I am a member of the Netflix #Streamteam and receive perks in exchange for monthly posts. As always all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

School is out, and summer break has officially started! I know many of my friends’ dread summer break but I actually always look forward to it! These last few weeks of school have been so busy, so I welcome the break and downtime! I am also looking forward to catching up with close friends and family that we often don’t get to see much due to our hectic schedules during the school year.

So, this month’s theme for Netflix StreamTeam fits really well for me this month! Its “Family is what you make it.” We all have families, but the truth is these days they’re starting to look less like the Clevers or the Huxtables. What used to be traditional “nuclear” family has evolved into a kaleidoscope of possibilities. Start with parents (maybe two dads, a single mom, or a stay at home dad…), add a dash of half/step/full/adopted siblings, a side of grandparents, a pinch of aunts, uncles, cousins, a splash of pets, topped off with close friends (and all the combinations thereof). Now you’ve got a modern family — each uniquely quirky — yet picture perfect in its own way.

Grace and Frankie, Netflix’s new funny and fearless original comedy featuring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston, is a perfect example of how today’s families can shift, rearrange and blend in unexpected ways. When Grace and Frankie’s husbands leave them after 20 years of marriage—to be with each other—the women find themselves facing a change that they never expected, but they shift their perspective to get through it together with the support of their new blended family and, of course, a sense of humor. I haven’t checked this out yet, but it is on my list as soon as I have time to sit down long enough to watch and enjoy it!

Personally, my family has always been blended and unique since I am biracial. Having a biracial family back in the 70s in the south was not something that you really seen a lot! Today thankfully, it’s more common. My bio uncle and aunt raised me as their own and even if I could change it, I wouldn’t. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter your family dynamitic the truth is family is what you make it!

So, this month’s selections showcase things that make other families unique so, whether it’s the Gilmore Girls’ dynamic mother-daughter duo or puppet brother in Crash & Bernstein. Family is special! So I hope you enjoy the sections this month!

 

For the little kids:

1. Lily’s Driftwood Bay
2. The Tigger Movie
3. Guess How Much I Love You: S1E5 Big Like You
4. Angelina Ballerina: Superstar Sisters

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For the big kids:

 

1. Crash & Bernstein
2. Life with Boys
3. Spy Kids
4. Russell Madness

 

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And for Teens & Adults

1. Raising Hope
2. The Fosters
3. Gilmore Girls
4. Life Unexpected

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New on Netflix for Kids and Families

1. All Hail King Julien (new episodes 4/3)
2. Littlest Pet Shop: Season 3 (4/21)
3. Lalaloopsy: Festival of Sugary Sweets (5/2)
4. Puss in Boots (new episodes 5/8)
5. H20 Mermaid Adventures (5/22)
6. Richie Rich: Season 2 (5/22)
7. Mako Mermaids: Season 3 (5/29)

In the comments below please tell me what you and your family are currently watching on Netflix!

There are few things as nice and relaxing as curling up with a book and a cup of coffee. Well, there is at least one thing better: curling up with a wonderful book! I don’t always come across an amazing book that I can’t put down, but when I do, it really takes over my thoughts and my free time. I can’t wait to figure out the ending, but I also thoroughly enjoy the beginning and the middle, too! What I don’t love? When I’m finished reading them. A good book is like a childhood friend moving away and you’re just really not ready for them to leave yet. Below are my three favorite books that I’ve read recently—the ones I couldn’t put down and missed when they were over.

1. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr — A gut wrenching story that follows two children, Marie-Laure and Werner, during the time that the Nazis occupy Paris. How their stories connect is incredible. This is a long book, but for all the right reasons. It draws you in, pulls you close, and you miss it when it’s gone. Don’t believe me? It was the Goodreads Choice Winner of 2014 and won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. In other words, it’s a must-read.

2. Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table by Shauna Niequist — I adored this book. I worked through it slowly, taking in each and every essay that Shauna shared about her family, relationships, friendships, and favorite meals that help make each and every moment so meaningful. As a lover of cooking and honest, vulnerable writing, this one really stuck with me. I know you’ll love it too!

3. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell — This is a sweet story about friendship, romance, and falling for someone whom you’re hiding secrets from. I really loved Jennifer and Beth’s friendship. I understood it, I felt like I was part of it, and it reminded me of so many of my friendships that are near and dear to my heart. This was one of those sweet, heartwarming stories that make you so glad you read it.

I’m always looking for book recommendations, so what are yours? Sound off in the comments, and your current favorite book just may become one of my current favorites during our next book-related post!

For more books I love, follow me on Goodreads!

I am a member of the Netflix #Streamteam and receive perks in exchange for monthly posts. As always all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

 

Can you believe it’s already Spring! We are currently enjoying our spring break at home this week. We decided instead of going on vacation, we would rather just relax at home and enjoy family time! That also means catching up on all our shows and watching hours of Netflix each day. So I was excited to see all the great picks that was sent out this month in my #StreamTeam newsletter. This month our theme was “LIAR, LIAR, Pants on Fire.” It was focused around the new Netflix original series, Bloodline that I am currently streaming! The family has some very dark family secrets they’re willing to do anything to keep from coming out! (Lying included.) While you may not know the Rayburn clan just yet, The Philadelphia Inquirer calls Bloodline “an intricately drawn and superbly cast portrait of a family in crisis.” Starring Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) and set in the Florida keys, the series follows a family caught between the ugly truth and the terrible lie that covers it up – a storyline that conjured our friends at Variety to predict that, “those who give Bloodline a chance will, pretty quickly, find themselves hooked.”

 The I was left with this Question to answer…. “How do you cope when you catch your kid lying?”

Personally, I don’t cope well with my kids lying to me. To be honest I’m very strict when it comes to lying. I also make sure that my kids know there is no reason to lie, and if they do lie, they are going to be in even more trouble! I’ve always felt that I am actually one of the most understanding moms around so why lie?! Yes, I might get upset, but we always talk through the issue and most of the times my kids are shocked that I am not as upset as they thought I would be! I also don’t lie to them, ok I admit when they were smaller I was guilty of those little “white lies” every so often but now that they are older I don’t see a reason for even them!

So, we really don’t have many issues when it comes to lying in this house. However, there have been a few instances lately where they have tested the limits. Instead of flat out lying, they have now started trying to withhold information from me! And of course, it’s my teenagers being the main offenders! The truth is we are all guilty of lying at times even if we do have good reasons, but I feel that honesty is always the best policy.

So this months Netflix titles are related to lying and honesty so be sure to check them out!

 

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Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

For little kids:

 

The Gruffalo

Care Bears: S1E8, Untruths and Consequences

Veggie Tales in the House: S1E9, Lie-monade

Little Princess: S1E9, I Didn’t Do It

 

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For older kids:

Totally Spies!

A.N.T. Farm: S3E9, Pants on Fire

Spy School

Jessie: S1E14, World Wide Web of Lies

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And then for the teens & adults we have:

Bloodline

Revenge

The Bling Ring

Pretty Little Liars

 

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So my question this month is the same question I just answered! How do you cope when you catch your kid lying? Also feel free to leave me what your streaming this month in the comments below.

I am a member of the Netflix #Streamteam and receive perks in exchange for monthly posts. As always all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

If you’ve had a chance to see Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt that came out earlier this month, I’m sure you’re in love just like we are! (If you haven’t watched yet you have to add it your list LIKE NOW)You also know that the three main characters have something in common: resilience! Despite their circumstances, Kimmy, Tituss and “Jaqueline” was all able to reinvent themselves, in one way or another, to make it in New York City.

Truth is a lot of our kids’ favorite characters display some of these same qualities. Movies and TV can show kids that just because you may be quiet and shy today, that doesn’t mean you can’t be Superman tomorrow. My quiet and shy princess recently had a birthday party and well let’s says she shocked us all! I think that she is coming out of her shell…. I can’t wait to see what this new year of being 10 includes now!

So this months pick are titles to help children see a new side of themselves, even if it’s not permanent, after all, you can do anything for 10 seconds.

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Reinvent Yourself

Here is the top picks for March, I hope you enjoy!

For Little Kids:

 

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

Mulan

Turbo

The Emperor’s New Groove

Angelina Ballerina: Pop Star Girls

Stellaluna

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For Bigger Kids:

 

Mr. Peabody & Sherman

Princess Diaries 2

The Perfect Game

ANTZ

Avengers Assemble

School of Rock

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For Teens & Parents:

Silver Linings Playbook

Chef

Safe Haven

Catching Fire

Freaks and Geeks

Dirty Dancing

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So, what are you streaming this month?