Movie Night? Game Night? REDBOX!

It's always a challenge keeping the kids busy over winter break.

As they get bigger, the standard trip to the museum gets mundane, and going to the movies costs about as much as the mortgage payment. This is where REDBOX comes in!

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In addition to all of the latest movies, REDBOX offers an assortment of video games for Wii, XBox 360, and the PS3. Having two different gaming systems in the house, this feature comes in handy!

While my son hunkered down in his room to get his COD:MW3 on, Ahna, her best friend, and I got our groove on with Just Dance 3! While the girls got a kick out of learning fun dance moves to California Girls and Party Rock Anthem, I enjoyed a little Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind, and Fire. Yeah...I'm getting old.

As the night wound down, the girls pulled out the sleeper bed on the new couch my fiance and I bought ourselves for Christmas, and we laughed and cried to The Help, which we also rented out of the REDBOX.

The fact that there are 6 REDBOXes withing 5 minutes of my house make them crazy convenient. Video game rentals are only $2 a night, and movies are usually just $1 (unless you get BluRay, I'm not that fancy).


***I received free REDBOX rentals and an XBOX game in exchange for this review/movie & game night. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

I Have a Dream... A Cancer Free Dream

I recently learned about the life of a woman I had never met being cut short by cancer.  This woman's battle  was well under way when she learned that her youngest son would be fighting the dreaded "c" word himself. Although the young boy is in remission, if he has to fight again, it will be without his mama by his side.

In the last two weeks, my SIL and brother have been in and out of doctors' appointments. Her recent oncology follow-up should signs of suspicious lumps. While the best case scenario would be the lumps are fat necrosis due to unexpected radiation treatment after her reconstructive breast surgery, the doctors don't want to take any chances. The lumps have been biopsied, and my SIL sits in wait to learn her prognosis.

Many years ago, a woman I loved like my own mother was laid to rest. After putting up an amazing fight, colon cancer finally claimed her life.

I long for a world that is cancer free. Hopefully someday, that won't sound like a ridiculous dream.

This post is sponsored by American Cancer Society.

After School is Easy with Tyson!

After school time can be crazy at my home.

The kids bust through the door, a whirlwind of energy, homework to do, and bellies grumbling.

It is a challenge to find something quick and easy that the kids can make for themselves. The usual suspects are PB&J and mac n' cheese. I often wish they could have something more substantial, but not something to make them too full for dinner.

Enter Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches... Quick and easy to make, they come packaged two minis per pack. Pop the bag in the microwave for 50 seconds, flip and heat for another 40 seconds, and voila! Snack is served!

My kids are intent on doing everything on their own, so after seeing how easy it was for my son to make his, my daughter jumped right in and made her own. They come 8 sandwiches to a box, and my kids made two each for snack; then they heated up two more each and packed them to take for lunch the next day!


Tyson is offering Only Parent Chronicles readers a special offer - buy 2 Tyson Mini Chicken Sandwiches at participating a participating Walmart, and receive a $5 Walmart gift card! These convenient sandwiches are available at select Walmart locations. Visit TysonGoodness.com to find a location near you!

#TysonGoodness will definitely be a part of the after school routine around here.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Mom Spark Media. All opinions shared are my own. 

You Can Dance!!!

This past weekend was full of festivities for me and my family.

The most fun had to be on Friday night, when I had a gaggle of giggling girls in my home for an ABBA You Can Dance party on the Wii!

This crazy, fun, four-player game had the tweens dancing and laughing for hours. All the girls joined in on the fun as they danced to all of the ABBA hits they knew from the musical "Mamma Mia".

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The girls were cracking me up as they all did their best disco impressions by the light of the disco ball. I swear that on every. single. song. they asked, "Is this how they danced when you were a kid?"

How old do they think I am, anyway!?!?!?

Depending on the number of players, you can select your character designed to resemble each of the four awesome members  of ABBA. The costumes change for each song. There is also a karaoke version (which requires a microphone sold separately) and a musical performance option.

The girls got a kick out of the sweet 70's get-ups and hair-dos on the characters, and loved the fun 50's clothes in the musical.

It was a lot of fun listening to the girls all singing ABBA at the top of their lungs during the game, and again later when they were tucked in to Mamma Mia at bed time.

I look forward to having a girls' night with my girlfriends to see if they enjoy the ABBA dance party as much as my daughter, her friends, and I do.

The game retails for $39.99, but can be found on Amazon for $29.99 currently.

Thank you to Ubisoft for sponsoring this blog post. Please click here to learn more about Ubisoft. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own.

I'm Too Old for Elmo. Are You? Sesame Street Live - Elmo Makes Music

Last week I repainted the living room, getting the wall ready to hang the television that came with the new roommate my fiance.

Once the new TV was hung, I went through and cleaned out the old entertainment center. It was time to purge the VCR tapes that were collecting dust.

As I was sorting through what I was going to donate and what I couldn't bear to part with, my fiance made a comment about all of the Sesame Street videos. Mostly Elmo videos.

"Which of the kids is the Elmo nut?" he asked.

With a goofy grin on my face, I simply replied, "I have had those Elmo videos longer than I have had the kids."

Yes, in high school and college, I was a closet Elmo junkie.

What does that have to do with anything?

Well.... Let me tell you...

ELMO IS COMING TO THE TARGET CENTER!!!

I know, I am a spaz. But seriously, do you know how bummed I am that my kids are too big to be interested?

Sesame Street Live - Elmo Make Music will be at the Target Center in Minneapolis from January 12 - 15, 2012.

Jenny, an enthusiastic new music teacher, arrives on Sesame Street only to discover that her instruments are missing. Jenny’s new Muppet friends quickly come to the rescue and discover ‘instruments’ they never knew existed… rubber duckies, trash can lids and even cookie jars! Elmo and friends teach children that everyone can make and enjoy beautiful music together!

In addition to this awesome, family friendly show, there will also be a play zone for all to enjoy!

Come and play BEFORE the show! VEE Corporation introduces Play Zone at Sesame Street Live - a fun new way for children to experience their favorite street! Imagine your child sitting in Big Bird's nest, popping up in Oscar's trash can, twirling in Zoe's dance studio or visiting Elmo's World. A few furry friends may also make a surprise appearance! Families won't want to miss a single moment of fun. Play Zone opens one hour before the show and - best of all - Play Zone is FREE with your Sesame Street Live ticket. And Target Center box office would love to set Only Parent Chronicles readers up with a discount coupon that is valid for any show and good on ticket orders through January 11! Simply click on the picture below to print and redeem!

 Disclosure: Only Parent Chronicles received four free vouchers to see Sesame Street Live - Elmo Makes Music in exchange for this post and coupon offer. I'm so excited to get a report back from my 3 and 5 year-old nephews on its pure awesomeness!!

Scuba Steve, Scuba Sam, Getting Kids to Do What They Should

I saw a post the other day, by Mommy's Fabulous, titled "I Miss Steve." And while this post was really about kids' programming and the absence of Steve on Blue's Clues, somehow it made me think of Scuba Steve.

You know, the doll from Big Daddy?

Which then made me think of Adam Sandler's character dressing up as Scuba Sam, Scuba Steve's father, to get Julian (the kiddo) to take a bath.


 

There are so many things in life that we, as parents, try to teach our kids. I know that when my kids were small, bath time wasn't always the easiest. Heck, even now, it is difficult to tear them away from life to take a shower.

 

What are some of the biggest challenges you have had with teaching your kids good habits? Has anyone ever resorted to something as drastic as Scuba Sam?

Digital Memories

I have never been a scrapbooker.

I have friends that create these amazing scrapbooking masterpieces, and as a result leave me feeling completely inadequate.

I take pictures. Lots of pictures. I even have fun editing them and making them look great.

But I never do anything with them, aside from posting them here or on Facebook, occasionally.

Recently I learned about a scrapbooking software called "My Memories Suite", and it hit me. I am always on the computer. I am a blogger, a social media marketer, and an online student. The reason I never scrapbook is quite frankly, it would require me to set my laptop down.

This digital scrapbooking software lets me create scrapbooking albums without going through the hassle of printing photos, cutting, gluing, and then changing my mind and starting over. The software gives me options for background colors, paper, templates, and textures I can use to create my album pages. Then I just search my extensive photo library on my computer and insert them where ever I like!

The scrapbook software allows me the ability to trim my photos into neat shapes and add neat embellishments. There are also word art features, video and multimedia functions, and the option to add music and narration.

Looking through all of the features, I realized this would be a really great way to put all of the Big Fat Family Road Trips into album form, as well as a great way to capture some of the really great moments coming up, as I plan my wedding.

When I received my copy of the My Memories Suite software, I got version 2. Version 3 is currently available and retails for only $37.97! You can purchase your copy here. My Memories is offering a $10 coupon code to Only Parent Chronicles readers, as well as a $10 discount at the My Memory store using the following code - STMMMS77023. 

My Memories would also like to offer a free copy of this neat software to one lucky Only Parent Chronicles Reader!

To win: This giveaway is open to residents of the continental United States and Canada 18 years of age and older. If your email address is not visible in your profile, you must leave it in your comments. Winner will be selected randomly using Random.org and must reply within 48 hours of notification or a new winner will be selected. If potential winner forfeits or does not claim the prize, prize will be re-awarded, at Only Parent Chronicles sole discretion. Giveaway will be open from 9:00 am December 7, 2011 through 5:00pm December 14, 2011. Void where prohibited by law.

Mandatory entry: Leave a comment Telling us which of the My Memories Suite digital packs or templates is your favorite. No purchase necessary. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.

Be sure to check My Memories on Facebook and Twitter to see what others are saying about this neat, digital scrapbooking software! You can also check out their blog for tips and tricks!

Disclosure: We received a free copy of My Memories Suite scrapbooking software for review purposes. A free copy will also be provided to one winner at no cost to Only Parent Chronicles. Only Parent Chronicles will be compensated for each individual who uses the discount code mentioned above.

Traditions

****Last week I received one comment asking when Post-It Note Tuesday would be going up. After much deliberation, I decided to put #PINT on a shelf for a while. As always, if you would like to create a post using Post-It Notes, you can do so here.****

Traditional is rarely a word used to describe me.

Holiday season is really no exception.

Over the years, my children and I have attempted to form rituals, traditions, and family customs. All of our attempts have been to no avail.

There have been Christmases spent at home, Christmases in Chicago; we even spent one Christmas in Florida.

The Christmas tree goes up when it goes up. I think last year it finally went up a few days before Christmas. One year, it didn't make it up at all. (Relax! We went out of town, the kids still had a Christmas tree!)

This year, as our family grows from 3 to 4, I decided some new traditions should begin.

But what?

Originally I thought it would be great to set the tree up and decorate it the day after Thanksgiving. But my fiance' had to work, and we recently ordered a new couch, and I still had to paint the living toom...

As I talked myself out of creating this new tradition, I realized, I am really good at talking myself out of things. I am also great at making excuses.

So I ask you, my wise and insightful bloggy friends, what are your holiday traditions? What do you do each year that if you skipped it, your holidays would feel incomplete?

Gratuitous Plea for Votes

As you may know, I will be tying the knot in October of 2012.

Weddings are insanely expensive, and as an only parent, coming up with extra money can often prove tricky.

In an effort to fund the wedding of my dreams, I have entered a contest to win $5000 to put towards my special day.

The winner is determined excusively by votes, so I am turning to you, my wonderful bloggy friends, to throw me a bone.

Please visit my entry to America's Top Bride and vote for me once a day from now until December 12. I cannot tell you how much $5000 would do for me and paying for my wedding!

Thank you in advance for all of your support!

As They Grow...

The sound of laughter and goofiness floats up the stairs.

It is the sound of tween girls having fun.

She has struggled all of her life with friendships.

She can be bossy. Demanding. Inpatient.

She is also kind. Thoughtful. Generous.

And although she is the girl who gets excluded from giant slumber parties, she is also the girl who would give someone else her sleeping bag if they needed it.

Although she expects people to play the game she chooses, she will quickly let you win if she thinks losing will hurt your feelings.

And although she wants what she wants and she wants it now, she is happy to share with you once she has it.

As the snow was falling late this afternoon, she paced the living room anxiously.

Her new friend was late. I was certain it was because of the snow. She was certain her friend had decided she didn't want to come.

She is nervous she is going to blow it. She is scared her friend won't like her after staying over. She is afraid that she is going to say or do something to make her new friend mad.

Listening from upstairs, I can hear that she is doing fine.

She is growing up, and she is learning what being a friend is.

I hear her asking, not telling.

I hear her listening, not interrupting.

And I know that this is the beginning of a very positive change for her.