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.

Simple and Delicious HOMEMADE Ice Cream Cake... with an ice cream sandwich base

I love a simple dessert... and an ice cream cake is perfect for summer. My boys put this one together earlier this week, and it turned out great. You won't believe how EASY this 5 ingredient cake is to make.

To make this cake, you'll need:

• a box of ice cream sandwiches
• chocolate sauce
• Cool Whip (frozen dessert topping)
• Oreos
• mini M&Ms (candy coated chocolate candies

Then: layer the ice cream sandwiches on the bottom of a baking dish, add a layer of chocolate and crushed cookies, ice with softened Cool Whip, sprinkle with more crushed cookies, drizzle with chocolate sauce, and top with mini M & Ms.

For more detailed instructions, check out this 3 minute video.

Seriously... this recipe is a "must try"!

It tastes even better than it looks.

Let me know if you make this recipe, and let me know what you think. I know it was a hit with my husband and sons. 😀

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also enjoy the recipe here.

How to BBQ Donuts

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.

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also enjoy the campfire treats here.

THE BEST Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches... from a cake mix!

Summer is synonymous with ice cream, and there is nothing better than a homemade ice cream treat. Today, I am sharing a recipe with you that is easy to make and totally delicious. You are going to love these homemade ice cream sandwiches (made with the help of a cake mix).

The key to these ice cream sandwiches is the easy to make cake mix cookies.


Ingredients for cake mix cookies:

1 box (quality) chocolate cake mix (I like the Duncan Hines chocolate fudge)
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tsp real vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 - 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup sugar (for rolling)


Directions for cake mix cookies:

1) Mix cake mix, oil, vanilla and eggs until well blended. 

2) Stir in chocolate chips.

3) Refrigerate dough for 20 minutes for easier rolling.

4) Roll dough into 1-inch balls, roll in sugar, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet about 2-inches apart. (I like to use a cookie scoop to get uniform cookies... and it speeds up the process too!)

5) Bake at 350℃ for 9-11 minutes. Let cool on tray for 1 minute, and then move to a cooling rack. Store in an air tight container.

To transform the cookies into ice cream sandwiches:

Let ice cream soften slightly, flatten a scoop of ice cream on a cutting board, and place ice cream in between two cookies.

This face says it all!

You are going to want to save this recipe, so I made you a printable recipe card. 

To print the recipe card I designed: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

Have you ever tried making your own ice cream sandwiches? The possibilities really are endless. Pick your favourite cookie, pick your favourite ice cream flavour, squish them together, and enjoy!

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

DIY Ice Cream Pie (with easy to follow instructions and recipe video)

There is nothing like a cold, homemade treat on a hot summer day. Am I right? My boys and I always enjoy baking together, so I thought it would be fun to let them try making their own ice cream pie. It's a great way to enjoy summer baking without turning on the oven! Today I am sharing the instructions for making a SIMPLE summer dessert. You are definitely going to want to try this DIY ice cream pie.

To make a DIY ice cream pie:

1) Gather your supplies. You'll need: a pre-made chocolate crust, ice cream, cookies, and chocolate sauce.

2) Soften your ice cream. Leave it out of the fridge for approximately 15-20 minutes.

3) Crush the cookies in a ziploc bag. Use a rolling pin until they are all crushed. (Kids will love helping with this part!)

4) Add a layer of ice cream. Add the softened ice cream until it covers the bottom of the pie.

5) Add the crushed cookies.

6) Add a second layer of ice cream. Add the ice cream gently so that you leave the cookie layer intact. Smooth it out (using a warm knife if necessary).

7) Decorate the top with cookies.

8) Drizzle with chocolate sauce.

9) Place pie in the freezer for about an hour (to allow the ice cream to harden again). Cut with a warm knife, and drizzle with chocolate sauce (if desired).

Check out the recipe video I made to see how easy it was to make!

Everyone in my family loved this DIY ice cream pie... and it was as fun to make as it was to eat. If you love ice cream cake, you are going to love this. You can use any kind of ice cream, cookies, and sauce. You are only limited by your own imagination.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup No-Churn Ice Cream

I love cooking with my boys, so I thought it would be a lot of fun to make homemade ice cream with them this summer. I have seen many "no churn" recipes on Pinterest that use cream and sweetened condensed milk, so I decided to experiment with creating our my version. Today I am sharing our SIMPLE recipe for Reese's Peanut Butter Cup No-Churn Ice Cream.

You'll need:

1) one small can (300mL) sweetened condensed milk

2) one small carton (237mL) whipping cream

3) 1 tsp vanilla

4) 3-4 crumbled Reese's peanut butter cups

Then:
1) Empty the can of condensed milk into a large bowl, and mix in the vanilla.
2) Use a hand mixer to whip the cream (for approximately 3 minutes).
3) Gradually fold the whip cream into the condensed milk (just until combined). It starts out lumpy, but if you keep mixing, it will get smooth.
4) Pour half of the mixture into a loaf pan, sprinkle the chocolate on top, and add the remaining mixture. Use a knife to swirl in the chocolate pieces.
5) Cover the top of the ice cream with a piece of wax paper, and press it down.
6) Freeze for at least 5-6 hours.
7) Enjoy!

My boys had a wonderful time making this ice cream, and they loved the ice cream's rich and creamy flavour!

Have you ever made ice cream this way? Making ice cream from cream and sweetened condensed milk was much easier than I thought it would be, and there was no special equipment required. The boys have already requested another batch. If you give this recipe a try, let me know how it turns out.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Fantastic ICE CREAM Recipes and Ideas

Ice cream is a favorite summertime treat in our home, and it isn’t hard to figure out why this is the case. On a hot summer day, there isn’t anything quite as tasty and refreshing as a cold and creamy scoop of ice cream. Today I am sharing a few fantastic ice cream recipes and ideas.

Brownie Waffles - These are our new family favorites. To bake delicious waffle brownie sundaes: 1) Mix a brownie mix according to package directions plus one egg. 2) Cook the brownie mix in a preheated waffle maker for approximately six minutes. 3) Allow the waffles to cool slightly, and then carefully remove them from the grill. 4) Add strawberries and ice cream, and drizzle with chocolate sauce.

Homemade Ice Cream Sandwich - To make your own ice cream sandwiches, simply scoop slightly softened ice cream between two homemade cookies. Our favorite combination involves chocolate ice cream and soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies. Sandwiches made with chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream are also delicious.

You could also try "dressing up" store bought ice cream sandwiches.

Or these delicious homemade ice cream sandwiches using cookies made from a cake mix - These are "must try". They are easy and delicious!

Ice Cream in a Bag - Making ice cream is another endeavor that the kids are guaranteed to enjoy, and you really don’t need any special equipment. To make ice cream in a bag you’ll need: a big Ziploc bag, a small Ziploc bag, salt, ice, sugar, vanilla and 18% coffee cream. You can find the full recipe for ice cream in a bag here.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup NO-CHURN Ice Cream - This easy-to-make ice cream has a rich and creamy texture, and it doesn't require any special equipment to make.

DIY Ice Cream Pie - This is a simple "no bake" dessert that is perfect for summer. Kids will love helping to make (and eat!) this one.

Ice Cream for Supper - Each year, my boys and I make a checklist of 50 summer activities, and we work all summer to complete all of the items on our list. The last thing on our list is always a special “Ice Cream for Supper” party, and it is an event that my boys look forward to all summer. I highly recommend giving this fun idea a try!

Aren't these fantastic ideas for enjoying ice cream?

Ice cream really is a fun part of summer (and childhood). Do you have a favorite ice cream recipe or flavour?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)