10 Holiday Stocking Stuffer Ideas from Dollar Tree

This post is sponsored by Dollar Tree.

Holiday Stocking Stuffer Ideas from Dollar TreeOne thing I absolutely love seeing my family open every year are their stockings. While Santa usually brings a few traditional items that are always included as stocking stuffers, he also throws in some fun goodies that the kids can play with and enjoy the morning of Christmas.

In an effort to reduce the amount Santa spends this year, we’ve decided to ask Santa for one big item each and then let him decide on a few smaller items for the stockings. So we headed out to one of my kids’ favorite stores, Dollar Tree, and checked out what they had in store for us this year.

And what do you know? We found plenty of awesome ideas for Santa! From board books, to dolls, do bugs and snakes, there was plenty at the Dollar Tree to keep my kids occupied. They even had stockings to purchase in case we didn’t have ours already. What a great idea for wrapping a gift!

Oh, and did I mention that for one of my family’s get togethers we’re planning on grabbing 5 things we love from Dollar Tree and wrapping those in lieu of our Secret Santa gift exchange? We’ll do it White Elephant style and everyone goes home with 5 new things! I can’t wait to go shopping and see what I find. [Read more…]

Holiday Baking with Land o’ Lakes Butter {Gingerbread Cake Recipe}

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This Land o’ Lakes butter shop and gingerbread recipe have been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client.

Gingerbread cake - This gingerbread cake is not only full of spices and yum, it's also not overly sweet. It goes great with a nice cup of coffee or a scoop of ice cream.The holidays are here and my kitchen is in full gear for all of the holiday baking that’s going to be done over the next two months. Luckily I stocked up on butter and the rest of my needed pantry staples so that I can whip up whatever I need when the time comes.

Since I’ve been hosting quite a few playdates I wanted to test out a great cake recipe that wasn’t too sweet. My husband and I love baking and the number one rule in our home (and a little inside joke with the husband) is that our fridge can never be without butter.

While we were at Walmart picking up a few crafting items for my daughter’s upcoming birthday I jokingly asked my husband if he was sure we had butter in the house. He sighed, rolled his eyes, and ran to go grab a 4-pack.  [Read more…]

DIY Pinecone Turkey Place Card Holders

It’s only a few weeks from Thanksgiving and I’m in full planning mode for the table. So in addition to the turkey napkin rings I’m also making these pinecone turkey place card holders.

This simple craft is perfect for the kids to help out with and is easy to make! Within 10 minutes you’ll have a gorgeous craft to add to each place setting and let everyone know where they’re sitting.

Or you can keep it simple and just include these cute turkeys at the kids table. Either way, they’re pretty fun to make. [Read more…]

Happy Halloween 2013

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Happy Halloween from my ballerina and dinosaur (yes… my daughter changed her costume last minute). [Read more…]

Great Turkey Treats for Kids to Make

great turkey treats for the kids to makeMy kids are finally at that age where they get what Thanksgiving is all about and get excited about joining with family to celebrate what we’re thankful for.

But they also love getting in the festive spirit and making some turkey inspired treats.

Here are a few of our favorite turkey treats for kids to make that are simple and easy to do. [Read more…]

Candy Corn Rice Crispy Treats

candy corn rice crispy treats halloween

Every year for Halloween I host a party for my playgroup. Something fun, easy, and entertaining for the kids. We enjoy painting pumpkins, creating snack bags, and having a great time while all in costume.

But one of our favorite parts about this get together is the fact that we all come together and bring delicious goodies for everyone to sample. This year I decided to try out some festive rice crispy treats after my husband made a batch and left about 1/2 the pan in the fridge.

So I got out my candy melts and started playing around to create these adorable sweet treats otherwise known as candy corn rice crispy treats. I’m sure the kids will love them! [Read more…]

Wear Awesome Light Up Shoes and other Halloween Safety Tips

halloween safety tips stride rite 2

Since my kids were old enough to speak I lost the power to choose what they dressed up as for Halloween. But the one thing I do have say about is the safety of the costumes they choose.

I have a few guidelines for their costumes and since they’re still fairly young I haven’t had too much of a problem getting them to go along with what I say. These Halloween safety tips have helped me with easing my mind about the fact that my kids are out after dark.

And I think that they also help the kids realize how important it is to be aware of where they are and how visible they are to others out as well.

halloween safety tips stride rite running in shoes

Halloween Safety Tips

1. Wear bright clothing

When choosing a Halloween costume try and make sure that there are some bright components to the outfit. Whether you add reflective tape to the costume after it’s on or you purchase a brightly colored outfit, having something visible to others in the dark can help make sure people know that your kid is there.

2. Find some light up shoes

Halloween is always a fun night out with the kids, but it’s important to stay safe as well! Stride Rite has shoes that incorporate today’s latest light up technology so they are visible at night as your child runs from house to house. Or you can string on some glow sticks onto your kids shoes! 

3.  Use a flashlight

When walking the neighborhood let your kids use flashlights to lead the way. Not only will this help their visibility and help with trips and falls but it’s also super fun!

4. Ditch the masks

A child’s visibility is greatly reduced when they are wearing a mask. So if you have a small child, consider costumes without masks to help make their evening as enjoyable as possible.

5. Have a plan

Make sure to talk to your children before you head off to trick-or-treat. Let them know the plan for the evening, where you’ll be going, and what the rules are. By making sure the kids know what’s going on everyone will have a great time!

halloween safety tips stride rite butterfly

Since my daughter chose to be a butterfly this week (and designed her own costume!) we were very excite to receive these adorable Disney Wish Lights Ariel shoes. They match her costume perfectly!

Plus I know that these shoes will last a lot longer than just a few weeks even with all of the running around and jumping she does. Stride Rite shoes are our go-to shoe brand and have been since the kids first started walking.

Along with the Wish Lights shoes my daughter will be wearing, my son will be wearing his favorite green Saucony shoes with his lizard costume. Comfortable, flexible, and durable! Everything we need in a children’s shoe brand.

halloween safety tips stride rite butterfly costume

How do you keep your children safe on Halloween?

12 Totally Terrific Thanksgiving Recipes

12 Totally Terrific Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and in this house that only means one thing… trying out Thanksgiving recipes!

Our family Thanksgiving dinners are great in that everyone pitches in and makes a dish or two to bring. That way no one has the burden of the whole Thanksgiving meal.

Most of the time my brother in law or father in law prepares the turkey (depending on who is hosting), I make a few sides, my mother in law brings the rolls and salad and each of us brings a variety of desserts.

So this year I figured I’d round up a few dishes that are sure to be perfect for your thanksgiving meal. And if you aren’t preparing the whole meal yourself you can pick and choose what recipes you want to try out this year! [Read more…]

DIY Butterfly Costume

DIY Butterfly Costume Tutorial

When we asked my daughter what she wanted to be for Halloween a few months back she quickly answered that she wanted to be a butterfly.

When we asked again a few weeks later, you know… just to be sure, she still confirmed that she wanted to be a butterfly. So I got to searching different designs, patterns, fabrics, etc. and scouring Pinterest.

Then she took it upon herself to figure out her own costume. And it cost us $5 out of pocket. That $5? Was for the wings. Everything else she dragged out of her closet.

And she LOVES how it turned out. Don’t you? Now to get started on my son’s dinosaur costume… That’ll probably take more time.  [Read more…]

Craft Stick Christmas Tree

craft stick christmas tree

Remember when I shared with you what my daughter wanted us to make the other week? Well she also requested we make a craft stick Christmas tree as well after we finished with our snowmen. Since we already had everything out I figured why not?

She had such a fun time coloring the sticks, and gluing everything together, that she completely forgot about the cookie she asked for when we first started. Now that’s a win!

As we were crafting I snuck some carrot sticks and apple slices on the table and she happily munched on them non-the-wiser. And we now have some awesome Christmas trees to fling at gift to people. [Read more…]



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