Mom Loves Fun

Catch classic kids' movies on Netflix

Classic family flicks were a part of my childhood and now I can share them with my kids, too.

When I was a kid, my dad worked during the day and my mom worked at night. They always kept opposite schedules so that we'd have a parent at home. It was a great way to grow up, filled with lots of fabulous memories shared with both of them.

One of my favorite family traditions was on Friday night. After dinner, dad would take us grocery shopping with him, followed by a trip to the local video store. (Yeah, I know I'm dating myself.) He'd pick out a movie for him and then he'd let my brother and me pick out a kids' movie for all of us to watch together.

He'd let us take all the time we wanted to pour through all the classic Disney movies, along with the newer stuff, like The Princess Bride. After we'd made our selection, we'd go home, put the groceries away and settle in for some family time.

Now that I have kids of my own, my husband and I observe a similar movie tradition. Since,video stores don't even exist in our town anymore, we've signed up with Netflix and it really works out beautifully. Along with all the selections that we can stream through our Xbox, we also take advantage of the older DVDs being delivered to our door.

Once a month, we sit down with one of our boys and let him browse through titles of movies that are often older than I am. Then, once a week, we move one of those movies to the top of the list so we can have our family movie on Friday.

I love being able to share the classic flicks that I enjoyed with my children. With all the new technology in the entertainment industry, movies like Labyrinth just aren't made anymore. It's fun to bring that brand of imagination and wonder to my children whenever we want and keep a tradition from my childhood alive.

Turn Leftovers into Snack Time Art

Don't let odds and ends go to waste, let your kids get creative.

In most cases, moms don't encourage their kids to play with their food, but every once in a while it can be a fun activity. Snack times can be fun for the whole family when creativity meets healthy munchies.

When it's getting close to shopping day, do you find that you have a lot of bags and containers of leftovers, fruits, veggies and snack items? There isn't enough for everyone to have a full portion, but you don't want to play favorites or let them go to waste. What's a mom to do?

A trick I've learned to clear out odds and ends in my fridge and pantry is to put them in bowls and let my kids create their afternoon snacks. It's amazing how much fun they can have while picking and choosing from a buffet of healthy snack options.

I generally do a big shopping trip every couple weeks, and by the time I'm ready to hit the market, I've got an orange here, and a cup of pretzels there. You know how it goes. So, instead of tossing them or letting them get pushed to the back until they spoil, I set up a little buffet.

I toss all the odds and ends, from broccoli to sliced boiled eggs into separate bowls and put them on the table. Then I call my boys in and we all use our edible art materials to make some delicious, nutritious, one-of-a-kind snacks.

The kids making animals, people, buildings or whatever else springs to mind out of their chosen snacks. Sure, my youngest child's work would best be described as “impressionistic,” but they're all happy and nothing goes to waste. Give it a try and tell me what you think!

Have a 'Mom and Me' spa day at home

A mother-daughter spa day at home can save cash and give you a unique opportunity to bond.

Every girl loves to feel pampered, whether she's 13 or 33. Unfortunately, going to the spa for a 'mom and me' spa outing can add up quickly and any relaxation you may feel during your beauty day will quickly morph into panic when it's time to pay the piper.

Instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars for a few beauty treatments, why not have your own 'mom and me' spa day from the comfort of your own home? Not only will you save a bundle, but you can take pictures, swap stories and even invite a friend or two without worrying about time constraints or feeling awkward about having a little avocado on your faces.

Holding your own at-home 'mom and me' spa day is a bunch of fun and offers an opportunity for bonding, girl to girl. It doesn't have to break the bank either. Chances are, you have a lot of the supplies you'll need at home or can pick them up rather inexpensively at dollar, big box or grocery stores nearby.

While you're planning your spa day, think about what sort of home pampering you'd like to do. Facials? Pedicures? Manicures? Then decide if you want to use store-bought treatments or if you'd like to try making some yourself. There are lots of recipes for homemade spa treatments available online, like this simple Spa Banana Avocado Mask.

Once you've chosen a few treatments you'd like to try, make a list of the necessary ingredients, tools and other little touches, such as flowers, cucumber water, or fragrant candles that you'll need. Look around your kitchen and bathroom to see what you can check off your list and then run to the store and pick up whatever is missing. Chances are, unless you've picked recipes that require exotic ingredients, like some fragrant oils, you'll be able to pick up most of your list for less than it would cost to pay for movie tickets and theater popcorn for the two of you.

After you've got your recipes and ingredients, you and your daughter can have a relaxing evening of pampering and chatting. It'll be a great experience for the both of you, and just may become a mother-daughter tradition.

Kinect evens the video game playing field for moms who aren't gamers

Since moving your body controls the game, even non-gamer moms like myself can join in on the fun.

I admit that I have never been very good at playing video games. Sure, when I was a kid, I helped Mario save the princess, but I quickly grew out of that phase and moved on to other hobbies. Since then, video games have become so complex and controllers have so many buttons that I couldn’t figure them out to save my sweet soul. Thankfully, technology finally came through and I can literally get back in the game.

Recently, we purchased an Xbox 360 with the Kinect motion control device. My husband and children can spend hours mashing buttons on games like Halo, but when I try to do something, I get shot down before I've even figured out how to walk without twirling in circles and staring at the sky.

When the Kinect is involved, the game changes. Suddenly, everyone is on the same playing field. We spend many a Saturday night playing sports and other Kinect games. It’s replacing the family board game night and it’s great exercise because we're actually using our body movements to control the game. We are all hopping and sliding back and forth hoping to escape some obstacle or get that perfect strike. It's really cool and tons of fun.

Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of games out for the Kinect that are really great for families yet, but the available selection is constantly expanding. There are many games that use the Kinect voice control aspect, but true motion control is more scarce. I hope that as the months roll on more video games will come out that take full advantage of the Kinect, because it’s bringing my family together in ways I never imagined.

I would never consider myself a gamer, but I am more than willing to admit to being a closet Kinect lover. There's certainly no shame in that, is there?

Turn your vacation photos into a special souvenir

Rather than collecting a bunch of little keepsakes, turn a photo scavenger hunt into a family tradition.

When you're vacationing with your family, there are tons of things you have to carry and keep track of, from luggage to important papers. And, as if everything you brought along isn't enough to lug around, you're compelled to pick up bulky souvenirs, which add weight and take up precious space.

Rather than collecting chachkis along the way, why not turn some of your vacation photos into the souvenir? It can even be part of the vacation fun. Since you'll most likely be taking a ton of pictures anyway, you can easily include a little photo scavenger hunt into the itinerary.

While you're out and about, look for the letters of the name of your vacation destination in the surroundings. For example, if you're headed to Orlando, then your family would look for things in the surrounding environment that look like the letters O, R, L, A, N, D and O in the plant life, architecture and local attractions at the various places you visit, such as a daisy looking like a letter O.

Throughout your vacation, you'll take pictures of these vacation letters whenever your family spots them. And, if you find new cool letters along the way, you'll have more to choose from when you get back.

When you get home and develop your photos, then you can turn them into a wall-hanging souvenir. Pick up a frame with matting that has enough open spaces for the letters of the name of your vacation destination and plug in your photos.

After you've put together your framed photo souvenir, you can choose a special place to start a collection and turn your vacation photo scavenger hunt into a family tradition!

Simple toys that kids always enjoy

Some things are just timeless...thankfully.

A parent can go broke buying fancy electronic games and toys. Every time you walk down a toy aisle, your head feels like it could explode from all the new, ridiculously expensive, “must-haves” for kids these days.

These toys, with all their bells and whistles, are cool and sometimes even educational, but they're also often loved momentarily and then soon forgotten. It's like every parent knows: you can spend $50 on the toy, but the kid will be more interested in the box.

While there's no escaping the purchase of some of these more extravagant modern toys for birthdays and holidays, there are several staples that have been around for decades and still boast astonishing popularity amongst the kiddies. And, the coolest part? They're simple and cheap—my favorite combination!

Bubbles

Bubbles are always a hit. It's amazing how much joy children can get from some soap and a cheap plastic wand, isn't it? Kids go nuts for bubble soap and bubble blowing accessories that range anywhere from elongated wands to bubble guns.

Blocks

Blocks, both of the standard building or LEGO varieties, are always a sure win with the kiddies. Children love the opportunity to bring their imaginations to life and blocks are a great medium for turning an idea into a structure...and then demolishing that baby!

Sidewalk Chalk

Sidewalk chalk is fun because it combines imagination, art and drawing on stuff that's not paper (satiates that need to be naughty). They can draw anything they can dream up in vivid colors. Good fun.

Balloons

Balloons are just awesome. Even adults like playing with them. Who hasn't batted one back and forth, threatening an imaginary explosion should it hit the ground? Balloons are fun to play with individually, in pairs and with groups.

My kids enjoy the fancy, modern toys, but I know that when I'm grabbing them a little something for stockings, Easter baskets, birthday loot bags or just because, I can't go wrong with these simple treasures. They've stood the test of time for generations and I have no doubt my great grandchildren will love them just as much as my great grandparents did.

What's in a name? Oatmeal Cookie Bowls

Sometimes all it takes is the right angle...

My kids don't like oatmeal, yet they'll happily snarf down a dozen oatmeal cookies. To my boys this seems totally logical, but to me, not so much. In fact, I found it frustrating, until I realized I could exploit the oatmeal cookie angle to boost oatmeal consumption in my house.

The biggest hurdle was that initial groan I'd invite when I announced we were having oatmeal for breakfast. So, to combat the problem, one morning in a sheer stroke of genius, I told them we were having oatmeal cookie bowls for breakfast. Voila! They went nuts. The usual heavy sighs and “ewws” were replaced with genuine excitement. Insert maniacal laugh here.

I wish I could say I had some brilliant recipe that actually made a real difference to the flavor or consistency of the oatmeal, but the truth is, I sweetened it with brown sugar like always and just let them pick some cut up fruits, raisins and nuts to throw into their individual oatmeal cookie bowls.

If you'd like to give the oatmeal cookie bowl maneuver a try, the name of the game is presentation. Simply make the oatmeal as instructed and sweeten it with your preference of sweeteners. Then, set out a little toppings bar of options to add pizzazz to the dish.

Some of my kids' favorite oatmeal cookie bowl additions are:

Raisins
Dried cranberries
Blueberries
Strawberries
Chopped walnuts
Sliced almonds
Bananas
Chopped apples (softened slightly in the microwave)
Cinnamon

When they've whipped up their oatmeal cookie bowl concoction, it's time to dine. Easy peasy. Why it works, I don't know. What I do know is that my boys actually ask for oatmeal for breakfast now. They just don't know it.

Simple Family Fun: Plan a Movie Night Together

When was the last time you had a movie night with your family? And not just plopping down, completely exhausted with the kids going in and out. I talking about a night in with all the bells and whistles, popcorn, drinks, blankets and a great family movie that everyone can enjoy—a real, scheduled togetherness event.

Staying in might not sound like a big deal, but it really all comes down to perspective. If your family is excited about it and plans together, it's not just passing time, but a treat for everyone.

The best way to get your family pumped about having a family movie night together is to involve everyone in the planning. Involvement makes it personal and if each member has a responsibility, they can take pride in their contribution to the evening.

The first thing you need to do is decide what the special feature of the evening is going to be. With services like Redbox available, you can look together online and reserve a movie you all want to see.

From there, you can designate who is in charge of choosing refreshments and snacks, picking up the movie, popping the popcorn and setting up the living room for the viewing. If the snack menu requires a trip to the grocery store, you can give your child a budget, like $5-$10, and supervise the trip.

By the time everything is pulled together everyone will be psyched to start the show. You can all munch, crunch, cuddle and have a fantastic time enjoying the movie night you made together.

Pack Up the Family for a Little Mystery Road Trip

Most parents will agree that long road trips with kids aren't always a treat, but short trips with mystery destinations can be fun adventures for everyone. If you're looking for plans for a nice, sunny day, but have a limited entertainment budget, taking a little trip could be a fun way to spend the day.

I realize that with gas prices as they are, hopping in the grocery getter with no particular destination in mind isn't exactly an inexpensive entertainment option on a regular basis, but once in a while, it can be a great deal of fun. And yes, I said no particular destination.

My family loves these mini adventures, because we're all in it together. Rather than having a mapped out, extensive itinerary of planned fun, we just pack up and drive.

There are a few things we always have with us for these little trips to anywhere. The first is definitely a full tank of gas. You don't want to be caught in unfamiliar territory and see the low fuel light pop on.

Once the tank is full, pack up a picnic lunch, making sure to grab plenty of water to stay hydrated. Try to keep it as simple as possible, so there isn't a lot of work involved in serving it when you find a good place to have your picnic.

I also pack up a little backpack I call the "Adventure Bag." Usually I put in a couple small books, a few little toys and some prepackaged finger foods in case anyone gets the munchies before we find a place to stop.

Finally, throw some simple toys in the trunk, like balls, baseball mitts, and even some bubble soap. You don't have to pack a whole carload of goodies because the best part of the trip is finding a new place to explore and have fun.

Once the car is loaded with your trip necessities, it's time to load up the family and start driving. My husband and I used to take an atlas before we had GPS on our phones, but now if we get lost, all we have to do is press a button and our phone tells us where we are and what's nearby. The point of the mini-road trip mystery drive is to find a park or family spot we've never visited before. When we do, we park the car and have our little family adventure.

By the time you get home, your brood will have had a ton of fun, and be exhausted to boot. Then you can have some quality time and relax together.

Fight the Rainy Day Blues with an Impromptu Talent Show

With spring nearly here, many of us are chomping at the bits to get our families outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Unfortunately, though the temperatures continue to climb, we still have a few months worth of unpredictable weather ahead. Many an awesome picnic plan has been foiled by spring's unannounced thunderstorms and puddles galore.

If you find your plans rained out, literally, everyone in the family is disappointed. And, while you might not be able to have an outdoor adventure, there are still unique opportunities for family fun indoors. Sometimes an unexpected family event can be just what you all need to fend off the rainy day blues.

Instead of popping in a video and having another family movie day, give everyone the chance to entertain each other with an impromptu family talent show. You can all have a blast taking turns being the star of the show and if you want to really get wild, you can call grandma and grandpa to be surprise judges...or just an awesome audience.

Gather your family together and tell them your plan. Determine a length of time for everyone to choose a talent, practice his act and dress for the big performance. If your kids are having trouble thinking of what to do, list some of the things that you know they're good at and enjoy, like coloring a picture, reciting a nursery rhyme or hopping on one foot. Everyone is good at something.

While the kids are practicing, get the video camera ready and make some talent show snacks. The snacks can be as simple or special as you'd like as long as they don't take up too much of your practice time.

When everyone is ready, start up the camera and capture a family event that you'll treasure for years to come. When everyone's performance is through, play back to video so every can see his great performance. Not only will you all have a blast together, but you'll make a keepsake that will live on long after your kids are hosting family talent shows of their own.

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