Back to School Teacher Appreciation Gifts + a Tutorial

It’s the start of a new school year and to show our teachers some back to school love, we’ve created this simple back to school teacher appreciation gift! 

Back to School Teacher Appreciation Gifts + a Tutorial

Ahhhh! The most wonderful week of the year. Back to school week. Where the kids head back into the loving arms of their teachers and mama gets some time to work uninterrupted (well… with the baby). While they enjoy learning and playing and being taught by someone other than me, I can get things done and FINALLY get back to a semi-normal schedule working from home.

And because of that, I felt the need to thank the teachers. Thank them for being there for my kids, taking them under their wings, and actually getting them to listen when you teach them fun things like sight words, money, reading, subtraction, getting along with peers and everything else they’ll be learning this year.

What better way to thank them than by giving them a small token of appreciation. Or a large token. So as part of the school’s PTG, I proposed a gift idea for the teachers. A simple thank you in the form of some candy, popcorn, and a Redbox gift code. Plus some extra school supplies for them to take as needed and some gorgeous flowers for the Teacher’s Lounge.

Back to School Teacher Appreciation Gifts - flowersBack to School Teacher Appreciation Gifts - school supplies and flowers

I don’t know about you but receiving a flower delivery just brings a huge smile to my face. It makes me feel good. And always brightens up the house or office. So one of my favorite things to give when it comes to a gift giving occasion for a birthday, celebration, anniversary, etc is flowers. And most of the time I’m sending them to my mom out of state. But this time around I decided to send them to my son’s school as a thank you to his teachers before the beginning of the school year.

With them I paired some extra school supplies I purchased throughout the summer when back-to-school sales were going on and supplies were dirt cheap. Why not stock up and spread the love with extra supplies when you know at least one teacher will need the extras? Then I figured it’d be nice to create an individual gift for each teacher from the PTG. So I threw together this cute little package and purchased some Redbox codes for each teacher. These came together in a few short minutes and were so easy to make!

Here’s how:

Back to School Teacher Appreciation Gifts + a Tutorial for a Redbox Gift

Teacher’s Rock Back to School Gift

What you’ll need:

  • Redbox codes (you can purchase them in batches of 5, 10, or 20)
  •  individually wrapped microwavable popcorn
  • Full-size candy
  • ribbon
  • clear packaging tape
  • scissors
  • pen or fine point permanent marker
  • Teachers Rock PTG printable

Download the PTO printable here | Download the PTA printable here

Back to School Teacher Appreciation Gifts + a Tutorial - supplies neededBack to School Teacher Appreciation Gifts + a Tutorial - materialsBack to School Teacher Appreciation Gifts + a Tutorial - Redbox codes

What you do:

1. Print out this printable. Cut to size and write in the teacher’s name and Redbox code. Remember that each code is unique so keep track of which codes you’ve already used. 

2. Grab a popcorn package and a candy along with your ribbon and scissors. Measure out how much ribbon you’ll need to wrap around the candy and popcorn and cut the ribbon to size. 

3. Grab a large piece of mailing tape (a little smaller than the size of the square printable) and place in the middle of the candy sticky side up. Bring the ribbon edges over to adhere to the center of the tape so each side of the ribbon sticks to the tape. 

4. Place the printable on the tape and ribbon and press down gently to make sure that the tape adhere’s to the back of the printable. 

5. Pass out to the teachers! 

Back to School Teacher Appreciation Gifts + a Tutorial from PTG

What is your ‘go-to’ gift for others?

This post was originally published on August 30th, 2015

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Baby Shower Gifts with Diapers: A Tutorial on How to Make Diaper Cupcakes

How to Make Diaper Cupcakes - a simple and easy tutorial for the perfect baby shower gift

Running a playgroup means that I know a lot of expecting mamas. Whether it’s their second, third, or fourth child, I always love to have a gift to give the expecting mama-to-be can use! Now usually I have a stock pile of handmade gifts ready to grab and go to include with something the mom has registered for to put a more personal touch on the gift.

With this pregnancy and the craziness of our lives lately I haven’t had a chance to make anything and my stockpile is dwindling. So I figured I’d do myself a favor and get started on an easy baby shower gift with diapers for one of my friends who’s expecting her third in November.

This diaper cupcake tutorial is not only easy but includes all of the essentials needed for a newborn… diapers, socks, and washcloths! Because once you get to the third child you need new socks and washcloths!

Don’t want to make your own? Purchase a set of 9 diaper cupcakes here from our Etsy store! 

How to Make Diaper Cupcakes - what you need

How to Make Diaper Cupcakes

What You’ll Need: 

What you do: 

How to Make Diaper Cupcakes - start with socks, diaper, and washcloth

1. Grab a pair of socks, a diaper, and a washcloth.

How to Make Diaper Cupcakes - roll sock

2. Roll the socks up from the toes to the heel.

How to Make Diaper Cupcakes - fold diaper in half lengthwiseHow to Make Diaper Cupcakes - wrap folded diaper around sock

3. Flatten the diaper and fold in half lengthwise. Wrap diaper over socks tightly.

How to Make Diaper Cupcakes - wrap with washcloth and cover with rubberband

4. Fold washcloth into thirds. Wrap washcloth over top of diaper and wrap with a rubber band on the bottom third of the cupcake.

How to Make Diaper Cupcakes - cupcakes in cake box

5. Place cupcake into a cupcake liner and put in cake box. Wrap cake box with festive ribbon and add a card for the recipient!

How to Make Diaper Cupcakes with Parent's Choice Diapers

Once you’re all done making these cute diaper cupcakes you can give the rest of the diapers to the expecting mama. I know how important it is to be well stocked on diapers when baby comes home!

What’s your favorite way to doctor up baby shower gifts?

This post was originally featured on September 8th, 2014.

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Why Crafting Breaks Are Necessary plus a Mother’s Day Gift Idea for Grandma

Need a Mother’s Day gift idea for Grandma? Look no further! These adorable bouquets are sure to put a smile on her face just as finding the time to craft alone will put a smile on yours. 

Last week I took some time for myself to get my hair done. Not only did I get my hair cut, I gave in and got it colored, too. At first, I wanted to go a bit crazy. It was the first time I’ve ever colored my hair so I wanted to have some fun with a dusty rose or lavender color. But then after talking with my hairdresser, I decided on a more subtle change for the first time. 

I got to thinking why I wanted to change things up. Change of pace? Wanting a break from the same old, same old? Or was it something else? 

Finally, after much thinking, I came to a conclusion. I needed to do something for me. While I love being a wife, a mother, an employee, most of the decisions I make are based on thinking of others first. So, in partnership with Cafe Breaks, I decided to take a bit more time for myself  (and think of myself first) to take a craft break.

Most of the time while I craft, I’m doing it with the kids. Something fun and exciting for them to create with me. Now, sure I get enjoyment from crafting with them, but I forgot how much I love crafting for myself. Or, in this case, crafting for my MIL. I was able to create a fun gift for her out of a few simple supplies we had in the craft room. And I now want to make a few more with the 

While I enjoyed my crafting break, I also took the time to indulge a bit in a Cafe Breaks pudding. The mocha latte is so delicious! Crafting AND a snack all for myself? Yes, please! 

If you haven’t taken a moment or two for yourself lately, take a step back and think about what would bring you joy or happiness! It doesn’t have to be something expensive. It could be as simple as heading to Walmart and picking up a pack of Cafe Breaks pudding packs from the pudding aisle to enjoy without someone else asking for a bite. 

Mother’s Day Gift Idea for Grandma

DIY Photo Flower Bouquet

What you’ll need:

  • flower vase
  • twine
  • silk flowers
  • 1 piece of foam (similar shade to flowers)
  • wooden dowel
  • ribbon
  • chalkboard sticker with message
  • scissors
  • glue gun
  • photos of kids

What you do: 

1. Wrap twine around vase and secure in place with glue gun. Repeat, securing the twine every few rows, until the vase is completely covered. 

2. Add ribbon to the vase with glue gun. Cover seam with chalkboard sticker. 

3. Arrange flowers in vase, set aside. 

4. Cut kids photo around their faces in a circle. 

5. Using the photos as a template, cut a flower out of the foam sheet with the photo in the center. 

6. Glue photo to center of flower then glue flower onto wooden dowel. 

7. Add flower photos to the silk flowers in the vase and gift away! 

Check out the video we put together for this project: 

Need a break? Enter to win one of 3 Mother’s Day Sweepstakes prizes including a $500 Spafinder gift card + a case of Café Breaks or a $100 Visa gift cards + a case of Café Breaks! 

Details are below:

Café Breaks Spa Weekend with Mom

What are the kids making Grandma for Mother’s Day? 

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Smurfette’s Secret Succulent Fairy Garden

This secret succulent fairy garden would make a perfect gift for Mother’s Day or any other special occasion. Plus, it’s super easy to put together when you have the right tools!

A few weeks ago we were invited to a screening of Smurfs The Lost Village and boy did my kids love it! The movie took us through the story of Smurfette’s creation and her struggle with finding her unique talent. Since she was made out of clay and different from the other Smurfs, she grew sad and frustrated with her lack of being able to master one skill. 

As the story unfolds, she and a few Smurf friends head off on an adventure that brings her to realize who she really is and the power she holds inside. 

Well… my kids were quite inspired by the movie because as soon as we got home they wanted to create their own Smurf village in the back yard! The fun plants that came alive and the various creatures found along Smurfette’s journey were all they could talk about. 

So I pitched a fairy garden but instead of fairies, we used Smurfs! And how perfect did it turn out? Plus? It was so easy for the kids to make! 

Watch the video at the end of this post for more details! 

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10 Reasons Why You Should Send Cookies for Valentines Day + A Printable Cookies and Milk Valentine

This post featuring a free milk and cookies valentine printable plus 10 reasons why you should send cookies for Valentine’s Day is sponsored by Cookie’s by Design. 

When my husband and I were first dating, I started to send him a Cookie’s by Design cookie bouquet for Valentine’s Day. It was a special way for me to show him my love and a little less embarrassing than a flower bouquet for a man. At the beginning of our relationship, it was just a cute mug cookie bouquet (we still have some of those mugs!). But as the years went by the bouquets increased in size as our relationship grew. 

With 3 kids at home, that mug bouquet just won’t cut it. Because when my husband brings his gift home from work, 3 eager eyes watch him as he puts down the bouquet. He can’t help himself from sharing with them! And I don’t blame them for wanting in on some of that goodness! 

Even though there are flowers and chocolates and so many other ways to show your loved ones you care on Valentine’s Day, the one way we show each other how we care is through cookies! Here are a few reasons why you should send cookies for Valentine’s Day too! 

10 Reasons Why You Should Send Cookies for Valentines Day

1. Cookies are delicious. We all know this. But Cookie’s By Design cookies are baked fresh AND hand decorated. 

2. You can share with friends (or your kids)!

3. Each basket is made to order and can be personalized with messages or images printed right on the cookies.

4. You can’t eat flowers. But you can eat cookies. 

5. Cookie’s by Design cookie bouquets come in so many different varieties and designs. They even launched handcrafted cookie gift baskets featuring Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy bears. Perfect for the kids! 

6. They deliver right to your door. Cookie’s By Design creations are always hand delivered and handled with care.

7. You can even get them delivered as early as the same day. Cookie’s By Design offers same-day gift delivery on most of their hand decorated cookie bouquets. 

8. You can also pick them up locally at your closest Cookie’s By Design location (for those who procrastinated).

9. These cookie bouquets don’t wilt.  

10. Once the cookies are gone, the Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy bears last for years to come. 

Did you order your Cookie’s By Design Valentine’s Day cookie bouquet? Pair it with this cute printable valentine that you can print out on a 5×7 card to make your gift complete!

Cookie’s By Design is the original cookie bouquet company and they offer custom-designed, hand-decorated cookie arrangements, gift baskets, cookie cakes and cookie trays for every occasion.

Last-minute gift givers can still wow their sweetie with ready-made Build-A- Bear Workshop baskets available at most Cookie’s By Design locations. The new baskets are available to order now at all Cookies by Design locations and online at cookiesbydesign.com and baskets can be hand-delivered the same day or customized and delivered within a day.

You can connect with Cookie’s By Design online, on Facebook, and Instagram @cookiesbydesign

Do you have any Valentine’s Day traditions? 

Last Minute Minecraft Gift Ideas

 We have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card in exchange for sharing our favorite last minute Minecraft gift ideas from Best Buy. 

last-minute-minecraft-gift-ideas

We’ve been a Minecraft crazed household since early last year. And just about any wish list my son brings to me has at least one Minecraft-inspired item on it. So if you’ve started hearing about Creepers and Ghasts and other weird sounding things, you may be introduced to Minecraft soon. And you may have seen a few Minecraft-related things on your child’s list. But don’t worry! It’s not too late to pick up some last minute Minecraft gifts with the help of Best Buy

Build and explore exciting new worlds with Best Buy’s assortment of Minecraft games and collectibles. If you aren’t familiar with the awesome world of Minecraft, it is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures. Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles. Play in Creative Mode with unlimited resources or mine deep in Survival Mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off dangerous mobs. Do all this alone or with friends. The games are very family-friendly and great for kids. 

And even after you’ve started playing the game, there’s still fun to be had! The toys and collectibles make great gifts for anyone already into the game. Best Buy carries a large assortment the assortment of Minecraft products – this includes an Xbox One S console bundle, additional Minecraft games and Minecraft toys and collectibles. Check out our top picks below (each of these items is on my son’s wish list)! 

Grab all of the Minecraft goodness here: http://bby.me/e7cb. And make sure to take advantage of FREE 2-day shipping to get it by Christmas or pick it up at your local Best Buy store by selecting store pick up. So convenient! 

Last Minute Minecraft Gift Ideas

minecraft-1

1. Minecraft RC Flying Ghast

At the top of my son’s list is this awesome Minecraft RC Flying Ghast. You get to bring one of the key mobs to life with this quadcopter! Using the remote control, you fly this Ghast quadcopter through the air as in the game. 

The flying Ghast can move forward and backward, left and right, and up and down. Special features include 360-degree turns, automatic landing capabilities and a stunt button take the fun to new heights! This is a great gift for any Minecraft fan. 

On sale for $20 off at $59.99! Killer deal. With free 2-day shipping, of course.

2. Minecraft Motion Movie Set

My son is really into watching YouTube videos and has been asking if he can set up his own channel. While I’m not quite ready for him to be in front of the camera, his ideas for some stop motion fun sound right up my alley! With this Minecraft Stop-Motion movie creator set you can make your own movies come to fruition. It comes with a movie stage, six different background cards, four exclusive figures and over 18 accessories to help you bring your stories to life. This Minecraft Stop-Motion movie creator lets you animate with your smartphone or tablet in just three easy steps. Pretty cool, right? 
 
Only $19.99 right now with free 2-day shipping. 
 

 

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3. Minecraft Minifigure Collectors Case

Minecraft Minifigs are perfect for stocking stuffers or present toppers but you need somewhere to put them all! This Minecraft Minifigure Collectors case holds up to 32 figures and allows you to display and transport all of your little guys. 

Organize and display your favorite Nether explorers in this Mattel Minecraft collector case. Flip it over to discover a Minecraft world complete with a playtime portal for entertaining creative minds. This lightweight Mattel Minecraft collector case includes six starter characters and a convenient handle that lets you easily transport up to 32 figures.

$39.99 right now with free 2 day shipping! 

4. Minecraft Card Game

Play your favorite hit video game anywhere with this Minecraft card game. Mine, craft and reserve resource cards, but watch out for TNT and Creeper cards in this game full of action and adventure. Crafting points with wood, stone, iron, diamond and gold resource cards lets you position yourself for a win in this Minecraft card game.

A great stocking stuffer at $12.99 and free 2 day shipping. 

 

minecraft-3

5. Microsoft XBox One S Minecraft Bundle

Upgrading your gaming system? You gotta check out the Xbox One S Minecraft Favorites Bundle (500GB), featuring everything you need to build, survive, and explore! Get full game downloads of Minecraft for Xbox One and Windows 10, plus thirteen fabulous, community-favorite content Packs, including Halo Mash-up and Festive Mash-up. 

Craft new Minecraft worlds together with friends on Xbox Live, the most advanced multiplayer network. And now with the new Xbox One S, you can even watch 4K Blu-ray™ movies, stream Netflix and Amazon Video in stunning 4K Ultra HD, and play a growing library of Xbox 360 games. With all the biggest blockbusters this year, there’s never been a better time to jump ahead with Xbox One.

And right now you can score this bundle for $249.99 ($50 off)!

What’s on your Minecraft fan’s gift list? 

Grab all of the Minecraft goodness here: http://bby.me/e7cb. And make sure to take advantage of FREE 2-day shipping to get it by Christmas or pick it up at your local Best Buy store by selecting store pick up.

Baby Sprinkle Gift Ideas for the Second Time Mom

This post featuring great baby sprinkle gift ideas for the second (or third, or fourth) time mom is a product-provided, sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of FeverAll® Infants’ Strength Acetaminophen Suppositories.

baby-sprinkle-gift-ideas-for-the-second-time-mom

As a mom of 3, I’ve had quite a bit of experience with the necessities when bringing home a new baby. And while a lot of personal preference – and figuring out what works well with one baby may not work well with the next  – plays an important role in what is needed for a new baby for moms who’ve already had one, I’ve narrowed down a few areas that focus on necessities for every kid no matter if it’s your second, or your fourth!

No, I’m not pregnant (nor planning on being pregnant again) but my sister is pregnant with her 4th and we’re hosting a sprinkle for her next weekend. I don’t see any reason why every baby shouldn’t be celebrated and love any excuse to get family together so we’re very much looking forward to this event.

Sometimes when a family has already had kids (and they’re relatively close in age) they don’t need all of the big items they needed the first time around. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need things if you’re generous enough to send a gift. Below are some great ideas on what to get the second (or third, or fourth, etc) time mom their baby sprinkle!

Baby Sprinkle Gift Ideas for the Second Time Mom

baby-sprinkle-gift-ideas-for-the-second-time-mom-feeding-gifts

Feeding

While you can definitely reuse items like bottles, bowls, plates, etc for each child, there’s always something new on the market that makes feeding baby easier for parents. We’re sharing our favorite feeding tools with my sister and her family as well as stocking her up with new nipples for bottles.

Here’s what we’ve included in our basket: 

  • Squeeze pouch feeder
  • Easy squeezy spoon (can fit on most squeeze pouch foods too)
  • Handkerchief bib
  • Pacifier & pacifier clip

baby-sprinkle-gift-ideas-for-the-second-time-mom-feverall-acetaminophen-suppositories

First Aid

First aid is something that’s often overlooked when gifting a new baby. And while there are great baby first aid kits out there, some moms already have the nail clippers, useless bulb sucker, thermometer, etc. But it’s a great idea to stock the new parents up with the first aid items they might need in the first few years of life so if their baby does get sick, they don’t have to race out to pick up these essentials.

Here’s what we’ve included in our basket: 

  • FeverAll® Infants’ Strength Acetaminophen Suppositories – Be prepared! Make sure you have acetaminophen in both liquid and suppository forms on-hand for the cold/flu season. In the event your child is unable or unwilling to swallow oral medication, an acetaminophen suppository is a safe alternative to the liquid form and always provides an accurate dose with no mess.
  • Rectal thermometer (each child needs their own) – Using a digital rectal thermometer will provide the most accurate reading of a baby’s temperature.
  • Nose Frieda (not pictured) – those old bulb suckers just aren’t as effective. It may seem gross but is actually quite sanitary! And… it works.
  • Humidifier (not pictured) – we have a humidifier in each of the kids rooms to help out at night when they’re sick.

baby-sprinkle-gift-ideas-for-the-second-time-mom-fun-gifts-for-playtime

Fun & Play

The best part about a new baby is all of the fun things you can purchase for them to play with. We all know every new baby needs their own lovey! And, of course, a stuffie like the stuffed bear my kids chose for their new cousin. And as baby gets older, she’ll learn to throw her toys out of the stroller, car seat, etc. so it’s a good idea to have toy clips to secure those items.

Here’s what we’ve included in our basket: 

  • Stuffed teddy bear
  • Owl lovey
  • Toy strap

baby-sprinkle-gift-ideas-for-the-second-time-mom-feeding-first-aid-fun

While preparing for a new baby, there’s nothing better to do than make sure you take a peek into the medicine cabinet to make sure you’re stocked up on everything you might need for the new baby. Being prepared will help out when it’s 2am and baby isn’t feeling good. A baby or toddler with a fever is no fun, and Acetaminophen is one of the most recommended non-prescription medications by healthcare professionals – including pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners – for temporary fever reduction and relief of minor aches and pain in infants and children.

FeverAll® is the only national brand of acetaminophen in suppository form and is available in three strengths for children from 6 months to 12 years of age.

FeverAll® Infants’ Strength Suppositories (80 mg of acetaminophen) is the only acetaminophen product available with dosage instructions for children as young as six months of age.

For more than 30 years, caregivers have relied on the accuracy and convenience of FeverAll®. With FeverAll® Suppositories, caregivers can be assured that children will receive the accurate dose of acetaminophen labeled on the package vs. needing to measure liquid oral acetaminophen.

FeverAll® Acetaminophen Suppositories are an important option for caregivers because they permit the administration of fever and pain relieving medicine to children who cannot take medication by mouth due to illness/vomiting, or fussiness, for those who don’t like taking liquid medication or who have other health issues; they provide an accurate dosage of acetaminophen without measuring or causing a mess.

Purchase FeverAll® Infants’ Strength Suppositories in your local Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart stores. Ad follow along on social media by checking out the hashtag #FeverAllBeFeverReady for great fever reducing tips and tricks.

What was your favorite baby shower gift you’ve received?

Use FeverAll® only as directed. If you have specific questions about fever, acetaminophen or using FeverAll, speak with your child’s pediatrician. FeverAll Acetaminophen Suppositories are available at major retailers and drugstores across the U.S, such as Walmart, Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens. For more information and current offers, visit www.FeverAll.com.

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of FeverAll® Acetaminophen Suppositories. The opinions and text are all mine.

Pool Party Etiquette + A Simple Solution To Party Gifts

We’re sharing some tips on pool party etiquette and our simple solution to picking the perfect party gift with help from our partner Google Express. Also? You can score a free 6-month membership by using code FREETIME when signing up!  More savings at the bottom of this post including $15 off your first order.

Pool Party Etiquette plus A Simple Solution To Party Gifts

This past week was very busy. It was the first week the kids didn’t have camp and things were a bit… busy… in our home. Not only was I working from home while the kids tried to entertain themselves, but we are also preparing for vacation. 

And that means extra work, extra things on my to-do list (what items did we need for our trip?) and extra chores. You see, I hate leaving the house un-tidy when we leave for vacation. It’s just not fun to come back from being away and not having things perfect at home. Does that make sense?  Basically I had to do all.the.things in one week. 

Pool Party Etiquette - bring your own gear

So when we were invited to a pool party for my son’s friend that weekend, I wasn’t sure if I could do one more thing. But luckily with the help of Google Express, I was able to not only tackle my to-do list from my house, but I was also able to pick up pool supplies and a gift for my son’s friend all from the comforts of my home. And it was all delivered with time to spare. That means less running from one store to the next to the next and more spending time at home getting things ready here. 

Checking off things on my to-do list not only give me personal satisfaction but also free up time during my day so I can do fun things with the kids. Total win in my book! 

I just perused the site (and over 25+ stores) and added what I needed to my cart. Sunscreen, cell phone tripod, sea bands for the trip. A LEGO for my son’s friend’s gift. And cleaning supplies for the house. All within 15-20 minutes of looking for what I needed. That would have taken me a lot more time driving to a few different stores. In two days the items arrived at my doorstep and I was able to continue to go about checking off everything on my list before our trip. And next month when we need more sunscreen I know exactly where to go! 

Pool Party Etiquette - watch your kids Pool Party Etiquette - plan other activities

Pool Party Etiquette

1. Bring Your Own Towel

And goggles, and floaties, and change of clothes, and… you get what I mean. Don’t expect the host to provide anything you might need at the party. I also find that it’s helpful to bring a wet bag to put the wet clothes in after the kids get out of the pool and dry off. 

2. Make Sure To Designate Supervision

For me, personally, if my kids are in the pool, so am I. While my son is a strong swimmer, my daughter still lacks the confidence to swim for a long period of time without me close by. Even if I’m not right there in the pool, I’m on the side of the pool with bathing suit on just in case. If you’re dropping your child off at a pool party, don’t feel weird asking the host how many parents will be watching the kids and if the parents will be in the pool. 

3. Go Over Pool Rules

Before you leave the house, remember to go over the pool rules with the kids so they’re up on pool safety and what’s to be expected of them. Make sure they understand who’s in charge, what is ok and not ok, and what to do if they need something. I find that the kids actually remember the rules when I go over them a few times. 

4. Remember Sunscreen

It may be obvious but for our family we stock up on sunscreen like it’s going out of style. And then we buy more. Because even when wearing sunscreen I will burn. So I am that parent who will re-apply my kid’s sunscreen every 1-2 hours. I’m also the parent that has extra for the kids who forgot their sunscreen. It’s an important part of the pool party equation. 

5. Have Fun!

Whether it’s fun in the pool or out, the key to any good party is to have fun. And that means SAFE fun. Plan a few activities for the kids to do outside of the pool so that when they’re done playing in the water, they have a safe activity to participate in. 

Pool Party Etiquette - water balloons

Great Gift Ideas with Google Express

With over 25 stores to choose from, you can find everything from pool toys from Target, to LEGO sets from Toys R Us , to books from Barnes and Noble. And don’t get me started on the awesome Costco finds I was perusing! There are so many great gift ideas all in one place. 

Plus, you get same-day, overnight or 2-day delivery from these stores with Google Express. It’s your everyday, delivered. We’re at Target or Costco at least once or twice a week so the fact that we can shop at these stores all in one place, add items to our cart, choose when we want delivery from each store, and check out using Google Payments makes everything so much easier. One place, not 10.  

With a Google Express membership, you can get fast and free delivery on eligible orders. For non-members, delivery starts at $4.99 per store for eligible orders which is definitely reasonable for what you’re getting. 

Google Express delivered to your door

 Want to check out Google Express yourself? Sign up for a FREE 6 month membership by using code FREETIME. Just click on the Try It Free button after following the link. Then you can shop and use BJK8N924Z at checkout for $15 off first purchase. You will need to sign up first with code FREETIME before you can use the $15 off referral code. 

Once you’ve enjoyed the freedom Google Express brings, post a comment or photo of your Saturday on social media with the #MyNewSaturday and #GoogleExpress hashtags to share how you’re spending your newfound free time!

How will you spend your free time this summer?

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Vanilla Mint Sugar Scrub

Vanilla Mint Sugar Scrub

One thing I miss about our old house is the soaking tub we installed in the guest bathroom shortly after our son was born. I knew I wanted a great tub for bathtime and a deeper one would hold in all of the water for splashing. Plus I love to take baths so it’d be a great way for me to relax as well.

Our current bathrooms have shallow bathtubs that don’t allow much room for soaking. So I have to do all of my relaxing in the shower. Luckily I’ve made a few sugar scrubs to help make the shower just as relaxing as my old soaks in the tub. This vanilla mint sugar scrub would also be a great gift for St. Patrick’s Day. Or you could make  a salt scrub and pair the two together for Valentine’s Day.

Vanilla Mint Sugar Scrub - a great way to relax

Vanilla Mint Sugar Scrub

In a medium mixing bowl, add the sugar and sea salt.
Add the remaining ingredients and mix with a fork until well incorporated.
Transfer to an airtight container.
Enjoy in the shower or while soaking in the tub. You can store this Vanilla Mint Sugar Scrub up to 6 months but more than likely, it will be used before then…the smell is so soothing and calming!

How do you relax at the end of the day?

Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child

Today we’re sharing some great baby gift ideas for the third child with help from our sponsor, Huggies. Read on to find out what we’re leaving under the tree for our little one this year.

Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child

As a mother of three I never thought there’d come a day where I was clueless at what to get one of my children for Christmas. There’s always something that they are wanting for even if it’s a small book or toy. But for Baby’s First Christmas, it’s hard to look at everything we have handed down to our third child from the first two and think of something else she needs for Christmas. I did what I always do in these situations and reached out to my mama tribe. You know, that group of online women who will help out whenever you need them? And who would have known? Every.single.idea was something we already had or gifted to the other two previously.

Why not wrap up something they don’t play with anymore and give it to her, right? Wrong. The other two would be mighty suspicious if I just wrapped up a bunch of their old toys to give to her. So, instead of wasting money on things she won’t use, I’ve come up with some practical gifts to place under the tree this holiday season for the third child. Especially on their first Christmas.

Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child - diapers

Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child

1. Diapers

So maybe this sounds boring, but after making the switch to disposable diapers after our third child was born, I realized the importance of staying stocked up on the basics. Even if it’s a bit boring. And with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, why not wrap a box of Huggies Little Movers diapers to put under the tree for your little one? My baby loves playing with the diaper boxes. In fact, she’s pretty obsessed with the babies ON the boxes and continues to talk and wave to them every time she finds the box in my closet. So a box of diapers is not only fun for my 10 month old, but something we’ll be using in the near future!

And like everyone else this time of year, I need to be able to easily grab what I need for baby and the family. Three kids means lots of parties, events, and presents to organize. So I get a little help during the holiday season – and throughout the year – with my Sam’s Club membership. I can use Sam’s Club pick up and have everything I’ve ordered ready for me when I arrive. Wrangling 3 kids in the store isn’t always the most fun so the option to have everything ready for me when I arrive makes the trip a lot smoother.

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Our go-to brand of diapers for Norah when we made the transition was Huggies. We used the Little Snugglers and loved how soft and absorbent they were. We weren’t woken up to find that they leaked at night like the others we’ve tried to use, and they kept her dry during the day as well. I was a huge fan of the wetness indicator! Now that she’s moving non-stop (Did I mention she’s cruising along now? Crazy how fast that happens!), we’ve switched over to the Huggies Little Movers. With DryTouch liner, contoured shape, Double grip strips, and leak lock protection, it’s Huggies moving Baby System!

2. Wipes

Just like diapers, wipes are something we use for EVERYTHING. Not just wiping bottoms! From washing toys that fell on the ground at a restaurant, to cleaning off surfaces, to wiping faces, wipes are not only useful in various situations, but they’re fun to pull out too. Just ask Norah. She’s emptied a wipe container faster than any of the others. And I only had my back turned for a second! They also serve as a chew toy if you aren’t fast enough to grab it too. Mmm… wipes!

I stock up on the big box of wipes from Sam’s Club and then wrap each individual wipe up so there’s more ripping and tearing. Then you can add the wipes back to the big box and wrap that up too! Who doesn’t love more presents to open?

3.  Clothes

Now for older kids this is the most boring present to receive, at least for my son. My daughter jumps for joy at the sight of clothes. As long as she approves and loves. But babies… babies love to play in clothes. When Norah see’s a freshly laundered pile of clothes on the living room couch she makes a bee line for them. And promptly pulls each and every piece off of the couch and onto the floor. So the dog can lay on them. FUN stuff right?

Since kids are constantly growing, and finding new ways to dirty up and stain their current clothes, new clothes is always a fun way to add more boxes under the tree to unwrap. Plus, if your baby is anything like mine, she’ll have it out of the box and playing with the outfit on the floor in no time.

4. Sippy Cups

Sippy cups and bottles are always disappearing in my home. I can have a full cupboard one day and later in the week there’s none to be found! Now that Norah is getting closer to a year, we’re starting to make the transition from bottles to sippy cups so we’ll be gifting her with a lot of varieties under the tree this year. The big man himself has even mentioned putting one or two in her stocking. The straw kind, of course. Because that’s what she prefers right now. Easier to spit out the contents when she’s sucking it out with a straw!

5. Boxes

Now of course the most obvious gift of all, and one we’ve been talking about all along, are boxes. Norah is a climber. You put down anything on the ground and she’s climbing right over it. Even if it’s only 2 inches up. Boxes are a huge deal to her and she loves being able to play with them. So we’re practical and stock up on the boxes that come in the mail with other presents (remember that Sam’s Club pick up? Well they also deliver too from online! Boxes galore here…). You can choose to wrap them, or leave them unwrapped. We prefer using some of the packing paper that came in the mailed boxes and recycling that as wrapping paper. Then grab a sharpie and start writing away!

Baby Gift Ideas For The Third Child - boxes

What will your baby be enjoying under the tree this Christmas?



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