5 Fantastic Family Movie Night Ideas (including special treat pairings)

After a busy week, there is nothing like getting into comfy PJs and cuddling up with the kids for a special family movie night. Netflix has a growing catalogue of family movies and Disney classics, and today I am sharing some fantastic movie ideas and super-fun (and easy) matching treats. It's everything you need for the perfect family movie night!

1) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - This movie might be a bit scary for younger kids, but older kids will love it... and so will parents. 

For pirate treats, why not try some peanut butter and jelly fish sandwiches? Make regular sandwiches, cut them out with fish-shaped cookie cutters, and add chocolate chip eyes. Easy peasy!

"Fish and chips" is another fun option! My boys think this idea is hilarious.

2) Tangled - This classic Disney tale is based on the story of Rapunzel, and it is sure to delight children and their parents.

For Tangled treats, why not bake up a batch of these Pascal cupcakes? 

To create these Rapunzel's Chameleon (Pascal) Cupcakes:
1) Make your favorite white cupcakes.
2) Cover each cupcake with green icing.
3) For the eyes - use white chocolate candy melts and chocolate chips (with chocolate icing for the "glue").
4) Use chocolate icing to draw a simple nose and mouth.
5) Use green icing to pipe on eyebrows and the protruding part of its head.

3) Lilo & Stitch - This sweet Disney movie is set in Hawaii, features a quirky and adorable alien, and focusses on the importance of family. What's not to love?

For Lilo & Stitch themed snacks, why not try some "beachy" treats? For example: gummy sharks, pool water (blue juice), fish and chips (gold fish mixed with salt & vinegar chips), sea creature crackers, pool noodles (liquorice), and chips served in (clean) buckets.

4) Cool Runnings - This classic underdog story is full of colorful characters and lessons about not giving up. It's great for older kids, and parents will be entertained too.

For a Cool Runnings snack, why not try a yummy and "cool" treat? Check out the recipe for our favorite homemade Reese's peanut butter cup no-churn ice cream here.

5) Planes - This airplane version of Disney's classic "Cars" movie is an entertaining adventure that will appeal to children of all ages.

For Planes themed goodies, why not add sweet tags to pre-packaged treats to create custom in-flight snacks?

To download the adorable tag I designed: right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo. You can cut each photo into three tags, and staple the tags to bags of your favorite movie treats.

Aren't these fantastic ideas for making movie night special? Have you seen all of these Disney movies? If not, you should make plans to enjoy them on Netflix ASAP.

What are some of your favorite flicks to watch with your children?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

First Day of School 2016

Today was the first day of school for my sweet boys. They are now in grades 2, 4, and 6... and I can't believe how quickly time is passing. Today, I am sharing our back to school traditions and a few photos from our first day.

We started our day with a special pancake breakfast.

Then, the boys reluctantly posed for a few pictures. We always take pictures with some photo props and with the boys holding their "first day of school" photos from the previous year.

After they finished their mini photo shoot, the two younger boys headed to school with some little treats for their friends and teachers. 

Apparently, when you are in Grade 6 you don't really want to do this anymore. :-)

Fun, right?

My oldest son has hockey practice after school, but after that, we'll all have a special snack and talk about the day. I can't wait for them to get home. I miss them already!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Skittles Science Experiment

Teaching kids about science is really about encouraging questions and making observations. I love simple science experiments, don't you? Today I am sharing a fun Skittles science experiment that my sister shared with me. My boys loved it, and I am sure your little ones will enjoy it too.

To make a Skittles rainbow:

1) Line the Skittles on a plate.
2) Add warm water to the middle of the plate.
3) Watch the rainbow appear.

Check out this time lapse video that shows the cool effect.

If you enjoy exploring science activities with your kids, you can check out 15 simple science experiments for kids here. If you have never done an experiment with your kids, I guarantee they will love creating a Skittles rainbow. Have fun!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

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Healthy lunchables

Making lunches is one of my most dreaded tasks, and I know I am not the only parent that feels this way. So, when I find something that makes packing lunches a little easier for me, I want to share the idea with as many people as I can. Today, I am showing you how to make healthier (and more environmentally friendly) "lunchables" that kids will love and parents can feel good about.

The key to these simple lunchables are these cute little Lock & Lock round containers. I love them because they are a perfect size, and kids find them easy to open and close.

Then, you just fill the containers with whatever you want. I like to use preservative free pepperoni or lunch meats, multi grain crackers or pretzels, cheese, and fresh fruit or raw veggies... but you can use your child's favourites (or whatever you have in your fridge/cupboard).

I think this is a fun option for lunches, and it would be easy to have your child help fill these containers with healthy options. What would you put in your homemade "lunchable"?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)


Disclosure: The link to the lunch container highlighted in this post is an affiliate link. If you purchase this container using this link in this post, I will receive a referral payment. Thanks for supporting my blog and all the free content I provide!

First Day of School Class Treats (for smart cookies)... with free printable tags

My boys are heading back to school next week, so this week we are busy labelling school supplies and finding sneakers that fit everyone. We are also putting together some treats to share with their classmates on the first day of school. Check out the adorable first day of school treats and sweet printable tags they will be handing out to their friends.

Cute, right? It's a simple idea, but it is a sweet and thoughtful treat.

Each of my boys chose their favorite (peanut free) type of cookie, and I designed a tag to staple to the top of each bag.

To download the tags I designed (for free): right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo. Each print can be cut into three tags.

Isn't taking a special treat on the first day of school a fun idea? And these first day of school class treats are super-easy and inexpensive to put together. No baking required!

Are you ready to send the kids back to school? I wish it could be summer forever, but I have a feeling that Fall is coming whether I am ready or not. ;-)

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

"Couldn't be cuter" BUG crafts

Today I am sharing three BUG themed crafts that are easy to make, totally adorable and perfect for Preschoolers (and older kids too). I love that they use a variety of simple supplies and a plethora of cheerful colors. Below, you will find all the instructions you need to make: a colorful caterpillar, a beautiful bee, and a bookworm.

To make a BEE-utiful bumblebee: 

1) Cut an oval shape from a piece of yellow paper, and glue it to another piece of paper.
2) Cut stripes and a stinger from black paper, and glue to the body of the bee.
3) Add a googly eye and wax paper wings.
4) Use a crayon to add antennae and a mouth.

To make a popsicle stick bookworm:

1) Use a glue gun to attach a pom pom to the end of a craft stick.
2) Glue on googly eyes and a small pom pom.
3) Use markers and crayons to decorate the craft stick.

To make a colorful caterpillar:

1) Cut circles for every letter of the child's name and one for the head.
2) Write the letters of the child's name on the circle.
3) Glue all the pieces in place (including a picture of the child).
4) Embellish with markers or crayons.

Cute, right? Do you have a favorite?

I think all three of these bug crafts are absolutely adorable, and they give children the chance to play with glue, scissors, and crayons. Which of these "bug" crafts will you make first?

♥ 
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)

First Day of School Survival Kit (teacher gift)

The first day of school is always a stressful time for teachers, so I always like to send little "teacher gifts" with my boys. I want my boys to understand that teachers are important and should be respected. I think bringing a small gift on the first day helps to reinforce this lesson and sets a nice tone for the new school year. Today, I am sharing the cute "1st day of school survival kit" my boys will be giving to their teachers this year, and I am including the adorable tags I designed that you can download for free.

I started with an insulated drinking glass, and I filled it with a few things the teacher might need on the first day. My cups included: chocolate bars, hand sanitizer, and headache medication (which was a bit of a joke, but could actually be quite useful).

Then, I added a cute little tag. To download and print the tags for free: right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

Isn't this a cute (and useful) teacher gift?

Does your little one like to bring a gift for their teacher on the first day of school? This "1st day of school survival kit" is a wonderful and inexpensive option that is sure to please!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Under the Sea Crafts

I teach a weekly craft class to Preschoolers, and we always make cute crafts related to a fun theme. Today, I am sharing some simple "Under the Sea" crafts that are totally adorable!

Cute, right?

To make a paper bag fish:
1) Have the children decorate a paper bag.
2) Stuff the bag with tissue paper.
3) Use a piece of twine to close the bag and create a tail.
4) Use glue to add googly eyes.

To make a paper plate fish:
1) Cut a mouth from the plate and attach it as a tail.
2) Use glue and 1-inch squares of tissue paper to cover the fish.
3) Use tape to attach a popsicle stick to the back of the fish.
4) Use glue to attach a googly eye.

To make a sticker octopus:
1) Cut a circle from a piece of yellow construction paper, and glue it onto a blue sheet of construction paper.
2) Use stickers to create legs.
3) Draw a face.
4) Attach googly eyes with glue.

I also love this paper bag jellyfish craft. It's perfect for practicing scissor skills. Color the bag, Cut strips, add googly eyes, and tape a popsicle stick to the back.

And how cute is this "scuba diver" craft? Kids colour the picture, and then they glue on: their face, flippers, and a pipe cleaner snorkel.

There are many ideas for an "under the sea" theme, but I think these three crafts are fantastic. They are really cute, and they are wonderful crafts for practicing fine motor skills. Do you have a little one that would enjoy these "under the sea" crafts?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

CAMPING Scavenger Hunt (free printable)

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!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Bonding with The Beatles (and a giveaway from Netflix)

winner: Courtney Comeau

I've always loved music, and I have been a huge fan of The Beatles since I was a child. I have many memories of listening to Beatles' albums with my Dad as he explained the evolution of their music and the huge impact it had on so many other artists. Now, I am the mom of a new generation of Beatles fans, and together, we are celebrating the new Beatles inspired "Beat Bugs" on Netflix. Check out my boys' cover of the show's theme song All You Need is Love.

Seriously... how cute are my boys?

With the new Netflix original series Beat Bugs, my family is singing along to classics such as Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Help, Blackbird, and All You Need is Love. The Beat Bugs (five charming and energetic bug-like creatures) are totally adorable, and the show is full of kid-friendly story-lines and Beatles music re-recorded by today's top artists, including Pink, Sia and Eddie Vedder.

If you love The Beatles, you need to check out Beat Bugs with your kids. And... if you don't already subscribe to Netflix, I have a three month subscription card to give away to a lucky reader. To enter, all you have to do is:

1) Create your own family cover of "All You Need Is Love", and post it on social media using #BeatBugs. (Feel free to tag me too!)

2) Email me the link to your social media post. (Send it to EastCoastMommy@gmail.com.)

3) I'll select a winner the morning of Wednesday, August 17, 2016.

Note: This subscription is for Netflix Canada, so the contest is open to Canadians only.

I hope you watch this great new show with your kids, and I can't wait to see your videos!

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I receive special gifts and perks as part of my affiliation with Netflix.... however (as always) the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.