Chilly winter days are perfect for crafting, and you are going to love the ideas I'm sharing today. I have 4 easy and adorable WINTER CRAFTS for kids and teens. Most use dollar store supplies, AND I'm sharing a FREE printable you can download. Check out all the fun below!
1) Wood slice melted snowman -- This is an adorable craft. It looks great on a tiered tray, but it's sweet just sitting on a shelf too. Find the FULL step by step instructions here.
2) Waterless snowman snowglobe - There is something magical about snow globes, and this version is easy to make and super-cute. Download the FREE printable below, and find the step by step instructions here.
To download the snowman and tree I used for this snow globe:click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.
3) Snowman lollipops - Who doesn't love a craft that is also a snack?!? These snowman suckers are sure to be a hit with crafters of all ages. Find the step-by-step instructions here.
4) Pom pom "snow buddies"- This is seriously the cutest craft! After you see how easy they are to make, you are going to want to make a bunch of these adorable snow buddies. Find the step-by-step instructions here.
For a closer look at how to make all four of these adorable winter crafts, check out the video I made here:
What do you think of these winter crafts? Which one is your favourite?
As a mom of three financially responsible boys (ages 15, 17, and 19), I'm often asked questions about how I taught them about money. They aren't perfect, but they have have strong work ethics and make smart decisions about money. I'm not an expert, but today I am sharing the FIVE things I'm happy I did.
1) I never gave my children an allowance. I never handed them cash for no reason, and I never paid them for doing chores around the house that I expected them to do anyway. I did, however, help them earn their own money. I helped them sell old toys, and I assisted them with a small “cookie mix” selling business. They also babysat and delivered newspapers, and when they turned 16, they got jobs.
2) I talked openly about money with my children from a young age. They often saw me pay for things with a credit card, so I made certain that they understood how credit cards worked. I showed them the bill when it came in, and explained how I paid for it from the money I earned at my job. I also talked to my children about saving, investing, and paying taxes.
3) I taught my children the difference between a want and a need. This seems like a simple lesson, but it is a difficult one to teach. From an early age, the rule in our house was always “We buy you what you need, and you buy what you want.”For example, we paid for the hockey stick they needed, but if they wanted the “latest and greatest” model, they were required to contribute the additional funds.
4) I introduced my children to the concept of delayed gratification. It’s important for kids to learn they can’t get everything they want, and they can’t always get the things they want as soon as they want them. One way I taught this lesson to my children is that I never gave my kids phones with phone/data plans. My husband and I made a rule that only people that can pay a monthly bill can have a phone. It was tough for our kids to understand why they didn’t have a phone like other children their age. However, now that they have jobs, they all have phone plans that they pay for, and they appreciate the concept (and responsibility) of paying monthly bills. They also watch their data usage carefully.
5) I tried to set a good example. My children have always seen me shop for sales, buy and sell second hand items, pack lunches for road trips, cook at home rather than eat out, and DIY home projects to save money. They see my husband and I living frugally (and within our means), and it is teaching them to do the same.
My boys are still relatively young, so there is still time for them to make money mistakes, but I hope I've given them a good start.
These are the things that worked for me, but I'm curious... what worked for you?
If you love getting organized, but you don't want to spend a lot of money, you are going to love these dollar store organization HACKS! With a few dollars, and a couple of minutes, you can make you life much easier.
The dollar store has the best bins, hooks, and organizations... and don't be afraid to you common products in unconvential ways.
Check out this video for all my favourite products, tips, and tricks.
Do you have any organization HACKS to share? Do you have a favourite from this video? I have more tips and tricks, so if you are interested, let me know, and I'll get to work on another video.
Hosting a family-friendly celebration can be the perfect way to ring in the new year. Today I'm sharing the BEST ideas for celebrating New Year's Eveat home... and FREE printables. (Don't forget to check out the short video at the end of this post!)
Activity Bags - I love making activity bags that can be opened each hour leading up to midnight. The bags can contain noisemakers, the supplies for a midnight toast, games, and more.
I love having one bag contain the items needed to set up a photo booth.
And including a year in review questionnaire for kids is fun too.
To download a FREE copy of the one I designed: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.
Special New Year's Eve Treat - To make this festive treat, simply add candies to the bottom of a wine glass and top with a decorated cupcake. Cute, right?!?
Adorable New Year's Eve Mocktail - To make this adorable beverage, add sparkling water, 7up, or sparkling wine to a champagne flute. Then, add a bit of cotton candy to the top, and insert a straw. Easy... and so much fun!
New Year's Eve Party Favours - Every party needs a party favour, and I have three simple options to share.
Breakfast for tomorrow - Add a tag to a small box of cereal or a pop tart.
To download the "breakfast for tomorrow" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.
Midnight Kisses - Add a tag to a little bag of Hershey kisses.
To download the "midnight kisses" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.
Rings to ring in the new year - Add a tag to candy rings.
To download the "ring in the new year" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.
To download the "bring some sparkle to 2025" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.
For a closer look at my New Year's Eve ideas (and full instructions), check out the YouTube video I made here.
Will you be celebrating at home this year? I hope you find some of these ideas fun and helpful. Happy New Year!!!!
I love a USEFUL gift, don't you? With the cost of things today, it's important to not be wasteful. However, "useful" doesn't have to be boring! Today, I'm sharing 7 fantastic (budget-friendly) DIY Christmas gift ideas. Most items come from the dollar store AND I'm sharing FREE printable tags(below) that make the gifts extra fun!
The tags are below, but if you want to get a closer look at all these fantastic ideas, check out the video I made here:
1) "Get Lucky" lotto ticket gift... in a dollar store frame. Details here, and free printable tags below.
To download the tags I designed (for free):click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your device, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.
2) "Warm wishes" dollar store candle. Details here, and free printable tags below.
To download the tags I designed (for free):click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your device, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.
To download the tags I designed (for free):click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your device, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.
7) Gift "time together" with a super-cute hot chocolate bar. Details here, and free printable tags below.
Don't forget to check out my video for all the fun details. I hope you enjoy all the fantastic and budget-friendly DIY Christmas ideas... and the free printable gift tags.
Crafting with family and friends is a great way to spend time together... but you need the right crafts. You need to make something that is fun, festive, and fantastic! Today I have 5 simple Christmas crafts that all ages will enjoy creating. Take a peak, and let me know which one is your favourite.
I even made you a video so you can check out all the step by step instructions. Check it out below:
1) Chocolate bar snowman - How cute is this little guy? It's so easy to make, and it's a fantastic craft, treat, party favour, gift, and stocking stuffer. It's a clever way to give a gift card too! Check out the step by step instructions here.
2) Elf Cookie - I love this adorable cookie craft. You bake a cookie, wrap it in cellophane, and add all the embellishments. Santa would definitely love to get his hands on this cute cookie. Check out the step by step instructions here.
3) Beaded wreath - Sometimes simple crafts are the best, and this little beaded wreath is adorable. Find all the "how to" details here.
4) Tassel beaded wreath - I think the tassel adds a subtle elegance to this adorable ornament... and tassels are really fun to make. Check out the "easy to follow" instructions here.
5) Yarn hat - I've made these with kids and adults, and they are always a hit. They are fun to make, and they look adorable on a tree. Check out the full tutorial here.
Aren't these 5 simple Christmas crafts adorable? Let me know in the comments... which one is your favourite?
I hope you have fun crafting this holiday season. Merry Christmas!!!!
***Disclosure -This gift guide contains some products I own, some items that I received for free and a few affiliate links. Please be assured that the opinions in this blog are 100% my own, and I've only included items I think would make fantastic gifts for hockey fans and players. Also, if you make a purchase using one of my affiliate links, you will not pay any extra, but I may get a small commission on your purchase. Thank you!***
If you regularly read my blog, you know that I am a hockey mom to three hockey-loving boys. Every year, there are several hockey-related items on my Christmas shopping list, so today, I am sharing my top 10 gift ideas for hockey fans and hockey players. There really is something on this list for all ages and budgets.
1) Summer Skates - My boys are huge fans of Summer Skates. They are comfortable, high quality, customizable, easy to clean, and stylish. The front of the sandals are made with REAL HOCKEY SKATE LACES, and you can add your favourite team or player name/number. They are perfect for summer, and we love them for hotel rooms too! (There are also Koozies available that make great stocking stuffers.)
2) Ollie Bots - These cute little wooden robots are made with love and tied together with hockey skate laces. The Ollie Bots project was started by my son's buddy and teammate (Oliver Smith) who sadly passed away at the age of 12 to a rare form of bone cancer. For a $20 donation, you can help raise funds and awareness for Ewing Sarcoma. Find out more here.
3) NHL25 - If your hockey fan loves video games, you probably already have the latest version of this game on your Christmas shopping list. My boys are already big fans, so if you have it on your list, you can order it here.
4) Hockey books- Books always make fantastic gifts, and hockey books are perfect for hockey fans. Home and Away (below) looks like a good one!
5) Hockey socks - Hockey socks make a fun gift or stocking stuffer, and this set is inexpensive and cute! There are other options available too... but you like these ones, you can find them here.
6) Microfibre Sports Towel - Great for sticking in a hockey bag for an after-game shower. I ordered the large one for my my oldest son for Christmas last year. Click here for the link to the one I purchased.
8) Handmade hockey gifts - I have a shop in Antigonish, NS where I sell custom handmade hockey gifts. The large items are pick up only, but the smaller items can be shipped. You can check out my shop here.
9) Street hockey balls - If you have kids that play ice hockey, you have kids that play street hockey. :-) So... you are likely always searching for street hockey balls that aren't too hard. These ones are our favourites. You can order them here.
10) Personalized hockey blanket- This is a great gift for a hockey player or a hockey fan. I think it'd be perfect for a "hockey mom" or "hockey nana" too! Get the ordering information here.
How great are all these ideas?!?!? What's your favourite gift for a hockey player/fan? Happy shopping!!!
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