2017 Year in Review Questionnaire

New Year's Eve is a time for reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the new one -- not just for adults, but for kids too. With this in mind, each year I put together a Year in Review Questionnaire for my boys to fill out on New Year's Eve. Here is the 2017 version.


Update: find a 2019 version here.

It is a pretty simple questionnaire, and you can download the free printable by: right-clicking on the picture (above), saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8X10 photo. I usually print mine at my local office supply store where colour copies are $0.39 each.

I love seeing what my boys come up with each year. Maybe someday I will make a book for each of my boys using all the questionnaires they have filled out over the years.
Happy New Year, everybody!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

How to Turn "Store Bought" Fortune Cookies Into an Elegant New Year's Eve Treat

I am a big fan of keeping things simple, and I absolutely LOVE a good shortcut. Today, I am sharing a really fun idea for New Year's Eve. With a few ingredients, and a couple minutes, you can transform "store bought" fortune cookies into an elegant New Year's Eve treat that will impress your guests!

You'll need: store bought fortune cookies, baker's chocolate, and sprinkles.

Then: 

1) Melt the baker's chocolate according to package directions. (I melted mine on medium heat for 2 minutes... stirring at 30 second intervals.)

2) Dip the cookies in the chocolate, and let excess drip off.

3) Dip the cookies in sprinkles, and place on wax paper to allow the chocolate to harden.

That's it!

They really are impressive looking when you put them on a nice tray.

It would be fun for kids to help make this treat too, and they'll love cracking them open and reading their fortunes. You can also dip a glass in chocolate and sprinkles for an added festive touch.

I love a good short cut, don't you? These fortune cookies are easy, inexpensive, and a lot of fun. You could even send them home as party favours with a "Wishing you good fortune in the new year!" tags. Fun, right?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

2017 New Year's Eve Craft for Kids

New Year's Eve is the perfect time for a quick and simple craft. Creating these New Year's Eve hats and flags is a wonderful way to entertain the kids before the countdown, and the finished products make fun party props and favours. Keep reading to download the templates for these New Year's Eve crafts for free.

To make this festive headband and flag: 

1) Print the template on card stock by: right-clicking on the image below, saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8X10 photo. Or you can download a pdf version of the template here.

2) Color the signs and cut them out.

3) Tape one sign to a card stock headband to create a hat.

4) Tape the other other to a paper straw, craft stick or dowel to create a flag.

That's it! It doesn't get much easier than this 2017 New Year's Eve craft for kids. Enjoy... and Happy New Year!!!!!!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

2016 Year in Review (free printable)

Update: find a 2021 version here.

New Year's Eve is a time for reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the new one -- not just for adults, but for kids too. With this in mind, each year I put together a Year in Review questionnaire for my boys to fill out on New Year's Eve.

It is a pretty simple questionnaire, and you can download the free printable by: clicking on the picture (above), right-clicking saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8X10 photo. I usually print mine at my local office supply store.

I love seeing what my boys come up with each year. Maybe someday I will make a book for each of my boys using all the questionnaires they have filled out over the years.
Happy New Year, everybody!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Celebrating New Year's Eve with Kids

After all the chaos of Christmas, I enjoy spending New Year's Eve at home with my kids. I love that I don't need to dress up, there are no crowds, I don't spend a ton of money on a babysitter... and I have the cutest dates in town. Today, I am sharing a few of the special (and fun) ways I celebrate New Year's Eve at home with my boys.

I always put together countdown bags -- one for each hour leading up to midnight. It takes a little time to assemble them, but it isn't difficult, and my boys love them. They really keep the kids entertained, and they add a special touch to the evening's celebrations. You can read more about our countdown bags here.

I have the kids fill out a Year in Review questionnaire. It's always fun to read their answers, and I enjoy looking back at how their answers change through the years. To download this year's "Year in Review" questionnaire: right click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo. 

Update: find a 2021 version here.

Every party needs party favours, and two of my favourites are easy DIY party favours. You can check out our midnight kisses here and our breakfast for tomorrow here.

The highlight of any New Year's Eve celebration is, of course, the countdown to midnight. This can be a challenge for little ones that need an early bedtime, but there is no rule that says a midnight countdown needs to happen at 12 o'clock. Our solution... search "New Year's Eve Countdown" on Netflix for a fun countdown that you can do at 10, 9, or 8. (The King Julien one is our favorite... but they are all cute.) You can get a little preview here. 

After the countdown, my boys always enjoy a milk and cookies toast. It is a fun (and yummy) way to end the night. We rim some fancy glasses with sprinkles for a festive touch to our toast.

I hope you enjoy these fun, easy and inexpensive ways to celebrate New Year's Eve with your kids. Happy New Year!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: As part of the Netflix #StreamTeam, I am given special perks and gifts, but all opinions on this blog our 100% my own.

2014 Year in Review {free printable}

*** Find an updated 2021 version here.***

Every year, my boys fill out a simple year in review questionnaire.  It is a great way to look back at the past year, and set some goals for the year ahead.  Here is the questionnaire I designed this year.

To print this questionnaire for your kids: right-click on the picture above, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo.

I love our traditions of filling out an annual year in review questionnaire, don't you?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Super-cute Party Favor {Breakfast for Tomorrow}

Here's one last post for 2013... a really quick party favor... breakfast for tomorrow.

I filled a plastic cup with cereal, added a colorful plastic spoon, and tied it up in a clear loot bag with some ribbon and a cute tag.  (You can download the tags here.)  Isn't it sweet?  

It is a great favor for a New Year's Eve party, but I think it would be adorable for a sleepover too!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

New Year's Eve Party Favor {Midnight Kisses}

How cute is this {midnight kisses} New Year's Eve party favor?  It's easy, inexpensive, and totally fun!

All I did was fill dollar store champagne flutes with Hershey's kisses and add a "midnight kisses" tags.  You can download the Midnight Kisses Tags {for free} here.  The tags are set up as 4X6 photos, so you can send them for one hour processing and save the ink in your printer. 

Didn't our New Year's Eve party favors turn out cute?  I can't wait to share them with our guests!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS... and if you are looking for some last minute decor, I have some {matching} 4X6 photos you can print and attach to paper straws or craft sticks.  You can download them here and here.

5 Ways to Celebrate New Year's Eve With Kids

New Years’ Eve is a great time to plan a celebration with kids. I like to stay home and ring in the new year as a family, but if you have “grown up” plans, an earlier party with the kids is fun too. Here are 5 ways to celebrate New Year's Eve with kids:

1)  Countdown bags -  I like to fill eight bags with different treats or activities, and every hour, my boys are allowed to open one of the bags.  You can find all the DIY details here.

2)  Year in review questionnaires - Last year I created a year in review questionnaire for the kids to fill out, and I have updated it so that we can do it again this year.  It's a fun activity, and it makes a nice keepsake too.  You can download the questionnaire I designed here.

Update: find a 2021 version here.

3)  DIY party favors - We like to craft party hats and signs (which you can read about here), and we like to make our own noisemaker (which you can read about here).  I also think it would be fun to bake muffins with my boys and send our guests home with "breakfast for 2014" or "midnight kisses" party favors.

 4)  Special treats - Milk in wine glasses (rimmed with sprinkles) and chocolate chip cookies are perfect for a "midnight toast".  You can find our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe here.

5)  Fun themes - I think it's fun to pick a theme for the decorations, food, and activities. I am considering a “clock” theme (including a cake shaped like a clock face), a movie night (with lots of glow sticks and a “milk and cookies” snack bar), or a “pancakes and PJs” dance party.  Or, you can keep things simple by picking a fun color scheme to tie everything together.

However you choose to celebrate, I hope you and your family have a very Happy New Year, and I wish you all the best!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

2013 Year in Review Questionnaire

Update: find a 2021 version here.

Last year, my boys filled out a 2012 Year in Review Questionnaire.  I think it is a great tradition for kids, so I will be doing it again this year.

If you would like to do this activity with your little ones, you can download a copy of my 2013 New Year's Eve questionnaire {for free} here.

Happy New Year!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

New Year's Eve Countdown Activities for Kids

***Updated FREE tags and printables to include in the activity bags here.***

New Year's Eve with the kids can be a lot of fun... especially if you are prepared.  So, this year, I put together 8 countdown bags filled with fun surprises for the kids.

The plan is to let the kids open a bag every hour as we count down to midnight.  To make the bags, I used: regular brown lunch bags, colored cardstock, and a Sharpie.  I taped the clocks to the front of the bags, filled them with goodies, and stapled them shut.  Easy, right?

All the contents are inexpensive, but the boys will have a lot of fun opening each bag.  Here is what I used:

5:00pm - "Year in review" questionnaires, which you can find here.

6:00pm - Supplies to make New Year's Eve party hats.  {You can find the ones we are making here.}

7:00pm - Balloons from the Dollar Store... to decorate for the big countdown.

8:00pm - Cars from the Dollar Store. 

9:00pm - A little snack.

10:00pm - Noisemakers.

11:00pm - More noisemakers.

12:00am - Cookies and milk for a midnight toast.

We may actually start earlier than 5pm... as I doubt the kids will make it to midnight.  We'll see how things go!

Happy New Year!

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Check out activity bag ideas for older kids here.

An you can find more New Year's Eve activities and ideas here.

Year in Review {Free Printable}

***Find an updated 2022 version here.***

New Year's Eve is a time for reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the new one -- not just for adults, but for kids too. So... each year, I put together a Year in Review questionnaire for my boys to fill out on New Year's Eve.

It is a pretty simple questionnaire, and you can download the free printable by clicking on the picture (above), right-clicking, saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 8X10 photo.

I love seeing what my boys come up with each year. Maybe I will make a book for each of my boys when they are older.  :-)

Happy New Year, everybody!

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

ECM Kids' Craft Club - #10 {New Years Eve Party Favors}

Welcome to the 10th edition of the {East Coast Mommy} Kids' Craft Club {an easy and inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and to experience the excitement of getting their very own mail}.  If you want to join the club, you can find more info here.  For everyone who is already a member... this month, we are making super fun New Year's Eve party favors.

Are your supplies ready?

OK.  Let's get started....
1)  Color (and cut out) the "Happy New Year" and "2013" signs.

2)  Use tape or staples to attach the strips of cardstock together.  Fit to the child's head to form a headband.

3)  Using tape or staples, attach the "2013" to the front of the headband, and decorate the band with the foam star stickers.

3)  Using tape, attach the stir stick to the back of the "Happy New Year" sign to make a flag.

I hope you enjoyed making this craft and that you have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.  {Don't forget to leave me a comment, or send me an email.  Your comments help me to improve the club, and I love hearing from you.} 

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't forget... Assist young children when using scissors, and be careful of the small parts included with this kit, as they can be a choking hazard for children under three. 

Find more New Year's Eve ideas here.

New Year's Eve Noisemakers

My three boys absolutely love things that make noise...  go figure! 

So, as part of our "New Year's Eve" celebrations, we made our own noisemakers.  {We made them to ring in the new year, but they are fun to make any time.}

Want to "up" the volume (and fun!) in your house? 

Here is how to make a Kazoo out of a toilet paper roll:

1)  Have the kids decorate a toilet paper or paper towel roll.

2)  Use a hole punch to make two holes at the top of the tube.

3)  Cut out a square of wax paper, and secure it to the top of the tube with a rubber band.

And, here is how to make a paper plate noisemaker:

1)  Have the kids decorate the bottoms of two (sturdy) paper plates.

2)  Put about 3/4 cup of rice on one paper plate, and place the the other plate on top.

3)  Attach the two plates with lots of staples.

These projects are both really easy to make, and they use materials that you probably already have in your cupboards and recycling bins.  Fun, quick and easy... a great New Year's Eve project to do with the kids.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)