A {Simple} NEMO Cake

Finding Nemo is one of our family's favorite movies, so last time we watched it on family movie night, we decided to make a special cake to celebrate.  It's always a party if you have a cake... am I right?

It isn't fancy, but it was super-easy to make, and my boys thought it was awesome.  Here's how I made it:

1)  I used a cake mix to make a round cake and some cupcakes.  I allowed them to cool completely, and then I arranged them on the plate (as per the picture above).

2)  I frosted the cake with orange icing, and then used white icing and a piping bag to make some white "clown fish" stripes.

3)  I finished the cake by adding an eye -- a white chocolate wafer, a little icing, and a chocolate chip.

That's it... easy peasy!

♥
Gina (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. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Quick Tip Tuesday #2 - Cupcake Liner Storage

Do you have a large collection of cupcake liners scattered in a drawer?  This week's "quick tip" addresses this little annoyance.

Clever, right?  So, pick up a jar at the dollar store and fill it with all your cupcake liners.  You'll feel more organized, and they will look totally cute all stacked up in a jar.  Win win!   :-)

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Father's Day Photos

Last year my boys and I made a special gift for their Dad for father's day - personalized photos.  (You can read about it here.)  I loved the idea so much that we are doing it again this year.

Here's how I did it:

1) I interviewed each boy (separately), and asked them the following questions:

My Daddy loves ________________.

He is good at __________________.

My favorite thing to do with my Dad is __________________.

I love my Daddy because ____________________.

Love, ___________ (Age _____)

2) I uploaded a picture of each boy to Picmonkey.com {which is free and user friendly}, and typed in the info from their interview).  

That's it!  I had the photos printed in one hour, and my husband can put them in the frames we used last year.  Cute, right?

My favorite response this year was: "I love my Dad because... he helps me get off my shoes."  Adorable!

♥  

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

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

The Importance of Parks... and a chance to win $25,000

I love parks!  I have fond memories of my parents taking me and my sisters to the park as children, and now I enjoy taking my own boys.  Doesn't every mom cherish the memory of the first time their little one experienced the thrill of a baby swing?

When I was little, there was a simple park down the street from my house.  It was pretty basic... a couple swings, a slide, some monkey bars, and a see-saw.  It wasn't elaborate, but I spent a lot of happy times there hanging out with my sisters and the other children from the neighbourhood.  The park has been upgraded since I was a child, and now my boys enjoy it with their cousins when we visit my parents at my childhood home.

Kraft understands that parks bring people together and promote an active lifestyle, and they want to give you the chance to win $25,000 to create something new or make something better in your community – oh, and a broadcast with TSN!  You only have until June 7th to make your nomination, so now is the time to head on over the Kraft website, join their facebook page, and nominate your community for a chance to win.

Good luck!

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure – I am participating in the Kraft Celebration Tour Blogger Campaign. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Cereal Box Treat Holder

Don't you just love when something old is up-cycled into something new?  Check out the cereal box I turned into an adorable treat holder.

I think it is perfect for family movie night or a birthday party.  It can hold ice cream cones, and paper cones filled with popcorn or other treats.  Cute, right?

Here's how you can make one:

1) Make a template out of the side of a cereal box by dividing it into eight sections and cutting small holes in the centre of each rectangle.
2) Cover the sides of a cereal box with colored duct tape.  (Not the box you used to create the template.)
3) Use Mod Podge to glue a piece of scrapbook paper to the top of the cereal box.  Allow to dry completely, and then trim it as needed.
4) Use the template and an X-acto knife to cut holes in the top of the box.
5) Seal with a coat of Mod Podge.

I'd love to hear your "up-cycle" ideas/tips.  Please share them in the comments below.

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Quick Tip Tuesday #1 - easy planting activity

I love easy and inexpensive projects and activities, so I decided to start a new feature on my blog... "Quick Tip Tuesday".  Every Tuesday, I will share a quick tip, activity or idea.  So... here is my first one.

Every child likes to watch things grow, and peas are a great choice for little ones - no green thumb required.  Throw some potting soil into a container, and pop in a pea seed (or two).  Give it some sun and water, and watch it grow.  Easy Peasy!  :-)

What do you think of this idea?  Are you looking forward to the next "Quick Tip Tuesday"?

♥

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

5 Tips for Crafting with Toddlers and Preschoolers

Crafting with toddlers and preschoolers can be a lot of fun, and being creative is great for their development and self-esteem.  Here are 5 tips for stress-free crafting with little ones.

1)  Be Prepared - Most toddlers have a very short attention span for crafting, so having everything laid out in advance is always very helpful.  (e.g. If the child is too young to use scissors and there is cutting involved, cut out the pieces in advance.)

2)  Stock the Craft Cupboard -  Always have craft supplies on hand so you are ready to go when the little ones get the urge to be creative.  Some of my favorite supplies to keep on hand are:  googly eyes, glue, colored paper, scissors, crayons, markers, paint, pom poms, craft sticks, pipe cleaners, and stickers.  (I also like to have q-tips and dixie cups on hand to help little ones apply glue more easily.)

3)  Keep it Simple - Toddlers and preschoolers don't want to sit for long periods of time making intricate crafts.  Try to make things that are quick, easy, and interesting.  (Click here for a fun frog face craft to get you started.)

4)  Minimize Mess - Some days busy moms and dads don't have the time (or patience) to clean up big craft messes.  Make clean up easy by covering the craft surface with a plastic tablecloth, use aprons to protect the children's clothing, and supervise use of super-messy supplies... like glitter.  (Buying washable crayons, markers, and paint is also a great idea.)

5)  Go Freestyle - Sometimes the best crafts are the ones that children do without any help.  Set out some paper and crayons, and let the little ones scribble out a masterpiece.  It isn't about the final product... it's about the process of being creative.

What is your best toddler/preschooler crafting tip?


♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You can find hundreds of ideas for crafting with toddlers and preschoolers here.