Back to School {Banner and Lunch Idea}

It is almost time to head back to school, so today I am sharing two fun ideas with you:  a {simple} back-to-school book-page banner and a {super-easy} lunch idea.  

Let's start with the banner. 

To make the banner:

1) Draw {or print out} five apple pictures.
2) Have the kids color the pictures.
3) Trim 5 pages out of an old book, and cut a triangle shape from the bottom of each page.
4) Cut out the apples and attach to the book pages using double sided tape.
5) Hole punch the top of each page.  Then, string all the pages together using a piece of twine.

Cute, right?  Now, are you ready for the easiest lunch idea ever?  Last year, I shared my "go to" lunch idea, and I got a lot of great feedback.  So, I thought I would share another {even easier} lunch idea this year.

My boys aren't big on sandwiches -- except for peanut butter {which they aren't allowed to take to their "nut free" school}.  So, some days I give them a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast and cereal for lunch.  I put the cereal in a thermos, and they pour the milk in at lunch time.  I add some sugar-free applesauce, fruit, cheese, and homemade graham crackers for a treat .  

What are some of your favorite "go to" lunches?  With a new school year starting, I can use all the help I can get!

      

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

Avonlea Village {Prince Edward Island}

I know a lot of my readers aren't local, but if you ever find yourself in Prince Edward Island, you should definitely take your little ones to Avonlea Village.

Based on the "Anne of Green Gables" books by Lucy Maud Montgomery, a visit to Avonlea Village is like stepping back in time.  We visited last week, and my boys {and their cousins} loved the perfect blend of live theatre, music, and children's activities.

Have you ever been to Prince Edward Island?  Do you have a favorite place to take your little ones?

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

Play Cafe

Here is a fantastic way to spend the morning, and a great way to add some fun to lunch -- have the kids create their own "Cafe".

To set up our "cafe", my boys made their own lunch menu and place mats {using self laminating sheets from the dollar store}.  Then, they helped me set the table, and I took their "orders".

It was really fun {and easy}, and the boys are still proudly using the place mats they made.  :-) 

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

5 Simple Summer Crafts

Sometimes a "quick and easy" craft is exactly what little ones need on a summer afternoon.  These 5 cute and simple crafts that my boys made at camp are perfect to keep little hands busy.

Suncatcher:  This one involves glue, so my boys loved it.  Pour a thin layer of white glue into a plastic lid, add some "treasures", and allow to dry completely.  Peel out the suncatcher, attach a string, and hang it in a window.

Magnet Movers:  Draw a road on a piece of paper.  Then take two "attracting magnets" and attach one to a pom pom creature, and one to a folded paper "handle".  Put the creature on the top of the paper and the other magnet on the bottom of the paper.  The kids will have a great time moving the pom pom creatures around "like magic".

Noisemaker {Kazoo}:  Decorate a toilet paper roll, and secure some wax paper to the top with an elastic.  Easy Peasy!

Silly Frog:  Draw a simple frog on card stock, color it and cut it out.  Then, cut a slit for a party favor "tongue".  Simple and silly!

Handprint Art:  The possibilities for handprint art are endless, but this little crab is adorable.  Cover two little hands in red paint, press to paper and add a couple of googly eyes.

Have you ever made any of these?  I remember a couple of them from my childhood.  :-)

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Teddy Bear Picnic

Yesterday, we "checked" one more item off our Summer Checklist... "Have a Teddy Bear Picnic". All you need for a perfect afternoon with your little one is: a teddy bear, a blanket, and the perfect snacks!

Seriously... what is more fun than eating outside with your teddy bear?

For the main course {wink}, we had peanut butter sandwiches.

And for dessert, we made peanut butter teddy bear cookies.  They are easy, cute and super-fun!

To make these adorable cookies:

Cream together: 

• 1 cup butter 
• 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar

Then, beat in two eggs.

In a separate bowl, mix:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

Mix wet and dry ingredients together. Then, let the kids roll a 1-inch ball (for the face) and two smaller balls (for the ears). Flatten slightly.

Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for about 10 - 11 minutes or until cookies begin to brown. Do not over-bake. 

Have you ever had a Teddy Bear Picnic with your little ones?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

{Easy} Outdoor Play

It's summer, and the boys and I are all about taking advantage of the wonderful summer weather.  Here are a couple of the easy and inexpensive outdoor actitivities we have been doing. 

DIY Target Practice {made from a Dollar Store Tarp}:

Earlier in the summer, I saw a fun target practice at Family Fun.  {You can see their version here.}  I knew my boys would love it, so I got out my twine, scissors, duct tape, pizza pans, and a dollar store tarp and went to work.  It took about 10 minutes to put together, and the boys love it.  Such a simple and fun idea.

Water Play:

My boys love playing with water in the summer.  {I considered buying a water table but decided against it because of limited storage space.}  So... on hot afternoons we get out our spray bottles, measuring cups, and plastic dishes and we make our own "water fun".  A bowl of soapy water and some sponges make a great "kid car wash" too.

The boys also like to get out their paint brushes and "paint with water".  Such a fun, refreshing, and "no mess" activity. 

I hope you are enjoying your summer.  What is your favorite "simple" outdoor play idea? 

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

ECM Kids' Craft Club {4 month membership}

The launch of the East Coast Mommy Kids' Craft Club {four months ago} was a huge success, and I am now ready to launch the next four months.  If you know someone who enjoys getting mail and likes to make crafts, now is the time to join!  {The deadline for signing up for this round is Wednesday, August 15.}

The price for a four month membership remains {unchanged} at $25 {including Canadian Shipping}. 

The themes for the next four months are:
August 20 mailing - Playing with Puppets
September 20 mailing - Fall Fun
October 20 mailing - Happy Halloween
November 20 mailing - Christmas is Coming

Need a little more info....

1)  As a member of the club, each month (for four months) your child will receive:

•  mail addressed to him/her
• a personalized letter with fun info/ideas
• all the supplies he/she will need to make the "craft of the month"
• a little surprise

Note:  The craft will always be simple (taking less than 30 minutes to complete), the craft will be designed for ages 3-8 (with assistance required in the younger age categories), a link to an online step by step tutorial will be provided, and the kit will contain everything you need to complete the project (with the exception of scissors, glue, tape and crayons).

2)  The cost for a four month membership is $25 (including Canadian shipping).  Payment (via Cash, Cheque made payable to Gina Bell or email money transfer) must be received before a kit is sent out.  Payments can be sent to EastCoastMommy@gmail.com.

3)  The kits will be sent out on the 20th of each month, and I will post a full tutorial on the blog at that time.
 
Along with payment, I will also need your child's name, age, and full mailing address.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. 

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)