Cookie Jar Teacher Gifts... with free printable gift tags

I love the idea of kids making gifts for their teachers, don't you? What is better than a handmade gift and card from a child? This is a tasty alternative to candles and mugs! Keep reading because today I am sharing the recipe and instructions for making this adorable cookie mix in a jar.

1) You'll need to start with a clean 1L mason jars.

2) Then, you'll need to layer the ingredients below (patting down each layer before adding the next one):

First layer: 1 3/4 cups flour, 3/4 tsp baking soda, 3/4 teaspoon salt
Second layer: 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
Third layer: 1/2 white sugar
Fourth layer: 1 1/2 cups quality, semi-sweet chocolate chips

To make the process easy: use a wide-mouthed funnel to fill the jars, and make a tool to press down the layers. I attached a round piece of cardboard to the end of skewer and covered it all with tin foil.

3) Then, print off the cookie tag below, cut it to look like a tag, and attach it to the cookie jar with twine. 

To download the tag: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print.

Here is one that my son made. Isn't it cute?

And to make the gift a little extra special for your favourite teacher, you can attach a "A SWEET treat for a SWEET teacher!" tag.

To download the tag I designed: click on the photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4X6 photo.

What teacher wouldn't love this adorable personalized treat?

This would be a fantastic teacher gift for the first day of school, last day of school or Christmas. Kids will love making it, and teachers will love receiving it! Give it a try and let me know what you think.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Great Books for Getting Kids Engaged... with something OTHER than electronics

When I was a little girl, I owned a book called "Things to Make and Do", and I loved it. I would leaf through the pages of the book and get inspired to do science experiments, make crafts, and learn new games. There was something fantastic about having a book full of things to make and do. So... in keeping with my childhood experience, I thought it would be fun to get some books that would inspire my kids to get engaged with new activities... and away from their electronics.

Note: I was given these books (at no cost) by DK books in exchange for my truthful review. I have also included Amazon links in this post. If you purchase one of these books using my link, I will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you!

These are the three books I chose for my boys.

Science is Magic by Steve Mould - Teaches you to amaze your friends with spectacular science experiments.

The Campfire Cookbook - Recipes for BBQing at home and cooking over a campfire.

Science You Can Eat - Teaches you the science behind cooking and baking... part cookbook/part science reference.

Of the three books, "Science is Magic" was the biggest hit. My 10 year old really enjoyed it. 

We've already learned a couple of magic tricks, and we made a drawing come to life. We drew a picture on a plate, we covered it with cold water, and then we watch as the picture detached from the plate and floated around. Fun, right?

We still have a lot of activities in our books to try, but we are already having a lot of fun. If you are looking for a unique gift for your kids or their friends, these books are great options. I love finding new ways to engage kids WITHOUT electronics, don't you?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

5 clever Plastic Cup HACKS

Plastic cups are inexpensive, and they are useful for more than drinking. I love that they come in different colours now too, so they can match your party theme / project vision. Check out these clever ways to use plastic cups.

1) Cut a hole in the bottom, and use them to protect little hands from sparklers. 

2) Use them for DIY party games. For example, they can be stacked at a carnival party for a good game of "knock down" or for "target practice" at a NERF party.

3) Make an inexpensive prize punch using plastic cups, foam core and tissue paper. Find the instructions and more examples of prize punch designs here.

4) Use plastic cups as gift packaging. Fill with treats and / or gift cards, wrap with cellophane and ribbon, and add a fun tag. (Check out the teacher gift idea here, and the Christmas gift idea here.

5) Use to make toys for kids. Who wouldn't love these simple pirate hooks made from plastic cups and tin foil. (Find the full tutorial for plastic cup pirate hooks here.)

And you can even turn the hooks into a party game. Check out the plastic cup pirate hook toss instructions here.

Aren't these plastic cup hacks fun? The prize punch is my favourite, but they are all fantastic. Do you have an idea to add? Leave it below. I'm always looking for new easy and inexpensive ways to have fun with my family.

A Letter to My Boys on the First Day of School

As the first day of school approaches, here are the things I want my boys to remember...

Dear Boys,

Academics aren't everything. Not everyone is going to get an A. Do your best. That's enough.

Be kind. You never know what someone in your class is dealing with. You don't need to be friends with everyone, but you should always be kind.

Take responsibility instead of making excuses. If you make a mistake, resolve to do better the next time. This is how you build character, and it's how you get those around you to respect you.

Try hard. You won't always succeed, but you will never succeed if you don't try.

Be respectful. Everyone you meet in your life has something to teach you. Education is a gift. Accept it with respect and grace.

You are not alone. Surround yourself with friends and family that want you to succeed... and know that I will always be cheering for you.

Love, 

Mom
xoxo

Top 10 Things to Buy for your FAMILY CRUISE

Our family just finished our first cruise, and I was super-worried about keeping my family of 5 organized in a tight space. I did a lot of research before packing for our trip, and I made sure to purchase the items that people recommended. Today, I am sharing my favourite 10 items that you should definitely buy before you cruise (and MORE useful items to remember to pack). You may be able to find some things locally, but I have also included some Amazon links in case you want to just order everything online. (The links are affiliate links, so if you use them, you I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you... thank you!)

1) Clear Shoe Rack - I think the best thing I bought before my cruise was a clear shoe rack. The staterooms are small, and a clear shoe rack is a great way to keep organized. I filled ours with the items we needed to have easily accessible: sunblock, medications, towel clips, Ziploc bags, sunglasses, charging codes, earphones, water bottles, bathing suits, etc... Here is a link to the one I purchased.

2) Magnetic Hooks - All the walls and doors in the staterooms are magnetic, so it only makes sense to make use of this space for storage. We used our hooks to hang hats, bags of jewellery, lanyards, schedules, etc... Here is the link the hooks I ordered... and they worked perfectly.

3) Lanyards - Your sea pass card is something you are always going to want to have with you on your cruise. It holds your dinner show reservation, and excursion information, it allows you to charge things to your room, and it's your ID for getting on and off the ship. A lanyard is a convenient way to carry it with you and make sure you don't lose it. You can get your sea pass "hole-punched" at guest services, or you can get a lanyard with a plastic sleeve. (I've heard some people recommend the plastic sleeve because sunscreen can cause the ink on the seapass to smear.) I purchased mine at the dollar store, but I love the cruise-themed ones you can find here.

4) Rubber Ducks - I know this might be a strange one, but if you have kids (and even if you don't), hiding rubber "cruising" ducks is a fun activity. You can read all about it here.

5) Backpack or bag for excursions - Backpacks are perfect for excursions, and for packing items that you may need on the days you are getting on and off the ship (when you may be a few hours without your luggage). You can fill a backpack with everything you need (e.g. a bathing suit, sunscreen, change of clothes, snacks, ID, phone, etc..). I love the lightweight version here because it would be easy to stuff in a suitcase.

6) Ziploc bags - Ziploc bags are fantastic for many things. We use them for packing wet and dirty items and for packing items in suitcases that could possibly leak (like shampoo, sunscreen, etc...) They are also great for packing food for excursions. We always packed snacks like bread, peanut butter, and pastries when we left the ship.

7) Towel clips - Cruise ships and beaches can be windy, so towel clips are great for securing towels to chairs. You can also use the clips to keep the curtains closed in the stateroom (and the light out). You can purchase towel clips online here.

8) Water bottle - Insulated water bottles are great for on and off the ship. There are places on the ship to refill water bottles for free on the ships, and keeping hydrated while at sea is very important.

9) Travel size containers - Saving space in luggage and in the tiny stateroom bathrooms is a great idea. Leaving full size bottles at home is easy if you use travel size size containers. 

10) Hanging clothes dryer - The bathrooms in the staterooms are small, so clothes dryers can be really helpful... especially when you are travelling with a family. We used ours to hang bathing suits to dry and for drying items that we washed out in the sink.

These are my top 10 items to buy for a family cruise, but here are some MORE items you might want to purchase and pack before you get on a cruise ship: 

• folder for important paperwork (e-ticket for the way there, boarding passes for the cruise, cruise documents that mom sent, itinerary for the cruise, e-ticket for the way home, travel insurance info, copies of birth certificates and passports)

• small container of laundry detergent (for washing out small items in the sink) and a Tide stick

• night light or small flashlight to put by your bed... because the staterooms can get pretty dark

• sea bands (if you are worried about motion sickness)

• power bar / surge protector (for extra plugs for hair dryers, curling irons, and charging devices)

• pop up hamper or mesh laundry bag

• waterproof phone case

• snacks and snack containers

• sunscreen... because it is very expensive on the boat

• goggles and snorkels

• baby wipes

• fanny packs

• first aid kit (containing tylenol, benedryl, band aids, etc...) - These items are very expensive on the ship, and it might not be convenient to get them when you need them, so be prepared.

• wrinkle release spray... as irons are banned on cruise ships

• poo-pourri spray... helpful when sharing the close quarters of the stateroom bathrooms

• sticky notes...helpful for leaving notes for other passengers in your room. Small magnetic white boards work well too.

• highlighters... to highlight the items on the ship's daily schedule that you want to take advantage of

• cash in small bills for tipping

• game for passing time in airports... we like Skipbo because it is easy and fun to play, and it is portable

• reusable straws... which are great for people that aren't fans of the paper straws used by the cruise ship

• bluetooth speaker to stream music

• hats for excursions

• battery operated candles to provide a calming atmosphere in the room or on the balcony

Have you taken a cruise with your family? Is there one item you found really helpful? Did it make my list?

I really did find these items invaluable on our family cruise. I hope you find my list of 10 things to buy for your family cruise list helpful!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

How to Host a BOOK-THEMED Movie Night

I always enjoy hosting movie nights... and I really love booked-themed movie nights. I adore the idea of encouraging my boys to read by rewarding them with a book-themed movie night after they have finished a novel. My boys have read all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, so the film versions are perfect for movie nights with their friends. Today, I'm sharing the fun DIY details of our "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" movie night.

Every party needs an invitation, so make up something simple using your computer. I made this one using PicMonkey.com.

Then, you'll have to pick a movie (based on a book). Some great family movies based on books are:

1) Diary of a Wimpy Kid

2) Harry Potter

3) The Lorax

4) Dolphin Tale

5) Alice in Wonderland

6) Percy Jackson

7) Chronicles of Narnia

8) How to Train Your Dragon

9) The Wizard of Oz

10) Anne of Green Gables

We love an outdoor movie. We have a basic home projector. We hook it up to a laptop and speakers, and we project it onto a white sheet. It's a bit of an investment, but we use it all the time, and it's one of our favourite activities.

You'll also need to serve some food. It's fun to pick a few foods that go with the theme of the book... but as long as you have popcorn and candy, you'll be fine.

For our Diary of a Wimpy Kid screening, we had "cheesies" because a "cheese touch" is referred to in the movie.

And we served a lot of colourful candy in little condiment containers. The kids loved the individual portions of candy.

We also used books as decor, and let the kids play a "guess how many pieces of gum are in the jar" game. It's always fun to have a fun activity (or two) to occupy the kids before the movie starts.

A photo booth is another easy and inexpensive way to entertain kids while they are waiting for the movie the start. I made some simple photo props using a sharpie, cardstock, and popsicle sticks. 

And, finally, every party needs a party favor, and popcorn is perfect for a movie night. Add a little "Thanks for POPPING by!" note to a package for microwave popcorn for an easy and inexpensive party favor.

If you pick a colour scheme that fits the movie, display the books from the movie, and invest a little time in a few DIY details... your guests are sure to be impressed.

Isn't a booked-themed movie night a wonderful way to host friends and encourage kids to read? I hope my Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie night inspires you to throw a book-themed movie night of your own.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

A Birthday Letter to my Middle Son on his 12th Birthday

Every year, on my boys' birthdays, I write them letters letting them know how special they are to me. I think of the letters as written "snapshots" of the previous year. I hope I am able to capture a little bit of their personalities on paper. Today, I am sharing a birthday letter for my middle son on his 12th birthday.

My Darling Middle Son,

You are a bright light with a big heart and eyes that sparkle. You add a fun and positive energy to our family, and I am blessed to be able to be your mother. Here are some of things that make you special:

• You make friends easily, and you are kind to everyone you meet. You draw people in with your easy going personality.
• You suffered the loss of a very special friend this year. Your heart was broken, but you are bravely moving forward. I am so proud of you, and I know your memories will remain with you for the rest of your life and make you a better person.
• You love to be on the move. Hockey is your favourite sport, but you are pretty much a fan of anything with a ball or puck.
• We went on a family cruise this year, and you had a great time. You are always up for a new adventure... especially when you are with your brothers and cousins.
• You love listening to music, and you know the words to an incredible number of songs. You also have an excellent memory when it comes to the plots of Avenger movies.
• You are great at figuring out how things work, and you really enjoy building with LEGO.
• You have no sense of urgency. You take your time with everything, and you love to say, "Just a few more minutes."
• You love to cuddle, and have no problem hugging me in front of your friends. I don't know how long it will last, but I'll take it while I can get it!

You are strong-willed, and you sometimes drive me crazy, but I wouldn't change a thing. Your big heart and sparkling personality will take you far, and I'll always be your biggest cheerleader.

Love,

Mom

xox

If your kids have ever said "I'm Bored"... I've got the perfect summer boredom buster ideas for you!

When I was a kid... we weren't allowed to swear, and we weren't allowed to say, "I'm Bored". Now that I am a mother, I totally understand why these rules existed. When my children are looking for something to do, I usually just kick them outside and tell them to find their own adventure... but on occasion (especially on rainy days when I am trying to limit screen use), I like to have a few suggestions up my sleeve. Today, I am sharing a simple idea that is guaranteed to help... an "I'm Bored Jar". I'm sharing the free printable jar label too!

Basically, I picked up an inexpensive jar from the dollar store, added a label, and filled the jar with slips of paper containing ideas for simple activities. Cute, right?

The ideas in the jar should be inexpensive and simple. For example:

• Have a picnic
• Read a book outside
• Have a water fight
• Go for a walk
• Watch a movie
• Build a fort
• Get ice cream
• Play something with a ball
• Go for a bike ride
• Bake something
• Make a craft
• Do a science experiment
• Play a board game
• Try a new food
• Build a puzzle
• Have a dance party
• Go on a scavenger hunt
• Play tag
• Write a letter

You can make your own label for the jar or you can use mine. 

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

Don't you love when a simple idea works well and makes your life easier?

This is a wonderful idea any time of year, but it's especially great for summer. What activities will you put in your jar?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)