Dollar Store Hot Chocolate Basket

Winter is a fun time for kids, and there is nothing better than playing in the cold and then warming up with a nice warm drink. Today, I am sharing a simple idea for a dollar store hot chocolate basket. You can easily put it to get and serve it to the whole neighbourhood for less than $10.

The best part about this basket is that it is 100% portable. You can take the basket (along with a thermos or kettle full of hot water) anywhere!

At the dollar store, I purchased: a grey plastic basket, cookies, popsicle sticks, hot chocolate, mini marshmallows, a cute plastic container for marshmallows, and some heat resistant cups. Cute, right?

Isn't this portable hot chocolate bar a simple and clever idea? I guarantee it will impress the children in your neighbourhood. Have fun, and stay warm!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Corn Chowder and Biscuits

Is there anything better on a cold day than a nice warm cup of chowder? This corn chowder is easy to make, and it is delicious. Pair it with some flaky homemade biscuits for the perfect comfort food combination.

My corn chowder recipe is based on one created by one of my oldest and dearest friends. (Thanks, Darc!) 

Here's what you'll need:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
4 tbsp flour
4 cups milk (I use 1%... but you can use 2% or homo for a thicker, richer chowder)
1/2 cup blend (10%)
2 containers of Knorr Homestyle Stock Bouillon (or 2-4 tbsp of OXO chicken stock powder)
2 cups frozen corn
1-2 cups diced, pre-cooked potatoes (not soft)
grated cheddar cheese (for garnish)

Directions:
Melt butter on low/medium heat. Add onion and saute until soft. Gradually whisk in flour. Slowly add milk (whisking constantly). Add chicken stock, and continue whisking.

Add remaining ingredients, and heat on low until thickened.

Garnish with cheddar cheese and serve with homemade biscuits.

You can click here for my favorite biscuit recipe. 

Do you have a favorite comfort food when the weather gets cold? Give this corn chowder and biscuits recipe a try, and let me know what you think.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Duct Tape Sled

I recently saw a post at Artzy Creations about making a sled out of a box and duct tape.  I instantly knew that this was an activity that my boys would love! Below, I explain how easy and inexpensive it is to recycle an old cardboard box into a super-fun (and fast) duct tape sled.

To make a duct tape sled, you'll need: a cardboard box, 3-4 rolls of duct tape, and scissors and/or an X-Acto knife. (I got my duct tape at the dollar store for $1.25 per roll.)

Start by cutting one side out of a box. We used a 5 cube moving box.

Then, fold one end of the box over, and cut a handle through the two layers. The extra layer of cardboard will make the handle stronger.

Finish by covering the entire sled with duct tape. Make sure to seal all the edges with duct tape, and overlap the tape to ensure that the cardboard will stay dry. You are also going to want to use the tape vertically as much as possible to increase the speed of the sled.

I think this duct tape sled is a fantastic way to recycle an old box. We had fun crafting, and we made a sled for less than $5! Pretty fun, right?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Snow Ice Cream with Evaporated Milk

We had a huge snowfall yesterday, and when my boys found out school was cancelled, the first thing they asked was, "Can we make snow ice cream?". If you have never made snow ice cream, you need to try it!

I normally make snow ice cream with condensed milk, but I didn't have any in my cupboard, so I used this modified recipe:

Ingredients:

• Big bowl of fluffy, clean, freshly fallen snow (approx. 8 cups) 
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar (or a little less if you want it a little less sweet)
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk (I used 2%)
• 1 tsp real vanilla extract
• desired toppings (e.g. chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, m&ms, whipped cream, etc...)

Directions:

Collect the snow, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and stir until combined. Add evaporated milk and vanilla, and stir again. Serve immediately, add desired toppings, and enjoy!

This really is the perfect snow day treat. My boys love it made with condensed milk and with the evaporated milk and sugar. If you give both recipes a try, let me know if you have a favourite.

♥ 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Spare Sock Snowman

I am in love with the adorable little craft that I am sharing today. This sweet snowman is made from a single white sock and a few other basic supplies. Adults and kids will enjoy making this spare sock snowman, and it is really simple to create using my step-by-step tutorial.

To make your own spare sock snowman, follow the pictures and instructions below.

1) Start with a plain white sock, and fill the toe with split peas (or something else that will give it some weight and keep it sturdy). Secure with an elastic.

2) Add some cotton filling for the head, and secure with an elastic.

3) Fold the top of the sock down to form a hat.

4) Use glue to add a pom pom to the hat, googly eyes, a felt carrot nose, and buttons. I used tacky glue that is suitable for use with fabric.

5) Draw a mouth with a permanent marker.

6) Cut a strip of felt to make a scarf, tie it around the snowman's neck, and use scissors to fringe the ends.

Don't you just love how cute this little guy is? He really was simple to make, and a spare sock has never looked so good!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

And if you want to make another cute craft with socks, check this out:

Don't miss out on any of the fun... follow me on social media here.

     

You can find MORE simple snowman crafts and activities here.

Indoor Snowball Fight

My boys are pretty active, so when the weather keeps us indoors for long periods of time, we need to get creative.  Recently, when the temperature dropped dramatically, we entertained ourselves with an indoor snowball fight.

My boys and I had a fantastic indoor snowball fight with homemade shooters and cotton balls, and you can find all the fun details at CBC Parents here.

How do you keep your little ones entertained when you are stuck indoors?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Elegant DIY Winter Wreath

This time of year, I take down my Christmas wreath, and I try to come up with a pretty DIY winter wreath to replace it.  Today, I hung this elegant felt wreath on my front door, and I absolutely love it!

To make this wonderful winter wreath:

1) Start by cutting a circle from foam core (from the dollar store).  I cut mine about 2 inches thick.  Don't worry about jagged edges because you won't see them when the wreath is completed.

2) Wrap yarn around the foam core securing with hot glue periodically.

3) Make A LOT of white felt roses, and hot glue them to the wreath.  You can find a step-by-step tutorial for making felt roses here.

4) Add a bow.  (I found this teal/glittery bow in the Easter section at the dollar store).

I am so pleased with how this felt winter wreath turned out -- and it was super-easy and inexpensive! What do you hang on your front door this time of year?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - You can also modify this design by adding a red ribbon for Christmas.

Snowman Soup

My boys love making little gifts/treats to share with their friends.  A few days ago, they had some friends over, and we all made "snowman soup".

Adorable, right? I am sharing all the fun details over at CBC Parents today, so head on over and check out this fun project.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Snowman Goodie Bag {with free printable}

My six year old recently went to a birthday party, and came home with a "snowman parts" treat bag.  I have seen similar ideas on Pinterest, and I knew I had to design my own version.  Here's what I came up with...

Isn't it cute?  My bag includes:  three marshmallows, two Skittles, two pretzel sticks, a piece of candy corn, and six mini chocolate chips.

I especially like the adorable tag I designed.  You can download the 4X6 version of the tag {for free} by right clicking on the picture below, saving it to your computer, and printing it like a normal photo.

I think this is a great idea for a loot bag, but it would be fun as a class treat or a special snack at home.  Would your little ones enjoy this "snowman parts" goodie bag?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

5 Fun Snow Day Activities

We have had a number of "snow days" this winter, and some are more fun than others.  Today was fantastic because the snow was good, and the temperature was moderate... so I thought it was the perfect day to share our 5 favorite snow day activities.

1)  Build a silly snowman - My boys loved building this upside down snowman.  How cute are his rubber boots?

2)  Go sledding - Is there anything more fun than speeding down a hill on a sled with your brothers?  My boys don't think so.

3)  Drink hot chocolate with marshmallows - After a morning outside in the snow, my boys love to warm up with hot chocolate and marshmallows.

4)  Build a fort - When the boys need a break from playing outside, a pile of blankets and pillows can keep them entertained for hours.  Today our fort was a space ship, a secret spy hideout, and the Olympic village.

5)  Make snow ice cream - Snow ice cream is our favorite "snow day" snack, and today I let the boys add a few treats to it.  You can find the recipe for snow ice cream here... or check out our YouTube video here.

Don't you just love a good snow day?  My boys are now cuddled up on the couch watching a movie... and I am ready for a nap!  :-)

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Toilet Roll Snow Globe

When it's too cold to go outside, there is still a lot of winter fun to be had.  Why not bring a little winter indoors with this adorable toilet roll snow globe?

If you are interested in making this adorable toilet roll snow globe, I am shared the full tutorial at CBC kids, and you can find it here.

Stay warm!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

10 Wonderful Winter Activities for Kids

Being a kid in winter can be a lot of fun, and today I am sharing a wonderful collection of indoor and outdoor winter activities.  Here are 10 of my family's favorite winter activities.

1)  Make paper snowflakes.

2)  Drink hot chocolate with marshmallows or whipped cream.  (And it will taste even better out of styrofoam cups or homemade snowman mugs.  Click on the link for more info.)

3)  Read a book about snow.

4)  Make snow ice cream.  (Click on the link for more info.)

5)  Make a snowman craft.  (Click on the link for 10 fantastic snowman crafts and activities.)

6)  Have an indoor picnic or go "indoor camping" on a cold day.

7)  Cuddle under a blanket and watch a movie.

8)  Go sledding or skating. (You can even get instructions for making a duct tape sled here.)

9)  Build a snowman or snow fort.

10) Paint on snow.  (Click on the link for more info.)

What is your favorite winter activity? The winter can be long... but it can be a lot of fun with these wonderful winter activities.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Snowman Soup - Simple Gift for Classmates - with free printable tags

My boys and I always like to make little Christmas gifts/treats that they can share with their classmates.  Here is what we came up with this year... snowman soup.

To make snowman soup, we filled bags from the dollar store with a bag of hot chocolate, some mini marshmallows, and a candy cane.  You can download the tags I designed {for free} here.

I sent the tags {which are a 4X6 jpegs} for one hour photo processing, cut them out, punched holes in the corners, and attached them to the bags with ribbon. 

This is a fantastic easy and inexpensive DIY gift idea.  It would be fun for neighbours too.  My boys and I made 90 of these bags to share with their friends.  That's a lot of snowman soup!  :-)

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - If you are looking for more classroom treat/gift ideas, you can find 5 more here.

How to Make Snow Ice Cream

When mother nature gives you a snow storm at the end of March... make some snow ice cream! You only need three ingredients to make this tasty treat.

I have been planning all winter to make snow ice cream with my boys, but for some reason we didn't get around to it -- until today.  If you haven't done it before, you must.  My boys LOVED it, and it was so simple! You can check out our YouTube video here: 

Or you can follow the instructions here:

1)  Put 8 cups of clean (freshly fallen) snow in a big bowl.
2)  Added 1 can (300mL) sweetened condensed milk and 1 tsp vanilla extract.
3)  Stirred to combine, and served immediately.

Since my boys LOVE chocolate, I served our ice cream with a simple homemade chocolate sauce.  I just put 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, 1 2/3 cups white sugar, 1 1/4 cups water, and 1 tsp vanilla in a medium saucepan.  I cooked it over medium heat for about 5 minutes after it came to a boil... whisking frequently.  Then, I removed it from the heat and allowed it to cool slightly.

Seriously... why did we wait so long to do this?  We'll have to start earlier in the season next year.

Have you ever made "Snow Ice Cream"?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

DIY Snowman Mugs

I have seen a bunch of "Sharpie" mugs on Pinterest, so I thought it would be fun to make my own version for my boys.  Won't these snowman mugs be adorable filled with hot chocolate and marshmallows?

All you need to make one of these adorable mugs is a white mug {I got mine at the dollar store}, some oil-based Sharpies, and a little imagination.

Want to make one?  It is sooooo easy!

First, wash the mug well and let dry completely.  Then, decorate the mug with Sharpies.

When you are finished, bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, and allow to cool in the oven.  Easy Peasy!

We made snowmen, but you could draw or write anything.  They would make great personalized gifts too.  What are you going to create with your dollar store mug?

♥ 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (I have had a couple of people report that their marker came off when they washed their mugs.  I can only guess that it has something to do with type of Sharpie or the type of mug they used.  I came across a bunch of tips here that might help.  Good luck!)

I also had a reader (below) share the following: I washed my cup in hot soapy water and let dry. I then wiped my entire cup where I was crafting (mostly outside) with vinegar and let it air dry. I then did my patterns with the sharpies. I put my cups and plates in a cold oven, set at 350 degrees. When the temperature reached 350, I then timed it for 45 minutes, shut the oven off and left them there until the temperature of the oven was again cold. This procedure worked well.

Snow Day Snack

A few days ago we had a "snow day", so the boys and I made some "snowman cookies".  They were inspired by some beautiful cookie pops made by Amy at The Idea Room.  My boys made our version, so they didn't turn out quite as fancy as Amy's.  :-)

Here is how we made our version:

1)  I melted some white chocolate baking squares in the microwave {2 minutes on medium in a small microwave safe bowl}.  Then, I let the boys stir the chocolate until it was completely melted and smooth.

2)  I let the boys dip Oreos in the melted chocolate, and then they laid the cookies on wax paper.

3)  Using candy corn and chocolate chips, the boys made snowman faces on the cookies, and then we left them to harden.

Fun, right?  The boys loved snacking on snowman cookies and hot chocolate after an afternoon of sledding.

What is your favorite winter time snack?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.