Disney's #Aladdin Diamond Edition available now!

Like any other consumer, my little kid sometimes takes a few exposures before she really likes something. Case in point – Disney’s Aladdin. When we saw a special screening in theatres, even walking the “magic carpet”, she liked it – especially Jafar’s pronunciation of “Prince A-boo-boo.”

Now, like many other people, she can’t get enough of the Genie (voiced by the late Robin Williams). Thank goodness the Aladdin Diamond Edition was recently released on Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy – so we can watch it over and over at home and in the car on the iPad.

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: Cutie Mark Quests #DVDReview #Giveaway

Usually the first thing Hannah asks me when I pick her up from preschool is, "Where are we going?" For the last week it has been, "Mommy, can we go to the condo and watch My Little Pony?"

It makes me want to find MY My Little Pony, er ponies, from the 80s. My favourite was one that had a sundae on its side and smelled like vanilla ice cream.

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Cutie Mark Quests was Hannah's first introduction to the television show (she already has the Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash toy ponies). The episodes on the disc Hannah likes best are about the ponies ultimately coming to gather to work to a common goal (although, for awhile, you're not sure they will be able to get along).

This is definitely more of a show of social/situational learning versus learning colours, numbers and shapes...and I think Hannah loved graduating to a "big girl" show.

New on DVD: Disney Junior's Mickey Mouse Club House: Minnie's Pet Salon

Hannah owns a Minnie Mouse hat, Minnie Mouse jacket, Minnie Mouse sunglasses and Minnie Mouse sandals. From her outerwear, you can probably tell she's a fan of Minnie Mouse.

So she was super excited when we received Mickey Mouse Club House: Minnie's Pet Salon to review.

Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants #Review #Giveaway

There are kids who don't like to get dirty. And then there are kids who "swim" in the sandbox at preschool and bring half of it home with them inside their shoes. My daughter is definitely the latter. She's into dirt, bugs and reptiles - a lot of things that would make an adult (namely me) squirm.

So when we were given the opportunity to review the latest movie title from kaboom! Entertainment, Minuscule: Valley of the Lost Ants, it was right up Hannah's alley.

Disney's TinkerBell and the Legend of the NeverBeast in stores now!

Hannah has liked TinkerBell since she first opened one of her friends in a Kinder Surprise egg. So she was really excited to watch TinkerBell's latest movie - TinkerBell and the Legend of the NeverBeast.

Mystic Drumz "The Legend of Marshmallow Island" DVD and Release Party #Review #Giveaway

One of Hannah's favourite things is to go to shows. I was once told by another mom that watching Hannah dance in the aisle was worth the price of admission for her alone. So I knew she would be a fan of Mystic Drumz.

Mystic Drumz has been performing shows, delivering programs, and facilitating workshops for over 15 years. With over 5,000 events and counting, their one of a kind “World Music Safari Adventures” are a sensation in music education.

Mystic Drumz presents “The Legend of Marshmallow Island” on DVD

This 55-minute world music safari adventure features music from around the globe takes viewers from the giant gongs of China to the talking drums of Africa and even into outer space. The show features high tech screen projections, incredible sound effects and unique instruments from around the world.

We got to review a sneak peak of the DVD and Hannah LOVED it. She stood up and followed the action just like she was at the show herself.

#Paddington is now on Blu-ray Combo and Digital HD! #Review #Giveaway

Having relatives in England, one of my very first stuffed animals was a Paddington Bear. I'm always excited to share things from my childhood with Hannah and this movie is no exception. I even learned a few things about this loveable bear with "a worrying marmalade habit".

#BeSuper like Barbie in Princess Power

One of the first things my best friend from childhood said to me after I told her I was having a girl was that she still had her Barbie dream house and all her Barbies for my daughter to play with. This past weekend during on a Mommy-Daughter date, Hannah was properly introduced to her first Barbie experience.

We were lucking enough to see Barbie's latest movie "Barbie in Princess Power" on the big screen - and she LOVED it. Barbie stars as Princess Kara, a girl who wants to make a difference in her community but her parents have other, safer plans. When she is kissed by a magic butterfly she develops super powers and starts to use them to make a difference in the kingdom under the alias of Super Sparkle.

Guess How Much I Love You - Someone Special now on DVD! #Review #Giveaway

Before Hannah was born, lots of people gave us books for her as gifts. One such book was Guess How Much I Love You, a great book about the love between a parent and a child. 

Did you know that there is a TV series based on the book? And more exciting - some episodes just came out on DVD this week!

Guess How Much I Love You - Someone Special contains 7 episodes, 11 minutes each. You can watch them all at once, or if your kid is anything like mine, you can choose a favourite episode to watch over and over and over again.

PAW Patrol Winter Rescues now on DVD #Review #Giveaway

Let me set the scene for you. It's the weekend and therefore later than we usually wake up on a weekday morning and Hannah has just come out of her room. While enjoying some fruit and milk for breakfast, she points to the TV and has only one request: "PAW Patrol." (It's the number one show on Nick Jr. in the US - so we know she's definitely not alone in being a fan.)

We have digital bunny ears which provide us about 6 Toronto-based TV channels...and Netflix. So before quite recently, we had to tell Hannah gently that PAW Patrol on demand was not an option.

Thank goodness we now own six great episodes on DVD! For the first time ever, Canadians can pop in PAW Patrol - Winter Rescues and watch Ryder and his team whenever they'd like. When I showed her the DVD case her eyes lit right up.

The catchy educational songs of Big Block SingSong come to DVD Oct. 28th! #Giveaway #Review

I was home on mat leave with Hannah the first time we saw Big Block SingSong. It was definitely unlike anything I had seen before. Big colourful block characters sing catchy educational songs in a variety of musical genres. It caught Hannah's young eye because of the screenfuls of colour. I liked it because the songs have a great beat and quirky lyrics.

Now that she's a preschooler, Hannah likes watching Big Block SingSong for the music - and the quick story lines. She likes to guess the animal if there is one in that episode, and she often dances along while playing her tambourine. I still like it because it reminds me of Flight of the Concords for kids.

The fun and engaging animated musical series, which currently airs across the globe on TV (Kids' CBC in Canada), will be available on DVD for the first time ever in the U.S. and Canada on October 28th.

Strawberry Shortcake Follow Your Berry Own Beat!

Strawberry Shortcake was one of my favourite characters growing up. I had Strawberry Shortcake shoes, a Strawberry Shortcake tricycle and of course, Stawberry Shortcake toys. I can't wait to introduce Hannah to Strawberry Shortcake, and since Hannah loves music, a great way to do that would be to take her to Strawberry Shortcake live in concert.

In this live theatrical production by Koba Entertainment, Strawberry Shortcake, and her best friends Orange Blossom, Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Muffin, Raspberry Torte, Plum Pudding and Cherry Jam, prove that little girls can do berry big things!


This musical adventure takes the audience to the whimsical land of Berry Bitty City where the whole town is buzzing with anticipation for the Glitzy Glaze Talent Show! Follow Strawberry Shortcake and the rest of the girls as they each prepare for their moment in the spotlight.

For the first time ever, Koba Entertainment is bringing together the iconic sweetness of Strawberry Shortcake and the wackiest siblings on television, the Doodlebops in one spectacular show! Before the sweet berry girls hit the stage, warm up your singing voice and stretch out your dancing muscles with the Doodlebops! Responding to calls from their legions of clamouring fans, Rooney, Moe and Dee Dee Doodle will take the stage in a live concert performance that gets their whole audience movin’ and groovin’. Join us for this interactive concert experience full of humour, fun and friendship: Strawberry Shortcake: Follow Your Berry Own Beat! with very special guests the Doodlebops!

This never-seen-before musical package brings together an award-winning team led by Koba’s artistic director Patti Caplette. The show features new songs co-written by Lorelei Bachman and her father Randy Bachman (The Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive); plus original and fan favourite songs from the hit television program. The theatrical production is based on the hit CGI-animated preschool television program Strawberry Shortcake’s Berry Bitty Adventures and draws on the success of the Doodlebops’ popular television series.

To find out when the berry girls and Doodblebops come to your town, click here for tour dates.

In celebration of Strawberry Shortcake's new show, Koba Entertainment is giving one YYZ Bambina reader a Strawberry Shortcake Book and DVD. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below.

Open to Canadian Residents who are the age of majority only. Valid entries only. Contest ends Tuesday, January 22, 2013. For further contest rules, refer to the Terms and Conditions within the Rafflecopter.

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