Holidays

Celebrating Easter with a Walmart Easter Event

April 15, 2019 by Brittany Kelly Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Walmart.

This past weekend we got the opportunity to spend the day at Walmart for their 2019 Easter event! Select Walmart stores hosted a super fun (and free!) Easter event that included activities for kids, delicious Easter treats, and even a chance to have your photo taken with Hopkins the Easter bunny!

2019 WALMART EASTER EVENT

Each Walmart location’s event was a little different so here are a few activities that our Walmart hosted for us!

When we first got there we were a little early so my daughter helped the Walmart employees set up their display. The ladies working there were so sweet and made sure Braylee was involved in all of the Easter fun. One of the activities was to decorate your own egg. The egg was a Reese’s chocolate egg and they had icing for the kids to ice and decorate their egg however they wanted to!

They had a few displays set up with different snacks and activities for kids. This one above was set up so that kids could make their very own Easter candy filled carrots with their favorite candies. The ladies working the event were so sweet and helped Braylee with everything she needed. She had such a fun time doing the activities with them.

Here is Braylee with her candy-filled carrot! She’s standing in front of their Easter backdrop where you could take photos and at some select stores, you were even able to meet the Easter bunny, get a photo taken with him, and then receive a complimentary 4×6 print of the photo from the Walmart photo center! I also heard that there were certain stores that hosted fun toy giveaways!

Keep an eye out at your Walmart for notice of future events like these. They plan on doing several more free events throughout the year for kids to have fun and celebrate other holidays!

Bunny Tracks – A Spring Puppy Chow Recipe

April 9, 2019 by Brittany Kelly Leave a Comment

I spent my entire life thinking that puppy chow was incredibly difficult to make. Now I know what I’ve been missing out on all these years by NOT making it!

I’m serious, this spring puppy chow recipe took me maybe 30 minutes total and that is with a preschooler and a newborn “helping”.

SPRING PUPPY CHOW

Do you call it puppy chow or muddy buddies? Everyone I know calls it puppy chow but I see it called muddy buddies on the internet way more than puppy chow. Maybe it is a regional thing? Kind of like coke and pop.

Anyways, I get into these random moods where I like to make themed treats. I don’t bake all the time, but every now and then I get in the mood and go all out.

Well, this “mood” led me to a spring puppy chow mix. It would be super cute in little gift baggies for friends or for a delicious Easter treat!

The best part is that it takes minimal effort so us busy moms can pretend to be Pinterest superstars with our themed desserts.

HOW TO MAKE EASTER MUDDY BUDDIES

You just need a few ingredients for this recipe, white chocolate chips, rice Chex, peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, and spring colored m&ms. I even cheated and made my life even easier by ordering all of it using Walmart’s grocery pickup.

First, you combine the butter, peanut butter, and chocolate chips then put it in the microwave for about a minute to melt. Once that is melted to a liquid consistency you pour the mixture over the top of the rice Chex and stir until all of the pieces are well coated.

After all of the rice Chex is coated with the peanut butter/chocolate mixture you then pour powdered sugar over the top and stir until the Chez is completely covered. I don’t measure out the powdered sugar at all. I just pour a little, stir and repeat until it is coated to my liking.

After that, you can pour in the Easter colored M&M’s or any other candies that look Easter-like to make the puppy chow recipe more fun and themed!

20 Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids

January 7, 2019 by Brittany Kelly 2 Comments

This is my first Valentines Day with a toddler and I am super excited to have a little buddy to do crafts with. Since it is right around the corner I gathered these 20 Valentine’s Day crafts for kids (and you!) to enjoy.

Color Your Own Valentines– Easy coloring Valentines that your kids can give away at school!

Homemade Valentines Day Gift– You can change this into a finger-painting activity for younger children.

DIY Valentines Day Wreath– This is pretty for the house and you can recruit your children to help make it for some fun family craft time!

Valentines Day Science Experiment– SO COOL!

Valentines Slime Sensory Play– My 15 month old is going to love this activity!

Crystal Hearts Valentines Science Experiment– This one is a fun project for science teachers to do in February!

Valentines Frozen Hands Ice Melting Science Activity– I’ve never seen anything like this one. It looks so fun!

Easy Valentines Play Dough Recipe– You can make this play dough with simple items from your kitchen!

Heart Necklaces– I used to LOVE finger knitting in grade school. It’s a really fun way for kids to get started with yarn projects.

Easy Valentines Day Necklaces– These would be cool to hand out at the kids Valentines Day parties at school.

Paper Reinforcement Heart Art– This is a really fun motor activity for kids!

Pine Cone Love Bugs– I love these little guys!

Rainbow Heart Suncatchers– so pretty!

Recycled CD Valentines Day Owls– I know you all have those embarrassing old boy band CDs laying around from your teenage years…or is that just me? 😉

Paper Bag Valentine Mouse– My old preschool classroom LOVED paper bag crafts. Especially making animal puppets out of them like this!

Paper Plate Hershey Kiss– Almost cute enough to eat 😉

Paper Plate Love Monster– Another great classroom activity after you all read the book.

Doily Bumble Bee Valentines Day Craft– I would say this is an activity for older children. My teacher friends should try this and hang them in the classroom!

“You Make My Heart Soar” Fingerprint Card– I know my kids Grandparents would LOVE these.

Handprint Lion Card “You’re A-Rawr-Able”– these are so adorable and something you can do with smaller children as a gift!

Valentine’s Day Treats

January 5, 2019 by Brittany Kelly Leave a Comment

There is nothing I love more about a holiday than delicious themed treats and these Valentine’s Day treats are no exception!

We also love these DIY Valentine’s Day boxes! They are perfect for Valentine parties at the kid’s schools!

Valentine’s Day Treats

Multi colored heart shaped rice krispie treats that take less than an hour to make via Pint- Sized Treasures

Chocolate dipped Valentine’s rice krispie treat pops via Pint- Sized Treasures

Print out a Star Wars Valentine and attach it to this cute light saber treat via Joys of Boys

These pretzel hugs Valentine’s treats only have a few ingredients and look so delicious via Crafty Morning

Adorable M&M butterflies that are a perfect little Valentine’s gift via Crafty Morning

Valentine’s Day Oreo pops that look to die for via Happiness is Homemade

Incredibly crafty Valentine’s Day robot snacks that your kids can help make via Crafty Morning

Valentines marshmallow treat to include with your Valentine gift bags via Crafty Morning

A healthy alternative to Valentine’s day treats is this beautiful strawberries and cheese treat via Foodlets

These Valentine’s Day cupcakes with conversation hearts inside look incredible via Kids Activities Blog

Red velvet cake balls are the perfect Valentine’s day party treat and this post also comes with a free printable via Kids Activities Blog

A Valentine’s Day popcorn like this one would be the perfect binge worthy snack via Kids Activities Blog

Chocolate bark recipes are amazing, but Valentine’s chocolate bark recipes are even better via Kids Activities Blog

Valentine’s Day pretzels are super easy to make and the kids can help with them too via Kids Activities Blog

These Valentine’s Day smores look deliciously messy via Kids Activities Blog

Here is another beautifully made healthy fruit heart Valentine’s day treat via Crafty Morning

Looking for more Valentine fun? We have 20 Valentine’s Day crafts for kids and DIY Valentine boxes for kids here too!

DIY Valentine Boxes for Kids

January 4, 2019 by Brittany Kelly Leave a Comment

One of the best parts of Valentine’s Day as a kid is taking your DIY Valentine Boxes to class and collecting Valentines from your classmates. Try one of these creative ideas if you and the kids are stuck and can’t think of how to design your boxes this year!

DIY Valentine Box for Kids

Starting with the most simple (and cheap!) Valentine’s box…the duct tape Valentine’s Box!

Transform a cardboard box into a heart flower garden to collect your Valentine’s.

Have some fun with your little monsters creating a Valentine’s monster box.

Reptile lovers will be thrilled to bring crocodile Valentines box to collect their special Valentines!

Almost all kiddos go through a Lego loving phase…if your’s in going through it they will love the Lego brick Valentine’s box.

Try out this pink googly- eyed robot Valentine’s box!

Now were taking robots to the next level with a R2D2 Valentine’s box!

Sticking with the Star Wars theme…a Darth Vadar Valentine’s box.

Here is a mean purple minion Valentine’s box from Despicable Me 2!

If you kiddos love superheroes then they will be obsessed with this Superman Valentine’s box.

Valentine’s Day Boxes for Kids

This Valentine’s box is so simple. Using only 3 materials you can make a perfectly simple Valentine’s Day box.

I have a feeling I will be making this one for my daughter someday…a Frozen Olaf Valentine’s box!

For the insect loving kiddos here is a bee Valentine’s mailbox.

This fingerprint Valentine’s box is so sweet. You can use your kid’s fingerprints to fingerprint hearts all over the outside.

Do your kids love the book Pete the Cat? Here is an adorable Pete the Cat Valentine’s box with a free printable template to make it easier to create!

This realistic looking mailbox as a Valentine’s box is the most adorable thing EVER!

Here is another “mailbox” version of a Valentine’s box, but this one is bright and girly. So cute!

DIY Valentine Boxes

Another Despicable Me minion Valentine’s box. This version is the yellow minions!

I am totally obsessed with this Mickey and Minnie mouse Valentine’s Day boxes. I can’t help but think of how cute these would be for girl/boy twins!

Unicorns are all the rage right now and this unicorn Valentine’s day box ranks right up there with the best!

Another animal lover Valentine’s box…a panda bear!

A fashionable purse Valentine’s box is just what your girly girl needs to tote her Valentine’s cards around.

Wanting more DIY Valentines fun? Try out these 20 Valentine’s Day Kids Crafts:

8 Practical Ways for Teaching Your Children to Give Back

December 21, 2018 by Brittany Kelly Leave a Comment

The best way to celebrate the holiday season isn’t only showering your children with gifts (even though that’s fun too!), it’s teaching your children to give back.

It is so easy to get caught up in the fun decorating, traditions, and gifts but it is important for kids to know that there is more to Christmas than just those things.

This post contains affiliate links.

Give Back by Volunteering at a Food Bank

There are two different ways you can commit to giving back to a local food bank.

The least time consuming way is to donate money to the organization. For every $1 donated to the Feeding America network of Food Banks, they will provide 11 meals for people.

The second option is to use the find your local food bank tool on Feeding America’s website and volunteer at the nearest location.

Consider volunteering at local food banks year round. The holiday’s are a popular time for people to volunteer so there may be an influx of people wanting to help in the winter months, but the rest of the year the food banks may be struggling to find help.

If you need more help finding a food bank or soup kitchen near you to volunteer at visit www.foodpantries.org

Give Back by Adopting an Angel

The Salvation Army provides a service that is the go between for families who need help providing items for Christmas and people who have the means to help. The items needed for the children are written down (along with their names and ages) on paper angels which are hung on Christmas trees in malls.

Shoppers can then take an angel off of the tree, purchase the items, and bring the items back to the tree! I think it is a great idea to try and adopt an angel close to your children’s ages so that they can grasp the idea that there are children out there just like them who are less fortunate.

Contact your local Salvation Army office to find angel tree locations.

Give Back by Creating a Blessing Bag

Using an old bag or backpack (gallon zip lock baggies work too!) pack up some essentials like toiletries, mittens, and small snacks. Most of these items can be bought at the dollar store, this does not have to cost you a ton of money to do.

You can keep the bag in your car in case you happen to cross paths with a homeless person or you can take a couple of blessing bags to the homeless shelter.

If it is cold where you live, consider adding hand warmers to the bag! They work miracles on hands and feet!

Give Back by Sending Holiday Cards to a Soldier

Operation We Are Here has a giant list of resources to help you figure out how to do this. You can send letters to deployed military personnel, veterans, new recruits, and wounded warriors. There is even a service where you can send soldiers blank cards so that they have something to send home to their own families this holiday season!

Give Back by Assisting Children’s Hospitals

The ways in which you can do this are going to vary by location, but a simple google search should bring up toy/gift lists for children who are living at the children’s hospitals in your area.

If a specific gift list does not come up, most children’s hospitals do accept donations of new items for the children to use. To be on the safe side you should call or find their regulations online before purchasing any items.

Give Back by Donating Winter Coats

There are a few different organizations that offer this service, but One Warm Coat seems to have the most locations (there were 8 in my area).

Have your kids help you pick out some gently worn coats from your family’s closets. They can be coats that are too small for your kids or just coats that you haven’t worn in a long time.

Look up donation locations on the One Warm Coat website and drop them off. You can even organize and host your own coat drive for your area!

If you love Christmas, check out these posts too!

Stocking Stuffers for the Outdoorsman

December 20, 2018 by Brittany Kelly Leave a Comment

I don’t know about y’all, but the men in my family are all outdoorsmen. They either work outdoors, hunt, fish, camp, or all 4! Most years I have no clue what to get them for Christmas because it seems like they already have EVERYTHING. When I walk into their garages all I see is outdoorsy stuff…everywhere.

This post contains affiliate links.

Here are some items that every outdoorsman would LOVE in his stocking this year!

Hunting & Fishing Flashlight

Mini First Aid Kit– every outdoorsman/woman needs a first aid kit! I think all of their loved ones (like me) would agree.

Pocket Knife– these are small, easy to carry, and a must have for fishing, hunting, and camping!

Binoculars

Warm Outdoor Gloves– these next four items are for winter hunting purposes.

Thermal Face Mask

Hand Warmers– these are so awesome, I love to put them in my shoes to keep my feet warm too 🙂

Wool Socks

Magnesium Fire Starter–

Compass– Great gift for hikers and campers!

Windproof Waterproof Matches

Emergency Whistle

Bluetooth Headphones– These are a splurge item, but for men who work outside or hike might love these. With no cords it will make it easier for them to be active while still listening to their music.

YETI Bottle Opener– YETI products are super popular right now and these items will fit nicely into a stocking.
YETI Colster

12 Holiday Traditions Your Kids Will Never Forget

December 13, 2018 by Brittany Kelly 1 Comment

I am a holiday traditions freak. I love the yearly Santa pictures and all. Even though I love traditions a whole lot I don’t quite do all of them on this list every year…but I wish I did!

Visit Santa and get a picture.

Bake Christmas cookies, it’s more fun if they are from scratch. These Christmas themed cookie cutters are cute. You’ll probably end up icing most of them, but it is still fun to watch the kids make their own even if they only help for a few minutes.

Help the kids make a new ornament for the tree every year. This year we made ornaments with B’s footprint on them.

Drive around town to see Christmas lights. I love doing this! Bring along some hot chocolate and Christmas music too.

Bake cookies and milk to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve.

Have each of your children write a letter to Santa to tell him what they are thankful for this year. It is easy to have your kids make a list of what they want as gifts, but to have them write out what they are thankful for before they even get gifts will put things into perspective.

Decorate a gingerbread house.

Elf on the Shelf– here are some good reasons why your elf forgot to move last night in case you forget!

Have a Christmas countdown where the kids get to mark off the days until Christmas is here.

Have a Christmas movie marathon with the family.

Sponsor a child (or family) and take your kids to shop for them. I think it is a great idea to have them choose gifts for kids their own age and explain to them that some families are less fortunate.

Give your children new Christmas PJs to wear on Christmas Eve.

Like us on Facebook for more great ideas like these!

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! From my family to yours <3

Netflix Christmas Movie Guide

November 5, 2018 by Brittany Kelly 10 Comments

There is nothing that can get you in the Christmas spirit more than a cup of hot cocoa and a good Christmas movie.

Thankfully, we have Netflix to provide us with Christmas movies whenever we want! Here is your guide to all things Christmas on Netflix in 2017 sorted by their genre.

*** This list has been edited and updated to feature all of the fun Christmas movies on Netflix in 2018!***

Christmas Movies on Netflix

Romantic Christmas Movies

Christmas Inheritance

To inherit her father’s company, socialite Ellen must first visit his small hometown, where she learns the value of hard work and helping others.

A Christmas Prince

Christmas comes early for an aspiring young journalist when she’s sent abroad to get the scoop on a dashing prince who’s posed to be king.

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding – Coming Soon

A year after helping Richard secure the crown, Amber is getting ready to walk down the aisle with him. But she’s not so sure she’s cut out to be queen.

Holiday Baggage

Sarah and Pete have drifted away from each other and their grown daughters, but a holiday visit may inspire old feelings and second chances.

Christmas in the Smokies

In the smokie mountains, an ambitious woman works to save her family’s historic berry farm as her ex, a country music star, returns to town.

Merry Kissmas

Kayla’s engagement to a famous choreographer but is having some doubts, and discontent turns into confusion when she shares a magical kiss with a stranger.

Dear Santa

Finding a letter mailed to Santa by a girl asking for a new wife for her daddy, twentysomething Crystal sets out to make the girl’s wishes come true.

The Spirit of Christmas

As Christmas approaches, attorney Kate Jordan travels to Vermont to oversee the sale of an inn, where she falls for a handsome but cursed ghost.

Christmas Crush

Twentysomething Georgia pines for her old boyfriend and is thrilled to have a second chance at love when she attends their high school reunion.

A Dogwalker’s Christmas Tale

Spoiled 21-year-old Luce Lockhart faces a tough decision when a handsome new friend asks her to help protect a dog park from her wealthy employer.

White Christmas

Two war buddies fall for two sisters and follow the girls to a resort owned by their former commanding officer, who is in danger of losing the place.

How Sarah Got Her Wings

When a Good Samaritan dies in a pre- Christmas accident, a celestial hitch sends her back to Earth as an angel in training to make something right.

A Holiday Engagement

Hilary’s plan to hire a good looking guy to act as her boyfriend backfires when she brings him home for the holidays to try and fool her family.

You Can’t Fight Christmas

After Stepping in to revitalize his family’s hotel, a money minded businessman clashes with the hotel’s cheery, Christmas loving decorator.

Miss Me This Christmas

With their divorce set to become final Christmas day \, a couple must decide if they are really ready to throw in the towel on their relationship.

Christmas in the Wild – Coming Soon

After her husband leaves her, a stylish New Yorker goes on an African safari alone and finds new purpose in her life.

Christmas with a View

Still reeling from a business failure, the restaurant manager of a ski resort finds her world jolted by a new chef, who has his own hidden past.

Love Actually

This ensemble comedy is a charming treatise on romance, telling 10 intertwining London romance stories, leading up to a climax on Christmas Eve.

Holiday Breakup

A young couple breaks up and faces the prospect of the holidays turning into one long pity party. Their solution: pretend they are still together.

Family Christmas Movies

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

The Grinch decides to rob Whoville of Christmas – but a dash of kindness from little Cindy Lou Who and her family may be enough to melt his heart.

The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot About Christmas

When a young reindeer gets seperated from his family after a Christmas Eve party, the Cat in the Hat and his friends help them reunite.

Angels in the Snow

A bickering couple takes their children on a Christmas vacation and gets a lesson in love and respect after giving shelter to a stranded family.

The Magic Snowflake

Young Nicolas agrees to do Santa’s work for one year. But the stress of the job threatens the boy’s sense of joy — and Christmas itself.

Christmas Ranch

Sent to her grandmother’s ranch for Christmas, a rebellious teen bonds with her grandmother’s horse and resolves to save the ranch from foreclosure.

Abominable Christmas

Two small abominable snowmen flee their mountain to escape a scientist who’s trying to capture them and end up spending Christmas with a human family.

Mariah Carey’s Merriest Christmas

Pop music superstar Mariah Carey hosts this all-star holiday celebration with special guests and a celebrity reading of “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.

48 Christmas Wishes

When a small town’s letters to Santa accidentally go up in smoke, two elves venture out of the North Pole to retrieve every missing wish.

The Christmas Project

Four brothers prepare for war when they are forced to deliver secret holiday gifts to the school bullies. But they soon learn kindness goes a long way.

Angela’s Christmas – Coming November 30th

A trip to church with her family on Christmas Eve gives young Angela an extraordinary idea.

The Christmas Chronicles – Coming November 22nd

After accidentally crashing Santa’s sleigh, a brother and sister pull an all-nighter to save Christmas with a savvy, straight talking St. Nick.

Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure

Loveable, oversized Saint Bernard Beethoven tries to save the holidays when a wayward elf crashes Santa’s sleigh and loses his bag of toys to thieves.

Santa Claws

When a gift sack full of kittens gives Santa a bad allergic reaction, the kitties have to take over and deliver the presents on time.

Believe

After his family run factory falters, jeopardizing his town’s beloved holiday pageant, businessman Matthew faces a crisis of character and faith.

A Christmas Star

Born under the Christmas star, Noelle says she can perform miracles. When trouble comes to town, it is up to Noelle to prove herself and save the day.

Get Santa

When Santa gets arrested for trespassing after crashing his sleigh, it’s up to a father and son team to spring him from jail and save Christmas.

Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas

George and the man in the yellow hat are having a merry time counting down to Christmas, but neither can decide what present to give each other.

Disney Christmas Movies

The Search for Santa Paws

In this prequel to Disney’s holiday hit, Santa Buddies, it is up to puppy Paws to save the spirit of Christmas when Santa’s memory fades.

Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups

When the Santa pups grant joyful wishes to Pineville’s boys and girls, something goes terribly wrong: the Christmas spirit begins to disappear.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas

The world’s favorite mouse rings in the holidays with three charming stories: “The Gift of the Magi”, “Duck Tales”, and “A Very Goofy Christmas”.

Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas

Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and friends celebrate the spirit of the season while Scrooge McDuck humbugs the whole affair in this animated holiday feature.

Mickey’s Magical Christmas

After being snowed in, Mickey and a host of his friends throw a Christmas party to help Donald Duck regain his holiday spirit.

Santa Buddies

In this family-friendly North Pole adventure, the rambunctious golden retriever pups known as the buddies must save Christmas.

Fall Bucket List for Families

October 13, 2018 by Brittany Kelly Leave a Comment

We love to spend family time together and one fun way to do that is by checking off some of the fun activities on this Fall bucket list for families!

The best thing about bucket lists is that you can print them off to where your kids can help keep track of what you have and haven’t done as a family yet. It gets everyone excited to spend time with one another and keeps the family from getting bored on weekends.

If you can’t tell, I love bucket lists.

I want my kids to look back at their childhood and be filled with fun memories of things that we did together as a family when they were kids. Then hopefully they can pass that tradition down to their own kids!

Fall Bucket List for Families

Visit a pumpkin patch
Carve pumpkins
Go trick or treating
Go on a hay ride
Make homemade apple cider
Watch Halloween themed movies
Visit a corn maze
Make a list of what you are thankful for (great for Thanksgiving Day!)
Go to a Fall festival
Rake leaves…and then jump in them!
Take outdoor family photos
Bake a pie
Volunteer
Make caramel apples
Roast pumpkin seeds
Go to a football game
Go apple picking
Make a Fall wreath
Make pumpkin spiced lattes
Have a backyard campfire
Roast smores
Make your own Halloween costume
Make a Fall themed craft with leaves
Have a Fall themed movie night in
Go to a haunted house

These are just some of the super fun things that you can do during the Fall. I know that a lot of families out there have a lot of other Fall themed traditions like hosting a Halloween party or going horseback riding on Thanksgiving.

More Holiday Fun!

Pumpkin Spice Recipes

Easy Halloween Treats

Books to Read with Kids This Fall

Holiday Traditions to Start with Kids

Holidays

Celebrating Easter with a Walmart Easter Event

2019 WALMART EASTER EVENT

Bunny Tracks – A Spring Puppy Chow Recipe

SPRING PUPPY CHOW

HOW TO MAKE EASTER MUDDY BUDDIES

20 Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids

Valentine’s Day Treats

Valentine’s Day Treats

DIY Valentine Boxes for Kids

DIY Valentine Box for Kids

Valentine’s Day Boxes for Kids

DIY Valentine Boxes

8 Practical Ways for Teaching Your Children to Give Back

Give Back by Volunteering at a Food Bank

Give Back by Adopting an Angel

Give Back by Creating a Blessing Bag

Give Back by Sending Holiday Cards to a Soldier

Give Back by Assisting Children’s Hospitals

Give Back by Donating Winter Coats

Stocking Stuffers for the Outdoorsman

12 Holiday Traditions Your Kids Will Never Forget

Netflix Christmas Movie Guide