Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin

I am a big fan of my slow cooker... especially on hot days when I don't want to turn on my oven.  One of my favorite recipes is for Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes and Apples.  It is seriously yummy!

Here's what you'll need:

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
4 medium sweet potatoes (peeled and slice 1/2 inch thick)
2 small or 1 large pork tenderloin
2 medium apples (peeled and chopped into chunks)
1/4 cup dried cranberries
2 tbsp water

Here's what you do*:

1)  In a small bowl, mix the following together: brown sugar, thyme, salt, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
2)  Place sweet potatoe slices in the bottom of the slow cooker, and sprinkle with half of the spice mixture.
3)  Use the remaining spice mixture to coat the pork tenderloin, and place it on top of the sweet potatoes.
4)  Top with apples, cranberries, and water.
5)  Cover and cook on high for 1 1/2 hours.  Reduce heat to low, and cook for an additional 5 to 6 hours.

*This recipe is based on one I found in Today's Parent Magazine.  You can find the original recipe here.

Do you have a favorite slow cooker recipe?  I'd love a link to it.  I am always looking for new dinner ideas.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Pin the Head on the LEGO Man {with free printable}

I recently had a fantastic DIY LEGO party (which you can read about here) for my two youngest boys, and one of the games we played was "Pin the Head on the LEGO Man".  My boys and their guests loved it!

To make your own game, use the following templates and a piece of Bristol board to create your own LEGO man.  

To download the templates: click on each photo below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print.

On the day of the party... make sure you have some tape, a blind fold, and a head for each child.  (I wrote the children's names on the heads so that it would be easier to keep track of who was closest.)

Do you have a little one that would love this simple "Pin the Head on the LEGO Man" game?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS (Don't forget to check out the other DIY LEGO Party details at East Coast Mommy here.)

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8 Ways to Encourage Summer Reading

A number of studies have shown that children's reading skills decline during the summer months.  The "summer slide" is common, but that doesn't mean we (as parents) are powerless to do anything about it.  Here is a list of fun and easy ways to get kids excited about reading during the summer months.

1)  Create a "Mommy and Me Journal" - This is a favorite of mine (which you can read more about here).  My 6 year old and my 7 year old both have journals, and we spend all summer writing secret notes to each other.  It's a really fun way to get little ones practicing their reading and writing skills and to document all their summer adventures.

2)  Put it in the schedule - Summer can be a busy a time, so setting aside a specific time for reading is helpful.  In our house, the boys get to read for 1/2 past their bedtime each night.

3)  Visit the library - The library is a great place to head on a rainy day, and it is always fun to check out new books.  Many libraries {like ours} have summer reading programs which help getting your little ones reading.

4)  Make a summer reading list - Have children make a list of topics, themes, or characters they would like to read about.  Also, mix it up by reading different types of things. (e.g. books, magazines, comic books, cookbooks, ebooks, etc...)  

5)  Take it outside - Lay a blanket in the backyard, sit in a lawn chair, or build a fun no-sew tent using a bedsheet and a hula hoop (You can find the step by step instructions here).  Reading a book outside can be a fun summer activity.

6)  Choose books that are at the right level - Reading should be fun for young children so try to avoid frustrating beginners with books that are too difficult for them.

7)  Find a comfortable spot - It is great to have a comfy spot for reading.  A reading light in bed, or a comfy chair next to a book shelf are wonderful places to curl up with a good book.

8)  Host a kids summer reading party - Take an afternoon to invite friends over to swap books, talk about books, read books, make bookmarks, and enjoy special snacks.

Don't forget, it is also important to set an example for your children. Read in front of your children, and curl up on the couch and spend some time reading to them.

Happy Reading!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Quick Tip Tuesday #9 - Kid's Birthday Party Tip - and free LEGO printable

Today's Quick Tip... as children are arriving at a birthday party, give them a coloring sheet or simple craft to keep them busy until all the guests arrive.  {For example, at my boys' Lego party, all the guests were asked to design their own Lego person.}

Do your little ones love Lego?  Check out this cute printable "design your own Lego man" I drew.  Cute, right?  You can download a pdf version {for free} here.

Do you have a great activity that you use to entertain kids until all the party guests arrive?  I'd love to hear it.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Lego Cakes

Two of my boys had a Lego party today, and they each requested their own cake.  My 4 year old wanted a "Lego Brick" cake, and my 6 year old wanted a "Lego Ninjago" cake.  I have never taken a cake decorating course, so I like cakes that are easy to make.

The designs are pretty simple, but I think they turned out cute, don't you?

Here is how I made the Lego Ninjago Cake:

1)  I made a double layer round cake.
2)  I frosted the cake with red icing, and made sure it wasn't too smooth so it looked like cloth wrapped around his head.
3)  I used a piping bag to show the yellow face showing through, and I added some black "ninja" eyes (with black gel icing).

Here is how I made the Lego Brick Cake:

1)  I made a rectangular cake in 9 X 13 cake pan.
2)  I frosted the cake with blue icing.
3)  I covered two Oreo cookies with blue icing and stuck them on the cake.  (I did this six times.)

I am not going to win any prizes with these Lego cakes, but the birthday boys were happy, and that is the most important thing.  :-)

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Birthday Letter to my Sweet Six Year Old

Every year I write birthday letters to each of my boys on their birthdays.  It is my way of capturing the little details that I don't want to forget when they are older.  Today, my "middle" son turns six.

Here is why he is so special to me...

To my sweet boy,

I can hardly believe that you are turning six already.  It seems like only yesterday I was taking you home from the hospital and introducing you to your proud big brother for the first time.  You are so full of energy and joy, and I treasure each day I get to be your mom.  Here are a few of the things that make you the wonderful little boy that you are:

• You started school this year, and you did awesome.  You excelled socially and academically, and I couldn't be more proud.
• You are a charmer with a killer smile.
• You love to play with your brothers... especially "pirates", "Star Wars", "cars", and "hockey".
• You are really ticklish, and you have a great giggle.
• You love to sleep with your "soft blanket" and "blankee", and you like to wear socks to bed.
• You are very strong willed, and you sometimes drive Daddy and I crazy, but we know it is a trait that will serve you well in life.  I predict you will be a leader rather than a follower.  :-)
• Your favorite colors are red and blue, and your favorite show is "Star Wars".
• When you grow up, you want to be a hockey player and a race car driver.
• You love to listen to The Beatles, and you always pretend you are "Paul".
• You have a kind heart, and you love to cuddle.

I love you to the moon and back... plus a little more each day.

Love, 

Mommy

xoxo

ECM Kids' Craft Club - #17 {Snake Puppet and Bookmark}

Welcome to the 17th edition of the ECM Kids' Craft Club {an easy & inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and experience the excitement of getting their very own mail}.  This month we are making two fun crafts -- an accordion snake puppet and a flower bookmark!

To make the snake puppet:

1)  Cut out the head and tail, and fold the body like an accordion.
2)  Glue a googly eye onto the head, and draw the rest of the snake's face.
3)  Glue the head and tail onto the body, and allow to dry completely.
4)  Attach stir sticks to the head and tail of the snake (using glue), and allow to dry completely.

To make the flower bookmark:

1)  Color the flower any color you like.
2)  Cut out the flower.
3)  Glue a button onto the centre of the flower, and allow to dry completely.
4)  Use tape to secure the craft stick onto the back of the flower.

That's it!  Fun, right?  I hope you had fun making this month's cute paper crafts.

♥
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".)