Coast 2 Coast Mom

Star Wars Holiday

We decided to celebrate our own Star Wars holiday this last day of vacation (yes, I know it's Jan 2nd and not May 4th, or "May the Fourth Be With You" day). The Kiddo's been such a trooper throughout our travels, errands and home organization the past two weeks that we wanted to spend the day doing something special just for him.

We were inspired last night by his Star Wars pj's, and the fact that we hadn't yet watched Star Wars The Complete Saga, which would be phenomenal to watch on our new TV and Blu-Ray player. Besides, we were sick of catching the Star Wars movies on Spike and having to suffer through their low budget commercials.

We started the day with Star Wars character-shaped pancakes, using the William-Sonoma pancake molds that the Kiddo received last Christmas.Then when we were ready to slide the Blu-Ray disk into the player, the Kiddo ran for his Star Wars reference books:

TiVo "Rewarding" Recording with Toys for Tots Donation Campaign

I'm excited to share that your TiVo DVR will soon be "rewarding" your recording with an oh-so-easy way to be charitable this Christmas! TiVo will make a $1 donation to Toys for Tots for each individual recording of It's A Wonderful Life airing on NBC on Saturday, December 24th at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. It's A Wonderful Life was the most "TiVo'ed" holiday movie last year.

Just as “every time a bell rings, an angel gets their wings,” this holiday season every time a TiVo® DVR “Badoops,” a child in need is closer to receiving a new toy. . . .

Guess this means we'll be responsible for a $4 donation via TiVo this year. ;-) We'll have to set it before we head to the grandparents. Now if only they'd reward my GetGlue check-ins. ;-)

While you have TiVo on the brain, check out their holiday singing TiVograms. . . kinda cute! I already sent one to @c2cdad.

2011 Hess Toy Truck Available November 11th!

The 2011 Hess Toy Truck and Race Car set was unveiled today and will be available starting November 11th for $26.99 at Hess and Hess Express stores along the East Coast from Massachusetts to Florida through the holidays (or they run out of 'em - as we learned the hard way our first Christmas in New Jersey ;-) ). Woo-hoo! I was just thinking of the collectible Hess vehicles yesterday and wondering when they'd be available!

Here's this year's model:

Family Fun Experiments on The TODAY Show

Last week the Kiddo was invited to a special segment taping of the fourth hour of The TODAY Show with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb about clever science experiments for kids, as featured in Disney's Family Fun Magazine. It's airing today between the :20 minute and :40 minute mark of the hour when the show airs by you (here, it's from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.).

We totally enjoyed the excitement of waiting in the green room. The Kiddo joined Jen from The Next Kid Thing's son, and together they passed the time away watching Rio on her iPad, singing Justin Beiber songs and playing Angry Birds. They even got their hair styled in hair and make-up! They loved sitting in the chair and getting fussed over like the real rock stars. (Shaggy was there with his entourage.)

The segment features several fun and cool experiments that you can do at home. The Kiddo was doing a bubble experiment where you take a cone made of paper, dip it into bubble solution, blow a bubble and then take a straw, dip that into the bubble solution, then poke the straw through the big bubble and the bubble won't pop!

Although their time on camera will be a few fleeting seconds, what a cool experience for him hangin' like a rock star at The TODAY Show and 30 Rock. Thanks to Familly Fun for the terrific experiment ideas and for inviting the Kiddo to join for the taping!

Springtime Easter Cupcakes, Cookies and Treats to Bake

The Kiddo kicks off his spring break today with a half-day of school. I think I'll be more excited about his break in the coming years once he attends public school and his time off will align better with the local camps and activities offered. Unfortunately for us this year, the area NYC/NJ schools are all out this week for spring break and all of the camps and kiddie workshops are taking place now, leaving us to fend for ourselves next week while the Kiddo's off. So I've been saving crafts, recipes and places to visit for us to do next week when we have nothing scheduled. Unfortunately, that leaves us half of today and tomorrow to find something to do . . .so I've been rounding up some Easter cupcakes, cookies and treats for us to bake up!

Here's a few of the adorable springtime Easter treats we're eyeing to try:

1. Martha Stewart's Baby Bluebird Cupcakes
2. Making Memories' Easter Egg Hunt Cookies - the Kiddo would LOVE these, if only we can find the mini eggs in stores still. Reminds me of the peanut butter cup cookies we make this way!
3. Prudent Baby's No Bake Easter Nests - we went out and bought chow mein noodles just so we could make these!
4. The Farm Girl's Bunny Tail Rolls - these look cute for any springtime Sunday dinner.
5. Diddles & Dumpling's Peanut Butter Easter Eggs
6. Martha Stewart's Spring Chick Cupcakes - I've had this recipe in my cute kiddie desserts binder for ages, but haven't yet tried making them.
7. Disney's Family Fun Magazine's Easter Chick Cupcake - we've made these before, I think while we were living in Chicago, but i bet it was so long ago that the Kiddo doesn't even remember.
8. Martha Stewart's Lion and Lamb Cupcakes - we've made these before too!
9. The Party Animal Blog's Easter Animal Cupcakes - including these for inspiration and how-to instructions
10. The Diary of a Nouveau Soccer Mom's Easter Chickie Cupcakes - if all else fails, I know we have Chick Peeps in the house.

Let me know if you have any favorite springtime or Easter cookies, treats or cupcakes that you like to make with your kids, and we just may try 'em!

Kicking Off 25 Days of Christmas with ABC Family

The holiday season is filled with near daily opportunities to establish traditions and treasured moments for our kids. As Li'l Boo grows, I've been trying to make sure that we satisfy all of his senses with our holiday preparations, activities and celebrations to help instill the meaning and memories he'll develop for himself.

Beyond the lights, decorations and presents, I want him to remember the traditions and smells of the holidays: pumpkin pie, sugar cookie cut-outs and mulled apple cider scents wafting from the kitchen.

I remember watching holiday movies like Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas on TV once a year as a kid, as well as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman and of course the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. As I grew older, favorites like Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story and Elf entered the picture.

The past few years, I've gotten excited to see ABC Family's The 25 Days of Christmas programming schedule because it means that I'm sure to find the shows and movies that I grew up watching and want to become staples in my son's holiday memory bank. Check out their schedule to see if you can find an old favorite of yours coming up soon.

Sure enough, this Friday, ABCFamily's airing The Polar Express at 6 p.m. and again at 8:30 p.m. We'll be making a family movie night out of it with pizza, popcorn and hot cocoa and I can't wait. :-)

GIVEAWAY: Win The Hot Holiday Gift Kinect for Xbox 360!

I've pretty well documented my family's love for the new Kinect for Xbox 360 throughout the past year (here and here for instance). I've also found myself talking and sharing the Kinect experience with friends, neighbors and people around town everyday. So if you've been getting excited about it watching the commercials and hearing the news about Kinect for Xbox 360 being sold out of pre-orders and whatnot, I'm geeked about my news. Suffice it to say that if you're bummed that you haven't won one in one of the various contests and giveaway promotions across the web, or haven't yet won through Burger King's Kinect contest where they pick one winner every 15 minutes . . . or maybe you're just stressing out about how to buy THE hottest gift this holiday season?

Perhaps I can help you become the hero of your holiday celebration here at Coast to Coast Mom. Wha??? Yup.

Right. Here.

Microsoft Xbox has offered me an Xbox 360 with Kinect bundle for one of my readers/viewers! Starting right now, leave me a comment sharing what you're looking forward to doing with your friends and Kinect for Xbox 360, along the lines of:

·   Would you throw the Kinect Play Party to end all Kinect parties in your home? or
·   What games are you most looking forward to playing with your family and friends? or
·   Maybe you know what kind of food you'll serve when you have friends over to play? 

Just share your thoughts in the comment box below telling me what you're looking forward to doing if you win the Kinect for Xbox 360 bundle. You may want to check out Kinect on Facebook and "like" them for more ideas on how to host your own Kinect Play Party!

The prize consists of a newly designed 4GB Xbox 360, a Kinect sensor and a full-game disc of “Kinect Adventures," which is full of fun games for the whole family.

One entry per comment on this post, and a maximum of two entries per person during the contest period (That's right, I'm breaking my own Coast to Coast Mom rule and allowing everyone two chances to win!! Because I know a good party idea may strike you after you've already submitted your entry comment. ;-)). Contest ends Monday, December 13th at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) ET and I will choose the winner via Random.org by 12:30 p.m. ET Monday, December 13, 2010. Make sure to include your email address or blog/site URL so I have a way to contact the winner. I really can't wait to make someone's holiday!! GOOD LUCK!!!

 

 

Should you replace your Wii with Kinect for Xbox 360?

I've been asked by several friends with different gaming systems at home whether they should invest in Xbox 360 with Kinect this holiday season or stay with their Wii or Sony Playstation . Here's my general thoughts. . .

To recommend or not

Do I recommend my family members and friends purchase Kinect for Xbox 360? Yes. (So start watching for holiday deals! Oh, and I'll post my things to consider before buying it tomorrow. . .hang tight.) We've thought since we first heard about it during E3 2009 that it would likely be our "big family gift" for the holidays this year, and after several opportunities to try it throughout the year, we now know it. Microsoft Xbox sent me a Kinect for Xbox 360 and we've been playing it several times a week and streaming movies and catching up on football highlights and rankings every weekend. It's very, very cool.

Another "Spectacular" Rockettes Christmas Show At Radio City

Did you hear sleigh bells ringing last night? If you were at Radio City Music Hall, then yes. Yes you did. We were there opening night to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes for the second year in a row and it was just as magical and exciting as when we saw it for the first time last year.  As Lil' Boo put it as we walked out of the show, "It was like I was seeing some of it for the first time Mom."

There's just something magical about attending Radio City Music Hall for the celebrated holiday show. You can feel it in the air as you walk toward the legendary Music Hall and see the gigantic spotlights beckoning up and down 6th Avenue. It's easy to see how so many families and couples return to experience it year after year.

The Rockettes were spectacular as usual, all beauty and grace, and the energy and precision of their performance made the show incredibly fun. Li'l Boo was captivated for the full hour and a half show - even looking for some of the girls we've met before, while they were performing on stage. Many, many thanks to Madison Square Garden for inviting us to experience the magic of the show.

Tickets are on sale now, and the show runs all the way up to December 30th. AND, if you're heading in to see the show, stop in at the new Radio City Sweets & Gifts shop on 6th between 50th and 51st and check out the dear @achildgrows Facebook page for a 20% discount off of your purchases there!

 

 

GIVEAWAY: Dunkin' Donuts Halloween Bag O' Donuts

There's something about fall traditions that attract Dunkin' Donuts Munchkins like a magnet. Nearly every back-to-school open house, Halloween party, pumpkin patch visit or hayride we attend, and those li'l donut holes seem to be present.

Perhaps we're all searching to prolong the sugary and buttery goodness of the apple cider donuts from peach and apple picking trips. Or maybe because they go so well with all of the hot drinks of the season: hot mulled cider, coffee, tea, hot cocoa and such. Whatever the reason, we're among the masses who flock to Dunkin' Donuts this time of year.