Author Archives: Cheryl

The Winter 2020 Disney Movie Challenge

Posted in Activities, Kids and Moms by

The Winter 2020 Disney Movie Challenge

There are so many challenges out on Tik Tok and Snapchat that even some have been making the news that make you say “WHAT?!”. Well, here is a fun, safe, family challenge to keep you and your family occupied for at least alittle while while your stuck indoors once the weather gets cooler (and the Pandemic inevitably increases again).

How about a Disney movie challenge! Here’s how it goes. 26 letters of the Alphabet, 26 days of Disney Movies!

You have a member if your family chose a Disney movie (or any movie of the genre you want) that starts with the corresponding days letter stating with A and so on.

They must choose a movie that starts with that letter, or if it’s impossible to find one (such as X, then pick a movie that at least has that letter in its name somewhere). Yes it’ll get hard but that’s the point!

Not only may you discover some more Disney movies you love, but your family will have fun doing it and lasting memories.

Oh. And did I mention it eliminates the “I can’t choose a movie” or “there’s nothing to watch” slurs!

If you’re wondering how you get to these movies, many have Disney + these days or if you’re anything like me you have a huge Disney DVD collection (you don’t? Then start one at DisneyMovieClub), or skip the Disney theme all together and go with any movie with that letter that you have available to you. Either way it’s worth trying.

Have fun! Let me know some of your favorite Disney movie letters, mine is T!

Below is a list of Disney Movies in Alphabetical Order:
  • 101 Dalmatians
  • 102 Dalmatians
  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
  • A Bug’s Life
  • A Far Off Place
  • A Goofy Movie
  • A Kid in King Arthur’s Court
  • A Tale of Two Critters
  • A Tiger Walks
  • A Wrinkle in Time
  • ABCD 2
  • African Cats
  • Air Bud
  • Air Bud: Golden Receiver
  • Aladdin
  • Aladdin
  • Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
  • Alice Through the Looking Glass
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Aliens of the Deep
  • Almost Angels
  • America’s Heart and Soul
  • Amy
  • Anaganaga O Dheerudu
  • Angels in the Outfield
  • Arjun: The Warrior Prince
  • Around the World in 80 Days
  • Artemis Fowl
  • Atlantis: The Lost Empire
  • Babes in Toyland
  • Bambi
  • Bears
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • Bedknobs and Broomsticks
  • Bedtime Stories
  • Benji the Hunted
  • Beverly Hills Chihuahua
  • Big Hero 6
  • Big Red
  • Blackbeard’s Ghost
  • Blank Check
  • Blue
  • Bolt
  • Bon Voyage!
  • Born in China
  • Brave
  • Bridge to Terabithia
  • Brother Bear
  • Candleshoe
  • Cars
  • Cars 2
  • Cars 3
  • Charley and the Angel
  • Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar
  • Cheetah
  • Chicken Little
  • Chimpanzee
  • Christopher Robin
  • Cinderella
  • Cinderella
  • Coco
  • College Road Trip
  • Condorman
  • Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
  • Cool Runnings
  • D2: The Mighty Ducks
  • D3: The Mighty Ducks
  • Dangal
  • Darby O’Gill and the Little People
  • Dasavathaaram
  • Davy Crockett and the River Pirates
  • Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier
  • Dinosaur
  • Disney’s A Christmas Carol
  • Disney’s The Kid
  • Do Dooni Chaar
  • Dolphin Reef
  • Doug’s 1st Movie
  • Dragonslayer
  • DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp
  • Dumbo
  • Dumbo
  • Earth
  • Eight Below
  • Emil and the Detectives
  • Enchanted
  • Endurance
  • Escape to Witch Mountain
  • Expedition China
  • Fantasia
  • Fantasia 2000
  • Finding Dory
  • Finding Nemo
  • First Kid
  • Flight of the Navigator
  • Flubber
  • Follow Me, Boys!
  • Frank and Ollie
  • Frankenweenie
  • Freaky Friday
  • Freaky Friday
  • Frozen
  • Frozen II
  • Fun and Fancy Free
  • G-Force
  • George of the Jungle
  • Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence GITS2
  • Ghost of the Mountains
  • Ghosts of the Abyss
  • Glory Road
  • Greyfriars Bobby
  • Growing Up Wild
  • Gus
  • Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert
  • Hannah Montana: The Movie
  • Heavyweights
  • Herbie Goes Bananas
  • Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo
  • Herbie Rides Again
  • Herbie: Fully Loaded
  • Hercules
  • High School Musical 3: Senior Year
  • Hocus Pocus
  • Holes
  • Home on the Range
  • Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
  • Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey
  • Honey, I Blew Up the Kid
  • Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
  • Hot Lead and Cold Feet
  • I’ll Be Home for Christmas
  • Ice Princess
  • In Search of the Castaways
  • Incredibles 2
  • Inside Out
  • Inspector Gadget
  • Into the Woods
  • Invincible
  • Iron Will
  • Jagga Jasoos
  • James and the Giant Peach
  • John Carter
  • Johnny Tremain
  • Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience
  • Jungle 2 Jungle
  • Jungle Cat
  • Khoobsurat
  • Kidnapped
  • King of the Grizzlies
  • L’Empereur – March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step[a]
  • Lady and the Tramp
  • Lady and the Tramp
  • Lilly the Witch: The Dragon and the Magic Book
  • Lilly the Witch: The Journey to Mandolan
  • Lilo & Stitch
  • Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.
  • Make Mine Music
  • Maleficent
  • Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
  • Man of the House
  • Mars Needs Moms
  • Mary Poppins
  • Mary Poppins Returns
  • Max Keeble’s Big Move
  • McFarland, USA
  • Meet the Deedles
  • Meet the Robinsons
  • Melody Time
  • Midnight Madness
  • Mighty Joe Young
  • Million Dollar Arm
  • Miracle
  • Miracle of the White Stallions
  • Moana
  • Monkey Kingdom
  • Monkeys, Go Home!
  • Monsters University
  • Monsters, Inc.
  • Moon Pilot
  • Morning Light
  • Mr. Magoo
  • Mulan
  • Muppet Treasure Island
  • Muppets Most Wanted
  • My Favorite Martian
  • Napoleon and Samantha
  • National Treasure
  • National Treasure: Book of Secrets
  • Never Cry Wolf
  • Never a Dull Moment
  • Newsies
  • Night Crossing
  • Nikki, Wild Dog of the North
  • No Deposit, No Return
  • Now You See Him, Now You Don’t
  • Oceans
  • Old Dogs
  • Old Yeller
  • Oliver & Company
  • One Hundred and One Dalmatians
  • One Little Indian
  • One Magic Christmas
  • One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing
  • Operation Dumbo Drop
  • Oz the Great and Powerful
  • Penguins
  • Perri
  • Pete’s Dragon
  • Pete’s Dragon
  • Peter Pan
  • Piglet’s Big Movie
  • Pinocchio
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  • Planes
  • Planes: Fire & Rescue
  • Pocahontas
  • Pollyanna
  • Pooh’s Heffalump Movie
  • Popeye
  • Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
  • Prom
  • Queen of Katwe
  • Race to Witch Mountain
  • Ralph Breaks the Internet
  • Rascal
  • Ratatouille
  • Recess: School’s Out
  • Remember the Titans
  • Return from Witch Mountain
  • Return to Never Land
  • Return to Oz
  • Return to Snowy River
  • Ride a Wild Pony
  • Roadside Romeo
  • Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue
  • Robin Hood
  • RocketMan
  • Roving Mars
  • Run, Cougar, Run
  • Sacred Planet
  • Saludos Amigos
  • Savage Sam
  • Saving Mr. Banks
  • Scandalous John
  • Secretariat
  • Secrets of Life
  • Shipwrecked
  • Sky High
  • Sleeping Beauty
  • Smith!
  • Snow Dogs
  • Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  • Snowball Express
  • So Dear to My Heart
  • Something Wicked This Way Comes
  • Son of Flubber
  • Song of the South
  • Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale
  • Summer Magic
  • Superdad
  • Swiss Family Robinson
  • Tall Tale
  • Tangled
  • Tarzan
  • Teacher’s Pet
  • Ten Who Dared
  • Tex
  • That Darn Cat
  • That Darn Cat!
  • The Absent-Minded Professor
  • The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin
  • The Adventures of Huck Finn
  • The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
  • The African Lion
  • The Apple Dumpling Gang
  • The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
  • The Aristocats
  • The BFG
  • The Barefoot Executive
  • The Bears and I
  • The Best of Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventures
  • The Big Green
  • The Biscuit Eater
  • The Black Cauldron
  • The Black Hole
  • The Boatniks
  • The Book of Masters
  • The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story
  • The Castaway Cowboy
  • The Cat from Outer Space
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
  • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
  • The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes
  • The Country Bears
  • The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos
  • The Devil and Max Devlin
  • The Emperor’s New Groove
  • The Fighting Prince of Donegal
  • The Finest Hours
  • The Fox and the Hound
  • The Game Plan
  • The Gnome-Mobile
  • The Good Dinosaur
  • The Great Locomotive Chase
  • The Great Mouse Detective
  • The Greatest Game Ever Played
  • The Happiest Millionaire
  • The Haunted Mansion
  • The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • The Incredible Journey
  • The Incredibles
  • The Island at the Top of the World
  • The Journey of Natty Gann
  • The Jungle Book
  • The Jungle Book
  • The Jungle Book
  • The Jungle Book 2
  • The Last Flight of Noah’s Ark
  • The Legend of Lobo
  • The Light in the Forest
  • The Lion King
  • The Lion King
  • The Little Mermaid
  • The Littlest Horse Thieves
  • The Littlest Outlaw
  • The Living Desert
  • The Lizzie McGuire Movie
  • The London Connection
  • The Lone Ranger
  • The Love Bug
  • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  • The Mighty Ducks
  • The Million Dollar Duck
  • The Misadventures of Merlin Jones
  • The Monkey’s Uncle
  • The Moon-Spinners
  • The Muppet Christmas Carol
  • The Muppets
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D TNBC
  • The North Avenue Irregulars
  • The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
  • The Odd Life of Timothy Green
  • The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
  • The Pacifier
  • The Parent Trap
  • The Parent Trap
  • The Pixar Story
  • The Princess Diaries
  • The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
  • The Princess and the Frog
  • The Reluctant Dragon
  • The Rescuers
  • The Rescuers Down Under
  • The Rocketeer TR
  • The Rookie
  • The Santa Clause 2
  • The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
  • The Santa Clause TSC
  • The Shaggy D.A.
  • The Shaggy Dog
  • The Shaggy Dog
  • The Sign of Zorro
  • The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
  • The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
  • The Straight Story
  • The Strongest Man in the World
  • The Sword and the Rose
  • The Sword in the Stone
  • The Three Caballeros
  • The Three Lives of Thomasina
  • The Three Musketeers
  • The Tigger Movie
  • The Ugly Dachshund
  • The Vanishing Prairie
  • The Watcher in the Woods
  • The Wild
  • The Wild Country
  • The World’s Greatest Athlete
  • The Young Black Stallion
  • Third Man on the Mountain
  • Those Calloways
  • Toby Tyler
  • Tom and Huck
  • Tomorrowland
  • Tonka
  • Toy Story
  • Toy Story 2
  • Toy Story 3
  • Toy Story 4
  • Trail of the Panda
  • Treasure Island
  • Treasure Planet
  • Treasure of Matecumbe
  • Trenchcoat
  • Tron
  • Tron: Legacy
  • Tuck Everlasting
  • Underdog
  • Unidentified Flying Oddball
  • Up
  • Valiant
  • Victory Through Air Power
  • WALL-E
  • Waking Sleeping Beauty
  • Walt & El Grupo
  • Westward Ho the Wagons!
  • White Fang
  • White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf
  • White Wilderness
  • Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken
  • Wings of Life
  • Winnie the Pooh
  • Wreck-It Ralph
  • Zokkomon
  • Zootopia
  • Zorro the Avenger

4 Must Do Roofing Tips For Cooler Weather

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Personally Fall is not one of my favorite times of the year as Winter is sure to come soon after, but I have to say that the cooler weather in the New Jersey area makes activities so much more enjoyable and gives the night time an entire feel and look
of it’s own.

However, Fall also comes with a few things you’ll want to be prepared for, especially when it comes to your home. For instance, now is the time to look at your roof and see if any maintenance needs to be done before the cooler weather turns too cold.

This will ensure that your home won’t in it’s best shape for the snow, ice, and winter wind that could keep your home’s value from dropping or worse, leave you with a large bill to fix. Below are a few tips to help you navigate what you should do first when it comes to your roof, especially if you are a new homeowner.

Image: Peter’s Roofing

1. Consulting With A Professional: It might seem easy to spot a problem with your roof but because you’re not an expert in this field, it also might be easier to have them come on just to be safe. Hiring a roofing contractor who specializes in roofing replacement is

key. They are the ones who can safely inspect your roof and spot any potential problems before the cold weather emergencies. This also will allow you to fix it before it’s too late.
After all, nobody wants to deal with a leaking roof in negative degree weather in the middle of December. Therefore, it is much easier to make the repairs necessary to your
roof in the fall when there is no snow or ice to worry about it. If you’re looking for a reputable company to help you with this decision, call Peter’s Roofing. These professionals install roofing to residential neighborhoods throughout the New Jersey area. I appreciate that they make safety a top priority and earned an impeccable safety record to show for it. They also have several years of experience as well as a solid team
to meet the demands of their clients.

All of their EPDM roofing service installations are covered by a full warranty and manufacturer guarantee so you can feel good about
having them take a look at your roof. It’s also a free estimate to have them come out and give you an expert estimate to help you determine which roof is best for you, your home,
and your budget.

2. Double Check The Gutters – If you haven’t even thought about cleaning your gutters, now is the time to do so. Debris, mud, twigs, and a whole lot of other things can have accumulated
inside of them which is tricky to see from the ground. As this pile grows, the gutters then become clogged. Rainwater, instead of draining down towards the ground, has nowhere to
go and if it’s can drain properly it’ll eventually spill back onto the roof. The water then begins to form a puddle, putting pressure and weight on various sections of your roof. This weight can then cause the roof to sage allowing for more rainwater to build until it collapses in that
spot. Now that you know, you’ll want to grab a ladder and check your gutters as soon as you
can.

3. Trim Overgrown Branches: Having trees in your yard is wonderful. They provide protection and shade from the hot sun but they can also cause some trouble for your roof. If branches start to overhang your roof you’ll want to make sure that you trim them because if the twigs
break off, they can cause damage to your shingles. The majority of damaged roofs actually are caused by falling branches so if a storm comes through, or if you have an older tree and has weak branches it could potentially fall on your roof. This is when you’ll want to keep an eye on it, especially when the winter arrives and the snow can make the branches fall with its weight.

4. Checking The Attic: While it’s awesome to continue to check the roof for areas of trouble but it’s also important to inspect the roof from the inside of your home. That’s right- I’m talking about your attic. Your attic can often lead to issues that might be missed from the
outside. For instance, look for any water leaks that can appear as any dark stain or discolored areas on the wall or floor. Check for signs of mildew or mold as well and don’t
forget to look for any warped ward. If your attic insulation is in good condition, you’ll want to be able to get the max heat retention during the cold months.

Are you starting to feel a bit overwhelmed with everything? Not to worry. The biggest and best thing
you can do for your loved ones and your home is first calling a professional to help take care of the
important things, such as your roof. They are the ones to know exactly what to look for and can help you with troubled areas as well as staying within your budget if repairs are needed.

Back-To-School: Educational Products For Kids During A Pandemic

Posted in Kids and Moms, Product Reviews by

Back-To-School: Educational Products For Kids During A Pandemic

These are unprecedented times, and everything is unpredictable including when school will get back to normal.

My kids are 100% virtual learning for the foreseeable future and although they adjusting wonderfully and I couldn’t be more proud of how they’re handling this huge change, we can’t help but feel there’s something missing.

I mean, my kids get socialization as much as possible like playdates at the local parks or at friends and family’s homes, and they talk on their phones along with their computer games but there is still something missing.

It’s the hands on experience of using your brain and hands together. I was happy to try out these 2 STEM items that help with this missing aspect. I personally loved Science as a child and thought these quick experiments were just perfect for the amount of time that would hold my 8 year olds attention and keep him interest.

The first up is the Ooze Labs: Colorful Crystal Lab. The absolute best part is that it isn’t a 1 time and done kit. There is a book if experiments to choose from using some provided materials along with household staples where they can be recreated as you wish.

We started started with the first project of the booklet and continued from there. I’ll admit, we went a good 3-4 days doing these experiments and I think he got alittle bored, but the kit is still on our kitchen table ready for the next experiment to be done when he’s ready which I’m sure will be soon.

They seem safe enough for a mature child to be able to do on their own, but it’s suggested that parents are there to assist (and it’s fun for us too!).

Image: Thames and Kosmos

Manufacturer points:
Explore the natural beauty and wonder of crystals by growing them yourself in many different shapes and colors! Set up your lab station — complete with beakers, test tubes, centrifuge, display dome, and more — and use safe, non-toxic crystal salts to conduct more than ten experiments in crystal formation. You can even make red, pink, blue, purple, and clear crystals using the spinning centrifuge! After you’ve completed the experiments in the kit, continue your crystal growing adventures using the cool lab setup and common materials from around your home. MSRP: $29.95; Ages 6+.

We also received some really simple but cool magnetic tiles, the Tileblox Rainbow 20Pc Set. These are great for all ages and can be used for hands on math or engineering. These can also be used for color and shape work for younger children and comes in handy to “quiz” them on how to make a rectangle, etc.. while they’re building.

Using their hands and minds is the skill we want to work on with these. It comes with a book of projects to follow along with, which my son enjoyed copying these, but then he went rogue and started creating his own creations using the blocks.

Image: Amazon

Manufacturer points:
Discover the endless possibilities of Tileblox 20Pc set. With the step-by-step idea sheet, create one-of-a-kind masterpieces! A great set for beginner builders looking to explore and learn through play. Arrives with 8 Triangles and 12 Square in Rainbow colors. Each geometric shape contains magnets that let you build with endless possibilities! TileBlox is perfect for STEM education and when playtime is over, use the magnetic power to simply stack and store. MSRP: $24.99; Ages 3+

These are both Holiday gift worthy items!

DISCLAIMER: I received these items to review and share my opinion with my readers. The opinions are my own and not that of the manufacturer.

All in One Moving and Storage, Inc. in NJ

Posted in Activities by

All in One Moving and Storage, Inc. in NJ

Hire the professionals, so you don’t have to be.

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Moving. The word itself is daunting when it becomes reality. There is this funny meme going around social media right now comparing scrolling through Zillow to Instagram. What’s more funny is I thought I was the only one! I scroll through Zillow like it’s my job, most of the time putting in unrealistic expectations and only dreaming of the “what ifs” or getting decor ideas from the houses I see listed and staged.

The more I look, the more I think, maybe we should sell. It’s a sellers market right now that’s for sure which is great for people like me who own a home and have accrued enough equity to make selling worthwhile, but the downside is, yes… it’s a sellers market right now. As a buyer, it is like finding a hidden gem and that’s what myself and many others I know right now are determined to do.

During the process of looking for a new home, I’d be lying if I didn’t mention how scared I am to actually move everything again from one place to another. It doesn’t matter if we move a few blocks away like we did with our last move, or a few states away. It’s overwhelming to say the least, especially when you’re inevitably crunched for time and have deadlines staring you in the face.

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That’s why I told myself next time, we are hiring professionals to do the literal heavy lifting for us. Especially when you have children, or mini hurricanes as I sometimes like to call them, letting a professional company take the reigns is so worth the cost. That’s where All in One Moving & Storage Inc. comes into play. If you live in and are moving within New Jersey, you’ve hit the jackpot if you’re reading this post.

office

Whether you’re moving residential, or you have a commercial moving job, they are the top commercial movers NJ has to offer. Ask any experienced business owner and they will all tell you the same thing: “The relocation of a business is one difficult task“.

When you hire the right company, all of that no longer matters. As long as you know when and where, they do the rest. Knowing the locations within New Jersey as well as the right people to get the job done makes them a top choice. Not only are they experts in moving, they have a blog that guides you through much more, like organizing your storage unit properly, how to de-stress after a long moving process, and much more. So when I tell you they’re the experts, they really prove it.

Do you have more than you think just one moving company could handle? Think again! They offer more services that you probably did not even think of until now.

  • Auto Transport; Skilled movers, quality moving trucks and equipment make the process of auto transport NJ a lot easier.
  • Eviction Movers; Unlike your typical household move, there is a bit more to the concept of eviction-caused moving. Eviction is the court-ordered expelling of a tenant from a property by a landlord. So, once the landlord decides that he wants his tenants to move out, he or she can send a notice in advance with a deadline.
  • Long Distance Move; They’ll set you up with a personal relocation consultant to determine your specific needs and ensure stream-lined service throughout your move.
  • Packing Supplies; When it comes to the concern of additional expenses, there is nothing for you to worry about. If you decide on full-service moving, All in One Moving will already have packing supplies included in the package.

Packing costs usually depend on the charge rate you negotiate.

  1. Hourly rate packing fees – this is something you will most commonly encounter with local movers NJ. The thing to remember here is that the more packers you need, the more it’ll cost you. However, certain NJ companies have the policy to lower the hourly rate as the number of packers grows.
  2. Flat-rate packing fee – most often applied with long distance movers NJ. All in One Moving can pre-determine the price of our packing services NJ. The criteria we use are based on the weight and volume of the belongings. In these situations, you would normally have a professional packing calculation, based on the number of rooms and packers needed.

 

Remember I said you hit the jackpot if you’re reading this? Not only did you just gain a ton of knowledge on how you’re going to plan your residential or commercial move in NJ, here are some coupons to use if you plan on using their plethora of moving services. Get your free coupons today! 

Simple Tips to Balance Home, Career and Family

Posted in Kids and Moms, Self Help by

 

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Photo via Pexels.com

Simple Tips to Balance Home, Career and Family

Working from home full-time has its downsides—dealing with home and family life at the same time can certainly be taxing if you aren’t prepared to handle it. Indeed, it can be hard to strike a balance between these two very important aspects of life, which is why you must give yourself a little bit of help where possible, as well as take the time to give yourself some TLC. Let’s explore the ways you can make it work.

 

A Strong Case for Delegation

When you’re balancing remote work and family life full-time, it won’t be long before you realize that you simply can’t do everything yourself.

  • Delegation could save your sanity and help you run both your career and home more efficiently.
  • Identify work tasks you can easily outsource (if possible), then find expert freelancers to delegate them to.
  • On the home front, you can also hire professionals for cleaning your house, giving
    yourself one less chore to tackle.

 

A Real Need for Tech

Both work and family can be demanding, so it’s not at all against the rules to make efficient use of tech to help you do both—and ultimately, make your life just a tad easier.

  • Make use of remote work tools to help you work more efficiently and stay productive.
  • With kids underfoot, consider investing in age-appropriate electronics to keep them
    entertained while you’re busy with work.
  • Make sure that your kids are also learning while using tech, and look for STEM toys that are as educational as they are fun.

 

A Must to Maintain Self-Care

Make sure to give yourself time to reset and relax because you’ve certainly earned it.

  • A self-care routine is a real necessity when you work from home.
  • Make it a point to stay active as inactivity can be harmful to your health.
  • Stick to a structured routine when you work from home, so you not only get everything you need done, but also have enough time for yourself and for your family.

 

Yes, juggling work and family is a challenge magnified when you do both full-time and at home.

Know that there’s nothing heroic about running yourself ragged, so get help where you can, get creative, and, most importantly, get some perspective. You’ve got this!

SESAME STREET ‘ELMO’S PLAYDATE: SCAVENGER HUNT’ SPECIAL DEBUTS ON HBO MAX THURSDAY, AUGUST 6

Posted in Kids and Moms by

SESAME STREET ‘ELMO’S PLAYDATE: SCAVENGER HUNT’ SPECIAL
DEBUTS ON HBO MAX THURSDAY, AUGUST 6

SESAME SCAVENGER Key Art Final - Horizontal

CELEBRITY GUESTS AMY SEDARIS AND GABRIELLE UNION

JOIN SESAME STREET MUPPETS ON A VIRTUAL SCAVENGER HUNT

(July 29, 2020 – New York, N.Y.) – Summer is in full swing on Sesame Street! Elmo and his friends are back with new games, activities, and celebrity guests – all from the safety of home – in a brand-new Max Original, Elmo’s Playdate: Scavenger Hunt, created and produced by nonprofit educational organization Sesame Workshop and available on HBO Max Thursday, August 6.

Silliness and surprise twists abound in the half-hour special, in which Elmo teams up with Abby Cadabby via video chat for a virtual scavenger hunt. Aided by Sesame Street friends Big Bird, Grover, Rosita, Oscar the Grouch, Bert and Ernie, Elmo’s dad Louie, and tiger Mr. Stripey, the duo invites children to join in the search for all seven items on their list using the printable worksheet linked here. Along the way, “Monster Foodies” Cookie Monster and Gonger whip up a tasty summer dessert, Amy Sedaris shares an easy craft the whole family can make, and Gabrielle Union leads Elmo and Abby in a sweet sing-along.

“Although summer looks different for many families this year, our Sesame Street characters once again show children that, with a little imagination, staying at home can still be fun,” said Kay Wilson Stallings, Sesame Workshop Executive Vice President of Creative and Production. “We’re grateful to our partners at WarnerMedia and HBO Max for their continued support as we strive to meet the needs of children and families through learning and laughter in these challenging times.”

“The wonderful residents of Sesame Street always know how to make us smile and feel a little better,” said Jennifer O’Connell, Executive Vice President, original content, HBO Max. “Our partnership with Sesame Workshop continues to bring joy to families through their educational entertainment made from compassion, understanding and fun.”

This special is the latest effort around the COVID-19 pandemic from nonprofit Sesame Workshop. Through Caring For Each Other, an initiative created by the Workshop in response to this crisis, families can access free resources specifically designed to provide comfort and manage anxiety, create routines, foster playful learning at home, and help children stay physically and mentally healthy.

Caring For Each Other is funded in part by Sesame Workshop’s new Critical Needs Response Fund, a crucial source of flexible funds designed to meet the urgent needs of children and families. To drive support for this Fund, Sesame Workshop has partnered with online fundraising platform Omaze to offer another virtual playdate – for one sweepstakes winner and a guest – with Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Abby Cadabby. The sweepstakes is now live and concludes on Wednesday, August 12. More details and official rules available here. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

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About Sesame Workshop

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, the pioneering television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969. Today, Sesame Workshop is an innovative force for change, with a mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We’re present in more than 150 countries, serving vulnerable children through a wide range of media, formal education, and philanthropically funded social impact programs, each grounded in rigorous research and tailored to the needs and cultures of the communities we serve. For more information, please visit www.sesameworkshop.org.

About HBO Max
HBO Max is WarnerMedia’s direct-to-consumer offering, which debuted May 27, 2020. With 10,000 hours of curated premium content, HBO Max offers powerhouse programming for everyone in the home, bringing together HBO, a robust slate of new original series, key third-party licensed programs and movies, and fan favorites from WarnerMedia’s rich library including Warner Bros., New Line, DC, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth, Looney Tunes and more. Website: HBOMax.com

Snap Ships – A New Way to Play

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Snap Ships – A New Way to Play!

What fun! These Snap Ship toys are sure to be a holiday 2020 favorite toy, at least in my house that’s for sure.

My son received these to demonstrate for Play Monster during the Toy Insiders Sweet Suite this year and he absolutely fell in love with them! What’s better than actually loving something you have to talk about and demonstrate?

These two Snap Ship toys are just a fraction of  the available options and we’ll certainly be getting more. Each one has 3-in-1 options of what you can create,  and they come with a separation tool to deconstruct the toy easily and rebuild.

The fun didn’t stop at building.  There’s a comic series about each character that allows the builder to really feel the characters personality and incorporate it into their play. We thought it was hilarious how tiny the little men are but they actually bend to fit into the ships cockpits.

These things have great weight to then too after they’re built,  not cheap lightweight stuff like others. They feel really stable and you can really feel comfortable playing with them.

The absolute best thing about them is the price. Most are under $20 and available right on Amazon.  They’re actually an Amazon #1 New Release right now too so do yourself a favor and buy some now for the Holidays before they’re sold out!

Here are the two my 8 year built all within 30 minutes each on his own which is long enough to keep him busy without needing my help and great for me lol.

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It’s so cool that they come with a display stand which can stay attached to the box to keep it to build other variations or remove it and display it on its own.

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Each have 3 build options as I mentioned before so it’s not a 1 trick pony.

We also built the Sabre too.

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After building them both my son had fun battling them and they stayed intact which is always a plus in my book.

Overall,  great new toy and we’re excited to buy more to build, especially the larger models.

Staycation at Sahara Sam’s Oasis

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It’s a crazy time we’re living in and 2020 has been eventful to say the least. Many had vacations canceled due to travel bans and shutdowns, including myself.

If you’re looking for a staycation to make Summer feel like you’re at a resort, check out Sahara Sam’s Oasis in West Berlim NJ right off of exit 4 on the NJ Turnpike!

The inside waterpark and arcade area is currently shutdown due to social distancing policies however the outdoor area is full fledged fun. They have 50% capacity rules in place so make sure to purchase tickets ahead of time online as they’re not selling any on site to limit patrons.

I still found it to be a bit more crowded for my liking however we had a great time and just kept our distance from others.

The outdoor lagoon pool was our favorite. A perfect temperature heated large pool with majority of the pool 3ft deep with a roped off 5ft area.

Life vests are available as needed and there is enough room to social distance as long as every plays by the rules.

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We were supposed to be going to the Hard Rock next month so my kids lounged back and said look mom “this is the hard rock” as that held on to the hot rock lining the lagoon pool. It was so refreshing on this hot 90° Summer day.

The other areas of the outdoor section consists of a “toddler section” for kids 48″ and below. It is a nice shallow pool with buckets and sprinklers perfect for little ones, and a wave pool.

The wave pool is like any other, it goes for about 5 minutes,  then stops to settle,  and goes and stops.  It was really fun but a bit more crowded than I liked so we didn’t spend too much time in that area although the water was a perfect temperature and that made it hard to leave.

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All in all, it was a wonderful staycation and my boys both said “mom, we are definitely giving this a good review”.

Lockers are decently priced at $10 for a small, and you are allowed to bring in water,  and they have a small limited outdoor food area and ice cream station. Masks are not mandated in thre water areas (of course) but they are in the  bathrooms and food lines.

I hear it’s less crowded earlier in the day before 2pm and I’m sure the crowd lessons just befotte closing at 7pm so I suggest to go early or late if you’re trying to avoid crowds.

Every Friday, starting July 17th, is a Family Fun Friday! They’ll have a DJ spinning tunes in the Outdoor Water Park from 12 – 4 PM PLUS enjoy a personal pizza and small drink for just $6.99. *Outdoor Water Park ONLY is open (indoor water attractions closed). Reservations are required.

Let us know if you visit!

*I was provided tickets to review our visit but opinions are my own.

Top 5 NJ Family Friendly Lakes

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Great Staycation ideas!

Its a Jersey Thing Blog

With all of the news about local NJ beaches filled with shark sightings, killer jellyfish, riptides and bacteria, it’s time to look for a family friendly alternative. I have just the right place for your next family getaway – a lake!

I put a list together for you of the top 10 lakes to visit to cool off and relax in the sand this scorching hot Summer!

1. Oxford Furnace Lake – Kauffman Drive, Oxford, New Jersey (908) 453-3098

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Lake passes are half off until end of season! free admission for children under 2 yrs old. Picnic tables and grill available for rent at $8/day. Open 11am-6am weekdays.

2. Atsion Lake – Route 206 Shamong (Burlington County) 609-268-0444

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Historic Batsto Village is also located within Wharton State Forest, a former bog iron and glassmaking industrial center from 1766 to 1867 that currently reflects the agricultural and commercial enterprises that existed here during the…

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