Family time, unplugged & a popcorn cupcake tutorial
In today’s digital age, one of the only ways we’re able to stay connected through it all is by our cell phones. Whether it’s phone calls, text / picture messaging, or video chatting, we rely on quality phone service and a reliable cell phone in order to keep in touch.
Every other TV commercial today is cell phone companies claiming to have the most reliable coverage for the best price, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll see that’s just not true. Recently, when our family was looking to change providers, we could not find any family plan that was less than $200 for unlimited data, text and phone – tell me again how these companies are “affordable”? With a single budget household, we weren’t willing to compromise our budget for service that wasn’t even guaranteed in the areas we live in and visit most.
The plan we chose was a no-brainer. Walmart’s Family Mobile’s PLUS plan comes with Unlimited Talk, Text, & Data which includes up to 10GB of 4G LTE plus a free new release movie rental on VUDU every month ($7 value) on each line for only $49.88 (plus, each additional line is $5 off!)! That’s half the price I was paying previously!
With the unlimited talk, text and data, our entire family can keep up to date with each other in a really affordable way. As I mentioned earlier, we are a pretty busy trio as it is, and I only anticipate life getting a little more chaotic when #4 joins us later this year. My husband works long hours, and when he comes home at the end of the day, we only have a few hours together to be able to cook and eat dinner, and then it’s time to put H to bed. Because of this, we don’t get to spend much time together during the week, so we’ve started putting one night a week aside – just for us.
- 1 box of Cupcake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of oil (or unsweetened applesauce)
- 1 tube of frosting
- A bag of mini marshmallows
- Scissors
- Cupcake liners (red and white striped ones keep true to the popcorn feel, but feel free to get a little creative if your store doesn’t have them, and make little DIY stands like we did!)
- Mix and bake cupcakes according to package directions, and let cool.
- While cupcakes are cooling, start making marshmallow “popcorn” (it’s easy, I promise!) Taking your scissors, make 3 to 4 snips in the top half of each marshmallow, so they look like freshly popped kernels.
- Once cooled, apply a generous amount of frosting on each cupcake, and press in your marshmallow popcorn. You can work from the perimeter to the center, or start on one side and work to the other, and I actually do a few of each to keep them looking more unique.
- If you really want to get authentic, you can take a little kitchen torch and toast the top of the marshmallow popcorn, or you can also use an edible yellow paint on top to give your popcorn a buttered look.
- Cuddle up on the couch with your favorite VUDU rental thanks to Walmart’s Family Mobile PLUS plan, and enjoy your popcorn cupcakes with your friends and family!
These nights we spend together are unplugged, meaning no Facebook, Instagram, Emails or anything. With the extra data and 4G LTE coverage that the PLUS plan gives us, I am able to constantly be connected so I can get more done during the day, and I can stay more organized with my work, household and mom duties. That way, when the Hubs gets home at the end of the day, I can fully unplug and focus on being with the people I love, rather than stressing over if my ‘to do’ list is done!
The extra data also comes in handy while we’re traveling, as I can keep H more entertained with watching his favorite shows and movies, playing games, or using his toddler-friendly educational apps.
It may only be one night a week, but it has really become a time that we all look forward to, especially after a long week. As our days of a family of three will soon be coming to a close, quality time with our current only child has really become more and more important. From shopping together for the snacks, choosing a new release movie to rent, and making a sweet treat to enjoy together and getting all snuggled up on the couch – it’s all about being present with my family.
They carry such a great plan-and those cup-cakes are the cutest!!!
Thank you! They were fun to make!
Those popcorn cupcakes look AMAZING! What a great idea and that mobile plan looks brilliant too 🙂
Lottie xx
http://lottielamour.co.uk
Those cupcakes are adorable! I love it when something like that looks complicated, but it's actually pretty simple. Thanks for sharing that!
How fun! We are long overdue for movie night – def need to plan one now!
Wahhh those cupcakes are adorable!! I'll have to make them myself with some whipped icing 🙂
We do a lot of movie nights, and I think those little popcorn cupcakes would be perfect!
I love those cupcakes SO much! My kids would flip their lids over them.
Sounds like a great plan for my son. Those cupcakes are so cute.
This sounds like a great plan! I currently spend that much on my cell phone plan, but I do not get as much GB. I am going to look more into this.
We love family movie night! We usually have a pizza "picnic" and watch a movie together. So fun!
We love family movie night! We usually have a pizza "picnic" and watch a movie together. So fun!
Holy Spatula! This is frikkin EPIC! Thank you so much for sharing this. I love love popcorn and movie nights. this is such an awesome idea. I'm going to try it now.
I love these cupcakes, you did an awesome job. I've not heard about this walmart package before. Will def check them out now.
Thank you! They were super yummy to eat and the plan is awesome!
Those popcorn cupcakes are so cute
wow that's a happy bundle for family on a budget 🙂 but do you mean, no free internet just call and text plus free movies? Sorry, just asking 😀 BTW, your popcorn cupcakes are awesome. Great ideas for birthday parties too 😉
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It's a great price! You get the unlimited data with the plan as well 🙂 And the first 10GB uses the 4G LTE network!
Love a movie night!
Who wouldn't love family movie nights, right? It's one of the best things to do with the kids, especially when you have treats as good as those popcorn cupcakes!
I love movie nights too but what I love most in your post is the popcorn cupcake! It looks so real and looks so yummy too!
Those are such cute cupcakes! I love a good family movie night, we usually get all of our stuff at Walmart.
Those are cupcakes!! 😀
I think I prefer regular popcorn (I am not a sweet tooth at all), but the idea is awesome!
No Walmart in Tbilisi, Georgia, but maybe soon they'll come here 😉
Those cupcakes are adorable! I know my kiddos would love them 🙂
I love these popcorn cupcakes they are so adorable and perfect for movie nights.
We have family movie night with Vudu and Netflix. Great idea to add cupcakes now and then.
We also unplug during our family movie nights. This sounds like a very practical mobile family plan.
Those cupcakes are adorable. We always make the kids get rid of their electronics before family time.
Love them cupcakes. Looks like such a fun night!
Those cupcakes are so fun! We love family movie nights!
Those popcorn cupcakes might just be the cutest things I have ever seen!
These popcorn cupcakes are adorable, my daughter would love them so much!
I love pre-made mixes too, that way I can easily spend my time with my movies and shows. This is a good post for everyone who wants to maximize the most and efficiency out of their family bonding!
I love family movie nights. Those popcorn cupcakes are awesome! That is such a great idea. I'll have to make them sometime.
I bet my kids would love those popcorn cupcakes! What a creative idea!
we love having family movie nights in our house
Looks like a fun movie night. I'll have to check out the Walmart Family Plan, I love the movie option as well.
how cool! Movie night with the fambam at home is always fun. I love the popcorn cupcake idea! Thanks for sharing!
Cutest cupcakes ever. I've never see this Family Plan from Walmart. I'll have to check it out.
Those cupcakes are too cute. I need to look into this Walmart family plan. With my kids getting older and getting to where they want cell phones, I need a cost effective solution.
That looks like a great cellphone plan.I need to look into it.Them cupcakes are so cute.
That’s a cool mobile plan, I think I’m gonna change my mobile plan now haha! By the way, those cupcakes looks cool too.
I just told the kids we were goinig to switch mobile plans. This one has piqued my interest!
Nowadays, telecom provides movie streaming in all plans which is very convenient. Now we can watch movies everywhere!
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Sounds like a fun movie night with loved ones! I'm going to try this one too. 🙂
this movie night sounds so much fun. we used to do movie nights all the time before i left home. i really miss them.
What a lovely family! Movie nights are the best. We like to see something at our local drive-in theater at least once a week, since it allows us to take the kids. We all have fun fighting over the bucket of popcorn ;).