Nickelodeon is taking preschoolers on winter adventures in the heartwarming new DVD, Nick Jr: Snow Awesome .  Available October 2, this release contains winter-themed episodes of Nickelodeon's popular preschool series Nella The Princess Knight, Sunny Day and Shimmer and Shine.  Fans can join Nella on her quest to save Christmas from some naughty snow dragons, watch Sunny work to reunite with Doodle during a snow storm, experience a winter wonderland in Shimmer and Shine's palace and much more.  Produced by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Media Distribution, Nick Jr: Snow Awesome will be available on DVD October 2 for the suggested retail price of $10.99. Nick Jr: Snow Awesome contains the following episodes: Nella The Princess Knight The Knight Before Christmas : Santa visits Castlehaven on Christmas Eve, but when naughty snow dragons take his sack of presents, it's up to Nella and her friends to save the holidays. Let i...

My visit to the Emmett Till Interpretive Center was informative but I knew there was more to the story.  It wa s if I was being led somewhere else. Peering through the large storefront glass of the Emmett Till Interpretive Center staring at the courthouse I noticed a large statue to the left.  I don't think I've ever noticed a confederate statue before. I'm sure I've seen them before but I don't think I ever really noticed one before.  There it was, standing tall, and the courthouse staring directly at the Emmett Till Interpretive Center and the Emmett Till Interpretive Center staring right back. The exhibits housed in the Interpretive Center told the story of the trial and the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement.  The Sumner Courthouse where Till's accusers were tried still holds court.  The bullet-riddled River Site sign sat on a cold, concrete floor.  Benjamin told us the sign had been replaced and gave us directions to the site....

There has been a lot of mention of Emmett Till in the news lately. A few months ago, a national news network ran a story on a sign marking the place where Emmett Till’s body was found. Most recently, actor and director Jesse Williams was dragged on Twitter for posting a meme of Till. Even Snoop Dogg got in the mix after the recent sentencing of 81-year old Bill Cosby saying perhaps it's time to revisit the case of Emmett Till. In 1955, Till, a 14-year old kid was beaten, shot and drowned for whistling at a woman as he his cousins were leaving a store. Till, a Chicago native, was spending a summer in Mississippi with family. His mother thought it would be a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. One afternoon as Till and his cousins were leaving a small grocery store, Till whistled at a young lady. A few night’s later Till was abducted from his great uncle’s home and later killed. His crime, Till was Black… the young lady was White. Earlier thi...

Grab your Mickey ears and get ready for the ultimate Disney experience when Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic comes skating into a city near you.  Be charmed by a cast of over 50 of Disney’s unforgettable characters, with Mouse-ter of Ceremonies Mickey Mouse, the irresistible Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and many of the Disney Princesses.  Relive the magic of Disney’s Frozen with Anna, Elsa and Olaf. Sing-along to over 30 songs during moments from Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story, Finding Dory, Disney’s The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and more in a show to leave your whole family captivated with memories to last a lifetime. We have been to several Disney on Ice performances and the kids ALWAYS have a great time.  I remember going when I was a kid and it's nice to carry on the tradition with my kids, my nieces and my nephews.  The kids always have a great time and we are looking forward to seeing Disney on Ice 100 Years of Magic at Orac...

I am so excited to share a sneak peek at Disney's upcoming sequel to the classic, Mary Poppins. Fans will delight in seeing Dick Van Dyke, not as the chimney sweep we all loved but in a new role.  In Disney’s MARY POPPINS RETURNS, an all-new original musical and sequel, Mary Poppins is back to help the next generation of the Banks family find the joy and wonder missing in their lives following a personal loss. Emily Blunt stars as the practically-perfect nanny with unique magical skills who can turn any ordinary task into an unforgettable, fantastic adventure and Lin-Manuel Miranda plays her friend Jack, an optimistic street lamplighter who helps bring light—and life—to the streets of London. MARY POPPINS RETURNS is directed by Rob Marshall.  The film also stars Ben Whishaw as Michael Banks; Emily Mortimer as Jane Banks; Julie Walters as the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen; Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and introducing Joel Dawson as the Banks’ children, with Colin Firth ...

Tori Kelly is one of those singers you've seen and heard but just can't place.  The first time I saw her was on tv during a Prince tribute.  I remember reading an article in which he mentioned Kelly as one of his favorite new artists.   As a fan of "The Purple One", if Prince liked her then her music was definitely worth checking out. I imagine she was humbled when asked to perform in a tribute to one of her favorite artists.  I know I'd be over the moon with joy. Some of you may recognize Tori from an insurance company's jingle.  It's one of my favorite commercials as her vocals shine.  I was thrilled to receive a copy of her latest gospel CD, Hiding Place .  The 8 tracks co-written with the extraordinary artist, Kirk Franklin, are a treat for music lovers. Kelly acknowledges her intent was to record a gospel song as part of her pop album but she ended up recording an entire gospel CD instead.  Her powerhouse vocals standout on each...

My cousin and I were driving along and our tummies were rumbling as we crossed the Mississippi state line on US-82.  We didn't really have any particular dish in mind for lunch but we started seeing signs saying "Hot Tamales". "Hot Tamales", my Philly cousin asked. "Yep", I replied nonchalantly.  "I remember reading something about hot tamales being a big thing here in the Delta."   We kept driving and finally decided we would have to try these famous Mississippi Delta hot tamales. Now to decide which one.  There were literally dozens of tamale spots.  We happened upon a restaurant called Sho-Nuff and decided it was the one. We parked and entered the large, delightfully decorated restaurant.  The wall was plastered with local and national awards in recognition of those hot tamales.   There was a sign touting Sho-Nuff as the winner of the local newspaper's favorite restaurant award and 3rd place winner in the annual  Delta Hot T...

Let's face it, life is busy.  No ifs, ands, or buts.  Yet, there's nothing like a little meditation to relax the mind, body and spirit. Sometimes I kick back and relax with a warm mug of my favorite chai tea.  Sometimes I join a friend at a yoga class and other times I just relax in my comfy chair with a good book.  Calming my spirit has been a focus of late with so much going on in my life.  I'll be honest Summer 2018 wasn't the best for me. My faith has really helped me as I navigate the challenges the year has thrown my way.  There were several quiet moments I sat in prayer just praying for the strength to stop crying. My mind was cognizant my tears were doing little to remedy the hurt of my current situation. My heart at times felt broken.  My body weak. The emotional battle was taking a toll on me physically and spiritually. The Bible has always been a respite for me.  I escape in its tales of courage, hope, perseverance and wis...

I am so excited to share some of the September releases from Faith Words books.  Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Group, offers some of the most inspirational reads for readers of all ages. Let's start with Give Them Jesus by Dr. Dillon T. Thornton. When Hubby and I moved from Cali to his home state, we joined the church he attended growing up.  I was accustomed to large places of worship with multiple service times.  This church was a small church on a huge lot with one worship service.  Never would I have imagined this small group of worshippers would play such a huge role in my life. They have over the course of the last 17 years become my family. We meet every Sunday for worship service at 10 A.M., Sundays at 9 for Sunday School,  Wednesdays at 6 P.M. for Mid Week Bible Study and Thursday evenings for choir rehearsal.  That's it and that's all.   Our oldest member is in her 90s and she taught many of the parishioners when t...

My kids are fans of "Did You Know" books.  You know those books full of random facts. We recently received a review copy of the book  Absolutely Everything!: A History of Earth, Dinosaurs, Rulers, Robots and Other Things Too Numerous to Mention. The book by author and TedX speaker Christopher Lloyd is definitely a "Did You Know" book and a pretty interesting read. Christopher Lloyd presents Absolutely Everything! : A History of Earth, Dinosaurs, Rulers, Robots and Other Things Too Numerous to Mention (10/16/2018; ISBN: 978-1-9998-0283-7; Hardcover $21.99; What on Earth Publishing) – a comprehensive look at the history of Earth, from the Big Bang to the ways in which we can shape the future, for readers ages 10–14. Each chapter of this educational and entertaining narrative focuses on a different period and travels the globe from a legendary Chinese Empress said to have invented silk, to researchers figuring out how ancient Egyptian embalmers really got t...

Joyce Meyer is one of my favorite writers.  Her books are so inspirational and she gives it to you straight.  I am honored to partner with Faith Words to give away one copy of "Healing the Soul of a Woman ", Meyer's latest book. Far too often we hear stories of sexual and violent assaults against women and girls of all ages.  The wounds of abuse linger long after the assault but there is hope.  There is healing. Can a woman who has been deeply hurt by life’s circumstances be healed, heart and soul? If she has been wounded by a man she loved and trusted, can she love and trust again? As a woman who endured years of abuse, abandonment, and betrayal by those closest to her, Joyce Meyer can answer with a resounding “yes!” An internationally renowned Bible teacher-- Joyce not only shares Biblical truth-- but she also draws on her own history of abuse to show women how Christ’s redeeming love heals emotional wounds and brings joy to life. Joyce's bestseller Beauty...