Filling Easter Baskets

One of the many things I enjoy about Easter is filling baskets. When my boys were very young, I ordered their baskets from Pottery Barn and we've used them every year since. I love to arrange some of their favorite treats, along with gift cards, video games, and always a toothbrush and books! As they've grown, we've moved on to things like shirts,hats, and more teen oriented items, but I still have little nephews so I get to buy some really cute things! Regardless of what they are into,I always enjoy the ribbon,wrapping and making them look beautiful.Today I am sharing some items that make great basket fillers.
  

This is one of our favorite stories. PJ Funnybunny has too many siblings and is convinced he would be better off living with a different family. In the end ,he realizes he is exactly where he was meant to be. This one has a lot of repetition ,which makes it fun for the kids to read along. Love this book!
   

Activity books are always fun for kids.I am sending this one to a few of my nephews this year.Filled with puzzles,stickers and coloring activities makes it a fun addition to a basket.

Bubbles...naturally. Kids love bubbles. I picked these up ,though I don't remember where. May have been Target or Bjs. They have Peeps on them making them perfect for Easter!

    These are the bunnies my boys will be receiving this year. Godiva is currently having a sale with free shipping ,so it was an easy choice,plus their chocolate is delicious! They are now buy 1,get one at 50% off.
  

If you have any swimmers in your family, these goggles are a great gift idea. We have numerous pairs and the boys love them.

   The gift of music is always a great idea.This cd is perfect for a Disney fan, but Amazon has a tremendous amount of choices for all age groups. Perfect basket filler!
 

Another fun idea is a new video game. Games for the Switch system will fit into any basket. One of my boys requested this one this year.
  

There are so many fun things you can incorporate into your baskets. Here are some tried and true goodies.

Jump ropes never go out of style.

Nail polish or this cute manicure set for the young ladies in  your life.

Puzzles are always a good choice. So many to choose from in all sizes  and themes.

Mad Libs have always been a favorite here. They are a fun way to work on different parts of language with your children. This Easter pad  is the perfect choice.

They even have a junior version filled with activities.

Another idea for the little ladies in your life are some hair bows and  this cute one has Peeps all over it! So fun! I found this on Etsy, which happens to have such a wonderful selection of unique gifts not only for Easter, but for any occasion.
 

I really love this next idea. If your child is the creative type and loves to play in the kitchen, this may be a great idea for you. Pick up a couple of chocolate molds,featuring their favorite characters, and some melting chocolate for their basket. This is an activity you can work on together making delicious chocolates and precious memories!If you have a candy supply store nearby,you can pick some up,or visit Amazon.

The two I've featured are Princess Sofia  and Peppa Pig.. I  like to use this melting chocolate. Here is the link for the lollipop sticks. 
    I also love the idea of popsicle molds. With the warm weather approaching, these are always a sweet, fun project for the kids.
 

There are so many fun ideas for baskets. Crayons,paints,play-doh, mini cars, stickers,dolls etc., all make great gifts for the kids. Think about your children's favorite characters,interests, shops and clothing and you will be able to create the basket of their dreams! Remember, it doesn't all have to be candy!
   Have a sweet day!

Spring Books for Children

 

In our house, reading has always been an important activity. When the boys were younger,we always had a supply of seasonal books on display in their rooms for bedtime reading, or really for anytime they felt like picking up a book. It was always fun to visit the book store and pick up a few new stories to add to our collection. When I tell you that we have a ridiculous amount of books in our attic, I'm not kidding, but I cannot even contemplate ever parting with them. Not only are they great stories, they are also reminders of very special moments. Today, I want to share a few of our favorites with you. Some  are still available for purchase, others may require a trip to the library(and that is a good thing). I've attached links for your convenience.
  

I fondly remember this book from my childhood and made sure I bought a copy when I had children of my own. I've always been a fan of Wende & Harry Devlin and their Cranberry series, and this book is a sweet story as well. Fletcher is a dog who has decided that he needs to hatch out of an egg in order to get the attention that the new little chicks are getting. It is a very sweet story.
  

Norman Bridwell books were always favorites here. Clifford and this little Easter adventure will please the younger kids for sure.
 

Another story that was popular here(especially with me) is this precious story of a tiny family and their adventures as they search for their grandfather's umbrella in the garden. Love this one!
  

Our collection of Berenstain Bear books is never ending. Great stories covering a wide range of topics, always with a sweet lesson.

   The Easter Story

 Real Easter Eggs

Is it even Easter if this classic isn't mentioned?
  

Disney fans will find this Pooh story endearing. Pooh and his favorite pals go on an Easter adventure that will delight your little ones.

If your child enjoys chapter books, Junie B. Jones is always a fun choice. She is a spunky little girl who always gets herself into a little bit of a mess. She is funny,clever and the stories are great.
  

Freddy Thresher is a sweet boy who often doubts himself ,but seems to muster up the courage to face his fears. This particular spring story is for the younger beginning readers, but there is an entire series of chapter books for the primary grade level .
 

This story is an oldie but a fun one. Judy Delton's Pee Wee Scouts are always up for an adventure as they work to earn badges for their good deeds. Great stories for Girl & Boy Scouts.
  

If you are celebrating Passover, this sweet book is a wonderful choice.

Sticker books like this one are always a great way to keep children entertained while learning about the holidays.

Pippa's Passover Plate is a heartwarming story about a mouse that is preparing her home for the holiday when she realizes she cannot find her seder plate. She enlists the help of her neighbors and when she finds it, invites them all to share the holiday with her.

There are many,many wonderful stories available about Easter,Passover and spring. These are just some suggestions based on what we've enjoyed throughout the years. Books make great additions to Easter baskets. I hope you and your little ones enjoy some of these as well.

Here is the link for Spring is Here.

Happy Reading!!

Forty Days of Giving

This year,rather than focusing on giving things up for Lent, I've decided to do thoughtful things for others,random acts of kindness,if you will. Today, I want to share a few of the ways I've tried to spread some joy,especially among those who may be going through some difficulties. I'm also making a point of sharing kindness with many people I've known for years, who have always been kind ,supportive friends.

   One of the first things I did involved my children. I purchased a few cases of Girl Scout Cookies from a neighbor, because I love supporting the girls. We then tied two boxes together with ribbon,added a note and sent them in to school with two of my boys to share with their classmates. Each child received two boxes. Many kids aren't able to purchase the cookies ,so we thought it would be a nice surprise for them to take home and share with their families. We also donated some cookies to the military through the Girl Scouts website.
  

Another family I know has been experiencing some health issues. While the family member is now recuperating, I wanted to let them know that they were thought of,and that people were praying for a quick, comfortable recovery as well. This beautiful basket from Stonewall Kitchen was my gift to them to help make breakfast a bit easier for the next week or so.
  

We've spent the past few weeks doing a number of things to make people smile. Here are a few of our fun surprises for some unsuspecting friends and neighbors.

   A beautiful lily for the matron on my son's bus. She is very kind to him and we truly appreciate her.

A cake and gift card for a neighbor who recently retired.

A set of personalized stationery for a young neighbor who will be moving shortly.

Cookies for a friend's family.

A bag of chocolates for another family.

Treats for a dear friend of my parents.

A special note with some seeds and a donation for a young boy who grows his own vegetables, sells them and donates his profits.
 

I also dropped off a cake for St. Patrick's Day for a dear friend and spent some time with my son at a local dog park cleaning up after those who neglected to do so.

 Someone even surprised me with a special delivery!

We are very much looking forward to continuing our surprises over the next week and a half, though to be honest, I think this is just something we will continue indefinitely. It feels good to make other people happy. It is nice to know that a simple random act can make a person smile..it can even turn someone's day around. I encourage all of you to join me in thinking of others ,whether it be once a week or once a month. Be kind, be thoughtful, be mindful of others. It can be as simple as helping someone carry in groceries, buying a cup of coffee for a friend, or running an errand for an elderly neighbor. We are all better when we think of others.

Check in next week...I have a something fun in store for the little ones on our street!

Have a great week.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! It's been all about the chocolate and the sweet treats here lately. Here are a few of the goodies we've been making and snacking on.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Truffles

Rice Krispie Treats and Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Sugar Cookies

Every year we give our boys something sweet to celebrate the day. When they were little, we'd give them Valentine themed books,little toys,etc. Now that everyone is older, we stick to edibles. However, I tend to get a bit nostalgic sometimes as I walk up and down the store aisles that are filled with all types of fun items. All of my boys loved Nickelodeon when they were younger, so when I spotted this,I couldn't help myself. I bought it. My youngest is quite the artist/cartoonist, so I think he will get a kick out of it, and I know someone will eat the "Splat" gummies inside for sure. Seriously, who doesn't love the Rugrats?
  

This year, try to take a moment to be intentional about this day. Sure, we all love the candy ,cards ,parties and other fun things about Valentine's Day, but try to think outside the box for a moment. Take the time to do something kind and unexpected for someone else. Use this day to make someone else smile. This year I've donated Girl Scout Cookies to the military and to other charities. I've also sent e-cards to children at various hospitals around the country..it took all of 5 minutes and means so much! I found that idea on Andrea's Momfessionals  blog. We sent a beautiful floral arrangement to a relative who is battling Parkinson's and  made a donation to a high school classmate who has been battling cancer. She had another surgery yesterday and is really going through a tough time. These are just some ideas, but it can be as simple as paying for someone else's coffee,or picking up something sweet for someone who needs a little lift.What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than by helping someone else?

However you choose to celebrate today, I hope it brings a smile to your face as well as the face of many others. For me, I get the most joy when I do something kind for someone else. I guess you'd call that intrinsic motivation...I truly enjoy making others happy. When I do things for others, it lifts my spirits as well, so it's a win-win for everyone!

   I hope your day is filled with love and naturally some chocolate.Have a sweet day!

Valentine Books for Kids

As the seasons change around here, so do the book selections. When my boys were younger, we would read to them every day. Now that they are older, while some of us still read together, they often are off doing their own thing. I used to love seeing the expressions on their faces when they were little and the would come home from school to see a new seasonal collection of books in their rooms. We have an extensive collection of children's books that we've collected over the years and today I am going to share a few of our February favorites with you. Some of them may be older,but you may be able to find them at your local library or on Amazon. I will add links for you where I can. Books make wonderful gifts for children!

   This book has always been a favorite because it is a fun filled collection of silly stories and poems. The illustrator is one of my favorites,Blanche L. Sims, and it has contributions from great authors such as Cynthia Rylant and Judith Viorst. The stories are short and sweet, just long enough for a quick read before bedtime.
  

We've always been fans of books by Wende and Harry Devlin . This is another tale from the Cranberry series. It's a cute story about Mr. Whiskers receiving valentines from a secret admirer after he tells Maggie and her grandmother that he never received a valentine before.  Definitely a fun read for kids.
   

Younger readers will love this story as well as many others in this series.  In Super Secret Valentine, Freddy wants to surprise his best friend Jesse with a special valentine but is afraid the other kids will laugh at him,so he wants to make sure he keeps it a secret. The books in this series are wonderful,especially for young boys, and because Freddy loves sharks, each illustration has the word "fin" hidden in it for readers to find. This was a great series for us ,especially with a shark lover in the house.
 

The Valentine Star, by Patricia Reilly Giff, is the story of first grade classmates preparing for Valentine's Day. Everything is going well until Emily Arrow is appointed class monitor and sees one of her friends leave her desk without permission. A fun read, with illustrations by Blanche Sims(who I love) in the older version. A great series for the younger set.
   

No holiday in our house was complete without a story or two from the Berenstain Bears. Here are a few for Valentine's Day.
Comic Valentine

More fun with this one.

They even have a fun activity book filled with stickers and puzzles. This would make a great Valentine's gift!

 A Charlie Brown Valentine ..always in our collection.

Another fun one.

More great characters for your little ones.We love Clifford!

Junie B. Jones is one of my all time favorites. She is spunky, funny and ever so lovable!

Amelia Bedelia never fails to delight with her literal way of viewing the world.

Nate the Great is another terrific series that will have your kids using their critical thinking skills to solve each mystery.

There are so many wonderful Valentine stories to choose from. I've listed a few of our favorites to get you started, but there are many more available with all of your children's favorite characters. It does not matter what level your children are reading at, let them pick whatever peaks their interest. It can be chapter books, comic books, beginning readers..it doesn't matter! What is important is that they are reading, and even more importantly, that we as parents take the time to read with them! Happy reading!


Here is the link for the Natasha Wing Book at the start of this post. A fun book!