Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Magical Meal

The Fitzmartins are embarking on a new quest--to see all the classic Disney animated movies. In the spirit of that adventure, we will be having a "Magical Meal" with each movie (our version of "Dinner and a Movie"). What is a "Magical Meal" you may ask? It's an event we started years ago that involves having a themed meal with cleverly named food items that encourages family conversation and bonding.

Here is the menu for the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Magical Meal:

Prince Charming Cheese and Snow White Mayo Burgers
Enchanted Forest Salad
Fruit Gems from the Mine
Mirror, Mirror Milk
Juicy Red Apples (Beware!)
Seven Dwarf Cupcakes

Here are instructions: Take a pound of ground beef and make mini burgers. Cook them for about three minutes in the microwave. Then cover in sliced cheese and cook for another minute. Add mayonnaise to potato rolls and then add the cheese topped burgers. For the salad, mix a variety of greens such as lettuces and spinach. Add little broccoli florets (for trees). Sprinkle with small pretzel sticks (for the wood forest). Cut fruit pieces into small balls for the fruit gems. If you've got special goblets or glasses, get those and pour milk into them. Add swirls of chocolate for the mysterious Mirror, Mirror. You can make or buy cupcakes, topping them with swirls of vanilla icing. Then, since the dwarfs wore different colors, use different color toppings to sprinkle over them. And of course, have a basket of bright, red apples for your centerpiece, with a warning to eat them at your own risk!!



Last night, watching the first Disney classic "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" with teenagers was an interesting experience. I probably should blog the running commentary. Since we all are interested in animation and story telling, it lead to some great discussions on techniques, plot twists, and character development. Who would have thought? With younger kids you could talk about lessons learned by the characters, your kids' favorite part of the movie, favorite songs. It really is a classic for a very good reason!

Here's my son's (and future movie critic) review: "It's a timeless story. It's dated in techniques but still enjoyable to watch."
Story: 7/10
Animation: 9/10
Characters: 8/10
Songs: 10/10
TOTAL: 8/10 by Thomas Fitzmartin

My husband Tom, gave it "Two Eyelids Down" (He fell asleep!).

Next week-Pinocchio!

Academy Award Winning Magical Meal

“And the winner is . . .” Yes, it’s time again for the annual Academy Awards show. Or you could say, 45 minutes of entertainment packed into a four hour show! No, I’m not a big fan of the show, however it makes for a really fun meal to enjoy with your kids.

It starts with the “Red Carpet.” Take a red fruit roll-up and lay on small plate. To make it special, cut out a star from construction paper and place a small picture of your child on top of the star. Place on the top of the red fruit roll-up. Kids love this “appetizer.”

For the main course try “Ham it Up Mini Loaves.” Mix a pound of ground beef with chunks of ham and anything you normally put in your meat loaf. Shape into small, individual loaves. Bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees.

For side dishes, cook up some “Blockbuster Broccoli” and set out “Award Winning ‘Moo’vie Milk.” With a star cookie cutter, cut up biscuit dough into stars. Bake at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Dessert is “Say Cheese Cake.” You can get a prepackaged kit already mixed together or pick up a small one in the bakery. Simple.

Talk to your kids about their favorite movies. What are their top five? After dinner clean up, watch a favorite movie together as a family. Give your own awards to your favorite movies.

Remind your kids that they are the greatest to you. You can even award them with an academy award for their hard work or their kindness or their love. Be sure to give them hugs and kisses and verbally tell them they are the best. It will mean more to them than any academy award ever will.

Back To School

Today I took two of my children to a meet and greet at their school. I still can't believe that my baby is in middle school! My kids looked so excited walking around the school, meeting teachers and seeing their friends.

"Back to school" always brings out so many different emotions in our family. It is a mix of intimidation, excitement, and sadness. I remember each child going off to school for the first time. They looked so little. The school was so big. The teacher was so big. And the principal was enormous! But it took no time at all for them to return home excited about the new adventure ahead.

The emotion of sadness is always what I feel as "Mom." Yes, I am happy for all the new things in my children's lives but the beginning of the school year is just another reminder that they are growing up; Another reminder that the years go by all too fast.

So, after I shed a few tears, and heave a big sigh, I go back to being "Mom." I go back to loving my children, listening to my children, and enjoying every stage of their lives. Now, where did I put that extra box of pencils?

I just saw "Aliens in the Attic" with my kids.  Interesting.  

A few observations from a mom's perspective:  First, I am so tired of all the movies that make parents look like absolute imbeciles and totally clueless.  Are we really that bad?  Are our kids trying to tell us something?  I don't know, maybe all these film writers are trying to work through disappointing childhoods.

I am also so tired of the kids in these movies living their lives virtually apart from their parents. Do the parents not even check up on the kids to see what they're up to?

I guess I'm oversensitive on parenting as I see it in our media.  If there were no issues I guess there would be no stories.  And the movies I have seen always end with a special bond made between child and parent so that's good.  

But one thing I have learned from all these movies:  Listen to your children, always.  Especially if they tell you there are aliens in the attic. :)   

I Love Summer!

I'm looking out at the ocean right now feeling totally calm and at peace.  Summer has a way of doing that for me.  There is no morning rush to get the kids to school.  There is no rushing to get lunches packed.  There is just no rushing.  

Summer has always given me a chance to enjoy my kids.  I have more time to play with them, more time to listen to their jokes, more time to look at them and just appreciate who they are and where they are in life.  

I know that before long, we will be back in the throes of a busy school year.  We'll be learning new schedules and (ugh!) getting up to the sound of the alarm clock.  The kids will again leave the house in the morning for new experiences in their lives.  They will grow taller and more mature.  And the mommy in me will cry.

But until then, I'll enjoy the soothing sounds of the waves . . . and go boogy boarding with my kids one more time.