How to Plan Fun Family Movie Nights During the Busy School Year

August 15, 2017August 15, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

This guide on how to have fun family movie nights during the busy school year is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Snyder’s-Lance, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #Pop4Captain http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

The school year can be a super trying time, between homework, extracurricular activities, sports, and more. That doesn't mean you have to compromise family time, though! Here are my tips for squeezing the most out of family movie nights during the busy school season with @popsecret @lancesnacks and @walmart. #Pop4Captain #Pmedia #ad

With school back in session, it can be really hard to make time for family time. Honestly, between sports, music, and other extracurriculars, plus homework, it can feel impossible to get the whole family in one place at one time. But making time for that family connection is very important, so I’ve got a few tips to make sure you can reconnect with a fun family movie night and make sure it goes really smoothly! We’ve already got a fun family movie night planned in our household around the release of Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.

Gulf Coast-Inspired Easy Shrimp Tacos

June 21, 2017June 20, 2017 - Mama 1 Comment

This easy shrimp taco recipe has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SoftsoapTouch #OurCaringHands #CollectiveBias

Be ready for summer with these easy Gulf Coast style Shrimp Tacos! They're so easy to make and absolutely delicious. Feel the Gulf Island flavor-- shrimp, taco shells, and plenty of flavor. #OurCaringHands [ad]

The clock is ticking, y’all. I am just weeks away from the event that I look forward to all year long. I’d say I’m practically packed, but we all know I’ll end up doing that the night before I leave. I’m talking about summer vacation, and for me, oh, it’s so much more than just a little break. See, for almost two decades now, summer vacation has meant something a little bit different for my family. It hasn’t just meant beach, and sand, and the sun, but it’s meant a whole lot of family time.

Every summer, we make the trek down to the Gulf Coast, to a tiny island called Dauphin Island, Alabama. If you’re a long-time reader, you’ve probably even seen me talk about it every summer for the past several years. This year we will be driving about 16 hours like we do every summer. Why? To enjoy the beach with our family, who live in another state.

To save money, we split condo costs. We also make sure to cook and eat meals family-style in the condo, rather than going out to eat a lot. That doesn’t mean we never visit local restaurants…. We totally do! There are so many great options for Gulf Coast flavor. Restaurants there serve up fried fish platters, po’boys, and of course, delicious shrimp tacos.

5 Tips for having the BEST Family Movie Night

March 27, 2017March 28, 2017 - Mama 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. We hope you enjoy this content about how to have a great family movie night. #YourTaxCash #CollectiveBias

Y’all know that I absolutely love Walmart Family Mobile. Just a couple of weeks ago, I shared all about how I invested in a smartphone for my business with Walmart Family Mobile, so I could keep rocking my business on the go, but that phone plan came with some extra perks that we are loving, like a VUDU credit every month! We decided that the movie credit makes for the perfect work break, which is why we’ve been staying intentional about family movie nights! I’ve figured out 5 foolproof tips for having the best movie night ever.

Why My Son and I Play PokemonGo

July 29, 2016September 5, 2016 - Mama Leave a comment

Love it or hate it, there's a lot of great reasons to get your kids interested in playing PokemonGo! From exercise to family bonding, here are the reasons my son and I play this cell phone app video game together.

Love it or hate it, there are so many reasons to start playing PokemonGo with your kids. I was a skeptic at first, thinking it was just another timewaster of an app, but after playing with my son a few times, it became clear that it was a must-have app for us to enjoy together!

End Of Summer Road Trips from Kansas City

July 21, 2016 - Mama 1 Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RoadTripOil #CollectiveBias

Summer may be almost over, but there's still plenty of time to sneak in a little last-minute road trip. If you're from the Kansas City area, there are a ton of nearby options for places to travel, so you can sneak in that family bonding time before back to school hits. #RoadTripOil [ad]

I cannot even handle the fact that we’re over halfway through summer. I mean, I looked at the calendar, and we have like… 3 weeks left of the pool being open for the year. As much as I’m looking forward to my fall favorites returning in just a few short weeks, I also know that I want to squeeze out every last drop of summer I can. It’s about this time of year every year that I itch to take a little road trip, a short end-of-summer vacation, a last hurrah before the fall returns and we remember that school is just around the corner… and when you’re from the Kansas City area, you’re incredibly blessed with tons of nearby places that are really awesome to visit, without having to go too horribly far for a last-minute road trip. That means it’s not too late to visit them now… just hop in the car and enjoy!

Dino Dig Popcorn Mix

June 21, 2016December 26, 2016 - Mama Leave a comment

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® , Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Pop Secret, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #Pop4LandB4time http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

It’s no secret… we’re big dinosaur fans around here! When we’re on the go, I have dinosaur toys in my bag to keep my kiddo entertained. But the real secret? I’m a big fan of dinosaurs, too. Growing up, I loved watching movies like The Land Before Time, and I remember in second grade when we got to pick a dinosaur to make a wire sculpture of (I picked a pterodactyl, by the way, which my son will remind me is not a dinosaur, but is actually a pterosaur). There’s just something so special about being able to share the love of Dinos with my little guy, meaning I’m always looking for a new, fun dinosaur craft or recipe to make with him!

Eggheads Roll a Face Game for Easter!

March 23, 2016February 18, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

This post has been sponsored by PAAS Easter Eggs. All opinions are my own.

Want to keep the kids entertained while you cook Easter dinner? Here's a great way to do it-- this eggheads roll a face game is a super fun Easter game that kids will love! Perfect Easter Boredom Buster or great Easter hostess gift for any hostess with kids. #PAASEaster [ad]

The best thing about Easter Dinner? Totally Easter Dinner– who can resist all of the amazing food on the table at Easter time? The worst part, though? Kids getting bored while you’re preparing it. It’s just a fact of life that kids are going to get bored while you’re preparing easter dinner, and when they’re not bored, well, they tend to get underfoot and make glazing ham and making scalloped potatoes a little bit more difficult.

But I have the perfect game that will keep everyone entertained, and to make it a little bit sweeter, I’m including a free printable for this fun Easter game to get you started. This roll-a-face dice game using the Eggheads kit from PAAS Easter egg is so easy to play that even young kids will have a blast, and this Easter game is sure to be a part of your Easter traditions for years to come.

Dino Dig Sensory Box

March 17, 2016 - Mama Leave a comment

This post has been sponsored by PAAS Easter Eggs. All opinions are my own. Please note that synthetic eggs will yield a different result than real eggs– your mileage may vary.

Looking for a fun sensory box for your future palentologist? This dino dig sensory box is perfect for all ages and stages! With

It seems like every child goes through a dinosaur phase. The growling, the roaring, the stomping fun that comes with dinosaurs is one of the most fun phases to watch. As a child, I remember watching dinosaur movies again and again, and now my son is the same way. This dino dig sensory box is the perfect way to tap into that dinosaur obsession!

Easy DIY Pinata Surprise Eggs

March 14, 2016February 19, 2017 - Mama Leave a comment

This tutorial for DIY Surprise Eggs has been sponsored by PAAS and Signature Brands. All opinions are my own. Please note that this post contains items that may be a choking hazard; adult supervision is required. The links in this post may be affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, affiliate links help support MamaPlusOne. MamaPlusOne is a participant in the Amazon Affiliates Program.

Looking for something new to try this Easter? These pinata DIY surprise eggs are a hit! They're fun to make and make great surprise favors, too. Perfect for your Easter gathering, and kids will love this Easter-themed boredom buster for sure! They're perfect for kids who are OBSESSED with Surprise Eggs on Youtube!

Surprise eggs. Oh, surprise eggs. My son has watched them again. And again. And again. And again. Until I think my head might explode. Seriously, I think if I hear one more surprise egg video, my brains will turn to mush. But here’s the deal: he totally loves them. So instead of just watching the videos on Youtube again, I decided to take a turn at DIYing some Pinata Surprise Eggs just for him, so he could experience the surprise egg magic for himself!

8 Ways to Rock Your Next Vacation (With Your Smartphone!)

February 1, 2016March 29, 2016 - Mama 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #DataAndAMovie #CollectiveBias

Going on a spring break trip or family vacation? If you're taking a road trip, you definitely want to check out these travel hacks and special uses for your smartphone that will bring your family together on your next road trip... when you've been in a car together for WAY too long, you'll wish you had checked this post out! #DataAndAMovie [ad]

Spring break season is almost upon us… I can’t believe I’m saying that, but now that January’s over, it’s officially time to start planning those spring break trips. And while you’re planning, you definitely need to make sure your smartphone has a great data plan, because I’ve got eight smartphone travel tips for your next road trip that will bring your family together on the road, and make your life a whole lot easier.

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