The 15 Absolute Best Netflix Originals of 2017

This post is sponsored by Netflix. I am a member of the Netflix StreamTeam, and receive service and promotional items in exchange for my review.

I can hardly believe that it's the end of 2017! Is it just me or was it the fastest year EVER?!? I sure hope 2018 goes by a bit more slowly!

Our fastest year ever was also the busiest year for my family. Even though there wasn't much free time, we still managed to make our Netflix Date Nights and Family Movie Nights a regular priority. And throughout 2017, we continued to watch our tried and true favorites, and also discovered a few new shows to add to the rotation!

10 Fun Ways to Boost Learning During the School Year

DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by Netflix, but all opinions are 100% my own. I am a member of the Netflix StreamTeam.

Every parent wants their child to excel. Like many others, I encourage educational activities as much as possible to boost their learning. But during the school year, I have to tread lightly. I don't want to force something on my kids when they already have enough to juggle with school, sports and activities.

Learning can be fun, and there are plenty of ways to promote educational activities without overwhelming kids! The trick is to intersperse these activities with play. Play is EVERY bit as important as learning during childhood. Kids have a lot more pressure on them these days, so there must be time for them to let loose and do what they want to do!

Dylan, Lexie, Lily and Liam are plenty busy between school, basketball, soccer, band, chorus, dance, acro and therapies (PT, OT and ST for Liam). We don't have much time these days for extra activities, but we try to fit them in whenever we possibly can. These ten fun activities are a great way to boost learning during the busy school year!

Kids Don't NEED Complicated Birthday Party Themes To Have Fun

DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by Netflix, but all opinions are my own.

Over the course of 12 years, I've hosted 28 birthday parties. I'm going to let that number sink in for a few moments.  It doesn't seem possible, but with four kids, birthday parties happen often!

We've tackled birthday parties of every kind! I've hosted parties so big that there was barely enough room for all the guests, and parties that were small and intimate.  We've had destination parties, outdoor parties and parties in our home. I've hosted big parties and small parties, and parties with complex themes and parties with no theme.

And with all that experience, I learned one big lesson: kids don't really care as much as you think they do about the party theme! Actually, it's the parents who obsess over coming up with the perfect theme.

Moms are wasting hours of precious time and hundreds (sometimes even thousands) of dollars to throw their child a dream party. When they share all the details on social media, the focus tends to be more on what they did instead of the fun their child had. Think about all the awe-inspiring birthday party posts you have read. You probably scroll through dozens of beautiful photos sharing every incredible detail, and only see one or two pictures of the birthday boy or girl.

I've been guilty of it, but I finally reached the point where I realized that I lost my focus. My focus should be on showering my child with love and attention, instead of always worrying about every single detail of hosting a brag-worthy birthday party.

I put that theory to the test last month. Between weddings, picnics, family reunions, soccer games, and vacation, there literally wasn't a single available weekend to host a big birthday party for Lily and Liam OR any time to plan it. I stressed over it for a few weeks, then finally gave up and blocked out a few hours of time on a busy Saturday. I invited our closest family members and friends for an impromptu, THEME-LESS birthday party!

That's right. We didn't have a theme. We had a few gender neutral party supplies, candles, and a plain store-bought cake. We didn't even bother with favors. And guess what? I wasn't the least bit stressed out, I was able to sit with my guests for once, and the smiles on Lily and Liam's faces were so big as they spent time with their favorite people. Despite not having all the usual bells and whistles, Lily still declared it the "best party ever."

The lesson I learned is that sometimes it's okay to just host an ordinary birthday party with just the basics. Sometimes it's good to simplify things, stop competing with other moms, stop worrying about sharing on social media, and just focus on the moments instead of the things.

When it comes to birthday parties, there are only three things that really matter to kids:

1. The Guests
2. The Birthday Cake
3. And PRESENTS!!!

That's literally all they need in order to have a special day! Once those three things are covered, they are destined to have an awesome birthday party!

Simplifying a birthday party and getting back to the basics was both freeing and refreshing at the same time! For the first time in 12 years, I was able to enjoy a party instead of wasting hours of time and hundreds of dollars on a theme they quickly forget. I can't say I won't EVER host a theme party again, but I'm less likely to become overwhelmed by something that doesn't matter as much as I once thought it did!

I'm not alone in wanting to simplify birthday parties. 71% of parents wish there was an easier way to make birthday feel special for their kids. Based on the numbers from a recent survey, who can blame them? The average birthday party prep is 10 hours, and the average cost is $200. (Although that seems to be the absolute minimum cost in my experience!)

90% of parents want their child to feel special on their birthday, but 60% say birthday parties just aren't what they used to be. And that's 100% true these days. It's more of a competition among parents over who can throw the most unique, over the top, awe-inspiring birthday party. That's not really the point, is it? The point is to give our child a special party without adding an unbelievable amount of stress to our lives in the process!

Thankfully, Netflix is there to help make YOUR child's birthday special! Last week, Netflix introduced Birthdays On-Demand. They now offer 15 Birthdays On-Demand featurettes, which include many of your child's favorites!

The special birthday titles include Beat Bugs, LEGO Friends, LEGO Ninjago, Barbie, My Little Pony and Pokemon. Visit netflix.com/birthdays to see all the featurettes, and surprise your child with a special birthday song that makes them feel like their favorite characters are singing just to them! Liam happily rocked out to Beat Bugs and Dinotrux, and Lily loved Barbie and My Little Pony. It makes me so happy when my kids get so excited over the simplest things!

A simple party, a simple cake, entertainment at my fingertips and happy kids! Adding Netflix Birthdays On-Demand is a birthday party hack I can stand behind!!!

You might also like:

From Child to Champion: Empowering Your Children

10 Ways Busy Moms Can Sneak In Self Care

DISCLOSURE: I am a member of the Netflix #StreamTeam, and I receive service and promotional items in exchange for monthly posts.

Motherhood is a strange and beautiful thing. I have never been this exhausted, stressed and busy before, yet this is the happiest I've ever been! I'm a busy mom and I love it. I love my four kids beyond measure, and I wouldn't trade my time with them for anything! 

(No, you're not getting the posed "motherhood is beautiful" shot. You're getting the real life "I'm trying to embarrass my almost-teenager by looking cool and posting it on Instagram" shot.)

But speaking of time, there is NO time for myself these days. I sacrifice sleep to get things done and give up some of the things I love to spend more time with my family. In some ways, I lost a little bit of myself, but the truth is, I gained so much more!

I love mom life, but the most difficult thing about having four kids is juggling four different schedules plus my own. My kids, my husband, and my work come first, and often, there is no time left over for anything other than meeting my basic needs.  There simply aren't enough hours in the day, and even if I skipped sleep entirely, I couldn't cross off everything on my to do list!

One thing I recently realized (it only took me 12 1/2 years) is that I HAVE to take care of myself, too. And I mean more than just meeting my basic needs! With four kids (one of whom is rocking an extra chromosome), I have to do the Mom Sneak in order to fit in much needed self care!

If you're a mom, you know exactly what the Mom Sneak is! It's hiding in a closet for five minutes, devouring a chocolate bar, so you don't have to share with your kids. It's sitting in a hot bath for 25 minutes because you have a "headache." Or taking just a bit longer while running errands alone.(Alone...what's that?) It's staring at a wall, in a silent room, for 10 minutes because you have sensory overload. And it's sneaking out to your car to watch an episode on Netflix while your husband thinks you are doing housework. (Not that I would know.)

There are so many ways busy moms can indulge in self care, and I'm going to share my favorite ways with you. I encourage you to choose one item off my list and do it for yourself TODAY. Every mom deserves a little break! And at the end of this list you just might find a giveaway for one of my favorite #MomSneak methods!

10 Ways Busy Moms Can Sneak In Self Care

1. Wake up a half hour before the kids. 

It's tough to drag yourself out of bed before you have to wake up, but those few quiet minutes alone are completely worth it! Climb out of bed, drink your coffee (or hot tea) in peace, and focus on only yourself for 30 minutes before the chaos begins! 

2. Reward yourself.

Once a week, buy yourself something little to enjoy! It doesn't have to be anything big.  It could be your favorite candy to hide and eat alone when you need a treat, a lipstick that makes you feel pretty, or a coffee while you are running errands. You deserve at least a few dollars a week to spend on just yourself!

3. Make time to read each day. 

Books are a great escape from the reality of everyday life! I used to be able to read one book a day, thanks to my speed reading skills. Now I'm lucky if I can make it through one book a month, and I miss it! Although most days I can only sneak in 10-15 minutes of reading, it's important that I do so. I love to get lost in a good book, and I look forward to my reading time each day!

Although my house is rarely silent, I take advantage of those quiet moments when my kids are eating lunch or enjoying their iPad/TV time. It's the only time I can sit down all day, so I can relax for a few minutes to lose myself in a few chapters!

4. Do something that reminds you of your pre-mom days.

There are so many things that get bumped down or even off the to do list once you become a mom. Manicures and pedicures, a facial mask or hair treatment, writing in a journal, scrapbooking, music, art, etc. I'm sure there's something little that you wish you still had time to do.

It really is this simple: MAKE time for it. Schedule it into your week, and stick with it. Instead of racing around trying to do all the things while your kids nap, make time for yourself, too.

Give yourself that manicure or pedicure. Kick up your feet for ten minutes while using a facial mask or hair treatment. Pour your heart out in that journal. Rediscover your creativity through scrapbooking or painting. Belt out a show tune or play an instrument. The end result will be a mom who feels a bit more like their old self!

5. Get some exercise.

It's difficult to find time to exercise unless you are REALLY committed to a fitness routine. My family, my kids' activities and my blog always comes first, and I don't have time to exercise nearly as much as I used to. The problem is, when I don't exercise regularly, I notice a huge shift in my mood and energy. I have to plan my workouts around 6 different schedules, which is incredibly challenging, so sometimes I just skip it, and then I regret it!

Although it is ideal to exercise without kids, it doesn't happen often, and I'm sure many moms can relate. So stop the excuses, lace up those running shoes, strap the kids into a stroller and go for a walk. You'll be glad you did! Not only will your mood improve, but it's good for your health, too. A healthy mom is a happy mom!

6. Get out of the house ALONE!

Schedule a Moms Night Out, a date night, dinner with a friend or just a day to go shopping alone once a month! And if you can do it more often, kudos to you. (That doesn't happen in my home!) Every mom deserves a little bit of time away from everyday life with kids, so make it a priority. If your significant other happens to complain, gently remind them that everybody deserves a little break now and then! Having time away from kids (sleeping doesn't count) is vital to a mom's well being!

7. Take a hot bath.

To me, there is nothing more relaxing than soaking in a steaming hot bath, in a dim and silent bathroom! It can easily reset my mood. Obviously, this can only happen when my husband is home, so I try to do this once a week when I am feeling really stressed! (If you have to claim you have a headache in order to get in there, just do it!)

But don't just sit in the tub. Make that rare time alone special! Lock the bathroom door, light a favorite candle, dim the lights, turn on the fan to block out the noise, put a cooling gel mask on your eyes, toss in a bath bomb or use some special bubble bath, then sit back and relax. (If you're a person who thinks sitting in dirty bath water is gross, just quickly rinse off in the shower before and after. That's what I do! Psst...F Bomb anyone?)

8.  Try a quick yoga or pilates session. 

As moms, we are programmed to be highly energetic to keep up with our kids, and we have the ability to tune things out. But living with tiny humans can be stressful AND exhausting! A short pilates or yoga session can work wonders on frazzled moms.

There are times when all moms feel like they are reaching their breaking point. When that feeling hits, naptime, quiet time or electronics time is a MUST. On the days (which will be most days) when you can't escape alone for a run or barely have energy to stand up, a few minutes of yoga or pilates can work wonders. All that stretching and breathing instantly calms you down, and makes you feel so much better. It works like a charm every time!

9. Go for a drive without the kids.

When you reach your breaking point, it's so important to escape for just a few minutes to refresh and recharge! Have a secret code worked out with your significant other that you both can use when you absolutely need a break. Sometimes you just need to leave for a few minutes to calm down or decompress.

There's just something so therapeutic about driving in the car without kids. I often turn off the radio and just get into the driving zone. Other moms may prefer to sing along with the music. For me, silence always does the trick! After a few minutes, I'm ready to return and start fresh!


10. Do the #MomSneak to binge watch Netflix!

I'm not going to lie. I love to sneak away to watch Netflix! Most of the time I spend watching Netflix is with my entire family for weekly Family Movie Night or with my husband 4 nights a week for our Netflix Date Nights. But sometimes I just want to escape and watch what *I* want to watch, with no interruptions.

I love getting lost in the world of NCIS, re-watching episodes of the Gilmore Girls or House of Cards, or enjoying my guilty pleasure, Switched at Birth! I usually grab my iPad and binge watch episodes while I do dishes or laundry. Those chores can sometimes take a lot longer than usual if you catch my drift! I'm not ashamed to admit that I download episodes on Netflix so I can watch them while I'm waiting at kids' activities. (Two hour dance classes anyone?) And sometimes I sneak out to the car just to be alone...

I'm definitely not alone with the #MomSneak! In a recent poll, "(71%) of moms admit to sneaking in TV “me-time” while juggling a busy schedule, with some even hiding from their kids for just a moment of peace."

And I'm obviously not the only mom who hides in the car to watch Netflix!

It took me nearly 13 years of parenthood before I began to make self care a priority again! It took some work and tweaking to find a good balance between family life and time to myself. To be completely honest, I still give my all to my husband and kids, and sacrifice a little bit of myself in return, but I'm happy in this stage of my life. It's exactly where I want to be, and it's 100% true: Mom life IS the best life!

What are your favorite self-care tips?

GIVEAWAY!!!

CLOSED - Winner is arress!

Who wants to win some Netflix?!? I have ONE 6 month Netflix subscription up for grabs for one of my readers!

TO ENTER: 

Share how you sneak in your Netflix shows by sharing a quick story or a selfie in action on social media, using the hashtag #MomSneak.  Share the link to your social media post (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) in the comments of this blog post.

*US participants only. Giveaway will end on July 30, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be chosen randomly, entry will be verified, and winner will be notified the following day. (Do NOT delete your social media post. It needs to be verified!)

GOOD LUCK!!!

While you wait, get in some #MomSneak time by printing out this activity sheet to keep your kid(s) busy! (Click HERE to print!)

A YEAR OF COLOR

It's the third Friday of the month which means it's time for the monthly A Year of Color linkup! Justine from Little Dove and I are still co-hosting the linkup, but this month we have two new co-hosts. Welcome, Thrifty Wife, Happy Life and Sunshine and Munchkins!

The color for this month is:

I had something else planned for this month's post, but life got in the way, and an item I needed for the post hasn't been delivered yet! This left me scrambling for a post idea at the last minute! And, well, other than that big red target, nothing thrills me like seeing these red letters:

It really is the little things in life...

So read those self care tips, enter that awesome giveaway, and share your #MomSneak methods in the comments below. And don't forget to link up your RED posts all month long!

Join us next month for:

Plan ahead:

July 21- red

August 18- neon

September 15- blue

October 20- black

November 17- orange

December 15- metallic

An InLinkz Link-up

The Netflix Trick You Might Be Missing Out On

DISCLOSURE:  This post is sponsored by Netflix. I am a member of the Netflix #StreamTeam, and I receive service and promotional products in exchange for my reviews.

It's no secret that my family loves Netflix! My husband and I subscribed to Netflix before most people even knew it existed, and now it's a household name. Everybody knows what Netflix is these days!

Streaming our favorite shows and movies on Netflix is our go to. With Netflix, there is always quality programming at our fingertips, it's commercial free (which is a blessing if you have kids...trust me) and we can watch it anywhere! Grant and I realized that we were paying an extraordinary amount of money each month for cable TV that we were not even watching. See ya, cable!

So...how do we Netflix? (Yep, I totally made that a verb.) We stream our favorite movies on Netflix for our weekly Family Movie Night. (Our most recent watches were Finding Dory, Trolls and Moana. All three movies are excellent, by the way!) Grant and I have Netflix Date Nights four nights a week after we tuck our kids into bed.  We binge watch our favorite Netflix original series, which are top notch. (Is anybody else obsessed with House of Cards and Orange is the New Black? The new seasons were so good! It's going to be so hard to wait another year for the next season!) And Netflix keeps my kids entertained on long road trips.

That's right, we truly can watch Netflix anywhere. Even without wifi! 

There IS a Netflix trick that many people are missing out on: Netflix downloads! 

I didn't even realize that everyone didn't know about this awesome trick until I was talking to a large group of people recently. I mentioned how excellent our kids were on a road trip, and said it was partially because they watched a few of their favorite movies on Netflix. That's when the questions started coming in...

Do we have wifi in our car? (No, we're not paying for that.)  Do we have a mobile hotspot? (Once again, no.) Everybody was so surprised to learn that Netflix offers downloads that you can watch on your device WITHOUT using wifi!

Taking advantage of this awesome service is easy! Here's how:

Launch the Netflix app on your device.

Choose your profile. (So, my husband's real name is Richard. Did I ever mention that?)

Click on your menu. (I'm not sure if it varies by device, but on our iPad, it's the three lines in the upper left corner.)

Click on My Downloads.

Click on Find More To Download. (We already chose The Secret Life of Pets and Trolls for our road trip!)

Choose from the many titles that are available for download. From the newest, most popular movies, to episodes of favorite shows, Netflix has something for everyone!

Watch your downloads ANYWHERE! (Even in the middle of the Ohio Turnpike!)

I'm not ashamed to admit that as a parent, sometimes I DO take advantage of the convenience of electronics and media. My kids are well rounded, and allowing things in moderation is perfectly fine (and sometimes necessary for my sanity). And in this case, Netflix downloads allowed us to have an incredibly peaceful 5 hour drive! That, my friends, is a gift!

How do YOU Netflix? Do you take advantage of Netflix downloads? What has your family been streaming lately?

From Child To Champion: Empowering Your Children

DISCLOSURE: I'm a member of the Netflix #StreamTeam, and I receive service and promotional products. All opinions are 100% my own.

On  March 8^th,  the world celebrated International Women’s Day. Women all over were spreading the message to be bold and to be the change. Powerful, accomplished women were the focus of the day. Meanwhile, I was at home, NOT celebrating, because I was too busy being a mom.

I didn’t go big that day. I drove kids around and logged in more time IN my SUV than out of it. I took pictures for blog posts, negotiated a few blog contracts and tried desperately to work amidst the chaos. I attempted to potty train a toddler who has special needs. I taught sight words to Lily and worked on speech flashcards with Liam. I helped Dylan and Lexie with homework and played with my little ones. I gave hugs and kisses, and chatted with my kids about their day. I went for a very quick run and read a chapter in my book. I did housework, cooked dinner, read books to my kids and tucked them into bed, and spent time with my husband. And at the end of the day, I was too exhausted to even remember what day it was.

When I logged into Instagram that night, I immediately felt ashamed that I had forgotten all about such an important day and didn’t do anything to celebrate. The guilt was quickly replaced by the realization that I had done enough. I didn’t celebrate because I was too busy being a mom, a wife and a friend. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. I truly believe than change begins in the home.

More than anything, I hope to inspire my children. I’m teaching them that it is possible to juggle an overwhelming amount of responsibilities. I’m teaching them that anything (like a surprise Down syndrome diagnosis) can be overcome. I’m teaching them that we all have worth. I hope they are inspired to fight for human rights, and to be an advocate and an ally for those who are considered to be lesser than.

I’m teaching my daughters AND my sons to change diapers, cook, clean, do laundry, take out the garbage, fix things and do yardwork. I’m showing them that gender stereotypes don’t exist in our home. I’m teaching them that working together as a family and contributing to the household is a vital life skill. I’m teaching them to love and respect all human beings regardless of gender, skin color, religion, political affiliation, ability or sexuality. I’m teaching them to celebrate who they are.

To some I may be just a mom, but I’m actually doing some powerful work. I’m working hard to be a good role model while raising my children and I’m showing them each and every day that THEY MATTER.

I take my job seriously. It’s not big. It’s not bold. It’s not in the spotlight. But it is important. If I send four human beings out into the world who have open minds and big hearts, then I WAS part of the change. I was enough. And I certainly mattered.

To my daughters AND my sons,

You can do ANYTHING. You are strong and smart. Your life matters. YOU matter. You have worth and you are SO loved. You can be the change and do important things. Aim high, dream big, love fiercely and work hard. But if you only end up being just a mom or just a dad, that’s okay, too, because raising good human beings is one of the most difficult jobs in the entire world. Change begins at home and it's up to you to inspire. As long as you are loving and compassionate, whatever you do, and whoever you become, MATTERS. You are champions!

With Love, 

Your dedicated mom who is MORE than just a mom

I may be hard at work raising empowered children, but I am a REAL mom. Sometimes, I rely on TV to get us through rough patches.When I do, I always encourage my children to choose Netflix over regular TV!

Not only is Netflix commercial free, which eliminates the "I wants" but Netflix also offers an abundance of quality programming. And just FYI, you can download some Netflix content now and watch it without using WiFi!!! That's seriously a game changer for long car rides and appointments!

Here are the quality Netflix shows my kids are watching right now that just might teach a lesson or two:

Liam's Pick:

Super Why!

Lily's Pick:

  Home

Lexie's Pick: 

Project Mc2

Dylan's Pick:

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

New on Netflix: Our music, dance and theater loving family highly recommends Julie's Greenroom! Thanks to the adorable puppets, even Liam is entertained!

We were so inspired by Julie's Greenroom, that we even got a little creative ourselves. Netflix sent us a fun little kit that Lexie and Lily absolutely loved! It definitely sparked their creativity!

Lexie and Lily quickly got to work making their sock puppets and writing their play. "The Girl Who Broke Her Arm" seemed like a very appropriate title considering recent circumstances!

The play was a big success! And only took 257 takes for scene 1...

What are your favorite shows for kids on Netflix?