Handprint Turkeys - Thanksgiving Craft

Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend, so I thought I would share a simple "turkey" craft the kids will love.  (And moms will love it too because we are all suckers for little handprints, aren't we?)

To make a handprint turkey:

1)  Paint your little one's hand with washable paint.  (You can do the fingers in different colors if you want.)

2)  Press the hand (with thumb out) onto a piece of paper or paper plate.

3)  Add a googly eye, wattle, beak, legs, etc...

That's it -- a fantastic craft and an adorable keepsake.  Happy Thanksgiving!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Booing 2013... our Halloween tradition continues

Every year, for Halloween, my boys "boo" the neighbors   If you aren't familiar with "boo"ing, it involves dropping a secret gift off to a neighbor without being detected.  It is a really fun Halloween tradition, and this year, given that I am now a Kinder Ambassador, we decided to "change it up" by adding Kinder® Surprise® eggs to our "boo"ing packages.

Cute, right???  My boys love running around the neighborhood delivering their treats.  

If you want to give "booing" a try with your little ones, you can download the instructions and signs here.

I think our neighbors are going to be thrilled with their treats this year, as the eggs are part of Kinder's® newest partnership with Disney Princesses and Marvel Heroes. Two in three eggs within specially-marked Kinder® Surprise® packages will contain a limited edition toy.

My boys are big fans of Super Heroes, so these eggs are very popular in our house.  They love to dress up as Super Heroes.

And, of course, we have hosted a super-fun Super Hero birthday party.

Do you have any Princess or Super Hero fans in your house?  Who is your little one's favorite?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Disclosure: I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group.  The opinions on this blog are my own”

A New Spin on Mexican... tortillas for dessert

As an Old El Paso Ambassador, I was given a fun challenge this month... "come up with a post that shows how I make Mexican my own".  So, today I am sharing a delicious and simple Mexican-inspired snack -- Cinnamon Tortillas Crisps.

Tacos make a great weeknight meal, but this week, we "took it up a notch" by adding a fun Mexican inspired dessert to Taco Tuesday.  These Cinnamon Sugar Tortillas Crisps (that my seven year old made all by himself) were a big hit with my boys.  Here's how easy they are to make:

1)  Cut fun shapes out of tortillas using cookie cutters.
2)  Place the tortillas on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
3)  Brush tortillas with melted butter.
4)  Sprinkle tortillas with cinnamon sugar (1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 tbsp cinnamon).
5)  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

I served my Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Crisps with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and bananas... but they are yummy plain too.  I think this is a fun and easy dessert to add to any Mexican meal, don't you?  How do you spice up your dinner table?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

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.

Quick Tip Tuesday #20 - Fruit Fly Trap

Fruit flies drive me crazy, so when I get them, I want them gone FAST!  Today, I thought I would share what works for me.

First, I remove any food sources.  Then, I set a trap.  I put red wine vinegar in a glass, cover it with plastic wrap, and poke a few small holes in the top.  The flies get it, but they never get out.  :-)

Do you have a great way of getting rid of fruit flies?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

10 Fantastic Outdoor Fall Activities for Kids

The weather is getting cooler, but there is still plenty of time to get outside and have some Fall fun before the snow flies.  So, today I am sharing a little collection of my favorite outdoor Fall activities for kids.

Here are 10 of my favorites:  
(Click on the links for additional details.)

1) Go Geocaching - What could be more fun than a high tech treasure hunt?  Click here to find out everything you need to know to get started.

2) Make Bird-feeders - Spend an afternoon outside crafting a tasty treat for your feathery friends.  You can find full instructions for three different types of bird-feeders here.

3) Head out on a Scavenger Hunt  - Looking for a simple scavenger hunt that even little kids can take part in?  You can download a free printable scavenger hunt here and here.

4) Fly a Kite - What's more fun a windy Fall day than flying a kite?  Buy a pre-made kite, or make your own (from a paper bag) following the tutorial that you can find here.

5) Fly Paper Airplanes {in the yard} - Using the tutorial you can find here, make some paper airplanes and head outside to let them soar.

6) Ride Bikes - Fall is the perfect time to squeeze in a few more bike rides.  And... for little ones that are ready to tackle a two wheeler, now is the perfect time to teach them.  With a summer of bike riding behind them, they'll be confident and ready to learn.  Here are some tips on teaching children to ride a two wheeler.

7) Go for a Hike - There is no better way to enjoy nature than a nice hike, and if you want to collect treasures along the way, you can find a tutorial for a DIY bucket here.  Then, click here to find out how you can use some of the treasures you find to create your own unique nature artwork.  

8) Go on a Backyard Safari - What could be more fun than running around the backyard in search of wild animals?  Click here to find out how easy it is to plan a backyard safari for your little ones.

9) Visit a Pumpkin Patch - An annual trip to a pumpkin patch is lots of fun, and is a great family fall tradition.  You can read about our pumpkin patch adventures here.

10) Jump in Leaves - What could be more simple and more fun?  Rake up a bunch of leaves and jump in!

What is your favorite outdoor fall activity?  Did it make my list?

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy) 

Ghost Mask - Preschool Craft...with free printable

Here is a quick and easy Halloween craft that your little one will love.... especially if your little one loves glue as much as mine does. 

To make things super-easy, I have provided you with a free printable template for this craft {that you can download here}.

To make this adorable ghost mask, all you need to do is:
1) Print out the template I have provided.
2) Cut out the mask.  {Little ones will need some help with the eyes.}
3) Use glue to cover the entire mask with cotton balls.
4) Add craft sticks to the back using duct tape {for strength}.

That's it!  Isn't it a cute little craft for Halloween?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - You can find more easy and inexpensive Halloween ideas here.

Bacon Pie... aka "the Easiest Quiche you will ever make"

With all our after-school activities, there are many nights I need a "quick supper".  I love this Quiche recipe (which my husband and kids call "bacon pie"). It's easy to prepare and totally delicious. Even fussy eaters will ask for seconds. 

I cook the bacon ahead of time, so when we get home from swimming lessons or hockey practice, I throw the ingredients together quickly and pop it in the oven.  By the time the boys are finished with their showers and baths, supper is on the table. Easy!  

Here's the recipe...

You'll need:
12 slices of bacon (cooked and crumbled up)
1 tsp onion powder
1 cup old cheddar cheese
2 cups 1% milk
1 cup biscuit mix
4 large eggs
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:
1)  Lightly grease a large pie plate.
2)  Layer bacon, onion powder and cheese on the pie plate.
3)  Beat milk, biscuit mix, eggs, pepper, and salt until smooth.  Then, pour the mixture into the plate.
4)  Bake at 400 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes... until a knife stuck into the middle of the quiche comes out clean.
5)  Let stand for 5-10 minutes, cut and serve.

My husband and I have the quiche with salad or asparagus... but my fussy boys have it with fruit.  Either way, it's delicious.

What is your favorite weeknight "quick and easy" meal?  I am always looking for new ideas.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)