Kinder Valentines... and a chance to win

My boys love giving unique Valentine's to their friends, and this year, I came up with a great Valentine for my 8 year old to share with his class -- a Kinder Egg Valentine.

Isn't it cute?  I found some little "wedding favor" boxes at the dollar store, and I added a cute tag that says, "You're an EGGcellent friend.  Happy Valentine's Day!"

You can download a 4X6 jpeg of the tags by right clicking on the image below and saving it to your computer.  I got mine printed at my local photo developer for $.19.  That's less than 7 cents a tag!

And... in case you need more incentive to give out this adorable Valentine, Kinder® is kicking off 2014 with a really fun promotion -- Kinder® Crack’n Win®.  There are new toys and over $2.4 million in instant prizes to be won.

Inside each specially-marked Kinder® Surprise® egg, you will find a PIN embossed on the toy and/or toy leaflet within the capsule.  Once you’ve found your code, simply visit the Kinder® Canada Facebook Page, enter your PIN code (along with some additional information as required), and click “Check Your PIN”. 

One lucky Kinder® fan could drive away in a Fiat 500 POP, 2 lucky Kinder® fans could win a family trip to Orlando, over 27,000 Kinder® fans could win a family night out to the movies, and 201,000 fans could win a free Kinder® treat!  Exciting, right?

Happy Valentine's Day, and good luck!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

"Quick Grab" Hat and Mitten Baskets

One of my biggest challenges is getting my family out the door (on time) each morning.  In the winter, the search for hats and mitts makes mornings even more difficult in our house. But, last weekend, I came up with a solution... "Quick Grab" hat and mitten baskets.

I have a small house, and I don't have a mud room, so I only have a limited amount of space to work with.  I decided to use the small wall beside the door that connects my garage to my house.  This is where my boys put on their boots, so it is the perfect place for them to put on their hats and mitts.

I purchased cheap baskets at the dollar store, and my husband attached them to the wall with some washers and screws.  (I like that the baskets have holes in them because the hats and mitts are often slightly wet.)

Each of my boys has their own basket for their hat and mitts, but the baskets could be used for other things too.  I am thinking about adding a basket for phones and car keys.

Don't you just love how easy and inexpensive this solution is?  Do you have an idea for making the morning rush a little easier?  I'd love to hear it.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

DIY Harry Potter Wands

There are tons of fun versions of DIY Harry Potter Wands on Pinterest, so I was inspired to make a batch for my son's 8th Harry Potter-themed birthday party.  Today I am sharing a tutorial for my easy and inexpensive version.

My version is made from inexpensive dowels that you can buy at any dollar store or craft supply store.  You'll need dowels, hot glue and a glue gun, brown paint and a paintbrush, and inexpensive "gems" for the ends.

Here's how you create the magic:

1)  Use hot glue to make a design on the dowels, and allow them to dry completely.  {I stuck the wands in floral foam to allow for easy drying}.

2)  Use brown acrylic paint to completely cover the dowels.  {I painted the tops, allowed them to dry, and then painted the bottoms.}

3)  Use got glue to attach a "gems" to the bottom of the wands.

That's it!  Aren't they cute?

They were definitely a hit at my son's Harry Potter party.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

12 Months of Handprint Art

I love handprint art, don't you?  I think artwork created from little handprints is adorable, and the finished products make fantastic keepsakes.  Today, I am sharing 12 months worth of handprint art ideas.

So.... do you want to make these masterpieces with your child?  Just use handprints and palm prints to create the basic shapes, and then add details with markers (where necessary).  Here is the breakdown by month:

January - snowflake
February - heart
March - leprechaun
April - umbrella
May - flowers
June - butterfly
July - fish
August - sun
September - apple
October - pumpkin
November - poppy
December - Santa

The artwork pictured above was created by my six year old, and his teacher turned it into a calendar that he gave to my husband and I for Christmas.  I absolutely love it!  Which one is your favorite?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

7 Unique Valentines {for kids to share}

My boys love giving Valentines to their friends, but I am never really happy with the store bought cards.  I have always tried to come up with fun and unique Valentine ideas, and today I am sharing 7 unique Valentines we have made.  {Click on the links for additional details.}

1) Teddy Bear Treats - Bag up some teddy bear crackers, and add adorable "I am beary happy to have a friend like you" gift tags. And you can find another fun "BEARY" tag option here.

2) Cookie Pops - Make cookie pops or other yummy treats, and add notes that say "someone thinks you are really sweet".

3) Star Wars Valentines - Create adorable and unique picture valentines with glow stick light sabres.

4) Bookmark Valentines - Make DIY bookmarks for kids to share with their friends.

5) Berry Treats - Add "I am berry happy to have a friend like you" tags to a bags of candy (or real) berries.

6) Photo Valentines - Take a picture in front of a dollar store tablecloth backdrop and add suckers to each photo.  You can also add other treats to photo Valentines.  You can find some fun options here.

7) Crayon Valentines - Recycle some old, broken crayons into totally cute Valentines.

Which is your favorite?  Do you have a unique Valentine idea or do you prefer to go with a store bought Valentine?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

*PS... If you are concerned about sugar and allergies, you can check out 10 {easy and inexpensive} CANDY FREE options HERE.

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)

Super-cute Party Favor {Breakfast for Tomorrow}

Here's one last post for 2013... a really quick party favor... breakfast for tomorrow.

I filled a plastic cup with cereal, added a colorful plastic spoon, and tied it up in a clear loot bag with some ribbon and a cute tag.  (You can download the tags here.)  Isn't it sweet?  

It is a great favor for a New Year's Eve party, but I think it would be adorable for a sleepover too!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

New Year's Eve Party Favor {Midnight Kisses}

How cute is this {midnight kisses} New Year's Eve party favor?  It's easy, inexpensive, and totally fun!

All I did was fill dollar store champagne flutes with Hershey's kisses and add a "midnight kisses" tags.  You can download the Midnight Kisses Tags {for free} here.  The tags are set up as 4X6 photos, so you can send them for one hour processing and save the ink in your printer. 

Didn't our New Year's Eve party favors turn out cute?  I can't wait to share them with our guests!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS... and if you are looking for some last minute decor, I have some {matching} 4X6 photos you can print and attach to paper straws or craft sticks.  You can download them here and here.

5 Ways to Celebrate New Year's Eve With Kids

New Years’ Eve is a great time to plan a celebration with kids. I like to stay home and ring in the new year as a family, but if you have “grown up” plans, an earlier party with the kids is fun too. Here are 5 ways to celebrate New Year's Eve with kids:

1)  Countdown bags -  I like to fill eight bags with different treats or activities, and every hour, my boys are allowed to open one of the bags.  You can find all the DIY details here.

2)  Year in review questionnaires - Last year I created a year in review questionnaire for the kids to fill out, and I have updated it so that we can do it again this year.  It's a fun activity, and it makes a nice keepsake too.  You can download the questionnaire I designed here.

Update: find a 2024 version here.

3)  DIY party favors - We like to craft party hats and signs (which you can read about here), and we like to make our own noisemaker (which you can read about here).  I also think it would be fun to bake muffins with my boys and send our guests home with "breakfast for 2014" or "midnight kisses" party favors.

 4)  Special treats - Milk in wine glasses (rimmed with sprinkles) and chocolate chip cookies are perfect for a "midnight toast".  You can find our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe here.

5)  Fun themes - I think it's fun to pick a theme for the decorations, food, and activities. I am considering a “clock” theme (including a cake shaped like a clock face), a movie night (with lots of glow sticks and a “milk and cookies” snack bar), or a “pancakes and PJs” dance party.  Or, you can keep things simple by picking a fun color scheme to tie everything together.

However you choose to celebrate, I hope you and your family have a very Happy New Year, and I wish you all the best!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

2013 Year in Review Questionnaire

Update: find a 2024 version here.

Last year, my boys filled out a 2012 Year in Review Questionnaire.  I think it is a great tradition for kids, so I will be doing it again this year.

If you would like to do this activity with your little ones, you can download a copy of my 2013 New Year's Eve questionnaire {for free} here.

Happy New Year!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

My Favorite Ginger Molasses Cookies

These ginger molasses cookies are a favorite in this house.  I especially love them during the school year because they freeze really well, and they are great to have on hand for the boys' lunches.  They are the perfect ginger molasses cookie because they are soft and chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Here's how you make {My Favorite} Ginger Molasses Cookies*:

2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground all spice
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup white sugar (+ 1/2 cup for rolling)
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup fancy molasses
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, whisk together:  flour, ginger, cinnamon, all spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

In a medium bowl, whisk together:  oil, white sugar, brown sugar, egg, molasses, and vanilla.  Keep whisking until all the ingredients are well mixed.  Add to flour mixture, and stir with a wooden spoon until combined.

Roll into 1 inch balls, coat each ball with sugar, and place 1 inch apart on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes (until crisp around the edges and cracked on top).

*This recipe was adapted from one I found here.

You can print out a copy of this recipe by: right-clicking on the recipe (below), saving it to your computer, and printing it like a regular 4X6 photo.

You can also make these cookies a little fancier by dipping them in melted white chocolate. Trust me... they are delicious!

What's your favorite type of cookie?  If you try these soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies, let me know how they turn out.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Christmas Potpourri {Cute Neighbour Gift}

Every Christmas we like to make a little something to give out to our neighbours, so this year, the boys and I packaged up some Christmas Potpourri.

Isn't it cute?  

Each bag contained:
1 orange 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1 tbsp whole cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
3 cinnamon sticks

We just threw all the ingredients into a clear bag, attached the cute tag I designed {which you can download for free here}, and tied it with a ribbon.

I even made a bag for myself, and it's boiling on my stove as we speak.  What's your favorite Christmas smell?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Elf on the Shelf Idea - Elf Kisses... with free printable

Is your elf running out of Elf on the Shelf ideas?  This one is super-simple and lots of fun!

Little ones will be delighted to find the note below and some chocolate kisses.  Seriously... who doesn't love little treats?

You can right-click on the picture to save it to your computer, or you can download the 4X6 jpg here.

I am so glad we have such a nice Elf on the Shelf!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Gift Bags Kids Can Make

I'm always looking for ways to involve my kids in the gift-giving process.  So, when it came time for us to deliver Christmas gifts to our neighbours, I had the boys make these Christmas tree gift bags.

I love how they turned out, don't you?  Want to make your own?

You'll need: plain brown gift bags from the Dollar Store, strips of construction paper in various colors, scissors, glue, and yellow buttons.  Then:

1)  Cut strips of construction paper into various lengths... from larger to smaller... and arrange them on the bag.  Secure them with white glue.

2)  Cut a short strip of brown paper for the tree trunk, and secure with glue.

3)  Glue a yellow button onto the top of the tree.

4)  Allow glue to dry completely.

That's it!  You are ready to fill the bag with lots of Christmas goodies.  My boys had a great time delivering their homemade gift bags to our neighbours.

How do you get your children involved in the gift-giving process?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Review

I have always used a manual toothbrush, so when Phillips offered me the chance to test the Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum, I jumped at the opportunity.

The verdict.... I LOVE it.  I tested it for 14 days, and I can seriously see the difference.  My teeth actually feel smoother.  (It removes up to 7x more plaque in hard-to-reach areas and reduces gingivitis up to 2x better than a manual toothbrush.) 

As a busy mom, it is nice to have something I can do for myself that doesn't take any extra time... because time is in short supply around here.  I am all about efficiency, and this toothbrush helps me clean my teeth better in the same amount of time.

It took me a day or two to get used to the vibrating, but the toothbrush has variable speeds, so it made the adjustment easy.  And, this model comes with a UV Sanitizer which is a fantastic way to fight germs in a house with three little boys and a mom who needs to stay healthy.  :-)

The bottom line is... I think this toothbrush is fantastic, and I highly recommend giving it a try.

 ♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I was provided with this product (free of charge) for reviewing purposes only. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are 100% my own.

Tissue Paper Wreath - Preschool Craft

As you may know, I am a monthly contributor on the CBC Parents Site, and today I am sharing a simple Christmas craft.  Aren't these Tissue Paper Wreaths adorable?

My boys really enjoyed making them, and if you think your little one would have fun with this craft too, you can find the full tutorial here.

And, while you're there, take a look around. The CBC Parents Site has a lot of fantastic crafts and activities for kids.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Easy and Inexpensive Christmas Card {Quick Tip Tuesday #30}

Christmas cards can be expensive... especially custom cards.  However, you can easily put together an adorable option for less than $.15 a card.

The secret is to design a card that can be printed as a normal 4X6 photo.  I used Picmonkey.com to come up with this little card.  Cute, right?

It was easy, inexpensive, and fast (1 hour developing makes it perfect for last minute cards).  Do you send out Christmas cards?  I just love getting Christmas cards in the mail, don't you?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)