Nanny to Mommy

What did you do this summer? I did a lot of disconnecting from the social media and just enjoyed being in the moment. It can sometimes be hard since social media basically is my job right now, but it was so good for my family to see me not behind a screen, but actually in the moment. We went to so many baby showers, birthday parties, and we enjoyed family night every weekend.

What do you do to enjoy time with your family? Movie night? Game Night? A&W is celebrating 100 years of sweet family memories by calling on its fans to create new ones. This summer, A&W Root Beer invites families to take the Pledge with A&W on www.rootbeer.com to go technology-free for 1 hour every Friday night this summer and enjoy family night the right way! The unique, creamy taste of A&W Root Beer is a simple treat that creates fun, care-free experiences for families and can help make any moment special.

Though it may seem like 2018 just began not too long ago, here we are already into the summer season! School is out, the kids are home, and that means there will be plenty of opportunities to spend time as a family. Here are some fun ideas that you can do at home as a family this summer!

The sun is shining, the backyard is freshly mowed, and something most associated with summer is always at your fingertips- the backyard barbecue. The 4th of July doesn’t have to be the only reason to fire up the grill in the summer, and even though it is easy to grab fast food on the way home the payoff of a homecooked meal outside on a nice weather day is a great family bonding experience. Let the kids get crafty beforehand and make their own fun, custom aprons for Dad to wear while cooking, for mom to use while tending to the garden, or for themselves!

I partnered with The Hopping Bloggers for this sponsored Holiday Gift Guide.

I have collaborated with The Hopping Bloggers to bring you a great list of gift ideas that the whole family will enjoy! This list not only includes products, but experiences and educational services as well. It also includes for grandparents as well as decorations too! Seriously this list has it all!

Pizza has always been a staple meal in our house. It is so easy and the whole family just loves it. I decided to make things extra special and do a make-your-own pizza night for everyone! I thought it would be something different and fun! My daughter has been wanting to start getting creative in the kitchen, so this was a great start for her.

We gathered our toppings: pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, peppers, pineapple, spinach, bacon, sauce, and ham. You could also add mushrooms, onions, chicken, ranch dressing, barbeque sauce, and so many more! That's why we love pizza in our house because the possibilities are endless! We used pre-made pizzas crusts from the store, but you could easily make your own pizza crusts!

Ovation Brands is hosting Family Game Night and you're Invited! The Ovation Brands® portfolio of restaurants, which includes: Old Country Buffet®, Ryan’s®, HomeTown® Buffet, and Country Buffet®, will be partnering with PlayMonster™ to make Family Night all about fun and games.


PlayMonster™ is a toy and game company that believes in the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Delivering great play value by designing, manufacturing and marketing quality products like the award-winning The Game of THINGS…®, 5 Second Rule®, Mirari®, Perplexus®, Yeti in My Spaghetti®, Stinky Pig™, Farkle, Chrono Bomb®, OK to Wake!®, Lauri®, Stratego®, Roominate™, and Wooly Willy® is how PlayMonster™ helps keep play alive for all ages.

Starting June 16, restaurants will offer popular PlayMonster™ games like Yeti in My Spaghetti® and Stack Attack® on Thursdays for eight weeks of family-friendly fun paired with educational activities.

Family Night takes place every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. The following are scheduled activities from June 16 through August 4, 2016.