Great TV happens when Dreamworks partners with Apple TV+ I am so excited to share with you that Doug Unplugs is premiering on Apple TV+. Based on the critically acclaimed children’s book by Dan Yaccarino, DreamWorks “ Doug Unplugs ” follows a curious six-year-old robot, Doug, as he ‘plugs in’ to learn new facts about the world every day. Sensing there’s more to life than just the facts, Doug journeys into the human world in search of experience. And to do that, Doug has to…unplug. With the help of his best friend, a human ball of energy, Emma, the two discover all the simple wonders of the world. Join Doug as he learns about the intersection of technology and humanity, and how they both keep us truly connected!  The series is ideal for preschoolers and early elementary kids.  Kids will enjoy the whimsical introduction of math and problem solving techniques with Doug and Emma.  I had the opportunity to chat with Dan, the creative mind behind the series, about his in...

Looking for an inexpensive family getaway?  Then a visit to a nearby state park may be the perfect getaway.  Visiting a state park is a great way to explore the rich vastness of landscape and history in your state and contribute to your state's economy.   Recently, my family and I visited Petit Jean State Park.  It's one of our favorite state parks.  The kids love the legend of Petit Jean.  Legend has it that a young girl was so in love that she disguised herself as a cabin boy so she could join her lover.  She was known as "Petit Jean" (French for Little John) due to her small stature.  She became sick during the travels and it was only then that her true identity was discovered.  Her illness got worse and she eventually died and was buried atop Petit Jean Mountain in Arkansas .  Besides the legend of Petit Jean the park is absolutely stunning with its cascading waterfalls, cliff side trails and native scenery.   The park...

I was planning to grill some steaks for dinner but the rain started just as I was about to fire up the grill. it's a little humid and I didn't want to turn on the oven. I heard about preparing steaks in the air fryer and figured why not give it a try.  Grilled steaks are one of my husband's favorite meals and since I didn't want to mess this up I only cooked one steak. The tester. You know the tester. That recipe you try but you’ve got a backup JUST IN CASE. Seriously if this didn’t work I was prepared to fire up the grill, stand in the rain and cook him the best steak ever.  I love cooking in my air fryer and since being in quarantine I've learn to cook several foods using my air fryer, mostly chicken and veggies but STEAK? Nope, never thought of that.  Cooking in the air fryer is quick and easy when it comes to fried foods but I never imagined you could cook a steak in it alone behold at the top of my air fryer there's a button an image of a steak and ...

It's been a while since our last Bedtime for Babies book review but  I received a request from a friend asking for a couple of book recommendations.  Then a request from another friend and another friend and then well I decided it maybe, just maybe it was time to revive the Bedtime for Babies spot on the blog.   Thanks to my friends at Kalaniot Books for the opportunity to share The Littlest Candle:  A Hanukkah Story by Rabbis Kerry and Jesse Olitzky.  The Littlest Candle  is a great read for new readers.  It's an uplifting story of Little Flicker, the littlest candle in the box and how he earns the right to be the shamash thanks to all his good deeds he's done for others.   The story is sweet but it's the end of the book that I think most will love.  The end of the book shares more about the history of Hanukkah and some Hanukkah traditions.  I struggled about reviewing this book given Hanukkah is a few months away but truth ...

Quarantine baking is the latest craze.  Cookies, cakes, pies, casseroles and breads are coming out of ovens everywhere. I have gotten bit by the baking bug too.  I'm hooked on cakes and breads and getting the kids in on the action too.  We still have a sourdough starter that a friend gave me right before our staff starting working from home.  Three months in and Susie Sourdough - yes, we named it - is still in the fridge and we feed it weekly.   Lately, I've been seeing a lot of people baking banana bread. Bananas are always on our grocery list.  Hubby snacks on frosted corn flakes and bananas pretty much every night before bedtime.  How he manages to stomach milk after 7 pm boggles my mind, but that's a story for another day. Let's talk about the difference between him ordering bananas from the grocery store and me ordering bananas from the grocery store.  When HE orders them he orders a lot.  Me, I typically order a bunch of about 5 or...

  2020 is shaping up to be the craziest year ever.  A lot of us had to jump into homeschooling quick, fast and in a hurry.  Transitioning from long days at the office to setting up a home office.  Learning creative ways to keeps the kids occupied as we took those conference calls.  I was doing just fine and until the day my brother started working from home and I immediately became the family Tech Wizard. I can laugh about it now but trust me helping someone set up a desktop computer and modem over the phone is definitely a test of patience. Trust me. The year has us rethinking some things, changing a few things and tweaking our daily routines but overall we're doing okay despite the fact that our Spring Break vacation was cancelled, our Summer vacation plans tossed and looks like our Fall travel plans are in jeopardy as well.  2020 is definitely teaching me that I am stronger than I ever knew I was.  A positive attitude is one of the things that is he...

Come Out & Play  BUT Remember   To   Practice Social Distancing COVID-19, Coronavirus, Da Rona, whatever you're calling it has definitely changed all of our lives.  Families are spending more and more time together.  My husband teases me saying I've spent more time in the backyard since March than I have in the entire 15 years we've lived in our home.  Sad thing is... he's right. We planted a garden.  It was kinda by chance.  I bought these seeds and this starter compost.  Put them near the kitchen and after about a week or so, I started noticing gnats in my kitchen.  I figured it was some of the fresh fruit gone bad.  Tossed the fruit. Wiped everything down.  Gnats were gone.  A few days later... the gnats returned.  FINALLY figured out it that I had this dirt near the kitchen and remembered "Oh, you were going to start gardening."   Seeds planted.  Watered.  Now we wait.  It'll be a fe...