The BEST Ideas for Ringing in 2025 / A SIMPLE New Year's Eve Celebration... including FREE printables

Hosting a family-friendly celebration can be the perfect way to ring in the new year. Today I'm sharing the BEST ideas for celebrating New Year's Eve at home... and FREE printables. (Don't forget to check out the short video at the end of this post!)

Activity Bags - I love making activity bags that can be opened each hour leading up to midnight. The bags can contain noisemakers, the supplies for a midnight toast, games, and more.

I love having one bag contain the items needed to set up a photo booth.

And including a year in review questionnaire for kids is fun too. 

To download a FREE copy of the one I designed: click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photo.

Special New Year's Eve Treat - To make this festive treat, simply add candies to the bottom of a wine glass and top with a decorated cupcake. Cute, right?!?

Adorable New Year's Eve Mocktail - To make this adorable beverage, add sparkling water, 7up, or sparkling wine to a champagne flute. Then, add a bit of cotton candy to the top, and insert a straw. Easy... and so much fun!

New Year's Eve Party Favours - Every party needs a party favour, and I have three simple options to share.

Breakfast for tomorrow - Add a tag to a small box of cereal or a pop tart.

To download the "breakfast for tomorrow" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

Midnight Kisses - Add a tag to a little bag of Hershey kisses.

To download the "midnight kisses" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

Rings to ring in the new year - Add a tag to candy rings.

To download the "ring in the new year" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

To download the "bring some sparkle to 2025" tags: click on the picture below, right-click, save it, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.

For a closer look at my New Year's Eve ideas (and full instructions), check out the YouTube video I made here.

Will you be celebrating at home this year? I hope you find some of these ideas fun and helpful. Happy New Year!!!!

💗 

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

7 Fantastic (budget-friendly) DIY Christmas Gift Ideas... with free printable gift tags

I love a USEFUL gift, don't you? With the cost of things today, it's important to not be wasteful. However, "useful" doesn't have to be boring! Today, I'm sharing 7 fantastic (budget-friendly) DIY Christmas gift ideas. Most items come from the dollar store AND I'm sharing FREE printable tags (below) that make the gifts extra fun!

The tags are below, but if you want to get a closer look at all these fantastic ideas, check out the video I made here:

1) "Get Lucky" lotto ticket gift... in a dollar store frame. Details here, and free printable tags below.

To download the tags I designed (for free): click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your device, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.

2) "Warm wishes" dollar store candle. Details here, and free printable tags below.

To download the tags I designed (for free): click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your device, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.

3) "Christmas hair, don't care" scrunchies. Details here, and free printable tags below.

To download the tags I designed (for free): click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your device, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.

4) "NACHO average Christmas" food gift. Details here, and free printable tags below.

To download the tags I designed (for free): click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your device, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.

5) THREE "Get cozy" gift ideas. Details here, and free printable tags below.

To download the tags I designed (for free): click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your device, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.

6) "Mistletoe ready" stocking stuff idea. Details here, and free printable tags below.

To download the tags I designed (for free): click on the picture below, right-click, save it to your device, and print like a regular 4x6 photo.

7) Gift "time together" with a super-cute hot chocolate bar. Details here, and free printable tags below.

Don't forget to check out my video for all the fun details. I hope you enjoy all the fantastic and budget-friendly DIY Christmas ideas... and the free printable gift tags.

Merry Christmas!!!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

5 Simple CHRISTMAS CRAFTS for all ages

Crafting with family and friends is a great way to spend time together... but you need the right crafts. You need to make something that is fun, festive, and fantastic! Today I have 5 simple Christmas crafts that all ages will enjoy creating. Take a peak, and let me know which one is your favourite. 

I even made you a video so you can check out all the step by step instructions. Check it out below:

1) Chocolate bar snowman - How cute is this little guy? It's so easy to make, and it's a fantastic craft, treat, party favour, gift, and stocking stuffer. It's a clever way to give a gift card too! Check out the step by step instructions here.

2) Elf Cookie - I love this adorable cookie craft. You bake a cookie, wrap it in cellophane, and add all the embellishments. Santa would definitely love to get his hands on this cute cookie. Check out the step by step instructions here.

3) Beaded wreath - Sometimes simple crafts are the best, and this little beaded wreath is adorable. Find all the "how to" details here.

4) Tassel beaded wreath - I think the tassel adds a subtle elegance to this adorable ornament... and tassels are really fun to make. Check out the "easy to follow" instructions here.

5) Yarn hat - I've made these with kids and adults, and they are always a hit. They are fun to make, and they look adorable on a tree. Check out the full tutorial here.

Aren't these 5 simple Christmas crafts adorable? Let me know in the comments... which one is your favourite?

I hope you have fun crafting this holiday season. Merry Christmas!!!!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Top TEN gifts for HOCKEY fans and players (2024 hockey gift guide)

***Disclosure -This gift guide contains some products I own, some items that I received for free and a few affiliate links. Please be assured that the opinions in this blog are 100% my own, and I've only included items I think would make fantastic gifts for hockey fans and players. Also, if you make a purchase using one of my affiliate links, you will not pay any extra, but I may get a small commission on your purchase. Thank you!***

If you regularly read my blog, you know that I am a hockey mom to three hockey-loving boys. Every year, there are several hockey-related items on my Christmas shopping list, so today, I am sharing my top 10 gift ideas for hockey fans and hockey players. There really is something on this list for all ages and budgets.

1) Summer Skates - My boys are huge fans of Summer Skates. They are comfortable, high quality, customizable, easy to clean, and stylish. The front of the sandals are made with REAL HOCKEY SKATE LACES, and you can add your favourite team or player name/number. They are perfect for summer, and we love them for hotel rooms too! (There are also Koozies available that make great stocking stuffers.)

2) Ollie Bots - These cute little wooden robots are made with love and tied together with hockey skate laces. The Ollie Bots project was started by my son's buddy and teammate (Oliver Smith) who sadly passed away at the age of 12 to a rare form of bone cancer. For a $20 donation, you can help raise funds and awareness for Ewing Sarcoma. Find out more here.

3) NHL25 - If your hockey fan loves video games, you probably already have the latest version of this game on your Christmas shopping list. My boys are already big fans, so if you have it on your list, you can order it here.

4) Hockey books - Books always make fantastic gifts, and hockey books are perfect for hockey fans. Home and Away (below) looks like a good one!

5) Hockey socks - Hockey socks make a fun gift or stocking stuffer, and this set is inexpensive and cute! There are other options available too... but you like these ones, you can find them here.

6) Microfibre Sports Towel - Great for sticking in a hockey bag for an after-game shower. I ordered the large one for my my oldest son for Christmas last year. Click here for the link to the one I purchased.

7) Hockey-themed labels and wall decals from Oliver's Labels - Personalized labels and wall decals make wonderful gifts for kids. I've recovered a lot of my boys clothes and sports equipment because of name labels. And, and how cute is this large jersey wall decal? Use my link, and save 10% with code: EastCoastMommy.

8) Handmade hockey gifts - I have a shop in Antigonish, NS where I sell custom handmade hockey gifts. The large items are pick up only, but the smaller items can be shipped. You can check out my shop here.

9) Street hockey balls - If you have kids that play ice hockey, you have kids that play street hockey. :-) So... you are likely always searching for street hockey balls that aren't too hard. These ones are our favourites. You can order them here.

10) Personalized hockey blanket - This is a great gift for a hockey player or a hockey fan. I think it'd be perfect for a "hockey mom" or "hockey nana" too! Get the ordering information here.

How great are all these ideas?!?!? What's your favourite gift for a hockey player/fan? Happy shopping!!!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)