National Brothers Sisters Day Celebration Ideas

Family

MBE partnered with National Today & Top Agency PR for this post

5 Ways to Celebrate National Brothers and Sisters Day

If you have siblings and/or you are a mom or dad with multiple kids you already know by first-hand experience that children who grow up together have the uncanny gift of both intensely loving and disliking each other. Often brothers and sisters switch back and forth, between being best friends and worst enemies, all in the same day. 

That's why, as one of three kids and mother of four children born within a year myself, I'm excited to inspire you and your own family with some really creative and fun ideas for spreading the love and celebrating National Brothers and Sisters Day which is coming up on Saturday, May 2.

1. Pull a Prank

There's no better way to show how much a brother or sister means to you, than to play a joke on them. Whether your a kid or an adult, doing something harmless but silly is always fun for the giver and, hopefully, the target of your prank. It can be as easy as switching the salt and sugar into the opposite shakers and writing "You are So Sweet," "Love You Bro," or something similar on a piece of paper and taping it to the sugar shaker that is now filled with salt. You get the idea -- switching things up a bit will make them smile. Just be sure that whatever switcheroo you do isn't going to actually hurt anyone.

2. Craft a Homemade Card

This is a another good one that's simple for all age groups. Get out a piece of paper, some colored markers or crayons and make a handmade card just to say I love you brother (or sister). You don't have to be a great artist or writer to make a card that expresses your true feelings.

3. Serve Breakfast in Bed

Here's one that you can do if your sibling lives with you: surprise them with a luxurious breakfast while they're still in bed. With the current pandemic and stay-at-home orders still in place you may even be lucky enough to be home temporarily sheltering in place with another grownup sib at your parent's house, so this would be a really nice thing to do for them.

4. Text A Memorable Sibling Photo

If you're separated by distance, look through your old photos and find one of that special brother or sister moment that's either memorable or funny. Then, using your favorite text overlay smartphone app (my favorite is Canva) to turn it into a witty meme and text it to them.

5. Make a Phone Call

If you live far away from each other, perhaps the most quaint and meaningful idea is simply to pick up the phone. Call your brother and/or sister to chat and wish them a Happy National Brothers and Sisters Day!

More About National Today

National Today's mission is to build awareness about all the special holidays there are around the world and creative and fun ideas to celebrate them. Learn more by visiting NationalToday.com and by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 


Thanks to National Today and Top Agency PR for making this post possible

Love Lettering Romance Book Review

Books

Thanks to Kensington Books and SheSpeaks for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

Love to read and are you in the market to enjoy a good new romantic title?  With creative flair, an intriguing plot line and main characters that are so well-developed they almost jump off the page into your living room, you're going to want to take a look at the new book Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn, Kensington Books (2020).

This is a contemporary love story like none other I've read. Set primarily in Brooklyn, with some scenes in Manhattan and elsewhere in the Northeast, this tale revolves around a talented artist named Meg who specializes in an extraordinary kind of hand lettering. Better known as the Planner of Park Slope, she has become somewhat of a celebrity for her artistic lettering talents, custom designing journals, walls, wedding stationery, and more for a quickly-growing list of impressive clients.

The story unfolds when Meg hides a secret word of warning within a wedding program she has created for one of her clients. The couple's wedding is canceled before it can take place. Then, a year later, the former fiancé, a handsome mathematically-inclined guy named Reid, comes to the shop where the Planner of Park Slope works. His curiosity has gotten the better of him, and he seeks her out to find out how she knew his marriage was doomed.

What happens when a left-brained creative and a right-brained mathematician -- who seemingly are incompatible opposites with little in common -- start getting to know each other? They embark on a new relationship, by playing a peculiar game of deciphering signs on neighborhood buildings as they walk through city streets of New York. 

Creatively executed hand lettering, such as blackboard chalk styles, are all the rage right now in everything from menus and websites to wall murals, and even store signage, so this novel could not be more timely. You'll learn what makes hand lettering so special as well as you will be kept guessing and trying to sort things out from the start of the story till the very last page of this cleverly crafted piece of fiction.

More About Love Lettering

Authored by Kate Clayborn and chosen as an Amazon Book of the Month , Love Lettering is available in paperback from Kensington Books. Learn more by following the hashtags #ReadLoveLettering and #SheSpeaks, as well as checking out Kensington Books on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and Kate Clayborn on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Dolittle Movie Giveaway + Free Printables

Movies

Dolittle Giveaway & Free Printables

MBE partnered with Universal Pictures for this post

Those of you who are old enough might remember the original 1967 Doctor Dolittle movie which starred Rex Harrison and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Over the years, there have been several other big screen attempts to retell the story about the eccentric, but good doctor based on Hugh Lofting's classic 1920-1930 children's book series. To entertain the newest generation of viewers at home, the family comedy adventure Dolittle (2020), starring Robert Downey Jr., is now available on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD.

Directed by Stephen Gaghan, the film features Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Dolittle along with Antonio Banderas (King Rassouli), Michael Sheen (Dr. Blair Mudfly), and Harry Collett as Tommy Stubbins, Dr. Dolittle's young and eager apprentice. Among the voice actors filling out the cast are Emma Thompson (Poly), Rami Malek (Chee-Chee), John Cena (Yoshi), Kumail Nanjiani (Plimpton), Octavia Spencer (Dab-Dab), Tom Holland (Jip), Ralph Fiennes (Barry), Selena Gomez (Betsy), and Marion Cotillard (Tutu) and other great talents.

Bonus Material includes

• TALK TO THE ANIMALS – A behind-the-scenes look at the actors recording their animal voice characters
• DR. DOLITTLE  & HARRY: MENTOR & MENTEE – An insider's view of the unique professional bond between Robert Downey Jr.  and 16-year old Harry Collett
• BECOMING THE GOOD DOCTOR –  How Downey and the other actors brought their human and animal characters to life
• PIRATE KING – Up close with Antonio Banderas and insight into how he injected realism into his role as King Rassouli
• WICKED DR. MUDFLY – Michael Sheen shares about creating his villain
• A MOST UNUSUAL HOUSE – Take a virtual walk through the stages and sets to explore upclose the unique nooks and crannies of Dr. Dolittle's home 

Giveaway

Dolittle
Blu-ray DVD Movie Combo

MBE Giveaway
on Instagram

Thanks to Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, ONE (1) lucky MBE giveaway participant will win the new Dolittle Blu-ray + DVD + Digital combo movie. To enter this Movie Giveaway Mommy Blog Expert is hosting, visit this MBE Instagram post. Contest is open to US residents only and qualifying winner will be selected at random. Hurry, this giveaway ends April 27, 2020 at 12 am PST/3 am EST. Universal Pictures is providing the prize and is responsible for delivery to winner.

Free Printables 

About Dolittle

Dolittle, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, is rated PG. Learn more about the movie by watching the trailer and visiting the official website, as well as following all the Dolittle news on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Star Wars Backpack Kids Recycled Craft

DIY Crafts

Mini Backpack Made with Recycled Materials

To celebrate Lucasfilm's home entertainment release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker set in a galaxy far, far away, here's a fun, down-to-Earth craft inspired by the strong female character Rey, portrayed by Daisy Ridley in the movie. 

You and your child can easily make this fun mini backpack project together using some basic craft materials and repurposing a few simple items you probably already have at home. Not only is this a cool DIY collectible for older kids and grown-up Star Wars fans, it is also the perfect size to fit 18" dolls, making it a great new accessory for kids ages 4 and up.

Star Wars Mini Backpack Craft

Materials 

• One 20-tea bag cardboard box, empty
• Brown paper takeout bag
• 28" length of 3/8" brown ribbon or felt, cut in half
• Two recycled small buckles cut from old girls shoes
• Silver glitter
• White craft glue
• Toothpicks
• Paper Clips
• Ruler
• Scissors 
• Pencil
• White tissue paper for tracing
• Fine tip gray/silver and black markers

Directions

1. Carefully unglue tea bag box and lay flat, leaving all tabs intact.

2. Use pencil to trace flattened box onto a brown bag which has been cut into a single layer of paper.

3. Cut brown paper all  in one piece and glue paper bag to outside of flat box so.

4. Trace Star Wars logo from Bluray box onto tissue paper (or draw free hand).

5. Center logo onto front of box, transfer first in pencil then go over again with gray or silver fine tip marker.

6. Apply glue with toothpick inside the lines of the Star Wars logo, then apply silver glitter and shake off excess. 

7. Allow to dry, then use black fine tip black marker to handwrite smaller "The Rise of Skywalker" lettering in the line space between the words Star and Wars.

8. Glue box back together using paper clips to bond edges together till set.

9. Align brown ribbon (or felt strips) wrapping vertically around all four sides of box as shown, gluing to paper on each side as shown. Thread a buckle through each side ribbon/felt and glue in place.   

10. From brown paper bag, cut two strips etach measuring 12-inches long by 1-1/2 inches wide. Fold each strip in half lengthwise and then connect each with white glue to form loops. Glue each loop to back of box to form backpack shoulder straps. 

Happy Crafting &
May The Force Be With You!

Enter Bluray Movie
Giveaway Now

Share A Photo of Your Rey Backpack as a Comment

Please feel free to put your own personal twist on this DIY idea, then share your crafty end result as a comment below along with a project photo (kids in images encouraged, but optional). We'd love to see what you make as well as share it with readers.