How to Create the Perfect Summer Movie Night

Ahhh. . .the promise of a perfect summer night . . .is there anything better? And now that school is over, and kids' activities have settled down for the summer lull, it's the perfect time to plan some quality relaxing family time, preferably in the outdoors. Thanks to Best Buy for sponsoring this post.

Family Movie Night has long been a winter favorite. When it's too blustery, dark and cold to go out, families hunker down in living rooms and finished basements, pop corn and watch a variety of popular movies and TV shows. Gone are the days of the VCR and even the DVD, replaced by Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu! But why should this family time favorite be kept in the cold?? Why not start enjoying your family movie night in the great outdoors this summer?

Keep Family Traditions, Even When Your Oldest Goes off to College

We are entering a new phase or season of our family life . . . we are about to send our first-born off to college next fall. I can't believe how quickly we got to this point. It seems like only yesterday we were taking him to the zoo and stopping in at our local fire station on a weekly basis.

I began to realize rather quickly that this year would be filled with last "firsts," like the last "first day of school picture" and the last "first fall lacrosse league game," as well as first "firsts," like our first senior portraits and our first college application. Needless to say there are a lot of highs and lows and emotions are running all over the place for all of us.

One of the things I've been thinking about a lot lately are our family traditions and how this shift in our every day will affect those traditions in the year (and years) to come. We aren't sure where he will land at this point, but at least all the schools he's looked at are less than a 3-hour drive away. So I can breathe deeply knowing that unless there's bad weather, he'll be home for the major holidays.

Seeking Balance in an Unbalanced World

Oola.

That's a funny word right? I heard it for the first time about a year or so ago and thought it was odd. Then I found out it's related to Oo-la-la. Ok then. . . but what does it all MEAN???

Oo' - la \ n. adj. \ 1 a: a state of awesomeness b: a Life that is balanced and growing in the key areas of health, finances, career, relationships and well-being c: a destination (i.e.,  getting to Oola) 2 a: describing actions, insights and goals that lead to a balanced life (ex: That's so Oola.) 3 a: the ultimate plan for achieving balance in an unbalanced world.

I first came across this word in my education of essential oils and Young Living (by the way, this post includes affilate links - thank you for your support). I read the first book from the Oola Guys,  Ooola, Find Balance in an Unbalanced World and I was intrigued by not only their story of self discovery, but of their relationship and dynamic. You see, there is the Oola Guru (Troy Amdahl) and the Oola Seeker (Dave Braun).  They have a history . . .they have a theory . . .they have a plan, but best of all, they have RESULTS. 

Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up

Parenting is not an easy gig. There are many times that as a parent, you have to make the unpopular decision. There are certain things that are just big "NOs" in our home. Riding in a car without a seat belt is one of those things.
 
Did you know that from 2011 to 2015, an estimated 343,000 children age 8-14 were injured while traveling in passenger vehicles, and an additional 1,692 children died? A full 50% of those who died were unrestrained at the time of the crash. Those are sobering statistics and as a parent of a child that fall into that age bracket, I can only imagine asking the question, “What if they had been buckled up?”

What to Expect When Your Teen Starts Driving

It seems like only yesterday, he was sitting behind the wheel of that old fashioned car that drives along a track on the Ocean City Boardwalk. But in the blink of an eye, he's sitting in MY driver's seat of MY car, with a learner's permit in his hand. I have to admit, this milestone took me by surprise and I was NOT ready to help my teenager learn to drive. To help prevent that from happening to you, I'm here to share what to expect when your teen starts driving.

First of all, the laws vary by state, so as your teen celebrates their 15th or so birthday, it may be a good idea to find out what the laws and requirements are where you live. In our state of PA, you need to be 16 to get a learner's permit. What I didn't realize was that you needed a doctor's exam as well, and our annual well visit crossed paths with our 16th birthday celebration. My bad.

How to Avoid Holiday Hazards for Your Pets

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This post is sponsored by Royal Canin. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Royal Canin’s veterinary-exclusive gastrointestinal diet, but all opinions are my own. Royal Canin is not responsible for the content of this article.

The holidays are coming. While it is an exciting and magical time of the year, it can also be riddled with hazards for our pets.  In fact, according to a recent Veterinary Pet Insurance Company’s report, upset stomach and diarrhea rank among the top 10 reasons owners go to the vet with their pets. I don’t know about you, but that most definitely does not put me in the holiday spirit!

I was fortunate to have a variety of pets growing up. My children are much less fortunate, much to their chagrin.  I had a few dogs, plenty of cats, a rabbit, a myriad of small furry creatures and the occasional rescued turtle. The most I’ve had as an adult are my cats (unless you count our Carnival Goldfish, who is going on 2 years old now).

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I don't know about you, but I am always looking for an easier way to manage my day-to-day life. Do you ever feel like all you do is run from one place to the next? Sometimes I feel like my life is a hamster wheel, spinning and spinning with a constant stream of errands. Nothing gives me more of a shopping thrill than combining my stops (well, maybe a great deal). All that parking and getting in and out of the car can be a real drag.

Get Behind the Wheel: Driving the Mazda 6

VROOM VROOM. That is definitely how I felt the moment I slid behind the wheel of the 2016 Mazda 6. This is no "mom car." And I don't mean that in a negative way, but as moms, much of our "job" involves carting kids around and our vehicle needs to help us out with that. While the Mazda 6 is definitely up for the task, it felt much more like a sporty, speedy fun ride.

Lacrosse for Moms

For years, we have been a Baseball Family. From T-Ball to Majors, each spring we headed out to enjoy the Great American Game. Last year, our teenager came home form school and said he wanted to try Lacrosse. The Middle School was starting up a team, and he wanted to give it a try.

We try to be supportive parents, and encourage our kids to try new things (within reason of course). So of course we said, sure - go for it! And he did. Not only did he join the team, but he fell in love with the game, made some great new friends, and developed a new interest. A total win in the parenting book - right?

Here's my dirty little secret . . .I know NOTHING about lacrosse. Not. A. Thing. In my mind (and clearly my imagination) it was a cross between field hockey and tennis. Imagine my surprise at the first game?! So I sat in the stands, and watched, trying to figure it out. I didn't know many of the other parents - a new sport for your child, often means a new crowd of parents for you as well. I wasn't sure when to cheer - or what to say. I was a baseball mom. Luckily some other parents helped me out, and truth be told, when they cheered for my son, I mimicked them until I felt more comfortable.

We now have one season under our belts, and this year he is playing at school and also in a local league. Over the winter, we acquired all of our own equipment in preparation. Again, I didn't know anything about what he needed, so I started learning and asking questions.

I know many of you are more knowledgeable of lacrosse than I, but today I am sharing some FYI stuff for any moms (or dads) new to the sport:

Equipment
The equipment for lacrosse is all about safety. Even so, with advances in materials, players are dressing light, with equipment that gives them more flexibility and less bulk.

• Shoulder Pads
• Helmet with face mask
• Stick
• Arm Guards/Elbow Pads
• Gloves
• Running Shoes/Cleats
• Mouthguard

General Information
Lacrosse is a high-scoring, high-action game. It's been referred to as the fastest game on two-feet. No wonder my oldest was drawn to it! To be successful, a player needs to work hard and hustle.  Lacrosse is different from other sports in that there is a community-type atmosphere.

Positions
Attackmen - need good shooting ability because they are the ones that put the ball in the net. Attackmen often stay in the game the whole time. There are both feeders (set up scoring players) and finishers(deliver goals), but many attackmen players do both.

Midfielders (middies) - need speed as they play both offense and defense. Middies are crucial to the team's transition offense and defense. Midfielders can come in and out of games and some only play during a specific time, such as during a face-off.

Defensemen - need toughnessto stop the opposing team's attackmen from scoring.

Goalie - needs quick reflexes, even temperament and leadership qualities.

And don't forget the Creasemen. They hang out by the goalie and take advantage of any opportunity for a fast break (an offensive situation). I am still not 100% where the actual "crease" is, but the coach shouts about it a lot!

History of the Game
Field lacrosse got it's start with the Native Americans. It was usually a way to settle disputes between tribes or to celebrate and honor religious rituals. The name lacrosse came to be when French explorers first witnessed the sport, because the French believed the stick looked like the staff of a bishop (la crosse). 

So this lacrosse thing can be confusing and it's really fast-paced. Since the kids are all in full protective gear, it can be even be difficult to tell which kid is yours. Relax, it's all ok. Lacrosse is a big team team sport, and you are there to support your child and his team. Sit back, have fun and enjoy the action. When in doubt - shout "Go Blue!" (or whatever your team color is)

Have no fear, I still get to be a Baseball Mom as our youngest chose to play baseball again this spring. So I will be spending my spring carting kids to games and practices, and cheering them on.

Are you a lacrosse parent, player or fan? What's your best tip??

catch you soon -

5 Ideas for Christmas Eve

Since we travel to see family on Christmas Day, we spend Christmas Eve much like any other day. Typically John has to work for at least part of the day as well. For years, it bothered me that we had no "real" Christmas Eve Plan. . .afterall, you know what a planner I am.

But what I have come to realize, is that we do in fact have a plan, it's to spend time together as a family enjoying the season. After all the bustle and hustle, it's a great day to enjoy each other, eat cookies and keep the lights and holiday music flowing.

So in case you are feeling out of sorts for Christmas Eve, here are some ideas to jump-start your own family time. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, you can adapt some of these to spend a quality family night together.

5 Ideas for Spending Christmas Eve as a Family:

Build and decorate a Gingerbread House
I pick one up right after Thanksgiving, but we don't make it until Christmas Eve.

Play a game
This is a great day for a epic game of Monopoly or other fun board game.

Watch a movie
Either a great Christmas Classic, such as The Polar Express or something fun, like Star Wars. Pop come corn, snuggle up and enjoy under the holiday lights.

Keep dinner simple
We do a dinner of finger foods and appetizers. Easy to make, easy to clean up, and it's fun.

Indulge in Traditional Christmas Activities 
Read Twas the Night Before Christmas. We've been counting the days with our holiday book collection, and I always wrap this classic book for the 24th. We read it out loud together before putting out cookies, milk and carrots. You can make Reindeer Food (oats and glitter), hang up the stockings and share stories about Christmas when you were a child.

The important part is to spend time together. Festive food, sparkling cider (cocktails for the adults) and holiday music can put everyone in the mood. So turn on the holiday lights, and enjoy!

What are some of your Christmas Eve Traditions?

catch you soon -

A Look Back at Nineteen Years of Marriage

 I was not one of those little girls that dreamed about getting married. I didn't play "bride" and I'm not even sure my Barbie had a wedding dress (she MUST have - right?). But despite all that, I am lucky enough to be celebrating 19 years of marriage today - to the same man. That's a long time, and I am a lucky girl.

I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by friends and family that have had both successful and happy marriages, and some not-so-great marriages. I have friends going through really terrible divorces, and my heart aches for them. Not because my situation is so storybook (because it isn't - marriage is hard yo), but because the process of ending something and beginning new can be hard and scary. There is something for me to learn form all of them, and I'm grateful.

John and I met, in the parking lot of The Philadelphia Art Museum, on a January night in 1991. We were both attendees of a very memorable ski trip, organized by a mutual friend - we had never met before. He wasn't my typical "type" at the time, which is probably why it all worked out so well. Four years later, he proposed at the top of the Empire State Building and I said YES. That was before Twitter or Instagram - so there are no "selfies" from the event. But I remember it, as if it was yesterday. Down to the gigantic issue of Modern Bride I bought at the newsstand on the street the very same day.

We planned a fall wedding, and in front of family and friends exchanged our vows. We are both children of divorce, so whether that has impacted the way we approach marriage or not, I don't know. Marriage isn't easy, and we have had our share of issues. We work them out - together.

We have two wonderful boys and we work together to give our kids all the love and protection we can, with a supportive and nurturing extended family. I remember the first day we brought Ryan home from the hospital, set him on the coffee table and looked at each other, "What do we do now?" I asked him. We are very lucky, and I know that, even on days when I take it all for granted.

I am not the perfect wife - I probably never will be. But I work hard for the life and family that we have together. The love I feel is deeper than I can find the words to describe and to me, that is really what marriage is all about.

So dear reader, are you married? How long have you been married?

catch you soon -

5 Benefits of Family Video Game Time

Video games get a lot of negative attention these days. Too much screen time can be detrimental to physical activity and other mental stimulus (like reading). But there are also benefits to the strategy and hand-eye coordination that video games teach, not to mention what playing games (even video games) as a family can do for family wellness.

The kids recently purchased the Lego Marvel SuperHeros game for our WiiU. Owen needed someone to play with, so I stepped in. I am no gamer. The kids laugh because I am typically the player pushing all the buttons and trying to figure out which one is making me jump. (then I fall off the plane anyway) But I realized that in playing this game, we were working together. Ryan came in to offer tips and encouragement, and even John had to help us get through a few levels.

It became a family game. And we were playing it a LOT. I worried about too much screen time, but the benefits we were getting seemed to outweigh the negatives. Plus with all that snow, outside, we weren't going anywhere. So I did a little research on how playing games as a family made us better  people and a better family unit.

Here are 5 Benefits of Family Video Game Time that I came up with:

1.  Opening up communication. It may not be easy to talk to your child about how they problem-solve on the playground over the dinner table. But if you are Captain America, and your child is Hulk, you can get a glimpse into their problem solving and strategy skills.

2.  Family bonding. Sometimes it's not easy to find common ground with your kids (especially when they become tweens and teens). Playing a game together can be that common ground, and give everyone a space to bond.

3.  Getting physical, improving balance and coordination. With active games like XBox Kinect and WiiU, you can walk tight ropes, dodge soccer balls and have a dance party. When you play with your kids you can all improve your skills together - watch as everyone's best scores rise with more practice.

4.  Hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Some of these game require hand movements while keeping your eyes firmly on the screen. With full-body motion on some games, you can even work up a bit of sweat trying to keep it all together.

5.  Using our brains. Gone are the days where a video game is simply pushing a button repeatedly. Many games include strategy, logic and reasoning skills. While this a great thing for our kids, let's not lose sight of the fact that using our brains, can help keep us sharp as we age.

Do you play video games with your kids? What's your favorite right now? How do you think they benefit your family?

catch you soon -

Snow, Ice and Power Outages - My Family's Story

I like to think of myself as a pretty prepared person. We have lanterns, extra batteries, food and bottled water. I keep gas in the car, and if I raid the kids' piggy banks, I can come up with some cash on hand as well. Where we live in Pennsylvania rarely sees true "disasters". We are very, very fortunate.

But the world is changing and the weather is getting wilder. We rode out Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, we lost a refrigerator of food to a previous long-term/warm-weather power outage, but than our lucky stars, that's about it.

This time, as the temperature in our house dropped and the news was reporting ever growing numbers of people without power, I knew we had to get out of dodge. It would take PECO and the wonderful volunteer lineman and crews that came here a while to restore all that power (my guess was 3-5 days). I knew that, because my dad used to be one of those guys and I can appreciate all their hard-work. 

One of the kids had a friend over on Wednesday, so my plan to flee was slightly delayed, which worked out well. As we hunkered in on Wednesday in sweatshirts and under blankets, I made my plan to flee in between playing games. We're lucky that my parents live close enough to go to, but far enough not to be affected by the same situation (this time).

I put 5 freezer bags of snow in my refrigerator in hopes of  not having to toss everything in there when the power got restored. I had some ice packs in my freezer already.  I also didn't open the doors more than necessary.

We each packed a bag to get us through that day and 2 more. I figured if necessary, I could take a trip back or do laundry at my mom's. Pillows? Check. Books, gadgets and chargers? Check.

We were off.

Well, for about 20 minutes through unplowed, snow-covered streets, littered with fallen limbs, until I realized I had left my purse with my driver's license, cash and credit, at home. We turned around, and did that white-knuckle gauntlet two more times before we got to the outer edges of the ice storm damage.

It was smooth sailing into New Jersey - in fact, I couldn't believe we had left the set of "Frozen" and driven into a green/brown landscape. My dad was bringing home dinner as we arrived - perfect timing.

My parents fed us and entertained us for three days and two nights, wile we waited for PECO to restore our power. I poured over the internet, looking for information about our area. I checked our Township Facebook page every ten minutes to follow what was going on. Will there be school? When will the power go back on? The questions far out-weighed the answers. John stayed behind, needing to be at work, and also to watch over the house.

Our story had a happy ending. We got power back late Thursday night, and the kids and I returned home Friday evening. The kids missed school on Friday - they had a delayed opening, but we just couldn't get back in time. Many of my neighbors and friends are still without power, going on 5 days, so I know how lucky we are.

But I still had this strange sense of being a refugee, forced to flee my home, with an uncertain future. It made me realize (as so many of life's moments have the power to do) how lucky we are, and how much we need each other. We're a family - no matter where we are, or what we go through. We work best as a team.

catch you soon -

Our Favorites from Trader Joe's

Do you have a Trader Joe's near you? If not, I hate to tell you, but you are missing something special. Apparently here in PA, where they are not allowed to sell alcohol in grocery stores, we are missing something special too, because Trader Joe's is rumored to have a good wine selection.

If you don't know about Trader Joe's, they started in the 50's as a convenience store (called Pronto Markets at the time).  They stocked innovative, hard-to-find, great-tasting foods. That strategy, cut costs and saved customers money. It's the same premise they build on today.

I've been shopping there regularly for a while now, we've become fans of several of their products. I've migrated to Trader Joe's brand for many of my day-to-day staples. You can't buy many "name brand" items there. . .they have Kind Bars and Cliff bars, but most of their products are bought directly from the suppliers.

Here are some of our favorites:

Coffee - Trader Joe's has a wide variety of coffee - k-cups, whole beans, ground and instant. We like the regular Joe Coffee whole beans. I grind them in the store and it all works out great for less than $4.99 a week. (that's one cup at Starbucks - this is all our morning coffee for 7+ days)

Chicken Nuggets -These are my "emergency" kid food. On a night where I don't feel like cooking, or we need something fast - I pop these in the oven, (no artificial colors) add a side of fruit or veggies and feel relatively good about what I fed my kids.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups - These are just plain old amazing. They are rich and creamy and taste like you picked them up from a candy shop. I can't eat just one - ever.

My list is pretty endless, chicken broth, tea bags, crackers, frozen fruit and vegetables, waffles and frozen pancakes . . .the best part?    ALL their products contain NO synthetic colors, NO artificial flavors, NO artificial preservatives, NO MSG, NO added Trans Fats, and NO genetically modified ingredients. You can find special dietary items like gluten free, kosher and vegetarian as well.

Are you a Trader Joe's fan? What are some of your favorites? I'm always looking for something new to try!

catch you soon -

Wordless Wednesday - Boys Fishing

So in love with this picture that John took over the weekend. . .

Thinking of having it made into a canvas.

catch you soon -

#vlogmom | Heritage and Geneology

This week's #vlogmom prompt comes from Bay over at Queen Mother Blog.  Bay asked us, "What is your heritage? Are you interested in genealogy?"

Here's my response, and while I may not be a family tree nut, I am a little obsessed with old pictures and threw some into the video from about 60 years ago.  Enjoy!



How about you? Do you have an interesting family heritage story?

catch you soon-

Wordless Wednesday

catch you soon -

parenting. . .managing the age gap

my boys are learning to play chess. . .

i love that. . .

except that one of them is 11 and one of them is 5. . .

are you the parent of more than one child?  if you are, you know they don't always get along and that's to be expected.  but do any of you have an age gap bigger than 2 years? or a gender gap - meaning one boy and one girl?

how do you manage these gaps?

i have 2 boys - with very similar interests . . .my challenge is that they are 6 years apart.  I thought sibling squabbles wouldn't be an issue. . .boy was I wrong.

the 11 year old wants to win and play by the rules . . .all the time.  the 5 year old wants to win too and have fun.  can you hear the bickering?

from the 11 year old, I hear "no", "stop", "you can't. . .", "don't", "I win"

from the 5 year old I hear whining, crying and lots of "not fair!"

I've tried appealing to the 11 year old's sense of pride in his skills and knowledge and encourage him to "coach" his little brother rather than playing a competitive game - work on skills.

that last about 10 minutes if I'm lucky.

I've explained the, "but you are 11 - of COURSE you are better and everyone expects you to win" argument . . .that works for about 5 minutes.

they are such good boys - with good hearts and they love each other very much.  this is probably my biggest parenting challenge right now and it's driving me to distraction.

what are some of your tricks of the trade for managing the age gap?

catch you soon -

grocery delivery goes high tech with Peapod. . .

yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending a blogger luncheon with Peapod and Giant. (be sure to read to the bottom for a money saving offer!)

if you've never heard of Peapod (they are NEW to the Philadelphia area) - they are an online grocery shopping and delivery service with a partnership with Giant Food Stores.  They were founded in 1989 and have delivered more than 20 million orders!

Let me hit with you some the highlights:

     grocery shopping 24/7, including advertised specials - even MOBILE (there's an APP for that!)!

     convenient and affordable delivery times.

     trained shoppers select your groceries from a temperature controlled WAREHOUSE-not the store.

     you can get alerts when your groceries are on their way.

     you can request unattended delivery - meaning you don't even have to be HOME!

     they take coupons. . .YES coupons - and double up to the regular store amount.

     if you don't like something - they return your money!

i have used other local delivery services - with little success or happiness. . .they were just difficult to use, the selection was poor,  and the quality of stuff I received wasn't what I would have picked out myself.   this looks promising. . .Based on the demonstration we received yesterday (using a LIVE account no less) Peapod seems to have addressed all the weaknesses.

here's what you need to do:

1. Go to peapod.com and enter you Giant Bonuscard (if you have one)
2. Shop from their various options such as by grocery aisle, shopping list or product search (even by ORGANIC)
3. Select a delivery time
4. Enter your credit card info and checkout
5. Receive delivery in the comfort of your own home (or office!)

AND. . .the BEST part??  I can save you money if you are in the Phase I Service Area (Philadelphia, Delaware and Southern Montgomery Counties). . .just go here and enter the code "blogphl" at checkout and get $20 off your first order AND 60 days of FREE DELIVERY!

I'm planning to give it a try in the next week or so - so stay tuned for a follow-up post on how it went. If you've used it already - I'd love to hear your thoughts!

catch you soon -

note - I received lunch and a gift card to try out the delivery service.  As always, the opinions expressed here are my very own.

how-to. . .tame the homework beast

bear with me while i rant a bit. . .I hate homework!

i know there's a lot of talk about the family diner and eating healthy, a reasonable bedtime for kids . . .and all the other things that make up a "good" family and "happy" kids.  But how on EARTH are you supposed to do that AND get homework done too?

on a typical night, for 5th grade, we have 20 minutes of reading with a writing assignment attached.  Spelling.  At least 1 math worksheet.  Some nights we also have social studies and/or grammar.  And of course there are the nights with more than one sheet of math.
Second and third grade evenings were plagued with me yelling and threatening Ryan to do his homework.  To get it all done.  I felt enormous pressure.  I was working outside the home, and responsible for Owen and dinner too - all during homework time.

last year I had the opportunity to see Race to Nowhere. . .it changed my outlook.


we have very few meltdowns and I lose my patience on a much less regular basis.  I still have Owen and Dinner to cope with.


what's changed?  me and my approach to homework.  i refuse to see it as a "monster".  If we don't get it done - I will contact the teacher with my explanation and be ready to go higher if necessary.  Elementary homework shouldn't be "graded" - because you have no way of knowing whether the student did it themselves or not.  so it's typically "completed" or "incomplete".

here are my top ten to-do's to tame the homework beast:

1.  set up a regular place to do homework.  Ours is the dining room table.

2.  have supplies on hand.  Calculator, pencils, erasers, scratch paper. . .anything you may need to complete your typical homework assignments.  We have a homework cart.

3.  try to establish a time. . .before dinner or after. . .to do the "majority" of homework.

4.  know your child's cues for being tired, bored and frustrated - and given them a break or release before they need it.

5.  get the rest of the family in on things if you can.  State Capitals are a great way to test the whole family while your child learns.

6.  look to technology for help.  We have found some great apps for math facts, spelling and state capitals.

7.   know when enough is enough.  only you know what is right for your family.  don't be afraid to discuss it with your child's teacher or counselor at school.

8.  if you have smaller children that don't have homework, have a special basket or box of things for them to do QUIETLY while it's homework time.

9.  keep it positive.  it's not easy - don't pretend it is. (of course if it IS easy - don't tell me I'll be hopelessly jealous!)

10,  relax yourself.  enjoy a cup of tea or glass of wine.

what are some of your tips for taming the homework beast?

catch you soon -