5 NEW EDIBLE GIFT IDEAS made using Dollarama supplies... with FREE gift tags included

I'm back with ALL NEW edible gift ideas. What's better than a USEFUL Christmas gift? Today I'm sharing easy and inexpensive gifts made using dollar store supplies AND I'm sharing FREE gift tags you can use to make the gifts even better. Make sure to check out the video at the end of this post (or on YouTube here) to see all the step by step instructions.

1) Sock wine holder - Adorable Dollarama socks are used to wrap a wine bottle. It doesn't get much better -- or cuter -- than this! Check out the step by step instructions here.

2) DIY baking kit - Grab Dollarama baking supplies, a baking dish, and a free gift tag, and you have a gift that's a treat and an activity. Find the step by step instructions here, and the download the free tag below.

To download the free tag: click on the picture below, right click, save, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.

3) Santa's favorite Christmas brownies - This festive jar of brownies is made from a dollar store mix. It's budget-friendly and delicious! Find the full step by step instructions here, and the free downloadable tag below.

To download the free tag: click on the picture below, right-click, save, and print like a regular 4x6 photos.

4) Santa's favorite X-large chocolate chip cookies - This cookie jar makes a fun gift, and they are great for Christmas Eve too. Check out the step by step instructions here, and download the gift tag for FREE below.

To download the free gift tag: click on the picture below, right-click, save, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.

And if you are interested in making your cooking mix from scratch, you can find the recipe here.

To download the "cookies for Santa" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.

5) Christmas morning pancake mix - Who doesn't want a little help on Christmas morning? This pancake mix is perfect for busy families during the holidays. Find the recipe here, and download the free tags below.

To download the Christmas morning pancake mix tag: click on the picture below, right-click, save, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.

To see all the details of these fantastic edible gift ideas made using Dollarama supplies, check out the video I made here:

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

5 Genius Budget-friendly Ideas for SUMMER... including FREE games and decor

Summer is definitely my favourite season. Who doesn't love decorating with cheerful colors, vacations, and warm temperatures? Today, I'm sharing a few genius ideas for summer... including food, decor, and more. I use a lot of dollar store supplies AND I have freebies too!

I even made a fun video with all the info you need!

Watch the video here.

1) Hand painted lemon slice coasters - I found a six pack of rounds at the dollar store, and I thought it would be fun to turn them into lemon slice coasters. They are super simple and fun to paint -- at any age. I'm not much of a painter, but I think they turned out really cute! You can find the full step-by-step instructions here.

2) Cheesecakes in jars - I love these individual cheesecakes. They are portable and perfect for camping, picnics, and bbqs. And... the best part is how easy they are to make. Find the instructions for these "no bake" cheesecakes here.

3) FREE Summer print - I love cute summer print, and this one is FREE and looks adorable in a dollar store frame.

To download the picture I designed: click on the picture you want (below), right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular photo.

4x6

5x7

8x10

4) Printable SUMMER Tic Tac Toe - I'm obsessed with these little games I designed. They are perfect for summer days, camping, and road trips. I love the bright colours and the fact that they are an activity AND a snack. Cute, right?

To download the games I designed for free: click on one of the photos below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regurlar 4x6 photo.

5) FREE Summer decor - I love inexpensive seasonal decor, and these summer prints are super-cute and FREE. Grab copies here, pop them in a dollar store frame, and enjoy!

I hope you enjoy these budget-friendly ideas for summer. Let me know which one is your favourite in the comments below... and don't forget to watch my video for a closer look.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the summer DIYs here.

EASY Easter Desserts that are DELICIOUS and Guaranteed to Impress!

If you like EASY holiday desserts, you are going to LOVE the quick and delicious recipes I'm sharing today. I have short cuts to share... and a step by step video. Take a peek, and let me know which Easter dessert is your favourite!

1) No-bake Easter cheesecakes (from a mix) - Find the step by step instructions here.

2) Mini egg brownies (from a mix) - If you like a good short-cut, you are going to love this quick and easy Easter dessert. Check out the easy "how to" here.

3) Soft and chewy mini egg cookies - To make a delicious Easter cookie, all you need to do is add mini eggs to your "go to" chocolate chip cookie recipe. You can find mine here.

4) No-bake chocolate/oatmeal/coconut Easter cookies - These are my FAVORITE Easter cookies. They are the perfect chocolate cookie... and they are easy to make. Find my recipe here.

For a closer look (and more instructions) check out the 5 minute video I made below.

What's your plan for Easter dessert? I hope you try out some of my favourites!

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

***Find more Easter ideas here.

EASY Valentine's Day Treats... featuring chocolate dipped goodies

Let's be honest... Valentine's Day is all about the chocolate. And homemade chocolate treats are guaranteed to impress family and friends. Today, I'm sharing EASY chocolate dipped goodies. You are going to be amazed at how simple the chocolate dipped heart-shaped strawberries are to make!

My favourite part of my Valentine's Day treat tray starts with heart-shaped strawberries. You halve the strawberries and cut a "V" from the top. (Check out the video below for step-by-step instructions.)

Insert a skewer, dip in melted chocolate, and place on wax paper to set.

Cute, right?!

You can also dip other things in chocolate. Try cookies, caramels, and cashews.

Then... when all the items have set... lay everything out on a tray. I added a bowl full of candies to the middle to add a bit of interest. Doesn't it look great? AND it tastes even better than it looks!

Check out this video for all the instructions / recipe video.

Thanks for checking out my latest easy and inexpensive Valentine's Day treat ideas! Let me know which one is your favourite. Happy Valentine's Day!!!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

If you are looking for more Valentine's Day inspiration, check out more than 30 Valentine's Day ideas here.

 

The BEST Halloween Cookie Recipe... including a quick step-by-step video

This no-bake cookie recipe is a family favourite. I make it at Easter and add mini eggs, and at Christmas I make them and call them "reindeer poop". Today, I'm sharing my Halloween version. You are going to LOVE these simple and delicious Halloween cookies.

The recipe is at the end of this post, but you might want to check out this quick step-by-step video first.

To make these Halloween monster cookies:

1)  Mix together the following dry ingredients, and set aside:

• 3 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/4 tsp salt

2)  Put the following ingredients in a saucepan, and bring to a boil:

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

3)  Remove from heat, and stir in dry ingredients.

4)  Before the mixture starts to dry out, drop the mixture from heaping teaspoons onto wax paper, and add candy eyes to each cookie.  Allow to cool completely.

They look adorable on a plain, white tray.

But I put mine on the tray I made in the video here.

You really should make this cookies. I guarantee you are going to think they are SPOOK-tacular. :-)

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also be interested in the ideas here...

3 "C" Cookies -- Crispy, Crunchy and Chewy

Sometimes you need a break from the traditional cookie recipes you bake all the time, and this recipe is just what you have been looking for. It's simple to throw together, it makes a bunch, they freeze beautifully, and they are delicious. The texture and buttery flavour of these cookies is EVERYTHING!

To make these cookies, you'll need:

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup oil

1 cup softened butter (not melted)

1 egg

1 tsp real vanilla

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cream of tartar

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup sweetened, shredded coconut

1 cup Rice Krispies

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Beat together: white sugar, brown sugar, oil, butter, egg, and vanilla together.

3) In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking soda, cream of tartar, oats, coconut and Rice Krispies.

4) Mix the two bowls of ingredients together.

5) Roll into ball, and flatten with a fork.

6) Bake until lightly brown in colour (approximately 10 minutes).

For a closer look at how I make these cookies, check out the short YouTube video here.

Seriously... sooooo yummy!

These cookies are fantastic for school lunches, and I love mine with a cup of coffee or tea. If you give them a try, let me know what you think. 

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the cookie recipes here.

Chocolate, peanut butter CAKE MIX cookies

Who doesn't love a good cookie... and a good short cut? These CAKE MIX cookies are perfect for when you have a chocolate craving, but don't have a lot of time. You can mix up a batch (in one bowl) in less than five minutes. It doesn't get much easier!

To make chocolate, peanut butter cake mix cookies, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then, in a large bowl, mix together the following:

1 box of cake mix

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1/4 vegetable oil

1/3 cup chocolate chips

1/3 cup peanut butter chips

Mix together, and then scoop 1 tbsp balls onto a silpat (or parchment paper) lined cookie sheet. I like to use a cookie scoop.

Note: If you find the dough too sticky, you can refrigerate it, or add 1-2 tbsp of flour.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes. Don't overbake. They should be cooked, but still soft in the middle.

For a closer look at how easy it is to make these cookies, take a look at the video I made.

I hope you enjoy these cookies. Let me know in the comments if you are a fan of combining chocolate and peanut butter.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)