The Help - A movie experience sure to move you {Giveaway}

Just under three years ago, I sat there watching the television as President Obama was inaugurated.  Through my tears I tried to explain to my young boys why I was crying, but they just didn't understand.  How could they?  They world they are growing up in is so different from the world sixty years ago.  Was I a huge fan of President Obama?  No.  But in all honesty I wasn't a fan of any of the candidates that year.  I was crying tears of pride, because of the tangible proof of how much we as a country had evolved from so many of the tragic incidents and indignities of the past. 

American Society has evolved and grown.  As a child of the '70's it is easy to forget how much has changed in society and how much we truly have to be thankful for.  I think it is so important for all of us to look back and learn about the history of our country so we don't take for granted the freedoms we really do have now.

I recently had the chance to see an advance screening of The Help (out in theaters in two days August 10th!).  What a powerful movie (and that is such a huge understatement).  I don't believe there was a dry eye in the entire theater.  I was warned that it was emotional, but I wasn't prepared for how much I would be touched by the movie.  Until that night, I had forgotten all the stories my mother had told me about her youth and their "help".  My mother lived a very privileged youth and grew up with lots of "help".  She learned to cook, clean and love from the "help". To say they were loved, respected and cherished by her would be an understatement.

If you haven't made plans to go see The Help, I can't speak highly enough of how important this movie is to see.  Grab your daughter (teenager) or girlfriends and make a night of it - I promise it will be a powerful night full of thought provoking conversations after.

Already know you're going to love the movie?  I have a giveaway for The Help movie items!

• THE HELP t-shirt in adult female sizes of S, M, L, XL
• THE HELP pocket jotter & pen
• THE HELP fan
• THE HELP nail file/mirror

  
  

  Giveaway will end Monday August 22nd, 2011 at 12 midnight pacific time.  A winner will be drawn using random.org and I reserve the right to draw another winner if I am not able to get mailing address information in a timely manner.  Giveaway is only open to residents of the contiguous US and Canada.

  
  

  Here's how to enter: 

  Mandatory First Entry... comment and share one thing you appreciate has changed in society today that your children will never experience (this can be related to the subject of racism or not).

  
  

  Additional entries will be accepted for becoming a Facebook fan of OCMomActivities, following on Twitter, posting about this giveaway on your Facebook page.  You can also get an additional entry by becoming a fan of the Help Movie on Facebook.  Please be sure you leave me a way to reach you!

  
  

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Out in Theaters in Now - Despicable Me

Last night we had the chance to see an advance screening of Despicable Me.  Gotta say... it was a pretty funny movie.  It was full of the great one liners that parents will enjoy and kids will laugh at... but not necessarily understand what makes it so funny to adults. 

At the beginning of the movie I was a bit concerned about whether it would be good or not because it isn't "normal" to have a good kids movie based on an evil character. The story ended up being pretty moving and certainly a good story.  As far as kid movies go... we certainly enjoyed this one and I'd be more than happy to see it again (which says a lot in my book because I don't normally like watching movies more than once!).

If you happen to watch it in 3-D... be sure to linger in to watch the credits.  The minions were hilarious...

Despicable Me is out in theaters now.  For more video clips you can go here.

Below is a particularly funny clip from the movie

 
 and as per the request of my boys... they were laughing endlessly at this video mix clip we found:

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Family Movie Night- "Night at the Museum"

If you had asked me during the first 15 minutes of the movie, I would have told you it was another dud that kids loved, but really wasn't entertaining for the parents. I was pleasantly surprised to see the movie take a different turn and truly become entertaining for the whole family! When the characters started coming to life during the movie, there were some great one liners that had our entire family laughing. We'd definitely recommend this one for a family movie night.

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