Disney Home Entertainment; PG; 129 minutes

Arriving tomorrow on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital HD from Walt Disney Home Entertainment is this year's smash-hit Beauty and the Beast. Directed by Bill Condon, the film stars Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, Gugu Mbatha-raw, Emma Thompson, and Ian McKellen.

Based on the Disney's 1991 animated film of the same name (which was based on eighteenth-century fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont), Beauty and the Beast centers on a cold-hearted prince (played by Dan Stevens), who is cursed by an enchantress. The curse turns him into a monstrous beast and also turns all of his servants into household items. The enchantress puts a spell on one single rose. Unless the princes finds true love before the rose's last petal falls, he will become a monster forever.

Years later, a widow father named Maurice (played by Kevin Kline), gets lost in the woods and stumbles upon the Beast's castle, where he comes upon a rose garden. After attempting to steal a rose to bring back home for his daughter, Belle (played by Emma Watson), the Beast catches Maurice and tosses him into a dungeon.

After finding her father's horse, Belle goes out to look for him, and she too stumbles upon the castle, where she makes a deal with the Beast to take her father's place in exchange for his release.

While the Beast has no other intention than to just keep her imprisoned, his servants have other plans for her. They are hoping that Belle is the one who will help break the Beast's curse, thus turning them all back into their human forms.


The bonus features on the Blu-ray and Digital HD includes:

• Enchanted Table Read – Join the cast for the movie’s elaborately staged table read, complete with singing and dancing to live music, set pieces and more.

• A Beauty of a Tale – Explore the process of transforming a beloved animated film into a new live-action classic.

• The Women Behind “Beauty and the Beast” – Emma Watson introduces several of the talented women in all aspects of production who helped bring this enchanted tale to life.

• Making a Moment with Celine Dion – Celine Dion shares what it’s like to sing “How Does a Moment Last Forever” – and be a part of the legacy of “Beauty and the Beast.”

Last week was a little hectic for me, so I didn't have too much time for reading. I'm currently reading Into The Water by Paula Hawkins, which I had planned on reading last week. If everything goes as planned, I'm going to finish reading the book this week and return it to the library on Saturday.

I believe I should have started 2017 with a New Year's Resolution of not procrastinating! It seems this has become a problem with me when it comes to reviewing things on here. Case in point, I had received 4 sample flavors of Protein Energy Power earlier this year, but for some reason or another I had left them sitting on my desk collecting dust. Nevertheless, I'm finally getting around to reviewing the samples.

What exactly is Protein Energy Powder?

Well, it's a protein powder mix made with natural peanut protein. It doesn't contain soy or whey protein. It's also GMO Free, as well as being free of artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners.

Protein Energy Power is currently available in four flavors: Original, Banana, Chocolate, and Honey. One serving has 170 total calories, if mixed with only water. If you use milk, the calories will be slightly higher. Each serving contains 17 grams of protein, 100mg of plant derived Omega 3, and 25 vitamins and minerals. It also has an enzyme and probiotic blend.

When did you become interested in storytelling?

Oh boy, when wasn’t I interested in storytelling? At the age of four, I told my mom I would no longer watch Sesame Street because it was an insult to my intelligence, grabbed my doodle pad, and started drawing something I wanted to watch. I’ve heard this story from my family many times. I don’t know what I drew, and I’m sure I heard Sesame Street was an insult to my intelligence from one of my four older siblings, but my mom swears this was the beginning of writing for me. It may have been through pictures, but she says I always lived in my own little world.

What was your first book/story published?

Waking Up. It’s the first of a two book story for Tucker and Adriana and the beginning of the Healing Hearts Series.

What inspired you to write Sevyn?

Sevyn was inspired by 7 Years by Lukas Graham. The first time I heard the song I didn’t hear all the words. It just sounded like a song about a boy growing up, but it stuck in my head, and suddenly an idea sparked. In the twenty minutes I waited for my son to get out of work, I had this dark, twisted story played out in my mind.

What character in Sevyn is the most/least like you, and in what ways?

I don’t know that any of the characters in Sevyn are like me. I definitely didn’t see myself in them as I was writing it, but if I had to pick something I would say it’s that many of the characters are fierce in the love they feel for their family. I am a total homebody who has never broken the law, so I am in no way like the characters in this story. I don’t like killing bugs. I’m not sure how I even came up with this one, but I’m glad I did. Kevyn’s story needed to be told.

What is your favorite part in Sevyn?

Let's face it -- Cornhole is awesome! For those who aren't familiar with the game, the object is to get colorful, little pouches of sand into a hole cut into a board. The harder the throw or the position you throw from the greater the points. There are even official guidelines on the size of the cornhole field and how big the board and hole should be. This is not simply a carnival game ... Cornhole is a serious business.

Yet, it can be drab as well. For serious players, all that's needed is the board and hole. For others, especially younger players, the more decorated the board is the better. It draws their eyes to the target and can possibly help them be more accurate on their throws.

So, how to decorate? Well, painting is always an easy go-to. If preparing this for a carnival or other kids program consider getting the children involved in the design and the painting. The biggest thing to avoid is surrounding the hole on the board with dark colors. This confuses the thrower. When designing, consider incorporating a pattern which makes the hole feel natural.