Bird Nest Cookies / The BEST Easter Cookies

Last year, I posted about "Egging" the neighbours {which you can read more about here}, and since then, I have been asked several times for the recipe we used for our Bird Nest Cookies. We make these cookies each year, and they are easy to make and fun to share.

To make these adorable Easter cookies:

1)  Mix together the following dry ingredients, and set aside:

• 3 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/4 tsp salt

2)  Put the following ingredients in a saucepan, and bring to a boil:

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

3)  Remove from heat, and stir in dry ingredients.

4)  Before the mixture starts to dry out, drop the mixture from heaping teaspoons onto wax paper, and add three candy covered chocolate eggs to the middle of each cookie.  Allow to cool completely.

These cookies are easy, delicious, and cute -- perfect for this time of year. And, for an extra special treat, you can use these cookies to garnish cupcakes.  So yummy!

Check out this quick video tutorial:

And here's a little video of my boys and I making them.

These cookies taste as good as they look... and they look really cute!

Do you have a favorite Easter Cookie recipe?  This one is definitely at the top of my list.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

***Find more Easter ideas here.

Easter Gifts for Classmates... with free printable bag toppers

My boys love sharing holiday treats with their classmates, and this year I came up with a cute "bunny" Easter gift for my three year old to share with his friends.

I just LOVE how easy and inexpensive these treats were to put together, and they are a great alternative to chocolate and candy.

I bought 12 bunnies for $2, put them in clear treat bags, and added some simple and adorable bag toppers.  Cute, right?   You can download the bag toppers I designed {for free} here.

Wouldn't your little ones be proud handing out these cute goodies to their little friends?

You can also find another delightful Easter gift for classmates (and free printable tags) here.

Both versions are super-cute, don't you think?  Happy Easter!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You can find more ideas for easy and inexpensive Easter crafts, recipes, and activities here.

$2 Bunny Canvas

I love low cost holiday decor, don't you?  So, for Easter, I made this adorable "Bunny Butt" Canvas for about $2. The bright colours are super-cheerful, and the project is easy and inexpensive to make.

Isn't it sweet?  All you need is: a dollar store canvas, a piece of colorful scrapbook paper, some pink cardstock, a white pom pom, and some Modge Podge.  Then...

1)  Download the bunny template {that I created for you} here.  Use the template to cut a bunny silhouette from pink card stock.

2)  Trim the colorful scrapbook paper to fit the canvas.

3)  Apply a thin coat of Modge Podge to the back of the scrapbook paper and the front of the canvas.  Then, quickly place the paper onto the canvas, smooth out any bubbles, and wait at least 20 minutes for the Modge Podge to dry.

4)  Use Modge Podge to glue the bunny onto the canvas, and wait  for it to dry.

5)  Apply a top coat of Modge Podge, and allow to dry completely.

6)  Glue a white pom pomonto the bunny's butt.

That's it!  Easy, inexpensive, and totally cute.

You can also spend a few dollars on a dollar store shadow box frame and make a fancier version.  I added a little yarn and scrapbook paper banner to the top for added touch of whimsey.

Cute, right? It really doesn't look like a dollar store craft, does it? It's a great project for adults and kids. I see a few more (in different colours) in our future!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

How to Make Snow Ice Cream

When mother nature gives you a snow storm at the end of March... make some snow ice cream! You only need three ingredients to make this tasty treat.

I have been planning all winter to make snow ice cream with my boys, but for some reason we didn't get around to it -- until today.  If you haven't done it before, you must.  My boys LOVED it, and it was so simple! You can check out our YouTube video here: 

Or you can follow the instructions here:

1)  Put 8 cups of clean (freshly fallen) snow in a big bowl.
2)  Added 1 can (300mL) sweetened condensed milk and 1 tsp vanilla extract.
3)  Stirred to combine, and served immediately.

Since my boys LOVE chocolate, I served our ice cream with a simple homemade chocolate sauce.  I just put 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, 1 2/3 cups white sugar, 1 1/4 cups water, and 1 tsp vanilla in a medium saucepan.  I cooked it over medium heat for about 5 minutes after it came to a boil... whisking frequently.  Then, I removed it from the heat and allowed it to cool slightly.

Seriously... why did we wait so long to do this?  We'll have to start earlier in the season next year.

Have you ever made "Snow Ice Cream"?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Fisher Price Favorites

Fisher-Price just came out with a list of 12 Fisher-Price Favourites and it got me thinking about the Fisher-Price products that were (and continue to be) part of my boys' childhoods.  I think every mom has her own favourites, and I have two:  the Little People Animal Sounds Farm and the Ocean Wonders Aquarium.

My three year old playing with his Little People Animal Sounds Farm {and other farm stuff}

My favorite toys are those that allow little ones to pretend and use their imaginations, and the Little People Animal Sounds Farm definitely fits this criteria.  I can't help smiling when I think about all the times my boys "played farm" with each other, and I love that my three year old still frequently asks me to help him set up his animals.  If you have little ones, I highly recommend investing in this one.

And if you are still in the "baby" phase, you should consider the Ocean Wonders Aquarium.  When my boys were babies, they always went to sleep to the sounds of their Ocean Wonders Aquarium, and I remember listening to its calming music on the baby monitor while I crossed my fingers for three full hours of sleep.  :-)  All three boys loved our aquarium... and we were all sad to say good bye to it when my youngest moved to his "big boy bed".

My three year old "helping" take down his crib

What are your Fisher-Price Favourites?  Did they make the official list?  The list includes:

1.    Ocean Wonders Aquarium

2.    My Little Snugabunny Cradle N Swing

3.    Infant to Toddler Rocker

4.    SpaceSaver High Chair

5.    Discover’n Grow Jumperoo

6.    Brilliant Basics Rock a Stack

7.    Laugh & Learn Love to Play Puppy

8.    Laugh & Learn Say Please Tea Set

9.    Laugh & Learn Click ‘n Learn Remote

10. Brilliant Basics Stroll-Along Walker

11. Little People Wheelies Stand ‘ n Play Rampway

12. Little People Animal Sounds Farm

You can read more about these favorites on the Fisher-Price Site.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.

“Disclosure: I am part of the Fisher-Price Blogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group; however, the opinions on this blog are 100% my own.”

April Fool's Day Treat

I am not a big fan of "pranks", but the last couple of years, I have made my boys a special "treat" on April 1st -- fake grilled cheese sandwiches and purple milk.

Cute, right?  I just added a few drops of blue and red food coloring to regular milk {to turn it purple}.  Then, I made sandwiches using slices of pound cake and icing tinted with red and yellow food coloring.  You could toast the pound cake if you want it to be more authentic, but I didn't bother.  That's it!  Easy peasy!

Are you a fan of April Fool's Day?  How do you celebrate it?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Spring Printable

Don't you just love Spring?  To celebrate the beginning of Spring, I thought I would share this great picture with you... that you can download for FREE.

I took this picture last year while out for a walk with my three year old.  Don't apple blossoms just scream "Spring"?  I think this photo would be a great addition to a Spring mantel.  You can download an 8X10 copy {for free} here.

Has warmer weather arrived where you are?  We still have some snow, but I know I will be smelling apple blossoms soon.  :-)

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

* You can find me on facebook here.