Holiday Gift Guide
/Looking for unique gift ideas this holiday season? Diaperbag Diaries has you covered! These are my favorite companies to purchase from all throughout the year!
Read MoreA Safe Bath & Body Line for Babies and Children
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DID YOU KNOW THAT THE FDA HAS NOT PASSED A MAJOR LAW REGULATING THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY SINCE 1938?
Read More8 Yummy Halloween Desserts The Whole Family Can Enjoy
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*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small kickback at no additional cost to you! Thanks for supporting the blog <3 *
Yes, it's that time again, which means that the veil between the living and the dead will thin and witches, vampires, mummies, and other ghoulish figures will come out of the woodworks. So, if you're trying to keep with the tradition and blend in so the monsters won't know you're not one of them, then make sure they see you and your family eating some of these delicious Halloween treats. They're spooktacular!
https://www.babble.com/best-recipes/5-creepiest-coolest-eyeball-food/
You'll need two 14 ounce cans of diced fire roasted tomatoes, 3 cups of chicken stock, 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, to taste and cook it in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Then place the soup in a blender until it's pureed and pour it back into the pan. Feel free to add more salt and pepper if you want and serve in a bowl. Now for the final touch, use a melon baller or sharp paring knife to carve out a hole for an olive on the cherry sized fresh mozzarella balls. Then press the green olives with pimentos in and put it in the bowl. Two or three eyeballs per bowl should do it.
This recipe will have everyone boo-ing, but for a good reason. Just make a cup of hot cocoa, serve it in a mug, and top it with a swirl of whipped cream! Make ghost eyes with mini-dark chocolate chips.
3. Spider Cookies
I just went to the grocery store and purchased some peanut butter "break and bake" cookies. Once they were cooled from the oven, I simply added the mini peanut butter cup (upside down), and decorated spider legs and eyes with tube icing! Super easy and the kids will love helping.
First off, you'll need 1 15-oz. can pumpkin purée, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, 1/2 tsp. ginger, 1 14-oz. can of sweetened condensed milk, 2 large eggs, 1 double pie crust, and 1/2 c. thick caramel sauce. Whisk the pumpkin puree, salt, spices and condensed milk in a saucepan on medium heat. Then let it cool before whisking the eggs in. Then place your store-bought pie crust into an 8' pie plate and pour the pumpkin filling. You can spoon the caramel sauce on top until it looks marbled. Then cover the pie with the crust and use a toothpick and a knife to sketch and carve out Jack Skellington's face and bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees F. Then reduce the temp to 350, cover the top with aluminum foil and bake for another 40 minutes. Then let it cool and serve.
5. Ghost Covered Strawberries
Melt white chocolate chips with a smidge of vegetable oil, or just buy Wilton melting chips from the store or the link below! Simply dip your strawberries in the melted chocolate and add mini chocolate chips for the face and mouth. The messier you get, the more ghoulish they appear!
6. Goblin Smoothie
https://www.babble.com/best-recipes/goblin-smoothie-healthy-halloween-treat/
Blend 1 1/2 of frozen bananas, 1/2 cup non-dairy milk, 1/2 cup vanilla non-dairy yogurt, 1 tsp matcha green tea powder (which will add an extra caffeine punch), 3/4 cup of watermelon, or peaches. You can also add 1/4 avocado, 1 tsp Chia seeds, a handful of spinach, and ice. Also try drizzling some agave syrup to make it taste sweeter. Once it's creamy smooth, you simply pour it into a cup and savor this smooth and creamy treat.
7. Rice Krispie Monsters
Sure, you can make your own Rice Krispies … BUT you can also just buy a bulk box from the grocery store, use food coloring to dye melted white chocolate, and add Wilton‘s googly eyes for the perfect monster effect. Perfect for a Halloween themed snack day at your child’s preschool or kindergarten.
20 Fall Crafts For Children
/When the cooler weather starts to slowly creep in and the leaves start to change colors, it is time to start fall themed crafting with your children. I love fall because you are able to utilize hiking to teach your child about nature and subsequently come home and create a craft based on what you discussed.
Apple Pie Play Dough
Head out to the apple orchard and pick some apples with the family. I take my own baskets and some water for washing an apple for each child to snack on, since they can not wait until home to take a bite. Once we are home we make Apple Pie Play Dough by Emma Owl to continue the fun. This recipe is soft and silky with the combination smell of allspice and cinnamon.
Hanging Bat Craft
This Hanging Bat Craft is a great activity after a hike in the woods and the idea is to collect a bag of small twigs. The twigs provide a way to hang your bats and display them easily. This craft is also good as a Halloween display. The craft is by Buggy and Buddy and it can be displayed with colorful Fall leaves.
Leaf Art
Either go for a hike or collect colorful leaves of different shapes in the back yard. Whichever way you gather the leaves, go through the bag to lay out the different leaves and see if you can identify the type of tree the leaves came off of by shape! It is a true learning experience. Purchase google eyes, small buttons and glue and decorate each leaf with a face and buttons down the front. The items easily adhere with glue. Make your family out of leaves and display for everyone to see. This is a craft I do with my children every fall.
Paper Plate Fall Wreaths
Another good use of the fall leaves is a wreath made out of a paper plate and decorated with colorful leaves. These Paper Plate Fall Wreaths may be displayed on your front door or a bedroom door. This craft is by The Mad House and is easy for little ones to make by simply gluing the leaves on to the paper plate.
Autumn Cork Painting
Are you wishing you had a way to utilize wine corks? This simple project of Autumn Cork Painting by the Picky Apple is easy to set up outside on an easel with paints and corks. Your child can look at the trees and decide how they want to decorate their tree with leaves made from cork printing. It is easy to clean up and a way to enjoy the outdoor weather. It is a great rainy day activity also.
Pine Cone Apple Craft
Another great item to collect in the fall are pine cones. They are usually easy to find and can be used for several different crafts. In this craft by Non Toy Gifts the Pine Cone Apple Craft turns the pine cone into an apple. It is fun to see the transformation take place and the painting provides a good hand eye coordination project. This is a good small gift for the teacher if your child is going back to school.
Fall Leaf Garland
Making a display of hanging leaves can be a great way to decorate the entrance to a room. It can be made by lacing together real leaves or leaves from your local craft shop. I buy large plastic needles from the local craft store and heavy clear thread so it is safe for my children to utilize. This craft is something I have created myself as a Fall craft by looking at displays in craft shops. An example is Fall Leaf Garland Display by KHallberg Design.This makes a beautiful backdrop for Fall pictures.
Footprint Turkey
Making a craft with a footprint or handprint is always a great keepsake for every family. This turkey is a simple footprint from paint and then add colorful construction paper feathers. Add eyes and feet and you have the perfect Footprint Turkey. This craft is by craftspilot and also utilizes some glue.
Easy Apple Prints for Toddlers
Utilize those apples from the orchard for crafting projects. These Easy Apple Prints For Toddlers are easily held and manipulated by the younger crowd in your household. Cutting an apple in half and then carving a built in handle makes it so much easier and not as messy. This craft is by Teaching Two and Three Year Olds and is a fun craft idea. My children enjoy projects that utilize food in different manners.
Lego Print Pumpkins
Utilizing legos for painting is one of my favorite craft projects. It is an easy craft that can be utilized over and over again. For this craft a pumpkin shaped construction cut out can be taped to a table to make it stable. Then using orange paint and a lego dipped in paint makes a textured pumpkin. When your child is done the lego may be washed off and returned to the toy bin. Easy clean up and when they are dry display the pumpkins on the refrigerator. This craft is
Scarecrow Craft
This Scarecrow Craft using large craft sticks is fun to make and easy for your child to use their creative side. It is fun to make a Mr. and a Mrs. to display.I always read a story about scarecrow
The Kind Scarecrow is on youtube as a read out loud. The scarecrow craft is easily glued sticks to cardboard with a felt hat and flower stickers or another design may be glued on the hat to personalize. My children like to glue their initials on the hat. This craft is by Somewhat Simple
Hot Chocolate Mug
A suggestion to use the remainder of your large craft sticks is this cute Hot Chocolate Mug craft with light blue paint and cotton as marshmallows. This is a craft by Glued to my Craft and will put a smile on all your childrens faces. While making this craft serve up some of your own hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. I like to add little mini chocolate sprinkles to the cotton marshmallows for fun.
Orange Yarn Pumpkins
Making some kind of pumpkin craft after we visit our favorite pumpkin patch is a family favorite. This is a great craft for making a lasting decoration to use year after year. It may be used as a centerpiece for the table by making different size pumpkins. This craft involves wrapping yarn with glue around an inflated balloon, allowing it to dry then pop the balloon. And a pipe cleaner tops it off for the stem.
Homemade Bird Feeder Pine Cones
This has always been a favorite for my children to make as the cooler weather starts to move in. The birds need to eat and having a homemade bird feeder hanging by a window or in the back yard provides everyone with some entertainment. Peanut butter on the pine cone with bird seed added is easy, fast, and fun to do over and over again. Add a ribbon or yarn and hang it outside. This craft is by Freebie Finding Mom and is basically very inexpensive to do when the family gathers their own pine cones.
Spider Web Art
This project can be spooky for Halloween or pretty when done in pastels and it is all up to your own family. Spider Web Art has salt added at the end to make it appear to have more of a texture or 3D style. For younger children a spider web can be printed out and older children may create their own web design. The use of watercolor paints makes this craft a success. This craft is by Lasso the Moon.
Felt Apple Pie
I love this craft because it can be finished as a craft with glue or it can be put together as a pretend pie over and over again. This craft is made of beige felt and red pom poms and is a great idea for hours of fun. I also use it to teach some basic cooking skills. This craft is by the Best Ideas for Kids and is so much fun to create.
Tie Dye Coffee Filter Monsters
My children like to make scary funny projects for Halloween and this craft fits that description. This craft uses coffee filters, marker and water to make the blended colors. Then an added face made with construction paper make it an easy craft. We like to put a hole in the top and put ribbon in the hole with a knot and hang them around the house for a Halloween delight. This craft was created by Raising little Superheros and is a fun way to teach tie dye for future summer tee shirt designs.
Simple Accordion Fold Paper Bat
This bat is another fun filled activity for Halloween and could be hung on a front porch for swinging bats.This craft involves some folding techniques for the wings and then decorating the body and face of the bat.The pieces can be precut to make the project easier for small children. This is an inexpensive craft and your child may want to make a few different bats. This craft was created by I Heart Crafty Things.
Owl Pine Cone Craft
These may be made with colorful feathers and google eyes and are so cute and funny. Again utilize those pine cones your family gathered on their hike through the woods. I found the other items at the dollar store to decorate the pine cones. My children also named their owl creations and put on a show. Using your imagination as you create the owls is a key element.
This Owl craft is by Meaningful Momma.
Halloween Foot and Hand Art
This project is great to use on canvas bags to make homemade trick or treat bags. Glow in the dark paint might be a good idea so your child is easy to see on that fun night. This craft provides many designs made with the use of your childs’ hand or foot. Allow them to come up with their own designs. This craft was created by Millions ideas Club.
Starting Our School Day With Pepperidge Farm!
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It's back to school time and it's also back to "what can I scramble together for kids lunch and breakfast time?!"
Read More15 Fall Recipes To Cook With Kids
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So much fun baking with children, here is a round up of some great fall recipes you can incorporate the kids into!
Read MoreDouble Chocolate Zucchini Cookies
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Looking for another way to use your spiralizer or add more veggies into your baking? Check out this yummy chocolate zucchini cookie recipe!
Read MoreMy Biggest First World Problem
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Groceries delivered to my house in 1 hour? Umm.. yes please!
Read MoreEaster Basket Giveaway!
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Amazing non-candy Easter giveaway! Ends Sunday, April 9th at midnight!
Read More
Peanut Butter & Babies Really DO Mix!
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Studies have shown that introducing children to peanuts and other allergens early, actually reduce the risk of allergies. And when I say early, I mean as early as 4-6 months. I know this flies in the face of what many pediatricians have been telling parents for quite a few years but peanut allergies in particular have spiked since recommendations to delay introduction emerged.
Read MoreMy Biggest Blogging Mistakes
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Blogging is such a popular platform these days. People start blogs to promote their businesses, charities, personal stories, offer advice, promote a lifestyle brand, etc. On the surface it seems like such an easy venture. I mean, how is blogging different than the Xanga and LiveJournal I had back in high school? Turns out, it can be a lot more than you bargained for.
When I began A Mommy Nearest, I believed that I would just knock out one blog per week while I was up all night breastfeeding. Somehow, magically, people all over would appreciate my sage, motherly wisdom and provide a consistent reader base. Boy was I wrong. So here are my five BIGGEST mistakes that will hopefully help any of you new bloggers out there get started on the right track!
- Design, logo, name
You really need to think long and hard about your preferred blog aesthetic. I went from over the top feminine to a more editorial and sleek look. The original design and logo were not representative of me or my blog posts and left the whole feel very disjointed. That will do nothing to attract readers. Launching a blog too quickly often leads to mistakes like these. Its okay to learn through trial and error but it doesn't hurt to make decisions and then sit with them for a few days before releasing to the World Wide Web. It goes without saying that you will also need a platform you are comfortable with. I use Squarespace and love all the template options. Obviously Wordpress and Blogger are popular options as well.
P.S. When thinking of your website title, make sure the domain name is available first! You can purchase your domain name through your hosting platform if you choose to go that route.
2. No iPhone photos please!
High quality photography and content are a MUST for a successful blog. Don't get me wrong, phones can take amazing pictures these days. If they are really clear and aesthetically pleasing, then go for it. However, investing in a DSLR or mirrorless camera could be of huge benefit to your blog. Especially for food blogs, promoting some type of product, and fashion. High quality photography will also capture attention on your affiliated social media accounts. If you are so excited about the topic that you are inspired to write about it, make sure the pictures do it justice. The literary content also needs to be top notch. Churning out regular, high quality content is still something I am having trouble keeping up with. Sporadic posts make it hard to maintain subscribers and an interactive fan base.
3. Bloglovin'
Interact with other bloggers! Comment on blogs that you follow, interact on their social media, have guests post on your blog and be a guest writer on theirs. Find some blogger link ups and blogging communities you can get involved in. Link parties are a great way to gain blog traffic and for the blogger community to support each other's posts. If you want to start your own, you can use a service like InLinkz to get started! Send emails out to all the bloggers you know (or don't know) asking them to contribute, promote the link party (pick a theme like interior design for example), and you're all set! Some blogging communities that I've been using to get my posts out are BlogEngage, StumbleUpon , and Medium. You are essentially sharing your posts with a commmunity that actually cares about your content, you can interact with each other, and hopefully get some shares and drive more traffic to your site.
4. Get organized!
I was terribly disorganized when I first started out. Heck, I still am. I have only recently discovered the more efficient ways of promoting my blog. Apps like Hootsuite help me schedule my social media posts so I can post the recommended 2-3 times/day at the most ideal times (afternoon and evening) and still have a life. It's best to set aside a section of time in your week and dedicate that time to preloading all the blog posts and images you want to put out for the next few days. Then you won't even have to think about it again until the next week.
5. Don't get caught up in the hype!
Yes, all the above items are important to a successful blog. But there is no point in running yourself ragged, stressing over followers and likes, for something that a lot of you may have just started as a hobby. Yes, many people make money off their blogging through affiliate marketing, but it can be nominal and you beginners certainly won't be raking in the dough anytime soon. Write what you enjoy, do your best to make your site appealing to whatever niche you are aiming for, and get to know other bloggers in the community so that you can promote each other's work. That's what most important. Any product endorsements or monetary benefits that may follow are just icing on the cake!
"Writing is an excercise in joyfulness. I write to share, in a beautiful way, the things that give me joy." - Erika Simone
Potty Training Dont's!→
/If anyone is currently suffering through the mayhem that is potty training, this is the blog post for you. I wrote it for Columbus Moms Blog and I hope you enjoy it. Keep in mind that this is pure, comedic venting. To be honest, most of these tips work for most people but many of you know that what works for one, doesn't always work for the other. And some days, you just want to rip your hair out! But of course, that's parenthood for ya!
Check it out..... here!
Disney Giveaway!
/Awesome small shop giveaway going on over on my Instagram @amommynearest Super easy to enter and very good odds of winning!
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Surviving Disney with Baby & Toddler!
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How many times have you heard, "Wait until your kids are older before you take them to Disney"? Or just generally thought that the struggle to go wouldn't be worth it? There are many that criticize bringing younger children to Disneyworld, but rest assured, Disney will make even the smallest guests feel welcome! As we are preparing for our first trip with young children this fall, I have discovered some tips to set a parents mind at ease when grappling with the fear of how to navigate the happiest place on earth with children that are preschool aged and under.
- Locate the parks Baby Care Centers!
- These centers are in all four theme parks providing an air conditioned space to nurse, feed, and change your children. Even mini kitchens and mini toilets!
- Did you know that you can baby wear at Disneyworld?
- To my surprise I discovered that you can wear your baby on any ride that doesn't have a height restriction! I will definitely be packing my Ergo carrier and Sakura sling.
- Get some chilly pads to keep you and baby cool in the carrier!
- Rider Switch
- Adults can take turns riding rides while their partner waits in line. You can just swap out parents without waiting in line all over again!
- List of rides under 40"
- There are SO many attractions without any height requirements at Magic Kingdom! See the list and the image below!
- Astro Orbiter®
- Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
- Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade
- Cinderella Castle
- Cinderella's Golden Carrousel
- Country Bear Jamboree
- Donald's Boat
- Dumbo The Flying Elephant
- The Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management
- Frontierland Shootin' Arcade
- The Hall Of Presidents
- The Haunted Mansion®
- "it's a small world"
- Jungle Cruise
- Liberty Square Riverboat
- Mad Tea Party
- Main Street Vehicles
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mickey's Country House
- Mickey's PhilharMagic
- Minnie's Country House
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean®
- Snow White's Scary Adventures
- "SpectroMagic" Parade
- Swiss Family Treehouse
- Tom Sawyer Island
- Tomorrowland® Transit Authority
- Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress
- Walt Disney World® Railroad
- Epcot Theme Park
- The American Adventure
- American Adventure Pavilion
- Canada Pavilion
- Captain EO starring Michael Jackson
- China Pavilion
- Circle of Life
- Ellen's Energy Adventure
- France Pavilion
- Germany Pavilion
- Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
- "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience"
- IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
- ImageWorks – The Kodak "What If" Labs
- Imagination! Pavilion
- Impressions de France
- Innoventions
- Italy Pavilion
- Japan Pavilion
- Journey Into Imagination With Figment
- Disney's Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure
- Living with the Land
- Maelstrom
- Mexico Pavilion
- Mission: SPACE Advanced Training Lab
- Mission: SPACE Pavilion
- Morocco Pavilion
- National Treasures
- Norway Pavilion
- O Canada!
- Reflections of China
- Spaceship Earth
- Spaceship Earth Pavilion
- Test Track Pavilion
- The Land Pavilion
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion
- Turtle Talk with Crush
- United Kingdom Pavilion
- Universe of Energy Pavilion
- Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park
- Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza
- The American Film Institute Showcase
- The American Idol Experience
- Studio Backlot Tour
- Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
- Block Party Bash
- Fantasmic!
- The Great Movie Ride
- "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" Movie Set Adventure
- Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular!
- Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian
- Lights, Motors, Action!™ Extreme Stunt Show
- The Magic of Disney Animation
- Muppet*Vision 3-D
- Playhouse Disney—Live on Stage!™
- Sounds Dangerous with Drew Carey
- Star Wars: Jedi Training Academy
- Toy Story Mania!
- Voyage of The Little Mermaid
- Walt Disney: One Man's Dream
- Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
- Affection Section
- The Boneyard®
- Conservation Station®
- Cretaceous Trail
- Dino-Sue
- Discovery Island® Trails
- Finding Nemo – The Musical
- Fossil Fun Games
- Habitat Habit!
- It's Tough to be a Bug!®
- Kids Discovery Clubs
- Kilimanjaro Safaris®
- Maharajah Jungle Trek®
- Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade
- The Oasis Exhibits
- Pangani Forest Exploration Trail®
- The Tree of Life
- TriceraTop Spin
- Wildlife Express Train
- There are SO many attractions without any height requirements at Magic Kingdom! See the list and the image below!
www.yourfirstvisit.net is an awesome resource for this type of stuff!
- Get to the park early
- Hit up Fantasy Land as soon as the park opens and enjoy some reprieve while this area isn't super busy yet. Fantasy land has the largest number of rides for toddlers!
- Work with a Disney planner! They are completely free, answer all your questions (big or small), book your meal reservations, character meals, book specialty add ons, and find the best deals before anyone else!!! Cheryl Popoutsis is ours and she has the experience of being a lifelong Disney vacationer and goes there every year. You can't beat her knowledge and experience and she has made the planning process exponentially less stressful. It's like having a wedding planner you don't have to pay for! The best way for a stress free planning experience.
- Get a babysitter, parents need fun too!
- If you aren't lucky enough to have grandparents tag along for help, Disney offers in room child care services and childcare activity centers!
All in all, Disneyworld is an overwhelming place. And if you are only ever going to go once in your life, waiting until your children are older is probably a good idea. But if you want to make this magical location a destination you go back to time and time again, just remember that you aren't going to fit everything in. Enjoy what the parks have to offer for the different stages your children are in, and watch their eyes light up each and every time. With toddlers specifically it seems best to stay on sight, go back for naps, cool off in the baby care centers, and just enjoy what they can enjoy for now. Vacations are always the best when you don't push yourself too hard and that is something I have to remind myself time and time again. Making an itinerary with your Disney planner is a good way to ensure that you aren't overwhelmed by all the options and figure out what rides you just have to go on before you even get there.
Comment below with toddler Disney tips! Let's make this post a great resource for parents ready to brave the journey!
Tee : Moots Clothing
Americana Style & Sweets - Fourth of July Weekend
/4th of July weekend is upon us! It's my absolute favorite holiday! Or is every holiday my favorite?... Hmm.... Nonetheless, I love it! You know I'll be in the kitchen baking up desserts to compliment the barbecues, and the fam will be decked out in red, white, and blue.
Check out my simple outfit picks for the littles below!
This Janie and Jack romper would make the cutest little patriotic sailor!
Matching dress for big siste from Janie and Jack!
Simple button down from Old Navy for big brother.
Sass it up a bit with this tank from Roman and Leo! Designer: Prefresh
What about dessert you say? Here are my top choices. If only I could make them all!
Check out the recipe here: http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/06/ice-cream-cone-cupcakes-tutorial.html
Oreo pops are always so fun and easy! Tutorial here: http://www.happinessishomemade.net/2015/06/11/patriotic-oreo-pops-for-4th-of-july/
Have an amazing long weekend readers! Enjoy that precious family time! If you're local to Columbus here's a link to some ideas of what to do around the city from our very own Columbus Moms Blog --> http://columbus.citymomsblog.com/activities/4th-july-fireworks-around-columbus-2016/
We'll be enjoying all the Hilliard activities starting with the parade Monday morning and then heading to Municipal Park for the carnival and evening fireworks. 'Murica.
North Market & Mothers Day Weekend
/This past Mothers Day weekend we skipped the breakfast in bed and crafts and opted for some fun family activities. Lucky for us Saturday was Free Comic Book Day! (It's always the first Saturday in May each year) We chose Packrat Comics in Hilliard and had a wonderful time. Not only free comics but inflatables, photo ops, games, food, artist meet and greets. We were blown out of the water and my 4 year old son has been talking about comics ever since. It also gave us an opportunity to see the amazing things a local business in our community has to offer and we will definitely be back.
"Spider girl, spider girl. Does whatever a spider girl does"
Stimulate your child's love for reading and celebrate one of my favorite story telling mediums, comics. There's a much wider selection than just superheroes and for some children, this is one of the only things they can get excited about reading. Free comic book day may be over but I bet they have a lot of these freebies still hanging around the store so here's a run down on all the free samplers that were released this past weekend from one of favorite journalists, Glen Weldon. (Hint: click on hyperlinked name)
Sunday we hit up North Market to grab some tasty eats and then let the kids run out some energy at Goodale Park.
North Market was established in 1876 and features 35+ vendors. You can shop for flowers, meat, fish, produce, specialty items, and my favorite, pastries. Not to mention eat at all the amazing food stalls. We just have to keep going back again and again so that I can try everything there is to eat there but, considering the crowd, we went with our tried and true favorites. Hot Chicken Takeover for lunch and Pistacia Vera and Jeni's Ice cream for dessert. We enjoyed it, the kids enjoyed it. You have to go, and you have to take the kids because they will be entranced by all the colors, smells, people, etc. Just go, and go again. And again.
Hot Chicken Takeover
It really will!
Sneaking a macaron early
Lots of seating on the upper level of North Market!
Our favorite flavors are pistachio honey and wild berry lavender!
Mesmerized....
I definitely keep them strapped in as we stroll through the market but they don't seem to mind
Sweet tea from Hot Chicken Takeover!
Hope our adventure encourages all you parents out there to take your kids to Norh Market. It's definitely a repeat outing and Goodale Park is just right up the street to take your sweets! <3
How to Explain the Meaning of Easter to Kids
/Depending on your religious preference, Easter can mean so many things to so many people. The ringing of a new Spring season or celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Or both! It is absolutely one of my favorite times of the year and I certainly don't need to search my brain for new and fun activities for the kids because Easter is chock full of wonderful events and celebrations in just about every community.
If you are a part of a church community Easter can be such a special time for kids when they go all out with fun activities that they both enjoy and learn from. Sometimes the meaning of Easter can be a hard subject for little kids because it brings up themes like death and well, torture really. Some pretty dark stuff. At the same time, you may not want to keep Easter as something that is all about bunnies either. It certainly can be a complicated conversation but some great tips are to just explore some major themes and connect that with the themes of spring. Death and rebirth, brokenness and healing, sin and salvation. All the new budding flowers and plants coming up are a great way to explain the comings of spring and the true meaning of Easter. The idea of new life is a major theme of Easter and in my opinion, is the easiest to understand for small children.
Pretty cheesy bunny, but kids love him right?
Before you discount the Easter bunny as being pagan foolishness, the mammal is an ancient symbol of fertility and new life. There it is again, new life. The bunny, new life, spring, it all ties in. What about those Easter eggs the bunny supposedly delivers? Some say Easter eggs represent the emergence from the tomb / resurrection. Decorating eggs also dates back to the 13 century where people would decorate this formerly, Lenten -forboden food during Lent and then eat them on Easter as part of the celebration.
I'm no Rechenka so we rolled our eggs in cool whip and food coloring :)
In other cultures, Easter involves some darker and more serious traditions, But the underlying theme seems to still be a welcoming of the spring season and a purification of the body and soul. Sometimes modern culture seems to water down the original traditional celebrations but if you just take some time to meditate on what this holiday really means and represents to you, you can soon find an explanation for your children that can mean more than a basket full of toys and candy.
And if you are not Christian, or not religious at all, spring is still something to celebrate! For us Midwesterners who have been stuck in the winter doldrums, we can finally enjoy the outdoors again and if that isn't a reason to go out and do fun, spring related activities, I don't know what is.
Fun with animals at our church Easter carnival!
Fun dying Easter Eggs! If you use Cool Whip instead of shaving cream, you can feel secure eating the eggs later. Or better yet! Make a colorful deviled eggs appetizer. The food dye will most likely have seeped through to the egg white.
These eggs were blown out and dyed with nail polish! Just put drops of various nail polish colors in luke warm water and roll your egg along the surface. Use gloves and crack a window for the smell :p
We wish you all a very "Hoppy" Easter and a glorious spring season.
St. Patrick's Day With The Kids
/I suppose I should probably rename this blog and go with something like ... "Last Minute Mom" since you can be sure the kids and I won't do any themed crafts or snacks until the night before or the morning of. But what this means for you is that everything I whip up can be done with items you may already have around the house or with just a quick trip to the store. Working second shift, I only have the morning to really hang out and do fun activities with the kids so everything seen here was able to be completed in just a few hours during our morning together. This morning in fact!
Crafts
Toilet paper rolls have never looked so adorable!
Snacks
- Shamrock Pretzel Pops
- Lucky Charm Jello
- Lucky Charm Pancakes
- Shamrock shaped cookies
- St. Party's Day cake pop
Why so serious?
Nom nom nom..... She's the dessert lover in the fam if you can't tell
Cake pop love. Also, these St. Patrick day tees from Riverbabethreads are the cutest. Crown courtesy of littleblueolive (etsy)
When you are done crafting, head out to the driveway, break out the sidewalk chalk, and decorate it with shamrocks and anything green! Great distraction while the crafts dry and eating messy snacks outside is always a treat. Not to mention less clean up for mom.
Top off off your afternoon or evening with a fun Leprechaun themed movie or maybe read about the real St. Patrick and use the holiday to learn about a new country!
Slainte and Erin Go Bragh to all my readers <3
A Moms Valentines Day With Kids
/Valentine's Day. Yes it's a fake holiday that Hallmark probably invented but when you have kids it's so much fun! Honestly, I pretty much use every possible holiday as an excuse to go out of my way to bake or craft something with the kids. I inevitably get in over my head and stay up until 3 am finishing these quarter started projects, but I still enjoy the satisfaction of another holiday spent with my youngins' and hopefully we have solidified memories for years to come. I want my children to look back on their childhood and remember all the birthday parties, desserts, and art projects we made together. Of course they probably won't remember the specifics but to have that general feeling of happiness and magic when you think back to being a kid is just so important. I always remember my mother baking the cakes and cupcakes for our birthdays or family events and I also remember that there was always a celebration for our birthday and major holidays no matter how big or small. Now that I am a mom, I know that there are more tears and stress involved than I ever imagined. It all seems so small and inconsequential until you see the joy on those little faces and you know it was all worth it. They are just kids who get excited about everything and I love to do anything to maintain that constant state of excitement and wonder.
The awesome thing about being a mother in this day and age is that Pinterest exists. I am so NOT artistic and creative and I love the abundance of ideas available at my fingertips. Michelle at www.craftymorning.com had super cute monkey valentines we made out of the kids handprints. If there are two things kids love, it is smearing themselves in paint, and monkeys. With three kids under three, the best art projects for us involve handprints and footprints. I also cut out a ton of hearts in various colors for them to glue on construction paper and make things like a love caterpillar and cat. And who are all these valentines for?! Cousins and grandparents of course! And the kids get to have the "exciting" experience of mailing them out themselves. Plus, this gives me a couple years of perfecting my mommy skills before I have to make a gazillion for classmates. Fingers crossed for small class sizes. Check out my V-day Pinterest board for the specifics.
On to the baked goods! I am STILL burned out from Thanksgiving / Christmas baking and could not bring myself to go crazy for this holiday. I have wandered into the magical world of no-bake goods and we made heart shaped, chocolate covered, oreo truffles. Basically just involved crushing a whole package of oreos, mixing the crumbs with cream cheese, rolling out a slab of the concotion and cutting out hearts to be dipped in melted white chocolate. We also made heart shaped rice krispies and added some food dye. Super easy, took about an hour to make both.
Rice krispie hearts on a stick!
Charlie and the chocolate oreo truffles <3
Valentines Day popcorn for our special movie night. Ingredients include golden grahams, mini marshmallows, and valentine m&ms.
Use a heart shaped cookie cutter for Jello Jigglers!
What to wear? Oh just adorable t-shirts from Moots Clothing and River Babe Threads. I'm a sucker for a cute tee for the tots and I decided to go up a size so they would be baggy this year, and fitted next year. Hopefully.
The King and Queen of Hearts shirts from Moots Clothing were perfect for this years V-day.
Shirt courtesy of River Babe Threads
Baby Cupid with wings from Wishing Elephant and crown headband from Willow Crowns
Use this fabricated holiday to show your love to your kids in fun and creative ways. For children this holiday is very real and special and fake or not, it's all about L-O-V-E.
