Chuck E. Cheese - Making Birthday Parties Fun and EASY @chuckecheese

In the five years I've been planning kid parties, this was the EASIEST and MOST FUN we've had yet... and I even made the cake! I even had party guests comment about how fun it was and they were REALLY interested in having parties just like ours.

Our eldest son turned 5 on Christmas Eve, so we always work really hard to keep his birthday special and separate from Christmas. It was so easy to do with Chuck E. Cheese, and they were open all day on Christmas Eve.

The fun and games to be had at Chuck E. Cheese!  

I started by reserving my party time online.  I chose an early time, and got 100 bonus tickets for choosing an off-time.  Once my reservation was finalized (I paid a $30 deposit), I received a call from the Chuck E. Cheese party planner/coordinator at our location.  She was so helpful and thoughtful!  We talked through the party and figured out exactly what I needed to do in order to be ready.  She also called again the day prior to the party.

In most cases, you won't have to really do anything except decide what you want at your party (food, party favors, balloons, etc).  In my case, I wanted to make the cake myself and bring ice cream and a few extras to add to the party favors.

The Candyland Brownie Cake I made for Logan's 5th Birthday!

To see how I made the Candyland Brownie Cake (and the wonderful recipe) click here (coming shortly)

The staff at Chuck E. Cheese made this the easiest party I've ever thrown.  They helped me carry things to the table and set up, then helped keep the party on track, and coordinated bringing out and serving the food and the birthday celebration (Chuck E. coming to our table, singing, cake, etc).  They even made sure everything was going great the whole time we were there, then they took care of the cleanup!

I think my all-time favorite part of this party was that my normally EXTREMELY shy son was so at ease with the staff and Chuck E. that he got up with Chuck E. Cheese (normally he will hide behind me, so this was an unknown territory for us) and even danced with him and did the Ticket Blaster all by himself!  People were AMAZED!  It just goes to show how much fun he had!

As a bonus, Christmas Eve was quieter than normal weekend days at Chuck E. Cheese and we got to stay at our table until we left as there were no parties scheduled after ours that needed the space.

Their website also has great activities and printables, as well as a great coupon page!  We will certainly be doing more events and celebrations (as well as just having some plain old fun lunches/dinners and play) at Chuck E. Cheese!

One other huge plus in my eyes are the security measures Chuck E. Cheese has taken to ensure kids safety: Kid Check.  As you arrive, your hand is stamped with a number that matches the kids you enter with (so make sure you are the one who will be leaving with your kids!).  They will NOT let you leave with a child whose stamp does not match your own.  There is someone at the entrance at all times.

Have you had fun at Chuck E. Cheese?  I hope you'll leave a comment and tell me about it - feel free to leave a link too if you've posted about it!

~ Wendi


*Disclosure: I received some guest passes to help facilitate our birthday party in exchange for sharing our experience with you.  My thoughts and opinions are 100% mine. :)

See Nemo in 3D! Watch The Official Finding Nemo 3D Trailer ~ Just Released!!

FINDING NEMO returns to theatres for the first time in 3D September 14th, 2012!

Disney's Finding Nemo

Disney's Finding Nemo, 

"Like" FINDING NEMO 3D on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PixarFindingNemo


FINDING NEMO (In Disney Digital 3D™)
DISNEY•PIXAR

Genre: Animation/Comedy/Adventure
Rating: G
U.S. Release Date: September 14, 2012
Voice Talent: Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Brad Garrett, Allison Janney, Austin Pendleton, Joe Ranft, Geoffrey Rush, Andrew Stanton,
Elizabeth Perkins
Director: Andrew Stanton
Co-Director: Lee Unkrich
Producer: Graham Walters
Original Story by: Andrew Stanton
Screenplay by: Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson and David Reynolds
Composer: Thomas Newman

Academy Award®-winning Best Animated Feature “Finding Nemo” returns to the big screen for the first time ever in thrilling Disney Digital 3D™. In this stunning underwater adventure, with memorable characters, humor and heartfelt emotion, “Finding Nemo” follows the comedic and momentous journey of an overly protective clownfish named Marlin (voice by Albert Brooks) and his son Nemo (voice by Alexander Gould)––who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home and dumped into a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory (voice by Ellen DeGeneres), a friendly-but-forgetful Pacific regal blue tang, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son––who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home.

Notes:

·“Finding Nemo” won the 2003 Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature.
·The film won a Golden Globe® Award for Best Motion Picture–Musical or Comedy.
·At the time of its release, “Finding Nemo” was the highest grossing G-rated movie of all time.
·Ellen DeGeneres won an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance.
·In 2008, The American Film Institute named “Finding Nemo” among the top 10 greatest animated films ever made.

Pixar Animation Studios’ classic “Finding Nemo” returns to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™, introducing a new generation of family audiences to Nemo (voice by Alexander Gould), Marlin (voice by Albert Brooks) and Dory (voice by Ellen DeGeneres).

Need to view the official trailer in another format? Here are more!

QuickTime: (.mov)
http://wdmp-wdsmp.rd.llnw.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_High.mov
http://wdmp-wdsmp.rd.llnw.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_Low.mov

Flash: (.flv)
http://wdmp.rd.llnwd.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_High.flv
http://wdmp.rd.llnwd.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_Low.flv

Windows Media: (.wmv)
http://wdmp.rd.llnwd.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_High.wmv
http://wdmp.rd.llnwd.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_Low.wmv

High Definition: (.mov)
http://wdmp-wdsmp.rd.llnw.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_1080.mov
http://wdmp-wdsmp.rd.llnw.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_720.mov
http://wdmp-wdsmp.rd.llnw.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_480.mov

iPad: (.mov)
http://wdmp-wdsmp.rd.llnw.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_iPad.mov

iPod: (.m4v)
http://wdmp.rd.llnwd.net/wdsmp/FN3D/TLR4/FindingNemo_Trailer4_iPod.m4v

Trailer information and pictures were received from Disney Studios along with permission to share with my readers!

~ Thanks Disney!

Perplexus: 3D Puzzle Fun For Your Brain AND Dexterity, GREAT For The Entire Family (And Friends) @Perplexus1

The Perplexus Rookie has been a huge hit in our family, from our 2 year old to grandparents and friends! (Ok, so the 2 year old thinks it is neat and likes to roll it around and watch the little steel ball inside)  Our 5 year old will really concentrate and see how far he can get the steel ball, and what started out with a tiny bit of frustration now provides loads of fun and quiet time.

I have left the Perplexus Rookie on our coffee table and I'm amazed that everyone who picks it up has a blast trying to get the little steel ball as far as they can.  Every now and then I hear numbers being shouted out because people are so thrilled at how far they are getting in the maze.  There are 75 sections of the maze, and some are VERY challenging.  You have to turn and twist the ball just right to keep the ball in the puzzle without having to start over.

Players beware - sometimes the people wanting a turn get a little impatient and they try to see what they can do to get you to drop the ball off the maze so they can have their turn quicker.

This fun 3D puzzle is fun AND it is great for improving dexterity, thinking, problem solving, sharing, quiet-time, providing entertainment at get-togethers, etc.

In the box: You will get a little plastic stand to set the Perplexus Rookie on when it is not being used, and the Perplexus Rookie itself.  The stand keeps the ball from rolling away, and also lets you pause your puzzle as long as no one else comes along to pick it up.

The Perplexus Rookie is a fully enclosed plastic ball that is filled with a 3D puzzle.  The puzzle has a start and finish, with 75 stages in between the two.  The object of the puzzle is to navigate a small steel ball through the maze from start to finish without the ball falling off the maze.

There are two other versions available as well: the Original and the Epic Perplexus!


Perplexus Rookie
Perplexus ~ 6 1/2" in Diameter
Ages 4+ ~ $22.99
Games / Puzzles / 3D

Edition Reviewed: Perplexus Rookie - Review sample received courtesy of the manufacturer, many thanks!

About the Perplexus Rookie:

From the Perplexus Site: Perplexus Rookie introduces you to the world of Perplexus and a whole new realm of perplexity! Perplexus Rookie will develop your skill as you learn to bend, twist and turn your way around the gravity defying barriers. Once you try it, you won’t want to put it down!

From Amazon: Perplexus Rookie will introduce you to the three dimensional, gravity defying world of Perplexus challenges. Flip, twist and turn the sphere to navigate the steel ball along the numbered tracks through 75 barriers of varying difficulty. Perplexus Rookie is easy to play but still challenging to complete. A domed finish keeps the ball in place at the end to secure your success! Fun for the whole family. 6 1/2" in diameter.

About Perplexus: (from the site www.perplexus.net)

The concept behind PERPLEXUS was created by 3-D design teacher Michael McGinnis in the late 1970′s as a project for an art class. Michael envisioned turning his creation into a toy. He had no idea this vision would turn into a decades long odyssey to get the game to market.

After almost 20 years, Michael met the inventors at KID Group, one of the premier inventing houses in the toy industry. They collaborated on the design to make it more suitable for consumers. It was finally ready. The original product was marketed as Superplexus.

Through many twists and turns in the toy industry, Superplexus got tangled up in some changes and ended up being shelved just as it was getting started. But that isn’t the end of the story…

In 2008, a group of enthusiasts contacted KID Group about licensing Superplexus. Busy Life, LLC acquired the rights to Superplexus and launched PERPLEXUS in its current form.

Find Perplexus on Facebook and Twitter




*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up to buy more books. :)

Real Steel Comes Out on DVD and Blu-Ray This Week! We're Picking It Up - Are You?

My 5 year old went and saw Real Steel in the theaters twice (with the family)... in two days... and LOVED it! So when we saw that it was coming out this week, I knew it was a must have. With that in mind, I wanted to see if there were any deals and this is what I found...

If you go to the movie's website here, you can print a $5.00 coupon good towards the DVD/Blu-ray/Digital Copy version of the movie.

Amazon has it for pre-order for $27.99 and they will ship it directly to your house with FREE Supersaver Shipping: Real Steel (Three-Disc Combo: Blu-ray/DVD + Digital Copy)

Target has it on sale for $16.99 (DVD), $24.99 (DVD/Blu-ray), $29.99 (DVD/Blu-ray/Digital - $24.99 after Coupon) PLUS Save $5.00 when you buy a Real Steel action figure ($7.49)

Walmart $17.96 (DVD), $24.96 (DVD/Blu-ray), $27.96 (DVD/Blu-ray/Digital $22.96 after Coupon)

Best Buy $22.99 (DVD/Blu-Ray), $27.99 (DVD/Blu-ray/Digital $22.99 after Coupon)


Real Steel
starring: Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly, Dakota Goyo
Dreamworks ~ PG-13Available January 24th

About the Movie: (from the website)

Enter the not-so-distant future where boxing has gone high-tech -- 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots have taken over the ring. Starring Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter turned small-time promoter, Real Steel is a riveting, white-knuckle action ride that will leave you cheering. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the thrill-packed arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback. Visually stunning and complete with knockout bonus material, Real Steel is a pulse-pounding, inspirational adventure filled with heart and soul.

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. I get a very small amount for any purchases made when you click through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, which I then save up to buy more books. :)

Review and Giveaway: Diamond Candles (A Ring in Every Candle) Wonderful Soy Candles With a Special Jewelry Surprise Just For You!

If you haven't burned a Diamond Candle, let me tell you this: It is a wonderful experience... from the beautiful scent, the clean burning candle, and the surprise ring found in each candle (each candle has a surprise ring that you pull out as it burns, and the value ranges from $10, $100, $1,000 and $5,000).

Diamond Candles are soy candles, which burn cleaner and longer than parafin candles, and they are more earth friendly as they are made from soy beans, which are both a renewable resource and biodegradable.

They are available in over 26 scents.  I got to review the Fresh Snow scent which is a combination of peppermint, patchouli and eucalyptus (but I think it smells more like egg nog and sugar cookies).

I let my candle burn for quite a while and at the earliest possible moment, I pulled the ring out of the wax using a wooden chop stick.  The ring was wrapped in foil and laying near the golden seal that you can see from the outside of the glass jar.  I layed it on papertowel and gently opened the foil to reveal a beautiful ring (pictured below).  I'm sure it is one of the $10 rings, but it is still fun and really pretty!








Fresh Snow 21 oz. Candle  
 by Diamond Candles  
 21 oz. Candle  ~ $24.95
 Soy Candle

Edition Reviewed: 21 oz. Fresh Scent Candle - Review sample received courtesy of Diamond Candles, many thanks!



About Diamond Candles:

Soy Candles by Diamond Candles

We are so glad you are here! If you don't know much about us yet we have real rings worth $10, $100, $1,000, or $5,000 in every single earth friendly, all natural soy candle that we make.

The combination of highly fragrant premium quality soy candles, an exciting and fun 'ring reveal' experience (what ring will you find?), and a ring to wear for months and years to come means making something as boring as burning candles in your home something to look forward to.

You can take a tour and learn more about us here, watch some 'ring reveal' videos, or go ahead and take the plunge and get your first soy candle!

-The Diamond Candles Team


Diamond Candles was founded in January of 2011. The founders had a desire to make buying candles fun again, while at the same time, make an attractive and earth friendly candle that you would be excited to use in your home.

There is a ring worth $10, $100, $1,000, or $5,000 in every earth friendly, all natural soy candle we make.

We are coming to a retail shelf near you, but in the meantime you can order directly from our website here.

Once you burn your candle down and find your ring, head over to facebook and upload a photo or video of you and your ring for everyone else to see!

Win one of 30 Diamond Candles! Enter below (If the Rafflecopter form is not showing, press F5 to refresh)

Read more »

Minute to Pin It: Weekly Pinterest Party (Come Join In The Fun, Week 5)

<a border="0" href="http://wendisbookcorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXwoWqi90URfrGhsrWLrKmgEqr_GlVP6i2DiROEN92QpLM5IYJV2gRpxCXWU8rcxGVCoHI36dXuZqk3ZTmOjca6W7dQPN48cZkW5ZfniMY04E8fhm4vVZw8UcTXEjiPWQSWoDf5K3nl0/s1600/MinutetoPinIt-200x200.jpg"/></a>

Welcome to week 5 of our Pinterest weekly feature, brought to you by Samantha from Have Sippy Will Travel, Staci of 7 on a Shoestring, and Wendi, here at Wendi's Book Corner: Minute To Pin It: A Weekly Pinterest Party.

If you haven't checked out Pinterest, you really should! It is a visual bookmarking site that allows you to 'pin' your favorite things online, share it, and find great 'pins' from people you follow.  I've found some of the GREATEST things on there (crafts, home ideas, recipes, gift ideas, fashions, tips, etc).  So, grab the button, visit/follow your hostesses and add your own Pinterest link below!  (If you need an invitation to Pinterest, please let one of us know!  It is QUICK and EASY to sign up!)





In honor of all the snow and ice storms here in Seattle, here are a few of my favorite Hot Chocolate "Pins":

Source: atasteofkoko.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: myrecipes.com via Wendi on Pinterest

Source: realmomkitchen.com via Wendi on Pinterest