Ready for another fun, family friendly movie night, perhaps to celebrate the start of another school year? 

I have a GREAT option for you!

"Camp Hideout" is a coming of age film that follows Noah, a troubled teen, to Church Summer Camp. He's there to find himself, find out the meaning of true friendship, and of course, he's hiding a top secret device from some unsavory characters that would do anything to steal it.
(The shenanigans there are epic, by the way!)

Does your family love coming together for Family Movie Nights? 

I know mine sure does! It's a rare treat that everyone is home at the same time, and not busy with the demands of life. We have SO much going on, so coming together for some wholesome, family-friendly entertainment is always a win! 

My kids are older now, at 23, 13, and 12. Interests vary, as do hobbies. But one thing that always seems to bring everyone to the couch is a great movie. For many families, finding a movie for all members of the family to enjoy can be tough enough in itself.

Finding a way to stream said films without being worried about online risks, such as Pirated content, Malware, and Ransomware can definitely be tricky with SO many streaming services and sites to choose from. Free streaming sites are definitely NOT all created equal, so choose wisely! 

So how does a family ensure their movie streaming is completely SAFE from the perils of streaming online? 
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That's where StreamSafely.com comes to save the day, and make choosing a great family film a piece of cake! Or a popper full of freshly popped popcorn, in this case! 

At StreamSafely.com Summer Camp, families can get a list of 46 kid- and family- approved hit movies, freshly curated by the experts at Common Sense Media for Summer 2023.  Research shows that households with kids are more likely to click on pirated content, and most of the time they don’t even realize it! So StreamSafely.com features where to stream them all, and not expose the kids to the risks that come with pirated content, like malware and ransomware. Plus, it helps families end streaming decision fatigue for those family movie nights.

StreamSafely.com is offering lucky families the chance to win the Ultimate Snack Pack, including TONS of favorites including Pirate's Booty, Haribo, Chex Mix, Welch's Fruit Snacks, and so much more! 

They're also throwing in a funky and fun microwave popcorn popper that will help you make some fresh popcorn for your Family Movie Night in style! 

To enter, CLICK HERE and fill out the entry form! 

Be sure to check out all the awesomeness that StreamSafely.com has to offer while you're there! 

This sweepstakes ends on 9/5, so be sure to get your entry in and share with your friends so they can enter, too! 

Happy Streaming, everyone! Good Luck! 

Just in time to close out an epic summer, "The Hill" is coming to theaters near you! This film, starring the likes of Dennis Quaid and Colin Ford, tells the inspirational, real life story of baseball extraordinaire, Rickey Hill.

Rickey Hill is a Texas native and baseball phemon, who faced many challenges on the road to greatness. He had to use leg braces as a child due to degenerative spinal disease, had to learn to walk again, and beat all the odds, showing the world, and his concerned, Preacher father (Dennis Quaid) that sometimes determination and the power of a dream can produce miracles. ​

As a parent and life-long artist, I have always marveled at the boundless creativity and imagination that children possess. From doodling whimsical creatures to crafting colorful masterpieces, their artistic talents fill the world with wonder. 

My own experiences as an artist, however, led me to a disheartening realization – children with special artistic talents are often taken for granted. A child’s artistic abilities are often only acknowledged and valued when they are producing art for someone else's needs. Artistic exploitation extends to adulthood, when young artists choose to make a living with their skills. I wanted young artists to be aware of this, so I wrote my first children’s book, Courage Takes Practice. As young readers delve into the story, they will learn invaluable life lessons about embracing their uniqueness, finding their voice against those who choose to exploit their talents, and finding the strength to do so through art.

This issue raises questions about how we perceive and appreciate children with artistic gifts, leading to an essential conversation about fostering genuine support and recognition for their unique talents.

As a child, I understood the traditional type of bullying: name calling, physical harm, gossip, etc. But what I didn’t realize until much later in life is that excluding someone from a group intentionally - or including them when their talents are needed, then ignoring them after…over and over again - is just as validly a form of bullying that can have the same disastrous effects.

Have these thoughts ever crossed your mind? “I’m only worthy if I’m contributing something? I’m only worthy if someone needs me?”

And while it’s nice to be needed…kids also NEED to grow up knowing they are worth love, attention and friendship even when they aren’t being productive or useful to someone else.

The heart of the matter became very clear to me–The people we most want to impress- teachers- friends- family members were unintentionally reinforcing a misguided notion that talented children are only appreciated when they are making or performing for someone else. 

By taking these gifted children for granted and solely appreciating their art when we benefit from it, we diminish their sense of intrinsic worth and undermine the true value of their creative expression.

Here are some ways for others to appreciate kids' art without imposing demands or expectations, allowing the young artists to explore their creativity freely and authentically.

Valuing Art for Art's Sake:
It is crucial to shift our perspective and value children's artistic talents for the joy, fulfillment, and self-expression they bring, regardless of whether they serve an immediate purpose for others. Children with artistic gifts should be encouraged to experiment their creativity without the pressure of producing perfect masterpieces, or producing for approval or recognition. Art can be messy and it is up to the artist alone to determine whether it is fit for other’s consumption.

Recognizing Intrinsic Value: 
Every artistic creation by a child is a reflection of their unique perspective and inner world. How often do we as parents get to have a look inside our children’s minds? Letting children express themselves freely is the best way to truly see and know our children, and in turn boosts a child’s self-esteem, self-awareness, and confidence.

Nurturing Artistic Passion: 
Instead of taking their talents for granted, parents, teachers, and caregivers should foster a nurturing environment that supports and encourages the growth of their artistic passion. Passions don’t always have to turn into careers. Passions don’t always need to be monetized, but if a child grows up and wants to remain/become an artist, caregivers can do a much better job of encouraging and finding resources instead of steering creative children away from art-making.

Let the Child Decide: 
When it comes to performing or showing off their work, let the child decide when and where to do so, instead of asking children to show off on the spot for people they don’t know or in situations where they aren’t prepared beforehand.


By valuing their art for art's sake, we can help these young artists thrive and flourish, contributing to a world that cherishes their unique gifts and allows them to shine brightly. As parents, educators, and society, we must recognize the profound impact of genuine appreciation, empowering these young talents to fearlessly embrace their artistic prowess, and continue to create with passion and purpose. In doing so, we lay the foundation for an evolving artistic landscape where the potential of these gifted children knows no bounds.


About the author
From art school in NC to teaching Arts and Entertainment Management in PA to living abroad in Quito, Ecuador, Amy Scheidegger Ducos has lived a creative life from the very beginning. An artist by age 2, Amy has spent all of her life dedicated to using her design and freelance expertise for the good of others. In addition, Amy runs a graphic design and illustration business, Rock & Roar Creative. Courage Takes Practice: A Color Theory Storybook for Young Artists is her first children’s book. For more information, visit https://www.couragetakespractice.com.

When I was a kid, I was a bookworm. 
Shoot, to be honest, I am still a bookworm. 
Books have been my comfort. My safe place. My constant companion. My place to seek answers....Well, for basically my whole entire life. 
One book that I recall leaving quite an impression on me as a young girl was Judy Blume's coming of age classic, 'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.' This book tackled so many timeless issues that come with growing pains, growing up, and learning to understand the world around us as a blossoming young woman. 

And now? This classic is a blockbuster movie, just in time for a new generation to enjoy this fresh take on a classic novel. 
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The beloved and best-selling classic that has impacted generations, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. arrives on Digital June 6, On Demand June 27,and on Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital Combo and DVD July 11 from Lionsgate.

Abby Ryder Fortson (Ant-Man and the Wasp, Forever My Girl) is joined by a remarkable all-star cast, including Rachel McAdams (The Notebook,Mean Girls), Benny Safdie (Licorice Pizza, Good Time), and Kathy Bates (TV’s “American Horror Story,”Misery). Written for the screen and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig (The Edge of Seventeen), Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. will be available for the suggested retail prices of $39.99 for Blu-ray + DVD+ Digital Combo, and $29.96 forDVD.
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In this long-awaited movie adaption of Judy Blume’s classic, groundbreaking novel, eleven-year-old Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) is uprooted from her life in New York City to the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school. She relies on her mother, Barbara (Rachel McAdams),who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her adoring grandmother, Sylvia (Kathy Bates). A timeless coming-of-age story, Are You There God? It’s Me,Margaret sparkles with insightful humor while candidly exploring life’s biggest questions.

​Written for the Screen and Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. Based on the Book by Judy Blume. Produced by James L.Brooks, p.g.a., Julie Ansell, p.g.a., Richard Sakai, Kelly Fremon Craig, p.g.a., Judy Blume, Amy Lorraine Brooks, Aldric La’auli Porter. Executive Producer Jonathan McCoy.

Have you seen the blockbuster hit, THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE yet? 
My family has. My kids absolutely loved it, and my retro-gaming, Nintendo obsessed 13 year old daughter saw it in theaters TWICE. 

I even catch them singing the "Peaches Song" randomly throughout the day. I can't say I blame them. Jack Black is amazeballs, and the song is definitely an ear-worm, so to speak! 
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Generating over a billion dollars around the world, the biggest film of the year arrives home with all-new bonus features in THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE‘POWER UP EDITION,’ available to own on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™ and DVD on June 13th in the US and Canada, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Boasting an A CinemaScore® and 96% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes, the Nintendo and Illumination-produced pop-culture spectacular of the year comes home in a next-level experience, unlocking over 30-minutes of bonus content that is sure to delight all Super Mario Bros. fans–from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Showcasing an all-star lineup to voice the iconic pop culture characters, THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE stars Chris Pratt (Jurassic World franchise), Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Lego Movie), Anya Taylor-Joy (Last Night in Soho, The Queen’s Gambit), Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele), Seth Rogen  (Neighbors, An American Pickle), Jack Black (Kung Fu Panda franchise) and Fred Armisen (“Wednesday,”Portlandia).

The movie tells the story of two Brooklyn plumbers who are brothers and best friends: Mario, the brave one with the“let’s-a go” attitude, and the perpetually anxious Luigi, who would prefer to go nowhere. We open with the Super Mario Brothers reckoning with their struggling plumbing business, and wind up in a whirlwind adventure through Mushroom Kingdom. Through their journey, we meet a cast of familiar, lovable characters, ultimately uniting to defeat the power-hungry villain, Bowser.

May is Women's Health Month, and it's a great time to talk about how to stay healthy. ​The goal is to empower women to make their health a priority and help women understand what steps they can take to improve their health.
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Times are hard and uncertain for many, and we've had a LOT to collectively deal with as a society the past few years.  Because of this, we currently have an epidemic of anxiety, depression and stress.

May is a month dedicated to teaching people how to recognize stress and how better to cope. (I think we can all use some help there, especially in current times.) 

One way I help take control over my own wellness is by taking supplements from Superior Source. These are tiny tablets that instantly dissolve under the tongue. They're convenient, effective, absorb into the body quickly, and there are NO PILLS TO SWALLOW! 

This is a GREAT feature, because a lot of folks have a hard time swallowing bulky pills. Check out this quick video to learn more about Superior Source's unique, microlingual technology: 

Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania arrives on Digital April 18 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD May 16. Fans can add the film to their collection and access exclusive bonus content including deleted scenes, a gag reel and audio commentary by director Peyton Reed and writer Jeff Loveness. 

Recently, we saw the brand new MARVEL masterpiece, ANT-MAN and the WASP: QUANTUMANIA. And boy, are things different in the MCU! 

​You see, this story is an important one, and shakes up the MARVEL Universe like you wouldn't believe by introducing the Quantum Realm. 

This place is new. It is vast. It is terrifying. 

This movie is a new beginning, and the start of a new battle against Kang, one of the most daunting villains yet. 
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Check out the official trailer here: ​