Win 5 Cards from Treat.com!

Today is my mom's blogging debut as she guest posts to tell you about Treat.com's Valentine Cards.

Did you ever search for a greeting card but couldn't find one with the sentiment you were looking for? Valentines Day can be one of those holidays where you really want something personal and a store-bought card just won't do. Whether it's a card for my husband or my grandkids, I always like giving Valentine's card that truly conveys how I'm feeling.

I was completely in awe when I opened a Treat card, sent from my daughter.  It had a picture of myself and my 3 daughters taken a few days prior on the front of it and then a personal message written by her inside thanking me for a great family dinner.  Even on the back of the card it had a personal  touch.

When I went to the Treat.com website, I learned that you can even include one of many gift cards with your card. You can make a card for as low as $1.99 and they send it to the recipient. So send a Treat.com Valentine's card to someone special and enter the giveaway below to win 5 cards from Treat.com.

UPDATE: CONGRATULATIONS TO Gerrie S.

THE WINNER OF THIS SWEEPS!

 

Please see my full disclosure & gsweepstakes policies here.

Win 4 Tickets to the Philadelphia Home Show!

Interested in going to the Philadelphia Home Show this year? Ron Leraris Mortgage Services is hosting a giveaway for 4 tickets for one lucky winner.

If you get to this year's Home Show, be sure to visit my friend Denise Sabia from The Painted Home. She is the winner of Philly's Next Home Show Designer Challenge and her blog is full of amazing home design ideas and DIY home crafts like the paper flowers shown above. Denise is a featured exhibitor at this year's show and you'll have the chance to tour her Upcycled Designer Rooms!

Continue here to enter the giveaway from Ron Leraris PA & NJ Mortgage Services.

Kindness for Charlotte

One day, my son caught a glimpse of the evening news. There was one story that they featured and it was about something happy. My son looked at me completely puzzled and asked "Why was that on the news?  It wasn't bad." Even at 6 years old, it was completely clear to him that the t.v. news is generally full of crime, war, and hostility. Why?

I don't know about you, but I think the positive things in our world should be highlighted just as much as the negative. Shouldn't we celebrate people who go above and beyond to make the world a better place? Those are the people I want to be connected with. Those are the people who deserve to be featured on the headlines of the news.

Immediately after the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy, we've seen people coming together to take the high road and spread love. Instead of focusing on the details of the tragedy, parents have been doing random acts of kindess with their children. Let's keep this going! The Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Awards were created to encourage acts of kindness in our children, while supporting the Newtown, CT community.

Getting involved in this project is simple. Children can write, draw, or tell your story in any way about their own acts of kindness!

Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Awards information:

  • Anyone the age of 18 and under is eligible.
  • Entries are open to children in any location, and not restricted to Newtown.  
  • Entries must include name, age, contact information, and must received by February 21, 2013
  • There is a suggested donation of $5.00 per entry, which will go to the Charlotte Bacon Kindness Fund (c/o Wells Fargo). Profits will be directed to a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports the Newtown Community in honor of Charlotte Bacon.
  • The 1st round of winners will be announced on February 22, 2013 on Charlotte's Birthday
  • Entries can be sent by mail (Charlotte Bacon Kindness Fund, 2 Old Farm Hill Rd, Newtown, CT 06470) or email Newtownkindness@yahoo.com

For more information about this project, visit: www.newtownkindness.org and like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NewtownKindness.org

Will you please share this project? Are you continuing the acts of kindness you vowed to do after learning about Sandy Hook Elementary?

Get Involved. The creators of NewtownKindness.org would love to see more blog posts about their project.  Please post this button and spread the kindness!

Snowman Crafts for Kids & More

Thanks for stopping by to check out this week's Kid's Co-op!  As I look outside at the snow covered ground, it's no surprise that Snowman Crafts and Activities were popular this week.  Here are a few easy snowman themed kid crafts that I want to highlight: Shredded Paper Snowmen, Hole Punch Math Snowman, Roll a Monster Snowman and Cotton Swab Snowman Painting .

If you've never been to the Kid's Co-op, here's how it works:

1. Feel free to browse all of the creative ideas and if you have one to add, just link it up!

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text.

Here's the code for the button: 

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3 Things I Learned from My Dietitian

At the beginning of the year, I told you how my word of 2013 is "action."  Instead of forming a New Year's Resolution, I kept seeing people choose one word to define the year. I like that idea. For me, choosing one word simplies everything and really allows me to focus on my goal.

I truly believe that "Actions speak louder than words." Last year, I had a whole bunch of resolutions, but this year, I am doing much better focusing on my one word. I'm determined to take action this year and finally lose the weight I have gained since having kids. I finally scheduled an appointment with a dietitian and it's the best thing I've done for myself in a long time!

As soon as I sat down with my dietitian, I knew she was the perfect person to help get me in the right direction. Something about her cordial, yet firm, approach worked for me. I thought I knew everything about diets, but after 1 hour with her, she has opened my eyes to a whole new way of eating

After my first two weeks, here are 3 things I learned from my dietitian:

1) I kept hearing about cutting out wheat, sugar, pasta, bread, but I don't really need to cut that out of my diet.  I can have those things as long as I follow proper portion control.  The huge portions that we get in some restaurants are not okay. Eating twice or three times as much as you need to, should not be the social norm.  If I want to eat pasta or rice, I can, however, it needs to be in the proper portion (and not necessarily the portion that's written on the side of the box either.)

2) Eating 6 times a day helps keep me full, and I don't even feel like I am on a diet.  My dietitian developed a plan for me using the exchange system. This way of eating really keeps me satisfied. I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus three snacks a day. I can eat from all of the food groups: protein, dairy, starch, vegetables, etc. and I don't feel deprived. Eating smaller portions spaced evenly throughout the day is key.

3) Life goes on. There will be times when I want to eat a chocolate truffle or enjoy appetizers at a party and that's fine. Instead of feeling totally guilty that I "cheated," I just get back on track the next day.

If you've been following this blog, you know I'm not a health expert by any means, but these past couple of weeks have been a huge wake up call for me. I wish I would have seen a dietitian years ago, and I'm looking forward to seeing her more in 2013.

Did you make a New Year's Resolution or choose a word to focus on in 2013?  Have you ever met with a Dietitian? Leave a comment and let me.

Promo Code: Harlem Globe Trotters #GlobieFamily

What does quality family time mean to you? I think more and more people are starting to realize that there's a lot more to life than "things." I would much rather spend the afternoon with my family experiencing something new vs. buying a new tech gadget with the same amount of money.

If you're thinking about planning a fun, new family experience, the Harlem Globetrotter's 2013 "You Write the Rules" tour is scheduled to play 270 games in 240 cities across the United States and Canada. The Globetrotters (sweetly referred to as the "Globechoppers" by my seven year old) have been around as long as I can remember and I've heard rave reviews from friends to have been to their shows.

The Harlem Globetrotters love seeing families laugh together during our games, and would love to see your family when we come to a city near you.  If you're looking for an awesome event the whole family will enjoy, get your tickets to the Harlem Globetrotters "You Write the Rules" tour. 

Your family's smiles will start before you even get to the game because this year, your family can vote at harlemglobetrotters.com, and decide rules for the game like two balls in play at the same time that could affect the final outcome. After the game, Globetrotters will stay on court to sign autographs and take photographs with your kids.  

LOOKING FOR A HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS PROMO CODE?

The only thing better than finding an event the whole family will enjoy, is getting a great deal on it.  Save $7 per ticket* by using the promo code "TOGETHER".  Get ready to experience a show your family will remember for a lifetime!  *Discount available on select ticket levels"

Please see my full disclosure  here.

Kid's Snow Play & Safety

When I started this website, I knew it was going to be a labor of love, but I never would have guessed that 2.5 years later, I'd still be at it. It has definitely evolved over the years, and I'm pretty sure the best has yet to come.

As I was watching the weather last night, I saw that much of America is incredibly COLD right now! Honestly, I don't think the word "cold" does it justice. It is frigid, bitter, and intense here in the Philadelphia suburbs. I decided to do a quick search and see what other posts I had written about the snow, and I found one that was perfect to share again.  It's about snow safety and kids.

Back when I wrote this, my kids were 2 years younger, and the mere thought of being out in the snow was enough send shivers down my spine.   I feel like I've definitely toughened up since then. Maybe that's what being the mom of boys does to you, (or maybe I just bought a warmer coat.) Whatever the case may be, playing outside in weather like this can be fun as long as you know how to stay safe.  Continue here to read Kid's Safety and Snow Play.

Win Valentine's Cards & Photo Plaque from Shutterfly!

 

I love my Grandmom.  She is sweet, loving, thrifty, and also extremely hard to buy a gift for.  At age 85, she always insists that she doesn't need or want any gifts. Yet, when my sister recently surprised her with a custom photo book of the family, my Grandmom was completely tickled pick.

No matter what age you are, there's something special about personalized books, plaques and cards.  It shows you put a little extra thought into the gift or card by adding a personal touch. Shutterfly wants to help you make this Valentine's Day extra special with their custom Valentine Day card selection & photo gifts.

They even have 4 x 6 cards (as shown above) that are perfect for your kids to give out to their friends.

Shutterfly is kindly offering to give one of my readers a Valentine's treat of their own! One lucky reader will win:

50 – 4x5 Valentine Stationary Cards (small classroom size cards)  

and a 5.5x5.5 Desktop Plaque

 

 Enter by using the RaffleCopter Widget below:

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 


Please see my full disclosure / sweepstakes rules here.

Kid's Co-op: January 19, 2013

Welcome to this week's Kid's Co-op!  This week, there were 3 new activities that caught my eye: Snowstorm in a Bag by JDaniel4's Mom, Controlled Fizz by Life with Moore Babies and Crystalized Snowflakes by Gift of Curiosity. These are fun ways to introduce simple science concepts to your child and have fun too.

Do you have any other ideas for simple science projects or easy activities for kids?  If so, link them up or leave a comment below! 

If you want to participat, please post this badge on your blog. Here is the code: /">src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i357/localfunforkids/kidscoop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" />


Bananas, Stickers & Valentine's Treat Idea

Whenever my little guy feels crafty, we open up my big drawer full of supplies and look for inspiration. Yesterday, I spotted some make-a-face stickers that we had left over from a book. Instead of smacking them on paper, I saw a big bunch of bananas and let him bring our bananas to life.

Here's a look at our stickers (above). I don't remember which book they came from, but I found some inexpensive make-a-face-stickers from Oriental Trading that you can buy online.  Even if this particular project isn't your cup of tea, make-a-face stickers can be used for so many different crafts, that it's a good staple to have in your craft supply stash.

My son had fun choosing his stickers and designing the banana face.

What would you think if you walked into someone's house and saw these sitting on their kitchen table?  I think they're pretty funny. This activity was easy, kept my son busy for a while and was completely mess free!

You could easily turn this craft into a Valentine treat by adding "I'm going bananas over you!" stickers as shown here on Twig and Thistle, or the "I'm bananas for you" bag topper by Peonies and Poppyseeds.

15+ Fun Things to Do With Kids on Rainy & Snowy Days

Isn't it funny how things come around full circle?  I originally posted this last January, but since we're in a rainy, dreary slump here in the Philadelphia suburbs, I thought I'd re-post for all the other families that are going a bit stir crazy and trying to beat the winter blues!

 

You know those rainy, snowy, foggy days where you really need to keep busy in order to maintain any sanity?  It's so easy to just let the kids watch t.v. all afternoon or play video games. But, I really try to make a conscious effort to keep those things limited and get everyone focused on other activities.  I'm not saying that it always works.  But, here are 15 ideas to get us through more of these long winter days....

1) Craft with recycled materials or other things you already have at home. I recently found this Jellyfish in a bottle (shown to the right) on Pinterest. My sons also loved creating sculptures with styrofoam and pipe cleaners. Crafts such as DIY Snowflake Window Clings, Recycling your Crayons are easy and fun. Plus, you probably already have the supplies around the house. 

 2) Make paper snowflakes out of recycled paper or coffee filters.

3) Do some simple science experiments. Bill Nye the Science Guy also has many kid-friendly science experiments listed here.

4) Make a contact paper collage.

5) Make a sensory box filled with colored rice. Or search Google for other great sensory box ideas.

6) Make clay  or play dough out of a few simple ingredients that you have in your pantry.  You can even make your own colorful clay by adding a few drops of food coloring. 

7) Go to your local library for some good books and a change of scenery. Continue here to read: Ten reasons why your local library is perfect place for indoor fun.

8) Make sock puppets with some of your mismatched socks and things you find around the house.

9) An afternoon bath can be so much fun. Gather up all of their race cars and have a 'car wash' in the bath tub, have a barbie pool party or play with other water toys. Or check out more activities on the Bath Activities for Kids website.

10) Check the Best Blogs for Local Fun to see what's going on in your area. Escape to an indoor play ground, bowling alley, mall or museum.

11) Make a bird feeder. Here are 5 easy ideas for DIY Bird feeders.

12) Snuggle up and read books. "Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."  - Emilie Buchwald

13) Take masking tape and create your own giant maze on the rug or a new race track for your kids' hot wheels.

14) Make a special treat like these Valentine Pops, Raspberry Bars or Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins.

15) Call a neighbor or friend and have them join you for some indoor fun.

 Do you have any other ideas? Leave a comment below.

15 Angry Bird Birthday Party Ideas

If your child decides they want an Angry Bird themed birthday party don't panic! There are so many places to get inspiration and this is a great place to start.  I found 15 fantastic places to get decorating ideas, party games, and even food ideas.

An Angry Bird party can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. The links below show everything from fancy professional affairs to complete do-it-yourself, budget parties. Take a look at all of these different ideas and see what you like!

15 Angry Bird Birthday Party Ideas:

1. Happy Angry Birdsday to you! via Catch My Party

2. Pinterest Inspired Party by Kidspired Creations

3. Premium Party via the Cake Blog

4. Themed Party and Outdoor Game Ideas by Kara's Party Ideas

5. Party Food Ideas by Pink Peppermint

6. Game Inspiration by Mighty Maitz

7. Outdoor Party and Recycled Tin Game via Whole Buncha Words

8. Pig Punch by Rindy Mae

9. Red Bird Pinata by All Things Thrify

10. Pig Pinata via The Party Animal

11. Angry Pizza

12. Festive Cupcakes

13. Pom Pom Birds by Our Bower

14. DIY Stone Bird Craft by Brassy Apple

15. Free Printables by Your Life Events

What's your best tip for planning a kid's birthday party? I always let me husband plan the date, time and event, and then I cover all of the details like party favors, decorations and food. Do you have any other good tips?  Leave a comment below.

 

January Kid Crafts and Activities

Hello there! If you're looking for lots of fresh new ways to play and create with your kids, look no further.  Welcome to the newest edition of the weekly Kid's Co-op!

If you want to participate & post this badge on your blog, here is the code: /">src="http://i1089.photobucket.com/albums/i357/localfunforkids/kidscoop.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" />

Valentines: Wall, XOXO, Yummy Pastries, and Wild Zebras!

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This has been quite a week! The ABC's of Valentine's Day has been such a fun series and today we're wrapping up with W,X,Y,Z.  These last few letters are going to take a bit of creativity, so let's se how it goes.

W for Wall -  This is no ordinary wall!  Learn how create an entire Valentine Wall from Balancing Home. It's complete with Valentine balloon topiaries, a wreath, framed art and a pennant.

X is XOXOXO {Hugs and Kisses} - Here is a cute Hugs and Kisses printable for Valentine treats by Sew Dang Cute.

Y is for Yummy and my friend Darcy has got us covered! Get your kids in the kitchen and make these delicious heart shaped pastries for a special someone {as shown above}. Aren't they gorgeous?

Z is for Zebra - Now that so many schools are implementing healthy eating practices, it's nice to have an sweet-free alternative for Valentine's treats. Check out these I'm Wild for You Valentine's by Design Mom

Thank you so much for joining me this week. If you want to check out more ABCs series by some other great bloggers, you can check out the full list of ABC Bloggers here. I have so much more planned for the year ahead. See you soon!

Unconditional Love & Vintage Valentine Printables

Welcome to Day 4 of the The ABC's of Valentines Crafts, Recipes and Kid's Activities! Yesterday, I featured yummy Valentine's snacks, but today is 100% calories free!  It's time to check out U & V of this special series.

U is for Unconditional Love - In the spirit of the holiday, KC Adventures shows us 6 Easy Ways to Love Your Child on Valentine's Day.  These ideas are simple, full of love and fun!

V is for Vintage - Have you ever seen the Graphics Fairy Website? I've been a fan of this site for years and it has a fantastic collection of vintage Valentine illustrations and clip art.  You can use them for DIY Valentine's cards, crafts and decorations.  Here's a sample of what the site has to offer:

If you're loving this Valentine cip art, head on over to the Graphics Fairy Website to see her amazing collection of vintage Valentine images.  I think I'm going to print out some of these images and let my kids make homemade Valentine's cards this year.  What do you think?

8 Valentine's Day Snack Ideas for Kids

It's Day 3 of the ABC's of Valentine's Day and today I'm focusing on T for Treats!  Here are 8 Valentine's treat ideas that you can make at home. If you have any other good Valentine snack ideas for kids, please leave me a comment below!

1. Heart Shaped Smores Pops are super cute.

2. Want an easy healthy Valentine's snack for your kids?  Buy some raspberries and make a raspberry heart as seen here on Full Belly Sisters.

3. Peppermint and White Chocolate Heart Pops by Sprinkle Some Sunshine

4. Turn your Hot Dogs into a Loveable Lunch by Mommy Living the Life of Riley

5. Heart Healthy Orange Heart Fruit Cups by The Picky Apple

6. Core apple slices with heart-shaped cookie cutters for a fresh Valentine's Day snack via Peace, Love and Blessings.

7. If you're bringing a treat into your child's classroom, don't forget this easy classroom party food idea. (as shown above)

8. Make your own Valentine's treats with Goldfish Crackers as seen here on Tammy Mitchell Photography.

Have a great day!  Come back tomorrow for more Valentine fun!


Kid's Crafts and Activities for Valentine's Day

Welcome back to Day 2 of the ABC's of Valentine's Day. Once again, I'll be highlighting different kid-friendly crafts, recipes and activities for toddlers, preschool and elementary school age kids.  Let's get started with letter K!

K is for Krispie - As if Rice Krispie treats weren't good enough... when you put them on a stick, cover them in chocolate and add Valentine sprinkles they get even better! Continue here for Valentine Rice Krispie Pops 

L is for Love - Show your love to someone special buy making a mobile of Translucent Hanging Hearts by MarthaStewart.com (Image Credit: MarthaStewart.com)  

M is for Memories - Footprint and Handprint crafts always seem to be treasured by Moms.  Make new memories by turning your child's thumb print into a 'Thumb body loves you' Valentine by Brown Paper Packages

N is for Nature - Upcycle toilet paper rolls into adorable Valentine Butterflies - via Kaboose

O is for Oh so fun! - Valentine's Day wouldn't be complete without some chocolate. Heidi's Recipes shares a Chocolate Play Dough Recipe that looks good enough to eat. Continue here for Heidi's recipe.

P is for Printables - My friend Meredith from That's My Kind of Party has gathered 18 ideas for FREE Valentine's Cards that you can print at home. With 18 ideas, how could you not find something for your child's class? Continue here for Valentine Printables.

Q is for Questions - Turn a simple 'Twenty Questions' game into Valentine fun via Baby Center

R is for Recyle - Turn your old crayons into new heart shaped Valentine Crayon Hearts - via Disney Family Fun

S is for Sculpt - Mold Sculpey Clay to make Fingerprint Heart Pendants - via A Girl and a Glue Gun

Stop by tomorrow when I highlight T for Treats. It will be a collection of Valentine treats and heart healthy recipes that you won't want to miss!

ABC's of Valentine's Day: Kid Crafts, Recipes and Activities

It's funny how things change in life. Before the kiddos came along, I'm sure I thought Valentine's day was all about me. What little surprise will I get? Where will we go to dinner? What will I wear? But, now that I'm a mom, it's about the giving vs. the getting.  Don't get me wrong, I would love a beautiful bouquet of flowers on Valentine's Day, but it has definitely become a family celebration - and that's okay. 

This week, I'll be focusing on the ABC's of Valentine's Day. What does that mean? Throughout the week, I'll be highlighting different kid-friendly ideas for Valentine's Day from A-Z. I will be including crafts, recipes and activities for toddlers, preschool and elementary school age kids - with a few ideas for moms mixed in as well.

Let's get started!

A is for Art - Everyone knows the traditional ways to use crayons for art, but for a unique new twist, try this Melted Crayon Art using crayon shavings.

B is for Bag - You've probably heard about 'Sensory Bins' before, but you have to check out this  Valentine sensory bag craft.

C is for Chocolate - This Chocolate Milk Bath Recipe is the perfect cure for the winter blues.  If you can't get to the Hershey Spa to experience the real deal, this is a nice, calorie free treat for a hard-working mom. Continue here to read: Chocolate Milk Bath Recipe

D is for Doily - I truly love being the mom of boys, but every now and then, I see a blog post which makes me wish I had a little girl to craft with. This is one of them! Check out this blog post to see how to use a pre-washed t-shirt, a doily, and some fabric paint into a totally adorable t-shirt for your little girl. Read more about these DIY Valentine's shirts here.

E is for Eyes - Recycle those old toilet paper rolls and make these adorable Heart Shaped Binoculars.

F is for Filter - If you want a completely unique Valentine for your kids to hand out at school, take a look at these Heart Coffee Filer Zipper Pulls. They are fun, fashionable and functional!

G is for Glitter - Grab your glitter, contact paper and construction paper to make this Glitter Window Heart Craft with your Preschooler!

H is for Holder - Kid's typically come home from school with a bunch of little Valentine Cards from their classmates. This Valentine Card Holder is really easy to make, and it helps to keep all of those little cards organized too! Continue here to read: Kid Valentine Holder Craft

I is for I Love You - Beth from Living Life Intentionally shares a simple idea so that everyone in the house feels loved. Read more about her 'Why I love you doors' here

J is for Just let them lead the way - Isn't there a famous saying about the best intentions that seem to go astray?  When it comes to Kid's Valentine Cards, maybe it's just best to let your child lead the way! Read more about this with B-inspired Mama.

Check out my other posts for more Valentine craft ideas:

Day 2: More Valentine's Crafts & Activities for Kids

Day 3: Valentine's Recipes for Kids

Day 4: Love & Vintage Valentine Printables

Day 5: Valentines Wall, XOXO, Yummy Pastries, and Wild Zebras!

Be sure to check out some of the other bloggers participating in ABC's week too.

Art Education / Krissy at B-Inspired Mama, Cardboard Box Creations / Here Come the Girls

Children’s Music with Art / Debbie at Rainbows within Reach, Coffee Filters / Adrienne at The Iowa Farmers Wife, Crafts & Art / Maggy at Red Ted Art, Crafting on a Budget / Tammy at Housing a Forest, Paper Plates / Kelly at Domestic Goddesque, Toddler Crafts / Cerys at Rainy Day Mum, Upcycled & Recycled Crafts / Esther at Craft To Art