Lessons in Traveling With Kids Sponsored by Culturelle Kids!

We recently traveled to our hometown for a family reunion with our 3 kids and the dog. When we arrived our family was among 10 adults and 17 children. Let me clarify that this reunion was just for my husband's immediate family. He is one of 5 children and between them there are 17 grandchildren, and all of us were visiting from out of town. During this crazy, fun-filled week of family activities I learned a lot about traveling with kids.

Corner Reading Nook

For those of you who don't know, I live in a shoebox, A.K.A. a two bedroom apartment with 3 kids, two adults, and a dog. There isn't much space for the kids to have quiet time on their own, so one day I made them a makeshift hideaway in the corner of their bedroom.

Don't you just love the dresser with the missing drawer? Oh yeah.

They loved it, but it just wasn't what they needed. By that I mean it wasn't good enough for me.

The first thing I did was replace the dresser with one that had all the drawers. What a concept! I didn't like the dresser where it was, so I swapped it with the bookcase and that is how this cozy corner went from a hideaway to a book nook.

The next thing I did was sew a little curtain. I hung it by attaching a hook to the bunk bed and another to the walls. I ran twine across and hung the curtain.

I printed and laminated some reading posters and threw in a few chairs.

The kids absolutely love their reading nook, and it makes them feel like they have a bit more space. 

Our ever-growing book collection. 

Inside view

Daxamillion gettin' his read on.

Do you live in a tiny space? How do make it feel bigger?

~Macy

NIghtmare Before Christmas Treats

What's this? What's this? It's The Nightmare Before Christmas on BluRay! In true Macy fashion, I am more excited about buying a new Disney movie than my kids. I can't help it! I absolutely love this movie. I remember when it first came out. I had one of the Nightmare Before Christmas watches from Burger King. I sure wish I had held on to that....
In celebration of our newest movie I set up a fun little snack for the kids. This literally just popped into my head when we got home from Target that night.
I had some mega marshmallows in the pantry and used a black gel icing pen to draw Jack's face.

I stuck toothpicks in the tops to avoid black frosting fingers.

Next, I drew a Jack face on styrofoam cups with crayon. This would have worked better with a Sharpie, but I didn't have one on hand. And yes...I know....styrofoam = bad, but you try making hot chocolate for half the kids in the neighborhood with only 4 coffee cups in the house.

Here you go. The whole shabang. 

It added an extra special touch to a fun family night. Who knows...maybe my kids will do this with their kids when they get older.

~Macy

P.S. What is YOUR favorite Halloween flick?