Dressing up your Doors for the Holidays

Disclosure: I received compensation from Schlage for including their lock in this post; however, I be assured that the opinions expressed in this blog are 100% my own.

What's better than a beautiful front door during the holidays? It's such a great way to greet guests and welcome them to your home this time of year. Today, I am sharing my holiday door... including a tutorial for a lovely, inexpensive DIY wreath and some info on my new front door hardware. And... as a bonus... I'm sharing a fun idea for interior doors too!

A few weeks ago, I received a beautiful new Schlage door handle and Schlage Encode™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt. This weekend, my husband installed them (in about 20 minutes), and we both LOVE how fantastic they look!

And, not only is our new handle beautiful, it is also functional. The smart, keyless entry is perfect for my busy family and my three boys (who are now sometimes coming home without a parent). 

No more worrying whether the front door is locked. With a Schlage smart lock, you can enjoy peace of mind and freedom from keys. And, with the Schlage Home App, I can even receive a notification once my boys get home from school. It's so easy!

Here's what our handle looks like on the inside of our door (left) and the outside of our door (right). (We went with the Schlage Encode in Camelot with Satin Nickel finish.)

Our new handle looked so beautiful that it inspired me to craft a simple "Jingle Bell" wreath for my front door. I started with a foam wreath form and wrapped it in red yarn (securing it with hot glue periodically). Then, I hung dollar store bells from pieces of twine and attached them to the wreath with hot glue. I finished with a piece of glittery gold ribbon tied in a bow. I love the simplicity of this wreath and the fun "jingle" sound it makes every time the front door opens.

With my new hardware, my Christmas garland, and my new wreath, my front door is looking fantastic... don't you think?

And don't forget about interior doors too. With a little bit of construction paper, painter's tape, cotton, and a red ball ornament, I created this adorable holiday vignette.

This Christmas, I highly recommend taking a little time to create a welcoming entrance to your home. Consider updating your hardware with a beautiful and functional handle from Schlage, and get a little creative with your DIY decor. Let me know if you have any questions. I'm so happy I decided to dress up my doors for the holidays, and I hope I inspired you to do it too!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

A Peek at Our Back to School Shopping Finds

Every parent knows that the end of summer means it's time to do some back to school shopping. As a mom of three boys, it's a struggle for me because my boys do NOT enjoy spending time in malls. So, for me, online shopping is my "go to", and finding clothing items my boys all like is key. For my hockey loving boys, Gongshow gear* is always a hit.

This year, I let my boys browse the Gongshow website, and they were each allowed to pick out a hat. They were also given the choice between one long sleeve shirt or two short sleeve shirts. Here's what they chose: 

My oldest is a huge fan of hoodies, so he chose this one with skate lace detailing. He also selected an "always game" hat.

My middle son loves black and grey, so I wasn't surprised that he chose this "clutch nation" hat. And he is in love with this light weight hoodie with skate lace detailing.

And my youngest (who is just happy to have clothes that aren't hand-me-downs) chose two t-shirts and this fantastic "t-diddy special" hat. It's the perfect outfit for taping his new hockey stick! 😊

As you can tell by the smiles on my boys' faces in these pictures, they are all really excited about their new clothes. The clothes are stylish and are high quality! I love that my boys were able to shop online (with super quick shipping), and none of us had to endure a trip to the mall. #WinWin

If you have hockey fans in your house, I highly recommend checking out the new Fall 2019 Gongshow line. Happy shopping!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure - I was given GONGSHOW clothing for free in exchange for my honest review of the products. As always, the views expressed on this blog are 100% my own... and my boys genuinely love these items.

Easter Ideas for Hockey Fans

*sponsored post*

As a seasoned hockey mom, I am no stranger to holidays that revolve around hockey. So, when Easter rolls around, hockey themed Easter baskets are a must. This year, I was inspired by Gongshow's new Spring/Summer 2019 line of awesome products. You are going to love how I made my boys' unique Easter baskets. Keep reading for all the fun details!

First, I headed to the Gongshow website and picked out some cool gear for my boys. We're going on a cruise, so I was super-pumped to find sun hats with anchors on them. They will protect my boys from the sun... and they are cool, so they will actually wear them.

My favourite finds were these t-shirts, fanny packs, and sun hats.

I also picked up some summer socks, pucks, and hockey tape.

Then, I flipped the hats upside down to make super-cool "Easter baskets", and filled them with my purchases. Cool, right??? Isn't this so much better than a boring, traditional Easter basket?

You could leave the baskets "as is", but I wrapped mine in cellophane and added pretty ribbons.

My boys LOVED their baskets. Look at those smiles!

And look at them all decked out in their new Gongshow gear. Ignore the tags! lol

If you have a hockey fan in the house, I highly recommend creating your own hockey-themed Easter basket this year. Everything on the Gongshow website is high quality, functional, and super-cool... and if you order it now, it will arrive before Easter.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure - I was given GONGSHOW products for free in exchange for my honest review and promotion of the products. As always, the views expressed on this blog are 100% my own... and my boys genuinely loved everything they received.

Find more easy and inexpensive Easter ideas here.

How to Plan a Valentine's Day FAMILY Date Night

Disclosure: I received compensation from Greco for this post, but (as always), the opinions expressed in this blog are 100% my own.

Valentine's Day is all about showing love, and I love my ALL boys (my husband and my three sons)! So in my house, we like to celebrate Valentine's Day as a family. Friday night family movie night is a weekly highlight in our house, so a simple Valentine's Day movie night is the perfect way for us to celebrate Valentine's Day. Today, I am sharing my favourite tips, tricks, and shortcuts for planning the perfect EASY Valentine's Day family date night.

Step one is to set the stage with a few decoration... and it doesn't take much effort. A dollar store tablecloth and garland, and a few heart shaped balloons are all you need.

Then, you'll need a "zero effort" supper. How cute are these heart-shaped pizzas from Greco? We got a pizza and garlic fingers, and they were both delicious. Supper doesn't get much easier than ordering pizza!

Finally, you'll need some popcorn, and a sweet treat for dessert. These individual cheesecakes are perfect for movie night, because you can grab them, and eat them on the couch. (They are also super-easy to make... from a mix!)

To make cheesecakes in jars:

1) Start with an instant cheesecake mix and fruit. (I used raspberries.)

2) Prepare the graham cracker crust (according to package directions) and divide it evenly between 6 small jars. (You can use a spoon to press the crust into the bottom of the jars, but I used a little tool made from a skewer, a piece of cardboard, and a piece of tin foil.)

3) Prepare the cheesecake layer (according to package directions) and divide it evenly between the 6 small jars. (I used a spoon, but if you want it extra neat, you can use a piping bag.)

4) Top with fruit, and refrigerate.

I also designed cute tags for my jars which you can download for free. 

To download these "You are sweeter than cheesecake" tags: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

As you can see from my boys' smiling faces, the heart-shaped pizza and garlic fingers were a hit... and I LOVE when I don't have to cook supper.

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day? Do you enjoy a romantic dinner for two, or do you prefer a family celebration? However you choose to celebrate... I hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day with the people you love!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Tips for Healthy Eating over the Holidays... and a recipe for a simple Christmas appetizer

*sponsored post

Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with a registered dietitian at my local Atlantic Superstore. I participated in an in-office consultation, and I took advantage of my store's "shop with a dietitian" program. I learned a lot of simple tips for improving the eating habits of my family, and I got some fantastic ideas that will help us eat better over the holidays. Today, I am sharing the tips I learned... including a recipe for an easy and delicious holiday appetizer.

Here are some of "healthy eating over the holidays" tips that my local dietitian Ellen gave me:

1) Eat healthy snacks. Try to eat snacks that include both fibre and protein to help you stay full longer. If you feel full, you are less likely to overeat at meal times... or when you are attending a holiday party or gathering.

2) Plan meals. Try to plan meals ahead of time so that when things get busy, you are still able to stay on track. Ellen had tons of ideas for eating on the go, eating on a budget and feeding a young family.

3) Stock the fridge, freezer and pantry with healthy convenience items. Pre-cut veggies, frozen vegetables, and high fibre/low sodium frozen food items can be super-helpful to have on hand this time of year.

4) Find balance. Don't deprive yourself of the tasty treats that are abundant during the holiday season, but try not to go overboard. Balance indulgent treats with healthy options like fruits and veggies. 

This strawberry and goat cheese appetizer with a balsamic glaze was recommended to me by the dietitian I met with, and is based on a President's Choice recipe you can find here. I love how simple this recipe is, and it's red and green, so it's the perfect holiday appetizer. 

Here's how I made my version:

Strawberry and Goat Cheese Crostini with Balsamic Glaze

Ingredients:

• 1 baguette
• extra virgin olive oil
• balsamic glaze
• strawberries
• goat cheese
• fresh basil

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Cut baguette on an angle... about 1cm thick.
• Brush one side of the baguette with olive oil, bake in the centre of the oven for approximately 10 minutes, remove from oven, and let cool.
• Top each baguette with 1 tsp of goat cheese, sliced strawberries, and basil.
• Drizzle with balsamic glaze, and serve immediately.

Isn't this a festive looking red and green appetizer? I love how easy it is to make. If you know how to toast bread, you can make this impressive looking holiday treat.

If you are interested in improving the eating habits of your family, I highly recommend setting up an appointment with the dietitian at your local Atlantic Superstore. They offer a variety of services tailored to you and your family's nutrition needs and goals, including: nutrition consultations, phone check-ins, practical shopping tips, meal ideas, healthy weight management programs, and more. You can set up an appointment online here to meet with Ellen or a dietitian at your local store. (And, if you aren't ready to sign up for a one-on-one consultation yet, there are also free workshops you can sign up for. Check your local store for the topics and times.)

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure: I have partnered with Atlantic Superstore and have received compensation for this post; however, as always, all opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

5 Tips for Preparing Kids to Stay Home Alone

Two questions parents struggle with as their kids get older are: "When are kids old enough to stay home alone?" and "How do you prepare kids to stay home alone?" Like most moms, I wanted to find the answers to these questions for my own family. I searched for information online, I asked friends, and I discussed the situation with my boys and my husband. Today, I am sharing my best tips for preparing kids to stay home alone.

1) Start early - It's never too early to start teaching kids how to be safe. Set a good example for your kids and try to find "teaching moments" where you can. In our house, we've always tried to find time to chat while having an after school snack. Bedtime is great too.

2) Wait until kids are ready - In addition to checking the legal requirements for staying alone in your area, it's important to consider the maturity of your child. All kids mature at different rates, and parents are the best judges of how responsible and "ready" children are. Don't rush it.

3) Start off slow - Parents and kids will both be more comfortable if kids are gradually introduced to the concept of being left home alone. Start by talking about staying home alone, progress to leaving the child home for short periods of time, and build up to leaving the child at home for longer periods of time. My oldest son is 13, and although I have been leaving him alone for a few years, I have only recently started leaving him in charge of his brothers for long periods of time.

4) Make sure the rules are clear - Make sure the kids know the rules before you leave them home alone. For example: Do the doors need to stay locked? Are friends allowed to be in the house when adults aren't home? Is the child permitted to use the stove? In our house, the kids are not allowed to use the stove or oven when they are home alone. They make a lot of sandwiches, cereal, and microwavable oatmeal.

5) Sign your kids up for an online safety course - Sometimes it is difficult to find the time to talk to your kids and give them all the information they need. Recently, I had my boys do the SOS 4 Kids online safety course*. The program is inexpensive, easy to use, and comprehensive. There are modules (that the kids can do at a convenient time... from the comfort of your home) on: street smarts, people safety, at home safety, online safety, fire safety, first aid, and accident prevention. The course is simple enough for the kids to do on their own, but doing it with your kids provides a wonderful opportunity to open a dialogue with your kids and to reinforce some of the information included in the course.

The program is interactive... using videos, digital media and checkpoints to engage kids. They even get a printable certificate of achievement when they have completed the course. The program is designed for kids aged 9-13... but it would also be a useful platform for kids with ADD, learning disabilities, or older youth with developmental disabilities. You can read more about the home alone safety course here.

Have you started leaving your kids home alone? What tips do you have to share? Leave your ideas in the comments below, and if you have any questions, please let me know.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure: I have partnered with SOS 4 Kids and have received compensation for this post; however, as always, all opinions in this post are my own.

Tips for Managing Airborne Allergens

*sponsored post*

For those of you who follow my blog regularly, you know that I have been testing out the Philips Series 2000i Connected Air Purifier in my son's room. He struggles with airborne allergens, and I have been trying to help him breathe more comfortably at home. My biggest challenge has been that I am fighting something I can't see, but my new air purifier has helped me by making the invisible visible. 

Since I haven't heard my son coughing in the night for a while, I think that what I've been doing has been helping him. Here are the steps I have taken to help my son with his airborne allergies:

1) I keep his window closed, and I close the door to his room. When his window or his door is opened, I can see the numbers on his Philips Series 2000i Connected Air Purifier rise... which means there are more allergens entering his room. It's been a good lesson for me, and it was something I didn't think of before I had the air purifier.

2) I keep his room clean. If I dust, vacuum, and change his sheets frequently, I've found it improves the air quality in his room a lot. Plus, when I shake out the bedding in his room, I can see an immediate rise in dust particles in the air.

3) I try and keep his room as free from clutter as I can. It's hard to make a kid's room clutter-free, but I try to reduce it where I can. With less clutter, there are fewer items to collect dust and it is easier to clean his room.

4) I monitor the outdoor air quality. The Philips Series 2000i Connected Air Purifier comes with an app that alerts me to poor air quality conditions outside. In real-time, AeroSense shows you the air quality data from anywhere with the connected app. The Air Purifier constantly feeds indoor air quality data to the app, which is then combined with outdoor pollution and pollen data to give me a complete picture of indoor and outdoor air quality. Of course, I don't forbid my son to go outside when the air quality is bad, but it provides me information that I can use to help my son prepare for air conditions outside. For example, I might suggest he have a shower as soon as he comes in from playing outside if pollen counts are high.

5) I use my Philips Series 2000i Connected Air Purifier to keep the air in his room clean. I can't control the allergens that he encounters outside, but I can make sure that the air in his room is clean so that he can get the best sleep possible. My air purifier automatically monitors and purifies the air. Thanks to a 3 layer filtering system (pre filter, active carbon, and heap filter), it removes 99.7% of allergens from the air. Philips AeraSense technology continuously monitors the air and automatically adjusts the fan speed when it detects a change in particles. It's easy to use, easy to clean and easy to change the filters too!

Does someone in your home struggle with airborne allergens? How do you manage their day to day? I hope you find my tips helpful. If you have any questions that I can answer for you, please let me know... or if you want to find out more about the Philips Series 2000i Connect Air Purifier, you can do so here.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Disclosure: I have partnered with Philips Canada and have received compensation for this post. However, this post reflects my own opinions and experience with this product and does not necessarily reflect claims from Philips Canada.