Horrid Henry School Holidays Giveaway

Have you ever read Francesa Simon's Horrid Henry books? Well. Maybe not you, but your kids?

They are very, very good. The Doctor adores them. They are funny, and clever - and just what little people like. Humour that's totally read-able, a little bit of mischief and a few illustrations tossed in.

But did you know they made a film of Horrid Henry? Just like the books, it is super good - and stars the ever-beautiful Angelica Huston, the cerebral and stylish Richard E. Grant. It's a great film - and Tiny loves it (she's four), just as the Doctor does (he's seven) just as Matt and I both do (we're in our 30s).

The good news is I have a Horrid Henry giveaway. One that's perfect for the Winter school holidays.

There will be two winners. One winner will receive the Horrid Henry DVD and a hard cover activity book. The runner up will receive one copy of the HH DVD.
All you have to do to enter is tell me in 25 words or less (and I am strict so I don't get into trouble with the law):

What was so horrid about you when you were small?

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Open to Australian residents only
Entries are open from Saturday 30th June 2012 - winners will be announced on the PottyMouthMama Facebook page on Wednesday 4th July 2012.
You must be easily contactable.
There will be no disputes, no arguing and strictly no haggling over the winners.
PottyMouthMama is the judge of all entries.
PS - I love you.

Dr's Orders:: Yogi Bear Review

It's cold and chilly and the four of us are curled up watching 'Yogi Bear'. We've already watched it together a few times, and it's still drawing laughter from us.

Featuring the voices of Dan Akroyd (Yogi) and Justin Timberlake (Boo Boo), the two bears' bumbling schemes are a recipe for disaster and laughter.
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So what do you like about Yogi Bear?
The Doctor: All of it.
Tiny: I like about Yogi Bear.


What bits make you laugh?
The Doctor: I can't remember. Sometimes when the fireworks go off. And the other funny bit that makes me laugh is him riding on the armadillo.
Tiny: Barbies.

How many times have you watched this?

The Doctor: Maybe 4. Or 5. Or 6. Maybe 7. Or 5.

Tiny: 2 Mum.


Who do you like best, Yogi or Boo Boo?
The Doctor: Yogi.

Tiny: I don't know which is the other's one name.

And is it scary?

The Doctor: No. It's funny.

Tiny: Yeah it's funny too.

Does it make you want to go on a pic-a-nic?

The Doctor: It makes me hungry and makes me want to go on a pic-a-nic.

What's one of Yogi's favourite sayings?

The Doctor: Smarter than the average bear.

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The Doctor has given Yogi Bear 100 stars (out of 5) and Tiny who doesn't give a toss about stars gave it 4.

This is the Doctor's and Tiny's review of the new DVD, available to own 15 June, for your viewing pleasure. On repeat. Over and over again. And then a few more times. So then you know it by rote. The end.

Encouraging Children

The Doctor started Kindergarten this year. He likes it, but I'd never go so far to say he loves it. Lately he's been sick, and I'm not stretching the truth when I say we've visited the (medical) doctor five or six times in as many weeks. The Doctor has been sick for this long, missed out on long stretches of school, and in the last three school days, gone to sick bay and I've picked him up by 11:30am, three times.

And before anyone goes gangbusters - the reason I sent him to school is: when he wakes up, he's fine, so I think - great, time for school, and then he goes on that wave of feeling ill again. It's a tricky business deciphering true illness, and the lack of want to go to school.

Last night at dinner the Doctor told us that some kids were laughing at him.

This isn't the first time something's happened that made him feel sad at school. Earlier in the year two year six boys teased him, told him to "get lost" and kicked him. It was quickly nipped in the bud when we raised it with his teacher.

But last night's reluctant conversation about some other Kindy kids laughing. It took me ages to get it out of him, and it's a difficult road to navigate, I don't want to make too much of a big deal about it, but I want to learn the truth so I can help him out of it.

Finally he told me that they laughed at him, called him "Babykins" and so on, and on more than one occasion.

To you and me, this may be nothing much. Maybe a small thing, but remember when you were 5 or 6 and these things stung. And humiliated. I remember being in Kindy and while we were painting our Santa faces, I painted my nails red with the paint. My teacher came over, ripped my Santa up, threw it in the bin and said: "Did I ask you to paint your nails?" - 26 years later I still remember that and can still conjure those awful feelings. I remember going home silently, and my mum asking me what was wrong. I burst into the front door - and promptly burst into tears.

My little man is a sensitive soul. How to bolster that confidence when it comes to these situations? How to empower? How to make him realise - that it's not him - it's them with the problem - whatever that is?

A while ago I won a copy of Ruby Who (by Hailey Bartholomew) from the beautiful Jody at Che & Fidel. As well as being a short film about not wishing for things you don't have, it's also about revelling in who you truly are. It is truly a delightful film that engages the smalls and has a great message.

How do you help your kids assert themselves?

image via I Like To Be Me

The Princess & the Frog

I will be upfront and tell you that I'm not really into Princess movies unless they're set in Jane Austen's era, and they struggle through some hardships, fall in mud, have to eat gruel and aren't kissing frogs.

However, I had heard a great deal about Disney's The Princess & the Frog. And when I was given the chance to view the DVD ahead of launch, I jumped at the chance. It's the first time Disney have cast an African-American princess. It also heralds a return to the old-school style of animation, which I can totally get with. It's also set in 1920s New Orleans. And Oprah is in it (can I stop banging on about the big O?).

I had another motive for wanting to watch it. The Doctor had seen the promotional material when it came out at the cinemas and been loudly sprouting off about the fact that 'Tiny will like it because it's a girl's movie' - not sure where he gets these gender-stereotyping ideas, but they're certainly not from me.

I've watched it with the Doctor. It does have some dark moments. It does paint the lead 'Tiana' in a difficult light (she works hard, she's got smarts, she's not easily moved), and it does paint the blonde as a stereotypical princess - but hooorah! Hooorah! It illustrates that there is good and bad in everyone. There's lightness and darkness. But he was rapt.

I've even watched it with my 33 year old husband. I caught him laughing at times. In particular at two secondary characters - Louis the trumpet playing alligator who wants, wants, wants to be a human and to 'play with the big boys'; and Ray the little firefly.

Overall I think The Princess & the Frog is an enjoyable watch for the whole family. The Doctor liked it, even though there were some scary spirits flying about (even I thought they were a bit creepy) and it will be re-watched again. And again. And again.

Have you seen it?

The Princess & the Frog is out on DVD June 16.

I have not been compensated for this review.

Secret Crush

If Matt and I didn't ever meet I would like to think I would have met Ross Noble. Fallen madly in love, laughed so hard champagne came out my nose and my stomach muscles would hurt and laughter would be a work out in itself.

My love for Ross runneth over so much so that Matt hired Nobleism from me. We've been guffawing all weekend.

Noble is a nice surname,yes?

Who is your celebrity crush? Come on, tell me.

top image via timeout

bottom image via abc

Review: Last Ride

image via

New on DVD: Last Ride (2009)

Director: Glendyn Ivin (previous winner of Cannes Palme D'or - 2003)

I'm not sure if I have ever mentioned, but I am a big fan of Australian film. It's why when I saw Last Ride sitting on the shelf, I grabbed it. I couldn't wait to see the latest offering.

Hugo Weaving and Tom Russell star in this film about a father and son on the run through central Australia. It's a dark ride that held both Matt and I captive for the entire film (which is rare because I usually stop the film half-way and go to bed). The cinematography is beautiful, the scenery is incredible, and the story - heart-breaking and yet, there's a little hope in there too. I really was spellbound by this film.

The soundtrack is super good too.

I could easily watch this film again, to pick up on some of the shots I may have missed, and just to go on the Last Ride again.

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Classic Review:

The Pajama Game starring Doris Day (1957)

Apparently this is based on the hit Broadway Musical featuring the choreography of Bob Fosse. If this is a drawcard to you, then you should totes check it out. I hired it for the colours and the costumes. And as a bonus, it also features Hernando's Hideaway. OLE!

Light, pretty to look at. Content - are you going to punish me if I say a little flakey and sentimental (I fast-forwarded through some songs - too slow, go go go). I don't think I'll ever be rushing to re-rent this one. Sorry Doris.

Blogtoberfest Day 5: And I Call Myself a Film Buff. Or a Movie Sloth.

Last night Matt and I had a 'date' in our own living room. We don't get out much.

We set up our own little cinema, kicked back with a glass of vino, and watched Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.

I first 'met' Michael Sera when he starred in Juno. I think he's a lovable, cute little goofball. Who couldn't love him? With an ace soundtrack and a fun story, it's absolutely watchable. Apparently the book is good too. But I wouldn't know anything about that, would I? N&N's Infinite Playlist? ***. (That's three stars, not some random typo).

Blogtoberfest Day 4: Sleepy Sunday

Would you believe my feet are still roasted from Friday night? You better believe it. It's strictly ugg-ly (phrase c/- the Doctor) boots material around here at the mo'.

It's a long weekend here in Sydney so we've been going slow on the Sunday front. I've snuck in watching The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas while the smalls caught a few zzzz's. I must admit, I've not read the book, and I hate when I see a movie before I've read the book, I get the guilts, and this one in particular, I think I need to go back and read where it all begin. It's a great film, and well, it's got Rupert Friend.

It's a story told through the eyes of an eight year old boy living through the Holocaust, and it's a powerful story with an amazing cast.

I rate it **** in the PMM hall of films. (That's four stars, not to be confused with an expletive.)

The Movies I Don't Talk About

There are a lot of movies that I don't talk about. I watch a lot. Matt and I, we love a good movie. And we hate a bad one. I don't really talk about the bad ones. It's like I want to delete them from my mind. But then I think, well I should put up a lighthouse around them, alert the innocent to stay away - stay away. Don't waste your time! Watch a classic instead!

So here they are, just two of the movies I don't rate:

Made of Honour. No matter how desperate you are to see Patrick Dempsey, it ain't worth it. Matt wouldn't stay in the same room, and I fast forwarded. So bad. Unless you like a lot of cheese. But this is so cheesey it might well give you a heart attack. No amount of Patrick Dempsey viewing can redeem this atrocious waste of film.

He's Just Not That Into You. Scarlett Johanssen sends alarm bells ringing for me. That might mean I wind up being pelted with tomatoes, but really, she has huge hooties and acts the same in every. single. film. I mean she looks great, but she is a dud actress. Go on, throw a rotten tomato. I don't care. I'll stand by that. You go watch any of her films and you could mix and match her and you'd never notice a thing. NEVER!

And if I were Margaret and David, well I would absolutely give them a star rating, so here we go:

Made of Honour - * (that's one star)

He's Just Not That Into You - ** (that's two stars, only marginally better)