THIS WEEK IN M.O.M…Do your kids love to play dress up? It seems like every child at one time or another becomes obsessed with the popular play time activity of dress up! It must be the magic of make believe that intrigues them because when they put on that pink tutu they become a ballerina. Or when they don that hat and tie, they become daddy. No matter who your child pretends to be when they dress up, it's wonderful to watch as parents. We've gathered some home videos of kids being kids and dressing up as anyone else!

Do your kids love to play dress up? What do they dress up as? Leave us a comment below and share your stories with us!

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My older son and I have been knocking heads lately, so much so it seems like I'm always arguing or disciplining or being a wicked mother and it is starting to give me a bit of a complex so I did the one thing I could think of to relieve some of my teenaged boy anxiety and irritation. I took my daughter and nieces to go see Beauty and The Beast in 3D this past weekend. It was girls' day out, complete with licorice, chocolate, popcorn and mushy musicals.

Sometimes girls just need a chance to be girls and sometimes that means copious amounts of junk food, the inclusion of a Disney princess and a timeless love story.

(There may have been some nostalgia on my half as well. Beauty and the Beast [non-3D] was the movie I saw on my very first date. His name was Chad and he was shorter than me. I was smitten with him. He dumped me for some rich girl named Mary. I'm not bitter or anything. Not anymore at least.)

One of my favourite parts of Beauty and the Beast is when Mrs. Potts yells at t

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Every once in a while, your child says something that makes you feel like a total mommy rock star.

Last night, tired and wondering what I could possibly make for dinner, I improvised this pasta dish with what I had on hand in the fridge. Much to my surprise dinner was received with, "Mommy, this is the best dinner you've ever made!" Wow. It felt like winning the Academy Award of home cooking. High marks, to be sure. Either that, or my regular culinary output leaves much to be desired by my 4 year old's "advanced" palate…hmm. Anyway, I pride myself on serving as much real, non-processed food as my schedule and budget allows, and this dinner was simple, quick and apparently, the best thing I've ever made!

In case you are experiencing that oh-so-familiar loss of what to make for dinner, here's a simple one pot dish you can try:

The "Best Dinner Mommy Ever Made" Pasta

5 pieces of bacon, cut into small strips

½ an onion, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

2 ta

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Source: How to Teach Your Kids Gratitude

In this age of instant gratification, encourage your kids to learn and practice simple acts of gratitude. Not only will it help build and improve their value systems, but it's also a great way to help them find more happiness in the everyday. Follow these five easy tips to inspire more thank-yous.

1. Volunteer as a family. Sign up for a local food drive or a 5K dedicated to a cause. Make it a family affair so that your kids are aware of those who are less fortunate. Participating in philanthropic activities will teach them the importance of giving back and the joy in helping others.
2. Give them a gratitude journal. Buy your children a gratitude journal and encourage them to write down what they're thankful for at the end of each day. Sitting down and thinking about what matters most to them will help to boost their mood and strengthen their appreciation.
3. Be a stickler for thank-you notes. Invest in some cute personalized thank-you

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THIS WEEK IN M.O.M… we're giving you tips on how to make your next grocery shopping trip a little easier! Those grocery aisles can seem never ending when you're toting around hungry kids, so watch as our host Diane Mizota takes her son to the store to share tips on how to get in and out quickly with everything on your list!

What are your savvy shopping tips? Share them with us by leaving a comment below…

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