Themed Movie Night- Because of Winn Dixie
Our themed family movie nights are hands down one of the kids’ favorite traditions—and mine too!
Why? Because it’s simple to set up but so meaningful to our babies. Truly y’all the little things in life go a long way, especially with littles.
Family movie nights aren’t really about the movie at all. They’re about slowing down, gathering close, and making memories that stick. When the lights dim and everyone piles onto the couch with popcorn and blankets, it builds connection and tradition. These nights remind our kids that home is safe, fun, and full of love.
The beauty is in the little things—the giggles during a funny scene, the tears shared during a tender one, the warmth of knowing this is what our family does together. Movie nights create a rhythm of rest, conversation, and belonging. Years from now, your kids may not remember the movie titles, but they’ll remember the feeling of being together.
Last night Caleb exclaimed in excitement, “this is the best night EVER!” Brynlee told me before bed “Thanks mom for your hard work.”
A little effort goes a long way.
Last night we chose Because of Winn Dixie for our family movie night. (Printables linked at the end of this blog).
Winn-Dixie reminds us that love, kindness, and friendship can change everything.
Life Lessons and excellent talking points from Because of Winn-Dixie 🐾
Friends can come from anywhere.
Winn-Dixie helped Opal meet new people and make new friends.
Everyone has a story.
Even people who seem grumpy or different are often carrying sadness inside.
Don’t judge by looks or rumors.
Gloria Dump looked scary at first, but she turned out to be kind and loving.
Forgiveness is important.
Holding onto anger or hurt makes us heavy. Forgiving makes our hearts lighter.
Community makes life sweeter.
When people come together—like at Gloria’s party—everyone feels happier.
It’s okay to share your feelings.
Talking about sadness or hope helps us feel better and closer to others.
Enjoy the little things.
A dog’s smile, music, or sharing a meal can bring so much joy.
Themed movie nights don’t have to be complicated. Keep it as simple as you like! For me, one of the ways I show love to my family is by making things for them and serving them. If you’ve been here for any length of time, you know I’m passionate about health and wellness—but I also follow the 80/20 rule, so we don’t stress over every little thing.
Again remember: keep movie night simple for you. If mama is stressed, no one is happy!
For our Because of Winn-Dixie night, we chose a theme I found online. I created all of my own printables (linked below) and cooked the food from scratch. Here’s what we had:
Opal’s Egg Salad Sandwiches – served on homemade sourdough bread.
Otis’s Pickles – made from garden cucumbers (the kids helped with this one!).
Gertrude’s Sourdough Animal Crackers – made with fresh-milled flour (recipe coming soon!).
Litmus Lozenges – I made mine with honey and lemon juice, but any hard candy would work.
Gloria Dump’s Punch – a fun little splurge for the kiddos, made with 2 cups Sprite, 2 cups orange juice, and 1 cup grapefruit juice.
What made it memorable wasn’t the food or the theme but being intentional about time spent together
Grab free printables here to recreate your own movie night-
(Print as is. Cut under each design. Fold like a teepee so the cards will stand up)
