7 Ways Moms Can Plan an Awesome Staycation This Spring Break

Kids count down the weeks till their end of February or spring break, but for moms it usually means a full week of keeping the kids occupied, and sometimes that can prove to be a challenge, especially if you are living in a cold climate. Some families take this week to plan a trip, but not all parents can get that time off. So if you are planning a Staycation for you and your kids, there are still some fun activities for the whole family to enjoy to make spring break a fun time for everyone (yes, even you!).  

1. Video Game Olympics 

If your family has a game console and your children like video games then you can turn this into a really fun activity for the whole family. Pick a game that everyone can easily learn (like Mario Kart or Wii Bowling) and host an olympics to get everyone involved. Pick teams or play individually- it’s up to you! To motivate all the players, give a little prize to the winner of each category. You can even set up snack stations with gatorade, protein bars and fruit to make it feel more real! 

2. A Themed Movie Marathon

Pick a theme for the day like animated movies, alien movies, or super hero movies and then have everyone vote on the ones they want to watch. Then, deck out the TV room to look like the best movie theater ever- blankets, pillows, dim lighting, popcorn, juice, and maybe even some candy. And of course, all the attendees can wear their comfiest pajama set.

3. Organize a Scavenger Hunt

Who doesn’t love a scavenger hunt? No matter how old your kids are, it is sure to bring out their competitive side! You and your spouse or your other mom friends can work together to make clues, maps, and put together some treats for them to find. Let your creative side come out when you’re writing the clues, they can be puzzles, riddles, or even poems. If you want to make a learning experience out of it, you could even make them simple math problems or history questions. 

4. Family Cook-Off

If your kids have shown an interest in cooking, or would like to learn, spring break is a great time to start. Have every member of the family choose a dinner or dessert item they would like to prepare. Then give each person a budget and go grocery shopping as a family to pick everything out. To make it even more fun, let the kids pick out a fun apron of chef hat to wear while they prepare their masterpieces. After all the cooking is done, sit down as a family to enjoy everyone’s creations.

5. Go Camping in Your Own Backyard

If the weather permits, pitch a tent in your backyard and have a camp night. To make it feel more real, roast marshmallows and sit in a circle telling ghost stories. If the weather is still too cold, just take the camping to your living room.

6. Turn Your Home into a Foreign Country or City

This requires some planning ahead of time, but if you can’t travel anywhere for spring break this year- bring the destination to your own home! Have the family vote on a city they would like to go to, like Paris or Tokyo, and then transform your home into that city for a day. Put up some fun decorations, read stories from or about that particular place, watch movies that take place there, and make your meals with traditional meals from that culture. Maybe even learn a few words in their language. This activity is not only a ton of fun, but it can also become a great way to teach your children more about other cultures. 

7. Play Tourist in Your Own Town

Take this week to visit all of the places in your town or city that you have been meaning to but have never had the time for, like that cute little museum, art gallery, or neighborhood park you have never gotten the chance to take the kids to. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

3 Moms Make a Parody of Taylor Swift's 'Blank Space' and the Results are Amazing

The women of What's Up Moms turned Taylor Swift's hit "Blank Space" into a hilarious parody just for moms. With their new lyrics they preach about lack of sleep, play dates, watching Frozen for the millionth time, chores, their Starbucks addictions and more but all with a humor that every mom can relate to. The women behind the video, Brooke, Meg, and Elle, are real-life moms who write, direct, and produce their own weekly web series celebrating and laughing through the daily struggles and triumphs of parenthood. Whether you are a stay at home or working mom, you'll be able to laugh at and relate to this Mom-ified take on T. Swift's hit.

Click below to watch What's Up Moms Parody of Blank Space:

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

15 Hilariously Adorable Examples of Dads Doing Fatherhood the Right Way

No parent is perfect, and everyone knows that parenthood is not easy- but these dads sure do make it look cute! One of the key components of being a great parent (and for staying sane) is to keep your sense of humor, and these fathers have definitely got that down pat. Below are 15 examples of guys who are "winning at fatherhood".

#1. The Dad who turned his child's wheelchair into the best Halloween costume ever

#2.The Dad who knows every Superhero needs her sidekick

#3.The Dad who knows not to move when the baby is finally asleep

#4. The Dad who knows what it takes for the perfect shot

#5. The Dad who knows how serious tea time is

#6. This Dad.

#7. The Dad who brings Mario Kart to life

#8. The Dad who knows how to relax

 

#9. The Dad kids look up to

#10. The Dad who lets her be the wolf

#11. The Dad who brings her along

#12. The Dad who doesn't mind a pedicure

#13.The Dad who makes lunch a superhero adventure

#14.The Dad who lets her be his stylist for the day

#15. The Dad who knows how to drop a not-so-subtle hint

Learn more about the award-winning Fujimini Adventure series.  Purchase the books here

Even In Death, Man's Gesture to His Wife Shows Us True Meaning of Valentine's Day

It becomes very difficult to feel negatively about Valentine’s Day after hearing this beautiful story. Even in death, a Wyoming man shows the world the true spirit and meaning of the holiday. 

Shelly Golay of Casper, Wyoming was shocked to received a large bouquet of flowers two days before Valentine’s Day this year. She assumed they were from her children, seeing as her husband, Jim Golay, passed away this past July. But then when she saw the note attached to the flowers she became very emotional and contacted the flower shop to tell them there had been a mistake. 

Shelly was stunned when the manager of the flower shop informed her that no mistake had been made, but before his death Jim had arranged for a bouquet of flowers to be delivered to Shelly every year for Valentine’s Day for the rest of her life.

Jim was diagnosed with a brain tumor last winter and tragically passed away in July. His heartwarming and moving gesture demonstrates love in its truest form and what Valentine’s Day is all about.

The note read: “Stay strong! Yours forever, Love Jim”

Click below to hear the full story and watch the emotional clip:

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Why Valentine’s Day Is Not Just a Holiday For Couples

Ever since February rolled around, every social media platform I am on (especially Facebook) has been filled with negativity and complaints about the upcoming holiday- Valentine’s Day. My newsfeed has been flooded with statuses about how much February 14th sucks and how the holiday just serves to remind people of how single they are. 

So first things first, no holiday should be given the power to make you feel “alone forever”! Your identity and worth is not measured by your relationship status. Secondly, I think it is important that we take a step back from all the cheese that can come with this “day of romance” and focus on what the holiday is actually all about- love. And need I remind you, there are forms of love other than the romantic love that comes with a relationship. Love is something you share with your parents, siblings, extended family, and close friends! Valentine's Day is a day for ALL of your relationships, not just any romantic ones.The purpose of Valentine’s Day is to show the important people in your life just how much they mean to you, and that is something that everyone can be a part of. 

In recent years, Valentine’s Day has been swallowed up by all the of the media and commercialization- advertising all the gifts you should buy, places you should go, and money you should spend on this day to make it special- adding pressure to couples to not disappoint and expectations they feel they need to meet. This reality has made it so even many people in a relationship have come to hate the holiday too. But despite what the Jewelry store commercial on TV is telling you, there are a lot of ways you can make this day fun and special without emptying your wallet OR disappointing your significant other. Save cramming a reservation in at a fancy restaurant and make a nice dinner for two at home, for example. To avoid any disappointments, just communicate with your significant other about how much celebrating you’re wanting or expecting. If you’re a couple who likes to go all out and indulge in the cheesier aspects of the holiday- go for it! If you prefer a simple acknowledgement and maybe a card, that’s fine too. Just make sure you’re vocal about it, remember your partner isn’t a mind reader!

And for our singles out there, stop being so pessimistic! Being a complainer on Valentine’s Day is almost as bad as being a flaunter. If you are between relationships or just looking for the right person, your time will come. Valentine’s Day happens every year, so if you aren’t getting roses this year, there is always next year, or the year after that. Not being in a committed relationship of some sort on this one particular day shouldn’t make you feel torturously alone in the world. Contrary to popular belief, Valentine’s Day wasn’t made to hate on the singles! Historically, it has actually been FOR singles, to participate in various traditions to increase their chances of finding love in the near future. So get a bottle of wine, order a pizza, rent some cool movies and call up all your friends. Personally, those are some of the best Valentine’s Days I’ve had. 

By Aidan Metzger

 ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

10 Gifts Your Significant Other Actually Wants This Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to showing the people you love how much they mean to you, but after a few years getting creative can get tough. Bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolate are nice and all but sometimes mixing it up is the best way to say “I love you” to that special someone. So after asking around and doing a little research, ONCEKids has come up with a list of 10 gift ideas that people ACTUALLY want this Valentine’s Day. So if you are struggling to come up with some last minute ideas other than the go to chocolate and flowers, look no further! 

1. A homemade dinner

Skip the reservations and long waits this year and keep dinner close to home. A candle lit dinner is romantic no matter how many Valentine’s days you and your significant other have celebrated together, but add the effort and comfort of a home cooked meal and it will be sure to be a memorable night.

2. A Handmade Card

Hallmark has some fantastic cards, don’t get me wrong, and what card you pick out does say a lot- but to some what might say more is a card made exclusively by you with a handpicked poem and message in your words, not someone else’s. Even if you aren’t good with your words, in this case it is definitely the thought that counts.

3. Wine

One of the best ways to wine someone’s heart (or keep it) is with a bottle of their favorite wine. Cause who doesn’t love wine? Especially for our mothers out there. 

4. A Mixtape or CD

Yes, it is 2015, a time of iTunes and Pandora, but there is still something romantic about the old school mixtape or CD filled with their favorite tunes or songs that remind you of them. 

5. A Spa Day

If your loved one has been super stressed out lately, giving them a gift certificate to a day at the spa or a professional massage will make their week (maybe even their month). 

6. A Day of Outdoor Fun

Depending on the weather in your area, this can mean a day hitting the slopes or a hiking adventure. There is nothing to get the romance going like a day among nature, free from technology and distractions.

 7. A Movie Night

If you or your significant other are not huge fans of the outdoors, or its just too darn cold, spend this Valentine’s Day indoors by a fire with popcorn, pajamas, and your favorite movies. 

8. A collection of books in their favorite genre

One of life’s greatest pleasures is to curl up with a great novel, it is also a great way to relax, so this gift is definitely one for the books (pun intended).

9. A Super Comfy Pajama set

One of the great things about the winter season is being able to stay warm with some super comfy pajamas, so give the special person in your life the ultimate winter treat with a nice, flannel pajama set to keep them warm during the cold winter nights.

10. Movie tickets

With all of the amazing movies coming out lately, there has to be at least one you and your partner have been dying to see. So cross one off your list this Valentine’s day by surprising them with a movie night out to the movie they can’t stop talking about.

Do something a little different this year to make the one you love feel special without breaking the bank!

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart Bring Down the House on Jimmy Fallon's 'The Tonight Show' with their Epic Lip-Syncing Battle

On Sunday night Jimmy Fallon hosted his talk show, The Tonight Show, from Phoenix in honor of the Superbowl. Making this Superbowl special even more epic were his two hilarious guests featured on the show; Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell. The two well-known comedians were promoting their upcoming film "Get Hard", but ended the show with a lip-syncing contest to end all lip syncing contests. Although many people were probably too distracted by the Patriot's Sunday night victory to know the epic battle that was taking place on The Tonight Show, almost everyone has heard about it since. Will Ferrell's hysterical opening of Beyonce's "Drunk In Love" has caught almost everyone's attention, being shared over almost every social media platform. In the last two days alone, the video of the full contest has received over 20 million views and counting!

Click below to watch the video that has everyone's attention:

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

10 Facts About Valentine's Day You Probably Didn't Know

Valentine’s Day is celebrated across the United States, as well as other parts of the world, to show love and affection for those you care about most, whether it is friends, family, or a significant other. Love it or hate it, everyone has heard of the day dedicated to love and romance. And whether they participate or actively rebel against it, most people have heard of the common traditions- giving chocolates and flowers, buying romantic cards, going out to dinner and so on. However, many of us (myself included) don’t actually know where those “cheesy” traditions came from, or much else about Valentine’s Day besides what they briefly teach you in elementary school about St. Valentine. Long before 1537 when King Henry VII declared February the 14th the official holiday of St. Valentine, people had ways of celebrating love and romance on this day, some of which date all the way back to the ancient Romans. 

1. Every February 14th, the ancient Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia to honor Juno. In addition to being the queen of the Roman gods and goddesses, Juno was also the goddess of women and marriage. 

2. During medieval times, single girls ate strange foods on February 14th in hopes of making them dream of their future husband.

3. During the Middle Ages, before the arrival of February 14th, young women and men drew names from a bowl to determine who would be their Valentine. The name would then be pinned on to their sleeve for all to see, thus creating the expression “to wear your heart on your sleeve.”

4. In the 1800s, many Physicians would advise their heartbroken patients to eat chocolates to ease their sadness for their love lost. 

5. The red rose was the favored flower of the Roman goddess of love, Venus. 

6. 189 million rose are sold in the United States on Valentine’s Day.

7. 15% of women in the U.S. send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day.

8. A love knot is a symbol of undying love, due to its twisting loops that have no beginning or end. In the past they were either created from ribbon or drawn on paper as a way of proven one’s eternal love for another person.

9. Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s lovers, lived in the Italian city of Verona and every Valentine’s Day, the city receives over 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet. 

10. Traditionally, teachers receive more Valentine’s Day cards than anyone else, followed by children, mothers, wives, then significant others.

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books