My Guilty Pleasure Is.....

I have a confession to make. My guilty pleasure is..... wait for it..... Reality TV! I love watching my "shows" (that is on days when I get some time to myself). I remember when I was a kid and my grandma would tell me how much she loved her "shows". The only difference is that she was referring to her soap operas. Do those still even exist? Well back to reality television, there is such a variety of shows that are oddly entertaining. Am I the only one who feels this way? I mean of course I enjoy educational shows and I have to keep up with the news, but I find it relaxing and "fun" to watch my "shows".
   Let me just tell you which shows I love (oh, where should I begin):
    1. Real Housewives Series (my favorites are Atlanta, New Jersey, and OC)
    2. X Factor
    3. The Voice
    4. American Idol (I am especially excited for the upcoming season because I love Mariah Carey)
    5. Catfish (a new show on MTV, if you haven't seen it, you should check it out)
    6. Love and Hip Hop Atlanta

 There is a new show coming soon called, "The Real Husbands of Hollywood."

Toddlers and Technology...

 Is it just me or does it seem like young children today understand and use technology better than many adults? For some children it seems like they are experts, but how can this be when they are only 4! This concept always seems to fascinate me even though I am quite aware that we live in a "technology rich" environment. Many technology devices are very appealing to young children and this appeal captivates the desire to learn how and why something works. Not to mention the fabulous graphics, sounds, and functions. My 3 year old twins love our tablet, ipad, and smartphones just like I loved my etch-o-sketch and cabbage patch dolls (that's right.. I said it).
  From my "mommy perspective" I always think about pros and cons in relation to many things. I feel that when it comes to toddlers and technology, a balance is key. Yes, kids these days do need to be quite familiar with various aspects of technology. Yes, there are many great educational apps and games where young children can also learn cause and effect concepts along with many others. However, it is essential for young children to participate in more physically active activities to learn healthy habits. Language and social development is also significant as to which talking and interacting with others is best.
  Having a balance when it comes to toddlers and technology is, in my opinion, a sensible approach.

  Until next time, Be Blessed....

Mommy Knows Best

 Being a mommy of two very active boys always keeps me on my toes. I find myself always trying to stay one step ahead of them (which by the way is not as easy as it may seem). One of the main issues that is constantly running through my mind is the issue of safety. It is a top priority to keep them safe and healthy. Since I cannot tell the future, I rely on my "mommy intuition" as well as my common sense. However, I still feel that there must be more I can do to be proactive in keeping them safe. Here are a few tips I have learned that I hope will be valuable for other parents that worry as much as I do: 

         1. Post all emergency phone numbers on the refrigerator, cabinet, or anywhere you feel is the perfect spot in your house. It is also a good idea to review them from time to time.

         2. Child ID bracelets are a good idea for toddlers (especially those that like to run everywhere)

         3. Always make sure toddlers (or young kids for that matter) are always sitting while they are eating. This will help to prevent choking.

         4. Always supervise children while they are in the bathtub (or anywhere for that matter). This is a good time to talk with your child about safety tips.

         5. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you are feeling tired. Constant monitoring of your toddler is essential in keeping them safe.

         6. Take a CPR and First Aid class. This will give you very useful and valuable information as well as hands on practice. 

   Remember to keep safety a priority. Until next time... Be Blessed

     

Drive In Movie Night!

 One of our favorite things to do as a family is our "Drive In Movie Night." About six months ago, I located a really cool drive in movie theater on the way to the mall. I never knew it was there given the fact that it is somewhat hidden behind several large trees. Well ever since I realized that is was a drive in movie theater, we haven't been back to a regular indoor movie theater in quite a while. 

  One of my favorite aspects that I enjoy about this theater is that it reminds me of when my parents would take me to the drive in when I was a little girl. The memories are priceless and I am excited that I can share this experience with my boys and my husband. Another great quality is that the admission is very reasonable (when I say reasonable I mean much cheaper that the regular movie theater). I know you are probably thinking that a drive in theater only shows older movies that have been out for a while. Well, guess what my other favorite thing about this theater is? The movies are current and they show movies the same day that they are released in a regular movie theater. Not bad, huh?


  This is at the top of my list of favorite family outings that is affordable without compromising the "fun factor." Below I have listed a few tips/suggestions that may be helpful if you and your family plan on visiting a drive in movie theater. Till next time.... be blessed!


   Tips/Suggestions:
1. Bring along snacks from home if you want to save a little money. We usually bring juice boxes, bottled waters, fruit snacks, chips and cookies that I bake just for this occasion.
2. It's always a good idea to bring a change of clothes for the little ones. What we like to do is change the boys into their pajamas right before the movie starts, that way when we get home they can go straight to bed.. works like a charm.
3. It's also a good idea to bring a few toys to entertain the little ones until the movie starts. We usually get there a little early so we can get our favorite parking spot.
4. I learned that since we will be eating in the car, it is so much easier to bring a bag for trash that way I can walk over to the trash can and throw it away immediately rather than leave it sitting in the car (I like to keep things as neat as possible so if you're like me then you'll like this tip).

Adventures In Mommyhood...

Although Summertime is usually a time to take the family on long, adventurous road trips and so forth, as a mommy of young twins, going to the market with my boys can be an adventure all in itself. Keeping this in mind, my husband and I decided to try to search for a theme park to take the boys to that they would enjoy. We knew Disneyland would be a bit overwhelming (for all of us!) even though we have taken the boys there several times and we love it, we were determined to find a place that was on a smaller scale. Less crowds, short lines, few height requirements and so forth. In my mommy brain I thought, "Wow, does a place like this even exist?" I knew I would be a wild goose chase for the next few days trying to locate a place like this that was local (or at least continue to dream about it in my mind).

Well on the second day of searching I found it! A mini amusement park for toddlers and young kids. Too good to be true? I did my research of course and realized that this was a really great place for us to take the boys! I was so excited to share this with my husband that I nearly tripped over some monster truck toy cars just to inform him (or brag) about my latest discovery and next family outing.

 When we arrived to the amusement park, we were greeted with a huge sign that said FREE PARKING. Now if you have read my previous blog you understand how much this means to me. It's like finding a twenty dollar bill when you're doing the laundry. The admission was also reasonable especially for a family of 4. As we entered the gates, I noticed how clean, safe and organized it was (I never use to worry too much about these things until I became a mom).  There were a variety of rides for the boys to get on. My absolute most favorite thing was that they could ride on all of the rides! Also the lines were very, very short. My husband and I rode with them of course and we all had a blast. I also love seeing other families out with their little ones as well. There was a great family atmosphere which is also important to me as a mommy. The food was a bit pricey but I always come prepared with snacks, mini lunchables and juice boxes so we didn't spend too much on food. Over all it was a great day and we plan on going back before the summer ends!

 So even though some family trips may seem like an adventure to plan, its worth a try because you never know what you will discover. Till next time... be blessed!


 P.S.  For those of you that wanted to know where this place is located, it is in the city of Buena Park, California and it is called Adventure City. It is not to far from Knott's Berry Farm..Enjoy

Don't Forget About Your Community....

While in the midst of planning activities for the family, I came across a huge variety of FREE (one of my favorite words ever!) family activities that take place just around the corner (literally). Out local community center puts on many events that are great for the entire family. I subscribed to their weekly updates and bookmarked the website. I should have known better but I completely forgot about the community centers! It is a fantastic resource for economical family fun days. We are planning on attending the "Concerts in the Park" next week and probably the "Movies in the Park" the following week (of course I will write a post about it). Oh, and did I mention that those two events have FREE admission. 


  So if you are searching for a variety of activities to do that will save you money, check out your local community center. They also have many classes that you can sign up for that are pretty reasonable. I believe that some centers will offer a discount for local community members. The classes that are offered range from swimming to cooking to dancing to play camps. How awesome! There are also many FREE events at the local library for infants, toddlers, and older kids. They host family reading nights, storytelling afternoons, and more. This is something I personally love (because of the teacher in me). So I can't wait to check those out as well.


   I also noticed that the center offers various trips the whole family can enjoy at affordable prices. For example, one trip was to a major league baseball game and another was to a popular beach destination. That's a good way to save money and gas.


   So now I know for future reference as well as for future summers to come: I will not forget about my community center resources. Come to think of it, I'll be sure to check out the events offered throughout the year as well. Why not, right? Till next time... be blessed!

Summer Kick Off Backyard Celebration!

 Ok.. so it is a mini tradition for our family to have a summer kick off backyard celebration to welcome summertime, family trips, tank tops, flip flops, and most of all summertime memories. The celebration is very simple and low key. It is just for our family and sometimes grandma and grandpa attend and that's about it.
  For food we have a barbeque of course! Hot dogs, chicken, and hot links are the family favorites. Side dishes include potato salad and baked beans. I also like to bake cookies (the kids like to help) for the dessert to keep it simple. The meal wouldn't be complete without the famous strawberry lemonade with fresh fruit! So tasty and refreshing... perfect to start the summer.
  The boys love to play in their kiddie pool with their toys while we hang out on the shaded patio with the radio blasting (not loud enough to disturb the neighbors of course). After the boys play for a while we like to try to make a simple summer craft. I usually get my craft ideas from an awesome website called Amazing Moms.
 We usually end the celebration with some ice cream in our cute ice cream party bowls that I was able to pick up from our local Party City for half off. 
 All in all the day is fun and stress free for everyone (which is important to us moms). I always try to remember to take pictures at all of our events so I can make scrapbooks and albums to show the boys when they get older. Creating life lasting memories is so important to me no matter how busy we get. Time sure flies and we can't get these moments back.
  So... if you want to try out a mini summer kick of your own I hope this helps. There is really no way you can go wrong. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. Spending time with family is the focus and this is a great summer family activity that doesn't have to cost a lot of money.

 Mini Summer Celebration Helpful Tips:
 !. Make sure you have the sunscreen ready for everyone especially the kids. There are really great sunscreen products that even stay on when the kids are in the pool. They can be found at your local grocery stores.
 2. Make sure to also have your camera ready. As you can see I am big on creating memories and having a camera by my side helps to ensure that I capture these events.
3. If you want to display some decorations, Party City has great sales on summer party decor right before the summer begins. If you plan ahead of time you can save money on some really cute theme party ware for your celebration.

Ideas, Ideas, Ideas....

Well, well, well... Summer is finally here and we are so very excited. Summer, for us, is a time when we get to do so many enjoyable activities as a family. However, it takes some creativity to make sure that my 3 year old twins have a blast and not a melt down. It amazes me how much time I have to put into planning even the simplest activities. My husband and I search the web, bounce ideas around, and even make lists that display the pros and cons. It can be a job in itself.

  I'm not sure if it's just me but I find it difficult at times to find activities for us to participate in that are not only family friendly (or should I say toddler friendly) but also inexpensive and entertaining. So now, after such planning, I have planned some fun adventures for my family and would like to share our experiences in hopes of helping other busy moms and dads formulate ideas to entertain their little ones without always breaking the bank!

 In my blogs to follow I will discuss these activities whether they are very simple or more extreme. I am still planning more activities so the process will be ongoing. Some of our summer activities include: regional parks, drive in movies, mini theme parks, the zoo, bowling, simple outside water activities, and of course our summer wouldn't be complete without a trip to Disneyland, and much, much more!