Alternatives to Halloween Candy

Alternatives to Halloween candy are a great way to surprise trick or treaters! They are fun, inexpensive, and there are many options that can easily be purchased in bulk online. Last year, our household did a little experiment and offered pencils as well as candy and we found that pencils were FAR more popular! Here […]

Fun Fall Festival Photo Props

We are getting ready to host our third annual pumpkin painting party this coming weekend!  This year is especially exciting because I managed to “wrangle” some of my neighbors into helping me and we are turing it into a block party!  And so, with an entire block to fill, there must be some extra added […]

Low, or No Cost Fall Family Fun…

Do you feel that?  Can you smell it?  Yup, Fall is in the air!  Ahhhh…I love Fall.  It’s definitely my favorite time of year.  I love that it begins to get cooler out, but not too cool, oh and here in our area, it means that those dreaded mosquitoes go away too!  Summer is nice, […]

Moms Fighting Hunger — and kids too!

Yesterday, our pals at Moms Fight Hunger kicked off a month long initiative to raise awareness and inspire others through action. We’re pretty proud of what they’re doing and wanted to share a few simple ways you and your family can make a BIG difference this year: Go Orange It might seem silly that something […]

Apple Book and Kids Craft

One of my very favorite fall themed books is Apples by Gail Gibbons.  It is jam packed full of apple information and filled with appealing illustrations.  There are many different apple themed crafts you can do after reading like this cute apple suncatcher. These tissue paper suncatchers are so simple that even toddlers can make […]

Photo Collage Thank You Notes

There are so many reasons to say “Thank You” aren’t there? Thank you for: the gift, the trip, being my teacher, being my friend…and oh so many more reasons… Of course, one of the most common reasons to send a thank you note is as a thank you for a gift. After birthday parties and […]

Teach Kids Kindness Book and Craft Activity

We are focusing on kindness in our family this year and one of our favorite books has been Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud.  It is a sweet story that teaches kids about being kind to others by doing things to “fill their buckets”. In the story McCloud talks about how we […]

Gift Ideas for Music Lovers

Shh, I’m going to tell you a secret … I started Christmas shopping this week. I know, I know it’s early! but there are so many great deals out there right now and well, I just love finding those extra special gifts for every one on my list. After seeing Carla’s sweet project I’ve had […]

Homemade Gift: Sheet Music Art

  Looking for the perfect gift for the music lover in your life?  How about something thoughtful, sentimental, and handmade?  I’ve got just the craft for you, something even very young children can create.  This sheet music art is sure to be a cherished gift for years to come. A music teacher would love such […]

Apps that Give Back

  Smart phones and the apps that come with them have changed the way we do so many things.  They give us directions, help us plan dinner, remind us to feed the dog, and now they can help us change the world.  Want to show your gratitude?  Want to help you favorite charity?  There’s an […]

Repurposed Craft for Summer, Sun Catchers…

Summer is in full swing here, the cicadas are chittering, vegetables are growing…We are spending lots and lots of time outside these days imagining, story telling and playing.  With all this time being spent outside, why not decorate the outside just like we decorate inside, right? Here are two DIY suncatcher projects that are great […]

S’mores in a Jar!

Homemade food gifts are awesome–they are fun to give, fun to receive, and fun to eat!  We have a lot of visitors coming this summer and we were trying to come up with a fun little welcome gift for them.  Then it came to me, s’mores in a jar! How to Make S’mores in a […]

How Does Your Family Celebrate Independence Day

We’d like to take a moment to wish you all a very happy 4th of July, and share a bit of our lives with you. Below you’ll find out how 5 friends from all over the country celebrate Independence Day and we invite you to share your stories in the comments below. We can’t wait […]

Family Fun Ideas for the 4th of July

The 4th of July is one of my all-time favorite holidays. I love any excuse to gather with friends and family, there are no gifts involved, and lots of opportunities for family time and being thankful for our freedom. Being with my family is always top on my list, so here’s 10 great ways you […]

Red, White and YOU: Patriotic Crafts for the 4th

Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches  – Cookies, Fro Yo & Sprinkles! These tasty treats would be the perfect way to cool off your little sweeties on the 4th of July Fireworks Paintings – Paint & Q-tips, that’s all you need for this simple, yet fun activity — now even the little ones can make their own firework display.  Aluminum Star […]

DIY Fireworks Crowns

In my house just about any holiday can be made more special with a handmade crown.  These clover crowns were a big hit with my little one on St. Patrick’s Day, so for Independence Day I set out to create a red white and blue themed crown craft.  These simple pipe cleaner crowns are festive […]

Kid Poll: Make A Difference Right Now

We asked some of our favorite little people what they thought they could do to make a difference today. The responses were heart-warming: “If I see someone hurt, I ask what happened and if they’re OK.” Will, age 7, from Not Just Cute “Having a lemonade stand to raise money for people with cancer.” Emily, age 9, […]

50 Ways to Make a Difference This Summer

The lazy days of summer are the perfect time to focus on making a difference and doing acts of kindness with your kids!  Here’s a list of 50 ways you can make a difference this summer if you are looking for inspiration… 1.  Wash someone’s car. 2.  Make paper fans to pass out at the […]