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Do you have pets? If so, have you considered throwing a pet party? Well, this is exactly what we did recently to celebrate our pets, and their humans. This party was themed for The Secret Life of Pets 2 movie, which is now available on Blu-ray, HD, DVD, and Digital. We found this cute branded bag, the doggie treat jar, the paw print frisbee, the tablecloth and the cups/ napkins/ plates at DollarTree. This was the beginning of our table setting before we downloaded the free printables available in the Free Pet Party Planner (scroll down to find out where to find it).

Check out these treats, Duke’s Doggie Donuts, that you can make using the instructional video in the bonus features of the movie. They were pretty easy to make, and they involve some pretty simple ingredients. You may want to get a donut tray though, before attempting these. These made for great snacks for our neighbor’s pups. The Party Planner has some other recipes you can prepare as well.

Duke’s Doggie Donuts

 

Free Pet Party Planner

Grab your free pet party planner available on their website. The planner features tons of activity sheets, and you can print out the number of copies you need so that each person can have them. They have coloring sheets, puzzles, creative time sheets, and even Bingo cards that the kids can play while watching the movie. There is also recipes for both pet and human treats, place cards and other printable decorations.  This planner really makes things easy to host a pet party. Plus, there are some pretty neat bonus feature activities that can really amp up the pet party fun!

Thanks to Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for the blanket and beenie baby.

Check out this super cute trailer!

About The Movie

The perfect movie for everyone has arrived home this summer with the irreverent yet heartfelt sequel to the blockbuster sensation in The Secret Life of Pets 2, which debuted on Digital August 13, 2019 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand August 27, 2019. From Illumination, the studio that brought you the original Despicable Me, Minions and Sing franchises, the highly anticipated follow up to the hit animated film led by a star-studded comedic cast reunites all of our favorite Pets and their growing families in a new chapter that explores the deep bond between them and the humans that love them. The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital versions of the film are packed with more than 90 minutes* of bonus content only when you own, including two brand new, laugh-out-loud funny mini-movies – Super Gidget, featuring the film’s adorable Pomeranian Gidget and her best friend Max and Minion Scouts, starring everyone’s comical little helpers, the Minions. Additionally included are deleted scenes, DIY and drawing tutorials as well as a special interactive Captain Snowball Motion Comic allowing viewers to direct our boisterous bunny hero on his next move exclusive to the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray versions! As the dog days of summer come to an end, join this endearing cast of four-legged friends for a quality movie night of family fun with the film that uniquely reminds us of why we love our own pets and what makes them so very special.

The Secret Life of Pets 2 explores the emotional lives of our pets, the deep bond between them, the families that love them and answers the question: What are your pets really doing when you’re not at home? Terrier Max (Patton Oswalt) is coping with major life changes after Katie’s marriage and the arrival of a toddler, Liam. Meanwhile, Gidget (Jenny Slate) tries to rescue Max’s favorite toy from a cat-packed apartment with a little help from her feline friend, Chloe (Lake Bell), who has discovered the joys of catnip. And Snowball (Kevin Hart) believes, despite the other pets’ teasing, that he’s a superhero after his owner starts dressing him in superhero pajamas. But when Daisy (Tiffany Haddish), a fearless Shih Tzu, shows up to ask for Snowball’s help on a dangerous mission, he’ll have to summon the courage to become the hero he’s been pretending to be.

The film features an all-star voice cast including Patton Oswalt (TV’s “A.P. Bio”), Kevin Hart (Ride Along Series), Eric Stonestreet (TV’s Modern Family), Jenny Slate (Despicable Me 3), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), Lake Bell (TV’s Children’s Hospital), Nick Kroll (Sing), Dana Carvey (Wayne’s World), Ellie Kemper (TV’s “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), Hannibal Buress (Neighbors series), Bobby Moynihan (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”) and Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones franchise) in his first ever role in an animated film as new farm dog, Rooster.

Daisy’s Happy Hats modeled by Wicket

Bonus Features on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD & Digital

• Mini Movies
  • Minion Scouts – When Margo, Agnes and Edith return from Badger Scout camp, three of the Minions are entranced by the girls’ merit badges. Their own attempt at scout camp results in attracting a bear, eating poison berries and eventually blowing up a dam, creating a massive flood. But, when they arrive back home, the girls share their badges, encouraging the rest of the Minions to try their hand at scouting.

*DVD format includes over 75 minutes of bonus content

• Super Gidget – When Max is kidnapped by an army of squirrels, Super Gidget is the only one who can save him. It turns out that Max’s captor is a flea with the power of mind control. Gidget must use her pluckiness, strength and smarts to save her one true love…until it turns out it was all just a dream.

• The Making of the Mini Movies – Every Illumination film is accompanied by mini movies that are a production all their own. Each film’s directing partners will explore how the mini movies were made.
• Deleted Scenes
  • Wake Up – Max and Duke have a new morning routine with Liam.
  • Duke Explores the Farm – Duke has a funny interaction with a goat.
  • Snowball Karate – Snowball does his superhero warm up.
  • Secret Confessions – Dogs gather to talk about their deepest secrets
• A Tapestry of a Tail: The Making Of – The plot of The Secret Life of Pets 2 involves multiple storylines ultimately coming together to create a larger than life tale. We talk with the filmmakers, editor and cast about the delicate dance of juggling multiple narratives in one movie.
• How to Draw – Hosted by Head of Story, Eric Favela, follow the step-by-step tutorial to learn to draw Max, Snowball and Chloe
• Frame by Frame: How to Make a Flip Book – In this DIY-style vignette, Head of Story Eric Favela will teach viewers about the essence of animation and how they can create their very own flip book animations at home.
• Character Pods – Get a closer look at your favorite characters of The Secret Life of Pets 2 with these delightful character pods that might just give away a few more pet secrets.
  • Patton Oswalt – Max
  • Kevin Hart – Snowball
  • Eric Stonestreet – Duke
  • Jenny Slate – Gidget
  • Tiffany Haddish – Daisy
  • Lake Bell – Chloe
  • Nick Kroll – Sergei
  • Dana Carvey – Pops
  • Bobby Moynihan – Mel
  • Harrison Ford – Rooster
• A Party Fit for a Pet – Using stop motion animation, this step-by-step guide teaches you everything you need to know to throw the very best party for your pet!
• Pops’ Puppy Training School with Kevin Hart – Join Kevin Hart as he shows off his dog training skills.
• Pets Yule Log – Sit back and relax in front of this exclusive The Secret Life of Pets 2 themed animated ‘Yule Log.’
• Lyric Videos
  • ‘Panda’ Lyric Video
  • ‘It’s Gonna Be A Lovely Day (The Secret Life of Pets 2)’ Lyric Video

Exclusive to 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray

• The Further Adventures of Captain Snowball (Interactive) – This animated ‘Motion Comic’ expands the world of our furry hero, Captain Snowball. Using a ‘superhero’ comic book style and custom animation, we discover more about the secret world of our caped crusader with a little help from our viewers. At key moments in the story, the viewer is presented with a choice: left, or right? Fight or flight? Their choice determines our hero’s next move!

Exclusive to 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray & Digital

• My Buddy and Me – We interview the Illumination cast and crew talking about The Secret Life of Pets 2 while holding (or trying to hold) their pets.
• Pets with Jobs: A Documentary – We find and profile animals with special jobs – a service dog that detects when its epileptic owner is about to have a seizure; ponies that provide comfort to children with cancer; police dogs that go the extra mile to catch the bad guys. Meet some of the many animals who make the world a better place every day!
• Relax the Cat: The Secret Life of Pets Massage – A professional pet masseuse shows the cast how to read signs of tension in their pet and use massage techniques to keep their furry babies relaxed and happy!
• Production Pets – It takes hundreds of people to make an animated movie and a lot of those people have pets that can’t wait for them to come home. This piece is dedicated to all those faithful companions.

The Secret Life of Pets 2 will be available on 4K Ultra HD in a combo pack (4K Ultra HD+ Blu-ray + Digital Code). Bonus features on the 4K Ultra HD will all be delivered in stunning 4K resolution.

• 4K Ultra HD is the ultimate movie watching experience. 4K Ultra HD features the combination of 4K resolution for 4X sharper picture than HD, the color brilliance of High Dynamic Range (HDR) with immersive audio.
  • The Secret Life of Pets 2 4K Ultra HD is available with HDR10+, providing a premium HDR picture quality. HDR10+ transforms your movie watching experience with incredible brightness and contrast for each scene, delivering brighter brights and deepest darks.
• Blu-rayTM delivers a pristine HD picture and theater-quality surround sound.
• Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.
• MOVIES ANYWHERE is the digital app that simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers. Consumers can also redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and stream or download them through Movies Anywhere. MOVIES ANYWHERE is only available in the United States. For more information, visit https://moviesanywhere.com

Thanks to Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for providing the gift basket!

Get Social with The Secret Life of Pets 2

Twitter: @PetsMovie

Instagram: @SecretLifeOfPets

Facebook: @SecretLifeOfPets

Youtube: @Illumination

Website: www.thesecretlifeofpets.com

Hashtag: #TheSecretLifeOfPets2Party

Disclosure: We received a gift basket and gift card to facilitate this post. All opinions expressed are our own and no additional compensation was received. 

The post Take The Secret Life of Pets 2 Home Today! appeared first on Bloggin' Mamas.

Even in 2019, there is a certain stigma associated with infertility, and everyone from parents to best friends can have an opinion about what some couples choose to do when it comes to having a baby. Josh Huber’s latest indie film Making Babies, brings awareness to the emotional, financial, and relational roller coaster couples endure when deciding to move forward with fertility treatments. The film, now playing in select cities nationwide, does a wonderful job of highlighting the comedic and painful sides of having a baby. Writer/Director Josh Huber sits down with our LA influencers to talk about it was important for him to make the film and his personal connection to the story.

About Making Babies

Making Babies puts a couple through the ringer of modern infertility treatments and questions whether their marriage will withstand the ultimate test. Katie and John Kelly (Eliza Coupe and Steve Howey) are ready to settle down and have kids. Five years later, all they have to show for their efforts is a mountain of negative pregnancy tests and an increasingly elaborate home micro-brewing rig, which John hopes will launch his company. As they run out of traditional options and their window closing, the couple explores the daunting world of medical, spiritual, and homeopathic methods to conceive a child. Making Babies features an ensemble cast which includes Bob Stephenson, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ed Begley Jr., Jon Daly, and the late Glenne Headly.

In Theaters: March 29th

Directed & Written by: Josh Huber

Starring: Eliza Coupe, Steve Howey, Bob Stephenson, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ed Begley Jr, and the late Glenne Headly

Running Time: 86 minutes

Writer/Director Josh Huber talks Making Babies

Why was it important for you to make this film?

Making Babies is the story of a couple experiencing infertility and the procedures they are subject to through the process. When Huber was writing the script, he found that it was a subject he wanted to explore. What I as a parent appreciate, is that the story is something that can really be entertaining for anyone. “I wanted to make a movie that dealt with a couple trying to get pregnant. I also wanted to show the sometimes funny and heartbreaking side of that, and how sometimes, trying to have babies isn’t as easy as we are led to believe it is. I wanted to tell [the story] in a way that was funny, entertaining, and at the same time had something to say about this thing that can sometimes be really difficult. ”

Is the story personal to you?

Huber does not shy away from the fact that the story was inspired by his own struggles with infertility. “I won’t say that it is exactly how my wife and I went through it. [However}, it was similar in a sense that I think everyone who goes through this is provided with the same options…here is your IUI, here is your IFV, here are all of your options and this is the way you can go about it. For the most part, anyone who has been through this before would say that it’s close to what happened to me because the science is so rigid as it is.”

Did your experience of going through infertility treatments match the couple’s experience in the film?

The film “holds close to what we did.” Huber and his wife were provided with the options of IUI and IVF, but were told that “you can’t do [IVF] quite yet; you have to do IUI first.” According to Huber, they were told that [IUI] doesn’t always work well, which was why they wanted to go straight to IVF. And while Huber admits that they “breezed through” this montage in the film, he does not dismiss how difficult it is for women to go through the process of IUI and IVF.

Do you feel our modern system of helping couples with infertility is a good one?

Huber’s point of view is evident in nearly every character, which is why the film is so personal to him. “I know that there are people who have had luck with IUI. I personally wish we had just went with IVF. We went in with this attitude that it’s not going to work; we know that IVF is going to work for us and we had that set in our minds.”

How did you select the cast?

Most of the cast were chosen because of their work as comedians. “Eliza comes from straight comedy while Elizabeth was more on the dramatic side. Jon Daly was cast through ‘stunt casting’ and was brought in one day before to read for the part.” While the cast primarily come from a background of comedy, the juxtaposition between comedy and drama amongst the cast really helped to draw audiences into the story.

Get Social with Making Babies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakingBabiesMovie/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/makingbabiesmov

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makingbabiesmovie/

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p47dsp6iivo

Hashtag: #MakingBabiesMovie

Check out HMIC’s Review of the Making Babies Movie! CLICK HERE

The post Featured Movie: Making Babies + Interview with Writer/ Director Josh Huber appeared first on Bloggin' Mamas.