Five Great Movies to Stream with your Family this Summer

May 16, 2023 By Anne

Summer is a time for entertainment and memories, which makes it the best time to delve into the history and culture of cinema. If you are a movie buff and want to introduce your children to the joys of classic cinema, make sure you create a classic watch list to stream this summer.

The Lion King

Who could forget The Lion King? If you are of a certain vintage, you might remember seeing the original in the cinema as a child, so why not give the same experience to your kids this summer? The Lion King is a classic tale of wisdom, ambition, betrayal, and consequence.

The Lion King is a classic Disney movie that has stood the test of time, perhaps because of its classic elements – the plot is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet – and its timeless characters. If you want a new experience with the movie, you can watch the live-action version.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

If you are in the mood for some classic children’s cinema this summer, don’t forget about the Harry Potter series, which began in 2001. Harry Potter movies open up the classic debate about which is better, the movie or the books. Either way, the movies are a great way to spend a night.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer Stone is the first of several Harry Potter movies to arrive on the big screen, and it’s an excellent movie to kickstart the franchise. One of the great things about watching franchise movies over the summer is the fact you can spread them out over weeks.

God’s Country Song

If you are looking for a feel-good drama to enjoy with the family this summer, look no further than God’s Country Song. Noah has grand plans to become the next big country movie star, but when his past catches up to him in the form of a child called JJ, he has tough choices to make.

God’s Country Song received positive critical reviews and offers an entertaining and emotional exploration of ambition, responsibility, and dedication. You can watch God’s Country Song the movie, anytime by streaming it online, the perfect way to spend a summer night with the family.

ET the Extra-Terrestrial

If there’s one thing you can count on children to adopt, it’s a taste in sci-fi movies. Sci-fi captures the imagination like no other genre and is perfect for the summer season. Forget about watching the latest summer releases in the cinema and stream classic sci-fi at home instead.

If you have kids, you almost have a responsibility to show them ET, the Extra-Terrestrial – it’s an important element in their cultural education. ET hit the big screen in 1982, and its popularity has never diminished. Of course, the effects have dated, but the timeless story is great as ever.

Classic Star Wars

Since you are on a quest for classic sci-fi, you simply cannot ignore the entertainment value and cultural impact of the classic Star Wars movies. Your kids might be more familiar with Rey Skywalker than Luke Skywalker, but there is a cultural education in there not to be missed.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Fitness Strategies For Busy Moms To Stay Healthy

May 2, 2023 By Anne

Moms who juggle work and home life can understand how difficult it is to maintain good health. There is little time for personal endeavors such as fitness and on the days you do get time, you are too tired for anything. A lot of time goes into planning, scheduling and juggling different priorities. And if you have kids, it might seem like you have no time for yourself. Exercising and eating right can take a back seat amidst dozens of responsibilities.

(Image source: https://pixabay.com/photos/business-women-woman-work-young-3685133/)

So, how can busy moms judge their health and other commitments? As a working mom, you need to take care of your health so you can look after the family. Nutritional and fitness requirements will depend on hormonal changes, childbearing capacities and responsibilities. Here are a few fitness strategies that can help busy moms stay healthy and on top of their game.

Draw boundaries between home and work

It is very easy to say “Do not bring work home”. However, many of us fail to abide by it. We find ourselves working on a hundred other things at work, such as scheduling playdates for the kids, checking on the babysitter, returning calls and planning parties and carpools. While these are certainly important for busy moms, this can compromise your performance at work, which can make you fall behind. As a result, you will have to bring work home.

Avoid working on other things when you are at work. Use your breaks to schedule these activities instead. This way, you will be able to finish your work and spend time with the kids when you get back home.

Design an ergonomic workstation

Many offices offer ergonomic workstations, which can help set your chair and computer at the height appropriate for you. This will reduce the incidence of neck strain, carpal tunnel, back pain and other work-related health problems.

It might be even better if you could sit on an exercise ball while working. This is a good idea for moms who work from home. An exercise ball helps you tone your core and prevent back problems. This way, you will not be sitting idle all day and get some exercise even with a very busy work schedule.

Remember to take breaks

Busy moms need to take a timeout now and then. If you have been working for an hour at a stretch, make sure you get up for a few minutes and stretch your limbs. Even if you have been looking after the kids for a while, try to take a small break when you have put them to sleep. This will momentarily give you a few minutes of rest and prevent you from becoming overwhelmed. It will also help you refocus on your work and make you more productive.

Make sure to exercise regularly

Busy moms barely get time to exercise and meet their fitness goals. Going for a workout at the gym can seem almost impossible to handle with work and kids, which is why investing in an at home gym can be a great idea. You can work out as per your schedule and integrate the kind of exercises you want to do. At the same time, you can be a source of inspiration for your family, who would also benefit from the types of equipment you have at home and work on their own fitness goals.

If exercising seems like a tedious task, simply make sure that you are moving around enough. A few extra minutes of brush walking every day can make a difference, and you will notice less back and neck pain and tightness when you are done.

Eat wholesome, healthy food

The best way to stay healthy is by watching what you eat. Eating habits can become irregular and unhealthy when you are juggling a lot of priorities together. A good way to save up on time and eat healthily is to make your meals at the start of every week, label them for different days and store them in the freezer.

As women grow older, they also need to take vitamin supplements to be in the best form. It is always advised to see a doctor before taking any supplements on your own. Calcium, for example, is very important to maintain good bone structure. If you prefer to not take supplements, you could always substitute more nutritionally dense foods into your diet.

Eating healthy will also set a good example for your kids, and by extension, your family.

Stay hydrated

Busy moms need to drink enough water throughout the day. Proper hydration will boost your mood and make you more productive. Avoid sodas and soft drinks, since these contain a lot of sugar and are likely to make you feel bloated or sleepy by the end of the day. You could add fruit infusers to water in case you want to make it more palatable or crave flavored drinks.

Teach your kids to clean up

Cleaning up after kids can be a massively tasking affair and after a long day of work it might just seem like the hardest thing to do. This is why it is important to teach your kids to clean up after themselves. In this way, they will learn good habits and you will have less work to do around the house. Even if you have a cleaning service, it does not hurt to teach your kids to clean up after themselves, since it teaches them to be more self-reliant.

Take out time for yourself

As a working mom, all your time and energy probably go into making sure that you complete all your responsibilities at work without compromising on the well-being of your family. Over time, it can lead to a serious case of burnout and can leave you feeling tired and drowsy all the time. Self-care is very important for busy moms, since it gives you a breather from all the tasks and duties you perform throughout the day, and lets you just be yourself for a while.

Self-care does not necessarily have to be grand. It can be something as simple as a warm shower, spending some time alone with your favorite book, or even listening to your playlist. Anything that keeps you fresh and rejuvenates you can be a form of self-care. This will not only prevent burnout, but it will also make you more productive and energetic.

Anne

Charcuterie Board Kits: A Fun and Easy Way to Entertain

April 24, 2023 By Anne

I was recently asked to check out Platterful’s all in one box charcuterie kits. I decided to include this in my rock painting party. I decided to paint rocks instead of eggs this year!

To start the party off we opened up our kit. Detailed instructions were included to make this fun and easy.

A charcuterie board is a beautiful and delicious way to entertain guests. These boards are typically filled with cured meats, cheeses, and other accompaniments. Everything was included. Small cups for raisins and spoons for the jams and honey.

Here are some tips for creating a charcuterie board if you don’t get a kit: (though I highly recommend a kit from Platterful! So easy.)

1. Choose a variety of meats and cheeses. Charcuterie boards are typically filled with a variety of meats and cheeses, so it’s important to choose a variety that will appeal to your guests. Some popular options include prosciutto, salami, pepperoni, cheddar, mozzarella, and goat cheese.

2. Add some crackers and fruits. Crackers and fruits are a great way to add some variety to your charcuterie board. Some popular options include wheat crackers, celery sticks, grapes, and apples.

3. Don’t forget the condiments! Condiments like mustard, honey, and jam can add a touch of sweetness and spice to your charcuterie board.

4. Arrange the meats and cheeses in a visually appealing way. The way you arrange the meats and cheeses on your charcuterie board will make a big difference in its overall look. Try to create a variety of textures and colors, and make sure to leave some empty space on the board so that your guests can easily reach the food.

At Platterful we deliver curated charcuterie boards right to our customer’s doorsteps via our first of its kind all-in-one kit, complete with instructional and educational content, which is what really sets us apart. We offer a subscription so that every month customers get all new meats, cheeses and accompaniments complete with new educational material on how to assemble the perfect board every time.

Here are some pics of our rocks.

Anne

Encourage Yourself And Your Family To Try New Meals With These Three Tips

April 12, 2023 By Anne

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What we eat matters so much in this life. It’s not just a case of giving ourselves energy with the right meals, it’s also a case of keeping our mental health in the right place, too. In an ideal world, we will have foods that taste amazing while giving us everything we need in order to be healthy. For some, this world exists and it happens every single day. For the majority of people, however, it can be quite a tedious and annoying thing to work out.

If you have a family to look after, it can be doubly frustrating as you have kids to feed. If they are fussy eaters or simply do not like what you are presenting them, things can get even more frustrating. Life is already hard enough as it is, so the idea of introducing new foods into your life might seem a bit pointless. The good thing is that there are plenty of things we can do in order to encourage ourselves to try new foods. Even the fastest of eaters can find something they love if they put their mind to it. Here are just a few ideas of what can be done to achieve this:

Look For New, Amazing Recipes All The Time

One of the best things about cooking and creating meals is that there is a seemingly endless number of options. The more you look for options, the more you will find. You might think that there will be nothing out there that you will like or that your family will like, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s just a case of putting in the time and effort and browsing all of the potentials out there. You may stumble upon something like an oven baked ribs recipe that sounds absolutely gorgeous to everyone. This could then lead to something else that the entire family would enjoy. Don’t just stop there, make sure you continue looking for new and amazing recipes. There are literally tens of thousands of different meals out there, so the chances are that you will never get bored in your pursuit.

Think About The Long Term Effects Of Your Diets

If your current diet needs a little work, perhaps think about how things will look in a few years’ time. It’s very easy to think about the next few weeks or what will happen in the next month, but we never really think about five years’ time, for instance. If you really want to motivate yourself and your family regarding your nutrition, perhaps you should think about the long-term aspects and effects that a bad diet can have.

Travel Around The World Little More And Discover New Cultures

If you have the funds and the time to do something like this, then it’s completely worth it. The more you see of the world, the more cultures you discover. Within these cultures, you’ll see all kinds of different foods and meal types. They’ll introduce you to amazing dishes and you might fall in love with all kinds of different styles.

Anne

How To Always Remember A Late Loved One In A Positive Way

March 30, 2023 By Anne

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Death is an extremely normal and significant part of life. It can be very sad as we end up missing somebody a lot and grief can be quite difficult to overcome. One of the best ways to overcome the loss of a loved one is to look back at them in a positive light. Think about the amazing times as opposed to the fact that they are no longer here. This is something that might take a while, but it’s a very good way of thinking about things.

During their final years, you may have been a wonderful caregiver. This kind of thought may put you in a sad state of mind as you might only think about negative connotations. The absolute best way of dealing with this is to only think about their optimistic and positive side. If you can manage to always look back at somebody with this kind of outlook, everybody will be in a much better place. There are lots of ways we can look back and remember a late loved one in a positive way – here are a few ideas:

Give Them A Wonderful And Cheerful Send-Off

In the immediate aftermath of losing somebody, it’s understandable that you’ll likely be all over the place in terms of your emotions. You have just lost them and you have to figure out how to go on with them not around anymore. The funeral will be soon and it’s a case of also making sure that you give them a good send-off. If you really want everybody to be in a positive mood and to feel less miserable about everything, perhaps putting a positive spin on the funeral could help things. This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea as they may not be in the mood, but it’s a good suggestion. It is likely what your loved one will have wanted in the first place. Investing time and effort into the funeral and providing a wonderful service with Funeral Flags and wonderful decorations could really help out the mood. While there may be a lot of tears, do your best to try and provoke plenty of laughter, too. A positive and optimistic time at a funeral could just be yet another way of remembering somebody positively.

Always Think About The Amazing Things They Did For Others And For Themselves

This is a pretty obvious point to make, but do whatever you can to see the good in what they did. Everybody makes mistakes and everybody has negative times, but it’s time to put those on the back burner. Always consider what made them wonderful and what made you happy. You will always be able to see the good in them if you try, so make sure everyone sees it.

Patch Up Any Issues Or Problems Before They Depart

Of people in this world who do not get to say goodbye to somebody on good terms. If there are a few issues you might have with this person, it’s best to bite the bullet and bury the hatchet. If you can patch up problems before you lose somebody, you will never have to live with regret.