Easy and Inexpensive Valentine’s for Kids

Hey Loves!

As weird as 2020 was, I am sure we all learned a thing or 2. I for sure learned that people in our life love us so well. Almost too well to be honest. So, it is important to me to teach my kids how rare this kind of love is and to pay it forward. I love using holidays to do so. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought I would share some easy valentine ideas and ways to share them in these quarantine streets.

Let me start by saying I apparently have no control over myself or what I end up purchasing when I walk into a well-stocked Dollar Tree. It honestly blows my mind that my restraint is inhibited so badly. Anyway, my inability to show restraint is your gain.

Next, I over-love a free printable. If I don’t have to design it, I am as happy as a clam.

Cupid’s Glasses: I mean what’s cuter than little faces with bright colored sunnies? Attach a cute printable like this and, easy-peasy Valentines to share.

  1. Pencils: This is probably the most inexpensive and the most versatile. You can leave solo, attach to a crossword or note pad, pair with treats or game. When 12 cost $1, you have a little wiggle room to make a few things happen.
  1. Slinkies: I’ll say it, I really don’t care for them but kids love them. Soooooo, with a little washiest tape and a printable like this, spring goes my heart! Get it?

You’re Number 1 in My Book: Who doesn’t love a bookmark? Especially when it’s crafted by little hands with lots of love! I chose DIY heart stamps but you could certainly do paint, stencils, hand or finger prints and delight the hearts of readers dear to you. 

Tic Tac Toe Sets: I saved this one for last because it is the most time-intensive. I grabbed two colors of heart table throw, and burlap sacks from Dollar Tree and Paint Pens from Michale’s. I had my kids write “X” on one color and “O” on the other with the paint pens. Then, after letting them dry and printing, cutting and laminating a tic tac toe printable, I put them in cute burlap sacks. Fun for days!

Now, how would one share these safely whilst still in the throws of a Pandemic you ask? Here are my answers:

  1. Door stop drops: These are my favorite they bring so much joy and such a pleasant surprise.
  2. Social Distance Meet-ups with masks: If you have a Quran-team or those you trust, this could be a great time.
  3. The USPS- I know, they were all the way slacking and some of us are still getting Christmas presents. However, they still work and they need to be supported.

I’ll be doing a combo of all this because extra is as extra does.

Love you. Mean it.

Fun DIY Galentines

Hey loves!

As I am sure your feeds and favorite stores have been bombarding you with Valentine everything, here I am with more hearts and flowers. I get it. Hear me out-mamas need love too!!! Aunties need love!!! Your girl who will gather you quickly but also bail you out of jail definitely deserves love. So, for a few years now I choose Valentine’s Day to show it. 

There are two parts to my galentines- a handwritten note and a practical gift. 

By practical I mean anything from wine, to coffee, to accessories. This year hit different though. Not to harp on 2020 but if nothing, it made me really value those in my life that needs showing up. Also, almost all of these would have to go in the mail so it couldn’t be heavy, crazy expensive or require batteries. Enter Pinterest. 

Pinterest is the unsung hero of my holiday celebrations. I mean, it knows me so well, it will suggest things that aren’t even in my peripheral. So, in November when this Galentine idea landed in my lap, I took it and upped the ante a little. 

If you know me, you know two things about me: 1. I believe you shouldn’t leave home without a monogram and 2. I am always in need of a scrunchie or hair tie. 

I feel like these are things my girls could benefit from so I gathered my supplies. 

I used:

This printable (I printed on white card stock)

Initial charms

-Scrunchies

-Needle and coordinating thread

-Note cards, pens and a bleeding heart

Method:

Using a needle thread with coordinated thread close to that of the scrunchie, attach the initial charm with a few stitches, securing well with several knots.

Then, wrap the scheunchie around the printed and cut tag. Next, write out your feels for your girl. Layer in envelopes or present gifts bags. Viola! Galentine for your gal pals. 

Yes, I made one for me too. 

Love you. Mean it.

Jude’s Birthday Bake Shop

Hey Loves!

They tell you don’t blink because babies don’t keep. Well, my eyes have been taped open and I have barely slept and yet, my baby boy is turning 4. I am coping with the emotions of that but in the meantime, we celebrate.

Due to moves, more moves and me not have my bearings, brother Jude has only has one birthday party and watched last year as his bother was celebrated all day with no complaints. So, when he began dropping hints of his birthday with a party, I aptly obliged.

I obliged every theme idea. All 40 of them. And then sense intervened. Here are the facts. Jude is born on Christmas Day so if he has a party it has to be in early December because people have lives and things to do. We are in a pandemic so it would have to be socially distanced, masks required and very low numbers with a video link. It is December and the weather is a fickle beast so it would have to be able to be hosted inside my home.

I’ll give you a second to lament for me.

With all of that, I went to work on planning and none of the 40 themes could feasibly meet all the needs. So, I had to come up with another one that he would enjoy. I have no idea why God put a cookie decorating party in my Pinterest feed but I am grateful for it. I really thought he would over-love a gingerbread decorating party but I didn’t feel good about blurring the lines of Christmas and his birthday. I also didn’t want to make enough gingerbread that was allergen friendly.

Then, lightening struck. Gluten free funfetti mix, pre-made cookie dough, proportioned toppings and frosting adorned with personalized aprons and themed masks. SOLD!

Jude’s Bake Shop 4th Birthday was born and man, it was a blast!

All decor came from Amazon and Oriental Trading. It was quite easy to find everything. I personalized these aprons for all the attendees.

I pre-baked the cupcakes in a large cupcake tin and a regular one allowing me to freeze some for his actual birthday. Then made 1 dozen sugar cookies from pre-made allergen-friendly dough. Easy!

I sent our virtual guests a care package with the materials.

I set up tables so each family would be at one table and socially distanced and used paint palettes for toppings with snack cups and piping bags for the frosting.

Apparently there wasn’t enough sugar because I added some doughnuts. I use a cupcake Jude decorated for him to blow his candle. Hearts were full, stomachs were happy and energy was high!

Clean up was a breeze thanks to lining tables with craft paper. I disinfected after our guest left and let the sugar crash give my two a good nap. Happy 4th birthday Jude!

Our DIY Advent Calendar

Hey Loves!

If you have been here for a while then you know I am planner. I try and get things done early for holidays and celebrations and so I can actually enjoy them. This DIY Advent Calendar is no exception. I had the pleasure of doing a loop with some fabulous ladies on IG so I got to work fast.

The first step was research. The advent calendars of year’s past have been underwhelming and unsustainable. Thus, they weren’t fully utilized for one year. Last year, I knew I wanted something I could use for year’s to come. I grabbed these burlap favor bags with some wooden numbered clips. I finished it off with the She Reads Truth Verse ornaments. I strung it on twine and hung from the mantle. It worked but it was so busy. It fell a few times, it was hard to access with the stockings hanging and you couldn’t really notice everything.

Fast forward to this year. I knew the bags, clips and ornaments were staying. I knew I wanted my kids more involved and I wanted a very full, rich and intentional advent season in spite of this pandemic. I mean, I am not asking for too much right?

Ok, back to research…

So,  I aptly started where all good research starts: Instagram. Sorry to report nothing came up that I knew was for us. Next up, Pinterest. After LOTS of scrolling and several rabbit holes, I came across one tutorial that inspired me and that is saying a ton.

With said inspiration, I placed a pick up order from my local hardware store for beadboard and poplar boards. Random, I know, but stay with me.

I picked it up and sanded then stained the popular boards “weathered gray”. Once they dried, I used E600 and prayers to God to adhere them to the beadboard creating a top and bottom frame.

Then, I grabbed some thin rope, more E600, hot glue and louder prayers and attached the rope in 3 rows. LET COMPLETELY DRY. For the impatient like me, leave the house or find another task. While drying, I used clothes pins to keep the rope in place.

After it dried, I attached the bags, clips and ornaments, sat back and marveled. I am very pleased. This was in fact, as advertised, quick, easy and inexpensive.

Now to the fun! The advent activities! I used the Advent Celebration Activity Pack to plan our activities, get supplies, have all our verses and have a happy, fun and intentional advent!

Stay tuned for easy advent gift ideas!

Love you. Mean it. 

Celebrating Halloween, Pandemic Style

Hey Loves!

In case you are new here or if you need to be reminded. I love a well-executed Holiday. I just can’t get enough of it. One of my most favorite holidays to celebrate growing up was Halloween. My parents were divorced and lived far away from their families so basically every other holiday was a wash-up of which parent I would be with and what they wanted to do for said holiday. Oh, but Halloween was EPIC.

As far back as I could remember, my dad went hard. Even when I was too old to trick or treat, he went hard passing out candy. For those wondering, he still goes hard to this day and has added costumes to the lineup. Anyway, because of that, guess who then always went hard for Halloween? This girl!

With our usual spots and traditions closed for fall fun, I’ve had to adapt ad we’ve been celebrating all month with the goodies in our BOO Baskets all month long. I am one of those family costumes, coordinating shirts, skipping through the pumpkin patch moms to the point where I get my kids’ costumes as early as possible, like 364 days early.

Well, that all worked out in my favor until COVID-19, which, I kinda feel like is a recurring theme in most households. So, you know me, my brain went to town on planning something out for the kids.

After counting all the doors in my house and realizing I was too tired to hide behind each one, I remembered the scavenger hunt we did on Easter and then searched, “halloween scavenger hunt” and google did not fail me. I few clicks later, I stumbled upon, downloaded and immediately printed this scavenger hunt.

Next, I asked myself, “wait-what is going to be the loot?” I asked this because my kids trick-or-treat for sport. There is so much they can’t eat so we buy it from them and they make out like bandits. This year, they can get some treats they can actually eat and I will probably break even. To start, I found some festive things they could eat like these halloween themed veggie chips and gummy treats. Then, I went went with some of their favorites like Kettle COrn and Lara Bars. To make it cute and have happy kids when they find it, I put the loot in their treat buckets (dollar spot find years ago that I slapped a vinyl monogram on) and viola! A safe, socially-distant family-fun Halloween. Follow along via Instagram or Facebook for more deets.

Chief Memory Maker-Fall Edition

Hey Loves!

I know with us going into month ??? Of Pandemic life, the title of this blog may come off a bit confusing, crass even. Bare with me.

If you follow me on socials, (again, if you don’t are we really friends???), you’ve seen how serious I take memory making and with so much being #cancelled or not safe, I’ve had to take lots of it in to my own hands.

You can’t see the smile on my face now, but let me assure you, it is wide. Why? Well, because I could’ve given up, just let this season be what it was or could take very sour lemons, add way more than a spoonful of sugar and some lavender, tie it with a bow and call it a memory. I chose the latter.

Friends, I must tell you, this was far from easy and in my true fashion, so much was extra. SO. MUCH. So I’m learning to straddle the line a little better.

I say all that to say, I know this season, most of these days are far from easy. I am saying that I, like you, am very tired of this season. I am also saying that when this season is over, I do not want to regret an ounce, not a day of it.

When my kids remember “the germs” and all we couldn’t do, they will also remember all that we did, shared, explored and the magic I made happen.

So, if you still love me, follow along as I’ll have easy ways to whip up memories and fun safely.

These two are super easy and a hit with my family:

Apple Dippers board– a few weeks ago I shared a “fall fun” checklist that contained all the things you could do with apples. The last thing we did was this apple dipping board and, let me tell you, when my husband beat my kids in asking for seconds, I knew this was hit.

Here is what I did: Grab a serving tray, cutting board, or a large plate. Then core and slice about 3 medium-large apples to start depending on the appetite of your crowd.

Next, grab some small skewers or toothpicks and stick them through the apple slice from the bottom up, so it kinda looks like a lollipop. Now, to the fun part. Grab any topping you’ve ever had or wanted to have on a candy apple and lay it out. Now to the extra- I had some red dessert plates on hand and chose to put my toppings- caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, peanuts, sprinkles, marshmallows- in separate dishes and then let my family pick what toppings they would like and “dip” each apple slice then top how they please. It was a pure mess but I was happy to help make it!

Chili Board- Not to toot my own horn here, but according to my kids, this was the best dinner they’ve ever had. Between me and you, this was one of the easiest meals I’ve ever made, so that equals the ultimate win-win! I pulled chili from the freezer-yes, it was frozen because I had some veggies about to tap-out on me so I threw them with some spices, beans, and stock in the instant pot and 20 minutes later I had chili. Then, obvi, I froze it. So, I let the chili simmer to perfection on the stove in my new Dutch oven. While that simmered I made some cornbread muffins (again, legit the easiest recipe I’ve ever found and the tastiest.) Why muffins you ask? So I could freeze the leftovers. This enneagram 6w5 is always thinking ahead. So, chili simmering, muffing baking, right? Then you get your toppings out. I had scoops, red onion, green onion, goat’s milk cheddar, and parsley. Again, you go to town how you see fit! Take a little design liberty here and make it pretty. Ladle chili in bowls and let the board work its magic. 2 bowls and 2 muffins later, I had to refuse third portions because I value leftovers.

Throw in some games and give got some family fun and great memories in the books!

So, basically, you give me a board and basket and I’ll give you a year of memory making. Both of the above took maybe 25 minutes to execute but the smiles-those last a lifetime.

Happy memory making!

Love you. Mean it.

Circle Time Wall Update

Hey Loves!

So, if at first you don’t succeed, try again, right?
Well, that’s what happened. Two weeks into school and I realized James had a hard time changing the calendar information. So, off to many stores I went. 
Finally, at Walmart found some cork tiles and wall mounting tape. 
Then, the Internet didn’t let me down and found these printables to describe the calendar information for the peg board. I broke my laminator so I couldn’t laminate them. Let’s have a moment of silence. 
I’m still in mourning. 
Then I got 3 push pins because my son can do that-he can push the pin into the cork tile. 

(That’s why it isn’t straight…my OCD is being tamed y’all.)


That’s it. That’s all it took. It’s ok if something doesn’t work out. It’s not ok if we just don’t try to make it work taking another route. Happy teaching

Dresser Labels

Hey loves!

So, remember my nursery for two post? Well, I can’t stop “improving it”. 
To help a certain dad know where both kids clothes are and to help a certain toddler get himself dressed, I thought labels with the words and photos of the items on the drawers would solve both questions. 
I found these labels online, printed, cut, laminated and cut again. Then I found some vibrant green washi tape from the dollar spot at Target and made a frame around each label. 
They came out pretty cute and nifty as well!


P.s- I also found a black-out curtain on clearest target that matches their room. It’s made nap time so easy. Not to mention, decreased the heat in there significantly. I highly recommend them.