This is the time of year that many moms order name labels for back to school. So today's "Quick Tip Tuesday" is a simple {but helpful} idea -- when you have multiple children, order labels that have all the children's names on them or just use their last name.
Then, when clothes (or other items) get passed down from one child to another, no "re-labelling" is required. Clever, right? ♥ Gina (aka East Coast Mommy) PS (If you are interested in supporting me and this blog, I would love for you to considering ordering labels from me... here. Thank you!)
Teaching my boys to have compassion for other people is very important to me. So, this year we had our second annual lemonade stand for charity. The boys raised $83.85 for Cystic Fibrosis... a disease that their 9 month old cousin has been diagnosed with. They were very proud of the money they raised to help their little cousin. :-)
Would you like to have a lemonade stand with your little one? Here is a little checklist that might be helpful: 1) Lemonade and cookies - You don't need cookies, but it adds something extra to the stand... and getting the kids to help bake the cookies is a good way to get them involved. 2) Small glasses 3) A cooler and ice 4) A table and colorful tablecloth - I used two TV trays because they were easy to transport. 5) Signs - Let people know what you are doing and what charity you are raising money for. You can download our simple sign here. 6) A container for donations 7) A bag for garbage I hope you have as much fun with your lemonade stand as we had with ours. ♥ Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)
Peanut butter cookies are my favorite, but my husband loves chocolate chip cookies, so this recipe is a perfect compromise for us. If you don't have a peanut allergy, you should totally give them a try.
Here's how you make them:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
Directions:
1) In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to combine butter, peanut butter, and sugars. 2) Add baking soda and baking powder, and beat until combined. 3) Add egg and vanilla, and beat again. 4) Stir in flour. 5) Stir in chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. 6) Spoon onto cookie sheet, and bake in preheated oven (at 375 degrees) for 7-10 minutes. 7) Transfer to wire rack to cool.
For a closer look, check out this video...
If you make these cookies, let me know what you think. I don't think you will be disappointed.
Who doesn't love a homemade gift, and this one is sure to bring a smile to the face of the lucky recipient. Who wouldn't love a "World's Greatest Bubbles" Kit?
All you need is a bottle of {light} corn syrup and a bottle of good quality dish soap. (I like "Dawn".) Tie it up with some ribbon and a recipe for bubbles (12 cups water, 1 cup light corn syrup and 2 cups dishwashing liquid), and you're done! It's a great gift for a neighbour or friend, and it would make a great loot bag for a summer party. You could also add some bubble wands and a bubble dispenser for a fun and unique birthday gift. Do you know someone who loves bubbles? ♥ Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)
With busy family schedules, it is easy to see how moms get into dinner ruts. I find it stressful to squeeze in homework and a home cooked dinner before rushing to the rink, and it is always tempting to pop a frozen pizza into the oven. However, I do have one time saver that helps me keep my sanity-- cook several batches of hamburger, put them in freezer bags or containers, and pop them in the freezer.
With hamburger frozen this way, it is ready to heat and season for a quick weekday meal. I often use it for tacos, spaghetti or shepherd's pie. Lots of easy options at my fingertips helps keep me out of a dinner rut.
Wouldn't Taco Tuesday be simple if you could just add spice, heat, and serve? I always have an Old El Paso kit in my pantry and some fried hamburger in the freezer. Are you in a dinner rut? Do you have a way of (easily) adding some variety to the dinner table? I am now an Old El Paso Ambassador, so I will have some great Mexican food ideas for you soon. Stay tuned! ♥ Gina (aka East Coast Mommy) PS (You can always check out the Old El Paso Canada Facebook page for delicious meal ideas, and you can follow this campaign on Twitter with the hashtag #YouMexiCAN.) Disclosure – I am participating in the Old El Paso Ambassador Program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Old El Paso. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.
One of the things on our summer checklist this year is "Paint Rocks". So, a couple of days ago, my aunt collected some rocks at her cottage, and the boys "got to work".
We laid out the rocks and acrylic paints, and the kids started painting based on the shape of the rock. It was so much fun! We ended up with penguins, a tic tac toe game, a lady bug, an alligator, a bunch of hearts, paintings of scenery, dominoes, and a couple of caterpillars.
We plan on keeping our creations outside, so after they were dry, I sprayed them with some Acrylic Crystal Clear Indoor/Outdoor paint.
Have you ever let your little ones paint rocks? What kind of designs did they come up with? The penguins were definitely my favorites. :-)
I confess... I detest getting my picture taken. However, I do think it is important for moms to get in pictures with their kids, so this summer we scheduled a family photo shoot.
I am so pleased with the way our pictures turned out, and I am so grateful to our wonderful photographer -- Hilary Hendsbee. (You can check out her facebook page here.)
I am not a photography expert, but here are a few things I found helpful during the handful of family photo shoots we have done over the past few years.
1) Timing is everything - Make sure you pick a time of day that works with your kids' schedules. Well rested children will be way more cooperative. Also, make sure you give yourself lots of time for the shoot. Arrive early so there is no need to rush around and stress out.
2) Dress for success - Make sure everyone (especially the kids) are comfortable, and choose clothes that are not trendy or distracting. Clothes don't have to match, but they should coordinate for a cohesive feel. A change of clothes and a sweater (in case it gets cold) are also useful.
3) Choose the right photographer - Get recommendations from friends, and find someone with experience working with kids. You are going to want to find someone that specializes in the style of photos you are looking for.
4) Be clear about what you want - Decide whether or not you want candid shots or formal portraits, and figure out who you want in the pictures. e.g. I really wanted a picture of just my three boys, so I made sure to let the photographer know ahead of time.
5) Let the photographer take the lead - Although it may be tempting to take control, let the photographer call the shots -- he/she is a professional. Give your opinion, but take advantage of his/her expertise when it comes to locations and poses.
6) Pick the right location - Pick a location with lots of interest for the children and one that will give you the "look" you are going for. We picked the beach, and the boys had a lot of fun.
7) Bring a bag of goodies - Any activity with children requires some solid "prep" work. Bring snacks, blankets, stuffies, bubbles -- anything that will make the kids happy and put them at ease.
8) Relax and have fun - It will make the experience (and your pictures) better! :-)
