Now that we are back to school, I thought I would share one of my favorite lunch making tips. I buy lunch staples in bulk when they are on sale, take them out of their packages, and put them in plastic containers from the dollar store.
This tip helps save money, makes lunch items quicker to access, and frees up space in the cupboard.
I also have lots of fruit, yogurt, and cheese strings "ready to go" in my fridge, and individually wrapped homemade treats in my freezer.
Do you have a tip to help make packing lunches easier? It is one of my most dreaded tasks, and I can use all the help I can get. Thanks!
Sometimes a simple craft is the most fun, and my boys loved this paper airplane that flies in circles. All you need is a piece of card stock, a pencil, some crayons, a pair of scissors, and a paper clip.
First, you'll need to print the template I have drawn for you. (You can download it here.)
Then:
1) Cut out the airplane and color it. 2) Fold your airplane in half (along the dotted line). 3) Measure about 1/2" from the centre, and fold down the wing. Repeat for the other side. 4) Add a paper clip to the nose. 5) Fly away! :-)
Old-fashioned paper planes are fun too... especially if the kids get out their markers and give them some cool designs.
Do you have little ones that would enjoy an afternoon of flying paper airplanes? Would they enjoy this paper airplane template?
Yesterday, I shared the gifts/treats my boys gave out on the first day of school, so today I thought I would share a few photos of our day.
We always start a new school year with a special pancake breakfast, and then we head outside to take some photos to mark the occasion. This year, we used the signs I designed {that you can download here}.
Then, we took our traditional photos of the boys holding their first day of school photos from the previous year. I love seeing how much the boys change from year to year.
We finished the day with some milk, cookies, and a big chat about the days events. We all had a great first day, and we are looking forward to the year ahead. How was the first day of school at your house? ♥ Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)
Today was the first day of school for my boys, and as always, they each took presents for their teachers and new classmates. I think this is an important tradition for us because it teaches the boys about the importance of giving, and it gives them a little boost of confidence on their first day. This year each boy chose their own gifts.
My four year old chose to bring his Preschool classmates LEGO crayons. We made these gifts by melting down broken crayons in a LEGO mold and attaching a note that said, "I am looking forward to building a friendship with you".
My six year old chose to bring his Grade One class a container filled with "Smarties". We added a note that said, "For the Grade One Smarties".
My seven year old chose to bring his Grade Three class a couple of bags of cookies. We added a note that said, "For the Grade Three smart cookies".
And of course, we couldn't leave out the new teachers. Each boy brought their new teacher a crayon pencil holder and a flower pen.
I found some inexpensive pen holders and crayons at the dollar store. Then, I just used a glue gun to attach the crayons. Simple! {...and you can find the tutorial for the flower pen here.}
I can't wait for my boys to get home from school. Isn't it fun hearing about the first day?
We are huge fans of Doc McStuffins on Disney Junior Canada, and it inspired my boys and I to come up with a Doc McStuffins craft and adorable little snack.
We thought it would be fun to make a "Big Book of Boo Boos". I took an inexpensive journal, and added a heart (that you can download here). Then, my boys added a couple of bandaids. Cute, right?
After we finished our book, we made a cute "Band Aid" Snack. It looks kind of gross, but my three little boys thought they were hilarious.
I just cut up some graham crackers, added some white frosting for gauze, and finished with a smear of red gel icing blood. Simple but fun! Do your little ones like pretending to be a doctor like Doc McStuffins? Watching my boys "pretend" always makes me happy.
Disclosure: I’m part of the Disney Junior Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
Do you have kids that drop their backpacks on the floor when they come in the door after school? I was tired of tripping over the kids' bags, so I came up with a simple solution.
I bought some over-the-door hooks, and hung them up next to my "make shift mudroom" in the garage. Now, we go through their backpacks right after school, and then the bags go up on the hooks... ready for the next morning. I love how easy and effective this solution is, don't you? ♥ Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)
Last year, we took the kids geocaching for the first time, and it made our Summer Checklist again this year. My boys LOVE it! For those of you who have never done it, basically, geocaching is a simple "high tech" treasure hunt. (Instead of a map, you use a mobile phone or a GPS device.)
We used my husband's iPhone, so....
1) The first thing we needed to do was download a geocaching app. We used one called "Geocaching" by Groundspeak Inc., and one called "Opencaching" by Garmin. Just do a search, and I am sure you'll find one you like.
2) Then, we followed the instructions from the app.
3) Finally, we used the iPhone like a compass to locate the treasure.
Fun, right?
Just remember.... be a good geocacher by following the simple geocaching rules of etiquette.
Sign the log.
If you take something out of the cache, make sure you leave something of equal value behind.
Leave the cache exactly as you found it so that others can find it after you.
That's it! So... grab your device, some comfy shoes, a pen, and some trinkets to leave behind, and head out on your own geocaching adventure. Have fun!
It's September 1, and in our house, thoughts are turning from Summer to Fall. So, this morning I put together this simple Fall checklist. Each year we put together a list of fun Fall activities, and we check things off the list as we complete them.
You can download a free 8X10 .jpeg version of this checklist here.
What is your favorite thing about Fall? Our annual trip to the pumpkin patch holds a special place in my heart.
Did you know that I have an entire blog dedicated to DIY party planning? If you LOVE DIY party planning, you can check out my website at DIYParties.ca.
One of the items on our Summer Checklist this year is "Host a Half Sleepover", and last night we checked it off our list.
Here's the invite we sent out...
We had 10 guests arrive in their PJs toting their sleeping bags and pillows. We had pancakes for supper, and the kids had lots of treats while they watched a movie. I also gave all the guests glow sticks and mini flashlights from the dollar store.
The plan was to watch a movie outside, but a really aggressive stray cat wouldn't leave our deck, so we moved the movie inside. (True story! lol)
A great time was had by all, and I think we might need to put this on our summer checklist again next year.
This tip is a simple one that actually came from my school teacher aunt. When kids are learning to read, and pointing at the words as they go, give them a "witch finger"(a Halloween prop from the dollar store). I know it sounds crazy, but my younger boys think it is great.
It is an easy way to keep little ones focussed on reading. Isn't it a fantastically simple idea? Do you have a great tip for beginner readers? I'd love to hear it. ♥ Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)
Last week I received a gift card from Sears*, and it was a perfect excuse for a Back to School shopping extravaganza. I usually avoid clothes shopping with my boys, but I thought it would be fun to let them pick out a couple of special items this year. I followed a few "back to school shopping tips", and we had a great time.
Here are my top tips for shopping with kids:
1) Keep it short. -- Little ones do not love browsing. Pick one store, and when they start to get tired, leave.
2) Plan ahead. -- Make sure the children are well rested and well fed before you leave the house. Tired and hungry children do not make very good shopping companions. (A few snacks in your purse might come in handy too.)
3) Make it fun. -- If you want the kids to stay interested, make it about them. (This is not the time to hang out in the ladies section looking for the perfect pair of pants.) I let my boys pick out two shirts each, and they really enjoyed choosing items that fit their personal styles and interests.
I think we all have special back to school shopping memories from our own childhood, and I think my boys had a great time picking out their own "just for school" new clothes from Sears. My seven year old loves his "brand name" clothes and new backpack, my six year old is thrilled with his "sports team" shirts, and my four year old thinks his "graphic tees" are awesome. And, as a mom, I was really happy with the prices and selection at Sears' new Kids Room. (I also love the KidVantage lifetime wear out warranty and Price Match Guarantee.)
What is your best "back to school shopping" tip? Do you like taking your little ones with you, or do you prefer to leave them at home?
♥ Gina (aka East Coast Mommy) PS(You should totally check out the Sears "Back We Go" Facebook contest that's live now! Enter for a chance to win one of five weekly $500 Sears gift card prizes and 35 daily $50 Sears gift cards to put towards your back to school shopping! To enter the contest, "like" the Sears Facebook page and enter your info here. Good luck!)
*Disclosure: I am part of the Sears Back to School Blogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada, and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on the blog are my own.
The boys and I just got back from a week and a half in Prince Edward Island {PEI}, and we had a fantastic time. If you ever get a chance to vacation on the East Coast, I highly recommend including PEI in your vacation plans.
Here are {in my opinion) the best things to do in PEI with kids:
1) Visit Avonlea Village - My boys love Avonlea Village. It provides great "old fashioned" fun for the whole family. If your little ones love live music, live theatre, dressing up, and playing games... you should totally check it out.
2) Have a Cow's ice cream - No trip to PEI is complete without a stop at Cow's. Trust me, this ice cream is delicious. (PS... "Moo Crunch" is my favorite flavour.)
3) Attend the Gold Cup and Saucer Parade - If you happen to be in PEI during Old Home Week, you should make sure you attend the Gold Cup and Saucer Parade. It is full of fun floats, characters, and music. My boys thought it was great!
4) Play at the beach - PEI has some of the world's most beautiful beaches, so take some time to explore them. My boys love swimming in the ocean and searching for sea glass.
5) Spend time with family - PEI is a great place to focus on family. This year, we were lucky to have family from Ottawa, Halifax, and England join us. I can't think of a better place for my boys to make memories with their cousins.
6) Visit Shining Waters - When the temperature rises, Shining Waters is the perfect place for the little ones to cool off. There are rides, water slides, boats, a pool, and much more. Children of all ages will have a blast!
7) Go camping - PEI has many excellent family campgrounds, and this year we stayed at Marco Polo Land. It is a great place for kids. My favorite part was our campfire snack... Reese Peanut Butter Cup S'mores. Yum!
8) Take the ferry - Instead of taking the Confederation Bridge, we took the ferry. It costs a little more, but it is definitely a highlight for the boys. We like to pick the boat that has live music and Cow's ice cream. :-)
Have you ever taken a trip to Prince Edward Island? What was your favorite part? ♥ Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)
Look at what our Elf on the Shelf {Elfie} sent my boys. I am planning on surprising them with it on the first day of school.
Isn't it cute?
If you think your little ones would like to receive one from your eIf, you can right click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4x6 photo.
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.
