family – Page 4 – According to Kristin

DESPICABLE ME 3 | New Trailer | #DespicableMe3 in theaters June 30

May 25, 2017May 25, 2017by KristinLeave a Comment

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DESPICABLE ME 3 – In Theaters June 30, 2017

Illumination, who brought audiences Despicable Me and the biggest animated hits of 2013 and 2015, Despicable Me 2 and Minions, continues the adventures of Gru, Lucy, DM3_BusTransitShltr_GruLife_RGB_1REV their adorable daughters—Margo, Edith and Agnes—and the Minions in Despicable Me 3. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, co-directed by Eric Guillon and written by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio, the animated film is produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and executive produced by Chris Renaud.

Joining Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig in Despicable Me 3 is Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award winner Trey Parker, co-creator of Comedy Central’s global phenomenon South Park and the Broadway smash The Book of Mormon. Parker voices the role of villain Balthazar Bratt, a former child star who’s grown up to become obsessed with the character he played in the ‘80s, and proves to be Gru’s most formidable nemesis to date. The film will be released in theaters on June 30, 2017. www.despicable.me

Genre: 3D-CG Comedy-Adventure
Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Nev Scharrel, Steve Coogan, Jenny Slate and Julie Andrews
Directed by: Pierre Coffin & Kyle Balda
Co-Director: Eric Guillon
Writers: Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio
Produced by: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy
Executive Producer: Chris Renaud

El equipo responsable de Despicable Me y los mayores éxitos animados de 2013 y 2015, Despicable Me 2 y Minions, regresa para continuar con las aventuras de Gru, Lucy, sus adorables hijas —Margo, Edith y Agnes— y los minions. Despicable Me 3, dirigida por Pierre Coffin y Kyle Balda, codirigida por Eric Guillon, y escrita por Cinco Paul junto con Ken Daurio, se estrenará en los cines el 30 de junio de 2017.

La película animada es producida por Chris Meledandri y Janet Healy de Illumination, y el productor ejecutivo es Chris Renaud.

A Steve Carell y Kristen Wiig se unen en Despicable Me 3 el ganador de los premios Emmy, Tony y Grammy Trey Parker, co-creador del éxito mundial de Comedy Central South Park y el fantástico éxito de Broadway The Book of Mormon. Parker presta su voz al villano Balthazar Bratt, una ex estrella de cine que tuvo éxito de pequeño y que creció obsesionado con el personaje que interpretaba en la década del ’80, y resulta ser el adversario más formidable que Gru haya enfrentado hasta ahora. www.despicable.me

Género:  Comedia de aventuras de animación digital en 3D
Reparto:  Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Nev Scharrel, Steve Coogan, Jenny Slate y Julie Andrews
Director: Pierre Coffin junto con Kyle Balda
Codirector:  Eric Guillon
Guionistas:  Cinco Paul junto con Ken Daurio
Productores:   Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy
Productor ejecutivo:  Chris Renaud

Movies

DESPICABLE ME 3 | Watch the New Clip | #DespicableMe3

May 18, 2017by KristinLeave a Comment

DESPICABLE ME 3 – In Theaters June 30

dm3_teaser-poster Illumination, who brought audiences Despicable Me and the biggest animated hits of 2013 and 2015, Despicable Me 2 and Minions, continues the adventures of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters—Margo, Edith and Agnes—and the Minions in Despicable Me 3. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, co-directed by Eric Guillon and written by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio, the animated film is produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and executive produced by Chris Renaud.

Genre: 3D-CG Comedy-Adventure

Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Nev Scharrel, Steve Coogan, Jenny Slate and Julie Andrews

Directed by: Pierre Coffin & Kyle Balda

Co-Director: Eric Guillon

Writers: Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio

Produced by: Chris Meledandri, Janet Healy

Executive Producer: Chris Renaud

Blog

April: Days Seven & Eight | Playlists & Plans

April 13, 2017April 13, 2017by KristinLeave a Comment

YoursTruly

Hey everyone!

I’m sorry for falling behind a bit on these daily posts, but last weekend was my birthday! Never fear, I’m in catch-up mode and will try to combine some days so I don’t bombard you with my rambling lol.

For Day Seven, I wanted to talk about Playlists!

I’m a HUGE music lover and I absolutely love finding new artists. I get tired of hearing the same 5 songs in rotation on the radio, so any time I can Shazam a song from a TV show or movie I’m a happy camper! I’m always taking suggestions too, so if you know of anyone I should check out, comment on this post and let me know!

I have a few playlists going on Apple Music right now, but the one I use the most is eclectic to say the least! I have Hailee Steinfeld, ZAYN, Ed Sheeran, The 1975, Syml, Muse, Lady Gaga, The Chainsmokers, Ruelle and Amber Run. Ruelle is featured a lot on one of my favorite shows, The Originals, and they’re absolutely incredible! I usually add a lot of my Shazam tags to that playlist as well so it’s always growing.

I also have a Justin Timberlake playlist, OneRepublic, The Script and Imagine Dragons. Those four are probably my favorite artists/bands.

How about you? What are you listening to? Is there anyone I should check out?

Day Eight is about highlighting what Plans are on my to-do list . . . and there’s a lot! I won’t bore you with everything, but here are the essentials:

Definitely need to hit the gym. In the past year I moved from my home of 29 years to a cute little apartment. For some reason during the chaos of moving and working full-time, I decided it would be a “good idea” to also take 5 online classes. I haven’t had much time within the past year, but now that school has slowed down and I’m almost done, I plan on being at the gym every day.
This past week I started looking for apartments to rent in Georgia, New York and New Jersey. During my search, I stumbled upon a GORGEOUS new home for about half of what it would cost if it were here in Miami. This really made me smarten up about spending/saving money, so saving is definitely on my list of plans.
I graduated high school in 2002 (yes, I’m old) and have been taking college courses here and there ever since. I’ve worked full-time since I was 18 so it wasn’t always easy to put time aside for school. Trying to find online classes or classes that coincide with your work schedule is a bitch! I’ve already received my Associates Degree and Liberal Arts and am about to finish my Bachelors Degree in English – Creative Writing, so now it’s time to think and plan for the possibility of grad school. Am I crazy for considering it? Probably!

That’s all I’ll bore you with for now, but let me know what plans you have for the rest of the year!

Blog

April: Day Four | If you were able to instantly change your life, what would be different?

April 5, 2017April 5, 2017by KristinLeave a Comment

YoursTruly

Hey, everyone!

Day Four on my April list is:

If you were able to instantly change your life, what would be different?

This is a tough question because I was raised not to regret things. We go through certain experiences and we make mistakes, but we usually learn from them. I think, for the most part, that these things shape who we are, whether they’re difficult to go through or not.

However, in the past few years, I’ve experienced certain things that I wish I would change. One being my relationship with my father.

My father didn’t always know how to relate to my brothers and I. He was a Vietnam vet who often suffered from PTSD and found it much easier to relate to other veterans. There was one in particular that my dad sort of adopted in his mind. If I’m being honest, it hurt me. It hurt that he took more of an interest in this guy’s life than in mine. I would even joke to my friends that I had daddy issues. Never did I think I would lose my dad before he turned 65.

Long story short . . . my dad was diagnosed with liver cancer in April 2015 and he died a month later. It’s crazy how you don’t stop to think about how much you truly appreciate someone until they’re no longer around. My dad wasn’t perfect, but he was the type of dad that would’ve dropped everything if you needed a ride somewhere or if you had a flat tire in the middle of the night .

So if I could change something, I would change the relationship I had with my father in the years leading up to his death.

If I could change two things, I would also change the person I chose to give my heart to when I was way too young to even consider giving it away. Ladies, young girls . . . please remember to love yourself before you try loving someone else. I made the mistake of putting all of my affection towards one person and all he did was play games. Slept with my best friend after I (stupidly) paid for his flight to visit, repeatedly came to me to boost his ego when other girls knocked him down, said horrible things about me, played the sympathy card asking for help paying bills and then gave his girlfriend a gorgeous ring about a month or two later. Thankfully I’d smartened up by that point so he didn’t get a penny from me for that ring lol. He dangled me like a chew toy and I fell for it every time because when he shattered me to pieces, I gave him that power to do it. So appreciate yourself and don’t let ANYONE have power over you. We are strong WOMEN and we should be putting that strength and love towards someone who deserves it.

Who knows . . . if I could go back and eliminate him from my life, I might not have the troubles I have now with finding men who are only interested in two things . . . sex and feeding their own egos. Where are the good guys at???

What would YOU change if you could? Let me know!

Blog

April: Day Three | What are you most grateful for?

April 3, 2017by Kristin1 Comment

YoursTruly

Hello to anyone taking the time to read this!

Day Three’s prompt is: What are you most grateful for?

If I’m being completely honest, I find it difficult sometimes to feel grateful for everything I have in my life. I’m pretty certain others feel the same. I haven’t had a bad life, but I haven’t had the picture perfect life I envisioned when I was in high school. I’ve had close friends backstab me, I’ve had boys break my heart (one in particular) and I’ve had plenty of friends come and go over the years. The one thing that has remained a constant is my family.

While I’ve lost all of my grandparents and my father, I still have the most incredible mom and two older brothers that can piss me off 90% of the time but they’ve always had my back when I needed it.

I also have a 12-year-old niece who I absolutely adore. She’s a pain in the ass sometimes, but she’s my pain in the ass.

So that’s what I’m most grateful for at the moment . . . my family.

What are YOU most grateful for? Let me know!

Movies

DESPICABLE ME 3 | New Poster & Trailer #DespicableMe3

March 20, 2017March 20, 2017by KristinLeave a Comment

DESPICABLE ME 3 – In Theaters June 30

This summer, villainy runs in the family.

Steve Carell is Gru and Dru.

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Illumination, who brought audiences Despicable Me and the biggest animated hits of 2013 and 2015, Despicable Me 2 and Minions, continues the adventures of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters—Margo, Edith and Agnes—and the Minions in Despicable Me 3. Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, co-directed by Eric Guillon and written by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio, the animated film is produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and executive produced by Chris Renaud.

Movie Reviews

Movie Review: BEAUTY & THE BEAST #beourguest

March 19, 2017August 23, 2017by KristinLeave a Comment

Hello, everyone! I’m happy to report that I traveled back to my childhood today for two hours and have safely returned to adulthood in one piece!

I admit that I was a bit nervous going into this live-action version of Beauty & the Beast because it was always my favorite Disney movie. Not to mention the back and forth chatter on whether or not Emma Watson could pull off the role of Belle AND the “news” that Josh Gad’s character, LeFou, was homosexual (SIDE NOTE: Kudos for including this aspect in the film tastefully. Everyone should’ve known that LeFou was homosexual in the original, but I’m glad the folks who created this live-action update didn’t leave it out to please those who are afraid of PEOPLE based on sexual preference.)

With that being said, I thought this version of the film was fantastic! It stayed true to it’s original form, save for a few minor updates: feminism and diversity! There were also a few new songs included here that explained a bit more of the connection between Belle and the Beast. Some viewers were not fans of Emma Watson’s singing, but I thought she did a great job! It’s not written anywhere that every singing actress has to sound like Adele, but I thought Watson did a great job and really lived up to the expectations.

The visual quality here was stunning as well. In some parts the visual effects were lacking just a tiny bit, but the rest of the movie made up for what it lacked in certain areas. It was such a colorful, lively film that shows a strong-minded young woman making her own choices and not sitting around waiting for things to happen to her. Belle is kind, well-read and respectful to all around her…which is something that we should all be teaching our daughters, our nieces and granddaughters. Never fear, young boys can also learn a thing or two from this version of the film. The prince was spoiled and shallow, taught to be cold-hearted from his father at a young age and is cursed into “beast mode” until he learns a lesson in humility.

So take a chance on this film and take your family on a trip down memory lane!

Genre: Family, Fantasy, Musical
Length: 2 h 9 min
Rating: PG
Director: Bill Condon
Writers: Stephen Chbosky, Evan Spiliotopoulos
Cast: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Kevin Kline, Hattie Morahan, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Nathan Mack, Audra McDonald, Stanley Tucci, Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Website: disney.com/beauty-and-the-beast-2017
Twitter: twitter.com/beourguest
Facebook: facebook.com/DisneyBeautyAndTheBeast

Hashtag: #beourguest

CHEF AARÓN SÁNCHEZ TO JOIN JUDGES’ PANEL OF “MASTERCHEF” SEASON EIGHT, PREMIERING SUMMER 2017 ON FOX

February 22, 2017February 22, 2017by KristinLeave a Comment

CHEF AARÓN SÁNCHEZ
TO JOIN JUDGES’ PANEL OF “MASTERCHEF” SEASON EIGHT,
PREMIERING SUMMER 2017 ON FOX

Celebrated chef and restaurateur Aarón Sánchez will join Chefs Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi as the third judge throughout Season Eight of the hit culinary competition series MASTERCHEF, premiering Summer 2017.

A James Beard Award-winning chef, Sánchez is chef/owner of Mexican restaurant Johnny Sánchez, with locations in New Orleans and Baltimore. He co-starred on “Chopped” and “Chopped Junior,” and is the author of two cookbooks – “Simple Food, Big Flavor: Unforgettable Mexican-Inspired Recipes from My Kitchen to Yours” and “La Comida del Barrio.” An active philanthropist, Sánchez launched his own charity, the Aarón Sánchez Scholarship Fund, empowering aspiring chefs from the Latin community to attend culinary school. An avid tattoo lover, he also is a partner in the world-famous ink shop “Daredevil Tattoo” in New York City.

Sánchez was a guest judge on Season Seven of MASTERCHEF and also will be featured in upcoming episodes of MASTERCHEF JUNIOR Season Five, airing Thursdays (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

MASTERCHEF is produced by Endemol Shine North America and One Potato Two Potato, and is based on a format created by Franc Roddam and Endemol Shine. Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Michael Brooks, Robin Ashbrook, Gordon Ramsay, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers. “Like” MASTERCHEF on Facebook at facebook.com/MasterChef. Follow the series on Twitter @MASTERCHEFonFOX and join the discussion at #masterchef. Follow the judges on Twitter: Gordon Ramsay – @gordonramsay; Christina Tosi – @christinatosi; AarónSánchez – @Chef_Aaron.

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS EN FAMILIA #Xfinity

December 22, 2016December 22, 2016by KristinLeave a Comment

holiday-moviethon-on-xfinity-english

CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS EN FAMILIA

The holidays are a special time for all families, and if you are Latino, you know that everyone comes over to celebrate. More than likely your casa is going to be full of family, food, música and tons of suggestions for what to view on TV. Luckily, with Xfinity the entire family can get together and watch a variety of programming in your language of choice, whenever, wherever.

KIDS ZONE

For the house filled with little ones, Xfinity’s Kids Zone on the X1 platform will provide your family with hundreds of children’s TV shows and movies that have been specially curated and deemed appropriate to watch by Common Sense Media’s rating system. No more worrying about what your kids are watching! Kids can enjoy Holiday classics like Home Alone and How the Grinch Stole Christmas or catch up on their favorite TV shows, including SpongeBob SquarePants and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

how-the-grinch-stole-christmas-credit-warner-bros

NETFLIX

For those with a Netflix account, Xfinity has seamlessly integrated all the content of this streaming service into the X1 platform. Browsing and searching for your favorite titles on Netflix has never been easier, especially with the X1’s voice remote control which takes you directly to the content you want with just the sound of your voice. Catch up on the new seasons of Netflix original shows like Gilmore Girls or The Adventures of Puss in Boots directly on the X1 browser.

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BINGE-WORTHY SERIES OF 2016

If you want to binge on TV series during your holiday posadas, there are thousands of options for everyone in the family. For my family it’s all about This Is Us! This heartwarming series is perfect for the holidays. There’s other shows as well like NBC Universo’s hit series El Vato featuring Mexican regional star El Dasa, to Telemundo’s El Señor de los Cielos, there’s plenty you can enjoy with your family. Young and old can also binge on Mexican classics and over 30 of famed Mexican comedian Cantinflas’ best movies available on Demand via Cine Sony Television. Just say “Cantinflas” to your remote control.

BILINGUAL HOLIDAY MOVIES

And no family gathering is complete without binging on Holiday movies and specials. The content options for your fiestas are endless and even more now that many of these films can also be viewed in Spanish (via the SAP filter). You can watch Elf, Miracle on 34^th Street, and many more favorites completely in Spanish with your abuelos or primos!

Catch this and even more content via the On Demand menu, on the mobile app Xfinity Go and the web portal at es.Xfinity.com.

Get ready to experience the best holidays ever. A echar la casa por la ventana con Xfinity!

Movies

DESPICABLE ME 3 | Watch the Trailer

December 20, 2016December 20, 2016by KristinLeave a Comment

dm3_teaser-poster Hey, everyone!

I’m so excited to share the new trailer for Despicable Me 3 with you all!

The team who brought you Despicable Me and the biggest animated hits of 2013 and 2015, Despicable Me 2 and Minions, returns to continue the adventures of Gru, Lucy, their adorable daughters—Margo, Edith and Agnes—and the Minions. Despicable Me 3, directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda, co-directed by Eric Guillon, and written by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio, will be released in theaters on June 30, 2017.

The animated film is produced by Illumination’s Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, and executive produced by Chris Renaud.

Joining Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig in Despicable Me 3 is Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award winner Trey Parker, co-creator of Comedy Central’s global phenomenon South Park and the Broadway smash The Book of Mormon. Parker voices the role of villain Balthazar Bratt, a former child star who’s grown up to become obsessed with the character he played in the ‘80s, and proves to be Gru’s most formidable nemesis to date.

DESPICABLE ME 3 – In Theaters June 30, 2017

Blog, Giveaway

ENTER TO WIN: Sticky9 Medium Magnets!

December 7, 2016December 7, 2016by KristinLeave a Comment

sticky91
Hey everyone!

I’m so excited to tell you about a little gem I found a few years ago. Social media has introduced me to so many things, and Sticky9 is one of my favorites.

Sticky9 offers magnets in Medium, Large, Retro (which look like little polaroid photos) and Jigsaw; Square Photo Prints; Posters; iPad Covers; Greeting Cards and so much more. The quality of their products are incredible and so is their customer service.

My niece and I bought two large magnet boards from IKEA that are completely filled with Sticky9 magnets (see photo below – you can probably guess which one is mine and which one belongs to a 12-year-old lol). You can make magnets with your favorite photos from Instagram, or your favorite quotes and saved photos. They also have an app that you can download to your phone that allows you to upload photos directly from your camera roll.

So here’s the deal. To enter the contest for a FREE set of Medium Magnets, answer the question below:

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITION, AND WHY?

Send your ANSWER(S), FIRST & LAST NAME to accordingtokristin@gmail.com.
In the subject line – STICKY9 Magnets Giveaway

Winner will be selected on December 10th to give enough time to order before the holiday! You can check the website for shipping and delivery dates.

This promotion will end December 10th at 10:00 AM (eastern time). Only one entry per person. No purchase necessary. Winner will be contacted via email with a promotional code to use on Sticky9. AccordingtoKristin.com and other promotional partners are not responsible for lost, stolen, or misdirected mail.

You can also check out the site and order your very own magnets, photo prints, etc. with my code FRIENDANX5, which will deduct 15% from your purchase.

These products are great gifts and stocking stuffers! As an idea, last Christmas I had The 1975’s logo printed on a set of Jigsaw magnets. I separated each magnet and placed each one in an envelope with a clue leading my niece to a huge box with The 1975 concert tickets inside. She loved the little scavenger hunt, trying to figure out where each magnet went and now she has a cool looking jigsaw puzzle.

Be sure to enter the contest and check out Sticky9 online and on their app. You can thank me later! 🙂

Happy Holidays!

Blog

Day 3: The Holidays According to Kristin

November 23, 2016by KristinLeave a Comment

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Hey everyone!

So Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I’m sure we’re all preparing to stuff our faces! Some of us might even be prepping our Black Friday shopping extravaganza!

My Thanksgiving traditions have changed a bit over the years because we’ve had some losses in the family, but there are still little things we can do to start new ones, right?

About a year ago my brother sent me a text with a recipe for a dessert that looked absolutely delicious. It’s like a pumpkin/pudding/cool whip pan of Heaven! We all loved it so much, I decided to make it for my office at Halloween. Let’s just say…don’t make it for your office potlucks if you don’t want it being requested every single time! haha.

pumpkin-delight-1

This is one dessert I’ve enjoyed making with my niece because there are four layers to it, and she loves being able to say she helped contribute to the awesomeness.

So here is the link to Lil’ Luna’s Pumpkin Delight Dessert. Try it out and let me know if you love it as much as we do! Also, let me know what your favorite Thanksgiving dishes are!

From my family to yours…have a VERY Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂

Blog

Day 1: The Holidays According to Kristin

November 20, 2016November 20, 2016by KristinLeave a Comment

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Hey everyone!

So my classes are finally settling down and I really wanted to concentrate more on original content. What better way than to include exciting holiday information?! For the next month, I’ll list some of my favorite gift ideas and some of my favorite holiday moments and traditions over the years.

My hope is that my readers will comment their thoughts, feelings, and even some of their favorite holiday moments and traditions. Talk to me! I want to know what the holidays are like for you and your family. Even if they’re rough this year. As some of you might know, my father passed away unexpectedly last year, so the holidays could be bitter sweet at times. So even if you just need to vent or feel like someone understands what you might be going through, you can count on me.

With that being said, I want to start out by sharing three of my favorite holiday songs right now. My dad was one of those people who would listen to Christmas music NON-STOP after Halloween, and it seriously drove me nuts! I just never understood how many times he could hear ‘Frosty the Snowman’ or ‘Winter Wonderland’ without wanting to quit Christmas altogether. Thankfully, one of my favorite artists right now, Pentatonix, has two Christmas albums that have been released over the last two years and they’re full of updated, fresh holiday music. Their talent is off the scales and they can really put you in that holiday spirit.

Here are the links to their Christmas albums on iTunes. Check them out, and let me know if you have any favorites! You can also find the top two albums below on Vinyl, which would be an amazing Christmas gift!

Pentatonix: That’s Christmas to Me

Pentatonix: A Pentatonix Christmas

Pentatonix: PTXmas (Deluxe Edition)

You can also visit their official pages here:

COMCAST ANNOUNCES AGREEMENTS WITH TWO NEW HISPANIC AMERICAN-OWNED INDEPENDENT NETWORKS

November 16, 2016by KristinLeave a Comment

COMCAST ANNOUNCES AGREEMENTS WITH TWO NEW HISPANIC AMERICAN-OWNED INDEPENDENT NETWORKS

Primo TV and Kids Central Will Launch on Comcast’s Xfinity TV in January 2017

Prepare to watch television programming filled with options catering to the bicultural Hispanic community. The networks, Kids Central and Primo TV will focus on two different age groups featuring education and entertainment based programming appealing to bicultural Latino families in January 2017 through Comcast Cable.

Comcast Corporation announced it has selected two new Hispanic American-owned independent networks to be broadly distributed on Comcast Cable systems beginning in January 2017. After a thorough evaluation of dozens of proposals, Comcast selected Primo TV and Kids Central, both of which will provide quality family programming targeted to bicultural Hispanic youth.

“Kids Central and Primo TV’s unique focus on young bicultural Hispanics fill an unmet need in youth-oriented programming and further demonstrate our commitment to providing the best experience for bicultural Hispanic families,” said Javier Garcia, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Multicultural Services at Comcast Cable. “We believe that these networks will provide high-quality educational and entertaining content while infusing Latino culture into the experience.”

Kids Central is an English-language network consisting of age-appropriate programming with high educational value and entertainment standards that appeals to bicultural Hispanic viewers ages 3-7. In primetime, the network expands its audience with a block of family-oriented programming targeted to the whole family. Kids Central will provide both English and Spanish language video on demand content. Kids Central is owned and operated by Condista Networks.

“We are proud to work with Comcast to bring this network to viewers,” said Jorge Fiterre, President of Condista Networks. “Kids Central offers a new option for both English and Spanish speaking children and their families.”

Primo TV is an English-language network that will appeal to bicultural Hispanic viewers ages 6-16 and consisting of age-appropriate programming with high educational value and entertainment standards. Primo TV will build off the proven track record of V-Me and V-Me Kids with diverse content such as animated series, adventure programming and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Awareness that will connect US Hispanics with their cultural roots. The network will also provide several video on demand content options. Primo TV is owed by V-Me Media, Inc.

“We’re excited to launch Primo TV on Comcast,” said Victor X. Cerda, Senior Vice President at V-Me Media, Inc. “Primo TV supports V-Me Media’s mission to provide empowering content to the next wave of Hispanic and bicultural youth. V-Me also applauds Comcast for supporting a Hispanic-owned network in reaching a growing population with content that positively reflects U.S. Hispanic values on screen.”

To narrow down the proposals received, the main criteria Comcast considered were: the content of the network; whether the network is fully financed; whether the networks’ ownership and/or management group(s) are well established, have relevant experience, and are substantially owned by Hispanic Americans; whether the network has launched and has existing or potential multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) distribution; price; and whether the network and its potential carriage provide value to Comcast and its customers.

Comcast carries over 160 independent networks, including many small, diverse, and international networks. In 2011, as part of Comcast’s commitments made in connection with the NBCUniversal transaction, Comcast agreed to launch 10 new independently owned and operated networks by 2019, eight of which will be minority-owned. Five networks have already launched, including El Rey (2013) and BabyFirst Americas (2012), which are primarily Hispanic American owned and operated; REVOLT (2013) and ASPiRE (2012), which are majority African American owned; and BBC World News (2011). Kids Central and Primo TV will be the next two networks to launch as part of this commitment.

NETFLIX NOW AVAILABLE ON COMCAST’S XFINITY

November 7, 2016November 7, 2016by KristinLeave a Comment

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Comcast users who also have a Netflix subscription will be able to watch all content available through both services in one place

Comcast announced that Netflix will be available through its cable box, the X1 Platform, to all of its customers across the country starting next week. Comcast’s Xfinity users, who are also Netflix subscribers, will be able to easily browse and access the extensive online collection of the streaming service alongside the live, on demand, DVR, and web programming included with their Xfinity TV subscription.

“We are excited to add Netflix to X1 and give our customers access to all the content they love in a way that has never been done before,” said Neil Smit, the Chief Executive Officer at Comcast Cable. “Netflix has been a terrific partner, and our incredible teams of engineers and designers have come together to create an experience that is not only seamless and intuitive, but also lets viewers search and watch tens of thousands of movies, shows, specials and documentaries with the sound of their voice.”

Netflix content will be fully integrated into Xfinity On Demand, enabling X1 customers to watch past and current seasons of shows like The Blacklist, El Señor de los Cielos and The Walking Dead; explore popular Netflix original series like Narcos, House of Cards, and Stranger Things; or catch up on recent classics like Breaking Bad, Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso, and Mad Men, all in one place.

“The Netflix integration into the X1 platform means our mutual customers will no longer need to change inputs or juggle remotes,” said Reed Hastings, Netflix Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “Now they can seamlessly move between the Netflix app and their cable service, enjoying all the TV shows and movies they love without hassle.”

By combining the TV libraries of Netflix and Xfinity On Demand, X1 customers can:

Launch the Netflix app by simply saying “Netflix” into the X1 voice remote.
Browse Netflix content alongside other On Demand movies and shows
Search for an actor like “Gael Garcia Bernal” or “Kevin Spacey” and see all the related titles across Xfinity and Netflix.
Start watching from the beginning long-running shows like The Walking Dead or Señora Acero – prior seasons on Netflix and the current season on Xfinity On Demand – all in one place.

Current Netflix customers will have to sign-in to their account through the X1 platform only the first time of use, while those who don’t have a membership to the streaming service can subscribe using the same platform, choose to have it added to their Comcast bill, and begin to immediately explore and enjoy Netflix on the X1 and across other devices.

For more information about the X1 platform, interested customers can visit www.xfinity.com/X1. To learn more about Netflix on X1, visit www.xfinity.com/netflix.

Movies

‘The Secret Life of Pets’ on Digital HD 11/22 and on 4k Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD & On Demand 12/6

October 23, 2016by KristinLeave a Comment

FROM ILLUMINATION ENTERTAINMENT AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES, THE HUMANS BEHIND THE DESPICABLE ME FRANCHISE, COMES AMERICA’S #1 ORIGINAL FILM OF THE YEAR!

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS

GET THREE MINI-MOVIES, ONLY WHEN YOU BUY, INCLUDING MOWER MINIONS WHICH DEBUTED IN THEATERS AND IS NOW AVAILABLE TO OWN

ON DIGITAL HD NOVEMBER 22, 2016
4K ULTRA HD^™, BLU-RAY^™3D, BLU-RAY^™, DVD AND ON DEMAND DECEMBER 6, 2016,
FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

“You’ll never look at your pets the same way again.” – Erik Davis, Fandango

Universal City, California, October 4, 2016 – This holiday season, the answer to the question “Ever wonder what your pets do when you’re not home?” is answered when The Secret Life of Pets comes to Digital HD November 22, 2016 and 4K Ultra HD^™, Blu-ray™ 3D, Blu-ray™, DVD and On Demand December 6, 2016 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The humans behind the Despicable Me franchise present America’s top-grossing original film of the year, the animated comedy is a worldwide hit with over $834 million in global ticket sales. The Secret Life of Pets is “non-stop action and laughs,” says Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. The 4K Ultra HD^™, Blu-ray^™, DVD and Digital HD versions feature nearly an hour of bonus content, including three hilarious mini-movies: the all-new Norman Television and Weenie PLUS Mower Minions which debuted in theaters and is now available to own.

In their fifth fully animated feature-film collaboration, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures present The Secret Life of Pets, a comedy about the lives our pets lead when we leave for work or school. Max, voiced by Louis C.K., is a loyal terrier living a perfectly happy existence until his owner, Katie (Ellie Kemper) brings home Duke (Eric Stonestreet) a big, boisterous mutt she finds at the shelter. When Max and his unruly new “roommate” slip away from their dog-walker, they find themselves lost in the urban jungle of New York City. In an attempt to stay ahead of animal control and a rebel band of abandoned pets led by an unhinged bunny named Snowball (Kevin Hart), they put aside their differences to survive the epic journey back home.

With an all-star voice cast including Louis C.K. (TV’s Louie), Eric Stonestreet (TV’s Modern Family), Kevin Hart (Ride Along Series), Jenny Slate (Zootopia), Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Lake Bell (TV’s Children’s Hospital), Dana Carvey (Wayne’s World), Hannibal Buress (Neighbors series), Bobby Moynihan (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”), Steve Coogan (Minions) and Albert Brooks (Finding Dory). The film is directed by Chris Renaud (Despicable Me franchise, Dr. Seuss’ the Lorax) and co-directed by Yarrow Cheney (Despicable Me franchise).

4K ULTRA HD^™

The film will be available on 4K Ultra HD^™ in a combo pack which includes 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray^™ and Digital HD with UltraViolet. The 4K Ultra HD^™ will include all bonus features on the Blu-ray^™ disc.

4K Ultra HD^™ is the ultimate movie watching experience. 4K Ultra HD^TM features the combination of 4K resolution for four times sharper picture than HD, the color brilliance of High Dynamic Range (HDR) with immersive audio delivering a multidimensional sound experience.

Blu-ray^™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.
DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet^™ lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.

BLU-RAY^™ EXCLUSIVES (Available on Blu-ray^™ editions)

How to Make an Animated Film – A behind-the-scenes look at how to make an animated film from the various departments that make up Illumination.
Anatomy of a Scene – Filmmakers and animators take us through the multi-step process it takes to create a specific scene in the Secret Life of Pets.

BLU-RAY^™ AND DVD BONUS FEATURES

Mini-Movies:
- Norman Television
- Weenie
- Mower Minions
All About The Pets – Kevin Hart and Eric Stonestreet, with the help of animal trainer Molly Mignon O’Neill take you on an educational journey to learn more about your average and not-so average, household pets.
Animals Can Talk: Meet The Actors – The comedy superstars who give voice to the film’s menagerie of characters talk about their roles and the process of bringing them to life.
Hairstylist To The Dogs – Inspired by “Hairspray Live!,” Eric Stonestreet, with the help of a professional dog groomer Jess Rona, will take you through the basic steps to help your pups look as awesome as possible when they’re hanging out with their pet pals.
The Best Of Snowball – A rapid-fire, fun and oddly musical mash-up of all the best Snowball one-liners
Hot Dog Sing-Along – Join Max and Duke as they perform for their dinner in the sausage factory. This straightforward sing along is fun for the whole family to enjoy.
Sing Trailer
“Lovely Day” Lyric Video
The Humans that Brought You Pets – Producers Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, directors Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney, and writer Brian Lynch discuss what went into creating The Secret Life of Pet’s compelling characters and non-stop action.
GoPro®: The Secret Life of Pets
The Making of the Mini-Movies – A fun and interesting take on the Making of the Mini-Movies – we’ll explore the themes of each of the mini-movies through the eyes of the artists who made them.Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Hashtag #SecretLifeofPets

Movies

Spanish-Language Films as a Tool to Instill Use of the Language

September 30, 2016September 30, 2016by KristinLeave a Comment

Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized annually in America from mid-September through mid-October. It is a month where recognition is given to all Hispanics living in this country, especially those who have made a positive impact and contribution to society while embracing their culture. With the increase of the Hispanic population in America and the generational growth we have seen that it has become difficult to keep our children grounded and maintain our traditions, values and cultures. Yet it is imperative for Hispanic families to instill in their children these traditions at an early age. As a proud Latina it is my diverse culture of which I am most proud of. It is this pride that I too will share with my children someday.

So how do we effortlessly pass on and instill our customs and traditions to our children? There’s various ways, but one of the first places to start is to inculcate the use of our language. Speaking to our children in Spanish at a young age will not only give them a competitive advantage in the long run, but it will organically immerse them into our culture. Nowadays, there are many tools that can help us really inculcate the use of Spanish in our homes – from bilingual books, to educational videos, mobile apps, and even Hollywood films. When it comes to movies, those that are dubbed in Spanish are a great resource. Learning to listen is essential to comprehending another language and by viewing a film in Spanish our children will absorb not only our culture but the language.

With that in mind, on October 14 Pantelion Films is releasing the animated film, La Leyenda Del Chupacabras. This film not only promises to entertain families from all over the United States, but also to be a good tool for our children in experiencing one of our culture’s well-known folktales in Spanish. The storyline follows the character of Leo and his friends as they embark on a new adventure and encounter the well-known mythical creature of El Chupacabras. Abandoned to their fate, Leo and the rebels must fight the El Chupacabras and escape the convent they are in. As Leo struggles to survive he will discover the secret behind El Chupacabras and will have to make the most difficult decision of his life. The film will be available in select cities with subtitles.

You can view the trailer here:

This film by Anima Studios is one of many animated series that focus on popular Latino folktales including La Leyenda De Las Momias and La Leyenda de la Llorona. These films are definitely a perfect tool to practice the use of Spanish language and also provide a look into our culture, plus they’re super cute!

What are other ways you instill the use of Spanish and your Hispanic background to your kids?

Movies

‘LA LEYENDA DEL CHUPACABRAS’ Trailer

September 9, 2016September 9, 2016by KristinLeave a Comment

Hey everyone! Check out the first trailer of Lionsgate and Pantelion Films’ upcoming animated release, La Leyenda del Chupacabras. This family-fun film will make its theater debut on October 14!

SYNOPSIS: After his adventures with the mummies of Guanajuato and of being in the middle of the independence war, Leo San Juan is taken prisoner when he gets mistaken for an insurgent rebel by the royalist army soldiers while on his way back to Puebla. While locked in an old abandoned convent among other rebels, a frightening winged monster appears next to them: El Chupacabras, who attacks prisoners and guards alike. Abandoned to their fate, Leo and the rebels must fight the monster and escape before the royalists blow up the convent. As he struggles to survive he will discover the secret behind El Chupacabras and will have to make the most difficult decision of his life.

LA LEYENDA DEL CHUPACABRAS will open on October 14, 2016 in moderate release, from Lionsgate and Pantelion Films.
Cast: Eduardo España, Benny Mendoza, Mayte Cordero
Director: Alberto Rodriguez
Writers: Azan Cohen, Alberto Rodriguez
Producers: Fernando de Fuentes, Jose C. Garcia de Letona

Movie Reviews

MOVIE REVIEW: #UNDRAFTED

July 19, 2016August 23, 2017by KristinLeave a Comment

Undrafted-Movie-600x304[1]

Hey there!

I had the chance to sit down and check out Undrafted this weekend and I’m glad I did!

SYNOPSIS: When twelve ragtag teammates set out to play what should be a meaningless summer intramural baseball game, it ends up becoming the most important game of their lives.

Did I enjoy it? Absolutely! The cast was great, and it honestly didn’t even feel like I was watching a movie. It felt like I was actually there watching these guys out on the field. Now, I’m a baseball fan so I’ve been looking forward to this movie for a while now. Throw in a cast like this and it was sure to be a feel good movie. Based on the true story of John Mazzello (a/k/a Mazetti in the film played by Aaron Tveit – Graceland, Grease Live) and how he was overlooked in the major league draft, this movie follows a motley crew of guys including Dells (Tyler Hoechlin – Teen Wolf, upcoming SuperGirl), Pat Murray (Joseph Mazzello – Jurassic Park, Radio Flyer), Barone (Chase Crawford – Gossip Girl) and Zapata (Manny Montana – Graceland) playing in a game not all seem to take seriously.

This is Mazzello’s directorial debut and while it’s clearly missing the big budget production of other movies, that’s part of what I liked about it! You really find yourself rooting for these guys despite their craziness!

Side note: I’m a big fan of Graceland, which was cancelled WAY too soon, so seeing Manny Montana and Aaron Tveit back on screen together again made me happy!

Check it out and let me know what you think! You can catch it in select theatres OR you can buy/rent it on iTunes now!

Production: Dead Fish Films, Parlay Pictures
Distributor: Vertical Entertainment
Cast: Aaron Tveit, Chace Crawford, Tyler Hoechlin, Joe Mazzello, Philip Winchester, Jay Hayden, Michael Fishman, Billy Gardell, Jim Belushi, Manny Montana, Ryan Pinkston, Duke Davis Roberts
Director/Screenwriter: Joe Mazzello
Producers: Eric Fischer, Brianna Lee Johnson, Joe Mazello
Executive Producers: Tony Romo, Chace Crawford
Director of Photography: Adrian Correia
Production Designer: Anthony Eikner
Editor: Sharon Rutter
Costume Designers: Christopher Lawrence, Sarah Evelyn Bram
Casting: Elizabeth Barnes, Corbin Bronson

Movie Reviews

Movie Review: THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS

July 12, 2016August 23, 2017by KristinLeave a Comment

the-secret-life-of-pets-movie[1] Hey guys!

So I finally made it out to the movies last night to see ‘The Secret Life of Pets’ and it was hilarious! Everything about it was great…the graphics, the storyline, the comedic aspect. It’s definitely a great movie to see with the family. My niece, who is 12, wanted to see The Purge instead but she actually really liked this one! If you’re a pet owner who wonders what your pet does when you leave the house, you’ll really get a kick out of this movie! Max (Louis C.K.) and Duke (Eric Stonestreet) don’t like each other at first, but when they’re almost captured by Animal Control, they need the help of their neighborhood friends to help save them from the villain bunny, Snowball (Kevin Hart). The dialogue is hilarious in this movie from start to finish!

So head on out to the theater with the family and check it out! Let me know what you think!

SYNOPSIS: A terrier named Max’s quiet life is upended when his owner takes in Duke, a stray whom Max instantly dislikes.

Director: Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud
Writers: Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio and Brian Lynch
Cast: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Ellie Kemper, Albert Brooks, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey, Hannibal Buress, Bobby Moynihan, Chris Renaud, Steve Coogan

‘The Secret Life of Pets’ is NOW PLAYING in theaters and Real D 3-D

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