Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing the product/product information. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did/will receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Apollo 11 is a recently released documentary featuring newly discovered 65 mm footage of the days surrounding the United States’ momentous mission to the moon. I was not alive in 1969, so I cannot imagine how exciting this event must have been for our country. Thanks to this movie, later generations can now re-live Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s journey to the moon and the work NASA did to send them.
I have yet to see this movie, but the quality of the footage looks amazing from the preview. Apollo 11 has a limited engagement, so go see it in theaters while you can!
Disclosure: I received compensation in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.
My daughter is now twelve years old, so that means we are fully immersed in the tween stage and everything that entails. I must admit, the teen years are a stage that I have not particularly been looking forward to experiencing with either of my kids. The changes, problems, stress, and negative influences all seem to carry more weight during these years. However, I know that this is also an exciting time when our children are discovering who they are and figuring out what they want to become. A healthy parent-child relationship is critical during these years.
The Center for Parent and Teen Communication (“CPTC”), which is based out of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is a valuable resource for parents of teenagers looking for guidance on improving and strengthening their relationship with their teenager. The CPTC website contains a multitude of articles that address a wide range of parenting topics. The website also has a series called “Parenting in 100 Words” that offers “snack-size” pieces of advice for parents of teenagers. Here are some of the advice snacks that I put on my personal “parenting playlist”:
You have probably heard about “Tiger Moms” and “Helicopter Parents”. However, according to the CPTC, the best parenting style is being a “Lighthouse Parent”.
Lighthouse parents do their job by balancing care with protection. They’re like lighthouses: guiding their children so they don’t hit the rocks and sink, steadfast, keeping watch. They provide warmth and rules.
I really like the analogy of being a lighthouse for my kids. While we cannot prevent the storms of life from hitting our kids, I want to be able to guide my children through them. I want them to know that my husband and I are a “safe place” and that we are always looking out for their well-being.
“Keeping Your Cool” is pretty self-explanatory, but it is a good reminder nonetheless. Just this past week, my daughter injured her little toe. I ended up taking her to urgent care for x-rays to see if it was broken. It had been a busy day for me, and spending the evening at urgent care was the last thing I wanted to do. During the drive there, I found myself being upset and blaming her even though I knew it was not her fault. I eventually was able to calm down and “keep my cool”. As a result, we ended up having two hours of quality mother-daughter time that would have been otherwise wasted.
As parents, we need to remember that we should “cherish every stage” of our children’s life. I remember looking forward to and celebrating every milestone during the baby and toddler stages. As parents, we need to continue to do this and not let the teenage milestones go by unnoticed. I would like to start a scrapbook where my daughter and I can both record some of these milestones.
According to this piece of advice, parents should be more concerned about what our kids are learning vs. focusing solely on academic grades. The CPTC suggests asking teens what they learned at school instead of only caring about test scores and grades. When I tried this, I found that my daughter was more open in talking about her school day.
This piece of advice caught my attention because of the catchy acronym. It is vital for kids to have quality playtime, downtime, and family time in order to be successful in school (and reduce stress levels). I have recently tried making more of a concerted effort to create family time by enjoying a nice meal together or playing a quick board game. Even though our schedules are busy, “PDF” gives us a chance to reconnect.
Be sure to check out the CPTC website for more valuable parenting advice and create your own #ParentingPlaylist that you can implement with your teen!
Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.
Have you heard of the new animated movie based on the classic book, The Pilgrim’s Progress? I must confess, I have not read The Pilgrim’s Progress even though it is one of the most popular books of all time. In fact, it is second only to the Bible in the number of copies and translations! I had a chance to preview The Pilgrim’s Progress movie. It is an inspiring story with spiritual implications that the whole family can enjoy together.
Watch The Trailer:
Genre: drama/ animated Rating: NR Run time: 1:45 Studio: Revelation Media Talent: John Rhys-Davies (THE LORD OF THE RINGS), Kristyn Getty, Ben Price
THEATRICAL RELEASE
Buy your tickets now! 2 days only–April 18 & 20, Easter weekend! Thursday, April 18, 7:00p Saturday, April 20, 12:55p Get tickets
I am also hosting a giveaway for The Pilgrim’s Progress digital interactive storybook!
Disclosure: I received these games in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Spring break is fast approaching and families everywhere are looking forward to having a little “down time”. I found a couple of games from Pressman that will provide plenty of family fun.
I remember playing the original Mastermind game when I was a child. It is a good way to teach kids logic and deduction. This version has instructions for three levels of play and is designed for kids ages 6 and up.
The animal playing pieces are so cute!
Mastermind is a classic game for a reason. After initially testing this game out, the kids kept asking to play for days later.
Hydro Strike is easy to set up and to learn how to play. It operates like a two-sided pinball machine, but if your opponent scores, water sprays in your face!
This game is designed for two players and is recommended for ages 7 and up.
My kids had a lot of fun with this game as well. The amount of water that comes out is actually pretty small, so it is not as messy as I thought it would be. Just be sure to play in an area that is easy to wipe down.
Enter below for a chance to win both Mastermind For Kids and Hydro Strike!
My family and I were able to watch our first Disney On Ice show last year. The show wowed us with its level of skating, artistry and creativity. Disney On Ice is returning to Southern California with a new show called Worlds of Enchantment. This show will feature the gang from Toy Story, Cars, Frozen, and Little Mermaid!
Worlds of Enchantment will be touring in Southern California next month:
April 18-April 21 @ Long Beach Arena
April 25-April 28 @ Citizens Business Bank Arena (Ontario)
Tickets can be purchased here. Use discount code MOM20 for 20% off tickets, expires 4/29/19. (Click here for more information.)
Enter below for a chance to win a family four pack to opening night at either Long Beach Arena (April 18, 7:30 p.m.) or Ontario Citizens Citizens Bank Arena (April 25, 7:00 p.m.)!
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Character Carved in Stone is a book that provides real life historical examples of character in action. The author, Pat Williams, is senior vice president of NBA’s Orlando Magic. He is also a motivational speaker who has written more than 100 books! Williams shares stories of West Point graduates from the Civil War to present day to inspire readers in the way they live their own lives.
West Point stands for twelve leadership virtues:
Compassion
Courage
Dedication
Determination
Dignity
Discipline
Integrity
Loyalty
Perseverance
Responsibility
Service
Trust
Each of these virtues is “carved in stone” on benches that reside at West Point. Character Carved in Stone devotes a chapter to each of these virtues. I have to admit, I skimmed some of the military history parts, but I am sure they would be interesting to others. However, the stories of people like Buzz Aldrin were quite fascinating to me. Even though most of us will never have the opportunity to test our character by walking on the moon, we can still live out the virtues outlined in this book.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
In Choose Greatness, Gary Chapman, the author of The 5 Love Languages, partners with his mentee, Clarence Shuler to outline “11 Wise Decisions That Brave Young Men Make”. These wise decisions range from “Choose to Seek Knowledge through Education” to “Choose to Build Diverse Friendships to “Choose to Discover the Truth about God”. This book’s premise is that decisions made during the teen years can be critical in determining the trajectory of the rest of your life. Many life decisions that may seem inconsequential at the time can result in tragic endings.
Both Chapman and Shuler offer sound advice, largely gleaned from their own life experiences. Their hope is that this book can help young men avoid the mistakes they have made, as well as to avoid unwise decisions that they have seen others make. The “Ask Yourself” questions at the end of each chapter let the reader pause and reflect on choices they have made or will make that will affect their lives. Although this book is geared towards teens, I would personally recommend this book for older teens, rather than tweens or younger teens due to some of the content. Choose Greatness is a great resource for young men who are about to embark into the journey of adulthood.
Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
When I first heard about Undercover Quinoa, a snack that combines quinoa and chocolate, I was intrigued. Quinoa and chocolate is a combination I had never heard of before. However, after trying it, I can say the combination definitely works! The quinoa is light and crispy and the chocolate offers just the right amount of sweetness to make this the perfect treat. Plus, Undercover Quinoa is gluten-free, and made of non-GMO, fair trade and all-natural ingredients.
Pictured here is the Dark Chocolate + Blueberries flavor. I like how the dried blueberries add a little hit of tart to the flavor profile.
The resealable packaging makes Undercover Quinoa an easy snack to share and enjoy on the go. My kids really liked it even though quinoa is an ingredient that they do not regularly eat.
Undercover Quinoa can be purchased online, or at a store near you. I am also pleased to announce that my readers have the chance to win a bag of each of the five flavors in the giveaway below!
This was our third time watching the Harlem Globetrotters and they are always entertaining. Even though the kids have now caught on to the scripted nature of the “game”, they still enjoyed the showmanship. They especially liked the “4-point” shots, 30 feet from the basket (and there were a lot of them!)
This was a busy weekend for us. With k and n having multiple separate activities, we had to divide and conquer. Watching this show as a family was a great way to spend some quality time together. Look for the Harlem Globetrotters Fan Powered World Tour at an arena near you.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
What does your family usually talk about when sitting around the dinner table? I wish that I could say that my family talks about “deep” topics, but usually it is just everyone giving an update about their day. That is not a bad thing, but sometimes it is nice to have more meaningful discussions.
If…What If is a book filled with 365 devotions that families can go through together. Each devotion is one page long and contains thought-provoking questions, a Bible passage, a short commentary and a message offering hope. There is also a weekly recap that summarizes the past week’s topics and poses more personal questions and prayer topics.
I know that as our kids are fast approaching the teen years, the time to develop the communication lines is now. Being intentional with the limited time that we have together is important. A book like If…What If can help raise weighty topics that might not otherwise be discussed. I like how the book also intersperses more lighthearted and humorous questions throughout so that kids will stay engaged. The devotions are designed to bring families closer together, as well as to God. I cannot wait to bring this book on our upcoming road trip when we will have endless hours to talk!
