Free IHOP pancakes March 3 to benefit CMN hospitals - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

I love pancakes. I think every kid and kid at heart does. So Happy National Pancake Day! IHOP is giving away free pancakes on Tuesday, March 3. Everyone who comes to IHOP (the International House of Pancakes) will receive one free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. That's a sweet deal, right? But the sweetest part is that IHOP's free pancakes day benefits charity. Guests are asked to show their gratitude for the meal by donating to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals or other sponsored charity of choice.  National Pancake Day, free IHOP pancakes March 3 to benefit CMN hospitals - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Ugly, fat Barbie doll? Will kids want normal non-glamour dolls for Christmas?

 A revolutionary toy hit markets--ugly fat Barbie, says CNN November 20. Will she be on little girls' Christmas wish lists like her glamourous predecessor? You decide. Actually, ugly is the wrong word for the Lammily doll. She's not repulsive, just average looking, with warts and acne and all. The anti-Barbie isn't fat, either, unless you call normal proportions "fat." Unlike Barbie's mutant- large boobs, emaciated butt and waist and elongated legs, Lammily has a bigger butt, smaller breasts, thicker legs, even the dread cankles. Girls can further normalize her by adding zits, scars, tattoos and (gasp!) cellulite. Ugly, fat Barbie doll? Will kids want normal non-glamour dolls for Christmas? 

Top 10 Halloween costumes for 2014 - Grand Rapids Holidays

Are you a trend-follower or trailblazer when it comes to Halloween costumes? If you answered "trendy!" here's the list of top 10 Halloween costumes for 2014. Party City, a one-stop purveyor of all things holiday, lists what's hot and flying off their shelves this year. We'll take it in backwards order, just to keep the suspense.  Top 10 Halloween costumes for 2014 - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Free Printable Strawberry Shortcake Coloring Pages, Vintage Dolls and New Ones - Bubblews

Strawberry Shortcake has been loved by children since 1979, when American Greetings featured her on a greeting card. Then Kenner toy company designed a set of dolls each with different fruity dessert names and dressed in color matched clothing. Some had a companion animal pet with a matching dessert name. If I remember correctly, the dolls smelled like their fruit, too! In that spirit of memorabilia, here are Free Printable Strawberry Shortcake Coloring Pages, Vintage Dolls

Free Printable Star Wars Coloring Pages to Celebrate Star Wars Episode VII

Are you a Star Wars geek? I remember my dad taking me to see the first film in the theater (a big deal, him not being a movie type of guy). We felt kind of silly seeing a "space" show---echoes of cheesy 60s sci-fi worried us that Star Wars might be similar But we both loved it and cheered aloud all the way through (also out of character for two anal retentive, uptight Hollanders!) I have gone on to raise a family of Star Wars nerds.



Are you looking forward to the long-anticipated Star Wars Episode VII coming out December, 2015? Many of the original cast returns including Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca--and my favorite Star Wars character) and Anthony Daniels (C3PO).



The movie series began in 1977 with episodes IV--Star Wars, A New Hope, V--The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and VI--Return of the Jedi in 1982 (I think). In the late 1990s, the series restarted with the next three episodes, which were actually the first three in the story series: I--The Phantom Menace, II-- Attack of the Clones and III--Revenge of the Sith. The Clone Wars brings the Star Wars series to a new genre: animated cartoons. Star Wars characters return in The Clone Wars, plus some new folks.



For all you Star Wars fans in the galaxy, here are websites and links with close to 200 free printable coloring pages from all six episodes plus many from Clone Wars. Free Printable Star Wars Coloring Pages

Free Printable Planet of the Apes Coloring Pages Retro Coloring Books

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" opens this week and if promises hold true, it's going to be epic. I remember the old Planet of the Apes in 1968 with Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall. The original screenplay was written by Rod Serling (of Twilight Zone fame). Others had a go at POTA sequels--including Tim Burton in 2001. Not a sci-fi or POTA fan, myself. But I did love coloring pages. Still do. So, here are  Free Printable Planet of the Apes Coloring Pages (click here for links) for YOU! (Image from Hunter's Planet of the Apes Archive--thanks, Hunter!)

Free Printable Classic Disney Movie Coloring Pages

Remember those old Disney classics: The Love Bug, That Darn Cat, Herbie Rides Again, Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks and others? And how about the old full-length cartoons? Robin Hood, The Aristocats, 101 Dalmations, The Fox and the Hound. So many wonderful movies from '60s and early '70s.



The first movie I ever saw, at six, was when I lived on a remote Alaskan island with my mom. The "movie theater" was a church hall, folding chairs and a portable screen. The film was "Son of Flubber." Later when we returned to Michigan, mom and I would go to Saturday matinees. We could see a double feature, have popcorn, pop and candy for under $2 each. If you share my love of old Disney movies, here are Free Printable Classic Disney Movie Activities

Free Old School Father's Day Gifts, Do-With-Dad Activities

Yanno, they say women are romantic. But so are a lot of guys, especially older ones. I'm not talking girly romantic, but they are sentimental. Particularly about stuff from childhood (have you SEEN the man's closet--overflowing with moth-eaten toys

!) So if you're looking for low-cost Father's Day gifts? (Hint--third Sunday in June, don't forget!) why not take dad on a walk down memory lane with these retro gifts and crafts! Free Father's Day Gifts, Do-With-Dad Activities from A-Z+

Father's Day Gifts at Old-Fashioned Prices--Under $10

I've always loved making, buying, giving gifts. I was a creative child with lots of funky ideas about what my family would like as presents. I shunned the traditional tie and pipe on Father's Day. But holidays usually find me with more people to remember than money in my purse. Here are Father's Day gifts at old-fashioned prices. Under $5 to $10. Okay so back in the day, it was a buck. But you get the point. Nice gifts for dad, father-in-law, grandfather, step-dad, uncles, brothers, minister, priest, rabbit, special guys--all at budget prices. 50 Father's Day Gifts Under $10

Printable Mother's Day Crafts Make Happy Childhood Memories

I've always loved making crafts since I was a little girl. I especially liked making gifts for people on holidays and birthdays. I wasn't very artistic, but my heart was in it. Do you like making crafts. Do you have kids who like crafting? Well, hint, hint, Mother's Day is just around the corner. How's about printing free Mother's Day crafts from the internet to make for mom (grandma, auntie, godmother, step-mom, dad's girlfriend?) I'm sure those ladies would love a homemade gift as much I did when my kids were young. With computers and home printers making printng so easy, it's at your fingertips. I would have thought I'd died and gone to heaven to get my hands on free printable crafts! Click here to find printable Mother's Day greeting cards, paper crafts, origami, photo frames, scrapbook stuff, party decorations, flower baskets, gift boxes and more.  Free Mother's Day Crafts for Kids to Print