Summer is the perfect time for sparking up the BBQ, but grilling isn't just for meals, it's wonderful for desserts too. For years, I have read about people grilling donuts, but I never got around to trying it... until a few week sago. Let me tell you... grilled donuts are easy to make and they did NOT disappoint!
Step 1 - Buy a box of glazed donuts.We tried chocolate and plain, and the plain were much better. I've heard it works well with old fashioned sugar donuts too. That's next on our list!
Step 2 - Clean your grill really well. You may even want to turn it up really high to burn off any nasty bits of food. Step 3 - Place donuts on grill (over medium heat).
Step 4 - Cook a couple of minutes on each side. Watch them closely. You want the glaze to caramelize, and you want grill marks... but you don't want them to turn black. You'll want to use tongs and a spatula to keep the donuts from breaking apart.
The donuts will be slightly crispy on the outside, and warm and soft on the inside. You can eat them plain, or you can top them with ice cream and a bit of chocolate sauce.
Grilled donuts were a big hit in my house, and we will definitely be making them again. If you give them a try, let me know what you think.
I love a DIY party because (even thought it takes a little effort) it's memorable, unique and budget-friendly. My two youngest boys have July birthdays, so a "camping" theme was perfect for them. What's better than a party where kids run around outside, play games, and eat s'mores? You are going to love all the DIY details of this DIY camping-themed party. It's pretty special!
I started out by setting the stage with some simple DIY camping decor. I used Picmonkey.com (an online photo editing software) to create a photo banner for the entrance. I also created some simple signage and placed it in inexpensive dollar store frames.
I also used camping gear (that I already had) to add to the atmosphere.
We had a camp schedule that included: registration (signing in and guessing the number of jellybeans in the jar), a scavenger hunt, games, prize punch, cake and s'mores, making candy kabobs, and parent (and loot bag) pick up.
The scavenger hunt was a lot of fun. I set up clues all around the neighbourhood, the kids broke into teams, and the race was on! There was a mixture of puzzles to be solved, activities to be completed, and clues to be found. I think this the highlight of the party for most of the kids.
After the teams completed the scavenger hunt, they were all allowed to claim a prize from the prize table.
Other popular activities at the party were: "guess the number of jellybeans" in the jar, make a candy kabob, and make a s'more.
To download a copy of this sign for your party: click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.
To download a free copy of the s'more bar sign for your party: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.
And of course there was lots of camping party food set up on a dollar store checkered tablecloth. (Scroll to the bottom to download the food labels for FREE.)
We served: hot dogs, bug juice, camp candy, bears, campfire flames, and goldfish. Check out the cute little signs I made below.
Of course, we also had campfire cakes. I made a chocolate one for my middle son and a vanilla one for my youngest boy. (The logs are cookies, and the flames are fruit roll ups.)
Look at my sweet birthday boys and their wonderful smiles! I love these little faces.
My boys had a fantastic time celebrating with their birthdays with their friends. A camping-themed birthday party really works wonderfully for all ages.
When the kids left at the end of the party, they each chose a goodie from our prize punch and grabbed a balloon loot bag.
For another peek at our party, check out this short video I made.
I hope you love this DIY camping party as much as my boys and I did. A camping-themed birthday party has endless possibilities for activities, food, decor, and fun!
♥ Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)
PS (If you want to download the food labels: click on the photos below, save them to your computer, and print them like regular 4x6 photos.)
My boys are very active and spend a lot of time outside during the summer -- which means endless summer scrapes and cuts. In order to be prepared, I wanted to create a fully stocked first aid kit for all their summer injuries. I wanted it to be cheap, and I wanted it to be portable, so I hit the dollar store and put together a perfect first aid kit for under $10. I now have everything I need in one place, I can treat my boys' injuries quickly, and I can send them back into the sunshine.
My kit contained:
a plastic container (for holding all the items)
40 band aids (in various sizes)
peroxide (for disinfecting cuts)
wipes (for wiping off dirt)
medical tape
steril gauze
scissors
I wanted to keep my kit simple and under $10, but you could also add:
tweezers (for splinters and ticks)
allergy or pain relief medicine (samples work well because they don't take up much space)
disposable plastic gloves
antibiotic ointment
hand sanitizer
cream for bug bites
I used white duct tape and red electrical tape to decorate the top of the kit, but this is totally optional. I had some in my cupboard, so I thought I'd use it!
These kits are very inexpensive, so you could make a bunch of them. They are also super-portable, so you can easily take them from the house, to the car, to the camper, or to the sports field. I have already used my kit several times this summer, and I am loving that everything I need is quickly accessible and in one spot. I highly recommend making one of these kits for your kids. You can't beat something that makes your life a little easier. :-) ♥ Gina(aka East Coast Mommy)
Do your kids love camping as much as mine do? It's a wonderful way for families to spend time together and enjoy the great outdoors. Today, I am sharing a simple camping scavenger hunt that you can print for FREE and take on your next camping adventure. The pictures are adorable, and they make it easy for children of all ages to participate.
To print the scavenger hunt: right-click on the picture (above), save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8X10 photo. You can also download a pdf version here.
Cute, right? If you try this camping scavenger hunt with your little ones, I'd love to hear about it. Have fun!
Summer is a wonderful time to get out and explore nature, but sometimes a major outdoor camping trip isn't possible. So today, I am sharing some "indoor" camping crafts and activities that are simple and fun... and you won't even need to put up a tent.
To make a paper tent:
1) Cut a tent from a piece of colored paper, cut out doors, and glue the tent to a piece of white card stock. 2) Glue a picture of a child inside the tent. 3) Draw a tree, and create leaves by gluing on crumpled 1-inch tissue paper squares. 4) Embellish with crayons and a yellow, circle sun.
To make paper towel roll binoculars:
1) Cut a paper towel roll to create two equal parts. 2) Use duct tape to attach the two pieces together. 3) Embellish with crayons and stickers.
To make a handprint fire:
1) Trace a child's hands to create the flames. 2) Glue strips to create "logs". 3) Add a paper stick and a cotton ball "marshmallow".
To make an indoor camp fire:
1) Put a flashlight in a bowl. 2) Crumple tissue paper to create flames.
Indoor camping is always a lot of fun, and it is a wonderful way to spend a rainy day. Happy camping! ♥ Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)
