Spring Cleaning Plan

When it comes to Spring Cleaning, I like to have a plan.  There is something about a plan that makes a huge task seem more "doable" and less overwhelming, don't you agree?  Here are the steps I follow to survive Spring Cleaning:

You can find out more info on my bins here.

Step one - Get rid of the clutter.  Nothing makes me feel better than a big Spring purge.  Donate, dispose of, or sell anything you no longer use or need.  You'll be amazed at how good you will feel passing things on to people that can use them... and at how little you will miss the things you have gotten rid of. 

Depending on the age of your children, you can get them involved in this process too.  It can be difficult for little ones to let go of toys, so it may be helpful to dispose of their things in stages.  e.g. Pack away toys they haven’t played with lately, and put the box out of sight.  If they ask for a missing toy, dig it out for them, and after a month, donate or sell whatever is left in the box.

Step two - Organize your stuff.  Identify areas of your house that need organization, and tackle them one at a time.  Everything should have a place, and everyone (including the kids) should know where that place is.  Use shelves, bins, baskets, and labels.  Make sure to pack away anything that is out of season, and label it well so that it is easy to find when you need it again.

Step three - Clean.  Start by making a list of the things you want to clean, and check them off as you have time to do them.  Take your time, and don't get overwhelmed and stressed out.  When you have children, it can be very difficult (if not impossible) to keep things neat and tidy.  Do the best you can, and remember, some day you will miss those fingerprints on the patio doors.

I hope this list helps you to bring a little more order to your hectic life.  As busy moms, we can use all the help we can get.  :-) 

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Summer Checklist {with free printable}... 2013 edition

Every year my boys and I put together a Summer Checklist of 50 fun things we plan to do during the summer.  It has become one of our favorite family traditions, and I love sharing the {free printable} with my readers.  Here is our list for 2013!

You can download a free 8 x 10 jpeg here, and you can download a free pdf version here.  I have also included some helpful info and links below.

 1)  Celebrate Canada Day or July 4th
 2)  Watch fireworks or attend a parade
 3)  Have a teddy bear picnic {click link for more info}
 4)  Go to a splash pad or swim in a pool
 5)  Host a “half” sleepover  {click link for more info}
 6)  Go to a farmer's market
 7)  Visit the library
 8)  Make homemade bubbles {click link for more info}
 9)  Go fishing or hiking
10) Have family movie night – outside {click link for more info}
11) Paint rocks {click link for more info}
12) Make paper airplanes
13) Plant something and watch it grow {click link for more info}
14) Visit a wildlife park, farm or zoo
15) Build a fort
16) Create a simple backyard water park {click link for more info}
17) Play baseball or soccer
18) Make ice cream {click link to see how easy it is to make ice cream in a bag}
19) Go for a bike ride
20) Play “Simon Says” or “Tag”
21) Spend time at a cottage, beach or park
22) Do a science experiment {click link for more info}
23) Learn a newjoke or magic trick {click link for more info}
24) Go geo-caching {click link for more info}
25) Make cookies {click link for our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe}
26) Play mini golf
27) See a play or visit a museum
28) Have a lemonade stand {click link for more info}
29) Try a new food
30) Have a Pirate Day {click link for more info}
31) Camp in the backyard {click link for more info}
32) Have a PJ day
33) Put on a puppet show
34) Make a summer reading list {click link for more info}
35) Build an obstacle course {click link for more info}
36) Have a dance party in the living room
37) Go on a scavenger hunt {click link for more info}
38) Craft a boat & float it down a river {click link for more info}
39) Have pancakes for supper
40) Play street hockey or hide-and-seek
41) Do a good deed
42) Play board games
43) Roast marshmallows and make smores
44) Write and mail a letter or postcard
45) Run in a race
46) Play with pool noodles {click link for more info}
47) Add your own
48) Add your own
49) Add your own
50) Have ice cream for supper! {click link for more info}

I hope you print out a copy of this list and play along with us this summer. What is the one "must do" item on your list each year?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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

PS - You can find our 2012 list here and our 2011 list here.

{Simple} Mother's Day Card

Mother's Day is on Sunday, so I thought I would share a simple Mother's Day card idea with you.  It's a card and gift all in one!  Clever, right?

To make this Mother's Day Card, and {handmade} flower pen, just follow these simple steps:

1)  Take a piece of card stock, and fold it in half to make a card.

2)  Make a flower pen using the tutorial found here.

3)  Use an X-Acto knife or scissors to make slots in the card.

4)  Have the child write "I couldn't pick a better Mommy" on the front of the card.  Then, have him/her   decorate and sign the inside of the card.

5)  Insert the pen.

That's it!  Simple, cute, and practical.  Happy Mother's 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.

Banana Muffins {with a cinnamon twist}

A couple of months ago, I shared my mom's {no fail} banana bread recipe.  I have been making this recipe for years, but I have never tried using it to make banana muffins... until now. I added a streusel topping, and now I'm obsessed!

I am happy to say, the muffins turned out to be delicious.  I modified the recipe slightly and added a yummy cinnamon streusel topping.  

Here's the "how to":

1)  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2)  Whisk together the following dry ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

3)  Beat together:

• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas (and mashing bananas is a great job for little helpers)

4)  Mix wet and dry ingredients until combined, and scoop batter into lined muffin tins (about 3/4 full).

5)  Top each cupcake with approximately 1 tbsp of streusel mixture.  (3/4 cup light brown sugar, 2/3 cup flour, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and 1/2 cup cold butter… mixed together with a pastry blender).

6)  Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Do you think you will give this recipe a try?  Let me know how they turn out.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disney Cupcakes

My boys and I love having special snacks while we enjoy our favorite shows/movies.  Recently, we came up with two adorable cupcakes designs -- Rapunzel's Chameleon (Pascal) Cupcakes and Mama Hook's Gold Doubloon Cupcakes.

Aren't they cute?  Here are the instructions:

Mama Hook's Gold Doubloon Cupcakes:
1)  Make your favorite white cupcakes.
2)  Cover each cupcake with blue icing (water).
3)  Add some graham cracker crumbs (sand).
4)  Top each cupcake with a Gold Doubloon (chocolate coin).

This is a perfect treat to enjoy while watching the Jack and the Never Land Pirates.  (One of our favorite shows!)

Rapunzel's Chameleon (Pascal) Cupcakes:
1)  Make your favorite white cupcakes.
2)  Cover each cupcake with green icing.
3)  For the eyes - use white chocolate candy melts and chocolate chips (with chocolate icing for the "glue").
4)  Use chocolate icing to draw a simple nose and mouth.
5)  Use green icing to pipe on eyebrows and the protruding part of its head.

Wouldn't this cute cupcake make the perfect movie snack while watching Disney's Tangled?  

My boys were super-excited about the tray of cupcakes they decorated themselves.

Which of the cupcakes is your favorite?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure:  I’m part of the Disney Junior Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group... but (of course!), the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.

Stuffed Animal Storage

There is something about Spring that makes me want to get things organized, so I thought I would share this clever stuffed animal storage solution that I first saw here (at Come Together Kids) -- a bean bag chair cover filled with stuffies.  So clever!

I found my cover at the Dollar Store for only $3!  Then, I let my three year old fill it with stuffed animals.

It is a great storage solution, and a comfy place to cuddle up and read a book.  And it is great for sleeping too.  :-)

What is your biggest organizing challenge?  Maybe I can help.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

20 Ideas for Rainy Day Play

Every mom needs a survival plan when it is too wet to let the kids outside.... so here are 20 {easy, inexpensive, and fun} ideas to keep you and your little ones entertained on rainy days.

1)  Bake something - Add a little fun by making your own chef hats (which you can find here)... and if you are looking for something delicious to make, check out our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe here.

2)  Have a bath with bubbles and/or glow sticks - This is a simple idea... but it is lots of fun.

3)  Have a pirate adventure - Who doesn't love dressing up as a pirate?  And, if you are looking for some inspiration, you can find some easy and inexpensive ideas for pirate play here and here.

4)  Make a "life-size" self portrait - This is a simple activity that is sure to delight your little one.  All you need is a roll of paper and some crayons.  You can find the full tutorial here.

5)  Have an indoor concert or dance party -  Isn't singing and dancing a great way to spend an afternoon... and burn off some energy.  If you are looking for some great music for kids, you can read about some of our favorites here.

6)  Make some homemade finger paint - It is fun, it is messy, and you can find the super-easy recipe here.

7)  Have an indoor picnic - Nothing makes lunch more fun than eating it on a blanket in the living room.  You could add some extra fun by inviting some "stuffies" and having a Teddy Bear Picnic.  (You can find some ideas for hosting a teddy bear picnic here.)

8)  Have an "afternoon matinee" - Put on some PJs, pop some popcorn, cuddle up on the couch, and watch your favorite family movie.

9)  Set up your own cafe for lunch - Make your own placemats and menus, and turn your kitchen into your own personal restaurant.  You can check out how we did it here.

10) Play games - Get out your favorite board games, or make your own matching game using the easy tutorial you can find here.

11) Play dress up - Use costumes you have, or use your imagination to make your own.

12) Build with marshmallows - All you need are: marshmallows, toothpicks, and a little imagination.  The kids use the toothpicks to connect the marshmallows and "build" things.  Fun and simple!

13) Have a puppet show - For the puppet theatre, use a spring loaded curtain rod and an old sheet in a doorway.  The sheet works well because it already has an opening for a rod - no sewing required.  (You could also use a cardboard box for a theatre.)  For puppets, print pictures off the internet onto cardstock, color them, cut them out, and attach popsicle sticks to the back.

14) Make a personalized clipboard - Little ones will love having their own personalized clipboards.  (They are great for scavenger hunts and road trips too.)  You can find the full tutorial here.

15) Build stuff out of boxes - Use your imagination, or use one of the 5 fun ideas you can find here.

16) Make homemade playdough - I use an easy "no cook" recipe that uses Kool Aid.  It makes great colors, and the playdough smells yummy!  (You can find the recipe here.)

17) Go "Indoor Camping" - We have an indoor tent in our playroom, but a fort made from chairs and blankets is always a lot of fun.  Make a fire out of construction paper, and "roast" marshmallows.

18) Go "Fishing" -  A fish book, a fish craft, and a fish snack are all you need for a fun-filled, indoor fishing adventure.  You can read all about our Dr. Suess inspired "fishing fun" here.

19) Write a Story - Coming up with a fun story is even more fun when you write it in a handmade book.  You can find a step-by-step tutorial for a DIY Cereal Box Notebook here.

20) Read a favorite book and make a matching craft - I love reading and crafting with the kids on a rainy day.  You can find an example of a fun story/craft combination here.

I hope you found some rainy day inspiration on this list... and if not, maybe you can just put on a rain coat and rainboots, and head outside to splash in some puddles.  :-)

What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)