Top 5 Summer Movie Picks + Garlic Parmesan Popcorn

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #DataAndAMovie #CollectiveBias

School is just about out for my kids (4 days to be exact but, who's counting?) and every summer we make a small bucket list of things to do as a family. From simple day to day activities to day trips and vacations, we try to think of a good list to choose from to create childhood memories and spend quality time together.

Some of our absolute musts are watching certain movies together that we have been wanting and waiting to see. We are definitely a movie watching kind of family! It's how we relax after a busy day or make the evening fun if we haven't done anything at all. It's a very easy and fun thing to do with the kids that is budget friendly too.

A few nights ago, while my husband was at the Fire Station and my son is in Arizona on vacation with his grandparents, my two daughters and I decided it was time to have a girl's movie night. I can't even remember the last time it was just the three of us home alone without the guys. They were so excited to be able to pick the movie without the boy's getting a say. They usually stick to the same movies that they watch over and over, so this time I told them it was time to look for a new one.

 Rewind to two days before that, I stopped by Walmart to grab some cleaning supplies, candles and pool toys and decided to check out their electronic section. Since my son was going out of town without us, my husband and I got this crazy idea to send him with a phone for safety reasons. So we called around and they wanted crazy things to add him to our plan. I knew there had to be another way. I walked by the cell phones and saw their Walmart Family Mobile PLUS plan featuring Unlimited Talk, Text, & Data which includes up to 10GB of 4G LTE data PLUS a free movie on VUDU (new release rental $7 value) every month per line for $49.88! That started turning the wheels in my head.

I wouldn't have to sign a contract and it would be month to month. Another perfect solution for my son. Since Family Mobile bills you later, you only have to pay $19.88 for the Starter Kit when you sign up. I choose to get the Cool Pad Rogue for $19.88 (Rollback from $39.83) and it's perfect for having an extra family phone on hand. Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to http://cbi.as/3edbv or your local Walmart for current pricing.

After I had inserted the sim card and set it up, I decided to check out the free movie rental  on VUDU. When you have the Family Plan with 10GB of data, you get a free movie rental every month! Score for our summer time bucket list! I read on the VUDU website all of the ways to connect and watch your movie outside of your phone and I actually had three different ways to watch all of the movies just in my own home. There was the ROKU, PlayStation and  Smart TV. My girl's decided they wanted to lay on the couch and use our big TV. My TV already had the VUDU app on it so all I had to do was sign in and search for a movie.

The girls munched on the garlic parmesan popcorn that I made and some candy.

They really enjoyed the movie and snacks and our family will be enjoying the phone and extra data all summer long to watch movies on VUDU and look up other fun things to do in our city. Since, we are such movie buffs, here is my top 5 list of summer movies for the kids and my popcorn recipe for you to enjoy!

MY TOP 5 SUMMER MOVIE PICKS (available to rent on VUDU)

1. Zootopia

2. Norm of the North

3.The Good Dinosaur

4.The Peanuts Movie

5. Alvin and the Chipmunks Road Chip

GARLIC PARMESAN POPCORN

1. Pop your kernels in an air popping machine or on the stove.

2. Sprinkle garlic salt all over and stir.

3. Add a handful of finely shredded parmesan cheese to the top.

4. Enjoy!

As soon as summer officially hits, we'll be staying cool and watching the movies on our bucket list indoors! How about you? What movies will you be watching this summer? Any that you'd love to recommend?