10 Snow Day Activities... that will entertain kids and help parents stay sane

In our part of the world, winter is in full swing and winter storms are plentiful. Snow days can be a lot of fun, but it isn't always easy for parents to keep kids busy and happy. Today, I am sharing a few simple and fun ideas that will entertain kids... and help parents stay sane on snow days.

1) Make snow ice cream - Whipping up a batch of snow ice cream is one of my boys' favourite snow day activities. It is simple to do, and the result is delicious. You can find the full "how to" and video for make snow ice cream here.

2) Craft a duct tape sled - A recycled box has never been so much fun. Find instructions for making a super-fun duct tape sled here.

3) Create a dollar store hot chocolate bar - A warm drink on a cold day is always a crowd pleaser. Click here to find out how to build an impressive (and portable) hot chocolate bar for less than $10.

4) Play in the snow - Getting outside in the fresh air is a wonderful way to spend a day. Go sledding, build a fort, build an upside-down snowman or colour snow with water and food coloring in a spray bottle.

5) Build a fort in the living room or have an indoor picnic - Sometimes the only thing you need on a cold winter day is a blanket and a little imagination.

6) Do a science experiment - Missing school because of a storm doesn't have to mean taking a break from learning. Check out a fun "Skittles" science experiment here. 

7) Bake something - Baking with kids is both educational and fun... and there is nothing like the smell of freshly baked cookies on a cold winter day. You can find the recipe for our favourite chocolate chip cookies here.

8) Craft something - Getting crafty when the weather is bad can be just what the doctor ordered. In keeping with the "snow day" theme, you might want to try making this adorable spare sock snowman. You can find the full step-by-step instructions here.

9) Play games - Playing cards and board games when the weather is nasty can be the perfect way to spend a day together. To make it extra special, you can find ideas for "games day" decor and treats here.

10) Watch a movie - Is there anything better than cuddling up on the couch when a snow day keeps you indoors? Put on some PJs, pop some popcorn, cuddle up on the couch, and watch your favorite family movie. If you are feeling extra ambitious, you might also want to decorate and invite some friends over.

What's your favourite way to keep the kids busy and happy on snow days? I hope you give some of my ideas a try. Stay warm, and have fun!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Date Night For Busy Parents (including a recipe for chocolate covered strawberries)

Like most parents, my husband and I are slaves to our kids' busy schedules. Finding the time and energy to get a babysitter and make plans to go out for a "date night" is almost impossible. So, "at home" date nights are the perfect solution for us. All we need is a bottle of wine, a special snack, and a good series to binge watch on Netflix.

Chocolate covered strawberries are a delicious and romantic date night snack, and they are super-simple to make.

To make chocolate covered strawberries:

1) Wash and dry strawberries (completely) with a piece of paper towel.

2) Melt 100% pure baker's chocolate in the microwave. I enjoy the rich taste of semi-sweet chocolate, but you can choose milk chocolate if that is your preference.

Break up the chocolate and microwave it for 1 to 2 minutes at MEDIUM heat until it is completely melted and smooth. (Make sure you check and stir it frequently.)

3) Dip each strawberry in the melted chocolate, allow excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl, and place the strawberry on a piece of wax paper.

4) Put the strawberries in the fridge for 30 minutes (to allow the chocolate to harden).

Now that you have the perfect date night snack, you'll want a good Netflix series that you can binge watch together. 

It's not always easy to find a show that my husband and I both want to watch, but Netflix always has fantastic date night options. Here are 5 of our favourites:

1) Stranger Things
2) House of Cards
3) Suits
4) The OA
5) Homeland

Do you have a favourite show to watch with your spouse? Do you ever "cheat" on your spouse and watch the next episode without him/her? We've all been there, right? Your binge buddy isn't around, you turn on Netflix, and you just can't help but watch without them. You're not alone. Netflix uncovered that 46% of global viewers are cheating right now... with their favourite Netflix shows.

Whether you cheat or not, you are going to want to make these chocolate covered strawberries the next time you plan a date night with your spouse. They are simple to make, and they will definitely make your evening a little sweeter. Enjoy!

♥
Gina (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.

DIY Hockey Canvas

As my active boys get older, it is getting more difficult to get them to sit still long enough to do something creative. However, the project I am sharing today is perfect for my hockey-loving sons. Check out this wonderful (and simple) DIY hockey canvas that kids can paint using their favorite team colours and dollar store supplies. It makes fantastic custom artwork for their rooms too!

To make the jersey artwork, start by painting a canvas a solid colour, and let it dry completely.

Then, add light coloured writing.

Finish by adding details/highlights in a darker colour.

I love that this project can be done inexpensively in any colours that the child chooses.

Check out the fantastic job my hockey-loving boys did on paintings for their rooms.

This is a great project to do on a rainy or snowy afternoon at home, and it would also be fun at an end-of-season team party or hockey-themed birthday party.

It would work for other sports too. The possibilities are endless! Do you have a sports fan that would love to make some artwork replicating their favorite jersey?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Valentine's Day Pancakes

My boys love pancakes, so on February 14th, it is always one of the meals I serve. I like to make our Valentine's Day pancakes extra special with a simple trick I have been using for years. All you need is: your favourite pancake recipe or mix, a little red food colouring, and a heart-shaped cookie cutter.

To make simple Valentine's Day pancakes:

1) Divide your batter into two bowls, and add food colouring to one of the bowls.
2) Cook one pancake in each colour.
3) Use a cookie cutter to cut a heart from each of the pancakes.
4) Switch the hearts.

That's it! Isn't this the easiest way to make an impressive and festive Valentine's Day meal?

I always serve these pancakes with milk in a wine glass for a little added touch of fun.

What do you serve your kids on Valentine's Day? If you are looking for a simple solution to your mealtime dilemma, I highly recommend giving this a try. Happy Valentine's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

How to Make LOVE BUGS for Valentine's Day

I first made "love bugs" with my kids several years ago, and it is one of our favorite Valentine's Day projects. Today, I thought it was time to make them again, and this time, my boys and I shot a video so that we could share the full DIY instructions. These love bugs take less than 10 minutes to craft, and they are perfect for Valentine's Day.

Ready to get started?

First, you'll need to gather your supplies: yarn, an empty egg carton, googly eyes, pom poms, pipe cleaners, a scrap of cardboard, scissors, and glue.

Then, check out this video:

As a recap, here are the instructions:

1) Wrap yarn (approximately 60-100 times... depending on the thickness of the yarn) around a piece of cardboard (which should be approximately 3-4 inches high). When you have finished wrapping, tie a piece of yarn tightly around the top of the wrapped yarn and cut the bottom. 

2) Use a pencil to poke two holes in a piece of an egg carton, and thread a pipe cleaner through the holes.

3) Spread out the yarn, place it on top on the egg carton, and twist the pipe cleaner to secure the yarn in place.

4) Wrap the pipe cleaners around a pencil to make spirals.

5) Use white glue or hot glue to add googly eyes and a pom pom nose.

Seriously... isn't this LOVE BUG the most adorable Valentine's Day craft you have ever seen? If you decide to make this darling craft with your Valentine, let me know how it turns out. Happy Valentine's Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - You can find out how to make "Love Bug" kits to share with friends here. (Free printable instructions included.)

Minion Valentine... finger puppet instructions and free printable tags

Valentine's Day treats don't need to be sugar filled goodies. Check out this adorable (and easy to make) Minion finger paper and free printable tags. Isn't this an sweet candy-free Valentine option?

To make this delightful Minion finger puppet:

1) Cut two Minion shapes from a scrap of yellow felt. (It's basically a rectangle with a little curve at the top. Just make sure it is wide enough to fit over a finger.)

2) Stitch or glue the edges of the felt together.

3) Hot glue a black stripe and a googly eye to the front of the finger puppet.

4) Use fabric paint to draw a mouth on the finger puppet.

5) Stitch some embroidery floss "hair" to the top of the puppet.

Then, you can create a Minion Valentine by putting the finger puppet in a bag and adding an adorable tag. To download the tag I designed: right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

Isn't it cute?

I love candy-free alternatives to sugary Valentine's Day treats, don't you? This Minion finger puppet is easy to make, and it is sure to delight your little Valentine. They'd be fun to share with a class too!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Kindness Door for Valentine's Day

We live in a world where social media makes it easy for people (and kids) to be mean. So, as a mom, I am always trying to find simple ways for my boys to be kind. With this in mind, for Valentine's Day, our family created a "kindness door" in our front entryway.

I picked up a bunch of paper hearts at the dollar store, and everyone in our family wrote kind things about other family members on the hearts. Then, we used painters tape to attach them to our front door.

I love that my boys took the time to write kind things about their parents and brothers. I also think it is nice that they are able to read positive things about themselves every time they walk by the door.

I love our kindness door, and I think it makes a wonderful addition to our Valentine's Day decor.

Sometimes simple ideas are the best, and I think this kindness door is a fantastic way for our family to celebrate each other. Do you think you'll try this in your home? I hope you take this opportunity to embrace positivity this February 14.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Valentine's Day Door

I have a confession to make... before today, my Christmas wreath was still hanging on my front door, and my Christmas garland (covered with ornaments) was still surrounding it. So, rather than take it down, I thought I could change it up and transform the Christmas decor into Valentine's Day decor. Clever, right?

This is what my door looked like before.

This is what my door looks like now!

I replaced my Christmas ornaments with foam hearts from the dollar store. I also replaced my Christmas wreath with a felt heart wreath that I made for Valentine's Day. (You can get the instructions for my felt heart wreath here.)

What do you think of my Valentine's Day decor? I think it is pretty fun... and it lets me enjoy my Christmas decorations for another couple of weeks. Win-win!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Heart-shaped Peanut Butter Cookies

A special day (like Valentine's Day) calls for a special treat, and what could be better than a heart-shaped cookie? Today, I am sharing a delicious and simple recipe for heart-shaped peanut butter cookies. There is no cookie cutter required, and your family will love this special Valentine's Day goodie!

Start with your favorite peanut butter cookie recipe. 

Here's the one I used:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

Directions:

1. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to combine butter, peanut butter, and sugars.
2. Add baking soda and baking powder, and beat until combined.
3. Add egg and vanilla, and beat again.
4. Stir in flour.
5. Form the dough into hearts:
• Form a tablespoon of dough into a ball.
• Flatten slightly with your hand.
• Mold into a heart shape.
• Use a fork to flatten cookie and make a crisscross pattern.
6. Place on cookie sheet, and bake in preheated oven (at 375 degrees) for 7-10 minutes.
7. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

Pretty cute, right?

These old fashioned peanut butter cookies are delicate and delicious... and they pair perfectly with a glass of milk.

If you are planning to bake something for your Valentine this year, I highly recommend these delicious heart-shaped peanut butter cookies. If you give them a try, leave me a comment below, and let me know how they turn out.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

FREE Printable Class Valentine

Paper Valentines are cute, but I always love to send a little "treat" with my boys to share with their classmates on Valentine's Day (and I try to come up with a non-candy option due to a strict nutrition policy at their school). Today, I am sharing the "sweet" non-candy Valentine that my youngest will be handing out to his friends this year.

My son will be sharing inexpensive bouncy balls with "I hope you have a BALL on Valentine's Day" tags. I made custom tags using Picmonkey.com, but I also designed generic tags that you can download (for free). Just right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

I tied the tags to tiny bags containing bouncy balls. Cute, right?

I think these Valentines are adorable, and I know my son's classmates are going to enjoy them too!

What type of Valentine's are you handing out this year? Are allergies a concern at your kid's school? I think these are super cute class Valentines, and I bet the kids won't miss the candy at all! :-)

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

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)

5 NETFLIX Shows Your Kids Are Going To Love

As my boys get older, their tastes in television shows are changing. Luckily, Netflix is constantly creating new and entertaining content that appeals to children of all ages (and their parents). Today, I am sharing our family's NEW favorite show, and I am letting you know about some awesome new programs that are streaming on Netflix this month.

Recently, I was given a "sneak peak" of a new Netflix series: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events... and our whole family LOVES it! 

Netflix is reinventing family TV with a show that serves up a little dark comedy that big kids (and their parents) will really enjoy. It is a bit more grown up than the shows that my boys have watched in the past, but we are watching this new series as a family, and it's fantastic! I seriously encourage you to check out Season 1 when it starts streaming on January 13.

And here are a four more shows that your kids are going to want to add to their "must watch" list this month:

DreamWorks Trollhunters
SEASON 1 STREAMING NOW

Voltron: Legendary Defender
SEASON 2 STREAMING JANUARY 20

Tarzan and Jane
SEASON 1 STREAMING JANUARY 6

Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh
SEASON 2 STREAMING JANUARY 27

What are your kids watching this month? Let me know if one of their favourites made my "must watch" list this month. Happy Streaming!

♥
Gina (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.

Two Ingredient Almond Bark

Homemade treats don't need to take a lot of time. This super-quick, two ingredient almond bark recipe is simple and delicious. You can make a small batch to enjoy at home, or you can increase the recipe to share it with friends.

You'll need: 12 ounces of chocolate for each 1 cup of roasted almonds. (One batch makes a tray that can be divided into 5 portions to share with friends/neighbours.)

Then:

1) Roast almonds in a single layer on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 5-8 minutes (stirring a few times).

2) Melt quality white chocolate in the microwave at 50% power for 1 minute and stir. Continue the process in 30 second increments until it is smooth.

3) Mix almonds with chocolate, and pour it onto a cookie sheet or tray covered with wax paper.

4) Place in the refrigerator until firm.

5) Break into pieces.

If you want to gift the almond bark, you can place the pieces in cute packaging from the dollar store.

White chocolate lovers will love this simple recipe for two ingredient almond bark. If you give it a try, let me know what you think. Enjoy!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)