Family Movie Night Idea: Movie Bingo – With Free Printable Game Cards!

March 11, 2020 By Cori

As much as I love getting out and going to the movie theaters, there is just something about an at home Family movie night that I kind of love even more.

Maybe it’s being able to watch a movie in our PJs, or being able to snuggle under our comfiest blanket. Maybe it’s saving money on overpriced, over-buttered theater popcorn by just being able to pop in some popcorn in the microwave… or maybe it’s being able to pause the movie when one of the kids inevitable needs a bathroom break. Really, the list of reasons to love an at-home movie night go on and on.

We try to schedule a “family night” once or twice a month because it is a nice way to unplug, take a break “the busy” and enjoy some time together.

The kids look forward to these nights which sometimes include a board game, puzzle and/or a movie. We’re always keeping our eyes out for family movies as they’re released on iTunes and add them to our list for our next family movie night. As a family of 5 we sometimes we have a hard time choosing a movie or deciding if we should play a game or watch a movie, so a few years back we created a new idea where family game night meets family movie night –and it was a total WIN!

Family Movie Night Bingo!

is a combo of Bingo and I-Spy, really.

Each movie viewer gets a card. Each card is filled with pictures of actions that commonly happen in movies, such as: Fall in love, Magic performed, Laughing, Gift giving, Shopping, etc.

When you see one of these things happen in the movie you are watching you mark it off, first one to get BINGO (horizontal, vertical or diagonal) wins!

I created 6 randomized versions of the Bingo Card and printed them out 2 to a page onto .

Initially, I had used a square paper-punch to create markers, but the kids decided they preferred using their popcorn as markers instead. Which, really? Was definitely more fun than plain ol’ paper markers anyway.

The kids were over the moon with our movie night/ game night combo… and so were we, because as parents, multitasking is our middle name.

I think these little game cards could make a really cute game for a sleepover party too.

Download The Printable

{You can download your free Movie Bingo Cards here}

Here are a few other items that can take your family movie night to the next level:

Products from Amazon.com

Updated 2018: This post was originally posted in 2013 on in partnership with PopSecret

It’s Official: Our Family Is Moving To LA!

May 14, 2019 By Cori

It’s official! This summer our party of 5 will be packing up and moving from New Jersey to our new home in Los Angeles (that feels so weird to say)– and yes, we are driving there– because we like to keep life interesting.

If you’ve followed me online or know me personally for any length of time, you know all about our love affair with the California– so to say we are excited is an understatement– YES!!! Even the kids!!!

There is a lot more to share about the road that led us here, but for now I’m just happy to officially share our “big news” and bring you all along for the crazy journey ahead of us.

xo, Cori

5 Family Fun Faves In New Jersey

March 15, 2017 By Cori

Exploring and traveling with the kids is one of my favorite things to do, but there is nothing quite like finding fun and adventure in your own backyard.

Here in New Jersey there are some truly great places for family fun and so today I am teaming up with some of my fellow ‘Jersey girls’/Moms to share our favorite spots!

/ Mama Lew / A Fancy Girl Must / Everyday Cori / The Millenial Mom / We’re Parents /

Five Family Fun Faves In New Jersey

/ Outdoor fun /

LIBERTY STATE PARK

When it comes to the perfect park day there is just nothing that compares to this one.

Beyond your typical playground fun, Liberty State Park is home of the most breathtaking views of the sweeping New York City skyline, a gorgeous 9/11 memorial, old vintage train yard and a ferry to Liberty Island!

[read more about my favorite Mother’s Day ever at Liberty State Park]

/ Family Noshing /

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT ROONEY’S

credit: Rooney’s

We don’t often eat out for breakfast but that is what makes it extra special when we do!

Located directly off the beach in Long Branch, New Jersey, Rooney’s offers indoor and outdoor dining with a view– that is totally family friendly!

Rooney’s Sunday brunch is one of the best we’ve ever experienced here in New Jersey. Served buffet style (the kids looove buffets), they have everything you can imagine omelets, carving station, muffins, waffles, bagels salads, desserts…. and complimentary mimosas!

/ Indoor Fun /

KNOCKERBALL AT THE MONMOUTH MALL

This one we just discovered this past week when my oldest attended a birthday party here. Such a unique and fun experience, I knew right away I had to include it in this post.

Whether you’ve heard it called bubble soccer, bubble ball or bumper ball, Knockerball is basically human bumper cars. It is SO much fun and the perfect way for active kids to burn off some energy indoors!

The Knockerball location at the Monmouth mall also offer human foosball, “foot pool” (life/human-size pool table), “foot darts” and bocce. You can reserve any of these activities for 60-90 min.

/ Sweet Tooth /

FAMILY ICE CREAM SOCIAL AT CONEY WAFFLE

credit: Coney Waffle

You know those crazy, ginormous, ice cream sundaes people wait in line for, for hours (literally.) in New York City??

Well because we are friends, I’m going to let you in on a super secret I just recently discovered– you can find that same jaw-dropping sweetness here in New Jersey– without the crazy lines!

Coney Waffle is located Ocean Avenue in Belmar, New Jersey and serves up unique Sundaes that will wow your taste buds and give you and your family the ultimate dessert experience– what kid wouldn’t love that??

/ Beach Fun /

Jenkinson’s Boardwalk

There is definitely no shortage of boardwalk fun to be had here in New Jersey, but Jenkinson’s remains our favorite perhaps because it is holds so many years of memories for us.

It’s where James and I spent countless days when we first started dating, where we took our wedding photos, where all of our children had their first “beach day”, where we started our Father’s Day-at-the beach tradition – and not to brag, but it’s where our claw-game skills truly go to new levels– we get super competitive with each other over these games– only at Jenks!

We love spending the morning at the beach, the afternoon playing games, riding rides, sometimes popping in to see the penguins at Jenkinson’s Aquarium and always stopping at Joey Tomatoes for a ginormous-Jersey size slice of pizza. I highly recommend the buffalo chicken slice!

The fun doesn’t stop here!

There is so much more family fun here in The Garden State.

Hop on over to check out more Jersey Mom Favorites below:

/ Mama Lew / We’re Parents / A Fancy Girl Must / The Millenial Mom /

The Last Days Of Summer|| Simply Cali Family Roadtrip

August 28, 2014 By Cori

As the summer winds down, my family and I have been spending our last days of this beautiful summer season, exploring some of the California coast.

What started as a simple trip to Disneyland, ended up in a full blown road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles… with 2 kids and a 9 month old wildcard. I know. It sounds insane, but we are having a blast.

We love traveling with the kids. Exposing our oldest two to different traveling experiences at an early age, really has made them great travelers and we are hoping to do the same for little Avs.

Today is our last full day of our 10-day California roadtrip/vacation and looking back, I am kind of in awe of how much we have done and all that we have seen.

Highlights Of Our Last Days Of Summer… So Far–

Exploring Nature And Visiting Landmarks

A road trip would not be complete without visiting landmarks along the way, and California has a ton of gorgeous spots.

Last year, James and I took a quick baby moon to San Francisco and explored the gorgeous Muir Woods. When we planned this road trip, we knew immediately we wanted to bring the kids there.

Sight seeing becomes a whole new kind of fun when you give kids their own camera. These two have been taking selfies like crazy. We plan on making a book for them when our trip is over.

Acting Like A Kid

We planned a few stops along the way to Disneyland, that were especially exciting for the kids– and what is gross to adults is awesome to kids. So when we found this fun little spot in San Luis Obispo, called Bubblegum Alley, we immediately put it into the plan.

We brought a slew of Juicy Fruit Fruit Chews for the road (because they fit perfectly in cup holders) and some classic Juice Fruit Bubble gum for the plane (to avoid that ear pippin) so we were more than prepared for this spot.

When we arrived the kids reactions were… gross!, Wait, we can put our gum here?… COOL! – in that order.

Inhaling the little moments

We always take our family vacations at the end of summer and I look forward to them because they really allow us to reconnect as a family– away from our every day life. I cannot even count how many times I have seen our oldest two holding hands, arms around each other and just hanging out– not fighting!

When we return, we’ll will be posting some more about our trip, including some inspiration for taking your own road trip with your family, but in the meantime, you can see more and follow the rest of our end of summer adventures on Instagram @Complicatedmama #SimplyCali

How are you/did you spend your last days of summer?

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Share your sweetened up last days of summer with Juicy Fruit by using the hashtag #JuicyFruitFunSide on Twitter and Instagram!

This post was sponsored by Juicy Fruit.

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