East Coast Mommy

ECM Kids' Craft Club - #15 {Bird Bookmark}

2013-05-19T07:00:00.000-03:00

Welcome to the 15th edition of the ECM Kids' Craft Club {an easy & inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and experience the excitement of getting their very own mail}. If you want to join the club, you can find more info here. For everyone who is already a member... let's get started on this month's craft. This month we are making an adorable little birdie bookmark! Here's the "how

DIY Toy Bin Labels

2013-05-16T07:19:00.000-03:00

Yesterday I posted about my Spring Cleaning Plan, and I received a lot of questions about my new storage bins. I was going to post about them next week; however, given all the interest, I thought I would do it sooner rather than later. :-) I bought two storage units (with cloth baskets) at Costco. (The units were $149 each... including the bins.) Then, I sorted all the boys' toys into the

Spring Cleaning Plan

2013-05-15T07:32:00.000-03:00

When it comes to Spring Cleaning, I like to have a plan. There is something about a plan that makes a huge task seem more "doable" and less overwhelming, don't you agree? Here are the steps I follow to survive Spring Cleaning: You can find out more info on my bins here. Step one - Get rid of the clutter. Nothing makes me feel better than a big Spring purge. Donate, dispose of, or

Summer Checklist {with free printable}... 2013 edition

2013-05-13T07:00:00.000-03:00

Every year my boys and I put together a Summer Checklist of 50 fun things we plan to do during the summer. It has become one of our favorite family traditions, and I love sharing the {free printable} with my readers. Here is our list for 2013! You can download a free 8 x 10 jpeg here, and you can download a free pdf version here. I have also included some helpful info and links below. 1)

{Simple} Mother's Day Card

2013-05-09T12:09:00.000-03:00

Mother's Day is on Sunday, so I thought I would share a simple Mother's Day card idea with you. It's a card and gift all in one! Clever, right? To make this Mother's Day Card, and {handmade} flower pen, just follow these simple steps: 1) Take a piece of card stock, and fold it in half to make a card. 2) Make a flower pen using the tutorial found here. 3) Use an X-Acto knife or

Banana Muffins {with a cinnamon twist}

2013-05-06T09:14:00.002-03:00

A couple of months ago, I shared my mom's {no fail} banana bread recipe. I have been making this recipe for years, but I have never tried using it to make banana muffins... until now. I am happy to say, the muffins turned out to be delicious. I modified the recipe slightly and added a yummy cinnamon streusel topping. Here's the "how to": 1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2) Whisk

Disney Cupcakes {and some fun news from Disney Jr}

2013-05-03T08:57:00.001-03:00

Disney Junior Canada has some fun things coming up this month, so my boys and I came up with some special snacks to help us celebrate -- two adorable cupcakes -- Rapunzel's Chameleon (Pascal) Cupcakes and Mama Hook's Gold Doubloon Cupcakes. Aren't they cute? Here are the instructions: Mama Hook's Gold Doubloon Cupcakes: 1) Make your favorite white cupcakes. 2) Cover each cupcake with

Stuffed Animal Storage

2013-05-01T13:24:00.001-03:00

There is something about Spring that makes me want to get things organized, so I thought I would share this clever stuffed animal storage solution that I first saw here (at Come Together Kids) -- a bean bag chair cover filled with stuffies. So clever! I found my cover at the Dollar Store for only $3! Then, I let my three year old fill it with stuffed animals. It is a great storage solution

20 Ideas for Rainy Day Play

2013-04-25T12:54:00.004-03:00

April showers bring May flowers.... so here are 20 {easy, inexpensive, and fun} ideas to keep you and your little ones entertained on rainy days. 1) Bake something - Add a little fun by making your own chef hats (which you can find here)... and if you are looking for something delicious to make, check out our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe here. 2) Have a bath with bubbles and/or

Funny Frog Face {Preschool Craft}

2013-04-24T12:28:00.001-03:00

Here is a simple craft for Preschoolers that is sure to delight your little ones -- a funny frog face. The noisemaker tongue was definitely a hit with my three year old. :-) Want to make one? Just follow the three simple steps below: 1) Using the template I designed (which you can find here), cut out the frog face and two eyes. 2) Draw a face using a black marker or crayon, and glue

{Easiest} Biscuits Ever

2013-04-22T21:23:00.003-03:00

I love a quick meal, and "soup and biscuits" is a really simple lunch or supper. So, I thought I would share my favorite super-easy biscuit recipe. The great thing about these biscuits is that you throw everything in one bowl, and there is no need for a rolling pin and biscuit cutters. All you need to do is combine the following ingredients in a bowl with a pastry cutter: 1 1/2 cups white

Homemade Finger Paint

2013-04-19T12:18:00.002-03:00

This morning I asked my three year old what he wanted to do. He said, "Paint... with my fingers". I didn't have any finger paint in my craft cupboard, so I decided to make some. Want to give it a try? 1) In a medium saucepan, combine the following: 2 Tbsp White Sugar, 1/3 Cup Flour, 1 Tbsp Salt, 1 Tbsp Cornstarch, and 2 Cups Water. 2) Whisk the mixture over medium heat until it

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

2013-04-18T15:26:00.002-03:00

There are a lot of chocolate chip cookies recipes out there, but my favorite is this "soft and chewy" version. It is adapted from the recipe on the "Chipits" bag. If you like soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies, you should give this recipe a try. Here is the recipe: 1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2) In a medium bowl, whisk together the following dry ingredients: 2 1/4 cups all

ECM Kids' Craft Club - #14 {Door Hanger}

2013-04-16T20:12:00.002-03:00

Welcome to the 14th edition of the ECM Kids' Craft Club {an easy & inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and experience the excitement of getting their very own mail}. If you want to join the club, you can find more info here.For everyone who is already a member... let's get started on this month's craft. This month we are making adorable a fun "Spring" door hanger! Cute, right?

10 {Simple} Ways to Welcome Spring

2013-04-15T07:37:00.000-03:00

After a long winter, my boys and I are definitely ready for warmer weather. There are so many great things about this time of year, and I have included some of them in this fun list. Here are 10 easy and inexpensive ways to welcome Spring: 1) Make your own bird feeders. You can find three examples here. 2) Bake a tasty treat with a spring theme. You can find the recipe for delicious

Making Memories {10 Family Rituals/Traditions}

2013-04-12T07:34:00.000-03:00

Special moments for children don't always involve big gestures and expensive vacations. I believe family rituals and traditions are the basic building blocks for the memories that children will take with them into their adulthood. Here are 10 of our favorite family rituals/traditions: 1) We have pancakes for supper every Friday night. (It is easy for me, and my boys love it.) 2) We have

Baking with Greek Yogurt {Yoplait Review and Giveaway} - CLOSED

2013-04-11T08:52:00.000-03:00

And the winner is... SUMMER PLEWES17 April 2013 10:21 I have never tried greek yogurt. I don't know what is stopping me , but I just love regular yogurt so much lol Healthy eating is important, but if you're like me, sometimes you need a little treat. So... in an effort to eat a bit better, I have been meaning to give greek yogurt a try. It can be a great lower fat alternative to butter

20 Earth Day Crafts and Activities

2013-04-10T12:09:00.003-03:00

April 22 is Earth Day, and it is a great opportunity to teach children about recycling and respecting our planet. It is also a wonderful reason to get outside and enjoy nature. Here is a fantastic collection of 20 {easy and inexpensive} Earth Day crafts and activities: {Click on the links/titles below for full tutorials.} 1) Make a cereal box notebook. 2) Turn a babyfood jar into

Review and Giveaway {Mandala Sky Jacket} - CLOSED

2013-04-09T07:02:00.000-03:00

The winner (as chosen by Random.org) is Comment #4: Jessica Thibodeau9 April 2013 09:16 Loving the Jolene jacket! But am in love with the wondur zip jacket as well. A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by Sky Marcano (of Mandala Sky) about reviewing one of her stylish, Eco-friendly, Canadian-made yoga jackets. I checked out her website, and I was impressed with her designs. Then, she

Tastes of the World Pinathon {Sobeys Giveaway}

2013-04-08T16:53:00.001-03:00

As a Sobeys Better Food Lover blogger, I am pleased to announce Sobeys' new "Tastes of the World" pin-a-thon. What part of the world do you dream about visiting? Do the flavours from a certain region cause you to think about a dream vacation? Do you want to spend some time daydreaming about a great vacation, and get a chance to win one of 12 Sobeys gift cards? Just follow these two simple

What I Really Want for Mother's Day

2013-04-05T08:30:00.000-03:00

For Mother's Day, I don't want jewellery, fancy clothes, or a trip to an exotic location -- they cost too much and don't really fit my lifestyle at the moment anyway. This year, I have my heart set on something pretty simple -- a big cup of coffee, a couple of homemade cookies, and 30 minutes to enjoy them ALL BY MYSELF. Don't get me wrong, I love my boys and I cherish my time with them, but

{Easy} Spring Wreath

2013-04-04T07:23:00.000-03:00

Although the weather is still a bit chilly in my neck of the woods, my thoughts are already turning to Spring. I just took down my Easter decorations yesterday, and I wanted something bright and cheerful for my front door, so I made this adorable felt wreath. What do you think? Here is how simple and inexpensive it was to make: 1) Gather your supplies. You'll need a wreath form, some

Monster Madness

2013-04-03T13:40:00.002-03:00

As a Disney Junior Mom, I was excited to hear that Disney Junior Canada is premiering a new show this month -- Henry Hugglemonster. My boys and I love monsters {the cute kind}, so I thought this was a great opportunity to share a couple of our favorite monster crafts with you. Cute, right? The keys to a successful monster craft are: googly eyes and a little imagination. Here is what we

{Easy} Bunny Bunting... with free printable template

2013-03-28T19:41:00.003-03:00

Are you ready for Easter? This is the last Easter project I am going to post this year, and it is a great project for little ones -- Easy Bunny Butt Bunting. Isn't it cute? My seven year old made ours, and he is super-proud of how it turned out. Want to make one? Here's what you do: 1) Download the bunny template {that I created for you} here. 2) Have the kids color the bunny

Photo Easter Cards

2013-03-28T06:00:00.000-03:00

Just wanted to quickly share the photo Easter cards I made for my 5 year old to share with his class. Aren't they cute? All I did was take an adorable picture of my cute little bunny holding out his hand. Then, I added some text using Picmonkey. I sent the pictures for one hour processing, and voila! I used an X-acto knife to cut slits above and below his fist, and stuck in a pencil.