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The Pineapple Philosophy

Authentic hospitality creates community

Family Dates

Interactive Family Movie Night | Great for a Crowd

February 21, 2017

Invite another family to join you for a fun interactive movie night. Guaranteed to take fun to the next level! Five movie options for all tastes!I’m an old soul and I love traditional entertaining! I think it absolutely has a place in modern hospitality. I love planning large get-togethers, with full sit down meals that include dessert. Getting the invites out weeks in advance. But, it’s also 2017 and I have two toddlers, so sometimes I have to throw out my grandmother’s rule book and find new ways to connect with people. I’m still the hostess, I’m arranging the avenue through which people are reconnecting, but it just doesn’t look like you’d think. This series focuses on thinking outside of the box when it comes to entertaining. Enjoy!

Family Movie Night

You all LOVED my Holiday Classics movie night ideas so much I had to revisit the topic for movies that can be watched all year round. What’s great about this idea, is that it’s no trouble to invite another family to join in on the fun! This sort of fun can be easily dialed up or down depending on the level of effort you have to offer. So, without further ado, here is some ideas to set your wheels spinning!

Curious George (2006, 1 hr 26 min)

Animals and adventures abound in this family friendly favorite. It’s excellent for the pre-school set but still entertaining for the adults. Bring some of the fun off the screen by creating a little scavenger hunt of your own. If children are not reading age yet, use pictures to guide them to the next clue. A box of chocolate coins covered in gold foil are a perfect treasure to discover at the end of the hunt. If the kids are old enough for arts and crafts, kids can make masks of their favorite jungle animal using construction paper, crayons, paper plates and wooden craft sticks to wear on their hunt.

Toy Story (1995, 1 hr 21 min)

A favorite of both young and old, Toy Story is a great option for a joint family movie night. Swing by the party store and pick up some rocket-ship plates and napkins and order a pizza to create your own Pizza Planet. Encourage the kids to bring their own favorite toy to share the evening with. For even more fun, see if the parents still have their special toy kicking around to bring too. This is sure to bring out the youthful innocence of all your guests!

Cars (2006, 1 hr 57 min)

Nothing is more fun than a drive-in movie. Unfortunately, there are only about 300 drive-in movie theaters left in the US. Luckily, you can recapture the magic in your own backyard! Visit your local appliance shop and find enough boxes for all attending children, big enough that they could sit in them. Then provide the kids with paper plates, construction paper, crayons and markers to transform these ordinary boxes into their own personal hot rod. Once their finished, line them up in front of the screen and let the film roll! The kids will last longer in their cars if you provide pillows and blankets so they can make their own little nest.

The Lego Movie (2014, 1 hr 40 min)

A newer favorite, the Lego Movie is lots of fun for everyone. Start the evening out by providing a bunch of Legos and encouraging everyone, parents and kids, to be their own Master Builder! If they need a little more guidance, you can provide a stack of cards with suggestions on them. Pick a card and attempt to build it. You can offer prizes for the most accurate, the silliest and the most creative.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
(1971, 1 hr 29 min)

It’s so fun to introduce your kids to classics from your childhood and what kid doesn’t love chocolate?! Bake some cupcakes in advance and set up a DIY cupcake decorating bar. Set out frosting and an assortment of candy that would make Willy Wonka proud! Let each guest create their own chocolate masterpiece to munch on during the movie.

I hope these ideas have gotten your wheels turning. I’d love to know if you have another idea for an interactive movie night! It’s a great alternative to trying to plan a meal for another family. What are some of your family favorite movies?

Invite another family to join you for a fun interactive movie night. Guaranteed to take fun to the next level! Five movie options for all tastes!

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Filed Under: Family Dates, Kid Friendly, Party Ideas

Date Your Family – Making Dinnertime More Meaningful

July 19, 2016

“Date your family.” I know you read that title and thought, “What the heck?!” Bear with me my dear friends. There are perspective shifting, family changing ideas ahead! My husband and I are both old souls and I knew we had something in common when he invited me over to watch an old movie and started out the night with a hilarious 1950-something educational film called “A Date with Your Family”. The film painted the picture of a laughably quaint family life that was so “Leave it to Beaver” it would make even the most conservative person living in 2016 cringe at the gender stereotypes. (Note how sister changes into a festive frock and helps mother with dinner while brother takes time to do his homework. Um, when is sister supposed to do her homework?!)

As over the top as this film is, it’s really stuck with me – obviously since I’m still talking about it over six years since first seeing it – and it left me thinking about dinner in the modern home. We all know that the dinner hour has become a frantic and rushed part of the day. But, when it comes to hospitality, how can we ever hope to get to a point where social get-togethers are less stressful if we never take the time to practice our skills the rest of the time? What if we put a little extra effort into everyday dinners – both in preparing and presentation but also in conversing with one another? I bet you’ll find not only have you honed your hospitality skills but you’ve also created more meaningful moments with your most important guests – your family! So, here are some ideas to help you “Date Your Family” even if you’re no June Cleaver –

  • Plan Ahead – Think back to when you were dating your spouse, you always thought through your plan for a date well in advance. It was fun to imagine how it would work out and it made everything run a little smoother. The same is true for family dinner! If you haven’t found a rhythm for meal planning, I highly recommend it. And, I know what you’re saying. “I’m too busy to mDate Your Familyeal plan!” Well, here’s a little secret, the busier you are, the more important it is to carve out the time to plan your meals. You’ll eat better and spend less and have less stress. Find the system that works well for you – weekly meal plans, every two weeks or even having a freezer full of a few staple meals. Whatever it is, work at it and fine tune it to fit your family. You’ll never regret making the effort!
  • Set the Mood – There’s someone I’d like to introduce you to – – – your table. For some of you, your table is like a distant acquaintance used more for craft projects and collecting the mail than bonding with your family. Meals are eaten on the couch, standing in the kitchen or at the breakfast bar. But tables are different. Tables encourage us to sit down and engage with each other. Take a little time each week to spruce your table. Wipe it down, put out fresh napkins or a pretty table cloth or place-mats (You own these things anyway, why not use them?!) Make it inviting! When it’s time for dinner, dim the lights and light a candle. I know you’re scoffing at me but my mother frequently lit a candle for family dinner and I do it too. We’ve noticed that even our toddler seems to mellow out with the more relaxed mood.
  • Turn off the Electronics – In my house growing up, we didn’t even answer the phone if it rang during dinner. I think that was pretty common for a lot of homes in the 80’s. I’m not sure how we progressed from that to where we are now but I know I’m just as guilty as the next person of having my face buried in my phone while I shovel food in my mouth! Consider making dinner a 30 minute technology free zone. Silence the phones, turn off the TV and tune into each other. Be present with the ones you’re with. You’ll be teaching your kids how to do the same.

Okay, so here’s the honest truth, is dinner like this at my house every night? Absolutely not!!! Have I mentioned I have a two year old who won’t eat and a 10 month old who can’t get enough food? We battle over food, order pizza because I don’t have a plan and leave the TV on from time to time but I’m a big believer in the 80/20 rule. If 80% of the time you’re making an effort to treat dinner more like a date, the 20% of the time you can’t, won’t really matter in the long run. You’ll see the positive effects from all the little changes you make! So, tell me, is dinner an important time at your home? Do you have ways that you encourage your family to slow down and enjoy each other? Any words of wisdom for drawing kids more into the conversation? I’d love to hear it all below so don’t forget to leave a comment!

Acts 2:46 – They broke bread in their homes
and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

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Filed Under: Everyday Fun, Family Dates Tagged With: Dinner, Family, Table

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What is the Pineapple Philosophy?

In a culture that is more connected than ever, we are missing the authentic community that we crave.

God calls us to practice hospitality as a way to genuinely connect with each other but how do you do that when life is busy and toddlers are always running around your ankles?

Here, you will learn how to simplify your life so you can impact your family, your friends and your neighbors through simple acts of hospitality.

 

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Jessica Beck

 I’m a woman with a love of people and a passion to make everyone feel welcomed and valued just as they are because Christ values me just as I am. In the modern world of Instagram, Pinterest and HGTV, the joy that comes from simple entertaining and the true intention of hospitality is often lost. Hospitality is about investing in people, building relationships and nurturing others. Join me on my journey to reawaken joy and warmth in the modern home while parenting two toddlers and sharing life with my amazing husband.

With Joy –

Jessica Beck
– People Lover
– Hostess Extraordinaire
– Glamping Enthusiast

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