Veggie Tales Archives

VeggieTales “Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas”

November 29, 2013 by Momstart 3 Comments

VeggieTales “Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas”

By Lynn:

Oh what a lovely DVD! My little one and I sat down to spend some snuggle time together and we decided to watch this show. I was hoping to start the idea of Christmas in her mind.

I am familiar VeggieTales having watched their silly songs and seeing a few of their Christian themed stories for sale. I think many people know of “Silly Songs with Larry” or others such as “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything” and “Where Is My Hairbrush?”. If you’ve seen any of these before you’ll be glad to know this story manages to stay true to it’s silliness but still conveys the message of hope and love for Christmas time. Larry’s silly song here is “Wrapped Myself Up for Christmas.” Funny on it’s own!

If you’ve not seen any VeggieTales before, you’re missing out! The creators of these shows are really good. They appeal to children’s humor and adults can still find the fun in it, without any rudeness or creepiness. Something a lot of mainstream shows seem to think HAS to be included nowadays. VeggieTales is about vegetables singing different things in their lives, a tomato looking for his hairbrush, a squash that loves a cheeseburger and Larry the cucumber who sings almost all the other songs.

In this Christmas story however, they bring the message of why Christmas started and what we can do – Give hope and love to others – and help those in need. It’s done in a very gentle way without sounding preachy. My 3 year old didn’t really understand the “giving” part of it, she just really enjoyed the story, Larry is a silly mall elf in this story, but I got to point out the part where we see baby Jesus in the manger and gave us a chance to talk about Jesus birth at Christmas.

This story also has a few famous voices to boot. Si Robertson from “Duck Dynasty” fame is the narrator, and they humorlessly made a veggie look like him –beard and all! And there is also TobyMac from Owl City, whose Christmas song “Light of Christmas” is featured.

If you’re looking to expand your Christmas library with a nice story you can put on that will entertain toddlers until adults (it has a few puns for adults to listen out for – always my favourite in a show like this) this is it. It’s nice and short too -50mins – so the children won’t get bored too quickly. There are a few bonus features including Si talking about how it felt to be recorded. Oh and listen out for his quick Christmas carol!

Lastly I’d like to add that VeggieTales is working with Operation Christmas Child – a global children’s project of Samaritan’s Purse. You kind find out more info here: www.veggietales.com/friends/occ/

And at www.veggietales.com you can see a trailer, play games and learn about VeggieTales apps, etc so check it out!

About Lynn:

I met Lynn in MOMS Club and she has two children. One of which is the same age as my daughter and they love to giggle and play together. Lynn Hooper is also a local Mary Kay Consultant while also being a full time mom. “A lot of what the business stands for is true to my heart. Mary Kay Inc. has a foundation that donates funds to help end domestic violence and also funds research into cancers that affect women. Mary Kay also has what’s called "The Golden Rule" which means God (faith) first, family second and business third. A great principal for me and nice to know I am part of a team that believes in this too.”

VeggieTales Princess and the Pop Star Review and Giveaway

August 27, 2011 by Momstart 81 Comments

Last week VeggieTales released their newest sensation on DVD. VeggieTales^®: Princess and the Pop Star, from Big Idea Entertainment helps young girls understand that we are all created unique and special. Which is something that I’m already trying to make sure that Zoe understands. It surprises me that at such a young age girls already find they are pretty or not or important or not. I want my children to know that GOD loves them just the way they are and so do me and their dad.

VeggieTales: Princess and the Pop Star features plenty of high-energy, family-friendly music, including the new song, “You Never Are,” written and performed by this year’s Dove Award-winning Artist of the Year, Francesca Battistelli. The music was great and the movie was quite cute. Zoe has already watched it three times over the past two weeks.

Movie Synopsis:

Princess Poppyseed’s life on her family’s farm is far from the glamorous but lonely world of her favorite pop singer Vanna Banana. On a chance meeting at a playground, Vanna and Princess cross paths and realize that they look almost exactly alike—which leads to the crazy secret plan where they decide to switch lives! As each girl realizes that the life they longed for doesn’t fulfill all of their dreams, they learn that the life God gave them is the one for which they were uniquely and lovingly designed.

Bonus Features:

Audio Commentary
“Astonishing Wigs” Silly Songs Sing-Along
“Right Where You Belong” Sing-Along
Behind the music with Francesca Battistelli and Friends
Princess Poppyseed’s Points For Being Uniquely You

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, mandy.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules. We received free samples.

Make Your House a Veggie Party with Country Crock Giveaway [200.00 Amex GC 3 winners]

May 11, 2011 by Momstart 1,420 Comments

I love vegetables more than I love fruit. I would rather have a veggie any day. I love all kinds of veggies too and enjoy finding creative ways to present them to the kids. We’ve tried cooking them together:

The kids and I made Roasted Asparagus, and they had a lot of fun helping me, and were even willing to try them. I’ve also tried giving them a rainbow of veggies meal.

You know my daughter’s favorite color is purple and she loves purple cabbage because it’s purple, and she even tried eggplant because of the color, so using the color of veggies is a great way to get kids to try their veggies.

If all else fails, we have a bag of carrots available at every meal. The bag of carrots also serves for a filler. My children (I’m the luckiest mom in the world) love to eat, and if they are still hungry at the end of the meal then they get to have a bag of carrots. Usually that’s how I can tell if they are still hungry or not, because if they go for that extra bag of carrots then they are still hungry. They usually say, uh, no I’m full then.

That being said, carrots and all veggies are better cooked and country crock aims to help with 70% less saturated fat than butter. Country Crock ensures your veggies are not only nutritious but also delicious. Country Crock is my preferred butter choice, I have a HUGE tub of it in my fridge. We use it on grilled cheese, pancakes, and pretty much just about anything, especially when cooking veggies.

Country Crock sent us a “Veggie Party Kit” and it included:

Country Crock Samples
Re-usable eco-friendly grocery tote
”Today I Ate a Rainbow” Kids calendar
Vegetable chopper
Kids’ Aprons
Gardening How-to Kit
Vegetable cookbook

The Veggie Party Kit was a great tool in teaching the kids even more about veggies. I work really hard at teaching Zoe and Miles to make healthy choices and its’ working. Zoe is learning all about making smart choices and will choose a fruit/veggie & cheese plate over Danish.

Our favorite activity in the Veggie Party Kit was the gardening How-to Kit.

The best way to get kids to eat their veggies is to get them involved.

Enter to Win:

200.00 American Express Gift Card (1 winner)

Veggie Party Kit (2 winners (100.00 value)

3 winners total

To Enter:

Visit Country Crock on Facebook and check out what recipes you like and come back here and share which recipe you like the most.

Extra Entries:

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

Country Crock Love Your Veggies 200.00 AMEX GC #Giveaway @Momstart http://bit.ly/iw0R3b

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This giveaway ends May 30th. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation

Movie Night Easter Edition: VeggiesTales & Here Comes Peter Cottontail Giveaway

March 3, 2011 by Momstart 201 Comments

This morning I find myself listening to VeggieTales and loving it. The new VeggieTales CD Hosannna will be released on March 8th and it’s wonderful; the perfect way to teach your children popular praise and worship songs. As I’m putting this post together I’m listening to Everlasting God. Everlasting God is one of my favorite songs that we sing in church on Sundays. I’m moved every time I sing it as it lifts my spirit and makes my heart happy. Yes really! The kids like it too, so adults and kids can enjoy the same music!

Thanks to The Morris + King Company for Classic Media and Big Idea Entertainment I received Veggie Tales Hosanna, VeggieTales Twas the Night Before Easter and Here Comes Peter Cottontail.

The Hosanna! CD includes ten all new easy-to-sing worship favorites made popular by some of today’s top worship artists – sung by beloved VeggieTales characters and kids just for kids! Amy Grant sings the title track, “Hosanna,” and lead vocalist Mark Hall of Casting Crowns, named Billboard’s No. 1 Top-selling Christian Band of 2010, lends his voice on the group’s No. 1 radio hit, “Who Am I.” Also included are Veggie arrangements of Israel Houghton’s upbeat “Just Wanna Say,” Chris Tomlin’s “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone,”) Hillsong LIVE’s “Mighty To Save” and Brenton Brown’s “Everlasting God,” to name a few.

Available March 8^th for SRP $9.99

VeggieTales: Hosanna! Today’s Top Worship Songs for Kids! Track Listing

Mighty To Save
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)
Hosanna
Everlasting God
Your Grace is Enough
Just Wanna Say
Your Name
Who Am I
Perfect Love
Lord You Are Good

It’s Easter time in Crisper County and cable news reporter Marlee Meade (Petunia Rhubarb) is hunting for a way to help others. On a tip that the old town theater will be shut down, Marlee cooks up a plan to save the stage and make a difference through the power of musical theater. With a cast of costume-clad townies, massive props and a 20-foot robot rabbit – “Up With Bunnies” is hatched! There’s only one thing missing – the star of the show! When news spreads that singing sensation Cassie Cassava (Melinda Doolittle) is arriving to perform in her hometown church’s Easter service, Marlee gets worried. Concerned about the competition, she schemes to steal the starlet for her own pageant! But when things go haywire, will it be curtains for Marlee’s dreams – or will she discover the true meaning of Easter and what helping others is really all about?

We learn something every time we watch VeggieTales. Easter isn’t about bunny rabbits and chocolate it’s about Jesus!

Available March 8^th for $14.93 SRP

Peter Cottontail wants to be the #1 Chief Easter Bunny and everyone in April Valley agrees…except for his archrival, evil Irontail. Hop along with Peter and his friends as they race through time celebrating all of your favorite holidays to deliver the most eggs…and save Easter for children everywhere!

Currently available for $9.98 SRP

Enter to Win:

One of Each, Veggie Tales Twas the Night Before Easter DVD, Here Comes Peter Cottontail DVD, and Veggie Tales Hosanna CD.

To Enter:

Leave a comment about how you celebrate Easter.

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Movie Night Easter Edition #Giveaway http://bit.ly/fqFxb8

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This giveaway ends March 21st. I received samples to facilitate this review. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Veggie Tales SweetPea Beauty

August 12, 2010 by Momstart 4 Comments

We have been watching Veggie Tales for a few years now and my kids are loving all the new movies coming out. The newest of these movies being SweetPea Beauty. I put it on for them yesterday and I’m ashamed to say that I was so tired I fell asleep. I asked Zoe if she wanted to watch it again and she said yes. The one about the princess that gets captured. I’m thinking, I’m glad someone watched it, can you write my review for me?

She was quite excited to watch it again because Veggie Tales Sweetpea Beauty is another success by Big Idea! I love Veggie Tales because there is always a good message for the kids within the movie and it is reinforced. There are actually two stories on this DVD. Both are about the beauty within yourself. The first one is the story of Snoodlerella the ugliest Snoodle around according to the village. Well, her godmother fixes her up and makes her beautiful and she is the most popular girl at the ball. Then when the spell breaks she is left all alone. While she is sulking in the corner, the king comes out and tells her that he loves her the way she is. She was made beautiful on the inside and that is what counts.

Then the feature of the DVD, Sweetpea Beauty. Queen Blueberry thinks that beauty is only skin deep and she asks the mirror who is the most beautiful. One day, the mirror tells her that Sweetpea is the most beautiful and the queen becomes very jealous. She decides to banish Sweetpea. While the Queen’s attitude continues to degrade the evil mirror makes the queen even more ugly. Sweetpea is saved by the prince and in the process the prince discovers where true beauty lies.

DVD Running Time: 45 Minutes
Additional Info: Widescreen and Fullscreen, Spanish and English Subtitles, Running Time 50 min, 5.1 Surround, NTSC Region 1

A Special thanks to Family Review Network and Veggie Tales for providing a copy for this review.

This post was written for Family Review Network & ToiletTree who provided the complimentary product in exchange for my honest review

Veggie Tales Pistachio Review

March 26, 2010 by Momstart 3 Comments

PISTACHIO: THE LITTLE BOY THAT WOODN'T VEGGIETALES DVD I missed Pistachio day but Veggie Tales hit it right on the nose with their new release of Pistachio; which by the way actually has nothing to do with Pistachio. Pistachio is based loosely ( you know how Veggie Tales does it right?) on Pinocchio the Disney classic. Little Pistachio is played by Junior Asparagus and Larry plays his father Gelato. All this talk about food is making me hungry!

Pistachio: The Little Boy That Woodn’t

Gelato loves all of his children that he makes out of wood but Pistachio is unsure and doesn’t believe that his father knows what’s best for him. He goes off on an adventure to prove that he does know best for himself and for Gelato but what he finds is more trouble than he can handle on his own. With his father’s help and some surprise uncles that were thought to be lost forever, Gelato learns to trust his father’s judgment. Once they learn to trust each other and work together they get out of trouble and find their way home back to the whole wooden family.

Movie Description:

Once upon a time in the small town of Bologna-Salami, there lived a lonely toymaker named Gelato and his assistant Cricket. Gelato had no children of his own, so one day he decided to carve a little boy out of wood. Imagine Gelato’s surprise when he learned this little boy could walk … and talk…and definitely had a mind of his own! When Pistachio tries to do things his way, he lands in a “whale” of a situation! Will he decide to listen to the wisdom of a loving father in time to save his whole family from becoming fish food? Find out in this all-new adventure with a lesson about the importance of family and learning to listen.

Want more Pistachio entertainment, you can check out the Pistachio Family Time Fun Guide or print out the Veggie Tales Pistachio Just Chiseled Coloring Page and Veggie Tales Pistachio Father Son Coloring Page. Just click the link it’s free.

Big Idea sent Veggie Tales to us to review. We love Veggies Tales at our house because of the good message they present. The older classics were all bible based and we love those even more.

Veggie Tales Saint Nicholas A Story of Joyful Giving

November 7, 2009 by Momstart 6 Comments

MY Ideas:

Veggie Tales: Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving.

Knowing your vegetables never gets old. Bob the tomato, Larry the cucumber and junior the asparagus we love watching them in their adventures and this one is one of the best ones.

It is always so easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas. We just want to buy buy buy. It’s easy to forget being a review blogger because it’s like “christmas” every day. The delivery driver comes with boxes of stuff and my kids say is it a toy, is it for us? What is it?

To remind children the meaning of Christmas this time, they tell the story of St. Nick instead of the birth of Jesus. St. Nick gave to the poor. He gave out of what he had, it is more to give than to receive and even he had to learn that. So watching this made me even more sure that I want to give. Give out of the wealth that surrounds my children.

One thing we are planning on doing is my MOMS Club is going to do the Toy Drive and Cookie giveaway with our local food bank. We are going to take our children to the food bank to hand out the cookies and toys to others. I’m very excited about this and we always tell my my daughter when we are giving something away. I just want her to understand the meaning of giving.

Of course when it comes time for Christmas we’ll celebrate it the right way! No, I don’t mean with presents, I mean with honoring the birth of Jesus.

FREE Consumer DVD Gift with Purchase Offer

A gift for you! Consumers who purchase the Saint Nicholas DVD will receive a FREE VeggieTales DVD to give to a friend in need! Through this offer inside the DVD, consumers can log onto a special website and select the free VeggieTales DVD they would like to send to a friend with only $2.99 shipping and handling.

Operation Christmas Child Partnership

‘Tis better to give than receive! This fall, Big Idea has teamed up with Operation Christmas Child, a project of international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, to help collect gifts for needy children throughout the world. More than 65,000 churches across the country will hold shoe-box gift collection events. Church leaders have the opportunity to hold a screening of Saint Nicholas where kids and families will be encouraged to “share the spirit of giving” by donating shoe-box gifts.

DVD Synopsis

Discover the power of a simple gift! Laura Carrot’s Christmas stocking might be empty this year because her dad is in danger of losing his job. While Larry thinks a letter to the North Pole should fix the problem, Bob knows what will really help…and tells the story of a little boy named Nicholas who made a discovery in Bethlehem that changed Christmas forever. But what did Nick learn and how can it possibly help Laura and her family? Find out as the Veggies discover the true joy of giving to others—at Christmas time and throughout the year!

Bonus Features:

“Give This Christmas Away” Operation Christmas Child music video

Behind The Song with Matthew West and Amy Grant

Art Gallery

Audio Commentary

Sing Along with Larry

Coloring Page:

Thanks to The Family Review Network and Big Idea we received a copy of this to review.

Veggie Tales presents Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah’s Umbrella

September 12, 2009 by Momstart 1 Comment

Veggie Tales Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah’s Umbrella is the newest addition to the Veggie Tales Library.

Where does God’s power lie. While the evil twin of Minnesota Cuke’s friend believes it lies in an umbrella the Cuke clan set out in Indiana style to protect the secrets of Noah’s ark and his umbrella. While finding out some great stories about being laughed at and God’s love protecting us.

You can Purchase here:

Veggie Tales: Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah’s Umbrella

I received my Veggie Tales DVD and it was late. It was sent to the right address but a day or two too late. I just got my DVD on Thursday and we watched it first thing on Friday. I love Veggie Tales because I feel it’s a safe program for my children to be watching.

We can learn lessons about bible stories in a fun presentable way my children love. They love to sing and dance and know a ton of the songs. My daughter even got excited during Silly Songs with Larry, the part of the show where Larry sings a silly song. It was even very fitting for her and my son because they are both trying to graduate from the sippy cup. Mommy is just lazy and tries to make them both use it because I don’t want to clean up.

Check out photos from this DVD, and view the trailer.

Thank you goes out to Veggie Tales and to the Family Review Network for having patience with me for getting my review done late and providing the DVD in the first place.

THANKS!!!

Veggie Tales – An Easter Carol

April 6, 2009 by MomStart Leave a Comment

AN EASTER CAROL VEGGIETALES DVD

Bob and Larry just never stop do they? We have seen pirates, we have seen inventors, and now an Easter Carol?

Yes this story is inspired by the Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens but it has an Easter Twist. Ebenezer Nezzer is way to busy with chocolate and chickens and trying to fill London with plastic eggs. We haven’t celebrated Easter with our children as most families do. I haven’t decorated eggs or hunted candy with my daughter. The Easter bunny doesn’t make a stop at our house. I just don’t find a reason for that. That’s the commercialized Easter. Easter is about God and how he died and gave his life for us. All of us. He gave us a gift. He gave us eternal life and that is how we celebrate our Easter, or at least that is my intention.

In an Easter Carol Rebecca Saint James is an angel that with Bob and Larry’s help have to teach Ebenezer Nezzer about the real meaning of Easter in one night. As always my daughter is left saying “again”. I thought it was pretty cute and Rebecca’s music is fantastic. You know, Veggie Tales doesn’t make me laugh until my sides hurt but it does make me smile. It makes me warm and happy with a great message and the humor is just enough to turn my lips up. You can purchase Veggie Tales Easter Carol for 9.99 or you can watch it. Watch the Television Premier on Gospel Music Channel on DirecTV ch. 338 and local cable April 10th, 7pm ET

This weekend when you are celebrating Easter you should greet one another.

“He has risen”

“He has risen indeed”

This post was brought to you today by the letters FRN and by the numbers Big Idea