Plum Community, Recipes
Family-Friendly Super Bowl Party
Throw a Super Bowl Party this Sunday that even the kids will love
February 2nd, 2013 | 6:32 AM
The Super Bowl is usually geared toward the grown ups (well, really for Dad) – beer commercials, party snacks that pair well with adult beverages, and musical entertainment at halftime from artists your kids don’t listen to.
Whether your household goes all out for Sunday’s big game and invites the entire neighborhood family and friends, it’s a fun afternoon that includes overindulging in snacks, beer and shouts to the television screen.
When you have younger children, this kind of Super Bowl party can get a little crazy during such animation from friends.
My solution for creating a family-friendly Super Bowl party is to create a special party strictly for kids. Along with a neighbor’s teenage daughter to help watch over, the kids-only Super Bowl party can easily be hosted in a spare room, play room, or even outdoors (weather permitting). Now I get to hang out with the adults knowing that the little ones are taken care of and happy.
Here’s the basic Kids Super Bowl Party Plan:
- Pick up or borrow a few card tables that you can cover with fun Super Bowl football plastic table covers. I found plastic table covers with team colors at Party City. I used one table to display the food and the other as a place to eat, play, color or create a puzzle.
- Make fun finger sandwiches, cut up fresh fruit they can eat with their hands and pop a little popcorn. All things that don’t stain or smear too much.
- Mid-way into the fun, have the babysitter bring in “Super Bowl treat bags” that can be made the night before. This is super fun because your kids can help with the preparation and then help hand them out. The Super Bowl treat bagsincluded little packs of fruit gummies, assorted non-melting candy and pretzels.
I loved decorating the house and the playroom with the teams colors and mascots. The kids loved it too and it made for a really fun Super Bowl Sunday!
Written by Karista Bennett, a private chef, food writer and mom to two sassy girls.
{image via Parents Magazine}
Plum Community
Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him
Treat your Hubby to Fabulous Gifts this Valentine’s Day {That You’ll Appreciate Too}
February 1st, 2013 | 6:22 AM
Here’s a shocking secret: men are not that easy to shop for. No matter how long you’ve been with your man, the years don’t make it simpler when it comes to gifting – especially on Valentine’s Day.
Standard go-to’s like store certificates, golf balls, or neckties might have been sufficient in the past but it’s time to up the ante, ladies. Our men aren’t willing to accept the same old gift anymore. Spice up your Valentine’s Day routine with a few more zesty gift items for this romantic day, and celebrate the win all year long.
Grooming Supplies – The non-so-subtle hint that you want your guy to wash with more than just a bar of soap will pay off in the end if you get him something from one of the guy-cult grooming shops like The Art of Shaving. In the end it’s a win-win; you’ll finally get him using new bath products while gifting him something he’ll actually brag about to his friends.
Gourmet Meals – Your guy has been promising to help more in the kitchen for years, but you’ve stopped holding your breath. Set his big plans to fruition with a little meal-prep help that comes in the form of prepackaged, frozen pieces of heaven. Hungry Hunter frozen dinners are the thing of the ‘90s – today’s meal plans for busy weeknights often use local and organic produce to keep the entire family happy. You’ll get a great meal, and he’ll (finally) feel like he’s contributed.
Concert Tickets – You might hate his taste in football team, cargo pants and sports drinks but once upon a time you two bonded over great music. Find a band that takes you back to those pre-baby years for a night out, just the two of you. The best part about this Valentine’s Day gift is that it doesn’t have to come the day of celebrations – and you’ve got something to look forward to in the month ahead.
Power Tool (or something like that) – If your guy is handy around the home, there’s no better excuse to push him toward the next weekend project than with a Home Depot tool that’ll make it easier on him, and complete the job for me. Whether it’s a wrench, the latest power drill, saw or cordless tool it’ll immediately turn him on toward the next project. Better yet, have a little fun in the lumber yard (aka backyard) learning something new with a DIY project that you can do together.
Plum Community, Travel
Traveling with Kids: An Unconventional Birthday Celebration
What do you get when you take six adults and two kids, put them on a commuter train and head off to Boston for an adventure?
January 30th, 2013 | 5:57 AM
My husband and I take the commuter rail and then subway or bus to work, and my girls have always been infatuated with this form of transportation. The decision was unanimous to take our commute for a family day in the city, but only if their beloved Gaga would join in on the ride.
We are fortunate enough to live a mere two hours from my dad and stepmother, so when it came time to plan my dad’s 63rd birthday his request was simple: a day with his granddaughters. My daughters “Belly” and “Bear” were tasked with planning a birthday celebration worthy of their “Gaga.”
Despite a delay to our trip due to a poorly timed case of conjunctivitis (is there ever a good time?), we finally set out one blistering cold Saturday bound for the commuter rail station. Climbing up metal stairs to the commuter rail’s open bridge platform made for a blustery start, especially once the Amtrak train – that shares the commuter track – sped by. Both girls’ eyes widened to the size of saucers as they pondered exactly what they had gotten themselves into.
Belly, the oldest, has struggled with sensory processing disorder since birth so she was nervous about being on the train without seatbelts (my safety officer!), but Bear just smiled and stared the entire way. Thirty minutes later we arrived at South Station and made our way down the stairs to Boston’s Red Line so we could continue the trek to Harvard Square. Our destination: Boston’s The Curious George Store, the world’s only store dedicated to the curious little monkey who has enthralled my girls for as long as they can remember.
Once in the Curious George store, Belly decided she needed not one, but two, Curious George dolls (one Christmas, one birthday, fittingly enough) while Bear let all within earshot know she needed a new lunchbox because hers was “so old, Mommy.”No books requests. Much like the whirlwind in which we entered, our journey was complete. For those keeping track, after more than an hour commute we’d spend only 20 minutes in the store.
In total, the birthday celebration for Gaga lasted about six hours – half of which was spent aboard public transportation. Nonetheless, it couldn’t have been a better day or a more memorable one for all involved. Next up: traveling to New York to visit Aunt Stacey via Amtrak. Wish us luck!
Amanda Griffith is a wife to Patrick and mom to two young daughters, Belly and Bear (ages 5 and almost 4) and a one-year-old golden retriever Boden. When she’s not working as a PR professional she stays active chasing after her family and nurturing her not-so-secret addiction to Downton Abbey.
DIY
Kids Birthday Party Ideas for Winter
Cold, rainy weather doesn't have to ruin birthday celebrations with these fun, indoor children's party ideas!
January 25th, 2013 | 6:01 AM
Splashing in the pool, soaking up the sunshine and chowing down on barbecue are some pleasures that make kids’ summer birthday parties a breeze. But for those born any other time of the year, water parks are closed down, the air is a frigid temperature and soup partnered with cold medicine becomes a typical menu item. Don’t burn out on pizza and slumber parties, Mom. We’ve got winter-proof birthday party ideas that will not only be fun to attend, but fun to plan (any time of year)!
These cold weather friendly party ideas will keep the kiddos’ birthday spirits high, despite the conditions outside. Forget singing “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to“ another year - winter birthday parties will become something the kids will look forward to knowing you’ve got something new, innovative and exciting in the works!
A few of our favorite Girls’ Birthday Party ideas are chic, sassy and celebrate your little princess:
- Fancy Schmancy Tea Party: Invite guests to wear fancy hats and jewelry, or provide some costumes for dress-up and warm up with fruity tea or hot cocoa; serve mini sandwiches with your little lady’s favorites condiments and let your guests decorate cookies or cupcakes for dessert. Prefer to skip the mess? You can find elegant cupcakes from most bakeries.
- Pop Star Concert: If you aren’t near a local recording studio, send VIP rockstar invites with exclusive “Backstage Passes,” then make a playlist of her favorite songs to burn onto CDs for favors, set up a video camera and let them create their very own music video. Let them sing and dance to their heart’s content while the camera rolls and the tunes play, before decorating cupcakes with edible glitter – every pop star needs some sparkle!
Some of our favorite Boys’ Birthday Party ideas are playful, adventurous and celebrate your little dude:
- Indoor Campout: Let them build a fort with sheets and blankets. Send them on a scavenger hunt through the house for goodies and prizes, and improvise with a s’mores pie or cake. End the night telling stories and singing some tunes in front of the toasty fireplace!
- Science Laboratory: Turn your kitchen into a science lab with a couple science experiments of the birthday boy’s choice. Let each guest decorate their very own white lab coat, and decorate the house with bio-hazardous and radioactive signs. You can even find science kits that contain everything you need for an explosive party!
If you don’t have the space, time or energy to host at home, we love these indoor party ideas that you can find in any town or city:
- Head to the neighborhood ice rink or roller rink, lace up some skates, and take a few laps. It’s fun for all ages, and most venues offer party rooms and packages
- For younger birthdays, local children’s museums will offer fun, crafty and hands-on activities that will keep them busy and entertained for hours
- Bowling is great for all ages, especially alleys that offer bumper lanes and fun glow bowl nights where the evening is lit up with glow-in-the-dark balls and neon signs
- Head to the movies! With great, mom-approved flicks and awesome kids packs (or sneak in some of your own DIY treats!) send the kids to an entertainment center that’ll send their imaginations aglow
- The local library often has excellent entertainment on the weekends – from story time to reading circle – and for those inquisitive groups a storybook adventure might be right up their alley
- YMCA always offers affordable, indoor fun that can be built do meet your needs – with bouncy houses, pool time or active indoor play
{images: main image via nest, tea, s’mores}
Recipes
Easy Healthy Recipe: Sunrise Morning Cookies
Enjoy a Healthy Recipe for Nutritious, Protein-Packed Cookies for On-the-Go Daily Nutrition
January 22nd, 2013 | 6:00 AM
We all have those mornings where we just don’t seem to have enough time to sit down for breakfast. It’s important as Moms to start the morning with a nutritious, protein-rich meal. Finding the time to serve a healthy recipe that is equally simple enough to comprehend in the morning – especially when the school bus is out front or we’re rushing to catch a flight – these Sunrise Morning Cookies are the quick and healthy grab-and-go bite you’ve been looking for.
Snack on these Sunrise Morning cookies morning, afternoon or night for a delicious alternative to sugary processed food or store-bought sweets. Easy to prepare, these cookies are lightly sweetened and packed with healthy ingredients like pistachios, apricots, oats and flax seeds. Plus, there’s hemp seeds in there for that added dose of protein that will really help to jumpstart your morning routine. When a recipe is this easy to prepare, there’s no excuse for serving little ones anything but the best – prepare these cookies ahead of time (maybe on the weekend or late at night) and serve them up hot with a glass of milk.
Sunrise Morning Cookies {by Kristin Marciochi}
3 Tablespoons ground flax seed mixed into 9 Tablespoons room-temperature water
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 1/2 cups rolled oats (not instant)
1/2 cup vegan butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
3/4 cup coconut palm sugar (or golden brown sugar)
3/4 cup cane sugar
3/4 cup finely diced dried apricots
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 Tablespoon raw hemp seeds (optional)
1/2 cup shelled roasted pistachio nuts
1. Preheat you oven to 375 degrees.
2. Make your flax seeds and water. Set aside.
3. Mix all dry ingredients (from flour to oats). Set aside.
4. In a large stand mixer, blend vegan butter, coconut oil, and sugars on medium until mixture is lightly whipped and golden.
5. With mixer running on low, add 1 cup of dry ingredients at a time until all are incorporated.
6. Add in the dried fruits, hemp seeds and pistachio nuts just until incorporated.
7. Using two large spoons, scoop up about 2 – 3 Tablespoons of dough and form into a ball.
8. Flatten out slightly and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing cookies about 2 inches apart. Repeat until all the dough is used.
9. Bake for 17 minutes, or until golden on top. Allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before removing the cookies from the baking sheet.
Kristin Marciochi is a Washington-based teacher. She strives to make family meal time as easy, healthy, and enjoyable as possible and to keep nutritious cooking fun. Her blog, www.shelfishness.blog.com, focuses on vegetarian cooking, great books, and new music.
In The District
Healthy, On-The-Go Snacks
Beat hunger with these easy recipes!
January 18th, 2013 | 6:00 AM
Life as a busy mom becomes a lot more difficult when you’ve got hungry kids on your hands. Feed yourself and your family these tasty and wholesome, on-the-go snacks before crankiness and irritability kick in!
Baked Apple Chips (Recipe)
All you need is apples, a baking sheet, and an oven.
You can also dress them up with a sprinkling of cinnamon and/or sugar.
Breakfast Parfait (Recipe)
Use a plastic cup or a mason jar (if you need a lid), and prepare this the night before.
In the morning, all you have to do is add granola, or keep plastic baggies of granola on hand to go – and don’t forget a spoon!
Also:
If you’re interested in making your own granola, check out this recipe from Food Network chef, Alton Brown. It’s the most delicious, straightforward granola recipe we’ve tried.
You can’t go wrong with this one.
Combine your favorite nuts, dried fruits (even yogurt-covered raisins), and some pretzel bites, and you’ve got yourself a crowd-pleasing snack to keep everyone munching in silence.
Whole Wheat Spinach-Turkey Wrap
If you’ll be out and about during lunch time, prepare some of these ahead and wrap them up in foil!
Apply your favorite spread (mustard, hummus, pesto, etc), to a whole wheat tortilla, layer on turkey (or meat of choice), and add spinach, tomato, or your favorite veggies.
Show the kids how to peel back the foil as they eat for a mess-free car.
Celery and Peanut Butter Jar
If your kids love ants on a log, throw some raisins into the peanut butter!
Also try this with apples instead of celery — or combine veggie sticks with hummus.
Mini Snack Buffet
Imagine your kids’ expressions when you present them with this! Talk about snack heaven!
Grab an empty ice cube tray and load it up with a colorful array of nutrition.
Strawberry-Banana Smoothie (Recipe)
Serve this in a mason jar with a handle, and hit the road!
Try swapping out bananas and strawberries for other fruits, like frozen mango, peaches, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.
Butterfly Snack Bag
How cute is this?!
Fill up your butterfly bag with trail mix, blueberries, baby carrots, dried fruits, and your kids’ favorite snacks.
Check out Plum District’s Pinterest board to view all these on-the-go snacks, and more!
In The District
New Celebrity Moms at the 2013 Golden Globes
These new celebrity moms stand out on the Hollywood red carpet for this season's first awards show premiere - the Golden Globes 2013
January 15th, 2013 | 11:36 AM
Can we just talk about how new Moms rocked at this year’s Golden Globes celebration?
Claire Danes – who walked away with her second statue for her work on Homeland – popped out a son with husband Hugh Dancy just a month ago. Adele and Megan Fox both looked strong, slim and confident after giving birth too! We couldn’t be more impressed with all of these moms, who stunned on the red carpet wearing lace, a pop of red and serious bling.
We know it is part of their job to look amazing in front of the camera, but if you’ve just had a baby looking great doesn’t have to be out of reach. With great Plum District deals like yoga and gym membership (that includes childcare!) or Baby Boot Camp classes in San Francisco, there’s no excuses Mom! We know everyone has a resolution to loose that baby weight (you even said so on our Facebook page!), so why not get to the place where you can walk on your own version of the red carpet with confidence like the lovely ladies of Hollywood.
In The District
Health and Fitness Tips for Busy Moms
Time-saving and effective ways to stay in shape throughout the new year.
January 11th, 2013 | 9:32 AM
You may regret eating that cookie, but you won’t regret spending time on a good workout, Mom.
Getting your blood flowing and muscles working goes a long way: it prevents weight gain (or aids weight loss), combats health conditions and diseases, promotes quality sleep, boosts your energy, and improves your mood. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed or unhappy, dedicate a few minutes to moving your body!
If you don’t have one hour to work up a sweat, you’ve at least got 15 minutes – and a short workout is better than no workout.
We’ve put together some simple, time-saving, and effective tips to help you keep fitness a priority in the new year:
- Find out what motivates you: Whether it’s an upcoming reunion, a swimsuit you’ve got your eye one for summer, or the need to keep up with your active kiddos, figure out what it is that will get you moving, and keep it in mind.
- Pre-plan: Set yourself up for success! Each Sunday, make sure to schedule workouts on your calendar and stock up on plenty of healthy foods and on-the-go snacks (such as raw nuts, apples, carrots, and greek yogurt cups).
- Find a gym with childcare: And consider switching to another gym if yours doesn’t offer it. When your kids are in good hands (and nearby), you can focus your full attention on achieving your fitness goals.
- Work out at home: Who said house cleaning doesn’t qualify as working out? A good hour of scrubbing, sweeping, and polishing windows - at a brisk pace - is good for you. Put on your workout clothes and go at it! When you’re done, squeeze in this all-over body exercise for a complete workout.
- PLAY with Your Kids: Race them, be the tagger, and twirl them around in your arms. Your mind and body will thank you.
- Revisit four tried-and-true exercises: Squats, push-ups, lunges, and planks. Master these moves (in good form) and you’ll be able to squeeze in a quick, effective workout that targets all of your major muscles. Do back-to-back circuits in the morning before you shower – it’s a great way to energize for the day!
- Keep your workout bag with you: You never know when you’ll get a break in your busy schedule. Make it easy to hit the gym or outdoor trail when you want to and have time.
Once you’ve got a good workout routine, you’ll love the way you look and feel. Keep it up, and you’ll notice improved performance in other areas of your life, too. Here’s to a healthier, happier you in 2013!
In The District
Get Moving with a Motivational Workout Playlist
Starting a new exercise routine with the right motivational music is key to getting fit!
January 4th, 2013 | 6:20 AM
Whether you’re training for a marathon, pedaling to burn calories, or dancing to stay trim and toned, the perfect motivational workout playlist will keep your energy up to achieve your exercise resolutions! We all do it: workout goals at the beginning of the New Year fizzle after a few months. Avoid the landslide this year once and for all with music that will motivate your workout and keep a smile on your face regardless of your exercise of choice.
For the best motivational workout playlist, we recommend choosing songs with fast tempos and exciting beats. Starting and ending with a slightly slower song will help set the pace for a proper warm-up and cool-down. And a variety of music and genres will keep your mind active, so you can concentrate on the songs instead of side cramps (ouch!).
Workout playlists are useful for both solo and group exercise. Our very own District Consultant, Julie Schweers in Orange County said, “I love Shake Señora by Pitbull and T-Pain. When they play it at my Mommy Boot Camp, it just makes us smile, work harder, laugh, and makes us want to shake it!” One song that helps us get ready to break a sweat is “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons:
Find a Mommy fitness class in your neighborhood that’ll help you shake your booty with tons of deals for spinning, Pilates and fitness memberships!
Whenever it’s time to hit the gym or head to the latest fitness class, remember to keep your mobile gadgets charged and ready to blast your playlist. Plum District’s FixMENYC deal for an iPhone 5 Accessory Pack might just be your motivation ticket to kick that New Year’s resolution. Don’t wait: Plum District’s deal ends soon, and we know you’re ready to jumpstart your exercise routine with an awesome song mix!
And to avoid any further delay, we’ve built an hour-long motivational workout playlist with some of our favorite songs that get us moving and grooving! You can listen, download, and get motivated with songs and playlists on Spotify:
DIY, Plum Community
Family Friendly New Year’s Eve Party
Celebrate the New Year with family and friends with fun kid's party activities and adult-only beverages
December 28th, 2012 | 6:54 AM
Kids love making noise, staying up late, eating fatty foods and celebrating – so why wouldn’t they love New Year’s too? If it’s an event you’ve skipped out on because the kids were too small to understand or too young to stay up past midnight, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to share in an unbelievable experience with the whole family.
This New Year’s Eve, instead of skipping the hootenanny altogether or slipping out the door for an adult-only soiree, throw a bash that all ages can enjoy. We can bet there are a few parents in your same boat, so share the holiday with them too for the ultimate family friendly New Year’s Eve celebration.
Celebrate on Another Time Zone
If you’re lucky enough to live on the West Coast, there’s no harm in celebrating with Ryan Seacrest and New York at 9pm. But that isn’t the only time zone that celebrates a little earlier than the rest of us in the United States. Why not celebrate with the UK? If you’re based on the East Coast New Year’s in London is 6pm, meaning you can all clink glasses – whether they’re filled with champagne or sparkling cider – together.
Games, Food and More Games
Pull out all the stops for the kids, and for yourself, this New Years. Kid’s party activities can range from board games to fun DIY crafts, while you can throw in some adult-only games for family and friends once the kids are put down. Drinking games might seem obsolete but add it to the countdown and it’ll be worth every final minute.
Noise
Kids love to make noise, and most of the time you can’t stand it. Let them scream and shout with gusto through the help of New Year’s Eve party noisemakers that do all the talking for them. The afternoon can be spent crafting your very own party noisemakers for a family-friendly activity that will go well into the evening.
Tunes
Let them be the DJ. Kids will manage to stay up a bit longer, and get the dance floor moving and shaking, if they’ve got tunes they’ll love. Plus, you can turn up the good old oldies once their eyes start to flutter. And with their extra energy and dance moves around 9pm, you’ll be sure to see them snoozing within no time.
Photo Booth
Say cheese! No family friendly party with fun kids party activities would be complete without a photo booth. You don’t need to rent one to have a photography session, just clear out a closet near the living room and put your camera on auto-shoot. Add a few accessories from the kids’ costume closet to make a great addition to all the funny faces.
