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movies on demand: take two {movie pack giveaway}

By Nicole · Comments (114)

Sunday, November 20th, 2011

Update: The winner of this giveaway is #14, Nicholas!

You may remember a while back when I shared our Friday night tradition. Well, its still alive and well and still something our family looks forward to most weeks.

We’ve tried all the popular movie venues (besides paying eleventy billion dollars to go to the actual movie theatre). For us, waiting a few months for a movie to be released to video is a small price to pay in exchange for some nice savings. We’ve done Netflix, Redbox and even the local library. But by far the most convenient and fastest way to view the new releases we’re waiting for is with Movies on Demand.

With just a couple of clicks through the robust library, we have the movie of our choice for $4.99. And I love how I have it for 24 hours from the time I order it. A few movies on our wish list?

Conan The Barbarian (available 11/22)
Cars 2 (available now)
Super 8 (available 11/22)
The Help (available not soon enough)

Movies on Demand has two Facebook apps for your entertainment as well…List It (where you can list your weekly top 5 movie choices and enter to win a $5 daily credit or a 43″ 3D TV) and my favorite, Click Your Flick where you can have your friends help you decide which movie to watch next.

WIN IT! Enter to win a movie prize pack… a $25 Visa Card, a Fast Five T-Shirt, and a Movies on Demand tote bag! (US entries only). Enter below by doing any or all of the following (please leave a separate comment for each):

Leave a comment telling me what new movie you’re waiting to see.
Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page
Like The Pixel Boutique on Facebook
Like Movies On Demand on Facebook
Follow Movies On Demand on Twitter
Tweet about this giveaway using the hash tag #moviesondemand up to once a day
Need a suggestion? Tweet this: “Win a Movies On Demand movie pack (includes a $25 Visa card) http://is.gd/VWJmTy #moviesondemand”

Giveaway ends December 4 at 11:59 pm MST.

Disclosure: This promotional sponsored post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. I was compensated for my time investment and work on this campaign. Thoughts are my own.

Comments (114)

TGIF: Movies On Demand Giveaway

By Nicole

Monday, February 21st, 2011

I love Fridays. Who doesn’t, right? End of the week…beginning of the weekend…the exciting night life…

Around these parts, the “exciting night life” consists of a few bowls of popcorn and a movie the whole family can watch. My kiddos are a little older now (9, 11 & 14) and we feel comfortable with most PG and PG-13 flicks. Sometimes if we come across one that’s questionable, we’ll preview it first. Its become quite a tradition and something we all look forward to.

We rarely will go to the theater to see a movie. There are special times we will, but there are so many benefits to movie night at home:

Its CHEAPER! (I would double bold that if I could…right?)
You can pause and take little potty breaks
You can rewind and answer all the “Wait, I’m confused” questions
My popcorn is better (usually Orville Redenbacher Fat Free Butter Microwave Popcorn with pretzels and peanut butter M & Ms)
It’s way more comfy on the couch with pillows and blankets all spread around

One of the ways we get the latest movies out there is with Movies on Demand through our cable company. With a few clicks of the remote and $4.99, we have the movie of our choice for the next 24 hours. And there’s so much more than new release movies too. I love the My Primetime and Freezone sections. Watching television on my schedule…I’m all about that.

With the Academy Awards approaching, Movies On Demand has made it simple to keep up with the nominated movies this year. (And I dont know about you, but this isnt something I typically follow or keep track of.) But on their Facebook page, you can use the How Many Have You Seen poll and keep track of what all the buzz is about. Not only that, you can enter two win a 3D HDTV for your own movie night! Check out the link above for all the deets (as well as more info on how to order movies, etc.)

WIN IT! Want in on some Movies on Demand fun? Enter to win a $25 gift card!

Here’s what you can do to get an entry. Receive one entry for the $25 gift card giveaway for each option below. Whatever options you choose, just leave a separate comment telling me what you did…

“Like” the Movies On Demand Facebook Page here
Take the How Many Have You Seen poll
“Like” the Pixel Boutique Facebook Page here
Post this on the Movies On Demand wall… “Enter to win a $25 Movies On Demand Gift Card at The Pixel Boutique!” (one daily)
Answer the question “Do you have a “movie night” tradition in your family?” in a comment
Tweet about this giveaway with this hashtag: #moviesondemand (one daily)
Post about this giveaway on your Facebook page (one daily)

Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. MST on Monday, March 7.

That’s some good options, don’t you think? Good luck!

This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. I was compensated for my participation and time investment involved with this campaign. Thoughts are my own.

Toy Story 3 Review…And The Value of 3D?

By Nicole · Comments (5)

Friday, June 25th, 2010

A few days ago we went to see Toy Story 3. We have extended family in town who wanted to see it in 3D…more on that later. But first, my impression on the movie.

It was cute. It was meaningful and touching in all the right places. I felt like it kept in line with the Toy Story tone and message. The plot was clever and the attention to detail and graphics were indescribable, in true Disney style.

I could have done with about 30 minutes less of death defying escape sequences. And the whole inanimate objects given human emotions would have made me a little psychotic if I saw it as a child. All that pressure playing with my toys equally? Too much for this “feel responsible for everyone’s happiness” personality.

But all in all a great family movie.

Yet, the 3D experience? Not so impressed. First of all, I went expecting to pay around $5 per person for a matinee. I can stomach that. But at my particular Century theater, 3D (called XD to make it sound better, I guess) movies aren’t available at matinee prices. So rather than $5 per ticket, it was $14 for me and my 13 year old and $11 for my two younger ones…for a grand total of $50.

Choke.

Yes, the 3D effect was ok and the leather seats were nice, but $50 for a two hour experience is too rich for this mom-on-a budget’s blood. I’m more of a $9 a month Netflix kind of girl…where I can keep a movie as long as I want and I get a whole slue of movies and tv episodes instantly on my Wii (that was an unpaid advertisement for Netflix, thankyouverymuch).

And just for kicks and giggles (and rants…) lets just see what else $50 will buy you:

More than 5 months of Netflix (as previously mentioned)
A monthly city water bill
4 chickens for one or more families or 1 1/2 months of clean water, food, health care and education for a World Vision sponsored child
A year membership at Costco
A couple new outfits at the thrift store
Several music lessons for your kids (heard of NAMTA? Its a free service connecting music teachers and students)
A Wii game
A monthly orthodontics payment
A good cut and blow dry
Dinner with friends over

I’m totally aware that its all about what you value. If you value the 3D experience and that’s your thing, then by all means…enjoy. I really have nothing against that. I’m sure there are plenty of people who wouldn’t dream of paying for pre-grated cheese, DVR service and scrapbook supplies, like I do.

Its just seems that movie going isn’t much of a family friendly experience. You need to take out a small loan if you plan on taking the whole family, getting popcorn and…3D?

I’m choking again just thinking about it.

Comments (5)

Life.

By Nicole · Comments (4)

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Wow. The last two weeks have been a whirlwind. Let me indulge you, just a bit, to shed light on why I’ve been so silent…

Spring break decided to sneak up on me, after I scheduled a whole bunch of (wonderful) blog design projects. Sometimes I’m not a very good planner-aheader. Cant wait to share them with you…

All 3 boys and The Mr. succumbed to the worst stomach flu I’ve witnessed in my 13 years of being a mother. Mercifully, I was spared, I guess so I could rinse out sheets, do loads of laundry, buy more 7-up and Gatorade, and the like.

We had a delightful visit from Hubby’s cousins and aunt. (here’s hoping they didn’t go home with the a fore mentioned flu…).

Little league season is officially here…and I love it! Its my favorite sport to watch. We spent Saturday at the park, dedicating the new ball park and opening the season.

There were a few birthday parties, lunching with friends, and some good movies, too. I’m ashamed at how many…but it was Spring Break (thank goodness for the “cheap theater” and Netflix)! We (and sometimes just “I”) saw…Avatar, Blind Side, District 9, Planet 51, Amelia, and 500 Days of Summer. Blind Side was by far my favorite.

And last but not least, the house alarm, and my nerves, were both tested yesterday when I got a voicemail when I was leaving church that our alarm was activated. Waiting outside my house 15 minutes later while the nice sheriff deputy thoroughly searched my house was one of the longest 5 minutes of my life. Luckily, the door in question was either blown open by the wind or if there was a “perp” (or scumbag, as I’d like to call him…), the alarm scared him away. As I’m sure did the barking, killer dog that surely would have ripped him apart. Scumbag, you’ve been warned.

All in all a good few weeks. But I sure do love my normal routine.

I’m back.

So, how’ve you been?