Being a parent today means there a few essential tools you need. After the requisite time, basic necessities, and love, I would certainly add Netflix and Legos to the list. What if you could combine all of these things into one amazing night? Netflix has added Lego Friends and Lego Bionicle to their lineup. My kids are so excited about these additions. Now all you need to do is add the interactive part. Here are three easy ideas to make that happen.

How to Make an Upcycled Batman v. Superman 3D Picture Frame

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with Fandango Family. I was compensated but all opinions are my own.

If you are a parent, chances are you have a box or two of old action figures. They might be broken or long forgotten, but some might be able to be upcycled to make something brand new that your kids will love. This will work especially well if you have old Superman and Batman figures lying around because, with just a little paint and glue, you can make a custom 3D picture frame for the new Batman v. Superman blockbuster coming out. The toy aisles are already full of merchandise but you can make your little fan something none of their friends have. Once you have made this upcycled superhero frame, make sure and experience the movie using Fandango to make sure you get your tickets!

Supplies
Two old Batman and Superman action figures

How to Make an Easter Bunny Basket Lunch

If you want to make a quick and fun Easter Bunny lunch for your kids, here is your chance! This lunch is made in an Easy Lunch Boxes container and even has an Easter basket background. All you need is a cookie cutter and you are on your way. My whole family loves Easter in our house. This year will be different because we are away from extended family, but we will still have fun. This lunch will be the perfect addition to the week to get your kids ready for the holiday. Remember to follow me on all my social channels so you don't miss out on any of the recipes, humor, articles, and other fantastic parenting resources.

Ingredients: Whole wheat bread, provolone cheese, raisins, edible modeling dough, cheddar cheese,

Alley-Oop Turkey Soup: The Slam Dunk Recipe For Your Next Party

Disclosure: I have partnered with Life of Dad and Shady Brook Farms / Honeysuckle White for this promotion.

Your next party is right around the corner. Game-time has almost started and you have no idea what to bring. Never fear, because my new recipe for Alley-Oop Turkey Soup always comes through in the clutch. Whether it's a neighborhood party watching the championship game, or your family is actually going to the playoffs, this recipe is perfect for adults and kids. It will standout among the crowded food table and fill you up.

An alley-oop is a spectacular basketball play that finishes with a slam dunk, which is exactly what this soup is! Below is a picture of my daughter and I at the recent college basketball playoffs. Trust me when I say that no food served there filled us up like my Alley-Oop Turkey Soup!

The MVP of this recipe is the turkey. I used Honeysuckle White brand turkey because it tastes great and their turkeys are premium quality without the premium price. They also are raised without growth-promoting antibiotics. My kids love this recipe because of the taste and us as parents love it

One Day In the Life Of a Dad

Disclosure: I have partnered with Life of Dad and Lee for this promotion.

Everyone knows that being a parent has it's good days and it's...challenging days. For a parent there are no typical days and there sure aren't any typical dads! Every day of the week contains ample amounts of craziness, crying, laughter, hugs, stepping on toys, cleaning up applesauce, tantrums, and kisses goodnight.

Since you never know what the day holds, a dad needs to be prepared, flexible, and use his time efficiently. He needs to be able to cook breakfast, be at the office, play with the kids, get chores done, and go on a date with is spouse without changing clothes three times. Here is what one Saturday might look like for me as a father. Can you relate?

5:30 am: 5-year-old son wakes up, comes into bedroom.

5:31 am: 5-year-old son sent back to his own bed.

6:03 am: 2-year-old wakes up yelling. Wait to see if he goes back to sleep. Wife and I rock-paper-scissors to see who will get him. There are no winners in this game.

Perfect Table Manners...According to My Kids

This post has been sponsored by Campbell's Soup. I have been compensated but all opinions are my own.

When it comes to meals, many times we we as parents are just happy when our kids eat three bites of the meal that was lovingly made for them. Ok, lovingly sometimes could mean, "It's what we had in the fridge and I still need to make muffins for the PTA bake sale tomorrow." However, much of the time the meal is put together with the best intentions. What happens after cooking though is the real challenge. It is what I like to call "Manners at the Dinner Table: Family Style." Sometimes it is known as, "I've told my kids 5,000 times what's appropriate, yet they seem to have short term memory loss."

Either way, if you are a parent of a young child, you can probably relate or you have your own list of dinner table manners that your kids live be. Be sure and share them on social media using #RealRealLife, because there's not much more real about parenting life than braving the dinner table with kids! Here are five dinner table manners that my kids like to believe are acceptable, but should be illegal in 48 states.

1. If the parent is cooking dinner, your child asking for a snack is perfectly logical.
It doesn't matter what stage the dinner preparation is in. You could literally be moving the food to the dinner table and your child will still wander in and boldly proclaim, "I'm starving, can I have a snack?"

2. No matter what food you just made, your kid will beg for something else.
You could have spent the last 45 minutes dazzling the rest of your family with your prowess in the kitchen. You might have even cooked your child's favorite meal of all time. There is a good chance that your kids haven't even seen what the food is, but they will still say they don't like _________, and resort to blackmail/bribery/wailing/hunger strike to get out of eating it.

10 Things No Parent Has Ever Said

You always hear about the wise, life-changing, or thought provoking statements that parents make. These are not those statements. In fact, I am 99.2% sure no parent has ever said any of these ten things.

1. Would you please dump all of your boxes of Legos out on the floor? Also, make sure they spill out into the hallway too. It's almost like a foot massage when we step on them at night.

2. Peeing in the toilet is more of a "guideline" than a rule. If you don't make it in, don't worry, it's not really a life skill you will ever need.

How to Make a St. Patrick's Day Lunch!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with Zazzle.com

St. Patrick's Day is one of those holidays that are really fun to be a part of. I don't think this day gets nearly the attention it deserves. Maybe the amazing corned beef and cabbage is wasted on too many people. Regardless, it's a fun day to send your kids off to school with a special lunch made in a festive lunchbox. I was able to order this St. Patty's Day themed yubo lunchbox from Zazzle.com.

In fact, Zazzle carries many variations for just about any occasion! You can also customize these lunchboxes with your child's name or picture. The faceplate can come off and be switched with any other ones so you can use the same lunchbox, but just give it a different look. Make sure and check out all of Zazzle.com as soon as you read now to make my St. Patrick's Day lunch!

Ingredients: Green grapes, shredded carrots, lime jello, orange colored yogurt covered raisins, celery sticks, cream cheese, orange sweet peppers, green veggie straws, whole wheat bread, cheddar cheese.

Disney's Zootopia Bento Lunch and FREE Zootopia coloring sheets

Along with many other people, my family was able to go and see Disney's Zootopia this weekend. My kids have been excited to see this movie for quite awhile. We were not disappointed. The movie was fantastic and presented some great lessons as well. Because we had such a wonderful family time together, I knew I had to create a fun lunch for my kids to take to school today. Plus I have some FREE downloadable Zootopia coloring sheets for your family, just scroll to the end of this post!

I made the lunch in an Easy Lunch Boxes container. I won't pretend this was an easy lunch to make. It took way longer than I expected it to. Because of this, I won't bother with instructions because they are pretty self explanatory, but I will give you the ingredients below. I recommend taking your family to see Zootopia and then maybe have some more fun by making them this lunch! Remember to follow me on all my social channels, the buttons are on the right of this page.

Ingredients:
Officer Judy Hopps: Whole wheat bread, jam, cream cheese dyed gray with black food coloring,