Free Family Film Festival: Regal Cinemas

REG’s Free Family Film Festival is Now Showing!

When school’s out, kids around the country visit selected Regal theatres for the Free Family Film Festival. It’s a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. Since 1991, Regal has provided this service to the community, and best of all it’s FREE!

Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.

Tickets for our 2010 Free Family Film Festival are exclusively available at select theatres’ box office on the day of the show.

Click here for participating locations in your state.

Play Dough Recipes

Being a mom of two, I'm always looking for cheap, fun ideas for my children. Unfortunately, Play-Doh can get pretty expensive when the kids will just mix the colors into that ugly brown color. So, here's some fun, frugal recipes just for you to try with your kids!

Traditional Play Dough

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1/4 cup salt
• food coloring

Mix all ingredients, adding food coloring last. Stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Place in plastic bag or airtight container when cooled. Will last for a long time.

Peanut Butter Dough

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 cup instant nonfat dry milk

Mix together until smooth.
*Note: For milk allergies, you may substitute flour for the instant nonfat dry milk. Also, some children may have peanut allergies.

Mister Rogers' Easy Play Dough

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup water

Mix together well. You can put dry Kool-Aid or Jell-O in the mix if you want colored dough.

Earth Friendly Play Dough

• 1 cup flour (not self-rising)
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar

Mix in saucepan over low heat (It does not have to heat long). Dough is ready when it rolls into a ball. Keep dough fresh in an airtight container. If you need to make different colors, add food coloring while mixing over heat.

Kool-Aid Play Dough

• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 package unsweetened Kool-Aid
• 1/4 cup salt
• 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
• 1 cut water

Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar and Kool-Aid in a medium pot. Add water and oil. Stir over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes. When mixture forms into a ball in pot, remove. Knead until smooth. Put in a plastic bag and refrigerate.

Cornstarch Clay

• 1 cup cornstarch
• 2 cups salt
• 1 1/3 cup cold water

Put salt and 2/3 cup water in pan and bring to a boil. Mix cornstarch with 2/3 cup water and mix well. Blend two mixtures together and knead into clay. The dough has to be heated as it is combined to set. Makes about 3 cups. This clay can be air dried and then painted. Store unused clay in airtight container in the fridge.

No-Cook Clay Dough

• 3 cups flour
• 3 cups salt
• 3 tablespoons alum

Combine ingredients and slowly add water, a little at a time. Mix well with spoon. As mixture thickens, continue mixing with your hands until it has the feel of clay. If it feels too dry, add water. If it feels too sticky, add equal parts of flour and salt.

Cooked Clay Dough

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup salt
• 3 or 4 pounds flour
• food coloring

Stir slowly and be patient with this recipe. Blend the flour and cornstarch with cold water. Add salt to the water and boil. Pour the boiling salt and water solution into the flour and cornstarch paste and cook over hot water until clear. Add the flour and coloring to the cooked solution and knead. After the clay has been in use, if too moist, add flour; if dry, add water. Keep in covered container. Wrap dough with damp cloth or towel. This dough has a very nice texture and is very popular with all age groups. May be kept 2 or 3 weeks.

Expiration Dates

I recently found this site, and I think it's amazing! Unfortunately, not all products have expiration dates on them, so sometimes you don't know when something will go bad.

Certain items in your house practically scream “toss me” when their prime has passed. That mysterious extra white layer on the Cheddar? A sure sign it needs to be put out of its misery. Chunky milk? Down the drain it goes.

But what about that jar of olives or Maraschino cherries that has resided in your refrigerator since before the birth of your kindergartner? Or the innumerable nonedibles lurking deep within your cabinets and closets: stockpiled shampoo and toothpaste, seldom-used silver polish? How do you know when their primes have passed?

With help from experts and product manufacturers, Real Simple (http://www.realsimple.com/) has compiled a guide to expiration dates. These dates are offered as a rough guideline. The shelf lives of most products depend upon how you treat them. Edibles, unless otherwise indicated, should be stored in a cool, dry place. (With any food, of course, use common sense.) Household cleaners also do best in a dry place with a stable temperature. After the dates shown, beauty and cleaning products are probably still safe but may be less effective.

Food

*Beer
Unopened: Starts to lose flavor after 110 days.
It’s best to store bottles in boxes, and then in dark place.
Stronger alcohol and higher levels of hops might extend the shelf life of a beer.
One example is Michelob Craft Specialty beers, which are often at their peak with 180 days.
(Source: Budweiser support)

*Brown sugar
Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moisture proof container in a cool, dry place.

*Chocolate (Hershey bar)
1 year from production date

*Coffee, canned ground
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 1 month refrigerated

*Coffee, gourmet
Beans: 3 weeks in paper bag, longer in vacuum-seal bag (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Ground: 1 week in sealed container

*Coffee, instant
Unopened: Up to 2 years
Opened: Up to 1 month

*Diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles)
Unopened: 3 months from "best by" date.
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected.

*Dried pasta
12 months

*Frozen dinners
Unopened: 12 to 18 months

*Frozen vegetables
Unopened: 18 to 24 months
Opened: 1 month

*Honey
Indefinite shelf life

*Juice, bottled (apple or cranberry)
Unopened: 8 months from production date
Opened: 7 to 10 days

*Ketchup
Unopened: 1 year (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Opened or used: 4 to 6 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

*Maple syrup, real or imitation
1 year

*Maraschino cherries
Unopened: 3 to 4 years
Opened: 2 weeks at room temperature; 6 months refrigerated

*Marshmallows
Unopened: 40 weeks
Opened: 3 months

*Mayonnaise
Unopened: Indefinitely
Opened: 2 to 3 months from “purchase by” date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

*Mustard
2 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

*Olives, jarred (green with pimento)
Unopened: 3 years
Opened: 3 months

*Olive oil
2 years from manufacture date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

*Peanuts
Unopened: 1 to 2 years unless frozen or refrigerated
Opened: 1 to 2 weeks in airtight container

*Peanut butter, natural
9 months

*Peanut butter, processed (Jif)
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 6 months; refrigerate after 3 months

*Pickles
Unopened: 18 months
Opened: No conclusive data. Discard if slippery or excessively soft.

*Protein bars (Power Bars)
Unopened: 10 to 12 months. Check "best by" date on the package.

*Rice, white
2 years from date on box or date of purchase

*Salad dressing, bottled
Unopened: 12 months after "best by" date
Opened: 9 months refrigerated

*Soda, regular
Unopened: In cans or glass bottles, 9 months from "best by" date
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected

*Steak sauce
33 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

*Tabasco
5 years, stored in a cool, dry place

*Tea bags (Lipton)
Use within 2 years of opening the package

*Tuna, canned
Unopened: 1 year from purchase date
Opened: 3 to 4 days, not stored in can

*Soy sauce, bottled
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 3 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

*Vinegar
42 months

*Wine (red, white)
Unopened: 3 years from vintage date; 20 to 100 years for fine wines
Opened: 1 week refrigerated and corked

*Worcestershire sauce
Unopened: 5 to 10 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Opened: 2 years

Household Products

*Air freshener, aerosol
2 years

*Antifreeze, premixed
1 to 5 years

*Antifreeze, concentrate
Indefinite

*Batteries, alkaline
7 years

*Batteries, lithium
10 years

*Bleach
3 to 6 months

*Dish detergent, liquid or powdered
1 year

*Fire extinguisher, rechargeable
Service or replace every 6 years

*Fire extinguisher, non-rechargeable
12 years

*Laundry detergent, liquid or powdered
Unopened: 9 months to 1 year
Opened: 6 months

*Metal polish (silver, copper, brass)
At least 3 years

*Miracle Gro, liquid
Opened: 3 to 8 years

*Miracle Gro, liquid, water-soluble
Indefinite

*Motor oil
Unopened: 2 to 5 years
Opened: 3 months

*Mr. Clean
2 years

*Paint
Unopened: Up to 10 years
Opened: 2 to 5 years

*Spray paint
2 to 3 years

*Windex
2 years

*Wood polish (Pledge)
2 years

Beauty Products
All dates are from the manufacture date, which is either displayed on the packaging or can be obtained by calling the manufacturer's customer-service number.

*Bar soap
18 months to 3 years

*Bath gel, body wash
3 years

*Bath oil
1 year

*Body bleaches and depilatories
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 6 months

*Body lotion
3 years

*Conditioner
2 to 3 years

*Deodorant
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 1 to 2 years
For antiperspirants, see expiration date

*Eye cream
Unopened: 3 years
Used: 1 year

*Face lotion
With SPF, see expiration date. All others, at least 3 years

*Foundation, oil-based
2 years

*Foundation, water-based
3 years

*Hair gel
2 to 3 years

*Hair spray
2 to 3 years

*Lip balm
Unopened: 5 years
Used: 1 to 5 years

*Lipstick
2 years

*Mascara
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 3 to 4 months

*Mouthwash
Three years from manufacture date

*Nail polish
1 year

*Nail-polish remover
Lasts indefinitely

*Perfume
1 to 2 years

*Rubbing alcohol
At least 3 years

*Shampoo
2 to 3 years

*Shaving cream
2 years or more

*Tooth-whitening strips
13 months

*Wash'n Dri moist wipes
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: Good until dried out

Beauty Supplies Expiration Dates

*Anti-aging and acne treatment
Three months to a year. Antioxidants are easily oxidized, so be on the lookout for any changes in color.

*Body lotion
Two to three years, particularly if it’s in a pump container.

*Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel
About three years.

*Bath oil
One year.

*Sunscreen
Check the package for an expiration date.

*Mascara and liquid eyeliner
Three to four months. Make sure you’re diligent about replacing these items to prevent contamination and infections.

*Eye and lip pencils
Three to five years. Sharpen them before each use as a way to preserve them and keep them clean.

*Lipstick and lip gloss
Two to three years.

*Foundation
About two years. Most bottles are designed to last that long. And if you don’t use it, chances are you didn’t love it to begin with.

*Perfume
About two years. To get more mileage out of a perfume, resist the temptation to display a pretty bottle on your vanity. Instead, stash it away in a cool, dark place.

*Nail polish
One year.

*Hairstyling products
Three to five years. Most are alcohol-based, which helps preserve the formula.

*Bar soap
Up to three years.

*Shaving cream
About two years.

*Deodorant
Up to two years.

Free Family Film Festival: Regal Cinemas

REG’s Free Family Film Festival is Now Showing!

When school’s out, kids around the country visit selected Regal theatres for the Free Family Film Festival. It’s a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. Since 1991, Regal has provided this service to the community, and best of all it’s FREE!

Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.

Tickets for our 2009 Free Family Film Festival are exclusively available at select theatres’ box office on the day of the show.

Click here for participating locations in your state.

Best Toddler Bib Ever

When I had my baby shower for my daughter, a friend of mine's mother gave me a few bibs like this. To this day, I still use them and they are my absolute favorite bibs of all time. I wish I was crafty because I'd definitely make more of these. Hopefully, you'll like them as much as I do. Here is the original post over at Cheaper by the Dozen and Get One Free: Valentine's Day Toddler Bib--Easy Instructions

"I found a two pack of Valentine Dish Towels and made this Toddler Bib for my Granddaughter for Valentines Day. Years ago, I found that Hand towels made the most absorbent bibs and saved the kids expensive clothing from stains. It is an easy Sewing Project for even the beginner sewer.

I watch for designer embroidered hand towels on the clearance racks, and often I find that I can pick up amazingly cute holiday bibs for each season. My latest two favorites a Cars and Pink Disney Princess Embroidered Hand Towels I found on clearance for $2.13 each.

This heart towel is from Target in a 2/pack for $3.99. Tomorrow after Valentines Day will be half price. Pastel Hearts will work year round. Total cost for 2 bibs $4.25 and I have found that my bibs last for years. This size will fit a toddler all the way to Kindegarten.

You need.. A hand thick Hand Towel and an 1/8 yard of Coordinating Ribbing, Sewing Machine, and pins.

1. Get a head measurement, I used a piece of ribbon to cut it to size and then found a lid or bowl the correct size. Then I made a pattern of the circle on paper and cut it out.

2. I folded the circle in quarters to find the center, where I made a dot.

3. Take the towel and take the top end, measure down 8 inches on each long side. (That will be top of the bib and will be folded there once the ribbing is placed).
Then fold in half again on to find the middle between the pins and place a pin (8 inches again from the top end). This is the center of the towel. Mark the center spot with a pin or marking pen.

4. Take your paper circle and put the marked center 1/2 inch down from the center pin.

5. Pin paper pattern in place and cut out neck opening.

6. Cut ribbing with one side on the fold (left) a piece 8 inches by 3 1/2 inches wide. Stitch the cut end (right) using l/4 inch seam allowance.

7. Turn Right Side Out and fold in half-- Seam will be in the inside.
8. Then place a pin in the Center Back Ribbing(seam), Center Front, and then with matching the front and back pins, in each side

9. Fold the Towel in half the long way to find the Center Back and the Center Front, Place a pin to mark each spot, then match up the front and back pins to find each of the two sides.

10. Match up the ribbing on to the right side of the towel, matching up the pins. The Center Back pins first.

11. Sew the ribbing to the towel with the ribbing on top with a 1/4inch seam allowance (about the width of the presser foot). Stretch the ribbing into place as you go.

12. Use zig zag stich in the seam allowance to help the ribbing lay flat.
13. Folding the top of the towel down 8 inches (right sides out). Stitch along each side beginning about 7 inches from the top for about an inch along the edge to form the sleeve openings on each side.

This project is easy and with mastering how to put in a ribbing, you can also make a simple baby bib using a cute fingertip guest towel using a smaller ribbing."

Cute Idea for Plastic Bags

This is the cutest idea ever for storing plastic bags (Thanks Laura for mentioning this!).

It definitely reminds me of the paper footballs I used to make in high school. I normally just use my reusable cloth shopping bags and bring the plastic bags back to the recycling bins at the grocery store, but this is definitely a cute way to store the plastic bags we use for the bathroom garbage and dirty diapers/clothes when we're out and about. Here is the original post over at Cafe Munchkin: Plastic Grocery Bag Origami.

"Here is where we keep our plastic grocery bags. We’ve got loads of it! This little cabinet used to be filled with plastic bags that we can no longer see the back. We even forgot that we kept phone directories here! It was just packed!

It was transformed to this when relatives came to visit us last month.

Tito (Uncle) Kit, hubby’s uncle priest, taught us a method of neatly folding the grocery bags, something he learned from the seminary. And this cabinet looking like this now is his handy work. He folded most of the plastic bags all by himself with very little help from hubby and me. Hee hee. Do we follow this method now? As much as we can. Or, we simply keep the bags somewhere else. Hahaha!

Here’s the step by step guide to plastic bag folding:

1. Lay the plastic bag likeso on a flat surface with the print on top.

2. Fold it in half.

3. Fold it in half again.

4. Pull up the lower left corner of the bag and fold it in an angle likeso…making a triangle.

5. Work your way up keeping the traingle pattern that you’ve already got going until you reach the bag handles.

6. Tuck the bag handles in the pocket on one side of the triangle.

7. Tadaaa!

There. You can do this while watching tv. Or ask your kids to do it when you ground them or for time-out! Happy folding! "

Uses for Empty Wipes Containers

Here are some things that you can use empty wipes tub containers to hold:

-Crayons/pencils/writing utensils
-Spare change at the end of the day
-Small toys
-First aid kit
-Craft supplies
-Nuts/bolts/screws/nails
-Threads/bobbins
-Receipts
-Plastic bags
-Pictures
-Coupons
-Fabric Softener sheets (and to hold lint too)
-Baby washcloths
-Electrosol tabs
-Batteries
-Soap
-Make up/nail polish
-Candles
-Homemade baby wipes/cloth wipes
-Diaper rash creams
-Soak cloth diapers/clothes in before washing
-Hair accessories
-Sewing kit
-Travel size stuff in car (i.e. deodorant, feminine products, etc.)
-Coke/DP/Pepsi caps
-Cookie Cutters
-Tape
-Cotton balls/Q-tips
-Ziploc/plastic bags
-Buttons
-Bottle nipples
-Teething rings
-Diaper holder (take lid off)
-Cards
-Trial/sample size products
-Put items you are mailing inside, wrap with postal paper, and the items do not get squished
-Hold seasonings

*Don't forget you can label these too!