Benihana: Experience the Original

When I was a kid, one of my birthday treats was a dinner at Benihana. I enjoyed the food. But I enjoyed the watching the chefs put on their show more.

This week, I'm celebrating another birthday. So when I was asked what I wanted to do. I thought about Benihana.

When Benihana first opened its doors in 1964, it revolutionized the family dining experience. Today, Benihana continues to delight couples, parents, children and loved ones with a one-of-a-kind restaurant experience. Here's a quick video clip that captures the history and mood of the original Benihana:

Experience the Original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWbn2LgqffI

Benihana wants you to celebrate with your loved ones. You can sign up for a complimentary $30 Benihana gift certificate during your birthday month here: http://profile.benihana.com/registration/.

I got mine. Go sign up for yours!

*I was not compensated for this post.

MONSUNO

Get ready for action when Nicktoons launches “Monsuno” , a half-hour action-adventure series, with two back-to-back episodes on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 8:00 pm (ET). In the 52-episode series, the fate of the world lies in the hands of a group of heroic kids who wrestle with the power to command and battle creatures called “Monsuno.” Following the premier, “Monsuno” will air in its regular timeslot on Thursdays at 8:30pm ET on Nicktoons. “Monsuno” will also air on Nickelodeon channels around the world starting in the Summer of 2012.

For more information on “Monsuno” and the premier episode, “Clash,” visit Nicktoons

ABOUT MONSUNO

Millions of years ago, “Monsuno,” a living DNA, hitched a ride to Earth in a concentrated asteroid packet. When it landed on Earth, the impact drove the dinosaurs into extinction. The “Monsuno” DNA lay dormant until a scientist named Jeredy Suno activated it, sending a rippling wave of movement back into action. By doing so, Jeredy may have reignited the end of the world but he also created its salvation, the “Monsuno” monsters. Now it is up to his son Chase to learn the secrets of “Monsuno” and help save the world from impending destruction.

In the episode, “Clash (premiering Feb. 23 at 8:00pm), Chase and his two best friends learn that Jeredy is missing. Jon Ace and S.T.O.R.M (Strategic Tactical Operatives for Recovery of Monsuno) join Chase at the lab, but it is soon revealed that they are after the fully-loaded Coare that Jeredy left behind for his son.

In the episode “Courage” (premiering Feb, 23 at 8:30pm), Chase discovers that his father had created a Monsuno called Quickforce, who is being held captive and experimented on by S.T.O.R.M. Chase leads a brave infiltration of the S.T.O.R.M. Facility in order to save Quickforce.

This newest action-adventure series on Nicktoons sounds like something my kids and I will be watching every week.

Will you?

Little Angels Activity Sheets

Meet the Little Angels

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Executive Producer Roma Downey present a fun, new educational DVD series filled with big adventure.

The first 3 DVDs of the Little Angels series were released on February 14 and are available at major retailers like WalMart and Target. Little Angels is an animated series created for pre-schoolers to teach practical learning skills like ABCs and 123s, while teaching important life lessons like sharing, caring, cooperation, honesty, and old-fashioned family values.

The series is presented in a captivating and entertaining format that will help parents (and grandparents!) develop in their own children a love of learning while providing hours of fun to enjoy together with plenty of DVD extras.

My daughter and I have watched all 3 DVDs and have read the books many times since we first received them. I love that Little Angels teach lessons like sharing, caring, cooperation, and honesty and good old-fashioned family values. The series teaches kids ABCs, 123s, animals, love of Bible stories in an age-appropriate way without overwhelming them. Little Angels is now a permanent fixture in our home. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Along with your Little Angels DVDs, books, CDs, and the App, feel free to print these activity sheets to enjoy with your little angels!

Roma Downey's Little Angels: Review and Giveaway

Meet The Little Angels

When I was in graduate school, I promised myself that when I had kids, I would be the type of parent who would make every moment a learning opportunity. I had this grand plan of sitting with them and teaching them everything I knew - all before they started their formal schooling. When I mentioned this to some of my mom friends, they laughed. They said no matter how much I avoided it, the TV would become a valuable tool. I vowed never to use the TV as a sitter, but as a teaching aid.

When I had kids, I stuck to my "grand plan". I took advantage of being a stay at home mom and devoted myself to teaching them - cooking and grocery shopping became an opportunity to teach them math and science, my white wall became their canvas, and road trips became history lessons. We watched some TV, but I have to admit, I was disappointed with what was on. I wanted shows that were educational, whose characters and overall message taught important life lessons and values that were in line with our own. As years passed, I became increasingly convinced that no such show existed. Until, last week when my daughter and I were invited by Fox to preview Little Angels.

Little Angels is a DVD series in which pre-school aged children learn the basics like ABCs and 123s in the context of Bible stories told to preschool twins Alexand Zoe by Little Angels wholive on the ceiling of their bedroom. The angels come to life when the children need them the most, guiding them through the challenges of their young lives.

The Little Angels series is presented by Executive Producer Roma Downey ("Touched by and Angel"). Roma Downey states, "For many years I had the privilege of playing an angel on television, bringing a message of God's love to millions of Americans. As a mother, I have longed to be part of a project that would help to bring that same message to children by not only teaching them the foundations of education - but also providing strong examples of good behavior. Little Angels does just that. It offers critical learning skills through the lens of timeless and age appropriate Bible stories. I only wish this series had been available when my kids were younger!"

The series, which was released on February 14 along with the first 3 DVDs and 2 books, was created for pre-school aged children to teach practical learning skills like the alphabet and numbers. The Little Angels series is presented in a captivating and entertaining format that will help parents foster in their children a love of learning while providing hours of fun. At the end of each lesson, Roma Downey has an informational chat with parents about how to complete the character lesson.

At present, the Little Angels franchise includes 2 books, 3 DVDs, CDs, and an App available on iTunes. For more information, visit the Little Angels website.

My daughter and I have watched all 3 DVDs and have read the books many times since we first received them. I love that Little Angels teach lessons like sharing, caring, cooperation, and honesty and good old-fashioned family values. The series teaches kids ABCs, 123s, animals, love of Bible stories in an age-appropriate way without overwhelming them. Little Angels is now a permanent fixture in our home. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Want a copy of Little Angels for your little angel?

Follow me on Twitter and tweet "I just entered #LittleAngels giveaway http://bit.ly/weOGU7"

Subscribe to my feed

Visit Little Angels on Facebook and Like their page.

Visit Little Angels website, come back here and tell me what you like best about the franchise.

Let me know which one of these you did.

Giveaway is open to US and Canada, and will close on March 2, 2012 at 9:00PM PST. The winner will be chosen via random.org and will be notified via email (so please don't forget to leave your email addy!).

*Photos courtesy of Fox and Peter Zakhary

*No monetary compensation was paid to me by Fox. I was invited to a media event. Products for review and giveaway provided by Fox.