Lolli here…

I love to travel, and this year, I’ve had more opportunities than ever to travel. In fact, in just a couple of weeks, a few days after my kids get out of school for the summer, I’ll be heading on another plane to travel to California for the 3rd time this year. This time, I’ll be representing 5 Minutes for Mom at the #BraveCarsLandEvent with Disney/Pixar.

Here’s a little sneak peek at what 24 other bloggers and I will be experiencing on our 4-day trip (and believe me when I saw that Disney PACKS in the adventure!).

We will be attending the red carpet premiere of Disney/Pixar’s newest movie BRAVE at the Dolby Theater (Yes, I will be walking the red carpet at the same theater where the Academy Awards are held) as well as interviewing Kelly Macdonald (voice of “Merida”), Kevin McKidd (voice of “Lord MacGuffin”) and Director Mark Andrews and Producer Katherine Sarafian. We will also be screening the upcoming movie PEOPLE LIKE US with a Q&A from Director Alex Kurtzman as well as seeing a sneak peek of Tim Burton’s new movie FRANKENWEENIE.

If all the movie and press day excitement weren’t enough, we’ll also be spending time at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure parks, where we’ll be experiencing the new CARS LAND, 12 acres of fun with new three attractions, and so much more.

Stay tuned here, on my blog Better in Bulk, and by following the hashtag #BraveCarsLandEvent as I gear up for the trip and then as I set off on my adventure to California in just a few weeks.

Disclosure: Disney/Pixar is sponsoring my travel, accommodations and activities during the #BraveCarsLandEvent in June. As always, thoughts, opinions, and excitement are my own.

Disney Brings It!

Three years ago, Walt Disney World hosted the first Disney Social Media Moms Celebration — a unique annual media event designed for bloggers and their families — and it quickly became a blogosphere “golden ticket.” How could it not??? When Disney throws an event, you know it is going to be as good as it can get. And #DisneySMMoms is no exception. With Disney’s expert execution, every aspect of the event is perfection.

We are so honored to participate as co-hosts along with Walt Disney World, Resourceful Mommy Media, Mom Bloggers Club and Mom Select.

This year, Susan and I were thrilled to bring both our families and attend along with about 150 other blogging families. The only thing that would have made it better is if each of you could have been with us. But since attendance is limited to around 150 bloggers, Disney can only invite a tiny fraction of you fabulous bloggers.

But whether or not you were able to attend this year, the exciting thing is this social media event demonstrates Disney’s recognition and respect for the power of moms in social media and the role moms play in planning family vacations. We are so happy to witness Disney’s continued support of the blogging community.

Thank you Disney for hosting this incredible event and for believing in the power of mom and dad bloggers!

Link Up YOUR Disney Social Media Moms 2012 Posts

If you and your family are attended the celebration, link up any and all of your Disney Social Media Moms 2012 posts below.

You’ll also find more link ups at Mom Maven, and Zannaland.com.

Disclosure: We were invited to take part in the 2012 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration conference. Various tickets/passes, accommodations and other associated perks were supplied to our families for the duration of our stay, as part of this event. We help co-host the celebration but are not specifically asked to publish content related to the conference or Disney. All opinions are our own.

If you liked this post, we would love it if you gave it a Stumble, Tweet, Pin, or Facebook Like. Thanks so much! We really appreciate your support of 5 Minutes for Mom.

Written by Janice Croze, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom.

We want to get to know you better — Tweet with us: @5minutesformom, find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/5minutesformom, or join our newsletter list.

Hey guys! Jennifer here–

Friday is THE day when Marvel’s The Avengers hits the big screen. I was one of the lucky ones and got to see it early and I am SO glad that I did. We’re big superhero fans in our house anyway, so I was extremely excited and giddy for the movie start.

It was amazing at the energy that was in the movie theater. As the Avengers logo sprawled across the screen, everyone (including myself) let out a whoop and yell for the Avengers team!

From the very beginning of the movie until THE very end, I was on the edge of my seat. There is so much action packed into each and every scene. You can’t help but cheer them on as they fight the evil brother of Thor — Loki.

While watching this movie, I began to realize just how much of a family movie this is. This movie is not just about superheroes and villains — no — this movie has a bigger story than that behind it.

For me, this movie teaches us as families that no matter what our differences are we have to learn to work together as a team. For instance, in the movie you have very different personality types:

• Iron Man — Your classic playboy who reminds you of the annoying family member who KNOWS he is always right and everyone is wrong. It’s gonna be his way or no way.
• Captain America — He reminds me of the relative that always tries to find the good in everything. He wants so badly to keep the peace.
• Thor- Thor reminds me of the relative that takes his family issues very seriously. Whatever wrong has been committed MUST be paid for!
• HULK- Hulk reminds me of the family member that has the anger issues. One little word wrong and, well, he’s gonna be the family member that loses his cool!
• Black Widow and Hawkeye- These two remind me of the brother and sister who will fight to the death to save the other one from going down the wrong path.

They all have their differences, each one unique in their own way, and yet, they have to learn — like all families do — how to be unique and yet still work together and learn to be respectful of the other one.

Marvel’s The Avengers opens in theaters everywhere on Friday, May 4th.

I urge you to take your family to go see it. Here is one of my favorite movie clips!

Written by 5 Minutes for Mom Advertising and Communications Contact, Jennifer. You can find her sharing her thoughts at her own blog Jen’s Journey. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

The 2012 Disney Social Media Moms is officially underway. We are beyond excited to be in this magical place again and look forward to spending some much needed time with blogging friends and of course our families.

About Disney Social Media Moms

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration is a great mix of family vacation, Disney magic and blogging conference all rolled up into 3 wonderful days. We’ve been honored to be part of this amazing event each year. You can see our previous posts from Disney Social Media Moms 2011 and 2010.

Since tickets to this unbelievable conference are the hottest items around, Disney had to limit registration to about 150 bloggers invites. We wish everyone could be here, but it’s just not possible.

We are incredibly thankful to Disney for recognizing the power of moms in social media and the position moms play in planning family vacations. Their continued support of the blogging community with this annual celebration shows their respect for what all of the mom blogging community is doing.

Janice and I will be sharing about our time at the conference and what we learn about how YOU and YOUR family can create magical memories. Be sure to join us virtually on this trip and

• “Like” our Facebook page,
• “Follow” us on Twitter, and
• Follow the hashtag #DisneySMMoms

Link up !

If you and your family are attending the celebration, link up any and all of your Disney Social Media Moms 2012 posts below.

Also link up at Mom Maven, and Zannaland.com.

Disclosure: We were invited to take part in the 2012 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration conference. Various tickets/passes, accommodations and other associated perks were supplied to our families for the duration of our stay, as part of this event. We help co-host the celebration but are not specifically asked to publish content related to the conference or Disney. All opinions are our own.

I love a good story, and I am generally very easy to entertain when it comes to movies. However, this past week, as I had the opportunity to attend the red carpet premiere of Disneynature’s newest movie, Chimpanzee, I was struck by how amazing REAL LIFE can be. And how, so often, reality is a better story than any story-teller could every come up with.

Better than anyone could have hoped for…

“We wrote a classic 60-page script,” said Director Alastair Fothergill, “and actually, we were constantly changing it the whole time. Obviously, the chimpanzees never read the script. But…”

Director Mark Linfield cut in, “We were lucky. If they had, the film wouldn’t have been as good. Literally, this is a better film than our script. ”

They were very lucky. The adoption of an orphaned chimpanzee by an alpha male is very, very rare. In fact, Dr. Jane Goodall mentioned to us,

“At Gumby, we’ve had brothers adopt their little infant sister or brother. We had one 12-year old that’s like a human 15 or 16 adopt an unrelated infant. But over all these 52 years, I’ve heard of one other story of an alpha male adopting an infant, so it’s very rare. Very rare.”

Interviewing the directors who worked on the film along with meeting and speaking with the legendary Dr. Jane Goodall was a humbling experience for me, increasing my appreciation for the incredible story that this really is.

Choosing the CAST

Chimpanzee was not thrown together in typical Hollywood style, but instead was carefully planned and executed over a period of several years. One of the bloggers in our group asked the directors how they chose the particular chimpanzees to feature in the movie, and I was surprised to learn that researchers have been following this “family” of chimps for many, any years. In fact, one of the reasons that they were able to get so many good, natural shots was that the chimpanzees are “habituated.”

“Most chimpanzees in the wild are completely frightened of human beings, explained Director Alastair Fothergill. “So the only chimps that you can work with are what are called habituated chimps. These are chimps where scientists have spent literally five to ten years getting the chimps used to a human presence.

Jane Goodall was one of the very first people to do it. And Christophe Boesch, where we worked in the Tai Forest in Africa, was one of the second. They’ve known these chimps for years. And just as we can recognize each other, you can recognize them (the chimps). We always knew we wanted to start it with a baby chimp. Because 50 percent of the chimpanzees die in their first five years of their lives. And we chose Oscar partly because of Isha actually, because we knew that Isha was a really good mum.”

You can check out more of the interview with the Chimpanzee directors and our interview with Dr. Jane Goodall on my blog.

New “making of Chimpanzee” clip:

Don’t forget – CHIMPANZEE opens in theaters today, and a portion of all ticket sales during the opening week (April 20-26) will be donated to the Jane Goodall Institute. Take my advice – GO SEE CHIMPANZEE. Not only will you be entertained and inspired, but you’ll be helping to save chimpanzees, too.

Disclosure: I attended the red carpet premiere and other Disneynature-inspired activities during an expense-paid trip to Orlando for my blog, Better in Bulk. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Written by 5 Minutes for Mom writer, Lolli. You can find Lolli blogging at Better in Bulk and tweeting at @1momof5.

Lolli here….if you happen to read my blog or follow my twitter or Facebook accounts, you’ll know that I just got home from a 6-day trip to Florida where, among other exciting activities, I was able to attend the red carpet premiere of Disneynature’s newest movie, CHIMPANZEE.

As a simple girl who has spent the majority of her adult life changing diapers and cooking dinner (both very noble things, mind you), I am always thrilled to have the chance to participate in events like this. Who would have guessed 10 years ago that I’d be walking down the red carpet with Dr. Jane Goodall and stars from my kids’ favorite Disney Channel shows?

Before I even made it to the red carpet, I spotted two of my kids’ favorite Disney Channel actresses, “Rocky and Cece” from Shake It Up.

Check out my red carpet post for more pictures (I got to play paparazzi!)

Chimpanzee Review

Simply stated, I loved the movie, and I am counting down the days until it opens so that I can take my kids to see it in the theaters, too. I have enjoyed everything that Disneynature has produced so far – their productions are always top-notch. I instantly fell in love with the film’s main character, Oscar, a newborn chimp in the forests of West Africa. Chimpanzee follows Oscar and his family over approximately 700 days – and it is all at once endearing, thrilling, amusing and educational. I learned quite a bit about chimps, but I didn’t feel like I was learning. I felt like I was being entertained.

Oscar is adorable and reminded me so much of a human baby and toddler. He is playful and curious and smart. The relationships and interactions between Oscar and the other chimpanzees in his group surprised me – and reminded me that we (chimps and humans) really are very similar.

The cinematography was breathtakingly beautiful and the narrative (by Tim Allen) was perfectly executed. Seeing this visually fantastic on the big screen was a huge benefit (although I know I will still enjoy it as a movie at home…).

Who should see Chimpanzee?

Chimpanzee is rated G for general audiences, but I would recommend it for children (and adults!) who can sit through a movie. If your young children have a hard time sitting still through an animated movie, Chimpanzee might be difficult for them to sit through. However, I think many young children will simply enjoy watching Oscar, the cute little toddler, and his antics.

See Chimpanzee, Save Chimpanzees

Chimpanzee opens on Friday, April 20, 2012. See Chimpanzee during opening week (April 20-26) and a donation will be made in your honor to the Jane Goodall Institute to help protect chimpanzees.

Connect with Chimpanzee and Disneynature:

http://disney.com/Chimpanzee
http://twitter.com/Disneynature
http://facebook.com/DisneynatureChimpanzee

Written by 5 Minutes for Mom writer, Lolli. You can find Lolli blogging at Better in Bulk and tweeting at @1momof5.

Disney and Global Resort Homes invited me to Florida to attend the red carpet premiere of Chimpanzee and other events this past week. My travel and most expenses were paid for, but as always opinions are my own. I’m just adding this movie review on 5 Minutes for Mom to get the word out to more people!

Find out more about why the Disney Cruise Line is my first choice for a cruise.

Mom Bloggers (and Dad Bloggers too!) post a photo on your site, link up and find others… Wordless Wednesday is tons of fun. (And I know it says “wordless” but I just can’t bear to not write anything! If I had created it, I probably would have named it something different! LOL So feel to link up your word-full or word-less Wednesday photos!)

Leave the URL to your photo (clearly mine are never truly “wordless”) and then visit others!

Here is a fun thumbnail linky:

And here is a basic linky if you prefer your linkies the good old fashioned way!

Thanks to Uisce for creating Wordless Wednesday.

Written by Janice, co-founder of this Mom Blog 5 Minutes for Mom

If you like this post, we would love it if you gave it a Stumble, Tweet, Pin, or Facebook Like. Thanks so much! We really appreciate your support of 5 Minutes for Mom.

I am sitting on my stateroom balcony aboard the Disney Fantasy, listening to the Caribbean waves and studying the jewel colored sea, trying to decide if I have ever seen a more beautiful shade of blue.

Caribbean Blue -- aboard the Disney Fantasy

I keep drinking in the air, bringing each breath deep inside me, soaking in the peace. I could not be more content than I have been the last three days on this ship. I am without kids, on a Disney Cruise.

If you have ever had a conversation with me about traveling with kids, you will have experienced my passion for Disney Cruise Line. Yes, experienced. I get more than enthusiastic when I talk about cruising on Disney’s ships.

I cannot imagine a better way to vacation with your family than a Disney Cruise Line ship. Every person, from toddlers to teens, to parents, to grandparents, has a trip tailored to meet their individual desires. A Disney Cruise vacation allows every family member to truly have a vacation! (And if you have vacationed with children, you know that more often you come home needing a vacation than feeling refreshed and ready to get back to work.)

I have brought my children along with me for two working trips aboard Disney Ships – on the Disney Wonder and on the Disney Dream — and those cruises were the best family experiences we have ever had. None of us ever wanted the cruise to end and each one of us would name a Disney Cruise as our top vacation choice.

But this time, I am sailing without my family.

About to set sail on the Disney Fantasy Inaugural Cruise

I wanted to see if a trip on Disney Cruise Line as an adult without kids would be just as fabulous. So I brought one of my best friends, Christine Young from From Dates to Diapers, along with me for the media Inaugural Cruise on the Disney Fantasy.

And oh my word people – I am in bliss. Pure, Disney-quality bliss.

Castaway Cay

I have been traveling the world since I was a child. I love traveling. In truth, I have a bit of an addiction. But as much as I love exploring new places, for me nothing can quite compete with relaxing on a perfect beach.

But not all beaches are the same – not even all Caribbean beaches. And I have to say, I don’t think I can imagine a more pristine, little piece of perfect, place in the world than Disney’s private Caribbean island, Castaway Cay.

Disney's Castaway Cay - Serenity Bay

Sure, this isn’t exactly a wild deserted beach you discovered while sailing through the Caribbean on your own personal sailboat. But, I have to say. I kind of like the Disney perks on Castaway Cay – such as the island staff constantly grooming both beach and ocean, ensuring that Disney guests have a surreal beach experience while they lounge in the sun or run through the warm waves.

The adult only beach, Serenity Bay, is not only free of cigarette buds or broken glass, it is also free of children! So if you are without kids, or your kids are having a blast without you at Scuttle’s Cove, you can indulge in calm and quiet – a private beach experience you will never get from a public beach.

Yesterday, as I sat with a drink in my hand under an over-sized umbrella, the only problem that existed in my world was that the day wasn’t going to last forever. I can not imagine a place I want to be more than Castaway Cay.

Adult Focused

Disney never fails to amaze me at how well they run their enormous company. I always say I have never seen a better-oiled machine than Disney. From the parks, to the products, to the sea, Disney pays attention to their market and works constantly to better meet the wishes of their audience.

After talking with Disney executives about the research that goes into understanding their market, and the care that goes into ensuring that a Disney Cruise is a vacation designed for every member of the family, it is not surprising that Disney makes the cruise experience as incredible for their over eighteen guests as it does for their under eighteen guests.

Europa -- Nightclub District aboard the Disney Fantasy

The Tube -- aboard the Disney Fantasy

Disney knows what you want. (In fact, they spend an incredible amount of resources and talent into finding out exactly what you want.)

And the result is perfection. From the adult-only pool and beach, to Europa, the nightclub district, to the spas, to the adult-only fine dining restaurants, adults get their needs met almost as perfectly as a newborn reaching for her mother. Yes, we get pampered. And it feels oh so good.

Disney Does it Best

But why would an adult choose a Disney Cruise?

When choosing a cruise line, why would you want to choose a Disney Cruise just as much as kids would want to?

Well, Disney knows what they are doing and they do it impeccably.

Disney has a level of quality that is legendary. When you step onto a Disney ship, you really do become a little bit royal.

Luxury on the Disney Fantasy

Their attention to detail, their flawless service, their gracious cast members, their commitment to being the best – it all comes through to bring guests a truly out of this world experience.

Walt Disney Details on the Disney Fantasy

It IS surreal – it is Disney. They create a world as close to perfect as possible and, perhaps adults can appreciate that break from reality even more than their children can.

For those of you bringing your children, the Disney Cruise Line truly allows you to have an incredible adult vacation at the same time as you have a perfect family vacation.

And for those of you without kids, whose kids have grown up, or who choose to leave your kids at home to have a trip on your own, Disney Cruise Line provides a peaceful, adult-focused vacation that truly makes your dreams come true too.

If you liked this post, we would love it if you gave it a Stumble, Tweet, Pin, or Facebook Like. Thanks so much! We really appreciate your support of 5 Minutes for Mom.

Written and photographed by Janice Croze, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom.

We want to get to know you better — Tweet with us: @5minutesformom, find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/5minutesformom, or join our newsletter list.

I am completely stunned at the opportunity that has landed in my lap! I will be flying to New York in April to attend the Red Carpet Tribeca Film Festival Closing Night Screening of Marvel’s The Avengers. This is my very first ever press event and I am somewhat excited to the point I cannot contain myself! Somebody pinch me — seriously!

If any of you know anything about me from my posts here and on my own blog is that I am a southern girl who lives in a small town. This will be an adventure of its own when this little ole’ country gal sets foot in the Big Apple!

Just the thought of even meeting Iron Man — be still my heart!

I am super excited to join 24 other bloggers as we celebrate the men and women who work so hard to protect our cities and our families. These local heroes are police agencies, fire departments, first responders and various branches of the U.S. military. Some of them might even be YOUR family members!

I plan on sharing with you all via twitter using the hashtag #theavengersevent (I will be tweeting from @jennifer_sikora) and through the website here. It’s gonna be a blast! Watch for more details and information later down the road as the event gets closer. It will take place April 27th through the 29th.

And definitely make plans to go see Marvel’s The Avengers in theater on May 4th!

This trip is an all expense paid trip courtesy of Disney. All opinions expressed are my own.

Now you have another reason to set sail… Disney’s newest cruise ship. Christine Young and I are on board with media for the first sailing of the Disney Fantasy.

We’ve long been fans of Disney Cruise Line and again they outdo themselves.

Mom Bloggers (and Dad Bloggers too!) post a photo on your site, link up and find others… Wordless Wednesday is tons of fun. (And I know it says “wordless” but I just can’t bear to not write anything! If I had created it, I probably would have named it something different! LOL So feel to link up your word-full or word-less Wednesday photos!)

Leave the URL to your photo (clearly mine are never truly “wordless”) and then visit others!

Here is a fun thumbnail linky:

And here is a basic linky if you prefer your linkies the good old fashioned way!

Thanks to Uisce for creating Wordless Wednesday.

Written by Janice, co-founder of this Mom Blog 5 Minutes for Mom

If you like this post, we would love it if you gave it a Stumble, Tweet, Pin, or Facebook Like. Thanks so much! We really appreciate your support of 5 Minutes for Mom.