Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in houston, TX

6 great "date night at home" DVDs releasing in June

May 26, 2009

There are some good movies releasing to DVD in June that would make great date night watches. These vary from romantic comedy to drama.

Renee Zellweger and Harry Connick, Jr. star in this movie about a high-powered executive from the big city (Zellweger) who gets sent to small town Minnesota to oversee restructure of her company's factory there.She finds a new purpose and romance (Connick).

A Village Affair

Based on a great book by one of my favorite authors (Joanne Trollope), this movie was made a while back, but you can catch the DVD release at the end of May. It's a rich story about a couple who moves to a small town, where each finds a new interest. Any synopsis will make it sound trite and selfishly silly (typical move spurs more change as the husband meets a woman who catches his eye, and his wife catches an eye too) but Trollope's tales are never so one-domesional or simple.

He's Just Not That Into You

Based on the popular book, the star-studded cast of this movie expores the themes of looking fo rlove, catching love, and quantifying relationships in a fresh and funyn way.

Revolutionary Road

A young couple--dynamic and interesting to those who know them--feel increasingly stifled in their lives after moving to a quaint house on the the edge of the Connecticut suburb. As each searches for a hole in the fabric, their dreams create conflict. The book was incredible and deep, the movie well-done and award-winning.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Sophie Kinsella's popular series about debt-ridden shopaholic Rebecca made a nice transition to the big screen, and now, it's coming to the small screen via DVD.  A cute romantic comedy about a women getting her priorities in order while juggling a shoipping addiction, new job and new romance makes a nice date night film.

Phoebe in Wonderland

Some of my favorite actors (Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Bill Pullman, Campbell Scott, and Elle Fanning) star in this incredible movie about adults trying to help a young girl find a good outlet for her dramatic and creative nature. 

"Felicity Huffman, Elle Fanning, and Patricia Clarkson star in director/screenwriter Daniel Barnz's illuminating tale of parenting and growth concernining an exceptional young girl whose troubling retreat into fantasy draws the concern of both her dejected mother and her unusually perceptive drama teacher. Phoebe (Fanning) is a talented young student who longs to take part in the school production of Alice in Wonderland, but whose bizarre behavior sets her well apart from her carefree classmates. Her mother (Huffman) is an aspiring academic who is beginning to feel like she has not only failed in her professional career, but as a parent as well. Though Phoebe's gifted drama teacher (Clarkson) has no doubts about the young girl's talent and capacity for learning, the frustration of seeing such a promising student slowly slip ever further away from reality soon becomes a growing concern both at home and at school."

Make sure to read my article with the quick and easy recipe for making an at-home movie date night fun!

Wait until dark! Quick and easy recipe for a special "date night" at home for moms and dads

May 25, 2009

You've probably seen that Target commercial---the one where the voiceover says, "This is the new dining out," and shows a couple eating a magnificent dinner on their backyard patio.

Many of us are trying to find new, budget-friendly ways to have fun and special times. Parents have some extra challenges trying to achieve this!

When your kids are little it's hard to go out---you need to find a sitter you trust, then you have to find a time that sitter is available, not to mention pay for the sitter. Before you even walk out the door, you've spent at least $50.Then there's the fun of trying to get all fixed up nice to go out---with kids digging in to your clothes and face creams, or hanging on your leg. We love them, but as long as they are little, they aren't too keen on us living a life outside of them. We treasure this time, though, because we know too well that in a few years they'll be begging us to go out and leave them alone. I know how too often it feels like too much trouble and expense.

Still, despite the challenges and some of those mixed feelings you might have sometimes, it's important to make this effort to have couple time outside the home now and again.

So how about some nice, laid-back, budget-friendly fun in the home?

Get a movie and have a nice evening with your partner!

Here's my recipe for a nice summer movie night in...

Ingredients:

You, Partner, Comfy bed or sofa, Casual clothes, Yummy food and drink

1.  Get those kids in bed asleep---try to wear them out during the day, such as swimming at the pool, if possible.

2.  Set-up easy, healthy, finger snack foods. Consider matching the snacks to a theme in the movie.

For example: Revolutionary Road will release to DVD on June 2. This movie about a couple with two children who move to the suburbs in Connecticut in the 1950s is well-acted, and based on a striking and riveting story. It begs for a Rat Pack style movie night.

Pre-packaged food surged in popularity in the 1950s, as did basic but filling food. So go simple and delicious. I'd pair silver dollar burgers with guacamole dip. Two other options are shrimp cocktail with red sauce or bagel bite pizzas. If you want some little appetizers, go with fruit kabobs and/or stuffed mushrooms. You can make any of these things relatively easily or buy them pre-made. I know Target sells them all in their frozen appetizer section.
Quick tip: Easy gucamole: Mix half of a small can of diced garlic tomatoes with salsa and avocado.

For a drink, go with the classic martini! Make it fruity if you prefer. Or, go international with a Daiquiri or a Mojito, both of which were very popular in the 1950s. If you prefer to avoid alcohol, serve ginger ale and/or root beer. Root beer can even double as dessert when served with ice cream as a float!
Quick tip: If you like frozen drinks but don't want to run a noisy blender that might wake kids, get one of the easy freezer bag mixes. You can serve it "virgin" or just add the liquor and freeze. Very easy and most brands I've tried are delicious.

 3. Set up your food on a coffee or side table, kick back, and enjoy the film!

Note: Check MovieWeb to see new DVD releases each week.

Tomorrow I'll list my favorites for most "cuddle-friendly" films coming out on DVD this summer!

hot days, cool movies: family movie time that doesn't break the bank, your rules, or your back

May 19, 2009

Every parent I know is energetically pursuing all the ways and means of Filling The Summer for kids. Here in Houston, it's often too hot (or mosquito-laden) to spend as much time outdoors as we've enjoyed this spring, and movies are a great way to have fun family time out of the heat.

Movies at theaters can be costly, though, and if you're like me, you worry about a preschooler's ability to sit through a feature length film. You also worry about bothering the other moviegoers, how the movie might affect your little one, and being able to watch it yourself.

But movies are fun, and a great family activity. Plus, kids can really enjoy seeing a favorite book come to life.

There are ways to enjoy movies!

We LOVE the Scholastic video collection

One time I ran into a store to grab a gift and the bright cover of the Scholastic video for Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, one of our favorite books, caught my eye. I walked out with it, and that DVD, with its collection of four greatbooksadapted into animated film, still gets a lot of play. Each story isn't very long, so you can easily pause in between stories for breaks, snacks, or short attention spans. It only runs for an hour. It's got a great unique music background for each story, and we can't read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom or Trashy Town without singing it now.There are many other great Scholastic Storybook Treasures (the new name for the video collection).

Whether it's a Scholastic video or a different DVD, we really enjoy family movie night sat home. We order a pizza, get comfortable,and relax together to watch a movie we all enjoy (usually!). Plus it's cheap---you can't beat the cost of popcorn at home versus in a theater (and less tempting sugary snacks too).

The Houston Public Library Summer Reading Program includes movies, too

Check with your local library to find out about movie screenings that are part of the summer reading program. It's a fun---and cheap!---way to get out of the house and have a more active engagement with a movie. In our experience, the librarian usually does a little speech to help the children learn something about the movie, and sometimes the movie is based on a book we already know.

AMC movie theaters offer a summer movie camp

Each Wednesday at 10 a.m. most local AMC Theaters (but you'll need to verify that the one near you is participating) offer a $1 kids movie as part of their summer movie camp. It includes discount son snacks, as well. The movies are all billed as kid movies, and there are quite a few kids' movies scheduled for release this summer.

Cry Baby Matinees at the Angelika

I usually list the weekly offering for the Cry Baby Matinees at the Angelika. It's a nice way for moms to go to a low volume, lighted, child and parent friendly space and movie that is more for the grown-up---in other words, a kid-friendly movie but a grown-up movies. Located downtown in the theatre district on Texas at Smith, the Angelika offers feature and independent films. It runs Fridays and Saturdays, and upcoming movies include the new Star Trek film and Good.

The are great options fo rmoms, dads, families, sitters, even grandparents.

10 great movies to watch with preschool kids

May 19, 2009

My kids and I pulled our 10 favorite DVDs off the shelf to create our list (in no order of rank) of favorite movies to watch. These range from modern to classic, and are suitable---by our standards---for ages 3 and up.

• Mary Poppins
  Can you ever say the title of this film without hearing Dick Van Dyke's cockney accent in your head? I can't! Maaaaay-ree Pawwwppins! We love the singing and the dancing, the adventures, the make-believe, and the real life problemsolving in this classic film. My kids wer eunaware that it came from a book (with a sequel!) so we hadfollow-up fun checking into the books---and if you ever find yourself on the giving end of a sharp comment to a child when exasperated, you'll like the books, too.
  In short: A magic nanny comes to work for a business focused banker's unhappy family.
• Winnie the Pooh
  A few years ago we got the 25th anniversary version of this classic movie based on our favorite book. It covers the timeless Pooh adventures---when Pooh meets Tigger, Pooh stuck in Rabbit's door, the blustery day, and more. It has all the wonderful songs and some bonus features, too. We love Pooh, no matter how old we get!
• Happy Feet
  They come by it honestly, but my kids love music and dancing. Even my little bitty one---or maybe especially my little bitty one---related to the idea of feeling somehow a little different from the people arond you, and needing to take a journey to figure out who you are versus what others want from you. It's a new movie, but basd on a classic theme. The kids love the story and music.
  In short: A young Emperor penguin is a dancer rather than singer, which causes him to journey far away, then back again with a renewed confidence in who he is.
• Because of Winn-Dixie
  Kate DiCamillo is one of our favorite children's authors. My kids adore the Mercy Watson series, and my sensitive animal-loving older daughter loves the Winn-Dixie story. It's a sweet, moving movie.
  In short: A mischievous dog befriends a lonely young girl in a new town and helps her change her life---and the lives of those around her.
• Open Season
  This funny, animated film grabbed my kids because it's about animals, but more than that, it's about family and friendship. I worried about how my little one would deal with the bear being "abandoned" in the woods after being "naughty," but she said, when I asked, "Real parents would never do that, but anyway he's a bear and bears live in the woods." Can't argue with that! It really helped my older daughter who was thinking a lot about some bullying going on in her school. Most of all, they laughed and laughed at the funny parts, which tells me it was a hit.
  In short: A domesticated grizzly meets a sassy mule deer, and after a town rampage, both find themselves dumped in the woods---where human and animal bullies rule. Together, they take back the woods for the woodland creatures, with hilarious fun and sweet moments of true caring.
• Curious George
  We call our girls little monkeys, and they take it to fanhood of all things monkey. It's no surprise that they love the George books, and adored the revent Curious George movie, with Jack Johnson soundtrack (which they are fans of, too). It's sweet, funny, has a great pace, and is true to the characters my girls know and love.
  In short: After The Man in the Yellow Hat meets Curious george in the jungle, and brings him back to th ebig city, the two have a non-stop (dare I say madcap?) adventure woth love and friendship at the end.
• Care Bear's Big Wish Movie
  The kids love the Care Bears. The original Care Bears came out when I was just a little too old for them, but I always found the original ones somewhere between creepy and way too saccharin. The modern Care Bears, however, are pretty sweet and relatable, with nice lessons that don't crack a 2x4 over your head.This animated movie is cute---I know it well having seen it 8 thousand times in the last five years. But I still like it, and so do the kids.
  In short:Wish Bear learns that wishing is a hazardous business, when her wishes go amiss. She finds that it takes much more to make her dreams real, and she learns to appreciate what she has.
• Pooh's Heffalump Movie
  Sometimes I get really, really grouchy when someone takes a classic and blings it out with "updates" and new characters. I'm giving Disney an A for this one, though, because we love it. Lumpy the Heffalump fits right in, and the kids love a story about little ones learning how to overcome prejudice and worry and make friends. This movie, is sweet, gentle, entertaining, filled with lovely messages, beautifulyl animated, and full of our favorite fictional friends.
  In short: The 100 Acre Wood friends spy a heffalump and, frightened, set about trying to trap it. Little Roo, though, meets and makes a friend of Lumpy--proving to Pooh and the gang that Heffalumps are nothign to fear at all.
• Madagascar (1 & 2)
  My kids are gaining in sophistication, and they like this humor-driven adventure about friendship and adapting to a new place. They may not get all of the jokes (which is fine by me, especially when I am laughing constantly) but they get a fair numberand even find funny elements that aren't delivered up as punchlines.  DreamWorks stuff is always amazing quality to me (still) and the story is fun. The kids go crazy for the music and dancing, too.
  In short: Zoo animals find themselves shipwrecked on Madagascar, where they must learn to survive, and overcome challenges to the dynamics of friendship they formed in the zoo. The adventure continues in the second one, which runs along similar themes.
• Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who
  I bet you thought I was going to say Cat in the Hat, didn't you? We own every single Dr. Seuss book, and have read them many times. The kids love the Cat book, but the movie, while they enjoyed it, just never grabbed them the way the Horton movie has. I think it's because Horton is a real hero, working to help and save endangered Whos. The Cat is just naughty in the movie, needing to clean up a mess. I think that hits too clsoe to home (lol). But the kids love this movie, and really enjoy talking about it after watching it.
  In short: Horton discovers an entire civilation on a speck, and becomes a playful, loveable, albeit slightly reluctant, yet committed, hero dedicated to saving the Whos of Whoville by proving that "a person's a person no matter how small."

out and about in Houston 3-20-2009 - 3-22-2009

March 19, 2009

With the first day of Spring on Friday and Houston weather cooperating to provide gorgeous weather, it's a great weekend to get out and have fun!

The Oil Ranch is open! They've renovated the barn and have baby animals, too. Just northwest of downtown, the Oil Ranch is offering free sno-cones in March. Families can also enjoy pony rides, the dairy barn (even milking cows!), hay rides, more rides, and the new Turbo slide.The Oil ranch is open Friday 10 am-3pm and Saturday 10-5.

Let your child learn about the first day of spring and the Sun-Earth Day on the Vernal Equinox on Friday, March 20, at 1 p.m.at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

The Kemah Boardwalk---recovered from Hurricane Ike---is offering family fun and live entertainment all through this weekend.

Discovery Green is offering a host of fun activities through the weekend, including the Fresh Fridays music and Children's Discovery Series on Saturday. Click here for a list of all events and details. Don't miss the Houston Arts Alliance Showcase  performance of Native American dance and storytelling by the South Texas Indian Dancers!

The Houston Livestock and Rodeo is still going on, all weekend. It's the final weekend!

Free admission on Thursdays at the Children's Museum of Houston. If you can't make it tonight, check it out over the weekend and let your hcild play toy detective or enjoy the new play area that's just for smaller kids!

Special happenings for Spring Break at the Space Center Houston:

Spring Break 2009 is going to be bigger and better than ever before! Our all new lineup includes death-defying stunt shows from the incredible All American Dive Team, edge-of-your-seat live action Pirate's Duel shows, the exciting Jovan Cartoon Character Show starring Spongebob Squarepants, and more! Plus, test your treasure hunting skills in the all new exhibit called Treasure! It's going to be the best Spring Break party around so dive into excitement for Spring Break only at Space Center Houston!

Shows run daily March 14 - March 22

Dive Shows: 12:00, 2:00, 4:30. Location: Outside in the courtyard of the Zero-G restaurant.

Pirate Shows: 11:00, 1:00, 3:00. Location: Inside the Treasures exhibit.

The Jovan Cartoon Character Show starring Spongebob Squarepants & Patrick:  1:00, 3:00. Location: Inside the Zero-G restaurant.

Take your little ones and enjoy the CryBaby Matinee -- Babies Welcome! at the Angelika Friday and Saturday at 11:45. This weekend's feature is He's Just Not That Into You.

On Friday, the Clear Lake-Freeman branch library is offering:

Books Alive! Week - Toddler Open Gym
When: Friday, March 20, 2009 - 10:00 AM
Where: Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library at Children's Activity Space

Toddlers and their parents can play bean bag toss, run through a tunnel, work puzzles and have fun with other activities. This program is designed for children 18 months to 3 years old. For more information, call 281-488-1906 or visit us at 16616 Diana Lane.

Borders at 3025 Kirby (and other Borders around Houston) is offering a special storytime, art projects, and more fun to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Check the Borders Web site to find the Border near you and call them to find out if they are offering the party!

Lakeshore Learning stores on Post Oak and in Friendswood (on I-45 South) are offering free kitemaking classes on Saturday from 11-3 as this week's fun craft activity.

Enjoy your weekend!

Why Mosquitoes Buzz at the MFAH

by Rachel Mosteller

September 05, 2008

I love having free things to do with my kids and this weekend, if you're also into the free thing, is a doozy. Over at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, there are three different films showing. On Sunday, they'll be presenting Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears, an animated piece narrated by the awesome James Earl Jones. After that, there's Not So Fast Songololo and Anna From Berlin. The  Read more...

Drive In to the Drive In

by Rachel Mosteller

May 16, 2008

Once upon a time, in a land before DVDs, VCRs and computers, there were these magical things called drive-in theatres. (Confused? Rent the movie Grease, though I doubt drive-ins were ever as cool as when Sandy and Danny roamed the lot.) Show the kids a little bit of cultural history and bring them to The Showboat Drive-In Theatre in Hockley. ( Take Highway 290/Hwy 6  Read more...