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Simply Sweet Days

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Family

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Spring is the perfect time to shake off the dust of winter and prepare for warmer days. This year, use spring cleaning as an opportunity to freshen up your entire home, inside and out. The best way to do this is to make it a family affair. Include kids, and divide the chores up. Remember, you only do most of these things once a year, so do a good job. And don’t be overwhelmed, these things can be done over a few different weeks. Knock out some on nice weekends when you can get outside and enjoy some fresh air, and save others for rainy days when you’ll be inside all day.

hand broom and dustpan with flowers

This spring cleaning checklist is broken up by areas of the home. Just tackle each item one at a time and before you know it, your home will be ready for spring.

Spring Cleaning Checklist for The Kitchen

– Run lemons through garbage disposal to eliminate odor

– Wash trash can and recycling bins

– Wipe off cabinets and appliance fronts

– Clean oven

– Clean inside of refrigerator, throwing away any expired items

– Sweep and mop behind fridge, stove and other hard-to-reach places

– Organize pots and Tupperware (throw away pieces with missing lids)

– Clean microwave, toaster, and other small appliances

– Wash doorknobs and drawer pulls

– Organize recipes and cookbooks

broom, mop, and dustpan

Spring Cleaning Checklist for the Closet

– Swap summer and winter wardrobes

– Give away any items you didn’t wear this season to thrift stores or Buy Nothing groups

– Mend or repair missing buttons or torn hems

– Sweep the backs of closets

girl with mop and cleaning gloves

Spring Cleaning Checklist for Living Spaces

– Vacuum behind heavy furniture and other hard-to-reach places

– Dust baseboards and other woodwork

– Clean curtains, drapes and blinds

– Wash inside and outside of windows

– Clean upholstery and make repairs if needed

– Rotate furniture cushions (including your mattress!)

– Change batteries in smoke and carbon dioxide alarms

– Sort files, bills and mail

soap dispenser

Spring Cleaning Checklist for The Bathroom

– Throw away rarely used toiletries

– Throw away expired medications

– Replace shower curtain liner (or use this tip to clean it!)

– Clean under bathroom sink

bright dresses hanging out to dry

Spring Cleaning Checklist for Outdoor Areas

– Sweep garage and hose it down if necessary

– Clean gutters

– Fertilize lawn

– Pull weeds

– Tune up lawn mower

– Clean off lawn furniture and wash seat cushions

– Cut back bushes after they bloom

Spring cleaning can seem daunting at the beginning of the season, but the payoff is worth it. Plus, after staying indoors all winter, it usually feels good to throw open the windows and prepare for the coming spring.

You might also like these related posts:

Simple Storage Hacks to Organize your Small Home

Housekeeping Hack: Easy Way to Clean a Garland

Captain Marvel Movie Review

Where does a loving husband go on a date with his wife? Why, to the Captain Marvel Movie, of course! John and I had the fantastic opportunity to preview Captain Marvel a few days before its release. Oh my, is this movie entertaining!

Brie Larson is the Adorable and Kick-Butt Captain Marvel

Definitely my favorite thing about the Captain Marvel movie is Brie Larson. She is the epitome of girl power. Her flaming fists of fury easily take down enemy attackers. Taunts and insults don’t phase her one bit, as she fearlessly goes head-to-head with the most powerful forces in the universe.

90’s References Galore

You have to appreciate the accurate 90’s trends depicted throughout the Captain Marvel Movie. Brie Larson rocks it in her grunge-inspired outfit, complete with flannel tied around the waist! And keep your eyes (and ears) peeled for frequent payphone calls, pagers, CD-Roms, some Salt ‘N Peppa jams (among many other 90’s chart-toppers), and even a hat-tip to good ol’ Troll Dolls!

Continuing the Marvel Trend of Captivating Stories

For the true Marvel fan, Captain America does not disappoint. In this movie we get to see the personality behind S.H.I.E.L.D.’s leader, Fury. He is both tough and kind-hearted. Interestingly enough, he also has a soft spot for felines.

With the recent passing of Stan Lee, some fans worried that he wouldn’t make his usual cameo appearance in this movie. Rest assured, Marvel Studios worked their Disney magic and you will see Mr. Lee briefly in Captain Marvel.

I wonder if it’s any coincidence that Captain Marvel, a movie about a female superhero, hits theaters during Women’s History Month in March? In addition to the main character, we see other inspiring women in this movie. One in particular, Maria (Lashana Lynch), was an Air Force pilot in the early 90’s. Unfortunately, this was a time in U.S. history when women weren’t allowed to fly in combat. Her determination to get more air time is admirable. But, as a single mother, her devotion to her daughter keeps her from taking any unsafe risks.

Don’t miss seeing the Captain Marvel movie in theaters. You’ll want to stay in your seat until the very end of the credits, if you catch my drift. 😉

6 Simple Storage Hacks to Organize your Small Home

You don’t have to live in a tiny home to feel like your space is too small. People often say they’ve “outgrown” their home because they’ve lived there for so long that there is more stuff than the house can hold. We’ve lived in a 3-bedroom apartment for 10 years. During that time we’ve added 3 more family members and LOTS more stuff. I’ve learned to take control of the clutter and find creative ways to deal with storage. These are just a few of our storage hacks to organize our small home.

Small space storage hacks

6 Simple Storage Hacks to Organize your Small Home

Look high We built in extra shelving everywhere we could. There’s one in the bathroom, above the kitchen sink (pictured below from my “let’s add a pop of blue color to every room in the apartment” phase), one in the cupboard above the stove, one in the living room and one by the front door. Our closets have a huge space above the standard shelf, so we added a second shelf in each one. These aren’t pretty but, except for here in this post, no one ever sees them. If your home is short on square footage, store high up!

add storage to small home with extra shelves in closets

Double-duty shelves We get a little extra storage out of some shelves by adding these nifty under-the-shelf organizers. The shelves are pretty high, so this gives us some storage that’s easier for me to reach.

under the shelf extra storage

Wrap it up tight Sure, you can buy a compact plastic storage bin to store wrapping paper in the garage. But what if you don’t have a garage? We took some wire, looped through a few hooks, and zig-zagged it across the ceiling of one of the closets. All we have to do is slide the wrapping paper between the wire and the ceiling and it’s out of sight until we need it!

wrapping paper storage hack: on the ceiling of the closet

Nothing to see here Every bed in our home has something stored under it. Use shallow plastic storage bins under the bed to store toys, mementos, photos, etc.

plastic bins under the bed for small space storage

When is a seat not a seat? A fellow teacher introduced me to the idea of using storage bins that double as an ottoman! We have one in our living room and I’ve always had one in my classroom as well. This is one you can get from Amazon, but I’ve seen a similar type at Big Lots as well. We filled ours with throw blankets.  

Via Amazon

Decorative baskets make clutter look pretty One cute basket holds all the things that end up getting stashed near the TV, like remotes and game controllers. Unfortunately, getting the family trained to put the remote back so we can find it when we need it is a story for another post!

decorative basket to hold TV accessories

Our family is still far from tidy. But we do our best to give everything in its place. These simple storage hacks are just a few ways we organize our small home. Do you have a creative storage hack? Please share in the comments!

Creative ideas and storage hacks to organize your small space home.

Saying Farewell to January 2019

We’re now 1/12 of the way through 2019. Can you believe it?! Personally, I hate to see good things end. At first thought, I didn’t think all that much had happened in January. If you’re lalso feeling like this month wasn’t anything special, do yourself a favor. Scroll through the photos in your phone and I bet you’ll be amazed at how much you accomplished this month! As proof, I’ll share with you my month in reverse order because it’s more fun that way 😉 It wasn’t until I got about 2 weeks back that I realized I was really on my game this month! Except for that basketball thing (keep reading, you’ll see).

This week started off with a run – Woohoo! I’m trying to lose 2 pounds a week and so far I’m on track! I couldn’t believe it, and you’ll see why soon.  

One of the girls got hives. How is it I’ve been a mom for almost 16 years and this is my first experience with hives? Counting my blessings, I guess.  

I got sick and gave up on my healthy eating plan. Red Lobster biscuits for breakfast? Yes, please! 

I got sick the day AFTER baking 5 batches of chocolate chip cookies for my moms group. Then proceeded to eat most of the cookies since I couldn’t take them to the potluck. 

I cleaned my kitchen! 

One of the girls got the stomach flu. 

We made a blanket fort for the kids to sleep in over the weekend. This is their favorite thing to do on non-school nights! 

 

All the kids got pinkeye. Boo.

There was a super blood wolf moon and we kinda sorta saw it through the clouds.

We cooked at home every.single.night! Think that’s easy? You do it! This is our Google calendar family meal plan. The blank nights were when we had leftovers for dinner or something random from the cupboard.   

I found out what kind of dinosaur I am. This is important information, my friends.

We read Christmas stories. In mid-January. 

The girls started playing basketball. 

This is how they looked on team picture day because it was raining and one of them lost the sneakers I sent to school with her to wear at the game. They let her play like that. Mom fail or mom win? I say win! 

Johnny got an ear infection. 

I met my new big boss. There are lots of pics from work this month but I liked our name tags for this staff meeting so it gets to be in the January highlights. 

I started listening to free audiobooks from the library. I’ve burned through 4 this month already! 

I found out why my walls are always so dirty. 

It rained! We had a week of rain, then a week of 80° weather, then more rain. I love San Diego! 

I get to be mom to 4 wonderful kids, 3 of whom need me for every little thing and I love it. The older one still needs me, he just doesn’t think he does.  😉 

I went to Ikea. And bought stuff! 😀 Oh, how I love Ikea. 

And finally on day 1 of the year 2019 I went on a moderately challenging hike with a friend. The perfect way to ring in the new year! 

January was definitely a months of highs and lows. Illness was a constant visitor in our home but we battled those germs off like pros! What will February hold? I can only imagine…

50 Dinosaur Crafts and Activities

50 Dinosaur Crafts and Activities for a preschool dinosaur enthusiast or a dinosaur themed party

Big scaly reptiles with sharp teeth are my 4-year-old’s absolute favorite thing right now. Lately I’ve met moms whose son or daughter is also really into dinosaurs. Apparently, dinosaur toys are pretty popular for preschool kids! You never know, we might have a themed party and end up looking for dinosaur party ideas too! So why not dive head-first into the Jurassic period? Here are 50 ideas for dinosaur crafts and activities. 

  1. Make a Dinosaur sensory bin
  2. Make a felt dinosaur playmat (or buy this pre-made playmat) 
  3. Make salt dough fossils with your plastic dinosaurs 
  4. Play “Dinosaur Train”by giving your figurines a ride on your wheeled toys
  5. Make magnetic tile dinosaurs 
  6. Use this free printable spinner and play a dinosaur movements game 
  7. Have a dinosaur egg hunt
  8. Write or tell a dinosaur story.
  9. Make a dinosaur matching busy bag for your little one to enjoy independently!
  10. Take the “What Dinosaur Are You” personality quiz 
  11. Fill in the dinosaur on these dough mats (free printable from Pocket Full of Preschool)
  12. Read “How do Dinosaurs” books by Mark Teague
  13. Make footprint art with your favorite dinosaurs 
  14. Build a LEGO dinosaur playset Ages 2-4  Ages 4-7.
  15. Make a dinosaur sensory bottle 
  16. Crawl on hands and knees and be a pretend dinosaur herd
  17. Make colorful paper plate dinosaurs 
  18. March to “We Are The Dinosaurs” by the Laurie Berkner Band 
  19. Hide a dinosaur in a ball of clay or dough and let your child uncover it, hatching the dinosaur from its “egg”
  20. Put on a Gekko costume (without the mask) and BE a dinosaur!
  21. Make clear or light colored jello with dinosaurs inside
  22. Make Duplo®-stamped dinosaur art (free printable) 
  23. Use a ruler and measure your dinosaur toys to see which is the tallest
  24. Build a dino using Scholastic’s online interactive activity 
  25. Take a virtual tour of the Smithsonian dinosaur exhibit 
  26. Download free dinosaur coloring pages 
  27. Cut out dinosaur-shaped footprints and make tracks down the hallway
  28. Check out National Geographic’s cool dinosaur facts, quizzes and surveys 
  29. Make your own dinosaur encyclopedia. Use library books or support your child as he searches for pictures and information online.
  30. Practice spelling with this Letter Predator game. Guess all the letters to spell out the secret words before the Triceratops becomes the Tyrannosaurus rex‘s lunch!
  31. Make paper bag dinosaur puppets and put on a show (or buy these soft puppets!)
  32. Water+balloons+plastic dinosaurs=frozen dinosaur eggs! 
  33. Record a video of your child making dinosaur sounds
  34. Learn letters and colors with a dinosaur alphabet set
  35. Get creative with a dinosaur modeling kit 
  36. Decorate the fridge with dinosaur magnets
  37. Watch National Geographic Kids dinosaur videos on YouTube
  38. Glue a dinosaur head on a box and cut out a mouth and “feed” the dino leaves, sticks, or pasta “bones”
  39. Freeze dinosaur toys in a small cup or plastic egg
  40. Make art with dinosaur stickers and stamps
  41. Act out dinosaur emotions (T-rex/angry, brontosaurus/patient, pterodactyl/afraid)
  42. Use dinosaurs as markers in a game of preschool BINGO
  43. Stomp like a dinosaur to the song “Dinosaur Stomp” by Mother Goose Club
  44. Make a cardboard dinosaur out of a shoebox and other household materials
  45. Make a dinosaur diorama in an empty shoebox
  46. Cut and fold this adorable glue-less dinosaur (free printable) 
  47. Build a “reading cave” where your little ones can enjoy looking at dinosaur books 
  48. Eat dinosaur snacks 
  49. Make dinosaur-shaped cutouts with dough and cookie cutters
  50. Build a cardboard box dinosaur, perfect for little ones to  wear 

Thanks for checking out these 50 dinosaur crafts and activities. If you found them useful, let me know in the comments below!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5lRQ8Uhbrl/

How the Echo Show Brings our Family Together

This post was sponsored by Amazon as part of an Ambassador Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

This winter we discovered how our Echo Dot Kids Edition can bring Christmas magic to our little ones. Today I want to tell you about our other Amazon device, the Echo Show. Every since we added this device to our home, I can’t help but be surprised at how the Echo Show brings our family together. 

What is an Echo Show?

The Echo Show is one of Amazon’s smart home devices, part of the Alexa family. We use Amazon FreeTime on Alexa, which, first and foremost, has parental controls that help us keep our kids safe while using the device. We decided to turn off voice purchasing, and block explicit song lyrics with Amazon Music. Most of the time our kids ask Alexa to play the kid-friendly songs they’re already familiar with. Being able to set restrictions using the Parent Dashboard gives me peace of mind that they are enjoying a kid-centric Alexa experience on the Echo Dot Kids Edition and Echo Show. Amazon FreeTime also includes educational skills like Name that Animal. The Alexa app offers hundreds of more awesome skills focused specifically on children’s education! With Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, we can listen to over 1,000 kids books on Audible. We simply have to ask, “Alexa, read me Peter Pan.”  

How We’re Coming Together with Our Echo Show

I can’t emphasize enough how every day we discover new and fun ways to interact with our Echo Show. And you know what the kids are NOT doing during that time? Zoning out in front of the TV! They’ve figured out some things that I didn’t even know Alexa could do, like take a selfie. Now our Echo Show displays a rotation of silly faces compliments of my little cuties! With our Echo Show we are also:

Baking chocolate chip cookies. “Alexa, show me a recipe for chocolate cookies.” 

Having a dance party. “Alexa, play our family playlist.”

Learning about the world around us. “Alexa, show me the pyramids of Egypt.”

Finding out more about the recent Super Blood Wolf Moon. “Alexa, what’s happening with the moon tonight?”

Other Ways We Enjoy Alexa

One great things about Alexa is that she keeps us organized. We tell Alexa to set a 30 minute timer for the washer so we can keep our clothes moving through the laundromat quickly. Our kids love watching the last 10 seconds count down on the Echo Show! Now they set timers for everything they can think of, like teeth brushing, bath time, and homework time. Alexa also helps us by creating a list, setting reminders, and adding events to our calendar! Yes, all these things could be taken care of by myself or John, but we like that the kids are getting involved in the household. Plus, Alexa us just plain fun! She has a constant supply of jokes, and we have ours set up so that Jimmy Fallon delivers them to us.  Family laughing to Jimmy Fallon jokes on the Echo Show

Smart devices like the Echo Dot Kids Edition and the Echo Show can bring our family together. They also simplify our lives and help us stay organized. Check out Amazon Kids and Family on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see how families are incorporating these awesome devices into their home.

My 2019 Must-Read Book List

New year, new habits! I’m starting the year off my improving mind, body, and soul. I don’t have a lot of quiet time to sit and read, but I do have access to tons of books on my phone! And did you know that a fantastic way to trick yourself into liking exercising is by working out to audiobooks? No matter how tired I am of going nowhere while climbing stairs, I’ll keep climbing until I’m at the end of the chapter of a good book. At the end of this post I’ll share with you how I get audiobooks for free, but first here is my 2019 must-read book list:

2019 Must-Read Book List  ways to spoil yourself this Mother's Day

When I say “read”, I really mean listen. This mama doesn’t have time to enjoy a book, I listen while on the go! Or washing dishes, or vacuuming, or running errands… You get it.

These books were recommended to me by other moms, so I haven’t actually read any of them yet. Horror and Sci-Fi aren’t really my jam, so you won’t see a lot of those on my list, but feel free to add your favorites from any genre in the comments in case another reader shares your interests! 

The Art of Racing in the Rain This looks like a totally heartwarming story. The synopsis describes it as “A heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope–a captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life . . . as only a dog could tell it.” This one is at the top of my 2019 must-read book list!

The Kitchen House I’m a little nervous about this one because I heard it will make me cry like a baby. But it sounds like a good read just the same!

Girl, Wash Your Face This is one of the highest-recommended books of 2018. I love Rachel Hollis’s podcast, Rise, so I’m pretty sure I’ll love her book too.

The Nightingale A historical fiction, this one comes highly recommended by several of my mom friends. “When a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family alive.”

Uninvited Not gonna lie, I need to read this one. A friend went through this with a book club, and she has great things to say about this book. I can’t wait for this one!

The Woman in Cabin 10 This mystery novel is “reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works”. I’m sure you haven’t heard of Dame Agatha Christie before, but she is one of my all-time favorite authors. I love a good mystery thriller, as long as it doesn’t leave me too afraid to be home alone!

What Alice Forgot I like the way Marie Claire UK summarizes this novel-”The gripping story of a woman who wakes up with a bump on her head and no knowledge of the past ten years…an acutely observed romantic comedy that is both thought-provoking and funny.”—Marie Claire (UK)”

Tuesdays with Morrie This almost 40-year-old bestseller is something I’ve heard about but never read.

Artemis Fowl I definitely want to read this book before the Disney movie comes out in August!

The Year of Magical Thinking I don’t know much about this book except that it comes highly recommended. Amazon describes it as “a portrait of a marriage–and a life, in good times and bad–that will speak to anyone who has ever loved a husband or wife or child.” Sounds good to me!

My husband and I use Audible to listen to audio books, and it’s definitely the best option. It can get pricey though, so thankfully there is a free alternative. Many local libraries, like ours in San Diego, offer audiobooks! All I had to do was download the app, type in my library card number, and start borrowing my favorite books. The downside is, unlike Audible, you can’t keep the books forever. They have to be returned in 2 weeks, just like any other library loan. So I guess I better start working on my book list, right?

Please leave your favorite books in the comments so I can keep my audio library stocked, and thank you!

The Complete List of Disney Movies Coming Out in 2019

Hey friends, it’s that time of year again! Disney has released their 2019 movie schedule and I’ve compiled here for you…(in my best Maui voice) You’re welcome! Before we get to the complete list of Disney movies coming out in 2019, how many of last year’s releases have you seen? Which one was your favorite? Personally, I can’t narrow it down to just one. They were all outstanding productions!

The Complete List of Disney Movies Coming Out in 2019

Here are, in chronological order, the 10 Disney movies coming to theaters in 2019:

Captain Marvel (Marvel Studios) March 9 

Synopsis: Set in the 1990s, Marvel Studios’ “Captain Marvel” is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that follows the journey of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes. While a galactic war between two alien races reaches Earth, Danvers finds herself and a small cadre of allies at the center of the maelstrom.  Captain Marvel is the first Disney movies coming out in 2019!  

Dumbo (Walt Disney Studios) March 29

Synopsis: From Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, the all-new grand live-action adventure “Dumbo” expands on the beloved classic story where differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight. Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus. But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland. Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant (Eva Green), until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets.  A live-action Dumbo film is on the list of Disney movies coming out in 2019!

Penguins (Disneynature) April 17

Synopsis: Disneynature’s all-new feature film “Penguins” is a coming-of-age story about an Adélie penguin named Steve who joins millions of fellow males in the icy Antarctic spring on a quest to build a suitable nest, find a life partner and start a family. None of it comes easily for him, especially considering he’s targeted by everything from killer whales to leopard seals, who unapologetically threaten his happily ever after. From the filmmaking team behind “Bears” and “Chimpanzee,” Disneynature’s “Penguins” opens in theaters nationwide in time for Earth Day 2019.  Penguins is a charming film and one of the Disney movies coming out in 2019!

Avengers: Endgame (Marvel Studios) April 26  Avengers: Endgame is one of the upcoming Disney movies in 2019!

Aladdin (Walt Disney Studios) May 24 

Synopsis: A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, “Aladdin” is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and Genie who may be the key to their future. A live-action remake of Aladdin is one of the Disney movies coming out in 2019!

Toy Story 4 (Disney·Pixar) June 21

Synopsis: Woody has always been confident about his place in the world and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. But when Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called “Forky” to her room, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy. The long-awaited Toy Story 4 is one of the Disney movies coming out in 2019!

The Lion King (Walt Disney Studios) July 19

Synopsis: Director Jon Favreau’s all-new “The Lion King” journey’s to the African savannah where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother–and former heir to the throne-has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon, “The Lion King” utilizes pioneer filmmaking techniques to bring these treasured characters to life in a whole new way.     Meet Simba in the upcoming live-action remake of the Lion King, one of the Disney movies coming out in 2019!

Artemis Fowl (Walt Disney Studios) August 9

Synopsis: Disney’s “Artemis Fowl,” based on the beloved book by Eoin Colfer, is a fantastical, spellbinding adventure that follows the journey of 12-year-old genius Artemis Fowl, a descendant of a long line of criminal masterminds, as he seeks to find his father who has mysteriously disappeared. With the help of his loyal protector Butler, Artemis sets out to find him, and in doing so uncovers an ancient, underground civilization—the amazingly advanced world of fairies. Deducing that his father’s disappearance is somehow connected to the secretive, reclusive fairy world, cunning Artemis concocts a dangerous plan—so dangerous that he ultimately finds himself in a perilous war of wits with the all-powerful fairies.  Artemis Fowl will make an appearance as one of the Disney Movies of 2019!

Frozen 2 (Walt Disney Animation Studios) November 22

Synopsis: Arendelle heats up in 2019 when Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf return to the big screen in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Frozen 2,” the much-anticipated follow-up to 2013’s Oscar®-winning “Frozen”—the highest grossing animated film of all time. Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad reprise their roles, while Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, the team behind “Frozen,” return to the directors’ chairs. 

Star Wars Episode IX (Lucasfilm) December 20  Star Wars Episode 9 will make its way to the theaters in December 2019!

Stay tuned to @simplysweetdays on Twitter and @simply_sweet_days on Instagram for more info!

In addition to this complete list of Disney movies coming out in 2019, be sure and check back for reviews and movie-related activities, like our Incredibles 2 mask tutorial and activities and Coco recipes and printables! 

The complete list of Disney movies coming out in 2019! These live-action remakes and innovative novel-based films will be the highlight of your year! #DisneySMMC

Turning Setbacks into Victories

Unfulfilled dreams. Missed opportunities. Searching and longing for something that’s just out of reach. I am so thankful to be able to say that these are not my memories of 2018.  While 2017 had some very sorrowful moments, 2018 was the year that I finally came up for air and turned my setbacks into victories! 

It has been hard to see the positive in the middle of hard times, and this year has definitely not been easy. Especially the last 6 months have been real struggle even though John works 2 jobs. But what does money matter when we have our health, sweet kids, and a happy marriage? Those are things that people who are far wealthier than me could only wish for.  

The Hard Work of Happiness

So what happened that made this year feel so much better, even when it wasn’t? Personally, It was a total mind shift on my part. I made an effort to find the joy in daily life, and dug my heels in against negative thinking. I read some great books. My favorite was “Love Does” by Bob Goff. It really puts things in perspective to read his stories of amazing miracles and incredible generosity. Knowing that there are people who find hope even in situations which are far more horrible than my own, can I really complain? Nope. At least, I shouldn’t. I’m still human. 😉 

2018 Opportunities and Good Memories

Because of this blog, I got even more enjoyment out of the last year. Every time I have an idea for a fun activity with my kids or trying a new dish, my second thought is always that I can’t wait to share this with you guys. Seriously! A few of my favorite posts of this year were

  • Our Palm Springs Day Trip
  • The Incredibles 2 Printables and Activities
  • Crunchy Oven Baked Chicken Recipe
  • 30-Day Dine at Home Challenge

Next year I hope to expand my creativity and bring more family value to this blog. Feel free to hold me accountable, too!

As I round out this last blog post of 2018, I also want to tell you where I missed the mark. The one word I chose to focus my energy for 2018 was “persist”. But as it turns out, that’s not what my life and family needed me to do this year. 2016 and 2017 were years when persistence kept me from losing my mind to grief and self-pity, so maybe I came up with this word on the heels of recent struggles. This year all my persistence paid off. I have a great relationship with my oldest, my husband and I are enjoying a strong marriage, work is going well, and my kids didn’t have a single injury this year! I think a better word would have been “surprise” because each time we found ourselves in hot water, “Surprise!” God got us through. Once I learned to trust Him with everything, I had a lot less to worry about. 

In May my husband John graduated with his Bachelors from San Diego State University. We took the kids on our first family camping trip. Oh yeah, and I ran a 10K just weeks after hernia surgery. Wow, I guess 2018 was pretty great… 

I look forward to the obstacles that present themselves in 2019. I know I can make it through the hills and valleys as long as I keep this in mind: It’s not the current economy that counts, but the eternal one.

Happy new year friends! May you find what your heart desires in 2019. <3

Creating Christmas Magic at Home

This post was sponsored by Amazon as part of an Ambassador Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own

Christmas is by far my favorite holiday. For me, it’s not so much about the shopping and gift giving as it is the opportunities to make lasting memories. The holiday season in our house is synonymous with love, kindness, and fun. This year my 3 youngest are right at that “visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads” age. It makes me feel like a kid to explore with them this season of joy, imagination, and creating Christmas magic.  

Creating Christmas Magic with No-Fuss Decorating

You know what kids love? Glitter. Their daddy? Not so much. Thankfully, he is a good sport this time of year. John even goes so far as to help them with every sparkly, sticky gluey craft I come up with. In a few years my house will be empty and I’ll have a beautiful Christmas tree with matching decorations. For now I’m content to let the kids adorn our tree with their awkward crafts. 

This year we have a new addition to the home, and she’s a tremendous helper at making spirits bright and filling our home with laughter. Meet our Echo Dot Kids Edition! The kids call our device “Alexa” (I bet you can guess why ;). At their age, music and singing play an important role in their development. Alexa sits in a central part of the house so the kids can call on her to play a Christmas carol, tell them how many days until Christmas, and even put in a call to Santa! 

Creating Christmas Magic while Learning

Of course this teacher mama is going to incorporate learning activities with the holidays! We keep a collection of Christmas books that only makes an appearance this time of year. Some of them are the fun, pop-up kind. Others are more traditional, like Clement Clarke Moore’s Night Before Christmas. In her compact, kid-proof case, Alexa has a wealth of children’s stories on Audible. All you have to do is ask, “Alexa, tell me a Christmas story!” The Echo Dot Kids Edition comes with a year of FreeTime Unlimited, which includes over 300 Audible kids’ books, kid-friendly (and ad-free) radio stations and playlists, and Alexa skills that help kids learn without even knowing they’re doing it! When we get bored, we just ask Alexa to play a game. Little do my kids know, they’re working on Common Core listening skills while they play. 

Creating Christmas Magic that’s Filled with Surprises

You know that feeling you get when you find out your favorite fast food place has a secret menu? That’s what it’s like living with Alexa. No kidding! We love asking her questions and trying to find ways to stump her. For example, I asked Alexa to tell me a Christmas fact. She told me how many gifts you would actually receive by the end of the “12 Days of Christmas”. But the best part was her closing sentence, “Gadzooks! I think I’d be happier with a few good books!” Haha! When I run out of things to ask Alexa, I visit the Amazon Kids and Family Facebook page for more inspiration. 

As the oldest of 6 kids, I grew up in a home filled with Christmas traditions. Some of these have carried over to how I raise my own kids and others rest peacefully in my memories. I’m raising kids in a very tech-centric day and age, so it’s good to be familiar with trending devices like the Echo Dot Kids Edition. In ten years my kids may not remember the device, but they will remember the songs and stories that Alexa played for us that brought our family closer together.

This year Alexa has helped us write letters to Santa, played music so we could sing carols, and even found great Christmas cookie recipes for us! I rest at ease knowing that my kids are enjoying their device safely, thanks to the parent controls with FreeTime on Alexa. The Echo Dot Kids Edition’s kid-friendly case and 2-year worry-free guarantee make this device a no-brainer for me! Alexa and the Echo Dot Kids Edition are available on Amazon.

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Hi, I’m Nikki!

I'm Nikki, a lover of coffee, chef for 6, elementary teacher, and expert in the art of wrangling twins. I'm also a working mom with a passion for having fun and keeping a cozy home. Come along with me on the journey of a joyful mom! Learn More…

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