13 Reasons Why Our Kids Have It Way Better Than We Did

Seriously... our kids have no idea how much easier their lives our than ours were when we were children. Am I right? This generation doesn't realize the extent to which technology has changed the way so many things are done. Below I am sharing 13 reasons why our kids have it way better than we did.

1) We had to go to the library to do research for a school project... and kids today have Google.

2) We had to remember phone numbers (or use a phone book!)... and kids today have all their friends' contact info in their phones.

3) We had to call our friends... and kids today can avoid countless awkward conversations by sending texts.

4) We got busy signals and had to try for hours to get a message to a friend... and kids today can call, text, snapchat, and/or email anyone at any time.

5) We had to dial phones... and kids today just lightly tap numbers on a screen.

6) We had to tape our favourite songs off the radio (complete with the DJ talking over the beginning of the songs)... and kids today can use countless apps to create playlists of their favourite songs.

7) We had to live with the terrible "red eye" and "closed eyes" pictures (that we only discovered after we got our films developed)... and kids today can take perfect selfies with great lighting, angles, and filters.

8) We had to type things over or try to use correcting tape... and kids today can just "backspace" away their mistakes.

9) We had to get up and turn the channel when watching TV... and kids today use remotes from the comfort of the couch.


And Netflix* has really made life easier (and more entertaining) for our kids.


10) When we went for a long drive we had nothing to do but look out the window... and kids today can download their favourite Netflix shows onto their iPads for countless hours of entertainment.

11) We had to watch commercials... and kids today can watch any Netflix show (commercial free) any time.

12) We only had cartoons on Saturday mornings... and kids today can watch any cartoon on Netflix whenever they want.

13) We had to take turns with our siblings deciding what show to watch... and kids today can watch their favourite Netflix show on any number of iPods, iPads or TV screens in the house.

Can I get a "hell yeah!"? 😀 What would you add to this list? 

♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

Sock Puppets and Parenting Help... courtesy of Netflix

As parents, teaching our children important life skills and values is an important part of our job. Children are influenced by their friends, their teachers, and countless media sources (including TV, movies, apps, and games). Rather than trying to compete with all these outside influences, it can sometimes be easier to work with them. Watching TV together can spark conversations and inspire creative ideas for playing together. Recently, my boys and I made some DIY sock puppets inspired by popular Netflix* characters. We had a lot of fun creating a comedy show video together.

How cute are the puppets we made?

To make a Walter puppet: you'll need a blue sock for the body, clear wiggly eyes, black felt for the mouth, white felt for the teeth, blue pom poms for the belly, and a blue pipe cleaner for the antennas. You can use fabric or hot glue to attach everything.

To make a Kip puppet: you'll need an orange sock for the body, blue wiggly eyes, an orange pom pom for the nose, black felt for the mouth, white felt for the teeth, a tan felt circle for the belly, and orange felt for the ears. You can use fabric or hot glue to attach everything.

To make a Peri puppet: you'll need a tan sock for the body, black yarn for the hair, pink wiggly eyes, pearls for the necklace, and pink tulle for the skirt. You can use fabric or hot glue to attach everything.

Check out the puppet show my boys performed with their sock puppets. Don't you love when your kids tell jokes?

Do you use your kids' favourite shows as a way to communicate with them and spend time together? According to Common Sense Media, entertainment can be a strong tool for teaching empathy as it showcases strong, supportive bonds between characters of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, for example. Fuller House is a favourite with my boys, and it has helped us have conversations about the importance of family, compromise, and working together.

What are some of your kids' favourite shows and characters on Netflix? Have you used any of these shows/characters to talk to your kids about their values and/or teach them about important like skills? I hope you enjoy my boys' puppets and video. Perhaps you'll be inspired to spend some time creating your own Netflix production with your little ones.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

Strong Female Role Models Aren't Just Important for Little Girls

Yesterday was International Women's Day, and my social media feeds were filled with images of moms, daughters, sisters, and girlfriends. I saw a lot of people writing about the importance of teaching their daughters to be strong women, and it got me thinking about the fact that it is equally important for me to teach my sons to honour and respect the women in their lives.

If my boys learn to honour women when they are young, they will grow into respectful men... and it is my job to make sure it happens. Here are a few things I am doing:

1) From an early age, I have always taught my boys that there are NOT "boy things and girl things". My boys craft and bake, and they play sports on co-ed teams.

2) My boys see that my husband respects me, listens to me, values my opinion, and treats me with kindness. His example is teaching them how they should treat the women in their lives (now and in the future).

3) My boys are lucky to have wonderful women role models all around them.

4) My boys see strong women in the entertainment they watch.

I want my boys to see examples of strong women at home, in their community, and in the entertainment they watch. Studies have shown that role models from the entertainment they choose can have a lasting effect. Here are three of my boys' favourite Netflix shows that feature strong female role models:

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Dragons Race to the Edge

Trollhunters

I'm always reading and hearing about children being bombarded with negative images via social media, so I am grateful to Netflix for providing me with positive options for my boys. Who are some of your favourite female role models?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

Date Night For Busy Parents (including a recipe for chocolate covered strawberries)

Like most parents, my husband and I are slaves to our kids' busy schedules. Finding the time and energy to get a babysitter and make plans to go out for a "date night" is almost impossible. So, "at home" date nights are the perfect solution for us. All we need is a bottle of wine, a special snack, and a good series to binge watch on Netflix.

Chocolate covered strawberries are a delicious and romantic date night snack, and they are super-simple to make.

To make chocolate covered strawberries:

1) Wash and dry strawberries (completely) with a piece of paper towel.

2) Melt 100% pure baker's chocolate in the microwave. I enjoy the rich taste of semi-sweet chocolate, but you can choose milk chocolate if that is your preference.

Break up the chocolate and microwave it for 1 to 2 minutes at MEDIUM heat until it is completely melted and smooth. (Make sure you check and stir it frequently.)

3) Dip each strawberry in the melted chocolate, allow excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl, and place the strawberry on a piece of wax paper.

4) Put the strawberries in the fridge for 30 minutes (to allow the chocolate to harden).

Now that you have the perfect date night snack, you'll want a good Netflix series that you can binge watch together. 

It's not always easy to find a show that my husband and I both want to watch, but Netflix always has fantastic date night options. Here are 5 of our favourites:

1) Stranger Things
2) House of Cards
3) Suits
4) The OA
5) Homeland

Do you have a favourite show to watch with your spouse? Do you ever "cheat" on your spouse and watch the next episode without him/her? We've all been there, right? Your binge buddy isn't around, you turn on Netflix, and you just can't help but watch without them. You're not alone. Netflix uncovered that 46% of global viewers are cheating right now... with their favourite Netflix shows.

Whether you cheat or not, you are going to want to make these chocolate covered strawberries the next time you plan a date night with your spouse. They are simple to make, and they will definitely make your evening a little sweeter. Enjoy!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

5 NETFLIX Shows Your Kids Are Going To Love

As my boys get older, their tastes in television shows are changing. Luckily, Netflix is constantly creating new and entertaining content that appeals to children of all ages (and their parents). Today, I am sharing our family's NEW favorite show, and I am letting you know about some awesome new programs that are streaming on Netflix this month.

Recently, I was given a "sneak peak" of a new Netflix series: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events... and our whole family LOVES it! 

Netflix is reinventing family TV with a show that serves up a little dark comedy that big kids (and their parents) will really enjoy. It is a bit more grown up than the shows that my boys have watched in the past, but we are watching this new series as a family, and it's fantastic! I seriously encourage you to check out Season 1 when it starts streaming on January 13.

And here are a four more shows that your kids are going to want to add to their "must watch" list this month:

DreamWorks Trollhunters
SEASON 1 STREAMING NOW

Voltron: Legendary Defender
SEASON 2 STREAMING JANUARY 20

Tarzan and Jane
SEASON 1 STREAMING JANUARY 6

Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh
SEASON 2 STREAMING JANUARY 27

What are your kids watching this month? Let me know if one of their favourites made my "must watch" list this month. Happy Streaming!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

DIY Trollhunters Sword... and some Netflix news

The holiday season has arrived, the kids will be home from school soon, and it won't be long before they start saying they're bored. That's why, starting December 23rd, Netflix and Dreamworks Animation Television will be treating families to 13 hours of adventure, suspense and limitless imagination with the all-new series DreamWorks Trollhunters. To get you and your kids ready, today I am sharing a fun DIY Trollhunters sword that you can make from cardboard and tin foil.

To make this fun and simple sword, follow the instructions and photos below:

1) Draw a sword and blade (using the picture above as a guide).

2) Print one copy of both blades on plain paper, cut them out, tape them together, and use the paper as a temple to cut a blade from cardboard.

3) Cover blade with tin foil (taping or gluing in place), and decorate with markers.

4) Print the handle onto plain paper, cut it out, and use it as a template to cut a handle from cardboard. 

5) Color the handle, and glue it to the cardboard. (My son added jewel stickers to add an extra "cool factor", but this is optional.)

6) Use hot glue to attach the handle to the blade. (If you want the sword to be really strong, you can make two handles, and sandwich the blade in the middle... but his is optional.)

Cute, right?

My boys are super-excited to play with their new sword and to check out season one of Trollhunters when it comes to Netflix on December 23, 2016!

And, as if this new series isn't exciting enough...

Just in time for long holiday trips, Netflix recently announced that members can now download many of their favourite series and movies at no extra cost. To start downloading today, make sure your Netflix app is updated to the latest version and head to the ‘Available for Download’ menu on your tablet or mobile device.

Happy viewing... and happy holidays!

♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (With New Year's Eve around the corner, don't forget the fun NYE countdowns available on Netflix. You can ring in the new year whenever the kids are ready for bed!)

Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (of course!) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

Celebrating the return of Gilmore Girls with a fun DIY mug

Netflix is celebrating and supporting women with a wide range of shows that feature strong, quirky, flawed, and wonderful women. In celebration of the return of one of my favorite shows (with awesome female characters), I designed myself a really fun Gilmore Girls mug, and I am sharing the DIY details so that you can get one too!

Cute, right? You can easily make photo gifts at many online copy and photo developing stores. Do an online search, and look for places that sell photo gifts. Start designing a mug, and when it is time to upload a photo, you can use the design below.

Right-click on the photo below, save it to your computer, and upload it to the website when you are prompted for a design. 

I hope you make a Gilmore Girls mug (like mine) and join me for a cup of coffee and the new series GILMORE GIRLS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE (coming to Netflix on November 25, 2016).

In keeping with the "girl power" theme, Netflix is encouraging their viewers to check out a series of letters aimed at encouraging women to embrace their quirks and flaws and to find strength from within to be the most complete versions of themselves.

Have a look at this letter inspired by Netflix's "The Crown".

And, here is a fun one by Chelsea Handler.

And here's mine.

What letter of inspiration, wisdom, and empowerment would you write to your younger self? And what fantastic show will you be enjoying on Netflix this month?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

7 Netflix Inspired Halloween Costumes

Deciding on a Halloween costume is a big decision for a kid, but fulfilling a child's wishes doesn't have to be an expensive or difficult task for a parent. Today I am sharing some simple DIY Halloween costumes ideas inspired by Netflix. I'm also including delightfully frightful titles to add to your Halloween watch list. 

Check out these adorable DIY Halloween costume ideas, and click on the links for more info:

1) LEGO Ninjago inspired costumes - I based this no-sew ninja costume on "Zane" the white ninja from LEGO Ninjago. It cost less than $10 to make, and it was a huge hit with my 7 year old. You can find the full tutorial here.

And, if you prefer a black ninja, you can find a fantastic step-by-step tutorial here.

2) Walt Disney Short Films Collection inspired costume - Who doesn't love the characters from Frozen? A couple of years ago, I made this adorable "no sew" Olaf costume for my five year old, and I loved how it turned out. If you have a Frozen fan in your house, you can find the full tutorial and free templates here.

3) Pirates of the Caribbean inspired costumes - Dressing up as a pirate is simple and fun, and it's perfect for kids that ARRRRR on the hunt for adventure. Click on this link to see how my boys and I recycled old clothes and transformed them into simple pirate costumes. 

I have another pirate costume tutorial (including a template for a cardboard sword) here. 

4) How to Train Your Dragon inspired viking helmet - If your kids are a fan of the movie or the Netflix series, they will love this DIY viking helmet. It's made from paper, tinfoil, and tape, and you can find the full tutorial here.

5) Pee Wee's Big Adventure inspired costume - Seriously... you need to check out this adorable Pee Wee Herman costume here.

6) Care Bears inspired costume - I don't think I could get my boys to dress up as a Care Bear, but if they were younger, I will totally opt for this adorable costume. You can check out the Care Bear cuteness here.

7) King Julien inspired costume - I love how simple and original this costume is. You should totally check out the tutorial for this DIY King Julien costume here.

Once you have settled on a costume, kick back and watch a spooky flick on Netflix. Halloween may only be one day of the year, but with the ultimate guide to streams and screams, there’s enough spooky titles and inspiration to get you in the Halloween spirit all month long. Check out this fantastic stream and scream guide.

What are you planning for Halloween this year? I hope this guide to costumes and scary movies makes your Halloween a little more Spooktacular. Happy Halloween!

♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

5 Fantastic Family Movie Night Ideas (including special treat pairings)

After a busy week, there is nothing like getting into comfy PJs and cuddling up with the kids for a special family movie night. Netflix has a growing catalogue of family movies and Disney classics, and today I am sharing some fantastic movie ideas and super-fun (and easy) matching treats. It's everything you need for the perfect family movie night!

1) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - This movie might be a bit scary for younger kids, but older kids will love it... and so will parents. 

For pirate treats, why not try some peanut butter and jelly fish sandwiches? Make regular sandwiches, cut them out with fish-shaped cookie cutters, and add chocolate chip eyes. Easy peasy!

"Fish and chips" is another fun option! My boys think this idea is hilarious.

2) Tangled - This classic Disney tale is based on the story of Rapunzel, and it is sure to delight children and their parents.

For Tangled treats, why not bake up a batch of these Pascal cupcakes? 

To create these Rapunzel's Chameleon (Pascal) Cupcakes:
1) Make your favorite white cupcakes.
2) Cover each cupcake with green icing.
3) For the eyes - use white chocolate candy melts and chocolate chips (with chocolate icing for the "glue").
4) Use chocolate icing to draw a simple nose and mouth.
5) Use green icing to pipe on eyebrows and the protruding part of its head.

3) Lilo & Stitch - This sweet Disney movie is set in Hawaii, features a quirky and adorable alien, and focusses on the importance of family. What's not to love?

For Lilo & Stitch themed snacks, why not try some "beachy" treats? For example: gummy sharks, pool water (blue juice), fish and chips (gold fish mixed with salt & vinegar chips), sea creature crackers, pool noodles (liquorice), and chips served in (clean) buckets.

4) Cool Runnings - This classic underdog story is full of colorful characters and lessons about not giving up. It's great for older kids, and parents will be entertained too.

For a Cool Runnings snack, why not try a yummy and "cool" treat? Check out the recipe for our favorite homemade Reese's peanut butter cup no-churn ice cream here.

5) Planes - This airplane version of Disney's classic "Cars" movie is an entertaining adventure that will appeal to children of all ages.

For Planes themed goodies, why not add sweet tags to pre-packaged treats to create custom in-flight snacks?

To download the adorable tag I designed: right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo. You can cut each photo into three tags, and staple the tags to bags of your favorite movie treats.

Aren't these fantastic ideas for making movie night special? Have you seen all of these Disney movies? If not, you should make plans to enjoy them on Netflix ASAP.

What are some of your favorite flicks to watch with your children?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.