Mommy and Me Journal

I love the idea of encouraging my boys to practice their reading and writing in a "fun" way during the summer. I also like the idea of having a constant open line of comunication with them. So, I decided make Mommy and Me Journals for my boys.  It's a fantastic, easy and inexpensive idea!

The idea of the journal is that we use it to write notes back and forth to each other.  I write notes to my boys, and then I put the journals beside their beds... and they do the same.  They love our little "game", and their little notes make adorable bedtime reading for me.  :-)

This project is super-easy and inexpensive to make.  I bought cheap journals {$2.49 each}, and I used my computer to create a little labels that say, "Mommy and Me {our secret messages to each other}".  Then, I printed the labels onto photo paper and attached them with double sided tape.  Easy peasy!

How do you encourage your kids to read and write over the summer break from school? Don't you love the idea of a "Mommy and Me" journal?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Last Day of School {traditions}

Friday marked the last day of school for my six year old, and our summer is now offically underway!  :-)  Here's a peek at how it went down.

First, we went to get ice cream.  Here are pictures from this year and last year.  {Fun, right?}


2012

2011

Then, my six year old got to run through his "Grade One Finish Line" banner.  He really loved this!

I think traditions are an important part of childhood.  Do you have any "end of year" traditions with your little ones?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

Want to see where I live?

I have readers all over the world, so today, I thought it would be fun to share a little bit about my home on the East Coast.  Our part of the world is rich in culture and traditions, and there are a lot of fun things to see and do. 

We live in Antigonish, NS, and one of the highlights of our summer is the Antigonish Highland Games.  {I highly recommend a visit if you get the chance.}
 

Two hours from Antigonish is the city where I grew up --

Halifax, NS.  We love to stroll around Historic Properties and visit our friend Theodore Tugboat -- the lead character in one of our favorite books.

And, of course, because we are located on the Atlantic ocean, we love to hang out at the beach.  There is nothing like building sandcastles and playing in the ocean.

From Nova Scotia, you can take a ferry boat to a beautiful Island called PEI.

  
PEI is the home of the beloved character "Anne of Green Gables".  If you have read the books (and even if you haven't), we highly recommend a visit to Avonlea Village.  You can dress up, stroll around the village, and enjoy some great music.



There are lots of great sites to visit on the Island, and lots of local music to enjoy.  We "followed the fiddler" in Victoria by the Sea, and the boys really liked it.

I hope you enjoyed this little "tour" of our part of the world.  Stop by and visit me any time.  :-)  

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

* Originally posted at MamaSmiles.com on June 21, 2012.

{Canada Day} Banner

As you may already know, I love decorating with simple, "book page banners" for the holidays.  Here is the cute one we made to celebrate Canada Day.

Want to make one with your kids {or on your own}?

1)  Trim the book pages and cut a "V" out of the bottom of each page.  {I used six pages, but you can use as many as you like.}

2)  Have your child color "maple leafs" and cut them out.  {You can draw your own, or you can download the template I made for you here.}

3)  Have your child glue the maple leafs onto the book pages.

4)  Then, hole-punch the top of each page, and string all the pieces together with a piece of twine or string.

It is an inexpensive and easy Canada Day craft for kids, and you'll end up with some super-cute holiday decor!  :-)

Happy Canada Day!

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)
 

** If you haven't already "liked" me on facebook, I would love to have you join me here.

Last Day of Preschool

Today was the last day of Preschool for my four year old, so I made him a "Preschool Finish Line" banner to run through when he got home.

He LOVED it!  {...and it was super easy!}  I just printed the letters out on my computer, cut them out, and attached them to the paper banner using double sided tape.

He enjoyed it so much that he asked me to tape it back together so that he could do it again.  :-)

Fun, right?

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)
 

** If you haven't already "liked" me on facebook, I would love to have you join me here.

ECM Kid's Craft Club - #4 {Canada Day}

Welcome to the 4th edition of the {East Coast Mommy} Kid's Craft Club {an easy and inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and experience the excitement of getting their very own mail}.  If you want to join the club, you can find more info here, or email EastCoastMommy@gmail.com, and I will send you the details.


For everyone who is already a member... let's get started on this month's craft - "Canada Day Celebration"!

First... gather the supplies you'll need.  In addition to the supplies in your kit, you'll need tape, scissors, and a red crayon.

To assemble the hat:

1)  Tape the white cardstock strips together to make a band big enough to fit around your head.  Then, wrap the bands around your head to find the write size, and secure with tape.

2)  Color the flags, and cut them out.  Tape the big flag onto the hat band, and decorate with the flag stickers.

To assemble the flag... simply tape the stick to the back of the small flag that you colored.  Easy peasy!

I hope you had fun making this month's craft.  Leave a comment below to let me know what you thought of it.  Your comments help me improve the club, and I love hearing from you. 

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't forget... Assist young children when using scissors, and be careful of the small parts included with this kit, as they can be a choking hazard for children under three".)

Simple DIY Graduation Treats

My 4 year old is graduating from Preschool this month, and he will be starting Grade Primary in the fall.  This is a big milestone in our house, so {of course}, we need to mark the occasion with a special treat.  Today on the blog, I am sharing the DIY graduation treats we are making for his friends on graduation day.

Want to make these adorable {and delicious} graduation caps?

1)  First, gather the supplies.  {We used: a chocolate cake mix and chocolate icing, red candies, square chocolate cookies, and strawberry Fruit by the Foot}

 

2)  Using a mix, bake "mini" chocolate cupcakes.  {You can follow the directions on the box, but instead, I like to add 1 cup water, 1/2 cup cooled melted butter, and 3 eggs to the mix.  Then, I bake the "mini" cupcakes at 350 for about 15 minutes.}  

3)  To assemble the graduation hats:

• Cut a strip from the "Fruit by the Foot" to resemble a tassel.
• Attach the fruit strip and a red candy to the top of the chocolate cookie using a little chocolate icing as "glue".
• Turn the cupcake upside down, add a little frosting, and place the cookie on top.

We also put these cute bubbles together for his classmates.  I found some cute "owl" ribbon, and attached a note that says "Owl miss seeing you at preschool!" 

Cute, right?

Do you have any special milestones coming up this summer?  What special treats will you be making?

♥  
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You may also like this sweet graduation treat (with free printable tags).