Bring The Minions Movie Home On Blu-Ray & Digital

A year ahead for the family is all about taking on new adventures. If 2015 is any indication, they could be good, bad or just plain hysterical:
Like the time you and your kids built a backyard campsite and held an impromptu sleepover in your new hut, catching the first shooting stars of the summer.
Or when the first family road trip that turned from a daydream to a nightmare — complete with wailing kids, missed exits and sold out hotels.
And definitely the time you ventured out to the new Hamachi restaurant in town only to have it end in an epic food fight. (Don’t tell Grandma, but it was kinda fun. #memories)
There’s no other family that can relate more to this than the Croods – you know, the prehistoric crew whose everyday is a new adventure (or disaster) – because while our stories may differ from the dark ages, the family hijinks remain the same.
Our family has plenty of these types of adventures… With 4 boys ranging from 2-13 and an accident prone husband…I never know what the day will bring. The only thing I can count on is for one of them to request to watch Netflix. The kids were super excited to see a “new” Croods, Dawn of the Croods, on Netflix. I’m just glad our adventures aren’t always as crazy as theirs. Watching The Croods and their hijinks makes me feel a little better about our family and daily trials.
I remember years ago camping with my husband, sister and aunt & uncle. My husband, myself and my sister had tents and my aunt & uncle had their camper. It was probably about 2 am when I hear my sister screaming from her tent about a noise she heard just outside of it…well I wasn’t leaving my tent if something was out there. Finally, my husband and aunt went to check on her (she was only like 4 ft away btw) and it ended up being a curious racoon. It still makes us all laugh to this day.
While our adventures may not be as epic as the Croods, they do have their moments. Hopefully 2016 will bring plenty more!
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Playing games, such as car games, or even chess, depending on the age of your family, can be fantastic fun. We all remember times from childhood when we played a game with our family and ended up in lots of laughter due to errors made, the odd treat, or just enjoying the fun activity itself. Some games such as twister or charades Are designed to induce laughter, and doing so will mean you are bonding and spending quality time together. And this is never a waste of time. Sharing the card game is that your grandparents talk to you as children, looking at new games that you can try, or even grabbing something simple such as double can Help you spend hours having fun as a family.
Outdoors
Spending time outdoors is essential, it not only encourages exercise, but also can be very healing and motivational for everybody, getting on your bikes, and going for a long ride can actually increase your overall health and fitness, as well as spending time as a family. This is a win-win situation, and everybody tends to find themselves enjoying the activity more than the thought of it. Even taking the dog for a long walk can be an event. Turning a simple walk in the woods into a scavenger hunt kennels will be educational for those preschool children, and this can even be turned into an activity for the dog too. Enjoying fresh air, and chatting without distractions, is something We don’t do enough of, so grab your coats and go for a lovely long walk in a green space and see how much better you feel.
Swimming
Swimming is an excellent activity for many families, in addition to the swimming lessons that you can in the role your children in, swimming as a family is a very healthy and fun activity. Remembering the times when you were a child going swimming with your family, and then grabbing some fries on the way home is a beautiful Memory. Of course, swimming is an important life skill as well, so there is also the knowledge that you are giving your children an excellent start in life by knowing how to save their own lives if they fall into a body of water at some point. This is especially useful if you go on holiday near water often.

Helping children get a head start in school can be a lot of fun and some good bonding time. Teach My is a Women Owned company that helps parents do just that. With their learning kits for Babies, Toddlers and Preschoolers, parents can help their children build a solid educational foundation that will prepare them for school.
If you have children that are beyond the basics Teach My also has fun kits about learning to tell time, learning about the solar system, or even countries and animals. Teach My kits make learning a lot of fun and make it really easy for parents.
Teach My is offering one lucky winner their choice of Learning kits: Baby, Toddler or Preschooler valued at $39.99. This giveaway will run from September 15 though September 29. Winner will be verified, emailed and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Participating blogs are not responsible for prize fulfillment. This giveaway is open to the US and Canada! Good luck!
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This feature has been compensated by Lunchbox. and its advertiser. All opinions are 100% my own.
With my boys getting older, and needing to get online for school work, and my blogging…having 2 older laptops isn’t cutting it anymore. We have 2 older laptops, but they have both gotten a little temperamental with age, So I’ve been thinking about upgrading for the holidays. I’ve been looking and think that maybe a few Dell Inspiron 15.6” with Intel Laptops would make workflow in our house so much easier.
I’ve had a few Dell computers in my days. My first computer which I took to college back in 1999 was a Dell…a giant desktop, but still a Dell, and the laptop I use now is a Dell (even thought it’s really hubbys laptop)…so I already know they are work horses. My grandmother ordered my first one on the phone, but now they’re available at Walmart so I can just walk in a walk out without the long delivery wait.
I really like this Dell Inspiron Black 15.6 Laptop. Check out the features:
15.6″ LED-backlit touchscreen with HD resolution
720p webcam
3-in-1 memory card reader
Bluetooth 4.0
1 x USB 3.0 ports, 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x HDMI port, 1 x headphone/microphone jack, 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet port
4-cell battery for up to 6 h 33 min battery life
It has all of the necessities that we need with the memory card reader, the USB ports, and I love the fact that it has an HDMI port so we can hook it up to the tv to preview slideshows and presentations. Right now with the Upgrade with Intel Contest, you could win a shiny new laptop!!
To enter the Upgrade with Intel Contest, here are some instructions:
Click on the image above to visit the microsite
Select the contest tab
Then, in 400 character or less, share” How would a Dell Inspiron 15.6” Laptop make your life more amazing?”
One entry per email, per person, complete Terms & Conditions are found on the site
What a great way to start your holiday shopping! Enter the contest to win a new laptop for yourself or that someone special on your list! Good luck!
Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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A featurette from Disney’s QUEEN OF KATWE featuring new footage from the film and interviews with stars David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong’o, is now available. The film, which is based on the vibrant true story of a young girl from the streets of rural Uganda who becomes an international chess champion, opens in theatres on September 23rd.
“Queen of Katwe” is the colorful true story of a young girl selling corn on the streets of rural Uganda whose world rapidly changes when she is introduced to the game of chess, and, as a result of the support she receives from her family and community, is instilled with the confidence and determination she needs to pursue her dream of becoming an international chess champion.
For 10-year-old Phiona Mutesi (Nalwanga) and her family, life in the impoverished slum of Katwe in Kampala, Uganda, is a constant struggle. Her mother, Harriet (Nyong’o), is fiercely determined to take care of her family and works tirelessly selling vegetables in the market to make sure her children are fed and have a roof over their heads. When Phiona meets Robert Katende (Oyelowo), a soccer player turned missionary who teaches local children chess, she is captivated. Chess requires a good deal of concentration, strategic thinking and risk taking, all skills which are applicable in everyday life, and Katende hopes to empower youth with the game. Phiona is impressed by the intelligence and wit the game requires and immediately shows potential. Recognizing Phiona’s natural aptitude for chess and the fighting spirit she’s inherited from her mother, Katende begins to mentor her, but Harriet is reluctant to provide any encouragement, not wanting to see her daughter disappointed. As Phiona begins to succeed in local chess competitions, Katende teaches her to read and write in order to pursue schooling. She quickly advances through the ranks in tournaments, but breaks away from her family to focus on her own life. Her mother eventually realizes that Phiona has a chance to excel and teams up with Katende to help her fulfill her extraordinary potential, escape a life of poverty and save her family.