When life gets you down, turn on Netflix

When your husband takes the kids to the mall on Black Friday JUST so you can write, you write!

Or, maybe not.

We all know that I have been sadly neglecting this little beauty of a blog recently. Life threw us a bit of a curveball, with an unexpected pregnancy that has knocked me flat on my backside for the better of two months now. I swear, I was beginning to think that the morning sickness was NEVER going to leave me alone. Most days, just getting out of bed, getting dressed, and heading to work was more than I could manage. And, because I have four kids and a husband who all depend on me too.....it was bye-bye writing!

So today, while I am FINALLY starting to feel pretty good, the hubs decided to give me a morning alone to get some much needed writing completed. It all sounded good in theory, but I should have known, given my recent turn of events, that NOTHING would go the way that I was expecting.

First, I had a complete shut-down of all creative juices. No matter WHAT I tried, my mind was a blank canvas. I went to Facebook to try and gain some inspiration, but even the great ideas my friends shot off at me went completely to poo as soon as I tried to form them into cohesive thought. FINALLY, after more than an hour of "brainstorming" I decided I better just fire up the ole laptop and write SOMETHING!

Too bad my crappy laptop had other plans. It took over an hour just to boot the stupid thing up! (I guess taking a couple months off, made this sucker get lazy on me!) Then, once I got the dumb thing running, I couldn't get the internet to work. Then I couldn't get the page to load. Then my computer completely froze and I had to start the WHOLE PROCESS OVER. Ugh. I was JUST about to give up, when my blog FINALLY popped up.

Man, am I glad that I had Netflix to keep me occupied while I was desperately trying to make use of my little bit of quiet "writing" time. I decided that because Black Friday OFFICIALLY marks the start of the crazy Christmas season, I would like to watch a good holiday inspired movie. Netflix has lots of choices in this genre, from traditional classics like "White Christmas" and "The Legend of Frosty Snowman" to funny films like "Christmas with the Kranks" and kid UN-friendly "Bad Santa."

I decided to go with a movie I had never watched before, called "The Mistletones," about a girl who desperately wanted to be part of a popular singing group but had some major obstacles along the way. I thought I could probably relate, given my life the last couple months and even my challenging morning.

It was a good choice. I loved all the Christmas music and fun singing and it kept me humming even though I was getting pretty frustrated with my junky laptop. Sometimes, you just have to find joy in the little things. That is a lesson that is becoming more and more obvious to me as I battle my way through this pregnancy. Each day we need to look around us and find SOMETHING that is good, even if it is only Netflix and the endless choices of shows and movies. Because, some days, let's face it, pjs and tv is about all that I can endure!

Until next time....keep streaming <3

I am a Netflix Brand ambassador. I am compensated with free service and other products for promoting Netflix on my blog, but trust me, I would be watching and recommending even if I wasn't!

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How to accomplish things on your day off in 16 easy steps

Step 1
Peel yourself out of a warm bed at the horrible screeching of your alarm clock. Find solace in the fact that in exactly one hour you will have EIGHT HOURS of uninterrupted silence.

Step 2
Hurry and help the kids get around for school. After all, nothing motivates a mother more than the promise of solitude! Be sure to almost forget to pack their lunches because last minute panic really gets your blood pumping.

Step 3
Dutifully stand at the bus stop with your kids and pretend to look disappointed when the bus FINALLY pulls in. Refrain from doing cartwheels the whole way home. You don't want to spend your day off in the hospital (or give the neighbors anything else to whisper about you!)

Step 4
Make yourself a giant-sized cup of coffee to help you focus.  Walk away while it brews and forget that you made it.

Step 5
Hunt down a piece of paper and a pen to make a To-Do list for the day. Maybe in the desk? Nope. Not there. In the kitchen junk drawer? Of course not. WHERE ON EARTH ARE ALL THE WRITING UTENSILS IN THIS HOUSE?!!! Finally find a crayon in the bathroom and an old grocery store receipt. Whatever. It works.

Step 6
Begin writing your list. Set it down in the counter when you remember about your cup of coffee. Add creamer to your coffee and then set your cup down on the counter when you realize that you HAVE to at least do ONE load of laundry today.

Step 7
Head off to the laundry room. Try hard to refrain from looking into the children's rooms for dirty laundry, no sense getting yourself all worked up on your day off. Besides, if they have to wear dirty clothes tomorrow it will provide them with a valuable lesson about listening to their mother. Put some laundry in the washing machine. Head back to the kitchen to tackle that list.

Step 8
Completely ignoring the list, settle in at the kitchen table with your phone and catch up on the daily down-low (by scrolling through Facebook.) Remember about that cup of coffee. Oooh, it is still hot! Try to recall the last time you were able to enjoy your coffee without having to reheat it in the microwave fifteen times.

Step 9
Realize that it has been over an hour since putting the kids on the bus and you have not accomplished a thing on your list. Try and remember where you set that dumb ole thing. While searching for your list, remember that you work better when listening to music. Turn on the TV and search for the remote. Now where did the kids put that stupid thing? Turn the living room upside down looking for it. Find it in the bathroom.

Step 10
Now that you have the remote in hand, forget WHY you were looking for it, and settle in on the couch to catch up on some Netflix. You vaguely remember what it is like to pick the program. It feels good!

Step 11
After watching five episodes of your favorite show (THANK YOU, NETFLIX!), realize that you were SUPPOSED to be tackling that list! Whoops. Back to the list.

Step 12
OH NO! You forgot the laundry! Head to the laundry room to move the laundry to the dryer and start another load. Pat yourself on the back that you remembered BEFORE the mildew set in this time. You are so awesome.

Step 13
Open the dishwasher to start a load of dishes. Your phone rings. It's your mother. Answer it. After all, when was the last time you were able to chat without sounding like you had a severe case of Tourettes? And she knows that you are home alone and don't have an excuse for NOT answering. Catch up on ALL the latest family gossip. Realize you have been on the phone for almost half an hour. Tell your mother that you REALLY need to accomplish something today, so you will have to get off the phone. Listen as she tells you five more "important" things. Gently remind her that you need to hang up. Continue listening to her for another half hour. Pretend your other line is ringing to finally get off the phone.

Step 14
Head back to that list.

Step 15
Hear the distinct sound of a school bus rumbling down the road. Look at the clock. WHAT? It must be wrong! It is 3:00 already? Run to the laundry room to look like you are hard at work folding laundry as you hear the children's shouts outside, followed by the slamming of the door and the inevitable "MOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM" that follows.

Step 16
Concede that you can't live in a perfectly clean house AND enjoy your day off. It just wasn't meant to be. Besides, kids NEED chores to help build character and responsibility. You can try again next week. Now you get to tackle making dinner while helping with homework.

And that is a whole new list.

photo credit: stock images at freedigitalphotos.net

How do you enjoy YOUR day off? Share it with me in the comments!

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DISCLOSURE: I am a Netflix Brand Ambassador. I receive free products and service for mentioning them in blog posts. But don't let this announcement fool you, I LOVE me some Netflix and would mention them for free.

Looking for something new to binge-on? Check out Netflix's new fall lineup! There is definitely something for everyone.

Four fun science experiments for your little scientist

Has the summer turned your kids brains to mush? There is nothing like a little "science" to get their little minds turning again. (And JUST in time for school! Yay!)

My kids LOVE science experiments. And they love making a big ole mess even more. We have done many a science "project" around this house and they ALWAYS end a ginormous mess. Thankfully, I have found a way for them to have some science fun and keep the clean-up to a minimum. Score!


So, if you have a blossoming scientist in your house, here are some quick and easy experiments that will satisfy their ever-growing curiosity. (Or at least give you a FEW minutes of peace. Hey, we gotta take what we can get as parents.)


1. The Lava Lamp
What you need:
Water bottle
Vegetable oil
Food coloring
Effervescent tablet (Denture cleaner)

Remove the label from the water bottle. Pour out 1/4 of the water. Add a couple drops of food coloring to the remaining water in the bottle. Mix well. Fill the bottle the rest of the way up with vegetable oil (leave a small space at the top of the bottle) Drop an effervescent tablet into the bottle and cap tightly. Watch the colored bubbles float around just like a lava lamp! For even more fun, shine a flashlight through the bottom of the water bottle.

2. Ice Fishing
What you need:
Small plastic container
Ice cubes
Table salt
String

Fill the container 2/3 full with water. Add a couple ice cubes. Sprinkle some salt on top of the ice cubes and then lay the ice on top of the salted ice cubes. Wait about a minute, then lift the string to see how many ice cubes you caught. Try it again without the salt. How many do you catch both ways?

3. Green Penny
What you need:
Small petri dish with lid (or a shallow container works just as well)
Penny
Paper towel
Vinegar

Fold a paper towel a few times so that it fits into the bottom of the petri dish. Pour in enough vinegar to soak the paper towel. Put the penny on the paper towel and cover the container. Take a look at the penny every few hours to see what happens. (Keep the penny in the dish for an entire day for best results.) Try the experiment with other coins and see what happens. Are the results the same?

4. Morphing Straw
What you need:
Clear plastic jar
Drinking Straws
Cooking oil

Fill the jar 1/2 full with oil. Put the straw into the jar until it touches the bottom and push it to one side of the jar. Bring the jar up to eye level and turn the jar slowly. Watch the straw. How does its appearance change as the jar turns? Can you make part of the straw dissapear? Try the experiment again using water instead of oil. Do you get the same results?

**These experiments are brought to you courtesy of Netflix who provided my daughters with a very cool (and Top Secret) experiment kit in exchange for this post.

If you want more fun, check out the new original Netflix series Project MC2, where smart is the new cool. My girls really love this show and yours probably will too! Here is a sneak peak:

Here are a few more shows that will get their little minds back into gear for the school year!

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius How the State Got Their Shapes Odd Squad Reading Rainbow Magic School Bus The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! As always, thanks for reading! If you would please take a minute to click this banner, I would really appreciate it!  Every click helps improve my ranking at Top Mommy Blogs which brings more traffic to this blog and it only takes a second of your time! xoxo

It Takes a Village

Have you ever felt your life spiraling out of control?

The bills. The laundry. The kids. THINGS. Just piling up.

This was my life.

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire: Outrageous lies told by kids

If you have a child, chances are you have been lied to on one occasion or another. And if you are super lucky, you will have a grand embellisher like we do. Our middle daughter knows how to spin a tale, let me tell ya.

Dinner & A Show: Not Your Momma's Grilled Cheese

I LOVE Netflix. But let's face it, they offer so many choices that sometimes it is just plain hard to choose! So, as a public service to YOU, I am going to share a new Netflix find and, as a bonus, I am going to include one of my favorite recipes to go along with it! So sit back, relax, and let me bring you the perfect night in courtesy of Netflix.

Netflix: A Family Affair

As most of you know, I am a HUGE fan of Netflix. They have saved my sanity on more than one occasion. (Can we say "Snow Days"?!) And I enjoy writing for them once a month as part of their "stream team" of bloggers because the posts seriously write themselves. (Who doesn't already LOVE Netflix?!) But lately I have been so busy with work and life that it has been harder and harder to carve out some writing time.

So when they reached out to me this month and asked if I would be interested in letting my daughters write my post this month, I was ALL ears. You see, they have an original series called Mako Mermaids that my daughters LOVE. We already watch it.

A LOT.

And what better way to truly make Netflix a family affair, than to bring it full circle and let them do the talking for me this month.

When I asked my oldest daughter (who is 12) how she felt about writing a review on the show and the youngest girls if they would draw the pictures to go with their older sister's review, they all were super hyped! (And the icing on the cake was Netflix sending them a pretty awesome "mermaid" kit in the mail as a thank-you for all their hard work!)

<----What little girl wouldn't be excited about getting all THIS in the mail? Shoot! Can *I* write some stuff about your show next time? I want some Bath & Body Works and Eos! I like to paint MY nails! I want beach worthy hair in the middle of winter! And they won't even SHARE it with me. Huh.

The kids worked very hard to let you know why Mako Mermaids is a great show that YOUR tweenage girls would enjoy too.

So without further ado, I give you my tween, Jess, with her debut on my blog.

 Why I Love Mako Mermaids and You Should Too

by Jessica, age 12

The show Mako Mermaids: H2O Adventures is about these three mermaids who have been banned from the other mermaids because they turned a human into a mermaid. They are just learning how to walk with legs and get into a lot of trouble in the human world. When they get wet anywhere on their body, anywhere at all, their legs transform back into tails. Then they have to wait to dry off completely to turn back to humans. 

I like this show because it is more realistic than other shows I have watched about mermaids. I don't think it is fair that mermaids have to choose between being a human or being a mermaid when they could be both! I also like this show because you don't have to watch ALL the episodes for it to make sense. When I first watched it, I was at my friend's house and we watched an episode that was in the middle of Season 1 because that was where she was in the series. We really loved it! We loved it so much, that when we got home, we tied our feet together and tried to walk around like mermaids. It was so funny!

My FAVORITE episode is the season finale of season 1. In this episode, the human friend of a merman tries to become a merman. He steals a trident and uses it in a fight against the mermaids so that he can fall into the moon pool and become a merman. (If you fall into the moon pool during a full moon, you will be transformed.) 

I am pretty excited about Season 2 being out now so I can continue watching this great show. If you love mystical creatures, mermaids, fantasy, suspense, or action shows, you should watch Mako Mermaids! It will leave you wanting to watch more.

What shows do YOUR kids love? Leave me a comment!

I receive complimentary Netflix service in return for my endorsement, but all opinions and referrals are 100% my own opinion.

Be sure to tune in to Mako Mermaids Season 2 available now on Netflix!

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A Girl and Her Dreams

My nine year old daughter LOVES animals.

She has labeled herself "Dog Trainer of the Year" despite the fact that we don't even own a dog. If you have a dog, WATCH OUT! She will insist on "training" it. To a point where when your dog sees her, it will run and hide, and no amount of treats will coax it back out.

She wants to be a vegetarian because it is mean to eat animals. Except for bacon. She doesn't want to stop eating bacon. (But who in their right mind does?!) And she doesn't really like any vegetables. But that isn't a pre-requisite. Right?

She once played hooky from school so that she could stay home and watch an all-day marathon of "Pitbulls and Parolees." No, I was NOT aware that was the reason beforehand. But she did end up admitting it later that night when the other kids were doing something fun and she couldn't because she was "sick". Tough lesson.

She wants to be either a veterinarian or a zoologist when she grows up. Or maybe both. For as long as I can remember asking her, her answer has never changed.

Unfortunately for this sweet girl, she has two things working against her.

First, we live in an apartment. One that doesn't allow pets. Not even in a cage.

Second, she is allergic to almost all animals that could be considered "pet" material, including: dogs, cats, horses, and rabbits. She was formally tested for allergies a couple years ago when she was having trouble with chronic ear infections and those were her results.

Devastating news to a little girl with big aspirations to be a vet... or so you would think.

But NOT this girl. In fact, she told the allergy doctor that she was going to be a veterinarian when she grows up and he, of course, trying to let her down gently, informed her " that probably wouldn't be a very good idea due to her allergies." She took one look at him and put him right back into his place. She would be a vet. And that was that. He chuckled and told her that she would keep him in business that way. I chuckled because I knew that she meant it.

I know that one day she probably will work with animals. She is my dreamer. And my do-er. But for now, she is stuck living out her animal fantasies by training your dog and by watching animal shows and movies on Netflix. So far we have watched Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3, 101 Dalmatians (the live one), and all the "Buddies" movies a thousand times a piece. 

Thank goodness Netflix just released a brand new series called The Adventures of Puss in Boots (my personal favorite character from the Shrek movies!) so that we can switch it up a little bit. 

Hey, a mom can only watch a movie so many times, no matter how good it is!

I receive complimentary Netflix service in return for my endorsement, but all opinions and referrals are 100% my own opinion.

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Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

A snowman. So cute. So fun. (As long as I am watching the kids from the window and not expected to participate out in the cold snow!) This month, I discovered a much warmer way to enjoy a cute little snowman. 

Occasionally, this momma likes to get a little crafty. And once in a blue moon, I even involve the kiddos. (Not too often, though, I DON'T have a death wish, for me OR them!) But this idea had "kids" written all over it. So I gathered up the supplies (and the girlies) and got to crafting. The end results were so adorably cute that I just had to share! 

Now you can make your own little snowmen, in the comfort of your pj's while enjoying a mug of hot cocoa. And when you are done, you can cuddle up under a blanket on the couch and watch The Legend of Frosty the Snowman on Netflix just like we did!

Supplies you will need:

*White tube-style kids socks (That pile that is waiting to find their long-lost match works great!)

*Rice

*Hot glue gun and scissors

*Tiny hair rubberbands

*Scraps of material, buttons, and other embellishments


Step 1: 
Cut the sock about a 1/2 inch below the ribbed part and above the heel. The top half of the sock will become your snowman. Fold over and glue at the bottom to make a little sack. This step is definitely done best by a grown up. I did this part before inviting the kiddos to join in.

Step 2:
Fill the sack with rice. This may take two people, especially if little ones are helping! And you can expect a mess too. (But that is just common sense when crafting with the kiddos!) Make sure to stretch the sock out to get it nice and full and to leave about a 1/2 inch space at the top for closing. Use a little hair rubberband to seal off the top.

Step 3:
Cut a strip of scrap material. This will be the scarf. It will also help separate your snowman into two parts. Tie the strip around the "neck" of your snowman (tight, but not too tight!) Use hot glue to hold the ends of the scarf in place. Next, make a hat out of the toe of the sock. Roll up the end of the sock and then glue the hat to the top of the snowman's head. You can turn the sock inside out to get a different look. And if you want to get really fancy (and have lots of mismatched kids socks laying around), you can even use patterned socks for the hat!

Step 4:
Decorate your little snowman. Use buttons, scraps of material, and any other embellishments you can find laying around the house. I made a little bow for the hat by cutting strips into a small piece of scrap material and attaching a cute button to the top. Use a sharpie marker to draw on "coal eyes" and a smile.

The possibilities are endless!

Happy crafting!

Don't forget to check out Netflix for The Legend of Frosty the Snowman and other Holiday classics!

I receive complimentary service in return for my endorsement, but all opinions and referrals are 100% my own opinion.

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What I am REALLY thankful for this holiday season...

As we arrive at this time of giving and Thanksgiving, you see tons of posts on Facebook and other social media sights listing the things people are "thankful" for. Some of them tug at your heart strings. Some of them make you laugh. Some of them are a big old farce. You know the ones I am talking about! Come on folks! Don't forget we know you in real life...

And of course, as a mom, I am thankful for my wonderful family. That goes without saying. I mean, how could you not cherish this sweet little face? And her many, many, MANY drawings of our family show how much we mean to her too.

And I am thankful for awesome little "mommy moments" like reading my favorite childhood classic with my kids every night. And then finding the movie on Netflix and enjoying a family movie night.

But let's face it, most moms' lists of things they are really "thankful" for are selfish and include things that are taken for granted before you become parents.

Things like:

Going to the bathroom ALONE

You know you are a mom when you take your phone to the toilet with you so you can have five minutes of peace and quiet while you scroll through your Facebook newsfeed or catch a few minutes of your favorite show on Netflix. I get you. I do the same thing. 

Hey, there is NOTHING wrong with your kids thinking you need to take a half hour poop twice a day while you watch Charmed... Right?!

Making a gourmet dinner that is actually APPRECIATED

And maybe even enjoyed. Is that too much to ask? There is nothing like pouring your heart and soul out in the kitchen night after night just to be bombarded with cries of "Eww! What IS that" and "Can't I just have a PB&J instead?" And those are just what I hear from my husband! 

Most moms would give anything for a dinner night that went off without a hitch or single complaint. Or maybe that is just me.

Having some time to write, craft, read, or even THINK 

Insert your favorite thing in this one. It's okay to be selfish sometimes! As parents, we always put our kids needs ahead of our own. There is nothing wrong with doing the things we enjoy sometimes. And there is no need to feel guilty about being thankful for those few moments of peace!

Having some "alone time" with the spouse

How can you keep the romance alive if you don't ever get any time alone? I am truly thankful for the fact that our kids are finally getting old enough to be left at home alone while we enjoy a dinner out and some time to talk about things other than "Brennan hasn't had a bowel movement in two days" and "the kids need: new shoes, haircuts, Christmas presents"....the list goes on and on! It is nice to talk about grownup stuff, like "how to get rich by making a house that cleans itself" and "who can eat the biggest meatball"

Yes, those are things my husband and I actually have discussed on "date night". Be jealous! It's okay.

Having control of the remote control

How many episodes of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and Bratz Babies can one mom take before she goes insane? I am tempted to change the Netflix password some days! I long for those quiet moments when I can curl up in the corner with my iPad and binge watch the shows that I want to watch. 

Thank you Netflix for the ability to stream more than one show at a time!

For that I am TRULY grateful.

What are YOU grateful for this Thanksgiving?

I receive complimentary service in return for my endorsement, but all opinions and referrals are 100% my own opinion.

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