Review and Giveaway {My Pretty Playhouse} - CLOSED

And the winner is:

Tracy16 October 2012 19:41

I have 3 boys who all much prefer to use their imaginations and play with 'guys and animals' then electronic toys! This would be a huge hit in our house :)
tracypeatt@shaw.ca

I could not be more excited about this giveaway.  I get offered a lot of products to review, but I only accept items that I know I can honestly endorse, and this giveaway was a "no brainer" for me.  I absolutely LOVE this cardboard house that kids can help build and decorate. 

It's called "My Pretty Playhouse" from Cascades Boutique, and you can read all about it here.  My boys are having a fantastic time with their playhouse.  {They call it their "secret clubhouse".}  I love a toy that allows little ones to be creative!!!!!!

This playhouse retails for $34.99, but I am giving you the opportunity to {WIN} one.  Fun, right?

Just leave a comment below letting me know whether your kids prefer electronic toys or toys that allow them to use their imaginations.  {Don't forget your email address so that I can contact you if you win.}

Good luck!

♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Rules {I am a mom... I can't help it}:

1. The winner of the contest will be chosen by the Random Number Generator.
2. To enter the contest, you must leave a comment on this post.  Contest is open to Canadian and US residents only.
3. This contest is not being hosted or sanctioned in any way by facebook.
4. Contest closes on October 31, 2012 at 11:59pm.
5. Prize will be accepted as awarded.
6. Winners will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond.  After 48 hours the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected. 

Please note:  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.

{Halloween Decor} from a Dollar Store Frame

How adorable is this simple Halloween decoration made from: a $2 frame, some leftover scrapbook paper, and a glittery {purple} spider from the dollar store?

Want to make one in four easy steps? 

1)  Remove the glass from a cheap {dollar store} frame.
2)  Cut a piece of scrapbook paper to fit the frame.
3)  Use Mod Podge to attach the paper to the back of the frame.  Let dry, and then add a coat of Mod Podge on top of the paper {to make the decoration more durable}. 
4)  Use hot glue to attach a spider to the middle of the paper. 

Easy, right?  Doesn't it look cute on my hall table?

Are you crafting any cool Halloween decorations this year?  I'd love to hear about them.  I am always looking for new ideas.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)
 
** If you haven't already "liked" me on facebook, I would love to have you join me here.

BOOING.... the tradition continues

Last year, we started a Halloween tradition with the boys --  "Booing" the neighbours.  "Booing" {or "Ghosting"} involves leaving treats, a note, and a "You've been Booed/Ghosted" sign for your neighbours.... secretly.... kind of like a "Secret Santa" for Halloween.  If you haven't tried it, you totally should because it is a ton of fun!  

Here is a picture of my boys heading out on their "secret mission" this year.  I found some adorable ghost buckets at the dollar store, filled them with mini chocolate bars, and off they went!

... and here they are last year.  {I swear they enjoy this more than trick-or-treating.}

There are tons of different {free} printables on the web that you can use.  I designed one that you can find here, or you can google "booing" and you will find a bunch.

Do you think this is something your littles ones would like?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy) 

Dollar Store {Halloween} Sign

Last Halloween I made a cute purple sign out of a $2 wooden plaque from the dollar store.  {You can find the tutorial for it here.}  I was so happy with how it turned out that I decided to make another one this year.

Want to make this adorable "Along Came a Spider..." sign?

First, get the plaque ready for decorating. 
  a)  Lightly sand the rough edges.
  b)  Paint the edge of the plaque black.  {You don't have to be neat because you will be applying scrapbook paper next.}
  c)  Cut some festive scrapbook paper to fit the top of the plaque, and apply using Mod Podge.

Then, decorate the plaque.
  a)  Create a label that says, "Along Came a Spider...".  {I used Picmonkey, but you can use whatever you are comfortable with.}
  b)  Apply the label to the top of the scrapbook paper using Mod Podge, and apply another layer on top of everything to seal it.
  c)  Apply some embellishments using hot glue.  {I used purple, glittery spiders from the dollar store.}

I love purple Halloween decorations, don't you?  Or, do you prefer the traditional orange and black?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

*Originally a guest post at Plaid Crafts on October 3, 2012. 

Non-candy Halloween Treats {Glasses}... with free printable bag toppers

My three year old attends a preschool {one morning a week} that has a strict "no candy" policy.  I still wanted him to have something to pass out to his friends for Halloween, so I came up a cute and inexpensive "non-candy" Halloween treat.

I found some crazy plastic glasses at Walmart {6 pairs for $2}, which my boys think are hilarious.  :-)  I put a pair of glasses in a "snack bag", added a tag that says, '"Eye" am lucky to have a friend like you!', and stuck on a googly eye for an extra touch of fun.  {You can find the free, downloadable tag I designed here.}

I think they are adorable Halloween class treats, don't you?  Do you have a great "alternative to candy" you want to share?  I would love to hear about it.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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

Review and Giveaway {Yoplait} - CLOSED

Contest closed.  The winner is Jennifer DeLorey.  Congratulations, Jennifer!

Did you know that "Yoplait" products are now part of the General Mills family {made in Canada since 1971}?  This is exciting news for me {as a Life Made Delicious Ambassador} because my family loves Yoplait products.

Now that September is here, we are slowly getting into our "Back to School" routine, and Yoplait products are definitely a part of our daily lives.  

Personally, I am making an effort to not "skip breakfast" and to get more calcium into my diet.  So, I have started to have a bowl of yogurt and granola each morning.  I really enjoy the strawberry Yoplait Source.  {It is only 35 calories per serving and has no added sugar.}

And, my boys love Yoplait MiniGos and Tubes in their school lunches.  They make great after school snacks too.  {You have to love a snack that contains no gelatin, no artificial flavours, and no artificial sweeteners.}

How do you get into a "Back to School" routine?  I have a great prize package (valued at $50) that will help:  4 free coupons to re-discover some of Yoplait’s yummiest products around, a lunch bag, a Post-it note dispenser, a journal, and a pen.

To enter, just leave a comment answering this question: "What is your favorite yogurt flavour?"  {Don't forget your email address if you don't have one linked to your profile.}


The rules {I am a mom... I can't help it.):

1) Contest closes on October 15th at midnight.
2) I will use Random.org to choose the winner.
3) The winner will have 72 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
4) Make sure that you log in {with a profile linked to an email address} or that you include your email in your comments because if I can't contact you, you won't be able to win!
5) Contest open to Canadian Residents only.  {Readers may enter across multiple blogs, but may only win one prize.} 

Good luck!

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure – I am participating in the Life Made Delicious Ambassador Program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of General Mills. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.

{Fall} Book Page Banner

Don't you just love an easy, inexpensive, and fun craft you can do with the kids?  This simple {Fall} Book Page Banner makes a great Fall/Thanksgiving decoration.

You can make your own banner in three easy steps:

1)  Draw or print out pumpkins for the kids to color and cut out.

2)  Trim a book page, and cut a "V" shape out of the bottom.  Then, punch two holes at the top of the page.

3)  Use tape or glue to attach the pumpkins to the book pages.

String together with twine, and that's it!  Cute, right?

Are you decorating for Fall?  I would love to hear what you are making.  :-)

 ♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)
** If you haven't already "liked" me on facebook, I would love to have you join me here.


Update October 11, 2012.... look how my clever boys transformed our Fall Banner into a Halloween Banner.  Sweet, right?