-length animated Disney features that have this distinction?

33. What Oscar®-winning actor provides the voice for Woody?

34. How many Mouseketeers were on the original Mickey Mouse Club during its first season: 12, 18 or 24?

35. Buzz Lightyear thinks he must defend the universe from what evil being?

36. How many teeth does Pumbaa the warthog from The Lion King have?

37. What makes Toy Story so unique?

38. During the song "I Will Go Sailing No More," what does Buzz Lightyear discover he cannot do?

39. In Beauty and the Beast, what is Belle’s favorite pastime?

40.What animated feature was called King of the Jungle during the early stages of production?

41.On what television network did the original Mickey Mouse Club air?

42. What group of animated characters is now referred to by Disney as "The Fabulous Five"?



And the answers:
1. Geppetto is a wood carver specializing in clocks, music boxes and toys.
2. All Pinocchio has to do is "give a little whistle."
3. Mickey Mouse
4. Two
5. The Blue Fairy uses these words in order to bring Pinocchio to life.
6. "Hi Diddle Dee Dee" by Leigh Harline, Ned Washington, and Paul J. Smith
7. The Blue Fairy saves Pinocchio from the bird-cage prison.
8. Jiminy Cricket
9. Pluto
10. Pinocchio’s hat has a red feather in it.
11. Stromboli (from Pinocchio)
12. Pine
13. Donald Duck
14. Belle is not permitted in the West Wing.
15. 1921
16. Woody
17. The Beast gives Belle a magic mirror so that she will "always have a way to look back and remember" him.
18. Both characters want to be human.
19. Gaston
20. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (there are 34 letters)
21. Rajah
22. The Genie
23. The three wishes the Genie cannot perform are: He can’t kill anyone; he can’t make anybody fall in love with anybody else; and he can’t bring people back from the dead.
24. "Prince Ali"
25. The film received two Academy Awards®, one for Best Song ("A Whole New World") and one for Best Musical Score.
26. "Hakuna Matata" – it means, "no worries."
27. The Featherduster
28. Figure skating
29. Nala
30. Head Mouseketeer Jimmie Dodd
31. The team of legendary singer-songwriter Elton John and the Tony Award-winning lyricist Tim Rice. Rice also won an Academy Award® for "A Whole New World."
32. To date, the only two films besides The Lion King to have an all-animal cast are Bambi (1942) and Robin Hood (1973).
33. Tom Hanks is the voice of Woody.
34. 24
35. The universe must be saved from the evil Emperor Zurg.
36. One
37. Toy Story was the first feature-length computer-animated film.
38. Fly
39. Reading
40. The Lion King
41. ABC
42. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto

Hunger documentary on Food Network

At home, we've been talking about food a lot. We discuss healthy eating habits and not so healthy splurges — everything in moderation, right?

Many of those talks stem from wanting our kids to be healthy and not part of the growing statistic of childhood obesity. We don't want to go overboard, either. Dieting isn't part of our children's vocabulary. Healthy eating is.

We haven't spoken much about hunger — at least not lately. We've mentioned how we're lucky. And when they don't want to eat their veggies, we point out how kids go hungry all over the world. They moan, but it's resulted in better eating habits.

Still, they're sheltered. Just once have we helped out serving meals to homeless, hungry families during the holidays even though we said we'd do it again. We need to do it again. We've participated in food drives, too. But you don't get the behind-the-scenes emotions of helping on a food line. Overall, they have little knowledge of what hunger is and how it affects families.

Last night, I got word that the Food Network will be airing a documentary tackling hunger. It airs at 8 p.m./7p.m. central time on April 14 and aims to not only highlight the plight of children going hungry in the United States, but also to promote community action. The hour-long documentary, Hunger Hits Home, is narrated by Oscar®-winning actor and longtime anti-hunger activist Jeff Bridges.


Food Network and the Share Our Strength "No Kid Hungry" initiative aim to eradicate child hunger in America by 2015 by surrounding children with nutritious food where they live, learn and play.

I plan to have our kids watch and figure out how we can be part of the solution.
You can click this link to download a guide to help you with your efforts: www.foodnetwork.com/hungry.