#mnomovie

Moms’ Night Out #NMN014

I was selected to host a Moms’ Night Out party by MomSelect in honor of the new movie, Moms’ Night Out, which opened in theaters on May 9th.  This film features a great cast with some very familiar stars, Sarah Drew (Grey’s Anatomy), Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings), Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond, The Middle), and even country music singer Trace Adkins.  The executive producers are…

Mother's Day gift ideas from shumbodynamedharry

The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam (SWFEC) will get a different kind of exposure this weekend with the release of the new movie “Moms Night Out” featuring Patricia Heaton, the well-known star of Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle, Sarah Drew (Grey’s Anatomy), Sean Astin (LORD OF THE RINGS) and platinum-selling country recording artist Trace Adkins.

In the movie, the eagle parents, Harriet & Ozzie, are showcased as role models in tending to their young’s needs and providing constant shelter, protection and nourishment. “So many times we have heard how life mimics nature and what amazing parents Harriet & Ozzie are to their young,” says Andy Pritchett, the project manager for the camera and son of landowner Richard Pritchett. “We couldn’t be more pleased to partner with the producers to make this happen and hope this will help grow our network of viewers and continue to keep the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam on the map.”

In the story, Allyson (Sarah Drew) and her friends long for a peaceful, grown-up evening of dinner and talk–a long-overdue “moms’ night out.” But to indulge in high heels, adult conversation, and not having to cut anyone else’s meat, their husbands will need to watch the kids for a few hours. What could go wrong? Watch the trailer for some hilarious and possible ideas! 

To View the movie trailer:CLICK HERE

MOMS’ NIGHT OUT is a Kevin Downes Production of an Erwin Brothers Film.  MOMS' NIGHT OUT is directed by The Erwin Brothers, and produced by Kevin Downes in association with Four Boys Films and Pure Flix Entertainment.

History of the Eagles  Harriet and Ozzie have been calling North Fort Myers their winter home for over twenty years and typically reside in the nest between the months of October and April.  This active pair of birds have been laying eggs and raising fledgling eagles for the past several years.  During season one of the SWFEC, the eagle couple, whom mate for life, hatched two eaglets. Facebook followers of SWFEC, voted on the names of the eaglets and then faithfully tuned in as they developed, fledged the nest March 25 and left the area in late May. Season two brought on new challenges and memories for viewers with one sibling perishing early in the season and the surviving eaglet,E4, developing slowly but successfully fledging the nest. 

About Dick Pritchett Real Estate Founded in 1950 by Richard H. (Dick) Pritchett Jr., Dick Pritchett Real Estate has been serving Southwest Florida for over 60 years. Specializing in commercial, industrial and residential lots, Dick Pritchett Real Estate is a family owned and operated company that helps clients with every aspect of buying or selling real estate. Calling Southwest Florida home, Dick Pritchett Real Estate strives to provide customers with top notch service by helping clients find the location that best suits their current and future needs. For more information, visit our website at http://www.dickpritchettrealestate.com.

The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Foundation was created by the Pritchett family so viewers and philanthropists can donate to help maintain the camera for future live streams and projects. To learn more or to donate, click here. 

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[Previously] I chose to make the day about me instead of focusing on the blessing of being a mother and honoring the other women in my life who influenced me. After a few years of wallowing in self-pity every Mother’s Day, I finally realized that I was robbing myself of joy, not those around me.

Since then, I have found great joy in focusing on other women in my life. I appreciate my mother-in-law who nurtured my amazing man. My grandmothers who spoiled me, told me Bible stories, and made cookies. My aunts who had me visit for sleepovers, threw great birthday parties for me, and took me shopping. And I spend time remembering my mom and allow myself to grieve and miss her.

There are many other women surrounding me who are deserving of honor. My friend Kathy who has never given birth or adopted but selflessly fosters children in need as a single mom. I have friends who are expected to be both the mother and father to their children while juggling a career and household. My neighbor, Mrs. Moody, may be finished with the active role of mothering with her children grown, but she still yearns for the attention and affection of children. The military family in my children’s school whose mom is serving overseas may need a little mothering from me. The new mother in church could use a nap and someone to rock the baby for an hour or two.

When I focus on others, I realize how blessed I am to be a mother and how many other women deserve thanks for teaching me how! Who can you bless this Mother’s Day?

(See more:  http://momlifetoday.com/2011/05/mothers-day-or-me-day/

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The MOMS’ NIGHT OUT team cannot wait to share this movie with moms all across the country next week! And Laurie Chimento, Director of Marketing for Provident Films, got to start early by hosting three moms and their guests who won a national contest and attended our red carpet premiere this week.  Laurie shared with The Mom Factor her experience spending the day with these lovely ladies:

As a mom of two young children, there are days when I feel less like a mom and more like a “cat-herder.” While those days can be somewhat frustrating, it’s a small price to pay for such a great reward.

 Earlier this week, I did something I’ve never done before: I served as a “mom-herder!” And I must admit, it was a lot easier than herding cats.

Three moms and theirs guests experienced a "bucket-list" type adventure experience at the MOMS' NIGHT OUT premiere in Hollywood. Their prize package included dress shopping with star Sarah Drew, hair and make-up styling, a limo to take them around town, and rubbing elbows (quite literally as the after party was packed) with the stars, directors, and producers of the film.

All of this makes for some fun video (as you will soon see), but what I enjoyed most from my "mom-herder" vantage point was witnessing the best of what mothers are and can be through these ladies' reactions to the experience. Despite weather-related flight delays, air-conditioning issues at the salon, and LOTS of stairs in super-high heels, these ladies kept going like the champions that they are.

Here’s what I was reminded of this week …

Moms are thankful and humbled. Moms are self-sacrificing. Moms are gracious. Moms find it difficult to let others take care of them, but are quick to help others in need. Moms are strong. Moms are sometimes insecure about these child-bearing bodies, but wise enough to know that the beautiful product of any physical change is well worth it. Moms are BEAUTIFUL—inside and out! Their smiles … their love … their common bond of motherhood. We've all been in the trenches of parenthood and understand: it's sometimes hard and often messy.

As the MOMS’ NIGHT OUT premiere was about to begin, I sat in the famous Chinese Theatre with these truly winning moms and reveled in the bond that we share and what this movie represents … us.

Exhausted but renewed, I hope they went home with more than a new dress and a killer pair of high heels. I hope they know how beautiful and important they truly are.

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“I am a Mom and that is enough.”

“Being a Mom is… Important.”

What profound statements. Yes, we hear it all the time, but do you really understand the gravity of this job title? Last month, something happened that made me step back and think. I was invited to see [a screening] of MOMS’ NIGHT OUT.

…I’m so glad I made it to see the movie, because I haven’t stopped thinking about the message and I think I breathe a little easier because of it. What was so profound about the movie, you ask? Here’s my take and 4 reasons why if you are a Mother, you HAVE to go see this movie. (You can thank me later.)

1. They brought me in as the star of the movie. I mean, I think that the movie literally stole pages of my life (and many of my friends’ lives). They read my mind and said what I wanted people to hear about how we as mothers, wives, friends, and women are portrayed. They nailed it. I don’t know how many focus groups they did to get the real life portrayal of what it is like to actually be in the trenches as a stay-at-home Mom or work-away-from-home Mom, but man, they got it.

2. They portrayed the struggles of [motherhood] perfectly. …Rewarding and frustrating, hilarious yet traumatizing, exhilarating yet we feel so exhausted at the end of the day. No wonder our nerves are shot our tempers are short, our minds are fried and all we want to do at the end of the day is curl up in a corner, hide from the house, the kids, the mess or even tomorrow, yet we call this parenting gig the greatest thing that will have ever happened to us. …MOMS’ NIGHT OUT was able to capture those emotions and bring to the surface that we aren’t the only ones feeling that way. Many mothers feel the same way…many just don’t blog or display their emotions publicly so I get it…I’m not alone.

3. They said what every Mother wants, I mean NEEDS to hear. I laughed hysterically, I cried and really reflected about myself during this movie. (AND I was actually by myself! CRAZY! And hadn’t seen a movie in at least a year let alone had more than 5 minutes to my real self in what has felt like eternity!) I needed that hour and half of unplugged Mom time and the movie was a perfect reminder of why…

(See more: http://adventuresoftampamama.com/2014/04/30/4-reasons-all-moms-should-see-moms-night-out/)

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I have to say that it has been a long time since I laughed till I cried, especially at the movie theater where Hollywood’s idea of comedy rarely produces anything worthy of a good laugh. That changed for me when I went to see the screening for MOMS’ NIGHT OUT. I don’t usually endorse movies, even good ones, but this one is different. I really did laugh—a good kind of laugh that brought tears. It seemed most everyone else in the theater did the same.

MOMS’ NIGHT OUT is a refreshing and worthwhile comedy—a crazy, high-energy, laugh-‘til-you-cry film that most every mother and grandmother will instantly relate to and enjoy. But guess what? So will every dad and granddad. In fact, it is a film every member of the family, young and old, will love and get. This rib-splitting comedy brings the realities of parenthood to the big screen with exaggerated, over-the-top adventures that bring the real-life realities of parenthood (especially for moms) into sharp focus for all of us.

The message that being a Mom is hard, and that it is the most important role in the world, is presented in a poignant and tender way by the character you might least expect to deliver it.

This film is not just about moms and a well-deserved break. It’s also about the joy and importance (and chaos) of life, marriage, family and friends all at the same time. The crazy antics in this film remind us to not take ourselves so seriously sometimes, and that life does manage to continue with some successes in spite of ourselves. We are all human, and even when we occasionally do some off-the-wall (even stupid) things, God does not leave us hanging out there by ourselves.

So why am I telling you about the movie, MOMS’ NIGHT OUT, in a grandparenting blog? Because as a grandparent, I believe ‘grand-moms’ need a mom’s night out too. This movie is a powerful and fun way to let them know how much they are valued as mothers and grandmothers. After all, grandmothers still understand the pressures and challenges of motherhood. In fact, many of you have been forced to step into the role of ‘mom’ a second time. It’s hard enough being a mom when you’re young, but to now assume that role with your own grandchildren can feel overwhelming at times. Yet you do it with courage, perseverance, and love. In my book, that makes you worthy of double honor. It’s time for a well-deserved ‘mom’s night out’ for you…

(See more:  http://www.christiangrandparenting.net/blogs/not-on-my-watch/691-when-was-the-last-time-you-really-laughed)

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#momstakehollywood

Don’t you figure deep down inside Hollywood types just want to be treated like everyone else? I suppose most are just regular peeps placed in extraordinary circumstances and those around them lift them up to positions they don’t necessarily want to be lofted to! At least those who stay grounded no doubt feel that way.

That was very true when I observed the cast of MOMS’ NIGHT OUT this past summer during filming. What I saw were humble, hard working, family folk that were doing a job they enjoy, with great joy! I have met a few personally and each was gracious and quite ordinary—in the best of ways!

I am a MOMS’ NIGHT OUT fan of epic proportions—but not because of the typical fascination with Hollywood types.

Here’s what you must know: The movie MOMS’ NIGHT OUT is most unique in what it brings to the screen. MOMS’ NIGHT OUT is a rip-roaring fun comedy that left me nodding and laughing continuously . . . I’m talking snort-laughing! All this revelry and laughter is wrapped around a true-to-life messy mom-life, peppered with a brilliant depiction of the daily feelings moms have of “not measuring up” and the paralyzing feeling of being woefully under qualified and completely overwhelmed.

The MOMS’ NIGHT OUT cast seemed to grasp the importance of the movie they were making, no doubt due to the contagious enthusiasm and heartfelt meaning the directors brought to the making of the movie. The Erwin brothers’ utmost desire in MOMS’ NIGHT OUT is to honor the high calling of motherhood and the plot lines honor moms (and fathers and family) in fantastical ways. But more than that, through their expertly woven themes of God’s grace and Jesus’ love . . . in the end, they manage to leave an engaged audience wanting to know more about Jesus. (Watch for an especially brilliant scene with Trace Atkins and Sarah Drew.)

Truly, as a woman who has invested two decades in ministry to moms, MOMS’ NIGHT OUT is the movie I would have made had I been asked. This is why I am in awe of God allowing me to get that phone call in February where I was asked to write a LifeWay Bible Study to accompany the movie. Only God could make that happen.

Here’s the crazier thing . . . I have been invited to the Hollywood premiere of MOMS’ NIGHT OUT. Say what? Little southern girl? I actually am leaving at home my cowboy boots and blue jeans, donning a spiffy dress, clinging tightly to my handsome husband’s arm and being a smiling all over myself, soak it all in guest for all the festivities!

This little southern lady is hoping not be star struck, but be the encourager God has made me to be and let those involved with MOMS’ NIGHT OUT know that the moms of the world are excited and grateful for their hard work!

And I plan to let this little light of mine shine all over Hollywood—watch out wait staff, bell hops, Hollywood types, and anyone else Jesus puts in my path!

I don’t quite understand how it happened . . . but God made it happen, so I am going to soak it all up, be bold and get lotsa pictures so I can share all the fun with you! #momstakehollywood #momsnightout

It will be fun . . . but for me, I hope you know . . . it’s all about Jesus!

(See more: http://traceyster.com/2014/04/momstakehollywood/)

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