Showing posts with label Entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Entertainment. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Wordless Wednesday: Rock on with your Bad Self!




Yesterday I got the chance to see Kinky Boots on Broadway, and it was so fun and uplifting I thought this graphic would make a perfect Wordless Wednesday, and a perfect reminder that every now and then you have got to let out your inner rock star and let him/her have some FUN! I will definitely post a full event recap of the show soon!

Well it's official butterfly this is my Birthday Eve, and my birthday is tomorrow! I can't wait for the big day! Today I'm off for more social Butterfly fun with several New York City entertainment related events (another play is just one of the things I will be doing today!), and in the next week or so I'll share all that I've been up to this week!)

Rock on with your bad self Butterfly and if you are a blogger share your Wordless Wednesday link as a comment to this post so we can all see your pictures for this week too, and if you haven't already done so, please don't forget to enter our 'It's MY Birthday, But YOU Get The Gifts!" Giveaway of this week for the cake of your choice from We Take the Cake!

Happy Wordless Wednesday!


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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a Sponsored Post, no monetary compensation has been received, the Giveaway referenced above will be fulfilled by the Giveaway Sponsor.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

The Croods + Questions and Answers with Actress Catherine Keener and Directors Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco!




Da Da Daaaa! By now I'm sure you've seen the super cute commercials for the upcoming movie The Croods.



About The Movie:

The Croods tells the story of the world's first family road trip. When their cave is destroyed, the Crood family must embark on a comedy adventure into strange and spectacular territory in search of a new home. As if patriarch Grug (voiced by Nicolas Cage) didn't already have enough to handle, it goes from bad to worse when they encounter an imaginative nomad named Guy (voiced by Ryan Reynolds.) With Guy's help the Croods conquer their fear of the outside world and discover that they have exactly what it takes to survive - each other.

The Cast:

Crug (The Dad) is voiced by Nicolas Cage
Ugga (The Mom) is voiced by Catherine Keener
Eep (Daughter) is voiced by Emma Stone
Gran (Grandmother, Ugga's Mom) is voiced by Cloris Leachman
Thunk (Son) is voiced by Clark Duke
Sandy (baby) is voiced by Randy Thom
Guy (The New Guy) is voiced by Ryan Reynolds
Belt (The Sloth) is voiced by Chris Sanders (III)

The Event:

As you know Mamarazzi screenings with The Moms are not your typical movie screenings, they are EVENTS! This screening was followed by a Questions and Answers Session with the films two directors Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco as well as Actress Catherine Keener the voice of Ugga who is the family matriarch in DreamWorks animated film The Croods.

You know me, I like to take you through the event via photos from begining to end so you can see everything I got to see! Before we got upstairs a very special mascot made his entry in the lobby and caused quite a bit of excitement, it was BELT!!! So when we got upstairs there he was so we could take pictures, and you know I love Mascot photos (as all my photos from most BlogHer Conferences are with the Mascots I find on the exhibitor floor!).

Left: Ascending Butterfly, Center: Belt Mascot from DreamWorks Pictures The Croods, Right: Mama Butterfly
My eyes were closed in the first photo above, so thankfully they got another one!



Now we're talking! DA DA DAAAAA!

And there was another cute photo opp waiting at the entrance to the auditorium:



I didn't dare sit on that little chair, so I snapped a picture of it!

And there was cute Crood branded Popcorn Bags at the ready for us too!



The screening was followed by a Questions and Answers Session led by Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein the dynamic duo behind The Moms, Catherine Keener the voice of Ugga, and directors Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco!

Below is a video with Questions and Answers that were asked prior to the audience Q&A but it opens with some of the pre-screening reception and don't blink because I'm in the beginning of this video posing for my picture with Mama Butterfly and Belt!



I can see why Actress Kristen Bell likes Sloths, Belt is kind of sweet and cuddly! Here are my photos from the Questions and Answers Session, thankfully it's accompanied by the video of the session as my shots weren't super clear. (This butterfly definitely needs a new camera!)

Left: Denise Albert from 'The Moms', Center: Actress Catherine Keener, to Catherine's Right  Director Chris Sanders, Far Right: Kirk DeMicco

Left: Catherine Keener (Voice of Ugga in DreamWorks Pictures The Croods), Center: Director Chris Sanders, Right: Director Kirk DeMicco

Left: Vincent DiCaro, Director of Public Affairs, National Fatherhood Initiative, Right: Denise Albert from 'The Moms'


Here is the Video of the Questions and Answers Session:



My Take:

The Croods is good family fun for ALL ages! While I did enjoy Oz The Great Powerful, that movie is definitely for older children and teens, while The Croods is good for all ages. It touches on so many different aspects of what being a family means, and the great lessons they learn along the way when they were forced to embrace change ready or not. Parents learning how to let their children grow and go, and the struggles that children go through when they want more freedom than they may necessarily be quite ready for.

The Croods hits theaters on March 22nd and I would definitely say it's a 'Ticket' if you are looking for a family friendly film that is fun for all ages!

Once you've had a chance to see it, come back here and let us know what you thought! And Bloggers feel free to link us to your Wordless Wednesday Posts here too!


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FTC Disclosure: Ascending Butterfly attended a Private Screening of DreamWorks Pictures The Croods, we were provided with snacks and a gift bag, however this is NOT a sponsored post and no monetary compensation has been received to share our screening experience or film review. Full disclosure policy: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Glass Slippers are SO Back! Cinderella on Broadway is a MUST see! @CinderellaBway #Cinderella

Theatre sign for The Broadway Theatre where Cinderella on Broadway is currently running

My mom has always been a huge theater buff, and through her I developed the same love of Broadway. I think it is one of the best parts about being a Native New Yorker. The first two plays I saw spoiled me, Peter Pan with Sandy Duncan and the original King and I starring Yul Brynner, both of those plays were amazing from every standpoint and gave the theatre a sort of magic that had been missing for me for quite awhile until Ghost on Broadway last year, this year Cinderella on Broadway brought back that magic for me, and I wanted to make sure I got my recap posted because I don't want you to miss this one!

Playbill for Rodger's + Hammerstein's Cinderella at Broadway Theatre

The Moms put together a totally fun night on Broadway for New York City Bloggers and their families and seeing the little girls dressed up in the lobby of The Broadway Theatre many in their little Cinderella dresses was so cute! Many of them admiring the touches and details of the other's outfits, we arrived to a lovely reception where we had time to talk and take a few photos before the Play began.

Ascending Butterfly at Broadway Theatre for Cinderella on Broadway Mamarazzi Event


Rodger's + Hammerstein's Cinderella on Broadway starts with an overture that truly sets the pace for the show, it's a hint to the magic that is to come! With a nod to the tradition of musical theatre. There was already so much excitement and energy in the air that the overture just added to the strong energy you could feel in the crowd.

Ascending Butterfly at Broadway Theatre for Cinderella on Broadway Mamarazzi Event


About The Show:

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA has arrived on Broadway for the first time ever! Four-time Tony Award® nominee Douglas Carter Beane’s (Sister ActXanadu) delightfully romantic and hilarious take on the ultimate makeover story features all the classic elements you remember—the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball and more—plus some surprising new twists! Rediscover some of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago” in this outrageously fun Broadway musical for dreamers of all ages.

Right before the overture you are asked 'kindly turn off your phones and leave your worries and cares at the door', and for 2 hours and 20 minutes you get to do just that, leave your cares at the door and be immersed in a magical, musical, wondrous fairy tale come to life right before your eyes!

The Cast:

Cinderella is played by Laura Osnes, The Prince by Santino Fontana, Marie/The Fairy Godmother was played by Victoria Clark, Harriet Harris plays Madame/Cinderella's Stepmother, Ann Harada plays Cinderella's Step-Sister Charlotte, and Marla Mindelle plays Step-Sister Gabrielle, and Peter Bartlett plays Sebastian (yes my fellow One to Live lovers THAT Peter Bartlett, our beloved Nigel!), Greg Hildreth plays Jean-Michel and Phumzile Sojola plays Lord Pinkleton and is also the understudy for Sebastian.

After the performance a Questions and Answers Session was arranged with some of the members of the cast, here are my photos from the Q&A:

Questions and Answers Session with Cast members of Cinderella on Broadway


The Cast really had a great dynamic and rapport amongst each other!

Questions and Answers Session with Cast members of Cinderella on Broadway


The cast as well as the audience enjoying Harriet Harris answering one of the question asked by a child at the Q&A "How did it feel to have to be so mean to Cinderella?"

Harriet Harris plays Madame, Cinderella's Stepmother, she was a very good sport during the Questions and Answers!


You may remember Harriet from her television role on the hit TV series Frasier!

Left: Santino Fontana who plays The Prince and Right: Laura Osnes who plays the title role of Cinderella


We asked Santino who plays the Prince about his background with his musical training and he mentioned that he was a bit embarassed when he was younger and starting out but outgrew it and fully began to embrace his training.


Victoria Clark plays villager Marie as well as The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella on Broadway

And of course The Moms always put together thoughtful gift bags so you can have a fun memory of your experience! Here are the bags on display:

Gift Bags at Cinderella on Broadway Mamarazzi Event


Here is a close up shot of the bags (apparently people liked my vignette, because before I could get my camera out of my bag people took photos of my gift bags before I could! LOL)



The bags contained light snacks from Andean Dream (Gluten-Free and Vegan Quinoa Cookies), a foaming facial wash from Willa and something fun for the moms too, a cosmetic bag from Trish McEvoy with a wonderfully thoughtful note enclosed, that contained a lash treatment, long-wearing, upper-eye brightener/shadow primer, intense gel eye liner pencil and under-eye brightener/line filler - products that will keep your eyes shining after the clock strikes twelve! :-)

Super thoughtful, thanks to The Moms, Andean Dream, Willa, and Trish McEvoy to making an already magical experience that much more memorable!

I got to nab a photo of the family of one half of the dynamic duo! Here is Melissa Gerstein and her family:

Melissa Gerstein of The Moms and her family at the Cinderella on Broadway Mamarazzi Event

Aren't these his and hers souvenir tshirts cute?

His and Hers Souvenir Tshirts from Rogers + Hammerstein's Cinderella on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre

My Take:

Left: Mama Butterfly Right: Ascending Butterfly enjoying a Magical  Night at the Cinderella on Broadway New York City Mamarazzi Event! 


Cinderella on Broadway is a truly magical theatrical event, it brings back the roots of what made theatre magical for me right from the begining. They pull of costume changes right before your very eyes that are truly amazing, when the pumpkin turns into the coach I'll bet you could watch it literally a hundred times and not see how it is really pulled off. It's magical for the adults as well as the children! 

This is a MUST see!

Get Social With It:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @CinderellaBway on Twitter
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Cinderella The Musical on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @andeandream on Twitter
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Andean Dream on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @WillaSkincare on Twitter
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Willa Skin Care on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Trish McEvoy on Facebook

And don't forget to tell them you saw them Featured on Ascending Butterfly! Of course we will also be putting these photos on our Pinterest page as well.

Fan of the Week:



If you get picked as Fan of the Week, don't forget to come back here and let us know! 

Do you have a magical Theatre moment that you'd like to Share? Tell us About it!


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FTC Disclosure: Our tickets to the show and gift bags were provided courtesy of The Moms, however NO monetary compensation has been received for our recap coverage and all opinions are 100% my own.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

I have a feeling we are NOT in Kansas anymore! - Oz The Great and Powerful Movie Review! #ozthegreatandpowerful



On Wednesday, March 6th I got the chance to attend the New York City Screening of Disney's Oz The Great and Powerful. I'm glad mother nature held up and the NorEaster Snow Storm we were expecting didn't hit!

I have to start by warning you this is NOT your mama's Wizard of Oz!

What you won't see:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Dorothy
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The Tinman
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The Scarecrow
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The Cowardly Lion
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Ruby Red Slippers

What you won't hear:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Characters spontaneously bursting into song, there's no 'Follow the Yellow Brick Road' song or 'We're off to see the Wizard'.

ABOUT:

When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.

My Take:

I do want to remind everyone that this is NOT a remake, it's a 'pre-quel', we learn how The Wizard gets to Oz, and get more back story on all the witches. I think it's important for folks to keep this in mind before going to see it. You need to evaluate this one it's own strengths and weaknesses and stop trying to compare it to a movie that they are NOT actually trying to re-make. They do pay homage, but are not trying to re-create the iconic classic we all know and love, that being said, here are MY perceived strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths:



Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - BUTTERFLIES! - Thankfully someone at Disney seems to share my fascination with Butterflies. All of their movies have a butterfly sighting, this one had not just butterfly sightings throughout but an entire butterfly tree! In one scene you see a tree with unusual leaves and suddenly the leaves fly off the tree and you realize they are not leaves at all but a flock of beautiful butterflies!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 3D and CGI - The special effects are truly magical on the big screen. The 3D in some spots not only comes at you, but during some moments comes from behind you forward!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Disney Lessons - The power of good versus evil and the little man (no pun intended munchkins) conquering obstacles to succeed and triumph in the end.

Weaknesses:


James Franco as Oscar Diggs aka 'Oz' in Disney's Oz The Great and Powerful

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - James Franco - That perpetual smirk he always has on his face is super annoying, thankfully here Oscar aka 'Oz' for short is a bit of a snake oil salesman and con artist, so that annoying smirk of his is actually put to good use here. (I pray the movie Gods keep him busy and he never returns to General Hospital ever, ever, ever again, but I digress...) I hear Robert Downey Jr dropped out and Johnny Depp turned it down. I would have loved to see Johnny Depp take this on for sure! Johnny Depp might have made you root for Oz for a bit more than you end up doing with James Franco in the lead role.


Left: Rachel Weisz as Evanora and Right: Mila Kunis as Theodora in Disney's Oz The Great and Powerful

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I'm definitely a fan but am sorry to report that Rachel Weisz just didn't cut it as Evanora, her performance fell short for me and my feelings on Mila's performance were a bit mixed, I think as naive Theodora she was strong, but when Theodora goes 'Wicked' (while I get the why), I don't think she pulls off the Wicked Theodora in the way the original actress Margaret Hamilton did.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Making this a more modern tale also makes it a bit darker and in my opinion not the movie you want to take a little one to see, this isn't your typical Disney fluffy, light, family-fare, it's dark, it's intense and it's long, making it a movie you want to take a tween or older to see.

Standout Characters:


Zach Braff as Finley in Disney's Oz The Great and Powerful

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Zach Braff as Frank the bumbling assistant back in Kansas and as Finley the sweet hearted flying monkey in Oz gives a strong performance!


Joey King as 'China Girl' in Disney's Oz The Great and Powerful

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Joey King as the girl in the wheelchair and the 'China Girl' in Oz also brings heart to the performance as both characters!

Joey King and Zach Braff are definite scene stealers. They both deliver a consistent performance that adds warmth to the movie.

Sidenotes:

This is my place to share thoughts inspired by the movie, that have nothing to do with my final or overall opinion of it!


Mila Kunis as Theodora in Disney's Oz The Great and Powerful

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - While other critics panned the costumes as making the time frame less believable, from a Fashionista's standpoint, Theodora (played by Mila Kunis) wears a super fab opening outfit, her cranberry colored peplum jacket, black leather pants, and red lip (you know how much I love a red lip that is my signature daily lip color (well I custom blend mine but it's red!) was kick butt cool, and definitely me from a long time ago, I need to revisit that me! While it seemed to bother other people, I wanted to know where she got that outfit, it was FIERCE!




Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - I have no qualms about admitting just how much I love my gaming/gambling trips, I love slots and spent much of the time in the movie thinking I was in a bonus screen for the Wizard of Oz slot machine. This movie is going to make a fun addition to the already popular slot machine, I wonder if WMS is already working on the new machine? (It's bad enough that it's hard to get on the original one, I just can't imagine how much harder it will be when the new one comes out!) I think I am LONG overdue for a vacation! Vegas Anyone?

On the whole I'd say 'Ticket', but don't bring the little ones. Take the older children to this one, it's darker, and it's running time is a bit longer than a very young child may feel comfortable sitting still.

Have you seen Oz The Great and Powerful yet butterflies? What did you think, ticket or skip it?


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FTC Disclosure: I attended a screening of Oz The Great and Powerful, this did not influence my opinion of the film, all opinions are 100% my own. This is NOT a sponsored post. No monetary compensation has been received to share our movie review.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Today is National Cereal Day! Find out how Cereal, Wine, Tina Fey and me are connected! #admission #hellocereal

Admission Theatrical Poster and vignette of General Mills Cereals - Hello Cereal Lovers!

March is certainly a busy month, and I keep finding fun facts for the month of March, did you know that today is National Cereal Day?

Are you a cereal lover?

How many mornings do you get to spend with Movie Directors, Celebs, Mimosas (aka MOMosa's for those in the know) and combine them with creative cereal pairings? Morning MOMosa anyone? Just another  Tuesday morning for us bloggers in New York City!

I think you all know just how much I enjoy the Mamarazzi® events hosted by The Moms, and this one definitely delivered! Just look at how we were welcomed:

MOMosa Anyone?


And then we were offered some pretty unique eats to pair with our signature MARTINI Wines 'MOMosa's', CEREAL! I don't know about you butterfly, but I had never paired my cereal with Sparkling Wine and OJ before! Have you?

There were tables with treats on display:

Cinnamon Toast Toffee Crunch Bars


Little Lucky Whoopie Pies

And even once we were seated cereal was delivered directly to us at our seats!

Your pick of General Mills Cereal delivered directly to your chair!


I mean seriously, how can you say no to that smile? I have never had Cereal brought to my chair during a movie before, NEAT! And in our cupholders we found Mayan Chocolate Chex Mix in cute little popcorn bags:

Guess which Cereal I chose! :)

I thought it was super creative, and so you know I had to make a cute little vignette and get a shot of it all before I dove in! Now this is the way to put together a Movie Screening! If only all of them were this creative, fun and organized!

And before the movie began there was a Questions and Answers Session with Director Paul Weitz and Actress Tina Fey! Here is the YouTube video so you can get in on the fun too:



Here are some of my pictures (sorry butterflies, my camera battery was going wonky and my pics are a bit blurry, so I'm going to include some pro shots so you don't have to strain your eyes too  much!):

Left: Director of Admission Paul Weitz, Actress Tina Fey, The Moms Melissa Gerstein and Far Right: Denise Albert

Left: Director of Admission Paul Weitz, Center: Actress Tina Fey, Far Right: The Moms Melissa Gerstein

Thankfully the pros got good shots! Doesn't Tina look awesome  in her blue wrap dress?


Event Sponsors MARTINI Wines, Hello Cereal Lovers, The Moms and Focus Features Admission put together one very enjoyable movie screening!

This event was actually featured recently by Perez Hilton, because you know, that's how I roll, Page Six here I come!

ABOUT ADMISSION:


Admission Theatrical Movie Poster



Every spring, high school seniors anxiously await letters of college admission that will affirm and encourage their potential. At Princeton University, admissions officer Portia Nathan (Tina Fey) is a gatekeeper evaluating thousands of applicants. Year in and year out, Portia has lived her life by the book, at work as well as at the home she shares with Princeton professor Mark (Michael Sheen). When Clarence (Wallace Shawn), the Dean of Admissions, announces his impending retirement, the likeliest candidates to succeed him are Portia and her office rival Corinne (Gloria Reuben). For Portia, however, it’s business as usual as she hits the road on her annual recruiting trip.

On the road, Portia reconnects with her iconoclastic mother, Susannah (Lily Tomlin). On her visit to New Quest, an alternative high school, she then reconnects with her former college classmate, idealistic teacher John Pressman (Paul Rudd) – who has recently surmised that Jeremiah (Nat Wolff), a gifted yet very unconventional New Quest student, might well be the son that Portia secretly gave up for adoption years ago while at school. Jeremiah is about to apply to Princeton.

Now Portia must re-evaluate her personal and professional existences, as she finds herself bending the admissions rules for Jeremiah, putting at risk the future she thought she always wanted – and in the process finding her way to a surprising and exhilarating life and romance she never dreamed of having.

RECIPES:

Want to make the cool treats we got try out at the screening? Here are the recipes butterflies:


Mayan Chocolate Chex Mix


Mayan Chocolate Chex Mix:

3 cups Corn Chex Cereal
3 cups Chocolate Chex Cereal
2 cups Cinnamon Chex Cereal
1 cup Whole Cashews
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 teaspoons ground ancho chile pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereal and cashews
2. In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, chili and red pepper uncovered on high about 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until melted and smooth. Stir in Vanilla. Pour over Cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
3. Microwave uncovered on high 5 to 6 minutes, stirring after every minute. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool. Break into bite-size pieces; stir in chocolate chips. Store in airtight container.

Tips: Pecan Halves can be used in place of the Cashews!

Little Lucky Whoopie Pies:

Little Lucky Whoopie Pies


Ingredients:


Cake
1
box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® butter recipe chocolate cake mix
1
cup water
1/3
cup vegetable oil
3
eggs
Frosting:
1/4
cup vegetable shortening
1/4
cup butter
2
tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2
teaspoon pure mint extract
Green food color
1
tablespoon milk
2
cups powdered sugar
1
cup marshmallows from any size package Lucky Charms® cereal



  • 1Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
  • 2In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, and eggs on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
  • 3On a parchment lined baking sheet, drop heaping tablespoons of cake batter two inches apart.
  • 4Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean in the center of a cake.
  • 5Allow cakes to cool on parchment for 10 minutes on a wire rack.
  • 6In medium bowl, beat shortening and butter with electric mixer on high speed 3 minutes.
  • 7Reduce speed to low and add granulated sugar, mint extract, food color and milk.
  • 8Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time until smooth.
  • 9Spread a small spoonful of mint frosting between two cakes and decorate the edges with Lucky Charms® marshmallows.

Cinnamon Toast Toffee Crunch:



Ingredients:


4
cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch® cereal
1
cup butter
1
cup packed brown sugar
1
bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
3/4
cup chopped pecans or sliced almonds, toasted
  • 1Heat oven to 350°F.
  • 2Line 15x10x1-inch pan with heavy-duty foil. Spray foil with cooking spray. Spread cereal evenly in pan.
  • 3In 2-quart saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar. Using whisk, mix butter and brown sugar together as butter melts. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium. Boil 2 minutes without stirring. Immediately pour mixture evenly over cereal in pan.
  • 4Bake 12 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Let stand 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate; top with pecans. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Refrigerate 20 minutes to set chocolate; break into pieces. Store covered in refrigerator up to one week.
MY TAKE:

The Official Website sums this film up perfectly - It's about the surprising detours we encounter on the road to happiness.

My friends it really is about the journey, it just takes some of us longer than others to realize it. There are also great lessons about learning when to let go in this movie. We sometimes hold on to things that no longer serve our higher purpose, and while it seems difficult, sometimes you really have to close a door forever for the better one to open.

And as always, Lily Tomlin is BRILLIANT! Gloria Reuben also does a perfect job playing that office back-stabbing rival that we all will end up confronting at some time or another!

It was also fun learning some creative ways to use cereal in recipes and mix it up a bit!

ADMISSION hits theatres March 22! (Hmmm... if you read yesterday's 'Seriously, it's Celebrate Your Name Week!' post you'd know why it's totally ironic to me that this movie is being released on the 22nd!)

Butterflies once you've had a chance to check out this film, please come back here and let us know what you thought! And don't forget to tell us which Cereal you rang in National Cereal Day with!

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FTC Disclosure: I attended a special New York City Screening of the Movie Admission, Gift Bags were provided to attendees, however all opinions are 100% my own. I only recommend products or services I 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." See our Full Disclosure Policy HERE