Popcorn Gift Pack Giveaway Winners!
June 20, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 1 Comment
Thanks to everyone who entered last week’s giveaway sponsored by Orville Redenbacher’s. Check out these blogs to discover our other winners: Make and Takes and I Never Grew Up. If you didn’t win one of these giveaways, Orville Redenbacher’s would still like you to enjoy family fun with a big bowl of popcorn. Click here to download a coupon for savings on your next box of popcorn.
Giveaway Prizes
Orville Redenbacher’s generously offered winners a popcorn gift package, including:
- A popcorn bowl
- Three boxes of Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn
- Kathy Peel’s most recent book, The Busy Mom’s Guide to a Happy, Organized Home
Winners
These lucky winners were randomly selected and won a gift package, including:
Angela—@pricousins
Camille—@makeitworkmom
Hollie—@commoncentsmom
Kasandria—@waystosave
Check out these blogs to discover our other winners: Make and Takes and I Never Grew Up.
Inexpensive Summer Time Family Fun Tips
June 11, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 1 Comment
We heard some great tips from Kathy Peel on bringing the family together during Tuesday’s #gno party, but here are so more to consider for family fun this summer!
- Go on a scavenger hunt at a museum or zoo. Check online and make a list of the exhibits or animals you will see. Have your child try to locate each animal or item on the list.
- Make up a family trivia game. Gather the family for some competitive fun with a family trivia game. Pop up some Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn. The smell will draw the family together and get them excited to play! Write questions on the front of index cards and answers on the back. Stack the cards and let members take turns drawing. If the question is answered correctly, the player keeps the card.
- Help your kids make a “volcano.” Mound dirt 6 to 10 inches high, then clear a hole down the middle of it. Put two teaspoons baking soda in the hole. Pour in some vinegar and watch your “eruption.”
- Watch the stars. Lie on a blanket in the backyard with an astronomy chart and flashlight.
- Plan your snacks in advance. Bring snacks to the park instead of buying expensive concessions—Home-packed bags of Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn are ideal.
- Have a Hula-Hoop contest. Use a stopwatch to see who can keep the hoop spinning the longest.
Enjoy a family watercolor night. Have each person paints his or her favorite vacation spot or place the family has gone on an outing.- Have a contest for the craziest cap creation. Decorate old baseball caps by gluing on beads, ribbons, sequins, feathers, fabric scraps, pipe cleaners, buttons, artificial flowers, or anything else on hand.
- Change the location. Instead of expensive private tennis lessons, look into city or county courts that often offer free instruction for kids. And this year, try a road trip to a nearby state rather than summer flights.
- Making the most of family meals: Dining in is in the new dining out this year. Re-create family restaurant favorites such as Italian pasta dishes or hamburgers with everyone’s help.
The Upside to the Economy—Families Come Together This Summer
June 9, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · Leave a Comment
Quality time at home has emerged as a major silver lining in today’s economic picture. In fact, families are cutting back on out of the home occasions, with 58 percent of Americans citing that they are dining out less and 53 percent spending less on vacations. This gives Mom the chance again to focus on the true joys that have knit families together for generations, says Kathy Peel, “America’s Family Manager.”
Peel finds that even if finances really get tight, submitting to a “survival mode” mindset can rob the family of life’s joys. “Don’t let that happen! Scale down and make adjustments, but don’t eliminate fun—it’s an absolute necessity for family health.” Creating simple occasions at home like spending the night playing games over a bowl of popcorn is a great way to reconnect and bring the family together.
Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn has been uniting families for more than 40 years and partnered with Peel to share ideas that are both fun and frugal. “Quality family-fun time doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated—we’ve all seen the tot who plays more with the box than the toy,” Peel says.
Through her 20 books, Family Manager website, blog and frequent appearances, Peel helps Mom simplify the home and create a strong family team. “Many parents say that although tighter budgets are painful, the upside is an opportunity to change spending routines that had gotten out of hand,” she says. “Instead of finding joy in splurging, they’re finding joy in spending more time with family and creatively solving how to stretch resources.”
Kathy encourages Mom and Dad to start the summer by holding a family meeting, and discuss the budget so children will have realistic expectations. The aroma and taste of snacks like Orville Redenbacher’s help bring the family together for this meeting. After that, it’s discovery time! Make a list of resources in the home. Look in closets—do you have games, cards, musical instruments, art or craft supplies, hobby or sports gear? Most families have forgotten about the many things they have squirreled away. Make another list of resources in your community—parks, farmers markets, museums, the zoo. Then brainstorm with the family about things you can do if you have 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, a half day, a whole day, or a weekend. It’s remarkable how quickly your time will fill up.
Don’t let budget get you down. These inexpensive options will make for family fun and many memories this summer.
Photo by Kenny Moller and used with permission from Flickr.
#GNO Recap—Family Activities for a Summer Full of Fun
June 9, 2009 by Anna Gonzales · Leave a Comment
#GNO’S SUMMER FAMILY GUIDE
Compiled by tweets from Tuesday night’s (6.9.09) #gno chat hosted on Twitter. #GNO stands for Girl’s Night Out!
Remember, “studies show family makes a huge difference in kids soc/emo/intell well-being.” – @kathypeel
You can get free summer planning forms and ideas here: http://tinyurl.com/mkdtxe
ACTIVITIES
@MomItForward: Fav at-home activities involve things like baking, telling stories, playing the piano, watching movies, playing games, etc.
@alyandrea: At the risk of being called a dork, we bust out the disco lights and fog machine for Disco night at our house. Bust a move.
@jyl_MomIF: You know what I love to do with my kids? Build Thomas the Tank Engine tracks. I could do it for hours! 
@alyandrea: Sock fights- every pair of socks in the house are fair game for launching. Then find ‘em stashed in the couch later.
@ConnieFoggles: we love making a tent in our house and playing camping out!
@waystosave: Anoter family time idea: at the end of the day pile up on couch and tell highlights about your day
@startupprincess: my master’s thesis was on pretend play and parenting for preschool aged children love it
@amndaj: I have a plan to just give my kids a bucket full of recycled stuff and see what they do!
MAKE READING FUN
@waystosave: My oldest LOVES to read so we all read the same book then talk about it every chapter. Our likes, dislikes, etc
@myinsanity: Trying to keep up a summer tradition from childhood. Mom would read to us each day after lunch (Narnia, LittleHouse series, etc.)
@HostessTori: We are starting a family movie journal- after movie night each person writes their review (or draws, lol)
@harmonyf: mobistories.com ebooks for kids. it reads them the stories with pictures etc. You’ll have to check it out!!
TIPS
@startupprincess: I think that if you plan ideas with your kids then they’ll be more excited to participate
@kathypeel: 1Decide w/spouse to have a non-optional fam time X times a week. If kids don’t cooperate, see http://tinyurl.com/nrgcnt
@inevergrewup: Growing up we would have a family meeting where we would “vote” together on what we wanted to do as a fam
@leecg: we do family meetings once/week and everyone says something they appreciate about everyone else. even the 2 yr old does it!
@chiccraftychick: We are starting family time early with our boys so they will be used to it as they get older
@GoodNCrazy: make sure they know it’s just normal for your family to spend time together, we go bowling, YES all of us, all the time…
OUTSIDE GAMES/ IDEAS
@kathypeel: also at night spread quilts/get astronomy books/flashlight to read it look for constellations w/your child.
@denisermt: We usually go for walks together.
@startupprincess: another fun idea is to let your kids decorate their bikes/scooters/etc with streamers, balloons, etc and have a parade
@EllieFunt: http://bit.ly/IzBiv Glow in the dark rocks
@NTFFC: We love to garden and look under rocks for bugs!
@MobiMom: This summer we’re adding outdoor movie watching to our “Fiesta Friday” events.
@inevergrewup: My little girl is a future photographer, we go on “photography walks” almost every week! She just loves it
@MarieLeBaron: backyard races! Or Croquet!!! Anyone play croquet? I love it
@makeandtakes: Both. But here’s a fun recipe 4 bubbles I just posted: http://bit.ly/16Muqq
@nancy_martira: Ooh, that reminds me. The highlight of summer every year was going strawberry picking at the local berry patch!
@mrscrumley: have you ever tried light painting with the glow sticks or bracelets? big hit when we were camping. need camera too.
@MobiMom: Night games are great. We put those snap-glow bracelets on the little ones so we can find them easier.
THEME NIGHTS
@ginarau: I try to do “theme” weeks too. Visit the zoo, read about the animals, play a game or other activites. It’s a lot of work.
@startupprincess: every week we’re doing a theme, this week it’s amphibians and reptiles got books about them, natural history museum #gno
@BarbaraJones: I think having family game nights with no ‘electronics’ aloud is a good idea—makes u unplug and interact
@chiccraftychick: We also do You Tube nights and watch videos.
@banteringblonde: We are having a media free week and I LOVE IT… they are so much more peaceful
@AWelbaum: Oh wow! I am loving this idea of a diff country every month, we may have to try this
@AWelbaum: RACE CAR night!
@ADramaticMommy: Pool tournaments
@inevergrewup: You have to see what we did for Thailand http://bit.ly/12LsnA
BLOCK PARTY IDEAS & TIPS
@cheekyandswank: At another street party we all pitched in $20 and rented a big bounce house 4 the night and had a BBQ. Kids loved it.
@NewspaperGrl: new neighborhood has fun parties too. Cookie walk. Everyone bring cookies to share, have one place set up with umbrella, drinks.
@MobiMom: I agree! We have weekly fiestas in summer – multi family fun time.Firepit, BBQ, fireflies, flashlite tag… #gno #orville
@ginarau: Block party fun: ice cream socials, potluck picnics #gno
POPCORN RECIPES
@sthrnfairytale: garlic and butter popcorn mixed with pretzel sticks, skittles and drizzled chocolate.. just sayin’
@nancy_martira: Went to a hip NYC movie theater last month and they had lemon juice to pour over our popcorn. Surprisingly good!
@rockandrollmama: Oooh-about the popcorn-REAL parmesan cheese, grated fine, lil olive oil, and lemon pepper. MMM.
@emihill: My favorite popcorn is the kind my girlfriend makes w/ Golden Grahams, marshmallows, chocolate…s’mores popcorn. I eat the whole bag!
@sthrnfairytale: for kids: popcorn balls mix w/ sugar and melted marshmallows drizzle with melted choc mixed with cinnamon/sugar and dash nutmeg
@GenaMazzeo: Another good popcorn combo? Peanut Butter. I’ll admit, it’s often lunch in my busy world!
@redsolediaryjen: yeah, melted marshmellow/butter, peanuts, gumdrops and of course popcorn. mold into angle food pan. cut in slices. miss it
@suebearchicago: anyone every try homemade curry popocorn? it’s amazing and so easy. pop a bag of #Orville and add curry powder. shake it up! yumm!
@redsolediaryjen: my mom always made popcorn cake for my birthday. it was one big popcorn ball with peanuts and gumdrops. loved it!
@ConnieFoggles: in the winter try floating Orville buttered popcorn in tomato soup. Friend told me about it. Kids love it.
@ConnieFoggles: this may sound weird but I promise its good. Orville lite buttered/grated cheese/salsa. nuke for 30secs. Love popcorn nachos
@goodiesformom: Popcorn and M&Ms I would have never thought of that! sounds yummy
@makeandtakes: Okay, the best is plain popcorn covered in white chocolate, and tossed with m&ms!!! Sooooo good!
@AWelbaum: Try mixing in marshmallows, chocolate chips, and grahm cracker pieces
This photo and this photo used with permission from Flickr. The top photo used with permission from Brooke Johnson.
Make a Difference at Home by Focusing on Your Family This Week!
June 7, 2009 by jyl johnson pattee · 30 Comments
Make a meaningful difference this summer by taking the Summer of Service (SOS) Challenge. Here’s how:
- Commit to do one act of kindness each week based on the week’s challenge.
- Leave a comment with ideas relating to the week’s challenge as well as your experience(s) performing it.
- Grab the SOS button at the bottom of this post and put it on your blog or social networking site.
- Enter to win each week’s giveaway. Check out this week’s family focused giveaway by clicking here.
- Join #gno to connect with other Mom It Forward moms about the challenge. (Note: 10 lucky winners will receive popcorn gift packs during #gno!)
10 Ways to Make a Difference This Week
Here are 10 ideas to help you Focus on Family that will make a meaningful difference this week!
- Choose your favorite games and set aside an hour to play them together as a family.
- Enjoy mealtime together, having each person take a turn sharing about his or her favorite part of the day.
- Have a talent show where each person in the family is encouraged to participate. Talents can include simple things like doing a karate kick, juggling, or telling a story to more complex things like playing a musical instrument, reciting a poem, or performing a dance number.
As a family, write a letter or send a package to a family member that lives far away, expressing your love and gratitude for that person.- Decide on your favorite at-home family activity and plan some time this week to do it. For one extra step, assign each family member a day of the week and allow him or her to choose which family activity to do. Set aside an hour to Focus on Family each day this week.
- Make a treat together as a family and share it with a neighbor or other relative.
- Create a CD with all your favorite family songs. Listen, sing, and dance to them together.
- Choose a favorite family movie and set a time this week to have a family movie night. Don’t forget your Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn! Mmmmm!
- Come up with a family mission statement. Identify your family goals and short- and long-term goals. Remember to include fun stuff in your plans like vacations, at-home family activities, etc.
- Make time every day this week to spend one-on-one time with each of your children, telling them how much you love them. Do the same with your spouse!
This week’s SOS Challenge is sponsored by Orville Redenbacher’s. What other ideas do you have for Focusing on Family? Please share a comment here, letting us know how Focusing on Family has made a meaningful difference for you and your family this week.
Photo used with permission from Flickr.
Giveaway—Win a Popcorn Gift Pack for the Perfect Family Night In!
June 7, 2009 by Jyl Johnson Pattee · 30 Comments
Orville Redenbacher’s understands that quality family time at home is made better with a big bowl of popcorn. And, to help Mom It Forward moms meet this week’s Summer of Service (SOS) Challenge to Focus on Family, Orville Redenbacher’s is giving away coupons for popcorn to Mom It Forward’s #gno community as well as awarding a total of 20 lucky winners some great gifts—four winners on this site, six winners on participating mom blogger’s sites, and 10 winners Tuesday, June 9 during #gno (click here to join the party and win).
Enter to win this week’s giveaway here by reading the rules for entry below. You can also enter at these terrific parenting blogs: Make and Takes and I Never Grew Up.
Giveaway Prizes
Four lucky winners from this site will be randomly selected to win a gift package, including:
- A popcorn bowl
- Three boxes of Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn
- Kathy Peel’s most recent book, The Busy Mom’s Guide to a Happy, Organized Home
Entry Requirements
To enter to win, you are required to do the following four things:
- Take this week’s SOS Challenge to Focus on Family by completing one of the post’s 10 suggestions or by performing one random act of kindness that fits within this week’s theme.
- Share your experience by leaving a comment on that post.
- Tweet about this giveaway sponsored by Orville Redenbacher, including this link: http://momitforward.com/giveaway%E2%80%94win-a-popcorn-gift-pack-for-the-perfect-family-night-in.
- Leave a comment on this post by Sunday, June 14 at midnight EDT, including your e-mail address and information about your extra entries, if applicable.
To receive extra entries (for a total of five extra entries):
- Click here to join the Mom It Forward Facebook group.
- Post about this giveaway on your Facebook wall.
- (For 3 extra entries!) Join and post a picture of your favorite family activity to the Mom It Forward Flickr group.
In the event that you do not win a giveaway, Orville Redenbacher’s would still like you to enjoy family fun with a big bowl of popcorn. Click here to download this coupon for a box of Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn.
The Fine Print
You may enter in all giveaways, but you may only win once. No purchase necessary to enter this giveaway. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. ConAgra employees and Mom It Forward, Make and Takes, and I Never Grew Up family members are ineligible to participate. All entries received after Sunday, June 14 at midnight EDT will not be considered. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered.
